There’s nothing quite like fashion to make a statement or get a point through. During President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech in early February, several politicians used pins and props to call for legislation, take a position, or raise attention to important challenges Americans today face. A few liberal politicians even wore jewelry with the word “abortion” on it, with the initial “o” being a heart.
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) published a picture of his pro-abortion pin on Twitter before President Joe Biden’s speech on Wednesday, February 7. The pin was also worn by Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA). Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, blasted the attire as “sick and depraved.”
Pro-choice campaigner Kate Dineen was also asked by Markey to join him that evening at the State of the Union address.
In order to draw attention to the year when a Philadelphia police officer shot Henry Truman, an unarmed black man, several Democratic politicians wore pins with the number 1870 on them. This was the first known case of police enforcement murdering an unarmed black man, according to a card that was displayed next to the pin.
This is sick and depraved. Celebrating the killing of innocent unborn children. This isn’t a Dem/GOP issue or right/left. This is the mark of evil. God help us. https://t.co/04bKT1s0HK
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) February 8, 2023
Other Democrats made the decision to decorate their clothing with crayons in an effort to highlight their support for accessible childcare. Senator Patty Murray served as the campaign’s director and went under the name “Crayons for Kids.” She expressed her desire to build a child care system that works for working families” in a post on her website.
Representative Maxwell Frosts’ (D-FL) “March For Our Lives” pin to advocate gun regulation and Representative Dan Goldman’s (D-NY) “warming stripes” accessory to raise awareness of climate change were two other pins seen during the SOTU. Instead of American flags, which were frequently worn by GOP members to decorate their clothing, several of these progressive pins were substituted.