I am writing to ask you to consider sharing a petition. I don't know how far the story has spread, but a non-binary high schooler in Oklahoma (where i live) named Nex Benedict was killed as a result of an attack at Owasso High School two weeks ago. They were attacked on school property.
The state of Oklahoma School Superintendent, Ryan Walters, who has spent his tenure focused on book bans, villainizing teachers, fighting "the woke agenda," and whatever will get him on Fox news. As a part of this he has formed partnerships with the Moms for Liberty and Libs of Tiktok person, Chaya Raichik.
All of these actions include a near constant barrage of attacks on the lgbtqia community. As an lgbtqia person myself, with kids who are also part of the community, including non-binary children, i am incredibly saddened by Nex's death, and worried about the safety of my own children in this state.
It's just a petition and i know the impact feels limited. It feels small to me, but i would like to ask you to share it in the hopes that it might bring some news coverage and open talks in this state about removing this public official for the good of the community.
I appreciate your time and attention. (Obligatory big fan, because I am.)
The petition can be found here: https://chng.it/CvHz2J8QW4
Thanks.
Happy to share it.
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DONT STOP TALKING ABOUT PALESTINE! DONT STOP TAKING ABOUT GAZA!
DONT LET THEM MAKE YOU FORGET!!
They are already selling data to midjourney, and it's very likely your work is already being used to train their models because you have to OPT OUT of this, not opt in. Very scummy of them to roll this out unannounced.
After checking to see there was no one around to give the others a hard time he gives them a hand signal to the guys below and on roofs that he's in and to start up the plan. They give their own signals to show that they are ready.
He gets to around more closely as bags and crates filled the room up, all either with labels or random stuff on top of them. The smell of gunpowder and rotting wood filling his nose, walking around the room for a second before grabbing the door handle and checking his surrounding area, it was empty of people.
There are two floors to this place, he needed to hit one room on the top floor and another on the first floor. Both with specific thing the client wanted, a person and a file of a buyer.
One would think that would be impossible, taking a whole person without being detected by a guarded building.
However, there was one thing these three always made sure for whatever job they take, give it everything they had into it and make sure not to fuck up anything to a point of no return.
He sees that the distraction is in motion as he moves, the men below being called for a "disturbance" outside. He moves past room after room before making it to the first room he needed to be in, the door locked he grabs a hair clip he keeps as the knob shakes with each twist and turn the clip makes.
A sound of a click tells him its open as he turns the knob and sneaks inside the room. The area he enters is piled with paper upon paper, files with names and dates of each transaction happening between this group and a whole trading railroad of others.
He gets to work as he surfs through the names and dates, digging through each paper for a certain initial given to him during the briefing before this. Moving past a desk and onto a crate with word of "أسلحة".
After finding nothing he stares at the other containers with scraps of useless or important papers they might not even need. He hears the commotion outside is starting to get ramped up as the sound of gunfire and shouts make their way into his ears.
He remembers during the meeting leading up to this heist that the client had said something about a box with a latch or something metal keeping where that file they wanted was in.
He made his way through the crates as he scans each of them for that specific important detail.
"I'll do it." Jake says as Marc eyes rolled back and is in control, it only take him a second but eventually he finds the box with the latch on it. It seemed to have a unique detail on it as there was a red line on the side of it, it just seemed to be more important than the rest.
The latched creaked open as he opens to see whether the contents they need are intact there, there are casing bundles of hay inside, he digs through it. A hard surface meets his glove as he pulls out a plastic suitcase like box that would be used to transport weapons, in this case, however, held files.
Hundreds of them even.
'Why would they hide files here?' The thought followed with creased eyebrows and a confused expression.
He pulls them out and scans them for that initial, something however catches his eye. The initials of something with "AH" with a small marking of the same tattoo that the Timsaeh people had. His left eyebrow lifted at this, it was too much of a coincidence for this to be here.
And in this case nonetheless. Who cared if curiosity killed the cat, a cat had nine lives. He opens the vanilla folder as he checks the contents on why the Timsaeh were even anywhere near this group of people.
From what he could see, there were a small transaction here and there. Weaponry, medical kits, and other materials that were essential for what seemed like survival. It seemed like normal illegal trading from one group to another.
Still, Jake felt something was off. He didn't trust the Timsaeh, never has and never will. He however was on a time crunch and the guys below could only keep the guards, (if you could call them that) occupied for so long. He needed to finish this job, so he instead steals the paper.
He folds the paper and stuffs it into their pocket before moving onto the next files.
He reachs again pulling out another file from inside the crate. They said the file should be here, there was only 5 more files to go through before the sound of footsteps made him stop.
Not wnating to risk it, he puts the files on the desk before making his way behind the door. His hand going towards his pistol ready to pull out in case he is caught.
The steps quicken as he hears the noise behind the wall. The voices sounding confused and frustrated, "هذه الوظيفة هي ألم في المؤخرة." The muffled voice say as a hummed sound of agreement, echos of footsteps keep him there until he knows they are far enough not to hear him. He waits a couple more seconds before leaving the hiding place and going back to the crate.
It was the second to last file where he finally found the file they wanted, the initial of "AM" Show up as he places the file in his jacket, a pocket big enough to hold the file. Putting the other paperwork back and closing up the crate to how it was, he walked towards the door and checked for any guards around, finding them to be in their own world.
He takes the opportunity and leaves to towards another room to hide before closing the door behind him. He makes it towards a window before signaling he grabs the file. One gives him a thumbs up before Jake goes and gets ready to retrieve the next thing on his list of demands.
"Hey, wanna play?" A whispered voice comes out as Katalina puts the comic down after reading it for the 5th time now.
'Okay, maybe she enjoyed the comic than she thought she would.'
It was one of Gena kids.
'Ray was his name, right?'
"Aren't you working?" She asked the boy as he opens the door a little bit more. "No, every week we get a day off." The information getting her attention, maybe they made a good amount to not have to work every day, that's good.
She had heard stories of the before times, people working everyday to meet the bills for their everyday expenses, it never made sense to her.
"So, you wanna play or no?"
She looks down at the comics and then back at the boy. She could read the same story again — but than she would get bored of it and she rather not.
Plus, she was getting bored of being stuck in the room. It's not that she wasn't greatful, but its like being a plant and plants needs sunlight. She had finished her chores for Gena that she had been assigned to her in the morning anyways.
Finally deciding she nods showing a grin on her face as she gets off the bed and puts her shoes on. Fixing the ties into bunny ears and then double knotting it to be sure.
She reaches for her backpack as she started to put her hand through one of the straps before his voice intrupted.
"Don't need it, we aren't going far." He reassures her. A little stunned at first but slowly nods as she puts the backpack back, it sat against the wall before he waits for her in the hallway.
The hallway was open and bright, walking down the hallway she smells the sweet smell of tea, it makes her smile slightly as she sees Gena siting down with her other son Ricky.
"Where you two going?" Gena ask as the two kids looked at her. Katalina looks over at Ray who looks at her than back at hisat his mom.
"Just downstairs, we'll stay in the box area. Promise mom."
The women looks at the two, before sighing and giving in.
"Be careful. If you hear any gunfire, you run right back here. Understood?" She reminds her son, and now this girl temporarily put into her care by someone who trusts her to keep this kid safe until he comes back.
The two kids nods as the boy runs towards the door, the girl surprised suddenly runs after the boy and both leave together from the apartment. He runs down the steps as others are walking or talking with each other as they see the kids fly pass then.
"Last one down is a rotten egg!" Ray yells and Katalina takes the challenge as she mentally tells her legs to run faster, soon the two are head to head as they make it down the stairs way.
It's was a close one, but Ray ended up winning as their lungs fought a breath of air to cool them down. Chest hurting but high on adrenaline to really feel it in their lungs as they rested up from what seemed like a marathon to them.
"You went first, that's why you won."
"No, your just slow."
The two kids looked at each before laughing, they sit down at the steps of the entrance to the apartment complex as people came and went. The sun beat down on them, sweaty kids on whatever day it was now.
"Do you wanna play uno again?" Ray asked as Katalina smiled.
"Do you even have to ask." As a shit eating grin appeared on the girls face.
He pulls the card box out and lays it down giving her seven cards and pull seven cards for himself as the two went ahead and played the game.
They played for two hours.
"I'm just gonna beat you again dude, just call it quits, and maybe I'll give you mercy." Katalina mocks as she places down another blue card down.
"No way! I'm gonna beat you, just watch." Ray retorts with as a plastered smirk was on his face as he places down a red card, Katalina was out of red cards.
"Oh come on!" She whines in defeat as she grabs cards from the pile to the left of her.
"I told you I would get you back." He snickered as he watches the girl go from only three cards to eight.
The sound of shot being fired catches their attention. Their smiles dwindle as they stop moving, waiting to make sure they heard correctly. Again, the sound of bullets flying triggers the flight or fight reflex.
They grab whatever they can of the game as they run back inside the building, it seemed like the whole place had somehow gone to war as see people below are running like ants. They keep running as fast as they can back to the apartment.
There already was Gena with the door open.
"Inside, now!" She yells as the two kids rush inside as she slams the door shut behind her. The two drop the cards on the ground as they see both Gena and Ricky moving thing to open places.
Katalina rushes with Gena to cover the door with a cabinet while the boys plug up the window with whatever they could find large enough to, the sound turns from bullets to explosion too quickly as the ground below starts to rumble with each one that went off.
The ground shook as Gena pushes all the kids into another room, it was the one where she had been placed temporarily until the guys came back. Gena pushed the children to a corner as she pulled the wooden panel from below off showing some weapons and money that laid inside the little compartment.
Katalina whinces before covering her ears to not hear the sound of screams and combustion that was happening outside. Gena grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to sit down on ground next to her children who seemed to be holding each for the time being.
The ceiling shook as three kids huddled together for some type of comfort while Gena loads the shotgun with bullets. She points at the door ready to kill whoever comes through the door, her hands seem to be shaking slightly but her eyes were steady and observent.
The fighting continued for what seemed like an eternity before it started to simmer outside, the tense air filled up as the smell of smoke and metal circulated the oxygen they inhaled.
Soon the sound of things moving made them tense as all four people inside the small room seem to have all sense at a all high ready for whatever came. The adrenaline hitting hard for their instinct to kick in whenever.
It was silent before a knock was heard.
"It's me, I promise." A muffled sound comes out as the kids looked at each other.
"Marc?" Gena asked.
"Yeah, it me. Open the door Gena."
He sounded drained, Gena falters before slowly taking off the chair and unlocking the door, the shotgun still point as the door creaked open.
He comes in, grime of ash and blood. Darken eyebags than before with his clothing seemingly ruined and holes littered it. His hands were up in the air to show he wasn't an enemy to them.
The gun is lowered to the ground as the women walked over to him, he lowers his hands as she lead him to one of the twin bed in the room. He groans as he sits down, his black curls were messed up and his body seemed beyond used.
"Ray, Ricky, please go and get me the med-kit. Kat, please go get a rag and a bowl of some warm water." She instructs the kids as they all slowly got up from the floor and off to do what they were asked of.
Living in the place was easy as they didn't have complicated layout, she finds the cabinet where the cups, bowls, and plates were stored. Grabbing a medium size bowl she turns the tap and feels the water for a couple minutes before deeming it warm enough to not burn.
Filling it half way she puts it down before grabbing a rag from another cabinet, pulling a red one as she goes back grabbing the bowl and bringing it back to the room where the other two had already brought the med-kit.
"Here." She tells the lady as she nods and grabs the bowl from her before taking the rag gently from her hand. Marc looks at her, the girl looked fine.
Steven had said to make sure the kid was okay when they came back after the whole battle outside, there had been many casualties but they had managed to get rid of the ones who had started it. She slowly lifts her hand to give a small wave.
Marc just stares at her. He seemed out of it for the most part, his eyes seeming almost empty for the most part. His expression of being stoic being apparent. Her eyebrows are pinched, she looked concern for him, she didn't have to be, it's not her problem.
After a while of staring at each other for a couple seconds before he lowered his head to the ground,he was just tired. They hadn't slept since the job, and it was catching up to them.
"Come on, let my mom help him." Ricky said as he gently grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to move as the three children left the room. Their footsteps with no rhythm as they walked down the corridor again for what seemed like the third time today.
A couple minutes later Gena come out, the sound of her coming gets the children attention as she looks at Katalina.
"He wants to talk with you." Her voice steady as the girl nods and gets up from the chair she had sat on. She felt her hands were sweaty, why was she nervous?
The way to the room seem to stretch forever, she felt like she hadn't even moved at all. Before she knew it she was right there, wiping her hands on the shirt she had on today and grabbing the knob as she turns it.
She sees him, he still sitting on the bed, his face and arms dressed in bandages. He looks up as the switch happened, his once straighten back slouched slightly as he looked at her.
"Steven?"
"Yeah. It's me kiddo, sorry we took so long."
She feels slight relief that it was Steven who had fronted this time, she doesn't know why.
"It's fine. You guys, okay?" She ask as she glances the wounds on his face, they look cleaned but definitely would need to time to heal.
He nods moves a little only to winced at the wounds but tries to hide it for the time being.
"Feel like I got hit by a truck, but I'll live." He says with the best reassuring smile he could muster, his body felt like it was on fire and constant pulsing from the bruises and cuts they had gotten from the past couple of days was killing him.
"So, what now?" That was the big question, she wasn't sure whether they were even in a good condition to even move at all, but it's was up to them nonetheless.
"Well, we managed to get a ride. A little close than what we would have had to walk to get there. It would still take us a week to make it to where our other friend will be." He explains as she listens to him, at least they had a ride. But he was injured, how the hell they would even make it that far was beyond him.
"Do you know when we have to get on this ride?" And he lays down on the bed. "It will be here in two days, give or take." He answers, that's not nearly enough time for them to heal up.
Whether he can takes it or not is the problem, it's the fact that he won't be able to fight as good as he could with all the injuries they have on themselves.
"I don’t know if that's a good idea, not to be rude man but you look like you got the ever lasting shit beaten out of you." She grimace, he definitely is not ready to go.
His jaw tightens as his head turns to look at her. "That's not your problem kid, this might be our only chance to even get anything like this in a while."
Her lips pursed at this.
"Alright." She responds with as she looks at the man, he looked like shit. But he didn't seem to bothered or either was trying his best to make it seem like it.
For the most part she couldn't tell if he was in pain or not, but he won't tell her that.
"We will leave in two days. Have everything you need packed by then." He instructs as he looks at the ceiling and puts his arm in his eyes.
Yay!!! Finally we are getting somewhere with them. I wanted to make this chapter a little longer than before and hopefully I succeeded with that.
Sorry for taking so long. A medical issue was happening, and I was needed, so this had to be postponed while I assisted with what was needed from me. Everything is no worries there👍
Another note to add on is that I don't speak nor write in Arabic, so if there is an error in how it is written—please let me know. It would really help with anything I could improve on in the future of this story!
Thank you for your patience and hope you have a good day, afternoon, and night.
Sky 💜
BISAN IS AFRAID THIS MAY BE HER LAST VIDEO. THE OCCUPATION IS PLANNING TO INVADE NASSER HOSPITAL IN KHAN YUNIS, THE LAST FUNCTIONING HOSPITAL IN THE GAZA STRIP.
SHE WANTS PEOPLE TO SHARE THIS. PLEASE, PLEASE REBLOG.
Like many Palestinians, Bashaer (@bshaeromars-blog) comes from a loving family. She is the eldest of six (6) siblings and marries a wonderful nurse named Omar. She is also pregnant with her first child! Things are going well for her.
Until the airstrikes dropped. Bashaer and her family has no choice but to quickly leave their beautiful home, leaving their belongings as well as their memories behind. They end up in Rafah.
One night in December, Omar goes out to collect wood so the the family could make a fire and keep themselves warm. Winters in the desert is as unforgiving as it is in the tundra.
But another set of airstrikes have painted the horizon orange. Omar makes a run for it. He does not make it and passes away. May Allah forgive him and grant him Jannatul Firdaus!
Bashaer is a widow now. She grieves over the love of her life. If you read her blog, you would know how much she adores, admires, loves, and respects him. What makes it more heartbreaking is she has given birth without the help from a doctor or a midwife. Her daughter, Ayla, is born and she will never get the opportunity to meet her father.
Read this again and let every detail sink in. Bashaer is a single mother and a widow. She is also recovering from postpartum. I know we have a soft spot for single mothers. A lot of us have grew up with one. We know how much these mothers have scarified and worked to raise us.
So let's help Baeshar. Please, please, please donate and share. Consider giving as little as $5. It may seem like an insignificant amount, but it makes a significant difference.
You can even match me! I have contributed $5.
I also request you to follow @bshaeromars-blog to recieve updates on her and her family. Reblog and share. Spread it far and wide. Make sure it reaches every corner of the website.
Thank you!
I am now old now....that's okay. My bones crack everywhere, but that's okay because it's gonna be a good day even though my body acts like it's 90 years old. 👍
"B-but Palestinians can get their freedom with peace not violence 🥺🥺" no. Screw your feelings. The armed resistance against colonizers and murderers is what will give Palestinians their freedom and what will eventually achieve real peace.
An enemy that bombs and uses white phosphorus against civilians doesn't know nor practice what your broken moral compass describes as "peace". Freedom was proven throughout history not to be achieved through kneeling and asking the oppressor to kindly stop. Freedom needs to be taken by force. Your little Utopian way of thinking doesn't work in the real world. Your feelings don't matter because you're not the one living under occupation. Your feelings don't matter because you're not one of the thousands of children who lost their limbs. You're not one of the children who became orphans due to this genocide. You're not the mother who lost her child to the carpet bombing. You're not the father carrying the remains of your child in plastic bags. You're not the newlywed woman who lost her husband. You're not the one at risk of either getting killed any second or losing your loved ones in the blink of an eye!
"Peace" is not really a thing you see during a live ethnic cleansing!
Boost and donate if you can
🍉If I must die, let it bring hope. Let it be a tale 🪁
DONATE:
Buy an eSim for someone in Gaza
Care for Gaza, a grassroots organisiation in Gaza that gives care packages to Gazan families
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
The Palestine Children's Relief Fund IG: @thepcrf
Sulala Animal Rescue IG: @sulalaanimalrescue
GET INVOLVED:
Join your local rallies!
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) Twitter: @APAN4Palestine IG: @apan4palestine
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (Brisbane) FB: justiceforpalestinebrisbane IG: justiceforpalestine.magandjin
Justice for Palestine Melbourne FB: FreePalestineMelbourne IG: freepalestinemelb
Wage Peace, Disrupt War (Australia) IG: disruptwars
BOYCOTTS:
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Australia
LEARN:
Decolonise Palestine
If you have any additional resources or funds that aren't listed, let me know and I will endeavor to add them on.
170 hours later and this behemoth project is completed. After being moved to tears three times by Dr. Alareer's poem, I needed to create something. Hopefully this honours his memory.
Hoping to get some funding from local orgs to get this printed into a physical booklet for distribution.
From the river, to the sea!