Following the election, violence against many minority groups — including Muslims, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and women — is on the rise. People belonging to these groups are being harassed on the street and on social media. They need support. They need to know that there are those that they can count on to offer both solidarity and to be a visible point of safety.
Following the Brexit decision, there was a massive surge in islamophobia and violence towards Muslims and immigrants in the United Kingdom. A campaign emerged in which people began wearing safety pins as a signal that they were a safe, supportive person to those in need/who were being subject to targeting. It was a symbol that there, in real life — in the street, at work, anywhere — the person wearing the safety pin could be relied upon to be supportive in terms of ideology and could be a resource for safety. Those wearing the pin could be counted on to intervene, to help the victim, to sit with them, or help them get into contact with law enforcement, family, friends — whatever is most helpful. The safety pins were an expression of allyship and solidarity with those marginalized peoples.
In the wake of Trump’s election, a similar escalation in violence towards Muslims and other minority groups is taking place. People in the US are already adopting the Safety Pin movement to demonstrate their support. It may seem to be a small gesture, but the more people that wear the pins, the greater the statements that there are those who offer their solidarity, their support, and their allyship to those in need.
Whether or not you choose to wear a pin, you can always offer help and intervene if you see an instance of Islamaphobia or harassment. A good guide for what to do can be read here.
Image Credit: Twitter
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