West Orange Will ‘Wear Orange’ For Gun Violence Awareness Day

WEST ORANGE, NJ — On Friday, West Orange will say “enough is enough” when it comes to school shootings – and gun violence as a whole.

Mayor Robert Parisi recently declared June 3 as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” in West Orange.

After signing on to the Everytown for Gun Safety “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” coalition in 2018, Parisi and other town officials have been working with the West Orange Police Department and peers across the region on a common cause: stop gun violence by promoting “common-sense laws.”

Speaking in the wake of the tragic loss of 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas – and mourning the more than 110 people in America who are killed with guns every day – Parisi referenced a list of actions that residents can take to “make their voices heard in the journey to help end gun violence once and for all.”

#WEARORANGE

Meanwhile, the West Orange Board of Education has launched a campaign encouraging students, staff and community members to #WearOrange in protest of gun violence on Friday, June 3.

District administrators are also asking the school community to take to social media for National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

According to a news release:

“Wear Orange originated back in 2015 when a group of teenagers in Chicago wanted to honor their friend, Hadiya Pendleton after she was the victim of senseless gun violence. Wear Orange honors Hadiya and the more than 40,000 Americans who are killed with guns and 85,000 Americans are shot and wounded as a result of guns every year. Advocacy is one of the foundational principles of the West Orange Public Schools, where students are at the forefront of speaking up for those in need regardless of the topic. Unfortunately, gun violence, especially in schools, strikes a chord for students like no other as they relate and connect to those affected.”

Over the past years, West Orange High School has been the home to peaceful walkouts, marches, and benefit concerts that have raised thousands of dollars for victims of school shootings.

In 2020, one of their students’ films was selected by #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence” as one of seven works highlighted by young people nationally to confront gun violence by creating new works of theater that will spark critical conversations and incite meaningful action in communities across the country.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page.