The San Quentin Day of Peace committee was established to show fellow inmates ways to reject violence and support peace. The tradition continued May 7.
In 2006, interracial strife kept San Quentin State Prison on repeated lockdowns. Just before a yard event to celebrate Black history, all came to a head as a race riot erupted. Afterward, a multiracial group of men, most serving life sentences, came together and went to the administration to ask for a Day of Peace.
Each year the Day of Peace event draws support from high-ranking administrators supporting the efforts of peaceful-minded inmates.
“Open dialogue, violence prevention workshops, and the annual Day of Peace celebration serve as alternatives to violence and thus stem the tide of violence by saturating prisons as well as society with peace,” Chairman Chris Schumacher said at last year’s celebration.
In support of peace, hundreds of inmates wearing white T-shirts along with prison staffers and local community members walk together around the prison’s Lower Yard.
Supporters take to a makeshift stage in the middle of the yard to give speeches, recite poetry and entertain participants about what the event means to them.
During the last couple of events, The Native Hawaiian Religious Group of San Quentin entertained the walkers with dances. A Asian group called Heiwa Taiko, drummed for the walkers.
Music is provided by Bread & Roses each year.
Last year, the late folk singer Audrey Auld entertained the walkers with songs that were created in a workshop with inmates.
The sidewalk art contest is one of the biggest attractions to the Day of Peace, with more than 100 exhibits last year.
Josh Walkenhorst and Natalie Tovar bring Day of Peace participants snacks donated by Walkenhorst’s package vendor.
Over the years of the celebration, tables have been sprawled across the yard with various self-help groups giving out information about their organization. The groups include: Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out; Ifa Foundation; No More Tears; The Work; Protestant Church; Project LA; TRUST; ELITE; Brother’s Keeper; SQ CARES; Native Hawaiians; Diabetes Project; Free to Succeed; REACH; Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin; Catholic Church; Centering Prayer; Restorative Justice; Karros; SQUIRES; TEDx, San Quentin Prison Report; Hope For Lifers; Guiding Rage Into Power; Freeman Capital; California Reentry Institute; Criminal and Gang Members Anonymous; Shakespeare at San Quentin; The Richmond Project; Alliance for Change; The Last Mile; Restoring Our Original True Selves; Kid Creating Awareness Together.
The Office of Neighborhood Safety [https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/271/Office-of-Neighborhood-Safety] techniques involve street outreach and transformative travel. ONS seeks out young men who are active firearm offenders to present credible alternatives to violence.
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