With the US presidential election just around the corner – on November 3 – many public figures have been doing all they can to encourage their followers to vote. From new music and cult film reunions, to the offer of free nudes for Biden voters, celebs have been stepping up to ensure Donald Trump doesn’t continue to destroy the country for another four years.
Now, over 150 photographers have joined the cause. Artists including Nan Goldin, Kim Gordon, Catherine Opie, Cindy Sherman, Daniel Shea, Hank Willis Thomas, and many more are selling prints to raise money for groups fighting voter suppression in five key swing states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Called States of Change, the fundraiser is offering US citizens the chance to get their hands on coveted prints for just $150 each. Organised in partnership with the Movement Voter Project – which connects donors to grassroots groups that mobilise voters – proceeds will be split between 42 groups encouraging people in battleground states to get out and vote.
Swing states are those that could be won by either the Democratic or Republican parties, and are heavily targeted by both during campaigning. Voter suppression is a strategy used to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging specific groups of people from voting. It’s something particularly used by Republicans, as evidenced by comments made by Trump’s re-election advisors last year, in which it was revealed that the party has “traditionally” relied on voter suppression to compete in swing states.
You can see all the prints available in the States of Change fundraiser here – it will run until October 18.
