- by GH
- The Guardian
- Issue #2179
In Norway, there’s a David-and-Goliath-like story of a folk hero, the ‘Ash lad’ outwitting a troll while wearing a red knit cap with a pom-pom on it. During the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 1940’s, Norwegian women knitted and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation. The hats became a symbol of resistance to a more powerful adversary during the occupation. The Nazis made the protest hats illegal and it was punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute them.
Today women are again knitting these woollen red caps, not only in Norway, but also in the United States, as a protest against the violent and unacceptable behaviour of ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Women in Minnesota were already protesting against the intrusion of armed and masked ICE thugs into their community. In the wake of the fatal shootings by federal agents of two unarmed civilians, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, people have not only joined demonstrations but have found a way to use their skills to support innocent people in their neighbourhoods.
Many Minnesotans have Nordic backgrounds and now Minnesotan women are adopting the Norwegian red protest caps, using their craft skills to create symbols of public political resistance. After a call to action from the Minnesota yarn shop, Needle & Skein, knitters and crocheters were encouraged across the US to take part in the project. It is part of a broad ‘craftivism’ movement, using crafts and knitting as a political expression against the Trump regime.
A social media post from the yarn shop explained: “As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design. Our city and many others are currently being swept door to door by a federally funded and supported organisation. Sound familiar?” Needle & Skein shared a crochet pattern of what they are calling the “Melt the ICE” hat, encouraging crafters from anywhere in the world to make their own version and to wear them in support of the movement in Minnesota. Knitters are posting their finished products online, and directing others to buy their red yarn from Minnesota-based shops that participated in the recent statewide strike to protest ICE presence in Minnesota. The shops have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the poor, turning a protest symbol into resources for affected communities. It has become a symbol of how vital women are to political movements.
The hats have become a visible symbol in protests against ICE, especially after high-profile confrontations and the fatal shooting of civilians by agents, which sparked widespread outrage. They serve a similar cultural role to other protest symbols, such as the pink “pussy hats” during the 2017 Women’s March. They have helped spread awareness of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics beyond localised protests, encouraging actions like “know your rights” training and public demonstrations.
Women are organising in other ways, helping migrants attacked by ICE and joining in efforts to identify and protest the presence of the armed thugs in their community. The red caps and associated protests have contributed to the ongoing debates about ICE’s role, enforcement practices, and accountability, including legal critiques and civil rights concerns around their tactics, such as masked agents and aggressive raids. They form part of a wider political activism against immigration enforcement, including strikes, marches, music, and community organising.
