Joe DiCola
@joedicola.bsky.social
Civil Rights, philosophy, anticapitalism, abolition. NLG forever.
Personal opinions and no legal advice. I think taking fascism seriously requires us to actively change. What we’ve been doing led to this.
Personal opinions and no legal advice. I think taking fascism seriously requires us to actively change. What we’ve been doing led to this.
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Interesting 180° difference in how the Illinois AG handles wage theft versus, say, “organized retail theft,” which includes a multi-agency “task force,” $5 million per year to cops for spy tools, a PR machine, & tons of low-level arrests for property crimes, while biz owners stiff workers & walk.
We observed lawyers from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office who showed up to wage theft court hearings unprepared. Since 1993, more than 300 cases were initially dismissed because no one from the Attorney General’s Office showed up at all. (with @crainschicago.bsky.social) buff.ly/WJHXcax
December 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Interesting 180° difference in how the Illinois AG handles wage theft versus, say, “organized retail theft,” which includes a multi-agency “task force,” $5 million per year to cops for spy tools, a PR machine, & tons of low-level arrests for property crimes, while biz owners stiff workers & walk.
There’s no special holy law ghost that makes everyone behave. Legal words don’t do stuff. “Law” doesn’t rule anybody. People exert power over people. With violence - or with some kind of wordplay: persuasion, deception, legalization. But it’s the people who do the ruling, not the rules.
December 23, 2025 at 1:20 AM
There’s no special holy law ghost that makes everyone behave. Legal words don’t do stuff. “Law” doesn’t rule anybody. People exert power over people. With violence - or with some kind of wordplay: persuasion, deception, legalization. But it’s the people who do the ruling, not the rules.
You really can’t for a day forget that Bari Weiss got Refaat Alareer murdered.
Apart from her running CBS for the fascists, I don’t know why she’s one of the horrible people we’re all forced to be aware of. But I know she incited Dr. Alareer’s murder and it’s what I think of when I read her name
Apart from her running CBS for the fascists, I don’t know why she’s one of the horrible people we’re all forced to be aware of. But I know she incited Dr. Alareer’s murder and it’s what I think of when I read her name
December 23, 2025 at 12:50 AM
You really can’t for a day forget that Bari Weiss got Refaat Alareer murdered.
Apart from her running CBS for the fascists, I don’t know why she’s one of the horrible people we’re all forced to be aware of. But I know she incited Dr. Alareer’s murder and it’s what I think of when I read her name
Apart from her running CBS for the fascists, I don’t know why she’s one of the horrible people we’re all forced to be aware of. But I know she incited Dr. Alareer’s murder and it’s what I think of when I read her name
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Like when people say they are incompetent, at what exactly? They are succeeding at doing exactly what they wanted to do.
December 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Like when people say they are incompetent, at what exactly? They are succeeding at doing exactly what they wanted to do.
Reposted by Joe DiCola
I mean I think the people who underestimated the fascists are the stupids in this equation. The fascists had a 60 year plan, they documented the last year of it very publicly, and they are successfully implementing all of it.
December 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I mean I think the people who underestimated the fascists are the stupids in this equation. The fascists had a 60 year plan, they documented the last year of it very publicly, and they are successfully implementing all of it.
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Everyone sat around talking about how these people were incredibly stupid and then they managed to successfully implement large swathes of the plan that they all told us they were going to execute and you really have to wonder who is the stupid in this equation
December 22, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Everyone sat around talking about how these people were incredibly stupid and then they managed to successfully implement large swathes of the plan that they all told us they were going to execute and you really have to wonder who is the stupid in this equation
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Our so-called opposition party can't afford to be cute or coy with what's happening here. It's not just naked corruption, it's ethnic cleansing, treason, atrocities, with naked corruption threaded through it.
Personally profiting from slave labor and torture.
Personally profiting from slave labor and torture.
December 22, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Our so-called opposition party can't afford to be cute or coy with what's happening here. It's not just naked corruption, it's ethnic cleansing, treason, atrocities, with naked corruption threaded through it.
Personally profiting from slave labor and torture.
Personally profiting from slave labor and torture.
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Every single democratic senator voted to confirm Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Every single one. Not one “no” vote.
Q: Do you stand by your statement from earlier this year that nobody has died from USAID cuts?
RUBIO: I'm very proud of the changes we've made in foreign aid
RUBIO: I'm very proud of the changes we've made in foreign aid
December 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Every single democratic senator voted to confirm Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Every single one. Not one “no” vote.
Somehow “don’t comply in advance”was interpreted as comply early and often
December 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Somehow “don’t comply in advance”was interpreted as comply early and often
inspiring stuff bro nice one
There will come a time when people of good faith are empowered to uphold the law.
When that time comes, Illinois will have the testimony and records needed to pursue justice to its fullest extent.
The truth of what Trump and his masked agents are doing in Chicago will be told.
When that time comes, Illinois will have the testimony and records needed to pursue justice to its fullest extent.
The truth of what Trump and his masked agents are doing in Chicago will be told.
"They had done nothing wrong. They were not protesting. They were not chasing ICE vehicles. They were simply shopping."
Matt DeMateo recounts how three U.S. citizens, including a toddler, were tear gassed in Cicero by federal agents.
Matt DeMateo recounts how three U.S. citizens, including a toddler, were tear gassed in Cicero by federal agents.
December 19, 2025 at 12:26 AM
inspiring stuff bro nice one
Reposted by Joe DiCola
In 2/20 Lori Lightfoot announced plans for 50 more CPD officers patrolling CTA. Days later, cops trying to detain Ariel Roman for walking between 'L' cars shot up the Grand escalator at him, critically wounding him. This week his lawsuit was thrown out. (1/2)
chi.streetsblog.org/2020/02/29/p...
chi.streetsblog.org/2020/02/29/p...
December 18, 2025 at 11:46 PM
In 2/20 Lori Lightfoot announced plans for 50 more CPD officers patrolling CTA. Days later, cops trying to detain Ariel Roman for walking between 'L' cars shot up the Grand escalator at him, critically wounding him. This week his lawsuit was thrown out. (1/2)
chi.streetsblog.org/2020/02/29/p...
chi.streetsblog.org/2020/02/29/p...
Did Biden share that warning with himself at some point?
The networks were afraid not to run Trump because they assumed he would use his office to punish them if they didn’t. The irony is that this is what Biden was warning about, a warning they chose not to share with America.
You'll remember that when Biden delivered an address in 2022, networks refused to air it because they said it was "political" www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/0...
December 18, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Did Biden share that warning with himself at some point?
Sure it’s necessary but it’s not sufficient. Without a materialist analysis of how those norms did not stop the judiciary from capture by the Fed Soc, or stop a fascist admin from seizing power, we can lodge dissents but we’re not contesting their actual power or its source, racial capitalism.
NB: When I, a professor of law, profess that an act is unlawful, I am not doing it to inform the lawbreaker, but rather to inform you, the reader.
So the question “what, like you think he cares?” is inapposite. The question is whether *you* care. I think you should, which is why I bother.
So the question “what, like you think he cares?” is inapposite. The question is whether *you* care. I think you should, which is why I bother.
December 18, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Sure it’s necessary but it’s not sufficient. Without a materialist analysis of how those norms did not stop the judiciary from capture by the Fed Soc, or stop a fascist admin from seizing power, we can lodge dissents but we’re not contesting their actual power or its source, racial capitalism.
By operation of the free market, the risk of private lawsuits creates a financial disincentive for the feds to do fascism.
And sure, Bovino came back about four days after Pritzker signed the bill, but just wait, pretty soon he’s gonna have an unwieldy stack of summonses to throw in the trash
And sure, Bovino came back about four days after Pritzker signed the bill, but just wait, pretty soon he’s gonna have an unwieldy stack of summonses to throw in the trash
December 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
By operation of the free market, the risk of private lawsuits creates a financial disincentive for the feds to do fascism.
And sure, Bovino came back about four days after Pritzker signed the bill, but just wait, pretty soon he’s gonna have an unwieldy stack of summonses to throw in the trash
And sure, Bovino came back about four days after Pritzker signed the bill, but just wait, pretty soon he’s gonna have an unwieldy stack of summonses to throw in the trash
Reposted by Joe DiCola
the iac votes to refer evidence of a fed pepper spraying someone in the face to the dhs office of inspector general “even if they’re unwilling to act”
December 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
the iac votes to refer evidence of a fed pepper spraying someone in the face to the dhs office of inspector general “even if they’re unwilling to act”
Reposted by Joe DiCola
checking in on the illinois accountability commission:
"the best ways to remain safe are of course to respect the law and be peaceful," says a doctor after giving a ten-minute presentation on the harmful effects of chemical weapons.
she then spends two minutes detailing how to take! good! videos!
"the best ways to remain safe are of course to respect the law and be peaceful," says a doctor after giving a ten-minute presentation on the harmful effects of chemical weapons.
she then spends two minutes detailing how to take! good! videos!
December 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
checking in on the illinois accountability commission:
"the best ways to remain safe are of course to respect the law and be peaceful," says a doctor after giving a ten-minute presentation on the harmful effects of chemical weapons.
she then spends two minutes detailing how to take! good! videos!
"the best ways to remain safe are of course to respect the law and be peaceful," says a doctor after giving a ten-minute presentation on the harmful effects of chemical weapons.
she then spends two minutes detailing how to take! good! videos!
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Fuck the Democratic Party.
Had the three Dems who voted for this held the line and voted no, they could have blocked it.
December 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Fuck the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Joe DiCola
We just murdered four more people in a boat
December 18, 2025 at 1:52 AM
We just murdered four more people in a boat
Reposted by Joe DiCola
pardoned January 6 rioters have been advising Justice Department officials how to pursue – and perhaps prosecute – the very prosecutors who helped put them behind bars. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
They prosecuted the Capitol rioters. Now the rioters and the DOJ are after them.
After Trump’s mass pardons of the U.S. Capitol rioters, some have gained influence inside the Justice Department. The January 6 prosecutors describe mounting threats, harassment and fear of lasting da...
www.reuters.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:25 AM
pardoned January 6 rioters have been advising Justice Department officials how to pursue – and perhaps prosecute – the very prosecutors who helped put them behind bars. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Joe DiCola
Border Patrol called cops on this man and claimed he was trying to ram them. The man denied it to CPD and in a Tribune interview. He was let go. The livestream video doesn’t show the man attempting to ram anyone on LSD
In Chicago, a man on Facebook Live was following the Border Patrol north on Lake Shore Drive. At the end of the drive, a bunch of city cop cars cut off the man who was following and live-streaming Border Patrol.
December 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Border Patrol called cops on this man and claimed he was trying to ram them. The man denied it to CPD and in a Tribune interview. He was let go. The livestream video doesn’t show the man attempting to ram anyone on LSD
Reposted by Joe DiCola
I haven't been in the pediatric trans healthcare system since 2019 and I can barely look at these headlines without wanting to puke.
Can't imagine the fucking damage this is doing to trans kids today.
Can't imagine the fucking damage this is doing to trans kids today.
December 18, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I haven't been in the pediatric trans healthcare system since 2019 and I can barely look at these headlines without wanting to puke.
Can't imagine the fucking damage this is doing to trans kids today.
Can't imagine the fucking damage this is doing to trans kids today.
Reposted by Joe DiCola
@invisible.institute and ProPublica reviewed over 300 complaints accusing Chicago officers of sexual assault and misconduct.
Time and time again, the police department downplayed or ignored claims, enabling officers to become repeat offenders.
(Published May)
Time and time again, the police department downplayed or ignored claims, enabling officers to become repeat offenders.
(Published May)
Chicago Police Dismissed a Recruit’s Claims That a Colleague Sexually Assaulted Her. Then He was Accused Again and Again.
The Invisible Institute and ProPublica reviewed over 300 complaints accusing Chicago officers of sexual assault and misconduct. Time and time again, the police department downplayed or ignored claims,...
www.propublica.org
December 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
@invisible.institute and ProPublica reviewed over 300 complaints accusing Chicago officers of sexual assault and misconduct.
Time and time again, the police department downplayed or ignored claims, enabling officers to become repeat offenders.
(Published May)
Time and time again, the police department downplayed or ignored claims, enabling officers to become repeat offenders.
(Published May)
Do you think Pritzker is already booking morning shows so he can very metaphorically shake his fist at Bovino and run for president some more
December 18, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Do you think Pritzker is already booking morning shows so he can very metaphorically shake his fist at Bovino and run for president some more
Reposted by Joe DiCola
fucking ghouls
An immigrant driver from India is arrested by border patrol at the O’Hare rideshare lot. He said he has never committed a crime in 11 years in the United States: “oh my God no”
December 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
fucking ghouls
Deleted a post where I accidentally re-used Senator for the U.S. military Duckworth’s phrase “strikes” instead of murders. Calling them “strikes” at all, like collateral damage, limited incursion, surgical operation, is to already legitimate murders as possibly valid National Security measures
December 18, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Deleted a post where I accidentally re-used Senator for the U.S. military Duckworth’s phrase “strikes” instead of murders. Calling them “strikes” at all, like collateral damage, limited incursion, surgical operation, is to already legitimate murders as possibly valid National Security measures