John Lennon Fans Mark Sad Anniversary In Central Park

Lennon’s songs, of course, continue to inspire music lovers of all ages, and The Beatles’ albums and John’s solo catalog remain as popular as ever.

ON the 35th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, Yoko Ono has called for an end to gun violence in the United States, citing one pretty damning statistic.

“I just feel very sorry and very sad, and I loved John a lot”, a young woman standing outside of John Lennon’s NY home tells a reporter on December 9, 1980, the day after Lennon was shot four times in the back and killed. Despite being rushed to the nearby Roosevelt Hospital, the singer and peace campaigner was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. “John Lennon’s death appears to have done more to center attention on handguns than any recent event”, reported the Washington Post at the time. He was just 40-year-old.

Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. The AP reports that he was denied parole as recently as 2014.

Back at Central Park, people placed flowers on the “Imagine” mosaic alongside a picture of Lennon and a sign that read “35 years”.

Marking the anniversary, fans of all ages gathered at the Strawberry Fields memorial across the street from the scene. The “Imagine: John Lennon 75th Anniversary Concert” took place at NYC’s Madison Square Garden over the weekend.

Thirty-five years ago today on December 8, 1980, football fans around the United States tuned in to “Monday Night Football” for a matchup between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.