Star Wars: When Politics meets cosplay

In 2014, "Darth Vader" ran for president of Ukraine.

He ran under the Internet Party of Ukraine. While the campaign was mostly a publicity stunt, it reached countless people, like this young fan.

Other Star Wars characters showed up to "campaign."

But when Vader himself appeared at a Ukrainian polling place to cast his vote, he was turned away for lack of photo ID.

Darth Vader is now such a political icon in Ukraine that this statue in Odessa, formerly a statue Lenin, was given a Sith makeover. But he's far from the only Star Wars character to show up in a political context.

Star Wars is the ultimate story of good vs. evil.

It's a classic tale of the power of people to topple a fascist state. Adopting the same imagery communicates a message of righteous rebellion.

It immediately incites sympathy, no matter the cause.

Star Wars defies language. So when protesters look to make a global statement, the solution just might be cosplay.

These photos show how this global phenomenon translates into a political statement no matter the language, country, or cause.

This anti-nuclear protester decked out her stormtrooper helmet with biohazard symbols. Even just two months after the Empire Strikes Back came out, its iconography was in the real world.

Darth Vader is one of the most popular choices at protests. Maybe it's because he's a ubiquitous Halloween costume.

This French sign protesting the retirement system roughly translates to "your lack of faith in point retirement is disturbing."

Yoda's unique speech is used here to pose environmental slogans as if they're ancient Jedi wisdom.

Animal rights activists often dress as animals to humanize them, but this protester is equating the humans involved in meat production with the Empire.

Princess Leia was destined to become a feminist icon and was a frequent sight at the Women's March and other protests.

Sometimes the cosplay is the protest. This Darth Vader was promoting the rights of character impersonators.

Standing next to Princess Leia, this protester paints the Belarusian president as evil, stating "Darth Vader, I recognized you!"

A mask can also keep you anonymous, like this Spanish protester fighting for the right to vape.

This protester wears a Guy Fawkes mask painted with the French flag....

... as well yellow high-vis vest or "gilet jaune," the calling card of 2018 French protesters. This look is all topped off with Sith robes and Maul's double-bladed lightsaber.

Even Palpatine gets involved in protests. This hooded figure is giving a speech against Apple's alleged tax evasion in France.

Palpatine is often evoked when calling out corrupt politicians, as he supposedly "loved democracy" only to stage a coup.

In September 2020, this Melbourne protester picked a Darth Vader mask to protest lockdown measures.

Many have equated strict lockdown measures to the fascist Empire, but galactic domination and preventing disease spread are very different goals.

Sometimes, the best way to get across a story is to evoke a universally known one, like the Rebel fighters of Star Wars. Seeing yourself and your struggle in Star Wars can enrich your own fight for justice, on and off the streets.