By Joseph Orosco The protests in Ferguson, Missouri over the past month have captured the nation’s attention, including many commentaries on the Anarres blog. The on going tension draws attention to various issues: continued racial inequality and white supremacy in the United States, and increasing militarization of civilian police forces across the country.
By Javier Cervantes A friend sent me this report that made me think a little. So I had to respond. The claim that there is a double standard as it applies to the little outrage over the killing of an unarmed White male shot by a Black officer serves as a classic example of trying to distract from…
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By Chuck Morse “I’m sure there’s some sensible policy solutions we should push to address this pressing issue.” -the voice of liberalism
By Mark Naison Our political leaders and the business elites they serve are hoping the passionate discourse about police practices, race and class inspired by the death of Mike Brown and the events that followed will disappear and fade into the background the way Occupy Wall Street did when its encampments were evicted. They are probably right.
By Chris Crass The murder of Michael Brown and the People’s Movement in Ferguson have again shown that we need visionary, strategic, and dynamic white anti-racist organizers, leaders and activists to move large numbers of white people away from the status-quo worldview and agenda of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy and towards collective liberation.
By Alex S. Morgan This morning, Pagan activist and author Thorn Coyle wrote the following on Facebook: White people: when a group asks you to come speak on social and racial justice issues and organizing, please ask if you can also put them in touch with an African American, or Latina, or… and be willing to give up your slot if need be….
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By Mark Naison One of the reasons I am haunted by the death of Michael Brown is that I have worked with young people in highly charged settings and have seen what they can accomplish when people who command their respect guide them, challenge them, inspire them and love them. This is a story that will help you understand where…
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By Thao N. Lam “I want to do more for my clients, but I can’t. Then I can’t look at my phone and see the news about Ferguson. I feel awful,” said a social service colleague, blinking back tears of frustration and anger.
By Alex S. Morgan Friendly reminder: gender presentation and identity are not the same thing. Too often we either just guess, or only ask someone’s pronouns if they’re visibly androgynous or gender-non-conforming. (I can count on one hand the number of people who asked me mine before I cut my hair, though I was out as genderqueer for years.)
By Bill Ritchey When Occupy had a camp in Portland, I was there, and everyday and night I watched the police and the TV news fabricate some outlandish story.
By Phoenix Calida If you talk to me about “you can’t be going down to ferguson, you have kids you need to raise”I Will Cuss Out So Bad you will cry.