Pasadena Joins National ‘Wear Orange’ Campaign Against Gun Violence

The City of Pasadena this week joined communities across the country in observing National Gun Violence Awareness Day, issuing an official proclamation and partnering with local organizations to honor lives lost and promote public safety.

The proclamation, read during the June 3 Pasadena City Council meeting, supports the national “Wear Orange” campaign, which began after the 2013 shooting death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton in Chicago. The movement uses the color orange—worn by hunters to protect themselves from gunfire—as a unifying symbol for those advocating to end gun violence.

Jennifer Colby, Public Information Coordinator for the City of Pasadena, said the city’s efforts are focused on “awareness, prevention, and support.”

“We want to empower residents with resources and information,” Colby said, standing with employees at the Jackie Robinson Community Center on Friday. “This is about community engagement and remembrance, but also about moving forward toward safer neighborhoods.”

The weekend’s activities include free distribution of orange ribbons, stickers, and gun violence prevention materials at four city facilities: Robinson Park Recreation Center, Jackie Robinson Community Center, Victory Park Recreation Center, and Villa Parke Community Center. A memorial banner at Robinson Park invites residents to write the names of friends and family lost to gun violence.

The nonprofit Day One accepted the city’s proclamation and is coordinating the local Wear Orange campaign alongside more than 50 community partners.

Natalie Salazar, Board Chair of Day One and Executive Director of Los Angeles Crime Stoppers, said, “We stand in solidarity with cities across the nation as we remember those taken by gun violence.”

Despite public support for stricter gun laws, significant federal legislation remains unlikely.

A 2024 Gallup poll found that 56% of Americans support stricter gun laws, but bipartisan efforts in Congress have repeatedly stalled. Recent measures such as expanded background checks and federal red flag laws have failed to advance, leaving cities to address gun violence through local initiatives.

In his remarks at Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Victor Gordo acknowledged the urgency of local action. “Gun violence affects all of us,” he said. “And while we may not have all the tools we need at the federal level, we can do our part here.”

Pasadena has officially recognized National Gun Violence Awareness Day for the past several years. City leaders say they remain committed to expanding education, outreach, and prevention efforts—especially in the absence of broader legislative solutions.