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A young girl jumps while wearing a Wear Orange shirt and a tulle skirt

The Inspiration for Wear Orange

On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from the south side of Chicago, marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s childhood friends decided to commemorate her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.

Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday. Now, it is observed nationally on the first Friday in June and the following weekend each year. In the years since, participation in Wear Orange has increased tenfold.

In 2020, #WearOrange trended nationally on Twitter with over 150,000 Americans taking part along with more than 300 corporate and nonprofit partners such as Viacom, Levi Strauss & Co., Postmates, Amalgamated Bank, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and Human Rights Campaign, and some of the most impactful thought and culture leaders in the country—including President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris, Julianne Moore, Laura Dern, Jason George, Pearl Jam, and 25 individual sports teams, including the Golden State Warriors, the Boston Bruins, and the Washington Mystics. More than 100 buildings and landmarks lit the skyline orange across 40 states + DC, including a record 11 stadiums and arenas, while our grassroots volunteers hosted more than 270 virtual events in all 50 states plus DC.

Join us for Wear Orange 2021

In 2021, the 7th National Gun Violence Awareness Day will fall on June 4, the first Friday of the month. That will kick off Wear Orange Weekend, which will feature virtual events across the nation from June 4-6.

Let us know if your organization is joining Wear Orange

Please complete this short form so that we can properly acknowledge your work as part of the coalition effort!

Let us Know

Participate in #WearOrange on Social Media

#WearOrange Social Media Graphics

English Social Media Graphics

Spanish Social Media Graphics

Sample Posts and Campaign Promotion Calendar

Week of May 24

Week of May 24 Priority

Help your followers learn more about #WearOrange and the gun violence prevention movement.

Sample Post Text

Across America, people will #WearOrange on June 4—National Gun Violence Awareness day—to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and to call attention to this crisis that takes more than 100 lives every single day. Learn more at wearorange.org.

Español

El 4 de junio, usaremos #WearOrange para el día Nal. de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego, para honrar a víctimas y sobrevivientes de la violencia con armas y llamar atención a la crisis que cobra más de 100 vidas cada día. Más info: wearorange.org/es

Bilingual

Across the United States, usaremos #WearOrange on June 4th, para el día Nal. de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego, to honor victims and survivors of gun violence y llamar atención a la crisis que cobra más de 100 vidas daily. Más info: wearorange.org/es

Graphics to Attach to Post

Week of May 24 Priority

Let your followers know to #WearOrange on Friday, June 4, for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and attend a Wear Orange event on June 4-6.

Sample Post Text

#WearOrange is a time to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and to spread awareness about this crisis that devastates countless families and communities every single year.

Show your support by sharing your #WearOrange pic on 6/4 & joining a virtual event 6/4-6.

Español

#WearOrange es un momento para honrar a las víctimas y sobrevivientes de la violencia con armas de fuego y para crear conciencia sobre esta crisis que devasta a innumerables familias y comunidades cada año.

Muestra tu apoyo compartiendo tu foto #WearOrange el 4 de junio

Bilingual

#WearOrange is a time to honor las víctimas y sobrevivientes de gun violence and spread awareness sobre esta crisis que devasta a innumerables familias y comunidades every year. 

Show your support sobre esta crisis by sharing your #WearOrange pic on el 4 de junio.

Graphics to Attach to Post

Week of May 31

Week of May 31 Priority

Ask your followers to get ready to #WearOrange on June 4 and give them ideas on how to show their support.

Sample Post Text

Are you ready to show your support for National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4? 

Find simple and creative ways you can #WearOrange at ​wearorange.org/go-orange!

Spanish

¿Están listos para mostrar el apoyo al Día Nacional de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego el 4 de junio?

Encuentra formas simples y creativas en las que puedas #WearOrange en wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja

Bilingual

¿Are you ready para mostrar tu apoyo for National Gun Violence Awareness Day el 4 de junio? 

Encuentra simple and creative ways en las que puedas #WearOrange at wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja

Week of May 31 Priority

Ask your followers to sign up for a #WearOrange Weekend virtual event.

Sample Post Text

Across America, people will come together virtually on June 4-6 to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and call attention to America’s gun violence crisis. Text ORANGE to 644-33 to join a #WearOrange virtual event!

Post Image

Thursday, June 3

June 3 Priority

Give your followers a final reminder to #WearOrange tomorrow, June 4.

Sample Post Text

Tomorrow, June 4, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day! Be sure to wear orange and share your pic on social media telling the world why YOU are supporting this important day, with the #WearOrange hashtag!

Spanish

¡Mañana, 4 de junio, es el Día Nacional de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego! ¡Asegúrate de vestirte de naranja y compartir tu foto en las redes sociales diciéndole al mundo por qué TÚ apoyas este día importante con el hashtag #WearOrange!

Bilingual

¡Mañana, 4 de junio, es National Gun Violence Awareness Day! ¡Asegúrate de vestirte de naranja y compartir tu foto on social media telling the world que TÚ apoyas este día importante with the #WearOrange hashtag!

Post Image

Friday, June 4, National Gun Violence Awareness Day (aka, the BIG day!)

June 4 Priority

Turn your social media profile pictures orange, then share on all of your social media channels why you or your organization is wearing orange on National Gun Violence Awareness Day! Be sure to include the #WearOrange hashtag!

Sample Post Text

We #WearOrange today on National Gun Violence Awareness Day to shine a light on the gun violence crisis that takes more than 100 lives and wounds hundreds more every day. Why do you wear orange?

Post Image

A photo of your associates wearing orange, or an orange version of your profile picture made with our #WearOrange tool: ​wearorange.org/wear-orange

June 4 Priority

Ask your followers to turn their social media profile pics orange.

Sample Post Text

Show the world your commitment to ending the gun violence crisis in America: Use this tool to turn your profile picture orange! #WearOrange ​wearorange.org/wear-orange


Stand in solidarity with survivors of gun violence by turning your profile pic orange today for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 4! #WearOrange ​wearorange.org/wear-orange


Today on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, join me and Americans from across the country in calling for an end to gun violence. Use this tool to turn your profile pic orange! #WearOrange wearorange.org/wear-orange

Spanish

Muestrale al mundo tu compromiso para poner fin a la crisis de violencia con armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos: ¡Utiliza esta herramienta para convertir tu foto de perfil anaranjado! #WearOrange wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja-2


¡Solidarizarte con sobrevivientes de la violencia con armas al convertir tu foto de perfil anaranjado hoy para el Día Nacional de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego! #WearOrange wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja-2


Hoy, el Día Nal. de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego, únete a nosotros y  miles de estadounidenses para pedir el fin de la violencia con armas de fuego. ¡Utiliza esta herramienta para convertir tu foto de perfil anaranjado! #WearOrange wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja-2

Bilingual

Show the world your compromiso para poner fin a la crisis de gun violence en los Estados Unidos: ¡Utiliza esta herramienta to turn your profile pic orange! #WearOrange wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja-2


¡Stand in solidarity con sobrevivientes de la violencia con armas by turning your profile pic orange today for el Día Nacional de Concientización sobre la Violencia con Armas de Fuego! #WearOrange wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja-2


Hoy, el día de National Gun Violence Awareness, únete a nosotros y miles de estadounidenses para pedir el fin de gun violence. ¡Use this tool para convertir tu foto de perfil en naranja! #WearOrange wearorange.org/es/vestirse-de-naranja-2

June 4 Priority

Remind your followers to sign up for a #WearOrange Weekend virtual event.

Sample Post Text

It’s #WearOrange Weekend, when Americans come together virtually to show our support for victims and survivors of gun violence. Find an event in your state by texting ORANGE to 644-33!

Post Image

Saturday & Sunday, June 5-6

June 5-6 Priority

Remind your followers to post pics from Wear Orange Weekend virtual events on social media using the #WearOrange hashtag.

Sample Post Text

Are you joining a #WearOrange Weekend virtual event in support of victims and survivors of gun violence? Be sure to share your pics on social media with the #WearOrange hashtag!


Show the world how your community is standing together as a united front against gun violence this #WearOrange Weekend! Share your virtual event pics and be sure to include the #WearOrange hashtag!

Other Resources

Wear Orange-themed Zoom meeting backgrounds

Wear Orange-themed Instagram story panels

#WearOrange gifs

Add #WearOrange gifs to your Instagram stories; find them by searching the hashtag in the GIF section.

More Wear Orange sample social language and graphics

More Spanish & Bilingual Wear Orange Sample Social Language and Graphics

Everytown Contacts

Please share your work with us, especially if you’d like for it to be amplified on Everytown social media platforms. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Maura LaMendola and Keni Nooner at [email protected] or Jose Alfaro at [email protected] for Latinx partnerships and engagement.

Thanks again for your support of #WearOrange and the movement to end gun violence in America!