Ali Messer
@freereed59.net
7.8K followers 21K following 5.1K posts
Teacher Education. History. Trad music. #HistoryEducation #TeacherEducation #UKteaching #SSChat #ContraDancing 📒🕰🎓🗺 No DMs unless we talk irl. https://intheoryandinpractice.wordpress.com/2023/04/11/and-then-the-bell-rang/ https://linktr.ee/Freereed59
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Reposted by Ali Messer
clancyny.bsky.social
Thrilled to see the storied People's Law Office representing Debbie Brockman, WGN TV producer attacked by DHS agents in Chicago.

Walking to the bus stop to go to work, Brockman was attacked by masked Border Patrol. She "feared for her life multiple times throughout this terrifying experience."
jimdaleywrites.bsky.social
NEW: The People’s Law Office is representing Debbie Brockman, the WGN producer who was detained by feds.

“Ms. Brockman and her legal team adamantly deny any allegation that she assaulted anyone. Rather, Ms. Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted by federal agents on her way to work.”
Statement on Behalf of Debbie Brockman, WGN
Employee Assaulted by Federal Agents

Debbie Brockman, the WGN employee who was physically attacked and arrested in Chicago, Illinois by federal agents on October 10, 2025, would like to provide the following information to clarify any misunderstandings or misrepresentations that have been previously reported.

First off, Ms. Brockman wishes to clarify that at the time of this incident she was not acting in any professional capacity as an employee of WGN. During the morning hours this past Friday, Ms. Brockman was walking to the bus stop as part of her morning commute when she was attacked by Border Patrol agents.
Ms. Brockman, who is a U.S. citizen born in this country, was violently detained on Foster Avenue, on the north side of Chicago. As this occurred, individuals on the street began recording the incident and asked Ms. Brockman her name. In addition to providing her name, Ms. Brockman stated that she worked for WGN. She added this information because she hoped someone would notify her employer so her coworkers would know that she would not be arriving at work that day.  
Ms. Brockman was detained and held in federal custody for approximately 7 hours before being released. She has not been charged with any crimes and she intends to pursue all legal avenues available to her to vindicate her rights and hold the federal authorities accountable for their actions.
Ms. Brockman is being represented by attorneys from the People’s Law Office in Chicago. Ms. Brockman and her legal team adamantly deny any allegation that she assaulted anyone. Rather, Ms. Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted by federal agents on her way to work. Ms. Brockman feared for her life multiple times throughout this terrifying experience.
“This incident should be alarming and horrifying to every single person in this country,” said Brad Thomson, one of Ms. Brockman’s attorneys at People’s Law Office. “If armed, masked, federal agents are sn…
Reposted by Ali Messer
danaelkurd.bsky.social
@lizar_tistry on Instagram did an info graphic of one of my podcast episodes for @coolzonemedia.bsky.social
Reposted by Ali Messer
jimdaleywrites.bsky.social
NEW: The People’s Law Office is representing Debbie Brockman, the WGN producer who was detained by feds.

“Ms. Brockman and her legal team adamantly deny any allegation that she assaulted anyone. Rather, Ms. Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted by federal agents on her way to work.”
Statement on Behalf of Debbie Brockman, WGN
Employee Assaulted by Federal Agents

Debbie Brockman, the WGN employee who was physically attacked and arrested in Chicago, Illinois by federal agents on October 10, 2025, would like to provide the following information to clarify any misunderstandings or misrepresentations that have been previously reported.

First off, Ms. Brockman wishes to clarify that at the time of this incident she was not acting in any professional capacity as an employee of WGN. During the morning hours this past Friday, Ms. Brockman was walking to the bus stop as part of her morning commute when she was attacked by Border Patrol agents.
Ms. Brockman, who is a U.S. citizen born in this country, was violently detained on Foster Avenue, on the north side of Chicago. As this occurred, individuals on the street began recording the incident and asked Ms. Brockman her name. In addition to providing her name, Ms. Brockman stated that she worked for WGN. She added this information because she hoped someone would notify her employer so her coworkers would know that she would not be arriving at work that day.  
Ms. Brockman was detained and held in federal custody for approximately 7 hours before being released. She has not been charged with any crimes and she intends to pursue all legal avenues available to her to vindicate her rights and hold the federal authorities accountable for their actions.
Ms. Brockman is being represented by attorneys from the People’s Law Office in Chicago. Ms. Brockman and her legal team adamantly deny any allegation that she assaulted anyone. Rather, Ms. Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted by federal agents on her way to work. Ms. Brockman feared for her life multiple times throughout this terrifying experience.
“This incident should be alarming and horrifying to every single person in this country,” said Brad Thomson, one of Ms. Brockman’s attorneys at People’s Law Office. “If armed, masked, federal agents are sn…
freereed59.net
Remembering Helen Snelson, who first introduced me to Ben Lay via @histassoc.bsky.social conference presentation
freereed59.net
That's amazing thanks so much
freereed59.net
Experts on my phone: I can see this from my window, but I am not sure what it is called. Do you know?
Autumn colours
Reposted by Ali Messer
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
For reasons, it would be v. helpful to have information from a broad range of academic and non-academic (incl. GLAM) users of the BBC Written Archives OTHER THAN historians, briefly on: 1) What you've used it for and 2) How the proposed changes would impact on your research.

Reposts welcomed.
Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to...
Critics say new limit to trove of information sounds knell for independent research
observer.co.uk
freereed59.net
Very good read. I have just finished listening to The Fearless Benjamin Lay by @marcusrediker.bsky.social a Quaker who was anything but passive in his abolitionism. Though often mocked in his lifetime, do we see his impact here?
Reposted by Ali Messer
cwebbonline.com
You need to see this:

“The show of force is the point. They want these images to be out…The Department of Homeland Security is walking around Chicago with a film crew.” @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social
Reposted by Ali Messer
anna-orridge.bsky.social
"The AI Revolution has started" declares a lady on LinkedIn. "Welcome to the AI Age. How does that make you feel?"

It makes me feel that people who have invested an awful lot of money in a very dodgy and unethical technology are starting worry that 'Fetch' simply won't happen.
Reposted by Ali Messer
paultlevin.bsky.social
The people behind the inflated protests are performing a monumental service to democracy & peace in the US. The Regime wants riots, but these animal characters are not only an effective protest, grabbing attention & mocking ICE, they seem to reduce the risk of violent protests. It's perfect.
50501movement.bsky.social
The Portland Frog army has now infiltrated Tulsa, OK and they’ve made an unlikely alliance with the T-Rex infantry and Sharks on Hoverboards mercenary forces.

This is truly terrifying.
Reposted by Ali Messer
zackpolanski.bsky.social
The Spectator (owned by GBNews owner Paul Marshall - estimated wealth of £800 million) doesn’t like taxing wealth fairly.

I wonder how they got to this editorial decision?

Let’s tax wealth fairly, fund front line services & make hope normal again.

join.greenparty.org.uk
Polanski is talking nonsense about wealth taxes.
freereed59.net
Books become fascinating artefacts if they bear witness to our 'reading' of them anyway
Reposted by Ali Messer
justincolson.bsky.social
At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!
Reposted by Ali Messer
sturdyalex.bsky.social
Oh, babes. Have you got a big surprise coming...

Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️
@realchrisrufo
This is great news. We've hired the classicist Spencer Klavan to teach at New College of Florida. Goodbye gender studies; hello, Greek literature.
Quote
Spencer A. Klavan
@SpencerKlavan
·
Aug 19, 2024
Truly excited to be teaching an online survey course in Greek literature this fall semester @NewCollegeofFL. Even more excited that it's open to the public. Please join in here! We'll be reading Homer, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, and lots more.

https://ncf.edu/youngheretics/
7:36 PM · Aug 19, 2024
·
840.8K
 Views
freereed59.net
My favourite post of the day so far.
sturdyalex.bsky.social
Oh, babes. Have you got a big surprise coming...

Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️
@realchrisrufo
This is great news. We've hired the classicist Spencer Klavan to teach at New College of Florida. Goodbye gender studies; hello, Greek literature.
Quote
Spencer A. Klavan
@SpencerKlavan
·
Aug 19, 2024
Truly excited to be teaching an online survey course in Greek literature this fall semester @NewCollegeofFL. Even more excited that it's open to the public. Please join in here! We'll be reading Homer, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, and lots more.

https://ncf.edu/youngheretics/
7:36 PM · Aug 19, 2024
·
840.8K
 Views