Signs of the Times Enliven Protest Rallies with Many Messages

Each national rally organized to protest the Trump administration has greatly increased in participation. The 1,300 protesters at the “No Kings” rally in Oneonta on June 14 counted more than twice as many people as for the May Day rally, both of which featured speakers, music, chants, and food collections to stem the cruel cuts in food programs. They also offered welcomed fellowship among people of like minds.

But, for me, the signs people carry are always the best part of these rallies. They are by turns pithy, soulful, earnest, humorous, and, yes, sometimes vulgar. Most are homemade; some are more meticulously crafted than others; some are apparently purchased online. Signs at the June 14 rally reflected the issues addressed by the speakers: veterans’ issues, rural healthcare, immigration and the abuses of ICE—and more. Reflecting the theme of “No Kings,” many signs featured a crown with a slash or an “X” through it. Others read: “America—rejecting kings since 1776” or “Trump is a Faux-king fascist.”