Diverse groups march for peace at UT

By Sharon Jayson

American-Statesman Staff

Tuesday, September 25, 2001

Their faces were joyful and their mouths filled with song as more than 100 people representing different faiths and ethnic groups joined Monday night in a March for Peace on the University of Texas campus.

Billed as an expression of solidarity for peace and nonviolence, the march ended at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the East Mall. The event was planned to commemorate the second anniversary of the statue's dedication and expanded into a march for peace after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said Yvonne Fuentes of the UT Multicultural Information Center. That group, along with UT Student Government, organized the trek across campus.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to promote peace and unity on the UT campus, not just for black students but for all races," said freshman Sundra Essien.

Last year's dedication of the first monument to an African American on the UT campus made a statement for diversity on a campus where statues of Confederate heroes have stood since the Depression.

At the statue, a multifaith celebration included prayers in Arabic, English, Hebrew, Sanskrit and Spanish.

Organizations participating included the Art of Living Foundation, the Longhorn American Indian Council, the Hispanic Affairs Agency, the Muslim Students' Association, Texas Hillel, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Barsana Dham and the Baha'i Association.

You may contact Sharon Jayson at sjayson@statesman.com or 445-3620.