Melissa Ponder, photographer
@melponder.bsky.social
Daughter, sister, mother, aunty, grandmother. Full time community involved photographer. Occasional consultant. She/her/hag
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
Please repost. Please. #riseup #AmeriKKKa
September 5, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Please repost. Please. #riseup #AmeriKKKa
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
In April, U.S.-made bombs destroyed a detention facility that held Ethiopian migrants in Yemen, crushing bodies and shredding limbs. Few answers have emerged, and the U.S. has not claimed responsibility. Amid official silence, the survivors are left wondering why.
They Fled War in Ethiopia. Then American Bombs Found Them.
www.nytimes.com
July 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
In April, U.S.-made bombs destroyed a detention facility that held Ethiopian migrants in Yemen, crushing bodies and shredding limbs. Few answers have emerged, and the U.S. has not claimed responsibility. Amid official silence, the survivors are left wondering why.
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
🚨UPDATE: Rümeysa Öztürk has now suffered three separate asthma attacks while in DHS custody.
She has not received her required asthma medications—a violation of her fundamental right to medical care.
This is cruelty, it is neglect, and it is a damning moral and legal failure.
She has not received her required asthma medications—a violation of her fundamental right to medical care.
This is cruelty, it is neglect, and it is a damning moral and legal failure.
April 3, 2025 at 11:34 PM
🚨UPDATE: Rümeysa Öztürk has now suffered three separate asthma attacks while in DHS custody.
She has not received her required asthma medications—a violation of her fundamental right to medical care.
This is cruelty, it is neglect, and it is a damning moral and legal failure.
She has not received her required asthma medications—a violation of her fundamental right to medical care.
This is cruelty, it is neglect, and it is a damning moral and legal failure.
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
A taste of the past month in 17 seconds, 60 photos.
March 30, 2025 at 6:51 PM
A taste of the past month in 17 seconds, 60 photos.
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
There was never any ceasefire. There was a public relations pause for the inauguration.
This is the “final solution” that Zionists have always sought for Gaza
But every plane is American
Genocide, born in the USA
The corporate parties, Democrats and Republicans are the N@zis of the 21st century
This is the “final solution” that Zionists have always sought for Gaza
But every plane is American
Genocide, born in the USA
The corporate parties, Democrats and Republicans are the N@zis of the 21st century
March 18, 2025 at 4:27 AM
There was never any ceasefire. There was a public relations pause for the inauguration.
This is the “final solution” that Zionists have always sought for Gaza
But every plane is American
Genocide, born in the USA
The corporate parties, Democrats and Republicans are the N@zis of the 21st century
This is the “final solution” that Zionists have always sought for Gaza
But every plane is American
Genocide, born in the USA
The corporate parties, Democrats and Republicans are the N@zis of the 21st century
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
Your ability to inform people about their legal rights is protected by the First Amendment — full stop.
Learn more about your rights:
Learn more about your rights:
Know Your Rights | Talking to People About Their Rights | ACLU
You have the right to share truthful, lawfully obtained information about law enforcement and tell people about their legal rights—even if they’re in trouble. You can also advocate for changes to laws without fear, as long as you’re not directly inciting or aiding and abetting illegal activity. Understanding these protections can help you navigate conversations about our constitutional rights with confidence.
www.aclu.org
February 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Your ability to inform people about their legal rights is protected by the First Amendment — full stop.
Learn more about your rights:
Learn more about your rights:
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
Did you get a bill in the mail? It’s not too late to save money.
You can open a Good To Go! account right from that bill and it’ll reduce that total.
You can open a Good To Go! account right from that bill and it’ll reduce that total.
a woman in a red dress is sitting in a chair and the word hot tip is visible
Alt: A gif from Shitt$ Creek: Alexis, a woman in a red dress, is sitting in a chair and holds up a finger to pause the conversation and offer advice. The word hot tip is superimposed on the foreground of the gif.
media.tenor.com
February 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Did you get a bill in the mail? It’s not too late to save money.
You can open a Good To Go! account right from that bill and it’ll reduce that total.
You can open a Good To Go! account right from that bill and it’ll reduce that total.
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
"...stories and storytelling encapsulate our collective imagination to not just think about, but act to build something better; to write a new prescription; to lay better plans; to relentlessly pursue happiness, joy, and mutually assured prosperity."
sharonarnold.substack.com/p/interlude-...
sharonarnold.substack.com/p/interlude-...
Interlude: The need for storytelling and the relational in an age of isolating and overwhelming dystopian information
How to come back together in what we’re seeing, feeling, and doing
sharonarnold.substack.com
January 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"...stories and storytelling encapsulate our collective imagination to not just think about, but act to build something better; to write a new prescription; to lay better plans; to relentlessly pursue happiness, joy, and mutually assured prosperity."
sharonarnold.substack.com/p/interlude-...
sharonarnold.substack.com/p/interlude-...
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
"More than 1,000 refugees who had been approved to come to Washington state are now in limbo after the Trump administration issued an executive order Monday halting the country’s refugee resettlement program."
Trump cancels travel for refugees cleared to resettle in WA
Hundreds who had been approved to come to Washington state are now in limbo after Trump issued an executive order halting a refugee resettlement program.
www.seattletimes.com
January 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
"More than 1,000 refugees who had been approved to come to Washington state are now in limbo after the Trump administration issued an executive order Monday halting the country’s refugee resettlement program."
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
Hamas has accused Israel of delaying the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal after Israeli forces shot at Palestinians trying to return to the north of the enclave, killing at least one person.
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/dkgbvy
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/dkgbvy
January 26, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Hamas has accused Israel of delaying the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal after Israeli forces shot at Palestinians trying to return to the north of the enclave, killing at least one person.
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/dkgbvy
🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: aje.io/dkgbvy
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
"The Trump administration is giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers the power to quickly deport migrants who were allowed into the country temporarily under Biden-era programs, according to an internal government memo obtained by The New York Times."
Trump Officials Move to Quickly Expel Migrants Biden Allowed In Temporarily
A memo appears to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to target programs that let in more than a million people.
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2025 at 5:23 AM
"The Trump administration is giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers the power to quickly deport migrants who were allowed into the country temporarily under Biden-era programs, according to an internal government memo obtained by The New York Times."
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
Land back for settlers, but not for Natives. 😒https://search.app/NQgTW54fENw6qyJW6
Eminent domain reform to be introduced in South Dakota Legislature
House Bill 1052 would prohibit the exercise of eminent domain for a pipeline that carries carbon dioxide.
search.app
January 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Land back for settlers, but not for Natives. 😒https://search.app/NQgTW54fENw6qyJW6
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
This is a great piece.
"As deportations ramp up again, we have a choice: We can watch as our neighbors disappear or we can build on these proven strategies to protect the diverse communities we've built together."
"As deportations ramp up again, we have a choice: We can watch as our neighbors disappear or we can build on these proven strategies to protect the diverse communities we've built together."
How to Keep Tabs on ICE Agents Who May Be Surveilling Your Neighborhood
Here’s a step-by-step guide.
www.teenvogue.com
January 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This is a great piece.
"As deportations ramp up again, we have a choice: We can watch as our neighbors disappear or we can build on these proven strategies to protect the diverse communities we've built together."
"As deportations ramp up again, we have a choice: We can watch as our neighbors disappear or we can build on these proven strategies to protect the diverse communities we've built together."
Was looking for something to watch, knowing nothing, clicked because of the camera. Zoe Kravitz directorial debut 🔥🔥🔥
Not for errbody.
Has been said and written a variety of ways, but timely line “there’s a real special place in hell reserved for people that just choose to do nothin’.”
Not for errbody.
Has been said and written a variety of ways, but timely line “there’s a real special place in hell reserved for people that just choose to do nothin’.”
January 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Was looking for something to watch, knowing nothing, clicked because of the camera. Zoe Kravitz directorial debut 🔥🔥🔥
Not for errbody.
Has been said and written a variety of ways, but timely line “there’s a real special place in hell reserved for people that just choose to do nothin’.”
Not for errbody.
Has been said and written a variety of ways, but timely line “there’s a real special place in hell reserved for people that just choose to do nothin’.”
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
Queer and HIV+ in Gaza: A Young Man's "Race Against Time" as Israel Blocks Medication
Queer and HIV+ in Gaza: A Young Man’s “Race Against Time”
We speak with journalists Steven Thrasher and Afeef Nessouli about their new report for The Intercept, which examines how queer, HIV-positive Palestinians are struggling to survive in Gaza with limited...
www.democracynow.org
January 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Queer and HIV+ in Gaza: A Young Man's "Race Against Time" as Israel Blocks Medication
Testing testing. Grandcutie #2 is 11 months old. Time moves too fast sometimes.
January 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Testing testing. Grandcutie #2 is 11 months old. Time moves too fast sometimes.
Reposted by Melissa Ponder, photographer
"In Washington state and across the United States, transgender and gender-diverse people are wrestling with the reality that millions of Americans voted for a presidential candidate who has vowed to strip them of their rights."
'Horror and heartbreak': WA trans community braces for Trump's return
Washington offers several protections for trans people, but advocates say state rights could prove vulnerable against an empowered second Trump administration.
www.seattletimes.com
November 14, 2024 at 6:21 PM
"In Washington state and across the United States, transgender and gender-diverse people are wrestling with the reality that millions of Americans voted for a presidential candidate who has vowed to strip them of their rights."
