westernjournal--2020-06-20--Charlton Heston’s Son Opens Up About the ‘Ten Commandments’ Star’s Pro-2A Beliefs

For anyone who is familiar with the work of Hollywood icon Charlton Heston , who appeared in more than a hundred films over the course of a 60-year career , they know that acting wasn ’ t his only passion .
In addition to being adored for his roles as Moses in the 1956 classic “ The Ten Commandments ” and George Taylor in the 1968 “ Planet of the Apes , ” the actor was known for emphatic support of the U.S. Constitution .
Whether it was serving his country on the front lines during World War II or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Movement , Heston felt it was his duty to protect the nation .
“ He was an artist and he felt this urgency to express himself , not just on set or a stage , but in his everyday life , ” his son Fraser Heston told Fox News during a recent interview about his father ’ s legacy .
Fraser said his father was an avid supporter of the National Rifle Association and his dedication to the organization was just one more way he felt he could extend further protection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NRA ’ s president in 1998 and served in the position through 2003 .
In a now-famous moment at the NRA ’ s 129th convention in 2000 , Charlton told attendees that if the government wanted to take his gun , they ’ d have to pry it out of his “ cold , dead hands.
” During the Fox interview , the younger Heston explained that while his father was patriotic and loved the United States , he was far from the “ gun nut ” that the media made him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t a gun nut .
He did not have a basement full of machine guns as he ’ s been depicted on the internet .
He was simply an American patriot .
He served his country in World War II and he wanted to do more to protect this nation , ” Fraser Heston said .
“ He was socially very liberal .
“ He believed that all men and women are created equal .
He believed our country needed to live , grow and breathe as a free society .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world and wanted to preserve that .
It all comes down to freedom , ” he said .
Charlton used his public platform to march and fight alongside civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington .
Fraser Heston told Fox News that his father was well aware of his celebrity status and knew that people would listen to what he had to say .
RELATED : Federal Judge Cracks Down on City Trying To Ban Open-Carry Firearms “ As a celebrity , he knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good communicator .
He also had an audience , one that would show up if he had something to say , ” he said .
“ He saw himself as a leader in his fictionalized roles , as well as his real life.
” Charlton Heston spent his life advocating for the things that he thought would help the United States grow as a nation and never fell to the pressures of society .
More than a decade after his death , that legacy lives on .
We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

For anyone who is familiar with the work of Hollywood icon Charlton Heston, who appeared in more than a hundred films over the course of a 60-year career, they know that acting wasn’t his only passion.
In addition to being adored for his roles as Moses in the 1956 classic “The Ten Commandments” and George Taylor in the 1968 “Planet of the Apes,” the actor was known for emphatic support of the U.S. Constitution.
Whether it was serving his country on the front lines during World War II or speaking out against racism during the Civil Rights Movement, Heston felt it was his duty to protect the nation.
“He was an artist and he felt this urgency to express himself, not just on set or a stage, but in his everyday life,” his son Fraser Heston told Fox News during a recent interview about his father’s legacy.
Fraser said his father was an avid supporter of the National Rifle Association and his dedication to the organization was just one more way he felt he could extend further protection.
The actor and activist was elected as the NRA’s president in 1998 and served in the position through 2003.
In a now-famous moment at the NRA’s 129th convention in 2000, Charlton told attendees that if the government wanted to take his gun, they’d have to pry it out of his “cold, dead hands.”
During the Fox interview, the younger Heston explained that while his father was patriotic and loved the United States, he was far from the “gun nut” that the media made him out to be.
Do you think Charlton Heston would be ashamed of the state of our country right now? Yes No
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“He wasn’t a gun nut. He did not have a basement full of machine guns as he’s been depicted on the internet. He was simply an American patriot. He served his country in World War II and he wanted to do more to protect this nation,” Fraser Heston said. “He was socially very liberal.
“He believed that all men and women are created equal. He believed our country needed to live, grow and breathe as a free society. He believed that America was the hope of the world and wanted to preserve that. It all comes down to freedom,” he said.
Charlton used his public platform to march and fight alongside civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington.
Fraser Heston told Fox News that his father was well aware of his celebrity status and knew that people would listen to what he had to say.
“As a celebrity, he knew he had an advantage and he was a good communicator. He also had an audience, one that would show up if he had something to say,” he said.
“He saw himself as a leader in his fictionalized roles, as well as his real life.”
Charlton Heston spent his life advocating for the things that he thought would help the United States grow as a nation and never fell to the pressures of society. More than a decade after his death, that legacy lives on.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--Bruce Springsteen Condemns Trump, Warns Americans ‘Judgment Day’ Is Coming: ‘Vote Before It’s Too La

Bruce Springsteen Condemns Trump, Warns Americans ‘Judgment Day’ Is Coming: ‘Vote Before It’s Too Late’

The novel coronavirus has taken so much from millions of people .
Many have lost their jobs , but even more devastating , many have lost loved ones from the virus itself and the complications that have come with it .
On Wednesday , rock and roll legend Bruce Springsteen dedicated an entire episode of his SiriusXM show , “ From My Home to Yours , ” to speak out about the havoc the virus has wreaked on the United States and the “ shamed response ” from the nation ’ s leaders .
During the episode titled “ Volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pray , ” Springsteen criticized President Donald Trump several times within the hour and before signing off , the artist warned his listeners that “ Judgment Day is coming.
” “ The election is only months away , ” he said .
“ Vote .
God help us all .
Vote before it ’ s too late.
” Shortly after the episode began , Springsteen directly addressed Trump , calling for him to “ put on a f—ing mask.
” “ With all respect , sir , show some consideration and care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ Put on a f—ing mask.
” After Springsteen called out the president for his handling of the virus , the artist began his “ rock and roll requiem ” with Bob Dylan ’ s “ Disease of Conceit , ” followed by several songs with a similar sentiment .
The 1989 Dylan hit seems to directly correlate to Springsteen ’ s topics of pain , sickness and bitterness toward the U.S. leaders .
“ There ’ s a whole lot of people dying tonight from the disease of conceit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the disease of conceit .
Comes right out of nowhere and you ’ re down for the count .
From the outside world , the pressure will mount .
Turn you into a piece of meat , the disease of conceit , ” the song says in the third verse .
Springsteen told his listeners that the overwhelming events of 2020 , and the government leaders ’ reactions , have frustrated him .
“ With 100,000-plus Americans dying over the last few months , and the empty , shamed response from our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ angered ] , ” Springsteen said .
RELATED : After American Airlines Ban , Brandon Straka Demands To Know Where Americans 'Draw the Line ' on Mask Mandates “ Those lives deserve better than just being inconvenient statistics for our president ’ s re-election efforts .
It ’ s a national disgrace.
” This isn ’ t the first time that Springsteen has been vocal about his disapproval of Trump over the years .
Last year , Springsteen told USA Today ’ s Gayle King that Trump doesn ’ t quite understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ The stewardship of the nation … has been thrown away to somebody who doesn ’ t have a clue as to what that means .
… And unfortunately , we have somebody who I feel doesn ’ t have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American , ” Springsteen told King .
The artist also performed during Hillary Clinton ’ s Philadelphia rally on the eve of the 2016 election , where he also bashed Trump .
“ This is a man whose vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has the profound lack of decency that would allow him to prioritize his own interests and ego before American democracy itself , ” Springsteen said at the rally .
“ Somebody who would be willing to damage our long-cherished and admired system rather than look to himself for the reasons behind his own epic failure .
And that ’ s unforgivable .
Tomorrow , those ideas and that campaign is going down.
” Springsteen ’ s episode , “ Volume 6 : Down to the River to Pray , ” will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
You can find the broadcast times here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The novel coronavirus has taken so much from millions of people.
Many have lost their jobs, but even more devastating, many have lost loved ones from the virus itself and the complications that have come with it.
On Wednesday, rock and roll legend Bruce Springsteen dedicated an entire episode of his SiriusXM show, “From My Home to Yours,” to speak out about the havoc the virus has wreaked on the United States and the “shamed response” from the nation’s leaders.
During the episode titled “Volume 6: Down to the River to Pray,” Springsteen criticized President Donald Trump several times within the hour and before signing off, the artist warned his listeners that “Judgment Day is coming.”
“The election is only months away,” he said. “Vote. God help us all. Vote before it’s too late.”
Bruce is hosting a new episode of “From My Home To Yours” on E Street Radio & The @SiriusXM app. Listen to “Volume 6: Down to the River to Pray” now: https://t.co/28cleK4NYY pic.twitter.com/trGCRdq9iv — Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) June 17, 2020
Shortly after the episode began, Springsteen directly addressed Trump, calling for him to “put on a f—ing mask.”
“With all respect, sir, show some consideration and care for your countrymen and your country,” he said. “Put on a f—ing mask.”
Do you think Springsteen was right to make these comments about Trump? Yes No
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After Springsteen called out the president for his handling of the virus, the artist began his “rock and roll requiem” with Bob Dylan’s “Disease of Conceit,” followed by several songs with a similar sentiment.
The 1989 Dylan hit seems to directly correlate to Springsteen’s topics of pain, sickness and bitterness toward the U.S. leaders.
“There’s a whole lot of people dying tonight from the disease of conceit. Whole lot of people crying tonight from the disease of conceit. Comes right out of nowhere and you’re down for the count. From the outside world, the pressure will mount. Turn you into a piece of meat, the disease of conceit,” the song says in the third verse.
Springsteen told his listeners that the overwhelming events of 2020, and the government leaders’ reactions, have frustrated him.
“With 100,000-plus Americans dying over the last few months, and the empty, shamed response from our leaders, I’ve been simply [angered],” Springsteen said.
“Those lives deserve better than just being inconvenient statistics for our president’s re-election efforts. It’s a national disgrace.”
This isn’t the first time that Springsteen has been vocal about his disapproval of Trump over the years.
Last year, Springsteen told USA Today’s Gayle King that Trump doesn’t quite understand “what it means to be American.”
“The stewardship of the nation … has been thrown away to somebody who doesn’t have a clue as to what that means. … And unfortunately, we have somebody who I feel doesn’t have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American,” Springsteen told King.
The artist also performed during Hillary Clinton’s Philadelphia rally on the eve of the 2016 election, where he also bashed Trump.
“This is a man whose vision is limited to little beyond himself, who has the profound lack of decency that would allow him to prioritize his own interests and ego before American democracy itself,” Springsteen said at the rally.
“Somebody who would be willing to damage our long-cherished and admired system rather than look to himself for the reasons behind his own epic failure. And that’s unforgivable. Tomorrow, those ideas and that campaign is going down.”
Springsteen’s episode, “Volume 6: Down to the River to Pray,” will be available for free listening on SiriusXM through Tuesday. You can find the broadcast times here.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--Rep. Matt Gaetz Reveals Surprisng Truth About His ‘Son’ After Attacks from Dems

During a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on police reform legislation this week , Louisiana Democrat Rep. Cedric Richmond engaged in a spirited — and much-quoted — back-and-forth with Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz over amendments being introduced to the bill .
“ As a black male who went to the fifth-best public high school in the country , who was a victim of excessive force , who has a black son , who has worries that you all don ’ t , and to my colleagues , especially the ones that keep introducing amendments that are a tangent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about , you all are white males , ” Richmond said in a viral clip .
“ You ’ ve never lived in my shoes , and you do not know what it ’ s like to be an African-American male .
And all I ’ m saying is if you are opposed to this legislation , let ’ s just have the vote , but please do not come in this committee room and make a mockery of the pain that exists in my community.
” “ I will give you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unconscious bias that I ’ m hearing because at worst , it ’ s conscious bias , ” Richmond said , about the 3-minute mark in the video above .
As Fox News noted , Richmond got pushback from Gaetz .
“ I appreciate your passion , ” Gaetz said .
“ Are you suggesting that you ’ re certain that none of us have non-white children ?
Because you reflect on your black son and said none of us– ” “ Matt , Matt , stop , ” Richmond said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get sidetracked about the color of our children.
” “ I already know that there are people on the other side that have black grandchildren .
It is not about the color of your kids .
It is about black males , black people in the streets that are getting killed.
” When Gaetz began to object strenuously , Richmond cut him off .
“ It is not about the color of your kids , ” he said .
“ It is about black males , black people in the streets , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them happens to be your kid , I ’ m concerned about him , too .
And clearly I ’ m more concerned about him than you are.
” I give you this part of the exchange , in particular Richmond ’ s caveat , because I assume the Louisiana representative might have known something viewers at home didn ’ t : Gaetz has raised a Latino child who came over from Cuba at the age of 12 .
“ For all those wondering , this is my son Nestor .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
He came from Cuba ( legally , of course ) six years ago and lives with me in Florida , ” Gaetz tweeted Thursday .
“ I am so proud of him and raising him has been the best , most rewarding thing I ’ ve done in my life.
” “ Nestor turned 19 a few days ago & will be off to University .
He arrived here at 12 , ” Gaetz continued .
“ As you can imagine , I was triggered when ( to make an absurd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contributions of Republicans because we don ’ t raise non-white kids .
Well , I have.
” Gaetz told People magazine , in a story published Thursday , that he was dating Nestor ’ s older sister when the boy came to the United States after his mother died of breast cancer .
With a slight interruption during the time Nestor ’ s sister and Gaetz had broken up , he ’ s been living with the congressman .
The Gaetz family didn ’ t formally adopt Nestor , although Gaetzs told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family is defined by our love for each other , not by any paperwork.
” “ He is a part of my family story , ” Gaetz told People .
“ My work with Nestor , our family , no element of my public service could compare to the joy that our family has brought me.
” As for liberal tweets accusing Gaetz of using Nestor as a prop , Gaetz said he didn ’ t care .
“ I haven ’ t responded to it there and feel no need to respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My son and I owe no explanation about our family to the blue-checkmark brigade.
” The two also appeared on Fox News ’ “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” on Thursday to discuss Richmond and Gaetz ’ s on-floor fight .
Nestor said he didn ’ t see it live but found out about it via social media .
“ I woke up to seeing all these tweets and I was like , ‘ What ’ s going on ?
” he said , about the 4-minute mark in the video above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of unfair to tell someone that they don ’ t understand … because of their racial color , ” he continued .
“ He ’ s fighting for equality , but if you tell someone … to not get involved , that they don ’ t understand , because of his color , you ’ re kind of being a hypocrite there.
” If you ’ re going to the color of your child as an appeal to emotion when you say that people of color are facing police mistreatment in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if no one else on the panel is raising children of color , particularly the individual you ’ re arguing with .
There were plenty of other reasons that Richmond could have used here .
He decided against them .
If your argument hinges on identity , it falls apart on identity .
Appeals to emotion , alas , won ’ t change that .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

During a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on police reform legislation this week, Louisiana Democrat Rep. Cedric Richmond engaged in a spirited — and much-quoted — back-and-forth with Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz over amendments being introduced to the bill.
“As a black male who went to the fifth-best public high school in the country, who was a victim of excessive force, who has a black son, who has worries that you all don’t, and to my colleagues, especially the ones that keep introducing amendments that are a tangent and a distraction from what we’re talking about, you all are white males,” Richmond said in a viral clip.
“You’ve never lived in my shoes, and you do not know what it’s like to be an African-American male. And all I’m saying is if you are opposed to this legislation, let’s just have the vote, but please do not come in this committee room and make a mockery of the pain that exists in my community.”
“Who in the hell do you think you are?” FIERY: Rep. Cedric Richmond and Rep. Matt Gaetz spar during House debate pic.twitter.com/oIpBFfGa2N — The Hill (@thehill) June 18, 2020
“I will give you the benefit of the doubt that it is unconscious bias that I’m hearing because at worst, it’s conscious bias,” Richmond said, about the 3-minute mark in the video above.
As Fox News noted, Richmond got pushback from Gaetz.
“I appreciate your passion,” Gaetz said. “Are you suggesting that you’re certain that none of us have non-white children? Because you reflect on your black son and said none of us–”
“Matt, Matt, stop,” Richmond said. “I’m not about to get sidetracked about the color of our children.”
Do you think this Democrat was out of line? Yes No
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“I already know that there are people on the other side that have black grandchildren. It is not about the color of your kids. It is about black males, black people in the streets that are getting killed.”
When Gaetz began to object strenuously, Richmond cut him off.
“It is not about the color of your kids,” he said. “It is about black males, black people in the streets, that are getting killed. And if one of them happens to be your kid, I’m concerned about him, too. And clearly I’m more concerned about him than you are.”
I give you this part of the exchange, in particular Richmond’s caveat, because I assume the Louisiana representative might have known something viewers at home didn’t: Gaetz has raised a Latino child who came over from Cuba at the age of 12.
Nestor turned 19 a few days ago & will be off to University. He arrived here at 12. As you can imagine, I was triggered when (to make an absurd debate point) a fellow congressman diminished the contributions of Republicans because we don’t raise non-white kids. Well, I have. — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) June 18, 2020
“For all those wondering, this is my son Nestor. We share no blood but he is my life. He came from Cuba (legally, of course) six years ago and lives with me in Florida,” Gaetz tweeted Thursday. “I am so proud of him and raising him has been the best, most rewarding thing I’ve done in my life.”
“Nestor turned 19 a few days ago & will be off to University. He arrived here at 12,” Gaetz continued.
“As you can imagine, I was triggered when (to make an absurd debate point) a fellow congressman diminished the contributions of Republicans because we don’t raise non-white kids. Well, I have.”
Gaetz told People magazine, in a story published Thursday, that he was dating Nestor’s older sister when the boy came to the United States after his mother died of breast cancer. With a slight interruption during the time Nestor’s sister and Gaetz had broken up, he’s been living with the congressman.
The Gaetz family didn’t formally adopt Nestor, although Gaetzs told People that their “relationship as a family is defined by our love for each other, not by any paperwork.”
“He is a part of my family story,” Gaetz told People. “My work with Nestor, our family, no element of my public service could compare to the joy that our family has brought me.”
As for liberal tweets accusing Gaetz of using Nestor as a prop, Gaetz said he didn’t care.
“I haven’t responded to it there and feel no need to respond to it now,” he said. “My son and I owe no explanation about our family to the blue-checkmark brigade.”
The two also appeared on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Thursday to discuss Richmond and Gaetz’s on-floor fight.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
Nestor said he didn’t see it live but found out about it via social media.
“I woke up to seeing all these tweets and I was like, ‘What’s going on?” he said, about the 4-minute mark in the video above.
“I think it’s kind of unfair to tell someone that they don’t understand … because of their racial color,” he continued.
“He’s fighting for equality, but if you tell someone … to not get involved, that they don’t understand, because of his color, you’re kind of being a hypocrite there.”
If you’re going to the color of your child as an appeal to emotion when you say that people of color are facing police mistreatment in this country, it’s probably helpful if no one else on the panel is raising children of color, particularly the individual you’re arguing with.
There were plenty of other reasons that Richmond could have used here. He decided against them.
If your argument hinges on identity, it falls apart on identity. Appeals to emotion, alas, won’t change that.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--Before Protesters Tear Down More Washington Statues, Let’s Remember His Opposition to Slavery

So protesters have moved from statues of Confederates to those of abolitionists , and now they ’ re on to the Founders , including no less than the father of the nation , George Washington .
Vandals in Portland , Oregon , first draped the head of Washington in an American flag and then set fire to it on Thursday night .
The statue and the base were spray-painted with “ 1619 , ” “ genocidal colonist , ” “ you ’ re on native land , ” “ BLM ” and “ Big Floyd.
” As I wrote earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toppled a statue of Thomas Jefferson on Sunday night .
“ The words ‘ slave owner ’ and ‘ George Floyd ’ were written on the white marble base where the statue had stood , ” KPTV-TV reported .
If Jefferson was the pen of the Revolutionary War — drafting the Declaration of Independence and succinctly defining what it means to be an American — then Washington was the sword , making the document ’ s promises a reality through eight long years of battle .
After the war , the commander of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be president of the Constitutional Convention and later was chosen as the first president of the United States by a unanimous Electoral College vote for both terms he served .
No presidential candidate since has achieved such a tally .
That gives some sense for the reverence Washington was held in during his day .
It ’ s interesting that the protesters would spray-paint “ 1619 ” on his statue , apparently attributing blame to him that the British had introduced slavery into the colony of Virginia over a century before Washington was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being taught in The New York Times ’ 1619 Project curriculum in 3,500 classrooms across 50 states , a primary cause of the Revolutionary War was not the colonists ’ desire to protect slavery .
The Declaration of Independence , which lists dozens of grievances the Colonies had against the king and Parliament , makes just a passing reference to slavery by pointing to England ’ s efforts to excite “ domestic insurrections.
” RELATED : Dem .
Gov .
Who Wore Blackface Now Trying To Remove Robert E. Lee Statue in DC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1619 Project , Nikole Hannah-Jones , was honest enough to acknowledge that slavery in America predated the nation ’ s founding by over 150 years .
However , she alleged that by 1776 , Britain “ had grown deeply conflicted over its role in the barbaric institution.
” Slavery was abolished in Great Britain in 1833 — over a half-century after the founding of the United States .
Also working completely against Hannah-Jones ’ narrative is the fact that nearly every state north of the Mason-Dixon Line had voted to abolish slavery by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1783 .
By 1804 , all Northern states had passed legislation ending slavery .
Washington ’ s views toward the institution began to shift during the course of the war and in the years following it .
In a May 1786 letter to the Marquis de Lafayette , a French officer who served under him in the war , Washington commended his protégé for supporting the abolitionist movement .
“ Would to God a like spirit [ to end slavery ] would diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it — some petitions were presented to the [ Virginia ] Assembly at its last Session , for the abolition of slavery , but they could scarcely obtain a reading , ” Washington wrote .
He added to just set the slaves “ afloat at once would , I really believe , be productive of much inconvenience & mischief ; but by degrees it certainly might , & assuredly ought to be effected & that too by Legislative authority.
” A few weeks earlier , the retired general also addressed the topic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independence signer Robert Morris of Pennsylvania .
“ I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do , to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it — but there is only one proper and effectual mode by which it can be accomplished , & that is by Legislative authority : and this , as far as my suffrage will go , shall never be wanting , ” Washington wrote .
He actually took his first legislative acts in that direction by putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That document specifically authorized the federal government to ban the importation of slaves starting in 1808 , approximately 20 years from the date it was ratified .
Congress voted for the ban in 1807 so it could go into effect at the earliest possible date , and President Thomas Jefferson signed the bill into law .
Additionally , the Constitution contained a compromise that the founders reached , counting three-fifths of the state ’ s slave population when calculating the overall population for determining how many representatives a state would have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count their entire slave populations for representation purposes , but the Northern states were not willing to allow it .
The impact was to lessen the number of votes slave-holding interests held in the House of Representatives .
Both of these constitutional provisions were a recognition that slavery was a present evil , not something many of the founders wanted to see continue in perpetuity .
On a personal level , Washington first made the commitment by the mid-1780s to never purchase a slave again , and by the 1790s he decided the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , and he chose never to sell a slave .
The most high-profile act the former president took was to free his slaves in his will after his death in 1799 , an action he knew would send a strong signal to the nation and the world about where he stood on the issue .
“ Washington ’ s emancipation provision was widely publicized and celebrated by abolitionists and African Americans , ” an article on the official Mount Vernon website explains .
In a eulogy praising the Founding Father , Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the African Methodist Episcopal Church — said Washington , undeterred by popular opinion in his home state of Virginia , “ dared to do his duty , and wipe off the only stain with which man could ever reproach him.
” To say that slavery was America ’ s “ original sin , ” as many do , is not fair to the Founding generation , which took the initial steps to end the institution inherited from their English forebears .
It is easy to judge Washington and Jefferson by contemporary standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have done more .
But that was the world they were born into , and they made strides to change .
More importantly , they launched the greatest experiment in liberty , and we are the beneficiaries of it nearly 250 years later .
Randy DeSoto is the author of the book “ We Hold These Truths ” about the influence of the Declaration of Independence throughout U.S. history .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

So protesters have moved from statues of Confederates to those of abolitionists, and now they’re on to the Founders, including no less than the father of the nation, George Washington.
Vandals in Portland, Oregon, first draped the head of Washington in an American flag and then set fire to it on Thursday night.
The statue and the base were spray-painted with “1619,” “genocidal colonist,” “you’re on native land,” “BLM” and “Big Floyd.”
As I wrote earlier this week, protesters in Portland also toppled a statue of Thomas Jefferson on Sunday night.
“The words ‘slave owner’ and ‘George Floyd’ were written on the white marble base where the statue had stood,” KPTV-TV reported.
If Jefferson was the pen of the Revolutionary War — drafting the Declaration of Independence and succinctly defining what it means to be an American — then Washington was the sword, making the document’s promises a reality through eight long years of battle.
After the war, the commander of the Continental Army was unanimously chosen to be president of the Constitutional Convention and later was chosen as the first president of the United States by a unanimous Electoral College vote for both terms he served.
No presidential candidate since has achieved such a tally.
That gives some sense for the reverence Washington was held in during his day.
Do you think Washington deserves our reverence? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (1253 Votes) No: 2% (27 Votes)
It’s interesting that the protesters would spray-paint “1619” on his statue, apparently attributing blame to him that the British had introduced slavery into the colony of Virginia over a century before Washington was born.
Contrary to what’s being taught in The New York Times’ 1619 Project curriculum in 3,500 classrooms across 50 states, a primary cause of the Revolutionary War was not the colonists’ desire to protect slavery.
I’ve put together an album of photos of the toppled Washington statue. Non-profit media/orgs can use freely with attribution. (DM for other arrangements.)https://t.co/XDjjYsvchR — Tim Dickinson (@7im) June 19, 2020
The Declaration of Independence, which lists dozens of grievances the Colonies had against the king and Parliament, makes just a passing reference to slavery by pointing to England’s efforts to excite “domestic insurrections.”
The Times’ lead writer on the 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, was honest enough to acknowledge that slavery in America predated the nation’s founding by over 150 years.
However, she alleged that by 1776, Britain “had grown deeply conflicted over its role in the barbaric institution.”
Slavery was abolished in Great Britain in 1833 — over a half-century after the founding of the United States.
Also working completely against Hannah-Jones’ narrative is the fact that nearly every state north of the Mason-Dixon Line had voted to abolish slavery by the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.
By 1804, all Northern states had passed legislation ending slavery.
Washington’s views toward the institution began to shift during the course of the war and in the years following it.
In a May 1786 letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, a French officer who served under him in the war, Washington commended his protégé for supporting the abolitionist movement.
“Would to God a like spirit [to end slavery] would diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of this country, but I despair of seeing it — some petitions were presented to the [Virginia] Assembly at its last Session, for the abolition of slavery, but they could scarcely obtain a reading,” Washington wrote.
He added to just set the slaves “afloat at once would, I really believe, be productive of much inconvenience & mischief; but by degrees it certainly might, & assuredly ought to be effected & that too by Legislative authority.”
A few weeks earlier, the retired general also addressed the topic of slavery in a letter to Declaration of Independence signer Robert Morris of Pennsylvania.
“I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it — but there is only one proper and effectual mode by which it can be accomplished, & that is by Legislative authority: and this, as far as my suffrage will go, shall never be wanting,” Washington wrote.
He actually took his first legislative acts in that direction by putting his name to the Constitution in 1787.
That document specifically authorized the federal government to ban the importation of slaves starting in 1808, approximately 20 years from the date it was ratified.
Congress voted for the ban in 1807 so it could go into effect at the earliest possible date, and President Thomas Jefferson signed the bill into law.
Additionally, the Constitution contained a compromise that the founders reached, counting three-fifths of the state’s slave population when calculating the overall population for determining how many representatives a state would have in Congress.
The Southern states wanted to count their entire slave populations for representation purposes, but the Northern states were not willing to allow it.
The impact was to lessen the number of votes slave-holding interests held in the House of Representatives.
Both of these constitutional provisions were a recognition that slavery was a present evil, not something many of the founders wanted to see continue in perpetuity.
On a personal level, Washington first made the commitment by the mid-1780s to never purchase a slave again, and by the 1790s he decided the whole idea of trafficking human beings was wrong, and he chose never to sell a slave.
The most high-profile act the former president took was to free his slaves in his will after his death in 1799, an action he knew would send a strong signal to the nation and the world about where he stood on the issue.
“Washington’s emancipation provision was widely publicized and celebrated by abolitionists and African Americans,” an article on the official Mount Vernon website explains.
In a eulogy praising the Founding Father, Richard Allen — a former slave and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church — said Washington, undeterred by popular opinion in his home state of Virginia, “dared to do his duty, and wipe off the only stain with which man could ever reproach him.”
To say that slavery was America’s “original sin,” as many do, is not fair to the Founding generation, which took the initial steps to end the institution inherited from their English forebears.
It is easy to judge Washington and Jefferson by contemporary standards and write them off, saying they should have done more.
But that was the world they were born into, and they made strides to change.
More importantly, they launched the greatest experiment in liberty, and we are the beneficiaries of it nearly 250 years later.
Randy DeSoto is the author of the book “We Hold These Truths” about the influence of the Declaration of Independence throughout U.S. history.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--Potential Biden VP: Trump-Supporting Senators Belong in the ‘Trash Heap of History’

Sending senators who support President Donald Trump to the “ trash heap of history ” is part of what the 2020 election is all about , according to one of the women on the shortlist of potential picks to be the running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
In a Friday interview with MSNBC , Susan Rice , who served as national security advisor under former President Barack Obama , said the Trump administration has been “ racist to its core for the last three and a half years.
” “ The administration has disparaged the Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and basically made plain that they prefer to stand by a Confederate legacy than a modern America , ” she said .
Rice went on to say that voters should make a clean sweep and oust all the Republicans in Washington .
“ This election and whoever Joe Biden chooses among many very talented candidates is about getting Joe Biden in the White House , somebody who can heal and unify the nation and remove Donald Trump and consign him and those who supported him in the Senate to the trash heap of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter were unimpressed by Rice ’ s remarks .
Rice is perhaps most famous for her involvement in the federal government ’ s response to the 2012 attacks on the U.S. compound in Benghazi in which four Americans died .
After the attacks , she was the public face of the Obama administration , telling Americans the incident was linked to a video about Islam , even though the administration knew at the time that this was not true .
She was also a major figure in the Obama administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota announced that she was removing herself from consideration to be Biden ’ s running mate and urged the former VP to select a “ woman of color.
” The New York Times reported that among nonwhite women , Sen. Kamala Harris of California is considered a “ strong candidate ” for the spot , and noted that in addition to Rice , Biden is considering Rep. Val Demings of Florida and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta .
Stacey Abrams , a black Democrat who lost her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and has campaigned to be vice president , recently said that she has not received a call from Biden .
“ I have said many times that if called , I will answer , but I have not received any calls , ” she said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Sending senators who support President Donald Trump to the “trash heap of history” is part of what the 2020 election is all about, according to one of the women on the shortlist of potential picks to be the running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
In a Friday interview with MSNBC, Susan Rice, who served as national security advisor under former President Barack Obama, said the Trump administration has been “racist to its core for the last three and a half years.”
“The administration has disparaged the Black Lives Matter movement, disparaged the peaceful protesters and basically made plain that they prefer to stand by a Confederate legacy than a modern America,” she said.
Rice went on to say that voters should make a clean sweep and oust all the Republicans in Washington.
“This election and whoever Joe Biden chooses among many very talented candidates is about getting Joe Biden in the White House, somebody who can heal and unify the nation and remove Donald Trump and consign him and those who supported him in the Senate to the trash heap of history,” she said.
Potential Biden VP Susan Rice says that the goal of this election is to “remove Donald Trump and consign those who supported him in the Senate to the trash heap of history.”
pic.twitter.com/GI997QFYLQ — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 19, 2020
Many on Twitter were unimpressed by Rice’s remarks.
Susan Rice is completely disgraceful. She calls our President “racist” and proceeds to lie about the President’s characterization of Charlottesville. Two years later. I can’t believe they’re still considering that woman as Biden’s VP. — Dean Browning (@DeanBrowningPA) June 20, 2020
This is your daily reminder that NO ONE has been held accountable for the attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi where 4 Americans died, not even Susan Rice who led the coverup effort And now she wants to go back to to the White House? We can’t let that happen. RT! — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 20, 2020
Susan Rice is projecting again, there is no administrative whose members are more worthy of a trash heap than the @BarackObama White House, including @AmbassadorRice https://t.co/gLOjpmbQoD — Dale David (@b747_driver) June 20, 2020
Rice is perhaps most famous for her involvement in the federal government’s response to the 2012 attacks on the U.S. compound in Benghazi in which four Americans died. After the attacks, she was the public face of the Obama administration, telling Americans the incident was linked to a video about Islam, even though the administration knew at the time that this was not true.
She was also a major figure in the Obama administration’s Middle East policy.
Susan Rice, who was a disaster to President Obama as National Security Advisor, is now telling us her opinion on what to do in Syria. Remember RED LINE IN THE SAND? That was Obama. Millions killed! No thanks Susan, you were a disaster. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 19, 2019
On Thursday, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota announced that she was removing herself from consideration to be Biden’s running mate and urged the former VP to select a “woman of color.”
Should Joe Biden pick Susan Rice as his running mate? Yes No
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The New York Times reported that among nonwhite women, Sen. Kamala Harris of California is considered a “strong candidate” for the spot, and noted that in addition to Rice, Biden is considering Rep. Val Demings of Florida and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta.
Stacey Abrams, a black Democrat who lost her race to be governor of Georgia in 2018 and has campaigned to be vice president, recently said that she has not received a call from Biden.
“I have said many times that if called, I will answer, but I have not received any calls,” she said.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--Warren Calls for Amendment To Guarantee Right To Vote, Forgets 15th Amend. Already Exists

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is pretty much a long shot to be Joe Biden ’ s running mate on the Democratic ticket this year ; those odds became even longer this week when , while pulling out of contention herself , Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar made it clear she thought Biden should pick a woman of color .
Jokes aside about whether being 1/1024th Native American puts Warren in the running , Klobuchar became the latest of the class of 2020 Democratic also-rans to toss Warren under the bus on their way out .
It seems that even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moment this summer , one of its standard-bearers is receding from public view .
Statements like this probably aren ’ t going to help , either .
Take this video , in which Warren calls for a constitutional amendment that already exists : An emphatic Warren , straight off the bat : “ “ We need a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing every United States citizen the right to vote and to have that vote counted.
” This is curious , inasmuch as the 15th Amendment explicitly says just that : “ Section 1 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race , color , or previous condition of servitude .
“ Section 2 : The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
” Yes , Elizabeth Warren was paid more than $ 400,000 to teach law at Harvard in 2010-11 , according to The Associated Press , but forgot the 15th Amendment was still in effect and has been since 1870 .
While it took quite a while for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively true — the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ended the poll taxes and literacy tests rampant in Democrat-controlled Dixie at the time — the amendment has been part of the Constitution for 150 years .
Of course , this isn ’ t quite what Warren means .
In the next breath , she says it ’ s time “ to restore the Voting Rights Act and overturn every racist voter suppression law.
” The Voting Rights Act is still a piece of very active legislation , mind you ; what she means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Holder , the 2013 Supreme Court case that held a provision of the Voting Rights Act , which required certain states and jurisdictions to apply to the federal government before they made changes to their voting procedures , was unconstitutional given that it was based on conditions that were almost a half-century old .
And when Warren talks about “ every racist voter suppression law , ” note that she also isn ’ t just talking about voter identification laws , the old bogeyman for the left when talking about voter suppression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fewer voters than the Democrats think will fall their way is prima facie racist .
Let ’ s consider closely the case of Stacey Abrams .
RELATED : Joe Biden Says He Wants a VP Who Is 'Ready To Be President on Day One' Abrams , the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Georgia , has long contended that so-called “ voter suppression ” laws led to her losing the race to Brian Kemp .
Her supporters have challenged the laws as “ racist.
” Let ’ s leave aside the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have won in the absence of this legislation .
There are two laws in particular that the Democrats have come down hard upon : an exact-match law and a law that purges certain voters .
The former law states that the information on your voter registration application — name , date of birth , etc .
— much exactly match state records .
If not , you ’ re notified by the state that this information needs to be corrected .
If you don ’ t respond , your registration application is invalid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed by a Democratic state legislature , involves mechanisms by which voters are removed from the state voter rolls .
Many voters are removed because they ’ ve been convicted of felonies or moved away from the state , but most of them have been removed because of the “ use it or lose it ” provision .
Essentially , if you hadn ’ t voted for a period of years and you didn ’ t respond to a state notice that asked you whether you wanted to stay on the rolls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws that were deemed “ racist ” by Abrams ’ supporters .
While part of this was the fact they were enforced under the supervision of now-Gov .
Kemp while he was attorney general , it ’ s difficult to contend that these provisions specifically targeted people of color .
Yet , when Warren says she wants a constitutional amendment that will wrestle with “ every racist voter suppression law , ” this is probably what she ’ s talking about .
This shouldn ’ t really be news .
Warren ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which she promised the right-to-vote amendment and a plan to federalize elections so that control was taken out of the hands of local governments .
However , part of politics is having a certain genius for repackaging your ideas when the moment hits , which is exactly what Warren is doing here .
The Massachusetts senator is using the recent protests to remind Democrats that while she has “ never experienced and can never truly understand the fear , the oppression and the pain that confronts black Americans … none of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country.
” “ We can not just be allies .
We must be anti-racists , ” she says in the video .
And that ’ s what the Republican lawmakers of the post Civil War era did when they ratified the 15th Amendment , and what bipartisan lawmakers did when they passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 .
Both of them are still operative and the nebulous changes Warren is describing have no chance of happening in the immediate future .
They ’ re not going to make her any more attractive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of the issues voters will be concerned with this November , enacting a new 15th Amendment won ’ t be one of them .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is pretty much a long shot to be Joe Biden’s running mate on the Democratic ticket this year; those odds became even longer this week when, while pulling out of contention herself, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar made it clear she thought Biden should pick a woman of color.
Jokes aside about whether being 1/1024th Native American puts Warren in the running, Klobuchar became the latest of the class of 2020 Democratic also-rans to toss Warren under the bus on their way out.
It seems that even as the progressivism seems to be having Its Moment this summer, one of its standard-bearers is receding from public view.
Statements like this probably aren’t going to help, either. Take this video, in which Warren calls for a constitutional amendment that already exists:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: “We cannot just be allies. We must be anti-racists.” pic.twitter.com/ByBSWQRpZp — The Hill (@thehill) June 19, 2020
An emphatic Warren, straight off the bat: “We need a constitutional amendment guaranteeing every United States citizen the right to vote and to have that vote counted.”
This is curious, inasmuch as the 15th Amendment essentially says just that. While it doesn’t ban federal and state governments from ever restricting voting rights, it does prohibit those governments from implementing restrictions based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
In essence, it was meant to guarantee former slaves the right to vote:
Should Elizabeth Warren be Joe Biden's VP pick? Yes No
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“Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
“Section 2: The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
Yes, Elizabeth Warren was paid more than $400,000 to teach law at Harvard in 2010-11, according to The Associated Press, but forgot the 15th Amendment was still in effect and has been since 1870. While it took quite a while for the words of the amendment to be effectively true — the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ended the poll taxes and literacy tests rampant in Democrat-controlled Dixie at the time — the amendment has been part of the Constitution for 150 years.
Of course, this isn’t quite what Warren means. In the next breath, she says it’s time “to restore the Voting Rights Act and overturn every racist voter suppression law.”
The Voting Rights Act is still a piece of very active legislation, mind you; what she means is she wants to overturn Shelby County v. Holder, the 2013 Supreme Court case that held a provision of the Voting Rights Act, which required certain states and jurisdictions to apply to the federal government before they made changes to their voting procedures, was unconstitutional given that it was based on conditions that were almost a half-century old.
And when Warren talks about “every racist voter suppression law,” note that she also isn’t just talking about voter identification laws, the old bogeyman for the left when talking about voter suppression.
Instead, any legislation that results in fewer voters than the Democrats think will fall their way is prima facie racist. Let’s consider closely the case of Stacey Abrams.
Abrams, the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Georgia, has long contended that so-called “voter suppression” laws led to her losing the race to Brian Kemp. Her supporters have challenged the laws as “racist.”
Let’s leave aside the fact that it’s hardly clear Abrams would have won in the absence of this legislation. There are two laws in particular that the Democrats have come down hard upon: an exact-match law and a law that purges certain voters.
The former law states that the information on your voter registration application — name, date of birth, etc. — must exactly match state records. If not, you’re notified by the state that this information needs to be corrected. If you don’t respond, your registration application is invalid.
The latter law, which was passed by a Democratic state legislature, involves mechanisms by which voters are removed from the state voter rolls. Many voters are removed because they’ve been convicted of felonies or moved away from the state, but most of them have been removed because of the “use it or lose it” provision. Essentially, if you hadn’t voted for a period of years and you didn’t respond to a state notice that asked you whether you wanted to stay on the rolls, you were removed.
These were the laws that were deemed “racist” by Abrams’ supporters. While part of this was the fact they were enforced under the supervision of now-Gov. Kemp while he was secretary of state, it’s difficult to contend that these provisions specifically targeted people of color.
Yet, when Warren says she wants a constitutional amendment that will wrestle with “every racist voter suppression law,” this is probably what she’s talking about.
This shouldn’t really be news. Warren’s recycling one of her campaign promises, in which she promised the right-to-vote amendment and a plan to federalize elections so that control was taken out of the hands of local governments.
However, part of politics is having a certain genius for repackaging your ideas when the moment hits, which is exactly what Warren is doing here. The Massachusetts senator is using the recent protests to remind Democrats that while she has “never experienced and can never truly understand the fear, the oppression and the pain that confronts black Americans … none of us can ignore what is happening in this country.”
“We cannot just be allies. We must be anti-racists,” she says in the video.
And that’s what the Republican lawmakers of the post Civil War era did when they ratified the 15th Amendment, and what bipartisan lawmakers did when they passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
Both of them are still operative and the nebulous changes Warren is describing have no chance of happening in the immediate future. They’re not going to make her any more attractive as a running mate, either.
Of the issues voters will be concerned with this November, enacting a new 15th Amendment won’t be one of them.
CORRECTION, June 21, 2020: This article originally misstated now-Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s previous position in state government. He was secretary of state.
UPDATE, Sept. 19, 2020: This article has been updated to note that while the 15th Amendment doesn’t ban federal and state governments from ever restricting voting rights, it does prohibit those governments from implementing restrictions based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Thus, it was meant to serve as a guarantee that former slaves’ voting rights could not be restricted due to the color of their skin, their ethnicity or their status as former slaves.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--Walmart Announces Racial Equity Initiatives After Already Committing $100 Million

During the month of June , Americans have seen institutions across the country come out with statements regarding diversity and inclusion .
Business giants and popular organizations , including Walmart and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , have adopted programs intended to promote racial equity .
On June 5 , Walmart ’ s CEO Doug McMillon announced that the Walmart Foundation would be committing $ 100 million toward creating a work environment with equal opportunity .
“ We know it takes more than talk .
It takes action .
We are taking steps to address racism head-on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Walmart Foundation committing $ 100 million over five years so we can move forward , together , ” Walmart tweeted .
McMillon informed the company that the money would support philanthropic initiatives that go hand in hand with the United States financial , health care , education and criminal justice systems .
“ To influence and lead change , we are going to use the power of Walmart to invest resources and develop strategies to increase fairness , equity , and justice in aspects of everyday life , ” McMillon said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional information regarding its plan to ensure racial equity in every Walmart supercenter across the nation and what that will look like going forward .
“ Of course , we need to go further in hiring Black and African American associates across all levels and positions , ” McMillon wrote in the memo .
“ And we need to ensure they are remaining with us and growing in their careers.
” “ Black Lives Matter .
It is all our responsibilities to embrace that fact in what we say and what we do.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more distribution opportunities for minority-owned suppliers and it will find ways to make its pharmacies and Walmart Health Clinics are more accessible .
Walmart ’ s plan also includes how its Live Better U program , which launched in 2018 , will create “ broader and deeper ties through our recruiting programs with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
” RELATED : Great-Grandson of 'Aunt Jemima ' Furious That the Brand Is Being Canceled This program helps Walmart employees earn high school diplomas and college degrees and allows them to develop skills in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate .
Additionally , the new plan will offer equal opportunities to those who have been incarcerated for nonviolent offenses .
On the same day that Walmart announced the second part of its initiative , the academy released a similar plan to promote racial equity in the film industry .
“ The Academy will encourage equitable hiring practices and representation on and off screen in order to better reflect the diversity of the film community , ” the plan read .
The academy ’ s efforts will encourage racial equity not only on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to students , women , underrepresented artists and others .
Some of these opportunities include the Academy Grants Program , the Student Academy Awards and Action : The Academy Women ’ s Initiative .
“ How can you , as an anti-racist ally , create an environment where Blacks and African Americans , Hispanics and Latinos , Asians , Native Americans , LGBTQ , those with disabilities and women , don ’ t feel it ’ s a big decision to speak up ?
” McMillon said .
“ Let ’ s create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can share how they ’ re feeling , so ‘ small ’ issues don ’ t stack up.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

During the month of June, Americans have seen institutions across the country come out with statements regarding diversity and inclusion.
Business giants and popular organizations, including Walmart and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, have adopted programs intended to promote racial equity.
On June 5, Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon announced that the Walmart Foundation would be committing $100 million toward creating a work environment with equal opportunity.
“We know it takes more than talk. It takes action. We are taking steps to address racism head-on and accelerate change, including Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committing $100 million over five years so we can move forward, together,” Walmart tweeted.
We know it takes more than talk. It takes action. We are taking steps to address racism head-on and accelerate change, including Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committing $100 million over five years so we can move forward, together. pic.twitter.com/PKrPvkwnWP — Walmart (@Walmart) June 5, 2020
McMillon informed the company that the money would support philanthropic initiatives that go hand in hand with the United States financial, health care, education and criminal justice systems.
“To influence and lead change, we are going to use the power of Walmart to invest resources and develop strategies to increase fairness, equity, and justice in aspects of everyday life,” McMillon said.
On June 12, the company released additional information regarding its plan to ensure racial equity in every Walmart supercenter across the nation and what that will look like going forward.
We’re listening. We’re learning. We’re taking action. Last week, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committed $100 million over five years to address racism head-on and accelerate meaningful change in communities across the country. Learn more here: https://t.co/BcyLNm6kY5 pic.twitter.com/Wmk3716IrP — Walmart (@Walmart) June 12, 2020
“Of course, we need to go further in hiring Black and African American associates across all levels and positions,” McMillon wrote in the memo. “And we need to ensure they are remaining with us and growing in their careers.”
“Black Lives Matter. It is all our responsibilities to embrace that fact in what we say and what we do.”
The retailer promised that there will be more distribution opportunities for minority-owned suppliers and it will find ways to make its pharmacies and Walmart Health Clinics are more accessible.
Walmart’s plan also includes how its Live Better U program, which launched in 2018, will create “broader and deeper ties through our recruiting programs with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
Do you support Walmart's new initiative? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 14% (38 Votes) No: 86% (226 Votes)
This program helps Walmart employees earn high school diplomas and college degrees and allows them to develop skills in a specific trade at a more affordable rate.
Additionally, the new plan will offer equal opportunities to those who have been incarcerated for nonviolent offenses.
On the same day that Walmart announced the second part of its initiative, the academy released a similar plan to promote racial equity in the film industry.
“The Academy will encourage equitable hiring practices and representation on and off screen in order to better reflect the diversity of the film community,” the plan read.
We are excited to announce the next phase of our equity and inclusion initiative. In our efforts to increase representation, we are working to create new industry standards, add new voices to our Board of Governors and expand the Best Picture category. https://t.co/HSIfHtXPVh — The Academy (@TheAcademy) June 12, 2020
The academy’s efforts will encourage racial equity not only on screen but also through several opportunities offered to students, women, underrepresented artists and others.
Some of these opportunities include the Academy Grants Program, the Student Academy Awards and Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative.
“How can you, as an anti-racist ally, create an environment where Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, LGBTQ, those with disabilities and women, don’t feel it’s a big decision to speak up?” McMillon said.
“Let’s create a supportive, trustful environment where people can share how they’re feeling, so ‘small’ issues don’t stack up.”
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--After American Airlines Ban, Brandon Straka Demands To Know Where Americans ‘Draw the Line’ on Mask

After American Airlines Ban, Brandon Straka Demands To Know Where Americans ‘Draw the Line’ on Mask Mandates

Progressive turned conservative influencer Brandon Straka was temporarily banned Thursday from flying with American Airlines after a disagreement over the company ’ s mandatory in-flight face-covering policy .
The ban came just one day after Straka was removed from his scheduled flight to Dallas during the boarding process at LaGuardia Airport for refusing airline employee requests to dawn the required personal protective equipment while on board the aircraft .
The founder of the # WalkAway campaign , a social movement aimed at giving voice to voters departing the Democratic Party , the influencer was bound for Oklahoma in preparation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign rally at the time .
Video taken during and after the ordeal by Straka and New York Times reporter Astead Herndon , who was coincidentally seated nearby , has since gone viral .
“ I was just removed from my flight for not wearing a mask , ” Straka wrote on Twitter .
“ 1st time this has happened .
Not a federal law .
@ AmericanAir staff standing over me telling me it ’ s THE LAW .
So much for ‘ please respect those who can not wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t a law I was removed.
” “ AFTER removing me flight manager says- they made a mistake .
They had no right to ask you that , ” he added .
The influencer also said he had been asked to provide proof of a medical condition exempting him from the mask mandate , an action that allegedly violated the airline ’ s own policy .
American Airlines neither confirmed nor denied Straka ’ s claim but did “ thoroughly review ” the incident and found that the influencer had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and crewmember instructions , ” according to an official statement received by The Western Journal .
On Monday , the airline had strengthened its previous mask policy , promising in an official news release that company employees would be delivering more frequent policy reminders before and during flights and engaging in stricter enforcement .
Straka will remain barred from flying with American until its face mask policy is lifted .
His removal and subsequent ban did not come without controversy , however , prompting many left-leaning figures on social media to discuss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health policy and safety measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
RELATED : Charlton Heston 's Son Opens Up About the 'Ten Commandments ' Star 's Pro-2A Beliefs According to a subsequent tweet from Straka , widespread coverage of the incident — which included headlines highlighting the influencer ’ s support for Trump as relevant to the story — also resulted in a brief influx of hate-mail from left-wing figures , which included death threats .
The aggressive public outcry , however , was unsurprising , Straka told The Western Journal in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident had exposed a “ complete and total hypocrisy ” in the American left ’ s response to public policy non-compliance .
“ There ’ s an intentional aspect to this , ” Straka said , “ of exposing the complete and total hypocrisy of the policies and the rules , and where we bend the rules and we bend the policies.
” He went on to point out that many left-wing establishment figures had been all but silent regarding the potential coronavirus threat associated with large-scale protests and riots nationwide following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands of Minneapolis police , with some even claiming the increased risk was justifiable in the pursuit of social justice .
After months of socially and economically devastating nationwide shutdown orders , Democratic New York City Council Health Committee Chairman Mark Levine , for instance , said on June 3 that a second wave of COVID-19 cases resulting from the protests should be blamed not on the protesters who failed to follow public health guidelines , but on “ racism ” itself .
“ The same media and the same politicians who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is our duty and our obligation and that we are selfish if we do not stay at home , stay socially distanced , wear a mask everywhere we go , financially bankrupt ourselves , become unemployed , forego our paychecks , forego our businesses — that we must comply with all these orders , ” Straka said .
“ These very same politicians and these very same media sources have been cheering and applauding as thousands and thousands of protesters across the country have gathered to quote-unquote ‘ fight racism.
’ In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve even evaded reporting on stories about lootings , about arson , about burning buildings to the ground , about violence , about killing .
People have been killed.
” “ I ’ m getting a little confused where we draw the line , ” he said .
“ Because I got thrown off an airplane and it ’ s become a national news story that I ’ m now like a national pariah because I didn ’ t wear a mask on an airplane .
But if you ’ re fighting racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even ask any questions .
And there are no rules.
” The Western Journal ’ s Kayla Kunkel contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Progressive turned conservative influencer Brandon Straka was temporarily banned Thursday from flying with American Airlines after a disagreement over the company’s mandatory in-flight face-covering policy.
The ban came just one day after Straka was removed from his scheduled flight to Dallas during the boarding process at LaGuardia Airport for refusing airline employee requests to don the required personal protective equipment while onboard the aircraft.
The founder of the #WalkAway campaign, a social movement aimed at giving voice to voters departing the Democratic Party, the influencer was bound for Oklahoma in preparation for President Donald Trump’s upcoming Tulsa campaign rally at the time.
Video taken during and after the ordeal by Straka and New York Times reporter Astead Herndon, who was coincidentally seated nearby, has since gone viral.
“I was just removed from my flight for not wearing a mask,” Straka wrote on Twitter. “1st time this has happened. Not a federal law. @AmericanAir staff standing over me telling me it’s THE LAW. So much for ‘please respect those who can not wear a mask’. When I pointed out this wasn’t a law I was removed.”
“AFTER removing me flight manager says- they made a mistake. They had no right to ask you that,” he added.
The influencer also said he had been asked to provide proof of a medical condition exempting him from the mask mandate, an action that allegedly violated the airline’s own policy.
Entire episode is filmed. @AmericanAir
AFTER removing me flight manager says- they made a mistake. They had no right to ask you that. — Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) June 17, 2020
American Airlines neither confirmed nor denied Straka’s claim but did “thoroughly review” the incident and found that the influencer had “failed to comply with our stated policy and crewmember instructions,” according to an official statement received by The Western Journal.
On Monday, the airline had strengthened its previous mask policy, promising in an official news release that company employees would be delivering more frequent policy reminders before and during flights and engaging in stricter enforcement.
Straka will remain barred from flying with American until its face mask policy is lifted.
His removal and subsequent ban did not come without controversy, however, prompting many left-leaning figures on social media to discuss the unwillingness of some conservatives to engage with public health policy and safety measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Brandon Straka, the man kicked off an @AmericanAir flight for refusing to wear a mask, I believe did this as a PR stunt. He’s a liar, desperately seeking attention & as @Toure put it, “a performance artist.” He tried to disrupt @Politicon with his antics!https://t.co/l2cTh6jhWs — AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) June 18, 2020
According to a subsequent tweet from Straka, widespread coverage of the incident — which included headlines highlighting the influencer’s support for Trump as relevant to the story — also resulted in a brief influx of hate-mail from left-wing figures, which included death threats.
The aggressive public outcry, however, was unsurprising, Straka told The Western Journal in a Friday interview, suggesting controversy surrounding the incident had exposed a “complete and total hypocrisy” in the American left’s response to public policy non-compliance.
“There’s an intentional aspect to this,” Straka said, “of exposing the complete and total hypocrisy of the policies and the rules, and where we bend the rules and we bend the policies.”
He went on to point out that many left-wing establishment figures had been all but silent regarding the potential coronavirus threat associated with large-scale protests and riots nationwide following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, with some even claiming the increased risk was justifiable in the pursuit of social justice.
The past 24 hrs has proven conclusively to me what I already knew. I have been inundated with death threats, attacks on social media & email. None of these ppl have asked if I there’s a reason why I couldn’t wear the mask. They are just another arm of the left’s rageful mob. — Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) June 18, 2020
After months of socially and economically devastating nationwide shutdown orders, Democratic New York City Council Health Committee Chairman Mark Levine, for instance, said on June 3 that a second wave of COVID-19 cases resulting from the protests should be blamed not on the protesters who failed to follow public health guidelines, but on “racism” itself.
Do you agree with Straka? Yes No
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“The same media and the same politicians who have been telling us for months that it is our duty and our obligation and that we are selfish if we do not stay at home, stay socially distanced, wear a mask everywhere we go, financially bankrupt ourselves, become unemployed, forego our paychecks, forego our businesses — that we must comply with all these orders,” Straka said.
“These very same politicians and these very same media sources have been cheering and applauding as thousands and thousands of protesters across the country have gathered to quote-unquote ‘fight racism.’ In fact, so much so that they’ve even evaded reporting on stories about lootings, about arson, about burning buildings to the ground, about violence, about killing. People have been killed.”
“I’m getting a little confused where we draw the line,” he said.
“Because I got thrown off an airplane and it’s become a national news story that I’m now like a national pariah because I didn’t wear a mask on an airplane. But if you’re fighting racism, no one’s allowed to even ask any questions. And there are no rules.”
The Western Journal’s Kayla Kunkel contributed to this report.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--NYC Politicians Demand Founding Father’s Statue Be Removed

Members of the New York City Council are demanding the removal of a Thomas Jefferson statue from City Hall amid cries across the county to tear down statues and landmarks that have connections to slavery .
Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Councilmembers Debi Rose , Inez Barron , Adrienne Adams and I. Daneek Miller , all Democrats , wrote a letter Thursday to Mayor Bill de Blasio calling for the removal the statue to be taken out of the Council Chambers of City Hall .
“ In the last few weeks , New Yorkers have called on all of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that communities of color feel heard , protected and represented , ” the letter stated .
“ There are disturbing images of divisiveness and racism in our City that need to be revisited immediately .
That starts with City Hall.
” The council members call the statue of Jefferson “ inappropriate ” and say it “ serves as a constant reminder of the injustices that have plagued communities of color since the inception of our country.
” “ Jefferson is America ’ s most noted slave holder , a man who owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a scholar who maintained that Blacks were inferior to whites , ” the council members wrote .
They asked for de Blasio ’ s support in removing the statue , saying that it “ sends a terrible message to the people who are counting on us to work towards a more equitable New York City.
” The call for the statue ’ s removal echoes the call for several statues and landmarks in New York City to be removed or have their names changed in the wake of protests that have erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of George Floyd on May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis .
Local lawmakers have called on the Army to rename the streets named in honor of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at Fort Hamilton Army Garrison in Bay Ridge , Brooklyn , WPIX-TV reported .
“ [ Lee ’ s ] name should be taken off everything in America period , ” de Blasio told the station .
Protesters destroyed statues of Christopher Columbus in Virginia and Massachusetts as well , but New York Gov .
Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbus Circle .
“ I understand the feeling about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts which nobody would support , but the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian-American contribution to New York , ” Cuomo said .
“ So for that reason , I support it.
” Brooklyn Historian Ron Schweiger told WPIX that taking down statues and renaming streets won ’ t erase history .
RELATED : Charlton Heston 's Son Opens Up About the 'Ten Commandments ' Star 's Pro-2A Beliefs “ They represent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s New York history or American history , ” Schweiger told the station .
“ Whether you like it or not , what they thought of , what they did , it ’ s still part of the history.
” He added that considering everything going on right now , the removal of certain statues and landmarks is “ worth discussing.
” “ Depends upon the person , what they did , how much of their history is involved behind it , ” Schweiger said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our editorial standards .

Members of the New York City Council are demanding the removal of a Thomas Jefferson statue from City Hall amid cries across the county to tear down statues and landmarks that have connections to slavery.
Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Councilmembers Debi Rose, Inez Barron, Adrienne Adams and I. Daneek Miller, all Democrats, wrote a letter Thursday to Mayor Bill de Blasio calling for the removal the statue to be taken out of the Council Chambers of City Hall.
“In the last few weeks, New Yorkers have called on all of us in elected office to make bold change so that communities of color feel heard, protected and represented,” the letter stated.
“There are disturbing images of divisiveness and racism in our City that need to be revisited immediately. That starts with City Hall.”
The council members call the statue of Jefferson “inappropriate” and say it “serves as a constant reminder of the injustices that have plagued communities of color since the inception of our country.”
“Jefferson is America’s most noted slave holder, a man who owned more than 600 Black women and men and a scholar who maintained that Blacks were inferior to whites,” the council members wrote.
They asked for de Blasio’s support in removing the statue, saying that it “sends a terrible message to the people who are counting on us to work towards a more equitable New York City.”
Council urges Mayor de Blasio to boot Thomas Jefferson statue from City Hall https://t.co/kBQkIx82EZ pic.twitter.com/azW2N70l1b — New York Post (@nypost) June 18, 2020
The call for the statue’s removal echoes the call for several statues and landmarks in New York City to be removed or have their names changed in the wake of protests that have erupted across the county in response to the death of George Floyd on May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis.
Local lawmakers have called on the Army to rename the streets named in honor of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at Fort Hamilton Army Garrison in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, WPIX-TV reported.
“[Lee’s] name should be taken off everything in America period,” de Blasio told the station.
Protesters destroyed statues of Christopher Columbus in Virginia and Massachusetts as well, but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo refused to remove the one from Columbus Circle.
“I understand the feeling about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts which nobody would support, but the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian-American contribution to New York,” Cuomo said. “So for that reason, I support it.”
Brooklyn Historian Ron Schweiger told WPIX that taking down statues and renaming streets won’t erase history.
Do you think the statues should be left alone? Yes No
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“They represent a part of history, whether it’s New York history or American history,” Schweiger told the station.
“Whether you like it or not, what they thought of, what they did, it’s still part of the history.”
He added that considering everything going on right now, the removal of certain statues and landmarks is “worth discussing.”
“Depends upon the person, what they did, how much of their history is involved behind it,” Schweiger said.
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westernjournal--2020-06-20--6 Trump Rally Staffers Test Positive for COVID-19

President Donald Trump ’ s campaign says six staff members helping set up for his Saturday night rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The campaign ’ s communications director , Tim Murtaugh , said in a statement that “ quarantine procedures ” were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event .
He said no one who had immediate contact with those staffers would attend , either .
Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for COVID-19 as part of the campaign ’ s safety protocols .
Campaign officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be given temperature checks before they pass through security .
They will also be given hand sanitizer and masks that they can choose to wear in the 19,000-seat BOK Center .
The rally was expected to be the largest indoor gathering in the world during the pandemic .
Tulsa has seen cases of COVID-19 spike in the past week , and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed .
Republican Gov .
Kevin Stitt insisted it would be safe .
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear a mask , and few in the crowd outside Saturday were wearing them .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump’s campaign says six staff members helping set up for his Saturday night rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have tested positive for COVID-19.
The campaign’s communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said in a statement that “quarantine procedures” were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event. He said no one who had immediate contact with those staffers would attend, either.
Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for COVID-19 as part of the campaign’s safety protocols.
Campaign officials say everyone who is attending the rally will be given temperature checks before they pass through security. They will also be given hand sanitizer and masks that they can choose to wear in the 19,000-seat BOK Center.
The rally was expected to be the largest indoor gathering in the world during the pandemic.
Tulsa has seen cases of COVID-19 spike in the past week, and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt insisted it would be safe.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a request to force everyone attending the rally to wear a mask, and few in the crowd outside Saturday were wearing them.
[jwplayer ooDqn742]
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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