thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Top FBI Lawyer Who Authorized Carter Page Surveillance Forced to Resign

The FBI lawyer who signed a surveillance order against former Trump aide Carter Page that the Justice Department has deemed invalid submitted his resignation on Friday , the FBI said .
Dana Boente , the FBI general counsel , has recently come under scrutiny over his role in the various investigations against former Trump advisers , including Michael Flynn and Carter Page .
Boente signed one of the four Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) orders against Page .
Boente , who served as acting attorney general for the Russia investigation early in the Trump administration , signed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 .
The Justice Department has deemed that order to be invalid because the FBI withheld information that undermined the bureau ’ s theory that Page was a Russian agent .
The FBI cited the now-debunked Steele dossier extensively in its FISA applications .
Boente is the last official who signed one of the Carter Page FISAs still remaining in government .
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced internally on Friday that Boente will be leaving his role on June 30 .
Boente , a 38-year veteran of the Justice Department and FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as a prosecutor for the Justice Department ’ s national security division , and as acting attorney general early in the Trump administration .
“ Few people have served so well in so many critical , high-level roles at the Department .
Throughout his long and distinguished career as a public servant , Dana has demonstrated a selfless determination to ensure that justice is always served on behalf of our citizens , ” Wray said in a statement .
According to NBC News , top officials at the Justice Department directed Wray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI .
Boente was offered a different position in the Justice Department but opted to resign instead , according to The Washington Post .
Justice Department spokesman Kerri Kupec referred questions about the resignation to the FBI .
Boente has come under scrutiny amid allegations that he opposed the release of documents in the Michael Flynn case .
The Federalist reported on April 24 that Boente led the charge to block disclosure of documents that Flynn ’ s legal team says are exculpatory in the case against the retired general .
Flynn pleaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making false statements to the FBI regarding his conversations with a Russian diplomat in late December 2016 .
The New York Times confirmed aspects of The Federalist report in a story on May 13 .
According to the newspaper , Boente opposed providing the documents to Flynn ’ s legal team but reluctantly did so under pressure from the Justice Department .
One of those documents was a Jan. 4 , 2017 FBI memo authorizing the bureau to close a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn .
Top FBI officials intervened to keep the Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another document was a handwritten note dated Jan. 24 , 2017 that showed then-FBI official Bill Priestap questioned whether the goal of an interview with Flynn was “ to get him to lie ” in order to prosecute him or force him out of a job .
The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss charges against Flynn on May 7 , saying that prosecutors should have provided the exculpatory material to Flynn ’ s lawyers .
Chuck Ross is is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ FBI @ @ @ @ @ @

by Chuck Ross
The FBI lawyer who signed a surveillance order against former Trump aide Carter Page that the Justice Department has deemed invalid submitted his resignation on Friday, the FBI said.
Dana Boente, the FBI general counsel, has recently come under scrutiny over his role in the various investigations against former Trump advisers, including Michael Flynn and Carter Page.
Boente signed one of the four Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) orders against Page. Boente, who served as acting attorney general for the Russia investigation early in the Trump administration, signed the surveillance warrant against Page on April 7, 2017.
The Justice Department has deemed that order to be invalid because the FBI withheld information that undermined the bureau’s theory that Page was a Russian agent. The FBI cited the now-debunked Steele dossier extensively in its FISA applications.
Boente is the last official who signed one of the Carter Page FISAs still remaining in government.
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced internally on Friday that Boente will be leaving his role on June 30. Boente, a 38-year veteran of the Justice Department and FBI, served as U.S. attorney in Virginia, as a prosecutor for the Justice Department’s national security division, and as acting attorney general early in the Trump administration.
“Few people have served so well in so many critical, high-level roles at the Department. Throughout his long and distinguished career as a public servant, Dana has demonstrated a selfless determination to ensure that justice is always served on behalf of our citizens,” Wray said in a statement.
According to NBC News, top officials at the Justice Department directed Wray to force Boente to resign from the FBI.
Boente was offered a different position in the Justice Department but opted to resign instead, according to The Washington Post.
Justice Department spokesman Kerri Kupec referred questions about the resignation to the FBI.
Boente has come under scrutiny amid allegations that he opposed the release of documents in the Michael Flynn case. The Federalist reported on April 24 that Boente led the charge to block disclosure of documents that Flynn’s legal team says are exculpatory in the case against the retired general.
Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017 to making false statements to the FBI regarding his conversations with a Russian diplomat in late December 2016.
The New York Times confirmed aspects of The Federalist report in a story on May 13. According to the newspaper, Boente opposed providing the documents to Flynn’s legal team but reluctantly did so under pressure from the Justice Department.
One of those documents was a Jan. 4, 2017 FBI memo authorizing the bureau to close a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn.
Top FBI officials intervened to keep the Flynn probe open, according to the documents.
Another document was a handwritten note dated Jan. 24, 2017 that showed then-FBI official Bill Priestap questioned whether the goal of an interview with Flynn was “to get him to lie” in order to prosecute him or force him out of a job.
The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss charges against Flynn on May 7, saying that prosecutors should have provided the exculpatory material to Flynn’s lawyers.
– – –
Chuck Ross is is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “FBI Headquarters” by Sammy Six CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Sen Ron Johnson Considers Subpoenas for Clinton Cronies Who Peddled a Second Trump Dossier

Sen. Ron Johnson , the Republican chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee , is weighing subpoenas for two longtime Hillary Clinton associates who peddled a dossier of allegations about Donald Trump that mirrored those in the infamous report compiled by Christopher Steele .
Johnson seeks documents and testimony from Sidney Blumenthal and Cody Shearer , the two Clinton cronies , and 33 other witnesses as part of a sprawling probe of the FBI , State Department and other agencies .
Johnson is investigating whether State Department officials during the Obama administration engaged in “ potential abuse ” of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collect and disseminate false information from Christopher Steele.
” He scheduled a vote for June 4 to consider issuing the subpoenas .
Blumenthal and Shearer are at the center of one of the more bizarre but unexplored aspects of Clinton-related opposition research efforts carried out against Trump in 2016 .
Shearer compiled two memos during the 2016 campaign that alleged that the Russian intelligence service , the FSB , had blackmail material of a sexual nature on Trump .
Blumenthal , a friend of Shearer ’ s and adviser to Hillary Clinton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who then served as a top State Department aide to then-Secretary of State John Kerry .
Winer provided Shearer ’ s reports to Steele , who then provided them to the FBI on Oct. 19 , 2016 .
Steele , a former MI6 officer , provided his own dossier to the FBI .
The bureau relied heavily on the unverified reports to obtain Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) orders against Trump aide Carter Page .
Steele , who dug up the Trump dirt on behalf of the Clinton campaign and DNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosive allegation in Shearer ’ s report is “ remarkably similar ” Citing sources in the Russian government and an individual who claimed to have ties to Trump , Steele alleged that the Kremlin was blackmailing Trump with video of him with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel room in 2013 .
Both the Steele and Shearer reports have come under intense scrutiny .
A Justice Department inspector general ’ s report on the FBI ’ s investigation of the Trump campaign said the FBI received evidence that Russian intelligence operatives might have fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his dossier .
The IG report also said that Steele ’ s main source for information in the dossier said the sex tape allegation was based on “ rumor ” and had not been verified .
A source who was told about the Shearer memo in 2016 , well before it became public , previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation that they believed Shearer was the target of a “ rope-a-dope ” game “ where the FSB throws this stuff out there , sucks people in , tries to get money.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefed on the Shearer memos in 2016 told the DCNF that the allegations were not taken seriously because Shearer was “ not a guy with a whole lot of credibility.
” The official said that the Clinton loyalists were “ doing their best to get this stuff out into the mainstream media before the election.
” Little is known about how Shearer compiled his dossier or disseminated it , or whether the Clinton campaign was aware of his work .
Steele , on the other hand , is known to have disseminated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department , FBI , and a Justice Department official .
Steele also provided his dossier to Strobe Talbott , another longtime Clinton ally who was president of the Brookings Institution , a prominent foreign policy think tank .
Talbott also happens to be Shearer ’ s brother-in-law .
Johnson , the Republican senator , is also seeking documents and testimony from Winer .
The former State Department official had an expansive role in the effort to disseminate Trump-related dirt .
In addition to handling both the Steele and Shearer dossiers , Winer arranged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department on Oct. 11 , 2016 .
He also had contact with the founders of Fusion GPS , the opposition research firm that hired Steele on behalf of the Clinton campaign and DNC .
Winer served as a background source for at least two reporters who published stories based on Steele ’ s now-debunked allegations about Trump and his associates .
It is unclear how seriously the FBI took Shearer ’ s reports .
The IG report said that an FBI supervisory intelligence analyst characterized the report as “ yet another report that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Chuck Ross
Sen. Ron Johnson, the Republican chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, is weighing subpoenas for two longtime Hillary Clinton associates who peddled a dossier of allegations about Donald Trump that mirrored those in the infamous report compiled by Christopher Steele.
Johnson seeks documents and testimony from Sidney Blumenthal and Cody Shearer, the two Clinton cronies, and 33 other witnesses as part of a sprawling probe of the FBI, State Department and other agencies.
Johnson is investigating whether State Department officials during the Obama administration engaged in “potential abuse” of the agency by using official resources to “collect and disseminate false information from Christopher Steele.”
He scheduled a vote for June 4 to consider issuing the subpoenas.
Blumenthal and Shearer are at the center of one of the more bizarre but unexplored aspects of Clinton-related opposition research efforts carried out against Trump in 2016.
Shearer compiled two memos during the 2016 campaign that alleged that the Russian intelligence service, the FSB, had blackmail material of a sexual nature on Trump. Blumenthal, a friend of Shearer’s and adviser to Hillary Clinton, distributed the reports to Jonathan Winer, who then served as a top State Department aide to then-Secretary of State John Kerry.
Winer provided Shearer’s reports to Steele, who then provided them to the FBI on Oct. 19, 2016. Steele, a former MI6 officer, provided his own dossier to the FBI. The bureau relied heavily on the unverified reports to obtain Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) orders against Trump aide Carter Page.
Steele, who dug up the Trump dirt on behalf of the Clinton campaign and DNC, told the FBI that the most explosive allegation in Shearer’s report is “remarkably similar”
Citing sources in the Russian government and an individual who claimed to have ties to Trump, Steele alleged that the Kremlin was blackmailing Trump with video of him with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel room in 2013.
Both the Steele and Shearer reports have come under intense scrutiny.
A Justice Department inspector general’s report on the FBI’s investigation of the Trump campaign said the FBI received evidence that Russian intelligence operatives might have fed disinformation to Steele for the salacious parts of his dossier. The IG report also said that Steele’s main source for information in the dossier said the sex tape allegation was based on “rumor” and had not been verified.
A source who was told about the Shearer memo in 2016, well before it became public, previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation that they believed Shearer was the target of a “rope-a-dope” game “where the FSB throws this stuff out there, sucks people in, tries to get money.”
A U.S. government official who was briefed on the Shearer memos in 2016 told the DCNF that the allegations were not taken seriously because Shearer was “not a guy with a whole lot of credibility.”
The official said that the Clinton loyalists were “doing their best to get this stuff out into the mainstream media before the election.”
Little is known about how Shearer compiled his dossier or disseminated it, or whether the Clinton campaign was aware of his work. Steele, on the other hand, is known to have disseminated his dossier to multiple journalists, the State Department, FBI, and a Justice Department official.
Steele also provided his dossier to Strobe Talbott, another longtime Clinton ally who was president of the Brookings Institution, a prominent foreign policy think tank.
Talbott also happens to be Shearer’s brother-in-law.
Johnson, the Republican senator, is also seeking documents and testimony from Winer.
The former State Department official had an expansive role in the effort to disseminate Trump-related dirt.
In addition to handling both the Steele and Shearer dossiers, Winer arranged a meeting for Steele at the State Department on Oct. 11, 2016. He also had contact with the founders of Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm that hired Steele on behalf of the Clinton campaign and DNC.
Winer served as a background source for at least two reporters who published stories based on Steele’s now-debunked allegations about Trump and his associates.
It is unclear how seriously the FBI took Shearer’s reports. The IG report said that an FBI supervisory intelligence analyst characterized the report as “yet another report that would need to be evaluated.”
– – –
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Ohio Black Caucus Introduces Bill to Declare Racism ‘Public Health Crisis’

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus announced Friday that it plans to introduce legislation to declare racism a “ public health crisis.
” “ Our citizens of color have been subjected to the effects of racism since the founding of the State of Ohio in 1803 .
Since that time , Ohioans of color have endured unequal education , unsafe work conditions , inadequate health care services , subpar housing and an unjust criminal justice system , based on policies that were rooted in a belief that people of color are not worthy of the American Dream , ” said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Ohio General Assembly .
“ By declaring racism a public health crisis , we acknowledge that racism impacts all members of our society and deserves action from all levels of government , ” the statement continued .
The resolution was announced as riots erupted across the country in response to the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd , who died on Memorial Day at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department .
The riots made their way to Columbus over the weekend , where demonstrators vandalized the Ohio Statehouse and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a press release , the legislation will be formally introduced Tuesday and will assert “ that racism is a public health crisis affecting our entire community.
” Additionally , the bill would provide for a review of “ all portions of codified ordinances with a racial equity lens ” and promote local , state , and federal efforts to “ dismantle systemic racism.
” Another provision in the bill calls for educating all elected officials and their staffers on “ trauma training ” and “ workplace bias.
” “ Black America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to never end and a continued feeling of hopelessness that nothing will ever be better , ” Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President Rep. Stephanie Howse ( D-Cleveland ) said .
“ What we are witnessing around the country is a community simply begging to be seen and heard .
Racism is real and it is the biggest public health threat citizens of color face.
” “ The real question is where does Governor DeWine , Lieutenant Governor Husted , President Obhof , Speaker Householder , Members of the Ohio General Assembly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand ?
” Howse continued .
“ When will they be forced to atone for the sins of this country and the State of Ohio against black and brown people ?
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Ohio Legislative Black Caucus ” by OLBC.org

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus announced Friday that it plans to introduce legislation to declare racism a “public health crisis.”
“Our citizens of color have been subjected to the effects of racism since the founding of the State of Ohio in 1803. Since that time, Ohioans of color have endured unequal education, unsafe work conditions, inadequate health care services, subpar housing and an unjust criminal justice system, based on policies that were rooted in a belief that people of color are not worthy of the American Dream,” said a statement from the caucus sent to every member of the Ohio General Assembly.
“By declaring racism a public health crisis, we acknowledge that racism impacts all members of our society and deserves action from all levels of government,” the statement continued.
The resolution was announced as riots erupted across the country in response to the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, who died on Memorial Day at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. The riots made their way to Columbus over the weekend, where demonstrators vandalized the Ohio Statehouse and started fires on its front lawn.
According to a press release, the legislation will be formally introduced Tuesday and will assert “that racism is a public health crisis affecting our entire community.”
Additionally, the bill would provide for a review of “all portions of codified ordinances with a racial equity lens” and promote local, state, and federal efforts to “dismantle systemic racism.” Another provision in the bill calls for educating all elected officials and their staffers on “trauma training” and “workplace bias.”
“Black America woke this morning to a nightmare that seems to never end and a continued feeling of hopelessness that nothing will ever be better,” Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) said. “What we are witnessing around the country is a community simply begging to be seen and heard. Racism is real and it is the biggest public health threat citizens of color face.”
“The real question is where does Governor DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Husted, President Obhof, Speaker Householder, Members of the Ohio General Assembly and other white people in positions of power stand?” Howse continued. “When will they be forced to atone for the sins of this country and the State of Ohio against black and brown people?”
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ohio Legislative Black Caucus” by OLBC.org


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Ohio House Approves Bill Legalizing Sports Wagering

House lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to legalize sports wagering in Ohio , a move that could generate millions in tax revenue for the state .
House Bill 194 levies a 10 percent tax on gross gaming revenue with proceeds to benefit education in the Buckeye State .
The measure could bring in $ 17.7 million in additional revenue for the state during the 2022 fiscal year and $ 23 million during the 2023 fiscal year , according to the Legislative Service Commission ( LSC ) .
The legislation grants the Ohio Lottery Commission authority over sports gaming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing industry .
“ Realizing that legalizing sports betting in Ohio and the country is an emerging industry , this bill outlines a framework for the lottery commission to initially establish the rules necessary to stand up this new opportunity , but it also provides a structure to [ adapt ] to the changing trends and challenges in the industry , ” state Rep. Dave Greenspan , R-Westlake , said on the House floor before the vote .
Under the proposal , the state ’ s four casinos , seven racinos and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer sports wagering .
It also authorizes wagering via the internet and mobile devices .
According to the LSC , the proposal could generate $ 1.3 million in licensing fees during the first year and between $ 300,000 and $ 500,000 in subsequent years , presuming all casinos and racinos in the state offer sports wagering .
It could also bring in additional revenues from personal income , municipal income and commercial activity taxes .
“ We will create a legal , closely monitored industry and the pathway to increase funding for education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brigid Kelly , D-Cincinnati , said on the House floor before the vote .
“ …Right now , sports gaming happens off the books .
We know it ’ s happening , but we aren ’ t collecting tax revenue , and there is no way to monitor the bets to try and protect from any unscrupulous or suspicious activity.
” The bill is both constitutional and operates legally under the Federal Wire Act , and it provides protections for consumers , Greenspan told lawmakers .
It also increases resources for gaming addiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against unlawful sports betting .
“ We should always be looking for more ways to help give Ohio ’ s kids a solid foundation for a better future , and the opportunity to provide more resources for that is especially timely now given the challenges we ’ re facing in our state , ” Kelly said .
The bill , which passed by an 83-10 margin , now heads to the state Senate , where another bill to legalize sports wagering , Senate Bill 111 , is pending in committee .
Todd DeFeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photo “ Sports Gambling ” by Adam Jones .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Todd DeFeo
House lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to legalize sports wagering in Ohio, a move that could generate millions in tax revenue for the state.
House Bill 194 levies a 10 percent tax on gross gaming revenue with proceeds to benefit education in the Buckeye State. The measure could bring in $17.7 million in additional revenue for the state during the 2022 fiscal year and $23 million during the 2023 fiscal year, according to the Legislative Service Commission (LSC).
The legislation grants the Ohio Lottery Commission authority over sports gaming in Ohio, bringing into the open an existing industry.
“Realizing that legalizing sports betting in Ohio and the country is an emerging industry, this bill outlines a framework for the lottery commission to initially establish the rules necessary to stand up this new opportunity, but it also provides a structure to [adapt] to the changing trends and challenges in the industry,” state Rep. Dave Greenspan, R-Westlake, said on the House floor before the vote.
Under the proposal, the state’s four casinos, seven racinos and more than 1,000 veterans and fraternal organizations could offer sports wagering. It also authorizes wagering via the internet and mobile devices.
According to the LSC, the proposal could generate $1.3 million in licensing fees during the first year and between $300,000 and $500,000 in subsequent years, presuming all casinos and racinos in the state offer sports wagering. It could also bring in additional revenues from personal income, municipal income and commercial activity taxes.
“We will create a legal, closely monitored industry and the pathway to increase funding for education in the state,” state Rep. Brigid Kelly, D-Cincinnati, said on the House floor before the vote. “…Right now, sports gaming happens off the books. We know it’s happening, but we aren’t collecting tax revenue, and there is no way to monitor the bets to try and protect from any unscrupulous or suspicious activity.”
The bill is both constitutional and operates legally under the Federal Wire Act, and it provides protections for consumers, Greenspan told lawmakers. It also increases resources for gaming addiction services and enhances regulatory enforcement and laws against unlawful sports betting.
“We should always be looking for more ways to help give Ohio’s kids a solid foundation for a better future, and the opportunity to provide more resources for that is especially timely now given the challenges we’re facing in our state,” Kelly said.
The bill, which passed by an 83-10 margin, now heads to the state Senate, where another bill to legalize sports wagering, Senate Bill 111, is pending in committee.
– – –
Todd DeFeo is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Sports Gambling” by Adam Jones. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Ellison Says Black People in Minneapolis Have Reason to Fear and Distrust Local Police, Claims MPD H

Ellison Says Black People in Minneapolis Have Reason to Fear and Distrust Local Police, Claims MPD Has ‘Endemic Problem’

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said during an interview Sunday morning that he believes African-Americans in Minneapolis have reason to distrust and fear their local police .
“ Sadly , yes .
There is a history that has been repeated time and time again .
I want to say that many officers are great people .
I know so many of them and I think the chief is an extraordinary person , and the mayor and the council deserve a lot of credit for appointing Mr. Arradondo , but it is an endemic problem in the Minneapolis Police Department , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He criticized Bob Kroll , the polarizing figure at the helm of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis , for “ operating as a sort of alternative chief ” and undermining “ good order in the department.
” “ The violence really is a negative thing , ” said Ellison , who on Friday quoted Martin Luther King ’ s comment that riots are the “ language of the unheard.
” “ I think what Martin Luther King was trying to say is rather than simply dismiss the outrage and the rage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually centuries , of state-sponsored oppression for African Americans , let ’ s look at the roots of that rage and try to address it rather than just pound it down with massive force , ” Ellison said .
He noted that people “ are upset for a reason , and to dismiss those reasons means we ’ re going to be relegated to deal with them again and again and again.
” The attorney general faced backlash after he suggested during a Friday press conference that protesters should treat the Minnesota National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Please remember that this is not the group that you associate with unfair authority , ” Ellison said of the National Guard .
Later in his Fox News interview , Ellison was asked whether he is comfortable with the charge of third-degree murder against former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin , since the charge implies Chauvin didn ’ t intend to kill George Floyd .
“ Let me say that we are very early in this process , very early .
It is not uncommon to amend charges .
It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellison .
“ I don ’ t want anyone to conclude that these are all the charges that are going to be there .
You know , to ask people to be patient who have suffered so long and been denied justice so long is really asking a lot of them.
” “ These cases , which look so obvious to us watching videotape , you get them into trial with some really good lawyers , and things can go in a very different direction , ” he added .
“ So let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said during an interview Sunday morning that he believes African-Americans in Minneapolis have reason to distrust and fear their local police.
“Sadly, yes. There is a history that has been repeated time and time again. I want to say that many officers are great people. I know so many of them and I think the chief is an extraordinary person, and the mayor and the council deserve a lot of credit for appointing Mr. Arradondo, but it is an endemic problem in the Minneapolis Police Department,” Ellison said on Fox News Sunday.
He criticized Bob Kroll, the polarizing figure at the helm of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, for “operating as a sort of alternative chief” and undermining “good order in the department.”
“The violence really is a negative thing,” said Ellison, who on Friday quoted Martin Luther King’s comment that riots are the “language of the unheard.”
“I think what Martin Luther King was trying to say is rather than simply dismiss the outrage and the rage that people express after decades, really actually centuries, of state-sponsored oppression for African Americans, let’s look at the roots of that rage and try to address it rather than just pound it down with massive force,” Ellison said.
He noted that people “are upset for a reason, and to dismiss those reasons means we’re going to be relegated to deal with them again and again and again.”
The attorney general faced backlash after he suggested during a Friday press conference that protesters should treat the Minnesota National Guard differently than the Minneapolis Police Department.
“Please remember that this is not the group that you associate with unfair authority,” Ellison said of the National Guard.
Later in his Fox News interview, Ellison was asked whether he is comfortable with the charge of third-degree murder against former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, since the charge implies Chauvin didn’t intend to kill George Floyd.
“Let me say that we are very early in this process, very early. It is not uncommon to amend charges. It is not uncommon to add defendants,” said Ellison. “I don’t want anyone to conclude that these are all the charges that are going to be there. You know, to ask people to be patient who have suffered so long and been denied justice so long is really asking a lot of them.”
“These cases, which look so obvious to us watching videotape, you get them into trial with some really good lawyers, and things can go in a very different direction,” he added. “So let’s get this thing right.”
Watch the full interview below:
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Court of Appeals Rules Against Owosso Barbershop Proprietor

Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center @ @ @ @ @ MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ Ron Fulger .

by Bruce Walker
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute’s InfoTech & Telecom News.
Photo “Karl Manke Barbershop” by Ron Fulger.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Police Officer Charged in George Floyd’s Death Had 18 Complaints on Record

The veteran Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of a man in his custody had 18 previous complaints of misconduct against him , according to news reports .
Only two of the old complaints against Derek Chauvin resulted in disciplinary actions , according to The Wall Street Journal .
Chauvin , 44 , who is seen with a knee pressed to the neck of a handcuffed and prostrate George Floyd in a video recording , was arrested and charged Friday in Floyd ’ s death after three days of unrest in Minneapolis .
Three of the complaints against Chauvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of which resulted in discipline during his 19-year career , Fox News reported .
The Daily Signal sought comment Friday evening from Minneapolis lawyer Thomas Kelly , identified by The Wall Street Journal as representing Chauvin .
Kelly had not responded as of publication .
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday that the county had arrested and charged Chauvin with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death Monday evening of Floyd , 46 .
The video shows Chauvin pressing a knee into Floyd ’ s neck after the handcuffed man begs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t breathe , and eventually appears to lose consciousness .
The incident is racially charged because Chauvin is white and Floyd was black .
President Donald Trump said Friday that he had spoken to members of Floyd ’ s family , whom he called “ terrific people , ” and had asked the Justice Department to investigate .
“ I ’ ve asked that the Department of Justice expedite the federal investigation into his death and do it immediately .
Do it as quickly as absolutely possible , ” Trump said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation , but we are also making it into a federal situation .
It ’ s a terrible thing .
We all saw what we saw .
It ’ s very hard to even conceive of anything other than what we did see .
It should never be allowed to happen , a thing like that .
But we ’ re determined that justice be served .
Chauvin had been on the police force since 2001 , according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune .
Another Minneapolis police officer involved in Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints against him filed with the Minneapolis Police Department ’ s Internal Affairs Division , according to The Wall Street Journal .
Thao had been on the police force since 2012 , according to the Star Tribune .
Police records reportedly show that five of the six complaints against Thao were closed and one is still open .
Thao reportedly settled out of court in 2017 in a case alleging excessive use of force .
Two other Minneapolis police officers , Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng , were with Chauvin and Thao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruiser and was recorded on smartphones .
Neither Lane nor Kueng apparently had any reported complaints against them .
The four officers were in the process of arresting Floyd for fraud Monday evening , police said .
On Tuesday , the Minneapolis Police Department fired all four .
Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .
Lucas is also the author of “ Tainted by Suspicion : The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections .
@

by Fred Lucas
The veteran Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of a man in his custody had 18 previous complaints of misconduct against him, according to news reports.
Only two of the old complaints against Derek Chauvin resulted in disciplinary actions, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Chauvin, 44, who is seen with a knee pressed to the neck of a handcuffed and prostrate George Floyd in a video recording, was arrested and charged Friday in Floyd’s death after three days of unrest in Minneapolis.
Three of the complaints against Chauvin had to do with police-involved shootings, none of which resulted in discipline during his 19-year career, Fox News reported.
The Daily Signal sought comment Friday evening from Minneapolis lawyer Thomas Kelly, identified by The Wall Street Journal as representing Chauvin. Kelly had not responded as of publication.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday that the county had arrested and charged Chauvin with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death Monday evening of Floyd, 46.
The video shows Chauvin pressing a knee into Floyd’s neck after the handcuffed man begs him to stop, says he can’t breathe, and eventually appears to lose consciousness. The incident is racially charged because Chauvin is white and Floyd was black.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he had spoken to members of Floyd’s family, whom he called “terrific people,” and had asked the Justice Department to investigate.
“I’ve asked that the Department of Justice expedite the federal investigation into his death and do it immediately. Do it as quickly as absolutely possible,” Trump said, adding:
It’s a local situation, but we are also making it into a federal situation. It’s a terrible thing. We all saw what we saw. It’s very hard to even conceive of anything other than what we did see. It should never be allowed to happen, a thing like that. But we’re determined that justice be served.
Chauvin had been on the police force since 2001, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Another Minneapolis police officer involved in Floyd’s death, Tou Thao, had six complaints against him filed with the Minneapolis Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Thao had been on the police force since 2012, according to the Star Tribune.
Police records reportedly show that five of the six complaints against Thao were closed and one is still open. Thao reportedly settled out of court in 2017 in a case alleging excessive use of force.
Two other Minneapolis police officers, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, were with Chauvin and Thao when the incident occurred beside a police cruiser and was recorded on smartphones.
Neither Lane nor Kueng apparently had any reported complaints against them.
The four officers were in the process of arresting Floyd for fraud Monday evening, police said.
On Tuesday, the Minneapolis Police Department fired all four.
– – –
Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “The Right Side of History” podcast. Lucas is also the author of “Tainted by Suspicion: The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections.”


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Murfreesboro Riot as Mayor Declares State of Emergency

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland declared a local State of Emergency Sunday night after violence broke out in that city following what the Murfreesboro Police Department ’ s Facebook page described as a peaceful assembly .
The order went into effect at 6:30 p.m. Sunday , according to the MPD ’ s Facebook page .
“ MPD deployed tear gas at the intersection of East Main and Middle Tenn. Boulevard .
A crowd of protesters was blocking the intersection and was almost hit by traffic , ” the MPD ’ s Facebook page said in a separate post .
“ An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrown through window of Whiskey Dix on Square .
Curfew is in effect.
” In a press release , McFarland ( pictured above ) said the following : As Mayor , I recognize and fully support the right of people to peacefully assemble and demonstrate .
The City is committed to securing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment .
At the same time , others have engaged in unlawful activities that endanger peace and public safety .
Safeguarding the lives of citizens , preventing significant damage to property , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service providers is the reason I am declaring this local emergency .
Joe Spears at the Murfreesboro-based Daily News Journal posted a video on his Twitter feed of an officer in an armored vehicle throwing tear gas at protestors yelling at them .
WKRN reporter Josh Breslow reported on his Twitter Sunday night that Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee has authorized the use of National Guard and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Murfreesboro to help in “ restoring order for the safety of our citizens.
” Breslow quoted Lee as saying protests there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have escalated to overt threats to public safety and property.
” McFarland issued the order pursuant to special emergency powers granted to local governments pursuant to state law .
The order aids enforcement of the curfew through requests for mutual aid from other jurisdictions and by activating certain emergency-response provisions of the city code , the press release said .
As The Tennessee Star reported , protesters held an event in Nashville Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Later in the day , protestors resorted to violence — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , parts of downtown Broadway .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland declared a local State of Emergency Sunday night after violence broke out in that city following what the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Facebook page described as a peaceful assembly.
The order went into effect at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the MPD’s Facebook page.
“MPD deployed tear gas at the intersection of East Main and Middle Tenn. Boulevard. A crowd of protesters was blocking the intersection and was almost hit by traffic,” the MPD’s Facebook page said in a separate post.
“An armored vehicle was vandalized, a brick thrown through window of Whiskey Dix on Square. Curfew is in effect.”
In a press release, McFarland (pictured above) said the following:
As Mayor, I recognize and fully support the right of people to peacefully assemble and demonstrate. The City is committed to securing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. At the same time, others have engaged in unlawful activities that endanger peace and public safety. Safeguarding the lives of citizens, preventing significant damage to property, and protecting our law enforcement officers and emergency service providers is the reason I am declaring this local emergency.
Joe Spears at the Murfreesboro-based Daily News Journal posted a video on his Twitter feed of an officer in an armored vehicle throwing tear gas at protestors yelling at them.
From earlier: An officer in an armored vehicle throws tear gas at protestors yelling at them. #Murfreesboro pic.twitter.com/JQX7qNryDs — Joe Spears (@joe_spears7) June 1, 2020
WKRN reporter Josh Breslow reported on his Twitter Sunday night that Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has authorized the use of National Guard and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Murfreesboro to help in “restoring order for the safety of our citizens.”
Breslow quoted Lee as saying protests there “are no longer peaceful demonstrations but have escalated to overt threats to public safety and property.”
McFarland issued the order pursuant to special emergency powers granted to local governments pursuant to state law. The order aids enforcement of the curfew through requests for mutual aid from other jurisdictions and by activating certain emergency-response provisions of the city code, the press release said.
As The Tennessee Star reported, protesters held an event in Nashville Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Later in the day, protestors resorted to violence — by trashing the Metro Courthouse and, later, parts of downtown Broadway.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-06-02--Louisville Police Chief Fired in Aftermath of Fatal Shooting

Louisville ’ s police chief was fired Monday after the mayor learned that officers involved in a shooting that killed the popular owner of a barbecue spot failed to activate body cameras during the chaotic scene .
David McAtee , known for offering meals to police officers , died early Monday while police officers and National Guard soldiers were enforcing a curfew amid waves of protests over a previous police shooting in Kentucky ’ s largest city .
Police said they were responding to gunfire from a crowd .
The U.S. attorney said federal authorities will join state police in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg Fischer revealed that authorities lacked body camera video for the investigation just hours after Kentucky ’ s governor demanded the release of police video .
“ This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated , ” Fischer said .
“ Accordingly , I have relieved Steve Conrad of his duties as chief of Louisville Metro Police Department.
” Gov .
Andy Beshear later said the lack of body camera footage was unacceptable .
“ This is the entire reason that we have those cameras , ” the Democratic governor said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And every other officers ’ cameras should be reviewed , and if they captured any part of the scene it ought to be released.
” Beshear authorized state police to independently investigate the shooting .
He pledged the probe will be conducted in an “ honest and transparent way that will not take months.
” U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman said his office and the FBI also will be part of the probe .
“ We understand this community ’ s need for answers and we will assess all the information , and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the facts and the law.
” Coleman ’ s office said .
The governor said he had counted on body camera footage to help determine “ the truth in a way that spoke for itself , at a time when trust is difficult and people deserve to be able to see and evaluate.
” The shakeup at the top of the city ’ s police department came a month earlier than expected .
Conrad had previously announced his resignation , which was to take effect at the end of June .
Deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as chief , Fischer said .
Police did retrieve video from crime center cameras that showed how the shooting unfolded , Schroeder said .
“ It is taken from a distance , but it gives an overview of the scene and clearly shows the officers reacting to gunfire , ” he said .
Two Louisville officers and two Guard soldiers returned fire , he said .
The two officers violated policy by not wearing or activating body cameras , Schroeder said , adding they have been placed on administrative leave .
McAtee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near where the shooting occurred , was mourned by hundreds of people who returned to the site hours afterward .
Christopher 2X , an anti-violence activist and executive director of the group Game Changers , said McAtee was well-liked .
“ I ’ ve never known him to be aggressive in any kind of way , ” he said .
Schroeder agreed that McAtee was friendly to police officers .
“ Over the years he ’ s been a good friend to the police officers … frequently making sure our officers had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Before his dismissal , Conrad confirmed the shooting happened around 12:15 a.m. Monday outside a food market on West Broadway , where police and the National Guard had been called to break up a group of people violating the city ’ s curfew .
Someone fired a shot at law enforcement officials , and both soldiers and officers returned fire , he said .
Several “ persons of interest ” were being interviewed , he said .
News outlets showed video taken by someone in a car parked at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bullets being fired as groups of police and Guard soldiers crouched behind cars .
Kris Smith said he was at a restaurant — “ just outside having a good time , having drinks , eating barbecue ” — when the soldiers arrived .
“ As soon as I walk to my car they jump out with the sticks , the police jump out with their sticks and their shields and stuff on , ” Smith said .
“ It looked like something out of a movie .
It looked like a freaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noise , and a few minutes later gunfire erupted , he said .
Smith , who is black , said the group had nothing to do with the protests .
“ Never thought I would experience that here in America , ” he said .
Last week , before the National Guard was mobilized , seven people were wounded when gunshots erupted during a protest in downtown Louisville .
Police said none of the seven , who are recovering , were shot by police .
They have not announced any arrests .
Protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a black woman killed in her home in Louisville in March .
The 26-year-old EMT was shot eight times by narcotics detectives who knocked down her front door as they attempted to enforce a search warrant .
No drugs were found in the home .
After Taylor ’ s death , the mayor said Louisville police would be required to wear body cameras .
Fischer said recently that officers in plainclothes units like the one that served a warrant at Taylor ’ s home would now wear the cameras during search warrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palmer , renewed her plea for peace Monday while demanding justice for her daughter .
Written by Associated Press ’ Bruce Schreiner and Sophia Tulip .
Associated Press contributors include Rebecca Reynolds Yonker in Louisville .
Tulp reported from Atlanta .
About the Headline Photo : Police and Kentucky National Guard troops chase protesters as they flee toward a fence Sunday , May 31 , 2020 , in a parking lot at the corner of East Broadway and South Brook Street in downtown Louisville , Kentucky .
( Max Gersh/The Courier Journal via @ @

Louisville’s police chief was fired Monday after the mayor learned that officers involved in a shooting that killed the popular owner of a barbecue spot failed to activate body cameras during the chaotic scene.
David McAtee, known for offering meals to police officers, died early Monday while police officers and National Guard soldiers were enforcing a curfew amid waves of protests over a previous police shooting in Kentucky’s largest city. Police said they were responding to gunfire from a crowd.
The U.S. attorney said federal authorities will join state police in investigating the fatal shooting.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer revealed that authorities lacked body camera video for the investigation just hours after Kentucky’s governor demanded the release of police video.
“This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated,” Fischer said. “Accordingly, I have relieved Steve Conrad of his duties as chief of Louisville Metro Police Department.”
Gov. Andy Beshear later said the lack of body camera footage was unacceptable.
“This is the entire reason that we have those cameras,” the Democratic governor said at the state Capitol in Frankfort. “And every other officers’ cameras should be reviewed, and if they captured any part of the scene it ought to be released.”
Beshear authorized state police to independently investigate the shooting. He pledged the probe will be conducted in an “honest and transparent way that will not take months.”
U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman said his office and the FBI also will be part of the probe.
“We understand this community’s need for answers and we will assess all the information, and will take any appropriate action that is warranted by the facts and the law.” Coleman’s office said.
The governor said he had counted on body camera footage to help determine “the truth in a way that spoke for itself, at a time when trust is difficult and people deserve to be able to see and evaluate.”
The shakeup at the top of the city’s police department came a month earlier than expected. Conrad had previously announced his resignation, which was to take effect at the end of June. Deputy Chief Robert Schroeder will step in immediately as chief, Fischer said.
Police did retrieve video from crime center cameras that showed how the shooting unfolded, Schroeder said.
“It is taken from a distance, but it gives an overview of the scene and clearly shows the officers reacting to gunfire,” he said.
Two Louisville officers and two Guard soldiers returned fire, he said. The two officers violated policy by not wearing or activating body cameras, Schroeder said, adding they have been placed on administrative leave.
McAtee, whose YaYa’s BBQ Shack is near where the shooting occurred, was mourned by hundreds of people who returned to the site hours afterward.
Christopher 2X, an anti-violence activist and executive director of the group Game Changers, said McAtee was well-liked.
“I’ve never known him to be aggressive in any kind of way,” he said.
Schroeder agreed that McAtee was friendly to police officers. “Over the years he’s been a good friend to the police officers … frequently making sure our officers had a good meal on their shifts,” he said.
Before his dismissal, Conrad confirmed the shooting happened around 12:15 a.m. Monday outside a food market on West Broadway, where police and the National Guard had been called to break up a group of people violating the city’s curfew.
Someone fired a shot at law enforcement officials, and both soldiers and officers returned fire, he said. Several “persons of interest” were being interviewed, he said.
News outlets showed video taken by someone in a car parked at a gas station. It recorded the sound of bullets being fired as groups of police and Guard soldiers crouched behind cars.
Kris Smith said he was at a restaurant — “just outside having a good time, having drinks, eating barbecue” — when the soldiers arrived.
“As soon as I walk to my car they jump out with the sticks, the police jump out with their sticks and their shields and stuff on,” Smith said. “It looked like something out of a movie. It looked like a freaking war zone.”
He heard a loud noise, and a few minutes later gunfire erupted, he said.
Smith, who is black, said the group had nothing to do with the protests.
“Never thought I would experience that here in America,” he said.
Last week, before the National Guard was mobilized, seven people were wounded when gunshots erupted during a protest in downtown Louisville. Police said none of the seven, who are recovering, were shot by police. They have not announced any arrests.
Protesters have been demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed in her home in Louisville in March. The 26-year-old EMT was shot eight times by narcotics detectives who knocked down her front door as they attempted to enforce a search warrant. No drugs were found in the home.
After Taylor’s death, the mayor said Louisville police would be required to wear body cameras. Fischer said recently that officers in plainclothes units like the one that served a warrant at Taylor’s home would now wear the cameras during search warrants.
Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, renewed her plea for peace Monday while demanding justice for her daughter.
– – –
Written by Associated Press’ Bruce Schreiner and Sophia Tulip. Associated Press contributors include Rebecca Reynolds Yonker in Louisville. Tulp reported from Atlanta.
About the Headline Photo: Police and Kentucky National Guard troops chase protesters as they flee toward a fence Sunday, May 31, 2020, in a parking lot at the corner of East Broadway and South Brook Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. (Max Gersh/The Courier Journal via AP)


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Bill Hagerty Calls on Donald Trump to Apply Insurrection Act to Rioters

U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty on Monday encouraged U.S. President Donald Trump to use the Insurrection Act to mobilize active-duty military forces to defend communities from further acts of domestic terrorism .
Hagerty , responding to recent riots around the country , including one in Nashville Saturday , said this in a press release .
“ President Trump has already taken decisive leadership in recognizing ANTIFA as a terrorist organization , ” Hagerty said in the press release .
“ America is rooted in the rule of law .
We can not have another night of violence .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t , it propagates lawlessness .
To better protect our cities and communities from further danger , President Trump should use the Insurrection Act to its fullest extent .
Mobilizing our military forces across the country will show that we will not tolerate domestic terrorism.
” According to Berkeley Law School ’ s website , the Act enables the President to deploy the military “ to suppress , in any State , any insurrection , domestic violence , unlawful combination , or conspiracy.
” An amended Act expands the language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disasters , epidemics , or other serious public health emergencies , terrorist attacks or incidents , or other conditions the website said .
As The Tennessee Star reported , several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville ’ s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of George Floyd , who died in Minneapolis while in police custody .
Many protestors carried signs demanding that the government either defund or abolish the police .
The crowd , composed of whites and blacks , chanted “ Black Lives Matter ” and “ No Justice , No Peace ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , and after Saturday ’ s rally , protestors resorted to violence — by vandalizing the Metro Courthouse and , later , parts of lower Broadway .
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday ’ s riots or after that night ’ s 10 p.m. curfew , according to the Metro government ’ s website .
Metro Nashville Police , as of Monday , determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Rioters Burn Minneapolis ” by Lorie Shaull CC2.0 .

U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty on Monday encouraged U.S. President Donald Trump to use the Insurrection Act to mobilize active-duty military forces to defend communities from further acts of domestic terrorism.
Hagerty, responding to recent riots around the country, including one in Nashville Saturday, said this in a press release.
“President Trump has already taken decisive leadership in recognizing ANTIFA as a terrorist organization,” Hagerty said in the press release.
“America is rooted in the rule of law. We cannot have another night of violence. It has to stop now. Period. If we don’t, it propagates lawlessness. To better protect our cities and communities from further danger, President Trump should use the Insurrection Act to its fullest extent. Mobilizing our military forces across the country will show that we will not tolerate domestic terrorism.”
According to Berkeley Law School’s website, the Act enables the President to deploy the military “to suppress, in any State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.” An amended Act expands the language of the original Act to include natural disasters, epidemics, or other serious public health emergencies, terrorist attacks or incidents, or other conditions the website said.
As The Tennessee Star reported, several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville’s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis while in police custody. Many protestors carried signs demanding that the government either defund or abolish the police. The crowd, composed of whites and blacks, chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace” many times over.
Later in the day, and after Saturday’s rally, protestors resorted to violence — by vandalizing the Metro Courthouse and, later, parts of lower Broadway.
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday’s riots or after that night’s 10 p.m. curfew, according to the Metro government’s website.
Metro Nashville Police, as of Monday, determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Rioters Burn Minneapolis” by Lorie Shaull CC2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-01--Newt Gingrich Commentary: Antifa and The Left’s Civil War Against America

The news media wants to ignore the depth of the violence and the forces causing the violence and simply rerun their permanent refrain that this is all about racism ( see the Washington Post story that “ Racial inequality in Minneapolis is Among the Worst in the Nation ” as an example ) .
The news media will resist deeply the idea that Antifa is a factor and that the violence is designed to hurt America .
For America to succeed , we must win this argument .
What we are witnessing is part of a continuing war against America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to peacefully protest the killing of George Floyd .
His killing was horrifying , and the policemen involved will have to stand trial for his death .
However , people engaged in violence are not demonstrators – and given the scale of their violence and destruction , they are not just angry people expressing their frustration .
The scale of violence and the number of cities being attacked is a war against America .
If we saw this level of violence by an attack from ISIS or Al Qaeda , we would understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of war .
This is an act of civil war , and the enemies of American civilization have to be defeated decisively and permanently .
Furthermore , every American of every political belief must be protected by the government against this kind of violence and destruction .
We need a decisive engagement to enforce safety on the streets , and then we need a deep commitment to track down the funders , organizers , and activists who fomented violence against America .
Every person will have to choose between defending America and defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy captured it when he wrote : “ Anti-America must be made to understand that America has had enough.
” McCarthy noted that the federal government has had the power to step in against insurrection and sedition since , “ the Insurrection Act of 1807 , which empowers the president ‘ to suppress , in any State , any insurrection , domestic violence , unlawful combination , or conspiracy.
’ ” That Insurrection Act was strengthened during the Civil War and again after 9/11 .
Mark Halperin captured the depth of this war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his newsletter : Halperin is right about the present but wrong about its size compared to past attacks on America .
The battles from 1967-1972 were much bigger and more savage than anything we have seen so far .
In an 18-month period in 1971 to 1972 , there were an estimated 2,500 bombings , according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation .
The anti-Americans of that era were only defeated by the systematic application of the FBI and other organizations dedicated to defending civilization against its enemies .
Now we face a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here are some questions and suggestions for dealing with the current generation of violent anti-Americans .
1 .
What are all the organizations involved in advocating violence ?
Antifa is the top of a network of activist groups engaged in sedition , but there are a lot of other seemingly random groups .
2. Who is funding all this activity ?
Antifa has a real network .
We know the Soviets funded the peace movement in the 1980s and the terrorist groups in Western Europe in the 1970s and 1980s .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign opponents using to help spread and sustain the internal war against America ?
What about those on the left who believe Antifa is innocent ?
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison ’ s son , who is a Minneapolis city councilman , just endorsed Antifa in response to President Trump declaring it a terrorist organization .
He said white supremacists were causing all the trouble – that charge must be totally explored .
3 .
Given the sheer volume of video and other photographs , it should be possible to hunt down a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acts of violence .
They should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law .
4 .
During a period of mass violence , there should be no bail allowed for those arrested for participating in the violence .
The first goal is to dry up the number of people who are committed to violence .
Arresting and releasing them actually increases the confidence of the violent offenders , because it leads them to believe they can get away with it .
5 .
Every decision must have a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is impossible to understand how Minneapolis could have allowed a police station to be abandoned .
How did officials not understand it would be a signal to the anti-Americans that they were winning and the defenders of civilization were losing their nerve .
6 .
Since the government failed to protect the innocent and their property , there should be an immediate announcement that damage from the terrorists will be treated as a national emergency comparable to a hurricane , earthquake , forest fire , or flood .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rebuild homes , and reestablish community buildings .
With many small businesses already weakened by the COVID-driven shutdown , they simply don ’ t have the resources to rebuild .
If entire neighborhoods collapse with no stores and no jobs , then the anti-Americans will have planted the seeds for even more disillusioned people to join their movement .
7 .
When faced with a threatened anti-American mob with a high potential for violence and property destruction , the streets should be flooded with the forces of civilization .
If on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the state of Minnesota had fielded the 13,000-member National Guard there would have been no violence .
When you don ’ t know how effective , prepared , or numerous your enemy may be , you take your best guess about how much force you will need – and then multiply by three to five , so you can overwhelm the opposition .
8 .
Massive strength leads to the smallest loss of life and the least property damage .
It also discourages others from joining the violent faction .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impunity in New York City , Washington DC , Atlanta , and elsewhere without being met with overwhelming force .
If the city can ’ t cope , the state has to step in .
If the state can ’ t cope , the federal government has to step in .
Every day this violence continues further weakens America at home and around the world .
9 .
Modern technologies must be brought to bear .
Because these are acts of violence against our civilization and are being classed as terrorism , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell phones belonging to radical elements and see how many of them have crossed state lines and moved from violent outburst to violent outburst .
Much more must be done to communicate the scale of the violence that is occurring .
Local media is vivid but national media simply isn ’ t capable of gathering and organizing the information .
An important step is to have a briefing in which the secretary of homeland security or someone comparable simply outlines city-by-city how much damage the anti-American effort has caused in less than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it ’ s going to take to stop the destruction .
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich is a nationally syndicated opinion news columnist , host of the Newt ’ s World podcast , and author of the New York Times bestsellers Understanding Trump and Trump ’ s America .
More of his commentary can be found at www.Gingrich360.com .
Photo “ Fires in Minneapolis-St Paul ” by Lorie Shaull CC2.0 .

by Newt Gingrich
The news media wants to ignore the depth of the violence and the forces causing the violence and simply rerun their permanent refrain that this is all about racism (see the Washington Post story that “Racial inequality in Minneapolis is Among the Worst in the Nation” as an example).
The news media will resist deeply the idea that Antifa is a factor and that the violence is designed to hurt America.
For America to succeed, we must win this argument.
What we are witnessing is part of a continuing war against America.
First, demonstrators have every right to peacefully protest the killing of George Floyd. His killing was horrifying, and the policemen involved will have to stand trial for his death.
However, people engaged in violence are not demonstrators – and given the scale of their violence and destruction, they are not just angry people expressing their frustration. The scale of violence and the number of cities being attacked is a war against America.
If we saw this level of violence by an attack from ISIS or Al Qaeda, we would understand that we are engaged in an act of war. This is an act of civil war, and the enemies of American civilization have to be defeated decisively and permanently.
Furthermore, every American of every political belief must be protected by the government against this kind of violence and destruction. We need a decisive engagement to enforce safety on the streets, and then we need a deep commitment to track down the funders, organizers, and activists who fomented violence against America.
Every person will have to choose between defending America and defending those who would destroy America.
Andrew McCarthy captured it when he wrote: “Anti-America must be made to understand that America has had enough.”
McCarthy noted that the federal government has had the power to step in against insurrection and sedition since, “the Insurrection Act of 1807, which empowers the president ‘to suppress, in any State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.’” That Insurrection Act was strengthened during the Civil War and again after 9/11.
Mark Halperin captured the depth of this war against America today when he wrote in his newsletter:
America’s Second Civil War started way before the death of George Floyd, way before the start of the pandemic, and way before the election of Donald Trump. About the biggest mistake we can make is to think that what is happening now represents the outbreak of America’s Second Civil War. This is in fact simply the bloodiest battle to date in a long-running, existential conflict.
Halperin is right about the present but wrong about its size compared to past attacks on America. The battles from 1967-1972 were much bigger and more savage than anything we have seen so far.
In an 18-month period in 1971 to 1972, there were an estimated 2,500 bombings, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The anti-Americans of that era were only defeated by the systematic application of the FBI and other organizations dedicated to defending civilization against its enemies.
Now we face a similar challenge in a somewhat different form. Here are some questions and suggestions for dealing with the current generation of violent anti-Americans.
1. What are all the organizations involved in advocating violence? Antifa is the top of a network of activist groups engaged in sedition, but there are a lot of other seemingly random groups.
2. Who is funding all this activity? Antifa has a real network. We know the Soviets funded the peace movement in the 1980s and the terrorist groups in Western Europe in the 1970s and 1980s. What online efforts and other activities are our foreign opponents using to help spread and sustain the internal war against America? What about those on the left who believe Antifa is innocent? Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s son, who is a Minneapolis city councilman, just endorsed Antifa in response to President Trump declaring it a terrorist organization. He said white supremacists were causing all the trouble – that charge must be totally explored.
3. Given the sheer volume of video and other photographs, it should be possible to hunt down a wide number of the people who committed acts of violence. They should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
4. During a period of mass violence, there should be no bail allowed for those arrested for participating in the violence. The first goal is to dry up the number of people who are committed to violence. Arresting and releasing them actually increases the confidence of the violent offenders, because it leads them to believe they can get away with it.
5. Every decision must have a public information component at its core. It is impossible to understand how Minneapolis could have allowed a police station to be abandoned. How did officials not understand it would be a signal to the anti-Americans that they were winning and the defenders of civilization were losing their nerve.
6. Since the government failed to protect the innocent and their property, there should be an immediate announcement that damage from the terrorists will be treated as a national emergency comparable to a hurricane, earthquake, forest fire, or flood. The Federal Emergency Management Agency should immediately move to help reopen stores, rebuild homes, and reestablish community buildings. With many small businesses already weakened by the COVID-driven shutdown, they simply don’t have the resources to rebuild. If entire neighborhoods collapse with no stores and no jobs, then the anti-Americans will have planted the seeds for even more disillusioned people to join their movement.
7. When faced with a threatened anti-American mob with a high potential for violence and property destruction, the streets should be flooded with the forces of civilization. If on the first night, the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota had fielded the 13,000-member National Guard there would have been no violence. When you don’t know how effective, prepared, or numerous your enemy may be, you take your best guess about how much force you will need – and then multiply by three to five, so you can overwhelm the opposition.
8. Massive strength leads to the smallest loss of life and the least property damage. It also discourages others from joining the violent faction. It is astonishing that people have been violent with impunity in New York City, Washington DC, Atlanta, and elsewhere without being met with overwhelming force. If the city can’t cope, the state has to step in. If the state can’t cope, the federal government has to step in. Every day this violence continues further weakens America at home and around the world.
9. Modern technologies must be brought to bear. Because these are acts of violence against our civilization and are being classed as terrorism, there ought to be an ability to track cell phones belonging to radical elements and see how many of them have crossed state lines and moved from violent outburst to violent outburst.
Much more must be done to communicate the scale of the violence that is occurring. Local media is vivid but national media simply isn’t capable of gathering and organizing the information. An important step is to have a briefing in which the secretary of homeland security or someone comparable simply outlines city-by-city how much damage the anti-American effort has caused in less than a week.
This is only part of what it’s going to take to stop the destruction.
– – –
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich is a nationally syndicated opinion news columnist, host of the Newt’s World podcast, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Understanding Trump and Trump’s America. More of his commentary can be found at www.Gingrich360.com.
Photo “Fires in Minneapolis-St Paul” by Lorie Shaull CC2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-02--Manny Sethi: ‘Cowardly Democrat Mayors, Like John Cooper, Are More Concerned about Political Correct

Manny Sethi: ‘Cowardly Democrat Mayors, Like John Cooper, Are More Concerned about Political Correctness Than about Protecting the People in Our Cities’

U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi said Monday that Nashville Mayor John Cooper and other Democrat mayors nationwide are too timid to protect people from rioters .
Sethi said this in a press release on his Facebook page .
As The Tennessee Star reported , protestors in Nashville resorted to violence following a rally for George Floyd , who died in police custody in Minneapolis .
They vandalized the Metro Courthouse and , later , parts of downtown Broadway .
“ What we saw this past weekend was political correctness run amok : cowardly Democrat Mayors , like John Cooper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what the liberal media thinks , than about protecting the people in our cities , ” Sethi said .
“ This can not be allowed to continue .
Our leaders have a moral duty to protect our citizens ’ life , liberty , and property .
They must step up .
I am calling on every Mayor and Governor in this country to use every means at their disposal if the lives , homes and businesses of Americans are threatened , and to stop the violent , ANTIFA-led mobs ripping through our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can not allow ANTIFA to tear America apart .
We can not allow them to burn our cities , to harm our people.
” As for Floyd ’ s death , Sethi said that event deeply saddened and angered him .
But Sethi also said that America is now talking about what he called real criminal justice reform .
“ President Trump had already signed a landmark bill .
That was a good start , and we must continue this work so these types of incidents finally end .
But what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representative of most police officers .
I have cared for police officers who have put their bodies in front of bullets to protect us .
I have seen their courage and devotion up close , ” Sethi said .
“ Protests are inherently American .
The right to petition for redress of grievances is a basic constitutional right .
However , we can not allow what these protests have morphed into to continue .
We have moved far beyond peaceful protest into lawlessness .
These ANTIFA-trained revolutionaries have no interest in a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about solving problems in policing to them , or helping heal neighborhoods .
They want to bring down this country.
” Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday ’ s riots or after that night ’ s 10 p.m. curfew , according to the Metro government ’ s website .
Metro Nashville Police , as of Monday , determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake .
Sethi said in his press release that CNN treats rioting as if it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are liberal radicals trying to incite a civil war by inflaming racial tensions .
These radicals are insurrectionists , and should be treated like it .
Nobody has the right to riot , to loot , to burn , to attack fellow citizens .
Our leaders have a sworn duty to uphold the law , to protect our citizens , to put down insurrection .
I am calling on them to do it now.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips @ @ @ @ @

U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi said Monday that Nashville Mayor John Cooper and other Democrat mayors nationwide are too timid to protect people from rioters.
Sethi said this in a press release on his Facebook page.
As The Tennessee Star reported, protestors in Nashville resorted to violence following a rally for George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis. They vandalized the Metro Courthouse and, later, parts of downtown Broadway.
Cooper embraced the protestors and attended Saturday’s rally.
Rioters have resorted to violence nationwide.
“What we saw this past weekend was political correctness run amok: cowardly Democrat Mayors, like John Cooper, are more concerned about political correctness and about what the liberal media thinks, than about protecting the people in our cities,” Sethi said.
“This cannot be allowed to continue. Our leaders have a moral duty to protect our citizens’ life, liberty, and property. They must step up. I am calling on every Mayor and Governor in this country to use every means at their disposal if the lives, homes and businesses of Americans are threatened, and to stop the violent, ANTIFA-led mobs ripping through our cities. They will not quit otherwise. We cannot allow ANTIFA to tear America apart. We cannot allow them to burn our cities, to harm our people.”
As for Floyd’s death, Sethi said that event deeply saddened and angered him. But Sethi also said that America is now talking about what he called real criminal justice reform.
“President Trump had already signed a landmark bill. That was a good start, and we must continue this work so these types of incidents finally end. But what we saw in that video was not representative of most police officers. I have cared for police officers who have put their bodies in front of bullets to protect us. I have seen their courage and devotion up close,” Sethi said.
“Protests are inherently American. The right to petition for redress of grievances is a basic constitutional right. However, we cannot allow what these protests have morphed into to continue. We have moved far beyond peaceful protest into lawlessness. These ANTIFA-trained revolutionaries have no interest in a more perfect union. It’s not about solving problems in policing to them, or helping heal neighborhoods. They want to bring down this country.”
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday’s riots or after that night’s 10 p.m. curfew, according to the Metro government’s website.
Metro Nashville Police, as of Monday, determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake.
Sethi said in his press release that CNN treats rioting as if it’s a legitimate form of protest.
“That’s wrong,” Sethi said.
“There are liberal radicals trying to incite a civil war by inflaming racial tensions. These radicals are insurrectionists, and should be treated like it. Nobody has the right to riot, to loot, to burn, to attack fellow citizens. Our leaders have a sworn duty to uphold the law, to protect our citizens, to put down insurrection. I am calling on them to do it now.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-06-02--Newt Gingrich Commentary: Antifa and The Left’s Civil War Against America


thetennesseestar--2020-06-02--Nashville Protestors Tear Down Statue of Edward Carmack

In Nashville , Tennessee and in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , statues of people criticized for racist views – but without Confederate ties – were targeted during Saturday night ’ s riots .
Protesters in Nashville toppled Saturday a statue of Edward Carmack , a state lawmaker in the early 1900s and newspaper publisher who had racist views and wrote editorials lambasting the writings of prominent Tennessee civil rights journalist Ida B .
Wells , The Tennessean reported .
“ Carmack was a politician in the early 1900s who wrote editorials lambasting the writings of prominent Tennessee civil rights journalist Ida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He was fatally shot in 1908 by a political rival.
” According to Tennessee Encyclopedia , Carmack , among other things , was a leader in the state ’ s temperance movement , served in the Tennessee General Assembly in the 1880s , and , afterwards , pursued a career in journalism .
While in that field , Carmack developed a close relationship with newspaper owner Duncan Brown Cooper .
Voters later elected Carmack to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate .
Cooper and Carmack later had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Carmack used his position as editor of the Nashville Tennessean to belittle Cooper , according to The Tennessee Encyclopedia .
“ Outraged by such comments , Cooper sent a stern warning to Carmack to halt his attacks .
Carmack , however , ignored these threats and continued to malign his former friend , ” The Tennessee Encyclopedia reported .
“ The situation came to a head on November 9 , 1908 , when Cooper and his son Robin encountered Carmack on a downtown Nashville street .
Fearing an ambush , Carmack fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper .
Robin Cooper returned fire , killing Carmack instantly.
” Tennesseans soon favored prohibition and erected the statue of Carmack in the early 20th century , according to The Tennessee Encyclopedia .
As The Tennessee Star reported , several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville ’ s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of George Floyd , who died in Minneapolis while in police custody .
Many protestors carried signs demanding that the government either defund or abolish the police .
The crowd , composed of whites and blacks , chanted “ Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No Peace ” many times over .
Later in the day , and after Saturday ’ s rally , protestors resorted to violence — by vandalizing the Metro Courthouse and , later , parts of downtown Broadway .
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday ’ s riots or after that night ’ s 10 p.m. curfew , according to the Metro government ’ s website .
Metro Nashville Police , as of Monday , determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] The Associated Press contributed to this story .
Photo “ Edward Carmack ” by Kenneth C. Zirkel CC4.0 .

In Nashville, Tennessee and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, statues of people criticized for racist views – but without Confederate ties – were targeted during Saturday night’s riots.
Protesters in Nashville toppled Saturday a statue of Edward Carmack, a state lawmaker in the early 1900s and newspaper publisher who had racist views and wrote editorials lambasting the writings of prominent Tennessee civil rights journalist Ida B. Wells, The Tennessean reported.
My favorite desecration was this statue of avid racist Edward Carmack who nearly got Ida B Wells lynched. It's Nashville! Put a statue of Loretta Lynn out there and throw this in the garbage. pic.twitter.com/KjDLJJfyFk — Cynthia O'Laoghaire (@RoseWrites) May 31, 2020
“Carmack was a politician in the early 1900s who wrote editorials lambasting the writings of prominent Tennessee civil rights journalist Ida B. Wells,” according to MSN.com
“He was fatally shot in 1908 by a political rival.”
According to Tennessee Encyclopedia, Carmack, among other things, was a leader in the state’s temperance movement, served in the Tennessee General Assembly in the 1880s, and, afterwards, pursued a career in journalism. While in that field, Carmack developed a close relationship with newspaper owner Duncan Brown Cooper. Voters later elected Carmack to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate.
Cooper and Carmack later had a falling out over the issue of prohibition. Carmack used his position as editor of the Nashville Tennessean to belittle Cooper, according to The Tennessee Encyclopedia.
“Outraged by such comments, Cooper sent a stern warning to Carmack to halt his attacks. Carmack, however, ignored these threats and continued to malign his former friend,” The Tennessee Encyclopedia reported.
“The situation came to a head on November 9, 1908, when Cooper and his son Robin encountered Carmack on a downtown Nashville street. Fearing an ambush, Carmack fired on the pair, wounding the younger Cooper. Robin Cooper returned fire, killing Carmack instantly.”
Tennesseans soon favored prohibition and erected the statue of Carmack in the early 20th century, according to The Tennessee Encyclopedia.
As The Tennessee Star reported, several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville’s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis while in police custody. Many protestors carried signs demanding that the government either defund or abolish the police. The crowd, composed of whites and blacks, chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace” many times over.
Later in the day, and after Saturday’s rally, protestors resorted to violence — by vandalizing the Metro Courthouse and, later, parts of downtown Broadway.
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday’s riots or after that night’s 10 p.m. curfew, according to the Metro government’s website.
Metro Nashville Police, as of Monday, determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Photo “Edward Carmack” by Kenneth C. Zirkel CC4.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-02--Nashville’s ‘Peaceful’ Rally for George Floyd Preached Racial Separation and ‘Overthrowing Oppressor

Nashville’s ‘Peaceful’ Rally for George Floyd Preached Racial Separation and ‘Overthrowing Oppressors’

One speaker at Saturday ’ s Nashville rally honoring George Floyd spoke openly about overthrowing oppressors .
Another presenter discussed relocating black Americans to a separate land of their own — at white people ’ s expense .
Nashville Mayor John Cooper attended that rally .
On his Facebook page Saturday night , he described it as peaceful .
But chaos later erupted downtown .
Left-wing activist Justin Jones spoke .
Jones , as The Tennessee Star previously reported , has had prior run-ins with law enforcement , one of which was for an alleged assault on then Speaker of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are you still here ?
” Jones asked .
“ Will you commit to demilitarize the police department and defund the police department ?
Raise your hand if you support defunding the police department ?
’ ” Jones told the crowd that he “ did not see the mayor raise his hand.
” Jones later told the crowd of thousands that “ you don ’ t just vote out your oppressor .
You overthrow them.
” Another speaker at Saturday ’ s rally identified himself as Samuel X .
He described himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis Farrakhan.
” Samuel X identifies on Facebook as Samuel X Gray , a student minister at the Nation of Islam .
At Saturday ’ s rally , Gray spoke of relocating the descendants of slaves to a separate state or territory of their own , a concept he describes on Facebook as Project Separation .
As reported , some of the several thousand protestors in the audience carried signs demanding that government either defund or abolish the police .
The crowd , composed of whites and blacks , chanted “ Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No Peace ” many times over .
Later in the day , and after Saturday ’ s rally , protestors resorted to violence — by vandalizing the Metro Courthouse and , later , parts of downtown Broadway .
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday ’ s riots or after that night ’ s 10 p.m. curfew , according to the Metro government ’ s website .
Metro Nashville Police , as of Monday , determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Jones accepted an American Civil Liberties Union award in November 2016 .
According to video of the event , which Jones ’ grandmother posted on her personal Facebook page , Jones called upon young people to fight for liberty and justice .
“ Young people and those who are young at heart , we have five words for you , ” Jones said as he accepted the award .
“ See you in the streets .
We will disrupt .
We will organize .
We will shut down injustice .
Know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

One speaker at Saturday’s Nashville rally honoring George Floyd spoke openly about overthrowing oppressors.
Another presenter discussed relocating black Americans to a separate land of their own — at white people’s expense.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper attended that rally. On his Facebook page Saturday night, he described it as peaceful. But chaos later erupted downtown.
Left-wing activist Justin Jones spoke. Jones, as The Tennessee Star previously reported, has had prior run-ins with law enforcement, one of which was for an alleged assault on then Speaker of the House Glen Casada.
Jones, during that rally, asked Cooper a question.
“Mayor, are you still here?” Jones asked.
“Will you commit to demilitarize the police department and defund the police department? Raise your hand if you support defunding the police department?’”
Jones told the crowd that he “did not see the mayor raise his hand.”
Jones later told the crowd of thousands that “you don’t just vote out your oppressor. You overthrow them.”
Another speaker at Saturday’s rally identified himself as Samuel X. He described himself as “a student of the honorable Louis Farrakhan.” Samuel X identifies on Facebook as Samuel X Gray, a student minister at the Nation of Islam.
At Saturday’s rally, Gray spoke of relocating the descendants of slaves to a separate state or territory of their own, a concept he describes on Facebook as Project Separation.
As reported, some of the several thousand protestors in the audience carried signs demanding that government either defund or abolish the police. The crowd, composed of whites and blacks, chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace” many times over.
Later in the day, and after Saturday’s rally, protestors resorted to violence — by vandalizing the Metro Courthouse and, later, parts of downtown Broadway.
Nashville law enforcement officials arrested a total of 28 people during Saturday’s riots or after that night’s 10 p.m. curfew, according to the Metro government’s website.
Metro Nashville Police, as of Monday, determined that the protestors left 30 damaged businesses and buildings in their wake.
As The Tennessee Star reported last year, Jones accepted an American Civil Liberties Union award in November 2016. According to video of the event, which Jones’ grandmother posted on her personal Facebook page, Jones called upon young people to fight for liberty and justice.
“Young people and those who are young at heart, we have five words for you,” Jones said as he accepted the award.
“See you in the streets. We will disrupt. We will organize. We will shut down injustice. Know we will not normalize hatred in this country.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]