Rep. Kelly, Senators Durbin, Duckworth Honor Hadiya Pendleton, Gun Violence Survivors with Wear Orange Resolution

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Business

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Wear Orange Resolution, designating June 6 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The Resolution honors Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in Chicago on Jan. 29, 2013, just one week after she performed in President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Her family and friends started the Wear Orange movement to raise awareness of the 46,000 people who die due to gun violence every year in the U.S. “Think about this for a moment—guns are now the number one killer of America’s children. And one in five Americans now say they’ve lost a loved one to gun violence,” said Durbin.  “Our country’s gun violence epidemic is simply unacceptable. Hadiya Pendleton was only 15 years old when she was senselessly shot and killed in Chicago. On what would have been—should have been—her 28th birthday, I will proudly ‘Wear Orange’ as a sign of my dedication to finally putting an end to this public health crisis.” Kelly has introduced the Wear Orange Resolution every year after June 2, 2015, on what would have been Pendleton’s 18th birthday. June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month as gun violence spikes at the start of summer. “During this year’s Gun Violence Awareness Month, we must not only honor the victims of gun violence in Chicago and throughout our country, but we must also recommit to taking action that will help keep our children and our communities safe. American families depend on it,” said Duckworth.

Comments are closed.