A.J. Withers
@ajwithers.bsky.social
Organizer and academic, mostly carceral housing, homelessness, disability, trans issues. RWW Jr. Chair in Gener, Sexuality & Women's Studies at SFU. Settler on occupied, unceeded Coast Salish territory.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Tonight on APTN National News: Community in northern Quebec declares state of emergency over water supply crisis after a housefire.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation once again asks residents to exercise caution due to high benzene levels from petroleum plants.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation once again asks residents to exercise caution due to high benzene levels from petroleum plants.
APTN National News: May 20, 2025 – Water supply crisis, High benzene levels affect First Nation
YouTube video by APTN News
youtube.com
May 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Tonight on APTN National News: Community in northern Quebec declares state of emergency over water supply crisis after a housefire.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation once again asks residents to exercise caution due to high benzene levels from petroleum plants.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation once again asks residents to exercise caution due to high benzene levels from petroleum plants.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Unbelievably angry that this is a real headline I woke up to and nobody with an ounce of power is doing anything to stop this.
May 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Unbelievably angry that this is a real headline I woke up to and nobody with an ounce of power is doing anything to stop this.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
This is great! Barcelona city council also expropriated property from speculators & investors who were leaving it empty during a housing crisis!
www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...
Spain blocks more than 65,000 Airbnb holiday rental listings | CBC News
Spain's consumer rights ministry said on Monday it had ordered Airbnb to withdraw more than 65,000 listings for holiday rentals from its platform, saying they violated existing rules.
www.cbc.ca
May 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This is great! Barcelona city council also expropriated property from speculators & investors who were leaving it empty during a housing crisis!
www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...
This is one of the best articles I've read in a long time.
Many don't get the underlying eugenics of the far right (beyond COVID). Read this.
Many don't get the underlying eugenics of the far right (beyond COVID). Read this.
A couple weeks ago, I wrote that the MAHA movement does not want to eliminate chronic illness- it wants to eliminate the chronically ill. Since then, RFK Jr’s actions and statements have only reinforced my belief that his HHS will target disabled and sick ppl.
www.thegauntlet.news/p/rfk-jrs-ma...
www.thegauntlet.news/p/rfk-jrs-ma...
RFK Jr.'s "MAHA" movement doesn't want to eliminate chronic illness. They want to eliminate the chronically ill.
Public health, modern medicine and disease mitigation will suffer under RFK Jr. because he sees sick people- not sickness- as the problem.
www.thegauntlet.news
May 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This is one of the best articles I've read in a long time.
Many don't get the underlying eugenics of the far right (beyond COVID). Read this.
Many don't get the underlying eugenics of the far right (beyond COVID). Read this.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Interesting reporting on involuntary treatment but buried the lede big time: The man the involuntary treatment law is named after fled Washington because it was too traumatizing to be forced into treatment, and later died in treatment. Heartbreaking.
Plenty of warnings for Canadian politicians buried in here. Ricky's Law is the Washington State involuntary treatment regime. Ricky himself was detained for treatment - several times. Ultimately, it was too traumatizing & Ricky fled out of state to escape his own law.
www.cbc.ca/newsinteract...
www.cbc.ca/newsinteract...
Forced into treatment
As involuntary treatment gains political traction in Canada, CBC News goes to Washington state to find out how it can help — and what can go wrong
www.cbc.ca
November 29, 2024 at 12:29 AM
Interesting reporting on involuntary treatment but buried the lede big time: The man the involuntary treatment law is named after fled Washington because it was too traumatizing to be forced into treatment, and later died in treatment. Heartbreaking.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Reposted by A.J. Withers
“If I die, I want a loud death. I don’t want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group, I want a death that the world will hear.”
She was about to get married; a film about her life in Gaza had just been finished.
10 of her family were killed with her.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
She was about to get married; a film about her life in Gaza had just been finished.
10 of her family were killed with her.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
‘If I die, I want a loud death’: Gaza photojournalist killed by Israeli airstrike
Fatima Hassouna, who had been documenting war in Gaza for 18 months and was subject of new documentary, killed along with 10 members of her family
www.theguardian.com
April 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
“If I die, I want a loud death. I don’t want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group, I want a death that the world will hear.”
She was about to get married; a film about her life in Gaza had just been finished.
10 of her family were killed with her.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
She was about to get married; a film about her life in Gaza had just been finished.
10 of her family were killed with her.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Came across this text b/w lobbyist Gurpreet Vinning & Mayor Sim's staffer Trevor Ford.
Vinning wanted this kept quiet: Rogers wants to get more government contracts. Were they trying to sweeten the deal by giving money to things Sim cares about? I have questions.
vancouver.ca/files/cov/20...
Vinning wanted this kept quiet: Rogers wants to get more government contracts. Were they trying to sweeten the deal by giving money to things Sim cares about? I have questions.
vancouver.ca/files/cov/20...
April 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Came across this text b/w lobbyist Gurpreet Vinning & Mayor Sim's staffer Trevor Ford.
Vinning wanted this kept quiet: Rogers wants to get more government contracts. Were they trying to sweeten the deal by giving money to things Sim cares about? I have questions.
vancouver.ca/files/cov/20...
Vinning wanted this kept quiet: Rogers wants to get more government contracts. Were they trying to sweeten the deal by giving money to things Sim cares about? I have questions.
vancouver.ca/files/cov/20...
High voter turn-out, people waiting for hrs to vote and landslide victories for progressive candidates could be read as widespread discontent w/ Van Mayor Sim and the ABC party's anti-poor, carceral agenda
But I saw a kid wearing an "I voted" sticker = evidence it was fixed
Stay the course Ken
But I saw a kid wearing an "I voted" sticker = evidence it was fixed
Stay the course Ken
April 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
High voter turn-out, people waiting for hrs to vote and landslide victories for progressive candidates could be read as widespread discontent w/ Van Mayor Sim and the ABC party's anti-poor, carceral agenda
But I saw a kid wearing an "I voted" sticker = evidence it was fixed
Stay the course Ken
But I saw a kid wearing an "I voted" sticker = evidence it was fixed
Stay the course Ken
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Hey Ottawa, I will be doing a talk on Wednesday at 6 at Atelier d’innovation sociale Mauril-Bélanger, 95 Clegg Street.
Meeting this Moment: Building Disability and Trans Justice Amid Rising Authoritarianism.
It would be great to see you there!
Meeting this Moment: Building Disability and Trans Justice Amid Rising Authoritarianism.
It would be great to see you there!
Meeting this Moment: Building Disability and Trans Justice Amid Rising Authoritarianism - A.J Withers - Punch Up Collective
The Research Center on Social Innovation and Transformation (CRITS) is pleased to announce that A.J. Withers (Simon Fraser University) will present a lecture entitled “Meeting this Moment: Building Di...
www.punchupcollective.org
March 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Hey Ottawa, I will be doing a talk on Wednesday at 6 at Atelier d’innovation sociale Mauril-Bélanger, 95 Clegg Street.
Meeting this Moment: Building Disability and Trans Justice Amid Rising Authoritarianism.
It would be great to see you there!
Meeting this Moment: Building Disability and Trans Justice Amid Rising Authoritarianism.
It would be great to see you there!
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Reposted by A.J. Withers
The tariffs will hurt bad, but Fentanyl is a front. The drug war ain’t about drugs. Never was. It’s always been a proxy fight to attack specific communities. Targets change, but the principal remains the same. It’s theatre, political kayfabe. “Fentanyl Czar” - sounds like a wrestler.
March 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The tariffs will hurt bad, but Fentanyl is a front. The drug war ain’t about drugs. Never was. It’s always been a proxy fight to attack specific communities. Targets change, but the principal remains the same. It’s theatre, political kayfabe. “Fentanyl Czar” - sounds like a wrestler.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Join UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning and SFU Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies to celebrate the launch of @deanspade.bsky.social's new book, "Love in a F*cked up World."
March 30 | 1 PM | 312 Main St
ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@ajwithers.bsky.social @sfufass.bsky.social
March 30 | 1 PM | 312 Main St
ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@ajwithers.bsky.social @sfufass.bsky.social
March 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Join UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning and SFU Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies to celebrate the launch of @deanspade.bsky.social's new book, "Love in a F*cked up World."
March 30 | 1 PM | 312 Main St
ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@ajwithers.bsky.social @sfufass.bsky.social
March 30 | 1 PM | 312 Main St
ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@ajwithers.bsky.social @sfufass.bsky.social
Well put advice about confronting fascists and the state
What Every Protestor Needs to Know Before Speaking
YouTube video by NowThis Impact
youtube.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Well put advice about confronting fascists and the state
Reposted by A.J. Withers
🧵"So this is how liberty dies..."
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
February 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
🧵"So this is how liberty dies..."
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.
I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
The Liberals' new immigration policies are preferred over the Conservative platform by Nazis and white supremacists.
No joke.
No joke.
February 13, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The Liberals' new immigration policies are preferred over the Conservative platform by Nazis and white supremacists.
No joke.
No joke.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Buy. This. Book. 👇🏾
Liberals, open your pro-capitalist wallets
Liberals, open your pro-capitalist wallets
My book "The Skin We're In" was published five years ago today
It's still the most meaningful writing I've done, and I'm grateful it was published and continues to be read
The paperback, e-book, and audiobook (read by yours truly) are all available here: www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/536075...
It's still the most meaningful writing I've done, and I'm grateful it was published and continues to be read
The paperback, e-book, and audiobook (read by yours truly) are all available here: www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/536075...
February 9, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Buy. This. Book. 👇🏾
Liberals, open your pro-capitalist wallets
Liberals, open your pro-capitalist wallets
Reposted by A.J. Withers
"Their Spirits Live Within Us"
34th Annual Women's Memorial March on Friday Feb 14th
March for public begins at noon at main & hastings
Led by Indigenous Women To Honour the MMIWG2S+
34th Annual Women's Memorial March on Friday Feb 14th
March for public begins at noon at main & hastings
Led by Indigenous Women To Honour the MMIWG2S+
February 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
"Their Spirits Live Within Us"
34th Annual Women's Memorial March on Friday Feb 14th
March for public begins at noon at main & hastings
Led by Indigenous Women To Honour the MMIWG2S+
34th Annual Women's Memorial March on Friday Feb 14th
March for public begins at noon at main & hastings
Led by Indigenous Women To Honour the MMIWG2S+
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Last month, @theintercept.com published our investigation about E.S., a young man living w HIV in Gaza, & the terror he faced as his access to AIDS medication was threatened by US-Israeli policy.
Now, TENS of MILLIONS are being similarly threatened by US policy. theintercept.com/2025/01/13/i...
Now, TENS of MILLIONS are being similarly threatened by US policy. theintercept.com/2025/01/13/i...
Queer, HIV-Positive, and Running Out of Medication in Gaza
A year in Palestine, living in fear of not just genocide — but AIDS.
theintercept.com
February 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Last month, @theintercept.com published our investigation about E.S., a young man living w HIV in Gaza, & the terror he faced as his access to AIDS medication was threatened by US-Israeli policy.
Now, TENS of MILLIONS are being similarly threatened by US policy. theintercept.com/2025/01/13/i...
Now, TENS of MILLIONS are being similarly threatened by US policy. theintercept.com/2025/01/13/i...
Disability Politics and Theory is out as an audio book now!
I am so excited.
If you listen, please review.
I am so excited.
If you listen, please review.
February 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Disability Politics and Theory is out as an audio book now!
I am so excited.
If you listen, please review.
I am so excited.
If you listen, please review.
Reposted by A.J. Withers
Folks, I don't intend to post about every single horrible thing that's happening at the moment because I'm not a direct news source and also because my mental health has an upper limit. Don't confuse lack of obsessive news updating for lack of concern or lack of personal action. Also, here's a cat.
February 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Folks, I don't intend to post about every single horrible thing that's happening at the moment because I'm not a direct news source and also because my mental health has an upper limit. Don't confuse lack of obsessive news updating for lack of concern or lack of personal action. Also, here's a cat.
"this plot is already well under way"
FBI Uncovers Al-Qaeda Plot To Just Sit Back And Enjoy Collapse Of United States
WASHINGTON—Putting the nation on alert against what it has described as a “highly credible terrorist threat,” the FBI announced today that it has uncovered a plot by members of al-Qaeda to sit back an...
theonion.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"this plot is already well under way"