5,000 Expected To Help Form Giant Peace Sign

The Peace Center is inviting people of all ages to participate informing the largest human peace sign on Sunday, May 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Bucks County Community College, 275 Swamp Road, Newtown The event is rain or shine.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has noted a 35-45 percent increase in hate crimes across the nation.

There is no time like the present to form a Human Peace Sign, according to The Peace Center’s Board President, Connie Keener.

“The Peace Center has had many calls to respond to incidents of bullying and racially-targeted violence in recent months. There is more open ‘hatred’ being voiced and that needs to be addressed.”

This event is an opportunity for our community to flip the script of all the negativity that we are inundated with and promote a message of love and peace in Bucks County and beyond.

Building on last year’s success, Langhorne Borough-based The Peace Center is ramping up everything: more music, more food, more games, and of course, more people forming the Human Peace Sign. It will be an afternoon filled with fun for peace enthusiasts and peacemakers of all ages.

This family-friendly day will feature a variety of performances by local musicians, food trucks, lawn games and activities including: the return of the popular giant bubbles, local henna artists, face painting and a children’s musician.

Everything will culminate in what The Peace Center hopes will be a record-breaking human peace sign. The Peace Center anticipates building off last year’s turnout and expects 5,000 guests to attend.

“The Human Peace Sign will give participants a chance to come together and build peace in our community, fostering connections and dissolving division,” president Keener said. Guests will assemble in a football-size field near the faculty parking lot, which is located next to Tyler State Park.

Keener added, “We want to show our community that there is also love and acceptance here in Bucks County, regardless of race or ethnicity or religious affiliation. So, standing together in peace is a visible demonstration of that.”

The Human Peace Sign will help raise funds for The Peace Center’s continued work in the community both transforming conflict and fostering peace. Celebrating its 35 th year, The Peace Center seeks to continue its role as an effective mediator and voice for tolerance, social justice and the peaceful resolution of conflict in our community.

Donations of $5 per person are welcomed. For more information, please go to The Peace Center: Bucks County Facebook; the 2nd Annual Human Peace Sign will be listed under our events page or call The Peace Center at 215-750- 7220.

Please visit www.thepeacecenter.org to see last year’s coverage of the 1 st Annual Human Peace Sign at the community college.

Editor’s Note: Petra Chesner Schlatter is a representative of The Peace Center.