MIDDLEBURY — Joanna Colwell and Lindsey Berk have for years faithfully rallied around humanitarian and environmental causes at the local level. You’ve likely seen one or both of their faces at peace vigils, rallies against homelessness or demonstrations for racial justice held at public venues stretching from the Middlebury town green to the Statehouse steps in Montpelier.

But last month, the two friends decided to kick it up a notch. They participated in a portion of an eight-day Pilgrimage for Peace, which saw hundreds of people of various colors, creeds and religions march 150 miles from Philadelphia to the White House in Washington, D.C., calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza — where an estimated 30,000 Palestinians have died in a war between Israel and Hamas.

It’s a war that has seen extreme violence perpetrated by both sides, following an Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas-led forces on southern Israel. Israeli forces responded with aerial bombardments of the Gaza Strip, followed by a large-scale ground invasion that continues unabated and has precipitated a humanitarian crisis.

“People are busy with their lives and aren’t sure what they could do to change U.S. foreign policy. But we have a moral obligation to stop this mass murder of Palestinian people,” said Colwell. The Ripton resident, who is co-founder of the group Middlebury Showing Up for Racial Justice, is — along with Berk, a Brandon resident —organizing an Addison County chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.

The Pilgrimage for Peace was sponsored by Faith for Black Lives, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, Rabbis for Ceasefire, Hindus for Human Rights, and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Grace Oedel of Burlington told Berk and Colwell about the Feb. 14-21 event, and the trio decided to join in when the march got to Baltimore, Md. on Feb. 19.

The women were drawn to the pilgrimage by its interfaith background and its anti-war message.

Colwell and Berk are Jewish.

“Since Oct. 7, this is the first time I’m identifying as a Jewish activist,” Berk said. “I had kind of put my Judaism on the shelf when I moved to Vermont, and this has really brought out the sense of peace we are taught as children, that we should be fighting for social justice. For me, that’s what this was.

“I think as Jewish people, we have a duty to speak out against what’s happening. We need to let people know that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism — making that distinction really clear that we’re not self-hating Jews; we believe there’s a way to have a just world.”

Colwell observed how the words “never again” were recited by the community of nations following Nazi Germany’s genocide of Jewish people. She said that same standard should be universally applied.

“‘Never again’ means ‘never again’ — for everybody,” Colwell said. “That’s what compelled me to join the Peace Pilgrimage.”

ON THE MARCH

The Pilgrimage for Peace began in Philadelphia on Feb. 14 with around 150 marchers. The number ebbed and flowed throughout the march as participants bowed out and joined in. When the three Vermonters joined the Pilgrimage on Feb. 19 in Baltimore, the group’s ranks had diminished to around 30 — but swelled to around 300 by the walk’s powerful conclusion in Lafayette Park across from the White House.

Colwell and Berk were amazed by the fluidity of the march during their three days on board. They walked around 15 miles per day, holding banners, singing songs and associating.

“It really changed from day to day,” Colwell recalled of the crowd. “There was a family with two adults and four or five kids who joined for one day.”

Berk observed strangers spontaneously stepping into the fold upon seeing the peaceful procession with its “ceasefire” sign.

“Some people would join us for a couple of blocks,” she said. “There was a young woman on her way to high school or college who jumped out of her car at the side of the highway, walked with us for a few blocks, and headed to school.”

The women were impressed with how well the pilgrimage was coordinated. Volunteers followed the crowd with vehicles for marchers who got tired and needed a brief break. Water and snacks were available for participants to stay strong and hydrated. Leaders called ahead to church congregations who generously provided meals and space for the pilgrims. Organizers made sure to get complimentary hotel/motel rooms for participants.

AT LEAST THREE Vermonters took part in a Feb. 14-21 Pilgrimage for Peace to the White House with participants calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Take a break at the entrance to the District of Columbia are (from left) New York Rabbi Abby Stein, Joanna Colwell of Ripton, Grace Oedel of Burlington and Lindsey Berk of Brandon.
Photo courtesy of Lindsey Berk

March highlights were many for both Colwell and Berk. Striking up conversations with fellow marchers. Witnessing acts of generosity from strangers. Attending speeches at pilgrimage stops along the way. The morning prayer, reflective of the diverse religious beliefs held by the pilgrims. The “closing circle” ceremony at dinnertime. The pilgrimage route’s passage through what had been a notoriously segregated area just 60 years ago. Inspirational oratory delivered by Black spiritual leaders, such as the Rev. Stephen A. Green, during a service at Payne Memorial Church in Baltimore. A Palestinian participant recounting that she’d lost 100 family members in the Gaza conflict.

Having the Pilgrimage organized and coordinated by the Black community made it even more poignant, according to Colwell.

“This is a community that is so over-policed and deprived,” she said, “and they’re standing up for people far away because they recognize (the injustice).”

Berk and Colwell vowed to continue their call for a ceasefire in Gaza, now that they’re back in Vermont. They’ve organized a “Sing for Ceasefire” karaoke fundraiser that’ll be held at Haymaker in Middlebury on Saturday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. They said a pilgrimage for peace in Vermont in a possibility.

“I think we are part of a mass movement,” Colwell said. “Personally, I came back deeply resolved.”

Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].