A year after 9-11, TrueMajority.org - cofounded by Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry's - launched a national "parade" to protest America's inadequate response to the tragedy and to promote a broader vision of "national security" in the post 9-11 world. The parade visited over 20 cities. (See news relase below.)
Our Job
We were in charge of promoting the parade to the local and national news media.
Results
This rolling show was also covered by national Fox News and Headline News and local affiliates from Syracuse to Chicago. (The parade was covered by local TV news outlets in most of the cities it visited.) Ben Cohen appeared on the O'Reilly Factor on Fox. The parade was covered by the Boston Globe, New York Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, In These Times, to only name a few.
Contact: Aaron Toso 303.292.1524
TrueMajority Parade Hits New York: A 12-Foot Grunting "Pentagon" Piggy Bank, A Tree on Wheels, Bubbles, More
Nonprofit Parade Aims to Unite Americans Who Believe America's Response to 9-11 Has Been Inadequate
In perhaps the ultimate example of taking a political message to the streets, a blubbery, bubbling, grunting, and eye-popping parade-inspired by Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry's-is rolling around New York City.
The purpose: to unite the true majority of America's citizens who believe our nation should be more compassionate, fair, and just in the wake of 9-11. The parade's is traveling across the country to give Americans with these shared values a voice in Washington.
Depicting Washington's mixed-up budget priorities, a 12-foot rolling piggy bank represents the Pentagon budget. It pulls two small piggy banks-proportionately representing America's budget for "Education" and "World Hunger." This vehicle was recently cited by the New York Times for its eye-catching design.
Another parade vehicle sports a tree on its roof that can spring to life to emphasize the need for environmental sustainability. A trailing RV provides detailed information about inflated Pentagon spending and other mixed-up federal budget priorities.
Add music, bubbles, grunts, and a lead vehicle plastered with 15,000 tiny "people" representing the majority of Americans who want dramatic changes in America.
The parade is sponsored by the TrueMajority, a free e-service that monitors Congress. Twice a month, at critical moments, TrueMajority members receive a short e-mail alert about an important issue pending in Washington. With the click of a mouse, members can send a fax to their Congressperson.
"Our government's response to 9/11 is inconsistent with the values of the majority of American citizens," says Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry's and President of the TrueMajority. "We hope our parade will unite citizens who want more from Washington and introduce them to the TrueMajority's easy, effective way to make their voices heard."
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