On Saturday, June 22, Fr. John Dear will host author, activist and lecturer Rivera Sun who will lead a reflection on the many ongoing grassroots movements of active nonviolence around the world. Rivera has spent years studying the grassroots movements to end war and tyranny as they happen, and will offer a clear presentation on the many nonviolent movements that ended war and tyranny.
“I am struck by the courage of ordinary people waging these struggles to stop war,” Rivera writes. “The women of Liberia stood up to dictators and rebel factions to halt the second civil war. Tired of bloodshed after winning their independence from France, the people of Algeria literally laid down in front of tanks to prevent a civil war. In Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, citizens did what armies could not: they defended key institutions and ousted the Soviets from their doorsteps. The courage in these stories doesn’t just inspire me as a peace activist; it gives me powerful strategies and ways to think about the important work of waging peace. We need to learn from people around the world who have successfully halted and prevented wars. From the tactics they used to the determination with which they rallied their movements, there’s a lot of hidden wisdom for our own efforts.”
As we face the impending election, resist U.S. military spending, in particular, funding for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and war-making in Ukraine, ongoing nuclear weapons development, corporate greed, injustice, and fossil fuels, Rivera Sun will inspire us to continue to what we can as ordinary people to stop war-making, injustice, and tyranny at home and abroad.
In honor of civil rights and nonviolence leader Jim Lawson, who died June 10, join Fr. Dear to learn about the victories of grassroots nonviolence and renew our commitment to the nonviolent struggle for justice and peace.
>>Saturday, June 22, 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern. Use this link to register.
The Beatitudes Center will send the zoom link a few days beforehand, so be on the lookout, and a recording link afterwards. Register here.
Cost is $30; scholarships are available. If you have questions, email Kassandra at beatitudescentermb@gmail.com.