What’s the DNA of an Effective Protest?

Scholars and Practitioners Discussed What It Takes to Create a Sustained, Successful Movement at Last Night’s Event “When Does Protest Make a Difference?”

With the new school year starting, universities across the country anticipate a new wave of protests around the war in Gaza, now in its 10th month. To offer broad perspective, Zócalo brought a panel of scholars and practitioners to the ASU California Center Broadway last night to discuss the history, legality, and art of American protest.

The Zócalo event—which asked “When Does Protest Make a Difference?”—took the form of two back-to-back panels, both moderated by KQED correspondent and “The California Report” co-host Saul Gonzalez.

The first panel was made up of academics: …

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California’s Farm Industry Is People Powered

But It’s Not Centering the Workforce, Said the Panel at “‘What Makes a Good Job Now?’ In Agriculture”

Salinas, California, isn’t just “Steinbeck Country,” its landscape famously memorialized in novels. The Monterey County city is also known as “America’s salad bowl,” for the produce, including lettuce, that is …

Four people sit in a row on a stage. The man on the far right holds a microphone. The banners behind them read "Zócalo Public Square," "ASU," and "California Humanities."

Fighting Hate Is the Ultimate Group Project

The Answer to “How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?” Lies in Us All

Racial hate and discrimination are serious problems in California’s Inland Empire—and solving them begins at the most fundamental levels. This was the conclusion of a panel of people who study …

Héctor Tobar Peers Deep Into ‘Our Migrant Souls’

The 2024 Book Prize Event, “What Is a ‘Latino’?” Explored the Work and Struggle of Building Community in L.A. and America

The city of Los Angeles, the world’s most famous zócalo, and the word “Latino” are connected by a shared history—a history of people and cultures and languages colliding, explained journalist …

The State of Golden State Innovation | Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

The State of Golden State Innovation

At “What Makes a Great California Idea?,” Panelists Discussed the Big Ideas—Good and Bad—That Originated Here

At the opening night of the inaugural CalMatters Ideas Festival, a two-day event in Sacramento dedicated to discussing solutions to the Golden State’s greatest challenges, Zócalo convened a panel around …

What If We Saw Cars Like Rolling Sculptures?

The Automobile Represents an Engine of Possibility for Black L.A., Said Panelists at “Is Car Culture the Ultimate Act of Community in Crenshaw?”

Where Crenshaw and Leimert boulevards meet, the silver glint of artist and sculptor Charles Dickson’s “Car Culture” is beginning to take shape. One of Dickson’s largest public artworks to date, …