Norman wears red all week to fight drugs

ERIN BOECKMAN

DAILY STAFF WRITER

The sight of red ribbons throughout Norman this week will signify people's support of a drug-free lifestyle.

Red Ribbon Week begins today with a crowning kick off at Sooner Mall. The drug-free king and queen from Norman high schools will be crowned at 6:30 tonight in celebration of students against drugs, said Kim Lucas, Cleveland County deputy and coordinator of Red Ribbon Week.

"We wanted to highlight the lives of students free from drugs and train them so that they can help others," Lucas said. "They will be ambassadors, someone whose life would be a true example.

"The real crown is not worn on their heads, it's worn on their hearts."

The crowning has nothing to do with appearance, Lucas said. The students had to complete a five-page application and a personal interview to demonstrate their knowledge of the history of Red Ribbon Week.

Lucas said that 18 years ago when she worked at the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, not many people knew the history behind Red Ribbon Week, but these students do.

Red Ribbon Week centers on the story of Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena Salazar, a Drug Enforcement Agency undercover agent who was tortured and killed in 1985 by drug traffickers in Mexico, according to a city of Norman press release. The people in his hometown of Calexico, Calif. -- because they were angered by his death and the effects of drugs on the country -- began wearing red ribbons in his honor. This trend spread, and in 1988, Congress proclaimed the last full week in October as Red Ribbon Week. The event is now the most noticeable drug awareness campaign in the United States, Lucas said.

"Salazar's philosophy was that one person can make a difference, and that's what we want people to realize," Lucas said.

Jennifer Newell, Norman police community relations officer and Red Ribbon Week co-chairwoman, said Red Ribbon Week is not only a reminder of Salazar, who died to keep drugs out of the country, but is also a reminder about the effect drugs have on the country.

"Drugs affect us in every way, shape and form," Newell said. "It takes a whole community getting involved to realize the impact."

She also said Red Ribbon Week is a kick off to make people start thinking about drug use prevention, something people should be thinking about all the time.

More than 12,000 red ribbons were distributed to Norman school children to wear during the week, Newell said. In addition to the king and queen coronation, there will be a safety fair Wednesday for children ages 4 to 7 at the Norman Optimist Gym, 1005 Lexington St.

To find out more information about Red Ribbon Week, you can visit www.drugfree4life.com.
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