Tag Archives: California

How the LA protests might work for activists and politicians. A note on strategy.

The fallout from the immigration protests in Los Angeles that started this weekend will play out for a long while, far long than the protests–which are likely to continue and, maybe, change form in the next few days and nights. … Continue reading

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Polarization and the National Guard

President Trump federalized the National Guard, promising to promote public order and protect Immigration agents in Los Angeles. You see, protesters had turned up to bear witness and maybe stop the wholesale detention (and deportation) of masses of people who … Continue reading

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What to make of the April 5 demonstrations

Hands Off announced the massive collection of demonstrations long before the stock markets crashed and analysts upped their odds of a national (or global) recession—and increased inflation. Even so, there was room to add yet another grievance to the anti-Trump/pro-democracy … Continue reading

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Are the Open-Up protests winning? What does winning mean? COVID-19

Dramatic, often confrontational, protests by small groups to “open up” seem to be working. The protests certainly haven’t enjoyed the support of most Americans. A substantial majority of Americans oppose a quick lifting of restrictions on public life and are … Continue reading

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Gavin Newsom, Jonah, protest, and the preparation paradox, COVID-19

Gavin Newsom, governor of California–where I live–has done a pretty good job in managing the awful coronacrisis. He’s acted quickly and decisively, taken strong measures informed by science and data, and has explained his decisions. It’s been a hassle: after … Continue reading

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It’s the guns, COVID-19

Guns aren’t the only way to threaten public safety, as open up protesters screaming into the faces of masked police officers surely know. The police are wearing masks to avoid the possibility of infecting other people. Those medical masks are … Continue reading

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Generational Divides, Student Activism, and the Youth Vote

Moblizing Ideas, a blog that Notre Dame’s Center for the Study of Social Movements maintains, commissioned a series on youth activism–way before most of us were tuned into the way the #coronacrisis would take over our politics and lives. I’ve … Continue reading

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Students walk out for gun control; schools teach….compliance?…engagement?

The final tallies are not in on participation in the National Student Walk Out for school safety, but thousands of kids across the country have gone outdoors for a lesson on civic engagement. This demonstration was organized on the fly, … Continue reading

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Why Charlottesville?

With the help of Donald Trump, a few hundred white nationalists captured national attention this weekend, eclipsing for the moment growing international dangers as well as the much larger sustained mobilization of the anti-Trump Resistance. Weapons, provocative symbols, counterprotest, and … Continue reading

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Oh yeah, guns…..

The sniper murders in Dallas provide another chance to think about what legal access to firearms in the United States should look like. The demonstrators included individuals legally and openly carrying weapons. Apparently, even with good intent, this was of … Continue reading

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