Evanston Rallies Against Gun Violence On Wear Orange Day

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston is marking the 4th annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day with Wear Orange rally Saturday at Fountain Square. The event will honor the lives of Evanstonians and all of the more than 30,000 Americans who die in gun-related deaths every year. The gathering is set to run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Orrington, Sherman and Davis streets in downtown Evanston.

Attendees are encouraged to wear orange, the color associated with the gun violence prevention movement. The Wear Orange campaign began after the 2013 murder of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago girl who was shot and killed a week after performing in President Obama's second inaugural parade.

“We choose to Wear Orange on June 2, Hadiya’s birthday, because we want to share the joy and light that Hadiya brought into our lives with you and with everyone in this movement,” said Hadiya's parents, Nate and Cleo Pendleton.

Orange was selected as the color of the movement because it's worn by hunters to avoid getting shot.

“Five years ago, a group of friends and I came together to create Project Orange Tree to honor our dear friend Hadiya and the countless others who have been affected by gun violence,” said Nza-Ari Khepra, founder of Project Orange Tree and co-creator of Wear Orange, in a release. “Since then, it has truly been an honor to watch this movement continually grow and touch every corner of our country with events and landmark lightings. This year, Wear Orange reminds us that we are an unstoppable force that is well on it’s way to creating an America that will be free of gun violence.”

In Evanston, experts will discuss the personal and community trauma associated with gun violence and address possible local actions to reduce the problem, according to a news release. In addition to local gun violence prevention experts, people who have been directly impacted by gun violence will share their stories.

Chantal Pryor, an Evanston resident, will speak about how the shooting death of her sister Kaylyn three years ago has affected her family. Kaylyn, a 20-year-old aspiring model who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, was waiting to catch a bus home to Evanston from her grandmother's home in the South Side Englewood neighborhood when she was fatally shot. Her murder remains unsolved.

One of the organizers of the event is Evanston resident Carolyn Murray. After her son Justin's murder in 2012, she was instrumental in establishing the city's first gun buyback program, according to the release. (Evanston police are hosting another guy buyback on the morning of June 9 at Christ Temple Mission Baptist Church, 1711 Simpson St.)

Other planned speakers include Rev. Kenneth Cherry of Christ Temple Mission Baptist Church in Evanston and Evanston Township High School students. Representatives of the Evanston/Skokie/Wilmette Chapter of Moms Demand Action, the Evanston YWCA, Evanston’s James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, People for a Safer Society, and the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence will be available to help attendees learn how they can make a difference in the fight against gun violence.

Mayor Steve Hagerty will also issue a proclamation that the city officially recognizes the day, and Chicago’s DJ Protege, singer Dujon Smith, and The Evanston Choir will perform at the event.