today I want to explain to you why we protest ever since my undergraduate
protest ever since my undergraduate
protest ever since my undergraduate degree at Oregon State University go
degree at Oregon State University go
degree at Oregon State University go Beavs I consider myself a student of
Beavs I consider myself a student of
Beavs I consider myself a student of history it intrigues me more than any
history it intrigues me more than any
history it intrigues me more than any other scholarly subject as a matter of
other scholarly subject as a matter of
other scholarly subject as a matter of fact I think we’re living in historic
fact I think we’re living in historic
fact I think we’re living in historic times if you think about it every decade
times if you think about it every decade
times if you think about it every decade of the last century it seemed to be
of the last century it seemed to be
of the last century it seemed to be historic
historic
historic we went from World War one the Great
we went from World War one the Great
we went from World War one the Great Depression World War two the civil
Depression World War two the civil
Depression World War two the civil rights era the fight against Vietnam the
rights era the fight against Vietnam the
rights era the fight against Vietnam the Cold War in its ending to 9/11 even in
Cold War in its ending to 9/11 even in
Cold War in its ending to 9/11 even in the past decade we saw our nation elect
the past decade we saw our nation elect
the past decade we saw our nation elect its first black president marriage
its first black president marriage
its first black president marriage equality become law of the land in and
equality become law of the land in and
equality become law of the land in and end of marijuana prohibition in many
end of marijuana prohibition in many
end of marijuana prohibition in many states and then we’re met with the 2016
states and then we’re met with the 2016
states and then we’re met with the 2016 election but why would we stop making
election but why would we stop making
election but why would we stop making history now these are still historic
history now these are still historic
history now these are still historic times the question becomes how do you
times the question becomes how do you
times the question becomes how do you want the history books to remember you
want the history books to remember you
want the history books to remember you are you brave enough to storm Normandy
are you brave enough to storm Normandy
are you brave enough to storm Normandy now what I can tell you is that the
now what I can tell you is that the
now what I can tell you is that the history books will not read that Joe
history books will not read that Joe
history books will not read that Joe Smith couldn’t get on the freeway as
Smith couldn’t get on the freeway as
Smith couldn’t get on the freeway as quick as possible on November 10th 2016
quick as possible on November 10th 2016
quick as possible on November 10th 2016 or that jane doe’s flight was delayed 20
or that jane doe’s flight was delayed 20
or that jane doe’s flight was delayed 20 minutes on a February afternoon instead
minutes on a February afternoon instead
minutes on a February afternoon instead what they will say is when America
what they will say is when America
what they will say is when America almost regressed into fascism the people
almost regressed into fascism the people
almost regressed into fascism the people stood up for some reason we don’t hear
stood up for some reason we don’t hear
stood up for some reason we don’t hear about those in 1773 who just wanted to
about those in 1773 who just wanted to
about those in 1773 who just wanted to sip their morning tea however we do hear
sip their morning tea however we do hear
sip their morning tea however we do hear about those who took a stand and through
about those who took a stand and through
about those who took a stand and through precious property into the harbor are
precious property into the harbor are
precious property into the harbor are you bold enough to dump tea into the
you bold enough to dump tea into the
you bold enough to dump tea into the Boston Harbor now I’d be lying if I
Boston Harbor now I’d be lying if I
Boston Harbor now I’d be lying if I didn’t recognize the dark past that
didn’t recognize the dark past that
didn’t recognize the dark past that America has and in many ways the dark
America has and in many ways the dark
America has and in many ways the dark orange present however
orange present however
orange present however thank you however what America does
thank you however what America does
thank you however what America does allow for is progress for those whose
allow for is progress for those whose
allow for is progress for those whose marriage was illegal five years ago
marriage was illegal five years ago
marriage was illegal five years ago until marriage equality we have
until marriage equality we have
until marriage equality we have progressed for those such as my parents
progressed for those such as my parents
progressed for those such as my parents whose marriage was illegal 70 years ago
whose marriage was illegal 70 years ago
whose marriage was illegal 70 years ago until the civil rights movement we have
until the civil rights movement we have
until the civil rights movement we have progressed the progress isn’t easy
progressed the progress isn’t easy
progressed the progress isn’t easy change is inconvenient to those who are
change is inconvenient to those who are
change is inconvenient to those who are comfortable however for those who
comfortable however for those who
comfortable however for those who require progress to survive changes of
require progress to survive changes of
require progress to survive changes of necessity sit-ins were inconvenient to
necessity sit-ins were inconvenient to
necessity sit-ins were inconvenient to summon a necessity to others who do you
summon a necessity to others who do you
summon a necessity to others who do you want to be in 1961 twenty two percent of
want to be in 1961 twenty two percent of
want to be in 1961 twenty two percent of Americans approved of the Freedom Riders
Americans approved of the Freedom Riders
Americans approved of the Freedom Riders sixteen percent thought sit-ins at lunch
sixteen percent thought sit-ins at lunch
sixteen percent thought sit-ins at lunch counters were beneficial to civil rights
counters were beneficial to civil rights
counters were beneficial to civil rights yeah we don’t hear about those who just
yeah we don’t hear about those who just
yeah we don’t hear about those who just wanted to have their meals without the
wanted to have their meals without the
wanted to have their meals without the interference of Negroes disturbing the
interference of Negroes disturbing the
interference of Negroes disturbing the peace are you brave enough to sit out at
peace are you brave enough to sit out at
peace are you brave enough to sit out at lunch counter in the Jim Crow South now
lunch counter in the Jim Crow South now
lunch counter in the Jim Crow South now we do hear about the bull Connor’s or
we do hear about the bull Connor’s or
we do hear about the bull Connor’s or the George Wallace’s of the civil rights
the George Wallace’s of the civil rights
the George Wallace’s of the civil rights era those characters made it into the
era those characters made it into the
era those characters made it into the history books you know I bet they
history books you know I bet they
history books you know I bet they thought they were doing the right thing
thought they were doing the right thing
thought they were doing the right thing they thought they were Patriots they
they thought they were Patriots they
they thought they were Patriots they wanted to restore law and order in their
wanted to restore law and order in their
wanted to restore law and order in their streets they wanted to make America
streets they wanted to make America
streets they wanted to make America great again
great again
great again in 1963 27% of Americans thought
in 1963 27% of Americans thought
in 1963 27% of Americans thought protests were helpful to civil rights
protests were helpful to civil rights
protests were helpful to civil rights yet for some reason every year we
yet for some reason every year we
yet for some reason every year we celebrate Martin Luther King Day dr.
celebrate Martin Luther King Day dr.
celebrate Martin Luther King Day dr. King was famously arrested for
King was famously arrested for
King was famously arrested for protesting without a permit constantly
protesting without a permit constantly
protesting without a permit constantly blocked roads however now people like to
blocked roads however now people like to
blocked roads however now people like to dangle MLK over the heads of the new
dangle MLK over the heads of the new
dangle MLK over the heads of the new wave of protesters as an example of how
wave of protesters as an example of how
wave of protesters as an example of how it should be done yet in 1966
it should be done yet in 1966
it should be done yet in 1966 only 36% of Americans thought he was
only 36% of Americans thought he was
only 36% of Americans thought he was helpful to civil rights who do you want
helpful to civil rights who do you want
helpful to civil rights who do you want to be at what point do we say that those
to be at what point do we say that those
to be at what point do we say that those facing oppression are probably the ones
facing oppression are probably the ones
facing oppression are probably the ones we should follow in fighting that
we should follow in fighting that
we should follow in fighting that oppression the basic notion that you
oppression the basic notion that you
oppression the basic notion that you don’t know what it’s like to be me in
don’t know what it’s like to be me in
don’t know what it’s like to be me in 1964 when Americans were asked and I
1964 when Americans were asked and I
1964 when Americans were asked and I quote if you were in the same position
quote if you were in the same position
quote if you were in the same position as Negroes do you think it would be
as Negroes do you think it would be
as Negroes do you think it would be justified or not to march in protests
justified or not to march in protests
justified or not to march in protests and demonstrations 54% said not just
and demonstrations 54% said not just
and demonstrations 54% said not just 46% said justified over half the country
46% said justified over half the country
46% said justified over half the country thought if it was them facing oppression
thought if it was them facing oppression
thought if it was them facing oppression they would not be protesting Oh
they would not be protesting Oh
they would not be protesting Oh hindsight is twenty-twenty now we have
hindsight is twenty-twenty now we have
hindsight is twenty-twenty now we have the benefit of history to look back and
the benefit of history to look back and
the benefit of history to look back and say the half of the country you said
say the half of the country you said
say the half of the country you said that we’re wrong yeah they were lacking
that we’re wrong yeah they were lacking
that we’re wrong yeah they were lacking empathy
empathy
empathy however the smaller portion of the
however the smaller portion of the
however the smaller portion of the country who instantly in naturally
country who instantly in naturally
country who instantly in naturally trusted black people in their fight for
trusted black people in their fight for
trusted black people in their fight for equality did not need the benefit of
equality did not need the benefit of
equality did not need the benefit of history because they had the benefit of
history because they had the benefit of
history because they had the benefit of empathy and in historic times empathy
empathy and in historic times empathy
empathy and in historic times empathy guides the actions of the protagonists
guides the actions of the protagonists
guides the actions of the protagonists what America needs today in these
what America needs today in these
what America needs today in these historic times is a healthy dose of
historic times is a healthy dose of
historic times is a healthy dose of empathy more people are mad about the
empathy more people are mad about the
empathy more people are mad about the death of harambe than about quanis Hayes
death of harambe than about quanis Hayes
death of harambe than about quanis Hayes who was killed by the Portland police in
who was killed by the Portland police in
who was killed by the Portland police in Portland riot cops were sent to a vigil
Portland riot cops were sent to a vigil
Portland riot cops were sent to a vigil for a kid who was killed by those same
for a kid who was killed by those same
for a kid who was killed by those same cops more people are upset about who
cops more people are upset about who
cops more people are upset about who goes to the bathroom next to them than
goes to the bathroom next to them than
goes to the bathroom next to them than fighting against the oppression of those
fighting against the oppression of those
fighting against the oppression of those people we live in a country where even
people we live in a country where even
people we live in a country where even saying the words black lives matter is
saying the words black lives matter is
saying the words black lives matter is controversial black lives matter that’s
controversial black lives matter that’s
controversial black lives matter that’s two radicals are too radical to believe
two radicals are too radical to believe
two radicals are too radical to believe I matter – is that really so fringe
I matter – is that really so fringe
I matter – is that really so fringe nonetheless understanding works both
nonetheless understanding works both
nonetheless understanding works both ways we’ve gotten to a place in America
ways we’ve gotten to a place in America
ways we’ve gotten to a place in America where people think if if they disagree
where people think if if they disagree
where people think if if they disagree with you they have to hate you or that I
with you they have to hate you or that I
with you they have to hate you or that I understand what’s in your heart since
understand what’s in your heart since
understand what’s in your heart since it’s different than what is in my own
it’s different than what is in my own
it’s different than what is in my own however we who have decided to be on the
however we who have decided to be on the
however we who have decided to be on the right side of history acknowledge that
right side of history acknowledge that
right side of history acknowledge that we cannot begin to understand another
we cannot begin to understand another
we cannot begin to understand another person’s experience the basic notion
person’s experience the basic notion
person’s experience the basic notion that I don’t know what it’s like to be
that I don’t know what it’s like to be
that I don’t know what it’s like to be you we can’t leave this value behind
you we can’t leave this value behind
you we can’t leave this value behind when dealing with those with opposing
when dealing with those with opposing
when dealing with those with opposing views we’re not going to convince a
views we’re not going to convince a
views we’re not going to convince a white supremacist they’re wrong by
white supremacist they’re wrong by
white supremacist they’re wrong by yelling racist on the other hand we
yelling racist on the other hand we
yelling racist on the other hand we can’t combat racism by excusing it as
can’t combat racism by excusing it as
can’t combat racism by excusing it as conservatism or patriotism what we must
conservatism or patriotism what we must
conservatism or patriotism what we must do is talk to each other
do is talk to each other
do is talk to each other plead to one another ask them what side
plead to one another ask them what side
plead to one another ask them what side of history they want to be on because
of history they want to be on because
of history they want to be on because just because someone voted differently
just because someone voted differently
just because someone voted differently than you does not mean they voted
than you does not mean they voted
than you does not mean they voted against the Constitution it was once
against the Constitution it was once
against the Constitution it was once said the founders were so great they
said the founders were so great they
said the founders were so great they created a system so brilliant even
created a system so brilliant even
created a system so brilliant even idiots could run it and we shall see
but the point is we are supposed to
but the point is we are supposed to differ on policy that is natural what we
differ on policy that is natural what we
differ on policy that is natural what we cannot differ on is humanity that should
cannot differ on is humanity that should
cannot differ on is humanity that should be friends you don’t expect empathy you
be friends you don’t expect empathy you
be friends you don’t expect empathy you bring it to their front door in 1964
bring it to their front door in 1964
bring it to their front door in 1964 when Americans were asked if they think
when Americans were asked if they think
when Americans were asked if they think the protest should stop 74% yes said yes
the protest should stop 74% yes said yes
the protest should stop 74% yes said yes they said we get it
they said we get it
they said we get it we heard you we’re working on it but
we heard you we’re working on it but
we heard you we’re working on it but your protests have become an
your protests have become an
your protests have become an inconvenience
inconvenience
inconvenience now I understand being stuck in traffic
now I understand being stuck in traffic
now I understand being stuck in traffic is inconvenient but you know what else
is inconvenient but you know what else
is inconvenient but you know what else is inconvenient being black in America
is inconvenient being black in America
is inconvenient being black in America being a houseless when it’s below
being a houseless when it’s below
being a houseless when it’s below freezing outside being gay in America
freezing outside being gay in America
freezing outside being gay in America being an immigrant in today’s political
being an immigrant in today’s political
being an immigrant in today’s political atmosphere they say do it in a way that
atmosphere they say do it in a way that
atmosphere they say do it in a way that won’t impact other people what about
won’t impact other people what about
won’t impact other people what about what the system does which impact is
what the system does which impact is
what the system does which impact is greater traffic or deportations
greater traffic or deportations
greater traffic or deportations Starbucks windows or oppression flight
Starbucks windows or oppression flight
Starbucks windows or oppression flight delays or racism Howard Zinn said
delays or racism Howard Zinn said
delays or racism Howard Zinn said protests beyond the sanction of the law
protests beyond the sanction of the law
protests beyond the sanction of the law is not a departure from democracy but
is not a departure from democracy but
is not a departure from democracy but it’s absolutely essential to it it’s not
it’s absolutely essential to it it’s not
it’s absolutely essential to it it’s not American to oppose freedom of expression
American to oppose freedom of expression
American to oppose freedom of expression that is unamerican fascism is an
that is unamerican fascism is an
that is unamerican fascism is an American in the notion that dissent is
American in the notion that dissent is
American in the notion that dissent is inherently violent is that the core of
inherently violent is that the core of
inherently violent is that the core of fascism just as you don’t need to be a
fascism just as you don’t need to be a
fascism just as you don’t need to be a self-avowed racist to advance the grip
self-avowed racist to advance the grip
self-avowed racist to advance the grip of white supremacy in America you don’t
of white supremacy in America you don’t
of white supremacy in America you don’t need to be a self-avowed fascist to
need to be a self-avowed fascist to
need to be a self-avowed fascist to advance the rise of fascism in America
advance the rise of fascism in America
advance the rise of fascism in America it’s not enough to simply recognize your
it’s not enough to simply recognize your
it’s not enough to simply recognize your privilege you need to use it as a
privilege you need to use it as a
privilege you need to use it as a platform to lift others up because
platform to lift others up because
platform to lift others up because obviously some of America can’t hear it
obviously some of America can’t hear it
obviously some of America can’t hear it yet are you brave enough to join the
yet are you brave enough to join the
yet are you brave enough to join the Freedom Riders on their bus trip to the
Freedom Riders on their bus trip to the
Freedom Riders on their bus trip to the Jim Crow South people say I support your
Jim Crow South people say I support your
Jim Crow South people say I support your movement I just don’t support the
movement I just don’t support the
movement I just don’t support the tactics well you don’t support the
tactics well you don’t support the
tactics well you don’t support the movement you aren’t being empathetic and
movement you aren’t being empathetic and
movement you aren’t being empathetic and this is a movement of empathy
this is a movement of empathy
this is a movement of empathy don’t criticize how people fight their
don’t criticize how people fight their
don’t criticize how people fight their own oppression but when you do finally
own oppression but when you do finally
own oppression but when you do finally recognize that oppression fight
recognize that oppression fight
recognize that oppression fight alongside them we will always accept you
alongside them we will always accept you
alongside them we will always accept you with open and sometimes broken arms we
with open and sometimes broken arms we
with open and sometimes broken arms we should be expanding our right to protest
should be expanding our right to protest
should be expanding our right to protest not restricting them on January 20th the
not restricting them on January 20th the
not restricting them on January 20th the day Donald Trump was inaugurated I was
day Donald Trump was inaugurated I was
day Donald Trump was inaugurated I was at a peaceful protest that was gassed
at a peaceful protest that was gassed
at a peaceful protest that was gassed pepper spray subjected to all types of
pepper spray subjected to all types of
pepper spray subjected to all types of violence
violence
violence the next day women’s March an incredibly
the next day women’s March an incredibly
the next day women’s March an incredibly powerful and also peaceful event that
powerful and also peaceful event that
powerful and also peaceful event that occurred with no violence at the hands
occurred with no violence at the hands
occurred with no violence at the hands of the police and the excuse for the
of the police and the excuse for the
of the police and the excuse for the discrepancy well first one didn’t have a
discrepancy well first one didn’t have a
discrepancy well first one didn’t have a permit well you don’t get a permit for a
permit well you don’t get a permit for a
permit well you don’t get a permit for a lunch counter sitting and you don’t get
lunch counter sitting and you don’t get
lunch counter sitting and you don’t get a permit to dump tea into the Boston
a permit to dump tea into the Boston
a permit to dump tea into the Boston Harbor
Harbor
Harbor what if I took the position that some
what if I took the position that some
what if I took the position that some people take for the first amendment for
people take for the first amendment for
people take for the first amendment for the second what if I said that because
the second what if I said that because
the second what if I said that because there was a murder last night I’m going
there was a murder last night I’m going
there was a murder last night I’m going to gasp pepper spray and subjective
to gasp pepper spray and subjective
to gasp pepper spray and subjective violence all the people that peacefully
violence all the people that peacefully
violence all the people that peacefully exercise their second Amendment rights
exercise their second Amendment rights
exercise their second Amendment rights because well someone messed up last
because well someone messed up last
because well someone messed up last night people would be up in arms
night people would be up in arms
night people would be up in arms literally yet for some reason those same
literally yet for some reason those same
literally yet for some reason those same people are quite willing to say that
people are quite willing to say that
people are quite willing to say that since one person is accused of a crime
since one person is accused of a crime
since one person is accused of a crime at a protest that we should take away
at a protest that we should take away
at a protest that we should take away the whole city’s First Amendment rights
the whole city’s First Amendment rights
the whole city’s First Amendment rights to catch one person for the heinous
to catch one person for the heinous
to catch one person for the heinous crime of disorderly conduct in the
crime of disorderly conduct in the
crime of disorderly conduct in the second degree what if I said that about
second degree what if I said that about
second degree what if I said that about guns
guns
guns you know the First Amendment is first
you know the First Amendment is first
you know the First Amendment is first for a reason a lot more people have
for a reason a lot more people have
for a reason a lot more people have voices than guns so how does the Second
voices than guns so how does the Second
voices than guns so how does the Second Amendment apply to ak-47s in the First
Amendment apply to ak-47s in the First
Amendment apply to ak-47s in the First Amendment doesn’t even apply to standing
Amendment doesn’t even apply to standing
Amendment doesn’t even apply to standing in the street at a protest as much as
in the street at a protest as much as
in the street at a protest as much as this is a war of ideas it’s also a war
this is a war of ideas it’s also a war
this is a war of ideas it’s also a war against complacency today only 29% of
against complacency today only 29% of
against complacency today only 29% of voters think protesting the current
voters think protesting the current
voters think protesting the current president is helpful
president is helpful
president is helpful sound familiar resist how you can just
sound familiar resist how you can just
sound familiar resist how you can just do not be silent because when your
do not be silent because when your
do not be silent because when your grandkids ask you what you were doing
grandkids ask you what you were doing
grandkids ask you what you were doing during these historic times you want to
during these historic times you want to
during these historic times you want to be able to look at their history books
be able to look at their history books
be able to look at their history books and point to the good guys and say I was
and point to the good guys and say I was
and point to the good guys and say I was standing with them I was standing with
standing with them I was standing with
standing with them I was standing with them it’s not that rewarding George
them it’s not that rewarding George
them it’s not that rewarding George Soros isn’t paying me that much but
Soros isn’t paying me that much but
Soros isn’t paying me that much but being on the right side of history is
being on the right side of history is
being on the right side of history is priceless that said take care of each
priceless that said take care of each
priceless that said take care of each other keep each other safe get out of
other keep each other safe get out of
other keep each other safe get out of your social media bubble talk to a
your social media bubble talk to a
your social media bubble talk to a stranger talk to the people who seem
stranger talk to the people who seem
stranger talk to the people who seem scary to you these are going to be
scary to you these are going to be
scary to you these are going to be historic times whether we succeed or not
historic times whether we succeed or not
historic times whether we succeed or not we need to get money out of politics now
we need to get money out of politics now
we need to get money out of politics now we need to deal what climate changed now
we need to deal what climate changed now
we need to deal what climate changed now the rise of fascism does not
the rise of fascism does not
the rise of fascism does not to be the last chapter of this unit we
to be the last chapter of this unit we
to be the last chapter of this unit we can be a beacon of light let’s be that
can be a beacon of light let’s be that
can be a beacon of light let’s be that page in the history books thank you
page in the history books thank you
page in the history books thank you [Applause]
”
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