The Events That Unfolded Over The Past 24 Hours In Atlanta Were Not Isolated Incidents. Hate Crimes Against

The events that unfolded over the past 24 hours in Atlanta were not isolated incidents. Hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased nearly 150% in the US in the last year. 

Last June, in the wake up of yet another uprising in hate crimes committed by white supremacists, we released the following statement:

White supremacists, Nazis, and other purveyors of hate can fully fuck off. They are not welcome here.

These words are as true today as they were then. We stand with the Asian American community. If you see hate speech on Tumblr, please report it. That shit is not tolerated here. 

To help the survivors and families of yesterday’s hate crimes, please consider donating to a nonprofit like the Atlanta branch of Asian Americans Advancing Justice if you can. If you can’t, consider spreading the word. We’ll list more resources and reblogs over on @action as we find them.

As always, please make sure you are taking care of yourself as well. If you’re struggling for any reason, please reach out to any of the free and confidential counseling services listed here.

An investigation is ongoing in the case of a 9 year old Rochester girl who was pepper sprayed during a mental health episode. Police were called on Friday afternoon after a report that the girl was threatening to harm herself and her mother. The girl resisted being put into a police car to be taken to the hospital, kicking one of the officers. She is seen screaming in bodycam footage before her head is held down against the snow-covered ground and is handcuffed. One of the three officers involved told her she was, “acting like a child,” to which she responded, “I am a child!”

“Later in the video, a female officer is seen talking to the girl, eventually saying, “This is your last chance, otherwise pepper spray’s going in your eyeballs.” About a minute later, another officer can be heard saying, “Just spray her at this point.” The female officer is seen shaking a can that appears to be pepper spray and the child continues to scream.” Officers then pepper sprayed her and left her crying in the back seat as they took her to Rochester General Hospital and soon released.

How do we reform a group of supposed public servants who seem nearly immune to consequences? This isn’t how you treat anyone experiencing a mental health emergency, and especially not a nine year old child. How will this little girl grow up in a world where the people who are supposed to protect her are violent towards her when she needs help?

Sources:

NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1256313

CNN: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/02/02/us/rochester-officers-pepper-spray-child-removed-patrol/index.html

now that it's actually IWD...

Happy International Women's Day to:

women of color, lesbians, ace and aro girls, trans women, bi and pan girls, disabled and neurodivergent women, Jewish and Muslim women, women who fight for equality and their right to be heard, women who are driven, women who are career-oriented, girlbosses, women who want children and women who don't, mothers, women who get called "bossy" and "shrill," polyamorous women, women with multiple partners, young girls who are figuring out their place in the world, women who are sex workers, women who have survived abuse and women who didn't, autistic women, gnc women, women who get talked over, women who are told that their thoughts don't matter, fat girls and skinny girls, women who have had an abortion, women of low-income, women who are homeless, women with big noses, women with acne or a skin condition, women who work in STEM, unconventionally beautiful women, women who have depression or anxiety, women who rely on aids, deaf and blind women, women who have intrusive thoughts, women coping with PTSD, and women with chronic illness.

we are beautiful, and we are strong. but we are stronger together. Happy International Women's Day.

in light of this news, I do wanna say this for anyone who needs it: staying informed/in the loop and doomscrolling are two different things, and it's important for your mental health to know what that difference is for you.

it's essential now more than ever to make sure that we're in the loop with current events and politics. this post is absolutely not advocating for ignoring the news, especially considering factors such as privilege. if you're able to, please do try to stay informed. but there comes a point where information can become too much (particularly when you belong to a marginalized group), causing stress, anxiety, and burnout. being an informed citizen shouldn't come at the expense of your wellbeing.

right now, please ask yourself: am I checking the news to stay up to date, or am I checking it because I'm scared? am I following current events to enhance my understanding, or am I following it because I'm too anxious to tear away?

if you feel rising panic, dread, and anxiety that's spiraling, it's time to step back. being an informed citizen doesn't mean agonizing over things you can't control. when that happens, it's time to rein yourself back in.

consider this post a checkpoint, especially if you're an American, black/a person of color, a marginalized identity (be it religious, gender/sexuality, or disability), or any combination thereof. it's alright to step back and care for yourself.

allow yourself room to breathe. it'll be okay. you'll be able to step back in when you're ready.

Happy Juneteenth! Here’s some info about Juneteenth becoming a national holiday & what that means for us.

Not celebrating today. Instead I’m thinking about my parents who are both Residential School Survivors. I’m thinking about my Aunts, Uncles and older cousins who went and who survived. I’m also thinking about those who never came home. So many never came home. Today I’m spending this time with family and just being with them. 🧡🧡🧡