John,

Tomorrow is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, the beginning of #WearOrange weekend. I invite you to consider a different kind of support for gun violence prevention that we have never spoken about.

The events of the last weeks have rocked us each to our core. And while our efforts at Sandy Hook Promise are focused on protecting children, the behavior changes we’re instilling in them ripple out to benefit us all and will, ultimately, change the world for future generations.

Inclusiveness. Empathy. Compassion. Speaking up and getting help when seeing any form of violence against or victimization of another person.

The most effective way to teach kids is to lead by example. Staying silent on racial injustice and police brutality is not going to protect our kids.

Please take a moment to read our statement and join us, in whatever ways you can, to be a part of the solution to systemic injustice.

#WearOrange this weekend to raise awareness of our nation’s gun violence crisis and the disproportionate impact it has on Black communities – but also do so to help rally community support for the Black- and brown-led front-line organizations working on prevention and peaceful interventions.

Together, we can create the nation we aspire to pass down to our children – a society we have yet to see, but know is possible.

In solidarity,

Nicole Hockley (Dylan’s mom)