What I’m Reading – February 22, 2015
Written by Ashley Kelmore, Posted in What I'm Reading
Misogynoir
– “Why is it so hard for everyone else to give her that control over her own life? Why are we hellbent on forcing people to surrender their autonomy to the fickle flow of where we want to place them in service to our own wants?” Jessica Williams Doesn’t Need Your Permission: How White Feminists Hurt Everyone By Trying To Lead Women Of Color (via @Karnythia)
Injustice
– “Reed’s defenders have long maintained that Reed was set up by Fennell for his fianceé’s murder, likely after Fennell found out about the illicit relationship. In a recent article about the case, The Intercept chronicled Fennell’s history of violence, including allegations of stalking and rape. Indeed, Fennell is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman while on duty and in uniform.” “Oh My God, This is Way Off”: New Investigation Shows Texas Is Likely Set to Kill an Innocent Man (h/t @LilianaSegura)
– “While it appears that modern thinking about the meaning of “cruel and unusual” is focused on the actual methods of execution, the gentlest method of execution for someone who is actually innocent is the gravest form of injustice and cruelty possible.” Did you know the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that it’s legal to execute an innocent person? (via @ShaunKing)
Reproductive Health
– “Another formerly incarcerated women said she was shackled throughout her entire childbirth experience in 2010. On a press call to announce the findings of the report on Thursday, she told reporters that she was cuffed to the bed and unable to sit up, even as her daughter was moving through the birth canal. Maria Caraballo, who has since become an advocate for women in prison, said she remained shackled while she was being stitched up post-delivery.” New York Prisons Are Illegally Shackling Inmates During Labor, Harrowing Report Finds (h/t @MsFoundation)
Policing
– “Smith said he’s repeatedly told some of his members—particularly “the ones who complain about it”—the following: “You applied here. And you have to treat people all the same. You have to serve the community. If you don’t like the politics here, then leave and go to a place that serves your worldview.” The tough talk, Smith said, usually continues with him saying something like this: “They hired you because they thought you were going to be able to work in a diverse community. And if you can’t, well then, I guess there are still places across the country that aren’t diverse, so go work there. But those won’t last forever.”” Seattle Police Union President to Cops: Get With the Times or Get Out of This City (via @strangerslog)
Capitalism
– “Mitchell said that she was skeptical that Consumers Energy cared about its elderly customers, even after it responded to her father’s death by setting aside $9 million in profits for heating assistance. “I think it might be a front,” she argued. “If you are sorry, why did you shut off the heat for a 69-year-old man? I understand that every business has to be concerned about profit, but they have to be concerned about the customers too. Maybe gas companies should take account of what people earn. That would be helpful.”” 69-Year-Old Vietnam Vet with Throat Cancer Freezes to Death After Company Shuts off His Gas (h/t @Are0h)
Environment
– “Concerns have also been raised about the potential contamination of local water-treatment facilities, after officials noted that at least one of the derailed tanker cars fell into the Kanawha River. The area is about 30 miles from the location where 10,000 gallons of a coal industry chemical called crude MCHM spilled and tainted the drinking water supply a little over one year ago.” West Virginia In State Of Emergency After Massive Oil Train Explosion (via @ThinkProgress)
Biology
– “When genetics is taken into consideration, the boundary between the sexes becomes even blurrier. Scientists have identified many of the genes involved in the main forms of DSD, and have uncovered variations in these genes that have subtle effects on a person’s anatomical or physiological sex. What’s more, new technologies in DNA sequencing and cell biology are revealing that almost everyone is, to varying degrees, a patchwork of genetically distinct cells, some with a sex that might not match that of the rest of their body.” Sex redefined (h/t @stavvers)