2019 Wear Orange Rally & Walk to End Gun Violence
On Saturday, June 1st, hundreds of Delco United members gathered in Media to make their voices heard, and the message rang out loud and clear: We MUST have real action NOW to end the gun violence in our communities!
A packed crowd formed a sea of orange inside the 2nd Baptist Church of Media, as powerful speeches drove home the notion that we have the power to change our gun laws, if we continue to push forward, together. The opening program included choral performances and poetry, as well as remarks by our very own Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, Rep. Mike Zabel, and many more advocates and survivors. High on everyone’s minds was the devastating news from Virginia Beach… As the large group chanted, prayed, and sang together, they created a sacred space to honor the 12 victims of the recent shooting, as well as the thousands upon thousands of lives lost to gun violence each year, most of which don’t make the evening news.
…But the rally also provided a pathway for the assembly to channel their grief into action. As Delco United Board Member Beverly Wright so eloquently put it, “We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We are sick and tired of burying our babies. We are sick and tired of mothers crying because they’re not going to have that opportunity to say, ‘I love you’ again. We can’t take this situation lightly. If we have legislators or politicians who are not backing sensible gun policies, we have to get them out of there!” Spurred into action, the “Orange Army” (as brilliantly titled by the Daily Times*) then marched through the town of Media, soldiering on in the smoldering heat with a message of hope for a world free from the plague of gun violence.
As fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters all chanted, “Enough is Enough!” loud enough for our leaders in Harrisburg to hear, the closing rally commenced. Lead in song by Matt Frankl, we “Imagined” a world where we could all live in peace; a world where our children’s lives are prioritized over the agenda of the gun lobby, and our streets, schools, and houses of worship can again be places where we feel safe, instead of targeted.
To all who attended, participated, or helped in any way to make our “Wear Orange” event run smoothly, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your commitment to gun violence prevention refills our most precious and vulnerable resource- HOPE!
*We were privileged to have topnotch coverage of the event from the Delco Daily Times– our “Orange Army” was featured on the front page!
March on, soldiers!
Memorial to the Lost display, courtesy of Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence 
Board member Margaret Camp helps get the crowd decked out in orange! 
Board Member Elaine Byrnes shows off our event programs! 
Mary Donaldson-Evans models this year’s t-shirt! 
Co-Chair Jess Frankl gets the march started 
Congresswoman Scanlon addresses the crowd 
Delco United founders and former Co-Chairs, Terry Rumsey and Robin Lasersohn 
Pastor Warren Mays leads the program with an invocation 
Media Mayor Bob McMahon 
CeasefirePA Program Director, Jeff Dempsey 
Co-Chair of Heeding God’s Call Delco/Chester Chapter, Agnes Wozniak 
State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara 
Laurie Pollack shares her poetry with the crowd 
Delco United Board Member Elaine Vetre 
State Sen. Tim Kearney 
Matt Frankl leads the crowd in song 
Rep, O’Mara and Congresswoman Scanlon with some of their younger constiuents! 
The Orange army makes it’s way to the Courthouse! 
Co-Chairs John Linder and Jess Frankl kickoff the Rally at 2nd Baptist 
Rep. Mike Zabel addresses the crowd 
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