News  Massachusetts Probation Service’s Victim Services Unit Observes White Ribbon Day with pledge against violence

The employees, representative of all of MPS, joined those across the state, country, and around the world in taking the White Ribbon Day Pledge. The Pledge started as a commitment to end violence against women but has been expanded in recent years to include ending all gender-based violence. International White Ribbon Day kicked off March 2.  

“The MPS joined their colleagues from across the Massachusetts Criminal Justice System, the entire Massachusetts Trial Court as well as community partners in taking the pledge to symbolize their commitment to this important cause. It is particularly fitting that this occurs during National Women’s History Month,” said Probation Commissioner Edward Dolan.

The White Ribbon Campaign was created by a group of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of a massacre of 14 women. They began the White Ribbon Campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women. This observance now includes all gender-based violence. 

Commissioner Dolan noted that the message of the White Ribbon Campaign is central to the work of the Massachusetts Probation Service.

“MPS works with both the victims and survivors and the perpetrators of gender-based violence. The pledge is a commitment for our communities and our colleagues,” he said. "As the Probation Service, we see the devastating effects of violence in all its forms. It is crucial that we effectively support victims and survivors as well as execute a strategy of prevention and intervention to end this violence. The Pledge is part of that.” 

VSU Statewide Director Corinn Nelson added, “Taking the White Ribbon Pledge and wearing the ribbons is a symbol of our commitment to ending violence against women and gender-based violence. We will not be complicit in gender-based violence through silence, taking the pledge shows our dedication in being strong allies.”

The White Ribbon Pledge is as follows: 

I will promote respect, dignity and equality. I will speak out against attitudes and behaviors that contribute to sexual assault and domestic violence. I will remind myself and others that gender violence is a men’s issue that affects all of us, regardless of our backgrounds and identities. I will confront sexism, homophobia, racism and other forms of oppression. I will find out how to help when I suspect that someone I know is a victim or offender of sexual assault or domestic violence. From this day forward, I promise to be part of the solution in ending violence against women and all gender-based violence.

Featured in the photo below, top row, from left: Victim Service Coordinators Mary Nugent, Region 2, Courtney Bacon, ELMO, and Lindsey Maxwell, Region 1. Second row, from left: Statewide Manager Corinn Nelson and Victim Service Coordinators Abby Ford, Region 4, and Bianca Cruz, Region 3. Third row, from left: Victim Service Coordinators Tara Howard, Region 5, Mariemily Rodriguez, Region 4, and Zoe Nardone, Region 3.