Cartoon Network has released an anti-bullying PSA just in time for Spirit Day and National Bullying Prevention Month. Cartoon Network’s “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” PSA is an award-winning, month-long campaign in partnership with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is aimed to bring awareness to identity-based bullying which targets an individual’s race, religion, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical appearance. Musical prodigy Nandi Bushell joins forces with the campaign and is featured in the trailer.
Nandi Bushell, Cartoon Network’s musician in residence, is “here to inspire you to stop bullying and speak up!” Bushell is cheered on by some of kid’s favorite Cartoon Network characters.
“Bullying is never ok.” Bushell reminds viewers. “People can be targeted for things like the color of their skin, their hair, or how they talk.” Clips where anti-bullying takes place are shown from different episodes of cartoons.
Bushell then offers the audience a list of ways “you can help kids feel accepted for who they are.” These methods include “telling a bully to stop,” “get to know someone before assuming things about them,” “invite someone to sit with you at lunch,” or “give them a compliment to make their day.”
She then offers a message of hope, “We are going to stop bullying, and together we can redraw our world!” This message aligns perfectly with Spirit Day, coming up on October 20th. Spirit Day is the world’s largest LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign where millions of people will go purple to stand against bullying and in support of LGBTQ youth.
Like Nandi says, “We’re all different and that’s awesome!”