This weekend marks National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend. On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in South Florida to raise awareness and demand change on gun laws.
Family members of victims of recent gun violence were also in attendance to spread awareness. Their voices were heard in events held across the country and in Miami-Dade and Parkland.
This weekend has been designated as “wear orange” weekend in the U.S. to honor the victims of gun violence. Hundreds of people showed up to Pine Trails Park in Parkland, where music was played, pictures were painted and families came together to ask for change related to gun violence.
“I’m a mom. I have a two-year-old and a four-year-old and that’s why I’m doing this. One day, they’re going to go to school and I want to be able to say, when I drop my kids off at school, that they’re going to come home,” said Jennifer Rosenberg, an activist.
Parents and loved ones of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, like Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was killed during the shooting, are particularly driven to fight for the cause, which hits close to home.
Meanwhile, during the “wear orange” event in Miami, the mother of a Pulse Nightclub shooting victim is adamant that though more stringent gun laws would not necessarily be followed by perpetrators, action needs to be taken.
“Right now, it is extremely easy to get a gun. Why are we making it so easy?” said Maria Wright.
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“We support gun sense laws. We absolutely do not want to take away the second amendment rights. We don’t want to take away people’s guns but we do want to end gun violence,” said Jessica Rieckhoff, an activist.
Moms Demand Action created a questionnaire that politicians, both federal and state, can request, fill out and based on their answers, be granted what they call a “Gun Sense Candidate” seal.
