'Orange Walk' for Sensible Gun Policy Planned in Massachusetts

Monday, Dec. 14, marks the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting that killed 20 students and teachers.

To commemorate the tragedy, “Orange Walks” are being held across the country.

The Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is sponsoring an “Orange Walk” beginning at 1:45 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 13, starting at Congregation Beth Elohim in Acton.

Kim Long, who lives in Shrewsbury, and is the local leader, helped organize the event, which includes Sen. Jamie Eldridge.

“This was organized quickly, yet 150 have signed up already,” said a spokesperson for the event.

This was organized quickly, yet 150 people have signed up already.

The walk is not only in memory of the Sandy Hook tragedy, but to honor all survivors and victims of gun violence.

State Sen. Eldridge, D-Acton, whose district includes Westborough, Marlborough, Sudbury and Northborough, joins the group. Rabbi Lewis Mintz of Congregation Beth Elohim offers a message of peace.

Participants are urged to tweet photos with the hashtag #EndGunViolence to urge President Obama to take executive action to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

Orange was chosen because it is becoming a symbol of the gun violence prevention movement. The idea for orange was inspired by the friends of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who shot and killed a week after marching in President Obama’s second inaugural parade.

The students asked their friends to wear the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others -- to help honor Hadiya’s life and all those stolen by gun violence each year.

In June, a coalition of gun violence prevention advocates launched the Wear Orange campaign to mark the first annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Photo Credit: Moms Demand Action