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AUTONOMOUS DEMOCRACY in the streets of London

April 19, 2023
Brayards Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
Autonomous Democracy series by Aaron Hughes

In collaboration with Arcade, and to mark 20 years since the largest demonstration in British history against the 2003 illegal invasion of Iraq and coinciding with Peoples’ Coalition occupation of Parliament Square on Friday April 21st Autonomous Democracy prints are being wheat pasted throughout the streets of London.

Autonomous Democracy project includes a series of colorful screen prints that celebrate agitprop traditions in disseminating radical political messages. 

Resource Wars, the climate crisis, economic collapse, growing inequality, systemic racism and corruption represent a crisis for representational democracy and the need for large-scale political reform. This print series was originally conceived to inspire people during the turmoil following the last US general election in 2020 by celebrating direct democracy and direct action of people’s movements. The first print highlights the Wisconsin uprising in February 2011, against the undemocratic actions of then Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker. Thousands of people occupied Wisconsin’s State Capital Building in Madison to defend workers’ rights. This followed numerous other popular public protests around the world including the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and the wider Arab spring which saw the occupation of Egypt’s Tahrir Square and overthrow of the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship. Later that year, inspired by what was happening in north Africa and the middle east, people began occupying Zuccotti Park near Wall Street in New York launching the Occupy Movement.


#AutonomousDemocracy, #thisisarcade, #justseeds

 

Clayton Road, Peckham, London.
Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy: OBREROS UNIDOS JAMÁS SERÁN VENCIDOS
[WORKERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED]
(Slogan shared by union activist Terry Davis).
Choumert Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
LEFT: Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy: QUEREMOS UN MUNDO DONDE QUEPAN MUCHOS MUNDOS
[WE WANT A WORLD WHERE MANY WORLDS FIT]
(Slogan shared by activist artist Andrea Narno)
RIGHT: Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy: AIN’T NO POWER LIKE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, ‘CAUSE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE DON’T STOP. SAY WHAT?
(Slogan shared by activist David Solnit)

 

Queens Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy:
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE
Parkstone Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy: a space where we stand for love, fight for freedom, & build community
(Slogan shared by Sarah-Ji Rhee from Love and Struggle Photos)

 

Queens Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy: RÊVE GÉNÉRAL ILLIMITÉ
[UNLIMITED OPEN DREAMS] A play on “grève générale illimitée” (unlimited general strike).
(Slogan shared by Stefan Christoff)
Queens Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
Aaron Hughes, Autonomous Democracy: AIN’T NO POWER LIKE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, ‘CAUSE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE DON’T STOP. SAY WHAT?
(Slogan shared by activist David Solnit)
Bellenden Road, Peckham, London. SE15.
Autonomous Democracy series by Aaron Hughes
Subjects
Anti-capitalismAnti-warEducationEn EspañolEn FrançaisEnvironment & ClimateGlobal SolidarityHistoryInspirationLaborRacial JusticeSocial Movements

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