Peace ceremony to commemorate conscientious objectors in Sheffield

A ceremony commemorating conscientious objectors will be held in Sheffield this weekend.
A peace vigil held in May 2016 to mark the centenary of the right to be a conscientious objector in BritainA peace vigil held in May 2016 to mark the centenary of the right to be a conscientious objector in Britain
A peace vigil held in May 2016 to mark the centenary of the right to be a conscientious objector in Britain

The event, organised by Sheffield Creative Action for Peace, will begin in the Peace Gardens on Saturday (May 13) at 2.30pm.

From there, a procession will depart for the cenotaph in Barker's Pool, where a wreath of white poppies will be laid and a specially-formed Choir for Peace will sing.

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There will also be readings in memory of those who have taken a stand for peace over the years, from conscientious objectors who have refused to fight for moral reasons to campaigners who have striven to end conflict.

And those gathered will hear about the campaign for a 'peace tax', whereby people can ask for their taxes to be used for peaceful purposes and not for military ends.

The event, which is expected to last for around an hour, has been organised to mark International Conscientious Objectors Day.

The Peace Gardens, where the ceremony will begin, was dedicated to peace in 1985 in the presence of three survivors of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb, and a plaque there commemorates Sheffielders who have died in wars and in the pursuit of peace.

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