Is it time to bring back the "safety pin movement"? In a thread from yesterday on the violence

[niyad]

against Asians, DU'er aggiesal said "sign me up to protect Asians, Blacks, LGBTQ. . . " I was reminded of the "safety pin movement" from several years ago. "I am a safe person. I will help you." And I had just run across mine several days ago.

Would something like this be of any use? What can we, as concerned, involved people, let others know that they are not alone. And let the racist, misogynist, hate-filled monsters know they will not go unchallenged.

[AllaN01Bear]

1. i feel that all the groups you mentioned need to take a self defense course , like

jujitsu.

[niyad]

7. In several previous OP's about male violence against women, I asked if we need to train every

female on the planet to martial arts black belt level.

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. There is a Krav Maga center in Boston that offers courses to women, always free.

Krav Maga is taught in Israel to people of all ages and abilities.

It may not be as elegant as some martial art forms...but knowing some WILL get you out of many situations. Yes, even against guns.

[FM123]

2. Yes, it would help in being able to quickly spot an ally that could stand with you......

[niyad]

13. Exactly.

[ananda]

3. It sure looks like it.

I wore a safety pin for several months after Trump was elected.

I think I will do so again.

I like it when people ask me about it and I can explain why.

[niyad]

6. Same here. I actually had a librarian at my local branch hug me when she saw mine. I often saw

smiles and nods when people saw it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. People should just stand up and help when they see racist violence, not wear a sign that performs

allyship and makes others ask for help. Be an ally or friend, don't just say you're one.

[niyad]

5. You kind of missed the last part of my OP. Specifically about sending a message to the haters that

people are willing to stand against them.

I have always been one NOT to stand silent and do nothing, but if wearing that pin will do any good, wear it I will.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. The feedback I heard was that the safety pin was almost totally performative.

[Treefrog]

10. That's exactly what I've read and observed. I wasn't a member here but it was during that time that

I started reading the board. This was the only place I ever heard of it and none of my Dem friends had ever heard of it either. I seriously doubt that a ‘hater’ would know what it meant or even notice it. I know I don’t peruse everything a person is wearing. Best thing is to speak up, then everyone knows there is someone there willing to stand up and be counted.

[niyad]

12. And yet here in fundieville, many people knew exactly what it meant, and many people were

wearing them. It is odd that the implication seems to be that one would not speak out if one was wearing such a pin, when I found the opposite to be true.

[Treefrog]

14. I guess I just don't get the point of wearing a pin every day if I already know I would speak up in

any given situation? Hell, i barely remember my phone, much less remembering to attach a pin (and not losing track of it within a day too).

[Hugin]

9. It seems like a constructive thing to do...

Back in the 80's I had a couple of incidents which have always stood out in my mind.

One incident was when what I considered to be an extremely conservative math professor (in those days 'conservative' wasn't synonymous with racist) quietly took a girl friend and I aside to show us that embargoed South African steel was being used in a nearby project.

I've never been sure how he derived that I would have the influence and attitude to do something about it, which I did.

[niyad]

11. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

[Hugin]

18. I'm betting there's more than a few of those cats out there, even now.

But, they feel overwhelmed.

They are honest enough with themselves to realize they aren't what they consider liberal for one reason or another, but, are conservative enough to believe everyone should get to live their life the way they see fit.

These people are definitely not these neo-liberal libertarians who seem to make up most of the noise out there.

[niyad]

20. I was just talking with one such yesterday. He and his group are doing simply wonderful, loving,

good and decent things, yet would never call themselves anything but conservatives. He asked me once if I was on old hippie. I said no, because that implies that I was once, but am not now. He thought that was funny.

[nuxvomica]

16. I was just thinking the same thing

I'm gonna start wearing one again. It doesn't seem as useful now because I don't get out much but if the sight of it allows someone to relax even just a little bit it's worth doing.

[niyad]

17. Exactly.

[NellieStarbuck]

19. Yes, it's time.

[niyad]

21. It is just so damned sad that this is needed.

[calimary]

22. No kidding.

[niyad]

23. . . .