You may have heard about paid protesters in the form of accusation from President Trump, who has claimed, for example, that the demonstrators protesting Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court were “
The very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad. Don’t fall for it! Also, look at all of the professionally made identical signs. Paid for by Soros and others. These are not signs made in the basement from love! #Troublemakers
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2018
.”
While there’s no evidence to substantiate Trump’s claim, the phenomenon of paid protesters is real. As reported by LA Times reporter James Rufus Koren, one Beverly Hills firm called Crowds on Demand provides clients with rallies, flash-mobs and protests. (And the company is currently facing a lawsuit accusing them of extortion.)
We look at this company in Beverly Hills, as well as the larger phenomenon of “astroturfing,” or creating the illusion of grass-roots mobilization, as its used by businesses and political campaigns. How widespread is this phenomenon? How does it usually work, logistically, and to what end? Is the practice unethical?
Guests:
James Rufus Koren, reporter covering business for the LA Times, where his recent article is “Paid protesters? They're real — and a Beverly Hills firm that hires them stands accused of extortion in a lawsuit”; he tweets
Edward Walker, professor of sociology at UCLA; his book on “astroturfing” is “Grassroots for Hire: Public Affairs Consultants in American Democracy” (Cambridge University Press, 2014); he tweets
Garry South, longtime California Democratic political consultant; he tweets
