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Morgan Elise J

@morganelisej.thetriibe.com

4.9K followers 1.3K following 720 posts

Filmmaker, Force of Nature Co-founder of thetriibe.com. Become a member of The TRiiBE and get access to the RESHAPE newsletter https://thetriibe.com/newsletters

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · Nov 13

Hey BlueSky! I’m a filmmaker and co-founder of @thetriibe.com, a Black-owned publication based in Chicago. We’re building trust, community and civic engagement on here.

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Reposted by Morgan Elise J

Tiffany W @tiffany.thetriibe.com · 5h

i’m really sad about D’Angelo. i’m really sad about this world we live in.

i wrote my feelings in today’s free newsletter for @thetriibe.com.

are you subscribed?

Read a snippet below & then click the link in this thread to subscribe.

D’Angelo died yesterday. He was an R&B giant. A Neo-Soul pioneer. All of the things are being said about his earlier albums, 1995’s Brown Sugar and 2000’s Voodoo. Both deserve monumental praise in their own rights. But let’s talk about his surprise 2014 record, Black Messiah; the one that succinctly captured a revolutionary moment.

The Black community was in the thick of despair. Our people were being taken from us left and right. Trayvon Martin was brutally killed at 17 years old, and justice was not served in court. Michael Brown killed in Ferguson, Missouri. Eric Garner violently choked to death in Staten Island. We couldn’t breathe. The violence against Black people was suffocating and inescapable.

Then, D’Angelo dropped Black Messiah in the midnight hours of one December night in 2014. He demanded our attention. The album cover, Black fists and open palms raised in protest and favor, placed us in the middle of the liberation movement. Funk has historically been the genre of Black resistance and freedom. D’Angelo, mostly known throughout his career as an innovative and sexy R&B crooner, returned from his hiatus because he had pain, love and revolution in his heart — just as we all did.

We could barely grieve D’Angelo’s death Tuesday before we learned that our reporter Tonia Hill had been tear gassed. She went out to cover the unrest taking place on the Southeast Side, where militarized federal agents had detained young Black people, been involved in a car crash and deployed tear gas in a residential neighborhood.

President Donald Trump’s federal agents use tear gas as if it’s magic dust. Toss it out and then poof! They disappear into the thick of smoke, off to transport detainees and wreak havoc on another unsuspecting community.

Tonia is OK and resting today. She interviewed people at the scene, and freelance contributor Dave Byrnes jumped in to help her get the story out. (Dave’s been going hard with his reporting for us this past month. Please send a few dollars his way, if you’re able).

We’ve been covering Trump’s militarized occupation of Chicago for more than a month now. I’m now calling it an occupation because we shouldn’t have to wait for the National Guard troops, or any other military force, to arrive on our streets before we call a spade a spade. Masked federal agents, dressed in military camouflage and deploying toxic weapons on residents, is an occupation. They are capturing people — U.S. citizens and all — without any hesitation or pause.

I’ve never stopped listening to D’Angelo’s Black Messiah, because police violence in America has never stopped. Now, communities who were otherwise unaffected by police violence are witnessing and experiencing what Black Americans have for centuries. This time around, under an escalating authoritarian regime, I hope people will forever be moved to end the unchecked powers of the police state.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 1d

The feds are bringing war and poison and violence to marginalized communities. thetriibe.com/2025/10/fede...

thetriibe.com

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 1d

Throw this entire year in the trash. And then launch it into a black hole.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 1d

Let me clarify and say that no American president deserves credit for this peace deal.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 1d

The energy:

Chance the Rapper performs in front of a huge screen that says “FUCK ICE”

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 1d

Chance will go down in history as one of those artists who captured a certain time, place and energy. thetriibe.com/2025/10/chic...

Chicago got the full experience as Chance the Rapper brought ‘Star Line’ to life • The TRiiBE

With a decorated Red Line, surprise guests, and a Northerly Island show, Chance’s comeback was a city-wide celebration.

thetriibe.com

Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 2d

The media crediting the man who supplied the weapons with the peace deal is just wild.

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Reposted by Morgan Elise J

Tonia Hill @tonia.thetriibe.com · 2d

windycitytimes.com/2025/10/13/a...

Ald. Jessie Fuentes to file lawsuit against ICE agent who handcuffed her in Humboldt Park incident - Windy City Times

Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) is preparing to file a lawsuit against the ICE agent who handcuffed and threatened to arrest her at Humboldt Park Health earlier this month. In an interview with Windy ...

windycitytimes.com

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 3d

Despite everything, Pilsen was full of joy today. What a beautiful day for the Chicago Marathon.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 4d

I’m freezing but not turning on the heat!

Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 4d

Thanks for reading my words. His silence has had me modulating between the feelings of second-hand embarrassment and rage all week.

Jessica Johnson @historyofjess.com · 4d

Got a stunning newsletter from @thetriibe.com this morning tearing into my Alderman Greg Mitchell for his silence on the ICE/CBP violence in South Shore.

I'm so happy I became a donor to The TRiiBE. They're doing such great work and I hope it helps kick Mitchell to the curb. He needs to go.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 5d

Thanks so much, Jay!

Jay Young @impactofficer.bsky.social · 6d

I am ashamed to admit that, while I have been a consumer and fan of what @thetriibe.com has been doing, I've never been a financial supporter. This article changed that and actually made me come out of my pocket.

I'm so grateful for the work of our local journalists.

thetriibe.com/2025/10/sout...

South Shore raid triggers past traumas and sparks new conversations about divisions between Black and Latino communities • The TRiiBE

Federal agent activity on Chicago’s South and West sides put Black people in the crosshairs.

thetriibe.com

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Reposted by Morgan Elise J

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 6d

HAPPENING TODAY — Federal judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments in hearing regarding the lawsuit over National Guard’s deployment to Illinois.

thetriibe.com/2025/10/trum...

Trump’s ‘Midway Blitz’ hits the courts in Chicago • The TRiiBE

The legal impacts of the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts landed hard in Chicago’s federal courthouse this week, with more developments expected in the coming days.

thetriibe.com

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 7d

Um that’s not what’s happening here. Asking the same police who kettled and gassed protestors in 2020 to defend you from the feds…

and recording people up close, giving the feds evidence to prosecute them is reckless.

Being ignorant of the law is not a resistance strategy.

Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 7d

Exactly, friend. I’m just trying to move us past that debate and on to strategies that are tried and true.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 7d

Y’all get on here and post videos of people impeding federal law enforcement w/ close-ups on people’s faces—no regard for repercussions & the very real risk of federal prison. I’m not discouraging folks who are resisting, but I’m sometimes seeing this “do whatever” attitude rather than strategy.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 7d

The assertion that everyone should break federal laws because ICE is breaking laws is dangerous. DHS/ICE is under the direction and protection of the President. Our local governments are pretty constrained on how they can legally resist. They would face steep consequences for breaking federal laws.

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 7d

It’s been quite amazing to watch people call on CPD (of all entities) to fight on behalf of the oppressed. There is a reason why we don’t see police leading revolutions. They are a function of the state and will give deference to the feds, as required by law. youtube.com/shorts/WDHFe...

Can local police arrest ICE?

YouTube video by The TRiiBE

youtube.com

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Reposted by Morgan Elise J

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 8d

NEW — A message of support has been circulating online for Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes, who was temporarily detained by federal agents last week.

A few signatures were noticeably missing: 13, to be specific.

thetriibe.com/2025/10/so-a...

So, about that letter of support for Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes: 13 alderpeople didn’t sign it • The TRiiBE

The letter describes what the agents did to Fuentes as an “abuse of power.” Mayor Brandon Johnson, City Clerk, Anna Valencia and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin also signed it.

thetriibe.com

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 8d

I said it and I meant it. Welcome to The TRiiBE, Donald.

Donald Martin @rabbitoh.bsky.social · 9d

I finally signed up as a supporter of @thetriibe.com. The word finally is intentional, as I should have done so immediately after reading this:

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Reposted by Morgan Elise J

The People's Fabric @peoplesfabric.com · 9d

“Body-camera video of a Border Patrol agent involved in the shooting of a woman who was allegedly chasing agents in Brighton Park over the weekend shows an officer saying, “Do something, b----,” before pulling over & shooting the woman five times.”

DHS has lied, a lot, about every act of violence.

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 9d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Reposted by Morgan Elise J

Dan Mihalopoulos @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social · 9d

Late-night legal L from Trump, as judge he appointed isn’t buying the administration’s attempt to get around her previous ruling by directing out-of-state Guard units to Oregon.

What impact could this have on the new plan to send Texas Guard units to Illinois?

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 9d

Meanwhile, out west, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut is entering a new temporary restraining order “that prohibits the relocation, federalization or deployment of any National Guard under [President Donald Trump’s] command, Title 10 status, within the State of Oregon.”

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 9d

From @govpritzker.illinois.gov:

“President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States.”

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 10d

Be like Uncle Johnny and become a member 😂 thetriibe.com/newsletters/

Newsletters • The TRiiBE

Want to help reshape the narrative? Support our newsroom and subscribe today!

thetriibe.com

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 10d

FINALLY signed my 75-year-old uncle up for @thetriibe.com. He got a welcome email and cussed me out because
1) The email didn’t address him as “Uncle Johnny.”
2) A physical paper doesn’t come with the membership

Anyway…this is a huge win for me 😂

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Morgan Elise J @morganelisej.thetriibe.com · 10d

Black-owned businesses need direct support. Defund billionaires and put your dollars where your heart is 💛

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 10d

We’re so thankful to everyone who is spreading the word about our work at The TRiiBE.

This moment demands more revolutionary voices in journalism. Support independent, Black-owned journalism today.

Make a monetary contribution: buy.stripe.com/00w14n5ZRbhk...

The TRiiBE is independent, Black-owned media.

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