Photo: MissMarieMK/Twitter, honoraye/Twitter

Now that we’ve established that something as bad as Brexit could happen here, Americans are adopting strategies learned from their British peers in coping with its aftermath.



As stories of post-election violence and hate speech circulate online, some people have begun wearing safety pins to identify themselves as allies in the fight against intolerance, and to show solidarity with women, LGBT people, immigrants, and people of color feeling frightened by Trump’s presidency and the vitriol that some of his supporters display. The safety pin was adopted in England after the Brexit vote, as immigrants and people of color found themselves increasingly subject to racist attacks, serving as a visual symbol indicating that the wearer supports tolerance and stands in solidarity with marginalized groups.



In the words of @cheeahs, the Twitter user who launched the trend, the idea was “that anyone against the sort of nationalistic, racist violence we’ve been seeing could identify themselves as a ‘safe ally.’”

This is beautiful. Let's all be safe places for people who are anxious and afraid right now. #safetypin pic.twitter.com/BBeqyIIp4k — Jamie Tworkowski (@jamietworkowski) November 11, 2016

Wearing a Safety pin- as a sign that you are a safe haven for those who don't feel safe post-Election. Moving gesture pic.twitter.com/BpIuaw0oim — Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 11, 2016

Today... and until people I know and love can feel safe again #safetypin pic.twitter.com/c7jphNYhQf — 🦉AHonoré (@grumpygrumpyowl) November 11, 2016

#safetypin on, in solidarity with those who Trump hates. I am a safe ally & I believe in a better world than the one I woke up to yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ynuf1Eg4UH — happify (@happifydesign) November 10, 2016

Wearing a #safetypin in solidarity w all those exposed to hate & violence after the election. Let's stand as allies! https://t.co/c7awfDmK9t pic.twitter.com/s1WtckRj84 — Lucky Tran (@luckytran) November 10, 2016

A small but potent gesture as we suit up for the hard work to come.