“Wear Orange Day” Event Unites Community in Fight Against Gun Violence
Wear Orange Day returns this weekend, bringing together public officials, concerned citizens, and community organizations, to call for an end to gun violence. The Violence Prevention Unit at Public Health Madison & Dane County is organizing the event at Centro Hispano on Saturday, June 6.
"Gun violence is a serious and urgent threat to public health and safety. In Dane County, someone dies from gun violence approximately every 10 days through suicides, accidents, and homicides," said Director Janel Heinrich. "These deaths are preventable. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, our children, and our community to practice safe gun ownership."
The Wear Orange movement began after the 2013 death of Hadiya Pendleton. A Chicago man shot and killed the 15-year-old girl while she hung out at the park with friends. Now, every June, communities across the country stand together to wear orange and raise awareness.
In a show of support, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and County Executive Melissa Agard issued joint proclamations declaring Saturday, June 6 Gun Violence Awareness Day in Madison and Dane County.
"We are committed to taking a holistic approach to preventing violence in the City of Madison. That commitment is paying off in the form of progress. In 2025, we saw a drop in violent crimes in the city," said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. "But our work is not done, and this weekend, we're asking you to get involved. Wear orange to honor survivors of violence. Practice safe storage. Join us at an event and meet your neighbors. Every step towards safety makes our community better."
Community action is crucial to creating and maintaining public safety. It starts with responsible gun ownership in the home. Securing firearms using trigger locks and gun safes ensures the weapon doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
“Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe - at home, in our schools, in our parks, and everywhere in between. Wear Orange Day is a chance to honor lives lost to gun violence and to take that first step toward action together," said County Executive Agard.
Event details
Wear Orange Day 2026
Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: 1:00p-3:00p
Location: Centro Hispano (2403 Cypress Way, Madison)
Media Contact: phmedia@publichealthmdc.com
Full details available at publichealthmdc.com/WearOrange.