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Shifting the Ground Under Our Feet: Protest Spaces in New York, 1960-2006

Sun, August 17, 12:30 to 1:30pm, TBA

Abstract

A growing body of research has suggested a shrinking of the spaces available for protests and other forms of contentious collective action over time. Despite this, few studies have directly examined where protest events occur. To more systematically address where and why protest events occur where they do, we propose two core mechanisms: the structural conduciveness of the local environment and the built environment. Using a geo-referenced sample of 5,725 protest events taking place in New York City between 1960 and 2006, we use a spatial count model to examine the structural factors and built environment characteristics affecting the spatial distribution of protest events. Our results indicate that protest has become more concentrated over time, with the bulk of protest activity occurring in Manhattan. Spaces with more residents aged 15-34 and higher numbers of college students experience higher levels of protest activity, while the percentage of married couples reduces protest prevalence. We also find that protest events have disproportionately occurred on or in close proximity to privatized public spaces, and this trend becomes more pronounced over time. There is no evidence of a similar increase in protest activity on or near public parks. Since privatized public spaces offer lower constitutional protection for First Amendment activities, this change in where events occur has direct implications for social movement mobilization as a whole.

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