Jacksonville Beach moms’ group kicks off anti-gun violence campaign

Friday marks National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the beginning of a Wear Orange weekend of remembrance and a call to action.

From Friday through Sunday volunteers with Moms Demand Action, a national nonprofit group advocating for gun control, will bring awareness to gun violence by placing orange rocks and shells painted with messages that speak out against gun violence.

As a part of a nationwide effort to honor those who have died from gun violence, volunteers are encouraged to use orange lights outside their houses, tie orange ribbons to their trees, as well as “turn Facebook orange.” Participants will share photos of the rocks and shells on social media under the #WearOrange hashtag and share why they support gun-control reform.

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In Jacksonville at least 60 of the city’s 73 homicides this year have been by gunfire, according to Times-Union records.

Rhonda Phillips joined Moms Demand Action-Jacksonville Beach after her nephew was murdered, only to then lose her son to gun violence shortly after that.

“It made me want to become more of a part of Moms Demand Action,” she said. “It really is amazing to be a part of, because I know I’m not doing this for myself and my family, but I do this for other families who have lost a child or a loved one to gun violence.”

Over the past few days, Phillips and her family have been painting small rocks orange and placing them around Jacksonville in preparation for the upcoming weekend.

"I Wear Orange for Leon Bennett and all victims who have been affected by gun violence,“ Phillips said. ”In light of the loss of my son, Leon, I am honored to be the lead for Moms Demand Action Survivors.”

National Gun Violence Awareness Day arrives as the country is still reeling from recent deaths of African-Americans, in two cases by officers and another that involved a former officer. Katie Hathaway, local group leader with Moms Demand Action, emphasized that gun violence awareness involves speaking out against violence in all its forms.

“We cannot fight to end gun violence without fighting the forces of white supremacy and systemic oppression,” Hathaway said.

She first got involved with Moms Demand Action after her 7-year old son told her he feared his classroom would be “the first to get shot up” because it was closest to the front of the school.

Hathaway said she participates in Wear Orange Weekend for her own two children and “all children who deserve to feel safe and free from gun violence.”

Those who want to get more involved with gun-violence prevention can text READY to 644-3; survivors of gun violence can text SURVIVOR to 644-33.

Anna Savo-Matthews: (904) 359-4097