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The sneaky politics of “Suicide Squad”

Aug 5, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, Criminal Justice/Prison-Industrial Complex, mic

Published: Salon (August 5, 2016)

[Note: The end of this essay contains spoilers for the ending of “Suicide Squad.”] 

If the critics at RottenTomatoes are to be believed, Suicide Squad is a terrible movie with “a muddled plot, thinly written characters, and choppy directing.” (Salon’s ownAndrew O’Hehir calls it “profoundly second-rate … at every level of conception and execution.”)
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Could Gary Johnson end the drug war? Libertarian candidate’s presidential bid could put sane drug policy in our grasp

Jun 2, 2016 | Civil Liberties, Criminal Justice/Prison-Industrial Complex, Elections, Elections - Presidential (2016), Marijuana Legalization and the War on Drugs, mic

Published: Salon (June 1, 2016)

A recent survey found that Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor who was just nominated to be the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate, does surprisingly well against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Although his 10 percent is nothing compared to Clinton’s 38 percent and Trump’s 35 percent, it’s enough to make his candidacy relevant to our national conversation.... Read Original Article

On the Police

May 26, 2016 | Civil Liberties, Criminal Justice/Prison-Industrial Complex

Published: The Good Men Project (May 26, 2016)

As a progressive, I’ve found there is an argument that seems to be effective in debates with conservatives on law and order issues.

What I’ll say is that police officers have an inherent civic responsibility to be responsive to the concerns of their left-wing critics because they are, in a literal sense, the most important and powerful agents of the state.... Read Original Article

Ireland is right—it’s time to rethink how we treat heroin users

Nov 5, 2015 | Criminal Justice/Prison-Industrial Complex, Marijuana Legalization and the War on Drugs, mic

Published: The Daily Dot (November 5, 2015)

This week, Ireland took a bold step in ending the war on drugs: The nationannounced this week that—as part of a broader program to decriminalize not only cannabis but cocaine and heroin—the country will create specially designated rooms in Dublin where addicts can safely and legally inject themselves with small amounts of their drugs.... Read Original Article

A prisoner was dragged 107 feet by guards and died 9 days later—where’s his hashtag?

Sep 25, 2015 | Criminal Justice/Prison-Industrial Complex, mic, Race and Racism, Supreme Court and Other Judicial Issues

Published: The Daily Dot (September 25, 2015)

Back in October, 59-year-old Wayne County Jail inmate Abdul Akbar suffered multiple bodily injuries—after prison guards tried to restrain him. Reports obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request claim that Akbar became violent after he overslept and missed breakfast, destroying a computer and resisting guards’ orders when they tried to control the situation.... Read Original Article

How American taxpayers are spending billions to keep innocent men behind bars

Jul 14, 2015 | Class Issues, Criminal Justice/Prison-Industrial Complex, Race and Racism

Published: Daily Dot (July 14, 2015)

As talk show host John Oliver explained in a segment last month, America’s bail bond system discriminates against low-income Americans who can’t afford to make bail. “Jail can do for your actual life what being in a marching band can do for your social life,” Oliver quipped.... Read Original Article