Parsippany Takes Stand Against Gun Violence With Mayoral Proclamation

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany was one of the many towns that recognized National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 2.

Mayor James Barberio issued a proclamation declaring that the town would observe the day of recognition locally.

The mayor then presented the proclamation to Jeanmarie Embler, Morris County Chapter Lead of Moms Demand Action.

Americans are 26 times more likely than people in other high-income countries to be killed by gun homicide, according to a proclamation read in various Morris County towns. Every day, more than 120 people are killed and more than 200 are injured in the United States as a result of gun violence, according to the proclamation.

"I encourage all citizens to support efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence, and to honor and value human lives," Barberio said.

Several members of the Moms Demand Action team wore orange to the ceremony with the mayor, 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.

The date of June 2 commemorates what would have been the 26th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed when she was 15 years old.

Pendleton's classmates, moved by her memory, launched a campaign encouraging people to wear orange on June 2. The color represents the value of each person's life and is the color that hunters wear, according to the group.

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.

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.