The Hillsdale County Coalition For Peace and Justice came into existence about four years ago during the buildup to the Iraq invasion of March 2003. It is comprised of individuals from all across the political spectrum (hence the decision to use the word coalition) many of whom have been involved together in peace and environmental issues for two decades.

The annual Peace Festival are the biggest event the Coalition puts on. The first Freedom Festival was held in October, 2002 in the parking lot of the County Courthouse. It was called the Peace Dance and had several bands, headlined by Thadeus Buddah.

For the following two years Mrs Stocks’ Park, 300 yards East of the County Building became the venue. Each year saw several bands and speakers with a notable visit to the 2004 Peace Festival by the “Stop the Wall�? tour from the West Coast. They set up a replica of a section of the wall Israel is building along its idea of the “borders�? with Palestine.

In 2005 the Peace Coalition moved the annual Peace Festival to Carl Fast Park on US 12 in Jonesville, Michigan. The festival has remained in this location. We hosted Arlington Midwest at our festival in 2006, and a memorial display to Iraqi deaths in 2007.
In addition to our annual festival we hold a vigil every Saturday from noon until 1pm in from on M99 in front of the Hillsdale County Courthouse. Our monthly meetings are on the last Thursday of each month at Volume1 Bookstore, 96 N. Broad St. Hillsdale Mi. Meetings start at 7pm and run for about 1 hour. New members are welcome.