By Amanda Moses
June is gun violence awareness month during which thousands wear the color orange to remember those lost in senseless shootings. According to the organization, Wear Orange, more than 43,000 Americans are killed by a gun while 76,000 more have been shot every year.
The act of wearing orange has become a symbol of defiance that was developed in 2013, shortly after 16-year-old Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Barack Obama’s second inaugural parade. It was one week after the parade on January 21, 2013, when Pendleton was simply hanging out in a Chicago playground when she was tragically shot and killed. To honor her memory, Pendleton’s friends wore orange—a color hunters wear when out in the woods to protect themselves from being shot.
In light of the pervasive effect gun violence has on New York City, specifically high-risk zones in Brooklyn, staff and teachers at Abe Stark Primary School 346 (PS 346) decided to spend an afternoon educating students regarding anti-gun violence programs and measures through a schoolwide walk on June 2nd.
“Unfortunately, a large percentage of our parent population has been effected by gun violence, so we found this march necessary so that we can raise awareness and hopefully convince our elected officials to pass more stringent gun laws,” Principal Jabari Edwards explained.
While gun violence is a mature issue for children in pre-k to fifth grade to comprehend, it is unfortunate that many of them are also already well-acquainted with the devastation left behind in its wake. Whether that is through facing gun violence that plagues areas in Brooklyn such as East New York, Canarsie, Brownsville, Bedford Stuyvesant and more, or through continued preparedness that schools must undertake during mass shooter lockdown measures due to the world as it is.
The schoolwide walk took place at 9 am on June 2nd and saw children in every grade don orange clothing and march throughout their playground chanting, “Stop the gun violence” and “Enough is Enough,” while holding up signs calling for gun safety.
“No more silence, gun violence should be over,” Isadora, 9, said, adding that she is proud to spread awareness on this issue, but also saddened by those who have been affected by gun violence.
After the march, students held their signs high for photos heading back to their classrooms where they discussed the importance of this issue, something Principal Edwards hopes will serve them well on their journey to adulthood and perhaps inspire them to become law makers.
Photos by Amanda Moses
