theblaze--2020-07-09--Seven rioters who reportedly used mortars, high intensity lasers against officers arrested and charg

Seven rioters who reportedly used mortars, high intensity lasers against officers arrested and charged in Portland

Seven rioters who reportedly used mortars , high intensity lasers against officers arrested and charged in Portland They were allegedly @ @ @ @ @ a knife , and pipe bomb components

Federal prosecutors have charged seven rioters for their alleged roles in violent protests that took place outside the Mark O. Hatfield courthouse in Portland, Oregon, over the weekend.
According to a news release published by the Department of Justice Tuesday, some of the rioters had weapons such as a riot shield, a machete, a knife, mace, and components for a pipe bomb on them at the time of their arrest.
Officers attempting to protect the courthouse were allegedly targeted by rioters who "used aerial fireworks including mortars, [and] high intensity lasers targeting officers' eyes" as well as rocks, bottles, and paint balloons against them.
"Rowan Olsen, 19, of Portland, is charged with disorderly conduct, creating a hazard on federal property, and failing to obey a lawful order; Shant Singh Ahuja, 28, of Oceanside, California, is charged with destruction of federal property; and Andrew Steven Faulkner, 24, of Beaverton, Oregon; Gretchen Margaret Blank, 29, of Seattle, Washington; Christopher Fellini, 31, of Portland; Cody Porter, 28, of Portland; and Taimane Jame Teo, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, are charged with assaulting federal officers," U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced in the news release.
Here's more from the DOJ:
On July 2-3, 2020, Olsen is accused of using his body to push on and hold a glass door at the Hatfield Courthouse closed, preventing officers from exiting the building and causing the door to shatter. With the door broken, a mortar firework entered the courthouse, detonating near the officers. The officers used shields and their bodies to block the open doorway for approximately six hours until demonstrators dispersed.
On July 4, 2020, Ahuja is accused of willfully destroying a closed-circuit video camera mounted on the exterior of the Hatfield Courthouse.
On July 5, 2020, Blank is accused of assaulting a federal officer with a shield while the officer was attempting to arrest another protestor.
On July 5-6, 2020, Faulkner, Fellini, Porter, and Teo are accused of assaulting federal officers with high intensity lasers. At the time of his arrest, Faulkner also possessed a sheathed machete.
The shocking list of charges alleges that those arrested were certainly not peaceful protesters, but rather appear to be purposeful agitators.
All seven of the people charged appeared before federal court on Monday. The Justice Department was careful to note that "a criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."


theblaze--2020-07-09--Hollywood star Ben Stiller refuses to cower to those who want Trump's cameo erased from 'Zoolander,'

Hollywood star Ben Stiller refuses to cower to those who want Trump's cameo erased from 'Zoolander,' says PC culture makes movies and comedy 'challenging'

Hollywood star Ben Stiller refuses to cower to those who want Trump 's cameo erased from 'Zoolander , ' says @ @ @ @ @ comedy 'challenging' The hatred of everything Trump is pretty extreme

Hollywood A-lister Ben Stiller is not surrendering to the political correctness movement or to members of the rabid anti-Donald Trump movement who suffer visceral reactions to any image of the president — regardless how old the pictures or video clips may be.
'You have to look at the context'
In a recent interview with "The New Abnormal" podcast, Stiller discussed today's politically correct culture and its impact on comedy and movie-making. The actor-director noted how there are several movies — particularly satire — that were made just a few years ago that could not be made in today's climate, including his controversial hit, "Tropic Thunder."
Asked about the impact of today's "preposterous politics" on comedy and movie-making, Stiller, said, "Honestly, I don't know if it's the politics as much as just the atmosphere of the political correctness now and everybody being afraid to say something that's offensive."
"Comedically, it's definitely challenging," he said, adding, "I think it's much tougher now, and when I think about movies that I've worked on in the past, and I look at them now, definitely there are jokes and scenes and that I go, 'Oh, I don't know if we could have gotten away with that today, at all.'"
Specifically, he noted that "Tropic Thunder" — which included Robert Downey Jr. playing an actor who was playing the part of a black man and Stiller who portrayed an actor who played a mentally challenged character — likely wouldn't have been made in 2020.
He said that he could understand those feelings "contextually" today, however, he noted: "But at the time — that's the thing to me that's so complicated about how we approach what's appropriate and what's not in terms of the timeframe that it was made. It doesn't necessarily mean that anything was more appropriate at another time but you have to look at the context and realize that that's what was happening."
The Trump cameo
The discussion then turned to President Trump and his many cameos in TV shows and movies — and about whether to cut his his appearances from those productions, which some anti-Trump people have suggested.
Stiller directed the 2001 comedy movie "Zoolander," in which Stiller played the title character Derek Zoolander, an empty-headed, full-of-himself male model.
Among several celebrity cameos were Donald Trump and his then-girlfriend Melania Knauss. In the movie, Trump says of the main character, "Look, without Derek Zoolander, male modeling wouldn't be what it is today."
Donald trump Zoolander fan www.youtube.com
Stiller said Trump and the future first lady were included because of where the filming occurred.
"We were shooting at the now defunct VH1 Fashion Awards," Stiller said, "and as people were coming up the red carpet, we pulled them aside and asked them to talk about Derek Zoolander, and so Trump and Melania did that."
He, of course, had no idea at the time that he was filming the future controversial president.
Now, in the current environment where no one wants to be offended by anything they see or hear, especially when it comes to Donald Trump, people are suggesting that Stiller cut the Trump cameo from the movie.
"I've had people who reached out to me and said, like, 'You should edit Donald Trump out of "Zoolander,"' and all that," Stiller told the podcast.
Stiller, no Trump fan himself, noted that the controversy over Trump is similar to the fights going on over movies and TV shows that could not be made today.
Noting the Trump cameo in "Zoolander," Stiller said, "But at the end of the day, it's kind of like, again, that was a time when that exists and that happened."
The interview begins at the 17:50 mark:
(H/T: New York Post)


theblaze--2020-07-09--Man refused to wear a mask inside a store. So a fellow customer allegedly decided to pull a gun on h

Man refused to wear a mask inside a store. So a fellow customer allegedly decided to pull a gun on him in the parking lot.

Man refused to wear a mask inside a store .
So a fellow customer allegedly decided to pull a gun @ @ @ @ @ lot .

Police arrested a Massachusetts man after he reportedly pulled a gun on a man who was not wearing a mask in a Walgreens parking lot.
Masks are required by law in Massachusetts stores amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the details?
According to a Thursday report from the Boston Herald, authorities arrested 59-year-old Todd Goulston of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, after he reportedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at a fellow customer in the parking lot.
The outlet notes that Bridgewater Police arrived at the local Walgreens store on July 3 following a report of two men arguing inside the store. According to sources, the two men were exchanging words because one of them reportedly refused to wear a mask inside the store.
Police say that the argument continued — and escalated — once the two left the building and say that's when Goulston pulled out a handgun and turned it on the unnamed 30-year-old man. Without discharging his weapon, Goulston then got into his car and left the premises, authorities say. The 30-year-old man from Abington, Massachusetts, was not injured.
Authorities were able to identify Goulston following the altercation and visited him at his home, where they arrested him and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace.
Police confiscated the man's license to carry a gun and recovered several firearms from his home.
At the time of this writing, researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimate that there have been at least 110,602 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, with at least 8,243 deaths attributed to the virus.


theblaze--2020-07-09--Glenn Beck nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame

BlazeTV's Glenn Beck has been nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame, according to a newly released list of 2020 nominees.
Beck was nominated in the "Spoken Word On-Air Personality" category for his work on "The Glenn Beck Show," hosted by Premiere Networks.
He was nominated along with candidates from three other shows: John & Ken from "The John & Ken Show" on KFI-AM, Los Angeles; Stephanie Miller of "The Stephanie Miller Show" on WYD Media; and "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" on NPR.
According to a press release published by Inside Radio Wednesday, industry voting for four categories is set to begin Monday, July 13, while listener voting in the other two categories, including Beck's, is set to begin on July 20.
Due to health and safety concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony to induct new nominees will fittingly be conducted as a live radio broadcast in October.
"2020 marks 100 years of radio and, while we regret that we cannot hold an in-person event this year, we're looking forward to the excitement of a live, multi-location radio broadcast," Kraig Kitchin, chairman of the Radio Hall of Fame, said.
"I want to thank Dennis Green, Chair of this year's Nominating Committee, and all the radio professionals who are volunteering their time and expertise to the difficult task of selecting inductees from such an impressive list," he added in the press release.
Green, of Sun & Fun Media and Key Networks, said: "I look forward to working with the Committee and to honoring the 2020 Radio Hall of Fame inductees during the special live radio broadcast."
The organization added that winners of the two listener-voted categories will be determined by the public, who will vote online using the voting service Votem, as well as the nominating committee. The winner of the listener vote will receive "one vote among the committee votes."


theblaze--2020-07-09--Cops say tire mark on rainbow pride crosswalk is 'gesture of hate' — and get mocked mercilessly afte

Cops say tire mark on rainbow pride crosswalk is 'gesture of hate' — and get mocked mercilessly after identifying driver they believe left it

Cops say tire mark on rainbow pride crosswalk is 'gesture of hate ' — and get mocked mercilessly after identifying @ @ @ @ @ 'If this is what you guys do , let me just say I 'm getting @ @ @ @ @ police '

Police in West Vancouver, British Columbia, called a tire mark on a rainbow pride crosswalk a "gesture of hate," City News reported.
What are the details?
The rainbow pride crosswalk at the intersection of 16th Street and Esquimalt Avenue was unveiled June 30:
But a week later — around 4 p.m. Tuesday — staff inside the West Vancouver Police station heard a loud, sustained squealing sound, City News said.
A tire mark was found on the crosswalk — and police had a theory as to who's responsible for leaving it:
Surveillance video shows the same car from the latter tweet at the intersection and taking a right turn:
Two people appeared to be in the vehicle, the outlet reported.
What did police have to say?
"This is very upsetting," Cst. Kevin Goodmurphy said in a release, according to City News. "For whatever reason, this person has chosen to leave a gesture of hate on a crosswalk that stands for the exact opposite."
And on Thursday, police tweeted that they've identified the driver they believe is responsible for leaving the tire mark and included a thank you to "those who have come forward with information."
How are observers reacting?
Upon hearing the news that the cops got their man, so to speak, folks on Twitter mocked police without mercy:
"Y'all are a joke," one user said.
"It's ok everyone we're safe now," another person quipped.
"It's good to see tax payers money being used to find the skid mark bandits," someone else said.
"Do I need to be gay to use the crosswalk?" another commenter inquired.
"How do you even take yourselves seriously?" yet another user queried.
"If this is what you guys do, let me just say I'm getting on board with abolishing the police. If you guys are going to be useless, we don't need you," one user added.
"If you look closely, there are hardly any skid marks on the white stripe," one cheeky commenter noticed. "This driver must have been homophobic AND a white supremacist."
(H/T: The Post Millennial)


theblaze--2020-07-09--VIDEO: Don Lemon shows he doesn't understand Jesus Christ, says He 'admittedly was not perfect'

VIDEO : Don Lemon shows he does n't understand Jesus Christ , says He 'admittedly was not perfect '

CNN anchor Don Lemon has been in the news a lot lately for making contentious remarks — including calling for former President Barack Obama to be put on Mount Rushmore to solve racism and lecturing Terry Crews on what "Black Lives Matter" means — but perhaps none have been more contentious than the ones he recently made about Jesus Christ.
During a wide-ranging discussion about American race relations, monuments, and statues with fellow CNN anchor Chris Cuomo recently, Lemon decided to bring religion into the discussion in an effort to argue against the "deification" of America's Founding Fathers.
"Jesus Christ, if that's who you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth," Lemon said, unabashedly denying the divinity and sinless nature of Jesus Christ historically taught by the church for over two millennia.
Lemon used the blasphemous statement to set up an attack on the Founding Fathers: "So why are we deifying the founders of this country, many of whom owned slaves?"
Responding to Lemon's remarks on Twitter, conservative commentator Michael Knowles wrote, "Prominent leftists don't understand even the most basic aspects of the most basic things we believe."
Orthodox Christians for thousands of years have taught that Jesus, being God incarnate, lived a sinless life while on earth in order to become a perfect sacrifice for sinful human beings.
The apostle Paul wrote in scripture: "For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21, emphasis added).
Several other verses testify about the sinlessness of Jesus: Luke 4:34; Hebrews 4:15, 7:26; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:22; 1 John 3:5.
But Lemon disagrees. As for Cuomo, he stared blankly back as the statement was made, without contesting.
Though later he did say that "nothing human is perfect, we are all fallible."
Interestingly, Lemon also claimed that Jesus was "admittedly" not perfect, though did not provide any evidence for his claim. Perhaps because there isn't any.


theblaze--2020-07-09--Trump has 91% chance of re-election, according to model that got 25 of the last 27 elections right

Trump has 91 % chance of re-election , according to model that got 25 of the last 27 elections right @ @ @ @ @ Trump will have an even larger win in 2020 than his 2016 victory

A political science professor is asserting that President Donald Trump has a 91% chance of re-election in November against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Stony Brook University professor Helmut Norpoth made this political forecast by using the "Primary Model," an election prediction model that has a proven track record, including accurately predicting five out of the last six elections.
"The Primary Model gives Trump a 91 percent chance of winning in November," Norpoth told Mediaite on Tuesday. "This model gets it right for 25 of the 27 elections since 1912, when primaries were introduced."
The Primary Model, which Norpoth introduced in 1996, predicts that Trump will win the 2020 election by a wider margin than in 2016. The model, which was one of the few prognosticators that foretold a Trump win in 2016, expects to see Trump claim 362 electoral votes in the 2020 election, much higher than the 304 he won when he ran against Hillary Clinton.
The two elections that the Primary Model got wrong in the past 108 years were John F. Kennedy's election in 1960 and George W. Bush's election in 2000, when he won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote.
The Primary Model calculates a candidate's chance of winning elections based on performance in early primaries.
Biden kicked off his campaign by finishing fourth in Iowa's caucuses with 15.8% of the vote, placed fifth in New Hampshire with only 8.4% of the vote, and came in second place in Nevada with 18.9% of the vote. The former vice president then pulled off a decisive win in South Carolina on Feb. 29, followed by major victories in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Virginia on Super Tuesday to cement him as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.
However, Biden's early losses punctuate a lack of enthusiasm at the beginning of his campaign, a factor the Primary Model puts a lot of stock in. "If you can get people to come out for a primary that isn't even a contest, you have them hooked," Norpoth said.
Meanwhile, Trump has enjoyed renewed energy during the primaries.
"But in 23 of the 27 states that held primaries both this year and in 2012, when President Obama ran for re-election, Trump has racked up higher raw vote totals than Obama did — often doubling or tripling his predecessor's numbers," the New York Post reported in June.
The Primary Model's prediction of a Trump landslide in the 2020 election tells a much different story from recent national polls.
Biden leads Trump by four percentage points according to a Hill-HarrisX general election poll released on Wednesday. An Economist/YouGov poll from this week found that Biden leads Trump by nine points.
Biden holds a 12-point lead in the presidential race, according to a Monmouth University poll released last week. A CNN poll from June had the presumptive Democratic nominee with a commanding 14-point lead over President Trump.
An election prediction model released by Oxford Economics in May envisions that Trump will suffer a "historic defeat" in November's election, only receiving 35% of the popular vote, because of economic devastation stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The model has accurately predicted the winner of the popular vote in 16 of the past 18 elections.
"Well, I don't go by opinion polls, I go by the real polls," Norpoth said last week during an appearance on "Lou Dobbs Tonight. "I go by what happens in the primary elections. And in those primary elections, especially in the early ones, Donald Trump did very well, and Joe Biden, as many of you may have forgotten by now, struggled in New Hampshire, where he came in fifth."


theblaze--2020-07-09--Black peace activists fight Minneapolis City Council's plan to dismantle the police: 'It's time to s

Black peace activists fight Minneapolis City Council's plan to dismantle the police: 'It's time to stand up ... utopia is a bunch of BS'

Black peace activists fight Minneapolis City Council 's plan to dismantle the police : 'It 's time to stand up @ @ @ @ @ of BS '

Following the protests that stemmed from the killing of George Floyd by a city cop, the Minneapolis City Council pledged last month to begin the process of dismantling the Minneapolis Police Department. But that plan has not sat well with citizens who have seen crime grow in their communities and want to know what will be done if they're no longer able to count on the police.
Now a group of black peace activists is taking on the leadership of the city of Minneapolis over its push to dismantle the police.
The group held an "urgent news conference" Tuesday to raise their voices against the council's plan, WCCO-TV reported.
One of the activists, Lisa Clemons, who is a former police officer and is now with "A Mother's Love," told reporters, "We cannot continue to watch these bullets flying through our community."
For Clemons and her fellow advocates for peace, the time has come to "stand up" to the City Council and call its plan what it is: "B.S."
"It is time for us to stand up in this city. It is time to tell the City Council that utopia is a bunch of B.S.," Clemons said.
With the recent escalation in shootings in the city, she said Minneapolis is more like the Old West.
"We are not in Mayberry R.F.D.," she said. "We are in the wild, wild, West, and it is time for some answers."
Calling out a council member
Shortly after the news conference, Clemons was speaking to WCCO outside the venue when City Councilwoman Andrea Jenkins happen to pass by. The councilwoman was one of the members who voted to move closer to dismantling the police.
Clemons challenged Jenkins to come answer some questions, and Jenkins obliged.
When challenged on her position on dismantling the police, Jenkins said she knows the city still needs public safety officers, but the force needs to be "reimagined."
"I want to reimagine a police force that responds to the community in a way that is respectful," Jenkins said.
Clemons challenged Jenkins on the "recent surge in street violence."
"My only response to that is we are going to have, we will have those conversations," Jenkins replied. "We are in an emergency situation."
Despite the council's pledge to dismantle the police, ultimately any change would have to be voted on by the people of Minneapolis, WCCO noted.


theblaze--2020-07-09--CNN's Don Lemon apparently wasn't woke in 2013, ripping 'absent fathers' in black communities and 't

CNN's Don Lemon apparently wasn't woke in 2013, ripping 'absent fathers' in black communities and 'thug' behavior glorified in 'rap culture'

CNN 's Don Lemon apparently was n't woke in 2013 , ripping 'absent fathers ' in black communities and 'thug @ @ @ @ @ culture' He even agreed with then-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on the subject

CNN host Don Lemon is well known for his far-left points of view and deep embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is pushing hard to defund police around the country. Lemon earlier this week practically laughed off skyrocketing crime rates in big cities as police back off from doing their jobs and even look to quit altogether due to mounting forces against them:
But Lemon didn't always present himself this way.
Case in point is a 2013 CNN video showing Lemon shining the spotlight on problems in the black community — and actually agreeing with then-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on the subject.
What are the details?
Lemon aired a partial clip of O'Reilly saying, "The reason there is so much violence and chaos in the black precincts is the disintegration of the African-American family."
Lemon cut back to himself interjecting, "He's got a point. In fact, he's got more than a point. Bill?"
Back to O'Reilly: "Raised without much structure, young black men often reject education and gravitate towards the street culture, drugs, hustling, gangs. Nobody forces them to do that. Again, it is a personal decision."
Lemon then added, "He is right about that, too. But in my estimation, he doesn't go far enough. Because black people, if you really want to fix the problem, here's just five things that you should think about doing." The video shows Lemon naming points five and four: "pull up your pants" and "the N-word."
Real Clear Politics detailed a longer version of the video in 2013, noting that Lemon said "walking around with your ass and your underwear showing is not OK. In fact, it comes from prison when they take away belts from the prisoners so that they can't make a weapon. And then it evolved into which role a prisoner would have during male-on-male prison sex. The one with the really low pants is the submissive one. You get my point?" As for the N-word, Lemon at the time lobbied for black people to stop using it and asked entertainers to do the same.
"Now number three," he continued in five-point breakdown. "Respect where you live. Start small by not dropping trash, littering in your own communities. I've lived in several predominantly white neighborhoods in my life. I rarely, if ever, witnessed people littering. I live in Harlem now; it's an historically black neighborhood. Every single day I see adults and children dropping their trash on the ground when a garbage can is just feet away. Just being honest here."
Lemon then addressed point number two: "Finish school. You want to break the cycle of poverty? Stop telling kids they're acting white because they go to school, or they speak proper English. ... Over the course of a career, a college grad will make nearly a million dollars more than a high school graduate. That's a lot of money."
He concluded with point number one, saying it's "probably the most important" of the five: "Just because you can have a baby, it doesn't mean you should. Especially without planning for one or getting married first. More than 72% of children in the African-American community are born out of wedlock. That means absent fathers. And the studies show that lack of a male role model is an express train right to prison, and the cycle continues. So, please, black folks ... pay close attention to the hip-hop and rap culture ... that glorifies everything I just mentioned: thug and reprehensible behavior. A culture that is making a lot of people rich, just not you."


theblaze--2020-07-09--Horowitz: More MS-13 murder and illegal alien child rape in notorious Maryland sanctuary

Horowitz : More MS-13 murder and illegal alien child rape in notorious Maryland sanctuary

Long before Antifa anarchists were allowed to set up an autonomous zone for criminals in Seattle, Montgomery County, Maryland established a de facto autonomous zone of MS-13 and illegal alien murderers and rapists. Over the past year, I've been reporting on the trend of illegal alien child rapists and murderers who have been allowed to commit preventable crimes because the county harbors illegal aliens. The trend has been dubbed "Loco in MoCo" by acting deputy secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli.
Just as we see with the BLM anti-police and anti-incarceration agenda causing more black homicides than anything else, the same phenomenon occurs with sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. Ultimately, Hispanic residents are the most common victims of those places that become sanctuaries for illegal alien criminals. On Monday, ICE announced that six of the suspects arrested for the brutal ambush-style murder of Francisco Medrano-Campos outside his apartment in Wheaton, Maryland, in May were in the country illegally.
It is now confirmed that Carlos Andres Orellana, 21; Oscar Effrain Zavala-Urrea, 19; Romeo Almengor Oxlaj-Lopez, 20; Victor Alfonso Cruz-Orellana, 21; Daniel E. Huezo Landaverde, 19; and Jose Lainez-Martinez, 26, all entered the U.S. illegally from Central America during the recent waves from the northern triangle countries since 2014.
"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged immigration detainers with the Montgomery County Detention Center on Carlos Andres Orellana-Orellana, a citizen of El Salvador; Romeo Oxlaj-Lopez, a citizen of Guatemala; Oscar Zavala-Urrea, a citizen of Honduras; Daniel Enrique Huezo-Landaverde, a citizen of El Salvador; and Victor Cruz-Orellana, a citizen of El Salvador; following their arrests on first-degree murder charges," said ICE's Baltimore field office in a statement. "On July 2, ERO lodged a detainer on Jose Luis Lainez-Martinez, a citizen of El Salvador, following his recent arrest on first-degree murder charges in connection to the same homicide."
It turns out that Orellana-Orellana, Oxlaj-Lopez, Zavala-Urrea, and Cruz-Orellana all entered the U.S. as unaccompanied alien children (UACs). Despite the known gang and crime problem from Central Americans who self-traffic across the border as unaccompanied teens, our government continued to resettle hundreds of thousands of them as refugees for years until it was halted during the coronavirus epidemic. Once again, we see how a refugee program is abused in a way that makes it a magnet for some of the worst gang recruits in the country.
Also, according to ICE, Orellana-Orellana and Oxlaj-Lopez are subject to final orders of removal issued by an immigration judge when they failed to appear for their removal hearings. This means that because ICE is prevented from detaining enough criminal aliens and aliens are often released by immigration judges pending removal, these criminals were able to participate in a murder when they should have been out of the country. Remember, there are 3.2 million known criminals aliens on ICE's undetained docket who remain at large in this country. Over 2 million have final or pending final removal orders, yet remain in the country for years to commit crimes.
This is why there is such a great need to modify our expedited removal laws to ensure that at least illegal aliens with criminal records can be removed from the country without any judicial process, as was the case for most of our history, even if they were here longer than the two-year threshold to trigger expedited removal under current law. Why should we host other countries' criminals indefinitely where we clearly have enough of our own these days? Criminals should be removed immediately by the federal government, and any state that refuses to cooperate should be denied funding in the budget bill.
Which brings me to the case of Linder Meza-Garcia, 18, who is now accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in Montgomery County, but was released on just $10,000 bond without being transferred to ICE. Kevin Lewis of WJLA reports that he is being charged with second-degree rape for sneaking into the home of the 12-year-old girl and having sexual relations with her on numerous occasions. Luckily, ICE was able to apprehend him after he bonded out, but that is often not the case, especially with federal judges barring them ICE from staking out courthouses to nab criminal aliens before they post bond.
Meza-Garcia is an illegal alien from Honduras who was caught by Border Patrol in April 2019 but was resettled in Maryland as an unaccompanied alien minor. It's unclear if Meza-Garcia knew the girl from school, but older illegal aliens, sometimes as old as 21, have been known to prey on younger girls when sanctuaries like Montgomery County place them in American schools against the consent of the citizenry. In February, a 20-year-old illegal alien was charged with raping an 11-year-old he knew from the school they attended together.
Finally, there is the case of Rene Ramos-Hernandez, 56, mentioned in the same article by Kevin Lewis. In August 2018, Montgomery County detectives issued a warrant for his arrest after a victim accused him of child rape at least ten times, years back, when she was a minor. It took two years to catch him, and he was finally booked in jail a few weeks ago on June 18. He was released by a judge on just $30,000 bond in the ever-growing trend of dangerous criminals of all backgrounds being released on little or no bond. Lewis reports that, according to ICE, ICE was notified of the release by Montgomery County police just minutes before the release and could not scramble the agents to make an arrest in time. As a result, Ramos-Hernandez remains at large.
Where is the sanctuary for Americans to live peacefully in their own country without known repeat sex offenders, gang members, and murderers of other countries being resettled and then released into their communities and even schools? If Trump has one fight left on his hands for the remainder of his presidency, it's to veto any bill that does not deny funding for lawless cities that harbor criminals of all types, especially those who could easily be removed from our communities.


theblaze--2020-07-09--SCOTUS says New York prosecutors can seek Trump's tax documents, blocks Congress from getting them

SCOTUS says New York prosecutors can seek Trump's tax documents, blocks Congress from getting them — at least for now

SCOTUS says New York prosecutors can seek Trump 's tax documents ,  blocks Congress from getting them — at @ @ @

In a pair of rulings Thursday, the Supreme Court decided that President Trump's tax documents can be sought as a part of a criminal investigation, but that, at least for now, Congress is not able to get his financial records.
In a 7-2 decision in Trump v. Vance, the court rejected arguments by Trump's lawyers and the Department of Justice that the president is immune to a state criminal investigation while in office or that a higher standard is needed to subpoena a sitting president.
The tax documents are being sought as a part of a grand jury investigation into alleged hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. The ruling allows prosecutors to seek the president's tax documents.
The court's decision in Trump v. Mazars, also 7-2, was released only minutes later. The ruling dealt with Congress' subpoena of Trump's financial records.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion in both cases, wrote that "congressional subpoenas for information from the President, however, implicate special concerns regarding the separation of powers. The courts below did not take adequate account of those concerns."
The court's ruling in Trump v. Mazars sends the case back down to the lower courts with no clear prospect for when it might be fully resolved, the Associated Press reported.
The AP also noted that "the outcome in the two cases is at least a short-term victory for Trump, who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private." Since grand jury proceedings are confidential, it is unlikely that Trump's financial records will become public any time soon.
This is a developing story and may be updated.


theblaze--2020-07-09--'The country is not going to survive': Mark Levin reacts to jaw-dropping Campus Reform video

'The country is not going to survive ' : Mark Levin reacts to jaw-dropping Campus Reform video College students had @ @ @ @ @ country declared its independence

On "LevinTV" this week, host Mark Levin reacted to a Campus Reform video in which students fail spectacularly to answer some of the most basic questions about America's founding, such as what year our country declared independence, which nation we declared independence from, and what war was fought for American independence.
While most of the students couldn't even come close to answering these questions, they were quick to assert that America is a racist country "built off of slavery."
"This will frighten you," Levin said of the video. "They [students] know a whole lot about so-called systemic racism, so-called systemic inequality, so-called systemic injustice. They know about all the warts and vices in our past, but they won't know about the greatness of the country because they're not taught about [that]."
Levin noted how much the average American pays through taxes for the public school systems, which have been nationalized by "har-core left-wing Democrat operations" such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, while parents often have absolutely no insight into or say about what is taught in our country's classrooms.
"We've let education get away from us. Then our children get away from us and you've seen the consequences. If a country doesn't teach its children to love the country, than the country is not going to survive."
Watch the video below for more details:
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theblaze--2020-07-09--Media outlets pounce on Trump rally, ignore BLM protests, after Tulsa official says both ‘likely con

Media outlets pounce on Trump rally, ignore BLM protests, after Tulsa official says both ‘likely contributed’ to COVID surge

Media outlets pounce on Trump rally , ignore BLM protests , after Tulsa official says both ‘ likely contributed ’ @ @ @

During a news conference Wednesday, Dr. Bruce Dart, the director of the Tulsa Health Department, suggested that large gatherings in the county within the past few weeks — such as President Donald Trump's rally and protests — "more than likely contributed" to the recent spike in coronavirus cases in Tulsa County, Oklahoma.
After the county reported a record-high 261 new cases on Monday and 206 on Tuesday, Dart said it was sensible to assume that the large gatherings had something to do with it.
"Are we starting to see connections to the Trump rally or other protests?'" Dart said to reiterate a reporter's question. "The past two days we've had almost 500 cases, and we know we had several large events a little over two weeks ago, which is about right, so I guess we just connect the dots."
A little earlier in the news conference, Dart acknowledged that Tulsa County was reporting the highest number of cases in the state and added that "we've had some significant events in the past few weeks that more than likely contributed to that."
You can watch Dart's remarks below beginning at the 30-minute mark:
Selective media coverage
Despite Dart's clear mention of events, plural, that may have contributed to the spike, several major news outlets elected to report solely on the Trump rally. Here's a rundown of some of the headlines:
Coronavirus Surge in Tulsa 'More Than Likely' Linked to Trump Rally - the New York Times
Health official: Trump rally 'likely' source of virus surge - Associated Press
Tulsa sees Covid-19 surge in the wake of Trump's June rally - CNN
Tulsa Health Official Says Trump Rally 'Likely Contributed' to Surge in COVID-19 Cases - Time
Trump Rally Likely Fueled Virus Cases, Tulsa Official Says - Bloomberg
Tulsa health official says Trump rally 'likely contributed' to spike in coronavirus cases - CBS News
Trump rally likely contributed to surge in COVID-19 cases, Tulsa health official says - ABC News
While it is true that Dart specifically cited the June 20 Trump rally as a likely contributing factor, he also made reference to "other protests" and "several large events," which would include the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that occurred in the city in mid-June, as well.
A day before the president came to town, "more than a thousand people gathered along Greenwood Avenue" in Tulsa to celebrate Juneteenth, the New York Times reported. Then on the day of the rally, separate Black Lives Matter protests were held outside the venue that Trump was set to speak at.
CBS News even reported that while the majority of interactions were civil, "little-to-no social distancing was" being practiced between BLM protesters and Trump supporters.
Yet most major news outlets, save the Washington Post, make no mention of these "other protests" in their headlines.
It is this type of selective reporting that causes many Americans to distrust the media.


theblaze--2020-07-09--VIDEO: Black NYPD officer mocks overly cautious policing tactics

Cop lampoons new overly cautious NYPD strategies when dealing with criminals , offers a 'comfortable ' arrest .

A black NYPD cop recorded a video to lampoon new and overly cautious policing tactics being implemented in New York City following the nationwide protests against police brutality.
In the parody video, the unnamed NYPD police officer said he has been "studying these tactical videos" that he has been required to watch, which are part of the movement to reform police departments following George Floyd's death.
The officer says when approaching possible criminals to "make sure you're in a comfortable body state" and maybe strike a relaxed "beach pose" to be as non-threatening as possible.
The cop then acts out a hypothetical arrest of a criminal who has shot two people. "Hello, sir, you are under arrest," the cop says. "You know what, maybe we're just detaining you, we're not sure."
"What we're going to need you to do is to lay down on the ground," he tells the imaginary perp. "Me and my counterpart here ... are going to approach you, touch your shoulder, and hopefully, slide your arm to the back."
The officer then attempts to handcuff the fictional shooting suspect, but the offender objects to having his arms put behind his back to be handcuffed because it is "uncomfortable." The cop is accommodating and agrees to use multiple handcuffs so as not to force the suspect into an uncomfortable position.
The NYPD cop then pretends to call the police dispatcher to request backup because the theoretical shooting suspect complained that the ground is too hard, and the officer requests a comfy mat to be brought to the crime scene to make it cozy for the arrestee.
"Oh, the ground's too hard? Don't worry, we've got the mats coming for you," the cops tells the make-believe suspect.
"You may not be under arrest, I'm not sure," he jokes in the spoof video. "I have a supervisor coming who is going to supervise me, and he'll be supervised by a supervisor whose supervising the supervisor, and we're just all going to sit here and watch you tell us what to do."
The NYPD started to reform its police force last month by eliminating the controversial plainclothes units known as "anti-crime units," impacting about 600 officers.
Earlier this month, the New York City Council approved Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to cut nearly $1 billion from the NYPD's budget and divert funds to "youth and social services as part of our city's budget."
During the rise of anti-cop sentiment and as the "defund the police" movement gained popularity nationwide, there was a 49% increase in retirements from the New York Police Department between May 25 until June 23, compared to the same period in 2019.
New York City has experienced a wave of crime in recent weeks. One report found that shootings skyrocketed by more than 200% last month.
(CAUTION: Explicit language)


theblaze--2020-07-10--Dems call for boycott of Hispanic-owned food company Goya after CEO praises President Trump

Democratic politicians and leftists on Twitter are rallying to boycott Hispanic-owned food-maker Goya, after the company's CEO heaped praise on President Donald Trump.
What are the details?
During a speech in the White House Rose Garden following a roundtable for Hispanic businesses and leaders on Thursday, Goya CEO Robert Unanue said, "We're all truly blessed at the same time to have a leader like President Trump, who is a builder."
He added, "We have an incredible builder. And we pray. We pray for our leadership, our president, and we pray for our country — that we will continue to prosper and grow."
NPR reported that "Unanue, a third-generation Spanish American, enraged many with his remarks, including some high-profile Democrats, who also signaled that they would no longer support Goya's products."
Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) declared on Twitter, "Oh look, it's the sound of me Googling 'how to make your own Adobo."
Failed Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro tweeted, "@GoyaFoods has been a staple of so many Latino households for generations. Now their CEO, Bob Unanue, is praising a president who villainizes and maliciously attacks Latinos for political gain. Americans should think twice before buying their products. #Goyaway"
Immigrant youth organization United We Dream put out a statement saying, "We don't support companies who endorse and comply with a White Supremacist regime. Under capitalism, know the power of the dollar in their eyes. We're using it to make a statement. Pledge your commitment to boycotting Goya Foods today."
By evening, "Goya" was the top trending word on Twitter, along with the hashtags #BoycottGoya and #Goyaway.
According to Goya Foods' website, the company was founded by Spanish immigrants Don and Carolina Prudencio Unanue in 1936, and is currently "the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States."


theblaze--2020-07-10--NYC Mayor de Blasio says he's banning all large gatherings to stop coronavirus — except for BLM prot

NYC Mayor de Blasio says he's banning all large gatherings to stop coronavirus — except for BLM protests

NYC Mayor de Blasio says he 's banning all large gatherings to stop coronavirus — except for BLM protests Wolf @ @ @ @ @ at the double standard

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Thursday that he's banning all large public gatherings to stop the spread of coronavirus, except for Black Lives Matter protests.
De Blasio made the curious comments while appearing on CNN with Wolf Blitzer on Thursday.
"It means things like parades, you know things that here in the city could mean not just thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people," said de Blasio of his ban. "It's just not time for that now."
"What about protests? If people want to march down Fifth Avenue, are they gonna be allowed to do so?" asked Blitzer.
"Look, Wolf, this is always an area of real sensitivity. If you're just talking about health, we would always say hey folks you know stay home if you can," responded de Blasio.
"But we understand this moment in history people are talking about the need for historic changes," he added.
"I mean today, in New York City, you know, recognizing the power and the meaning of the message Black Lives Matter, which we did in front of Trump Tower today, this is a historic moment of change," de Blasio continued, "we have to respect that, but also say to people, the kinds of gatherings we're used to, the the parades, the fairs, we just can't have that while we're focusing on health right now."
The mayor was referring to his joining activists in trolling President Donald Trump by painting a large Black Lives Matter mural on the street in front of the Trump International Hotel.
De Blasio has been excoriated by his critics and even some on the left for his mishandling of the coronavirus response in New York City.
Here's the video of de Blasio's comments:


theblaze--2020-07-11--Texas GOP sues Democratic Houston mayor for canceling their convention

'Mayor Turner stated publicly that he had tasked his legal team to find an excuse to cancel the convention '

The Republican Party of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Democratic Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, saying he singled them out and shut down their gathering out of political motivation.
What are the details?
The Texas GOP was notified Wednesday that they could no longer hold their convention slated for next week in Houston, after the mayor instructed the city's legal department to coordinate with the venue's owner, Houston First Corporation, to scrap its contract for the gathering over the coronavirus fears.
Republicans called Turner's move "a political stunt," and accused him of hypocrisy given the mayor's participation in George Floyd protests involving thousands of people weeks earlier.
The next day, the party filed a lawsuit against Turner, the city of Houston, Houston First Corporation, and its CEO seeking a court order allowing the in-person convention to go on as planned. If the court does not respond in time and the event is still canceled, the plaintiffs are seeking $1 million in damages.
In a statement explaining the legal action, the Republican Party of Texas stated:
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's use of the Force Majeure clause is just a pretext to his intent to treat the Republican Party of Texas differently than other groups, such as those we have seen from recent protests in the city of Houston. It should go without saying that a political viewpoint cannot be the basis for unequal treatment. Mayor Turner publicly stated his intention to interrupt the convention process and disenfranchise Republicans around the state, and yesterday he put his scheme into action.
The lawsuit argues that "mere pandemic is not sufficient to warrant cancellation of the Convention," and "the Convention is an exercise of the fundamental right of Freedom of Assembly" under the Constitution.
What did the mayor say?
Mayor Turner stated on Twitter:
No one wanted to politicize the decision to cancel the (Republican) convention. The medical association, Greater Houston Partnership, and their sponsors wrote letters asking the party to cancel their in-person convention and make it virtual.
The public health concern for our first responders, convention workers, and those who would have attended weighed heavily in our decision making. Houston is in the midst of a global health crisis and we are doing everything in our power to combat #COVID19.
In regards to comparing the marches and protests to the convention: 'If people want to march from (venue) George R. Brown to City Hall, that's your right. It's a different thing when you're taking (sic) about an indoor convention and people are in close proximity.'
The mayor added, "When people are marching or demonstrating, they are walking, they are moving. Nobody is making their breakfast or serving them. If you want to march and protest, you are assuming responsibility for yourself and those around you."


theblaze--2020-07-11--Breaking: Trump says he will sign an executive order to give 'Dreamers' a pathway to citizenship

Breaking : Trump says he will sign an executive order to give 'Dreamers ' a pathway to citizenship 'We are @ @ @ @ @ to citizenship . '

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would sign an executive order to give "Dreamers" a pathway to citizenship, although an administration official quickly issued a statement that seemed to walk that back.
The president made the announcement Friday while speaking with the Telemundo network.
"And I'm going to be over the next few weeks, signing an immigration bill, a lot of people don't know about it, you have breaking news, but I am signing a big immigration bill," said Trump.
"This is an executive order?" asked anchor Jose Diaz-Balart.
"Do a big executive order, I have the power to do it as president, and I'm gonna make DACA a part of it, but we put it, and then we're probably gonna be taking it out," he added.
DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, stands for the Obama-era executive order that was meant to provide a quasi-legal status to those who were brought into the country illegally as children.
"One of the aspects of the bill is going to be DACA. We are going to have a road to citizenship," Trump said.
The president went on to say that he, and a lot of Republicans, will be happy to give a road to citizenship to DACA recipients.
According to writer Ryan James Girdusky who spoke to Trump administration sources, the order would rescind DACA and replace it with a merit-based immigration program.
"The [executive order] does not include a path to immigration for DACA recipients... because it's entirely illegal. The Trump Administration is still working on rescinding DACA," tweeted Girdusky.
"This [executive order] is going to be all merit based immigration prioritizing based on skill," he added.
Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has released an immigration plan that would provide citizenship for up to 11 million illegal aliens.
Here's the video of his comments:


theblaze--2020-07-11--Texas A&M student claims racist notes were placed on his car. Police say it looks like he did it.

Texas A & M student claims racist notes were placed on his car .
Police say it looks like he @ @ @ @ @ has been closed .

A Texas A&M student made headlines last month after claiming someone plastered papers with racist messages on the windshield of his car.
Police launched an investigation, and discovered that the most likely suspect is the alleged victim, himself.
What are the details?
Student Isaih Martin told KBTX-TV a few weeks ago that he found hateful notes on his car, which was parked at an apartment complex on school property. He took photos of the messages placed on his vehicle, and posted them on Twitter.
"All three signs were different signs, and one said 'All Lives Matter' and the other said 'You don't belong here,' and the other was very explicit, it said the n-word with a hard 'r'," Martin recalled. "For them to tell me I don't belong here, when I have earned my spot like everybody else here, and am working to get a degree like everyone else is, that was just kind of hurtful because if anything I deserve to be here just as much as anybody else."
He added, "Racism is here in College Station and that problem needs to be addressed and brought up and needs to be fixed."
Texas A&M President Michael Young released a statement condemning the "detestable racist event," and the school apologized to Martin and offered a $1,200 reward for information pointing to those responsible for the notes.
On Thursday, Texas A&M campus police reported that after reviewing surveillance footage, it appears "no other person had enough time to place the message on Martin's car other than himself."
Officers did not release the video, but described it in detail, noting that Martin was seen on camera walking to the side of the vehicle without opening the door and then "white specks" were seen moving from Martin "toward his vehicle." Police added that "Martin is then seen stepping back and onto the sidewalk in front of his vehicle, most likely taking photos and videos."
What else?
In a follow-up story, KBTX reported that Martin vehemently denies having any involvement with the notes, and that he has faced "increased skepticism" online, "especially after announcing this week he consulted with an attorney and was no longer speaking with police."
The investigation has now been closed, and police say the county attorney's office informed them the incident did not qualify as a false report because Martin did not report a crime.


theblaze--2020-07-10--Mark Levin: BLM is the equivalent of the KKK

Mark Levin : BLM is the equivalent of the KKK And the 'Democrat operatives in the media ' keep defending @

On "LevinTV" this week, host Mark Levin argued that Black Lives Matter is a "Marxist, anarchist organization" whose goal is to overthrow the United States government. He called out the "Democrat operatives in the media," such as CNN hosts Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, for running interference for BLM and Antifa, seemingly without understanding who and what they're defending.
"BLM is the equivalent of the KKK in terms of its racism, in terms of its anti-Semitism, in terms of its anti-Americanism. And this is the point that the left refuses to acknowledge and, in fact, attacks anyone who mentions it." Levin said.
"This is what [BLM] told us. This is what they believe in," Levin said. "And yet Don Lemon keeps running interference for them, as he did Antifa ... 'Fredo' (Cuomo) could be the same. These are Democrat operatives in the media, defending Democrat operatives in the Black Lives Matter movement and the Antifa movement."
Watch the video below to hear more from "the Great One":
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theblaze--2020-07-10--Phil Robertson's long-lost daughter reveals what the 'Duck Dynasty' star told her in emotional first

Phil Robertson's long-lost daughter reveals what the 'Duck Dynasty' star told her in emotional first meeting

Phil Robertson 's long-lost daughter reveals what the 'Duck Dynasty ' star told her in emotional first meeting '' I @ @ @ @ @ best words he could have spoken to me . ''

"Duck Dynasty" fans found out in May that there was another member of the Robertson family when Phil's long-lost daughter was introduced to the world. Phyllis Robertson Thomas is now sharing some of the personal details of the first time she met her father, Phil Robertson, including the first words that meant everything to her.
Phyllis discovered that the man who raised her was not her biological father on Nov. 30, 2019, after receiving her DNA test results. This life-changing revelation triggered an internal yearning to track down the father she never met.
Despite fears of her birth father not accepting her or being disappointed, Phyllis soldiered on to try to locate her biological father. But before she would meet her father, she was welcomed with wide-open arms by her new family.
"When I received that first phone call from family, that first reciprocal connection, the flood gates opened, and I cried on the phone with a total stranger, a first cousin, who responded with compassion and explained to me that mine was a story of redemption, of beauty from ashes, of the only good coming from a man's evil and wayward past," Phyllis wrote on the Al and Lisa Robertson website.
"That first call framed every facet of what followed as brothers, sisters-in-law, and a special mom, Miss Kay, reached out to me," she explained. "I felt loved and accepted, reminded that God was doing something big."
Then, on Feb. 21, 2020, Phyllis finally met her real father in a stirring and emotional moment. What touched the heart of Phyllis most about the first father-daughter encounter was Phil's first words to her.
"His first words were 'I had no idea,'" Phyllis pointed out.
"I told him those were the best words he could have spoken to me," she continued. "You see, if he'd known about me and never found me, I would have been devastated. Those words allowed me to offer grace and compassion. I could see in his own eyes feelings of shock, disappointment, and even embarrassment. He had no idea."
"God is a God that restores broken people. I was a broken mess, a slave to my desire," Phil told TheBlaze about his wild days decades ago. "God redeemed me 45 years ago, but He didn't stop there. 45 years later, God is continuing to restore me. He has brought me to my long-lost daughter, and I love her."
Phyllis revealed that she forgives her father, noting that her situation is a "powerful story of faith, forgiveness, and reconciliation."
"My father didn't know and my mother chose life," Phyllis wrote. "God knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb and he had a plan and purpose for my life. I've held on to that truth for as long as I can remember."
"I just see God in every step of the way," Phyllis said on the "Unashamed with Phil Robertson" podcast. "God was in this story and writing this story."
Phyllis Robertson Thomas said she has "made preparations to move near" her new-found family.
How Phil Robertson Met His Daughter | Ep 95 www.youtube.com


theblaze--2020-07-10--UPDATED: Trump commutes the sentence of Roger Stone, releases scathing statement

Stone asked for a commutation and not a pardon

President Donald Trump is expected to use his executive powers to commute the sentence of Roger Stone, his longtime friend, as early as Friday evening.
Fox News first reported the development.
Stone was scheduled to report to prison in order to serve a three year sentence for charges from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
Fox News says that sources indicated the president could commute the sentence as early as Friday evening.
Trump hinted at the possibility of a commutation earlier in the day.
"I think Roger Stone was very unfairly treated," said the president to reporters, "as were many people, and in the meantime Comey and all these guys are walking around, including Biden and Obama, because we caught them spying on my campaign. Who would have believed that one?"
Stone also told MSNBC's Howard Fineman that he didn't want a pardon from the president, which would imply guilt, but that he wanted a commutation.
"He knows I was under enormous pressure to turn on him," said Stone according to Fineman.
"It would have eased my situation considerably. But I didn't," he added.
8:20 p.m. Update: The White House press secretary released a lengthy statement after the president commuted the sentence of Roger Stone.
"Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Grant of Clemency commuting the unjust sentence of Roger Stone, Jr.," the statement said in part.
"Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency. There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia. Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election. The collusion delusion spawned endless and farcical investigations, conducted at great taxpayer expense, looking for evidence that did not exist," the statement continued.
"Roger Stone has already suffered greatly," the statement later concluded. "He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man!"
Here are Trump's comments on Roger Stone's plight:


theblaze--2020-07-10--Tony Dungy completely schools Don Lemon over the Bible, Christianity, after Lemon insists Jesus wasn

Tony Dungy completely schools Don Lemon over the Bible, Christianity, after Lemon insists Jesus wasn't 'perfect'

Tony Dungy completely schools Don Lemon over the Bible , Christianity , after Lemon insists Jesus was n't 'perfect' Ca @ @ @ @ @ Joey Foley/FilmMagic

Former NFL coach and NBC broadcaster Tony Dungy says CNN's Don Lemon doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to claiming Jesus wasn't perfect.
What are the details?
Dungy criticized Lemon on Thursday after the CNN host wrongly claimed that "Jesus Christ admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth."
He also added that no one who believes in the Bible is buying Lemon's claims.
"I'm sorry Mr. Lemon but just who 'admitted' that Jesus Christ was not perfect here on earth?" Dungy wrote, sharing a video of the exchange between Lemon and Cuomo. "Not anyone who believes the Bible. Not anyone who trusts in Jesus as their savior! I'm not sure the point you're making but your premise is dead wrong. That was the point in Jesus coming!"
Lemon issued the controversial remarks during a recent wide-ranging discussion with fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo about the current state of racial affairs in the U.S., and trying to draw similarities between Jesus and America's founding fathers.
"Jesus Christ, if that's who you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth," Lemon shrugged. "So why are we deifying the founders of this country, many of whom owned slaves?"
To a Twitter user, Dungy later added, "If you don't agree with the fact that Jesus was sinless on earth then you can throw out the whole Bible because that's the premise Christianity stands on."


theblaze--2020-07-10--Chinese churches reportedly required to praise Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus before being

Chinese churches reportedly required to praise Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus before being allowed to reopen

Chinese churches reportedly required to praise Xi Jinping 's handling of the coronavirus before being allowed to reopen If they @ @ @ @ @ down

State-run churches in China are allegedly under orders from the country's communist leadership to praise Chinese President Xi Jinping before being permitted to reopen, according to religious liberty watchdog reports.
A publication on Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China, reported that the Lishiting Catholic Church in the Shunhe district of Kaifeng reopened on June 14 after five months of being closed, but only after proving its loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"We solemnly raise the national flag here today after the epidemic, witnessing the fruits of all people working together under the leadership of Xi Jinping who directs the government and the Party," a priest reportedly told a gathering of about 20 people as government officials looked on.
A similar occurrence took place at the Gangxi Christian Church nearby when it opened its doors for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
"Instead of singing hymns to praise God, the government required us to raise the national flag and sing the national anthem, praising Xi Jinping's 'victory in fighting the epidemic,'" commented one anonymous congregant. "This is completely contrary to our belief."
The Gangxi Christian Church Sing The National Anthem During A Flag-raising Ceremony youtu.be
A pastor from Quannan Church, the largest Christian church in Quanzhou city said he was told by officials that, in addition to promoting the "socialist system and the Communist Party," he had to criticize the United States' handling of the virus, according to Fox News.
The demands were reportedly issued by the United Front Work Department and Religious Affairs Bureau. Churches who refuse risk being shut down and having their leaders dismissed, one church member said.
Marco Respinti, the director-in-charge of Bitter Winter, told Fox News the move is yet another example of the CCP trying to "sinicize."
Which means, he said, that "everything must become truly Chinese, but what they really mean is that everything must become puppets of the Communist regime ... even at the cost of obliging people to blasphemous things."
Respinti added that many churches have also been ordered to remove Christian symbols and replace them with portraits of the Chinese president.
"They were saying they were able to defeat the coronavirus," he noted, arguing that the CCP used the coronavirus as propaganda. "They sold this lie to the world and also tried to sell the so-called Chinese model offering to help ... all the while oppressing religious and ethnic groups."
(H/T: Fox News)


theblaze--2020-07-10--Slurs such as the N-word, other offensive terms banned from official Scrabble tournaments

Slurs such as the N-word , other offensive terms banned from official Scrabble tournaments 'Some members threatened to leave the @ @ @ @ @ were removed ; others threatened to leave the association if any offensive words remained '

Slurs such as the N-word and other offensive terms are being banned from official Scrabble tournaments in North America, ABC News reported.
What are the details?
The announcement comes from Hasbro, which owns the rights to the board game, and North American Scrabble Players Association, whose CEO told the network he received calls from players to remove words such as the N-word and C-word from official play.
"I thought to myself, 'Why haven't we done this already?'" John Chew added to ABC News.
He explained to the network that topic has come up in the past but that the NASPA decided against removing some slurs from adult competition as there was a debate about removing words such as "poo" and "fart" due to their potential offensiveness.
"The key difference is ... 'fart' and 'poo' are just words that people say to make others feel slightly uncomfortable ... but then there are words like the N-word that are used to specifically demean people," Chew added to ABC News.
More from the network:
Chew said players for the most part don't use slurs in competitive play, but nonetheless, those words should be reviewed and stricken from official play. The association is looking at 236 "offensive words" to remove from official play and it will consult Merriam-Webster throughout the process. Chew assured that the N-word and C-word will be removed from the permitted list when it is finalized in the coming weeks.
Julie Duffy, a Hasbro spokeswoman, told ABC News in a statement that the company will update Scrabble's official rules "to make clear that slurs are not permissible in any form of the game."
"Hasbro Gaming is rooted in community and bringing people together, and we are committed to providing an experience that is inclusive and enjoyable for all," her statement added, according to the network.
Anything else?
Chew said in a Wednesday statement that an online poll about removing offensive words elicited heated responses.
"Some members threatened to leave the association if a single word were removed; others threatened to leave the association if any offensive words remained," he said. "There were a lot of good and bad arguments on both sides."
Chew told National Public Radio that NASPA represents about 10,000 players in the U.S. and Canada, and there was "about a 50-50 split" regarding removal of slurs.
"One of our members asked what we were doing to reduce racial tensions in the U.S. and Canada," he added to NPR. "And then someone else asked 'what if we take the N-word out of the lexicon, would that at least be a good start?'"
Words that are potentially offensive but are not considered slurs — such as those for parts of the body — will remain, Chew added to NPR.


theblaze--2020-07-10--ESPN reporter apologizes after cursing out Sen. Josh Hawley for criticizing the NBA's relationship w

ESPN reporter apologizes after cursing out Sen. Josh Hawley for criticizing the NBA's relationship with China

ESPN reporter apologizes after cursing out Sen. Josh Hawley for criticizing the NBA 's relationship with China The Missouri senator @ @ @ @ @ kowtowing to Beijing and refusing to support U.S. military and law enforcement . ''

ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski lashed out at Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) for his letter criticizing the NBA's close relationship with China on Friday.
The National Basketball Association announced last week that players could select a message to put on the backs of their jerseys once the season resumes play later this month. The list of 29 approved social and political messages includes "Black Lives Matter," "How Many More," "Power to the People," "I Can't Breathe," and "Anti-Racist."
Hawley noticed that the approved phrases have a liberal slant. Hawley wrote a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver to question why the association didn't have a variety of social messaging, such as "Support our Troops," "Back the Blue," or "God Bless America."
In the letter, Hawley also asked Silver why there were no phrases "in support of victims of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including the people of Hong Kong, whose remaining freedoms are being extinguished by the CCP's newly-enacted national security law." Hawley challenged Silver to allow NBA players to stand up for the Uighur Muslims who are being held in Chinese internment camps.
"No amount of profit can justify collaborating with a regime for which violent suppression and enslavement are routine tools of governance," Hawley wrote in a statement released on Friday.
Hawley's office released a press statement about the letter and reportedly included ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski on the distribution list since the statement was about the NBA. The prominent ESPN reporter, who is known for his "Woj-bombs" when he breaks important NBA news, replied to Hawley's email by cursing at the Missouri senator.
Hawley shared a screenshot of Wojnarowski's reply, which read: "F*** you." Hawley tweeted the screenshot with the caption: "Don't criticize #China or express support for law enforcement to @espn. It makes them real mad."
Wojnarowski has since apologized for the expletive outburst.
"I was disrespectful and I made a regrettable mistake," the NBA reporter wrote on Twitter. "I'm sorry for the way I handled myself and I am reaching out immediately to Senator Hawley to apologize directly. I also need to apologize to my ESPN colleagues because I know my actions were unacceptable and should not reflect on any of them."
The NBA has been criticized for kowtowing to China, especially for the situation last October when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was forced to apologize to China for tweeting support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. China punished the NBA by not broadcasting NBA preseason games.


theblaze--2020-07-10--'Lady A' decimates Lady Antebellum and their white privilege for suing her over name she used to per

'Lady A' decimates Lady Antebellum and their white privilege for suing her over name she used to perform for decades: 'They are lying to the American public.'

'Lady A ' decimates Lady Antebellum and their white privilege for suing her over name she used to perform for @ @ @ @ @ to the American public . '

Anita White — a black gospel and blues singer who's called herself "Lady A" for decades — is hitting out at the country trio formerly known as Lady Antebellum for suing her over legal use of the name.
What are the details?
In a Rolling Stone op-ed, White says the band — composed of musicians Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood — is not doing much more than asserting white privilege.
White also explains that the band wants to "appropriate" a name she's used for most of her career in order to "change the narrative."
"They want to appropriate something I used for decades," she writes. "Just because I don't have 40 million fans or $40 million, that should not matter."
She adds, "They want to change the narrative by minimizing my voice, by belittling me, and not by telling the entire truth. I don't think of myself as a victim, but I've worked too long and too hard to just walk away and say I'll share the name with them."
The band's lawsuit claims that it has used the trademark "Lady A" for several years.
White says, however, that the band is only changing its name amid a racially charged time following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent riots, protests, and demonstrations.
“Not wanting a name that is a reminder to many black folks of how so much was taken from us: our freedom, languages, families, and even our names makes sense," she writes. "However, to do so by taking the name on which I, a Black woman, have built my career in the music industry for over 20 years, is ironic.
"Lady Antebellum to Lady A didn't change the connotation or yield to them being inclusive," she explains. "They are yet again using their privilege to take because I don't want to share in the name. They brought this to the forefront. I didn't. If they had been true to their word, their name would have completely changed. They have the means and the power."
White also notes that she did request the band pay her $10 million before she would agree to rebrand and allow them to use the name. She said that half of the funds would go to the Black Lives Matter movement, and other allotments would be apportioned to her community, church, and other artists.
She also explains that she and the band's members met via a Zoom call and discussed mediation. Some ideas reportedly included the trio recording a song with White, or appearing in a documentary about racial tensions together. White, however, says that she was not interested in such options and felt instead that the members of the band were making weak gestures in order to save face.
"They came back with their agreement, which didn't address my concerns, and I knew what they wanted," she writes. "They wanted a story that showed us getting along. They wanted me to make them look good in the eyes of the public, and that's why that Zoom call was so important to them. It wasn't important to me. I went along with it figuring maybe they'd keep at their word, but that didn't happen."
White also says that the band publicized her request to be paid just to make her look bad in the eyes of the public.
"They do this to make me look bad, like I'm just out for the money," she adds. "I didn't need their money before. I have a job that I'm retiring from, and I have music that I do. My life was happy before I met them. I do community work. You need to understand if you're going to be an ally, you need to speak up bravely about what is going on. And if they're saying they're an ally, they are lying to the American public."


theblaze--2020-07-10--After Ford employees demanded the company stop making police vehicles, the CEO clapped black with lo

After Ford employees demanded the company stop making police vehicles, the CEO clapped black with logic, common sense

After Ford employees demanded the company stop making police vehicles , the CEO clapped black with logic , common sense

Ford CEO Jim Hackett had the perfect response after a group of virtue-signaling employees called on the major auto manufacturer to stop making police vehicles, which they say "perpetuate racism in society" and are "accessories to police brutality and oppression."
What are the details?
According to auto news site Jalopnik, a contingent of black and white employees at Ford Motor Company recently penned a letter airing their grievances over the company's relationship with numerous police departments in America — about two-thirds of police vehicles in the country are Fords.
In the letter, the employees argued that Ford, by building vehicles used by police, is actively sustaining racism and oppression in America. As a way to address this, they urged executives to discontinue all production of police vehicles.
Here's a portion of the letter:
On June 1st, you communicated to the company your commitment to "lead from the front and fully commit to creating the fair, just and inclusive culture that our employees deserve." We thank you for your leadership on this initiative. We also appreciate and fully support your statement against "superficial actions," and we write to push for real action by Ford Motor Company to address our role in the structures that perpetuate racism in society.
On May 25th, 2020 George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis Police, alongside a Ford Police Interceptor. Days later, police officers drove Ford Police Interceptors into crowds of protesters in New York City and Los Angeles. During these past weeks, our vehicles have been used to deploy chemical weapons banned by the Geneva Convention.
Throughout our history, the vehicles that Ford employees design and build have been used as accessories to police brutality and oppression. We know that while many join, support, or supply law enforcement with good intentions, these racist policing practices that plague our society are historic and systemic—a history and system perpetuated by Ford for over 70 years—ever since Ford introduced the first-ever police package in 1950. As an undeniable part of that history and system, we are long overdue to "think and act differently" on our role in racism.
The letter was reportedly being circulated around Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., and employees were being asked to digitally sign on.
How did the CEO respond?
Inevitably, Hackett caught wind of the letter, or at least its sentiment, and addressed the issue in an office memo.
In the memo, he kindly but forcefully clapped back at the demands with logic and common sense.
Here's an example: "The issues plaguing police credibility have nothing to do with the vehicles they're driving." One would think such a notion would be obvious, but evidently it needed to be explained.
More from the memo:
As we imagine the future power of our connected vehicles, smarter Ford vehicles can be used to not only improve officers' ability to protect and serve, but also provide data that can make police safer and more accountable. Just think, dating back to the Model T, Ford has more than 100 years in serving first responders and that leadership over the decades has been earned by co-developing our purpose-built vehicles and technologies with police and emergency agencies to make our vehicles the number one choice.
By taking away our Police Interceptors, we would be doing harm to their safety and making it harder for them to do their job. Again, this is why, given our insights, new capabilities and leadership, I believe these unfortunate circumstances present Ford with an even greater opportunity to not only innovate new solutions but also leverage our unique position to support the dialogue and reform needed to create safer communities for all.
PJ Media provided a shortened translation of the memo: "No. We're not going to stop making police cars. Now get back to work."
Calls to "defund the police" and course-correct on racial injustice have swept the nation recently in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man, under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer.
Several American organizations or businesses have faced pressure to withdraw support for police or rebrand products deemed offensive. Ford is only the latest to face demands from the "cancel culture" mob, but it appears company leaders are not giving in.
Editor's note: This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-07-10--NBC documents contributor's dramatic COVID-19 'diagnosis' and 'recovery.' Turns out he likely never

NBC documents contributor's dramatic COVID-19 'diagnosis' and 'recovery.' Turns out he likely never had the virus.

NBC documents contributor 's dramatic COVID-19 'diagnosis ' and 'recovery . '
Turns out he likely never had the virus @

Dr. Joseph Fair, virologist, epidemiologist, and frequent science contributor, apparently did not have COVID-19 despite NBC following him through his "diagnosis" and "recovery."
What are the details?
Fair appeared on the network's "Meet the Press" in June, where he spoke with host Chuck Todd.
In the interview, Todd introduced Fair as having "recently recovered from COVID-19."
"Dr. Fair, let me start with you, because I would like you to share a little bit about your recovery from COVID-19," he said. "What should Americans take away from your experience?"
Fair responded by insisting that the virus was "the worst" he's ever felt.
"I probably spent 23 out of 24 hours in bed," Fair said. "Those people that are young and think they're invincible or people that just don't think it's going to affect them that greatly even if they do get it, I can say that my own experience was the complete opposite."
So what's new?
By that time, however, Fair reportedly had tested negative for COVID-19 several times, Steve Krakauer of Fourth Watch Newsletter revealed this week.
Krakauer wrote, "What Todd didn't tell the audience that day, and Dr. Joseph Fair didn't offer up either, was that Fair had already had at least five negative coronavirus tests."
On Tuesday, Fair himself admitted that his illness "remains an undiagnosed mystery" and revealed that his antibody test came back negative.
"My undiagnosed/suspected COVID illness from nearly 2 months ago remains an undiagnosed mystery as a recent antibody test was negative," Fair tweeted on Tuesday. "I had myriad COVID symptoms, was hospitalized in a COVID ward & treated for COVID-related co-morbidities, despite testing negative by nasal swab."
He continued, "I was severely ill for 2 weeks, 4 days of it in critical condition, resulting in pneumonia, diffuse lung injury & 18lbs of weight loss. My path forward is a 2nd AB test, & follow-up with a pulmonologist & tropical medicine specialist in an effort to diagnose what made me so ill."
"I am so grateful to you all for the ongoing support in my recovery. I am feeling back to normal & am thankful for my health, & to my caregivers for getting me through it. I hope the same outcome for those in care for COVID, about which we have yet so much to learn," Fair insisted.
(H/T: The Federalist)


theblaze--2020-07-10--City officials apologize for traffic message that read, 'The Safety of All Lives Matter'

City officials apologize for traffic message that read , 'The Safety of All Lives Matter' A police officer typed the @ @ @ @ @ said an investigation is underway

The mayor and police chief of a Massachusetts city are apologizing to residents for a phrase seen on an electronic traffic sign.
What was on it, you ask? Profanity? Sexual innuendo? Anti-Semitism?
Nope. The offending message read, "The Safety of All Lives Matter," WCVB-TV reported.
What are the details?
Melrose Police Chief Michael Lyle told the station a traffic officer was ordered to change the sign's wording from a reminder that fireworks are illegal to a more general traffic safety message.
A Melrose resident parked near the sign told a WCVB photographer that the new message read, "The speed limit is 25 mph. Please drive safely. The safety of all lives matter."
Lyle said Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur told him about the "unfortunate and improper wording" on the traffic sign, the station said.
"I am aware that the phrase 'all lives matter' is commonly used as a misguided counter to the Black Lives Matter movement," Lyle told the station. "The sign was immediately changed and, at the request of the mayor, I launched an investigation, which is ongoing."
The chief added to WCVB that the traffic officer who posted the message said he didn't do so with "malicious or political intent" and didn't realize the totality or impact of what he wrote. Lyle added to the station that the findings of the investigation will be made public.
Lyle also told WCVB he'll address the matter with all of his officers and, effective immediately, will require all messages on roadways and electronic signs to be approved by his office before going live.
"On behalf of the Melrose Police Department, I sincerely apologize to our residents and anyone who drove past the sign today," the chief noted to the station in a statement.
'A trigger'
Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur shared a photo of the traffic sign on his Facebook page Wednesday, WCVB said, adding that Brodeur wrote in his post: "I have ordered that it be taken down immediately and am taking steps to find out how this happened. I apologize to the residents of Melrose."
Image source: WCVB-TV video screenshot
The traffic sign is still up in the area of 236 Main St. but no longer displays the message, the station said.
"The phrase 'All Lives Matter' is a trigger," Brodeur told WCVB. "It does not lead to an atmosphere where we can make progress, [where] we can have uncomfortable conversations and try to move it forward."
The resident who disclosed the full wording of the sign said the "all lives matter" wording had been up for a couple of days, the station reported.
"I would prefer that it said anything else but 'All Lives Matter' for right now with everything that's going on," the resident added to WCVB. "I don't think that it was, probably, appropriate to have in our city."


theblaze--2020-07-10--Feds gave Ghislaine Maxwell paper clothes and took away sheets over suicide fears: Report

Feds gave Ghislaine Maxwell paper clothes and took away sheets over suicide fears : Report Ghislaine Maxwell has a cellmate @ @ @ @ @ , according to an official .

Following the controversial suicide of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at a federal detention facility last August, the Justice Department has implemented additional safety protocols to protect his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, against self-harm.
Federal officials took away Maxwell's bedsheets and clothes, replacing them with paper attire, according to a report from the Associated Press. Maxwell has a cellmate and is being closely monitored, ensuring that someone is with her at all times, an official told the AP on condition of anonymity.
"Outside officials separate from the Bureau of Prisons have been specifically tasked with ensuring there's adequate protection and the prison's protocols are being followed," the anonymous official said.
"We have a number [of] redundancy systems to monitor the situation," Attorney General William Barr told ABC News on Thursday about the additional security for Maxwell. "I believe very strongly in that case, and I was very proud of the work done by the department, the Southern District, on that case."
Maxwell, 58, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, right across the river from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, where Epstein was in custody while facing sex-trafficking charges until his death in Aug. 2019. The accused pedophile Epstein, 66, hanged himself from a prison bedsheet, according to the New York City chief medical examiner.
Maxwell, a British socialite and heiress, was taken into custody last week by the FBI. Maxwell was arrested at her $1 million four-bedroom home in Bradford, N.H. Maxwell allegedly used only cash to purchase the 156-acre property in December, "through a carefully anonymized LLC."
Prosecutors said she made "intentional efforts to avoid detection including moving locations at least twice, switching her primary phone number (which she registered under the name 'G Max') and email address, and ordering packages for delivery with a different person listed on the shipping label."
Maxwell is charged with two counts of conspiracy, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transporting minors for illegal sex acts, and two counts of perjury. Investigators allege that Maxwell played a "critical role" in helping Epstein in grooming underage girls.
"In particular, from at least in or about 1994, up to and including at least in or about 1997, MAXWELL assisted, facilitated, and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to MAXWELL and Epstein to be under the age of 18," the indictment read.
Maxwell has denied the allegations, calling them "absolute rubbish."
Maxwell is scheduled for a remote detention hearing on July 14.


theblaze--2020-07-10--Left-wing Philly mayor throws out hundreds of citations handed out to Black Lives Matter protesters

Left-wing Philly mayor throws out hundreds of citations handed out to Black Lives Matter protesters 'In waiving these notices , @ @ @ @ @ message — black lives matter — needs to be heard every day until systemic racism @ @ @ @ @ city and nation '

Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is throwing out hundreds of citations handed out to protesters over the past month in the wake of the George Floyd killing, PhillyVoice reported.
What are the details?
Philadelphia's Law Department and Office of Administrative Review previously recommended that the city drop most civil citations handed out during the height of protest activity, the outlet said, adding that while they don't carry criminal charges, such citations typically come with fines. For Philly protesters, they also came with arrests and time in jail until violations could be processed, PhillyVoice said.
"My decision to waive these violations is not a statement on the validity of the individual citations," Kenney said, according to the outlet. "Rather, it is a recognition of the core concerns that caused thousands to demonstrate on the streets of Philadelphia. In waiving these notices, I recognize that those issues are vitally important, that the pain of those marching is very real, and that their message — black lives matter — needs to be heard every day until systemic racism is fully eradicated from this city and nation."
The two most common civil citations from the protests were failure to disperse and curfew violations, PhillyVoice said, adding that the fines are $50 and $25, respectively.
Civil citations for disorderly conduct and related offenses, as well as all curfew violations, will be waived if they occurred between May 30 and June 30, the outlet said.
Criminal arrests and charges — e.g., looting or burglary — will still be pursued and prosecuted, PhillyVoice said.
Those who've received civil violations and haven't paid fines yet don't need to take any further action, the outlet said, adding that those who've paid fines can get refunds.
Between May 29 and June 25, police handed out 80 citations for disorderly conduct, 316 for curfew violations, 21 for defiant trespass, 338 for failure to disperse, and one for vandalism, PhillyVoice said.
City Solicitor Marcel S. Pratt told the outlet that taking action on such citations "would have served no useful purpose, and we are glad that the mayor approved our recommendation that they be waived."
People Defy Philly's Citywide Curfew and Loot Stores | NBC10 Philadelphia youtu.be
(H/T: The Police Tribune)


theblaze--2020-07-10--Police release graphic bodycam footage of black man in mental distress. Police end up shooting him a

Police release graphic bodycam footage of black man in mental distress. Police end up shooting him after he pulls out a gun and points it at them.

Police release graphic bodycam footage of black man in mental distress .
Police end up shooting him after he pulls @ @ @ @ @ it at them .

The Baltimore Police Department on Thursday released bodycam footage of an officer-involved shooting.
What are the details?
The incident took place on July 1 when police visited the suspect's home after a caller — later identified as the suspect's mother-in-law — said he was having a psychological episode.
At the home, police encountered Ricky Walker Jr., who was clearly agitated and in an erratic and delusional state of mind.
When police officers and medics arrive at the home, Walker's mother-in-law warns that he is being "highly" combative and is armed with a gun. Officers carefully approach Walker, who is in the home's basement with his wife, and attempt to defuse the situation while medics remain on standby outside the family home.
Bodycam footage captures the conversation between Walker and the officers, in which he rants about "real life" versus being "on camera."
"Y'all can't kill me in real life," he insists. "I'm on camera."
Out of nowhere, Walker produces a handgun from the pocket of his pants and aims the weapon at Baltimore Officer Eduardo Ortiz.
In response, Ortiz and another officer — later identified as Officer Avery Torand — fire their service weapons multiple times.
First responders took Walker into custody and transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment. At the time of this writing, Walker remains hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities charged Walker with first-degree assault for pointing a weapon at a police officer.
Police were called at least 10 days prior to the July 1 interaction with Walker after he reportedly threatened another person with a gun. In that instance, Walker was hospitalized "after being found naked" and armed with a gun that he reportedly "fired at vehicles."
Police confiscated the firearm during the previous incident, but reportedly never followed up on the situation after Walker had been released to see if he had access to other firearms.
BPD Press Conference - July 9, 2020 www.youtube.com
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-07-10--Nothing is sacred: American flagpole cut down at 9/11 firefighter memorial in New York State

Nothing is sacred : American flagpole cut down at 9/11 firefighter memorial in New York State

Police are searching for vandals who allegedly cut down a flagpole holding an American flag at a 9/11 memorial in Washingtonville, New York.
The memorial honors five firefighters from the area who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September, 11, 2001.
According to the Times Herald-Record, the severed flag pole was discovered early Wednesday morning and reported to police. Washingtonville Police Chief Brian Zaccaro said that the vandals used a tool to cut through the composite material pole and left a message on the four or five feet of pole that remained in place.
Police are opting not to disclose the message while the investigation is still ongoing.
Police reportedly suspect that the responsible parties were also involved in damaging a sign of a church about a half-mile away, due to the fact that an eagle figure which removed from the flagpole was left near the toppled church sign.
The Times Herald-Record describes the memorial as a "somber, granite-and-brick tribute to the 'Washingtonville Five' and the other 9/11 victims." It was completed on Sept. 7, 2002, before the first anniversary of the firefighters' deaths.
The fallen "Washingtonville Five" heroes are firefighters Mark Whitford, Bobby Hamilton, and Gerry Nevins; Battalion Chief Dennis Devlin, and Lt. Glenn Perry.
In response to the news, Washingtonville Mayor Joseph Bucco said the village will replace the flagpole and announced a $3,000 reward for any information regarding the incident.


theblaze--2020-07-10--Despite Dems' mounting calls for Goya boycott, CEO refuses to apologize for Trump support

Despite Dems ' mounting calls for Goya boycott , CEO refuses to apologize for Trump support

Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue refuses to kowtow to progressive pressure after issuing remarks of support for President Donald Trump.
What's a brief history here?
On Thursday, Unanue insisted that the United States is "blessed" to have Trump for president, spurning calls for boycotts of the beloved, affordable brand.
He made the remarks at a White House event, saying, "We are all truly blessed ... to have a leader like President Trump, who is a builder."
"We have an incredible builder, and we pray — we pray for our leadership, our president, and we pray for our country that we will continue to prosper and grow," he added.
What are the details?
Unanue appeared on Friday's broadcast of "Fox & Friends," where he said he would not apologize for the apparently controversial stance.
"It's suppression of speech," Unanue said of people demanding a boycott of the brand.
Among those calling for a boycott are Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), former Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro, and "Hamilton" star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Unanue, who worked with former First Lady Michelle Obama when her husband, former President Barack Obama, was in office, expressed his disappointment for a double standard.
“You're allowed to talk good or to praise one president, but you're not allowed — when I was called to be part of this commission to aid in economic and educational prosperity and you make positive comment, all of the sudden that's not acceptable," Unanue complained.
He concluded with a strong statement in support of his remarks.
"'m not apologizing for saying — and especially when you're called by the president of the United States, you're gonna say, 'No, I'm sorry, I'm busy. No, thank you,'" he insisted. "I didn't say that to the Obamas and I didn't say that to President Trump."