In San Francisco, the city known as the birthplace of the United Nations, the UN International Day of Peace was commemorated on Saturday with a gathering at the Civic Center Plaza, focusing on the important themes of conflict resolution and global cooperation.
Local leaders saw the celebration as a beacon of hope.
The recognition was established in 1981 and has since grown into a global commemoration that draws attention to the continuing need for peace within and between countries.
Amikaeyla Gaston, Ambassador for Cultural Arts and host of the event, stressed the urgent need for a message of peace in today’s world.
“There’s a lot of pain and sadness and fear. And I think the one thing we can always do when all else fails is hope. Even if it’s just a glimmer of hope,” Gaston said.
Gaston, who himself survived the aftermath of a violent, racially motivated hate crime, emphasized the power of forgiveness as a means of moving forward.
“I knew the only way to move on with my life was to forgive them. And so, that level of forgiveness, that deep remembrance, that, in order for me to have a full life, is to allow you to have a full life, so that restorative justice peace, is so crucial,” she stated.
David Wick, chairman of Pathways to Peace, the UN-affiliated NGO that organized the event, stressed his belief that peace starts from within.
“You are a path to peace. Everyone is a path to peace. And peace begins here. All peace begins here,” he said, pointing to his heart.
Wick, a former U.S. Navy member, is now an advocate for nonviolent conflict resolution strategies, believing that community and connection are essential to achieving lasting peace.
From musical performances to dance shows, the gathering, which took place alongside other festivities around the world, marked a day of hope.
“This is the way to live. This is the path to have community, to have family, anywhere in the world. All of us together, is through peace, love and forgiveness,” Gaston said.
This day reminded Gaston and Wick that despite the challenges around the world and in their own environment, the quest for peace remains an undiminished commitment.
