Peace supporters and grassroots activists from the Greater Lansing area will mark 10 years of weekly peace vigils at the Michigan Capitol Building at noon on Friday, September 16, 2011. Local residents have called for peace instead of war for 522 straight Fridays following the violent incidents in the U.S. on 9/11/2001.
The vigil on Friday, September 16, 2011, will be from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in front of the Capitol Building, at Capitol and Michigan Avenues in downtown Lansing. A special program “Voices of the Peace Vigil” will be held from noon – 1 p.m. with a community photo to be taken near the conclusion of the event. Vigil participants will talk about the 10-year action advocating for peace. Members of the public and media are invited to the event.
The Lansing activists plan to release “A Proclamation from the Peace Vigil Community” that affirms the principles that have spurred the vigil participants to maintain a presence at the Capitol for 10 years. Vigil participants and all local citizens who support the peace proclamation will be welcome to sign the document, which organizers plan to transmit to the federal officeholders in Washington, D.C., including the President and Michigan elected representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Citizens can also sign the proclamation at the Peace Education Center’s information tent at the Blues Fest on Friday and Saturday in Old Town. The text of the proclamation is provided below.
Peace activists plan to continue the weekly peace vigil and encourage local citizens to participate.
Information about the weekly peace vigil is available through the Peace Education Center at 517-515-5634.
PROCLAMATION:
10 Years of Friday Peace Vigils
A Proclamation from the Peace Vigil Community
Michigan State Capitol, Lansing, Michigan, 16 September 2011
As Lansing area residents:
- We stand in solidarity with millions of people around the world who oppose unjust, illegal, & immoral wars.
- We support policies that redirect money from war and military spending to human needs such as: health care, education, housing, & jobs, in the U.S. & abroad.
- We seek a world in which political, economic, religious & social institutions embrace non-violence, promote equity, celebrate diversity, and maximize participation of all.
- We advocate for non-violent strategies to end terror, hate, discrimination and war.
As Lansing area residents, we have witnessed and protested outside the Michigan State Capitol Building every Friday at noon for ten years because we believe:
- Military force offers neither security nor justice.
- Preemptive strikes and collective punishment of entire nations are immoral.
- War cannot be justified for economic reasons. In fact, war damages the economy.
- War invites retribution and mutual destruction.
- Civil and human rights must be protected. War endangers human rights.
As Lansing area residents, we are firmly committed to building a community of peace and justice, here and throughout the world.
We are resolved to continue our work to end militarism and violence as long as conditions that compelled us to begin this vigil still remain. We will increase our efforts to hold political, military, social, religious and economic institutions and leaders accountable for any unlawful or unjust actions that destroy lives or communities.
The Lansing Peace Vigil Community solemnly and with hope marks 10 years of Friday noon peace vigils, with our friends and supporters. We honor all who have stood with us outside the Michigan Capitol Building, and we honor all who work for peace and justice locally and around the world.
Affirmed by the Lansing Peace Vigil Community
On this 16th Day of September 2011
After 10 years of noon-hour peace vigils every Friday.
