Gonzo Fist Sheriff Star

The Gonzo fist, a two-thumbed clenched fist clutching a peyote button, represents Thompson’s creation of Gonzo journalism, a style that blurred the lines between writer and subject, fiction and fact. It’s a visual symbol of resistance, psychedelia, and anti-establishment spirit, embodying the wild energy and surreal distortions of Thompson’s writing and worldview. The peyote button nods to the mind-expanding drugs often referenced in his work, tying the symbol directly to his hallucinatory and unfiltered perspective on American culture.

The sheriff star, on the other hand, connects to his 1970 campaign for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, where he ran on the “Freak Power” platform. Thompson used the star ironically—as a traditional badge of law and order that he intended to subvert with radical policies like drug decriminalization, environmental preservation, and police reform. His campaign was both political performance and sincere activism, blending satire with serious critique of the establishment.

Together, the Gonzo fist and the sheriff star reflect the two sides of Hunter S. Thompson: the anarchic journalist who challenged the system through words, and the would-be public servant who tried to change it from within—both fueled by a relentless drive for truth, freedom, and a good dose of chaos.