Behind the Scenes at Stuart Ng Books: Free safety pins at SNB store and SNB space at CTNX -- UPDATED 11.14

Safety pins are a sewing and quilting tool. Sewing is a way to join, fasten or repair something. Safety pins have become a symbol...

There's a hashag (#safteypins)...
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/11/people-are-wearing-safety-pins-as-a-show-of-solidarity.html

The safety-pin-as-symbol trend was launched in June 2016, by a woman named Allison... an American living in the UK. She proposed the idea via a tweet on her Twitter account
https://twitter.com/cheeahs
Here are the tweets that started it all:

I'd like to come up with something that can be made by anybody anywhere to pin on their jacket or coat to signify that they are an ally.
I quite like the idea of just putting a safety pin, empty of anything else, on your coat. A literal SAFETY pin! ( miss pommery 1926 (@cheeahs) June 26, 2016)

Her recent tweets encourage new adopters to honor the pledge that comes with the symbol
#safetypin is a promise to advocate. don't you dare break it.
(UPDATE -- sadly, the account seems to have been deactivated)

More press on the Safety Pin symbol...
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/safety-pin-trump-brexit_us_58251b53e4b0c4b63b0c11a9

Vox
http://www.vox.com/presidential-election/2016/11/10/13586322/trump-brexit-safety-pin

There is even a Star Wars connection now...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rogue-one-is-a-political-allegory-tease-writers-946638

There is also is also a Safety Pin hashtag "#Kidslitsafetypins" ... where the focus is signaling a safe haven from bullies... with art like this on Twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/kidlitsafetypins?src=hash

Deborah Freedman: http://www.deborahfreedman.net/

Matt Tavares: http://www.matttavares.com/

LeUyen Pham: http://www.leuyenpham.com/

Elise Gravel http://elisegravel.com/en

Alina Chau http://alinachau.com/

More kids lit safety art images on this link:http://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13439
This link has list of 13 kids books with the theme of Empathy: https://tinybop.com/blog/13-books-to-spark-conversations-about-empathy

The Safety Pin as solidarity traces back to Brexit... and the search for calm, low-key ways to show strong support for those who feel they are at risk.

Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-people-are-wearing-safety-pins-trumps-win-946516

Artist Maeril illustrates calm, low-key support action steps in her infographic that has became a viral sensation. It was inspired as a way to counter Islamophobia... but the techniques work for many types of intimidation. Here's the FB link for Maeril https://www.facebook.com/itsmaeril and on Tumblr http://maeril.tumblr.com/

more on the infographic, and a video... at this Buzzfeed link:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/someone-made-a-guide-for-what-to-do-when-you-see-islamophobi?

There has confusion about the symbol... and attempts to co-opt it... Issues that are well addressed in this blog post: https://danceswithfat.wordpress.com/2016/11/13/should-you-wear-a-safety-pin-say-something-sunday/ Here's an excerpt:

" When someone is wearing a safety pin, the bigots are forced to acknowledge that the person does not hold the same prejudices. More people wearing safety pins = less comfort and sense of safety for bigots. In this way people can use their privilege to disrupt bigotry..... research supports the idea that these small steps are important building blocks for future activism".

A safety pin is just part of a larger conversation we are all part of. If you are wondering why someone is wearing a safety pin... ask.

A safety pin has become a symbol -- for community, tolerance, and support.
If you need one ... I have placed a container of them at the entrance of the SNB Torrance store. They are FREE!