Mara Richards Bim

The day after the public execution of Alex Pretti – Baptist News Global “This is the world we’re living in now: The government puts out propaganda and attempts to destroy evidence to maintain its lies.”

I didn’t expect that the first thing I wrote for @baptistnews.com after returning from Minneapolis would be a reflection on the public execution of a U.S. citizen. 😭😭😭 Lord, in your mercy…

baptistnews.com/article/the-...

I was in Minneapolis last week. This is one of the articles I wrote for @baptistnews.com

I was on the ground in Minneapolis last week. This is my contribution to #eyesnotlies an effort by clergy to combat the government’s disinformation campaign around the murder of Alex Pretti.

I’m on the ground in Minneapolis for @baptistnews.com and this is spot on. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Update on proposed human warehouse in Texas – Baptist News Global Hutchins “currently only has one warehouse available for lease, which is about 1 million square feet," the story said.

Here’s the warehouse in Hutchins, TX that the administration is eyeing to warehouse 9,500 humans. @baptistnews.com
baptistnews.com/article/upda...

January 11, 2026 The news has seemed to move more and more quickly in the last week.

Once again @hcrichardson.bsky.social helps us understand why things are moving so fast with the chaos-in-chief. open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

For right-wingers who want to preserve any sort of public career in a post-Trump reality without being constantly haunted by their past disgrace, "Renee Good's murder is a bridge too far for me" is one of the easiest off-ramps in the world. I think we should take note of who declines to use it.

Trump preparing to warehouse immigrants like cargo – Baptist News Global The Trump administration plans to convert seven large warehouses across the country into holding pens to collectively hold 80,000 humans.

In case you missed the news, the administration is converting seven warehouses across the country to hold 80,000 people as human cargo. One of these warehouses is 30 miles from where I live. My latest for @baptistnews.com #immigration #immigrants #fascism
baptistnews.com/article/trum...

I’m still having trouble finding words to adequately express what I’m feeling after watching the videos of a federal agent shooting a woman in the face and then driving away.

A visual guide to the elected officials who fly Christian nationalist flags at the Capitol – Baptist News Global I walked by every single elected official’s office to document exactly which of them fly Christian nationalist flags.

Today being the 5th anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, let's look back a 2025 report by @marabim.bsky.social on the concerning amount of Christian nationalist flags hung outside offices at the U.S. Capitol.
bit.ly/3FUZ4dZ

that isn't just racial profiling -- this sounds a lot like ethnic cleansing.

Thank you @wordandway.bsky.social and @briankaylor.bsky.social for the opportunity to contribute to this week’s Advent reflections.

What you need to know about Trump’s Secret Police Force – Baptist News Global Democratic-led cities are being assaulted by masked men. These federal agents under the purview of Department of Homeland Security

My latest with @baptistnews.com “That these masked men — and they are mostly men — are allowed to operate as a nameless, faceless, clandestine police force in America epitomizes the surreal landscape we find ourselves in today.” baptistnews.com/article/what...

#sblaar25 is halfway over and I’m just getting around to posting. There’s so much to see and do! Friday night kicked off with a great workshop on producing public scholarship with @drleahpayne.bsky.social @swajdan.bsky.social and @bradleyonishi.bsky.social

Department of Homeland Security & Department of War keep posting videos with Bible verses to justify their imperial violence. But, sure, let's question if #ChristianNationalism is even a thing.

I spend lots of time in the ICE field office and immigration court. People are being kidnapped every day - people who are showing up for their immigration process “doing it the right way.” This video was captured a few months ago by Vecinos Unidos - one of the groups I work with. Watch to the end.

Make no mistake though, things are escalating in Dallas and beyond. The illusion that U.S. citizens are safe from these gestapo tactics is just that: an illusion.

Later, I received word that two court observers were being “temporarily detained” by US Marshals.

So I went back to the courthouse to stand with them until we figured out what was going on. They were released and were still unclear what the issue was. 🧵

I asked “is that a threat?” He said, “no, I’m just letting you know.”

Are these men ICE? CPB? Gang members? Paid thugs? Who knows. But I do consider his action a threat. 🧵

On Tuesday, I was at Immigration Court in my clergy collar. The plainclothes agent on the left got in my face with his phone and snapped a photo I said, “would you like to know my name?” He responded, “no we’ve got facial recognition. We’ve got your name and address.” 🧵

Interfaith worship outside #Broadview ICE facility.
📸: @marabim.bsky.social

@marabim.bsky.social is reporting live from Broadview, IL, outside the ICE facility where peaceful protestors have gathered for interfaith worship. Livestreams available here: www.facebook.com/mara.richard...

A conversation with Michael Woolf about ICE and Chicago – Baptist News Global He joins a long line of clergy who have, in recent weeks, been assaulted by militarized agents from ICE and state police.

Thank you @revdrmichaelwoolf.bsky.social for talking with me about what happened in Chicago on All Saint’s Day. Here’s an excerpt of our conversation for @baptistnews.com baptistnews.com/article/a-co...

Whaaaat???!!!

Oh yes. I know this church! They are good people. 

Trump has launched seven deadly strikes in the Caribbean Sea.

Remember: no judge or jury has found these boats were trafficking drugs. We're simply taking Trump's word for it.

He’s unilaterally acting as judge, jury, and executioner.

“One former senior DHS official who was involved in oversight said that what is happening on American streets today ‘gives me goosebumps.’”

United Methodist pastor violently arrested in Chicago – Baptist News Global Pastor Hannah Kardon of United Church was violently arrested along with eight others at a peaceful protest at the Broadview ICE facility

A United Methodist pastor was violently arrested at the #Chicago ICE facility in Broadview today. baptistnews.com/article/unit...

100%

In Chicago, Black and brown people are disappearing – Baptist News Global That assault is being carried out by a combination of groups — including uniformed Customs and Border Patrol officers.

#Chicago is literally a war zone. Here’s one of my articles from this week for @baptistnews.com More coming soon. baptistnews.com/article/in-c...