Justice, Peace and
Mourning March
September 29,
2001
A Justice, Peace and Mourning March was held in Traverse City on September 29th. Organized by a group who had met at Kejara's Bridge to respond to the events of September 11, the tragedy was intended to combine our feelings of grief and sadness for the victims with a hope for restraint on the part of our government in response to the attacks. The march was peaceful, with several large, colorful puppets, lots of signs calling for peace and nonviolence, and people of all ages who believe that a nonviolent approach is necessary. After walking through the downtown, the group held a gathering on the steps at the Governmental Center. Many shared thoughts and concerns, and Victor McManemy sang a couple of songs of hope and unity.
The Neahtawanta Center brought a banner with the words "May Peace Prevail on Earth" which will be sent to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, and invited people to write messages of unity and support for the Arab American community there who have been experiencing harrassment.
We have included the remarks made by local author, Stephanie Mills, and Ron Williams, New York City resident, for those of you who weren't able to be with us (see page 10). As more and more people stand up for peaceful alternatives to war, we continue to hold out hope that no more innocent lives will be lost.
Photos and remarks spoken at the gathering after the march can be seen here.