Rebel Loon Tattoos Raise Funds for Immigrant Rights (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: This mashup of the Minnesota state bird and a Star Wars symbol has become a calling card for anti-ICE protesters, so much so they're getting it tattooed on their bodies.
[00:00:09] Speaker 2: I was having a very emotional day that day and decided that I needed to do something to mark the moment.
[00:00:17] Speaker 1: The rebel loon blends the outline of the bird with the emblem of the Rebel Alliance. The creator posted it online for people to download and customize for free.
[00:00:25] Speaker 3: Oh my god, like this is iconic. This is so inspiring. I got chills the first time I saw it.
[00:00:30] Speaker 1: The owner of Gothic Night Tattoo Shop decided to offer the body art for $50 and she says more than 150 people showed up. They ended up donating nearly $6,300 to the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, but they say this form of expression isn't just about following a trend.
[00:00:47] Speaker 4: Realistically, you don't commit to putting something on your skin forever if it's just to cosplay.
- A Minnesota-Star Wars mashup symbol (“rebel loon”) has become a calling card for anti-ICE protesters.
- The creator made the design freely downloadable and customizable, helping it spread.
- A tattoo shop offered the design for $50, drawing 150+ people.
- The event raised nearly $6,300 for the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee.
- Supporters view the tattoos as a lasting statement of identity and solidarity, not mere cosplay or trend-following.