Black armbands???

[MLE]

I've heard about wearing black armbands to protest the war and/or gwb. Do any of you know where I could get one? Is there a place online that sells them? I checked on ebay and all they had were those little black wristbands kinda like the LIVESTRONG bracelets. I already have one like that that says KERRY EDWARDS. Plus I don't think that's the same thing. If any of you guys have any info I'd really appreciate it! I'd love to be able to wear one to school on inauguration day along w/ the anti-gwb shirt I'm ordering!!!:) Thanks!

[serryjw]

1. We are all wearing

www.notmecampaign.com.


It comes from a DU member and benefits DU and HRC. I have no idewa where you think you could wear a black armband? No company would allow it.

[MLE]

2. thanks

I'm still in high school, I plan on wearing it to school to piss off all the bush supporters. I know the school can't stop me from wearing it. We covered it in my CAPP government class. The teacher brought it us a specific example, in fact, that's where I first heard about it.

Thanks again!!

[UncleSepp]

4. Go for it, MLE.

My friends and I wore black armbands in high school to call attention to the brutal suppression of the student demonstrators in Tienanmen Square. It made for a great opportunity to talk to other people who hadn't been paying attention about what was happening in China.

We made ours out of some black velvet that was left over from making a dress, but really it can be anything. If you don't sew or haven't got the stuff to sew, you can use fabric glue or even get the double-faced seam tape (fusible tape) from the fabric store. Then you just fold over the edges of the cloth with glue or tape in it, and if it is the tape you have, iron the cloth. The tape will glue the seam together so it doesn't fray, and you have a good edge on it. The velcro dots can also be glued on.

Using the ribbon as was suggested elsewhere in the thread is an even better idea! That way you only have the ends to finish. If the ribbon is synthetic, that can even be done by running the end of the ribbon through a flame to melt the fibers. That will keep it from fraying.

I wonder, though, if you might not have a more interesting time using it as a way not just to piss people off, but to educate people. See how many people you can get to become interested. See if you might be able to get your government teacher to teach a unit about the history of election fraud. Even if the unit leaves out 2000 and 2004, it will prepare people to believe that fraud was possible in recent years if they have an understanding that fraud has occurred in past years.

Good luck!

[MLE]

5. i will!!! ;)

We're actually studying elections and voting behavior right now.

I dressed up for election day too, and I got people's interest. I have independent study Spanish the last hour of the day and since it's the teacher's prep, kids come in all the time to make up work. I got the interest of a group of freshmen especially. They were all from the very conservative parochial school in town and this was their first year in a public school. They were of course all pro gwb, but they had no idea what they were talking about. But when I started talking about b*sh and politics in general, they really listened. I'm sure it was the first time in their lives they've ever heard any kind of liberal perspective. And I could just the wheels starting to turn in their heads a little bit. They were thinking, "hmm..." and it was great! I mean that's all you need, people to start thinking. And as we all know thinking is very dangerous to the conservative agenda.:)

[consciousobjector]

3. Been wearing my black armband since

the beginning of the siege on Fallujah. You don't need to buy a ready made band...just go to any store that has sewing supplies (even - dare I say it? - Wal-Mart) Buy a half a yard of one and one half inch wide black ribbon (warning, satin ribbon is slick and may keep slipping down your arm - grosgrain may be a better choice). You can also purchase sticky back Velcro dots to create a band that's easy to take on and off, or you can just use a safety pin to fasten it on, or your favorite political sticker. During the moratorium on the Vietnam war, we just tied strips of black cloth or crepe paper around our arm.

[Oppinion ainta crime]

6. I'm going to make one tonight.

It would be a good idea to spread the word beforehand, too. The more people wearing them, the more attention it will draw.

[MLE]

7. ok, I have another question...

does it matter which arm you wear it on?? Just wondering, since I just finished making mine for tomorrow!