by Dan Howarth
The Architecture Lobby, an organization based in Brooklyn, is proposing a national day of action this Friday (March 17) in opposition to the Mexican border wall planned by president Donald Trump. The Architecture Lobby is calling for architects and engineers to take a stand against the proposal by leaving their desks for 45 minutes in demonstration.
“While there are innumerable reasons to stand against the immigration policies of the current administration and this project specifically, this call is motivated by the belief that the fields of architecture, and engineering are fundamentally rooted in a goal to improve our societies by producing structures that render them more just, more equitable, and more beautiful,” said The Architecture Lobby. “The southwestern border wall stands in clear and direct opposition to this goal.”
The aim is for participants across the US to walk out simultaneously – at 4pm EST, 3pm CST, 2pm MST and 1pm PST. They are encouraged to share photos of their empty desks on social media, using #notourwall.
“By participating in this day of action,” said The Architecture Lobby, “architects and engineers will make clear not only to the current and future administrations, but also to themselves and each other, that their agency will not be exploited in the service of xenophobia, discrimination and racism.”
The planned protest will coincide with the submission deadline for proposals for the design and construction of the border wall.
This article originally appeared in dezeen.com