Hundreds gather wearing orange to bring attention to gun violence

MISHAWAKA, Ind – Over one hundred people across Michiana joined Moms Demand Action in wearing orange to bring awareness to gun violence.

Wearing orange to remember gun violence began when friends and family of murdered Chicago teenager Hadiya Pendleton asked people to wear the color in her memory.

One of the people lost to gun violence was Anthony Perez, son of Loria Perez who was at the rally marching across the St. Joseph River bridge to remember her son and take action for what she said is an important issue to her.

“I lost my son Anthony to gun violence and that’s where it all started. I was just trying to grasp the situation with no retaliation and no bitterness” Perez said.

Event organizers said their goal is to bring attention to the problem, hear from people affected by gun violence, register people to vote and to advocate for change.

Perez is doing just that by speaking to teens in the area.

“A lot of kids that I talk to they are of the age to vote so this is a good outlet for them and something for them to learn and if they don’t vote their voices won’t be heard” Perez said.

The league of women voters helped to register voters and people at the event said their goal is to elect officials that’ll do more than send their thoughts and prayers after someone dies from gun violence.