Pine Bluff, Arkansas – Pine Bluff will be joining communities across the nation to commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day through the Wear Orange Rally on Friday, June 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosted by the Pine Bluff Group Violence Intervention (GVI), the rally will be held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Drive.
The event aims to educate youth, teens, young adults, and residents of all ages about the deep and lasting impact of gun violence on families and neighborhoods. The community-focused rally is part of a broader effort to raise awareness, honor victims, and uplift survivors of gun-related tragedies.
Organizers have planned an engaging and informative afternoon, including games, music, food, refreshments, and interactions with law enforcement. Citizens will also have access to valuable resources from various local organizations committed to violence prevention, mental health, and community building.
“PLEASE wear the color orange and bring a child, teen and/or young adult with you! Join us as WE work together to better Pine Bluff, with our Voices, and through OUR Actions,” urged GVI Program Manager Rev. Kevin Crumpton, Sr., in a powerful statement calling for collective action.
Honoring a National Movement
The Wear Orange campaign began after the tragic death of Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student who was fatally shot in 2013 just one week after performing in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. Her friends chose the color orange to honor her life—the same color hunters wear to protect themselves in the woods, a powerful symbol now used to protect lives from gun violence.
Since then, Wear Orange has grown into a national movement, with communities wearing orange on the first Friday in June. This year, the event also coincides with the launch of Gun Violence Awareness Month, which is observed nationally throughout June and was established in 2015 to drive education, prevention, and remembrance.
Pine Bluff’s event is part of that national commitment, standing in solidarity with other cities to say enough is enough.
A Broad Coalition of Supporters
The Pine Bluff rally is backed by a large network of community partners, sponsors, and faith organizations, including the City of Pine Bluff Office of Mayor Vivian L. Flowers, Sixth Division Circuit Court–Juvenile Division, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Pine Bluff Police Department, United Family Services, Center for Healing Hearts and Spirits, Super One Foods, Simmons Bank, Relyance Bank, and numerous local churches and civic organizations.
With such widespread support, the message is clear: Pine Bluff is committed to changing the narrative on violence.
Gun Violence by the Numbers
Gun violence continues to be a major issue in the United States. In 2021, more than 48,800 people died from gun-related injuries—a staggering 23 percent increase since 2019, according to the most complete national data available. While the number of gun deaths slightly declined in 2022 and 2023, the figures remain some of the highest annual totals on record.
As Pine Bluff prepares to host this crucial event, residents are encouraged to show up, wear orange, bring their children, and take part in the mission to create a safer, stronger, and more united community.
