City Council Declares June Gun Violence Awareness Month

The El Monte City Council convened for an open meeting where several key discussions took place, including a proclamation declaring June 2024 as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The meeting began with a closed session, during which no discussions were held on the posted agenda item, which will be continued to the next regular meeting.

Following the invocation led by Chaplain Manny, the council welcomed Christopher Cruz Castaneda, a sixth-grade student from Miramonte School, who led the flag salute. In recognition of his participation, Christopher received a certificate of appreciation and a goody bag, including a college brochure from UC Riverside.

The highlight of the meeting was the proclamation presented to Wendy Romeo, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, which emphasized the importance of addressing gun violence as a public health crisis. Romeo expressed gratitude to the council for their leadership and highlighted alarming statistics, noting that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. She urged the community to engage in discussions about gun safety and to participate in events promoting awareness, particularly on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 7, 2024.

Romeo encouraged residents to wear orange on that day to show solidarity and to participate in local events aimed at raising awareness about gun violence prevention. The council's commitment to addressing this critical issue reflects a broader effort to enhance community safety and support for victims and their families.