Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

babylonsister

(171,035 posts)
Wed Nov 9, 2022, 01:31 PM Nov 2022

In Memoriam: William Rivers Pitt (1971-2022)

And today is Will's birthday.

https://truthout.org/articles/in-memoriam-of-william-rivers-pitt-1971-2022/


In Memoriam: William Rivers Pitt (1971-2022)
By Truthout Staff, Truthout
Published November 9, 2022

Illustrated portrait of author William Rivers Pitt with autumn trees behind him, wearing red shirt, grey cap, and rose tinted glasses.
William Rivers Pitt (1971-2022)
Ayo Walker / Truthout


William Rivers Pitt was Truthout’s lead columnist and senior editor. He died on September 26, 2022, at the age of 50. In his two decades at Truthout, Will chronicled and analyzed the political issues of the day, from George W. Bush’s administration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the rise and fall of Donald Trump, to the dangers of the ongoing pandemic. (Click here to visit an archive of all of Will’s columns.)

Will was a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of three books: War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn’t Want You to Know, The Greatest Sedition Is Silence and House of Ill Repute: Reflections on War, Lies, and America’s Ravaged Reputation. His fourth book is The Mass Destruction of Iraq: Why It Is Happening, and Who Is Responsible, co-written with Dahr Jamail.

More than just a colleague, Will was also a friend to many here at Truthout, both current and past staff members. Truthout Board President and Editor-at-Large Maya Schenwar notes that Will reminded us that the fate of the world is not decided — “we can’t predict the future: We have to do the future.” Dahr Jamail, a Truthout contributing writer, Board of Advisers member and former staff reporter, offered this reflection on his personal friendship and professional relationship with Will. Mark Karlin (retired), recalls that Will had a “powerful voice that acknowledged the obstacles facing us as advocates of social justice, while at the same time urging fierce resistance despite those obstacles.” Beloved by readers, as well as his family and friends, Will is memorialized in a public Facebook group. You can support a fund for his daughter Lola here.

In honor of William Rivers Pitt, Truthout is establishing a new fellowship to nurture the work of emerging opinion writers. This paid position will see the hiring of a 20-hour-per-week column writing fellow whose work will focus on political commentary. We hope you’ll read and enjoy this fellow’s articles for years to come as part of our way of honoring Will’s legacy.

If you’d like to make a financial contribution to help us fund this fellowship you can donate any amount here.

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
In Memoriam: William Rivers Pitt (1971-2022) (Original Post) babylonsister Nov 2022 OP
K&R Bayard Nov 2022 #1
Will was good people. davsand Nov 2022 #2
K&R Elessar Zappa Nov 2022 #3
He was a brilliant writer oldtime dfl_er Nov 2022 #4
Please also consider donating to the fundraiser for his beloved daughter, Lola. Sky Jewels Nov 2022 #5
I will always remember him clean shaven and a baby face - so seeing this picture of him Pachamama Nov 2022 #6
K&R! nt Carlitos Brigante Nov 2022 #7
50 is far too young. joshcryer Nov 2022 #8
Agreed. nt cstanleytech Nov 2022 #18
Here is the portait of WRP by artist/author Robert Shetterly DinahMoeHum Nov 2022 #9
+1 CountAllVotes Nov 2022 #21
Vale. That takes me back Recursion Nov 2022 #10
Wonderful article. Joinfortmill Nov 2022 #11
RIP. JoanofArgh Nov 2022 #12
In the article nothing about YoshidaYui Nov 2022 #13
Yes FoxNewsSucks Nov 2022 #15
Why would you post this in a Happy Birthday thread? Nixie Nov 2022 #24
Lovely tribute. crickets Nov 2022 #14
Ithanks for this. FoxNewsSucks Nov 2022 #16
KnR...for one of the best. MiHale Nov 2022 #17
He will be missed by so many people. He left a bright legacy. flying_wahini Nov 2022 #19
Happy Birthday, Will! What a present today is for ya, bro. In all senses of the word. Tommymac Nov 2022 #20
R-I-P Will ... you're missed by many. 🕯️nt Raine Nov 2022 #22
Happy Birthday, Will! You are missed. GoneOffShore Nov 2022 #23
I hereby nominate Will for the DUlitzer Prize for political journalism. Roisin Ni Fiachra Nov 2022 #25
Kick burrowowl Nov 2022 #26
too young. rest in peace my friend. nt Javaman Nov 2022 #27

oldtime dfl_er

(6,930 posts)
4. He was a brilliant writer
Wed Nov 9, 2022, 01:55 PM
Nov 2022

I met him once and he was very thoughtful. I'll try to find some funds to donate to the fellowship.

Pachamama

(16,884 posts)
6. I will always remember him clean shaven and a baby face - so seeing this picture of him
Wed Nov 9, 2022, 02:26 PM
Nov 2022

…bearded and grey doesn’t even look like the man as I remember him.

But that’s because I hadn’t seen him in over a decade.

But it’s a really nice picture. Love the glasses.

DinahMoeHum

(21,774 posts)
9. Here is the portait of WRP by artist/author Robert Shetterly
Wed Nov 9, 2022, 02:54 PM
Nov 2022
https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/

Gawd, he looked so much younger then.



Will, here's hoping you're looking down on what we've done so far and liking what you see.

Nixie

(16,950 posts)
24. Why would you post this in a Happy Birthday thread?
Thu Nov 10, 2022, 07:35 AM
Nov 2022

It’s not like people can’t look up his posts and see the truth.

HB Will Pitt.

Roisin Ni Fiachra

(2,574 posts)
25. I hereby nominate Will for the DUlitzer Prize for political journalism.
Thu Nov 10, 2022, 09:11 AM
Nov 2022

One of the best posters on DU ever, and his work at Truthout was outstanding.

RIP Will, wish you were here to write about the Red Tinkle Midterms of 2022. I can only imagine.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»In Memoriam: William Rive...