Visions of Peace
Jacksonville Monthly Meeting and Veterans for Peace joined together to produce “Visions of Peace,” an event to celebrate the UN’s International Day of Peace on September 21st. Held at the Florida Christian Center, the event drew a diverse crowd of about 80 people from all over the community for an evening of speakers, music, and poetry.
There were speakers from community groups, including icare and onejax, who spoke about refugee children, diversity, justice and civil rights. Willie Hager, of Veterans for Peace and Jacksonville Meeting, spoke about the Vietnam War.There was also performance by the “Intergenerational Peace Force,” which included an “Alternative National Anthem” written by director Francis Key, who is a descendant of Francis Scott Key.
Elaine Martin, clerk of Jacksonville Meeting, writes:
“The Jacksonville Community “Visions of Peace” event was inclusive of and featured many different perspectives on peace. Speakers included their personal experiences and spoke on the relationship of justice to peace, the importance of incorporating our diversity, and war and peace and American foreign policy. We had poetry readings and beautifully uplifting original music by Frances Key and the Intergeneration Peace Chorus and Goliath Flores.People left feeling inspired. We have already had requests to make it an annual event. Hooray!”
Watch the video!