Trump attacks longest continuous protest in US History

Philipos Melaku-Bello and Michael Beer with Egyptian tourists at the Prop1 Vigil in Washington DC

Trump dismantled shelter at Proposition1 Anti Nuclear Weapons Vigil in front of the White House

On Sunday, September 7, 2025, in front of the White House, US park police dismantled a shelter of the 44-year vigil for peace, human rights, and anti-nuclear weapons. For decades NVI has long supported the vigilers who intend to persevere.

Nuclear war is as dangerous and plausible now as it was in 1981 when it was started. Millions of tourists have seen the vigil, which has survived lightning strikes, hurricanes, blizzards, and numerous attacks by opponents.

Philipos Melaku-Bello has led the Proposition 1 vigil for many years. He says, “The shelter is legal and that President Trump violated the law by removing it.” “Trump doesn’t like our demands for nuclear disarmament, human rights, and peace.”

The White House confirmed the removal, telling AP in a statement that the vigil was a “hazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas.”

NVI Co-Director, Michael Beer, visits the vigil often. “The nonviolent vigil may be unsightly to some, but war and nuclear weapons are an abomination that must be abolished before humanity destroys itself.”

It is believed to be the longest continuous protest in U.S. history. The Proposition 1 vigil will fight this attack in the courts on First Amendment/Article 19 grounds. We must all see this as another sign of the many signs of breaching our most basic right and freedom of speech and expression.

We must not and cannot remain silent.

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Solidarity in Action: Resisting Occupation in Palestine and Minnesota

I have been having a rough time since I returned from Palestine to Minnesota at the end of November. I really wasn't prepared to leave an occupied territory to return to Minnesota to another occupied territory. While I am not trying to claim an equivalency, it seemed liked the brutality had followed me home.

As many of you know, last September I was beaten up by an Israeli settler and hospitalized for five days and had minor surgery. And my wounds paled to what I was seeing in the streets of the Twin Cites and escalating in the villages of the West Bank. To be honest, there were times when I searched and could not find hope. Yet, I could sense something more durable that kept me going. I sensed it in Palestine and then I saw it emerge in Minnesota. It's like a "no frills" compassion where people sense the next right thing and just go do it, sometimes in an organized strategic way and sometimes spontaneously. Somehow, sometimes deep inside us we know what to do and find the courage to do it. I saw it when my friends stood boldly in a scorching sandy desert protecting shepherd's homes as they were spat on and clubbed by Israeli settlers. And I saw it when friends stood up to armored ICE agents trying to snatch our new neighbors on icy streets in freeing temperatures. And this compassion comes on so many other levels: sharing food, giving rides, washing clothes, demonstrating, paying rent, singing, providing legal assistance and just being present.

Who knows whether this gritty compassion can withstand the whirling violence that encircles us but we must make the attempt. As my old friend Gary Cohen reminded me the other day, "Even when its hopeless, you resist. It's your humanity. It's your self-respect."

Please join me on Monday at 11:30 am central US time, 12:30 pm eastern US time, 4:30 pm UTC and 6:30 pm Jerusalem time for a conversation with people in Palestine and Minnesota who continue to compassionately resist. My friend Anton Goodman of Rabbis for Human Rights has been added to the program,

With grit, grief and love,

Mel Duncan

Join Nonviolence International for a webinar on March 16, Monday, at 11:30am CT and 6:30pm Jerusalem time, entitled Solidarity in Action: Resisting Occupation in Palestine and Minnesota. This will be a conversation among Palestinian and Minnesota activists about nonviolent resistance to occupation and state violence. This webinar brings together organizers from two contexts where communities are confronting intensified state control, displacement and militarized enforcement: one new, in Minnesota, where federal immigration enforcement actions, characterized by a large deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents and have been resisted by community protests, grassroots defense and community building efforts have deeply impacted families and organizers, and veterans in the West Bank, where decades of military occupation shape everyday life and resistance, and have seen an increase of violence in the last months.

While there is no equivalency in duration or depth of violence and impunity, we have an opportunity to learn from people who have resisted occupation their entire lives and from those who may or may not have experienced it comparatively recently. Speakers will share their lived experiences, contrast strategies of resistance, shared learning and explore opportunities for solidarity and collective action. Through this exchange, we aim to center community agency, hope, and shared learning, and uplifting practices of resilience and organizing.

The webinar will be hosted by Mel Duncan, from Minnesota, co-founder of the Nonviolent Peaceforce and organizer of the Unarmed Civilian Protection in Palestine (UCPiP). And speakers include Amira Musallam, Head of Mission of UCPiP, Maddie Moon, Minnesota community organizer, and Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, Executive Director for UNIDOS MN.

Join us for this important conversation by registering here.

Goals:

Share lessons learned from grassroots resistance in both contexts

Build and invite compassion and mutual understanding

Identify opportunities for solidarity and collaboration between movements fighting occupation, displacement, and state violence

Sami Awad Visiting DC (Thurs & Fri) - Rethinking Resistance

NVI Internship Opportunity

Are you passionate about active nonviolence, social justice, and global movements for change? Do you want hands-on experience in nonprofit management, digital organizing, and international event coordination?

As a small but globally engaged organization, NVI relies on interns as integral members of our work. You will gain meaningful experience supporting programs, communications, digital outreach, and nonprofit operations while contributing directly to global nonviolent movements.

What You’ll Gain

Direct exposure to global nonviolent activism and movement-building
Experience in virtual event coordination and webinar production
Hands-on nonprofit management and operations training
Opportunity to shape and invest in projects aligned with your interests

Interns work closely with staff while also exercising independence, creativity, and initiative.
With guidance from staff, each intern will split their time between programmatic support, organizational outreach, and administrative tasks. Interns will also have the opportunity to invest significant time and work within their preferred projects of choice.

Internship Structure

Remote position, from anywhere in the world
From June to December 2026
Must be able to commit to 2-3 team meetings per week at 9:30AM ET
Minimum of 15 hours per week
$500 USD monthly stipend
Available to students and non-students
Can be arranged for academic credit
Possibility of extension by mutual agreement

Our Commitment to Equity

As nonviolent activists committed to social justice, we recognize that systems of violence disproportionately impact marginalized communities. We are committed to centering these communities in our work and strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as members of marginalized communities.

Responsibilities

Event Management

Support organizing and delivering global webinars
Assist with technical management of live virtual events
Engage diverse international audiences

Communications & Outreach

Create website updates and blog posts
Develop content for YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook
Monitor and engage with online supporters
Assist with digital storytelling and movement visibility

Data Management

Update and expand the Nonviolent Tactics database (MySQL)
Support maintenance of the nonviolence training archive (Omeka)

Website Maintenance

Update and manage content using Nation Builder

Operations Support

Learn internal donation workflows and how to use Zapier
Understand nonprofit compliance and responsibilities
Support organizational systems and administrative tasks

Qualifications

We take a holistic approach to applications. We understand that your talents and lived experiences extend far beyond a one-page resume. While educational background and professional experience are considered, we equally value passion, curiosity, initiative, and commitment to nonviolent social change.

How to Apply

Please apply through our Idealist ad and send us the requested information and documents until April 23, 2026.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Civil Society Must Act: Sign the NGO Appeal to Stop Escalation

Dear Friends,

The Middle East (West Asia), and the world, are facing deeply dangerous moments.

The recent war by the United States and Israel on Iran has pushed an already fragile region closer to a wider and potentially devastating war. In moments like this, it can feel as though the machinery of violence moves unchecked, while ordinary people and civil society are left watching helplessly.

But history reminds us that this is precisely when our voices matter most.

Civil society has always carried a sacred responsibility in times of crisis: to speak when others are silent, to insist on humanity when violence dominates the headlines, and to remind the world that another path, embedded in nonviolence, is still possible.

A coalition of organizations is therefore launching an urgent international petition calling for immediate de-escalation, restraint, ceasefire and diplomacy instead of further militarization.

In the midst of despair, this is our moment to act together.

We invite NGOs, human rights organizations, faith communities, peace networks, and civil society groups to add their voices, to affirm that the expansion of the war is not inevitable.

Please sign your organization’s name to the appeal here by Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

This petition recognizes and encourages governments that have shown restraint, while urging all parties to step back from the brink and pursue diplomacy, accountability, and international law. But signing the petition is only the beginning.

At this critical time, we also encourage you to:

Contact your government representatives and urge them to support immediate de-escalation and ceasefire efforts.
• Share this appeal with partner organizations and networks so that more civil society groups can join.
• Speak publicly for peace and for the protection of civilians across the region.

There are moments in history when the future feels uncertain and dark. Yet those same moments have often become the turning points when ordinary people and courageous organizations refused to accept that violence was inevitable.

We cannot control the decisions of governments or armies. But we can ensure that the voice of humanity, justice, and nonviolence is heard clearly across the world. Hope is not passive. It is something we practice together.

Let us take up that responsibility now.
Feel free to reach us at [email protected] or +1-202-244-0951.

In solidarity,

Nonviolence International