The verdict landed like a shockwave across the globe. On a Friday, the news reached our Brooklyn VICE editorial office: three members of Pussy Riot, the fiercely outspoken Russian feminist punk rock group, were convicted of “hooliganism” and sentenced to two years in prison. A collective “what the fuck?” echoed through the office. The music editors, in particular, felt the weight of this injustice most acutely.
The morning discussions turned to hypotheticals, stark comparisons between freedom of expression here and the brutal reality faced by Pussy Riot. “Imagine,” someone started, “if I walked into Times Square in broad daylight, decked out in crazy colors, and started ranting in song about political grievances. What would happen?”
Nothing. The answer hung heavy in the air. Maybe a brief detention, a slap on the wrist, and we’d be home for dinner. Certainly not years in prison. We take for granted the liberty to be loud, to be irreverent, to scream our dissent through music and art. Pussy Riot’s plight was a stark reminder: that freedom is not universal. For many, speaking truth to power carries severe consequences.
The more we grappled with the news, the deeper the frustration grew. Social media outrage felt insufficient, a fleeting digital scream into the void. We needed to do something tangible, something that resonated beyond online activism.
“Fuck it,” someone declared, breaking the tension. “Let’s get tattoos.”
It began as a defiant spark, a way to etch our solidarity onto our skin. Initially, “hooliganism,” the very charge leveled against Pussy Riot, was considered, a darkly ironic jab. Then, simply “hooligan,” a nod to a spirit of rebellious resilience we hoped to embody. Finally, the word itself, “hooligan,” but in Russian Cyrillic, a direct visual link to the women we stood with.
The call went out: tattoo artists willing to lend their skills to our act of solidarity. Friends connected us, and the response was immediate.
Shannon and Jon from Triple Diamond Tattoo, a shop on the cusp of its official opening, answered the call. They offered their space, their talent, and tattooed five VICE staff members for a nominal fee.
In ink and shared pain, a small gesture, a permanent mark of protest. To Pussy Riot, wherever they may be, we stand with you.
Thank you to Jon and Shannon at Triple Diamond Tattoo for making this act of solidarity possible.
For political and non-political tattoos, visit Triple Diamond Tattoo.
