San Francisco marks UN International Day of Peace with Civic Center Plaza gathering
In a city renowned as the birthplace of the United Nations, San Francisco marked the UN International Day of Peace with a gathering at Civic Center Plaza on Saturday, emphasizing the crucial themes of conflict resolution and global cooperation.
Local leaders heralded the celebration as a beacon of hope.
Established in 1981, the recognition has grown into a global observance, drawing attention to the ongoing need for peace across and within nations.
Amikaeyla Gaston, a cultural arts ambassador and the event's emcee, highlighted the urgent necessity for a message of peace in today's world.
"There is a lot of pain and grief and anguish. And I think that the one thing, that we can always pull when all else fails, is hope. Even if it's just a sliver of hope," Gaston said.
Gaston, who has personally survived the aftermath of a violent, racially motivated hate crime, emphasized the power of forgiveness as a means of moving forward.
"I knew that the only way to move on with my life was to forgive them. And so, that level of forgiveness, that deep remembering, that, in order for me to have a full life, is to let you have a full life, so that restorative justice peace, is so critical," she stated.
David Wick, president of Pathways to Peace, the UN-affiliated NGO that hosted the event, emphasized his belief that peace starts within.
"You are a pathway to peace. Everyone is a pathway to peace. And peace begins right here. All peace begins right here," he said, while pointing to his heart.
Wick, a former U.S. Navy member, now champions nonviolent strategies for conflict resolution. He believes community and connection are vital to achieving lasting peace.
From music performances to dance performances, the gathering, which streamed alongside other celebrations around the world, marked a day of hope.
"This is the way to live. This is the path to have community, have family, all around the world. All of us together, is through peace, love and forgiveness," Gaston said.
The day served as a reminder to Gaston and Wick that despite the challenges across the globe and within their own backyards, the quest for peace remains an unwavering commitment.