PEACE Iowa

PEACE Iowa

Peace Education and Action Center of Eastern Iowa

Promoting international peace through education, intercultural communication, public witness, citizen involvement, and personal choices

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Firsthand Report from Masafer Yatta, West Bank. Friday, April 25th 6:30pm, Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A. Cassandra Dixon will report on her recent experiences volunteering with an international organization in Masafer Yatta, West Bank. Masafer Yatta is the community featured in the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Her work involves providing protective accompaniment to schoolchildren and farmers, standing in solidarity with Palestinians who want to engage in nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation. Cassandra is in Masafer Yatta this spring. She will return to the U.S. in April and share her report on the current situation. About Cassandra Dixon: For 19 years, Cassandra Dixon has traveled to the West Bank for several months each year to support nonviolent resistance to the occupation. For more information, email peace iowa at gmail dot com. Click to send email


Click to download PDF (accessible)
Invitation from PEACE Iowa: Build Community and Take Action in the New Year! Peace Action Groups. Groups of 4-6 people will meet regularly in homes, coffee shops, or parks or other public spaces to build community, support one another, brainstorm, and share actionable information about promoting peace. Groups will meet approximately four times in Feb, March, April. Each group will decide when and where it meets. Each meeting will have a focus, information sheet, discussion: - Seeds of violence in our food (such as avocados and chocolate); - Protecting local immigrants; - Seeds of war and violence in our technology (such as phones and electric vehicles). The group will share concrete personal actions, solutions, and alternatives. PEACE Iowa will provide resources for the meetings. The group might read an article in advance or watch a video at the meeting and discuss relevant information or tips (example: video about conflict minerals, share information about “conflict-free” phones—where are they available? can we be sure they are conflict-free?). The meetings may include brief singing or plant-based snacks or potluck; this would be decided by each group. Form your own group and contact PEACE Iowa for resources. Or you, or you and a friend, may join a group formed by PEACE Iowa. Email PEACE Iowa at peace iowa at g mail dot com by February 3 to sign up or learn more. Click to send email


Peaceful Protest Guidelines

Conduct and Participation:

  • Follow protest leaders’ and peace marshals’ instructions.
  • Ignore hecklers when marching. Stay peaceful and focused on your message (e.g., "ceasefire now").
  • Remain calm at rallies or vigils, even when provoked. Don't let opponents divert the group's focus.
  • Remember, your response represents Palestinians, peace activists, and Jews who support peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.

Use De-escalation Strategies:

  • Avoid shouting at opponents; it causes defensiveness, escalation, and distraction.
  • The public and media are listening.
  • If safe, speak calmly and respectfully to those who disagree with you. Otherwise, ignore them or let someone else talk to them.
  • If an opponent is willing to engage:
    • Find common ground (e.g., acknowledging areas of agreement like the horror of the Holocaust).
    • Share your personal reasons for supporting peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.
    • Use personal stories and listen to theirs.
    • Share just a few key facts.
    • Thank them for the dialogue.
  • Respect an opponent’s choice not to converse.


Georgiane and Nancy standing outdoors behind a table containing books, bumper stickers, and buttons. A banner with the PEACE Iowa logo hangs behind them.
PEACE Iowa volunteers Georgiane and Nancy at our booth at the 2019 Iowa City Soul & Blues Fest.

A man and woman standing outdoors in front of a table containing a map of Africa
The first visitors to name 3 countries on an unlabeled map of Africa at our booth at the 2019 Iowa City Soul & Blues Fest.

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