Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · 23d

DA Larry Krasner will be hosting a series of townhalls this week to discuss Philly's response if Trump deploys the national guard here.

Sept. 16, at 6:00 PM at 5736 Chester Ave.

Sept 17, at 6:00 PM at 7401 Limekiln Pike.

Sept. 18, at 6:00 PM at 419 South 6th St.

www.inquirer.com/crime/krasne...

DA Krasner to host town halls to discuss how residents can respond if Trump deploys National Guard to Philadelphia

Krasner will hold meetings in West Oak Lane, Southwest Philadelphia, and Society Hill to address the possibility of the president deploying troops to the city.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Amistad Movement Power

Sheryl Weikal and the colorful Parrotlegals @leftistlawyer.com · 28d

This was a police state long before Trump.

boingboing.net/2021/04/20/u...

U.S. policing budgets would rank as the world's third-highest military expenditure

$118bn was spent funding police forces in the U.S. in 2018, according to the Security Policy Reform Institute. It collectively makes American police forces the world's third-most expensive military or...

boingboing.net

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Aug 28

“It should come as no surprise that Trump, a wealthy 34-time convicted felon capable of posting bail for his freedom, is threatening to defund jurisdictions that use cashless systems.” @dalarrykrasner.bsky.social

whyy.org/articles/tru...

Philly DA Krasner defends cashless bail after Trump’s executive order targets it

The two-term progressive district attorney said it was “no surprise” that the president was targeting the policy, given Trump’s ability to post bail during his felony trial.

whyy.org

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jul 30

"Police don’t prevent violence—they merely respond to it, often inadequately, and often in ways that only worsen or reproduce the violence in question, all while swallowing up cities’ entire budgets." @kylietcheung.bsky.social for @prismreports.org

prismreports.org/2025/07/29/z...

Violence deconstructed: Hysteria over Zohran Mamdani’s crime platform rooted in lie that cops make women safer

Mamdani’s critics have launched a smear campaign that ignores that police pose an existential threat to victims—and all of us

prismreports.org

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jul 28

They also want to talk about community safety and are interested in how we keep us safe outside of policing! Which also has nothing to do with trans athletes at Penn.

Maurice Mitchell 🐺 @mauricewfp.bsky.social · Jul 23

When @workingfamilies.org knocks on doors, no one brings up trans athletes at UPenn 🤔

They bring up affordability and the cost of living.
They want to talk about how our entire system is rigged by design.

Let's name it. @wajali.bsky.social
thelefthook.substack.com

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jul 22

"Parker’s term as mayor isn’t up until 2027, but she’s already been looking ahead—and as she herself acknowledged, that future may not be bright." @kimkelly.bsky.social

Working Philadelphians deserve a mayor who will fight FOR them, not against them.

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Something Is Still Rotten in the City of Philadelphia

Philly workers went out on strike—and came back with a deal that nobody seems to like.

www.thenation.com

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jul 17

Tamar Sarai interviewed local artist and filmmaker Aaron Brokenbough about the movement for a just Philly budget and the need to reimagine public safety for @prismreports.org.

prismreports.org/2025/07/14/p...

People’s Budget asks Philadelphia, ‘What does safety mean to you?’

Mural Arts Artist-in-Residence Aaron Brokenbough speaks with Prism about his short film on public safety and the city budget

prismreports.org

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Reposted by Amistad Movement Power

Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · Jul 14

today in 1970 the Young Lords staged a 12-hr takeover of the Bronx's Lincoln Hospital—overcrowded, overrun by rats, called the "butcher shop" b/c medical residents trained on poor people of color

the takeover led to one of the first patients' bill of rights in history, and other wins @teenvogue.com

The Young Lords Brought the Revolution to Public Health

The group achieved victories for health care access in New York and beyond.

www.teenvogue.com

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jul 14

It's infuriating that Parker is calling DC 33 workers "her people" when she refused to budge and give them 5% raises. Come election time, we will remember who bullied the workers on strike and who had their backs.

www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...

‘They are my people’: Mayor Cherelle Parker on why she stood firm in the DC 33 city worker strike

With the strike in her rearview mirror, Parker reflected on the most tumultuous eight days of her administration in an interview with The Inquirer.

www.inquirer.com

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jun 30

We stand with and for all the Philly workers demanding fair wages for their labor. Let's go!

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · Jun 28

🚨 For the first time since 1986, Philly’s AFSCME DC 33 is going on strike. The union represents thousands of blue collar city workers (including street pavers and sanitation workers) and is the city’s largest—and lowest paid—municipal workers union. The strike will begin at 12:01am on July 1st. 🚨

Text announcing the oncoming AFSCME DC 33 city worker’s strike, which will begin on Tuesday July 1st following a breakdown in negotiations with the city. Support the strikers!

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Reposted by Amistad Movement Power

socraticme.bsky.social @socraticme.bsky.social · Jun 26

More excellent work from Thrasher. (This time with alt text)

“…especially magnanimous of Lander, who seems like a real mensch. He
must have known in the final weeks that he, personally, would not win, yet, he never punched left. Instead, he repeatedly used his various privileges to defend his ally: as a white man running interference for an immigrant of Ugandan and Indian heritage, as a Jew for a Muslim, as a 55-year-old for a 33-year-old, as a liberal for a leftist.”

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Jun 25

Who could've imagined? The people will mobilize for candidates that actually care about them!

Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · Jun 25

Zohran Mamdani's shocked American pundits by running on a platform that provided an alternative to Trump, the Democrats catering to him (hello, Newsom), and misogynist Andrew Cuomo. his economics-first campaign stridently protected trans rights as Dems largely refuse to. me on his win @teenvogue.com

The Democratic Party Needs to Learn from Zohran Mamdani's Guts and Backbone

Zohran Mamdani did something different, and it made all the difference.

www.teenvogue.com

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Reposted by Amistad Movement Power

Amistad Law Project @amistadlaw.bsky.social · Jun 12

This a deeply moving article by @lewispants.bsky.social about the Philadelphia police killing of Aaron Rainey while he suffered from a mental health crisis. It highlights the need for fully funded non-police crisis response teams so it never happens again.

Prism @prismreports.org · Jun 11

Mental health calls to police can be deadly, but alternatives remain underfunded, @lewispants.bsky.social reports. The death of Aaron Rainey, shot & killed by Philadelphia police in March, has renewed calls for reliable, 24/7 non-police crisis & emergency response teams.

Non-police alternatives to mental health crises are underfunded

Aaron Rainey's fatal shooting by Philadelphia police in March has renewed calls for reliable non-police crisis and emergency response teams

prismreports.org

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Reposted by Amistad Movement Power

Maurice Mitchell 🐺 @mauricewfp.bsky.social · Jun 12

They've arrested, detained, or assaulted a judge, a Mayor, a Congresswoman, a labor leader—and now a U.S. Senator. Imagine what they'll do to you.

They are counting on our fear, which is why we must be courageous. If we don't fight back, they will come for all of us.

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · Jun 12

Sen. Alex Padilla was just removed from Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles (video: Bill Melugin/Fox News)

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · May 22

This is a terrific breakdown of the movement that re-elected DA Larry Krasner in the Philly primary by @taniel.bsky.social for @boltsmag.org.

Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke summed it up: "We don’t have to pretend that locking people up is actually creating safety."

boltsmag.org/larry-krasne...

Larry Krasner Easily Wins in Philadelphia, Reinforcing Network of Reform DAs - Bolts

Local advocates cheered Krasner’s primary victory on Tuesday, which all but assures him a third term, as an affirmation of criminal justice reform by Philly voters.

boltsmag.org

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · May 21

Y'all came out and re-elected the People's DA in Philadelphia last night! We are glad Larry Krasner will likely serve another term and that Philly voters approved an independent prison oversight board.

They're not liberation, but they're important steps in the work to build a better world.

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · May 20

Philly! Polls are open until 8:00 PM! Come through and cast a vote for REAL community safety: Vote to re-elect Larry Krasner for District Attorney. And vote YES on ballot question 3 to create an independent prison oversight board.

We do not have to be hyper carceral to have safe communities.

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · May 19

During DA Larry Krasner’s tenure, the rate of violence in Philadelphia AND Philly’s jail population have reached their lowest levels in recent history. Let’s keep up the positive momentum and re-elect Larry Krasner for District Attorney tomorrow!

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Apr 22

This Saturday! Join us at Christy Rec Center from 2-4pm to learn about the movement for real community safety and people power in city government. The entrance to the rec center is through the playground on Webster Street. Food will be provided!

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Apr 3

DA Larry Krasner has a proven track record of holding police accountable for killing community members, and his office has overturned more than 40 wrongful convictions since 2018.

On May 20, 2025, vote in the primary election to re-elect Larry Krasner as Philadelphia's District Attorney!

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Mar 31

Tomorrow night, Tonight! Join us in West Philly at the Christy Rec Center from 6-8pm for a town hall about how we can prioritize the people over the police in this current budget cycle.

The fight for a fair budget is central to the fight for real community safety. Bring your friends and neighbors!

Reposted by Amistad Movement Power

Minority Leader Kendra Brooks @kendraphlcouncil.bsky.social · Mar 6

Hello Bluesky! I'm Kendra Brooks, Councilmember At-Large and Minority Leader in Philadelphia City Council. I am the first member of the Working Families Party ever to be elected to Philadelphia City Council, and I stay true to what I am called to do: serve the people. #workingfamiliesPHL

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Mar 6

It's budget season in Philly! Join us for a teach-in on March 18, where we’ll talk about why this is one of the most important moments in our fight for real community safety––and what you can do to win big for our communities.

Register here to join us: zoom.us/meeting/regi...

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Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Mar 4

Philly needs a People’s Budget! On March 13th from 6-8pm, on the night of Mayor Parker’s budget address, join us for a citywide mass meeting on the budget proposal and how to win the city we deserve. RSVP here: bit.ly/march13budget

Amistad Movement Power @amistadpower.bsky.social · Feb 27

This post-election survey found that voters prefer investments in resources that are proven to build safe communities—educational opportunities, good jobs, housing, and mental health services—over responding to crime with police and prisons.

www.vera.org/news/sending...

Sending People to Prison for Decades Is Dangerous

It’s no secret that people across the country fear crime and that satisfaction with the criminal legal system is low. It’s also clear that our country's punitive approach to justice is not delivering ...

www.vera.org

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