Kirsten Bayes

"The police don’t actually end up spending their time fighting violent criminals. Instead, they enforce administrative regulations and endless rules. So rather than protecting us against violence, police actually bring the threat of violence into situations where it would have never occurred otherwise. Most incidents of violence —domestic violence, a drunken brawl, or gang fights— the police don’t get involved. On the other hand, try driving down the street with no license plates: how long will it be before you are surrounded by people with weapons." - David Graeber

David Graeber on the police.

From an interview he gave a few years ago with the Scottish publication called Bella Caledonia. davidgraeber.org/interviews/t...

When the shadows grow long,
when our names turn to dust,
what we loved, what we hated,
will spoil to rust.
All will be forgotten,
save one truth, unshaken…
What did we do
when the children were taken?
- The Shepherd King in One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig,

every day it's a man who looks like my father, taken to the ground. a man who looks like my brother, on his knees. a woman who looks just like my sister, screaming for her children. every day.

😯

If any Government can just snatch basic human rights away from any section of society when it pleases then none of us has rights – just privileges that can be taken away by people in power whenever they want

Once again I am begging people to stop demanding reforms that would make being an MP *even more* a preserve of the rich.

They eventually started moving again!

Thank you! Though I confess that at the time I was thinking, "am I ever going to get on any of these trains...?"

Trains in Paddington Station at night, watched by station staff.

Paddington Station in London at night, last month: trains on stop.

#stunday #photography

The Russian regime uses Farage and his pals in the same way as they use insurgencies in other enemy countries. To create chaos and division and preoccupy the Government of the target country.

Guardian front page , photo of a group of cops in hi viz and wearing blue surgical gloves somewhere in central London. Headline reads “police to get new power to crack down repeated protests, says Home Secretary.

Typical Labour bring in a disproportionate stupid law and when people protest it, make the protest illegal.

The enthusiasm of self-defined centrists to pave the way for fascism is still shocking.

Probably not a coincidence.

Stop lying. Your state cops attacked protesters alongside ICE yesterday. I was there. I and others were violently attacked by ICE agents. Your state cops acted in concert with them during the attack.

It's a whole lot of "forget about the Epstein files".

Hospice care is vital, but right now, it’s a postcode lottery.

@AlisonEBennett.bsky.social explains the Lib Dems’ new policy to guarantee fair funding and make sure hospices have what they need to give everyone the care they deserve.

Yeah, fash like to create and live in their own fictional world. We all do, to some extent (viz. video games, D&D). It does get pretty delusional for them, though.

This ableism isn’t just on the right. It’s on the left too. We all need to be very careful about protecting the humanity and rights of disabled people.

I wish to report a murder. Ouch.

black text on white background "As you prepare your breakfast, think of others (do not forget the pigeon’s food). As you conduct your wars, think of others (do not forget those who seek peace). As you pay your water bill, think of others (those who are nursed by clouds). As you return home, to your home, think of others (do not forget the people of the camps). As you sleep and count the stars, think of others (those who have nowhere to sleep). As you liberate yourself in metaphor, think of others (those who have lost the right to speak). As you think of others far away, think of yourself (say: “If only I were a candle in the dark”)."

Mahmoud Darwish trans. by Mohammed Shaheen

These are sad times for Britain when the dominant political and media narratives are normalising the notion that immigrants are second class citizens. It’s not only cruel and demeaning but also stupid and self-destructive & those promoting it do not wish the country well.

REVEALED: The big polluter and arms industry bosses overseeing government departments Two in three Whitehall department non-executive directors have corporate backgrounds - and only one is a trade unionist - analysis released ahead of Labour conference reveals.

Revealed: the arms industry bosses, executives at major polluters and senior bankers overseeing government departments:

open.substack.com/pub/abolishw... <- by me

For them, Power="Serve the interests of moneyed elites". And I do get why they think that way: with some noble exceptions, the press has a habit of going after those who don't.

But if you are in power politically you can do things for wider society and take people with you. It's called, "leading".

Love Naamod so much.

In the old Maglite days! I'd imagine.

Drop something colorful.

It is the so-called Harries technique. I think the intention is to bring the light up as high as possible for searching, and if the gun is drawn, to hold the light while supporting the pistol back-of-hand to back-of-hand. But these days bright lights are much smaller, so it is less of a thing.

People with a gun in the other hand.

"My wife travelled to see a funny comedian in Saudi Arabia"
"Carr?"
"No she's not allowed to drive there because women are hated"

Genspect truly are utter right-wing garbage merchants.