#black trans justice

[anarkittyy]

BLACK TRANS*IMMIGRANT IN NEED OF OFFERING FOR FEEDING, MEDS AND REHABILITATION 💌

SHARE AND SEND IN OFFERINGS💌💐

UPDATE:

My Gofundme was taken down because I wrote immigration laws fuck me in the ass and is an active cock-blocker ❗️

If it is never restored, please send in dem offerings to @r3tr0cunt—V3nm0 & C4sh4pp❗️

[ivygorgon]

"No Pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." -Marsha P. Johnson

[punkeropercyjackson]

Stephanie Brown:

Is poor

Has an abusive dad who was also a supervillain and that led to her becoming a superhero to spoil his plans but she focused a lot on helping out other less fortunate people in addition to fighting crime

Did badly often in school despite her extreme intellegence

Has anger issues and violent tendencies that manifest in her getting extra brutal in fights and being lowkey mean in general but she almost entierly directs it to people who deserve it

Is emotionally intense with ways of showing friendship that her classmates found offputting and that led to her being isolated from them and having almost no friends

Listens to Metallica

Took Tim Drake on a date to a shitty basement party with a bunch of alt teens

Was willing to kill at 14,including her own dad and only changed that because Bruce Wayne convinced her too

Loved Cassandra Cain romantically in a gritty dark future Batman run,has been Batwoman in two which is a mantle that has been held exclusively by a Kate Kane who is a butch lesbian and has shown multiple hints of being bi in the main timelines

Yelled and screamed at and even assaulted grown ass adults in her teen years for treating her badly with no fear and this stays into her adulthood

Grew up to be a Team Mom by at least her Batgirl days and the targets of her mothering were a biracial boy(Damian Wayne),two darkskin black girls(Nell Little and Tiffany Fox),a japanese girl(Maps Mizoguchi)and MANY other unnamed kids we see her being implied to care for

Presents super femininely but in a way that most guys in-universe find bad instead of attractive and she dosen't care about this because she dosen't want normies

Is a literature nerd,an artist,a gamer,a pianist AND a gymnist

Makes her own superhero gear

Uses optimism for a better world and trauma fueled spite as her motivation for heroism

Got treated like shit by almost everyone as a kid but we see this explicitly in her hero days with how much Bruce puts her down because she wasn't good enough for him

Does activism even outside of hero work

Is canonically pastel punk and accidentally autistic-coded and genuinely a real weirdgirl,not a fucking 'basic white girl' or a queen bee just because she's blonde and blue eyed and it's worth noting she's also been described as flat-chested as a jab but it not working because she loves her looks perfectly and that she's never shown any particular liking for being blonde and seeing as she got her hair from her dad,this is completely valid

She's Stephanie Brown,not Stacie White.Stop.Making.Her.Only.Trait.Her.Gender.Babygirl deserves better

[troythecatfish]

The fact that she sums up being Black as cornrows and Motown offers great insight into why in Harry Potter she gave her only Irish character the name Seamus Finnegan, the most notable Black character Kingsley Shacklebolt and the only East Asian character Cho Chang. Part of me wants to engage with this line of thinking and explain why race and gender are structurally very different despite both being social constructs and then I remember that none of these people actually care about that shit.

[queerpunktomatoes]

Hey, I know talking about revolution and constantly facing the atrocities happening in our world is so so necessary, but it's also really hard, and I see you, and I appreciate you. I love you very much, I acknowledge and respect you as a person, and you're doing great.

[hussyknee]

If anyone has a problem with saying "rest in power" to the white man that self-immolated himself and yelled "Free Palestine" till he burned to death then I want you to block me right the fuck now. You are so morally bankrupt and brainwashed by western neoliberal identity politics that you aren't worth spitting on. There's nobody resting in more power than that kid.

[whereserpentswalk]

It’s fascinating that you think trans people’s names come to them like wands in Harry Potter, you can’t just culturally appropriate bc you’re trans

Ok, this is about comments I made like a year ago on a comedy bit. While I stand by my feelings that the bit was bad and transphobic, my reasons why are a lot diffrent.

When I first wrote the comments my arguments were very thermian. I treated the story the comic was telling as if it was real and objective. Which feels right for most people, because stand up comedy is often presented like conversation, where we do treat stories like that as real things. But that's not how comedy works, comedians don't tell stories the way we do in conversation, they're creatives, the stories they tell are basically fictional, the art form might look like real conversations but it's not.

Comedians want to make you laugh, and sometimes want to send a message or make you think about things in a new way, but they have no reason to want to portray events accurately. They might be basing some things off of real experiences, but that's true for everyone, Tolkien might have chosen to explore his experience in world war one in lord of things, that doesn't mean we have to argue about orcs as if they're real entities when we're talking about if those books were racist.

So let's actually look at the skit, and analyze its outlook on trans people keeping in mind its a story that a cis man is telling, and not actual events: So the summery of the skit is that a white trans man comes out to his to his family, and he picked a name you'd expect a black person to have. He has older black relatives (who are implied to fully accept him, which would make him possibly the only trans person on earth with a fully accepting family) who refuse to use this name, and instead call him "the boy". The sketch ends with the comedian saying he should pick a name like Kevin, because even if he's trans he's not interesting (keep your thoughts on that last one).

Now, ignoring how this would play out in real life, what does this as a peice of fiction say about trans people:

First off: it's creating a plausible but unlikely situation where the woke thing to do is to not respect a trans person's identity. A lot of political humor exists to call ideas into question with hypotheticals, and the idea being questioned here is the idea that trans people's identities deserve respect.

Second off: it's creating a situation where a trans person is entitled and arogent for wanting his identity respected. In the fiction this trans person is that. But it's promoting the idea that they are in real life. Transphobes will show you a lot of spooky examples of trans identities that are unreasonable to respect, but that's not useally ever what it's like in real life. (An otherkin robotgirl isn't going to demand you communicate with her through beeps and boops, she probably just wants you not to laugh at her.)

Third off: it's pitting minorities agaisnt eachother. Conservatives love this, but it's super common when people try to convince progressives to a specific group from their advocacy. It shows us a world where trans rights and poc rights are at odds with eachother, in the real world they aren't, in the real world they're part of one larger struggle and diminishing one is diminishing the other. A lot of people do this with different identities, lgb types do it with gayness, terfs do it with womanhood, class reductionists do it with class, trscum do it between trans people. But it doesn't help one oppressed group when you shit on a diffrent oppressed group in their name. It's white conservatives who love it the most when trans people and poc at pit agaisnt eachother, and it's trans poc who suffer the most.

Fourth off: it's feeds into a very old myth amoung queerphobic progressives, which is the idea that queer people are privileged people looking to pose as the marginalized to get special rights. This is a myth we really have to get over, because its been internalized by a lot of people, and we get these hunts for fake minorities. This is why the "you're not interesting" line sticks out to me. Most trans people don't give themselves appropriative names, but trans people as a group constantly get accused of trying to steal other people's struggles. This is a myth that preys on the fact that white skined white colar queer people are more visible, and its one that is based on treating that disparity in visibility as a fact. We have to cut this out, nobody fakes minority status to get privileges because minorities aren't privileged. It's not true for queer people, even the queer people other queer people hate like bi people and ace people. It's not true about mentally ill and ND people, or converts to non Christian religions, or East Asian people, or anyone who gets accused of this. Stop it dearly.

Fifth off: this entire sketch is based in the idea that families can accept their trans kids, but only conditionally, only if they prove themselves to be doing it for the right reasons, and they please their family's whims. This is a transphobic idea, it's a transphobic idea most neolibs hold. Comedy bits are a lot like story books (no shade at either) where a problem is presented at the beginning, and a solution at the end, that the audience is expected to take for their own problems. And the solution here is a form of transphobia, the idea that trans people aren't owned acceptance, they need to earn it. I've seen a lot of trans people tormented by their families over that idea. And when a person of color goes and stage and wraps that idea in racial justice, it's young trans poc who get hurt by it the most.

Sixth off: not a huge point, but I feel like a cis black man, of all cis people, should be the most likely to understand that calling a trans man a boy is dehumanizing and insulting. I guess this goes to show he's not interested in thinking about how trans people's struggles are like his, he stands alongside a lot of marginalized trans people there.

Finally I kind of don't know how to end this. This is long. Really long. I don't know whose going to read this, because its a lot. Hopefully you got a bit of media literacy from reading all of this. Early on in my tumblr career, when I had just moved from Brooklyn to Manhattan, I had read an essay by @wifelinkmtg about a concept called the ditch. The idea was we often argue about media wrong, talking about things in hyper literal cannon obsessed terms, and that was the ditch, the ditch we dig for ourselves when we ignore things like themes and audience experiences. Hopefully this series of words dug less of a ditch than my words did a year ago. Sorry I don't have the actual sketch on hand. Mabye I'm wrong, but if someone wants to prove me wrong I'd rather they do it outside of a ditch. Mabye the ask wasn't even about that post. Mabye I'm tired. Maybe you should be tired too.

Sorry for the long post. Media literacy matters. Black trans lives matter. Goodbye, enjoy your night well.

[eternalsailormom]

Stick to your rear windshield, your front door, your mailbox, wherever it needs to be seen. I didn't make the original blank template, so if you know who to credit that would be cool. Edit as you like to shout what social justice issue matters to you with the help of the OG SJW magical girl ✨️🌙✨️

[sanyu-thewitch05]

Me watching the LGBT community who almost never rarely gives black women and girls, asexuals, or aromantics genuine respect, pretend we’re all friends and have always treated us right the minute it’s June 1st and want to use black women(mainly darkskinned) and girls as their little poster girl:

[someoneq]

the music of protests is amazing.

I don't mean protest singers, or even the people who sing as one of the speeches. I mean the voice of the crowd.

the way that everyone is singing shouting screaming the same song the same words because we want you to LISTEN

the power of a child's voice calling out the chants

the way that people start clapping along if the chant gets fast enough, keeping time, adding volume.

the lilt in the voices, the change in pitch that just makes a shout into a song

the drums and whistles accompanying the voices

the chaos and beauty of 3 different chants happening at the same time

the way that every protest has a few chants that are the same, but with some of the words changed to fit what the protest is about, like a folk song adapted over and over with a different version everywhere you turn

the unity in the crowd because even though we're here to protest something that shouldn't even be happening, we are a community even if just for a couple of hours

they've done their speeches, they've preached to the choir, but we are the choir and you are going to LISTEN TO US

[anarkittyy]

Emergency aid request from black trans artist ❗️

[xmimikyuusx]

"women/afabs/trans mascs never have to deal with oppression related to their hair/what clothes they wear/how masculine they present" has either gotta be a really really bad psyop of a t/rf trying to make more trans separatism, or someone who is so deeply out of touch with reality it's frightening. I'm sorry but if you won't speak to a trans man about his experience at least start by talking to any person of color instead of making up false dichotomies in your own head. It might benefit you to listen to a women of color about her experience with hair and clothes and being perceived as masculine before you talk.

[punkeropercyjackson]

Your 'slutty-waisted babygirl' is a 23 year old virgin with three ex girlfriends and no friends besides them,his younger brother who he hates' ex-girlfriend and his other own younger brother who's 17.He is not getting 'freaky and problematic' with anyone unless you count autistic bonding and anti-govermental crime

[strawberryamanita]

Hi.

If you are a trans woman, or a transfeminine person, or a TMA individual, please know that I love and respect you so much. The distances you go to make the best possible life for yourself will not ever be in vain. You have made tumblr a lovely place to be on, and justice WILL be brought to you. It will be brought to Rita, it will be brought to everyone who stood up for Rita, and it will be a fireworks display of cars and hammers.

If you are a black person, please know that I respect you deeply and am extremely grateful for your presence on tumblr. You have provided so much influence on the culture of both this website and the rest of the world that grabby-handed trendsetters have milked dry at exponentially faster rates, and it isn't fair that the art and humor and beauty you've brought to the world is so unceremoniously repaid with loud disrespect. The most I can do is apologize on my behalf, profusely, and promise that justice will be brought to you. You have shaped tumblr, and the rest of the Internet, into a lively and emotionally vibrant place that racist Capitalists would be NOTHING without.

Black lives matter. Trans lives matter. And CEOs are fucking pussies.

PS: I'm gonna copy all this text into my phone, so if anyone tries to be cute and delete it, I'll just post it again. Thank youuuuuuu <3

[queerpunktomatoes]

Who wants to make a mutual aid network with me? Who wants to swap chores/errands? Who wants to have support groups where we vent and share resources? Who wants to teach each other practical skills like darning and gardening and carpentry? Who wants to learn from each other about accessible and updated language? Who wants to practice radical self and collective care together? Who wants to read and write zines about liberation? Who wants to educate others and be educated by others? Who wants to set up little free pantries and libraries and gardens in our hometowns? Who wants to share their cultures and expand their worldview? Who wants to create their own community with me, to resist capitalism and promote hope?

[thrashkink-coven]

A core aspect of Luciferianism is educating oneself on how systemic issues contribute to oppression. Here’s an essay I wrote for my local grassroots police abolitionist collective (@WallsDownCollective , @Stopthestackyyc on Instagram) about how the legal system uses psychological warfare to control and oppress its citizens:

The Canadian Legal System Acts as a Form of Psychological Warfare Against Society's Most Vulnerable Undesirables

By Thrashkink_art , Thrashkink_coven

The Canadian legal system mirrors psychological warfare tactics in its treatment of marginalized populations, particularly the unhoused, Indigenous peoples, and racialized communities. Psychological warfare is defined as the strategic use of fear, intimidation, and disinformation to manipulate and control behavior, breaking down the mental defenses of targeted groups. In many ways, the Canadian legal system engages in similar practices, creating a constant state of fear, confusion, and helplessness for society's most vulnerable undesirables, which aligns with the psychological aspects of torture as defined under Canadian law and international frameworks like the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT).

According to Section 269.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada, torture is defined as:

> Any act or omission by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for purposes such as obtaining information or confession, punishing them for an act they or someone else has committed, or intimidating or coercing them.

This definition aligns with the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT), which Canada ratified in 1987. Under UNCAT, torture is described as:

> Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for purposes such as obtaining information, a confession, punishment, intimidation, or for reasons based on discrimination, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or with the consent of a public official.

The mental suffering aspect of torture is significant in Canadian law, given that psychological harm can be as debilitating as physical harm. Psychological torture can include methods such as:

- Restriction from basic necessities or functions like food or sleep

- Threats of violence against the person or their family

- Isolation or solitary confinement

- Humiliation or degradation

- Sensory deprivation or sensory overload

Psychological warfare (PsyOps), while more associated with military operations, involves using tactics deliberately designed to manipulate emotions, motives, and behavior of enemy governments, groups, or populations through fear, intimidation, or misinformation. Psychological warfare aims to demoralize the enemy, break their will to fight or resist, or influence public perception for the purpose of domination.

These tactics can include:

- Disinformation and propaganda campaigns

- Fear-inducing threats or displays of power

- Misinformation to undermine morale

- Intimidation tactics aimed at creating confusion or dissent

By its own definitions, the Canadian government has repeatedly used psychological warfare against Indigenous peoples, other nations, and its own citizens. Here are just a few notable examples:

Forced Assimilation of Indigenous Peoples through Residential Schools and “adoption” programs

The “Indian Residential School System” and “The Sixties Scoop” separated Indigenous children from their families, erasing their languages, cultures, and identities. This systemic abuse aimed to replace Indigenous identity with Euro-Canadian values, leaving a lasting legacy of trauma and cultural loss.

2. The “Indian Act" and Ongoing Control of Indigenous Peoples (1876-Present)

The Indian Act is a longstanding policy used to control nearly every aspect of Indigenous life in Canada. This paternalistic system restricts land, governance, and identity, causing generations of psychological harm. By undermining self-determination and imposing Western legal structures, it fosters dependency and marginalization in Indigenous communities.

3. The Oka Crisis (1990) and Ongoing Environmental and Resource Development Conflicts with Indigenous Communities

The Canadian government and military used psychological tactics to intimidate Mohawk protesters defending sacred land. Media portrayed them as violent and unreasonable, isolating them from public support and fueling fear around Indigenous sovereignty movements.

The Canadian government and corporations still use psychological tactics to portray Indigenous protesters as threats to economic stability. Through legal actions, disinformation, and surveillance, they aim to divide communities and undermine resistance through fear and intimidation.

4. Internment of Japanese Canadians During WWII

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Canadian government interned thousands of Japanese Canadians, seizing their property without consent. This fostered fear, suspicion, and isolation, creating a lasting sense of powerlessness.

5. Cold War Surveillance and Propaganda (1950s-1980s)

Canada spread fear of communist infiltration through propaganda and covert operations. Working with U.S. agencies, the government used media, speeches, and surveillance to manipulate public opinion, target left-wing socialist groups, and foster loyalty to the state.

6. “Anti-Terrorism” Policies Post-9/11

Canada enacted anti-terrorism laws that increased airport surveillance and profiling of Muslim Canadians and immigrants, fostering fear and suspicion. The wrongful arrest and torture of Maher Arar exposed the profound psychological harm these policies inflicted on individuals and entire communities.

7. Project MKULTRA: Canadian Collaboration with CIA (1950s-1960s)

Canada, through the Allan Memorial Institute in Montreal under Dr. Ewen Cameron, participated in MKULTRA, a CIA mind control program (yeah, seriously). Patients were subjected to brutal experiments like sensory deprivation and drug-induced comas, causing lasting psychological trauma and personality disorders.

If the Government has been capable of committing such atrocities in the past, there is no reason to assume they could not repeat these actions in the present. Despite the pretense that such tactics are behind and beneath them, the Canadian Government continues its use of psychological warfare today—and it’s being used against all of us.

Canada's legal framework is rooted in the imperialist systems of English and French colonization. The adoption of British common law and French civil law created a legal environment that prioritized colonial interests over those of Indigenous nations, reinforcing a hierarchy that placed European settlers at the top. This system continues to prioritize the protection of capital over the well-being of the people, law enforcement serves the interests of the privileged few rather than the broader community.

A lack of affordable housing and support services means that individuals have nowhere to turn when they face financial hardship, forcing many into criminalized survival tactics like squatting. The legal system's criminalization of homelessness through bylaws that punish basic survival activities like sleeping in public, loitering, or panhandling mimics psychological warfare tactics by using constant threat and intimidation to control behavior. These laws lead to fines, arrests, and further entanglement within the legal system, making it nearly impossible for individuals ticketed for minor infractions to escape the cycle of homelessness. For someone experiencing homelessness, even a minor fine can be life ruining. Failure to pay these fines can lead to additional legal penalties, including warrants, increased fines, wage garnishments, loss of driving privileges, or even incarceration, contributing to systemic marginalization. Law enforcement is often concentrated in areas with high populations of marginalized individuals, leading to increased surveillance and policing of homeless people and those struggling with addiction.

Canada has historically underfunded mental health services and addiction treatment, leaving many without necessary support. As a result, individuals turn to substances as a coping mechanism. This is systematic entrapment. By arresting individuals for drug use or possession rather than providing treatment, the legal system fails to recognize addiction as a complex health issue that requires compassion, understanding, and comprehensive support rather than punishment.

Encampment raids intentionally prey on homeless individuals, many of whom are dealing with addiction and mental health issues as a psychological manipulation tactic—disrupting the only semblance of community or safety that unhoused people may have, leaving them more isolated, vulnerable, and afraid with nowhere to go. The destruction of shelters and personal belongings during these raids serves not only to enforce legal compliance but also to demoralize individuals and instill trauma, contributing to mental suffering and despair and enforcing the idea that there is no safe place for them to reside. The unpredictability of these raids creates a state of constant fear and sleep deprivation, pushing people to hide in more dangerous locations and stripping them of their autonomy. Rather than offering support, law enforcement criminalizes their circumstances, effectively using fear and violence to maintain control—methods reminiscent of psychological warfare. This increases vulnerability to violence and exploitation, while framing unhoused people as criminals rather than victims of systemic failure. This stigma prevents public empathy and keeps the cycle of isolation and marginalization intact.

For racialized communities, particularly Black and Indigenous people, the legal system becomes a tool of surveillance, over-policing, and wrongful criminalization. The criminalization of drug offenses disproportionately impacts these communities, with predatory laws and wrongful convictions fueling cycles of poverty, unemployment, and legal entanglement.

The legal process itself becomes a form of psychological warfare, especially for individuals unfamiliar with legal jargon or unable to afford proper representation. Individuals with mental health issues often struggle with conditions that make it difficult to manage daily responsibilities, including remembering court dates or understanding legal proceedings. This lack of support can lead to missed appearances, resulting in additional charges or penalties. Unhoused people often lack access to basic resources such as stable housing, transportation, and reliable communication. Without a permanent address or means of transportation, getting to court on time becomes a significant obstacle. Without access to phones or mail, receiving important notifications about court dates is not possible. Entrapment is a large part of the process of psychological warfare.

Even with Legal Aid and payment plans, the imposition of fines and legal penalties can create a financial burden that may take years or even decades to pay off. This leads to a cycle of accumulating debt, where unpaid fines incur additional interest, late fees, or legal costs, compounding financial burden over time. This debt can become a source of significant stress and anxiety, further impacting mental health, stability, and the ability to navigate complex legal battles with sound mind.

Encounters with police can lead to criminal records that hinder future opportunities. Securing stable employment is significantly harder for those with criminal records, forcing them into lower-paying, unstable jobs that make it hard to keep up with financial obligations. The prolonged burden of fines can divert essential resources away from basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare. Individuals find themselves prioritizing debt repayment over their well-being, leading to detrimental effects on their health and stability. With a significant portion of income directed toward paying off fines, it becomes nearly impossible to save for future goals, such as education, home ownership, or starting a business. This stagnation in economic mobility perpetuates cycles of poverty, further entrenching individuals in financial hardship. The effects of prolonged debt from fines extends beyond the individual. Families also bear the burden of financial instability, leading to decreased opportunities for children and perpetuating cycles of disadvantage across generations. Those facing homelessness also run the risk of losing custody of their children, further exasperating mental distress. Vulnerable people may withdraw from personal relationships out of fear that their legal troubles will negatively affect those around them, leading to further isolation. The stress associated with long-term debt and legal obligations contributes to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

If you’re sick, cold, hungry, and scared all the time, do you really have the ability to make informed decisions about complex legal situations?

The prolonged nature of extended court proceedings, fines, and legal entanglements leave vulnerable people in a constant state of anxiety and uncertainty, leading to chronic stress, affecting mental health and destabilizing morale. The psychological toll of enduring long court proceedings accumulates over time. As individuals face repeated delays, continuances, and rescheduled hearings, the emotional weight of their situation can become overwhelming. Legal delays are used as psychological tactics to wear down individuals, making them more likely to accept plea deals or coerced confessions just to escape the process. This method of mental exhaustion mirrors classic psychological torture tactics, where prolonged stress and uncertainty break down an individual's resistance . The pressure to resolve a case quickly, even at the expense of a fair outcome, leads vulnerable people to make decisions they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. While some strong people can attempt to build resilience in the face of these challenges, the overwhelming repeated stress of prolonged court proceedings over multiple years can wear down even the most resilient individuals, leading to burnout and submission.

The worst part of this entire situation is that you don’t have to break the law to find yourself within it. This can happen to you at any time. People who are falsely accused of crimes have no choice but to navigate the complexities of the legal system. The burden of proof rests heavily on the accused to demonstrate their innocence. This process can be lengthy and exhausting, consuming significant time, money, and emotional energy, even if they are ultimately exonerated. Many must engage with law enforcement, endure court appearances, and deal with the repercussions of being labeled a criminal, often without any compensation for the emotional, psychological, and financial toll of their ordeal, leaving individuals struggling with debt, job loss, and PTSD.

This is particularly devastating, for marginalized and racialized communities. Systemic racism within the legal system results in wrongful arrests and disproportionate punishment of Black and Indigenous individuals, targeting those already struggling under oppressive societal structures. Black and Chinese men were disproportionately targeted by Canada's anti-drug policies, which framed them as immoral degenerates and societal threats. 80% of cannabis-related criminal offenses in Canada were for possession. Since legalization, fewer than 400 Canadians have been pardoned for past possession charges (as of 2021), despite an estimated 10,000 eligible for relief. Cannabis laws disproportionately targeted racialized and Indigenous communities and those with lower incomes. This situation effectively subjects them to a form of legal slavery, while the Canadian government now profits from a multi-billion-dollar industry. Systemic racism within the legal system contributes to the over-policing of these communities, increasing the likelihood of wrongful charges.

The appeal process is slow, complex, and broken. Individuals seeking to overturn wrongful convictions must navigate a convoluted system that prioritizes procedural technicalities over justice. Delays can stretch for years, leaving innocent people in limbo while their lives are effectively put on hold. Likewise, those who have been victimized often avoid seeking justice out of fear of having to repeatedly relive their trauma through years long, expensive, legal interactions with their abuser.

If you are victimized by a law enforcement officer, seeking justice through the legal system can be life threatening. Police violence, harassment, and gang stalking (where individuals are constantly monitored and harassed by members of police) create an environment of paranoia, leading to mental health issues like PTSD and depression. People avoid participating in protests or speaking out against police misconduct if they believe that police will respond with violence or heavy-handed charges. When laws are used to target dissenters, people are forced to weigh the risks of speaking up against potential legal repercussions, physical violence, or death by execution via police. People are led to believe that reporting is futile or too dangerous. Experiences with law enforcement and the criminal justice system are often traumatic, vulnerable people who have faced arrest often develop PTSD and other trauma-related conditions and injuries as a direct result. This psychological toll suppresses dissent, making it nearly impossible for grassroots organizations to mobilize and advocate for themselves. This undermines their right to free expression and assembly and dissuades individuals from exercising their rights or making any attempt to challenge the legal system or its abuses, perpetuating a cycle of silence and oppression that leaves vulnerable communities even more isolated.

The Canadian legal system enforces a system of punishment and control that mirrors the psychological tactics used in military operations. This deliberate use of psychological pressure ensures that the most vulnerable remain trapped within the system, unable to escape or challenge the structures that oppress them. It systematically uses fear, confusion, abuse, and intimidation to control vulnerable groups, suppress dissent, and maintain societal hierarchies. The system perpetuates cycles of isolation, poverty, and trauma whilst providing no alternatives or escape. The purpose of this form of psychological warfare is to push vulnerable people into greater compromising situations until the inevitable result incarceration or death, either by police violence, prolonged health complications, or suicide. This system is not only predatory, but inherently dangerous.

Mutual aid and collective support is the only way to effectively reduce our reliance on this predatory system. By the simple act of taking care of eachother, communities can develop self-sufficient, resilient networks that provide essential services without relying on exploitative government mechanisms. When individuals know they can rely on their community for assistance—whether through direct support or shared resources—it cultivates a sense of belonging and collective responsibility. This resilience is crucial in times of crisis. When communities are united, they can challenge oppressive systems more effectively, creating a collective voice that demands accountability and ensures that no one is left behind.

Thank you for reading.