iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Bill Moyers

GET UPDATES FROM Bill Moyers
 

Watch: Is the Future of Social Activism Here Now?

Posted: 04/ 3/2012 12:43 pm

The most recent Moyers & Company looks at what we can do to solve the country's problems, assisted by the smart perspectives of some young -- but very experienced -- activists. Below, drop in on my conversation with Ai-jen Poo and Sarita Gupta about restoring workers' rights -- rights they say have been stripped away by corporations. The two also talk about their involvement in The 99% Spring, which aims to train 100,000 Americans to teach the country about income inequality in homes, places of worship, campuses and the streets.

Poo, director and co-founder of the 10,000-member National Domestic Workers Alliance, led the fight for passage of The Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights in New York State, the first of its kind in America.

Gupta is executive director of Jobs with Justice, a labor organization in 46 cities and 26 states working to create a broad, global movement for economic and social justice. Poo and Gupta are also participating in an economic campaign for domestic and homecare workers of all ages called Caring Across Generations.

---

Moyers & Company airs weekly on public television -- check local listings. See more features -- including our all-new TAKE ACTION page -- at BillMoyers.com

Previously posted on BillMoyers.com.

 
 
 

Follow Bill Moyers on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BillMoyers

 
 
  • Comments
  • 23
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mzkitti
6/3/1927
04:27 PM on 04/04/2012
The Supreme Court of the United States is a disgrace. Who in the world would have ever thought we could have an ignoramus like Scalia on the Supreme Court.
Or Clarence Thomas. I remember that picture I saw of Thomas last summer, leaning up against a tree at the Retreat the Koch Bros held in Aspen last July. Now he is being investigated by the IRS
for not paying taxes on his wifes salary from the Neo-Cons. So he is a crook. Scalia told the Press this week that he could not be expected to read the twenty-seven hundred pages of the Health Care Bill. Jeez... any Intern can read seventeen hundred pages of a Brief in an afternoon. Maybe Scalia can't read. The Supremes don't expect to have a decision until September. What the hell, you can't read the Bill in six months. ? Of course you don't have to if you have already made up your mind about not passing it.... FOR SHAME Cheney has probably promised Scalia another hunting trip to Texas if he votes against the Bill.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mzkitti
6/3/1927
04:15 PM on 04/04/2012
One of the really serious problems this country has taken on in the last fifteen years is the Catholic Church has joined the Republican Party. There is no doubt about this. The strict, rules and regulations of the Tea Party are favored by the Catholic Church because it is what the Church preaches. Believe us, Believe what we tell you, it is for your best interest. Give us your money . BELIEVE! NONSENSE. Most Evangelical churches are supporting the Republicans, that is to be expected.. that old, Bible in one hand, Gun in the other and a plaque above the front door that says IGNORANCE IS BLISS. The Catholic Church, however is a bigger danger because of the sheer numbers .During the 2008 election it was widely reported a Catholic Priest told his Parishiners that if he found out anyone of them voted for Barack Obama HE would deny communion to those people .. forever. AND THAT CRAP IS REPEATED IN CHURCHES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY. FOR SHAME! A War on Religion the Church screams. Yeah, Right!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
yeswecanjane
Top 2% should create more jobs or pay more
09:59 PM on 04/04/2012
Brillant post!:) My family was in a conservative Catholic church that was so corrupt morally that as a child I would wait for God to strike our church during Mass:) They were Tea Party before the Tea Party was invented by the Koch Brothers at their yearly retreat:)
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Wayne Caswell
Consumer Advocate & Founder of Modern Health Talk
08:49 AM on 04/04/2012
Social Activism -- It WILL happen in this nation as the income gap continues to widen. It's just a matter of when.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Robert SF
03:40 PM on 04/03/2012
Unfortunately, professional activists who show any kind of effectiveness quickly get corrupted and assimilated into the 1%. For the past 40 years, anything related to social justice has pretty much skidded to a stop as the rich got richer and the poor got poorer to the degree that our economic inequality now ranks among Latin American countries. We're not first even among Latin American nations! So if nobody's made a difference in 40 years, why would these two people? Sadly, I think a future like "Hunger Games" looms ahead, and not that far off.
Republican crybabies
Enemy of plutocrats
05:04 PM on 04/03/2012
Nothing is gotten without a fight. A mere 50 years ago black people weren't even considered full citizens under the law. No powerful regime lasts forever.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
yeswecanjane
Top 2% should create more jobs or pay more
10:01 PM on 04/04/2012
Exactly!:)
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Carolab
Just another hostage of the poopy heads
04:22 AM on 04/04/2012
Be glad there are people fighting for us.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MichaelGMan
Liberal, liberal, liberal;-)
03:06 PM on 04/03/2012
Peace protesters are now subject to arrest, and as result of the Supreme Court's recent decision are subject to strip searches. This is exactly the reasoning behind the decision. Free speech can lead to a strip search in America. Do you want to protest? Do you want to get strip-searched? It looks like the conservative elements in the Supreme Court have expanded the governments role again. First the Patriot Act, now strip searches and now consider that local police departments routinely track cell phones. Hey GOP, how is that smaller government thing working out for ya? Your friend, Bush/Cheney, started it all. Thanks for nothing!
researcher
researcher
03:01 PM on 04/03/2012
Social activism for Americans: Not yet for Middle America. Over 50% of Americans have to be really hurting and lose hope of ever not hurting. Like our anti smoking laws did not become implemented and effective until over 50% of Americans quit smoking.

But this is a trickle that will someday become a stream and then a flowing river. They still have not identified the root cause. ie capitalism with its corp profits over people agenda.

Capitalism will create a very social Darwinism society and this appeals to the human ego of individualism at any cost to society.

Even the Supreme Court is now controlled by the capitalist agenda of corp profits over people even war profits over people. Insanity and greed to call corporations people.

A religious society is a very individualistic and selfish and aggressive society. Interesting aspect of religion is it not, until we come to understand the evolution of consciousness process.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Robert SF
03:48 PM on 04/03/2012
Adding to that, the times we're going through sure show what a myth it is that Americans are cranky, anti-authoritarians, who take no BS and are perpetually ready to fight for their freedoms. We're not. We're not even sheep. Try to point out the flaws in our system to any middle-age guy with a lawn, and you'll get back a hysterical rant about "socialism" and suggestions that you move to North Korea. We're co-dependent enablers.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
02:43 PM on 04/03/2012
Because activism is usually a struggle against powerful entrenched interest engaged in by those seeking to draw attention to a problem in order to get the problem addressed, you'd think the internet would be the perfect tool; however, those entrenched interest, more and more, are controlling government and government is now monitoring the internet. So the question arises...

Are political prisoners facing indefinite detention without trial in America's future because of what they post on the web?
researcher
researcher
06:32 PM on 04/03/2012
It is coming as now all they have to do is label you a terrorist against the gov and you can be taken from your home and have indefinite detention or worst. this is the direction america is heading like a train down a mountain without any brakes.

Even the liberals are in on this new future of america.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
LHoney
REINSTATE GLASS STEAGALL!!!
08:09 PM on 04/03/2012
Maybe we should all start shopping for ham radios...
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Gonzo333
03:19 PM on 04/04/2012
And guns.
photo
studioh!
bridging the snarchasm
02:21 PM on 04/03/2012
also, I urge you to watch the other segment of this program for an enlightened view of corporate power:

http://billmoyers.com/segment/organizer-george-goehl-on-people-power/
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
LHoney
REINSTATE GLASS STEAGALL!!!
09:04 PM on 04/03/2012
That was wonderful - thank you so very much for the link! Especially liked the 2nd half of that series about The 99% Spring! Thanks again!
02:03 PM on 04/03/2012
As an “older” person, I say, “Bring on the young people!” I believe they are, as a group, brighter and more compassionate that a lot of their elders. I am privileged to know quite a few young people and I really do like what I am seeing and hearing from them.
researcher
researcher
06:35 PM on 04/03/2012
Yes they said that about my generation in the sixties and look how they turned out: ie wall street greed and most watch fox noise. my generation wants to stop all gov social programs but their social security checks and medicare. selfish to the core.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mzkitti
6/3/1927
01:41 PM on 04/03/2012
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/vicki-kennedy-disinvited-commencement

It is getting more difficult to be an Activist these days.
We not only have more rules, more conspirarcies, more hatred, but now we also have the Republican Catholic Church.
iflew
Pro Publiae Bonae
08:53 PM on 04/04/2012
The church is for "Social Justice", if you are not yet born. If on the other hand you are elderly, widowed, or poor they leave it up to God. Preemptive or retroactive birth control are no-no. Transferring pedophilic priests, ho-hum.
10:54 PM on 04/05/2012
Wrong. Just because you write something on this post, doesn't make it true. As far as the poor, the Catholic Church feeds the poor in the US and around the world. In my hometown of Baltimore, Our Daily Bread feeds 800 poor people every day, 365 days a year. How many poor people do you feed every day. There are also, people like Sister Barbara, who runs a food coopt , providing inexpensive and free grocies the poor here. As far as the elderly, the Catholic Church runs assisted living facilities, such as the one run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The nuns have taken vows of poverty, and dedicate their lives to helping the poor , sick, and elderly. Again, what do you and other liberal athiests do, other than spew your hate and vitriol with you arrogant attitudes, that you are doing more than anybody else, when in fact you do little or nothing other than cheap talk.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
01:37 PM on 04/03/2012
Yesterday's future is called the present.