The University Daily Kansan
The Student Newspaper of the University of Kansas
Tuesday, April 4, 1995
On a mission, Global Peace Walk '95 walked to KU and continued its...
Parade for Peace with a Message of Love
[photo, not shown here, captioned:]
David Williams, coordinator of Global Peace Walk '95, (left)
and the Rev. Yusen Yamato chant while playing their ceremonial
drums. The group of more than 20 members gathered in front
of Wescoe Hall yesterday afternoon. They have traveled from
New York City and plan to arrive in San Francisco by June.
photo by - Jerel Harris/Kansan
On a mission, Global Peace Walk '95 walked to KU and continued its...
Parade for Peace with a Message of Love
By Brian Vandervliet
Kansan staff writer
A repetitious drum beat and the smell of burning
sage filled the air as about two dozen members of
Global Peace Walk '95 brought their message to
Wescoe Beach yesterday at noon.
"We want people around the world to order the
United Nations for global peace now," said David Williams,
a coordinator for the group. "There are wars going on in
40 countries. People all over the world are fighting for
land and life right now. We want to stop people from getting killed."
The group began its walk on Jan. 15 in New York City
and plans to arrive in San Francisco by June 20 for the
50th anniversary celebration of the United Nations,
where they will present a collection of letters of support.
Williams said the group traveled about 30 miles each day.
Members take turns walking the pavement and carrying
the banner that says, "Global Peace Now!" Those not
walking, ride in one of the group's six vehicles. The
arrived in Lawrence on Saturday night and planned to
leave this morning.
AS the Rev. Yusen Yamato, a Buddhist monk from
San Francisco, led the group in prayer, Peace Walk
members held hands or beat ceremonial drums while
standing in a circle. Yamato, dressed in an orange robe,
rang a hand bell to get the attention of the spirits.
"All over the world there is fighting," Yamato said.
"That's why many people are suffering."
Williams said the group came to Kansas to hold a
three-day fast for Leonard Peltier, a Native American
imprisoned at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
Peace Walk members believe he was wrongly accused
of the murders of two FBI agents in 1975. They camped
near the penitentiary for six days and prayed for Peltier.
While sage was being burnt during their prayer for
peace yesterday, Samantha Graham, Lawrence junior,
explained the significance of the herb.
"It clears the ethereal realms of people so that we can
relate in harmony with each other," she said.
Ghraham had helped bring Peace Walk to Lawrence but
is not traveling with the group.
"I think it's righteous," Graham said about their journey.
"We need to protect the children. They need to be
taught benevolence."
After the ceremony in front of Wescoe, which lasted
about 30 minutes, the group walked to city hall for a
meeting with Mayor Jo Andersen. Peace Walk members
had requested a letter of support from Andersen.
Although Andersen joined the group in a brief prayer
for peace and talked with them about Lawrence history,
she stopped short of providing a letter. She gave them
a pin instead. But Peace Walk members were not disappointed.
"I was very pleased she came out and showed her support," Williams said.
After the meeting with Andersen, the group marched
to its white Chevy school bus. This time they marched
not for peace but for lunch.