Taking a stand. Jodi Yuhasey of the Violence Prevention Center pins a white ribbon on Bob Carter’s shirt. Carter agreed to wear the ribbon and be part of the White Ribbon Campaign, which asks everyone to take a stand against violence. During the month of April, Cook County residents are asked to wear a white pin as a pledge to “never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against another person.”
The White Ribbon Campaign began 20 years ago, growing to be an international campaign involving 47 countries. It was started by a small group of men in Canada who explained their involvement by saying, “We knew that the majority of men in Canada did not beat their wives or sexually abuse their girlfriends. But we knew we had been silent about this violence and through our silence we had allowed the violence to continue.”
They came up with the idea of actively engaging men to stand up and take a pledge and wear a white ribbon as a symbol of their position against violence. With only six weeks of preparation, 100,000 men across Canada wore a white ribbon, while many others were drawn into discussion and debate.
The Violence Prevention Center is inviting the entire Cook County community to do the same. The Center asks the community to examine attitudes and behaviors in the belief that all of us have the responsibility to talk to people around us to challenge words and behavior that are abusive, domineering, bullying, or that encourage physical, emotional and sexual violence.
Cook County residents are being asked to make a pledge to “never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against another person.”
And to wear a white ribbon throughout the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Ribbons are available at the Violence Prevention Center and various locations throughout the county. White ribbons can also be displayed on mailboxes, decks and vehicles as a symbol of this pledge.
The pledge is a commitment to hold each other accountable for the prevalence and pervasiveness of violence. For more information, call the Violence Prevention Center at (218) 387-1262.
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