June 02, 2015

#WearingOrange in Philadelphia

By Elisa Lala
PhillyVoice Contributor

WearOrange.org/for PhillyVoice

June 2 marks the country's first National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Many Philadelphians were dressed in orange Tuesday in support of the country's first officially recognized National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a campaign organized by the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund to honor victims of gun violence and bring awareness to the growing issue.

15 Facts About Gun Violence That Will Have You #WearingOrange Today: http://t.co/8FlcsWe6a3 via @MTV pic.twitter.com/jyIuO6CP6d
— Moms Demand Action (@MomsDemand) June 2, 2015

Unofficially, National Gun Violence Awareness Day was spurred on by the friends of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago shooting victim.

In a video PSA, a friend of Pendleton's explains that the color orange was chosen because of its association with hunters, who wear the color to avoid being mistakenly shot.

Many Philadelphians showed their support Tuesday, including members of Philly Mothers In Charge, an organization that raises awareness for violence prevention, education and intervention and the Philadelphia police.

Thank you to members of the @PhillyPolice 22nd for your support today #WearingOrange #gunviolence pic.twitter.com/jNH15t1uOX
— Mothers In Charge (@phillymic) June 2, 2015

At @phillymic HQ for #wearorangeday- mothers, victim families stand for those lost by #gunviolence @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/3qkdwBu4UM
— Cherri Gregg (@cherrigregg) June 2, 2015