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Music can’t change the world. But it can help people believe the world can be changed
Music can’t change the world, as Bragg likes to say. But it can help people believe the world can be changed. That’s the idea behind the monthly concert series that I’ve been hosting for the past year. It’s called Which Side?: A Protest Music Teach-Out. We’ve had songs addressing the distressing attacks of the past decade on community, mutual aid, science, common sense, and common decency. And on July 21st we will be celebrating our one-year anniversary with a special event at the Boston Lyric Opera’s beautiful, brand-new space in Fort Point.
The Story of Sonny V.
Under this Trump administration through March 10, 2026, ICE has arrested 7,030 people in Massachusetts. Of those arrested, 46 percent had no pending charges or convictions, 35 percent had pending criminal charges, and 19 percent had criminal convictions according to a WBUR analysis of data from the Deportation Data Project. There were 685 people convicted of serious crimes, classified by ICE as Case Threat Level 1, under 10% of the total. When asked whether people who have committed violent crimes should be deported, 87 percent of Americans say yes. I hope today’s story will convince you that the answer to that question should always be, “It depends.”
40 Years of Strides: How Community Action Continues to Shape LGBTQIA+ Health
On May 31, 2026, Strides for Action will mark its 40th anniversary on the Boston Common, tracing its roots back to the very first AIDS Walk Boston held on that same date in 1986. Forty years later, the spirit of that original movement endures: grounded in urgency, sustained by compassion, and driven by the belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Lady Liberties Use Flash Mobs to Inspire Resistance
How could I use my old lady white skin to counter this misery? You will recall what the late/great Mother Jones said: “You pray for the dead. You fight like hell for the living.” So I started The Lady Liberty Flash Mob.
Equal Constitutional protections for all Commonwealth Inhabitants—YES, WE CAN—with training and shared nonviolent strategy
We, at the People’s Pledge of Solidarity, want to share our Commonwealth’s history which is powerfully committed to true equal justice; this informs our work and we invite you to join our nonviolent training and strategies, including on how to utilize our state’s habeas corpus. Please email us at peoplespledgeofsolidarity@gmail.com to sign our pledge of solidarity and join our network. Our state Constitution and history also could inform acting from the power of the people for true equal justice. So I am also available and would love to think with others on how state-rights could inform additional strategic efforts as we claim our power for justice.
350, No Kings, and the Climate
The truth, of course, is that people are part of nature, and that people require a livable climate. Without it, there is no food. With frequent extreme weather, farmers cannot grow crops, and harvests fail. Our oceans, which have been absorbing most of the carbon, are losing oxygen, endangering countless marine species, including those that at least a billion people depend on for food. Droughts also lead to dangerously low levels of drinking water in our freshwater reservoirs. In short, climate change is deadly.
A Quick History of the Tesla Takedown Movement
The protests brought together all kinds of people to share in their fury at Elon Musk. Protest art flourished, with thousands of homemade signs created.… Despite the heaviness of the purpose, there’s often a sense of joy at the protests. Seeing dozens to hundreds of people coming together to fight fascism revives our collective hope for a better future.
AL50501 chooses accountability over “Southern hospitality”
Alabama 50501 knew our mission was to uplift the students whose graduations would be marred by the non-consensual insertion of Trump's ego. We would be there to champion their courage, shield them from MAGA and the university, and amplify their voices.
The View from Tennessee
Lawmakers dressed in red play a wicked game. We at UVOTN will not let them win. If we truly have the right to bear arms, then we’ll holster our bullhorns at our hips.
Organizing in a Red State
In Oklahoma, we know that no matter how hard we fight, most battles will be lost. Terrible legislation that targets and suppresses us will pass, and our voices will be ignored. … We do get wins, but they are rare and bittersweet. It has taken three years to make it illegal for school employees to beat developmentally disabled students, but that’s the reality in deep red states. We must persist in the face of constant losses, and we celebrate wins that were unreasonably difficult to achieve.