BANGOR – The Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine will hold a Peace Gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Hammond Street Church. The event was planned to coincide with a national New York Peace Walk-March being called by the National Coalition for Peace & Justice representing the nation’s largest peace organizations.

Local poets and musicians will share their talents in order to help the community process the tragic events of Sept. 11 and to affirm people’s commitment to justice, peace, respect for diversity and civil liberties and the need for solutions to the root causes of violence.

Flute player Hawk Henries and folk-blues singer and songwriter Doug Crate will provide music. Poetry will be read by Burton Hatlen, Jennifer Moxley, Steven Evens and Megan London of the University of Maine.

“There have been so many vigils, rallies, teach-ins, letters to the editor and op-eds expressing the desire to have the terrible events of September. 11 lead to an end to the cycle of violence,” said Ilze Petersons of the Peace & Justice Center. “This event will strengthen our commitment to working together for peaceful solutions to conflicts and help us to explore ways to collaborate in a variety of ways in the future.”

After the music and poetry, there will be an opportunity to discuss ways to continue to work for peace and justice in eastern Maine. More than 600 signatures have already been gathered on a petition circulated by the Peace & Justice Center, which will be sent to President Bush and may also be delivered to the Maine congressional delegation. For more information, call 942-9343.