When researching my given object - safety pin - I came across the popular #safetypin movement that started as a twitter trend after the UK's vote to leave the European Union in 2016 (48.1% of the UK population voted to remain, 51.9% to stay). I learnt that after the vote, the rise of racist attacks against minorities and European citizens within the UK rose. During this frightening time for many, one twitter user took inspiration from a similar movement that occurred in Australia (3 people, including the gunman, died) after Muslim's were targeted after a terrorist attack. She proposed that people wear safety pins to show solidarity for those who the vote had negatively impacted. This idea was flagged up once more a couple of months later when Donald Trump was elected in the US. Another twitter user re-ignited the trend, which then came under scrutiny by many writers, including those of colour and Hispanic origin.
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