Ohio University students and Athens residents gathered Tuesday evening to remember the attacks that occurred Sept. 11, 2001.
More than 60 people arrived at the Church of the Good Shepherd to take part in the second-annual Interfaith Peace Walk, which made stops at six faith-based destinations, ending at the Islamic Center of Athens on Stewart Street.
“We are not only honoring those who died in 9/11; we are honoring those who have also died in political and religious conflicts around the world,” said Melissa Wales, director of United Campus Ministry. “In spite of our differences, we hope that this walk will bring all communities together to celebrate religious diversity on our campus.”
Wales said she believes people of different faiths experienced fallouts and division after the Sept. 11 attacks.
She added that she hoped the walk would show that different people with diverse faiths and beliefs can walk together in support of a common mission that speaks of peace.
The mission of the interfaith walk is important for all students to remember; they shouldn’t allow religious differences to divide them, said Rev. Ed Young, campus minister.
“As a community, we envisioned another story,” Young said his speech prior to the walk. “We imagined a community that can live out its faith and beliefs. We envisioned something better together.”
The walk’s success is not measured in sheer numbers or by the amount of coverage the event received, said Allison Schoeppner, campus organizer for Better Together at OU.
“It’s about a shared idea of peace amongst religions which is really important,” she said. “It’s about coming together after something happened to affect all of us. (Sept. 11) happened to all of us.”
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