On Sept. 19, 2025, the Washington Post published an article titled “The White House Peace Vigil, after standing for decades, is dismantled.” Written by Marissa Lang, the article stated:

“…The peace vigil was dismantled nearly two weeks after President Donald Trump ordered: ‘Take it down. Take it down today. Right now.’… Vigil holders said they were not given any warning late Thursday before federal officers closed Lafayette Square and began to dismantle their protest… The peace vigil began June 3, 1981, when its founder, William Thomas, appeared outside the White House holding a placard that read “Wanted: Wisdom and Honesty.” Over the years, those who have maintained the vigil have been subject to harassment by police and passersby… But no president has directly called for the vigil’s removal, said Ellen Thomas, who married William Thomas and helped keep the vigil going from 1984 to 2002. The vigil—a call for nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflict—is maintained by a rotating cast of volunteers who keep it going 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It has survived seven U.S. presidents, countless global conflicts, hurricanes and blizzards, heat waves and floods. But volunteers who came downtown on Thursday to support what remained of the protest said they felt – in many cases for the first time – as though the vigil might be up against a force it could not survive…”

Ellen Thomas spoke with Philipos Melaku-Bello, the current leader of the vigil, who stated that he is still present every day, sitting in his wheelchair, with a sign and his smartphone, inviting others to join him. Please help him keep the vigil alive.

You can also write to the president using the White House contact website and say, “Stop attacking our right to protest as protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution!” Remind him that the First Amendment also guarantees freedom of the press.

Sign Up to Attend the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability Fall Meeting and Uranium Film Festival: Nov. 21-23

For decades, WILPF US’s DISARM/End Wars Committee has been a member of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA).

This year, ANA’s Fall Meeting will take place from Friday, Nov. 21, to Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV, in conjunction with the 2025 Uranium Film Festival and the Native Community Action Council. You can register for the Fall Meeting to attend.

The Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s 2025 Uranium Film Festival will take place Nov. 21-23 in Las Vegas, NV.

Each spring, this coalition of experts, founded over 40 years ago by people living near US nuclear weapons facilities, holds an event called “ANA DC Days,” which many WILPF members have attended. In the fall, ANA visits one of those nuclear facilities during its annual meeting. Last year, during the meeting in Atlanta, we toured the Savannah River Site. This year, the meeting will be in Las Vegas. Early on Friday morning, we will visit the Nevada Test Site and hear from several Native communities about the local effects of radiation. Consider arriving on Nov. 20 and leaving on Nov. 24 to experience the entire event, organized by ANA board member Ian Zabarte of the Western Shoshone National Council.

A virtual attendance option will be available for those who cannot attend in person but wish to participate. However, we encourage as many people as possible to attend the ANA Fall Meeting in person—it’s going to be a great event! Register for the Fall Meeting here.

WILPF International Launches Move the Money Campaign—Take Action Now!

WILPF International has launched a global campaign calling for governments to divest from militarization and reinvest in feminist peace, care, and equality. Rooted in our long-standing advocacy, our “Move the Money” campaign will bring together communication and political action under one unifying message: STOP FUNDING WAR, START BUILDING PEACE. WILPF’s Move The Money Toolkit contains more information about the campaign, including actions you can take to get involved. WILPF US’s DISARM/End Wars Committee will be participating in this campaign.

Join the DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee

We welcome new members to the DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee! We meet by Zoom on the second and last Sundays of each month at 4:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ET. To receive the Zoom link and request to join the DISARM listserv, write to disarmchair@wilpfus.org.