Scarecrow Hacking at the Border
Activists in Tucson, Arizona have been placing life-sized cutouts of Maricopa County’s insidiously regressive anti-immigrant law enforcement officials around town on street corners and at intersections, including one of the chief of armed despicability himself, America’s self-described “toughest sheriff” Joe Arpaio, and another of a Border Patrol agent, presumed to depict Nicholas Corbett, who just recently faced a hung trial for the second time after being charged with the murder of Mexican immigrant Francisco Dominguez in January of 2007.
These figures appeared a couple of weeks ago, but have before in the past from what I understand, one of which this time presented the inexcusably white-ass Arpaio caught with his gun drawn at a Hispanic woman and child.
According to the news, the anonymous organizers sent a statement explaining their citywide public art protest by saying, "These men are intended to represent our nation's legacy of systemic violence and racism” and to “raise the level of awareness surrounding the illegal immigration law enforcement debate.”
Another set showed a border patrol agent (Corbett) pointing a gun at a Hispanic man on his knees with his hands in the air.
I'll I gotta say is, nice work! Good to see the so-called “scarecrow empire” being hijacked and used against itself towards some social justice right where it’s needed most, front and center on the border. Incidentally, the cutouts were taken down after being cited for a variety of reasons, “ranging from public safety to right of way concerns.” What? Hilarious.
[All images via Controversial art shows Arpaio holding people at gunpoint (with video)
Arpaio to Display "Day-in-the-Life" Photos in Scottsdale Exhibit and Charity Auction
posted by Bryan Finoki • Permalink
5 Comments:
Quite amazing. Someone should forward this to the New Times.
They look like they first took the pics with a psp go cam in sketch mode. I think I will make some too. I've been harassed by the local po po over getting caught rolling a joint some many months ago. It would be fun to do this and prove my point that Canada is also turning into a police run country
Effing hilarious. I wish someone would post some high rez image files so that a person so inclined could do that here in Phoenix, since that's where Sheriff Joke resides anyhow.
Can't believe the voters here were stupid enough to elect him again.
Is this art or activism? Verisimilitude to the extent of journalism or something other? Reportage or performance in a sign? Somehow its uniqueness -- dumbness + performativity -- makes me think that it's art.
Cool
Post a Comment
<< Home