ACPS Stands Up Against Gun Violence June 2-4, 2023

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is observed on Fri., June 2, 2023, and it kicks off Wear Orange Weekend on June 3-4. Wear Orange rallies are being held across the country and right here in Alexandria to remember lives lost to gun violence and raise awareness about this public health concern.

“Wear Orange day serves as a reminder of the lives saved when guns and ammunition are safely secured and stored in lock boxes out of the hands of minors. Secure firearm storage is an essential part of home safety,” Alexandria City Public Schools Safety & Security Services Director John Contreras said.

Alexandria Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is organizing the 2023 Wear Orange Rally set for Fri., June 2, 2023, at 7 p.m., at Market Square (300 King Street). This annual rally brings the community together to honor the lives taken by and survivors of gun violence. The community gathering will hear from survivors and special guests.

Participants are urged to wear orange in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed on a Chicago playground a week after marching in President Barack Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. Following this tragedy, Hadiya’s friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color that hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others. Since then, Wear Orange has been observed every June.