BFFs

• Pet Food Express , a trusted California pet retailer and advocate for animal welfare, is excited to launch The Big Fix at https://www.petfood.express/bigfix .
• The new campaign is aimed at impacting animal overpopulation and the overcrowding of animal rescue organizations, as well as bringing awareness to the need for essential spay and neuter services for California’s pets.
• View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130946446/en/
  The Big Fix Campaign: 50% of sale of limited-edition dog and cat toys from Pet Food Express will benefit California spay and neuter clinics.
• For more information on Pet Food Express’ Community Programs or to find out how to become an adoption partner, please visit www.petfood.express .

• In the United States, under the banner of right-wing demagoguery, “freedom” is being touted as an excuse to ban books by people of colour, Indigenous people and members of the LGBTQ community.
• Ron DeSantis has signed into law the Individual Freedom bill, which bans educators from teaching topics relating mostly to race.
• In Canada, the “universal” concept of freedom has failed to include the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples and has often served as a cloak for maintaining illegitimate relations of power.

‘Ugly’ freedoms

• Its history is repeating itself with a politics that is as cruel as it is dangerous and widespread.
• Central to this history has been a struggle over the meaning of freedom and which vision of freedom society should adopt.
• The appeal to these “ugly” freedoms is being used to legitimize and promote censorship, systemic racism and naked forms of political opportunism.

Ron DeSantis’s ‘freedom’ fixation

• His political career is marked by an obsessive appropriation and relentless defence of freedoms that are false and illusory.
• He defines himself as “governor of the free state of Florida” and fills his public appearances with self-congratulatory references to freedom.
• As a member of U.S. Congress before he became governor, he was one of the founders of the far-right Freedom Caucus.
• In naming Florida as the freest state in the nation, DeSantis claims he is engaged in a movement for freedom.

Authoritarian values

• Freedom for DeSantis is divorced from civic culture and isolated in the regressive discourse of authoritarian values, manufactured ignorance and nefarious power relations.
• In the name of individual freedom, he bans books from classrooms and libraries.
• He has used state power to punish both his critics and individuals and groups he suggests are unworthy of citizenship.

Remembering what freedom really is

• What can be done to preserve freedom as a crucial element in the struggle for democracy in Florida and around the world?
• Educators, parents, young people and other stakeholders need to rediscover freedom as an emancipatory force.
• The hijacking of freedom by far-right politicians like DeSantis not only raises crucial questions about whose freedom is at stake in a time of tyranny, but also how to fight for a version of freedom that is expansive and just.

• In addition, Stroll to the Polls announced its revamped website, strolltothepolls.org , offering supporters additional features to help with GOTV.
• People interested in celebrating with Stroll to the Polls can sign up on the Stroll to the Polls Facebook page.
• That decision led Prioleau to launch Stroll to the Polls in 2018 to make the performance of democracy FUNctional.
• To that end, Stroll to the Polls urges individuals and groups to not only fellowship at the polls; but also, to purchase FUNctional performance apparel and accessories.

• CHATHAM, N.J., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - It's Cry Babies for a whole new demographic as IMC Toys introduces BFF by Cry Babies with the help of TikTok sensation, Triple Charm!
• IMC Toys is passionate about making dolls of every age and every stage, and the newest addition to the brand takes Cry Babies fans into the world of fashion dolls!
• To celebrate these newest dolls, IMC Toys is throwing an exclusive event in Miami that will be hosted by Triple Charm!
• "Triple Charm are the perfect partners to introduce BFF by Cry Babies to fans," says Michael Pisors, Head of Marketing, IMC Toys.