Three months after six people were killed by a mass shooter in Kalamazoo County, two local groups are sponsoring events on Thursday, June 2, in observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
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“We wear orange on June 2 – what would’ve been Hadiya Pendleton’s 19th birthday – to honor the people whose lives have been shattered by gun violence across America”, Congresswoman Kelly said.
Also joining the cause was Julianne Moore, who shared a photo of herself in an orange, knit hat with the caption, “On my way to work this morning #WearOrange”. “We renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe”.
Pendelton’s friends “chose orange because that’s what hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others”, according to the Wear Orange website. This movement is inspired by bold and creative teens that refused to be silent in the face of daily gun violence.
Also, buildings across the nation will turn orange today including the Empire State Building, the City Center Fountain in Carmel and the IPL Building on Monument Circle.
“We’re just asking people to wear orange, share pictures on social media and spread the word”, Truszkowski said. Between 2014 and 2015 the number of gun-related violence incidents was estimated to have grown by 300 percent. That will be at 8:30 p.m.
For more details on Wear Orange, you can visit the organization online.
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In Boston, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, Rose Kennedy Greenway and the Prudential Center, will be illuminated with orange lights on June 2.
