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

[bogi666]

Beck being a manic depressive alcoholic, which is a recipe for psychosis, operates as dysfunctional co-dependent using deceit and lies to manipulate people. He's a 10th rate psycho and coward and his followers, the BECKLERS, are easy prey just using all the techniques he used as an alcoholic. The USA has a large co-dependent population, people who are susceptible to being manipulated for the end of another without question.Co-dependency is a mental and emotional illness and in the USA it has been institutionalized by churches, government and business. This gives it legitimacy. Co-dependency is when one has no self identity therefore going through life assuming the identity of others or institutions to provide an identity of their own. The churches of the pretend christians use co-dependency to impose their values of sin, guilt and religious superstition on their congregations by insulting, abusing and calling them foul names and then begging for money and the congregations of fools give them money. Business has forged Americans into NARCISSISTIC-CONSUMERIST-GLUTTONS with a barrage that nothing they have is good enough and as people they are inadequate. This is co-dependent through advertising.

[RAK]

You are sad and desperate people by race baiting and reaching for things out of thin air. Keep up the great "journalism" and maybe learn to be a little less bias. The media is a joke now!!!!!

[Jamie]

Oh, noes, it is a "left" hand!1!!1one11!!1!

I've completely co-opted by Beckian ju-jistsu...

[wow]

wow how retarded im amazed you can type

[ChasingBear]

The logo sucks. That's what the conversation is about, right? Politics aside, it isn't a logo, it's a paragraph of words, pictures and symbols.

Design history doesn't preclude Mr. Beck from using a fist, but the particular illustrative style and the attachment of red is easily connected to Soviet Avant-Garde art. Which, by the way, is the default means of illustrating a new grassroots "movement". There are scores of examples from this period that more closely resemble the Tea Party logo than even the example provided in this post.

Anyways, again, the logo sucks... as a logo. : )

[Ing]

Please the country is no where near being socialist... our schools are falling apart the middle class is getting smaller and smaller and the privatization of everything is the goal. Because wanting people to have the basics is a bad thing??? really ??? wow Glen Beck and the like are great distractors of reality.. they want their country back? what does that mean??? back to when ? the days of what no concise thousghts nor solutions. Liberals aren't squirming... no need it's the right wingers who are throwing rhetoric and hoping something sticks..... no taxes really how do things get paid. Transportation, highways, ambulances, public schools, medicare, roads, firefighters,military, police, etc... can't comprehend the myopic views.... can't

[David Richardson]

You obviously do not listen to Beck's show. He has a sense of humor and that is why these images were used. It's ironic and fun to use the liberal logos against the liberals.

And the astro-turf b.s. is getting old! What happened to all the Iraq war protesters? Most of them just hated Bush, they were the real astro-turf! Cindy Sheehan is an exception, yet the media chose to ignore her as she protested outside Martha's Vineyard while Obama was on vacation!

[therealhankatola]

Well that makes him a hypocrite and a communist, then! This is the most asinine commentary ever. Did it ever occur to you, nitwit, that perhaps there's some IRONY in the logo? A little "back in your face you pinko-commie-rats"?

[MikeNYC]

The point the use of this symbolism helps support is that this crowd will believe anything spoon-fed from one source. They don't question it not because they are stupid people; we should stop characterizing them as such. They are unable to question it because they lack the fundamental education to even know where to start. If you look at the case of the "czars" do you think Beck mentioned they've had the name since Nixon? That none other than Reagan had a drug czar? That GWB had 30+ just 9 months ago? Let's not even get started on this crowd suddenly worrying about money while GWB or even farther back Reagan spent it faster than he could borrow it from China.

This is my main issue with these angry mobs. If you are going to protest at least have a clue as to which way is up. What bothers me is that these people don't bother to spend 5 minutes on goggle to Wikipedia something like czars, a clenched fist, the cost of the wars before they get angry and head down to DC. Or perhaps they do, perhaps they know their arguments are without merit and just can't go down as they really like to, in white sheets.

[Susan Tenofsky]

Mr. Knight, I do believe you are captured in your own little liberal world and afraid, yes afraid to give credit to those deserving. Two of my sisters attended
the 9-12 rally. It was inspirational and non-combative for most part. Different
Times brings different meanings to designs. I think it is wonderful that the once communist logo can be taken over by people who cherish their freedom. As for
the number of people attending rally, the police were not free to give accurate numbers, Obama wouldn't approve. Between 70,000 and one million took a stand together for the Freedom of America and against the efforts to suffocate that Freedom. Yes, it was a success! The fight goes on!

[Dave]

To the guy who said that Conservatives fight for freedom then why is that liberals have fought for woman's and African American's right to vote and conservatives were against that basic freedom. Oh, by the way, the right to vote is in that thing called the consititution. Conervatives just boil over thinking that the advantages they were handed could be offered to a new group of people. Remember, we are ALL imigrants.

[Liberty_Chick]

This is almost comical. You're referring to the Freedomworks logo, which has nothing to do with Glenn Beck or the 912 Project. You people who don't even belong to a 912 Project group like to talk as though you know all about it, but the level of inaccuracies and misrepresentations in your "information" is quite literally stunning.

The 912 Project and Freedomworks have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with each other. If they did, then you'd all have pulled up the IRS 501c3 or 527 filings by now, or showed that they share the same domain registrations with one another, or that they share the same "staff" (that one's particularly funny since the 912 Project has no "staff" or funding or anything like that).

There IS NO CONNECTION between them, no matter how much you wish for there to be. I run a state 912 Project group and can tell you 100% they are not connected. Did 912 Project folks attend the March in Washington that Freedomworks hosted? Yes, sure, many of them did. Do 912 Project folks visit the Freedomworks website or their 912dc.org website or ever use any Freedomworks materials as a reference? Probably. I know I do. Both groups believe in less government and more personal responsibility and community involvement. Like minded people will often visit the same websites and attend the same events. That's logical. Does this mean the two groups are connected with each other? No, it does not. Because they aren't.

Freedomworks named its event the "9/12 March on Washington" and scheduled it on that date for their own selfish purposes: to capitalize on the existing base of more than 1.5 million citizens who have joined local 912 Project groups that have popped up all across the country. That's it. It's that simple.

Did 912 Project groups care about that? No, not really. Many didn't even realize it - they, like you, thought it was a 912 Project event because of its name and the date. Actually, it was quite brilliant on the part of Freedomworks. Look how many attended in the end. And really, that's why none of the 912ers care much that our name was hijacked by another organization. Because in the end, it brought so many new people together and inspired folks regardless.

And most importantly, whether your content is accurate or not, you're writing about it, aren't you?

[Steve Consilvio]

Yes, it is terrible for a country to try to deliver healthcare for all its people.

I think the march on Washington to protest against healthcare has to be one of the dumbest political actions ever. It makes no sense to believe that we can build a healthy community without healthy people.

If you disagree with Obama's plans, fine, but show up and put up a better plan that accomplishes the goal. Crying 'socialism' is not an analysis as to what our problem's are, and it drowns our real ideas (like mine) that are a viable alternative.

Money itself is 'socialist,' too. It is created by the government.

[Patrick Britton]

It's funny how you consider them astroturfers. Obviously you say that because you disagree with them. The left is famous for setting people up with signs, slogans and chants. They round them up on buses and do everything but pay them to be there.

Now, a group helps organize an event. That's it. Gives people the information and gives them no more guidance than that. That is astroturfing? Political bias is a disease. Try and be fair and equal or I will continue not giving a darn what you or any of your MSM buddies have to say.

[Nyxxie]

As much as I dislike Glenn Beck, I don't really think it matters if he realizes it or not. It's really not a huge deal. A fist is universal statement of power, strength and insubordination, no matter who uses it. I really, really dislike Glenn, but it's his American right to be as ignorant or defiant as he pleases. However, it is really funny that the fist shares so much history with communism, socialism, radicalism and all the other ism's out there - the same groups that he accuses the President of affiliating with.

[Mark]

That was the biggest waste of my time to look at the most ridiculous comparison ever. So if you use a fist in an ad you compied of the communist ad. What???????????

[shane maness]

Yes, the logo was probably based on socialist propaganda posters. Yes it was probably on purpose. His book "Arguing with Idiots" has a FREAKING BACKWARDS "R" on it MAKING FUN OF the failure that is Socialism.
We are making fun of you, and will happily see your destructive, anti-productive policies out the door, starting in 2010. Say goodbye to your welfare state. Maybe then all the leeches will have to get jobs other than "community organizers". Who the crap needs to accept payment to care for their community?

p.s. i didn't like bush, either, so bashing him will not hurt my feelings.

[Bob Ded]

Uh-oh... a symbol that resembles a commie symbol. Are you trying to suggest that Glenn Beck is a commie? I hope not. Are you suggesting that he is pandering to the weak minded by use of an image?

Obama election posters resembled several Soviet propaganda posters. The artist even admitted Obama poster was rooted in "Soviet Propaganda Art". Google it if you don't believe me. Does that make Obama a Commie? no. Does it mean that he's pandering to the weak minded? Of course not...

His action are what count... The corruption and payoffs, take over of major portions of the banking and auto industries. That's what counts and that's why his weak mined supporters expect something for nothing, government bailouts of their mortgages, "free" health care, the redistribution of wealth. They seem to think the government can keep printing money forever with not consequences

They are delusional. They think if you get it from Obama it's free. They can't understand the math that someone somewhere has to pay for it all. They also fail to understand that someone will be their children and grandchildren. Or maybe they are just so selfish hey don't care. They claim to be compassionate but are willing to bankrupt their nation, neighbors and even their own children. Remember Kennedy's "ask not what your country can do for you?"? Obviously not. What horrible, horrible monsters the party of Kennedy has become.

[robert]

after readiing this i have other thoughts on things but i still look at every picture there is out there. being a true patriot is respecting others beliefs but also fighing against the communists that threatins your beliefs. look at evertthing and dont attack people just disguss your common belief