Peace Road 2022 Address the Issue of Gun Violence in America

“We’re stretching the vision of Peace Road to also include opportunities to create peace in the community, peace in our nation, and peace in the world,” said Kaeleigh Moffitt of UPF. She unveiled the Peace Road 2022 plan and theme, “A Safer Community, A Safer World,” during a virtual leaders’ meeting July 11.

“Bridging cultures as one is the overarching theme of Peace Road, but we’re also looking at stopping violence in America,” said Moffitt. “This is something that is really on True Mother’s heart, and as we know, this is a really big issue in our nation right now.”

While in Korea, True Mother asked UPF leaders to address the issue of gun violence in America. Peace Road is True Parents’ longstanding vision for a high-speed transportation artery linking the entire globe, connecting the world as one village linked by one road. The Peace Road project, which is sponsored by UPF, is a prime vehicle for tackling one of the top issues facing the U.S.

“We’re looking into the situations that cause [gun violence] and what we can do to contribute to a solution,” said Moffitt. “We want our Peace Road message to be wide enough to include addressing this ... In our local programs we’re really encouraging people to work with police officers, as well as [related] service projects.”

Since 2015, Peace Road has annually held treks in major cities worldwide in promotion of the global initiative. “To tell this story to the world, from the streets to the senate buildings, I had already created ‘Peace Road,’” said True Mother. “It consists of public activism publicizing the international highway and it has turned into a global movement for peace.”

With some 125 nations involved and promoting a more peaceful world, tens of thousands of people have walked, biked, and driven in support of Peace Road each summer. “The biking is really important, so we definitely encourage that to happen, as well as meeting at important historic areas to share this with our civic leaders,” said Moffitt.

Peace Road continues to work with community leaders, clergy, government officials and police in championing its message of peace among people of all backgrounds. Moffitt said new Peace Road educational webinars are being developed, including one focused on the need for an international highway and Bering Strait bridge. “This webinar would be addressing an international highway between America and Russia, and we will be partnering with Russia on that,” said Moffitt. 

Local Peace Road events are also scheduled throughout the summer, including Washington, DC on July 27; Baltimore and Chicago on July 30; Anchorage on Aug. 2; Las Vegas on Aug. 5, as well as Las Vegas and Little Rock, Arkansas, on Aug. 6. “No matter where we are, let’s make an offering for Peace Road,” said Moffit, “even if it’s a program, small meeting with police, or gathering at a local memorial.”

You can learn more about the Peace Road 2022 campaign and itinerary here.