An Unprecedented Impact
No one could have imagined the impact a simple, hospitable, tri-lingual message would make. A message originally intended for neighbors in the north-east community in Harrisonburg, VA has spread to neighbors around the city of Harrisonburg, Virginia, The United States and even around the world.
Expedited by social media and the ability to download it for free, the message spread rapidly from yard to yard, neighbor to neighbor and state to state. Jumping from one circle to the next, people have moved the sign across borders and used it as a way to break down barriers. The sign’s conversion into several languages also extended its potential reach.
In early November of 2018, Robert Bowers conducted an anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue, killing and injuring several. People from around the country rallied around the community and showed their support. A notable image to come from that hate-inspired event includes the sign, a reminder to the community to embrace others.
Pictures courtesy of Welcomeyourneighbor’s Facebook page provide a glimpse into the support people have shown and the ways they have used it.
While the church’s conservative estimate is that there are close to 200,000 signs in the United States alone, that number could be significantly higher. With the sign being a part of Creative Commons, there is no way to accurately assess the number. Some people have downloaded it from the website to print their own, while others have gotten them from distribution centers that have popped up around the country and Canada.