Skip Mark
@skipmark.bsky.social
88 followers 91 following 29 posts
I am a human rights scholar working at the University of Rhode Island in the political science department. I am director of the Center for Non-violence and Peace Studies and co-director of the CIRIGHTS project, the world’s largest human rights dataset.
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skipmark.bsky.social
New piece in the @us.theconversation.com with @stephenmbagwell.bsky.social The protection of collective labor rights (right to unionize, strike, and bargain collectively) reduces income inequality between individuals (poor vs. rich) and between ethnic/racial groups (white versus Black).
Strengthening collective labor rights can help reduce economic inequality
A research team’s findings suggest that when workers are free to advocate for better wages and benefits for themselves, it also benefits society as a whole.
theconversation.com
Reposted by Skip Mark
chenoweth.bsky.social
Privileged to write this editorial with @gretchentg.bsky.social of @ucs.org in @science.org: "Scientists’ role in defending democracy." www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A red quotation mark graphic, followed by bold text excerpted from an August 14th Science magazine editorial by Gretchen Goldman and Erica Chenoweth, saying "The ability to tell the truth, especially when it does not suit any particular partisan aims, is an essential prerequisite for a free society."
skipmark.bsky.social
A shout out to @aaup.org, the URI Adjunct faculty union, and the URI Professional Staff Association (PSA), a bargaining unit affiliated with the National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI).

You are almost always better off in a union, so join one, start one, or support one!
skipmark.bsky.social
Promoting labor rights reduces inequality, narrows the racial wealth gap, and serves as a popular policy platform for politicians seeking to win elections. If you expand this to all labor rights, you have a political agenda that motivates a majority of diverse voters and strengthens democracy.
Americans favor labor unions over big business now more than ever
This piece was also published on Medium. For decades, Americans were evenly divided in their relative support of labor unions and big business, but that’s no longer the case. Now, Americans are more l...
www.epi.org
skipmark.bsky.social
We use CIRIGHTS data, which codes US State Department and @amnesty.org human rights reports to assign numerical scores for two dozen human rights. For this piece, we examined the rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. We looked at both protection in law and in practice.
About CIRIGHTS
The goal of the CIRIGHTS data project is to create numerical measures for every internationally recognized human right for all countries of the world. Human rights scores are necessary for understa…
cirights.com
skipmark.bsky.social
Unions have an incentive to recruit all workers. As a result, they often help to promote racial inequality faster than other parts of society (they tend to be less racist). Where collective labor rights are strong, minorities can also unionize for themselves when they are shut out of other unions
Unions promote racial equity
By now it is well known that unions are a key institution enforcing more equal outcomes by income class in the U.S. economy and that the policy-driven shrinkage of unionization has played a key role i...
www.epi.org
skipmark.bsky.social
Unions, protected by collective labor rights, negotiate for higher wages, limit corporate power, and lobby for better working conditions for all workers. This is how we got the 40-hour workday, overtime pay, & restrictions on child labor. They also strengthen democracy and act as a check on power.
Unions help reduce disparities and strengthen our democracy
Unions improve wages and benefits for all workers, not just union members. They help reduce income inequality by making sure all Americans, and not just the wealthy elite, share in the benefits of the...
www.epi.org
skipmark.bsky.social
Building on our scholarly work, we argue that collective labor rights reduce inequality by empowering workers: they reduce the cost of organizing unions, reduce the cost of collective bargaining, create a credible threat for non-union workers to unionize, and protect the right to strike
Union Rights and Inequalities - Human Rights Review
Competing arguments surrounding the relationships between inequalities and labor rights have persisted over time. This paper explores whether labor rights increase or decrease two types of wage inequa...
link.springer.com
skipmark.bsky.social
New piece in the @us.theconversation.com with @stephenmbagwell.bsky.social The protection of collective labor rights (right to unionize, strike, and bargain collectively) reduces income inequality between individuals (poor vs. rich) and between ethnic/racial groups (white versus Black).
Strengthening collective labor rights can help reduce economic inequality
A research team’s findings suggest that when workers are free to advocate for better wages and benefits for themselves, it also benefits society as a whole.
theconversation.com
Reposted by Skip Mark
kchadclay.bsky.social
I'm happy to present Dr. Meridith LaVelle! Dr. LaVelle successfully defended her dissertation this morning. She will be a Humboldt Research Fellow at the University of Mannheim this fall. A huge thanks to her other committee members, Amanda Murdie, Danny Hill, and Jeffrey Berejikian.
Image of 5 people on Zoom: Amanda Murdie, K. Chad Clay, Daniel Hill, Jeffrey Berejikian, and Meridith LaVelle
Reposted by Skip Mark
profsaunders.bsky.social
🧵 To make this more concrete: don't assume Trump himself knows what he is going to do next in in the Israel-Iran conflict. He definitely doesn't want to get the US involved in a major war in the Middle East (that much he's been clear on). But he loves to bomb and look tough. 1/
profsaunders.bsky.social
The poor communication, lack of trust, and awkward history in this group, plus Trump’s own track record, should give anyone who thinks they know what happens next a very long pause.
chadbourn.bsky.social
Vice President JD Vance, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, and top aides gathered at the White House earlier, CNN reports. Rubio has been keeping Trump informed.
skipmark.bsky.social
In Providence & many cities protests stayed peaceful in large part because police did not engage in repression.

In LA police repressed a large number of peaceful protesters exercising their first amendment right to protest & it turned violent.

Before blaming protesters please consider the cause
skipmark.bsky.social
In LA today police used flash bangs, rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper balls, and kettled protesters. This happened before the curfew.

This was repression & is illegal.

Protesters threw tear gas canisters and rocks in return and this a prime example of how police turned a peaceful protest violent.
Thousands of 'No Kings’ marchers in L.A. protest immigration raids, President Trump
Protesters across Southern California and the country took to the streets for ‘No Kings’ demonstrations against President Trump and the $45-million celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, which...
www.latimes.com
skipmark.bsky.social
In Providence there was little police presence. It was mostly used to direct traffic. Police were not armored with riot gear.

Police stood away from protests and did not behave aggressively.

These actions reduce violence.

Let peaceful protests be and they usually stay peaceful

What about LA?
Rhode Islanders join nationwide 'No Kings' protest | ABC6
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Thousands made their way to the Rhode Island State House for a “No Kings” rally to protest the Trump Administration. The demonstration was one of nearly 2,000 held around the...
www.abc6.com
skipmark.bsky.social
When police use repression against peaceful protesters it has a few consequences:

It can attract more violent members to the movement

It can lead some people to believe violence is the only thing that will cause change

It can provoke violence as an emotional response or attempt at revenge
scholar.google.com
skipmark.bsky.social
Police beating, or pepper spraying peaceful protesters understandably causes anger.

If your friend or family member is the victim of repression, you may get angry enough to fight back.

Violence here is caused by police and entirely preventable. Some violent protests are caused by police action
skipmark.bsky.social
violent repression of peaceful protesters and journalists includes:

arrests, firing tear gas, firing rubber bullets, beating protesters with batons, kneeling on their neck, or trampling them with horses

When protests are large and people are very angry this often provokes a violent response…
LA protester stomped by police on horseback as clashes escalate: video
The video has gone viral online amid escalating violence during protests against Trump's immigration crackdown.
www.newsweek.com
skipmark.bsky.social
Threats of repression increase the risk of protests turning violent

A heavy police present increases opportunities for confrontations and often leads the public to view protests as violent. Why else would so many police be there?

peaceful protests can end in violence because of these threats
Heavy Police Presence at Protests Shapes Public Perceptions of Violence, New Study Finds - Uprise RI
A new study reveals that police behavior at Black Lives Matter protests significantly influenced how the public perceived these demonstrations. The research suggests that a heavy police presence, even...
upriseri.com
skipmark.bsky.social
Alternatively police can repress or threaten to repress protesters

Threats of repression include:

Trump threatening to “crush protesters”

Bringing in the national guard and marines to police protests

Police showing up in riot gear and acting aggressively

www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/sh...
Trump threatens military parade protesters, says dissenters will face 'very heavy force'
Ahead of his military parade, Donald Trump said those who dared to express their First Amendment rights should expect to face "very heavy force."
www.msnbc.com
skipmark.bsky.social
Policymakers can ignore protesters, hope they get tired and give up.

Or they can listen and talk with protesters.

Some policymakers join protests, make speeches, & show support

RI Senator Jack Reed, State Representative David Morales, & City Councilman John Goncalves joined RI protests today
NoKingsRI: United States Senator Jack Reed (Democrat; Rhode Island)
YouTube video by Steve Ahlquist
youtu.be
skipmark.bsky.social
In Providence there were two protests today.

One by the state capital and one by India Point Park

There were thousands of protesters in the street demanding change related to:

Immigrant rights
ICE
Trump
Taxing billionaires
Trans rights
Healthcare
Democracy
Women’s rights
Inequality
Elon Musk
skipmark.bsky.social
Protest is a core part of accountability in democracy. It is a way for citizens to signal they are unhappy with elected officials & policy.

Giving up your day to protest is costly. You could spend that time with family & friends, or relaxing.

Protesting is a powerful signal of collective anger…