Cape Codders Wear Orange for National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Barbara Cognetta holds a picture of Christina Taylor-Green, who was killed in a shooting in Tucson, Arizona in 2011.

HYANNIS – Cape Codders wore orange shirts at a rally in Hyannis on Thursday in observation of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

The “Wear Orange Day” rally was held at the Federated Church of Hyannis and was sponsored by the Cape Cod Chapter of “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America”.

Grandmothers Against Gun Violence-Cape Cod President Kathleen Glueck and State Representative Brian Mannal spoke to the crowd, before participants went on a short walk to Aselton Park.

Yarmouthport resident Barbara Cognetta brought a picture of Christina Taylor-Green to the rally.

Taylor-Green was the nine year old girl who was one of six killed in the Tucson, Arizona shooting in January 2011.

Cognetta, who vacations in Tucson in the winter, is a friend of Taylor-Green’s family and is inspired by their willingness to fight for gun violence awareness.

“It’s just heartbreaking, but they’re filled with hope and they’ve done wonderful things to bring awareness to gun violence prevention and gun safety,” said Cognetta. “Out of a horrible tragedy, this family has done some beautiful things.”

Wear Orange Day was created by friends of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15 year old high school student from Chicago, who was shot in the back and killed in January 2013.

Participants wear orange at the gun violence awareness rally in Hyannis.

Her friends decided to honor her life by wearing orange and it is now a nationwide movement.

The Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America group was formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting and now has chapters in every state.

With the state and federal elections coming up in November, Cognetta hopes that gun violence awareness is a priority to candidates.

“Absolutely at the top of my list, I’ve become a one issue voter, whoever is going to do something about gun violence prevention, they get my vote,” said Cognetta.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter