Loved ones of gun violence victims take part in anti-gun violence rally in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A crowd of orange could be seen across downtown Lexington on Friday.

“It’s Wear Orange Day. It exists because a fifteen-year-old girl with life ahead of her was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013,” said gun violence survivor and volunteer with Moms Demand Action Nathan Thompson. “Her friends and family have asked us to stand up, speak out, and raise awareness about gun violence.”

The family and friends of Hadiya Pendleton chose orange to represent this movement since hunters wear it to prevent being shot.

Friday marked National Anti-Gun Violence Awareness Day.

“I had no idea a person could hurt; a person’s heart could hurt this much, and you still be breathing. How can I still be breathing when my son is not?” said Kathy Reel, whose son, Kevin, was shot and killed last year.

To have their voices heard, anti-gun violence advocates and those who have lost loved ones or have survived gun violence came together for a rally in downtown Lexington.

“It hits closer to home when you think about the fact that of these 50 United States, the Commonwealth ranks 10th in gun injuries and 14th in deaths. Let that sink in a bit,” Thompson said.

Of those in attendance at the rally was Marita Cole, whose son, Joshua, was killed in 2017.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it through May. So you go through May, you go through Mother’s Day. There’s nothing like being a mother with no child. You have no child because somebody decided to take a gun and murder yours,” Cole said.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton was also there, sharing a proclamation that named June 7th as “Wear Orange Day” in Lexington.

“We want people, especially our youth, to put the guns down,” Mayor Gorton said.

Those with Moms Demand Action encourage voters to keep an eye out for gun-sense candidates in this upcoming election.