The Morrison Bridge will light orange tonight, Thursday, June 2 in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which officially falls on Friday, June 3.
This year marks the eighth annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day and its accompanying #WearOrange Weekend, when communities coast-to-coast light buildings, billboards and landmarks in – or wear – the color orange to commemorate lives lost to gun violence.
Throughout the country and here in Multnomah County, we continue to feel the impacts and intrusions of gun violence. A steady stream of headlines floods us with reminders of the devastation and loss that gun violence foists on parents, family members, friends and neighbors.
Multnomah County and its many cross-disciplinary partners are committed to addressing this crisis. That includes support for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which were established during Oregon’s 2017 Legislative Session. While they have existed for over five years, many remain unaware of how they work. Also referred to as a “Red Flag Law,” ERPOs allow the courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having guns or any deadly weapon if law enforcement officers, family or household members can show that the individual poses a significant danger to themselves or others.
The County also continues to invest in additional staff capacity, expanded community partnerships, health programs and multidisciplinary and collaborative responses to enhance community safety.
Recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day and #WearOrange Weekend is an acknowledgement of the immeasurable toll violence takes on all of us. Community members can attend a local event or simply wear anything orange on Friday and throughout the weekend: a pin, a scarf or a T-shirt. If you choose, you can even take a selfie and post on social media with the #WearOrange hashtag.
