Contact: Jeri Bonavia: 414-510-7594 or Anneliese Dickman: 414-915-7785

Turning Wisconsin Orange to Help End Gun Violence

Every year, more than 100,000 men, women and children are shot in our country. In Wisconsin and across America, gun violence has devastated families and terrorized whole communities.

“At a time when our children are asking, ‘Am I next?’ it has never been more important for us to come together to demand real solutions,” said Jeri Bonavia, executive director of WAVE Educational Fund. “Our rally will be one of many from around the state and country during Wear Orange weekend, where caring citizens are joining together to send an urgent and powerful message: We can, and we will end gun violence.”

Anneliese Dickman, WAVE’s communication director added, “We hope everyone in the community participates by wearing orange and by attending our kick-off rally on Thursday or one of the other events happening over the coming days.”

Information about Wisconsin’s National Gun Violence Prevention Awareness events can be found at www.WaveEdFund.org.

WHAT:  National Gun Violence Prevention Rally and Wear Orange Kick Off

WHEN: Thursday, May 31 – 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

WHERE: O’Donnell Park, 941 E Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

SPEAKERS:

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Alex Lasry, Milwaukee Bucks Senior Vice President

Reggie Moore, City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention

Tatiana Washington, Rufus King International High School student, 50 Miles More

Kelly Ward, 2018 UW-Madison Alum, End Gun Violence Waukesha

Marvell Reed, Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education student, March for Our Lives: Milwaukee

Maddie Arneson, Oconomowoc High School student

Ravina Sachdev, Brookfield Central High School student

Dr. Tony Paparo, Survivor, Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee

Khary Penebaker, Everytown Survivors Network

Jeri Bonavia, Executive Director, WAVE Educational Fund

 

Spoken word performance: “Enough” Alemitu Caldart, Selame Caldart, and Hiwot Schultz, 50 Miles More student activists

BUILDINGS TURNING ORANGE:

At night, buildings and signs across the country will be going orange, too. Here in Wisconsin, many places, including Miller Park, the Mitchell Park Domes and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Sports Science Center will help turn the night sky orange.

MORE INFORMATION:

In 2013, teenagers in Chicago asked classmates to honor their murdered friend, Hadiya Pendleton, by wearing her favorite color, orange. That simple action has grown into National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

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