Parkland students mock NRA response to #WearOrange gun violence campaign

Student activists from Parkland, Fla., are hitting back at the NRA for its response to the #WearOrange gun violence prevention campaign. 

The annual #WearOrange campaign, led by gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, asks participants to observe National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 1 by posting orange on social media, wearing orange clothes and attending pro-gun control events throughout the U.S. 

The NRA responded to the #WearOrange campaign on Friday by claiming “orange has always been ours” and highlighting its work to teach gun safety.

“Orange has been hunters and sportsmen’s choice for decades,” the NRA tweeted. “Don’t forget to send us your orange!” 

NRA SOCIAL GOING ORANGE: While Everytown for Gun Safety has devoted close to no resources to making citizens safer, the NRA continues to be the world’s leading gun safety organization since 1871. Send us pics in your orange hunting and NRA gear to be featured. #wearorange pic.twitter.com/16cE7srlZo

— NRA (@NRA) June 1, 2018

Survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, which left 17 dead and 17 wounded, took to Twitter to mock the NRA’s tweet. 

“Hey @NRA thank you for your support of us!” David Hogg, one of the most visible Parkland activists, tweeted. “We must work together to promote sensible gun laws and behavioral intervention programs if we want to end this epidemic. #WeWearOrange” 

Hey @NRA thank you for your support of us! We must work together to promote sensible gun laws and behavioral intervention programs if we want to end this epidemic. #WeWearOrange

— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) June 1, 2018

This is the most depraved horse shit I’ve seen in my entire life. https://t.co/0SRRAcDoKh

— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) June 1, 2018

The father of Jaime Guttenberg, one of the students who was killed, tweeted several times in response to the NRA.

“My daughter Jaime’s favorite color was orange,” he wrote in a statement posted on social media. “After she was shot and killed in Parkland on Valentine’s Day, we learned that orange is also the color of the gun safety movement.” 

When you do so, please also think about my daughter Jaime who was killed by an AR15 while running from an active shooter in her school on Feb 14th in Parkland. I am glad you find this to be something to mock, for me this is about loss and the my daughter who will be forever 14. https://t.co/7SYXwn2OhV

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) June 1, 2018

“In yet another marketing misfire, the NRA is attempting to co-opt a day meant to honor gun violence victims and survivors,” said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, in a statement to The Hill. “That’s because – in just five years – the gun violence prevention movement has become comparable in size to the NRA, and our grassroots movement is more energized than ever.

“NRA leaders are running scared – and they should be,” she added.

Gun control advocates started the #WearOrange campaign to honor Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl from Chicago who was shot and killed one week after performing at former President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. 

According to the #WearOrange website, the campaign’s goal is to “fight for a future free from gun violence.” 

Public figures including Hillary Clinton, actress Julianne Moore, actor Ben Platt and former Obama adviser Valerie Jarett tweeted and released statements in support of #WearOrange on Friday. 

This story was updated at 5:53 p.m.