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

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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

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Tea Party and Occupy paths to invisibility

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll asked 1,000 adults about their thoughts on the usual political stuff, including Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.  (Most coverage focused on President Obama’s current 6 point advantage over Governor Romney.) But the poll also … Continue reading

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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