Governor Malloy Declares “Gun Violence Awareness Day”
For Immediate Release
May 27, 2016
Contact:
Connecticut Against Gun Violence:
Ron Pinciaro
203-955-1009 (Office); 203-895-0651 (Mobile)
Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence/The Brady Campaign Southwestern CT Chapter:
Jonathan Perloe
GreenwichCAGV@icloud.com, BradySWCT@bradymail.org
203-249-7027
Moms Demand Action, CT Chapter:
Kara Fitzgerald
203-733-6506
kfitzgerald@everytown.org
Newtown Action Alliance:
John Kelley
jkelley@newtownaction.org
917-679-6475
Sandy Hook Promise:
Dini von Mueffling Communications
Stephanie Morris
Stephanie@h-vm.com
646-650-5005
Under The Gun:
Lionsgate
Kathryn Clarkson
kclarkson@lionsgate.com
Governor Dannel P. Malloy Joins the “Wear Orange” Campaign and Proclaims June 2, 2016, Gun Violence Awareness Day in the State of Connecticut
First Selectwoman Patricia Llodra Also Proclaims June 2, 2016, Gun Violence Awareness Day in the Town of Newtown, Connecticut
Connecticut Gun Violence Prevention Coalition Joins More Than 300 Partners, Influencers, Landmarks and Elected Officials Already Confirmed to Wear Orange on June 2 in Support of an America Free from Gun Violence
Coalition to Turn Newtown Orange with an Orange Walk, Rally and Screening of “Under the Gun” Documentary Film
Newtown, CT-This week, Governor Dannel P. Malloy joined the “Wear Orange” campaign (www.WearOrange.org) by issuing a proclamation that June 2, 2016 will be “Gun Violence Awareness Day” in the State of Connecticut. “Wear Orange” campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day was inspired by Chicago teens who refused to be silent in the face of daily gun violence.
Thursday, June 2, 2016 marks the 2nd Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Newtown Action Alliance, Sandy Hook Promise, Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence, and the Brady Campaign Southwestern CT Chapter will be joining the national #WearOrange campaign by turning Newtown orange to honor and remember all victims of gun violence.
• Nearly 150 family members of gun violence, gun violence prevention advocates and community leaders will be wearing orange and participating in the Orange Walk from Fairfield Hills to Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT at 6:00 PM.
• The following speakers are lined up for the Orange Rally to be held at Edmond Town Hall after the Orange Walk: Pat Llodra, First Selectwoman of Newtown; Ron Pinciaro, Executive Director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence; Abbey Clements, Survivor Engagement Lead, Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, CT Chapter; Po Murray, Chairman of Newtown Action Alliance; Nicole Hockley, Founder and Managing Director of Sandy Hook Promise; Tom Campbell, Family of Victim of Gun Violence; and Reverend Matt Crebbin from the Newtown Congregational Church.
• Following the Orange Walk and Rally, there will be a free 8:00 PM screening of Katie Couric and Stephanie Soechtig’s documentary, critically acclaimed”Under the Gun” at the Danbury AMC Loews Theater. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion with the producer, Kristen Lazure, Mark and Jackie Barden (who lost their son, Daniel on 12/14) and other staff from Sandy Hook Promise. Registration for the screening: https://danburyunderthegun.eventbrite.com
• Simultaneously, at the Connecticut Democrats Progress Dinner, advocates will offer orange ribbons and copies of the Governor’s proclamation to each of the more than 1,000 guests attending the dinner.
Gov. Malloy CT Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation
Anyone interested in participating in Turning Newtown Orange should go to bit.ly/NewtownOrange to sign up.
The following are statements from the leaders of the Connecticut Gun Violence Coalition:
• Ron Pinciaro, Executive Director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence: CT will never forget. We will be Wearing Orange on June 2nd to remind everyone that what the gun industry is doing has dire social consequences. We will not rest until the senseless shooting is stopped.
• Abbey Clements, Survivor Engagement Lead, Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, CT Chapter: “As coalition partners, artists, cultural, influencers, city officials, mayors, law enforcement, faith leaders, survivors, teachers, moms, and other advocates in cities all over the country from Los Angeles to New Orleans to Chicago, we are coming together to inspire hope—that we can create a future free from gun violence.”
• Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance: “We are proud to participate in the #WearOrange campaign to honor and remember all the victims and survivors of gun violence in our nation. Over 100,000 Americans have been killed by guns and over 250,000 Americans have been injured by guns since the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Newtown is moving forward but Newtown has not moved on. We must continue to shed a light on the epidemic of gun violence in our nation to engage more Americans to make gun violence prevention a priority.”
• Nicole Hockley, Founder and Managing Director of Sandy Hook Promise: “We are honored to participate in Newtown’s #WearOrange walk. It’s so easy to get involved and show the country how many people really care about reducing gun violence and protecting our kids. To have one day that recognizes all of the lives that are lost every year, every day, to gun violence helps us all reaffirm the right we have to life.”
• Jonathan Perloe, Leader of Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence and President of the Brady Campaign Southwestern CT Chapter: “The #WearOrange campaign is an example of how ordinary citizens working together can lead to extraordinary change for good of our country. Even if you can’t join us in Newtown, please wear something orange on June 2, share a selfie on social media and know that you’re making a difference.”
• Stephanie Soechtig, director of Under the Gun: “As a native of Brookfield, CT, I was profoundly impacted by the shooting in neighboring Newtown in 2012. I sincerely hope Under the Gun’s June 2nd screening will help spark a meaningful dialogue about gun violence in our country. Let’s fill the theater with #WearOrange!”
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CT Against Gun Violence is a statewide gun violence prevention group whose mission is to reduce gun violence through education and legislative advocacy. www.cagv.org.
The Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence is a local grassroots organization of concerned residents from Greenwich, CT. Our mission is to join hands with others to work for common-sense state and federal regulation of firearms to help reduce gun violence.
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America–Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and, along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the Everytown Survivor Network, it is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than three million members and more than 100,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand
The Newtown Action Alliance (www.newtownaction.org) is a grassroots organization formed after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It works to make America’s children, families, and all citizens safer through legislative and cultural change that will reduce gun violence.
About Sandy Hook Promise – Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national, nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. We are led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 that claimed the lives of 20 first-graders and 6 educators. Sandy Hook Promise is focused on preventing gun violence (and all violence) BEFORE it happens by educating and mobilizing parents, schools and communities on mental health and wellness programs that identify, intervene and help at-risk individuals. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible non-policy and policy solutions that protect children and prevent gun violence. Our intent is to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org.
About Under The Gun:
From award winning journalist / bestselling author Katie Couric and director Stephanie Soechtig comes, UNDER THE GUN, a critically acclaimed, stirring and insightful film about America’s love-hate affair with guns. Couric and Soechtig—the team responsible for Fed Up, which looked at the food industry and the alarming spread of childhood obesity—examine why, despite the increase in deaths at the hands of guns and the outpouring of shock and outrage that comes with it, our nation has failed to respond with meaningful action. The Epix Original Documentary, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, followed by a limited theatrical release, will be available on Digital HD and On Demand on May 31 from Lionsgate. Learn more at www.underthegunmovie.com
About Wear Orange–In 2013, a small group of teens at a South Side Chicago high school asked their classmates to honor the life of their murdered friend Hadiya Pendleton by wearing orange – the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others and a color that reflects the value of human life. They inspired the Wear Orange campaign (wearorange.org), a coalition of more than 200 non-profits, cultural influencers and elected officials working to reduce gun violence in America. Spearheaded by Everytown for Gun Safety, the campaign asks Americans who believe we can do more to save lives from gun violence to do one simple thing on June 2, National Gun Violence Awareness Day: Wear Orange. Those who wear orange pledge to honor the lives of Americans stolen by gun violence, to help keep firearms out of dangerous hands and to protect our children from gun violence. Wear Orange has already reached more than 220 million people worldwide and is fast becoming the symbol of the gun violence prevention movement.