As
a local affiliate of the Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign, the MayorRichard Kos will be hosting a Flag Raising on Wednesday March 1st at 9:00am
outside of City Hall.

Thetenth annual White Ribbon Day is a statewide campaign sponsored by Jane Doe
Inc. Throughout the month, men across the state will show their support byencouraging others in their organizations, families and workplaces to wear a
white ribbon, place a poster up at their workplaces, spread the word about thecampaign and its aims, organize local events to speak out against violence
towards women and all gender-based violence, and challenge attitudes andbehaviors which condone or tolerate violence. The campaign takes its cue from
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that speaks to how violence againstwomen is a human rights violation and how these abuses around the world are
obstacles to efforts for peace and gender equality in all societies.

“Thiscampaign is both about preventing individual acts of violence and fostering a
broader framework that promotes healthy relationships and promotes positivemasculinity,” said WRD Co-Chair J. Keith Motley, Chancellor of the University
of Massachusetts-Boston.

Withsupport from this year’s Presenting Sponsor Bank of America, Jane Doe Inc. is
distributing 100 WRD flags to participating municipalities and schools.

“Wemust reimagine manhood if we are to be successful in our commitment to rooting
out violence,” said WRD Co-Chair Sheriff Peter Koutoujian of Middlesex County.“By standing up and taking the pledge, we are saying to the world that a man’s
strength is shown through his character and moral judgement, and never throughthe use of force and violence.”

“By
participating in the Raise a Flag to Raise Awareness initiative, the men andboys of Chicopee will show they do not tolerate or condone men’s violence
towards anyone,” stated Mayor Kos.

Chicopeewelcomes all to attend the ceremony and for those men in attendance to take the
pledge against women’s violence. 

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