L.A. Kauffman – Episode 116

This time Eric sits down with veteran activist and organizer L.A. Kauffman to discuss her new book "How to Read a Protest: The Art of Organizing and Resistance." Kauffman, who was the mobilizing coordinator for the massive Iraq War protests of 2003-2004, discusses her experiences as an organizer, and why mass protests are important. Eric and L.A.explore the relevance of protest, and how to evaluate its effectiveness. They discuss the 1963 March on Washington, and how history has remebered and, in some ways, distorted, its impact. From there, the conversation touches on everything from the role of the media in amplifying messages, to the human connections developed in organizing such mass actions, to the contrasts between large and small protests. Kauffman's book is a primer for activists, and this conversation is an introduction to some of those ideas. Music: Lee "Scratch" Perry & Errol Walker - In These Times