Following Brexit, Great Britain saw a rise in racially motivated hate crimes. After the U.S. named Donald Trump its president-elect, similar stories of ignorant violence and hate speech began to spread online and IRL.
Fearful of what the coming administration could mean for their way of life, women, people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community and more are battening down the hatches. A movement has begun to help transgender individuals secure name changes and official IDs before January 20, 2017 (Inauguration Day). Women are considering IUDs. Muslim girls are leaving their hijabs at home.
I quite like the idea of just putting a safety pin, empty of anything else, on your coat. A literal SAFETY pin!
— miss pommery 1926 (@cheeahs) June 26, 2016
After the Brexit vote, many British people began wearing safety pins as a means of showing their support for those who felt threatened by the current social climate. Although safety pins are often associated with antiestablishmentarianism (think Harley Quinn, the punk movement), in this case, the message was purely one of tolerance, support and respect for the marginalized. Safety pin = “you’re safe with me.”
Now, Americans are borrowing the visual symbol from their similarly aggrieved peers across the pond. “It’s simple because you don’t have to go out and buy it, there’s no language or political slogans involved,” Allison, the woman who started the #safetypin movement, told Indy100. “It’s just a little signal that shows people facing hate crimes that they’re not alone and their right to be in the U.K. [or U.S.] is supported.”
Now, “safe allies” everywhere are taking social media by storm.
This is beautiful. Let’s all be safe places for people who are anxious and afraid right now. #safetypin pic.twitter.com/BBeqyIIp4k
— Jamie Tworkowski (@jamietworkowski) November 11, 2016
Wearing a Safety pin- as a sign that you are a safe haven for those who don’t feel safe post-Election. Moving gesture pic.twitter.com/BpIuaw0oim
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 11, 2016
#safetypin on, in solidarity with those who Trump hates. I am a safe ally & I believe in a better world than the one I woke up to yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ynuf1Eg4UH
— happify (@happifydesign) November 10, 2016
#Safetypin pic.twitter.com/MGFcjx68BP
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) November 11, 2016
It’s a small but meaningful gesture and the influx of tweets, Snapchats and Instagrams from across America is inspiring — and reassuring — to see.
For those who wish to show their support but are as anal about holes in their clothes and susceptible to fake-jewelry-induced infections as we are, a few alternatives:
Loren Stewart Triangle Safety Pin Single Earring, $132 at Need Supply; Image: Need Supply
…If you’re partial to rose gold.
Gillian Conroy Gold Safety Pin Earring, $275 at Catbird; Image: Catbird
…If you’re more of a purist.
Sterling Silver Safety Pin Earring, $18.99 at Etsy; Image: Etsy
…Because the point is not to spend money, but make a statement.
[ via the Cut ]
