America has battled homegrown fascists and Nazis since the early 20th century through interventions, publications and satire. The Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League to Champion Human Rights, located on W. 47th St. in New York City, was one of the early leaders in the fight to raise awareness before the United States entered World War II.
The design of their publications was straightforward. The specter of insipid racism and possible totalitarianism was not to be toyed with. The fact that white supremacy was sanctioned and propagandized by a great European pariah was enough to get the masses moving.
These publications that decry “the Hitler madmen” as not recognizing “law nor justice” made a huge stab at checking the evil that was to come. Sad that their lessons were not entirely learned.
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About Steven Heller
Steven Heller is the co-chair of the SVA MFA Designer /Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program, writes frequently for Wired and Design Observer. He is also the author of over 170 books on design and visual culture. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal and is the 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award.