• Ideas
  • philanthropy

Martin Richard’s Parents: The Power of ‘No More Hurting People, Peace’

3 minute read
Ideas
Bill and Denise Richard are the parents of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old who was tragically killed when the second of two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013

Each day, we are all faced with a series of choices that define who we are and who we will ultimately become. You can choose to live in the past or look forward to the future. You can choose to be apathetic or you can be someone who embraces peace and kindness. At a very young age, our son Martin was able to recognize the importance of kindness, togetherness and inclusion and that he could make a difference through these qualities.

Like most 8-year-old kids, Martin had a strong love for things like sports and friendships and cared very much about making others feel included and being kind to everyone, whether it was his friends, classmates or even strangers. He would make sure we carried extra snacks whenever we went downtown, just in case we came across people who might be in need of food.

We lost Martin on April 15, 2013 when the second of two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. In the days after the bombings, a photo circulated of Martin holding a poster he made that said “No More Hurting People, Peace,” and an amazing thing happened. We heard stories from children of all ages who were inspired by Martin to act in ways that helped others … some friends, some classmates and some strangers. No more hurting people, peace.

Martin was known as a peacemaker, he brought people together and helped to show his peers that you don’t have to be a grown up to make a difference. Kids are natural bridge builders—on the playground, at the lunch table, in the classroom—and all of their simple acts of kindness can add up to make a big difference.

Our family founded The Martin Richard Foundation to amplify those small actions, to honor our son’s message of peace, and to make the world a better place. But we can’t do it alone. That is why we have joined with generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, and Hasbro, Inc. to create the Martin Richard Bridge Builder campaign to empower youth to make positive change through service. Our goal is to give kids a chance to learn about ways they can make a difference and share their stories to inspire others to do the same.

Whether it’s doing a volunteer project like planting a peace garden at a local school, creating a peace poster or simply inviting someone new to sit at your school lunch table, there are many easy ways to get involved and help change the world.

We invite all kids, teens and families to join us in our movement to magnify this message by sharing your own acts of kindness using #NoMoreHurtingPeople or by visiting generationOn.org/peace.

The story of the future is yet to be written, and we have the opportunity to choose the words and actions that will tell that story. We hope our son’s life is able to live on in those words. We hope you choose kindness.

See Evidence From the Boston Bombing Trial

Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Prosecutors presented this image of a blood-stained, bullet-ridden message, allegedly written by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the inside of a boat, to jurors as evidence in Boston on March 10, 2015.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Prosecutors presented this image of a blood-stained, bullet-ridden message, allegedly written by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the inside of a boat, to jurors as evidence in Boston on March 10, 2015.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Prosecutors presented this image of a blood-stained, bullet-ridden message, allegedly written by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the inside of a boat, to jurors as evidence in Boston on March 10, 2015.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
The boat where Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hid after a gunfight with police
This still image, presented as evidence at trial, shows the boat where Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hid after a gunfight with police.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in shoot out with police
This still image captured from video shows brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev crouched behind a car during their April 2013 shootout with police. U.S. Department of Justice/Corbis
Evidence markers are seen on a street where Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev engaged in a gunfight with police in this undated handout evidence photo
Evidence markers are seen on a street where Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev engaged in a gunfight with police.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
A 9mm Luger clip and bullet package sit next to a backpack and bag on a street where Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev engaged in a gunfight with police in this undated handout evidence photo
A 9mm Luger clip and bullet package sit next to a backpack and bag on a street where Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev engaged in a gunfight with police.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
A wallet containing the drivers license for Tamerlan Tsarnaev is entered as evidence in trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston
A wallet containing Tamerlan Tsarnaev's drivers license is seen in a still handout image entered as evidence in the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
A large fragment of a homemade pressure-cooker bomb is seen in a still handout image entered as evidence during Tsarnaev trial in Boston
A large fragment of a homemade pressure-cooker bomb that accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is charged with throwing at police officers during a gunfight in Watertown, Mass. on April 19, 2015, is seen embedded in the side of a Honda Civic that was parked near the site of the disturbance.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
An unexploded metal bomb entered as evidence in trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston
An unexploded metal bomb filled with explosive powder and lined with metal pellets was entered as evidence in the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
An unexploded metal bomb entered as evidence in trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston
An unexploded metal bomb was entered as evidence in the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
This still image capture from video, which was released as evidence in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, shows the chaos as a bomb explodes during the 2013 Boston Marathon.U.S. Department of Justice/EPA
Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
A still image captured from surveillance video at the Boston Marathon shows the scene moments before a second bomb exploded as a man, marked with a circle by prosecutors (top R) and identified by them as defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, moves rapidly away from the spot near the finish line of the race on April 15, 2013 in Boston.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
A still image captured from surveillance video at the Boston Marathon shows the moment when a second bomb exploded as a man, marked with a circle by prosecutors (top R) and identified by them as defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, moves rapidly away from the spot near the finish line of the race on April 15, 2013 in Boston.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters
Boston Bombing Trial Evidence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
A still image captured from surveillance video at the Boston Marathon shows the moment when a second bomb exploded as a man, marked with a circle by prosecutors (top R) and identified by them as defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, moves rapidly away from the spot near the finish line of the race on April 15, 2013 in Boston.U.S. Department of Justice/Reuters

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com

TIME Ideas hosts the world's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. We welcome outside contributions. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.