Hats Against Fascism

When residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota experienced the heavy hand of recent Trump administration immigration crackdowns, they looked to the past for inspiration.

Protesters in Minneapolis — and their supporters farther afield — took up knitting needles, fashioning knit red caps just like the Norwegians did generations ago as they resisted Nazi oppression.

During World War II, the resistance in Norway used simple red hats as a sign they opposed the fascist regime.

More recently, as federal agents descended on neighborhoods of Minneapolis, a small knitting shop thought it would be a unifying form of modern resistance to encourage people to do the same.

Needle & Skein, a local yarn shop, was overwhelmed with orders for their red “Melt the Ice” hats.

The Norwegians of the resistance would be proud.