“No more silence, let's end gun violence!”
With one of the most iconic places in the world as a backdrop, the campaign "Dress in orange» gathered and cheered on the Golden Gate Bridge to draw attention to one of the country's most pressing problems: gun violence.
Early on Sunday, June 4, Bay Area residents, state and local leaders, along with gun violence survivors and student leaders, rallied and peacefully marched across the Golden Gate Bridge to advocate for gun safety and an end to gun violence.
A crowd of 600 people first gathered at Vista Point on the Marin side of the bridge and were greeted by speakers who spoke about the urgency of the gun violence crisis. According to the organization Gun Violence Archive, 18,192 people have died from gun violence as of June 4, 2023, and there have been 276 mass shooting incidents recorded nationwide in just 155 days in 2023.
Christopher Colwell, chief of emergency medicine at Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco, spoke to the crowd with a doctor's urgency about what many consider a national epidemic.
“Gun violence affects us all, and we need to demand action. My colleagues and I see the horrific effects of gun violence all too often every week, even every day,” Colwell said.
Keynote speaker Mattie Scott works tirelessly against gun violence as the founder and executive Director of Healing 4 Our Families & Our Nation, leader of the San Francisco section of Mothers-in-Charge and president for California Brady UnitedScott spoke passionately from the perspective of having lost his son, George, to gun violence.
"This epidemic is out of control. I am ashamed of our nation because we are failing to protect our children. I am doing this work for you, for all of us," Scott said.
"I want young people to know that they have the power to stop violence. At the ballot box. Through their voices. And in unity," Scott said.
Scott's messages resonated with the crowd, which was filled with a sea of signs and banners. "Common Sense Gun Laws Now," "We Can End Gun Violence!" and "We Don't Have to Live Like This."
Following the speeches, protesters carried their anti-gun violence signs across the bridge. On a cool, clear day with beautiful views of the Marin Headlands and San Francisco, it was hard not to notice the hundreds of orange-clad protesters, receiving supportive honks from passing traffic.
The Golden Gate Bridge event was hosted by volunteers from the California Chapter of Students Demand Action, in collaboration with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, part of Wear Orange Weekend and National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Every year between June 2-4, communities across the United States dress in orange and participate in events during Wear Orange Weekend.
Wear Orange was born in June 2015, after fifteen-year-old Hadiya Pendelton was tragically shot and killed at a Chicago playground. Since then, Wear Orange has continued to work to remember Hadiya and the people across the country who are affected daily by gun violence.
In the wake of school shootings like the one in Uvalde, students across the country are leading efforts to draw attention to what they see as a national crisis.
Students like Alexander Ibarra helped organize the demonstration against gun violence and has already taken the floor
Student speaker Alexander Ibarra was involved in Student Demand Action after the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, a year ago. She found a local chapter to get involved and now leads awareness-raising initiatives such as the “Wear Orange” event.
"It's important to be here today because too many children have died because of this. There is too much blood on the hands of our politicians. It's important that we speak out because we are the future," Ibarra said.
Elected officials and representatives from numerous groups joined to speak, including: Betty Yee, former California State Comptroller and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party; Catherine Stefani, SF County Supervisor D2; Arthur Renowitzky, gun violence survivor and CEO of Life Goes On Foundation; Rudy Corpuz, United Playaz; and Rudy Espinoza, Mothers Demand Action.
In attendance were members of the Soul Box Project, which encourages activism through art. Lisa Dell'Anno, a member of the project, explained: "This project started three years ago as an art and activism project that encourages people to fold boxes in memory of people killed and injured by gun violence."
“The initial idea was to display on the National Mall the lives lost to gun violence over three years. That goal was achieved, but the project continues to personalize the lives lost, remembering that each person killed by firearms is more than just a statistic. The 120 boxes in our backpacks today represent the number of gun deaths that occur every day in this country,” Dell'Anno added.
High school teacher Matt Mattoon came from Pittsburgh with his family. Mattoon, a high school teacher, said his students are disheartened and need a way to act.
Liz Russell, who is a volunteer with Napa Valley Moms Lawsuit Action, spoke about what he believes we can all do.
“Too many people are dying from gun violence, and it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s a national epidemic. A public health crisis. There are steps we can all take. Cross this bridge, volunteer at a local violence intervention program, vote. All of these actions can really help make a difference,” Russell said.
At the rally on the Golden Gate Bridge on June 4, 2023, hundreds of Bay Area community members made clear their passion for taking action.
You may be interested in: California Launches GunSafety.ca.gov Website for Anti-Gun Violence Resources
