ART FOR A CHANGE - "Jail the Homeless." A Silkscreen Poster by Vallen

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"Jail the Homeless"
Mark Vallen 1987
Silkscreen - 19" x 27"

Artist's statement:

"I created this black and white silkscreen poster titled Protect and Serve the Rich, Jail the Homeless, in 1987. The work shows a line of faceless LAPD cops, with the work's title integrated into the stark design. My image was based on real events. In 1987 I was living in an artist's loft in downtown LA near the historic Little Tokyo district. At the time there were many thousands of homeless people living on the streets in the area.

An agreement was made between then Mayor Tom Bradley and LAPD Chief Darryl Gates to physically remove the homeless population from downtown. The LAPD posted handbills in the community announcing to the homeless that they had one week to move - those who did not comply would have their properties seized and would be subject to arrest. I witnessed the weeklong police sweeps, where the "cardboard condos" of the homeless were razed and what little possessions the inhabitants had were confiscated or destroyed. I created my poster as an immediate response, posting it in the community and even distributing copies to the homeless."