Summarize the following:
If you feel like you have a million things to say, pick one message that you feel really passionate about. You can always make a few signs to represent your ideas, but it is best to choose one message per sign. Then, decide whether you want to use text and imagery to convey your message, an image or a symbol without text.  If you want to say something about women’s rights to fair pay, you could write, “equal pay for equal work.”  If you want to say something about human rights at a women’s march, you could write, “women’s rights are human rights.” If you want to say something about the inequitable impacts of global climate change, you could use the term “climate justice.” To convey the urgency of the need to tackle climate change, you could write, “climate justice now.” Then, you could visually highlight this statement with a symbol, such as an image of the planet melting on an ice cream cone. If you decide to use text to convey your message, compose a short, clear statement to represent your message. In terms of brevity, you are best sticking to a statement of seven words or less, since it can be hard to fit long text on a protest sign. You can say a lot in seven words! At the March on Washington in 1963, protestors held signs saying, “we demand an end to bias now.” These seven words convey the urgent need to end racial bias in America. You may want to convey your message with a symbol, which can be used either in place of text or alongside a written message. You could make your sign really popular by using an eye-popping and recognizable symbol, such as a peace sign!  The peace sign was designed by British artist Gerald Holtom. It was originally designed for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). The symbol for the female sex is often used in women’s marches and feminist campaigns. The equal sign can be used to represent equality. The fist can be used as a symbol for social justice. Symbols that go well together can be combined. Protests often have popular slogans and statements that are repeated on many signs. To stand out from the crowd, you should personalize your statement!  For instance, if you are a fan of a particular show or film, draw on your fan wisdom to make a political statement. If you identify as queer, transgender, female, working class or something else, connect your statement to this particular identity or intersection of identities. After composing your statement but prior to writing it on the sign, you may want to get some feedback from friends. They could give you really helpful advice. If you get critical feedback, try rewriting the message to improve whatever is missing, such as clarity, brevity, wit, force or personal resonance. If you are protesting with friends, you could also ask whether your statement goes well with the signs they will be carrying. People often read signs in relation to one another, especially when protestors stand next to one another.
Figure out what you want to say. Practice brevity when using text on protest signs. Choose a symbol. Make your message personal. Get peer feedback.