Bedford High School

Red Ribbon Week is the last week in October every year and the oldest and largest drug prevention and awareness campaign. It was started after the death of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. He was murdered while investigating drug traffickers in Mexico. Kiki was murdered in 1985 and immediately celebrations began in California and in 1988 the National Family Partnership began celebrating the National Red Ribbon Week. We wear red ribbons traditionally to celebrate this week, but why the red ribbons? A high school friend of Agent Camaren, Henry Lozano and Congressman Duncan Hunter, created the “Camarena Clubs” and wore red ribbons to show their opposition to drugs just like we do every October. As Bedford Bison we show our Red Ribbon Week spirit every year. Students received bracelets and pencils when they signed the Drug and Alcohol Free Pledge at lunch during the week. Throughout the week the students made a promise by wearing their red ribbon and red bracelet that they had received by taking the pledge to stay drug free.