mercurynews--2020-07-02--Armed man arrested near Canadian PM’s home

OTTAWA – An armed member of the Canadian military drove a truck through gates protecting an exclusive part of Ottawa where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lives on Thursday but was quickly arrested , police said .
Trudeau was not home at the time .
He and his family are based in a large house on the grounds of Rideau Hall , the residence of Governor General Julie Payette , the official representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth .
Rideau Hall sits on an 88-acre wooded estate .
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP ) said the man ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it through two gates at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time ( 1030 GMT ) .
“ The armed suspect then proceeded on foot on the grounds of Rideau Hall … where he was rapidly contained by RCMP members who were on patrol , ” it said in a statement .
“ ( He ) was apprehended shortly before 8:30 a.m. without any incident and he was brought into police custody for questioning , ” it added , saying charges were pending .
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp cited a source as saying the man had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Manitoba , some 2,000 km ( 1,240 miles ) east of Ottawa .
Trudeau , 48 , who is married with three children , also has access to a summer house about 22 miles ( 35 km ) northwest of Ottawa .
Payette was not at Rideau Hall when the incident occurred , police said .
Unlike the United States , where four presidents have been assassinated since 1865 , there is little history of serious violence targeting officials in Canada .
The one exception was in 1970 , when a radical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian province ’ s deputy premier and later killed him .
Trudeau donned a bulletproof vest for an election campaign rally in October last year after officials detected a security threat .

By David Ljunggren | Reuters
OTTAWA – An armed member of the Canadian military drove a truck through gates protecting an exclusive part of Ottawa where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lives on Thursday but was quickly arrested, police said.
Trudeau was not home at the time. He and his family are based in a large house on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the residence of Governor General Julie Payette, the official representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth. Rideau Hall sits on an 88-acre wooded estate.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the man’s truck broke down after he smashed it through two gates at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time (1030 GMT).
“The armed suspect then proceeded on foot on the grounds of Rideau Hall … where he was rapidly contained by RCMP members who were on patrol,” it said in a statement.
“(He) was apprehended shortly before 8:30 a.m. without any incident and he was brought into police custody for questioning,” it added, saying charges were pending.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp cited a source as saying the man had driven his truck from the central province of Manitoba, some 2,000 km (1,240 miles) east of Ottawa.
Trudeau, 48, who is married with three children, also has access to a summer house about 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Ottawa. Payette was not at Rideau Hall when the incident occurred, police said.
Unlike the United States, where four presidents have been assassinated since 1865, there is little history of serious violence targeting officials in Canada.
The one exception was in 1970, when a radical group seeking independence for Quebec kidnapped the Canadian province’s deputy premier and later killed him.
Trudeau donned a bulletproof vest for an election campaign rally in October last year after officials detected a security threat.


mercurynews--2020-07-02--Volunteers keep an eye out for smoke and sparks, to help fire departments get ahead of brushfires

Coronavirus is keeping most people at home this weekend , but Pat Barrett has his own plans for the Fourth of July .
Barrett and his wife Penny will be spending Saturday at a fire station by Foothills Park in Palo Alto , face-masks and binoculars handy .
From their perch , they ’ ll be able to spot any smoke or sparks that could lead to a brush fire in the hills , and radio it in so fire crews can snuff it out .
Volunteers like Barrett are chipping in as fire departments across the Bay gear up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger that typically comes with it .
This year , complaints about illegal fireworks are already at an unusual high .
Between the fireworks and the hot , dry conditions , some departments are already seeing an increase in fires .
“ It ’ s incredibly challenging , ” said Robert Lipp , an assistant chief at the Oakland Fire Department .
“ We ’ ve had several fires that have been either directly threatening or nearly threatening homes due to the fireworks .
And this is happening earlier than it has in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 Oakland firefighters battled a 2.5-acre blaze in the Oakland hills , believed to have been sparked by illegal fireworks , and the department will have roving patrols looking for signs of trouble during the long holiday weekend .
Fire departments are doing what they can , but monitoring large stretches of hills , parks and open space for brushfires is a tall task .
That ’ s why some cities are working with teams of volunteers to get more eyes and ears on their parks .
Many of them , including Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hobbyists — amateur radio operators whose interests are perfectly suited to aiding emergency services .
“ It ’ s extremely valuable , ” said Kenneth Dueker , Chief of Palo Alto ’ s Office of Emergency Services , of the volunteers .
“ We do not have enough… paid professional first responders to cover what needs to be covered .
We have some limited cameras , but nothing beats humans… to detect an unsafe condition and report that back.
” As part of Palo Alto ’ s Emergency Services Volunteer ( ESV ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help the city in numerous ways .
Many of the public events that the volunteers normally assist with have been cancelled due to COVID-19 , so they ’ ve spent the downtime checking in on neighbors sheltering in place .
“ We might be spotters in a parade who report back to their central group as to how large the crowd is or whether there ’ s an incident going on , ” Barrett said .
“ We ’ ve gone out on creek watches … when water is getting too high.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Oakland Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services ( RACES ) .
He ’ ll be spending the Fourth on the road , patrolling the Oakland hills for signs of fire .
According to Lipp , fireworks-related fires have increased significantly in Oakland in recent weeks , most recently a blaze in Oak Knoll/Golf Links area .
Complaints about illegal fireworks have increased as well .
He stressed the importance of spotting and reaching fires early , which RACES has helped with .
“ It ’ s a ( big help ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not finding out about it until there ’ s significant fire growth , we can get there either before it even occurs , or at the very least get there as the fire is still in its smaller stages so we have a head start on it.
” Duarte and Barrett aren ’ t expecting too much trouble this year because many people are staying home , and most public fireworks displays have been cancelled .
But the glut of illegal fireworks changes everything , and the volunteers know the risk of letting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 lockdown , they ’ re happy to get out of the house and help .
“ It ’ s very scenic , ” Duarte said .
“ If the fog doesn ’ t roll in we should have extremely good views… we enjoy getting out and going for a ride in the country , and keeping the city safe at the same time .
”

Coronavirus is keeping most people at home this weekend, but Pat Barrett has his own plans for the Fourth of July.
Barrett and his wife Penny will be spending Saturday at a fire station by Foothills Park in Palo Alto, face-masks and binoculars handy. From their perch, they’ll be able to spot any smoke or sparks that could lead to a brush fire in the hills, and radio it in so fire crews can snuff it out.
Volunteers like Barrett are chipping in as fire departments across the Bay gear up for the holiday, and the fire danger that typically comes with it. This year, complaints about illegal fireworks are already at an unusual high. Between the fireworks and the hot, dry conditions, some departments are already seeing an increase in fires.
“It’s incredibly challenging,” said Robert Lipp, an assistant chief at the Oakland Fire Department. “We’ve had several fires that have been either directly threatening or nearly threatening homes due to the fireworks. And this is happening earlier than it has in the past.”
Just last Sunday, 56 Oakland firefighters battled a 2.5-acre blaze in the Oakland hills, believed to have been sparked by illegal fireworks, and the department will have roving patrols looking for signs of trouble during the long holiday weekend.
Fire departments are doing what they can, but monitoring large stretches of hills, parks and open space for brushfires is a tall task. That’s why some cities are working with teams of volunteers to get more eyes and ears on their parks. Many of them, including Barrett and Jim Duarte in Oakland, are hobbyists — amateur radio operators whose interests are perfectly suited to aiding emergency services.
“It’s extremely valuable,” said Kenneth Dueker, Chief of Palo Alto’s Office of Emergency Services, of the volunteers. “We do not have enough… paid professional first responders to cover what needs to be covered. We have some limited cameras, but nothing beats humans… to detect an unsafe condition and report that back.”
As part of Palo Alto’s Emergency Services Volunteer (ESV) team, Barrett has been called on to help the city in numerous ways. Many of the public events that the volunteers normally assist with have been cancelled due to COVID-19, so they’ve spent the downtime checking in on neighbors sheltering in place.
“We might be spotters in a parade who report back to their central group as to how large the crowd is or whether there’s an incident going on,” Barrett said. “We’ve gone out on creek watches … when water is getting too high.”
In Oakland, Duarte organizes patrols for the Oakland Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). He’ll be spending the Fourth on the road, patrolling the Oakland hills for signs of fire.
According to Lipp, fireworks-related fires have increased significantly in Oakland in recent weeks, most recently a blaze in Oak Knoll/Golf Links area. Complaints about illegal fireworks have increased as well. He stressed the importance of spotting and reaching fires early, which RACES has helped with.
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Duarte and Barrett aren’t expecting too much trouble this year because many people are staying home, and most public fireworks displays have been cancelled. But the glut of illegal fireworks changes everything, and the volunteers know the risk of letting a fire go unnoticed. Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, they’re happy to get out of the house and help.
“It’s very scenic,” Duarte said. “If the fog doesn’t roll in we should have extremely good views… we enjoy getting out and going for a ride in the country, and keeping the city safe at the same time.”


mercurynews--2020-07-03--Review: A timely look at Rep. John Lewis, the ‘boy from Troy’

Getting into “ good trouble ” is a guiding principle for John Lewis .
It ’ s not only OK , but necessary to enact and inspire meaningful change .
And it ’ s not just rhetoric , either .
The 80-year-old congressman has the receipts to prove it .
He has been arrested 45 times , five of which happened while he was a sitting representative .
In the new documentary ” John Lewis : Good Trouble , ” he couldn ’ t be prouder of that fact because it ’ s all been in service of his lifelong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicts that he ’ ll add to that tally .
It ’ s a principle that the country seems to have taken to heart in the past month in the aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death .
People have taken to the streets and to Twitter to call attention to injustices .
They have publicly called out employers for conscious and unconscious bias .
And not only are they being heard , but their concerns are being taken seriously and resulting in swift and unprecedented change .
Who better to check in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergoes this seismic shift ?
But of course , “ John Lewis : Good Trouble ” was filmed before the past month .
And thus , through no fault of its own , this historic moment makes Dawn Porter ’ s film feel both immensely timely and like a time capsule .
At the very least it probably could have used and benefited from a postscript about what is happening right now .
Porter uses a mass of incredible archival footage to flesh out the life of this “ boy from Troy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called him ) , who “ read everything ” growing up , became a Freedom Rider , spoke at the March on Washington , crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge ( where his skull was fractured ) and went on to get elected to the House of Representatives where he is currently serving his 17th term .
The film , which is largely celebratory , relies heavily on talking head interviews from the late Elijah Cummings ( to whom the film is dedicated ) , his family , Hillary Clinton and younger representatives like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tlaib , and Ilhan Omar , who try to contextualize his importance .
But it stays oddly surface level , despite having what looks like a lot of access to him and his family as he goes about his business around D.C. attending speaking engagements .
It opens with Lewis watching protest footage from the 1960s , which is itself a powerful image , but doesn ’ t lead to anything else : Reflection , introspection or even anecdotes .
The focus returns often to the 1965 Voting Rights Act , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shelby County v. Holder .
This remains a key topic going into the 2020 election and clearly seemed like the most important thing to focus on in depicting the John Lewis of now , before the pandemic and the protests .
Still , it is somewhat telling that one of the most memorable parts of the documentary comes not from Lewis but from Cummings , who said he was often mistaken for his peer .
“ I have gotten a lot of pictures with people thinking I ’ m John Lewis , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embarrass anyone by correcting them , he explained .
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is how prophetic it is .
Although it doesn ’ t offer any reflection on the current moment , it also won ’ t come as a surprise how we got here .
Georgia politician Stacey Abrams says that Lewis , “ Reminds us that our past is not past.
” Lewis ’ s greatest fear , he says , is that he will wake up and democracy will be gone .
But , reassuringly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As long as I have breath in my body , I will do what I can , ” he says .
Rating : PG ( for thematic material including some racial epithets/violence , and for smoking )

By Lindsey Bahr | Associated Press
Getting into “good trouble” is a guiding principle for John Lewis. It’s not only OK, but necessary to enact and inspire meaningful change. And it’s not just rhetoric, either. The 80-year-old congressman has the receipts to prove it. He has been arrested 45 times, five of which happened while he was a sitting representative. In the new documentary ” John Lewis: Good Trouble,” he couldn’t be prouder of that fact because it’s all been in service of his lifelong fight for civil rights. He even predicts that he’ll add to that tally.
It’s a principle that the country seems to have taken to heart in the past month in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. People have taken to the streets and to Twitter to call attention to injustices. They have publicly called out employers for conscious and unconscious bias. And not only are they being heard, but their concerns are being taken seriously and resulting in swift and unprecedented change.
[dfm_iframe src=”https://apps.mercurynews.com/newsletters-signup/?campaign=morning-report” width=”100%” height=”220px” allowfullscreen=”yes” scrolling=”yes” /
Who better to check in with than John Lewis as the country undergoes this seismic shift? But of course, “John Lewis: Good Trouble” was filmed before the past month. And thus, through no fault of its own, this historic moment makes Dawn Porter’s film feel both immensely timely and like a time capsule. At the very least it probably could have used and benefited from a postscript about what is happening right now.
Porter uses a mass of incredible archival footage to flesh out the life of this “boy from Troy” (which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called him), who “read everything” growing up, became a Freedom Rider, spoke at the March on Washington, crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge (where his skull was fractured) and went on to get elected to the House of Representatives where he is currently serving his 17th term.
The film, which is largely celebratory, relies heavily on talking head interviews from the late Elijah Cummings (to whom the film is dedicated), his family, Hillary Clinton and younger representatives like Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar, who try to contextualize his importance.
But it stays oddly surface level, despite having what looks like a lot of access to him and his family as he goes about his business around D.C. attending speaking engagements. It opens with Lewis watching protest footage from the 1960s, which is itself a powerful image, but doesn’t lead to anything else: Reflection, introspection or even anecdotes.
The focus returns often to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was weakened by the 2013 Supreme Court decision Shelby County v. Holder. This remains a key topic going into the 2020 election and clearly seemed like the most important thing to focus on in depicting the John Lewis of now, before the pandemic and the protests.
Still, it is somewhat telling that one of the most memorable parts of the documentary comes not from Lewis but from Cummings, who said he was often mistaken for his peer.
“I have gotten a lot of pictures with people thinking I’m John Lewis,” Cummings said. He never wanted to embarrass anyone by correcting them, he explained.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is how prophetic it is. Although it doesn’t offer any reflection on the current moment, it also won’t come as a surprise how we got here.
Georgia politician Stacey Abrams says that Lewis, “Reminds us that our past is not past.”
Lewis’s greatest fear, he says, is that he will wake up and democracy will be gone.
But, reassuringly, he’s not done yet.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will do what I can,” he says.
“John Lewis: Good Trouble”
2 1/2 stars out of 4
Rating: PG (for thematic material including some racial epithets/violence, and for smoking)
Running time: 96 minutes


mercurynews--2020-07-03--Pfc. Vanessa Guillen bludgeoned to death on Army base, family attorney says

Fort Hood Pfc .
Vanessa Guillen was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked , an attorney for Guillen ’ s family said on Thursday .
Guillen ’ s body was transported from the military installation by her killer , attorney Natalie Khawam told CNN , citing details the family learned during a meeting with Army investigators on Wednesday night .
The main suspect in disappearance was identified by officials on Thursday as Spc .
Aaron David Robinson .
Khawam said the family told her that Guillen had planned to file a harassment complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed , and that they believe Robinson became enraged when she told him that .
Fort Hood officials said they were not aware of reports of sexual harassment involving Robinson but the investigation was ongoing .
Robinson , 20 , killed himself on Wednesday after police confronted him in Killeen , according to US Army Criminal Investigation Command , which calls itself CID .
He fled Fort Hood late on Tuesday .
“ While law enforcement agencies attempted to make contact with the suspect in Killeen , Texas , Specialist Robinson displayed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” CID Senior Special Agent Damon Phelps said at a news conference on Thursday .
Robinson and Guillen , though co-workers , were located in different buildings ; he was not in her line of command , Phelps said .
Robinson “ was not in CID custody ” at the time he fled the installation .
Phelps said investigators were looking into Robinson ’ s interactions with Guillen .
He said there was “ no credible information ” Guillen had been sexually harassed or assaulted .
He said investigators had conducted more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Illinois , entered the Army in October 2017 .
Khawam said investigators told the family that Robinson called a woman he was involved with to help him dispose of Guillen ’ s body after moving it outside the base .
Texas Rangers also arrested a civilian suspect in connection with Guillen ’ s disappearance , according to CID .
The suspect has been identified as Cecily Anne Aguilar , the estranged wife of a former soldier from Fort Hood .
She is in Bell County Jail awaiting civilian authorities to press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 , was last seen in the parking lot of her barracks at the Texas Army base on April 22 , CID said .
Senior members of CID Command met with Guillen ’ s family on Wednesday , Phelps said .
Before Guillen went missing , she told her family that she was being sexually harassed by one of her sergeants at Fort Hood , according to a website her family set up to promote the search .
The sergeant wasn ’ t identified .
Early Wednesday , US Marshals , Killeen police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located the soldier suspected in Guillen ’ s disappearance , CID said .
He had left his Fort Hood post .
The authorities confronted him walking along a commercial and residential thoroughfare on the northeast side of the city , a few miles from base .
“ As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect , the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself .
The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound , ” the Killeen Police Department said in a news release .
On Wednesday , Guillen ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the soldier suspected in the disappearance of her sister .
“ When I first went up to that base , that subject , I met him , not knowing that he had something to do with it .
I felt something was telling me that he did something , and I wasn ’ t wrong apparently , ” Mayra Guillen said .
“ And apparently now , he kills himself .
Why ?
I don ’ t know.
” “ But whoever is responsible has to pay , and we demand a congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came just hours after investigators discovered on Tuesday the partial remains of a body near the Leon River in rural Bell County , where Killeen is located .
While authorities have not confirmed it , Guillen ’ s family believes the remains belong to their missing loved one , they said at a news conference .
Phelps said the remains have not been positively identified .
The investigation into Guillen ’ s disappearance is separate from another into her family ’ s claim that she was sexually harassed .
The remains were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations were suspended , pending identification , said Tim Miller , the director and founder of Texas EquuSearch .
Due to her time in service , Guillen was promoted to specialist on Wednesday , according to the Fort Hood website .
Authorities discovered the remains about 26 miles from the site where on June 19 investigators found the body of Pvt .
2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales , who went missing last year while driving in Killeen .
He was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance , the Army said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a connection between Guillen and Wedel-Morales , but Army investigators say there is “ no credible information ” linking the cases .
Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales ’ death , and the Army is offering a $ 25,000 reward for information .
The Army , League of United Latin American Citizens and Houston rapper Baby Bash have pooled together a $ 55,000 reward for information on Guillen ’ s disappearance .
After Guillen went missing in April , her car keys , room key , identification card and wallet were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was working that day .
“ Our hearts are broken .
We feel pain , frustration and devastation .
This shouldn ’ t have happened .
We demand a congressional investigation .
We demand the truth , ” Khawam said in a statement .
“ If this could happen to Vanessa , this can happen to any one of our sisters , daughters and mothers .
There ’ s no reason why a young beautiful girl who joined the Army , to honorably serve our country , should be in a shallow grave @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Fort Hood Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked, an attorney for Guillen’s family said on Thursday.
Guillen’s body was transported from the military installation by her killer, attorney Natalie Khawam told CNN, citing details the family learned during a meeting with Army investigators on Wednesday night.
The main suspect in disappearance was identified by officials on Thursday as Spc. Aaron David Robinson.
Khawam said the family told her that Guillen had planned to file a harassment complaint against Robinson the day after she was killed, and that they believe Robinson became enraged when she told him that.
Fort Hood officials said they were not aware of reports of sexual harassment involving Robinson but the investigation was ongoing.
Robinson, 20, killed himself on Wednesday after police confronted him in Killeen, according to US Army Criminal Investigation Command, which calls itself CID. He fled Fort Hood late on Tuesday.
“While law enforcement agencies attempted to make contact with the suspect in Killeen, Texas, Specialist Robinson displayed a weapon and took his own life,” CID Senior Special Agent Damon Phelps said at a news conference on Thursday.
Robinson and Guillen, though co-workers, were located in different buildings; he was not in her line of command, Phelps said.
Robinson “was not in CID custody” at the time he fled the installation.
Phelps said investigators were looking into Robinson’s interactions with Guillen. He said there was “no credible information” Guillen had been sexually harassed or assaulted. He said investigators had conducted more than 300 interviews in the case.
Robinson, from Illinois, entered the Army in October 2017.
Khawam said investigators told the family that Robinson called a woman he was involved with to help him dispose of Guillen’s body after moving it outside the base.
Texas Rangers also arrested a civilian suspect in connection with Guillen’s disappearance, according to CID.
The suspect has been identified as Cecily Anne Aguilar, the estranged wife of a former soldier from Fort Hood. She is in Bell County Jail awaiting civilian authorities to press charges, CID said.
Guillen, 20, was last seen in the parking lot of her barracks at the Texas Army base on April 22, CID said.
Senior members of CID Command met with Guillen’s family on Wednesday, Phelps said.
Before Guillen went missing, she told her family that she was being sexually harassed by one of her sergeants at Fort Hood, according to a website her family set up to promote the search. The sergeant wasn’t identified.
[vemba-video id=”us/2020/07/02/vanessa-guillen-disappearance-fort-hood-army-base-texas-suspects-presser.kprc”]
Suspect confronted
Early Wednesday, US Marshals, Killeen police and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force located the soldier suspected in Guillen’s disappearance, CID said. He had left his Fort Hood post. The authorities confronted him walking along a commercial and residential thoroughfare on the northeast side of the city, a few miles from base.
“As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself. The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the Killeen Police Department said in a news release.
On Wednesday, Guillen’s sister Mayra said she had met the soldier suspected in the disappearance of her sister.
“When I first went up to that base, that subject, I met him, not knowing that he had something to do with it. I felt something was telling me that he did something, and I wasn’t wrong apparently,” Mayra Guillen said. “And apparently now, he kills himself. Why? I don’t know.”
“But whoever is responsible has to pay, and we demand a congressional investigation,” she added.
This came just hours after investigators discovered on Tuesday the partial remains of a body near the Leon River in rural Bell County, where Killeen is located.
While authorities have not confirmed it, Guillen’s family believes the remains belong to their missing loved one, they said at a news conference.
Phelps said the remains have not been positively identified. The investigation into Guillen’s disappearance is separate from another into her family’s claim that she was sexually harassed.
The remains were found in a shallow grave, and search operations were suspended, pending identification, said Tim Miller, the director and founder of Texas EquuSearch.
Due to her time in service, Guillen was promoted to specialist on Wednesday, according to the Fort Hood website.
Another soldier found dead
Authorities discovered the remains about 26 miles from the site where on June 19 investigators found the body of Pvt. 2nd Class Gregory Wedel-Morales, who went missing last year while driving in Killeen.
He was scheduled to be discharged within days of his disappearance, the Army said.
It’s unclear whether there’s a connection between Guillen and Wedel-Morales, but Army investigators say there is “no credible information” linking the cases.
Foul play is also suspected in Wedel-Morales’ death, and the Army is offering a $25,000 reward for information. The Army, League of United Latin American Citizens and Houston rapper Baby Bash have pooled together a $55,000 reward for information on Guillen’s disappearance.
After Guillen went missing in April, her car keys, room key, identification card and wallet were found in an armory room where she was working that day.
“Our hearts are broken. We feel pain, frustration and devastation. This shouldn’t have happened. We demand a congressional investigation. We demand the truth,” Khawam said in a statement.
“If this could happen to Vanessa, this can happen to any one of our sisters, daughters and mothers. There’s no reason why a young beautiful girl who joined the Army, to honorably serve our country, should be in a shallow grave near on our own turf.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-07-03--Review: ‘The ten dollar, founding father without a father…’

The revolution is finally being televised , thank goodness .
The long-awaited live-capture of Lin-Manuel Miranda ’ s shake-the-rafters musical “ Hamilton ” comes out Friday on Disney+ , a chance to celebrate America ’ s independence with some of its Founding Fathers .
The timing seems ideal .
Or , given all that ’ s shook this nation in the past few months , could it not be quite revolutionary enough ?
The show features the original Broadway cast — who Miranda has called “ an incredible ’ 28 Yankees of actors ” — and was filmed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theatre in front of a raucous crowd .
RadicalMedia , which taped the last night of “ Rent , ” recorded two performances of “ Hamilton ” and asked actors on their days off to come back and do close-ups .
The show won 11 Tony Awards , including best new musical , best book and best score .
The cast album has been a blockbuster and the show has toured to packed houses .
But only in this filmed version is the original cast once again married with Andy Blankenbuehler ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design .
These were all the seeds of world-conquering greatness .
Thomas Kail , who helmed the successful “ Grease : Live ” on Fox and won a Tony for directing “ Hamilton , ” directed the filmed version .
Kail ’ s camera captures actors ’ intimate faces during key moments in a way impossible for theater-goers and incorporates audience reaction to create an electric filmed version .
The musical charts the rise and fall of statesman Alexander Hamilton and stresses his orphan , immigrant roots — “ Immigrants .
We get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line that gets huge applause — as well as his almost Greek tragedy of a fall , fed by ambition .
It ’ s hard to underestimate how fresh “ Hamilton ” was just a few years ago : A reclaiming of America ’ s founding story by a multicultural cast using modern music , language and themes .
Based on a biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron-Chernow and developed during the presidency of the first Black president , the show was optimistic and ambitious , tweaking Broadway traditions but respecting them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Founding Fathers in a rap battle over whether to aid France ?
Many in the brilliant cast were relatively unknown to the wider world when they hit the stage : Daveed Diggs , Renée Elise Goldsberry , Jonathan Groff , Christopher Jackson , Leslie Odom Jr. , Okieriete Onaodowan , Anthony Ramos and Phillipa Soo .
Even Miranda , who plays Hamilton and wrote the musical ’ s songs and story , wasn ’ t yet a brand name .
The music mixes R & B , hip-hop and show tunes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Sullivan , Grandmaster Flash , Rodgers & Hammerstein , Jason Robert Brown , DMX and the Notorious B.I.G .
It riffs on Shakespeare and the Bible .
It could only come from a mind as brilliant and hungry as Miranda ’ s .
This version reminds us of that talent but also its absence : Broadway kept being Broadway after “ Hamilton ” for the most part , returning often to dusty or safe shows .
It turns out Miranda ’ s audacious step wasn ’ t the sharp end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-off .
“ Hamilton ” dangled the possibility of a brilliant future and , now five years after its debut , Broadway has clearly wasted its shot .
So with theaters idle due to the pandemic , the film version ’ s fast-tracked streaming arrival — it was slated to hit movie theaters in October 2021 — is welcome .
But a second societal spasm — the confrontation with racial injustice — makes “ Hamilton ” a problematic choice in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death .
The nation seems different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for another revolution , this time from the streets , not from the drawing rooms where it happened in the 1700s .
We are reexamining our dark history and who it really holds dear .
Statues are toppling , old heroes are being interrogated and past indiscretion brought into the light .
“ Hamilton ” — for all its progressiveness — is not immune to this reexamination .
It looked at America ’ s past and raised its own statues .
But it skirted the nation ’ s white supremacist origins , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current or future presidents .
Thomas Jefferson is represented as the one bad Founding Father who did participate in slavery .
“ Your debts are paid ‘ cuz you don ’ t pay for labor , ” Hamilton teases Jefferson in a cabinet rap battle .
“ We know who ’ s really doing the planting.
” Yet George Washington ’ s ownership of slaves isn ’ t mentioned at all and Hamilton ’ s role as a slave owner has been whitewashed .
“ Hamilton ” in 2020 crashes into Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less revolutionary .
In the show , Miranda ’ s line : “ Who lives , who dies , who tells your story ?
” was a plea to put Hamilton back into the history books , to reclaim this lost Founding Father .
The genius of “ Hamilton ” is unchanged — how history remembers and changes .
But in 2020 , the question of how we tell stories has shifted in meaning .
Who tells our story ?
That would be white people — and the show ’ s lens might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still about elite , white males .
“ Hamilton ” once asked us to look again at the birth of America , but it ’ s hard not to think that it may soon face its own kind of reckoning .
It didn ’ t do all the work .

By Mark Kennedy | Associated Press
The revolution is finally being televised, thank goodness.
The long-awaited live-capture of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s shake-the-rafters musical “Hamilton” comes out Friday on Disney+, a chance to celebrate America’s independence with some of its Founding Fathers.
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The timing seems ideal. Or, given all that’s shook this nation in the past few months, could it not be quite revolutionary enough?
The show features the original Broadway cast — who Miranda has called “an incredible ’28 Yankees of actors” — and was filmed in the summer of 2016 at The Richard Rodgers Theatre in front of a raucous crowd. RadicalMedia, which taped the last night of “Rent,” recorded two performances of “Hamilton” and asked actors on their days off to come back and do close-ups.
The show won 11 Tony Awards, including best new musical, best book and best score. The cast album has been a blockbuster and the show has toured to packed houses. But only in this filmed version is the original cast once again married with Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography and Howell Binkley’s lighting design. These were all the seeds of world-conquering greatness.
Thomas Kail, who helmed the successful “Grease: Live” on Fox and won a Tony for directing “Hamilton,” directed the filmed version. Kail’s camera captures actors’ intimate faces during key moments in a way impossible for theater-goers and incorporates audience reaction to create an electric filmed version.
The musical charts the rise and fall of statesman Alexander Hamilton and stresses his orphan, immigrant roots — “Immigrants. We get the job done!” is one line that gets huge applause — as well as his almost Greek tragedy of a fall, fed by ambition.
It’s hard to underestimate how fresh “Hamilton” was just a few years ago: A reclaiming of America’s founding story by a multicultural cast using modern music, language and themes. Based on a biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron-Chernow and developed during the presidency of the first Black president, the show was optimistic and ambitious, tweaking Broadway traditions but respecting them, too. What other show would pit two Founding Fathers in a rap battle over whether to aid France?
Many in the brilliant cast were relatively unknown to the wider world when they hit the stage: Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos and Phillipa Soo. Even Miranda, who plays Hamilton and wrote the musical’s songs and story, wasn’t yet a brand name.
The music mixes R&B, hip-hop and show tunes. There are shards of songs by Gilbert & Sullivan, Grandmaster Flash, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jason Robert Brown, DMX and the Notorious B.I.G. It riffs on Shakespeare and the Bible. It could only come from a mind as brilliant and hungry as Miranda’s.
This version reminds us of that talent but also its absence: Broadway kept being Broadway after “Hamilton” for the most part, returning often to dusty or safe shows. It turns out Miranda’s audacious step wasn’t the sharp end of the spear — it was just a glorious one-off. “Hamilton” dangled the possibility of a brilliant future and, now five years after its debut, Broadway has clearly wasted its shot.
So with theaters idle due to the pandemic, the film version’s fast-tracked streaming arrival — it was slated to hit movie theaters in October 2021 — is welcome. But a second societal spasm — the confrontation with racial injustice — makes “Hamilton” a problematic choice in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The nation seems different from a few years ago, ready for another revolution, this time from the streets, not from the drawing rooms where it happened in the 1700s. We are reexamining our dark history and who it really holds dear. Statues are toppling, old heroes are being interrogated and past indiscretion brought into the light.
“Hamilton” — for all its progressiveness — is not immune to this reexamination. It looked at America’s past and raised its own statues. But it skirted the nation’s white supremacist origins, despite three minority actors playing white, slave-owning current or future presidents.
Thomas Jefferson is represented as the one bad Founding Father who did participate in slavery. “Your debts are paid ‘cuz you don’t pay for labor,” Hamilton teases Jefferson in a cabinet rap battle. “We know who’s really doing the planting.”
Yet George Washington’s ownership of slaves isn’t mentioned at all and Hamilton’s role as a slave owner has been whitewashed. “Hamilton” in 2020 crashes into Black Lives Matter and comes off less powerful, less revolutionary.
In the show, Miranda’s line: “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” was a plea to put Hamilton back into the history books, to reclaim this lost Founding Father. The genius of “Hamilton” is unchanged — how history remembers and changes.
But in 2020, the question of how we tell stories has shifted in meaning. Who tells our story? That would be white people — and the show’s lens might scramble the deck but it’s still about elite, white males. “Hamilton” once asked us to look again at the birth of America, but it’s hard not to think that it may soon face its own kind of reckoning.
It didn’t do all the work.
“Hamilton”
4 stars out of 4
Rating: PG-13 (for gun violence and adult themes)
Running time: 161 minutes


mercurynews--2020-07-03--Black Facebook employee and two job applicants file EEOC complaint alleging discrimination

One current Facebook manager and two job applicants have filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Facebook has “ a general policy of discrimination against Black applicants and workers , including in hiring , evaluations , promotions , and pay.
” The EEOC charge , filed Thursday , is being brought by Oscar Veneszee , Jr. , who is a current Black Facebook employee and two Black professionals named Howard Winns , Jr. and Jazsmin Smith , who claim they were denied multiple positions at the company for which they were qualified .
“ People of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underrepresented at all levels of Facebook and especially at the management and leadership levels .
They do not feel respected or heard .
And they do not believe that Black workers have an equal opportunity to advance their careers at Facebook .
There may be Black Lives Matter posters on Facebook ’ s walls , but Black workers don ’ t see that phrase reflecting how they are treated in Facebook ’ s own workplace , ” the charge states .
Facebook did not respond to a request for comment .
The complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing an advertiser boycott over how the company has handled hate speech and misinformation .
A civil rights coalition that includes the Anti-Defamation League ( ADL ) and the NAACP launched the # StopHateforProfit campaign last month , calling on major corporations to halt advertising on Facebook for the month of July , due to the platform ’ s “ repeated failure to meaningfully address the vast proliferation of hate on its platforms.
” Like other tech companies in Silicon Valley , Facebook has struggled with diversity in its ranks .
In 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversity figures , Facebook ’ s US workforce was 2 % Black .
Five years later , it was still just 3.8 % Black .
( Facebook has yet to publish its 2020 diversity report . )
Facebook had 48,268 employees globally as of the end of March , with a significant portion in the US .
Thursday ’ s EEOC charge wasn ’ t the first time employees have spoken out about diversity issues at Facebook .
In November 2018 , diversity advocate and former Facebook manager Mark S. Luckie said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Almost a year later , a dozen current and former Facebook employees wrote an anonymous post on Medium titled “ Facebook Empowers Racism Against Its Employees of Color ” which detailed their alleged negative experiences and treatment at the company .
At the time , Facebook apologized , telling CNET : “ No one at Facebook , or anywhere , should have to put up with this behavior , ” Facebook spokeswoman Bertie Thomson said in a statement .
“ We are sorry .
It goes against everything that we stand for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listening and working hard to do better.
” Last year , Facebook agreed to pay nearly $ 5 million to settle several lawsuits that alleged its advertising platform allowed for discrimination in housing , employment and credit ads .
From November 2016 to September 2018 , the company was hit with five discrimination lawsuits and charges from civil rights and labor organizations , workers and individuals .
The allegations claimed Facebook ’ s ad systems excluded certain people from seeing housing , employment and credit ads based on their age , gender or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge states it ’ s also on behalf of other Black workers who have been employed by Facebook , or who applied and were denied jobs at Facebook or other employment opportunities because of racial discrimination .
The three complainants are asking the EEOC to investigate .
An EEOC charge is a first in the employment discrimination process .
It does not automatically mean that a company engaged in discrimination .
The EEOC has the authority to investigate whether there is reasonable cause to believe discrimination occurred , according to the agency ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization addresses a charge through mediation or settlement .
If the EEOC can ’ t determine that discrimination occurred , the complainant can file a lawsuit .
Thursday ’ s charge alleges that Facebook has policies , patterns , or practices that adversely impact the opportunities of Black workers and applicants .
Among the structural issues are Facebook ’ s alleged practice of using peer reviews from an overwhelmingly White and Asian-American workforce and its “ failure ” to have diverse groups of employees and managers evaluate workers .
The charge also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination and harassment claims in a secret forum where all rulings are “ confidential and not available to the public.
” It ’ s unclear whether Veneszee brought any claims in a secret forum .
It ’ s a risk for an employee to bring a charge of this nature while still working at a company .
But as protests concerning racial equality sweep across the United States in the wake of the death of George Floyd , Veneszee decided it was the right time to act .
“ This is now the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s my responsibility to do so , ” he said .
“ There is so much risk involved .
I ’ ve questioned myself .
This is a difficult decision , but I think it ’ s the right one.
” Veneszee , who is a Navy veteran and joined Facebook in 2017 , supports veterans ’ initiatives within the company ’ s infrastructure division and helps to recruit people of color to its data centers .
According to the complaint , he has allegedly heard colleagues use the N-word in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering constructive thoughts about diversity recruiting plans , and has never received an evaluation higher than “ Meets All Expectations ” or received a promotion despite Veneszee ’ s belief that he ’ s exceeded expectations and been praised by his manager .
He also said he ’ s never been reviewed by a Black manager .
In an interview with CNN Business , Veneszee recalled one meeting with a White recruiter discussing an intern recruitment plan .
Veneszee said he asked why the recruiter had listed only one historically Black college or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt as though I was attacking her , ” Veneszee said .
“ I received a call from my manager asking me what happened , what I said to her.
” He was then allegedly asked to smooth out the situation and apologize to the recruiter .
“ I don ’ t see why the word HBCU or Black would offend anyone , ” Veneszee said , noting that he didn ’ t believe he asked the question in an aggressive manner .
Veneszee said he has tried to take several steps internally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including sharing his thoughts on internal Facebook forums .
In one internal posting , he wrote that Black employees were not happy within the infrastructure division .
HR contacted him about the post and invited him to discuss how the company should be approaching diversity issues .
However , he said those conversations did not lead to action .
“ I don ’ t think they got it , ” Veneszee said .
Winns , one of the job seekers who brought the charge , applied for three roles at Facebook , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was referred by a current employee of Facebook for two of those positions .
According to the charge , Facebook allegedly prefers to hire employees based on referrals from existing workers .
Winns , who has an MBA from the College of William & Mary , has held roles at BNSF Railway , Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Corporation .
He currently works at a major tech company that isn ’ t named in the charge .
According to the charge , the other Facebook employees who are currently in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar or lesser experience or education than him , and are all White .
In one of his interviews with Facebook , Winns alleges that the recruiter and interviewer said his background , including his education and job experience , were a “ strong fit ” for the job .
Within 48 hours of the interview , he was informed he was not selected for the role .
• Advertisers have Facebook ’ s attention .
Now here ’ s what they want • Massive firms pull ads from Facebook over ‘ hateful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , another job seeker , has applied for roles at Facebook in 2012 , 2018 , and 2020 , for positions she claims she was well-qualified for and met all of the minimum and preferred requirements .
Smith has a bachelor ’ s degree from Clemson University , and has worked for almost a decade in human resources , including at tech firms .
This year , a Facebook recruiter allegedly said she was well-qualified for several positions at the company and that he ’ d send her applications for several positions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit ” is very important at Facebook .
She was not offered any interview opportunities and was later informed that Facebook decided she would not move forward with any of those roles , according to the charge .
Despite the allegations , Veneszee said he ’ s still with the company because of the impact he feels he ’ s been able to make in connecting with communities about diversity .
He and the other complainants hope to work constructively with Facebook on changes .
“ We need to look internally and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Veneszee said .

One current Facebook manager and two job applicants have filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Facebook has “a general policy of discrimination against Black applicants and workers, including in hiring, evaluations, promotions, and pay.”
The EEOC charge, filed Thursday, is being brought by Oscar Veneszee, Jr., who is a current Black Facebook employee and two Black professionals named Howard Winns, Jr. and Jazsmin Smith, who claim they were denied multiple positions at the company for which they were qualified.
“People of color and Black workers in particular remain underrepresented at all levels of Facebook and especially at the management and leadership levels. They do not feel respected or heard. And they do not believe that Black workers have an equal opportunity to advance their careers at Facebook. There may be Black Lives Matter posters on Facebook’s walls, but Black workers don’t see that phrase reflecting how they are treated in Facebook’s own workplace,” the charge states.
Facebook did not respond to a request for comment.
The complaint comes at a time when Facebook is facing an advertiser boycott over how the company has handled hate speech and misinformation. A civil rights coalition that includes the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the NAACP launched the #StopHateforProfit campaign last month, calling on major corporations to halt advertising on Facebook for the month of July, due to the platform’s “repeated failure to meaningfully address the vast proliferation of hate on its platforms.”
Like other tech companies in Silicon Valley, Facebook has struggled with diversity in its ranks. In 2014, when the company first began releasing diversity figures, Facebook’s US workforce was 2% Black. Five years later, it was still just 3.8% Black. (Facebook has yet to publish its 2020 diversity report.) Facebook had 48,268 employees globally as of the end of March, with a significant portion in the US.
Thursday’s EEOC charge wasn’t the first time employees have spoken out about diversity issues at Facebook. In November 2018, diversity advocate and former Facebook manager Mark S. Luckie said the company had a “Black people problem.” Almost a year later, a dozen current and former Facebook employees wrote an anonymous post on Medium titled “Facebook Empowers Racism Against Its Employees of Color” which detailed their alleged negative experiences and treatment at the company. At the time, Facebook apologized, telling CNET: “No one at Facebook, or anywhere, should have to put up with this behavior,” Facebook spokeswoman Bertie Thomson said in a statement. “We are sorry. It goes against everything that we stand for as a company. We’re listening and working hard to do better.”
Last year, Facebook agreed to pay nearly $5 million to settle several lawsuits that alleged its advertising platform allowed for discrimination in housing, employment and credit ads. From November 2016 to September 2018, the company was hit with five discrimination lawsuits and charges from civil rights and labor organizations, workers and individuals. The allegations claimed Facebook’s ad systems excluded certain people from seeing housing, employment and credit ads based on their age, gender or race.
Thursday’s employment discrimination charge states it’s also on behalf of other Black workers who have been employed by Facebook, or who applied and were denied jobs at Facebook or other employment opportunities because of racial discrimination. The three complainants are asking the EEOC to investigate.
An EEOC charge is a first in the employment discrimination process. It does not automatically mean that a company engaged in discrimination. The EEOC has the authority to investigate whether there is reasonable cause to believe discrimination occurred, according to the agency’s website. Often times, an organization addresses a charge through mediation or settlement. If the EEOC can’t determine that discrimination occurred, the complainant can file a lawsuit.
Thursday’s charge alleges that Facebook has policies, patterns, or practices that adversely impact the opportunities of Black workers and applicants. Among the structural issues are Facebook’s alleged practice of using peer reviews from an overwhelmingly White and Asian-American workforce and its “failure” to have diverse groups of employees and managers evaluate workers. The charge also said Facebook requires employees to arbitrate all racial discrimination and harassment claims in a secret forum where all rulings are “confidential and not available to the public.” It’s unclear whether Veneszee brought any claims in a secret forum.
It’s a risk for an employee to bring a charge of this nature while still working at a company. But as protests concerning racial equality sweep across the United States in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Veneszee decided it was the right time to act. “This is now the time I feel to say something. It’s my responsibility to do so,” he said. “There is so much risk involved. I’ve questioned myself. This is a difficult decision, but I think it’s the right one.”
Veneszee, who is a Navy veteran and joined Facebook in 2017, supports veterans’ initiatives within the company’s infrastructure division and helps to recruit people of color to its data centers. According to the complaint, he has allegedly heard colleagues use the N-word in the workplace, has been criticized for offering constructive thoughts about diversity recruiting plans, and has never received an evaluation higher than “Meets All Expectations” or received a promotion despite Veneszee’s belief that he’s exceeded expectations and been praised by his manager. He also said he’s never been reviewed by a Black manager.
In an interview with CNN Business, Veneszee recalled one meeting with a White recruiter discussing an intern recruitment plan. Veneszee said he asked why the recruiter had listed only one historically Black college or university on her plan. “She felt as though I was attacking her,” Veneszee said. “I received a call from my manager asking me what happened, what I said to her.” He was then allegedly asked to smooth out the situation and apologize to the recruiter. “I don’t see why the word HBCU or Black would offend anyone,” Veneszee said, noting that he didn’t believe he asked the question in an aggressive manner.
Veneszee said he has tried to take several steps internally to raise awareness of various issues, including sharing his thoughts on internal Facebook forums. In one internal posting, he wrote that Black employees were not happy within the infrastructure division. HR contacted him about the post and invited him to discuss how the company should be approaching diversity issues. However, he said those conversations did not lead to action. “I don’t think they got it,” Veneszee said.
Winns, one of the job seekers who brought the charge, applied for three roles at Facebook, for which he claims he was well-qualified. He was referred by a current employee of Facebook for two of those positions. According to the charge, Facebook allegedly prefers to hire employees based on referrals from existing workers. Winns, who has an MBA from the College of William & Mary, has held roles at BNSF Railway, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Corporation. He currently works at a major tech company that isn’t named in the charge.
According to the charge, the other Facebook employees who are currently in the same role that Winns, applied for have similar or lesser experience or education than him, and are all White.
In one of his interviews with Facebook, Winns alleges that the recruiter and interviewer said his background, including his education and job experience, were a “strong fit” for the job. Within 48 hours of the interview, he was informed he was not selected for the role.
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Editorial: U.S. techs’ AI pledge provides glimmer of hope for safeguards Business | Bay Area tech layoffs hit primarily non-tech workers: report Smith, another job seeker, has applied for roles at Facebook in 2012, 2018, and 2020, for positions she claims she was well-qualified for and met all of the minimum and preferred requirements. Smith has a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University, and has worked for almost a decade in human resources, including at tech firms.
This year, a Facebook recruiter allegedly said she was well-qualified for several positions at the company and that he’d send her applications for several positions. The recruiter allegedly emphasized that “culture fit” is very important at Facebook. She was not offered any interview opportunities and was later informed that Facebook decided she would not move forward with any of those roles, according to the charge.
Despite the allegations, Veneszee said he’s still with the company because of the impact he feels he’s been able to make in connecting with communities about diversity. He and the other complainants hope to work constructively with Facebook on changes. “We need to look internally and be honest about what the problem is,” Veneszee said.
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