Members of the Choose Peace – Stop Violence Club at Hollywood Hills High School, city of Hollywood leaders, members of Spoken Word, and school administrators came together on the patio area of Hollywood Hills High School to install a Peace Pole.
A Peace Pole is an internationally recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the human family for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four or six sides. The one at Hollywood Hills has four languages on the pole. There are Peace Poles throughout the world.
The Hollywood Hills Marching Band performed, and community leaders spoke.
Aliyah Gomez, president of the Choose Peace – Stop Violence Club spoke during the ceremony. “It is important that we work to stop violence. We need more people in the community. Violence is never the answer,” she said.
Carmen Natal, the advisor to Choose Peace said it is very important to promote the acceptance of differences among people. “We need to teach acceptance of differences among people. We need to have more tolerance,” she said.
Emonde Prosper, who teaches drama and debate and advises the Spoken Word organization, believes it is important to use communication instead of violence to deal with differences among people.
Mayor Josh Levy spoke and praised the work of Choose Peace. He thanked them for what they are doing at Hollywood Hills and in the community. “We need to spread the message of peace. Violence is not the answer,” he said.
Members of Choose Peace also created a Peace Chain consisting of positive notes that people had written during the ceremony.