benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson
@benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
1.9K followers 2.6K following 440 posts
I study history in order to understand and help others understand the crazy world in which we live. Environment, climate, borders, violence and memory are key. Also @refusing2forget.bsky.social. My opinions are mine, sadly almost never my employer's.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
marc-fischer.bsky.social
Marc Fischer @marc-fischer.bsky.social · 7h
Emergency Protest Today, 10/8/2025 in Chicago: 5:30 PM at Michigan and Ida B. Wells. We're demanding that ICE and the National Guard get out of our city. I'll attend this.
A flyer credited to Coalition Against the Trump Agenda announcing an Emergency Protest Today, 10/8/2025 in Chicago: 5:30 PM at Michigan and Ida B. Wells, demanding that ICE and the National Guard leave Chicago. A large crowd is shown marching in downtown Chicago.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
edsbs.bsky.social
BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL @edsbs.bsky.social · 23h
These guys are so vulnerable to defecting to Chicago
wesleymorgan.bsky.social
Wesley Morgan @wesleymorgan.bsky.social · 23h
Don’t think these Texas National Guard guys are going to be chasing any immigrants around Chicago on foot
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
sethabramson.bsky.social
Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 1d
It seems clear—I think to everyone, now—that a false and illegal invocation of the Insurrection Act is coming before the end of the year. Media outlets should be telling us how they will prepare for this potential Treason. State governments should be telling us. Activists should be developing plans.
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 1d
they lie, all of the time. Don't believe a fucking word.
chicago.suntimes.com
Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 1d
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.
trib.al
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
andrewjweinstein.com
Andrew Weinstein @andrewjweinstein.com · 3d
ICE admits that up to 50% of arrests in its Chicago raids are "collateral.” These aren't statistics. They are parents taken from their children, neighbors taken from our communities. When does a "collateral" U.S. citizen child's trauma matter? This isn't law enforcement; it's a campaign of terror.
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kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 6d
"Please mess with Texas, sir. Please, tell us what to think."
biblioracle.bsky.social
John Warner @biblioracle.bsky.social · 6d
University of Texas leaping to the top of the rankings of higher ed institutions most eager to cozy up to the authoritarian, taking over the top spot from previous leader, Columbia University. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 5d
the remains of a massive ICE raid on the south side of Chicago. Dried blood, children's clothing, baby bottle, and zip-ties. chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Dried blood, children's clothing, baby bottle, and zip-ties on a hardwood floor.
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 6d
glad to see the @oah.org weigh in on this troubling case. Reinstate Tom Alter now! @aaup.org @texasaaup.bsky.social www.oah.org/2025/10/01/o...
OAH | OAH Submits Letter to Texas State University Affirming Academic Freedom, Shared GovernanceOAH | OAH Submits Letter to Texas State University Affirming Academic Freedom, Shared Governance
www.oah.org
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 6d
stunned by this article; as bad as things keep getting, I keep being surprised. WE ALL NEED TO READ THIS. Not just law enforcement, this is thuggery. chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'
The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.
chicago.suntimes.com
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
bestonetx.bsky.social
Bryan Edward Stone (שָׁלוֹם) @bestonetx.bsky.social · 7d
All across the country, as faculty rights and freedoms are under attack, @aaup.org is really stepping into the breach. If you teach in higher ed and aren't a member, please consider joining.
ncaaup.bsky.social
North Carolina Conference of the AAUP @ncaaup.bsky.social · 7d
UNC CH Chapter & NC AAUP statement re Prof. Dwayne Dixon: @aaup.org

AAUP NC and UNC-Chapel Hill AAUP condemn the egregious violation of Professor Dwayne Dixon's First Amendment rights to free speech and free association, his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process, and his academic freedom. 1/
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 7d
oops
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 7d
That's the definition of fascism from Robert Paxton, one of the preeminent historians of the subject, from his book ANATOMY OF FASCISM which came out more than two decades ago.
georgetakei.bsky.social
George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 8d
Oh yes, this is clearly now.
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 8d
this is why I have been an @aaup.org member since grad school in the 1990s. We cannot file and win cases like this without the financial, intellectual, and logistical support of thousands of faculty.
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8d
Judge Young: "This case ... squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutional question unequivocally 'yes, they do.' 'No law' means 'no law.'"
This case -– perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court –- squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutional question unequivocally “yes, they do.” “No law” means “no law.” The First Amendment does not draw President Trump’s invidious distinction and it is not to be found in our history or jurisprudence. See Section III.A infra. No one’s freedom of speech is unlimited, of course, but these limits are the same for both citizens and non-citizens alike.
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 8d
Hit me up with ideas! www.jtxh.org/vantage-points
Vantage Points — Journal of Texas History
www.jtxh.org
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
donmoyn.bsky.social
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 9d
You cannot have a functioning classroom under these conditions. As I've said before, classroom surveillance has been a much bigger and more damaging change to campus than wokeness.
nkalamb.bsky.social
Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 9d
Cornell is cancelling a distinguished professor's classes on Gaza and suspending him because of the complaints of a student who previously served in Israel's military surveillance agency and was literally recording the comments of other students in class and deliberately derailing discussion.
Early last semester, Droubi said, students began approaching Cheyfitz with complaints that a graduate student in the “Gaza, Indigeneity, Resistance” class appeared to be recording them, possibly to “gather their names and comments” and intimidate them. “We believe that a student came to the course for the sole reason of surveilling and potentially harming students in the class,” Droubi said. “That ended up proving itself to be true because multiple students came forward and shared their concerns with Professor Cheyfitz.” Cheyfitz said one Palestinian student quit the class after telling him she felt upset and frightened. Current Issue Cover of October 2025 Issue October 2025 Issue According to Cheyfitz, the graduate student often steered conversations away from the assigned readings—which at that point mostly focused on definitions of genocide and international law on Indigenous rights—to defend Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza and argue with others in the class. “He clearly had not done the readings,” Cheyfitz said. “It was disruptive.” Cheyfitz said he met with the graduate student in late January and spoke to him about concerns from his classmates. During the conversation, he asked the graduate student to drop the course, and by the next class, he did, Cheyfitz said. The graduate student, Oren Renard, a PhD candidate in computer science whose identity was confirmed by other students in the class, previously served in Israel’s elite military surveillance agency, Unit 8200, according to his LinkedIn profile.
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thebulwark.com
The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 9d
Pritzker: “ICE is running around the Loop harassing people for not being white. Just a year ago, that was illegal in the United States. Now, ICE is making it commonplace.”
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 9d
yeah they're just murdering random people on these boats
mpaarlberg.bsky.social
Michael Paarlberg @mpaarlberg.bsky.social · 9d
I think the Trump admin assumed no one would try to find out who the people on the boats they blew up really were
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 9d
they're saying the quiet part out loud, thanks to our AWOL Supreme Court, which has as much legitimacy as Taney after the Dred Scott decision.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Feds in military gear flood downtown Chicago; top border chief says people arrested based on ‘how they look’
The immigration agents were spotted making arrests in downtown Chicago and River North neighborhood early Sunday.
chicago.suntimes.com
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 10d
he is such a whore it is unbelievable. But of course the payment came in crypto, not brown paper bags.
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Reposted by Ben Johnson
billwearsties.bsky.social
Bill Wolkoff @billwearsties.bsky.social · 10d
Indie director Barbara Marques has been kidnapped by ICE. She is legally married to a U.S. citizen & was at a green card mtg when she was abducted and prevented from seeing her lawyer. Her husband Tucker May does not know where she is. Please spread the word so he can find her /1
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 11d
this double murder badly exacerbated the situation in south Texas in 1915 and has reverberated across the generations.
refusing2forget.bsky.social
Refusing to Forget @refusing2forget.bsky.social · 11d
#OTD in 1915, Texas Rangers murdered Jesús Bazan and his son-in-law, Antonio Longoria, in cold blood. /1
Antonio Longoria
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jamalgreene.bsky.social
Jamal Greene @jamalgreene.bsky.social · 11d
The university president's letter is bananas, and anyone who sends such a letter should not be running an academic institution. A thread. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
Texas Tech Moves to Limit Academic Discussion to 2 Genders
www.nytimes.com
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 11d
The regime is bringing higher education in compliance with its dictates, and it’s finding very little opposition
tedmccormick.bsky.social
Ted McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 11d
Before I turn on @npr.org again or read another @nytimes.com editorial, because I know exactly how it'll be:

This isn't "a threat" to academic freedom. It's not igniting "a debate" about it. The "future" of academic freedom isn't at stake. This is what the end of academic freedom has made possible.
Texas Tech chancellor directs faculty to recognize only two sexes in classroom instruction
The memo comes after Texas A&M fired a professor over a lesson related to gender identity after a student objected to it.
www.nbcnews.com
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 11d
right, and the colleagues and students who rallied to his side are in San Marcos too. I just don't think the logic of collective guilt is helpful.
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 11d
totally get your reaction, but it wasn't San Marcos that did that, it was San Marcos PD. More people voted against Trump in Texas than any other state except for California. The USA didn't do this awful fascist shit, American fascists did. I think Alter lives in San Marcos.
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benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social
Ben Johnson @benjaminhjohns1.bsky.social · 11d
win every battle, lose the war. More isolated than ever, worldwide, in this country, and among Jews.
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