Firdaus Arastu

Illustration of aji and bixa plants with a machete and bow/arrow crossed in the center. Handwritten text reads "NO KINGS, SIN REYES"

If you're unable to attend a #NoKings protest in person on Saturday, there is a virtual rally you can join 🖤 Live captioning will be available. More info: https://mobilize.us/s/Xb7I4p #SinReyes

The Group Behind Project 2025 Has a Plan to Crush the Pro-Palestinian Movement

They keep publishing exactly what they’re doing

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/u...

Will forever stay on my soapbox about the power dynamics and white supremacy of those who claim “objectivity” and “neutrality”

www.currentaffairs.org/news/how-the...

Defunding Dissent Philanthropists have quietly withdrawn funding from grassroots groups that spoke out for Gaza, imperiling a broad range of social justice movements.

NEW: Preview our Fall/Winter 2024 issue with this groundbreaking investigation by Will Alden. Behind the scenes, philanthropists are pulling their support from a wide range of social justice groups because they spoke out for Gaza: jewishcurrents.org/defunding-di...

Bloodstained hypocrisy: Biden’s bombs are louder than his words on Islamophobia On December 12, the Biden administration released its National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate. But as Biden speaks of “countering hate,” he continues to expedite the shipment...

On December 12, the Biden administration released its National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate. But as Biden speaks of “countering hate,” he continues to expedite the shipment of weapons that are being used to kill Palestinians.

https://mondoweiss.net/2024/12/bloodstained-hypoc…

The 71-year-old Illinois man who stabbed a 6-year-old Palestinian boy to death last October was a regular listener of right-wing AM radio shows featuring nonstop anti-Arab and Islamophobic storylines.

Pope Francis condemns Israel’s bombing in Gaza—again Pope Frances condemned the Israeli bombing in Gaza in his annual Christmas address, telling Cardinals and other senior leaders in the Vatican, “This is cruelty, not war.”

Pope Frances condemned the Israeli bombing in Gaza in his annual Christmas address, telling Cardinals and other senior leaders in the Vatican, “This is cruelty, not war."

https://mondoweiss.net/2024/12/pope-francis-condemns-israels-bombing-in-gaza-again/

#Palestine #Israel

How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic - KFF Health News Exclusive reporting reveals how the United States lost track of a virus that could cause the next pandemic. Problems like the sluggish pace of federal action, a deference to industry, and neglect for ...

we're pretty much definitely getting a bird flu pandemic, huh kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Ninth Circuit Rules For Muslim Americans Illegally Surveilled by FBI Decision means plaintiffs will have their day in court, nearly 20 years later. SEATTLE – Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of three Muslim Americans – Sheikh Yassir Fazaga, Ali

For 3+ yrs, I worked w/ CAIR LA, ACLU SoCal & UCLA CILP on the FBI v. Fazaga case. Today, the 9th circuit ruled in favor of the Muslim American plaintiffs. They will finally have their day in court to hold the FBI accountable for violating their religious freedom.

www.aclusocal.org/en/press-rel...

Inside the Yale Police Department’s War on Student Protesters Exclusive documents reveal the YPD’s use of counterterrorism tactics in suppressing pro-Palestine activism.

Thousands of documents obtained from the Yale Police Department show how the campus police closely surveilled pro-Palestine protestors, in collaboration with the FBI and counterterrorism forces. What other campuses followed this playbook?

Palestinian Studies Postdoctoral Fellowship | Islamic Studies

Spread the word! Postdoctoral Fellowship in Palestinian Studies at Stanford
islamicstudies.stanford.edu/opportunitie...

I support that. I really oppose the trope of resurrecting heroes. Let them rest!

I keep debating a rewatch, but I’m still scarred by season 6

Screenshot of NYT headline that reads: OPINION THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN The First New Foreign Policy Challenge for Trump Just Became Clear Dec. 13, 2024

I can’t imagine a worse idea than taking foreign policy advice from Thomas Friedman, who is now encouraging Trump to engage in “nation building” in Syria.

Friedman has spent his entire career championing Islamophobic wars and being wrong about everything from WMDs to McDonalds.

Safer for who? Hochul says she’ll leverage counterterrorism resources to protect billionaires, but over and over again we’ve seen that policies that allegedly target terrorism end up being used to target Muslims and other marginalized communities.

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

I’m dealing with the same problem with the de-institutionalization of reporters who did excellent coverage about Muslim life and Islamophobia in the US

Absolutely absurd lame duck behavior. The Biden admin cannot actively fund and arm a genocide against Palestinians, and have any grounds to make a strategy to counter Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate.

A real strategy must end state violence against Muslim communities in the US and abroad.

joining a new social media platform feels like standing in the school cafeteria trying to figure out where you're supposed to sit.