Mainstream Media 'Discovers' Protests, Forgets History
The Intercept reports on Kat Abughazaleh's indictment for protest, framing it as a discussion on the right to protest. Conveniently, this renewed media focus on protest rights often appears when dissent targets inconvenient government policies. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, for example, many of the same outlets decried 'rioters' while now, they feature articles on protest
suppression. One might ask where this robust defense of protest was when thousands were arrested or brutalized for speaking out against systemic injustice. This selective outrage perfectly illustrates the propaganda playbook: amplify dissent when it serves a narrative, suppress it when it challenges power, especially power backed by significant lobbying. While the Intercept covers this specific
case, the broader media landscape consistently downplays protest against actions like ongoing military aid to entities committing alleged war crimes. The historical amnesia is truly astonishing; the right to protest isn't a new concept, nor is its suppression. It just depends on *whose* ox is being gored.