Framingham High Students Campaign to Eliminate the Word 'Retarded'

Today, many students at Framingham High School are wearing purple.

It is part of a Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, organized by the Best Buddies chapter at the high school.

Spread the Word to End the Word is an international movement to end the use of the word retarded, what is better known as the “r-word.”

This week, the students involved with Best Buddies are asking other high school students to pledge to end the word, said one of the organizers Laura Green.

“We are also giving out free purple ribbons students and teachers can where to show their support,” she said.

“This campaign is so important because the r-word is extremely offensive to the disabled or someone who knows someone with a disability, is an outdated term, and is considered hate speech. It deters the equality of the disabled in our society,“ Green told Framingham Patch.