Leaside students organize Purple Day to support gender equality on social media

Students at a Toronto school are rallying together after sexist comments were posted to social media by one of their classmates.

Leaside High School quickly came together to initiate Purple Day as a reminder of the importance of gender equality.

Grade 12 student Jenna Jackson, one of the organizers, said the original comments online appeared during the Women’s March and were related to Donald Trump.

While they won’t say who posted the comments or their exact content, she said it was enough to spark outrage amongst most of the student body.

“We wanted to fight back and stand up for what we thought was right. So, in a way it was a good thing that happened because it really brought everyone together,” Jackson explained.

Students donned all things purple and held fundraisers, but they didn’t just focus on their own school community.

Organizers also approached local businesses to ask them to spread the message that everyone is equal and deserves to be treated with respect. Several shops in Leaside set up displays, and featured the colour purple.

Barry H. Samuel, founder of Inside Out Fitness, said it was important to him to support equality in the community.

“I think it’s such a timely exercise. It’s really remarkable in terms of the potential when people come together, especially youth,” he said.

The students plan to take a petition to the TDSB and city hall in the hopes of creating a non-tolerance policy.

“We want to make sure that equality is promoted across the spectrum, within our education system, in our community centres and all around Toronto” Jackson said.