Carrie Kisicki
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cmkisicki.bsky.social
Carrie Kisicki
@cmkisicki.bsky.social
560 followers 230 following 530 posts
Maryland Housing Advocacy Manager at @betterdcregion.bsky.social, bird and baseball fan. high priestess of woke 2. posts & opinions my own
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cmkisicki.bsky.social
Carrie Kisicki @cmkisicki.bsky.social · Jan 8
apropos of [gestures at everything], some excerpts from zaakir tameez’s excellent biography of charles sumner—recounting a time in our history when, spurred by a monstrous law and state violence against their neighbors, people gathered together to resist and elect a vocal opponent with a backbone
Excerpt from a book. Highlighted in blue: “We pledge to each other our unceasing efforts, till the struggle results in victory.” Full text: The defeat in Roberts devastated Sumner's client and the Black community he had been working with. Benjamin Roberts expressed his shock at how "blind and deaf" the court was, how it approved of a "great injustice against the colored people perpetrated by those agents in the public service." He and others had anticipated winning. So much hope had been placed in this court decision, in this expectation that a new leaf might be turned by the judiciary. Yet hope in judges ended up being, as so often in history, utterly misplaced. The community didn't give up. "We pledge to each other our unceasing efforts, till the struggle results in victory, a group of Black community members swore. For six more years, Roberts, Morris, and other Black leaders continued their boycotts and pushed their lobbying efforts in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a law mandating integration in Boston. Excerpt from a book, highlighted: “Until this point, white northerners could pretend slavery didn’t affect them. Most of them had never see the brutality of slavery up close. But there was no not seeing anymore […] Sumner called the Fugitive Slave Act the “most cruel, unchristian, devilish law.” Thanks to the law, many ordinary white northerners who had felt ambivalent about slavery now felt complicit in, and afraid of, the regime of oppression that prevailed in the South.” Full text: Widely considered one of the most repressive and totalitarian laws in American history, the Fugitive Slave Act empowered enslavers, bounty hunters, and law enforcement officers to arrest any Black person accused of being a slave. To send an accused person into Slavery, all a white person effectively had to do was sign an affidavit claiming the arrestee was their slave. Moreover, anyone who tried to help an alleged fugitive avoid recapture could be fined or sent to prison for up to six months. Even a simple act of Christian charity like giving shelter for the night, was punishable. Until this point, white northerners could pretend slavery didn't affect them. Most of them had never seen the brutality of slavery up close. But there was no not seeing anymore. After the passage of the act, bounty hunters prowled the streets of Boston, New York, Cincinnati, and other cities in search of Black people to accuse of being slaves. White northerners feared their own arrest or jail time for helping a Black person hide or run away. They also feared a provision in the law that allowed law enforcement off-cers to force civilians to assist in making arrests. Every northerner-free or fugitive, rich or poor, white or Black-was implicated. Sumner called the Fugitive Slave Act the "most cruel, unchristian, dev- ¡lish law. Thanks to the law, many ordinary white northerners who had felt ambivalent about slavery now felt complicit in, and afraid of, the regime of oppression that prevailed in the South. Excerpt from a book, highlighted: “Addressing a packed crowd at Faneuil Hall, he said voters should look for three things in choosing whom to support. ‘The first is backbone; the second is backbone; and the third is backbone,” he declared.” Full text: "The antislavery agitation which it was hoped to hush by the recent laws is breaking out afresh," he explained to his brother George. "It will not be hushed. Mr. Webster is strong in Boston, but not in Massachusetts. Out of the city he is weak.... I think that everywhere the antislavery sentiment will get real strength?" Across the state, Sumner campaigned vigorously for the Free Soilers, centering his message around Webster's fated endorsement of the Fugitive Slave Act. He needed his party to win as many seats in the state legislature as possible to influence the Senate pick. Addressing a packed crowd at Faneuil Hall, he said voters should look for three things in choosing whom to support. "The first is backbone; the second is backbone; and the third is backbone, he declared. "When I see a person talking loudly against Slavery in private, but hesitating in public, and failing in the time of trial, I say, He wants backbone. When I see a person who coöperated with Antislav-ery men, and then deserted them, I say, He wants backbone." The audience thundered with applause. Excerpt from a book with highlight: “The tide was turning as public fury erupted across the state, demanding that Sumner be chosen given his leading opposition to the hated Fugitive Slave Act.” In the margins you can see in part that I have written “wow so you’re telling me people demanded the election of a guy who actually stood up against an unpopular law?”
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
mattbormet.com
All consumption is unethical under capitalism, unless you are shopping at my bookstore
February 7, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
cmkisicki.bsky.social
BREAKING NEWS: @betterdcregion.bsky.social gave me a lapel mic 😈
February 6, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
acyn.bsky.social
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”

Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
analiliafornj.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
tframpton.bsky.social
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."

This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.

yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
elenasor.bsky.social
urbanist asmr… so very calming! just like calming traffic
February 6, 2026 at 12:30 AM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
i think getting my hands on a lapel mic permanently altered my brain chemistry and i am about to become a menace to society
February 6, 2026 at 12:27 AM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
BREAKING NEWS: @betterdcregion.bsky.social gave me a lapel mic 😈
February 6, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
betterdcregion.bsky.social
We’re excited to play our way through the city with #TranspoBINGO 2026, Feb 5–12!🎲🚲🚍

Walk, bike, roll, ride transit, and enjoy public spaces, marking board squares as you play across DC.

Join us in playing your way through DC and supporting more joyful and connected ways to move through the city!
transpobingo.bsky.social TranspoBINGO @transpobingo.bsky.social · 2d
🎉 It’s officially time for #TranspoBINGO 2026! Let's play our way through the city! 🎉
We’re playing from Feb 5–12, rewarding non-car travel—buses, Metro, biking, walking, and rolling. Take different kinds of trips, explore our city (and region!), and support public and active transportation.
TranspoBINGO 2026 board. Accessible board and rulebook available at www.transpobingo.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
alexkoma.bsky.social
Big turnout down at the rally to support the Washington Post: from national union leaders like @flyingwithsara.bsky.social to local DC Councilmember (and mayoral candidate) @janeese4dc.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 6:31 PM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
thinking about house finches
February 5, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
rachelweiner.bsky.social
Seems like this will be my last story for the Washington Post. A handful of my colleagues will still be covering local news in the DMV and I know they’ll do great work, but they and this region deserve so much better.
February 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
betterdcregion.bsky.social
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 5th, our team at @betterdcregion.bsky.social will join the rally to #SaveThePost and stand in solidarity with hundreds of laid-off reporters, including local and regional journalists.

When: Tomorrow (Thursday) from noon to 1 p.m.
Where: 1301 K St. NW

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
postguild.bsky.social Washington Post Guild @postguild.bsky.social · 4d
Join us Thursday for a rally to #SaveThePost!! The rally will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at 1301 K St. NW!!

Bring friends! Bring gloves! Bring a love of journalism!
This is an image of a poster promoting the rally that will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at 1301 K St. NW to save The Washington Post newsroom from rumored mass layoffs.
February 4, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
taniel.bsky.social
NEW: Abigail Spanberger this afternoon ordered that all state agencies leave ICE's 287(g) program.

This means that the state police (and some other agencies) will no longer be empowered to detain and arrest people for ICE.

Big, big move by the governor within weeks of coming into office.
Virginia’s New Governor Ends ICE Program. Local Contracts Remain, For Now. - Bolts
Abigail Spanberger left the 287(g) program, which empowered state law enforcement to detain immigrants. Will Democrats also bar local police and sheriffs from the program?
boltsmag.org
February 4, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
postguild.bsky.social
Join us Thursday for a rally to #SaveThePost!! The rally will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at 1301 K St. NW!!

Bring friends! Bring gloves! Bring a love of journalism!
This is an image of a poster promoting the rally that will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at 1301 K St. NW to save The Washington Post newsroom from rumored mass layoffs.
February 2, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
cmtalliance.bsky.social
CMTA attended the #BetterTransitNow rally at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis on Monday. We asked @govwesmoore.bsky.social to expedite the @mta.maryland.gov BmoreBUS plan.
February 4, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
davidzipper.bsky.social
The DMV is losing one of the best transportation reporters in the US. I'm sad for Rachel, but even more so for DC.
rachelweiner.bsky.social Rachel Weiner @rachelweiner.bsky.social · 3d
Seems like this will be my last story for the Washington Post. A handful of my colleagues will still be covering local news in the DMV and I know they’ll do great work, but they and this region deserve so much better.
rachelweiner.bsky.social Rachel Weiner @rachelweiner.bsky.social · 4d
Trump administration limiting use of federal funds for speed cameras, calling them "unfair revenue schemes.” www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
We’re losing our (outstanding, deserves-much-better) local transportation writer at the Post:
rachelweiner.bsky.social Rachel Weiner @rachelweiner.bsky.social · 3d
Seems like this will be my last story for the Washington Post. A handful of my colleagues will still be covering local news in the DMV and I know they’ll do great work, but they and this region deserve so much better.
rachelweiner.bsky.social Rachel Weiner @rachelweiner.bsky.social · 4d
Trump administration limiting use of federal funds for speed cameras, calling them "unfair revenue schemes.” www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
February 4, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
phillewis.bsky.social
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
benharris1.bsky.social
When we look back at this era, one of its defining characteristics will be the deliberate sabotage and destruction of once-valued institutions simply to satisfy the whims of a small group of self-absorbed, broken-brained billionaires.
February 4, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
actfortransit.bsky.social
"The Metro section will be restructured, ensuring a "healthy presence for local subscribers," ... there will be about a dozen people left on the desk. That's down from more than 40."

The Washington Post used to have a whole bureau just for Montgomery County MD. www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post'
The Washington Post embarked on severe cuts despite appeals by the newsroom to owner Jeff Bezos. The paper is to narrow its focus largely to politics and national security.
www.npr.org
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
leahgreenberg.bsky.social
I hate this so much. There are so many brilliant, dedicated people at the Post and they deserve so much better than this.
nataliekorach.bsky.social Natalie Korach @nataliekorach.bsky.social · 3d
WaPo's Matt Murray told staff the paper is shuttering sports, moving remaining staff to features, shrinking foreign coverage, restructuring metro, closing books coverage, suspending Post Reports podcast

“Whole company now waiting for a live or die email” one staffer said

More in tonight’s Status
February 4, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
adamserwer.bsky.social
I personally do not think some rich man should be able to buy an institution like this like a toy and then break it when he doesn’t want to play with it anymore. bsky.app/profile/benm...
benmullin.bsky.social Ben Mullin @benmullin.bsky.social · 3d
New: Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray and HR Chief Wayne Connell tell employees to stay home for a zoom webinar ahead of “significant actions across the company.” Widely expected layoffs are scheduled to begin today.
February 4, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
betterdcregion.bsky.social
Some fun, some local action, and a legislative whirlwind!

Check out our February newsletter: www.smartergrowth.net/resources/ne...

Stay in the know and subscribe for monthly updates: secure.everyaction.com/DaJnpL9qvUWr...
CSG news: Some fun, some local action, and a legislative whirlwind - Coalition For Smarter Growth
Join CSG this month to play TranspoBINGO and campaign for transit funding, take a Polar Bear Plunge, and run around the Maryland and Virginia General Assemblies!
www.smartergrowth.net
February 3, 2026 at 9:34 PM