The Raising Our Voices poster and postcard campaign to share printable images for activists protesting the separation of families due to immigration policy enforcement gained momentum this past weekend, as marches took place across the country. Author and audio producer Julie Burstein and Pippin Properties creative director Holly McGhee launched the Raising Our Voices website on June 23, where images provided by a roster of prominent children’s book illustrators and other artists can be downloaded free of charge. McGhee reports that by Friday night, June 29, 800 protest posters had been downloaded. People marched with posters from the site on Saturday, June 30, in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, New York City, and even Tokyo.
The Raising Our Voices site now also contains a series of encouraging postcards by illustrators, which people can download, personalize, and send to children incarcerated away from their parents, an effort recently spurred by Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. A Raising Our Voices Facebook page and Twitter account have been created as well, and social media hashtags used by the group are: #raisingourvoices, #familiesbelongtogether, #keepfamiliestogether, #wherearethechildren, #cardsforkids, and #goodtrouble.
Here’s a look at some of the poster images “in action,” carried by marchers from this past weekend, and a few of the postcard images.
Crowds rallied in support of families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border, during a march in Chicago.
A young activist wields a poster with an image by Sujean Rim, in New York City.
Protesters outside of City Hall in Los Angeles waved banners, including this one by singer-songwriter and visual artist Kira Lynn Cain, which says, “Seeking Asylum Is Not a Crime.”
The Raising Our Voices postcard campaign—to share images and hope with detained children—launched today. Postcards, including this one illustrated by Edel Rodriguez, are now available for download online.
In Seattle, young and old united with posters by (clockwise, from l.) Rodriguez, Rim, and Alison Farrell.
A postcard designed by Marc Rosenthal features a message in Spanish, encouraging individuals to stay strong.
The “Raising Our Voices” movement spread as far as Tokyo.
A postcard with a note of solidarity for immigrant families, by Kira Lynn Cain.
A protester holds up a poster by Edel Rodriguez, in Clifton, N.J.
A bilingual postcard by Jennifer K. Mann.
The “Families Belong Together Rally & March” in New York City. Members of the Raising Our Voices initiative offered a message of thanks on their website, “It was so heartening to see people around the world, from Tokyo to Seattle, Burlington to New York City, and many other cities and towns, carrying the powerful artwork of Raising Our Voices artists. Thank you! Please keep raising your voice in support of refugee families!”
