Peace activists had a message Friday for holiday shoppers bustling along Massachusetts Street.

“Children learn what they play,” the flier from the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice read. “In this season of peace, don’t give the children you love toys of violence and war.”

Between five and 10 volunteers at a time helped hand out the fliers, while six activists rotated a sectioned mural with the words “War is not a game” on one side and a depiction of television sets with words such as “Kapow,” “Kill,” “Body Count” and “Killing Machine” on the other.

Coalition coordinator Allan Hanson organized the campaign, aimed at encouraging parents to restrict their buying habits when shopping for their children this holiday season.

“We don’t want children growing up thinking the way to solve problems is with aggression and violence,” Hanson said. “We’d rather they learn cooperation and mutual understanding.”

Jason Robertson, shopping with his 4-year-old son, Kemper, agreed.

“It’s nice to think of that sort of thing this time of year,” Robertson said outside The Toy Store, 841 Mass. “It’s interesting how computer games have taken over kids’ lives. I’d like (Kemper) to have a chance to play more peaceful games.”

Robertson said one way to fight back against increased violence in children’s toys was for parents to take a more proactive stand when it comes to gift-giving.

A group holds a two-sided, six-panel mural in downtown Lawrence advocating that holiday shoppers avoid buying toys and games of violence as gifts. The group joined with the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice to demonstrate Friday for peaceful toys for children. Skye-Laurel Riggs, Lawrence, at right, holds a section of the mural.

“Parents have a choice,” he said. “They could send a message by not buying these sorts of games and toys, but our society works on supply and demand.”

That’s the message coalition volunteers like Christine Smith were hoping to get shoppers in Lawrence thinking about Friday.

“We’re promoting the idea that peace is not just the absence of war,” Smith said. “It’s a way of life ” a way of looking at the world.”

While many shoppers seemed to go about their business after being approached, Smith said she hoped the message made an impression.

“We need to teach children peace,” she said. “We need to be conscious of it. It’s the 21st century ” it’s time.”

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