Yoko Ono, along with Bono and The Edge from U2 unveiled a tapestry in honour of John Lennon on Ellis Island on 29 July. John Lennons widow, Yoko Ono, stressed how peace was more important in todays world than ever.
John knew how urgent it was. But also he knew what we believe in becomes reality. Lets think peace, act peace, spread peace, imagine peace and together we will make it, she said.
Bono equated the waves of immigrants that once teemed the shores of Ellis Island to the ongoing crisis in Syria. Thats how many passed through here, 12 million people, he said.
But 12 million also happens to be the number of people dislocated or cast out as refugees by the war thats happening now in and around Syria, interior and exterior displacements, adding up to 12 million. They too are tired and poor, they too are huddled masses yearning to breathe free. But theyve got no tickets to anywhere, not even third class, so the question is just as relevant today, are we going to give peace a chance? John Lennon is here and hes still asking that question. He has an answer too, the answer is love.
Later, inside the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, the group stood in front of a tapestry and posed for photos holding up peace signs as it was unveiled. The tapestry, commissioned by Art for Amnesty founder and chair Bill Shipsey in appreciation for giving Amnesty International the rights to record cover versions of Lennons post-Beatles songs, showed Manhattan as a submarine with Lennon as its pilot, also holding up a peace sign.
