Amid the recent political events taking place in America, people all over the nation have voiced their post-election opinions in many ways including social media, protests, and various candidate apparel. But what many may not notice is the subtle way of wearing safety pins across the country to show you are a “safe” person.
After the election of Donald Trump, outrage and fear has been provoked across America, especially among minorities, members of the LGBT community, and women. The election results sparked not only an uprising of protests and rage, but also alleged hate crimes and propaganda ridden with various slurs. Various groups across the country have voiced their opinions, but many are doing so without actually speaking. The wearing of a safety pin is intended to have a subtle, but powerful message.
In support of those negatively affected by such events, according to the New York Magazine, Twitter user @cheeahs began the movement in United States with the idea that “anyone against the sort of nationalistic, racist violence we’ve been seeing could identify themselves as a ‘safe ally.’”
The wearing of a safety pin is intended to display a sense of sympathy and support for groups affected by the election results, without exhibiting a physical political bias.
The Safety Pin Movement follows that of UK after the Brexit referendum. UK citizens voted to depart from the European Union in June resulting in an uprising in hateful speech and xenophobia, similar to recent situations in the United States. Those against the withdrawal from the Union sported safety pins in a similar fashion to those in the US currently, as they represented being a ally to minorities affected by the referendum.
If you consider yourself an ally to minorities and above, be sure to sport a safety pin in support!