thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Justice Department Announces FISA Reforms to Prevent Another Carter Page Debacle

The Justice Department announced a series of reforms to its procedures for obtaining Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) orders on Tuesday aimed at preventing abuses that the FBI committed during its investigation of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
Attorney General William Barr issued two memos laying out the reforms Tuesday .
One memo announced the creation of an FBI Office of Internal Auditing , which will review all factual allegations submitted in FISA applications .
The other memo deals with surveillance of elected federal officials and candidates seeking federal office .
The protocols also lay out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders for officials ’ and candidates ’ staff members and advisers .
The reforms include “ any person who has been publicly announced by a campaign as a staff member or member of an official campaign advisory committee or group , or any person who is an informal advisor to the campaign , ” Barr ’ s memo says .
Barr implemented the changes in response to the FBI ’ s abuse of the FISA system during a counterintelligence investigation of Page , a former Navy officer who was a national security adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a critical tool to ensuring the safety and security of Americans , particularly when it comes to fighting terrorism , ” Barr said in a statement .
“ However , the American people must have confidence that the United States Government will exercise its surveillance authorities in a manner that protects the civil liberties of Americans , avoids interference in the political process , and complies with the Constitution and laws of the United States.
” “ What happened to the Trump presidential campaign and his subsequent Administration after the President was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never happen again , ” he added .
Page , who released his memoir last week , expressed doubt that the reforms will fix the FISA process .
“ As we now approach the next presidential election , these latest small steps by the DOJ and FBI have not yet sufficiently addressed the criminal acts by ruthlessly partisan political actors in the Swamp , ” Page told the DCNF .
“ The cancerous abuses by the once-respected National Security Division have still not found an effective remedy , following the destruction of so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied for the first of four FISA applications against Page on Oct. 21 , 2016 , a month after he severed ties with the Trump campaign .
The Justice Department ’ s office of the inspector general found that the FBI committed at least 17 “ significant ” errors and omissions in FISA applications granted against Page in April 2017 and June 2017 .
The Justice Department deemed the two FISAs to be invalid because of all of the errors in the FBI applications .
The IG said that the FBI withheld evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Page was acting as an agent of Russia .
A report from the IG also said that investigators failed to disclose evidence that undermined the credibility of the Steele dossier .
The IG report said that the dossier was “ central and essential ” to the FBI ’ s decision to seek FISA orders against Page .
Though Page was not technically on the Trump campaign when he was subject to FISA coverage , a Justice Department official said the new protocols are intended to cover individuals in positions similar to Page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memo covers anyone ‘ who is an informal advisor to the campaign , ’ which was intended to capture individuals like Carter Page who were no longer staff members or formal advisors but were nonetheless connected to the campaign informally , ” Marc Raimondi , a Justice Department spokesman , told The Daily Caller News Foundation .
Barr ’ s memo requires FBI and Justice Department officials to go to greater lengths to verify information included in all FISA applications .
The reforms also require the FBI director to consider first briefing candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FISA orders .
Republican lawmakers have criticized the FBI over its handling of defensive briefings for the Trump campaign .
In August 2016 , FBI officials tasked an agent , Joseph Pientka , to collect evidence during a briefing for then-candidate Donald Trump and Michael Flynn that would potentially be using for the ongoing counterintelligence probe .
Barr ’ s policy says that FISA applications shall not be made “ unless the Director of the FBI first considers conducting a defensive briefing of the target and either the FBI conducts such a briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a briefing is not appropriate , the Director documents this determination in writing.
” In the Page case , the FBI relied on unverified allegations from Christopher Steele , the dossier author .
Steele alleged that Page was part of a “ well-developed conspiracy of cooperation ” between the Trump campaign and Russian government aimed at influencing the 2016 election .
Steele also alleged that Page met with two Kremlin insiders in Moscow in July 2016 to discuss the exchange of election-related information .
Page has vehemently denied meeting with the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office also determined that there was no evidence that Page or anyone else on the Trump team conspired with Russia or acted as an agent of Russia in 2016 .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Carter Page ” by MSNBC .
CC BY 3.0 .
Background Photo “ FISA Court ” by AgnosticPreachersKid .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

by Chuck Ross
The Justice Department announced a series of reforms to its procedures for obtaining Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) orders on Tuesday aimed at preventing abuses that the FBI committed during its investigation of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
Attorney General William Barr issued two memos laying out the reforms Tuesday. One memo announced the creation of an FBI Office of Internal Auditing, which will review all factual allegations submitted in FISA applications. The other memo deals with surveillance of elected federal officials and candidates seeking federal office.
The protocols also lay out new rules for the handling of FISA orders for officials’ and candidates’ staff members and advisers.
The reforms include “any person who has been publicly announced by a campaign as a staff member or member of an official campaign advisory committee or group, or any person who is an informal advisor to the campaign,” Barr’s memo says.
Barr implemented the changes in response to the FBI’s abuse of the FISA system during a counterintelligence investigation of Page, a former Navy officer who was a national security adviser on the Trump campaign.
“FISA is a critical tool to ensuring the safety and security of Americans, particularly when it comes to fighting terrorism,” Barr said in a statement. “However, the American people must have confidence that the United States Government will exercise its surveillance authorities in a manner that protects the civil liberties of Americans, avoids interference in the political process, and complies with the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
“What happened to the Trump presidential campaign and his subsequent Administration after the President was duly elected by the American people must never happen again,” he added.
Page, who released his memoir last week, expressed doubt that the reforms will fix the FISA process.
“As we now approach the next presidential election, these latest small steps by the DOJ and FBI have not yet sufficiently addressed the criminal acts by ruthlessly partisan political actors in the Swamp,” Page told the DCNF.
“The cancerous abuses by the once-respected National Security Division have still not found an effective remedy, following the destruction of so many loyal American citizens.”
The FBI applied for the first of four FISA applications against Page on Oct. 21, 2016, a month after he severed ties with the Trump campaign.
The Justice Department’s office of the inspector general found that the FBI committed at least 17 “significant” errors and omissions in FISA applications granted against Page in April 2017 and June 2017.
The Justice Department deemed the two FISAs to be invalid because of all of the errors in the FBI applications.
The IG said that the FBI withheld evidence that undercut the FBI’s theory that Page was acting as an agent of Russia. A report from the IG also said that investigators failed to disclose evidence that undermined the credibility of the Steele dossier. The IG report said that the dossier was “central and essential” to the FBI’s decision to seek FISA orders against Page.
Though Page was not technically on the Trump campaign when he was subject to FISA coverage, a Justice Department official said the new protocols are intended to cover individuals in positions similar to Page’s in 2016.
“The memo covers anyone ‘who is an informal advisor to the campaign,’ which was intended to capture individuals like Carter Page who were no longer staff members or formal advisors but were nonetheless connected to the campaign informally,” Marc Raimondi, a Justice Department spokesman, told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Barr’s memo requires FBI and Justice Department officials to go to greater lengths to verify information included in all FISA applications.
The reforms also require the FBI director to consider first briefing candidates and officeholders about counterintelligence concerns before seeking FISA orders.
Republican lawmakers have criticized the FBI over its handling of defensive briefings for the Trump campaign. In August 2016, FBI officials tasked an agent, Joseph Pientka, to collect evidence during a briefing for then-candidate Donald Trump and Michael Flynn that would potentially be using for the ongoing counterintelligence probe.
Barr’s policy says that FISA applications shall not be made “unless the Director of the FBI first considers conducting a defensive briefing of the target and either the FBI conducts such a briefing or, if the Director determines that such a briefing is not appropriate, the Director documents this determination in writing.”
In the Page case, the FBI relied on unverified allegations from Christopher Steele, the dossier author. Steele alleged that Page was part of a “well-developed conspiracy of cooperation” between the Trump campaign and Russian government aimed at influencing the 2016 election. Steele also alleged that Page met with two Kremlin insiders in Moscow in July 2016 to discuss the exchange of election-related information.
Page has vehemently denied meeting with the Kremlin officials. The special counsel’s office also determined that there was no evidence that Page or anyone else on the Trump team conspired with Russia or acted as an agent of Russia in 2016.
– – –
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Carter Page” by MSNBC. CC BY 3.0. Background Photo “FISA Court” by AgnosticPreachersKid. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Michigan and Ohio Secretaries of State Endorse Zuckerberg’s Millions Directed to Elections

Michigan and Ohio state secretaries Jocelyn Benson and Frank LaRose endorsed $ 300 million directed to elections by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan .
The Center for Tech and Civic Life ( CTCL ) and Center for Election Innovation and Research ( CEIR ) announced Tuesday that Zuckerberg and his wife donated in order “ to promote safe and reliable voting in states and localities.
” Both Benson and LaRose agreed that the investment was necessary considering the pandemic ’ s effects on the presidential election .
LaRose reposted the press release the day it came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information during voting .
“ In a time when disinformation is more prevalent than ever , it ’ s essential that voters have an opportunity to learn the truth about our election from trusted sources , he said .
“ This huge investment is going to go a long way towards making that happen.
” LaRose ’ s team did not answer a request for comment .
Neither state secretaries acknowledged Facebook ’ s longstanding controversies .
Twice , the social media giant appeared before Congress on charges of unsavory and monopolistic practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased contentious free speech policing with fact-checking tags , deleting users ’ posts , and banning users or pages .
Not to mention its dark dealings in elections .
Renowned psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein testified last fall before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution on big tech election interference .
According to Epstein , Google ’ s manipulations gave between 2.6 and 10.4 million votes to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election .
Epstein stated that Big Tech manipulation could influence as many as 15 million votes in the 2020 election , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ Go Vote ” reminder .
“ In 2016 if Mark Zuckerberg , for example , had chosen to send a ‘ Go Vote ’ say , just to Democrats – and no one would ’ ve known if he ’ d done this – that would ’ ve given , that day , an additional 450,000 votes to Democrats .
And we know this without doubt because of Facebook ’ s own published data .
They did an experiment that they didn ’ t tell anyone about during the 2010 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It had 60 million Facebook users involved .
They sent out a ‘ Go Vote ’ reminder and they got something like 360,000 people to go vote that would ’ ve otherwise stayed home.
” CTCL says its $ 250 million cut is expressly for polling staff , a rental site , drive-through voting , processing equipment , workers ’ personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , and nonpartisan voter education .
CEIR promises to purpose the $ 50 million remainder “ to ensure elections are secure , voters have confidence in election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engagement grows.
” The extent of Zuckerberg ’ s influence in the companies after his donation is unclear .
“ In 2020 you can bet that all of these companies are going to go all-out , ” stated Epstein .
“ And the methods that they ’ re using are invisible , they ’ re subliminal , they ’ re more powerful than most any effects I ’ ve ever seen in the behavioral sciences .
And I ’ ve been in the behavioral sciences for forty years.
” Corinne Murdock is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Sun , and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Mark Zuckerberg ” by Anthony Quintano .
CC BY 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Voting Booths ” by Tim Evanson .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Michigan and Ohio state secretaries Jocelyn Benson and Frank LaRose endorsed $300 million directed to elections by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) and Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR) announced Tuesday that Zuckerberg and his wife donated in order “to promote safe and reliable voting in states and localities.”
Both Benson and LaRose agreed that the investment was necessary considering the pandemic’s effects on the presidential election. LaRose reposted the press release the day it came out, citing the need for accurate information during voting.
“In a time when disinformation is more prevalent than ever, it’s essential that voters have an opportunity to learn the truth about our election from trusted sources, he said. “This huge investment is going to go a long way towards making that happen.”
LaRose’s team did not answer a request for comment.
Neither state secretaries acknowledged Facebook’s longstanding controversies. Twice, the social media giant appeared before Congress on charges of unsavory and monopolistic practices. And, it’s only increased contentious free speech policing with fact-checking tags, deleting users’ posts, and banning users or pages. Not to mention its dark dealings in elections.
Renowned psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein testified last fall before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution on big tech election interference. According to Epstein, Google’s manipulations gave between 2.6 and 10.4 million votes to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Epstein stated that Big Tech manipulation could influence as many as 15 million votes in the 2020 election, citing Facebook’s secret experiment on with a “Go Vote” reminder.
“In 2016 if Mark Zuckerberg, for example, had chosen to send a ‘Go Vote’ say, just to Democrats – and no one would’ve known if he’d done this – that would’ve given, that day, an additional 450,000 votes to Democrats. And we know this without doubt because of Facebook’s own published data. They did an experiment that they didn’t tell anyone about during the 2010 election; they published it in 2012. It had 60 million Facebook users involved. They sent out a ‘Go Vote’ reminder and they got something like 360,000 people to go vote that would’ve otherwise stayed home.”
CTCL says its $250 million cut is expressly for polling staff, a rental site, drive-through voting, processing equipment, workers’ personal protective equipment (PPE), and nonpartisan voter education. CEIR promises to purpose the $50 million remainder “to ensure elections are secure, voters have confidence in election outcomes, and democracy thrives as civic engagement grows.”
The extent of Zuckerberg’s influence in the companies after his donation is unclear.
“In 2020 you can bet that all of these companies are going to go all-out,” stated Epstein. “And the methods that they’re using are invisible, they’re subliminal, they’re more powerful than most any effects I’ve ever seen in the behavioral sciences. And I’ve been in the behavioral sciences for forty years.”
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Ohio Star, The Minnesota Sun, and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Mark Zuckerberg” by Anthony Quintano. CC BY 2.0. Background Photo “Voting Booths” by Tim Evanson. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Roger Victory Commentary: Reaping Winning Policies

As a business owner and farmer I have seen firsthand how impactful the presidential administration can be to both large corporations and small business owners .
In Michigan , we pride ourselves on contributing to two honorable industries ; agriculture and manufacturing ; both of which would be negatively impacted if former Vice President Joe Biden were to occupy the Oval Office .
Biden wants us to believe he is the candidate that can fix America , despite the fact he has spent more time in politics than any other major-party presidential nominee , nearly a half century .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the success he so quickly is promising .
Biden uses his ‘ experience ’ as a foundation for his campaign , continuously referring to his past accomplishments rather than focusing on the current and future demands and realities of America .
In theory this strategy could work if the former Vice President had a successful track record to go off of ; unfortunately for hard working Americans , he does not .
Under the Obama-Biden Administration , American manufacturing lost more than 192,000 good-paying jobs .
As Vice President , Biden never saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 540,000 .
Comparatively , in the last three months alone , the United States has added 623,000 manufacturing jobs and 4.2 million jobs overall under the Trump administration .
In addition to positive manufacturing impacts , the Trump administration has also contributed greatly to America ’ s , and Michigan ’ s , agriculture industry .
Trump championed the creation and implementation of the recent United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement ( USMCA ) .
This comes at a critical time for farmers who are trying to recover from the economic impacts from multiple seasons of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic .
Under USMCA , there is an anticipated $ 2 billion annual increase in U.S. agricultural exports and an overall increase of $ 65 billion in gross domestic product .
Canada will also increase quotas on U.S. dairy products , benefitting American dairy farmers by $ 242 million .
The USMCA will create more balanced trade which in turn supports higher-paying jobs for Americans .
This agreement is not only vital for America but Michigan specifically , who produces 75 % of the U.S. ’ s tart cherries , ranks 5th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is one of the country ’ s leading asparagus producers .
Despite the overwhelming benefits of the USMCA , Harris , Biden ’ s pick for Vice President , voted AGAINST the new trade agreement .
American jobs and agriculture trade will not be championed by a Biden administration , that much is clear .
The USMCA is just one of the many positive changes made under the Trump Administration to help secure America ’ s food supply and support American farming families .
We owe it to the hardworking people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that their voices will always be heard and that we continue to support and expand our agricultural and manufacturing industries .
Roger Victory is a Republican politician from Michigan currently serving in the Michigan Senate , representing the 30th district since 2019 .
Photo “ Roger Victory ” by Roger Victory .

by Roger Victory
As a business owner and farmer I have seen firsthand how impactful the presidential administration can be to both large corporations and small business owners. In Michigan, we pride ourselves on contributing to two honorable industries; agriculture and manufacturing; both of which would be negatively impacted if former Vice President Joe Biden were to occupy the Oval Office.
Biden wants us to believe he is the candidate that can fix America, despite the fact he has spent more time in politics than any other major-party presidential nominee, nearly a half century. In that time he was unable to achieve the success he so quickly is promising. Biden uses his ‘experience’ as a foundation for his campaign, continuously referring to his past accomplishments rather than focusing on the current and future demands and realities of America. In theory this strategy could work if the former Vice President had a successful track record to go off of; unfortunately for hard working Americans, he does not.
Under the Obama-Biden Administration, American manufacturing lost more than 192,000 good-paying jobs. As Vice President, Biden never saw a month of job creation that topped 540,000. Comparatively, in the last three months alone, the United States has added 623,000 manufacturing jobs and 4.2 million jobs overall under the Trump administration.
In addition to positive manufacturing impacts, the Trump administration has also contributed greatly to America’s, and Michigan’s, agriculture industry. Trump championed the creation and implementation of the recent United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This comes at a critical time for farmers who are trying to recover from the economic impacts from multiple seasons of extreme flooding compounded by complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under USMCA, there is an anticipated $2 billion annual increase in U.S. agricultural exports and an overall increase of $65 billion in gross domestic product. Canada will also increase quotas on U.S. dairy products, benefitting American dairy farmers by $242 million. The USMCA will create more balanced trade which in turn supports higher-paying jobs for Americans. This agreement is not only vital for America but Michigan specifically, who produces 75% of the U.S.’s tart cherries, ranks 5th in milk production for the United States and is one of the country’s leading asparagus producers. Despite the overwhelming benefits of the USMCA, Harris, Biden’s pick for Vice President, voted AGAINST the new trade agreement. American jobs and agriculture trade will not be championed by a Biden administration, that much is clear.
The USMCA is just one of the many positive changes made under the Trump Administration to help secure America’s food supply and support American farming families. We owe it to the hardworking people of Michigan and the entire United States to ensure that their voices will always be heard and that we continue to support and expand our agricultural and manufacturing industries.
– – –
Roger Victory is a Republican politician from Michigan currently serving in the Michigan Senate, representing the 30th district since 2019.
Photo “Roger Victory” by Roger Victory.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--State Commission Issues Recommendations to Improve African American History Teaching

A state commission examining African American history education has published its report , issuing broad recommendations for state educational standards and for professional development of teachers .
The “ Final Report of the Virginia Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth ” is the result of a year-long effort started by Governor Ralph Northam .
The 81 page document includes specific technical edits .
For example , first grade teachers should “ [ d ] escribe how the relationship between diseases and weapons of the English settlers impacted the Virginia Indians.
” Another section changes the way a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Civil War .
The recommended change states , “ Cultural , economic , and constitutional differences between the North and the South based in slavery eventually resulted in the Civil War.
” One of the recommendations for improving the professional development of teachers is to require all graduates to take an African American history credit , which could be filled by the new course recently announced by Northam .
One key element of the document is an educational strategy called “ culturally responsive teaching.
” “ [ This is the ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and values that recognize the importance of racial and cultural diversity in learning .
[ It is an ] approach that emphasizes using the cultural knowledge , prior experiences , frames of reference , and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning encounters more relevant to and effective for them , ” the document states .
Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez said culturally responsive teaching is really pernicious .
“ [ Culturally responsive teaching ] is based on the idea that kids from different groups are going to be taught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explored , and researched , and scrutinized , and debated by all of us , by all Americans .
So I am concerned.
” Gonzalez is the author of The Plot to Change America : How Identity Politics is Dividing the Land of the Free .
Gonzalez also said the report is based in an ideology that history has been told as a master narrative , and modern teachers need to counter that narrative .
Gonzalez disagreed with the idea of competing narratives .
“ No , there ’ s truth .
Truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do our best to… arrive at it .
Truth is arrived at by looking at primary materials , by primary sources , by reading the letter the colonists wrote… By looking at the letters written by runaway slaves.
” According to Gonzalez , telling different narratives to different children based on their cultural background repeats the mistakes of the infamous Plessy v. Ferguson decision that upheld racial segregation .
Gonzalez said the core figures around the founding of the U.S. and its ideology were White .
“ There is no getting away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I definitely think that we don ’ t teach Frederick Douglass nearly enough … Frederick Douglass was an American , through and through .
We don ’ t learn enough about W.E.B .
Dubois .
I don ’ t admire Dubois in the same way that I admire Douglass but I still think he ’ s a very important American and had an important influence in many cultural aspects … .
He said things that are not taught nearly enough.
” Gonzalez pointed out that the word “ cultural ” appears in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglass is only named four times .
“ I ’ d like to see this taught more … .
I ’ d like to see Douglass and MLK and Dubois and even Malcolm X ’ s own revolution because this is part of the American story… not to replace America , but to get at the truth.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

A state commission examining African American history education has published its report, issuing broad recommendations for state educational standards and for professional development of teachers.
The “Final Report of the Virginia Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth” is the result of a year-long effort started by Governor Ralph Northam.
The 81 page document includes specific technical edits. For example, first grade teachers should “[d]escribe how the relationship between diseases and weapons of the English settlers impacted the Virginia Indians.” Another section changes the way a Virginia Studies course should portray the causes of the Civil War. The recommended change states, “Cultural, economic, and constitutional differences between the North and the South based in slavery eventually resulted in the Civil War.”
One of the recommendations for improving the professional development of teachers is to require all graduates to take an African American history credit, which could be filled by the new course recently announced by Northam.
One key element of the document is an educational strategy called “culturally responsive teaching.”
“[This is the] behavioral expressions of knowledge, beliefs, and values that recognize the importance of racial and cultural diversity in learning. [It is an] approach that emphasizes using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, frames of reference, and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning encounters more relevant to and effective for them,” the document states.
Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez said culturally responsive teaching is really pernicious.
“[Culturally responsive teaching] is based on the idea that kids from different groups are going to be taught differently …. History has to be explored, and researched, and scrutinized, and debated by all of us, by all Americans. So I am concerned.” Gonzalez is the author of The Plot to Change America: How Identity Politics is Dividing the Land of the Free.
Gonzalez also said the report is based in an ideology that history has been told as a master narrative, and modern teachers need to counter that narrative. Gonzalez disagreed with the idea of competing narratives.
“No, there’s truth. Truth might be elusive, but we need to do our best to… arrive at it. Truth is arrived at by looking at primary materials, by primary sources, by reading the letter the colonists wrote… By looking at the letters written by runaway slaves.”
According to Gonzalez, telling different narratives to different children based on their cultural background repeats the mistakes of the infamous Plessy v. Ferguson decision that upheld racial segregation.
Gonzalez said the core figures around the founding of the U.S. and its ideology were White.
“There is no getting away from that. On the other hand, I definitely think that we don’t teach Frederick Douglass nearly enough … Frederick Douglass was an American, through and through. We don’t learn enough about W.E.B. Dubois. I don’t admire Dubois in the same way that I admire Douglass but I still think he’s a very important American and had an important influence in many cultural aspects …. He said things that are not taught nearly enough.”
Gonzalez pointed out that the word “cultural” appears in the report 80 times, while Frederick Douglass is only named four times.
“I’d like to see this taught more …. I’d like to see Douglass and MLK and Dubois and even Malcolm X’s own revolution because this is part of the American story… not to replace America, but to get at the truth.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Representative Candice Keller Targeted by Activists at Save Our Children Rally

Counter-protesters wearing “ Black Lives Matter ” gear targeted Representative Candice Keller ( R-OH-53 ) after her speech this past weekend at a Save Our Children Rally in Columbus .
Keller is an avid pro-life legislator and creator of the Ohio Heartbeat Bill .
Keller and her husband Kent – a write-in candidate for the Ohio Senate – attended the rally .
In interviews with The Ohio Star , Keller states that she and her husband were walking back to their cars when they noticed people recording and following them .
Every time the couple looked back , the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My husband and I saw a group of five to six people following us and filming us .
They were wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts and masks .
I knew they were following us because I dropped a business card , and when I stopped to pick it up they stopped , too.
” Keller spoke at another event earlier in the day advocating for Ohio reopening from COVID closures .
It wasn ’ t until after Keller spoke at the Save Our Children Rally that the group began to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kellers from the Statehouse toward Riffe Center Parking Garage .
When the group persisted to follow the pair , Keller flagged down several State Patrol officers .
The officers stood with Keller on Capitol steps while Keller ’ s husband continued on to their vehicle .
The group did not leave .
They followed Kent until he turned into an alleyway with parked police cars .
Only then did the group stop .
“ I was alarmed at how aggressive they were – they got close .
I ’ m not sure how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband weren ’ t there to protect me , ” stated Keller .
“ I don ’ t know if they were trying to provoke me by videotaping us.
” Despite The Columbus Dispatch positioning the gathering as a far-right conspiracy theory-seeded event , Ohioans of different races , sexual preferences , and even political persuasions showed up to the Statehouse on Saturday .
Pictures and videos posted on the event page show that the event was peaceful and diverse .
In one picture , two lesbians prayed with a former Crip gang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event page on Facebook has since been deleted .
Representative Keller wasn ’ t certain as to what inspired her pursuers .
“ My second speech on human trafficking – that ’ s an issue everyone finds it repulsive .
I ’ m not sure why that was the lightning rod issue .
That ’ s why [ their behavior ] was unexpected.
” It is unclear whether the pursuers intimidation tactics stemmed from a trending belief that all Save Our Children events are covers for political groups and alternative motives .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 5th worst state for human trafficking .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

Counter-protesters wearing “Black Lives Matter” gear targeted Representative Candice Keller (R-OH-53) after her speech this past weekend at a Save Our Children Rally in Columbus. Keller is an avid pro-life legislator and creator of the Ohio Heartbeat Bill.
Keller and her husband Kent – a write-in candidate for the Ohio Senate – attended the rally. In interviews with The Ohio Star, Keller states that she and her husband were walking back to their cars when they noticed people recording and following them. Every time the couple looked back, the group stopped and stared – but continued taping.
“My husband and I saw a group of five to six people following us and filming us. They were wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts and masks. I knew they were following us because I dropped a business card, and when I stopped to pick it up they stopped, too.”
Keller spoke at another event earlier in the day advocating for Ohio reopening from COVID closures. It wasn’t until after Keller spoke at the Save Our Children Rally that the group began to follow the couple. The group trailed the Kellers from the Statehouse toward Riffe Center Parking Garage.
When the group persisted to follow the pair, Keller flagged down several State Patrol officers. The officers stood with Keller on Capitol steps while Keller’s husband continued on to their vehicle. The group did not leave. They followed Kent until he turned into an alleyway with parked police cars. Only then did the group stop.
“I was alarmed at how aggressive they were – they got close. I’m not sure how I would’ve felt if my husband weren’t there to protect me,” stated Keller. “I don’t know if they were trying to provoke me by videotaping us.”
Despite The Columbus Dispatch positioning the gathering as a far-right conspiracy theory-seeded event, Ohioans of different races, sexual preferences, and even political persuasions showed up to the Statehouse on Saturday. Pictures and videos posted on the event page show that the event was peaceful and diverse. In one picture, two lesbians prayed with a former Crip gang member turned BLM activist. The original event page on Facebook has since been deleted.
Representative Keller wasn’t certain as to what inspired her pursuers.
“My second speech on human trafficking – that’s an issue everyone finds it repulsive. I’m not sure why that was the lightning rod issue. That’s why [their behavior] was unexpected.”
It is unclear whether the pursuers intimidation tactics stemmed from a trending belief that all Save Our Children events are covers for political groups and alternative motives. All conspiracy theories aside, Ohio ranks as the 5th worst state for human trafficking.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Liz Peek on Violence in Leftist-Run Cities: It No Longer Benefits the Biden Campaign and Democrats K

Liz Peek on Violence in Leftist-Run Cities: It No Longer Benefits the Biden Campaign and Democrats Know It

Live from Virginia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed columnist and contributor Liz Peek to the show .
During the interview , Peek weighed in on Joe Biden ’ s recent visit to Pittsburgh , which she describes as an embarrassment because he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that only now he is coming out of his basement because the Democrats are realizing that the violence is no longer working in their favor .
Fredericks : Joining us now Liz Peek .
She had a barn burner column on Fox the other day blasting Joe Biden and the Democrats over these riots and looting and everything .
Liz , great to have you .
Fredericks : You are pretty fired up in your column .
Do you want to elaborate a little bit on it ?
Peek : I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wrote , is an insult to the American people .
The idea that Joe Biden can campaign for the highest office in the land from his basement .
Not engage with the press .
Not take any questions from serious reporters .
I mean honestly , what is their possible excuse ?
All the country is going back to work .
Going back to school and Joe Biden is the only one who is uniquely fragile and so vulnerable that he has to continue to hide out in his basement ?
Honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joking about this for the last four months .
But the nation was expecting Joe Biden to emerge at some point and put everyone ’ s qualms about his mental fitness etc .
to rest .
Well , he hasn ’ t done that .
You just have to wonder , in campaign stop after campaign stop which is by the way about 10 miles from his home , he doesn ’ t take any questions .
What ’ s that all about ?
I ’ m on his pool press email list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign , I mean , honestly John , it is embarrassing .
There is nothing to report because he never talks to the press .
OK. We may despise the media , we are the media you and I to some degree , but kind of doesn ’ t a candidate have to engage with them at some point and answer some questions ?
I find this bizarrely offensive .
And particularly at a time right now when the country is really hurting and needs some leadership .
He keeps talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any leadership .
Guess what Joe ?
You don ’ t provide leadership from your basement .
It ’ s not there .
So I mean , honestly .
Fredericks : And even yesterday he went to Pittsburgh at a steel mill which isn ’ t that far from Wilmington .
He talked for 20 minutes and it was all on a teleprompter .
He took no questions and he left .
Peek : Yeah .
By the way , the press pool report on this was hilarious .
The airplane lands .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have conversations with them .
He looks at the press and goes , welcome to Pittsburgh .
That ’ s it .
Those are the only words you heard from him the entire day .
I think we all know why this is taking place .
He really can ’ t hold onto a thread of conversation longer than about a minute without getting into trouble .
Clearly there are signs of cognitive decline .
The idea that the Democrats want to foist this guy off on the American public as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they know it .
The reason , by the way , that his fundraising increased after he picked Kamala Harris was people thought OK , he isn ’ t really going to be president .
Kamala Harris will be president and we ’ ll give money to that campaign because at least she can put two sentences together in a row without embarrassing herself .
John , when are people going to wake up to this ?
Mind you , the media here is doing everything they can to cover it up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the riots .
They are not reporting on Joe Biden ’ s frailties .
And I find the whole thing so angry making .
I don ’ t know what to do about it .
If they are not going to report on murders in the streets they are certainly not going to report on Joe Biden being a complete flake .
Which kind of where he is .
The idea might be , OK Americans have seen this guy for 47 years , we don ’ t really need to hear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further from the truth .
He ’ s been all over the place on so many issues .
Legalization of marijuana .
The Hyde Amendment .
Law and order etc .
We kind of want to know where Joe Biden stands right now , 2020 , and we ’ re not going to find out .
Fredericks : Well , they are not going to let you find out .
Fredericks : That ’ s part of the problem .
But if you really breakdown this Pittsburgh visit yesterday at the steel mill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech or whatever speech he made yesterday , we have to point this out , Liz Peek , and you are spot on .
He gets off the plane .
This is his campaign plane .
Now the way this works is , you run a campaign .
You get off the campaign plane .
The media is there .
So you engage the media immediately because that ’ s how you get extra coverage right ?
Fredericks : That ’ s how you get earned media .
I want The Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I want the Pittsburgh Gazette .
I want all the papers that are there .
All the radio outlets in the Pittsburgh area .
I want them all there .
You engage them immediately after stepping off the plane on the tarmac .
You give them five to 10 minutes .
But you give them something and have a little dialogue .
Right ?
Fredericks : Well , and it ’ s the way the campaign wants to get earned media .
That ’ s media without advertising .
He doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Pittsburgh .
Leaves .
Walks onto the platform .
Makes his speech .
His speech was what ?
18 minutes .
Fredericks : All on a teleprompter .
18 minutes .
Takes no questions .
None !
And then gets back into his plane and goes back to the basement .
Why did he go to Pittsburgh ?
( Peek laughs ) Why not just do the same thing from your basement ?
Peek : Because he ’ s getting guess what ?
Democrats are waking up to the fact that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the critical battleground states now , he is effectively tied in most of those with Donald trump having been up several points earlier in the summer .
They know it ’ s not working .
They know Americans are unhappy about the violence in our cities .
And by the way , it ’ s not one or two cities it ’ s like 10 now that have recurring riots and mayhem in the streets .
A total lack of lawfulness .
And Americans are beginning to pin that on the Democrats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way , they should .
This is not just because you have a Democrat mayor and so the party affiliation is somewhere evident in the city hall .
These are city Democrat policies that have been put in place in New York City and Washington , D.C. , and Chicago and elsewhere that basically benefit the criminals .
That is what ’ s happened .
In New York City which is where I live some of the time because I ’ m not there now thankfully .
They have now basically now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for and they ’ ve taken a lot of violent crimes off that list .
So you have people burglarizing houses and assaulting people and they are booked and they are out in hours .
If criminals know they aren ’ t going to have any penalty for misbehavior , guess what ?
They go out and do it again .
And that ’ s what you see in New York over and over again .
It is appalling to me .
And how stupid that no one is willing to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t working .
Lets change it because our cities John are going to take a massive hit .
Not just New York .
Not just Chicago .
All of these cities are going to suffer major reputational degradation because people , for example , tourists looking at where they might go for a vacation , they are going to say New York City ?
No .
Because it ’ s not safe .
When you have a woman being raped in the middle of the day on a subway platform or another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in broad daylight .
This begins to bring back the 1970s of bad times in New York .
And boy I ’ ll tell you what , it clobbered the city ’ s economy , and that ’ s what ’ s going to happen again .
And it ’ s not just New York .
Listen to the full interview here :

Live from Virginia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed columnist and contributor Liz Peek to the show.
During the interview, Peek weighed in on Joe Biden’s recent visit to Pittsburgh, which she describes as an embarrassment because he didn’t engage with the press. She later added that only now he is coming out of his basement because the Democrats are realizing that the violence is no longer working in their favor.
Fredericks: Joining us now Liz Peek. She had a barn burner column on Fox the other day blasting Joe Biden and the Democrats over these riots and looting and everything. Liz, great to have you.
Peek: Good morning. I’m happy to join you.
Fredericks: You are pretty fired up in your column. Do you want to elaborate a little bit on it?
Peek: I think this entire Joe Biden campaign, as I wrote, is an insult to the American people. The idea that Joe Biden can campaign for the highest office in the land from his basement. Not engage with the press. Not take any questions from serious reporters. I mean honestly, what is their possible excuse? All the country is going back to work.
Going back to school and Joe Biden is the only one who is uniquely fragile and so vulnerable that he has to continue to hide out in his basement? Honestly, all Republicans have been sort of joking about this for the last four months. But the nation was expecting Joe Biden to emerge at some point and put everyone’s qualms about his mental fitness etc. to rest.
Well, he hasn’t done that. You just have to wonder, in campaign stop after campaign stop which is by the way about 10 miles from his home, he doesn’t take any questions. What’s that all about? I’m on his pool press email list and I get these daily updates about his campaign, I mean, honestly John, it is embarrassing. There is nothing to report because he never talks to the press. OK.
We may despise the media, we are the media you and I to some degree, but kind of doesn’t a candidate have to engage with them at some point and answer some questions? I find this bizarrely offensive. And particularly at a time right now when the country is really hurting and needs some leadership. He keeps talking about how Donald Trump isn’t providing any leadership. Guess what Joe? You don’t provide leadership from your basement. It’s not there. So I mean, honestly.
Fredericks: And even yesterday he went to Pittsburgh at a steel mill which isn’t that far from Wilmington. He talked for 20 minutes and it was all on a teleprompter. He took no questions and he left.
Peek: Yeah. By the way, the press pool report on this was hilarious. The airplane lands. Often times candidates engage with the press and have conversations with them. He looks at the press and goes, welcome to Pittsburgh. That’s it. Those are the only words you heard from him the entire day. I think we all know why this is taking place.
He really can’t hold onto a thread of conversation longer than about a minute without getting into trouble. Clearly there are signs of cognitive decline. The idea that the Democrats want to foist this guy off on the American public as a credible candidate for president is laughable and they know it.
The reason, by the way, that his fundraising increased after he picked Kamala Harris was people thought OK, he isn’t really going to be president. Kamala Harris will be president and we’ll give money to that campaign because at least she can put two sentences together in a row without embarrassing herself. John, when are people going to wake up to this?
Mind you, the media here is doing everything they can to cover it up. Just like they are not reporting on the riots. They are not reporting on Joe Biden’s frailties. And I find the whole thing so angry making. I don’t know what to do about it. If they are not going to report on murders in the streets they are certainly not going to report on Joe Biden being a complete flake.
Which kind of where he is. The idea might be, OK Americans have seen this guy for 47 years, we don’t really need to hear a lot more from him. Nothing is further from the truth. He’s been all over the place on so many issues. Legalization of marijuana. The Hyde Amendment. Law and order etc. We kind of want to know where Joe Biden stands right now, 2020, and we’re not going to find out.
Fredericks: Well, they are not going to let you find out.
Peek: Exactly.
Fredericks: That’s part of the problem. But if you really breakdown this Pittsburgh visit yesterday at the steel mill where he made his law and order speech or whatever speech he made yesterday, we have to point this out, Liz Peek, and you are spot on. He gets off the plane. This is his campaign plane. Now the way this works is, you run a campaign. You get off the campaign plane. The media is there. So you engage the media immediately because that’s how you get extra coverage right?
Peek: Right.
Fredericks: That’s how you get earned media. I want The Washington Post. I want The New York Times. I want the Pittsburgh Gazette. I want all the papers that are there. All the radio outlets in the Pittsburgh area. I want them all there. You engage them immediately after stepping off the plane on the tarmac. You give them five to 10 minutes. But you give them something and have a little dialogue. Right?
Peek: Yes. That’s customary.
Fredericks: Well, and it’s the way the campaign wants to get earned media. That’s media without advertising. He doesn’t do that. He says welcome to Pittsburgh. Leaves. Walks onto the platform. Makes his speech. His speech was what? 18 minutes.
Peek: All on a teleprompter.
Fredericks: All on a teleprompter. 18 minutes. Takes no questions. None! And then gets back into his plane and goes back to the basement. Why did he go to Pittsburgh? (Peek laughs) Why not just do the same thing from your basement?
Peek: Because he’s getting guess what? Democrats are waking up to the fact that his polls are shrinking, and particularly in the critical battleground states now, he is effectively tied in most of those with Donald trump having been up several points earlier in the summer. They know it’s not working.
They know Americans are unhappy about the violence in our cities. And by the way, it’s not one or two cities it’s like 10 now that have recurring riots and mayhem in the streets. A total lack of lawfulness. And Americans are beginning to pin that on the Democrats in charge of those cities. And by the way, they should. This is not just because you have a Democrat mayor and so the party affiliation is somewhere evident in the city hall.
These are city Democrat policies that have been put in place in New York City and Washington, D.C., and Chicago and elsewhere that basically benefit the criminals. That is what’s happened. In New York City which is where I live some of the time because I’m not there now thankfully.
They have now basically now changed what crimes you can be locked up for and they’ve taken a lot of violent crimes off that list. So you have people burglarizing houses and assaulting people and they are booked and they are out in hours. If criminals know they aren’t going to have any penalty for misbehavior, guess what? They go out and do it again. And that’s what you see in New York over and over again.
It is appalling to me. And how stupid that no one is willing to stand up and say OK. This isn’t working. Lets change it because our cities John are going to take a massive hit. Not just New York. Not just Chicago. All of these cities are going to suffer major reputational degradation because people, for example, tourists looking at where they might go for a vacation, they are going to say New York City? No.
Because it’s not safe. When you have a woman being raped in the middle of the day on a subway platform or another one who was stabbed at an ATM in broad daylight. This begins to bring back the 1970s of bad times in New York. And boy I’ll tell you what, it clobbered the city’s economy, and that’s what’s going to happen again. And it’s not just New York.
Listen to the full interview here:


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--White House COVID Coordinator Tells Minnesotans to Wear Masks in Their Homes

Dr. Deborah Birx , a top official on the White House Coronavirus Task Force , advised Minnesotans to wear masks inside their homes during a recent press conference in St. Paul .
“ It really does come down to every Minnesotan following these common sense path [ s ] forward to ensure we protect each other , and really a lot of that pathway goes through wearing this mask not just in public but also in private if we need to protect others in the household , ” she told reporters Sunday after a meeting with officials from the Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re doing [ a ] much better job in public and [ with ] our public mitigations .
We have to take those home to private and make sure we ’ re also doing that in the household , ” Birx added as she explained that young people pose a risk to older people in their households .
“ There ’ s a lot of young people who get infected and don ’ t know they ’ re infected and they take that virus home to their vulnerable mother or fathers or grandparents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she discussed how Minnesotans need to “ increase uptake of mitigations in households ” during her recent conversation with Gov .
Tim Walz .
“ We know that we ’ ll put this message out about private gatherings and something will happen and you ’ ll realize you have been in a situation , you ’ ve been around people and you didn ’ t have your mask on .
That is the time to make sure you ’ re protecting others in your household and around you by wearing a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they ’ re family , ” Birx said .
In addition to wearing masks inside , Birx said that “ everybody should have their mask with them whenever they ’ re outside.
” She later added that “ we gain freedom from wearing our masks and social distancing.
” Birx praised the Walz administration for approaching the coronavirus pandemic in a “ data-driven way , ” claiming that Minnesota ’ s approach “ has really prevented a lot of nursing home residents from getting infected , and that ’ s extraordinarily good.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ really getting testing into the nursing homes and protecting those that are most vulnerable in nursing homes , ” she said .
Meanwhile , 1,340 of the state ’ s 1,823 ( 73.5 % ) coronavirus-related deaths have occurred in long-term care or assisted living facilities , according to the Minnesota Department of Health as of September 1 .

by Kyle Hooten
Dr. Deborah Birx, a top official on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, advised Minnesotans to wear masks inside their homes during a recent press conference in St. Paul.
“It really does come down to every Minnesotan following these common sense path[s] forward to ensure we protect each other, and really a lot of that pathway goes through wearing this mask not just in public but also in private if we need to protect others in the household,” she told reporters Sunday after a meeting with officials from the Minnesota Department of Health.
“We’re doing [a] much better job in public and [with] our public mitigations. We have to take those home to private and make sure we’re also doing that in the household,” Birx added as she explained that young people pose a risk to older people in their households.
“There’s a lot of young people who get infected and don’t know they’re infected and they take that virus home to their vulnerable mother or fathers or grandparents,” she said.
Birx also said she discussed how Minnesotans need to “increase uptake of mitigations in households” during her recent conversation with Gov. Tim Walz.
“We know that we’ll put this message out about private gatherings and something will happen and you’ll realize you have been in a situation, you’ve been around people and you didn’t have your mask on. That is the time to make sure you’re protecting others in your household and around you by wearing a mask when you’re around them even if they’re family,” Birx said.
In addition to wearing masks inside, Birx said that “everybody should have their mask with them whenever they’re outside.” She later added that “we gain freedom from wearing our masks and social distancing.”
Birx praised the Walz administration for approaching the coronavirus pandemic in a “data-driven way,” claiming that Minnesota’s approach “has really prevented a lot of nursing home residents from getting infected, and that’s extraordinarily good.”
“In general, Minnesota is really getting testing into the nursing homes and protecting those that are most vulnerable in nursing homes,” she said.
Meanwhile, 1,340 of the state’s 1,823 (73.5%) coronavirus-related deaths have occurred in long-term care or assisted living facilities, according to the Minnesota Department of Health as of September 1.
– – –
Photo “Deborah Birx” by Fox 9 News.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Virginia Tech, Town of Blacksburg Prohibit Tailgating, Ask Fans to ‘Homegate’ Instead

Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg announced Tuesday that tailgating for football games is prohibited out of concerns the activity could increase the spread of COVID-19 .
The announcement specifically prohibited tailgating on university or town parking lots as well as other public places , and instead asked Hokie fans to watch games while “ homegating ” with friends or family as a more safe alternative .
“ Football weekends and tailgate gatherings are cherished traditions for Virginia Tech and our community , ” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in the announcement .
“ I appreciate the input @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and community leaders as we came to this difficult conclusion .
Though it is disappointing for all of us as we look forward to fall football , protecting public health remains our primary goal , and the foundation of the decisions we make.
” The Tuesday decision was not one made quickly or without lots of discussion between Virginia Tech and Blacksburg officials .
“ The town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech have been in close conversation ever since the pandemic started , ” Vice Mayor of Blacksburg Michael Sutphin said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All throughout the summer there were conversations on how Blacksburg and the university was going to deal with fall football and athletics and all the events associated with it like tailgating.
” University and Blacksburg officials used statistics from the Virginia Tech and Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 dashboards as a factor for the decision to prohibit tailgating and other ordinances , Sutphin said .
For the week ending Sunday , there were 157 positive tests and 855 negative tests at Virginia Tech , bringing the total positivity rate to 1.8 percent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Virginia Tech COVID-19 dashboard .
To further quell the spread of COVID-19 at Virginia Tech and in the surrounding community , and subsequently adding another way to stop large tailgates , the university announced it was limiting a gathering of students to 15 people while Blacksburg passed an ordinance that limits gathering of 50 people or more .
“ Public gatherings , especially those in which people are not wearing face coverings and not physically distant , will significantly contribute to the spread of COVID-19 , ” Noelle Bissell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health District , said in the announcement .
“ Our community has been working diligently to preserve public health , and it is making a difference .
This decision , while difficult , will help maintain our progress and prevent future outbreaks.
” Both Blacksburg and Virginia Tech police will be enforcing the policy on game days and students who are caught in violation on or off-campus will be referred to the university student conduct office , Sutphin said .
“ No one wants to ban tailgating , but we need to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , ” Sutphin said .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Virginia Tech Football ” by B. CC BY-SA 4.0 .

Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg announced Tuesday that tailgating for football games is prohibited out of concerns the activity could increase the spread of COVID-19.
The announcement specifically prohibited tailgating on university or town parking lots as well as other public places, and instead asked Hokie fans to watch games while “homegating” with friends or family as a more safe alternative.
“Football weekends and tailgate gatherings are cherished traditions for Virginia Tech and our community,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in the announcement. “I appreciate the input and support of athletic director Whit Babcock and community leaders as we came to this difficult conclusion. Though it is disappointing for all of us as we look forward to fall football, protecting public health remains our primary goal, and the foundation of the decisions we make.”
The Tuesday decision was not one made quickly or without lots of discussion between Virginia Tech and Blacksburg officials.
“The town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech have been in close conversation ever since the pandemic started,” Vice Mayor of Blacksburg Michael Sutphin said in an interview with The Virginia Star. “All throughout the summer there were conversations on how Blacksburg and the university was going to deal with fall football and athletics and all the events associated with it like tailgating.”
University and Blacksburg officials used statistics from the Virginia Tech and Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 dashboards as a factor for the decision to prohibit tailgating and other ordinances, Sutphin said.
For the week ending Sunday, there were 157 positive tests and 855 negative tests at Virginia Tech, bringing the total positivity rate to 1.8 percent and the negativity rate to 98.2 percent, according to the Virginia Tech COVID-19 dashboard.
To further quell the spread of COVID-19 at Virginia Tech and in the surrounding community, and subsequently adding another way to stop large tailgates, the university announced it was limiting a gathering of students to 15 people while Blacksburg passed an ordinance that limits gathering of 50 people or more.
“Public gatherings, especially those in which people are not wearing face coverings and not physically distant, will significantly contribute to the spread of COVID-19,” Noelle Bissell, health director of the New River Valley Health District, said in the announcement. “Our community has been working diligently to preserve public health, and it is making a difference. This decision, while difficult, will help maintain our progress and prevent future outbreaks.”
Both Blacksburg and Virginia Tech police will be enforcing the policy on game days and students who are caught in violation on or off-campus will be referred to the university student conduct office, Sutphin said.
“No one wants to ban tailgating, but we need to take action to limit the spread of the virus,” Sutphin said.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Virginia Tech Football” by B. CC BY-SA 4.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-03--Nashville City Workers Could Risk Their Lives Trying to Deliver Citations Under New Proposal, Steve

Nashville City Workers Could Risk Their Lives Trying to Deliver Citations Under New Proposal, Steve Glover Warns

Nashville city employees might soon have the authority to give citations during public health emergencies .
Metro Nashville At-Large Council member Steve Glover told The Tennessee Star Wednesday that it ’ s “ the stupidest idea I have ever seen in my life.
” Yet Metro Council members may soon explore such a proposal .
“ I think we are putting our employees in a very awkward position .
And one that I think is far too dangerous to place them in .
I am very concerned about the liability for the city as a whole .
What happens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who goes out and gets a little too ambitious with it and they pick the wrong person that gets mad ?
And then that person either beats the fire out of them or does something terrible to them ?
” Glover asked .
“ I just don ’ t think we ’ re thinking this all the way through .
I think we are thinking way too shallow on it .
And I ’ m very very concerned .
I think it ’ s a terrible , terrible idea.
” None of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star ’ s request for comment Wednesday .
Staff for Nashville Mayor John Cooper also did not return our message .
According to Nashville Public Radio , Cooper might “ have more flexibility to give enforcement authority to city departments other than the police.
” “ If the Metro Council approves , more Metro staffers could give out civil citations , ” the station reported .
“ One of the mayor ’ s top advisors , Mike Jameson , told the council there have been recent moments when the law would have come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that local governments train and commission police officers to do this work for a reason — that ’ s what they ’ re trained to do.
” “ My Constituents are mad .
They can not believe the government is reaching this way .
You know what my base is .
If you want to find a way to tick them off , well , I ’ m trying to figure out what is left .
We have raised their taxes massively .
We have talked about wanting to defund the police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Glover said .
“ Now we are saying we will expand government even more .
There is nothing about this that your conservatives and even moderates [ like ] .
Frankly , they are thinking ‘ Have you lost your minds up there ?
’ and the answer to that is yes , apparently we have.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Nashville city employees might soon have the authority to give citations during public health emergencies.
Metro Nashville At-Large Council member Steve Glover told The Tennessee Star Wednesday that it’s “the stupidest idea I have ever seen in my life.”
Yet Metro Council members may soon explore such a proposal.
“I think we are putting our employees in a very awkward position. And one that I think is far too dangerous to place them in. I am very concerned about the liability for the city as a whole. What happens to that individual who is a city worker who goes out and gets a little too ambitious with it and they pick the wrong person that gets mad? And then that person either beats the fire out of them or does something terrible to them?” Glover asked.
“I just don’t think we’re thinking this all the way through. I think we are thinking way too shallow on it. And I’m very very concerned. I think it’s a terrible, terrible idea.”
None of the other 40 Metro Council members returned The Star’s request for comment Wednesday. Staff for Nashville Mayor John Cooper also did not return our message.
According to Nashville Public Radio, Cooper might “have more flexibility to give enforcement authority to city departments other than the police.”
“If the Metro Council approves, more Metro staffers could give out civil citations,” the station reported.
“One of the mayor’s top advisors, Mike Jameson, told the council there have been recent moments when the law would have come in handy.”
Glover told The Star that local governments train and commission police officers to do this work for a reason — that’s what they’re trained to do.”
“My Constituents are mad. They cannot believe the government is reaching this way. You know what my base is. If you want to find a way to tick them off, well, I’m trying to figure out what is left. We have raised their taxes massively. We have talked about wanting to defund the police. Thank God we haven’t,” Glover said.
“Now we are saying we will expand government even more. There is nothing about this that your conservatives and even moderates [like]. Frankly, they are thinking ‘Have you lost your minds up there?’ and the answer to that is yes, apparently we have.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-03--Commentary: Trump’s ‘If by Whiskey’ Speech

In 1952 , Mississippi State Senator Noah Sweat famously gave a speech on the subject of prohibition , which was still highly debated in the South .
Promising not to shy away from controversy , he spoke : If when you say whiskey you mean the devil ’ s brew , the poison scourge , the bloody monster , that defiles innocence , dethrones reason , destroys the home , creates misery and poverty , yea , literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children ; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation , and despair , and shame and helplessness , and hopelessness , then certainly I am against it .
But , if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation , the philosophic wine , the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together , that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips , and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes ; if you mean Christmas cheer ; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s step on a frosty , crispy morning ; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy , and his happiness , and to forget , if only for a little while , life ’ s great tragedies , and heartaches , and sorrows ; if you mean that drink , the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars , which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children , our blind , our deaf , our dumb , our pitiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hospitals and schools , then certainly I am for it .
This is my stand .
I will not retreat from it .
I will not compromise .
Donald Trump ’ s speech at the Republican Convention was nearly as remarkable .
As in the “ whiskey speech , ” it really was two speeches melded together uneasily .
Read together , it was hard to see which set of remarks represented the “ real Donald Trump.
” The first half , appealing to moderates , promised criminal justice reform and praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In those remarks , he bragged about “ historic criminal justice reform , prison reform , opportunity zones , the long-term funding of historically black colleges and universities.
” In the second half , it turned to red meat for the base , condemning Biden , the rioters , and touting his tough immigration policies .
“ We have to give law enforcement , our police , back their power .
They are afraid to act .
They are afraid to lose their pension .
They are afraid to lose their jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to do their jobs .
And those who suffer most are the great people who they want so desperately to protect.
” Overall , the Republican National Convention had significantly better production values , entertainment , and overall positivity than Democrats demonstrated the week before .
There were many impressive visuals , including the speaking hall , the presence of audiences , and the use of the White House and Fort McHenry .
The Democrats failed by incessantly focusing on Trump and using a dull Zoom-style format .
Their policy agenda and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absent .
The Republicans put on a better show .
That said , Republican outreach efforts bordered on incoherence .
One minute , speakers were talking about “ backing the blue ” and the scourge of violence from Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters .
The testimony of widow Ann Dorn , whose husband was killed in rioting in St. Louis , was particularly powerful .
So too was Catholic Sister Deirdre Byrne , who spoke clearly and forcefully on the abortion issue .
On the other hand , many speakers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking Biden for his record on the 1994 crime bill .
Speakers praised the leftist BLM movement .
A woman who was given a life sentence for dealing crack cocaine spoke about the “ injustice of my story.
” As Pedro Gonzalez has remarked , “ Which way MAGA man ?
” In other words , does Trump intend to pivot back to the themes of his 2016 victory ?
Or does this pragmatic , nonideological , and oddly establishment-friendly message express his plans for the second term ?
The recent past is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The fantasy of him “ going back to America First ” or “ taking the gloves off ” seems to be an overly hopeful one , particularly in light of the obvious rhetorical differences of his 2016 and 2020 campaigns .
As a matter of pure electoral politics , maybe this all will work .
As Noah Sweat reminds us , politicians have been trying to be all things to all people for a long time .
Exhibiting confirmation bias , supporters tend to harp on what they want to hear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ window dressing.
” Older voters also recognize that Trump is significantly better than his Republican predecessors .
He has not been saying tone-deaf stuff about “ we want more millionaires ” or amnesty .
Older voters also know that Biden is significantly more left-leaning and hostile to anything recognizably conservative or even patriotic .
Perhaps Trump ’ s emotional rhetoric that says “ I understand you and am one of you ” succeeds , not least because listeners project their own hopes and wishes to fill in the blanks .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embodiment of Rousseau ’ s “ general will ” in American political life .
His deviations from both Democratic and Republican orthodoxy align , nearly perfectly , with what is popular with the majority , while not aligning neatly with traditional Democratic or Republican party platforms .
Trump ’ s diverse emphases may not be traditional conservatism or even an authentic America First agenda , but it still may be something—a synthesis of Americans ’ diverse and contradictory beliefs .
To the extent Trump is contradictory and inscrutable , so is the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the same time , a generous social welfare state and tax cuts , an end to violent protests and criminal justice reform , and less immigration and a generous welcome to those who embrace our values and are productive members of society .
One overly complex explanation of all of Trump ’ s strange twists and turns is that he is playing a game of 4D chess .
This seems doubtful .
Trump is a man of instinct .
He is well-tuned into public opinion from his many years as a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contradictions evidence a simpler game : he is listening to and reacting to public opinion and husbanding his political capital .
He is doing so not in the service of a grand policy agenda or some killer 4D chess move , but , rather , to secure reelection .
In spite of his reputation for toughness and political incorrectness , Trump is highly reactive to public opinion , particularly from the middle .
When he does not stick to something , it is either not popular or requires a high cost to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursued popular , low-hanging fruit and walked back more controversial suggestions .
Trump ’ s mixed success is also a product of his absolutely atrocious hiring .
He has hired hostile Republican NeverTrump types , unskilled and tone-deaf hacks , and , in the case of Jared and Ivanka , relied on family members who do not share his expressed 2016 political vision .
I am not totally unsympathetic with his hiring of family , as finding people he can trust in Washington , D.C. is not easy .
But we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and capable outsiders .
These people have been ignored in preference to those with more typical “ swampy ” résumés and agendas .
Trump ’ s disloyal and liberal subordinates have done a lot—some visible , some not—to sabotage his stated wishes .
It ’ s hard to say for what a Trump 2020 victory will be a mandate .
Will it be for getting tough on criminals or releasing them from prison ?
Restricting immigration or just making sure it ’ s done legally ?
America First nationalism or Jared and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda ?
With competing stands taken on both sides of dozens of important political issues , Trump has guaranteed that if he does succeed he will have maximum freedom of maneuver in his second term .
It remains to be seen , however , whether another Trump term will deliver on the meaningful change he promised in 2016 .
Judging by his first term and the contradictory rhetoric of his speech at the convention , this seems like a false hope .
Trump ’ s second term won ’ t be a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least it won ’ t mean indulging the Democrats ’ impulse towards putting America last .
Christopher Roach is an attorney in private practice based in Florida .
He is a double graduate of the University of Chicago and has previously been published by The Federalist , Takimag , The Journal of Property Rights in Transition , the Washington Legal Foundation , the Marine Corps Gazette , and the Orlando Sentinel .
The views presented are solely his own .

by Christopher Roach
In 1952, Mississippi State Senator Noah Sweat famously gave a speech on the subject of prohibition, which was still highly debated in the South. Promising not to shy away from controversy, he spoke:
If when you say whiskey you mean the devil’s brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it. But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman’s step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life’s great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it. This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.
Donald Trump’s speech at the Republican Convention was nearly as remarkable. As in the “whiskey speech,” it really was two speeches melded together uneasily. Read together, it was hard to see which set of remarks represented the “real Donald Trump.”
The first half, appealing to moderates, promised criminal justice reform and praised figures ranging from Reagan to FDR. In those remarks, he bragged about “historic criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunity zones, the long-term funding of historically black colleges and universities.”
In the second half, it turned to red meat for the base, condemning Biden, the rioters, and touting his tough immigration policies. “We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. They are afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs, and by being afraid they are not able to do their jobs. And those who suffer most are the great people who they want so desperately to protect.”
A Convention Full of Contradictions
Overall, the Republican National Convention had significantly better production values, entertainment, and overall positivity than Democrats demonstrated the week before. There were many impressive visuals, including the speaking hall, the presence of audiences, and the use of the White House and Fort McHenry.
The Democrats failed by incessantly focusing on Trump and using a dull Zoom-style format. Their policy agenda and a positive vision of America was largely absent. The Republicans put on a better show.
That said, Republican outreach efforts bordered on incoherence. One minute, speakers were talking about “backing the blue” and the scourge of violence from Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters. The testimony of widow Ann Dorn, whose husband was killed in rioting in St. Louis, was particularly powerful. So too was Catholic Sister Deirdre Byrne, who spoke clearly and forcefully on the abortion issue.
On the other hand, many speakers at the RNC were embracing criminal justice reform and attacking Biden for his record on the 1994 crime bill. Speakers praised the leftist BLM movement. A woman who was given a life sentence for dealing crack cocaine spoke about the “injustice of my story.”
As Pedro Gonzalez has remarked, “Which way MAGA man?”
In other words, does Trump intend to pivot back to the themes of his 2016 victory? Or does this pragmatic, nonideological, and oddly establishment-friendly message express his plans for the second term?
The recent past is usually the best predictor of future results. The fantasy of him “going back to America First” or “taking the gloves off” seems to be an overly hopeful one, particularly in light of the obvious rhetorical differences of his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
Trump’s Contradictions Reflect the Nation’s
As a matter of pure electoral politics, maybe this all will work. As Noah Sweat reminds us, politicians have been trying to be all things to all people for a long time. Exhibiting confirmation bias, supporters tend to harp on what they want to hear, ignoring the rest as “optics” and “window dressing.”
Older voters also recognize that Trump is significantly better than his Republican predecessors. He has not been saying tone-deaf stuff about “we want more millionaires” or amnesty. Older voters also know that Biden is significantly more left-leaning and hostile to anything recognizably conservative or even patriotic. Perhaps Trump’s emotional rhetoric that says “I understand you and am one of you” succeeds, not least because listeners project their own hopes and wishes to fill in the blanks.
Trump in his own way is the closest embodiment of Rousseau’s “general will” in American political life. His deviations from both Democratic and Republican orthodoxy align, nearly perfectly, with what is popular with the majority, while not aligning neatly with traditional Democratic or Republican party platforms.
Trump’s diverse emphases may not be traditional conservatism or even an authentic America First agenda, but it still may be something—a synthesis of Americans’ diverse and contradictory beliefs.
To the extent Trump is contradictory and inscrutable, so is the nation itself. Americans want, at one and the same time, a generous social welfare state and tax cuts, an end to violent protests and criminal justice reform, and less immigration and a generous welcome to those who embrace our values and are productive members of society.
One overly complex explanation of all of Trump’s strange twists and turns is that he is playing a game of 4D chess. This seems doubtful. Trump is a man of instinct. He is well-tuned into public opinion from his many years as a public figure and successful television shows. His contradictions evidence a simpler game: he is listening to and reacting to public opinion and husbanding his political capital. He is doing so not in the service of a grand policy agenda or some killer 4D chess move, but, rather, to secure reelection.
In spite of his reputation for toughness and political incorrectness, Trump is highly reactive to public opinion, particularly from the middle. When he does not stick to something, it is either not popular or requires a high cost to achieve. Throughout his first term he has pursued popular, low-hanging fruit and walked back more controversial suggestions.
A Mandate for What?
Trump’s mixed success is also a product of his absolutely atrocious hiring. He has hired hostile Republican NeverTrump types, unskilled and tone-deaf hacks, and, in the case of Jared and Ivanka, relied on family members who do not share his expressed 2016 political vision.
I am not totally unsympathetic with his hiring of family, as finding people he can trust in Washington, D.C. is not easy. But we have a large nation with many passionate, talented, and capable outsiders. These people have been ignored in preference to those with more typical “swampy” résumés and agendas. Trump’s disloyal and liberal subordinates have done a lot—some visible, some not—to sabotage his stated wishes.
It’s hard to say for what a Trump 2020 victory will be a mandate. Will it be for getting tough on criminals or releasing them from prison? Restricting immigration or just making sure it’s done legally? America First nationalism or Jared and Ivanka’s cosmopolitan and vaguely liberal agenda?
With competing stands taken on both sides of dozens of important political issues, Trump has guaranteed that if he does succeed he will have maximum freedom of maneuver in his second term. It remains to be seen, however, whether another Trump term will deliver on the meaningful change he promised in 2016. Judging by his first term and the contradictory rhetoric of his speech at the convention, this seems like a false hope. Trump’s second term won’t be a time of America First nationalism, but at least it won’t mean indulging the Democrats’ impulse towards putting America last.
– – –
Christopher Roach is an attorney in private practice based in Florida. He is a double graduate of the University of Chicago and has previously been published by The Federalist, Takimag, The Journal of Property Rights in Transition, the Washington Legal Foundation, the Marine Corps Gazette, and the Orlando Sentinel. The views presented are solely his own.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-03--‘I am Antifa’: This Antifa Supporter Could Be Portland’s Next Mayor

Portland ’ s next mayor could be an open supporter of Antifa , the violent , far-left movement whose members have unleashed violence in cities across America .
Left-wing activist Sarah Iannarone will face incumbent Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler in a runoff election on Nov. 3 after neither candidate received a majority of votes in the first round of voting .
Wheeler beat Iannarone in the first round of voting , but has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum over his handling of the city ’ s nightly unrest , which has included nearly 30 riots since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump was shot and killed Saturday night during a pro-Trump demonstration in Portland .
Trump has criticized Wheeler for not embracing federal assistance to quell the city ’ s riots , while left-wing activists have accused Wheeler of being too tough on demonstrators .
Local progressive activists have called for Wheeler ’ s resignation , but the mayor has said he has no plans to step down .
Iannarone , whose platform includes a “ Housing for All ” plank and a pledge to slash the city ’ s police funding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antifa movement in a January 2019 tweet .
“ To those who say Antifa are violent thugs : I am not a violent thug and I am Antifa , ” she wrote .
“ I am Antifa because the Red Hats are coming after brown & black people , after Jews , after queer & trans people , and more .
They are coming after our democracy , ” she added .
Iannarone ’ s campaign manager , Gregory McKelvey , led protesters in shutting down a Portland highway following Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iannarone has consistently expressed support for the nightly unrest currently taking place in Portland .
“ My daughter was in the streets last night driven by anti-racist conviction .
She is not an agitator nor an opportunist and she should not fear for her safety at the hands of Portland police , ” Iannarone wrote in a May 31 tweet .
“ Protests will continue in our city and across the country until our leaders address the problems racism , police brutality , and white supremacy undergirding our society , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We need to understand these protests are part of a healthy democracy .
Peaceful protests , in my opinion , might not necessarily be moving the conversation forward , ” she told KGW8 in an Aug. 7 interview .
Her campaign later issued a follow-up statement saying she does “ not condone ” criminal activity .
Neither campaign returned the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s requests for comment for this story .
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Sarah Iannarone ” by @ @ @

by Peter Hasson
Portland’s next mayor could be an open supporter of Antifa, the violent, far-left movement whose members have unleashed violence in cities across America.
Left-wing activist Sarah Iannarone will face incumbent Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler in a runoff election on Nov. 3 after neither candidate received a majority of votes in the first round of voting.
Wheeler beat Iannarone in the first round of voting, but has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum over his handling of the city’s nightly unrest, which has included nearly 30 riots since late May. A supporter of President Donald Trump was shot and killed Saturday night during a pro-Trump demonstration in Portland.
Trump has criticized Wheeler for not embracing federal assistance to quell the city’s riots, while left-wing activists have accused Wheeler of being too tough on demonstrators. Local progressive activists have called for Wheeler’s resignation, but the mayor has said he has no plans to step down.
Iannarone, whose platform includes a “Housing for All” plank and a pledge to slash the city’s police funding, identified herself as a member of the Antifa movement in a January 2019 tweet.
“To those who say Antifa are violent thugs: I am not a violent thug and I am Antifa,” she wrote.
“I am Antifa because the Red Hats are coming after brown & black people, after Jews, after queer & trans people, and more. They are coming after our democracy,” she added.
To those who say Antifa are violent thugs: I am not a violent thug and I am Antifa. I am Antifa because the Red Hats are coming after brown & black people, after Jews, after queer & trans people, and more. They are coming after our democracy. #HolocaustMemorialDay #NeverForget — sarah iannarone (she/her) (@sarahforpdx) January 27, 2019
Iannarone’s campaign manager, Gregory McKelvey, led protesters in shutting down a Portland highway following Trump’s 2016 victory, the Willamette Week reported.
Iannarone has consistently expressed support for the nightly unrest currently taking place in Portland.
“My daughter was in the streets last night driven by anti-racist conviction. She is not an agitator nor an opportunist and she should not fear for her safety at the hands of Portland police,” Iannarone wrote in a May 31 tweet.
“Protests will continue in our city and across the country until our leaders address the problems racism, police brutality, and white supremacy undergirding our society,” she added in a statement accompanying the tweet.
“We need to understand these protests are part of a healthy democracy. Peaceful protests, in my opinion, might not necessarily be moving the conversation forward,” she told KGW8 in an Aug. 7 interview. Her campaign later issued a follow-up statement saying she does “not condone” criminal activity.
Neither campaign returned the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment for this story.
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Sarah Iannarone” by Sarah Iannarone.