All articles tagged with #activism
A White House report accuses Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of ideological capture and promoting activist, 'social justice' framing over traditional history, criticizing director Anthea Hartig, noting the exclusion of Founding Era topics and a shift from scholarship to activism ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.
Former Democratic activist Calla Walsh, who lives in Lebanon, attended Ali Khamenei’s funeral in Iran and praised him as the “greatest anti-imperialist leader” in a video for Press TV, framing Iran as resisting the US and Israel. The article notes Walsh’s past activism and a 2023 arrest for vandalizing an Israeli company’s New Hampshire office, and describes her as a former DSA co-chair who has criticized U.S. military actions and expressed pro-regime sentiment.
Polish anti-corruption activist Monika Silva Koniuszek, who investigated allegations against President Daniel Noboa’s family business Noboa Trading and related cocaine-seizure claims, was found dead in Montañita. An initial suicide ruling was overturned by a postmortem showing blunt force trauma and strangulation. Colleagues say she faced threats and had delivered a dossier to the US embassy; politicians and allies call for a swift, independent investigation as locals mourn with memorials and a street renamed in her honor.
As America nears its 250th birthday, LGBTQ+ artists and advocates in Philadelphia and across the country push to expand the celebratory narrative to include marginalized histories from the 1970s onward. Exhibits like This Is (Not) a Celebration foreground archival materials and queer activists, while other groups stage events aimed at a broader reckoning of who counts in American history. The conversation runs alongside debates about political attempts to rewrite history, provocative campaigns to emphasize a multicultural national identity, and a broader question of whether the bicentennial can be a celebration or a catalyst for confronting past and present inequalities.
Target’s executive chairman Brian Cornell drew his lowest-ever shareholder support at the annual meeting, 87.2% (down from 95%), well below the S&P 500 director-approval average, signaling mounting investor pressure as the retailer pursues a leadership transition with Michael Fiddelke as CEO. Although Fiddelke won 99% support and first-quarter same-store sales rose 5.6%, concerns persist over inventory management, store investments, and reputational hits tied to social issues, contributing to a stock still about 50% below its 2021 high. Some large pension funds and activist groups voted against Cornell, and the proxy reiterates a separation of chair and CEO roles during the transition.
The opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has critics arguing it isn’t a traditional presidential library but an activism-focused campus run by the Obama Foundation; it houses a museum about Obama’s presidency while his records are stored elsewhere, sits on Jackson Park public land under a long 99-year lease, and has sparked concerns about public trust, financing safeguards, and whether the project serves as a memorial or a political operation.
Opal Lee, the activist behind Juneteenth's national recognition, spent a lifetime turning local celebration into a national movement—walking 2.5 miles a day from Fort Worth to D.C. to symbolize the delay, gathering signatures that helped spark Juneteenth's 2021 federal holiday status, and sharing her journey in A Committee of One, a memoir/self-help book that frames freedom as a daily practice and calls for expanding Juneteenth celebrations beyond June 19.
Patagonia sued Pattie Gonia (Wyn Wiley’s drag persona) in January 2026 over trademark applications for Pattie Gonia-branded clothing and related services, arguing the move could confuse consumers and dilute Patagonia’s brand identity. Pattie Gonia has pushed back, framing the suit as an attack by a corporation on activist work. Legal experts say parody has strict limits and that Pattie Gonia’s merchandise may not clearly qualify as parody; still, experts note a real risk of consumer confusion and brand dilution. The disputes hinge on trademark law and the boundary between activism and commerce, with analysts suggesting a quick settlement—potentially Pattie Gonia withdrawing applications and halting Pattie Gonia-branded products—as Patagonia seeks a resolution that preserves both brands’ environmental aims. The case spotlights the tension between brand protection and activist branding in the outdoor industry.
Four people diagnosed with dementia—Maxine Linnell, Julie Hayden, George Rook and Kate Swaffer—have turned their condition into activism, rejecting the 'end-of-life' narrative, founding networks and advocating for early rehabilitation, peer support, and genuine, person-centred care; they challenge stereotypes in media and policy, push for national dementia pathways, and seek to empower people living with dementia rather than enacting prescribed disengagement.
Thousands protested outside Albania’s prime minister in Tirana against Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s plan for a luxury resort on a pristine Adriatic coast, underscoring environmental and transparency concerns and the project’s ties to the Trump family, while the government defends it as a tourism boon.
Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello announced a one‑day Power To The People festival for Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland, featuring a protest‑oriented lineup including Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, Brittany Howard and more, with proceeds going to VoteRiders and HeadCount, as artists push activism ahead of the midterm elections amid withdrawals from the White House’s Freedom 250 event.
Drag performer Pattie Gonia (Wyn Wiley) has publicly urged Patagonia to drop its trademark lawsuit against her after Patagonia sued for infringement; the suit seeks $1 in damages plus legal fees, while Pattie accuses Patagonia of bullying activists and threatening her livelihood. Patagonia says Pattie filed to trademark the Pattie Gonia name and could confuse customers, and notes a 2022 agreement not to use Patagonia’s logo or fonts on products.
Patagonia filed a California federal trademark suit against Pattie Gonia (Wyn Wiley), seeking to block her use of the Pattie Gonia name and alleging likely dilution of Patagonia’s marks. Pattie, a climate activist and drag performer with more than 3 million followers who has raised over $3.7 million for environmental causes, says the move is an attempt to erase her activism and livelihood and has urged Patagonia to drop the case. The dispute centers on intellectual property versus advocacy, with no resolution yet.
Tom Morello has announced a one-day Power to the People Festival on Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, headlined by Bruce Springsteen and the Foo Fighters and featuring a star-studded lineup including Joan Baez, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard, Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black (with collaborators), Serj Tankian, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, and more. The event will run two stages and include the Freedom Village for civic engagement, with proceeds benefiting VoteRiders and HeadCount. Pre-sale starts May 29 at 10 a.m. ET and general on-sale follows on May 30 at 10 a.m. ET.
Patagonia filed a California federal trademark lawsuit against Pattie Gonia (Wyn Wiley), alleging her activities and a recent trademark application infringe its brand and risk consumer confusion, with nominal damages and a ban on merch using Patagonia’s marks; Pattie Gonia responded May 27 with a video and open letter urging Patagonia to drop the case, arguing the litigation harms her team and followers and that she has not used Patagonia branding on merchandise. Patagonia says it has tried to find a path forward to protect its brand while supporting activism, noting its prior trademark actions against Gap and Anheuser-Busch; Pattie Gonia is a drag- and climate-activist with millions of followers.