I would like to begin by thanking Hannah for her attention to detail, ethical compass, and bravery, and for the sacrifices she made, in various forms, to give our community excellent reporting. I would also like to honor Hannah for being a role model to me and so many other Daily Lobo folks, for letting me see myself in her at a time when I needed to feel less alone, and for reminding me that I don’t have to put up with anyone or anything that makes me feel small. Hannah’s willingness to examine the ways in which the forces of patriarchy and white supremacy are propagated by institutions and to not turn away from the ugly despite pushback was, and is, deeply inspiring to me.
I first met Hannah (in person) earlier this year at a protest held by the Red Nation against U.S. escalations on Iran. We surely both recognized each other from journalism, or at least from Twitter, yet neither of us acknowledged our shared profession. There is just something moving to me about this memory of Hannah, off-duty and out-of-sight from the reporters actually covering the event, at a protest that, above all else, was calling out the brutality of war, U.S. imperialism, and was a show of solidarity with our Iranian comrades. Although I did not know her on a personal level, her empathy and compassion will always stick with me, and I am profoundly grateful l got the opportunity to be in her presence. Rest in power, Hannah, and thank you for everything.