Briefly re Freedom of Speech
Does this stencil offend you? How about one with an incel message? A burning car? Trump as a clown? Pornographic images? Anti-Christian?
The Stencil Archive has images that may offend, and that's okay. Why? Because free speech is important to us. So important, that we do not always agree with the stencils that people feel compelled to make and paint in public. But we will post them here on the site.
Having the freedom to stencil what one believes seems like a given, but remember that Iranian street artists were held and persecuted for their public protest stencils. Our research for the "Stencil Nation" book pulled up examples of people who risked their lives to oppose Nazi occupation and Soviet oppression. Monty Python's humorous riff on protest graffiti in "Life of Brian" is real. And that movie stands out as offensive to some, but hilarious to others. Freedom of speech and protest can feel tenuous, which is why it should be deeply held as an inalienable right for everyone.
Whenever freedom of speech (and press) issues come up in mainstream media, Rush's less-known song "Witch Hunt" comes to mind:
Quick to judge
Quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear, walk hand in hand
We note this on our Submit FAQ, but it is worth repeating that few stencils do not make it on this site. They are most likely too pornographic or directly racist and derogatory. Right-wing icons? Yes. An incel stencil that is directly derogatory towards a certain population? No. Left-wing anti-police messages? Yes. Direct messages inciting copycat Luigi Magione actions? No.
We cannot always appease everyone, and that's fine. Once again, free speech doesn't equal total appeasement. Unlike the current atmosphere here in the U.S., different opinions should be allowed. Let's hope this current chill coming out of Washington, DC thaws.
As for those who are thin-skinned and have closed minds:
The righteous rise
With burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will
Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat and burn and kill
(Neil Peart, 1980)