Anti-War Peace Efforts

CRS will sojourn to Jerusalem, Palestine, from November 17 to 21 for our 2024 Annual Membership Assembly in partnership with the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Please save the date and fill out our interest form to join us for this celebration of our global solidarity and past work building Beloved Community! More details to come.

• Articles

  • The attacks on Israel, and the response 10/10/23

  • Bernie Sanders says Israel is violating international law with blockade on ‘open-air prison’ in Gaza 10/11/23

  • Gaza, Colonial Violence and the Pursuit of a Just Peace

  • Landlord charged with hate crimes after Muslim boy killed in Illinois 10/16/23

  • Slain Palestinian American boy remembered: ‘We are Plainfield strong; we are here for Wadea’ 10/18/23

  • Letters to the Editor 10/24/23

  • Muslim Nonprofit Calls For Solidarity In City’s Black, Brown Communities As Israel-Hamas War Continues 10/26/23

  • UN Security Council meets on Israel-Palestine crisis; nowhere safe in Gaza 10/30/23

  • Top UN official in New York steps down citing ‘genocide’ of Palestinian civilians 10/31/23

  • Q&A: Former UN official Craig Mokhiber on Gaza, Israel and genocide 11/02/23

  • Warplanes strike Gaza refugee camps as Israel rebuffs U.S. push for humanitarian pause 11/05/23

  • Pro-Palestinian protesters march down Michigan Avenue as Northbrook demonstrators support Israel 11/12/23

  • Disease runs rampant in Gaza as clean water runs out 11/15/23

  • Israel searches for traces of Hamas in raid of key Gaza hospital packed with patients 11/15/23

  • Looking at public perceptions of peace and conflict 11/17/23

  • Chicago area reacts to Israel-Hamas four-day truce, hostage release 11/22/23

  • Pro-Palestinian protesters rally on Mag Mile to draw attention to Israel-Hamas war 11/24/23

  • Pro-Palestinian protest takes to Magnificent Mile amid Black Friday shopping 11/24/23

  • The Israel-Hamas truce is over. Here’s what could happen next 12/1/23

  • Israeli airstrikes on Gaza resume after weeklong truce with Hamas ends 12/1/23

  • In Gaza, disease could be even deadlier than airstrikes, WHO says 12/4/23

  • Churches for Middle East Peace: Ceasefire only way to prevent further death and destruction 12/5/23

  • Strikes on Gaza’s southern edge sow fear in one of the last areas Palestinians are fleeing 12/7/23

  • Chicago-area businesses close, dozens rally to call for cease-fire in Gaza 12/12/23

  • Meet the Companies Profiting From Israel’s War on Gaza 12/20/23

  • Palestinian truckers gather in southwest suburbs for 4-hour Christmas caravan 12/25/23

  • The Companies Profiting from Israel’s 2023 Attack on Gaza

  • January 5, 2023 Israel-Hamas war 1/5/24

  • For many displaced families in Gaza, survival follows a strict routine 1/8/24

  • Providing life-saving aid to Gaza 1/17/24

  • Chicago City Council will delay a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza after a request from 28 aldermen 1/22/24

  • U.S. citizens with Chicago-area roots stuck in Gaza: ‘Our lives are at stake’ 1/23/24

  • Gaza & Israel

  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calls for a cease-fire in Gaza 1/24/24

  • International Court of Justice says Israel’s actions are plausibly genocidal. What are we going to do about it? 1/26/24

  • What Valentine's Day means in Gaza, Palestine 2/7/24

  • Happy Valentine’s Day: From Gaza with Love (PHOTOS)

  • Palestinian American brothers from Lombard taken in Israeli raid of their Gaza shelter, family says 2/8/24

  • The Truth Shall Set You Free

  • American Muslims say they feel urgent need to send aid to Gaza this Ramadan as threat of mass starvation looms 3/11/24

  • More than 140 global Christian leaders call for Gaza cease-fire in Holy Week letter 3/26/24

  • A different future is possible: Quaker organizations share a vision for peace in Palestine and Israel 4//12/24

  • UN chief calls for `urgent de-escalation’ in the Middle East 4/16/24

  • Gaza after 200 days of genocide: A message to the world 4/24/24

  • After Pro-Palestinian Window Bashed In, Women & Children First Bookstore Plans Mural 4/25/24

  • UChicago Students Rally As Pro-Palestine Protests Sweep College Campuses 4/26/24

  • DePaul students pitch tents on campus, join pro-Palestinian protests 4/30/24

  • CPS students protest Gaza war, march to University of Chicago, DePaul encampments 5/1/24

  • A senior UN official says northern Gaza is now in ‘full-blown famine’ 5/3/24

  • Chicago: May Day march for Palestine prepares for protest at DNC 5/5/24

  • University of Chicago pro-Palestinian encampment cleared by police 5/7/24

  • COPA opens investigation into CPD use of force at pro-Palestinian protest near Art Institute 5/7/24

  • What to know about the pro-Palestinian protests in Chicago and beyond 5/7/24

• Live Updates

  • Associated Press

  • CNN

  • The Guardian

  • NBC News

• Statements

  • Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) on Ongoing Violence in Israel and Palestine 10/08/23

  • Representative Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) on Violence in Israel and Palestine 10/09/23

  • CRS & Coalition Partner CRLMC Condemn the Murder of Wadea Al-Fayoume 10/17/23

  • Statements from faith leaders, organizations and community members 10/18/23 to 10/19/23

  • CRS’ Statement in Support of Love, Justice & Humanity 10/23/23

  • Barack Obama’s Thoughts on Israel and Gaza 10/23/23

  • Representative Delia Ramirez (IL-3) Backs Gaza Ceasefire Resolution in Congress: We Need Diplomacy, Not More Bombings 10/30/23

  • A Statement From Woods Fund Chicago President Michelle Morales 10/30/23

  • End the war now: Churches for Middle East Peace fears catastrophic deaths of civilians in Gaza 10/31/23

  • Disciples and UCC General Ministers and Presidents join ecumenical leaders in a letter to President Biden on the Middle East 11/13/23

  • Israel-Hamas war rages as outcry grows over Gaza crisis 11/16/23

  • Israeli Forces Comb Gaza Hospital for 2nd Day 11/16/23

  • A Sojourn in East Jerusalem

  • Power to the People!

  • AFSC’s Gaza Emergency Relief 3/28/24

  • Quaker group in Gaza: “Humanitarian workers should never be a target” 4/2/24

  • NAARPR Condemns Repression on U.S. Campuses 4/26/24

  • Fellowship of Reconciliation Stands in Solidarity with the Students 5/1/24

  • A Message From Zoughbi Zoughbi, IFOR President In Bethlehem, Palestine

• Musical Reflection

  • Senzeni Na (What have we done?) - feat. Monde Mdingi - Cape Town Youth Choir (formerly Pro Cantu) 

• Videos

  • Check out a Facebook video on how to be an ally to the Palestinian community

  • Hundreds of Palestinian children fly kites in Rafah as a symbol of peace in a time of war

• Films

  • The Stones Cry Out

• Books

  • Radical Reconciliation: Beyond Political Pietism and Christian Quietism by former CRS Executive Director Rev. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung and Allan Aubrey Boesak

  • Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas

  • If They Come in the Morning: Voices of Resistance by Angela Davis

  • Malcolm & Martin & America: A Dream or a Nightmare by James H. Cone

  • The Power of the Poor in History by Gustavo Gutierrez

  • Ella Baker & the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision by Barbara Ransby

  • Towards Collective Liberation: Anti-Racist Organizing, Feminist Praxis, and Movement Building Strategy by Chris Crass

• Prayers

  • God of peace and justice, grant us the capacity to act prophetically in the Holy Spirit of Love. Help us to choose the path of the inconvenient hero and the path of moral courage. Help us to listen with love and with an openness to reexamine the narratives. Help us to be truth-tellers. Help us to forge new pathways that lead us to healing, hope, and clothed in our full humanity. Amen.  

• Poems

  • “If I Must Die” by Refaat Alareer (1979 - 2023)

• Podcasts

  • Peace in Israel and Palestine #1 - Lament and Reconciliation

  • Peace in Israel and Palestine #2 - Christian Zionism, Palestinian Christians and Following A Crucified King

  • Exploring Palestinian identity through poetry

  • Mosaic Podcast

• Petitions

  • Send a message to Congress demanding humanitarian access to Gaza and a ceasefire

  • Tell Congress: Reject the supplemental request for military funding and oppose new draconian migration policies

  • Tell Congress: Restore funding for Palestinian aid! 

• Protests

  • Find a Protest: Stope the Gaza Genocide

• Boycotts

  • Template Letter for Venues - Boycott Eurovision 2024

  • Opinion: Anti-boycott bill puts New Hampshire lawmakers on the wrong side of history 4/22/24

• Organizations & Coalitions

  • Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

  • Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)

  • American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

  • Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR-USA)

• Immediate Calls to Action

  • Mass-email university presidents to stop suppressing students against genocide in Gaza

• Upcoming Webinars via Zoom (registration required)

  • May 9 at 11 AM CT: Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness/Orthodox Easter & Ascension Day Special Service hosted by the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

• Toolkits from the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights and the American Friends Service Committee

  • STOP GAZA GENOCIDE: Ceasefire Now! Toolkit

  • December 2023 Congress Direct Actions & Targeted Actions Toolkit

  • December 2023 City Council Organizing Resource Toolkit

  • Bystander Intervention Toolkit

• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center

  • Sunday Service

    • Join Sabeel Online Services via Zoom every Thursday at 10 AM CT

    • Use this time zone converter to check the time

  • Books

  • Statements

  • Wave of Prayers

  • Pre-conference webinars

• Kumi Now

  • Rise and take action for Palestine by participating in weekly Kumi Now online gatherings held on Facebook or via Zoom. Visit kuminow.com/online for instructions on how to join a meeting.

  • Check out past and upcoming Kumi Now online gatherings

  • Check out Kumi Now newsletters

  • Check out Kumi Now entries

• American Friends Service Committee Action Hour

  • Join the AFSC staff every Friday at to hear updates from Gaza

    • Learn more and register

• American Friends Service Committee Events

  • Arts for Social Action: Artistic Responses to Gaza on January 30 at 7 AM CT

  • APARTHEID-FREE CITIES: Mobilize Municipalities to become Apartheid-Free in 2024 on January 30 at 7 PM CT

• Resources for Protesting from the AFSC

  • Free posters for Palestine

  • Guide to protesting

• Additional Resources

  • Read CRS Condemns Recent Violence in Palestine for educational resources

  • Check out our Global Solidarity blog articles and resources

  • Donate to the AFSC’s Gaza Emergency Response

  • Support Kalam Apparel

    • Purchases from this clothing brand directly contribute to Palestinian causes

    • Visit the website

  • Share your Valentine to Gaza

  • Send messages to the White House and your members of Congress to demand a cease-fire now!

  • Share Your Hope

  • Hashtags to use on social media

    • #Palestine

    • #FreePalestine

    • #Gaza

    • #GazaGenocide

    • #GazaUnderAttack

    • #LetGazaLive

• U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) National Week of Action in Solidarity with Palestine from 1/1/24 to 1/7/24

  • Open the Social Media Storm Toolkit for full access to promotional materials, a list of endorsers and more

• USPCN, NAARPR and SDS National #WeekOfAction4Palestine from 2/5/24 to 2/11/24

  • Organizations can endorse endorse this call by filling out this form.

• Photos and Videos of Chicago’s Solidarity

“Being a part of the protest and march was extremely uplifting. In solidarity with the Palestinian people, we gathered in mass to voice our passion for justice. I was able to speak with people of diaspora and share a common goal. I really felt the unity from Chicago to Palestine.” — CRS Community Organizer Biliah Mandela Castleberry