By Miguel R. Llull

Cops fall into the “us vs them” situation every day. It’s hard, in fact, to escape it. Every time you are in the public - in your patrol car or walking a beat - all you get are dirty looks, or middle fingers and fuck offs. Stuff like that goes a long way toward pushing police officers to only care for those who empathize with them. While that may be understandable, I’m here to tell you that it’s dangerous; plain and simple. Departments, I believe, should have programs that are specifically designed to address this issue.  (They may now, in fact, have some, but I don’t remember any such programs when I was working as a Police Officer or Sheriff).

By Arta Nikbin

The zine that I have created is about racism which has been, lamentably, a never-ending issue that keeps changing forms from colonial slavery to human trafficking. This matter should concern all of us because it can tear the world apart. Unfortunately, many of us, at some point in time, will be a victim of racism.

By Michael McNevin

Click Here to listen to Michael McNevin’s song Prey.

2020 was a kitchen sink of history and hardship and hope. So much happened, it could probably be a 25-minute album side of songs, akin to Dark Side of The Moon, or Alice’s Restaurant. The song Prey jumps around some, with vignettes, symbology. I usually write straight ahead story songs, linear start to finish, easy to follow word pictures. This one has the word pictures, too; but it’s a little different - it has threads running right through it, that tie several topics together, that aforementioned 2020 kitchen sink. It came out this way for a reason I guess, a song I felt worthy of writing and recording. Here’s some of the why and what behind the lyrics.

By Scratch

A red brick tucked behind their back

Ready to smash a hole through every riot shield

I reach up to put my hand on their shoulder

Are there even other ways left to fight this?

Others empty bins of trash into the streets

Tinder for the fire this time

The sound of the crowd disappears briefly

Shock ringing after thunder flashes

Powerlessness is overwhelming 

By JaRon Eames 

The National Football League has been in existence for over 100 years, yet there isn’t a single black owner. Not today, or any other day, for that matter. Though Blacks make up 70% of the players, not one of them is at the helm. There have been, of course, Black coaches, and there are certainly plenty of Black players who are making many millions of dollars. Yet, those Black bodies running up and down the field are still powerless when it comes to making real changes in the league.

By Zachary Brett Charles

Banks were invented
as a place or shared mental space
to store wealth we cannot use

 (well, I could use it right
about now, most people could, though)

or, at least, most of it 
is in the banks, so most people can’t
touch it or eat it or 
smoke it. If you got it