This print is one of nine apart of the Autonomous Democracy project open edition from 2021. The series focused on highlighting the history of direct democracy within freedom movements. Since screen printing the original edition at Spudnik Press Cooperative the series has been wheat paste around the world from the streets of Chicago to Montreal to London to Mexico City.
This print was this first in the series. It celebrates the direct action and the manifestation of real democracy during the Wisconsin uprising. In February 2011, rejecting the undemocratic actions of the then Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker, and in an act of direct democracy, thousands of people occupied the Wisconsin State Capital Building in Madison to defend worker rights. The occupation followed the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and coincided with the mass movement in Egypt’s Tahrir Square which lead to the overthrow of dictator Hosni Mubarak. Later that year, inspired by these actions and demanding a truly democratic response to the economic crisis, people began occupying Zuccotti park near Wall Street in New York launching the Occupy Movement. These are just some of the moments in the long history of the growing global movement for direct democracy.
It was first designed as a free downloadable graphic available here.
Autonomous Democracy installation London, 2023
Autonomous Democracy installation London, 2023
Autonomous Democracy installation Chicago, 2021
