Mark Kersten
@markkersten.bsky.social
Work in human rights, international criminal law, and accountability for mass atrocities - in Canada and around the world.
Professor and advocate.
www.markkersten.com
Professor and advocate.
www.markkersten.com
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill included a 10-fold increase in the budget for his paramilitary outfit #ICE — the one that is now terrorizing and killing Americans, as he spins lies about its victims.
ht @adriangallagher.bsky.social
ht @adriangallagher.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill included a 10-fold increase in the budget for his paramilitary outfit #ICE — the one that is now terrorizing and killing Americans, as he spins lies about its victims.
ht @adriangallagher.bsky.social
ht @adriangallagher.bsky.social
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.” - parents of Alex Pretti
January 25, 2026 at 5:47 PM
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.” - parents of Alex Pretti
“None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR… Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds.”
January 25, 2026 at 4:08 AM
“None of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR… Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds.”
When I hear of Legault, Raphaël André always comes to mind.
He died in a portable toilet after Legault applied curfews to everyone, including the unhoused, during the pandemic.
When asked why he did so, Legault said bc ppl would otherwise pretend to be homeless.
Good riddance.
He died in a portable toilet after Legault applied curfews to everyone, including the unhoused, during the pandemic.
When asked why he did so, Legault said bc ppl would otherwise pretend to be homeless.
Good riddance.
January 14, 2026 at 8:31 PM
When I hear of Legault, Raphaël André always comes to mind.
He died in a portable toilet after Legault applied curfews to everyone, including the unhoused, during the pandemic.
When asked why he did so, Legault said bc ppl would otherwise pretend to be homeless.
Good riddance.
He died in a portable toilet after Legault applied curfews to everyone, including the unhoused, during the pandemic.
When asked why he did so, Legault said bc ppl would otherwise pretend to be homeless.
Good riddance.
This is so incredibly wrong.
Not only is international law real, international law is a key part of… wait for it… Canadian law.
This take isn’t worth the keystrokes it took to write it and is little more than an apology for violators of the law and perpetrators of crime.
Not only is international law real, international law is a key part of… wait for it… Canadian law.
This take isn’t worth the keystrokes it took to write it and is little more than an apology for violators of the law and perpetrators of crime.
January 9, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This is so incredibly wrong.
Not only is international law real, international law is a key part of… wait for it… Canadian law.
This take isn’t worth the keystrokes it took to write it and is little more than an apology for violators of the law and perpetrators of crime.
Not only is international law real, international law is a key part of… wait for it… Canadian law.
This take isn’t worth the keystrokes it took to write it and is little more than an apology for violators of the law and perpetrators of crime.
The idea that the attacks on Venezuela were ever about democracy is proving more absurd by the day.
Democracies are hard to control and steal from, from the outside. So why would Trump want one in Venezuela?
Trump is making Venezuela his client state. This is imperialism.
Democracies are hard to control and steal from, from the outside. So why would Trump want one in Venezuela?
Trump is making Venezuela his client state. This is imperialism.
January 7, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The idea that the attacks on Venezuela were ever about democracy is proving more absurd by the day.
Democracies are hard to control and steal from, from the outside. So why would Trump want one in Venezuela?
Trump is making Venezuela his client state. This is imperialism.
Democracies are hard to control and steal from, from the outside. So why would Trump want one in Venezuela?
Trump is making Venezuela his client state. This is imperialism.
I agree, my first instinct was that the White House would dismiss it out of hand. But I don't think if it's that simple. Not saying they'd surrender him, but what I wrote about in the article is some of the strategic questions that might make the U.S. think twice. Screen shot of those points here:
January 5, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I agree, my first instinct was that the White House would dismiss it out of hand. But I don't think if it's that simple. Not saying they'd surrender him, but what I wrote about in the article is some of the strategic questions that might make the U.S. think twice. Screen shot of those points here:
I think this might be the first time I've seen Canadian opposition leaders openly support an American president's violation of American law, let alone international law.
Again, they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near power.
Never trust them on law or accountability.
Again, they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near power.
Never trust them on law or accountability.
January 3, 2026 at 11:39 PM
I think this might be the first time I've seen Canadian opposition leaders openly support an American president's violation of American law, let alone international law.
Again, they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near power.
Never trust them on law or accountability.
Again, they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near power.
Never trust them on law or accountability.
Canadian MP Carney declines to condemn the unlawful U.S. attack on Venezuela - a clear breach of the UN Charter, suggesting that such breaches are justified simply because they led to the ouster of Maduro.
This is legally and morally wrong - and sets a dangerous precedence.
This is legally and morally wrong - and sets a dangerous precedence.
January 3, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Canadian MP Carney declines to condemn the unlawful U.S. attack on Venezuela - a clear breach of the UN Charter, suggesting that such breaches are justified simply because they led to the ouster of Maduro.
This is legally and morally wrong - and sets a dangerous precedence.
This is legally and morally wrong - and sets a dangerous precedence.
Despite so much death, despair, and destruction in 2025, let us be unabashedly and relentlessly hopeful in 2026.
Let's be the light that gets through the cracks.
Through hard work and good trouble, let's demand what has always been possible: a better, kinder, more peaceful and just world.
Let's be the light that gets through the cracks.
Through hard work and good trouble, let's demand what has always been possible: a better, kinder, more peaceful and just world.
January 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Despite so much death, despair, and destruction in 2025, let us be unabashedly and relentlessly hopeful in 2026.
Let's be the light that gets through the cracks.
Through hard work and good trouble, let's demand what has always been possible: a better, kinder, more peaceful and just world.
Let's be the light that gets through the cracks.
Through hard work and good trouble, let's demand what has always been possible: a better, kinder, more peaceful and just world.
December 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Good on Norway to only on express support for the #ICC, but name the US as the source of threats against the Court and rule of law 👇
That may seem obvious, but this isn't something Canada has done.
Do we have the will and principles to do so, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social?
That may seem obvious, but this isn't something Canada has done.
Do we have the will and principles to do so, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social?
December 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Good on Norway to only on express support for the #ICC, but name the US as the source of threats against the Court and rule of law 👇
That may seem obvious, but this isn't something Canada has done.
Do we have the will and principles to do so, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social?
That may seem obvious, but this isn't something Canada has done.
Do we have the will and principles to do so, @anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social?
Very good to see this.
Canadian leaders, like Ambassador Rae, should be able to call a spade a spade.
It's low hanging fruit. This #ICC is a court we helped build & claim to support. Those under attack by Trump are good people and include our own citizens.
With wings back, let it fly, Mr. Rae.
Canadian leaders, like Ambassador Rae, should be able to call a spade a spade.
It's low hanging fruit. This #ICC is a court we helped build & claim to support. Those under attack by Trump are good people and include our own citizens.
With wings back, let it fly, Mr. Rae.
December 18, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Very good to see this.
Canadian leaders, like Ambassador Rae, should be able to call a spade a spade.
It's low hanging fruit. This #ICC is a court we helped build & claim to support. Those under attack by Trump are good people and include our own citizens.
With wings back, let it fly, Mr. Rae.
Canadian leaders, like Ambassador Rae, should be able to call a spade a spade.
It's low hanging fruit. This #ICC is a court we helped build & claim to support. Those under attack by Trump are good people and include our own citizens.
With wings back, let it fly, Mr. Rae.
Apart from some right-wing states, 🇺🇸🇦🇷🇮🇱🇭🇺 & a few others, UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backs a resolution demanding that Israel open unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, end attacks on UN facilities, & comply with international law. Canada voted in favour 🙏
December 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Apart from some right-wing states, 🇺🇸🇦🇷🇮🇱🇭🇺 & a few others, UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backs a resolution demanding that Israel open unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, end attacks on UN facilities, & comply with international law. Canada voted in favour 🙏
The President of the #ICC's Assembly of States Parties has received the fact-finding report on alleged sexual misconduct by the ICC Prosecutor Khan.
Further steps tbd by a panel of judicial experts, at which point it will known what, if any, consequences Khan faces.
Further steps tbd by a panel of judicial experts, at which point it will known what, if any, consequences Khan faces.
December 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The President of the #ICC's Assembly of States Parties has received the fact-finding report on alleged sexual misconduct by the ICC Prosecutor Khan.
Further steps tbd by a panel of judicial experts, at which point it will known what, if any, consequences Khan faces.
Further steps tbd by a panel of judicial experts, at which point it will known what, if any, consequences Khan faces.
The original tweet from Rae (which was spot on):
December 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The original tweet from Rae (which was spot on):
The US votes alone - with 🇮🇱 & 🇷🇺 abstaining - from a Resolution on Safety & Security of Humanitarian Personnel & the Protection of UN personnel.
If we fail to recognize that America poses a grave threat to peace & security it's bc we're not listening to what America itself is clearly telling us.
If we fail to recognize that America poses a grave threat to peace & security it's bc we're not listening to what America itself is clearly telling us.
December 11, 2025 at 12:06 AM
The US votes alone - with 🇮🇱 & 🇷🇺 abstaining - from a Resolution on Safety & Security of Humanitarian Personnel & the Protection of UN personnel.
If we fail to recognize that America poses a grave threat to peace & security it's bc we're not listening to what America itself is clearly telling us.
If we fail to recognize that America poses a grave threat to peace & security it's bc we're not listening to what America itself is clearly telling us.
Some pics of The Hague 😍
December 10, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Some pics of The Hague 😍
Tis the season 🎄
And yes, it’s alive! Once this little fella serves this holiday season, he’ll be outside growing again until next year.
And yes, it’s alive! Once this little fella serves this holiday season, he’ll be outside growing again until next year.
December 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Tis the season 🎄
And yes, it’s alive! Once this little fella serves this holiday season, he’ll be outside growing again until next year.
And yes, it’s alive! Once this little fella serves this holiday season, he’ll be outside growing again until next year.
The ICC Assembly of States Parties, #ASP24, begins.
Amidst threats against the Court, US sanctions, & an extraordinarily turbulent world, few meetings of #ICC state parties have been more critical.
Today, tho, it’s quiet. I’ve been to many ASPs & this is the quietest I’ve seen.
Amidst threats against the Court, US sanctions, & an extraordinarily turbulent world, few meetings of #ICC state parties have been more critical.
Today, tho, it’s quiet. I’ve been to many ASPs & this is the quietest I’ve seen.
December 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Nice to be back in the Netherlands 🇳🇱
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Nice to be back in the Netherlands 🇳🇱
Looking forward to attending the #ICC the Assembly of States Parties next week.
The biggest issue will be the US sanctions. They have already disrupted proceedings.
I hope Canada & others strongly signal their opposition and proudly stand with their sanctioned citizens. #ASP24
The biggest issue will be the US sanctions. They have already disrupted proceedings.
I hope Canada & others strongly signal their opposition and proudly stand with their sanctioned citizens. #ASP24
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM