A group of Albert Lea’s young adults made a trip to St. Paul Monday and Tuesday to make a peaceful reaction statement to some of the country’s leading problems.

Attending an event Tuesday called Ripple Effect on the Capitol lawn, the young adults were part of thousands of people to gather to listen to music, hear about petitions and make a partisan-free statement for change.

“I think the people here recognize a lot of problems, but don’t think that walking around carrying signs is the right way to protest,” said one Albert Lean, Pat Moore. “This event I see as more of a reaction to the protest.”

Moore, along with Tommy Martinez, Nikki Kirsch, Adam Sharpsteen and Brittany Springborg were among those who made the trip.

Martinez said he found out about Ripple Effect while attending an event at Harmony Park.

He said he wanted to come out and see what change would be brought up and to be part of a nonviolent message. The event lasted for almost seven hours.

Substance, the nonprofit organization that organized Ripple Effect, described the event as a “day-long festival propelling a new wave of progressive action outside the RNC,” according to the Ripple Effect Web site.

Organizers hoped the festival would go “beyond partisanship to empower and unite a diverse range of people with varying backgrounds and interests,” the Web site stated. They expected between 7,000 and 10,000 people to be at the event, during which there was training, educational workshops, community-building activities, music and art.

The Albert Leans attended a similar event Monday called “Take Back Labor Day” at Harriet Island.

“It’s really important for young people to be involved and really know what’s going on,” Kirsch said. “It’s not against the Republicans as it is for change — and the music is a bonus.”

The event came a day after thousands of protesters took to the streets of St. Paul carrying signs and shouting messages of change. While the majority of the protesters were peaceful in their efforts, by the end more than 200 people were arrested, pepper-sprayed or tear-gassed for violent displays.

The Albert Leans said they were not there for that protest, but four of the five were walking around in the aftermath when they heard a shot of tear gas fired.

“We were just walking and then all of a sudden the people scattered,” Martinez said.

“It was a glimpse of chaos I don’t want to see in America,” Kirsch added.

That protest contrasted immensely to the Ripple Effect Tuesday, she said.

Moore commented on how there were several small children in attendance at the event, who would have never been able to attend the street protest the day before.

They wouldn’t have been able to understand that, but everyone can understand music, he said.

The hope of Ripple Effect was to create positive social and environmental change through breaking down issue and generational barriers, according to the event Web site.

Other than a slight outburst toward the end of the concert when band Rage Against the Machine showed up late without a permit and was not allowed to perform, the event remained a peaceful demonstration of hope for change.

“By creating a safe, positive space for artists, activists, and the general public to gather, Ripple