Dear ,

The police wield significant influence in our media landscape, shaping narratives through the true crime genre, police misconduct, and the militarization of local police departments. As we strive for local abolitionist organizing, it’s crucial to confront the pervasive issue of police-generated propaganda, or “Copaganda.”

In our ongoing reflection on the highlights of 2023 — which we’re calling MJ Rewind — we're proud to share one of our major achievements: creating Copaganda Clapback, a modern, accessible toolkit for understanding and stopping copaganda. Because instances of copaganda are hyperlocal, we took Copaganda Clapback on the road to train over 100 organizers, journalists, and media makers nationwide.

Minneapolis Copaganda Clapback Convening in June 2023. Photo credit: Daniela Santiago

Download Copaganda Clapback to discover three key insights shared in our training series:

• Understanding Copaganda: Explore how police use their power to shape narratives, employing loaded or emotionally-charged language, to influence public opinion for their benefit.

• Beyond Words: Recognize that copaganda is not just a narrative; it’s a strategic combination of narrative and action used to achieve political goals.

• Analyzing Power: Learn that debunking copaganda is not about the quest for objectivity; it’s about critically analyzing power dynamics.

If you’d like to bring the Copaganda Clapback training program to your community, reach out to our team at [email protected], and we’ll connect you with our organizers.

In solidarity,

Myaisha Hayes, MJ Campaigns Director
MediaJustice