We Shall Overcomb placard held by Johanna Mechen at the Women's March in Civic Square, Wellington

This digital photograph shows Johanna Mechen holding her placard ‘We Shall Overcomb’ in Civic Square, Wellington, during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January 2017.

The Women's March was a global phenomenon which took place on the same day throughout the world featuring a broad coalition of nearly five million participants in over 600 Sister Marches in 60 countries on all seven continents. It was timed to protest the inauguration of the new United States president Donald Trump on 20 January 2017, and was intended to send a message to his administration on its first day in office that women's rights are human rights. The Washington march is now estimated to be the largest political demonstration in American history.

Social media had enabled the idea to sweep rapidly across America and around the world. The original ethos of the Sister Marches was one of solidarity with America, but shifted to a global perspective, with many marchers concerned not only by Trump's misogynistic attitudes but his effect on global politics; rising far-right populism around the world; and local concerns over citizens' rights.

Sister Marches took place across New Zealand with the largest marches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Their mission was to 'stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families - recognising that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country' (Women's March on Washington Aotearoa New Zealand Facebook).

Johanna Mechen’s slogan ‘We Shall Overcomb’ was borrowed from the protest movement in the United States. It plays on Trump’s striking combed over hair while referencing the history of the phrase ‘We Shall Overcome’. These words are rooted in African American hymns from the early 20th century, and became the unofficial anthem of the African American civil rights movement in the 1950s.

This image is doubly playful in that Johanna herself has overcombed hair. She recalls that not everyone got the joke: ‘A picture of me and my two girls holding the sign got tweeted over a 1000 times … among the top comments were ‘Thick as mince’, ‘Missed an education I see’ and ‘Just a nice break from the kitchen’!! Funnily, what some folk seemed to miss was the fact that I myself have an overcomb!! Was just trying to inject some humour. Women tend to be able to do this even when angry…’

Placards play a significant role in protest movements, demonstrations, and in the accompanying visual record. They can inspire creativity and collaboration in their making; they can take courage to carry; they add performative drama to demonstrations; they attract the notice of media and work closely in relationship to how cameras are positioned. The Women’s March placards were largely handmade and were notable for their strong messages and sense of humour. Humour, satire and parody were effective ways for protestors to deal with serious subjects, and helped keep protest spaces safe and non-threatening.