The?Dream Defenders organization has released an ad to go along with their ?Vest or Vote? campaign. The campaign and the ad are meant to portray, via dramatic irony, the urgency of voting and the connection between voting and safety for our young men and boys. There isn’t really a vest for sale (it’s a parody), but if you call their hotline to “order a vest,” you’ll get a message to get out and vote on November 4th. 1-800-462-2405
?It’s what we call exaggerated reality,? said Steve Pargett, communications director for Dream Defenders. ?But here in Florida, it really is the way that mothers are thinking. Mothers are scared for their children. And young people don’t feel as safe as they did before Trayvon Martin was killed. It’s a reality for people living here.?
Dream Defenders recently used?IndieGogo to raise?$22,000 in domations. Based in Florida, they have ten chapters, including many on college campuses.
From the video:
?Every 28 hours an African-American is killed by a police officer, security guard or vigilante. No parent in America should have to put their child in a bulletproof vest. On Nov. 4, you have a choice; Vest or Vote,? it says.
A parody, yes. But how far a stretch is it to think that we really could use such a product? Watch the video below.
You can follow Dream Defenders on Twitter or Facebook.
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h/t Darren Sands/BuzzFeed
Tiffany Willis is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
