Chapel Hill gun safety advocates and elected officials wore orange at the Peace and Justice Plaza last Friday to raise awareness on gun violence in the United States.

“We wear orange to be seen, so our numbers can be counted and we can demand to be heard,” Sara Veety, a local leader in the Moms Demand Action movement said.

Gun Violence Awareness rally 2019. Photo via Blake Hodge.

Veety called gun violence an epidemic in our country. After the event, she spoke to WCHL’s Blake Hodge about the success Moms Demand Action has had in promoting gun safety legislation and candidates.

“Changing the laws state by state is the most important and effective method we have right now,” she said. “We haven’t gotten any movement in Congress in forever. So going state by state and encouraging our members to get active is really an effective method for us.”

In the 2018 elections, more than 1,000 candidates endorsed by Moms Demand Actions for their gun safety platforms were elected, according to the group. That includes former-North Carolina chapter leader Christy Clark elected to the State House last November from District 98 in the suburbs of Charlotte.

The movement to wear orange to raise awareness of gun violence came out of the shooting death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed in Chicago in 2013 one week after performing at President Obama’s second inaugural parade.

Also at last week’s event was Orange County’s Sheriff Charles Blackwood. Afterward, he spoke about how responsible gun ownership can go a long way to curbing gun violence.

“That means making sure that we are educated in the use of firearms,” the sheriff said, “making sure we’re keeping them secured like we’re suppose to, so they don’t fall into the wrong hands or a child doesn’t find it and accidentally hurt themselves or someone else.”

The sheriff said he believes no matter what side of the debate you stand on, everybody agrees they want to see less gun violence.

“Now whether the legislators want to come to the middle of the aisle and work on that, that’s yet to be seen.”

Related Stories
‹
Local Governments Voice Support for Student Walk Out
Chapel Hill and Carrboro students are joining students, teachers and school administrators across the country in a national school walk-out to protest gun violence in schools on March 14. Each town held meetings last week in which they passed resolutions supporting the students, voicing praise for their activism. Carrboro Alderwoman Jacquelyn Gist co-wrote the resolution […]
Chapel Hill Raises Gun Violence Awareness Flag
The Town of Chapel Hill raised an orange gun violence awareness flag at Peace and Justice Plaza yesterday in response to the increased frequency of school shootings. Tuesday’s Marshall County High School shooting in Benton, Kentucky, marked this week’s third school shooting in the country. “We’re so tired of raising this flag,” said Chapel Hill […]
Juneteenth Holiday to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County
Across the country on Friday, Black Americans and communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the national recognition of when the final slaves were freed in the 19th century and of African-American culture. As a holiday, government services around the Orange County community will be affected on June 19 and the surrounding days. Here’s what residents can […]
Local Government Meetings: June 15-19, 2026
This week in local government: a proposed AI moratorium in Durham and a board appointment (maybe) in Chatham County.
Chapel Hill: Budget Passes, End of School Year, Upcoming Events
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, June, 12, discussing town news and events. She talked about the passage of the town's budget the night before, discussions around everywhere to everywhere greenways, downtown development, and more. She talked about the end of the school year in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, previewed some upcoming events, and more.
'Professionals Behind the Wheel': Chapel Hill Transit Competition Challenges and Celebrates Its Operators
Chapel Hill Transit held its annual roadeo competition this past weekend, where operators showed off their skills in a timed obstacle course.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill Transit Roadeo 2026 Competition
The Chapel Hill Transit system held its annual Roadeo competition among its bus operators to see who could best navigate an obstacle course.
Local Government Meetings: June 8-12, 2026
This week in local government: final budget votes in Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham County.
Photo Gallery: 2026 Chapel Hill Pride Promenade
On Saturday, June 6, hundreds of Chapel Hill residents and members of the community gathered to celebrate Pride Month. Here are photos.
Pair of W. Franklin Street Restaurants Permanently Shutter in May
The Central American restaurant The Latin Effect closed on May 28, while Rams Corner closed to Franklin Street customers earlier in the month.
›