There Is Another Way - November U.S. Tour with CfP

Hi friends,

My name is Nicole Munson, and I serve as the Operations and Program Coordinator for American Friends of Combatants for Peace. I joined the movement and team in April 2024 and am continually inspired by the work of CfP.  For those of you I haven’t met yet, here's a little about me: I earned my Master's in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation from Trinity College in Dublin, where I researched masculinities, religion, peace, and conflict in post-conflict Northern Ireland. I’m passionate about supporting peacebuilding, transitional justice, and conflict transformation through evidence-based research.

This month, I led a multi-state AFCFP/CfP U.S. tour with Elie Avidor, one of CfP’s Israeli activists. Due to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, Elie joined me with ease. In stark contrast, Palestinian CfP activist, Mai Shahin, faced a discriminatory visa application process that blocked her from joining us in person - a process that systematically denies Palestinians mobility, silences their voices, and alienates them from the world. In the face of this injustice, our team got creative with partners so Mai could join the tour online. Her physical exclusion underscores the systemic inequalities that CfP/AFCFP work to dismantle and the necessity to end the occupation. Simultaneously, Mai’s virtual inclusion underscores both her and our community’s creativity, dedication, and resilience.

The U.S. tour took us to many cities where we deepened connections, each stop reinforcing the importance of CfP’s work. 

In Minneapolis, we held the first pre-release screening of There Is Another Way, a new documentary that builds on the award-winning film Disturbing the Peace (2016) which features CfP members and documents Israelis and Palestinians, born into conflict, sworn to be enemies, who laid down their weapons and challenged their fate—knowing that no one is free unless everyone is free. At the University of Minnesota, we engaged with students eager to learn about combatting polarization. We also engaged with J-Street Minneapolis for a speaking event that focused on CfP’s last year as a joint movement.

In Denver, we collaborated with peace groups and university students to facilitate conversations that left a lasting impact. One student organizer shared, “I realized that I need to be less quick to react to people I disagree with, and Combatants for Peace helped me see this.” In Baltimore, a public event at Loyola University drew a diverse crowd, with meaningful discussions moderated by AFCFP board president Gili Getz. This event was made possible through Loyola’s generous sponsorship of the tour. 

In Philadelphia, meeting with the White Men for Racial Justice group was an incredible experience. Their openness to learning and collaborating was deeply inspiring, and we hope to deepen our relationship with them. We also had the privilege to screen There is Another Way at Haverford College in Philadelphia.

At every stop, we encountered new supporters, connected with beloved friends, engaged deeply with students, and shared stories that resonated across divides. As we move into 2025, I am excited to focus on expanding our AFCFP Chapters and programs across the U.S. Local chapters are vital for amplifying the CfP message, building grassroots momentum, and fostering nonviolent resistance practices.

By strengthening these networks, we can create meaningful connections between U.S. communities and the CfP activists on the ground in Israel and Palestine. Our work isn’t just about addressing injustice abroad—it’s about learning from the CfP model to navigate our own divides here at home. Building international solidarity, understanding, and a collective call for justice rooted in nonviolence is the foundation of lasting change.

In the year ahead, here at AFCFP, we hope to grow local engagement, provide more tools for fostering transformation, and energize our base of U.S. supporters who are advocating for justice, dignity, and equity for all. Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support and commitment to another way fuel our work every day. 

In solidarity,
Nicole