Political Symbols Are Everywhere Now-On Our Streets and Our Screens

"Whistles, often bright orange, have become a tool of resistance against immigration raids in Chicago. These symbols-though they sit on a broad spectrum of relevance, seriousness, and efficacy-stand in stark ideological contrast to the political propaganda that the Department Of Homeland Security posts on social media: John Gast's " American Progress ," a personification of manifest destiny ; Morgan Weistling's " A Prayer for A New Life ,""

"Overt political symbols are everywhere now. They're all over our screens, too, as is political signaling. This feels like a response to-or at least in conversation with-the manifest propaganda and symbolism of the second Trump administration. (Is there a more potent political symbol in recent memory than the scarlet MAGA hats?) On TV, the symbols are clear and direct, if heavy-handed. In Peacemaker , in a parallel version of the U.S., a swastika replaces the stars on the American flag."

Protest movements deploy visual and playful objects—handmaid cloaks, inflatable frogs, bright orange whistles—to mobilize and signal opposition at immigration facilities and in cities. These symbols range widely in seriousness, relevance, and practical efficacy while conveying clear ideological positions. Government agencies respond with historical and patriotic imagery, including manifest destiny and pointed Uncle Sam motifs that frame immigration as criminal invasion. Political symbolism saturates screens and public spaces, with television and film often using heavy-handed emblematic choices to critique or amplify political messages. The interplay of grassroots and official symbols shapes public perception and political signaling.

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