KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas is keeping a focus on gun violence in an already deadly time for the city.
The mayor signed a Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation on Thursday, the day before June 2nd’s nationally recognized awareness day.
Lucas hosted a ceremonial proclamation signing alongside University of Missouri Kansas City Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action.
The ceremony comes at a sensitive time for the city. Only one day prior, Lucas and law enforcement officers held a press conference to acknowledge a particularly deadly Memorial Day Weekend that saw seven people killed within the span of 72 hours.
The mayor and his fellow leaders pledged to double down on their efforts to combat violence.
There is no single solution to eradicating gun violence—but getting illegal guns off our streets is a vital piece.
— Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) June 1, 2023
June 2 is Gun Violence Awareness Day.#WearOrange this weekend—and we’ll together keep advocating for better gun laws to keep our communities safe. pic.twitter.com/AfabduUTQy
The awareness campaign kicks off at the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend, June 2-4, to honor those who have been affected by gun violence.
“We are ready for change, and this group has come together to make sure that we are aware of the challenge, aware of the solutions that are being worked on and long term that we’re aware things can get better in Kansas City,” Lucas said at the ceremony Thursday.
The Kansas City skyline will be lit orange on June 4 in solidarity with the weekend.
Kansas City has already faced 76 homicides in 2023, a record-setting pace.
