“I am a survivor, and although I am only 13 years old, I am determined now more than ever to do all I can to fight for change — our time is now... enough is enough... together we can make it happen.”

Those powerful words, delivered by former Sandy Hook Elementary School student Riley Deloughy, were among the many moving statements during a June 2 #WearOrange rally at Newtown Middle School hosted by Sandy Hook Promise and supported by Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Connecticut Teens Against Gun Violence, the Jr Newtown Action Alliance, the Connecticut Chapter of Moms Demand Action, Mothers United Against Violence, and the Newtown Action Alliance.

The roughly 45-minute rally, hastily announced around noon just two days earlier, nonetheless drew around 200 participants representing four generations, most wearing orange T-shirts, who listened to a speaking program before marching to St Rose of Lima Church chanting “not one more” and waving placards espousing support for commonsense gun safety initiatives.

The Connecticut coalition of gun violence prevention organizations came together to help raise awareness of the public health crisis of gun violence in America. The event officially kicked off the start of National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

The rally and march began with remarks from Newtown Selectman Dan Rosenthal, issuing a proclamation that declared June 2 as the fifth annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day and encouraging all citizens to #WearOrange “to honor all lives cut short by gun violence.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal then thanked the youth voices leading the movement to make America safer. “No neighborhood, no community is immune from gun violence. We’re building a movement that we know in Connecticut has results,” Sen Blumenthal said. “And for anybody who says that these laws have no effect, just come to Connecticut. We’ve reduced the number of homicides, reduced the number of gun deaths, because we have... laws that are just plain common sense. But our state borders are porous. We need national solutions. And we should be demanding them from Congress.”

Gun violence survivor Tara Gottlieb, whose parents were gunned down in a 2005 Fairfield jewelry store robbery gone bad, spoke emotionally on behalf of Moms Demand Action, noting “My child is three years old. She is more practiced in lockdown drills than in riding a bike.”

They were joined by Riley Deloughy and other gun violence survivors, including Henrietta Beckman from Mothers United Against Violence who lost her son Randy to gun violence in Hartford in 2002; and Mike Song, who’s son Ethan was killed in an accidental shooting in Guilford, inspiring recent namesake legislation already signed into law requiring gun owners to safely store untended firearms, whether loaded or unloaded.

The #WearOrange Campaign and National Gun Violence Awareness Day was inspired by Chicago teens who refused to be silent in the face of gun violence after their 15-year-old friend, Hadiya Pendleton, was killed by a stray bullet days after performing at President Obama’s second inauguration. June 2 was her birthday; they selected orange because it is the color used by hunters to protect themselves.

The rally was also punctuated with song, albeit sadly, as the sister and father of 12/14 victim Daniel Barden performed Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.” As Natalie Barden raised her voice into the cloudless blue sky, Mark strummed along as many in the audience visibly fought back or let tears flow freely.

Debra Davis, who accompanied Ms Beckman representing Mothers United Against Violence, was among several speakers who reflected on America’s most recent mass shooting, which occurred less than 48 hours earlier.

“Just recently in the City of Virginia Beach, hearts were praying with those around the country because we were once again struck by something that should not be,” Ms Davis said, punching her fist in the air. “Our children should be able to grow up... we have to end gun violence across the board because our communities are stricken on a day-to-day basis. This is a movement.”

Newtown resident Diane Sarna told The Newtown Bee, "I almost stayed away this year, but I will not lose hope. Hearing the brave voices of those who light the way makes me strong again. Being a mom and a teacher is so much harder now. I need all the “ORANGE” I can get. Walking alongside those from Hartford, Waterbury and Newtown at the March reminds me that we are ALL so greatly effected by gun violence. Together we are strong."

On June 5, Sen Blumenthal was back in Washington, infused by the energy from the Newtown rally, to join fellow lawmakers, including colleague Sen Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (Conn.-05), and US Representatives Mike Thompson (Calif.-05), Robin Kelly (Ill.-02), Ted Deutch (Fla.-22), and Lucy McBath (Ga.-06).

The officials organized a press conference marking June as Gun Violence Prevention Month and reiterating calls for a debate and vote on critical universal background checks legislation. Following a staggering 150 mass shootings just this year, including the latest one in Virginia Beach, the lawmakers marked 100 days since the House passed HR 8, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to put it on the Senate floor for a debate and vote.

The legislation expands federal background checks to the sale or transfer of all firearms by private sellers, with certain reasonable exceptions. In January 2019, Sen Murphy led 40 Senators in introducing the Senate counterpart bill, the Background Checks Expansion Act.

For more information about Sandy Hook Promise, visit sandyhookpromise.org or call 203-304-9780.

Learn more about Connecticut Against Gun Violence at cagv.org. Visit Newtown Action Alliance (NAA) and the youth-led Jr Newtown Action Alliance at alliance.newtownaction.org.

Visit The Newtown Bee's Facebook Page, Video link to view the #WearOrange March