Dear Progressive Reader,

Tragic images continue to come from Ukraine. More than 2.5 million people have left the country in the past two weeks, making this, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. This week, photojournalist Byron Smith sent us a gripping photo essay from the frontlines of this crisis. As Smith reflects, “With much unknown at the moment, the Ukrainian people during these days will be remembered as valiant. Not because they knew how to fight, but because they showed the world that their unity, compassion, and humanity toward each other is all that there really is to fight for in the end.”

Also this week, Peony Hirwani examines the dangers of a nuclear escalation in the region, whether intentional or unintentional. Cartoonist Mark Fiore illustrates how “ripple effects of an embargo impact the global market for oil.” And Edward Hunt reminds us that although the war in Ukraine is understandably filling the headlines, another war, in part supported by actions of the United States, continues in Yemen, and may even be accelerating. “The world can no longer stand idly by as Yemenis suffer from a lack of access to the most basic services,” says one United Nations official. “We must work together on ending the war and on ending the war now.”

Sarah Lahm writes about efforts to end the use of “no-knock warrants” in the wake of the recent killing of Minneapolis resident Amir Locke. Eleanor J. Bader reports on efforts to end guardianship abuse. Ed Rampell reviews the new film, A Song for Cesar, about the United Farm Workers leader, the movement he help build, and the political culture that was built around it. And tomorrow is the anniversary of the 1925 Tennessee law that made it illegal to teach evolution, but today, as education reporter Andy Spears explains, “Tennessee’s current legislative session features a range of attacks on public schools. Some of these would have immediate impacts, while others take a longer-term approach to fully privatizing K-12 education in the state.”

Yesterday we passed the grim two-year anniversary of the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic that has now killed more than six million people worldwide. The disruptions to our economy and long-term effects of the pandemic continue, but some could be addressed today. Wenonah Hauter of Food & Water Watch pens an op-ed this week reminding us that “What U.S. consumers need is real action. We need food policies that reward farmers who have been shortchanged by monopolistic meat giants for decades, and we need to build resilient local economies based on shared prosperity for all.” Abdul-Malik Ryan notes, “As we approach the return of student loan payments, dozens of American Muslim groups have come forward with a solution that stems from the values of their faith: canceling interest. . . . Financing a fully accessible system that prioritizes students, and maintains the confidence of society across polarized divides, is something worth fighting for.” And Tina Kelly looks at programs across the country that help students make it through college by supporting basic needs with small cash assistance grants.

Please keep reading, and we will keep bringing you important articles on these and other issues of our time.

Sincerely,

Norman Stockwell
Publisher

P.S. – Please mark your calendars for Thursday April 7, when The Progressive will host a live, online event with renowned author Noam Chomsky and interviewer David Barsamian to discuss their two new books chronicling their thirty-five years of conversations. You can also get one of these books with a donation of $50 or more to The Progressive at this link.

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