Americans would be encouraged to wear orange June 2nd – the late Hadiya Pendleton’s 19th birthday – to help stop gun violence in our communities

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 26, 2016. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) this morning in introducing a resolution in the House and Senate designating June, when gun violence rates often increase, as the National Gun Violence Awareness Month and establishing June 2nd – the birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed in a Chicago park at the age of 15 – as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This resolution, which is cosponsored by 15 Senators and 10 Members of the House, aims to honor the more than 90 men, women and children lost to gun violence each day in America and bring attention to an issue that is tearing apart communities nationwide.

“Hunters already know that orange means ‘don’t shoot,’ but it’s time to bring that knowledge to the rest of our country,” said Congresswoman Duckworth.“I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Kelly to help turn orange into a universal symbol of hope and of our commitment to protecting children from senseless gun violence. I hope Americans around the country will do their part on June 2nd by wearing something orange to honor those we’ve lost and bring attention to this nationwide crisis.”

Duckworth also joined Congresswoman Kelly on a gun violence prevention tour in Chicago last month to help launch Kelly’s new UP (Urban Progress) Initiative to reduce gun violence, improve communities and increase economic empowerment. The UP Initiative builds on the recommendations made in Congresswoman Kelly’s 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, focusing on education, mentoring and community development for young people, lifting the ban on federal research on gun violence, improving community relations with police officers, reauthorizing the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, establishing universal background checks for gun purchasers and promoting sustainable economic development. A photo of the Congresswoman at the launch event is available here.

Source: http://www.duckworth.house.gov