Occupied Media: Interview With Boots Riley

In what is our highest-profile interview to date, I'm thrilled to present Occupied Media's interview with Occupy Oakland's Boots Riley. Of all of the interviews I've done, this was the first one where I was nervous (maybe also my very first interview Jeff Madrick). As you'll see in the interview, Boots is charismatic, endlessly interesting and the camera absolutely loves him. More importantly, his vision for social change and for the Occupy movement is both clear and compelling.

Boots is probably best known as a talented musician and lyricist. He is the front man of Oakland's The Coup and, more recently, he has collaborated with guitarist and activist Tom Morello to form The Street Sweeper Social Club.

Among other matters, Boots and I discuss his history as an organizer (which extends to his youth), how he got "sucked in" (his words) to Occupy Oakland, his vision for social change and the Occupy Movement and his message to progressives and/or radicals critical of Occupy. I have no doubt everyone will find Boots Riley as compelling and thought provoking as we do.



Many thanks to video editor Brandon Goff who got this video ready on short notice.


Boots Riley at Occupy Oakland's general strike:

Boots Riley, Street Sweeper Social Club:



Boots Riley, The Coup:



Atari Teenage Riot, featuring Boots Riley: