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Rachel DL

@racheldl.bsky.social

280 followers 160 following 78 posts

Disabled cartoonist, journalist, and youth advocate based in Madison, WI. Comics and writing in The Washington Post, The Nib, Disability Visibility, Tone. #endyouthhomelessness Melt ICE 🧊 She/Her Website: https://www.racheldl.com/

www.racheldl.com

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Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · Feb 19

Deep thanks to @desibility.bsky.social for working with me on this essay. I'm so happy to be given a space to talk about what the past 6 months have looked like me, from a long time in the hospital, losing my ability to walk, and now - although mostly trapped - home.

Peter Torres Fremlin @desibility.bsky.social · Feb 19

"My disabled life is not glamorous, nor is it particularly beautiful. This life is unbearably lonely, often painful, and filled with fear of the unknown about the future. But it deserves to be witnessed."

– Rachel Litchman on poverty and chronic illness

www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/forg...

Forgotten

Finding my own worth in a frightening shadow world

www.disabilitydebrief.org

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Reposted by Rachel DL

Abood @zozosaaaahhh.bsky.social · 14d

"Our children are suffering, and we can't do anything. Our beautiful children are dying of hunger.😢
Their innocent faces are suffering, and we're suffering even more. We beg you to help us, share our suffering, and assist us with donations.💔💔
gofund.me/d14cbe76

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Reposted by Rachel DL

Scott Gordon @scottgordonwi.bsky.social · 3d

Another great @racheldl.bsky.social work of comics journalism about housing and disability—with a sharp swerve into BARBARIAN territory

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 3d

In an original comic, @racheldl.bsky.social illustrates her living experience at 540 West Washington Avenue in Madison, where she discovered a haunting part of the city's history.

Hidden Housing Histories: Joyce Funeral Home

Living in a 100-year-old ex-funeral home, I uncovered an unusual and dark piece of Madison history.

tonemadison.com

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Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you so much @tonemadison.bsky.social for your patience as I worked on this comic over the past year ❤️. It's my first new published comic since July 2024, when I was hospitalized & lost a great deal of muscle function. So it means a heck of a lot to me. Published with Alt Text as well.

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 3d

In an original comic, @racheldl.bsky.social illustrates her living experience at 540 West Washington Avenue in Madison, where she discovered a haunting part of the city's history.

Hidden Housing Histories: Joyce Funeral Home

Living in a 100-year-old ex-funeral home, I uncovered an unusual and dark piece of Madison history.

tonemadison.com

Reposted by Rachel DL

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 4d

Chicago

sevedge @sevedge.bsky.social · 4d

photo of a Do Not Enter traffic sign on a Chicago street, but someone has altered it to say Do Not -Let ICE- Enter

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Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 4d

I wish I could be in Chicago right now out protesting. Fuck ME/CFS and the rest of my dumb chronic illnesses.

Reposted by Rachel DL

Dana Houle @danahoule.bsky.social · 4d

Chicagoland is a friendly, safe, vibrant, & fun place. I’m very happy my kids have grown up in the Rogers Park neighborhood of the city, & in Evanston. They’re both wonderful places.

But ICE is attacking us. People are doing everything possible to protect their neighbors. But it’s hard.

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Reposted by Rachel DL

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 4d

“ICE kidnapped a community member here,” reads one. “Never forget/no nos olvidamos,” says another.

The signs have appeared across some of D.C.’s heavily immigrant neighborhoods where federal immigration arrests have escalated.

Signs popping up around D.C. note: ‘ICE kidnapping happened here’

The signs range in style and mark numerous locations where people have been taken by federal agents.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Rachel DL

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 5d

A federal appeals court said that it will not allow President Trump to deploy the National Guard in Illinois, largely preserving a ruling that had suspended his administration’s campaign to send troops into the Chicago area.

Appeals court bars Trump from deploying National Guard in Illinois

The appeals court weighed in after a federal judge, concluding that it was “likely to lead to civil unrest, ”barred the president from deploying troops in and around Chicago.

wapo.st

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Rainwalker @rainwalkerak.bsky.social · 5d

You can say “rape.” All throughout history people have been trying to “nice up” systematic sexual assault and abuse of women that’s a “natural consequence of war and intimidation,” but you do us no favors by not calling it what it is—rape.

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Reposted by Rachel DL

A. Sleemi, MD, MPH @globalgyno.bsky.social · 5d

Augh. The Senate "2022 report found that “female detainees appear to have been subjected to excessive, invasive, and often unnecessary gynecological procedures” and that there appeared to be “repeated failures” to secure informed consent"

The Intercept @theintercept.com · 5d

The Georgia facility gained notoriety for allegations that women received “often unnecessary” gynecological treatment, at times lacking informed consent.

ICE Will Hold Immigrants in Jail Accused of “Excessive, Invasive” Gynecological Procedures

The Georgia facility gained notoriety for allegations that women received “unnecessary” gynecological treatment, at times lacking informed consent.

interc.pt

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Reposted by Rachel DL

Matthew Noe @noethematt.bsky.social · 5d

No wonder they've been trying to keep Anne Frank out of schools recently

Sophie Sherry @sophiesherry.bsky.social · 6d

During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door.   It wasn’t the feds — it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help.

He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Neighbor shielded 7-year-old during South Shore federal raid: ‘I didn’t want them to take her’

During the Sept. 30 raid one tenant protected a terrified girl and her mom. Remnants at the complex, including a detailed map of all the units, offer clues to what authorities may have known before th...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Rachel DL

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 6d

nobel peace prize goes to Trump’s little extrajudical murder supporting friend

What a pack of fucking loser weirdos that panel is

Max P III @blackballer.bsky.social · 6d

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Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 6d

As y'all have probably heard, there has been a lot of ICE activity on the North Side of Chicago today. At least four people were kidnapped by ICE in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Folks mobilized throughout the day to do ICE Watch and Rapid Response work.

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Reposted by Rachel DL

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 7d

Chain-link cages. Flooded tents. Clouds of mosquitoes. Malfunctioning AC. Scarce food. Zero recreational time: Inside the hell of Alligator Alcatraz.

Inside the hell of Alligator Alcatraz

Despite shocking conditions and rampant “psychological warfare,” copycats are popping up around the country.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Rachel DL

Its ruaa @itsmeio.bsky.social · 7d

honestly fu** you if you think gazans are only allowed to ask for help to cover their very basic necessities when they’re starving or being killed, calling a gazan a grifter for trying to secure her education proves that you don’t see gazans as humans who deserve to live equally.

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Rebecca Zorach @rabbitrez.bsky.social · 7d

An important article with in-depth reporting. Read it!

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 7d

NEW — Rod Johnson will never forget federal agents zip-tying his hands behind his back.

The night of the South Shore raid in Chicago, Johnson said he was detained for two hours.

“I’m an American citizen with no warrants,” Johnson said.

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 Rachel DL

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 7d

BREAKING: Israeli war planes continue to launch raids on Gaza City as Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire announcement, according to an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent on the ground.

🔴 LIVE update: aje.io/xqppys

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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 7d

repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself

violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 7d

An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

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Vicky ACAB @vickyacab.bsky.social · 8d

Please, Ruaa is SO CLOSE to her goal, can you get her over the line? chuffed.org/project/...

Its ruaa @itsmeio.bsky.social · 8d

Less than 900 only 🎉

Its ruaa @itsmeio.bsky.social · Sep 6

We are in urgent need of protection and a safe place to live. We’re raising support to help us escape danger and rebuild our lives in safety. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to security and hope. 💛
kindly give :
#BringRuaaHome #SafetyForRuaa #HumanitarianAid

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Reposted by Rachel DL

GiannaMarie @giannamarie.bsky.social · 8d

I don’t rep GNs, but I’m really rooting for Rachel to get signed! I loved her recent essay in the Disability Debrief newsletter and would love to see more people have access to her art!

Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 8d

18-yr-old Rachel wants to enjoy college like her peers–seemingly housing & food secure, with family. Instead, an ex-homeless runaway youth, Rachel is thrust into adulthood on her own. To survive, she must rebuild community & confront a dark secret at the root of her new independence. #DVpit #GN #DIS

Two graphic novel pages, representing rachel scribbling in a notebook a cartoon about food insecurity

rachel at university health services, the doctor inquiring why she doesn't have health insurance

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Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 8d

Oh wow thanks! I’m really glad you enjoyed that essay! Thank you for sharing & thank you @desibility.bsky.social for editing & publishing it! May be in touch in the (distant) future if I ever have the spoons to attempt an essay collection.

Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 8d

Reposted by Rachel DL

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 9d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

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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Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 8d

same for me...

Rachel DL @racheldl.bsky.social · 8d

the #DVpit hashtag isn't working for me for some reason... anyone else?