Two young brothers wanted to speak out for their two sisters with Down Syndrome. The siblings wanted to shoot down bullying and spread a message of love, compassion, and understanding instead.
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis2.jpeg?x63807)
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis2.jpeg?x63807)
The 6- and 7-year-old Hollis brothers felt the need to record a YouTube video standing up against bullying for their adopted sisters Meg and Alina; they both have Down Syndrome. The Hollis family lives in a small town in Illinois — one morning, they woke up to the unthinkable.
“We live in a small town in Central Illinois and woke one morning in April 2011 to find our home and cars had been spray-painted,” says mom Anne Hollis. “That day changed my life forever.”
Hateful words like ‘retard’ and ‘get outta here’ were spray-painted in red all across their light yellow house. The family was completely stunned. Even though they lived in a smaller town in the Midwest, the Hollis’ never expected such hate come from people in their community.
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis1.jpeg?x63807)
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis1.jpeg?x63807)
Instead of letting the bullies have the last word, the little boys wanted to tell the world that those hateful words are not okay in anyone’s vocabulary.
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis3.jpeg?x63807)
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis3.jpeg?x63807)
It wasn’t long after uploading their video that the inclusiveness initiative Everyone Matters took notice of their powerful and emotional message about their sisters; they asked the Hollis family if they could feature their son’s video to their massive global audience. Of course, the family agreed. It was definitely a message worth sharing with the world.
Everyone Matters added an introduction and a beautiful emotional soundtrack, but it’s the Hollis brothers’ message that makes the video as powerful as it is. The adorable six and seven-year-old hold note cards to endearingly tell the world about their amazing sisters that happen to have Down Syndrome.
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis4.jpeg?x63807)
![](https://parentingisnteasy.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hollis4.jpeg?x63807)
They hold up words all starting with ‘Re,’ such as ‘Realizing,’ ‘Reaching,’ and ‘Respect.’ All words to tell a story about their sisters. All words that start with ‘Re’ that are far less insulting and horrific as the one spray-painted on their home.
The two young brothers in the video below ask the world to take the pledge to remove the nasty ‘R’ word from their vocabulary; you can take the pledge at R-Word.org.
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