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2021-01-15
My grandma Pauline Bell made the front page of our local paper again. This time, she was one of the first in the area to receive the vaccine. We were all so happy for her and what this might mean for all of us who miss her.
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2020-08-09
Dear 2021,
A promise, once spread out the hope of an uncertain rebirth of life. A light reflected the forgotten words of a mocking society through the shattered glass. We wanted the upcoming year to be full of joy, happiness and as what used to be always, full of social interactions.
Upon 2020, nonplussed, we decided to step ahead, having no expectations on how threatening this step would be.
At the beginning it seemed like a single country situation, we didn’t care much. Friends still hug each others, terrorism and riots kept on going and so did pollution.
A day followed the other, and suddenly a shut down came by.
Universe made its call and it was time for it to balance things out. I guess that we, this generation created a massive hustle, impacting the world positively and also negatively.
During this strange and silent period, the world is brought to think and reflect.
In a population that used to buy, consume and work on a daily base, where Sundays or Saturdays were ways to get a small breath in a suffocating life, a virus came and all of us were suddenly forced to stay at home.
An era full of misdeeds and confusion, little human being suddenly did become the possible killer of an elder.
Days felt hard, long and the promised hidden light at the end of tunnel was less and less viewable. But a question belongs among us, why is staying at home so fervent, when a century ago our ancestors were forced to kill and fight for the promise of a future peace?
Birds were hiding to die, sign of misfortune. Death marks the end of a life, but never the ending of a grief. A new flag was raised and it was a blue mask. A new weapon , hand sanitizer.
Eyes brought us back to a time where the information wasn’t easily obtainable, old times of an enjoyable sorrow.
In these deep moment, death or illness was accepted, shunned but certainly not forgotten. The concerned families were brought to burry their heads underwater and scream pain silently.
A connected generation begged for freedom, to let their hands go and restart living, start back what made us this new generation, the 21st century people.
In a way this burning request can be seen as a demand of life, normality or even just a spirit call. Spirit has always made itself more living than simple materialism, so have we learned? Were we ready to grow up, and face the upcoming burdens? Is life going to come back as normal?
Dear 2021, be kind to us, to the world. Sinner and Saints, killers and savers, blacks and whites, Homos and heteros, all of us threw a stone, set a margin in this so called life. Coming out from the isolation period, contact were made back, but different. Activities and work took back place, but different. The social system fired back, but different.
The difference is not that big, but nowadays hygiene Normas become the main focus of health services; but this slight change is very impactable. I’d like to quote a blogger on this platform named Kristijan,17 from North Macedonia that sparkled the fact :
"three things I don't leave my home without:
my phone, my wallet and a face mask."
back to normal but different.
Dear 2021, let this year be brighter and let the human kind learn.
we are all humans, so keep us united.
From 2020 youth- Elyés Ayadi
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2021-01-16
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 98 to help ensure that all of our children are able to successfully continue their education virtually through the Internet. Unfortunately, although this requirement on our educators came with significant funding, the California State Legislature did not couple it with any requirements for internet service providers to actually provide service.
We have seen this problem manifest acutely in the many school districts around the state that are scrambling to keep students connected. California’s surge in COVID-19 cases means remote education will continue to be the safest way to continue learning for many students in the weeks and months ahead. But the need for connectivity will not end after the pandemic.
If we truly want to level the playing field for students in California — to ensure all students have access to the technology and tools that not only help them access their learning remotely but will be needed for success the rest of their lives — we cannot rest until the internet flows like electricity.
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2020-03-30
My family ended up adopting a puppy right at the start of quarantine in March. This led to two things, first a source of joy and distraction while stuck at home, and two, a puppy with a LOT of separation anxiety. I am a person who struggles greatly with mental health and I can say with much confidence that quarantine would have been extremely difficult had it not been for my dog. My dog is actually now in the process of being trained to be a therapy dog for schools and I am happy to have been the first person she could help. I think there is something to be aid however about getting a dog during a pandemic. They get really confused now when their humans are no longer home very moment of the day, and I suppose I feel thee same way to some extent.
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2021-04-04
This article by the World Health Organization (WHO) talks about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s livelihoods. The article says “tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty.” As a human living in a two story house that is food secure, this may just seem like a number. But extreme poverty is a human rights violation, and it is already clear the pandemic’s ripples are affecting people in serious ways. Further in the article, it starts to talk about the effects on the food and trade industry, which includes issues with closed borders, farmers being able to sell their food, and even people accessing healthy foods.
The article ends by acknowledging the opportunity we have to rebuild a better world, and I find comfort in this thought.
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2021-04-04
I myself did not see a doctor or make any appointments until August of 2020, roughly 5 months into the pandemic. I attended my well woman’s exam, something I get yearly. The article I have added here was written by a doctor. He talks about in the beginning of the pandemic, it was critical to only see the patients that needed to be seen, as there was still so much unknown. He goes on to talk about how the risks from postponing exams outweigh the risk of catching COVID-19. This is a big part of my research, the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. "A woman is more likely to die from an advanced-stage breast cancer than she is from COVID-19," said Therese Bevers, a medical director at a MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The doctor who wrote the article said he consulted with other doctors to create a list of appointments you should stop putting off. These are: cancer screenings, checkups for “new red-flag symptoms,” follow ups for chronic diseases, mental health management, and sexual health management. It is clear that these issues are important for human health upkeep, and they shouldn’t be avoided due to COVID-19 anymore. We have yet to see just how many health issues have been ignored during this pandemic.
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2021-02-27
Los Angeles Country prioritized teachers, grocery workers, restaurant staff, and other essential workers in their vaccine rollout, making them eligible the beginning of March. Given the high level of exposure these positions involve, this is necessary to protect essential workers and limit the spread of Covid-19. Also prioritized are transportation workers, homeless individuals and those in prisons, as they are often in close contact with groups of people. Not all states are following this prioritization of essential workers despite the CDC recommendations, focusing instead on factors such as age to guide their rollout. By protecting teachers, service industry workers, and others in contact with large numbers of people every day, we can slow the spread of Covid-19.
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2021-03-11
This article is about the one-year anniversary of Covid-19 and how healthcare providers are celebrating and honoring the occasion. Healthcare workers and EMS providers have spent the past year on the front-lines of the Covid response. They have sacrificed much and have seen unprecedented horrors during this pandemic. This article features several social media posts from various healthcare agencies. In all of these posts, they acknowledge the patients and providers that we have lost in the past year, but also celebrate the efforts of the providers in trying to help the public during this pandemic.
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2021-03-31
This is a tweet of a statement sent out from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, rejecting the proposed Alberta K-6 curriculum which has become vastly unpopular for its blatant racist and white supremacist undertones. For example, one component of the curriculum would have students learning the slogan of the KKK; to be applied with learning “why some people would support” such a slogan. As I type this, this sounds unreal, or some kind of sick joke but I assure you this is real. Interestingly, when the initial flak was received for the nature of this curriculum, the Alberta government was quick to claim that there was First Nations oversight on the development of this document – this statement from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations says otherwise. The curriculum itself has a very Anglo-centric programming, focusing on the history of Anglo-Saxons, the British Empire and the role of the Dominion of Canada in the empire. On top of this, there is little to no reference to residential schools; rather it has been removed in early grades, which goes against the call to education by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The Confederacy of Treaty Six Nations is writing in direct response to this, stating that a proper Alberta curriculum should be able to express the diverse nature of Alberta. It should account for the horrors of colonialism, a word which the current curriculum doesn’t mention once.
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2021-03-12
This article is about the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) research project. They are trying to understand the long-term effects of the Covid-19 vaccine. The population that they are using is first-responders, who were among the first group to receive the vaccine in most states. The project plans to conduct periodic surveys over a 2 year period. Since this vaccine was produced in record time, and especially the lack of available data to the long term effects, it is an important project. The project also surveys the first responders regarding their mental health during the pandemic. It includes fire fighters, EMS providers, and law enforcement.
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2021-04-03
“As a frontline essential worker the COVID-19 journey has brought on a mix of experiences, emotions and impacts. The rollout of vaccines has been a welcome scenario as it brings some optimism to an otherwise bleak two years. If nothing else it signals a move towards turning the tide in the pandemic and enabling us to chart a course to recovery and reopening returning some sense of normalcy to our lives. Having been vaccinated certainly gives me more confidence in being able to fulfill my duties without constantly worrying about the possibility of infection from others and worrying about bringing the virus home. It by no means makes me think I don’t have to still be vigilant in employing proper personal protective measures, but does allow me to move forward.”
My dad currently is working as a CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) officer in Calgary, I recently asked him to write down his experience of being vaccinated and ultimately how he feels about the whole ordeal. I’ve chosen this article for the archive as it represents the reality of being vaccinated. That while you may no longer be susceptible to the virus, you can still carry and transmit it. Meaning while a small amount of anxiety certainly disappeared, the threat of infection, and the practices used to mitigate it did not disappear with the rollout of the vaccine in Canada.
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2020-11-11
The story from Reuters talks about how the country of Hungary has people who want to ban Gay adoption as COVID-19 is raging around the world. It is important to note that there are many people who are losing loved ones and who will need a home in the future. The proposed ban would not allow people who are both domestic and international to adopt from this country that currently has a COVID-19 rate that is going up. The Prime Minister is proposing that there be an Amendment stating that children be raised with Christian traditional gender roles. Hungary currently does not allow for same-sex marriage.
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2020-06-20
This article by John Hopkins Medicine is talking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the LGBTQ+ community. The doctor points out that community members are more likely to be smokers and so they are higher proportionately to have complications with COVID-19. The doctor also points out that gender-affirming surgery in the Transgender community has been delayed or is not being done at all which has impacted that community greatly. It is important that the doctor gives the advice to not isolate ourselves in the LGBTQ+ community throughout the pandemic.
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2021-03-28
Hi!
I'm writing in to tell my story as a college student who contracted COVID19. I currently attend Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, however, I've been participating in online classes since March of 2020. I tested positive for COVID19 on March 28th, 2021. The story begins on March 21st, 2021: My brother, James, contracted the virus at his place of work (a local bar, he was a host). He had a fever and light cough (he was sent home from work that same day); the next day, March 22nd, he tested positive. I had very minimal exposure with him. When I found out he was exhibiting symptoms, I was on a small road trip with two of my friends, Katherine and Kylei. We heard the news and immediately returned to Kylei's apartment to quarantine together until we received results. When my brother tested positive, we hunkered down in the apartment together, we ordered groceries togo from Walmart, set up our own little areas in her apartment. We also decided to set up COVID test appointments for each of us individually. On March 23rd, I began to exhibit symptoms myself, with a mild fever, headache, and body aches. I got a rapid covid test that morning, and within the hour the results came back negative. After I tested negative, I was unsure about the accuracy of the rapid, so I scheduled/got a lab test that same day. The next few days, I tried to attend my online classes like per usual, with the fever and other symptoms coming and going. The 26th of March came around and I was brought to the ER with a fever of 105.3 and vomiting. This was a turning point; at the hospital they tested me for COVID, which came back positive Sunday, the 28th. After I received my diagnosis, I still felt exceptionally terrible, so my mother had us call an ambulance for me to the ER. They, again, weren't able to do much. I returned to my home after this visit, as I wanted to be in my own bed for the duration of COVID. I had bad symptoms: vomiting, constant nausea and chills, drenched with sweat, trouble catching my breath, and all around feeling like trash and unable to keep anything down. My mom was scared for me; I became almost unresponsive at one point. My mom took me back to the ER (Wednesday, March 31), demanding they give me an IV for hydration; they did so, along with pain relief and anti nausea. This was another turning point; the next day I was able to sit up by myself, to go to the bathroom, and to take a shower. I slept for hours, healing. Friday, April 2nd was the first day I was able to stand up and keep some food down, without it coming back up. Finally, today, April 4th, 2021 (Easter Sunday), I'm able to focus back on some schoolwork and eat a full meal with my family. Both of my parents contracted the virus, and they are still recovering, like myself.
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2021
The story speaks about how many people in the LGBTQ community are at risk while the COVID-19 crisis is occurring. The study shows that people within the community have less access to healthcare, a greater risk of health complications due to COVID-19, and do not have paid leave.
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2021-02-09
This article is about a new sprayer disinfection system used in the back of ambulances that had potentially covid positive patients in them. The video features Neptune Township New Jersey's ambulance personnel explaining the system and its benefits. The MEDS system uses electrostatic energy to charge the disinfection spray so that it will cover more surfaces effectively. This is ultimately better and safer for our EMS crews and their patients to combat against the Covid-19 virus. Disinfection is an important process in proper medical care, and this system is effective and quick which allows our EMS personnel to do their job better and safer.
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2021-03-30
This shares a tragic story of a COVID-19 victim leaving behind multiple dependents, as well as a report of the disproportionate risk for Latinos in California. They lead with a personable story of a mother and guardian in order to put names and faces, featuring Maribel Alvarado, to the statistics that follow. It goes into the risks many Latinos go through in their daily lives; their jobs and communities.
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2021-03-29
This explains which and how many school districts in California have reopened. Many have remained closed for a year or more. As the article's title suggests, "A majority of school districts are now open. But not everyone wants to return," they share why they're seeing a slow intake of students. They also reported that the Long Beach school district had their teachers vaccinated earlier, therefore was able to open their schools earlier than the rest of the state.
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2021-03-29
This updates the general public of New York that vaccinations are available for those aged 30 or older. In addition, the eligibility for 16 or older will come on April 6. However, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo emphasized that they wanted to make sure that they had enough supply before setting a fixed timeline for availabilities.
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2021-03-01
This provides a general impression of California's parents' thoughts towards reopening in-person schools. Surveys selected from the country-wide populace as well as California district-wide populations were considered. They don't only provide demographics. They also provide some context and reasons for why the participants felt a certain way. One of those responses was "Yes (only if the vaccine is readily available)", another being "No (prefer distance learning)" by an overwhelming amount. It helps inform us of the public opinion while vaccines were still in its early rollout stages.
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2021-04-04
This BBC news story shares the story of three British COVID-19 survivors. All three were hospitalized and recount how weak and close to death they felt. One survivor states it has taken her six months to fully recover, while another continues to struggle with breathing and walking due to damage to his lungs. All three are grateful to have survived.
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03/31/2021
This oral history is with 36 year old George Martinez, who identifies as male and American Mexican. He tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2021 and shared the physical and emotional impact of having COVID-19.
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2021-03-29
This oral history is with 35 year old Nancy Martinez, who identifies as female and Mexican. She tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2021 and shared the physical and emotional impact of having COVID-19.
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2020-03-12
December 2019, I moved to my cousin apartment in the city of New York I had just given birth to my son in September of 2019 and had my daughter who was eleven at the time. I was suppose to stay two weeks upon waiting for an apartment, however it didn't work out the way I had hope and I stayed at my cousin home three months prior to the covid -19 pandemic. My cousin and her mother decided since it's the pandemic and I can't go anywhere dur to the stay at home orders I had no other choice but to stay and pay rent. It wasn't easy because I felt that I wasn't in my own element and I felt like I was a teenager again. My own family talked to me like I was a kid and I was told what to do and what not to do. I had to sleep on my cousin pull out chair for several months during the pandemic. I questioned myself why did I came here. I consistently kept looking for an apartment, which It had turn into a year living with my cousin. Apartment hunting became very frustrating because of the demands which requires getting an apartment and no renters wanted anyone who was receiving unemployment. it's the year 2021 and I still live at my cousin apartment which is frustrating because I need my own. I ask everyone I know to keep an eye and ear open for me to get an apartment. My friend call me one day in March of 2021 and said he found an apartment for me and if I'm still interested? I am currently moving out of my cousin apartment, Thank God.
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2021-04-04
In 2020, a lot has changed in our personal life as well as ways in which we conduct communication with each other. My biggest experience was having to do college level classes completely online the last few semesters which was a big learning curve. This reflects on how the pandemic impacted every age group and how it forced us all to adapt to new times. This was done by using technology which at this point still seems to be on the cutting edge of evolution. My laptop now more than ever has been an object that reminds me of this new world all of us are living in because it allows me to engage in the outside world on a 14" digital screen. I feel many would agree with this statement whether it was used for school or for work, in 2020 without a laptop you were doomed.
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2021-04-02
George Floyd trial
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2020-07-15
This article is explaining how a team of animal researchers are going to track the effects of COVID on wildlife. They will be using trackers on certain species such as mammals, birds, and marine mammals as well. They are investigating to see how lack of human traffic will affect them, in a positive way. This goes for water mammals as well. This article is important because it shows the different forms of wildlife that can be affected by COVID from land to water animals.
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2020-06-22
This article is research based and is about a group of scientists who are researching how animals are responding to reduced levels of human interaction because of COVID19. This article explains the many social media posts that have been made about the abnormal animal human interactions that have been occurring and the animals that have been showing up. This research article goes into detail about certain struggles animals are having such as increased poaching and lack of food for wildlife. This article gives a point of view from both sides of the spectrum as far as a positive and negative impact that wildlife has had because of covid.
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2021-04-03
Working through a pandemic as a healthcare worker was terrifying. At the very beginning there were a lot of unknowns, and I felt lost, and alone. As I would go through my shifts as a CNA I had to be strong for my patients. I realized I would be going home to my family, but they were not. I was their "visitor" for the day. Patients could not just go outside for fresh air or wonder the halls to stretch their legs, they were confined to their room. Working in the hospital during this pandemic gave me a different perspective. While there were really hard days, there were also really great days. One of the best days was seeing a COVID recovered patient walk for the first time in months. It was times like this that made me realize that you are not granted tomorrow, and to enjoy each day to the fullest. I am so grateful for all the nurses, doctors, environmental services, secretaries, physical therapists, occupational therapists, case managers, and social workers who all came together to help our patients get through a challenging time. The song "Better Days" gives people hope that change and "better days" are near. The music video shows clips of people from all over the world and the impact this pandemic has on them.
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2021-03-02
Despite grocery store workers being essential frontline workers and a part of the CDC's vaccination recommendations, they were not given access to the vaccine in Ohio until it was open to everyone over the age of 16. While Governor DeWine insisted that age was the most important factor in determining vaccination eligibility, he neglected to realize the amount of exposure these essential workers were encountering daily. Also left out of earlier access to vaccines were public transportation workers, food and travel workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, and manufacturing workers. The vaccine is available to any Ohio resident over the age of 16 as of March 29th, but in more populated areas there have been issues with registration and long waits for the first dose. Including more occupations in the rollout of vaccines may not have prevented these issues from happening, but it could have ensured that those enduring more consistent exposure would have an easier time getting the vaccine, as they would not be battling the rest of the population for an appointment.
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2021-04-01
Last year 2020, during the first confinement I wanted to embody black women in old paintings and photographies.
And here is a sample of what it was. It had something oh so uplifting for myself to be able to do that.
I think I am now ready for the 2021 confinement edition.
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#Betweenartandquarantine
#Tussenkunstenquarantaine
#Gettychallenge @Tussenkunstenquarantaine
#Covidclassics
#Artenquarantaine
#Gettymuseumchallenge
#17centuryfashion #17thcentury #BlackVictorian #Africanhistory #Vintagefashion #blm #afroeuropeanhistory
#Periodfashion #Histoire
#laviedesnoirscompte #Periodwoman #Sothebys #oldEurope #Vintagefashion #Celebrateblack #afroparisian #Blackparisian #Blackgirlmagic #afroeuropean #secretsdhistoire
. #Gettymuseumchallenge #blackwomenofthepast #Edwardian
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2021-03-31
One of the reasons Indigenous people aged 55+ were included in the initial COVID vaccine protocols is that is our average life expectancy. Compare this to ages 75+ for non-Indigenous people. After 154 years of Western medicine, we live half of what we did at the time of Contact.
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2021-03-29
Photographer Malcolm Dole has been documenting street art during the pandemic.
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2021-03-29
Malcolm Dole is a Seattle photographer who is capturing photographs of street art during the pandemic.
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2020-10-07
When a 2nd grade teacher at Parkland Elementary in Texas lost internet and left of her virtual classroom, her students realized the conversation was being recorded and won’t stop talking about toast.
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2021-02-19
A professor is being placed on paid administrative leave after a viral video showed the instructor berating a student in front of the Zoom class.
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2021-03-26
“There are many communities across this country that are dealing with ever-present gun violence that is just part of their daily experience. It doesn’t get the support, the spotlight, the national attention. People don’t understand that it’s continuous and it’s on the rise.” – Mark Barden, our co-founder and father of Daniel
“If we think about how many people are dying every single day, and we think about how would that be in our family or our community, perhaps that would motivate us to take ongoing action rather than spikes of action when something happens. Even if it’s not happening in your community, it’s happening in the community of America.” – Nicole Hockley, our co-founder and mother of Dylan
Swipe left. Read more in @washingtonpost.
Click the link in our bio to take action to #EndGunViolence.
#ProtectOurKids #PassUBC #PassBGC #SHPAction #SandyHookPromise
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2021
Demonstration demanding Biden administration stop DAPL and Pipeline number 3.
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2021-04-02
Christopher Martin, 19, who reported George Floyd’s counterfeit $20 bill to his manager, said he feels like a “contributing factor” in his death.
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2021-04-02
#StopLine3 #NoDAPL #Solidarity with direct Actions in front of White House demanding @joebiden #Shutdowndapl and #line3 pipelines. Action was organized by @xrsfbay at #SanFrancisco Federal Building #armycorpsofengineers #buildbackfossilfree
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2021-03-30
Our relatives from @crgrassrootscollective stopped by the Line 3 White Earth Camp this weekend on their way to bring the fossil fuel snake back to DC and demand @joebiden #BuildBackFossilFree and #shutdowndapl and #stopline3. We stand united in saving our land, sky and water— will you join us on April 1st?
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2021-03-29
Jena Scurry, a 911 dispatcher with the city of Minneapolis, testified in court Monday that she called police after watching footage of George Floyd's arrest because "something wasn't right." Scurry took the stand in the first day of testimony in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer charged in Floyd's death. Scurry saw Chauvin on camera kneeling on Floyd's neck during the fatal May 2020 encounter. Watch part of her testimony here and read more: https://cbsn.ws/3rvfM6F
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2021-04-01
Today joined by allies and relatives we took the streets of DC to demand @joebiden #ShutDownDAPL and #StopLine3. We delivered 100,000 petitions, had 900 calls to the White House and counted coup on the fossil fuel snake in Biden’s front yard. This youth led action featured a run, die-in, march and a 300 ft snake representing the pipelines that have been forced upon our communities without our consent.
More soon.
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2021-04-02
Who was George Floyd? If you live in the Twin Cities, myself (and countless others) have spent the last year thinking of him daily. It almost feels like he's watching us. As the Chauvin trial aims to paint Floyd negatively, I feel it's important to honor him and share what I've learned about his life.
A short IG caption doesn't do enough to fully give Floyd's story justice, but these are pieces of his life I've been intrigued by and want to learn more about. If I'm missing or incorrect on something, please drop it in the comments.
George Floyd was born in North Carolina and grew up in Houston, Texas' Third Ward, a predominantly Black neighborhood in the city. His mother, a single parent, moved the family to the Third Ward when he was 2, so she could find work.
At 6 feet, 6 inches, Floyd developed as a star tight end for Jack Yates High School and played in the 1992 state championship game in the Houston Astrodome. With dreams of turning pro, he attended South Florida State College on a partial scholarship.
After two years there, Floyd spent a year at Texas A&M University before returning to Houston and his mother’s apartment to find jobs in construction and security. While there, he ended up bouncing between jobs before serving nearly five years in prison.
Floyd was also a musician, he occasionally was invited to rap with DJ Screw, a producer whose music is recognized as cementing Houston as a stronghold for hip-hop. He performed as a rapper using the stage name Big Floyd in a hip hop group, Screwed Up Click.
As a father looking to provide for his five children and find a fresh start, Floyd moved to Minneapolis. One of his first jobs was working as a security guard at the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center -- the city’s largest homeless shelter. Floyd kept his connection to Houston, regularly returning to the Third Ward before his death.
✊🏽❤️
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2021-04-01
After three days of witness testimony, it is clear those who observed George Floyd's death have been traumatized by what they saw.
During her testimony, Minneapolis Firefighter Genevieve Hansen shared, "There was a man being killed. I would have been able to provide medical attention to the best of my abilities. And this human was denied that right."
Hansen was off-duty at the time but called 911 after witnessing George Floyd's arrest. She can be heard in a bystander video calling for police to check Floyd's pulse and provide him medical attention. In her 911 call, she told the operator that she "literally watched police officers not take a pulse and not do anything to save a man."
Photos taken at the All Eyez On Justice Rally, March 28, 2021.
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2021
Last night, educator and activist, Kaia Hirt, chained herself to a barbed-wired gate outside the Hennepin County Courthouse demanding action from Minnesota legislators on police violence. Her demands include requesting Minn. Governor Walz meet with those who have lost family members to policing and a vote to be held on police reform bills currently going through committee.
As of this morning, she is still chained to the fence and requesting allies show solidarity by holding space with her.
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2021-03-29
Today, opening statements begin in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for third-degree murder, second-degree unintentional murder, and second-degree manslaughter charges.
Even with visceral and jarring visuals of George Floyd's final moments, a Chauvin conviction shouldn't be presumed. On March 23, 2020, Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man, was killed after being physically restrained by Rochester, New York, police officers. A grand jury declined to bring any charges against the officers involved after reviewing police body cam footage. On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed on video by a New York City police officer who put him in a prohibited chokehold while arresting him. After a grand jury considered the case for two months, they decided not to indict the officer involved.
Last night, Rev. Al Sharpton, Attorney Benjamin Crump, and the family of George Floyd held a vigil to honor George Floyd before the trial began.
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2021-04-02
Mark Ruffalo interviews Sec. Deb Haaland about climate change, Pipeline 3, Biden administration, pandemic, tribal affairs, and Deb Haaland's rise in politics.
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2021-04-02
Malcolm Dole captures street art in Seattle, Washington. This piece shows a masked face perhaps layered over other art or perhaps an intentional effect.
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2021-04-01
Today on #TransDayOfVisibility, we are in solidarity with all trans and nonbinary folks, whether they choose to be visible or not. Visibility does not equal protection and safety, and it does not guarantee basic rights.
Currently there are at least 44 anti-trans bills being introduced by lawmakers in the US, a record number that primarily targets children and prohibits them from accessing medical care and limits their ability to participate in school sports.
With visibility comes the need to be even louder. No one is free until we are all free, and with the disproportional rate our Black, Brown, and Indigenous trans siblings experience violence, both physically and judicially, we must commit to ending the systems that allow the systemic barriers and hatred to endure.
For more resources, actionable steps and donations, follow:
@raquel_willis
@chasestrangio
@glits_inc
@mpjinstitute
@transjusticefp
@intransitive.ar
@tko_alabama
@mattxiv
@jmaseiii
#transdayofvisibility #tdov2021
