WIB Frederick was founded in November 2002. Our first vigil was on the day after Thanksgiving. Referred to as “black Friday,” in recent years it has also become known as “buy nothing day”, calling attention to the impacts of our culture’s rampant consumerism.

Like Women in Black everywhere, we each have stories of moments or events that touched our hearts and drew us to this form of activism. One of our founders was in Iran with her husband, visiting his family, when 9/11 arrived. She was deeply touched by the many messages of compassion and concern she received directly, and the reports of public memorials for the victims such as spontaneous candlelight vigils on the streets and rooftops of Tehran and a moment of silence from the crowds attending a soccer match. She left Iran knowing that it was potentially one of the countries that would be targeted by the US in response, and not knowing if her Iranian family would in turn be OK. After her experience with so many Iranian people and families, she returned to Frederick convinced she must do something to help spread understanding between cultures. She was convinced that she must also declare: “we will not be each other’s enemies”. Reading this same message, “We Refuse to be Enemies,” stated by the Women In Black in Israel was her catalyst for joining this international movement.

Others have their own stories of having a deep yearning to express their concerns in a peaceful way that represents a distinctly feminine, heart-centered and spiritual approach to activism. We each in our own way found Women in Black.

And so we too maintain a vigil in silent mourning for all violence. In addition, we sponsor and participate in activities that further our mission to engender dialogue, understanding, peace, restorative justice and nonviolence. We have in various ways called attention to violence against women, support for gun control legislation, the cost of war, commemoration of lives lost to violence and war.

We network and participate in actions with WIB nationally and internationally, and work with other local, national and international peace and justice groups.

It has also been important to work with local community groups. We have helped organize interfaith peace vigils and have produced vigil brochures about the ongoing plight of the WWII Korean Comfort Women, commemorating Hiroshima Day, the anniversary of the start of the Iraq war. We have maintained informational tables at community and youth events. We have also sponsored or co-sponsored a number of special events in the community. The Past Actions link provides more information about these, as well as written materials.