Stop the Silence will hold its second annual anti-bullying community rally Saturday, featuring vendors, food, games, music from the Galvanized Souls and a message from Colin Cunningham from the organization Colin’s Friends.
The event comes one year after the death of Daniel Safrits, the Rowan County sixth-grader who committed suicide after facing bullying for more than a year.
“We do not want it to be a day of crying and grieving, but a day of remembrance and awareness,” said Stop the Silence founder Elizabeth Bailey.
The rally’s goal is bullying awareness, education, prevention and empowerment.
Cunningham will speak about his experiences with bullying.
The 11-year-old received national attention when his mother started the Facebook group Colin’s Friends in February, asking people to send him notes and encouragement for his birthday because he didn’t have any friends. The page received an overwhelming response, and has more than 2 million likes.
Galvanized Souls, an award-winning alternative rock band from Southern California, will headline the event. Cunningham is featured in Galvanized Soul’s music video for their song, “Carry on,” which focuses on persevering through struggles.
Matthew Church, Neal Lee Griffin, Skyfold, Rachel Correll, the Goof Troupe and Colton Sherrill will also perform at the rally.
The event will also include a raffle, door prizes, games, vendors, food, bounce houses, face painting, anti-bullying resources and activities for the whole family.
Bailey said she expects attendees to come from as far away as Maine, New Jersey, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia.
The rally will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 110 S. Lee St. in Salisbury. The 100-block of East Fisher Street will be blocked off for the event.