Fithian served from 1980 to 1987 as a member and coordinator of the
Washington Peace Center. During her tenure, she led and organized hundreds of events and demonstrations on a range of issues, locally and nationally. She led an organizational extensive
anti-racism initiative, facilitated educational workshops, and supported campaigns addressing issues such as nuclear disarmament and racial justice. This helped transform the Peace Center into a multicultural organization. In the early 1990s, Fithian joined the labor movement, bringing her experience to the
Justice for Janitors campaigns in
Washington, D.C.,
Denver, and
Los Angeles. She continued her work for
social,
economic, and
environmental justice, providing training and organizing support to many of the global-justice mobilizations around the world since the shutdown of the
World Trade Organization Ministerial in Seattle in 1999. After
Hurricane Katrina, Fithian worked with the
Common Ground Collective in
New Orleans. Fithian previously served as a National Steering Committee member of
United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of over 1,000 local and national groups working to end the
war in Iraq. She was also a member of the national team of
Extinction Rebellion. In April 2024, she reportedly played a significant role in the pro Palestinian protests at
Columbia University. She was observed providing guidance to the students protesting for
divestment from Israel, who launched an occupation of
Hamilton Hall on April 29. She instructed them on barricading techniques and crowd management. The
New York City Police Department labeled her a "professional agitator" in footage released during a press conference, highlighting her influence in escalating the protests. ==Writings==