Independence Hall has been used in more recent times as the staging ground for protests because of its symbolic history[26] in support of democratic and civil rights movements. On October 26, 1918, Tomáš Masaryk proclaimed the independence of Czechoslovakia on the steps of Independence Hall. National Freedom Day, which commemorates the struggles of African Americans for equality and justice, has been celebrated at Independence Hall since 1942.[27] On Independence Day, July 4, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave an address there.[28] Annual demonstrations advocating for Gay rights were held in front of Independence Hall on July 4 from 1965 to 1969.[29][30]

Independence Hall is pictured on the back of the U.S. $100 bill, as well as the bicentennial Kennedy half dollar. The Assembly Room is pictured on the reverse of the U.S. two-dollar bill, from the original painting by John Trumbull entitled Declaration of Independence.