(Boston, MA. – September 25th, 2017) Over the weekend, a coalition of gun violence prevention artists, activists and organizations participated in the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. Events ranged from selfie soloists to over 60 live concerts, digitally connected by #ConcertAcrossAmerica and ConcertAcrossAmerica.org.
Over 2,000 Americans (and still counting) sung along from home with the World Record Challenge, from September 21-24. Participants recorded a video of themselves singing “Nothing More” by the Alternate Routes and posted it on social media using #ConcertAcrossAmerica.
“Musicians often want to give back and to give a voice to those who have been lost to gun violence.” said New Orleans Coordinator Givonna Joseph, of OperaCréole, “As musicians, we care about our communities and we have a long history for fighting for social justice causes.”
World record submissions included videos that ranged from choral arrangements to a cappella, to Hawaiian ukulele versions, to gospel and Spanish versions. Participants included thousands of individuals from all walks of life including school children from over a dozen schools including San Mateo, CA, Bedford, MA, Memphis, TN, the Southeast Asia School for the Deaf, and social work students in San Jose, gun violence victims like Purpose Over Pain, a group of mothers who lost their children in Chicago, Trenelle Gabay in New York and Natalie and Mark Barden in Connecticut, the San Quentin Men’s Prison choir, the Grandmothers Against Gun Violence in Seattle and Cape Cod and a senior center in California. With the largest group submitting from a Birmingham, AL Unitarian Church.
“The overwhelming response to the world record challenge across America underscores the fact that no community has been spared from the gun violence epidemic,” said Concert Chair and Stop Handgun Violence Founder John Rosenthal. “We were excited to see so many new volunteers roll up their sleeves and commit to ending gun violence.”
“It is so great to see the one song being sung in so many different ways. and it really makes you feel united with others around the country!” said Shikha Hamilton of the California Brady Campaign Chapters.
Organizers of the event will continue to collect and catalogue videos for submission for a world record later this week. To watch videos visit the website: concertacrossamerica.org or visit the Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ConcertAcrossAmerica/
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About The Concert Across America
The Concert Across America will take place from Sept. 21st, International Peace Day to Sept. 24th, leading into the Congressionally designated day of remembrance for murder victims. This nationwide musical experience, spearheaded by Stop Handgun Violence in Boston, brings together a network of organizations, activists and artists to take a united stand against gun violence. For more information visit http://concertacrossamerica.org.