Black Lives Matter march to commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King. King's words and actions continue to inspire us in our struggle for justice, equality and humanity. In his words:

"We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population. Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade. Indeed, even today we have not permitted ourselves to reject or to feel remorse for this shameful episode. Our literature, our films, our drama, our folklore all exalt it...It was upon this massive base of racism that the prejudice toward the nonwhite was readily built, and found rapid growth. This long-standing racist ideology has corrupted and diminished our democratic ideals. It is this tangled web of prejudice from which many Americans now seek to liberate themselves, without realizing how deeply it has been woven into their consciousness."

"We are now experiencing the coming to the surface of a triple prong sickness that has been lurking within our body politic from its very beginning. That is the sickness of racism, excessive materialism and militarism." -

'So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? …Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."

"A riot is the language of the unheard.”

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Last time, the Bloody Fetus People (They call themselves "Justice for All" this year) were apparently mentored by someone from that now notorious homophobic hate group, Focus on the Family. I don't know about this year. They're taking their display down early because God sent us high winds.

Let's STOP tearing down America, WE are better than what we are showing the world. Justice for ALL. Be Healthy, wear a mask. We are all equal. Black Lives Matter, ALL lives matter. VOTE for change!

José Julián Martí Pérez was born in Havana, Cuba, on 1853-01-28, in a colony still ruled by Spain, within a political climate shaped by censorship, repression, and forced loyalty to the empire. From a very young age he developed a radical sense of justice. His political awakening was not symbolic or romantic, but concrete and dangerous. In 1869, still a teenager, he published pro-independence writings and participated in patriotic circles. A letter denouncing a fellow student who supported Spanish rule led to his arrest, sentencing him to forced labor in chains. This experience inside the colonial prison system marked him permanently. He understood that power maintained itself through organized humiliation and fear, and that liberation required moral clarity, discipline, and structure. In 1871 he was deported to Spain. There he studied and immediately published a detailed denunciation of colonial imprisonment, later known as El presidio político en Cuba, exposing physical abuse, psychological torture, and the machinery of repression used against Cuban political prisoners. Exile became the center of his life. He lived and worked in Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, and especially the United States, earning a living as a journalist, translator, teacher, and lecturer. Writing was never for prestige: it was always a tool of struggle. In 1877 he married Carmen Zayas-Bazán. In 1878 their son José Francisco was born. Martí loved his child deeply, and his writings reveal a strong emotional bond. However, his political commitment meant long separations and an unstable family life. He accepted this personal cost consciously, believing that Cuban independence had to come before his private happiness. In the United States, Martí became the principal organizer of Cuban exile communities. He delivered hundreds of speeches, founded patriotic clubs, raised funds, mediated internal conflicts, and worked relentlessly to unify divided revolutionary factions. In 1892 he founded the newspaper Patria as a political and organizational instrument, and in the same year created the Cuban Revolutionary Party, whose explicit goal was to prepare a new war of independence and prevent Cuba from falling under any new form of domination. At the same time, Martí developed a major literary and political body of work. His poetry collection Versos sencillos combined simplicity of language with ethical depth. His essay Nuestra América articulated a clear geopolitical vision: Latin America must build its own institutions based on its realities, not copy European or U.S. models. He openly warned that replacing Spanish rule with U.S. control would mean exchanging one empire for another. This position made him dangerous not only to Spain, but also to economic elites, annexationists, and political actors who favored a dependent Cuba. Martí represented a revolutionary ethics: independence without racism, without oligarchies, without foreign tutelage. He believed culture itself was a battlefield and that ideas could mobilize entire populations if tied to organization and action. In 1895 he returned clandestinely to Cuba to participate directly in the insurrection he had helped build. He refused to remain a distant intellectual figure. On 1895-05-19, at Dos Ríos, during an armed clash with Spanish troops, Martí advanced on horseback and was shot and killed. He died as he lived: refusing separation between word and action. His death turned him into the permanent moral reference of Cuban independence. Martí endures not as a decorative poet, but as an organizer, strategist, and revolutionary thinker who transformed culture into an instrument of liberation and dignity. I publish these images because memory is not nostalgia: it is defense. To remind young people that resistance is not a slogan but a choice that carries a cost, and that justice does not exist unless people insist on it. These individuals are not icons for consumption: they were human beings who paid with their lives to defend humanity, dignity, rights, and truth against propaganda, violence, and abuse of power. I publish them to oppose indifference, to restore facts to the center, and to state clearly that we must not accept injustice as normal. Those who resisted before us did not leave us a myth. They left us a responsibility.

Bhagat Singh (28/09/1907, Banga, Punjab, British India – 23/03/1931, Lahore, Punjab, British India) was an Indian revolutionary, political thinker and socialist, and one of the most iconic figures of the anti-colonial struggle against British rule in India. He was born into a Sikh family deeply involved in the independence movement. His father Kishan Singh and his uncle Ajit Singh were active nationalists who had already faced imprisonment and exile for their political activities. From childhood, Bhagat Singh grew up surrounded by discussions about freedom, resistance and sacrifice, absorbing the idea that liberation was a moral duty. As a boy he was profoundly shaken by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, when British troops opened fire on unarmed civilians in Amritsar, killing hundreds. This event marked him for life and strengthened his resolve to fight colonial oppression. He studied in Lahore, first at the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School and later at the National College, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, where he immersed himself in revolutionary literature, Marxist thought, anarchism and anti-imperialist philosophy. He became convinced that political independence without social justice would be meaningless, and that true freedom required the overthrow of both colonial rule and systems of exploitation. In his youth he joined and helped organize revolutionary groups, including the Naujawan Bharat Sabha and later the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, aiming to mobilize young people for radical change. In 1928, after Lala Lajpat Rai died from injuries inflicted by British police during a protest against the Simon Commission, Bhagat Singh and his comrades decided to avenge the killing. Together with Rajguru and Sukhdev, he took part in the assassination of British officer J.P. Saunders, whom they believed responsible for the assault on Rai. In 1929 Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw low-intensity bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. The bombs were deliberately non-lethal; their purpose was symbolic: to protest repressive colonial laws and to use the courtroom as a platform to speak directly to the people. They courted arrest and used the trial to expose the violence and hypocrisy of British rule. While in prison, Bhagat Singh led a prolonged hunger strike demanding equal rights and humane treatment for political prisoners, further increasing his popularity among the Indian masses. He openly identified as a socialist and wrote extensively on revolution, atheism, and the need for mass political consciousness. The British colonial government charged him with the murder of Saunders and sentenced him to death. On 23 March 1931, at the age of 23, Bhagat Singh was hanged in Lahore together with Rajguru and Sukhdev. His execution was widely seen as a political act intended to crush revolutionary momentum. Instead, it turned Bhagat Singh into a legend. He became a symbol of fearless resistance, intellectual courage and uncompromising struggle for freedom. To this day, he is remembered as Shaheed-e-Azam, the Great Martyr, and as a global icon of anti-imperialist resistance.

One Step for a Nation, One step for Humanity?

Where is a Mr./Ms Smith when you need them?

Maybe this is the person and he has arrived in Washington to help the little guy and do the right thing for our nation & for the world.

Or is it just a pipe dream that I'm having again?

Contact: contato@renanfacciolo.com.br

Official Website: www.renanfacciolo.com.br

More Pics: www.facebook.com/renanfacciolofotografia

Copyright / Todos os direitos reservados - RENAN FACCIOLO © 2011

Nicola Sacco (April 22, 1891 – August 23, 1927)

Bartolomeo Vanzetti (June 11, 1888 – August 23, 1927)

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were two Italian immigrant anarchists living in the United States in the early 20th century. Sacco, a shoemaker by trade, and Vanzetti, a traveling salesman, were dedicated to work, family, and their political beliefs: they dreamed of a more just world, free from the oppression of the wealthy and authoritarian institutions. They were not violent criminals and had never committed murder; their lives reflected civic engagement and the pursuit of social justice.

In 1920, a robbery with murder in Massachusetts led to the arrest of Sacco and Vanzetti. The evidence against them was weak and contradictory, based on dubious testimonies and ethnic prejudice. Many historians — including Howard Zinn and Paul Avrich — argue that they were convicted more for their political beliefs, their Italian ethnicity, and their anarchism than for any concrete evidence of guilt. Other potential perpetrators were ignored or protected by the authorities.

During the seven years of trials and appeals, Sacco and Vanzetti maintained their dignity and steadfastness in their convictions. They were sentenced to the electric chair and executed on August 23, 1927, becoming universal symbols of injustice, political persecution, and discrimination. Their story serves as a reminder that true courage is staying faithful to one’s principles, even in the face of power and death.

I publish this series of figures to awaken awareness, especially among young people, about the injustices carried out by those in power. These individuals gave their lives defending freedom, justice, and the rights of the oppressed. By remembering their courage and sacrifice, I want to inspire reflection and show that the people, united and conscious, are the only force capable of resisting oppression and standing up against abuse and injustice.

Nguyễn Thái Học (1902–1930) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and the founder of the Vietnamese Nationalist Party (Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng, VNQDĐ). Born in Vĩnh Tường province in northern Vietnam, then under French colonial rule, he grew up in a modest but educated family and showed early intelligence, idealism, and a strong sense of justice.

During his youth, he witnessed the oppression and exploitation of the Vietnamese people by French authorities, which shaped his conviction that only freedom and unity could save his nation. In 1927, at the age of 25, he founded the VNQDĐ, aiming to achieve Vietnamese independence through organized revolutionary action.

Nguyễn Thái Học was a determined yet conscientious leader. He believed in the power of collective action and the responsibility of revolutionaries to protect and guide their people. He organized the **Yên Bái uprising in 1930**, a coordinated attempt to overthrow French rule. Unfortunately, the revolt was betrayed and suppressed. Many revolutionaries were captured or killed, and Nguyễn Thái Học himself was sentenced to death.

On June 17, 1930, at just 28 years old, he was **executed by the French authorities**, standing firm in his convictions. His final words, calling for the enduring freedom of Vietnam, became legendary and inspired generations of patriots. Nguyễn Thái Học remains a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to justice, representing all those who gave their lives resisting oppression and fighting for the rights of their people.I publish this series of figures to awaken consciences and remind young people and the world that the people, the oppressed, must remain united to resist injustice. All those who have truly defended the rights of others in one way or another have often been killed. This series honors their courage, sacrifices, and dedication, showing that fighting for justice is a responsibility that continues today.

Victor Jara (1932–1973) was a Chilean singer, theater director, and activist. Born in Lonquén, Chile, he grew up in a poor rural family and experienced the hardships of the Chilean people from a young age. He became a key voice of Chilean folk music and the Nueva Canción Chilena movement, combining popular songs with strong social and political messages. His lyrics denounced social injustice, poverty, and promoted human rights and justice.

Victor Jara had a successful career both in Chile and internationally, performing in theaters, universities, and festivals. He was married to Joan Jara and had children; his family has remained central to keeping his memory and message alive.

During Augusto Pinochet’s coup in 1973, Victor was arrested with other artists and activists. He was taken to Santiago’s National Stadium, converted into a detention center, where he was brutally tortured: his hands were broken, he was repeatedly beaten, and eventually killed by gunfire. His body was found a few days later. His death became a symbol of political repression and violence in Chile, a reminder against oppression and the denial of human rights.

I publish this series of characters to remind viewers that there are people who gave their lives for justice, freedom, and human rights. Their voices and sacrifices remind us that injustice, violence, and oppression still continue in many parts of the world. These figures must be remembered to awaken consciences, to show young people that there are those who stood against evil and tyranny, and to inspire those who fight today for the same causes.

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

Cool purple mask that appears to be made from Hawai'ian shirt material.

So is Hawai'ian mask Friday going to be a new thing? I'm in.

A lot of masks, mostly worn properly, which is a helluva lot better than what I see at the store

Great sign that turned out to prescient of the Dobbs decision.

INSTAGRAM TUMBLR TWITTER

-----------

JUSTICE FOR ALL

The John Adams Courthouse

originally known as: The Suffolk County Courthouse

architect George Clough, of Desmond & Lord, 1893

architectural style: German Renaissance, Second Empire, Classical Revival, Beaux-Arts

Pemberton Square

Boston, Massachusetts.

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

The matching head-scarves are a cool touch.

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Victor Jara (1932–1973) was a Chilean singer, theater director, and activist. Born in Lonquén, Chile, he grew up in a poor rural family and experienced the hardships of the Chilean people from a young age. He became a key voice of Chilean folk music and the Nueva Canción Chilena movement, combining popular songs with strong social and political messages. His lyrics denounced social injustice, poverty, and promoted human rights and justice.

Victor Jara had a successful career both in Chile and internationally, performing in theaters, universities, and festivals. He was married to Joan Jara and had children; his family has remained central to keeping his memory and message alive.

During Augusto Pinochet’s coup in 1973, Victor was arrested with other artists and activists. He was taken to Santiago’s National Stadium, converted into a detention center, where he was brutally tortured: his hands were broken, he was repeatedly beaten, and eventually killed by gunfire. His body was found a few days later. His death became a symbol of political repression and violence in Chile, a reminder against oppression and the denial of human rights.

I publish this series of characters to remind viewers that there are people who gave their lives for justice, freedom, and human rights. Their voices and sacrifices remind us that injustice, violence, and oppression still continue in many parts of the world. These figures must be remembered to awaken consciences, to show young people that there are those who stood against evil and tyranny, and to inspire those who fight today for the same causes.

Juneteenth and Black Lives Matter

Juneteenth and Black Lives Matter

The Struggle continues... Remembering MLK today, how far we've come and how much further we still need to go.

Images from the "Justice For All" March in Washington, DC on Saturday, December 13th, 2014.

This event was conceived and executed by the Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network on behalf of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Akai Gurley and all of the others killed by the police in this country.

Full set of Justice For All March photos here: www.flickr.com/photos/jimkiernan/sets/72157649757466322/

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs!

Stay tuned for more....

Freedom Blossoms.

on this day, the word 'Blossoms' started out as a noun and became a verb..

This image is, for me, a metaphor .. and a plea for change and renewal.

Change is possible. .. one awake heart at a time, caring about the future of the planet...

3 more years is 8 too many from the misguided hand of the Bush Administration.

Just imagine... this could be Washington, DC ..or even all of our cities and towns..

This image was taken from the atop the An Nahar (newspaper) building in Beirut, Lebanon on March 14th, 2005 by my lifelong friend, James.

The nearly heart-shaped navel in the middle of the sea of people is an archeological remnant of the Phoenicians' (1100 to 625 BC) early settlement of what is now Beirut.

It shows a sea of over a million people coming together to peacefully protest a wrong-doing, tyrannical, secretive government.. they spoke Truth to power.

And it worked.

This seems more relevant than ever, with the way our stable genius, idiot-in-chief is handling things. Every brings a new lie. Hint: if the sentence contains the word "tremendous," he is lying. Or maybe it's only when his lips are moving....

Images from the "Justice For All" March in Washington, DC on Saturday, December 13th, 2014.

This event was conceived and executed by the Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network on behalf of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Akai Gurley and all of the others killed by the police in this country.

Full set of Justice For All March photos here: www.flickr.com/photos/jimkiernan/sets/72157649757466322/

Justice for All march on Washington, Dec. 13, 2014

California's Supreme Court has upheld the Proposition 8, that will determine that in the state's constitution "Marriage is a union of a man and a woman", therefore taking back the rights for gay marriage achieved there in the summer of 2008.

Intolerance wins the battle, but justice shall win the war of ideas in the end... for equality should be law for everyone...

New York is fighting to become the next state that legalizes same-sex unions.

And happily, we learned today that on October 10th there shall be a big march in Washington, to claim the rights of being equal and marry the person you love, for every gay, lesbian and transgender person in the United States.

I hope we'll be there, first row!

Photos taken with a 3G iPhone.

Union Square,

New York

BUMP! In honor of the jury in the Derek Chauvin trial (Finally!) doing the right thing

Next step needed: A Presidential Medal of Freedom for Darnella Frazier -- the couragous young woman, whose cellphone video made the trial and conviction possible.

============================================

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

=======================

As we are all too painfully aware, RGB did not, in fact, pull through… something we (LGBTQ+, women, people of color and other marginalized groups and allies) will feel for decades.

Juneteenth and Black Lives Matter in the early days of COVID.

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

National Action Network JUSTICE FOR ALL National March on Washington Against Police Abuse RALLY at Freedom Plaza on 13th at E Street, NW, Washington DC on Saturday morning, 13 December 2014 by Elvert Barnes Photography

FACES IN THE CROWD Series

Visit NAN at nationalactionnetwork.net/march-police/

Elvert Barnes Saturday, 13 December 2014 JUSTICE FOR ALL NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON docu-project at elvertbarnes.com/JusticeForAll2014

Victor Jara (1932–1973) was a Chilean singer, theater director, and activist. Born in Lonquén, Chile, he grew up in a poor rural family and experienced the hardships of the Chilean people from a young age. He became a key voice of Chilean folk music and the Nueva Canción Chilena movement, combining popular songs with strong social and political messages. His lyrics denounced social injustice, poverty, and promoted human rights and justice.

Victor Jara had a successful career both in Chile and internationally, performing in theaters, universities, and festivals. He was married to Joan Jara and had children; his family has remained central to keeping his memory and message alive.

During Augusto Pinochet’s coup in 1973, Victor was arrested with other artists and activists. He was taken to Santiago’s National Stadium, converted into a detention center, where he was brutally tortured: his hands were broken, he was repeatedly beaten, and eventually killed by gunfire. His body was found a few days later. His death became a symbol of political repression and violence in Chile, a reminder against oppression and the denial of human rights.

I publish this series of characters to remind viewers that there are people who gave their lives for justice, freedom, and human rights. Their voices and sacrifices remind us that injustice, violence, and oppression still continue in many parts of the world. These figures must be remembered to awaken consciences, to show young people that there are those who stood against evil and tyranny, and to inspire those who fight today for the same causes.

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....

In 2020, the Women's March made an extra effort to include Women of Color. Maybe this lack of inclusion was more of an issue elsewhere, but I definitely remember Latina and African American speakers in prior years.

That said, it definitely was MORE diverse this year, with Native American women leading the march, and drawing attention to the problem of missing and murdered indigenous women, and the lack of action by law enforcement to find these victims. The issue of violence against black trans women was also specifically addressed.

As always, there were great signs.

Stay tuned for more....