David W. Swanson
@davidwswanson.bsky.social
South Side Chicago husband, dad, pastor and author. I think about Ida B. Wells when I get confused.
https://dwswanson.com/
https://dwswanson.com/
Our contributions to the table this year. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
November 27, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Our contributions to the table this year. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
How about it? We can stay away from these three authoritarian-adjacent corporations for a few days, right? We can invest our dollars in local Black and Brown businesses, right?
Learn more here: weaintbuyingit.com
Learn more here: weaintbuyingit.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
How about it? We can stay away from these three authoritarian-adjacent corporations for a few days, right? We can invest our dollars in local Black and Brown businesses, right?
Learn more here: weaintbuyingit.com
Learn more here: weaintbuyingit.com
"Of these 5,373 [detained by ICE since the government shutdown], there was a net increase of 5,209 more individuals with no criminal history – some 97 percent of the total net increase. Only 3 percent had a criminal conviction even including minor traffic offenses."
tracreports.org/reports/767/
tracreports.org/reports/767/
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 AM
"Of these 5,373 [detained by ICE since the government shutdown], there was a net increase of 5,209 more individuals with no criminal history – some 97 percent of the total net increase. Only 3 percent had a criminal conviction even including minor traffic offenses."
tracreports.org/reports/767/
tracreports.org/reports/767/
On state-sanctioned violence justified by state-sponsored lies.
November 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
On state-sanctioned violence justified by state-sponsored lies.
"It was a triumph of men who in their effort to replace equality with caste and to build inordinate wealth on a foundation of abject poverty have succeeded in killing democracy."
- W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America (1935)
- W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America (1935)
November 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
"It was a triumph of men who in their effort to replace equality with caste and to build inordinate wealth on a foundation of abject poverty have succeeded in killing democracy."
- W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America (1935)
- W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America (1935)
Friends in the western suburbs, I'd love to see you this Wednesday evening at Wheaton College. (Contrary to the flier, I'm not a Dr. but I'll still do my best to make it interesting.)
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Friends in the western suburbs, I'd love to see you this Wednesday evening at Wheaton College. (Contrary to the flier, I'm not a Dr. but I'll still do my best to make it interesting.)
A autumn morning walk through Jackson Park.
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A autumn morning walk through Jackson Park.
As Chicago suffers state-sanctioned terror, the Christians who once were so vocal have become strangely silent.
November 11, 2025 at 12:57 AM
As Chicago suffers state-sanctioned terror, the Christians who once were so vocal have become strangely silent.
Heartbreaking to watch the state police again refuse entry by clergy to those held at Broadview. Denying pastoral care is another example of the cruelty inflicted on our neighbors. Even so, it was encouraging to be joined by colleagues for the interfaith prayer service.
November 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Heartbreaking to watch the state police again refuse entry by clergy to those held at Broadview. Denying pastoral care is another example of the cruelty inflicted on our neighbors. Even so, it was encouraging to be joined by colleagues for the interfaith prayer service.
The Faith Over Fear interfaith coalition has been a source of courage and wisdom during the federal government's cruel operations in Chicago. Join us on Friday at Broadview as we raise voices and songs in solidarity with our detained neighbors.
Register here: secure.everyaction.com/tU_DXaMsTEOC...
Register here: secure.everyaction.com/tU_DXaMsTEOC...
November 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The Faith Over Fear interfaith coalition has been a source of courage and wisdom during the federal government's cruel operations in Chicago. Join us on Friday at Broadview as we raise voices and songs in solidarity with our detained neighbors.
Register here: secure.everyaction.com/tU_DXaMsTEOC...
Register here: secure.everyaction.com/tU_DXaMsTEOC...
White people receive SNAP more than any other group. But that fact didn't stop Fox News from running AI-generated videos of Black women complaining about cuts to their benefits.
It's an old strategy– inflaming white racism so that the majority suffers while the wealthiest add to their loot.
It's an old strategy– inflaming white racism so that the majority suffers while the wealthiest add to their loot.
November 3, 2025 at 11:32 PM
White people receive SNAP more than any other group. But that fact didn't stop Fox News from running AI-generated videos of Black women complaining about cuts to their benefits.
It's an old strategy– inflaming white racism so that the majority suffers while the wealthiest add to their loot.
It's an old strategy– inflaming white racism so that the majority suffers while the wealthiest add to their loot.
From the conclusion of yesterday's sermon from Revelation 2:18:-19, "Hold Fast to Jesus."
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
November 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
From the conclusion of yesterday's sermon from Revelation 2:18:-19, "Hold Fast to Jesus."
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
Yesterday we gathered to prayerfully proclaim God's protection over our vulnerable neighbors in Little Village. As we gather in worship this morning, may our allegiance to the Lord Jesus lead us into solidarity with every sibling suffering under the threat of state-sponsored violence.
November 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Yesterday we gathered to prayerfully proclaim God's protection over our vulnerable neighbors in Little Village. As we gather in worship this morning, may our allegiance to the Lord Jesus lead us into solidarity with every sibling suffering under the threat of state-sponsored violence.
Our church is hosting a workshop with our friends from Ecuador early next month. This is a great opportunity to learn about grassroots community development from a global perspective and I'd love for you to be my guest.
Register (for free!) here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Register (for free!) here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
October 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Our church is hosting a workshop with our friends from Ecuador early next month. This is a great opportunity to learn about grassroots community development from a global perspective and I'd love for you to be my guest.
Register (for free!) here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Register (for free!) here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
From the conclusion of today's sermon from Revelation 2:12-17, "Both/And Faithfulness."
October 26, 2025 at 10:44 PM
From the conclusion of today's sermon from Revelation 2:12-17, "Both/And Faithfulness."
Christians will continue to publicly and precisely identify the white supremacist rhetoric and policies of the Trump / MAGA movement as what they are– deceitful and dangerous attacks on image-bearers of the Creator God.
October 20, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Christians will continue to publicly and precisely identify the white supremacist rhetoric and policies of the Trump / MAGA movement as what they are– deceitful and dangerous attacks on image-bearers of the Creator God.
From the conclusion of yesterday's sermon from Revelation 1:1-7, "Love Powers Endurance."
October 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
From the conclusion of yesterday's sermon from Revelation 1:1-7, "Love Powers Endurance."
In the original caption, the AP insinuated that I'd been arrested while peacefully observing the protests with other faith leaders at the ICE facility in Broadview on Friday. While I'm grateful they've since clarified, I'd like to offer the following alternative caption:
apnews.com/article/chic...
apnews.com/article/chic...
October 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
In the original caption, the AP insinuated that I'd been arrested while peacefully observing the protests with other faith leaders at the ICE facility in Broadview on Friday. While I'm grateful they've since clarified, I'd like to offer the following alternative caption:
apnews.com/article/chic...
apnews.com/article/chic...
Along with other faith communities around Chicago, this morning New Community Covenant Church shared the message that, despite the federal government's cruel attacks against our neighbors, we are choosing faith over fear!
A huge thanks to our kids for prepping the sign during my sermon.
A huge thanks to our kids for prepping the sign during my sermon.
October 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Along with other faith communities around Chicago, this morning New Community Covenant Church shared the message that, despite the federal government's cruel attacks against our neighbors, we are choosing faith over fear!
A huge thanks to our kids for prepping the sign during my sermon.
A huge thanks to our kids for prepping the sign during my sermon.
"They had the Black people in one van, and the immigrants in another van." -South Shore
“You’re a fool if you ever thought that was gonna happen or they’d walk past a bunch of Black people and not bother us.” -East Garfield Park
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abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
thetriibe.com/2025/10/vide...
“You’re a fool if you ever thought that was gonna happen or they’d walk past a bunch of Black people and not bother us.” -East Garfield Park
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abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
thetriibe.com/2025/10/vide...
October 2, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"They had the Black people in one van, and the immigrants in another van." -South Shore
“You’re a fool if you ever thought that was gonna happen or they’d walk past a bunch of Black people and not bother us.” -East Garfield Park
---
abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
thetriibe.com/2025/10/vide...
“You’re a fool if you ever thought that was gonna happen or they’d walk past a bunch of Black people and not bother us.” -East Garfield Park
---
abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
thetriibe.com/2025/10/vide...
The Supreme Court has allowed the presidential administration to add overt racial profiling to their terrorizing tactics. It's being deployed against Chicago immigrants but you'd better believe it will be expanded to other places and groups of people.
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Source: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
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Source: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
September 29, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The Supreme Court has allowed the presidential administration to add overt racial profiling to their terrorizing tactics. It's being deployed against Chicago immigrants but you'd better believe it will be expanded to other places and groups of people.
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Source: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
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Source: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
I deeply grieve the evangelism of white christian nationalism which draws its converts into a kingdom of domination, fear, and enemy-making.
May the gospel we proclaim alert our neighbors to Jesus' kingdom of grace, justice, and peace.
May the gospel we proclaim alert our neighbors to Jesus' kingdom of grace, justice, and peace.
September 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I deeply grieve the evangelism of white christian nationalism which draws its converts into a kingdom of domination, fear, and enemy-making.
May the gospel we proclaim alert our neighbors to Jesus' kingdom of grace, justice, and peace.
May the gospel we proclaim alert our neighbors to Jesus' kingdom of grace, justice, and peace.
Blasphemy! Debasing Jesus' prayer for provision, forgiveness, and deliverance for the empire's purposes of domination, destruction, and death. What sort of a lifeless idol do these wolves in sheep's clothing think they are messing with?
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Original post: www.facebook.com/share/r/1BHi...
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Original post: www.facebook.com/share/r/1BHi...
September 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Blasphemy! Debasing Jesus' prayer for provision, forgiveness, and deliverance for the empire's purposes of domination, destruction, and death. What sort of a lifeless idol do these wolves in sheep's clothing think they are messing with?
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Original post: www.facebook.com/share/r/1BHi...
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Original post: www.facebook.com/share/r/1BHi...
Recognizing that much of what passes for Christianity in the U.S. is "fundamentally pagan" helps calibrate our expectations for the adherents of this form of civil religion.
September 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Recognizing that much of what passes for Christianity in the U.S. is "fundamentally pagan" helps calibrate our expectations for the adherents of this form of civil religion.