During the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, Sept 21-Oct 2nd, tens of thousands of people took action to end violence and mainstream nonviolence. Working for peace, racial justice, environmental protection, economic justice, and more, here are some of the many stories of creative and committed action. These reports come from Oshkosh, WI; Corsicana, TX; New York City, NY; Santa Fe, NM, Prescott, AZ; Grand Isle, ME; and online events with nationwide participants.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

On September 28th, Jaylin Boatman in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, joined our call for Ride-Ins For Racial Justice. He rode his skateboard around campus to provoke more dialogue about racial justice. A friend participated by taking photos and documenting the action. Jaylin opened up discussions around the importance of racial justice and equality.

Corsicana, Texas

To celebrate the International Day of Nonviolence on October 2nd, organizers in Corsicana, Texas held a "Stand Up For Change Navarro County" event. The group provided refreshments and hung nonviolence posters on the walls (including Campaign Nonviolence’s Nonviolence Means Posters). Coordinator John Blewitt spoke twice, once on nonviolence in general and later with a focus on Gandhi's life and work. The 17 attendees were invited to inscribe peace messages on a blank poster and to paint rocks with peace art. A member of the team offered two guided meditation sessions.

New York City, New York

On September 26th, in alignment with the UN International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, 23 people joined Pax Christi Metro New York and Pax Christi New York State for an interfaith prayer service near the United Nations to pray for peace and nuclear weapons abolition. Due to the pandemic, this was the first time in three years the group was able to hold the action at a plaza directly across from the United Nations headquarters. As a group, they heard prayers and reflections, along with music from multiple traditions. Mary Yelenick from the Pax Christi International UN NGO Team gave a powerful short statement to the group.

The gathering was co-sponsored by Basel Peace Office and UNFOLD ZERO; Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York; The Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York; Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives; NYCAN; Pax Christi New York State; Peace Action New York State; Ribbon International; and World Yoga Community. Also in attendance were members of Catholic Worker, the Interfaith Center of New York, Pax Christi International, the Redemptorist Fathers, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Rise for Life, and more, both affiliated and non-affiliated.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of our Nonviolent Cities Project groups sponsored or co-sponsored several events during Campaign Nonviolence Action Days. Nonviolent Santa Fe has been organizing together for less than a year - and look at all they pulled off!

Nonviolent Santa Fe worked with Veterans for Peace and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety to get the county commission to make a resolution to urge congress to take money out of the military and put it into domestic needs. It was unanimously adopted, as was the part formally recognizing the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2022.

They joined with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence for a gun safety lock give-away. Twenty-five to thirty people also attended Nonviolent Santa Fe’s first "Introduction to Nonviolence" workshop. In addition, the group made an appeal to local faith groups to feature their teachings on nonviolence during the International Nonviolence weekend, and one church invited a Nonviolent Santa Fe member to give a talk on the subject. Some members of Nonviolent Santa Fe attended the Friday protest vigil for peace on a busy intersection downtown.

Write-In For Nonviolence

To commemorate the International Day of Nonviolence on October 2nd, the Writing Nonviolence Affinity Group held a virtual Write-In For Nonviolence. Sharing stories of nonviolence and engaging in on-the-spot writing sessions on the theme, they honored the International Day of Nonviolence by reflecting on their nonviolence heroes and the first people who taught them how to engage nonviolence in their lives. This group is part of the Campaign Nonviolence Affinity Groups and the write-in was their first co-created action.

Prescott, Arizona

The Prescott Peacebuilders gathered 45+ people for an event on September 21st, 2022, the International Day of Peace. Their speakers forum featured a range of different voices and attendees of all ages were invited to stop by the Peace Candle display. City Councilman Eric Moore read their Proclamation for the International Day of Peace at the City Council Chambers.

Grand Isle, ME CNV March

On Oct 1st, people in cities and towns across the United States held Campaign Nonviolence marches, bringing together people working to stop environmental destruction, war, racism, and the violence of poverty. Rivera Sun lives in a very rural area of Northern Maine, so she held a "march" with a twist. It's the start of hunting season, so Rivera 'marched' around the edges of her family farm’s putting up fresh No Hunting signs as a form of practicing and upholding nonviolence toward the earth and other living creatures.

She wrote, “We've been doing this for 25+ years. On my "march" for Campaign Nonviolence, I thought about all the ways we've tried to practice nonviolence toward the earth here. We've farmed organically, preventing herbicides from running off into the gulleys to poison frogs and fish, and keeping pesticides from killing off bee swarms.”

CNV 2022 Action Reports: Skateboard Ride-In For Racial Justice, Rally for Nuclear Abolition Near UN, Nonviolent Santa Fe’s Many Actions, A March For Wildlife, A Virtual Write-In and Much More!