This Labor Day will be more than just a time to celebrate social and economic achievements in Buffalo. After a week when the public has been captivated by violent events, advocates from pro-peace groups across Western New York are hoping to make it a time to celebrate peace.Those groups comprise the Western New York Coalition of Peace and Nonviolence Advocates, which is hosting the Peace and Nonviolence Festival, this Monday in Buffalo’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
The event will feature family and children-friendly activities, a cookout, and live entertainment. There will also be a symbolic march across the park.
At an announcement in front of City Hall on Thursday, Murray Holman of the Stop the Violence Coalition said, “This nonviolence walk is definitely what is needed across the City of Buffalo. If we have more of these going on, then we will have less crime in the City of Buffalo.”
According to Mayor Byron Brown, crime has been decreasing in the city since 2005.
At a time when individual and groups across the nation are flocking to various civil rights movements, Paul McQuillen, Co-Chair of the Western New York Coalition of Peace and Nonviolence Advocates, said the message to the community is that all lives matter.
““Black lives and Hispanic lives, Asian lives and Native American lives matter. Our children and our grandchildren’s lives matter. So come out with us next Monday and celebrate the lives of those lost to tragic violence everywhere, including Dr. Martin Luther King and Sister Karen Klimczak and all of our family and our friends who have suffered violence in all of its forms.”
WBFO’s Sydnie Perkins contributed to this report.
