Members of the Portage County Peace Coalition gathered yesterday evening for a candlelight vigil in honor of the United Nation’s International Day of Peace. BRIAN MARKS | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: John Proppe

“No more killing in our name.”

A banner displayed this message during the Portage Community Peace Coalition’s candlelight vigil held in downtown Kent last night in recognition of the International Day of Peace.

This was also the belief of the 16 area residents who stood at the edge of South Water Street to protest the war on terror.

“I believe that peace is one of the greatest religious teachings there is,” Kent resident Renee Ruchotzke said. “Living in harmony together is what religion teaches us. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The date Sept. 21 was established as an international day of non-violence and ceasefire by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001.

Group founder Sue Jeffers said the coalition started as a small candlelight vigil about the time the war on terror began in Afghanistan.

“People drive by and usually give us thumbs up, but they don’t have the time to come and stand here,” she said. “For the amount of time we had to let people know about it, it’s a respectable crowd. I was hoping for more people to show up though.”

Contact public affairs reporterWilliam Schertz at [email protected].