Election Season Shirts + Thoughts on the Protests
Greetings, fellow Conformists.
July slipped away without a mid-month missive, so I wanted to start by speaking about the horrific suppression of free speech happening in many cities in the United States.
What's Happening
In Portland, protestors have been kidnapped off the streets by functionally unmarked Federal officers. Police and Federal forces have been escalating conflicts with protestors. Federal agents are exceeding their authority to declare protests unlawful and continue pursuing and attacking protestors beyond their jurisdiction.
Police and federal agents have been using tear gas in the midst of a respiratory pandemic. Tear gas is illegal to use against soldiers per Geneva Conventions, yet considered acceptable against civilian "rioters." In Seattle, tear gas was used within days after City leadership promised not to use it thanks to a loophole.
Police and federal agents are shooting protestors with "less lethal" munitions at close distances, causing serious injury. Journalists are not given press protections, nor are medics.
If ever it was in question that police use brutality to enforce their will, there are thousands of cellphone videos from first person witnesses in just the last two months to attest. It is as if police across the nation are taunting Americans: we can do anything to you, and there is nothing you can do to stop us. It is a show of force against largely peaceful demonstrations, a mockery of the rights that our Constitution declares to be ours.
Their very treatment of the protestors -- demonizing them and treating them as combatants rather than the people they claim to serve -- showcases the urgent need to change the total lack of accountability that police face under qualified immunity.
Why It Matters -- Even If You Disagree with the Protestors
This kind of escalating violence and threatening action can have a chilling effect on free speech. Protesting should not put your life in danger. Americans should not fear being disappeared by their own government. And punishing Americans for voicing their concerns risks breaking trust in their government to represent them.
The Bureau of Conformity believes that free speech is foundational to our nation. Suppressing protest does not resolve the underlying issues dividing our nation. Reuniting our nation cannot be superficial, driving protestors underground, if we wish for America to survive. There is hard work ahead to rebuild America into a more just country where everyone who isn't white can go about their day without fearing for their lives.
To skip this reckoning is to condemn Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color to a second-class existence unbefitting a 21st century country, especially one that likes to claim to be the best in the world. To refuse to engage on race now is to sacrifice America. Without addressing this deep rot in our nation, our already questionable democracy can no longer be pretended.
Special Election Season Shirts
In honor of the election, we have created three special edition shirts. They are only available from now through Election Day 2020. Wear them to encourage others to vote, denounce propaganda, support free speech, and normalize protest. Wear them while exercising your First Amendment rights, Zooming, and doing socially distant activities in public.
"VOTE" Hemp T-Shirt
This ultra-soft sustainable shirt commands your fellow conformists to vote. This short sleeve crew neck tee, a blend of hemp and organic cotton, is available in unisex sizes XS through 3XL. Buy the VOTE shirt.
"Protest is Patriotic" Long Sleeve Organic T-Shirt
Protest is patriotic. Wear this long sleeve t-shirt to exercise your first amendment rights and support the protest movement. This soft organic jersey shirt is available in unisex sizes S to 3XL. Buy the Protest is Patriotic shirt.
"Propaganda" Organic T-Shirt
Wear this bold red short sleeve t-shirt to highlight the power of propaganda. This soft organic jersey shirt is available in unisex sizes S to 3XL. Buy the Propaganda shirt.
In honor of Congressman John Lewis, if you have not yet read March, do so.
Yours in Conformity,
Drake Starling
Director, Bureau of Conformity