Penn Live Arts Will Host TOLL THE BELL to Commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Penn Live Arts will hold its third Toll the Bell event, using the transformative power of the arts to catalyze attention for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Friday, June 5, 2026. Organized in collaboration with Penn’s Office of the Chaplain and Interfaith Philadelphia, faith-based organizations, and regional community groups and partners, Toll the Bell invites the community to commemorate lives lost due to gun violence and seeks to inspire positive change for the future of the city.

 The event begins with an interfaith vigil service at the Annenberg Center led by PLA Executive and Artistic Director Christopher A. Gruits and University Chaplain Reverend Charles (Chaz) Lattimore Howard. Other speakers include members of Interfaith Philadelphia’s Religious Leaders Council, who will offer prayers and reflections, and local physician Dr. Shanda McManus, the author of Brother Epistles, a series of posthumous letters written to her brother who was a victim of gun violence. The service will be followed by a walk of reflection to the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, where community partners will gather and galvanize.

The centerpiece of Toll the Bell, coinciding with the walk to the Cathedral, is a city-wide sound installation of bell ringing, horns, drums, and other sound-making simultaneously taking place at more than 45 locations in Philadelphia and throughout the region.

“Since 2021, Philadelphia has seen a 45% reduction in gun violence victims, but the crisis is far from over and our communities are still suffering,” said Penn Live Arts Executive & Artistic Director Christopher A. Gruits. “Through city-wide, collective sound-making, Toll the Bell seeks to underscore this urgent reality, creating a sonic disruption that functions as both a call to action and a moment of reflection—inviting Philadelphians to pause, honor the lives lost to gun violence and recommit to building a safer future.”

Penn Live Arts has compiled a list of resources, available here, for individuals seeking to learn more about anti-violence initiatives, get involved in supporting these organizations, or find help for themselves or others. These resources offer valuable information, guidance, and support for those looking to contribute to creating safer, more compassionate communities in Philadelphia.

Visit PennLiveArts.org/tollthebell for more information.

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