theblaze--2020-06-15--Howard Stern refuses to apologize for blackface, use of N-word — and blames Donald Trump Jr. for bri

Howard Stern refuses to apologize for blackface, use of N-word — and blames Donald Trump Jr. for bringing it up

Howard Stern refuses to apologize for blackface , use of N-word — and blames Donald Trump Jr. for bringing it @

Shock jock Howard Stern said that Donald Trump Jr. is at least partially responsible for social media's anger about his wearing of blackface and using the N-word during his career.
Stern came under fire over the weekend when old clips and photos of him wearing blackface re-emerged and sparked outrage on the internet.
What are the details?
On Monday, Stern said that he changed his life and learned from his previous mistakes, which included wearing blackface in the '80s and '90s.
On one such occasion, Stern was reportedly mocking actor Ted Danson, who once dressed up in blackface to perform at a Friars Club roast in the '90s.
"The big headline is this, and this is my fear in all of this," he said during his Sirius XM radio show on Monday. "I was able to change my approach, and able to change my life, and you know, how I communicated. You know, if I had to do it over again, would I lampoon Ted Danson — a white guy in blackface doing, you know — yeah, I was lampooning him, saying, 'Hey, f***, I'm going to shine a light on this,' but would I go about this the same way now? Probably not."
"Not probably," he qualified. "Wouldn't."
He said that he was likely "insane" when he was wearing blackface, but he was able to recover, apparently, through therapy.
"I'm not apologizing," he insisted.
Stern, instead, said that the Trump family — especially Trump Jr. — is at fault for poking a hornet's nest, explaining that if the president's son hadn't retweeted a viral video of Stern, it might not be relevant news today.
"They leak TV shows that have been on TV to the press," Stern complained.
"Dude, if you're the president of the United States and you want to worry about me, go ahead. ... If you solve the pandemic, then we can go and review all my old shows."
Stern added that it "f***ing distresses [him]" that Trump Jr. and the president "won't go into psychotherapy and change."
"Attacking me during the coronavirus and Black Lives Matter is absolutely f***ing crazy, concentrating on me," he said. "You want to concentrate on me and bully me, and expose me, with all the TV shows that I've done? They're all out there. There's nothing new here."
He concluded, "I assume Donald [Trump] is putting [his son] up to this."
Despite his thoughts on the first family, Stern's expansive history of using racial epithets and wearing minstrel-like black makeup speaks for itself.


theblaze--2020-06-15--NYC contact tracers are not asking coronavirus-infected people whether they attended protests

As New York City's contact tracers attempt to track the spread and scope of COVID-19, they are not directly asking infected individuals whether they have attended recent social justice protests that have included thousands of attendees, The City reported.
New York City has hired hundreds of city employees to interview coronavirus-positive individuals about who they may have been in contact with since contracting the virus, but one seemingly obvious question is not being asked. From The City:
The hundreds of contact tracing workers hired by the city under de Blasio's new "test and trace" campaign have been instructed not to ask anyone who's tested positive for COVID-19 whether they recently attended a demonstration, City Hall confirmed to THE CITY.
"No person will be asked proactively if they attended a protest," Avery Cohen, a spokesperson for de Blasio, wrote in an emailed response to questions by THE CITY.
The contact tracers ask more general questions of infected individuals, such as who they live with and who they may have had close contact with (within six feet for 10 minutes or more). In the course of that questioning, people may reveal that they have attended a protest, but they won't be asked directly.
The New York State Department of Health said through a spokesperson that public health officials are trying to balance the need for information with a desire to protect privacy.
"We're working with New York City to balance the public health priority while also protecting personal privacy, as we seek to ensure a thorough contact tracing program that helps us contain the COVID-19 virus and monitor any fluctuations in the infection rate as we continue reopening New York," spokesperson John Bruno told The City.
With mass protests occurring daily across the country while the COVID-19 pandemic is still active, public health experts fear the gatherings could fuel a second wave of the virus. Government leaders have been largely unwilling to discourage the gatherings even though many states still have lockdown rules in place.


theblaze--2020-06-15--FDA pulls emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment

President Donald Trump said he used the drug FDA pulls emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment A bottle @ @ @ @ @ on a counter at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo , Utah , on May 20 @ @ @ @ @ GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images )

The Food and Drug Administration has ended the emergency use authorization that allowed physicians to prescribe chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, citing its ineffectiveness as a treatment and potentially dangerous side effects.
The FDA issued the EUA for the anti-malarial drugs at the end of March after some physicians in other countries claimed patients improved with the treatments. However, further study has not proven them to be effective against COVID-19, and research has revealed potential dangers.
The FDA added the following update to its guidance on the emergency use authorization for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine:
Based on FDA's continued review of the scientific evidence available for hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) and chloroquine phosphate (CQ) to treat COVID-19, FDA has determined that the statutory criteria for EUA as outlined in Section 564(c)(2) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are no longer met. Specifically, FDA has determined that CQ and HCQ are unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 for the authorized uses in the EUA. Additionally, in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other serious side effects, the known and potential benefits of CQ and HCQ no longer outweigh the known and potential risks for the authorized use. This warrants revocation of the EUA for HCQ and CQ for the treatment of COVID-19.
A study published in May in the prominent scientific journal The Lancet, which claimed to find that hydroxychloroquine is dangerous, was later retracted after the data upon which the study was based was found to be inconsistent and unverifiable.
The retracted study concluded that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine showed no benefit on in-hospital COVID-19 patient outcomes, while it was associated with "decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias when used for treatment of COVID-19." The FDA's statement did not specify what scientific evidence it reviewed to conclude that the EUA should be revoked.
The FDA previously announced safety concerns associated with the drugs in late April.
"Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19. ... Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia," a statement on the FDA website reads. "These risks may increase when these medicines are combined with other medicines known to prolong the QT interval, including the antibiotic azithromycin, which is also being used in some COVID-19 patients without FDA approval for this condition. Patients who also have other health issues such as heart and kidney disease are likely to be at increased risk of these heart problems when receiving these medicines."
Last month, President Donald Trump announced that he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against COVID-19.
"I happen to be taking it," Trump said on May 18. "A lot of good things have come out. You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers. Before you catch it. The front-line workers, many, many are taking it."


theblaze--2020-06-15--SCOTUS: Gorsuch, Roberts join liberals to rule that civil rights law protects gay and transgender em

SCOTUS: Gorsuch, Roberts join liberals to rule that civil rights law protects gay and transgender employees, too

SCOTUS : Gorsuch , Roberts join liberals to rule that civil rights law protects gay and transgender employees , too

In a historic decision Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends protection to gay and transgender workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The court handed down a surprising 6-3 decision in the case, Bostock v. Clayton County, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch joining the liberal side of the court in the majority decision.
What are the details?
Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion, argued that "in Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee's sex when deciding to fire that employee. We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law."
Gorsuch added that while the drafters of the landmark civil rights law likely did not anticipate the law's many consequences over the years, "the limits of the drafters' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law's demands."
In the dissenting opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote: "Many will applaud today's decision because they agree on policy grounds with the Court's updating of Title VII. But the question in these cases is not whether discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity should be outlawed. The question is whether Congress did that in 1964. It indisputably did not."
The major dispute: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 expressly prohibits employment discrimination on grounds of "race, color, religion, sex, [and] national origin." The key question was whether that law, as written, pertains to sexual orientation or gender identity.
Both Alito and Justice Brett Kavanaugh argued that the law, as written, does not include those terms and cited the fact that Congress has repeatedly introduced legislation since the law's passage to add the terms to the list.
Kavanaugh specifically made note in his dissent that Congress has yet to successfully pass legislation prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and that it is not right for the Court to circumvent the legislative process.
"In the face of the unsuccessful legislative efforts (so far) to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination, judges may not rewrite the law simply because of their own policy views," Kavanaugh wrote. "Judges may not update the law merely because they think that Congress does not have the votes or the fortitude. Judges may not predictively amend the law just because they believe that Congress is likely to do it soon anyway."
"If judges could rewrite laws based on their own policy views," Kavanaugh argues, "the Constitution's separation of powers would collapse," threatening the very nature of the rule of law and of individual liberty.
Why does it matter?
The court's decision had been highly anticipated since the case marked the first time the Court had taken up gay rights since the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018. Kennedy had been the key swing vote on social issues and wrote the majority opinions in all four of the court's major rulings on gay rights.
Undoubtedly, many eyes were fixed on how President Trump's two nominees, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, would rule. They were appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Alito also warned in his dissent that the court's ruling could lead to unintended consequences such as the use of bathrooms based on one's gender identity, perhaps leading to "serious psychological harm" to women who have survived sexual assault.
Three cases, argued in October 2019, were included under the primary caption, Bostock v. Clayton County. The cases involved a former Georgia child welfare services coordinator named Gerald Bostock who said he was fired for being gay, a funeral home director named Aimee Stephens who said she was fired after telling her employer she was transgender, and a skydiving instructor named Donald Zarda who was fired after coming out as gay.
Stephens and Zarda both passed away before the court's decision.
Here's more on the ruling:


theblaze--2020-06-15--NASCAR driver runs 'Blue Lives Matter' scheme days after Bubba Wallace races 'Black Lives Matter' ca

NASCAR driver runs 'Blue Lives Matter' scheme days after Bubba Wallace races 'Black Lives Matter' car

'THANK YOU for your service , sacrifice and dedication '

NASCAR driver Darrell "Bubba" Wallace, who pilots the famed #43 for Richard Petty Motorsports, ran a "Black Lives Matter" paint scheme at Martinsville Speedway last Wednesday.
"I think by running this branding on our car, putting the hashtag out there, bringing more awareness to it, it lines up with the videos that we had put out as NASCAR," Wallace, the only black driver running full-time in NASCAR's Cup Series, said. "Listening and learning. Educating ourselves. So people will look up what this hashtag means. And hopefully get a better understanding."
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Wallace ran the car the same week that NASCAR announced a ban on Confederate flags at all future events, a monumental and controversial policy change.
In response, Xfinity Series driver Kyle Weatherman showed up at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, in preparation for the Hooters 250, with a paint scheme that honored law enforcement.
Weatherman's scheme contrasted Wallace's, declaring, "#BackTheBlue."
On Weatherman's hood was the blue and black flag that has become synonymous with "Blue Lives Matter."
"Mike Harmon Racing proudly releases the 47 Chevy Camaro paint scheme #ThinBlueLine piloted by @KyleWeatherman @HomesteadMiami," Weatherman's team announced. "Mike Harmon Racing supports our LEO's and First Responders, we THANK YOU for your service, sacrifice and dedication."
"RACEDAY here in Miami have something special on the car this weekend. A lot going on in the world right now and I wanted to express that most first responders are good people. My uncle is a firefighter and he would do anything to help save lives. please repost LOVE everyone," Weatherman said on Saturday.
In response to David Ragan, a former Cup Series driver, Weatherman added, "I absolutely I support the black men and women of this country and also support all first responders also. LOVE EVERYONE."
Weatherman finished 33rd on Saturday after completing just 67 of the 167 scheduled laps at the 1.5 mile oval in southern Florida.


theblaze--2020-06-15--Menacing speaker asks far-left Seattle protesters what happened to those who didn't support French R

Menacing speaker asks far-left Seattle protesters what happened to those who didn't support French Revolution. 'Chopped!' they reply.

Menacing speaker asks far-left Seattle protesters what happened to those who did n't support French Revolution .
'Chopped ! '
@ @ @ @ @ the message we need to send !
We are serious !
This is not a @ @ @

Apparently unsatisfied with being allowed to create their own autonomous zone around the Seattle police department's abandoned East Precinct, far-left protesters on Sunday night made their way over to the police department's West Precinct, where they chanted and made speeches, the Seattle Times reported.
Guillotine talk
"It is not CHAZ, it is CHOP!" one speaker barked into a megaphone, a reference to the previous acronym of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, which apparently is now known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest, the paper said.
Then the speaker reminded his comrades of deadly retribution delivered amid a well-known historical revolt.
"Has anybody here ever heard of the French Revolution before?" he asked before noting it began "because people started putting property over lives! They started putting money over people! Does anybody here know what happened to the people who did not get on board with the French Revolution?"
"Chopped!" the crowd shouted back several times.
"That is the message we need to send! We are serious! This is not a joke!" the speaker continued. "I'm tired of seeing my people be genocided by every definition of the word."
Nothing to see here, move along
Despite numerous reports of rapes, robberies, and examples of threatening, lawless behavior inside the autonomous zone, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee — both far-left Democrats — have insisted the protesters are peaceful.
"Peaceful protests are fundamentally American," Inslee tweeted recently, "and I am hopeful there will be a peaceful resolution."
Durkan raved about the autonomous zone's "block party atmosphere" and predicted it could usher in a "Summer of Love."
She also said the area "is not a lawless wasteland of anarchist insurrection — it is a peaceful expression of our community's collective grief and their desire to build a better world."
Anything else?
After the speeches were over Sunday night, the protesters went back to CHOP, the Times reported, adding that one of the protest leaders suggested returning to the West Precinct every day at 6:30 p.m.
As they walked back toward Capitol Hill, they chanted, "No justice, no peace! No racist police!" the paper added.


theblaze--2020-06-15--Former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien says a network exec told her she could only book the ‘right kind’

Former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien says a network exec told her she could only book the ‘right kind’ of black guests

Former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien says a network exec told her she could only book the ‘ right kind ’ @ @ @

Former CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien has accused an unnamed executive producer at the network of insisting that she only book the "right kind" of black guests on her show.
O'Brien, who co-anchored CNN's "American Morning" from 2003 to 2007, made the allegation in a pair of tweets Saturday, in which she alleged the producer singled out New York Times columnist Charles Blow as the "right kind" of black person, but not radio host Roland Martin.
"Reminds me of the cnn exec who told me: 'Roland Martin isn't the 'right kind of' Black person,'" O'Brien wrote in the tweet. "She didn't want me to book him on my show."
"Charles Blow, she told me, (also a frequent guest) was 'the right kind of Black,'" the former CNN anchor added in a follow-up tweet.
O'Brien's tweet did not specify what exactly constituted the "right kind" of black guest for the network executive.
Blow, who also works as a CNN contributor, responded to O'Brien's tweet on Sunday, saying, "I don't know how to take this 'good negro' talk…"
Martin also responded to the story, appearing to support the claims.
"Dude, the internal sh** I had to encounter at CNN would blow folks away," Martin wrote, adding in another tweet directed at Blow: "Bruh, the sh** said about me by certain people there behind closed doors ..."
O'Brien's tweets came in response to a Huffington Post story about ABC News executive Barbara Fedida alleging that Fedida has a long history of insensitive and racist comments, including once when she referred to cotton-picking with respect to a black reporter.
The story also noted that Fedida frequently referred to female employees at the company as "c**ts," according to staffers who heard her use the word.
Fedida was placed on leave following the story's publication, and ABC News has launched an internal investigation into the matter.
TheBlaze reached out to CNN for comment regarding O'Brien's claims, but the news agency did not respond in time for publication.


theblaze--2020-06-15--Ilhan Omar can't explain how to protect constituents when police are gone

Ilhan Omar ca n't explain how to protect constituents when police are gone

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) could not answer CNN anchor Jake Tapper's question about who will protect the citizens of Minneapolis if the local police force is disbanded.
What are the details?
During Sunday's "State of the Union," Tapper asked Omar about her insistence that police should be defunded and an alternative law enforcement should be put into place.
Omar, who represents a portion of Minneapolis, could not tell Tapper what would happen once the police are disbanded.
Last week, the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution to replace the local police force with a "community safety" model.
"You have talked about dismantling — the need to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department," Tapper began. "What takes its place, and if you could just decree what takes its place? Who investigates crimes? Who arrests criminals? What happens?"
Omar responded with a bit of background information, rehashing the city council's resolution.
"So, Minneapolis unanimously just voted on a resolution that will engage the community on a one-year process of what happens as we go through the process of dismantling the department and starting anew," she began. "A new way forward can't be put in place if we have a department that is having a crisis of credibility, if we have a department that's led by a chief who's suited for racism, if we have a department that hasn't solved homicide."
She added, "Half of the homicides in the Minneapolis Police Department go unsolved."
The lawmaker continued, pointing out the fallibility of the police department, rather than answering Tapper's simple question.
"There have been cases where they have destroyed rape kits," Omar insisted. "And so you can't really reform a department that is rotten to the root. What you can do is rebuild. And so this is our opportunity, you know, as a city to come together, have the conversation of what public safety looks like, who enforces the most dangerous crimes that take place in our community."
Tapper, clearly through with Omar's history lesson, responded, "You're — just to be clear, though, you're not saying that there's nothing that takes its place. You're not saying that if a woman is raped ..."
Omar interrupted, insisting that the greater conversation is "going wrong."
"I think that's really where the conversation is going wrong, because no one is saying that the community is not going to be kept safe," she said. "No one is saying crimes will not be investigated. No one is saying that we are not going to have proper response when community members are in danger."
She insisted, "We can't go about creating a different process with the same infrastructure in place."
Not once during the interview did Omar actually answer Tapper's original question of what will take the place of traditional law enforcement, who will be responsible for investigating crimes or even arresting criminals.
You can listen to the exchange in the video below.


theblaze--2020-06-15--An Abraham Lincoln emancipation statue has been targeted for removal in Boston

An Abraham Lincoln emancipation statue has been targeted for removal in Boston 'But , to me , it represents submissiveness @

Boston residents are petitioning for the removal of a statue showing former President Abraham Lincoln standing over an emancipated slave, saying the image represents submissiveness and inequality, WCVB-TV reported.
The statue currently sits in Boston's Park Place. Lincoln is standing with his hand raised over a black slave who is kneeling and has broken shackles on his wrists. It is a replica of Washington, D.C.'s emancipation memorial.
An online petition, started by a Boston native named Tory Bullock, calls for the statue to be removed. It has more than 7,000 signatures.
"It says that it's a statue that's supposed to represent freedom," Bullock told WCVB. "But, to me, it represents submissiveness. It represents: 'Know your place, because that's where you belong.'
"This is a great opportunity to get some local black artists involved in the creation of (a new) statue, to come up with something new that represents equality," Bullock continued. "Right now, I have the momentum and leverage with everything going on in the world, that we can actually make a difference here."
The removal petition has been acknowledged by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who said he is open to discussions about removing the statue and commissioning an artist to create something new. A statement from a spokesperson said Walsh is "willing to engage in a dialogue with the community about its future in Boston."
A statue in Boston of Christopher Columbus was recently beheaded by protesters and has been removed from public view as Walsh and city officials consider what to do with it going forward.
"This particular (Christopher Columbus) statue has been subject of repeated vandalism here in Boston," Walsh told WCVB. "Given the conversations that we are certainly having right now in our city of Boston and throughout the country, we are going to take time to assess the historic meaning of the statue."
(H/T: New York Post)


theblaze--2020-06-15--CNN's Stelter tells Trump lawyer her grandkids will be ashamed of her. She fires back: 'You're an ac

CNN's Stelter tells Trump lawyer her grandkids will be ashamed of her. She fires back: 'You're an activist'

CNN 's Stelter tells Trump lawyer her grandkids will be ashamed of her .
She fires back : 'You 're @ @ @ @ @ agenda and your agenda is anti-Trump '

CNN host Brian Stelter sparred with Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to the Trump campaign, in a heated debate on Sunday, culminating with Ellis declaring that Stelter is an "activist" — not a journalist.
The pair were discussing the cease-and-desist letter that the Trump campaign sent CNN last week over a poll that showed Joe Biden with a significant lead over the president. The Trump campaign, however, alleged the survey was "a stunt and a phony poll to cause voter suppression, stifle momentum and enthusiasm for the President." The letter was signed by Ellis.
In response, Stelter asked Ellis on Sunday what "legal claim that you believe you have against CNN."
Ellis explained the Trump campaign's qualm with the survey is that it polled adults, not registered voters.
"That is not the industry standard," Ellis declared.
What followed was a lengthy and heated exchange about the state of American news media; Stelter defended the media, while Ellis said the media is biased against Trump, plagued by inaccuracies, and replete with dishonesty.
That's when Stelter got personal.
"You understand that like someday you're going to regret this, right? Someday you're going to regret this when your kids and your grandkids look back at this time and you use slurs and smears like 'fake news' to hurt news outlets," Stelter said. "I think in 10 or 20 years, if we just sit down and talk about this, you're going to recognize how damaging it was, how damaging it was to use terms like 'fake news,' to attack journalists who are trying to do their job."
Ellis responded by declaring to Stelter's face that he is not a legitimate journalist.
"You're not trying to do your job. You're not a journalist. You're an activist. That's the problem," she fired back.
"You have an agenda and your agenda is anti-Trump. The American people see through that," Ellis continued. "And they are very grateful that this president is finally holding the fake news media accountable, because you're activists. You're not reporting fact and truth."


theblaze--2020-06-15--Principal accused of posting image calling Black Lives Matter a 'leftist lie' — and district opens p

Principal accused of posting image calling Black Lives Matter a 'leftist lie' — and district opens probe

The image appears to be from a video by conservative comedians the Hodgetwins

A Pennsylvania public school district has opened a probe after a principal was accused of posting an image calling Black Lives Matter a "leftist lie," the York Dispatch reported.
Twitter account We See What You're Doing claimed that Scott D'Orazio — principal of Shallow Brook Intermediate School in Manchester — shared the image on his personal Facebook page. We See What You're Doing also asked D'Orazio, "Why not here? Why not tweet it from your school? Do Black Lives Matter in your school?"
D'Orazio's Facebook page is private and cannot be viewed by those not on his friends list, the Dispatch reported.
What did the school district have to say?
William J. Zee, solicitor of Northeastern School District, told the paper he's opened a probe and is "looking into" the allegation and declined further comment.
Margie Walker, president of Northeastern's school board, declined comment and said the matter has been turned over to "legal counsel," the Dispatch reported.
Other district board members did not respond or denied requests for comment, the paper said, adding that Superintendent Stacey Sidle did not return calls.
Repeated attempts to reach D'Orazio seeking comment have been unsuccessful, the Dispatch said.
What is the origin of the image?
The image allegedly posted by D'Orazio appears to be from a video titled, "Black Lives Matter Is a Leftist Lie," from conservative comedians the Hodgetwins.
Content warning: Profanity:
In the video, the Hodgetwins traded commentary against Black Lives Matter amid frequent laughter.
"All lives matter," one of them said, before the other noted that they are "black men, black Americans. I'm not African-American, I'm a black American. I was never born in Africa."
One of the twins said the reason he can't support Black Lives Matter is because the organization's "whole narrative that police officers are hunting down black men on the daily … was built on a lie."
The Hodgetwins also referred to the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" mantra stemming from the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri — which a black opinion writer from the Washington Post later conceded was "built on a lie."
"You got to realize what the media's doing to you," one said. "That Black Lives Matter organization is just to keep black folks upset because the Democrats want you to vote for the Democrats."
"Yeah, that's the whole point of this organization is to keep black people pissed off so they can keep you enslaved mentally like you need them because they're supposed to be y'all's saviors," the other added.
"They're gonna give you reparations, they're gonna make your life better," the first said mockingly. "Ain't nobody gonna make your life better except you."
Anything else?
Principal D'Orazio — hired by the district in 2017 — came under fire in 2019 when a member of the school's nursing staff filed a complaint against him in U.S. District Court accusing him of verbal harassment and a hostile work environment that made her feel anxious and unsafe, the Dispatch reported.
The allegations were not related to race, the paper said, adding that district officials denied several of the claims, including one that they never investigated the issues. The case was settled out of court, the Dispatch said.
(H/T: EAG News)


theblaze--2020-06-15--Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump administration's challenge to California's 'sanctuary state' law

Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump administration's challenge to California's 'sanctuary state' laws

Gorsuch and Kavanaugh both voted against the administration

By a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court voted on Monday to refuse to hear the Trump administration's challenge to the legality of California's "sanctuary state" laws. The ruling means that the 9th Circuit's decision upholding the laws will stand.
Only Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito voted to hear the administration's appeal, which means that both of Trump's appointees — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — voted against granting certiorari in the case.
The court's order announcing the denial of certiorari did not comment on the reasons for denial other than to note that Alito and Thomas would have voted to grant the government's petition.
The government had argued that three different provisions of California law violate the Constitution by interfering with federal enforcement of immigration law. Those included California Senate Bill 54 (also known as the California Values Act), which was passed in 2017; certain provisions of Assembly Bill 450 (a California law that requires employers to alert employees before federal immigration inspections); and Assembly Bill 103, which imposed state inspection requirements on facilities that house immigration detainees.
The lawsuit was rejected by a federal district court in California and then by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that — with the exception of one minor provision of AB 103 — all three laws pass constitutional muster.
Monday's ruling means that absent a significant change in the composition of the court, California's law will stand for the foreseeable future.


theblaze--2020-06-15--The GOP's 'token' black man? Sen. Tim Scott responds perfectly to insulting question about his race

The GOP 's 'token ' black man ?
Sen. Tim Scott responds perfectly to insulting question about his race

Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate, was asked by NBC News host Craig Melvin whether the Republicans are using him as a token as they deal with the intense racial conflict resulting from the police killing of George Floyd.
"You have faced a fair amount of criticism, especially over the past few days, because you are the only black Republican senator. Some have said that your party is using you, they've even thrown around the word 'token,' as well. Your response to that criticism?" Melvin asked Scott during an interview.
Despite the insulting implication of the question, Scott laughed it off and clearly explained how his experience as a black man uniquely qualifies him above his Republican colleagues to take the lead on race matters:
Well, I am also the only person in my conference who has been racially profiled driving while black. I'm the only one in my conference that's been stopped seven times in one year as an elected official, perhaps the only one in my conference wearing this Senate pin that was stopped from coming into the building. So if there's someone in the conference who understands discrimination and profiling, it's me. It's the reason why I asked to lead this charge, because it is a personal issue, it is the right issue. And frankly, I think it helps to have someone who's been a victim of this situation and who still has a tremendous respect for where our country can go together.
So I shrug those comments and criticisms off. But you've got to know, when you're a black Republican, you're like a unicorn. People are going to criticize you when you wake up, when you go to sleep, if you say you like apple pie and football, there's a lot of critics for that, too. So God bless their souls.
Scott is leading Republican efforts to draft police reform legislation. He will lead a working group that also includes Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and James Lankford of Oklahoma.
"None of us have had the experience of being an African American in this country and dealing with this discrimination which persists here some 50 years after the 1964 civil rights bill and the 1965 civil rights bill," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said of his decision to have Scott lead the police reform effort, according to Politico. "We're still wrestling with America's original sin. … And I think the best way for Senate Republicans to go forward on this is to listen to one of our own."


theblaze--2020-06-15--Police officer shot during Las Vegas riots is paralyzed from the neck down, on a ventilator, and una

Police officer shot during Las Vegas riots is paralyzed from the neck down, on a ventilator, and unable to speak

Police officer shot during Las Vegas riots is paralyzed from the neck down , on a ventilator , and unable @ @ @ @ @ in the head during protests

A police officer who was shot in the head during rioting in Las Vegas earlier this month over George Floyd's death remains on a ventilator, is unable to speak, and is paralyzed from the neck down.
The family of 29-year-old Officer Shay Mikalonis released a statement to Twitter via the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Saturday with health updates. In the statement, the family also thanked doctors and staff at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas as well as all who have prayed for Officer Mikalonis and donated to the Pray for Shay Day fundraiser.
"Our family can never express our gratitude for all the support for Shay," the statement said. "We are always Las Vegas Strong and so proud of our community! Please keep Shay in your thoughts and prayers."
The family added that while Mikalonis remains in poor condition, he is "awake" and able to recognize family members. They also announced a bit of good news, that Mikalonis has been accepted at "one of the best spine rehabilitation centers in the country."
Mikalonis was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support after being shot in the back of the head while attempting to disperse a crowd of protesters on the Las Vegas Strip early in the morning on June 2.
In an update on his health last week, the family said that while Mikalonis' life has so far been spared, he may need to remain on a ventilator for the rest of his life.
According to the Associated Press, the 20-year-old male suspect who shot Mikalonis during the protests has been charged with attempted murder along with other firearms and battery charges. While reviewing evidence at a June 5 court hearing, a judge said that police video shows Edgar Samaniego "walking by, taking out a gun, and firing ... at officers."
Similar violence has continued as protests and riots rock the nation in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25.
In St. Louis, 24-year-old Stephan Cannon was arrested on first-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting and killing 77-year-old retired police captain David Dorn while Dorn was trying to protect a pawn store from looting.


theblaze--2020-06-15--Commentary: If Rayshard Brooks' shooting was justified, then police departments need to re-examine t

Commentary: If Rayshard Brooks' shooting was justified, then police departments need to re-examine their use of tasers

Commentary : If Rayshard Brooks ' shooting was justified , then police departments need to re-examine their use of tasers @ @ @ @ @ whether people recognize this fact

Another day, another sad discussion of an officer-involved shooting. The city of Atlanta is in turmoil right now because of the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks. The surveillance video, accompanied by body camera footage, appears to show that in his final moments, Brooks was visibly intoxicated and struggled with police.
During that struggle, he managed to take one of the officers' tasers, after which he attempted to flee from police. None of this, thus far, would, in most people's minds, justify the use of deadly force. However, in the most recent video that has been released, including the surveillance footage from the Wendy's where the scene unfolded, it appears that Brooks turned and aimed the taser at police right before they shot him.
As a result of the incident, the officer who shot Brooks has been fired, the Atlanta police chief has resigned, and another officer has been placed on administrative duty. The question will now become whether the officer who shot Brooks will or should face criminal charges.
Much will likely hinge on whether Brooks was threatening death or serious bodily injury when he aimed the taser at officers. Brooks' lawyer recognizes this, which is why, even in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, he publicly asserted that a taser is not a deadly weapon.
Many of the folks who have defended the shooting have, instead, asserted correctly that tasers can be deadly weapons. If this is true and proves to be a valid defense for the officer in the shooting, then it means that beyond the implications of this case, police departments across the country need to seriously review their use of tasers.
One point that many criminal justice reform advocates have been making for years is that tasers are, in fact, deadly weapons and that police (particularly in some jurisdictions where there is little or no hand-to-hand combat training offered) are entirely too quick to use them in situations where deadly force is not justified. The internet is littered with hundreds if not thousands of horror stories of police using tasers on suspects who are merely verbally noncompliant, on pregnant women, or virtually at the drop of a hat at the first sign of resistance. If the taser is a deadly weapon such that Rayshard Brooks' shooting is justified, then all that needs to stop, and any officer who uses one in a situation where deadly force would not be justified should be fired and charged.
One clue as to the seriousness of the taser as a weapon is that the taser is not marketed to police departments as a "nonlethal" means to subdue a suspect, but rather as a "less lethal" means to subdue a suspect. This is how they have been marketed since they were widely introduced to police departments in the early 1990s. There has never been any contention, even by the makers of the taser, that a taser isn't lethal force. It's just less lethal than a gun.
This isn't surprising. The taser delivers a 50,000-volt initial shock, followed by several closely packed bursts of 1,200 volts. It should be obvious to anyone that subjecting someone to a blast from a taser could cause death by cardiac arrest or a number of other causes, and if it is not obvious, the American Heart Association has confirmed the point.
Axon Enterprise, Inc., which makes the taser, says that there is very little risk of death when tasers are used properly by people who have been trained properly, but a recent study indicates that many or most police departments offer little or absolutely no training on proper taser usage and that tasers are frequently misused by police as a means to compel compliance, based upon erroneous officer belief that tasers are harmless. Further, the people most likely to be killed by tasers — people who are heavily intoxicated – are among the people most likely to be tased.
Beyond the possibility of death, the possibility of serious injury also exists with a taser. People who are tased have a tendency to fall in an uncontrolled manner, which can lead to head and other injuries.
It is true that in the vast majority of cases where a taser is deployed, no death or serious bodily injuries occur. But a "vast majority" is not "all." Any implement that has the potential to cause death ought to be treated seriously as a potentially deadly weapon, because that's what it is.
This is why, for years, many have been pressing police departments to realize that a suspect should only be tased if it would be otherwise legally justified to use lethal force on the suspect. And many police departments are, indeed, adopting such policies. And if those policies apply to police, should they not apply to anyone who steals a police officer's taser and points it at police?
Ultimately, this is what a prosecutor and a jury will have to answer: Was it reasonable for the police officer to fear imminent death or serious bodily harm when he discharged his weapon?
And moreover, in the context of someone who has already physically struggled with and struck a police officer, a suspect who has taken a taser from an officer and points it at him with the obvious intention of using it is in serious danger of taking control of the situation and perhaps being seconds away from taking the officer's firearm.
Tasers are clearly less lethal than firearms. In a situation where an officer might otherwise have to use a firearm, a taser is clearly the better option. But they are not harmless, and they are not toys.
This case will set an important precedent, given its high national profile. Do we, as a society, think that a taser is a deadly weapon, or don't we? If we don't, then I guess the cop who shot Brooks should be criminally charged. If we do, then we need to demand better accountability from our police departments across the country in how they use them and secure them.


theblaze--2020-06-15--LIVE: Inside CHAZ, Seattle's Autonomous Zone!

Today , Steven Crowder talks about the latest breaking news , looks into the new state of CHAZ , provides @ @ @ @ @ new automonous zone with our on-the-ground correspondent Elijah Schaffer of BlazeTV , and reviews the @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta shooting .
The show goes live at 10:15 a.m .
ET .
Use code @ @ @ @ @ on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy more @ @ @ @ @ comedy that 's actually funny , join Mug Club — the only place for all @ @ @ @ @ demand .

Today, Steven Crowder talks about the latest breaking news, looks into the new state of CHAZ, provides an exclusive look inside the new automonous zone with our on-the-ground correspondent Elijah Schaffer of BlazeTV, and reviews the media's lies about the Atlanta shooting. The show goes live at 10:15 a.m. ET.
Use code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-06-15--Trump pushes Tulsa rally back to avoid Juneteenth conflict at request of black supporters

'In observance of this important occasion' Trump pushes Tulsa rally back to avoid Juneteenth conflict at request of black supporters @ @ @ @ @ a campaign rally at Las Vegas Convention Center on Feb. 21 in Las Vegas .
@ @ @ @ @ Images )

President Donald Trump announced Friday that his first campaign rally since the COVID-19 lockdowns began would be pushed back one day at the request of black supporters, in order to avoid holding it on the same day as the Juneteenth holiday.
The president was scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday, June 19. The rally will now be on Saturday.
"We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal," Trump tweeted. "Unfortunately, however, this would fall on the Juneteenth Holiday. Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents. I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday, June 20th, in order to honor their requests. We have already had ticket requests in excess of 200,000 people. I look forward to seeing everyone in Oklahoma!"
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a holiday to remember June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Texas to ensure that all slaves in the state were freed. Texas had become something of a safe haven for slavery, even 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery was formally abolished in December of that year by the 13th Amendment.
Texas is among 47 states that recognize Juneteenth as a holiday, although efforts to make it a national holiday have been unsuccessful.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the only black Republican U.S. senator, said he didn't think President Trump was aware of the significance of Juneteenth.
"My understanding is he moved the date once he understood the Juneteenth," Scott said, according to USA Today. "I'm not sure that the planners on his inner-circle team thought about June 19th, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and race riots. Unless you're doing a historical check, you probably don't get those dots connected."


theblaze--2020-06-16--Shots fired during protest in Albuquerque — one man hospitalized

Shots fired during protest in Albuquerque — one man hospitalized The shooting occurred while activists were pulling down the statue @ @ @ @

Several shots were fired, leaving one man wounded, at a protest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Monday, as activists toppled the statue of a Spanish conquistador.
What are the details?
The Albuquerque Journal reported that a crowd gathered in front of the Albuquerque Museum to pull down a statue of conquistador Juan de Oñate, noting that "the shooting occurred during a clash between individuals trying to take down the controversial sculpture and five or six heavily armed New Mexico Civil Guard members, who were trying to protect the monument."
Video footage taken by KOB-TV reporter Megan Abundis shows the moment when four shots can be heard as activists attempt to pull down the statue. Follow-up footage shows a man being treated at the scene and loaded into an ambulance. The Albuquerque Police Department confirmed that a male was shot during a protest and transported to a hospital.
The shooting occurred during a fight between a man in a blue shirt and people trying to pull down the statue, the Journal reported. The man was pushed onto the street, pulled a can of mace from his pocket, and sprayed it. Then, the man in the blue shirt appeared to have pulled a gun and fired several shots, wounding one.
People ran for cover amid screams, while the victim was lying in the middle of the intersection, the outlet reported.
"Somebody got shot," one person yelled, the paper said.
What else?
The New York Times reported that the statue of Oñate, a 16th-century colonial governor, "has become the latest target in demonstrations across the country aimed at righting a history of racial injustice."
The Times further explained the history behind the controversy over Oñate, reporting:
The agitation against honoring Oñate reflects a tension that has long festered between Native Americans and Hispanics over Spain's conquest more than four centuries ago, with protests this year over police violence unleashing a broader questioning of race relations in this part of the West.
Oñate's period as governor was marked by a violent repression considered severe even by the standards of his time. He killed 800 Indigenous people in Acoma Pueblo and ordered his men to cut off the foot of at least 24 male captives. Spanish authorities convicted him on charges of excessive violence and cruelty, permanently exiling him from New Mexico.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Three NYPD officers hospitalized after ingesting 'toxic substance' in their fast food meal, possibly

Three NYPD officers hospitalized after ingesting 'toxic substance' in their fast food meal, possibly bleach

Three NYPD officers hospitalized after ingesting 'toxic substance ' in their fast food meal , possibly bleach The alarming incident @ @ @

Update: After an investigation, the NYPD has found that there was no criminal wrongdoing by the Shake Shack employees.
Three New York Police Department officers discovered a toxic substance in their drinks from a Manhattan restaurant and sought treatment Monday at a hospital.
The New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association released a statement warning other officers to be on the alert for further toxic attacks.
The PBA said the officers were eating at a Shake Shack restaurant in Manhattan when they discovered that someone had added a toxic substance to their milkshakes, possibly bleach. They had been assigned to a protest detail in the area.
"The contamination was not discovered until the [police officers] had already ingested a portion of their beverages," the statement read.
Another report in Law Enforcement Today said the officers were experiencing stomach problems when they noticed the contamination.
The officers sought treatment at a hospital. The PBA said they are expected to recover.
"All PBA members are advised to carefully inspect any prepared food item they purchase while on duty for possible contamination," they recommended. "Whenever possible, take meal in groups of two or more, and remain vigilant for the duration of the meal period."
WLNY-TV reported that a sample of the milkshakes were taken to a lab for further analysis.
Here's a local news report about the insidious incident:


theblaze--2020-06-16--NYC workers weld gates shut at park in Jewish community over social distancing — so they cut the loc

NYC workers weld gates shut at park in Jewish community over social distancing — so they cut the lock in defiance

NYC workers weld gates shut at park in Jewish community over social distancing — so they cut the lock in @ @ @ @ @ standard here ?

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was excoriated online over the extreme steps ordered to keep a park shut in a large Jewish community, but the neighborhood residents forced it open in defiance.
The incident was the latest in a series of troubling examples of a double standard against the Jewish community while others are praised while ignoring social distancing guidelines.
Various videos appeared on social media of workers from the New York City Park Department welding the gates shut at the Middleton Playground in Brooklyn on Monday.
Many on social media blamed Mayor de Blasio and demanded that the park reopen. Critics pointed to the lack of criticism for the many Black Lives Matter protests where participants ignored social distancing guidelines.
Later on Monday, members of the community took matters into their own hands and cut the locks keeping them out of the park.
The park lock cut open with a bolt-cutter. pic.twitter.com/UZTFrQbQyg
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) June 15, 2020
The parks department told the New York Post that it had gone to the unusual extreme of welding the park gates shut because locks had been cut numerous times previously.
"At this playground, a temporary measure was used to shut the playground after it was breached," said spokeswoman Anessa Hodgson to the Post. "It will be unwelded today and replaced with a lock."
But within hours, dozens of Hasidic locals cheered as three men snipped open one of the gates with bolt cutters.
The defiant act found a lot of support online, including that of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who replied, "Bravo."
Experts have been cautioning against reopening too quickly from the lockdowns over the coronavirus, but many have criticized the competing and often contradictory guidance from experts on the proper virus response.
Here's more about the religious conflict in New York City:


theblaze--2020-06-16--Dozens of newspapers stop publishing mug shot galleries, saying they 'reinforced negative stereotype

Dozens of newspapers stop publishing mug shot galleries, saying they 'reinforced negative stereotypes'

Dozens of newspapers stop publishing mug shot galleries , saying they 'reinforced negative stereotypes' Several outlets argue the galleries 'disproportionately @ @ @ @ @ '

Dozens of newspapers have announced in recent days that they will no longer publish galleries of mug shots, citing concerns that such reports "reinforced negative stereotypes."
What are the details?
The Wrap reported Monday that the Tampa Bay Times, Orlando Sentinel, and more than two dozen newspapers owned by Gannett recently stopped printing mug shot galleries, joining other outlets who previously ended the practice "arguing that mug shot galleries in particular disproportionately feature black and brown people and further negative stereotypes."
The Sentinel announced last week it would be discontinuing its mugshot database because "the galleries have little journalistic value and may have reinforced negative stereotypes."
Tampa Bay Times executive editor Mark Katches explained his paper's decision, saying in a statement, "The galleries lack context and further negative stereotypes. We think the data is an important resource that our newsroom will continue to analyze and watch carefully, but the galleries alone serve little journalistic purpose."
The Times noted that it would still publish mug shots within stories covering arrests that are associated with the particular article.
The Tampa Bay Times was ripped last week in a local op-ed criticizing the fact that in the year 2020, the paper still publishes a mug shot gallery.
Columnist Jo Ellen Schilke wrote, "Multiple studies show police are more likely to pull over Black motorists and stop (and frisk) Black people, leading to more arrests. Mug shot galleries can reinforce to viewers the criminality of black people."
Anything else?
The Hill noted that "similar steps have been taken in the TV world" in response to the nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis last month.
Long-running law enforcement show "Cops" was canceled for good last week, just before the start of would have been its 33rd season. A&E's "Live PD" was yanked off the air soon after.


theblaze--2020-06-17--Tim Kaine faces furious backlash after claiming the United States 'created' slavery

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced the fury of online backlash and ridicule after claiming that the United States `` created slavery . ''
Kaine made the bizarre accusations during a speech Tuesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate .
`` The first African Americans sent into the English colonies came to Point Comfort in 1619 .
They were slaves , they had been captured against their will , but they landed in colonies that did n't have slavery — there were no laws about slavery in the colonies at that time , '' Kaine explained .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from anybody .
We created it , '' he continued .
`` It got created by the Virginia General Assembly and the legislatures of other states , '' he added .
`` It got created by the court systems in colonial America that enforced fugitive slave laws . ''
So many people on social media derided Kaine for his statement that his name was trending nationally Tuesday evening on Twitter .
`` Many warring Native American tribes captured each other & enslaved the survivors , well before the arrival of Europeans .
Tribes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect 'property rights . '
Tim Kaine knows this .
But he 'd prefer we just hate America instead , '' responded conservative Democrat Bryan Dean Wright .
`` We laugh at Tim Kaine but I guarantee if you polled the protesters , 90 percent would say slavery was invented by white people a few hundred years ago .
Remember that nobody who attended public school received anything resembling a real history education , '' replied commentator Matt Walsh .
`` Senator Tim Kaine proved his historical ignorance beyond any reasonable doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America created the slavery .
About 20 seconds of research would 've proven that wrong , but The Democrats have a race war to incite !
Facts be damned ! ''
responded Errol Webber , a black Republican candidate from California who is running for Congress .
`` Tim Kaine 's words are being widely taken out of context and misinterpreted .
He was highlighting how the US codified slavery/maintained it over centuries .
But dunking on people on Twitter apparently more important to many folks than having honest conversations about US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office tried to clarify his comments in a statement to National Review .
`` There was no law mandating slavery on our shores when African slaves came ashore in 1619 .
Did slavery already exist in the world ?
Of course .
But not in the laws of colonial America at the time , '' the statement read .
`` We could have been a nation completely without the institution .
But colonial legislatures and courts , and eventually the U.S. legal system , created the institution on our shores and maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I said , we did n't inherit it .
We chose to create it . ''
Tim Kaine makes passionate Senate speech calling for dismantling of racism in United States

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced the fury of online backlash and ridicule after claiming that the United States "created slavery."
Kaine made the bizarre accusations during a speech Tuesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
"The first African Americans sent into the English colonies came to Point Comfort in 1619. They were slaves, they had been captured against their will, but they landed in colonies that didn't have slavery — there were no laws about slavery in the colonies at that time," Kaine explained.
"The United States didn't inherit slavery from anybody. We created it," he continued.
"It got created by the Virginia General Assembly and the legislatures of other states," he added. "It got created by the court systems in colonial America that enforced fugitive slave laws."
The response
So many people on social media derided Kaine for his statement that his name was trending nationally Tuesday evening on Twitter.
"Many warring Native American tribes captured each other & enslaved the survivors, well before the arrival of Europeans. Tribes later enslaved Africans, establishing slave codes to protect 'property rights.' Tim Kaine knows this. But he'd prefer we just hate America instead," responded conservative Democrat Bryan Dean Wright.
"We laugh at Tim Kaine but I guarantee if you polled the protesters, 90 percent would say slavery was invented by white people a few hundred years ago. Remember that nobody who attended public school received anything resembling a real history education," replied commentator Matt Walsh.
"Senator Tim Kaine proved his historical ignorance beyond any reasonable doubt today by claiming that the United States of America created the slavery. About 20 seconds of research would've proven that wrong, but The Democrats have a race war to incite! Facts be damned!" responded Errol Webber, a black Republican candidate from California who is running for Congress.
Others, like Business Insider politics reporter John Haltiwanger, defended Kaine.
"Tim Kaine's words are being widely taken out of context and misinterpreted. He was highlighting how the US codified slavery/maintained it over centuries. But dunking on people on Twitter apparently more important to many folks than having honest conversations about US history," he tweeted.
The clarification
Kaine's office tried to clarify his comments in a statement to National Review.
"There was no law mandating slavery on our shores when African slaves came ashore in 1619. Did slavery already exist in the world? Of course. But not in the laws of colonial America at the time," the statement read. "We could have been a nation completely without the institution. But colonial legislatures and courts, and eventually the U.S. legal system, created the institution on our shores and maintained slavery until the 13th Amendment. As I said, we didn't inherit it. We chose to create it."
Here's the video of Kaine's full speech:


theblaze--2020-06-16--Google demonetized The Federalist after complaint of 'racism' from UK group, NBC News claims

Google demonetized The Federalist after complaint of 'racism ' from UK group , NBC News claims Google backtracked amid backlash @ @ @ @ @ to remove its comments section

Google demonetized conservative news site The Federalist on Tuesday, after being notified that a far-left United Kingdom media watchdog accused the outlet of publishing "racist articles" about Black Lives Matter protests, according to NBC News.
Amid outrage over Google's actions, the search giant delivered a different story, claiming "The Federalist was never demonetized" and saying the issue has been settled because the conservative outlet removed its comments section in response to their threat.
What are the details?
NBC News reported that "two far-right sites," ZeroHedge and The Federalist, "will no longer be able to generate revenue from any advertisements served by Google Ads" because "research revealed [Google] was profiting from articles pushing unsubstantiated claims about the Black Lives Matter protests."
A Google spokesperson wrote in an email to NBC News, "We have strict publisher policies that govern the content ads can run on and explicitly prohibit derogatory content that promotes hatred, intolerance, violence or discrimination based on race from monetizing. When a page or site violates our policies, we take action. In this case, we've removed both sites' ability to monetize with Google."
NBC News went on to report that it had informed Google that The Federalist made the "blacklist" of a U.K. nonprofit called the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which now boasts about having The Federalist defunded — along with numerous other conservative American sites.
NBC News bragged, "Google blocked The Federalist from its advertising platform after the NBC News Verification Unit brought the (Center for Countering Digital Hate) project to its attention."
After NBC News published its story, conservatives condemned Google's actions against The Federalist. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) tweeted, "@Google dominates the search business, they dominate the ad business, and now they want to dominate what you're allowed to think. Who's next after banning @FDRLST and Zero Hedge? @BreitbartNews? @NRO? #stopthebias"
Breitbart, another conservative site mentioned by Blackburn, actually is on the same Center for Countering Digital Hate blacklist.
Amid the pushback, Google denied the claims its own spokesperson had emailed to NBC.
Google tweeted, "The Federalist was never demonetized. We worked with them to address issues on their site related to the comments section. Our policies do not allow ads to run against dangerous or derogatory content, which includes comments on sites, and we offer guidance and best practices to publishers on how to comply."
Google added, "As the comment section has now been removed [by The Federalist], we consider this matter resolved and no action will be taken."


theblaze--2020-06-16--Justice Dept. sues to stop publication of John Bolton's book

The highly controversial book is scheduled to be released on June 23

The Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit on Tuesday to stop the publication of a book written by John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump.
Bolton's highly anticipated but controversial book, titled, "In the Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," was scheduled to be released on June 23.
The lawsuit alleged that Bolton had breached his contract and that the book contains classified information.
"(Bolton) struck a bargain with the United States as a condition of his employment in one of the most sensitive and important national security positions in the United States Government and now wants to renege on that bargain by unilaterally deciding that the prepublication review process is complete and deciding for himself whether classified information should be made public," the prosecutors charged.
The lawsuit said that Bolton backed out of an agreement to have the 500-page manuscript reviewed by administration officials.
'Doomed to fail'
In anticipation of the lawsuit, Bolton tweeted a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union condemning any attempt to shut down his book.
"50 years ago, [the Supreme Court] rejected the Nixon administration's attempt to block the publication of the Pentagon Papers, establishing that government censorship is unconstitutional," read the ACLU statement.
"Any Trump administration efforts to stop John Bolton's book from being published are doomed to fail," the statement added.
Bolton has taken a decidedly aggressive stance against the Trump administration after leaving it, and on the back cover of the book, he sent a message to the president over his attempts to stop the book from being published.
"My reaction," Bolton wrote, "my response? Game on."
Here's more about Bolton's upcoming book


theblaze--2020-06-16--Nebraska Democrats demand their own Senate candidate drop out after sexually vulgar texts surface

Nebraska Democrats demand their own Senate candidate drop out after sexually vulgar texts surface ' I 'm going on no @ @ @ @ @ exuberant excitement '

The Democratic Party of Nebraska is calling for their candidate for the U.S. Senate to step down after texts surfaced of a sexually vulgar comment he made to staffers.
Chris Janicek is the owner of a cupcake bakery in Omaha, and his campaign is aiming to unseat Republican Sen. Ben Sasse from the U.S. Senate.
The state executive committee of the Nebraska Democratic Party voted unanimously to withdraw all party resources from Janicek's campaign on Monday.
"Our Democratic Party has no tolerance for sexual harassment," said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
"Our party will not extend resources or any type of support to any candidate that violates our code of conduct and doesn't treat men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve," she added.
What did he text?
The AP obtained the text messages and related the vulgar insult to a female staffer in a group text exchange involving five other people. Janicek allegedly joked that perhaps the party should spend money to "get her laid," after referring to an argument that he had with the staffer.
He then reportedly went into graphic detail about a group sex scene he imagined with the staffer.
"It will probably take three guys," he said.
'Exuberant excitement'
Janicek then texted an apology and blamed the lack of sleep for his obscene suggestions.
"I'm going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line," he wrote, according to the AP.
The staffer left the campaign over the vulgar comments and filed a complaint with the party.
"You are my boss and a candidate running for Senate, (an) office held by just 100 Americans representing approximately 330 million of her people," she wrote. "There is zero tolerance for what you said."
He's staying in the race
Janicek said he is not leaving the campaign despite being abandoned by his own party. He did not deny making the comments and only said that he wished the matter had remained private.
The Democratic campaign to unseat Sasse was considered a long shot even before this disastrous incident.
Janicek can only be replaced on the November general election ballot if he files a request with the Nebraska secretary of state's office to have his name removed, the AP reported.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Mark Levin: 'It's NOT about racism, it's about economics'

Mark Levin : 'It 's NOT about racism , it 's about economics' The REAL problem is poverty in Democrat-controlled @

This week on "LevinTV," BlazeTV host Mark Levin revealed the real problem behind the so-called "systemic racism" in America.
"It's not about racism, it's about economics," Levin explained.
After noting the "immediate and coordinated" reaction from Minnesota officials and the Trump administration in seeking justice for George Floyd, Levin argued that rioting, which is incited predominantly by white Antifa members, is more damaging to black neighborhoods and businesses than any others.
"It's not about racism, it's about economics," Levin explained. "Poverty is a horrible, horrible thing, and until we confront it in the inner cities ... in ways that have the potential to raise the lives of people, so they don't have to worry if food's on the table, so that they can live in a decent home and keep it maintained, so that they have regular and predictable transportation, so they can provide safety for their children, then nothing else matters.
"Until [we confront poverty in] the inner cities, which are controlled with an iron fist by Democrats and have been for half a century and who benefit from this socialist, government-centric economic model, we're not going to have prosperity and opportunity in these communities."
Watch the video below to hear more from "the Great One":
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theblaze--2020-06-16--'Is it only a pandemic if you are a conservative?': Meghan McCain rips 'mixed messaging' on crowds

'Is it only a pandemic if you are a conservative ? '
: Meghan McCain rips 'mixed messaging ' on @ @ @ @ @ called out the hypocrisy of those criticizing Trump for resuming rallies

"The View" co-host Meghan McCain unleashed her fury on Tuesday over the "mixed messaging" being spread by those in the media who have promoted the ongoing nationwide Black Lives Matter protests during the COVID-19 pandemic, but are now criticizing President Donald Trump for resuming his campaign rallies, citing risk of spreading the virus.
What are the details?
During "The View," the panel discussed whether President Trump is endangering his own supporters by scheduling a rally for Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Co-host Sunny Hostin argued it is "despicable" for the campaign to plan the event, and Joy Behar lambasted the president, saying he clearly does not care about Americans.
McCain asked Behar, "Do you think [Democratic New York Gov. Andrew] Cuomo cared about people's health when he moved old people around to nursing homes that were COVID positive?" pointing out that many people died due to Cuomo's decision.
"There's a lot of hypocrisy to go around," McCain continued. "This is one of the issues that I'm really enraged about. I don't think anyone should be in giant rallies right now because we've been told by medical experts it's not safe, but the message from the media is as long as you are protesting something or going to a rally that is of the right politics you can do it and we're going to ignore the spread of COVID. So going to a Trump rally is somehow much more dangerous than going to a rally in Brooklyn over the weekend."
McCain explained:
What we're seeing is a lot of anger festering up. When you're seeing people who are now taking it into their own hands and going and opening up playgrounds in Brooklyn because [Democratic New York City Mayor Bill] de Blasio won't let them [enter], but at the same time hundreds of thousands of people can go protest in Brooklyn. The messaging is very confusing for people.
We can laugh all we want on here, but this is the most angry I've seen a lot of people I know in the center and on the right because the messaging is very confusing. Is COVID a pandemic that we all have to stay sheltered in place and inside, or is it not? Or is it only a pandemic if you are a conservative and a Trump supporter and then you have to stay inside and you're a hypocrite if you sign this waiver and you go into this rally, but you're not a hypocrite if you go protest someplace else.


theblaze--2020-06-16--VIDEO: Suspect in custody after reportedly striking 92-year-old woman in the face, knocking her to t

VIDEO: Suspect in custody after reportedly striking 92-year-old woman in the face, knocking her to the ground

VIDEO : Suspect in custody after reportedly striking 92-year-old woman in the face , knocking her to the ground

Police arrested a 31-year-old male in connection with a viral video showing a suspect shoving an elderly woman to the ground in New York City.
What are the details?
Surveillance footage captured the moment a suspect struck the woman in her face. According to AM NY, the incident took place June 12.
The 92-year-old woman, who remains unnamed, hit her head on a fire hydrant and was taken to nearby Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital for treatment. Reports say the woman is in stable condition.
The woman was walking with a pushcart, minding her own business, when the suspect — Rashid Brimmage — reportedly shoved her to the ground in an unprovoked attack.
On Tuesday, local police announced that Brimmage had been taken into custody in connection with the incident and charged with assault.
What else?
WNBC-TV reported that Brimmage has a lengthy record with more than 100 arrests.
The station reported that Brimmage received a desk appearance ticket for his most recent offenses due to the city's bail reform project.
"He is an NYPD co-response client, which means police have responded with social workers when dealing with him," the station notes. "Brimmage has an extensive history of being emotionally disturbed in police encounters as well."
The elderly woman reportedly isn't his first victim, either. Authorities allegedly arrested Brimmage three times since February for similar crimes.
"Police fear Brimmage will receive yet another desk appearance ticket for the latest incident, freeing him to attack at random again," the senior official said, according to the station.
What did the elderly woman say?
WABC-TV reported that the elderly woman — who remains unnamed at the time of this reporting — is "frightened to tears" following the attack.
"I'm not going to walk there on my own, and it's very upsetting," said the victim, a retired school teacher. "It's very upsetting."
The elderly woman said that she initially thought she'd been struck by a brick.
"Hit me on the right scalp, on the right side of my head, and, of course, I fell down on the street," she said. "There were a couple of young women there. They helped me up. They said, 'I'm going to call an ambulance.'"
The woman said that before the attack, she felt "very safe in the city," but admits that she's now afraid to leave her home.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Former USC football player wins in court years after wrongful domestic abuse expulsion ruined his ca

Former USC football player wins in court years after wrongful domestic abuse expulsion ruined his career ' ... this `` @ @ @ @ @ that '

A former University of Southern California football player had his expulsion reversed by a California appeals court, after he was kicked out of school in 2017 due to a Title IX domestic abuse allegation, Reason reported.
Matt Boermeester was a kicker for USC until 2017. In January of that year, two students saw Boermeester put his hands around his girlfriend's neck and push her against a wall and reported the incident.
Boermeester said they were just "horsing around." His girlfriend, Zoe Katz, told USC investigators that she has "never been abused, assaulted or otherwise mistreated by Matthew Boemeester; not on January 21, 2017, and not ever."
The Los Angeles Times reported that Katz had initially confirmed the allegations before denying any abuse later on, but said her previous statements had been "misrepresented, misquoted, and taken out of context." Investigators reportedly disregarded her denials and categorized her as a "battered woman" who was scared to speak against her abuser.
The California Court of Appeals ruled that USC's discipline was unfair and "denied Boermeester a meaningful opportunity to cross-examine critical witnesses at an in-person hearing." The case will be remanded to a superior court to "afford Boermeester the opportunity to directly or indirectly cross-examine witnesses at an in-person hearing."
Boermeester said he was grateful for the win, but it doesn't make up for what he lost when he was expelled just months after kicking the winning field goal for USC in the 2017 Rose Bowl.
"After having three years of my life derailed, I'm gratified that the California Court of Appeals finally reversed my expulsion based on USC's wrongful, male-biased, witch hunt brought against me," Boermeester said, according to Reason. "Make no mistake, USC stripped away my educational opportunities and hopes and dreams of playing in the NFL, and this 'win' does not erase that."
Boermeester's case has been cited by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in her efforts to reform the process by which campus sexual assaults are adjudicated.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Man gets fired for alleged racist gesture, but he says he was just cracking his knuckles. His accuse

Man gets fired for alleged racist gesture, but he says he was just cracking his knuckles. His accuser has changed his tune.

Man gets fired for alleged racist gesture , but he says he was just cracking his knuckles .
His accuser @ @ @ @ @

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a new statement from SDG&E and a link to a petition in support of Emmanuel Cafferty.
A San Diego man lost his job recently after being accused on social media of making a racist gesture, but he says he was just cracking his knuckles. Now his accuser has backed off and said it might have all be a big mistake.
What in the world happened?
Emmanuel Cafferty lost his job with San Diego Gas and Electric last month after a stranger took a photo of him with his arm hanging out the window of his company pickup while he happened to be near a Black Lives Matter rally. The photographer then posted the image to Twitter, KNSD-TV reported.
The poster accused Cafferty, who is Hispanic, of making a "white power" hand gesture that has been made popular by many white supremacists. The gesture resembles the "OK" sign that includes the thumb and forefinger in a circle and the three other fingers extended.
The original tweet said, "[J]ust passed a bunch of kids walking on the sidewalk holding BLM signs, honked to say I am with them and this guy in the #SDGE truck pulls along side and flashes this at me for the next couple blocks."
Image source: KNSD-TV screenshot
Cafferty told KNSD that he was simply cracking his knuckles.
"I do that a lot when I'm driving," he said. "It has no racist intent behind it."
Shortly after the tweet with his image went viral, Cafferty was suspended from his job and told that an investigation was underway. A few days later, SDG&E gave him a pink slip and sent him packing.
Cafferty was flummoxed, telling KNSD, "When my supervisor said that I was being accused of doing a white supremacist gesture, that was baffling."
"I was confident that I would be able to — with my character — show SDG&E that I'm not a racist," he added.
"It's scary that you can be charged, tried, and convicted on social media without your permission, without no corroborating evidence of any type," he said.
And now Cafferty is despondent.
"I don't know how long it's going to take me to get over this," he told the station, "but to lose your dream job for playing with your fingers, that's a hard pill to swallow."
The outlet contacted Cafferty's original Twitter accuser about the incident. Apparently he has since realized that he may have ruined an innocent man's life.
The accuser has not only deleted the original post — he has deleted his entire Twitter account. And he told reporters that it's possible he just got "spun up" about the situation and misinterpreted Cafferty's motions. He added that he never intended for Caffery to get canned.
SDG&E released a statement, KNSD reported, saying: "We hold all SDG&E employees to a high standard and expect them to live up to our values every day. We conducted a good faith and thorough investigation that included gathering relevant information and multiple interviews, and took appropriate action."
UPDATE — June 17, 8:20 a.m. ET: SDG&E responded to TheBlaze's report with the following statement:
SDG&E employees are held to a high standard and are expected to live up to our values every day, whether in interactions with fellow employees or the public. We conducted a good faith and thorough investigation that included gathering relevant information and multiple interviews, and took action in line with those values. While we are not able to reveal the full circumstances surrounding our investigation and Mr. Cafferty's separation from the Company, we stand by our decision and will not be commenting any further.
In light of SDG&E's decision, a petition was launched at Change.org to urge the company to give Cafferty his job back.
On June 3rd, Emmanuel Cafferty was falsely accused of displaying a white power hand gesture via social media. Emmanuel had his arm extending out his window and was merely stretching his fingers unaware of any such hand gesture. This resulted in a wrongful termination on June 8th by his employer SDGE. Since these events the accuser, who had made the original post, has repudiated his position and deleted his account, claiming he never intended for Emmanuel to lose his job. Regardless, the damage has already been done. An innocent man has lost his job and the ability to provide for his family. Moreover, his character has been questioned in such uneasy times.
As a hard working man, this was not only losing a job but a lost opportunity in securing his future and providing for his family.
Emmanuel Cafferty was very thankful and excited to be working for a company whom he thought valued their employees, making this all the more difficult to accept. He is a proud Hispanic, San Diego native with a racially diverse family, including daughters of Laos, Italian, and Sioux descent. Furthermore, he has no history of any racist, or otherwise discriminatory, behavior or accusations. Had SDG&E done their due diligence, as they claim, it would've been evident that he is NOT a white supremacist.
We are asking that SDGE do the right thing and give Emmanuel Cafferty his job back and clear his name.
The full petition is available to read and sign here.


theblaze--2020-06-16--NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants Colin Kaepernick to 'guide' the league on social justice

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants Colin Kaepernick to 'guide ' the league on social justice

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that he hopes former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will help "guide" the league on issues pertaining to social justice.
The commissioner also said during the interview with ESPN's Mike Greenberg that he would "support" and "encourage" a team signing the controversial signal caller to its roster.
Kaepernick has not played in the league since 2016 when he was released by the 49ers following the season after losing his starting job to Blaine Gabbert. During that same season, he ignited controversy by kneeling during the national anthem at the start of games to protest racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.
"Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it's going to take a team to make that decision," Goodell said. "But I welcome that, support a club making that decision and encourage them to do that.
"If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities," Goodell continued. "We have invited him in before, and we want to make sure that everybody's welcome at that table and trying to help us deal with some very complex, difficult issues that have been around for a long time."
Roger Goodell encourages NFL teams to sign Colin Kaepernick | SportsCenter youtu.be
Goodell appears to be toeing the line as favorability toward Kaepernick's kneeling movement has jumped significantly since the death of George Floyd, who died after former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
A majority of Americans, 52%, now believe it is OK for NFL players to protest by kneeling during the anthem — up by nearly double since Kaepernick's time in the league.
As protests and riots erupted across the country over Floyd's death and Kaepernick's kneeling movement gained support, Goodell looked to make amends with the black community.
Earlier this month, Goodell released a video apologizing for the NFL's failure to listen to players regarding racial inequality.
"We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter," Goodell said in the video. "I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country."
However, according to ESPN, after the video was released, the commissioner was slammed for not mentioning Kaepernick by name.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Scientists say first life-saving drug against COVID-19 is already here

United Kingdom researchers say the drug dexamethasone — a low-dose steroid treatment that's been on the market since the 1960s — is helping to save the lives of people diagnosed with the coronavirus.
What are the details?
On Tuesday, the BBC reported that the drug — which is inexpensive and widely available — is among one of several drugs taking part in trial testing.
Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid hormone, is generally prescribed for medical conditions such as arthritis, immune system disorders, breathing issues, certain cancers, and other inflammatory-related ailments.
The BBC reported that using dexamethasone in critical COVID-19 patients "cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators."
"For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth," the outlet added.
The drug was included in a trial led by a team of scientists from Oxford University. The drug was given to about 2,000 patients, and results were compared to at least 4,000 patients who did not receive the drug.
Chief investigator professor Peter Horby said, "This is the only drug so far that has been shown to reduce mortality — and it reduces it significantly. It's a major breakthrough."
Lead researcher professor Martin Landray said that the suggested course of treatment while using dexamethasone is 10 days.
"[I]t costs about £5 per patient," he added, which is $6.28. "So essentially, it costs £35 to save a life."
Landray added, "This is a result that shows that if patients who have Covid-19 and are on ventilators or are on oxygen are given dexamethasone, it will save lives, and it will do so at a remarkably low cost."
What else?
When appropriate, hospital patients should now be given it without delay, Landray said, adding that people should not buy it to take at home.
In a statement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson — who suffered through a COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this year — said that such a discovery is a "remarkable British scientific achievement."
"We have taken steps to ensure we have enough supplies," he added, "even in the event of a second peak."


theblaze--2020-06-16--De Blasio: 'We're not going to allow people to take the law into their own hands.' He wasn't talking

De Blasio: 'We're not going to allow people to take the law into their own hands.' He wasn't talking about the protesters, he was talking about Jewish families.

De Blasio : 'We 're not going to allow people to take the law into their own hands . '
@ @ @ @ @ the protesters , he was talking about Jewish families .

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), who has supported the right of protesters to flout the law without consequence and has done woefully little to stop looting during those protests, spoke out against Jewish families in Brooklyn on Tuesday, saying without a hint of irony, "We're not going to allow people to take the law into their own hands."
De Blasio's comments occurred during an ongoing row regarding the usage of the Middleton Playground in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. Jewish families, incensed that the protests inspired by the death of George Floyd have been allowed to occur regularly with the mayor's blessing despite social distancing guidelines, have repeatedly broken through chains on gates to the park to allow their children to play.
Monday morning, New York City Parks Department employees literally welded the gates of the park shut to prevent Jewish children from playing there, but the neighborhood's residents responded by marching out with bolt cutters and reopening the gates, to widespread cheering.
Residents' representatives also got in on the act, sending a letter to de Blasio promising to support the neighborhood's residents in their gate-cutting efforts. According to WLNY-TV, state Sen. Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, and City Councilman Kalman Yeger put out a joint statement, which said in part: "The people have spoken and they are sick and tired of being ignored. With everything going on in the world, why is our mayor intent on making criminals of mothers and children in need of a safe space to play? If they lock these gates, we will cut them open again tomorrow, because we serve the people."
When asked about the issue, de Blasio said, "No, we're not going to allow people to take the law into their own hands. It just doesn't work. So people are not allowed to open up a playground that is not yet available to the public."
According to the current New York City guidelines, parks are not eligible to reopen until at least June 22.
This is not the first time the mayor has singled out Jewish communities for extra scrutiny during the pandemic. Even in the early stages of the pandemic, de Blasio specifically targeted New York's Jewish community in a tweet that was widely criticized and for which de Blasio eventually issued a half-hearted apology.
De Blasio has also frequently been criticized for targeting Jewish schools and areas for extra scrutiny regarding social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic.


theblaze--2020-06-16--Seattle dad, son: We released suspect who set fire in our shop to threatening protesters — and cops

Seattle dad, son: We released suspect who set fire in our shop to threatening protesters — and cops didn't respond to 19 calls for help

Seattle dad , son : We released suspect who set fire in our shop to threatening protesters — and cops @ @ @ @ @ calls for help

John McDermott is owner of Car Tender auto shop in Seattle's Capitol Hill — and it's located just outside the "autonomous zone" George Floyd protesters took over last week.
But being outside the infamously lawless area didn't keep his business safe enough Sunday night when he said a suspect smashed a window and broke into their shop and tried to start a fire on the front counter, KIRO-TV reported.
What happened next?
McDermott and his son Mason told the station the suspect doused the counter with hand sanitizer and then lit it on fire, and the pair were able to quickly extinguish it.
Then Mason McDermott said he saw the suspect running from the building — and he ran after him, KIRO noted.
"I chased him down, and as soon as I came face to face with him, he came at me so I put him on the ground," he recounted to the station, adding that he had the suspect pinned while his dad repeatedly called 911.
Image source: KIRO-TV video screenshot
"At some point he tried to cut me with a box cutter," Mason McDermott told KIRO, noting large rips in his jeans.
Image source: KIRO-TV video screenshot
In addition to starting a fire, the suspect allegedly stole cash and car keys, the station added.
But where were police?
John McDermott noted to the station that he made 19 calls for help before authorities "finally said that they weren't gonna send somebody."
"I don't know what to expect next," he told KIRO. "If you can't call the police department, you can't call the fire department to respond, what do you have?"
Image source: KIRO-TV video screenshot
The elder McDermott added with a choked-up voice to the station that he's "heartbroken" authorities didn't show up.
"I mean, they are the cavalry," John McDermott said.
And without police on the scene, protesters were in charge — and McDermott told KIRO they demanded that he and his son let the suspect go.
John McDermott noted to the station that he and his son had no choice but to comply.
"It was either that, or they were coming over and it was going to turn into mayhem beyond mayhem," he said.
As it turns out, protesters broke down the fence bordering their business and charged into the lot anyway — right up to John McDermott's face.
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
Some protesters tried to calm down their comrades, and there were no apparent physical altercations in the aftermath.
The following tweet shows the moment the fence went down, but the user got the name of the business wrong — and apparently its location. (Content warning: Language):
Here's another clip of the fence being pushed down. (Content warning: Language):
CHAZ protester broke into a nearby Car Tender auto shop and tried to set the building on fire youtu.be
John McDermott told KIRO that protesters were armed — but so was his son, adding that they never pointed any firearms at the suspect they detained or at the protesters and are glad no one got seriously hurt.
Image source: KIRO-TV video screenshot
"It could've really gotten out of hand," he told the station.
'My heart is sad with all these people'
As he and his father agree with the core of the protests, Mason McDermott told KIRO that "my heart is sad with all these people. I think there's a problem that needs to be addressed."
But he's not happy about what the protesters did — and he's had it with the lack of action from law enforcement and elected officials.
"Nobody shows up when literally our lives are on the line," Mason McDermott told the station. "I think our mayor and governor need to get their act together, they need to come up with a plan — because this is beyond a protest."
What did police have to say?
Seattle police told KIRO that they "did respond to the incident last night and documented the incident on a report. The case number is #2020-188030. Due to limited staffing, we are unable to provide you with a redacted copy of the narrative."
But John McDermott noted to the station that he never spoke with nor saw an officer — and others at the scene corroborated that.
Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins stopped by the business late Monday morning to speak with McDermott and told KIRO firefighters need police clearance to respond inside the autonomous zone but not outside of it — as Car Tender is — and that he's investigating why no one responded.