By Fletcher Word
The Truth Editor
June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the first Friday of the month (National Gun Violence Awareness Day) is the traditional kick off to the month.
In Toledo, residents held a commemoration at the Peace and Healing Commons on Friday, June 5, to recognize the day as one of “healing, hope and a commitment to building peace together,” said Councilwoman Erin Kramer, the organizer of this year’s ceremony. The various groups in attendance, said Kramer, plan to use the month to “Recommit ourselves to building a safer Toledo for everyone.”
The day originated in memory of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student who was shot and killed on a playground just one week after performing in President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. Friends and advocates began wearing orange, the color hunters wear to protect themselves and others, to honor her life.
The first official Wear Orange event took place on June 2, 2015, which would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday. Today, National Gun Violence Awareness Day marks the start of Wear Orange Weekend, a nationwide series of events and activities.
Among the groups represented on the Peace and Healing Commons at the first Friday event in the effort to raise awareness of gun violence were: Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Sisters for Unity; the Multifaith Coalition to Reduce Gun Violence; Save Our Community, along with City Council President Vanice Williams and Councilman George Sarantou.
“I am a survivor,” said Sherin Henley of Moms Demand Action. Henley lost her son when he was 20 years old and tried to prevent gun violence in his neighborhood.
“This is an epidemic,” said Henley of urban gun violence around the nation. “The point is to make a difference.”
Aviance Hill, one of the founders of Sisters for Unity, spoke of her organization’s work with survivors and the partnerships they have created around the city to ensure that there are services provided for survivors of gun violence.
“Nobody is coming to save us,” said Williams. “Not the feds and not the state. As a community this is a call to action for the whole community and we have to save ourselves.” Williams noted that the peak of homicides in 2021 was 70 for the city and now it has been cut in half, “but there is a long way to go.”
Rev. Meribah Mansfield, deacon at Trinity Episcopal Church, represented the Multifaith Coalition and spoke of the upcoming events in June, and the rest of the summer, that are designed to decrease gun violence. Those remaining events are:
– Unwanted Firearms Disposal on Saturday, June 13, at Monroe Street United Methodist Church (safe way to dispose of unwanted firearms in a secure, drive-through setting);
–Thursday, June 18, 5:30 p.m. Gun Violence Awareness panel at the
downtown library, 325 N. Michigan St., featuring speakers about the
impacts of gun violence and how to get involved to be a part of the
solution. All are welcome.
–Thursday, July 2, 2:00-6:00 p.m. *Cease Fire event at the Glass City Picnic
Pavilion. This community barbeque is being planned by the City’s Save Our
Community team to encourage no shots fired for 48 hours after the event. It
is based on an event done in Baltimore, where shots decreased by 47% when
they promoted the Cease Fire event.
— June 16-August 5, 1:00-3:00 p.m. City pool barbeques *will be sponsored by
Save Our Community, with help from Ohio Moms Demand Action. To volunteer,
contact Moms Demand Action Toledo Lead Donna Malone at
donna.malone.oh@gmail.com.
The pool barbecues are:
June 16th, 1pm – 3pm Willys Park
July 8th, 1pm – 3pm Pickford Park
July 10th, 1pm – 3pm Willys Park
July 13th, 1pm to 3pm Wilson Park
July 23rd, 1pm – 3pm Navarre Park
July 28th, 1pm – 3pm Roosevelt Park
August 5th, 1pm-3pm Jamie Farr