theblaze--2020-06-16--You can protest, just not here: City of Beverly Hills issues emergency order banning protests in res

You can protest, just not here: City of Beverly Hills issues emergency order banning protests in residential areas

You can protest , just not here : City of Beverly Hills issues emergency order banning protests in residential areas

As protests and riots have raged across the country in recent weeks over George Floyd's death, leftist elites have been quick to virtue-signal their support but slow to call out the violence occurring — that is, until protests encroached upon their neighborhoods.
A great example of this occurred Monday in one of the nation's wealthiest and most left-leaning cities: Beverly Hills.
After a group called "Occupy" staged loud protests using "bullhorns and amplified music and disrupted the tranquility" of the city's neighborhoods, city leadership issued an emergency order effectively banning protests in residential areas.
The order, which aims to "preserve the peace and tranquility" of the wealthy neighborhoods, bans gatherings of more than 10 people in an assembly between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. in residential areas.
The order notes that silent assemblies, such as candlelight vigils, will still be allowed. But participation in any other noisy gathering could lead to an arrest.
According to the order, the loud protests — which disturbed residents during sleeping hours — met the criteria needed to be considered a "disaster," thus justifying an "emergency" declaration.
The emergency proclamation enables the city's director of emergency services to enact regulations in order to preserve the peace.
Late last month, commercial areas of the city were hit with widespread looting and rioting that resulted in considerable property damage. A YouTuber out "car spotting" at the time was able to document several incidents in which people taking advantage of the protests smashed windows and broke into stores to steal luxury goods.
It's worth mentioning that no such emergency order was issued at that time. It took protesters making loud noises in residential areas for an order to be issued. In its coverage of the news, Hot Air notes, "it's the ultimate Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)."


theblaze--2020-06-16--President Trump signs police reform executive order — here's what it will do

President Donald Trump speaks at the event where he will sign an executive order on police reform , in the @ @ @ @ @ House in Washington , D.C. , June 16 , 2020 .
( Photo by SAUL @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday aimed at reforming police practices in America after a series of high-profile police killings sparked nationwide protests and riots, CNBC reported.
Trump, who is opposed to growing calls to defund police departments, is calling for increased transparency and accountability for police misconduct, a limit on the use of chokeholds, and increased use of non-police personnel to deal with issues related to mental health or drug addiction.
The order, titled, "Safe Policing for Safe Communities," acknowledges instances of police abuse and brutality and the negative impact that has had on community relationships with police.
It establishes a national certification and credentialing system for law enforcement agencies; creates a federal database to track officers credibly accused of wrongdoing; discourages the use of chokeholds unless an officer's life is in danger; and encourages Congress to pass further police reforms.
Before announcing the order, President Trump said he met with the families of victims, including Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Antwon Rose, Jemel Roberson, Atatiana Jefferson, Michael Dean, Darius Tarver, Cameron Lamb, and Everett Palmer.
"These are incredible people ... and it's so sad. Many of these families lost their loved ones in deadly interactions with police. To all of the hurting families, I want you to know, all Americans mourn by your side. Your loved ones will not have died in vain," Trump said, according to CNN.
S. Lee Merritt, the civil rights attorney who has represented some of the aforementioned families, said the order is "a step in the right direction."
"It's too incremental to have, you know, sweeping impact," Merritt said, according to PBS. "But it's things that we need to have done among the myriad of things that we need to address this crisis. It's not a cure. But it is a way to deal with the damage from the fallout."


theblaze--2020-06-16--One-third of Americans believe a second civil war is likely in the next 5 years: poll

One-third of Americans believe a second civil war is likely in the next 5 years : poll

A new poll released Monday says that as protests and riots continue across the nation, a third of Americans believe the U.S. will see a civil war in the next few years.
What did the poll find?
After the killing of George Floyd, we watched peaceful protests in the streets, protests demanding police accountability and racial reconciliation.
Then we saw many of those movements hijacked by violent anti-police, anti-capitalist radicals who used the passions of the day to foster riots and looting that burned businesses, destroyed lives, and even took over several Seattle blocks to create some sort of anti-American commune.
While things devolved, Rasmussen Reports polled Americans for their take on where the current civil strife could be heading, Confederate symbols, and race relations.
According to the survey, which was taken June 11-14, 34% of us believe the United States will experience a second civil war sometime in the next five years, a three-point jump since 2018. Republicans (40%) and voters unaffiliated with a political party (38%) were far more likely than Democrats (28%) to see a civil war looming. Rasmussen noted that this was a shift since 2018, when Democrats were more worried about a civil war.
What about Confederate symbols and lasting change?
Many Americans watching the protests on TV and seeing updates online are likely asking themselves if any of this will do any good in the long term.
Rasmussen wondered the same thing and asked, "Will the current protests over the killing of an unarmed black man by police in Minneapolis lead to long-term, meaningful racial change in America?" Respondents were fairly evenly split: 37% said the Floyd protests would lead to long-term change; 31% said there would be no lasting change; and 32% weren't sure.
The protests and riots have also led to repeated calls to destroy — and the literal destroying of — Confederate monuments.
With that in mind, Rasmussen asked, "Will the removal of Confederate symbols, names and monuments throughout the country help or hurt race relations? Or will it have no impact?" Nearly four in 10 (39%) said the removal of these symbols will help race relations; while 27% said removal will hurt race relations.
This is a flip from an August 2017 Rasmussen survey, when 28% said it would help and 39% thought it would hurt.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Woke celebrities rediscover Louis Farrakhan, praise his recently resurfaced video about racism: 'Pow

Woke celebrities rediscover Louis Farrakhan, praise his recently resurfaced video about racism: 'Powerful,' 'Extraordinary'

A bevy of woke celebrities celebrated Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan on social media this week , including comedienne Chelsea Handler .
The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Nation of Islam as a hate group , writing that the group 's `` theology of innate black superiority over whites and the deeply racist , antisemitic and anti-LGBT rhetoric of its leaders have earned the NOI a prominent position in the ranks of organized hate . ''
What are the details ?
Handler appeared to kick off the fawning , posting a clip of Farrakhan making an appearance on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1980s .
Handler captioned the video , in which Farrakhan talks about racism and white fear , `` I learned a lot from watching this powerful video . ''
According to various reports , fellow celebrities Jennifer Aniston , Michelle Pfeiffer , and Jennifer Garner liked the post .
Actor Sean Hayes even commented , `` This should be played on a loop .
Everywhere .
Always . ''
Actress Jessica Chastain also reportedly shared the clip to her Instagram page , and actress Jameela Jamil — who apparently did n't even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video — captioned it , `` Someone please tell me the name of this extraordinary man who so perfectly sums up white fear in under a minute . ''
The entertainers received quick blowback for the support of the highly controversial figure , and Jamil was just one who removed her posting .
Journalist Yashar Ali led the charge in criticism on social media , writing , `` Louis Farrakhan is an anti-semitic , homophobic monster who also happens to be a rape apologist .
You do n't have to hand it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' There must be something in Hollywood 's water these days , because this is n't the first time Farrakhan has been lauded as an example of positivity in recent days .
Rapper and actor Ice Cube took to Twitter last week , sharing a photo of the Nation of Islam leader and writing , `` The Honorable Louis Farrakhan continues to warn America to this very second and he 's labeled one of your 'evil names ' and you turn your ears off .
Why is the truth so offensive that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

A bevy of woke celebrities celebrated Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan on social media this week, including comedienne Chelsea Handler.
The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Nation of Islam as a hate group, writing that the group's "theology of innate black superiority over whites and the deeply racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBT rhetoric of its leaders have earned the NOI a prominent position in the ranks of organized hate."
What are the details?
Handler appeared to kick off the fawning, posting a clip of Farrakhan making an appearance on "The Phil Donahue Show" in the 1980s.
Handler captioned the video, in which Farrakhan talks about racism and white fear, "I learned a lot from watching this powerful video."
According to various reports, fellow celebrities Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jennifer Garner liked the post. Actor Sean Hayes even commented, "This should be played on a loop. Everywhere. Always."
Actress Jessica Chastain also reportedly shared the clip to her Instagram page, and actress Jameela Jamil — who apparently didn't even know who Farrakhan was prior to seeing the video — captioned it, "Someone please tell me the name of this extraordinary man who so perfectly sums up white fear in under a minute."
The entertainers received quick blowback for the support of the highly controversial figure, and Jamil was just one who removed her posting.
Journalist Yashar Ali led the charge in criticism on social media, writing, "Louis Farrakhan is an anti-semitic, homophobic monster who also happens to be a rape apologist. You don't have to hand it to him for anything ... ever."
There must be something in Hollywood's water these days, because this isn't the first time Farrakhan has been lauded as an example of positivity in recent days.
Rapper and actor Ice Cube took to Twitter last week, sharing a photo of the Nation of Islam leader and writing, "The Honorable Louis Farrakhan continues to warn America to this very second and he's labeled one of your 'evil names' and you turn your ears off. Why is the truth so offensive that you can't stand to hear it?"


theblaze--2020-06-16--Seattle City Council bans police use of chokeholds, tear gas, and pepper spray

A man sits in the Conversation Cafe while carrying a firearm in the police-free zone known as the Capitol Hill @ @ @ @ @ Seattle .
The area consists of the blocks surrounding the Seattle Police Department 's East @ @ @ @ @ after violent clashes with Black Lives Matter protesters in the wake of George Floyd 's @ @ @ @ @ David Ryder/Getty Images )

The Seattle City Council voted Monday night to ban the police use of chokeholds, tear gas, and pepper spray as the city deals with continued protests, including a six-block area of the city that has been taken over by protesters demanding the abolition of the city's police department, KING-TV reported.
The legislation bans the crowd control methods as unlawful uses of force that open the city up to legal liability in the event those methods are used.
"It has been historically known through the evidence and other research that the use of CS gas, otherwise known as tear gas, can often be a less lethal way of dispersing a crowd without having to go hands on, without using our riot batons," Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said. "So it has been determined to be less dangerous to do that. That said, it has been very clear to us that people are not wanting us to use the CS."
Some residents complained during the meeting that tear gas used to disperse protests last week forced them to leave their homes, even though they were not participating in the protests.
Demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis Police Department officer resulted in conflicts between police and protesters. Protesters reportedly threw objects, including "incendiary devices," at officers, and police used tear gas to break up the protests on June 8.
Now, the same neighborhood where tear gas was used has been occupied by protesters who created the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (now referred to as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest). The zone includes six blocks surrounding Seattle police's East Precinct, which the department abandoned. Protesters want the police department abolished and have demanded a series of reforms related to racial equity.
With Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan apparently content to allow the ongoing protest to continue, it's unclear how or when the city will regain control of the area and the police precinct and city property.
"Seattle is fine. Don't be so afraid of democracy," Durkan wrote on Twitter in response to criticism from President Donald Trump.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Internet tries to cancel Domino's Pizza over nearly 8-year-old tweet to Trump's press secretary

Internet tries to cancel Domino 's Pizza over nearly 8-year-old tweet to Trump 's press secretary

Domino's Pizza trended on social media late Monday because, nearly eight years ago, the pizza company thanked Kayleigh McEnany, the current White House press secretary, for praising its food.
In November 2012, McEnany, then just an upcoming political pundit, tweeted, "FUN FACT: @dominos is wayyyy better than any NYC pizza."
The pizza eatery responded, "That's one heck of a compliment! Thanks for the love! #WEAPPRECIATEIT!"
It is not clear who unearthed the ancient (in internet years) tweet, made during Barack Obama's first presidential term.
Unfortunately, the positive message triggered an avalanche of backlash for Domino's Pizza, with social media users saying they would no longer do business with the pizza company over the tweet.
"You just killed your brand," pundit Rick Wilson claimed.
"Way to align yourself with a political party, Domino's. Probably should have just been silent," one person said.
"I'm out ! No more Domino's for me!!" another person said.
"Well, last night was the last Dominoes pizza I'll ever order," another person said.
"This was a mistake. @kayleighmcenany @PressSec is a legitimately legendary liar," another person told Dominos.
"Ask @PapaJohns what happened when the embraced the white supremacy coming out of the @WhiteHouse," another person said
what happened when the embraced the white supremacy coming out of the "I'll never order your pizza again. Hope your man-crush on Kayleigh was worth it," another person said
"Dominos Pizza is the enemy of the people," another person said
" F**k you @dominos," Dave Chang responded.
Domino's Pizza did not directly respond to the online controversy, however they did respond to poltical pundit Rick Wilson, who had claimed that Domino's "just killed" its brand by innocuously tweeting at McEnany nearly eight years ago.
"Welp. It's unfortunate that thanking a customer for a compliment back in 2012 would be viewed as political. Guess that's 2020 for ya," the Domino's Pizza account tweeted.
McEnany also poked fun at the cancel brigade.
"I LOVE @dominos (and also @pizzahut)!" she tweeted late Monday night.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Domino's Pizza's response to Rick Wilson.


theblaze--2020-06-16--House GOP report: COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented if China, WHO hadn't engaged in a mass

House GOP report: COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented if China, WHO hadn't engaged in a massive cover-up

House GOP report : COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented if China , WHO had n't engaged in a massive @

A Monday report from the House GOP says that the COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented if China had not engaged in a large-scale cover-up in the early stages of the localized epidemic.
The report also condemns the the World Health Organization for enabling the cover-up.
What are the details?
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) issued a statement on the report, which said, "After months of investigating, it's become crystal clear the Chinese Communist Party's cover-up of the coronavirus, especially in the early days of the outbreak, played a significant role in turning what could have been a local epidemic into a global pandemic."
A portion of the report states, "Until the CCP agrees to cooperate with the WHO, other countries, and the international scientific community, it will be impossible to gather the concrete evidence needed to prove, or disprove."
The report also blasted the WHO, insisting that its complacency enabled the communist country's response to the outbreak, and called for WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' resignation. The report insisted that Tedros "seriously erred in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic" and should "accept responsibility for his detrimental impact on the COVID-19 response and resign."
"The health of the world cannot afford incompetence and poor management," the report added, insisting that the organization "only exacerbated the problem by repeatedly ignoring warnings about the severity of the virus, including from their own health experts, while at the same time parroting the CCP's propaganda without independently confirming their claims."
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y) tweeted the report on Monday, writing, "Must Read Report by @RepMcCaul @HouseForeignGOP Just Released! 'The origins of the COVID-19 global pandemic, including the roles of the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization[.]' China lied and people died. The facts are all getting out."
What else?
The WHO has remained under the microscope after reportedly botching its initial response to the coronavirus pandemic.
In April, President Donald Trump cut funding to the WHO over its purported role in parroting China's lies and misinformation about COVID-19 and its origins and transmission.
Following the massive worldwide outbreak, the WHO did not call out the Chinese government when it refused to admit that it misled the global community about the virus and its method of transmission.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Gay Democratic Rep calls religious liberty a ‘bogus term’ used to discriminate against LGBTQ people

Gay Democratic Rep calls religious liberty a ‘ bogus term ’ used to discriminate against LGBTQ people Is the First @ @ @ @

Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.) said Monday that religious liberty is a "bogus term" used merely as a "pretext for discrimination."
Maloney, who is the first openly gay congressman to represent New York state, made the comments during a softball interview on MSNBC in which he and the anchors were celebrating the Supreme Court's recent decision to expand workplace civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
In a surprising decision, Trump appointee Justice Neil Gorsuch sided with the liberals on the court and authored the majority opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County, but even that didn't prevent Maloney from taking a swipe at the justice and at Americans' right to religious liberty enshrined in the Constitution.
"We know that Neil Gorsuch is a supporter of so-called religious liberty, which is a bogus term — it is actually some sort of pretext for discrimination hiding behind the guise of religion," the congressman said. "So, I'm still on the lookout for that from the author of this opinion."
You can hear Maloney make the comments at the 4:30 mark of the video below:
Maloney made similar remarks during a congressional hearing earlier this year that centered around the Trump administration's supposed use of religious liberty to "assault" the rights of LGBTQ Americans.
During the hearing, Maloney said that religious liberty has been "distorted and twisted into a weapon to enable discrimination" by the Trump administration, specifically in reference to rules allowing faith-based adoption agencies to deny child placement into LGBTQ homes.
Maloney, who fathers three kids with his husband, sponsors a bill which seeks to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ families by adoption and foster care agencies. In the past he has argued that to allow agencies to exclude LGBTQ couples under the guise of religious liberty is to "sanction discrimination."
(H/T: The Washington Free Beacon)


theblaze--2020-06-16--Black woman leaves white woman speechless, explains why she won't vote for Joe Biden: 'These Democra

Black woman leaves white woman speechless, explains why she won't vote for Joe Biden: 'These Democrats ... they hate black people'

Black woman leaves white woman speechless , explains why she wo n't vote for Joe Biden : 'These Democrats ... @ @ @ @ @

In a video that's gone viral, a black woman left a white woman speechless as she explained why she's not voting for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden this fall.
What are the details?
The woman speaking in the clip — pro-life advocate Bevelyn Beatty, who was preaching in the middle of Seattle's "autonomous zone" recently — told the other woman she realizes many people don't like President Donald Trump. But there's no way she's voting for Biden.
"You want to see a bunch of black people go to jail [in] the next four years? Put Joe Biden in, watch what happens. You want to see black men get killed substantially like you've never seen before? Put Joe Biden in and watch what happens," she says. "These Democrats — and I'm sorry to say this, I'm not trying to be racist — but they hate black people. These are the same people who fought to keep slavery in. These are the same people who built the KKK. These are the same people who hated us from the beginning. The Republican Party is the party of the blacks ... but all of that history has been torn away."
Beatty gave the woman a brief history lesson before letting her know that "the same Democrats who hated black people from the beginning are the same ones who hate us now."
Then she turned her attention to the Black Lives Matter organization.
"How did Black Lives Matter turn into something about LGBTQ when blacks really don't support that? We're conservative, we're really not about that," Beatty said, adding that the black community generally doesn't back other left-wing causes such as abortion and feminism, and yet "these people are hijacking our movement."
What else do we know about her?
Beatty and Edmee Chavannes — co-founders of At the Well Ministries — were handcuffed in late May outside a New York City Planned Parenthood allegedly for violating Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio's coronavirus social distancing guidelines, Fox News reported. It was the same week the George Floyd rioting and protests were raging.
"This is a clear statement of their bias now. It's blatant now," Beatty told the cable news network. "It's really truly biased against Christians, against pro-life abolitionists."
While police told Fox News there were no arrest records for the pair, video showed officers handcuffing them and leading them into an NYPD vehicle.
"We're black women, but we do not support Black Lives Matter because they're hand-in-hand with Planned Parenthood that kills African-American babies," Beatty added to Fox News. "They're fraudulent hypocrites ... and I believe all lives matter because God created them. There are thousands of George Floyds that die every day in their mother's womb, and it's just as [unjust] as when he died at the hands of that police officer."
She also called it "ironic" that they were cited for "illegally protesting" and said de Blasio and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo have an agenda and really don't care about saving lives, the cable news network noted.
"Let me tell you something, Christians get it the worst," Beatty said in a Facebook Live video moments before she was handcuffed, Fox News said. "I have not been so harassed by the police until I started doing this!"


theblaze--2020-06-16--The LAPD has run out of cash and can't pay officers overtime; morale is at 'rock bottom'

The LAPD has run out of cash and ca n't pay officers overtime ; morale is at 'rock bottom' COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ budget

The Los Angeles Police Department's budget has been so depleted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and officers have been working so much due to the recent protests, that the department has run out of cash and can no longer afford to pay officers overtime, KTTV-TV reported.
Going forward, officers will be paid for overtime they work with additional paid time off, and the normal limit on the number of hours they can accrue has been lifted. But during a difficult time for the department, and with more budget cuts being pushed in the city council, morale low at the LAPD.
"It's very disheartening," Sgt. Jerretta Sandoz, vice president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said. "The officers have lost trust, they were told, cancel days off, cancel vacations, and we will pay you cash overtime, then a memo comes out that they have no more cash. The officers are not happy right now, aside from taking bottles, bricks, I don't know what else they can handle and now to be told there's no cash, they're at their wit's end."
LAPD officers have worked about $40 million in overtime, during the recent protests and riots, that the city is unable to pay. Going forward, nonessential overtime has been canceled. Metropolitan Transit Authority overtime can potentially be cashed out when the budget is replenished.
The LAPD issued a statement on the matter:
The Los Angeles Police Department offers cash overtime to officers when it is available, and when those allotted amounts are depleted that compensation is offered in time.
The COVID-19 pandemic and full mobilization of the Department depleted that cash reserve before the end of the fiscal year and we transitioned to comp time last week.
Regarding MTA details, consistent with our notice officers will be compensated in time, and when the MTA reimburses the Department the officers' time compensation will be converted to cash.
"It's rock bottom, very, very low, they're not robots, they're human beings and to have city leaders turn their back on them in the midst of a pandemic as well as riots and protests, angry mobs that were attacking them on the front lines when they're trying to protect life and property, it's hard for them right now," Sandoz said about officers' morale.
The Los Angeles City Council budget committee moved forward with a proposal to cut up to $150 million from the LAPD budget for 2020-21, which will be considered by the full council.


theblaze--2020-06-16--VIDEO: 'Devastated' black mother cries because she can't feed her kids after looters ransacked a loc

VIDEO: 'Devastated' black mother cries because she can't feed her kids after looters ransacked a local grocery store

VIDEO : 'Devastated ' black mother cries because she ca n't feed her kids after looters ransacked a local grocery @ @ @ @ @ devastated right now '

A video of a "devastated" black mother crying because she won't be able to feed her kids after looters ransacked a local grocery store is going viral on the internet.
In the video, the woman walks the aisles of the store documenting the destruction. Nearly every shelf in the store is cleared of food and supplies, and the floor is littered with damaged goods.
"Look at this, every grocery store looks like this," the woman says. "Everything is ... on the floor. Look at this ... in my hood, can't even get no food for my kids."
It's not clear from the video which city the store is located in.
"But this is what we're fighting for; this is honoring George Floyd," the woman says sarcastically. "People who already couldn't feed their kids, now they really can't feed their kids."
"I am so devastated right now," she added, bursting into tears.
The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh shared the video Monday with the caption: "To all of you tolerant liberals who displayed your wokeness by justifying rioting while sitting on your fat comfortable asses totally insulated from the damage, this is what you supported. This is on you. Congratulations you despicable monsters."
Looters and rioters have taken advantage of protests over George Floyd's death since the start of the uproar late last month by burning buildings, breaking windows, and ransacking stores. Officials in many cities across the country have been slow to respond with force to such behavior, perhaps out of fear that they will be criticized for injuring the Black Lives Matter movement.
But, as this video demonstrates, the ones ultimately being harmed by a failure to stop the looting and rioting are the law-abiding citizens who are left to fend for themselves in destroyed neighborhoods.
"This is not OK, for us to have to live like this," the woman says through tears. "We do stupid s**t like this all the time and we so 'black proud,' we so 'black and proud' that we ain't never gonna be honest and be real about what's really going on."
"Y'all are so wrong for this," she said directly to the looters who destroyed the store. "You came in your neighborhood and f***ed up your s**t."


theblaze--2020-06-16--BSA says it supports 'Black Lives Matter,' will require diversity merit badge for Eagle Scouts

BSA says it supports 'Black Lives Matter , ' will require diversity merit badge for Eagle Scouts 'Racism will not @ @ @

The Boy Scouts of America announced late Monday that scouts will now be required to earn a "specific diversity and inclusion" merit badge to become an Eagle Scout.
The announcement comes amid a national discussion about racism and systemic oppression. The BSA national executive council said in a letter that the organization stands with the Black Lives Matter movement.
"The Boy Scouts of America stands with Black families and the Black community because we believe that Black Lives Matter," the letter stated. "This is not a political issue; it is a human rights issue and one we all have a duty to address."
Al Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
In addition to the inclusion merit badge, BSA also announced several diversity-related changes, including:
Ensuring the scouting program "promotes racial equality and denounces racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice"
"Diversity and inclusion" training for all BSA employees and volunteers
A review of all BSA properties, events, and insignia to "ensure that symbols of oppression are not in use today or in the future," including the Confederate flag
"There is no place for racism — not in Scouting and not in our communities. Racism will not be tolerated," the national executive council said.
The BSA has made several high-profile and controversial decisions over the last decade.
In 2013, the organization voted to allow openly gay scouts — youths under age 18 — into scout troops. Two years later, the BSA reversed its blanket ban on openly gay scout leaders, though it permitted charter organizations, most of which are churches, to prohibit gay leaders.
Then, in 2017, the BSA began allowing "transgender boys" — biological females who choose to live as males — to join the scouting ranks.
Finally, just last year, female youths were permitted to join their male counterparts in official BSA scout troops; the organization also updated its name to "Scouts BSA" to reflect the monumental change.


theblaze--2020-06-16--NYPD eliminates controversial plainclothes division from force, reassigns officers to other duties

NYPD eliminates controversial plainclothes division from force , reassigns officers to other duties

The New York Police Department announced Monday that it is disbanding the plainclothes so-called "anti-crime units," which have been involved in a disproportionate number of the city's fatal officer-involved shootings, particularly some of the highest-profile shootings that have drawn local condemnation in recent years.
According to the New York Times, there are approximately 600 officers currently in the plainclothes units, and they will be reassigned to other duties.
The change was announced by New York Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea, who said, "This is a seismic shift in the culture of how the N.Y.P.D. polices this great city. It will be felt immediately in the communities that we protect." Shea also stated that the use of plainclothes police officers is part of an "outdated model" of policing that pitted police against the communities they are supposed to protect, according to the Times.
Shea went on to say that in light of improved intelligence-gathering methods developed by the department, the NYPD plans to spend more time on intelligence-gathering and technology and can move away from "brute force."
According to the Times, there will still be some plainclothes officers on the force, including those who work the New York City transit system and in some other areas of the police force, but the anti-crime units will all be shut down. Shea stated that these units were a vestige of the "stop-and-frisk" era, referring to a highly controversial tactic used by police to control the drug trade. Critics of "stop-and-frisk" have long alleged that the practice disproportionately targets minorities and destroys trust between police and citizens.
Police unions, predictably, criticized the move. Patrick J. Lynch, head of the Police Benevolent Association, said, "Anti-crime's mission was to protect New Yorkers by proactively preventing crime, especially gun violence. Shooting and murders are both climbing steadily upward, but our city leaders have clearly decided that proactive policing isn't a priority anymore."


theblaze--2020-06-16--NYPD finds no wrongdoing by Shake Shack employees after 3 officers claimed to have ingested a bleach

NYPD finds no wrongdoing by Shake Shack employees after 3 officers claimed to have ingested a bleach-like substance

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department says that all Shake Shack employees were cleared of criminal wrongdoing after three NYPD officers reportedly ingested a substance that may have been bleach.
What's a brief background here?
The unnamed officers — who were in uniform at the time — reportedly visited a Shake Shack in Manhattan on Monday evening, where they said they ingested a foreign substance that made them ill.
The officers visited a local hospital for treatment and were later released.
No other customers, at the time of this writing, have publicly reported falling ill after ingesting any of the restaurant's products.
What are the details?
On Tuesday, NYPD Detective Chief Rodney Harrison addressed the incident in a tweet.
He wrote, "After a thorough investigation by the NYPD's Manhattan South investigators, it has been determined that there was no criminality by shake shack's employees."
Following Harrison's tweet, CNN reported that investigators believed it is possible that a milkshake station cleaning solution "wasn't fully cleared and may have gotten into the officers' drinks" that way.
What else?
On Monday night, the city's Police Benevolent Association said that the substance was thought to be bleach or another similar toxin.
"The contamination was not discovered until the [members of service] had already ingested a portion of their beverages," the union said in a statement. "They are currently at the hospital receiving treatment and are expected to recover."
The police union also complained that "NYC police officers cannot even take a meal without coming under attack."
Shake Shack expressed its horror over the allegations in a statement.
"We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan," a spokesperson for the company tweeted late Monday evening. "We are working with the police in their investigation right now."
On Tuesday, Shake Shack tweeted Harrison's report and added, "Our team is working hard to get the full picture. In the meantime, we're relieved to hear the officers are all okay."


theblaze--2020-06-17--Paul Finebaum calls Mike Gundy 'a buffoon,' says OSU would be 'much better today if they fired' him

Paul Finebaum calls Mike Gundy ' a buffoon , ' says OSU would be 'much better today if they fired @ @ @ @ @ on ESPN 's 'First Take ' torched the Oklahoma State head coach for wearing an @ @

ESPN's "First Take" show launched an all-out assault on Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday, torching him over the uproar because he wore a One America News T-shirt.
Co-host and SEC Network personality Paul Finebaum even went as far as to call Gundy "a buffoon" and argued that OSU would be "better today" if the university had fired him over the T-shirt ordeal.
What are the details?
On Monday, OSU star running back Chuba Hubbard declared on Twitter that he would boycott his own team after a CBS Sports reporter shared a photo of Gundy wearing an OAN T-shirt while on a fishing trip last week.
Online outrage ensued, with some condemning Gundy for donning the shirt of a conservative news outlet and others condemning Hubbard for overreacting.
By the end of the day, Gundy and Hubbard posted a video statement together, wherein the coach promised changes and the player apologized for the way he handled the situation.
"First Take" analyzed the issue Tuesday morning. Host Stephen A. Smith started out with the most tempered take, warning against "trying to police what people feel" and said while arguing that he prefers folks to "expose themselves" as having opinions "we" (presumably meaning ESPN) view as being wrong.
Co-host Max Kellerman piggybacked off Smith's comments, taking it up a notch when he said, "You may have roaches, but I like it better when they're in the walls and I don't have to see 'em."
Kellerman went on to say that if a U.S. politician were to hold the same views as the late Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, that supporting such a politician would be a "deal-breaker." The sports analyst then criticized Gundy for praising pro-Trump OAN, called the coach stupid, and slammed him for not apologizing in his video with Hubbard.
Finebaum praised Kellerman's assessment, then asserted, "Mike Gundy is a buffoon. He proves that every time he opens his mouth — or does anything, for that matter — and Max is right: In this particular moment in history — considering everything that has been going on — to wear that T-shirt is an insult."
The SEC pundit further attacked Gundy's record as a coach.
"Mike Gundy has been doing this for a long time. He continues to put his foot in his mouth every time he speaks," Finebaum added. "I can tell you one thing, Oklahoma State would be better today if they fired Mike Gundy than to allow him to continue to embarrass the program and embarrass his players."
First Take reacts to Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard calling out Mike Gundy for wearing an OAN shirt www.youtube.com
Anything else?
Coach Gundy did release a video apology later in the day on Tuesday, saying that he met with his team and they explained to him why they were so offended by him wearing an OAN T-shirt.
"Once I learned how that network felt about Black Lives Matter, I was disgusted and knew it was completely unacceptable to me," said Gundy, who has a 129-64 record at OSU in 15 seasons.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Flyer at Seattle 'autonomous zone' sets out strict rules for photographers — but only the 'non-black

Flyer at Seattle 'autonomous zone' sets out strict rules for photographers — but only the 'non-black' ones

Flyer at Seattle 'autonomous zone ' sets out strict rules for photographers — but only the 'non-black ' ones The @ @ @ @ @ be opposed to the spirit of the protest

A flyer posted at the Seattle "autonomous zone" laid out stringent rules for photographers wishing to document the events at the protest commune, but only for the non-black photographers.
A photo of the flyer was posted by Jasmyne Keimig, a reporter who is covering the autonomous zone for The Stranger, an independent media outlet.
The flyer, titled, "Dear non-black photographers," had rules for photographing — before, during and afterward.
"Why are you photographing? For personal gain, or to help the movement?" the flyer asked.
"If you are profiting off your photos, is a percentage of the profits being allocated towards organizations that are helping the BLM movement?" the flyer continued.
Another rule asked that photograps not be taken of people's faces without their consent.
"Are you showing up to support or showing up for the spectacle?" the flyer asked.
Certain parts of the flyer were smudged out, but one asked, "Have you educated yourself on systemic racism and your potential contributions to it?"
Another portion demanded that non-black photographers prioritize black photographers.
It was unclear whether the leadership at the autonomous zone approved of the posting of the flyer or whether it reflected the wishes of a majority of the participants.
In a video posted by KING-TV from the autonomous zone, a journalist and his cameraman were followed around by a man with a gun who told them he was there to make sure they did what they were supposed to do. He left them alone as soon as they turned off the camera.
Here's the video of the autonomous zone:


theblaze--2020-06-17--GOP Iowa governor to restore voting rights to felons via executive order

GOP Iowa governor to restore voting rights to felons via executive order Gov .
Kim Reynolds plans action after Black @ @ @ @ @ that she issue the order

Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that she would soon issue an executive order restoring the voting rights of felons in the state, following a meeting with Black Lives Matter activists who demanded that she take such action.
However, Reynolds had been pushing for the Iowa legislature to take up the issue long before Black Lives Matter ordered her to make the move.
What are the details?
On Friday, Des Moines Black Lives Matter wrote an open letter, saying, "Today, organizers from Des Moines BLM met with Governor Kim Reynolds to discuss our demand that the Governor issue an executive order to immediately reinstate the voting rights of every Iowan who has been convicted of a felony."
Gov. Reynolds announced Tuesday that she would do just that. During an interview with Radio Iowa, Reynolds said, "We're working on that right now, sitting down with various groups, listening to what they think is important what is contained in that executive order."
The outlet reported, "Reynolds has met twice with the Black Lives Matter protesters to discuss using her executive authority to grant felon voting rights and she said things were 'a little bumpy' at the beginning."
The governor added, '"We have an important election coming up. We're working on the language to see what that looks like, but hopefully it would mirror what we would put in a constitutional amendment so that we could be consistent in what we're trying to do."
According to the Des Moines Register:
For the past two years, Reynolds has pushed the Legislature to approve an amendment to the state constitution to make the process of regaining voting rights automatic once felons have completed their sentences. But Republicans in the Iowa Senate killed the proposal each year. On Sunday, the Legislature adjourned without the Senate taking a vote on the measure.
Senate Republicans said they did not approve the constitutional language because it appeared that Reynolds planned to sign an executive order, making the amendment unnecessary.
The Hill reported that "Iowa is the sole remaining state that requires felons to apply individually to the governor's office to have their voting rights restored. This currently restricts more than 60,000 residents and close to 10 percent of the state's African American population from voting."


theblaze--2020-06-18--LIVE NOW: The Marxist MOB: The Most Dangerous Cult in America

LIVE NOW : The Marxist MOB : The Most Dangerous Cult in America

Statues destroyed. History erased. Entertainment disappeared. Dissenters silenced and fired. The cultural revolution is here and taking names.
The convergence of the Black Lives Matter movement and cultural Marxism, with an uncompromising new religious aspect, has created a form of radicalism that we haven't seen in America before. No one disagrees that George Floyd's death is appalling, so why is everyone tripping over themselves to let you know how NOT racist they are? Because they are terrified of this new cult that won't allow any idea that doesn't come from its own scripture.
On tonight's special, Glenn Beck argues we've seen this before. In a very short period of time, Mao Zedong destroyed China — effectively changing the way people lived, worked, and THOUGHT.
Comedian Adam Carolla, author of "I'm Your Emotional Support Animal: Navigating Our All Woke, No Joke Culture," joins Glenn to blast our new cult leaders and explain why he refuses to become a victim of this new inquisition.
Watch the full special below:
At BlazeTV, we refuse to allow your speech to be censored or silenced, so we are making sure that your voice is heard. Who knows how much longer content and voices that dare to go against the mob will be allowed on Big Tech, so we're turning off live commenting on YouTube. We want you to be able to discuss ideas freely, and you can do that ONLY on BlazeTV. Subscribe now for a free trial and then get $20 off your annual subscription with promo code FIGHTTHEMOB.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Change My Mind: COVID numbers vs. flu season

Taken from the brand-new Change My Mind !
Watch it HERE : https : //youtu.be/Q9RGzKZdi8Y ?
t=3 Also , remember @ @ @ @ @ the time !
They 're most effectiv ... Use promo code LWC to save $ @ @ @ @ @ BlazeTV .
Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy more of Steven 's uncensored @ @ @ @ @ funny , join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and @ @ @

Benjamin Franklin once said, "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." Similarly, when hospitals learned that they could report themselves money, that would herald the end of the republic. In both cases, whether people vote themselves money or hospitals falsely report a patient's cause of death for money, one can't help noticing a common theme. Think about all of the lives affected by the COVID-19 mortality rate that set state lockdowns in motion. Lockdowns resulted in devastated families, small businesses, and communities. One must ask: Would you be angry over the millions left unemployed if it turns out the COVID-19 death rate is no worse than a typical flu season? One of the few conservative voices that challenged CDC statistics has been Steven Crowder. In the latest installment of "Change My Mind," Steven took to the streets of Dallas to ask passersby what they thought about COVID-19 numbers vs. flu season.
Taken from the brand-new Change My Mind! Watch it HERE: https://youtu.be/Q9RGzKZdi8Y?t=3 Also, remember to wear your mask all the time! They're most effectiv...
Use promo code LWC to save $10 off one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-06-17--'Endless propaganda' — Ted Cruz slams Sesame Street for virtue signaling tweet

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas summed up the feeling of many when he criticized a tweet from the official account of the children 's show `` Sesame Street '' as propaganda .
`` Endless propaganda .
This is a taxpayer-funded show targeted at Pre-K children , '' Cruz tweeted .
`` It does n't need to be talking about sex or sexuality at all , '' he added .
The tweet in question showed various hands of the characters in the show reaching towards a multi-colored heart with the message , `` Love always wins .
# PrideMonth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ orientation This is not the first time the popular kids ' show has been politicized .
In 2018 a writer for the show revealed that he wrote Bert and Ernie as gay characters .
An official statement from the show denied that the characters were in a gay relationship and said that puppets do not have a sexual orientation .
`` They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves , '' the statement read .
`` Even though they are identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traits and characteristics ( as most Sesame Street Muppets do ) , they remain puppets , and do not have a sexual orientation , '' it concluded .
The tweet with that statement has since been deleted .
Here 's more about that previous controversy :

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas summed up the feeling of many when he criticized a tweet from the official account of the children's show "Sesame Street" as propaganda.
"Endless propaganda. This is a taxpayer-funded show targeted at Pre-K children," Cruz tweeted.
"It doesn't need to be talking about sex or sexuality at all," he added.
The tweet in question showed various hands of the characters in the show reaching toward a multi-colored heart with the message, "Love always wins. #PrideMonth."
Puppets do not have a sexual orientation
This is not the first time the popular kids' show has been politicized. In 2018, a writer for the show revealed that he wrote Bert and Ernie as gay characters.
An official statement from the show denied that the characters were in a gay relationship and said that puppets do not have a sexual orientation.
"They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves," the statement read.
"Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation," it concluded.
The tweet with that statement has since been deleted.
Here's more about that previous controversy:


theblaze--2020-06-17--Kayleigh McEnany turns tables on media for questioning upcoming Trump rally over COVID concerns

Kayleigh McEnany turns tables on media for questioning upcoming Trump rally over COVID concerns 'You should exhibit that same concern @ @ @ @

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was questioned repeatedly by reporters on Wednesday over concerns that an upcoming rally for President Donald Trump's re-election campaign might spread the coronavirus.
But McEnany was quick to point out the media's double standard regarding COVID-19 precautions, as massive protests have continued to rage without such criticism since the death of George Floyd last month in Minneapolis.
What are the details?
The Hill reported that during a press briefing, "McEnany was repeatedly asked whether the White House or Trump would take responsibility if attendees contract the novel coronavirus" following Saturday's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The press secretary explained the precautions taken by the Trump 2020 campaign to assure that the rally is safe, such as providing hand sanitizer and masks. She also noted that attendance at the rally is a "personal decision" of attendees, just as any public event.
Turning the tables on the media, McEnany said, "While we appreciate the great concern for our rallygoers, you should exhibit that same concern for the protesters who are out there not socially distancing in many cases."
McEnany also held up a recent edition of the New York Post, on which the front page declares, "Liberals, media cheer protests, but say outdoor restaurants, bars are COVID risks." The paper called the double standard "sick hypocrisy."
One reporter pointed out that the Trump rally scheduled for Saturday is an indoor event, while protests have been held outside. McEnany explained that the White House's position is "that the media should not be making decisions about their guidelines to us about social distancing based on political ideology or what they think is the worthiness of the cause."
McEnany Holds Up 'Wonderful' New York Post to Blast Media Hypocrisy www.youtube.com
Anything else?
During an interview with "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence said that the Trump campaign is considering outdoor options after receiving 1 million ticket requests for the Tulsa rally.
"I can tell you it is all a work in progress," the vice president said. "We had such an overwhelming response that we are also looking at another venue, we are also looking at outside activities that I know the campaign team will keep the public informed [of]."


theblaze--2020-06-17--Trump is asked if Colin Kaepernick should be allowed to play football — he says 'absolutely'

Trump is asked if Colin Kaepernick should be allowed to play football — he says 'absolutely' This might come as @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump was asked if the controversial figure behind the kneeling protests during the national anthem should be allowed to play in the NFL again, and he answered enthusiastically that he should.
The president was responding to a question from WABC-TV's Scott Thurman on Wednesday when he made the comments about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who hasn't played since the 2016 season.
"If he deserves it, he should. If he has the playing ability. He started off great, and then he didn't end up very great in terms of, as a player," said Trump.
"He was terrific in his rookie year and then I think he was very good in his second year, and then I think something happened so his playing wasn't up to snuff," he continued.
"The answer is, absolutely, I would. As far as kneeling, I would love to see him get another shot but obviously he has to be able to play well," Trump concluded. "If he can't play well, I think it would be very unfair."
The inquiry came during a national debate over recent deaths of black men, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, and most recently, Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, by police officers.
The president had previously told his rally audience in September 2017 that kneelers should be fired from their teams.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag, to say get that son of a b***h off the field right now?" he said to booming applause.
A recent poll found that a majority of Americans believed it is appropriate for players to kneel on the field as a protest. Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that he hopes Kaepernick will help "guide" the league on issues pertaining to social justice, and he hopes a team will sign him.
Here's the video of his Kaepernick comments:


theblaze--2020-06-17--'Noose' seen in Harlem park has Gov. Cuomo ripping 'evil icon of our nation's racist past.' Then the

'Noose' seen in Harlem park has Gov. Cuomo ripping 'evil icon of our nation's racist past.' Then the truth comes out.

'Noose ' seen in Harlem park has Gov .
Cuomo ripping 'evil icon of our nation 's racist past .
@ @ @ @ @ out .

A visitor at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem took a photo Saturday of what was called a "noose" hanging from a tree near the historic Fire Watch Tower, WNBC-TV reported.
Image source: WNBC-TV video screenshot
And man, did that ever set people off — among them Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the station said.
"I am disgusted by the recent discovery of a noose — the epitome of hatred and an evil icon of our nation's racist past — in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park," Cuomo's Tuesday statement read, according to WNBC. "New York is no place for hate, and the progress we've made as a society will not be undone by the work of a few cowards."
Oops!
But later that same evening, the New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force indicated no act of hate occurred, WNBC reported.
The task force said it "investigated this incident thoroughly" and that "according to the park director, it was left over from a construction scaffold that was removed in the fall. The rope was used to hoist construction materials."
While the "noose" was taken down, the station said some weren't buying the hate crime unit's conclusion.
"I don't see how a rope like that could've stayed this long through winter storms through wind. And it's just perfectly there?" Kanene Holder told WNBC.
She added to the station that if the rope truly wasn't meant to convey hate, then construction crews must be better trained so they don't leave what can be construed as images of hate lying around.
Image source: WNBC-TV video screenshot
"If we want to think about what the noose symbolizes, it is literally a direct threat on the lives of black people in this country for centuries," Holder also told WNBC.
Another resident, Sean Noriega, told the station that given how many people are in and around the park day and night, it's "basically impossible that someone got in this park and did something like that, and no one saw anything."
Image source: WNBC-TV video screenshot
No surveillance video had surfaced that might indicate when the rope was placed in the park, WNBC said.
Haven't we seen this movie before?
If this particular jump to an unsavory conclusion sounds familiar, that's because it is:
A "noose" found in a University of Michigan hospital last year sparked a hate crime allegation, and the office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience was even made available to those who experienced "distress" over the incident. But it turned out that an employee simply was practicing tying a fishing knot.
Far-left Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in 2018 said President Donald Trump's "hateful rhetoric" was to blame for a black doll found hanging with a noose at a playground. Except it was actually placed there by two boys under 13 — one white, one black — who did it scare people and who didn't know about the hate-related imagery.
In 2015, a University of Delaware student reported finding three "nooses" hanging from a tree in front of a building on campus, one day after Black Lives Matter activists staged a protest. The school president said campus police were "investigating" the "hate crime" and that "we need to stand together against intolerance." However, it was determined actually that the ropes were left over from a previous campus activity involving paper lanterns.
(H/T: Twitchy)


theblaze--2020-06-17--Orlando airport refutes alarming report that 260 out of 500 tested workers had COVID-19

An alarming report by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that 260 out of 500 workers at Orlando International Airport had tested positive for the coronavirus was proven to be inaccurate, Click Orlando reported.
What DeSantis said: "An airport in Central Florida had a couple of cases," DeSantis said Tuesday. "They did the contact tracing. They looked over almost 500 workers, 260 working close together positive, 52 percent positivity rate on that one..."
Orlando International Airport clarifies: DeSantis' comments, were, at best, severely lacking context and presented a much more dire situation than actually existed.
Of the 500 people tested that DeSantis referred to that were tested last week, only two people actually tested positive. The rest of the positive cases represent a total dating back to March, and nearly half of them aren't even airport workers, but rather positive cases identified through contact tracing:
"The number of cases at Orlando International Airport is cumulative from March 2020 and includes household close contacts as determined through the extensive epidemiological investigations conducted by the Department of Health.
"These cases were all identified from and associated with positive COVID-19 cases linked to the airport. Through collaboration with airport and local authorities and thorough efforts in contact tracing, all the cases were linked and notified.
"Last week, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) conducted 500 tests. Only two came back positive and held no risk of exposure to others. DOH-Orange has been active in monitoring and investigating every case at the airport and will continue to ensure the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and protocols are followed closely," the statement read.
DeSantis' office issued a clarifying statement Wednesday, which did not acknowledge the governor's initial incorrect report, which spread through media before being corrected.
"Governor DeSantis has emphasized the benefit of testing for COVID-19 and contact tracing throughout the state," the statement said. "MCO had 132 employees test positive for COVID-19. Through contact tracing of those employees, an additional 128 individuals not associated with the airport tested positive for COVID-19 resulting in 260 total positive cases. We appreciate MCO's commitment to working with the Orange County Health Department, the Florida Department of Health and for ensuring best practices are followed for the health and safety of all employees and visitors to the airport."


theblaze--2020-06-17--Sen. Tom Cotton says Twitter threatened to lock his account forever over tweet calling on the milita

Sen. Tom Cotton says Twitter threatened to lock his account forever over tweet calling on the military to be used to quell riots

Sen. Tom Cotton says Twitter threatened to lock his account forever over tweet calling on the military to be used @ @ @ @ @ called their bluff

It wasn't only the New York Times who tried to censor Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) earlier this month.
Cotton alleged Wednesday that Twitter threatened to permanently lock his account if he refused to delete a tweet calling on the U.S. military to be used to quell riots taking place across the country.
What are the details?
In an op-ed published on Fox News Wednesday, Cotton detailed how a "low-level" employee for the social media company reached out to his aides shortly after it was published with an ultimatum: "Delete the tweet or Twitter would permanently lock my account. She gave me only 30 minutes to comply.
Here's the tweet that was under suspicion:
According to Cotton, the "Twitter thought police" specifically took umbrage with Cotton's use of the term "no quarter," which they alleged "once meant that a military force would take no prisoners, but instead shoot them."
Cotton contended with the employee that "no quarter" is a phrase now commonly used — even by the likes of former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg and the New York Times — as a metaphor for a tough approach to a situation and offered to publish a new tweet explaining his meaning. But the employee stood by her demand.
When he asked why his account wasn't simply flagged as President Trump's was last month, the employee said that the policy only applies to heads of state and not elected legislators. Though the company's ever-evolving fact-checking policy appears to lump both of those categories together.
What happened?
Ultimately, after the senator and his staff provided the employee with dictionary definitions of "no quarter," the employee acquiesced and said that she would "take that back to our teams."
It was obvious the employee was acting at the direction of higher-ups, Cotton noted.
"I called Twitter's bluff, and 30 minutes came and went," he said. "I retained control of my account. Finally, almost two hours after the initial contact, the employee called to say Twitter would take 'no action' against my account, but she was not authorized to say more.
"Twitter began as an open platform committed to the free exchange of ideas; over time, it increasingly has taken upon itself the role of politically correct censor of thought-crime by elected officials and ordinary citizens alike," Cotton added in the op-ed. "Not surprisingly, the censorship falls overwhelmingly on conservatives."
Cotton also discussed Twitter's attempted censorship in an interview on Fox News Wednesday:


theblaze--2020-06-17--‘Walking Dead’ star reveals 11-year-old child is transgender: 'When he was born we thought he was a

‘Walking Dead’ star reveals 11-year-old child is transgender: 'When he was born we thought he was a girl. We were mistaken.'

‘ Walking Dead ’ star reveals 11-year-old child is transgender : 'When he was born we thought he was a @ @ @ @ @ . '

"Walking Dead" star Khary Payton has revealed that his 11-year-old child is transgender.
What are the details?
Payton's child, who was born a female, is officially transgender, according to the actor, as the child has "always identified as a boy."
In an Instagram post, Payton reintroduced his biologically born daughter as his son.
"This is my kid," he wrote. "One of the most happy, well-adjusted individuals I've ever known. My son, Karter. Karter with a K because it reminded him of my name. He chose it. You see, he was born female but has always identified as a boy."
He continued, "He thought it would be cool if I announced it on social media. I told him that there would be so many supporters but also a lot of jerks who would be harsh. He said, 'Yeah, I know about trolls, daddy. I can handle trolls.'"
Payton added that he's so proud of his son, and enjoys watching him come into his own.
"Man, there is nothing more beautiful than watching your child feel the joy of exploring what it means to be true to themselves," he said. "This is his journey, and I am here for it. I hope you all have the opportunity to feel the unquenchable love that I am feeling right now."
Payton also has an 8-year-old daughter, Maya.
Payton's wife, Stacy — who filed for divorce from the actor in 2019 — also expressed her happiness over Karter's announcement.
On her own Instagram page, she shared a photo of the couple's child and wrote, "I am overjoyed to introduce you to my son, Karter. When he was born we thought he was a girl. We were mistaken. He is a boy. A smart, funny, brave, loving, magnificent boy."
"Karter is so confident in who he is and was thrilled for me to let everyone know that he's finally living as his true self," she concluded. "As a boy. As my son. As Karter. I am so incredibly proud of him and feel blessed every single day to be his mama."


theblaze--2020-06-17--Atlanta police officers charged in shooting of Rayshard Brooks

Rayshard Brooks ' daughter , Blessing , 8 , leaves a news conference in tears after other family members addressed @ @ @ @ @ last week in Atlanta .
Brooks died while fleeing from two white police officers outside @ @ @ @ @ on June 12 .
( Photo by Dustin Chambers/Getty Images )

The officers involved in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta will be criminally charged, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced in a news conference Wednesday.
Former Atlanta Police Department Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the shots that killed Brooks, is being charged with felony murder and former Officer Devin Brosnan, who was also involved in the altercation, will be charged with aggravated assault.
Howard said that the officers' demeanor after shooting Brooks, which included Rolfe kicking Brooks' body, "did not reflect any fear or danger of Mr. Brooks. But their actions really reflected other kinds of emotions."
Howard also described Brooks, 27, as "calm" and "cordial" during the conversation with officers before the shooting, and that he displayed a "cooperative nature" and "almost jovial" demeanor, even though he was "slightly impaired."
The officers first engaged Brooks because he was asleep in the drive-thru of a Wendy's restaurant on June 12. They knocked on his window, woke him up, and told him to park the car in the Wendy's lot. Once Brooks got out of the car, the officers verbally confirmed that he wasn't armed, and patted him down.
The officers administered a breathalyzer test and a field sobriety test, finding him to be over the legal limit. Brooks was cooperative up to this point, but attempted to escape when the officers were putting him in handcuffs.
Both officers attempted to wrestle Brooks to ground, as Brooks fought them off. Brosnan pulls out his Taser, which Brooks is able to take from his hand during the fight. Brooks is able to escape both officers and takes off running with the Taser. Rolfe pulls out his own stun gun and attempts to stun Brooks, but is apparently unsuccessful.
Surveillance footage shows Brooks apparently pointing the Taser at the officers pursuing him. Three shots are fired, and Brooks was shot twice in the back.
GRAPHIC VIDEO: Atlanta Police Release Footage of Rayshard Brooks Shooting www.youtube.com
Rolfe was fired from the department and Brosnan placed on administrative leave. Police Chief Erika Shields resigned from her position after 25 years of service with the department. The Wendy's restaurant, where the shooting occurred, was set on fire in subsequent protests.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Ahmaud Arbery's mother says President Trump was 'compassionate' during meeting with victims' familie

Ahmaud Arbery's mother says President Trump was 'compassionate' during meeting with victims' families

Wanda Cooper-Jones , mother of Ahmaud Arbery , speaks to reporters outside of Sen. Tim Scott 's ( R-S.C. ) @ @ @ @ @ Office Building .
Cooper-Jones , along with other family members who have had loved ones @ @ @ @ @ , met with President Trump on Tuesday and later met with Sen. Scott about police @ @ @ @ @ ( Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images )

Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, said President Donald Trump was "compassionate" toward the families of victims of police brutality during a Tuesday meeting associated with his police reform executive order, Newsweek reported.
Arbery was killed by civilians, although his death and the way it was handled by local police and prosecutors set a foundation for the racial unrest that occurred after George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. One of the men charged with Arbery's murder was a former police officer.
"I was very very emotional throughout the whole conference," Cooper-Jones told Fox News. "[Trump] was very compassionate. He shows major concerns for all families, not just one family but for all families. I can say that President Trump was very receiving. He listened and he addressed each and every family accordingly."
Some were critical of Cooper-Jones and the other families for participating in the meeting with President Trump, who is often viewed unfavorably on issues of race. Cooper-Jones stands by her decision to participate.
"I wanted him to hear my voice," Cooper-Jones said.
Cooper-Jones said the executive order was a positive step, although she doesn't believe it goes far enough, and it doesn't address the circumstances that led to her son's death.
"I don't think that's enough, but I do think that is a start," Cooper-Jones said. "I didn't think that order addresses anything that concerns Ahmaud's case at all."
Cooper-Jones and the other families also met with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is leading Senate Republican efforts to draft police reform legislation.
Arbery was chased down by two residents in Glynn County, Georgia, after he was suspected of burglarizing an unoccupied home under construction. Travis and Gregory McMichael pursued him in their truck, with firearms. Travis McMichael shot Arbery during a physical altercation when they cornered him.
The McMichaels were not arrested and charged with Arbery's murder until more than two months had passed after his death, once the video of the altercation was leaked to media.
The families of the other victims, included Arbery, Botham Jean, Antwon Rose, Jemel Roberson, Atatiana Jefferson, Michael Dean, Darius Tarver, Cameron Lamb, and Everett Palmer.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Dem Sen. Dick Durbin calls GOP Sen. Tim Scott's police reform bill 'token.' Scott drops the hammer i

Dem Sen. Dick Durbin calls GOP Sen. Tim Scott's police reform bill 'token.' Scott drops the hammer in response.

Sen. Tim Scott ( R-S.C. ) put Democrats on blast Wednesday for pandering to the black community by wearing African kente cloths after a top Senate Democrat called newly introduced Republican police reform legislation `` token . ''
`` Y'all still wearing those kente cloths over there ? ''
Scott bluntly asked Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin on Twitter in a scathing response to the remarks .
What are the details ?
Durbin made the `` token '' remark during a speech on the Senate floor only hours after the Scott-led Republican bill was introduced .
`` We can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity .
Let 's not do something that is a token , half-hearted approach , '' Durbin said , referring to the bill .
At best , Durbin was alleging with his remarks that the bill is merely a symbolic gesture to be inclusive to the black community rather than a substantive reform .
At worst , he was purposely using the abrasive term to shame Scott .
Either way , his use of the word in an attack on the Scott-led bill was unseemly as well as hypocritical , as Scott was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Democratic criticism of the bill , Scott told reporters : `` I would love for them not to use the word token as a way of race baiting on such an important topic . ''
What about the kente cloths ?
Last week , when Democrats introduced their own police reform legislation , several lawmakers , including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , donned traditional West African kente cloths while kneeling for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the exact amount of time that former police officer Derek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he died .
The move made headlines for its appearance as mere pandering and bizarre cultural appropriation .
But things got even worse Wednesday , when news broke that the kente cloths have roots in the African slave trade .
This is not the first time that Scott has punched back at his Democratic detractors over insensitive remarks regarding his race and his work on conservative policy .
Last week , Scott noted that he had seen his name dragged through the dirt on Twitter in the 24 hours since he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-Ky. ) to lead Republican legislative efforts on police reform .
Twitter users had allegedly referred to the senator as `` token '' and `` boy '' and suggested that he was `` being used . ''
Scott set them straight and exposed the truth about Senate Democrats and race along the way .

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) put Democrats on blast Wednesday for pandering to the black community by wearing African kente cloths after a top Senate Democrat called newly introduced Republican police reform legislation "token."
"Y'all still wearing those kente cloths over there?" Scott bluntly asked Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin on Twitter in a scathing response to the remarks.
What are the details?
Durbin made the "token" remark during a speech on the Senate floor only hours after the Scott-led Republican bill was introduced.
"We cannot waste this historic moment, this singular opportunity. Let's not do something that is a token, half-hearted approach," Durbin said, referring to the bill.
At best, Durbin was alleging with his remarks that the bill is merely a symbolic gesture to be inclusive to the black community rather than a substantive reform. At worst, he was purposely using the abrasive term to shame Scott.
Either way, his use of the word in an attack on the Scott-led bill was unseemly as well as hypocritical, as Scott was keen to point out.
When asked about Democratic criticism of the bill, Scott told reporters: "I would love for them not to use the word token as a way of race baiting on such an important topic."
What about the kente cloths?
Last week, when Democrats introduced their own police reform legislation, several lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), donned traditional West African kente cloths while kneeling for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the exact amount of time that former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck before he died.
The move made headlines for its appearance as mere pandering and bizarre cultural appropriation.
But things got even worse Wednesday, when news broke that the kente cloths have roots in the African slave trade.
Anything else?
This is not the first time that Scott has punched back at his Democratic detractors over insensitive remarks regarding his race and his work on conservative policy.
Last week, Scott noted that he had seen his name dragged through the dirt on Twitter in the 24 hours since he was selected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to lead Republican legislative efforts on police reform.
Twitter users had allegedly referred to the senator as "token" and "boy" and suggested that he was "being used."
Scott set them straight and exposed the truth about Senate Democrats and race along the way.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Woman goes viral for trying to kick off a social media challenge: 'Burn your mask — ignite freedom!'

Woman goes viral for trying to kick off a social media challenge : 'Burn your mask — ignite freedom !
@

A North Carolina woman is trying very hard to kick off a viral movement encouraging people to burn their COVID-19 protective masks in the name of freedom and stamping out oppression.
Or something.
The move comes on the heels of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's (D) suggestion that wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus may become mandated across the state.
What are the details?
Ashley Smith, founder of the Facebook group Reopen North Carolina, made a video about burning the masks and shared it on Facebook.
In the video, Smith says, "As you know, we're a group against mandatory anything, and we're for personal liberty and the Constitution and personal freedom."
Insisting that a mask "does not prevent the spread of COVID-19," Smith says that wearing a mask is "not a sign of your compassion or how much you care for any other human being."
"This is a sign of control," she insists. "This is a sign to tell them if you are going to comply."
She then proceeds in the video to burn her mask in a frying pan, declaring, "Burn your mask #Ignite freedom!"
The most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on mask wearing says: "A cloth face covering may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others."
Smith's suggestion?
Burn all masks. Even if you have to go out and buy them simply on the grounds of burning them. She encouraged viewers to share videos of themselves burning masks, using the hashtag #IgniteFreedom for others to view the videos.
What is the reaction?
At the time of this writing, Smith's video has drawn more than 5,900 comments about her mask-burning — most of which are decidedly negative.
One social media user wrote, "Your bravery is immense. What a hero burning equipment that could protect workers in hospitals or any other place that has felt the real effects of the disease."
Another user added, "[P]lease consider DONATING your masks and PPE instead of burning it??? [Y]ou may not care about yourself but you should care about others, especially if you're 'all lives matter.' [I']m sure local shelters, clinics, hospitals, and community organizations would love to have your masks."
(H/T: Newsweek)


theblaze--2020-06-17--'SNL' alum Jay Pharoah shares disturbing footage of his detainment by LAPD — complete with a knee on

'SNL' alum Jay Pharoah shares disturbing footage of his detainment by LAPD — complete with a knee on his neck

'SNL ' alum Jay Pharoah shares disturbing footage of his detainment by LAPD — complete with a knee on his @ @ @ @ @ terrified

"Saturday Night Live" alum and actor Jay Pharoah shared details about a disturbing detainment that purportedly took place in April.
During the reported encounter, members of the LAPD apprehended Pharoah with their guns drawn and detained him because he matched the description of a suspect in a local crime.
What are the details?
On Friday, Pharaoh, 32, revealed the disturbing incident. He said he was exercising when at least four LAPD officers approached him with their "guns blazing" and demanded that he get on the ground.
He complied and said that one of the officers pinned his neck to the ground, similar to the manner in which former police officer Derek Chauvin pinned George Floyd's neck to the ground before killing him.
In a video, Pharoah said, "They put me in cuffs. The officer took his knee, put it on my neck. It wasn't as long as George Floyd, but I know how that feels."
The comedian said that the police detained him because he matched the description of a "black man" in the area who was wearing "gray sweatpants" and a "gray shirt."
Pharoah insisted that he was not the man they were seeking and that they Google his name.
Officers reportedly released him "a minute later" and issued an apology.
Explaining that he could have "easily been an Ahmaud Arbery or George Floyd," Pharoah said that it's time black men educate themselves on the law so that an encounter with law enforcement will not end in tragedy.
"We as a country can't breathe any more," he said. "We are tired, we are sick, and we are tired of it. I can't breathe."
What else?
Pharoah told Gayle King on Wednesday's "CBS This Morning" that he's never encountered police prior to this alleged incident and has never even had so much as a parking ticket.
"I don't have any run-ins with the law. I've never even had a ticket," he told King. "I've never had guns pointed at me, Gayle. I've never had handcuffs put on me."
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said the department is aware of the footage and is investigating the incident.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Victim in brutal beating by five suspects: Last attacker said 'Black Lives Matter' when he kicked me

Victim in brutal beating by five suspects: Last attacker said 'Black Lives Matter' when he kicked me in face

Victim in brutal beating by five suspects : Last attacker said 'Black Lives Matter ' when he kicked me in @ @ @ @ @ took the beating — and video shows he did n't fight back or protect himself

A shopper at the Food Mart in Klein, Texas, was waiting to buy some items Sunday evening when a group tried to cut in line, KTRK-TV reported.
"I looked over and said, 'There's a line for a reason,'" the shopper told the station.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Words were exchanged, and he added to KTRK that the group mocked his hair and clothes.
Then comes the beatdown
After he paid and left, the group met him in the parking lot and took turns kicking and punching him, the station said.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
The victim told KTRK he just took the beating. Video of the attack shows he didn't fight back or protect himself.
"I don't know what else I could do," he added to the station. "The fifth one at the end came out of the store after purchasing goods and came up to me and kicked me in the face and said, 'Black lives matter, [expletive].'"
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Here's the clip:
The victim suffered a swollen lip, bruising, and a cut near his eye, KTRK reported, adding that Harris County Sheriff's deputies said he refused to seek treatment.
The victim and his girlfriend asked not to be identified out of fear for their safety, the station said, adding that she said she's received death threats.
"I really hope they're caught before someone else gets hurt," his girlfriend added to KTRK. "I hope that the people take this and don't say, 'It's white against black.' I don't want this to be the statement. I want it to be, 'Here's a man who was checking out and stood up for himself, and he was targeted for that.'"
Video shows brutal assault outside Klein, Texas, convenience store youtu.be
Authorities are searching for the suspects, and the Facebook account of Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4, provided the following still images in the hopes of apprehending them:
Image source: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4


theblaze--2020-06-17--Ben Shapiro DISMANTLES Supreme Court's LGBTQ decision: 'Cramming down a one-size-fits-all rule' does

Ben Shapiro DISMANTLES Supreme Court's LGBTQ decision: 'Cramming down a one-size-fits-all rule' does NOT work

Ben Shapiro DISMANTLES Supreme Court 's LGBTQ decision : 'Cramming down a one-size-fits-all rule ' does NOT work Are we @ @ @ @ @ this top-down rule ?

The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro joined "The Glenn Beck Radio Program" Tuesday to break down everything you need to know about the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling to extend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protections to gay, lesbian, and transgender people.
Shapiro argued that the decision was "nonsensical on the merits" — from its effect on business owners and its contradictory principles of discrimination to how it conflicts with Title IX and religious protections under the U.S. Constitution.
"The Supreme Court tries to, very often, settle questions that are still unsettled, and that really ought not be settled by the Supreme Court. And that is in this particular case. This is not within the Supreme Court's purview," Shapiro said.
"And so, there are a lot of people today who are celebrating, 'Oh, look, it's a new America. We're all unified now because there's a top-down rule.' Here's the thing: America is as politically divided as it has been, certainly in my lifetime and maybe in the lifetime of your listeners, including the '60s. The idea that you're going to have anybody at the top of the federal government cramming down a one-size-fits-all rule, it's really a problem," he continued. "Are you going to keep the country together by cramming down one rule from the top? Whether you like the rule or you don't like the rule, that's a dangerous thing."
"I think that's what the French Revolution was all about," Glenn added. "The French Revolution really was about, 'We're going to enforce morality. We're going to enforce what we believe is right. And if you don't like it, guillotine.' It doesn't work."
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
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theblaze--2020-06-17--'This is literally a life and death election,' Planned Parenthood says in Joe Biden endorsement with

'This is literally a life and death election,' Planned Parenthood says in Joe Biden endorsement with apparently no grasp on the irony

'This is literally a life and death election , ' Planned Parenthood says in Joe Biden endorsement with apparently no @ @ @ @

Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, officially endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president Monday, calling the upcoming election a choice between "life and death."
Alexis McGill Johnson, the acting president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, made the shockingly ironic comments alongside the release of a video announcement of the endorsement.
"This is literally a life and death election," Johnson told NPR. "We felt like we can't endure another four years of Trump; we have to do everything we can to get him out of office."
In the video, Johnson complained to ominous music how over "the last four years, our most fundamental rights, and our health have been under attack" by the Trump administration.
Yet that didn't stop the organization from setting a record by conducting 345,672 abortion procedures in a single year between Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Joe Biden for President youtu.be
Appearing in the video, former Vice President Biden touted his record of supporting so-called "reproductive rights" and expanding insurance coverage for related practices through the Affordable Care Act before pledging his support to Planned Parenthood.
"As president I'm going to do everything in my power to expand access to quality, affordable health care for women, especially women of color," Biden said. "We will protect women's constitutional right to choose. I'm proud to stand with you in this fight."
Johnson's not-so-self-aware "life and death" comments were subsequently ripped on social media following the video's release.
"You have to give it to Planned Parenthood," journalist and author Billy Hallowell tweeted. "I have yet to see an organization more detached from the reality and meaning of its own bizarre proclamations. Yes, PP, it is certainly a life or death election for hundreds of thousands of unborn babies."
Turning Point USA's Chief Creative Officer Benny Johnson added in a tweet that Planned Parenthood is obviously "on the side of Death."
The Washington Examiner's Siraj Hashmi tweeted sarcastically: "Planned Parenthood certainly are the experts on 'life and death.'"


theblaze--2020-06-17--Black pastor pulls a gun while being attacked, gets arrested. Now 5 white suspects face felony and h

Black pastor pulls a gun while being attacked, gets arrested. Now 5 white suspects face felony and hate crimes charges.

Black pastor pulls a gun while being attacked , gets arrested .
Now 5 white suspects face felony and hate @ @ @ @ @ sheriff apologizes to pastor who was defending himself

Authorities arrested a 61-year-old black pastor from Virginia after he pulled a gun on his attackers, who approached him on his own property.
Five suspects, however, are now facing hate crimes charges.
What are the details?
Pastor Leon McCray Sr. was simply guarding his property when he came under attack from no less than five suspects.
The incident took place on June 1 when the pastor attempted to prevent two white suspects from leaving an old refrigerator on the property of an apartment building he owns.
McCray told WHSV-TV that the two suspects became "irate," and returned with three other suspects. The five then reportedly surrounded McCray, intimidating the man with racial epithets, threats, and physical violence.
"Racial epithets, and the N-word, and your Black life, your motherf***ing Black life don't make, it doesn't make a difference in this country, it doesn't make a difference to me, and we will kill you," McCray recalled the suspects saying.
The suspects converged on him and at least one suspect reportedly began headbutting McCray.
"One of the guys snatched his shirt off and circled behind me, that's when it got really bad," he admitted.
McCray, who was armed during the attack, pulled out his legally owned weapon and was able to call police on the suspects.
"It got to the point where this is really getting really, really bad," he said. "I couldn't leave, I couldn't do anything, and with the threats, I felt to save my life, I had to draw my gun."
Responding officers, however, arrested McCray on allegations of brandishing a firearm before they even sought his side of the story, he said.
"How humiliating," McCray told reporters. "How dehumanizing … to look at this mob of individuals cheering on the sidelines waving as I was carted off to go to jail."
After an investigation, authorities dropped the charge against McCray and levied charges of hate crimes against the five suspects.
What else?
Shenandoah County Sheriff Timothy Carter issued an apology to McCray for the way he was treated during the altercation.
"After talking with him about the incident, it was apparent to me that the charge of brandishing was certainly not appropriate," Carter said. "Actually, as I told Mr. McCray, if I were faced with similar circumstances, I would have probably done the same thing."
Authorities arrested all five suspects: Donny Salyers, 43; Dennis Salyers, 26; Farrah Salyers, 42; Christopher Sharp, 57; and Amanda Salyers, 26.
The suspects were charged with assault — hate crime, assault and battery by mob, and felony abduction.
Two sheriff's office supervisors were also placed on administrative leave in connection with the incident.
"I want the people of Shenandoah County to know I and the sheriff's office staff appreciate and care about the minority communities, and especially our Black community, in Shenandoah County," he said. "Also, I continue to support and recognize the importance of your Constitutional rights, especially your Second Amendment right to protect yourself and your family."
You can listen to an interview with McCray here.


theblaze--2020-06-17--African kente cloths worn by Democrats in political stunt have roots in African slave trade

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other top Democratic leaders marched into the U.S. Capitol Visitor's Center last week and knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the same amount of time that fired Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck.
But it was what the congressional Democrats wore — traditional West African kente cloths — that made headlines. In fact, they were harshly criticized for what came across as mere pandering.
As it turns out, those kente cloths have roots in the African slave trade, according to a USA Today fact check.
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) and other Democratic lawmakers take a knee to observe a moment of silence on Capitol Hill for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The day following the political stunt, Facebook user Dave Brandon claimed, in a post that received thousands of shares, that the scarves are connected to African slave traders.
Brandon wrote:
So check this out, Kente cloth was worn by the Ashanti. It's made of silk so the affluent wore it. The Ashanti were also known as slave owners and traders. Huh? The Ashanti's long-time ally, the Akwamu, were among the first ones to profit from the slave trade with the Europeans. Their captives were almost always prisoners of war, but they were not above to selling Akwamu men who offended the chief. They also kidnapped able-bodied men from other tribes and sold them in the coastal slave markets.
According to USA Today's fact check, Brandon is correct.
The kente cloth comes from "the Asante, or Ashanti, peoples of Ghana and Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo," according to USA Today. Asantehene Osei Tutu, the first ruler of the Asante Kingdom, adopted the scarf as a royal symbol, the fact check explained.
From USA Today:
Tutu, who lived from 1660 to 1712 or 1717, unified several small Asante kingdoms to create the Asante empire. He is credited with expanding the Asante throughout most of Ghana and introducing his subjects to the gold and slave trades along the West African coast.
The Asante supplied British and Dutch traders with slaves in exchange for firearms, which they used to expand their empire. Slaves were often acquired as tributes from smaller states or captured during war. Some slaves were brought across the Atlantic whiles others stayed in Africa to work in gold fields.
By the end of the 18th century, the region was exporting between 6,000 and 7,000 African slaves per year, according to the BBC.
However, in modern times, the kente cloth has become a symbol of African pride and is traditionally worn during special occasions.
Diana Baird N'Diyea, cultural specialist and senior curator at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, told USA Today she places the significance of the Kente in the people who craft them — not the scarf's origins.
"My way of thinking about it is that it honors the creativity, the ingenuity, the skill of the people who actually make the kente," she said.


theblaze--2020-06-17--The COVID Death Count is Inflated — Change My Mind

In the latest installment of Change My Mind, Steven Crowder takes to the streets of Dallas to have real conversations about COVID deaths. Watch the premiere at 1 PM ET.
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theblaze--2020-06-17--VP Mike Pence calls coronavirus second wave fears ‘overblown,' says the media are trying to 'scare'

VP Mike Pence calls coronavirus second wave fears ‘overblown,' says the media are trying to 'scare' people

VP Mike Pence calls coronavirus second wave fears ‘ overblown , ' says the media are trying to 'scare ' @

In an op-ed published Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal, Vice President Mike Pence slammed the media for stirring up "panic" and attempting to "scare" people about a second coronavirus wave.
"In recent days, the media has taken to sounding the alarm bells over a 'second wave' of coronavirus infections. Such panic is overblown," Pence wrote. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the courage and compassion of the American people, our public health system is far stronger than it was four months ago, and we are winning the fight against the invisible enemy."
The vice president was responding to a spree of media reports in the last week of a coronavirus case spike occurring across the Sun Belt and in the western region of the country.
The New York Times reported Sunday that 22 states — including Texas, Arizona, and Florida — have experienced an increase in confirmed cases since reopening. In another report Wednesday, the Washington Post added that nine states have hit record highs in the last week.
"While talk of an increase in cases dominates cable news coverage, more than half of states are actually seeing cases decline or remain stable," Pence wrote in the op-ed.
It should also be noted that many state and local leaders knew an increase in cases might follow as a result of reopening but determined the economic risks of remaining in lockdown outweighed the possibility of new infections.
The new surge in confirmed cases also coincides with nationwide protests over George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. The White House coronavirus task force warned governors last week to prepare for such a spike.
Nevertheless, Pence argued that the goal of slowing the spread so as to not overwhelm the health system has been obtained.
"The media has tried to scare the American people every step of the way, and these grim predictions of a second wave are no different. The truth is, whatever the media says, our whole-of-America approach has been a success," Pence said. "We've slowed the spread, we've cared for the most vulnerable, we've saved lives, and we've created a solid foundation for whatever challenges we may face in the future. That's a cause for celebration, not the media's fearmongering."
The latest data from Johns Hopkins University shows that the United States has reported more than 2 million confirmed cases of the virus since the start of the outbreak and more than 117,000 deaths.