Maya Schenwar
@mayaschenwar.bsky.social
19K followers 620 following 420 posts
Director, Truthout Center for Grassroots Journalism. Board president, Truthout. Co-editor “We Grow the World Together” Co-author “Prison by Any Other Name” Abolitionist, anti-zionist, pro-cat, pro-karaoke, Chicagoan mayaschenwar.com
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mayaschenwar.bsky.social
I'm honored to share the winners of the 5th Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize, given in memory of my sister. Both essays this year reflect on the stark, inherent violence of prison, and convey a key message for our time: Where there is injustice, there is resistance. truthout.org/articles/ann...
Announcing the Winners of the 5th Annual Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize
The prize honors the work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated authors who are writing toward a more just world.
truthout.org
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
melanienewport.bsky.social
the students at the encampments were right
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
zdroberts.bsky.social
This year's MediaFest - a conference for student journalists has a Faith breakout section that includes speakers from the Alliance Defending Freedom - a SPLC designated Hate Group (oddly CJR's article doesn't mention that).

I hope attendees and sponsors pull out.
www.cjr.org/feature/stud...
But in recent weeks, MediaFest’s schedule has been amended to include people from other religious backgrounds. There will be more than twenty faith track speakers, on panels tackling such questions as “Can the Bible inform reporters on how to cover the news?” and discussing censorship on the basis of faith. “We even have a Muslim coming,” said Naomi Balk—who Thursday, October 16th
Freedom to report with faith
Faith Central
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Cabin John
Description
As culture shifts away from religion, reporters are caught in a paradox: non-religious reporters report on topics of faith, and reporters of faith report on non-religious topics. What does it look like to report with objectivity in an age where not all perspectives are viewed as valid? Hear from Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, as he shares lessons from history about freedom of the press.
Speaker
Tyson Langhofer, Alliance Defending Freedom, Senior Counsel, Director of Center for Academic Freedom Alliance Defending Freedom
SPLC Designated Hate Group
Related: Anti-LGBTQ
Founded: 1994
Location: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
robertloerzel.bsky.social
A few messages seen today in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood
A poster on a pole next to a street says:
“ICE YOU ARE NOT INVISIBLE
!RECORD!
!RECORD!
!RECORD!
NAZI RATS LEAVE OUR CITY”
A stack of posters featuring a hammer-wielding figure with the stars of the Chicago wrapped around his torso. It says:
“I PREFER MY ICE CRUSHED. END IMMIGRATION ARRESTS, DEFEND OUR SANCTUARY” A sign in a store window says: “WE DON’T [SERVE is crossed out] FEED ICE OR PIGS! even if you steal this sign” The words “ICE OUT” are written in chalk on a sidewalk.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
prisonculture.bsky.social
What I learned from Miss Major was persistence and also keeping a sense of humor. I was lucky to see her work in various organizing meetings over the years. She was a model of how to be a good elder. Truly grateful for everything she did to make the world better. Time for the rest of us to continue.
mayaschenwar.bsky.social
Rest in Power, Miss Major.💔

On solidarity: “We can’t go it alone… I mean, you can try, and get knocked down and get up and try again, and get knocked down and get up and try again. But that’s how it’ll be, until somebody helps you up and says, let me stand with you.”
truthout.org/articles/a-m...
A Mother’s Day Chat With Revolutionary Trans Activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
Janet Mock has called Miss Major, who has nurtured generations of queer and trans youth, “the mother we all deserve.”…
truthout.org
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
prismreports.org
“The genocide can take my home, my library, my plans, & my lifelong friends, but it cannot keep me from writing.”

During the genocide, writing has become an ultimate form of resistance, allowing Eman Ghassan Abu Zayed to ensure her people, her martyrs, her friend Rama live on forever.
For Rama, my partner in dreams. I write because she cannot.
During the genocide, writing has become an ultimate form of resistance, ensuring the histories of Gaza and our people live on forever
prismreports.org
mayaschenwar.bsky.social
“Oxford comma? Let’s debate.”
impavid.us
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand

I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
prisonculture.bsky.social
they are not "trying" to exert influence, they ARE influencing elections already.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
mskellymhayes.bsky.social
My latest is the story of how my community has rallied to protect and defend our neighbors in recent days, as ICE has targeted the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago. "This is not a story about a moment of victory, but a moment of being reminded of our power."
They Came for Our Neighbors. We Showed Up.
Before long, there were dozens, and then hundreds of people in the streets, watching and responding.
organizingmythoughts.org
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
royalpratt.bsky.social
ICE/Border Patrol held a weapon on a guy who was demanding they show him their face in Rogers Park today
mayaschenwar.bsky.social
SO many neighbors out in RP today!

There is so much horror. And also, countless people in our neighborhood and across our magical city, Chicago, are demonstrating, every day, a loving and fierce dedication to keep each other safe.
unraveledpress.com
There are a tremendous number of ICE watchers out in Rogers Park this afternoon after some early morning abductions.

People are guarding churches and patrolling alleyways. Ran into Alderperson Hadden. First timers tell us they're primed and ready to use their whistles.
Know your rights flyer in Spanish on street pole No ice in sidewalk chalk Rapid responder posing with whistle Alderperson Maria Hadden on street corner
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
ashtonpittman.bsky.social
ICE left David, a 17-year-old boy, stranded on the side of Interstate 20 after pulling over his immigrant father, Hector, in Mississippi.

David began running in the scorching sun after the car and watched as it disappeared from sight—soon headed to a Louisiana ICE prison.

Here's their story.
ICE Stranded a 17-Year-Old on I-20 After Arresting His Father. The Mississippi Dad Now Faces Deportation.
A 17-year-old watched as ICE arrested his immigrant father, Hector, on I-20 in June. The family faces mounting legal fees and the risk of deportation.
www.mississippifreepress.org
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
praeyesright.bsky.social
In a Q&A with PRA, Silky Shah, author of ‘Unbuild Walls’, discusses why an abolitionist approach to immigration is needed to combat the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant authoritarianism. Learn more: politicalresearch.org/2025/09/23/w....
“We Must Fight for Everyone” for Immigrant Justice
Author Q&A with Silky Shah on Unbuild Walls
By Ethan Fauré
“The strategy of ‘good’ immigrant versus ‘bad’ immigrant ultimately targets all immigrants. We knew that would happen: As abolition teaches us, that’s how the system works. If you accept that some people deserve such treatment, they’ll expand who’s deserving.“ 
— Silky Shah
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
threnody.bsky.social
it would probably be sorta hard for just anyone to do it *this well* because it requires you to actually be normal about trans people, but still it feels important to state for the record that WE ARE NOT HARD TO STAND UP FOR AND ANY OF THEM COULD DO IT.
zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
interruptcrim.bsky.social
Looking to do some reading this weekend? Check out our Beyond Do No Harm reading guide, which shares articles, books + more for anyone wanting to dive deeper into topics around criminalization of care or providing care for criminalized populations: www.interruptingcriminalization.com/resources-al...
Graphic featuring a small thumbnail of a one-page resource, and text on a background composed of a tan and a dark blue column. The text reads: "Beyond Do No Harm Abolitionist Health Care "Back to School" Reading Guide. for anyone who wants to learn more & dive into topics around criminalization of care or providing care for criminalized populations." At the bottom, the URL "bit.ly/BDNHBackToSchool." A light drawing of a stethoscope is to the left of the resource.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
mskellymhayes.bsky.social
"There just isn’t enough time. There’s only what we manage to make of it—what we build, what we protect, what we remember to carry to the car. The gas mask. The snacks. The question we forgot to ask. The name of the person taken." My latest.
The Emergency Is the Atmosphere
“It’s meant to exhaust us. It’s meant to destroy us."
organizingmythoughts.org
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
prisonculture.bsky.social
We are here because policing in the U.S. has been this way for generations. This is why ICE acts with impunity. They know they can act this way.
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
lyndab08.bsky.social
Another incident of federal agents pointing guns at Chicago area residents.
Tweet from @laura_n_rod 

Text: A federal agent points a weapon at a woman who was recording them.

Jess, a U.S. citizen and member of a neighborhood patrol team that documents and shares ICE activity across the city, was filming when the incident occurred earlier today in the Berwyn area.

Photo: shows a federal agent in a truck pointing a gun
Reposted by Maya Schenwar
danampatton.bsky.social
Think about all the things ppl in our country, in your town, need but never get. Think about all the organized abandonment of ppl struggling in our communities.