Around Town

Hear High Schoolers’ Perspectives & Experiences at Community Forum

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

Come engage with students from Watertown High School in a community forum focusing on student perspectives and experiences. Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment will be featuring student voices at our next quarterly meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 8th from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank room at the Watertown Free Public Library.  

The forum’s focus is to promote dialogue between high school students and community members. Students will highlight what is working for them in Watertown as well as what can be improved. The key question is “How can adults in Watertown support our youth?” Other questions that will be addressed include: What challenges/issues/concerns are young people facing in Watertown? How does Watertown provide support for young people? What do you want community members to know about youth today?  

Participants will be able to engage with students in small discussion groups. Community members are encouraged to register in advance and to include any questions for the students with your registration. Registration is encouraged, not required. The evening is free and open to all interested community members. Refreshments will be served. Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment (WCPJE) is a non-profit, community-based organization that works to protect the environment, promote sound environmental practices, oppose war and aggression, cultivate peace and security, and advocate for social and economic justice. For more information about WCPJE visit our website: https://watertowncitizens.org/.

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Showing of Palestinian Documentary

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The next film in the Palestine-Gaza Committee Palestinian documentary series is FARHA, a feature film released in 2021, is the harrowing story of a 14 year-old Palestinian girl whose life is brutally upended during the tumultuous events of 1948. Date:  Sunday, March 8, 2026Time:       6 p.m.Location: The Church of the Good Shepherd,  9 Russell Ave., Watertown, MA

Join us for a discussion after the film. *** The Church of the Good Shepherd has handicapped accessible restrooms.

Government

See Why the City Council Narrowly Rejected a Nuclear Disarmament Resolution

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Tuesday night, a citizens group presented the City Council with a petition to support a resolution encouraging the federal government to seek nuclear disarmament in the United States and the other eight nations that have nuclear weapons. The proposal split the Council, which rejected it down by one vote. The resolution was signed by 500 residents, of whom about a dozen spoke in support for a variety of reasons, while a few residents spoke against mostly saying they did not think the issue was something that a local government could impact. The debate amongst the Councilors did not revolve around the content of the resolution, but rather about whether it was appropriate for the City Council to be taking up on their agenda. Originally, the resolution was proposed by a City Councilor, but City Council President Mark Sideris said he did not think it was appropriate discussion because it was not specifically City related, and the Council has many other issues to deal with.

Around Town

Watertown Group Announces First 2 Films in Monthly Palestinian Film Series

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The Palestine-Gaza Committee of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment is launching a series of documentary and feature films that will explore the history and culture of the Palestinian people and provide a picture of their life under Israeli occupation. The series gets underway at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9 Russell Ave., Watertown, with the showing of “1948: Creation and Catastrophe.” A discussion will follow the presentation. Admission is free.

Around Town

Webinar on the Nuclear Disarmament Resolution: Why Now & Why It’s a Local Issue

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

The Watertown  Citizens for Peace and Common Security Committee is holding a webinar on the Nuclear Disarmament Resolution in order to better inform the public about this issue which is on the City Council calendar for February 10, 2026. Join us for an informative discussion about the Nuclear Armament Resolution on Sunday, January 25, 2026 from 4-6 p.m. The Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment’s, Peace & Common Security Working Group along with co-sponsors, Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility & Disarmament Working Group, & Massachusetts Peace Action will all have speakers representing their respective groups, as well as, Students for Nuclear Disarmament. The Zoom link for the webinar is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89831190874?pwd=iYFPOM63RBTp4FfajbGazNOKNlF3EM.1#success

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Presentation on Promoting Inclusion, Resisting Censorship

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment:

The public is invited to a presentation sponsored by the Peace and Common Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9 Russell Ave. Featured speakers will be representatives of Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM).Sana Fadel from TIM and Jill Charney from SAWA:Newton-Area Alliance for Peace and Justice will present and discuss TIM’s guiding principles and areas of focus,and how its work seeks to counter efforts statewide and nationally to stifle free speech including criticism of the State of Israel. They will also offer ways people can get involved.

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion “Voices from Palestine & the Region”

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

Join Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment for an evening discussion led by three foremost experts from Eastern Massachusetts on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at the First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown, MA. Amal Bishara — A Palestinian American & Professor of Anthropology at Tufts University & author of Crossing a Line: Laws, Violence, & Roadblocks to Palestinian Expression. Valentine M. Maghadam — A Professor of Sociology and former Director of International Affairs  Program at Northeastern University and a former Section Chief at UNESCO. Katherine Hanna — A Palestinian American who is currently working to support educational projects in Occupied Palestine.