The LAC Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) is honored to partner with the City of Monterey Park for “Wear Orange”. Wear Orange kicks off Gun Violence Awareness Month (GVAM) and encourages people to wear orange (the color hunters wear to protect themselves) to honor survivors and symbolize their commitment to ending gun violence.

The event will consist of healing activities (art, sound bath, yoga); a resource fair; free gun lock distribution; and a speaking program with survivors, leaders, and partners in the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) movement. We will then hold a ceremony planting 125 orange marigolds to represent the 125 lives taken by gun violence each day. Survivors of gun violence will be invited to plant a flower to honor their loved ones stolen too soon, followed by members of the community and attendees. This will serve as a powerful visual to show how gun violence impacts all of us.

The Alhambra String Quartet of the SGV Symphony will be performing live at the event, providing music as part of the event’s healing atmosphere.

This event is especially meaningful being held in Monterey Park, a community deeply affected by the 2023 Lunar New Year mass shooting. We aim to end with an empowering message: we all have a part to play in ending gun violence.

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