As progressive activists since well before the era of YouTube and Facebook, our collective memories sometimes get a bit weak or blurry. This is exacerbated by frequent feelings of vain struggles and bitter defeats suffered over the years at the hands of gadflies like Ronald Reagan and Dick Cheney.

Central America, Reagan Wages War, various CA solidarity groups, artist: Bonnie Acker

Even if if we still haven’t gotten the “change we can believe in” no one can take away the glory, those moments of triumphant striving for justice and peace that we experienced at some point along the road.
And luckily those events – both momentous and minor –  have been preserved for us through the years in the political art and graphics that blazoned our progressive visions. Art continues to be a powerful force in political activism (look at the impact of Shepard Fairey’s work, for instance). And the historical narrative of a vital progressive movement is nowhere more tangible than in the graphical manifestos and the poignant posters that have so often rallied us to the call.
Pictured here are some posters that we feel really captured the spirit of progressive activism. Although they are inextricably tied to specific events, they continue to eerily resonate with our current lives and struggles.
Red Sun Press has printed hundreds of posters for the movement for social change, and maintains an archive of this material, but we don’t necessarily have all the details about each piece. This is an invitation to reflect upon your memories from the event, the art or the movement.
Enjoy.

Women’s Encampment for Peace and Justice, Seneca Falls, NY, 1983. Design by Bonnie Acker.

Medical Aid to El Salvador, Boston Committee for Medical Aid to El Salvador, Artist: David Fichter

End 20 Years Israeli Occupation, Nov.29 Ctte. for Palestine, artist: Juan Fuentes, 1987

No Blood for Oil, Red Sun Press, Linda Roistacher, 1991