Chico Peace and Justice Center

August 6, 2007
Community Park (MLK Jr. 20th Street Park)

August 6, 2007 marked the 62nd anniversary of the first use of atomic/nuclear weapons on a civilian population. Regardless of justification used at that time, over two hundred thousand civilians were killed. Working for peace requires remembrance of the humanity of our neighbors, brothers and sisters. An exhibit of poems, essays, photos, and drawings of the survivors of the atomic bomb was displayed at Community Park (MLK Jr. 20th Street Park) for this reason.

Mayor Andy Holcombe declared August 6-9 Days of Rememberance and there was a soulful presentation by delegates of the Gratitude for Peace Tour, a youth caravan traveling from Oakland to Seattle. The youths (12-18 years old) are poets and public speakers and have been selected by the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9th District) to represent the values and visions of those struggling to end violence in our streets and schools, as well as in our foreign and domestic policies.

Click here to learn more about the Gratitude for Peace Tour.

The focus of this event was not only to remember the past, but also to recognize those people who are working to build a culture of peace in our communities and throughout the world, in the hope that no nation or people will ever again feel compelled to use nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against the people of the world.