HOT SPRINGS -- Moms Demand Action of Garland County will host Hot Springs' first Wear Orange Hullabaloo community event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Family Park, 215 Family Park Road, in observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which is today.
"Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence," according to the organization's website.
Garland County's chapter is trying to promote gun safety and awareness in several ways, organizers said.
"One of the things that Moms Demand Action is trying to do across the county is have their cities proclaim the first Friday in June as Gun Violence Awareness Day," said one of the county chapter's co-leaders and Democratic Party of Garland County Chairman Hayden Shamel.
According to a release from Moms Demand Action of Garland County, Saturday's Wear Orange Hullabaloo is "dedicated to honoring the lives of Americans affected by gun violence and promoting gun safety in our communities."
The organization has invited the entire community of Hot Springs to the event, calling it a "free, family friendly" occasion, "where community partners will share educational information as well as personal experiences about the importance of gun safety measures and where we will honor survivors of gun violence."
The event is not geared toward adults or children specifically, but rather families, Shamel said.
There will be a sidewalk chalk art competition, popcorn, sodas, a balloon artist, a performance by poet Kai Coggin, a presentation by a pediatrician about gun safety and other activities, all free of charge.
Elizabeth Colgrove, a survivor of a shooting situation in Dallas several years ago, will speak about her experience.
Metro on 06/07/2019