Bells to ring in solidarity across Pennsylvania on Sunday. Here’s how to participate
As political tensions have increased amid coronavirus shutdowns and reopenings, a statewide initiative is calling for solidarity Sunday night.
Bells Across Pennsylvania, an initiative of the Pennsylvania State Mayor’s Association, encourages residents, places of worship and other institutions with bell towers to ring bells for three minutes starting at 7 p.m. Sunday to show support for health care workers, first responders, grocery workers and all people on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aims to show solidarity and demonstrate a collective resolve as Pennsylvanians navigate the challenges of the pandemic.
In Centre County, State College Mayor Ron Filippelli proclaimed Sunday as Bells Across Pennsylvania Day in the borough, and Penn State announced Thursday that the Old Main bell tower will also ring out in solidarity.
In his proclamation, Filippelli wrote that since the days of the American Revolution, bells have served as an instrument for expressing communal gratitude, camaraderie and resolve.
The three minutes the bells are set to ring for represent:
- Support for first responders, health care workers, grocery stores employees and other essential workers.
- Solidarity with elected officials and residents across the state on the front lines of the pandemic.
- A collective resolve that Pennsylvanians will work to restore businesses and civic life to normalcy once the emergency ends.
As of noon Saturday, Pennsylvania has had 48,305 positive cases of the novel coronavirus and 2,418 deaths, according to the state Department of Health. In Centre County, there have been 96 cases and one death.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 2:27 AM.