An exhibit featuring photographs, videos and other information about Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda will kick off the 2009 season for Nonviolence Long Beach, which is part of an international 64-day grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities.
The public is invited to the free exhibit “Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace” at the Main Library Auditorium, 101 Pacific Ave., on Thursday, January 29, from 3pm to 6pm. Parking is available in the Civic Center Structure on Broadway, between Chestnut and Cedar avenues. The keynote speaker is Long Beach Superior Court Judge J.D. Lord.
The internationally renowned exhibit extols humanist virtues and its champions. Though Gandhi, King and Ikeda each came from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, they have each, in their respective lifetimes, fought for nonviolence, human rights and world peace: Gandhi led the campaign in India against the colonial rule of the British Empire; King fought against the injustices and prejudice built against people of color in America; and Tokyo native Ikeda encourages millions of civilians throughout the world to live a life of dignity and to work for world peace.
More than one million people in 30 countries have seen this exhibit since its inception in 2001. The Long Beach exhibit is sponsored by 2nd District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal, the City of Long Beach Human Dignity Program, The Center Long Beach and Soka Gakkai International—USA.
“Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated how nonviolence could transform and empower,” Councilmember Lowenthal said. “It is my hope that with the City of Long Beach’s annual participation, more organizations and individuals will be encouraged to contribute their own efforts to make A Season for Nonviolence a commencement for thoughtful discussion and foundation for exemplary action in all 365 days of the year.”
To RSVP, or for more information, call (562) 570-6684.
