Black and white illustration of a woman's head and shoulders with black text across the bottom

Sojourner Truth, originally named Isabella Baumfree, was born in 1797 and died in 1883 at age 86. She was a prominent African-American abolitionist that also promoted Women’s rights and sought to aid former slaves adjust to a life of freedom. After escaping slavery in 1826, with her infant daughter, Truth changed her name and settled in nearby New Paltz, New York with a family willing to take in her and her daughter. In 1828, Truth took John Dumont, her former master, to court for the custody of her older children that still were the property of Dumont. She won and became the first African-American woman to successfully beat a white man in court over a slave custody case. Truth later went on to advocate for African-American involvement in the Union Army to help the war effort. In 1999, a 12-foot bronze statute was erected in her honor and placed in Battle Creek, Michigan where she is buried. 

Black text and a black and white photograph on a white background

On January 8, 1985, Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, a Catholic Priest and Joliet, Illinois native, was taken hostage in Beirut, Lebanon by Islamic radical militants. Jenco had been in Lebanon overseeing Catholic Relief Services when five men subdued and kidnapped him. He was held in a variety of locations for 564 days until he was rescued on July 26, 1986. Jenco was released relatively unharmed after successful negotiating by the Reagan administration to convince the Islamic radicals to release him. 

White text on an outer pink ring and a purple diamond on a white background

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

White text on a green background

In 1972, the Movement for Economic Justice formed to promote progressive taxation and wealth redistribution in order to benefit all Americans. This concept for wealth redistribution similarly follows the beliefs of Robin Hood, a legendary figure originally from English folklore. A skilled archer and swordsman, he is a heroic outlaw that often acts as a champion of the people, fighting injustice and corruption by robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.

Teal text on a white background

"Publish Women or Perish" is most likely tied to the Feminist Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, there was a push to publish books and other literature by women and about feminist issues.

White text on a blue background

With the development of nuclear weapons during and after World War Two the world entered a new era in which peace among the developed countries became maintained by the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (or M.A.D.). This concept states that if any country were to attack another with nuclear weapons that they would trigger a global nuclear war that would lead to the deaths of millions around the globe. This sparked an arms race known as the Cold War as many developed countries quickly acted to prevent from being left vulnerable to external attack. The United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics became the largest holders of nuclear weapons throughout the 20th century to even now. Citizens of both countries during the Cold War implored their governments to halt the arms race and to reduce the capacity for producing these weapons using similar rhetoric. 

Green illustration of grapes with a red circle and line through the center on a white background

This button is most likely pertaining to the Delano Grape Strike of 1965 in California, a protest that occurred specifically among the Filipino and Latino farm worker communities. Hoping to obtain higher wages and safer working conditions, members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee and the National Farm Workers Association joined together to lead workers towards the movement for overall better working environments. Protesters were supported and joined by such leaders as Cesar Chavez and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, as well as by students and civil rights groups, in a peaceful 300-mile march from Delano to Sacramento. The momentum behind the movement launched a boycott on table grapes until 1970 when table grape growers signed the first union contracts. This led to the eventual dissolution of the "divide and rule" mentality of growers over workers.

Illustration of a hand with white text on a red background

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

White text on a purple background

This button counters the anti-abortion sentiment that women should not be allowed to choose to have an abortion.

Pink triangle on a black background

The pink triangle was used in the 1930s and 1940s by the Nazi regime to identify homosexuals within concentration camps. It was one of many colored triangles used to identify members of various communities Nazi's considered undesirable. The LGBT community continues to fight for civil rights in many countries and has attempted to reclaim and embrace the pink triangle as a symbol of pride in their ongoing campaign. Where Holocaust victims were made to wear the triangle upside down, many LGBT individuals and supporters now wear the triangle facing up.