As demonstrators openly debate whether violence is justified to resist the Trump administration, we step back to ask: Have we been here before?
This episode traces a largely forgotten chapter of American history – from the Haymarket Riot to anarchist assassinations, government crackdowns, and the birth of the FBI and the ACLU – to show how cycles of political violence and state power have shaped the American left for more than a century. The story reveals how moments meant to spark revolution often end by transforming the country in ways no one intended.
For this story – in addition to speaking with dozens of protestors, modern day anarchists, community organizers, and historians – we also read these books, which we highly recommend:
The President and the Assassin by Scott Miller
The Republic for Which It Stands by Richard White
American Colossus by H.W. Brands
The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Luigi Galleani: The Most Dangerous Anarchist in America by Antonio Senta and Sean Sayers
And if you’re interested in Scott Miller’s work, he just released a new book called Let My Country Awake: Indian Revolutionaries in America and the Fight to Overthrow the British Raj
CREDITS:
This episode of Reflector was reported by Andy Mills and Ethan Mannello. It was produced by Eli Cohen and Matthew Boll.
Music for this episode was composed by Cobey Bienert and Peter Lalish
Opening music is Gnossiennes No. 1 by Satie
Reflector artwork by Jacob Boll
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