Mid-Missouri Peaceworks holds peace gathering ahead of anniversary of Hiroshima-Nagasaki

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks held a peace gathering Saturday at Stephens Lake Park in observation of the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Those gathering also called for the end of the Israel-Hamas War and the war in Ukraine. Organizers petitioned for all nations to sign and ratify the Ban Treaty, or the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and to work toward universal nuclear disarmament.

The event also included two speakers: Ann Suellentrop, a leader in the movement for nuclear disarmament and Rasha Abousalem, a humanitarian aid worker and Palestinian American peace and justice activist.

A potluck dinner kicked off the gathering at 6:30 p.m. with lantern-making and live music. The speakers began talking at 8 p.m. and the group launched their lanterns into the water shortly after 9 p.m.

Abousalem tells ABC 17 these gatherings are so important because there are still lessons to be learned.

"We don't see that there's a pattern to, to our existence," Abousalem said." "You know, this is why it's so important to remember atrocities of the past and to connect them to what's happening now so we can remind ourselves that there are lessons to be learned."

This is the 38th consecutive year Peaceworks members and supporters gathered to honor the memory of the lives lost in the atomic bombings.