Above and below: Campaign Nonviolence poster listing their vision and goals.
Thousands of people organized and participated in the 2668 Nonviolence Actions throughout the U.S. and 24 countries this past week as part of Campaign Nonviolence events.
The nonviolence campaign which is calling for a new culture of peace and nonviolence to end war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction is growing year by year.
The Campaign Nonviolence Convergence in Washington D.C. was held on Friday and Saturday. It was a gathering for the movement for nonviolence witnessed by thousands of people during the day. (See photos right).
Events began with a nonviolence training on Friday afternoon and an evening panel discussion with Kit Evans-Ford, George Martin, John Dear, Ken Butigan and Veronica Pelicaric.
On Saturday morning a rally was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Statue mc’ed by George Martin and Kit Evans-Ford with speeches by Lisa Sharon-Harper, Shane Claiborne, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, John Dear and Ken Butigan.
After that participants marched in pairs and in silence past the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Wall to the White House.
Ten activists including John Dear and Pace e Bene board members George Martin and Rev. Lennox Yearwood risked arrest at the White House fence as they held the Campaign Nonviolence banner calling for an end to war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction.
They were told to leave by the police, but when it was clear after an hour and a half that the police were not going to arrest them the group ended their witness.
Then Ken Butigan led a closing prayer circle in Lafayette park across from the the White House.
You can watch the video of the speeches, the march and and the action at the White House on YouTube hereSee photos from both the Friday and Saturday events here.
From their Facebook page you can see and share more photos.
In addition to the DC Convergence, actions took place around the nation that have been posted on the Campaign Nonviolence website including in New Castle, PA where people led a peace march through town closing with a reading of the Beatitudes. Also posted was Redwood City, CA where they held a protest at Lockheed Martin, the worlds largest arms seller. These are just a few among many actions covered on the site.
This article is a modified version of an email sent by the organization.