Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · May 4

Following the autocrat’s playbook, Trump and his MAGA cartel are attacking alternative sources of power; universities, the media, and the judiciary — all of which pose a threat to the unchecked power Trump seeks.

My latest for Byline Times

bylinetimes.com/2025/04/30/t...

'Trump's War on Academic Institutions Is Even Worse Than You Think'

This is the greatest assault on academic freedoms in generations, argues Emma DeSouza

bylinetimes.com

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 30

Secretary of State Hilary Benn is dragging 87-year-old widow Bridie Brown to the Supreme Court in London, refusing to accept the court order to launch a public enquiry into the murder of her husband Sean Brown.

I cannot express how grosteque this is. Utterly utterly shameful.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 30

Thank you, Michela.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 30

Thank you, John.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 30

As a peace activist, I am far less concerned by the artistic expression of music artists than I am by the human suffering being endured by the people of Palestine.

My view on the furore around Kneecap: www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Kneecap backlash grows — but genocide in Gaza continues without consequence

When people are more outraged about a band’s political statements than about the brutal deaths of thousands of children, something is very wrong

www.irishexaminer.com

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 28

Slán Ireland! I'll be in New York, Washington, and Chicago over the next two weeks. Heading straight from the airport in New York to deliver a guest talk on peace processes later today, just how I like it - flat out!

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 24

Just Jim Wells saying Irish citizens in Northern Ireland who want to vote for their president should move across the border.

No problem with British citizens in Dublin having UK voting rights - just not themmuns.

www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...

Should people in Northern Ireland be able to vote for the President? | Newstalk

Aóntu submitted a bill in the Dáil last week calling for voting rights in Presidential election...

www.newstalk.com

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 24

There is nothing controversial about Kneecap. Art being provocative is as old as time. Music has long been a vehicle for challenging oppression and injustice, especially rock and hip hop. Rage against the Machine, N.W.A., Public Enemy. Music and politics go hand in hand.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 12

It will be civic society that moves the dial on a United Ireland, not political leaders.

Change, whether it was the Good Friday Agreement or repealing the 8th amendment, came from ground up.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 11

Rounding out the week with a glass of homemade apple wine, circa 2021.

Emma wearing an oversized beige jumper in the garden with a glass of wine

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 10

Follows a railing I gave the SOS in DC on his refusal to grant a public inquiry, and continued push for the ICRIR. Gets harder and harder to listen to politicians bandie on about the success of the GFA while so much injustice continues.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 10

Thank you.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 10

My view: We can not continue to celebrate the success of the Good Friday Agreement while bereaved families are denied justice.

Families are spending decades trying to access truth and justice. Many have died without seeing either. Many might still.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/bridi...

Good Friday Agreement: So many families of those who died in the Troubles have been ignored

On the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Emma DeSouza says we cannot continue to celebrate its success while bereaved families are denied justice.

www.thejournal.ie

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Apr 9

Trump's tariffs 0 Lettuce 1

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 28

This should be easy pickings for the Democratic Party, but rather than counter the Trumpification of the Republicans, the Democrats are flailing in the wind, directionless, while the ideological divide in America widens.

My latest via @thejournal.ie

www.thejournal.ie/readme/trump...

Opinion: At the rate Trump is going, it will be a long four-year term

Emma DeSouza says while the Democrats struggle to voice any coherent opposition, Trump will continue at speed to reshape American democracy.

www.thejournal.ie

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 24

I'll be back in the US in a couple of weeks to deliver a guest talk on the power of civic engagement in peacebuilding at Cornell University.

Very much look forward to meeting students and staff at the Reppy Institute.

events.cornell.edu/event/the-po...

The Power of Civic Engagement in Peacebuilding

events.cornell.edu

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 23

Thank you, David- will give this a listen.

Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 23

My recent article for the Belfast Telegraph on citizens assemblies.

84 citizens delivered 38 policy recommendations via an assembly model in November. Politicians already committed to launching one assembly a year, so where are they? Why is civic society having to launch them?

Citizens assemblies: how they could unlock NIs voice in the housing crisis

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 23

A northerner should run in the Irish presidential election as a reminder of the abject failure of consecutive governments to give Irish citizens in the North a vote in presidential elections.

We can run for the office of the president, but we can't vote for our president.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 22

So looking forward to taking part in this panel discussion next Saturday as part of @imaginebelfast.bsky.social

'How to lose a referendum!'

Featuring a pre-panel referendum quiz, come along and have your say!

Register ⬇️
imaginebelfast.com/event/how-to...

How to lose a Referendum! - Imagine! Belfast

Test your knowledge with our referendum quiz before a panel of experts explore the dynamics and explain the pitfalls.

imaginebelfast.com

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 19

Israel killed at least 174 Palestinian children on Tuesday, inflicting “one of the largest one-day child death tolls” in the enclave’s history, says Defense for Children – Palestine.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 18

“Today, Gaza’s one million children – who have endured more than 15 months of war – have been plunged back into a world of fear and death. The attacks and the violence must stop – now,” UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 18

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said all ceasefire negotiations will take place “under fire” after Israel resumed its assault on the gaza strip killing hundreds of civilians including women and children, breaking the ceasefire. We are witnessing a genocide in real time.

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Emma Desouza @emmadesouza.bsky.social · Mar 18

Celebrating St Patrick's Day and the global impact of the Irish community with Ireland’s mission to the UN team in New York City last night. Important remarks from the UN Ambassador & Tánaiste on resilience amid global challenges to peace and security.

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