By Kelly Garrity, news correspondent
Hundreds from across the state gathered at Boston Common Saturday, for Children’s Services of Roxbury’s (CSR) attempt to break the Guinness world record for the largest human peace sign.
Unfortunately, Saturday’s efforts gathered only 1,682 people. According to Guinness World Records’ adjudicator Andy Glass, the number to beat was 5,000. However, those who came out to support CSR still felt that their effort was worthwhile. For many, this event was about more than breaking a world record.
“It’s great given the current climate, with everything that’s going on around the world, for people to be organizing for something that’s not political, not left or right, but just about peace and human rights,” said Randall Davis of Davis Kelly Certified Public Accountants, the audit firm for CSR.
Many members of the Northeastern community were in attendance, including members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, commonly know as Fiji. According to second-year electrical engineering major Joe Monteiro, they heard about the event through Engage Boston, a mentor program that pairs college students with students in Roxbury schools.
“We thought this was a really good opportunity to spread word for peace around Roxbury,” Monteiro said. “We’re just trying to show our support as people who live in the community.”
The process of establishing whether they had broken the record involved many steps, Davis said. Each participant got a numbered bracelet, which were handed out by volunteers at the six different entrances of the designated peace-sign formation area. Participants then had to remain in place for five minutes to be counted, as required by Guinness rules. Multiple people had to confirm the count, including volunteers from all six entrances, representatives from an independent audit firm and the Guinness judge. Photographer Doug Wicks, who was hired by CSR for the event, also took an aerial photo to ensure the count was correct and that the formation was in the shape of a peace sign.
Deirdre Degata of the local radio station Hot 96.9 served as the emcee for the event, offering background on CSR and its work
“For nearly 50 years, CSR has been providing high quality services and programs to economically disadvantaged children, youth, families and individuals, promoting and strengthening family life and individual growth,” Degata said.
She also introduced the many prominent Bostonians who spoke, including Reverend Dr. Raymond Hammond, Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg and State Treasurer Deb Goldberg.
“We’re here to make peace, not just as a symbol and a world record, but as substance of our reality,” Hammond said in his opening blessing.
Although the attempt came up short of the record, the event was successful in sending a message to the Boston community and in gaining publicity for Children’s Services of Roxbury. Sandra McCroom, CSR’s president, said they plan to try again next year.
“We’ll be back,” McCroom said.
