12TH ANNUAL NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY AND WEAR ORANGE CAMPAIGN BEGINS TODAY AS PART OF NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO END AMERICA’S GUN VIOLENCE CRISIS

Gun Safety Advocates, Survivors of Gun Violence, Elected Officials and More to Gather at More Than 450 Events in Recognition of Wear Orange Across the Country

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund announced that today, Friday, June 5, will mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the beginning of Wear Orange weekend, June 6–7. For the 12th year, countless people nationwide will come together to wear orange, honoring survivors of gun violence and demanding a future free from gun violence. 

So far, there are more than 450 #WearOrange events scheduled in states across the country, hosted by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, survivors of gun violence, students, other gun safety advocates, community partners, mayors, elected officials, law enforcement, athletes, nonprofit organizations, cultural influencers, corporate brands, and more. At the heart of every single event is a dedication to honoring survivors, coming together in community to share their stories and end gun violence. Wear Orange is not only about raising awareness, but also about educating communities on the many actionable steps that individuals can take to protect their families from gun violence, including building community partnerships and educating the public on responsible gun ownership and the secure storage of firearms.

“This weekend, millions of people across the country will wear orange to honor every life stolen or impacted by gun violence,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “These events across the country are powered by survivors turning pain into purpose, advocates showing up for their communities, and everyday people choosing action over complacency. But we also know that when the orange comes off, our work doesn’t. We will keep organizing every day for a future free from gun violence.”

“The generosity and dedication of our friends and supporters over the years have been instrumental in helping my family and I fight against gun violence and inspire peace in our community,” said Nate Pendleton, father of Hadiya Pendleton and Co founder of Hadiya’s Promise. “We are deeply grateful for the survivors and advocates standing beside us in this mission. We will continue to honor Hadiya’s legacy and we will never stop fighting against senseless gun violence. Together, we are making a difference.”

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 on a playground in Chicago a little over one week after marching as a majorette in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. Now, Wear Orange honors Hadiya and the nearly 130 people shot and killed every day in the United States, as well as the hundreds more who are shot and wounded, and the countless others whose lives have been changed by gun violence.

A sample of this weekend’s events include a community event inMemphis, Tennessee and a block party in Los Angeles, California; a fun run in Austin, Texas and a farmers market event inMercer Island, Washington; a rally in Alexandria, Virginia; blood drives across Colorado, Illinois, and Kansas; a Wear Orange partnership with the Indigo Girls for two concerts in New Jersey andPennsylvania; country-wide porch vigils to light up neighborhoods in orange; and community walks across the country, from Brooklyn, New York across the Brooklyn Bridge, to San Francisco, California across the Golden Gate Bridge.

**Please contact [email protected] for any event details**

The Wear Orange campaign will showcase the breadth of the gun violence prevention movement. Additional details announced today include: 

• Students Demand Action’s annual Wear Orange Honor Cord program shared nearly 700 orange honor cords with graduating students nationwide to recognize their work in the gun violence prevention movement and to uplift student survivors of gun violence. This year’s honor cords covered 219 unique schools across 37 states.
• Wear Orange is teaming up with the professional sports community once again, with expected support from teams representing every major professional league and dozens of individual athletes. The WNBPA will partner with Wear Orange again this year with player-led engagement across the entire League. The Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and Washington Mystics will be supporting gun violence awareness efforts in a variety of ways, including community projects and panels, or hosting gun violence survivors, volunteers, and community advocates at Wear Orange home games. Teams from every league will participate in awareness-raising campaigns, including a #BayAreaUnite PSA featuring the 49ers, Earthquakes, Giants, Sharks, Valkyries, Bay FC, and Warriors. Other teams nationwide, including the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Cavaliers, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Current, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota United FC, New York Liberty, Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Storm will illuminate their stadiums or arenas orange, use their marquees to raise awareness for gun violence prevention, post to social media, or elevate the work of community-based partners.
• More than 100 non-profit organizations and faith partners will continue to join the campaign this weekend, including Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Center for American Progress, GIFFORDS, Injury Free Coalition for Kids, National Education Association, NAACP, and NOBLE. 
• Members of Congress and Administration officials will Wear Orange, post on social media, and attend events across the country. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) will introduce resolutions recognizing June 2 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month to honor Hadiya’s birthday – June 2, 1997 – and to remember all victims and survivors of gun violence.
• More than 100 state and local lawmakers nationwide, including governors, lieutenant governors, attorneys general, state representatives, and mayors, will recognize Wear Orange by speaking at and attending events, posting on social media, or issuing proclamations recognizing June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Earlier this week, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs joined the Phoenix Mercury at their annual Wear Orange game at PHX Arena.

Following Wear Orange weekend, gun violence survivors and gun safety advocates from across the country will be heading to Washington D.C. for Gun Sense University, an annual training summit. Gun Sense University brings together Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers and survivors of gun violence to share best practices, participate in training sessions about effective organizing and prepare for the crucial work ahead.

For more details about events happening during Wear Orange weekend and/or Gun Sense University, please contact [email protected]. More information about Wear Orange is available at WearOrange.org.