National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend
This Friday, June 6, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, marking the beginning of Wear Orange weekend. I want to invite you all to join me in wearing orange on Friday to honor those who have been impacted by gun violence and advocate for action against gun violence. This movement is put on by the group Everytown for Gun Safety, and brings people together from across the nation to advocate for gun reform.
On Saturday, June 7 at 2:00 p.m., there will be a local event at George Washington Park (3130 E 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46218) at Community Love Fest. Everytown for Gun Safety will be highlighting Wear Orange weekend and gun violence awareness as part of this event in conjunction with Indy Peace and the Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation. For more information and to register for the event, click the link here.
Far too many people in our community have had their lives torn apart by gun violence. Last month, 14 people were injured and a 17-year-old was killed in a single weekend in Indianapolis. Black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by gun violence, and it is the leading cause of death for children in our nation.
Our city should be a place where people can thrive, not constantly worry about surviving. That is why I am calling on our community to come together for Wear Orange weekend to honor those who have fallen victim to gun violence. Indiana has some of the loosest gun safety policies in the nation, and we all pay the price. It is time to demand a change.
I encourage all those who are able to be part of that change by participating in Wear Orange weekend.