Because the October 18th No Kings protests are fast approaching, we created a series of how-to articles to help you craft powerful and engaging protest signs.
Before getting out arts and craft supplies, first think about what you want to say. Signs are often read very quickly by passersby, so your sign's text needs to be concise, straightforward, and impactful.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when devising your sign's message.
Think About Your Goal & Audience
First, reflect upon your underlying goal and intended audience. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Are you trying to persuade passersby to your side? If so, your language needs to be jargon-free and easy to understand, especially for people who do not follow politics.
- Are you trying to motivate and inspire those who already agree with you? Humor and literary quotes often are useful for these signs.
- Are you trying to represent an identity or profession in this protest? Examples: "veterans against fascism"; "moms for gun-control"; "Italians against Columbus Day"; and "doctors for scientifically-grounded public health policy".
- Do you want to convey a call to action to passersby? Examples: "Call Moulton: vote NO on the SAVE Act"; "Check your voter registration status today"; "Like democracy? Join Indivisible".
Pick one of these goals and craft your sign's message with it in mind.
Context Matters
Align your message to the underlying theme of the protest. Don't bring a sign opposing subsidies for fossil fuel companies to a protest against ICE, regardless of how dire you think our looming climate catastrophe is. Bringing off-message signs can weaken the impact of a protest because it makes the action seem disunited and unfocused.
Before creating a protest sign, do some research. Organizers sometimes provide a list of recommended slogans for protest signs to ensure consistent messaging among protesters. Look for these recommendations on the protest organizer's website and social media posts.
On their signup form, the organizers for the Bearing Witness Vigils outside of the Burlington ICE Field Office request that attendees only bring signs that support immigrants. They write: "Even though we care deeply about other issues, while outside ICE we must remain focused on immigration. Our goal is to come together across any political differences to show our collective support for immigrants and their rights."
If you aren't sure what theme to focus on, check with protest organizers. Searching online for previous related protests can also help you find messages that inspire you.
"Protests don’t speak for themselves. They must be interpreted—by the public, the media, and political elites. And when that interpretation is unclear, the power of the protest is lost." — Karen Tamerius
Messaging Ideas for No Kings Protests
Indivisible Winchester emailed its members a list of potential slogans for their upcoming No Kings Protest on October 18th. Messages included:
- "Power to the People, Not Kings"
- "Democracy, Not Monarchy"
- "Stop the Coup, Protect Democracy"
- "Say No to Tyranny"
- "Freedom is a Right, Not a Privilege"
- "We Stand for Democracy"
- "No Kings, No Crowns, Just Citizens"
- "United Against Authoritarianism"
- "Defend Our Norms & Institutions"
- "Power to the People—Not Kings"
Next in Series
- If you use any of the slogans above for your sign, feel free to skip ahead in our series to Construction Considerations.
- Otherwise, go to: Linguistic Considerations
Further Reading:
- Justin Caffier, "How to Make a Protest Sign That Isn't Garbage", Vice, February 22, 2017.
- Brooke Tully, "How to Design an Impactful Protest Sign", Brooke's 2 Cents, February 25, 2017.
- Karen Tamerius, "The Message Is the Movement: Your Guide to Smarter Protest Signage", The Smart Politics Way, April 14, 2025.
- The Visibility Brigade, "The Visibility Brigade Rush Hour Resistance Toolkit".
