With the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting approaching next week, a group of protesters gathered in Boston Common Saturday afternoon to advocate for stricter gun legislation, chanting, “No more silence, end gun violence.’’ Among those in attendance was Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans.

Organizers estimated the mass grew to about 200 people at the Boston Common Visitor Center just past noon, many wearing orange and wielding signs that read “Every town for gun safety,’’ and “We can end gun violence.’’ Organized by Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, an organization founded in response to the Sandy Hook school shooting that took place on Dec. 14, 2012, the rally aimed to honor the lives lost to gun violence and to draw attention to those who oppose current federal gun legislation.


“The gun lobby would like you to think we are part of a small group,’’ Sonya Yee Coleman, a volunteer with the organization, said at the start of the rally before the group honored the Sandy Hook victims in a moment of silence. “We are not.’’

Many in the crowd donned orange to represent the bright clothing worn by hunters — a sign of vulnerability that sends a ‘don’t shoot’ signal to others. Signs were held high in the air, some bearing the names of victims and others covered in orange stickers reading, “End gun violence.’’

Evans took his place before the crowd, using a megaphone to condemn mass shootings and other gun-related violence.

“It’s all because there’s way too many guns out,’’ he said, also noting that the Boston Police Department has recovered about 800 illegal firearms this year, and around 1,100 the year before.

The protesters snaked through the Common to the steps across from the State House, where they stopped to chant in front of the golden dome.

Ann Haaser, 62, of Newburyport, a member of the Massachusetts Moms Demand Action branch, marched in orange on Saturday “to let people know that there are many, many, many, of us that feel gun culture in this country has led to bad gun policy.’’ She said that she supports universal background checks for anyone wishing to purchase a gun, including online or private sales of firearms, on a federal level.


Some protesters, like David Kaplan, 39, and Jessica Kaplan, 38, of Arlington, brought along their families, stressing the importance changes in gun policy could have on their children and younger generations.

“I think there is a happy medium between what we have now and what the Second Amendment was referring to,’’ David Kaplan said as he pushed his two young children in a stroller along the walk. “I think the pendulum needs to swing back to the left.’’

Generally, Moms Demand Action opposes guns on school campuses and putting firearms in the hands of domestic abusers, while supporting universal background checks. While much of that work has been done in Massachusetts, the organization hopes to push the agenda on the national scale.

“We’ve rejected the gun lobby’s vision for our country,’’ Molly Malloy, the leader of Moms Demand Action’s Massachusetts chapter. “We are taking back our country.’’

Massachusetts State Representative David Linsky stood before the crowd on the State House steps, urging those present to vote with gun control legislation in mind. He told protesters to ask political candidates one question: “What will you do about gun violence in the United States of America?’’

While many were drawn to the event to remember the lives lost in Sandy Hook, others cited the day-to-day shootings that receive less attention, but still claim a significant number of lives.

“When you look at the statistics of what’s happened since San Bernardino, it’s astounding thee number of acts of gun violence that don’t get coverage.’’ Barry Katz, 58, of Belmont, said. For him, Saturday was a chance to organize on a grassroots level to draw attention.


Despite the recent increases in shootings, he’s optimistic that changes in gun legislation and a reduction in violence are possible.

“Crazier things have happened in this world,’’ he said.