During her visit to Syracuse University Nov. 3, Amy Goodman called Syracuse a “hotbed of activism,” citing the abolitionist movement and contributions to woman’s rights. Goodman is the co-host of Democracy Now!, a radio program that can be heard daily around the globe.
Goodman is a proponent of “media that provides a forum for people to speak to each other.”
“Whatever you feel about what’s happening is up to you. It’s important that you have the information,” she said.
Before her visit to SU, The Eagle spoke with Goodman about the power of local, independent media.
“Local media is so important because it brings out local voices,” Goodman said. “There are so many experts that we all have in our own communities, and it’s such a relief to hear people who know what they are talking about on any particular issue as opposed to what we get on major networks all too often, which is a small circle of pundits who know so little about so much, explaining the world to us and getting it so wrong.”
Goodman considers the media a “huge kitchen table” and says that independent, community minded media has an opportunity to “really come out of a community and give voice to that community.”
“There are so many fresh, creative, important, intelligent voices out there,” she said.
At SU’s Hendrick’s Chapel, Goodman brought the power of small, local voices alive. From Rosa Parks to Seth Olsen, from Civil Rights to Occupy Wall Street, Goodman moved an audience of hundreds with her retelling of moments and movements.
“We cover movements and we cover power. We cover movements because movements hold power,” she said to an applauding audience, and ended her speech with the words, “we will not be silent.”
