ACT UP NY, SILENCE=DEATH Watermelon T‑Shirt to Benefit Palestine, BLACK

Product Description

Our most popular T-shirt with a “Watermelon” design, a black t-shirt with white “SILENCE=DEATH” text and a watermelon slice standing in for the pink triangle (the reclaimed, positive symbol of self-identity). Our website address pointing to our BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) page, “actupNY.com/bds” is imprinted below the artwork. Unless your SILENCE=DEATH Watermelon T‑Shirt to Benefit Palestine shirt comes from ACT UP NY, it’s not official and does not support ACT UP or the sharing of half of the proceeds with Palestinian causes. The Watermelon is a popular symbol representing the identity and resistance for the Palestinian people which has roots in Israel’s suppression of the Palestinian flag and its use dates to the 1967-1993 ban where the Israeli army would arrest anyone who displayed it.

Preshrunk – 100% cotton available in: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXL. Made in the USA, proudly, union made, fair trade, and eco-friendly! XS – XXXL priced at $39.50. All colors are true!

For every SILENCE=DEATH watermelon t-shirt sale, proceeds will be split in half between ACT UP NY and direct medical aid to Palestinian people fleeing Gaza. Aid distribution sites will be rotated, with updates being posted on our social media. By purchasing one of these shirts, you are directly helping fund our solidarity work for Palestine, as well as directly funding crucial aid to Palestinian people in need. Join us in taking a stand for justice, healthcare, and welfare for all people. Read more on ACTUPNY.com/BDS

We are committed to making a tangible impact on the lives of the Palestinian people. In line with our core principles of solidarity and social justice, ACT UP NY will be donating half of the proceeds from the sale of all ‘SILENCE=DEATH Watermelon products to Benefit Palestine’ to organizations dedicated to providing direct medical aid to Palestinian people fleeing Gaza. By purchasing this product, not only will you be expressing your support for LGBTQIA2S+ rights and Palestinian liberation, but you will also be actively contributing to the betterment of the lives of those affected by the ongoing war in Palestine. Together, we can make a difference and work towards a more just and inclusive world.

Silence = Death Project History: In 1987, six gay activists in New York formed the Silence = Death Project and began plastering posters around the city featuring a pink triangle on a black background stating simply ‘SILENCE = DEATH.’ In its manifesto, the Silence = Death Project drew parallels between the Nazi period and the AIDS crisis, declaring that ‘silence about the oppression and annihilation of gay people, then and now, must be broken as a matter of our survival.’ The slogan thus protested both taboos around discussion of safer sex and the unwillingness of some to resist societal injustice and governmental indifference. The six men who created the project soon joined the protest group ACTUP and offered the logo to the group, with which we remain closely identified.

Watermelon (Palestinian Symbol) History, in context: The Watermelon (Palestinian Symbol) holds significant cultural and historical meaning for the Palestinian people. It represents resilience, unity, and the struggle for justice and freedom. This symbol has been used to amplify the voices of those advocating for Palestinian rights, including members of ACT UP NY.

Watermelons have long been associated with Palestinian culture and are often celebrated as a symbol of abundance and sustenance. They serve as a reminder of the Palestinian people’s connection to their land and their determination to maintain their identity in the face of adversity.

In the context of the “Silence = Death” project, the substitution of the iconic pink triangle with a “Watermelon” design represents a powerful act of solidarity and intersectionality. By combining the watermelon symbol with the original slogan, “SILENCE = DEATH,” the message conveyed is one that highlights the importance of breaking silence and standing against oppression, not only within the AIDS activist and LGBTQIA2S+ communities but also in support of the Palestinian cause.

Just as the original Silence = Death Project drew parallels between the Nazi period and the AIDS crisis, the inclusion of the watermelon symbol emphasizes the need to speak out against all forms of oppression and injustice. It serves as a reminder that silence can lead to the perpetuation of systemic inequalities and that raising our voices is essential for our collective survival.

By wearing the ‘SILENCE=DEATH Watermelon T‑Shirt to Benefit Palestine,’ you are not only expressing your support for LGBTQIA2S+ rights but also showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for justice. Together, we can challenge existing power structures and work towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Why buy Official Merchandise from ACT UP NY?

ACT UP’s Mission Triangle is:

• Programs/ACTIONS/Demos (doing what we do).
• Communications/Social Media (keeping people up to date on what we do).
• Fundraising (raising money to pay for what we do).

When you buy official ACT UP, SILENCE = DEATH merchandise you not only support our “Programs, ACTIONS and Demos” and our “Communications and Social Media” efforts, but our “Fundraising” point on the triangle is supported by a an employee owned, Long-term AIDS survivor staffed fulfillment company! What’s more, all goods are Union Made, in the USA, environmentally, responsibly made—and are not a knockoff or a questionably made, unauthorized imitation!

We fight AIDS! And, we’re not going to stop until AIDS is over for everyone!

Size Chart

Note: Consider pairing up our Limited Edition, ACT UP NY, SILENCE=DEATH Watermelon Button to Benefit Palestine along with this T-shirt.