Whatcom Peace & Justice Center

You’re Invited! Join us on May 21st to help with our Spring Appeal! This is a great time to learn more about what we’re doing and ways to get involved. For those who have never volunteered with us or come to one of our events, this is an easy way to see the space and meet us while helping prepare our spring appeal letter to go out! We hope to see you there!

🧇 🍹Come to Sweet As Waffles on May 26th between 5-10 p.m. to support the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center! We’ll have some information on what we do and resources to get involved to browse as you enjoy delicious food and drinks. See you there! 🕊

On a handful of occasions students have come to me with draft concerns and questions about Selective Service among other things. And although a draft is not factual atm, automatic Selective Service registration beginning this December is, along with a few other changes inside of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). But please join or excuse my laughter and sarcasm in this video; I genuinely think some of these changes are silly ( potentially dangerous) and don’t really improve anything. I still laugh thinking about how dire people made Selective Service sound when I was younger. Whole time I didn’t even register until right before I flew off to Navy bootcamp 🤷🏾‍♂️. There are a lot of people, organizations, and groups opposed to these changes and to the continued existence of the Selective Service. And even though Selective Service registration has long been something pushed onto young men at some point, opting out of military recruiters having access to your information is at least one thing that can still be done to limit recruiter access… Make them work for it 😉 ✌🏾🕊️ #alternativestomilitaryservice #optout #whatcompeaceandjustice #bellingham

On June 15th, 5:30 p.m. at WPJC, come hear our Board Vice President, Yoav Litvin, discuss the Wired to Steal model. The model uses neuroscience and behavioral psychology to reveal how populations are conditioned into supporting dispossession, why violence escalates and becomes normalized, and how the cycle can be broken. Wired to Steal: Zionism and the Shaping of the Western Mind - a forthcoming book by Yoav Litvin with Ilan Pappé, forward by Robert M. Sapolsky - Interlink Books, Fall 2026.

Yesterday evening, we convened in Bellingham for the last in our series of Trade Justice 101 events. Organizers and community members discussed the intersections of workers’ rights, human rights, tech justice, militarism, farmworkers’ rights, and more! We’re looking forward to continuing these conversations and celebrating cross-border and cross-issue solidarity on Saturday, May 30th, at Peace Arch Park. RSVP at tinyurl.com/SolidarityDaysRSVP (link in bio)

📚 Our May Peace Reads are out! There are over 1,000 titles in our library to help you stay informed and connected. We also have some exciting updates to our library coming this year. Pop in to borrow a book during office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-4 p.m. and hear more about what we’re doing at the Center! 📚🕊

It is Israeli Apartheid Week!🇵🇸 This Friday the 15th of May is Nakba day, and our final event will uplift Palestinian’s resilience and deep-rooted culture. We will hold a Palestinian cultural night, followed by a vigil to mourn the martyrs of Israel’s US-backed genocide. Each event throughout the week will be open to all community members, not just students. It’s a time to get educated on Palestine and the ongoing genocidal occupation of the Israeli government, and get connected with solidarity groups. Flyer design by Bethlehem Girma @designw3rk ! We need support with tabling throughout the week! If you’re feeling nervous or unprepared, don’t worry! We’ll be training people this week and will get you partnered up and caught up to speed. 👯‍♀️Click the link in @wwudivestapartheid IAW LINEUP: Monday: May 11th 5-7pm, Palestine 101 with Dr. Nada Elia, AW 210 Tuesday: May 12th 5-7pm, Antisemitism Vs Antizionism, AW 210 Wednesday: May 13th 5-7pm, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Film screening, AW 210 Thursday: May 14th 5-7pm, Teach-in and Q&A with Dr. Charles Anderson, AW 210 + 7-8:30pm “Eight Families in Gaza: Amplifying Their Voices” presentation, 1220 Bay Street Friday: May 15th 5-7pm Nakba day, Vigil and Culture Night, FR 201 ALT text: The graphic is a red background with large text reading “Nakba Day”. Below the large text in smaller white text reads “A Palestinian cultural night, followed by a vigil to mourn the martyrs of the US-backed Israeli genocide”. Below the event description the details of the event read- Friday May 15th 5-7PM FR 201.

🕊 Have you read our latest newsletter yet? This month we highlight several opportunities to volunteer! Whether you’re helping us plan our International Day of Peace in September, engaging in dialogue rooted in solidarity with La Resistencia, or organizing during WWU’s Israeli Apartheid Week - there are many ways to show up in May! You can access the newsletter at the link in our bio!

It is Israeli Apartheid Week!🇵🇸 This Thursday’s event is a teach-in and Q&A with Dr. Charles Anderson on the current state of Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran in Israel’s latest escalation. Each event throughout the week will be open to all community members, not just students. It’s a time to get educated on Palestine and the ongoing genocidal occupation of the Israeli government, and get connected with solidarity groups. Flyer design by Bethlehem Girma @designw3rk ! We need support with tabling throughout the week! If you’re feeling nervous or unprepared, don’t worry! We’ll be training people this week and will get you partnered up and caught up to speed. 👯‍♀️Click the link in @wwudivestapartheid IAW LINEUP: Monday: May 11th 5-7pm, Palestine 101 with Dr. Nada Elia, AW 210 Tuesday: May 12th 5-7pm, Antisemitism Vs Antizionism, AW 210 Wednesday: May 13th 5-7pm, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Film screening, AW 210 Thursday: May 14th 5-7pm, Teach-in and Q&A with Dr. Charles Anderson, AW 210 + 7-8:30pm “Eight Families in Gaza: Amplifying Their Voices” presentation, 1220 Bay Street Friday: May 15th 5-7pm Nakba day, Vigil and Culture Night, FR 201 ALT text: The graphic is a red background with large text reading “Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran”. Below the large text in smaller white text reads “A teach-in and Q&A with Dr. Charles Anderson on the current state of Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran”. Below the event description the details of the event read- Thursday May 14th 5-7PM AW210.

Some schedule changes to Thursday of IAW! Instead of a "Gaza and Scholasticide" teach in, Dr. Charles Anderson will be doing a teach in about the current situation in Palestine, Iran, and Lebanon. After the teach in, attendees are encouraged to go to the 8 Families in Gaza presentation hosted by @whatcomfamiliesforjustice at the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center (1220 Bay St) Each event throughout the week will be open to all community members, not just students. It’s a time to get educated on Palestine and the ongoing genocidal occupation of the Israeli government, and get connected with solidarity groups. Flyer design by Bethlehem Girma @designw3rk @800_cherries ALT text: The flyer is a red background with large white block text at the top reading “Israeli apartheid week, Tech ins, Tabling, Panels. There is a graphic of Palestine with birds flying over on the right side of the graphic. Below, details of the events are written on top of white backgrounds. The details read: Monday: May 11th 5-7pm, Palestine 101 with Dr. Nada Elia, AW 210 Tuesday: May 12th 5-7pm, Antisemitism Vs Antizionism, AW 210 Wednesday: May 13th 5-7pm, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Film screening, AW 210 Thursday: May 14th 5-7pm, Palestine, lebanon, Iran. AW 210 Friday: May 15th 5-7pm Nakba day, Vigil and Culture Night, FR 201

Israeli Apartheid Week starts today!🇵🇸 This Wednesdays event is a screening of The Voice of Hind Rajab, with the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center. Each event throughout the week will be open to all community members, not just students. It’s a time to get educated on Palestine and the ongoing genocidal occupation of the Israeli government, and get connected with solidarity groups. Flyer design by Bethlehem Girma @designw3rk ! We need support with tabling throughout the week! If you’re feeling nervous or unprepared, don’t worry! We’ll be training people this week and will get you partnered up and caught up to speed. 👯‍♀️Click the link in @wwudivestapartheid IAW LINEUP: Monday: May 11th 5-7pm, Palestine 101 with Dr. Nada Elia, AW 210 Tuesday: May 12th 5-7pm, Antisemitism Vs Antizionism, AW 210 Wednesday: May 13th 5-7pm, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Film screening, AW 210 Thursday: May 14th 5-6:30pm, Talk and Q&A with Dr. Charles Anderson, AW 210 + 7-8:30pm “Eight Families in Gaza: Amplifying Their Voices” presentation, 1220 Bay Street Friday: May 15th 5-7pm Nakba day, Vigil and Culture Night, FR 201 ALT text: The graphic is a red background with large text reading “the Voice of Hind Rajab”. Below the large text in smaller white text reads A screening of the 2025 docudrama "The Voice of Hind Rajab" which re-tells the 2024 Isreali murder of 5 year old Hind Rajab in the Gaza strip. Below the event description the details of the event read- Wednesday May 13th 5-7 PM AW 210

Please join us at 6 p.m. tomorrow, May 12th, for the Whatcom County Council meeting where they plan to vote on the resolution to fund a new jail. Giving public comment, emailing councilmembers, and showing up in solidarity are all powerful ways to be part of the push to fund services first! We hope to see you there at 311 Grand Ave.!