2021 Wear Orange Social Media Toolkit for Supporters
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.
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.
From the south side of Chicago, to community organizers in Queens, to students around the country, we will come together to wear orange and demand change.
Key Information to participate in #WearOrange on Social Media
- Official hashtag for all platforms: #WearOrange
Please use this hashtag in all of your #WearOrange posts so we can tie the conversation together and show the scale of the movement. - Wear Orange coalition website: wearorange.org
- Spanish Wear Orange coalition website: wearorange.org/es
- Tool to turn your profile pic orange: wearorange.org/wear-orange
- Dropbox folder where you can download all of the assets in this toolkit
- Tell your friends and family members to #WearOrange on June 4, which is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and give them ideas on how to go orange. Find simple and creative ideas here: wearorange.org/go-orange
- Invite your friends and family to join virtual events throughout #WearOrange Weekend, June 4-6, by texting ORANGE to 644-33.
#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 friends and family 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.
Graphics to Attach to Post
Week of May 24 Priority
Let friends and family 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.
Graphics to Attach to Post
Week of May 31
Week of May 31 Priority
Ask friends and family 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!
Week of May 31 Priority
Ask your friends and family to sign up for a #WearOrange Weekend virtual event.
Sample Post Text
Let’s get together virtually June 4-6 at a Wear Orange Weekend event to honor victims and survivors of gun violence and call attention to America’s gun violence crisis. Text ORANGE to 644-33 to join me at a #WearOrange virtual event!
Post Image
Thursday, June 3
June 3 Priority
Give friends and family 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!
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
I #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 you wearing orange, or an orange version of your profile picture made with our #WearOrange tool: wearorange.org/wear-orange
June 4 Priority
Ask your friends and family 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
June 4 Priority
Remind friends and family 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 a virtual event in your state by texting ORANGE to 644-33!
Post Image
Saturday & Sunday, June 5-6
June 5-6 Priority
Remind friends and family 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
Thank you for supporting #WearOrange!