The Campaign Nonviolence Action Days stretched from September 21st, the International Day of Peace, to October 2nd, the International Day of Nonviolence. During that time, over 4,622 actions and events took place to build a culture of peace and active nonviolence, free from war, poverty, racism, and environmental destruction. Here are some stories and photos from those actions.

Atlanta, Georgia

Jared’s Heart of Success in Atlanta, Georgia, partnered with us on the Sept 30th Day of Action To End Gun Violence. They held a number of local events, including participating in Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week. Watch youth make the Start With Hello Week Promise Pledge in this video. Here is the text of the pledge:

I, __________ promise to:

Have empathy for those around me.

Reach out to peers who may be alone, left out, or isolated.

Be an Upstander who uses my voice when something seems wrong, whether it be for my community, a peer, or myself.

Always start with a friendly “hello.” -Sandy Hook Promise

They also held events with children and youth on loneliness and depression. “Loneliness and depression can cause children and youth to pull away and, in serious situations, even hurt themselves or others. Start With Hello Week teaches youth to be more inclusive and connected to each other,” says Jared’s Heart of Success. Watch a short video clip of this training.

To promote the nationwide Day of Action to End Gun Violence, LaTayla Billingslea made a video on Instagram and Facebook. LaTayla is an organizer and trainer with Jared’s Heart of Success, and a member of the Campaign Nonviolence Youth Collective.

Sandy Hook Promise & Start With Hello Week

Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week held events in 300 schools and communities to teach kids how to be Upstanders. They learned about how to deal with loneliness, social isolation, and bullying, and also how to break those cycles with their classmates. Knowing that these can be factors in gun violence, youth suicide, and school shootings, the week’s activities aim at empowering students to make a difference among their classmates.

Hawke’s Bay, NEW ZEALAND

In Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, a whopping 43 peace poles have been put up in front of schools, churches, public spaces, parks, and more. Liz Remmerswaal, Hawke's Bay Peace Poles/Te Matau a Māui Ngā Pou Rangimarie coordinator, said she hopes they will be an inspiration as well as a challenge to communities to use non-violent ways of dealing with conflict. The tall wooden poles have words for “peace” in multiple languages on all sides. You can watch a video of a peace pole ceremony at a Maori marae here and read more about the project in the local newspaper here. The photo in this blog post is by Warren Buckland from the New Zealand Herald.

Reno, NV

In Reno, Nevada, 48 people attended the six-hour, energetic gathering called A Day of Reflection, Responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor. The program included speakers and interactive exercise. Organizer Rita Sloan writes, “We stressed the interconnection of all planet life (Integral Ecology), and especially linked the two Laudato Si goals, responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor. Bishop Mueggenborg, fairly new to our diocese, started our day with a beautiful opening talk, stating that justice requires right relationships among people and with creation. We addressed the science of climate issues as well as the spirituality called for in working for justice. We ended the day with encouragement for all to take the next step in their ongoing commitment to working for justice. Several listed their names on sign-up sheets for various ways of involvement. We heard numerous positive comments on the experiences of the day.”

St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN

On Oct 1st, in conjunction with Campaign Nonviolence Marches being held across the United States, Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW) in St. Paul, MN, organized a Campaign Nonviolence March to uplift the vision of a world beyond violence and a culture rooted in nonviolence. They wore blue scarves to express solidarity as global citizens for a better world. The participants also carried signs defining what nonviolence meant to them. They marched from the Twin Cities Friends Meetinghouse to the busy intersection of Snelling Ave and Summit Ave. Dozens of drivers honked their support as they drove past. “It was energizing to be out in the community promoting the message of nonviolence,” reported organizers, adding that the Campaign Nonviolence March added public visibility to the work FNVW is doing to champion nonviolence. Members of the organization socialized and built community with one another during the action. (Photos by Bridget Doak)

Chicago, IL

In Chicago, Illinois, Precious Blood Ministry of Redemption held a drumming circle in honor of Campaign Nonviolence week. PBMR Reentry Case Manager, Carl, shares how moved he was by the experience: "We were the essence of beauty and strength! Beauty because of the beauty of all of us coming together to coordinate in one sound, and the strength because of all of the bravery of jumping in to build off of each other. No one had any fear of being off beat; when we all came together, somehow it was coordinated! That's the strength of community."

Precious Blood Ministry also held its annual Bike Ride for Peace, on September 24th, calling for people to put the guns down. The ride was followed by a barbeque for the participants and community members. They posted, “Thanks to everyone who came out Saturday for our Annual Bike Ride for Peace! Youth, staff, neighbors, community partners, and volunteers rode together through our streets. It was a great day of laughter, joy, peace, and nonviolence here in the Back of the Yards.”

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These stories are just some of the 4622+ actions and events that happened during the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, Sept 21-Oct 2nd, to build a culture of peace and active nonviolence, free from war, poverty, racism, and environmental destruction. Find more stories, reports, and videos here>>

Drum Circle for Healing in Chicago, Youth Stopping Gun Violence in Atlanta, CNV March in St. Paul/Minneapolis, 43 Peace Poles In New Zealand, and More!