🦄 COVID-19, Global

COVID Commission Finds Bolsonaro Committed “Crimes Against Humanity”

Thousands of Black people occupied the streets of several cities throughout Brazil on November 20, a national holiday called Black Consciousness/Awareness Day. A month earlier, investigations into President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic found him guilty of “crimes against humanity” and recommended indictments…

🦄 Community, COVID-19

A “Different Perspective” on COVID-19

Minneapolis, MN – COVID-19 is one of the most destructive pandemics in human history. By now, most every person on earth has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus, with many losing family members and friends while enduring harm to their finances and mental health.

As…

🦄 COVID-19, Global
large street protest in sao paulo showing flares lit, lazers shining and large signs against brazilian president bolsonaro

Brazil: Hoping for a Vaccine, Food on the Plate and #ForaBolsonaro

Brazilians tired of waiting for President Jair Bolsonaro have taken the streets as part of a mass movement organized by labor unions, various sports clubs, anti-authoritarians, and the political party Raízes 88, among other organizations. As deaths from the coronavirus pandemic top 530,000, massive bi-weekly…

🦄 COVID-19, Global

Brazil: The People, at Last, Took to the Streets

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets in all regions of Brazil last weekend to protest against the administration of President Jair Messias Bolsonaro and call for his impeachment. The day of massive protest came as the Brazilian people live the uncertainties of…

🦄 COVID-19, Global
São Paulo

“Brazil is Asking for Help” – Artists and Activists Speak Out

COVID-19 continues to ravage Brazil, leading to record numbers of daily deaths. For a deeper understanding of some of the impacts the coronavirus pandemic is having on several areas and aspects of life, Unicorn Riot recently heard from four Brazilians across different states.

Brazilian Pandemonium:…

🦄 COVID-19, Global

Brazilian Pandemonium: COVID-19 Kills Over 300K

A little after a year since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Brazil and its population is suffering under a steady increase in the daily number of cases. Over 300,000 deaths have occurred since the first reported contamination on February 26, 2020, when a…

🦄 COVID-19, Prison
Barbed wire fence surrounds Faribault prison in MN

COVID-19 Deaths in Minnesota Prisons Continue to Rise

Faribault, MN – At least eleven people in Minnesota state prisons have died from COVID-19 as of February 17, 2021. Nearly 4,000 inmates, or two out of every five prisoners, have tested positive for the coronavirus. Families and advocates of prisoners have consistently staged protests,…

🦄 COVID-19, Global

Brazil Nears 200K Deaths as Politicians Continue to Downplay COVID-19

Espirito Santo, Brazil – Devastation spreads across Brazil as the number of coronavirus cases continue to climb among the highest in the world, second only to the United States. Insecurity, hunger and viral infection threaten more and more Brazilians as far-right president Jair Bolsonaro continues to…

🦄 Community, COVID-19
image: Brenda a 60-year-old Native American woman speaks in the center of the frame. She is wearing a white knit hat and a black zip-up jacket. Behind her on the ground is white snow, and to her left in the background is an Indigenous structure known as a Tarpee, a tipi-like structure made with tarps constructed to help elders keep warm while fighting oil pipeline extraction on Native land.

Winter of Coronavirus: Seeking Shelter in Minneapolis During COVID–19

Minneapolis, MN – With winter setting in, many people experiencing houselessness in Minneapolis are forced to choose between living outdoors in freezing temperatures or entering a restrictive and non-private temporary indoor shelter.

A new scientific study finds that over 400,000 COVID cases and nearly 11,000…

🦄 Community, COVID-19

Denver Sweeps 300+ Tent Encampment Residents

Denver, CO – The largest tent encampment in the city, which sprung up in October 2019, is being cleared early Monday morning as about 60 advocates protest the move.

Unicorn Riot is on-the-ground covering the sweep, with live coverage starting at 5AM.

Residents at the…

🦄 Community, COVID-19

Court Protest Aims at Boston Covid Housing Crisis

BOSTON, MA – Thousands of families in eastern Massachusetts face renewed risk of eviction. Governor Charlie Baker opted on October 17 to cease emergency measures to protect shelter that have been in effect throughout most of 2020, triggering a huge surge in “notices to quit”…

🦄 COVID-19, Labor

Philly Starbucks Worker Delivers NLRB Unfair Labor Practice Complaint

Philadelphia, PA – An employee of the Starbucks at 1900 Market St. delivered a National Labor Relations Board form stating she’d been retaliated against for ‘Protected Concerted Activity’. The worker filing the complaint alleges she was punished via a reduction in hours for organizing a…

🦄 COVID-19

Demands Reignite for Releases from GEO ICE Jail Amid New Covid Outbreak

Aurora, CO – Nineteen new COVID-19 cases were reported on September 30 at the GEO Group’s privately-owned and operated Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) jail. Published in the most recent accountability report by the office of Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO6), this COVID-19 outbreak is the…

🦄 COVID-19, Police
image: city emergency vehicle lights, as well as other city vehicles' lights, shine in the pre-dawn twilight light as well as reflect off the wet sidewalks at Peavey Park. Yellow caution tape has been strung up around the park as a barrier while police evict the residents from more than 10 tents.

Peavey Park Sanctuary Homeless Camp Evicted in Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN – A long-dreaded eviction of the sanctuary camp at Peavey Park took place today just after 6:00 a.m., an hour before sunrise. Minneapolis Park Police, Minneapolis Police, and sheriff’s officers were all documented as having taken part in this morning’s sweep.

An emergency…

🦄 COVID-19, Police

New Month Brings Added Urgency To Minneapolis’ Housing Needs

Minneapolis, MN – Advocates for people without housing are meeting today outside of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters, hours after a sanctuary encampment in the Phillips area was cleared by police. They’re demanding immediate sanctuary for the Safe Haven Encampment (SHE), a sanctuary…

🦄 COVID-19

Authorities Visit Loring Park Tent Encampment, Bring Eviction Scare

Minneapolis, MN – On Monday afternoon, authorities visited the Loring Park Sanctuary to speak with residents of the outdoor tent community, stoking fears of another clearing of the park.
Three weeks ago, law enforcement bulldozed dozens of tents in Powderhorn Park, arrested about 20 people,…

🦄 COVID-19

Minneapolis Park Police Displace Sanctuary Encampment

Minneapolis, MN – On Monday, July 20, dozens of houseless people were displaced and about 20 people were arrested as law enforcement executed an eviction of the eastern portion of a sanctuary tent encampment in Powderhorn Park.
After the raid, Unicorn Riot spoke to community…