Letter from Peace & Riot
Stokely Carmichael, later known as Kwame Ture, once said, “The first step in the revolution is to be honest.” This quote underscores the importance of truth-telling in the fight for justice.
Mugshot of Stokely Carmichael after his arrest in Jackson, Mississippi in 1961 during the Freedom Rides. Carmichael would spend two months in the notorious Parchman Prison.
The stakes for environmental and social justice voices are extraordinarily high in repressive political regimes. These regimes often prioritize economic growth and capitalism over ecological sustainability and human rights, leading to significant consequences for marginalized communities. Activists advocating for environmental protection and social equity may face retribution through censorship, imprisonment, or even violence as they challenge state policies that harm the environment and vulnerable populations. One glaring example of retribution is the 300 million dollar Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation ( SLAPP) against Greenpeace and Greenpeace International from an oil and gas company.
The repression of dissenting voices not only silences critical perspectives but also exacerbates existing inequalities. Communities that rely on natural resources for their livelihoods are particularly at risk when their rights to speak out against environmental degradation are curtailed. The lack of transparency and accountability in governance can lead to unchecked exploitation of natural resources, further endangering ecosystems and the health of local populations.
In a repressive regime, honesty about environmental degradation and social injustices becomes an act of resistance.
Ultimately, Peace & Riot aims to document the struggle for environmental and social justice within oppressive political contexts. We want to uplift voices that protect nature and safeguard human dignity, rights, and survival against systemic oppression.
Riot,
Michael McKenzie
Michael McKenzie is Executive Director at Counterstream Media. Before joining Counterstream, Michael was the Community Strategist with Taproot Earth, an international organization that builds power and cultivates solutions among frontline communities in the Gulf South and Global South. As a Community Strategist with Taproot Earth, Michael worked with frontline organizations and communities in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Puerto Rico to advance strategies and solutions that address environmental and social injustice.
Before embarking on more global and community-centered work, Michael has served as a licensed Special Educator, Principal, Executive Principal, and Chief Executive Officer. Michael launched mentorship, arts, and social-emotional initiatives for his students, which later inspired the launch of the non-profit organization RESILIENCE IS POWER PROGRAM. The organization has awarded scholarships, hosted youth leadership camps, and facilitated financial literacy training and town hall meetings in underserved communities.
Michael earned a Bachelor’s in Applied Sociology from Millsaps College and a Master’s in Education Administration from Texas Southern University. He is a former Harvard GSE Fellow and is currently a doctoral candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University, where his research examines how urban school leaders understand, perceive, and respond to media coverage of schools and communities educating Black and Brown youth. Michael is a proud husband and father. He spends his spare time reading, fishing, hiking, cooking, traveling, writing, listening to reggae soul, beach bumming, and watching documentaries.