'Still reeling from the horror of Uvalde': Chapel Hill and Carrboro leaders speak against gun violence

Leaders in the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro came together on Friday afternoon to speak against gun violence in light of several mass shootings across the country.

Carrboro leaders displayed orange flags at the entrance of Town Hall and Chapel Hill Leaders hosted a rally and flag-raising ceremony at Peace and Justice Plaza.

North Carolinians Against Gun Violence spokesperson Wesley McMahon, a former teacher and a survivor of gun violence, spoke at the event on Friday calling for policy change.

“There are ways to prevent gun deaths without infringing on peoples’ gun-owning right,” McMahon said.

Friday’s events came after last month’s shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, school that killed 19 children and two adults.

"We are still reeling from the horror of Uvalde and yet at least 20 more mass shootings have occurred since then," said Chapel Hill town councilmember Amy Ryan.

The Congressional Research Service defines mass shootings as multiple firearm, homicide incidents involving four or more victims at one or more locations close to one another.

Former teacher Sandy Polson traveled from Durham to Friday's event in Chapel Hill.

"I cry every time I see those people in the classroom, and there's no reason we need assault weapons," Polson said.

Another attendee, Jamie Sohn, was caught in the crossfire of a shooting while living in New York City several years ago. Sohn said the experience affects her to this day.

"There's no reason that we should have these weapons on our street," Sohn said. "There is no reason that I should have to check Twitter and see three gun shootings in one day."

Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils encourages North Carolina residents to contact state and federal lawmakers.

“I encourage all residents to …. support local efforts to raise awareness about gun violence, such as the work of Students Demand Action and the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action,” Seils said in a town-issued news release.

On Thursday, Seils issued a proclamation entitled Gun Violence Awareness Day.