Around 30 people turned out at the Rhode Island State House to observe the United Nation's International Day of Peace. This year's theme, recognizing the impact of of covid and the ongoing climate crisis, was “recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.”
Organizers had hoped that progressives and the media would turn out for a “more equal, just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable and healthier” world - but turnout was muted in part because many activists were canvassing in State Senate District 3 special election canvassing.
The Rhode Island Anti-War Committee organized the event with the help and participation of Pax Christie, the Rhode Island Poor People's Campaign, Brown War Watch, the Rhode Island Green Party, Witness for Peace and Action Corp.
After a series of speakers, participants circumnavigated the State House grounds holding signs and placards.
"The people of countries that the United States considers as enemies are not our enemies," said Tim Sprouls from the Rhode Island Anti-War Committee, who acted as emcee for the event. "The people of China and Russia are not our enemies. The people of Iran and Venezuela are not our enemies. The people of Cuba and North Korea are not out enemies. It is incumbent on us to put pressure on our government to get our boot off the necks of those people."
David Oppenheimer from Action Corp criticized the military help the United States supplies to Saudi Arabia, military help the Saudi government uses to kill innocent people.
Martin Lepkowski from Witness for Peace argued against the Trump Administration's designation of Cuba as a terrorist state and against sanctions that hurt the Cuban people:
The Green Party's Tony Affigne:
Les Robinson from Brown War Watch:
Pat Fontes from Pax Christie spoke on an upcoming Papal Encyclical against war:
Peter Nightingale from the Rhode Island Poor People's Campaign:
William Smith III from the Rhode Island Anti-War Committee speaking on convincing the United States to sign onto the United Nations Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons:
