Peace Road Rally in Cincinnati Marks International Day of Peace

Report by Christopher Fox, Executive Director, UPF-USA Ohio

On September 19, 2025, in collaboration with the Universal Peace Federation of Ohio, the ACLC–Women in Ministry National Conference hosted a Peace Road Rally in downtown Cincinnati to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Over 100 women clergy from across the nation gathered in front of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, under a clear blue sky, on a plaza symbolic of both freedom and reconciliation.

Dr. Michael Jenkins, President of UPF International and Chairman of UPF North America, welcomed the participants and reflected on the vision of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the True Parents of Humankind. He emphasized that the Peace Road is a global initiative to realize “One Family under God” and that this year’s rally was a local expression of the worldwide call for unity and healing.

Faith leaders including Dr. Elaine Hasan of Cincinnati and Rev. T.L. Barrett of Chicago offered prayers, songs, and encouragement. Their words highlighted that lasting peace requires reconciliation across divisions and a willingness to love one another as God loves us. The administrator and historian of the Freedom Center also shared reflections on the region’s history of slavery, Ohio’s role as a Free State, and the ongoing struggle for justice—reminding participants why the work of peace must continue.

The rally concluded with a symbolic march to the Ohio River, led by two young people carrying the Peace Road banner. As the group sang Follow the Drinking Gourd, participants honored the enslaved men and women who once crossed those same waters in search of freedom. Prayers at the river became a deeply spiritual moment of remembrance, repentance, and renewed determination to confront modern-day forms of slavery and injustice.

The event received extensive coverage from WCPO News, which broadcast four segments throughout the evening, amplifying the call for peace to a wider public.

Special thanks are extended to the UPF, ACLC, WFWP, and FFWPU members in Ohio and Kentucky whose dedication and unity made the rally possible. Their service ensured that this gathering became both a commemoration of the International Day of Peace and a living testimony of the Peace Road vision.