We The People

I can’t wait for you all to see We The People! This Higher Ground project is filled with the songs and the heart of so many of our favorite artists—but even more, it’s a rallying cry for a rising generation that’s ready to take on the world. Watch it on @Netflix on July 4! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/c8N7nb01n8

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 2, 2021

Michelle and I are excited to share our latest show from Higher Ground: We The People. Some of our favorite artists got together with amazing animators to remix civics—and the result is a lot better than what we had in school. Check it out on @Netflix this July 4. pic.twitter.com/PlsSyq5pgk

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 2, 2021

13TH

Beautiful. 👊🏾 twitter.com/netflix/status…

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Ava DuVernay (@ava) June 16, 2020

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In the last 3 weeks, millions of members (a 4,665% increase vs. 3 wks prior) have sought out 13TH, Ava DuVernay’s e… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Netflix (@netflix) June 16, 2020

Your Actions Speak Louder

White folks: instead of lather, rinse & repeat your tweets for #GeorgeFloyd or about #AmyCooper, here are things yo… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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brittany packnett cunningham does not do remixes. (@MsPackyetti) May 26, 2020

Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in NY’s Central Park, where it is clear… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Melody Cooper (@melodyMcooper) May 25, 2020

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Ok I am nonbinary. But socially I am read as a woman. A white woman. And from that standpoint I wanna address white… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

Our supposed "purity" is the justification behind acts of racial violence and murder. Lynchings were so often commi… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

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And we were not innocent in this of course. This is pretty basic history. Think of "To Kill A Mockingbird," an enti… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

Emmett Till was murdered because of a white woman who lied. A white woman who has lived her life free from the cons… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

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And white women, when we call the police on a black person we are knowingly committing a modern-day lynching.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

This is a difficult truth to face, I know. White women, sometimes we (and those of us socially read as women) feel… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

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and white women we have social power--enough social power to get people killed. So we cannot be passive here. We… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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Elle Maruska (they/them) (@ellle_em) May 26, 2020

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More here

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673 And Counting. Thanks, President Obama

.@POTUS commuted the sentences of 111 largely nonviolent drug offenders—35 of which were serving life sentences: go.wh.gov/n5KQMY

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 30, 2016

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Carrie Johnson: Obama Grants Clemency To 111 Prisoners; DOJ ‘Confident’ It Will Clear Backlog

President Obama shortened the prison sentences of 111 inmates Tuesday, including 35 people who had expected to spend the rest of their lives in federal custody, authorities told NPR. Word of the new batch of clemency grants came as the second in command at the Justice Department told NPR that lawyers there have worked through an enormous backlog of drug cases and, despite doubts from prisoner advocates, they will be able to consider each of the thousands of applications from drug criminals before Obama leaves office in 2017.

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[CHART CORRECTION] @POTUS just commuted 111 people, bringing the total to more than the past 10 presidents combined. https://t.co/bBDAUzLBXt

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 30, 2016

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“At our current pace, we are confident that we will be able to review and make a recommendation to the president on every single drug petition we currently have,” Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates said. The early releases apply to mostly nonviolent drug offenders who would have received lighter punishments if they committed the same crimes today. The new commutations mean this White House has granted 673 commutations, more than the past 10 presidents combined. Tuesday’s grants follow 214 more earlier this month.

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This White House has now granted 673 commutations, more than the past 10 presidents combined. n.pr/2c68fpo

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  (@NPR) August 30, 2016

.@POTUS cannot do it alone. Congress must act to enact a fairer federal sentencing system: go.wh.gov/clemency https://t.co/J4cL84Yjyc

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 30, 2016

Early Bird Chat

Good news: 185 businesses answered @POTUS's call to give Americans with a criminal record a fair chance at a future. https://t.co/O8c9ElYkWw

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 16, 2016

‘A Nation Of Second Chances’

Breaking: @POTUS just granted clemency to 58 men and women who have earned a second chance: go.wh.gov/Jdxxgd https://t.co/wmS5RxCM67

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 05, 2016

A Tweet Or Two

"Kids who don't always look like us or don't live in the same neighborhood as us, they're just as precious" —@POTUS snpy.tv/1PHd0VI

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 21, 2015

.@POTUS on investing in treatment vs. incarceration to help solve the epidemic of prescription drug abuse. snpy.tv/1PHc0AR

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 21, 2015

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President Barack Obama vetoes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The president vetoed the sweeping $612 billion defense policy bill, citing objections over how the measure is funded

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MORE: Obama vetoes sweeping defense bill, insists on new version that doesn't tie his hands on his priorities: apne.ws/1KrO4dL

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The Associated Press (@AP) October 22, 2015

Obama defends Black Lives Matter movement, saying it draws attention to 'legitimate issue': apne.ws/1Lqn5n1

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The Associated Press (@AP) October 22, 2015

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A truly amazing picture

Vice President Biden reviews his remarks with President Obama yesterday before his announcement. https://t.co/2GjCol5p8g

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  (@petesouza) October 22, 2015

Dallas Morning News: "Texas should stop fighting and start complying with" the Clean Power Plan. Well said. dallasnews.com/opinion/editor…

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Brian Deese (@Deese44) October 22, 2015

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The First Lady and @KingJames have a message for the Class of 2020: Dream BIG! The world #BetterMakeRoom for you. https://t.co/DKXKVJguPT

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The First Lady (@FLOTUS) October 22, 2015

The Prince will join @FLOTUS and @DrBiden meeting servicemen in Fort Belvoir undertaking recovery and rehabilitation https://t.co/xkV5kwORZJ

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Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 22, 2015

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Check out @FLOTUS & @KingJames championing higher ed through #bettermakeroom espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id…

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Paulette Aniskoff (@PAniskoff44) October 22, 2015

Prince Harry will visit Virginia and Washington USA on 28 October in support of @InvictusOrlando 2016 https://t.co/eJWNWZ6mnd

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Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 22, 2015

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U.S. existing home sales surge 4.7% in September on.wsj.com/200nXWX https://t.co/TWMqyWbNNc

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Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 22, 2015

Obama pushes Congress to give Puerto Rico sweeping powers to reduce its $73 billion debt burden through bankruptcy bloom.bg/1W6sZ4H

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Bloomberg Business (@business) October 22, 2015

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President Obama to veto defense policy bill; this marks @POTUS' 5th veto since taking office cbsn.ws/1PDgw4l https://t.co/8I31aWx7Vu

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CBS News (@CBSNews) October 22, 2015

Supporters rally behind St. Louis congregations hit by arson bit.ly/1MGMxlZ

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STLtoday (@stltoday) October 22, 2015

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Florida Black Caucus calls for independent investigation into #CoreyJones death bit.ly/1Xmn6Ob https://t.co/uAdeYD8MGQ

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Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) October 22, 2015

The cop who killed Corey Jones didn’t have his badge on him at the time of the shooting. So how was Jones to know? bzfd.it/1QXhfLj

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Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) October 22, 2015

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A Tweet Or Two

We love our First Family. http://t.co/dPFzr4nQQM

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EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONYMag) October 05, 2015

President Obama will meet with Oregon shooting victims' families ti.me/1LfGmsn

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TIME.com (@TIME) October 06, 2015

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President Obama's trade deal = More #MadeInAmerica exports abroad. More higher-paying jobs here at home. #TPP amp.twimg.com/v/355d6536-cca…

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 06, 2015

Watch how President Obama's trade deal puts American workers (and American cherries) on top: go.wh.gov/trade amp.twimg.com/v/355d6536-cca…

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 06, 2015

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Good. Disgusting racist scumbags

Multiple Firings After Racially Charged Facebook Remarks Mocking a Black Child Go Viral shar.es/17SUYy http://t.co/fFpAucRT5C

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zellie (@zellieimani) October 05, 2015

White Americans are the biggest terror threat in U.S., study finds nbcnews.to/1QQ0DJv http://t.co/iFt40G7X9V

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NBC News (@NBCNews) June 24, 2015

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The Justice Department will free 6,000 federal prisoners at the end of the month, the largest-ever one-time release wapo.st/1hoz61j

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Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 06, 2015

Obama is right to be cautious in Syria wpo.st/iC0f0

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Eugene Robinson (@Eugene_Robinson) October 06, 2015

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Any wonder why you have dumb racists wandering around?

This is a history book in schools now. When you see the problem...just RT http://t.co/BxQfhznIvg

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Ace Rothstein (@CuntryCuzn) October 02, 2015

Texas mom calls out publisher after noticing high school son’s text book glossed over slavery ow.ly/SYS7j http://t.co/5yPx5WxmmL

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Raw Story (@RawStory) October 04, 2015

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In other news, water is wet

Black and white Americans use drugs at similar rates. One group is punished more for it. bit.ly/1GpgrZQ http://t.co/PbTEG3ZLjZ

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Vox (@voxdotcom) October 04, 2015

The hidden costs of funding prisons instead of schools sp.lc/SZRxP by @Chepkangai http://t.co/U1owHSWcE4

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SPLC (@splcenter) October 04, 2015

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One more reason why nobody should shed tears when proposals are made to tax jerks like these their fair share

This is a worrying trend: the Koch brothers are literally buying economics departments. csmonitor.com/Business/Rober… http://t.co/JXz6JpWzKK

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Sean McElwee (@SeanMcElwee) October 05, 2015

These two quotes sum up the malaise at the heart of modern higher education. http://t.co/bK4wOX9gCG

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Sean McElwee (@SeanMcElwee) October 05, 2015

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How about House #GOP puts a #gun safety bill on the Floor and the people we elected to debate it actually debate it? twitter.com/jonathanalter/…

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  (@sfpelosi) October 04, 2015

We should all hang our heads in shame over this: mobile.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opi… http://t.co/K6q5wcbAhm

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Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) October 04, 2015

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Voter suppression all around us

250,000 registered voters in Alabama don't have valid voter ID & state just closed 31 DMVs thenation.com/article/alabam… http://t.co/oU0C50kRIK

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Ari Berman (@AriBerman) October 03, 2015

Barbering for Freedom: Segregation, separatism, & history of black barbershops sp.lc/SZtn3 @rodriquese http://t.co/TVOaOSdXhe

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SPLC (@splcenter) October 04, 2015

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President Obama And Vice: Fixing The System

This Is Why They Protest

Racism doesn't usually look like someone shouting slurs, it's looks like people eagerly looking for a reason why a black kid deserved to die

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Lou Schumaker (@LouSchu) December 24, 2014

I March beacuse I'm EXHAUSTED! #BlackLivesMatter #WhyIMarch http://t.co/iAHH3vCtvV

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Kiri Laurelle Davis (@KiriLaurelle) April 30, 2015

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What separates the police from burglars, murderers, etc., who do innocent citizens harm? At this point, they are one and the same

Watch the @BaltimorePolice assault this peaceful protestor last night. He left on a stretcher. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/6bWgSpIaGS

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deray mckesson (@deray) May 03, 2015

If you think this is an appropriate response to breaking curfew, you might be a fascist. Video via @deray: http://t.co/i2Qh1skLL1

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Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) May 03, 2015

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Violent actions by the police sent a Black protester to the hospital but the white protesters breaking curfew get pleaded with. Welcome to America

Y'all, listen to this. You must. This is the 3rd warning. An additional 5 minutes. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/LeAstcU9In

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deray mckesson (@deray) May 03, 2015

Police literally beat black protestors last night requiring one to leave on a stretcher & pleaded with white protestors. #BaltimoreUprising

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deray mckesson (@deray) May 03, 2015

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http://t.co/OevoCSZqCm

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John Perry Barlow (@JPBarlow) May 02, 2015

Mya Hall Rekia Boyd Tanisha Anderson Yvette Smith Miriam Carey Shelly Fry Darnisha Harris Malissa Williams twitter.com/derrickwestt/s…

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Race Jones (@Shugnice) May 01, 2015

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For those saying “technically, it could happen.” Because you know, Black people are supermen and superwomen who can break our spines in two places, crush our larynx, break our leg, and cause a brain bleed all while handcuffed (arms behind our backs) and lying face down in a van. Miss me with that BS

Freddie Gray, while handcuffed, managed to inflict injuries that no human being can inflict on themselves. BREAKING: All Credibility.

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  (@hubbit) April 30, 2015

Think #FreddieGray self-inflicted his injuries? Try crushing your own larynx and get back to me.

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5'7 Black Male (@absurdistwords) April 30, 2015

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If Freddie Gray lived, he would've likely been placed in jail for a crime he didn't commit vox.com/e/8306896?utm_… http://t.co/zCUXvaDmO2

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Vox (@voxdotcom) May 04, 2015

NYPD paid over $428 million in settlements over five years j.mp/1E5vWnb http://t.co/a5NKnNvHDE

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  (@MuckRock) May 03, 2015

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To protect and serve? Yeah, right

Black Youth: "Why so many of y'all out here?" Cop: "To make sure u are safe" Youth: *Laughs* #Texas2Baltimore http://t.co/PeU76mpHI5

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Brother Jesse (@BrotherJesse) May 02, 2015

There was clear racial bias applied in the curfew. The city should be sued for violating the First Amendment. twitter.com/deray/status/5…

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George Aumoithe (@gaumwhat) May 03, 2015

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A curfew can’t even be applied as intended…*Sigh*

So... the #Baltimore curfew was lifted the day after white allies started getting arrested, huh? What a coincidence. 😒 #BaltimoreUprising

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April (@ReignOfApril) May 03, 2015

After the racially disparate application of the curfew is exposed, @MayorSRB ends it immediately. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/IXmcDGp7rS

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deray mckesson (@deray) May 03, 2015

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This is pretty telling. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/NYEWvsAxZC

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R.O.N.A. (@CallMeCharizma) May 03, 2015

After glaringly obvious racial disparity in execution of Baltimore curfew was made public, mayor ends curfew. twitter.com/justin_fenton/…

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Sarah Reese Jones (@srjones66) May 03, 2015

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"cops find it entertaining to see black men suffer" Where's @FOP3 gene? http://t.co/Mmg5qjE9LL” @MayorSRB

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Thurston (@SAThurstonDC) May 03, 2015

WATCH: Unprovoked cop pepper sprays passive protester wearing ‘F*ck the police’ t-shirt bit.ly/1GSE0Ph @deray http://t.co/GxY6RLYo4U

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John Byrne (@johnbyrnester) May 03, 2015

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Baltimore Sun reports video camera in Freddie Gray police van was broken. In several of my excessive force cases cameras have been "broken."

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Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) May 03, 2015

Curious if any of conservatives who generally attack teachers unions are attacking police union for defending #FreddieGray cops

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Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) May 01, 2015

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Chuck Todd is a scumbag

Chuck Todd: "The biggest worry is that CVS won't rebuild that store" (not that the police will kill you in a van)

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CANNONBALL ADDERALL (@Charles_Aaron) May 03, 2015

White People Started. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/EGx5OayxOF

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deray mckesson (@deray) May 03, 2015

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City Life newyorker.com/magazine/2015/… http://t.co/NzjgjAsn0D

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Stacey E. Singleton (@staceyNYCDC) May 03, 2015

How Western media would cover Baltimore if it happened elsewhere wpo.st/ZTFF0 #mustread

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Alex Medina (@mrmedina) May 01, 2015

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.@TIME's iconic new cover features work of 26-year-old #Baltimore photographer @byDVNLLN. buff.ly/1JUAdOU http://t.co/UA0eC4Uf8x

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The Root (@TheRoot) April 30, 2015

Buck always been real. http://t.co/jt9keTFS5w

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Mr. Lucas (@Alyricz) May 01, 2015

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@deray http://t.co/TtccEFQLpD

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Obae (@It_Me_Obed) April 30, 2015

Baltimore was built to be a segregated city and we are watching the inevitable fallout from that. slate.com/articles/news_…

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Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) April 30, 2015

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The police are not burdened by the need to make sense. Black folks are so demonized, racists will, literally, believe anything.

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r. (@Are0h) April 30, 2015

No, Freddie Gray did not have a "pre-existing spinal and neck injury." gaw.kr/l4puS5s

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  (@Gawker) April 30, 2015

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This is very important. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/AXWQpOKrM6

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gaia ✨ (@astraeanixie) April 30, 2015

Privilege allows you to define your own riots as "tea parties" in the history books! #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/ysdHQgXhQN

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Benjamin J. Hall (@MrBJHall) April 29, 2015

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Police Shoot Two Unarmed Men 377 Times, In Car That Had Already Crashed countercurrentnews.com/2014/05/police…

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jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

Yes, let's talk about looting... http://t.co/CV5tpv9OtQ

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Nessa. (@curlyheadRED) April 28, 2015

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How black social-media activists built the nation’s first 21st-century civil rights movement: nytimes.com/2015/05/10/mag… http://t.co/I0zhRQk7Ul

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Mark S. Luckie (@marksluckie) May 04, 2015

"What does it do to a child to grow up knowing that you cannot simply be a child?" - @ClintSmithIII t.ted.com/WjMqgb6 #BlackLivesMatter

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TED Talks (@TEDTalks) May 01, 2015

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Nancy LeTourneau: What Can We Do?

Leonard Pitts is going to start writing a series of columns to answer the question posed to him by a 55 year-old white woman from Austin, TX who said she was heartsick about the police violence against unarmed African Americans and wanted to know what she could do. Today he reports what Rev. Tony Lee said in response. “Protests,” Lee told me in a telephone interview, “are one way that pushes people’s feet to the fire. Whatever the issue is, it’s brought to the forefront. But…there’s still need for people to do legislative advocacy, dealing with policy, whether it’s from the national to the local, showing people how to be engaged and [affecting] the policies that have such direct impact.”

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All over the world – police brutality against minorities stays consistent

DEVELOPING: Water cannons and stun grenades used on protesters in Tel Aviv on.msnbc.com/1E7sAAa http://t.co/osJ0aor6TY

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  (@msnbc) May 03, 2015

Ethiopian-Israelis protest in Tel Aviv over police treatment nyti.ms/1I8grlD http://t.co/tU9KmcqYzQ

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The New York Times (@nytimes) May 03, 2015

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Striking photos from Tel Aviv rally to protest police violence against Ethiopian Israelis htz.li/2jR http://t.co/EnDZ7Z2cPR

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Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) May 03, 2015

Tel Aviv rush hour brought to standstill by Ethiopian Israelis protesting racism, police discrimination. http://t.co/maXZ1mM2r4

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  (@joshmitnick) May 03, 2015

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Central Tel Aviv looks like a war zone; it is a watershed day in relations with Ethiopian Israelis

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Chemi Shalev (@ChemiShalev) May 03, 2015

Israeli police have rarely used such force against TA demonstrators; now for the debate on whether this has anything to do with their color

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Chemi Shalev (@ChemiShalev) May 03, 2015

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Ethiopian Israelis Protest Racism And Police Brutality In Tel Aviv buzzfeed.com/claudiakoerner… Hmm....so familiar http://t.co/z0bv7Yt8az

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  (@GoBrooklyn) May 03, 2015

Police fire stun grenades at Tel Aviv rally by Ethiopian Israelis u.afp.com/txc

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Agence France-Presse (@AFP) May 03, 2015

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Strongest images I took tonight at the protest in #TelAviv where #EthiopianIsraelis took to the streets in thousands. http://t.co/QFekZLQ9DY

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Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) May 03, 2015

Why we took to the streets: Ethiopian Israelis who refuse to stay silent dlvr.it/9fcnLC http://t.co/nrlOHYYtOe

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Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) May 03, 2015

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Ethiopian-Israelis' protest against police violence is met with police violence bit.ly/1I5u2sk http://t.co/o8PGQAPsv7

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+972 Magazine (@972mag) May 03, 2015

Israelis, Many Of Ethiopian Descent, Stage Mass Protest In Tel Aviv Demanding Equality For All huff.to/1catxSm

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Margie (@paeznyc) May 03, 2015