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Julia Cross believes in the sound of silence. 

Cross, a sophomore at Berkeley High School, was the organizer behind a small, silent peace protest at Civic Center Park Wednesday afternoon. 

“So many people around the world are silenced against their will by military force,” said Cross, before the event began. “Through our silence, we give acknowledgment to their suffering.” 

Cross said she organized the protest, in part, as a reaction to events in the Middle East. But she said it represented a call for peace everywhere.  

About fifteen people gathered at noon for the event and sat on the grass in the shape of a peace symbol. 

“Peace is a really complicated issue,” said sophomore Hannah Lesser. “It won’t be enough for a group of youths to sit in a circle in silence and hope for peace, but maybe it will get the ball rolling...Maybe more influential people will be informed on our thoughts and our feelings.” 

Andy Lindemann, a Berkeley High freshman, said a message of peace is important not only in light of world events, but also in the face of violence closer to home. 

“There’s plenty of fighting going on at Berkeley High,” said Lindemann, adding that he is unsure if a new safety plan put in place at BHS in May made a difference. 

Jason Cross, Julia’s brother and 2001 BHS graduate, said there may be a link between violence halfway around the world and local conflict. 

“When things happen worldwide and they’re accepted,” he said, “people are going to have fights here.”