'As reports of hostilities against
various marginalized groups following the election of Donald Trump to
the presidency continue to emerge, Americans are calling on each
other to don safety pins on their shirts to indicate to others that
they are an ally. While it is regrettable and sad that we have
seemingly reached a point where it is necessary to indicate to others
that we stand by them and respect their rights (as opposed to it
being a given), it is comforting to see Americans taking a stand to
make sure their fellow citizens feel safe and secure.
The initial idea for pinning a safety
pin on one's shirt to indicate you are an ally to anyone who feels
threatened or marginalized stemmed from a similar campaign in Britain
that took place following the Brexit vote to leave the European
Union. The vote helped spark a substantial number of xenophobic
attacks and abuse. In response, the safety pin campaign was started
on Twitter as a way for fellow Britons to easily and publicly let
others know that they are a "safe person," an ally for
anyone feeling threatened or unsafe.'
By SARAH FRIEDMANN
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