Yesterday I wrote about preparing for a discussion about Mutual Aid at my Quaker meeting this Sunday. Describing the use of queries, and then coming up with an initial series of questions. Now I’m outlining the major topics to discuss. An hour isn’t much time, and the point of queries is to allow people timeContinue reading “Notes to myself continued”
Category Archives: police
Prison Abolition Letter Writing Project
I recently attended my first meeting with the Prison Abolition Letter Writing Project of the Central Iowa Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). I didn’t know who would be there but thought it likely a few of my Mutual Aid friends might. It is a maxim of justice activism that a small core group of peopleContinue reading “Prison Abolition Letter Writing Project”
Wet’suwet’en updates 11/20/2021
Following are updates from the Wet’suwet’en territory that was invaded again yesterday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on behalf of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Militarized RCMP came with assault rifles and dogs. Three accredited journalists were arrested. Militarized RCMP raided Coyote Camp today, arresting 14 people including Sleydo’, Chief Woos’s daughter, and threeContinue reading “Wet’suwet’en updates 11/20/2021”
Indira Sheumaker on Des Moines City Council
My friends at the Great Plains Action Society have a graphic that says “Infiltrate the system. Vote.” A variation comes to mind with the news that Indira Sheumaker was elected to the Des Moines City Council. “Infiltrate the system, run for office.” Indira has been involved in the Black Liberation Movement. Des Moines voters sentContinue reading “Indira Sheumaker on Des Moines City Council”
Orange Shirt Day
I’m saddened by the disconnect between Canada’s years of work on truth and reconciliation related to institutions of forced assimilation of Indigenous children and the ongoing militarized response by the government against the Wet’suwet’en peoples (see the tweets at the end for updates). The investigation related to the remains of Indigenous children on the groundsContinue reading “Orange Shirt Day”
Police Violence at Gidimt’en Checkpoint
The Wet’suwet’en vs. RCMP and Coastal GasLink situation is escalating. #WetsuwetenStrong #NoTrespass #WedzinKwa #CGLofftheYintah #WeAreAllOne #TraditionalGovernance #StandUpFightBack
Abolition and racial capitalism
It has taken a while to adjust to thinking of abolition as the elimination of prisons instead of the historical context of abolition of the institution of enslavement. Not surprisingly the concept of prison abolition comes up in any discussion of capitalism and building a just future. Police are the enforcers of capitalism. I amContinue reading “Abolition and racial capitalism”
State of Intimidation
Yesterday’s article was about ‘Treaties Not Tar Sands’ which summarized the Treaty People Walk for Water. Walkers arrived at the Minnesota Capitol grounds yesterday, ending a 200+ mile walk from the Mississippi headwaters, an effort to draw attention to the state-approved Enbridge Line 3 pipeline. Isn’t it ironic that Enbridge says Line 3 is neededContinue reading “State of Intimidation”
Water protectors and state sanctioned violence
Protecting water from fossil fuel pipeline projects is an example of #LANDBACK. There is the devastation to the earth during extraction of fossil fuels, during pipeline construction, and when the pipelines leak. The tons of carbon dioxide that will be added to our atmosphere when that fuel is burned. The acidification of the oceans asContinue reading “Water protectors and state sanctioned violence”
Space between stories, worlds
I’ve been broken by the latest calamity, the verification of the remains of 215 Native children on the grounds of what was a residential school in British Columbia. More tragic is knowing hundreds of other Indigenous children died, or were killed, in these institutions of forced assimilation in the lands called Canada and the UnitedContinue reading “Space between stories, worlds”
LANDBACK Friends 