BOSTON — Skylines and key buildings across the commonwealth will begin turning orange —from the Zakim Memorial Bridge and Post Office Square in Boston, to City Hall in Newton — to mark National Gun Violence Awareness this weekend. 

Activists say the coronavirus crisis is exacerbating the gun violence crisis in America, including heightening the risk of domestic violence, unintentional shootings and gun suicide. And, they say, while the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police wasn't a shooting it has added urgency to conversations around violence. 

"Gun violence doesn't go away because of COVID-19," said Angela Christiana, MA Moms Demand Action chapter leader. "In Boston and across the commonwealth, the pandemic and the recent upheaval in response to police violence has shed a harsh light on all inequalities faced by distressed communities. It has motivated gun violence prevention groups to reach out to those communities in crisis even more."

The Boston Wear Orange Summer Jam, an annual event to mark National Gun Violence Awareness weekend will be held online at noon Saturday in an effort to unite communities across Massachusetts in promoting gun violence prevention as well as to raise awareness of all kinds of violence, injustice and systemic racism.