Students at North Carolina A&T joined thousands of groups from around the world on Monday outside the Memorial Student Union Fountain in festivity for the International Day of Prayer for Peace.

Outside the Union, united together in prayer, were Aggies from all different cultures and walks of life with the cause of ceasing-fire from parts of the world in turmoil as well as binding mankind together through the power of prayer.

Under the direction of Dr. Maria T. Palmer, Director of the Multicultural Student Center, the atmosphere was marked by the essence of an interfaith of prayers from Christian, Native American, and Santerian traditions. 

“We ask all the faith communities to be in power for the results of this day to be the seeds of peace,” says Dr. Palmer. “The Multicultural Student Center decided to do this because it really brings together all the different communities on campus. There’s not a community of faith that’s not concerned with peace”. 

Established by a United Nations resolution to correspond with the opening of the general assembly in 1981, The Day of Peace is a secular holiday in which people from all over the world gets a chance to connect with humanity through acts of peace whether its prayer, humanitarian work, or philanthropy.

“At the Multicultural Student Center, we’re trying to bring awareness of diversity to the campus but also bring people who are different together for the common issues and common causes,” says Dr. Palmer when accentuating the purpose of the secular holiday. 

Since its advent, the holiday has been celebrated by millions of people throughout the world.  This 24-hour “peace day” provides not only an opportunity for organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace, but also for individuals to take the opportunity to make peace within the confines of their own personal lives.

The Day of Peace is also the global ceasefire day, which according the national ceasefire campaign, “is an evidence-based public health approach to reduce shootings and killings.”  The ultimate goal of secular holiday is promoting worldwide peace in which “all of mankind is encouraged to work in cooperation of this goal”, says secretary-general Ban-ki Moon.  

“We are one global family, all colors, all races united. We pray for peace, peace for all nations, peace within ourselves, as we join as one, our love contains the power to transform our world, may peace prevail,” said Cecilia Sierra, a sophomore bioengineering major, who delivered a powerful opening prayer.

At noon by the Memorial Student Union, A&T students met to help celebrate the international day of peace. People listened attentively to the message of peace being given, through prayers, spoken word, and music.

Following an introduction of Pease Day, prayers soon followed including a Santeria (Wilbert Guilford), Christian (NuNu Lo), Native American (Brittany Mercer) and lastly the prayer for the Congo (Taylor Martin).

The Poetic Insurgents Word Troop had a performance of three people, expressing the need for peace in today’s society. This successful event ended with a poem by Taylor Martin, sophomore, speaking with conviction about the disparity going on in Congo and its extreme need for peace. 

“It was when Taylor Martin spoke, I felt remorse because it shows us that same emotion she felt,” says Nathan McClough, a sophomore at A&T who participated in the Day of Peace.

“One of the most important causes is for people listen because if you don’t take the time to stop talking and start listening, you’ll understand the aspect of what someone is trying to say. 

• Derek Lineberger & U’Leasa Joseph