May 21st Panel on Radicals, Realists, and Repression: The State of Activism in the U.S. - Green & Red: Podcasts for Scrappy Radicals

Summary3 min read

Green & Red Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: May 21st Panel on Radicals, Realists, and Repression: The State of Activism in the U.S.
Date: May 11, 2026
Hosts: Bob Buzzanco and Scott Parkin
Special Panel Announcement by Scott Parkin

Episode Overview

This brief episode is dedicated to announcing and previewing a major public panel event hosted by Green & Red, titled "Radicals, Realists and Repression: The State of US Activism." Co-host Scott Parkin describes the panel's focus on the intensifying repression of activism in the U.S., as well as the burgeoning forms of resistance across the country. The event will feature a discussion among leading scholars and organizers, offering critical perspectives on protest, surveillance, and social change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Panel Announcement and Purpose

Scott Parkin shares exciting news about the upcoming live panel discussion.
The panel centers around the tension between rising state repression (legal, police, and technological) and escalating resistance by activists.

2. Featured Panelists and Moderator

Panelists:
- Professor Thomas Zaitsoff (American University, author of "No Option but Sabotage")
- Professor Omar Wassall (UC Berkeley, Department of Political Science)
- Scott Parkin (Green & Red co-host, climate organizer)
Moderator:
- Jason Miles (host of This Is Revolution podcast, recurring Green & Red guest)

3. Main Themes to Be Explored

Repression of Activism:
- Recent rollbacks of First Amendment-protected activities and anti-protest legislation.
- Ever-expanding surveillance tactics targeting social movements.
- Deployment of militarized police against activism.
Modes of Resistance:
- Ongoing weekend protests, such as No Kings mobilizations and May Day actions.
- Vigorous resistance to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) across major cities—Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, and more.
- New movement frontiers, including the fight against AI data centers.

"We're living in very dark times, but hopefully this panel will start a process of illuminating some of that." — Scott Parkin [01:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Need for Critical Dialogue:

"The panel will be talking about the rollback of First Amendment protected activities, which includes anti protest legislation, militarized police so surveillance being drastically increased." — Scott Parkin [00:38]
On Diverse Forms of Resistance:

"In contrast to that, the large scale resistance that we're seeing both through weekend protests like no Kings mobilizations around May Day, but then also the fierce resistance to ICE that we're seeing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and many other places." — Scott Parkin [00:57]
On Expanding Movement Frontiers:

"And well, just to throw a little flavor in there, we'll also be talking about the anti AI data center movement as well." — Scott Parkin [01:11]

Important Segment Timestamps

[00:00] – Episode introduction and event announcement
[00:38] – Focus on repression: anti-protest laws, militarized policing, surveillance
[00:57] – Highlighting ongoing mass protests and resistance to ICE
[01:11] – Mention of the anti-AI data center movement
[01:45] – Aspirational note on the panel’s illuminating role
[02:10] – Event logistics: location, time, and streaming details

Event Details

Title: Radicals, Realists, and Repression: The State of US Activism
Date: Thursday, May 21st
Time: Doors at 6:30pm, panel begins at 7:00pm
Venue: Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA
Access: In-person and via live stream on Green & Red’s YouTube channel
RSVP: Link in episode show notes

Tone & Closing Sentiments

Scott Parkin adopts an urgent yet hopeful tone, emphasizing both the dark context of repression and the vibrancy and necessity of resistance. The episode serves as both an open invitation and a rallying call for engagement and critical conversation.

Summary Takeaways

Listeners are encouraged to attend or tune in to this pivotal discussion centered on the current crossroads in U.S. activism.
The panel promises sharp analysis of both systemic repression and grassroots creativity in resistance.
The podcast continues its commitment to amplifying radical voices and movements striving for justice.

Loading summary

Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. Welcome to the Silky Smooth Sounds with Green and Red podcast. Your co host Scott Parkin in Berkeley, California and I wanted to let you know about an event that we have coming up on May 21st. It will be a live podcast and a panel discussion, an in person panel discussion on Radicals, Realists and Repression, the State of US Activism. The panel will feature Professor Thomas Zaitsoff, who is a professor in the School of Public affairs at American University and author of no Option but Sabotage. Also a guest on the Green the Red podcast, Professor Omar Wassall, who is an assistant professor in UC Berkeley's Department of Political Science myself and then it will be moderated by our friend and comrade and also guest on the Green Red podcast, Jason Miles, who's the host of the this Is Revolution podcast. The panel will be talking about the rollback of First Amendment protected activities, which includes anti protest legislation, militarized police so surveillance being drastically increased. And then in contrast to that, the large scale resistance that we're seeing both through weekend protests like no Kings mobilizations around May Day, but then also the fierce resistance to ICE that we're seeing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and many other places. And well, just to throw a little flavor in there, we'll also be talking about the anti AI data center movement as well. And so there's a lot of interesting things going on in our world right now. We're living in very dark times, but hopefully this panel will start a process of illuminating some of that. It will be at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists in Berkeley at 1924 Cedar Street. Doors open at 6:30. The event begins at 7pm it will be on Thursday, May 21st. And for those of you who are not in the Bay Area, there will be a live streaming option as well. It'll actually be live streamed on our YouTube channel, so please check us out. I have the RSVP in the show notes for this posting and look forward to seeing everyone on May 21st.