Parker Palmer: What I learned early on from some great teachers is that violence is not just a matter of dropping a bomb on someone or shooting a bullet at them or hitting them in the face. Violence is done whenever we violate the identity and integrity of the other. Violence is done when we demean, marginalize, dismiss, rendering other people irrelevant to our lives or even less than human. Violence is done when we simply don't care or don't look hard enough to evoke our caring for another.
Interview w/ Krista Tippet

Palmetto Friends Gathering is a fellowship of Quaker meetings in South Carolina that follows the unprogrammed manner of worship. The meetings include Aiken Worship Group, Charleston Monthly Meeting, Columbia Monthly Meeting, Five Rivers Monthly Meeting, and Greenville Monthly Meeting. Unprogrammed meetings traditionally meet in silence until someone in the group rises to speak, usually for a short message. After a period of about an hour, the clerk of the meeting closes the silent worship by welcoming everyone. People then greet each other, announcements are made, and people visit, return home, or continue with subsequent planned activities.

The Gathering meets annually each Spring for a weekend of worship, programs, and fellowship. The location of the gathering moves around the state from year to year.