“Pink Shirt Thursday” in Support of Bob Levinson – Photo Courtesy of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz Office
By: Sharon Aron Baron
On Thursday, members of Congress in South Florida wore pink to show their solidarity and support for Coral Springs resident Bob Levinson who has been held in captivity in Iran for over five years.
United States Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ted Deutch, Mario Diaz-Balart ?and their staff members wore pink on what now known as “Pink Shirt Thursday.”
Collage of Supporters wearing Pink in support of Bob Levinson from the Facebook page. Collage by Amanda Gobaud
Robert “Bob” Levinson, is an American private investigator and retired FBI agent who was taken hostage on March 9, 2007, when visiting Iran’s Kish Island while researching a cigarette smuggling case. This Thanksgiving, he will become the longest held hostage ever in American history.
Bob and his wife Christine are 29-year residents of Coral Springs, and all seven of their children attended local Broward County Public Schools.
President Hassan Rouhani was recently elected president of Iran replacing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. CNN reported on Saturday that President Barack Obama, during his phone call with new president, “noted our concern about three American citizens who have been held within Iran — Robert Levinson, Saeed Abedini, and Amir Hekmati — and noted our interest in seeing those Americans reunited with their families.”
In 2010, Levinson said the family received “irrefutable proof” that he was still alive via a video tape. In the video, Levinson appeared to have lost considerable weight, and repeatedly pleads for help in returning home. Since that time they have not received any more videos or any substantial leads.
President Barack Obama meets with Bob’s wife Christine Levinson in the Oval Office on March 6, 2012.
In March 2012, approaching the five-year anniversary of Levinson’s captivity, the FBI offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his safe recovery and return. In addition, a campaign was launched, using billboards, radio messages, flyers, and a telephone hotline to publicize this reward and obtain information of his whereabouts.
Each day, his Facebook page is updated by his children with the number of days their father is held in captivity and a memory or two about him. The page has over 8,000 faithful followers who have suffered along with the family’s journey in the hopes of finding some answers, somewhere.
To follow the families Facebook page: Help Bob Levinson Official Website: Help Bob Levinson FBI Offers $1 Million Reward for Information Leading to Safe Location and Return Twitter: Help Bob Levinson