The Peace Task Force of the Unitarian Church of All Souls is a volunteer organization led by members of the congregation. Our mission is to present programs to the congregation and the public that increase awareness of current events, present analyses that throw a new and different light on these events, and expand our thinking beyond reports presented by the mainstream media. By awakening their passion through education, we believe that individuals are more likely to make choices that uphold principles of justice, diplomacy and human dignity. Leaders and activists may emerge through this process. Our History The Peace Task Force was founded in 2001 as the US was preparing to attack Afghanistan in response to 9/11. It was a time when patriotism had reached a feverish pitch, public debate was polarized and contentious, and people felt reluctant to question main-stream reaction for fear of being labeled “unpatriotic”. The Peace Task Force started as a small discussion group to provide a safe place for reasonable and respectful conversation. Groups of 4-14 people would meet to discuss topics such as “What happens if we lose the war on terror?” or “What can the average person do to promote peace?” See The Peace Task Force Since the Beginning, by Paul Bennett. The Peace Task Force began to grow within the All Souls Church membership and took on a regular schedule of events on a monthly basis. The events expanded from the small discussion groups to documentaries screenings followed by discussion, to bringing in speakers on various topics including civil liberties, Iraq, and Palestine/Israel. We also initiated letter-writing campaigns and participated in rallies and demonstrations for peace and justice. In 2003, we made a decision to expand our reach. We held special events in collaboration with Community Church of New York, The Brooklyn Society and Not In Our Name (NION). We began to publicize our events widely and some drew as many as 200 people. See Reviews of Past Events and Why the Penguins Keep Marching by Hanan Watson.Organizationally, the Peace Task Force was founded by Paul Bennett and Cara Blouin. In 2002, an organizing committee was formed. In June, 2004, Paul Bennett turned over the Chairmanship to Hanan Watson, who had been a member of the organizing committee. See Current Volunteers . Current Volunteers:
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