Taking a Stand to Silence Violence

"I used to sit at the Internet and read the stories about Afghanistan, and I'd just cry," she said.

Iraq, she said, was even more clearly wrong.

But activism was something new for Norouzi, who was born in Jacksonville, Fla. She married an Iranian physician, raised two children and lives in Knoxville.

"Before Women in Black, I had never stood up for anything," said Norouzi. "I'm not political. I'm not a feminist."

The Frederick group held its first vigil on Nov. 29, 2002. A Korean War veteran was offended that the women held their protest in Memorial Park.

At another vigil, Alice Zalatoris, 34, of Frederick, said she felt unnerved as a pickup circled, its driver yelling angrily about his brother serving in Iraq. She wanted to write down the license number but told herself: "I can't be alarmed if I'm in a group of peaceful people."

During an international Women in Black conference in Jerusalem last year, Norouzi participated in a vigil at a time when emotions were especially raw because Israel was about to evacuate settlers from the Gaza Strip. Passersby spat on the ground and cursed the demonstrators.

"Traitors!" Norouzi heard someone yell. "May all your children be brutally murdered!"

Elsewhere, Women in Black members have been assaulted and even killed, Norouzi said. But she said that the experience in Jerusalem was rewarding in spite of the tense moments.

"First of all, you are completely exhilarated because you're meeting these little old Jewish ladies who have been doing this for 18 years," she said. "I figured if they could do it, I could do it. They're like our mothers."

Last month, as the Frederick vigil concluded, the women again formed a circle around Norouzi.

"The light we have represents the light of peace, the light of love, the light of hope. As we leave tonight, we leave with that light inside," Norouzi said.

The candles flickered out.

"Thank you, ladies, for coming," she said. "You were beautiful."

Women in Black hold vigils from 6:30 to 7 p.m on the third Wednesday of each month at Market and Patrick streets in Frederick, and from 12 to 12:30 p.m on the first Friday of each month at Memorial Park at W. Second and N. Bentz streets. For more information, contacthttp://www.wibfrederick.org,info@wibfrederick.orgor 301-834-7581.