Pasadena to Declare June 6 National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Pasadena City Council plans to issue a proclamation declaring June 6, 2025, National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Pasadena at their June 2 meeting. The annual observance honors victims and survivors of gun violence while supporting prevention efforts across the community.

“Gun violence touches every segment of our society and impacts people of all ages; it increases the probability of death in incidents of domestic violence; raises the likelihood of fatalities by those who intend to injure others, and among those who attempt suicide; it places children and young people at increased risk of physical harm and injury; and disproportionately affects communities of color,” reads the language from Pasadena’s annual proclamations.

Day One, a community-based nonprofit organization with a 38-year history of providing effective, high quality and culturally sensitive public health education, empowering youth, and igniting change in the San Gabriel Valley, will receive the proclamation. The public is encouraged to watch the council meeting online or on KPAS TV.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day kicks off Wear Orange Weekend, running June 6-8. The observance honors Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old who performed at President Obama’s second inauguration parade on January 21, 2013. One week later, she was shot and killed on a Chicago playground. Her friends began wearing orange—the color hunters use for safety—to commemorate her life and raise awareness about gun violence.

The city encourages community members to wear orange during the weekend and share photos on social media using the hashtag #WearOrange. City employees and Pasadena police officers will wear orange ribbons on Friday, June 6.

A “remembering those lost to gun violence” banner will be installed outside Robinson Park Recreation Center for visitors to add names of loved ones. Free orange ribbons, stickers and informational pamphlets will be distributed on June 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at four locations: Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.; Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.; Victory Park Recreation Center, 2575 Paloma St.; and Villa Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa St.

Day One will hold a Safe Home component at the monthly Dena Home Market on Sunday, June 1 from 1-4 p.m. at 175 N. Euclid Ave. Staff will distribute gun safety locks, engage in community conversation, and share gun safety best practices with the public.

The proclamation comes amid sobering national statistics. Every day, 125 people in the United States are killed with guns, while more than 200 are shot and wounded, according to current research from Everytown for Gun Safety. These figures underscore the ongoing public health crisis that communities like Pasadena work to address through awareness campaigns and prevention efforts.

Pasadena has issued these annual proclamations consistently since at least 2020, demonstrating the city’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness about gun violence prevention. The public is encouraged to watch the June 2 council meeting online or on KPAS TV.