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Tag: Protest

  • We Get It, You Hate Uber. Now, Please Act Like Human Beings.

    We get it, you hate Uber.

    To you, Uber is encroaching on your way of life. It’s taking money out of your pockets. Who does Uber think it is, coming in and rewriting the rules for what it means to take people from point A to point B. It’s skirting local laws and operating in a manner that can best be described as ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

    Of course, I’m talking to traditional taxi drivers, who have long been pissed at Uber, Lyft, and any on-demand ride platform that dare show its face in their city. If I were a taxi driver, I’d hate Uber too. For many people, myself included, taking a taxi hasn’t even entered their mind as a legitimate option since Uber came around.

    But here’s the thing. You’re not going to endear yourselves to anyone by pulling this shit:

    What you just watched was a bunch of taxi drivers in Mexico City showing why you, a person looking for a safe, non-violent ride, would want to get in a car with them.

    The mob shattered windshields and bombarded Uber drivers’ cars with eggs and flour. Apparently, some of the drivers even suffered minor injuries.

    “What happened is a very grave attack on everyone’s freedom and right to make a living in a dignified manner,” Uber said in a statement to VICE. “Incidents like this are completely unacceptable and we trust that authorities will act so that justice is done.”

    Mexico City has been the site of many an Uber protest. And it’s far from the only city where Uber protests have turned violent.

    Luckily, things haven’t turned violent in the States – but it’s not as if there’s a dearth of animosity for Uber in cities across America.

    Look, once again, we get it. How could taxi drivers hate anything more than Uber? Not only is Uber directly affecting their livelihood, but Uber isn’t exactly hard to hate.

    But come on, now. How the hell is smashing cars supposed to help anything? Maybe you should spend that time, I dunno, figuring out why everyone would rather Uber than set foot inside your cab.

  • Ferguson Cop Leaving Police Force

    After Furguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson, 28, shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, during an altercation, protesters in that town began burning police cars, smashing and looting storefront windows and firing gunshots, shortly after the verdict was read that the officer would not be indicted.

    Now Wilson’s lawyer has said his client will be leaving the police force.

    Attorney Neil Bruntrager revealed that Wilson is presently in talks with the Ferguson Police Department regarding the terms of his departure. “There’s no way in the world he can go back to being a police officer. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” Bruntrager remarked.

    The situation in Ferguson quickly devolved into sheer pandemonium after the verdict was announced, and the police department has been under fire.

    Bruntrager noted that though Wilson maintains a clear conscience over the shooting, it would be impossible for him to return to any police force.

    “The first day he would be back on the street something terrible would happen to him or to someone that would be working with him,” Bruntrager remarked. “The last thing he wants is to put other police officers at risk,” the attorney added.

    After Wilson found out his home address had been leaked online, he literally left half of his lawn mowed, grabbed some bags, and went into hiding. He is said have been couch surfing, and spanning time in dark movie theaters to avoid being noticed.

    “Realistically, he [Wilson] can’t go back to being a police officer,” Bruntrager said. “He knows that. There’s no illusion about any of this. But it’s the way in which he leaves … that’s important to him on different levels.”

  • Obama Condemns Furguson Violence

    President Barack Obama harshly criticized protesters Tuesday night for the racially charged violence in Ferguson, Missouri, after mayhem erupted after a grand jury refused to indict a white police officer who shot a black teenager.

    Speaking from Chicago, Obama declared, “To those who think that what happened in Ferguson is an excuse for violence, I do not have any sympathy for that. I have no sympathy at all for destroying your own communities.”

    The President also conveyed his understanding of why citizens were so upset by the outcome of the shooting investigation.

    “The frustrations that we’ve seen are not about a particular incident. They have deep roots in many communities of color who have a sense that our laws are not always being enforced uniformly or fairly,” Obama said.

    The President added, “There are productive ways of responding and expressing those frustrations, and there are destructive ways of responding. Burning buildings, torching cars, destroying property, putting people at risk. That’s destructive and there’s no excuse for it. Those are criminal acts and people should be prosecuted if they engage in criminal acts.”

    Furguson police officer Darren Wilson, 28, shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, during an altercation.

    Protesters in Furguson began burning police cars, smashing and looting storefront windows and firing gunshots, shortly after the verdict was read.

    Obama added, “My message to those people who are constructively moving forward, trying to organize, mobilize and ask important questions about how we improve the situation, I want all those folks to know that their president is going to work with them.”

    Obama remarked, “The frustrations people have generally are rooted in some hard truths that have to be addressed. Those who are prepared to work constructively, your president will work with you. So don’t take the short-term, easy route and just engage in destructive behavior.”

  • Michael Brown Verdict: Will The Outcome Lead To Violent Protests In Ferguson?

    It seems the state of Missouri is bracing for the possibility that a grand jury might acquit Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown. The governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency ahead of a grand jury’s decision on whether or not to prosecute Wilson. Days after the shooting, the suburb of Ferguson in Missouri caught the world’s attention because of violent clashes between police and protesters. According to Governor Jay Nixon, the National Guard will be deployed to assist police officers in case there’s unrest following the grand jury’s decision.

    It is still unclear when the grand jury will make their decision, but prosecutors expect the deliberations to be done before the end of November. The state of emergency will last for 30 days and will only be extended as soon as another order is filed. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay discussed the role that the National Guard will play during the state of emergency. According to Slay, the role of the National Guard will only be secondary to that of the local police force.

    An FBI bulletin issued last Friday warned nationwide law enforcement agencies that the upcoming grand jury on the Michael Brown case may lead to attacks by protesters. “The announcement of the grand jury’s decision will likely be exploited by some individuals to justify threats and attacks against law enforcement and critical infrastructure,” the FBI said in the bulletin. “This also poses a threat to those civilians engaged in lawful or otherwise constitutionally protected activities.”

    The controversy surrounding Brown’s death, as well as the violent protests that followed, prompted some organizations to move their conventions elsewhere. One such organization is the Church of God In Christ, who used to hold their annual convention in Missouri. The church’s bishop sent a letter to Nixon expressing concerns about the shooting, and that they’re considering relocating their conference somewhere else.

    The grand jury’s decision will ultimately seal Darren Wilson’s fate and the verdict will determine whether or not he will go to trial for shooting Michael Brown. According to Wilson, he shot Brown in self-defense after the teen supposedly attacked him. Witnesses have come forward saying otherwise, and that Wilson reportedly shot Brown while the African-American teen had his hands up. An autopsy conducted by Dr. Michael Baden at the request of Brown’s family, concluded that Brown was shot at least six times, with the final bullet striking Brown in the top of the head.

  • Westboro Baptist Church Targets Openly Gay NFL Player Michael Sam

    Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted into the National Football League (NFL), is now the target of the Westboro Baptist Church’s ridicule after he was cut from the St. Louis Rams. The notorious hate group announced that they had made and posted a Beatles song parody directed at Sam.

    Westboro Baptist Church recently announced the re-emergence of the parody, sung to the tune of The Beatles’ “Get Back,” on the church’s blog. They wrote, “Now that the fag-dust settled and the Rams had to face a season with filthy fag Michael Sam and his ineptitude, they cut him.”

    The group of religious extremists also blamed Sam for the controversy surrounding the town of Ferguson in Missouri, which is experiencing unrest due to racial tensions sparked by the shooting of African-American teen Michael Brown. Westboro Baptist Church issued a release on August 20 stating that one of the reasons the town is undergoing the upheaval is because of God’s wrath surrounding the drafting of Sam to the NFL.

    “Missouri has made itself known worldwide for three things: Fags (e.g. Michael Sam); bestiality; and shredding the constitution in order to remove the Word of God from their streets,” wrote the Westboro Baptist Church in the release.

    The group reportedly planned to picket the funeral of Brown on account of the openly gay NFL player. “Westboro to Michael Brown’s family >> No dead body worship! No lies! No human agenda! Invite us to preach! @donlemon,” they tweeted on August 21.

    Sam was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in May after he came out in his senior year at the University of Missouri. At the time, Rams coach Jeff Fisher reportedly made it clear that he had picked Sam for his talent and not because of his sexual orientation. However, Sam was one of the players that was cut as the Rams trimmed down to 53 players before the start of the 2014 NFL season.

    Reports previously circulated that Sam might be enlisted for the Rams’ practice team, but the team has confirmed that the player would not be part of it, since defense is one of its strengths and doesn’t need boosting.

    Sam is reportedly taking the news in stride. He tweeted on Sunday, “The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I’ve always known. The journey continues.”

  • Westboro Baptist Church Really Doesn’t Like Robin Williams

    On Thursday, extremist religious group Westboro Baptist Church capped off a barrage of hateful tweets directed at Robin Williams after his death with a threat to picket his funeral. The group is notorious for picketing the funerals of dead American soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan with hateful messages such as “God Blew Up The Troops” and “Thank God For Dead Soldiers”. It revealed that it planned to do the same at the beloved actor’s funeral.

    Westboro Baptist Church recently tweeted , “God hates Robin Williams. Westboro Baptist Church hopes to preach outside his funeral.” The group has accused the actor of “mocking God & promoting sin” and “pushing flagrant debauchery, and hedonism” throughout his long career as a comedian and dramatic performer.

    Williams reportedly committed suicide on August 11 and died because of “asphyxia due to hanging,” according to authorities. While reports circulated that Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider was planning a small and intimate funeral in San Francisco for her husband that would be attended by family and friends, the Westboro Baptist Church expressed their intention to picket the event.

    The hateful tweets from Westboro Baptist Church elicited different types of reactions from friends and fans of the late actor, including a rant from the Australian talk show host and comedian Adam Hills. “If you really believe in standing up to those threatening the Christian way of life, Westboro Baptist Church, how about putting your money where your mouth is, taking a direct flight to Iraq and picketing the people threatening to behead Christians if they don’t convert?” he said. He then offered to pay for every member of the Westboro Baptist Church to fly to Iraq to take up his challenge. The group responded to Hill’s message by tweeting, “Iraq here we come.”

    Other friends of Williams expressed support for him with messages of love. The non-profit group Planting Peace raised more than $50,000 as of August 19 for the benefit of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was one of Williams’ favorite charities. “We felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honor him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the Westboro Baptist Church continues to convey,” said Aaron Jackson, co-founder of Planting Peace.

    Meanwhile, astronaut Buzz Aldrin posted a message on his Facebook page sharing his personal struggle with depression, from which Williams had also suffered. “As individuals and as a nation we need to be compassionate and supportive of all who suffer and give them the resources to face life,” he wrote.

    The Mrs. Doubtfire actor’s memorial service was held on Tuesday in San Francisco, but members of the Westboro Baptist Church failed to follow through on their promise to picket it.

    Westboro Baptist Church: GOD HATES FAGS

  • Sharia Law Causes Celebrities To Boycott Famed Beverly Hills Hotel

    Ellen DeGeneres and Jay Leno are just two of the famous personalities that are boycotting the Beverly Hills Hotel – a Brunei-owned company.

    On Monday, the Beverly Hills on Sunset Boulevard was bombarded with crowds of protesters calling for people to boycott the hotel. The protest was against Brunei leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who announced last week that he is going to push through with the Sharia law that includes stoning to death and severing limbs of adulterers and gay citizens.

    According to reports, the penalties also apply to Brunei-based citizens who are not Muslim.

    As a result of the announcement, music executive and record producer Clive Davis moved out of the hotel over the weekend. Organizers of large-scale events that were supposed to take place at the hotel also pulled out. Other stars boycotting the hotel include Richard Branson, Stephen Fry, and Sharon Osbourne.

    Lili Bosse, mayor of Beverly Hills, is urging the city to come up with a resolution that condemns Brunei’s new laws. The city will be voting on what measures to take on Tuesday.

    Amidst all the protests, some are concerned about the employees who are working for the hotel and other properties of the Dorchester Collection. Christopher Cowdray, Chief Executive for the Dorchester Collection said that the act of boycotting will hurt employees of the chain.

    A source said that with the lack of celebrities and other well-known personalities in the hotel, there is no need to take on the extra employees.

    U.S. has been discreet about wanting to change the penal code of Brunei, but reports say that the country’s concerns have already been relayed in private to the government of Brunei.

    Sultan Bolkiah’s new law has made Brunei the first country to set the Sharia Law nationally in East and Southeast Asia. Several human rights organizations, and the United Nations office have shown their disapproval of the law.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ukraine Anti-Terror Campaign Begins in East Region

    On Tuesday, acting president of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov surprised many by following-up on his ultimatum laid down against Russian sympathizers in Eastern Ukraine on Sunday. The deadline for Russian supporters to lay down their arms and submit peacefully expired at 0600 GMT Monday. When Ukrainian forces did not immediately respond with force, many in the international community believed Turchynov to be full of empty promises. Turchynov proved those naysayers wrong today.

    “The Security Council has made a decision to begin a large-scale anti-terrorist operation with participation of army forces. We’re not going to allow Russia to repeat the Crimean scenario in Ukraine’s east,” stated Turchynov.

    The decision came as a result of pro-Russian forces gaining more and more traction in eastern Ukraine, most specifically in the Donetsk region. On Saturday, gunmen were able to take control of multiple government buildings in Slovyansk, Ukraine, a city 100 miles east of the Russian border. In all, nine cities have been taken control of by pro-Russian forces in the Donetsk region.

    “An anti-terrorist operation began in the north of Donetsk Oblast. It will be conducted step-by-step, responsibly, deliberately. The goal of these actions, I want to underline, is to defend the citizens of Ukraine,” Turchynov proclaimed to the Ukrainian parliament.

    Map of Eastern Ukrainian Activity

    Turchynov would go on to add, “The plans of the Russian Federation were and remain brutal. They want not only for Donbass (Donetsk region), but for the whole south and east of Ukraine to be engulfed by fire.” Turchynov stated that the goal of the anti-terror campaign is to “defend the citizens of Ukraine, to stop terror, stop crime and stop attempts to tear our country into pieces.”

    As it currently stands, soldiers have been transported to the Donetsk region by helicopter to attempt to recapture and hold the towns threatened by pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian soldiers stationed along the border.

    Russia, as its position was with the incidents in Crimea, denies any coercion or assistance to the insurgents in eastern Ukraine. In fact, Russian leaders went as far as to say that if Ukraine decided to use military force against those Russian sympathizers in the Donetsk region, Russia would most likely back out of talks in Geneva to discuss the Ukrainian crisis. “You can’t send in tanks and at the same time hold talks. The use of force would sabotage the opportunity offered by the four-party negotiations in Geneva,” stated Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister.

    Russian officials insisted that these uprisings “are the result of the Kiev authorities’ unwillingness and inability to take into account the interests of the Russian and Russian-speaking population.”

    President Obama and NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen believe otherwise, however.

    Anders Fogh Rasmussen reported that “We never comment on intelligence, but I think from what is visible, it is very clear that Russia’s hand is deeply engaged in this.”

    The White House and President Obama believe along the same lines, as evidenced by Obama’s call to Putin to address the situation before it gets out of hand:

    “The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged president Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized… The president noted Russia’s growing political and economic isolation as a result of its actions in Ukraine and made clear that the costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist… [He] said that while he continues to believe that a diplomatic solution is still possible, it cannot succeed in an environment of Russian military intimidation on Ukraine’s borders, armed provocation within Ukraine, and escalatory rhetoric by Kremlin officials.”

    One can only hope that some solution will come as a result of the four-party talks between the US, EU, Russia and Ukraine in Geneva, Switzerland this Thursday.

    Images via Twitter (1) (2)

  • Westboro Baptist Church Protesters Run Out of Town

    Less than three weeks after Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps died, his former congregation is at it again. This time, the Westboro Baptist Church members decided to picket a school in Moore, Oklahoma, a town that was devastated by a tornado last year. While the “God Hates Fags” signs were out again, the protesters were reportedly run out of town less than ten minutes into the protest.

    Two dozen lives were claimed last May when an EF5 tornado struck the town of Moore, Oklahoma. Since then, the residents have been hard at work trying to put their lives and their town back together. While most people would feel compassion for people who have been through such a tragedy, this isn’t true for the members of Westboro Baptist Church. This comes as no surprise, of course, since members of the church are notorious for pickets at funerals and other sites, but some people thought (or hoped) that the church would lay off for a while after their founder died.

    Nope. Members of the church set up across from Central Junior High on Sunday. As you can see from the following video that was posted to Westboro Baptist Church’s Vine page, the protesters had out all of their usual signs and did a little flag stomping.

    While the image pieced together in the Vine video may depict a successful protest (successful if you’re a WBC supporter), a video taken by a Moore resident across the street paints a completely different picture of the event and shows the protesters being run out by the townspeople:

    According to KOCO, only ten WBC members showed up for the picket and they left less than ten minutes into their protest after a few of the 2,000 Moore residents present crossed the picket line and confronted them.

    “I was afraid of a riot really. I didn’t know how long Westboro would stay, which they were smart to leave,” said Dan Eccles, a resident who attended the protest. “They shagged tail, got in them cars and was leaving in a hurry. Oh yeah, they was gone!”

    “If you come out here you’re going to get all of us telling you to go home,” said Moore resident Brenda Fox. Go home the WBC members did–it doesn’t look like any of the Moore residents that crossed the picket line got physical, but the protesters certainly didn’t stick around long after the residents began closing in.

    Judging from some posts on WBC’s Twitter page, these folks are a little unhappy that the world is finding out how unsuccessful their latest protest went. For example, this gem was posted to show how peaceful people promoting hate are:

    Even though Westboro Baptist Church’s protest in Moore, Oklahoma wasn’t exactly successful, the church has a few other protests planned for April. This includes picketing Kansas University and a Bill Maher comedy act.

    Image via Twitter

  • Albuquerque Protests Turn Violent

    Albuquerque Protests Turn Violent

    Earlier this month, James Boyd, age 38, was confronted by police officers for illegally camping in the Sandia Foothills in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After a somewhat brief standoff, Boyd and the officers had come to a peaceful agreement of sorts. “All right, don’t change up the agreement,” stated Boyd as he began to gather his belongings. “I’m going to try to walk with you.”

    Before Boyd could get said opportunity to walk with the police, however, one of the officers is heard yelling, “Do it!”

    As soon as the command was made, officers fired a flash-bang grenade at Boyd’s feet, disorienting the homeless man. After the grenade goes off, Boyd brandishes two knives in the air above his head, his intent being unknown. At that moment, two officers opened fire on Boyd, dropping him to the ground.

    “Please don’t hurt me anymore. I can’t move,” Boyd pleaded as the officers approached his prostrate body.

    Boyd would die in the hospital the next day.

    It was this incident, plus the shooting and killing of another man approximately one week later, which prompted the protests in Albuquerque this Sunday.

    The call for protests began when the hacktivist group Anonymous posted an online video condemning the actions of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and asking citizens to march in the streets of Albuquerque near the police department. Anonymous also vowed to take cyber-action against the police department, a task in which they succeeded in by taking down the APD website on Sunday.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuinzEynAxM

    While the majority of the protesting on Sunday was peaceful, tensions surged as the evening hours approached. When protesters refused to leave the streets, police officers used tear gas to disperse the crowds. According to the mayor of Albuquerque, Richard Berry, at least one officer was injured by a thrown rock and another was trapped in a vehicle by protesters.

    Despite the fact that Mayor Berry believes the protests devolved into “mayhem” Sunday night, he apparently values the cause the protesters are backing, stating, “I think it’s the right thing. We need answers as a community. I want answers as a mayor,” when asked to give his opinion of the impending federal investigation into the over-use of deadly force by the APD.

    Since 2010, APD officers have been involved in 36 shootings, 22 of which were fatal. During those four years, police misconduct lawsuits have also cost taxpayers a whopping $24 million.

    In comparison, the city of New York has had 25 fatal police shootings in two years – albeit for a city that hosts 15 times as many citizens.

    Citizens of Albuquerque and the Department of Justice are not the first bodies to act out against the magnitude of police violence, though. In 2011, the City Council of Albuquerque requested that Mayor Berry pursue a federal investigation into the APD’s use of deadly force, a request Mayor Berry vetoed. One year ago, the city also asked for the Mayor to fire the current police chief, another concern which went unnoticed.

    As it currently stands, the City Council is voicing its concern once again in light of the 2014 killings.

    Image via Twitter

  • Chris Christie Battles More Protests Than Ever

    New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is no stranger to shouting protestors. In fact, the governor has built a reputation on not being afraid to tell people off at live events when they disturb his oratory. Because disrupting a Christie event has failed to get much traction, most people had stopped doing it. All it seemed to accomplish was to throw red meat to those folks who liked hearing Christie insult people who spoke up to question or challenge him.

    But lately the AP reports that Chris Christie has had to face a renewed wave of protests. His opponents smell blood in the water and they have apparently decided that the time is right to press their various and sundry issues in public forums.

    When Christie found himself embroiled in “Bridgegate”, his stock plummeted. The whispers that he might be a 2016 GOP Presidential race contender largely went away. Accusations of impropriety over his handling and knowledge of the bridge scandal, as well as his handling of Federal emergency funding in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, cast a large shadow over Christie’s celebrity.

    For weeks, he has kept a relatively low profile, appearing only at Republican-friendly events and at the town hall meetings that had always been his relatively-unchallenged forté. But now the protestors are taking the fight to Christie at these town halls, standing up to shout questions and chant that “New Jersey deserves better.”

    Christie has come up with a novel way of dealing with them. He preempts their disturbance with an early warning to audiences that it may happen. But he also draws his own frame around the disturbances-to-come by telling attendees that protestors are recruited to appear by the Communication Workers of America, the state workers’ union. He says, “What they wanna do is come here and disturb your ability to ask questions.”

    Then, when the protestors do start in with their pre-scripted interruption, and state police walk them to the door, Christie tells those folks left that he was a “soothsayer”, that he had told them that this was going to happen. Now he is left with a room of his supporters, explaining to them his own spin on why people come to protest: To disturb you and keep you from asking questions.

    Image via YouTube

  • Nun Sentenced in Nuclear Plant Breach

    Nun Sentenced in Nuclear Plant Breach

    The 84-year-old nun, Sister Megan Rice, who was charged with breaching security during a peaceful protest at nuclear facility Y-12 has been sentenced to 2 years and 11 months in prison, according to CNN.

    She and two accomplices are guilty of breaking into the facility to protest. The three cut through a chain-link fence, walked a mile, then cut through three more.

    They carried signs and smeared human blood on the walls, and were finally caught by security hours later in what resulted in a most embarrassing situation for the Y-12 facility in Oakridge, Tennessee.

    “They’re at peace about this. They’re peacemakers, and they knew that they risked this,” Joe Quigley, attorney for one of the defendants, said after their trial in May, during which they were found guilty. “Nobody is happy to go jail, but they understand.”

    Sister Rice’s accomplices, Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, and Michael Walli, 63, each received a sentence of 5 years and 2 months.

    Boertje-Obed’s wife, Michele Naar-Obed, said of the verdict, “I came here with the feeling that anything below the (recommended sentencing) guidelines was a win because it made this judge really think and not just consult to the letter of the law, which is what the prosecutor wanted. He had to think about the spirit of the law.”

    “And he thought about it, obviously. It was reflected in what he considered rather large downward departures or downward variances. And maybe they are. I don’t know. I mean in terms of how Greg and I will get through it, it wouldn’t have mattered how long it was. We will get through it. But I’m just really grateful that this judge struggled with the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law. I think that’s a win.”

    After the now-famous incident, Congress held a series of hearings which resulted in a number of security improvements including management changes and new independent security reviews.

    Image via YouTube

    Hat tip to Frank Munger, knoxblogs.com

  • Nun Sentenced to 35 Months in Prison for Anti-Nuclear Protest

    A Federal District Judge sentenced an 84-year-old Roman Catholic nun to 35 months in prison Tuesday for breaking into a nuclear facility on July 28, 2012.

    Sister Megan Rice was found guilty of damaging more than $1,000 worth of U.S. government property at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

    Protesters Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, and 63-year-old Michael Walli were also sentenced to five years for breaking into one of the nation’s most secured uranium facilities.

    In an attempt to protest against nuclear weapons, the trio cut through four fences and snuck past armed guards before finally making their way onto the premises.

    The vandalization went on for more than two hours. The activists used banners, spray paint, and blood to recite Biblical slogans of peace.

    One of the last properties they destroyed was a storage building that housed $548 million worth of uranium. It was in that moment that a security guard caught Sister Rice and her partners-in-crime.

    “The protesters put themselves at a high risk of losing their life in performing this act,” a National Nuclear Security Administration said, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

    However, it appears that the nun has placed herself in similar situations numerous times.

    According to The New York Times, Sister Rice joined a nunnery at the age of 18, and by the 1980s, she was a member of an anti-nuclear demonstration group. One of her most well-known punishments was serving six months in prison for kneeling down in front of a truck, blocking its way into a Nevada nuclear site.

    Evidently, the anti-nuclear activist has always been resilient to law enforcement. According to her, the government’s 70-year industry of criminalization should be of main concern.

    “We spend more on nuclear arms than on the departments of education, health, transportation, disaster relief and a number of other government agencies that I can’t remember,” she told the newspaper.

    In a closing statement to Judge Amul Thapar, Sister Rice appeared to be unapologetic. She requested to receive the maximum prison sentence.

    “Please have no leniency with me,” CS Monitor reported her saying. “To remain in prison for the rest of my life would be the greatest gift you could give me.”

    Here is an interview done by HLN:

    Image via YouTube

  • Vladimir Luxuria, Gay-Rights Activist, Detained at Sochi

    Vladimir Luxuria, former Communist MP for Italy and current television personality, was detained twice by Russian police for her gay-rights activism in Sochi.

    Her first detainment came on Sunday after holding up a sign in the Olympic Park which read “Gay is OK” in Russian. According to Imma Battaglia, director of Italy’s Gay Project action group, Luxuria’s arrest on Sunday was no walk in the park: “The arrest by the agents was brutal and aggressive. No one spoke English. She now finds herself alone in a room with neon lights shone into her face presumably in a state of arrest.”

    Battaglia’s report was corroborated by Luxuria, who stated, ”It’s not nice to be all alone in a room with a neon light not knowing what’s going on.”

    Despite being reported by multiple sources, Russian police deny detaining Luxuria on Monday due to no formal records of such an occurrence.

    While Luxuria may have not enjoyed staying in a neon-lit room all by herself, it was not enough to deter her from protesting once again. Luxuria was arrested for a second time on Monday after planning to attend a hockey game while wearing a rainbow headdress and sporting a gay-pride flag. Before heading to the game, Luxuria was shouting “Gay is OK” for approximately 2 hours outside of Shayba Arena.

    When asked why she continued to protest at the games, Luxuria responded, “I think it is important …(to have) the opportunity to talk internationally about these things because otherwise these things happen in Russia and nobody knows, nobody cares. They think: ‘Well, it’s not in our country, it’s far away, it’s in Russia, who cares?’”

    Protests at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi stem from a recent bill passed by the Russian government which makes it illegal to produce propaganda for gay-rights in the presence of children or if it will be found offensive by particular religious groups. Due to this law and International Olympic Committee (IOC) laws outlawing political propaganda at the Olympic Games, the IOC supported Luxuria’s removal from the stadium on Monday: ”I know her stated aim to demonstrate in the venue and I believe after a couple of hours when she finally got to the venue I think she was escorted from there peacefully, not detained,” stated IOC spokesman Mark Adams.

    Even though she has already been detained twice, one should not expect Luxuria to stop protesting anytime soon: “I think this is so important. For me, I’ve experienced in my childhood what it means to be beaten up or abused for the fact that I’m transgender. If I stop wearing the colours of the rainbow, just because somebody took away a flag from me, that means that these people win.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Bangkok Shutdown: “Surround Government Buildings,” Says Suthep

    As the Bangkok shutdown continues on, the protest speeches are heating up amidst a party-like atmosphere.

    If you’re a bit unfamiliar with what’s been going on over in Thailand, it pretty much boils down to citizens wanting reform of a government they deem corrupt.

    After former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ejected by way of military coup in 2006, he then fled to Dubai to live in self-induced exile. Seeing as his alternative was a possible two-year prison sentence, this wasn’t a bad idea on his part; the billionaire who had triumphed politically via populist policies would face corruption convictions should he return home. Meanwhile, back in Thailand, his little sister, Yingluck Shinawatra took over.

    Although she vehemently denied it, her position was promptly perceived as her being a puppet and extension of her older brother. The final straw setting off the protests came this past November when Yingluck tried to pass an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return and be forgiven. While that bill was shelved, Yingluck has still dissolved Parliament and set elections to take place next month. Seeing as every party backed by Thaksin has won elections since 2001, protestors are not about to go down without a fight before February.

    “Yingluck is not good, Thaksin is not good, we need reform before elections,” a protester told TIME.

    This thought is a shared theme of the movement and Suthep Thaugsuban (protest leader of the Democratic Reform Committee) has been reinforcing it fervently in his charismatic orations during the ongoing protests.

    Also, models, vee-jays, and other public figures have shown up to the event in favor of reform and Yingluck’s departure from office. Pharunyoo “Tac” Rojanawuttitham (a celebrated singer and actor), has been consistently supporting the cause for months, saying, “I’m willing to give up my jobs to help salvage Thailand.”

    Certainly, celebrities in a festive atmosphere of food, music, and face-paint serve as a continued attraction when the revolutionary fervor starts to wane. However, as time is of the essence, Suthep implores supporters to amplify their attempts to stymie state institutions, insisting:

    “We must surround government buildings, closing them in the morning and leaving in the afternoon.”

    Following his direction, protestors have been occupying main intersections, impeding access to government offices, and marching to government buildings to partake in symbolic occupation (entering the offices for a brief period and departing thereafter). As the groups demonstrate, they are attempting to do so civilly. PDRC spokesman Akanat Prompan stated, “We will stick with peaceful means to achieve our goal to reform,” adding, “We are trying to limit any possible damages to general public and businesses.”

    As Thailand is still recovering from 90 deaths incurred during a demonstration in 2010, police pledge not to deal with protestors via violence either.

    Image via Youtube

  • Gay Teacher’s Firing By Catholic School Sparks Protest

    A Roman Catholic school has come under fire this week for firing a well-liked teacher who publicly announced he is gay.

    Thousands have protested the move by Holy Ghost Preparatory School’s administration through petitions and Facebook groups. The protesters include: school alumni, parents and former teachers. Some of the protesters have even threatened to withdraw their financial support to the school unless the teacher is reinstated.

    Michael Griffin, the teacher, was fired after telling school administrators that he was planning to marry his same sex partner.

    A letter signed by 100 alums, parents and former staff said that Griffin should not have been punished for his lifestyle; instead, he should have been congratulated for his upcoming marriage.

    However, there are those who say Griffin was fully aware of the school’s terms of employment at the time of joining the school. Some in the community argue that he should have known he was jeopardizing his career by opting to marry a same-sex partner while still employed at the school.

    The trouble started last week with an email Griffin sent to the school’s principal. Griffin’s email announced that he would be late for a staff meeting because he was getting a marriage certificate. Had Griffin not sent that email he may still have had his job today. According to Griffin, everyone in the school knew about the relationship but the email forced the decision.

    Same-sex marriages are not allowed in Catholic teachings. A statement from the school stated “All of us, including Mr. Griffin, understood that his decision would place him in violation of his contract.”

    Thus, the school is arguing its case based on its contractual agreement with Griffin. This position has received support from people like Rita Schwartz, leader of a local teachers union, who said that teachers at Catholic schools are expected to adhere to church morals.

    “When you sign on to work in a Catholic school … there are certain things that you can’t do,” she said.

    Given the uproar the incident has caused, it will be interesting to see whether or not the school changes its decision in the coming weeks.

    (image via YouTube)

  • Million Mask March Protests…Stuff…

    Million Mask March Protests…Stuff…

    Remember, remember!
    The fifth of November,
    The Gunpowder treason and plot;
    I know of no reason
    Why the Gunpowder treason
    Should ever be forgot!

    So begins many different iterations of poetry derived from the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt by Catholics to depose the Protestant King James I and replaced him with a Catholic head-of-state. The most famous member of this treasonous plot, Guy Fawkes, was captured by authorities while trying to light 36 gunpowder kegs underneath Parliament, in hopes of killing the King and other members of the British government. The Guy Fawkes figure was later adapted by Alan Moore in his graphic novel, “V for Vendetta,” which was then turned into a hugely successful motion picture.

    Now, the Guy Fawkes image has been adapted once again for another use. This time, the hacktivist group Anonymous has adopted the image to represent their fight against… the world? On their main website and Facebook page, Anonymous encourages people in 450+ locations to march against their governments on November 5th. Their cause? “To remind this world what it has forgotten, That fairness, justice, and freedom are more than just words” What that means, exactly, no one knows. Anonymous made sure to point out that the march has no leader and is only a movement, not an organization.

    Despite the fact that the movement is leaderless, it has gained some steam. More than 17,000 people RSVP’d to attend demonstrations in Washington, D.C., where such topics as nuclear warfare, political corruption, and NSA actions were spoken against. However, it is unlikely that the demonstrations will see more than 1 million people march, especially with a paltry showing of 50 people at Time Square in New York City.

    The lack of support for the Million Mask March is most likely due in large part due to the incoherent nature of the march itself. Not only is Anonymous involved, but also other social protest groups, such as Wikileaks, the Pirate Party, and the Occupy Movement. While all of these groups can label themselves under the banner of standing against government corruption and inequality, there is no real “joining” rhetoric or propaganda. If the Occupy Movement made no real head-way with their months of “organized’ protests, how does the Million Mask March plan to create any real change?

    The most effective thing this march does is put money into the hands of Time Warner, the company that owns the rights to the Guy Fawkes image worn by all the protesters. The other accomplishment of this march is to misrepresent history. Guy Fawkes was not an anti-authoritarian figure – he was trying to depose one king only to establish another. And Guy Fawkes Night was traditionally celebrated in England as an anti-Catholic holiday after the assassination attempt failed and the Protestants reappropriated the day.

    While it may be true that Anonymous is one of the most influential groups in the world, this march is nothing more than typical American grandstanding. Anonymous should stick to their hacking ways and leave organized protest to those more socially adept.

    [Image via Twitter]

  • NSA Washington March Draws Hundreds of Protestors

    Hundreds of anti-NSA protestors gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to take part in the “Stop Watching Us” rally. The people marched in front of the Capitol to protest the National Security Agency’s mass surveillance of American citizens. Several White House politicians were in attendance at the rally that the ACLU called the “biggest protest yet against NSA spying.”

    Representative Justin Amash was one of the politicians at the NSA march on Washington. Amash, who has been working to limit NSA surveillance programs, was quick to point out that the problems with the NSA aren’t partisan issues. “This is for Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, conservatives and liberals, everyone in between,” said Amash.

    According to The Guardian, Amash was right, as the crowd featured a mix of Republicans, Democrats and everything in between. This was quite a change in pace from all of the partisan angst that has been associated with Obamacare over the past few weeks.

    Amash is hopeful that the U.S.A. Freedom Act, a bill that would that limit the mass collection of data by the NSA, will be passed after it is introduced in the House next week. “We’re going to keep fighting and we’re going to pass something to rein in the NSA,” Amash said. Amash tried to get a similar bill passed this past July, but failed.

    A statement made by Edward Snowden, the man responsible for the NSA leaks who is hiding out in Russia, was read at the anti-NSA rally. “This is about the unconstitutional, unethical, and immoral actions of the modern-day surveillance state and how we all must work together to remind government to stop them,” Snowden said. “It’s about our right to know, to associate freely, and to live in an open society.”

    Snowden delivered a warning to lawmakers in his statement. “We declare that mass surveillance has no place in this country…Elections are coming and we’re watching you. Today, no telephone in America makes a call without leaving a record with the NSA. Our representatives in Congress tell us this is not surveillance. They’re wrong,” Snowden said.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • NSA Washington March Calls for Reducing Spying

    Reuters and CNN reported today on an anti-NSA march that took place in front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

    Hundreds of protesters turned out for the march, many carrying signs that bore slogans like “Thank You, Edward Snowden,” “Stop Mass Spying” and “Unplug Big Brother.” Although the Capitol Police were asked, they declined to give an estimate on attendance; the protest organizers said over 2000 protesters were there.

    A statement from Snowden, which was provided to American Civil Liberties Union, was read: “We’ve learned that the U.S. intelligence community secretly built a system of pervasive surveillance. Today, no telephone in America makes a call without leaving a record with the NSA. Today, no internet transaction enters or leaves America without passing through the NSA’s hands. Our representatives in Congress tell us this is not surveillance. They’re wrong.”

    The protest was a bipartisan effort, of sorts: Tea Party members showed up alongside left-wing privacy advocates, with everyone in agreement that the government is unlawfully spying on both American citizens and the rest of the world.

    Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) had introduced a bill of his own attempting to limit the NSA’s info-grabbing programs, but his effort was defeated by a seven-vote margin. “We’re going to keep fighting and we’re going to pass something to rein in the NSA,” he said of the defeat.

    The rally was scheduled to happen on the 12th anniversary of the PATRIOT Act, which expanded the United States’ capacity to wage a war on terrorism. Additionally, the recent Snowden leak involving German Chancellor Angela Merkel seems to be adding to the growing wildfire.

    “This isn’t a partisan issue. This is for Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, conservatives and liberals, everyone in between,” Amash added. A new bill, the U.S.A. Freedom Act authored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and supported by Amash, may stand a better chance on the floor.

    [Image via ThankYouSnowden.org]

  • ‘Pepper-Spray Cop’ from Occupy Protest Gets Bigger Payout Than Students

    Remember the infamous cop that pepper-sprayed peaceful Occupy protesters at the University of California-Davis in 2011 because they wouldn’t move? He was awarded a workers’ comp settlement last week, which just happens to be more than the students that were pepper-sprayed received.

    The news of former University of California police officer John Pike filing a workers’ comp claim made rounds back in July. A judge approved the claim last week in the amount of $38,000 for “moderate” psychiatric distress stemming from the pepper-spray incident. The protesters that were sprayed in the face received around $30,000 each. Check out the video of the cop pepper-spraying the students below.

    Pike walked down a line of student protesters that were sitting on the ground as part of the nationwide Occupy movement and showered pepper-spray in their faces. Some protesters were pepper-sprayed multiple times. Pike was put on paid administrative leave for eight months and was eventually let go from his position after the university determined that he used excessive force.

    According to The Davis Enterprise, Pike was being paid an annual salary of just over $120,000 at the time he was fired, which means in addition to the workers’ comp settlement he received, he was also paid $90,000 (less taxes) after the pepper-spraying incident. Pike will also receive retirement benefits.

    Bernie Goldsmith, a Davis lawyer that supports the protesters, told The Davis Enterprise that Pike’s workers’ comp settlement sends a dangerous message. It “sends a clear message to the next officer nervously facing off with a group of passive, unarmed students: Go on ahead. Brutalize them. Trample their rights. You will be well taken care of,” Goldsmith said.

    While many people question the fairness of Pike receiving a workers’ comp settlement period, let alone receiving more than the people he pepper-sprayed, the university doesn’t appear to have any issues with the settlement. “This case has been resolved in accordance with state law and processes on workers’ compensation,” UC-Davis spokesman Andy Fell said in an email.

    Do you think Pike was entitled to a settlement? Respond below. Many people are outraged with the former University of California system cop receiving a payout:

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Truckers Ride for the Constitution Event Will Begin Friday

    First it was on. Then it was off. Now it’s back on again.

    No, we aren’t talking about Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson (pretty sure that relationship is still over)–we’re taking about the “Truckers Ride for the Constitution” protest that is heading to Washington. Congress has their shutdown, and now a bunch of truckers are planning a D.C. shutdown of their own.

    According to the “Truckers Ride for the Constitution” group on Facebook that has more than 100,000 fans, “The American people are sick and tired of the corruption that is destroying America! We therefore declare a GENERAL STRIKE on the weekend of October 11-13, 2013! Truck drivers will not haul freight! Americans can strike in solidarity with truck drivers!”

    The group was created September 23, just a week before the government shutdown went into effect. The truckers, whose numbers could reach 10,000, plan to shutdown the Beltway for three days, taking up two lanes and keeping a third clear for emergency vehicles. The I-495 Beltway is a 64-mile stretch of Interstate highway that surrounds Washington, D.C.

    Earl Conlon, the face of the protest, says that only supporters of the Constitution ride will be allowed a relatively easy passage on the Beltway. “Everybody that doesn’t have a supporter sticker on their window, good luck. Nobody in, nobody out. It’s going to be real fun for anyone who is not a supporter, if cops decide to give us a hard time, we’re going to lock the brakes up, we’re going to stop right there, we’re going to be a three lane roadblock,” Conlon said.

    Conlon and his group, who say they aren’t affiliated with either Republicans or Democrats, plan to demand the arrest of Congressmen for violating the Constitution, plus they want Obama to step down.

    “”We are coming whether they like it or not. We are not going to ask for impeachment,” Conlon said. “We’re asking for the arrest of everyone in government who has violated their oath of office.”

    State police in Virginia won’t interfere with the truckers as long as no laws are broken:

    What do you think about the Truckers Ride for the Constitution event? Respond below.

    Images via Facebook