Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 13h

Because Antifa is not a club. It is a philosophy or a movement. I just don't know how else you say that literally Antifa stands for anti-fascism. So if you are, by definition, against anti-fascism, you are a fascist.

1 5

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 13h

Now they're talking to the girlfriend of the founder. So they went back in time and found the first person who stood up to fascism back in the early 20th century, and they found his girlfriend, and that's who they talked to.

or maybe they went grave robbing

or maybe they're ghost hunting

1

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 13h

I am so tired of hearing Trump and his sycophants talking about Antifa like it's a club. And people eat this stuff up. I just can't anymore.

Black-and-white cartoon image of four skeletons dancing in a graveyard, taken from a vintage animation. The top text says: “THE ‘FOUNDER’ OF ANTIFA AND HIS FRIENDS.” The bottom text reads: “GETTING READY FOR THEIR MEETING.” The meme humorously mocks the idea that Antifa has an official founder by depicting skeletons preparing for a meeting.

1 1 5

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 13h

My 5th great-grandparents, James and Sophia Clemens, were born enslaved and built freedom from the ground up.
James became one of Ohio’s first Black landowners. Sophia kept the faith, the home, and the fire. They didn’t just survive history...they made it.

Their voices still echo through mine. 🖤

A historic two-story brick farmhouse with a metal roof and boarded-up windows stands surrounded by green grass and trees under a partly cloudy sky. The weathered home, once owned by James and Sophia Clemens, reflects both the endurance and neglect of an important Black history landmark.

1 1 9

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 18h

James W.C. Pennington escaped slavery, taught himself what schools denied him, and used his ministry to educate others.

He sat outside Yale classrooms because they wouldn’t let him in and still showed up. That’s resilience and resistance.

#VoicesThatMatter

The almost forgotten Black abolitionist activist and reformed minister

1827: James W. C. Pennington escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, quickly receiving an education to become a teacher, journalist, activist, writer and evangelical Reformed Christian mi…

dailycampus.com

1 2 4

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 1d

I wrote this as a modern echo of Niemöller’s warning. Each verse mirrors a silence I’ve seen in 2025...the quiet shrug that lets cruelty pass. It’s not about guilt; it’s about waking up before it’s too late.

2 7

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 1d

If you’re talking to conservatives about the Guard being sent into states against their will, use their own heroes.

Reagan literally wrote that liberty depends on limiting federal power.

Madison said those powers are “few and defined.”

Hold them to their words.

#Federalism #Accountability

A quote from James Madison in Federalist No. 45, shown over a glowing mountain landscape. Text reads: “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 45.

A quote from President Ronald Reagan set against a mountain sunrise. Text reads: “Federalism is rooted in the knowledge that our political liberties are best assured by limiting the size and scope of the national government.” – Executive Order 12612, Ronald Reagan.

3 7

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 1d

Social workers make mistakes. We miss things. We fumble. We learn. That's not failure; it’s being human. Our response matters most: repair, reflect, grow. Ethics aren’t about perfection; they’re about accountability and grace. Be gentle with yourself. You’re human 1st, helper 2nd.
#BehindTheDesk

A poster reads “You’re a social worker, not a superhero.” Below it says, “It’s okay to: doubt yourself, make mistakes and make amends, forget every coping skill when it’s your turn to need them, think about walking away, set boundaries and take breaks, ask for help (again, and again if needed).” The background shows a soft silhouette of a superhero with a cape against a warm sunset gradient.

1 4

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 1d

We don’t talk enough about the quiet burnout. The vicarious trauma. The constant need to keep it together so no one sees the cracks. It’s okay not to be okay; to ask for help. It’s ethical to ask for help. You’re still a good social worker, even when you’re the one who needs care.
#BehindTheDesk

A green coffee cup rests on a mossy log against a foggy, muted background. Text above it reads: “Friendly reminder that ‘doing your best’ does not mean working yourself to the point of a mental breakdown.” The quote is credited to #PeacefulMindPeacefulLife.

4 19

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 1d

As a social worker, I see what happens when healthcare becomes a luxury. If you think losing ACA subsidies won’t touch you... think again.

Disability isn’t a niche issue. It’s a human one.

#HealthcareForAll #ACASubsidies #SocialWork

A blue graphic titled “A Social Worker’s Thoughts on Ending ACA Subsidies.”
Below the title, white text reads:

“I’ve been pretty fortunate. I work in a job with a union. I don’t anticipate my premiums rising substantially. However, I work with some of the most vulnerable people. People who count on ACA subsidies for their health care; for their mental health care. Without these subsidies, addressing the challenges that come with having a disability becomes exponentially harder. Sometimes the only way for somebody to keep their employment is to be able to address their challenges through their health care providers. Having a disability doesn’t mean automatic qualification for Medicaid or Medicare or Social Security disability benefits. A lot of my clients rely on the Affordable Care Act to get their health care. ACA subsidies could be the difference between having an independent life and becoming unemployed and unhoused.

When I talk to my clients that are terrified by this government shutdown, by losing their subsidies, by losing their health care, I see real fear on their faces. It feels like a tremendous weight enters the room whenever we talk about this. Not just ACA subsidies ending, but the government shutdown, the attack on people with disabilities, or the possible changes to Social Security disability benefits. The room gets oppressive, the tension increases, and the worst part is I really don’t have anything I can say to make it better. I don’t have a resource that’s going to solve this problem. All I can do is sit in the moment with them and listen.

It’s sometimes really hard to make space for that fear and anger when I feel such fear and anger myself. I feel sad. I feel helpless. I feel responsible. But I also feel a determination to give a voice to those who don’t have a voice. And that’s what I’ve been doing. Calling my leaders. Growing my social media. Telling my followers. Putting the word out. It’s going to take all of us to make a difference.

The …

2 7

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 2d

Can I also point out that this is ICE cosplaying as ARNG. No real ARNG would wear sneakers while in uniform. This borders on stolen valor and Veterans should be raising hell. You have a code of conduct that they are violating. Do you really want someone to think they represent you?

2 8

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 2d

The irony writes itself. Trump’s own memo says “anti-Christianity” is a marker of domestic extremism. Fed agents then tear-gassed and shot pepper pellets at a praying minister. By his logic, that’s terrorism. By moral logic, it’s hypocrisy.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

#TruthBombTuesday

Protesters arrested at Broadview anti-ICE demonstration have been released

Ten people arrested during a clash Friday with federal immigration agents have been freed, a spokesperson for the National Lawyers Guild said. But there was no word on whether any of them had been cha...

chicago.suntimes.com

7 12

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 3d

When clergy are attacked mid-prayer and journalists are targeted for filming, it’s not “crowd control.” It’s cruelty under color of law. Authoritarianism disguised as immigration enforcement is still Authoritarianism.

We can do better. We have to.

chicago.suntimes.com...

www.theguardian.com/...

Protesters arrested at Broadview anti-ICE demonstration have been released

Ten people arrested during a clash Friday with federal immigration agents have been freed, a spokesperson for the National Lawyers Guild said. But there was no word on whether any of them had been charged. One protester successfully helped get a detainee freed.

chicago.suntimes.com

5 6

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 3d

September at Broadview ICE: The Rev. David Black of 1st Presbyterian of Chicago recoiled as federal agents fired pepper balls and tear gas during a prayer protest outside the detention center. On Oct. 4, he was hit again...this time with pepper pellets while kneeling in prayer.

Img: Ashlee Rezin

The Rev. David Black of First Presbyterian Church recoils as U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents deploy tear gas and pepper balls outside the Broadview ICE facility near Chicago. He wears a black clerical collar and jacket as multiple armored officers in camouflage confront him.

1 5 12

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 3d

On the mezzo level, my job is to challenge within the system...outdated forms, weird rules, “that’s how we’ve always done it.” I’m here to ask the uncomfortable questions and offer better ways. Because change doesn’t just happen at policy tables...it starts in staff meetings.
#SystemsUntangled

1 4

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 3d

On the macro level, my job is to shout about the policies that make everything harder. If people need a professional translator to access food, housing, or care, the system failed. Advocacy isn’t extra...it’s repair work for broken structures.

#SocialWork #Advocacy #SystemsUntangled

7

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 3d

On the micro level, my job is to help real people survive impossible systems. Sometimes that means translating government-ese into human, other times it’s just sitting beside someone who’s about to give up. Access shouldn’t depend on having a social worker in your corner.

#SystemsUntangled

1 9

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 3d

Remember when “states’ rights” was sacred? When conservatives screamed about federal overreach if a Democrat so much as suggested mask mandates? Trump just sent troops into 2 states uninvited. Where are all those defenders of state sovereignty now?

#Illinois #Oregon #authoritarianism

2 1 4

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

This isn’t partisan...it’s about sovereignty, safety, and consent. We don’t need soldiers on our streets. We need neighbors, lawyers, and leaders who remember who they serve. Stay grounded. Stay informed. Stay human.

#Illinois #DemocracyDefense

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

Local action matters: Ask your city council to pass a resolution rejecting unauthorized deployments. Contact the Illinois AG’s office to demand legal action. Share factual info only...disinfo fuels chaos.
#NoMilitarization #Illinois

1

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

Don’t go it alone. Join or support legal observers (ACLU-IL). Plug into community safety & mutual aid groups. Make a buddy system for check-ins during any unrest. Protect each other; panic helps no one.
#CollectiveCare #Illinois

1 1

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

Know your rights: In Illinois, you can legally record law enforcement & military in public spaces. Send copies to @ACLUofIL or your local newsroom. Documentation = power.
#KnowYourRights

1 1

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

Governor Pritzker just called it what it is: “Trump’s Invasion.” The federal govt is deploying Texas National Guard troops to Illinois without consent. That’s not law & order. That’s state overreach. Here’s what you can do to stay safe and organized.
#Illinois #NoMilitarization #DemocracyDefense

Screenshot of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s official statement on social media. The post reads: “Donald Trump has ordered Texas troops to invade Illinois.” Below that, it continues, “I have directed the Illinois National Guard and our law enforcement partners to protect our people and uphold the rule of law. This is an illegal act and a dangerous abuse of power.” The background is dark with the verified account header “JB Pritzker @GovPritzker.”

1 5 4

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

This weekend’s edition of “filling my cup” included volunteering and watching He’s All That. Equal parts heartwarming and cringe...aka perfect balance. The nostalgia was big for this Xennial, and honestly… sometimes rest looks like laughing at bad remakes (while secretly loving them).

1

Kirsten Grady @mrskgrady.bsky.social · 4d

It’s 9:17 pm EDT and if you’re thinking “I didn’t do enough,” please delete that thought like spam. You breathed. You cared. You survived a society allergic to rest. That’s the work. Take your gold star and get cozy.

#GoodEnough #CollectiveCare

2 1 4