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Steve Ahlquist is an American journalist. He previously wrote for the online publications Uprise RI and Rhode Island's Future, founding the former in 2017, and wrote comic books. He is now works independently, reporting on local issues through a newsletter on the Substack subscription platform.
Resources to add to article draft: WP search; CJR (Summary: "Some veteran reporters have said they see Ahlquist as an advocate for such issues rather than a traditional journalist, but others say his work has filled a need in a state where many mainstream media outlets have cut back on their reporting staff."); ProJo; local interview
Journalism
editAhlquist wrote for the political blog Rhode Island's Future and went on to found the online publication Uprise RI, for news and opinion, in 2017. He worked as a reporter alongside Greg Brailsford.[1] In 2018, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) was sent a critical letter by American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island after the RIPTA chief security officer told Ahlquist to stop recording at a public meeting, in conflict with freedom of information rights afforded by the state's Open Meetings Act (OMA).[2] He filed an OMA complaint with the state attorney general relating to a 2019 meeting held by the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation, operator of the privately-run Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, that was connected to the Immigration & Customs Enforcement detainees that the facility was later found to have held.[3] At one of the George Floyd protests in 2020, Ahlquist told The Providence Journal that he had gone to almost all protests held in the state in the past seven years.[4]
Media outlets have highlighted Ahlquist's work as an advocacy journalist.[1][5] The Boston Globe in 2023 wrote that he was often one who is "breaking news, covering events on the ground, and doing it all with a point of view that's plain for anyone to see, including when he occasionally testifies before public bodies."[1] GoLocalProv recognized Ahlquist in 2022 for his reporting on human rights issues, such as his criticism of the state's policies governing homelessness.[6] Ahlquist left Uprise RI in 2023 to begin publishing a newsletter through the Substack subscription platform.[1] Upon Ahlquist's departure, Brailsford said that Uprise RI would continue investigative journalism but would shift its focus to a service for Rhode Islanders who are in "unfortunate situations and need assistance".[1]
In testimony for House Bill 7967 (2024), which expands protections afforded by the state's 2012 Homeless Bill of Rights, Ahlquist spoke about the reporting he had done on Providence police allegedly targeting homeless people.[7]
Other activities
editA former comic book writer,[1] Ahlquist worked on the anthology Strange Eggs (SLG Publishing) and created the series Oz Squad.[8][9]
Ahlquist was a founding member and president of The Humanists of Rhode Island.[10] As president of the organization, Ahlquist organized protests against Hobby Lobby shortly after the 2014 court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., which allows private, for-profit corporations to take religious exemptions from a regulation that its owners religiously object to, and can impact employee health insurance coverage in areas such as birth control and abortion.[11]
Personal life
editAhlquist grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island.[12] His niece, Jessica Ahlquist, was plaintiff in the federal lawsuit Ahlquist v. Cranston, wherein Cranston High School West was directed to remove a prayer banner hung in the building as it violated the Establishment Clause.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Amaral, Brian (June 21, 2023). "A big change in the R.I. progressive media landscape". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ Andrade, Kevin G. (November 20, 2018). "ACLU chides RIPTA after journalist told to stop recording board meeting". The Providence Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Andrade, Kevin G. (April 16, 2019). "Wyatt prison's board faces second Open Meetings complaint". The Providence Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ List, Madeleine (June 2, 2020). "Providence protest organizers reflect on intensity, power of rally". The Providence Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Donnis, Ian (April 24, 2020). "Pandemic causes cuts and more uncertainty for media in southern New England". The Public's Radio. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Steve Ahlquist — 22 Who Made a Difference in 2022". GoLocalProv. December 24, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ Cowperthwaite, Wheeler (March 29, 2024). "RI has a Homeless Bill of Rights. Why advocates say it needs an expansion". The Providence Journal. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ Parkin, John (June 18, 2014). "'Strange Eggs,' 'Punch and Judy' writer Chris Reilly passes away". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "RI fans remember comic book icon Stan Lee". ABC6 News. Cranston, Rhode Island: WLNE. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Henry, Sarah (February 15, 2019). "Rhode Island AG Withdraws from Bladensburg Case after Pressure from Humanists of Rhode Island" (Press release). American Humanist Association. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Arditi, Lynn (July 5, 2014). "Protesters in Warwick call for boycott of Hobby Lobby". The Providence Journal. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ "Street Stories: Steve Ahlquist". Providence Streets Coalition. August 28, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ "Teen relates hate she endured for contesting school prayer – Jessica Ahlquist". Freedom From Religion Foundation. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
External links
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