Unforgettable Signs From Protests Across the Nation

Unforgettable Signs From the Protests — (Image credit: Getty/Anadolu Agency)

In recent months and years, people have taken to the streets to protest the racism embedded in the fabric of the United States. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis was the catalyst for such activism in 2020, but recent deaths have spurred righteous anger once more. Some of the latest injustices include the police killings of 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 20-year-old Daunte Wright, in addition to the sharp uptick in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Sadly, these are just a few examples of the countless acts of racial injustice that continue to plague this country. The placards, signs, and banners in this article range from snarky and funny to poignant and devastating, but they all have one thing in common: They're strong, sometimes wordless statements against brutality and injustice. If you're looking for sign ideas for your next protest, there are some great ideas here (and here's how to keep yourself safe).

Content warning: Some of these signs display words like "murder" and "kill," and others center around violence against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) generally or specifically. While awareness and advocacy are both important, so is self-care, so be careful if you think these subjects will trigger you in any way.

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

This Martin Luther King Jr. quote (one that hasn't been used as often until recently) speaks to the importance and significance of the protests.

Reno, Nevada

A Black girl holds a sign that says it simply: She matters.

Columbus, Ohio

A small twist on the iconic statement, to remind people that it's no less true today.

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Simple, to the point, and aimed directly at the source.

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Reinforcing the importance of language—and underscoring the value of lives lost.

Columbus, Ohio

A simple, profound request. "Hands up, don't shoot" has become an enduring chant.

Cardiff, Wales

Underscoring the purpose of demonstrations, this sign also points out the fallacy about violence and protests.

Toronto, Canada

A young woman holds up a sign expressing the sacredness of BIPOC lives and bodies.

New York, NY

A male protester holds a flower and wonders, "Am I next?"

New York, NY

Protesting is important. So is voting to continue working for change, at both the local and national levels.

Madrid, Spain

Maybe a little profane, if you happen to be protesting with your kids, but one of my personal favorites.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Goodest boy ever? Goodest boy ever. (Also worth pointing out the nice counterpoint to "All Lives Matter" on the left.)

New York, NY

A young woman implores for equality for her future kids.

Washington, D.C.

An excerpt from a classic James Baldwin line: "To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time."

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A Black woman holds a sign asking for respect of Black people—in the same way that Black culture is accepted (and glorified) by society.

New York, NY

A woman holds a sign reading, "You can't kill us all" as she puts her head out of the roof deck of a car.

Krakow, Poland

A young woman lays it out: Every Black life matters.

Washington, D.C.

This sign references the death of Floyd, and the delay in arresting the Minneapolis officer who killed him.

Boyertown, PA

A young woman makes a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic (and wears a mask to practice safety measures) but alludes to Floyd's words: "I can't breathe."

Washington, D.C.

Even though many of the signs referenced Floyd, others referenced female BIPOC lives lost, including Breonna Taylor, and how their lives matter, too.

Krakow, Poland

And another protester calls her out by name with a heartbreaking portrait.

Charlotte, NC

A note of levity among the more serious: Even "Karens" can help in the movement.

Houston, TX

A white man stands for Black Lives Matter and against racism in Texas.

Barcelona, Spain

A protester notes that this is not a sign of division between races, but a sign of unity against racial injustice.

New York, NY

A woman wonders, "Who do you call when the police murder?"

London, England

Two women, one Black, one white, have a pair of signs that speak volumes.

Toronto, Canada

A man presents an ultimatum.

New York, NY

A wordless painting saying a thousand words: A closed fist, a sign of support and resistance, that turns into a rose.

Marin City, CA

Short, simple, to the point: Enough is "enough."

Columbus, Ohio

Two signs here—one written on a boarded up building, one held up as a woman roller blades by, but both about love.

London, England

Another beautiful, concise message.

Sydney, Australia

A classic Malcom X quote—and still depressingly relevant today.

Sydney, Australia

A woman holds a sign that speaks to the non-violent aims of the protest.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A woman makes another reference to the COVID-19 pandemic—comparing it to the insidious spread of racism.

Barcelona, Spain

Another protester puts it even more bluntly.

London, England

A protester urges collective responsibility for systemic racism—so that we can all work on dismantling it.

Washington, D.C.

Another tiny glimmer of humor—how can we speak to the manager to fix this, please?

New York, NY

Several people hold a banner wondering "How many [murders of BIPOC] weren't filmed?" (2+2=5 has been used in literature and in the media to expose fake dogma.)

Washington, D.C.

Outside the White House, someone holds a sign that speaks to the long, long history of entrenched racism in the U.S.

Washington, D.C.

A sign simply lists a few of the many, many BIPOC who have been killed unjustly.

Brooklyn, NY

A white woman practices allyship, saying she stands with BIPOC even if she personally hasn't had to experience similar prejudice.

New York, NY

More allyship: A white protester pronounces BIPOC family and friends, and begs the police to stop killing them.

Oxford, England

A woman implores others to be anti-racist, instead of staying silent.

Brooklyn, NY

A wordless, poignant painting, this one a beautiful representation of Floyd.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Another evocative image. A cross, bearing Floyd's name (and also, conceivably, one example of protesters noting their religious beliefs as they protest).

New York, NY

A woman speaks directly to police officers.

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.