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Wear Orange – June 9
June 9
#WearOrange, Sunday – June 9
Thousands of our American brothers and sisters will wear orange at events on June 7, 8, and 9 to support National Gun Violence Awareness weekend and honor survivors and victims of gun violence. Let us take time as a faith community to pray for those who have lost their lives to gun violence and those who have survived and/or have been traumatized by the epidemic of gun violence in our country. May our prayers lead us to commitment and actions to reduce this epidemic. We invite you to join with the Diocesan Gun Safety Working Group and Wear Orange for Weekend Services on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9. Learn more about Wear Orange Sunday and what more you can do to support gun violence prevention at the Bishop’s United Against Gun Violence website (https://bishopsagainstgunviolence.org/), and the Episcopal Peace Fellowship website (https://www.episcopalpeacefellowship.net/).
Why orange?
On January 21st, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old high school student from the south side of Chicago – marched in President Obama’s 2nd inaugural parade. One week later, after finishing final exams, Hadiya was shot and killed a mile from the Obamas’ Hyde Park home. Hadiya’s friends asked their classmates to commemorate Hadiya’s life – and the lives of hundreds claimed by Chicago’s gun violence each year – by wearing orange. They chose orange because hunters wear the color in the woods to protect themselves and others. Now, many in the gun violence prevention community choose to wear orange in memory of those we have lost, and as a symbol of standing against gun violence and in favor of reasonable gun sale and ownership regulations. On June 9th let’s honor the more than 43,000 Americans that are killed with guns and approximately 76,000 more that are shot and wounded every year. So, join in and Wear Orange and bring awareness to the epidemic of Gun Violence.
