News -
Non-Violence Project USA Exhibits Drums for Peace at Sold-Out Ringo Starr Concert
The Non-Violence Project USA is grateful to have participated in an impactful awareness-raising exhibition during the sold-out Ringo Starr performance on Friday, June 13, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The Drums for Peace sculpture - created by Non-Violence Ambassador Sir Ringo Starr - was popular in the Grand Lounge, where many attendees paused to reflect and take photos with the powerful piece. The Non-Violence Project was honored to exhibit alongside Sir Ringo’s artwork, curated by his publisher and collaborator Neal Glaser.
At the heart of the initiative was the story behind the sculpture itself. The original Knotted Gun -also known as Non-Violence - was created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd after his close friend John Lennon was shot to death outside his home in New York in 1980. Since then, it has become one of the world’s most recognized symbols of peace and non-violence, with monumental versions placed outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Peace Square in Beijing, Cape Town in South Africa, Belfast in Northern Ireland, and many other cities around the globe.
The exhibition was especially meaningful as it coincided with National Gun Violence Awareness Month, amplifying the urgency of spreading a message of non-violence - particularly in the city Lennon once called home.
Since 1993, the Non-Violence Project Foundation has educated more than 10 million young people in how to resolve conflicts peacefully through its award-winning, preventive education programs: Schools for Peace and Sports for Peace. These initiatives empower children and youth with practical, emotional, and social skills to reject violence in all its forms and become changemakers for peace in their communities.
The evening concluded on a powerful note as the audience came together in a moving rendition of Give Peace a Chance, underscoring the spirit of the event.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) and the dedicated team at Radio City Music Hall for their generous support and for helping create an unforgettable evening of inspiration, unity, and purpose.
