SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD
SchoolTube Live Broadcast on Tuesday March 31st at 12:35 PM EST.
A rally at Palmetto High School will be streamed on the Live Broadcast page.
The 50-minute rally will feature actor Eddie Barbanell from the hit movie "The Ringer," Special Olympics athletes and volunteers, and original music performed by rap artist Rush. Also on the program are original videos produced by young people. High school students across the country will be asked to take the pledge to stop using the "R" word and to help raise awareness among their friends. The rally is being produced by Miami Palmetto Senior High School 11th-grader Noah Gray, Special Olympics Florida and SchoolTube.
About The Spread The Word Campaign
It is time to "Spread the Word to End the Word" and on 31 March 2009 Special Olympics is calling for a national day of awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word. That R-word is not "recession," but something more hurtful and painful - "retard."
Most people don't think of this word as hate speech, but that's exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends. This word is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur.
Spread the Word to End the Word will raise consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word and encourage people to pledge to stop using it. America will be asked to declare their support for more respectful and inclusive language, specifically that referring to those with intellectual disabilities.
Created by young people with and without intellectual disabilities, Spread the Word to End the Word is one element of Special Olympics' vision of a world where everyone matters, where everyone is accepted and, most importantly , where everyone is valued. Leading the way in promoting acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics opposes prejudice and discrimination, continuously working to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with this population - the use of the R-word being one such stereotype. In a world that has worked to eliminate pejorative racial and ethnic language such as the "N word," among others, the R-word is gaining popularity.
On 31 March, young people across the country will lead local efforts to raise awareness and collect pledges on www.r-word.org from peers and the community to vow not to use the R-word. Actor and activist John C. McGinley, of the hit show "Scrubs," is helping with the effort by making national media appearance on behalf of the campaign.