At their June 1 meeting, Pasadena City Council issued a proclamation declaring Friday, June 5, 2020 “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” in Pasadena to honor and remember all of the victims and survivors of gun violence and support efforts to prevent gun violence. The public is encouraged to watch the meeting online or on KPAS TV.
The proclamation will be received by San Gabriel Valley Moms Demand Action, a local grassroots organization working to reduce gun violence. The proclamation reads that gun violence “touches every segment of our society and impacts people of all ages; it increases the probability of death in incidents of domestic violence; raises the likelihood of fatalities by those who intend to injure others, and among those who attempt suicide; it places children and young people at increased risk of physical harm and injury; and disproportionately affects communities of color.” The proclamation concludes by urging all citizens, businesses, and organizations to work collaboratively to reduce gun violence.
Wear Orange Weekend, June 5-7
National Gun Violence Awareness Day kicks off Wear Orange Weekend, an event held annually in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old who was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013, just one week after performing at President Obama’s second inaugural parade. Orange is the color that Hadiya’s friends wore in her honor and is worn throughout the nation to raise awareness about gun violence.
The City of Pasadena encourages community members to wear orange June 5-7 in support of the gun violence prevention movement and to share photos on social media using the hashtag #WearOrange.
Many local groups are working together to encourage and support efforts to prevent gun violence and save lives, including San Gabriel Valley Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, Mothers of Murdered Children, and the All Saints Committee to End Gun Violence.
