Chatham Takes Stand Against Gun Violence With Official Proclamation

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 2.

Council member Carolyn Dempsey read a proclamation declaring that the borough would observe the day of recognition locally.

The clauses read in the borough hall stated that Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed by gun homicide than those living in other high-income countries. The proclamation also stated that every day, more than 100 people are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are injured as a result of gun violence across the country.

"This is a resolution that I wish I didn't have to read... but we are where we are. We have a gun violence epidemic in this country," Dempsey said. "Gun violence has changed our everyday lives. Very simple examples of how gun violence has changed how we live our lives is that we have Class 3 officers at our schools now. I never thought that would be necessary, especially in sleepy little Chatham."

Several members of the Moms Demand Action team wore orange to the council meeting last week, where the proclamation was read.

The Wear Orange campaign asks everyone in America who wants to end gun violence to do one simple thing on June 2, National Gun Violence Awareness Day: wear orange. Wear Orange was inspired by activists in Chicago and New York City.

Recently, as part of a national initiative called "Mother's Day of Action," the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action held a rally in Morristown, which was coordinated by Chatham resident Crystal Paone.

The rally was held on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. in front of Morristown Town Hall, and speakers ranged from gun violence survivors to local political leaders.

"Thank you, Chatham Borough Council, for issuing this proclamation marking June 2 as Gun Violence Awareness Day, or as we like to call it, Wear Orange Day. On the day when we trade our red shirts for the orange," Paone said.

Moms Demand Action is a nonpartisan grassroots movement of Americans working to prevent gun violence. It was founded by Shannon Watts, a mother, in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Since its inception, Moms Demand Action has grown in popularity and now has chapters in almost every state.

"It is shameful that we failed to protect our youth from a preventable cause of death. Even here in the quaint and safe town that I love to call home, Chatham, our kids have experienced lockdowns. I can't imagine the fear and anxiety felt by our children, the teachers and staff during one recent incident at the middle school," Paone said. "We do not have to accept that this is just the way things are."

To celebrate Gun Violence Awareness Day, the local chapter of Moms Demand Action will be at the Chatham gazebo on Friday, June 2 at 1 p.m. with orange ribbons. Residents are invited to hang orange ribbons from lampposts and trees along Main Street.

"We will do this every single year until there is change," Paone said.