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

Occupy diversifies; takes a building

Posted on April 2, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Occupy San Francisco has seized a building on 888 Turk Street.  Located in the Tenderloin District, the building, owned by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The takeover followed an April Fool’s Day march, and police apparently stood by as the … Continue reading →

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Drawing a line from ALEC to Trayvon

Posted on April 2, 2012 by David S. Meyer

George Zimmerman fired the shot that killed Trayvon Martin, but ALEC wrote the Stand Your Ground law at the core of his legal defense.  Taken just a slight step further, ALEC also pressed for the budget cuts that have led … Continue reading →

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Healthcare politics outside the court

Posted on March 31, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Most public attention to health care reform turned to arguments in front of the Supreme Court.  But while journalists and analysts interpreted every question, pause, and eye roll from the Supreme Court justices, activists took health care politics outdoors, offering … Continue reading →

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Cesar Chavez 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by David S. Meyer

I’m typing from my office today, March 30, but campus is quiet in honor of Cesar Chavez Day.  Below is a repost on the occasion: On my campus, we commemorated Cesar Chavez Day early, yesterday, rather than March 31 (his … Continue reading →

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Protest makes it harder to ignore injustice

Posted on March 26, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Full Disclosure: I started wearing hoodies in high school and they’ve been a staple part of my wardrobe since. That’s not the only reason, of course, I was disturbed when Geraldo Rivera suggested that Trayvon Martin’s attire was responsible for … Continue reading →

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The truth in fiction

Posted on March 19, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Fiction, labeled as fiction, can be every bit as powerful as good journalism for stirring the imagination and mobilizing support.  In yesterday’s post, I cited Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin as example, but obviously there are many many more.  … Continue reading →

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The value of truth

Posted on March 18, 2012 by David S. Meyer

I want to believe that telling the truth matters.  Advocates who have any belief in democracy as a value have to think that if people only knew what they know they’d agree.  Activists take on a public education job when … Continue reading →

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George Clooney does politics outdoors–and indoors

Posted on March 16, 2012 by David S. Meyer

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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Portland and the future of social movements

Posted on March 13, 2012 by David S. Meyer

I’m excited to participate in a discussion on the future of social movements and citizen power tomorrow night.  Oregon Humanities is sponsoring the event at the Mission Theater and Pub, 1624 NW Glisan St., Portland, part of its “Think and … Continue reading →

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Who’ll Occupy education?

Posted on March 8, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Protests against tuition hikes and program in public education and service cuts have become more frequent and more intense as state budgets have tightened.  It’s awful everywhere–and worse in California (e.g. ), where an old tradition of the state supporting … Continue reading →

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