This Is What Happened When Yoko Ono Tried to Organize the World’s Largest Human Peace Sign
John Lennon would have celebrated his 75th birthday this Friday. To celebrate the milestone, Yoko Ono, his widow, attempted to organize a party and a gift for him in New York City's Central Park. She invited the world to come and break a world record in Lennon's honor: arranging the world's largest human peace sign, a sign that essentially epitomizes Lennon's activism.
Fans came from all over — Italy, Venezuela, Ohio — to answer the call. Activists brought signs protesting war in all its forms. An unexpected number of children field tripping from several New York City schools sat singing along to tunes from the Beatles catalog piped through the loud speakers.
"We are more connected globally now," Luz Cano, a 14-year New York resident from Argentina, told Mic, marveling at the diversity. "I think younger generations are more aware of trying to make the world a better place and create peace."
The age range between the youngest and oldest participants was vast. However, it revealed the event's deeper significance: Beyond creating a visual tribute for Lennon, it was an opportunity to pass along the late artist's message to the next generation.
"If we instill in our children an understanding of peace and a sense of creativity, we have a shot at a better world," Brian Rothschild, the executive director of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, told the crowd of the organization's mission.
Teachers from the Castle Bridge School in New York City's Washington Heights seemed to think the kids were getting the message. Leading up to the event, Sally Cleaver had been working with her kindergarten through fourth grade students discussing the lyrics to "Imagine."
By: Tom Barnes
Source: Music.Mic
