DeepSummary
This episode discusses the concept of civility and how it has historically been used to suppress protests and dissent. It explores how etiquette violations and acts of civil disobedience have been tactics employed by protest movements like Civil Rights and ACT UP to draw attention to important issues. The episode also delves into recent anti-protest legislation being proposed and passed in various states, which critics argue is an attempt to criminalize and discourage protests, particularly those related to issues like police brutality and environmental concerns.
The transcript covers the violent responses that protesters have faced, including from law enforcement and private security firms hired by companies like the Dakota Access Pipeline. It highlights instances of excessive force, surveillance, and propaganda tactics used against protesters. The episode also examines how the media's language and framing often favors the authorities and delegitimizes protesters.
Overall, the episode portrays protests as a fundamental right and tool for marginalized groups to voice their grievances and demand change. It argues that efforts to curtail this right through legislation, intimidation tactics, and biased media coverage pose a threat to democracy and the ability to hold power accountable.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The concept of 'civility' has historically been used to suppress protests and dissent by those in power, who often criticize the tone or methods of protesters rather than addressing their underlying grievances.
- Recent years have seen a surge in anti-protest legislation being proposed and passed in various states, which critics argue is an attempt to criminalize and discourage protests, particularly those related to issues like police brutality and environmental concerns.
- Protesters, especially those from marginalized communities, have faced excessive force, surveillance, and propaganda tactics from law enforcement and private security firms hired by corporations to suppress their demonstrations.
- The media often portrays protests in a biased manner, favoring the authorities' perspective, delegitimizing protesters, and downplaying instances of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators.
- Despite these efforts to suppress dissent, protests are portrayed as a fundamental democratic right and tool for marginalized groups to voice their grievances and demand change.
- The episode argues that efforts to curtail the right to protest through legislation, intimidation tactics, and biased media coverage pose a threat to democracy and the ability to hold power accountable.
- The episode highlights the paradoxical nature of civility, which can be both a tool for basic decency and a means of suppressing dissent, depending on the context and perspective.
- The episode draws parallels between the suppression of protests today and the civil rights movement of the 1960s, when acts of civil disobedience were seen as necessary to challenge unjust laws and societal norms.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “After the International Indigenous Youth Council was formed, we experienced our first act of violence directly from the mercenaries that worked for the Dakota Access pipeline. And they unleashed dogs on our women and men and had dogs biting and making our people bleed.“ by Unidentified protester
- “Police departments across the country have spent the past week engaging in mass violence against peaceful protesters, ramming vehicles into pedestrians, using chemical weapons to disperse crowds, and assaulting and arresting journalists who try to report on their abuse.“ by Carlos Maza
- “A lot of police officers showed amazing restraint last night.“ by Unidentified media personality
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Episode Information
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
BestOfTheLeft.com
5/3/24
Air Date 5/3/2024
A look back at previous coverage of criminalizing protests, weaponizing civility, and violent responses to peaceful dissent.
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SHOW NOTES
Ch. 1: The Problem with Civility - On the Media - Air Date 6-30-18
Ch. 2: Criminalizing Protest - @USNewsBeat - Air Date 6-14-18
Ch. 3: Civility as a cudgel - Trumpcast - Air Date 6-30-18
Ch. 4: Protests Sweep Across America and Beyond Part 2 - The Daily Show - Air Date 6-9-20
Ch. 6: Anti-Protest Bills Popping Up Everywhere - David Pakman Show - Air Date 8-19-20
Ch. 7: Elly Page on Anti-Protest Bills - CounterSpin - Air Date 4-23-21
Ch. 8: Not Ready For That Conversation - On The Media - Air Date 4-23-21
Ch. 9: GOP States Are Pushing for Stricter Penalties for Protesters - The Takeaway - Air Date 4-27-21
Ch. 10: How Corporate Media Protects Violent Cops - Carlos Maza - Air Date 6-4-20
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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