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Texas Matters: Civil Protests & Protesting Civility

David Martin Davies
On this episode of "Texas Matters," we ask the question: Do protests matter?

On This episode of "Texas Matters":

  • What makes a successful protest?
  • Civility in the age of viral video and viral hate (21:27).

 
Rules Of Protests  

Most Americans have never attended a protest or demonstration. 

They haven’t had to.

But in the current climate of American politics, a growing number of people are flocking towards protests.

So when people feel unfairly cut out of the political system — that the rules of democracy are no longer being honored and that elected officials are taking the nation in the wrong direction — should anyone be surprised that things are getting uncivil?

But do protests matter or can protests create change?

Dawson Barrett has written about the history of protest movements in the U.S. He is a Professor of U.S. History at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. His latest book is The Defiant, protest movements in post-liberal America."

The Rules of Civility 

There’s been a lot of talk about civility in the public square this past week.

But those who clutch their pearls might not have been paying close attention.

Rude behavior thrown in the face of people just doing their jobs has been going on for over a year. But people of color have been the target.   

Texas Public Radio contributor Yvette Benavides shares her thoughts in this commentary. Benavides is a writer and professor of English and creative writing at Our Lady of the Lake University.

David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org or on Twitter @DavidMartinDavi

David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org and on Twitter at @DavidMartinDavi