Campaign Nonviolence Cofounder Reverend John Dear, author of 36 books and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.September 13, 2017
Over 1,600 marches, prayer vigils, festivals and other events marked Campaign Nonviolence’s fourth annual global “Week of Actions” that culminated on September 21, the International Day of Peace. Thousands participated in this unprecedented grassroots campaign from September 16 to 24 to build a culture of peace free from racism, war, poverty and environmental devastation.
“People are rallying together to stop violence and injustice and begin peacemaking,” said Dr. Ken Butigan, cofounder of Campaign Nonviolence and professor at DePaul University. “Our unified voices are calling for policy shifts that directly advance peace, justice and the restoration and protection of our environment.”
Campaign Nonviolence was founded in 2014 with 230 peacemaking actions. This year, the campaign grew to more than 1,600 nonviolent actions.
Creating a World of Peace and Justice
Campaign Nonviolence is sponsored by Pace e Bene, a nonprofit that partners with individuals and organizations to cultivate active nonviolence. True to the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Campaign Nonviolence illuminates the need to resolve conflicts peacefully at home and abroad. The group’s objective is to protect human rights, abolish weapons of mass destruction and wars, end poverty and injustice, and heal our planet.
“Americans need a vision of hope and peace,” said Campaign Nonviolence cofounder the Reverend John Dear, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and author of 36 books. During this week of national grassroots actions, we are mobilizing the public to engage tools of nonviolence that Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others activated for personal and global transformation.”
Following are a few of the peacemaking actions this year:
- Delaware Peace Week held more than 60 nonviolence events ranging from musical performances to teach-ins and meetings statewide.
- Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, declared “Campaign Nonviolence North Carolina Week” with actions that included workshops, vigils, and letter writing to Congressional Representatives.
- The greater Chicago area hosted approximately 100 events to support peace, justice and our environment.
- Hundreds of people participated in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Peace Fest in Binns Park on Sunday, Sept. 24. Featured were four bands and guest speakers that included the Reverend John Dear.
- Nationwide marches, prayer vigils, workshops, teach-ins and rallies were among the peacemaking actions in Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Clinton, Iowa; Huntington, Indiana; Bangor, Maine; Lansing, Michigan; and Erie, Pennsylvania.
Which Campaign Nonviolence action will you create or support to ensure peace and justice for all?
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Recommended Media:
YouTube: Connecting the Dots between racism, war, poverty, and environmental devastation.
National Catholic Reporter: Campaign Nonviolence Organizes over 1,600 events for Week of Actions.
Napa Valley Register in California on its Week of Actions “because violence is not the answer.”
Clinton Herald on the Campaign Nonviolence Stop the Hate/Show the Love Walk in Clinton, Iowa.
The News&Observer in North Carolina on Pace a Bene and how nonviolence begins with you and me.
Peacenews.org on Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions 2017 | Pace e Bene.
Pope Francis Urges Culture of Nonviolence.
Dr. Ken Butigan’s book, Nonviolent Lives! These stories of the lives of ordinary people remind us of the power of love to transcend and transform suffering and injustice.
