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Zoe Rasbash & Illustration: Esther Lalanne
Protect the Protest: Thawing the Chilling Effect
Across Europe, our right to protest is under attack.
Whether by an increase in police powers (introduction of Serious Disruption Prevention Orders (SDPOs) in the UK), or an unprecedented use of surveillance technology like facial recognition software, across the continent our freedom of speech is being strangled like never before.
We’re witnessing an increasingly carceral response to people enacting their civil right to democratic intervention. We see it in the passing of repressive laws, an increase in procedural obligations, the use of excessive force and the imprisonment of protestors.
As the Amnesty report >>>Under Protected and Over Restricted: The State of the Right to Protest in 21 European Countries <<< explains, globally we are seeing states “stigmatize peaceful protests and the aims and identities of their participants, demonizing protestors by likening them to 'terrorists', 'criminals', 'foreign agents', 'anarchists' and 'extremists', among numerous other stigmatising terms.”
We therefore are running a multimedia art project that aims to boldly change this narrative and returns the act of protest to its roots: as a critical intervention in disrupting the status quo and a tool to pave the way for collective liberation.
Illustration by Naomi Gennery @nn.aa.ii
The Project
1. Artist call-out: A Europe-wide call-out for illustrations responding to the theme of ‘Protect the Protest.’
The winning image will receive £500. The 3 runners-up will receive £250 each.
2. Audio call-out: We are asking people from across Europe to share stories of how protests have positively impacted their lives, either through specific memories, or testimonies of system change.
3. Public space billboards: The winning illustration and runners-up will be presented on billboards in London supported by BUILDHOLLYWOOD.
4. Creation of an online multimedia map: An interactive exhibition will be hosted on shado’s website once all submissions of both illustrations and recordings have been received.
The Judges
Larissa Kennedy, educator, researcher and organiser from London, currently based in Beijing
Larissa Kennedy is a writer, movement griot/jali (storyteller), and community organiser from South London with roots in Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Larissa has a BA in Politics, International Studies and Hispanic Studies from the University of Warwick, where her research focused on historicising climate justice in the Anglophone and Hispanophone Caribbean. During her time as an undergraduate, Larissa was formerly President of the National Union of Students, and of Students Organising for Sustainability. She also lived and organised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile. For her Master’s degree, Larissa is studying Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. In her organising, Larissa has been part of challenging structural injustice, and building collective power at all levels - from the grassroots to the UN. Larissa is founding chair of TALAWA, a Black-led collective of racialised students and young people focused on political education and transformative action at the nexus of Black feminism, climate justice and liberated education. At shado, Larissa is a writer, editor, and co-host of the shado-lite podcast which discusses a number of the world’s biggest global injustices, supporting our community to move from apathy and overwhelm to collective action and hopeful pathways forward.
Alketa Xhafa Mripa, multidisciplinary artist and activist from Kosovo, currently based in London
Alketa's work explores personal and universal themes of motherhood, women, gender relations, memory, the body, and the diverse experiences of individuals, including those affected by displacement and conflict. Utilizing a variety of media - including films, installations, paintings, and photography - she creates pieces that draw from both personal and collective experiences. Her approach is deeply personal and introspective, often inspired by the challenges faced by others, as well as those she has encountered in her own journey. As both a woman and an artist, she is committed to creating platforms and collaborations that foster new discourse and challenge oppression and injustice within different communities. Her experiences as a mother and her feminist values allow me to address a broad range of issues.
Christina Atik, illustrator and graphic designer from Lebanon, currently based in Brussels
Christina Atik is an illustrator and graphic designer from Lebanon, currently based in Brussels.Her work often addresses issues related to women's sexuality, societal and cultural norms, as well as immigration and exile.
Sabrina Simons, media and journalism expert and member of Lilith Magazine, based in Amsterdam
Sabrina Simons, a board member at The Hmm with a specialization in media and journalism, brings over 20 years of experience. Currently working as a freelance content and communication strategist for various organizations, she has built an impressive career characterized by innovation and impact.
Simons previously served as senior lobal communication strategist at Tony’s Chocolonely and as online chief at the journalistic magazine OneWorld. She also founded the journalistic content platform for Millenials, Mindshakes, in collaboration with NRC Media and spent over six years at Vice Media as a marketing and communication professional.
Simons's career includes notable contributions to esteemed projects and organizations. At Lilith Magazine, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s voice and expanding its reach, championing bold, inclusive, and thought-provoking content. Her expertise extends to projects for the Rijksmuseum, where she developed two exhibitions that bridged art, history, and modern audiences, as well as impactful collaborations with Hivos, crafting content strategies that amplified social justice initiatives on a global scale.
