October 4: HOPE

Over a hundred years ago, women organized to demand the right to vote. They were harassed, arrested, tortured, and abused by citizens and the government for their audacity. On January 9, 1917, the Silent Sentinels began to demonstrate outside the White House, holding signs but remaining stoically silent. They endured the hatred and violence thrown at them, some of it from other suffragists, but more than two years later the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, prohibiting denial of voting rights on the basis of sex. Protest works. It’s not easy, and it’s not necessarily quick, but it works.

October 3: HOPE

Some of this month’s “official” prompts do not coincide with an activist message—for example, “Dune” on October 13. On days like that I plan to use the prompt from October 10, “Hope.” We need all of it we can get. Today's prompt was "Bulky," which I depicted yesterday, so here's Hope.

In one month, the United States will have its official election day. The pandemic may keep many people from the polls, so if you plan to vote by mail, do it now. As soon as possible. Time is running out for that method of expressing your choice. The vote is our only hope to rid the nation of the current President, and it must be overwhelming so there can be no doubt, no tampering from the White House. Don’t let it slip away.

I know the fair thing to say is, “I don’t care who you vote for; just vote,” but we all know that’s not true. I don’t care who you vote for, as long as it’s Biden and Harris.

Hope.

October 2: WISP (and BULKY)

(After the photograph “Taking a Stand In Baton Rouge” by Jonathan Bachman.)

On July 9, 2016, Pennsylvania nurse Ieshia Evans took part in a protest of the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. She stood calmly while armored police arrested her, and this image became iconic. But while she looks like a delicate wisp of a person compared with the bulky officers, she was and remains a vocal critic of all politicians and systems that oppress BIPOC and advocates direct action for change…as we all should be.

Nonetheless, the image still holds powerful symbolism four years later as heavily armed and armored agents of the state try to silence the voices of the people, and white supremacist systems continue to assert that Black Lives don’t Matter.

This drawing combines the prompts for October 2 and 3 because it seemed to fit.