“Free the Wilmington 10 Now!” Political Protest Button
American, circa 1972–1973
Diameter: 1 3/4 in.
 
A bold and graphic protest button issued in support of the Wilmington Ten, a group of civil rights activists whose controversial convictions in Wilmington drew national attention. The design features a stylized portrait set against prison bars, reinforcing the call for their release and reflecting the broader movement challenging racial injustice within the legal system.
 
Buttons of this type served as highly visible expressions of solidarity, circulated among activists and supporters during a period of renewed civil rights advocacy in the early 1970s. The strong graphic composition and urgent slogan encapsulate the immediacy of the cause and the wider climate of protest.
 
Condition: Excellent.