10 Tattoos That Matter: Inked for a Cause

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olympian Fabien Gilot tattoo commemorates holocaust and 1972 munich massacre.

Olympian Fabien Gilot Marks the 1972 Munich Massacre

Fabien Gilot, a swimmer for the French Olympic team at the London 2012 Games, displays an arm tattoo written in Hebrew script. The phrase translates to “I am nothing without them” and is dedicated to his Jewish grandfather figure who survived Auschwitz. The gold medal winner displayed the tattoo in reaction to the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to observe a minute of silence for the 11 Israeli athletes murdered in a terror attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Photo: Getty Images

angelina jolie un human rights ambassador know your rights.

Angelina Jolie for Human Rights Awareness

Passionate about human rights and her work as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie had “know your rights” etched on her back.

Photo: Charles Platiau/Reuters

Miley Cyrus tattoos equal sign on middle finger.

Miley Cyrus Flips the Bird for Marriage Equality

Former Disney star Miley Cyrus received a lot of criticism after she tweeted a picture of an equal sign inked on her finger in support of gay marriage. In response, Cyrus told Glamour that inequality “makes me feel sick to my stomach...I believe every American should be allowed the same rights and civil liberties.”

Photo: Twitter

coldplay singer Chris Martin oxfam fair trade tattoo

Coldplay Inks for Fair Trade

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin regularly sports a temporary tattoo of an equal sign to promote Oxfam’s “Make Trade Fair” campaign.

Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

wisconsin budget repair bill union busting tattoos workers.

Wisconsin Solidarity Is in the Skin

Workers in Madison, Wisconsin, protested the labor-bashing Budget Repair Bill by tattooing their arms with an outline of the state and a fist in the center.