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The
Spirit of Nonviolence
In commemoration of Martin Luther
King Day on January 21, SGI-USA hosted the exhibition
"Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace" in
collaboration with local communities, organizations and
universities in various parts of the United States. The
exhibit chronicles the lifework of the three individuals and
their shared ideals--humanism, the spirit of nonviolence, the
way of mentor and disciple, self-motivated altruism and an
uncompromising stance against persecution and oppression.
At the opening of the exhibit at the Columbus Convention
Center in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr.,
dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at
Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, gave a commemorative
speech. He stated that humanity can create value across all
boundaries through a genuine philosophy of nonviolence and
peace.
In West Covina city, California, the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People helped the SGI organize an
event honoring Martin Luther King which included the Gandhi,
King, Ikeda exhibit as well as SGI-USA's "Victory Over
Violence (VOV)" presentation.
The VOV campaign, which promotes nonviolence and respect for
the dignity of life, has recently been endorsed by the Los
Angeles Unified School District, comprising more than 660
schools. The VOV video and pamphlet are designed to stimulate
discussions among students that will enable them to identify
solutions to the causes of violence. Following a presentation,
one student commented, "I now realize that I've
stereotyped a lot of people in my class and that my
perceptions were wrong."
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