Change the troubling umpire postcards to spotlight the necessity for gun reform
Change the Ref is known for using creativity in its struggle to expedite change in gun laws in the US. The organization was featured in the 2018 CR Annual Awards for its Posts in Letters campaign, which enabled people to turn their social media posts into handwritten letters to be sent to Congress about stricter gun controls.
The charity's most recent campaign, Shamecards, pays tribute to the cities best remembered today as the sites of some of the deadliest mass shootings in history.
Each design plays with the nostalgic aesthetic of traditional holiday postcards, depicting the horrific scenes of mass shootings and what they leave behind: murdered school children, workers, concert-goers, religious worshipers, and families and friends.
The digital postcards were illustrated by 30 artists from 25 countries around the world. Each tells the story of a mass shooting through an artist's eyes, capturing visceral scenes on the front and a description of each shooting on the back.
The team behind Change the Ref is asking the public to visit the Shamecards website and post a postcard to lawmakers calling for arms reform action. Their goal is to flood the inboxes and mailboxes of Congress, ultimately forcing lawmakers to make changes for the cities they represent.
In addition to the website and virtual postcards, a shamecard mural is on display in Parkland, Florida. Pop-up postcard booths appear in Los Angeles, Houston, New York and Seattle.
“America is known for mass shootings that go on over and over again. It is time to turn that shameful reputation into a message of bravery, justification and common sense, "said Manny Oliver, Co-Founder of Change the Ref.
"Shamecards were created to encourage lawmakers who would not budge on gun control to stand up to the NRA and challenge the officials and senators who promised us to be on our side to keep their promise."
For more information on the campaign, visit shitcards.org