Rochester Walks for Peace Week 3

<p> The third week of Rochester Walks for Peace made it's way through the city this Saturday, walking the entire length of Hudson Avenue from North to Titus. Irondequoit United Church of Christ sponsored the walk and provided space, food and refreshments to walkers at the end. </p > <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/7/large/march.jpg" alt="" /> <p> One noticeable difference this week was that people passing us by were much more eager to support the walkers by honking in support, waving and stopping their cars to get our flyers. People were supportive in previous weeks as well, especially after talking with the walkers, but this week it seemed like people jumped on supporting the walk as soon as they saw the banners and heard the chants. </p ><p> The walk paused in front of the House of Mercy where walkers were treated to bottled water and bathrooms by House of Mercy as well as the #16 Firehouse and Church of God in Christ. Several residents from house of Mercy came out and joined the walk. </p > <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/4/large/marching-by.jpg" alt="" /> <h3>Audio Interviews</h3 > <p>Technical problems caused me to lose most of the audio that I taped along the way (sorry everyone I interviewed!). I was able to talk with a couple people at the Irondequoit United Church of Christ though, so this week the audio is short but sweet.</p > <p><b>Jeanie Gloss</b> is a member of the Irondequoit United Church of Christ and one of the main organizers for this week. She talks about why she got her church to open it's doors to walkers and what here goals were for the walk.</p > <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/jeannie-gloss.mp3">Jeanie Gloss interview (mp3)</a><br /> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/application/1/jeannie-gloss.ogg">Jeanie Gloss interview (ogg)</a><br /> <img align="right" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/9/talking.jpg" alt="" /> <p>This church already does peace vigils once a month through the U.U. peace advocates and we're out front for an hour and a half for a morning once a month. So we're used to the concept that we're opening our church to be doing peace. I was aware of the march that went to fort drum but I was busy and couldn't participate. They said they had the review and I went to the review and they brought up the idea, and I thought it was a good thought. Y'know it's not just, "We had this wonderful thing," but, "What next?"</p > <p>We also had the anti-violence in the city movement because we're very connected with that so we thought it would ideal because we'd be going through what has been a violent area up through Hudson and we could promote these other organizations- The "You Bet I Told" and the Beloved Community, all focusing, so I thought it was great it was two things within one. I thought it was wonderful bringing various groups together and i think people in this day and age really do wish that they had a more peaceful better world than we have but i also think that we're all cut out of a similar cloth-we all have trouble with peace in different directions so i think it's just a work in progress and every effort we make is worth it, every effort. if those who care about peace become more vocal more active it's only going to help things. </p > <p><b>Mark Dixon</b> is an organizer for You Bet I Told. He discussed the purpose of the group and what he sees as the connections between the war and violence in the city.</p > <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/mark-dixon.mp3">Mark Dixon interview (mp3)</a><br /> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/application/4/mark-dixon.ogg">Mark Dixon interview (ogg)</a><br /> <p>I'm on the campaign of, "You Bet I Told." I'm on the committee. And I have a strong desire to stop the violence in our city streets. I hope people will join our campaign, in y'know, stopping the violence in Rochester city streets.</p > <p>War takes away from programs or things that our young people could be doing-those money go to support the war. It's very very costly. And we feel the effects of that, yeah, we feel the effects of that. And I think that has a big part to do with what's going on in our communities. No programs for our children so all they have is the streets and they find themselves getting into trouble. We just need some place to redirect them and have programs geared toward them, and give their energy, to have positive input instead of negative input, y'know what I mean? Just to try and find their identity, try to find their purpose in life. Cause that's where I feel the violence is coming from-the children just need that energy to be redirected to something positive.</p >

<p> The third week of Rochester Walks for Peace made it's way through the city this Saturday, walking the entire length of Hudson Avenue from North to Titus. Irondequoit United Church of Christ sponsored the walk and provided space, food and refreshments to walkers at the end. </p> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/7/large/march.jpg" alt="" /> <p> One noticeable difference this week was that people passing us by were much more eager to support the walkers by honking in support, waving and stopping their cars to get our flyers. People were supportive in previous weeks as well, especially after talking with the walkers, but this week it seemed like people jumped on supporting the walk as soon as they saw the banners and heard the chants. </p> <p> The walk paused in front of the House of Mercy where walkers were treated to bottled water and bathrooms by House of Mercy as well as the #16 Firehouse and Church of God in Christ. Several residents from house of Mercy came out and joined the walk. </p> <img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/4/large/marching-by.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <h3>Audio Interviews</h3> <p>Technical problems caused me to lose most of the audio that I taped along the way (sorry everyone I interviewed!). I was able to talk with a couple people at the Irondequoit United Church of Christ though, so this week the audio is short but sweet.</p> <p><b>Jeanie Gloss</b> is a member of the Irondequoit United Church of Christ and one of the main organizers for this week. She talks about why she got her church to open it's doors to walkers and what here goals were for the walk.</p> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/jeannie-gloss.mp3">Jeanie Gloss interview (mp3)</a><br /> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/application/1/jeannie-gloss.ogg">Jeanie Gloss interview (ogg)</a><br /> <img align="right" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/9/talking.jpg" alt="" /> <p>This church already does peace vigils once a month through the U.U. peace advocates and we're out front for an hour and a half for a morning once a month. So we're used to the concept that we're opening our church to be doing peace. I was aware of the march that went to fort drum but I was busy and couldn't participate. They said they had the review and I went to the review and they brought up the idea, and I thought it was a good thought. Y'know it's not just, "We had this wonderful thing," but, "What next?"</p> <p>We also had the anti-violence in the city movement because we're very connected with that so we thought it would ideal because we'd be going through what has been a violent area up through Hudson and we could promote these other organizations- The "You Bet I Told" and the Beloved Community, all focusing, so I thought it was great it was two things within one. I thought it was wonderful bringing various groups together and i think people in this day and age really do wish that they had a more peaceful better world than we have but i also think that we're all cut out of a similar cloth-we all have trouble with peace in different directions so i think it's just a work in progress and every effort we make is worth it, every effort. if those who care about peace become more vocal more active it's only going to help things. </p> <p><b>Mark Dixon</b> is an organizer for You Bet I Told. He discussed the purpose of the group and what he sees as the connections between the war and violence in the city.</p> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/mark-dixon.mp3">Mark Dixon interview (mp3)</a><br /> <a href="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/application/4/mark-dixon.ogg">Mark Dixon interview (ogg)</a> <p>I'm on the campaign of, "You Bet I Told." I'm on the committee. And I have a strong desire to stop the violence in our city streets. I hope people will join our campaign, in y'know, stopping the violence in Rochester city streets.</p> <p>War takes away from programs or things that our young people could be doing-those money go to support the war. It's very very costly. And we feel the effects of that, yeah, we feel the effects of that. And I think that has a big part to do with what's going on in our communities. No programs for our children so all they have is the streets and they find themselves getting into trouble. We just need some place to redirect them and have programs geared toward them, and give their energy, to have positive input instead of negative input, y'know what I mean? Just to try and find their identity, try to find their purpose in life. Cause that's where I feel the violence is coming from-the children just need that energy to be redirected to something positive.</p>