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Category Archives: Politics
Don’t Ask Me to Mourn Kirk: White Grief, Black Truth
Charlie Kirk is dead. For some, that sentence alone stirs discomfort, because you’ve already been trained to mourn. But not all deaths are tragic. Sometimes people live in such a way that when they die, the earth exhales. Kirk was … Continue reading
Posted in African American history, African Americans, African Americans, Alt-Right, Politics, Politics, Racism, Section, Voices
Tagged African Americans, alt-Right, Black church, Charlie Kirk, political hypocrisy, racism
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Mamdani’s Masterclass: The Winning Path for Democrats
New York did it. Its people elected Zohran Mamdani as mayor of America’s largest city. The 34-year-old democratic socialist, immigrant from Uganda, and two-term state assemblyman not only put the disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo and his political machine into … Continue reading
In Celebration of My Political Advisor-Turned-Surrogate Father: Belden Fields
In 2025, in my eleventh year serving Champaign-Urbana as state representative, the world seems to be coming apart at the seams. We have a madman in the White House, who is shredding the last remnants of dignity our country had … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, In Memoriam, Politics, Politics, Section, Voices, Women
Tagged Belden Fields, Illinois state politics, In Memoriam, local politics
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Belden’s French Connection
I met Belden in 1963. We both were residents at the Cité Universitaire Internationale and attended the same seminar on the 1930s at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po). It was the start of a close friendship spanning … Continue reading
Posted in 1968, 1968 Revolt, France, In Memoriam, International, International, Politics, Section, Students
Tagged 1968 revolt, Belden Fields, France, In Memoriam, International, politics, students
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Indivisible Illinois Empowers Progressive Advocates
Indivisible began at the national level after the 2016 election. A few Democratic congressional staffers decided that there needed to be a grassroots movement on the left similar to the Tea Party movement on the right. Since then, the Indivisible … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Politics, Politics, Section, Trump
Tagged democracy, grassroots politics, Indivisible, organizing, protest, second Trump administration
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Israel Anti-Boycott Act a Threat to Free Speech
As part of our continuing republication of past articles written by our late cofounder, editorial collective member, and longtime social activist Belden Fields, we chose the article below, from our September 2017 issue, for its clear relevance to the ongoing, … Continue reading
Posted in Boycott, Free Speech, Israel/Palestine, Politics, Politics, Section, World-wide death and suffering
Tagged BDS, civil liberties, freedom of association, freedom of speech, Israel/Palestine, politics
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The Democrats’ Debacle: The Path Forward for the Left
Buckle up—it’s happening again. Donald Trump will be president of the United States on January 20, 2025. The next four years will be a constant struggle, as we fight to retain the meager rights and supports we currently possess … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, Elections, Gaza, Inequality, Politics, Politics, Section, Supreme Court, Trump
Tagged Democratic Pary, economy, politics, second Trump admiistration, working-class issues
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The Poor People’s Campaign Continues
The Poor People’s Campaign is a grassroots movement that began in the 1960s and continues to this day, aiming to address issues of poverty, inequality, and social justice in the United States. The campaign was initially launched by Rev. Dr. … Continue reading
The Making of a Social Justice Priest
Compiled by Janice Jayes from interviews she recorded between 2018 and 2023, in which Father Tom reflected on the many experiences that expanded his vision of moral responsibilities in the decades after his 1960 ordination. Daniel Berrigan and the Challenges … Continue reading
Posted in Latin America, Peace movement, Politics, Religious radicalism, Sanctuary movement, Vietnam War, Violence, War, World-wide death and suffering
Tagged antiwar activism, faith and politics, Iraq War, peace movement, religious studies, Vietnam War
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Ukrainian Refugees and National(ist) Politics in Eastern Europe
In an article in our last issue (November-December Public i), I used the case of Hungary—its positive reception of Ukrainian refugees, alongside its negative role in hindering EU political and material support of Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression—to … Continue reading
Posted in Eastern Europe, Immigrants, International, International, Poland, Politics, Refugees, Section, Ukraine
Tagged Eastern Europe, Immigrants, migrant politics, refugees, Ukraine War, Ukrainian refugees
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Ukraine, Hungarian Refugee Politics, and the Future of Migrants in the EU
The February 24, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine unleashed, in addition to death, destruction, and hardship on the Ukrainian people as a whole, a wave of refugees not seen in Europe since World War II. Over six million Ukrainians were … Continue reading
Posted in Eastern Europe, International, International, Politics, Refugees, Section, Ukraine
Tagged Hungary, migrant politics, migration, Ukraine War, Ukrainian refugees
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Should Ukrainians Surrender for World Peace?
The February 24 one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw no respite for either the volunteer and professional Ukrainian troops or the civilian population. The Russian-occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine and the areas along the military … Continue reading
Posted in Eastern Europe, International, International, Politics, Section, Ukraine, War
Tagged Eastern Europe, peace, the Left, Ukraine, war
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Who’s Your Family?
Having just survived the winter holidays, the stressors and supports brought about by family could not be more present in our minds. However, for some of us in the American workforce, even the discussion of our loved ones at home … Continue reading
Posted in Community, Human Rights, LGBTQ, Politics, Section
Tagged community, family, human rights, LBGTQ+
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The Move toward Socialism in the United States
People on the Left are understandably preoccupied with the growing strength of fascism, white supremacist and antisemitic rhetoric and violence, and the growth of extreme right-wing groups. There is no doubt that these developments represent an obstacle to badly needed … Continue reading
Posted in Labor, Politics, Politics, socialism
Tagged labor history, politics, socialism, US history
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A Time of Monsters: The New Nadir and the Crisis of the Black Worker
We currently reside in what Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci called “A Time of Monsters.” Exacerbated by the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, the Black working classes continue to struggle under what Black Studies scholar Sundiata Cha-Jua has dubbed “the New Nadir.” For … Continue reading
Posted in African Americans, African Americans, Economy, labor, Labor/Economics, Politics
Tagged Black workers, economic inequality, economic racism, new nadir, underemployment
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Champaign Can End its Housing Discrimination
As previously reported in the Public i, housing discrimination in Champaign is a chronic issue. Following on the “tough on crime era,” since 1994 Champaign has allowed landlords to reject tenant lease applications based on their conviction record—in excess of … Continue reading
Posted in Champaign County, Housing, Politics, Politics, racial segregation in Champaign/Urbana
Tagged Champaign City Council, community activism, housing discrimination
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Progressive Dilemmas on Ukraine
The Left has tangled itself in knots over how to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Early statements, such as by CodePink and Black Alliance for Peace, while putatively opposing war, laid emphasis on US and Western responsibility, NATO’s … Continue reading
Posted in Eastern Europe, Foreign Policy, Imperialism, International, International, Politics, Refugees, Ukraine, War
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The Great De-Centering: The World after Ukraine
The Ukraine war is a turning point in history, but not the one you might be expecting. It won’t revive the Cold War. It won’t determine the survival of the Liberal World Order (whatever that is). And most decidedly, it … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign Policy, International, International, Middle East, Politics, Racism, Ukraine, War
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What’s With All That Socialism in South America?
The past twenty or so years in South America have seen several powerful electoral victories of socialist-aligned candidates and parties, followed by years of reform. Eventually the momentum for change slowed, however, to be followed by disappointment and defeat. This … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Imperialism, International, Latin America, Politics, Section, socialism
Tagged Bolivia, economics, Ecuador, political theory, socialism, South America, Venezuela
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Victory! Dynegy Will Move Its Ash
No More “Cap and Run” After a multi-year campaign calling for the clean-up of coal ash along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion, Illinois’ only National Scenic River, Dynegy Midwest Generation, owner of the coal ash, has finally agreed to … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Environment, IL, Politics
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