Stop The Hate in the 918 tattoo removal services to help individuals get over their past.
Tattoo artists have come together for the eight-year running, promoting the Stop The Hate 918 movement within Oklahoma on Feb. 22. Tattoo artists from across Oklahoma and surrounding states donated ink and time to this event, held in the Case Community Center in Sand Springs. The event offered to cover up hateful, racist or gang related tattoos for free, reported Fox23 News.
The founder of the movement and event coordinator Stop the Hate 918 Jamy Magee told Fox23 News that he was surprised to see so many people there. “It speaks volumes about what we’re doing and how important it is to get that hate tattoo covered up.” Magee runs Parlor Hair and Ink and Tattoo shop where this event originally started, however it had to be moved to a bigger venue reported 2 News. Fox23 News reported that Magee said, “So it’s really an honour to be able to do that for someone and make it an impact on their lives.”
Tattoo artists totaled 20 with tattoo artist Kenneth Ekhibise participating for the first time this year. Ekhibise told Fox23 News, “It definitely brings me joy and that’s what I stand for. I like to create something with someone that means something to them, so that really fulfills me as far as what I want to do in this industry.”
This work was voluntary as Magee details, “We got people from out of state and it’s humbling to me that these are just good people. They are not getting paid. They’re coming out and donating their work. These are top quality. The guys that win in conventions; they are the ones that are here,” reported Fox23 News. Michael Wambler got a hand tattoo covered up and he said this was like letting an unwanted piece of his past go, “So I was in prison, and I just didn’t want that to follow me around for the rest of my life” reported Fox23 News. The volunteers at this event also gave free haircuts to anybody who had a tattoo covered up.
This event changed the lives of many people. For example, Chad McBride who spent 17 years of his life in and out of prison and previously a gang member came to remove his tattoos that served as a constant reminder of the negative life he was trying to leave behind, reported News 6. McBride told News 6, “This right here, what I got on me, is a negative and I want to be a positive person.” McBride continued, “I want to be a part of a society that wants to help make a change,” reported News 6.
Magee originally started this initiative with a small goal in mind, to help people move forward in their lives by removing tattoos tied to hatred and violence reported News 6. Beginning as a small booth, this occasion has now grown into a full-scale event with individuals and volunteers coming from across the country, donating their time to help individuals get a second chance at life, reported News 6. Magee believes that this work goes above the physical impact of removing a tattoo, “It’s a giant weight lifted off these people’s shoulders,” reported News 6. Many of these people at this event have struggled with life, such as drugs, crime, or violence, and with the tattoo removal, this proves as a turning point in their lives, reported News 6. For example, McBride and his tattoo cover up was a symbol of hope and a way to honour his late grandfather, reported News 6. Magee commented that “It’s really difficult to just throw in the towel when you’re having that kind of an impact on someone’s life,” reported News 6. Magee continued “When you do see somebody struggling, you don’t kick them when they’re down. You try to pick them up and build them up,” reported News 6.
What originally began as an operation by a single man, has now turned into a community wide event, and statewide with many of the tattoo artists coming from out of state reported News 6. The event continues to grow with participants lining up hours in advance even during the winter for this chance reported News 6. Magee reassures the public that the event will continue as long as there is a need, “This is not going to go until, you know, and until I’m in the ground, I guess. And I’m not going to stop,” reported News 6. McBride told News 6 that this covered tattoo represents a future focused on personal growth and healing, “If I can change, anybody can change.”
For Johnnie Williams this event was life changing when he got a gang affiliated racist tattoo covered, replacing it with a spider, telling 2 News that this opportunity meant the world to him. Williams told 2 News that “This is just a blessing, man, for someone to take the time out of their day and provide their services for free to help people over the gang thing and the racist thing.” For the Williams family, this was a family outing, with them gathering around him for the moment that his life changed. Williams continued “My wife took off work, we called our jobs and took off work. Our church provided the gas money for us to get here. I’ve got friends that live here in town that came to the event to support me,” reported 2 News.
