KD Thompson
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katrinadalythompson.com
KD Thompson
@katrinadalythompson.com
640 followers 850 following 590 posts
Evjue-Bascom Professor in the Humanities (Religious Studies) & Director of SLA, UW-Madison. Ethnographer of language, gender, & sexuality in Muslim communities. Swahili-speaker 🇹🇿 Kung-fu-learner 🥋 Meditator 🧘📿

https://bookshop.org/shop/kd_thompson
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katrinadalythompson.com
Three book covers side by side with read percentages below each. Left: Audition by Katie Kitamura (9%) — black cover with multicolored text. Center: The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver, MD (48%) — cream cover with bold, colorful text. Right: Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (5%) — green cover with white text. Dark gray background.
November 16, 2025 at 2:00 AM
katrinadalythompson.com
We Ain’t Buying It is a coordinated weekend of economic noncooperation (Nov 27–Dec 1), led by a coalition of organizations, workers, and everyday people who believe our values are not for sale. weaintbuyingit.com
A poster reading "We Ain't Buying It. Your Waller. Your Power. Hold Your Money. No Target, NO Home Depot, No Amazon due to their support of harmful policies. Delete shopping apps. Donate to mutual aid. Support small businesses. Full Toolkit, Petitions, and Resources at https://weaintbuyingit.com/
November 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Um
Screenshot of an email reading, “Thank you for attending 2025 AAA Annual Business Meeting We hope you enjoyed our event.”
November 14, 2025 at 12:19 AM
katrinadalythompson.com
Yesterday I had the honor (and fun!) of hosting Kimberly Wortmann to talk about religion, heritage & identity in Tanzania's Omani-Ibadhi community.
A group of students and professors flanking Kimberly Wortmann (center) after her talk. Kimberly Wortmann standing near a screen featuring the title of her talk.
November 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
My favorite tree is back. (View from my office window.)
A tree with bright yellow and orange leaves.
November 4, 2025 at 7:12 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Morning office. First meeting of the IRH writing group
Bookshelves full of books in a small library
October 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
What is this monstrosity, Duo?
The Duolingo owl wearing a pink wig
October 15, 2025 at 12:43 AM
katrinadalythompson.com
Wisconsinites!

Keep calling your representatives and @govevers.wisconsin.gov and urge them to oppose this bill & protect free speech. There are better ways to fight antisemitism.
Say NO to the IHRA Bill — Say YES to Free Speech The fight against antisemitism is vital, but the IHRA definition is the wrong tool for legislation. Originally designed for education and data collection, it’s ill-suited for U.S. law and threatens First Amendment protections. 🔹 Free Speech at Risk: Of IHRA’s 11 examples of antisemitism, 7 target criticism of Israel. This risks criminalizing terms like “apartheid” or “genocide” when used to describe Israeli policies, conflating political critique with hate speech. 🔹 Academic and Political Chill: Codifying IHRA has led to censorship—shutting down student groups, firing professors, and prosecuting activists. It endangers open discourse, especially on campuses and in advocacy spaces. 🔹 Widespread Opposition: Hundreds of scholars, legal experts, and over 40 Jewish organizations oppose IHRA’s legal use. The ACLU warns it undermines free speech. Many say it’s been weaponized to silence Palestinian rights advocacy. 🔹 Coordinated Suppression: The bill is part of a broader strategy—backed by Project Esther and ALEC—to label pro-Palestinian activism as extremist. This politicizes antisemitism and stifles dissent. 🔹 Political Consequences: Supporting IHRA could alienate key Democratic voters. Polls show only 12% of Democrats sympathize more with Israelis than Palestinians, and 77% believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. In Wisconsin’s tight races, this matters. 🔹 A Better Path Forward: The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) offers a clearer, rights-respecting alternative. It distinguishes antisemitism from legitimate criticism of Israel and protects civil liberties. Equating critique of Israeli policy with antisemitism weakens the fight against real hate. We urge Governor Evers and Wisconsin legislators to reject IHRA codification and defend free speech. 📎 Source materials available via Linktree.
October 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
More info at handsoffchicago.us⁩
RAPID RESPONSE RAPID RESPONSE RAPID RESPONSE RAPID RESPONSE RAPID RESPONSE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: FIGHT THE REGIME HANDSOFFCHICAGO.US EIS HANDS OFF CHICAGO WISCONSIN FIGHTS BACK - EMERGENCY PROTEST TIME ANNOUNCEMENT WEDNESDAY (10/8) @ 5:30 PM • MADISON: CAPITOL, KING STREET | MILWAUKEE: CATHEDRAL SQUARE The TEXAS National Guard has ARRIVED in Chicago. Recruit THREE people to come show solidarity. The military is being used against us - this is the fight of our lives. Protests in Chicago happening at the SAME time (hence date/time change). Bring water, signs, American flags. SHARE this and INVITE others NOW.
October 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
"Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: "I hope something will happen but I'm not going to do anything about it." This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement". - Dr Jane Goodall
October 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM
katrinadalythompson.com
Neighborhood chalk art
No kings Oct 18
October 5, 2025 at 11:06 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Thank you @markpocan.bsky.social for standing up for free speech.

Wisconsinites, please keep calling your district representatives and urging them to vote against AB446/SN445. And ask @govevers.wisconsin.gov to veto it.
October 3, 2025 Dear Members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, I write to share my experience regarding past legislative efforts in the House of Representatives to require federal agencies to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, and its contemporary examples, when investigating incidents to determine whether antisemitism was a motivating factor, and to share the reasoning behind my opposition. The IHRA working definition of antisemitism is controversial and faces steep opposition from a broad coalition of civil liberties and human rights groups as well as Jewish and Palestinian advocacy organizations. The definition wrongly conflates legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and its government and policies with antisemitism, which, if codified into law, could have a significant chilling effect on freedom of speech. Branding legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and state as antisemitic is no more than an effort to silence Palestinians and critics of the Israeli government and its actions. Beyond this deeply troubling attack on free speech, the definition is also overly broad and vague, and scholars have said it is too imprecise to be used as the basis for policy or legislation. For these reasons, I voted to oppose H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, in the House of Representatives on May 1, 2024. This bill would have required the Department of Education to utilize the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and its contemporary examples when investigating possible civil rights violations. While I support good-faith efforts to address rising instances of antisemitic rhetoric and violence, this legislation would have drawn a false equivalence between legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and actual antisemitism, and could have silenced advocates for Palestinian rights at educational institutions across the country. I urge you to consider my perspective on past legislative effor…
October 3, 2025 at 9:08 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Library book booty #BookSky
A stack of four horizontally arranged library books sits on a black metal shelf in an academic setting. From top to bottom, the titles are: You Just Don’t Understand by Deborah Tannen, Understanding Pragmatics by Verschueren, African Language Media edited by Phillip Mpofu, Innocentia J. Fakoya, and Thabo T. Tšehloane, and Be the Refuge by Chenxing Han. Each book has a spine label, and a bulletin board with papers and decorations is visible in the background.
October 1, 2025 at 1:39 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Lulu and the new rug (aptly named Zen Coffee)
A dog (mountain cur mix) in a living room
September 30, 2025 at 12:45 AM
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Good morning, blue jay. #BirdSky
Blue jay on a sidewalk
September 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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Blue skies over Dodgeville. It was like this yesterday.
Panoramic view of a lush forest landscape under a clear blue sky. The scene features dense green foliage with a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, gently rolling terrain, and elevated hills in the background. Tree branches frame the image on both sides
September 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Retreat time
Room 10. KD & Ellison written on a door
September 26, 2025 at 11:09 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
It’s like this now #autumn #wisconsin
A sidewalk covered with scattered autumn leaves in red, orange, yellow, and brown. A pair of black shoes is visible at the bottom, showing someone standing and looking down.
September 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Wisconites! Learn more about why you should urge your representatives to vote no on the IHRA bill and urge @govevers.wisconsin.gov to veto it. #Wisconsin #FreeSpeech
Flyer titled “Say NO to the IHRA bill, Say YES to Freedom of Speech.” It critiques the codification of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, warning it could suppress free speech, academic freedom, and Palestinian rights activism. Key points include legal unsuitability, risk to civil liberties, and political consequences for legislators. A QR code links to source materials.
September 21, 2025 at 11:41 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
It was like this for about a minute before the mosquitoes found me.
A person lounges in a colorful striped hammock wearing black flip-flops and red patterned pants with white designs. The hammock is set up in a sunny backyard beside a yellow wooden building, with trees, a fence, and a dark shed in the background.
September 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
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Received this bad news today.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF PLANNING, EVALUATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT September 10, 2025 Notice of Non-Continuation of Grant Award This letter provides notice that the United States Department of Education (“Department”) has determined not to continue your federal award, as it is no longer consistent with the continuation requirements for multiyear projects under 34 C.F.R. § 75.253. Continuation requires “a determination from the Secretary that continuation of the project is in the best interest of the Federal Government.” See, inter alia, 34 C.F.R. § 75.253(a)(5) and (f)(1). Congress provided the Department with flexibility in allocating grant funds among certain higher education programs because it did not specify which specific grant programs had to be funded, or what the funding levels should be. Based upon the Department’s judgment that the purpose of and functions of the international and foreign language education grant programs are not a priority of the Administration, the Department exercised its authority to reprogram the funds to grant programs that are a priority for the Administration. This determination is further reflected in the Department’s FY 2026 Budget Request, which did not request funding for the programs noted in this decision, as being programs that “are inconsistent with Administration priorities and do not advance American interests or values.” As such, the Department has determined that continuation of the following programs is not in the best interest of the Federal Government and has exercised its authority to repurpose available funding for other available uses. Therefore, the Department will not be making continuation awards to grantees in these programs (Assistance Listing Number noted in parentheses) under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended: • National Resource Centers (84.015A) • Foreign Language and Area Studies Program (84.015B) • Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language …
September 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
Neighborhood crosswalk art
A multicolored, frayed fabric patch with a handwritten message is affixed to a utility pole. The handwritten message, attributed to Leonard Peltier, expresses a call for compassion and respect for all earth’s inhabitants.
September 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
katrinadalythompson.com
As we celebrate the birth of the Beloved, may our words echo his gentleness, our actions reflect his justice, and our hearts be filled with his love.
The image features the word “MAWLID” in large, golden capital letters—signifying the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth. Just below it, the Arabic calligraphy reads: “Muhammad Rasul Allah” (محمد رسول الله) Which translates to: “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.”
September 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
katrinadalythompson.com
It’s like this now.
View from a hammock showing a person’s legs in pink pants and black socks with green accents, stretched out in a striped purple, blue, and white hammock. The hammock is hung outdoors near a yellow-sided garage, with green grass, trees, and a clear blue sky in the background.
September 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
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I branched out from my usual kitenge trouser sewing. These ones are in Sri Lankan cotton purchased at a yard sale. 🧵🪡
Top-down view of a person standing on a textured blue mat with a diamond pattern. They are wearing reddish pink pants, white sneakers, and a gray top with a keffiyeh tassel slightly visible.
August 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM