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September/October 2002 Living Now
Women in Black:
An International Movement of Women for Peace Grows in Portland

The international movement of Women in Black began in Jerusalem in January 1988 with a small group of Israeli women who carried out a simple form of protest: Once a week at the same hour and in the same location - a major traffic intersection - they donned black clothing and raised a black sign in the shape of a hand with white lettering that read "Stop the Occupation".

The idea spread quickly and spontaneously and by 1990, Women in Black vigils had formed in many countries, and many of these had nothing to do with the Israeli occupation. In Italy, Women in Black protest a range of issues, from the Israeli occupation to the violence of the Mafia and other organized crime. In Germany, Women in Black have protested neo-Nazism, racism against migrant workers, and nuclear arms. Women in Black in Belgrade and Zagreb set a profound example of interethnic cooperation that was an inspiration to their countrywomen and men. And, in India, Women in Black hold vigils that call for an end to the ill treatment of women by religious fundamentalists.

Women in Black has become a movement of women of conscience of all denominations and nationalities who hold vigils to protest violence in their part of the world: war, interethnic conflict, militarism, the arms industry, racism, neo-Nazism, violence against women, violence in the neighborhoods, etc. Each vigil is autonomous, setting its own policy and guidelines, though in all the vigils the women dress in black, symbolizing the tragedy of the victims of violence. What unites them is their commitment to justice and a world free of violence.

It is impossible to know how many women there are who identify with Women in Black, how many groups or mailing lists exist, or how many actions have been held. Certainly it has become a worldwide movement. Here in Portland Women in Black stand silently each Friday from 12:15-12:45 by the statue of a pioneer family in the Women's Park between Main and Madison, 3^rd and 4^th Streets, downtown.

During a recent vigil, they overheard a tour guide explaining how this particular park came into being. It seems that 3^rd Street used to be a string of taverns and brothels. So, around the turn of the century the local ladies decided that if they wanted to keep their men from coming home drunk, they needed to do something. They started praying in front of the offending buildings, expecting that the men would be less likely to go in through a line of women praying. It worked. At first a few women were arrested for "excessive and disorderly prayer," but they found out there was no law to uphold the arrest. In time a new ordinance was written, making it illegal for a man to enter the area where the women were standing, and the chains we see today were put up around the park to enforce it. Six men were actually arrested, and even the male trees in the park were moved and replace with female trees.

The tour guide has now added the Women in Black’s vigil to his story of the park, delighted to see history coming full circle.