Plowshare Peace & Justice Center

10/18/2026

Check out this Zoom conference opportunity - starts next Friday, one session per day.

Join us for World BEYOND War’s annual virtual conference, : Beyond Borders, on October 23-25 on Zoom.

10/16/2026

PLOWSHARE-INDIVISIBLE "VOTE EARLY" RALLY ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

Dear friends,

Roanoke Indivisible will hold a "Vote Early" rally at the Eureka Recreational Center on Saturday, October 17, from 11 AM to 2 PM. Plowshare is a co-sponsor. We encourage you to attend. Below is more information; you can also go to https://www.roanokeindivisible.org/events.

Plowshare is gathering for its monthly peace vigil in front of the Roanoke City Market Building from noon to 1 PM and for its annual Open House at the Friends Meetinghouse, 505 Day Av., from 2 to 4 PM, also on Saturday, October 17. It is possible to hop around to all these events!

Gary Sandman
Plowshare Director

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Roanoke VOTEFest
No Kings: Vote Early
Saturday, October 17 | 11am-2pm
Eureka Recreation Center - 1529 Carroll Ave NW, Roanoke, VA 24017

On October 17, Roanoke joins communities across the country for No Kings: Vote Early, a nonpartisan day of action that turns people power into voter power. Our local event is part block party, part voter hub, and open to the whole family.

What’s Happening
Food truck eats from Familia Argentina

Live music

Voter info tables

Yard games, chalk drawing & Halloween candy

Postcard writing

Get Voter Ready
Volunteers will be on hand to:

Check your registration status

Register you to vote if needed

Explain why voting early matters

Walk you through your early voting options and what’s on the ballot

Connect you with election volunteer opportunities

Why Vote Early?
Voting early gives you time to fix problems that could keep you from the polls on Election Day. It also gives our community time to help neighbors, friends, and coworkers make their own plans.

10/13/2026

PLOWSHARE-PEACE VIGIL ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

Concerned about the U.S. war in Iran and its support for war in Gaza and Ukraine? Feeling alone?

Plowshare will hold its monthly peace vigil on Saturday, October 17. The vigil will gather from noon to 1 PM in front of the City Market Building, 32 Market Square E.

The Plowshare peace vigil format is an hour of silence, though participants unused to silence do talk softly. That time of silence encourages us to reflect on peace and ways we can work toward peace. It also allows us to speak with people who don't agree with us. Plowshare provides signs, though you may make your own. All signs should be respectful. Poles for flags are not permitted, though you may hold flags. If you find it difficult to stand for an hour, you may bring a stool. You may also take a break in the City Market Building.

Free parking is available in the parking garage behind the Wells-Fargo building or along the street on Campbell Av., east of Williamson Rd. Walking time from the garage is about one minute; walking time for the Campbell Av. is about two minutes.
Plowshare has held vigils on the City Market since the 1970's. We began our monthly silent peace vigil in April 2005 and with a few breaks for blizzards, hurricanes, heatwaves and plague have gathered ever since.

We always gather on the third Saturday of the month from noon to 1 PM in front of the Roanoke City Market building. All are welcome.

Gary Sandman
Plowshare Director

540-492-3582
[email protected]
www.plowshareva.org
page at Plowshare Peace & Justice Center
Facebook group at Plowshare Peace Center
Instagram at plowshare peace center
Mail: Plowshare, PO Box 4367, Roanoke VA 24015
PLOWSHARE-OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

Dear friends,

The annual Plowshare Open House will be on October 17 from 2 to 4 PM at the Friends Meetinghouse, 505 Day Av. Light refreshments will be provided. Pastor David Jones of Williams Memorial Baptist Church will be the recipient of the Peace- and Justice-maker of the Year Award.

Gary Sandman
Plowshare Director

540-492-3582
[email protected]
www.plowshareva.org
page at Plowshare Peace & Justice Center
Facebook group at Plowshare Peace Center
Instagram at Plowshare Peace Center
Mail: Plowshare, PO Box 4367, Roanoke VA 24015

10/12/2026

ZOOM LINKS FOR PLOWSHARE BOARD MEETINGS

Dear friends,

Plowshare board meetings are open to Plowshare supporters. If you would like to attend, please let us know at the email below. We will send you a Zoom link.

You do not need to be a member of the Plowshare board to attend. There is a membership procedure to join the board, though, if supporters are interested.

Board meetings are always second Tuesdays of the month at 8 PM, through Zoom. Next one is October 13

Gary Sandman
Plowshare Director

540-492-3582
[email protected]
www.plowshareva.org
page at Plowshare Peace & Justice Center
Facebook group at Plowshare Peace Center
Instagram at Plowshare Peace Center
Mail: Plowshare, PO Box 4367, Roanoke VA 24015

09/30/2026

PLOWSHARE NEWSLETTER-SEPTEMBER 2026

Dear friends,

The Plowshare September 2026 newsletter is available at the link below:

https://mcusercontent.com/e8a3e8aa0c9455450769d216f/files/23b81a5c-43e6-43a1-a9b7-b8db82785662/ps_newsletter_sept_2026.01.pdf

Gary Sandman
Plowshare Director

540-492-3582
[email protected]
www.plowshareva.org
page at Plowshare Peace & Justice Center
Facebook group at Plowshare Peace Center
Instagram at Plowshare Peace Center
Mail: Plowshare, PO Box 4367, Roanoke VA 24015

09/28/2026

PROGRESSIVES POTLUCK SEPTEMBER 2026

Some of the folks at the Progressives Potluck tonight. Bob Capper of Radio Free Roanoke was the main speaker. We also heard from people about the Dominion merger, the Sierra Club, Forest Watch, Plowshare and the Beth Macy campaign. It was a gala event. Next PP will be in December. Don't miss it!

09/24/2026

DAVID SWANSON ON “HOW TO ABOLISH WAR” ON NOVEMBER 22

Plowshare Peace Center will present David Swanson on “How to Abolish War” on November 22 at 8 PM at the Friends Meetinghouse, 505 Day Av.

David Swanson is Co-Founder, Executive Director, and a Board Member of World BEYOND War. World BEYOND War seeks to replace war with a global, sustainable system of peace through education, divestment, and nonviolent action. David argues against all war-making, rejects "just war theory" as an illusion used to justify violence and campaigns against institutions like NATO. He has written multiple books on peace and militarism, including War Is a Lie, When the World Outlawed War, and War Is Never Just. He is a multiple-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and received the U.S. Peace Prize in 2018. Based in Richmond, Virginia, David is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host and the campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. He blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org and hosts Talk World Radio. Follow him on Twitter: and FaceBook.

For more information, contact Plowshare at 540-492-3582 or [email protected].

09/24/2026

PLOWSHARE AT INDIVISIBLE RALLY AT ELMWOOD PARK ON JULY 25

09/24/2026

PLOWSHARE ENVIRONMENTAL PANEL AT WILLIAMS MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH ON JULY 18

09/24/2026

PLOWSHARE PROGRESSIVES POTLUCK AT FRIENDS MEETINGHOUSE ON JUNE 28