On October 18th UFPJ’s initial group of emerging activists began our six-month training program with UFPJ’s National Organizer, George Friday. Between now and the end of the year participants sponsored by UFPJ groups from Western Massachusetts (Springfield No One Leaves), New York State (Peace Action New York State), and North Carolina (North Carolina Peace Action) will meet online every two weeks to learn organizing techniques, strategic planning, and movement building with a central anti-oppression and anti-racism theme. In the early months of 2022 teams will hold events or actions in their local area or state.
Our hope is to encourage younger leaders to question our culture of violence, ongoing ecological devastation rooted in White Supremacy and the role of nuclear weapons in the U.S. military arsenal. We see their work post the project as taking steps to help realize peace and justice in their own communities.
Any student entering college as a freshman this year grew up in a country at War: A country that has not known peace in their lifetime.
Starting a few months ago we began seeking activist minded young people to work in teams to participate in organizing and antiracism training then take on local, statewide, or regional action or projects that advance and catalyze needed changes on a range of issues connected to war & militarism.
UFPJ’s National Organizer, George Friday (she/they), and our Coordinating Committee members reached out through the network to identify possible participants. Our movement needs to be strengthened from the grassroots up and this requires skill building as we confront injustices and build power to demand change. The best to our Peacekeepers as they begin this adventure!
