Senate Resolution No. 73

BY: Senator PARKER

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        June  5,  2021, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  days  set  aside to increase awareness of serious issues which
affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-  standing  traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 5,  2021,  as  Gun
Violence Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day; and

  WHEREAS,  On  June 5, 2021, American citizens are encouraged to wear
orange to show their desire to end gun violence in our great Nation; and

  WHEREAS, On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a  15-year-old  high
school  student  from  the  south  side of Chicago, marched in President
Obama's 2nd Inaugural Parade; one week later, she  was  tragically  shot
and killed; and

  WHEREAS,  Deeply saddened by her senseless death, Hadiya Pendleton's
friends and classmates chose to wear the color orange  to  remember  her
life;  they chose this bright color because that is what hunters wear in
the woods to protect themselves and others from  unfortunate  accidents;
and

  WHEREAS,  On  June  2, 2015, what would have been Hadiya Pendleton's
18th Birthday, a broad-based coalition asked people nationwide  to  join
her  friends  in  honoring her life, plus those of the 91 Americans shot
and killed every day; and

  WHEREAS, What started in a  south  side  high  school  to  celebrate
Hadiya  Pendleton  has  turned  into  a nationwide movement to honor all
lives cut short by gun violence; Wear Orange Day is also  a  celebration
of life and a call to action to help save lives from gunfire; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Wear  Orange movement, which was inspired by bold and
creative Chicago teenagers who refused to be silent in the face of daily
gun violence, reached an astonishing 220 million people in just one day;
and

  WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness  of
this  serious  issue  including  prevention, intervention, education and
outreach; and

  WHEREAS, Increased awareness and coordination among all stakeholders
is critical to the prevention of gun violence, the equal  protection  of
our  citizens,  and  to  ensure  our  state's safety for our youth; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M. Cuomo to proclaim June 5, 2021, as Gun
Violence Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.