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: April 2012
Occupy on May Day
Occupy didn’t end when police cleared out most of the Occupations, but the sprawling movement became even harder to define. And mainstream media that could cover the campaigns by strolling to a local park and running tape now had a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged coalitions, foreclosure, immigrants, labor, Los Angeles, May Day, New York, Occupy, sleep-out, tactics
2 Comments
Occupy challenges corporate America directly
When Wells Fargo holds its annual shareholder meeting today, Occupy protesters will be there, both inside and out, arguing against corporate greed and for some kind of corporate responsibility. This will be the first in a series of at least … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 99 percent, 99 percent power, 99 percent spring, anti-apartheid, coalitions, corporate campaigns, credit, Occupy, Sarah Soule, Wells Fargo
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Risks and realities of media boycotts
Rush Limbaugh’s ad feminem assaults on Sandra Fluke, who testified before Congress in support of requiring health insurance to cover birth control, provided an opportunity for his long time opponents to go after the radio host through his sponsors. They … Continue reading
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Tagged advertisers, birth control, boycott, Don Imus, health insurance, media, Mike Huckabee, Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, talk radio
3 Comments
ALEC, impact, and markets
ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, backed down in the face of the defections from its corporate members. As we discussed, activists targeted ALEC’s support of Voter ID and Stand Your Ground laws to pressure corporations to stop giving money … Continue reading
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Tagged ALEC, boycott, Coca-Cola, corporations, Gates Foundation, impact, stand your ground, voter ID
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Tax day protests, 2012
Watch who takes to the streets tomorrow, the day federal taxes are due. Tax day is a predictable occasion for protest. Indeed, the Tea Party protests in April 2009 were the first visible signs of that powerful movement emerging. In … Continue reading
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Tagged American revolution, Americans for Prosperity, demonstration, founders, Herman Cain, Oakland, Occupy, Scott Walker, taxation, tea party
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Protest, police, and pepper spray at UC-Davis
Most students, including even protesters, don’t encounter pepper spray during their studies at the University of California. Last November, however, a campus police officer sprayed students protesting tuition hikes at the UC-Davis campus. It’s worth looking at. And it’s worth … Continue reading
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Tagged Cruz Reynoso, Davis, Linda Katehi, Oakland, Occupy, pepper spray, police, students, university
1 Comment
Indicting George Zimmerman: The impact of public protests
When Florida state attorney Angela Corey announced that she would charge George Zimmerman with second degree homicide for shooting and killing Trayvon Martin, she emphasized that her decision was not influenced by politics or protests. Instead, she said the facts … Continue reading
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Tagged Angela Corey, courts, George Zimmerman, impact of protest, Trayvon Martin
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Targeting ALEC
Coca-cola announced that it was ending its membership in ALEC; PepsiCo. had ended its membership in January. This is an activist story, covered well by Peter Overby on NPR. As we discussed, the long simmering campaign surrounding the Trayvon Martin … Continue reading
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Tagged Trayvon Martin, stand your ground, ALEC, Color of Change, Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola, boycott, voter identification
1 Comment
Easter eggs and opportunities
PETA has announced plans to leaflet at the annual White House Easter Egg roll, protesting the use of eggs and the way chickens who produce those eggs are treated. (Politico got the story first.) Eggs are a tougher target for … Continue reading
