It seems everyone in the city knows about this guy but me (I don’t get out much), but his graffiti is everywhere around DC. Last week though it appears he has been caught. While sad in a way, it wouldn’t have been brought to my attention otherwise. In the Washington Post article, Borf (real name John Tsombikos) is quoted extensively and has a good deal to say about youth rights.

The article is really interesting, but here are some choice quotes:

If you’ve seen Borf’s graffiti — the stencil of the little girl who holds a sign saying “Grownups are Obsolete” or the impish face that appears throughout the city — you, too, might be wondering what Borf’s message is. … Most of all, he doesn’t believe in adulthood, which he considers “boring” and “selling out.”

“Growing up is giving up,” he said. “I think some band said it.”

Borf recently turned 18, a fact he revealed with hesitation because “I’m against age. It’s just another way of dividing people.”

He thinks young people have it really bad. He hated high school, which is why he finished early, taking his last few courses online. It bothers him that those younger than 18 can’t vote, “as much as I don’t believe in voting or anything.” He complained that folks in stores assume “all young people shoplift,” and when he’s reminded that he himself shoplifts spray paint, he says that’s just more evidence of how messed up society is.

All sorts of awesome youth rights stuff coming out of that guy. Plus with a huge pedistal to stand on now that everyone knows about him. He spoke elsewhere in the article about possibly wanting to publish a manifesto. I’d very much like to see it. He has a powerful message that needs to be heard by more. I think he has captured something here, and has an opportunity to capitalize on it.

I am going to get in touch with him. See if he can work with NYRA. Or at the very least get better connected up with the rest of the movement.

Of course it is possible he isn’t so disconnected from the movement in the first place. Considering he is young, an activist, and in DC, as I read the article I figured it was possible he may be a NYRA member. After a quick search in our member database, sure enough he is. More interesting is the fact that the first political event Borf got involved in, according to the article, was an anti-capitalism protest in September 2002. It was precisely that World Bank/IMF protest on September 28, 2002 where John joined NYRA.

I want to be careful not to overstate anything, but its possible he got some of his youth rights message from NYRA itself. Of course, we are the biggest youth rights group in the country, so that isn’t all that surprizing, but still kinda cool.

If he is serious about youth rights, and I can do anything to help (nothing illegal of course), then sign me up.

edit: it seems a collection has begun to raise money for John’s legal defense. I’ll put up a few bucks to help out. If you are interested in helping (come on, good youth rights supporters) send an e-mail here: helpborf at gmail dot com (mentioning you are from NYRA and heard about him through One and Four wouldn’t hurt either, heh). Oh, and NYRA needs money too.

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