By Howard Henry

A multi-faith gathering of thirty-seven people assembled peacefully on the evening of June 27, 2009 on the front grounds of the University Presbyterian Church, Main Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard, Buffalo for a candlelight Vigil for Torture Abolition and Healing (ViTAH).

People from city and suburb, representing a number of different religious congregations and organizations, and including members of the Western New York Peace Center, gathered quietly to witness for a world of peace and healing, respect for the dignity of humankind and an absolute end to torture.

June is Torture Awareness month. This witness was in support of the work being led by the multi-faith National Religious Campaign Against Torture (www.nrcat.org) and the Torture Abolition Survivors Support Committee International (www.tassc.org).

Vigil participants were grateful for the opportunity to take a public stand for human worth and dignity and wholeness. Many pedestrian passers-by stopped to talk and learn about this witness; many drivers honked their horns in support as they drove by the gathering.
Co-led by Sister Lori High, SSMN, and Howard Henry, Elder at University Presbyterian Church, we hope to repeat this vigil in June 2010 on the grounds of a new congregation or organization. Annually we want to add new participants to witness to our belief in the holiness of God’s created human beings.

For more information, please email yes2peace@roadrunner.com