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Legalization / Political Broadside -- March on the 1984 Democratic Presidential Convention
Lively political broadside promoting the 1984 Bastille Day Marijuana Parade in San Francisco.
The broadside features a bustling crowd of famous caricatures moving through the streets, brandishing banners and signs advocating for the legalization of marijuana. The imagery is dense with symbols and landmarks of San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the City Hall building, which are illustrated in the background, adding a recognizable sense of place to the scene.
Iconic images within the poster include the Jefferson Airplane (top left), the Jimi Hen[drix] Head Shop center left, a tribute to Harvey Milk (center right), and several marvelous caricatures in the crowd.
The top of the poster announces "Bastille Day Marijuana / Parade / 1984," situating the event within a historical and cultural context, invoking the spirit of revolution and liberty associated with Bastille Day. The central banner, carried by the throng which includes an anthropomorphic marijuana joint, proclaims "Free The Marijuana Half Million," referencing the cause and the collective identity of the participants. The details of the event — "Assemble July 14th, 12-1 Civic Center, March 1pm Moscone Center / Rally: Music - Comedy - Fun" — are advertised, suggesting a gathering filled with both activism and celebration.
A marvelous and rare counter-culture broadside.
Rarity
The poster is apparently unrecorded.
Curiously, Bastille is mispelled on this poster, but a different colored poster issued for the same event correctly spells the name Bastille. We locate a single example of the second poster in the Oakland Museum of Art.
![[Illustrated San Francisco Advertising Map] Map Business Portion San Francisco Showing Location of Hotels, Theaters, Etc. Etc.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/50207.jpg)
