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desmondcole.bsky.social
Negro Frolics
@desmondcole.bsky.social
2.4K followers 560 following 99 posts
Senior writer @breachmedia.ca

Website: breachmedia.ca

Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/536075/the-skin-were-in-by-desmond-cole/9780385686

Bookings: Scott Sellers
[email protected]
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desmondcole.bsky.social
Negro Frolics @desmondcole.bsky.social · Oct 9
Until a few years ago, it was a criminal offence in Canada to scare the Queen of England

The Carney government's new hate crime proposals have a similar aim—to protect the ruling classes from discomfort and political dissent

My latest for @breachmedia.ca

breachmedia.ca/new-hate-cri...
New hate crime law is a cover for suppressing Palestine protests ⋆ The Breach
The proposed 'Combatting Hate Act' is built on the idea that protests inspire hateful violence, and gives police the tools to crack down on expression
breachmedia.ca
desmondcole.bsky.social
As a hip hop artist and journalist, Wab Kinew documented the harms of policing on young people

As Manitoba premier, Kinew is calling for more police in his province's schools

We dove into his record on policing and youth for @breachmedia.ca

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa2n...
Wab Kinew wants more cops in schools—despite his own work exposing their harm
YouTube video by The Breach
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
ericwickham.ca
Bill 60 passed earlier today.
ericwickham.ca Eric Wickham @ericwickham.ca · 23h
“We see the risks, and we’re calling out this gaslighting for what it is — an attempt to weaken public oversight and hand critical services to private interests.”

My latest for PressProgress is on Ontario's Bill 60 and why some are concerned that it is paving the way towards water privatization.
pressprogress.ca PressProgress @pressprogress.ca · 23h
Doug Ford's government claims the province isn’t privatizing water.

Experts aren't convinced.

pressprogress.ca/ontario-clai...
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
It's rare for a police officer in Canada to be criminally charged for shooting someone, and then to plead guilty

Andrew Davis shot Devon Fowlin in 2023 and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced on Friday: no jail time and one year of probation

www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto police officer who shot man in park gets suspended sentence, conditional discharge
Expert tells court police should have used de-escalation in February 2023 incident. Because of his sentence, Const. Andrew Davis will have a chance to keep his job.
www.thestar.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
robertloerzel.bsky.social
A pair of snowy owls on the coast of Chicago
November 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
The Trudeau Liberals cut 10,000 public sector jobs beginning last year. PM Carney's plan to axe 30,000 more jobs will impact access to access pensions, Employment Insurance, and passports

The latest from my colleague Harrison Samphir for @breachmedia.ca

breachmedia.ca/canada-publi...
‘Devastating and demoralizing’: public service braces for wave of cuts ⋆ The Breach
Carney’s austerity plan risks hollowing out government and hurting service delivery
breachmedia.ca
November 14, 2025 at 8:57 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
Despite interference from Canadian Border agents and foreign officials, the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility is going ahead in Ottawa today and tomorrow, featuring witnesses from Palestine and international advocates

Watch the Tribunal live: www.youtube.com/live/NvYkXaq...
Tribunal
YouTube video by Grace Song
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
breachmedia.ca
Mark Carney's budget will make Trump and Canada’s corporate class happy, but it does little for working people.

Martin Lukacs and @desmondcole.bsky.social break down the Liberals' Stephen Harper-esque moves, from public service layoffs to corporate handouts. breachmedia.ca/a-budget-for...
A budget for tanks, banks, and oil barons ⋆ The Breach
Martin Lukacs and Desmond Cole discuss the Liberal government’s Harper-esque budget
breachmedia.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
breachmedia.ca
Doug Ford and Mark Carney are making big moves on housing — but tenant groups and housing experts are raising an alarm.

@ricardotranjan.bsky.social joins @desmondcole.bsky.social to discuss how the emerging policy heavily favours corporate landlords. breachmedia.ca/mark-carney-...
Mark Carney and Doug Ford keep serving Big Landlords ⋆ The Breach
Economist Ricardo Tranjan joins Desmond Cole to discuss how Ford and Carney’s housing policies heavily favours corporate landlords
breachmedia.ca
October 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
On our latest podcast episode:
-Doug Ford's assault on tenants via changes to the landlord tenant board
-the federal housing plan with big goals and few details

have a listen
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
lesleynope.bsky.social
Toronto Life did a feature on my hat collection. Look who’s a super meowdel!!! torontolife.com/style/inside...
Inside the massive hat collection of a Blue Jays superfan - Toronto Life
Lesley Mak owns more than 60 unique Jays caps—including pieces she designed herself
torontolife.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
policingblack.bsky.social
A few more tickets have become available for sold out Book Relaunch of Policing Black Lives with brilliant co-thinkers David Chariandy, @dreanyc123.bsky.social , and @desmondcole.bsky.social . Come join us at the fab Black-run spot It's OK* Studios this evening! www.eventbrite.com/e/book-relau...
Book Relaunch | Policing Black Lives: Revised & Expanded Edition
Celebrate the launch of the extended and revised edition of Policing Black Lives by Robyn Maynard.
www.eventbrite.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
breachmedia.ca
The NDP leadership race could turn the party into a vehicle for bold left politics—or cement its decline.

Martin Lukacs and @desmondcole.bsky.social analyze emerging themes of the race from “purity tests" to class war proclamations to candidates flouting race rules. breachmedia.ca/who-can-revi...
Who can revive the NDP and take it leftward? ⋆ The Breach
Martin Lukacs and Desmond Cole discuss how the NDP leadership race could turn the party into a vehicle for bold left politics—or cement its decline
breachmedia.ca
October 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
In our latest episode of The Breach Show, Martin Lukacs
and I discuss the ongoing federal NDP leadership race, the candidates, and Yves Engler

breachmedia.ca/who-can-revi...
Who can revive the NDP and take it leftward? ⋆ The Breach
Martin Lukacs and Desmond Cole discuss how the NDP leadership race could turn the party into a vehicle for bold left politics—or cement its decline
breachmedia.ca
October 20, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
E-scooters are here to stay. The city should stop the futile banning & find a way to make this "problem" part of Toronto's transportation solution. Use bike share's roaring success as inspiration. City Hall CAN think big, bold & long term when it wants to. My Toronto Star column this weekend.
Shawn Micallef: E-scooters are here to stay. It’s time for Toronto to act boldly
Currently Toronto’s position is, officially, “e-scooters are not permitted to be operated on public roads, sidewalks or paths,” yet it's easy to see people using them everyday, and they are
www.thestar.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
xtramagazine.com
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy passed away this week at the age of 78.

We honour her legacy, and lessons, in her own words
Remembering Miss Major in her own words | Xtra Magazine
The late Miss Major was a pivotal activist and organizer for trans liberation for decades
xtramagazine.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
deephunk.bsky.social
An hour and 11-minute long mix of nothing but D'Angelo live tracks from various shows during the Brown Sugar and Voodoo eras. It's so well done. Also downloadable.
D'Angelo Live, by Ian Wallace
15 track album
ianwallaceproductions.bandcamp.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
"Hamas has insisted it will only release the hostages in return for a full Israeli withdrawal and final end of the conflict. Israel has said it will only stop fighting when all hostages are returned and Hamas is destroyed. Neither has totally got its way."

www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Trusting Trump: Why Hamas gambled on giving up Gaza hostages
Hamas has called Donald Trump a racist, a recipe for chaos and a man with an absurd vision for Gaza. And it was the phone call he got Benjamin Netanyahu to make to Qatar's prime minister that changed their minds about him.
www.reuters.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
this is just a pilot project, but it's also an acknowledgement from Toronto city council that we need alternatives to policing

bsky.app/profile/grap...
graphicmatt.com Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · Oct 9
Council votes 23-1 to APPROVE deploying crisis service workers on the TTC subway system. They'll be stationed at Spadina Station, Union Station, and Bloor-Yonge, and respond to calls anywhere in the downtown U-shaped track area.
October 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
Until a few years ago, it was a criminal offence in Canada to scare the Queen of England

The Carney government's new hate crime proposals have a similar aim—to protect the ruling classes from discomfort and political dissent

My latest for @breachmedia.ca

breachmedia.ca/new-hate-cri...
New hate crime law is a cover for suppressing Palestine protests ⋆ The Breach
The proposed 'Combatting Hate Act' is built on the idea that protests inspire hateful violence, and gives police the tools to crack down on expression
breachmedia.ca
October 9, 2025 at 3:08 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
A group calling itself "New Toronto Initiative" is suing a local councillor and the city over plans to build a shelter in the neighbourhood - a classic Toronto move
October 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
nisrinelamin.bsky.social
We lost a warrior, a freedom fighter, a visionary, someone who changed the way I see the world. May Assata Shakur rest in power with the ancestors!
Black and white image or Assata Shakur wearing silver earrings with cowrie shells in her locs, looking to the side talking to someone.
September 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
glynbowerman.bsky.social
It’s also dishonest to present these two issues, in the same breath, as some kind of zero sum prioritization. The beauty of the speed cameras is, once installed, the job is done! If anything, they free up police resources so more focus can be paid to violent crime. It’s foolish, bad logic.
September 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
glynbowerman.bsky.social
Violent crime is more rare, shocking, headline-grabbing. We treat it as an intolerable aberration from the norm. And we should! But that suggests that road deaths and injuries are the norm and are therefore tolerable. No politician will say that out loud, but watch what they prioritize.
September 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Negro Frolics
glynbowerman.bsky.social
In a statement, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca pivoted from speed cameras to violent crime, suggesting we should spend more time focussing on the latter. That’s illuminating. Vehicles obviously present the bigger statistical threat, especially to children. But we accept those injuries and deaths.
September 26, 2025 at 4:59 PM
desmondcole.bsky.social
Federal Liberals are cutting back on temporary foreign workers coming to Canada. But what about those already here, who continue to work in precarious conditions, during an anti-immigrant backlash?

My latest podcast for @breachmedia.ca with Deena Ladd breachmedia.ca/confronting-...
Confronting a new anti-immigrant chapter in Canada ⋆ The Breach
Deena Ladd on how the Liberals’ harsher immigration policies negatively affect all workers
breachmedia.ca
September 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM