City of Pasadena to Declare June 3 ‘National Gun Violence Awareness Day’

PASADENA, Calif.- At their May 23 meeting, Pasadena City Council will issue a proclamation declaring June 3, 2022, 'National Gun Violence Awareness Day' in Pasadena. Now in its eighth year, the day honors and remembers victims and survivors of gun violence and supports efforts to prevent gun violence.

The proclamation will be received by San Gabriel Valley Moms Demand Action, a local grassroots organization working to reduce gun violence. The proclamation reads that gun violence "touches every segment of our society and impacts people of all ages; it increases the probability of death in incidents of domestic violence; raises the likelihood of fatalities by those who intend to injure others, and among those who attempt suicide; it places children and young people at increased risk of physical harm and injury; and disproportionately affects communities of color." The proclamation concludes by urging all citizens, businesses, and organizations to work collaboratively to reduce gun violence in our community.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day kicks off Wear Orange Weekend (June 3-5), an event held annually in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old who was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013, just one week after performing at President Obama's second inauguration parade. Orange is the color that Hadiya's friends wore in her honor and is worn throughout the nation to raise awareness about gun violence.

The City of Pasadena encourages community members to wear orange June 3-5 in support of the gun violence prevention movement and to share photos on social media using the hashtag #WearOrange.

Wear Orange Peace Walk, Saturday, June 4
A neighborhood peace walk honoring Ernesto Ramos Jimenez, a Pasadena resident killed by gun violence in 2020, and other gun violence victims will be held on Saturday, June 4, at 6 p.m., starting at 623 N. Marengo Ave. Please wear orange.

Many local groups in the Pasadena area, including San Gabriel Valley Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action and the All Saints Committee to End Gun Violence, are working together to encourage, support and work towards solutions to save lives from gun violence. Contact the organizations directly for information on how to get involved.

Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter at @PasadenaGov, and Instagram and Facebook at @CityOfPasadena; or call the Citizen Service Center Monday through Friday during business hours at (626) 744-7311.