theblaze--2020-06-09--New docs reveal how Chinese propaganda has infiltrated American media

China Daily, a top Chinese propaganda outlet that operates in the United States, has paid American media companies nearly $20 million since December 2016 to disseminate propaganda directly from the Chinese Community Party, new government documents show.
Documents filed with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agent Registration Act show that China Daily paid news outlets for advertising space, which was used to push Chinese propaganda, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
From the Daily Caller:
[The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal] have published paid supplements that China Daily produces called "China Watch." The inserts are designed to look like real news articles, though they often contain a pro-Beijing spin on contemporary news events.
One insert from September 2018 touted an initiative pushed by Chinese President Xi Jinping with the headline: "Belt and Road aligns with African nations." The same insert ran a story titled "Tariffs to take toll on U.S. homebuyers" that asserted that U.S. tariffs on Chinese lumber would raise the cost of building homes in the United States.
The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal by far took the most Chinese propaganda dollars, the FARA documents show.
The Wall Street Journal: $5.93 million
The Washington Post: $4.65 million
Foreign Policy: $240,000
CQ-Roll Call: $76,000
The New York Times: $50,000
The Des Moines Register: $34,600
China Daily also reported spending $265,822 on advertising with Twitter, though it was not clear what exactly the propaganda outlet advertised on the social media platform.
China Daily targets major cities across the U.S. and even prints a physical copy of its newspaper. It paid newspaper companies — like the Boston Globe, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among others — more than $7.6 million to print its papers.
As the Daily Caller noted, advertisement payments from China Daily dropped off during the beginning months of 2020. It's not clear if the decline was related to the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China.


theblaze--2020-06-09--Hasidic Jewish children apparently booted from NYC park — after Mayor de Blasio endorsed massive pro

Hasidic Jewish children apparently booted from NYC park — after Mayor de Blasio endorsed massive protests amid coronavirus

Cellphone video was caught of the moment New York City police apparently booted a bunch of Hasidic Jewish children and their parents from a park in the Willamsburg section of Brooklyn.
What are the details?
The incident happened Monday afternoon at a park near the intersection of Lee and Division Avenues, the Yeshiva World reported. The neighborhood is heavily populated by Hasidic Jews.
TheBlaze on Tuesday didn't immediately hear back from the NYPD regarding why the children and parents apparently were ordered to leave the park.
The outlet said police booted out Hasidic children from Lynch Park in Williamsburg in a similar incident last Monday.
Hypocrisy much?
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of George Floyd protesters have been on the march in New York City — and across America — for over a week, which isn't the greatest way to flatten the coronavirus curve.
Here's what it looked like in Williamsburg the day before the alleged removal of Hasidic children and parents from the Williamsburg park:
Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images
Not that it matters much, apparently, to far-left Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has made very public points of singling out gatherings of Hasidic Jews in the city when they broke social distancing rules — and ignoring social distancing rules when it comes to the protests.
"When you see a nation, an entire nation simultaneously grappling with an extraordinary crisis seeded in 400 years of American racism, I'm sorry, that is not the same question as the understandably aggrieved store owner or the devout religious person who wants to go back to services," the mayor said last week.
Indeed, here's what de Blasio said about a large Jewish funeral in Williamsburg in late April amid the coronavirus:
De Blasio later apologized — kind of — invoking ye olde "if" qualifier: "If in my passion and in my emotion, I said something that in any way was hurtful, I'm sorry about that. That was not my intention. But I also want to be clear: I have no regrets about calling out this danger and saying we're going to deal with it very, very aggressively."
Just not when the danger involves protests, it seems.


theblaze--2020-06-09--De Blasio announces plans to paint and rename streets in honor of Black Lives Matter

De Blasio announces plans to paint and rename streets in honor of Black Lives Matter Trying to regain support from @ @

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan Tuesday to rename and paint streets in every New York City borough to commemorate the Black Lives Matter movement. The move is the latest attempt by the mayor to align himself with the movement and to perhaps turn the tide of a relentlessly negative series of months.
De Blasio's comments came during his Tuesday press briefing, according to the New York Post.
"It's time to do something officially representing this city to represent the fundamental power of Black Lives Matter," according to de Blasio.
De Blasio promised that the renamed and painted streets would be at "crucial locations" in each of the five boroughs and that one of them would be "near" city hall.
Beyond this, the mayor's announcement lacked specifics on which streets would be selected or what the specific names for those streets would be after the plan was put into effect. It is also unclear at present what design the street painting will use.
De Blasio's attempts to align himself with the movement have thus far fallen flat. De Blasio was roundly booed and drowned out with chants of "resign" when he attempted to speak at a memorial for George Floyd last week. De Blasio responded by, in part, promising to shift some funds away from police, even as he has faced harsh criticism, including from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), for failing to adequately use the police to protect lives and property during recent civil unrest.
De Blasio may well have taken inspiration for the plan from Washington, D.C., which painted "Black Lives Matter" in large letters on the street leading to the White House. Protesters later added "defund the police" to the painted street.


theblaze--2020-06-09--Nigel Farage unloads on Black Lives Matter movement, compares it to the Taliban. Outrage ensues on l

Nigel Farage unloads on Black Lives Matter movement, compares it to the Taliban. Outrage ensues on live TV.

Nigel Farage unloads on Black Lives Matter movement , compares it to the Taliban .
Outrage ensues on live TV @

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage blasted the Black Lives Matter movement as "dangerous," comparing it to the Taliban.
The U.K. has seen its own protests and riots in the days following the killing of George Floyd.
What are the details?
In a video on his YouTube channel, Farage said that the Black Lives Matter movement is "Marxist," and its recent actions across the region have left him "utterly appalled."
Over the weekend, protesters defaced property and toppled a statue of Edward Colston, an English merchant, slave trader, former member of Parliament, and philanthropist.
"For the second day in a row, Winston Churchill's statue in Parliament Square [has] been defaced," he said. "A mob around the statue screaming 'Churchill was a racist.' We saw another assault on the Cenotaph, this time with some yob climbing up there and trying to set fire with a cigarette lighter to the Union Flag. These were just some of the highlights from what happened in the United Kingdom."
Farage also blasted the BBC for playing up to the Black Lives Matter movement, making it seem that its members are all "so peaceful and so wonderful" despite recent protests that saw scores of police officers injured.
"My argument here isn't against equality of opportunity," he said. "It's not to say there aren't still things that aren't perfectly fair — but it is to say this, and to say it very, very clearly: This Black Lives Matter movement is a dangerous, Marxist organization, hell-bent on anarchy, and we need to wake up, get some facts into our heads, and understand what it is we're fighting."
Farage pointed out that it seems one of the group's primary aims is to defund police forces.
"They want to effectively close down the established police force in the United States of America," he explained, "and that's what the key activists in this country want to do as well."
He also insisted that the group is looking to enact a "radical redistribution of wealth."
"This is a little bit like the 1917 Lenin manifesto which saw the communist revolution in Russia," the leader added. "That's the kind of thing that we're dealing with here, and it's very heavily funded — they're not short of money; they've got some big backers, Soros, others … who want to fundamentally overturn the norms of society as we see them today."
Say no to anarchy on our streets. www.youtube.com
What else?
On Tuesday, the panelists on "Good Morning Britain" addressed Farage's remarks, as well as the recent protests in the country.
Farage himself also appeared on a segment of the hit daytime TV show, where he hit back at co-host Piers Morgan and guest professor Kate Williams for their criticism of his remarks on Black Lives Matter.
He repeatedly insisted that the Black Lives Matter movement's "chief aim is to defund and close down police forces."
Morgan blasted Farage's remarks as "incendiary" and said that the Black Lives Matter movement should never be compared to the likes of the Taliban terrorist organization.
Williams spat, "You are inciting racism, and this is outrageous."
Attorney and activist Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who also appeared on the Tuesday panel, voiced her outrage.
"You're full of such utter nonsense, Nigel Farage," she said. "I understand that you're struggling to be relevant. The only thing you're an expert right now is your backside, because every word out of your mouth stinks."
"BLM represents a fight against racism in this country," Mos-Shogbamimu insisted.
She later added, "Nigel Farage is a racist."


theblaze--2020-06-09--Chicago officials bash Mayor Lightfoot for failing to protect the city during deadly riots. She resp

Chicago officials bash Mayor Lightfoot for failing to protect the city during deadly riots. She responds in profanity-laced defense.

Chicago officials bash Mayor Lightfoot for failing to protect the city during deadly riots .
She responds in profanity-laced defense @ @ @ @ @ to have left in our community ? '

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot sparred with city officials in an audio conference last Sunday after several accused the mayor of limiting protection to the city's central business district and leaving the south and west sides unprotected as deadly riots erupted in the city over George Floyd's death.
Black Lives Matter protests and riots ravaged the city May 30-31, leaving 25 dead and 85 wounded by gunfire in the city's deadliest weekend in 60 years. Chicago's 911 dispatch center received 65,000 calls in 24 hours on Sunday — 50,000 more than usual.
What did they say?
In the call, which was held by the mayor's office to brief all 50 of the city's aldermen, officials reportedly urged the mayor to use resources at her disposal to help protect their communities from violence sweeping the city.
According to WTTW-TV, which obtained audio of the call, "one alderman wept [and] others grew angry with the mayor, demanding to know what her strategy was to stop the violence."
Several on the call repeated the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus' criticism of Lightfoot's decision to deploy 375 Illinois National Guard members to block off the Loop and the central business district while opting not to deploy the National Guard to other areas of the city, leaving them as "easy targets" for rioters and looters.
"What are we going to have left in our community?" asked Alderman Michelle Harris (8th Ward). "I feel like I am at ground zero ... my major business district is shattered."
Alderman Emma Mitts (37th Ward) said that it was like "the wild, wild west" in her district.
Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) added that she felt helpless to protect her residents, especially the elderly and the most vulnerable.
When Lightfoot was finally able to speak, she defended her response to the riots, specifically saying the criticism that she protected downtown at the expense of other districts "offends me deeply, personally, in part because it is simply not so."
"We've been working our a** off," Lightfoot said. "It is all over the city."
"I don't know about you, but I haven't seen s**t like this before, not in Chicago," she said.
When Dowell asked Lightfoot to use the National Guard to protect grocery stores and pharmacies, the mayor responded by arguing that "they are not a magic tool, they are the military."
Alderman Susan Sadlowski-Garza (10th Ward) broke down in tears while pleading with Lightfoot for assistance.
"My ward is a s**t show," she said, mentioning that police cars and banks had been set ablaze. "They are shooting at the police."
Things turned personal
At another point during the call when Alderman Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) criticized Lightfoot for leaving his district and others vulnerable, things got ugly.
"We can't expect our police, and I don't fault them at all, to be able to control this," said Lopez, a frequent critic of the mayor, insinuating help is needed from the National Guard. "Half our neighborhoods are already obliterated. It's too late."
When he finished, Lightfoot declined to respond and attempted to move onto the next question, but Lopez demanded an answer.
"It's not something you ignore. This is a question that I have," he urged before the mayor shot back, saying, "I think you're 100% full of s**t."
"F*** you, then. Who are you to tell me I'm full of s***?" Lopez responded angrily. "Maybe you should come out and see what's going on."
"If you think we're not ready, and we stood by and let the neighborhoods go up, there's nothing intelligent that I could say to you," Lightfoot said. "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I understand you want to preen."
"Mayor, you need to check your f***ing attitude. That's what you need to do," Lopez fired back, before several other aldermen interjected, attempting to de-escalate the situation.


theblaze--2020-06-09--GOP senator calls for AG Barr to investigate bans on religious gatherings while mass protests are al

GOP senator calls for AG Barr to investigate bans on religious gatherings while mass protests are allowed 'States can not @ @ @ @ @ other '

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri called on Attorney General William Barr to investigate states that are allowing mass gatherings for social justice protests while still restricting the ability of religious institutions to gather for services.
Since George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, protests including thousands of people have taken place nightly in some major American cities — many of the same places that won't allow fans to gather for sporting events or worshipers to gather for church in numbers greater than 50 or, in some cases, 10 people.
"In the past few weeks, state officials across the country have blatantly violated the free exercise and free speech rights of religious Americans," Hawley wrote in his letter to Barr. "Under the First Amendment, state officials must not treat religious persons and groups worse than others, and they must not favor one kind of speech over another. State officials have violated the free speech and free exercise rights of religious Americans by treating religious gatherings and speech differently than the speech and mass gatherings of protests. I urge you to launch a full civil rights investigation."
Hawley is not arguing against the right of people to protest Floyd's death; in fact, he says people are "rightly angry" about the death and should be allowed to gather peacefully in protest.
Hawley referred to a recent Supreme Court decision in which the court sided with the state in a case where a California church was seeking relief from the ban on large gatherings.
"The decision tilted in favor of the state, the Chief Justice wrote, because of uncertainty about whether the church was being treated worse than comparable secular organizations," Hawley wrote. "Now, after two weeks of nationwide protests, no uncertainty remains."
Government officials, including New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, have made comments asserting that the Floyd protests are more justified than previous protests calling for businesses or churches to reopen.


theblaze--2020-06-09--Walk back: WHO now says asymptomatic spread may account for up to 40% of COVID-19 transmission

Walk back : WHO now says asymptomatic spread may account for up to 40 % of COVID-19 transmission They just @ @ @ @ @ ' a day earlier

The World Health Organization on Tuesday walked back its recent claim (from one day earlier) that asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 is "very rare," now saying the question is "really complex," CNBC reported.
Here's what Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said Monday about the potential for people with no symptoms to spread COVID-19 to others:
From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual. It's very rare. … We have a number of reports from countries who are doing very detailed contact tracing. They're following asymptomatic cases. They're following contacts. And they're not finding secondary transmission onward. It's very rare.
Tuesday, Van Kerkhove said it's a "really complex question" and that their models show that as much as 40% of COVID-19 transmission may come from asymptomatic cases. From CNBC:
"We don't actually have that answer yet. There are some estimates that suggest that anywhere between 6% of the population and 41% of the population may be infected but not have symptoms within a point estimate of around 16%," she said on a live Q&A streamed across multiple social media platforms.
"The majority of transmission is from people who have symptoms and are spreading it through infectious droplets, she said. "But there are a subset of people who don't develop symptoms. To truly understand how many people don't have symptoms, we don't actually have that answer yet.
Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's emergencies program, said Van Kerkhove's Monday statements may have been "misinterpreted or maybe we didn't use the most elegant words to explain that."
If it's true that asymptomatic people don't spread COVID-19, or spread it very rarely, there would be little reason to continue with widespread lockdown policies. Governments and businesses could implement policies to isolate those with symptoms and allow those without symptoms to operate freely.


theblaze--2020-06-09--Newly released bodycam video reportedly shows man's 2019 death after he was repeatedly tased and hel

Newly released bodycam video reportedly shows man's 2019 death after he was repeatedly tased and held down by cops

Newly released bodycam video reportedly shows man 's 2019 death after he was repeatedly tased and held down by cops @ @ @ @ @ the case

USA Today reported Monday that newly released police bodycam video shows that a black man was killed in March 2019 while in Texas police custody.
In circumstances eerily similar to those of the late George Floyd, an officer tased the man, who also said he couldn't breathe during detainment. The man died shortly thereafter.
Just this week, local media outlets were able to obtain bodycam footage of the detainment.
What are the details?
The incident was initially captured during the taping of an episode of the reality show "Live PD," according to reports, though the episode has not aired. This week, A&E announced that it would no longer air episodes of the popular police show.
Javier Ambler was driving in Austin, Texas, when a sheriff attempted pulled him over for reportedly failing to dim his high beams at oncoming traffic. A body camera filmed the incident, according to reports.
Ambler, a 40-year-old former postal service worker, reportedly refused to stop when the officer put on his lights and instead led the officer on a chase through area highways and streets for nearly 22 minutes.
USA Today reported that Austin officers were told to stop chasing the man into nearby Travis County because they "are allowed only to chase dangerous criminals."
During the chase, Ambler reportedly crashed his vehicle into stationary objects no fewer than four times before finally crashing one final time north of downtown Austin.
Deputy J.J. Johnson, a regularly featured officer on "Live PD," was reportedly alone when he finally faced off with Ambler. According to reports, Johnson drew his weapon on Ambler and demanded that he get out of the vehicle. Ambler complied as Johnson holstered his weapon and pulled out his Taser instead.
Johnson told Ambler to get down on the ground several times, but Ambler reportedly attempted to turn toward the car instead. That's when Johnson deployed his Taser on Ambler, who fell to one knee. USA Today reported that Ambler then "rolled onto his back and stomach and acted as though he was trying to stand."
As backup arrived, Johnson demanded that Ambler remain on the ground.
Deputy Zachary Camden arrived on the scene and immediately "shoved his Taser into Ambler's upper back 'in a drive-stun motion.'"
The trio struggled, and deputies deployed the Taser on Ambler a third time as they attempted to handcuff the suspect.
During the scuffle, Ambler shouted that he had "congestive heart failure" and insisted that he was unable to breathe.
Both deputies demanded Ambler relax, but he became more and more agitated instead and insisted that he wasn't trying to resist arrest — he simply couldn't breathe.
He told them, "I am not resisting. Sir, I can't breathe. ... Please ... please. ... Save me."
At least one deputy demanded, "Do what we're asking you to do!" but Ambler said he was unable to comply because he couldn't breathe.
One of the deputies then deployed a final blast from the Taser, and Ambler went limp. He fell unconscious, and police worked to find a pulse. They could not find one and began performing CPR until medics arrived on the scene.
First responders took Ambler to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police body-cam footage: Javier Ambler's fatal encounter with Williamson County Sheriff's deputies www.youtube.com
What now?
USA Today reported that the incident is only now coming to light after repeated questions and requests for information from local media outlets.
In response, police released documents and video surrounding Ambler's detainment and death after reportedly having been less than forthcoming with information surrounding his death.
"Ambler's parents still have few questions about their son's death," the outlet reported. "Until last week, they knew only that he died in police custody. Reporters informed them he was chased after a minor traffic violation."
The outlet noted that at least one Texas county official is concerned over the deputies' decision to chase and tase the man simply because he failed to dim his lights.
"It is of very serious concern to any of us who are in law enforcement that the decision to engage in that chase was driven by more of a need to provide entertainment than to keep Williamson County citizens safe," Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said.
Moore also added that the popular A&E show has not produced a video of the arrest so far.
Ambler's mother, Maritza, told reporters that she is in shock.
"He's dead," she sobbed. "How? I can't have any closure because I need to know."
In an initial report, the internal affairs division concluded that the Williamson County Sheriff's Department deputies did nothing wrong and were not in violation of the agency's pursuit or use-of-force policies. Ambler's death, however, was ruled a homicide according to the state attorney general's office. The report noted that the homicide could have been "justifiable."
Ambler's official cause of death was congestive heart failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease associated with morbid obesity "in combination with forcible restraint."
The Travis County District Attorney is leading the investigation into Ambler's death.
Moore told CNN that it's time to take the case to the grand jury.
"This case has been so unusual," Moore said. "It is not typical for us to encounter obstacles to getting evidence, especially from another law enforcement agency."
She added, "It's important, in today's climate with the heightened response to officer-involved incidents, that the public know we are prosecuting this case, are taking it to the grand jury and we will do anything within our power to see that justice is done here."
You can read more on the background of the case here.


theblaze--2020-06-09--Journalist who was gang-raped trashes Minneapolis City Council president's 'privilege' remarks

'Would have been great to have a police force to call then '

Journalist Lara Logan — who was sexually assaulted by a mob in Egypt in 2011 — slammed Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender for suggesting that concerns over criminals breaking into people's homes come "from a place of privilege."
Bender made the comments during an appearance on CNN Monday where she discussed the council's pledge to "dismantle" the city's police department and replace it with a "transformative new model of public safety" in response to George Floyd's death late last month.
"I remember when I was being gang-raped & beaten by a mob in Egypt, would have been great to have a police force to call then," Logan tweeted in response to Bender. "Would that have been my white privilege talking?"
"My heart breaks for every victim of racial injustice," Logan added to the tweet thread. "And for every person, including police, killed by the mob of anarchists & their powerful political backers. How long before they come for me? No idea. But there is only one truth. That's all we have."
Logan was working as a CBS News correspondent in 2011 when the sexual assault occurred. She was covering the street celebrations in Tahrir Square after President Hosni Mubarak's decision to step down when she was surrounded by a dangerous element of the crowd and separated from her team. She was then raped and beaten before being rescued by a group of women and Egyptian soldiers.
While many have criticized the growing movement to defund police in America, of which Bender is a figurehead, given her tragic past experiences, Logan's outrage at the notion of a "police-free world" is especially powerful.
Yet despite opposition from many, including Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, the council appears resolute in its mission to disband the city's police.
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-06-09--NPR tweet about Trump rallies perfectly illustrates coronavirus double standard for protests

Protesters march along H Street NW near the White House during continued demonstrations over the death of George Floyd while @ @ @ @ @ Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images )

A pair of tweets from NPR — one about social justice protests in Washington, D.C., and the other about upcoming Trump rallies — highlight the way protests are seemingly exempt from criticism for lack of coronavirus social distancing.
About a protest in D.C., NPR tweeted the following:
"Thousands of voices at a protest in D.C. came together to sing the Bill Withers classic 'Lean on Me,' led by local musician Kenny Sway. 'It sounded like unity and togetherness,' he says. 'It sounded like love and pureness of the people.'"
The Trump campaign recently announced the return of its campaign rallies, which also draw thousands of attendees. Here's what NPR said about that:
"President Trump will hit the campaign trail this month — despite the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which continues to impact the lives and livelihoods of households across the country. 'The rallies will be tremendous,' a campaign manager said."
Here's a bonus tweet from NPR about rallies at which thousands will gather — a tweet that doesn't tie those rallies to the pandemic in any way.
This should be simple: Either all mass gatherings are dangerous and have the potential to spread COVID-19 widely and quickly, or none of them are dangerous and they should not be blamed for any potential spikes in coronavirus cases.
So which is it? If you believe Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top expert on President Trump's coronavirus task force (who has mostly disappeared from the news cycle since the protests began), there is significant risk that the protests could undo the progress the U.S. has made toward moving past the COVID-19 outbreak.
"It is the perfect set-up for the spread of the virus in the sense of creating some blips which might turn into some surges," Fauci said, according to WTOP.
"As I sat in front of the TV and watched the screen go from Washington, D.C., to New York City, to Los Angeles, to Philadelphia, I got really concerned," Fauci told the Sunday Times of London. "I was going, 'Oh my goodness. I hope this doesn't set us back a lot.' [After] all of the work in trying to maintain the physical distance and doing all the things, I became very concerned that we might see a resurgence."
Fauci said all public health experts can do is tell people to be careful and wear a mask. But if that is effective, why didn't we do that from the beginning, rather than shutting down businesses and ordering people to stay home?


theblaze--2020-06-09--Backlash against Democratic leaders begins, longtime business leaves Minneapolis after being destroy

Backlash against Democratic leaders begins, longtime business leaves Minneapolis after being destroyed in riots

Backlash against Democratic leaders begins , longtime business leaves Minneapolis after being destroyed in riots

The city of Minneapolis is led by Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey. The city council is composed of 12 Democrats and one member of the Green Party.
And now, a longtime manufacturing business is immediately relocating away from Minneapolis after Democratic leaders failed to protect the city, instead allowing violence to overrun it in the wake of George Floyd's tragic death.
Kris Wyrobek, owner of 7-Sigma Inc., which produces "high-performance polymer and metal components and assemblies," told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he is relocating his business after Minneapolis officials allowed his factory to be destroyed in the riots.
"They don't care about my business," Wyrobek said. "They didn't protect our people. We were all on our own."
The factory was unfortunately destroyed by a fire when protesters targeted a neighboring apartment complex that was under construction. According to Wyrobek, firefighters did not bother fighting those flames, which allowed the blaze to engulf his business.
"The fire engine was just sitting there, but they wouldn't do anything," Wyrobek said.
According to the Star Tribune, thousands of businesses were damaged in the violence, with a repair price tag in the hundreds of millions.
The city's first survey of property damage shows that nearly 1,000 commercial properties in Minneapolis were damaged during the riots, including 52 businesses that were completely destroyed and 30 other locations that sustained severe damage.
Owners and insurance experts estimate the costs of the damage could exceed $500 million. That would make the Twin Cities riots the second-costliest civil disturbance in U.S. history, trailing only those in Los Angeles in 1992, which were also sparked by racial tensions with police and had $1.4 billion in damages in today's dollars.
As TheBlaze reported, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is seeking taxpayer money, via the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to pay for the damage in Minneapolis.
However, FEMA is unlikely to grant such a request if history proves correct.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) sought millions in FEMA aid following the 2015 Baltimore riots, but the agency denied the request.


theblaze--2020-06-09--Unhinged protester screams at drivers, 'Do black lives matter to you?!' One woman doesn't answer cor

Unhinged protester screams at drivers, 'Do black lives matter to you?!' One woman doesn't answer correctly — and things get scary.

Unhinged protester screams at drivers , 'Do black lives matter to you ?
! '
One woman does n't answer @ @ @ @ @ scary .
'Oh yeah ?
You wan na f***in ' go , Karen ? '

George Floyd protesters were caught on video descending upon a Maryland street near Interstate 270 — and one ultra-confrontational leftist took it upon herself to scream a question at passing cars: "Do black lives matter to you?!"
What are the details?
One driver was all in and answered affirmatively with his fist raised, so the self-appointed toll booth collector let the driver pass.
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
But one woman made the mistake of completely ignoring the screamed question as she passed by:
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
The driver's rudeness infuriated the protester, who called her "Karen," a "f***in' white piece of s**t," and a "bitch" — and even appeared to challenge her to a fight: "Oh yeah?! You wanna f***in' go, Karen?"
Arriving at the driver's window, the protester screamed, "Until black lives matter, no lives matter!"
The driver made a reference to people of different colors, presumably as a way of communicating that all people are equal, and then said to get out of her way. But the screaming protester wasn't having it, hollered back at the woman, then stood in front of her vehicle.
Then things got a little scarier.
Other protesters joined in the fray and began assembling near the vehicle: "She ain't goin' nowhere ..." a male declared as a protester banged on the hood of the SUV.
Either frightened, angry, or both, the driver leaned into her horn for a spell — but it was no use.
"Whatcha gonna do?" the same man apparently repeats. "You're not goin' nowhere."
Here's the video. (Content warning: Language):
How did folks react to the video?
As you might imagine, Twitter users weren't happy with the protesters' tactics, and some made it clear how they would respond if in the same situation:


theblaze--2020-06-09--LIVE: John Oliver's Anti-Cop Lies DEBUNKED!

Steven debunks John Oliver 's latest anti-police tirade , gives his thoughts on the Drew Brees apology tour , and @ @ @ @ @ kneel for the mob .
Do n't miss Tuesday 's episode of Good Morning Mug @ @ @ @ @ to continue watching this stream : http : //louderwithcrowder.com/mugclub MugClubbers can watch and comment here @ @ @ @ @ Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy more of Steven 's uncensored late-night comedy @ @ @ @ @ join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand @

Steven debunks John Oliver's latest anti-police tirade, gives his thoughts on the Drew Brees apology tour, and explains why you should never kneel for the mob. Don't miss Tuesday's episode of Good Morning Mug Club.
Good Morning #Mugclub Join #MugClub to continue watching this stream: http://louderwithcrowder.com/mugclub MugClubbers can watch and comment here: https://www.blazetv.com/pages/ho...
Use code LWC to save $10
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-06-10--News photographer attacked by protesters ripping down statue of Columbus in Richmond to toss into la

News photographer attacked by protesters ripping down statue of Columbus in Richmond to toss into lake The group said Columbus @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd

A local news reporter said his photographer was attacked as protesters ripped down a statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond, Virginia.
The protesters lugged the 8-foot statue to a nearby lake and tossed it in.
The incident occurred Tuesday at Byrd Park after protesters chanted "take it down," and marched down Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
When they returned, a group of protesters took down the statue. Some videos circulated on social media of the vandalism:
Before the vandalism on the statue, Richmond Indigenous Peoples' Society member Vanessa Bolin spoke to the crowd and connected Columbus to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
"This continent is built on the blood and the bones of our ancestors, but it is built off the backs and the sweat and the tears and the blood and the bones of Africans," Bolin said to the crowd. "We're not here to hijack your movement. We're here to stand in solidarity."
Brent Solomon, a reporter with NBC-12, said on social media that a photographer in his news crew was attacked at the protest.
"Violent protesters rip off Christoper Columbus statue, throw it into the water, attack our photographer," he tweeted, but offered no other details.
The Richmond-Times Dispatch reported no police presence at all during the vandalism and attack.
Here's more on statues coming down in Richmond:


theblaze--2020-06-10--George Floyd and Derek Chauvin knew each other and 'bumped heads,' former nightclub co-worker says

George Floyd and Derek Chauvin knew each other and 'bumped heads , ' former nightclub co-worker says The attorney for @ @ @ @ @ 'had intent ' to kill Floyd , and should be charged with first-degree murder

A former employee of a nightclub where George Floyd and Derek Chauvin both worked security says the two men knew each other "pretty well," and that they "bumped heads" over the former police officer's treatment of some patrons while on the job.
What are the details?
Last month, Maya Santamaria, the former owner of the El Nuevo Rodeo club in south Minneapolis told ABC News affiliate KSTP-TV that Chauvin had worked for her in his off-duty hours as a Minneapolis police officer for 17 years, and that Floyd — the man Chauvin is accused of killing — worked overlapping shifts with Chauvin several times over the past year.
Santamaria said at the time that she did not know if the two men ever came in contact with one another on the job.
Now, another former El Nuevo Rodeo employee has come forward, who says Floyd and Chauvin not only knew each other, but that he remembers the two did not get along.
David Pinney told CBS News that Floyd and Chauvin "bumped heads," and that their disagreements had "a lot to do with Derek being extremely aggressive within the club with some of the patrons, which was an issue."
When asked by CBS News whether he had any doubt that the former police officer knew Floyd, Pinney replied, "No. He knew him," adding that he believed Chauvin knew Floyd "pretty well."
Derek Chauvin and George Floyd had history of not getting along, coworkers say www.youtube.com
Chauvin was arrested days after a video went viral showing him kneeling for nearly nine minutes on Floyd's neck and refusing to adjust his position despite pleas from Floyd and onlookers. Floyd, who was being detained for allegedly attempting to use a fake $20 bill, became unresponsive during the time Chauvin held him down with his knee, and was later pronounced dead.
Chauvin was initially charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, and the murder charge was later upgraded to second-degree murder amid outcry.
Attorney for the Floyd family, Benjamin Crump, has been calling for charges against Chauvin to be upgraded again to first-degree murder, arguing that the period of time that Chauvin held Floyd down showed "an intentional will to do bodily harm."
In a separate interview with CBS News that aired on May 31, Crump pointed to the fact that Chauvin and Floyd worked together as being another possible indication that the second-degree murder charge against the former officer was too light.
"They had an overlap," the lawyer said. "And so that is going to be an interesting aspect to this case and hopefully upgrading these charges to first-degree murder because we believe he knew who George Floyd was."


theblaze--2020-06-10--Harvard professor indicted for concealing his lab work with a university in Wuhan, China

Harvard professor indicted for concealing his lab work with a university in Wuhan , China The U.S. is cracking down @ @ @ @

A top scientist at Harvard University has been indicted by the Justice Department for lying about his involvement with a tech university in Wuhan, China.
The charges were outlined in a news release from the DOJ on Tuesday.
Dr. Charles Lieber, 61, is alleged to have lied about participating in China's "Thousand Talents Program," which lures top scientists to China.
Lieber was the former chair of Harvard University's Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, and made headlines in 2015 when his work there led to the implantation of "cyborg tissue" into the brains of mice.
Now he faces five years in prison over charges that he lied to Harvard and to the government over his position as "Strategic Scientist" at Wuhan University of Technology in China.
Prosecutors allege that he was paid a salary of up to $50,000 a month to set up the laboratory for the WUT, with additional living expenses paid up to $158,000.
Lieber has maintained his innocence.
Conspiracy theory enthusiasts on social media have suggested that Lieber had something to do with creating and spreading the coronavirus pandemic, but there is no evidence of such a connection.
Also on Tuesday, a report from the Daily Caller News Foundation documented that a Chinese propaganda outlet had paid almost $20 million since 2016 to American media companies.
Here's more about Lieber's arrest:


theblaze--2020-06-09--John Oliver's Olive-Brain'ed Take on Unions

Late-night host John Oliver is leading the charge to abolish police forces across the United States .
Of course , in traditional snowflake form , Oliver attacked the character of all police officers rather than isolating corrupt cops , and calling for the elimination of the police union that protects them .
If Oliver were consistent , he would 've called out all unions for their standard practice of protecting union members over victims .
But , Oliver cares not about consistency and more about feeding the progressive machine that merely stands to remove all cops and ultimately collapse our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't offer a single solution to mend what is broken .
Oliver , like most radicals , would instead burn the system down .
Here 's what Crowder has to say about it ... John Oliver 's Olive-Brain'ed Take on Unions | Louder With Crowder Use code LWC to save $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy more of Steven 's uncensored late-night comedy that 's actually funny , join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on @ @

Late-night host John Oliver is leading the charge to abolish police forces across the United States. Of course, in traditional snowflake form, Oliver attacked the character of all police officers rather than isolating corrupt cops, and calling for the elimination of the police union that protects them.
If Oliver were consistent, he would've called out all unions for their standard practice of protecting union members over victims. But, Oliver cares not about consistency and more about feeding the progressive machine that merely stands to remove all cops and ultimately collapse our system.
And of course, he didn't offer a single solution to mend what is broken. Oliver, like most radicals, would instead burn the system down. Here's what Crowder has to say about it...
John Oliver's Olive-Brain'ed Take on Unions | Louder With Crowder youtu.be
Use code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-06-11--Meghan McCain calls out Dem who used her late father's image to attack his friend, Mitch McConnell

Meghan McCain calls out Dem who used her late father 's image to attack his friend , Mitch McConnell Amy @ @ @ @ @ Senate majority leader is not going well

Meghan McCain has called out a Kentucky Democrat who is attempting to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), after the candidate used the image of her father, the late Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), in an attack ad against McConnell without the family's permission.
What are the details?
Democrat Amy McGrath released a campaign ad this week highlighting the "historic moment" when John McCain cast the deciding "no" vote against Senate Republicans' bill to dismantle Obamacare.
Tuesday evening, John McCain's widow, Cindy, tweeted, "I'm disappointed in @AmyMcGrathKY's use of my late husband #johnmccain image in a partisan attack ad against his good friend @senatemajldr. John's memory should be used promote common ground and civility and not to stoke division."
The next morning, McGrath shared the ad again on Twitter with the message, "Prior to running this ad, I reached out to a member of the McCain family, who I know, and received encouragement. I am saddened that Mrs. McCain sees this differently, but my intention is to honor Sen. McCain's historic vote that is also a moment of public record."
Meghan McCain didn't buy the explanation. She replied, "Which member Amy, please name names? Because it wasn't me or my mother. My entire family communicates before such decisions and I have no idea what you're talking about. P.S. (ex disgruntled staffers don't count as 'family')
Anything else?
The McCain family aren't the only Republicans who have scolded McGrath for political exploitation in her race against McConnell. The Hill reported that last month, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) "asked McGrath to keep his image out of her campaign ads when she included him and other governors in an ad attacking McConnell."
But McGrath's present challenge is her opponent in the June 23 primary, fellow Democrat and Kentucky Rep. Charles Booker, who has racked up several high profile endorsements in recent days including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and the editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader.


theblaze--2020-06-11--Glenn Beck: More than HALF the American people agreed with NYT's retracted Tom Cotton op-ed

Glenn Beck : More than HALF the American people agreed with NYT 's retracted Tom Cotton op-ed The Times is @ @ @ @ @ '

The editorial page director for the New York Times, James Bennet, resigned this weekend after publishing an opinion piece written by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).
In the op-ed, the senator urged President Donald Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and use military force to quell violent rioting in response to the death of George Floyd. According to a recent poll, 58 percent of registered voters, including nearly half of Democrats and 37 percent of African-Americans, support using the military to help police control protests that turn violent. But Cotton's op-ed caused such strife, Times' employees refused to show up for work, claiming it endangered the lives of black journalists. The paper immediately apologized, saying the senator's op-ed "fell short of our standards and should not have been published."
On his radio program, Glenn Beck said the Times is in "deep, deep trouble," if they can't publish an opinion from a Republican senator, an opinion that was shared by more than half the American people, without suffering an internal collapse.
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
The New York Times cannot go back from this decision. The Times' editorial page editor, James Bennet, resigned this weekend after publishing an op-ed written...
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theblaze--2020-06-10--'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling doubles down on her transgender heresy and woke Twitter is meltin

'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling doubles down on her transgender heresy and woke Twitter is melting down

'Harry Potter ' author J.K. Rowling doubles down on her transgender heresy and woke Twitter is melting down 'This is @ @ @ @ @ this BS .
I beg you '

Author J.K. Rowling, the creator of the celebrated 'Harry Potter' book series, doubled down on her disagreement with the transgender agenda and the social justice warrior corner of Twitter melted down in response.
Rowling wrote an essay and posted it with the tweet message, "TERF wars." TERF is an acronym used as an epithet by transgender activists to denigrate women who disagree with their agenda. It stands for "Transgender Exclusionary Radical Feminists."
In the lengthy essay, Rowling described how she became a targeted enemy of the transgender lobby while investigating the issue of transgender rights. She also says that she has gotten an avalanche support from those concerned about the ramifications of the transgender political effort.
"Trans people need and deserve protection. Like women, they're most likely to be killed by sexual partners," she wrote.
"So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman – and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside," she explained.
"That is the simple truth," she concluded.
'The worst kind of transphobe'
Allies of the transgender political movement were incensed that Rowling persisted in her denial of their agenda, and they reacted very negatively on social media.
"...J.K. Rowling is the worst kind of transphobe, because she somehow has convinced herself that she has love & compassion for trans people while simultaneously denying our humanity & relentlessly attacking us," replied trans activist Serena Daniari.
"She should just admit she hates trans people," Daniari added.
Vox Media critic Emily VanDerWerff called the essay "dangerous hogwash" that will hurt transgender people.
"Do NOT read #JKRowling 's transphobia manifesto. I already did it for you. Every line is misinformation, fear mongering, misgendering, othering, ignorance, far right language/dog whistles, and pure hate. It's not just ugly," responded artist Tess Fowler.
"This is HATE. Don't ingest this BS. I beg you," she added.
Rowling had previously been a hero in LGBT circles for declaring that Albus Dumbledore, one of the central characters of the Harry Potter series, was gay.
Here's more about J.K. Rowling and the activist agenda:


theblaze--2020-06-10--Accused looter charged with attempted murder for allegedly running over Philly cop

Accused looter charged with attempted murder for allegedly running over Philly cop Officer Tony Nieves was reportedly 'crushed from the @ @ @

A woman linked to multiple crimes during violent riots in Philadelphia last month has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly running over a police officer and leaving him "crushed from the waist up" as she fled the scene of a burglary.
What are the details?
Authorities say Angela Hall, 41, served as a getaway driver in the looting of a beauty supply store on May 30. According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Hall ran over Philadelphia police officer Tony Nieves when he responded to the scene as she fled, "causing severe bodily injury" to the bicycle patrol officer.
But prosecutors say Hall's criminal activity did not end with her running over Nieves. She is also accused of falsely reporting as stolen the rental car she was driving when she allegedly hit the police officer.
WPVIT-TV reported that Nieves was left with 12 broken ribs, a shattered sternum, and five fractured vertebrae from the attack.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby told the outlet of Nieves, "He's in very bad shape right now at Jefferson Hospital. He's basically crushed from the waist up." McNesby added, "He's going to have a long recovery and he's going to need a lot of people to rally around him. A lot of prayers, right now."
Hall has been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted murder, obstruction of justice, false reports to law enforcement authorities and several other charges.
District Attorney Larry Kasner said in a statement,
This individual's criminal actions are egregious and resulted in serious, possibly permanent injuries to a police officer who was responding to a situation that was already dangerous. My thoughts are with this officer and his loved ones at this time: I hope your recovery will be speedy and complete.
This office intends to hold Angela Hall accountable for the severe harm she has caused Officer Nieves.


theblaze--2020-06-10--HBO Max yanks 'Gone With the Wind' from library amid protests

HBO Max yanks 'Gone With the Wind ' from library amid protests The platform says the classic film will eventually @ @ @ @ @ disclaimer regarding its content

HBO Max has pulled the 1939 film "Gone With the Wind" from its library amid outcry over its depictions of African Americans as nationwide protests continue over the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
The silver screen classic set in the post-Civil War South is the latest target in American culture flagged for censorship, but WarnerMedia — which owns HBO Max — claims the movie will eventually return to its platform along with a disclaimer regarding its content.
What are the details?
The death of Mr. Floyd, who was black, sparked demonstrations across the U.S. and renewed calls from activists demanding social change, including public promotion of the "Black Lives Matter" movement and an end to glorifying law enforcement.
A number of companies responded, including LEGO, which pulled the plug on marketing its police-themed toys, and Paramount Network, which permanently pulled the television show "Cops" off the air ahead of its 33rd season.
Now, HBO Max has agreed to yank "Gone With the Wind" from its library, after a filmmaker penned an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times calling for them to pull the movie from the platform until "a respectful amount of time has passed," and to re-introduce it "along with other films that give a more broad-based and complete picture of what slavery and the Confederacy truly were."
An HBO spokesperson told Variety:
'Gone With the Wind' is a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society. These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible.
These depictions are certainly counter to WarnerMedia's values, so when we return the film to HBO Max, it will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions, but will be presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. If we are to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history.
Anything else?
Joseph Curl noted in The Daily Wire that "Gone With the Wind" not only won eight Academy Awards, "The film also featured a major milestone: Hattie McDaniel, who played 'Mammie' in the film, won for best supporting actress — the first African American to win an Oscar."


theblaze--2020-06-10--NASCAR bans any display of the confederate flag at their events

NASCAR bans any display of the confederate flag at their events A stunning development in the aftermath of the death @ @ @

All displays of the confederate flag have been banned at NASCAR events according to a statement from the racing organization on Wednesday.
"The presence of the confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry," read the statement from NASCAR.
The statement appeared to be a response to the call from Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR, to remove the flag in order to avoid the appearance that racing enthusiasts support racism.
"Bringing people together around a love for racing and the community that it creates is what makes our fans and sport special," the statement from NASCAR continued. "The display of the confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties."
Wallace explained that he believed the flag makes many people uneasy from attending races.
"No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race," he said. "It starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them."
The focus on racial justice issues in America heightened after the death of George Floyd, who died at least in part due to injuries sustained while four police officers arrested him in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Here's more about the confederate flag in NASCAR:


theblaze--2020-06-10--Democrats kill pro-police union bill as they pivot to totally different police reform effort

Democrats made a big show about introducing their new police reform bill Monday, complete with an 8 minute, 46 second kneeling demonstration while wearing West African kente cloth scarves. Behind the scenes, they were quietly killing a 2019 bill that would've strengthened police unions, Axios reported.
What was the bill? The now-dead bill, H.R. 1154, would've allowed state and local public safety workers to collectively bargain with the government over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment.
The bill had 225 co-sponsors, and 206 of those were Democrats.
Things have changed: That was all before the country saw a rash of large-scale protests and destructive riots in major cities over the killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Department Officer Derek Chauvin. Now the power of police unions is under heavy scrutiny, and people on both sides of the political spectrum are calling for them to be weakened or dismantled.
The new legislation aims for more restrictions, regulation and accountability for police officers and departments. From CNN:
According to a summary document obtained by CNN, the legislation includes a ban on chokeholds, as well as the creation of a National Police Misconduct Registry "to prevent problem officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability."
The bill also incentivizes states and localities to mandate racial bias training and teach officers about their "duty to intervene." The bill sets certain restrictions on the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement and requires federal uniformed police offers to wear body cameras.
The obstacles to reform: The power of police unions could be one of the primary obstacles to reform efforts, including efforts to make it easier to fire officers who have committed misconduct.
Democrats, who are typically in favor of organized labor, will now have to walk the line of attempting to enact reforms without contradicting themselves too badly when it comes to unions. Axios reports:
Democrats may try to thread the needle by arguing that police unions should be treated differently than other public employee unions, because police misconduct can be the difference between life and death. Rarely is that the case in a classroom or a department of motor vehicles.
(H/T The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-06-10--Mitch McConnell hammers NYT for 'lying,' folding 'like a house of cards' over Tom Cotton's op-ed

Mitch McConnell hammers NYT for 'lying , ' folding 'like a house of cards ' over Tom Cotton 's op-ed @ @ @ @ @ begged for mercy '

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R- Ky.) tore into the New York Times from the Senate floor Wednesday, accusing the paper of "lying" and bowing to the "angry mob" in walking back a controversial op-ed written by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) last week.
"One of our nation's most storied newspapers just had its intellectual independence challenged by an angry mob and they folded like a house of cards," McConnell blasted. "A jury of people on Twitter indicted them as accessories to a thought crime and instead of telling them to go take a hike, the paper pleaded guilty and begged for mercy."
McConnell noted that the Times has, in the past, published pieces by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian propagandists, yet it was "800 words from the junior senator from Arkansas" that really caused a stir.
"The New York Times had erred grievously by making people confront a different viewpoint," he added sarcastically. "It hurt their feelings by making them confront a different point of view."
He acknowledged that the op-ed was controversial, yes, but hardly outside the realm of acceptable discourse. He argued it was a "legitimate view" and accused the paper of "lying about what Senator Cotton had said."
In the opinion piece, titled, "Send In the Troops," Cotton called for the military to be activated in order to halt riots, looting, and destruction erupting across the country in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Cotton wrote, "nihilist criminals are simply out for loot and the thrill of destruction" and that "cadres of left-wing radicals like antifa" are "infiltrating protest marches to exploit Floyd's death for their own anarchic purposes."
The op-ed's publication caused an internal firestorm at the paper, with several editors tweeting that running the piece put black staffers in danger. The outpouring of anger eventually led to the resignation of the paper's editorial page editor, James Bennet.
The op-ed has now been updated with a condemnatory editor's note, which says "the essay fell short of our standards and should not have been published."
The new acting editorial page editor, Kate Kingsbury, has reportedly told staff to flag her if anything published "gives you the slightest pause."
(H/T: Politico)


theblaze--2020-06-10--NYC health officials — with nothing else to worry about apparently — update COVID-19 safe sex advice

NYC health officials — with nothing else to worry about apparently — update COVID-19 safe sex advice: 'Make it a little kinky'

NYC health officials — with nothing else to worry about apparently — update COVID-19 safe sex advice : 'Make it @ @ @ @ @ with sexual positions and physical barriers , like walls , that allow sexual contact while @ @ @ @ @ contact '

In the wake of massive George Floyd riots and protests in New York City — which far-left Mayor Bill de Blasio endorsed while still outlawing other gatherings as dangers to public safety amid the coronavirus pandemic — city health officials somehow found time to update their guidance Monday on safe sex in the age of COVID-19.
'Make it a little kinky'
"Make it a little kinky," officials advise. "Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers, like walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact."
Officials also suggest wearing a face covering or mask. "Maybe it's your thing, maybe it's not, but during COVID-19 wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth is a good way to add a layer of ... protection during sex."
Because after all "heavy breathing and panting can spread the virus further, and if you or your partner have COVID-19 and don't know it, a mask can help stop that spread."
"If you usually meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex, consider taking a break from in-person dates," they add. "Video dates, sexting, subscription-based fan platforms, sexy 'Zoom parties' or chat rooms may be options for you."
In case you're wondering, "Rimming (mouth on anus) might spread the virus. Virus in feces may enter your mouth and could lead to infection."
The art of being your own bestie
"You are your safest sex partner," officials note. "Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex."
They add that "the next safest partner is someone you live with. Having close contact — including sex — with only a small circle of people helps prevent spreading COVID-19."
'Large gatherings of any type are not safe during COVID-19'
Health officials also said, "Large gatherings of any type are not safe during COVID-19" — hello, protests? — and that "close contact with multiple people should be avoided."
Officials also advised against kissing when in a large crowd and to "pick larger, more open, and well-ventilated spaces."


theblaze--2020-06-10--UCLA students want 'woefully racist' professor FIRED for refusing to exempt black students from fina

UCLA students want 'woefully racist' professor FIRED for refusing to exempt black students from final exams

UCLA students want 'woefully racist ' professor FIRED for refusing to exempt black students from final exams 'People should not @ @ @ @ @ `` color of their skin '' '

This week on "Psuedo-Intellectual," BlazeTV host Lauren Chen talked about a UCLA professor who was suspended and has reportedly been placed under police protection, after he refused a request to exempt black students from final exams in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Gordon Klein, an accounting professor at UCLA, was suspended by the university after he declined a request to cancel final exams for black students. Klein asked how he would identify which students were black, given the course was online, and how he should grade students of "mixed parentage"?
"Do you know the names of the classmates that are black? How can I identify them since we've been having online classes only? Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half?" Klein wrote in response to one student's request that accommodations be made for minority students during "these trying times."
"One last thing strikes me," Klein added. "Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the 'color of their skin.' Do you think that your request would run afoul of MLK's admonition?"
Apparently Klein's suspension was not enough. Now students are petitioning for the school to "Fire UCLA Professor Gordon Klein."
"We ask for your support in having Professor Klein's professorship terminated for his extremely insensitive, dismissive, and woefully racist response to his students' request for empathy and compassion during a time of civil unrest," reads the petition.
"It would be one thing if the students had asked for exam extensions for everybody ... but, no, it's just the minority students," Lauren said. "If anything, that kind of mentality really is the bigotry of low expectations."
Watch the video below for more details:
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theblaze--2020-06-10--Officer charged after allegedly killing suspect with chokehold: 'I’m going to f*** choke you out, br

Officer charged after allegedly killing suspect with chokehold: 'I’m going to f*** choke you out, bro'

Officer charged after allegedly killing suspect with chokehold : ' I ’ m going to f*** choke you out , @ @ @ @ @ on bodycam

A former Las Cruces, New Mexico, police officer was charged with involuntary manslaughter Friday for allegedly killing a suspect who was fleeing and resisting arrest with a chokehold, NBC News reported.
Former Officer Christopher Smelser reportedly killed Antonio Valenzuela on Feb. 29. Valenzuela was pulled over and he had warrants for parole and probation violations. He tried to run away, and officers were unable to subdue him even after tasing him multiple times.
Body camera footage records Smelser telling Valenzuela "I'm going to f*** choke you out, bro," followed by the apparent sound of Valenzuela choking. He died at the scene.
The autopsy report lists the cause of death as "asphyxia injuries due to physical restraint," and noted that methamphetamines "significantly" contributed to his death.
The police report indicates that Smelser restrained Valenzuela with a "lateral vascular neck restraint," a controversial method that has since been banned by the Las Cruces Police Department.
Smelser's lawyer said Valenzuela had some kind of weapon in his pocket that he allegedly reached for during the altercation, although she did not detail what the weapon was, and there's no indication the weapon was taken out of the pocket during the incident.
Sam Bregman, the lawyer representing Valenzuela's family, said that Valenzuela was not attacking officers or brandishing a weapon, so there was no reason for the situation to escalate like it did.
"He was running away," Bregman said. "There was absolutely no justification to choke him, and certainly nothing to justify killing him. ... This police officer literally said, 'I'm going to choke you out, bro.' That is not involuntary manslaughter. That is second-degree manslaughter."
The police department filed a letter of intent to fire Smelser on the same day he was charged. Police use of force is under greater scrutiny nationwide after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.


theblaze--2020-06-10--Christopher Columbus statue beheaded in Boston. Democratic mayor makes reference to 'historic meanin

Christopher Columbus statue beheaded in Boston. Democratic mayor makes reference to 'historic meaning' of vandalism.

Christopher Columbus statue beheaded in Boston .
Democratic mayor makes reference to 'historic meaning ' of vandalism .
Statue will @ @ @ @ @ determine if it will ever go back up

After a Christopher Columbus statue was beheaded overnight in Boston, the city's Democratic mayor said Wednesday the statue will be placed in storage while conversations take place about the "historic meaning" of the vandalism — and whether or not the statue will ever go back up, WBZ-TV reported.
"This particular statue has been subject to repeated vandalism here in Boston, and given the conversations that we're certainly having right now in our city of Boston and throughout the country, we're also going to take time to assess the historic meaning of this action," Mayor Marty Walsh said, according to the station.
Image source: WBZ-TV video screenshot
The statue in Christopher Columbus Park on Atlantic Avenue was surrounded by crime scene tape early Wednesday morning, WBZ said, adding that the head of the statue was on the ground next to the base.
Image source: WBZ-TV video screenshot
Far from the first time
This head of the Columbus statue was cut off in 2006, the station said. And in 2015, red paint was poured on it while "Black Lives Matter!" was spray-painted on the statue's base.
Anything else?
Protesters ripped down a Columbus statue in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday night and tossed into a lake — and a local reporter said his photographer was attacked in process.
The Richmond-Times Dispatch reported no police presence at all during the vandalism and attack.


theblaze--2020-06-10--Sen. Tim Scott delivers scathing rebuke of leftists throwing racial slurs at him on Twitter, reveals

Sen. Tim Scott delivers scathing rebuke of leftists throwing racial slurs at him on Twitter, reveals truth about Senate Democrats and race

Sen. Tim Scott delivers scathing rebuke of leftists throwing racial slurs at him on Twitter , reveals truth about Senate @ @ @

Republican Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) shot back at his detractors Wednesday and exposed his Democratic colleagues' hypocrisy on race after he had allegedly been the subject of racially charged insults on Twitter.
Scott, who was tapped by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday to lead the GOP's legislative efforts on police reform, said in a Wednesday tweet that he has seen his name dragged through the mud on social media over the past 24 hours.
Twitter users had allegedly referred to Scott as "token," called him "boy," and argued that he is "being used."
In response, a bewildered Scott said, "Let me get this straight ... you DON'T want the person who has faced racial profiling by police, been pulled over dozens of times, or been speaking out for YEARS drafting this?"
The senator went on to rebut claims that the Democratic Party is the only party sympathetic to and representative of the black community in America.
"And don't throw 'you're the only black guy they know' at me either," he wrote in a follow-up tweet. "There are only two black Democratic Senators, stop pretending there's some huge racial diversity gap in the Senate.
He then appeared to expose the hypocrisy of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate, suggesting that despite their rhetoric, black Americans go largely underrepresented on their staffs.
"Ask my Dem colleagues what their staffs look like ... I guarantee you won't like the answer," he added.
According to NPR, Scott said Tuesday that the Republican legislation aimed at addressing the country's policing system will focus on increased training on de-escalation tactics to lessen the need for chokeholds and related police restraints. The bill may also include more funding for police body cameras and requirements for police departments to report to the Justice Department in the event of an incident resulting in death.
Scott said that today there is only $20 million in funding for body cameras and that only 40% of departments are underreporting requirements.
He added that Republicans hope to have the bill sent to the Senate floor by the Fourth of July recess.


theblaze--2020-06-10--Commentary: For the good of America, lets cancel 'cancel culture'

Commentary : For the good of America , lets cancel 'cancel culture' Let 's look out for one another , @ @ @ @ @ other down

We've all seen it happen. Someone makes an unsavory, inflammatory, or controversial post on social media. Those outraged then personally attack the poster and even harass the accused's employer. Understandably, the employer does not want to be connected to an online controversy at the risk of losing business and they sever ties with their employee. Condemned in the court of public opinion, the accused is irrevocably harmed.
This phenomenon is called "cancel culture" — and it is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies in America today.
Cancel culture embodies everything wrong with America. It is the pinnacle of our chaotic political discourse and magnifies the very worst of us.
Why social media is toxic
Social media provides many benefits. But one of the biggest drawbacks of being able to publish opinions at the click of a button is that people have lost the ability to self-filter. It is easier to make unsavory remarks behind the safety of a screen than it is to make those same remarks to a person's face.
Screens remove the barrier of having to feel the immediate weight of hurting another human being.
This unfortunate consequence of our hyperconnected world means that people every day write words online that they would never say in real life. Journey into the comments section on Facebook or any news story to see the offensive, crude, and repugnant words people write that they would never actually utter without the safety of their screen.
Despite this, people should not be "canceled" — thereby having their lives turned upside down because they lost their job — over regrettable online remarks.
Humans are messy — and we need grace
Adults understand that relationships are inextricably complex. Humans are complex creatures, and relationships require several ingredients for success: love, grace, mercy, empathy, forgiveness, equity, just to name a few. Without these necessary pieces, no relationship between messy humans will succeed, let alone function on a basic level.
We have to compromise. We have to give more than we take. We have to see the best in one another and call each other into the best version of who we are.
This process, of course, is riddled with hurt feelings and mistakes. But mature people understand that mistakes are the fire that forge growth. Without mistakes, people do not learn and they do not grow.
And that is what makes cancel culture so tragic. One word, one post, one picture — and people risk losing their livelihood.
Social media is an echo-chamber
Compounding the absurdity of cancel culture is the fact that social media, and most certainly political and news social media , is a massive echo-chamber. Social media does not accurately gauge the pulse of our society; it does not represent what the majority of well-meaning Americans believe.
Yet the power of social media is that certain voices are amplified in such a way that a few hundred people become a rip tide of pressure. And it is under this pressure that so many businesses cave.
In fact, there is no evidence that most social media controversies translate to any real-world impact to the businesses entangled in online anger. And even if they do, it is always temporary because our hyper-sensationalized culture quickly finds new issues over which to be outraged.
No reasonable person believes that the accused should have their life flipped upside-down over brief online controversy found in extremely small corners of the internet.
It changes no one
What's worse is that cancel culture does not have the intended effect that those who seek to cancel people think. Getting the accused fired from their job over unsavory online remarks only teaches the accused not to make those same remarks in that type of forum again.
In fact, I would wager that being canceled makes the accused further entrench themselves in what they already believe.
Getting someone canceled is not going to change their opinion, and it most certainly not going to make their opinion congruent with those who initiated the cancelling.
No one is innocent
The greatest irony of cancel culture is that no person is truly innocent. If our every thought or word were scrutinized, we would all fail the test.
No person can honestly hurdle the impossible standard established by cancel culture.
We are all human, and each one of us has bad days and we inevitably say words that we regret, comments that we do not actually mean and do not reflect our heart. The truth is that we should not be defined by our worst moments. Every human who has experienced relationship (that means everyone!) intuitively knows this to be true.
A path forward
We need to chart a new path because cancel culture is leading our society down a dark, and ultimately unsustainable, direction.
The trailhead of this journey will require more grace for one another, not less. More love for one another, not less. More empathy for one another, not less. More forgiveness for one another, not less.
We must allow our neighbors room to grow, and that means giving them the space they need to make mistakes. The road to wisdom, maturity, and nuance is paved with mistakes.
What cancel culture does is remove this critical aspect of what it means to be a human functioning in a community of other humans. If we do not cultivate room for growth, making space for people to make mistakes, we are hindering — not helping — people from becoming refined characters defined by empathy, grace, and selfless love.
The truth is: to be outraged is easy, but to love is hard.
And that is what we all truly desire; to be seen and to be known — yet still be loved despite our worst moments.
May we become a people who extend to our neighbor the love, grace, forgiveness, empathy, and understanding that we want for ourselves. Let's finally end the tragedy that is "cancel culture."


theblaze--2020-06-10--NYPD reportedly facing internal revolt as city leaders fail to defend rank-and-file officers

'Honestly , we feel alone out there '

As police departments nationwide face increased scrutiny, the New York Police Department, the largest police force in America, is facing a possible internal revolt.
NYPD rank-and-file officers are apparently angry that city leaders have failed to defend them in the wake of the civil unrest that exploded across America in the wake of George Floyd's death. That unrest eventually resulted in numerous NYPD officers being targeted; officers have been shot, stabbed, and even targeted with Molotov cocktails.
Absent of city leadership, the NYPD is facing a possible mass exodus.
Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik said Saturday that hundreds of NYPD officers were injured in the protests and hundreds more are considering turning in their badge — or have already done so.
"You have some in the hospital. But there were over 300, 300 injuries. And the thing that scares me, judge, I'm hearing close to 600 cops have either put in their papers, or they're talking to the department about resigning or retiring, like this is insane," Kerik told the Examiner.
An NYPD sergeant who spoke with the Washington Examiner corroborated Kerik's claims.
"The rumor is over 600 went to pension," the sergeant said. "I have less uniformed cops by me."
In fact, the sergeant said his only protection now is from his union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association.
"The [SBA] and the thousands [of dollars] I've sent them provide me with a lawyer and dental plan. Very important. No one else will back us at this point. Chiefs taking knees and humiliating themselves," the sergeant told the Examiner.
Indeed, SBA President Ed Mullins laid blame at the feet of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), and top NYPD brass for discord within NYPD's ranks.
"Honestly, we feel alone out there." Mullins told the Examiner. "You go out and spend 17 hours on this day, and then you check your phone, and you have certain members of Congress, the governor, the mayor, and they're saying that we're not doing a good job."
Rob O'Donnell, a retired NYPD detective, also confirmed the rumors.
"I personally know three close friends who wanted to do between two to three more years that retired last week, as they've had enough with a radical mayor and spineless police leaders," O'Donnell said.
Over the weekend, de Blasio announced that he would begin "shifting funds" away from the NYPD and instituting several reforms.


theblaze--2020-06-10--Radical socialist councilwoman lets hundreds of chanting protesters into Seattle City Hall — and the

Radical socialist councilwoman lets hundreds of chanting protesters into Seattle City Hall — and they demand Democratic mayor's resignation

Radical socialist councilwoman lets hundreds of chanting protesters into Seattle City Hall — and they demand Democratic mayor 's resignation @ @ @ @ @ call her fellow council members 'sellouts ' — to the cheers of protesters

Seattle Councilwoman Kshama Sawant and her staff let hundreds of George Floyd protesters inside City Hall on Tuesday night after which she appeared to call her fellow council members "sellouts" and protesters called for Democratic Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign, KOMO-TV reported.
City officials said the building is typically locked at night, the station said.
Sawant is an outspoken socialist. Indeed, during a Bernie Sanders campaign rally earlier this year, she told the adoring crowd, "We need a powerful socialist movement to end all capitalist oppression and exploitation!"
Once inside City Hall, she spoke to protesters and lamented about having to deal with "sellouts" and "corporate politicians," an apparent reference to her fellow council members.
"When I'm sitting on the dais, every moment I remind myself, they're not my people, you're my people," she told the protesters who responded with cheers.
But just in case you thought the throng was one big, happy, monolithic family, one protester reportedly warned the councilwoman to not use Black Lives Matter to advance her personal political ambitions.
Protesters also called for the defunding of police, KOMO said.
Officers deployed tear gas on protesters in Capitol Hill Saturday night, one day after the mayor announced a 30-day ban on using tear gas, the station said.
What did the mayor have to say?
In response to the protest, Durkan's office released the following statement Tuesday night, KOMO reported:
Mayor Durkan will not be distracted from the critical work that needs to be done at a moment that Seattle is facing its most challenging time in its history. The disparities, health, and economic impacts of the pandemic are an unprecedented challenge. Now we are faced with the pain and trauma relating to the murder of Mr. Floyd and the generations of systemic racism in our city and country that rightfully need to be addressed not through words but action. The City has so much healing and work to do — that is where Mayor Durkan will continue to spend her focus in the coming days, weeks and months ahead. At this pivotal moment, we cannot fan division when we need to come together to make actual steps on policing, invest in community, safely reopen our city to get workers back to work, and address the inequities in every system, including in education, housing, access to wealth building jobs and the criminal justice system.
As the person who originally investigated the Seattle Police Department for the unconstitutional use of force, Mayor Durkan believes that SPD can lead the nation on continued reforms and accountability, but knows this week has eroded trust at a time when trust is most crucial.
Mayor Durkan has worked non-stop over the last three months to keep our community safe and to address the inequities of the pandemic in our community. Working together, we must focus our investments in opportunities for communities of color and increase efforts that go even beyond what we built the first two years, like free college, expanding preschool, protecting domestic workers and rideshare drivers, building affordable housing, and investing in community led youth safety programs.
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-06-10--Spike Lee put a black Trump supporter in his latest movie because 'Some negroes...will drink the ora

Spike Lee put a black Trump supporter in his latest movie because 'Some negroes...will drink the orange Kool-Aid'

Spike Lee put a black Trump supporter in his latest movie because 'Some negroes ... will drink the orange Kool-Aid' @ @ @ @ @ , very small percentage '

Film director Spike Lee included a black Trump supporter in his latest movie, and he explained his reason for the choice using some colorful language, the Daily Wire reported.
The movie, called "Da 5 Bloods," is a story about five black Vietnam veterans who return to Vietnam decades later to recover the remains of some fallen soldiers and a stash of buried gold. One of the men is a supporter of President Donald Trump, a character Lee says will bring some "tension" to the movie, although he says the character is handled with dignity.
"Well, there are some negroes that have drunk or will drink the orange Kool-Aid that's coming in November, but it's a very, very small percentage and I needed — we needed that — my co-writer Ken Wilmott and I put some tension in the group," Lee said.
The actor who plays the Trump supporter, Delroy Lindo, said he had a hard time accepting the role due to concerns about how he might be perceived. Lindo tried to suggest that the character just be a conservative, but Lee insisted that he be a Trump supporter.
"I remember saying to Spike, 'I've got a 17-year-old son, man. I don't want him seeing me representing this person,'" Lindo said of the experience. "It had to do with my values, as a parent and as a being on the planet, feeling that I would be representing an individual who is … I don't have the words to discuss this individual."
Lee has been insulting and dismissive of black Trump supporters in the past, including a post mocking black conservatives praying for President Trump at the White House.
"Massa, We Love You, Massa. We Gonna Pray Fo' You Massa. Singing- 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,'" Lee mockingly wrote in an Instagram post from earlier this year.


theblaze--2020-06-10--White House coronavirus task force tells governors to prepare for spike in cases from George Floyd

White House coronavirus task force tells governors to prepare for spike in cases from George Floyd protests, says 70 testing sites have been destroyed

White House coronavirus task force tells governors to prepare for spike in cases from George Floyd protests , says 70 @ @ @ @ @

In a conference call with governors Monday, top officials on the White House coronavirus task force expressed concerns that a spike in virus infections could result from the mass protests erupting across the country in recent days over the death of George Floyd.
In an audio recording of the call obtained by the Daily Beast, Vice President Mike Pence can be heard bluntly stating that infection spikes due to protests are "an issue our team is following and there is a concern."
Coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx relayed fears that yelling by protesters may be counteracting the safety benefits of wearing a mask. She also informed governors that a whopping 70 testing sites across the country had been destroyed as part of the protests and riots, and urged them to "scramble now to make sure there is testing available in urban areas."
In a previous call, Birx had warned that large metropolitan areas could see a surge in cases due to the protests.
"This could result in a fight over the next two weeks," she said at the time.
On Monday's call, Birx relayed further concerns that at-risk populations may in fact be attending the protests in greater number as the demonstrations have grown more peaceful. She also told governors it's "absolutely critical" that law enforcement who worked the protests without wearing masks be tested.
Birx specifically noted that even as the pandemic wanes across the country, three states — California, Arizona, and North Carolina — had experienced a rise in infections.
"That makes us quite concerned," she said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was not on either of the calls, but said last week that the George Floyd protests are the "perfect set-up for the spread of the virus."
"There certainly is a risk, I would say that with confidence, when you see the congregation of crowds," he said in an interview with Washington D.C. radio station WTOP. "Particularly in a situation where you have a lot of confusion and a little bit of chaos, people running back and forth, taking their masks off, being close in proximity, that does pose a risk."
The warnings expressed by top officials on the task force stand in contrast to the dozens of public health experts who last week backed the protests, writing in an open letter that "white supremacy is a lethal public health issue that predates and contributes to COVID-19."
Only weeks ago, state and local officials in several states criticized protests of lockdown orders, arguing that such gatherings would put public health and safety at risk. Yet the large protests following George Floyd's death went on largely without any scrutiny.


theblaze--2020-06-10--'Cops,' the hit reality TV show that follows police officers, gets permanently canceled in wake of p

'Cops,' the hit reality TV show that follows police officers, gets permanently canceled in wake of protests

'Cops , ' the hit reality TV show that follows police officers , gets permanently canceled in wake of protests @ @ @ @ @ , whatcha gon na do , whatcha gon na do when they come for you @

"Cops," the documentary-style reality TV show that follows police officers in the line of duty and has aired since 1989, is being permanently canceled in the wake of new dialogue about police brutality in America.
Paramount Network, a ViacomCBS-owned TV channel, announced Tuesday that "Cops" would not return to its lineup, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"'Cops' is not on the Paramount Network and we don't have any current or future plans for it to return," a Paramount spokesperson said.
The show was originally slated to return for the start of its 33rd season on Monday.
More from The Hollywood Reporter:
Paramount Network's forerunner, Spike TV, picked up "Cops" in 2013 after it ended a 25-season run on Fox. The series continued following the 2018 rebranding of the channel as Paramount Network, which also had syndication rights to many past seasons.
Old episodes of "Cops" currently air on WGN America and the ViacomCBS-owned streaming service Pluto TV. WGN America's commitment to the show expires at the end of June and the cable network, owned by Nexstar, doesn't plan to renew it, sources told The Hollywood Reporter.
News of the reality show's demise comes nearly a week after "Cops" and "Live PD," an A&E show that follows police officers live on duty, were pulled from programming in the wake of nationwide civil unrest.
Another similar show "Body Cam," which airs on Discovery ID, has also been pulled, at least temporary, from the airwaves, the Washington Post reported.
The reality shows have long been a target for scrutiny by critics who think they glorify aggressive police tactics.
Indeed, law enforcement culture is undergoing its most thorough examination ever in the shadow of George Floyd's tragic death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Police restraints, officers unions, and even whole departments are now being targeted for top-to-bottom reforms, and in the case of Minneapolis, even abolishment.


theblaze--2020-06-10--Petition demands college fire security official who fatally shot black teen in 1994 when he was a co

Petition demands college fire security official who fatally shot black teen in 1994 when he was a cop. School does just that.

Petition demands college fire security official who fatally shot black teen in 1994 when he was a cop .
School @ @ @ @ @ a university , we believe black lives matter '

New Jersey's Rowan University won't renew the contract of a head security official who fatally shot a 14-year-old black male in 1994 when he was a local police officer, PhillyVoice reported.
University President Ali Houshmand made the decision Monday as a petition to fire Peter Amico gained support, the outlet said. The school hired Amico as a contractor in 2008 and he rose to become head of Rowan's Office of Emergency Management in 2013, PhillyVoice added.
What's the background?
In April 1994, Amico was a police officer in Glassboro — where Rowan University is located — and was called to a domestic dispute after which he said Eltarmaine "L.T." Sanders lunged at him with a knife, PhillyVoice said. Amico fatally shot the teen, and days of protests ensued, the outlet reported. Amico claimed self-defense, and a federal investigation found no civil rights violations, and a grand jury declined to bring charges against him, PhillyVoice added.
Sanders had been fighting with his older cousin and was chasing him with a knife, according to accounts from those close to the family, the outlet said, adding that Sanders' mother called police. Amico was 29 at the time and a six-year veteran of the police department, PhillyVoice said.
A year later, the Gloucester County Police Awards Committee gave Amico a Combat Cross award for "combat with an armed assailant," which further angered the black community in Glassboro, the outlet said. Amico retired from the force in 2009, PhillyVoice said.
What did the petition say?
The petition to fire Amico characterized the award he received as "racist" and that Rowan University making Amico head of the Office of Emergency Management is a "revolting insult to the Sanders family and to African Americans everywhere."
"Peter Amico's continued presence as the person in charge [of emergency management] says loudly that 'Black Lives Don't Matter' at Rowan University," the petition added.
How did Rowan respond?
"Given the circumstances of Amico's employment prior to serving at the university and the necessarily painstaking evaluation of Rowan's institutional commitment to racial justice and equity, Amico's employment will be discontinued," Houshmand said in a statement, according to PhillyVoice.
Houshmand added, "As a university, we believe black lives matter. We are looking hard at our own organization, our policies, structure and culture," the outlet added.
'You reap what you sow'
Delores Sanders, the mother of the fatally shot teen, posted on Facebook in regard to her loss about a week after George Floyd's death which sparked nationwide protests against police brutality.
On the same day that Rowan announced that Amico's contract wouldn't be renewed, Delores Sanders posted the following on Facebook:
The updated version of the change.org petition to fire Amico states, "Victory. Good citizens of our beautiful nation and the world, on behalf of the Sanders family and all others suffering the loss of a family member due to police violence, we have, with unity of action, won a measure of social justice in the long train of police abuse for Black Americans. Peter Amico is being dismissed and the university is investigating the systemic racism on its campuses. In unity there is strength!"