Gun control advocates are wearing orange on Thursday to participate in National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the movement has made its way to Florida.
June 2 is the second anniversary of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
The Wear Orange Campaign was inspired by the friends of a 15-year-old Chicago high school student killed by gunfire in 2013 after performing in Barack Obama’s inauguration celebration.
The girl’s friends said they are honoring her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.
Since last year, the Wear Orange campaign has spread nationwide, with many celebrities and politicians donning orange clothing to speak out against gun violence. President Barack Obama participated in the movement last year and former Secretary of State and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton wore orange this year.
In Florida, many mayors pledged their participation in the #WearOrange movement. Mayors Rick Kriseman (St. Petersburg), Oliver Gilbert (Miami Gardens) and Tomás Pedro Regalado (Miami) were just some who pledged to wear orange on Thursday.
In addition to pledges from mayors, key Florida landmarks will be turning orange to support the movement. The 110 Tower in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando’s Amway Spire and the Miami Tower in Miami will turn orange this month to remember those who have lost their lives due to gun violence.
Nationwide, over 75 other prominent landmarks like the Empire State Building will also turn orange.
Gun safety group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America participated in several rallies and meet-ups Thursday to speak out on gun violence in the U.S. Rallies were held in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Plantation, and St. Petersburg.
For the group’s founders, the growth of the movement has been inspiring in their fight to end gun violence.
“I never dreamed something my friends and I came up with would inspire and empower so many people all over the country to get involved in ending gun violence,” said Nza-Ari Khepra, founder of Project Orange Tree and co-creator of Wear Orange. “Seeing the movement grow in states across the country and learning about all of the activity happening on June 2 this year brings me hope that we are making real progress to end gun violence.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
