Backgroound Image

Category: News

15 Months of Protest Art for Gaza

Posted on by neversleep

Admin note: only New York sections included

Over the last 15 months, artists have mobilized against Israel’s attacks on civilians in Gaza, which organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have determined to be consistent with genocide. After multiple failed attempts, Israel and Hamas agreed to a mutually negotiated ceasefire deal that went into effect on Sunday, January 19, with an initial phase stipulating a halt in Israeli attacks on Gaza for six weeks. The deal will reportedly allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip as Palestinians are permitted to return to their locales and Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners will be released in stages. Still fragile as it unfolds day by day, the US-backed ceasefire deal marks a precarious break in the onslaught of violence and destruction throughout Gaza. On Monday, January 27, tens of thousands of displaced Gazans began to return north.

In their international push for a permanent ceasefire, artists have developed visual languages to demand institutional divestments from Israel and call for an end to violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. Many have either foregone or been denied life-changing career opportunities in their public advocacy for Palestine, underscoring the importance of community, solidarity, and artistic freedom in the broader culture sector.

Below are some of the most impactful moments of artistic protest for Gaza since October 2023.

Continue reading “15 Months of Protest Art for Gaza”

ICE launches ‘targeted operations’ in New York

Posted on by neversleep

January 29, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have begun in New York City as the Trump administration pushes for an increase in arrests of undocumented people across the United States.

On Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in New York City to oversee ICE enforcement operations.

Noem confirmed on X that at least one arrest happened in the Bronx as a result of an ICE raid. The Aurora Police Department later confirmed the suspect arrested was wanted for burglary in Colorado.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the ICE operation in a statement, which read in part:

“Our city coordinated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a federal criminal investigation involving a suspect hiding in New York City. As I have repeatedly said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice — just as we have done for years.”

An ICE spokesperson told [news source] that raids will be conducted in New York in a statement, which read in part: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began conducting enhanced targeted operations today in New York to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.”

Found on mainstream news.

Columbia University suspends one student as it expedites investigation into Israeli history class disruption

Posted on by neversleep

January 24, 2025

Columbia University says it has suspended one student after “expediting” its investigation into a group who disrupted a class on Israeli history.

Demonstrators handed out flyers with “violent imagery” to students attending a History of Modern Israel class on Tuesday, the university said in a statement.

Columbia said it identified and suspended one student involved, pending a full review, and that its investigation remains active.

It was the first day of Professor Avi Shilon’s class, and students had only just been introduced to the course when protesters – whose faces were covered and appeared to be wearing keffiyehs, entered and distributed anti-Israel leaflets, student Elisha Baker told [news source].

One flyer shows a burning Israeli flag underneath the words “Burn Zionism to the Ground,” and another depicts a large black boot about to stomp on the Jewish Star of David and reads “Crush Zionism,” according to pictures taken by Baker.

“It was shocking for everyone in the class,” said Baker, a junior studying Middle Eastern history. “I’m still super excited for this class. It’s a shame that this incident is going to put us on edge inside the classroom.”

Found on mainstream news.

Six Joyriders Steal an R Train

Posted on by neversleep

New York City police are searching for a group of people they say took a subway train on a joyride.

The department released images and video Wednesday of six individuals who they say commandeered an unoccupied “R” train over the weekend.

Surveillance video from inside the train shows the group, who all wore jackets with their hoods up, as they exited the conductor’s compartment and walked through the otherwise empty car.

A video of the group on their joyride was also shared on Instagram.

The clip shows one of them seated at the controls while another appears to be sitting on the outside of the car, their legs dangling over the edge.

“Cover your faces. Cover your faces,” one of them says on the video as the train accelerates through the tunnel.

The department said Thursday that they believe the joyride occurred around 10 p.m. Saturday at the 36th Street and 4th Avenue Subway Station in Brooklyn.

Police and transit officials have not said how long and how far the suspects travelled in the stolen train. They said the suspects damaged glass panels on the train’s camera.

The group fled on foot, according to police. No injuries were reported.

Spokespersons for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said they are working with police on the investigation.

Police in September said two teens took an empty subway train in Queens on a brief joyride before crashing it and fleeing.

Found on mainstream news.

Israeli Restaurant Miriam Vandalized in Brooklyn

Posted on by neversleep

Activists vandalized the outside of @miriamrest , a disgusting genocide supporting israeli restaurant in Brookyln. Not only was this act condemned by pig mayor Erikkk Adams and zionist senator Chuckkk Schumer, but “pro-Palestine” mayoral hopeful Zohran Kwame Mamdani decided to join in on the disavowal. Zohran was infamously arrested outside of Schumer’s house at a protest, but here it looks like they agree that fighting genocide supporters outside of “permitted” protests is too far. A supposedly socialist mayor denouncing some red paint and playing into antisemitism accusations is too far, but Mamdani’s dedication to the cause was already in question because no true supporter of the liberation and resistance would ever run for a state-elected position. No more wheatpasting or support for this fuck!

Found on social media.

The attack went down just before 3 a.m. Sunday morning, with three vandals sneaking up on the spot under the cover of darkness with their faces hidden behind hoods and masks.

One of the vandals served as a lookout, while the other two hurriedly marred Miriam’s windows before scurrying off into the night, security footage obtained by [news source] showed.

“It’s just a sad thing, you know, I don’t know what people, why they’re so angry about a restaurant in Brooklyn,” said Rafael Hasid, who’s owned the restaurant for 20 years.

“I’m Israeli, like, ‘I’m sorry I was born in Israel?’ I’m not stealing anybody’s food, not doing anything. I don’t know what people, what do they want from me, what did I do?”

The incident was the second time his restaurant was targeted by anti-Israel agitators. About two years ago, Hasid’s Miriam location on the Upper West Side was similarly vandalized.

He’s also been subjected to numerous threatening phone calls, while he said random people who have never eaten at his restaurants have blanketed him with negative reviews online.

While he has everything he needs to clean the paint off his glass, Hasid decided to open his doors Sunday without cleaning it off.

And he said the public’s response has been inspiring, with people stopping by to eat who otherwise hadn’t planned to, some offering to donate to help with the clean up, and others sticking their heads in the simply offer their support and condolences.

US Sen. Chuck Schumer even stopped by to place an order and show his support, the owner said.

Police are investigating the incident, and have have posted officers to stand watch nearby.

Found on mainstream news.

Fare Evaders Give Middle Finger To MTA Placing Spikes At Subway Turnstiles

Posted on by neversleep

January 17, 2025

New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has installed spikes at subway stations to stop turnstile jumpers—and they don’t seem to be working.

An unidentified subway rider wasn’t fazed by the visible spikes at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue station, jumping right over them. Sporting a Rick and Morty sweatshirt, he carefully placed his left hand on the metal spikes to jump over the turnstile pole just in time to walk onto the train approaching the station.

No one stopped him.

“Oh, so now I gotta jump over it? OK, I don’t give a f–k, I’ll jump over it,” the man was overheard saying.

Continue reading “Fare Evaders Give Middle Finger To MTA Placing Spikes At Subway Turnstiles”

Here’s why Micron is running behind in New York, and what it means to historic project

Posted on by neversleep

Just over two years ago, Micron Technology announced it would build, with substantial help from taxpayers, the nation’s largest chipmaking complex in the northern suburbs of Syracuse.

Construction was scheduled to start in June 2024. That was pushed back to early 2025. And now, groundbreaking won’t start until at least November 2025, nearly a year and half behind the original schedule.

At the same time, all of the other major chipmakers that have won big awards from the federal CHIPS Act are putting up factories and installing equipment across the country. Even Micron is pouring 30,000 tons of concrete a week at a chip plant it’s building — in Idaho.

In the town of Clay, however, the 1,400-acre site where Micron proposes to build four massive factories remains heavily forested and brimming with wetlands. Micron’s only presence there are several plywood signs.

The main reason for the holdup? Micron hasn‘t finished the massive environmental impact report required by the state and federal governments to move the project forward.

Continue reading “Here’s why Micron is running behind in New York, and what it means to historic project”

Starbucks workers expand strike in US cities, including New York

Posted on by neversleep

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more U.S. cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added locations in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement.

Starbucks said the disruptions from the strike have no significant impact on its operations because only a small handful of U.S. stores have been impacted.

The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Ohio, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company’s Christmas sales.

The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.

Talks between Starbucks and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach “hundreds of stores” by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

Luigi Mangione’s Lawyer Slams New York Officials For ‘Staged’ Perp Walk

Posted on by neversleep

The attorney for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, sharply criticized the “spectacle” surrounding her client in court on Monday, calling his extradition from Pennsylvania to New York City the “biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career.”

During Mangione’s arraignment at a lower Manhattan courthouse, the alleged killer entered a not guilty plea on the 11 state charges stemming from the Dec. 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

At the hearing, Mangione’s lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, expressed concern about her client’s ability to receive a fair trial given the immense attention he is facing from both the public and New York City officials.

Pointing to the highly publicized scene at Mangione’s transfer from Pennsylvania to New York last Thursday, Friedman Agnifilo accused public servants and members of law enforcement of using Mangione as “political fodder.”

“He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest staged perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career,” she told Judge Gregory Carro. “It was absolutely unnecessary.”

When Mangione arrived in NYC after waiving his extradition rights from Pennsylvania last week, he was escorted off the helicopter by a team of heavily armed law enforcement officers.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was also there to meet Mangione, afterwards telling a local TV station he intended to send a “strong message” to the accused about what happens to people who bring crime to his city.

Friedman Agnifilo told Judge Carro that she found the situation to be entirely excessive, given Mangione’s cooperativeness with law enforcement.

“There was no reason for the NYPD and everybody to have these big assault rifles that frankly I had no idea was in their arsenal ― and to have all of this press there, the media there,” she said. “It was perfectly choreographed.”

Calling attention to Adams’ presence, Friedman Agnifilo asked, “And what was the New York City mayor doing at this press conference? That just made it utterly political.”

“The mayor should know more than anyone of the presumption of innocence that he too is afforded when dealing with his own issues,” she went on, referring to the criminal corruption case the mayor is currently facing.

The spectacle surrounding Mangione has not ceased since his return to New York. On Monday, he was escorted into the courtroom with an officer on each arm and about a half dozen other officials following behind.

About two dozen women filled the courtroom gallery in support of Mangione. None of his family was present.

Mangione’s next New York City court date is scheduled for Feb. 21.

Found on mainstream news.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Updates: Luigi Mangione’s Manifesto States ‘These Parasites Had It Coming’

Posted on by neversleep

The person of interest in the healthcare CEO shooting wrote that “these parasites had it coming.”

Luigi Mangione’s handwritten manifesto was heavily critical of the healthcare industry and warned that violence was the only answer to changing it.

“These parasites had it coming,” he wrote in the document, a police official who has seen the document told [news source].

“I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done,” it continued.

The manifesto also stated that Mangione was acting alone and had funded himself.

Continue reading “UnitedHealthcare CEO Updates: Luigi Mangione’s Manifesto States ‘These Parasites Had It Coming’”