Many Lexington citizens concerned about firearm related casualties are participating in “wear orange” activities this weekend. It’s in connection with National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
The “wear orange” movement came following the death of 15 year old Hadiya Pendleton in Chicago. Orange is the color hunters wear to protect themselves and it’s become a defining color for the gun violence prevention movement. McKayla Weaver is part of a newly formed Students Demand Action group in Lexington. “I’ve seen so many stories on the news of kids just like myself who are walking down the street and they got shot just by being innocent bystanders,” noted Weaver.
Several downtown sites including the Helix Garage and Triangle Park Fountain will be lit up orange this weekend. For the fifth year a peace walk will be held tomorrow downtown. Organizer Anita Franklin, who lost a son to gun violence, said hopefully more young people will be involved. “We’re just trying to build relationships. We want to engage and I think when you engage, it makes a livable community. People can prosper and thrive,” explained Franklin.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said neighbors have to get to know neighbors and police officers need to interact in the community. “You don’t necessarily have to wait until something happens or something big, let somebody know, ‘hey I see something and it doesn’t look right to me,” said Weathers.
The event in Duncan Park runs from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the peace walk scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
WEKU's Stu Johnson spoke with McKayla Weaver about Students Demand Action after the news conference.
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