Dear Bandits,

Thank you for all your support around the first issue! We appreciate all your eyes, talents, and contributions that have helped realize our dreams for this project.
Words can’t quite capture our excitement and gratitude for the participation we have seen so far, and our anticipation for everything to come. Where we go next is largely up to all of you, and we can only provide our best guesses about how our publication will take shape over time.

We envision Dissonant Times as a medium for long-form discussion in our community to develop our politics, culture, and relating collective capacity for resistance and resilience. It’s an opportunity for us to engage with one another’s perspectives and learn from each other. It’s quite open-ended, really, so don’t be shy about sharing what you have to offer.

In this issue, you might notice an emergent theme revolving around solidarity. What does this term actually mean? What do we do when we disagree with each other’s visions for the means to the ends? What tactics should we collectively employ to respond to this current political moment? In “The Riot,” our reportback column, you’ll see various reactions in response to the escalations that took place over the May Day weekend. The perspectives offered in this issue at times do not align with the the editor’s personal positions on these matters, but in the spirit of discourse and peer education, we have opted to share them with you. Despite how at times it may feel, we actually don’t have to agree with each other all the time. Regardless of the tactics, we are proud of how Eugene has escalated against the police and the systems they exist to uphold.

This month, and in (I anticipate) in most issues to follow, we’ll explore how to respond to this current political moment. Please feel emboldened to participate in this discourse and let us know how we as editors can support your involvement. At the heart of our mission is participatory journalism, a way of making news that we hope will increase connection, empowerment, and accessibility in our media platforms and surrounding communities. This means we want your involvement in sharing your stories. Dissonant Times is about creative exploration, education, and above all, liberation.

Solidarity,
The editors