Cultural activism has played an important role throughout history. From civil rights, labor unions, women’s rights, migrant’s rights and any other injustice we’ve fought for, artists have carried the voice of millions through a single poster, flier or composition of music. This past summer, artists came together to fight SB 1070. Through campaigns such as Alto Arizona, Wordstrike and Soundstrike, artists were able to engage creatively in fighting the unlawful treatment of immigrants. And even though much activism has moved online, the power of the poster is never going away–it’s just in downloadable form now.
More recently, we see artists coming out to support the DREAM Act. The proposed bill would allow undocumented youth with a clean criminal record who were brought to the country before the age of 16 the right to apply for permanent residency if they commit two years to the military or higher education. As Julianne Hing wrote, the DREAM Act is on the move this week as Congress comes back together after the Thanksgiving break.
Check out what some artists have created to support the DREAM Act.
By Ray, one of the submissions for the DREAM Activist postcard contest
By Nico from Los Poets del Norte
By Julio Salgado. "Liberty For All" comic strip about an undocumented college graduate named Libertad.