On Monday, the Board of Commissioners collaborated with New Jersey Moms Demand Action, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, and other community partners to mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend. The event featured a resource fair and a concert by Who’s Bad.
Gun Violence Awareness Day is observed on the first Friday of June each year, with Wear Orange Weekend following immediately after. This campaign was initiated in memory of Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from Chicago who was fatally shot on a playground in 2013. Her friends chose to wear orange as it is the color hunters use for safety in the woods. Over time, these observances have evolved into national movements dedicated to honoring those affected by gun violence across America.
“Gun violence is wreaking havoc on our communities across the country, with nearly 17,000 people dying last year due to guns,” stated Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “This is a crisis that does not discriminate and has impacted every person, from every walk of life in some way. We deserve more; we deserve to feel safe in our communities and live free from the worry that we or someone we love will be senselessly killed due to gun violence. We have the power to end this epidemic and that is with common sense gun laws. The Board of Commissioners is proud to stand with Moms Demand Action to create the safer future that we know is possible.”
For photos related to the event, click here.
