Hundreds Join HWPL Peace Walks in Northern California
The 11th Annual Peace Walks in Sacramento and San Francisco, organized by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), focused on promoting unity and dialogue in the midst of growing conflicts both globally and locally. The Golden Gate Bridge, the Interstate-880 Freeway, and local universities such as UC Berkeley and UC Davis have been the site of intensifying protests and demonstrations and ongoing conflicts.
The HWPL Peace Walks, part of a global initiative spanning over 50 countries, promote peace and highlight the significance of living in harmony and mutual respect. Cultural performances, volunteer events, and donation drives were also hosted throughout the month of May to reinforce the importance of understanding and dialogue in creating a peaceful world.
These events aim to inspire individuals to take active roles in their communities to foster peace and understanding. In Sacramento, a city symbolizing governance and community, the peace walk started from the Capitol and stretched past the Tower Bridge. It kicked off with speeches from various local religious leaders, who stressed the importance of setting aside differences and coming together for peace. Hundreds of participants then chanted and walked with posters and signs that engaged onlookers with messages about harmony, ending violence, and raising awareness of the role of politicians and religious leaders in achieving peace.
In San Francisco, participants carried posters and signs for peace and the ending of conflicts and violence as they started at San Francisco City Hall and made their way to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marina.
The peace walk participants shared a number of different motives for choosing to join. Several joined from San Francisco to stand against hate against the Asian American community after several unprovoked attacks and robberies at the height of the pandemic. Others joined to advocate for peaceful dialogue and discussion to resolve the clashes and prevent the deaths of any more innocent lives in ongoing conflicts. The consistent theme from all participants was that unity, not divisiveness or finger-pointing, was the most important starting point for fostering productive conversations for peace.
Participants and bystanders were invited to join and contribute to future peace initiatives with HWPL. HWPL is a non-governmental organization associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) and in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
One of HWPL’s prominent efforts has been the advocacy around the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). Drafted in 2016, the DPCW is a proposed framework with ten articles and 38 clauses that aim to prevent armed conflicts and establish peace. HWPL also hosts workshops and provides practical tools for peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Locally, volunteers with HWPL of Northern California have established partnerships with several public and private schools to teach peace education to the youth.
Internationally, thousands have joined these peace walk events, including a sizable gathering at the Peace Gate of Seoul Olympic Park in South Korea. In last year’s commemoration, HWPL Chairman Lee Man-Hee emphasized the role of peace education and collective efforts in creating a peaceful legacy for future generations.
As HWPL continues to organize peace walks and other activities in the years to come, event coordinators stress that the message of unity and reconciliation must continue to spread around the world. Northern California has long been known for its technological innovation and ability to connect the world together. By coming together in these peace walks in San Francisco and Sacramento, participants not only advocated for peace but also demonstrated the power of collective action in creating a better world.
Published by: Martin De Juan
