Austin (A.T.) Harrison
@at-harrison.bsky.social
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
The Memphis Safe Task Force's goal was always to round up as many people as quickly as possible. Like a citywide ICE raid. It's fantastical for the Mayor to think he's going to convince 1,500 federal agents to solve homicides and do actual police work.
www.psrmemphis.org/mayor-young-...
www.psrmemphis.org/mayor-young-...
Mayor Young Tells Hispanic Leaders MPD Is Working With ICE - Institute for Public Service Reporting - Memphis %
% %
www.psrmemphis.org
October 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The Memphis Safe Task Force's goal was always to round up as many people as quickly as possible. Like a citywide ICE raid. It's fantastical for the Mayor to think he's going to convince 1,500 federal agents to solve homicides and do actual police work.
www.psrmemphis.org/mayor-young-...
www.psrmemphis.org/mayor-young-...
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
It's bleak out there. But we're gonna do some good this week.
How I'd Fix Atlanta has partnered with Undue Medical Debt to help a bunch of ATLiens this week, and we need your help.
Give what you can. Tell everyone you know.
unduemedicaldebt.org/campaign/whe...
How I'd Fix Atlanta has partnered with Undue Medical Debt to help a bunch of ATLiens this week, and we need your help.
Give what you can. Tell everyone you know.
unduemedicaldebt.org/campaign/whe...
When Good Georgians Get Together, Great Things Happen
How I’d Fix Atlanta started as a free newsletter sent on a Thursday of most months in 2022. We’ve published 37 essays (and counting) since, put out a couple print zines, done some readings around the ...
unduemedicaldebt.org
September 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It's bleak out there. But we're gonna do some good this week.
How I'd Fix Atlanta has partnered with Undue Medical Debt to help a bunch of ATLiens this week, and we need your help.
Give what you can. Tell everyone you know.
unduemedicaldebt.org/campaign/whe...
How I'd Fix Atlanta has partnered with Undue Medical Debt to help a bunch of ATLiens this week, and we need your help.
Give what you can. Tell everyone you know.
unduemedicaldebt.org/campaign/whe...
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
JUST NOW — With Senators @MarshaBlackburn & @SenatorHagerty obediently by his side Trump establishes a “task force” to send the National Guard into MEMPHIS
September 15, 2025 at 10:23 PM
JUST NOW — With Senators @MarshaBlackburn & @SenatorHagerty obediently by his side Trump establishes a “task force” to send the National Guard into MEMPHIS
So much for the Blue-State-Only theory....I'm sure this decision has nothing to do with Memphis being the largest majority Black city in America.
National Guard coming to Memphis, Trump says
The National Guard is coming to Memphis, President Donald Trump said Friday, Sept.12 on the cable news show “Fox & Friends.”
dailymemphian.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So much for the Blue-State-Only theory....I'm sure this decision has nothing to do with Memphis being the largest majority Black city in America.
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
“Elon Musk's xAl is constructing one of the world's largest Al supercenters in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. This mirrors a long history of environmental racism where polluting industries and hazardous developments are placed in communities with the least
political and financial power.” 🧵
political and financial power.” 🧵
August 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
“Elon Musk's xAl is constructing one of the world's largest Al supercenters in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. This mirrors a long history of environmental racism where polluting industries and hazardous developments are placed in communities with the least
political and financial power.” 🧵
political and financial power.” 🧵
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
I see that the MAGA movement is reaffirming the values of the urban renewal program, straight out of the Housing Act of 1949
[the urban renewal program cleared millions of people from their homes, destroyed countless US center cities, uprooted communities of color, other than that it was great]
[the urban renewal program cleared millions of people from their homes, destroyed countless US center cities, uprooted communities of color, other than that it was great]
August 13, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I see that the MAGA movement is reaffirming the values of the urban renewal program, straight out of the Housing Act of 1949
[the urban renewal program cleared millions of people from their homes, destroyed countless US center cities, uprooted communities of color, other than that it was great]
[the urban renewal program cleared millions of people from their homes, destroyed countless US center cities, uprooted communities of color, other than that it was great]
I’m sure my fellow urban southerners are as concerned by this as I am….
@thetnholler.bsky.social @mlk50.com
@thetnholler.bsky.social @mlk50.com
Heritage Prez Tells Right-Wing State Legislators to De-charter, Take Over Blue Capital Cities
No democracy for you, urban voters! Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts says the "second American Revolution" is renewing self-governance in same speech he tells right-wing legislators to de-c...
www.peoplefor.org
August 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I’m sure my fellow urban southerners are as concerned by this as I am….
@thetnholler.bsky.social @mlk50.com
@thetnholler.bsky.social @mlk50.com
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
A lot of the "he's a uniquely gifted candidate" and "New York City isn't replicable elsewhere" takes—both of which have merit—neglect the extent to which Mamdani is uniquely suited TO THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT. And the lessons of that ARE replicable elsewhere.
August 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
A lot of the "he's a uniquely gifted candidate" and "New York City isn't replicable elsewhere" takes—both of which have merit—neglect the extent to which Mamdani is uniquely suited TO THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT. And the lessons of that ARE replicable elsewhere.
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
New: the Trump administration is preparing to shut down seven major housing discrimination and segregation cases — including high-profile investigations in Chicago, Houston and Flint — despite findings in some that civil rights violations occurred. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Trump Administration Prepares to Drop Seven Major Housing Discrimination Cases
Federal housing officials spent years investigating cities from Chicago to Memphis to Corpus Christi for putting industrial plants and unwanted facilities in poor, nonwhite neighborhoods. Now, under T...
www.propublica.org
July 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
New: the Trump administration is preparing to shut down seven major housing discrimination and segregation cases — including high-profile investigations in Chicago, Houston and Flint — despite findings in some that civil rights violations occurred. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
Read my new piece with @jasonhackworth.bsky.social in the #JournalofBlackStudies. We have some thoughts about this…and it’s open access!
"What does a narrative of support for racial capitalism look like in contemporary political economies, where racism denial is pervasive in political discourse, and trust in authorities are at an all-time low?"
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
July 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Read my new piece with @jasonhackworth.bsky.social in the #JournalofBlackStudies. We have some thoughts about this…and it’s open access!
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
Atlanta is the most surveilled city in the United States.
But because the Atlanta Police Department claims that releasing the locations of these 60,000+ cameras will lead to terrorism, we’ve not been able to map their locations...
Until now. Read more 👇👇
But because the Atlanta Police Department claims that releasing the locations of these 60,000+ cameras will lead to terrorism, we’ve not been able to map their locations...
Until now. Read more 👇👇
City of Cameras
Atlanta is the most surveilled city in the United States. With 124.14 surveillance cameras per 1,000 people, we not only lead the country, we have more than twice as many cameras per capita as 2nd …
mappingatlanta.org
June 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Atlanta is the most surveilled city in the United States.
But because the Atlanta Police Department claims that releasing the locations of these 60,000+ cameras will lead to terrorism, we’ve not been able to map their locations...
Until now. Read more 👇👇
But because the Atlanta Police Department claims that releasing the locations of these 60,000+ cameras will lead to terrorism, we’ve not been able to map their locations...
Until now. Read more 👇👇
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
The federal government has lost so many lawyers at HUD that the housing agency is at risk of fraud, abuse and litigation, according to an internal report.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
US Housing Agency Vulnerable to Fraud After DOGE Cuts, Documents Warn
Departures of hundreds of lawyers put mortgage insurance claims, apartment building sales and other critical agency functions at risk, according to an internal memo.
www.bloomberg.com
June 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The federal government has lost so many lawyers at HUD that the housing agency is at risk of fraud, abuse and litigation, according to an internal report.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist.
June 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist.
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
Organizing >> wonkism, right now
We need more Saul Alinskys, Ella Bakers, and Gale Cincottas, and fewer of these guys tbh
We need more Saul Alinskys, Ella Bakers, and Gale Cincottas, and fewer of these guys tbh
SCOOP: Senate Democrats have invited New York Times columnist Ezra Klein and Democratic data guru David Shor to talk to senators at their annual one-day issues retreat on Wednesday, sources tell Axios.
Scoop: Senate Democrats to host Ezra Klein as retreat special guest
Klein will have a dialogue with senators at the Mount Vernon retreat.
www.axios.com
May 6, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Organizing >> wonkism, right now
We need more Saul Alinskys, Ella Bakers, and Gale Cincottas, and fewer of these guys tbh
We need more Saul Alinskys, Ella Bakers, and Gale Cincottas, and fewer of these guys tbh
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
🔥WATCH: “This environmental racism has led to the slow lynching of our community for too long. We are standing up.”
Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social goes in on @memphischamber CEO Ted Townsend’s comments about XAI and their gas turbines. #MemphisVsMusk
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DJIU7z3...
Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social goes in on @memphischamber CEO Ted Townsend’s comments about XAI and their gas turbines. #MemphisVsMusk
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DJIU7z3...
May 2, 2025 at 12:55 AM
🔥WATCH: “This environmental racism has led to the slow lynching of our community for too long. We are standing up.”
Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social goes in on @memphischamber CEO Ted Townsend’s comments about XAI and their gas turbines. #MemphisVsMusk
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DJIU7z3...
Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social goes in on @memphischamber CEO Ted Townsend’s comments about XAI and their gas turbines. #MemphisVsMusk
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DJIU7z3...
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
Can confirm: Just spoke to him, and Barber and two others were, in fact, arrested.
Story coming.
Story coming.
BREAKING: Police just surrounded Rev. William Barber, prominent activist and pastor, as he and others prayed in the U.S. Capitol Rontunda.
Police then expelled everyone (including press!) from the Rotunda to (presumably) arrest them.
I've covered protests here a lot. Never seen anything like it.
Police then expelled everyone (including press!) from the Rotunda to (presumably) arrest them.
I've covered protests here a lot. Never seen anything like it.
April 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Can confirm: Just spoke to him, and Barber and two others were, in fact, arrested.
Story coming.
Story coming.
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
MEMPHIS VS. MUSK: “XAI’s reps have avoided the public, leaving city officials & @MemphisChamber to explain how it will benefit the city. For residents it feels like a familiar pattern of environmental racism that has targeted the community for decades.” mlk50.com/2025/04/25/s...
April 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
MEMPHIS VS. MUSK: “XAI’s reps have avoided the public, leaving city officials & @MemphisChamber to explain how it will benefit the city. For residents it feels like a familiar pattern of environmental racism that has targeted the community for decades.” mlk50.com/2025/04/25/s...
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
🔥WATCH: “Elon Musk is hurting Tennesseans. He does not care about Tennessee.”
As Faison pushed a resolution to honor Musk & SpaceX for bringing back the astronauts, @justinjpearson.bsky.social pointed out XAI is polluting MEMPHIS - without permits or community input. #MemphisVsMusk
As Faison pushed a resolution to honor Musk & SpaceX for bringing back the astronauts, @justinjpearson.bsky.social pointed out XAI is polluting MEMPHIS - without permits or community input. #MemphisVsMusk
April 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
🔥WATCH: “Elon Musk is hurting Tennesseans. He does not care about Tennessee.”
As Faison pushed a resolution to honor Musk & SpaceX for bringing back the astronauts, @justinjpearson.bsky.social pointed out XAI is polluting MEMPHIS - without permits or community input. #MemphisVsMusk
As Faison pushed a resolution to honor Musk & SpaceX for bringing back the astronauts, @justinjpearson.bsky.social pointed out XAI is polluting MEMPHIS - without permits or community input. #MemphisVsMusk
Got to review a recent contemporary history comparing community organizing in Pittsburgh and Lyon from the 70s up to the subprime crisis. First book review. Had fun.
Communities of resistance and resilience in the post-industrial city: A transnational perspective from Lyon and Pittsburgh, by Daniel Holland
Published in Journal of Urban Affairs (Ahead of Print, 2025)
tandfonline.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Got to review a recent contemporary history comparing community organizing in Pittsburgh and Lyon from the 70s up to the subprime crisis. First book review. Had fun.
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
The great John Lithgow reading @timothysnyder.bsky.social ‘s 20 Lessons.
Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow
Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing
snyder.substack.com
March 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The great John Lithgow reading @timothysnyder.bsky.social ‘s 20 Lessons.
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
Apparently the mayor of Atlanta is proposing to extend the @atlantabeltline.org TIF/TAD district beyond its 25 years (ends in 2030). This would mean keeping schools and basic citywide services from benefiting from (all/most of) tax revenue growth spurred by the original TIF.
I didn’t see that yet, but Clyde has been hinting at it for a bit. I think I actually posted it as a prediction somewhere at least a year ago. Hard to kill off those unaccountable shadow-government orgs once they get big. Of course such extensions undermine the original arguments for TIF districts.
March 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Apparently the mayor of Atlanta is proposing to extend the @atlantabeltline.org TIF/TAD district beyond its 25 years (ends in 2030). This would mean keeping schools and basic citywide services from benefiting from (all/most of) tax revenue growth spurred by the original TIF.
Spring in Atlanta is so beautiful but no one can breathe through their nose for like 2 months and everything is yellow
The plants here in the Atlanta metro are basically having Tree Freaknik at this point
March 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
We had a terrific turnout today of congregation members representing our church at the MICAH issues convention! Kudos to the organizers who helped sign them up and coordinated the carpool, and to the volunteers who gave their Sunday afternoon to this important work. Blessings to all!
March 23, 2025 at 11:37 PM
We had a terrific turnout today of congregation members representing our church at the MICAH issues convention! Kudos to the organizers who helped sign them up and coordinated the carpool, and to the volunteers who gave their Sunday afternoon to this important work. Blessings to all!
Reposted by Austin (A.T.) Harrison
WATCH: “This will affect all of MEMPHIS… Musk feels like he can get away with it because poor-ass Black folks live there and nobody gives a damn.”
@memphiscap_org shares voices pushing back against XAI as they buy another 1 MILLION square feet there
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DHI7o6v...
@memphiscap_org shares voices pushing back against XAI as they buy another 1 MILLION square feet there
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DHI7o6v...
March 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
WATCH: “This will affect all of MEMPHIS… Musk feels like he can get away with it because poor-ass Black folks live there and nobody gives a damn.”
@memphiscap_org shares voices pushing back against XAI as they buy another 1 MILLION square feet there
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DHI7o6v...
@memphiscap_org shares voices pushing back against XAI as they buy another 1 MILLION square feet there
Full: www.instagram.com/reel/DHI7o6v...
Meet me in St. Louis. The view from my window this morning.
March 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Meet me in St. Louis. The view from my window this morning.