CLEVELAND -- Thousands of people gathered on the Hope Memorial Bridge on the eve of Republican National Convention to start the week with a positive message: Love can bring peace and justice to the city.

People from across the city and state and a few from farther away joined hands in the 85-degree heat and stood in silence for 30 minutes on the bridge that joins the city's East and West sides.

Sister Rita Petruziello of the Congregation of Saint Joseph, who came up with the idea for the largely grassroots event, had hoped for a peaceful event demonstrating the power of love and showing visitors who Clevelanders are. Organizers sold t-shirts that read, "Stand for Love."

Caroline Kovac, 64, came from Chardon and made new friends, standing on the bridge.

"I wanted to do something to address the violence and anger in the world," Kovac said. "It has to stop. It has to end. I don't know how to do it, but these are the people who can do something."

The event drew a diverse crowd -- men and women, black and white, young and old and everyone in between. People applauded and shook the hands of police officers monitoring the event and a few even joined the circle.

Clevelander Hanif Phelps, 31, got a lot of attention for his sign that read: "U Matter 2 Me."

Who is "u"?

"It doesn't matter what demographic's out here, someone in every demographic wants to know they matter -- black, white, old, Republican, Democratic," Hanif said. "I've had more hugs today than I've had in my entire life, even with the love from my parents."

Several groups planning demonstrations later in the week also participated in Sunday's event. Monica Moran, 35, of Stand Together Against Trump, a group of physicians and young professionals, said the event was a great idea to show a positive image of Cleveland to RNC attendees.

"Thirty minutes felt like it was going to be a long time but when it came down to it, having that time to be quiet, calm, reflected and united was exactly what the city needed," Moran said.