Members of the planning committee for the fourth annual "Peace March" continue to meet on a weekly basis, organizing logistical details and working to ensure a good turnout. The group will meet tonight, Tuesday, September 4, 2001, at 7:00 PM at the Boys & Girls Club of Hall County on Downey Boulevard in Gainesville. (Meetings will continue to be held each Tuesday night at 7:00 PM and usually last one hour.)

Already, members of the planning committee have been working hard on the following items:

· Obtaining official permits from the City of Gainesville
· Reserving the event location
· Mapping the route of the march
· Fund-raising and donations to pay for T-Shirts, port-a-potties, tents, fliers and postage
· Deciding on the theme for the 2001 year
· Designing the logo for the t-shirts
· Donations of food and beverages
· Donation of a sound system and microphones
· Recruiting participants for the celebration program (dancers, singers, musicians, and more)
· Organization of the Peace March Agenda, to advocate around specific community issues
· Promotion of the event through churches and other community groups
· Volunteers for decorations and street security

THEME
This year the theme for the Peace March will be "Together We Can Build Our Community"-- referring to the importance of working together across cultural lines to improve the standard of living for all of our neighbors, and to give youth the opportunity to grow-up in a healthy, united community of harmony, peace and hope. The Peace March will be a celebration of the many positive things that are happening in our community, our cultural diversity and unique traditions.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PEACE MARCH
The Peace March was started in 1998 by the Grupo de Jóvenes of St. Michael Catholic Church in Gainesville. The youth group had noted the existence of violence in their schools, and gang violence in the streets, including drive-by murders. The youth decided to organize a march to protest against these problems and promote a message of peace.

The youth met with their priest (Padre Jorge Christancho) and many local residents, plus community leaders such as the Newtown Florist Club (a civil rights organization founded by African-Americans in Gainesville to advocate for the interests and rights of all people). The youth received plenty of support from the Newtown Florist Club, St. Michael church, local business owners and other members of the community.

After planning and promoting their idea, the youth finally saw their idea become a reality as they celebrated the first Peace March on September 19, 1998. During the Peace March a significant number of ex-gang members participated and made a commitment for peace, and officials from the City and County governments made a commitment to more facilities for youth.

The next year the youth once again noticed several problems in Gainesville, Hall County and decided to take a stand. They were bothered by incidents of racial profiling and saw a great need for more parks and recreational facilities, where youth could spend their time doing positive things such as playing sports. And so the youth decided to march once again, but this time they wrote a petition to governmental leaders asking for action. They asked for more parks and requested the adoption of official policies against racial profiling. 

Also, in the second year (1999) the youth noticed that the Ku Klux Klan was becoming more and more visible in Gainesville. The youth learned that this hate group wanted to march in Gainesville on Halloween, and that they were going to hide their faces behind Halloween masks (even though the U.S. Supreme Court prohibits the Klan from hiding behind masks in public settings). The youth decided to march the weekend of Halloween, and effectively prevented the KKK from being able to march that day and hide their identity. This why the date of the Peace March was moved to late October.

The youth celebrated this second Peace March on October 30, 1999. They constructed four altars on the square as part of the "Día de los Muertos" celebration (Day of the Dead). One of the altars was dedicated to the late General Longstreet of the U.S. Civil War, for his support of equality of all people.

The second Peace March was a big success with the presence of approximately 1000 participants, marching for more recreational facilities and parks, and protesting the various different types of racism and discrimination (such as the KKK and racial profiling).

Apparently (and fortunately) during the second year local leaders listened to the feelings, desires and requests of the youth, as Gainesville City Police Chief Frank Hooper approved an official, written policy prohibiting the practice of racial profiling by Gainesville City police officers.

During the third year (2000) the Peace March was celebrated on Saturday, October 28, 2000. The theme was "Many Faces in the City of God." The theme focused on the importance of working together to promote unity, peace and harmony, and to say "no" to racism, white supremacists, and anti-immigrant groups that were organizing in the North Georgia area. Youth continued to promote the need for more parks and recreational facilities, sports facilities and other such places where youth could spend their time positively since there still remains a strong need for action on this issue. Once again, the youth celebrated the Day of the Dead on the same day as the day of the march with altars on the downtown square.

WHERE AND WHEN
This year, the Peace March will occur Saturday, October 27, 2000 in Gainesville, Hall County. We will assemble at 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Bank of America on Washington Street. At 12:00 noon we will begin marching south on Washington Street, headed toward the downtown square. We will circle the square and then take Spring Street to the Arts Council Depot, where there will be celebration, entertainment, music and lots of fun.

THE GRAN FINALE: PICNIC-STYLE CELEBRATION
The March will end at the Arts Council Depot, where everyone is invited to bring picnic basket and blanket, to relax on the lawn in front of the stage while enjoying the celebration. Please note: Absolutely no alcohol will be permitted. 

PLEASE HELP!
For the on-stage program, we welcome small and large singing ensembles, complete church choirs, motivational speakers, musicians, guitar players, keyboard players, percussion, dramatic/theatrical presentations, individual singers and dance groups. All presentations should relate to the theme of "Together We Can Build Our Community." This theme covers such topics as unity, harmony, diversity, open dialogue, teamwork and so forth. Any talents you have to offer will be much appreciated! If you want to be included in the program, you must complete an Application for Stage Time and fax or mail your completed application by October 20 so that we can give you a specific time slot in the program schedule. Fax: (770) 297-9050. Mailing Address: Peace March Committee, 526 Pearl Nix Pkwy., Suite 205, Gainesville, GA 30501. For more information: Greg Bautista (770) 297-7755, cell phone (770) 654-3949, email Greg_Bautista@hotmail.com  . Also, please visit our web site for more information about the Peace March:

https://peacemarch2000.tripod.com/ 


DID YOU KNOW?

· The Peace March was designed as an event for all of our entire multi-cultural community to enjoy, and not just for members of one or two cultures. Everyone is invited and encouraged to come and participate. 
· The Peace March is completely non-partisan and non-political. 
· Although many churches and religious groups participate, the Peace March is not an evangelical movement or an attempt to recruit persons to any particular church or religion. It is our hope that everyone will feel welcome and comfortable attending the Peace March, regardless of his or her religious beliefs. 
· The Peace March is a 100% non-profit event. 


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