From Graffiti to Get Out the Vote: "Love Trumps Hate"

by Samantha Anne Carrillo

Is it possible to transform divisive graffiti into a call for civic engagement and participatory democracy? If you ask Cathryn McGill, founder and CEO of New Mexico Black Leadership Council, the answer is a definitive “Yes, we can.” 

Honoring ancestors 

When she learned someone painted “Trump” on the NMBLC offices, McGill resisted reacting emotionally and chose instead to engage with the architect of that message based on shared ancestral values. Which ancestors did McGill call on for inspiration and guidance?  

“The sign Noé Barnett created for our building gives a shout-out to our ancestors, who have shaped our guiding principles: Carter J. Woodson, who was the father of Black history; Ella Jo Baker, a principal architect of the Civil Rights Movement; and Bayard Rustin, a human rights activist and Civil Rights organizer,” McGill said.  

Historical education 

“We didn't put their names on there purposely because we want people to ask who they are so we have an opportunity to educate and inform about how they talked about community-based activism and participatory democracy. It’s about allowing the community to find its voice and amplifying and encouraging those voices in a way that promotes racial harmony, healing and true multiculturalism. Our sign embodies all of that.” 

Transforming hate 

McGill said she learned of the graffiti a few days after the sign was installed. “Perhaps in days gone by, I would have been incensed by it because while we don't know the exact reasons someone made the decision to put ‘Trump’ on the side of our building, we know it was not intended to support us, both because it defaced our building and because that word has been used as a source of major division,” said McGill. 

The work continues 

She chose to respond to this anonymous message in a way that aligns with NMBLC’s goals and guiding principles. “We're about building bridges in this age of division,” McGill said. “So we decided not to look at it from an emotional standpoint and assign motives to whomever did it. No matter who did it or why they did it, it's an opportunity for us to transform the thinking to one that honors those ancestors and their lives’ work that we’re working to continue.”  

Centering community 

McGill said she recognized the graffiti as an opportunity to acknowledge that, “a whole bunch of people are feeling disenfranchised and are worried about what's happening in our country and what the future holds. It's an opportunity for us to walk our talk and say we really believe in transformation and we're excited about long-term community resiliency.”  

Love trumps hate 

“One way we advocate for civic engagement is by asking people to be a boss at the ballot box—not by defacing buildings or continuing to engage in uncivil discourse. We are transforming a message of division to say that love trumps hate,” McGill said. “To reclaim the word. It is a verb and love does, in fact, trump hate. That's what we're about at this organization and this is a call to action for individuals who have maybe not understood or taken seriously their duty to go to the polls.” 

Call to action 

Only 22.83 percent of eligible New Mexico voters participated in the Primary Election back in June. McGill notes, “That’s a failing grade in anybody's book—one we cannot tolerate and that we can definitely do something about, one person at a time. We believe in community-based activism and being participants in our democracy. We're inviting people to go participate in their own future.” 

Register to vote, check or update your registration, change your political party or learn more at nmvote.org.