Each month, United in Peace brings its message of unity and peace into communities throughout Los Angeles and surrounding areas through its Peace Rides. More than a motorcycle and automobile procession, these events are designed to bring people together, engage residents, and encourage dialogue across neighborhoods, cultures, races and faiths.
The Peace Rides bring together bikers, low-riders, clergy, community leaders, car and motorcycle clubs, and other concerned citizens. Participants travel through communities, including neighborhoods and parks that have experienced violence or division, distributing peace-oriented materials such as The Way to Happiness booklet and the Million Man March pledge.
The goal is simple: to help people see one another as members of the same community and to encourage greater understanding, respect and cooperation. By reaching beyond familiar neighborhoods and bringing people together in a spirit of goodwill, the Peace Rides seek to challenge perceptions that divide communities and take meaningful steps toward peace.
At the conclusion of rides, United in Peace hosts a Peace Festival where residents and participants are invited to gather and celebrate together. The festivals feature professional performers in hip-hop, R&B and gospel, along with local talent. The organization describes the approach as "edutainment"—combining education, community engagement and entertainment in an environment where people can connect with one another.
The Peace Rides have also received support from the Los Angeles Police Department, which has assisted with safety along designated routes and neighborhood stops. During the monthly rides, residents frequently come outside their homes and workplaces to wave, make peace signs and show their support, reflecting the growing familiarity of the Peace Rides within the communities they visit.
For more than a dozen years, the United in Peace Foundation, a multiethnic and multi-faith movement dedicated to reducing violence and strengthening communities, has organized these recurring events. Over 14 years, the organization reports distributing more than 70,000 copies of The Way to Happiness, along with the Million Man March pledge, and reaching more than 2.4 million people through the events and related media coverage.
United in Peace also points to encouraging changes in violence rates in communities where its events have taken place. An LAPD captain has noted that, over the same 14-year period, the violent death rate in South Los Angeles decreased at times by as much as 40%. While many factors contribute to changes in community violence, United in Peace believes its sustained efforts to promote unity, engagement and peaceful cooperation does play a meaningful role.
Mayors from multiple cities and members of Congress have issued commendations and proclamations over the years recognizing the organization's efforts to promote peace and address violence in communities.
The Peace Rides are a testament to the power of grassroots initiatives in fostering community cohesion and reducing violence. By bringing together diverse groups and engaging residents directly, United in Peace is making a tangible difference in the neighborhoods it serves.
