As part of his continued commitment to end gun violence in Buffalo and in cities across the country, Mayor Byron W. Brown is joining City residents and a coalition comprised of local organizations with a long history of standing against violence, including representatives from New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, The Stop the Violence Coalition and Moms Demand Action, in recognizing June 2nd as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Mayor Brown called on residents to wear orange this weekend in solidarity, a color that correlates with hunters wearing orange to protect themselves from harm. He also issued a proclamation, declaring June 2, 2018 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Buffalo.
Mayor Brown stated, "Every shooting affects the lives of a countless number of people and today we reaffirm our message that enough is enough. We must stand against gun violence in every form. Our schools, our streets, our public places, our homes should no longer be subject to violence which is becoming all too common. I am proud to join with my colleagues in government, community members and anti-violence advocates to continue to raise awareness about gun violence prevention on National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Buffalo.”
Paul McQuillen, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Upstate Coordinator, stated, “New Yorkers Against Gun Violence once again commends Mayor Brown and the city of Buffalo for its recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Month, recognized all across the country. National Gun Violence Awareness Day/Month is an effort to recognize and refocus the need for stronger gun laws locally and across the nation. We are privileged in NYS to have some of the toughest gun laws in the nation; however these alone cannot protect our children and our students from easy access to guns in other states which then cross borders and kill and maim our children. We need real gun reform legislation in America! We call on Congress to enact universal background checks; a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines; Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation; stronger sentences for illegal gun use and sales; and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns. These are not unreasonable measures to secure the safety of our homes, schools and communities."
Wear Orange Weekend starts on June 1st, when people in Buffalo and in cities all over the country will show their support for gun violence prevention online and on the ground. 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 2nd inaugural parade in 2013. Since then orange has been the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement.
Meghan Connors, Local Group Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, stated “The theme of Wear Orange 2018 is "Use Your Voice." Moms Demand Action believes that this is a moment for all Americans to come together and declare that we can--and we will--create a future free of gun violence.”
The Wear Orange Campaign in Buffalo will be quite visible as Mayor Brown lights the top of City Hall in orange on June 1st and 2nd, and calls on Buffalo’s other iconic buildings and structures to light in the same color as part of his BuffaloLIT initiative. BuffaloLIT (Landmark Illumination Team) is a collaborative lighting by a network of buildings/structures that illuminate in the same color on special occasions. On Friday, June 1st, Buffalo City Hall, The Peace Bridge, Iskalo Development’s Electric Tower, and other lighting partners, will light their structures in orange. To learn more about BuffaloLIT, go to www.buffalony.gov.