For a female student who has been the target of bullying at Marblehead High School, a passing remark about the pigtails she wore to school earlier this week was the final straw.
So, rather than bury her emotions and press on, she went home Wednesday night and posted a message on Facebook about how hurt she was and called upon her fellow classmates to stand up against bullying everywhere by wearing pigtails to school the following day.
What happened next is a testament to the kind of community we live in and the progress that has been made locally regarding the nationwide issue of bullying at school.
Dozens of local girls (and boys) showed up to school Thursday morning rocking pigtails, and the Facebook Page that one of the girl's best friends created Wednesday night, Pigtails 4 Peace, had garnered more than 500 fans in under 24 hours.
As the day went on, more and more students at MHS found themselves looking for ribbons, rubber bands and hair elastics to join in the cause - and grown-ups across town began posting their own own pigtail photos.
Abby Seay, a member of the MHS anti-bullying group Team Harmony, said she and her fellow classmates were moved by the outpouring of support for their targeted classmate.
"I was very surprised to see the outcome and how many people wore pigtails and sent this student inspirational messages showing their support," Seay said.
Here's how a few other Marblehead High School students felt about the 'Pigtail Movement' at Marblehead High School:
"Knowing we were able to stand up for each other, having each others backs no matter what made me smile." - Emily Ivers
"It was incredible to walk into school and see all the pigtails because it represents that everyone was able to unite together and stick up for each other and for a cause." - Laura Laub
“I dream of a world without victims and victimizers, and even more, without bystanders.” - Sonia Schreiber Weitz
"All it takes is one person to stand up to an attack in order to help all the other victims who have ever been bullied." - Maddie Anderson
