{"id":100688,"date":"2023-05-26T23:44:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T23:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/?p=100688"},"modified":"2023-05-26T23:44:58","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T23:44:58","slug":"national-gun-violence-awareness-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/national-gun-violence-awareness-day\/","title":{"rendered":"National Gun Violence Awareness Day: How families can take action"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, June 2, 2023, people will peacefully gather and\/or take to social media wearing orange to bring attention to the approximate 120 people that die from gun violence<\/a> each day in America. The day, National Gun Violence Awareness Day marks the start of a multi-day call to action across the country.<\/p>

“National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an annual event that takes place on the first Friday in June,” explains Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action<\/a>, the grassroots arm of Everytown. “It marks the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend.”<\/p>

Why should people wear orange on June 2? Here, information on meaning behind the color and more. <\/p>

What is Wear Orange Day? <\/h2>

While sometimes referred to as Wear Orange Day, National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an annual event that takes place on the first Friday in June, notes Ferrell-Zabala, and it marks the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend. <\/p>

“Wear Orange is dedicated to honoring the lives of people in the United States affected by gun violence and elevating the voices of those demanding an end to gun violence,” notes Ferrell-Zabala. “In addition to hundreds of events<\/a> organized by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, a coalition of cultural influencers, elected officials, corporate brands, nonprofit partner organizations and a series of buildings and landmarks join advocates annually to honor Wear Orange.”<\/p>

\"\"
Image via Everytown for Gun Safety<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What is National Gun Violence Awareness Month? <\/h2>

In addition to National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, some areas, such as New York<\/a> and Washington D.C.<\/a>, officially recognize June as Gun Violence Awareness Month.<\/p>

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) have also introduced Congressional resolutions recognizing June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month<\/a>.<\/p>

How did Wear Orange Day start?<\/h2>

“On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, she was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago,” Ferrell-Zabala explains. “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.”<\/p>