More than 100 cars and motorcycles lined up Sunday, Sept. 20, at Spring Valley Park to achieve their common goals: peace and unity.
United in Peace Foundation, a multi-ethnic and multi-faith movement working toward unity in cities, has brought its peace rides to different cities like St. Louis, Long Beach and Compton every month since 2012. Collaborating with local groups and nonprofits, United in Peace helps to bring the community and those from different backgrounds together with the common goal of reducing violence.
Local KC community groups, including Keeping Communities on Guard, One Love KC and We the People partnered with United in Peace to help plan the event that included vendors, food and music.
Brandon Ellington, a partner with the event, said the ride is not only a way to address Kansas City’s nearly 150 murders this year, but it also encourages local organizations with common goals of peace to collaborate and unify.
“Everybody talks about how many cars that we had and to me that shows organizational unity and when we talk about reducing crime, when we talk about engaging this community, when we talk about creating an atmosphere where everyone can enjoy life – this is how we do it,” Ellington said at the event. “We can’t do it any other way besides collaborating with each other and engaging authenticity with each other.”