Join the Camden County Board of Commissioners and members of our community to WEAR ORANGE WEEKEND on June 2nd – 4th as we honor survivors of gun violence this National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Kick-Off Rally
9th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day
June 2, 2023 – 6 PM
1180 Whitman Ave
Whitman Park, Camden City
Why Orange?
Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 — just one week after performing at President Obama’s 2nd inaugural parade in 2013. After her death, they asked us to stand up, speak out, and Wear Orange to raise awareness about gun violence.
Since then orange has been the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement. New York gun violence prevention advocate Erica Ford spearheaded orange as the color of peace through her work with her organization, Life Camp, Inc. Whether it’s worn by students in Montana, activists in New York, or Hadiya’s loved ones in Chicago, the color orange honors the more than 100 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence everyday.
Our movement gains momentum when gun sense activists come together to fight for a future free from gun violence. Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday. Now, it is observed nationally on the first Friday in June and the following weekend each year. This year, National Gun Violence Awareness Day will be June 2, 2023.
Wear Orange Weekend is an opportunity for us to show the country just how powerful we are. But the work doesn’t end there. Everytown and our partner organizations continue to do life-saving work so that we can get closer to realizing a future free from gun violence. We wear orange to be seen, and demand that we be heard.
How To Participate
Click here and share these great ideas to wear orange
- Create A Wear Orange Image
- Print a Poster and Display at Home
- SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Use #WearOrangeCC
How can my company or brand participate?
- Turn your logo, social media avatars and/or website orange.
Posters:
Support this effort by printing a poster and hanging it in your window or door (Click Image to Download).
Social Media Downloads:
Support this effort by sharing this message on social media (Click Image to Download).
Learn The Facts
Suicide Prevention: there has been an 56% increase in firearm suicide in young people over the past decade. Learn More.
Red Flag Law/ Extreme Risk Laws: In a recent survey of 2,500 likely voters, 85 percent of respondents favored Congress passing an Extreme Risk law, as well as 78 percent of gun owners. Learn More.
AAPI Engagement: Police departments in the 16 largest cities in the United States reported a nearly 150% increase in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans in 2020. Learn More.
African American: Every 11 minutes, a Black American is shot and wounded. Learn More.
COVID-19: Approximately 2.1 million gun preparation searches were executed between March 8 and April 11, which is 158% (95% CI 73–270) greater than would be expected if not for COVID-19. Learn More.
Domestic Violence: 4.5 Million women have reported being threatened with a gun by an intimate partner. Learn More.
Resources
The Camden County Office of Mental Health and Addiction has a number and programs and services for residents that need the support. If you or family member is in need of support, please https://www.camdencounty.com/service/mental-health-and-addiction/
