Rahim Kurwa
@rahimk.bsky.social
assoc prof at uic
Indefensible Spaces: Policing and the Struggle for Housing is available at https://www.ucpress.edu/books/indefensible-spaces/paper
www.rahimkurwa.com
Indefensible Spaces: Policing and the Struggle for Housing is available at https://www.ucpress.edu/books/indefensible-spaces/paper
www.rahimkurwa.com
Pinned
Rahim Kurwa
@rahimk.bsky.social
· Jun 10
It's publication day for Indefensible Spaces: Policing and the Struggle for Housing, available in paper & free .epub! It traces a century of struggle over Los Angeles' periphery, culminating in the use of policing to expel and repress Black tenants. Here's a look at its chapters:
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
I’m sharing a Palestinian account every day and today is Kawthar. Kawthar has a chronic illness she needs medicine for and her husband has progressive hearing loss. They are trying care for their 5 children, 3 of whom were injured in a bombing Essa, 15, Sahar, 13, Naghma, 11, Dima, 8 and Mohammed, 5
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I’m sharing a Palestinian account every day and today is Kawthar. Kawthar has a chronic illness she needs medicine for and her husband has progressive hearing loss. They are trying care for their 5 children, 3 of whom were injured in a bombing Essa, 15, Sahar, 13, Naghma, 11, Dima, 8 and Mohammed, 5
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
“The IG’s [inspector general] report found that it wasn’t the bag of chips that was the perceived threat, but rather the student’s hand movement.” 🙄
State investigators: AI tool wasn't biased when it flagged student’s chips as gun
Maryland’s Office of the Inspector General for Education recommended more training for school staff and police in use of its AI-powered Omnilert weapon detection technology.
www.thebanner.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:07 AM
“The IG’s [inspector general] report found that it wasn’t the bag of chips that was the perceived threat, but rather the student’s hand movement.” 🙄
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
Philly Braces for Massive Housing Losses Under New Federal Rules
HUD’s shift from permanent housing to short-term programs could force formerly homeless residents back onto the streets and strain local budgets. www.governing.com/urban/philly...
HUD’s shift from permanent housing to short-term programs could force formerly homeless residents back onto the streets and strain local budgets. www.governing.com/urban/philly...
Philly Braces for Massive Housing Losses Under New Federal Rules
HUD’s shift from permanent housing to short-term programs could force formerly homeless residents back onto the streets and strain local budgets.
www.governing.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Philly Braces for Massive Housing Losses Under New Federal Rules
HUD’s shift from permanent housing to short-term programs could force formerly homeless residents back onto the streets and strain local budgets. www.governing.com/urban/philly...
HUD’s shift from permanent housing to short-term programs could force formerly homeless residents back onto the streets and strain local budgets. www.governing.com/urban/philly...
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Financialization and the reorganization of U.S. public housing - Richard Kirk, 2025 journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Financialization and the reorganization of U.S. public housing - Richard Kirk, 2025
This article explores the financialization of U.S. public housing, arguing that programs like Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE VI) and the Choi...
journals.sagepub.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Financialization and the reorganization of U.S. public housing - Richard Kirk, 2025 journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
From the MN Society for Professional Journalists: St. Paul police shot three photojournalists (MPR, Reuters, Sahan Journal) with "less lethal" munitions during an ICE operation yesterday. One had to go to the hospital. They say they were specifically targeted by St. Paul police.
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
From the MN Society for Professional Journalists: St. Paul police shot three photojournalists (MPR, Reuters, Sahan Journal) with "less lethal" munitions during an ICE operation yesterday. One had to go to the hospital. They say they were specifically targeted by St. Paul police.
Child Amputees in Gaza Use Makeshift Prosthetics as Israel Restricts Medical Supplies
www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-child...
www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-child...
Child Amputees in Gaza Use Makeshift Prosthetics as Israel Restricts Medical Supplies
“This pipe doesn’t make up for my leg,” said 10-year-old Rateb Abu Qleiq.
www.dropsitenews.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Child Amputees in Gaza Use Makeshift Prosthetics as Israel Restricts Medical Supplies
www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-child...
www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-child...
they are retired in office
Senate Democrats who voted to end the shutdown acknowledged that negotiations were going nowhere.
In the end, fatigue and frustration triumphed over anger and anxiety at President Trump.
In the end, fatigue and frustration triumphed over anger and anxiety at President Trump.
Democrats fold on biggest government shutdown demand
"It's been six weeks," one senator said.
www.axios.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:15 AM
they are retired in office
Helping the Al-Areer family survive atrocities chuffed.org/project/1093...
Helping the Al-Areer family survive atrocities
Dear compassionate souls,
chuffed.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Helping the Al-Areer family survive atrocities chuffed.org/project/1093...
Help Mohammed and his family in Gaza chuffed.org/project/help...
Help Mohammed and his family in Gaza
I am collecting donations for Mohammed in Gaza. He is 18 and despite the genocide, is studying to finish high school. I am in constant contact with him. He is collecting money to buy food and pay rent...
chuffed.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Help Mohammed and his family in Gaza chuffed.org/project/help...
Support Diyaa: A Home, a Future, and Hope Lost in Gaza chuffed.org/project/1335...
Support Diyaa: A Home, a Future, and Hope Lost in Gaza
Hello everyone , My name is Diyaa , I am 28 years old, and I live in Gaza—or at least, I used to. I am the sole provider for my family of 9 people, including my wife. We were trying to live a simple l...
chuffed.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Support Diyaa: A Home, a Future, and Hope Lost in Gaza chuffed.org/project/1335...
Project Bring Ruaa and Her Family to Safety chuffed.org/project/help...
Project Bring Ruaa and Her Family to Safety
I'm helping my friend, Ruaa from gaza, raise funds to help her family survive.
chuffed.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Project Bring Ruaa and Her Family to Safety chuffed.org/project/help...
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
Israel has killed two Palestinian children in Gaza every single day since the so-called ceasefire
November 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Israel has killed two Palestinian children in Gaza every single day since the so-called ceasefire
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
in chicago’s humboldt park neighborhood at division and keystone.
agents in at least two cars. one person abducted.
agents in at least two cars. one person abducted.
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 AM
in chicago’s humboldt park neighborhood at division and keystone.
agents in at least two cars. one person abducted.
agents in at least two cars. one person abducted.
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
at least five ice agents in west humboldt park this morning at kildare and le moyne
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 AM
at least five ice agents in west humboldt park this morning at kildare and le moyne
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
“Standard questioning”
They call it in this new United Stares of Fascism.
They call it in this new United Stares of Fascism.
An Iranian professor for the University of Oklahoma was released by ICE after spending three days in detention for what the agency has deemed “standard questioning.” Vahid Abedini was on his way to the Middle East Studies Association’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. when he was arrested.
ICE Detains Iranian Professor for 3 Days for “Standard Questioning”
“It was a deeply distressing experience, especially seeing those without the support I had,” the scholar said.
truthout.org
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 AM
“Standard questioning”
They call it in this new United Stares of Fascism.
They call it in this new United Stares of Fascism.
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I don't think its really coming through on Bluesky how dire the situation in Gaza continues to be. I wish there was a way to get more of the news from Gaza that shows up on other platforms onto this one.
November 26, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I don't think its really coming through on Bluesky how dire the situation in Gaza continues to be. I wish there was a way to get more of the news from Gaza that shows up on other platforms onto this one.
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
"But Geovanni Celaya, a migrant worker-organizer for the Latino Union of Chicago, says he has seen a marked increase in complaints from workers about wage theft and mistreatment, including many day laborers, since Operation Midway Blitz"
Visible and Invisible: How ICE Is Terrorizing Chicago’s Working Class
Fear, panic, hiding for days—this is the experience of families under assault by the Trump Administration
inthesetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
"But Geovanni Celaya, a migrant worker-organizer for the Latino Union of Chicago, says he has seen a marked increase in complaints from workers about wage theft and mistreatment, including many day laborers, since Operation Midway Blitz"
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
The spoils of mass deportation! #LegalPlunder
NEW: ICE has torn up its $180M cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program and is now guaranteeing private surveillance firms at least $7.5M each, with potential payouts reaching $281M per vendor. The change signals a shift from “pilot” to full-scale outsourcing of street-level investigative work.
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lifted a $180 million cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program while guaranteeing multimillion-dollar payouts for private surveillance firms.
www.wired.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The spoils of mass deportation! #LegalPlunder
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
Vahid Abedini has now been released.
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Vahid Abedini has now been released.
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre — when white attackers killed as many as 300 people, most of them Black — has died at age 111, the mayor said. She told Congress in 2021 that she lived through the massacre 'every day' reut.rs/4pt18LJ
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre — when white attackers killed as many as 300 people, most of them Black — has died at age 111, the mayor said. She told Congress in 2021 that she lived through the massacre 'every day' reut.rs/4pt18LJ
Reposted by Rahim Kurwa
“No one paid attention to the fact that people were living here without heat before ICE came,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together. “People were living here with mice and roaches and flea infestation before ICE.”
Building raided by ICE now ‘falling apart from the inside out,’ South Shore residents say • The TRiiBE
“No one paid attention to the fact that people were living here without heat before ICE came,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together. “People were living here with mice and r...
thetriibe.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:27 AM
“No one paid attention to the fact that people were living here without heat before ICE came,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together. “People were living here with mice and roaches and flea infestation before ICE.”