Women in Black was founded in Jerusalem in December 1987, soon after the eruption of the first Intifada–the Palestinian revolt against the Israeli occupation. It consisted of women dressed in black (as a sign of mourning for the victims on both sides) and standing silently in public spaces with signs “End the Occupation” in three languages–Hebrew, English, and Arabic.
Soon after its founding in Jerusalem, Women in Black vigils spread throughout Israel and we all stood for one hour every Friday at 1PM. It was a provocative statement and often met with hostility and often violence by those opposed.
The movement in Israel inspired sister vigils around the world, and these often carried different, though parallel, messages. The international website describes it as a “worldwide network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism, and violence”.
For a detailed description of the early years in Israel, see Women in Black: A Book on this site. The international site gives more global information.