CINCINNATI CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION AND STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION TO HOST WEAR ORANGE WEEKEND
CINCINNATI, OHIO – The Cincinnati Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Students Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, will host a Wear Orange Weekend featuring landmark light-ups, Mayor Proclamations, and a rally and peace march to honor the lives of all those affected by gun violence and to elevate gun violence prevention efforts nationwide.
Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor after she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15—just one week after performing in President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. Orange honors the 100 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day—and demands our lawmakers take action that will help keep all Americans safer. Hundreds of Wear Orange events will take place across the country June 7-9 for Wear Orange Weekend.
LANDMARKS LIGHT UP ORANGE, JUNE 7 and 8
Due to the groundwork in the past from volunteers nationwide, America will light up orange June 7 and 8. In Cincinnati, Duke Energy’s iconic “CINCINNATI”, the Tyler Davidson Fountain, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will join in lighting orange as they did in 2018. An addition this year is Fifth Third’s downtown office building.
NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION DAY PROCLAMATIONS, JUNE 7
Volunteers nationwide have been instrumental in obtaining proclamations from local governments recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Locally, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley will proclaim the day as part of his involvement in Mayors Against Gun Violence.
WEAR ORANGE RALLY AND PEACE MARCH, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1-3 PM, FOUNTAIN SQUARE
A community rally honoring the lives of those affected by gun violence and elevating gun violence prevention efforts in Ohio and nationwide and peace march by Students Demand Action.
Attendees will learn about the work being done by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action and by other community partners who share the dream of eliminating gun violence including Ohio Students for Gun Legislation, Ohioans for Gun Safety, The Young Activists Coalition, the UC Trauma Center and more.
Featured will be a special “Quiet Space” for survivors of gun violence with calming activities, a memory wall, community faith leaders, volunteers from Moms Demand Action offering “free hugs”, the Cincinnati Moms Dream Quilt created by local survivors. Also available will be therapy animals who spend time in hospitals, nursing homes and libraries. Face painting for children, juggling, food trucks, and a social media photo area are planned.
SPEAKERS
• Michele Mueller, volunteer Local Group Lead with the Ohio chapter of Moms
• Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
• Yousuf Munir, Walnut Hills Student and Co-Lead with Students Demand Action
• Pastor Jackie Jackson, Community Outreach Advocate and gun violence survivor who was himself shot in the hand when he was 10.
• Councilman P. G. Sittenfeld, City of Cincinnati
• Chief Criminal Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, Assistant United States Attorney
• Abbie Youkilis, MD, whose niece was shot and killed in the Parkland, Florida, School Shooting
• Officer Princess Davis, Cincinnati City Police Department
• Mara Nickels, Co-leader, SAFE (Scrubs Addressing the Firearms Epidemic)
• More
History of National Gun Violence Awareness Day
The color orange has a long and proud history in the gun safety movement.
Whether it’s worn by hunters in the woods of Pennsylvania, activists in New York City, or Hadiya’s loved ones in Chicago, orange honors the 100 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day—and demands action. Since the first National Gun Violence Awareness Day in 2015, hundreds of communities and organizations continue to commemorate that event by wearing orange, holding community events, lighting skylines orange, and issuing city and state proclamations.
Federal, state and local elected leaders, such as President Obama; celebrities, like Julianne Moore, Halsey, Angela Bassett, and Lin-Manuel Miranda; hundreds of national corporate and nonprofit partners, such as Viacom, Univision, Vogue, the National PTA and PlannedParenthood; have joined hundreds thousands of Americans nationwide to #WearOrange and call for an end to gun violence.
