Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast The Resistance vs. Trump 2.0 with Omar Wasow
7 snips
Jul 22, 2025 
Omar Wasow, an associate professor of political science at UC Berkeley, dives into the dynamics of modern protests and their impact on democracy. He discusses the grassroots No Kings protests and their inclusive nature. Wasow analyzes how media representation of protests varies and highlights the 'attention trap' facing activists. They also consider the legacy of platforms like Black Planet and the challenges in addressing systemic inequities in protest responses. The conversation connects historical movements to current political actions, emphasizing the necessity of civic engagement.
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Impact of Protest Violence on Opinion
- Omar Wasow found that violent protests in the 1960s led to conservative voting near the protests.
- Nonviolent protests had a liberalizing effect, while state violence against protesters created sympathy.
Strategic Use of State Violence
- Civil rights leaders used police violence by people like Bull Connor to dramatize injustice.
- This strategy used media to change national opinion by revealing brutality on a broad stage.
ACT UP's Visual Protest Strategy
- ACT UP used colorful smoke bombs designed by movement members to create visually impactful protests.
- They crafted powerful images to capture media attention and amplify their message nationally.
