Rya Jetha (PO ’23) Earlier this month, Julian Assange’s extradition trial concluded after four weeks of testimony at London’s Central Criminal Court. The proceedings included testimony about Assange’s risk of being denied justice if he were extradited to the United States, political motivations behind his prosecution, and his physical and mental health. But this trial…
By Rya Jetha (PO ’23) An extreme public health crisis demands an extreme response from governments. Closing off borders, contact-tracing citizens, and limiting rights has proven necessary for flattening the curve. However, governments walk a fine line between enacting extreme measures to combat COVID-19 and using the public health crisis to consolidate authoritarian power. President…
By Rya Jetha (PO ’23) Racism and anti-Blackness have played a long and persistent role in the history of the United States, from its founding to the present. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery—among countless others—as well as the national movement in response, demand our attention. This article is…
Rya Jetha (PO ’23) Racism and anti-Blackness have played a long and persistent role in the history of the United States, from its founding to the present. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery—among countless others—as well as the national movement in response, demand our attention. This article is part…
By Rya Jetha (PO ’23) Back in 2018, when going to school, grocery shopping, and itching our noses was normal, the World Health Organization (WHO) put out a plan for accelerated research of diseases like Ebola, SARS and Zika. The plan, known as the 2018 Research & Development Blueprint, included Disease “X” on the list…
Rya Jetha (PO ’23) I am an American Indian raised in Mumbai, with an American passport, currently attending college in California. I feel very Indian; yet, I have the political power to vote in a country that, until I came to college, I associated with summer vacations and my grandmother’s cornbread. My vote belongs to…
Rya Jetha (PO ’23) Five years ago, at a political rally in Delhi, Gajender Singh climbed a neem tree near the stage. He fashioned a noose out of a white scarf, fastened it around his neck, and jumped off the branch to his death in front of the crowd. Later, a note found in his…