Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Cristen Hemmins

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · Aug 22

61 years ago today Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer one of the most courageous activists of the Civil Rights Movement posed the question that echoes today with every migrant round-up by masked officers, as federal troops converge on D.C.,as institutions are threatened:

“IS THIS AMERICA?”

youtu.be/DFC1nc3IXBM

Fannie Lou Hamer's Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Speech

YouTube video by Northwest African American Museum

youtu.be

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Bluesky @bsky.app · Aug 22

Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.

While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.

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Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman.bsky.social · Aug 22

BREAKING: BlueSky is blocking access to Mississippi.

This is the No. 1 platform for @mississippifreepress.org.

We ditched X for BlueSky early this year.

And now, at 3 pm on a Friday, poof.

I don't know what we'll do next.

Keep up with us using our newsletter at mfp.ms/subscribe.

Bluesky @bsky.app · Aug 22

Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.

While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.

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Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman.bsky.social · Aug 22

My new editorial:

"Whatever the Mississippi Legislature’s intent, we now find ourselves in a place where we are now having to grapple with how to ensure we can stay connected with all of our readers, many of whom follow us on BlueSky."
www.mississippifreepress.org/editors-note...

Ed Note | State Law Compels BlueSky to Block Mississippi IPs

Ashton Pittman writes about how Mississippi’s social media age-verification law prompted BlueSky to block access to Mississippi IP addresses.

www.mississippifreepress.org

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Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman.bsky.social · Aug 23

UPDATE: It looks like @mississippifreepress.org will be able to continue posting to BlueSky through Buffer.

But that still doesn't help all our followers in Mississippi who can no longer access BlueSky and may not use a VPN.

So sign up for our newsletter: www.mississippifreepress.org/newsletters/

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Tom the Dancing Bug, by Ruben Bolling @rubenbolling.bsky.social · Aug 13

With this barrage of unbelievable news, sometimes you've got to step back, draw a breath, and say WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK?

boingboing.net/2025/08/13/t...

Trump's Labor Statistics pick has painting of Nazi battleship behind his desk

Some people online claim the painting is of the USS New Jersey, but it's the Bismarck, as made obvious by the photograph it traces.

boingboing.net

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Angry @angrystaffer.bsky.social · Aug 13

This is A+ trolling

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Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · Aug 13

The President cannot commandeer any local law enforcement.
The President does not run the Smithsonian.
The monthly BLS jobs report is required by law.
Release the Epstein files.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi @pptnmcares.bsky.social · Aug 13

Planned Parenthood is here for you. No matter what.

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Rachel Wells @rachelwells1.bsky.social · Aug 12

“Those of us that practice in rural settings, we’re going to be here,” he said. “We’ll do it, regardless of what our resources. But there’s also the realization that we feel like the orchestra on the Titanic.”

Read my latest @nashvillebanner.bsky.social

nashvillebanner.com/2025/08/12/t...

Rural Tennessee hospitals face issues from Medicaid cuts - Nashville Banner

A rural Tennessee doctor discusses challenges facing OB-GYN's in the state, with Medicaid cuts and rural hospital closures impacting access to care.

nashvillebanner.com

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 13

Fed-Up?
Show up to peacefully protest, #Mississippi.
Events are being organized.
In Oxford join a 30 minute protest!
This Friday, 8/15,
911 E. Jackson Ave, #Oxford Noon-12:30pm
#FightTheTrumpTakeover

Then Saturday 3-4pm at the DeSoto County Courthouse 2535 Hwy 51 South, #Hernando #Mississippi.

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 10

Scenes from our Lafayette Dems (Miss.) visibility event Saturday to protect our national parks and promote climate action at Bailey Branch park along highway 7.
#climatechangeisreal #climateactionnow #protectourplanet #protectourparks #protectouroceans #globalwarmingisreal☀️

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 8

Come out Saturday!

Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 5

Join us this Saturday! There will be no marching at the rally, so bring a chair if you like & wave a flag or hold a sign.

There will be a Smoky the Bear birthday party at one end of the park from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, including a firetruck, forest ranger, and cake, so bring the kids.
#climateaction

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 8

You’re invited! Please support this important local service, North Mississippi Rural Legal Services. This 501c3 program offers free, civil legal services and representation to the poor, elderly and disabled.

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Reposted by Cristen Hemmins

Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 5

Join us this Saturday! There will be no marching at the rally, so bring a chair if you like & wave a flag or hold a sign.

There will be a Smoky the Bear birthday party at one end of the park from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, including a firetruck, forest ranger, and cake, so bring the kids.
#climateaction

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 7

This event is not sponsored by Lafayette Dems, but I’m helping spread the word. Come on out and bring the kids!

Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 5

Join us this Saturday! There will be no marching at the rally, so bring a chair if you like & wave a flag or hold a sign.

There will be a Smoky the Bear birthday party at one end of the park from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, including a firetruck, forest ranger, and cake, so bring the kids.
#climateaction

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Reposted by Cristen Hemmins

Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · Aug 4

This is what is happening right now.

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 4

Please join us! We want your input, east Tenn. More locations coming…

Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi @pptnmcares.bsky.social · Jul 23

We want to hear from you! PPTNM is excited to present the Pink Horizon Listening Tour with our President and CEO Ashley Coffield, who will travel throughout Tennessee and North Mississippi to listen to supporters as we work toward a brighter future together. www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-pare...

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Reposted by Cristen Hemmins

Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi @pptnmcares.bsky.social · Jul 23

We want to hear from you! PPTNM is excited to present the Pink Horizon Listening Tour with our President and CEO Ashley Coffield, who will travel throughout Tennessee and North Mississippi to listen to supporters as we work toward a brighter future together. www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-pare...

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Cristen Hemmins @cristenhemmins.bsky.social · Aug 4

I’m almost to my one-year “planniversary” and love working at PP. Please share these job postings with anyone for whom they are a fit!

Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi @pptnmcares.bsky.social · Aug 1

Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi is urgently hiring for a Clinician in Nashville! Full time, part time, and PRN positions are available, with flexibility to create a schedule that works best for you with part-time and PRN positions. www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-pare...

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Reposted by Cristen Hemmins

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · Aug 2

Did you say “admitted to the bar in 2024?”

The DEI of it all. This is insane.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · Aug 2

Paul Ingrassia—a 30-year-old former right-wing blogger and newly minted lawyer who was admitted to the bar in 2024—is Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Special Counsel.

Ingrassia has called Jack Smith a “disgusting man,” accused him of “election interference,” and said he should be jailed.

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Rachel Wells @rachelwells1.bsky.social · Aug 1

The story about the oldest embryo resulting in live birth this week goes deeper than you can imagine. I've been covering this story for nearly a year. Stay tuned for more. #tnrepronews #reprorights #ivf #reproductiverights #fertilityjourney www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/29/1...

Exclusive: A record-breaking baby has been born from an embryo that’s over 30 years old

The embryos were created in 1994, while the expectant father was still a toddler, and donated via a Christian “embryo adoption” agency.

www.technologyreview.com

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Rachel Wells @rachelwells1.bsky.social · Jul 20

Can you please help me get this story out? Please share, email, text, Signal, sky write, snail mail everyone you know. This is the first, but it won’t be the last. wellsrachelm.substack.com/p/pregnant-w...

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Rachel Wells @rachelwells1.bsky.social · Jul 20

UPDATED: The woman at the center of my reporting speaks out. For the first time, she shares what it felt like to be denied prenatal care simply for being unmarried.

wellsrachelm.substack.com/p/pregnant-w...

#reprorights #reproductivehealth #tnleg

Exclusive: Pregnant Woman in Tennessee Denied Care for Being Unmarried (Updated)

The 2025 Medical Ethics Defense Act allows physicians to deny care to patients whose "lifestyles" they disagree with

wellsrachelm.substack.com

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