Community members in Des Moines and Iowa City are invited to gather on Oct. 10, for a public watch event accompanying the People’s Tribunal on Government Complicity in Gaza, a local and national effort to examine the role of the U.S. government in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The livestream begins at noon and continues until 7 p.m.
The Iowa City watch event will feature local speaker from Iowans For Palestine, Yassir Abuddagga who will welcome everyone and speak briefly about the current situation in Palestine/Gaza. Gathering begins at 11:30 a.m. in the meeting room of the Great Plains Action Society at 810 Maiden Lane, Iowa City.
The Des Moines watch party also gathers at 11:30 a.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 4211 Grand Ave., Des Moines, and is hosted by the Des Moines Branch of WILPF US (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom US).
Individuals can livestream this event at home at www.youtube.com/WILPFustoday.
Everyone is invited to join this timely and relevant community convening to learn more about how our tax dollars fund the genocide.
Community members will view the proceedings at the in-person Tribunal originating in Seattle WA, held real time, and including international law experts and attorneys. Attendees will hear testimony and evidence, and participate in collective discussion about the responsibility of U.S. government officials and state actors for their support and complicity in Israel’s assault on the Palestinian people.
The People’s Tribunal format is modeled after a grand jury hearing. Rather than relying on government institutions to investigate themselves, the tribunal places evidence before a jury of community members and asks whether there is sufficient evidence of complicity to warrant the indictment of government officials and state actors.
The tribunal is organized by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom US, the American Friends Service Committee, and Veterans For Peace. The tribunal seeks to deepen public understanding through facts, testimony, and dialogue while creating a space for communities to confront the question of accountability for U.S. government complicity in Gaza.
If you have questions, contact Iowa WILPF member Marybeth Gardam at Theburrow68@gmail.com.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, WILPF US was awarded the US Peace Foundation’s 2026 national Peace Prize.
