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November 2014
Red Ribbon Week: The Red Behind the Ribbon
When he decided to join the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration,
Enrique “Kiki” Camarena’s mother tried
to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he
told her. "I'm only one person, but I
want to make a difference."
Years later, Kiki was meeting his
wife for lunch, but he never made it. The
37 year old DEA (Drug Enforcement
Agent) and former U.S. Marine was
kidnapped, tortured, and killed as a
result of the role he played in the
destruction of a 2,500 acre marijuana
plantation in Mexico. He was injected
with amphetamines and other drugs,
presumedly to assure his consciousness
during the 30 hours of torture for which
he would endure. Agent Camarena’s
body was found in a rural area one
month after his kidnapping and murder.
In response to Agent Camarena’s
murder, citizens in his hometown
of Calexico, California donned red
ribbons in his honor. "Camarena Clubs"
were formed in California high schools.
Club members presented a proclamation
to Nancy Reagan, First Lady of the
United States, who had initiated
nationwide anti-drug programs. In 1988,
the first National Red Ribbon Week was
organized by the National Family
Partnership (NFP), proclaimed by
the U.S. Congress and chaired by Nancy
Reagan.
Almost 30 years later, schools
around the U.S. have participated in
countless activities during Red Ribbon
Week to educate youth about the effects
of drug use and to show them ways to
“just say no.”
We are not all called to fight the
war on drugs as Drug Enforcement
Agents like Kiki was, but we can use
our own talents to help others. Let’s
remember Kiki’s words: "I'm only one
person, but I want to make a difference."
Enrique “Kiki” Camarena,
a Drug Enforcement Agent,
for whose memory Red
Ribbon Week is attributed
VOL students celebrated Red Ribbon Week with daily events such
as: (Photos, top to bottom) listening to VooDoo football players
Marlon Favorite and DeAndre Brown speak about the
importance of staying drug-free; posing for a photo with the
players; a door decorating contest, an outdoor Red Ribbon
Rally; and a signing of the Drug Free Pledge.