It has been 39 years since iconic Beatles frontman John Lennon was tragically shot and killed.
To mark the 39th anniversary of Lennon’s death, Yoko Ono has taken to social media to post a heartfelt tribute and give an important message about gun violence.
Ono sparked a conversation about American gun laws in her social media post, describing the loss of Lennon as a “hollowing experience.”
John Lennon, known for his activism for peace almost as much as his music, was shot and killed outside his New York apartment on December 8, 1980, at the age of 40.
Opening up about the experience, Ono wrote:
“Dear Friends. Every day, 100 Americans are shot and killed with guns. We are turning this beautiful country into a War Zone. Together, let’s bring back America, the green land of peace.”
Accompanying the post was a statistic that revealed that over 1,400,000 people have been killed by guns in America since Lennon’s death.In another post, Ono wrote:
“The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience. After 39 years, Sean, Julian and I still miss him. Imagine all the people living life in peace.”
Yoko Ono has worked hard to promote peace in her late husband’s name over many years, with social media being just one tool. Her outdoor art installation, the Imagine Peace Tower in Reykjavík, Iceland, is lit up each year in memory of John from the date of his birthday until the anniversary of his death.
Yoko Ono is not the only person who continues to engage in activism in Lennon’s name. Last year, Paul McCartney attended the anti-gun March For Our Lives. McCartney said of the march:
“This is what we can do, so we’re here to do it. One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here so it’s important to me.”
See Yoko Ono’s post below:
Dear Friends
Every day, 100 Americans are shot and killed with guns.
We are turning this beautiful country into a War Zone.
Together, let’s bring back America, the green land of Peace. pic.twitter.com/YI8CqkIFnX— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) 8 December 2019
