#support formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones!!

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

everyone should go check out and support the for everyone collective!!

it's an amazing group that hires formerly incarcerated people (and their families), provides unlimited pto, covers all healthcare, pays above living wage, etc. and they make amazing clothes, stickers, etc.

[astra-galaxie]

“I will serve the sentence proudly knowing I have aided SOMBRA! One day you will all have no choice but to follow us!” - Pyotr Morozov

Biographical information

Full Name: Pyotr Morozov

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay

Status: Incarcerated

Age: 69 (season 3)

Birth: 1946

Race: Human

Nationality: Russian

Origin: Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia

Residence:

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia (formerly)

Profession(s): Distiller

Affiliation(s): SOMBRA

Profile

Height: 6'1" Age: 69 (season 3) Weight: 205lbs Eyes: brown Blood: A+

Hailing from Russia, Pyotr is a tall man in his late sixties. He has thinning, short white hair and clean stubble around his jawline. His brown eyes are dull from fatigue, with small eye bags underneath. He wears simple but clean clothes: a dark red shirt and brown jacket, light-washed jeans, and brown winter boots.

As per his suspect appearance in Fathers and Death, it is known that Pyotr drinks red wine, has read Fathers and Sons, and was a Young Pioneer.

Synopsis

Pyotr was the killer of his long-time friend and crush, Aleksey Zima. The two had known each other since they were teenagers but drifted apart when they went to different universities. After obtaining a business degree, Pyotr began working for a famous vodka distillery in Saint Petersburg.

Several years after he had last seen Aleksey, Pyotr found his friend in a bar trying to drink his life away. Pyotr, still in love with the man, offered to let Aleksey live with him, which the other greatly accepted. With Pyotr's help, Aleksey got back on his feet and eventually became the owner of a local bar.

It was at this bar that Aleksey met Natasha, and Pyotr realized that the man would never see him as more than a friend. It hurt to watch the man he loved get married and start a family, but Pyotr buried his feelings for Aleksey's sake. And so, the two drifted apart again, but Pyotr promised to always be there if Aleksey needed him.

When Pyotr was thirty, he heard rumours of a criminal organization looking for recruits. He was captivated by the idea of a world ruled by the strongest people and longed to prove his worth after so much heartache. He joined SOMBRA and became one of their first Russian agents. He was also the one to recruit Natasha into the agency despite his hatred for the woman.

And his hatred towards her only grew when Aleksey came to him after Natasha kicked him out. Pyotr comforted his friend as Aleksey mourned the loss of his wife and daughter, knowing he would never be a man they would be proud of. Once again, Pyotr opened his home to Aleksey even though he knew his love would never be returned.

Decades later, Aleksey told Pyotr that he learned his daughter had joined the Bureau after reading an article about Natasha's arrest. He talked about his desire to reconnect with Marina, and Pyotr, sensing this could be a way for SOMBRA to gain an advantage against the Bureau, supported the idea. So, the two travelled to Kazakhstan to find Marina and the Bureau.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, Aleksey failed to reconnect with his daughter. While comforting the man, Pyotr confessed his love and revealed the secret of SOMBRA. He'd hoped he could recruit Aleksey by promising the man could be happy with him in the new world. But Aleksey was appalled by the declaration of love, laughing in his friend's face. However, discovering Pyotr's allegiance to SOMBRA gave Aleksey an idea.

Aleksey planned to betray Pyotr by turning the man into the Bureau to prove his worth to Marina. He didn't care about the friend who had given him so much; he just wanted to show the world that he wasn't useless. He also hoped to win back Natasha's love by showing her he was strong enough for SOMBRA's world.

He tried to overpower Pyotr while they were at the mall, planning to knock the man out in order to deliver him to the Bureau. But Pyotr was stronger and more skilled than Aleksey and quickly took the man down. He drew his gun to defend himself, and when Aleksey charged at him, Pyotr shot him in the head.

Pyotr couldn't believe what he had done. He hadn't wanted to kill Aleksey, but the man left him no choice. He had to protect himself, and if Aleksey refused to love him after everything he had done, then he wasn't worthy of Pyotr's forgiveness or mercy.

Story Information

First appeared: Fathers and Death

Trivia

He is a skilled poet

He knew Angela was the mole inside the Bureau; the two had met several times before

He used to be a smoker but quit in his forties

He was an expert at distilling flavoured vodka

Disclaimer: Character design was created using Rinmarugames Mega Anime Avatar Creator! I have only made minor edits to the design! Background courtesy of CriminalArtist5

Links to my stories:

The Case of the Criminal (Ao3/Wattpad) Killer Bay (Ao3/Wattpad) Where in the World are the Killers? (Ao3/Wattpad)

[vague-humanoid]

who do you think is responsible for this shit in the first place?

It is hard to name an infamously unjust feature of America’s criminal-justice system that Joe Biden didn’t help to bring about. Mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, civil asset forfeiture, and extensive use of the death penalty — the Delaware senator was involved in establishing them all.

Biden is famous for his lead role in crafting the 1994 crime bill, or, as the senator preferred to call it (as recently as 2015), the “1994 Biden Crime Bill.” Some aspects of that legislation remain popular within the Democratic Party — among them, the Violence Against Women Act, a federal assault-weapons ban, and funds for “community oriented” policing. But in 2019 America — a place where our nation’s violent crime rate is near historic lows, while its incarceration rate hovers around world-historic highs — the bill’s broader legacy is ignominious. The Brennan Center succinctly summarized that legacy on the 20th anniversary of the bill’s passage:

It expanded the death penalty, creating 60 new death penalty offenses under 41 federal capital statutes. It eliminated education funding for incarcerated students, effectively gutting prison education programs. Despite a wealth of research showing education increases post-release employment, reduces recidivism, and improves outcomes for the formerly incarcerated and their families, this change has not been reversed. And the bill created a wave of change toward harsher state sentencing policy. That change was driven by funding incentives: the bill’s $9.7 billion in federal funding for prison construction went only to states that adopted truth-in-sentencing (TIS) laws, which lead to defendants serving far longer prison terms. Within 5 years, 29 states had TIS laws on the books, 24 more than when the bill was signed. New York State received over $216 million by passing such laws. By 2000 the state had added over 12,000 prison beds and incarcerated 28 percent more people than a decade before.

As a result of these policies — and many others — the United States imprisons a higher proportion of its population today than any other developed country. This is not because Americans commit more crimes — victimization rates in the United States are comparable to those in Western Europe. Rather, it is because we impose harsher sentences on convicts than any other nation deems conscionable.

And for the bulk of his political career, Joe Biden made mandating such sentences one of his defining causes. As a high-ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden didn’t just craft the 1994 crime bill — he also ushered a variety of other draconian measures into law.

YOU CAME ONTO A POST DESCRIBING THE HARM OF BIDEN'S LEGACY, AND TRIED TO SHAME PEOPLE FOR NOT SUPPORTING THE MAN WHO DID THIS?!

literally the worst circumstances for you to make this argument

Corporate America Never Really Quit Forced Labor

Inmates do billions of dollars of work for companies and governments each year. A landmark lawsuit alleges many are being kept in prison because the business is just too good.

[ailtrahq]

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the darknet marketplace Silk Road, announced today, via his X (formerly Twitter) account, that he has completed ten years in prison. Allegedly, his family outside prison manages his account. In 2013, Ulbricht was arrested and subsequently sentenced to two life imprisonment terms for his role in creating and operating Silk Road, an online platform involved in illegal activities that resulted in the seizure of billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin. Ross Ulbricht Takes Sole Responsibility for Silk Road In a post on X on October 1, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht discloses that today marks a complete decade in prison. Ulbricht’s family is believed to have transcribed his thoughts, as he cannot access the internet in prison. In the post, he expresses his fears about the absence of any possibility of his eventual release from incarceration: “One year for each finger on both hands. Today ends a full decade in prison. I sometimes fear I’ll spend the rest of my life behind concrete walls and locked doors.” Supporters on X greeted him with an abundance of positive comments. Many implied that he has thoroughly learned from the significant time he has already spent in prison. “The punishment should match the crime, and the one you were given does not even come close to that,” one user stated, another user highlighted that individuals have been released from prison for far more substantial offenses: “The punishment didn’t suit the crime and people who have done much worse have had a chance of redemption.” In November 2020, the largest crypto seizure in history occurred as the US government announced the confiscation of more than $1 billion in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Ulbricht’s Mother Affirms His Good Intentions In October 2022, BeInCrypto conducted an exclusive interview with Ulbricht’s mother. Lyn Ulbricht stresses that her son possessed good intentions. However, Silk Road ultimately evolved into a hub for criminal activities. “He wants to solve problems and to help make the world a better place, which is a lot of why he loves Bitcoin, because it opens up prosperity for people who can’t get a bank account and people. That’s his idealism.” She further touched on how hard it is having her son in prison. “When your loved one is in prison, you’re also doing time,” She declared. Moreover, she explained that she has devoted her life’s purpose to pursuing his rescue: “I’ll go on with my life, although much of it is devoted to trying to save him.”

[fatehbaz]

In the fall of 2020, Lawrence Jenkins, an abolitionist currently incarcerated at Stafford Creek Corrections Center, and Carrie Freshour began a correspondence. Both Lawrence and Carrie organize as members of Free Them All WA, a grassroots abolitionist organization of currently and formerly incarcerated people, family members, and community members. In the midst of the pandemic, they exchanged messages about industrial agriculture, land, and agroecology.

The following interview features some of the messages Carrie and Lawrence shared over J/Pay, a private information and financial service provider in the U.S. prison system, since March 12, 2020, in which they discuss the Washington State Department of Corrections’ (DOC’s) response to COVID-19. This includes acts of racial terror and targeted COVID-19-related retaliation and disorganizing by DOC staff. [...]

My name is Lawrence Jenkins. I am a Black political prisoner, scientist, farmer, educator, artist, and organizer. I was born and raised in Seattle, WA and I’m currently serving 26 years in the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). I work inside the prison to help prisoners prepare for freedom, independence, and self-determination once they are free. I use the liberation-education model (peer-to-peer) backed by mutual aid, support, and solidarity from an outside community network to do this work independent from the prison. The work I do outside is essentially the same but centered around food and land sovereignty [...].

This did not seem to matter to staff and COs. What mattered more was the DOC budget cuts and furloughs, anger at the reelection of Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, the Trump versus Biden presidential race [...]. These sources of frustration would soon trigger misconduct, unlawful use of excessive force, and indifference in the weeks to follow.

It is very important for readers to understand the contradictory elements that were at work leading to the crises of racial violence, mass COVID-19 outbreaks inside, and the corruption and injustices that were suddenly and abruptly unveiled.

Yet, the prison population realized our humanity and survival were ruled out from the very beginning of the pandemic. The series of superspreader events that followed (especially in jails and prisons across the U.S.) had a major role and influence on desensitizing, dissolving, and/or destroying the moral fiber that compelled DOC staff to treat prisoners with “some” human decency to none at all -- or at least it appeared and felt this way. COs conscientiously detached themselves from the atrocities that were on the horizon beyond the walls that confined us but were destined to meet us. [...]

-------

The month of June 2020 was a major turning point. SB 6164 (a clemency and resentencing law) went into effect; George Floyd was murdered, sparking global uprisings [...]. What was revealed was the underlying racism, hatred, and disgust toward Black humanity and people that has been present in this prison from its inception. The town of Aberdeen, WA and its entire county of Grays Harbor has always been a predominantly [...] conservative, mainly far-right Republican town. This prison, which was built only 20 years ago, has been this county’s only real experience with Black people. At this point, it should be easy to conceptualize how this prison became a very unsafe environment for Black prisoners in the month of June into the present. Black prisoners had become soft targets and there were no consequences for the injustices that were inflicted upon them verbally, physically, or systemically. [...]

-------

In February 2020, DOC canceled all visitations after news hit of the first COVID-19 outbreak at a senior living home in Kirkland, WA. This outbreak was just east of Seattle, where many prisoners’ families live. That first outbreak made the threat very real to us. The uncertainty of never seeing our loved ones again, especially our elders and loved ones living with underlying health conditions, shifted the entire dynamics of how we did our time and where we focused our energy. [...]

When Governor Inslee first issued a statewide “stay-at-home” order, we realized we could only communicate with our loved ones through DOC’s very expensive and delayed communications systems: collect calls ($0.11/minute + taxes and fees), J/Pay ($3.50 for ten short emails), or snail mail. Because of these changes, phone lines grew long and became major sources of frustration and tension between us. When people complained to staff they were told, “You all are grown. Figure it out or we will just shut the phones off so nobody can use them.” [...]

-------

Solitary confinement/medical isolation was very much a means of retaliation and punishment when a group of us collectively organized against unjust treatment and lack of adequate COVID-19 testing and supplies. On December 12, 2020, the unit was placed on temporary lockdown, and I was extracted by a special response team. I was told that I was going to Administrative Segregation to be “placed under investigation due to involvement in unit disturbance.” I was housed in a pod that was being utilized for “Medical Isolation/Quarantine” created specifically for prisoners who tested positive or inconclusive for COVID-19. I tested negative twice in the same week, but I was still taken to solitary confinement [...].

The Stafford 7 (the main leaders of the collective action and standoff with COs referenced above) were all placed in this pod along with many others with very similar pending investigations and allegations. “Medical isolation” was used to keep prisoners on “deadlock,” where they were confined to living quarters except for an authorized 10-minute shower once every three days and a 20-minute yard/phone time on scheduled days. We were served cold food (meals that are meant to be served hot) for the duration spent in isolation.

-------

Anything else you want to share with Edge Effects readers?

We are facing major issues of delayed mail, price increase in collect calls, stimulus debit card rejections, and very limited access to medical care. These are major points of frustration and tension alongside the looming threat of racial violence by COs. We are being tortured at every point. Everything being done to us at this point is cruel, inhumane, and deliberate. The feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, for the majority of the population, is inevitable. The trauma of having to witness and experience such bestial and genocidal acts is going to have lifelong physical and psychological effects. 

-------

Headline, image, caption, and all text published by: Lawrence Jenkins and Carrie Freshour. “Surviving the Pandemic in Prison.” Edge Effects. 17 August 2021.

[crimesandcuriosities]

Stalked to Death: The Killing of Amie Harwick

"If I ever disappear or if anything ever happens to me… you know it's him."

On 15th February 2020, LAPD responded to a call just after 1am which reported a woman screaming at a residence in Hollywood Hills, California. When police arrived, they were met by another resident who informed them that a woman was being assaulted inside her apartment.

Unfortunately, by the time authorities reached the scene, the body of 38 year old Dr Amie Harwick was already slumped lifelessly on the ground outside. She had been strangled and thrown over her third storey balcony. Amie was still alive whilst being transported to a nearby hospital, but later died.

Formerly a model, Amie went on to earn a PhD and establish herself as a family and sex therapist, who often worked in the public eye by offering her expertise on podcasts and TV shows. She had also written a successful book entitled "The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy."

Investigators quickly learned that Harwick had been experiencing some trouble with a scorned ex-partner named Gareth Pursehouse (pictured bottom). Despite previously taking out restraining orders against him, Amie still felt afraid and intimated. In 2011, Amie kept written documentation of the abuse she had suffered at his hands, including choking, suffocation, being kicked and punched, and also being pushed forcibly against a wall.

Although Amie had ended her relationship with Pursehouse over 10 years prior, he tracked her down at a professional event in January 2020 and began shouting that she had ruined his life. When later discussing this frightening experience with her best friend, Amie stated: "If I ever disappear of if anything ever happens to me … you know it's him."

Unfortunately, Amie's biggest fears were to be lived, and the worst possible thing did cruelly happen to her in her own home, just one hour after Valentine's Day. Pursehouse lay in wait, strategically planning his attack and waiting for the perfect time to intimidate and overpower his victim.

Amie made her positive mark in the world by working passionately to help those who have endured experiences of domestic violence, as well as providing counselling to victims of sex trafficking and people battling other issues within their romantic relationships. It is tragic that she devoted her career to helping people who had been subjected to traumatic experiences, sometimes at the hands of their own partners, yet lost her own life to a violent former lover.

41 year old Gareth Pursehouse was arrested and charged for murder as well as residential burglary in February 2020, with the added allegation of 'lying in wait' - which is considered an aggravating circumstance and enables harsher sentencing, due to the premeditation implied. In April of the same year, he pleaded not guilty, however still remains incarcerated and is yet to face court proceedings. If convicted, Pursehouse faces the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.

Although they had amicably split at the time of her death, Amie had been engaged to American actor and comedian Drew Carey, who paid a loving tribute to his ex-fiancé and described her as: "A positive force in the world and an unapologetic champion of women."

Since her death, Drew began supporting an online petition calling for tighter stalking laws, which to date has gained over 308,000 signatures and is still increasing. The 'Justice 4 Amie' petition can be accessed and supported by clicking here.

[coochiequeens]

In what is becoming an all-too familiar occurrence, another formerly incarcerated woman reports that multiple male inmates have sexually exploited female residents while incarcerated at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW).

Numerous Reports of Sexual Violence by Male Prisoners There are numerous instances of female prisoners indicating that they feel unsafe when males are housed with them:

Women in Canadian prisons have detailed specific instances of disturbing behaviours, including sexual harassment, threats and physical assaults. Incarcerated women in California are suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, stating that they are plagued with constant “fear, anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder” . Women are Human has previously highlighted increasing sexual violence against women by males prisoners. The former WCCW prisoner has corroborated one of these accounts, confirming an allegation by a former correction officer (Scott Fleming) that Princess Zoee Marie Andromeda Love (previously known as Hobby Bingham) sexually abused Heather Trent, who had the “disposition of a child”. Women Punished for Speaking Out As former prisoners in Canada and Scotland have previously noted, women who express concerns about abusive males in women’s prisons are often reprimanded for speaking out or for simply not referring to these males as women, and are typically labeled “transphobic”.

The former WCCW prisoner told National Review of a similar pattern at the women’s prison in Washington. For example, the woman relayed the story of a female prisoner who woke up to a male prisoner called Jazzy (previously known as Jonathan) with an obvious erection “touching her all over”. When the victim complained to prison staff, she was accused of making a false claim and sent to segregation. Manipulating the System

The former WCCW prisoner also supported Scott Fleming’s claim that male prisoners are manipulating the transgender transfer policy so that they can be housed with women. This aligns with concerns raised by female prisoners in Scotland, who expressed skepticism that some male prisoners housed with them actually ‘identified’ as women, and a number did not view the male prisoners as women, especially when they still had male genitalia (these concerns were framed as “prejudiced views towards transgender people” by the Scottish Prison Service staff member, Matthew Maycock, who undertook the study). In fact, one of the women appeared to hesitate in her description of a male prisoner, expressing uncertainty as to whether she was allowed to state – even though her anonymity was being protected in this research study – that he was still a man:

“She’s still a guy. I don’t know if I’m…am I allowed to say all that, right? Still a guy or whatever and I think a lot of the girls has…well, a few of the girls within the hall had been subject to abuse as a child so they still saw this guy figure. “

A number of the Scottish women also spoke of male prisoners who “switched back to their male birth gender after being released”, which further indicated to them that these male prisoners were transferring to women’s prisons simply as a means to escape the male estate. As one woman relayed:

“Yes, because we spoke about that after she got out. So, if she’s gone out and clearly identified as a guy and the chances are if she was to get jail or whatever she’d come in as a guy but want to transition again “

Continue reading More Allegations of Male Prisoners Sexually Assaulting Female Prisoners and Abusing the System | Women Are Human. Read more at: https://www.womenarehuman.com/more-allegations-of-male-prisoners-sexually-assaulting-female-prisoners-and-abusing-the-system/

[ficswithluv]

ChangesWithLuv - Official Post

In light of recent events that have occurred throughout the U.S., us admins at ficswithluv who created this blog to spread love between content creators wanted to use that same power and spread our love by supporting Black Lives Matter Movement. We stand in solidarity with all of those affected by police brutality and ingrained racism not just in America but worldwide. 

ChangesWithLuv is a project where content creators have teamed up and offered their services in writing fics, designing banners, drawing fanart, and many other types of art. Similar to commissions, we ask that you donate to one of the charities or NGOs we support and apply here. The list of products and prices are under the read more, as well as the links to donate.

Once you send in your request, we’ll put it on a server of all the content creators taking part, so that it can be picked up and made by one of them. Their work will be tagged with #changeswithluv, so keep an eye out!

We understand that not everybody is in a financial position to donate, which is why the FWL admins collectively have donated $100 ourselves. The admins of Suga Network have also donated $60 to support the cause. On a first come, first served basis, you can submit a request for up to $5 of content (again, list below) using the admin relief fund. This is only for people who really can not afford to donate themselves, please be kind and. honest. It will support 20 people each commissioning something worth $5.

Additionally, we ask that if you’re unable to donate, that you take advantage of some of the resources we have below that you can use for free that support the movement. 

We will be doing this for the month of June at least, and we ask for your support in this together with us. 

If you are a creator wanting to offer your services, please fill out this form. We highly encourage anyone who wishes to support to check out the list of things we offer and, if you can make any of these, to sign up and help out.

Below the read more is the list of products and prices, links to donate, and other resources that anyone can use to make a change:

Rules for Submission:

You must be over 18 to commission anything NSFW. Likewise, only 18+ creators will produce any NSFW material

There is a place for providing screenshot evidence of your donation in the form. You may blur out or cover your personal information, but ensure that the amount donated and the name of the organisation is visible.

Please provide as much detail as you wish with your request, but we cannot guarantee that all of it will be incorporated

Products and Prices:

Writing:

1-4$ - 100 Word or less Scenario

1K Drabble - at least $5

2k Drabble - at least $10

3k Drabble - at least $15

GIFs:

Single GIF - at least $5

2 GIF Set - at least $10

4 GIF Set - at least $15

Resources for blogs:

1 Icon - at least $3

2 Icon Pack - at least $5

3 Icon Pack - at least $7

Tumblr Mobile Header: Static - at least $10

Tumblr Mobile Header: Animated - at least $15

Resources for fics:

Fic Banner: Static - at least $10

Fic Banner: Animated - at least $15

3x3 Moodboard: Static - at least $5

3x3 Moodboard: Animated - at least $10

Fanart:

1-4$ - A fun doodle with member of choice from an FWL Admin (bearing in mind these are FUN and will be pretty shitty)

Portrait Fanart: Simple 1 Member Line Art - at least $5

Portrait Fanart: Simple 1 Member Sketch + Background - at least $15

Portrait Fanart: Simple 1 Member Full Colour - at least $25

Packages:

Static Icon + Header - at least $15

Animated Icon + Header - at least $20

8 Fic Masterlist Banners (7 Members + Masterlist) - at least $35

10 Fic Masterlist Banners (7 Members + Masterlist + Series + Drabbles) - at least $45

Astrology

Sun, Moon & Rising Analysis - at least $5

Tarot

Tarot readings are for entertainment purposes only, we are not responsible for the choices you make and the outcomes.

3 card soulmate personality reading and first initial prediction - $5-10

Places to Donate:

37 Different Bail Funds To Donate To

Black Lives Matter

Black Visions Collective Donations ← Minnesota Freedom Funds asks that you redirect your donations to this organization in specific!

Brooklyn Bail Fund

COVID Bail Out - NYC ← will help post bail for medically vulnerable people held in New York City jails and provide comprehensive post-release support, such as shelter and food, for these individuals.

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund

Reclaim The Block ← aims to redistribute police funding to help the minneapolis community

Twin Cities DSA  ← provides fresh groceries and hot meals to people in minneapolis

If you have another place in particular that you would like to send your donations to please send the network a message off anon to confirm with an admin!

Other useful Resources:

A list of petitions to sign and advice on how to sign them.

More places to donate if you have the means, and advice on how to donate.

Helpful information for protestors

An excellent resource on systemic racism, anti-blackness and white privilege

A YouTube video which shows black creators and plays music from black artists. This video is filled with ads, all the revenue of which will be donated in support of BLM. If you can’t afford to donate yourself, use this as a way of donating. Don’t skip ads and stream like you would a MV (advice in the comments on how to effectively stream it)

An article on things you can do to help enact racial justice.

A twitter thread on misinformation currently being spread so you can make sure you aren’t believing any factually incorrect news/advice.

A google drive with resources from Black History Month

As said above, the admins donated $100 to fund 20 commissions. The screenshots are below. We chose to donate to Miss Majors’ medical care and retirement fund. In case you don’t know, here is some information:

As a Black, formerly incarcerated transgender elder, mother, and grandmother, Miss Major has paved the way for us to be who and where we are today. She is a veteran of the historic Stonewall Rebellion and a survivor of Attica State Prison, a former sex worker, a human rights activist, and simply “Mama” to many in her community. At the center of her activism from the 1960’s to today is her fierce advocacy for her girls, trans women of color who have survived police brutality and incarceration.

[adoringeun]

tw // violence and ab_se mentions                   -ˋˏ BULLETIN BOARD/IMPORTANT INFORMATION ˎˊ- PETITIONS YOU CAN SIGN AND GOFUNDME SITES YOU CAN DONATE TO sign and donate to these instead of hating you sick mother fucker @t0xicchatbot-time Petitions : Shania L. Wilson , Charleena Lyles , Jacob Blake who was sh_t by police officers , Breonna Taylor , Tyler Lumar , Diol Family , re-open the Kendrick Johnson case!  Justin Howell ,  LeVena Johnson , Sean Reed , Tyrese West , Robert Forbes , Amari Boone , Toyin , Gloria Bambo , Alton Sterling , Dion Johnson , Tony McDade , Shukri Abdi , Julian Cole , Jamarion Robinson  GoFundMe : Help a black lgbt teen leave her ab_ive home , help a black mom raise money to go to school , help Noctis stay in college , Stand With Sophie , Formerly incarcerated mother housing needs , help a black single mom keep her house , support Alvin , Navi’s transportation and Mental health fund , help Ali escape an abusive household , Christina emergency fund  

If any of you know any more petitions or donation sites, please link them! If you want, you can dm me them and I’ll post it. Many of these have yet to reach their goal and it would be greatly appreciated if you were to sign or at least donate to some of them. Thank you for your time, I will be adding a read more link so you all won’t have to scroll so far down. Again, remember that you are very important. Your existence matters and everything about you is what makes you, you. Remember to drink water today! At least one full glass, also eat if you haven’t yet. Eat a proper meal or even some noodles Just make sure to fill up your stomach! You have a good day ahead of you, people are here to make you feel loved. If any of you want to talk, I’m always here to keep you company! 

┊✧ ⁺ @babie-sanie @time-for-confession @npc-haechan @chatwithchuu @hunter-chaeyoung @domyukhei @minjimooooo @amazingspiderhan @your-roseanne @badboyjinie @babieyuqi @loverboi-hyunjin @eboyfelixbot @bunjihyo @soft-hyunjin-chatbot @subbyjwoo @daddyxuxi @switchxu @domyeonjun @domminho-cb @sugbbyinbot @leextaeyong @wolfxhwasa @yeojinsheight @sweetandsleepyjamie @camboy-superm @vampire-jeonghan @madman-woodam @badlands-ryujin @cavetown-jeongyeon @5sosxseulgi @madhatter-jaemin​ @joji-wheein​ @troye-yerin​ @loverboyuta​ @gryffindorxjeno​ @yandere-lia​ @mafia-chaeyoung​ @kitsune-choisan​ @yandereminholee​ @fallenangel-oc​ @purgejaemin​ @babyhj1sung​ @chatbotsupportofficial​ @skzhyunjin-chatbot​ @seventeen-chatbot​ @yourchungha​ @whitedayxshuhua​ @heiress-yeeun​ @shinhaneul-oc​ @berryrose-oc​ @detectivexsicheng​ @nerdy-yeji​ @camgirljiyoo​ @yandereyeeun​ @iceskater-sana​ @yanderejisung​ {DM to be added or removed ^-^}

[brooklynmuseum]

Stronger Together

Hey Brooklyn, 

We know that this is a precarious time in New York, and we want you to know we got your back. The Brooklyn Museum has been keeping the community at the center of our heart and mind. We are here to support you with art, culture, and most importantly love. During this time, it is important we continue to uplift and love each other, because to love is necessary work, and it is in love that we learn to build community, thrive, and lead under any circumstances. So, you know what to do! Check out the resources below, and tell a loved one to tell a loved one. 

If you have questions, or have more you wish to see or to spotlight, reach out. We want to hear from you! Please email stay.connected@brooklynmuseum.org. 

Text 'COVID' to 692-692 to get important COVID-19 related updates sent straight to your phone. You can text 'COVIDESP' to get updates in Spanish.

Local Business Highlights of the Week: 

Our quick fix for all flavors of chicken and waffles, Sweet Chick, is finally open for takeout and delivery only noon - 9pm everyday!  

Sweet Science is a warm neighborhood eatery where you can always enjoy a quality meal and a great drink.Though we're missing their hip-hop gallery, takeout & delivery food and cocktails (try their frozen drinks!) menu available Tuesday - Sunday,  2:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Census

Complete the 2020 Census today at my2020census.gov! 

Resources for artists, freelancers, and gig workers

Freelancers Union Freelancers Relief Fund will offer financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs.

The Artist Community Relief Fund supports artists and arts workers in the Lower East Side and Chinatown community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides unrestricted $250 emergency grants. 

BxArts Factory Emergency Fund to Support Artists / Volunteers: an emergency fund through Go Fund Me, which will make proceeds available to artists directly connected to BxArts Factory in the Bronx.

Freelance Audio Fund provides emergency relief to the professional audio community impacted by COVID-19.

Facebook Small Business Grants Program - Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where they operate. 

Food Resources

These guides by the Hunter College Food Policy Center list all food options (including stores that offer delivery and take EBT), by neighborhood.

Find resources like how to get funding for food and where to go to find food. 

For LGBTQIA+ Communities

Black Excellence Collective: Black LGBTQIA+ mutual aid relief fund for vulnerable community members, including older adults, people with disabilities, those who engage in sex work, people who are undocumented, and those who are housing insecure. Black Trans Media: provide Black TGNC people and low-income communities of color in Brooklyn with supplies, cooked meals, groceries, and support as well as digital spaces for organizing and documenting communities' response to the pandemic. Fearless Femme 100: provides free mental health services to queer Black and Indigenous residents in Brooklyn.

People Who Are Formerly or Currently Incarcerated Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions provides post-release support for returning citizens in Brooklyn, including legal advocacy and community connections. 

Support  Release Aging People in Prison - RAPP to advocate for the release of older adults in prison, who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

For Sex Workers

SWOP Brooklyn created this relief fund that will be providing monetary aid to sex workers in the New York City area who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SWOP Brooklyn also has a panel discussion Saturday, May 23 at 6:00pm on Sex Workers during this pandemic, and resources that can be given to them. 

Undocumented Citizens

The New York State Youth Leadership Council is compiling this live document of resources in NYC around COVID19 support efforts. We are prioritizing resources open to undocumented people. 

Guidance for People Who Use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs

These guides for people who use drugs and harm reduction programs were created by: Higher Ground Harm Reduction, Reynolds Health Strategies, Harm Reduction Coalition, and Vital Strategies.

For Workers Who Need Childcare

Are you a parent who needs childcare while you work during the COVID-19 outbreak? Our volunteers are here to help you find the safest, lowest-cost options for your family. 

Housing for Frontline Workers

Let’s find you a place to call home during your COVID-19 support work.  AirBnB partnered with hosts to connect 100,000 healthcare staff and first responders with frontline stays so they can be close to their patients and safely distanced from their own families.

Internet and Technology

To help students stay connected during emergencies, the NY Department of Education is lending internet-enabled iPads to support remote learning for students. If you would like to request a device for a NYC student in your family, please fill out the form. The DOE will use the contact information you provide to get in touch with you to discuss when and where you can pick up a device. Priority will be given to students most in need, and all devices are granted on a temporary basis and will later need to be returned. There is a limit of one device per student. List of U.S Providers offering free Wi-Fi or special accommodations for 60 Days.

Remember to Follow Our Elected Officials For News:  

See what NY Senator Gillibrand is advocating for in Capitol Hill for New Yorkers on Twitter! We are Tremendously thankful for her support for Culture during this time. Thank her for us too! 

What’s going on da Hill? Follow our Senator Chuck Schumer on Twitter. We thank him for supporting NY through this pandemic, and supporting all valuable institutions in the Senate. Thank him for supporting the Brooklyn Museum so we can continue to support you! Don’t forget to @ him!  

Stay up to date with information provided by Governor Cuomo. Follow our New York State governor on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for up to date information regarding new health guidelines closures, and executive orders. 

The Mayor has a new Daily Message available on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube every morning. If your constituents have questions, comments or concerns, they want him to respond to, they can send them using the hashtag #AskMyMayor 

The City Comptroller’s COVID-19 Resource Center contains critical information on the many government programs available to assist New Yorkers in need, recent policy changes regarding health and safety, options for financial support for residents and businesses alike, and organizations to reach out to for additional assistance.

The Office of the Brooklyn Borough President provides the most up-to-date information and resources to Brooklynites. Follow these pages regularly and follow Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on social media for real-time updates.

Congresswoman for the 9th District, Yvette D. Clark is working hard in Congress to support our local communities. Follow the Congresswoman on her Twitter to receive updates on what is going on in Washington DC and resources available in your ‘hood! Thank her for supporting the Brooklyn Museum during this pandemic. @ her on at twitter, you heard?!

Follow updates and news from Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo on Facebook and Twitter. Cumbo serves as the Council Majority leader for Brooklyn’s 35th District- Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Bed-Stuy.

Check out New York City Council Member Brad Lander’s resource page aimed to help NYC-based freelancers and artists navigate these uncertain times. Have your voice heard, fill out the survey and explore what benefits might be available to you. Follow him on Twitter for important updates.

Follow updates from the NYC City Immigrant Affairs office on Twitter interested in renewing your DACA application form. Call ActionNYC at 1-800-354-0365.

Ay-O (Japanese, born 1931). Basket of Fruit with Flowers, 1971. Color serigraph. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Poster, 77.279.7. © artist or artist's estate 

[royalpain16]

Prince Harry appeared in an Instagram video, where he shared what he's been missing while in lockdown due to COVID-19

Prince Harry is known for his love of rugby — and relocating to Los Angeles with Meghan Markle and 1-year-old son Archie amid the lockdown seems to have made him appreciate the game even more.

"We all miss rugby," Harry admits in an Instagram video posted by England Rugby on Wednesday, looking tanned and healthy in an outside area of his new home of L.A.

While rugby has been totally suspended in the U.K. since March 20 due to its close-contact, highly-physical nature, the Duke of Sussex added that the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic still "hasn't taken away our spirit" — a reference to the community ethos the game prides itself on.

RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Send Letter to Youth Volunteers amid 'Scary and Testing Time'

Prince Harry Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Instagram video forms part of England Rugby's "Pitch In" campaign, which has been launched during the U.K.'s coronavirus lockdown to help English rugby teams support their local communities by hosting charity events at their clubhouses or using them to provide food to key workers and those most in need of help.

"When the game was paused, the rugby family came together as one. Thank you from all of us at England Rugby 🌹," England Rugby posted alongside the video, which features current England captain Owen Farrell and 2003 World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, who played extensively alongside Harry's cousin-in-law Mike Tindall.

A lifelong fan of the game, Harry is the Honorary President of England Rugby and traveled to Yokohama, Japan, in November 2019 to watch the team play in the World Cup Final against South Africa.

Although England didn’t win the match, losing 32-12, Harry gave South African President Cyril Ramaphosa a big hug afterward, in a sweet moment captured on the now-defunct Sussex Royal Instagram account.

“Tonight was not England’s night, but the whole nation is incredibly proud of what @EnglandRugby have achieved over the past few months," Harry wrote. "Hold your heads high boys, you did an outstanding job and we couldn’t have asked more from you.”

Afterward, the duke also visited with some of the winning South African athletes, as he congratulated the team on becoming world champions.

Away from rugby, Harry and Meghan have been busy helping out Homeboy Industries, a community social justice organization working to improve the lives of formerly incarcerated and previously gang-involved people in L.A.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just 'Harry and Meghan' to the homies," Father Greg Boyle, the group's founder said about the visit, which saw the couple prepare food for the #FeedHOPE program alongside the group's participants ("Homies") working in the café and bakery.

"They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the bakery and café. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.”

On Wednesday PEOPLE confirmed that Harry and Meghan have also taken the next big step in their post-royal life, by signing with the New York-based Harry Walker Agency for speaking engagements.

Their new venture, which was first reported by the Los Angeles Times, will see the couple engage in keynote speeches with trade associations, corporations and community forums. They will also continue to focus on social issues such as racial injustice, gender equality, mental health and environmental concerns.

[antoine-roquentin]

In August 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors made the historic decision to cancel a $1.7 billion contract to replace the dangerous and dungeon-like Men’s Central Jail, and to commit that money and effort to a “care first, jail last” ethic, instead. Then, 10 months later, near the end of a board meeting on June 23 — amid nationwide protests demanding government leaders dismantle the criminal justice system in its current form and replace it with a system focused on community health and care — Supervisors Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl proposed the board take the next step toward decarceration.

This Tuesday, July 7, at approximately 11:45 a.m., after hearing dozens of public comments, the supervisors voted unanimously to approve the motion, which directs county departments and the Alternatives to Incarceration Workgroup (ATI) to come up with a plan for closing MCJ within a year.

While a large portion of the callers that the board took expressed concern about closing the MCJ, Solis noted that the supervisors also received 1,500 emails in support of closing the jail, and just 20 in opposition to the plan.

Youth Justice Coalition’s Phal Sok, who had been incarcerated in the crumbling “concrete box” that is MCJ, urged the supervisors to decarcerate and do away with the jail.

“Speaking as someone who is directly impacted, someone who is formerly incarcerated, as someone who caused harm in our community: that cage … that you spend millions of dollars a year on did not stop me from doing that harm,” Sok said. “It is about choices that people make. Ultimately, what I needed was somebody to guide me in those choices. I needed support from folks in the community to call me, and love me, and care for me,” not a “man with a badge and a firearm.”

Now, Sok said, is the time to “listen to folks that have been impacted,” who have been incarcerated in MCJ, and to have the courage to “move away from punishment and toward accountability.”  

Tuesday’s action is the latest milestone vote down this new “care first” path on a 15-year journey toward replacing the jail, which Solis and Kuehl point out “consistently ranks among the ten worst facilities in the country.”

“It has been well-documented over at least the last 25 years, in lawsuits, federal investigations, court monitored settlement agreements, complaints, and grievances,” Tuesday’s motion stated, “that MCJ’s flawed design and infrastructure contribute greatly to the county’s inability to provide appropriate medical and mental health care, programming, recreation, and humane living conditions.”

the description kinda lowballs the level of violence here. as an overcrowded intake facility for people alleged to be gang members, staff would commit violence at the slightest infraction, rape with impunity, and facilitate both actions from other inmates in order to keep people in line. much of the facility’s population was pre-trial, in an environment where the word of the police can be the only evidence necessary to convict someone. one article named it the fourth worst prison in the country.

[strawberrysunrisewitches]

Cassie Profile

Format made by @hogwartsmysterystory​

Identity

Name: Cassandra Eliza Cresswood

Gender: Female

Birth Date: February 1973

Species: Human

Blood Status: Muggleborn

Sexuality: Lesbian

Alignment: Neutral Good

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Nationality: Scottish

Residence: Glasgow, Scotland

Myer Briggs Personality Type: Defender-ISFJ-T

The Mage

1st Wand: 10", Cedar, Phoenix tail feather

2nd Wand: 10″, Ebony Oak, Horned serpent horn (made by Bianca Firahel)

Animagus: Red Squirrel with a red heart marking on the chest

Misc Magical Abilities: Legillimens

Boggart Form: Lucia dying

Riddikulus Form: Lucia dressed as a clown

Amortentia: (What do they smell like?) Strawberries, watermelon, Lavender and roasted almonds

Amortentia: (What do they smell?)  sunflowers, honey, chocolates and mint

Patronus: Flame Skimmer Dragonfly

Patronus Memory: Getting married to Lucia(Was made up until they actually did)

Mirror of Erised: She and Lucia having a happy family together

Specialized/Favourite Spells:

Protego

Carpe Retractum

Depulso

Episkey

Incarcerous

Orchideous (She used this spell to help ask out Lucia)

Appearance

Faceclaim:

Height: 5′3

Weight: 138lbs

Physique: Muscled arms, quite curvaceous

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Red

Skin Tone: Pale

Body Modifications: Tattoo of a sunflower with multiple sunflowers wrapped around her left arm, around her stomach she has six daffodils forming a heart, In her seventh year she dyed a part of her hair blonde

Scarring: Scar going vertically down left eye, X- shaped scar on the middle of her chest and a scar on her right side of her waist

Inventory: Wand, Dragonfly Brooch gifted by her sister, a charm bracelet that matches with Lucia’s, dragonfly species books, a locket with photos of Sierra and Lucia in it, multiple songbooks  

Allegiances

Hogwarts House: Slytherin 

Ilvermorny House:Horned Serpent

Affiliations/Organizations:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Slytherin

Prefects

Arcuri Family

Professions:

Wand Maker(Briefly)

Magizoologist(Formerly)

Baker

Hogwarts Information

Class Proficiencies:

Astronomy: 5/10 (A)

Charms:  9/10 (O)

DADA: 8/10 (O)

Flying: 7/10 (E)

Herbology: 6/10 (E)

History of Magic:  5/10 (A)

Potions: 4/10 (P)

Transfiguration:8/10 (O)

Electives:

CoMC 7/10 (E)

Music:  7/10 (E)

Ancient Runes:  8/10 (O)

Quidditch: Beater

Extra Curricular:

Frog Choir

Dueling Club

Slytherin Quidditch Team(Beater)

Favourite Professors:

Professor Snape: Despite her skills at potion making being subpar, Cassie trusts Snape and his teaching, she just believes she is not suited for potion making. Snape shared her distrust of Rakepick which Cassie was relieved as many of her friends did not and he helped train her legillimency after the vault, she was also thankful for him giving Lucia the garroting gas as it saved their lives from Rakepick

Professor Flitwick: Cassie took to charms like a duck to water which she attributes to Flitwick’s kind and understanding nature which always encouraged her when she attended his classes and she always looks forward to learning any new charms from him even if she intends on using them to break the rules

Least Favourite Professors:

Rakepick: Cassie never trusted Rakepick from the outset and made this known to all her friends in an effort to keep them safe. When her true nature was revealed in the portrait vault, Cassie was not surprised but she did not expect the things she would do to them.

Professor Trelawney: Cassie does not believe in her teaching Divination, does not believe in any of her prophecies and dismisses them as pure superstition. She believes that someone who is a proven seer should teach instead.

Relationships

Sister: Sierra Arcuri(Nee Cresswood)

Muggleborn

Gryffindor

Shoulder length red hair that fades to dirty blonde, brown eyes, lithe build

Duck animagus

She is a muggle veterinarian 

Cassie is closer to Sierra than to her parents especially so after year 3, Every time Sierra returned from Hogwarts, she would regale Cassie with everything she learnt and Cassie listened with great enthusiasm every time. Sierra was the first person Cassie told about her crush on Lucia

Father: Edward Cresswood

Muggle

Buzzcut red hair, brown eyes, pudgy build

He is a entomologist 

Edward was the one who got Cassie interested in dragonflies when she was young and is very caring to his kids to a certain extent, Before year 3 he supported his daughters in everything they did and worried about how Cassie’s introvertedness could affect her. Eventually he grew hatred towards Sierra and eventually Cassie aswell for their sexualities.

Mother: Joan Cresswood

Muggle

long red hair, brown eyes, svelte build

She is a published writer

She is the reason why Edward became homophobic in that she was able to convince him that LGBT+ people are wrong to exist and just like Edward she cared about Sierra and Cassie up until that point. She believes that the magic world corrupted her daughters and made them stray from what she saw as their path.

Love Interest: Lucia Firahel

Best Friends: 

Rowan Khanna

Talbott Winger

Chiara Lobosca

Rival: Rebecca Lord ( @cursed-ice-spirits​ ) in Quidditch

Enemies:

R

Rakepick

Death Eaters

Voldemort

Dormmates: (Who’s in your MC’s dorm with them?)

Merula Snyde

Ismelda Murk

Liz Tuttle

Pets:

A Elf Owl named Syl

When she moves out into her own house, she gets a samoyed named Mayhem and three ragdoll cats named Cassia, Yuki and Pixel

Closest Canon Friends:

Rowan Khanna

Talbott Winger

Chiara Lobosca

Closest MC Friends:

Lauren Shields

Rebecca Lord ( @cursed-ice-spirits​ )

Background/History

Cassie grew up in Glasgow, she was very much an inside child always reading books whenever she could, the times she was outside it was to hunt for dragonflies that she saw in her books

When Sierra got her Hogwarts letter, Cassie was incredibly interested in all things magical and begged Sierra when she returns to tell her everything she can.

Cassie learnt about Cirilo and the cursed vaults from Sierra and became determined to prove they exist if she gets accepted to Hogwarts.

A few years later, her wish came true and she was accepted to Hogwarts where she started reading everything she could to do with magic and chose to neglect to gain any friends 

This changed in Year 2 when Lucia Firahel searched the Library for anything pertaining to the Cursed Vaults which was also what Cassie was doing, Lucia’s cheery personality and persistence in talking to Cassie broke through her antisocial exterior and it was here that Cassie developed a crush on Lucia

Next year was one of the worst years of Cassie’s life when Sierra came out to her parents who were disgusted and disowned her. This event hurt Cassie mentally and emotionally to such an extent that she avoided Lucia for weeks until she was able to sit Cassie down with the help of all her friends and find out what the problem was. Lucia promised that if living with her parents ever got too bad then she has a place at her home which increased the intensity of Cassie’s crush on Lucia

In year four Lucia asked Cassie to the celestial ball which excited her a lot until Lucia intended it as just friends which caused Cassie to be less excited but still pretty excited. 

After the ball, Cassie with encouragement from Sierra asked out Lucia though they tried to keep it secret to the school

In year five her legillimency was used by Rakepick to enter the Portrait Vault along with Lucia, Merula, Bill and Ben. When Rakepick betrayed them to say she wasn’t shocked would be very apt, fortunately Lucia was able to make Rakepick go away through the garroting gas

The next year, Cassie was relieved beyond belief when Lucia revealed she will no longer be going after the cursed vaults which meant Cassie wouldn’t have to worry about Lucia’s safety anymore

However she was scared and angry when Ben and Merula made Lucia come with them to the Forbidden Forest, a fear which she was right to have as Rakepick did try to kill them there but thankfully she failed and Lucia survived

It was also during this year that her relationship with Lucia was revealed to the school when they were caught kissing before a quidditch match

In year 7 once she turned 18 Cassie got her arm tattoo so that even if they are apart she is always fighting alongside Lucia

In the final battle against R, Cassie singlehandedly kept any members of R from interfering with Lucia and Rakepick’s duel, killing any who kept trying to do so

After she graduates, she briefly becomes a wand maker under Lucia’s mother and a part-time magizoologist before finally becoming a baker with Lucia

Four years after she graduates, she has her first daughters, Selene and Alissa with Lucia

When Voldemort returned she was openly defiant of him and joined the Order of the Phoenix. She also sheltered Muggleborns where she could and commonly was found dueling Death Eaters sent after her and her family alongside Lucia

Three years after Selene and Alissa’s birth Lucia gave birth to Aurea

Cassie took part in the Battle of Hogwarts with Lucia staying behind to protect their family. When Cassie learnt of Tonks’ death it was as if Lucia’s anger that she would have flowed into her and when the battle recommenced after the armistice ended, every death eater and creature that faced her met a gruesome end, most of the death eaters were unrecognizable at the end of the battle due to the full extent of Cassie’s attacks. Cassie survived the battle and returned home to Lucia’s relief and the two were able to live their lives in peace

Personality

Cassie is highly ambitious to an almost extreme degree, before Hogwarts she willingly chose to not befriend anyone to focus on schoolwork instead, this backfired on her in that due to the lack of social skill development she was very shy and avoided people out of shyness rather than willingly when she started Hogwarts. She eventually overcame this shyness over the years with the help of Lucia and her friends.

 She also has an incredible competitive streak that comes out when she takes part in any competition and is always seen in Quidditch especially once Lucia started watching her matches.

She struggles with emotional situations and will always leave it to others to deal with that stuff, she hates this part of her as many of her friends deal with emotional breakdowns multiple times over the years and she never knows how to help.

Once she is befriended she will never let a single bad word be said about her friends without her shutting them up and will never give up on her friends no matter what. If you aren’t her friend and you wrong her and/or her friends then never expect her to forgive or forget ever.

Misc

The names of her five daughters are; Alissa Dawn, Selene Abigail, Aurea Amara, Roxanna Amber, Rebecca Ciana and Hannah Chiara Firahel

She is fluent in English, Scottish Gaelic and Italian which Lucia taught to her

Has a pretty strong Scottish accent which never goes away with age

She’s left handed

She got her scars from a magical accident involving a spell Lucia was working on

She has a fear of bees from an incident when she threw a rock at a beehive when she was young and the swarm chased her until she got inside safely

She only joined Quidditch at first because she wanted to experience Quidditch up close but her competitive streak soon took over and she started loving it but she  never wanted to be a professional quidditch player

She was taught to sing by her sister, Sierra and was a great singer out of the gates

She’s had two dragonfly brooches in her life, the first was from her parents but after they disowned Sierra she threw it into the Black Lake 

She is really only physically affectionate with Lucia, that is not to say she is touch scared or won’t reject hugs from her friends but she won’t be the one to initiate any hugs

She is very knowledgeable about everything related to dragonflies 

She can in theory cast all three unforgivable curses 

When she graduated, she packed her stuff and left home immediately kissing Lucia in front of her parents as a big fuck you to them for how they treated Sierra and her

[fcb4]

Why I stand against the sin of Racism but won’t kneel before the platform of Black Lives Matter

I find it imperative that I as a Christian, a Pastor and an American citizen articulate my position on current cultural matters regarding BLM.

The rise and recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the death of George Floyd is seeking to define and determine the only allowed narrative. The resulting protests, riots and the unfolding demands and denunciations of the BLM movement require Christians and Faith leaders to listen, respond and act with biblical, well-reasoned responses and with a reasonable and charitable posture.

Platforms matter and that is what I first examine in discerning the world view of any movement. At this moment I find the BLM movement has serious disagreement and departures from historic, conservative evangelical, moderate faith and politics.

Below are 4 platform examples with links to sources where you can read further. I also provide links to resources that explain the driving ideological force behind the BLM movement called Critical Race Theory. These links are for further study but I believe the BLM sources and statements provide plenty of material to discern for yourselves.

You must be diligent to study for yourself and determine if the platform of the BLM movement reflects the biblical vision of Justice and Love or seeks to repeal and replace it.

Regarding Family:

“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable. We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).“ https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/

Regarding Reparations:

“We demand reparations for past and continuing harms. The government, responsible corporations and other institutions that have profited off of the harm they have inflicted on Black people — from colonialism to slavery through food and housing redlining, mass incarceration, and surveillance — must repair the harm done. This includes: Reparations for the systemic denial of access to high quality educational opportunities in the form of full and free access for all Black people (including undocumented and currently and formerly incarcerated people) to lifetime education including: free access and open admissions to public community colleges and universities, technical education (technology, trade and agricultural), educational support programs, retroactive forgiveness of student loans, and support for lifetime learning programs.” -https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/reparations/

Abolitionist Claims:

“We believe that prisons, police and all other institutions that inflict violence on Black people must be abolished and replaced by institutions that value and affirm the flourishing of Black lives.” https://m4bl.org/about-us/

Pro-Choice Stance

“We deserve and thus we demand reproductive justice that gives us autonomy over our bodies and our identities…” -https://blacklivesmatter.com/responsestate-of-the-union/

Regarding Critical Theory

-Intro to Critical Theory: Neil Shenvi https://shenviapologetics.com/intro-to-critical-theory/

-Alias Childers interview with Monique Duson, founder of the Center for Biblical Unity on racism, biblical justice, and some of the words and phrases we're seeing in our social media newsfeeds like "white fragility," "whiteness," and "social justice." https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-alisa-childers-podcast/id1260262855?i=1000477370856

-“CRT is also hijacking many churches and Christian universities. So Christians need to know how to recognize when CRT ideas are being introduced into their local church. It's also vital that Christian parents train themselves in the basics of CRT so they can discuss it with their children and warn them about this error.” https://www.theologymom.com/post/the-great-awokening

[brokemultidotexe]

I know of my white privilege...

Lately I wake up feeling like i'm living in the dystopian novels I love to read. Between COVID-19 pandemic and the fight for social injustice for African Americans that is currently sweeping our nation, it almost feels like this can't be real.

I will be honest and say that with my white privilege things like this aren't on my mind constantly. It is something I personally deal with and i'm disappointed in myself that it takes something so inhumane to ignite the need to speak up. If you were to ask me if i support the african american community and what they are fighting against i would tell you absolutely, but it shouldn't take someone asking me. It shouldn't take someone losing their life for me to speak out.

I came across a post the other day that absolutely struck a cord with me and has caused me to look deeper within myself and the privileged life i live. i don't have to worry about what will happen if my family were to get pulled over by the cops. I don't have to worry about someone profiling me or my child. The things i have to worry about as a parent is a lot less than those of another race. I'm not even speaking about JUST the african american community, i'm talking about any and all race whose skin is dark and beautiful. I came across a list of names, many that i had never heard of that faced the same injustice and brutality that George Floyd faced. Many names that were never given a headline or visibility. I will be making a separate post with those names because they deserve to be seen and noticed and validated that they are no less important than George Floyd and the many others we have seen on TV for all the wrong reasons.

Situations like these always sober me up and make me truly look at myself and my privilege and the injustice other people face daily. Huntsville is filled with people of every race, we are diverse, we have many languages, and many different beliefs within a single community. I grew up playing alongside kids of every color, because i was lucky to be born in a time where segregation by law was no longer. I grew up in a family where everyone was welcome and became family, i was taught that every human being has rights and should be treated with respect no matter their skin color, religion, beliefs, etc...

I want my child to have the same privilege i did by having friends of all races and beliefs. I want my kid to understand that while we live in a country that is making the same mistakes over and over it does not mean they should become complacent with how the world is. I want them to realize that while their voice may be small in a vast world, it is still one more voice to be heard.

I know this is a long post but if you have the funds to donate to the Act Blue Fund, which is helping peaceful protestors that are our boots on the group and making the voice of the many that much louder, that would be wonderful. This fund was founded by the group Progressives Everywhere and is specifically geared towards helping any protestors that have been unfairly arrested, I have included more information on the Act Blue Fund below. If you feel that this nonprofit does not align with your views or beliefs i have listed other non-profits below that are helping fight injustice in many different ways.

As for me personally, I unfortunately cannot take part in any protests due to my job. I work for the government and doing so could put my job at risk and I am the main "bread winner" within my family. So everyone who is out there doing the hard work, helping people like me so our voices can be heard...i thank you from the deepest part of my soul. While I wish I could be along side of you, the only thing I can do is donate to various causes that will hopefully help protect you. Stay healthy, stay safe, and WEAR A MASK !

If you plan to protest protect yourself by doing the following:

GRAB A MASK COVID-19 numbers have increased by over 15,000 within the last 24 hours and a lot of government entities are using Facebook and other social media sites for facial recognition.

SET ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES TO PRIVATE so the only thing available for facial recognition software would be your profile picture (note: odds are they already have your pictures within a database because once you post a picture it's out there forever, but setting to private would block them from a lot of other personal information)

DISABLE BIOMETRICS (finger print unlock) on your phone whole out protesting so police cannot force you to unlock your phone.

If you're like me and struggle to decide where to donate to the Act Blue Fund allows you to donate and it will automatically split your donation equally between all listed non-profits that are taking part in helping post bail to protestors fighting for injustice. Act Blue also allows you to choose multiple nonprofits you would like to donate to and you can input the exact amount you would like to donate to each. The donation website is confirmed to be secure so you can be sure that all your card information is safe. More information on the Act Blue Fund can be found below...

Progressives Everywhere has created a fund devoted to help low-income people, protestors and bystanders who have been unfairly arrested and must post high cash bails (another feature of our unjust system).

Groups include:

Brooklyn Community Bail Fund

Louisville Community Bail Fund

The Bail Project

Massachusetts Bail Fund

Chicago Community Bond Fund

Northwest Community Bail Fund

Michigan Solidarity Bail Fund

Restoring Justice (Houston)

Philadelphia Bail Fund

National Bail Out

NorCal Resist Activist Bail & ICE Bond Fund

Baltimore Action Legal Team

Columbus Freedom Fund

OTHER NON-PROFITS:

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 75 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments

They valude a society that vaules its people, their freedom and recognizes their contribution to the greater good. A society that does not condition pretrial freedom on class or identity, that has ended mass incarceration, and that invests in restorative and transformative injustice.

Equal Injustice Initiative: A nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. They challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment and we provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people.

Founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, they are winning immediate improvements in our lives.

*if you know of any other non-profits that would fall within this category please message me or send an ask with the name and if possible the URL and I will add it to this post.

People who are looting and vandalizing are NOT protesting for a cause they are opportunist using the current situation to cause havoc.

[adeliriouswanderer]

American Fascism, Racism, and the Trump Cult

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything on policy or politics. Quarantine has left me with what seems like an infinite amount of time to reflect on our countries current state of affairs—and as cliché as this sounds, it feels as if we are living in dark times indeed.

Since our current regime began in 2016, all of the progressive policies of the Obama era have been eradicated by an egotistical fascist. Far-right and white supremacist ideologies are being pushed as the new normal by those who fear that their position of power is being threatened by minorities and anyone left of center. A center that is very quickly skewing farther and farther right on the political spectrum. Folks who hold these far-right ideologies have historically been threatened by people of color, folks who identify as LGBTQIA, feminists, women’s rights champions, and others who voice opinions that are different than the rights self-absorbed narrative. Especially when these folks attempt to find seats at the decision-making table.

Our current regime fears these opinions so much that they attempt to silence anyone who speaks out against their clearly fascist policies and statements by convincing their base that our voices and opinions are being incited by “fake news” or as Trump loves to call it, the “lamestream media”. This regime has convinced it’s cult-like followers that any media coverage that does not stroke the ego of the POTUS or any coverage that speaks out against his archaic, and often false views/statements, are untrue accusations and that he is being unfairly targeted. Trump continuously lies to his base and the American people, and when he is called out on his lies, both he and his base scream fake news. The POTUS has convinced his base that democrats are sheep to the media who are trying their best to undermine all of the “great” work he is doing for Americans. Despite Trump not keeping his promises to his base, they still follow him with what feels like a Jim Jones cult mindset.  Take this video where trump easily brainwashes his followers into ignoring how his he is lining his and other billionaires pockets by attempting to convince his base, who largely consist of poor/working-class white folks, that they are the “elite”:  

They see no wrong in Trump's behavior. How is that Trump has convinced millions of people to blindly follow his every whim? You see, as badly as it pains me to state this, Trump is not the cause of these deeply rooted, bigoted, ideologies. They have been around since the founding of America. Like a festering cancer that sometimes quietly goes into remission, but is still there, waiting for the body to become weakened so that it can make a reappearance. Folks have long held onto their bigoted ways, Trump simply gave a platform where these ideologies could be voiced and he emboldened those who held them to speak out louder than ever. After having a president in office that championed for the rights of minorities, the right was fearful of being forgotten and worried that their ideologies would be silenced. This fear ultimately led right-wing voters to vote for and blindly follow anyone spoke out in favor of their bigoted beliefs. And trump happened to be the loudest and most aggressive at the time. The right touted his down to earthiness and non-political way of speaking. Trump is praised for “telling it like it is” because for a while, at the turn of the century, white folks seemed partly scared to fully voice what they really thought about anyone who wasn’t white and straight. That’s not the case anymore.

I find it appalling that in 2020, I can scroll through the comment section on any article related to race and find a plethora of comments written by white right-wings and conservatives insinuating that there is no race problem in America. They state racism does not exist; they unquestionably believe that there is a level playing field between white folks and people of color, and that white privilege does not exist.  Much like Social Darwinist, these folks believe that people of color and folks experiencing poverty are inherently responsible for their less than status in society. That they’re lazy and unwilling to pull themselves up by the bootstraps because it’s more convenient for them to live off of the government-- like the infamously stereotypical welfare queen, a term coined in 1974, by George Bliss of the Chicago Tribune in his articles about Linda Taylor.

These folks fail to realize that people of color and people experiencing poverty are a result of systematic and institutional racism designed to enslave people of color and keep them from sitting at the decision-making table. Further, they don’t understand how poverty rolls off the back of parents and onto children—how hard it is for children to break intergenerational cycles. Take Kaitlin Bennet, the infamous gun girl of Kent State. She hosts a youtube channel where her main “goal” is to “expose the corruption and demoralization” of the “liberal left.” In this following clip, Kaitlin states that there is no racism in America because she is surrounded by people of color on a daily basis, as if their very existence is somehow justification as to why racism doesn’t exist. She states that some lives are inherently more valuable than others and that those who are experiencing homelessness should get a job. When Kaitlin realized she had couldn’t win a baseless argument against two obviously educated college students, she had to resort to personal attacks against James's sexuality. She’s edited out the word racist or racism from her videos because apparently those words demonetize her youtube videos and she loses money for including those words. 

Let’s break down one of the systems that these folks so eagerly deny and blindly ignore-- the prison industrial complex. In the 80s, Reagan turned the metaphorical “war on drugs” into an actual initiative that was put forth by a seemingly racist governmental body whose aim was to create a caste system to ensure people of color would never rise out of poverty. While Raegan solidified these new forms of discrimination against people of color, it was Nixon who set the stage for the systematic incarceration of black and brown people through his Southern Strategy. As civil rights activists worked to dismantle the Jim Crow laws of the south, Nixon and other politicians began to create a strategy that would ensure votes from whites who aligned with both the conservative republican party and the left-leaning democratic party.

The “Southern Strategy” was ultimately a political movement that aimed to garner votes from white Americans from both sides of the political spectrum by antagonizing racialized fears in the white populace. The campaign painted an image that portrayed people of color as deserving of being poor and uneducated-- it pathologized them as criminals and deserving of their second-class place in society because they simply could not rise above their uncivilized ways. Michelle Alexander states:

The racialized nature of this imagery became a crucial resource for conservatives, who succeeded in using law and order rhetoric in their effort to mobilize the resentment of white working-class voters, many of whom felt threatened by the sudden progress of African Americans.

This campaign ultimately led to Reagan’s 1982 War on Drugs, and his later establishment of mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which were enacted through his Anti-Drug Abuse Act of1986. After Raegan’s enactment of AABA, the numbers of incarcerated black and Hispanic men skyrocketed creating an overpopulated prison system that led the way for privatization. Republicans laid the foundation for mass incarceration of people of color, and democrats solidified the systemic discrimination and oppression that would soon follow a person who was formerly incarcerated throughout their life.

The Clinton (D) administration enacted laws banning drug offenders and felons from receiving public assistance in the form of financial aid or food stamps, denying them the ability to public housing, and stripping them of their right to vote. These combined laws on part of both democrats and republicans led to the creation of a caste system that created a populace of second-class citizens, who were stripped of their most basic rights—this group was disproportionately made up of people of color. Less than 5% of the world's population, has nearly 25% of the world's incarcerated population. Black people make up about 13 percent of the U.S population and 31 percent of those incarcerated for drug use—Latinos make up an additional 18 percent of the total U.S population and account for 20 percent of those incarcerated for drug use. It is important to note that crime is equally distributed between all races, but the impact of policies of the 1980s and 1990s has been anything but evenly distributed-- black men are eight times more likely to be incarcerated than white men and nearly a third of young black men are under criminal justice system control.

These laws have persisted throughout the last three decades and allow for a system that systematically discriminates against an entire sub-group of individuals. When formerly incarcerated people are released from prison they have very little support from institutions designed to provide help to the most vulnerable populations in the U.S. They typically can not get into public housing and private landlords can legally turn them away citing their criminal history as a reason. Formerly incarcerated persons cannot receive federal financial aid to further their education-- and if they do manage to pay for school, most jobs will not even look at their resume, much less hire them because of their felon status. Further, formerly incarcerated persons cannot receive public assistance benefits such as food stamps. A lack of social support leaves these individuals at a high risk of reoffending just so they can survive in the outside world, which ultimately locks them into a brutal cycle of flowing in and out of the prison industrial complex.

It seemed like during the Obama era, there was hope; a hope that our country could heal from our divisive history of viewing anyone other than white straight cis men who are most valued, followed by white straight cis women, as something other than less than. Because, let’s be honest, many folks along all lines of the political spectrum have never fully respected the opinions and lives of people of color, LGBTQIA folks, immigrants, etc. We have been and still are, just tolerated. That’s why Obama was a breath of fresh air. He attempted, and sometimes succeeded, in eradicating archaic policies like the militaries don’t ask don’t tell policy, championed for the rights of minorities and immigrants through bills like DACA, attempted to ensure those who were poor had access to health care. President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative on February 27, 2014, to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people could reach their full potential. These were just a few of the many ways Obama worked to level the playing field for those who were not born into the western version of the genetic lottery. 

What is it going to take to heal our country and end these systems of violence against black and brown people? When are we going to step up and not give media attention and not vote in folks who are so clearly bigoted to positions where they can continue to marginalize already vulnerable populations? When will this hate for those viewed as other, less than, die out? Is this our new reality for the unforeseeable future? The biggest question of all is: when will the right figure out that Trump doesn’t have any of their best interest in mind? When will they realize that he’s sitting on one of his many gold toilets and shitting on America?

I want to live in a country where equity is at the forefront of our minds; where people strive to ensure all of their neighbors have equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or class. We must continue to use our voices to speak up for the oppressed and vulnerable, and VOTE for folks who believe in an equal and just society. Will 2020 usher in voices into the political sphere that are representative of folks from all walks of life, or will it be the same bullshit we’ve had for nearly 244 years since America was founded?