Many Americans are wearing a single safety pin fastened to their shirts since the election of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump as a symbol of solidarity against intolerance.
The small gesture is intended show quiet support for minorities, women, immigrants, and LGBT people who may feel marginalized by hateful rhetoric surrounding Trump's campaign. His campaign promises to deport immigrants and ban Muslims from the country in addition to lewd comments degrading women have fueled fears of xenophobia now that he is poised to take office.
Since his election Tuesday, reports have shown an uptick in racist incidents and hate crimes across the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, documented more than 200 incidents of hateful harassment and intimidation in the three days after election day.
The safety pin trend has spread on social media, following a trend from earlier this year when opponents of Brexit in the UK also wore safety pins in solidarity with immigrants and minority groups who also experienced a reported surge in hate crimes.
