Button featuring a stylized black and purple loon designed by Bernardo Anderson to mimic the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo. The button is pinned to a coat of browns, black and gray. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.
action ideas place resist

Symbols of the Resistence

by Mary

To learn about ways to save U.S. democracy from an anti-democratic regime, I read “Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World,” by Srdja Popovic.

Popovic helped lead a nonviolent student movement called Otpor! to overthrow Serbian president Slobodan Milošević.

Though I have read the book three times, I didn’t understand how, in a practical way, people could use rice pudding, Lego men, ping-pong balls, hugs, red food coloring, and other items and nonviolent actions to symbolize their resistance to brutal regimes.

After attending numerous pro-democracy rallies and dealing with ICE violently kidnapping our neighbors during Operation Metro Surge, now I get it. Symbols of resistance arise out of the specific circumstances you find yourself in and the creativity of the people taking part in the movement. And, if you are in a large country, like the United States, those symbols will often take on a local flavor.

The creativity displayed in the handmade signs appearing at protests across the U.S. is boundless. We make new signs for each protest, so we’ve now got a selection of them in the house.

There have been two “No Kings” protests since Trump took office in January 2025. The “No Kings” messaging really took off and a simple crown outline with a red line through it became the nationwide symbol for these protests. A third “No Kings” protest is planned for March 28, 2026, with Indivisible reporting over 3,000 sites signed up to take part. The first two “No Kings” protests were some of the largest protests in the country’s history, and they didn’t reach 3,000 sites, so the March 28 protest may break another mass-protest record. We are sure to see the “No Kings” symbol plenty that day.

Another symbol I’ve seen used nationwide related to “No Kings” is a Monarch butterfly. The message is that the only monarchs we welcome in the U.S. are the butterfly version.

Store window with two signs. The sign on top is blue with a Monarch butterfly and says, "We protect our neighbors" and "Minneapolis strong." The bottom sign is striped in rainbow colors and says, "All are welcome here" with a heart. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.
Store window with two signs. The sign on top is blue with a Monarch butterfly and says, “We protect our neighbors” and “Minneapolis strong.” The bottom sign is striped in rainbow colors and says, “All are welcome here” with a heart. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.

The pro-democracy movement has reclaimed the American flag from the chest-thumping MAGA supporters, who like to shout about patriotism while actively destroying the country. Along with waving flags at rallies, protesters will sometimes display it upside-down, a symbol of distress. (From the U.S. Flag Code – (a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.)

“ICE Out” and variations on this theme have also become nationwide rallying cries. In Minnesota, after the murder of Renee Good by ICE, the message became “ICE Out for Good,” an effective double entendre I didn’t catch immediately. Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who was also murdered by ICE in Minnesota, have both become symbols of the resistance.

 

Three giant posters of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were murdered by ICE agents in Minnesota in January 2026. The posters (Alex, Renee, and Alex again) are on the side of the Black Forest Inn, across the street from where Alex Pretti was murdered. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.
Three giant posters of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were murdered by ICE agents in Minnesota in January 2026. The posters (Alex, Renee, and Alex again) are on the side of the Black Forest Inn, across the street from where Alex Pretti was murdered. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.

 

The frog as a resistance symbol leaped from Portland to the rest of the country. It started with Seth “Toad” Todd showing up to protest ICE in an inflatable frog costume in Portland, Oregon. Others have been inspired by Todd to wear character costumes at protests. Frogs show up on posters, like a poster at the “No Kings” rally in Boston on October 18, 2025, and as hats, like the one at the Alex Pretti memorial in Minneapolis.

Four signs along a fence at Boston Common, Boston, MA, after the No Kings rally. The first sign reads, "Frogs Against Fascism." The second reads, "No Kings in Boston." The third reads, "Cruelty Is Always Unacceptable - I Stand For Human Rights & Human Dignity." The fourth reads, "No Human Is Illegal." Photo by Mary Warner, October 18, 2025.
Four signs along a fence at Boston Common, Boston, MA, after the No Kings rally. The first sign reads, “Frogs Against Fascism.” The second reads, “No Kings in Boston.” The third reads, “Cruelty Is Always Unacceptable – I Stand For Human Rights & Human Dignity.” The fourth reads, “No Human Is Illegal.” Photo by Mary Warner, October 18, 2025.

 

Knitted frog had on red post at Alex Pretti memorial in Minneapolis. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.
Knitted frog had on red post at Alex Pretti memorial in Minneapolis. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.

 

A bunny hat became a symbol of the resistance after 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was used by ICE agents to lure his father out of their home, after which both were sent to the Dilley concentration camp in Texas. Liam was wearing a bright blue bunny hat during the incident. A crocheter turned the hat into a pattern, so folks could make it at home. (I did not know that “conejo” means “rabbit” in Spanish until it was mentioned in an article about Liam.)

Two posters of resistance, both with a dark blue background. The one on the left has an eight-pointed orange star in a yellow circle sitting on top of a brick red rectangle with the words "Be Good" above. The one on the right shows a drawing of Liam Conejo Ramo's bunny hat above the words "ICE OUT NOW." Photo by Mary Warner, February 22, 2026.
Two posters of resistance, both with a dark blue background. The one on the left has an eight-pointed orange star in a yellow circle sitting on top of a brick red rectangle with the words “Be Good” above. The one on the right shows a drawing of Liam Conejo Ramo’s bunny hat above the words “ICE OUT NOW.” Photo by Mary Warner, February 22, 2026.

Hats are an easy-to-wear symbol of resistance, particularly in places that get cold, like Minnesota. During the worst of the ICE siege in Minnesota (they aren’t gone, by the way – people are still being kidnapped by them here), the Needle & Skein yarn shop in St. Louis Park, MN, released a pattern for the “Melt the ICE Hat.” This red knit hat was designed by Needle & Skein employee Paul Neary, “inspired by red, tasseled hats worn by Norwegians during the Nazi occupation of Norway during the 1940s. It was a sign of protest then, and it has become a sign of protest now – a visible message of dissidence against the occupation of the Twin Cities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” The pattern is $5 (yes, I bought one!) with proceeds going to mutual aid efforts to support those affected by ICE. The pattern was so popular among fiber artists that yarn stores through the Twin Cities metro ran out of red yarn.

Button pins, which were popular when I was a kid, have made a comeback as another wearable way to signal resistance. I still have my “Resist” buttons from the first Trump term. They have been joined by the “No Kings” crown, “I.C.E. Out!” and “Prince over Kings,” which is a very Minnesota message due to the popularity of Minnesota musician Prince.

Round gray "RESIST" button on lapel of black wool jacket. Photo by Mary Warner, March 6, 2025.
Round gray “RESIST” button on lapel of black wool jacket. Photo by Mary Warner, March 6, 2025.

 

Three round button pins, a yellow one with the X-ed out No Kings crown, a black one that says "I.C.E. Out!" and a purple one that says "Prince over Kings." Photo by Mary Warner, February 10, 2026.
Three round button pins, a yellow one with the X-ed out No Kings crown, a black one that says “I.C.E. Out!” and a purple one that says “Prince over Kings.” Photo by Mary Warner, February 10, 2026.

 

My favorite button, however, is my Minnesota Rebel Alliance loon. It was designed by Bernardo Anderson of Moorhead, MN, who was inspired by the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo. The loon is Minnesota’s state bird. Anderson released the design under a Creative Commons license that allows anyone to use and adapt it. I love my Rebel Loon! It gives me a feeling of solidarity with everyone working to save our democracy. And that’s the point of symbols of resistance – to build solidarity, to make us feel less alone in the fight.

 

Button featuring a stylized black and purple loon designed by Bernardo Anderson to mimic the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo. The button is pinned to a coat of browns, black and gray. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.
Button featuring a stylized black and purple loon designed by Bernardo Anderson to mimic the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo. The button is pinned to a coat of browns, black and gray. Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.

 

One more symbol that has arisen in the fight against ICE is the humble whistle. Whistles were adopted as a way for people to warn each other when ICE agents are in a neighborhood, so that those at risk of being kidnapped can quickly take shelter. Whistles are small, easy to carry, and loud, especially when multiple people are blowing them at once. They also gave those who own 3-D printers an outlet for their creativity, with whistles in various colors and sizes being printed to give away.

A plastic whistle designed to look like the blue Minnesota flag with white star. It is taped to a black and white zine showing a woman blowing a whistle and a father and mother hugging their child. The bottom of the zine says "Keep Families Together - Protect Your Neighbors," Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.
A plastic whistle designed to look like the blue Minnesota flag with white star. It is taped to a black and white zine showing a woman blowing a whistle and a father and mother hugging their child. The bottom of the zine says “Keep Families Together – Protect Your Neighbors,” Photo by Mary Warner, February 1, 2026.

 

A bowl of purple, orange, and silver whistles being given away at MidModMen+Friends in St. Paul, MN. A sign under the bowl says "Whistles Save Lives - Please take a FREE whistle to protect Yourself, Your Loved Ones, Your Neighbors, Your Community, Your Country - MidModMen+Friends." Photo by Mary Warner, February 22, 2026.
A bowl of purple, orange, and silver whistles being given away at MidModMen+Friends in St. Paul, MN. A sign under the bowl says “Whistles Save Lives – Please take a FREE whistle to protect Yourself, Your Loved Ones, Your Neighbors, Your Community, Your Country – MidModMen+Friends.” Photo by Mary Warner, February 22, 2026.

 

Whistles, frogs, bunnies, hats, butterflies, loons, signs, crowns, buttons … so very many symbols of the resistance have spontaneously arisen in response to the continual attacks on our democracy. There will be more. Our work isn’t done yet.

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