Advocating for peace

A small group of people gathered in the St. Andrew’s United Church Peace Park on Dec. 15 for a Candlelight Peace Vigil for the people of Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel. 
Participants spoke about the suffering of children in the conflict, and the deaths of medical practitioners trying to help people.
A poem written by Refaat Alareer, a Palestinian writer, poet, professor and activist from the Gaza Strip titled “If I Must Die” was recited. Participants also sang “Between darkness and light”. 
In November, approximately 30 people came together at the St. Andrew’s United Church Peace Park in a similar vigil to “grieve for the people killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon and to advocate for peace in the Middle East,” St. Andrew’s United Church shared on their Facebook page. 
Organizers plan to hold monthly events with the next being a film viewing of “The Occupation of the American Mind” on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the St. Andrew’s United Church Hall.