Ghost graffitist Banksy stands #WithSyria
Marking the third anniversary of the brutal Syrian civil war, Banksy’s new graphic is appearing across social media
We still don’t know who he is, but British provocateur Banksy is at it again – this time reportedly using his graffiti to mark the third anniversary of the brutal Syrian civil war.
Highlighting the bloody milestone, Banksy’s new graphic is appearing across social media as it features the hashtag #WithSyria – a campaign drawn up coalition of organizations from around the world, including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders.
Banksy is an international figure in street art known for traveling the world and anonymously leaving his signature pieces in public areas.
His Syria graphic is a reworking of his famous image of a girl holding a red, heart-shaped balloon, beneath her is the campaign’s hashtag.
“It’s an appropriate image at a time when the crisis in Syria has reached staggering proportions. More than 100,000 people have been killed. Millions more have been driven from their homes,” a statement from Oxfam America said on Tuesday.
It could not be independently verified, however, that the graphic is linked to the pseudonymous Banksy.
The #WithSyria campaign will organize candlelit vigils around the world this week; in Zaatari Camp in Jordan, in front of the U.S. Capitol, in London’s Trafalgar Square, and at the Eiffel Tower, among other sites.
The campaign is calling on all parties to the conflict and all those with influence to:
1. Stop the bloodshed: This means ending attacks on civilians, including schools and hospitals. It means respect for the laws of war and the rights of those affected by the conflict.
2. Ensure all those in need can access life-saving assistance: This means ending sieges and agreeing humanitarian pauses so that civilians can reach help and get to safety. It means removing obstructions to civilians getting the aid they need; and it means ending all attacks on aid workers. It means international donors providing enough funds for the massive international aid response required in Syria and the region.
3. Commit to inclusive peace talks: This means making sure the voices of those affected – including civil society and women - can be heard and heeded.
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