JANUARY 12, 2015

THE MAGAZINE

From the Editors Desk Introducing Event of the Year

Wake Up To Politics Person of the Year was a project I thought of when reading

Times 2013 Person of the Year Magazine, and I thoughtI should do this too.

And so I put together a list of candidates, and while editors at Time choose their

Person of the Year, I allowed WUTP subscribers to choose ours. Malala Yousafzai

won, and I wrote a Magazine about her.

You chose pretty well last year (Yousafzai went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize a

few months later; my writing in the Magazine most likely being the Nobel

Committees inspiration to choose her), so I decided to do the same thing in 2014.

But as I sat down to put the candidates together, I realized there wasnt many of

them. I realized in 2014 we moved away from people framing politics. Instead,

moments, movements, and events did. I think 2014 saw the demise of the Great

Man theory of history popularized by Thomas Carlyle, who once wrote, The

history of the world is but the biography of great men.

While I do not consider myself an expert in the history of the world, I know quite a

lot about American politics in 2014, after publishing hundreds of newsletters in the

year. But I noticed few great men (or women). Instead, Ive noticed a what Im

calling the Hashtagification of American politics. When looking back on the

news of 2014, it is not people that come to mind. Rather it is #Ferguson, #Ebola,

#ISIS, #Ukraine, #Elections, and so on.

And you, dear reader, have read a lot of those newslettersso you too know a lot

about American politics in 2014, so I made a list of key events in 2014 and you

voted. Through emails and surveys completed, many of you voted over double

the amount of people who did so in 2013, including many subscribers and students

at my school (where I made an announcement encouraging my peers to vote for

Event of the Year).

After tabulating many responses and reading a number of well-written reasonings,

it is my honor to announce that the readership of Wake Up To Politics has chosen

as its 2014 Event of the Yearthe Ferguson Protests. Happy Reading

Year of the Wake Up Your Wake Up Call in 2014

2014 was an amazing year, for me personally and for Wake Up To Politics.

Courtesy of MailChimp, the email program I use, here are some statistics on Your

Wake Up Call in 2014:

In this past year, 173 Wake Ups were sent, and opened 51, 595 times in total. 235

new subscribers were added to the Wake Up To Politics mailing list in 2014, a

49.4% increase that adds up to 700+ subscribers. The greatest hit of 2014 was

the 2013 Person of the Year Magazine, which was sent on January 10 of this year.

The month most subscribers were added in was September, and the home of most

subscribers as St. Louis, followed by New York City.

2014 was a huge year for me in other ways I started a new school, went on

MSNBC, introduced the Missouri Secretary of State at an event, attended the

Lincoln Form, and so much more.

One more fun fact: the hour favored by most subscribers to open the Wake Ups is

8 AM, meaning most of you truly do wake up to politics.

Thank you for reading Wake Up To Politics in 2014 it has been so much fun to

write...looking forward to 2015!

The Choice Why YOU Chose the Ferguson Protests

This year, the choice may have been for Event of the Year, and not Person of the

Year, but one thing didnt change: the choice was still made by readers. Heres

why YOU chose the Ferguson protests as the event with the biggest impact on

2014:

Hopefully another "Rosa Parks" moment in our ever constant need for greater understanding between races.

While we've had others (Trayvon, etc.), none have sparked the continuing large protests. Marred by rioters

(who I see as a separate group than the protesters), the protests appear to be increasing rather than drying

up. This is no longer solely about Michael Brown, but rather about social injustice and discrimination that

are prevalent in our country.

The significance of Ferguson should be felt for years to come; it spread well beyond Missouri to our whole

country and is a prolonged civil rights demonstration. It should lead to changes in police procedures, but

also other civil rights issues like voter suppression.

I think Ferguson protests and the movement it has triggered, is going to be one of the defining moments of

a second wave in the struggle for equality and civil rights.

I believe this event is a wake up call for the US. As an African American we have been aware of profiling,

being stopped or pulled over. The sad deaths of Michael brought a spotlight on this issue, and opened

everyone's eyes when Eric, the very young 12 year old shot with a toy gun in the park, took place. It also

had us re-examine Trayvon and others in the past. Americans can no longer ignore this issue and act like

"This has nothing to do with me or my family." As a female I have to think this could easily have been my

father, brother, son, Uncle, cousin. As an educator I have to say, "This could easily have been a former

student." As a United States citizen I must shout out, "This is happening to my fellow citizen." This event

cannot be swept away once 2014 is over. We will discuss this and protest this well into 2015 and beyond. I

feel as if Ferguson is going to cause major changes in our laws.

I hope it's the next step in equality between races, ending the current style of racial discrimination, unequal

schooling, job opportunity & job pay, & racial profiling. It gives me hope for change, grassroots rather than

legislative.

The riots in Ferguson were a very big event both locally and nationwide. The killing of Michael Brown

sparked deep feelings from young and old and from all races. The protests have been a catalyst for more

protests, violence, dialogue, discussion, marches... Though the killing took place in August, the impact is

still being felt locally and nationwide.

Hands Up, Dont Shoot From Moment to Movement to Event of the year

Michael Brown may not have ever thrust his hands up in the air. And he may have

never uttered the words dont shoot. But that doesnt matter.

At about noon on August 9, 2014, Brown and a friend, Dorian Johnson, were

walking down Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Missouri, just eight days after

graduating from Normandy High School. At 18 years old, Brown was 6 feet and 4

inches tall, weighing 292 pounds, and unarmed. And he was black.

Brown and Johnson were walking down the street, about 10 minutes after being

recorded stealing a box of cigars at Ferguson Market. Officer Darrell Wilson, 28

years old and the same height as Brown, but different race, in his sixth year as a

police officer and second with the Ferguson Police Department, was in the area on

a different case when he asked on the radio if his help was required searching for

the Ferguson Market stealing suspects.

Soon, Wilson was on Canfield Drive, riding up to Brown and Johnson. The events

of the next three minutes remain unclear, but by 12:03 PM, Michael Brown was

lying in the street, killed by at least six gun shots Darren Wilson had fired. Within

seven minutes, a paramedic had arrived, declaring Browns body had injuries

incompatible with life. The body would lay there for 4 for hours.

Within hours, Michael Browns death had inspired protests that raged in Ferguson

and across the world, and like all protests, a movement soon sprung out of it. And

like all movements, symbols and gestures soon became attached to the Ferguson

protests. In the way linking hands became prevalent in the Civil Rights movement,

and the raised fist became synonymous with the anti-Apartheid movement,

protestors chanting Hands Up, Dont Shoot and thrusting their hands in the air

became the message of the Ferguson protests.

Looking Ahead What to Expect in Politics for 2015

32-year-old protestor Taylor Gruenloh said the question of where Browns hands

were when he was shot is irrelevant. Even if you don't find that it's true, it's a

valid rallying cry, he told the Associated Press. It's just a metaphor."

Hands Up, Dont Shoot From Moment to Movement to Event of the year

While making the gesture on the floor of the U.S. House, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-

NY) also spoke about Hands Up, Dont Shoot as a rallying cry, Its a rallying

cry of people all across America who are fed up with police violence. In

community, after community, after community, fed up with police violence in

Ferguson, in Brooklyn, in Cleveland, in Oakland, in cities and counties and rural

communities all across America.

By November 24, 2014, when a grand jury announced its decision not to indict

Wilson, Hands Up, Dont Shoot was a symbol recognized internationally. Less

than two weeks later, a grand jury in New York also opted not to indict a police

officer recorded in video choking Eric Garner, another unarmed black man killed

by a cop. Hands Up had grown into a movement bigger than Michael Brown,

bigger than Ferguson. The symbol, at first representing one shooting in a small

Missouri town, now demonstrated racism as a whole. Unfair treatment of African-

Americans, by police officers and in many other areas, had arrived at the forefront

of conversation. It now longer mattered if Michael Browns hands had been up,

because the gesture wasnt just about him anymore.

Michael Brown may not have thrust his hands in the air. But four members of

Congress have. The St. Louis Rams have. Broadways actors have. And so have

thousands of protestors.

The Ferguson protests are a perfect example of 2014 as a year of events, and not of

people. A year where movements transcended names. A Wake Up To Politics

subscriber captured the movement when explaining their decision to vote for the

Ferguson protests as Event of the Year not only looked to the past, but also to the

future: The significance of Ferguson should be felt for years to come; it spread

well beyond Missouri to our whole country and is a prolonged civil rights

demonstration. It should lead to changes in police procedures[and] other civil

rights issues.

Where 2014 was a Year of Protests, perhaps 2015 will be a Year of Change.

Looking Ahead What to Expect in Politics for 2015

2015 is going to be an exciting year in politics. Lets look at the top areas of

excitement in the year ahead:

Republicans in Congress

Theres a new majority in town. Republicans are already taking advantage of their

control of both houses of Congress, advancing a bill to approve the controversial

Keystone XL pipeline. Expect fireworks on Keystone and other energy issues, as

well as Obamacare now that they have majorities of both sides of Capitol Hill,

will the GOP repeal the Presidents signature legislation? Also, funding for the

Department of Homeland Security ends on February 28, which will be a prime

opportunity for Republicans to try to block President Obamas executive action on

immigration.

Obama

President Obamas term is winding down, and will spend his last two years in

office the leader of Washingtons minority party. In 2015, Obama is expected to

continue the string of executive actions that were rolled out at the end of 2014,

with many of them set to be announced at the State of the Union address on

January 20, on issues ranging from education to housing to cybersecurity. With

Republicans in Congress advancing bills on Keystone, Obamacare, and more, 2015

will also likely see a lot more vetoes than we have seen from Obama (he has only

issued two in the past six years).

Supreme Court

The highest court in the land will hear many high-profile cases in the year ahead.

Another challenge to Obamacare will be heard by the Nine on March 4, multiple

same-sex marriage cases are expected in 2015, and more cases on religious

freedom.

2016 Central

2015 has barely began, but the pundits are already looking ahead to 2016. In the

months ahead, a number of presidential candidates will announce their plans. Jeb

Bush, Mitt Romney, and Chris Christie on the Republican scene have gotten the

most attention in the past weeks, as they all make moves toward candidices. The

Democratic field has been mostly silent, as the potential candidates largely wait for

Looking Ahead What to Expect in Politics for 2015

Hillary Clinton, who could announce as early as this month and definitely in the

next sixth months.

Ill be covering all of these stories and more in 2015, so keep on waking up to

politics in the year ahead!

Photo Credits Whats In the Cards for Politics in 2015

Cover: Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters

Page 4 (Hands Up, Dont Shoot collage):

Top left: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Top right: Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports

Center left: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Center right: C-SPAN

Bottom left: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Bottom right: Joe Raedle/Getty Images