America paints itself orange today. In the wake of yesterday’s shooting on UCLA’s campus, it seems this display of unity couldn’t have come at a more necessary time. The orange is meant to symbolize the movement of gun violence awareness. The color’s origins followed a shooting in Chicago, as the South Side teens asked their classmates to wear orange in honor of their fallen friend. Today, June 2nd, Americans wear orange to mourn the victims of gun violence and proliferate the efforts to stop its continuation.
Like most campaigns, people have taken to social media accounts to promote this day dedicated to gun violence awareness. The hastag WearOrange has gone viral on not only Twitter, but Instagram as well. Many post photos of themselves donning the orange color, including their support of the cause and #WearOrange.
Also joining in the efforts are celebrities, who are taking advantage of their extensive social media followers to promote the #WearOrange movement. Here we see actress and former Calvin Klein muse post a selfie displaying her support for gun violence awareness with a orange collared shirt.
“The Andy Griffith’s Show” star, Ron Howard, posted a photo to Instagram this morning meant for reflection. The selfie shows Howard’s orange pullover not once, but twice, as his mirror reflection is also captured in the moment. In addition to #WearOrange, Howard writes: “keep thinking, talking, writing your lawmakers until solutions are found.”
Star of ABC Family’s hit television show, Pretty Little Liars, Troian Bellisario sends a powerful message in her Instagram post this morning. Bellisario includes in her post, “THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT.” This amendment gives Americans the right to bear arms. Bellisario asserts this is about stopping violence.
Longtime gossip blogger and television personality, Perez Hilton, took to social media as well. His Instagram post features a #WearOrange t-shirt and a message that UCLA’s shooting “is just another important reminder” to be aware of gun violence.
As TIME records 52 school shootings in 2015 alone, its about time the nation stands up to gun violence in a most peaceful and powerful way by simply #WearOrange.
