Well according to Q magazine its about the government blocking protests whilst MLKs widows was addressing a crowd. i take the first verse to mean that the state of things should have improved since the Reagan years and yet America still has a right wing regime. 'the empty gestures' are probably referring to Bush's appearance wth civil rights activists for example; he wants to be seen with them but otherwise has done nothing to try and improve the problems with poverty or racial inequality
Well according to Q magazine its about the government blocking protests whilst MLKs widows was addressing a crowd. i take the first verse to mean that the state of things should have improved since the Reagan years and yet America still has a right wing regime. 'the empty gestures' are probably referring to Bush's appearance wth civil rights activists for example; he wants to be seen with them but otherwise has done nothing to try and improve the problems with poverty or racial inequality