In this conversation with Anna-Lisa Gross and Daniel Hunter, we explore the intersection of peace traditions and organizing against authoritarianism, emphasizing the importance of community, nonviolence, and the teachings of Jesus.
Daniel is a prolific writer, here are his articles are Waging Nonviolence:
https://wagingnonviolence.org/author/danielhunter/
His most recent article is about the response in DC to Trump deploying the National Guard.
Anna Lisa is rooted in the Church of The Brethren and recently wrote two articles for Anabaptist World focused on Gaza:
https://anabaptistworld.org/i-wont-eat-again-until/
https://anabaptistworld.org/entrapment-stew-and-murderous-aid-recipe-mediterranean-stew/
Together they are organizers with Choose Democracy, and among other things, are thinking about tax resistance as a tool of mass noncooperation.
Choose Democracy launched the One Million Rising trainings, which is an effort to get people organized to resist authoritarianism following all the No Kings marches. 20,000+ people were at the first training! They also led Freedom Trainers, which is the training that Nick did. Here’s the Noncooperation Library provided by the Freedom Trainers.
Drop Site News: https://www.dropsitenews.com/
From Christians for a Free Palestine, written by Rev. Margaret Ernst, this prayer on the news of a ceasefire:
God of Life
We lift voices that are hoarse from screaming for justice
Eyes that are wet with tears
Or that can cry no more.
2 years, God.
Do you hear our cries?
Do you hear the cry of Gaza?
There is news of a ceasefire.
There is dancing in the streets.
There are children who have lost everything
Telling us the war is over, for good.
Preserve their hope, oh Lord.
Stop the bombs.
Release the prisoners.
Feed the people.
You are a God that saves.
And yet, where has that salvation been, these past two years?
And so much longer before.
Over 67,000 dead, and likely so many more
Hundreds of thousands wounded
Under the rubble
What shall we say to the
Woman who wakes to news of ceasefire
And then must ask,
“Where am I to go?
What do we do with our lives?
Where shall we live?"
What shall we say to
The parent of a child
Bloodied just hours after news of the ceasefire broke
As the world slept and then cried “Free Palestine”
And yet we still yell it
We refuse to accept 'peace'
Defined by those who profit from war.
You are a God that liberates.
Preserve the faith of Palestinians, God,
And show your saving power.
Let every tear of joy shed in these
Days of anticipation
Water the future.
May every laugh and song of children
Lifted to the sky
Defend against planes and drones
From here on forward.
You are a God that heals.
May there be quiet in Gaza, God.
And while there is quiet there, Lord,
Strengthen our cries across this globe for true justice
A true peace
For the kingdom coming
That we glimpse
And is not yet
Firm up our souls to keep marching
To keep singing
Keep going
Till liberation is won.
Amen.