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News Release
American Friends Service Committee
Washington DC to NewYork City
Peace Walk Highlights
NO MORE VICTIMS
Families of 9/11
Victims In Philadelphia
November 28 and 29
Philadelphia -Amber Amundson, whose husband Craig was killed in the attack
on the Pentagon, wrote shortly after the attack, "I call on our national leaders
to find the courage to break the cycle of violence." Sentiments like these have
come from others who lost spouses, children, brothers or sisters. This week some
of these mourners are going beyond words, joining a walk that will link the two cities
that were struck. Their message to all they meet as they walk or assemble along the
way: "Our grief is not a cry for war."
The group of survivors and friends - which sets off at 9 a.m. Sunday, November 25,
from the front gates of Georgetown University in Washington, DC - will be in Philadelphia
on Wednesday, November 28 and Thursday, November 29, 2001. (Schedule attached). By
the time they arrive in New York City on Sunday, December 2 in New York City, walking
some distances and shuttling others, the group will have made stops in Baltimore,
Maryland; Paterson, New Jersey and other locations to take part in events being organized
by local churches and other groups.
This walk is endorsed by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Fellowship
of Reconciliation (FOR), Pax Christi USA, Peace Action USA, Veterans for Peace, War
Resister's League, Voices in the Wilderness, and Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom, among others.
Grounded in the beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) respecting
the dignity and worth of every person, AFSC has worked for over 84 years to bring
peace to some of the most turbulent regions of the world. In response to the September
11 tragedies, AFSC launched its No More Victims campaign to heighten a call to break
the cycle of violence, war and retribution and increase public awareness about call
for peace.
Craig Amundson's brother, Ryan, will also join the walk. He states, "We don't
want to see more widowed mothers like my sister-in-law, more little kids without
a dad like my niece and nephew, more moms and dads outliving their son like my parents,
or more brothers losing brothers like me. The current reliance on military force
does not confront the political, social, and economic foundations of terrorism. By
emphasizing a military solution, the United States will not effectively combat terrorism."
Buddhist and Franciscan monks will join the walk, as will leaders from various faith-based
and peacemaking communities. Any persons who support a call for nonviolence are welcome
to join in the walk as it moves north. A large decorated school bus will shuttle
walkers between cities. Daily itinerary updates available at www.vitw.org. For more
information on AFSC, visit our web site at www.afsc.org.
Founded in 1917 to provide conscientious objectors with an opportunity to aid civilian
victims during World War I, AFSC is grounded in Quaker beliefs respecting the dignity
and worth of every person. AFSC has programs in the United States, and in Africa,
Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East that focus on issues related to economic
justice, peace-building and demilitarization, social justice, and youth.
In 1947, the AFSC and the British Friends Service Council received the Nobel Peace
Prize on behalf of the Religious Society of Friends, for humanitarian service, work
for reconciliation, and the spirit in which these were carried out.
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The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people
of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service.
Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power
of love to overcome violence and injustice.
Kathy Kelly co-founder Voices in the Wilderness Nobel Peace prize nominee 2002 Amber
Amundson, whose husband died at the Pentagon Doug Hostetter, just returned from fact-finding
mission to Tajikistan on behalf of AFSC and the Mennonite Central Committee.
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