No one tells the truth about broken systems like the people who’ve lived through them.
At Clutch Justice, I don’t wait for traditional media to catch up; I amplify stories now. From the courtroom to the streets, from FOIA requests to policy fights, our readers are the experts. So I’m launching something new: a participatory Q&A that centers the voices of advocates, organizers, and justice-impacted people who’ve been ignored, silenced, or misrepresented elsewhere.
Whether you’ve:
- Spoken at a city commission meeting,
- Been dragged through a broken child welfare system,
- Organized a protest or mutual aid effort,
- Survived injustice and want to warn or educate others,
- Or you’re working on something that’s just really cool—
I want to hear from you.
Why This Matters: Clutch Is Not Mainstream Media. That’s the Point.
Clutch Justice is a grassroots alternative media project built by and for the people most affected by structural harm. I intentionally seek out and publish stories the local news won’t touch. We name names. We drop receipts. And we don’t rely on sanitized press releases or vague statements from PR reps.
I believe in public records, first-person stories, and real consequences.
Here at clutch, we also believe the people closest to the problem are closest to the solution…but the furthest from the resources. That’s why this Q&A will feature unfiltered responses from people who know what the stakes are.
Because you’ve lived them.
How to Participate
If you’re an advocate, community organizer, nonprofit staffer, whistleblower, or directly impacted individual who wants to share your perspective, here’s how to be featured:
- Fill out this form: Submit Your Story
- Or email me directly at: hello@clutchjustice.com
- At the time of your submission, please let me know if you wish to remain anonymous. I respect safety, confidentiality, and trauma-informed storytelling.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be selecting a range of voices for the upcoming feature series and will follow up with interview questions or excerpts, depending on your preference.
What I’m Asking (Just a Few Examples)
- What’s one thing the public still doesn’t understand about the system that hurt you?
- If you could say one thing to your prosecutor/judge/caseworker/etc., what would it be?
- What’s the most powerful thing you did to fight back?
- What helped you survive or recover?
Whether your answer is one sentence or one page — it counts.
A Sample of The Stories I Cover
Clutch has been very lucky to cover some impactful stories:
- Exclusive Insight: Lois Laroe’s fight for accountability in Ionia County
- Original Opinion Pieces: What if We Saw Everyone in the Criminal Justice System as a Kid Who Made a Mistake?
- FIRST to Press: Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig’s Investigation and the Failed Judicial Tenure Commission Redaction
This Is the Power of Alternative Media
We’re not neutral. We’re not polished. We’re not trying to look “objective” while hiding behind paywalls or police copy.
Clutch is an independent, justice-driven, public-powered media project.
I investigate. I amplify. I piss people off. And I publish the truth anyway.
If you’ve got something to say — now’s your chance. The world is listening.
🖤
Rita, Amplifier in Chief
Clutch Justice
