Peace march for nonviolence takes place in Lower Manhattan

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence was held on Nov. 30 in Lower Manhattan. The March began at Borough Hall in Brooklyn and proceeded over the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall. The March was held as a way to hopefully end world violence.

The March first began in New Zealand on Oct. 2 and will conclude on a mountain bordering Chile and Argentina on Jan. 2, 2010.

There are 27 marchers who by the time The March is over with will have traveled to over 100 countries.

Upon arrival, students held a flag with the logo of The March and listened to motivational speeches. The excitement was brewing as one peace marcher took the opportunity to initiate the chant, "What do we want?" "PEACE!" the crowd responded. "When do we want it," they continued "NOW!" the crowd answered.

After the speeches, The marchers started to walk across the streets of Brooklyn to the Brooklyn Bridge in order to cross over to Manhattan.
"For me I feel that people are out there dying and fighting for us so a little walk in the rain is just a little token of appreciation for what they are doing for us," sophomore Tyler Cormano said.

Although University students were well represented during The March, many people from all walks of life united for the peace cause.

Psychologist Dr. Gregory Alexander, who has been an advocate of peace since his youth as both a high school and college student stated, "Peace and Human Rights and Civil Rights go back to my past... it has been a very important value in my life not only peace in the World but finding internal peace."

Dr. Alexander also urged fellow citizens of the world to take action. "It is imperative that us human beings achieve a world of justice and non violence," he added.

As The March came to a close, participants gathered at City Hall to attend a press conference held by The March leaders and University professor Dr. Linda Stillman.

Following the press conference, the world leaders of The March attended the reception hosted by the University with the help of students from the communications studies department.

Students guided and greeted marchers upon their entrance into the University and were able to get refreshments before speakers spoke on behalf of The March.

Dr. Stillman welcomed peace marchers to the University as well as taking the opportunity to praise their efforts toward a more unified human existence.

"All of the people that are represented here at the podium believe in the inner and outer beauty and brilliance of all the participants seeking peace and nonviolence in this world march without borders," Dr. Stillman said.

Dr. Stillman also stressed the importance of involvement on behalf of the communication studies students in an event such as this as students had the unique opportunity to take on an integral leadership role in an international event.

"We believe that the World Leadership is based on the ideas we give to the millennial generation today from our wisdom gained from the past to help them become Global Leaders and many are among us today," Dr. Stillman said.

After Dr. Stillman spoke, Chilean native and planner for The March, Micky Hirsh urged civil society, specifically the young people, to continue to take action to change the course of history that has allowed for war and violence to become the status quo.

"We say that each march for World March for Peace and Non Violence is really a change of consciousness that's what we're striving for," Hirsh said.