ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – “Hate has no home here” and “Peace in our community” were among the freshly-made signs lying on the grass in a small park.
Local residents gathered with their kids and sat on blankets across First Avenue from town hall on Sept. 20. They used markers and poster board to send out feelings and messages of goodwill, love and peace.
“We are making posters about loving each other, listening to each other, spending time together, being happy and positive, showing our children to be understanding and compassionate towards people and to not live in fear when they are confronted with something scary,” said Jenn Zinn, an Atlantic Highlands resident.
The gathering was organized after an outcry when borough resident Michael Ciano walked past the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School on Sept. 12 with a sign that read “Dems = Murder.” It was less than 48 hours after conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down while speaking at a college in Utah.
Atlantic Highlands resident Jenn Zinn creates a poster. Residents in Atlantic Highlands make signs to display and promote peace and unity throughout the town. Saturday, September 20, 2025 Atlantic Highlands, NJ
At Atlantic Highlands’ ensuing borough council meeting on Sept. 15, several parents voiced concerns about the sign and its impact on their kids, according to the local blog venividiscripto.com.
Parent Lauren Gormley organized the peace gathering.
“The only thing that matters here today is the children and spreading peace and love,” Gormley said.
The signs could be displayed in the windows of people’s homes and any business that would like to do it.
“We’re basically just trying to represent our town and what our town means to us, which is inclusion, love, unity, like caring for the people we live next to and just projecting an image of love in our community and peace,” borough resident Katie Pellegrino said.
Corey Dzenko and her son Jonas, 6, both of Leonardo, make posters. Residents in Atlantic Highlands make signs to display and promote peace and unity throughout the town. Saturday, September 20, 2025 Atlantic Highlands, NJ
“We’re just having a peaceful gathering so that families can all show each other that we all care about our community, we care about our children and we want our children to live in an environment that is welcoming and unifying.”
Ciano made himself available to anyone at the gathering who wanted to talk. “Why can’t I do what everybody else is allowed to?” he said. “My right to the First Amendment.”
Society is becoming “more and more divided,” said Corey Dzenko of Middletown’s Leonardo section. “We would rather come together and support everyone.”
Being inclusive and kind was another of the gathering’s messages. “That’s what we’re trying to teach our son and so we want him to learn to stand up for what believes and have a voice so we’re here today to help do that,” Dzenko said.
David P. Willis: dwillis@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Atlantic Highlands residents spread peace, love with markers and signs