The blue ribbon is an international symbol of child abuse prevention.
The color blue was chosen to represent the bruised and battered bodies of abused children; a reminder that stays with everyone who sees it.
How the Blue Ribbon Campaign Began
The campaign traces back to the death of one small child. In the spring of 1989, Bonnie Finney, a grandmother in Virginia, received the devastating news that her grandson had died from injuries inflicted by his parents. In her grief and outrage, she tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van — as she put it, “to make people wonder” what it meant.
Her simple act grew into a movement. In Bonnie’s own words:
“The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children. Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car. Give one to your friends. Tell them what it means. You may save a child’s life!”
Today, wearing a blue ribbon is a way anyone can stand up for the safety of children in El Paso and beyond.