Resistance Archives - Public Seminar

Democracy

It May Be the Last Time

Lithuanian art and culture resisting a takeover at the height of hybrid warfare

November 10, 2025 • by Edvardas Šumila

Recent developments in Lithuanian politics have produced a decisive, immediate, and spontaneous resistance from culture workers in various fields. The formation of a new coalition government led to the populist political project Nemuno Aušra (NA)—headed by the antisemitic politician Remigijus Žemaitaitis—being given control of the Ministry of Culture. Žemaitaitis has ...

Democracy

On Repression and Resistance

December 8, 2020 • by Aysen Candas

I would like to start by thanking the New University in Exile Consortium, particularly the Consortium's marvelous director, Prof. Arien Mack. Thanks to Arien's persistent efforts, uprooted academics from all over the world find their voice in a new community of like-minded scholars. I would also like to thank Prof. ...

Democracy

How to Head Off the Coming Neo-Trumpian Movement

Focus on defending democracy, not trying to appeal to racist and sexist Republican voters

December 3, 2020 • by Sidney Tarrow

“As the count currently stands, nearly 80 million Americans voted for Joe Biden,” Senator Bernie Sanders recently remarked: “With this vote against the authoritarian bigotry of Donald Trump, the world can breathe a collective sigh of relief.” But how did Trump’s bigotry triumph in the first place? Sanders has an answer similar ...

How to Head Off the Coming Neo-Trumpian Movement

Activism

Remembering and Resisting the Age of Reagan

An activist historian advises his students that the choices they make now will shape their future

September 24, 2020 • by James Goodman

______ It was November 1980, two months after my girlfriend and I moved to New York City from Boston, where we had met a year before. I had just started in the M.F.A. program at Columbia and she had just started a job at a small press, managing the production of ...

Remembering and Resisting the Age of Reagan

Race

Killer Mike on the Murder of George Floyd

The Atlanta rapper addresses his community

June 1, 2020 • by Killer Mike

On Saturday, May 29, the rapper Killer Mike, best known for his work with the duo Run the Jewels, joined the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, at a televised press conference. Killer Mike usually appears in a choreographed setting, like the official music videos for Run the Jewels tracks like ...

Feature

May Day

Washington D.C.

May 24, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Different groups with different themes marched from different places to rally together in Lafayette Square in front of the White House. The largest of these was organized by SEIU and CASA. Its theme was immigration, and current policies opposed to immigration. In addition to unions, religious and Latino groups were ...

Multi Media

DC Climate March

April 29th 2017

May 5, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Over one hundred thousand people marched down Pennsylvania Ave. from the Capitol on April 29, the one-hundredth day of Trump’s presidency. As though to emphasize the cost of global warming, Mother Nature graced the day with temperatures over 90 degrees. During the morning people gathered on the Mall in front of ...

Multi Media

Building a Feminism for the 99%

Mobilizing for the International Women’s Strike

April 7, 2017 • by Zeyno Ustun

Public Seminar broadcasted the open conversation with feminists, students, workers, professors and international activists, including Nancy Fraser, Cinzia Arruzza and Miriam Ticktin, live in Feb 28th at the New School. The event was announced with the following message. Enjoy the video! On March 8 more than 30 different countries went on strike. ...

Feature

International Women’s Day

March 8, 2017: Something old, something new, much was borrowed, nothing blue

March 22, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Women all over the world marched, rallied, and demonstrated in solidarity to commemorate International Women's Day. While the tradition was established a century ago, never before have so many women demonstrated in so many places in so many countries. To show solidarity, women wore red, whether they were demonstrating or ...

Multi Media

Paid Protestors, Secondhand Smoke, and Ivanka Trump

Past Present Episode 71

February 28, 2017 • by Nicole Hemmer, Neil J. Young and Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

On this week’s Past Present podcast, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of “paid protestors,” the science of secondhand smoke, and the failing fortunes of Ivanka Trump’s clothing line.

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Paid Protestors, Secondhand Smoke, and Ivanka Trump

Multi Media

No Ban on Muslims

Protests from D.C. on February 4th

February 22, 2017 • by Jo Freeman

Roughly five thousand people gathered at the edge of Lafayette park across from the White House on Sunday afternoon, February 4. They were protesting the ban on Muslims and refugees proposed by President Trump January 27. "No hate no fear, refugees are welcome here!" was the most popular chant. Most ...