June 1999Victory Over Violence
"Victory Over Violence" is a grassroots movement begun by SGI-USA youth to promote nonviolence and respect for all life as a step toward realizing world peace and security. A rise in youth-related violence, specifically the tragic shooting in April 1999 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, USA, perpetrated by two students, became the catalyst for this youth-led nonviolence campaign. VOV, which includes an exhibition, workshops, video and panel discussions, has been brought into schools across the nation, from Hawaii to New York. Youth of other SGI constituent organizations around the world have since initiated their own VOV campaigns.