Red and blue text on a white background

This button is in opposition to the political, economic, and social views of the conservative politicians that hail from Texas. It is a variation on George H.W. Bush’s “read my lips, no new taxes” comment, which he uttered as a presidential candidate during his 1988 campaign. The button is meant to poke fun of the political figures that have come from Texas in the early 2000s, mainly former President George Bush. According to a 2000 article in the Los Angeles Times, political candidates from Texas have a reputation for boasting and boldness that rubs many people the wrong way. Texans’ tendency to dominate has long been visible in national politics and in Congress. 

Illustration of the top edge of a red building with a white banner with black text on it

Gentrification is a term that is used to describe a process of rebuilding of an urban area accompanied by the influx of middle-class and/or affluent people that often displaces poorer residents of the area. The term was created in 1964 and has been a source of debate and conflict ever since. Those who see it as beneficial often site that it brings money into the community. Those wo oppose it see it as diluting and changing the existing vibrant communities into something more bland as well as disadvantaging lower income people and communities.

Blue and red text and an illustration of a map of the United States on a white background

"Neighborhood bullies grow up to be global thugs" was a common phrase used during the Reagan era as part of punk rock political involvement. The political campaign during the Reagan administration included mudslinging towards opponents, which was met with criticism from young voters who disagreed with the tactic. As Reagan's later policies showed a strong hand towards countries in the middle east, the punk community used their platform to raise awareness for what strong arm tactics could lead to in a global arena.

Donnelly/Colt is a family-owned and operated mail order business that has been designing and distributing union-made progressive materials promoting peace, social and environmental justice and human rights since 1975.

Illustration of weapons in black with yellow text on top and red and black text above on a yellow background

The competition for nuclear supremacy led to several close calls with nuclear weapon launches including the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which led many Americans to question the safety of nuclear stockpiles. Protests were led all around the nation that argued for nuclear disarmament. Some even pointed to the ethical dilemmas and environmental issues involved with the use of nuclear weapons, citing Hiroshima as an example.

Illustration of a black and white cow under a white cloud with black text in it on a blue background

This button is most likely in support of vegetarianism on moral grounds. Many object to eating meat out of respect for sentient life. Some people follow vegetarian diets not because of moral concerns involving the raising or consumption of animals in general, but because of concerns about the specific treatment and practices involved in the raising and slaughter of animals, i.e. factory farming and the industrialization of animal slaughter.  In the early 1990s, the American Dietetic Association published a position paper endorsing vegetarian diets, and support for vegetarian diets stared to be seen throughout the medical community.

Illustration of a white dove with white text on a purple background color

This button was made for the Greenham Common Women's peace camp. In 1981 a group of women from Wales who called themselves "Women for Life on Earth" set up a camp outside RAF Greenham Common Airbase to protest the U.S. nuclear cruise missiles that were going to be sent to the base. There were several camps around the base and each camp usually housed between 6 and 50 women on a rotating basis. The protestors were pacifists and feminists and would not allow men to join them in the camp. They camped outside the base, disrupted training exercises, painted slogans on planes and buildings, and sued the U.S. government to draw attention to the missiles, which were removed in 1991 and '92. Many of the women were arrested and harassed for their participation in the camp and direct action protests, but more women always took their place.

Illustration of a television with white text on the screen

The saying on this button became a popular bumper sticker slogan in 1979 when nationally renowned art-furniture maker Ed Zucca printed up the first 100 stickers. According to a 2000 article in the Baltimore Sun, Zucca felt that TV was “transforming humanity into some kind of monster” so he advocated killing it before it killed you. After the first batch of stickers ran out, fellow woodworker G. Leslie Sweetnam took up the cause and went to progressive printers Donnelly/Colt to make more. The slogan has been printed on posters, stickers, buttons, T-shirts and coffee mugs.

White text on an illustration of a red and black brick background

During times of war, the United States government enacts selective service drafts requiring those registered of legal age to go to war. In the 1960's, draft resistance organizations formed to protest the required military service. Many believe that they should not be forced go to war as service to their country for something they do not support personally. Through many political protests and movements that brought attention to the matter, the draft changed to be more fair and equitable after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. In the 1980's, the draft registration was reinstated forcing men of legal age to register for selective service. In 2019, the male-only requirement was determined to be unconstitutional, but at the time of writing, there are no new regulations on selective service.

During the 1980's, the Reagan administration hinted at a conflict in Afghanistan that might require a draft to get soldiers. This implementation of draft and the conflict in the Middle East were largely criticized and protested.

Black text on top of an upside-down pink triangle on a blue background

The phrase “I’m straight but not narrow” refers to a person having a heterosexual orientation, but they are open-minded and accepting of a person’s sexual orientation. In a sense, they are straight, but not narrow-minded. This phase has been used on bumper stickers supporting gay-straight alliances. There is also a non-profit organization by the name, Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN) and it is a charity that focuses on straight youth, young adults, and strives to positively influence the perceptions of, and behavior toward, their LBGT peers. 

Illustration of a brown teddy bear with black text on a light blue background

"I want to grow up not blow up" was a common slogan for the nuclear disarmament movement in Britain, Canada and the US starting in the 1960s. Children and some parents with babies carried signs with this slogan on them during protests. The slogan is supposed to give the movement a more emotional impact by appealing to people's compassion for the children who may be killed in a nuclear attack. Blue was chosen as the color of the nuclear freeze movement because it is a soothing color.