wnd--2020-01-12--Protesters in Iran chant the regime is their enemy, not U.S.: Iranian journalist

The streets of Tehran were filled with marchers this weekend , but instead of citizens forced to participate in a state-orchestrated funeral for Gen. Quassem Soleimani , the protesters were calling for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini to quit .
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad tweeted the vital difference in protests in a series of messages aimed at informing the world that the Iranian people are not the enemy of the West as much as are the nation 's leaders .
Her Twitter posts pushed back against the Western media narrative that the Iran people hate the U.S. -- and mocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Soleimani funeral were actually spontaneous outbreaks of emotion among the population , as they were reported in the West .
She wrote that the protests were against the government after it finally admitted that it had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner , killing all 176 people aboard .
She also tweeted : `` Protests continue in Tehran .
Protesters are chanting many of the same slogans from # IranProtests of November 2019 They 're chanting : 'The regime told us our enemy is the US .
But actually , our enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the regime itself ] . ''
She then sought to make the point clear .
`` Iranians now chant slogans against # Soleimani and # Khamenei : 'Soleimani is a killer .
So is Khamenei ( Supreme Leader ) ' To those who jumped the gun lately when the regime orchestrated pro-Soleimani protests and said Iranians were rallying around the flag : It 's not happening ! ''
she wrote , adding other images from the protests to show that students were not anti-American .
Her tweets echo a message sent Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani , who is also President Donald Trump 's personal attorney .
Giuliani appeared on the Fox News show `` Justice with Judge Jeanine , '' according to Fox News .
`` The desire for freedom in Iran is palpable .
It 's strong .
I 've known this for four years , '' he said .
`` These protests have been going on for two and a half to three years .
They 've happened in 278 cities in Iran .
People have been killed and more people come back and protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanitation workers have protested .
Iran is on the brink of being overthrown , '' he said .
Giuliani said the time has come for dramatic action -- more like President Ronald Reagan 's confrontation of the Soviet Union in the 1980s than President Barack Obama 's perceived passivity during the anti-regime protests in Iran in 2009 .
`` We 've got one of two ways of going here , '' he added .
`` We can go with Obama when they had the protests in Iran and he turned his back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronald Reagan when he saw Poland and he said ... ' I stand with you . '
'' On Saturday , Trump tweeted two messages to Iran , using both English and Farsi .
`` To the brave , long-suffering people of Iran : I 've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency , and my Administration will continue to stand with you .
We are following your protests closely , and are inspired by your courage , '' Trump 's first tweet read .
Trump followed up by warning Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with impunity .
`` The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people , '' Trump wrote .
`` There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters , nor an internet shutdown .
The world is watching . ''
The State Department issued a statement that said , `` The Iranian people continue their protests against the lies , incompetence , and cruelty of the ayatollah ’ s regime . ''
This article appeared originally @ @ @ @ @

The streets of Tehran were filled with marchers this weekend, but instead of citizens forced to participate in a state-orchestrated funeral for Gen. Quassem Soleimani, the protesters were calling for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini to quit.
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad tweeted the vital difference in protests in a series of messages aimed at informing the world that the Iranian people are not the enemy of the West as much as are the nation's leaders.
Her Twitter posts pushed back against the Western media narrative that the Iran people hate the U.S. -- and mocked the idea that the organized demonstrations at the Soleimani funeral were actually spontaneous outbreaks of emotion among the population, as they were reported in the West.
She wrote that the protests were against the government after it finally admitted that it had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, killing all 176 people aboard.
Today all the videos from Iran show the scale of ongoing protests in Tehran. Iranian protesters are demanding Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei step down after the regime shot down a Ukrainian plane & killed 176 people. Are the US media and well known actresses covering this? pic.twitter.com/SLjnSK8408 — Masih Alinejad 🏳 (@AlinejadMasih) January 11, 2020
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Today's anti-regime demonstrators are chanting in favour of 1500 people the regime killed in November during #IranProtests. Make no mistake. The West should listen to these people, not regime-orchestrated pro-Soleimani rallies. These people are Iran's real face. pic.twitter.com/cVlRJerm4x — Masih Alinejad 🏳 (@AlinejadMasih) January 11, 2020
She also tweeted: "Protests continue in Tehran. Protesters are chanting many of the same slogans from #IranProtests of November 2019 They're chanting: 'The regime told us our enemy is the US. But actually, our enemy is right here' [in reference to the regime itself]."
Protests continue in Tehran. Protesters are chanting many of the same slogans from #IranProtests of November 2019 They're chanting: "The regime told us our enemy is the US. But actually, our enemy is right here" [in reference to the regime itself]. pic.twitter.com/OjoMw2PMI2 — Masih Alinejad 🏳 (@AlinejadMasih) January 11, 2020
She then sought to make the point clear.
"Iranians now chant slogans against #Soleimani and #Khamenei: 'Soleimani is a killer. So is Khamenei (Supreme Leader)' To those who jumped the gun lately when the regime orchestrated pro-Soleimani protests and said Iranians were rallying around the flag: It's not happening!" she wrote, adding other images from the protests to show that students were not anti-American.
Iranians now chant slogans against #Soleimani and #Khamenei: "Soleimani is a killer. So is Khamenei (Supreme Leader)" To those who jumped the gun lately when the regime orchestrated pro-Soleimani protests and said Iranians were rallying around the flag: It's not happening! pic.twitter.com/y4pKsE4CDd — Masih Alinejad 🏳 (@AlinejadMasih) January 11, 2020
Watch how Iranian students refuse to step on American & the flag of Israel. This should embarrassed Iranian regime & their propaganda funeral for #Soleimani where people were told to chant “Death To America”.
Now people in Iran chanting “Death to Islamic Republic dictatorship.” pic.twitter.com/hTxDuxZeaB — Masih Alinejad 🏳 (@AlinejadMasih) January 12, 2020
Iconic photo from today's anti-regime protests in Iran: A brave woman challenges the riot police. Iranians take to the streets again tonight to protest the downing of a civilian airplane by the regime. People are furious & they're NOT rallying around the flag for #Soleimani. pic.twitter.com/z7gZcVzAr5 — Masih Alinejad 🏳 (@AlinejadMasih) January 12, 2020
Her tweets echo a message sent Saturday by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also President Donald Trump's personal attorney.
Giuliani appeared on the Fox News show "Justice with Judge Jeanine," according to Fox News.
"The desire for freedom in Iran is palpable. It's strong. I've known this for four years," he said. "These protests have been going on for two and a half to three years. They've happened in 278 cities in Iran. People have been killed and more people come back and protest."
"Nurses have protested. Sanitation workers have protested. Iran is on the brink of being overthrown," he said.
Giuliani said the time has come for dramatic action -- more like President Ronald Reagan's confrontation of the Soviet Union in the 1980s than President Barack Obama's perceived passivity during the anti-regime protests in Iran in 2009.
"We've got one of two ways of going here," he added. "We can go with Obama when they had the protests in Iran and he turned his back on it -- or we can go with Ronald Reagan when he saw Poland and he said... 'I stand with you.'"
On Saturday, Trump tweeted two messages to Iran, using both English and Farsi.
"To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," Trump's first tweet read.
To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
Trump followed up by warning Iran that it cannot massacre its own people with impunity.
"The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people," Trump wrote. "There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching."
The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian people. There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an internet shutdown. The world is watching. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
The State Department issued a statement that said, "The Iranian people continue their protests against the lies, incompetence, and cruelty of the ayatollah’s regime."
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-12--Supremes told Roe v. Wade is 'obsolete'

Supremes told Roe v. Wade is 'obsolete'

When the U.S. Supreme Court created a right to abortion in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision , the majority opinion acknowledged the ruling would collapse if the `` personhood '' of the unborn child were to be established .
Now , the justices are being told bluntly that Roe is `` obsolete . ''
`` Recent developments establish fetuses as human persons and render Roe and its progeny obsolete , '' argued a friend-of-the-court brief filed by Thomas More Society .
It came in a case brought by abortionists against a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency .
In the Roe case , Justice Harry Blackmun wrote in the majority opinion , `` If this suggestion of personhood is established , [ the pro-abortion ] case , of course , collapses , for the fetus ' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [ 14th ] Amendment . ''
James Dobson , president of Dr. James Dobson 's Family Talk and the James Dobson Family Institute , recently noted a Georgia heartbeat law disallowing abortion after an unborn infant 's heartbeat is detected .
Lawmakers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abortion industry and the mainstream media , stayed true to their convictions and the people of Georgia who elected them to office . ''
`` What makes Georgia 's heartbeat bill historic and so important to the wider pro-life fight , is that it acknowledges both biblical truth and natural rights by enshrining into law the inherent humanity of an unborn child , '' he said .
Kentucky , Ohio and Mississippi adopted similar laws in 2019 , and Missouri , Tennessee , Florida , Illinois , Louisiana , Maryland , Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama and West Virginia have bills in the works .
In addition , lawmakers in Alabama recently adopted a law that makes conducting an abortion punishable by up to 99 years in prison .
Mat Staver , chairman of Liberty Counsel , commended Alabama lawmakers for their work .
`` Roe v. Wade has already ended the lives of more than 62 million children .
While we can not undo the horrendous damage that decades of legal precedence under Roe have caused , this bill is a significant step toward making the womb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
Steve Jacobs , program director of Illinois Right to Life , said the Roe decision is `` out of touch with the realities of today . ''
`` Contemporary science renders its assumptions obsolete .
An overwhelming majority of Americans do not want unrestricted abortion on demand , '' he said .
`` Unregulated abortion puts women at risk , and we believe that a disregard for women ’ s lives and safety contradicts all the progress that women have made in modern society , essentially devaluing the female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Louisiana case points out : • Scientific , legal , and social developments have robbed Roe 's `` viability '' standard of its original justification .
• A consensus of biologists ( 96 % ) now acknowledges that a human life begins at fertilization and a human fetus is , biologically speaking , a human being .
• Even abortion doctors and proponents of abortion rights commonly admit that fetuses are human beings .
• Views opposing the position that the biological view recognizes that a human ’ s life starts at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Olp , senior counsel for the Thomas More Society , said the Louisiana law `` explicitly acknowledges that each human ’ s life begins at conception , and this position is backed up by science . ''
`` Because a human fetus is a human being , it warrants reasonable protection as a person under the Fourteenth Amendment , '' he said .
`` The U.S. Constitution guarantees Louisiana , and all states , the right to protect its citizens regardless of their stage of development . ''
The brief argues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was written `` no longer prevail . ''
That means the high court `` is obliged to reconsider Roe in light of these changed circumstances . ''
`` The court should not continue to follow Roe and its progeny in view of Roe 's failure to acknowledge that a human fetus is a human being at all stages of the life cycle , '' the brief said .
`` The 14th Amendment covers all human beings , including the preborn , and guarantees the due process right to life and equal protection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution aims to 'establish justice ' and 'insure domestic tranquility … to ourselves and to our posterity . '
Our Declaration of Independence guarantees the 'right to life . '
The court is the guardian of the Constitution and thus should take cognizance of the changes in culture , science , and law since Roe .
The court should revise its abortion jurisprudence to allow Louisiana and other states to enact laws to protect and further the inalienable and constitutional rights of preborn human beings , '' it said .

When the U.S. Supreme Court created a right to abortion in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the majority opinion acknowledged the ruling would collapse if the "personhood" of the unborn child were to be established.
Now, the justices are being told bluntly that Roe is "obsolete."
"Recent developments establish fetuses as human persons and render Roe and its progeny obsolete," argued a friend-of-the-court brief filed by Thomas More Society.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
It came in a case brought by abortionists against a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals in case of an emergency.
In the Roe case, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote in the majority opinion, "If this suggestion of personhood is established, [the pro-abortion] case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment."
James Dobson, president of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk and the James Dobson Family Institute, recently noted a Georgia heartbeat law disallowing abortion after an unborn infant's heartbeat is detected.
Lawmakers, he said, "in defiance of the abortion industry and the mainstream media, stayed true to their convictions and the people of Georgia who elected them to office."
"What makes Georgia's heartbeat bill historic and so important to the wider pro-life fight, is that it acknowledges both biblical truth and natural rights by enshrining into law the inherent humanity of an unborn child," he said.
Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi adopted similar laws in 2019, and Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, Alabama and West Virginia have bills in the works.
In addition, lawmakers in Alabama recently adopted a law that makes conducting an abortion punishable by up to 99 years in prison.
Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, commended Alabama lawmakers for their work.
"Roe v. Wade has already ended the lives of more than 62 million children. While we cannot undo the horrendous damage that decades of legal precedence under Roe have caused, this bill is a significant step toward making the womb a safe place in Alabama again," he said.
'Out of touch'
Steve Jacobs, program director of Illinois Right to Life, said the Roe decision is "out of touch with the realities of today."
"Contemporary science renders its assumptions obsolete. An overwhelming majority of Americans do not want unrestricted abortion on demand," he said. "Unregulated abortion puts women at risk, and we believe that a disregard for women’s lives and safety contradicts all the progress that women have made in modern society, essentially devaluing the female sex."
The brief filed in the Louisiana case points out:
Scientific, legal, and social developments have robbed Roe's "viability" standard of its original justification.
A consensus of biologists (96%) now acknowledges that a human life begins at fertilization and a human fetus is, biologically speaking, a human being.
Even abortion doctors and proponents of abortion rights commonly admit that fetuses are human beings.
Views opposing the position that the biological view recognizes that a human’s life starts at fertilization are typically unscientific and ideological.
Thomas Olp, senior counsel for the Thomas More Society, said the Louisiana law "explicitly acknowledges that each human’s life begins at conception, and this position is backed up by science."
"Because a human fetus is a human being, it warrants reasonable protection as a person under the Fourteenth Amendment," he said. "The U.S. Constitution guarantees Louisiana, and all states, the right to protect its citizens regardless of their stage of development."
The brief argues that the scientific assumptions at the time Roe was written "no longer prevail."
That means the high court "is obliged to reconsider Roe in light of these changed circumstances."
"The court should not continue to follow Roe and its progeny in view of Roe's failure to acknowledge that a human fetus is a human being at all stages of the life cycle," the brief said. "The 14th Amendment covers all human beings, including the preborn, and guarantees the due process right to life and equal protection of the laws."
"The U.S. Constitution aims to 'establish justice' and 'insure domestic tranquility … to ourselves and to our posterity.' Our Declaration of Independence guarantees the 'right to life.' The court is the guardian of the Constitution and thus should take cognizance of the changes in culture, science, and law since Roe. The court should revise its abortion jurisprudence to allow Louisiana and other states to enact laws to protect and further the inalienable and constitutional rights of preborn human beings," it said.


wnd--2020-01-12--In Mississippi, people who steal can be forced to work until their debt is paid

Has Mississippi brought back debtor 's prison ?
That 's what critics are calling a restitution initiative in the Magnolia State , one which has attracted a lot of attention of late .
The spotlight is back on the program thanks to a long investigative piece published by USA Today and written by Anna Wolfe and Michelle Liu of MississippiToday and the Marshall Project , a nonprofit journalistic organization that deals with criminal justice issues .
The beginning of the story deals with Annita Husband , sentenced to one of these prisons for embezzling $ 13,000 from her employer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the piece , Husband was sentenced to `` the Flowood Restitution Center , a motel converted into a jail surrounded by razor wire , nestled among truck stops and an outlet mall .
Here , Husband slept in a room with seven other women , sharing a mirror to get ready in the mornings , enduring strip searches for contraband at night .
`` The corrections department would not release her until she earned enough money at her $ 7.25-an-hour part-time job to clear her debts and cover $ 11 a day for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state took all of her paycheck except for $ 10 , paid in quarters , which she could use for items like `` soap and deodorant , '' the article stated .
`` If I was n't at work , I was in prison , '' Husband told the reporters .
The opening of the piece leaves out several crucial parts of the story , however .
Husband had previous convictions for writing bad checks and stealing money from Sears .
After her embezzlement scheme was discovered , she was sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the judge allowed her to serve five years of probation instead as long as she paid $ 50 a month to the corrections department for monitoring her , plus $ 200 a month toward her fines , fees and restitution , '' the story read .
She struggled to keep up due to the fact she was working menial jobs and caring for her dying husband .
When a judge told her she was going to jail the next time she did n't pay , she stopped reporting at all .
Between 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of probation violations that ended up with Husband at Flowood , working at places like Church 's Chicken for low wages until her restitution was paid .
The system , to many , seems unreasonably harsh .
It is n't just debtors who are in there , mind you , but often people who ca n't pay court costs and fines ; 20 percent of those in the minimum-security facilities are in there for drug possession convictions .
And , of course , the piece made sure to mention the state 's problematic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state has a long history of forcing prisoners -- especially black men -- to work , '' the article read .
`` After slavery was abolished , Mississippi leased a soaring number of prisoners to private industry .
Public outcry over deaths and mistreatment forced the state to end that program in 1890 .
Mississippi then founded the state penitentiary known as Parchman Farm , which was modeled after a slave plantation .
It still houses over 3,000 of the state ’ s 21,000 prisoners . ''
Most of this , mind you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
Meanwhile , judges who sentenced individuals to the program defended it .
Clarksville circuit court Judge Charles Webster `` said that the program teaches them about responsibility by requiring them to show up for work and meet financial obligations . ''
“ Going to the restitution center ’ s better than going to prison , I would think , ” Webster said .
Jones County Judge Dal Williamson , meanwhile , noted `` you ’ ve got a victim out there that needs to be made whole , '' adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimum-security prisons unless they had refused to pay .
That 's now part of the law , too : As of 2018 , to be sentenced to the program , an individual has to show an unwillingness to pay as opposed to a lack of means .
Furthermore , unwillingness to pay usually is n't the only factor in getting sentenced to the program .
A review of 200 cases found that 80 percent of the individuals had been sentenced to it because of probation violations , with only 20 percent being sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Almost all of the inmates were given a specific amount of money they must earn before their release , '' the article read .
`` In 15 cases we found , the judges sentenced defendants to the restitution centers for an amount of money and a time limit of 90 days to three years . ''
And then there 's the victim to consider .
Paul Goldman , who ran the payday loan provider Husband stole from , says he almost never receives full restitution from employee theft .
If they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wants them in the program , “ Just for the sake of justice.
” Husband eventually broke out of the program and , when police caught up with her some time later , spent roughly 10 months in prison .
When she finished parole last September , she was still $ 10,000 behind in restitution .
In addition to questions of whether Mississippi 's system is heavy-handed , there are also questions as to whether it 's constitutional .
A 1983 case , Bearden v. Georgia , made it clear that only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debts could be sentenced to prison .
It 's also worth noting that debtors prisons were outlawed by the federal government in 1833 -- and while the government left the decision on debtors prisons to the states , it 's fair to say they 're anachronistic .
Plus , the article argues , states experimented with similar programs in the 1970s but found them `` expensive and ineffective . ''
So , are these debtors prisons justice or remnants of a past that we do n't want to dredge up ?
The efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come under greater scrutiny , if the piece published by USA Today is any indication .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Has Mississippi brought back debtor's prison? That's what critics are calling a restitution initiative in the Magnolia State, one which has attracted a lot of attention of late.
The spotlight is back on the program thanks to a long investigative piece published by USA Today and written by Anna Wolfe and Michelle Liu of MississippiToday and the Marshall Project, a nonprofit journalistic organization that deals with criminal justice issues.
The beginning of the story deals with Annita Husband, sentenced to one of these prisons for embezzling $13,000 from her employer, a payday loan supplier.
According to the piece, Husband was sentenced to "the Flowood Restitution Center, a motel converted into a jail surrounded by razor wire, nestled among truck stops and an outlet mall. Here, Husband slept in a room with seven other women, sharing a mirror to get ready in the mornings, enduring strip searches for contraband at night.
"The corrections department would not release her until she earned enough money at her $7.25-an-hour part-time job to clear her debts and cover $11 a day for 'room and board' at Flowood. "
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The state took all of her paycheck except for $10, paid in quarters, which she could use for items like "soap and deodorant," the article stated.
"If I wasn't at work, I was in prison," Husband told the reporters.
The opening of the piece leaves out several crucial parts of the story, however. Husband had previous convictions for writing bad checks and stealing money from Sears. After her embezzlement scheme was discovered, she was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
"But the judge allowed her to serve five years of probation instead as long as she paid $50 a month to the corrections department for monitoring her, plus $200 a month toward her fines, fees and restitution," the story read.
She struggled to keep up due to the fact she was working menial jobs and caring for her dying husband. When a judge told her she was going to jail the next time she didn't pay, she stopped reporting at all. Between 2011 and 2015, there was a cycle of probation violations that ended up with Husband at Flowood, working at places like Church's Chicken for low wages until her restitution was paid.
The system, to many, seems unreasonably harsh. It isn't just debtors who are in there, mind you, but often people who can't pay court costs and fines; 20 percent of those in the minimum-security facilities are in there for drug possession convictions.
And, of course, the piece made sure to mention the state's problematic history of racial issues.
"The state has a long history of forcing prisoners -- especially black men -- to work," the article read.
"After slavery was abolished, Mississippi leased a soaring number of prisoners to private industry. Public outcry over deaths and mistreatment forced the state to end that program in 1890. Mississippi then founded the state penitentiary known as Parchman Farm, which was modeled after a slave plantation. It still houses over 3,000 of the state’s 21,000 prisoners."
Most of this, mind you, took place well over a century ago.
Meanwhile, judges who sentenced individuals to the program defended it.
Clarksville circuit court Judge Charles Webster "said that the program teaches them about responsibility by requiring them to show up for work and meet financial obligations."
“Going to the restitution center’s better than going to prison, I would think,” Webster said.
Jones County Judge Dal Williamson, meanwhile, noted "you’ve got a victim out there that needs to be made whole," adding that he wouldn't send individuals to the minimum-security prisons unless they had refused to pay.
That's now part of the law, too: As of 2018, to be sentenced to the program, an individual has to show an unwillingness to pay as opposed to a lack of means.
Furthermore, unwillingness to pay usually isn't the only factor in getting sentenced to the program. A review of 200 cases found that 80 percent of the individuals had been sentenced to it because of probation violations, with only 20 percent being sentenced for failing to pay restitution alone.
"Almost all of the inmates were given a specific amount of money they must earn before their release," the article read. "In 15 cases we found, the judges sentenced defendants to the restitution centers for an amount of money and a time limit of 90 days to three years."
And then there's the victim to consider. Paul Goldman, who ran the payday loan provider Husband stole from, says he almost never receives full restitution from employee theft. If they're not repaying it, he says, he wants them in the program, “Just for the sake of justice.”
Husband eventually broke out of the program and, when police caught up with her some time later, spent roughly 10 months in prison. When she finished parole last September, she was still $10,000 behind in restitution.
In addition to questions of whether Mississippi's system is heavy-handed, there are also questions as to whether it's constitutional.
A 1983 case, Bearden v. Georgia, made it clear that only individuals who chose willfully not to pay debts could be sentenced to prison. It's also worth noting that debtors prisons were outlawed by the federal government in 1833 -- and while the government left the decision on debtors prisons to the states, it's fair to say they're anachronistic.
Plus, the article argues, states experimented with similar programs in the 1970s but found them "expensive and ineffective."
So, are these debtors prisons justice or remnants of a past that we don't want to dredge up?
The efficacy of Mississippi's program is arguably going to come under greater scrutiny, if the piece published by USA Today is any indication.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-12--1 nation orders ALL faiths to teach 'principles' of Communist Party

All religious groups in China will be forced to teach the `` principles '' of the Chinese Communist Party .
Bitter Winter , a magazine specializing in human rights in China , reports the new requirements will be imposed Feb. 1 .
Fox News described it as China striking the `` final blow to religious liberty . ''
The new `` Administrative Measures for Religious Groups '' were announced the same day that Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu 's Early Rain Covenant Church was sentenced to nine years in prison for `` inciting subversion of state power . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the house church movement .
Some groups , Bitter Winter reported , already have been under full-scale assault , including the Church of Almighty God and the Falun Gong .
Now the government is targeted the `` gray market '' of religious organizations '' that are explicitly banned .
The biggest part of that segment is the Protestant house churches .
The government will enact 41 articles described as comprehensive edicts `` on all matters concerning the 'organization , functions , supervision and management of religious groups . '
'' The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of religious groups , including the `` establishment , change , cancellation of registration of religious organizations . ''
The communist government also `` shall supervise and guide religious groups to carry out activities and perform functions in accordance with the laws and regulations . ''
`` Without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people ’ s government , or registration with the civil affairs department of the people ’ s government , no activities can be carried out in the name of religious groups . ''
The law says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and organize their staff to learn from the major decision-making arrangements of the Chinese Communist Party , national policies and regulations , excellent Chinese traditional culture and religious knowledge . ''
AsiaNews cited a Chinese Catholic priest saying : `` In practice , your religion no longer matters , if you are Buddhist , or Taoist , or Muslim or Christian .
The only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party . ''

All religious groups in China will be forced to teach the "principles" of the Chinese Communist Party.
Bitter Winter, a magazine specializing in human rights in China, reports the new requirements will be imposed Feb. 1.
Fox News described it as China striking the "final blow to religious liberty."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The new "Administrative Measures for Religious Groups" were announced the same day that Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu's Early Rain Covenant Church was sentenced to nine years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power."
He was one of the best known leaders in the house church movement.
Some groups, Bitter Winter reported, already have been under full-scale assault, including the Church of Almighty God and the Falun Gong.
Now the government is targeted the "gray market" of religious organizations" that are explicitly banned.
The biggest part of that segment is the Protestant house churches.
The government will enact 41 articles described as comprehensive edicts "on all matters concerning the 'organization, functions, supervision and management of religious groups.'"
The government boasts the authority to manage the affairs of religious groups, including the "establishment, change, cancellation of registration of religious organizations."
The communist government also "shall supervise and guide religious groups to carry out activities and perform functions in accordance with the laws and regulations."
"Without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people’s government, or registration with the civil affairs department of the people’s government, no activities can be carried out in the name of religious groups."
The law says religious groups "shall establish a learning system and organize their staff to learn from the major decision-making arrangements of the Chinese Communist Party, national policies and regulations, excellent Chinese traditional culture and religious knowledge."
AsiaNews cited a Chinese Catholic priest saying: "In practice, your religion no longer matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim or Christian. The only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party."


wnd--2020-01-12--Comedian Ricky Gervais flawlessly responds to liberals who can't stomach his fans

Comedian Ricky Gervais last week delivered a lesson in free speech to his critics .
Gervais went viral after his opening monologue at the Jan. 5 Golden Globes awards show suggested actors , whom Gervais mocked as knowing nothing about politics , keep their political opinions to themselves while accepting awards .
The British comedian on Friday replied to criticism he has received for accepting conservative Twitter followers .
`` I 've noticed a couple of tweets criticising me for 'accepting ' new followers who are the 'opposite ' of me .
Christian , conservative , pro life , pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Of course I accept them .
To err is human , to forgive divine .
It 's what Jesus would do .
Dog Bless all my followers . ''
Then came the summary of what free speech is all about .
`` If you do n't believe in free speech for people who you disagree with , and even hate for what they stand for , then you do n't believe in free speech , '' he wrote .
During his monologue , Gervais derided the politics of the liberals who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TV game with 'The Morning Show , ' a superb drama about the importance of dignity and doing the right thing , made by a company that runs sweatshops in China , '' he said toward the end of the monologues .
`` Well , you say you ’ re 'woke , ' but the companies you work for in China — unbelievable .
Apple , Amazon , Disney .
If ISIS started a streaming service you ’ d call your agent , wouldn ’ t you ? ''
he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be devoid of politics .
`` So if you do win an award tonight , don ’ t use it as a platform to make a political speech .
You ’ re in no position to lecture the public about anything .
You know nothing about the real world .
Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg , '' Gervais said .
So if you win , come up , accept your little award , thank your agent , and your God and f -- -off , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gervais reminded his audience to have a sense of humor about his humor .
`` Remember , they ’ re just jokes .
We ’ re all gon na die soon and there ’ s no sequel , so remember that , '' he said .
The monlogue brought out some howls -- and not the laughing kind .
`` Gervais really did come across as an idiotic clapping monkey – grabbing your attention but for what you ’ re not really sure , '' Jo Murch wrote for The Independent .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to shock his parents , is a step in totally the wrong direction .
It sends out the message that Hollywood is a place with no morals or respect , where true talent can be exchanged for a few expletives and where the big issues hide in the corner while the village idiot dances under the big , bright spotlight , '' Murch wrote .
On Friday , he also posted his last laugh -- all the fuss netted him 500,000 new Twitter followers .
This article appeared originally on The Western @ @

Comedian Ricky Gervais last week delivered a lesson in free speech to his critics.
Gervais went viral after his opening monologue at the Jan. 5 Golden Globes awards show suggested actors, whom Gervais mocked as knowing nothing about politics, keep their political opinions to themselves while accepting awards.
The British comedian on Friday replied to criticism he has received for accepting conservative Twitter followers.
I’ve noticed a couple of tweets criticising me for “accepting” new followers who are the “opposite” of me. Christian, conservative, pro life, pro gun, reactionaries. Of course I accept them. To err is human, to forgive divine. It’s what Jesus would do. Dog Bless all my followers. pic.twitter.com/25iufHbQjs — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 10, 2020
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"I've noticed a couple of tweets criticising me for 'accepting' new followers who are the 'opposite' of me. Christian, conservative, pro life, pro gun, reactionaries," Gervais tweeted. "Of course I accept them. To err is human, to forgive divine. It's what Jesus would do. Dog Bless all my followers."
Then came the summary of what free speech is all about.
If you don’t believe in free speech for people who you disagree with, and even hate for what they stand for, then you don’t believe in free speech. — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 10, 2020
"If you don't believe in free speech for people who you disagree with, and even hate for what they stand for, then you don't believe in free speech," he wrote.
During his monologue, Gervais derided the politics of the liberals who dominate Hollywood.
"Apple roared into the TV game with 'The Morning Show,' a superb drama about the importance of dignity and doing the right thing, made by a company that runs sweatshops in China," he said toward the end of the monologues.
"Well, you say you’re 'woke,' but the companies you work for in China — unbelievable. Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS started a streaming service you’d call your agent, wouldn’t you?" he said.
Gervais then called for the speeches to be devoid of politics.
"So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg," Gervais said.
So if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent, and your God and f---off," he said.
Earlier in his monologue, Gervais reminded his audience to have a sense of humor about his humor.
"Remember, they’re just jokes. We’re all gonna die soon and there’s no sequel, so remember that," he said.
The monlogue brought out some howls -- and not the laughing kind.
Here's my Ricky Gervais problem: The idea that celebrities are not only pampered babies but hypocrites who cause the problems they make speeches deploring and should therefore shut up and act/sing/be grateful is a right-wing talking point, and an especially stupid one. > — Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) January 6, 2020
"Gervais really did come across as an idiotic clapping monkey – grabbing your attention but for what you’re not really sure," Jo Murch wrote for The Independent.
"Presenting Gervais, like a teenager acting up to shock his parents, is a step in totally the wrong direction. It sends out the message that Hollywood is a place with no morals or respect, where true talent can be exchanged for a few expletives and where the big issues hide in the corner while the village idiot dances under the big, bright spotlight," Murch wrote.
Gervais replied online.
I always knew that there were morons in the world that took jokes seriously, but I'm surprised that some journalists do. Surely, understanding stuff is pretty fundamental to their job, isn't it? Just makes it funnier though, I guess😇 — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 7, 2020
1. Simply pointing out whether someone is left or right wing isn't winning the argument.
2. If a joke is good enough, it can be enjoyed by anyone.
3. It's not all about you.
4. Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right. — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 8, 2020
On Friday, he also posted his last laugh -- all the fuss netted him 500,000 new Twitter followers.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-12--Gun grabbers who complained about big money were funded almost entirely by big money

If you go to the website for March for Our Lives -- the supposedly student-run gun control organization that popped up in the aftermath of the 2018 Parkland school shooting -- you can print out a price tag that says what the life of each student is worth by state .
Come again ?
Perhaps I should let them explain it : `` We ’ ve calculated the price of each student in states across the country , based on the millions of dollars politicians have accepted from the [ National Rifle Association ] .
Scroll through the options and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and share , '' the website states .
`` If your state doesn ’ t have a price tag , that ’ s good news .
It means that your politicians aren ’ t taking large sums of NRA money .
Instead , use the national average price tag to show your support for reforming our gun laws .
And then make a donation to help us change gun laws and beat the NRA . ''
Those price tags featured prominently in the 2018 march : It 's not that March for Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big money , however -- just who 's giving and receiving it .
That 's the only takeaway from a just-released tax form that shows the group took in almost all of its money from donations that were over six figures .
`` The March For Our Lives Action Fund , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) 'social welfare ' organization launched in the aftermath of the deadly 2018 shootings at Florida 's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School , is bankrolled almost entirely by large donations in excess of $ 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
`` The group reported $ 17,879,150 in contributions and grants over the course of 2018 , its first year of operations .
Ninety-five percent of those contributions came from 36 donations between $ 100,000 and $ 3,504,717 -- a grand total of $ 16,922,331 . ''
According to the tax document , $ 7.8 million went to the eponymous march in Washington two years ago , including $ 4.7 million to a D.C.-based marketing firm for production .
Four million dollars , meanwhile , went to a summer tour to register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are several questions raised by the report , as the Free Beacon points out .
Only 0.5 percent of the group 's revenue in 2018 -- inarguably its most fecund period , given how frequently it was in the news -- came from donors who gave less than $ 5,000 .
It 's clear the group is entirely reliant on big money , which is a serious problem for sustainability purposes .
It also raises questions , however , about how the group was received back in 2018 .
I understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists are funding their work when those activists are high school students who 've been through an unspeakable tragedy .
Their policy prescriptions may have been controversial but their grief was hardly unearned .
That said , treating March for Our Lives with the kind of adulating copy it got was hardly appropriate , either .
Back when the march happened , media coverage pretended the organization and march had sprung , like Athena from the head of Zeus , fully formed out of the sorrow and drive of plucky teenagers .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , whether what we were seeing was being astroturfed by other gun control groups .
Nobody raised concerns that large celebrity donors were using teenagers as avatars for their own political views .
Both of these were absolutely factual , mind you , and probably ought to have been covered more extensively .
The Michael Bloomberg-founded gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety pledged $ 2.5 million to March for Our Lives in the weeks leading up to the protests -- a fact that was covered in the media , if at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news release .
A snippet from Reuters ' report on Everytown 's involvement , for example : '' Gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety said on Friday it will donate up to $ 2.5 million to support marches around the United States on March 24 , the date of a planned March For Our Lives in Washington to demand an end to school shootings .
... '' Many student survivors of the Florida shooting have emerged as prominent advocates for greater gun control .
They hope to tip the balance in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is permitted by the U.S. Constitution ’ s Second Amendment , which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled guarantees an individual right to have guns . ''
What was n't underwritten by gun control groups was covered by celebrities and deep-pocketed liberals .
According to Vanity Fair , George and Amal Clooney pledged $ 500,000 , as did Oprah Winfrey .
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and billionaire Eli Broad both pledged $ 1 million , Gucci pledged $ 500,000 , the Free Beacon reported .
Meanwhile , the amount pledged by small donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't an issue that gets much play among the public at large , but six- and seven-figure donations abound to an organization that puts itself forward as a grassroots movement of teenagers -- teenagers who are apparently very upset that politicians are taking money from the NRA .
Apparently , they ca n't live up to their own standards .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

If you go to the website for March for Our Lives -- the supposedly student-run gun control organization that popped up in the aftermath of the 2018 Parkland school shooting -- you can print out a price tag that says what the life of each student is worth by state.
Come again? Perhaps I should let them explain it: "We’ve calculated the price of each student in states across the country, based on the millions of dollars politicians have accepted from the [National Rifle Association]. Scroll through the options and print out a price tag to wear and share," the website states.
"If your state doesn’t have a price tag, that’s good news. It means that your politicians aren’t taking large sums of NRA money. Instead, use the national average price tag to show your support for reforming our gun laws. And then make a donation to help us change gun laws and beat the NRA."
Those price tags featured prominently in the 2018 march:
Student showing $1.05 price tag. Students divided the amount of money Marco Rubio got from the NRA, by those killed in gun violence, and see $1.05 as the price tag NRA-owned legislators are putting on our lives. #MarchForOurLives #Enough#WeCallBS#NeverAgain pic.twitter.com/TJgi7gChTQ — PassMeAPickle (@CeeLeeMusic) March 24, 2018
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The price tag bracelets are up on the March for our lives website!!! https://t.co/h8j3yaopqG — Sarah Chadwick (@Sarahchadwickk) March 23, 2018
It's not that March for Our Lives has any sort of issue with big money, however -- just who's giving and receiving it.
That's the only takeaway from a just-released tax form that shows the group took in almost all of its money from donations that were over six figures.
"The March For Our Lives Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) 'social welfare' organization launched in the aftermath of the deadly 2018 shootings at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, is bankrolled almost entirely by large donations in excess of $100,000," The Washington Free Beacon reported Tuesday.
"The group reported $17,879,150 in contributions and grants over the course of 2018, its first year of operations. Ninety-five percent of those contributions came from 36 donations between $100,000 and $3,504,717 -- a grand total of $16,922,331."
That's quite a price tag.
According to the tax document, $7.8 million went to the eponymous march in Washington two years ago, including $4.7 million to a D.C.-based marketing firm for production.
Four million dollars, meanwhile, went to a summer tour to register voters and promote the organization's mission.
There are several questions raised by the report, as the Free Beacon points out. Only 0.5 percent of the group's revenue in 2018 -- inarguably its most fecund period, given how frequently it was in the news -- came from donors who gave less than $5,000. It's clear the group is entirely reliant on big money, which is a serious problem for sustainability purposes.
It also raises questions, however, about how the group was received back in 2018.
I understand the difficulty of raising questions of how activists are funding their work when those activists are high school students who've been through an unspeakable tragedy. Their policy prescriptions may have been controversial but their grief was hardly unearned.
That said, treating March for Our Lives with the kind of adulating copy it got was hardly appropriate, either. Back when the march happened, media coverage pretended the organization and march had sprung, like Athena from the head of Zeus, fully formed out of the sorrow and drive of plucky teenagers.
We weren't supposed to ask, for instance, whether what we were seeing was being astroturfed by other gun control groups. Nobody raised concerns that large celebrity donors were using teenagers as avatars for their own political views.
Both of these were absolutely factual, mind you, and probably ought to have been covered more extensively. The Michael Bloomberg-founded gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety pledged $2.5 million to March for Our Lives in the weeks leading up to the protests -- a fact that was covered in the media, if at all, in the manner of a news release.
A snippet from Reuters' report on Everytown's involvement, for example:
"Gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety said on Friday it will donate up to $2.5 million to support marches around the United States on March 24, the date of a planned March For Our Lives in Washington to demand an end to school shootings. ...
"Many student survivors of the Florida shooting have emerged as prominent advocates for greater gun control. They hope to tip the balance in a long-running national debate over how much regulation is permitted by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment, which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled guarantees an individual right to have guns."
What wasn't underwritten by gun control groups was covered by celebrities and deep-pocketed liberals.
According to Vanity Fair, George and Amal Clooney pledged $500,000, as did Oprah Winfrey.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and billionaire Eli Broad both pledged $1 million, Gucci pledged $500,000, the Free Beacon reported.
Meanwhile, the amount pledged by small donors? Almost zilch.
Gun control apparently isn't an issue that gets much play among the public at large, but six- and seven-figure donations abound to an organization that puts itself forward as a grassroots movement of teenagers -- teenagers who are apparently very upset that politicians are taking money from the NRA.
Apparently, they can't live up to their own standards.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-12--Scientist explodes what millions believe: There was no 'Big Bang'

The Big Bang theory has been a staple in the scientific community for a long time .
It holds that about 13.8 billion years ago , the universe swelled from a size smaller than an electron to nearly its current size within a fraction of a second .
But one scientist contends there 's serious evidence that undermines this view .
Courthouse News reports the doubts are being raised by Eric J. Lerner of the nuclear-fusion research company LPPFusion .
CN noted many scientists `` believe that precise amounts of helium , deuterium and lithium were produced by fusion reactions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of chemical elements that emerged after the Big Bang . ''
But Lerner found that older stars do n't have the right percentages of those elements .
`` He found that old stars had less than half the helium and less than one tenth the lithium than is predicted by the Big Bang nucleosynthesis theory , which posits that a quarter of the universe 's mass is comprised of helium , '' the report said .
Lerner , who has expounded on his beliefs in his book `` The Big Bang Never Happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was created before the development of the first stars in our galaxy .
The conflicting evidence , he said , has been ignored .
`` The Big Bang should have resulted in the annihilation of matter and antimatter , leaving a surviving density of matter that would be a hundred billion times less than that observed , '' Lerner said in the statement CN obtained .
`` To avoid that outcome , Big Bang theory requires an asymmetry of matter and antimatter with consequences , such as the decay of the proton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He raised other concerns .
If the galaxy is expanding , as the Big Bang theory claims , the brightness of distant galaxies should diminish .
Lerner 's concerns were revealed this week at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society .
He called for abandonment of the `` hypothesis of the Big Bang . ''

The Big Bang theory has been a staple in the scientific community for a long time.
It holds that about 13.8 billion years ago, the universe swelled from a size smaller than an electron to nearly its current size within a fraction of a second.
But one scientist contends there's serious evidence that undermines this view.
Courthouse News reports the doubts are being raised by Eric J. Lerner of the nuclear-fusion research company LPPFusion.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
CN noted many scientists "believe that precise amounts of helium, deuterium and lithium were produced by fusion reactions in the dense, extremely hot cloud of chemical elements that emerged after the Big Bang."
But Lerner found that older stars don't have the right percentages of those elements.
"He found that old stars had less than half the helium and less than one tenth the lithium than is predicted by the Big Bang nucleosynthesis theory, which posits that a quarter of the universe's mass is comprised of helium," the report said.
Lerner, who has expounded on his beliefs in his book "The Big Bang Never Happened," said no helium or lithium was created before the development of the first stars in our galaxy.
The conflicting evidence, he said, has been ignored.
"The Big Bang should have resulted in the annihilation of matter and antimatter, leaving a surviving density of matter that would be a hundred billion times less than that observed," Lerner said in the statement CN obtained.
"To avoid that outcome, Big Bang theory requires an asymmetry of matter and antimatter with consequences, such as the decay of the proton, which have been contradicted by extensive experiments."
He raised other concerns. If the galaxy is expanding, as the Big Bang theory claims, the brightness of distant galaxies should diminish.
Lerner's concerns were revealed this week at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
He called for abandonment of the "hypothesis of the Big Bang."


wnd--2020-01-12--'Joker' star Joaquin Phoenix blames some farmers for climate change after getting off a plane

On Friday morning , Actor Joaquin Phoenix joined actress Jane Fonda for one of her weekly `` Fire Drill Friday '' protests on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington , D.C. , to speak out about the meat and dairy industry and the impact they supposedly have on climate change .
Fonda has been hosting these rallies every Friday since October 2019 in support of 17-year-old Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg .
This week , Fonda was joined by not only Phoenix , but Hollywood stars like Maggie Gyllenhaal and Martin Sheen as well .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third-leading cause of climate change , '' Phoenix said Friday .
`` I think sometimes we wonder , 'What can we do in this fight against climate change ? '
And there is something you can do today , right now and tomorrow , by making a choice about what you consume . ''
While the actor had the industries that he claimed are the `` third-leading cause '' of climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has contributed to the environmental issue .
He acknowledged that he had flown on a plane to get to the protest , but claimed that this was not within his control .
`` I struggle so much with what I can do at times , '' the `` Joker '' actor said .
`` There are things that I ca n't avoid -- I flew a plane out here today , or last night rather .
But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits . ''
The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally , Phoenix was advocating for action on climate change during his Golden Globes acceptance speech by sporting a tuxedo that he will re-wear throughout the awards season .
He also thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for providing an all-vegan menu for the ceremony , according to CBS News .
`` It 's really nice that so many people come up and sent their well wishes , but we have to do more than that , right ? ''
he said during his speech Sunday , referring to the recent Australia wildfires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtuous man .
I 'm learning so much -- so many of you in this room have given me multiple opportunities to get it right . ''
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has named the Hollywood star its 2019 `` Person of the Year '' because of `` his lifelong dedication to ending speciesism . ''
Before the premier of `` Joker , '' Phoenix was featured in an anti-speciesism billboard ad for PETA that was displayed on Times Square in New York City .
`` We Are All Animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the ad said .
`` When we look at the world through another animal 's eyes , we see that inside we 're all the same -- and that we all deserve to live free from suffering , '' Phoenix has said , according to PETA .
Citing police , People reported that during the `` Fire Drill Friday '' protest , both Phoenix and Sheen were arrested along with 145 others for either `` crowding , '' `` obstructing '' or `` incommoding . ''
This is not the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these protests , as Fonda herself has been detained on multiple occasions over the last few months for similar offenses .
The `` Fire Drill Friday '' protests ' goal is to `` demand that action by our political leaders be taken to address the climate emergency we are in , '' the group 's website says .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

On Friday morning, Actor Joaquin Phoenix joined actress Jane Fonda for one of her weekly "Fire Drill Friday" protests on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., to speak out about the meat and dairy industry and the impact they supposedly have on climate change.
Fonda has been hosting these rallies every Friday since October 2019 in support of 17-year-old Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
This week, Fonda was joined by not only Phoenix, but Hollywood stars like Maggie Gyllenhaal and Martin Sheen as well.
"Something I think isn't oftentimes talked about in the environmental movement or in the conversation about climate change is that the meat and dairy industry is the third-leading cause of climate change," Phoenix said Friday.
"I think sometimes we wonder, 'What can we do in this fight against climate change?' And there is something you can do today, right now and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
While the actor had the industries that he claimed are the "third-leading cause" of climate change on blast, he also admitted that he has contributed to the environmental issue.
He acknowledged that he had flown on a plane to get to the protest, but claimed that this was not within his control.
"I struggle so much with what I can do at times," the "Joker" actor said.
"There are things that I can't avoid -- I flew a plane out here today, or last night rather. But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits."
Joaquin Phoenix: "I struggle so much with what I can do [to combat climate change] at times. There are things that I can't avoid -- I flew a plane out here today, or last night rather. But one thing that I can do is change my eating habits." pic.twitter.com/RaZILYq0La — The Hill (@thehill) January 10, 2020
The Daily Wire reported that the Sunday before the rally, Phoenix was advocating for action on climate change during his Golden Globes acceptance speech by sporting a tuxedo that he will re-wear throughout the awards season.
He also thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for providing an all-vegan menu for the ceremony, according to CBS News.
"It's really nice that so many people come up and sent their well wishes, but we have to do more than that, right?" he said during his speech Sunday, referring to the recent Australia wildfires.
"I have not always been a virtuous man. I'm learning so much -- so many of you in this room have given me multiple opportunities to get it right."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has named the Hollywood star its 2019 "Person of the Year" because of "his lifelong dedication to ending speciesism."
Before the premier of "Joker," Phoenix was featured in an anti-speciesism billboard ad for PETA that was displayed on Times Square in New York City.
"We Are All Animals. End speciesism. Live vegan," the ad said.
"When we look at the world through another animal's eyes, we see that inside we're all the same -- and that we all deserve to live free from suffering," Phoenix has said, according to PETA.
Citing police, People reported that during the "Fire Drill Friday" protest, both Phoenix and Sheen were arrested along with 145 others for either "crowding," "obstructing" or "incommoding."
This is not the first time an arrest has been made during one of these protests, as Fonda herself has been detained on multiple occasions over the last few months for similar offenses.
The "Fire Drill Friday" protests' goal is to "demand that action by our political leaders be taken to address the climate emergency we are in," the group's website says.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-12--Stunning video exposes disturbing links between Satanism and abortion

An organization called Created Equal , which has exposed violent responses to its pro-life activism , has re-released a video that links abortion to Satanism .
Created Equal activists , as WND has reported , display the graphic results of America 's heavily taxpayer-subsidized abortion industry .
The video , `` Abortion : A Doctrine of Demons , '' contends abortion aligns with the tenets of Satan worshippers .
The organization explained the production was temporarily halted by `` attempts by Hollywood media elites to ban '' it .
`` Today , Created Equal Films re-released this short documentary exposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The film uses several video clips from different sources including movies and news broadcasts .
Attorneys for one large movie maker objected to the use of a clip from one of their movies writing ; we 'do not wish to be publicly associated with your views on the topic of your film – or indeed any views on either side of this highly contentious subject as this may have a negative effect on the reputation of our client . '
'' The organization said `` media elites '' `` do n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it is the intentional killing of innocent people . ''
`` Americans do n't want to think about abortion .
And they darned sure do n't want to be confronted with the mangled bodies that are the direct and undeniable consequence of our nation 's abortion-on-demand laws , '' the organization said .
`` They cringe when they see them because the picture pricks their conscience and forces them to admit the ugly truth about abortion . ''
Created Equal argued it had `` fair use '' authority to include various segments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the violent confrontations launched against Created Equal personnel by people who pass by their displays .
The responses include fury , anger , rage , violence , threats and praise for Satan .
One person triggered by the pro-life display stuck his hand in the face of a Created Equal activist and said , `` Hail Satan bro . ''
Another proudly declared `` God '' supported her through her abortion .
A previous video that included a montage of physical attacks by abortion supporters on the group 's peaceful pro-lifers remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time : `` For abortion activists to promote dismembering young humans through abortion is to celebrate violence .
Thus , violence is inherent to abortion advocacy .
We thus should not be surprised when those who champion killing babies also assault those who stand between them and the victims . ''
Harrington pointed out : `` Pro-abortion activists are losing the argument , and instead of seeking civil debate they are escalating the violence on peaceful preborn defenders .
… We will never cave to acts of violence or intimidation .
We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their babies . ''
WND reported a `` feminist '' at the University of Wisconsin at Madison was ticketed for allegedly assaulting Created Equal activists and spray-painting their signs .
Another video came from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus , where a woman grabbed a sign out of the hands of Created Equal members and walked away with it .
To her dismay , however , the woman walked into the arms of a police officer and was arrested for larceny .
Caught red handed , she told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give it back . ''

An organization called Created Equal, which has exposed violent responses to its pro-life activism, has re-released a video that links abortion to Satanism.
Created Equal activists, as WND has reported, display the graphic results of America's heavily taxpayer-subsidized abortion industry.
The video, "Abortion: A Doctrine of Demons," contends abortion aligns with the tenets of Satan worshippers.
See the video (viewer discretion advised):
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The organization explained the production was temporarily halted by "attempts by Hollywood media elites to ban" it.
"Today, Created Equal Films re-released this short documentary exposing the troubling link between Satanism and abortion. The film uses several video clips from different sources including movies and news broadcasts. Attorneys for one large movie maker objected to the use of a clip from one of their movies writing; we 'do not wish to be publicly associated with your views on the topic of your film – or indeed any views on either side of this highly contentious subject as this may have a negative effect on the reputation of our client.'"
The organization said "media elites" "don't want us to expose the truth about abortion because it is the intentional killing of innocent people."
"Americans don't want to think about abortion. And they darned sure don't want to be confronted with the mangled bodies that are the direct and undeniable consequence of our nation's abortion-on-demand laws," the organization said.
"They cringe when they see them because the picture pricks their conscience and forces them to admit the ugly truth about abortion."
Created Equal argued it had "fair use"authority to include various segments of video.
The video shows many of the violent confrontations launched against Created Equal personnel by people who pass by their displays.
The responses include fury, anger, rage, violence, threats and praise for Satan.
One person triggered by the pro-life display stuck his hand in the face of a Created Equal activist and said, "Hail Satan bro."
Another proudly declared "God" supported her through her abortion.
A previous video that included a montage of physical attacks by abortion supporters on the group's peaceful pro-lifers remains available.
See the video (Warning: objectionable language):
The group said at the time: "For abortion activists to promote dismembering young humans through abortion is to celebrate violence. Thus, violence is inherent to abortion advocacy. We thus should not be surprised when those who champion killing babies also assault those who stand between them and the victims."
Harrington pointed out: "Pro-abortion activists are losing the argument, and instead of seeking civil debate they are escalating the violence on peaceful preborn defenders. … We will never cave to acts of violence or intimidation. We will return hate with love for mothers and their babies."
WND reported a "feminist" at the University of Wisconsin at Madison was ticketed for allegedly assaulting Created Equal activists and spray-painting their signs.
Another video came from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus, where a woman grabbed a sign out of the hands of Created Equal members and walked away with it.
To her dismay, however, the woman walked into the arms of a police officer and was arrested for larceny.
Caught red handed, she told the officer: "I was going to give it back."
See the video:
Previously, a student assaulted Created Equal intern Austin Beigel:


wnd--2020-01-13--11 dead as tornadoes, wicked weather lash southern U.S., Midwest

( USA TODAY ) -- A two-day pounding of severe weather across portions of the southern U.S. and into the @ @ @ @ @ , prompting two governors to declare states of emergency as tornadoes , heavy rainfall and @ @ @ @ @ .
Two first responders in Lubbock , Texas , were among the fatalities , killed @ @ @ @ @ a vehicle at the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions .
In Oklahoma @ @ @ @ @ being swept away from his stalled truck by floodwaters .
And in Alabama , a @ @ @ @ @ 134 mph descended on Pickens County and killed three .
“ I have reached out @ @ @ @ @ as well as the legislative delegation to offer my deepest condolences in this terrible loss @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Kay Ivey said in a statement Sunday .
“ We will stand together @ @ @ @ @ of three of our fellow Alabamians and continue to pray for their loved ones .
@ @

(USA TODAY) -- A two-day pounding of severe weather across portions of the southern U.S. and into the Midwest left 11 people dead, prompting two governors to declare states of emergency as tornadoes, heavy rainfall and high winds ravaged the region.
Two first responders in Lubbock, Texas, were among the fatalities, killed when they were hit by a vehicle at the scene of a traffic accident in icy conditions. In Oklahoma, a man drowned after being swept away from his stalled truck by floodwaters. And in Alabama, a tornado with winds up to 134 mph descended on Pickens County and killed three.
“I have reached out to both the county leadership as well as the legislative delegation to offer my deepest condolences in this terrible loss of life,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement Sunday. “We will stand together while we grieve the loss of three of our fellow Alabamians and continue to pray for their loved ones.’’
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-13--Hebrew inscription on 3,000-year-old jar could redraw ancient Israel's borders

( HAARETZ ) -- Nearly 3,000 years ago , a scribe inked a single Hebrew word on a large jar @ @ @ @ @ else , which had been stored in a building at Abel Beth Maacah , an @ @ @ @ @ tip of today ’ s Israel .
Now archaeologists have found it .
That one @ @ @ @ @ ” place could redraw the map of the ancient kingdom of Israel in the 10th-9th @ @ @ @ @ may have stretched farther north than is currently supposed .
There is a big debate @ @ @ @ @ Beth Maacah , which is mentioned in the Bible three times , was under the @ @ @ @ @ Phoenicians , the Arameans , or was independent during this period .
This discussion , @ @ @ @ @ discovery of that one word on a jar , also touch on the broader debates @ @ @ @ @ Bible , especially the true extent of the territory of the Kingdom of Israel and @ @ @ @ @ ancient Israelites .

(HAARETZ) -- Nearly 3,000 years ago, a scribe inked a single Hebrew word on a large jar filled with wine or something else, which had been stored in a building at Abel Beth Maacah, an ancient settlement at the northern tip of today’s Israel. Now archaeologists have found it. That one word in an “unexpected” place could redraw the map of the ancient kingdom of Israel in the 10th-9th century B.C.E., showing it may have stretched farther north than is currently supposed.
There is a big debate among archaeologists on whether Abel Beth Maacah, which is mentioned in the Bible three times, was under the control of Israel, the Phoenicians, the Arameans, or was independent during this period.
This discussion, and questions raised by the discovery of that one word on a jar, also touch on the broader debates on the historicity of the Bible, especially the true extent of the territory of the Kingdom of Israel and the belief system of the ancient Israelites.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-13--Quarter of U.S. children with autism go undiagnosed

( STUDY FINDS ) -- NEWARK , N.J. — Individuals on the autism spectrum are just as capable as anyone else of having an enjoyable , meaningful life .
However , it ’ s important that children who show signs of autism be properly diagnosed as quickly as possible , as early detection can go a long way towards improving quality of life .
That ’ s why the findings of a new study are so concerning .
Researchers at Rutgers University say that an astounding one-fourth of U.S. children under the age of eight with autism spectrum disorder are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these undiagnosed children are African-American or Hispanic .
Overall , these findings indicate that while autism awareness is on the rise , a great deal of work still must be done .
Particularly in black and Hispanic communities across the nation .
Education and medical records for over 265,000 children who were eight years old in 2014 were analyzed for the study .
Included areas featured a variety of states , such as Wisconsin , Maryland , and Arizona , among many others .
The study ’ s authors looked to see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autism but were not formally diagnosed or receiving any medical services .

(STUDY FINDS) -- NEWARK, N.J. — Individuals on the autism spectrum are just as capable as anyone else of having an enjoyable, meaningful life. However, it’s important that children who show signs of autism be properly diagnosed as quickly as possible, as early detection can go a long way towards improving quality of life. That’s why the findings of a new study are so concerning. Researchers at Rutgers University say that an astounding one-fourth of U.S. children under the age of eight with autism spectrum disorder are not being diagnosed. The majority of these undiagnosed children are African-American or Hispanic.
Overall, these findings indicate that while autism awareness is on the rise, a great deal of work still must be done. Particularly in black and Hispanic communities across the nation.
Education and medical records for over 265,000 children who were eight years old in 2014 were analyzed for the study. Included areas featured a variety of states, such as Wisconsin, Maryland, and Arizona, among many others. The study’s authors looked to see how many of those children showed signs of autism but were not formally diagnosed or receiving any medical services.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-13--TV news cameraman fired for unloading on Ilhan Omar

A former cameraman for a New York City TV station who was fired for alleged racism and Islamophobia is fighting back , according to a new report .
Ken Evseroff , 52 , has filed suit against WPIX , according to the New York Post .
“ I feel heartbroken and morally and professionally violated , ” Evseroff told the newspaper .
Evseroff was fired in the fall of 2019 after he shared a meme on Facebook concerning Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and her comment that `` some people did something '' in the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down New York City 's World Trade Center .
The meme used the words “ ‘ Never Forget ’ – You said ” over a picture of the burning World Trade Center .
It also included an image of Omar with the words “ I am the proof – You have forgotten.
” TRENDING : Queen drops the hammer , issues order to resolve Harry and Meghan 's exit dispute 'in 72 hours' After being alerted to the post by a co-worker of Evseroff , the station booted him .
The station ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , saying it damaged Tribune Media , which owns WPIX , because it could be “ perceived ” as racist .
Evseroff insisted he expressed no opinion , but was only sharing a news story .
`` I love my job .
I am good at my job .
I love telling stories to change lives .
I was honest , upfront , and open as sharing the meme as a news story .
I told the truth and when they didn ’ t like my truth they invented their own , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WPIX claims that although WPIX axed Evseroff for sharing a post “ on his own time , from his own computer , and from his own home , ” WPIX took no action against a Hispanic reporter who , in a tweet , “ threatened violence against President Trump , ” according to the Post .
He said Evseroff was never given a copy of the social media policy used against him , and that there was “ no basis ” for bias complaints against Evseroff .
However , the Post 's report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter Narmeen Choudhury , a Muslim Bangladeshi-American who had complained about Evseroff in October 2018 .
She claimed he made “ rude , racist and/or sexist comments . ''
The Post reported that she accused Evseroff of making “ rude remarks ” about “ black people and poor people.
” “ I never said anything racist or sexist to [ Choudhury ] or online , ” he said .
Choudhury claimed Evseroff was making a video game targeting Muslims and people in the financial sector , in which her husband works .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally on The Western Journal .

A former cameraman for a New York City TV station who was fired for alleged racism and Islamophobia is fighting back, according to a new report.
Ken Evseroff, 52, has filed suit against WPIX, according to the New York Post.
“I feel heartbroken and morally and professionally violated,” Evseroff told the newspaper.
Evseroff was fired in the fall of 2019 after he shared a meme on Facebook concerning Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and her comment that "some people did something" in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack that damaged the Pentagon and brought down New York City's World Trade Center.
The meme used the words “‘Never Forget’ – You said” over a picture of the burning World Trade Center. It also included an image of Omar with the words “I am the proof – You have forgotten.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
She should not even be allowed in the People's House. This poster showing the muhammadan murder of thousands of innocent Americans on 9/11 with the caption " Never Forget" along with her in your face arrogant and hateful comment , : I Am the Proof You Have Forgotten" pic.twitter.com/d8LrqwHqon — will rodgers (@willrodgers2) March 4, 2019
After being alerted to the post by a co-worker of Evseroff, the station booted him.
The station ruled that the post violated its social media policy, saying it damaged Tribune Media, which owns WPIX, because it could be “perceived” as racist.
Evseroff insisted he expressed no opinion, but was only sharing a news story.
"I love my job. I am good at my job. I love telling stories to change lives. I was honest, upfront, and open as sharing the meme as a news story. I told the truth and when they didn’t like my truth they invented their own,” Evseroff said.
The lawsuit against WPIX claims that although WPIX axed Evseroff for sharing a post “on his own time, from his own computer, and from his own home,” WPIX took no action against a Hispanic reporter who, in a tweet, “threatened violence against President Trump,” according to the Post.
The actions show “clear disparity,” Evseroff’s attorney, Andrew Laufer, told the newspaper.
He said Evseroff was never given a copy of the social media policy used against him, and that there was “no basis” for bias complaints against Evseroff.
However, the Post's report noted that Evseroff had run afoul of reporter Narmeen Choudhury, a Muslim Bangladeshi-American who had complained about Evseroff in October 2018.
She claimed he made “rude, racist and/or sexist comments." The Post reported that she accused Evseroff of making “rude remarks” about “black people and poor people.”
Evseroff denied the allegations.
“I never said anything racist or sexist to [Choudhury] or online,” he said.
Choudhury claimed Evseroff was making a video game targeting Muslims and people in the financial sector, in which her husband works. He denied the allegations.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-13--Police-union chief declares his nation like a 'narco-state'

The chairman of the Netherlands ' largest police union says his country is has `` the characteristics of a narco-state , '' with a parallel economy run by organized crime .
`` Sure we 're not Mexico .
We do n't have 14,400 murders .
But if you look at the infrastructure , the big money earned by organized crime , the parallel economy .
Yes , we have a narco-state , '' the BBC reported Jan Struijs said .
The reaction was triggered by a recent murder case that the BBC said `` went far beyond the bubble of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea that `` drug cartels only kill their own . ''
TRENDING : Queen drops the hammer , issues order to resolve Harry and Meghan 's exit dispute 'in 72 hours' A lawyer representing a government witness against two wanted suspects , Derk Wiersum , was shot dead in front of his wife outside their home in Amsterdam .
`` This is meant to frighten us , '' prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said in the report .
The U.K. 's Christian Institute noted the Netherlands is considered a global hub for synthetic drugs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produced 16 billion pounds in 2017 , worth more than $ 21 billion .
Struijs explained : `` Lawyers , mayors , police officers – we ’ ve all been threatened by organized crime .
All the alarms have been sounding but the politicians have been naïve .
Now it 's rotting the concrete of our society . ''
The institute cited a poll that found 59 % of the Dutch believe the country is dependent on its illegal drug trade .
Peter Hurst , a mental health nurse , warned that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legalization of marijuana .
That only `` endorses and normalizes the idea that the drug is safe , which it is n't , '' he said in the report .
An analyst told the BBC that such acts of brutality are increasing , citing a recent shootout that left two young boys dead , a mother murdered in front of her children , a severed head outside a coffee shop and the murder of a government witness 's brother .
The BBC said that even before Wiersum 's murder , a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August described the capital as a `` Valhalla for drugs criminals . ''
Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus said he does n't believe the nation is a `` narco-state '' yet , but is in danger of becoming one .
The BBC explained : `` The Netherlands has in a sense created the perfect environment for the drugs trade to flourish .
With its extensive transport network , its lenient drug laws and penalties , and its proximity to a number of lucrative markets , it is an obvious hub for the global narcotics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficiency of the industry .
`` On the day Donald Trump became president , the first distinctive orange 'Trumpies ' ecstasy tablets were found in Schiphol ; 24 hours later they were on sale in Australia , '' he said .

The chairman of the Netherlands' largest police union says his country is has "the characteristics of a narco-state," with a parallel economy run by organized crime.
"Sure we're not Mexico. We don't have 14,400 murders. But if you look at the infrastructure, the big money earned by organized crime, the parallel economy. Yes, we have a narco-state," the BBC reported Jan Struijs said.
The reaction was triggered by a recent murder case that the BBC said "went far beyond the bubble of the criminal underworld," destroying the idea that "drug cartels only kill their own."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A lawyer representing a government witness against two wanted suspects, Derk Wiersum, was shot dead in front of his wife outside their home in Amsterdam.
"This is meant to frighten us," prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said in the report.
The U.K.'s Christian Institute noted the Netherlands is considered a global hub for synthetic drugs, including crystal meth and LSD. It produced 16 billion pounds in 2017, worth more than $21 billion.
Struijs explained: "Lawyers, mayors, police officers – we’ve all been threatened by organized crime. All the alarms have been sounding but the politicians have been naïve. Now it's rotting the concrete of our society."
The institute cited a poll that found 59% of the Dutch believe the country is dependent on its illegal drug trade.
Peter Hurst, a mental health nurse, warned that it starts small, with moves such as the legalization of marijuana.
That only "endorses and normalizes the idea that the drug is safe, which it isn't," he said in the report.
An analyst told the BBC that such acts of brutality are increasing, citing a recent shootout that left two young boys dead, a mother murdered in front of her children, a severed head outside a coffee shop and the murder of a government witness's brother.
The BBC said that even before Wiersum's murder, a report commissioned by the mayor of Amsterdam in August described the capital as a "Valhalla for drugs criminals."
Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus said he doesn't believe the nation is a "narco-state" yet, but is in danger of becoming one.
The BBC explained: "The Netherlands has in a sense created the perfect environment for the drugs trade to flourish. With its extensive transport network, its lenient drug laws and penalties, and its proximity to a number of lucrative markets, it is an obvious hub for the global narcotics flow."
Struijs pointed out the efficiency of the industry.
"On the day Donald Trump became president, the first distinctive orange 'Trumpies' ecstasy tablets were found in Schiphol; 24 hours later they were on sale in Australia," he said.