A Fall River group that spreads love and peace has seen theirs destroyed by vandals

Vandals and a rivalry has turned an atmosphere of spreading kindness and peace into sadness and destruction.

According to Wendy Tanner, who runs the group Rivarocks, for the past week, fire station peace pockets and other pockets have been wiped out and vandalized.

Rivarocks is a group that paints, hides, hunts, and adopts small works of art on rocks to spread smiles, kindness, and peace to residents. Many of the rocks have sayings as part of the artwork. Peace pockets are areas throughout the city where people can bring painted rocks or adopt rocks that inspire them. Many of them are placed at fire and police stations.

Due to the incidents, Fire Chief John Lynch has decided to discontinue having the pockets located at Fall River fire stations which has caused an uproar among the rock community. We contacted Chief Lynch to get his side of the story.

“Apparently some of the displays were vandalized. Nobody knows who has been doing this but this brought to light that there is a squabble going on between factions of the groups that display these rocks. Because of this, I decided that it is in best interest of the Department to have them removed. The Fire Department is here to protect against conflict, not become the center of it. The controversy itself is contrary to the original proposal of these rocks, which was supposed to be peace.”

Tanner is hoping that Chief Lynch changes his mind as they feel one ex member of the Rivarocks is causing the controversy.

“Explain (to people) how amazing these pockets are and how one person’s phone call and their shenanigans should not ruin it for all. We are allowed to have a voice in our community so please use your voice and let officials know how you feel. Rivarocks is moving in a different direction anyway, however, this a heartbreaker as the pockets at the stations are loved. We as a community need to fight to keep the good things in our community.”

Another member of the rock community says that it is more than just rocks and artwork.

“People throughout this city have used this group to form bonds and bring the community together in peace. Families with children go to these places. Some daily. Rivarocks has become part of events through the city. Volunteers (give) free time and supplies for families to paint rocks and spread kindness and now because of 1 phone call the fire chief wants to rip that away from the community. People are not happy.”

Rivarocks was recently awarded by Mayor Paul Coogan the Hero of Peace Award.