For the Don’t Look Away campaign, we blindfold statues and hang signs on them. The goal of these “Don’t Look Away” actions is to direct global attention to the ecological emergency, by blindfolding statues in public spaces. This creates powerful images and a clear message: those in power are ignoring the crisis.
WHY are we blindfolding statues?
Statues are iconic. They are features in cities and towns everywhere. The blindfold and sign is a demand to those in power: “Don’t look away” if you hope to deserve a statue one day. These pictures with statues have a distinctive visual appeal that is easily replicated and never boring. They make people think and smile.
Why now?
The current US regime has declared war on science and academia. Democracy, truth and the media are under attack everywhere. We must fight the billionaire and tech oligarchy that is driving us ever further into fascism. MAGA must be stopped.
Public actions like this can be a catalyst that mobilizes others. Our courage is contagious.
This will be a digital campaign shared on social media, so the impact will be much wider than just those who witness individual actions. It’s useful to have shared messaging and use the same hashtag: #DontLookAway. Be sure to share your images, videos, or social media posts with us.
HOW to stage a Don’t Look Away action
Blinfolding Statues Actions Step-by-Step
- Advance work: Map the statues in your area. Decide which one(s) are the best options for your photoshoot.
- Divide tasks: If you have enough people, you’ll want a blindfold team, photographers, and even a media team. If not, don’t worry: you can even do this solo (either with tripod and timer to get yourself in the frame, or just photographing the staged statue if that’s the best you can manage).
- Gather materials: lab coats, equipment needed to access statue, blindfold material, signs (see below), string, painters or masking tape
- Use agreed messaging and hashtags (above)
- we recommend using cardboard or posterboard backing for your signs
- Optional: Prepare a press release for media coverage.
- Get out and take pictures: the ideal is to have images of the statues, with a scientist in a labcoat facing toward the statue but away from the camera (so that “Scientist Rebellion” and/or our logo are visible). Short video clips can also be useful.
- Share photos and video of action:
- Upload to our “SR TI Media sharing” Signal channel or our Mega drive (contact one of us if you don’t have access).
- Post on your social media and share with Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island accounts.
- Use #DontLookAway on every sign and every post. Other hashtags:
- #ScienceSavesLives
- #SilencingScienceWontStopStorms
- #NoScienceNoPeace
- #DontSilenceScience
- #MakeAmericaThinkAgain
- #TheScienceIsClear
- Savor your success: Celebration, self-care and debrief are important after actions.
- Spread the word and repeat.
Sample sign designs
Important reminders for statue blindfolding actions:
- Uphold SR values at all times.
- Don’t damage or do any harm to the statue. Damage will reflect on the entire campaign.
- Don’t injure yourself. Be courageous but careful.
- Trust your team.
- Inform yourself on local laws.
- If it is risky for you, do not show your face in photos.
- If in doubt, remove materials after photos are taken. (Leaving the sign and blindfold spreads the message, so consider this possibility if it won’t get you into more trouble than you want.)
For this photo with the Mark Twain statue, we were inside a library at UC Berkeley. We explained that we were doing a photo essay, and did it while a librarian and students were watching us, using great care and removing the sign and blindfold afterward.
Tips & Tricks for Statue Blindfolding Actions
- Pre-cut fabric into strips. Cut length after you tie blindfold on.
- Bedsheets, table-cloths and curtains from thrift stores are all good lengths.
- Glue posters to carboard or use lawn signs. Pre-punch holes and thread string.
- Tape sign to statue with painters tape to prevent wind blowing it away.
- Decorate your lab coat.
- If it’s photo-op only, add drama – eg: bullhorn so it appears you are yelling at statue.
- If the statue is tall, have help.
- Have fun! This is low risk and will surprise people. Enjoy it!
Tips & Tricks: Photo Quality
- Take lots of photos, and even some video if you can.
- Use portrait (vertical) format for Instagram and TikTok, landscape (horizontal) for YouTube and other media use. (Do some of each if you can, but portrait is probably most useful for this campaign.)
- UPDATE SIGNAL APP settings for high-quality pictures if you’re sharing via Signal:
- On iPhone – (tap on your profile picture while in the all chats page) > Data & Storage > Media Quality > Enable “High”
- On Android – tap on 3 dots > Settings >Data & Storage > Sent Media Quality > Enable “High”
- On Desktop – File > Preferences > Chats > Sent media quality > Enable “High”
Don’t Look Away – Statue Blindfolding Blog Posts
- Cornell on Fire Says “Don’t Look Away”
Cornell On Fire actions condemn university administration’s silence and silencing in the face of an existential crisis. We call on Cornell to declare a climate emergency. We blindfolded and gagged the statue of Cornell founder and adorned him with a message to those in power at Cornell: “The science is clear. Don’t look away. Don’t muzzle protesters. Declare a Climate Emergency.” - Calling on Leaders to Speak Up about Climate Catastrophes
On January 6th, we sent our petition to President Biden, calling on him to declare a climate emergency before he leaves office. One day later, the climate emergency came to the people of Los Angeles county, in the form of unprecedented wildfires. We again call on President Biden and the Democratic party to make a very clear and public statement connecting the ways climate change has made catastrophes like this more intense and more frequent. - Rebellion on Consumerism: SRTI December Salon Report
Our working definition of consumerism: an economic theory and social order that encourages people to buy more goods and services than they need for survival or status, based on the idea that consumer spending is the key to economic growth and individual well-being. We use nonviolent direct action to prompt reconsideration of the consumerist agenda, and seek to create a space where people can imagine alternatives like a wellbeing (buen vivir) economy. - Don’t Look Away: photos with blindfolded statues
The goal of these “Don’t Look Away” actions is to direct global attention to the ecological emergency, by blindfolding iconic statues. This creates powerful images and a clear message: those in power are ignoring the crisis.