Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–June 2, 2016. Congresswoman Robin Kelly encourages Chicagoland residents to help bring attention to the issue of gun violence today by wearing the color orange in recognition National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
“We wear orange on June 2 — what would’ve been Hadiya Pendleton’s 19th birthday — to honor the people whose lives have been shattered by gun violence across America,” Congresswoman Kelly said. “We cannot say America is truly the home of the free when we have communities where parents are afraid to let their kids outside to play or walk to school. The staggering gun toll over the Memorial Day weekend and yesterday’s shooting at UCLA once again demonstrate the pressing need to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Every American has the inalienable right to live free from the threat of gun violence.”
The idea of wearing orange to bring attention to the issue of gun violence was inspired by Hadiya’s family and friends in Chicago. Since hunters wear orange to warn others not to shoot at them, they decided the color can also symbolize keeping kids safe from gun violence.
Rep. Kelly and Senator Dick Durbin have also introduced a resolution in the House and Senate establishing June 2 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and designating June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month.
In addition to introducing gun violence prevention legislation in Congress, Rep. Kelly recently launched the Urban Progress (UP) Initiative to reduce gun violence through economic development and community reinvestment.
Source: http://www.robinkelly.house.gov
