Liberty Penguin

The Liberty Penguin - named "LP" - is a proposed logo for the Libertarian Party to replace the Statue of Liberty.

Creation

"LP" was created in 1994 by Ann Cason, a Libertarian, graphic designer and co-owner of The Creative Factory in Bean Station, Tennessee. The idea for a penguin was inspired by W. Luther Jett, who suggested the mascot in a letter to the LP News in 1994. "LP" The Liberty Penguin is a copyrighted design. Only Libertarians can use it. This is considered a major selling points by Libertarians to convince other Libertarians to adopt it. Ann Cason also provides written permission to all recognized party affiliates to use and reproduce the logo with camera-ready Liberty Penguin art work that she supplies.

Official Logo

While the Statue of Liberty continues to be the logo of the national party and many of the state parties, the Liberty Penguin has been adopted by six state parties as their official logo. The six state parties are: LPTN, LPNC, LPU, LPH, LPD, and LPIA.

Popularity

The "LP" is increasingly popular among Libertarians. You can see many Libertarian Party members wearing the "LP" pin on their lapels, even if their state party's logo is not the Liberty Penguin.

There are various popular speculations about why the Liberty Penguin is so popular among Libertarians, the chief speculations being:

A significant number of Libertarians are involved either directly or indirectly with IT, and the penguin is the logo of the Linux OS.
Penguins are a beloved creature that many people adore, muchmoreso than the donkey or elephant.

Publicity

The "LP" has been worn by all the Libertarian Presdidential Candidates since its creation and rising popularity. Michael Badnarik notably wears it often while speaking on behalf of the LP. The "LP" can also be seen on Harry Browne's lapel on his new eTV show, This Week in Liberty.

Reasons for Adoption

As listed on LibertyPenguin.com::

"LP" = Liberty Penguin = Libertarian Party

Mascots say a lot...

Democrats claim the donkey, an animal synonymous with stubbornness. Republicans chose the elephant, a beast more inclined to trample our rights than protect them.

The Libertarian Party adopted Lady Liberty, the symbol of freedom.

Unfortunately, so have scores of others.

Lady Liberty has become an immensely popular corporate spokesperson. Her likeness appears in countless advertising campaigns, hawking everything from used cars to mutual funds.

When Americans see Lady Liberty on the New York state license plate, or peddling Liberty Mutual Insurance, chances are they don't think of the Libertarian Party.

We Need Our Own Mascot!

The Libertarian Party needs a living mascot, a uniquely original symbol that will attract the attention and capture the hearts of America; one that will complement Lady Liberty and carry the torch proudly for those who still yearn to breathe free.

Why a Penguin?

Liberty is cool. Penguins symbolize cool.
Penguins are friendly. They're natural icebreakers. They're also used to cold receptions.
Penguins are cute. Their playful antics are a picture of freedom.
Penguins are perfectly adapted to their environment. They thrive on one of the planet's harshest continents â€“ Antarctica.
Penguins are black and white; there's no gray area.

External Links

The Official Liberty Penguin Website