Wear Orange began in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a bright and talented 15 year old from Chicago whose life was taken by gun violence in 2013. Just one week before her death, she had proudly performed with her school’s majorette team at President Obama’s second inaugural parade.
Her friends chose the color orange to honor her life because hunters wear orange to protect themselves and others. Their act of love and remembrance grew into a national movement that now brings communities together every June to call for safety, healing, and meaningful change.
This Act of Civic Engagement Tampa Showed the Strength and Courage of the Community
Last Friday, we joined communities across the country in recognizing Wear Orange Weekend, coming together to honor victims of gun violence and advocate for safer neighborhoods. Families, advocates, and community members gathered with a shared commitment to reducing gun violence and protecting lives.
The voices of parents who have lost children were at the center of the event. Their strength, courage, and determination brought powerful perspective to the gathering and underscored the urgency of continued action.
We were proud to stand alongside Moms Demand Action at the Wear Orange rally in Tampa, led by Dandra Green and Betsy Braden. Our participation extended beyond showing support. We encouraged attendees to verify their voter registration status and participate in every election, recognizing that civic engagement plays an important role in shaping public policy. We also invited community members to sign a petition urging lawmakers to oppose legislation that would expand access to untraceable ghost guns.
Building safer communities requires collective action. Through advocacy, civic participation, and community engagement, we can support families affected by gun violence and work toward meaningful change.
