The Intercept Briefing

Decades of Denial: Policing’s Past Haunts the Present

8 snips
Aug 1, 2025
Rick Loessberg, an urban historian and former planning commissioner for Dallas County, Texas, discusses the haunting echoes of America’s past with respect to policing and civil unrest. He highlights how today’s protests mirror the 1967 riots, driven by systemic racism and economic disparity. Loessberg emphasizes the political nature of protests, advocating for understanding them as significant movements rather than mere expressions of frustration. The conversation also touches on the importance of language in activism and the interconnected societal issues exacerbated by racial discrimination.
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INSIGHT

1967 Kerner Report's Lasting Relevance

  • The 1967 Kerner Report addressed issues like police misconduct and economic inequality still present today.
  • It acknowledged that racism in policing caused widespread unrest, a problem unresolved for decades.
INSIGHT

National Guard's Chilling Protest Effect

  • National Guard presence can chill protests even if orders limit their role.
  • Federalizing troops for protest scenes risks escalating rather than calming situations.
INSIGHT

Protests Have Broadened Demographically

  • Modern protests cut across ethnic and gender lines, unlike predominantly male black protests in 1967.
  • Such broad-based protests signal a significant political movement rather than isolated unrest.
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