Americans inspired by Brexit to wear safety pins in show of solidarity with minorities after Donald Trump's victory
Social media campaign spreading amid reports of hate crimes across the US
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Your support makes all the difference.As reports of hate crimes against Muslims, Hispanics, black people, the LGBT community and minorities sweep the US following Donald Trump's shock election victory, Americans are wearing safety pins to show solidarity with those under attack.
The tiny symbol became a token of support in the aftermath of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, when police reported a spike in hate crime directed against immigrants and ethnic and religious minorities.
A woman known as Allison, who started the initiative, said she wanted the pins to be a “gesture of silent reassurance” that anyone being abused would not stand alone.
“For those wearing it, it would be a constant reminder of the promise they’ve made not to stand idly by while racism happens to someone else,” she told the Metro.
In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, thousands of British people started wearing the token and posting photos of themselves using the #safetypin hashtag on social media.
Now, the campaign has resurfaced in the US amid concern over a possible rise in hate crime following the election of Mr Trump.
Analysts have suggested attackers may feel emboldened by the President-elect’s campaign statements on Muslims, Mexican “rapists and criminals” and promises of mass deportations.
“Wear the humble safety pin as a signal to anyone facing hate crimes that they are not alone,” one supporter wrote. “We stand by you.”
The campaign comes after the #illridewithyou movement in Sydney, where Australian people offered to accompany Muslims on public transport amid a backlash following an Isis supporter’s attack on a café in 2014.
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