Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
@smothurston.bsky.social
professor of ethics, religion, & politics. focus on democratic practices, citizenship, public schools, abolition, & borders | standard disclaimers
stephaniemotathurston.com
stephaniemotathurston.com
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
“When the 8 African American sheriffs took over the largest counties in North Carolina, it became a threat to the good ol’ boy system,” says the sheriff of Charlotte. These new sheriffs broke ties with ICE.
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
North Carolina GOP Is Cracking Down on the Black Sheriffs Who Stood Up to ICE
Boosted by new supermajorities, Republicans are closing in on legislation to mandate more collaboration with ICE and preempt local policies hard-won by immigrants’ rights advocates.
boltsmag.org
November 15, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
The recently ousted leader of the University of Virginia released a tell-all memo Friday on the DEI feud with Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin that cost him his job. trib.al/jMXxASx
Ex-UVA President Accuses MAGA Governor of Forcing Him Out for Trump
James Ryan spilled the tea on his ouster and the Trump administration’s attacks on the University of Virginia.
trib.al
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The recently ousted leader of the University of Virginia released a tell-all memo Friday on the DEI feud with Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin that cost him his job. trib.al/jMXxASx
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Taylor Swift’s silence on the Trump administration using her music speaks volumes | Alim Kheraj
Taylor Swift’s silence on the Trump administration using her music speaks volumes | Alim Kheraj
Official Trump social media accounts have been using The Life of a Showgirl snippets to promote his agenda. Why has Swift, who once wanted ‘to be on the right side of history’, said nothing?
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Taylor Swift’s silence on the Trump administration using her music speaks volumes | Alim Kheraj
pretty stark how being religiously affiliated (at least as Protestant or Catholic) predicts a higher level of racial resentment…
Those claiming Dems should retreat on racial justice aren't hard-headed realists, they're pushing against the electoral tide rather than leaning into it. The story of Gen Z isn't about racist backlash or red-pilled young men. It's the most racially progressive generation in American history. 🧵
November 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
pretty stark how being religiously affiliated (at least as Protestant or Catholic) predicts a higher level of racial resentment…
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Starbucks has not given us a single new proposal in almost a year. We’re serious about finishing our contracts… why aren’t they?
It would cost less than one day’s sales to finish this. And yet, Starbucks claims they can’t do it.
That's why it's STILL #NoContractNoCoffee ✊
DON'T BUY STARBUCKS!
It would cost less than one day’s sales to finish this. And yet, Starbucks claims they can’t do it.
That's why it's STILL #NoContractNoCoffee ✊
DON'T BUY STARBUCKS!
November 14, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Starbucks has not given us a single new proposal in almost a year. We’re serious about finishing our contracts… why aren’t they?
It would cost less than one day’s sales to finish this. And yet, Starbucks claims they can’t do it.
That's why it's STILL #NoContractNoCoffee ✊
DON'T BUY STARBUCKS!
It would cost less than one day’s sales to finish this. And yet, Starbucks claims they can’t do it.
That's why it's STILL #NoContractNoCoffee ✊
DON'T BUY STARBUCKS!
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Starbucks Workers are on strike! And their Downtown Disney locations are looking for allies to rally with them today on Red Cup Day! Join them at 4pm Disney Way and Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802. Sign here, pledge to not cross any SB picket lines! tinyurl.com/nocoffeepledge
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Starbucks Workers are on strike! And their Downtown Disney locations are looking for allies to rally with them today on Red Cup Day! Join them at 4pm Disney Way and Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802. Sign here, pledge to not cross any SB picket lines! tinyurl.com/nocoffeepledge
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
An absolute powerhouse of a @propublica.org team has done what U.S. officials refuse to do: identify the men and women swept up in that midnight raid in Chicago. Life in the building was not perfect, but reporters found little evidence to back up government claims: www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
An absolute powerhouse of a @propublica.org team has done what U.S. officials refuse to do: identify the men and women swept up in that midnight raid in Chicago. Life in the building was not perfect, but reporters found little evidence to back up government claims: www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
If we were allowed to talk about "white supremacy" in the US, then it would be pretty obvious why what happened in Chicago is acceptable to large numbers of people while Ruby Ridge & Waco (and my imagined scenario) are evidence of gubmint tyranny. The state can't do that to people who look like me!
November 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM
If we were allowed to talk about "white supremacy" in the US, then it would be pretty obvious why what happened in Chicago is acceptable to large numbers of people while Ruby Ridge & Waco (and my imagined scenario) are evidence of gubmint tyranny. The state can't do that to people who look like me!
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Accords well with the persistent perception that “good” schools are essentially as white as possible, with a little diversity for good measure, outcomes be damned
3️⃣ We find white children exposed to academies fared worse as adults.
📉 Human capital index ↓ 0.04 SD
📉 Economic self-sufficiency ↓ 0.06 SD
This evidence suggests White families may have sacrificed educational quality to maintain racial segregation.
11/12
📉 Human capital index ↓ 0.04 SD
📉 Economic self-sufficiency ↓ 0.06 SD
This evidence suggests White families may have sacrificed educational quality to maintain racial segregation.
11/12
November 12, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Accords well with the persistent perception that “good” schools are essentially as white as possible, with a little diversity for good measure, outcomes be damned
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Speculation is that ICE could be trying to move people out to clean the holding cells and to set up cots to comply with the latest judicial order to address inhumane conditions inside the facility. The judge is currently scheduled to inspect the facility Thursday morning.
November 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Speculation is that ICE could be trying to move people out to clean the holding cells and to set up cots to comply with the latest judicial order to address inhumane conditions inside the facility. The judge is currently scheduled to inspect the facility Thursday morning.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
I'm struck by how many Chicagoans have seemingly felt compelled to write and share reflections on "this is what it feels like in Chicago right now". We know we're going through something awful together and we want the world to understand it.
Threading several of these pieces below.
Threading several of these pieces below.
November 9, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I'm struck by how many Chicagoans have seemingly felt compelled to write and share reflections on "this is what it feels like in Chicago right now". We know we're going through something awful together and we want the world to understand it.
Threading several of these pieces below.
Threading several of these pieces below.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
BREAKING: A federal jury in Brooklyn awarded our clients — 674 immigrants unlawfully jailed by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office — $112 million. Could not be more proud to work at @latinojustice.bsky.social and to partner with the talent of Winston & Strawn.
Jury Awards $112 Million to 674 Immigrants Unlawfully Held by Suffolk County for ICE Handover | LatinoJusticePRLDEF
FOR IMMEDIATE
www.latinojustice.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:04 PM
BREAKING: A federal jury in Brooklyn awarded our clients — 674 immigrants unlawfully jailed by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office — $112 million. Could not be more proud to work at @latinojustice.bsky.social and to partner with the talent of Winston & Strawn.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
PHOTOS: 'Yo tengo papeles': Teacher detained by immigration agents in North Center day care
READ MORE HERE: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
READ MORE HERE: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
November 6, 2025 at 3:14 AM
PHOTOS: 'Yo tengo papeles': Teacher detained by immigration agents in North Center day care
READ MORE HERE: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
READ MORE HERE: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
BREAKING: After months of stonewalling by Starbucks, unionized baristas just voted 92% to authorize a ULP strike unless Starbucks finalizes fair contracts & stops union busting.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
Starbucks unionized workers say they'll strike on Nov. 13 if coffee giant doesn't finalize contract
Union members say they are ready to strike on the chain's Red Cup Day if Starbucks doesn't finalize a contract with their union by then.
www.cbsnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
BREAKING: After months of stonewalling by Starbucks, unionized baristas just voted 92% to authorize a ULP strike unless Starbucks finalizes fair contracts & stops union busting.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
This morning, #ICE abducted a preschool teacher without a warrant — in front of children.
I’m hosting a press conference RIGHT NOW with @durbin.senate.gov and @ramirez.house.gov. Tune in here.
I’m hosting a press conference RIGHT NOW with @durbin.senate.gov and @ramirez.house.gov. Tune in here.
ICE Abduction Inside Daycare: Press Conference
YouTube video by U.S. Representative Mike Quigley
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This morning, #ICE abducted a preschool teacher without a warrant — in front of children.
I’m hosting a press conference RIGHT NOW with @durbin.senate.gov and @ramirez.house.gov. Tune in here.
I’m hosting a press conference RIGHT NOW with @durbin.senate.gov and @ramirez.house.gov. Tune in here.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
The strike would begin on Nov. 13, which is the day Starbucks plans to distribute free, reusable red cups. Red Cup Day, a Starbucks tradition since 2018, is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year.
Starbucks’ union workers plan strike beginning on Red Cup Day unless company agrees to a contract
Starbucks’ union members have voted to strike at the company’s U.S. stores next week unless it finalizes a contract agreement, the union said Wednesday.
trib.al
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The strike would begin on Nov. 13, which is the day Starbucks plans to distribute free, reusable red cups. Red Cup Day, a Starbucks tradition since 2018, is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
One more push on this.
Help request: Any advice on where somebody could find studies/data on kindergarten readiness for Latino children in particular (alone or disaggregated)? Ideally longitudinally? Or anything in that vein? Not my area but I thought some of you might know.
November 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
One more push on this.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Polls will begin to close very soon.
And it'll feel like there are a million things to watch!
One resource to bookmark: my cheat sheet to election night. We'll be updating with results as they're known: so once you know what happened in VA, NYC, NJ, you can check out the all the down-ballot stuff!
And it'll feel like there are a million things to watch!
One resource to bookmark: my cheat sheet to election night. We'll be updating with results as they're known: so once you know what happened in VA, NYC, NJ, you can check out the all the down-ballot stuff!
Your Cheat Sheet to the 2025 General Elections - Bolts
Four contests have come to largely define the 2025 elections this fall: the elections to lead New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City, plus California’s redistricting measure. But there’s so... Read M...
boltsmag.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Polls will begin to close very soon.
And it'll feel like there are a million things to watch!
One resource to bookmark: my cheat sheet to election night. We'll be updating with results as they're known: so once you know what happened in VA, NYC, NJ, you can check out the all the down-ballot stuff!
And it'll feel like there are a million things to watch!
One resource to bookmark: my cheat sheet to election night. We'll be updating with results as they're known: so once you know what happened in VA, NYC, NJ, you can check out the all the down-ballot stuff!
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
It's not the sexiest thing, but I'm looking at how Latino voters turn out in Los Angeles, Hudson and Passaic Counties tonight. Trump's Latino support has dropped precipitously. Will they stick with him? Or are we seeing a national Prop 187/SB 1070 effect?
November 4, 2025 at 11:49 PM
It's not the sexiest thing, but I'm looking at how Latino voters turn out in Los Angeles, Hudson and Passaic Counties tonight. Trump's Latino support has dropped precipitously. Will they stick with him? Or are we seeing a national Prop 187/SB 1070 effect?
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Faith leaders — as well as faith-based food banks — have long argued they absolutely cannot independently handle the raw number of people currently served by government food assistance programs.
They argued it again last week in Congress, calling the idea a "lie". religionnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
They argued it again last week in Congress, calling the idea a "lie". religionnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
November 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Faith leaders — as well as faith-based food banks — have long argued they absolutely cannot independently handle the raw number of people currently served by government food assistance programs.
They argued it again last week in Congress, calling the idea a "lie". religionnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
They argued it again last week in Congress, calling the idea a "lie". religionnews.com/2025/10/30/f...
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
Candles, candy and colorful flowers adorned the ofrenda, or altar, a couple dozen people helped build Saturday to honor Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, the man shot and killed by an ICE agent in northwest suburban Franklin Park nearly two months ago.
Chicago-area man killed by ICE honored at Franklin Park Day of the Dead celebration: ‘Someone who was wanted’
Candles, candy and colorful flowers adorned the ofrenda a couple dozen people helped build Saturday to honor Silverio Villegas Gonzalez.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Candles, candy and colorful flowers adorned the ofrenda, or altar, a couple dozen people helped build Saturday to honor Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, the man shot and killed by an ICE agent in northwest suburban Franklin Park nearly two months ago.
Reposted by Stephanie Mota Thurston, Ph.D.
It is my pleasure to share the CFP for a special issue of #ResDiffJournal guest-edited by Hasskei Majeed, Justine McConnell, Olakunbi Olasope, and Luke Roman, building on the Classics &/in Africa conference at UCL this summer. "Classics and Africa" resdifficiles.com/classics-and...
Classics and Africa CFP
As members of a global collaborative project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Classics at the Crossroads: Partnership, Mobility, and Exchange Between Ghana, …
resdifficiles.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:34 AM
It is my pleasure to share the CFP for a special issue of #ResDiffJournal guest-edited by Hasskei Majeed, Justine McConnell, Olakunbi Olasope, and Luke Roman, building on the Classics &/in Africa conference at UCL this summer. "Classics and Africa" resdifficiles.com/classics-and...