A beautiful mural celebrating and inspiring a movement of resistance to a fascist America is coming to the historic Mexican-American immigrant neighborhood of Pilsen, Chicago, with your help.
The Chicago Chapter of RefuseFascism.org and lead artist Ricardo Santos Hernández will produce a mural on the front of a residential building in the heart of the Pilsen mural district – hopefully very soon. On the theme of “In the Name of Humanity, We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America” this mural will indict the crimes of the Trump/Pence regime: from the monstrous treatment of refugee children, the expanding concentration camps, their genocidal war plans, the ruthless devastation of the environment that supports all life on our planet, the spectre of dark ages oppression of women and LGBTQ people, and the racism that knits their whole agenda together.
Just as importantly, the mural will depict movements that have successfully prevailed over tyrants and dictators in recent years, including most recently in Puerto Rico, where just two weeks of continuous mass protest drove their governor from power.
Art always plays a role in changing social values, and fascist regimes notoriously attack critical art in their efforts to erase memory and bludgeon the imagination. In these dark times, it’s critical to not just shine a spotlight on the outrages we confront but to envision human possibility beyond the terrifying reality and future of fascism.
Fascism is advancing rapidly in ways that are shocking the conscience of millions. This is a moment that holds the potential for a real leap in developments one way or the other – in the consolidation of fascism and all the danger that portends for the world, or towards the kind of sustained resistance necessary to drive out the regime and wrench history in a different direction. Given the moment we’re in, the Chicago chapter of RefuseFascism.org plans to seize this opportunity to inspire the movement that can do the unthinkable – and project that message into society in a huge way.
From the Refuse Fascism Call to Action:
Imagine tens of thousands beginning in several cities and towns, with marches, candlelight vigils, rallies – students, religious communities, immigrants, everyone with a heart for humanity in the streets and not backing down – growing from thousands to hundreds of thousands and eventually millions. Our actions will reflect the values of respect for all of humanity and the world we want – in stark contrast to the hate and bigotry of the Trump/Pence fascist regime. The whole world will take heart.
From the revolutionary artist Dread Scott in the online magazine A Blade of Grass: “Some artists know about intervening in public space and how to shift the ways people think or ask questions. We are willing to attempt the impossible. Artists’ boldness of thought combined with activists’ determination and knowledge of key questions can produce magic.”
Let’s dream big, make magic, and pledge that we will not stand aside while there is still a chance to stop a regime that imperils humanity and the earth itself.
What is needed to make this ambitious and urgent project a reality is YOU! Step forward to donate and help raise funds needed for the cost of paint and supplies, arrange for publicity, prepare the surface of the building, help paint and support volunteer artists and workers! And in so doing, join the movement to end the nightmare that is the Trump/Pence regime.
Learn more about the mural and DONATE online at mural.causevox.com.
Learn more about lead artist Ricardo Santos Hernández at ricardochicanindio.com.
Volunteer for the mural project by emailing: [email protected]
Find out about the Trump/Pence Must Go movement at RefuseFascism.org.
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