Wear Red on Fridays-Grass Roots Movement

Wear Red on Fridays-Grass Roots Movement!

Summary of the eRumor
An email that urges Americans to wear Red on Fridays as a display of support for U.S. troops fighting overseas.

The Truth
We've not been able to trace where or how this started or how widespread it is.

It is common for someone to get an idea like this and send it to as many people as possible, hoping that it will become a national trend.

There doesn't seem to be any major sponsoring group at this point in the U.S. but there are numerous websites and blogs encouraging wearing Red on Fridays to support the troops.

There is an official movement in Canada sponsored by the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada. It urges wearing Red on Fridays to show support for the Canadian military both at home and abroad.

Grass roots efforts do sometimes work. Shortly after the Attack on America on September 11, 2001, a grass-roots email got started that urged Americans to take a solemn moment to join together in remembering those who lost their lives and to unite in a stand against terrorism.
The email said that on the Friday after 9/11, people should all light a candle at 7:00pm and stand in front of their homes, businesses, or even next to their cars if they had been driving. Multiplied millions of people did so and media from coast to coast carried stories about folks lining up along streets in neighborhoods and cities and joining together in grief, anger, and a show of support for fighting the terrorists.

Updated on 7/8/05

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

RED FRIDAY

You will soon see a lot of people wearing Red on Fridays. Here's why.....
The Americans, who support our troops, are the silent majority. We are not
"organized" to reflect who we are, or to reflect what our opinions are. Many
Americans, like yourself, and all their friends, simply want to recognize
that Americans support our troops.

Our idea of showing our solidarity and support for our troops is starting
Friday and continuing on each and every Friday, until this is over, that
every red -blooded American who supports our young men and women, WEAR
SOMETHING RED. Word of mouth, press, TV -- let's see if we can make the
United States, on any given Friday, a sea of red much like a home football
game at a University.

If every one of our memberships share this with other acquaintances, fellow
workers, friends, and neighbors, I guarantee ! that it will not be long
before the USA will be covered in RED - and make our troops know there are
many people thinking! of their well-being. You will feel better all day
Friday when you wear Red! So let's get the word out and lead by example;

wear RED on Fridays.

I sent this out to everyone on my email list;

hopefully, you will too.

Wear Red on Fridays ..

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.
FOR US, THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED!! GOD BLESS AMERICA