Compendium of Writings on the October 7 War and Western Reactions to it
Over the last year, I have written a number of pieces on the war, and Western reactions to it, such as campus anti-Israel protest movements.
Civil Disobedience
What James C. Scott Taught Us About Liberty, Authority, Surveillance, and Resistance
Scott wrote about the ways people resist authority—and the unmapped territories where much of that resistance takes place.
Climate Protestors Sentenced to Jail for Blocking Major Roadway in Britain
Organizers of the highway obstruction will spend years in jail for their anything-but-peaceful protest.
Biden Administration Seeks Overly Harsh Sentences for Blocking Abortion Clinic Access
Whatever you think of abortion, the Department of Justice's latest approach to these cases is misguided.
President Biden Should Pardon D.M. Bennett
Issuing a posthumous pardon for Bennett would reaffirm our nation’s commitment to free expression and intellectual freedom.
Campus Anti-Israel Protests and the Ethics of Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience is sometimes justified. But current law-breaking by anti-Israel protestors on college campuses doesn't come close to meeting the requisite moral standards.
SCOTUS Misses a Chance To Protect Peaceful Protesters
Under a legal theory endorsed by the 5th Circuit, Martin Luther King Jr. could have been liable for other people’s violence.
How Capitalism Beat Communism in Vietnam
It only took a generation to go from ration cards to exporting electronics.
Martin Luther King on Civil Disobedience and Ethics of Resistance to State Authority
Contrary to a widespread misconception, King did not favor absolute nonviolence, nor does his reasoning always require practitioners of civil disobedience to accept punishment. But he also strongly opposed rioting.
Alexandra Hudson: How Civility Can Save America—and the World
We don't need better manners, we need a commitment to mutual respect and tolerance, and space to live our lives as we see fit.
Martin Luther King's Lofty Dream Turns 60
Is our country getting closer to living out the true meaning of its creed, "All men are created equal"?
Is Encouraging Illegal Immigration Protected by the First Amendment?
Criticizing the law by calling for people to break it is an American tradition.
Daniel Akst: The World War II Pacifists Who Changed America Forever
"Christian libertarians" Bayard Rustin and David Dellinger challenged state power and ended up leading the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War protests.
The Militant Pacifists of World War II
War by Other Means tells the story of those conscientious objectors who did not cooperate with the government's alternative-service schemes.
Biden's Support for COVID Protests Hinges on What Country They're in
The president has urged the Chinese government to respect the rights of anti-lockdown demonstrators. He actively encouraged the Canadian government to end the trucker protests.
It's Bodies vs. the State
Plus: The editors ponder the lack of women’s pants pockets in the marketplace.
'We Want Freedom': Chinese Protests Reflect Frustration With Country's Continuing COVID Restrictions
Plus: Reason's holiday gift guide, a possible new antitrust suit against Microsoft, and more...
The Decline and Fall of the Oath Keepers
How Stewart Rhodes went from denouncing authoritarianism to urging an authoritarian crackdown
The Revolt of the Canadian Truckers
In an age of elite scorn, government mandates, a rotten economy—and powerful, decentralized communication tools—common people are pushing back.
Homeland Security Is Already Mobilizing Against Potential Protests by U.S. Truckers
Plus: The EARN It Act advances, against climate despair, and more...
Martin Luther King on the Ethics of Resistance to State Authority
Georgetown philosopher Jason Brennan offers a valuable summary of King's thought on these issues.
Deng Xiaoping and the Communist Party Don't Deserve Credit for Chinese Economic Power
China's economic reforms were bottom-up, not top-down.
Californians Are Revolting Against the Lockdown
Small business owners and sheriffs are leading the revolt against Governor Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home orders, which they say are unscientific and ineffective.
The Fracturing of Communist Cuba's Propaganda Machine
"When I started my blog," says journalist Yoani Sánchez, "it was like an exorcism of something that was inside of me."
'We're Not Doing Anything Wrong': This Pennsylvania Brewery Refuses To Obey State's Indoor Dining Ban
And it isn't alone. Pennsylvania has banned indoor dining through the end of the year, but dozens of businesses are banding together to defy the mandate.
Americans Are in Full Revolt Against Pandemic Lockdowns
Individually and in organized groups, people are pushing back against lockdown orders.
Cops Raid New York Bar and Arrest Owner for Defying COVID-19 Restrictions
Using police to forcefully shut down Mac's Public House is a violation of liberty and a waste of resources.
Major Cities Spend Weekend Prepping for Possible Election Night Riots
Plus: Fate of Texas drive-thru ballots still uncertain, exposure to diverse news sources is up, Oregon may lessen penalties for possessing drugs, and more...
A New Round of COVID-19 Restrictions Drives Illinois Eateries to Rebellion
Who could have predicted that intolerable rules won’t be tolerated?
Cops Clash with Protesters in America and Around the World
Plus: Pennsylvania restaurant wins lockdown lawsuit, Pakistan bans TikTok, and more...
Belarusian Dictator Orders Polish and Lithuanian Borders Closed
So far, they don't seem to have actually closed the borders. But his threat probably has a different aim.
Why Violent Protests Backfire
Martin Luther King explained why they are "socially destructive and self-defeating."
10,000 Gather In Bangkok to Protest Thailand's Monarchy
Increasing tensions between the military-backed ruling class and the student-led democracy movement have prompted massive rallies in the capital.
We Are All the Children of Tiananmen's Tank Man
Thirty-one years ago, an unidentified man held off Chinese military tanks in Tiananmen Square. Protesters facing down state violence today have big shoes to fill.
Are the COVID-19 Lockdowns Constitutional?
Several courts have invalidated elements of state shelter-in-place orders. Constitutional law Professor Josh Blackman says that the longer they continue, the less legal they become.
A Huge Blow to Hongkongers' Freedoms
New legislation proposed in Beijing signals the likely end of the "one country, two systems" policy that has allowed Hong Kong to flourish.
How Fashion Designers Are Thwarting Facial Recognition Surveillance
Privacy activists say we should be alarmed by the rise of automated facial recognition surveillance. Transhumanist Zoltan Istvan says it's time to embrace the end of privacy as we know it.
Will COVID-19 Help Americans Break the Habit of Deferring to Centralized Authority?
We may find that we like making our own decisions.
It Figures That Michigan Is Among the First States To See Protests Against Social Distancing
Plus: Puerto Rico criminalizes fake news about COVID-19, wide geographic disparity in U.S. income growth, and more...
From the Cholera Riots to the Coronavirus Revolts
The more punitive the approach to public health, the fiercer the backlash.
The Surveillance State Thrives During the Pandemic
Can we take government officials at their word that they'll eventually abandon their new powers?
Tear Up Your Census Form for a Better America
The government is perfectly capable of counting heads in a less-intrusive and more-hygienic way.
Was This the Decade We Hit Peak Free Speech?
Speech was more varied and vibrant than ever before—and then the backlash began.
Hong Kong Protesters Combat the Surveillance State
Encryption, other privacy measures, and decentralization have made the protest movement possible.
American Woman Tells Hongkongers 'Safety Is More Important Than Freedom'
Under Chinese authoritarianism, they'll have neither.
Hong Kong's Fight for Freedom Against China's Authoritarianism
"If we lose...we will lose a generation."
Hong Kong Protesters Want Democracy, Accountability, Autonomy, and U.S. Support
The formal withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill won't be enough to stop the protest movement.
