‘Banner Drops’ in Support of California’s Prop 50 by Veterans of ‘Resister Sisters’

By Csaba Petre

Monday afternoons at the height of rush hour, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, a special effort is underway this month on the Taylor Street bridge above the 8 freeway: a group of intrepid and experienced protestors has been making their voices heard in support of Prop 50 specifically, and pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian sentiment in general.

Prop 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, is a California ballot measure concerning congressional redistricting.  It authorizes temporary changes in district maps, with the intent to negate gerrymandering moves by Texas Republican lawmakers to favor their party. The new maps would last through 2030 after which the state commission would adjust district lines based on the next US census.

On October 6th, those driving east were treated to a vibrant banner with large red lettering, hung on the fence above the overpass, with the golden hour sunlight illuminating the pro-Prop 50 message “fight fire with fire”.

The main architects behind this effort are both veterans of such forms of protest, having made and hung banners and signs before during the first Trump administration under the name “Resister Sisters”. The creator of the banners stitched the large banner by hand, and painted high-contrast red and orange lettering to make it clearly visible from a good distance while driving.

The October 6th event was small, but effective, judging by the number of cars honking in support below the bridge as they drove by. By the October 13th event, the banner drop had been successfully registered with Indivisible (https://indivisible.org/), and the numbers of enthusiastic participants had grown to more than 10. The banner was different, but also painstakingly handmade by the same lead organizer. Each banner takes her about an hour to stitch and then around 20 minutes to stencil the letters.

Many of the participants at the event were longtime protest veterans, going back to the Bush administration and before. Some were involved in groups from that era which still exist and have a presence in San Diego today, including Code Pink and Activist San Diego. While they have encountered intimidation and the occasional problematic response before, they were enthusiastic to turn out again and again. Many hoped that turnout, and especially engagement with younger generations, would increase at these kinds of events in the future.

The response to the banner drop, both days, was overwhelmingly positive. The chorus of honks echoed from below and harmonized with more honking from cars driving over the bridge, their drivers waving and smiling excitedly.

With the 8 lanes of traffic driving loudly by below, the cacophonous sound, exhaust smell, and flapping banners gave a sense of orchestrated but barely contained chaos. Accompanying and growing out of that, however, was also a powerful new bond between the participants and the honking cars and waving drivers, however temporary. At least for a moment, they shared a respite from lonely doomscrolling and news watching; all were part of something bigger together.

Every Monday in the month of October they will be back at it, at the height of rush hour.

You can find additional events, banner drops, and protests here.