westernjournal--2020-07-22--Chinese Ambassador Deflects and Denies When Confronted with China’s Human Rights Abuses

Recently resurfaced drone footage from 2019 appears to show large groups of bound and shackled prisoners in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of northern China being herded onto train cars .
Approximately 11 million Uighur Muslims live in the Xinjiang region , where the Chinese government has been accused of committing genocide on a mass scale against the ethnic minority .
The footage of prisoners being herded onto train cars has been authenticated by Australian security services , according to the BBC , and potentially serves as more evidence of the Chinese regime ’ s alleged human rights abuses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC host Andrew Marr on Sunday , Chinese ambassador to the U.K. Liu Xiaoming deflected questions and eventually dismissed the video ’ s authenticity .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man “ Can you tell us what is happening here ?
” Marr asked Xiaoming as the drone footage of the prisoners played .
“ Have you been to Xinjiang yourself ?
” the ambassador asked .
“ Xinjiang is regarded as the most beautiful place in Xinjiang .
There ’ s a Chinese saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big China is … ' ” Marr then cut off the ambassador , pressing him to answer the question .
“ Ambassador , that is not beautiful coverage , however , is it ?
” Marr asked .
The ambassador continued to deflect until Marr yet again demanded a straight answer .
“ Can I ask you why people are kneeling , blindfolded and shaven and being led to trains in modern China ?
” Marr said .
“ What is going on there ?
” Again , Xiaoming would not provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video ’ s authenticity .
“ I do not know , where did you get this video clip ?
” Xiaoming asked .
“ These have been going around the world , they ’ ve been authenticated by western intelligence agencies and by Australian experts who say these are Uighur people being pushed onto trains and taken off , ” Marr said .
RELATED : Chinese Consulate in Houston Takes Bizarre Document Destruction Action as US Orders Closure Xiaoming remained seemingly unconvinced .
After questioning the credibility of western intelligence agencies , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genocide are false because the Xinjiang population has “ doubled in 40 years.
” But the ambassador ’ s claim of population growth was incredibly misleading .
“ According to your own local government statistics , the population growth in Uighur jurisdictions in that area has fallen by 84 percent between 2015 and 2018 , ” Marr replied .
The supposed population growth in Xinjiang that the ambassador referred to has been inflated by Han Chinese residents moving into the region , according to a study conducted by Adrian Zenz , a leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s policies .
“ Between 2015 and 2018 , about 860,000 ethnic Han residents left Xinjiang , while up to 2 million new residents were added to Xinjiang ’ s Han majority regions .
Also , population growth rates in a Uyghur region where Han constitute the majority were nearly 8 times higher than in the surrounding rural Uyghur regions ( in 2018 ) .
These figures raise concerns that Beijing is doubling down on a policy of Han settler colonialism , ” the study says .
The study also provides evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population through the use of sterilizations , forced abortions and mandatory birth control imposed on the ethnic minority .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Recently resurfaced drone footage from 2019 appears to show large groups of bound and shackled prisoners in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of northern China being herded onto train cars.
Approximately 11 million Uighur Muslims live in the Xinjiang region, where the Chinese government has been accused of committing genocide on a mass scale against the ethnic minority.
The footage of prisoners being herded onto train cars has been authenticated by Australian security services, according to the BBC, and potentially serves as more evidence of the Chinese regime’s alleged human rights abuses.
But when confronted with the footage by BBC host Andrew Marr on Sunday, Chinese ambassador to the U.K. Liu Xiaoming deflected questions and eventually dismissed the video’s authenticity.
“Can you tell us what is happening here?” Marr asked Xiaoming as the drone footage of the prisoners played.
“Have you been to Xinjiang yourself?” the ambassador asked. “Xinjiang is regarded as the most beautiful place in Xinjiang. There’s a Chinese saying: ‘You do not know how big China is …'”
Marr then cut off the ambassador, pressing him to answer the question.
“Ambassador, that is not beautiful coverage, however, is it?” Marr asked.
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The ambassador continued to deflect until Marr yet again demanded a straight answer.
“Can I ask you why people are kneeling, blindfolded and shaven and being led to trains in modern China?” Marr said. “What is going on there?”
Again, Xiaoming would not provide a straight answer, and instead questioned the video’s authenticity.
“I do not know, where did you get this video clip?” Xiaoming asked.
“These have been going around the world, they’ve been authenticated by western intelligence agencies and by Australian experts who say these are Uighur people being pushed onto trains and taken off,” Marr said.
Xiaoming remained seemingly unconvinced. After questioning the credibility of western intelligence agencies, he claimed that the reports of a Uighur genocide are false because the Xinjiang population has “doubled in 40 years.”
But the ambassador’s claim of population growth was incredibly misleading.
“According to your own local government statistics, the population growth in Uighur jurisdictions in that area has fallen by 84 percent between 2015 and 2018,” Marr replied.
The supposed population growth in Xinjiang that the ambassador referred to has been inflated by Han Chinese residents moving into the region, according to a study conducted by Adrian Zenz, a leading expert on the Chinese Communist Party’s policies.
Uighur population growth has, in fact, declined precipitously.
“Between 2015 and 2018, about 860,000 ethnic Han residents left Xinjiang, while up to 2 million new residents were added to Xinjiang’s Han majority regions. Also, population growth rates in a Uyghur region where Han constitute the majority were nearly 8 times higher than in the surrounding rural Uyghur regions (in 2018). These figures raise concerns that Beijing is doubling down on a policy of Han settler colonialism,” the study says.
The study also provides evidence that China is committing genocide against the Uighur population through the use of sterilizations, forced abortions and mandatory birth control imposed on the ethnic minority.
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westernjournal--2020-07-22--Largest Antibody Study to Date Suggests Virus Infection Numbers Are Much Higher Than Reported

The true number of Americans infected with the coronavirus dwarfs any official count , according to a new survey released by the Centers for Disease Control .
The study sampled individuals in Connecticut , Louisiana , Minnesota , Missouri , the New York City metro area , Philadelphia , the San Francisco Bay Area , South Florida , Utah and western Washington State .
The study , published by the Journal of the American Medical Association , estimated that on a national basis , the real rate of coronavirus infection is about 10 times the reported rate .
As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus , according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .
The death toll from the virus in the U.S. as of Wednesday was just over is 142,00 , according to the center .
Using those numbers and the average rate reported by the study would mean that almost 39 million Americans have had the virus .
Unlike testing for the presence of the virus , this survey tested blood samples for the presence of antibodies against it .
If the body generates antibodies to fight off a virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus was once present in the body .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man “ These data continue to show that the number of people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 far exceeds the number of reported cases , ” said Dr. Fiona Havers , a CDC researcher who led the study , according to The New York Times .
“ Many of these people likely had no symptoms or mild illness and may have had no idea that they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its kind to date , according to The Times .
The Times report noted that roughly 40 percent of those infected by the virus never develop COVID-19 .
In New York City , the CDC antibody test estimated that the true number of those infected is 12 times higher than official counts in an April test , and 10 percent than counted in a May test , The Times reported .
In Missouri , the CDC estimated that the true rate of infection was 13 times the rate reported , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that high .
In Connecticut , for example , the rate of infection determined by the presence of antibodies was only six times higher than the rate determined by testing for the virus .
“ This is not coming as a shock or surprise to epidemiologists , ” Carl Bergstrom , an infectious diseases expert at the University of Washington in Seattle , told The Times .
“ All along , we have expected that only about 10 percent of the cases will be reported.
” “ Our best estimate right now is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported , there actually are 10 other infections , ” Dr. Robert Redfield , director of the CDC , had said last month , according to NBC .
RELATED : US Signs Deal To Receive Mass Quantity of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Within Months The fact that the vast majority of Americans infected do not know that they carry the virus means taking precautions is all the more important , Havers said .
“ Many people may not realize that they ’ re infected , but they could still be transmitting the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press .
“ It ’ s critical that the public follows the public health recommendations like wearing cloth face coverings , remaining 6 feet apart from other people , washing hands frequently , and staying home when sick , ” she said .
In its reporting , The Times said that despite the large numbers of Americans likely infected , not enough have been infected to create what is known as herd immunity .
The Times said that for the virus to be largely ineffective against the general population , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be exposed to the virus .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The true number of Americans infected with the coronavirus dwarfs any official count, according to a new survey released by the Centers for Disease Control.
The study sampled individuals in Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, the New York City metro area, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, South Florida, Utah and western Washington State.
The study, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, estimated that on a national basis, the real rate of coronavirus infection is about 10 times the reported rate.
As of Wednesday, about 3.9 million Americans had tested positive for the virus, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The death toll from the virus in the U.S. as of Wednesday was just over is 142,00, according to the center. Using those numbers and the average rate reported by the study would mean that almost 39 million Americans have had the virus.
Unlike testing for the presence of the virus, this survey tested blood samples for the presence of antibodies against it. If the body generates antibodies to fight off a virus, it is a marker that the virus was once present in the body.
“These data continue to show that the number of people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 far exceeds the number of reported cases,” said Dr. Fiona Havers, a CDC researcher who led the study, according to The New York Times.
“Many of these people likely had no symptoms or mild illness and may have had no idea that they were infected.”
It was the largest study of its kind to date, according to The Times.
The Times report noted that roughly 40 percent of those infected by the virus never develop COVID-19.
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In New York City, the CDC antibody test estimated that the true number of those infected is 12 times higher than official counts in an April test, and 10 percent than counted in a May test, The Times reported.
In Missouri, the CDC estimated that the true rate of infection was 13 times the rate reported, according to The Times.
Not all states were that high. In Connecticut, for example, the rate of infection determined by the presence of antibodies was only six times higher than the rate determined by testing for the virus.
“This is not coming as a shock or surprise to epidemiologists,” Carl Bergstrom, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Washington in Seattle, told The Times. “All along, we have expected that only about 10 percent of the cases will be reported.”
“Our best estimate right now is that for every case that’s reported, there actually are 10 other infections,” Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, had said last month, according to NBC.
The fact that the vast majority of Americans infected do not know that they carry the virus means taking precautions is all the more important, Havers said.
“Many people may not realize that they’re infected, but they could still be transmitting the virus,” Havers said, according to The Associated Press.
“It’s critical that the public follows the public health recommendations like wearing cloth face coverings, remaining 6 feet apart from other people, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick,” she said.
In its reporting, The Times said that despite the large numbers of Americans likely infected, not enough have been infected to create what is known as herd immunity. The Times said that for the virus to be largely ineffective against the general population, at least 60 percent of the population would have to be exposed to the virus.
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westernjournal--2020-07-22--Leftist Protester Caught on Video Allegedly Trying To Cut NYPD Car Brake Lines

In what ’ s easily the most repulsive example of anti-police sentiment in New York City — and in a category with much competition — a left-wing protester is under arrest after he was allegedly caught on video trying to cut the brakes on a New York Police Department car , the New York Daily News reports .
Jeremy Trapp , 24 , had taken part in the Occupy City Hall protests — a mini-CHOP encampment that had been set up in the backyard of Gracie Mansion demanding the defunding of the NYPD .
Apparently , that wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , according to a police detective who said he caught Trapp in the act , he was found underneath an NYPD van on Friday .
They stopped him before he got in the van , and they took a pair of scissors from him .
“ A senior police official says a mechanic confirmed the brake line damage that would have prevented the van from coming to a stop , ” WNBC-TV reported .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man Well , that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Daily News , Trapp wasn ’ t exactly an expert on how to potentially injure and/or kill police officers ; authorities said he ended up cutting the wire that measures the speed of the wheels , not the one that would have disabled the brakes .
That said , police said he intended to cut the brakes , and that means he ’ s going to be facing a whole host of charges — specifically , reckless endangerment , criminal mischief , criminal tampering , auto stripping and obstructing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without bail ( of course ) and won ’ t be back in court until December .
This isn ’ t the only auto tampering that the NYPD has faced , mind you .
In June , Police Benevolent Association head Pat Lynch warned the union ’ s 24,000 members that lug nuts were being loosened on the personal vehicles of police officers , according to the New York Post .
In a message to members , Lynch said the lug-nut loosening was a “ clear act of sabotage ” and that officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their personal vehicles for any potential sabotage .
Any sabotage or vandalism MUST be reported to command supervisors immediately upon discovery .
Stationhouse security MUST be given the highest priority at all times and at all NYPD facilities.
” And then there was the vacant NYPD cruiser that was firebombed with a Molotov cocktail — allegedly by a human rights lawyer , Urooj Rahman .
If that case wasn ’ t strange enough already , Rahman ended up being bailed out by a former Obama administration official , Salmah Rizvi .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent spate of protests , however .
The Occupy City Hall contingent features the ultras of the movement .
They ’ re not quite hangers-on , since there are still plenty of demonstrations and encampments .
However , they ’ re the sort of leftists who thought Mayor Bill de Blasio wasn ’ t draining enough money from the NYPD , having only chopped $ 1 billion from the department ’ s budget .
RELATED : Suspect Accused of Brutal Attack on NYPD Chief Released from Jail Without Bail So , they brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up camp and set up their own autonomous zone — although , this being New York City and property sizes being what they are , it was quite a bit smaller than its counterpart in Seattle .
Similarly , the encampment changed its name , shifting from “ Occupy City Hall ” to “ Abolition Park.
” According to NY1 , de Blasio was loath to do anything about the graffiti-laden health-hazard eyesore — at least , anything that officially had his name attached to it .
“ There is a balance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest and especially public safety , and I always put public safety first while respecting constitutional rights , ” the mayor said Tuesday during a media briefing .
“ That decision will be made by the NYPD as things emerge .
We ’ re looking at the situation every day.
” According to WNBC-TV , n the early hours of Wednesday morning , things had apparently emerged enough that the NYPD , clad in riot gear , looked at the situation and decided it was time to clear the place out .
Welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s guilty , Trapp bears sole responsibility for everything he ’ s alleged to have done , the same way that lug-nut looseners and police cruiser firebombers bear sole responsibility for the actions they ’ ve to have done .
De Blasio and those around him don ’ t escape the responsibility of their own here , though .
They ’ ve appeased and enabled a rabblement set against their own police department while , at the same time , asking that police department to control that rabblement when things get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wonder that massive numbers of NYPD officers are filing for retirement .
Why would you deal with protesters who want to cut your brake lines at the same time City Hall is making it clear they ’ ve don ’ t have your back ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In what’s easily the most repulsive example of anti-police sentiment in New York City — and in a category with much competition — a left-wing protester is under arrest after he was allegedly caught on video trying to cut the brakes on a New York Police Department car, the New York Daily News reports.
Jeremy Trapp, 24, had taken part in the Occupy City Hall protests — a mini-CHOP encampment that had been set up in the backyard of Gracie Mansion demanding the defunding of the NYPD. Apparently, that wasn’t yielding results fast enough for him.
So, according to a police detective who said he caught Trapp in the act, he was found underneath an NYPD van on Friday. They stopped him before he got in the van, and they took a pair of scissors from him.
“A senior police official says a mechanic confirmed the brake line damage that would have prevented the van from coming to a stop,” WNBC-TV reported.
Well, that is, if he cut the right wire.
According to the Daily News, Trapp wasn’t exactly an expert on how to potentially injure and/or kill police officers; authorities said he ended up cutting the wire that measures the speed of the wheels, not the one that would have disabled the brakes.
That said, police said he intended to cut the brakes, and that means he’s going to be facing a whole host of charges — specifically, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, auto stripping and obstructing governmental administration.
The 24-year-old was released without bail (of course) and won’t be back in court until December.
Does Bill de Blasio need to support his city's police officers? Yes No
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This isn’t the only auto tampering that the NYPD has faced, mind you. In June, Police Benevolent Association head Pat Lynch warned the union’s 24,000 members that lug nuts were being loosened on the personal vehicles of police officers, according to the New York Post.
In a message to members, Lynch said the lug-nut loosening was a “clear act of sabotage” and that officers should “carefully inspect both Department vehicles and their personal vehicles for any potential sabotage. Any sabotage or vandalism MUST be reported to command supervisors immediately upon discovery. Stationhouse security MUST be given the highest priority at all times and at all NYPD facilities.”
And then there was the vacant NYPD cruiser that was firebombed with a Molotov cocktail — allegedly by a human rights lawyer, Urooj Rahman. If that case wasn’t strange enough already, Rahman ended up being bailed out by a former Obama administration official, Salmah Rizvi.
Those were in the early days of the recent spate of protests, however.
The Occupy City Hall contingent features the ultras of the movement. They’re not quite hangers-on, since there are still plenty of demonstrations and encampments. However, they’re the sort of leftists who thought Mayor Bill de Blasio wasn’t draining enough money from the NYPD, having only chopped $1 billion from the department’s budget.
So, they brought their tents out to Gracie Mansion, set up camp and set up their own autonomous zone — although, this being New York City and property sizes being what they are, it was quite a bit smaller than its counterpart in Seattle. Similarly, the encampment changed its name, shifting from “Occupy City Hall” to “Abolition Park.”
According to NY1, de Blasio was loath to do anything about the graffiti-laden health-hazard eyesore — at least, anything that officially had his name attached to it.
“There is a balance we always strike between the right to protest and especially public safety, and I always put public safety first while respecting constitutional rights,” the mayor said Tuesday during a media briefing. “That decision will be made by the NYPD as things emerge. We’re looking at the situation every day.”
According to WNBC-TV, n the early hours of Wednesday morning, things had apparently emerged enough that the NYPD, clad in riot gear, looked at the situation and decided it was time to clear the place out.
NYPD breaks up occupy zone at city hall after a month. Situation still dicey. pic.twitter.com/PIh5ILeZm7 — Rob Schmitt (@SchmittNYC) July 22, 2020
NYPD is now attacking the City Hall occupancy protest. Tearing down the community service tents. #nycprotest pic.twitter.com/Ia4HpxhvSy — Max Hornig (@swarmofgaybees) July 22, 2020
Welcome to New York.
Obviously, if he’s guilty, Trapp bears sole responsibility for everything he’s alleged to have done, the same way that lug-nut looseners and police cruiser firebombers bear sole responsibility for the actions they’ve to have done.
De Blasio and those around him don’t escape the responsibility of their own here, though.
They’ve appeased and enabled a rabblement set against their own police department while, at the same time, asking that police department to control that rabblement when things get too heavy.
It’s little wonder that massive numbers of NYPD officers are filing for retirement. Why would you deal with protesters who want to cut your brake lines at the same time City Hall is making it clear they’ve don’t have your back?
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westernjournal--2020-07-22--Teen Girl With AK-47 Is the Last Thing Taliban Fighters See After Picking Wrong Family To Attack

Local officials in Afghanistan say a 16-year-old girl killed three Taliban insurgents with an AK-47 during an attack on her village last week , according to multiple media accounts .
According to the U.K .
Guardian , Qamar Gul ’ s parents were killed Friday when the group of roughly 40 fighters invaded the village of Geriveh , located in central Ghor province .
During the raid , Taliban fighters knocked on the door of the house where Gul lived with her parents and 12-year-old brother .
“ The insurgents came to their doorstep and her mother went to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aber , spokesman for the provincial governor of Ghor , told the Guardian .
“ When she saw that they were armed , she refused to open the door.
” TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man Upon her refusal to open the door , the insurgents shot her dead , then entered the house and shot Gul ’ s father dead , too .
Aber told the Guardian that Gul took her father ’ s weapon and fought back .
“ Qamar Gul , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AK-47 gun the family had and first shot dead the two Taliban fighters who killed her parents , and then injured a few others , ” local police chief Habiburahman Malekzada said , according to AFP .
The Guardian would later report that three were killed .
Her father was the village chief and a supporter of the government , Malekzada told reporters .
With her brother ’ s help , she managed to hold off Taliban insurgents during a one-hour gunfight after they returned to her home to finish their murderous task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villagers came to their aid and drive the Taliban off .
The 16-year-old has since become a hero on social media : RELATED : Rep. Schiff 's Anti-Trump Crusade Backfires , Report Says His Staff Knew of Russian Bounty Plan Months Ago She ’ s also been praised by the Afghan government ; the cabinet commended her act during a meeting and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has invited Gul and her brother to visit the presidential palace .
“ When I saw them that night , they were shocked but were feeling honored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , according to the Guardian .
Gul and her brother have since been moved to relative safety in the provincial capital of Ghor .
“ They were in shock in the first two days and could not talk too much , but are in a good condition now , ” Aber said , according to the Guardian .
The siblings have few other relatives , other than a half-brother who also lives in their village , he told the newspaper .
One social media commenter may have summed it up best : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but your revenge will give you relative peace.
” Celebrating what Qamar Gul did is difficult when you consider her parents were killed in this attack .
If anything , it ’ s an object lesson of why the Taliban — and those willing to use unregenerate violence to bring about a theocratic despotism — need to be extirpated from the face of the planet .
However , there is some solace to be found in the fact Gul managed to remove three of these pests and hold off Taliban fighters until backup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right hands save lives .
Most of us will never live in a place like Geriveh or face a situation like the Gul family did , thank God .
However , we can all aim to raise daughters as heroic as Qamar Gul , even if we pray they never have to be that kind of hero .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Local officials in Afghanistan say a 16-year-old girl killed three Taliban insurgents with an AK-47 during an attack on her village last week, according to multiple media accounts.
According to the U.K. Guardian, Qamar Gul’s parents were killed Friday when the group of roughly 40 fighters invaded the village of Geriveh, located in central Ghor province.
During the raid, Taliban fighters knocked on the door of the house where Gul lived with her parents and 12-year-old brother.
“The insurgents came to their doorstep and her mother went to see who was knocking,” Mohamed Aref Aber, spokesman for the provincial governor of Ghor, told the Guardian.
“When she saw that they were armed, she refused to open the door.”
Upon her refusal to open the door, the insurgents shot her dead, then entered the house and shot Gul’s father dead, too.
Aber told the Guardian that Gul took her father’s weapon and fought back.
“Qamar Gul, who was inside the house, took an AK-47 gun the family had and first shot dead the two Taliban fighters who killed her parents, and then injured a few others,” local police chief Habiburahman Malekzada said, according to AFP. The Guardian would later report that three were killed.
Her father was the village chief and a supporter of the government, Malekzada told reporters.
Do you think this girl is a hero? Yes No
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Gul’s heroism didn’t end there.
With her brother’s help, she managed to hold off Taliban insurgents during a one-hour gunfight after they returned to her home to finish their murderous task.
Eventually, pro-government forces and other villagers came to their aid and drive the Taliban off.
The 16-year-old has since become a hero on social media:
Suffering exists only because weakness exists~Ninja Assassin Qamar Gul and her 12-year-old brother killed two #Taliban fighters after their father and two other were killed by #Taliban at their village in Taywarah district of #Ghor province. pic.twitter.com/O2ABABVIAE — Amaan (@amaanbali) July 20, 2020
Allah save us from a day like this.
But if ever that day comes, I pray Allah make my daughters as strong as #QamarGul. https://t.co/d5App1pbkL — Zachy Fernandez (@ZachyFernandez) July 21, 2020
She’s also been praised by the Afghan government; the cabinet commended her act during a meeting and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has invited Gul and her brother to visit the presidential palace.
“When I saw them that night, they were shocked but were feeling honored,” district governor Mohammad Rafiq Alam said, according to the Guardian.
Gul and her brother have since been moved to relative safety in the provincial capital of Ghor.
“They were in shock in the first two days and could not talk too much, but are in a good condition now,” Aber said, according to the Guardian.
The siblings have few other relatives, other than a half-brother who also lives in their village, he told the newspaper.
One social media commenter may have summed it up best:
“We know parents are irreplaceable, but your revenge will give you relative peace.”
Celebrating what Qamar Gul did is difficult when you consider her parents were killed in this attack. If anything, it’s an object lesson of why the Taliban — and those willing to use unregenerate violence to bring about a theocratic despotism — need to be extirpated from the face of the planet.
However, there is some solace to be found in the fact Gul managed to remove three of these pests and hold off Taliban fighters until backup arrived — indisputable proof that guns in the right hands save lives.
Most of us will never live in a place like Geriveh or face a situation like the Gul family did, thank God. However, we can all aim to raise daughters as heroic as Qamar Gul, even if we pray they never have to be that kind of hero.
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westernjournal--2020-07-22--Watch: Children Falling from Flaming French Apartment Caught by Heroes 30 Feet Below

Two young children escaped from a blazing apartment in the southeastern French city of Grenoble by dropping 33 feet from a window and being caught by members of the public .
French media said the two brothers were unharmed by the fall but might have suffered smoke inhalation .
Footage of Tuesday ’ s dramatic rescue showed one of the brothers being dropped from at least three stories up as flames engulfed a balcony and black smoke billowed out of windows of the building .
As onlookers screamed , the older brother hung out of the apartment window and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people gathered below .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man The boys were hospitalized along with 17 of the building ’ s residents , according to French media .
Four of the people who caught the boys were also hospitalized .
Athoumani Walid , 25 , a student in Grenoble , broke one of his wrists as he helped catch the children .
He heard screams and went out to investigate after seeing the fire from his nearby apartment .
“ We didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walked up ” to the burning apartment , Walid told The Associated Press on Wednesday .
“ We wanted to break the door but it wasn ’ t possible.
” So they walked back downstairs and shouted for the boys to jump into their arms .
Although he was initially afraid for the boys , “ when they jumped , fear disappeared , what mattered was to catch ” them , he said .
RELATED : Two Young Men Rush To Save Man Trapped by Fire as Others Allegedly Stand There Recording Walid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s perceptions of the Villeneuve neighborhood of Grenoble where the events happened , and where there is a large immigrant population .
“ We are told it ’ s a ‘ sensitive ’ neighborhood , ” Walid said , “ but yesterday we showed we are here for each other , and we save each other.
” Eric Piolle , the Grenoble mayor , congratulated the Villeneuve residents on the rescue , which he said underscored the city ’ s “ tradition of solidarity and mutual help.
” We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

Two young children escaped from a blazing apartment in the southeastern French city of Grenoble by dropping 33 feet from a window and being caught by members of the public.
French media said the two brothers were unharmed by the fall but might have suffered smoke inhalation.
Footage of Tuesday’s dramatic rescue showed one of the brothers being dropped from at least three stories up as flames engulfed a balcony and black smoke billowed out of windows of the building.
As onlookers screamed, the older brother hung out of the apartment window and then let himself fall into the arms of people gathered below.
Alors qu’un #incendie s’était déclenché dans leur appartement, à #Grenoble ??, deux enfants pris au piège ont sauté du 3ème étage. Ils ont été miraculeusement sauvés par des habitants du quartier, qui les ont réceptionnés au pied de l’immeuble pic.twitter.com/DRCVQCG9KX — FRANCE 24 Français (@France24_fr) July 22, 2020
The boys were hospitalized along with 17 of the building’s residents, according to French media. Four of the people who caught the boys were also hospitalized.
Athoumani Walid, 25, a student in Grenoble, broke one of his wrists as he helped catch the children.
He heard screams and went out to investigate after seeing the fire from his nearby apartment.
“We didn’t know what to do, but we walked up” to the burning apartment, Walid told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
“We wanted to break the door but it wasn’t possible.” So they walked back downstairs and shouted for the boys to jump into their arms.
Incendie à Grenoble : «Sans nous, ces enfants seraient morts»
➡ Athoumani Walid est l’un des habitants du quartier de La Villeneuve qui ont rattrapé deux enfants prisonniers d’un appartement en flammes au 3e étage. Il raconte ce sauvetage miraculeux > https://t.co/LGJa72pV4F pic.twitter.com/DeuAG4fLcO — Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) July 22, 2020
Although he was initially afraid for the boys, “when they jumped, fear disappeared, what mattered was to catch” them, he said.
Walid hopes the rescue will change people’s perceptions of the Villeneuve neighborhood of Grenoble where the events happened, and where there is a large immigrant population.
“We are told it’s a ‘sensitive’ neighborhood,” Walid said, “but yesterday we showed we are here for each other, and we save each other.”
Eric Piolle, the Grenoble mayor, congratulated the Villeneuve residents on the rescue, which he said underscored the city’s “tradition of solidarity and mutual help.”
[jwplayer UAsd1E7P]
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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westernjournal--2020-07-22--US Signs Deal To Receive Mass Quantity of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Within Months

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday that the U.S. has signed a contract with Pfizer for delivery in December of the first 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is working to develop .
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement , Azar said .
“ Now those would , of course , have to be safe and effective ” and be approved by the Food and Drug Administration , Azar said during an appearance on Fox News .
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly .
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program , under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021 , according to HHS .
Under the initiative , the government will speed development and buy vaccines — before they are deemed safe and effective — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand and quickly distributed once the FDA approves or authorizes its emergency use .
Pfizer and BioNTech said the U.S. will pay $ 1.95 billion upon receipt of the first 100 million doses , following FDA authorization or approval .
Azar said the contract with Pfizer and BioNTech brings to five the number of potential coronavirus vaccines that are under development .
Trump said Tuesday at a briefing that “ the vaccines are coming , and they ’ re coming a lot sooner than anyone thought possible , by years.
” But other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands on a vaccine for COVID-19 , which has killed more than 617,000 people , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
Nearly 4 million Americans have been infected by the new coronavirus and at least 142,000 have died from COVID-19 , the disease it causes , according to Johns Hopkins .
Britain announced Monday it had secured access to another 90 million experimental COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and others .
But some campaigners warned this move could worsen a global scramble by rich countries to hoard the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
RELATED : Largest Antibody Study to Date Suggests Virus Infection Numbers Are Much Higher Than Reported Nearly two dozen potential vaccines are in various stages of human testing worldwide .
A handful have entered necessary late-stage testing to prove effectiveness .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Wednesday that the U.S. has signed a contract with Pfizer for delivery in December of the first 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine the pharmaceutical company is working to develop.
The U.S. could buy another 500 million doses under the agreement, Azar said.
“Now those would, of course, have to be safe and effective” and be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Azar said during an appearance on Fox News.
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced separately that the agreement is with HHS and the Defense Department for a vaccine candidate the companies are developing jointly.
The agreement is part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, under which multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed simultaneously.
The program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021, according to HHS.
Under the initiative, the government will speed development and buy vaccines — before they are deemed safe and effective — so that the medication can be in hand and quickly distributed once the FDA approves or authorizes its emergency use.
Pfizer and BioNTech said the U.S. will pay $1.95 billion upon receipt of the first 100 million doses, following FDA authorization or approval.
Azar said the contract with Pfizer and BioNTech brings to five the number of potential coronavirus vaccines that are under development.
Do you think a COVID-19 vaccine will be available by the end of the year? 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: 67% (55 Votes) No: 33% (27 Votes)
Trump said Tuesday at a briefing that “the vaccines are coming, and they’re coming a lot sooner than anyone thought possible, by years.”
But other countries are also scrambling to get their hands on a vaccine for COVID-19, which has killed more than 617,000 people, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Nearly 4 million Americans have been infected by the new coronavirus and at least 142,000 have died from COVID-19, the disease it causes, according to Johns Hopkins.
Britain announced Monday it had secured access to another 90 million experimental COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and others.
But some campaigners warned this move could worsen a global scramble by rich countries to hoard the world’s limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
Nearly two dozen potential vaccines are in various stages of human testing worldwide.
A handful have entered necessary late-stage testing to prove effectiveness.
[jwplayer jjQQVZiQ]
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.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-07-22--‘What Are We Living Here For?’ Mass Exodus of New Yorkers Flee City for Greener Pastures

If the coronavirus outbreak roars back in New York City , Anil and Joyce Lilly will not be sheltering again in their Bronx apartment .
They just bought a house an hour north in the Hudson Valley .
“ We need more elbow room , ” said Joyce Lilly , explaining their move to Washingtonville , New York .
“ Because we were locked into the apartment for three months , a solid three months , I feel like I ’ m getting out of prison and I want to run as far away as possible.
” New Yorkers anxious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic are fueling a boom in home sales and rentals around the picturesque towns and wooded hills to the north .
Real estate brokers and agents describe a red-hot market recently , with many house hunters able to work from home .
“ There has been a big uptick from Manhattan people , no doubt about that , ” said Steven Domber , president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hudson Valley Properties .
“ Number one , it ’ s cabin fever , which is wanting to get out of an apartment and having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a lockdown again.
” The Catskill Mountains and bucolic stretches of the valley beyond the city ’ s northern suburbs have been longtime getaways for city residents .
But agents say sales and rental activity is far above normal .
Domber ’ s sales were up almost a third year over year in June .
Builder Chuck Petersheim said he took eight orders in a month , compared to his usual one and a half a month .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no danger of hollowing out any time soon , though .
The upstate wave looks more like a trickle in a city of 8.3 million .
With new homes in the region running from under $ 200,000 to more than $ 1 million , they are an escape hatch many can not afford .
But the spike in sales and long-term rentals shows how New Yorkers who endured the worst of the pandemic see the city as less hospitable .
“ We just feel that the city will not be the city that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cohen , who rented a home in Rhinebeck with her husband after sheltering in their Upper East Side apartment .
“ For six weeks in our two-bedroom apartment , all we talked about was without a vaccine , we will never go on the subway again , we ’ d be hesitant to go on a bus again , we won ’ t go to the movies .
we won ’ t go to the theater … So what do we have for the next two years in Manhattan ?
And we said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for ?
’ ” County-level home sales figures from May still show a dip compared to last year , but that reflects the one- to two-month lag between offers being accepted and closings .
Agents describe recent weeks of bidding wars over homes that had been languishing on the market and new listings being snapped up fast by buyers with cash .
Realtor John Murphy said some homes are selling $ 100,000 or more above the asking prices .
“ I think this was the event that got people off the fence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we also got people who were thinking about buying either a first or second home up here to actually pull the trigger.
” Home hunters Tony Speciale and Jerry Marsini learned about competition recently when they walked through the front door of a home in Kingston just as their agent got a message from the seller about a cash offer from someone else .
“ If we find a house that we ’ re interested in , sitting on it more than a few days doesn ’ t seem like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Manhattan residents , who had been looking upstate even before the pandemic , are in the process of buying a house in Kingston .
The Hudson Valley is not the only region outside New York City experiencing a bump .
Along the Jersey Shore , there are far more buyers than homes in Monmouth and Ocean counties .
Homes are selling above asking price and “ once a thing comes on the market everyone is jumping on it , ” said Wendy Smith , president of Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preservation fund financed by a real estate transfer tax in the five East End towns was up 39 percent over the first half of the year , according to state Assemblyman Fred Thiele .
Extremely low mortgage rates are helping the market , as are more expansive work-from-home policies ushered in with the pandemic .
Joyce Lilly is an acupuncturist , but she said her husband ’ s ability to work remotely as an IT manager was the deciding factor in the move from Riverdale in the Bronx on Tuesday , which included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog .
For music and video producer Erik Braund , moving his family of four from the Upper East Side to Saugerties has been a learning curve about how to keep his production company running some 100 miles north of his Brooklyn studio .
They pounced on a fixer-upper at the start of the lockdown , but are keeping their apartment .
They might head back , but not the way things are now .
“ Whenever some sort of rapid testing becomes available , we ’ re going to reassess .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single day , ” he said .
“ So grateful that we were able to pull this off.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If the coronavirus outbreak roars back in New York City, Anil and Joyce Lilly will not be sheltering again in their Bronx apartment. They just bought a house an hour north in the Hudson Valley.
“We need more elbow room,” said Joyce Lilly, explaining their move to Washingtonville, New York. “Because we were locked into the apartment for three months, a solid three months, I feel like I’m getting out of prison and I want to run as far away as possible.”
New Yorkers anxious after weathering the worst of the coronavirus pandemic are fueling a boom in home sales and rentals around the picturesque towns and wooded hills to the north. Real estate brokers and agents describe a red-hot market recently, with many house hunters able to work from home.
“There has been a big uptick from Manhattan people, no doubt about that,” said Steven Domber, president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hudson Valley Properties. “Number one, it’s cabin fever, which is wanting to get out of an apartment and having some land if, God forbid, there’s a lockdown again.”
The Catskill Mountains and bucolic stretches of the valley beyond the city’s northern suburbs have been longtime getaways for city residents. But agents say sales and rental activity is far above normal. Domber’s sales were up almost a third year over year in June. Builder Chuck Petersheim said he took eight orders in a month, compared to his usual one and a half a month.
New York City is in no danger of hollowing out any time soon, though. The upstate wave looks more like a trickle in a city of 8.3 million. With new homes in the region running from under $200,000 to more than $1 million, they are an escape hatch many cannot afford. But the spike in sales and long-term rentals shows how New Yorkers who endured the worst of the pandemic see the city as less hospitable.
“We just feel that the city will not be the city that we lived in,” said Susan Cohen, who rented a home in Rhinebeck with her husband after sheltering in their Upper East Side apartment.
“For six weeks in our two-bedroom apartment, all we talked about was without a vaccine, we will never go on the subway again, we’d be hesitant to go on a bus again, we won’t go to the movies. we won’t go to the theater … So what do we have for the next two years in Manhattan? And we said, ‘What are we living here for?’”
County-level home sales figures from May still show a dip compared to last year, but that reflects the one- to two-month lag between offers being accepted and closings. Agents describe recent weeks of bidding wars over homes that had been languishing on the market and new listings being snapped up fast by buyers with cash. Realtor John Murphy said some homes are selling $100,000 or more above the asking prices.
Do you think the coronavirus crisis will have a lasting impact on U.S. cities? 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: 88% (45 Votes) No: 12% (6 Votes)
“I think this was the event that got people off the fence,” said broker Gary DiMauro. “I think we also got people who were thinking about buying either a first or second home up here to actually pull the trigger.”
Home hunters Tony Speciale and Jerry Marsini learned about competition recently when they walked through the front door of a home in Kingston just as their agent got a message from the seller about a cash offer from someone else.
“If we find a house that we’re interested in, sitting on it more than a few days doesn’t seem like a good idea,” Speciale said.
The Manhattan residents, who had been looking upstate even before the pandemic, are in the process of buying a house in Kingston.
The Hudson Valley is not the only region outside New York City experiencing a bump.
Along the Jersey Shore, there are far more buyers than homes in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Homes are selling above asking price and “once a thing comes on the market everyone is jumping on it,” said Wendy Smith, president of Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors. On the tip of Long Island, a preservation fund financed by a real estate transfer tax in the five East End towns was up 39 percent over the first half of the year, according to state Assemblyman Fred Thiele.
Extremely low mortgage rates are helping the market, as are more expansive work-from-home policies ushered in with the pandemic. Joyce Lilly is an acupuncturist, but she said her husband’s ability to work remotely as an IT manager was the deciding factor in the move from Riverdale in the Bronx on Tuesday, which included his daughter, a granddaughter and a dog.
For music and video producer Erik Braund, moving his family of four from the Upper East Side to Saugerties has been a learning curve about how to keep his production company running some 100 miles north of his Brooklyn studio. They pounced on a fixer-upper at the start of the lockdown, but are keeping their apartment.
They might head back, but not the way things are now.
“Whenever some sort of rapid testing becomes available, we’re going to reassess. We’re basically reassessing our life every single day,” he said. “So grateful that we were able to pull this off.”
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.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-07-24--New York Times Announces Podcast Blaming ‘Nice White Parents’ for Downfall of Public Schools

White parents matter , or so The New York Times proclaims as it announces a new series of podcasts critically examining the role of white parents in the widespread failure of public education .
The podcasts are titled “ Nice White Parents ” and are the work of Serial Productions .
Serial recently was bought by the Times , according to Deadline .
The limited scope of the podcasts — which will debut July 30 — is shown in a promo for the series , in which it says “ Nice White Parents ” is “ about the 60-year relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the block.
” That would put the starting date for the series at 1960 , or just after the dawn of the civil rights movement .
The Times gets to the role of white parents obliquely by first noting that “ We know that American public schools do not guarantee each child an equal education — two decades of school reform initiatives have not changed that .
But when we look at how our schools are failing , we usually focus on who they ’ re failing : Black and brown kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t they performing better ?
Why aren ’ t they achieving more ?
” TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man Then comes the zinger .
“ Those are not the right questions .
If you want to understand what ’ s wrong with our public education system , you have to look at what is arguably the most powerful force in our schools : White parents.
” The blurb promoting the podcasts stops short of an indictment , but an audio trailer narrated by Chana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cites a 1963 episode in which white parents in New York City wanted a new school built so that students of all races could attend .
Joffe-Walt noted that after a massive fight to build the school where white parents wanted it , “ none of them sent their kids there.
” The audio quotes what presumably is a parent saying she did not want to “ sacrifice ” her children by sending them there .
Other parents quoted in the audio file noted there was a gap between what ideas they said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually do .
“ For years I ’ ve been looking for an answer to the question : Why don ’ t public schools work better ?
What is getting in the way of giving each child an equal opportunity , an equal education ?
” Joffe-Walt said .
“ But now , I think I have been looking in the wrong places for what ’ s broken in our schools .
I think you can ’ t understand what ’ s broken if you don ’ t look here at one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : white parents , ” she said .
The point has been made before .
A study that came out in February from the group Making Caring Common , housed at Harvard University , said that although parents value integration in theory , when picking schools for their own children , they value school quality and safety over racial and economic balance , according to U.S. News & World Report .
“ In some ideal sense , the great majority of parents do want to send their kids to integrated schools , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
“ But when parents are faced with choices that they feel pit these priorities , they tend to choose the things that they believe are most important for the success of their own children.
” RELATED : North Carolina Teachers Union Holds Kids ' Education Hostage for Leftist Agenda : 'Our Schools , ' 'Our Say ! '
Nikole Hannah-Jones , who collaborated with Joffe-Walt in a project the Times said laid the foundation for “ Nice White Parents , ” accused white families of promoting inequality in an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood schools if their neighborhood school is white , ” she said .
“ If their neighborhood school is black , they want choice.
” Hannah-Jones said the goal of the public school system is not to provide an equal education for all students .
“ We have a system where white people control the outcomes , and the outcome that most white Americans want is segregation , ” she said .
“ Our public schools are not broken but are operating as designed .
Our public schools were set up to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So that ’ s what they do , ” she said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

White parents matter, or so The New York Times proclaims as it announces a new series of podcasts critically examining the role of white parents in the widespread failure of public education.
The podcasts are titled “Nice White Parents” and are the work of Serial Productions. Serial recently was bought by The Times, according to Deadline.
The limited scope of the podcasts — which will debut July 30 — is shown in a promo for the series, in which it says “Nice White Parents” is “about the 60-year relationship between white parents and the public school down the block.”
That would put the starting date for the series at 1960, or just after the dawn of the civil rights movement.
The Times gets to the role of white parents obliquely by first noting that “We know that American public schools do not guarantee each child an equal education — two decades of school reform initiatives have not changed that. But when we look at how our schools are failing, we usually focus on who they’re failing: Black and brown kids. We ask: Why aren’t they performing better? Why aren’t they achieving more?”
Then comes the zinger.
“Those are not the right questions. If you want to understand what’s wrong with our public education system, you have to look at what is arguably the most powerful force in our schools: White parents.”
The blurb promoting the podcasts stops short of an indictment, but an audio trailer narrated by Chana Joffe-Walt, who assembled the podcasts, cites a 1963 episode in which white parents in New York City wanted a new school built so that students of all races could attend.
Joffe-Walt noted that after a massive fight to build the school where white parents wanted it, “none of them sent their kids there.”
Does this sound like pure racism to you? 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: 94% (1789 Votes) No: 6% (105 Votes)
The audio quotes what presumably is a parent saying she did not want to “sacrifice” her children by sending them there. Other parents quoted in the audio file noted there was a gap between what ideas they said they would support and which ones they actually do.
“For years I’ve been looking for an answer to the question: Why don’t public schools work better? What is getting in the way of giving each child an equal opportunity, an equal education?” Joffe-Walt said.
“But now, I think I have been looking in the wrong places for what’s broken in our schools. I think you can’t understand what’s broken if you don’t look here at one of the most powerful forces shaping public education: white parents,” she said.
The point has been made before. A study that came out in February from the group Making Caring Common, housed at Harvard University, said that although parents value integration in theory, when picking schools for their own children, they value school quality and safety over racial and economic balance, according to U.S. News & World Report.
“In some ideal sense, the great majority of parents do want to send their kids to integrated schools,” says Eric Torres, co-author of the report. “But when parents are faced with choices that they feel pit these priorities, they tend to choose the things that they believe are most important for the success of their own children.”
Nikole Hannah-Jones, who collaborated with Joffe-Walt in a project The Times said laid the foundation for “Nice White Parents,” accused white families of promoting inequality in an interview with The Atlantic.
“White communities want neighborhood schools if their neighborhood school is white,” she said. “If their neighborhood school is black, they want choice.”
Hannah-Jones said the goal of the public school system is not to provide an equal education for all students.
“We have a system where white people control the outcomes, and the outcome that most white Americans want is segregation,” she said.
“Our public schools are not broken but are operating as designed. Our public schools were set up to provide unequal, inadequate education for black children. So that’s what they do,” she said.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-07-24--GOP Rep. Gohmert Introduces Resolution To Ban Democratic Party

Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas introduced a resolution on Thursday to ban the Democratic Party or any other political party that supported slavery .
Gohmert ’ s resolution also calls on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to have all items removed from the House of Representatives wing of the U.S. Capitol or the connected House office buildings that name any political party or organization that supported slavery .
The move came a day after a measure supported by Pelosi regarding Confederate statues passed the House .
That bill calls for the removal from the Capitol statues of those who backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Gohmert explained in a statement regarding his resolution that “ a great portion of the history of the Democratic Party is filled with racism and hatred.
” “ Since people are demanding we rid ourselves of the entities , symbols , and reminders of the repugnant aspects of our past , then the time has come for Democrats to acknowledge their party ’ s loathsome and bigoted past , and consider changing their party name to something that isn ’ t so blatantly and offensively tied to slavery , Jim Crow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klan , ” he said .
TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man The conservative stalwart went on to argue that in light of calls to rename schools , military bases and city streets , the Democratic Party should follow suit .
“ Whether it be supporting the most vile forms of racism or actively working against Civil Rights legislation , Democrats in this country perpetuated these abhorrent forms of discrimination and violence practically since their party ’ s inception , ” Gohmert said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist past of the Democratic Party , I would suggest they change their name .
That is the standard to which they are holding everyone else , so the name change needs to occur , ” he concluded .
In his resolution , Gohmert pointed out that the Democratic platform in the 1840s and ’ 50s , before the outbreak of the Civil War , explicitly called for Congress not to interfere with the institution of slavery and warned to do so would “ endanger the stability and permanency of the Union.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress did not offer one vote in support of the post-Civil War 14th Amendment , guaranteeing the newly freed slaves equal protection of the law , and the 15th Amendment , granting them the right to vote .
Gohmert noted the Democratic President Woodrow Wilson introduced a segregation policy in the U.S. government in 1912 .
Additionally , it was Democrats who waged a 75-day filibuster in the Senate in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1964 .
Republicans supported that legislation in higher percentages than Democrats in both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dem Houston Mayor Bans GOP Convention in Same City That Hosted Floyd Funeral In contrast to the Democratic Party , the Republican Party was founded to halt the growth of slavery in the 1850s .
It is no wonder abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass was a staunch Republican .
Democratic politicians in the Southern states responded to blacks Americans ’ new freedoms by passing Jim Crow , segregationist laws starting in the late 1800s .
They also populated the ranks of the Ku Klux Klan , formed to terrorize African-Americans and keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is ancient history , the nation ’ s longest-serving senator , Democrat Robert Byrd , led a Ku Klux Klan chapter in his native West Virginia when he was a young man .
When the former Senate majority leader died in 2010 , Hillary Clinton lauded him as her “ mentor ” and “ the heart ” of the Senate .
Meanwhile , in the years since the Civil War , Republicans stayed true to their roots of supporting the rights of African-Americans .
President Ulysses Grant , a Republican , sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect African-Americans from Klan and other white supremacist-inspired violence .
He also championed the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870 guaranteeing black Americans the right to vote as a means to help them secure political power .
Decades later , it was Republican President Dwight Eisenhower who signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law , the first such legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1875 under Grant .
Eisenhower also sent the 101st Airborne Division into Little Rock , Arkansas , to enforce the Supreme Court ’ s ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which mandated integrating public schools .
By way of comparison , Joe Biden in the 1970s opposed student busing programs , which was a primary means used to desegregate public schools .
Gohmert ’ s right .
The Democrats have a troubling record on race , and it ’ s time for a reckoning .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas introduced a resolution on Thursday to ban the Democratic Party or any other political party that supported slavery.
Gohmert’s resolution also calls on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to have all items removed from the House of Representatives wing of the U.S. Capitol or the connected House office buildings that name any political party or organization that supported slavery.
The move came a day after a measure supported by Pelosi regarding Confederate statues passed the House. That bill calls for the removal from the Capitol statues of those who backed the Confederate States of America, Politico reported.
Gohmert explained in a statement regarding his resolution that “a great portion of the history of the Democratic Party is filled with racism and hatred.”
“Since people are demanding we rid ourselves of the entities, symbols, and reminders of the repugnant aspects of our past, then the time has come for Democrats to acknowledge their party’s loathsome and bigoted past, and consider changing their party name to something that isn’t so blatantly and offensively tied to slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination, and the Ku Klux Klan,” he said.
The conservative stalwart went on to argue that in light of calls to rename schools, military bases and city streets, the Democratic Party should follow suit.
“Whether it be supporting the most vile forms of racism or actively working against Civil Rights legislation, Democrats in this country perpetuated these abhorrent forms of discrimination and violence practically since their party’s inception,” Gohmert said.
“To avoid triggering innocent bystanders by the racist past of the Democratic Party, I would suggest they change their name. That is the standard to which they are holding everyone else, so the name change needs to occur,” he concluded.
Do you agree with Gohmert regarding the Democratic Party changing its name? Yes No
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In his resolution, Gohmert pointed out that the Democratic platform in the 1840s and ’50s, before the outbreak of the Civil War, explicitly called for Congress not to interfere with the institution of slavery and warned to do so would “endanger the stability and permanency of the Union.”
The document further highlighted that Democrats in Congress did not offer one vote in support of the post-Civil War 14th Amendment, guaranteeing the newly freed slaves equal protection of the law, and the 15th Amendment, granting them the right to vote.
Gohmert noted the Democratic President Woodrow Wilson introduced a segregation policy in the U.S. government in 1912.
Additionally, it was Democrats who waged a 75-day filibuster in the Senate in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Republicans supported that legislation in higher percentages than Democrats in both the Senate and the House.
In contrast to the Democratic Party, the Republican Party was founded to halt the growth of slavery in the 1850s.
The party’s first president, Abraham Lincoln, oversaw slavery’s demise.
It is no wonder abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass was a staunch Republican.
Democratic politicians in the Southern states responded to black Americans’ new freedoms by passing Jim Crow segregationist laws starting in the late 1800s.
They also populated the ranks of the Ku Klux Klan, formed to terrorize African-Americans and keep them in subjugation.
Lest one think this is ancient history, the nation’s longest-serving senator, Democrat Robert Byrd, led a Ku Klux Klan chapter in his native West Virginia when he was a young man.
When the former Senate majority leader died in 2010, Hillary Clinton lauded him as her “mentor” and “the heart” of the Senate.
Meanwhile, in the years since the Civil War, Republicans stayed true to their roots of supporting the rights of African-Americans.
President Ulysses Grant, a Republican, sent the Army into the Southern states to protect African-Americans from Klan and other white supremacist-inspired violence.
He also championed the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870 guaranteeing black Americans the right to vote as a means to help them secure political power.
Decades later, it was Republican President Dwight Eisenhower who signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law, the first such legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1875 under Grant.
Eisenhower also sent the 101st Airborne Division into Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which mandated integrating public schools.
By way of comparison, Joe Biden in the 1970s opposed student busing programs, which was a primary means used to desegregate public schools.
Gohmert’s right. The Democrats have a troubling record on race, and it’s time for a reckoning.
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westernjournal--2020-07-23--Experts: Safe To Assume We’re About To See Tensions with China Rise – And Soon

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged the world to unite against the Chinese Communist Party and push back against the challenge posed by the CCP to the world today .
He also contends that the U.S. has not taken the Chinese threat seriously in all these years .
Pompeo ’ s call to the rest of the world comes at a time when nations are realizing the deleterious impact of Chinese actions regarding the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
Creating a coalition of willing partners is as important for the U.S. as targeting the CCP , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic around the world .
U.S. rhetoric on the CCP in recent months has also been backed by its actions in the South China Sea in response to China ’ s aggressive moves in the last couple months .
Pompeo ’ s July 13 statement was the clearest indication of U.S. intentions yet .
“ The United States champions a free and open Indo-Pacific , ” he said .
“ Today we are strengthening U.S. policy in a vital , contentious part of that region — the South China Sea .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful , as is its campaign of bullying to control them.
” TRENDING : Maxine Waters Jumps Out of Car To Harass LA Deputies Detaining Man Earlier , the U.S. had sent its aircraft carriers to the SCS , which by itself was a significant development and a clear response to Chinese military exercises in the area .
The Trump administration has termed Chinese claims in the SCS “ completely unlawful ” in the clearest statement yet since China started building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep in international waters .
This signaling has also prompted other countries in the region to show their discomfort at Chinese actions in the region .
At the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Virtual Summit this year , Vietnam and the Philippines warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia due to China ’ s activities in the SCS .
ASEAN countries joined Vietnam in opposing China ’ s activities in the SCS on the basis of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea .
The Philippines and Vietnam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the waters near the Paracel Islands , a disputed part of the SCS , warning that it could create tension in the region and impact Beijing ’ s relationship with its neighbors .
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Chinese exercises in the disputed part of the SCS were “ highly provocative , ” while the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry lodged a diplomatic complaint against China that the exercises “ seriously violated ” Vietnam ’ s sovereignty .
Beyond the rhetoric in recent weeks , the Trump administration has also moved its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy aircraft carriers , the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz , moved for operations to the Bashi Channel , south of Taiwan , before heading to the SCS .
Another aircraft carrier , the USS Theodore Roosevelt , was also in the area .
The two U.S. carriers arrived in the region as China wrapped up its own naval exercises near a disputed island chain , an apparent synchronicity not lost on Beijing ’ s state media , which boasted of the country ’ s readiness to repel any U.S. attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also deployed two refueling tankers and six reconnaissance aircraft in the Bashi Channel .
Pompeo also referred to Chinese military exercises in the SCS as “ highly provocative ” and opposed Beijing ’ s “ unlawful claims.
” He subsequently said that in the SCS and elsewhere , all nations must support a free and open rules-based order that upholds the sovereign rights of all states regardless of size , power and military capabilities .
Separately , Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. warned China of “ the severest response ” if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spill over ” to their territory .
Significantly , Pompeo said “ the PRC ’ s predatory world view has no place in the 21st century ” adding that China had no legal grounds to unilaterally impose its will on the region .
Pompeo recalled the unanimous 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 UNCLOS , to which the PRC is a state party , that rejected the PRC ’ s maritime claims as having no basis in international law .
It is imperative for the world to remind China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Philippines , which brought the arbitration case , on almost all claims .
A report from the Chinese state-run Global Times called the U.S. carriers in the SCS “ nothing more than paper tigers on China ’ s doorsteps ” and said Beijing has more than enough firepower to defend its positions in the SCS .
The GT report claimed that “ [ t ] he South China Sea is fully within the grasp of the PLA , and any US aircraft carrier movement in the region is closely watched and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has a wide range of anti-aircraft carrier weapons like the DF-21D and DF-26 , which are both regarded as ‘ aircraft carrier killer ’ missiles.
” The war of words and actions in the SCS are seen to be gradually escalating and one can visualize greater U.S. deployments in the area in the near future .
Chinese rhetoric on U.S. actions in the SCS also shows the state of play within the CCP .
This is a direct result of the insecurity within the party to global reactions to China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for instance , the Chinese reaction in July to the Trump administration ’ s rejection of China ’ s broad territorial claims in the South China Sea when it termed the U.S. “ a troublemaker and a disruptor of regional stability.
” The irony is that China wants to be the kingmaker in the SCS and garner territory and resources by illegally occupying islands and reefs and settling them with military personnel and equipment .
The scale of this occupation has been unprecedented , perhaps equaled only by Chinese land-grab on the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uses a “ nine-dash line , ” sourcing it to maritime records from dynastic times , to claim about 90 percent of the waterway that others in the region value for its fisheries and undersea fossil fuel reserves .
The “ nine-dash line ” also cuts into some nations ’ exclusive economic zones .
It is in this context that one must view the recent statements by the U.S. secretary of state .
A little earlier , Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono , U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Australian Minister of Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministerial Meeting .
Their joint statement reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing security , stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region .
The ministers expressed concern over China ’ s imposition of a national security law upon Hong Kong and reaffirmed their opposition to the use of force or coercion that could alter the status quo and increase tensions in the East and South China Seas , including continued militarization of disputed features , dangerous or coercive use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia and efforts to disrupt other countries resource exploitation activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling on China to abide by the international arbitration court ruling .
Malaysia remains the only country to have declined to comment despite a recent Malaysian government report stating that incursions into Malaysia ’ s EEZ by Chinese ships had taken place 89 times between 2016 and 2019 .
However carefully nations craft their relationships with China , at the end of the day , the realization that China ’ s actions and intent are offensive in nature must bring home the fact that national interest demands a gathering of nations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CCP understand that its predatory tactics can no longer succeed .
That tensions in the SCS are likely to rise in the coming weeks and months can safely be assumed .
The question now is : Will China will be the first one to back down ?
The answer depends on two factors .
One , how much Xi Jinping is in need of mobilizing nationalism at home to fasten his grip on power ; and two , how united the concerned countries are and how determined they are to confront and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged the world to unite against the Chinese Communist Party and push back against the challenge posed by the CCP to the world today.
He also contends that the U.S. has not taken the Chinese threat seriously in all these years. Pompeo’s call to the rest of the world comes at a time when nations are realizing the deleterious impact of Chinese actions regarding the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Creating a coalition of willing partners is as important for the U.S. as targeting the CCP, the root cause of the spread of the pandemic around the world. U.S. rhetoric on the CCP in recent months has also been backed by its actions in the South China Sea in response to China’s aggressive moves in the last couple months.
Pompeo’s July 13 statement was the clearest indication of U.S. intentions yet.
“The United States champions a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said. “Today we are strengthening U.S. policy in a vital, contentious part of that region — the South China Sea. We are making clear: Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them.”
Earlier, the U.S. had sent its aircraft carriers to the SCS, which by itself was a significant development and a clear response to Chinese military exercises in the area. The Trump administration has termed Chinese claims in the SCS “completely unlawful” in the clearest statement yet since China started building military bases on remote reefs and islands deep in international waters.
This signaling has also prompted other countries in the region to show their discomfort at Chinese actions in the region.
At the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Virtual Summit this year, Vietnam and the Philippines warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia due to China’s activities in the SCS.
ASEAN countries joined Vietnam in opposing China’s activities in the SCS on the basis of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Do you think the Trump administration has done a good job being tough on China? 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: 95% (70 Votes) No: 5% (4 Votes)
The Philippines and Vietnam separately criticized China for conducting naval exercises in the waters near the Paracel Islands, a disputed part of the SCS, warning that it could create tension in the region and impact Beijing’s relationship with its neighbors.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Chinese exercises in the disputed part of the SCS were “highly provocative,” while the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry lodged a diplomatic complaint against China that the exercises “seriously violated” Vietnam’s sovereignty.
Beyond the rhetoric in recent weeks, the Trump administration has also moved its forces into the region.
Two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz, moved for operations to the Bashi Channel, south of Taiwan, before heading to the SCS. Another aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, was also in the area.
The two U.S. carriers arrived in the region as China wrapped up its own naval exercises near a disputed island chain, an apparent synchronicity not lost on Beijing’s state media, which boasted of the country’s readiness to repel any U.S. attempt to challenge its claims. The U.S. also deployed two refueling tankers and six reconnaissance aircraft in the Bashi Channel.
Pompeo also referred to Chinese military exercises in the SCS as “highly provocative” and opposed Beijing’s “unlawful claims.” He subsequently said that in the SCS and elsewhere, all nations must support a free and open rules-based order that upholds the sovereign rights of all states regardless of size, power and military capabilities.
America agrees with our Southeast Asian friends: The PRC’s military exercise in disputed waters of the South China Sea is highly provocative. We oppose Beijing’s unlawful claims. Period. https://t.co/i6TRac2WuJ — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 3, 2020
Separately, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. warned China of “the severest response” if its military exercises in the SCS “spill over” to their territory. Significantly, Pompeo said “the PRC’s predatory world view has no place in the 21st century” adding that China had no legal grounds to unilaterally impose its will on the region.
Pompeo recalled the unanimous 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 UNCLOS, to which the PRC is a state party, that rejected the PRC’s maritime claims as having no basis in international law. It is imperative for the world to remind China that the Tribunal “sided squarely” with the Philippines, which brought the arbitration case, on almost all claims.
A report from the Chinese state-run Global Times called the U.S. carriers in the SCS “nothing more than paper tigers on China’s doorsteps” and said Beijing has more than enough firepower to defend its positions in the SCS.
The GT report claimed that “[t]he South China Sea is fully within the grasp of the PLA, and any US aircraft carrier movement in the region is closely watched and taken aim at by the PLA, which has a wide range of anti-aircraft carrier weapons like the DF-21D and DF-26, which are both regarded as ‘aircraft carrier killer’ missiles.” The war of words and actions in the SCS are seen to be gradually escalating and one can visualize greater U.S. deployments in the area in the near future.
Chinese rhetoric on U.S. actions in the SCS also shows the state of play within the CCP. This is a direct result of the insecurity within the party to global reactions to China’s spread of the coronavirus.
Note, for instance, the Chinese reaction in July to the Trump administration’s rejection of China’s broad territorial claims in the South China Sea when it termed the U.S. “a troublemaker and a disruptor of regional stability.”
The irony is that China wants to be the kingmaker in the SCS and garner territory and resources by illegally occupying islands and reefs and settling them with military personnel and equipment. The scale of this occupation has been unprecedented, perhaps equaled only by Chinese land-grab on the border with India in the Himalayas.
China uses a “nine-dash line,” sourcing it to maritime records from dynastic times, to claim about 90 percent of the waterway that others in the region value for its fisheries and undersea fossil fuel reserves. The “nine-dash line” also cuts into some nations’ exclusive economic zones.
It is in this context that one must view the recent statements by the U.S. secretary of state. A little earlier, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Australian Minister of Defense Linda Reynolds had held a Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting.
Their joint statement reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The ministers expressed concern over China’s imposition of a national security law upon Hong Kong and reaffirmed their opposition to the use of force or coercion that could alter the status quo and increase tensions in the East and South China Seas, including continued militarization of disputed features, dangerous or coercive use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia and efforts to disrupt other countries resource exploitation activities.
Indonesia and the Philippines joined in, calling on China to abide by the international arbitration court ruling.
Malaysia remains the only country to have declined to comment despite a recent Malaysian government report stating that incursions into Malaysia’s EEZ by Chinese ships had taken place 89 times between 2016 and 2019.
However carefully nations craft their relationships with China, at the end of the day, the realization that China’s actions and intent are offensive in nature must bring home the fact that national interest demands a gathering of nations with the U.S. in the lead to make the CCP understand that its predatory tactics can no longer succeed.
That tensions in the SCS are likely to rise in the coming weeks and months can safely be assumed. The question now is: Will China will be the first one to back down?
The answer depends on two factors. One, how much Xi Jinping is in need of mobilizing nationalism at home to fasten his grip on power; and two, how united the concerned countries are and how determined they are to confront and counter China’s aggression.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Lianchao Han Summary Contact Lianchao Han is the vice president of Citizen Power Initiatives for China.