As more tension manifests itself through protests and violence following a series of instances of police brutality throughout America, many parallels can be drawn between the current turmoil and the tension of 1968. Both eras contain a multitude of movements surrounding perceived injustices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading up to ’68 in America, the tension boiled around movements for civil rights, anti-capitalism, and campus free speech \u2013 just to name a few. Today much of the tension stems from intense political polarization and immense frustration as the US confronts the Covid-19 pandemic. While the causes of the tension aren’t exactly the same \u2013 as one would (hope to) expect more than 50 years later \u2013 the most apparent similarity is that major events coupled with the mounting tension to set off the conflict and extreme radicalism of both eras. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Geoff Brown said, in Britain in ’68 he considered himself a radical socialist. He stated that it was the Vietnam War that truly radicalized him and launched him into activism. This seemed to be the case for many ’68ers in America. Today it was the death of George Floyd that coupled with the built-up tension in order set off conflict. Cities have been damaged, widespread looting has occurred and two people were killed during a protest in Kenosha on Tuesday night following another case of police brutality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People change, movements change and times change. However, the trajectories of these two eras seem to be quite similar. While activism now primarily takes place on social media as opposed to ’68 when people were declaring their views via posters and the radio, the attitudes of current activists appear to be familiar. It’s too early to tell how our current situation will play out, but it might not be a terrible idea to turn to the aftermath of ’68 for an idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As more tension manifests itself through protests and violence following a series of instances of police brutality throughout America, many parallels can be drawn between the current turmoil and the tension of 1968. Both eras contain a multitude of movements surrounding perceived injustices. Leading up to ’68 in America, the tension boiled around movements for … <\/p>\n