A number of billboards advocating for a welcoming and dignified approach towards migrants have cropped up in cities like San Diego. These billboards come at a time when the political discourse surrounding immigration is intensifying, with the upcoming elections less than three weeks away.
The driving force behind this initiative is the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization based in Pennsylvania that is dedicated to promoting peace, social justice, and humanitarian service.
The month-long campaign will extend beyond the three billboards already displayed in San Diego. Similar advertisements will be featured in New Jersey, Colorado, New Hampshire, Florida, and Oregon. Additionally, the campaign will include radio ads.
Pedro Rios, director of AFSC in San Diego, emphasized the purpose of the billboards as a means to draw attention to the fundamental human and civil rights of migrants.
“Political candidates are saying one thing, others are saying another thing, but often times it’s not based on experience of dealing with migrants. I believe that most people, when they develop a relationship and understanding about what other people have gone through, walking in their shoes, they will understand why people are forced to leave their country seeking something better”
During the 2024 election cycle, politicians from both parties have devoted significant resources to TV ads and media campaigns. However, outdoor advertisements have also played a prominent role in addressing important concerns of the public.
In September, when the controversial “immigrants eating pets” allegations were at their peak, the Arizona GOP took a unique approach by erecting 12 billboards across the Phoenix metro area. These billboards featured kittens dressed in cow costumes and carried the slogan “Eat less kittens, vote Republican!”
A billboard that gained widespread attention was displayed along Interstate 25 near the Wyoming-Colorado state line in September. The billboard featured the Venezuelan flag and a message that read, “Venezuela ahead, be prepared.”
This message was a direct reference to President Trump’s assertion that the city of Aurora, Colorado had been infiltrated by the Venezuelan gang known as “Tren de Aragua,” a claim that has since been debunked.
It is worth noting that the billboard was funded by a supporter of Donald Trump and a contributor to his campaign.