Required Reading: Women’s March Posters

Yesterday, over three million (and some say over four million) people joined the Women’s Marches across the United States and the world. They are believed to be the biggest protests in US history.

An NYU psychology professor Jay Van Bavel collected the protest numbers in a Google doc, and his estimate is a total 3,667,305 people on the low side and 4,577,523 on the high side. That would suggest over 1% of the US population (maybe even 1.5%) marched yesterday, including:

• DC — 500,000–1,000,000
• LA — 500,000–750,000
• NYC — 400,00–500,000
• Chicago — 250,000
• Denver — 200,000
• Boston — 175,000
• Seattle — 120,000–175,000
• SF — 100,000–150,000
• St. Paul/Minneapolis — 90,000–100,000
• Madison, WI — 75,000–100,000

Here are some of the most creative and playful signs we spotted in person and on social media. I should mention that the New York protest had more handmade signs than I’ve ever seen in any protest.

Enjoy:

Sign Swag Squad #crew pic.twitter.com/ipWwORGs3T

— Mr. Kunle 🗣💨 (@KunleIRAK) January 21, 2017

#WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/4veqo1hvSl

— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) January 21, 2017

My fave ? #womensmarch #womensmarchonwashington

A photo posted by Shea ??? (@sh00k69) on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:34am PST

This ferocious banner had to be the best thing I came across at The Women’s March in LA. Unfortunately I did not get the names of the women who made it but if anyone knows I’d be happy to edit this! . #womensmarch #womenmarchla #losangeles #feminism #fucktrump #thefutureisfemale #art #thispussygrabsback #nastywomen

A photo posted by Camille (@camille_esga) on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:50am PST

#womensmarchonwashington #womensmarch #fucktrump

A photo posted by @politico_trash on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:35am PST

One of my favs today #womensmarch

A photo posted by Jillian Steinhauer (@jilnotjill) on Jan 21, 2017 at 4:16pm PST

This is a fact. ? . . . . . #unitedwestand #strongertogether #humanrights #feminism #womensmarch #womensmarchonwashington #washingtondc #dc #dc #march #protest #emmy #washingtonmall #travelingram #travelphotography #traveling #travelingram

A photo posted by @chubchubyumyum on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:48am PST

*Fantastic* sign at the NYC Women’s March. Photo by Rachel Alemany. pic.twitter.com/uPqjsVBJzT

— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) January 21, 2017

So many (evocative/provocative) signs. #womensmarch #whyIMarch #womensmarchonwashington #photojournalism #people_and_world #documentaryphotography #storyportrait #instamood #instagram #huffpostgram #thevisualarchive #instagood #everydayeverywhere #photoessay #positivestory #natgeo #passionpassport #photooftheday #humanstory #photostory #picoftheday #lensculture #portraits #huffpostgram #instagramhub #documentary #journalism

A photo posted by Kelley Lynch (@kelley.s.lynch) on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:38am PST

& you’re damn right #womensmarchonwashington #populistmovement #washingtondc #marchforequality

A photo posted by Madeline García (@madeline_garciaaa) on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:36am PST

And @womensmarchchi embroidered protest sign is hooped and ready! @womensmarch #notmypresident pic.twitter.com/My8AyqRxfq

— Shannon “Badass Cross Stitch” Downey (@ShannonDowney) January 19, 2017

spotted @ nyc women’s march pic.twitter.com/d6X5re105a

— New York Year Zero (@newyorkyearzero) January 21, 2017

#womensmarchonwashington

A photo posted by Kristina Altepeter (@graceygirl) on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:40am PST

#womensmarch2017 #womensmarchonnyc #protestsigns #protest

A photo posted by Saul Chernick (@saulchernick) on Jan 21, 2017 at 10:57am PST

Here for this. pic.twitter.com/o0ubit2h5t

— Kima Jones 🍅 (@kima_jones) January 22, 2017

Repost from @sue_mcnally #womensmarch

A photo posted by Mary_Addison HACKETT (@mahackett) on Jan 22, 2017 at 7:03am PST

Required Reading is published every Sunday morning ET, and is comprised of a short list of art-related links to long-form articles, videos, blog posts, or photo essays worth a second look.