Our mission is to educate and engage Watertown residents in promoting U.S. military and foreign policy that seeks global justice and cooperation, the peaceful resolution of conflict, and human rights. We call for federal budgets that place a priority on meeting human and environmental needs over military spending. We seek an end to war, the elimination of nuclear weapons, and oppose militarism both abroad and at home. We value community organizing, legislative advocacy, nonviolent protest and working in coalitions as means to achieving this mission. Contact us at peace-security@googlegroups.com
Founded in 2022.
Join us at Watertown Citizens’ Monthly Membership Meeting for “Let’s Pass a Back from the Brink Resolution in Watertown”. This will be an opportunity to hear from peace activists who have successfully passed nuclear abolition resolution in Marshfield, Cambridge, Needham, and Newton.
Wednesday, February 21, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM (6:45 PM to Chat!)
Zoom link – tinyurl.com/feb21watertown
——————-
Standout for a Permanent
CEASEFIRE in Gaza and Palestine
– End the Siege of Gaza
– End the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians
-End U.S. Military Aid to Israel
– Release All Hostages and Political Prisoners
– Support UN Resolution Calling for Humanitarian Aid
Sunday, January 21
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Silent Standout
Watertown Square, Watertown
(Public parking is available in lot behind CVS)
BRING YOUR OWN SIGN or come at 12:30 PM to Make a Sign
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Commemoration of Lives Lost in Gaza, Palestine and Israel
Speaker – Nidal Alazraq, Executive Director, 1for3.org
Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church
80 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown (Across from Starbucks)
Sponsored by Peace and Common Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment and Massachusetts Peace Action (watertowncitizens@gmail.com)
——————–
Standout for Humanitarian Aid, Ceasefire, and Negotiations End the Killing in Palestine, Gaza, and Israel
On Sunday, November 19 Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment held a Silent Stand Out in Watertown Square calling for an end to the hostilities and killing in
Palestine and Israel. About 100 people from Watertown, Arlington, Belmont, Newton, Cambridge, Waltham, and Boston lined all the streets converging at the square holding signs declaring opposition to the brutal murders taking place in Gaza. We oppose killings and oppressions by anyone. This includes murder, taking of hostages, holding political prisoners, bombing of civilian targets, blockades, unlawful annexations of land, harassments by illegal settlers, and withholding of humanitarian aid. The current military support by the American government which supports
the Israeli government unconditionally is equally unjustifiable. The support from passing vehicles was terrific.
After the standout, we heard from speaker Assaf Kfoury of Palestinian and Lebanese background who is a mathematician and a member of the Palestine-Israel working group of
MAPA. He spoke passionately about the disproportionate response of Israel to the October 7 attack by Hamas, and of the devastating destruction of health facilities and other sources of
humanitarian aid in Gaza. He spoke of the incredible number of Palestinians who have been killed in Gaza. The media has tried to convince us that this genocide of the indigenous people
of Palestine is necessary to prevent another holocaust of the Jewish population of Israel, and that no one has the right to invoke the holocaust other than Jews. The legacy of the
Holocaust belongs to all peoples on planet. Earth Never Again. Remember this: the violence of the oppressed is always condemned as terrorism, the violence of the oppressor is
invariably excused as counter-terrorism – and they always want us to believe that counter-terrorism is good and a virtue, even though it is backed up by tanks, artillery, howitzers, jet
fighters, aircraft carriers, nuclear weapons, and what not – the most devastating weapons available today, none at the disposal of the oppressed.
We then heard from Abby Yanow, member of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment, of Jewish Voice for Peace, and of the Palestine-Israel working group of MAPA.
Abby spoke of the heartbreak of the events in both Israel and Palestine. “For us, the divide is not between Israelis and Palestinians but rather, between those who believe in the use of
violence to resolve conflicts and those who do not. My activism comes from the tradition of tikunna lam, which means ‘repairing the world’. We are seeing genocide and ethnic cleansing
right now in Gaza. It is impossible not to see it. I feel heartbroken and ashamed that we haven’t learned from history. We are all outraged that the US is providing the arms and the
bombs for this invasion, paid for by our tax dollars. Starting from the baseline of my Zionist upbringing, it took me several years of political education to be able to acknowledge the
veracity of the Palestinian narrative. I grieve the senseless deaths of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians and right now I grieve the slaughter of Gazan civilians.
After our scheduled speakers, several people from the community spoke. We met new allies in our efforts for peace and hope that they will join us and strengthen our efforts in the future.
———————-
Can Nuclear War be Prevented?
Please watch this terrific presentation on preventing nuclear war by Denise Duffield from our November Monthly Meeting and take action by joining our Peace and Common Security Working Group by sending an email to peace-security@googlegroups.com and signing our on-line petition to Representative Clark asking that she support House Resolution 77 at https://www.change.org/p/support-nuclear-disarmament-and-house-resolution-77-4f086684-0334-4008-a9de-da182ca4b683
Here is the link to the meeting and presentation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHBGbvDuoI
———————
Standout for Humanitarian Aid, Ceasefire, and Negotiations End the Killing in Palestine, Gaza, and Israel
Sunday, November 19
1:00 PM – Silent Stand Out
2:15 PM – Speakers
Friends in Arlington, Belmont, Newton, Cambridge, Waltham, & Boston HELP US FULL THE SQUARE!
Watertown Square, Watertown
(Public parking in lot behind CVS)
We seek an end to the hostilities and killing in Palestine and Israel. Killings and oppressions by whatever means in the Middle East are unjustifiable. This includes murder, taking of hostages, holding political prisoners, bombing of civilian targets, blockades, unlawful annexations of land, harassments by illegal settlers, and withholding of humanitarian aid. The current position of most American politicians who support the Israeli government unconditionally is equally unjustifiable.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN SIGN or Come at 12:30 PM to Make a Sign
Suggestions for signs – Let Gaza Live, End US Funding for Apartheid, Demand a Ceasefire, Human Rights for All, No War Crimes, Stop the Genocide in Gaza, End the Killing in Gaza and Israel, End US Support for the Illegal Occupation, Stop the Killing, Let there be Peace.
Sponsored by Peace and Common Security Working Group of WCPJ&E watertowncitizens@gmail.com
———————-
From 6:45 PM until 8:45 PM
At Zoom Meeting
A Special Presentation by Veterans for Peace
Wednesday, September 20 at 7:00 PM
The Vets for Peace describe the Climate Crisis and Militarism Project as part of the world-wide movement to end the climate crisis and promote climate, environmental, racial, and economic justice. Our emphasis focuses on how US militarism, the single largest institutional source of greenhouse gasses on the planet, fuels the climate crisis.
Dr. James Rine, who served in the U.S. Army in Europe and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Geology at Wayne State University in Detroit, is our guest presenter.
The presentation will take place as part of the Monthly Membership meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment. It will be a zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89168192470. Zoom in to chat at 6:45.
Join us as we explore the intersection of the climate crisis and militarism.
Sponsored by the Peace and Common Security and Watertown Faces Climate Change working groups of Watertown Citizens. We are delighted to have 350 Mass, the Peace and Climate Working Group of Massachusetts Peace Action, and the Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9 of Veterans for Peace as co-sponsors.
———————
Tuesday, October 3
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
First Parish on 35 Church Street in Watertown
In Person
Plenty of Parking in the Municipal Lot behind CVS
On June 10-11 three hundred people representing organizations from 32 countries met in Vienna, Austria for the International Summit for Peace in Ukraine. The summit issued a call for people in all countries to join together for a Week of Global Mobilization for Peace in Ukraine calling for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations to end this war during the week of September 30 to October 8.
In response to the call, the Peace and Common Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens is sponsoring a special in-person program with Watertown resident and internationally recognized author and peace activist Dr. Joseph Gerson.
Dr. Gerson participated in planning the Vienna Conference and in supporting the Conference call to action. He will speak about the events preceding the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, the immediate consequences of the war, the possible use of nuclear weapons, and what can be done to end the death and destruction. There will be ample time for questions and discussion.
——————–
NOTE: This program was cancelled and in its place we held an open discussion about our feelings regarding the October 7 invasion of Israel.
Anti-Free Speech Definitions of Anti-Semitism and How to Oppose It
Saturday, October 15
Watertown Public Library
Watertown Savings Bank Room
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
In Person
The Peace and Common Security Working Group will show a video recording with a live discussion of a webinar presented last April by Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East. It will be at the Watertown Free Public Library, most likely on a Sunday afternoon from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
The event addresses the very problematic attempts at the state, national, and international levels to define and codify into law a certain definition of anti-Semitism. Known as the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition, it uses examples that conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
Activists for Justice in Palestine are making efforts to expose the truth and danger behind these efforts, which interfere with countering genuine anti-Semitism. The definition is mentioned, but not endorsed, in the recent “U.S. National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism”, from the U.S. Government. The definition has already passed into law in several states. Local activists are monitoring the progress of H1558 in Massachusetts, which basically is a copycat of other states’ laws.
——————–
ACT NOW!
Sign the Petition to Representative Katherine Clark
ON LINE at https://chng.it/JH4vDXFn8b
Dear Representative Clark,
We the undersigned are your constituents and we are asking you to endorse and sponsor H. Res. 77 introduced by your colleague in the Massachusetts delegation, Representative James McGovern (D-MA) and sponsored by your colleague, Representative Richard Neal. H. Res. 77 calls on the President to embrace the goals and provisions of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. H. Res. 77 does not call for unilateral disarmament, but envisions nuclear disarmament as the centerpiece of U.S. national security policy. It also calls on the United States to lead a global effort to move the world back from the nuclear brink and to prevent nuclear war.
We ask for your support because –
– The possibility of a nuclear exchange is growing day by day as we have seen in the Ukraine War. Even a “limited” nuclear exchange, involving on .5% of the world’s nuclear weapons, would cause enormous climate disruptions and world-wide famine putting 2 billion people at risk.
– In 2021 we spent $84,000 per minute or nearly $5 million per hour on nuclear weapons! Meanwhile we have embarked on a $2 trillion program to modernize our nuclear weapons. Our only remaining arms control agreement with Russia is in jeopardy and China and Korea are expanding their nuclear arsenals. H. Res. 77 offers the opportunity to step back from a new nuclear arms race and rebuild the trust needed to avoid a nuclear confrontation.
The Petition has been initiated by the Peace and Common Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment. For hard copies of the petition, please email peaceandsecurity@gmail.com
———————
View this incredible video that features sober analysis, inspiring presentations by peace activists from Russia and Ukraine, and a panel representing peace organizations from Germany, France, Italy, the Philippines, and the United States. This is a must see for anyone who wants to end the war in Ukraine.
Watch the YouTube of the presentation “Why Supporting Palestinian Rights and Opposing Israeli Apartheid is Not Anti-Semitic“. Here is the link https://youtu.be/NOyqgJsewUk
NEW ARTICLES ON UKRAINE – 10 and 11 /2022
Jeff Sachs – https://www.commondreams.org/
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Check out this Boston Globe article by Stephen Kinzer on 7/11/22 – Says a lot of what we in the Peace and Common Security belief.
Biden Moves U.S. Closer to Confrontation with Russia
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/11/opinion/biden-moves-us-closer-confrontation-with-russia/
———————-
Check out this important article in the NY Times by Christopher Caldwell on May 31, 2022. Raises serious questions about U.S. role in provoking the unacceptable Russian invasion of Ukraine.