Activism Archives

Protestors cheer at June 15, 2023 indigenous rights rally in front of the Mass State House as Jean-Luc Pierite gives a speech. Photo by Yaakov Aldrich. Copyright 2023 Yaakov Aldrich.

MASS ACTIVISTS AND LAWMAKERS RALLY AROUND INDIGENOUS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

The raft of five bills is years in the making, and has revitalized community advocacy despite facing an uphill battle in the State House

YAAKOV ALDRICH August 3, 2023

INVESTIGATING THE INTERSTATE: THE HISTORY OF I-93’S CONSTRUCTION

The legacy of the roadway goes deep, with a strong push from activists in the 1970s

SHIRA LAUCHAROEN October 19, 2021

ENVIRONMENTALISTS MISS IN-PERSON ACTIVISM

Expect direct organizing resurgence post-pandemic

SHIRA LAUCHAROEN April 30, 2021

Washington Street, Newspaper Row (in Boston a century ago)

HELP SAVE LOCAL NEWS! ASK YOUR MA STATE REP TO BACK AMENDMENT #40 TODAY!

[W]e’re asking all readers who are concerned about the collapse of local news media to contact your state representative and ask them to cosponsor Amendment #40 of H. 4879. The more cosponsors the amendment has, the more likely House Ways and Means will pass it. If that happens it has a good chance of making it through the full legislative process for this session. And becoming a law. Which would be a promising outcome for the future of local news in the Commonwealth.

JASON PRAMAS July 26, 2020

SILENCE STILL EQUALS DEATH: ACT UP FOUNDERS REFLECT ON AIDS ACTIVISM, TALK COVID AND CURRENT PROTESTS

“Anyone who thinks the Black Lives Matter movement is not doing a very good job should pay attention to the astonishing movement in public opinion. Sometimes you have to scream real loud or use a bad word.”

NOAH SCHAFFER June 24, 2020

CHANGING PERCEPTION, CHANGING THE LAW

What Mass lawmakers can learn from the battle to end death by incarceration across the country

JEAN TROUNSTINE March 4, 2020

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF HAKIM JAMAL

Hakim Jamal was a Boston original—an engaging author and activist who identified as a recovering alcoholic and addict. He founded the group that created Kwanzaa. His controversial romances with movie stars and models inspired movies decades later.

GEORGE HASSETT February 19, 2020

NUCLEAR DECISIONS: THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES DON’T ALL AGREE ON

“Right now, we just don’t know what to do with nuclear waste. It lasts 100,000 years … It’s shockingly toxic. We’re going to have to figure out what to do with that waste for sure. I mean, 100,000 years.”

ERIN NOLAN February 11, 2020

A DISABLED REPORTER WALKS INTO A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY EVENT…

I attended three carefully chosen events with three separate candidates over the course of 24 hours: Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders. All three candidates stood out for me because they have been more actively courting the disability vote, as compared to their peers in the candidate pool.

LAURA KIESEL February 11, 2020

“HE JUST NEEDS TO GET KNOWN”: PATRICK SUPPORTERS IN NH HAVE EYES SET ON OTHER STATES

“I know his polling numbers are low. My hope is as time goes on he’s able to build some momentum and potentially be a viable candidate.”

JORDAN FRIAS February 11, 2020