Events Being Held Across The Country This Weekend, Contact [email protected] for details
WASHINGTON — Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements applauding President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for illuminating the White House in orange this evening in honor of today’s National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange weekend.
“President Biden was already the strongest gun safety President in history and tonight we are grateful that he and the First Lady are honoring the millions of Americans whose lives have been shattered by gun violence,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We know the common sense steps we need to take to stop the bloodshed, and it’s past time for the Senate to heed President Biden’s call to act.”
“President Biden and Dr. Biden are sending a message to the country that we can and we must confront this uniquely American epidemic that continues to take the lives of over 110 people every single day and wounds hundreds more by lighting the White House orange,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “It gives me so much hope and encouragement to see our historic landmarks lit orange as people in every corner of this country are getting off the sidelines, channeling their grief into action and making their voices heard.”
This year, people from across the country will join together and wear orange to honor victims and survivors of gun violence, demand a future free from gun violence and call on the U.S. Senate to take action. So far, more than 350 #WearOrange events have taken place or have been scheduled in cities across the country, featuring Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, other gun safety advocates, elected leaders, community partners and more who will gather to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence, connect people with ways they can help to end gun violence in their communities, and call on lawmakers to take meaningful action to combat gun violence.
In addition to events, a coalition of cultural influencers, elected officials, athletes and sports teams, corporate brands, nonprofit partner organizations and a series of buildings and landmarks will join advocates to honor the eighth Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Members of the coalition, as well as thousands of volunteers across the country, will take action throughout Wear Orange Weekend, June 3-5, dedicated to honoring the lives taken and forever changed by gun violence, and demanding action to stop the crisis.
Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya Pendleton’s 18th birthday. It began with teenagers who wanted to honor their friend, Hadiya, after she was shot and killed in a park on the south side of Chicago. This year’s Wear Orange campaign arrives as the country is reeling from multiple tragedies, including the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and in Uvalde, Texas.
For more details about events happening Wear Orange Weekend, please contact [email protected]. More information about Wear Orange is available at WearOrange.org.