A prison seems an unlikely place to find advocates of anti-violence and peace, but more than 20 inmates at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility took part in a celebration of the U.N. International Day of Peace on Friday at the detention center.
The ceremony, organized by Carolyn Keys and Alternatives to Violence Project and the Prison Advisory Council, was held outside in the central area of the facility. The advisory council includes all inmates and works with the prison administration to make changes to the detention center. Another group of prisoners, called Awaken, mentors young inmates and detainees at the Youth Rehabilitation Center.
“We are blessed to be alive and breathing,” said Olu Lee Massey of the Bureau of Corrections substance abuse treatment program, opening the program and introducing the speakers.
“This can be a day of awareness, awareness of truth, justice and freedom,” Massey said. “A lot of us want peace and need peace, but to get to peace is a process. We start that process today.”
After Massey, inmate Meral Smith, who is serving a life sentence, spoke to the group as a member of the PAC board. He told prisoners they all need to work together for peace and justice.
“We can’t strike at each other for every little thing. I hope we can stay humble in adversity and do everything without violence,” said the convicted murderer, who said he writes essays and poetry.
Another inmate and writer of poetry, Alston Lambertis, said peace and justice equal love. “Peace is a very significant thing. When the human soul and mind unites, imagine what can blossom,” he said. “In spite of our conditions, we still got life. Each one teach one.”
Others who spoke against violence included Keys, founder of Alternatives to Violence Project, who greeted the group with “Namaste,” meaning: “The spirit of God in me greets the spirit of God in you.” Then she led the group in a prayer for peace.
Ethereo Akinshegun, with AVP and director of the Pinnacle parent training program, said peace is in everyone’s DNA. He paid tribute to the inmates who have completed AVP training and are PAC leaders.
According to Massey, 50 to 60 inmates have completed the AVP training course since 2011 and many have reached the second training level. The program, based on the nonviolent teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., began in a New York prison.
Golden Grove Warden Basil Richards called the AVP program “absolutely wonderful” and said it needs to reach more inmates, especially young prisoners.
“We’ve got to find a way to reach these guys. I look to these types of programs,” Richards said.
