Matt Rota's News Blog

For Buzzfeed,
While ISIS was executing suspected members of the LGBTQ community, the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq was helping the accused escape from Syria. They were also documenting evidence if ISIS’s persecution of the gay community in...

For Buzzfeed,
While ISIS was executing suspected members of the LGBTQ community, the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq was helping the accused escape from Syria. They were also documenting evidence if ISIS’s persecution of the gay community in hopes of having them listed among their war crimes during the trials that are now taking place in Iraq. Historically war criminals are not tried specifically for hate crimes against the LGBTq community, and currently those crimes are not being singles out in the ISIS trials. Lawyers in the region feel that calling specific attention to those crimes would lead to the gay community gaining special rights and recognition for a lifestyle that is still largely repressed.

ProPublica runs a local reporting network section highlighting issues of corruption in under reported regions of the U.S. This is the second story I’ve worked on that dealt with police corruption in Elkhart Indiana. Both articles included officers Steve Ambrose and Steve Rezuko. Each has a long history of overturned arrests and disciplinary action against them. This is a series on the questionable conviction of Rickey Joyner for the 1994 murder of Sandra Hernandez.

A series of illustrations for a young adults book called Relay, about teenagers learning how to work together to win a race, and help save a life. 

From a mini riso printed zine, City Light, on the landscape of Las Vegas and surrounding landscape. Available for sale online here.

For Flaunt Magazine, on the theme of Cause and Effect

For the Guardian, Jackson Chapel on the border in San Juan Texas, an historic symbol of the multiculturalism of the region, is now being threatened by plans for Trumps wall.

For the Guardian, Jackson Chapel on the border in San Juan Texas, an historic symbol of the multiculturalism of the region, is now being threatened by plans for Trumps wall.

For the NYT’s Op-Ed, finding a more nuanced solution the combating drug traffic at the U.S. Mexican border.

For the NYT’s Op-Ed, finding a more nuanced solution the combating drug traffic at the U.S. Mexican border.

For the LA Times, a man discovers he was adopted and reunites with a long lost sister.

For the LA Times, a man discovers he was adopted and reunites with a long lost sister.

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