Chico Peace and Justice Center

October 2, 2010
Third & Main Streets

Over 100 people gathered to help us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chico Peace Movement.  We had a large peace vigil on the corners of Third & Main Streets in downtown Chico.  Then, we walked over to the "Hands" at City Hall to have birthday cake and hear tales of the movements founders.

In 1960, the founder of the Chico Peace and Justice Center, Willamina Taggart, began a weekly vigil to pray for peace at the building site for Titan missile silos in north Chico. Willa was soon joined by Florence McLane, and Helen Kinnee. After the silos were closed, they moved their peace vigil to Third and Main Streets, where it continues to this day. That effort fifty years ago marks the beginning of the Chico Peace Movement.

As you know, peace is more than the absence of war.  Peace includes economic fairness, and environmental protection, cultural respect and interpersonal sensitivity.  Peace includes all of the activities we do to make the world a better place for future generations.