It has been a dizzying few years of nearly-constant protests and public demonstrations in America on a scale arguably not seen since the Civil Rights Movement. So if you're attending Saturday's huge anti-gun violence march in D.C. on Saturday, March 24, or at the dozens of other locations around the world, it might seem challenging to come prepared with fresh sign ideas. Luckily for you, Twitter was abuzz with sign ideas for the March For Our Lives in the days ahead of the event.
“The adults know that we’re cleaning up their mess,” Cameron Kasky, an 11th-grader at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, told Time Magazine this week. Kasky started the #NeverAgain movement on social media to curb gun violence after a gunman murdered 17 people at the Florida high school last month. (And if you need more sign inspo, you might want to check out some Parkland student quotes.)
The frustration of the nation's youth is front-and-center, especially with several gun-related incidents happening even in the weeks following the Parkland, Florida massacre. USA Today reported on March 7 that more than 600 copycat threats occurred in schools across the country following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Continued violence, coupled with the fact that just a week after the Parkland shooting, Florida lawmakers voted down a ban on assault weapons, has ensured that there is so much emotion heading into Saturday's march.
The Parkland students have demonstrated tremendous public strength in the face of intense weeks of media scrutiny. Emma González, didn't have a Twitter account before the shooting, according to Time. Eleven days later, she had more followers than the National Rifle Association. David Hogg erroneously became entangled in a conspiracy theory that he was a crisis actor, and not actually a student. In spite of this, the students have called for specific gun reform fixes, like an assault-weapons ban, universal background checks and digitized gun-ownership records.
If you're new to protesting, or if you're suffering from a case of writers' block, here are some clever ways to make sure your sign stands out in the crowd:
When Twitter isn't being used as a hotbed for neo-Nazis planning their next rally, it's actually quite useful for brainstorming. Several Twitter users politely engaged with one another throughout the week to deal with writers' block.
The folks over at Popsugar recognized that not everyone who is passionate about the March for Our Lives is artistic. That's why they have custom signs ready for you to print on their website. There are also other outlets and services to help you create your own sign if you're feeling adventurous.
There will almost certainly be a wide array of news outlets and photographers at the March for Our Lives this weekend. In the age of Internet activism, your signs could be featured in The New York Times if they catch the right eyes.
Feel free to take inspiration from some of your favorite comedians. In September, Conan featured a roundup of hilarious whimsical protest signs.
About a half million people are expected to congregate in D.C. on Saturday alone. People from all different backgrounds, cultures, and industries gathering in one place can be an inspiring and uplifting experience. Be sure to consider the message you want to say. Can it be misinterpreted? Is it culturally sensitive? Is it inclusive? Your words matter.
Above all, make sure you agree with what your sign says. If the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have taught us anything, it's that the loudest voices are often the most authentic.
