CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Dozens of people dressed in orange demanded a future free of violence as they remembered those lost or injured by bullets, as part of a resource fair and concert in Camden.
Crowds poured into Wiggins Park on the city's waterfront to attend the Monday night show, featuring hip hop duo Black Violin. To get close to the stage, they walked by table after table piled with resources. After the attendees were seated, they listened to speakers talk about gun violence and prevention.
"We are in a crisis now and we are demanding that we make a change," said Lisa Winkler with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The organization hosted the "Wear Orange" event along with Camden County leaders. Almost everyone attending the event wore orange or received an orange t-shirt from the group.
"Orange symbolizes the value of each person's life and we wear it to honor those killed, wounded, or impacted by gun violence," said Carla Reyes to a crowded field. She said her 19-year-old son, Kevin Miller, was shot and killed in 2011 after taking a friend out for her birthday.
"I can't begin to share how this loss has changed our lives and our family dynamics. But I can relate to the breathtaking pain that many families are facing today who have lost their loved ones due to gun violence."
That included Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane, who said nearly everyone is affected by the violence.
"My son was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 and I worry, because the men who served with him are at a greater risk of dying by suicide at their hands with a weapon than those that were killed in combat," she said.
While some of the speakers discussed changes they'd like to see made, Mayor Victor Carstarphen pointed out some things that have worked for the city of Camden.
"In the last 50 years, we're at an all time low in crime, murders in our community," he said, "and that's a collaborative effort of our community policing, our police department, the city of Camden, and everyone just working so hard in the communities."
