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GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE

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Women In Black Memorial Day Vigil
an article by Charlotte Koons

On this Memorial Day, when Gaia's tears cancelled parades and ceremonies in most of the Northeast, a group of 7 women and 1 man stood vigil as Women In Black at a Huntington, Long Island shopping Mall. Women In Black stand silent vigil to protest war, terrorism, violence and human rights abuses all over the world. We are silent because mere words cannot express the tragedies of war and violence. An international peace network of women, WIB was founded in 1988 by Israeli women standing against the occupation of Palestinian lands. Today, WIB has groups in over 200 towns and cities and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

In the Rotunda of this Mall, now dedicated to those that perished on 9/11, a table draped in black awaited us. (Some one suggested that it had been used earlier in the day by the Marine Corp for a ceremony.)

We placed our WIB fliers and a few simple WIB buttons on the table and stood well back in our silent vigil. Many people were obliviious, others were curious and many came and read or took our WIB fact sheet.

One woman told her two young daughters that, "These people are standing here to protest war, violence and terrorism. They are being quiet because these things make them so sad".

After 40 minutes or so, a security guard came and gently told us to leave, which we did in dignified procession.

It was a most fitting and respectful way to honor all the casualties of war on Memorial Day. Women In Black Peace Vigils are now held weekly in 6 different towns on LI. For more information as to locations and times you may contact me at:
--
Charlotte Koons
shegoat75@earthlink.net

DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:


How can we produce positive peace events, that open peoples hearts as well as their minds?

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Latest reader comment:

This discussion question applies to the following articles:

Women in Black Memorial Day Vigil
Cross-Country Peace Walk
Personal Account of Civil Disobedience
Philippine Youth Dialogue for Peace by Videoconference
Opening of the Exhibition 'Five Ways to construct Peace'
Creating a culture of peace (Sarasota, USA)
Culture of Peace: The World Peace Flame is coming to Ashland, Oregon
I Am the Flame


This report was posted on June 7, 2003.