Ruth Zakarin

@ruthz

Gun violence prevention activist and survivor advocate. Knitter, cat lady, grey hair evangelist. Oh, and I box. Lots of strong opinions that are all my own. Check out my essays at:

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Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· 9d

I was a grayvangelist before it was cool 💅 📷: @axios.com Boston

4. Gray hair is trendy now
By Sami Sparber
Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios
Searches for gray hair salons and services have surged on Yelp, per data shared with Axios.
Why it matters: America is getting older, and more people are embracing their grays rather than hiding them.

This text with a picture of a woman with gray hair

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· 13d

After a DV homicide, law enforcement is quick to call it an ‘isolated incident’ or say the general public is not at risk. But that is exactly what allows society to turn away, choose not to act. At what point will we stop saying DV is isolated and start seeing the pattern of violent patriarchy? 2/

"Our society views domestic violence differently than they view other forms of violence," Ruth Zakarin, CEO of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, told me. "There's a level of acceptance we have in this country when domestic violence happens that we don't see in other forms of violence, including other mass shootings, in that it's more alarming to the general public when it happens in a public space versus someone's private home. And I will always argue that when a shooting happens in someone's private home, it is still a public health crisis. But we don't identify it in that way."

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· 15d

The NRA wants to repeal the 2024 comprehensive gun violence prevention law we worked so hard to pass, and we are not going to let them. Help us spread the word about this campaign, and if you live in MA make sure you Vote Yes on 9 for a Safe Massachusetts! 3/3

A graphic of the state of Massachusetts with Yes on 9 for a Safe MA

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· 26d

Well I just saw Alanis Morrisette live and I was transported back to college and had a religious experience all at the same time. Highly recommend.

Alanis Morissette in a sequined shirt singing at the microphone with blue lights behind her

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jul 14

This is racist murder, not public safety. This is gun violence, not public safety. I hope every journalists demands an explanation on how this keeps the public safe. How indiscriminately shooting people in the street in front of their child is public safety. We want to know. NOW

Homeland Security +
@DHSgov
...
On July 13, 2026, at approximately 7:00 AM ET, ICE was conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal. An illegal alien departed the residence in a vehicle. ICE law enforcement attempted to conduct a vehicle stop. The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon.
The driver of the vehicle was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries.
The Biddeford Police Department and FBI responded to the scene. DHS OIG has been notified and like all discharge of firearms this will be investigated. This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available.
10:40 PM • Jul 13, 2026 • 1.7M Views

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jul 3

From a WaPo article about GrabAGun, the online firearm seller that stands to benefit from Trump thinking that mailing guns is a-ok… the perfect example of the absolute hypocrisy of SCOTUS’ history and tradition test. And BTW, know who has a financial stake in GrabAGun? Donald Trump, Jr.

"The right of Americans to buy guns - even online - is something that is deeply rooted in our nation's text, history and tradition," Pratt said, echoing the language of recent Supreme Court decisions. "It is as American as apple pie."

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 30

There are not enough words to describe how profoundly awful and dangerous this is.

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 27

Stephen Miller calling the cruelty of the SCOTUS decision a “victory” is gutter racism and some real Nazi shit. The fact that it’s coming from a Jew is so damn painful I don’t know what to do with myself.

"We can finally remove these Haitian illegal migrants from the United States," Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and the architect of the Trump
administration's immigration policy, said on Fox News on Thursday.
The Supreme Court decision, he said, was a
"victory 10 years in the making."

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 25

The same Republicans who have done nothing to advance justice for Epstein’s survivors. Because somehow they think abortion and marriage equality are far more dangerous than sexual assault of children. I too, have an exploding head.

Stories in the NYT this morning about Republicans who want to prosecute women for having abortions and to outlaw same-sex marriage. My head is exploding.

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 21

This is correct. And if you are from Boston or Brockton you are rooting for Cape Verde with every fiber of your Massachusetts soul.

huskyhuncleheath 19m
Unless you are from Uruguay, we are all rooting for
Cape Verde, right?

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 14

Yes this damned administration sees violence as entertainment and yes violence is a fitting tribute to this damned administration. And yes I am going to keep being a broken record because we should never become numb to the violence of this damned administration. 📸: @bostonglobe.com

When Trump's predecessor, President Joe Biden, turned 80 in November 2022, he celebrated with a private family brunch at the White House, laying bare just how much and how quickly things have changed.
Asked about the contrast, White House spokesperson Allison Schuster said that the fight "will be one of the most entertaining nights in American history" and said that the timing was appropriate. "Having this spectacle take place at the people's house on Flag Day during our nations' semiquincentennial anniversary is a fitting tribute," Schuster said in a statement.

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 13

June, 2015: Obama bathes the White House in rainbow colors, in a celebration of marriage equality June, 2026: Trump degrades the White House with a UFC fighting cage, in a celebration of toxic masculinity

The White House lit up in rainbow colors

The octagonal fighting cage on the lawn of the White House. You can see the seating around it and a flag behind it

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 12

Yesterday was a very very good day. First a terrific Wear Orange community event with the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, and then speaking alongside Congresswoman @ayannapressley.bsky.social about keeping our gun violence prevention laws safe from the NRA’s repeal effort. 1/

Me and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley taking a selfie!

A large group of people all wearing orange t-shirts in front of Faneuil Hall in Boston

Five women standing with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley/ We are all smiling at the camera

Three people wearing orange t-shirts and smiling into the camera

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 9

If you’re in Boston this Thursday come join all of us at the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence for our Wear Orange community gathering and resource fair! June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and we will be honoring survivors as well as remembering those lost to gun violence. Hope to see you 🧡

A graphic with a group of people wearing MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence shirts in bright orange. The rest reads: Pending the license approvals by the City of Boston.
hce
massachusetts coalition prevent gun violence
Join MACOPGV in honoring victims and survivors of gun violence at
WEAR
ORANGE
Community Gathering | Resource Fair
JUNE 11, 2026 | 10 AM-2PM
SAM ADAMS' PARK 6 FANEUIL HALL SQ, BOSTON, MA 02109
FOR MORE INFO:
info@mapreventgunviolence.org
RSVP:
https://bit.ly/4dDkNph

Hope to see you 🧡

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 6

How delightful to finally meet someone in person that I have long connected with, the incredible @gvlaw.bsky.social! Pride was full of joy today but this was such a great moment, and I am grateful for it ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Two women standing with their arms around each other and lots of people at a Pride festival behind them. They are smiling at the camera

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 6

Boston Pride and a whole lot of joy!

Six of us in orange t-shirts in front of an orange banner, all of which say Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 2

Today marks the beginning of Gun Violence Awareness Month. I am honored to serve as chair of Vote Yes for a Safe Massachusetts, the ballot committee working to protect our strong gun laws from the NRA’s repeal effort. Everyone deserves to be safe from gun violence. 1/

GUN VIOLENCE
AWARENESS MONTH
Gun Violence Awareness Month arrives with added urgency this year, as we fight the effort to repeal Massachusetts' nation-leading 2024 gun violence prevention law.
Everyone deserves the freedom that comes from being safe in their homes and in their communities. In Massachusetts, we've built a strong legislative foundation that enables the ongoing work to eradicate gun violence - now we have to protect it. As we mark Gun Violence Awareness Month and the beginning of summer, November will be here before we know it.
Make a plan to vote YES for a safe Massachusetts.
VOTE YES

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Jun 2

There’s a lot that’s profoundly wrong with this. Just one example: Jewish pride and peoplehood are not the same thing as connection to Israel. Connection to Israel should not be required of Jews or conflated with being Jewish. The right-wingers already do this to us — think *dual loyalty* trope 1/

jgreenblattadl 3h
®threads
1/ Over 50,000 people marched in the Israel Day on 5th parade in NYC yesterday because Jewish pride, Jewish peoplehood and the Jewish connection to the land of Israel are not up for negotiation. For more than 60 years, every NYC Mayor attended. This year, Mayor Mamdani emphatically refused to march. Breaking with decades-long tradition, especially at a time when the Jewish community is under threat, sends a clear message: showing up for Jewish New Yorkers is not a priority. 1/2

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 31

Talking about gun violence prevention at the Massachusetts democratic convention! What every state does to address gun violence matters greatly, now more than ever. We can move the work forward in MA. We can and we will. Not one more life lost to gun violence.

Me and another person standing with MA attorney general Andrea Campbell

Me and two other people smiling at the camera

A table with a bright orange tablecloth that says Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 25

Found this in a used bookstore yesterday. One of my very favorites from childhood, I must have read this books dozens of times. It feels like a good moment to revisit it. And don’t miss Yellow House Books if you’re ever in the Berkshires. It’s filled with gems like this.

My hand holding a copy of A Wrinkle in Time

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 20

In my next life I want to come back as a cat that lives in my house

My white and gray cat sleeping on a floral rug with his paws up in the air and his belly exposed

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 12

From the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence: Earlier this afternoon, a gunman opened fire with a rifle into passing traffic on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. Multiple witnesses described hiding in nearby buildings, jumping from their vehicles and running for their lives. 1/

A graphic that reads: massachusetts coalition prevent gun violence
The Boston Globe
Person fires gunshots on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, prompting drivers to flee cars; one person hurt, suspect in custody, police say
The Boston Globe
Three Boston shootings in 24 hours leave one dead, four injured
The shootings are considered separate incidents, and no arrests have been made, according to officials.
Source: The Boston Globe

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 10

It was a beautiful Mother’s Day spent with some of my dearest friends and colleagues. I have been participating in the Peace Institute’s Walk for Peace for ten years now, seven in my role as leader of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Grateful for this community. This is coalition.

A group of people in mostly orange and purple t-shirts in a huddle on a field. They are all smiling

A group of people behind a table and a banner that are bright orange and read the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

A group of people behind a bright orange banner that reads the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. We are on a field

Myself in a grey hoodie with a man in clerical garb. We are smiling at the camera

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 10

Eight children were killed in the deadliest mass shooting in over two years. Eight children were buried today. But there is no public outrage. It’s the racism. It’s the acceptance of preventable death. It’s the numbness to gun violence. I’m horrified by how little attention this is getting.

A picture of eight white caskets lined up in a row.

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 7

How we talk about an issue dictates how we respond to it. And that is absolutely the case with domestic violence. Last week I wrote about how law enforcement so often responds to a DV homicide with some version of *there’s no threat to the general public*. Now this. 🧵

A screen shot of a post from people magazine with a picture of a family of four and the following text: people • 23h
Matthew and Thy Mitchell and their two kids, Maya and Max, have been identified as the family of four found dead in their Houston home in what police believe to be a murder-suicide.
P
people.com
Family in Murder-Suicide Identified as Houston Restaurant Owner, Hi...

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 3

Domestic violence is a threat to the public. Victims are members of the public. We have to stop saying things like this. These statements insinuate that the incident is over and there’s nothing else to be done about it. There are absolutely things we need to do about it. 1/ (📷: @bostonglobe.com)

A screenshot from the Globe that reads:

Authorities investigate apparent murder suicide at summer home in Tuftonboro, N.H.
There is no threat to the public, officials said Saturday.

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 2

Your cat’s doppelgänger is roaring (okay maybe yawning) hello

My white and gray cat lying on his side caught mid yawn

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· May 1

My dad was a teamster and my mom a member of the teachers union. My two aunts, an uncle, and my grandmother were in the nurses union. So yeah. May Day. Boston. Here. With my family on each of my shoulders.

People standing around a pavilion on Boston Common. The sky is very blue and you can see the backs of many heads

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Apr 29

Trump posts AI-generated photo holding firearm, days after White House pointed a finger at Mass. Democrats' rhetoric
In an Al-generated photo on Truth Social, the president is wearing sunglasses and standing in front of a scene of explosions.
Kaitlin Lewis • Updated April 29th, 2026, 12:56 pm

Ruth Zakarin@ruthz· Apr 22

Thank you to @rygraham.bsky.social for this piece on the violence too many women and children face in their own homes, and for including me in it. My heart breaks for the mothers who will never hold their children again, and for the two teens who lost both their parents in an instant. 1/