On June 7, 2024, locals commemorated Gun Violence Awareness Day by decorating the fence at 11029
Washington Blvd. with orange ribbons, in honor of lives lost to gun violence. The former gun store, purchased by the city of Culver City in 2023, has been repainted with a temporary mural of bright colors and inspiring words.
Orange is the color chosen for gun violence prevention as it is the color hunters wear in nature to signify that they are human; “don’t shoot.” It came into a larger political context after 15 year old Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013. Her family and friends took it up as a banner because in addition to the ‘don’t shoot’ code, it was Pendleton’s favorite color.
The Brady Campaign, named for President Ronald Reagan’s Press Secretary Jim Brady. who took a bullet in the head during an assassination attempt on the president, also promotes wearing orange during June to promote awareness of gun violence. America’s oldest national anti-gun violence group promotes taking a selfie while wearing orange and posting to social media as a way to expand the conversation with friends.
More than 60 people tied ribbons to the fence on Washington Boulevard, offering their private grief and their public commitment to ending gun violence.
The fence will be getting more ribbons all month; orange ribbons are available at Millcross Coffee, just across the street.
The Culver City Council will be offering a proclamation in honor of Gun Violence Awareness month at the June 24, 2024 meeting.
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo Credit – Dani Crum
