PinkShirtDay.ca

This day has also been called Pink Shirt Day, and there is a growing call for everyone to wear something pink in the stand against against bullying.  The t-shirt seen above can be purchased through PinkShirtDay.ca, with the proceeds being donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver. 

What started with two Nova Scotia high school students showing support for a bullied school mate has turned into a national cause.  From CBC news:

“Two Nova Scotia students are being praised across North America for the way they turned the tide against the bullies who picked on a fellow student for wearing pink.  The victim — a Grade 9 boy at Central Kings Rural High School in the small community of Cambridge — wore a pink polo shirt on his first day of school.  Bullies harassed the boy, called him a homosexual for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up, students said.

Two Grade 12 students — David Shepherd and Travis Price — heard the news and decided to take action.

“I just figured enough was enough,” said Shepherd.

They went to a nearby discount store and bought 50 pink shirts, including tank tops, to wear to school the next day.  Then the two went online to e-mail classmates to get them on board with their anti-bullying cause that they dubbed a “sea of pink.”  But a tsunami of support poured in the next day.  Not only were dozens of students outfitted with the discount tees, but hundreds of students showed up wearing their own pink clothes, some head-to-toe.

When the bullied student, who has never been identified, walked into school to see his fellow students decked out in pink, some of his classmates said it was a powerful moment. He may have even blushed a little.

“Definitely it looked like there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders. He went from looking right depressed to being as happy as can be,” said Shepherd.

And there’s been nary a peep from the bullies since, which Shepherd says just goes to show what a little activism will do.”

Bravo to David Shepherd and Travis Price.

Bullying is a huge concern, and as police officers we see the impact bullying has on our community.  Later today, when I put my uniform on, I’ll be wearing a pink bracelet to support this very worthy cause.