#equal justice initiative
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petervintonjr Ā· 1 month ago
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"'The day a white man hits me is the day I die," my great-great-grandfather stated early in life. And he did." --Doria Dee Johnson, great-great granddaughter of Anthony Crawford
(This one's gonna go hard, folks.)
On October 21, 1916 in Abbeville, South Carolina, a white mob surrounded, then beat, stabbed, shot, and finally hanged Anthony P. Crawford; a successful Black entrepreneur and farmer. His "crime?" Having the gall to dispute with a white storeowner over the price of cottonseed. Crawford did not fit the stereotype of the poor and easily-intimidated Negro; quite the contrary --he was easily one of the wealthiest and most influential members of the community. Besides raising 13 children with his wife Tebby, among his other accomplishments were his standing in the local Chapel AME church and the ownership of 427 acres of land --easily 10% of all land owned by Negroes in the county-- and was solvent enough to be able to loan money to other farmers between harvests... even the white ones. Not a bad upcoming for a man who'd been born enslaved in 1865.
Word of this crime spread further and to greater public effect, than (sadly) many other lynchings like it --Anthony's status as a wealthy and successful member of the community ensured that even then-governor Richard Manning demanded answers from the local sheriff. There was considerable press interest and the NAACP even sent attorney Roy Nash to investigate, but ultimately to no avail. While there was a preliminary trial hearing, a grand jury failed to indict any of the mob, and most of the Crawford family --and in fact most Black people-- fled Abbeville after blatant intimidation by many of the town's white population. (Among this mass exodus were Lewis Alfred Ellison, father of future author Ralph Waldo Ellison --see Lesson #10 in this series.) Scattered, the family would eventually rediscover one another generations later (mostly by way of the aforementioned AME church), and in 2016 Crawford's descendants solemnly dedicated a historical marker in remembrance of their brutally murdered patriarch.
(Yeah, anyone still hazy on the origins of The Great Migration?)
Anyway --my summary isn't properly honoring the man and his family; please take some time to read a much more detailed and personal account by Doria Dee Johnson, Anthony's great-great-granddaughter.
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randomberlinchick Ā· 1 year ago
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The Wilmington massacre of 1898: a shocking episode of racist violence | North Carolina | The Guardian
Estimates of the number of Black people killed range from dozens to hundreds. The stateā€™s 2006 study described the coup in detail and blamed all levels of government for not intervening; it said Black merchants and workers ā€œsuffered losses after 1898 in terms of job status, income, and access to capitalā€. Black businesses moved or closed. Some 2,100 Black residents fled. Black literacy rates plunged.
I grew up in Wilmington and all I knew about this was from eavesdropping on conversations between older folks when I was a kid...
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cheerfullycatholic Ā· 10 months ago
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What to know
Kenny Smithā€™s jury sentenced him to life without parole
He has already endured the entire torturous process of an execution that Alabama botched in 2022
Alabama now plans to experiment on him with nitrogen suffocation, a method that has never been used in an execution anywhere in the world
Alabama has the worst record of any state for botched executions
A botched nitrogen gas execution could cause brain damage, stroke, a persistent vegetative state, or he could choke to death on his own vomit
A mishap with odorless, colorless nitrogen could kill prison staff within minutes
After its first torturous execution of Kenny Smith by lethal injection failed in 2022, Alabama now plans to use a never-before-used methodā€”nitrogen gasā€”to put Mr. Smith to death on January 25.
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creator-of-calm-queer-chaos Ā· 1 month ago
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Bryan Stevenson has written an amazing book that covers, in detail, issues with the justice system. It is called Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, and I would highly recommend it. He is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), and they do so much amazing work. I would absolutely recommend checking out their website, too. Stevenson had an amazing TEDTalk that I cried over, which you can watch here. 10/10 recommend going down a Bryan Stevenson rabbithole :)
The point of getting rid of the death penalty isnā€™t that there are some innocent people on it. The point of prison abolition isnā€™t that there are some innocent people in prison.
The point is that the state shouldnā€™t have the power to kill people. The point is that the prison system commits systemic abuses of human rights, doesnā€™t reduce crime, is deeply racist, and doesnā€™t take the desires of the victims into account. To argue about whether one individual on death row or with a life sentence is innocent or guilty is just a distraction from the central issues, which is that these institutions are unjust and should not exist
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forthosebefore Ā· 8 months ago
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Bryan Stevenson discusses his new endeavor Freedom Monument Sculpture Park
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Equal Justice Initiative founder and CEO Bryan Stevenson speaks with NBC Newsā€™ Lester Holt about the new sculpture park created on the shores where the slave trade once flourished in Montgomery, Alabama. A new monument honors the lives of 10 million Black people who were enslaved in America. The park joins the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.
Visit www.attawellsummer.com/forthosebefore to learn more about Black history.
Need a freelance graphic designer or illustrator? Send me an email.
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humorwithatwist Ā· 11 months ago
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Just Justice (God Is...)
This post originated as a message at Arise Church. What comes to mind when you hear the word, justice? Probably a lot of things, because right now, justice is a hot button issue. You can hardly get on social media, watch the news, read something, or make a TikTok without being confronted by conversations about justice in one form or another. I canā€™t even watch some of my favorite movies withoutā€¦
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umbralwaves Ā· 1 year ago
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On this day in 1960, hundreds of white people armed with baseball bats and ax handles attacked Black activists for staging a peaceful sit-in at a "whites only" restaurant in Jacksonville, FL. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/JdRl1YC9n3
ā€” Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) August 27, 2023
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randomberlinchick Ā· 2 years ago
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I'm usually annoyed by Blaze posts, but this shit brought tears to my eyes. So the Southern Poverty Law Center and Equal Justice Initiative can thank @shipperwolf1 for the donations I've just made in their name. Thank you for so much for posting.
Trashing Their Rights: Alabama town uses ā€˜debtorsā€™ prisonā€™ for people in arrears on garbage bills
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The SPLC and EJI collaborate to take on Alabama's debtor prison system
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shaktikrupa Ā· 9 months ago
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Shakti Krupa | Trustees | Guiding Compassionate Initiatives
The compassionate leadership of ShaktiKrupa's Trustees, guiding transformative initiatives for social empowerment. Explore the vision of our trustees.
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snaileer Ā· 1 year ago
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Wrong Number? Wrong Answer.
It was the usual deal that the Justice League Dark dealt withā€¦ way too often honestly.
Initially, it had been just Wonder Woman, investigating a cult that had attempted to abduct her earlier in the month.
Diana had defeated them. Easily. Of course. But upon questioning them, their reasoning had concerned her.
They had attacked her for a ritual to open the ā€˜Sarcophagus of Eternal Sleepā€™, a ritual which required ā€˜a blade blackened by the ichor of time.ā€™
Once again, she was being targeted for her parentage. Did it ever end?
Of course, she questioned them further, what other ingredients did they need, what artifacts they would be hurting others to create.
A ring carved from the bone of an unfreed slave.
A crown made of lava untouched by human hands.
And sand directly from the pouch of Dream of the Endless themself.
It was an eclectic collection of items.
And yet, they had told her that only the blade remained to be created.
Again, it was concerning.
So Diana left the fools to be taken care of by menā€™s authorities, and focused on tracking down just what they were doing and if necessary, how to stop it.
After depleting her academic resources, and her connections within with nothing to show, Diana finally called in her friend through the league, Zatanna.
Zatanna had been frazzled by it, showing up in her living room before theyā€™d even finished the call.
Together they tracked down the cult to Gothamā€¦ which was also a problem.
It was the reason why Diana was running through the caves beneath the crime ridden city with one of her closest friends in menā€™s world and a magician by her side.
All too quickly, they were surrounded by fanatics, each carrying sharp blades solely focused on her.
Working in sync with Batman and Zatanna throwing spells above them, Diana believed it would be a well-won battle.
Until a golden light flashed across the cave, blinding her for a precious second as she felt a sharp sting cut across her arm.
When her vision cleared, her arm was dripping blood and John Constantine stood in front of her.
ā€œSorry about that, love,ā€ Constantine smirks, ā€œNo harm done?ā€
Dianaā€™s teeth grind together as she turns away from him, fighting her way through more followers. The one who had injured her is nowhere to be seen, and the blade with them.
Even once the rest of the swarm is beaten, their numbers no longer being replenished, Diana does not feel content. The sense of danger lingers.
ā€œConstantine.ā€ Batman growls, ā€œWhat are you doing in Gotham?ā€
The Brit rolls his eyes as he lights a new cigarette, ā€œYou know I donā€™t actually have to tell you every time I enter the city right? But besides, thatā€™s news to me, portals are a tricky business, Iā€™m tracking my own problem.ā€
Batman glares at him.
ā€œSomeone stole from me mate. And whatever they stole it for canā€™t be good, so Iā€™m here ta get it back. Thought youā€™d be proud of something like that, Batsy, insteada leavinā€™ it for someone else?ā€
Batmanā€™s eyes darken, ā€œWeā€™re tracking a group trying to open the Sarcophagus of Eternal Sleep, is your artifact related to that?ā€
ā€œFucking shit it is yeah! Bollocks I didnā€™t think theyā€™d be using the dream sand for something like that, what sort of mannies are these?!ā€ Constantine exclaims, hastily grinding his cigarette beneath his shoe.
ā€œHn.ā€
Suddenly, thereā€™s a rattling boom, the ground and walls shaking around them as dust rains down and they are all forced into stabilizing stances.
They barely share a glance before all three are running down the hall to the source, Constantine left scrambling to keep up.
The scene they come to is equal parts confusing as it is problematic.
The cultists are each in states of disrepair, crusting on the edges or yelling at their leader. The leader is the first to notice their arrival.
ā€œYou! You say you are a child of Zeus and yet your blood does not work! You lie of your ancestry!ā€
Diana steps forward, ā€œI do not! I am the daughter of Queen Hippolyta and Zeus, grandchild of Kronos! The fault of your magic does not lie with me!ā€
The leaders face twists, mouth open to shout, but a flash of gold slams into him.
ā€œZ, the book!ā€ Constantine yells, arms outstretched as he flings more spells at the surrounding people, glowing ropes binding each.
ā€œOn it! Etativel em dna eht koob!ā€ Zatanna shouts, lifting into the air as a book the leader had been holding flies into her hands.
Immediately she begins turning pages with desperation, ā€œWohs em eht stsitluc lleps!ā€
The book flips to a distinct page, and Zatannaā€™s face drains of color.
ā€œBatman, we need to be careful, this spell looks legitimate, we might still have a risk on our hands.ā€
Batman hummed, looking at the chalk lines of the summoning circle drawn out before them, drawing Diana to do the same. Looking closely at the artifacts placed at each cardinal direction, including a short dagger with her blood nearly completely dry on the flat of the blade.
Batman moves towards the gathered and bound cultists as both magicians whisper over the spell.
Diana continues to look out on the evidence of the ritual, confusion warring in her.
She lays a hand on the lasso at her side. She knew she had not been lying about her heritage, so then whyā€¦.
ā€˜A blade blackened by the ichor of time.ā€™
She looks at the bloodied dagger once more. It didnā€™t make sense, even if they had managed to harm a godly descendent, pure ichor would be gold; and even her blood was simply a humanly deep crimson red, not black; not until it-
Diana lunges towards the knife, fingertips brushing its hilt just as her blood dries a flaky black.
Her body slams into the cave walls in the next second, percussive force rippling through the air.
She crumples to the ground, struggling to lift her head.
White boots pass in front of her eyes.
She watches as they move towards her colleague, her friend, only to be surprised as they stop in front of the cultists instead.
As the air returns to her body, Diana lifts herself up, shaking arms supporting her as the weight of the atmosphere presses down.
She looks at the being, the sight almost making her collapse once more.
Mist curls around its form like a mountain peak, iridescent light glowing near its head, pitch black night covering its body, the pinprick of stars so small you canā€™t see them straight on, claws like a falconā€™s beak: unhidden and meant to tear apart. And more importantly, wrapped around the leaders neck.
ā€œā€œĢµĢ€ĶŠĶƒĢ®Ģ£ĢØYĢ·ĢŠĢ’Ķ–oĢøĶŒĶ˜Ķ„Ģ¤ĶˆĶuĢ¶ĢĢ—Ģ­Ģ² ĢµĶ€Ģ‘Ģ¬Ģ¤ĢžaĢ“Ģ„ĢŸrĢøĢ‰Ģ¹ĢeĢ“Ķ‘ĢĢžĢ¦Ģ® Ģ“Ķ‘Ģ“Ķ›Ģ£Ģ©Ģ–aĢ·ĶŠĶ†ĶĢ®ĢžĶ Ģ¶Ģ€Ķ„ĶĶfĢ·Ģ„Ģ–oĢøĶĢ€Ģ“ĶˆoĢ·Ģ…Ķ€Ģ”ĢØlĢ¶Ģ‹ĶŒĶ Ģ¹Ģ„Ģ¹.Ģ“Ķ„Ķ‹Ķ€Ģ¤Ģ²ā€Ģ¶Ķ„Ģ›Ģ«Ģŗā€
The voice rattles her heart within her chest. She watches as Batman continues to try and stand.
The cultist struggles against the hand, mumbling screams behind Constantineā€™s bind. The creature tears it off with one claw.
ā€œWe summ-moned-ā€¦ the king! Pa-pariah-!ā€œ
The creatures hand barely twitches, but the cultist breaks off in a scream. She is surprised to note the other cultists react exactly alike. As if linked.
ā€œĢµĶĢ»YĢ·ĶĶšoĢ¶ĶĶˆuĢ·ĢĢ¦ Ģ¶Ģ†ĶœdĢ¶Ģ„ĶˆiĢøĢŒĢ¢dĢµĶƒĢ² Ģ“Ģ½Ķ–nĢ“Ģ…Ģ˜oĢøĢ‡ĶtĢµĢ›ĢÆ Ģ“ĢĢ«sĢµĢ‚Ģ—uĢ“Ģ‡Ģ¹mĢ¶Ķ ĢØmĢ“Ģ½Ģ”oĢ“ĢĢ±nĢµĶĢ˜ Ģ“ĢˆĢŖhĢ“Ģ€ĢØiĢ¶ĶĶ…mĢøĶ—Ģ°.Ģ“Ķ†Ķā€ĢøĢ”Ķ” The creature growls, ā€œAĢ“Ģ€Ģ³nĢøĢ›ĢœdĢ¶Ķ’Ķ… Ģ“ĢƒĢ¤yĢøĶĢ¬oĢøĢ’ĢØuĢµĶ—Ģ« Ģ¶Ķ›Ģ˜aĢ“ĢĢ«rĢ·ĢˆĢ eĢ¶Ķ‚Ķ… Ģ¶Ģ‹Ķ”lĢ¶Ģ”Ģ­uĢ·Ģ‰ĶœcĢ·ĢĢ„kĢ“ĶŠĢ²yĢøĶ„ĢÆ Ģ¶ĢĶ“fĢ·ĶĶ‡oĢ·Ķ’ĶŽrĢ“ĶĶ‡ Ģ¶ĶĶ”tĢ¶Ģ€ĢžhĢøĢ‰Ģ²aĢøĢ‡Ģ®tĢ·ĶĢ©.Ģ·ĢĶ” ĢµĶĶ™IĢøĶŒĶŽfĢ¶Ķ›Ķ– Ģ¶Ģ‡ĢœyĢµĶ—ĢœoĢ“ĢĢ©uĢ¶Ķ†Ģ° ĢµĶ„Ģ«hĢ“Ķ›Ķ…aĢ“Ģ„Ģ¼dĢøĶ†Ģ¤ā€¦ĢµĶ„ĶiĢµĢĶtĢøĢ‰Ģ” Ģ“Ķ‚Ģ­wĢ·Ģ”Ģ„oĢ·Ģ…ĢŸuĢ“Ķ‚ĢŖlĢøĢĢždĢµĢ€Ķš ĢµĢƒĶ“bĢ“Ģ½Ģ¢eĢµĶ Ģ— ĢøĢ‰Ķ•mĢøĶ†Ģ uĢ¶Ķ˜Ģ–cĢ·Ķ˜ĢÆhĢ“ĢŽĢ¤ ĢøĢĢ„wĢ·ĶĶšoĢøĶĶ…rĢ¶ĶĢ¦sĢµĢæĢØeĢøĶ†Ķ• ĢøĢ‘Ģ™fĢ“Ģ‚Ģ§oĢ¶ĶƒĢ±rĢ·Ģ‘ĢŸ Ģ“Ķ—Ģ yĢøĶ„Ģ„oĢµĢˆĶœuĢ¶Ģ†ĢŸ.ĢµĢ‰ĶŽā€Ģ¶Ģ€Ķ
The man whimpers under the claws.
"IĢ“nĢ·sĢµtĢ“eĢ·aĢµdĢø,Ģ¶ ĢµyĢøoĢ·uĢµ Ģ“gĢµoĢ·tĢ¶ Ģ·mĢøeĢø,Ģ“IĢ“ Ģ¶gĢµuĢøaĢ·rĢ¶dĢ“ Ģ¶hĢ¶iĢ·sĢµ Ģ¶pĢørĢøiĢµsĢµoĢµnĢ¶ Ģ¶bĢ¶eĢ·cĢ“aĢ·uĢ“sĢ¶eĢø ĢµI wĢ“aĢøsĢ“ ĢµtĢ“hĢøeĢ· ĢøoĢ“nĢøeĢ“ Ģ·tĢøoĢ¶ Ģ¶pĢµuĢ“tĢµ Ģ“hĢøiĢ“mĢ¶ ĢµtĢ“hĢ·eĢørĢ¶eĢ“ ĢµoĢ¶nĢµcĢøeĢµ Ģ¶mĢ¶oĢørĢøeĢø.Ģµā€Ģ“ The creature leans into the cultist, arching ever higher, angles sharpening, body distorting, "ā€œĢøĶ‹ĢaĢµĶ‹Ģ±nĢ¶Ķ›Ķ“dĢµĢĢ˜ ĢµĢĢ”fĢ·ĶŠĢ±oĢµĢ“ĶšrĢ·ĢŽĢŖ Ģ“Ģ‘Ģ­aĢ·ĶƒĢ¬sĢ·Ģ…Ķ™ Ģ·ĶŒĶlĢµĢĢ«oĢøĶ†Ģ»nĢµĢ€Ģ§gĢ¶ĢšĶ… Ģ·ĶŒĢ¬aĢ¶ĢæĢ®sĢµĶŠĢ© ĢøĢŒĢ«tĢøĢ•Ģ²hĢøĢ‰Ģ¢eĢ·Ķ—Ģ– Ģ“Ģ‹Ģ°cĢøĶ€Ģ¹oĢøĢĶŽsĢ·ĢƒĢ”mĢµĢĢ„oĢ·Ķ‹ĢœsĢ·ĶĢ— Ģ“Ķ†ĢœeĢ·Ģ›Ģ™xĢøĢ‘Ķ“iĢ¶ĢæĶ‰sĢøĶ€Ģ¹tĢµĢ›Ģŗ,Ģ“Ķ Ģ”IĢ·ĢĢ¢ Ģ·Ģ½Ģ£wĢµĶ‹Ģ iĢ¶Ķ’ĢŗlĢ“ĶĢ lĢøĢƒĢ® Ģ“ĶŒĶkĢ“Ģ‘Ģ°eĢøĶĢ eĢ·Ķ‹ĢŸpĢµĢĢ² ĢøĢ‚Ģ™hĢ·Ķ‹Ģ˜iĢøĶĢ£mĢøĢšĶ• Ģ¶Ģ‹Ģ³tĢ¶Ģ’Ģ”hĢ·Ķ†Ģ©eĢ·ĶĢŖrĢ·Ģ’ĶœeĢµĢ”Ģ”.ĢµĶ—Ģ­ā€ĢµĢ”Ģ®
Thereā€™s a dull flash as light flashes beneath the cultists skin, beneath all of the cultistā€™s skin, before they drop to the ground unconscious.
All too quickly, air returns to the room, pressure lifting like a deep breath into the room.
The creature turns, eyes meeting Dianaā€™s for just a second as he turns towards the chalked lines of the circle. Diana lifts herself to her feet, drawing closer to Batman as they both watch him, hesitant.
On the other side of the room, Constantine and Zatanna also struggle to their feet, eyes filled with fear and caution as they take in the scene.
As the creature moves, mist still rolling off him in waves, his features fall away with it, gradually smoothing to a more human visage. It looksā€¦ young. Boyish.
Those same white boots crush down on the formed crown, the cooled lava rock crumbling under one step. Next is the ring, held carefully in two hands the creature whispers over it, breathy wind carrying it away as it turns to dust. He holds the blade with one hand, flakes disintegrating off as he lifts it.
Dianaā€™s arm tingles.
Then the creature is standing in front of the last point, holding the small brown pouch of sand with consideration.
Silence reigns in the room.
Constantine, of course, is the one to break it.
ā€œI believe thatā€™s mine, mate,ā€ he cuts in, stance still laden with suspicion.
ā€œOh?ā€ The creature smiles, almost mockingly as he turns to Constantine, ā€œIs it? If I wasnā€™t mistaken, this ritual calls for Dreamā€™s sand. Are you Dream of the Endless, little magician?ā€
Constantine visibly swallows, ā€œIā€™m not.ā€
The creature huffs a laugh, fangs glinting in his smirk. He moves swiftly, pivoting on one foot to toss the pouch at Constantine, ā€œCatch.ā€
Constantine lurches forward to try and catch it, only to find it vanish in the air before it reaches his fingers.
The creature cackles, floating backwards, ā€œWhat did you do to get your hands on such an amount of Dreamā€™s sand, magician? Iā€™m curious.ā€
ā€œIt was a family present,ā€ Constantine grinds out as he turns back to the gently levitating humanoid form, ā€œYou can drop the kid facade by the way, youā€™re not tricking anyone here looking like that.ā€
The creature shrugs, ā€œAnd if Iā€™m comfortable like this?ā€
Diana steps in to stop Constantine from snapping back, ā€œWho are you, spirit, to be summoned by such a ritual?ā€
The creature watches her for a beat, ā€œI am Phantom of the Dead City, Protector of infinite realms. They did not bring me here, but I knew who they wished to summon and came because of it.ā€
Batman steps forward, voice interrogating, ā€œThe Sarcophagus of Eternal Sleep-ā€œ
ā€œRemains sealed. The Tyrant King remains trapped and at rest, do not worry.ā€
Somehow Diana does not think that soothes Batman, even as a great a warrior as he is.
ā€œHn.ā€
ā€œNow, about that spell book,ā€ Phantom turns to Zatanna, waving a hand and the book flies to him. He hovers a hand over it, and Diana watches in fascination as the chalk on the floor begins to burn away, the drawing in the book following.
Phantom looks at her once more, eyes too wise and strong for the age of his face, and then from one moment to the next, he is gone.
The book drops to the floor with a slam, cover open to aged blank pages as the last of the sigil burns away.
Hesitantly, Constantine goes to it, the rest of them following. When Constantine lifts the book with careful hands, they watch another image fade into view on the paper.
A cool colored image of Phantom rising over a city skyline outlined in green against a deep violet sky. Even on paper, his visage shifts constantly between the boyish figure and the ethereal danger of the form heā€™d appeared in.
Beneath the city lays a large coffin covered in chains.
The lock glows a pulsing toxic green before fading to a steely gunmetal grey and going still.
ā€œWell that was the best encounter Iā€™ve had with a dangerous dimensional figure and I still lost the dream sand.ā€
Zatannaā€™s slap echoes in the cave.
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batboyblog Ā· 6 months ago
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What Joe Biden has Done for LGBTQ+ People
I wanted to list out everything The Biden Administration has done for Queer people in the last 3 and a half years, but according to GLAAD it'd been 337 moves (and I noticed they missed a few things...) there was just no way to list every ground breaking first Queer person ever nominated to fill this or that job, every ally with a historic LGBT rights record nominated for a top job, every beautiful statement of support, every time he tried to get Congress to pass the Equality Act (support it!) So I've gone through and done my best to pick the ones I think were the most important, but everyone should check out the full list!
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Day 1: Signs executive orders banning discrimination and ordering a full review of all federal agencies policies to better include and support LGBT people
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Pete Buttigieg becomes the first openly gay person nominated and confirmed for a cabinet level post as Secretary of Transportation
Revokes Trumpā€™s 2018 ban on transgender military personnel
Department of Housing and Urban Development implements LGBTQ protections in housing, becoming first federal agency to implement Pres. Bidenā€™s executive order
First President to recognize and proclaim Trans Day of Visibility
Department of Justice Civil Rights Division issues an official memo that the Supreme Court's BostockĀ decision against LGBT workplace discrimination also applies to education through Title IX
HUD withdraws a Trump Administration proposed rule change, and reaffirms trans people's rights to seek shelters matching their gender identity
HHS announces the withdrawal of Trump Administration rules that allowed discrimination by healthcare organizations against LGBT people.
The State Department and later Homeland Security announce babies born to Queer couples overseas will be American citizens if one parent is American, in the past the child only qualified if they were genetically related to the American citizen parent.
The Justice Department files against a West Virginia law banning trans students from school athletics
Department of Veterans Affairs announces it will offer gender confirming surgery for transgender veterans. There are anĀ estimatedĀ 134,000 transgender veterans in the U.S. and another 15,000 transgender people serving in the armed forces.
President Biden Signs a law making the Pulse Night Club a national memorial
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The State Department creates an X gender marker for passports and other documents, allowing gender affirming identification for non-binary and intersex people for the first time.
The Census Bureau for the first time issues a Survey with questions about sexual orientation and gender identity
On the 10thĀ anniversary of the repeal of Donā€™t Ask Donā€™t Tell, Veterans Administration announces that soldiers discharged for homosexual conduct, gender identity or HIV status qualify for veterans' benefits
Dr. Rachel Levine becomes the first trans person confirmed by the US Senate when she was nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Health, she also became the first trans flag rank officer when she was sworn in as a 4 star Admiral for her job as head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, his makes her the highest ranked trans person in government
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Holds the first ever vigil in the White House for Transgender Day of Remembrance
HHS announces rule change to reinstate and expand protections against discrimination in the Affordable Care Act, including denying coverage for gender-affirming care.
Social Security Administration reverses a Trump Administration policy and allows benefits claims by surviving partners in same-sex relationships, whose partner died before marriage equality was legal
President Biden signs the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (a bill he helped originally craft in the Senate) which for the first time has grant programs dedicated to expanding and developing initiatives specifically for LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence
The TSA announces new technology and policy shifts to improve the customer experience of transgender travelers who have previously been required to undergo additional screening due to alarms in sensitive areas.
The Social Security Administration allows people to edit their gender and name on records for the first time without legal and medical documentation
The US Air Force announces it'll offer medical and legal aid to any personnel families affected by state level anti-trans youth bills.
Karine Jean-Pierre becomes the first Lesbian to serve as White House Press Secretary
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on 50th anniversary of Title IX The Department of Ed strengthens protections for Students against sexual harassment and discrimination
Veterans Affairs announces survivor benefitsĀ now extended to partners from relationships before marriage equality was legalized in 2015
President Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act into lawĀ enshrining protections for marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples
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The Department of Ed announces new rules around athletic eligibility under Title IX, declaring blanket bans on trans students violate the law and setting up strike standards for schools
The White House announced a suit of new protections for LGBTQ people, including a new job at the Department of Ed to combat book bans, a joint DoJ Homeland Security effort to combat violence and threats and HHS evidence-based guidance to mental health providers for care of transgender kids
President Biden signs an Executive OrderĀ directing HHS to protect LGBTQI+ youth in the foster care system, a rule they later passed requiring Queer foster children to be placed in affirming homes
The Biden administration joins families of transgender youth in Tennessee and Kentucky in petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to review and reverse a circuit court ruling allowing a ban on mainstream health care to be enforced
President Biden Signs a EO expanding on past EO on equality and helping underserved communities
The Department of Education's Civil Rights office opens an investigation into the death of Nex Benedict. President Biden in his statement said: "Every young person deserves to have the fundamental right and freedom to be who they are, and feel safe and supported at school and in their communities. Nex Benedict, a kid who just wanted to be accepted, should still be here with us today. Nonbinary and transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know. But nobody should have to be brave just to be themselves. In memory of Nex, we must all recommit to our work to end discrimination and address the suicide crisis impacting too many nonbinary and transgender children.ā€
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hadesrise Ā· 7 days ago
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murder for you, baby !!
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š¬š®š¦š¦ššš«š² āž¾ a justifiable serial killer on the loose, and jason finds himself being enamoured by him.
š©ššš¢š«š¢š§š š¬ āž¾ jason todd x dbd!ghostface!male reader
ļæ½ļ潚šš«š§š¢š§š š¬ āž¾ nsfw content, serial killer themes, dead dove do not eat, sexual arousal in response to violence or torture, murder, blood, deaths, gore, foul language, bottom!jason, top!reader, readerā€™s physique is described as tall and broad ( the slasher build ), possessiveness, choking, praise kink, blood kink, knife play ( reader carving his initials on jason ), toxic!reader ( ? ), sorta toxic relationship but also not, unprotected sex, love-making, pet names, overstimulation, dumbification, degradation if you squint, lilā€™ bit of manipulation, creampie, doggy style, mating press, biting, marking, oral ( r. receiving ), voice kink ( ? )
ššš®š­š”šØš«ā€™š¬ š§šØš­šž āž¾ not me coming back with halloween themed fic after halloween days have passed lol. iā€™m alive, yā€™all !! hope you enjoy this one that took a fucking month to write šŸ˜­
šƒš€š‘šŠ š‚šŽšš“š„šš“ ; this post may contain disturbing contents that may not be suitable for every reader ā€” a reader discretion is advised. MINORS DNI.
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Gothamā€™s been terrorized by the worst people you could ever imagine, the kind thatā€™ll stick with you forever and take residence to your nightmares if you were unfortunate enough. Many were hurt or even murdered as a result of the villainsā€™ terrorization, with vigilantes running through the night to capture and send them to Arkham Asylum.
With the existence of a Psychopathic Clown, his equally psychopathic girlfriend with PHDā€™s thatā€™s been wasted down the line, the Mother Nature freak, the ridiculously huge man with a gas mask on, the green coloured living question mark, and many others, no one wouldā€™ve ever thought anything could get any worse.
Until some criminalsā€™ bodies turn up across the streets in such disturbing manner that haunts the witnesses to death.
One, a criminal who murdered young and homeless boys, gutted deeply to the point of their intestines hanging out. Another, a criminal known for kidnapping and selling peopleā€™s organs, mutilated with their torso torn back to expose the organs settled inside of them. Another one, a priest-turned-criminal whoā€™s been violating women and children, crucified naked in his own church with his eyes gouged out, a Bible verse carved in his chest; ā€˜And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.ā€™ Matthew 18:9; his penis cut off and body seemingly violated as well. Another more turns up, a governor-turned-criminal whoā€™s been feeding into the rich despite their oath of generosity towards the poor, severely tortured with the skin on his back cut open, ribs severed from the spine and broken to the sides in order to create the illusion of wings, fluttering lungs pulled out from their chest cavity to resemble an eagleā€™s wings, with the word ā€˜traitorā€™ carved on his forehead.
The brutality and gruesome nature of the murders has set an alarming panic and fear across Gotham City that forced civilians into locking their doors at night. Criminals who were unidentified and not found by Gotham Police Department were also turning up in a form of miserable, tortured soul, along with the evidence and proofs of their crimes being carelessly laid beside their lifeless corpse.
The killer taunts those who are in charge of justice within their city each time the damned were unfortunate enough to be hunted down; pigs of failure written in the criminalā€™s blood right beside the drawing of a policeā€™s logo.
However, despite how gruesome and disturbing the murders were, most people couldnā€™t deny that it was doing the city a favor. Justice System has failed more times than one could count to the extent of victims yearning to exact revenge themselves against their perpetrator, which causes most to react rather positively to the wrongful, unlikely hero who had seem to suddenly appear out of nowhere. The haunted finally getting the chance to slay the traumatic demons with the help of another psychopath on the loose.
Another justified monstrosity shouldnā€™t be the counter against one inhumane monstrosity that caused so much pain, trauma, and misery. But kindness could not vanquish oneā€™s tainted blood. Forgiveness could not suddenly wash away the sins engraved deeply into oneā€™s soul.
Imperfect, the victims muttered. An imperfect yet perfect way to save our burning souls wrongfully condemned by the criminals.
Red Hood has heard their murmurs.
Silent whispers of gratitude that fell on deaf ears, their previously dim soul brightening in relief and sanctuary with smiles on their faces as the Universe had finally took mercy on them and sent a Fallen Angel to slay the Demons away. Heā€™s watched their spirit uplift, no longer chained down by the trauma and fear of the monsters that once ruined their lives, able to walk the streets carefree of tormentors. Heā€™s watched their stiff posture visibly loosen, lively peacefulness settling itself at last within their haunted eyes. Heā€™s watched them glow with happiness not feeling the presence of their perpetrator every couple of seconds, finally capable of living without needing to constantly look over their shoulders in paranoia and fear.
Ghostface is what the serial killerā€™s called, nickname born out of the mask that resembled a ghost always being left behind in crime scenes, each slightly different.
Jason has seen you. He didnā€™t mean to, really.
The temptation to get at least one look at you was great every-time he patrolled, wishing to just catch glimpse of an immoral hero who could make sacrifices no actual heroes could ā€” whoā€™s doing exactly what he wished before for Batman to do.
The Universe seems to have granted his wishes when his eyes catches the void of ghostfaceā€™s eyes, your mask tainted in splatters of blood from the dead criminal below you. Jason feels his world come to a stop as you slowly rise from crouching position and reveal your unnaturally tall height, broad shoulders visible under the black hooded leather. You hold silence and calmness despite being caught, tilting your head slightly to the side.
His heartbeat quickens yet he doesnā€™t feel fear. Jason idiotically steps closer as if he was in a trance, burning your existence within his eyes to engrave in his memory. Your bloody knife barely grazes his neck to stop him before using it to tilt his chin up, your figure looming and towering over him while seemingly staring into his eyes through his helmet.
A sense of peacefulness overcomes Jason being in your presence despite the absolute brutality and mercilessness that surrounded your entire being. You were deadly, silent, certainly creative with your work that it deems almost artistic, as if the criminalsā€™ bodies were your own canvas to paint on ā€” and Jason finds solace in you. A man he always needed, someone whoā€™d be willing to cross the line and get rid of the actual evil for the sake of victims thatā€™d be forever haunted if it continues to exist.
ā€œIā€™ve heard things about you, Red Hood.ā€
Low, raspy, monotone voice speaks, sending shivers down his spine. It sounds cool and handsome regardless of the obvious use of voice changer, somehow littered with tiniest hint of flirtatiousness.
It takes him quite a while to answer, barely managing to let out a ā€œyeah?ā€ as he feels you drag the knife slightly closer to his pulse. His heartbeat quickens, but slows down when the cold metal was finally pulled away.
ā€œPleasant things,ā€ You hummed, before your voice lowered a few octaves, ā€œCanā€™t say the same about Batman.ā€ Anger seems to seep through your tone that felt a little more than just sympathy for victims of villains Batman refused to put six feet under. Jason wondered if youā€™re also one of the victims his father failed.
ā€œYouā€¦ You know him that much?ā€ Jasonā€™s voice shakes from the nerve, your presence somehow greatly affecting him.
ā€œI think everyone knows him enough,ā€ You chuckled, but it sounded so empty that Jason canā€™t help but feel the goosebumps rise on his skin. It was quite chilling to meet someone who shows only a certain amount of emotion which could even be felt expressionless due to the monotonous pitch. The ghostface mask certainly did its job of making you seem more less human, the unmoving expression of ghost being horrified to death adding to the eeriness of your toneless mechanic voice.
Jasonā€™s breath hitched when you took one step closer.
ā€œBut I know more about you. Your little past and the sufferings youā€™ve endured,ā€ Itā€™s spoken as if his life was one of your necessary investigation in your twisted justice. ā€œItā€™s unfair, donā€™t you think? I wouldā€™ve gutted the Joker like a fish if it were to happen to my son.ā€ Thereā€™s a condescending way in which you spoke, not directed at Jason but to Bruce.
ā€œHowā€”ā€ Jason swallowed. ā€œHow did youā€”ā€
ā€œI can make your dreams come true,ā€ You interrupted him with a tempting offer, shutting him up effectively. Wide grin plastered your face despite not being seen behind your mask. ā€œI can kill the Clown for you, Red Hood. If it means itā€™ll silence your troubled spirit. If itā€™ll bring you peace. I can hurt him on your behalf just like he deserves.ā€
It was like a whisper from the devil, slithering its way into Jasonā€™s heart and mind to possess his soul, mirroring the one which whispered on Adam and Eveā€™s ears.
Heā€™s been wanting ā€” needing ā€” to hear those words come out of Bruce. His suffering and death seemingly being brushed off as a cruel accident shattered him more than heā€™d ever admit, Bruceā€™s unhealthy coping mechanism and morality getting in the way of showing his love for Jason that left the younger man feel lesser than he was. Bruce was a complex person thatā€™s sometimes difficult to understand, his impressive ways to stick to his morals being exactly his character, but Jason wanted for once, to actually feel how important he was to his father.
Was that too much to ask for, or was he just unworthy of the entirety of it?
ā€œWhy would you do that for me?ā€ Confusion and subtle suspicion filled his tone as Jason narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out your intention despite the rush of hope that shot throughout his chest. He forced himself to feel nothing when you leaned in closer.
ā€œBecause you were wronged, of course.ā€ You simply stated. ā€œYou are a victim. Not more, not less. You deserve a little more than just empty justice. And Iā€™m a man who got tired of vigilantes that are afraid to make sacrifices for the greater good.ā€ Then, you tilt your head slightly to the side in a way thatā€™s somehow alluring. ā€œBut I can also say Iā€™m intrigued by you.ā€
Jasonā€™s heartbeat quickens again when your big hand seems to wrap perfectly around his throat, fingers resting just above his pulse points. It makes such filthy thoughts flood themselves into his mind, your long and quite thick fingers falling victims to his tainted imagination, and he had to give everything in himself not to bare his throat more for you. You seem pleased of his lack of disobedience and bite, having expected him to shove your hand away or flinch back before you could touch him. Youā€™ve seen Red Hood once and how his uncontrollable rage resulted in violence, heavy burdens and extreme trauma turning him into a ticking time bomb that could explode any minute with the wrong move. He was absolutely lethal, the bullets serving as the evidence of his wrath and resentment towards the underground scumbags. Itā€™s amusing that you have the man of violence himself now somehow completely under your control, surprisingly quiet and shy and obedient. You wondered if this is how he was before he was ruined by the cruelty of the world.
ā€œYou want it, donā€™t you? For me to kill the Joker.ā€
Jason feels as if you know everything he wants. Is this what it feels like to be important?
It takes a little while for him to answer, but he eventually came up with a ā€œYouā€™ll do that?ā€ which sounded vulnerable and weak for the first time in his second life. Your heart clenched at the doubt and seemingly child-like vulnerability in which he uttered the words, as if he was afraid to trust something after being betrayed countless of times, reminding you of the sole person youā€™ve even began doing all of this for. They were quite similar yet so different ā€” your older brother and Jason.
You hadnā€™t meant to cross his boundaries and unknowingly step into the empty hole that made home in his heart. Unconsciously slithering in like a snake by touching the subject his heart was longing for, not realizing his childhoodā€™s still remaining within his spirit.
All he wanted was love and to feel safe again. You didnā€™t know the Red Hood was so adorably pitiful. A smirk plastered your face.
ā€œI will,ā€ You reassured and leaned your face inches away from his, the hand on his throat lifting his helmet slightly.
Jason doesnā€™t retaliate, blinded by a meat of hope dangled in front of him. He doesnā€™t move as the lower half of his face was exposed, and you lifted your own mask the same using your other hand. Jason willingly, obediently closes his eyes before your lips attached to his ā€” a kiss of death, tasting like blood and cruelty. Warm and soft despite your rough, cold-blooded, corrupted soul. A kiss from the devil.
When Jason opened his eyes, you had already disappeared into the darkness with blood stains on the ground you stood before, a single note left behind; Hell will reopen for the Clown.
After neatly tucking the note inside his jacket and making sure no evidence has been accidentally left on the crime scene, Red Hood smiles for the first time in a long while and reaches for the comms without a heavy heart.
ā€œBatman, I found another body.ā€
Whatever happens, heā€™ll have no knowledge of the following misfortune thatā€™ll befall on the Joker. Itā€™s the righteous serial killerā€™s doing, after all.
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What was used to be a maniacal laughter turned into screams of agony and pain. Strong stench of death and blood makes euphoria rush within your mind, the feeling of slicing through flesh with your knife bringing pleasure and ecstasy that made your pants tight. Thereā€™s a certain amount of satisfaction in the way your own actions cause serious harm and scarring to criminals who once deemed themselves powerful, being reduced into nothing but a powerless prey that could easily be gotten rid of.
You feel increasingly powerful the more you strip them of their dignity and arrogance as they shed blood on the holy ground. Your existence alone striking them with crippling fear and anxiety feeds into your ego, yet you never stray away from the sole purpose or reason for your murders ā€” making them taste their own medicine.
From what you found on countless deep dive and research, Joker preyed on Red Hood when he was still a young child full of life and joy, having been under the name Robin at the time. Second Robin to be exact, considering he was a lot different from the first one. It actually surprisingly pained you when youā€™d seen how much of an adorable, dorky, nice kid he was before misfortune cut his life short. You wouldā€™ve never thought you would find a kid adorable in your entire life, the little menaces often being nothing more than a headache to be around with that caused a certain dislike to grow towards them within you, but Jason was everything a cute kid was. Just excited to be there, to be fighting alongside Batman, to be relevant.
Such a precious boy ruined for the sake of shits and giggles for the Clown. For the sake of getting under Batmanā€™s skin. And the Bat couldnā€™t even make fucking amends to his flaws as a father and mentor.
Well, he didnā€™t need to anymore.
Youā€™ll give Red Hoodā€” Jason Todd ā€”what he wants. Yearned for. Perhaps, even what the other civilians who have fallen victims to this vile criminal want. You would stop at nothing until every criminal is gurgling and choking on their own blood.
Jokerā€™s scream shoots a jolt of electricity within your body as your knife pierce through his skinny thigh and to the ground, pinning his leg down. You had been doing an effective job of reducing the maniac into nothing but a screaming, cowering average victim by torture. Bruises, burns, gashes, and stab wounds littered his body that was done carefully enough to not be life-threatening. Fucker was laughing maniacally at first, of course. It irritated you so much that you mightā€™ve went a little overboard.
Watching Joker heave and struggle to breathe from the pain, you tilted your head and roughly grabbed his throat. It catches him off guard and he grips your wrist, barely even having the strength to fight you off. Youā€™re amused by the entirety of Jokerā€™s nature, how heā€™s still just an average man that can easily be overpowered ā€” nothing that makes him special enough to not be killed, becoming proof of Batmanā€™s selfish willingness to let the victims suffer than bring them actual peace.
Youā€™ve never uttered a word since you captured him and it unnerved Joker from the beginning, but then, words finally come out of your mouth in a form of monotonous, mechanical, emotionless, eerie voice as you lean over him; ā€œLaugh it out, Joker. Why so serious?ā€
It sounded like a death sentence.
Heā€™s right in a way, because another of your knife pierced the corner of his mouth soon as you uttered the words. Your other hand tightened on his arteries to choke him while you drag the knife to slit the side of his mouth into a grin, following the lines of his red lipstick. It was certainly not a clean cut, but an artist has their own creative ways to make their art. Tears mixed in with blood that gushes out of his face, complete horrors written across Jokerā€™s eyes which boosts your satisfaction. You go on and do the same thing to the other side of his mouth, before finishing your art piece by carving ā€˜Jā€™ on his painted cheek.
You resist the urge to moan at the sight of blood coating your fine piece, always finding it to be an amazing finishing touch.
From then on, Joker was brought to literal Hell.
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Jason flinches when a playful knock sounded from his safe houseā€™s window, cautiously approaching to see ghostface waving at him through the glass. His eyes widened and immediately opens the window to let you in, not wanting anyone to see you ā€” your sudden appearance distracting him from the fact heā€™s never given anyone the location of his safe house.
He stops in track at the blood splatters across your mask, and just then had he noticed you seemed to be hiding something behind your back with one hand. It definitely strikes his curiosity, but he somehow didnā€™t feel like you were holding something that could harm him.
ā€œYou got something for me, ghostface?ā€ Jason feels you grin under your mask.
ā€œGot you a present,ā€ Your raspy, rough voice enthusiastically quipped.
Jasonā€™s breath hitches when you show what you were holding ā€” the Jokerā€™s decapitated head in a square glass container tainted by its blood. You obviously had planned to bring it barehand, but you considered the possibility of its blood dripping down on his safe house and becoming a false evidence to point him to the murder, which prompted you to put it inside the container. An unbelievably sweet gesture for a fucking psychopath like you.
Jason could feel his heart beat rapidly as he takes in the animalā€™s state, carved up grin and the letter J and the horrors seen in its lifeless eyes proving the absolute misery and suffering it went through before being put down. The monster was finally, finally slain and gone forever from his life. Nightmares detangles from his spirit and the past unwraps away from his soul, utter peace and relief spreading throughout his chest. Tears gathered in his eyes at the feeling of being free at last from the life long torment, breath shaking as his knees wobbled.
The child in himself, the innocent Robin that was killed unfairly, finally rests in peace.
Then he sees you, his hero, waving your seemingly new knife playfully in the air with your outfit splattered in blood without a care that you actually saved him, and Jason feels a sudden surge of arousal and will to submit. To give you everything, anything.
ā€œDo you love it, Red Hood?ā€
Without answering you, Jason grabs the glass container with shaky hands and sets it aside on the counter before stepping back closer to you again, blood rushing to his veins from arousal. He removes his helmet with a thud on the floor and falls to his knees in front of you, lustful and yearning emerald eyes looking up at you.
ā€œLet me thank you, please.ā€
It makes you groan as your pants significantly tightens more.
You slide your knife back into the holster before cupping his beautiful face in your hands, and thank fucking Heavens there wasnā€™t any blood on it that would taint his face, because heā€™s a sight to behold. Heā€™s truly a gem, something precious you had never seen before. ā€œSo beautiful,ā€ You whispered, making Jason flush. ā€œBaring yourself to me for such a simple present, doll?ā€
ā€œNot a simple present,ā€ Jason mumbled as he snuggles on the palm of your hands. ā€œYou saved me.ā€
You hum appreciatively, getting the itch to bare yourself to him as well. ā€œYou wanna thank me by what?ā€
Jason looks back at you, face flushed with a little hint of uncertainty and embarrassment, doubts. ā€œIā€” uhm,ā€ He stammers, but encouraged by your thumbā€™s gentle stroke on his cheek. ā€œByā€¦ by becoming yours.ā€
Your cock throbs. Fuck, heā€™s so fucking adorable, you just wanna fuck his guts out. Youā€™re usually tempted to gut people, not fuck their gutsā€” which is funny to say the leastā€” but you werenā€™t going to say no when the Red Hoodā€™s so willing to offer himself up.
ā€œYou wanna take my mask off, doll?ā€ He seems surprised by your question as if he hadnā€™t thought of it, making you chuckle. ā€œIf you wanna be mine, I gotta be yours too, donā€™t I?ā€ It was dangerous to reveal your identity to him, but you couldnā€™t care less, especially when you could just fuck his brains out to shut him up. Thatā€™s the plan, first time that didnā€™t include butchering or cutting a body up.
Jason fucking Todd and his effects on you.
The emerald eyed male hesitantly grasped your mask when you led his hands to it, slowly lifting it over your head. Heā€™s met with a fucking luscious feature to ever be adorned on a man and dark, lustfully murderous blood red eyes that makes a whimper slip past his lips. You merely widened your eyes at the sound he made before immediately grabbing his jaw and smashing your lips against his, swallowing Jasonā€™s surprised gasp.
He reciprocates the insatiable hunger you displayed, tongue dancing along with yours and moaning into the kiss when your fingers lightly tugged on his hair. You pull him up in amidst of making out and squeeze his ass, encouraging him to wrap his legs around your hips. You detach your lips from his to trail kisses down his jaw and neck as you walked towards his bedroom, questionably knowing where it is, and Jason tilts his head back to give you more access with closed eyes. Letting him stimulate both of your restrained cocks by grinding down, you sat down on the bed and sucked on his throat as Jason moaned.
ā€œPlease, pleaseā€¦ā€ He whimpers, uncontrollably moving his hips in a perfect rhythm yet he seemed to want something else.
You pulled away and traced his lips with your thumb, watching as he naturally took it in and sucked, giving you a desperate look. Swiftly turning off the voice changer attached to your neck in a form of choker, you chuckled when his hands fiddled with the belt on your hooded coat. ā€œSo needy, arenā€™t you?ā€ Your real voice sends shivers down his spine.
An alluring, low, slightly rough pitch and somehow more emotionless than when you were using the voice changer. It makes his cock twitch and empty hole clench down on nothing, the need to be stuffed full of your cum swarming in his belly. Youā€™re fucking bewitching, a man made up from every guy and girlā€™s fantasy, wet dream, and your attractiveness mirroring the Devilā€™s that would tempt and lure others to sin.
How the fuck were you real?
ā€œSpeak up, pretty bird.ā€ You smirked, ā€œWhat do you want?ā€
ā€œYour cock,ā€ Jason mutters, cheeks tinted in pink. ā€œWanna suck your cock and make you feel good.ā€
ā€œFuckā€¦ā€ You shifted in place, ā€œYouā€™ll do that fā€™me? Get my cock nice and wet to take you apart? To fuck your guts out?ā€
Jason shakily inhales and nods, climbing off your lap and kneeling on the floor. You lean back on your hands as he unstraps your belt and slide your zipper down, slightly raising your hips to help him get rid of the excess clothes. Your thick and lengthy cock smacks against your clothed stomach, making Jasonā€™s mouth water. Thick veins throbbed on your big shaft, the tip angry and red from arousal leaking precum. It wasnā€™t just big, it was long, and Jason squeezes his thighs together to keep himself from just riding your cock all day.
His hand wraps around the base, starting to stroke it with a content rhythm. God, you were so fucking big. Itā€™d definitely split him open if you shove it in so suddenly and fill him up nice. Itā€™d make him scream his head off from the unbearable length and girth, almost too much, and Jason wants you to force him to take it. Pin him down and fuck him despite his pleas to stop.
Jason swipes his thumb over the slit, smearing precum, pumping it for a good amount before licking a stripe up the underside of your cock. You shudder, removing your gloves to slip your bare fingers through Jasonā€™s hair, encouraging him to take you in. He obeys, relaxing his throat first before sliding your cock inside his warm mouth, and you groaned at the warmth that surrounded you. It almost didnā€™t fit from how big you were, but Jason braced himself and took it in further until he gagged as the tip touched the back of his throat. Wrapping his hand around your shaft that he couldnā€™t take in, stroking gently as if to apologize.
A moan slips past your lips when he starts bobbing his head, tongue brushing against the underside of your dick. ā€œFuckā€¦ Doinā€™ so good,ā€ You roll your head back. ā€œSuch a pretty face to fuck, ainā€™t ya?ā€
Jason whines, tears gathered in his eyes as he sucks and fastens his rhythm. Curses, grunts leave your lips that left him feeling all hot and bothered, his other hand moving to skillfully pull his pants down and free his aching cock.
You see him touching himself and a smirk adorns your sinful face, gently scratching his scalp with your nails which earned you a whimper from him. ā€œGo on, fuck yourself. We both know it wouldnā€™t fit that easily without proper prep,ā€ Expression twisting into a cocky one, your grip on his hair tightened. ā€œIā€™ll do as I please with your mouth until youā€™re done.ā€
Without waiting for his approval, you roughly shoved your cock deep down his throat and moaned loudly, throwing your head back. Jason gagged with a loud whimper as his eyes rolled back into his skull and cum shot out from his throbbing cock, hips jutting forward and twitching due to the sudden orgasm. You chuckle lowly, amusement and lust glinting in your bright red eyes, before you pull back and ram on his throat again.
Jasonā€™s cries and moans were muffled as you ruthlessly use his throat to gain pleasure. His mind has already turned into mush from your assaults, white cum and precum staining the floor yet he doesnā€™t put up a fight. Taking it all like the good, obedient boy that he is. Heā€™s reached behind him to insert two fingers in his awaiting hole, walls clamping down on the digits from the arousal of his throat being utterly wrecked.
Yesyesyes, please. He chanted in his mind. Use me, mark me, cum in my throat, make me yours.
The moment you fulfilled your promise and delivered him the head of his enemy, he was already yours. Itā€™s all he ever wanted. Unquenchable thirst that always gnawed on his throat and hunger that left his stomach restless, his soul practically teared in half from being battered and beaten. He matters now ā€” mattered enough to you, that you went ahead and killed the source of his misery. The love exploding in his chest was almost unbearable; he was already high on cloud nine from the moment heā€™s seen you present the head so cheerfully.
You see how he looks up at you, emerald eyes almost displaying hearts with how much he was melting. Heā€™s taken your murderous act as an affection, and you couldnā€™t be more happy, because itā€™s what you intended.
ā€œShit, babyā€¦ Gonna cum soon,ā€ You panted, thrusting vigorously. Jason hums and flexes his throat to provide you more pleasure, making you tighten the grip on his hair. ā€œYou want me to cum down your throat?ā€
You earned a desperate whine from him, closing his eyes to prove he was waiting for it. His fingers kept their own assault on his prostate, scissoring and stretching the squishy walls, muffled moans escaping him.
God, he looked so fucking gorgeous. Heā€™d look even more gorgeous with your dick ramming inside him.
Jason feels your big cock throb in his mouth and his fingers move more aggressively to pleasure himself, wanting to reach his high at the same time as you. Stimulating your tip with the back of his throat a few times, you moaned loudly with a curse when Jason slightly flicks his tongue over your sensitive underside, forcing an orgasm out of your body. White, thick, warm seeds spurt out from your slit to his awaiting throat as Jason whimpered in delight and shot another layer of cum on the wet stained floor, hips thrusting in the air.
He greedily swallows every drop that spilled down his mouth despite the euphoria making him feel dizzy as his body slightly trembles.
You chuckled, breathing heavily, pleased expression spread across your face. ā€œGood boy. That was such a good throat-fuck.ā€
The raspy, sultry tone of your voice makes electricity and chills run through Jasonā€™s spine as his walls clench down on his fingers, yearning to be filled. Jason certainly doesnā€™t have a womb ā€” itā€™s anatomically impossible ā€” yet he couldnā€™t help but feel like itā€™s there, waiting and aching to be fucked and bred. He needs your cum to be pushed so far inside him. Need to be marked entirely as yours inside and out. Need you to rearrange his guts, fuck his brains out, breed him full, then fuck your cum further back into him.
Jason pulled his fingers out, whimpering at the loss of contact, before looking back up at you with begging eyes. ā€œCan you-?ā€ His voice cracks as he swallows, ā€œTake me apart, please. Make me yours, fuck, I wanna be yours.ā€
You noticed tears gathering in his eyes, as if being rejected of his want to be your possession would be an ultimate heartbreak in his life; a life-threatening, gnawing thorn in his heart thatā€™ll tear him apart piece by piece and shredding his soul. Jason thinks he canā€™t live without becoming yours, his saviorā€™s. He canā€™t live without the source of his safety, the man that fulfilled his silly little dream and sacrificed his own sanity for it.
It absolutely amuses you that heā€™s become so attached just because youā€™ve driven him away from harmā€™s way. A little dumb, but he was your little dumb doll.
You gently caress his face and Jason leans into your touch, making your lips curl upwards into a smile. ā€œOf course, doll.ā€
It leads to Jason being pressed face first on the mattress as you rail him from behind, sinful and alluring noises leaving his lips stained in drool. Your name escapes him like a chanted prayer, hands gripping the sheets, electricity sparking within his mind that left him dumb and unable to think coherently.
ā€œFuh-fuck! mgh, ah- yes, oh my godā€”!ā€ He cries out when you pulled almost entirely back and rammed your cock roughly into him, almost seeing stars in his vision.
The roughness in which you handled him, the perfect angle of your hips allowing you to force pleasure out of his body every-time you thrust, the way you push his back down on the mattress to make him arch more into your merciless tactic, leaves Jason absolutely delirious. You didnā€™t just fuck him good; you fucked him with absolute vigor and violence, occasionally biting strongly on his shoulder to draw blood, showcasing your natural instincts as a serial killer. He feels your big fucking dick throb and gets impossibly bigger inside him each time his blood seeps out the broken skin, and Jasonā€™s head spins at how much it drove arousal in his core.
ā€œGood fuckinā€™ sex toy,ā€ You grunted, roughly slamming your hips against his and causing a sharp moan to erupt from Jason.
ā€œB-bigā€”! sā€™too big- fuck!ā€ Jason whines, tears spilling endlessly down his cheeks.
You smirk as you feel your ego skyrocket at being able to reduce a rather muscular man into nothing but a whining, blabbering bitch. ā€œYeah? I do split you open, donā€™t I? But you love it since youā€™re such a fuckinā€™ slut.ā€
ā€œoh- aghn! y-yoursā€” hnngh! Your s-slut! No one elseā€™s-!ā€ He chokes out, desperately reaching for you behind him.
ā€œSo fuckinā€™ adorable,ā€ You chuckled and grabbed his hand, pinning it back to the mattress as you hover over him. You seem to fit against each other perfectly well, your large and tall body able to encage him that left Jasonā€™s stomach fluttering. Heā€™s taken a lot liking of the fact youā€™re bigger than him, considering heā€™s never been the smaller one when he was with others. It gives him a sense of shelter.
ā€œp-pleaseā€” pleaseplease- oh! cumā€” fuckā€¦ cum in me again!ā€ Jason blabbered.
You canā€™t help but comply to his request, fastening your pace and drilling more into him. Incoherent sentences spill from his drooling mouth when he feels your cock pulse within his walls that signified your soon release. Thereā€™s a purpose in which you thrust your hips now ā€” more sharp and angled yet a little sloppy, aimed to brush against his prostate and make him feel utterly good.
ā€œShitā€¦ Cumminā€™, doll.ā€ You grunted right in his ear before shoving him on the mattress by the back of his nape and slamming all the way down on his already gaping hole.
Jason nearly screams, voice cracking, as his orgasm hits like a strong tide of wave at the same time you spilled thick layer of white semen into his fucked out guts. You ride out your orgasm by thrusting slowly a few times as Jasonā€™s body violently shakes from the aftershock. He subconsciously whines in annoyance when some of your previous cum seems to overflow and replaced by your recent one, bucking his hips as if to use your big cock as a plug to keep them all in. His belly felt full from how much youā€™ve been filling him with your seed yet it still didnā€™t feel enough. Jason wanted more; he knew you werenā€™t going full on him yet.
You swiftly turned him around on his back without pulling out and kissed him roughly. Jason mewls into the kiss when the position makes you push more deeper into him, his hands immediately clasping at the back of his thick thighs to pull them up and make it easier for you to fuck.
ā€œMy cute little thing,ā€ You murmured against his lips and bit the skin to draw blood, Jasonā€™s hole squeezing down on you from both the pain and pet name. He greedily whimpers your name, holding onto you for life and yearning for more of you despite already receiving what he wants.
It was so fucking adorable and arousing to see him desperate for not just you, but your entire being as well, willing to welcome such darkness with open arms and tearful smile. You werenā€™t really a desirable person; so many people have thrown themselves at you for your conventionally attractive features and masculine body type that swoons hundreds yet cower away in fear and speak of you in disgrace when shown the demons living inside of you. No one could seem to look past your murderous, cold-blooded psychopathy ā€” some have attempted to, which only resulted in your darkness growing bigger when they break their own promises. You werenā€™t meant to be loved. Your destiny was written in the stars and the Gods have cursed you with eternity of living in loneliness and madness without cure. You were meant to be feared, a lonely and violent soul that couldnā€™t be tamed, your sole purpose of existence being a destroyer; nothing more or less.
Jason, however, seems indifferent to your fate.
Instead of running away in disgust and fear at your acts of violence around the city, he was seeking for you. Heā€™s seen what youā€™ve done, what you could do without feeling remorse, what monsters lie beneath your existence ā€” and still, he graciously opens his heart (and legs) for you. Thereā€™s love and desire within his eyes where distaste should be, touch so soft and warm it baptizes your tainted skin. Youā€™re soaked in blood yet Jason takes his time with you to clean them up. Born with thorns yet he willingly prickles his fingers on them.
Youā€™re a danger everywhere you go, but to him, you were home.
It makes your heart clench; heā€™s broken the Gods curse and it costs him his freedom, because now heā€™s caught up in your webs. You wouldnā€™t let him go, like a snake thatā€™s wrapped itself around its prey in a death grip.
Jason wanted to be yours. What better ways to fulfill his wish if not possessing his body, soul, and spirit?
ā€œSweet dumb thing,ā€ You purred, hips thrusting slow and sensual, unable to forgive parts of his walls that werenā€™t touched by your cum. ā€œMine to fuck, ruin, or make love to. Thatā€™s right, yeah?ā€
Jason nods, moaning softly. Your hands now replaced where his were on the back of his thighs, bending him almost in half as you roll your hips to gently brush against every weak spot he has. The sudden shift in rhythm and atmosphere confuses Jason for a bit, his fogged mind unable to comprehend the situation at hand, but the intimacy strikes a further pleasure that was nearly mind-breaking. Heā€™s been reduced to a moaning mess, blood, sweat, tears and cum coating his body.
ā€œp-please,ā€ Jason keened, like it felt agonizing to be loved ever so gently. ā€œIā€” ahā€¦ I want- I want you,ā€ He stuttered out between moans.
ā€œYouā€™re having me, arenā€™t you?ā€ Replying, you nipped on his neck and sucked, leaving behind a purple bruise.
He nearly cries, shaking his head. A waterfall of tears streamed down his face, and you find yourself captivated by them. It was almost ethereal despite being one of humanā€™s responses to most things imaginable; your victims always shed one or two accompanied by begs of mercy, but all youā€™ve ever thought of them was amusing. Itā€™s been used as an escaping tactic from you before, which was never successful due to your lack of morality and sympathy towards your target. They were pathetic, but Jason was divine. Tears suited himā€” not tears of fear, but tears of pleasure and utopia.
Your focus snaps back on reality when Jason suddenly pulled you down by the nape and bit down hard on your shoulder. A pleasured groan leaves your lips at the pain, hips bucking, making him whimper.
ā€œJasonā€”ā€
ā€œPlease,ā€ He cuts you off and finally murmurs; ā€œWanna f-feel howā€¦ mhm-! how you actually loveā€¦ā€
It strikes something in your core. Despite your perfect skills of hiding your true nature and never being caught, Jason saw it right through you, how you were holding yourself back for his sake. Quite ironic to witness a cold-blooded killer care for someone enough to go soft, even though it looked like you were going rough on him, and it warmed Jasonā€™s heart. But he was a greedy, fucked up human being who wanted all of you. It wouldnā€™t be enough until he knows heā€™s taken you fully.
An amused laughter erupts from your chest. Eyes darkening in lust, Jason feels one of your hands wrap around his throat warningly as the other pushed his torso flat down on the mattress. ā€œYouā€¦ Youā€™ll be the fuckinā€™ death of me, Todd.ā€
You pull all the way back before ramming in, making Jason let out a loud, choked up moan as his eyes rolled back into his head. Your thrusts relentless and powerful, slamming against Jasonā€™s body with an intensity that made his head spin, your hand holding his throat as a leverage. Your name spills from his lips like a prayer, something that seems to ignite a possessive feeling within you. Jason canā€™t help but mewl when your grip tightened on his arteries, throwing his head back to let you gain fully control.
The way heā€™s so obedient and putty in your hands despite knowing you can kill him if you truly meant to makes you love him even more, fucking him and taking away his ability to breathe wasnā€™t enough. Greediness turning overboard with the darkness and psychopathy that lies within your existence; you almost wanted to cut him open and crawl inside his guts so you could truly claim Jason, inside and out. You wanted to be more closer to him, see how far you can go without Jason pushing you away or getting disturbed.
Jasonā€™s eyes widened when a cold metallic silver touched his cheek, seeing you holding your signature knife through blurred vision from his tears. However, he doesnā€™t flinch away like you expected him to, instead his walls squeezes down on your cock and his own twitched against his stomach. The unexpected reaction pulls a loud groan out of you, your hips bucking.
ā€œShit, Jayā€¦ You lettinā€™ me kill you or somethinā€™? Good fucking cunt just tightened on me,ā€ You rasped, thrusting your cock against his prostate.
Jason gasps, his hands grabbing the mattress and holding it in a tight grip. Itā€™s so shameful how turned on he was at the danger that lurked around you, his usually sharp instincts relinquished to be replaced by naivetĆ© and stupidity for love. He mustā€™ve gone insane; getting killed was one of his triggers because of his past yet his soul yielded nothing in retaliation to the possibility of your blade slicing through him. All of him seems to have come to love and trust you too much just because youā€™ve decapitated the beast his entire existence feared, which a part of him found utterly ridiculous and idiotic, but not enough to stop.
He wouldnā€™t stop himself from loving you ā€” not when youā€™ve given him the love he always yearned for.
You lean in and ghost your lips over his as you dragged the knife on his torso, lightly scraping him. Jasonā€™s breath quickens, his pupils blown wide in lust and need, anticipation seemingly running through his body as his moans turned into desperate whines.
ā€œp-pleaseā€¦!ā€ He chokes out a whisper, rolling his head to the side and whimpering when you snapped your hips warningly on his. ā€œfeelsā€” fuck! feels g-goodā€”! c-carve meā€¦ hngh! carve me u-up-! shitā€¦ make me fuckinā€™ bleedā€¦! please,ā€ Jason nearly cries for you.
Groaning out a curse, you reflexively bite down hard on the crook of his neck and push more of your cock inside him, causing a loud keen to erupt from Jason as he squirms and cums on his own stomach at the addictive sense of pleasure and pain shooting through his body.
You licked the blood that seeped out from his skin, satisfied at the clear bite mark youā€™ve left visible before sensually grinding your hips. Jason whimpered quietly, his body still trembling from the aftershocks of his orgasm.
ā€œThatā€™s it, doll. Let go, feel good. mā€™not gonna hurt ya, sweetheart. Itā€™ll all feel good,ā€ Whispering sweet words, you slowly press the tip of the knife just above the v line of his hip and drag it down. Jason hissed at the prickle of pain and tensed up, but the pleasure of your cock stimulating his sensitive walls was too great that forced him to relax. ā€œItā€™s alright, doll. Jusā€™ carving you up with my name, so youā€™ll be mine forever. Isnā€™t that what you want? Be fuckinā€™ mine?ā€
Jason moaned softly, nodding his head. Series of pleasepleaseplease blabber out of him accompanied by heavenly noises heā€™s been making since you started taking him apart, his brain too fucked out that forcibly twisted pain into pleasure as all he could think about was becoming yours. You, his savior, his God, claiming him by marking him up with your name. Jason feels like he could fucking squirt from just that thought alone.
His blood seeping out from the letters of your name arouses you to no end, your cock throbbing inside him while you continue to move, the darkness within you being thoroughly fed of its bloodthirsty hunger. This is the first time it doesnā€™t gnaw at your skin to drive your knife deeper, pull the guts out, and splatter redness everywhere; instead, it wanted to be gentle, as if Jason was a significant existence too precious to hurt even for the Devil. A proof that Jason was always meant to be yours, the only one who the monster inside you would rather love than kill.
Carving the last letter, you laughed breathlessly in satisfaction and stabbed the knife on the headboard before slamming your lips against his, devouring his pleasurable noises. Jason whines, arms wrapping around your neck to pull you impossibly closer, arching his back when you switched into a much faster and rougher pace.
ā€œCumminā€™, fuck!ā€ You grunted, to which Jason wrapped his legs around your hips to make sure it stays in.
ā€œI-inā€” in meā€¦ fuck- oh my godā€” pleaseā€¦ please, cum in me. Make me full again, p-pleaseā€¦ā€ He begs, clenching his walls around you to push you over the edge, his own orgasm nearing.
Seeing him covered in his own tears, sweat, blood and drool fills you with nothing but pure ecstasy knowing itā€™s all because of you. The most appealing, ravishing man being a slutty mess right beneath you, begging to be bred and full of your cum, does feed too much into your ego. No one can do anything to take you away from him now, because youā€™re wrapped around his fingers as much as he is around yours.
ā€œAnythinā€™ for ya, doll.ā€ You chuckled, thrusting a couple more times before shoving your twitching cock deep into his guts with a moan and releasing your load. Jason mewls, his hole throbbing and squeezing down on you as he throws his head back, tainting his abdomen once more.
Riding out both of your highs, you let out a raspy groan and kissed his lips again, Jason weakly reciprocating due to the overstimulation. His body trembled hard, mind almost shutting down from the exhaustion and too much euphoria. ā€œSo good, doll. Took me like a good fuckinā€™ boy. Fuckinā€™ amazing.ā€ You praised.
Jason could still see darkness in your eyes, the murderous devil, but thereā€™s a hint of happiness he didnā€™t recognize before. Love and adoration filled your expression despite the violence engraved in your soul, and Jason finds himself smiling against your lips lightheadedly.
He whispers your name like a forbidden secret, then a curse that completely binds you to him; ā€œI love you.ā€
You could get used to this, you suppose. Thereā€™s nothing more poetic than violence meeting love ā€” two opposites canā€™t coexist with each other, but perhaps itā€™ll be forced to. After all, the Devil in you decided he was an untouchable divinity no one shall ever harm, not even yourself, despite its never-ending monstrosity towards humanity.
ā€œI love you too, my Jason.ā€
When Jokerā€™s decapitated head on a makeshift spear turned up that night, stacked upright in front of Arkham Asylum with blood splattered across the ground in words ā€˜True Justice for the Tortured Soulsā€™ and a bloody ghostface mask laid aside for everyone else to see, Jason knew he was now in safe hands.
People say, never make a deal with the devil.
They never said he couldnā€™t love one, did they?
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emersonchurch Ā· 2 years ago
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Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial: Remembering the Victims of Racial Terror
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The Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial is a powerful and somber reminder of the horrific violence that African Americans endured during the era of racial terror. The memorial, designed by Emerson Houston, stands as a stark reminder of the systemic racism that has been entrenched in the United States for centuries. This memorial is a critical part of remembering the victims of racial terror and ensuring that such atrocities never happen again.
The Equal Justice Initiative's mission
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging racial and economic injustice. In 2017, they opened the Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. The memorial is an educational and symbolic tribute to the victims of racial terror lynchings in America.Ā 
The memorial serves as a reminder of the tragedy of racial violence and provides a space for contemplation and healing. Through its design and exhibits, the EJI Lynching Memorial honors those who were killed in acts of racial terror. The memorial also brings attention to the legacy of racial inequality in America.Ā 
At the heart of the memorial is the Legacy Museum, which tells the stories of those who were impacted by the system of racial oppression, from the slave trade to modern-day mass incarceration. Through interactive exhibitions, the museum brings to life the history of racial injustice.Ā 
The memorial also features a sculpture garden of steel columns that represent each county in the United States where a racial terror lynching took place. Visitors can use an audio tour app to learn about these counties and their stories. The Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial is a powerful reminder of our nationā€™s past and serves as a catalyst for social change.
The design of the lynching memorial
The Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial is a solemn and powerful reminder of the victims of racial terror. The monument was designed by Emerson Houston, an artist based in Montgomery, Alabama. The design focuses on commemoration rather than celebration, with the goal of creating a space that is contemplative and honors the tragedy of the past.Ā 
The memorial consists of two large-scale sculptures constructed of steel, marble, and bronze. One sculpture features hundreds of steel columns that are arranged in a circular pattern. This represents the people lynched in America between 1877 and 1950. Each column has a distinct shape and size, making it unique and representing the individual lives lost to racial terror.Ā 
The second sculpture is an interactive space with individual plaques for each victim and their families. This allows visitors to learn about the stories and histories of those who were lost and pay their respects to the victims.Ā 
The Equal Justice Initiative Lynching Memorial is an important reminder of America's history and serves as a reminder that no one should ever experience such violence and injustice. It is a place for reflection, healing, and remembrance of those who lost their lives to racial terror.
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forthosebefore Ā· 8 months ago
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Freedom Monument Sculpture Park honors lives of enslaved people
For civil rights attorney and renowned social justice activist Bryan Stevenson, itā€™s not enough to know the history of slavery and the centuries-old struggles of Black people in America. He wants people to see it. Feel it. Touch it.
A new park in Montgomery, Alabama, was conceived to do just that, as visitors of the breathtaking Freedom Monument Sculpture Park will be treated to ā€œan immersive experienceā€ along 17 acres above the Alabama River, which was a primary route to transport enslaved Africans during the slave trade.
The park, opening next week, will be in close proximity to two other creations led by Stevenson: the awe-inspiring Memorial to Peace and Justice, an open-air site that features 800 columns suspended from above, evoking public square lynchings, and the Legacy Museum. A few miles away in downtown Montgomery, that site uses interactive elements to tell the story of the devastation of slavery, Jim Crow, violence and mass incarceration.
Located at 831 Walker Street, the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park will be part of the Equality Justice Instituteā€™s Legacy Sites, which also include The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, both which opened in 2018. A $5 admission includes all three parks and a free shuttle runs between the sites.Ā 
As the center of the Civil Rights Movement, Montgomery is also home to other Black heritage sites, like the Rosa Parks Museum, Civil Rights Memorial Center, Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey Monument, Dexter Avenue King Baptist Memorial Church, Freedom Rides Museum, and Dr. Richard Harris House.
Source: NBC News, Travel + Leisure
Visit www.attawellsummer.com/forthosebefore to learn more about Black history.
Need a freelance graphic designer or illustrator? Send me an email.
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cazort Ā· 19 days ago
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Why I'm Enthusiastic About Kamala Harris
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I've seen so much negative talk about Trump and we all agree with that, but I want to highlight what I like most about Kamala Harris and why I'm actively enthusiastic and excited about voting for her:
She is pro-abortion rights and pro- comprehensive sex ed
She would appoint good Supreme Court Justices.
She respects people with a diverse range of political views and would include some voices from both progressive and conservative perspectives in her administration.
She is unambiguously pro-LGBTQ rights, including not just on gay rights but also trans rights.
She would represent continuity with the Biden administration, an administration that I think has done a good job on most issues.
On the issue of Palestine/Israel/Gaza (where I am most critical of Biden), I think Harris is a significant improvement over Biden, and also offers the better path of the only two viable candidates, towards ending the genocide. She has spoken out against the civilian deaths and she has snubbed Netanyahu which is a huge plus in my book.
She has shown a willingness to change her views, such as how she moved from being opposed to decriminalizing sex work in 2008, to being supportive of it in 2019, and being initially skeptical of marijuana legalization in 2010, but coming to support it in 2015. I like a candidate who can change their views, but more importantly, she is changing in a direction I like.
She would be good on the economy; she opposes tariffs, and would continue the Biden administration policies which have led to economic prosperity.
She has a solid and fairly diverse track record of experience, working as attorney general for the largest state, then senator for that state, then VP.
She has worked to combat over-incarceration and cruel treatment of people in prison, doing things like reducing mandatory minimum sentences and working to reduce recidivism, opposing solitary confinement, ending private prisons, and ending cash bail. She has also pledged to use the president's clemency powers to release a lot of people who have been imprisoned unjustly or given unfairly harsh sentences.
She has a concrete plan to enact immigration reform that would adequately fund the processing of asylum applications and fix the backlog of immigrants at the border. And the plan has broad bipartisan support.
On top of this she also has already done some things to address the root causes of migration in Latin America, particularly people fleeing Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador
She is pro-net-neutrality.
She supports universal healthcare, but also has concrete recommendations for how to improve the current status quo.
She is pro-science, including on issues like climate change, COVID, vaccinations, and health and nutrition. Her mom was a scientist!
She is pro-Ukraine, wanting to keep Russia out of Ukraine and ensure Ukraine wins their war of defense and maintains their independence.
She is across-the-board better on women's issues, not just reproductive rights but also sexual violence and domestic violence, workplace equality and the pay gap, and women's issues in Latin America (which is related to the immigration pressure I mentioned above.)
She generally takes stances on foreign policy I agree with, being skeptical of leaders (Putin, Orban, Netanyahu) I want us to be skeptical of, and working with and looking up to the ones I want us to work with and look up to (Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron). She already has a working relationship with many of these leaders too, and has a reputation of being both personable and tough, just what I'd want.
She's smart, well-educated, and surrounded with smart, well-educated, and wise people. Her campaign is stable and well-run, and I trust her to put together a team of competent advisors and run this country competently, probably even more so than Biden has done, and Biden has done a pretty decent job, exceeding my expectations even.
Harris also has an impressive list of endorsements. I can't possibly be comprehensive here, but it includes people as diverse as the most progressive Democrat Lawmakers (Bernie Sanders and AOC), some of the most conservative former GOP legislators (Jeff Flake, Liz Cheney), and over 100 former GOP staffers including a disturbing number of insiders from the Trump administration. This is telling! You don't see this sort of whistleblowing and defection from within the Biden administration.
The fact that Harris has racked up endorsements from people spanning the whole political spectrum from solid-right to solid-left and everything in between, impresses me. This is the sign of someone who is going to be good at getting people to work together, someone who will listen to a wide range of viewpoints and develop better policy and take better courses of action as a result. It's what I always want in a president.
In some elections I have been frustrated that I'm voting for a "lesser of two evils" but this time around I actually feel actively enthusiastic about Harris. I am excited to vote tomorrow and excited to finally be done with this election, and I am cautiously optimistic that it is going to turn out really well.
I encourage everyone to vote and make sure to make sure everyone close to you is also voting!
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cerinslair Ā· 1 year ago
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Oath of the Courier
A paladin subclass for 5e
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Liberty. Reason. Justice. Civility. Edification. Perfection.
MAIL.
Tenets of the Courier
The Tenets of the Courier embody a paladin's commitment to delivering the mail with utmost integrity and professionalism.
Handle with Care: Treat anything entrusted to you as preciously as you would your own possessions.
Discrete Delivery: When others confide in you, do not betray their trust. Let none but the intended recipient pry upon what you carry.
Swift Postage: Do your best to fulfill your promises as promptly as possible. Punctuality is a virtue.
To the Letter: Strive to fulfill your oaths exactly as you pledged them. Your word is your promise.
Oath Spells
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
3rd Level: Expeditious Retreat, Illusory Script 5th Level: Animal Messenger, Arcane Lock 9th Level: Sending, Tongues 13th Level: Legally Distinct Secret Chest, Freedom of Movement 17th Level: Dream, Teleportation Circle
Channel Divinity
When you choose this Oath at 3rd-level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options:
Postage Stamp: As an action, you mark an object with a magical postage stamp. When creating this stamp, you choose a creature you or an adjacent ally are familiar with to be the object's recipient. This stamp persists for a number of hours equal to twice your paladin level, until the stamped object is delivered to its chosen recipient, or it is dismissed as a bonus action. While holding the stamped object, you can spend an action to magically detect what direction its recipient is in, and approximately how far away they are from you. If the recipient does not want to be located by you, it can make a Wisdom Saving Throw to elude this detection. If you are relying on an ally's familiarity, they get Advantage on this save. If they succeed, they are immune to this effect for 24 hours. You may only have one magical stamp at a time. If you place another, the previous one is immediately dismissed.
This Side Up: As an action, you can use your Channel Divinity to ward a creature or object against toppling. One creature or object within 10 feet becomes immune to the Prone condition. If the target is an object, it must be light enough for you to carry. If the target is an object, it gains Resistance to bludgeoning, force, and thunder damage. If the warded creature or object falls, it may ignore the first 10' of the fall when determining fall damage. These effects last for a number of minutes equal to your Charisma score, minimum 3.
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Aura of Determination
Neither rain nor sleet nor hail will stop your delivery of the mail. Starting at 7th level, you emit an Aura of Determination. You and allies within 10' cannot have their speed reduced to less than their base speed when walking, crawling, jumping, or flying. This includes anything that would halve movement, such as Difficult Terrain or Exhaustion; or impose any other fraction-based penalty to speed. You cannot grant any of these effects while you are unconscious.
At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.
Return to Sender
Starting at 15th level, if you are targeted by a spell that targets only you, you may use your Reaction to instead have the spell target its caster. Use the original caster's Spell Save DC, Spell Attack Bonus, and Spellcasting Ability where applicable. If the spell required a Spell Attack Roll, re-roll the attack versus the caster. Once you use this ability, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
Pen Pal
At 20th level, you can assume the form of a celestial courier. Using your action, you undergo a transformation that grants you the following benefits for 1 hour:
Wings sprout from your back and grant you a flying speed of 60 feet.
Allies who begin their turn within 30' of you gain a 10' bonus to their speed that turn.
Add your Charisma bonus to your Initiative Rolls.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
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Go forth, swift and trustworthy courier! You are the glue that holds society together!
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