Nikki Niggemeyer
Vidette Online
A large crowd gathered in Uptown Circle Thursday night to participate in a vigil for peace and human rights in honor of the recent terrorist attacks that took place around the world the past few weeks.
“This is a wonderful turnout with wonderful words being spoken,” Chris Koos, mayor of Normal, said.
The event was lit up with electric candles and flashlights as people listened to the words of guest speakers who advocated world peace in numerous ways.
Attendee Gregg Brown even brought signs promoting peace and justice to hold during the vigil. Brown said he believes the future generation may be able to help put a stop to violence and promote peace for the future.
The vigil was sponsored by the Town of Normal in order to promote peace not only in the local Bloomington-Normal community, but also on a much larger scale. It began with several speakers from a variety of different background and experiences. These speakers consisted of religious leaders in the community, local college professors and even representatives from local programs that encourage peace and unity around the world.
Although many of the speakers came from a variety of backgrounds and experiences in the community, they all had one thing in common: to promote peace and justice in the world for future generations.
“It is extremely gratifying seeing the community come together for this,” Koos said.
Although the event was sparked due to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and other parts of the world, the speakers touched on many different topics of social injustice and restricted freedoms.
Several collection baskets went around during the vigil to help raise money and awareness to programs that help with a number of issues facing the world today. Money was collected for the rental of Public Address system as well as for the program Doctors Without Borders.
Doctors Without Borders is a program that travels around the world and helps a variety of areas that either have a shortage on medically trained professionals or their doctors have fled the area for a number of different reasons. This program allows for those areas in need of medical assistance help receive care.
“[This event] brings togetherness and healing in the face of terrible suffering and injustice,” Bob Broad, one of the organizers for the event and an Illinois State University English professor, said.
Tackling worldwide peace all at once may be a difficult task to succeed at, speaker and Peace Educator in Normal Barbara Stewart said. However she offers another smaller alternative issue to tackle locally in the community which includes family terrorism and how the program Healthy Start can help change and promote peace right here in Bloomington-Normal.
“We pay a lot of attention to Paris and that was a big deal, but the day before the Paris attacks there were attacks in Bagdad, Beirut and they didn’t make it into the newspaper,” Broad said. “We want to get people on the same wavelength and thinking about and working for a better way.”