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The peace sign.
A simple symbol. A circle with 3 intersecting lines.
Something we see sloppily spray-painted on walls and train carts or screen-printed on top of tie-dye shirts. These days, we tend not to give it a second thought when we see it. It serves as a cute decoration for our clothing.
“Peace”
60 years ago, it was a simple message like this that stirred quite a ruckus.
In December 1965, when five students in Iowa decided to wear black armbands with the peace symbol on them to school, it soon became a case of free speech, expression and the impact our clothing can have.
You see, these armbands weren’t just a general message of peace, but a direct challenge. These students wore the symbols as a protest against US involvement in the Vietnam War.
When their school caught wind of this plan, it subsequently made a rule banning armbands. The students wore them anyway, eventually being suspended from school.
Standing up for ourselves
The students’ families sued, arguing that the school was violating their First Amendment rights.
This case made its way to the top, where, ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students. The school couldn’t punish these students for having a different opinion.
This case remains a stark reminder of what we might take lightly today. The symbols, messages and images that decorate our clothes are also an opportunity to express our beliefs and thoughts. Something as simple as an armband could be a message of solidarity or challenge. When we use everything at our disposal to its full extent, even clothes can become a weapon in your quest for change or revolution.
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