Shreveport comes together as a 'united front' for Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse

Henrietta Wildsmith, Shreveport Times
·1 min read
The Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse and child neglect ceremony was held outside the Shreveport Police Department Wednesday afternoon, April 24, 2024.
The Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse and child neglect ceremony was held outside the Shreveport Police Department Wednesday afternoon, April 24, 2024.

In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the blue pinwheel as the national symbol for child abuse prevention and for the last few years the Shreveport Police Department has taken part in the ‘planting’ of pinwheels in front of the Shreveport Police Department.

“Imagine a pinwheel spinning freely in the wind, symbolizing the carefree innocence of childhood. It’s a powerful visual that reminds us of the joy every child deserves, untouched by the darkness of abuse,” said Chief Wayne Smith.

The Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse and child neglect ceremony was held outside the Shreveport Police Department Wednesday afternoon. In attendance was Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and First Lady Elizabeth Arceneaux, Shreveport Marshal James Jefferson and Judge Brian Barber. Several organizations including Gingerbread House, Project Celebration and the SPD Juvenile Unit were also in attendance.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and Elizabeth Arceneauxhe during the Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse and child neglect ceremony was held outside the Shreveport Police Department Wednesday afternoon, April 24, 2024.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and Elizabeth Arceneauxhe during the Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse and child neglect ceremony was held outside the Shreveport Police Department Wednesday afternoon, April 24, 2024.

“Today, as ONE TEAM, we planted blue pinwheels outside of the Shreveport Police Department in honor of National Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month and in recognition of the victims served in our community,” read the Gingerbread House’s Facebook post that contained several photos of people with blue pinwheels.

“As a united front, we planted blue pinwheels outside of the Shreveport Police Department in honor of Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month as a statement that we stand with victims and survivors of child abuse. We together, stand as a community of advocates,” read Project Celebration’s Facebook post.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: The Pinwheels for Prevention of child abuse and child neglect ceremony in Shreveport.