Your First Protest Sign 101
In a world where everyone fights to the death, it seems, over politics, it can be easy to not even begin to know how to protest peacefully. Yet, protests are more than important, they are crucial! The very first amendment of the constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of speech. The only major clause to this is that you must speak out peacefully. But before you protest, it’s important to know why protest signs matter. Standing up for what you believe in with visual signs sends a bigger message than one person standing alone. Signs indicate what you are fighting for without you even having to utter a word. Think about it! If you see a crowd yelling on the street with signs, you might listen to what they say, but your eyes will be drawn to the red paint, the colorful images, the cardboard cutouts. These visual representations indicate that there is something not only worth showing up for, but worth fighting hard for. You may wonder how you can make a great image without knowing how to do so. Yes, there are Trump Protest signs on Pinterest, but how do you find ideas that really get to the heart of you? First of all, there are so many protest poster ideas if you are willing to look deeply, and luckily for you, following these six easy steps will help you create a protest sign that is perfect for your protest, and your values.
1. Choose your message- Stand up for good!
Your message should be bold, short, and relatively easy to read. It’s important to not make it too complicated, or no one will be able to understand why you are saying what you are saying. Make sure you truly believe what your message is trying to say, or else, there isn’t a reason to advocate for it. The core beliefs that shape who you are and what you fight for-these are what we are getting at. For example, nor a no kings protest, you could write,“No Kings but Christ”, or “No Kings in a free country.” These, among others, would be brilliant ideas for no kings protest signs. Ultimately, you want to stand up for good, and choose a slogan that matches that. Focus on one point, make it clear, and maybe even use a fun little worldplay. If you want to make it more serious, statistics work wonders.
2. Pick your materials
Once you’ve chosen your slogan, it’s time to choose the materials. The first thing to consider is where the protest is, and what the conditions will be like. Also, will the group be massive, or a large group of friends? Is it city-wide, state-wide, or nation-wide? It’s important to consider all these things when you choose the size of your board. Ultimately, bigger is better, as it communicates the message larger and more boldly, however it is important to also consider how many people could be around you, and the amount of space you will have to hold it. Will you need something to hold it from, like a stick? Or will you be okay to only hold the poster? Here, you can decide whether you would like poster board or cardboard. From there, grab paint, markers, stickers, printed text, magazine cutouts, newspaper cutouts, really anything that fits your artistic design, and collect them for your art piece. If you’ve determined you need a stick or handle to hold your poster or sign from, here is also where you would obtain it.
3. Design for visibility
No one will read your sign if your letters and sayings are small. MAKE THE IMPORTANT STUFF BIG!! Large lettering with high, contrasting colors draws the most attention. Consider even looking at a color wheel and choosing colors that are contrasting and bright. This will increase visibility significantly. Ultimately, you want to make sure your sign can be read from a distance. Oftentimes, when people see protesters, they assume there is danger nearby, and steer clear of the protest groups. You want to make sure that people can see your words from far away. Simple graphics and symbols will get the point across, combined with big words. You do NOT need to cloud the sign with pictures and clippings that are irrelevant and distract from your message.
4. Add Creativity and Personality
Ultimately, your poster should reflect you. This is how to make a difference. You already have people around you that look up to you. You already have people see your character and admire you. When you stand up for your beliefs, but in a style that is one hundred percent authentically you, you will not only advocate for the cause you are supporting, you are also drawing attention to how you are doing it in a way that is admirable. So stand up tall! You don’t need cute protest outfits, or know how to dress for a protest if you can look at who you are, and have your sign reflect that. Are you an artist? Make it artsy. Are you really into reading? Put something about books on it. Ultimately, have it reflect your humor, art, and cultural references. You can also add snippets of personal stories for an emotional appeal. This uses pathos, a Greek term for how emotion is used in persuasiveness.
5. Make it Durabile
This is especially important if you are protesting in windy, snowy, or rainy weather. I’ve protested in snow before, and while it is important to dress warmly, if your sign gets messy in the conditions, you won’t be taking quite as much of a stand as you hope. Reinforce the edges of your sign or poster with tape. Water-proofing is never a bad idea, and while it may be a little unnecessary, if you have the time and resources, it’s always recommended. If it is raining, however, waterproofing is a must.
6. Stay Safe and Respectful
Above all, it is crucial you stay safe. Don’t pick fights with people when you are at the protest. There may be people who disagree with you. Your presence and signs will speak up for you, and will probably give them more of a reason to listen then your words ever could. Some people won’t change their perspectives no matter how many facts you have in your back pocket. Avoid harmful language. You want to advocate for something and not diminish this advocacy by using harmful language that could hurt your cause in the long run. Young women in politics are such powerful speakers, even if it may seem like a silly little protest to you. Always remember to review the protest guidelines and local rules for the location of your protest. Different locations have different rules, and you never want to do something that could land you in a position of danger unknowingly.
Having the courage to use your voice to speak up is half the battle. You are almost there! Now go out, stay safe, and remember: every single sign contributes to a bigger movement. You are making a difference already.
