This is an opinion cartoon.

As a show of solidarity with Ann Telnaes’ brave and sadly necessary decision to resign from The Washington Post, editorial cartoonists around the country are drawing their versions of Ann’s unfinished draft cartoon and posting them with the hash tag #WeStandWithAnn.

“Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

That’s the motto The Washington Post adopted shortly after Donald Trump became president the first time. It seemed necessary then, and even more important now that the wannabe tyrant is frothing at the mouth for his second term. In a frightening, cowardly act of premature capitulation, Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos and several other corporate billionaire media moguls have already bowed before their savior and showered him with money, greasing the skids for a Trump authoritarian oligarchy.

Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes has been an icon with The Post since 2008. She resigned last Friday after her cartoon rough depicting this scene featuring Bezos was killed.

“I’m very used to being edited,” Telnaes told NPR. “I’ve never ever, since I’ve worked for the Post in 2008, been not allowed to comment on certain topics by having cartoons being killed.”

“We have to have the freedom to say what we want to say,” Telnaes adds. “We are visual opinion makers.”

Along with Bezos, Telnaes depicted Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman shown bringing Trump sacks of cash. Los Angeles Times owner and billionaire medical innovator Patrick Soon-Shiong was shown bearing a tube of lipstick.

Mickey Mouse — representing the Walt Disney Co. — is depicted lying prostate. Last month, Disney settled a Trump defamation suit against ABC News by agreeing to pay $15 million to an as-yet non-existent Trump foundation and $1 million toward his legal fees.

Read Ann’s statement and follow her on Substack: Why I’m quitting The Washington Post

Here’s the statement on Ann Telnaes from the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists:

With the resignation of editorial cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize winner Ann Telnaes from The Washington Post, corporate billionaires once again have brought an editorial cartoon to life with their craven censorship in bowing to a wannabe tyrant. Her principled resignation illustrates that while the pen is mightier than the sword, political cowardice once again eclipses journalistic integrity at The Washington Post.

The AAEC condemns the Post and their ethical weakness. Editorial cartooning is the tip of the spear in opinion, and the Post’s cowering further soils their once-stellar reputation for standing up and speaking truth to power. We weep for the loss of this once great newspaper.

We request that all editorial cartoonists do a finished version of her rough and post it in solidarity with Ann’s brave and sadly necessary decision. Please use the hash tag #StandWithAnn. Tyranny ends at pen point. It thrives in the dark, and The Washington Post simply closed its eyes and gave in like a punch-drunk boxer.

— The AAEC Board of Directors

Ann Telnaes is a sharp, classy bad ass. I am proud to stand with Ann.

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler at [email protected].

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