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Unity Walk
FAITH LEADERS PROMOTE PEACE AT 9/11 UNITY WALK
During a walk promoting peace and unity in commemoration of the tragedy of 9/11, as many as a thousand people walked in Washington, from the Washington Hebrew Congregation to the Gandhi memorial on September 10 to promote unity among people of all faiths and cultures.
This Walk is an inspiration for peace, said IFC Executive Director Clark Lobenstine. Walking side by side today reminded us of the indefatigable Mahatma Gandhi on the centenary of the beginning of the Satyagraha campaign in South Africa.IFC was one of three sponsors of the event.
Along the walk, temples, churches and Gurdharas opened their doors to the 9/11 Unity Walk participants. Prominent faith leaders actively participated, including Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi of the Washington Hebrew Center; Archbishop Donald Weurl, Head Prelate and Archbishop ofvWashington; Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Abdullah M. Kouj, Director of The Islamic Center, Reverend Mpho Tutu, Episcopal Priest and Founder of the Tutu Institute and daughter of Rev. Desmund Tutu; Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals; and the Right Reverend John Bryson Chane.
His Excellency Archbishop Pietro Sambi personally greeted all participants as they passed by the Vatican Embassy. Outside the Washington National Cathedral, Bishop Chane and Rev. Robert Goodwin of the Points of Light Foundation addressed the crowd, followed by a musical group who played “We Are Family,” which had walkers and faith leaders clapping and moving in the sunshine to the 1979 rhythm and blues hit by Sister Sledge.
Later at The Islamic Center, Jewish Cantors sang after Archbishop Weurl addressed the crowd saying, “The bridges we build among peoples – the bridges we build of human solidarity, of respect, of appreciation, of knowledge, of kindness of compassion – are the bridges that bring us together in a world of peace.”
Ending at the Gandhi memorial, Arun Gandhi spoke to the crowd. “I hope this will inspire all of you to continue the quest for the truth and reach out to people of different beliefs and start building bridges with them.
“God speaks about love and understanding and compassion,” Gandhi said. “So let this [Walk] be the seed to look at the whole truth from a different perspective.”
Co-sponsoring the 9/11 Unity Walk was part of IFC’s mission to promote dialogue, understanding and a sense of community among people of different faiths and to work cooperatively for social and economic justice in metropolitan Washington. In addition to IFC, Religions for Peace USA and United Religions Initiative of Washington sponsored the event, along with more than 50 co-sponsors and close to 30 congregations.
For more information, please visit the 9/11 Unity Walk website.
