David S. Meyer
I'm a professor of sociology and political science at the University of California, Irvine. I've been thinking, and writing about, protest politics for almost ever. This site offers comments on contemporary events, informed (I hope) by knowing something about history and about the academic study of social movements.
Monthly Archives: September 2011
Occupied Wall Street
Some of the demonstrators who promised to stay at the protest on Wall Street until their one demand was answered nearly two weeks ago are still there. Several dozen are camping out in Zuccotti Park, a private park nearby, and … Continue reading
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Tagged airlines, demands, democracy, labor, New York City, pilots, police, unions, Wall Street
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Irvine 11 verdict vindicates poor protest strategy
An Orange County jury found 10 students guilty of two misdemeanor offenses for disrupting a speech by the Israeli ambassador, Michael Oren, at the University of California, Irvine (my school), more than a year ago. Superior Court Judge Peter A. … Continue reading
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Tagged ACLU, Irvine 11, Israel, Muslim Student Union, Orange County, Tony Rackaukas
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Framing capital punishment
The execution of Troy Davis, a convicted murderer who proclaimed his innocence to the moment of his death, gave us a window on the practice of the death penalty in the United States. But Davis was not the only person … Continue reading
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Roseanne takes it to Wall Street
Roseanne, the comedian, actress, producer, and a sort of populist progressive, dropped in on the Wall Street occupation, and delivered brief prepared remarks, then improvised. I got the link from someone on Facebook, because her appearance didn’t make much of … Continue reading
Took it to Wall Street
The financial capital of the United States is an attractive and difficult target for activists. Nearly 32 years ago, on Sunday, October 28, 1979 (the anniversary of the great stock market crash), the antinuclear Clamshell Alliance staged a legal demonstration. … Continue reading
Take it to Wall Street
Left activists have decided to target big business, as well as the government. Yesterday, in an event that was months in the making, (at least) hundreds have attempted to occupy Wall Street. Announced by the anti-corporate group, Adbusters, the hacktivist … Continue reading
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Tagged Adbusters, Anonymous, antinuclear movement, corporations, Lyndon LaRouche, New York, police, Wall Street
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Ronald Reagan sold out conservative movements
Successful politicians exploit, buy off, and sell out the movements that animate their campaigns. And Ronald Reagan was a successful politician. He came into the presidency as the embodiment of a conservative movement coalition, and left, dismissed by movement leaders … Continue reading
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Tagged abortion, arms control, budget, conservative, Conservative Caucus, David Stockman, deficit, Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan, sell out, taxes
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A day for Labor
Successful politicians exploit, buy off, and sell out the movements that sometimes buoy their campaigns. This American story is an old one, and it’s one that leaves activists disappointed, wary, and cynical, even especially about the politicians who do the … Continue reading
