AUGUSTA, Ga () – June marks National Gun Violence Awareness Month, prompting community members to unite on Friday night to highlight the critical issue of gun violence.

Families, community organizers, and local officials convened at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater to reflect on past incidents and discuss strategies for preventing future tragedies.

There was story telling, moments of reflection and a balloon release.

Elected officials spoke at the event including Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley and District One Commissioner Jordan Johnson. 

Johnson spoke to the crowd about his personal battle with gun violence in his family.

“I recall seeing my cousin resting in his casket; I remember my aunt’s heart-wrenching screams, a sound that still resonates with me. I can picture my family comforting her, and even now, on his birthday, I witness her efforts to cope with the enduring pain she has carried for 16 years since his untimely death,” shared Johnson.

Hope Ciccio lost her son in 2019 and bravely shared his story at the event. 

She says it was wonderful to see the community come together to learn more about wear orange and gun violence awareness.

“It helped bring awareness and keep my sons story out there and I’m praying that we get justice for him. It means a lot that the community is coming together and the sheriff’s department is coming together trying to resolve the issues that are going on in Augusta,” Ciccio said.

Phyllis Jackson, Local Group Lead Volunteer for Moms Demand Action, explains what she hopes people learn from this event.

“I want people to understand that the grieving process is an everyday process, I lost my son in 2019 but today it seems like yesterday. I want people to understand that these children or these loved ones, their not statistics, they have names and those names have stories. I want people to recognize and understand that what you see on TV is not a game and it affects the community as a whole,” said Jackson.

Moms Demand Action and Georgia Shift hosted the evening of remembrance and call to action.

The Wear Orange campaign runs through Sunday.