Adoption by protesters Guy Fawkes mask

1 adoption protesters

1.1 background
1.2 anonymous
1.3 wider use in popular protest
1.4 views of moore , lloyd
1.5 sales , corporate ownership of rights

adoption protesters
background

since release in 2006 of film v vendetta, use of stylised guy fawkes masks, moustache , pointed beard, has become widespread internationally among groups protesting against politicians, banks, , financial institutions. masks both conceal identity , protect face of individuals , demonstrate commitment shared cause.

the character developed internet meme, common on imageboards such 4chan on video-sharing based web sites such youtube. character stick figure failed @ emerged , became known epic fail guy (efg). reasons have never been explained, increasingly shown wearing v vendetta guy fawkes mask (though reference fact guy fawkes failed complete gunpowder treason).

on april 17, 2006 pair of rival groups wearing fawkes masks confronted each other outside new york city offices of warner brothers , dc comics. 1 group, led freegan adam weismann, protested against perceived misrepresentation of anarchist movement in film v vendetta. other group, led libertarian todd seavey, counter-protested against anarchists, wearing masks purportedly supplied time warner employee.

anonymous

members of group anonymous wearing guy fawkes masks @ protest against church of scientology in london, 2008.

the mask became associated hacktivist group anonymous s project chanology protests against church of scientology in 2008. group protested church of scientology in response church forcing youtube pull video of tom cruise discussing scientology meant internal use within church. in response, anonymous protested litigious methods of church of scientology on period of several months. protesters encouraged hide faces, since common practice church members photograph anti-scientology protesters. guy fawkes mask used method of hiding faces.

as protests continued, more protesters began opting use guy fawkes mask, took on symbolic status within group. scott stewart of university of nebraska @ omaha s gateway wrote: many participants sported guy fawkes masks draw attention both identity anonymous , church of scientology s abuse of litigation , coercion suppress anti-scientology viewpoints. internet-based group adopted character wider protests against authority.

wider use in popular protest

on 23 may 2009, protesters wearing mask detonated fake barrel of gunpowder outside parliament while protesting on issue of british mps expenses.

during 2011 wisconsin protests, , during subsequent occupy wall street , ongoing occupy movement, mask appeared internationally symbol of popular rebellion. in october 2011, campaigner julian assange attended occupy london stock exchange protest wearing such mask, removed after request police.

a protester wears guy fawkes mask during 2015 million mask march in washington, d.c.

in january 2012, guy fawkes masks used protesters against poland s signing of acta.

on 10 june 2012, in mumbai, india, group of 100 anonymous members , college students gathered @ azad maidan, dressed in black , wearing guy fawkes masks, protest against indian government s censorship of internet.

the mask, used bahraini protesters during arab spring-inspired bahraini uprising banned in country in february 2013, few months after similar decision united arab emirates, persian gulf country. industry , commerce ministry of bahrain said ban on importing mask, referred revolution mask due concerns on public safety . decision, described voice of america unusual , marked 1 of latest in government efforts suppress two-year-old uprising. however, british-based rights activist , samuel muston of independent downplayed effect of ban. manama voice reported use of mask in protests increased following ban.

the masks used anti-government protestors in thailand in 2012, , protestors in turkey in 2013. used in protests in brazil , egypt in 2013.

in may 2013, government of saudi arabia banned importation of masks, , said confiscate found on sale. ministry of islamic affairs stated mask symbol of rebels , revenge , , warned imams , parents used incite youth destabilize security , spread chaos... on 22 september 2013, saudi religious police prohibited wearing of guy fawkes mask, day before saudi arabia s 83rd national day.

the wearing of masks during riot or unlawful assembly has been banned in canada, following enactment of bill c-309, , carries maximum 10-year prison sentence.

protesters in 2014 venezuelan protests carried wide variety of masks; 1 of them guy fawkes s mask, painted colours of venezuelan flag.

views of moore , lloyd

graffiti of guy fawkes mask painted on facade of building overlooking chez pops day centre youths in montreal, quebec.

alan moore, anarchist , author of v vendetta, has supported use of mask, , stated in 2008 interview entertainment weekly, quite heartened other day when watching news see there demonstrations outside scientology headquarters on here, , flashed clip showing these demonstrators wearing v vendetta guy fawkes masks. pleased me. gave me warm little glow. whilst moore did not create such character purposes has served explains guardian, suppose when writing v vendetta in secret heart of hearts have thought: wouldn t great if these ideas made impact? when start see idle fantasy intrude on regular world… s peculiar. feels character created 30 years ago has somehow escaped realm of fiction.

david lloyd, v vendetta illustrator , co-creator, has said:

the guy fawkes mask has become common brand , convenient placard use in protest against tyranny – , m happy people using it, seems quite unique, icon of popular culture being used way. feeling anonymous group needed all-purpose image hide identity , symbolise stand individualism – v vendetta story 1 person against system. knew v going escapee concentration camp had been subjected medical experiments had idea in craziness decide adopt persona , mission of guy fawkes – our great historical revolutionary.

sales , corporate ownership of rights

according time in 2011, protesters adoption of mask had led becoming top-selling mask on amazon.com, selling hundreds of thousands year. time warner, 1 of largest media companies in world, owns rights image , paid fee sale of each official mask.