Ominously threatening billboards have sprung up around Milwaukee, mostly targeting communities of color. According to One Wiscsonsin Now, There have been "less than 24 cases of voter impropriety identified in Wisconsin since 2005 out of more than 11 million votes cast." The constant assertion of fraud by our nation's Right Wing would be ridiculous were it not so detrimental to democracy. Clear Channel makes money on disenfranchisement. There has been a lot of push against this campaign, so they now say that the billboards will be coming down. Wisconsin's Overpass Light Brigade had a better idea: detournement, or "let's turn it around."
We put out a call to our "Holders of the Lights" and to various GOTV groups and friends in the African American community. It was a very short notice, so when we arrived at the corner of Fond du Lac Avenue and 38th Street, we weren't sure who would show up. Rather than a long duration of standing on a highway overpass, we decided to "animate" a number of words. People began to arrive, and soon we had enough to make it happen. It is particularly fun to do street-level actions, because a lot of people stop and talk and want to know what you are doing. This was right outside of a bar, so we had some pretty frank conversations ranging in speculations to how long Romney would last "on the street," to cynical reflection on how long it will take for the racist billboards to come down. One woman was mad that the Democrats don't fight back hard enough. I have to agree with her, with some exceptions, of course. I want to see a party that actually supports workers, stands against Citizens United and other rulings from the oligarchs, and more forcefully works against Big Oil and actually begins to actively push legislation aimed at ameliorating global warming. I have to agree with the anger of that woman who walked off into the night, shaking her head and mumbling, "Lord, lord... we don't stand a chance if no one even listens!"
Clear Channel has promised to take these down. Of course, it doesn't matter because the damage is done. But since early voting begins today in Wisconsin, and our messages now drift far and wide over social media, we figured the timing was pretty good. There is a pretty good ground game for getting out the vote here in the city. We at the Overpass Light Brigade are trying to do our part. Be A Voter! Don't let them take it away. Voting begins today. Be visible! Make some noise!
OLB Fights Voter Suppression from Overpass Light Brigade on Vimeo.