BlackVelvetBand
@myirish.bsky.social
Mother Friend Trade Unionist .Activist till I die I repost things that interest me not because I always agree with them. Belfast City She/Her Sí/í
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Goldman to Lyons: "You said in your opening statement that references to ICE as 'the Gestapo' or 'secret police' encourages threats against ICE agents. The problem is you have it backwards. People are simply making valid observations about your tactics, which are un-American and outright fascist."
February 10, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Goldman to Lyons: "You said in your opening statement that references to ICE as 'the Gestapo' or 'secret police' encourages threats against ICE agents. The problem is you have it backwards. People are simply making valid observations about your tactics, which are un-American and outright fascist."
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
🔴 BREAKING | At least 5 Palestinians killed in 3 separate Israeli attacks across Gaza
➤ 3 Palestinians were killed in a new Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.
➤ Farmer Khaled Barakawa was shot & killed by Israeli forces east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
➤ Another Palestinian, Nabil al-Rahal...
➤ 3 Palestinians were killed in a new Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.
➤ Farmer Khaled Barakawa was shot & killed by Israeli forces east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
➤ Another Palestinian, Nabil al-Rahal...
February 9, 2026 at 8:35 PM
🔴 BREAKING | At least 5 Palestinians killed in 3 separate Israeli attacks across Gaza
➤ 3 Palestinians were killed in a new Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.
➤ Farmer Khaled Barakawa was shot & killed by Israeli forces east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
➤ Another Palestinian, Nabil al-Rahal...
➤ 3 Palestinians were killed in a new Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.
➤ Farmer Khaled Barakawa was shot & killed by Israeli forces east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
➤ Another Palestinian, Nabil al-Rahal...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
I've heard directly from hundreds of children at Dilley. One young girl who shared her story with me grew up in the United States and her stepfather is a U.S. citizen. She said that the guards are mean to her, she is afraid, and that she is worried she will die in detention.
February 10, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I've heard directly from hundreds of children at Dilley. One young girl who shared her story with me grew up in the United States and her stepfather is a U.S. citizen. She said that the guards are mean to her, she is afraid, and that she is worried she will die in detention.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Peter Navarro: "The jobs report comes out tomorrow. We have to revise our expectations down significantly for what a monthly job number should look like ... Wall Street has to adjust for the fact that we're deporting millions of illegals out of the job market."
February 10, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Peter Navarro: "The jobs report comes out tomorrow. We have to revise our expectations down significantly for what a monthly job number should look like ... Wall Street has to adjust for the fact that we're deporting millions of illegals out of the job market."
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
The Regavim organization is exerting intense pressure on all security forces based on false claims. Under this cover, land seizure is underway: a new road is being paved to connect four caravans implanted in the heart of the community,creating an impassable barrier that divides the village into two.
February 10, 2026 at 1:38 PM
The Regavim organization is exerting intense pressure on all security forces based on false claims. Under this cover, land seizure is underway: a new road is being paved to connect four caravans implanted in the heart of the community,creating an impassable barrier that divides the village into two.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Crockett: "All this administration cares about is protecting the powerful and protecting pedophiles. They will do anything to distract from that, including deciding to put up in the middle of Black History Month the most racist thing that we've ever seen come out of a White House."
February 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Crockett: "All this administration cares about is protecting the powerful and protecting pedophiles. They will do anything to distract from that, including deciding to put up in the middle of Black History Month the most racist thing that we've ever seen come out of a White House."
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
A huge morning at the #spycops public inquiry where officer Jim Boyling has admitted there was an exchange of info about protesters between spycops & private corporations, & he excluded certain people from his reports if he didn't want them to be spied on as much
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06HQ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06HQ...
Spycops inquiry reaction: morning of 10 Feb 2026 - HN14 Jim Boyling evidence (Day 2/4)
YouTube video by Cops Campaign
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:58 AM
A huge morning at the #spycops public inquiry where officer Jim Boyling has admitted there was an exchange of info about protesters between spycops & private corporations, & he excluded certain people from his reports if he didn't want them to be spied on as much
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06HQ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=06HQ...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Last Friday's edition of the newsletter raised over $3,000 for The Energy CENTS coalition and I rounded the donation up to $3,500. Thank you for supporting folks who are struggling because of the ongoing ICE presence here in Minnesota.
In solidarity w/ communities being hurt by ICE, I'm donating all new revenue from today's newsletter to The Energy CENTS Coalition, a St. Paul nonprofit that helps struggling folks pay utility bills. If you'd like to support a good cause & PN, sign up for a sub using the buttons in today's edition 👇
Why Delia Ramirez thinks DHS needs to be dismantled
"Why would we ever want to give them more money to keep doing what they’re doing?"
www.publicnotice.co
February 9, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Last Friday's edition of the newsletter raised over $3,000 for The Energy CENTS coalition and I rounded the donation up to $3,500. Thank you for supporting folks who are struggling because of the ongoing ICE presence here in Minnesota.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
A video! With me! About Democracy for Sale's latest revelations about Labour Together, which lead all the way to Starmer's Downing Street.
February 9, 2026 at 3:25 PM
A video! With me! About Democracy for Sale's latest revelations about Labour Together, which lead all the way to Starmer's Downing Street.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Home Affairs questions today: the government believes that "the permanence of refugee status in this country is clearly a pull factor, and we are therefore making it temporary".
(The government's reform proposal is to eventually grant settlement after a long period of triennial reviews)
(The government's reform proposal is to eventually grant settlement after a long period of triennial reviews)
February 9, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Home Affairs questions today: the government believes that "the permanence of refugee status in this country is clearly a pull factor, and we are therefore making it temporary".
(The government's reform proposal is to eventually grant settlement after a long period of triennial reviews)
(The government's reform proposal is to eventually grant settlement after a long period of triennial reviews)
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Nick Buckley sets out Advance UK immigration policy of Ben Habib's party
- bsn ILR & revoke aıı post-2018 grants
- encourage all settled migrants to leave
- bsn all work visas from India & all other majority non-white countries
- ban foreigners becoming citizens
- invade French waters
- bsn ILR & revoke aıı post-2018 grants
- encourage all settled migrants to leave
- bsn all work visas from India & all other majority non-white countries
- ban foreigners becoming citizens
- invade French waters
February 10, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Nick Buckley sets out Advance UK immigration policy of Ben Habib's party
- bsn ILR & revoke aıı post-2018 grants
- encourage all settled migrants to leave
- bsn all work visas from India & all other majority non-white countries
- ban foreigners becoming citizens
- invade French waters
- bsn ILR & revoke aıı post-2018 grants
- encourage all settled migrants to leave
- bsn all work visas from India & all other majority non-white countries
- ban foreigners becoming citizens
- invade French waters
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Important thread ... 👇
When he ran Labour Together, Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons hired a PR firm to investigate journalists
After our revelations, and a flurry of news stories, Simons finally gave his side of the story
But it doesn't seem to tally with the facts... 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-...
After our revelations, and a flurry of news stories, Simons finally gave his side of the story
But it doesn't seem to tally with the facts... 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-...
McSweeney goes - but Josh Simons in the frame over targeting journalists
Cabinet Office minister hired a PR firm to investigate journalists. His explanation is bewildering - and begs one big question. How can Starmer keep him on?
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Important thread ... 👇
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
a reminder that Tim Allan, who quit Starmer's Downing St today, previously spun for....not only Kazakhstan and Qatar but also Vladimir Putin’s government
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
From Blair to Putin to Starmer: PR chief Tim Allan’s CV
Former New Labour spin-doctor has faced criticism over his choice of clients, including Russia’s government
www.ft.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
a reminder that Tim Allan, who quit Starmer's Downing St today, previously spun for....not only Kazakhstan and Qatar but also Vladimir Putin’s government
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Pulling up the drawbridge’: Alf Dubs criticises Shabana Mahmood’s plans for child refugees
Exclusive: Labour peer, who came to UK as a refugee, says some ministers try to show they won’t ‘just do things because of their background’
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
How extraordinarily fortunate for Wes Streeting that the only text messages he sent Peter Mandelson just happened to be exactly the sort of things other Labour MPs want to hear from a potential leadership candidate
February 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
How extraordinarily fortunate for Wes Streeting that the only text messages he sent Peter Mandelson just happened to be exactly the sort of things other Labour MPs want to hear from a potential leadership candidate
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Interesting rhetoric from AOC here
February 10, 2026 at 3:22 AM
Interesting rhetoric from AOC here
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
i think this more than anything is what miller wants. vast detention camps with all of the suffering and death that means.
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
ICE to begin detaining immigrants inside Social Circle warehouse in April
Homeland Security plans to build warehouse detention facilities in other cities being met with opposition.
www.ajc.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:56 AM
i think this more than anything is what miller wants. vast detention camps with all of the suffering and death that means.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Of all the people definitely not running a leadership campaign, no sir, Streeting is not running the slickest one. People are saying your whatsapps with Mandelson might finish your definitely not campaign? publish before someone else does www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Streeting wrote off his re-election chances in WhatsApp exchanges with Mandelson
Health secretary publishes messages as he seeks to draw line under his relationship with former peer
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Of all the people definitely not running a leadership campaign, no sir, Streeting is not running the slickest one. People are saying your whatsapps with Mandelson might finish your definitely not campaign? publish before someone else does www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
This is incredibly funny to try because even if it *was* true, then it would mean Streeting was defending Mandleson in September for the love of the game.
February 9, 2026 at 7:05 PM
This is incredibly funny to try because even if it *was* true, then it would mean Streeting was defending Mandleson in September for the love of the game.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
I know it’s a very busy day but this story *really* matters
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
When he ran Labour Together, Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons hired a PR firm to investigate journalists
After our revelations, and a flurry of news stories, Simons finally gave his side of the story
But it doesn't seem to tally with the facts... 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-...
After our revelations, and a flurry of news stories, Simons finally gave his side of the story
But it doesn't seem to tally with the facts... 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/mcsweeney-...
McSweeney goes - but Josh Simons in the frame over targeting journalists
Cabinet Office minister hired a PR firm to investigate journalists. His explanation is bewildering - and begs one big question. How can Starmer keep him on?
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:53 PM
I know it’s a very busy day but this story *really* matters
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
Josh Simons says he hired ‘a PR company’ to investigate a ‘suspected illegal hack’
But if you’re worried about a hack, why pay £30k to a PR firm?
A lot about this story isn’t right. And a cabinet office minister is at the centre of it
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
chrishedges.substack.com/p/noam-choms... - perfectly put re the explanation / apology from Valéria Chomsky #epstein
February 9, 2026 at 6:35 PM
chrishedges.substack.com/p/noam-choms... - perfectly put re the explanation / apology from Valéria Chomsky #epstein
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
Thanks @shhomeplace.bsky.social & Marie for this blog story about my recent book & the road that brought me on it. I'm in Bellaghy, Feb 19. Myself & Stephen McCauley are planning a talk, illustrated with a rich music playlist. Would be great to see you there.
seamusheaneyhome.com/the-homeplac...
seamusheaneyhome.com/the-homeplac...
The HomePlace Blog: A Rainy Afternoon in Belfast: Talking Music, Memory and Meaning with Stuart Bailie - Seamus Heaney Home
From punk gigs to the golden age of the music press – a conversation with a Belfast music legend. On a very wet Friday lunchtime, I visited Belfast city centre to meet Stuart Bailie. Our meeting place...
seamusheaneyhome.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Thanks @shhomeplace.bsky.social & Marie for this blog story about my recent book & the road that brought me on it. I'm in Bellaghy, Feb 19. Myself & Stephen McCauley are planning a talk, illustrated with a rich music playlist. Would be great to see you there.
seamusheaneyhome.com/the-homeplac...
seamusheaneyhome.com/the-homeplac...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
"He said he has been locked in the same large, cold and damp room for 4½ months with more than 70 men. He said detainees are constantly hungry because meals served at tables in the centre of the room offer only child-sized portions." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
"He said he has been locked in the same large, cold and damp room for 4½ months with more than 70 men. He said detainees are constantly hungry because meals served at tables in the centre of the room offer only child-sized portions." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
How are the Gardaí arresting a working woman that earned money through consensual means but avoiding the biggest producer of CSAM in the world based in our country.
A Brazilian escort accused of having more than €700,000 in suspected brothel earnings in Dublin has been sent forward for trial.
Bruna da Silveira, 25, had a 450-page book of evidence served on her by gardaí following an international prostitution investigation.
jrnl.ie/6951510
Bruna da Silveira, 25, had a 450-page book of evidence served on her by gardaí following an international prostitution investigation.
jrnl.ie/6951510
Brazilian escort accused of earning over €700,000 from Dublin brothels sent forward for trial
The investigation witnesses stated they believed the Ireland–UK common travel area was used to bring the women to the Republic via Belfast to avoid immigration points.
jrnl.ie
February 9, 2026 at 1:20 PM
How are the Gardaí arresting a working woman that earned money through consensual means but avoiding the biggest producer of CSAM in the world based in our country.
Reposted by BlackVelvetBand
'Arrest Herzog': Protests erupt across Australia against Israeli president's visit - https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/arrest-herzog-protests-erupt-across-australia-amid-israeli-presidents-visit
'Arrest Herzog': Protests erupt across Australia against Israeli president's visit
Demonstrators demand arrest of Isaac Herzog over liability for war crimes and incitement to genocide in Gaza
www.middleeasteye.net
February 9, 2026 at 1:24 PM
'Arrest Herzog': Protests erupt across Australia against Israeli president's visit - https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/arrest-herzog-protests-erupt-across-australia-amid-israeli-presidents-visit