Activism

Freedom Funnies: There is a checkpoint around this center!

In 2011, the board of New York’s LGBT Center instituted a ban on all Palestine-related organizing at the center at the urging of Zionist funders like Michael Lucas. One year ago, queer activists and allies occupied the lobby of the center to protest this ban. Two organizers from the organization FIERCE perfomed an amazing spoken word piece at the demonstration that I felt beautifully, elegantly tied together the disparate struggles of anti-apartheid activists and those fighting for freedom for all people here in NYC. I asked if I could turn that piece into a comic, which I have been slowly working on since then. This March will represent the 2nd anniversary of that ban.

(Click on the first image below to view it larger, and then click in the upper right hand corner to scroll to the next page.)

Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
Image: Ethan Heitner
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Nicely done. The well-stated message is powerful; and, for the most part*, the artwork does an excellent job of visually conveying the power of the message.

(*IMO, the “busy-ness” of some of the graphics hinders legibility.)

Fantastic! thank you Ethan.

Great work!

It may not matter, but I noticed a few typos…
image 2: POL-ICE or PO-LICE (instead of POL-LICE)
image 3: BUILD WALLS (instead of buildS)
image 6: CHECK YOU (instead of CEHCK) + MILITARIZED (militaRZed) + ELITIST POLITICS (elitEst poliTCs)
image 7: WITH THE OPPRESSED (THE THE)

I’ve always loved the underground comics style (& message).

Wasn’t there an artist featured here that was essentially the Palestinian Harvey Pekar (i.e.”American Splendor”)?

Ethan, you did it! you were part of what made them change. http://mondoweiss.net/2013/02/overturns-palestine-activities.html
yes yes yes. your words and images made an impact. i love it.

question….”undercover cops going on white water rafting trips with muslim student”? do tell. i missed that!