Gun violence awareness event is Thursday in Iowa City

IOWA CITY — Go orange.

That's the message organizers of a National Gun Violence Awareness Day are spreading in advance of an event scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday on the Ped Mall in Iowa City.

The Wear Orange Campaign is not a protest or rally, but rather a way to spread awareness about gun violence.

The campaign was created in 2013 by teenagers at a South Side Chicago high school after their friend, Hadiya Pendleton, was killed in gun violence. They chose the color orange to mimic the reflective vests hunters often wear to protect themselves.

The public is encouraged to dress in orange for Thursday's event, which includes speeches from North Liberty Mayor Amy Nielsen and a member of the Iowa City Council. Officials in both cities have proclaimed June 2 as Gun Violence Awareness Day.

The event also features activities for children, including sidewalk chalk, orange Popsicles and bubbles.

A photo booth is also being set up at the event. Attendees are encouraged to partake in the national campaign by taking their photo and posting it on social media using #WearOrange, said Rebecca Truszkowski, lead for the Iowa City/Coralville chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

'We just want to raise awareness on the horrible problem of gun violence,' Truszkowski said.

This is the second annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Last year, the event gained major momentum after several gun violence prevention groups teamed up to reach up to 220 million people on social media, Truszkowski said. Major political figures and celebrities, such as President Barack Obama and Julianne Moore, posted their support online.

This year, major landmarks like Niagra Falls and the Empire State Building are to be lit up with orange lights to show support.

For more information on the Wear Orange Campaign, visit wearorange.org.