MA Politicians To “Wear Orange” To Mark Gun Violence Awareness

BOSTON — Skylines and key buildings across the commonwealth will begin turning orange —from the Zakim Memorial Bridge and Post Office Square in Boston, to City Hall in Newton — to mark National Gun Violence Awareness this weekend.

Activists say the coronavirus crisis is exacerbating the gun violence crisis in America, including heightening the risk of domestic violence, unintentional shootings and gun suicide. And, they say, while the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police wasn't a shooting it has added urgency to conversations around violence.

"Gun violence doesn’t go away because of COVID-19," said Angela Christiana, MA Moms Demand Action chapter leader. “In Boston and across the commonwealth, the pandemic and the recent upheaval in response to police violence has shed a harsh light on all inequalities faced by distressed communities. It has motivated gun violence prevention groups to reach out to those communities in crisis even more."

The Boston Wear Orange Summer Jam, an annual event to mark National Gun Violence Awareness weekend will be held online at noon Saturday in an effort to unite communities across Massachusetts in promoting gun violence prevention as well as to raise awareness of all kinds of violence, injustice and systemic racism.

Some of the officials and community leaders to be featured in the special online content to be released at noon include:

● U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren
● U.S. Senator Edward Markey
● Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
● Congresswomen Katherine Clark (MA-05)
● Congressman Joe Kennedy (MA-04)
● Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03)
● MA Attorney General Maura Healey
● Boston Mayor Marty Walsh
● Boston Police Commissioner William Gross
● Shannon R. Watts, founder, Moms Demand Action
● Angela Christiana, volunteer chapter lead, MA Moms Demand Action
● Katherine Martinez, executive director of Lena Park Community Development Center

This event is also an effort to raise funds for the Lena Park Youth Council, a local group of youth leaders who are instrumental in the planning of Wear Orange.

“This event gives a platform to our concerns about all forms of violence that are tearing our communities apart,” said Executive Director of Lena Park Community Development Corporation Katherine Martinez. “We are united demanding action.”