My late cousin Michael was well and widely known as an activist [Michael Rossman, 1939-2008]. In more limited circles, he attained renown as author and educator (The Wedding Within the War, 1971). I wonder, though, how many knew he was also an archivist; the curator of an astonishing collection of art comprised entirely of protest signs and posters.
Michael’s collection came to mind today as I strolled among the peaceful happy people at the NO KINGS DAY protest in Geneseo, NY. It was a decent crowd, especially for a small township in mostly-MAGA country. Here, with the artists’ kind permission, are the signs and sentiments I liked best. Plus a hat.
America. King-free since 1776.
Most of us would like to stay that way.
On the other side of the world, we are in shock and horror. Has Hitler reincarnated? What will it take to remove tge immigrant Drumpf family from office?
In my mind, we are all immigrants. Maybe some generations back, but still immigrants.
New Zealand does have its own issues, especially around underfunding for health, too many teen suicides, increasing violence; overall though, we are blessed being here and we recognise that.
Our thoughts are with you all
Great signs! I saw some great ones too. Wish I had taken pictures.
Hope you had a good turnout? Biggest day of protest action ever in the US of A. Well done, yeah? :)
Oh, hey! I’ve got one more pic for you!
Click the link to this article on the local protests, then scroll WAY down, almost to the bottom, till you see a guy in a Kamala T-Shirt holding an upside down flag.
There’s my man, doing us proud.
‘No Kings’ protest day: How it looked in Rochester
Wow Risa! You curated a trove of treasures from our road trip into MAGA country to add our bodies to the mass protesting the fascist takeover of the USA. I’d seen and been delighted by “Only you can prevent fascist liars” and “No faux king way”, but I would have missed the others without your discerning eye. Thanks for finding and documenting so many memorable creations and offering your collection to the world!
Thanks, Roy :) I’m no archivist or curator, but people are being so creative in their signage, I’m def willing to step up as a promoter.
As I was meeting with a friend in downtown Kelseyville a tiny parade of less than 10 MAGA trucks drove noisily through with their American flags, Israel flags, upside down California flags, and Tr^mp flags. They had been chased out of Lakeport, the neighboring town, by the many protesting No King’s Day. It just baffles me how disgusting and delusional these people are. They raise Israel flags yet embrace the Nazi ideology. They constantly contradict themselves and care for nobody, not even themselves, just their little dictator in the White House. They see no problem with a senator and her husband being murdered in their home yet think the peaceful protestors are the violent ones. Come November 3, 2026, everyone needs to get out and vote. Doesn’t matter if they don’t think it’ll matter, they need to do it or else there won’t be a next election.
Oh, Kaily, you have nailed it. Were I a more enlightened being, I’d say, “Forgive them, Lady, they know not what they do.” Manipulated by FB algorithms, brainwashed by Fox propaganda, misled by oligarch-controlled media, and genuinely struggling in a tough world, they are complicit in making their own lives and all our lives horribly, almost inconceivably worse. Ramsey Clark (activist, progressive AG under Kennedy and Johnson) once wrote (more succinctly and coherently) that the most dangerous aspect of the human condition is our propensity to be swayed by emotionally-targeted political rhetoric. We’re too easily galvanized to hasty action, too easily persuaded to take up causes that “feel” right, and too disinclined to educate ourselves on the non-feels objective realities behind them.
You’re right, of course, that everyone needs to vote in the next (and all) elections. I hope you’re right that we haven’t already passed that “last election” milestone. Personally, I have no faith that I will ever see another free and fair election in this country. As usual, I hope like hell I’m wrong.
No kings indeed.
Hear, hear!
What a creative bunch of people, and thank you for representing in Genesco!
Thinking of Michael generates stirring recollections. He was an accomplished mycologist, author, educator, and orator. He was a thoughtful and brilliant man who made substantial contributions to the times in which he lived. Anyone who advances the cause of legal and human rights is picking up his banner and carrying it forward. Thank you for weaving him into your narrative.
He was a bright light in dark times, a brilliant man full of boundless energy and enormous good will. Oh, and the officiant at our wedding, so there’s that. :)
Thanks for sharing the remembrances.