GREENFIELD — The Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action plans to bring attention to gun violence with a vigil Friday from noon to 1 p.m. on the Greenfield Common as part of the national observance of Wear Orange weekend.
In addition, “Wear Orange: An Art Exhibit,” featuring over 50 artists — including 17 survivors of gun violence — will be held in Easthampton.
Orange has been the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement nationwide. It started because 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 Barack Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013.
“Our nation’s gun homicide rate is more than 25 times the average of other developed countries. It doesn’t have to be this way. Wearing orange isn’t about the ‘gun debate’ or ‘choosing a side’ — it’s about ending gun violence and saving lives,” Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts said in a prepared statement. The group is the nation’s largest grassroots volunteer network working to end gun violence, with chapters in every state of the country.
Kathy O’Rourke, the primary organizer for the Greenfield vigil, said she first joined Moms Demand Action after learning about the annual Wear Orange campaign. O’Rourke, a retired teacher who worked at Whately Elementary School for 20 years and in New Jersey before that, said the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn. in 2012 was an incident that pushed her to get involved with Everytown for Gun Safety, a larger organization that Moms Demand Action is a part of.
She also referenced a 2011 shooting in Arizona, where U.S. Rep.Gabby Giffords and 18 others were shot during a constituent meeting held in a supermarket parking lot. Six people died, including federal District Court Chief Judge John Roll; Gabe Zimmerman, one of Giffords’ staffers; and a 9-year-old girl, Christina-Taylor Green.
“It’s just been too much,” O’Rourke said. “It gets to a point where you just need to do something, and I couldn’t sit by and watch things happen. As an elementary school teacher, Newtown was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I couldn’t take it.”
On Friday, residents are encouraged to stop by the Greenfield Common to learn about Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. O’Rourke said the group is not “anti-Second Amendment” or anti-gun ownership, but supports legislation that promotes gun safety and safer communities. This could include legislation promoting further background check requirements for gun sales.
“Wear Orange is one specific part of ‘Moms’” O’Rourke said. “It’s an opportunity to recognize victims of gun violence from the past year.”
Additionally, “Wear Orange: An Art Exhibit” on the website of Easthampton City Arts at easthamptoncityarts/wearorange, began Tuesday and will continue through the summer months, according to an announcement from organizer Doris Madsen. In conjunction with the virtual gallery, a window display will be held the entire month of June at 40 Cottage St. in Easthampton featuring selected work from the virtual exhibit. The Ethnic Study, located at 222 Worthington St. in Springfield, will host a slideshow of the exhibit on June 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action is using artistic expression as the platform to celebrate individual and community resiliency in the face of gun violence. This exhibit and others, as well as commentary from politicians and community partners, will be shown on the statewide Wear Orange website at wearorangesummerjam.com starting at noon on Saturday.
The virtual art exhibit also marks the national observance of Wear Orange 2021 from June 4 through June 6. Building on the color orange theme, the tower of Old Town Hall at 43 Main St. in Easthampton and Holyoke City Hall will be lit orange.
“Wear Orange: An Art Exhibit” is supported by the Easthampton Cultural Council, Springfield Cultural Council, Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action in partnership with Easthampton City Arts.
For more information or to get involved, visit momsdemandaction.org.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.