Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) -- Mayor Levar Stoney met with members of Moms Demand Action and Childsavers to raise awareness for youth gun violence in Richmond, and to officially declare this weekend "Wear Orange Weekend."
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children in America, and an estimated 19,000 children are shot in America, according to Stoney. The number of youth exposed to gun violence annually is about 3 million.
To address this, in addition to supporting Richmond Police's "Safe Summer" initiative, Mayor Stoney said that Richmond is introducing a docket of youth programs to keep children and teens occupied over the summer, including a late-night gym program. He also echoed a message to parents he has expressed previously, asking that parents be generally more aware of their children's' social lives and whereabouts.