Protest Street Art

Regardless of my own feelings on protest street art and 'vandalism', it's hard to deny that it serves as a useful litmus test for people and the administration.

'Vandalism' of public property are usually just limited to aesthetic disturbances - stickers and posters glued on, written and graffiti'd statements and slogans - very rarely do they actually affect the functionality of the wall or post. Protest street art generally just include calls for action, and sometimes an insult targeted at a misbehaving politician.

(Extreme hate movements are thankfully niche here, and I hope it stays that way.)

And maybe the vandalism IS an "ugly eyesore", but does that justify the violence wished upon or enacted on the vandals? Is making something visually unappealing enough to ruin someone's life or gravely endanger it? More offensive and harmful symbols and words have been written in bathroom stalls and various walls - where's the outrage over that? Why is the police quick to escalate violence over statements that oppose administrative actions but don't actually harm anyone? Why are bystanders so quick to dehumanize those who commit an act that will, at most, only affect their aesthetic sensibilities? ^[1]