Hug a Ginger Day / Kick a Ginger Day

As Violence Continues, Countermovement Strengthens

I didn't blog about "Kick a Ginger Day" earlier last week.  I was hoping that the day of gingerism spawned from a Facebook group spawned from a stupid intrepretation of the South Park episode "Ginger Kids" would quietly die out after its mild commotion in Canada last year.  (Some background on "Kick a Ginger Day" and a clip from the inspiring South Park episode can be found here.) Unfortunately, it seems we've had something of a second annual event.

Violence against redheads continued this November 20, 2009, possibly worse the the inaugural 2008 event:

• More than 24 students were suspended at a Canadian school for allegedly beating 4 redhead students.
• Up to 14 students in Calabasas, California, United States beat up a 12-year-old redhead boy.
  • Děti zbily spolužáka. Byl Den kopání do zrzounů (Czech / Česky)
  • Facebook Sebabkan Pengeroyokan (Indonesian / Bahasa Indonesia)

Apparently, the phenomenon is not being contained within English language countries.

Articles in other languges:

• 14-year-old Redhead Girl Takes Taxi Home from School after Pushing and Kicking (English Auto-Translation)
  • Rødhåret mobbet fra skolen (Nowegian / norsk)
• Redheads taunted by peers that Friday will be the day in Bergen, Norway (English Auto-Translation)
  • Frykter vold mot rødhårede (Norwegian / norsk)
• Uakseptabel netthets mot rødhårede (Norwegian / norsk)
• Skämt blev till hot Otryggt för rödhåriga (Swedish / Svenska)

Universal Hug a Ginger Day

Fortunately a redhead woman Gillian stepped in and turned the Facebook group around, creating "Hug a Ginger Day" in its place.  While the "Kick a Ginger Day" group peaked at 5,000, the new "Hug a Ginger Day" has a very respectable following of 1,300 members.  The group asks, "Next November 20th why not give a red head friend a hug instead of a kick?"

Facebook Group: Universal Hug a Ginger Day

Let's hope 2010 brings more peace to gingers.