Activists took to the streets across the U.S. over the weekend of January 11, 2026, for "No War, No Kings, No ICE" protests, sparked by the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent and the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. In New York City, a coalition of 11 activist groups led by the NYC Democratic Socialists of America organized a march starting at Grand Army Plaza, featuring protest art including giant grayscale posters of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Jeffries, as well as signs designed by Brooklyn artist Julie Peppito. An estimated tens of thousands attended the New York rally, part of some 1,000 protests nationwide.
This article matters because it documents how activist groups are using visual art as a central tool for political messaging and visibility in mass demonstrations against the Trump administration. The rapid organization of the protest and the emphasis on creating highly visible, press-friendly artwork—from giant posters to symbolic sculptures—highlights the ongoing role of protest art in shaping public discourse and amplifying demands for legislative action, such as invoking the War Powers Resolution to rein in ICE. It underscores the intersection of grassroots activism, art-making, and contemporary political resistance.