Why wear and distribute these buttons?
“The effectiveness of wearing symbols lies in its clarity, visibility, and unifying power. A well-chosen symbol is an ‘instant identifier to a united cause,’ letting protesters signal their message at a glance.... the symbol’s visibility in public spaces draws attention and makes the movement’s presence felt.”
When an authoritarian consolidates power … there's no path that does not involve risk for us and our families and our neighbors … I would invite [a] person [who’s worried about the risks] to a very low-level ask … Would they wear a button? … One of the big things that I think is important about shared symbols, about shared identity, is that once people have taken a very small step in of saying, yes, I'm part of this thing, they tend to want to do more.
— Leah Greenberg, co-founder, Indivisible
The time to stand up for democracy is now.
Donald Trump is an unprecedented threat to America as we know it. He's making a concerted effort to arrogate all the power of the U.S. government to himself, effectively crowning himself king of America. Resistance to this threat is the most patriotic thing we can do right now, hence the American flag imagery in my buttons.
We need a massive movement to force Trump out.
The only official remedy for an outlaw President is impeachment, which has only ever led to one President (Nixon) leaving office - technically before he was officially impeached. Right now, Democrats in Congress are generally not interested in impeachment, largely because it has little to no chance of success. The only thing that can change that is immense public pressure.
Everyday action is (somewhat) more important than mass protest.
The pro-democracy movement, with its huge nationwide protests, has achieved some notable victories since Trump took office, but things are still getting rapidly worse. Ultimately, only mass non-cooperation on an everyday basis can undermine Trump's support and drive him from power — which means the movement has to grow enough to encompass a huge number of people willing to take that step.
Small steps come first.
If you or your friends and family are new to political activism, it can feel difficult, risky, and nearly useless because you're just one person in a country of 350 million. Wearing a button every day is easy, fun, and a good first step toward seeing yourself as part of something greater that can make a real difference. Then it can feel easier to take the next step into more powerful actions with groups that are beginning to make a real difference.