Each day in the United States, lives are forever changed by gun violence. We believe that gun violence is not inevitable. It is a preventable public health crisis that calls us to action. Nearly 130 people are shot and killed every day in our nation, while hundreds more are wounded. Gun violence remains one of the leading causes of death for children and teens.
This June, we join communities across the country in observing Wear Orange, a movement dedicated to honoring survivors, remembering those whose lives have been taken by gun violence, and building a future free from its devastating impact. The movement began in memory of Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago teenager who was tragically shot and killed in 2013. Her friends chose to wear orange—the color hunters wear to protect themselves and others—as a symbol of safety and the value of every human life. Today, millions of people wear orange each year to raise awareness and advocate for solutions that save lives.
Here in Michigan, we have experienced heartbreaking tragedies at places such as Oxford High School and Michigan State University. Yet amid these painful losses, advocates, survivors, faith communities and lawmakers have worked together to create meaningful change.
We are proud members of End Gun Violence Michigan (EGVMi), a statewide coalition dedicated to reducing gun violence through education, advocacy and commonsense policies that save lives. Michigan has celebrated important victories, including the passage of safe storage legislation and Extreme Risk Protection Orders, policies proven to help prevent suicides, accidental shootings, and acts of violence.
Across Michigan, communities are turning remembrance into action, proving that hope grows when people come together to confront gun violence and work for lasting change. In 2008, when members of the Church of the Messiah in Detroit grew weary of the violence affecting their community, they took to the streets in a prayerful march that has grown into a statewide movement of remembrance, education, and action. This year, Silence the Violence 2026 includes more than 30 events across Michigan throughout the month of June.
Communities across the country are also finding creative ways to prevent gun violence before it starts. Programs that connect young people with mentors, employment opportunities, conflict-resolution training, and mental health support have helped reduce violence while strengthening neighborhoods. Here in Michigan, the state’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force continues to bring together health professionals, law enforcement, educators, community leaders and advocates to build safer communities for everyone.
As we Wear Orange this month, we remember those we have lost, support those whose lives have been forever changed, and recommit ourselves to the work of creating a more peaceful and just society. Together, we can transform grief into action and hope into lasting change.