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personally i feel like a political system that relies on tens of thousands of people spending hours upon hours to beg those in power not to pass the "Behead All Orphans Act" is uh. kind of a failure.

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I think transfeminism has enough of a wide-ranging effect on how you see the world that sometimes people get a bit complacent and make it their whole thing and don't try to have any more political lenses to apply. idk, I've seen enough relatively comfortable white trans women who won't call themselves communists (or worse call themselves communists but don't even gesture towards organising), don't support Palestine and are pretty quiet on things like migrants' rights.

It's tricky because simultaneously transfeminism does give you a lot of insights into how the world works, specifically insights that are highly stigmatised by the rest of society, and that can really give you the feeling that you've Figured It All Out, but you can't actually liberate anyone just constructing the whole world in your head. It's also easy when you DO have other lenses to make them invisible to yourself by viewing the sites of solidarity as places where your transfeminist lens just naturally explains all the rest of politics. It doesn't though. There are plenty of white trans girls who are actively quite racist despite understanding gender and patriarchy quite well because they have fallen for racist ideas that only white people are progressive enough to support trans rights.

Anyway if you're white and transfem at least start by understanding we have maybe more in common with black cis women than with white cis women, and then go read some black feminism, because you'll see people who've figured out a lot of the same stuff as us and more from their othered gender position in patriarchy AND who haven't started moving like they invented sliced bread because of it

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When we see a Palestinian close to his goal, let's help him together to get there as soon as possible. We see their dignity being lost on Tumblr, and we see the opposite. We must help them and send them our best wishes.

Enough of the betrayal. Enough of the neglect. Let's return to being like before When the Rafah crossing is opened, these people will be evacuated, including my friend Ibrahim.

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Hello, my name is Hani, I am 26 years old, from Gaza.

I studied social work at university, but due to the lack of job opportunities, I had to work as a taxi driver to meet my needs and those of my family. I never imagined that my life would change in such a tragic way, but everything collapsed when the war on Gaza began in October of the previous year.

Our house was in a remote area near the border, one of the most targeted areas by the occupiers. In an instant, we found ourselves facing the worst nightmare anyone could experience: war, bombing, the destruction of homes, and the massacres committed by the occupiers against our people, including children, the elderly, and women. Death threatened us at every moment, and we were forced to make the hardest decisions.

Since the war began, we decided to leave everything behind, starting with our home, which was completely destroyed, to our previous lives. We began our first displacement journey in an attempt to escape death. We left our area in the first hour of the invasion, and the roads were nearly empty of cars, as moving vehicles were targeted by the occupiers. Our situation was catastrophic, as the roads were filled with destruction, and fuel was unavailable, so we had to walk on foot.

We, my family and I, set off on a long and arduous journey, not knowing when it would end. With us were my parents: my father Yasser (55 years old), and my mother Manal (50 years old), who suffers from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, my sister Ameena (29 years old), who carries her children Nasser (7 years old), Bara'a (5 years old), and Adam (3 years old). I was also with my brother Ibrahim (15 years old), who was in desperate need of protection and guidance.

The occupiers had imposed harsh conditions on the paths we took to reach the south, where we were prohibited from carrying anything with us and subjected to thorough searches. The first checkpoint we passed was 6,000 meters away from where we were, and after the checkpoints, there was no transportation available, even animals were prohibited. Only a horse-drawn cart was the only means of transportation we could find.

After a long and exhausting journey on foot, we endured the hardships: the children were exhausted, and my elderly parents and sick mother were in desperate need of help. We finally reached the checkpoint, where there were hundreds of people waiting their turn to enter the area that the occupiers claimed was safe. It took us 8 hours before our turn came, and after being checked and verified, we were allowed to pass. We then walked another 3 kilometers before we reached a bus that transported us to Deir al-Balah, where we stayed in a school converted into a shelter for displaced people.

The school was crowded with displaced people, more than 10,000 people crammed into the space. There was no room in the classrooms, so we had to live in the schoolyard under the walls of the fence. We were provided with a simple tent made of cloth and wood thanks to help from some volunteers, but this didn't last long. After a month, we were told we would have to leave the place.

We moved again, this time to the Rafah area, where some organizations provided us with tents to stay in, but over time, we had to leave that area as well. We moved to the Zawayda area in the center, where my family still lives in a school that was under construction. Here we are now, living in tragic conditions, sharing classrooms with five other families. We are 7 members in the same space, facing the daily challenges of life inside this school.

But the story doesn’t end here, as every day is a new battle. We face difficulty in obtaining food, water, and healthcare, especially with my sick mother and my father who needs care. The situation has become more complicated as time passes, and the needs are urgent. With every difficulty we face, the hope that you might help us rebuild our lives after this tragedy is what keeps our hearts intact.

We are in urgent need of your support. Your donations, no matter how small, will significantly improve our lives. They will enable us to provide food, healthcare, shelter, and help us rebuild our lives after this catastrophe. With every donation, you are giving hope to a family living in darkness, and you become a part of our story of resilience and survival.

I appeal to you to stand with us in this struggle. Please click on the link to support our campaign. Together, we can change our reality and bring hope to our children and families.

My campaign is legitimate and fully documented. You can verify this through the following links:

🔷️Gazavetters my number is 5 on the list.

🔶️90 ghost

🔷️el-shab-hussein

Thank you for your concern.

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URGENT!! FUNDS NEEDED TODAY TO SAVE A BABY!!

@a00h3 are my friends. They live in Gaza. Their baby has cancer; we urgently need money to pay for his life-saving treatment. Please donate to help the baby live!!

Their account is vetted by @90-ghost , @gazavetters (#576) , and @bilal-salah0. Gofundme takes too long, you can dm @a00h3 if you want to confirm that paypal goes to them. Please help.

When you donate, please don't mention Raneen or Ahmed Hammad in the paypal message. PayPal is racially profiling and it is retaining all money that accompanies those names. PLEASE HELP MY FRIENDS SURVIVE THIS INJUSTICE!!

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Hello! Would you like to annoy an asshole Republican U.S. House Representative? Because in addition to not allowing one of my relatives to unsubscribe from his little propaganda newsletters, he doesn't know how to lock down a survey:

Go ahead and vote! You don't need to submit an email address :)

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every major structural social problem right now is basically "we don't have enough skilled workers on the ground" and the reason is always "well we've been intentionally underpaying and understaffng them for decades to increase corporate profits" and somehow the news always just mentions the "shortage" without digging into the cause

air travel is a mess? shortage of air traffic controllers - for some mysterious reason

logistics a mess? shortage of truck drivers - for some mysterious reason

public transit can't meet demand? shortage of bus drivers - for some mysterious reason

We even mysteriously have shortages of doctors, nurses, teachers... FOR SOME MYSTERIOUS REASON

FUCKING PAY PEOPLE AND HIRE ENOUGH STAFF

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AUNT HAMMER’S PROTEST TIPS (an incomplete list, feel free to amend)

Sooooo you want to go out and do something a little more long-lasting than the Women’s March, huh?

Well, welcome, friend! We’re glad to have you along. Here’s hoping you join us for many years to come.

Here are some tips:

-Leave the phone at home.

-Keep your mask ON (Covid makes this more socially acceptable, but here you’re doing it to stop facial recognition software)

-LEAVE THE PHONE AT HOME

-If you MUST keep your phone, turn fingerprint recognition off. Passcode only. Do not liveblog. Do not take videos or photos. Airplane mode on. Encrypt (Settings > Security> Advanced settings > Encryption & credentials > Encrypt phone). guided access on (Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access). Log out of all social media. Source here.

-This is a point I aim mostly at myself and myself alone, but: don’t showboat after the event. It’s not a social media clout thing. It’s an action. You can get clout and adoration later.

-Wearing all black and a ski mask marks you out as one of the ‘dangerous radicals.’ Do not dress like that unless you’re comfortable running from cops and/or getting arrested. Cops will target you. It’s like you’re wearing a ‘kick me’ sign, but the sign prevents other people from getting kicked/focuses the kicker’s attentions on someone who can take it. If you’re going to bloc up, keep a change of clothes in a bag. It doesn’t need to be a complete lewk, just swap a few conspicuous pieces. Find others in bloc. You’ll recognize them because they’re sexy.

-Write the NLG’s number in sharpie on your arm.

-Try not to go alone. Find a pal.

-Keep about $10 on you in cash, for emergencies.

-Don’t carry anything illegal. Read up on weapon laws in your state.

-DON’T TALK TO COPS

-Talk to media if you like, it won’t make a difference. Optics is for people who have power.

-Do not put your faith in politicians. Do not treat them with kindness or respect. At best, treat them with wary watchfulness and contempt.

-Eat like an astronaut. Lots of carbs and protein, no fiber.

-Bring water and comfy shoes.

-DON’T TALK TO COPS

-DON’T TALK TO COPS

If any readers have any other suggestions, please sound off.

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A Demonstrator’s Guide to Understanding Riot Munitions

https://cwc.im/RiotMunitions

An extensive guide to less-lethal police weaponry, including a wide range of impact munitions and chemical weapons, and how to defend against them and treat their effects.

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1923 At the Debutante’s Ball. Invitation to a waltz!

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i rly rly hate how this site chased so much of its poc userbase away. it feels like i'm hanging out in an ethnostate sometimes

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1990 -  When developers and the town of Oka wanted to start building a golf course on stolen land that belonged to them and that contained a sacred grove and a burial ground, the Mohawk tribe around Kanehsatake, Quebec, rose up and occupied the area. 

Ultimately the stand-off with the police and the Canadian army lasted 78 days before the warriors gave up the occupation. The building of the golf course was cancelled. 

From this great documentary: [Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance]

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Los Angeles, California

7/2/25

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okay so I finished Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861) by Harriet Jacobs, and here are my takeaways, because it was AMAZING and I can't believe all US students aren't required to read it in school:

shows how slavery actually worked in nuanced ways i'd never thought much about

example: Jacobs's grandmother would work making goods like crackers and preserves after she was done with her work day (so imagine boiling jars at like 3 a.m.) so that she could sell them in the local market

through this her grandmother actually earned enough money, over many years, to buy herself and earn her freedom

BUT her "mistress" needed to borrow money from her. :)))) Yeah. Seriously. And never paid her back, and there was obviously no legal recourse for your "owner" stealing your life's savings, so all those years of laboring to buy her freedom were just ****ing wasted. like.

But also! Her grandmother met a lot of white women by selling them her homemade goods, and she cultivated so much good will in the community that she was able to essentially peer pressure the family that "owned" her into freeing her when she was elderly (because otherwise her so-called owners' white neighbors would have judged them for being total assholes, which they were)

She was free and lived in her own home, but she had to watch her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren all continue to be enslaved. She tried to buy her family but their "owners" wouldn't allow it.

Enslaved people celebrated Christmas. they feasted, and men went around caroling as a way to ask white people in the community for money.

But Christmas made enslaved people incredibly anxious because New Years was a common time for them to be sold, so mothers giving their children homemade dolls on Christmas might, in just a few days' time, be separated from their children forever

over and over again, families were deliberately ripped apart in just the one community that Harriet Jacobs lived in. so many parents kept from their children. just insane to think of that happening everywhere across the slave states for almost 200 years

Harriet Jacobs was kept from marrying a free Black man she loved because her "owner" wouldn't let her

Jacobs also shows numerous ways slavery made white people powerless

for example: a white politician had some kind of relationship with her outside of marriage, obviously very questionably consensual (she didn't hate him but couldn't have safely said no), and she had 2 children by him--but he wasn't her "master," so her "master" was allowed to legally "own" his children, even though he was an influential and wealthy man and tried for years to buy his children's freedom

she also gives examples of white men raping Black women and, when the Black women gave birth to children who resembled their "masters," the wives of those "masters" would be devastated--like, their husbands were (from their POV) cheating on them, committing violent sexual acts in their own house, and the wives couldn't do anything about it (except take out their anger on the enslaved women who were already rape victims)

just to emphasize: rape was LEGALLY INCENTIVIZED BY US LAW LESS THAN 200 YEARS AGO. It was a legal decision that made children slaves like their mothers were, meaning that a slaveowner who was a serial rapist would "own" more "property" and be better off financially than a man who would not commit rape.

also so many examples of white people promising to free the enslaved but then dying too soon, or marrying a spouse who wouldn't allow it, or going bankrupt and deciding to sell the enslaved person as a last resort instead

A lot of white people who seemed to feel that they would make morally better decisions if not for the fact that they were suffering financially and needed the enslaved to give them some kind of net worth; reminds me of people who buy Shein and other slave-made products because they just "can"t" afford fairly traded stuff

but also there were white people who helped Harriet Jacobs, including a ship captain whose brother was a slavetrader, but he himself felt slavery was wrong, so he agreed to sail Harriet to a free state; later, her white employer did everything she could to help Harriet when Harriet was being hunted by her "owner"

^so clearly the excuse that "people were just racist back then" doesn't hold any water; there were plenty of folks who found it just as insane and wrongminded as we do now

Harriet Jacobs making it to the "free" north and being surprised that she wasn't legally entitled to sit first-class on the train. Again: segregation wasn't this natural thing that seemed normal to people in the 1800s. it was weird and fucked up and it felt weird and fucked up!

Also how valued literacy skills were for the enslaved! Just one example: Harriet Jacobs at one point needed to trick the "slaveowner" who was hunting her into thinking she was in New York, and she used an NYC newspaper to research the names of streets and avenues so that she could send him a letter from a fake New York address

I don't wanna give away the book, because even though it's an autobiography, it has a strangely thrilling plot. But these were some of the points that made a big impression on me.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl also inspired the first novel written by a Black American woman, Frances Harper, who penned Iola Leroy. And Iola Leroy, in turn, helped inspire books by writers like Nella Larsen and Zora Neale Hurston. Harriet Jacob is also credited in Colson Whitehead's acknowledgments page for informing the plot of The Underground Railroad. so this book is a pivotal work in the US literary canon and, again, it's weird that we don't all read it as a matter of course.

(also P.S. it's free on project gutenberg and i personally read it [also free] on the app Serial Reader)