Author Archives: David S. Meyer

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About David S. Meyer

Author and professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine

Immigration activists, allies, and targets

Posted on June 21, 2012 by David S. Meyer

President Obama’s shift in administrative policy on immigration has provided some political space for immigration activists pressing for comprehensive reform.  Days after the announcement, the White House hosted a conference on immigration issues that included 200 activists (reported in Politico). … Continue reading →

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Still not the dream

Posted on June 18, 2012 by David S. Meyer

President Obama’s announcement of an immigrant daydream dramatically changes the landscape for both the immigrants rights movement and its anti-immigrant counterpart. Obama’s new policy, to forgo deportation proceedings for young people (under 31) who came to the United States before … Continue reading →

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Lucy Lawless protests Arctic oil drilling: Her courage will change the world

Posted on June 15, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Without sword or chakram, actor Lucy Lawless occupied the Noble Explorer, an oil-drilling ship docked in Auckland last February.  With seven other Greenpeace activists, she tried to stop the ship from leaving port until she was finally arrested after 77 … Continue reading →

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Risk, Repression, and Response in Russia

Posted on June 13, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow, calling for the ouster of President Vladimir Putin, and demanding new elections. This is just days after President Putin raised the costs of protesting by announcing fines of up … Continue reading →

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Froze and reversed the nuclear arms race?

Posted on June 12, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Thirty years ago today, one million people marched in the streets of New York City to protest the nuclear arms race in general and the policies of Ronald Reagan in particular.  Organized around a “nuclear freeze” proposal, the demonstration was … Continue reading →

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A tactic is a tactic

Posted on June 11, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Greenpeace is innovating new tactics, an excellent piece by Kim Murphy in the weekend LA Times reports, developing a style of performance that is  a departure from blocking whalers in port.  We’ll come back to this, but first let’s talk … Continue reading →

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Note: we’re protesting (tokes and togs)

Posted on June 8, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Sometimes you have to remind people that what you’re doing is against the rules. Yesterday advocates for legal access to medical marijuana rallied in downtown Los Angeles to protest a threatened crackdown on marijuana dispensaries.  People with a prescription for … Continue reading →

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After Wisconsin and the electoral trap

Posted on June 7, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s victory in Tuesday’s recall election isn’t a happy outcome for the activists who have spent nearly a year and a half going after him.  It’s particularly troubling for labor organizers, who will face subsequent challenges with … Continue reading →

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University of California or University in California

Posted on June 3, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The future of the University of California is even more daunting for organizers than the troubled present. The problem: Students, faculty, and the citizens of California have interests in both access to the University system and maintaining some degree of … Continue reading →

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Same sex marriage and tipping points–new evidence

Posted on May 24, 2012 by David S. Meyer

General Colin Powell, who has served in high positions in Republican administrations, has announced that he supports same sex marriage. Following President Obama’s expression of support for gay marriage, Gen. Powell’s declaration is additional evidence that the president’s statement represented … Continue reading →

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