The Rescue symbol evokes open-hearted, decentralized civic participation and community-building, the kind of democracy that exists because people work together to make it so—democracy of the people, by the people, for the people.

The main figure is a common loon—the state bird of Minnesota. We use it to recall and to honor the good-hearted people of Minnesota who spontaneously created a pro-active, nonviolent response to paramilitary occupation and unconstitutional abuses, good people helping other good people find a way to live their values and help people in need.

We do not claim to represent those locally rooted do-gooders or to be an umbrella for their efforts. Our aim is simply to honor their humanity, their generosity, their teamwork, and their devotion to the rights and dignity of all.

The yellow star is the North Star, to remind that we are guided by core principles and values, including a commitment to humanity, open civics, and constructive cooperation.

The white speckled pattern characteristic of the common loon is made of light blue stars that suggest the North Star is embedded in the work of rescue. We are not just talking and thinking about nice ideas; we aim to activate univeral human values of decency, human rights, and non-aggression.

There are seven, because they also hint at the bright blue-glowing star cluster known as The Pleiades. In ancient Greek myth, the Pleiades were seven sisters, who were hunted and persecuted. We consider them to represent family and community, remaining free through mutual commitment, and so to symbolize rescue, endurance, and the right of all people to be free from persecution.

They are visible throughout the northern winter, a reminder in the sky that even in cold, dark winter, defenders of decency are not alone.

The loon is depicted in a posture that could be floating or flying, two expressions of its poise and agility. Loons dive deep underwater, another way of evoking rootedness, engagement, and connection to place and to neighbors. They have strong bones and fly as fast as 75 mph; they are solid and skilled.

‘Stay real. Be kind.’ means: freedom is alive with purpose when we bear witness honestly, honor everyone’s human rights, and exercise moral freedom to treat others with dignity and help those in need.

We want the idea of Rescue to be approachable, local, adaptable, and non-ideological. We believe all human beings have natural, irreducible, and unalienable human rights. That is what makes America great. The country was founded on this principle, redefining legitimacy for all political systems everywhere, and setting in motion the ongoing cooperative process of reform to achieve a “more perfect Union” of people from many cultures and continents.

We are free together—all human beings in the United States, regardless of politics, place of origin, faith or frustration—or we are not free.

Note on usage: The Rescue Loon image represents civic conscience and the collective endeavor of keeping our republic free, open, generous, and lawful. It is intended to communicate the values described above, on the main RescueRights.org page, and throughout the writing of The Faithful Citizen. Those values are: humanity, universal rights, mutual aid, civic cooperation, and nonviolence.

The Rescue Loon may be used freely to represent the values laid out above. It may not be used to endorse for-profit businesses or any advocacy that does not align with the Rescue values.

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If you would like a high-resolution or vector image, or if you are planning to use the Rescue Loon for a focused advocacy campaign or local event, please use the Contact form to make your request and connect with the editorial team.