Tenth Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Campaign to Begin Friday as Part of Nationwide Effort Demanding an End to America’s Gun Violence Crisis

Gun Safety Advocates, Survivors, Elected Leaders and More to Gather At More Than 300 Events Across the United States to Honor Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund today announced that Friday, June 7 will mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the beginning of Wear Orange weekend, June 8–9. For the tenth year, countless people across the United States will join together and wear orange to honor survivors of gun violence and demand a future free from gun violence. So far, there are more than 300 #WearOrange events scheduled across the country, featuring Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, gun violence survivors, other gun safety advocates, elected leaders, community partners and more who will gather to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence and connect people with ways they can help to end gun violence in their communities. In addition to events, a coalition of cultural influencers, elected officials, nonprofit partner organizations and a series of buildings, billboards and landmarks will join advocates to honor National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange weekend. 

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 more than 120 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 who are traumatized by acts of gun violence. Advocates across the country will unite to call for an end to all forms of gun violence, including domestic violence, firearm suicide, mass shootings, police shootings, city gun violence, and more.

“Like so many parents across the nation, my family has had to live with the reality of having our children’s lives stolen by gun violence. During Wear Orange we honor all these stolen lives by our nation’s gun violence crisis,” said Cleopatra Cowley, mother of Hadiya Pendleton and Co-Founder of Hadiya’s Promise. “Through Wear Orange, Hadiya’s legacy will not be forgotten, and survivors and their allies will continue standing tall and proud. Our families deserve to live without the threat of senseless gun violence.”

“Wear Orange Weekend is a chance to honor the survivors of gun violence and commit to building a safer future for all Americans,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Every Wear Orange event — every building we light up, every social media post, every community event — is a reminder that the vast majority of Americans support common-sense solutions to gun violence.”

“Wear Orange is an inspiring testament to the reach and power of our movement,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “From vibrant neighborhood events to posts on social media, it’s clear that Americans are overwhelmingly united in the fight to end gun violence. Together, we will continue to honor Hadiya Pendleton, and all gun violence survivors, by fighting tirelessly for safer communities.”

Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, in collaboration with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and local partners from across the country, will host hundreds of events or honor Wear Orange in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Find an event near you here.

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

• Wear Orange will once again partner with the professional sports community this year, including expected support from more than 60 teams, representing every major professional league, and dozens of individual athletes including Natasha Cloud, Alejandro Bedoya, Aaron Donald, Meghan Klingenberg, Brandon Short, and Joakim Noah. The WNBPA will partner with Wear Orange again this year with player-led engagement across the entire League. Many teams including the Washington Mystics, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun, Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, San Diego Wave, and Portland Thorns will host gun violence survivors, volunteers, and community activists at their Wear Orange home games. Teams from every league will participate in awareness raising campaigns, including a #BayAreaUnite PSA featuring the 49ers, Giants, Sharks, and Warriors, a gun violence prevention conference sponsored by the Seattle Seahawks, and a PSA from the Detroit Pistons Youth Council. Other teams, from Florida to New England to Colorado will light up their stadiums or arenas orange, post player testimonials on social media, and elevate the work of community based partners.
• More than 300 landmarks, buildings and billboards across the country will turn orange, including the world-famous Empire State Building, Lamar Advertising Company digital billboards, and more than 20 stadiums and arenas.
• More than 100 non-profit organizations and faith partners across various issue areas will continue to join the campaign in turning orange this weekend with groups like the Project Unloaded, Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, AAPI Victory Alliance, Latino Victory, Hispanic Federation, Jewish Women International, The AFT, Voto Latino and the Center for American Progress and many more taking part in Wear Orange. 
• Members of Congress and Administration officials will wear orange, post on social media, and attend events across the country. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Sens. Dick Durbin (IL) and Tammy Duckworkth (IL) have introduced resolutions recognizing June 7 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. 
• Mayors across the country, including the three new Co-Chairs of Mayors Against Illegal Guns Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland, Ohio, Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington, Texas, and Mayor Andy Schor of Lansing, Michigan, will participate in the Wear Orange campaign alongside state legislators by issuing proclamations declaring June 7 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, lighting landmarks orange, and posting on social media.
• Gun violence survivors across the country will share their personal experiences with gun violence on Moments That Survive, a year-round digital storytelling platform. 

In honor of Wear Orange this year, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is once again partnering with community organizations in collaboration with local Moms Demand Action groups to fund and provide support to unique Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) projects across the country through the Everytown Community Safety Fund. Local volunteers with Moms Demand Action will work in collaboration with grantees to implement CPTED projects over the course of the next few months. In addition, Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC), national leaders in implementing CPTED projects, will provide 10 hours of technical assistance to each grant recipient and collaborating volunteer group in order to ensure projects center community voices. 

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 hundreds of 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.