Anti-Racism Campaign #WeAreBetterThanThis

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m.huffpost.com/us/entry/567819c4e4b06fa6887ddcc9?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

A supergroup of progressive organizations took out a full-page ad in The New York Times earlier this month asking: "Is this America?"

The ad is part of a campaign called We Are Better Than This, a joint effort by a group of nine progressive organizations including MoveOn.org, NARAL Pro-Choice America and United We Dream. The campaign is speaking out against what seems to be a growing tide of nativism and fearmongering in America.

The Times ad, which appeared on Dec. 10, is not linked to one specific incident. Rather, it calls on elected officials, the media and the American public to reject the climate of hatred and fear that has contributed to violence and discrimination against so many groups this year, including immigrants, refugees, women, black people and Muslims. The ad also mentions gun violence for good measure.

The look of the ad was conceptualized pro bono by a graphic designer at the progressive think tank Demos. The designer came up with the image of a flag at half-mast, said Jo Comerford, a campaign director of MoveOn.org.
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WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS
Comerford told HuffPost that after The New York Times ad appeared, the "response was quite overwhelming" and that "within hours, hundreds of orgs and individuals" had signed up to support the campaign.

In the days since running the ad, MoveOn has also partnered with the Main Street Alliance and the Alliance for a Just Society to distribute thousands of "welcome signs" to local businesses across the U.S. Comerford suggested that both groups view the current moment as a "tipping point" in the national fight against divisive rhetoric.

The signs read: "Hate has no business here. We stand with our Muslim community members. We stand with refugees and immigrants in our community. All are welcome here."

MoveOn has tapped its national membership of 8 million people to publicize the campaign and increase its distribution.

It's currently supported by a wide range of people and organizations, including Gloria Steinem, Mark Ruffalo, Ben & Jerry's, the Sierra Club and EMILY's List.

The campaign has not yet heard directly from any elected officials, said Comerford, but "they are not our main target. Our main target is the American people. And I think they've heard us loud and clear."