Glenn Beck's '9-12' logo based on communist and socialist designs

Ever since Glenn Beck took to the Fox television airwaves recently to offer a bizarre reading of the art commissioned 70 years ago for New York's Rockefeller Center, I've been puzzled by the graphic design element of his 9-12 Project. The logo (pictured) for his affiliated groups' rally in Washington, D.C., this weekend derives from century-old communist, socialist and other left-wing designs.

Those were the motifs he railed against in his Rockefeller rant.

For the logo, three raised and clenched red fists are superimposed over the U.S. Capitol. Obviously the bloody fist represents the tea-baggers' themes of unity and resistance.

But do Beck; the corporate-sponsored astro-turf group, FreedomWorks, headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas); the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights; the private-property group, the National Assn. of Rural Landowners; and the rest of the march sponsors know the symbol's origins?

Unity and resistance are what the fist represented in 1917, when it was first employed by the Industrial Workers of the World, a union organization founded by socialists. And in the 1940s, when it stood  for various nations' communist party organizations.

That's also what it meant when it was revived in the 1960s, appearing as a symbol for the SDS, as well as anti-war and feminist movements. It was the basis for the black-power salute given by John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. And today, it's the symbol for the Progressive Labor Party (pictured), a political outfit whose website says it "fights to smash capitalism."

Turnout for the 9-12 Project's Saturday march on Washington was a bust; 30,000 protesters signed up in advance (MSNBC reporter David Shuster tweeted that D.C. park police called that figure "generous"). But even if three times that many actually showed up, the number would fall far short of the hundreds of thousands (and even millions) claimed to be planning to attend. Even in that reduced crowd, however, surely someone recognized how odd the right-wing gathering's left-wing logo was.

Maybe Beck will explain. Sort of.

-- Christopher Knight

Credits: 912dc.org; Progressive Labor Party

Comments

[Rob]

ANYTHING or any logo that will help get the socialist pretender president out of power is a good logo.

NOBAMA!

[fernando]

black power logo also resembles this.. but for some reason i dont think they are pro black people
http://earconditioning.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/black-power.jpg

[james]

These people are dangerous idiots.

[Joe]

Isn't this also the same logo, motion, etc, used in the 1960's for "black power"?

The iconic fist in the air by our gold medal winning athletes... as a protest of being held back by a bunch of ignoramuses...

[Tim]

As the dear commentator here named Rob demonstrates, there is no logical thinking on the part of the individuals who follow the likes of Glenn Beck, only Rank Willful Stupidity (RWS). Makes you wonder why they are so scared of our first black President.

[cgpunker]

Let's face it, these people aren't that smart. I'm sure Beck doesn't realize it, just like the people who listen to him don't realize that he's not only wrong, he's lying.

[BobN]

It's simple really and Beck discussed this on his show recently. Use the tactics of the left against them. Using their imagery is just one clever party of it. Shining a spotlight on their transgressions (Van Jones?) is another. We need more spotlights on ACORN and we need to get the federal government to stop funding them.
Watch the left squirm, it would be huge entertainment if the subject and the outcome wasn't so important to the country.

Let me see, how does it go? Oh yes, "Power to the people!"

[DJ]

Common seriously you think Beck has the slightest grasp on history? He can barley keep straight what comes out of his mouth from show to show much less place in historical context the designs that some intern runs by him.

[Boris Arthropoda]

It would be funny, if they weren't so sincerly deluded.
They have plans, and little in common but their anger.
I'm just waiting for G. Beck to actually say :
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore"

[Brandon]

keep reaching lib media.

conservatives protest for freedoms.

liberals protest for freebies.

think about it if you can put down the joint and muster your two brain cells.

[Rusty]

Rob - you sound like an un informed bigot.

[dc]

Oh Rob @ 10.40am, you teabagging nirthers are so cute.

[Sayrah]

You're grasping at straws Chris. And Fernando, don't just follow the sheep and believe everything people tell you. Investigate further and you'll find "they" are a combo of different colors and backgrounds who are angry at this president, not because he's black but because of his over the top views that scares the heck out of people and because he's not telling the truth. "They" are tired of the government, black white or purple. Aren't you?

[MB]

This article was so one sided and false that I dont even know where to begin. Ok first of all.....last time I checked ALL Americans have the right to protest since its in that pesky thing called the Constitution. So why do you feel a need to redicule people by calling them "tea baggers" or "astro turf" when they are simply doing what our founders did and insisted we continue to do??? You do have the right to call names and say na na na na nana, but it only makes you look stupid. Also, the DC park police dont give esitmates of gatherings, which is why every other article got their estimates from the fire department which estimated ALOT more than your supposed 30,000 who never showed up. So why dont you start explaining that??? You're supposed to be a reporter but youre really just part of the problem. The truth is that you arent a reporter but simply a writer who dictates opinion rather than fact to your readers. Why dont you explain that?

[Guy]

I look at Rob's comments, and admit I admire the strident and sheeplike followers of the RW blowhards for their pure tenacity ...

Not a lick of truth, but so much ideologically founded angst from this hard core group of haters ....

How long before they become homicidal ? ...

[Fred]

Why should this suprise anyone.Glenn Beck represents a self premoting view which he hopes will increase his ratings and put more money in his pocket at the expense of the american people.

[bogart]

To Brandon: as soon as you flush your oxycontin and/or meth down the drain.

You keep reaching, too, for opression disguised as freedom and dissent. Don't forget that most oppressors are often disguise themselves as freedom-loving. They project their insidous desires on others.

Yes, keep on raging against the machine just like the machine wants you to and soon you will find out what its like to live under the full control of the machine you unknowingly work for.

[jordin]

Beck had nothing to do with this. He came up with the idea for the 9-12 project and a logo based on the Don't Tread on Me flag and Ben Franklin's rattlesnake cartoon, and everyone else ran with it. He never even mentioned the idea of a march on Washington, let alone had anything to do with the design of a logo on their website. Why can't you guys get that? This actually is grassroots.

[Andy Grabiec]

It's hard to not connect the similarities of fist-bumping.
The Progressive Labor Party's fist shows more sinew.

[Justin]

That is the problem with people like Glen Beck. People note about them not changing stances or tracking over bluntly debated objects of persuasion. People like Glen Beck, are lying; Hopefully they aren't stupid enough to believe what they are telling people, but either way I assure you they are paid handsomely by the GOP backers of their programs, and station.