Despite a recent slight rise in Madison’s anti-war graffiti, police say they have no plans to investigate any existing works of vandalism.
“I don’t even fool with it,” said Madison Police Detective Steven Koecke, regarding the few “Peace Now” and “No War” signs he has seen spray painted on State Street, East Washington and Williamson Street.
Because anti-war graffiti is unlike “tags,” which police can often trace, Koecke said it was unlikely that they would find the responsible parties.
Koecke said if police did see an increase in anti-war graffiti, they would respond by increasing patrols in affected areas. However, he also said that he does not foresee a problem.
“They’re being responsible about how they choose to tell people how they feel,” Koecke said of most anti-war protestors.
Madison Area Peace Coalition organizer Rae Vogeler said she is an advocate of anti-war peace graffiti. She said it could potentially put forward ideas and political expressions to draw more people to ideas rather than alienate them.
The MAPC was formed as a response to Sept. 11, 2001 to try to prevent any war that would take place as a result of the tragedy. Since its creation, MAPC has been active in the anti-war movement in Madison.
“It is people’s artistic, political expression of their points of view in a very visual way,” Vogeler said.
Vogeler said that a poster she has in her house reading, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer to shape it,” accurately describes her views on anti-war graffiti.
Vogeler also said that graffiti is a means to understand the sentiment and organization of a country’s citizens. She recalled a trip to Guatemala where graffiti informed her of a teachers’ strike where the teachers took over their airport and the country’s Ministry of Finance.
Vogeler also said that graffiti should be well thought out to prevent individuals from feeling invaded or feeling that their property has been defaced.
Action Against Apathy organizer Peter Gill said that while he does not condone illegal graffiti, such as spray painting, graffiti done in chalk is very appropriate.
“I think it’s a great idea. Getting ideas out there and letting people know how you feel is important,” Gill said.
Action Against Apathy is a newly formed group hoping to increase student awareness of social issues through multimedia presentations like documentaries, guest lecturers and group discussions.
University of Wisconsin junior Megan Livingston said that graffiti makes buildings look ugly and hurts the city’s appearance.
“I think it makes an area look trashy and gives their message less validity,” Livingston said. “There are better ways to get a message across without being destructive.”
