By CHRISTINA MERINO 

Long Beach observed National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 7. City leaders and community partners gathered at the Civic Center Plaza, and wore orange to raise awareness about gun violence.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is observed nationally on the first Friday in June, where supporters wear orange to honor the victims of gun violence.

The recognition originated in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago in 2013. In commemoration of her life, her childhood friends wore orange – the color hunters wear to protect themselves and others in the woods. Ever since 2015, which would have been Pendleton’s 18th birthday, #WearOrange has become a growing trend, as mass shootings continue to claim victims each year.

The event was hosted by Vice Mayor Cindy Allen’s office, and in attendance were Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach; Mayor Rex Richardson; Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie; City Manager Tom Modica; Long Beach Police and Fire departments; Department of Health and Human Services; Dignity Health St. Mary’s; and Long Beach MemorialCare.

Officials said that they stood in solidarity to not only raise awareness but also demand change, as gun violence takes over 120 lives and injures hundreds more daily and it has become the leading cause of death in children, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Gun violence is an issue that impacts not just Long Beach, but cities all across America and across California,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Here in Long Beach, we like to come out and acknowledge and do all that we can to bring all of our community together because even one incident of gun violence is too many.”

Richardson mentioned that the city recognized that these incidents of violence have a disproportionate impact on young people, particularly youth of color and low-income neighborhoods. He reiterated the city’s efforts to reduce gun violence and help communities have a safe and healthy summer through its STRONG Beach Initiative which was announced last week.

“Right now is the right time for everyone to come together and make a real statement around working together to end gun violence in our communities,” he said, “because it impacts all of us.”

Gun violence is a public health crisis, officials said. According to the CDC, the number of children and teens killed by firearms annually in the United States has increased 50% between 2019 and 2021 – and for every one of those lives lost, there are four that survived with injuries.

At Long Beach MemorialCare, Dr. Douglas Fraser, medical director for the Trauma Center, said that gun violence is a leading cause of preventable deaths that comes into their care. Fraser also shared the difficulty that comes with telling family or loved ones that their child has died as a result of gun violence.

“Your worst moment you’re having, that’s our every single day and we’re tired of it,” Fraser said. “So many other things that can hurt the human body but to have a senseless act of violence is something that we need as a community to do better. Talk to your children, talk to your loved ones, and express to them that it’s not worth it to use a gun. It can end a life.”

Read the article on Press-Telegram, here.