Ruth Zakarin
@ruthz.bsky.social
CEO of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Knitter, cat lady, grey hair evangelist. Oh, and I box. #COYS. Opinions strong, plentiful, and my own.
Check out my essays at: https://ruthzakarin.substack.com/
Check out my essays at: https://ruthzakarin.substack.com/
Pinned
Ruth Zakarin
@ruthz.bsky.social
· Jun 8
Your daily reminder from me that this administration operates like someone who abuses their partner.
They use hurt and fear to maintain power and control. They cannot tolerate pushback and refuse to take any responsibility for their actions.
And they always blame the victim for their violence.
They use hurt and fear to maintain power and control. They cannot tolerate pushback and refuse to take any responsibility for their actions.
And they always blame the victim for their violence.
We continue to be bombarded with news and punditry about Jeffrey Epstein. We continue to see politicians and TV personalities turn cartwheels to excuse the horrific abuse of Epstein and his web of cronies.
Which means survivors are seeing and reading all of it too. And it’s a lot. 1/2
Which means survivors are seeing and reading all of it too. And it’s a lot. 1/2
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 PM
We continue to be bombarded with news and punditry about Jeffrey Epstein. We continue to see politicians and TV personalities turn cartwheels to excuse the horrific abuse of Epstein and his web of cronies.
Which means survivors are seeing and reading all of it too. And it’s a lot. 1/2
Which means survivors are seeing and reading all of it too. And it’s a lot. 1/2
The man who is invading our cities claiming to be concerned about crime and violence just pardoned someone for a firearm conviction.
Donald Trump also pardoned another January 6th rioter this morning before heading out to golf—this time for a firearm conviction completely unrelated to the Capitol attack.
Glad to see him so focused on affordability!
Glad to see him so focused on affordability!
November 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The man who is invading our cities claiming to be concerned about crime and violence just pardoned someone for a firearm conviction.
Also, remember the white woman who called the police on a Black bird watcher in Central Park?
Same energy. White people using racist systems to terrorize people of color. All with a few taps of their cell phone.
Same energy. White people using racist systems to terrorize people of color. All with a few taps of their cell phone.
Calling ICE on your neighbors is a hate crime
November 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Also, remember the white woman who called the police on a Black bird watcher in Central Park?
Same energy. White people using racist systems to terrorize people of color. All with a few taps of their cell phone.
Same energy. White people using racist systems to terrorize people of color. All with a few taps of their cell phone.
Calling ICE on your neighbors is a hate crime
November 15, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Calling ICE on your neighbors is a hate crime
I’m fact checking myself. The student was apparently born in Florida but raised in the UK. This doesn’t change the point though. This student clearly feels entitled to his experience as a resident of two different countries. But the immigrants are *criminals*.
Same conclusion: white supremacy.
Same conclusion: white supremacy.
The BU student who called ICE on a group of immigrants working at a car wash committed an act of violence. Against the immigrants, their families, and the entire community. The fact that this student is foreign born — but white — shows just how much white supremacy is baked into the entire thing. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I’m fact checking myself. The student was apparently born in Florida but raised in the UK. This doesn’t change the point though. This student clearly feels entitled to his experience as a resident of two different countries. But the immigrants are *criminals*.
Same conclusion: white supremacy.
Same conclusion: white supremacy.
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
There wouldn’t be so many victims if there weren’t so many perpetrators
November 15, 2025 at 3:47 AM
There wouldn’t be so many victims if there weren’t so many perpetrators
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
Sexual assault survivors are seeing politicians and TV personalities fall over themselves trying to obfuscate the horror of what Epstein did. Turn cartwheels to protect his powerful cronies.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
November 15, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Sexual assault survivors are seeing politicians and TV personalities fall over themselves trying to obfuscate the horror of what Epstein did. Turn cartwheels to protect his powerful cronies.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
There wouldn’t be so many victims if there weren’t so many perpetrators
November 15, 2025 at 3:47 AM
There wouldn’t be so many victims if there weren’t so many perpetrators
Sexual assault survivors are seeing politicians and TV personalities fall over themselves trying to obfuscate the horror of what Epstein did. Turn cartwheels to protect his powerful cronies.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
November 15, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Sexual assault survivors are seeing politicians and TV personalities fall over themselves trying to obfuscate the horror of what Epstein did. Turn cartwheels to protect his powerful cronies.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
Imagine the message that sends to them.
Now imagine why sexual assault survivors don’t come forward.
My fridge is now stocked with four kinds of olives, three jars of various pickles, spicy peppadews, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
I am in briney heaven.
I am in briney heaven.
November 15, 2025 at 12:11 AM
My fridge is now stocked with four kinds of olives, three jars of various pickles, spicy peppadews, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
I am in briney heaven.
I am in briney heaven.
The BU student who called ICE on a group of immigrants working at a car wash committed an act of violence. Against the immigrants, their families, and the entire community. The fact that this student is foreign born — but white — shows just how much white supremacy is baked into the entire thing. 1/
November 14, 2025 at 11:40 PM
The BU student who called ICE on a group of immigrants working at a car wash committed an act of violence. Against the immigrants, their families, and the entire community. The fact that this student is foreign born — but white — shows just how much white supremacy is baked into the entire thing. 1/
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
The summer my daughter was 15, she participated in a science camp. And even though the camp bus dropped her off less than a half mile from our home, I had to pick her up from the bus stop. Because the camp required that parents pick up their minor children.
This post is not about a bus stop.
This post is not about a bus stop.
November 14, 2025 at 4:32 AM
The summer my daughter was 15, she participated in a science camp. And even though the camp bus dropped her off less than a half mile from our home, I had to pick her up from the bus stop. Because the camp required that parents pick up their minor children.
This post is not about a bus stop.
This post is not about a bus stop.
This breaks my heart. For survivors, there’s the trauma of the assault(s), and then there’s the additional trauma of having people turn a blind eye — that mass shrug @alexwinter.com references below.
I desperately wish people truly listened to survivors. open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
I desperately wish people truly listened to survivors. open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
November 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This breaks my heart. For survivors, there’s the trauma of the assault(s), and then there’s the additional trauma of having people turn a blind eye — that mass shrug @alexwinter.com references below.
I desperately wish people truly listened to survivors. open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
I desperately wish people truly listened to survivors. open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
I spent over 25 years working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, including so many who were children when they were assaulted. My heart breaks thinking about the impact of yesterday’s news on Epstein’s survivors, and all survivors. My wish for them: open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
November 13, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I spent over 25 years working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, including so many who were children when they were assaulted. My heart breaks thinking about the impact of yesterday’s news on Epstein’s survivors, and all survivors. My wish for them: open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
The summer my daughter was 15, she participated in a science camp. And even though the camp bus dropped her off less than a half mile from our home, I had to pick her up from the bus stop. Because the camp required that parents pick up their minor children.
This post is not about a bus stop.
This post is not about a bus stop.
November 14, 2025 at 4:32 AM
The summer my daughter was 15, she participated in a science camp. And even though the camp bus dropped her off less than a half mile from our home, I had to pick her up from the bus stop. Because the camp required that parents pick up their minor children.
This post is not about a bus stop.
This post is not about a bus stop.
Right wingers seem to be way more concerned with protecting children from books than from the Jeffrey Epsteins of the world and that is a big fucking problem.
November 14, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Right wingers seem to be way more concerned with protecting children from books than from the Jeffrey Epsteins of the world and that is a big fucking problem.
I spent over 25 years working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, including so many who were children when they were assaulted. My heart breaks thinking about the impact of yesterday’s news on Epstein’s survivors, and all survivors. My wish for them: open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
November 13, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I spent over 25 years working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, including so many who were children when they were assaulted. My heart breaks thinking about the impact of yesterday’s news on Epstein’s survivors, and all survivors. My wish for them: open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
One of the many conversations we need to have in the aftermath of today’s news…
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
November 13, 2025 at 2:01 AM
One of the many conversations we need to have in the aftermath of today’s news…
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
I am watching the news unfold today and thinking of every survivor whose trauma is being reactivated. It’s a lot to take in. I am a former rape crisis counselor and I am having a hard time with it all.
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
For survivors, today
Today, the living victims of Jeffrey Epstein are likely feeling a whole lot of feelings.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I am watching the news unfold today and thinking of every survivor whose trauma is being reactivated. It’s a lot to take in. I am a former rape crisis counselor and I am having a hard time with it all.
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Reposted by Ruth Zakarin
There are days when the barrage of detail is so overwhelming that I am unable to function
Other days, I’m just numb
And the fact that he—and the rest of them—are still getting away with it only compounds the trauma
Other days, I’m just numb
And the fact that he—and the rest of them—are still getting away with it only compounds the trauma
I am watching the news unfold today and thinking of every survivor whose trauma is being reactivated. It’s a lot to take in. I am a former rape crisis counselor and I am having a hard time with it all.
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
For survivors, today
Today, the living victims of Jeffrey Epstein are likely feeling a whole lot of feelings.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:37 AM
There are days when the barrage of detail is so overwhelming that I am unable to function
Other days, I’m just numb
And the fact that he—and the rest of them—are still getting away with it only compounds the trauma
Other days, I’m just numb
And the fact that he—and the rest of them—are still getting away with it only compounds the trauma
I am watching the news unfold today and thinking of every survivor whose trauma is being reactivated. It’s a lot to take in. I am a former rape crisis counselor and I am having a hard time with it all.
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
For survivors, today
Today, the living victims of Jeffrey Epstein are likely feeling a whole lot of feelings.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I am watching the news unfold today and thinking of every survivor whose trauma is being reactivated. It’s a lot to take in. I am a former rape crisis counselor and I am having a hard time with it all.
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
So I wrote.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
One of the many conversations we need to have in the aftermath of today’s news…
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
November 13, 2025 at 2:01 AM
One of the many conversations we need to have in the aftermath of today’s news…
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
How many people enabled Epstein and Trump. How many people over many many years knew, and did nothing. Actively suppressed information that would have kept girls safe. Turned a blind eye to a child’s trauma. 1/
Survivors are going to be feeling a lot of feelings today. I am holding survivors in my heart, today and always.
November 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Survivors are going to be feeling a lot of feelings today. I am holding survivors in my heart, today and always.
She’s been a rep for about five minutes and THIS. That’s like hitting a grand slam at your first at bat. Holy moly.
Rep Adelita Grijalva has signed the petition to force a House vote on releasing the Epstein Files. It now has the required 218 signatures.
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
She’s been a rep for about five minutes and THIS. That’s like hitting a grand slam at your first at bat. Holy moly.