activism
Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.
A Beginner's Guide To Safely Participating in A Revolution. Top Story - June 2020.
If you're living in the United States, chances are you're not completely unaware of the turmoil that's setting off like a firework into a powder keg right about now. Perhaps watching all this has destroyed an integral part of you that so greedily clung to a fallacy of security in your surroundings.
By Delise Fantome6 years ago in The Swamp
Internal thoughts about Black Lives Matter in 2020
Racial profiling and police brutality has been a widespread issue for a long time. It's been talked about forever this is why I'm curious why it's just now getting the attention that it's supposed to have received decades ago. On the one hand I'm happy that it's finally being addressed but then I have my doubts. I have a feeling that some "protesters" are truly "protesting" for genuine reasons. That's what worries me about the protests. Will there be actual change? Or will this be just a moment to remember that had little significance in the way the government handles its affairs like Tienanmen Square.
By Brian Anonymous6 years ago in The Swamp
Reason First: An Ideal Place
To see the destruction of racism is to see collectivism in its most vicious form dissolved. In the United States, the land of sweet freedom, the desire for the taste of liberty has soured on the black race the most. The ugliness of slavery created a kettle for the flames of injustice to continue to burn. That kettle was overturned during the Civil War but the blaze continues through the years.
By Skyler Saunders6 years ago in The Swamp
We’re Fed Up With Excuses
In 600 words, I want to do my bit for the #blacklivesmatter movement. If you are at a protest with a sign saying how you’re entitled to a haircut and how you want to buy the most expensive dress in the store, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Have a think, is your haircut worth more than somebody’s life? Sometimes I find it hard to believe these protesters anout Covid. Sometimes I believe they were hired actors to try and drown out the real problems. There are three big pandemics that I know are three big pandemics happening right now; Covid19, Climate Change and Ignorance. Ignorance comes in all colours and will be the greatest destroyer of them all. Because not enough has been done on climate change and Covid, it’s already too late. Businesses gone bust. Poverty is everywhere and figures of authority are using this to abuse their power in ways more obvious than before. These monsters had no shame kneeling on somebody’s neck taking pleasure in their suffering. They give tear gas out like cotton candy whilst insisting that they are all doing the mighty work of God. Ignorance is the reason why so many are dying right now. And it’s not just the virus, it’s hatred.
By Chloe Gilholy6 years ago in The Swamp
Why Black Lives Matter isn’t Working
Every time a black man gets shot by a police officer, whether it was warranted or not, civil unrest breaks out in whatever town the shooting occurred. It all began with Trayvon Martin in Ferguson, and continued with the unlawful deaths of Freddie Gray, Jamal Clark, and Michael Brown by police brutality and has most recently sparked nationwide protests for George Floyd, whose neck was broken by a police officer while not resisting arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota a little over a week ago.
By Reilly Austen6 years ago in The Swamp
Enough is enough.
No need for an introduction. You all know why I am writing this right now. I apologise if this article seems a bit of a mess. My brain is overwhelmed and it is hard to gather my thoughts when there are so many different things to be mad about. I am devastated, and I hope sharing this with you will help add some perspective. The most important thing is that we keep talking, writing and posting. We need to end the silence, and never let it come back. Before you continue reading, please understand that these are my own thoughts, and my intentions are not to offend anyone (except if you are racist). I understand that I will never understand. But I am on your side, and I always will be.
By Tone Breistrand6 years ago in The Swamp
#blackouttuesday. Top Story - June 2020.
What is #blackouttuesday and should I join? On June 2nd, a global decision to stop the show of social media and unite and support Black Lives Matter. The reason the hashtag is #blackouttuesday is to not swamp the #blacklivesmatter page and all the progress made to gather useful sources and people together. On Instagram, the majority of public and private pages for me turned to post a black square image representing support of the movement. The action has continued to unite small social groups and larger organisations. The widespread adoption of support and care is incomparable.
By Peter Mason6 years ago in The Swamp
A Virus Stronger than Covid-19
Last week brought a flurry of disturbing news. Not that it was necessarily different from previous weeks. Perhaps only in that it forced us to swallow pills other than our cherished Vitamin C these days. On Monday, May 25th George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. That same day, Christian Cooper was threatened by modern day 'Karen', Amy Cooper, simply because he is a black man. Then on Wednesday, May 27th Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old black Canadian woman, fell to her death from her apartment balcony in Toronto’s High Park neighborhood during a visit by the police. The officers’ involvement in the scene remains unclear. Last week we were reminded for the umpteenth time that racism remains long after the abolishment of slavery, and it is sadly still the norm in many households, towns, cities, and countries.
By Maria Paula Serrano6 years ago in The Swamp
Say His Name. Top Story - June 2020.
High off of our pain that we continue to be belittled as if our lives don’t matter. To march for our lives to be visibly as equal as the lives of those whose skin looks just like yours. There are whites protesting with us peacefully as there are white people tagging buildings and looting, but some are not even doing it in the name of George Floyd. To walk among roads to shout an innocent mans life that was taken, because he was seen as a threat, feeling the need to silence us when we have been silent for too long. When we live in a world that is unjust and bite our tongues as if it is okay, as if it is safer to be quiet but we still can die by your hands even when we are quiet. To hear my brothers and sisters crying out in pain because, us turning our backs and walking away was not enough for you. To see the media focus our story on people that allow you to believe we are vicious animals needing to be tamed. To feel the need to put extra force on black people because the color of our skin alone is threatening to you even as we lie on our backs to be detained. To hear them cry out “ I can’t breathe” and not be showed mercy.
By UNpretentious6 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Lorelei: I Can’t Explain
Dear Lorelei, It's June first, twenty-twenty and the world is in chaos. We've been in quarantine or bored in the house and in the house bored since March thirteenth or at least, that's when my job sent me home. But I truly believe that is for the best right now. You will be four in two short months and trying to explain the world to you has been hard and heartbreaking the entire year. I've been telling you the world is sick but it's more than that and getting so much worse. The day you came to me and asked me if you were super good, if you could go back to school the next day, I cried and I prayed harder than I've prayed in a long time.
By Michelle Schultz6 years ago in The Swamp
