Protesters rallying at Market Baskets in an attempt to reinstate ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas have taken up a stuffed giraffe as a symbol of their movement. “Jack the Giraffe,’’ as he is called, represents the mantra that they are “not afraid to stick their necks out,’’ protesters said.

Giraffes were everywhere at the rally on Friday in pins, signs, and, most prominently, stuffed animal form.

On the makeshift speaker’s stage:

On the shoulder of a protester:

On the head of a protester:

Kelly Brady is one of 140 #MarketBasket workers from the Londonderry, NH, store attending rally. pic.twitter.com/9nXaHrqHp4 — Jason Schreiber (@Schreibernews) July 25, 2014

On the petition table:

Piles of Arthur T petitions gathered by #MarketBasket workers. And a giraffe, for sticking their necks out for him. pic.twitter.com/VT4WOO5Wwt — Grant Welker (@SunGrantWelker) July 25, 2014

On the hood of a car:

The giraffe has become a mascot for #MarketBasket workers b/c they're 'not afraid to stick their necks out' #wcvb pic.twitter.com/pJnoKDk1UG — Todd Kazakiewich (@ToddKazakiewich) July 25, 2014

The giraffe mascot appears to have been inspired by Gordon Leblanc, a longtime Market Basket employee. At last Friday’s rally in Tewksbury, Leblanc cited the giraffe was a personal mascot of his family’s that applied to everyone who “is sticking their neck out,’’ according to The Lowell Sun:

“I lost my father a while ago. At the wake, my sisters decided we would all have the family mascot, a giraffe, on our lapel. We had a lot of questions — why would the giraffe be the Leblanc family mascot? My father was pretty outspoken and independent, and his motto was ‘Do not be afraid to stick your neck out when you know you’re right.’ Everybody here is sticking their neck out, and they have threatened us. We will not be threatened.’’


Since then, the giraffe has turned up in all manners of places as a metaphorical symbol of the pro-Arthur T. protesters.

Check out more Boston.com coverage of the Market Basket saga here.