I’ve been scrolling through my Instagram feed for the past hour, mouth agape in horror, stomach roiling in disgust, as I see updates about what’s happening in Minnesota. I am repulsed by the gall of both ICE and Trump’s administration, as well as anyone else in this country that believes the present raids and shootings are justified. 

Yet while my phone has been flooded with White House statements and posts about the protests for Alex Pretti, one in particular really made my eye twitch. It was an X post showcasing signs protesting ICE; however, the posters were covered in pictures from “Heated Rivalry,” with their messages reading things like “ICE reserved for gay hockey only” and “the only ICE we want is for gay hockey players.”

I wish I could say that, at first glance, the posters seemed harmless to me, and that they were a silly way to still show up and support the cause. Instead, I was instantly grossed out. I’ve watched “Heated Rivalry” and enjoyed it, but I would never think to use it as a method to protest the very serious incursions happening all over our country. 

At a superficial level, I get it: ICE, ice hockey, very funny. 

Except, it’s not funny. It’s embarrassing.  

A single sign for a protest doesn’t need to be show-stopping, because there are hundreds of other posters being held up. But what it does need to be is incisive. It shouldn’t be cute or aesthetically pleasing or designed specifically for Instagram likes. It’s artwork like this that makes protesting feel performative — which it shouldn’t be! 

It’s all too easy to picture someone with beliefs starkly different from my own reacting to these images in the same way I did. I hate that the people I share beliefs with are appalling me. It makes me feel guilty, too, like I’m somehow in the wrong for even liking the show in the first place now that it’s being used in this context. 

I know it’s not my fault, and I know it’s not these protesters’ faults, either. After all, they are still putting in the work to go out and advocate for something they believe in, even if their display isn’t something I’m partial to. 

Still, these “Heated Rivalry” signs aren’t the only instance of online culture finding itself at a political event. At the No Kings protests over the past year, for example, there were plenty of signs that used memes or other internet lingo in a witty way. They have phrases on them like “but it was assigned the Gulf of Mexico at birth” that I’ll let out an anxious chuckle at — if only because the current state of America is beyond ludicrous. 

With the No Kings signs, the memes were used directly against the president. Trump has pursued a variety of unconstitutional actions since his term, so it feels warranted for the face of our nation to be defaced while speaking out against injustice. 

However, these “Heated Rivalry” signs are being used to oppose ICE, an organization that has transcended their mission statement of protecting America against “those who present a danger against our national security” or “are a threat to public safety.” Repeatedly, ICE has, according to American Progress, “ignored or outright defied court orders in their efforts to deport individuals — including U.S. citizens — to other countries.” On top of this unlawful action, there have been countless brutalities toward immigrants by ICE for impermissible reasons, such as severe “misunderstandings.” 

I guess it could be argued that, like No Kings, the “Heated Rivalry” posters are playing into the ridiculousness of a ridiculous situation — one so bad that you can only laugh or cry. But when it comes to recent ICE protests championing the memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, putting humor and homage side by side feels dishonorable. 

Yes, you should speak up for what you believe in. Yes, you should repost information about helping those suffering from ICE raids and places to speak up about current unconstitutional affairs. Yes, you should protest issues in the government that don’t sit right with you. But the ways in which you advocate should be relevant and appropriate. 

Oftentimes, action at protests can come off as performative. I think a lot of people, especially if the cause of the protest isn’t something that directly affects them, will attend a protest — or post about a cause — to ensure that other people don’t think they support whatever said protest is against. Especially in recent years, Gen Z activism has arisen from the ability to protest through social media; in fact, a 2021 Edelman study reported that “70% of Gen Z [are] involved in a social or political cause.” The internet has made it highly accessible to support and promote a cause. However, this accessibility turns futile when attending a protest becomes something to make a cute post about. Advocacy starts to feel like a trend made for Gen Z Instagram stories rather than sincere belief. 

There’s no way to prove that anybody is pure of heart while attending a protest, but in this case specifically, the vibrant poster designs showcasing “Heated Rivalry” characters rather than phrases like “ICE out” or “abolish ICE” felt tailor-made for social media. Using a hit TV show as a means of speaking out against immigrant injustice comes off as extremely tone-deaf. 

The Bedford Democratic Committee has a helpful guide for making a fitting, stand-out poster: have a “concise message” that “deliver[s] the tone to passers-by”; make the text “bold and large,” able to “be read from a distance”; use “attention-grabbing” complementary colors that “make each other stand out.” There are plenty of other resources online where you can find additional information and suggestions of words/phrases to include.

When you’re fighting against ICE, or protesting any unjust situation, remember to be conscious about what you are putting out there. Make sure your beliefs are well-represented. Make sure people take all the effort you’re putting into raising your voice, seriously.