Suggested Protest Signs
and t-shirt messages
This is Emily Writes Back, a newsletter for brilliant people, by Emily Sanders Hopkins.
An old drawing of mine titled “Message Dresses” (I think it might only be weekly magazine cartoonists that feel the need to point out if a drawing isn’t brand-spanking new. Songwriters aren’t like, "Now please keep in mind this one’s from six years ago.”
Dear Reader,
I will not be at the April 5 march on Washington nor at any of the many other protests that day because I will be flying to Wisconsin with my daughter to visit a music conservatory—one of her top two choices for college, among the schools she got into. (Fie, fie, Oberlin and Boston Conservatory!)
Do you also labor under the idea that if we just come up with good enough protest signs, we will triumph like pretty much immediately, as soon as everyone’s had a chance to read them?
My protest signs tend to be way too long. Tortured even (see below).
One of my police brutality protest signs right after George Floyd was murdered.
Nonetheless, here are some ideas. Feel free to use! Or shorten. You can kill my darlings for me.
Better yet, share your good sign ideas in the comments!
Suggested Protest Signs
Our ideas are just better:
No gov’t meddling in free speech
Fair taxing of the ultra-rich and corporations
Loyalty to our allies
Investment in ourselves: our schools, our housing, our research, our public buildings, our arts, our public transportation
Deport Musk. Impeach Trump. Eat Clean.
Presidents are office temps, not lawmakers.
Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just shoot us all and steal our stuff?
What would a good government do?
Greek yogurt is too dry!
In the Land of the Free and the Brave …
billionaires aren’t terrified of protest speech by itty-bitty grad students, presidents aren’t scared of destitute refugee families, voters aren’t scared of everybody who votes otherwise, white people aren’t afraid of having to compete with non-white people, and Ivy League Universities don’t cave to illegal threats.
Nope.
Money is unlimited but resources are not.
Don’t let the ultra-rich buy all our schools, hospitals, health insurance, rental properties, representatives, headspace, reputation, and government!
After-party at my place!
America is diverse. We value equity. & We're not a pack of crybabies about inclusion.
An expert is just someone who knows more.
Absolutely not.
Wake Up Congress!
DEI = Variety, Equality, and Proper Recognition of the Merit of Others Without Whining or Acting Like You’re Doing Someone a Big Favor
Limit Screen Time!
In a free country, everyone is allowed to say what they think about any war anywhere
77 million voted for Trump in 2024.
245 million Americans are eligible to vote.
C’mon, let’s do this.
We ARE the government, ya dummies.
Since when do we follow unlawful orders?
I wish I’d known it was this easy to break laws. I would have voted twice.
Hooray for fairness, joy, and boring, hardworking governments.
Wouldn’t you like a DEI hire up in here right about now?
By Efficient Do You Mean Disappeared?
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Boycotts
We’re scared but not cowed. We love people we don’t even know. We rock.
Kamala Harris was going to invest in housing, follow the law, and stand firm against misdeeds by the Israeli and Russian militaries. Plus, she’s fun.
Thanks! Thinking up signs for this weekend. Trying to incorporate "present King ... whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant" - Might not be optimally effective :)
Love this post, Emily! ! !
My favorite sign at a recent protest "Blast all the Billionaires into Space"
Safe travels.