Caroline Rothstein
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carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Caroline Rothstein
@carolinerothstein.bsky.social
380 followers 120 following 270 posts
Freelance writer, poet, performer, educator, & documentary filmmaker. Prolly posting re: #amwriting, liberation, Chicago Bulls, & Phish.
(she/her)
https://linktr.ee/CarolineRothstein
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carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Come through! Sign ups & more info here: www.carolinerothstein.com/show/writeyo...

#amwriting
Background is an image of ruled white paper with images and text. At the top center is large bright yellow text reading, “WRITE YOUR HEART OUT.” Below is all black text reading, “a caroline rothstein writing workshop.” Below that is black text that reads, “Sunday, December 14 1 - 4 p.m. ET ONLINE! Email booking@carolinerothstein.com to reserve your spot today! Cost $85. Payment plans & scholarships available for those in need. On the bottom left corner is an image of a yellow notebook and on the bottom right corner is an image of two number 2 pencils. Below that at the bottom of the slide is a black heart with two black squiggly lines on either side.
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
So the Bulls spent the summer playing volleyball at North Avenue?! What a close! #Bulls #BullsNation
October 8, 2025 at 1:37 AM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
On the dry erase board in my college classroom when I walked in to prep for class today. What a time.
A white dry erase board that says in black marker, “who was sen. Joe McCarthy and why is he important?”
September 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
“You Could Be Next,” my second spoken word poetry album, is now available:

orcd.co/youcouldbenext

Thank you to everyone who helped make this project possible.

I hope this album can help us all to alchemize the destructions we have witnessed, experienced, & enabled into collective liberation.
The image is the album cover for Caroline Rothstein’s spoken word poetry album “You Could Be Next.” There is a black background with white text. There is light gray Hebrew lettering that reads, “Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam” over and over throughout the image in traditional Hebrew block letters. In the middle of the album, it reads “You Could Be Next” in white text and all caps in Caroline Rothstein’s handwriting. At the bottom of the album, it reads, “Caroline Rothstein” in white text and all caps in Caroline Rothstein’s handwriting.
August 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Touching base on Tuesdays.

My second poetry album “You Could Be Next” releases on Monday, August 25, the first of Elul.

Stay, tuned.

Sending love & liberation to all.
A black background with white text that reads, “YOU COULD BE NEXT. CAROLINE ROTHSTEIN. SAVE THE DATE. AUGUST 25, 2025. 36 POEMS. 1 ALBUM. WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR TUNES. STAY, TUNED.” A black background with white text that reads, “SUBSCRIBE TO MY QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR RELEASE UPDATES & LISTENING LINKS AT: WWW.CAROLINEROTHSTEIN.COM. STAY, TUNED.”
August 19, 2025 at 1:10 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Top 5 Fav Things About #Phish Shows:

1) The music.
2) Serendipitously running into people.
3) When the breeze hits during the end of the 2nd set as the sun goes down at an outdoor show.
4) Lot shirts. (NO NOTES!)
5) Strangers offering me drugs (even though I’m straightedge; it’s just so tender).
July 16, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
eladn.bsky.social
Truly imagine if Mamdani had used the word “Shylock.”

It would have quite literally destroyed his career and every org and leader calling him out would be making this into a month long news cycle.

Trump? Hardly a peep.

When you accept antisemitism from the president, you aren’t fighting it.
July 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
kentremendous.bsky.social
The path for Democrats is very clear: have good ideas, believe in them, state them clearly, stick to them, act decisively in support of these ideas, speak to the young half of the electorate, support other democrats who do these things. Follow Mamdani and Lander's example or fade into nothingness.
June 25, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
marisakabas.bsky.social
A story that got less attention was the incredibly cynical primary of my amazing Councilwoman—the first Muslim woman ever elected to the NYC Council—by a billionaire, corporate-backed candidate also lobbing gross accusations of antisemitism. Anyway, the challenger got trounced. Hell yea.
shahanafrombk.bsky.social Shahana Hanif @shahanafrombk.bsky.social · Jun 25
Thank you, Brooklyn! Getting to represent the neighborhoods that raised me is the greatest privilege of my life.
June 25, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
markharris.bsky.social
I can't emphasize enough how ugly and pervasive and persistent the "Mamdani hates Jews" campaign was. I'm happy that so many Jews stood strong against that vileness. Maybe people will start to understand that we've had it with being treated as a paranoid, easily manipulated single-issue bloc.
June 25, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
marisakabas.bsky.social
it turns out that embracing a multi-racial, multi-faith democracy is the best path towards peace in this chaotic world.
June 25, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
prisonculture.bsky.social
Bottom line is that if you haven't voted yet, please go out to vote tomorrow in the primary and DO NOT RANK CUOMO. I'll be out in the heat wave NOT RANKING HIM. We need to turn the page in this city.
June 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
chanda.blacksky.app
Absolutely. And I can’t help but think what political pressure might have been there if Obama and Biden hadn’t continued George W. Bush’s tradition of “random bombing without congressional approval because War on Terror”
June 22, 2025 at 12:18 AM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Ok but also like how many different group chats are you on during NBA playoff season?
May 22, 2025 at 1:15 AM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
From Friday’s #BehindthePoem.

Sending love & liberation to all.
A yellow background with black text that reads, “FROM ‘JEWISH COMEDY’ ““Because the thing is this: I can’t believe that people are still so uncomfortable with Jews after all these years, just like I can’t believe that people are still so comfortable with holocausts after all this time.””––CAROLINE ROTHSTEIN.”
May 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
BEHIND THE POEM • Episode 157

Here’s a snippet from “AOL The Musical,” which I’ve been cooking up with Ethan Lipsitz & Raymond Caldwell.

Full video here: youtube.com/shorts/QPkhB...

Enjoy.

Sending love & liberation to all.
April 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
originalsp.in
Gov. DeWine just signed SB1, a law ending “DEI” in Ohio public higher ed.

Now that it’s law, U of Toledo just killed the following BA programs:

• Africana Studies
• Asian Studies
• Disability Studies
• Middle East Studies
• Philosophy
• Religious Studies
• Women's/Gender Studies

And…

• Spanish
Welp... Ohio. THE VL ERSEY BE TOLEDO CONTACT SUBMIT A STORY In compliance with S81, UToledo is suspending admissions beginning with the 2025-26 academic year to the following undergraduate programs: • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Africana Studios • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Asian Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Data Analytics • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Disability Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Middle East Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy • Bochelor of Arts (B.A.) in Religious Studios • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Spanish • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Women's and Gender Studios Al these programs remain available as minors for stud In compliance with SB1, UToledo is suspending admissions beginning with the 2025-26 academic year to the following undergraduate programs: • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Africana Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Asian Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Data Analytics • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Disability Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Middle East Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Religious Studies • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Spanish • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Women's and Gender
April 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
From Friday’s #BehindthePoem.

Sending love & liberation to all.
A yellow background with black text that reads, “BEHIND THE POEM | EPISODE 156.’ “I have softened, but have I slowed?”––CAROLINE ROTHSTEIN.”
April 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
theradr.bsky.social
Never again is now, friends.

Don't look away.

We have a moral obligation to EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING being detained, deported, and sent to actual concentration camps on our watch.

Who were you when your government perpetuated atrocities?

If you're in the US, it's in the wide-open now.
premthakker.bsky.social Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · Apr 14
The Trump admin has just detained Mohsen Mahdawi, who:
–has green card
–was Columbia Buddhist club president
–saw his best friend shot & killed by Israeli soldier
–said "we are against antisemitism because antisemitism is a form of injustice, and injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
In addition to violating Mr. Mahdawi’s First Amendment rights, the Rubio Determination and Mr. Mahdawi’s unlawful detention also violates Mr. Mahdawi’s statutory rights and due process rights. PARTIES 8. Petitioner Mohsen Mahdawi is a Palestinian who was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank. He is a lawful permanent resident of the United States and has been for the last ten years. He is a recent student of Columbia University, with an expected graduation date of May 2025. He has been admitted to a Master’s program at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (“SIPA”), to begin in the fall of 2025. After growing up in a refugee camp, Mr. Mahdawi felt compelled to advocate for Palestinian human rights upon moving to the United States. 22. Mr. Mahdawi is also a committed Buddhist and believes in non-violence and empathy as a central tenet of his religion. In fall of 2021, he became the president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association and led it for two years. 23. In fall of 2023, Mr. Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union (“Dar”) at Columbia University which “serves to engage with and celebrate Palestinian culture, history, and identity.” Mr. Mahdawi co-founded this organization with Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian lawful permanent resident who was also recently detained by ICE for his expressive conduct related to Palestine. Mr. Mahdawi appeared in numerous televised interviews and print news articles regarding the military campaign in Gaza and related protests. In December of 2023, Mr. Mahdawi appeared on 60 Minutes where he shared that, as a child, he watched an Israeli soldier shoot and kill his best friend in the West Bank. 27. Throughout his time as a student and a leader of Dar and the Columbia University Buddhist Association, Mr. Mahdawi was always willing to engage in dialogue with people whose views and beliefs differed from his own. Mr. Mahdawi believed, and continues to believe, that more speech is the solution to disagreement, rather than less, and that empathy and understanding through communication are a way to resolve conflicts peacefully. …and a peaceful political solution. Mr. Mahdawi gave speeches at several of these protests. In his speeches, Mr. Mahdawi advocated for Palestinian human rights, a permanent ceasefire, and a peaceful resolution that affirmed the human dignity of all. 25. During one protest, Mr. Mahdawi vocally denounced an unaffiliated passerby who made an antisemitic comment, chanting “shame on him”. Mr. Mahdawi stated that “we are against 2:25-cv-00389 Document 1 Filed 04/14/25 Page 6 of 19 7 antisemitism because antisemitism is a form of injustice, and injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The confrontation was documented by the Columbia Spectator
April 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
BEHIND THE POEM • Episode 155

Today’s poem is a SEDER.

There are 15 slides below. ⬇️

Chag Sameach.

Next year in collective liberation.

Sending love & redemption to all.

#poetry #poem #Passover #behindthepoem
A yellow background with black text that reads, “BEHIND THE POEM | EPISODE 155.’ today’s poem is a SEDER (“order”)”––CAROLINE ROTHSTEIN.”
April 11, 2025 at 11:15 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Happy Tuesday. Shout out to Amir Talai’s 2017 protest sign that—in a vital way—lives rent-free in my mind—& spirit & heart.

Full video here: youtu.be/fTCW93iV2Rs?...

Sending love & liberation to all.

#quotes #quote #march #protest #touchbasetuesdays
April 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Caroline Rothstein
bibliothecar.bsky.social
So, my local paper (Buffalo News) reported that after they covered a #TeslaTakedown protest, a local GOP congressman (Nick Langworthy) called to accuse them of "promoting extremism." I wonder how many other GOP congress critters are doing the same thing, and how many local papers are burying it.
karenattiah.bsky.social Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · Apr 7
I'm sorry, but any major news media outlet not covering hands off protests, tesla protests, or the acts of popular resistance are making a deliberate choice -- to serve power.
April 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
From Friday’s #BehindthePoem.

Sending love & liberation to all.
A yellow background with black text that reads, “FROM ‘I’M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IN THERAPY’ “Because I’m looking for someone with whom to know I am alone, but feel less alone. That’s the whole secret, after all. That’s the whole treatment, after all. How we treat each other because therapy is a treatment for how to do the treating and receive the treatment.”––CAROLINE ROTHSTEIN.”
April 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
This month’s #mywords is called:

“Bag of Bones.”

I've been working on this essay for a decade. I thought about it yesterday, and decided to resuscitate it and finally give it an ending after all of these years.

Sending love & liberation to all.

Full piece here: www.carolinerothstein.com/bones/
"Bag of Bones" by Caroline Rothstein - Caroline Rothstein
The movers are already leaving Brooklyn, and I can’t leave the apartment. Everything I own in my adult life here in New York City is either at my cousin’s house in New Jersey or in the moving truck he...
www.carolinerothstein.com
April 3, 2025 at 12:08 AM
carolinerothstein.bsky.social
Happy Tuesday. Here’s an anti-fascist reading of Salt-N-Pepa.

Not an April fools joke.

I mean every word from the depths of my bones.

Sending love & liberation to all.

Full video here: youtube.com/shorts/2Dqoo...

#hiphop #lyrics #touchbasetuesdays
April 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM