Rev. Fred Small

Rev. Fred Small

@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Minister for Climate Justice, Arlington Street Church, singer-songwriter, author @nosycrowus.bsky.social, Cambridge, MA (Massachusett land). He/him. Info & events: https://linktr.ee/revfredsmall

1.7K followers303 following269 posts

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

I'm writing a new sermon, "Coming Back to Life": When despair threatens to overwhelm us, we recall that the well of spirit is infinite, bubbling up from the depths of the soul to slake our thirst & quicken our courage. I'll preach it tomorrow in Boston & next Sun. in Reading. linktr.ee/revfredsmall

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

As usual, the cruelty of this administration is in a tight race with its incompetence. The words "mechanically issuing deportation orders" should never describe #immigration proceedings in a democracy. Thank you @bostonglobe.com for this horrifying report. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/19/m...

bostonglobe.com‘It was complete disarray’: Chaos, disruption at Chelmsford immigration court - The Boston GlobeSuddenly rescheduled cases, moved months or years earlier from their original dates, have overwhelmed the infrastructure at the court.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

A lifelong Democrat, I'm both a leftist & a pragmatist. We've got to win elections. But I'm appalled by @thirdway.bsky.social's declaration of "war" ($15M of negativity) on @demsocialists.bsky.social. To stop Trump & Co. we need more unity & less infighting. #bigtent www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...

nytimes.comModerate Democrats Prepare for ‘War’ Against an Ascendant Left (Gift Article)One moderate group says the progressive wins are “deeply troubling” and is planning a $15 million effort against democratic socialism.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Of all the lies & distortions of Trumpism, "DEI bike lanes" is among the nastiest. It goes like this: 1. Bike lanes support transportation equity. 2. Equity helps people of color. 3. Helping people of color is woke. 4. Bike lanes must be destroyed. @massbike.bsky.social @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social

The War on Cars@thewaroncars.bsky.social

It's not just advocates who say this. Researchers, studies, and data say it. That's why advocates say it. Reporters can just say it, too!

theguardian.comUS push to defund ‘DEI bike lanes’ will make roads less safe, advocates sayTrump administration boasts of cutting $1.73bn already allocated for cycling improvements to city streets

Rev. Fred Small reposted

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com

OSSOFF: Who won the 2020 election? CLAYTON: Uhm, you know, I'm not going to do this with you O: This is a job interview. You have an obligation to be honest with the committee. Who won the 2020 election? C: I'm not gonna get into that with you O: You're not being honest or forthright C: ...

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

“Children who are just celebrating . . . just children enjoying themselves, seeing their families, singing. For him to go after those children, it’s awful, it’s dangerous, it’s inhumane, it’s wrong.” Khalid Omar, Isaiah and Faith, St. Paul. #freedomofreligion www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/u...

nytimes.comTrump’s Posts on Singing Somali Schoolchildren Stir Anger in Minnesota (Gift Article)The state’s large Muslim and Somali communities expressed indignation after the president reposted a video of a kindergarten promotion ceremony, including comments noting the girls were in hijabs.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

#BlackHistory isn't "woke." Black history is the truth, discomfiting to some. As Dr. King said, "unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant." @agordonreed.bsky.social @profjeffries.bsky.social

The American Prospect@prospect.org

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation had spent a decade shifting the center of gravity away from solely Jefferson-as-genius and toward the full world that existed on that mountain. My job was to help communicate the shift.

buff.lyWhat Broke Monticello - The American ProspectHow a right-wing smear campaign tried to silence the reality of Thomas Jefferson’s life, and in some ways succeeded.

Rev. Fred Small reposted

Garrett M. Graff
@vermontgmg.bsky.social

There is no excuse for downplaying or eliding the insanity of Trump’s morning post. It is the most unhinged public comment by a president in US history and should be reported and remarked upon as such.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

textbook sanewashing

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Truth. #endfossilfuels @billmckibben.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com @ayanaeliza.bsky.social @jamiehenn.bsky.social @revyearwood.bsky.social @climatebrad.hillheat.com @ienearth.bsky.social @thebtscenter.bsky.social @greenfaith.bsky.social @oilchange.bsky.social @350.org

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

Fossil fuels push the world towards autocracy. Were we less dependent on them, there might have been no President Trump, no President Putin, no ayatollahs, no Netanyahu, no perpetual Middle East wars. Democracy depends on unhooking ourselves. This week's column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comWe need to be honest about Iran – and how our rampant greed for oil is causing mayhem | George MonbiotOil has empowered capitalism, and some of the world’s most exploitative regimes. Move away from it and we can solve some of the key issues we face, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

"This is chemical warfare, as inhumane in its way as the attacks on the girl’s school . . . " Chemical warfare is a #warcrime strictly forbidden by international law. Shame on Trump, Hegseth, and their enablers. #NoWarOnIran

Bill McKibben@billmckibben.bsky.social

America and Israel are in essence waging chemical war in Iran, filling the air above its metropolis with toxic smoke after lighting its oil storage depots on fire. How is anyone supposed to "rise up" when they can't breathe? open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...

open.substack.comA dark and killing cloud over TehranAnd over a shamed America

Rev. Fred Small reposted

Eric Lee
@saintgimp.bsky.social

These ghouls act like they've discovered some novel secret: "Hey, guys, GUYS! Did you know that we can just kill people whenever we want?" Yes, you absolute idiot, that's ALWAYS been true. We just chose not to, for good and self-interested reasons which the entire world is about to learn yet again.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Lindsey Graham: "If we get in a fight, I want to win it quick. I'm in Miami. You see this hat? 'Free Cuba.' Stay tuned. The liberation of Cuba is upon us. We're marching through the world. We're clearing out the bad guys. Cuba is next."

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Kristi Noem's firing, though richly deserved, won't end the abuse. #AbolishICE #JusticeForEmmanuelDamas #BoycottCitizens

Boycott Citizens@boycottcitizens.org

Emmanuel Damas, 56, died in ICE custody on Monday. Damas came to the U.S. from Haiti seeking asylum. After six months in ICE custody—the last four at CoreCivic's Florence Correctional Center—he died from complications from a tooth infection. A tooth infection. 1/3 tucson.com/news/local/b...

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Re Pete Hegseth's manic rants, @polgreen.bsky.social's trenchant analysis quotes Aimé Césaire in 1950: “The hour of the barbarian is at hand. The modern barbarian. The American hour. Violence, excess, waste, mercantilism, bluff, conformism, stupidity, vulgarity, disorder.” #NoKings #NoWarOnIran

Lydia Polgreen@polgreen.bsky.social

I wrote about Trump's fantasy of omnipotence and invulnerability crashing against the material reality of a interdependent world. This insane, heedless war will ruin us all. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/o...

nytimes.comOpinion | Trump’s Fantasy Is Crashing Down
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

"The Constitution could not be more clear. When launching wars of choice, especially with American lives in the balance, the president goes to Congress and Congress authorizes it. That did not happen, and these operations are blatantly unconstitutional."--Maj. Gen. (Ret) Paul D. Eaton #NoWarOnIran

VoteVets@votevets.org

VoteVets Senior Advisor Max Rose spoke to Maj Gen (Ret) Paul Eaton about his Substack article, "War in Iran Will Cost American Lives." They emphasized that Congress should have debated military actions before risking American lives. www.youtube.com/watch?v=to4z...

youtube.comBREAKING: Major General Paul Eaton SHREDS Trump Plan to Bring US Into War With IranYouTube video by VoteVets
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Scout law demands bravery: "Face difficult situations even when you feel afraid. Do what you think is right despite what others might be doing or saying." Selling out #trans kids & #DEI to Hegseth, @scoutingamerica.bsky.social shows it's as lawless as the Trump administration. @erininthemorning.com

The Associated Press@apnews.com

The Pentagon says Scouting America will alter policies to maintain military support, including requiring members to use sex assigned at birth.

bit.lyPentagon says Scouting America will alter policies to maintain support from US militaryDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Scouting America will alter several policies to maintain its support from the U.S. military.

Rev. Fred Small reposted

George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸
@gtconway.bsky.social
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse@whitehouse.senate.gov

“The Justice Department has withheld some Epstein files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor, an NPR investigation finds.” www.npr.org/2026/02/24/n...

npr.orgJustice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to TrumpAn NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

I'm ashamed that in the 21st century my country has an openly #whitesupremacist president.

The New York Times@nytimes.com

President Trump on Thursday shared a video that contained a clip portraying former President Barack Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.

nyti.msTrump Shares Video Portraying the Obamas as ApesThe video, shared by the president’s Truth Social account, contains a brief clip of the faces of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, on the bodies of apes.

Rev. Fred Small reposted

Evan Hurst
@evanhurst.substack.com

TRIGGER WARNING, because here is a US Marshal from Trump‘s Gestapo Force in Memphis kicking a puppy today in the Whitehaven neighborhood and breaking its rib. They were serving a warrant and I guess BIG MAN got scared of the schnauzer. (I didn’t take the video, the dog’s person did)

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

This left me sobbing. Last week I joined hundreds of faith leaders in the frigid streets of Minneapolis. I'll never forget the brutality of the occupation & the courageous love of Minnesotans. The poignant harmonies of the Marsh Family offer another powerful rebuttal to ICE's cruelty & callousness.

The Marsh Family@marshfamilysongs.bsky.social

We hope the good people of #SanFrancisco will forgive us for adapting a song about their city in 1967 to address the shocking and tragic events in #Minnesota in recent weeks. This is dedicated to Renée Good and Alex Pretti, and in solidarity. Our version is called "Minnesota" ❤️ youtu.be/BRHxXHZmVAM

youtu.be"Minnesota" - Marsh Family adaptation of "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)"YouTube video by Marsh Family

Rev. Fred Small reposted

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com

Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"

Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

This Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 1 pm Boston Public Radio will interview Nastasia Lawton-Sticklor, Eric Segal & me about our arrests at Burlington ICE HQ for trying to deliver food & other essentials to detainees. Please join us in person @bpl.boston.gov or @wgbh.org 89.7 FM! www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

wgbh.org4 arrested taking care packages to immigrant detainees at Burlington processing centerThree activists and a reverend sought to bring attention to conditions and alleged human rights violations at the facility where immigrants are held.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Last March 25 masked ICE agents abducted Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk less than 1 mi. from my home. @bostonglobe.com's podcast gave me chills & brought tears for Öztürk, her family & friends & our country. @aclum.bsky.social @acluvermont.bsky.social @aclu.org www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/12/m...

bostonglobe.comRümeysa Öztürk: An American Story Pt. 1 - The Boston GlobePart 1 of the podcast series details Rümeysa Öztürk’s harrowing journey from arrest to detention.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

I was honored to be arrested and charged with "disturbing the peace" with three others seeking to deliver food, clothing & toiletries to detainees at Burlington MA ICE HQ. ICE is rarely held accountable for violently disturbing the peace of every community it enters. www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...

wgbh.org4 arrested taking care packages to immigrant detainees at Burlington processing centerThree activists and a reverend sought to bring attention to conditions and alleged human rights violations at the facility where immigrants are held.
Rev. Fred Small
@revfredsmall.bsky.social

Tell your MA legislators: Rep. Cusack's attempt to "adjust to reality" by rolling back #climate standards would surrender to Trump & harm & dishonor our state. @theclf.bsky.social @mothersoutfront.org @votesteveowens.bsky.social @senatormikebarrett.bsky.social commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/house...

commonwealthbeacon.orgHouse moves forward with bill to weaken 2030 climate goals  - CommonWealth BeaconThe plan reverberating around Beacon Hill, as first reported by CommonWealth Beacon last week, is sure to put lawmakers in a politically difficult position and test their willingness to defend the cli...

Rev. Fred Small reposted

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑
@50501movement.bsky.social

AOC: “We have a future to plan for, we have a future to fight for, and we’re either gonna do that together or you’re going to be left behind… This is about: do you understand the assignment of fighting fascism right now, and the assignment is to come together across difference no matter what.”