41st Anniversary of the New England Peace Pagoda Observed

• The 41st Anniversary Ceremony of the New England Peace Pagoda was held in Leverett, Massachusetts, attended by approximately 200 people.
• The gathering honored the history of Nipponzan Myohoji peace walks and the community built around the shrine.
• Activists and attendees reflected on decades of nonviolent direct action and grassroots social justice movements.

Historical Peace Initiatives

• 1976 Continental Walk: A cross-continental march for disarmament and social justice.
• 1978 Longest Walk: A five-month journey from Alcatraz Island to Washington, D.C., to protect Native American treaty rights.
• 1982 World Peace Walk: A movement that culminated in a one-million-person rally in New York for the UN’s Second Special Session on Disarmament.
• 1998–99 Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage: A journey retracing the transatlantic slave trade route from the U.S. to South Africa.

Core Values and Reflection

• Ven. Gyoway Kato reiterated the teachings of Fujii Guruji, emphasizing the necessity of courage and faith in humanity to achieve universal liberation.
• Participants chanted the Daimoku together, strengthening the bond between long-time followers and new supporters.
• Speakers noted the significance of the event in the context of Leverett, described as "Rebaretto," a place representing "spirit" and "clearing skies."