He Will Not Divide Us: Is Shia LaBeouf an Innovative Activist?
Less than week after kicking off his Trump presidency protest, “He Will Not Divide Us,” actor-turned activist Shia LaBeouf was arrested for a physical altercation at the art installment on Thursday. The livestream video captured LaBeouf attacking another protestor after a man acknowledged him and then said, “Hitler did nothing wrong.” That statement caused Shia to shove the man away from him, which later led to his arrest and subsequent release. LaBeouf’s anti-Trump protest method may be considered controversial and an invite for such incidents, but it has also ushered creativity in strategic protesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URIUoS3V86g
LaBeouf’s art installation at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York is both an exhibit and protest. The freedom of speech platform consists of a camera installed on a wall, which reads “He Will Not Divide Us” above it and urges the public to utter the mantra. The camera is currently livestreaming the exhibit 24/7 for four years or the duration of Trump’s presidency.
Newly elected President Donald Trump has not been the most popular candidate amongst some select groups in the country. People have marched and rallied in opposition towards President Trump and his beliefs while others have openly supported his views, but this isn’t breaking news on the block. As many protesters flooded the streets in various cities around the country, Shia LaBeouf and artist Jaden Smith (son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith) took to the streets to launch the protest campaign and chant “He Will Not Divide Us.”
Shia LaBeouf has taken it upon himself – with support from celebrity friends like Jaden Smith – to change the meaning of protesting. This live stream is a creative way of protest and an innovative approach towards exercising rights and politics. If you are curious to see how the exhibit created by LaBeouf progresses through the presidential term, visit the site Hewillnotdivide.us.
