Monday's many light-shining links

Julia Smith

19 May 2025 — 2 min read

Plenty of examples over at Why building inspiring alternatives is necessary to counter authoritarianism (Waging Nonviolence).

Item 1: Mark your calendar

Today, 5/19 ➡️ Teletown hall for NYC folks to get to know the Working Families Party-endorsed mayoral candidates
Wednesday, 6/4 Two of my favorite voices in conversation at Books are Magic (YouTube livestream will be free!)
Saturday, 6/14 ➡️ No Kings Day, with protests nationwide from many co-sponsoring organizations
Several dates and locations ➡️ A slew of workshops from Training for Change

Item 2: Mutual aid

Some places to contribute $ if you have the means:

If you missed Friday's post, IBBY is fundraising for librarians and children in Gaza
@ActionSTL is mobilizing basic necessities after the tornado ripped through St. Louis last week
Stand with Mikerline: Pregnant and detained by ICE and Alfredo Juarez Legal Fund

Item 3: Follow-up links

Re: Mahmoud Khalil: New video footage shows the administration is lying in court (Zeteo); a long feature about biding time in Jena (N+1 Magazine)
Re: food and also libraries: At these grocery stores, no one pays (Civil Eats)
Re: abortion: We're now up to 10 states trying to charge abortion patients with homicide (Jezebel); They're trying to ban posting about abortion online (Taylor Lorenz on YouTube). You can ➡️ Order abortion pills in advance via AidAccess.org, so you have them in case someone needs them. Or contribute to my fundraiser for the NJ Abortion Access Fund. With your help, I've raised $500+ so far; maybe we can get to $1k before the end of the fund-a-thon!
Re: Sesame Street: It's headed to PBS Kids + Netflix! (The Wrap)

Under a blue sky, protesters hold up signs with anti-ICE logos, such as NJ SAYS NO DICE TO ICE!

Friday's two things: Protective steps, collective glimmers

Item 1. Weekend wish That in our gatherings–in-person, virtual, whatever they may be–we access glimmers like this. (J. Wortham's newsletter) Item 2. Safety at protests If you're taking your phone ➡️ consider these tips from Electronic Frontier Foundation or this guide via @imperfectactivista on Instagram.

Thursday's two things we love

Item 1. We love a checklist Here's a new list with some key ways to care for yourself and others, from Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg and Zack Teutsch: Care for yourself and others!Checklist 2.0Life is a Sacred TextRabbi Danya Ruttenberg Item 2. We love situating ourselves in

It's a sign! Wednesday's three things

Here's this week's art fix, since I was out canvassing yesterday and didn't make it. Item 1. Suggestion Are you making a protest sign this week? Monica Trinidad has advice (starting around the 14:15 mark in How to Make Art for Social Change

Monday's things

Item 1: What do we mean by "mutual aid"? Here is a chart from Dean Spade (and he expands on the concept a lot in this book), and here is a quick explainer from Moms Clean Air Force. It might mean starting or joining an ICE Watch program