Street Art: McCain, Police and Thieves

ByMark Vallen
Police and Thieves oh yeah!
“Police and Thieves.” Anonymous street poster, 2008.

I spotted this anonymous street art poster of Republican presidential candidate John McCain in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles.

The title of the poster, Police and Thieves, comes from a Jamaican reggae hit written and performed by Junior Murvin and produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry in 1976.

The song was popularized further in a 1977 punk version by The Clash. Rebuking gang violence and police brutality, the lyrics chide:

“Police and thieves in the street, Oh yeah!, Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition. (….) No one stop it in anyway, And all the peacemaker turn war officer, Hear what I say – Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah!”

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