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Safety pin tattoo sends a message

Posted at 6:46 PM, Nov 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-21 13:53:45-05

INDIANAPOLIS – You could say David Denman is a lover of tattoos – with now nine in total. While most of them are covered, his ninth is in plain sight where everyone can see.

Denman’s latest ink job is a tattoo of a safety pin on his right hand. He said it represents a message of love.

The safety pin movement picked up speed after the recent presidential election and those who sport the tattoo or real pin on their clothing believe it shows unity.

“I’m going to live my life the same way whether I have it or not. That isn’t going to change. I believe my actions speak louder than my words,” said Denman. “That’s just the way I live my life - I follow through with promises. This is just a promise to anyone in the room that I’ll stand with them and that I won’t put up with bullying, I won’t put up with hate, I won’t put up with violence.”

Denman said he learned about the movement in Australia and England and initially wore the pin on his clothes, but last week he made a decision to make it permanent.

After election, some have linked it as a protest against President-elect Donald Trump but Denman said that isn’t the reason why he got that tattoo. He said it’s simply, “a sign of love.”