The white ribbon, as other ribbons, is used by political movements to signify or spread their beliefs. It is usually worn on garnment or represented in propaganda (posters, leaflets, etc.).
The Anti-violence against women movement
After the École Polytechnique Massacre on December 6, 1989, where 14 women were killed by an anti-feminist, a popular movement appeared in Quebec and Canada of wearing the white ribbon to signify opposition to violence against women.
The White Ribbon Campaign appeared in 1991 in relation to this movement. Started by Toronto politicians like current New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton, it has now spread to over 35 countries around the world. It is now an international effort of men and boys working to end violence against women. Its basic principle is the importance of men and boys to speak out against all forms of violence against women.
Feminism
It has been appropriated by some feminists as a symbol of their movement.
Quebec peace movement
In the beginning of 2003, a custom largely influenced by the Échec ŕ la guerre collective emerged in Quebec of wearing the white ribbon to show a belief of the need of peace (mostly in opposition to the impending war in Iraq). The roots of the choice of the white ribbon are probably: the traditional association of white with peace and the initial white ribbon, born from a Quebec movement and itself a gesture against violence.
Premier Bernard Landry became famous for taking the white ribbon wearing to heart. The two other main party leaders of Quebec, Jean Charest and Mario Dumont, soon followed the trend.
U.S. county and state fairs
At county and state fairs in the United States, a white ribbon denotes a third-place finish in a contest.
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