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.
Tag Archives: celebrities
December 1, 1955
Fifty-seven years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. When local activists learned about her arrest, they organized a city-wide boycott and filed a lawsuit, kicking an emerging civil rights … Continue reading
Celebrities of all sorts extend Pussy Riot
When Aung San Suu Kyi visited Washington, DC last week to pick up the Congressional Gold Medal, she made time to meet not only with the president, Secretary of State, and leaders of Congress, but also the husband and child … Continue reading
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Tagged Aung San Suu Kyi, celebrities, heros, Hillary Clinton, Myanmar, Pussy riot, Russia, Yoko Ono
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DREAMers inside and outside the Democratic convention
Benita Veliz, who apparently overstayed a tourist visa when she was eight years old, had a few minutes to address the Democratic convention from the podium. Veliz quickly acknowledges that she has been living in the United States without legal … Continue reading
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Tagged Benita Veliz, celebrities, Democratic Party, Dream act, FAIR, Freedom Rides, immigration, Rosario Dawson
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Clint, Eva, and partisan celebrities
A counterpart to Clint Eastwood, Eva Longoria will address the Democratic Convention tonight, prior to President Obama’s speech. Longoria has promised that there will be no empty chairs, and there’s every reason to believe that her remarks, like those of … Continue reading
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Tagged celebrities, Clint Eastwood, conventions, Democratic Party, elections, Eva Longoria, Republican Party
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Boycott politics
Chick Fil A is the most recent company to fall within the sites of a boycott campaign. Dan Cathay, president of the fast food chicken restaurant chain founded by his father, reaffirmed his commitment to an evangelical approach to his … Continue reading
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Tagged animal rights, Bible, boycott, celebrities, chicken, countermovements, fast food, gay, lesbian, Mike Huckabee, Muppets, same sex marriage
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George Clooney does politics outdoors–and indoors
George Clooney was arrested this morning in Washington, DC, protesting outside Sudan’s embassy. They trespassed to call attention to President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir’s military blockade preventing food and humanitarian aid from getting to people on the border of Sudan and … Continue reading
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Tagged arrests, celebrities, Congress, Darfur, Enough Project, NAACP, police, publicitly, Sudan
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MILEY! Music!
Surely one of the one percent, Miley Cyrus has released a remixed video of “It’s a Liberty Walk,” dedicated to “the thousands of people who are standing up for what they believe in.” While the dedication praises sincerity and commitment … Continue reading
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Tagged celebrities, culture, Miley Cyrus, Mileyh Cyrus, Miranda Cosgrove, music, Occupy, Occupy Wall Street, Taylor Swift
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Pete Seeger’s on Wall Street
Ninety-two years old, Pete Seeger walked nearly forty blocks to join Occupy Wall Street and sing. He needs canes to walk these days, but he played the banjo, sang, and brought along Arlo Guthrie, grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and other … Continue reading
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Tagged antinuclear, antiwar, black list, celebrities, civil rights, Communism, nuclear power, Occupy Wall Street, Pete Seeger
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How movements work: David Letterman
Social movements succeed by raising issues and giving other people the opportunity to address them. We call this agenda setting, but it’s not just the agenda in Congress or a state legislature; it’s also what people talk about. Bill Clinton … Continue reading
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Tagged agenda-setting, Bill Clinton, celebrities, culture, David Letterman, Eric Cantor, jobs, Occupy Wall Street, taxes
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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
