Thread on #USAElections2020 1. What happens now is also on the US media. They have to stand firm and hold the line and hold their ground. The election result is too close to call and it will be for some time.
2. Trump will use this fact to declare he’s won and to invite chaos, harm, even more racism and hate and to turn things upside down. This is what narcissists do. They set fire to things and watch the rest of us scrambling around to find water to put the fires out.
3. The media have to stand firm and not let him manipulate this moment for his propaganda, for his hate, for violence OR to ‘steal the election.’ The media have to stand firm and not let him manipulate this moment for his propaganda, for his hate, OR to ‘steal the election.’
4. Solidarity with everyone in the USA who voted to get Trump out. Solidarity and love. Solidarity with everyone everywhere waking up with their stomach churning and anxiety running high. Trump should’ve been wiped off the political map of the USA and YET here we are.
5. This election has not been a rejection of Trumpism, of racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, climate crisis denial, corruption. and nationalism, this has not been an election where the USA has screamed from the ballot box: We believe #BlackLivesMatter.
How. Shameful.
6. The lesson so far is the same lesson passed on to us by those who came before us. We’ve got to step up our work and do the hard, hard work to build the world we want to see with compassion and kindness for our planet and people. There is no other way.
RESIST.
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#JohnnyDepp#AmberHeard#DomesticAbuse. Here’s @SolaceWomensAid’s statement: 1. “This libel trial, focused on the reputation of one of the worlds highest profile and well known Hollywood actors will of course generate further global headlines.
2. The fact remains #AmberHeard was not on trial. She was a witness who claims she has been subjected to sustained violence and abuse during her relationship and marriage to #JohnnyDepp. @SolaceWomensAid expects the media to refocus on the disturbing details that have emerged in
3. court over the past few weeks. We know some sections of the media will pour over these details to generate further salacious and insensitive coverage, minimising violence against women and girls. @SolaceWomensAid calls on the media to show restraint and act responsibly in
A THREAD on cognitive dissonance, white supremacy, racism, and the media and political narrative of ‘counter protests’ and ‘both sides.’ #BlackLivesMatter
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1. I’m seeing many white people on social media saying yesterday’s terrifying, horrific violence by the organised far-right in London and a number of cities across the country does not represent Britain, it’s only a ‘small minority’ of people and its why “we” should ignore “them”
2. Newsflash: This argument holds absolutely no water and is based on a collective, overwhelmingly white, nationwide, cognitive dissonance. This theory of cognitive dissonance, developed by Leon Festinger, outlines how overwhelmingly, most people, and in the case of racism,
A THREAD on attempts to derail a (now global)anti-racism, racial justice movement #BlackLivesMatter 1. It’s truly shameful how a movement focused on ending systemic racism, structural state and police brutality towards Black people & POC is being framed as a ‘culture war’ by
2. large sections of the media and many elected politicians and public figures. This derailment goes to the heart of power, white supremacy, white fragility, and the very violence of racism in all its forms.
3. Those of us who are anti-racists or striving to be anti-racists need to be wiser to these tactics. We also need to be wiser to those seeking to co-opt our voices and our work on every level including those who purport to be with us and for us.
THREAD on separation of the media and the police when reporting on protests. #BlacklivesMaters 1. I found myself watching CNN at 4am and following the excellent reporting by a team of journalists, all people of colour, reporting from across US cities where people are protesting
2. the latest brutality and racist murders of Black people by the police. I was struck by how journalists and the protestors were wearing masks to protect themselves from Covid-19 at the same time as trying to protect themselves from huge volume of tear gas used against crowds.
3. I was also struck by what a difference it makes to our understanding of a situation when experienced journalists, most of whom are known for reporting from countries where there is war, all people of colour, are not standing behind the heavily militarised police lines but are
THREAD What happens when you refuse to perform for the media and become part of the spectacle that is racism. Earlier I received a text message from a producer working for a national radio station. I’m not naming the radio station as the producer is only following instructions.
2. Producer: Hi Shaista, would you be available to speak to Xxx over the phone at xxx to discuss how far the press coverage about Meghan Markle has been driven by racism? Thank you!
3. Me: Hi, is the discussion going to focus on analysing the evidence which clearly shows the racism or is it a discussion about if the actual evidence can be denied as racist? If you could let me know how this discussion is being framed I can then decide if I want to take part.
.@AGlasgowGirl is on point: “It seems that much of Britain desperately wants to be absolved its racist history without doing any work to combat racism – treating marginalisation and discrimination like imagined annoyances not worth confronting.” theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Confession. I never brought into story that a financially independent, accomplished, political, bi-racial woman marrying into Royal family was symbol of post racial Britain. Despite this, like many, I’m stunned by further OFF the scale unleashing of racism & misogyny past week.
The reason why the story has resonance with so many poc is because of the doubling down of racism, misogyny, white supremacy and absolute denial of racism and how it manifests in our daily lives, places of work, regardless of how much privilege or agency an individual has.