How the White Ribbon Against Pornography Campaign Began

The White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) Campaign began with one woman in Butler, Pa., in 1987. Norma Norris heard a sermon against pornography delivered by the pastor of her Catholic parish. Msgr. Francis Glenn lamented that local prosecutors and law enforcement had been deluded into thinking that people didn't care about the hardcore porn being sold in her community. Norma looked at the full pews in the church and said, "That can't be; they're here!" Norma gave herself the challenge to inspire her community and to send out the message: WE CARE! WE COUNT!

	"The plan has to be simple, inexpensive, and something to catch the imagination," Norma thought later. Soon after, the idea of a simple white ribbon as a symbol of decency came to her, and a movement was born.
	Norma Norris ties one of the first White Ribbons to a car antenna near her home (MIM file photo)

Mrs. Norris then worked with Msgr. Glenn, the Butler County Citizens for Decency, and the Butler Fellowship of Churches to organize the first White Ribbon campaign. Ribbons were distributed; huge white ribbon bows were sent to the Governor and the Attorney General of Pennsylvania; petitions were signed; and a motorcade was organized.

The highlight of the campaign was the bulldozing of a closed porn bookstore. The Butler County Citizens for Decency had bought the property especially for the purpose. A judge signed an eviction notice against the store, and on a sunny day in fall, in front of a large crowd of citizens and cameras from local TV stations, the 'dozer smashed the porn shop to smithereens.

That year, Morality in Media became the national sponsor of the WRAP Campaign. Now citizens in communities from coast to coast follow Norma Norris's inspiration and fly the White Ribbon proudly to say WE CARE! WE COUNT!

The spirit of WRAP Campaigns continues even in the rain

Norma Norris and other WRAP Campaigners obtain Pornography Awareness Week proclamations from the Allegheny County Council (Pittsburgh)

Puerto Ricans come out strongly against porn

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