The Arlington Police Department and community officials plan to take an active role in the 2016 Massachusetts White Ribbon Day campaign, set for Thursday, March 3.
Held annually on the first Thursday in March, the Commonwealth will honor the White Ribbon Day Campaign at a proclamation event at the State House. The campaign asks men to raise their voices and to be proud to make a personal and public commitment to promote respect, equality and nonviolence, not only in their relationships, but in all aspects of their lives.
Chief Fred Ryan has joined the movement as an ambassador. Men who earn this designation have taken the White Ribbon Day pledge and join the campaign to serve as an example to others. As part of his role as an ambassador, Ryan will wear a White Ribbon on White Ribbon Day and has recruited six colleagues to do the same.
Also wearing the White Ribbon on Thursday will be:
• Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine
• Deputy Town Manager Sandy Pooler
• Capt. Richard Flynn
• Capt. James Curran
• Lt. Michael Sheehan
• Officer Vitaly Volkov
“It is an honor to join the growing list of ambassadors who have pledged to end violence against women,” Ryan said in a news release. “In Arlington, we proudly wear the White Ribbon and continuously take active roles to ensure our message is not only heard, but implemented.”
The Arlington Police Department’s family-services officers, Inspector Rebecca Gallagher and Inspector Edward DeFrancisco, will attend the event at the State House, and will be joined by Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, also a White Ribbon Day ambassador. There, they will be a part of a unified movement to change societal attitudes and beliefs that make excuses for violence against women, and in turn, promote safety and respect in all relationships.
“A man’s strength should be shown through his character and moral judgment, never through the use of force and violence,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “As co-chair of this year’s White Ribbon Day Campaign, this is a message I hope to reinforce while highlighting the crucial role men have in ending gender-based violence.”
This announcement was published Wednesday, March 2, 2016.
