National Gun Violence Awareness Day #wearorange

On the first Friday of June, we honor those who have fallen to gun violence whether it is in a mass shooting, suicide, an accidental shooting, homicide or Dick Cheney mistaking your face for a duck. This is a tradition that dates back to 2015 and started with the friends of Hadiya Pendleton started wearing orange after her murder in 2013. You might remember her, she was part of a majorette drill team that performed at Obama’s second inauguration and three weeks later, she was shot dead because some gang bangers thought she and her friends were a rival gang as they took shelter from the rain in a park blocks from Obama’s home on the Southside of Chicago.

Since then the wear orange thing has been picked up by gun reform organizations. Here are some and what they’re doing:

WEAR ORANGE. In 2015, Wear Orange started wearing orange on Hadiya’s birthday, 2 June. They chose the first Friday for Gun Violence Awareness day and then the weekend following as the wear orange days just to help raise awareness of gun violence and its toll on the country. They chose orange because it is the color hunter’s wear to stay safe while hunting… unless Dick Cheney is in your hunting party, well, then all bets are off. At least, he’ll appear at your hospital beside (should you survive) and let you apologize to him for all the inconvenience his shooting you caused him. Of course, they sponsor events every year and have other ways you can participate. Hey, here’s an idea! If you do sumpthin, let us know about it in the comments, okay?

SANDY HOOK PROMISE. You remember Sandy Hook, right? The elementary school in which twenty first graders were shot dead along with six teachers and administrators as they cowered in their classroom. You know the incident that turned the hearts of Republican elected officials to stone as the possibility of all of their opportunities to make untold riches as paid mouths for the merchants of death would evaporate should their base be swayed by the useless sentimentality of protecting six year olds from gun violence by curtailing access to assault rifles. Anywho, the parents of those children started an organization to help promote a nation free of gun violence. Funnily enough, they participate in the #wearorange thing too, and ask you to social media with I #wearorange for __________. They have lots of ways of getting involved in the fight to end gun violence. It’s all just a click or two away!

EVERYTOWN USA. They include Shannon Watts‘ group, Moms Demand Action, a sub-group, Students Demand Action, and a focus group, the Survivors Network. In a bow to efficiency, their #wearorange links take you to the Wear Orange page.

Of course all of your favorite gun sense groups are sporting #wearorange events and sales. Look for them and let us know what you find in the comments.

Sadly, everybody knows somebody who has died from gun violence. We can all participate because it is just so widespread in the States.

Image Attribution

“Moms Demand Action Wear Orange Memorial, June 3, 2017” by Vermilion County Democratic Party is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.