US Protest & Protest Policing


​I liked our original title better for this piece: "It Will Take a Nation of Millions to Hold Them Back" adapted from the Public Enemy Album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"​​
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  • Why People Loot: On who looters are, what they want, and why some protests are more likely to include them.  The Atlantic, 2020.​ They did not use most of what I had to say (Me in yellow):

  • * Who are the looters during these protests? Are they part of the peaceful protests that splinter off and cause mayhem? Or are they people like white anarchists or militia groups that come in from outside in order to discredit the protestors?
  • This is unclear.  The form of contentious activity under discussion (alternatively labeled riot/disturbance/rebellion) involves a very heterogeneous population.  Many people attend for a variety of different reasons.  The work of Clark McPhail is good on this point.
  • * What's their motivation? Anger at racism and inequality? Or opportunism/genuinely needing the stuff?
  • All of the above and more (e.g., grab stuff for barter later, revenge for a perceived personal slight earlier or not seeing enough black employees)
  • * How is the looting this time compared to the Baltimore and Ferguson protests? Is there more of it? Less? Is it of a different nature?
  • Unclear.  You would need to consult insurance claims after things wind down.  Media coverage and personal cameras do not give a sense of the full range.
  • * What are the conditions that cause looting? Why do some protests involve looting, and others (like the Women's March, don't)?
  • Poverty is generally associated with bringing particular types of individuals to collective events such as what we are discussing.  There is also a certain degree of antagonism to consumerism and capitalism at the moment.  In contrast, the women’s march was not about crushing poverty or sustained, overt and highly publicized violations of personal integrity.   
  • * Is there any way to prevent looting while allowing protests to happen?
  • In the Harlem Riots of 1935 and the LA riots of the 1990s (not my labels for these events), there was an effort to signal to participants that they had a particular ethnic and/or political orientation (e.g., writing “Black owned” on a gate or something).  It is not quite clear that this type of signification would work.  The best way to prevent looting however is to provide individuals with a living wage, provide for their basic needs, treat them with human dignity and facilitate a life that is about thriving as well as flourishing.  If this is not done, then all bets are off.  You should focus less on the acts of “looting” which form a single aspect of this overall episode and reach back to the underlying reasons for the episode in the first place.  

India

Rwanda

Torture

  • “Professors Denounce Torture” 2007 – The Diamondback
  • “Torture is Immoral, Illegal and Used by Most Nations” 2007 – Ascribe Newswire
  • “Torture Remains Widespread, U.S. Human Rights Commission Told” 2007 – AHN
  • “Torture Antidote Against Political Violence Used in 98% of Nations” 2007 – The Cheers News

The Film Malcolm X

  • “From the Front Line” with Rev. Jew Don Boney (KYOK).  (Houston) 1994-1995.  Topics: Black Activism in the 1990s, Political Prisoners, Propaganda in the Black Community.
  • “One World” with Jaqueline Batiste (KPFT).  (Houston) 1995.  Topic: The Legacy of Repression from the 1960’s to the 1970’s.
  • "The Political Significance of the film “Malcolm X."  National Public Radio (National) 1994.  
  • "Malcolm X and The State of Black America."  WABC Radio (New York) 1994.   
  • "The Political Significance of the film “Malcolm X.”  WMAQ All News 67 (WMAQ).  (Chicago) 1994.  
  • "The Political Significance of the film “Malcolm X.”  WBBM Newsradio 78 (WBBM).  (Chicago) 1994.  
  • "The Political Significance of the film “Malcolm X.” KNX 1070 Newsradio” (KNX).  (Los Angeles) 1994.