‘Weapons of mass construction’: the US ‘craftivists’ using yarn to fight back against Trump

For centuries, US fiber artists have worked toward political goals through their crafts. Illustration: Jessica Whittingham/The Guardian

In early October, Tracy Wright invited a group of other women in her social circle – all fellow knitters – to gather outside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in their home town of Portland, Oregon. They were “armed with their weapons of mass construction”.

Donald Trump had just ordered national guard troops deployed to the city, which he called “war ravaged” in order to protect ICE facilities he said were “under siege” by anti-fascists “and other domestic terrorists”.