When America Joined Hands: The Day Hope Stretched Coast to Coast
hands across america
who remembers this?
i do, and it was pretty darn cool
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On May 25, 1986, something truly remarkable unfolded across the United States. More than six million people from every walk of life joined hands, forming a single human chain stretching from New York City all the way to Long Beach, California.
The event, known as Hands Across America, transformed strangers into neighbors and made hope visible. While celebrities like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie helped shine a spotlight on the cause, the real power came from everyday people—parents and children, workers and students—standing side by side with a shared commitment to fight hunger and homelessness.
For fifteen unforgettable minutes, a living ribbon of humanity crossed cities, deserts, farmland, and rivers, proving that even in a vast and diverse nation, unity is possible.
The effort raised millions for food banks and housing programs, but its greatest legacy wasn’t financial. It was the message it left behind—a reminder that when we reach out and join hands, literally or figuratively, we can create something far greater than ourselves.
And perhaps now more than ever, it’s time to reach out again.
—
‘when we know ourselves to be connected to all others,
acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.’
-rachel naomi remen
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source/photo credit: earth geographic
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
Wow this is amazing. I had never heard of this before. Maybe we need this again.
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I haven’t thought about it in years, and then this popped up again out of nowhere. it would be great to do this again
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Love that!
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It must’ve been a very heartwarming event.
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They did do some “Hands Across” events–I think it was last autumn? Maybe they were just local, but I thought it was an Indivisible event.
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Wow.. I remember when this made the local news in Trinidad. I was still in primary school, and our teacher made us replicate this in our neighborhood. I had never seen images of it before. But I remember all the parents and teachers, and the neighbors joining in.
You’re right, Beth, it would be great to invite the nation to do this again.
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This is awesome I was only six years old when this took place so I don’t remember it, but I wish something like this could happen again now. X
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“And though the moment passed,
the echo remains—
a reminder that sometimes the smallest gesture,
a palm opening toward another,
is enough to tilt the world a little closer to kindness.
And maybe that’s all a country ever is —
not the borders or the noise,
but the soft imprint of a hand
we didn’t expect to hold,
and the quiet promise that we might
reach again.” … Ivor
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And here is the “Theme Song” I found …
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I feel this needs to happen again now…
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Thank you, Beth, for the inspiring reminder; it’s worth giving some thought to.
Joanna
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This is wonderful, Beth
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This is amazing, Beth. I haven’t heard or seen this before. Only something similar in a movie… a horror movie called Us. 🤣 Different vibe.
I do wonder if this is still possible given how divided and polarized things are but as 1986 reminds us, it is so important to try and reach out.
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I wonder what I was doing that day. I don’t remember the event. Time for another line.
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Such a vague memory of this. I had an infant so I can only imagine where my focus was.
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I remember!
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🙋🏼♀️💗
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I was in middle school at the time and had completely forgotten about this effort. Thank you for the reminder; I agree it’s time to hold hands again.
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I remember too. Some of that hope is still with me.
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