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Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

A DEPARTURE: AFTER FOUR YEARS OF BLISTERING COLUMNS, A FREE RADICAL CHANGE

Written by EMILY HOPKINS Posted April 20, 2016 Filed Under: COLUMNS, Free Radical

FREE RAD COLLAGE

 

About a year and a half ago I graced the cover of DigBoston for its 5 Drink Minimum issue. My outing included the Shanghai Club, which no one probably remembers because it closed down a few weeks after I gave it my blistering review. And while it wasn’t a huge titan that I was able to fell with my written word, the place was pretty culturally appropriative, so I still like to think of that 5 Drink as one of the times my writing made a difference.

 

Jokes aside, most of you reading this have likely followed this column from its accidental birth nearly four years ago. My dear friend and former Dig editor JPat Brown puts it thusly:

 

With their asymmetric haircut and ratty Cat Flag T-shirt, Emily had the appearance of somebody with Strong Opinions About Things, so I asked them if they’d be interested in sharing those with the reading public. And oh yeah, I need to get this to design in the next hour, so please share those opinions as quickly as possible.

 

They farted out something about gender, I came up with Free Radical as a placeholder title, and the rest is herstory.

 

Herstory, indeed, includes calling out state representatives, standing up to Olympic bullies, spreading the gospel of cyclist rights, questioning “end of homelessness” exaggerations, and many more musings on oppression of all kinds. As I prepare to hand over the reins of this column, I’m glad to know that it resonated with at least some of you. I know this because you’ve told me, and all I can say is, thank you for making it matter, even a little bit.

 

I’ll soon be setting off for an internship at the Marshall Project, the now Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization covering the nation’s criminal justice system. Its mission—“to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system”—has fostered a necessary conversation about a troubling industry. Pushing the conversation has always been what I wanted this column to do, so I hope that I can carry that with me.

 

I’ll end on this thought: This city needs more daring journalism. I’m glad this column has allowed me to shine a light, however small, on the ills that plague the city. But we need more voices like mine, and more willingness to take risks. (A shout-out to my colleagues at BINJ for actually taking the plunge.) If we are going to salvage any bit of this city for those who aren’t in tech, development, or big pharma, then we need a chorus. So here’s to the future of Free Radical, and the many other voices I hope sing through it.

EMILY HOPKINS
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Filed Under: COLUMNS, Free Radical Tagged With: BINJ, Boston, Boston 2024, columns, criminal justice reform, Emily Hopkins, FOIA, gentrification, Journalism, the Marshall Project

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STATE WIRE: NEW MASS PESTICIDE RULES MADE TO PROTECT POLLINATORS

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INBOX: JOHN BARROS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR OF BOSTON

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READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

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DIG 23.02 – 1/28/21

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Virtual #event this #weekend. https://digboston.co Virtual #event this #weekend. https://digboston.com/zeitgeist-press-releasing-work-by-late-boston-poet-melinda-kweskin/ #reading #poetry #Boston #Massachusetts
Now, the singer and composer is aiming to take cen Now, the singer and composer is aiming to take center stage himself … https://digboston.com/video-mass-classical-musician-johan-lenox-works-with-hip-hops-top-stars/ #video #music #classical #hiphop #Massachusetts
This is my home. We don’t deserve to live in per This is my home. We don’t deserve to live in perpetual fear. https://digboston.com/guest-opinion-tps-holders-deserve-permanent-protection/ #opinion #immigration #TPS #politics #Boston #Massachusetts
“No one wants to live in a world where music is “No one wants to live in a world where music is created to please a cold-blooded algorithm.” https://buff.ly/2OmuqPR #surveillance #interview #politics #tecnology
Barros is the fifth mayoral candidate to enter the Barros is the fifth mayoral candidate to enter the race. https://buff.ly/3bj3EAW #politics #election #Boston #Massachusetts
Can a veteran of the Wisconsin Uprising and former Can a veteran of the Wisconsin Uprising and former Mass union leader rescue the IAFF? https://digboston.com/a-firefighter-election/ #labor #firefighter #union #election #opinion #WisconsinUprising #Massachusetts #national
New #report shows 1/6 of women in Mass prisons sen New #report shows 1/6 of women in Mass prisons sentenced to life without parole. https://digboston.com/commonwealth-committed-to-other-death-penalty/ #prison #prisoner #humanrights #criticism #Massachusetts
“The gratuitous militarization of police forces “The gratuitous militarization of police forces across the United States facilitated by this program has helped to turn these agencies into brutal weapons of repression.” https://digboston.com/inbox-group-calls-for-biden-to-abolish-police-militarization-program/ #police #reform #criticism #Massachusetts
It’s the second time in less than a year that pr It’s the second time in less than a year that progressives have been dealt a bitter defeat in a crowded primary race. https://digboston.com/trump-guy-wins-the-democratic-primary-to-fill-deleos-seat/ #politics #election #Democrats #primary #legislature #Winthrop #Revere  #Massachusetts #MAGA #herp #derp
As lawmakers consider Baker’s amendments to clim As lawmakers consider Baker’s amendments to climate bill, the fight for environmental justice continues. https://digboston.com/checking-in-on-the-commonwealths-comprehensive-climate-bill/ #politics #legislature #environment #activism #globalwarming #Massachusetts
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DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]