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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1h

given today's political climate, and the fact that so-called Columbus Day is coming up, I thought I would share this passage (from one of my books) about the fascist history of Columbus Day in America

#Fascism #ColumbusDay

Columbus Day
And nothing sums up that hard right shift better than the story of Columbus Day, and story of the Sons of Italy. Let's start with Columbus Day first.
Now, all things Columbus-Columbus Day, Columbus statues-are controversial these days, and rightly so-but in the early days of the Italian colony in Massachusetts, it was just another festival day for one of the many local mutual aid societies. Boston's original
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—La Gazzetta di Massachusetts, Oct. 9, 1915
Columbus Society (aka la Societa di Mutuo Soccorso "Cristoforo-Colombo") was the second society to form, way back in 1869, and it hosted the first Columbus Day parade in Boston a few years later. It was a small affair, and probably only held significance for members and their families.
But later in the 1800s, Columbus became a national hero for Italian-Americans. Think about it-Italians were discriminated against left and right in their new country-but meanwhile here was this Italian dude that a lot of people thought had discovered the place. What a perfect way to demonstrate to Americans that they should be nicer to Italian immigrants! So, pretty soon, there were mutual aid societies named after Columbus, with their own parades, in Fitchburg, Salem, Lawrence, and Worcester-and all around the country.
By 1903, the Boston Columbus Society had turned its parade into a large event-inviting all of the other Massachusetts Columbus societies to march around Boston with them, and capping it off with a "sumptuous banquet" (as the invitation described it. By the
MUTUO SOCCORSO!
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1920s, the Boston Columbus Day parade had turned into the most important annual event for the Italian community. Most of the other local mutual aid societies marched in it, local politicians took part, and the whole thing got front-page coverage in La Gazzetta.
Good so far? Well, here's where it gets dark. Italy's new fascist government noticed all the hubbub, and saw an opportunity to spread Italian nationalism, and boost support for Italy
(Remember, Italian-Americans were very generous with their donations to Italy and its war efforts). And so Italian consuls and officials began marching in American Columbus Day parades-including the Boston one. And Italy started hosting its own annual Columbus Day parade in Rome.
After that, it was only a matter of time before Columbus Day became synonymous with Italian nationalism and fascism. In addition to all the Italian flags and dignitaries, Boston's Columbus Society started inviting outright fascists to give speeches, and to march in the parade-which they did, in military-style uniforms, in military formation. Not everyone was happy with this, of course-and pretty quickly, anti-fascists began protesting the events, which led to fighting between the two groups
If that wasn't bad enough, wait til you hear how Columbus Day became a national holiday. In the 1930s, the publisher of New York's influential Italian-language newspaper il Progresso Italo-Americano was a man named Generoso Pope. Pope was a member of both the fascist Lictor Federation and the Fascist League of North America, and was later given the title of Grand Officer of the Crown of Italy by Mussolini for his service to fascism in America. What a prince, right? Around this time, Pope began advocating for Columbus Day to become a national holiday-running articles in his paper, and pressuring his American political connections, including some local politician named Franklin D. Roosevelt. After FDR became President of the US, he declared Columbus Day a national

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jj skolnik @modernistwitch.myatproto.social · 15h

there is another characterization of the ice agents/national guard i keep seeing that i dislike for different reasons - that they’re incompetent/not “real” agents or military. obscures that this is systemic violence and the volume of the harm done

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Mattilda B Sycamore @mbsycamore.bsky.social · 12h

More of this, please!🦄🦄🦄

Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 14h

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

3 of the top 3453 disturbing statements from community members at last nite's city mtg on the unhoused in davis sq:

1. "where is the compassion for business owners?"
2. "what if we removed all of the benches?"
3. A statement that unhoused ppl are lazy & add nothing to society

#SomervilleMA

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 22h

it looks like "a huge zero," some might say?

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 22h

like, what's that venn diagram look like?

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 22h

i wonder how many of the "davis square village" no-tall-building people are also part of the anti-homeless pressure group

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k @xeroxerox.bsky.social · 1d

We need EVERYONE to start making their empathy and understanding and love for our unhoused neighbors infinitely louder than these loser nimby fucks

tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

3 of the top 3453 disturbing statements from community members at last nite's city mtg on the unhoused in davis sq:

1. "where is the compassion for business owners?"
2. "what if we removed all of the benches?"
3. A statement that unhoused ppl are lazy & add nothing to society

#SomervilleMA

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

it seems like a lot of ppl last night were conflating a number of issues (perceived and experienced safety concerns; drug use; perceived rise in crime)-- and blaming them all on unhoused people. and saying that everything would be magically solved if these ppl were forced away from the square.

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

yeah, that guy was out of control. i also found it fascinating that his evidence about Davis being dangerous and needing unhoused ppl removed was:
1. he saw someone urinating in public once
2. someone was stabbed near his place of business (horrific, but again: once)

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

well that is good at least

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

did you stay for the whole thing? I left around 720 maybe. I just couldn't take it anymore

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

yup. so disturbing to realize I share space with people who think those things

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 1d

3 of the top 3453 disturbing statements from community members at last nite's city mtg on the unhoused in davis sq:

1. "where is the compassion for business owners?"
2. "what if we removed all of the benches?"
3. A statement that unhoused ppl are lazy & add nothing to society

#SomervilleMA

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 2d

if you're like me, you could use some inspiration right now. Can I recommend this book put out by the museum of reclaimed urban space, about community initiatives like squatted buildings, community gardens, and bike transportation (to name a few)

#Morus #90sNYC

Front cover of the book, showing a marching band

inside pages, showing a community garden

inside pages, showing a community bike shop

inside pages, showing some protests, and a kids event at a community garden

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 2d

if you're like me, you could use some inspiration right now. Can I recommend this book put out by the museum of reclaimed urban space, about community initiatives like squatted buildings, community gardens, and bike transportation (to name a few)

#Morus #90sNYC

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competentposter @competentposter.bsky.social · 3d

wizard frog is insane

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Erin Fogg says Free Link @criminalerin.bsky.social · 3d

No, we cannot defeat fascism with a national cultural mindset that SOME people deserve to be kidnapped and caged, ESPECIALLY not when the prevailing reason justifying that is "FOR THEIR OWN GOOD" cuz they're "too crazy/on too many drugs" do u even know what "bodily autonomy" IS??

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franklin1337.bsky.social @franklin1337.bsky.social · 3d

So ICE gets stuck in what looks like normal city traffic and decides to brutalize everyone around them . Am I missing something here?

Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 3d

ICE ramming a civilian car, then shooting them. They claimed 10 cars surround the agents. Where are they?
Happened in east garfield today

Disclaimer: I am merely sharing what I have read about this incident.

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Patrick De Klotz @patdeklotz.bsky.social · 3d

Stephen Miller is a fascist lunatic

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 3d

"the empire may claim fear of violence, because the fear of violence justifies any measure of violence in return"

- omar el akkad, "one day, everyone will have been against this"

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Nikosmico🏴 @nikosmico.click · 3d

🏴😮‍💨 We've been so indoctrinated by capitalism we forget resources are enough for all. The real obstacles are speculators, politicians, and billionaires.

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 5d

good morning!

here is a fun little bit from Graeber's Fragments

#DavidGraeber #Santa

Residents of the squatter community of Christiana, Denmark, for example, have a Christmastide ritual where they dress in Santa suits, take toys from department stores and distribute them to children on the street, partly just so everyone can relish the images of the cops beating down Santa and snatching the toys back from crying children.

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Boston Anarchist Bookfair @boston-a-bookfair.bsky.social · 5d

four weeks from tomorrow!

🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤

poster by @sampaolini.bsky.social

boston anarchist bookfair 2025 flyer. flyer features a screaming cat, surrounded by text. text lists the dates and times (11/1 and 11/2, 12-6pm), location (5 calender st cambridge), and says "please mask"

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tim d (he/him) @timdevin.bsky.social · 5d

good morning!

here is a fun little bit from Graeber's Fragments

#DavidGraeber #Santa

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