You’ve probably seen the famous “Coexist” symbol—where religious and ideological symbols replace letters in the word itself:
☪️ C – Crescent (Islam)
✡️ O – Star of David (Judaism)
☦️ E – Christian cross
☯️ X – Yin-Yang (Taoism)
☮️ I – Peace symbol
☸️ S – Dharma Wheel (Buddhism)
✝️ T – Christian cross
This design is meant to represent peace, tolerance, and unity between different faiths and ideologies. You’ll find it on bumper stickers, T-shirts, protest signs, and even tattoos. But what if I told you that something designed to promote unity has actually sparked a massive legal and ideological war?
Welcome to the big fight over “Coexist.”
Who Owns “Coexist”?
The Coexist movement started organically, with multiple artists, activists, and organisations using the phrase and symbol in different ways. But then, it became a legal battleground.
1️⃣ Polish Artist Piotr Młodożeniec (2001) – The first widely recognised version of “Coexist” was designed by Polish artist Piotr Młodożeniec for a 2001 art competition hosted by the Museum on the Seam in Jerusalem, an institution focused on social and political issues.
2️⃣ Coexist Foundation (2005) – A UK-based organisation, the Coexist Foundation, was formed to promote religious harmony and tolerance. They used the logo in their work but didn’t legally own it.
3️⃣ Commercialisation & Trademark Battle – Things got messy when a for-profit company, “Coexist, LLC,” trademarked the design in the US and started selling merchandise. They began suing small businesses and activists for using the word or symbol—even though it was meant to represent peace!
The Hypocrisy of a Peace Symbol Becoming a Legal Weapon
The irony is almost painful—a symbol meant to represent tolerance and coexistence has been turned into a capitalist legal battle.
🔴 Lawsuits against small businesses – Independent artists and small sellers were targeted for using “Coexist” on products.
🔴 The outrage from activists – Many who originally embraced the symbol rejected the commercialisation and the lawsuits.
🔴 Backlash against Coexist, LLC – The company faced criticism for undermining the very values the symbol stands for.
Eventually, after years of backlash, legal disputes, and public criticism, Coexist, LLC stopped aggressively enforcing its trademark, but the damage was done.
What Does This Say About Modern Activism & Capitalism?
The “Coexist” battle is just another example of how symbols of peace, activism, and social justice can be hijacked for profit.
💰 Activist movements often get commodified – From Che Guevara T-shirts to Pride merchandise in major retailers, corporate entities frequently turn movements into money-making machines.
💰 Trademarking activism can silence the movement itself – Instead of spreading awareness, legal battles stifle grassroots activism.
💰 People are still profiting from “Coexist” – The symbol lives on, but so does its commercialisation.
Final Thoughts: Can We Really “Coexist”?
The fight over “Coexist” is a perfect example of the contradictions of modern activism. A simple message of unity turned into a legal war, proving that even the most well-intentioned ideas aren’t immune to capitalism and greed.
So, next time you see a “Coexist” bumper sticker, ask yourself—is it a call for peace, or just another product?