LAFAYETTE, La. - The Acadiana group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is encouraging residents to participate in National Gun Violence Awareness Day Friday and the start of Wear Orange Weekend, June 5 - June 7. This reserved-time honors all the victims of gun violence in America and brings folks together in a unified effort to lessen the frequency of these tragedies.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a non-profit grass-roots group that includes a diverse community of American gun violence survivors, victims, veterans, parents, mayors, and students from all political persuasions and walks of life. They have a chapter in every state across the country. The group works to prevent gun violence by advocating for stronger laws and policies that provide gun-safety measures for the community and children. They support the second amendment, and emphasize that they are not anti-gun, but anti-gun violence.
Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton's friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 - just one week after performing at President Obama's second inaugural parade in 2013. After her death, they asked citizens to stand up, speak out, and Wear Orange to raise awareness about gun violence.
"Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America supports the second amendment right, but we also recognize that with our rights does come responsibility, so we try to prevent gun violence and promote gun safety in our communities," said Blair Miller, Events Lead for the local Acadiana Group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Louisiana Chapter.
Miller will be set up at the parking lot of the Public Library Downtown Thursday, June 4, from 5:15PM - 7:15PM and again on, Saturday June 6th, from 11AM to 1PM. She will be passing out free Wear Orange swag and yard signs for the public using CDC Guidelines. She said we all must come together and take a stand against the deadly mix of guns, white supremacy, and racism.
"There are many Black led social justice organizations that continue to lead movements -- as they have for decades -- seeking to dismantle white supremacy and racism in all of its forms," said Miller. "We must forge ahead in lockstep with our partners and allies. Moms Demand Action wants to work with those groups in Acadiana and encourage them to reach out to us."
To get connected to your local group, you can text, READY to 64433 or email Blair directly at, bmiller3753@gmail.com.
Click here for statistics provided by Everytown for Gun Safety.
Check back for video.
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