Monthly Archives: January 2016

Supporting the Voices Inside: The Freedom Archives

“When the prison doors are opened the real dragon will fly out.” -Ho Chi Minh The movements to end mass incarceration were re-invigorated in early September as a settlement in the class action lawsuit Ashker v. Governor of California was … Continue reading

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The Perfect Cellie

I was recently asked what makes a perfect cellie. While there are, in fact, good cellies and bad cellies, for various reasons the only perfect cellie is an imaginary cellie. That’s because: •    Imaginary cellies are never shut-ins. They leave … Continue reading

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How Champaign’s Segregated North End was Created 1940 – 1960

Housing discrimination does not just happen. It is created. And it results in poor race relations in all other areas of community living. Champaign-Urbana’s housing history is a history of racially restrictive covenants, segregated separate and unequal housing stock and … Continue reading

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UI Students of Color Report Harassment, Threats and Criminalization

Last November, Black Students for Revolution organized a “Black Student Solidarity Rally” with the purpose “simply to show that Black students at UIUC stand in solidarity with Black students across the country.” Not long after, Black students and activists who … Continue reading

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Terrorism and Endless War

Terrorism is the use of violence to achieve political ends. Terrorism can be used by both non-state and state actors. Non-State Terrorism This is how non-state terrorism works: a weak group tricks a stronger adversary into defeating itself. Terrorist-provoked fear … Continue reading

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Picture Yourself Watching a Painting Dry and Loving It

Ready for a brain change? Try watching a languorous, lovely film. Skill is required. But like a meditation practice, it is worth the effort. Or travel the world through imagination and time. I suggest four vehicles below from South Korea, … Continue reading

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France: The Power of Le Pens

The Left has done well in some recent elections in Southern Europe- in Greece, Portugal, and, most recently, Spain. But not in France. The Socialists, who are now in power, took a terrible beating in the December 2015 regional elections. … Continue reading

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Barbara Kessel Wins Burgess-Freiburg Award

Local activist Barbara Kessel has just won the James R. Burgess Jr.-Susan Freiburg Humanitarian Award. It was presented at the 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Countywide Celebration at Parkland College on January 15th. Barbara received the award for her … Continue reading

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Announcement My Brooklyn

Kelly Anderson’s My Brooklyn will be shown on Wednesday, February 17 at 6:00pm at the Champaign Public Library, and on Thursday, February 18 at 7:30pm on campus in Plym Auditorium, Temple Buell Hall. The director will attend both viewings, and … Continue reading

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University YMCA Friday Forum: Breaking Down Racism

BREAKING DOWN RACISM: Fighting for Racial Justice in the U.S. Spring 2016 Friday Forum lecture series YMCA of the University of Illinois | universityymca.org The Spring 2016 Friday Forum lecture series builds on the Fall 2015 series by highlighting specific … Continue reading

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#TuitionMustFall: The Radical Black Student Movement in 2016 & Beyond

Outside of the distraction that is the presidential election season, radical black students within this country have been reinvigorated in our fight against white supremacy and capitalism.  While some organizations are still ambiguous about their ideological foundation, one point must … Continue reading

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