‘Toll the Bell’ Sound Installation for Gun Violence Awareness

Bells have long been used for calling communities to action – alerting residents of impending danger, like a coming storm or a hostile threat, and giving advanced notice in times of peril. Bells can also call people together in contemplation.

On the first Friday in June, and the weekend immediately following, people across the country wear orange to honor victims of gun violence, using the traditional hunter’s color of orange to draw attention to this national issue. In Philadelphia, the call to action will resound even more resolutely this year, as bells and bell towers sound the alarm.

The National Bell Festival is pleased to join forces with Penn Live Arts to use bells as a catalyst for positive social change and as a platform to advocate for a safer Philadelphia. The plan? To organize a massed ringing event, activating church bells and other sounds meaningful to communities throughout Philadelphia, particularly Center City, West Philadelphia, and North Philadelphia, simultaneously and for a sustained period. This ‘Toll the Bell’ sound installation will commemorate and mourn victims of gun violence, while spotlighting the efforts of organizations working in areas of prevention and healing.
 

How to participate in the ‘Toll the Bell’ sound installation

At noon on June 7, 2024, participating churches and organizations will commence bell ringing and other sonic devices for 10.6 minutes to represent 106 people killed by a firearm in the Unites States every day.

Participant sites will be open for quiet reflection, prayer, and meditation. Penn Live Arts staff will be on hand to pass out a project description with links to more information on gun violence prevention and programs working for change in Philadelphia and nationally.

Want to join in the tintinnabulation? There is no cost for participating organizations, but they should be able to contribute through a sonic device and by making a space available to the public during the event. In addition:

• For bell tower sites, the ‘Toll the Bell’ project requires working bells or a digital recording that can make a sustained sound by an experienced operator.
• For other sites, a reading, recording, or traditional sound may be contributed.
• Participating sites will allow Penn Live Arts staff to hand out project description flyers.
• Participants agree to be listed in all press and marketing materials.
• Participants agree to make their space open to all Philadelphians regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, Veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

For more information, visit: PennLiveArts.org
 

Background on gun violence in Philadelphia

The City of Philadelphia is experiencing an unprecedented level of gun violence. In 2021, 506 Philadelphians were victims of fatal shootings, and an additional 1,831 Philadelphians were injured in non-fatal shootings. The number of people murdered by guns in Philadelphia increased by 63% from 2017 to 2022, relative to only a 1.6% increase in population. Similarly, over the last decade, the United States has experienced a massive increase in this form of violence. In 2022, over 44,000 Americans were killed in incidents related to gun violence. In fact, since 2017, the U.S. has experienced a 19% increase in the number of deaths and 22% increase in the number of injuries from guns.

This data, coupled with the increased frequency of mass shooting events and the disproportionate impact on communities of color, centers gun violence as one of the most important challenges facing the city of Philadelphia and our country. In 2013, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendelton was killed by a stray bullet on the streets of Chicago just days after performing at former President Obama’s inauguration. In response, her friends launched the #WearOrange campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day. On June 4th, 2022, one day after Philadelphia came together to commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day, three people were killed and another eleven injured in a shooting on Fourth and South Street.

Cover image: The landmark City Hall building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.