Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley joined the coaches and captains of Boston’s Beanpot hockey teams at the Massachusetts State House today in observance of an annual event that asks boys and men to commit themselves to ending violence against women.

A former hockey coach himself, Conley took part in the event in advance of the fifth annual observance of White Ribbon Day in Massachusetts, standing alongside local and state officials and representatives of Jane Doe Inc., which organizes the yearly event locally as a way to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. By taking the White Ribbon Pledge, males of all ages agree to be part of the solution in ending violence against women.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley joined the coaches and captains of Boston’s Beanpot hockey teams in advance of White Ribbon Day. The annual observance, held this year on March 1, asks men and boys to commit themselves against domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of violence against women.

“If we want to end violence against women, we have to start with men and boys,” Conley said.
Members of the Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, and Harvard hockey teams will wear the white ribbon logo on their helmets at this year’s Beanpot Tournament games on Feb. 6 and 13 to show their commitment to the cause and act as role models for other young men.

“Student athletes have prestige and visibility among their peers that few of us can match,” Conley said. “That makes them the perfect ambassadors for this simple idea: That we treat our families and our partners with the same respect we’d ask for ourselves, and that we speak out against domestic and sexual violence when we see it.”

Today’s event was part of a campaign leading up to White Ribbon Day on March 1. The event is part of an international human rights campaign that began in Canada after the murders of 14 women by a man in Montreal. Men are asked to wear a white ribbon and make a pledge to help end violence against women by promoting safety, equality, and respect in their relationships. To learn more about White Ribbon Day in Massachusetts, visit Jane Doe Inc.’s White Ribbon Day page.