We’ve had a couple of comments about our use of the raised fist, alluding that we are aligning ourselves with a socialist movement. The fist in our logo is the same fist used in the OccupyWallStreet logo, and was chosen to show solidarity with them and the broader Occupy movement. This symbol has seen much use across a wide array of movements.
There is a very good “brief history of the clenched fist image” at Docs Populi. If people are concerned about imagery, this is as good of a place as any to begin the exploration of a universal symbol for a movement. Feel free to add in your comments and other information about the fist!
I’ll start this off with a quote from the above linked article:
“A persistent symbol of resistance and unity, the clenched fist (or raised fist) is part of the broader genre of “hand” symbols that include the peace “V,” the forward-thrust-fist, and the clasped hands. The clenched fist usually appears in full frontal display showing all fingers and is occasionally integrated with other images such as a peace symbol or tool…
The human hand has been used in art from the very beginnings, starting with stunning examples in Neolithic cave paintings…. The fist has become universal, context is now crucial to understanding its meaning.”
Might I suggest that the work on our Declaration, and all other Declarations in the Occupy Movement are forming the context around our use of the raised fist?
OCCUPY Missoula 