Janis
@perfectly-human.bsky.social
Historian specializing in U.S. capital punishment, incarceration, and racial/gendered violence in the carceral state.
BA, History ~ Richmond ❤️🕷️💙
MA, History ~ Villanova
BA, History ~ Richmond ❤️🕷️💙
MA, History ~ Villanova
Reposted by Janis
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old.
www.whatimreading.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Reposted by Janis
Oklahoma is set to execute Tremane Wood.
He was sentenced to death under Oklahoma's felony murder rule, a law that allows anyone involved in a felony that leads to a death to be criminally responsible for the death.
The confessed killer, Tremane's brother, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He was sentenced to death under Oklahoma's felony murder rule, a law that allows anyone involved in a felony that leads to a death to be criminally responsible for the death.
The confessed killer, Tremane's brother, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
JUSTICE FOR TREMANE
tremanewood.wordpress.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Oklahoma is set to execute Tremane Wood.
He was sentenced to death under Oklahoma's felony murder rule, a law that allows anyone involved in a felony that leads to a death to be criminally responsible for the death.
The confessed killer, Tremane's brother, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He was sentenced to death under Oklahoma's felony murder rule, a law that allows anyone involved in a felony that leads to a death to be criminally responsible for the death.
The confessed killer, Tremane's brother, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Reposted by Janis
The government shutdown has put SNAP benefits at risk for millions of Americans. Travis Peters, an urban farmer in Detroit, is giving out free produce tomorrow
'If it's getting tight, my food is free. Don’t even sweat that'
'If it's getting tight, my food is free. Don’t even sweat that'
As SNAP benefits come under threat, a Detroit farmer is stepping up to help fill the void
The federal shutdown has put SNAP benefits at risk for millions of Americans. Urban farmers like Travis Peters are stepping up to ensure their communities can eat.
www.whatimreading.net
October 27, 2025 at 11:06 PM
The government shutdown has put SNAP benefits at risk for millions of Americans. Travis Peters, an urban farmer in Detroit, is giving out free produce tomorrow
'If it's getting tight, my food is free. Don’t even sweat that'
'If it's getting tight, my food is free. Don’t even sweat that'
Reposted by Janis
If you want to see how much a single local official can change things, look no further than Chicago,
where the new prosecutor this year has ground exonerations to a halt by hindering the work of the commission that reviews wrongful convictions boltsmag.org/chicago-cook...
where the new prosecutor this year has ground exonerations to a halt by hindering the work of the commission that reviews wrongful convictions boltsmag.org/chicago-cook...
Exonerations Grind to a Halt Under Chicago’s New Prosecutor - Bolts
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has weakened her office’s already broken system for freeing the innocent, even as allegations of coercion mount against a former Chicago detective.
boltsmag.org
September 30, 2025 at 10:26 PM
If you want to see how much a single local official can change things, look no further than Chicago,
where the new prosecutor this year has ground exonerations to a halt by hindering the work of the commission that reviews wrongful convictions boltsmag.org/chicago-cook...
where the new prosecutor this year has ground exonerations to a halt by hindering the work of the commission that reviews wrongful convictions boltsmag.org/chicago-cook...
Reposted by Janis
Assata Shakur has "died in Havana, Cuba, as a result of health conditions and her advanced age."
She was 78.
She was 78.
Assata Shakur, political activist and ex-Black Liberation Army member, has died
Assata Shakur “died in Havana, Cuba, as a result of health conditions and her advanced age,” according to Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
www.whatimreading.net
September 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Assata Shakur has "died in Havana, Cuba, as a result of health conditions and her advanced age."
She was 78.
She was 78.
Reposted by Janis
This is a big one.
A US appeals court ruled that most of Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal, undercutting the Republican president's use of the levies as a key international economic policy tool. The case is widely is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court reut.rs/47l6pz9
Most Trump tariffs are not legal, US appeals court rules
A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that most of Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal, undercutting the Republican president's use of the levies as a key international economic policy tool.
reut.rs
August 30, 2025 at 1:00 AM
This is a big one.
Reposted by Janis
They don’t “say” it. Crime IS down.
When Trump announced his law enforcement actions in D.C., he also singled out a slew of other Democratic cities. The mayors of Baltimore, LA, Oakland, Chicago and New York say crime is down.
Mayors of Democratic cities respond to Trump's threats they could be next after D.C.
When Trump announced his law enforcement actions in D.C., he also singled out a slew of other Democratic cities. The mayors of Baltimore, LA, Oakland, Chicago and New York say crime is down.
n.pr
August 14, 2025 at 6:51 PM
They don’t “say” it. Crime IS down.
Reposted by Janis
Cuyahoga County officials say no one incarcerated in the jail needed treatment for heat illness. People inside say it was life-threatening.
What It Was Like Inside a Stifling Cuyahoga County Jail Without Power
Cuyahoga County officials say no one incarcerated in the jail needed treatment for heat illness. People inside say it was life-threatening.
www.themarshallproject.org
July 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Cuyahoga County officials say no one incarcerated in the jail needed treatment for heat illness. People inside say it was life-threatening.
Reposted by Janis
I grew up in rural South Carolina with a single mom who worked multiple jobs. At times, we relied on Medicaid and SNAP—like so many others. My heart breaks for those now wondering if that help will still be there.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
July 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I grew up in rural South Carolina with a single mom who worked multiple jobs. At times, we relied on Medicaid and SNAP—like so many others. My heart breaks for those now wondering if that help will still be there.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
Imagine having all that power and choosing to make people’s lives worse.
Shameful.
Reposted by Janis
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday in favor of Ruben Gutierrez, who sought DNA testing to help prove he was wrongfully sentenced to death for 15 years. The decision comes after the Court stopped Texas from putting Mr. Gutierrez to death last summer—just 20 minutes before his scheduled execution.
Supreme Court Rules for Texas Man on Death Row Seeking DNA Testing
06.27.25
eji.org
June 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday in favor of Ruben Gutierrez, who sought DNA testing to help prove he was wrongfully sentenced to death for 15 years. The decision comes after the Court stopped Texas from putting Mr. Gutierrez to death last summer—just 20 minutes before his scheduled execution.
Reposted by Janis
The Supreme Court will release its remaining opinions of the term TOMORROW. It will hand down six decisions—including the birthright citizenship case, the challenge to LGBTQ books in public schools, and a key Voting Rights Act dispute.
June 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The Supreme Court will release its remaining opinions of the term TOMORROW. It will hand down six decisions—including the birthright citizenship case, the challenge to LGBTQ books in public schools, and a key Voting Rights Act dispute.
Reposted by Janis
This is Mazi. She brought one toy to bed for herself and one for each of her parents. This way, they all have a buddy to help them sleep safe and sound. 13/10
April 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
This is Mazi. She brought one toy to bed for herself and one for each of her parents. This way, they all have a buddy to help them sleep safe and sound. 13/10
Reposted by Janis
On this day in 1931, nine Black teenagers were arrested and falsely accused of raping two white women in Scottsboro, Alabama. They spent 6-17 years in prison despite evidence that exonerated them.
Mar. 25, 1931 | Nine Black Teens Arrested and Falsely Accused of Rape in Scottsboro, AL
Learn more about our history of racial injustice.
calendar.eji.org
March 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
On this day in 1931, nine Black teenagers were arrested and falsely accused of raping two white women in Scottsboro, Alabama. They spent 6-17 years in prison despite evidence that exonerated them.
Reposted by Janis
Remembered that I wrote about how awful Woodrow Wilson's historic segregationist purge of Black workers from federal government jobs was last year.... www.thedailybeast.com/woodrow-wils...
Woodrow Wilson Should Stay Canceled
The 28th President of the United States enabled segregation and vile treatment of Black federal workers. He doesn’t deserve an image rehabilitation.
www.thedailybeast.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Remembered that I wrote about how awful Woodrow Wilson's historic segregationist purge of Black workers from federal government jobs was last year.... www.thedailybeast.com/woodrow-wils...
Reposted by Janis
ICYMI — under Trump the USDA has suspended the 1890 farm bill scholarship program that went to HBCU’s, including Tennessee State University, to increase the number of students studying agriculture and related majors. www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
February 23, 2025 at 3:06 AM
ICYMI — under Trump the USDA has suspended the 1890 farm bill scholarship program that went to HBCU’s, including Tennessee State University, to increase the number of students studying agriculture and related majors. www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
Reposted by Janis
In preparation for today’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, state police forced over 100 homeless men and women onto buses under threat of arrest, dumping them in an unheated warehouse. Tents destroyed, belongings lost. Press are barred from the warehouse.
The price tag for this cruelty? $17.5 million
The price tag for this cruelty? $17.5 million
Louisiana coerced unhoused people into an unheated warehouse – and paid $17.5m for it
Dozens of New Orleanians were bused to a site with insufficient heating and blankets days before the city is to host the Super Bowl
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
In preparation for today’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, state police forced over 100 homeless men and women onto buses under threat of arrest, dumping them in an unheated warehouse. Tents destroyed, belongings lost. Press are barred from the warehouse.
The price tag for this cruelty? $17.5 million
The price tag for this cruelty? $17.5 million
Reposted by Janis
i'll be blunt, if you are someone who is vocal about the ways that diversity efforts "divide the working class" but silent about the ways that *actual racism and discrimination* divide the working class, then i think you're just an opportunist
Trump’s Attacks on DEI Get Approval From Some in the Left Wing
Many Democrats and activists are rallying to defend diversity programs, but others say they distract from deeper efforts to address inequality.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
i'll be blunt, if you are someone who is vocal about the ways that diversity efforts "divide the working class" but silent about the ways that *actual racism and discrimination* divide the working class, then i think you're just an opportunist
Reposted by Janis
"I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass one day. I was left without adequate words to describe that experience. It reminded me that I am alive."
When Kittens Came to My Prison, I Had Not Petted One in 15 Years
I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass.
prisonjournalismproject.org
January 31, 2025 at 3:32 AM
"I had not touched a cat in 15 years when an orange kitten wandered over to sit with me in the grass one day. I was left without adequate words to describe that experience. It reminded me that I am alive."
Reposted by Janis
Black Lives Matter fundamentally broke these people’s brains. They couldn’t bear the idea that they might have to tell a different story about this country and thus tell a different story about themselves. They hated it, and now they are using everything they have to never feel that way again.
January 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Black Lives Matter fundamentally broke these people’s brains. They couldn’t bear the idea that they might have to tell a different story about this country and thus tell a different story about themselves. They hated it, and now they are using everything they have to never feel that way again.
Reposted by Janis
I wish people on the left would stop using “diversity hire” or “affirmative action” to describe folks like Hegseth. This reinforces the racist, sexist notion that diversity and affirmative action are promoting unqualified people, doing the right’s work for the.
January 26, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I wish people on the left would stop using “diversity hire” or “affirmative action” to describe folks like Hegseth. This reinforces the racist, sexist notion that diversity and affirmative action are promoting unqualified people, doing the right’s work for the.
Reposted by Janis
BREAKING: Petitioner in Landmark Racial Justice Case in North Carolina Receives Commutation of Death Sentence from Gov. Roy Cooper -https://www.naacpldf.org/press-release/petitioner-in-landmark-racial-justice-case-in-north-carolina-receives-commutation-of-death-sentence-from-gov-roy-cooper/
December 31, 2024 at 11:46 PM
BREAKING: Petitioner in Landmark Racial Justice Case in North Carolina Receives Commutation of Death Sentence from Gov. Roy Cooper -https://www.naacpldf.org/press-release/petitioner-in-landmark-racial-justice-case-in-north-carolina-receives-commutation-of-death-sentence-from-gov-roy-cooper/