Active Resistance: How we can defend against foreign interference | Amanda Rivkin | TEDxMidAtlantic

when I was little my mother said my

when I was little my mother said my father was from a country that no longer

father was from a country that no longer

father was from a country that no longer existed my father was a Baltic refugee

existed my father was a Baltic refugee

existed my father was a Baltic refugee from Soviet occupied Latvia I was born

from Soviet occupied Latvia I was born

from Soviet occupied Latvia I was born here in the magical year of 1984

here in the magical year of 1984

here in the magical year of 1984 well now Latvia exists again thank God

well now Latvia exists again thank God

well now Latvia exists again thank God and 1984 has given way to this brave new

and 1984 has given way to this brave new

and 1984 has given way to this brave new world my father’s family was divided by

world my father’s family was divided by

world my father’s family was divided by the Cold War and it is from my family

the Cold War and it is from my family

the Cold War and it is from my family and work that I’ve learned about

and work that I’ve learned about

and work that I’ve learned about aggression and resistance I’m a

aggression and resistance I’m a

aggression and resistance I’m a photographer and writer and I’ve spent

photographer and writer and I’ve spent

photographer and writer and I’ve spent the last decade in and out of Eastern

the last decade in and out of Eastern

the last decade in and out of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet space I

Europe and the former Soviet space I

Europe and the former Soviet space I lived in Azerbaijan then in Turkey in

lived in Azerbaijan then in Turkey in

lived in Azerbaijan then in Turkey in both countries I watched as autocrats

both countries I watched as autocrats

both countries I watched as autocrats emerged to suck the oxygen out of their

emerged to suck the oxygen out of their

emerged to suck the oxygen out of their societies in the past few years in the

societies in the past few years in the

societies in the past few years in the u.s. I have focused on the topic of

u.s. I have focused on the topic of

u.s. I have focused on the topic of police brutality and specifically one

police brutality and specifically one

police brutality and specifically one ugly two decade-long case of police

ugly two decade-long case of police

ugly two decade-long case of police torture on the south side of Chicago

torture on the south side of Chicago

torture on the south side of Chicago the problem for our nation when such

the problem for our nation when such

the problem for our nation when such cases emerged so it becomes much more

cases emerged so it becomes much more

cases emerged so it becomes much more difficult to make the case that

difficult to make the case that

difficult to make the case that democracy is the best form of government

democracy is the best form of government

democracy is the best form of government to protect the citizens against the

to protect the citizens against the

to protect the citizens against the abuse as a state is capable of in recent

abuse as a state is capable of in recent

abuse as a state is capable of in recent weeks we have seen a rollout of facebook

weeks we have seen a rollout of facebook

weeks we have seen a rollout of facebook ads created by Russia from groups with

ads created by Russia from groups with

ads created by Russia from groups with names like black to vist black matters

names like black to vist black matters

names like black to vist black matters don’t shoot us every police shooting and

don’t shoot us every police shooting and

don’t shoot us every police shooting and every police officer who is shot at

every police officer who is shot at

every police officer who is shot at represents a breakdown in the

represents a breakdown in the

represents a breakdown in the relationship between the citizens and

relationship between the citizens and

relationship between the citizens and the state something

the state something

the state something the Russians have adeptly pounced on

the Russians have adeptly pounced on

the Russians have adeptly pounced on with active measures the goal is to

with active measures the goal is to

with active measures the goal is to divide people through the use of novelty

divide people through the use of novelty

divide people through the use of novelty propaganda infiltration and incidents

propaganda infiltration and incidents

propaganda infiltration and incidents every day we experience fresh attacks in

every day we experience fresh attacks in

every day we experience fresh attacks in our country in ways that attack our

our country in ways that attack our

our country in ways that attack our governments our civil society our tech

governments our civil society our tech

governments our civil society our tech sector and in ways that stay off the

sector and in ways that stay off the

sector and in ways that stay off the front page and are less visible to those

front page and are less visible to those

front page and are less visible to those not trained to look for them controversy

not trained to look for them controversy

not trained to look for them controversy is a useful wedge because the visual

is a useful wedge because the visual

is a useful wedge because the visual symbols of the NFL are in Charlotte’s

symbols of the NFL are in Charlotte’s

symbols of the NFL are in Charlotte’s are so much easier for most people to

are so much easier for most people to

are so much easier for most people to grasp the bent knee the hand on the

grasp the bent knee the hand on the

grasp the bent knee the hand on the heart the burning torch this brilliantly

heart the burning torch this brilliantly

heart the burning torch this brilliantly sinisterly is what gets covered instead

sinisterly is what gets covered instead

sinisterly is what gets covered instead of police brutality and racism and while

of police brutality and racism and while

of police brutality and racism and while this conversation is important socially

this conversation is important socially

this conversation is important socially culturally and politically its

culturally and politically its

culturally and politically its appropriation by spectacle creates the

appropriation by spectacle creates the

appropriation by spectacle creates the camouflage that permits Russian attacks

camouflage that permits Russian attacks

camouflage that permits Russian attacks to continue pretty soon you become

to continue pretty soon you become

to continue pretty soon you become convinced the Shannara is real and you

convinced the Shannara is real and you

convinced the Shannara is real and you forget about Russia this is not an

forget about Russia this is not an

forget about Russia this is not an accident active measures are designed to

accident active measures are designed to

accident active measures are designed to divide and conquer operationally they

divide and conquer operationally they

divide and conquer operationally they pull it fissures they take existing

pull it fissures they take existing

pull it fissures they take existing divisions and exaggerate them when the

divisions and exaggerate them when the

divisions and exaggerate them when the president tweets divisive ‘no smarty

president tweets divisive ‘no smarty

president tweets divisive ‘no smarty realises in real life they say he is a

realises in real life they say he is a

realises in real life they say he is a puppet but in this way he functions like

puppet but in this way he functions like

puppet but in this way he functions like a puppet master some describe active

a puppet master some describe active

a puppet master some describe active measures as political warfare but when

measures as political warfare but when

measures as political warfare but when they are imposed on a population it is

they are imposed on a population it is

they are imposed on a population it is psychological warfare the goal of active

psychological warfare the goal of active

psychological warfare the goal of active measures is to capture the state and

measures is to capture the state and

measures is to capture the state and seize it before the population wakes up

seize it before the population wakes up

seize it before the population wakes up to the damage by then the authoritarian

to the damage by then the authoritarian

to the damage by then the authoritarian mechanisms are in place and people can

mechanisms are in place and people can

mechanisms are in place and people can be crushed washington has a three to

be crushed washington has a three to

be crushed washington has a three to five year vision of history and capacity

five year vision of history and capacity

five year vision of history and capacity for strategic planning Russia operates

for strategic planning Russia operates

for strategic planning Russia operates on a much longer time frame think

on a much longer time frame think

on a much longer time frame think generations instead of decades active

generations instead of decades active

generations instead of decades active measures seek to isolate you active

measures seek to isolate you active

measures seek to isolate you active measures try to take your head to a

measures try to take your head to a

measures try to take your head to a space where fear and confusion rule but

space where fear and confusion rule but

space where fear and confusion rule but you still act in such a way that an

you still act in such a way that an

you still act in such a way that an outcome Russia desires as possible

outcome Russia desires as possible

outcome Russia desires as possible Russian military doctrine at present is

Russian military doctrine at present is

Russian military doctrine at present is such that there is no peace and war war

such that there is no peace and war war

such that there is no peace and war war operates on a continuum mostly the goal

operates on a continuum mostly the goal

operates on a continuum mostly the goal is to get you to turn against your

is to get you to turn against your

is to get you to turn against your fellow Americans then keep your head

fellow Americans then keep your head

fellow Americans then keep your head down and do nothing in Russia people are

down and do nothing in Russia people are

down and do nothing in Russia people are accustomed to living double lives of

accustomed to living double lives of

accustomed to living double lives of sorts

sorts

sorts albe it not nearly as much as in the

albe it not nearly as much as in the

albe it not nearly as much as in the past under the glorious lie of socialism

are accustomed to living this double

are accustomed to living this double life they have the interior life and the

life they have the interior life and the

life they have the interior life and the public life the public life keeps its

public life the public life keeps its

public life the public life keeps its head down obeys instructions avoids

head down obeys instructions avoids

head down obeys instructions avoids interactions with the police and the

interactions with the police and the

interactions with the police and the state the private life the story is told

state the private life the story is told

state the private life the story is told in the kitchen the view one has of

in the kitchen the view one has of

in the kitchen the view one has of oneself this is all often in conflict

oneself this is all often in conflict

oneself this is all often in conflict with the private life in the mind of a

with the private life in the mind of a

with the private life in the mind of a Russian citizen who has never lived

Russian citizen who has never lived

Russian citizen who has never lived safely and securely in freedom this

safely and securely in freedom this

safely and securely in freedom this tension creates fear in Americans it can

tension creates fear in Americans it can

tension creates fear in Americans it can also create fear but it can give life to

also create fear but it can give life to

also create fear but it can give life to other things the Vietnam generation is

other things the Vietnam generation is

other things the Vietnam generation is the generation the Soviet era KGB is

the generation the Soviet era KGB is

the generation the Soviet era KGB is being the most promising in their eyes

being the most promising in their eyes

being the most promising in their eyes if you listen to the defectors of the

if you listen to the defectors of the

if you listen to the defectors of the late Soviet era this is what they will

late Soviet era this is what they will

late Soviet era this is what they will tell you they will say that the

tell you they will say that the

tell you they will say that the generation that tore itself apart along

generation that tore itself apart along

generation that tore itself apart along political and racial lines will be

political and racial lines will be

political and racial lines will be capable of dividing itself again the

capable of dividing itself again the

capable of dividing itself again the Vietnam generation mistrusted

Vietnam generation mistrusted

Vietnam generation mistrusted governments and they tore each other

governments and they tore each other

governments and they tore each other apart along these political and racial

apart along these political and racial

apart along these political and racial lines that war literally divided a

lines that war literally divided a

lines that war literally divided a generation we have not been so divided

generation we have not been so divided

generation we have not been so divided again until recently this is not an

again until recently this is not an

again until recently this is not an accident

accident

accident all those excuse me many of those who

all those excuse me many of those who

all those excuse me many of those who fought and beat Freedom Riders who

fought and beat Freedom Riders who

fought and beat Freedom Riders who taunted those who worked to integrate

taunted those who worked to integrate

taunted those who worked to integrate lunch counters who sent dogs after

lunch counters who sent dogs after

lunch counters who sent dogs after little girls they’re still alive and

little girls they’re still alive and

little girls they’re still alive and among us and they’re old now so you know

among us and they’re old now so you know

among us and they’re old now so you know they vote

it’s true sorry

it’s true sorry um so you know they vote hate has an

um so you know they vote hate has an

um so you know they vote hate has an important role to play here because as

important role to play here because as

important role to play here because as the Southern Poverty Law Center points

the Southern Poverty Law Center points

the Southern Poverty Law Center points out hate is an attack on the health of

out hate is an attack on the health of

out hate is an attack on the health of the community

the community

the community Russia is like cancer in this sense

Russia is like cancer in this sense

Russia is like cancer in this sense Fiona Hill the Russian Eurasia director

Fiona Hill the Russian Eurasia director

Fiona Hill the Russian Eurasia director in the National Security Council points

in the National Security Council points

in the National Security Council points out that Russia saw a softening of

out that Russia saw a softening of

out that Russia saw a softening of legitimacy in tensions between the

legitimacy in tensions between the

legitimacy in tensions between the elites and the rest of society because

elites and the rest of society because

elites and the rest of society because that’s all they’re ever on the lookout

that’s all they’re ever on the lookout

that’s all they’re ever on the lookout for in there’s hills is the single most

for in there’s hills is the single most

for in there’s hills is the single most important observation to date as to why

important observation to date as to why

important observation to date as to why Russia attacked us when it did to return

Russia attacked us when it did to return

Russia attacked us when it did to return to the Vietnam generation for a moment

to the Vietnam generation for a moment

to the Vietnam generation for a moment this was an opportunity Russia saw as

this was an opportunity Russia saw as

this was an opportunity Russia saw as once in a generation if not more by

once in a generation if not more by

once in a generation if not more by pulling on the extremes on the far left

pulling on the extremes on the far left

pulling on the extremes on the far left and the far right finding a certain

and the far right finding a certain

and the far right finding a certain point of nationalist fury where they

point of nationalist fury where they

point of nationalist fury where they meet and pulling hard divisions are

meet and pulling hard divisions are

meet and pulling hard divisions are exacerbated welcome to active measures

exacerbated welcome to active measures

exacerbated welcome to active measures the only way to defeat them is through

the only way to defeat them is through

the only way to defeat them is through active resistance active measures

active resistance active measures

active resistance active measures against the population are a smokescreen

against the population are a smokescreen

against the population are a smokescreen this smokescreen creates an illusion a

this smokescreen creates an illusion a

this smokescreen creates an illusion a fog of war look behind the curtain it is

fog of war look behind the curtain it is

fog of war look behind the curtain it is designed to irritate those keen on

designed to irritate those keen on

designed to irritate those keen on learning the truth in sorry like trump

learning the truth in sorry like trump

learning the truth in sorry like trump russia tells so many lies even the lies

russia tells so many lies even the lies

russia tells so many lies even the lies revealed for their lives you begin to

revealed for their lives you begin to

revealed for their lives you begin to think that if someone knows the truth

think that if someone knows the truth

think that if someone knows the truth something terrible happen to them that

something terrible happen to them that

something terrible happen to them that it must be buried if not the person with

it must be buried if not the person with

it must be buried if not the person with it so unknowable is the truth Russians

it so unknowable is the truth Russians

it so unknowable is the truth Russians live double lives they’re used to this

live double lives they’re used to this

live double lives they’re used to this this is part of their system it’s what

this is part of their system it’s what

this is part of their system it’s what they know Americans are the opposite

they know Americans are the opposite

they know Americans are the opposite everyone who came here or almost

everyone who came here or almost

everyone who came here or almost everyone I should say and I should

everyone I should say and I should

everyone I should say and I should emphasize that almost because there’s

emphasize that almost because there’s

emphasize that almost because there’s significant population that was forced

significant population that was forced

significant population that was forced here

here

here um came here to a better life or they

um came here to a better life or they

um came here to a better life or they found it when they got here eventually

found it when they got here eventually

found it when they got here eventually after generations my father’s family as

after generations my father’s family as

after generations my father’s family as I mentioned comes from Latvia our

I mentioned comes from Latvia our

I mentioned comes from Latvia our experience is that progress comes

experience is that progress comes

experience is that progress comes through keeping your head up I was

through keeping your head up I was

through keeping your head up I was taught hope never dies in Russia by

taught hope never dies in Russia by

taught hope never dies in Russia by contrast they say hope dies last this

contrast they say hope dies last this

contrast they say hope dies last this abusive relationship that’s been created

abusive relationship that’s been created

abusive relationship that’s been created with one another is the product of all

with one another is the product of all

with one another is the product of all of this

of this

of this Americans tore down Confederate statues

Americans tore down Confederate statues

Americans tore down Confederate statues as a stand-in for the regime because

as a stand-in for the regime because

as a stand-in for the regime because it’s what they know about such things

it’s what they know about such things

it’s what they know about such things from television whether it’s statues of

from television whether it’s statues of

from television whether it’s statues of Lenin and Ukraine in recent years or

Lenin and Ukraine in recent years or

Lenin and Ukraine in recent years or Saddam Hussein in Iraq after the

Saddam Hussein in Iraq after the

Saddam Hussein in Iraq after the invasion in 2003 the Russian government

invasion in 2003 the Russian government

invasion in 2003 the Russian government feared the organizing power of social

feared the organizing power of social

feared the organizing power of social media and color revolutions rather than

media and color revolutions rather than

media and color revolutions rather than use these tools to improve their society

use these tools to improve their society

use these tools to improve their society which could use it they reverse

which could use it they reverse

which could use it they reverse engineered them used for their own

engineered them used for their own

engineered them used for their own usually destructive and invariably self

usually destructive and invariably self

usually destructive and invariably self self-serving purposes for the most part

self-serving purposes for the most part

self-serving purposes for the most part the goals of Russian government are very

the goals of Russian government are very

the goals of Russian government are very similar symbols Isom ‘pl namely money

similar symbols Isom ‘pl namely money

similar symbols Isom ‘pl namely money and power

and power

and power there are auxilary things too like

there are auxilary things too like

there are auxilary things too like restored national glory and prestige

restored national glory and prestige

restored national glory and prestige revenge is also very important to nation

revenge is also very important to nation

revenge is also very important to nation states the backbone of Russia’s

states the backbone of Russia’s

states the backbone of Russia’s political and economic elite often the

political and economic elite often the

political and economic elite often the same is the Russian mafia and the Mafia

same is the Russian mafia and the Mafia

same is the Russian mafia and the Mafia State the government is literally run

State the government is literally run

State the government is literally run like a criminal enterprise and profits

like a criminal enterprise and profits

like a criminal enterprise and profits from several now here’s what I might get

from several now here’s what I might get

from several now here’s what I might get a little bit too optimistic but I think

a little bit too optimistic but I think

a little bit too optimistic but I think Russian active measures failed and they

Russian active measures failed and they

Russian active measures failed and they failed for good reason they failed

failed for good reason they failed

failed for good reason they failed because the Russian leadership has no

because the Russian leadership has no

because the Russian leadership has no idea what a free world mind is or how it

idea what a free world mind is or how it

idea what a free world mind is or how it thinks our patterns of fear must be

thinks our patterns of fear must be

thinks our patterns of fear must be different our people are willing to die

different our people are willing to die

different our people are willing to die on the streets for what they believe not

on the streets for what they believe not

on the streets for what they believe not because they want you they don’t but

because they want you they don’t but

because they want you they don’t but because they fear their survival depends

because they fear their survival depends

because they fear their survival depends on it

on it

on it our national heroes and myths give life

our national heroes and myths give life

our national heroes and myths give life to ordinary people rising above their

to ordinary people rising above their

to ordinary people rising above their circumstances to be extraordinary so how

circumstances to be extraordinary so how

circumstances to be extraordinary so how do you fight back as a regular American

do you fight back as a regular American

do you fight back as a regular American well if the goal is to capture the state

well if the goal is to capture the state

well if the goal is to capture the state no this is three things to the Russian

no this is three things to the Russian

no this is three things to the Russian mind foreign policy defense and the

mind foreign policy defense and the

mind foreign policy defense and the economy defend our institutions

economy defend our institutions

economy defend our institutions everything else must belong to us in

everything else must belong to us in

everything else must belong to us in civil society in the private sector we

civil society in the private sector we

civil society in the private sector we could see there is some visible

could see there is some visible

could see there is some visible infiltration in media businesses think

infiltration in media businesses think

infiltration in media businesses think tanks and elsewhere we must push back

tanks and elsewhere we must push back

tanks and elsewhere we must push back strongly be human and think of ways to

strongly be human and think of ways to

strongly be human and think of ways to humanize the domestic opposition be

humanize the domestic opposition be

humanize the domestic opposition be skeptical social justice is a national

skeptical social justice is a national

skeptical social justice is a national security issue every police shooting is

security issue every police shooting is

security issue every police shooting is an attack on our democracy how can we

an attack on our democracy how can we

an attack on our democracy how can we make the case that democracy is the best

make the case that democracy is the best

make the case that democracy is the best form of governance to protect the people

form of governance to protect the people

form of governance to protect the people against the abuses the state is capable

against the abuses the state is capable

against the abuses the state is capable of if we cannot protect our people how

of if we cannot protect our people how

of if we cannot protect our people how do we show we’re united if mobs of white

do we show we’re united if mobs of white

do we show we’re united if mobs of white men are beating Freedom Riders or

men are beating Freedom Riders or

men are beating Freedom Riders or Freddie gray is getting bumped around in

Freddie gray is getting bumped around in

Freddie gray is getting bumped around in the back of a paddy wagon our state

the back of a paddy wagon our state

the back of a paddy wagon our state needs protection but not from our people

needs protection but not from our people

needs protection but not from our people and our people should not need

and our people should not need

and our people should not need protection from the states as every day

protection from the states as every day

protection from the states as every day feels like a fresh horror do not forget

feels like a fresh horror do not forget

feels like a fresh horror do not forget your anger do not forget the country we

your anger do not forget the country we

your anger do not forget the country we had do not forget the country you want

had do not forget the country you want

had do not forget the country you want to live in as a Soviet radio presenter

to live in as a Soviet radio presenter

to live in as a Soviet radio presenter said while reporting on Khrushchev

said while reporting on Khrushchev

said while reporting on Khrushchev secret speech no one can predict the

secret speech no one can predict the

secret speech no one can predict the future but the past is changing before

future but the past is changing before

future but the past is changing before our very eyes thank you

our very eyes thank you

our very eyes thank you [Applause]