Tag Archives: media

Risks and realities of media boycotts

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David S. Meyer

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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Easter eggs and opportunities

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David S. Meyer

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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Occupy Oakland and the militant wing of a movement

Posted on January 29, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Occupy, like all large and successful social movements, includes people with a broad range of political viewpoints and a very diverse range of action strategies.  While some activists are working to move inside the political system by lobbying or contesting … Continue reading →

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Occupy the Iowa Caucus

Posted on December 28, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Occupy activists are flocking to Des Moines for the new year, in an effort to Occupy Iowa’s Republican caucuses?  Why?  Certainly the Occupy approach has little appeal for the Republican caucus-goers, who veer more toward religious conservatism. But Occupiers know … Continue reading →

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The Occupation trap in history

Posted on November 16, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Occupation isn’t a new tactic.  Protesters have established permanent encampments to make political claims and support activism many times in the past.  (See our Veterans Day discussion of the Bonus Army.) The camps, dramatic demonstrations of commitment, provide an ongoing … Continue reading →

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Occupation is a tactic; violence demands innovation

Posted on October 26, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Police and Occupiers in Atlanta and Oakland have engaged in violent confrontations, with the protesters getting the worst of it.  What’s all this mean?  What happens next? Let’s start at the beginning.  Protesters are occupying Wall Street–and hundreds of other … Continue reading →

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Pushing out Occupy Wall Street

Posted on October 13, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Political and practical opponents to the Zuccotti Park Occupation are now visible on the horizon. The political opponents probably help.  National Tea Party organizations have begun to use Occupy as an occasion for fundraising (as Robin Pravender and Kenneth P. … Continue reading →

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Wall Street, mass arrests, and media

Posted on October 2, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Mass arrests on the Brooklyn Bridge are a good way for a protest campaign to break into mainstream media nationally.  Although Occupy Wall Street got some coverage in national outlets over the past two weeks, international news provided more extensive … Continue reading →

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Roseanne takes it to Wall Street

Posted on September 21, 2011 by David S. Meyer

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 →

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Suppose they held a protest, and no one saw

Posted on August 26, 2011 by David S. Meyer

A little follow-up on our last item about a few Republican members of the House returning to their districts and holding public events only for paying customers, uh, constituents.  In addition to raising money, the members of Congress were trying … Continue reading →

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