After President Donald Trump signed the now infamous executive order that indefinitely bars Syrian refugees and temporarily bans all other refugees as well as citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, the protests were on. At every protest, there are signs voicing disgust and outrage. You’ll also see lyrics from the mega-hit hip-hop musical “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda being quoted on placards all over the world.
Seeing the lyrics that he wrote being used to fight back gives him all the feels because Miranda believes the ban is “deeply un-American” and goes “against the fundamental freedom of religion in our constitution.” He told HuffPo in a phone interview:
There was an incredible protest sign that read ‘History Has Its Eyes On You’ and it had Carrie Fisher as Leia’s eyes over it, and I was so moved by the moment. When you’re making something, you don’t control what happens [in response]. You can only control the thing you make. So, to see it ripple back in that way, it’s very moving and very humbling.
And no doubt the Tony Award winning musical about the life and times of Alexander Hamilton is replete with quotes that remain relevant in today’s political chaos.
There’s the truth about how immigrants contribute to this nation’s growth.
London has showed up. pic.twitter.com/13nFc1Cu1l
— Riz Ahmed (@rizmc) January 30, 2017
Credit: rixmc/Twitter
There’s criticism about how women and their rights are dismissed.
@Lin_Manuel #Hamilton protest sign in San Francisco! So many kids sang the lyrics when they saw it! #NoBanNoWall #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/ypQPMvTnwy
— Michelle (@Emmieinthecity) February 1, 2017
Credit: emmieinthecity/Twitter
And isn’t this just the perfect burn for someone who can’t seem to speak in complete sentences?
@TheAnisaSubedar @Lin_Manuel my attempt at a sign! pic.twitter.com/FEnuesgmAT
— Heidi Street (@HeidiScribbles) February 1, 2017
Credit: heidiscribbles/Twitter
Then there’s the perfect call to action: Rise up!
Wonder if @Lin_Manuel knew how great #Hamilton lyrics would be for protest signs! #copley #Bostonprotest #ImmigrantsWelcome pic.twitter.com/pGuFt5Lz0Y
— Amy Cortright (@littleamers) January 30, 2017
Credit: littleamers/Twitter
As for those who stand and watch injustice without taking a stand: tsk, tsk, tsk.
I made a Hamilton themed sign for the London protest tomorrow against the #MuslimBan and May's complicity. pic.twitter.com/VjSFYPWIc4
— Elspeth (@ElspethOakley) January 29, 2017
Credit: elspethoakley/Twitter
Putting it all in perspective.
@ellavanilla2015 @TheAnisaSubedar @Lin_Manuel pic.twitter.com/9hskpCRWa6
— Lynn Manuell (@lynnmanuell) February 1, 2017
Credit: lynnmanuell/Twitter
The next time you are headed to a protest and contemplating what to put on your blank sign, feel free to borrow Miranda’s lyrics – they get the job done.
