Voiceless: DC Less Than Equal Campaign

Page 1

VOICELESS Project Book


ST A S O FA M CA G YE HA O IT R O S N LA M IC LIN O N K SAN U A UM A X K C BA P IM A M AT H R C D AT W A N R IE T Y N HA HI CE EM E TE AN US N

OU M

M SO OU G Y ST CA R EO AF M IT O U N A K ON LI P KI HA M S M AT I C N C SA B LA AX W A A N UM M HIT CH RR A AT T E A N Y CE D H IE A N EU EM S AN N

M SO OU G Y ST C A R EO A F M IT O U N A K ON LI P KI HA M S M AT I C N SA C A B LA X W A A N UM M HIT CH RR A AT T E A N Y CE D H IE A N EU EM S AN N

M

O

US

TA S O FA M CA G YE HA O IT R O S N L O N SA LA M IC IN U K N UM A X A IM P B K C A M A H AR C D AT T W A N R IE T Y N HA HI CE EM E T E AN US N


TABLE OF CONTENT S

01

Introduction Pro ject Over view 02

36 Imagery

Summ ar y Develo pme n t Im age s Poste r s Applica t ion s

37 38 39 40 43

77

Motion Graphics P U BLIC SER VICE ANNOUNCEM E N T 2 Intro duc t ion 78 Sc rip t 79 Sto r ybo ards 80

03 Research

O ve rv i ew H isto r y C u rre n t A p p roac h e s Re se arc h Su m m a r y D e m ograp h ic Re s e a rc h E th n ograp h ic Re s e a rc h C omp e t it ive Re se a rc h

04 06 07 08 10 13 17

45 Web

Summary 46 Site m a p 4 7 S c re e n s h o t s 4 8

84 Event

Summary 85 E ve n t Ph o to s 8 6

20

Communications Brief S u mma r y a nd P ro p o s a l Ta rge t Au d i e nc e a nd Me s s a ge s Goals St ra te g i e s a nd Ta c t i c s

21 22 23 24

56

Social Media

G o a l a nd P l a t fo rms Fa c e bo o k F l i c kr Yo u Tu be Vi me o Tw i t te r

57 58 61 64 65 66

25

Branding

S um m ar y T h e S p i r i t VO ICEL ESS Lo go C o l o r Pal et te Typo graphy B ra nd i ng Styl e Gui d e Ed i to r i a l St yl e Gui d e I c o no graphy

26 27 28 30 31 32 33 35

67

Motion Graphics

P U B L I C S ERVI C E AN N O UNCE M E NT 1 I nt ro d uc t i o n 68 S c ri pt 69 Stor ybo ard s 70


INTRODUCTION


PROJECT OVERVIEW

02 This social change campaign is created to educate and inspire Washington, DC residents to bring about a change in their lives, specifically—to fight to let their voice be heard in the United States Congress through an equal voting opportunity. The campaign targets District of Columbia residents, provides tools and encourages them to spread the message of the denial of basic democratic right of a vote in Congress. Research was conducted to explore the importance of voting, the demographic and ethnic data as well as the number of registered voters in the District of Columbia. Additional research shone a light on the current situation of Washington, DC voting rights. Furthermore, analysis of Washington, DC voting rights campaigns and other social change campaigns was conducted to ascertain strengths and weaknesses of said campaigns. The campaign includes a name, visual identity, taglines, print advertising, an event, website, social media plan and motion graphics. Projected results include increased education of the District of Columbia residents as well as national awareness of the lack of voting rights.

Introduction ✘ Group C


RESEARCH


OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE

04 Out of approximately 600,000 residents, 454,452 are registered voters. The District of Columbia has a unique status in the American political system. It was designed to exist outside the boundary of any state. Because of this, the residents of Washington, DC do not have any formal representation in Congress (except for one non-voting delegate on the House floor). The revolutionary cry “No taxation without representation” can be read on majority of the residents license plates. According to a nationwide poll in 2005 conducted by KRC research, thirty-three percent of Americans who visit the Washington, DC are aware of the license plate with the famous quote, but not the reasoning behind it’s application and the significance it holds to the residents. Most Americans take the representatives in Congress, who speak out and stand up for their interests and values, for granted. Despite the federal taxes they pay, the wars they fight in, and the other obligations of citizenship that they perform, residents of our Nation’s Capital—Washington, DC—simply do not have the basic democratic, American, right of voting representation in Congress. Out of approximately 600,000 Washington, DC denizens 454,452 are registered voters. They have not had representation in Congress since 1801.

Congress treats Washington, DC as a state for the purposes of 500 of the nation’s laws. The main argument against granting the residents of the District of Columbia a Congressional vote is simply because it is not a state. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution states that representatives are to be chosen by the people of the several states. While the definition of a state is hard to decipher, Washington, DC is considered a state in other legal references. It is treated as a state by the Congress in more than 500 United States laws and regulations. Because of its broad jurisdiction over our nation’s capital, Congress legislates on local matters large and small. Sometimes, Congress excludes Washington, DC from programs open to the states, such as a program benefitting disadvantaged teens, for which funds were approved for all the states, yet specifically crossed-out for our nation’s capital. Other times, members of Congress score points in their home districts, on controversial issues at the expense of the District of Columbia residents. For instance, Congress has prevented Washington, DC, which has a high violent crime rate, from controlling gun sales. In another action, Congress has overturned a Washington, DC law covering contraceptive drugs under health insurance, even though 23 states have similar laws. Research ✘ Group C


OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE

05 78 % of Americans thought Washington, DC residents had equal voting rights in Congress.

If Washington, DC had voting representation in Congress, its residents would have at least one U.S. Representative. In recent years, a voting member from Washington, DC could have changed the outcome of important issues, from tax cuts for the rich to special deals for big pharmaceutical companies, not only by casting a vote, but also by providing leadership and persuading other members of Congress to change their vote. On the revenue side, the federal government’s operations within Washington, DC are exempt from property, corporate income and sales taxation. All in all, 42 percent of the land within Washington, DC—worth approximately $20.8 billion in all—is exempt from taxation. That’s a larger share of the land than is tax-exempt in any other city or state in the entire country. Meanwhile, on the spending side, the federal government’s presence creates many expenses for which Congress does not reimburse the Washington, DC government. That is why local tax rates in Washington, DC are higher than the average for communities in United States. On top of which Washington, DC area is the only part of the United States where residents are both taxed by the federal government and denied voting representation. (Residents of territories, who are also denied voting representation do not pay federal income taxes.) In 2005, 78 percent of Americans thought the District of Columbia’s residents had equal voting rights in Congress like every other fellow American, highlighting the lack of national support and awareness. This is not a trivial issue of politic maneuvering. Members of Congress provide a variety of important services for their constituents, such as negotiating with federal agencies on their behalf, lobbying for federal grant money, and making the views of each district known in Congress. Without formal representation residents of Washington, DC lose all of these benefits. It’s time to end this injustice. The people of the District of Columbia are an important part of America, and they deserve to have a voice in Congress, just like any other American.

Research ✘ Group C


HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, DC VOTING RIGHT S 1998

Washington, DC right to elect a non-voting member is reinstated.

Two groups of residents file lawsuits demanding voting rights. The Washington, DC government joins one of the lawsuits.

1915

1800

1993

Legislation is introduced that would allow Washingtonians to vote for president and have representation in Congress.

Washington, DC as a United States capital is established.

1800

President Lyndon B. Johnson urges Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to give the District of Columbia a vote in the House and enable Congress to enlarge Washington, DC representation. The move stalls.

US Senator Henry Blair of NH, introduces the first constitutional amendment that would give Washington, DC Congressional representation.

1961 States ratify the 23rd amendment and grant Washington, DC the right to vote in presidential elections

69.6%

73.4%

71.3%

30.4%

26.6%

28.5%

53.9%

1850

1900

1950

1800

45.2%

1848 Washington, DC gains rights to elect other city officials.

1802

1960

ETHNIC DIVISION

71.1%

1978

✘✘ ✘

Between 1915 and 1921, 16 more bills are introduced; none of them is passed.

2000

Congress passes the Home Rule Act, giving Washington, DC residents the right to elect mayor and city council. Congress retains the right to review and overturn any locally passed laws.

2010 US Representative Tom Davis introduces a bill that adds two House seats, one for Washington, DC, the other would probably go to Republican-leaning Utah. It never comes to vote.

Floor vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to give Washington, DC voting representation in Congress. The amendment gets a majority of the vote 229 to 181, but fails to reach the 2/3 supermajority needed to move forward.

1973

38.5%

50.7%

2003

1976

Congress passes a proposed constitutional amendment to give Washington, DC three electoral votes in presidential elections, but no representation in Congress.

President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks about the evils of taxing Washington, DC residents and making them serve in the armed forces without letting them vote.

30.8%

60.0%

The House and the Senate approve a proposed constitutional amendment giving full voting rights to Washington, DC.

1952

Washington, DC gains rights to elect city council.

Joined by Norton, Davis tries again, but the bill to add two seats fails to reach a vote.

Advocates launch an unsuccessful bid for statehood.

1874 The right to elect a mayor and council is revoked.

2006

1980

27.7%

06

Davis and Norton try again in the Democraticcontrolled Congress. The House passes the bill, but it stalls in the Senate.

The constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1978 dies because not enough states ratify it.

Washington, DC residents are allowed to vote for the president for the first time.

The House and the Senate take up the voting rights bill sponsored by Senators Joseph I. Lieberman and Orrin G. Hatch. While the Senate passed the bill, a vote in the House was delayed after a failed attempt to remove an amendment to the bill that would repeal the District’s gun control laws.

2007

1985

1964

1888

Congress annexes Washington, DC and leaves the residents without an elected representative.

The House defeats a bill sponsored by delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton that would grant statehood to Washington, DC.

1967

Washington, DC residents cast their last vote for House and Senate as voters for Maryland and Virginia.

1801

2009

1971

2000 New Washington, DC license plates are introduced with a saying “Taxation without Representation”.

2000 A special three-judge panel rules against both groups, saying the Constitution only grants voting rights to people living in states.

Research ✘ Group C


CURRENT APPROACHES TO GAINING VOTING RIGHT S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

LEGAL SUITS ✘✘

Green v. DC in 1966

✘✘

The Court of Appeals rejected the “taxation without representation” argument. This argument also failed in later cases involving federal and Washington, DC taxes. ✘✘

07

DC Voting Rights Amendment

Congress passed the amendment in 1985, but by the time it expired in 1985 it had been ratified by only 16 of the 38 states required.

Adams v. Clinton in 2002

This suit stated that voting rights were a matter for legislative, not judicial relief. The US Supreme Court refused to reconsider this ruling.

LEGISLATION

STATEHOOD ✘✘

The Joe Lieberman/Eleanor Holmes Norton Bill

This bill gives Washington, DC two senators and allocates representatives proportional to the population as is done for states. Opponents note that the Constitution provides that senators be elected only by states. Also, any bill creating two senators for Washington, DC is unlikely to be passed in Congress in the near term because the Republican-controlled Congress knows that in this majority Democratic city, the two senators elected would be Democrats. ✘✘

RETROCESSION/CITYHOOD ✘✘

Ralph Regula the DC Voting Rights Restoration act

This act would return almost all of Washington, DC to Maryland, reducing the District to the Mall and surrounding federal structures. Most Washington, DC residents would then become Maryland residents, which would enable them to elect a representative to the US House and vote for Maryland’s two Senators. Questions have been raised as to whether Maryland would welcome Washington, DC’s traditionally Democratic voter block and whether Washington, DC residents would accept their new status as Marylanders.

The Tom Davis Bill

This bill states that Washington, DC residents would be given representation in the US House, and adds another seat in the House for the state of Utah. It balances a likely Democratic seat in Washington, DC with a likely Republican seat in Utah. Opponents note that this bill would not give the District of Columbia citizens full representation, as there would be no Senators. Research ✘ Group C


RESEARCH SUMMARY

08 Research was conducted to shed a light on the District of Columbia population, their knowledge of voting rights issues and on social change campaigns. The goal of the Demographic research team was to gather information on the residents of Washington, DC. By using age as a constant, 18 years and over, and the 2010 census, we broke down each ward into two variables: race and ethnic groups. This helped us find statistics that had more weight to them than a general population statistic. We also furthered our research on overall statistics on the residents of Washington, DC. The goal of the Ethnographic research team was to survey Washington, DC residents and non-residents by asking targeted questions to determine the level of knowledge of the issues concerning Washington, DC representation in the United States Congress. The goal of Competitive research was to determine the aspects of a social change campaign that makes it successful. We researched social change campaigns, both political and non-political. We looked at many different aspects of these campaigns: taglines, colors, typography, strategies, social media platforms also the success and impact of said campaigns.

RESEARCH KEY

Blog

Facebook

Flickr

RSS Feed

Twitter

Vimeo

Education

Information

Videos

Petitions/ Legislation

Thumbs down/ No

Thumbs up/ Yes

YouTube

Awards

Community

Social Media

Research ✘ Group C


RESEARCH SUMMARY

09 50.7%

38.5%

49.2%

TOTAL POPULATION 617, 996 African American 235,249

47.2%

52.8%

Caucasian 191.933

9.1%

16.8%

66.4%

11.4%

under 18 years old

19-64 years old

over 65 years old

Bachelors Degree or higher

Hispanic/Latino 42,708

AWARENESS OF ALL WASHINGTON, DC VOTING RIGHTS ISSUES Washington, DC Residents

Non-Washington, DC Residents

AWARENESS OF THE WASHINGTON, DC VOTING RIGHTS ACT Washington, DC Residents

Non-Washington, DC Residents

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL CHANGE CAMPAIGN

Social Media 1+1

Community

Information

Education

Platforms

Research ✘ Group C


DEMOGR APHIC RESEARCH

10 OVERALL STATISTICS ON WASHINGTON, DC 2010 Statistics

DC Workers

Number

%

Total Population

617, 996

Civilian labor force

328,036

66.5%

Asian/Pacific Islander

3.6%

Employed

297,189

60.2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%

Unemployed

30,847

6.3%

Hispanic

9.1%

Armed Forces

3,062

0.6%

Caucasian

38.5%

Not in labor force

162,303

32.9%

Black/ African American

50.7%

2005-2009 Statistics Foreign Born

13%

Poverty Rate

18%

Unemployment Rate

9.2%

Average Family Income

$115,016

Demographic ✘ ResearchResearch ✘ Group C


DEMOGR APHIC RESEARCH

11 WARD 1

WARD 2

WARD 3

WARD 4

Number

% of Total Population

Number

% of Total Population

Number

% of Total Population

Number

% of Total Population

Total Population

67,163

100%

75,259

100%

67,044

100%

60,571

100%

One Race

53,233

79.3%

66,812

88.8%

60,848

90.8%

49,479

81.7%

Caucasian

29,570

44.0%

51,281

68.1%

52,598

78.5%

12,156

20.1%

Black/ African American

20,438

30.4%

8,579

11.4%

3,344

5.0%

36,012

59.5%

American Indian & Alaska Native

147

0.2%

131

0.2%

87

0.1%

125

0.2%

Asian

2,864

4.3%

6,609

8.8%

4,623

6.9%

1,020

1.7%

Nat. Hawaiian & Pacific Islander

31

0.0%

34

0.0%

2

0.0%

29

0.0%

Other Race

183

0.3%

178

0.2%

174

0.3%

137

0.2%

Two or More Races

1,464

2.2%

1,775

2.4%

1,297

1.9%

1,065

1.8%

Hispanic/ Latino

12,466

18.6%

6,672

8.9%

4,899

7.3%

10,027

16.6%

Non Hispanic/ Latino

54,697

81.4%

68,587

91.1%

62,145

92.7%

50,544

83.4%

Demographic ✘ ResearchResearch ✘ Group C


DEMOGR APHIC RESEARCH

12 WARD 5

WARD 6

WARD 7

WARD 8

Number

% of Total Population

Number

% of Total Population

Number

% of Total Population

Number

% of Total Population

Total Population

61,567

100%

66,717

100%

53,243

100%

49,335

100%

One Race

56,872

92.4%

62,251

93.3%

51,386

96.5%

47,879

97.0%

Caucasian

10,311

16.7%

33,297

49.9%

917

1.7%

1,803

3.7%

Black/ African American

45,338

73.6%

25,701

38.5%

50,141

94.2%

45,696

92.6%

American Indian & Alaska Native

180

0.3%

218

0.3%

154

0.3%

101

0.2%

Asian

923

1.5%

2,864

4.3%

109

0.2%

209

0.4%

Nat. Hawaiian & Pacific Islander

19

0.0%

36

0.1%

10

0.0%

14

0.0%

Other Race

101

0.2%

135

0.2%

55

0.1%

56

0.1%

Two or More Races

1,186

1.9%

1,320

2.0%

717

1.3%

616

1.2%

Hispanic/ Latino

3,518

5.7%

3,146

4.7%

1,140

2.1%

840

1.7%

Non Hispanic/ Latino

58,058

94.3%

63,571

95.3%

52,103

97.9%

48,495

98.3%

Demographic ✘ ResearchResearch ✘ Group C


ETHNOGR APHIC RESEARCH

13 After compiling much data the Ethnographic team came up with a unique survey that asked questions which had not been asked before. After collecting the data, the Ethnographic team was surprised that age seemed to play very little role in the knowledge base that respondents seemed to bring to the survey. Almost no one surveyed had much knowledge of the 2006 Washington, DC Voting Act. The survey opened up a series of questions that we would like to approach in a follow-up interview to allow us to go into more depth behind the reasoning they held these views and if they had any personal experiences that could be directly related to this issue.

Age:

Gender:

Race: Caucassian

Hispanic

Black / African American

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander

Asian

American Indian / Alaska Native

Other (please specify):

Do you live in DC:

Yes

No

If Yes, what ward do you live in: If No, what state, county, city/town do you live in: How long have you lived there:

yrs.

Occupation:

Are you aware that Congress has final say over all DC laws

Yes

No

Are you aware that DC does not have equal representation in Congress

Yes

No

Do you think that DC deserves equal representation

Yes

No

Does where you live influence how much you care about DC voting rights

Yes

No

Do you beleive it is fair that DC residents pay federal taxes even though they do not have Congressional representation

Yes

No

Have you heard of the DC Voting Act of 2006

Yes

No

YES NO

If Yes, what is your opinion of it

Yes, I would be willing to participate in an on-camera follow-up interview to ask more detailed questions about the DC voting and representation issue. Contact information:

MAN

WOMAN Research ✘ Group C


ETHNOGR APHIC RESEARCH

14 ETHNOGRAPHIC: WASHINGTON, DC RESIDENTS Are you aware that Congress has final say over all Washington, DC laws?

77%

75%

100%

100%

23%

25%

0%

0%

18-34

100%

100%

0%

35-49

0%

50+

Are you aware that Washington, DC does not have equal representation in congress?

100%

83%

100%

100%

100%

100%

0%

17%

0%

0%

0%

0%

18-34

35-49

50+

Research ✘ Group C


ETHNOGR APHIC RESEARCH

15 ETHNOGRAPHIC: WASHINGTON, DC RESIDENTS Do you think that Washington, DC deserves equal representation?

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

18-34

35-49

50+

Does where you live influence how much you care about Washington, DC voting rights? 85%

90%

100%

100%

100%

95%

15%

10%

0%

0%

0%

5%

18-34

35-49

50+

Research ✘ Group C


ETHNOGR APHIC RESEARCH

16 ETHNOGRAPHIC: WASHINGTON, DC RESIDENTS Do you believe it is fair that Washington, DC residents pay federal taxes even through they do not have Congressional representation?

0%

0%

0%

0%

20%

0%

100%

100%

100%

100%

80%

100%

18-34

35-49

50+

Have you heard of the Washington, DC Voting Act of 2006? 0%

0%

100%

70%

56%

100%

100%

100%

0%

30%

23%

0%

18-34

35-49

50+ Research ✘ Group C


COMPETITIVE RESEARCH

CHARACTERS UNITE

IT GETS BETTER

“I won’t stand for…”

“It gets better”

17

“Despite our differences, we have more in common than we think. We all want to belong. We all have something to say.”

DC VOTE

UNFRIEND COAL

“I am DC, I demand Democracy”

“Unfriend Coal”

“Congress, Don’t tread on DC!”

STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY

YES, WE CAN!

“Stand Up! Free DC!”

“Yes, We Can!”

“Liberty is already late, the time was Yesterday”

“DC Statehood Now”

STAND UP FOR DC

DC GOVERNMENT FOR STATEHOOD

“Standing up for equal rights. Demanding DC Statehood”

“DC Statehood”

Research ✘ Group C


COMPETITIVE RESEARCH ROCK THE VOTE

BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING

18

“Building political power for young people.”

DC APPLESEED-DC VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT

WILDFIRE PREVENTION

“To gain full-voting representation in Congress through congressional legislation.”

“Smokey says—Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires.” “Remember...Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” “Only you can prevent wildfires.”

SMACKDOWN YOUR VOTE

THE SHELTER PET PROJECT

“A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet. Be that person. Adopt.”

WE MUST CHANGE

ADOPTUSKIDS

“We must change_____.”

“You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.”

Research ✘ Group C


COMPETITIVE RESEARCH

BE THE CHANGE

EDSI

“Take Action”

“Already making a difference, but not doing it alone”

19

Although the social media wasn’t that great, the design and typography worked well.

APPLE 4S

DROID RAZR

“Siri (insert command here)”

“Droid (in a robot voice)”

GOOD MAGAZINE

YOU VS JOHN PAULSON

“If I were President!”

“You vs.....!”

Research ✘ Group C


COMMUNICATIONS BRIEF


SUMMARY AND PROPOSAL

21 SUMMARY Washington, DC is not represented in the United States Congress. The residents of the District of Columbia need to be educated about and angered by the lack of representation in order to raise awareness of the issue nationwide and gain rights equal to those of an American citizen. The main goal of the campaign is to educate, excite and anger the residents of Washington, DC, while providing the tools to spread the message of injustice to all of the United States. Long-term the campaign could create a wide awareness of the issue and encourage residents of other states to take action to restore democracy in Washington, DC.

CURRENT SITUATION The Washington, DC lack of representation problem is currently tackled by many organizations, many of which do not have a strong enough campaign to really bring the lack of democracy to the forefront of the minds of Washington, DC residents. It is also evident that Washington, DC residents and the residents of the United States are not properly informed about this issue.

PROPOSAL The campaign will firstly educate, then excite and evoke anger in residents of Washington, DC. Then campaign will provide tools for sharing the campaign message across mediums. The campaign will have a strong visual presence. Through highly visible print ads and PSAs Washington, DC residents will be educated and excited about the issue. Through events the residents of Washington, DC will raise awareness and excite others while creating a community within the community. Through web and social presence the community will be able to share the message and invite others to participate in sharing or taking action.

Communications Brief ✘ Group C


TARGET AUDIENCE AND MESSAGES

22 TARGET AUDIENCE

Washington, DC Resident 18-65 y.o. single or married Bachelor’s degree or higher median to high income all political party affiliations socially conscious knows how to use and has access to internet

PERCEPTION / TONE / GUIDELINES ✘✘

Dynamic, aggressive, exciting, fun, “in-your-face”.

✘✘

Clean, easy to understand, high visibility.

✘✘

Easily shareable.

✘✘

Information should have a fresh, conversational, yet excited tone.

✘✘

Easy to navigate and find information.

SINGLE MINDED MESSAGE Washington, DC residents are denied a basic democratic right of representation in Congress.

SECONDARY MESSAGES ✘✘

The democratic situation in Washington, DC is outdated, antiquated and un-American.

✘✘

Washington, DC residents are treated as second class citizens.

✘✘

Washington, DC is treated as an American Colony.

✘✘

Get involved to bring democratic rights to the Nation’s capital.

✘✘

Spread the word about the injustice. Communications Brief ✘ Group C


GOAL S

FE

Un ashi i te n g t d St on, at DC es

IW N

n

E

sio

,P

as

O r K An

ge

EV

E ty AmRmuntwi ork S H Ccoial Ne

So

CT

Wa

RM C F Oon, D I Nshingt

23

There are four main goals of the VOICELESS campaign: ✘✘

Educate the audience and create an understanding of the problem.

✘✘

Create a passionate response to the issue.

✘✘

Provide tools to share the knowledge and one’s own stories.

✘✘

Encourage sharing of information and personal stories locally and nationally.

Communications Brief ✘ Group C


STR ATEGIES AND TACTICS

INFORM

EVOKE

Inform

Anger

Washington, DC

Passion

24

EVENT Photos Videos Information

ADS/PRINT Information Call to Action

WEB Stories Photos Videos Information

PSA Information

STATEHOOD

NO TAXES

Twitter Facebook Flickr Vimeo YouTube

CITYHOOD AMENDMENT

SOCIAL MEDIA

NATIONWIDE RECOGNITION

INFECT

SHARE

Washington, DC United States

Your Community Social Network

NOTHING HAPPENS

VOICELESS campaign goals will be achieved through varying mediums, all of which are inter-connected. We will educate the audience by the use of print posters and business cards, through information on the website and in social media, as well as with the use of motion graphics and events. We will evoke anger and passion for the issue through extreme statistics in public service announcements, strong imagery in print and on-line, as well as through personal storytelling on the website as well as on social media sites. We will encourage and provide the tools for information, photo, video and personal story sharing by the use of the website, events and social media platforms. Communications Brief ✘ Group C


BRANDING Lauma Dienemann


SUMMARY

26 WHO WE ARE VOICELESS is a campaign for equal rights and fair representation of Washington, DC residents in the United States Congress. The lack of Congressional voting representation within the District of Columbia has left its residents—American tax-paying citizens—VOICELESS for generations. Through education, and by creating a unified community, the campaign aims to challenge the denial of democratic rights and the segregation of American citizens.

OUR BRAND The VOICELESS logo is a foundational component of our brand. Our signature is the key building block of our identity, the primary visual element that identifies us. It has been designed to represent the idea of our campaign, make us highly recognizable, and differentiate us in a competitive marketplace. When used with care, our logo and accompanying elements becomes a powerful tool for building and maintaining equity in the VOICELESS brand. The key elements of VOICELESS visual identity are: ✘✘

The VOICELESS Brandmark

✘✘

The VOICELESS Logotype

✘✘

The VOICELESS colors

✘✘

The VOICELESS signature fonts and style

These elements have a fixed relationship that should never be embellished, outlined, or altered in any way. Always use an approved electronic version.

Branding ✘ Group C


SPIRIT OF VOICELESS

27

Branding ✘ Group C


LOGO

28

LOGO CONCEPT The VOICELESS logo establishes the campaign as a strong community with a common goal. The VOICELESS Campaign and logo is targeted toward Washington, DC denizens, ages 18 and older. It provides a clear, strong message to challenge the segregation of Washington, DC residents from the citizens of the United States. The logotype utilizes Franklin Gothic, a simple, iconic typeface. The “X” stands as a symbol for denial of the democratic right of vote. The treatment of the mark implies the aggressive approach of the campaign.

LOGO RULES The VOICELESS logo, including its design elements and colors are servicemarks owned by the VOICELESS Campaign. The logo may only be used in accordance with this Style Guide. Never alter the logo in any way. The electronic logo files available that are supplied by the VOICELESS Campaign are the only files that should be used.

Branding ✘ Group C


LOGO

29 LOGO VARIATIONS The VOICELESS logo has additional variations, two total, which can be used in applications, where choosing a different word supports the message in a stronger way.

LOGO AND TAGLINE VARIATIONS The VOICELESS logo has two supporting taglines. These can be used in conjunction with any of the logo variations.

Branding ✘ Group C


COLOR PALETTE

30 rgb:

R=0 G=0 B=0 cmyk: C=75 M=68 Y=67 K=90

rgb:

Pantone® Black U Hex: #000000

pms:

pms:

R=232 G=30 B=38 cmyk: C=3 M=99 Y=97 K=0 Pantone®DS 73-1 C Hex: #EE3524

rgb:

R=255 G=255 B=255 cmyk: C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=0 pms: N/A Hex: #FFFFFF

rgb:

R=0 G=0 B=70 cmyk: C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=70 Pantone®Black 7 U Hex: #54534A pms:

RED

BLACK

WHITE

GRAY

energy

the absence of color

the presence of all colors

intellect

war

primordial void

new beginnings

knowledge

danger

emptiness

new developments

wisdom

strength

power

fulfillment

long-lasting

power

elegance

openness

compromise

determination

formality

truth

isolation

action

mystery

truce

detachment

passion

strength

light

unsettling

severe level in authority U.S.A. threat system

balance

Branding ✘ Group C


T YPOGR APHY

31 VOICELESS uses Franklin Gothic On any Medium to persuade Washington, DC to change Their Regular way of thinking And strike against the Demi - democratic rights With a Heavy blow.

TYPEFACE The Franklin Gothic EF type family is used throughout the VOICELESS campaign, it sets a solid, confident, simple tone. Franklin Gothic EF gives users a lot of flexibility by offering a broad range of type weights and styles, for both headline and text. ✘✘

An iconic typeface for the iconic effort.

✘✘

Was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

✘✘

Used on IRS tax forms.

✘✘

Evokes the feeling of something serious and important.

Branding ✘ Group C


BR ANDING ST YLE GUIDE

32 LOGO AND VARIATIONS The VOICELESS logo can be used in color or black and white, with or without a tagline. There are a total of three logo variations with and without taglines (see “Logo Variations” pages).

SMALLEST LOGO SIZE

COLORS

CLEAR SPACE

1.5 in 1 in

0.6 in

12px

Note: 12px logo is to be used only for web applications as a Favicon.

1.8 in

0.6 in

Note: these two logos are to be used for print, 3-D, digital and web applications.

Pantone® Black U Hex: #000000

rgb:

R=0 G=0 B=0 cmyk: C=75 M=68 Y=67 K=90

pms:

rgb:

R=232 G=30 B=38 cmyk: C=3 M=99 Y=97 K=0

pms:

rgb:

R=0 G=0 B=70 cmyk: C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=70

pms:

rgb:

pms:

R=255 G=255 B=255 cmyk: C=0 M=0 Y=0 K=0

Pantone®DS 73-1 C Hex: #EE3524 Pantone®Black 7 U Hex: #54534A N/A Hex: #FFFFFF

TYPOGRAPHY The typeface used by the VOICELESS brand is Franklin Gothic EF. (see “Typography” section for in-depth information about styling). For web applications—if Franklin Gothic is not available, use Verdana typeface for headers and body copy.

Branding ✘ Group C


EDITORIAL ST YLE GUIDE

CAMPAIGN NAME AND TAGLINE

EDITORIAL SPECIFICS

USAGE OF CAMPAIGN NAME AND TAGLINE

In time spans involving years, use the four-digit year[en dash]two-digit year format unless the years span a century. In the latter case, all four digits must always be used for both years.

Always use all capital letters for the word ”VOICELESS” in all campaign applications and communications when it applies to either the campaign name, tagline or variations on campaign name.

Incorrect: Correct:

Example:

VOICELESS is the name of our campaign. Washingtonians are VOICELESS due to the lack of representation.

In addition, use all caps for the word that is before “LESS” when using it in campaign applications or correspondence. Example:

POWERLESS; CHOICELESS.

When setting type “VOICE”, “POWER”, “CHOICE” should be set in the same weight as the body text, while “LESS” needs to be set in a heavier weight (keep the weight variation consistent within the document). Example:

“VOICE” is set in Franklin Gothic EF Book, and “LESS” is set in Franklin Gothic EF Medium.

As a rule, however, a reference simply to “the campaign” is not capitalized (or italicized). Example:

VOICELESS is the official name of The Campaign for Getting Washington, DC a Vote. Volunteers supporting the event of the campaign continue to pour in.

Taglines should be set as follows: Example:

DC, LESS than Equal (the sentence is set in Franklin Gothic EF Book, and “LESS” is set in Franklin Gothic EF Medium).

Example: Gothic

Are YOU LESS than Equal? (note that “YOU” is set in uppercase. The sentence is set in Franklin Gothic EF Book, and “LESS” is set in Franklin EF Medium).

33

The Student Government Association approved new rules during the 2011–2 academic year. Her final year of teaching was 1999-00. The Student Government Association approved new rules during the 2011–12 academic year. Her final year of teaching was 1999-2000.

For both years and numbers, when the first number ends with more than one zero, the complete number should follow. Incorrect:

Look for the information on pages 100–2.

Correct:

The information can be found on pages 100–103.

TIME OF DAY These are abbreviations for the Latin phrase ante meridiem (a.m.), meaning before mid-day, and post meridiem (p.m.), meaning after mid-day. They should be set in lowercase, small caps, no periods and no spaces; also, lower the type size by one point (for contrast). Do not use 12 am or 12 pm, as they are ambiguous. Use 12 noon or 12 midnight or simply noon or midnight, instead. Incorrect:

The Mad Men marathon starts this Saturday at 12 am.

Correct:

The Mad Men marathon starts this Saturday at 12:00 midnight.

Also—again with the exception of noon and midnight, when 12:00 noon or 12:00 midnight is called for—unless the exact minutes are needed, times can be expressed without the :00, as follows: 3 am, 7 pm, 4:30 pm (note spacing and use of periods). Times are only written out in very formal circumstances, such as for invitations, and then the written number is always accompanied by the word “o’clock”. Example:

President Hockfield requests the pleasure of your company at Gray House at half-past seven o’clock.

Avoid redundancy: Example:

Half-past seven o’clock, not 7:30 o’clock. The party is from 8 to 11 pm, not The party is from 8 to 11 pm tonight. I have to wake up 3:15 am, not I have to wake up 3:15 am in the morning.

The VOICELESS Campaign brand is expressed largely through language—specific words and messages that reflect the VOICELESS Campaign’s personality and that ring true through our positioning statement, tagline, key messages, elevator pitch, and boilerplate text. Understanding the meaning behind these elements and using them properly in verbal and written communications, as well as in the work we do, is essential to bringing the VOICELESS brand to life. Editorial style guidelines are created to promote clarity and consistency in VOICELESS Campaign publications and correspondence. Consistent style and messaging create a unified identity and reinforces to our audience the goals and opportunities inherent in the campaign.

Branding ✘ Group C


EDITORIAL ST YLE GUIDE

WR ITING FOR TH E WEB

F O R M AT T I N G

FORMAT TING

WRITING FOR THE WEB

NOTE: For more information about formatting, use “The Mac is Not a Typewriter: A Style Manual for Creating Professional-Level

Writing for the web is different to other mediums. People do not read the web like they read newspapers or books. Readers tend to scan web pages. If they do start reading a lengthy document they rarely get to the end of it.

Type on Your Macintosh” by Williams, Robin, 2nd edition.

KERNING

34

WRITING FOR THE WEB TIPS

Kerning means adjusting the spacing between particular pairs of letters so that letter spacing is visually consistent. It is used to improve the overall appearance of the text. (Especially when the font size is large, unkerned letters can look unprofessional and, worse, interfere with communication of the message.)

THINK SHORT: Use short sentences and paragraphs. Use the shorter word where ever possible: Example:

use “now” not “currently”.

Example:

use “later” rather than “at a later time”.

JUSTIFIED TEXT Justified text refers to text that has been aligned on both margins (sometimes also known as full justification). Note that there are very few circumstances in which justified text is called for. Generally, unless the font size is small enough and the line wide enough, words tend to space themselves awkwardly as the type tries to align to the margins. These days, it is most common to see left-aligned text with a jagged right margin. The general guideline for determining if your line is long enough to justify text satisfactorily: the length of the line in picas should be roughly equal to twice the point size of the type. Example:

If you are using 12-point type, the line length must be at least 24 picas, or 4 inches (since there are about 6 picas per inch). Similarly, a type size of 9 points requires a line length of at least 3 inches (18 picas).

BE RELEVANT: Put the most important information first, and make sure it’s current. Readers expect web information to be up-to-date. CUT CONTENT: Delete unnecessary words, limit your use of adverbs and adjectives. Avoid repeating text. THINK LINKS: Link to further information wherever possible but be careful not to over-link, and ensure links are relevant. USE DESCRIPTIVE LINK L ABELS: Example:

“Editorial Style Guide” not “click here for Editorial Style Guide”.

USE BULLET POINT OR LISTS. USE SUB -HEADINGS: They help you put content in context, and can help break the text up for readers.

ONE SPACE BET WEEN SENTENCES

DON’T SURPRISE: If you are linking to a document or file, always specify the document type and file size:

Use only one space after periods, colons, exclamation points, question marks, quotation marks—any punctuation that separates two sentences.

Example:

PARAGRAPH SPACING

BE CONSISTENT: Check your syntax, punctuation and spelling is in line with the Editorial Guidelines. Ensure consistency in style if you have multiple authors.

Do not indent paragraphs. Use space between paragraphs (note: do not use the return key as a means of spacing between paragraphs).

“listen to the podcast (mp3, 24.3 Mb)”.

PROOFREAD.

Use consistent spacing throughout your document.

G E N D E R N E U T R A L L A N G UAG E

T ROU B L E SOM E PAI RS

GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE:

TROUBLESOME PAIRS

THE GENERIC “MAN”

a while a period of time awhile for some time (Note that awhile includes the word “for” in its definition, and thus “for” shouldn’t be added. If your meaning begs you to add the word “for,” it’s likely you need to use a while.)

It is encouraged to use gender-neutral language throughout the campaign. Although levels of social acceptance vary for each of the words in the left-hand column below (as well as for their feminine counterparts, of course), see the list of some possible gender-neutral substitutions. Instead of ... anchorman bellboy businessman

You could substitute ... news anchor, anchor, newscaster bellhop business executive, manager

caveman (cave man) Congressman doorman fireman freshman mailman, postman man (v.)

cave dweller representative security guard firefighter first-year student mail (or letter) carrier to guard, to staff, to mind [the store]

manholes mankind manmade manpower manslaughter

utility holes, sewer holes humanity, people, human beings, humankind synthetic, artificial workers, workforce, staffing (Sorry, but this legal term for a form of homicide has no gender-neutral replacement.)

middleman newsman policeman

intermediary, go-between reporter, correspondent police officer

A FURTHER NOTE: If -man and -woman words are preferable to the alternatives, be sure to stick to parallel word forms: Incorrect: salesmen and women Correct:

salesmen and saleswomen

Incorrect:

spokesman and spokesperson

Correct:

spokesman and spokeswoman

accept Example:

to agree to take or undertake; to receive willingly; to believe; to consent begrudgingly, Gertrude accepted the collect call from her pesky sister. Without exception, council members voted to accept the resolution. Three rambunctious students accepted responsibility for the cafeteria’s broken window.

except Example:

to exclude or leave out; other than Jim allows himself one exception to his no-eating-after-dinner rule: a ice cream on Sundays. Except for Monday, every day of the week has a unique reason for being special to Joe.

advice (n.) advise (v.) affect (v.) effect (v.) all ready already all right alright all together altogether

suggestion; counsel to give advice to change; to shape; to influence to bring about; to cause something to happen (n.) result; outcome completely prepared (“all is ready”) beforehand; in the past; by this time This is the only correct spelling of all right. Generally considered as incorrect, so do not use. simultaneously; all at once entirely; wholly; totally

alternate (v.) alternative (n.)

to occur in a successive manner; to act or proceed by turns; to move regularly back and forth between two places, conditions, actions, etc. (adj.) happening or following in turns (n.) a person acting in place of another; a substitute a choice between or among mutually exclusive possibilities (adj.) existing outside traditional or established systems

Branding ✘ Group C


ICONOGR APHY

35 Blog

Facebook

Flickr

RSS Feed

Twitter

Vimeo

YouTube

Awards

Republican (-s; -ic)

Democrat (-s; -ic)

Education

Information

House/household

Health care

Thumbs down

Thumbs up

Community

Social Media

Money

Savings

Support

Medicine Prescription

Justice

ICONS Shown here are icons that can be used in web, print, infographic or motion graphic applications, these can also be used in presentations and social media.

Branding ✘ Group C


IMAGERY Max Matthaeus


OVERSUMMARY ALL GOAL

37 SUMMARY Print pieces of this campaign are there to inform and to move viewers to visit the web aspects of the campaign. The posters are placed in bus shelters and in the metro where people often are not rushing from one place to another and have time to read what the posters around them are saying and take in their meanings, these place are also targeted because of the large range of people in the target demographic are mixed in these locations. The business card is there to just lead people to the web site, facebook and twitter, so that they can learn about the campaign and share their own thoughts.

GOALS The goals of the of the print campaign is to help inform people of Washington DC’s plight, the primary goal is to educate and to have people go to online material. This is to be done by having posters in bus shelters and the metro, where our target audience would be most likely to see it. The posters are to tell them that DC is less than equal to the other states, and to make them question why that is so. The posters also give them a small bit of information on what our campaign is about.

TARGET AUDIENCE 18-50 y.o. B.F.A. or higher Married with children Medium to high income Knows how to use and has access to the internet Socially conscious All political party affiliations Imagery ✘ Group C


DEVELOPMENT

38 Are You LESS than Equal?

A Campaign for equal rights and fair representation of Washington, D.C. residents in the United States Congress. The lack of congressional voting representation within the District of Columbia has left its residents— American tax-paying citizens—voiceless for generations. Through education, and by creating a unified community, the campaign aims to challenge the denial of democratic rights and the segregation of American citizens.

Are You LESS than Equal? voiceless.youdontknowwhatsgood.com facebook.com/VoicelessDc

Join us @

voiceless.youdontknowwhatsgood.com

VoicelessDC @voicelessdc

STRATEGY The main thoughts behind the print pieces was to create something that people can recognize even when they do not read the text. Something like what the “No H8” campaign did. As the images all uniform by being black and white, they do not cause the viewer to be overwhelmed by information and lets the red X stand out more. The idea behind using the red X is to have it be something that people can always recognize as something that is crossed out and as the people hold it over their mouths they will show that it is in fact, their voices that are crossed out, and that they are being silenced. This will make the viewers question why they are being silenced, or just crossed out and would want to find out more about this subject.

Imagery ✘ Group C


IMAGES

39

The images used in this campaign are mainly for the ‘Stand on the X’ event, where people would have their picture taken with an X over their mouths to symbolize them being voiceless. These images were to be the unify aspect of much of the campaigns pieces, so that people could recognize pieces of the campaign by these images at first glance. Imagery ✘ Group C


POSTERS

40

A Campaign for equal rights and fair representation of Washington, D.C. residents in the United States Congress. The lack of congressional voting representation within the District of Columbia has left its residents— American tax-paying citizens—voiceless for generations. Through education, and by creating a unified community, the campaign aims to challenge the denial of democratic rights and the segregation of American citizens.

Join us @ voiceless.youdontknowwhatsgood.com

VOICELESSDC @VOICELESSDC Imagery ✘ Group C


POSTERS

41

A Campaign for equal rights and fair representation of Washington, D.C. residents in the United States Congress. The lack of congressional voting representation within the District of Columbia has left its residents —American tax-paying citizens—voiceless for generations. Through education, and by creating a unified community, the campaign aims to challenge the denial of democratic rights and the segregation of American citizens.

Join us @

voiceless.youdontknowwhatsgood.com

VoicelessDC @voicelessdc Imagery ✘ Group C


POSTERS

42

A Campaign for equal rights and fair representation of Washington, D.C. residents in the United States Congress. The lack of congressional voting representation within the District of Columbia has left its residents —American tax-paying citizens—voiceless for generations. Through education, and by creating a unified community, the campaign aims to challenge the denial of democratic rights and the segregation of American citizens.

Join us @

voiceless.youdontknowwhatsgood.com

VoicelessDC @voicelessdc Imagery ✘ Group C


APPLICATIONS

43

A Campaign for equal rights and fair representation of Washington, D.C. residents in the United States Congress. The lack of congressional voting representation within the District of Columbia has left its residents —American tax-paying citizens—voiceless for generations. Through education, and by creating a unified community, the campaign aims to challenge the denial of democratic rights and the segregation of American citizens.

Join us @

voiceless.youdontknowwhatsgood.com

VoicelessDC @voicelessdc

Imagery ✘ Group C


APPLICATIONS

44

Imagery ✘ Group C


WEBSITE So Yeon Kim


SUMMARY

46 GOALS The goal of creating a website for the campaign is to raise awareness of the lack of DC’s representation in Congress and get people involved and represent their views. to get them a vote in Congress to represent their views and adopt their own cities in support of fundamental right.

STR ATEGY (ACTION) By providing the vital information about our issue and our campaign will educate people and make them aware of the lack of voting rights in DC. The most important and appealing information will appear on the main page of the website. Integrating with social medias such as Twitter and Facebook will not only enhance the website to be live or keep up-to-date, but also take this issue to a national level.

TACTICS (TOOLS) By creating the “x” voiceless event, people can participate in the event and actually be a part of our support for the campaign. Furthermore, social networking websites such Facebook, Twitter and Youtube will automatically update latest news on our website. This will allow people aware of our issue and eventually encourage 1+1 information sharing at least one another, to join the cause as well.

Website ✘ Group C


SITEMAP

47

Home

Who We Are

What We Do

What You Can Do

Mission Statement

“X” Event

Cut out “X”

Video

Description

Share Story

Quotes

Read Story

Photos

Contact Us

Intro Video (type based)

Infographic Video YouTube Video related to the issue

Video

Photo

DC movement history

Photo of the week (Sidebar) Links to articles (Sidebar)

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

48

HOME

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

49

LINKS TO ARTICLES

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

50

VIDEOS

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

51

X-EVENT

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

52

PHOTOS (X-EVENT)

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S CUT OUT “X”

53

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

54

SHARE STORIES

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SCREENSHOT S

55

READ STORIES

DETAILS

Website ✘ Group C


SOCIAL MEDIA Moustafa Hassan


GOAL

57 GOAL The goal of Social Media is to raise online awareness about DC’s unfair status by unifying the media and streams online. Thus creating a central online real estate that’s both relevant and fast moving.

PLATFORMS

Social Media

Group C


FACEBOOK

58

Social Media

Group C


FACEBOOK

59

Social Media

Group C


FACEBOOK

60

Social Media

Group C


FLICKR

61

Social Media

Group C


FLICKR

62

Social Media

Group C


FLICKR

63

Social Media

Group C


YOUTUBE

64

Social Media

Group C


VIMEO

65

Social Media

Group C


TWITTER

66

Social Media

Group C


MOTION GRAPHICS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 1 Kat White


PSA INTRODUCTION

68 The PSA for the VOICELESS Campaign looks at the issue regarding the lack of congressional voting representation for the Washington, DC residents and the injustice of it. It’s targeted to inform and educate those who live outside of Washington, DC. After gathering research on three different platforms: animation/psa research, statistical research, and technical research, we began brainstorming and conceptualize what we wanted the message of the PSA to be, as well as, what the viewer would take away from it. By using extreme statistics, vector imagery, photography, 3D elements, a voiceover, call to action, and the campaign’s color palette, the viewer would be visually engaged and informed that the residents of Washington, DC have no voting representative in Congress.

Motion Graphics Group C PSA ✘ ✘Kat White


SCRIPT BIBLIOGR APHY

69 FINAL SCRIPT There are roughly 169 million registered voters in the United States. Each has Congressional Representation. 2 Senators for the Senate and at least 1 Representative in the House of Representatives. But guess what? There are more than 305,125 Black, 231,471 Caucasian, 54,749 Hispanic, and 21,056 Asian citizens that do not have representation at all. This group has no say on healthcare, the education of their children, reproductive rights, or taxation. And they live right next door in the Nation’s Capitol. We are voiceless, powerless, voteless, and choiceless. DC, less than equal.

Motion Graphics Group C PSA ✘ ✘Kat White


STORYBOARDS

70

PSA ✘ ✘Kat White Motion Graphics Group C


STORYBOARDS

71

PSA ✘ ✘Kat White Motion Graphics Group C


STORYBOARDS

72

PSA ✘ ✘Kat White Motion Graphics Group C


STORYBOARDS

73

PSA ✘ ✘Kat White Motion Graphics Group C


STORYBOARDS

74

PSA ✘ ✘Kat White Motion Graphics Group C


STORYBOARDS

75

Motion Graphics Group C PSA ✘ ✘Kat White


STORYBOARDS

76

Motion Graphics Group C PSA ✘ ✘Kat White


MOTION GRAPHICS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 2 Monica Chance


INTRODUCTION

78 INTRODUCTION The first in a conceptual series of PSAs, this animation describes various war-related issues over which the District of Columbia had no control due to its lack of congressional representation. Using the Washington, DC metro lines to represent the city, it is an animated information graphic of the city’s plight with this injustice within the United States’ supposed democracy. It is intended to evoke a sense of empathy and anger within the viewer by using extreme statistics and facts coupled with simple, yet relevant silhouetted images. The music selection is John Stafford Smith’s composition “To Anacreon in Heaven” (later known as “The Star Spangled Banner”) and is public domain. This rendition—performed by “Screaming Mönkeys” guitarist Jeff Wingrove and used with his permission—is meant to metaphorically parallel the District of Columbia’s role within the political aspects of the United States. The patriotic American National Anthem is played in a non-traditional manner, mimicking Washington, DC’s false reputation as the epitome of democracy and political tradition. The city metro system’s orange line was chosen for this particular issue because of its route through the various memorials erected within the Districtof Columbia. The last segment of this PSA displays the Voiceless Campaign tag lines and logo mark and can be used on its own or as the conclusion of a longer piece, as it is here.

Motion Graphics ✘ Group C


SCRIPT

79 SCRIPT The people of DC are represented by a silent delegate who is not permitted to vote in congress. The people of the United States have a right to congressional representation, but the residents of Washington, DC are denied this right. We have fought in every war in US history, but have not had a say in any of them. Over 226,000 DC residents have gone to war for our country. We have sacrificed and shed blood in the name of democracy, yet our own democratic freedoms are lacking. In 2006, the House rejected $53 million towards services for veterans, including combat-related trauma care, prosthetic research, and war orphan’s benefits. We are CHOICELESS, POWERLESS, VOICELESS. DC, LESS than equal. Learn more at www.voicelessdc.org.

Motion Graphics ✘ Group C


STORYBOARDS

80 STORYBOARDS

Motion Graphics ✘ Group C


STORYBOARDS

81 STORYBOARDS

Motion Graphics ✘ Group C


MISSION

82 STORYBOARDS

Motion Graphics ✘ Group C


STORYBOARDS

83 STORYBOARDS

Motion Graphics ✘ Group C


EVENT Caitlin Barry


SUMMARY

85 SUMMARY “Stand on the X” took place on April 14, 2012, across the street from Eastern Market at the corner of 7th and North Carolina Avenue from 12:00 to 5:00pm. We invited all Washington, DC residents, along with non-residents, ages 18 and older to join us in the fight to gain full representation for the District of Columbia in the United States Congress. We photographed participants placing a red “X” over their mouth to signify that the citizens of the District are voiceless in Congress. The “X” served as a reminder that without a voting representative, District citizens are not being heard and are deprived of their right to representation guaranteed by the Constitution. One reason Congress has resisted giving the District of Columbia a voting representative is that such a vote could feasibly change the balance of power. In recent years, a voting member from Washington, DC could have influenced the outcome of important issues, from tax cuts for the rich to special deals for the big pharmaceutical companies. A voting representative would speak for the citizens of the District of Columbia on the issues that directly affect the city’s population. Every citizen in the United States is entitled to be represented in Congress. Every citizen is entitled to have their voice heard through the elected official they designate to speak for them. To deny citizens of the Nation’s Capitol a voice, flies in the face of the principles on which this country was founded. This is a campaign to end the silence. The District of Columbia is taxed as any other state, it is subject to federal legislation and regulation just as any other state. Through education, and by creating a unified community, this campaign challenges the denial of democratic rights and representation of over 590,000 American citizens. Washington, DC residents, along with non-residents, Joined us as we demanded that District of Columbia residents be treated as first-class citizens in this country.

Event ✘ Group C


EVENT PHOTOS

86 CONGRESSWOMAN ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

Event ✘ Group C


EVENT PHOTOS

87

Event ✘ Group C


EVENT PHOTOS

88

Event ✘ Group C


EVENT PHOTOS

89

Event ✘ Group C


EVENT PHOTOS

90

Event ✘ Group C


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