SPRING ASSEMBLY 2025 ANNOUNCEMENT

WESTERN WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION SPRING ASSEMBLY 2025 Saturday, May 17, 9 am to 12:30 pm PT on Zoom “Building a Nonviolent Movement in a Time of Chaos” Stephen Zunes, keynote speaker, see below  see wwfor.org/spring-assembly-2025 to register soon or call 206-789-5565

by David Lambert

We are in governmental, political, and societal turmoil, when each of us is affected in so many different ways. Helplessness and a strong sense of loss of control is an understandable reaction to what some have termed an administrative coup by the Trump Administration. Yet, seemingly daily, there are court actions blocking actions by this administration, people massing together in angry street protests, communicating with the Congressional Representative and Senators in town halls, and writing letters, making phone calls and taking numerous other actions.

Nonviolence matters greatly at a time when so many of our democratic processes are being ripped asunder. Can it be effective at a time like this when so many of our democratic norms and processes are being ripped asunder? If so, what methods of nonviolence can be most effective? How can we build a stronger and more effective people-based, non-partisan, nonviolent movement in this moment of crisis? What are the means, key ingredients, and challenges to building such a movement, and how do we respond to push-back from people, groups, and perhaps even government agents, who support this highly dangerous authorized takeover? How are we, individually, and in our groups, working with other like- minded individuals and groups? How are we creating support and discipline for ourselves and each other, that sustains us for the long-haul?

The Theme for the 2025 WWFOR Spring Assembly is “Building a Nonviolent Movement in a Time of Chaos.” This year’s Spring Assembly Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Stephen Zunes, Professor of Political and International Studies at the University of San Francisco. He is a renowned international relations scholar specializing on the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy, and strategic nonviolence. From his Website Page is the following: “Recognized as one the country’s leading scholars of U.S. Middle East policy, politics and strategic nonviolent action, Zunes has served as a senior policy analyst for the Foreign Policy in Focus project of the Institute for Policy Studies, associate editor of Peace Review and contributing editor to Tikkun.” Very recently on March 18, he was interviewed in a talk titled “Donald Trump chaos.” https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/community-or-chaos-18-03-2025-donald-trump-chaos-prof/id1586892880?i=1000699581328 

We strongly encourage you to join us for what is bound to be a stimulating and informative day.