Few people were more vital to Barack Obama’s campaign success— at least at the level of creating really influential and stirring artwork, than none other than Shepard Fairey, who has not only endorsed Bernie Sanders but who has stepped his game up a whole ‘nother notch but saying, “Hey, not only am I going to endorse this guy, but I’m going to put your money where my mouth is by creating a whole new fundraiser for him” through the Working Families Party. Okay, that’s a paraphrase. I’ll return to Fairey in a moment. But before you get any knickers in a twist, the Working Families Party is a group comprised partially of labor unions and apparently now, partially of awesome, finger-on-the-heartbeat-of America artists — like Shepard Fairey -- that has been around, endorsing (mainly) Democratic candidates since 1988.
Before anything else, go donate $3 to Sanders and to the guy who created this little bit of historic memorabilia. Because you remember this, don’t you?:
Shepard Fairey moved millions with this image in ‘08… today, he backs Bernie SandersBut first, I’m going to be honest here. I freaking love Shepard Fairey. Like I don’t love him a little bit. I love him a lotta bit. I love him for his work with not only getting the fickle millennial masses all hot and bothered in ‘08 with his Obama Hope poster, but I love his artwork and his spirit, and I love that he has decided that BERNIE SANDERS HAS A POSSE because if Fairey says that, it’s legit. I love that he is also one of the greatest living graffiti artists, period, as well as a grassroots activist, philanthropist, and humanitarian. If you haven’t ever seen the film Exit Through the Gift Shop about legendary political graffiti artist Banksy, run, don’t walk, to Netflix streaming and seriously, watch it. It is inspiring and inspired, and Shepard Fairey stands right in the middle of all of its mad, witty, irreverent, socio-politically prescient, and anti-capitalist swelter as nothing short of the film’s own modern-day boy scout-turned-social activist-standing-on-a-scaffold-above-Los-Angeles with a graffiti can and a message and some all-American WILLPOWER.
x YouTube VideoWatch this clip for a little about this “earnest young man” who “saves his rage for his (art) work.” Why? Because this is cool! That’s why.
Of course you probably know Banksy already. He’s the guy who painted this, which you’ve probably seen (unless you live in a cave, in which case, you are actually kind of amazing — living in a cave is honestly, so so hot right now — not hating on cave-living here):
Copyright (kind of) BanksySo what does Shepard Fairey, who is like Banksy’s nearest and dearest, have to say about Bernie Sanders? Fairey says:
I’m supporting Bernie Sanders for President because I think that he’s the candidate most likely to work for the needs of normal people, not the wealthy and powerful. He believes in campaign finance reform and is practicing what he preaches by not accepting corporate donations or creating Super PACs. I was excited to see an homage to my Andre the Giant Has a Posse sticker because my sticker campaign has always been about grass roots resourcefulness which I think connects meaningfully to the Sanders campaign. Bernie needs help from people like you and me and I think he’ll look out for the needs of people like you and me. Make a contribution to his campaign if you can afford it. – Shepard
Bernie doesn’t have a Super PAC. He doesn’t take money from corporations or sleazy billionaires like Martin Shkreli. The corporate-owned media will barely report on him, even though he’s polling better than Donald Trump.
But you know what he does have? The backing of the Working Families Party Posse!
SUPPORT THE WFP ORGANIZING FOR BERNIE SANDERS! CLICK HERE!
Shkreli is that sleazy shit-heel of a hedge fund manager who recently raised HIV medication from $13.50 to $1,500 a tablet overnight before being picked up by the Feds in the same sweatshirt he’d been slumming it in for about four days while holed up in his apartment playing video games and trying to defend the free market, and who tried to mock Sanders’ campaign by donating to it. Bernie Sanders, never one to slouch at flipping the bird to Wall Street, gave Shkreli’s dirty, fucked-up, passive-aggressive donation of $2,700 to a health-related charity. Martin has had a big sad ever since.
So we may not all be Wall Street billionaires in and out of prison for securities fraud violations; it may be glamorous, but alas, it’s 1.) above my pay grade and 2.) a little too close to what we already expect from our Wall Street coterie. But that doesn’t mean Sanders doesn’t need money and support! Oh Hell yes, he does, and it’s on all of us little people to back him, to keep America from relying on Super PAC monies that serve their interests, not your interests, to avoid the media-sleaze-fest that thrives on a steady diet of Donald Trump daily Fascist spew, for the hope of a people-powered revolution that is a once in a lifetime affair teeming with hope, hope, and more hope that we can finally turn the page on our own sordid, apathetic, and political narcosis once and for all.
Step it up and join Bernie Sanders’ posse and support a new generation of Hope. Image copyright Shepard FaireyAnd remember, after you donate one last time to Sanders before the end of the New Year — $3, the cost of a latte, the cost of a gallon of gas, the cost of a gallon of milk — AND spread the most excellent news about this rather exciting new adventure in Sanders-land and Sanders-mania, remember that FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS forget to sign up to register AND vote in potentially closed primaries and caucuses, with deadlines all steadily approaching, so do spread the word a bit again by clicking HERE.
Do it for your children and your grandchildren! Do it for the last person you drove past on the street who looked truly down and out! Do it for hope! Do it for art! Do it for love! DO IT TO BE HEARD!Happy New Year’s — let’s make it a real one by turning the chapter on the same old status quo stasis and lies already — especially the ones we TELL OURSELVES.
The illustrious Angela Davis — Copyright Shepard FaireyYou only have one voice. Let your voice be your power. Put your money where your mouth is, and put your mouth where your money is. Power and equality and a new day for us all! Tonight I’m going to party like it’s 1967, and I’m going to watch everyone wage love and not war, I’m going to count-down until the ball drops on the status quo, and I am going to weep as much as celebrate what may still be that last beautiful thing in a terrifying world… not terrifying due to foreign bogeymen and spectral, legendary noise, but terrifying because of what breathes its hot, angry breath down our stupefied American necks.
Update: if you like the image up at the top, and many have mentioned liking it or wanting it on a t-shirt, that can totally happen along with tons of other kick-ass designs (Teachers for Bernie, anyone else? That’s going on my office door) — Check out Jeremy Merrill’s site here: Stencils for Bernie — stencils are awesome! You can easily stencil a t-shirt (I’ve done it many, many times) or even make your own yard signs; the possibilities are limitless for this art form.