Berkeley Talks: What punk subcultures can teach us about resisting hate
A recent panel discussion at UC Berkeley explored how punk subcultures from the 1980s can inform modern resistance to hate. Activists emphasized the importance of community solidarity and confronting extremist ideologies. The conversation highlighted the need for inclusive spaces and alliances across diverse backgrounds to combat polarization in today's society.
- ▪The panel featured the film director Jacob Kornbluth and anti-racist activists Eric Ward and Dion Garcia.
- ▪They discussed the historical context of punk movements as a response to white supremacy and hate groups.
- ▪Ward warned that modern antisemitism has evolved into mainstream discourse, exacerbating societal polarization.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Arts & culture, Film, Politics & society Berkeley Talks: What punk subcultures can teach us about resisting hate A filmmaker and activists explore how the tactics of 1980s West Coast movements offer a vital blueprint for countering modern political polarization. By Strategic Communications Image courtesy of Reboot Studios/7th Art Releasing. May 29, 2026 Follow Berkeley Talks, a Berkeley News podcast that features lectures and conversations at UC Berkeley. See all Berkeley Talks. Across the American West Coast in the 1980s, the burgeoning punk rock and skinhead scenes were much more than just raw music and counterculture fashion — they quickly became contested ground in an ideological battle against white supremacy.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Berkeley News.
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