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Thursday, September 21, 2023

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Consumer health advocates urge governor to sign bill package; NY protests for Jewish democracy heighten as Netanyahu meets UN today; Multiple Utah cities set to use ranked-choice voting in next election.

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The Pentagon wants to help service members denied benefits under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," advocates back a new federal office of gun violence prevention, and a top GOP member assures the Ukrainian president more help is coming.

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An Indigenous project in South Dakota seeks to protect tribal data sovereignty, advocates in North Carolina are pushing back against attacks on public schools, and Arkansas wants the hungriest to have access to more fruits and veggies.

Community Groups Promote Peace in the Natural State

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Thursday, September 22, 2022   

We're in the middle of Arkansas Peace Week, which is packed full of activities and events to promote the goals of peace and justice in the state.

Peace Week organizers are taking on some tough topics, from hunger and racism, to mental health and war crimes. But they say knowledge is necessary in order to build stronger communities which are more inclusive and less violent. Participants include a coalition of local, national and international organizations and faith groups.

Bob Estes, lead organizer for Arkansas Peace Week, said everyone is welcome at the events.

"We're working with the Seventh Street Mural Project, social justice murals that were put up in the wake of George Floyd's murder and beyond, and it's a focal point for social justice in the city," Estes noted. "And Sunday the 25th, we're having a festival down there, so people can go and meet the artists."

Estes added they have partnered with the National Park Service. At Little Rock Central High School, which is a National Historic Site, events today through Saturday will commemorate the 65th anniversary of the school's desegregation by Black students who became known as the Little Rock Nine.

Estes pointed out Little Rock has had issues with violent crime in the past, and in the last few years, crime has been on the increase once again. He said they've made crime prevention a priority in schools throughout the city.

"And one of the things that we're trying to do is really, around that, starting with our children, and teaching in the school's lessons about alternatives to violence and nonviolence conflict resolution," Estes explained. "And we're trying to start early and teach those skills, so violence doesn't continue on as this generation grows."

The most recent data from the Little Rock Police Department this month shows the number of homicides so far this year is 59, nine more than at the same point in 2021.


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