Unity Day in United States
Unity Day is a holiday observed on the third or fourth Wednesday of October and is the flagship celebration for October’s National Bullying Prevention Month. During October, various campaigns are launched against bullying, and this holiday is one of the main campaigns observed. It’s a day for people to come together to be kinder to their fellow students and to advocate for more inclusion.
In the United States, it’s estimated that approximately 20% of students admit to being bullied, and it’s quite likely that even more students than that are bullied. That’s why it’s important for both adults and children to take part in this holiday when it comes around every year.
The History of Unity Day in the United States
In 2006, the Minnesota-based PACER Center decided to launch its first National Bullying Prevention Center. Five years later, they launched National Bullying Prevention Month. As part of this campaign, Unity Day was used to publicize the campaign and to get people thinking about the effect that bullying has on not only the students who have to endure it but also those who are involved or witness it as well.
Observing Unity Day in the United States
On this day, various activities are observed that tie in with National Bullying Prevention Month. Students are encouraged to take a pledge against bullying, to share their tales of bullying with parents and teachers, and to share their stories among fellow students.
It’s also a day for students to wear orange in solidarity with students who are or have been bullied. On social media, the hashtag #UnityDay is often used to spread the word about this holiday far and wide. Above all, this is a day for all people to think about the negative effects that bullying has on students and the community at large.
