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megoconnor.bsky.social
Meg O'Connor
@megoconnor.bsky.social
21K followers 2K following 170 posts
Reporter covering cops and prosecutors for @theappeal.org, a worker-led newsroom. Free Palestine. I also love hiking and baking. she/they 🏳️‍🌈 https://linktr.ee/megoconnor13
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megoconnor.bsky.social
Meg O'Connor @megoconnor.bsky.social · Aug 22
I'm very happy to report some good news for once—Johnny, Sariah, and Jeremiah have a chance at freedom after our reporting. Phoenix police killed their friend, Jacob Harris, but prosecutors sent them to prison for it under Arizona's felony murder law. theappeal.org/new-hope-for...
New Hope for Phoenix Trio Imprisoned for Murder After Police Killed Their Friend
Phoenix police killed their friend—but prosecutors sent them to prison for it. Now, they have a chance to get out of prison.
theappeal.org
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Reposted by Meg O'Connor
maxkennerly.bsky.social
Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · Apr 27
Using "recently deputized" ICE agents who don't follow procedure and perform arrests in plainclothes wearing masks and refuse to show badges is a great way to generate a violent situation.

It's only a matter of time before these cowboys encounter "stand your ground" and it'll be 100% their fault.
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taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · Apr 25
Update: A former (as of recently) judge and his wife have been arrested in New Mexico, also on charges that they aided immigrants, though circumstances are very different. www.abqjournal.com/news/article...
Former judge, wife arrested in Las Cruces on federal charges
LAS CRUCES — Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy, were arrested by FBI agents Thursday afternoon on federal charges of tampering with evidence.
www.abqjournal.com
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taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · Apr 25
The FBI has *ARRESTED* a sitting judge in Milwaukee, over allegations it obstructed immigration enforcement.

abcnews.go.com/US/judge-han...
Judge Hannah Dugan arrested by FBI for allegedly helping undocumented immigrant 'evade arrest'
A Milwaukee County circuit judge has been arrested by the FBI over allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant "evade arrest," according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
abcnews.go.com
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elizabethweill.bsky.social
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg 🇵🇸 @elizabethweill.bsky.social · Apr 23
Clarification: DOJ has terminated all funding for the PREA Resource Center and its activities, including support for all audit functions, effective immediately, as per a letter from the
National PREA Resource Center exclusively obtained by @theappeal.org.
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elizabethweill.bsky.social
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg 🇵🇸 @elizabethweill.bsky.social · Apr 23
Scoop: DOJ has terminated all funding for the PREA Resource Center and its activities, including support for all audit functions, effective immediately, according to a letter from the Center, exclusively obtained by @theappeal.org. theappeal.org/trump-doj-de...
Trump DOJ Defunds National Prison Rape Resource Center
A letter obtained exclusively by The Appeal says Trump’s Department of Justice has defunded the Prison Rape Elimination Act Resource Center.
theappeal.org
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akelalacy.bsky.social
Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · Apr 23
UDPATE: At Mahdawi's hearing this morning, the judge granted a 90-day extension of the TRO while they wait for the government to respond. They'll return to court next week to argue for his release
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leximcmenamin.com
Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · Apr 18
the US government is so hostile to immigrants and Palestine activism that they’re snatching students off campuses and deporting them—while radicalized white men like FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner, the son of a cop who used her gun, espouse Nazi ideology and ridicule protesters before killing.

my latest
Radicalized White Men Like the FSU Shooter Are the Real Threat to Campuses—Not Student Protestors
"The alleged gunman is a quintessentially American school shooter."
www.teenvogue.com
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megoconnor.bsky.social
Meg O'Connor @megoconnor.bsky.social · Apr 18
Reading is a great skill, you should try it out on the article you’re responding to!
Reposted by Meg O'Connor
radleybalko.bsky.social
Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · Apr 18
You know what else is up by a huge percentage? Illegal but state-sanctioned assault, battery, kidnappings, forced imprisonment, torture, and violations of due process.
paleofuture.bsky.social Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · Apr 18
“Our ICE officers are facing 300% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations.”
DHS tweet: The rumors circulating on social media that ICE Boston employed a militia leader from Arizona to make arrests in New England are not only false, but they are also inflammatory and place the safety of federal officers in jeopardy. Our ICE officers are facing 300% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations. 4:25 PM • 4/17/25 • 24K Views
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megoconnor.bsky.social
Meg O'Connor @megoconnor.bsky.social · Apr 17
Democrats and universities paved the way for Trump's deportations. Now, local prosecutors are threatening students and faculty members with decades in prison for speaking out against genocide.
theappeal.org The Appeal @theappeal.org · Apr 17
As the Trump admin fights to deport students who support Palestinians, dozens more face extreme charges in local courts.

In just five jurisdictions, prosecutors have filed 187 charges against 66 protesters—including alleged hate crimes on cops, mob action, and attempted ethnic intimidation.
Here’s Where Pro-Palestine Protesters Face the Harshest Charges
Prosecutors have filed or are considering filing 187 charges against 66 pro-Palestine, anti-Israel campus protesters from Gaza encampments.
theappeal.org
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theappeal.org
The Appeal @theappeal.org · Apr 17
As the Trump admin fights to deport students who support Palestinians, dozens more face extreme charges in local courts.

In just five jurisdictions, prosecutors have filed 187 charges against 66 protesters—including alleged hate crimes on cops, mob action, and attempted ethnic intimidation.
Here’s Where Pro-Palestine Protesters Face the Harshest Charges
Prosecutors have filed or are considering filing 187 charges against 66 pro-Palestine, anti-Israel campus protesters from Gaza encampments.
theappeal.org
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melissagiragrant.com
Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · Apr 17
“At the time the list was released, Braveboy said that untrustworthy officers risk ‘the integrity of cases brought to the justice system.’ And yet, the United States Department of Justice is basing the extraordinary rendition of a Maryland resident solely on the credibility of just such an officer.”
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reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Apr 16
This is the second video of ICE agents shattering a window in the last week rather than have some patience. And in this case, they're allegedly detaining someone who already has asylum through his wife, with no reason given at all!

www.borderreport.com/news/video-s...
Video shows ICE agents shatter car window during Massachusetts arrest: attorney
Federal immigration agents are accused of shattering a car window in Massachusetts while detaining a Guatemalan man on Monday in a caught-on-camera incident – despite his attorney saying they had t…
www.borderreport.com
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unraveledpress.com
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · Apr 16
Someone knows who this man is and where he spends his time. He should be identified. And he should not feel comfortable showing his face in public after this.
ruthz.bsky.social Ruth Zakarin @ruthz.bsky.social · Apr 15
This picture may haunt me to the end of my days.

It is an ICE agent taking an axe to the car window of an immigrant in New Bedford, MA. Not far from where I sit now. An immigrant with no criminal record was abducted by this smiling man.

An axe taken to a car window and to our democracy. 1/
#MomSky
A man in tactical gear and a baseball hat is taking an axe to a car window. He looks like he’s smiling.
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kattenbarge.bsky.social
Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · Apr 16
Stop making those little AI image generator memes of yourself as a Barbie or a Ghibli character you are enriching evil companies and destroying the planet and this is like one of the easiest things you can just not do
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joshuaerlich.bsky.social
Joshua Erlich @joshuaerlich.bsky.social · Apr 16
excuse me

"To reach legion-level before the apocalypse"

that’s more of a timeline than a euphemism
paleofuture.bsky.social Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · Apr 16
“During St. Clair's pregnancy, Musk suggested that they bring in other women to have even more of their children faster.”
Wall Street Journal: Musk refers to his offspring as a "legion," a reference to the ancient military units that could contain thousands of soldiers and were key to extending the reach of the Roman Empire. During St. Clair's pregnancy, Musk suggested that they bring in other women to have even more of their children faster. "To reach legion-level before the apocalypse," he said to St. Clair in a text message viewed by The Wall Street Journal, "we will need to use surrogates." He has recruited potential mothers on his social-media platform X, according to some of the people.
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theintercept.com
The Intercept @theintercept.com · Apr 16
An Israeli colleague of detained Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi pushes back on Sec. Rubio’s antisemitism claim.

Our latest report shows how a Palestinian student committed to peace became an ICE target.

Read @akelalacy.bsky.social full story: interc.pt/3RjDoL6
Rubio Says Detained Palestinian Stoked Antisemitism. Mahdawi’s Israeli Colleague Says the Opposite.
Mohsen Mahdawi’s Israeli colleague undermines Marco Rubio’s antisemitism case to detain and deport the Columbia University student.
interc.pt
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radleybalko.bsky.social
Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · Apr 16
After being told by the Supreme Court to bring Abrego Garcia home, and that it was illegal to send him and others to a foreign gulag without due process, the Trump administration this weekend sent 10 more people to the Salvadoran gulag without process.
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levernews.com
The Lever @levernews.com · Apr 16
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akelalacy.bsky.social
Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · Apr 14
SCOOP: Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi went into an interview today hoping he would come out a U.S. citizen. Instead, ICE arrested him. theintercept.com/2025/04/14/i...
Palestinian Student Leader Was Called In for Citizenship Interview — Then Arrested by ICE
Palestinian Columbia student leader Mohsen Mahdawi was called in for a citizenship interview. Instead, ICE arrested him for deportation.
theintercept.com
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newyorker.com
The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Apr 14
The number of people jailed pretrial has nearly quadrupled since the 1980s; people with mental-health issues tend to be detained much longer than the rest of the population. Sarah Stillman reports on a crisis of care in county jails across the nation.
Starved in Jail
Why are incarcerated people dying from lack of food or water, even as private companies are paid millions for their care?
www.newyorker.com
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Reposted by Meg O'Connor
akelalacy.bsky.social
Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · Apr 14
MORE NEWS: Mahdawi's lawyers filed a habeas petition this morning challenging his arrest and detention under the same INA provision used to deport Mahmoud Khalil. More TK
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cjciaramella.bsky.social
CJ Ciaramella @cjciaramella.bsky.social · Apr 14
The New Yorker has an investigative piece about people dying of malnutrition and dehydration in jails.

I appreciate the author for not sugarcoating it: "hard to describe as anything other than a pattern of widespread torture of people with mental-health issues" www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Starved in Jail
Why are incarcerated people dying from lack of food or water, even as private companies are paid millions for their care?
www.newyorker.com
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Reposted by Meg O'Connor
igd.bsky.social
It's Going Down @igd.bsky.social · Apr 14
Not even the state could find evidence against Ozturk. They disappeared her regardless.
bgrueskin.bsky.social Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · Apr 14
“Neither DHS nor ICE nor Homeland Security investigations produced any evidence showing Ozturk engaged in antisemitic activity or made statements indicating support for a terrorist organization, according to government employees briefed on the State Dept memo.” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
No evidence linking Tufts student to antisemitism or terrorism, State Dept. office found
An internal memo, prepared before Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by ICE, raises doubts about the Trump administration’s claims that she supports Hamas.
www.washingtonpost.com
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