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Signs of Resistance, January 2017

Three members of the Huntsville, AL Unitarian Universalist congregation at a Women's March, wearing Standing on the Side of Love tee shirts and holding a sign that says "Diversity Makes America Great"

Members of the Huntsville, AL Unitarian Universalist congregation wear Standing on the Side of Love tee shirts and hold a sign that says "Diversity Makes America Great," at a Women's March on January 21, 2017.

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A young woman costumed as the Statue of Liberty with a cardboard torch stands in Boston Common, wearing a sign on her back that shows a woman symbol with a fist clenched in the circle at the top.

In Boston, a woman costumed as the Statue of Liberty wears a cape with a woman power symbol on her back.

At peaceful protests on the day after the Presidential Inauguration, signs of resistance--literally--were abundant and varied. Clever, passionate, and artistic messages waved above the crowds at the Mall in Washington, DC and in the parks and avenues of Boston, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and many more cities and towns.

Unitarian Universalists were well represented, some in bright, yellow tee shirts that affirmed we "stand on the side of love."

Many UUA staff joined a Women's March in Washington, DC or a sister city that day. Here are some signs of resistance we saw.

Next Steps!

Did you join a Women's March on January 21, 2017? Please send photos!

During the Inaugration weekend, the UUA collected videos, photos, and other social media from Unitarian Universalists who joined protests and shared activist energy in their congregations. See the Storify album and more photos on Facebook. 

The Show the Love Map on the UUA website offers many congregations' answers to the question, "What next?" after the Presidential Election. Find inspiration and resources for spreading Unitarian Universalism's message of hope, caring, dignity, and justice, and add your congregation's vigils, events, projects, and actions. 

The Washington, DC Women's March more than filled the national Mall. A sign reads, "I am not 'Ovary Acting.'"

Demonstrators at the Washington, DC Women's March on January 21, 2017 overflowed the national Mall. A sign reads, "I am not 'Ovary Acting.'"

Two black women display artful signs they carried at the Boston Women's March. One shows a young African American girl and the message "Women are perfect."

After the Boston Women's March, two women show their protest signs. Left: "Women are perfect." Right: "Our bodies, our minds, our power."

Woman using a wheelchair holds a sign reminding national Women's Marchers about the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s.

Woman using a wheelchair holds a sign reminding national Women's Marchers about the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s.

Demonstrators from a UU congregation gather at a sister march.

Demonstrators from the North Parish of North Andover (MA) at the Boston march.

At the Boston Women's March, a family's homemade signs defy the "nasty woman" and "bad hombre" labels offered by Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign.

A family's homemade signs defy the "nasty woman" and "bad hombre" labels offered by Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign. 

A woman holds a cardboard sign, "B'ham Queers against Fascism," at a Women's March in Alabama.

A woman holds a cardboard sign, "B'ham Queers against Fascism," at a Women's March in Alabama.

Members of the North Parish of North Andover (MA) UU congregation at the Boston Women's March.

Members of the North Parish of North Andover (MA) UU congregation at the Boston Women's March. The child displays a quote from Frederick Douglass, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

A white woman at the Boston Women's March holds a sign: "Being Pro-Choice does not make me Anti-Life."

A sign at the Boston Women's March: "Being Pro-Choice does not make me Anti-Life."

A sign proclaims "UU Singers for Social Justice" at the Portland, OR Women's March.

A sign proclaims the UU Social Justice Singers' presence in the Portland, OR Women's March.