Lucy Parsons Labs
@lucyparsonslabs
Chicago-based collaboration between data scientists, transparency activists, artists, & technologists that sheds light on the intersection of digital rights and on-the-streets issues.
THIS SUNDAY: Join LPL @ Life on Marz with the Illinois Luddite Society to talk about the resurgence in Ludditism and the growing riff between labor, culture and society against "technical disruptions" which only bring negative impacts on the world. 1950 N Western on August 2nd at 5pm.
Come hang out with us! LPL is having a summer meetup and chill session on the lake on Sunday July 26th. We’ll be on 43rd and the Lake with picnic style snacks and drinks. Bring yourselves, sunscreen, and a friend who might enjoy learning more about LPL!
We also want to hang out with you! We have two events coming up: our summer hangout on the beach this Sunday and an event on becoming luddites on August 2nd. Flyers below.
In our latest newsletter is our 2026 summer fellows! They are both brilliant but it was hard to choose: the interest in our fellowship was overwhelming. We blew through our budget for the program but that’s okay! donorbox.org/lpl-summer-f...
The LPL summer newsletter is here. Updates on organizing, summer events, and our 2026 fellows is all inside. Please check it out and hopefully you can make it to one of our events. canva.link/mf4dxd6q164i...
The CEO of Fwock is weally, weally sowwy for calling anti Fwock activists “tewworists” www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
LPL is having a summer meetup and chill session on the lake on Sunday July 26th. We’ll be on 43rd and the Lake with picnic style snacks and drinks. Bring yourselves (properly sun-screened) and a friend who might enjoy learning more about LPLs work!
LPL is having a summer meetup and chill session on the lake on Sunday June 26th. We’ll be on 43rd and the Lake with picnic style snacks and drinks. Bring yourselves (properly sun-screened) and a friend who might enjoy learning more about LPLs work!
4/4 Now we have a newer, cleaner, and clearer standard that will help the public get access to information and recover civil penalties. Thank you to the LPL members and Loevy & Loevy for all your years of hard work on this.
BIG WIN. Today the IL Court of Appeals ruled in our favor making it easier for requesters to be awarded civil penalties in #FOIA cases. We've been fighting this case for *years* and got the decision today. Thank you to @loevy.com & Shelly for fighting for the public's right to information. 1/
Today we are in court! One of our cases is going to oral arguments on appeal. The case is against the city of Chicago’s for it to pay #FOIA's civil penalties provision. Let’s make agencies pay for routinely slow walking the process.
Tomorrow the city council will have another hearing on ShotSpotter. We will be on twitch at 11:30ish to do a live watch and react during the committee hearing.
The same week the chiefs of police went to the cook county board asking for more #Flock cameras was when they finally got around to disabling federal data sharing (in violation of the IL TRUST act)
TUESDAY, APRIL 21ST 4:00PM Ale from LPL will be joining some excellent scholars of surveillance, automation, labor, and public records for a panel on so-called AI! It’s open to the public and happening on Northwestern’s campus No RSVP needed but space may be limited! Hope to chat with you there :)
Folks, we are OOO for spring break! Back in a week or so and see y’all at Take Back Tech after we *recharge*
**UPDATE 2: We have decided the fellowship stipend will be $15,000, with additional funds available for typical office expenses. Are you a researcher? Are you looking to gain experience with an organization that works for a better world? Apply for our summer research fellowship today!
If you support LPL and want to help us, please spread the word! We are looking for some early-career person to join us for a summer of research. Full details >> short.lucyparsonslabs.com/lpl2026apps
EXCITING NEWS: Applications NOW *open* to join LPL as a 2026 summer fellow. This paid fellowship is for *early-career* researchers looking to investigate surveillance technologies. Full details here -> cdn.prod.website-files.com/66045fc0d0be...
This SATURDAY in Chicago: We are hosting LPL's 10 year birthday party. There will be food (halal and vegan options), special guests like ███████, and music. We would love if you could join us. Location details and accessibility details can be found here. Plz RSVP -> mailchi.mp/6d2cc11d797f...
We’re going to a party! It’s a birthday party, it’s your birthday party. Join LPL on Sat, Feb 7th at LBP in Chicago for our 10 year anniversary party. And please @ us if you’re coming 😍😇
This year was also out 10^(1th) birthday and you're invited! We'll be sharing more details soon but please save the date for now. Can't wait to see you at this party.
None of our newsletters are complete without some discussion of political theory. We are in a situation of "polycrisis," many overlapping and interlocking problems with require many solutions and visions for change. These needs of course have us very run down. So we are resting.
Phew! What a year. While LPL'ers are getting some much needed rest, here is a small thread of some of our news. This newsletter is themed "Icebreaker!" Our full newsletter can be found here -> www.canva.com/design/DAG6l...
Thank you @bennjordan.bsky.social for the shout out in your latest video! No word of a lie, we often refer to Benn's videos as a reference for how to make short & long-form content that educates the public. Appreciate it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB0g...
10 Years (!!!) of @lucyparsonslabs.com. Our newest newsletter does a very brief moment of reflection, we hope you'll read it. www.canva.com/design/DAG28...
NEXT WEEK: Berkeley CA is organizing against its Flock ALPR contract and is holding a rally before the next city council meeting.
REMINDER EVENT: TODAY JULY 16TH we will have a live show on organizing against police secrecy in Atlanta with @atlpresscollective.com . It will also be on Twitch and YouTube, scan the QR code for the links. July 16th @ 6:30 ET.