Which Lives Matter? - Factors Shaping Public Attention to Protest of Officer Involved

This Element explores the factors that lead the public to pay attention to and mobilize in support of victims of officer-involved killings. The author argues that race is the most important factor shaping both attention and mobilization. Black victims are statistically significantly more likely to trend on Google and get protested than victims of other races. Deaths of low threat Black victims are more likely to affect political interest, voter turnout, and protest rates, and only among young Black observers. This Element attributes this pattern to the fact that mobilization around officer-involved killings is responding to anti-Black discrimination, rather than general sentiments about police violence. It also finds that the local density of social justice organizations increases political mobilization.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. Grievances and mobilization against officer-involved killings; 3. A closer look at mobilization in the aftermath of officer-involved killings; 4. The role of organizations; 5. Summary and implications; References.

Summary

This Element attributes this pattern to the fact that mobilization around officer-involved killings is shaped by anti-Black discrimination, rather than general sentiments about police violence. It also finds that the local density of social justice organizations increases political mobilization.

Foreword

This Element examines the factors that affect public attention and protest of officer involved killings by analyzing new statistical data.

Product details

• Authors: Traci Burch, Traci (Northwestern University and the Amer Burch, Burch Traci
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.10.2023
• EAN: 9781108987295
• ISBN: 978-1-108-98729-5
• No. of pages: 75
• Series: Elements in Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Education > Social education, social work; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / General, Social discrimination & inequality, Violence in society, Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies, Crime & criminology, Violence and abuse in society, Violent crimes, Racism and racial discrimination / Anti-racism