For the Families United protest a couple of Saturdays ago on June 30, I made a double-sided, folded cardboard sign. One side read "Families United" and the other read "Familias Unidas." White spray paint on plain cardboard.
Freeway Blogging
The Signs
I took the sign to the smaller of two Detroit protests that Saturday, the protest at Clark Park. I estimate about 400 people attended that event.
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This morning I realized I could cut the sign at the hinge and create two signs. I posted the signs on a freeway overpass close to my house:
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Results
I estimate only about 100 people saw the signs that I held for 2 hours while at Clark Park, for various reasons, which you can well imagine. At that time I was extremely, extremely uncomfortable due to the heat. My brain was sluggish, my muscles were heavy, and my breathing was limited. Not fun at all.
I estimate the freeway signs are seen by about 2000 people per hour, and the signs were still there 7 hours after I posted them. About 14,000 potential viewers so far!
What did I learn?
- Next time, I will use full sheets of board, unfolded and uncut. Larger letters, better visibility. Incidentally, the cardboard was free. Clerks at a big warehouse-type store said I could take as much as I wanted. They use the sheets of cardboard on pallets between layers of certain products, and they recycle the cardboard, so they had no problem with me taking as much as I could carry.
- I’ll paint the cardboard white and use black paint for the lettering. More contrast between characters and background, better visibility. I have already arranged to get free paint from a neighbor.
- I found a better location for my next adventure; the new overpass is a little closer to my home, parking is closer to the bridge, and once the signs are installed, they will be more secure and harder for passersby to remove.
Freeway blogging is easy.
This was my first time for freeway blogging, and it was much much more fun and quicker than standing at a protest and feeling a little bit useless.
Not About Me
Based on the pronouns, you might think this story is about me, but it’s really all about the two guys on the right, and all the families they represent.
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This is a community story, published for Support the Dream Defenders. #StDD
I’m sorry I was not able to publish this story at our group’s usual time, 8 p.m. ET on Friday nights.
Power with, not power over,
2thanks
Updated 07-14 at 12:30 a.m. ET:
- Edited the title, added “Now with freewayblogger himself!” because he joined us in the comments.
- Created the section “Not About Me” from my comment.