Carrie Kisicki
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cmkisicki.bsky.social
Carrie Kisicki
@cmkisicki.bsky.social
550 followers 230 following 520 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 · 26d
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
cooperlund.online
It's certainly not the point here but "protests you find too spicy" is a phrase I find endlessly aggravating. The Internet has made a lot of people talk in euphemism when discussing serious things and we should all knock it off.
whstancil.bsky.social Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 4h
If random masked men are setting fires in your community, I think you should feel free to film them. Especially if dozens of other people and several national news crews are filming them. They are not "allies," they're arsonists. Grow up.
February 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
froomkin.bsky.social
Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf
VII. CONCLUSION There is an old adage among lawyers. If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have neither, pound the table. Secretary Noem, the record to-date shows, does not have the facts on her side or at least has ignored them. Does not have the law on her side or at least has ignored it. Having neither and bringing the adage into the 21st century, she pounds X (f/k/a Twitter). Kristi Noem has a First Amendment right to call immigrants killers, leeches, entitlement junkies, and any other inapt name she wants. Secretary Noem, however, is constrained by both our Constitution and the APA to apply faithfully the facts to the law in implementing the TPS program. The record to-date shows she has yet to do that. By accompanying Order, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs' Renewed Motion for a Stay Under 5 U.S.C. § 705. Ara C. Regr
February 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
depthsofwikipedia.bsky.social
ten years ago today no one clapped
February 2, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
mayor.nyc.gov
If a groundhog gets a day to predict the future, New Yorkers deserve a city that plans for one.

Affordable housing, good transit, real public space — all year long.
February 2, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
walmsley.bsky.social
many people are going to be tempted to say this proves the weakness of peaceful protest. this is incorrect because it assumes this happening is a failure of peaceful protest rather than the mechanism by which it succeeds
niedermeyer.online e.w. niedermeyer @niedermeyer.online · 2d
It's hard to overstate how ell-organized the portland march that got gassed was... organizers made the crowd promise to be peaceful, said the march would slow in front of the ICE building but not stop, that we would stick to one chant (ICE Out). They did absolutely everything right and got gassed.
February 1, 2026 at 5:46 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
chrislhayes.bsky.social
Woke 2.0 back with a vengeance. You love to see it.
February 2, 2026 at 3:12 AM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
if you see me on the ground outside Brookside Nature Center 😈 don’t worry about it 😤 I am simply dedicated 💯 to the grind 💪 of taking bird photos 📸🦉
Carrie smiling in hat and scarf partially wrapped around her face, sitting on the snow frozen ground with her camera and binoculars around her neck Carrie’s legs and boots on the snowy frozen ground with bird feeders visible in front of her
February 1, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
uhactually.bsky.social
Real talk: if the environment is anything close to what yesterday’s special election implies in November, there need to be people working very hard on a serious agenda for a substantial Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, focused on voting rights, democracy, and court reform.
February 1, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
bartenderhemry.bsky.social
This administration worships the devil
mprnews.org MPR News @mprnews.org · 3d
In an interview with MPR News, Liam's mother gave an update on her son and her own safety. She said Liam asks again and again, “Mommy, why don’t you pick us up?” Or “Mommy, we don’t want to be here anymore. This place is ugly.”
‘Mommy, why don’t you pick us up?’: Mother of Liam Conejo Ramos shares her story from hiding
Liam and his father are currently being held by federal authorities in the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, an hour plus drive southwest of San Antonio.
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
taniel.bsky.social
JUST IN: Democrats flip a red seat in the Texas Senate.

Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.

With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.

Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
February 1, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
iwriteok.bsky.social
Just got gassed pretty good at the labor union anti-ICE protest in Portland. Massive march, 5-10k strong. Vibes were very much liberal rather than radical. Lots of kids and older folks.

They gassed the whole crowd as soon as it marched on ICE, in broad daylight.
February 1, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
goldwagnathan.bsky.social
It is just wild how many people are getting angry at him here for articulating the most basic principle of civil disobedience.
whstancil.bsky.social Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 3d
People keep saying "Getting arrested is bad, actually" and while I'd certainly prefer not to be, the administration's entire strategy is built around the idea that I will live in fear of it, and shape my behavior to avoid it, and cry in shame if I am. That is how THEY CONTROL YOU.
January 31, 2026 at 3:46 AM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
wait can someone remind me what democracy dies in again?
January 30, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
oldfriend99.bsky.social
My dentist keeps saying I have an "obsessed tooth". If you ask me, he's the one who's obsessed -- with my tooth!
October 1, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
jortsthecat.bsky.social
Practicing being cool and calm. Look how much I’m not screaming
an orange cat is inside a cat travel carrier looking neutral, cool and calm. you can tell he isn’t screaming because his mouth is closed
January 29, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
usili.bsky.social
Bilbo looking at his phone top on bottom is ChatGPT After all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it? You're absolutely right — you found it, it's been with you a long while, and it's only natural to feel fond of something that's served you so well, especially when someone like Gandalf suddenly seems to want it for himself.
January 28, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
mindflakes.bsky.social
Ever tried boiled pasta? Not as crunchy but still good
January 26, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
caitlingilbert.bsky.social
In response to announcement that he will be a new CBS contributor, Andrew Huberman tweeted “I’ve always gone issue-by-issue on health & science, spoken to experts w/a range of takes & presented where I see the center of (data) mass pointed. I’ll do the same with @CBSNews”. In Sept he posted this:
Screenshot of tweet from Huberman that reads: “The other is that dog breeds w/different shaped heads are predictive of their demeanor and intelligence. And while I don’t! believe in Phrenology I now do pay some attention to how the shapes of peoples heads relates to their intellect and steadiness, or lack thereof.”
January 28, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
betterdcregion.bsky.social
"We’ve already tried allocating all our roadway space to motor vehicles."

– @cherylcort.bsky.social, quoted in @usa.streetsblog.org on rumors that the federal authorities want to remove bike lanes in D.C.
The Talk of D.C.: Rumors Flying that Trump Admin Wants to Undo Bike Lanes in Capital — Streetsblog USA
The feds appear to be mounting an argument that bike lanes cause congestion in the nation's capitol — and advocates are bracing for a fight.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 27, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social
bars
screenshot of text from Adam Serwer in The Atlantic: "The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they're the ones who are alone. In Minnesota, all of the ideological cornerstones of MAGA have been proved false at once. Minnesotans, not the armed thugs of ICE and the Border Patrol, are brave. Minnesotans have shown that their community is socially cohesive - because of its diversity and not in spite of it. Minnesotans have found and loved one another in a world atomized by social media, where empty men have tried to fill their lonely soul with lies about their own inherent superiority. Minnesotans have preserved everything worthwhile about "Western civilization," while armed brutes try to tear it down by force."
January 27, 2026 at 6:11 PM
cmkisicki.bsky.social
I'm jumping in the Potomac... for the climate! Let's keep winter cold! 🥶

Please consider tossing us a few bucks to support the work of CSG and CCAN!

give.chesapeakeclimate.org/p2p/site/mjS...
betterdcregion.bsky.social Coalition for Smarter Growth @betterdcregion.bsky.social · 7d
First, we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and warm during the major winter storm.

Second, on Feb. 7th, Team Smarter Growth is joining the 21st Annual Polar Bear Plunge with @chesapeakeclimate.bsky.social!

Please consider sponsoring our Plunge:

give.chesapeakeclimate.org/p2p/site/mjS...
January 27, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
heatherwgaona.bsky.social
Drivers please maybe refrain from speeding and looking at your phone while driving in mostly clear but also very snow-bermy road conditions, please
January 27, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
resnikoff.bsky.social
I find takes like this unsatisfying because they ignore the point of the Nazi analogy. It's not about denying America's history of racist terror. "Nazi" is not just code for "bad but in a way that specifically doesn't implicate US antecedents." www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/26/o...
Don’t look to Germany for an analogy. The Minneapolis nightmare is uniquely American. - The Boston Globe
In order to defeat the white nationalism that is at the core of ICE’s assault on American democracy, we have to see it and treat it as what it is.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
govpritzker.illinois.gov
Who’s next?

One demotion cannot detract from accountability.

Greg Bovino and Trump’s agents must still be held responsible for the killings and the damage they’ve done to America.
Greg Bovino Loses His Job
The Border Patrol chief has been ousted from his role as “commander at large,” and will return to El Centro.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Carrie Kisicki
lollardfish.bsky.social
ok fine emma goldman said it better. dance. tomorrow demand the next forty-five things we want. dance.

bsky.app/profile/3fec...
3fecta.bsky.social Dag. @3fecta.bsky.social · 7d
Emma Goldman
At the dances I was one of the most untiring and gayest. One evening a cousin of Sasha [Alexander Berkman, Goldman s lover], a young boy, took me aside. With a grave face, as if he were about to announce the death of a dear comrade, he whispered to me that it did not behoove an agitator to dance... My frivolity would only hurl the Cause. I grew furious at the impudent interference of the boy. I told him to mind his own business, I was tired of having the Cause constantly thrown into my face. I did not believe that a Cause which stood for a beautiful ideal, for anarchism, for release and freedom from conventions and prejudice, .should demand the denial of life and joy... If it meant that, I did not want it.
January 27, 2026 at 3:16 AM