Leah Martens
@leahmartens.bsky.social
Progressive pastor, busy parent, curious human. Hoping to leave the world a more equitable, loving place than I found it.
Honored to serve with @havenberkeley.bsky.social
Honored to serve with @havenberkeley.bsky.social
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Leah Martens
@leahmartens.bsky.social
· Jan 24
May We All Unleash Some "Untethered Empathy" — Haven Berkeley Faith Community
In this first week of the new Trump administration, amidst an overwhelming number of news stories detailing the administration’s swift assault on civil liberties, climate policy, and even birthright c...
www.havenberkeley.org
For the first time in years, this week has me blogging again. Here's my response to the response to that brave sermon.
#bishopbudde #womenwhopreach #truthtopower #empathy
www.havenberkeley.org/leahs-blog/2...
#bishopbudde #womenwhopreach #truthtopower #empathy
www.havenberkeley.org/leahs-blog/2...
Good day to get in some good trouble along with many amazing faith leaders and activists to push back agains ICE’s invasion of the Bay. I was witness to the violence they tried to deter us with, as Rev Jorge was shot with a flash bang in the face near me while were just getting organized. #resist
October 24, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Good day to get in some good trouble along with many amazing faith leaders and activists to push back agains ICE’s invasion of the Bay. I was witness to the violence they tried to deter us with, as Rev Jorge was shot with a flash bang in the face near me while were just getting organized. #resist
My story of good trouble in the streets outside of Coast Guard Island. #goodtrouble #WeKeepUsSafe #ResistICE #oakland #protest #singjustice #VamosTodosJuntos
October 24, 2025 at 2:05 AM
My story of good trouble in the streets outside of Coast Guard Island. #goodtrouble #WeKeepUsSafe #ResistICE #oakland #protest #singjustice #VamosTodosJuntos
Oakland showed up! Beautiful to play my guitar and sing through the streets in solidarity with millions of others across the country as we push back against Kings and all the oppressive things they bring. “Hasta la dignidad, hasta la dignidad. Me muevo con mi pueblo por la dignidad.” #nokings
October 19, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Oakland showed up! Beautiful to play my guitar and sing through the streets in solidarity with millions of others across the country as we push back against Kings and all the oppressive things they bring. “Hasta la dignidad, hasta la dignidad. Me muevo con mi pueblo por la dignidad.” #nokings
Reposted by Leah Martens
I would love to be part of the conversation on MSNBC related to the Kimmel story and it's chilling effects on first amendment, but unfortunately I was terminated by MSNBC for stating that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which lead to hateful actions".
September 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I would love to be part of the conversation on MSNBC related to the Kimmel story and it's chilling effects on first amendment, but unfortunately I was terminated by MSNBC for stating that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which lead to hateful actions".
Reposted by Leah Martens
There are people who say Charlie Kirk died preaching the gospel of Christ.
That's not accurate.
He preached the gospel of white supremecy. The gospel of racism and division. The gospel of right wing politics.
None of those are the gospel of Christ. Never have been, and never will be.
That's not accurate.
He preached the gospel of white supremecy. The gospel of racism and division. The gospel of right wing politics.
None of those are the gospel of Christ. Never have been, and never will be.
September 13, 2025 at 4:02 PM
There are people who say Charlie Kirk died preaching the gospel of Christ.
That's not accurate.
He preached the gospel of white supremecy. The gospel of racism and division. The gospel of right wing politics.
None of those are the gospel of Christ. Never have been, and never will be.
That's not accurate.
He preached the gospel of white supremecy. The gospel of racism and division. The gospel of right wing politics.
None of those are the gospel of Christ. Never have been, and never will be.
Reposted by Leah Martens
wrote on charlie kirk for the newsletter this weekend
Opinion | Charlie Kirk Didn’t Shy Away From Who He Was. We Shouldn’t Either.
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
wrote on charlie kirk for the newsletter this weekend
Reposted by Leah Martens
Massive walkout underway at CDC.
RFK jr. must resign so that we can be safe.
RFK jr. must resign so that we can be safe.
August 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Massive walkout underway at CDC.
RFK jr. must resign so that we can be safe.
RFK jr. must resign so that we can be safe.
Reposted by Leah Martens
Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Breaking News: Read three top CDC officials' resignation emails.
The end of an era.
insidemedicine.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Reposted by Leah Martens
Somehow they have managed to make a terrible situation worse.
NEW: After numerous tragedies, OpenAI says it's scanning users' conversations, escalating to human readers, and contacting law enforcement where necessary
futurism.com/openai-scann...
futurism.com/openai-scann...
OpenAI Says It's Scanning Users' Conversations and Reporting Content to the Police
OpenAI has authorized itself to call law enforcement if users say threatening enough things when talking to ChatGPT.
futurism.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Somehow they have managed to make a terrible situation worse.
Reposted by Leah Martens
i find this image so fascinating. it is both a literal example of authoritarianism but also a second-hand reproduction of the aesthetics of other authoritarian states. it's like a simulacra of authoritarianism whose purpose is to attempt to make the simulacra real.
This is a real photograph of Washington, DC this week, where the United States president has ordered military occupation in peacetime, and ordered the display of colossal portraits of himself.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
August 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
i find this image so fascinating. it is both a literal example of authoritarianism but also a second-hand reproduction of the aesthetics of other authoritarian states. it's like a simulacra of authoritarianism whose purpose is to attempt to make the simulacra real.
Reposted by Leah Martens
Sandwich guy escapes indictment due to jury nullification!
August 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Sandwich guy escapes indictment due to jury nullification!
Reposted by Leah Martens
this stuff is such a disgrace. a free citizen of a free country should be ashamed to engage in it.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer: "Mr President, I invite you see your big beautiful face on a banner in front of the Department of Labor because you are really the transformational president of the American worker, along with the American flag and President Roosevelt."
August 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
this stuff is such a disgrace. a free citizen of a free country should be ashamed to engage in it.
Reposted by Leah Martens
Epstein survivor Sarah Ransome on Ghislaine Maxwell. Listen to the survivors.
August 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Epstein survivor Sarah Ransome on Ghislaine Maxwell. Listen to the survivors.
Reposted by Leah Martens
The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...
America Tips Into Fascism
Today is different than before.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
August 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...
Reposted by Leah Martens
Acknowledging that we are living under a fascist regime at the Federal level is essential for figuring out how to fight. And I'm sorry but burying one's head in the sand at this moment is actually allowing fascism to be further entrenched & authority more easily consolidated.
August 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Acknowledging that we are living under a fascist regime at the Federal level is essential for figuring out how to fight. And I'm sorry but burying one's head in the sand at this moment is actually allowing fascism to be further entrenched & authority more easily consolidated.
Reposted by Leah Martens
If you want to put back statues and memorials and names of Confederate traitors while tearing down museum exhibitions on slavery because they don't show the greatness of the nation... the nation whose history you're celebrating is whiteness. The kind of nationalist you are is a white nationalist.
August 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
If you want to put back statues and memorials and names of Confederate traitors while tearing down museum exhibitions on slavery because they don't show the greatness of the nation... the nation whose history you're celebrating is whiteness. The kind of nationalist you are is a white nationalist.
Reposted by Leah Martens
Reposted by Leah Martens
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
Reposted by Leah Martens
There’s nothing beautiful about betraying the poor, turning our backs on the stranger, and abandoning the sick.
Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these…”
And we just did the opposite.
Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these…”
And we just did the opposite.
July 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
There’s nothing beautiful about betraying the poor, turning our backs on the stranger, and abandoning the sick.
Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these…”
And we just did the opposite.
Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these…”
And we just did the opposite.
Reposted by Leah Martens
1. Today, SCOTUS allowed for bans on trans care in a devastating, though limited, ruling in Skrmetti.
It ruled discrimination against gender dysphoria is not trans discrimination, and used the same rationale used by VA to defend its interracial marriage ban.
Subscribe to support my journalism.
It ruled discrimination against gender dysphoria is not trans discrimination, and used the same rationale used by VA to defend its interracial marriage ban.
Subscribe to support my journalism.
SCOTUS Allows For Trans Discrimination In Medical Care: A Full Analysis Of Today's Ruling
Today, SCOTUS released its ruling on Skrmetti, allowing Tennessee to ban transgender healthcare. The ruling was both devastating and limited, leaving many fights unsettled.
www.erininthemorning.com
June 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
1. Today, SCOTUS allowed for bans on trans care in a devastating, though limited, ruling in Skrmetti.
It ruled discrimination against gender dysphoria is not trans discrimination, and used the same rationale used by VA to defend its interracial marriage ban.
Subscribe to support my journalism.
It ruled discrimination against gender dysphoria is not trans discrimination, and used the same rationale used by VA to defend its interracial marriage ban.
Subscribe to support my journalism.
Reposted by Leah Martens
I stand with the trans community now & always. They deserve so much better than this. Trans ppl matter. This tragic supreme court and its archaic vision for America is on the wrong side of history. I can't stop this star-spangled train from derailing, but bet your ass I'll keep trying. #transyouth
June 18, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I stand with the trans community now & always. They deserve so much better than this. Trans ppl matter. This tragic supreme court and its archaic vision for America is on the wrong side of history. I can't stop this star-spangled train from derailing, but bet your ass I'll keep trying. #transyouth
June 14, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Oakland showed up today! And I LOVED singing for the first time with the new Sing Justice choir that has mobilized just in time for days like today. “You gotta put one foot in front of the other and lead with love. #nokings #oakland #protest #musicheals #thisiswhatdemocracylookslike
June 14, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Oakland showed up today! And I LOVED singing for the first time with the new Sing Justice choir that has mobilized just in time for days like today. “You gotta put one foot in front of the other and lead with love. #nokings #oakland #protest #musicheals #thisiswhatdemocracylookslike
Reposted by Leah Martens
Real photo from 1937 LA found in the LA Times
June 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Real photo from 1937 LA found in the LA Times