INSIDER
Jury awards $700k to Seattle protesters jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on barricade
Read full article: Jury awards $700k to Seattle protesters jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on barricadeFour protesters have been awarded nearly $700,000 after they were jailed for writing anti-police slogans in chalk on a temporary police barricade on Jan. 1, 2021.
Black Lives Matter activist loses lawsuit against Los Angeles police over โswattingโ hoax response
Read full article: Black Lives Matter activist loses lawsuit against Los Angeles police over โswattingโ hoax responseA leading Black Lives Matter activist in Los Angeles has lost her lawsuit against the cityโs police department over its handling of hoax calls that brought a large law enforcement response to her home.
Seattle will pay $10 million to protesters who said police used excessive force during 2020 protests
Read full article: Seattle will pay $10 million to protesters who said police used excessive force during 2020 protestsSeattle has agreed to pay $10 million to 50 demonstrators who sued over the police department's heavy-handed response to racial justice protests in 2020.
At Black Lives Matter house, families are welcomed into space of freedom and healing
Read full article: At Black Lives Matter house, families are welcomed into space of freedom and healingA national Black Lives Matter nonprofit that was widely criticized for purchasing a sprawling California mansion with donated funds recently opened the property to dozens of families who lost loved ones in incidents of police violence.
New Black Lives Matter tax documents show foundation is tightening its belt, has $30M in assets
Read full article: New Black Lives Matter tax documents show foundation is tightening its belt, has $30M in assetsA national Black Lives Matter nonprofit, whose philanthropic fortunes grew almost overnight during historic racial justice protests three years ago, raised just over $9 million in its last fiscal year, new IRS tax filings show.
New developments weighed in case of man whoโs spent nearly 40 years behind bars for crime he says he never committed
Read full article: New developments weighed in case of man whoโs spent nearly 40 years behind bars for crime he says he never committedA man who has spent the past four decades in prison for a crime he says he never committed was back in court Wednesday, surrounded by family and advocates, hoping for his exoneration.
US gathered intel on Oregon protesters, report shows
Read full article: US gathered intel on Oregon protesters, report showsU.S. Department of Homeland Security officials under then-President Donald Trump compiled intelligence dossiers on people who were arrested at Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon.
Kyle Rittenhouse claims heโs going to Texas A&M. University says he isnโt.
Read full article: Kyle Rittenhouse claims heโs going to Texas A&M. University says he isnโt.Kyle Rittenhouse claimed heโll attend Texas A&M University on a podcast, but university officials tell a different story, saying he has not been admitted as a student.
The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoing
Read full article: The AP Interview: BLM's Patrisse Cullors denies wrongdoingIn an exclusive interview, Patrisse Cullors, the former leader of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, tells The Associated Press that neither she nor anyone else in leadership has misused millions of dollars in donations.
4 acquitted in toppling of British slave trader statue
Read full article: 4 acquitted in toppling of British slave trader statueFour anti-racism demonstrators have been cleared of criminal damage in the toppling of a statue of a 17th-century slave trader during a Black Lives Matter protest in southwestern England.
Ahmaud Arbery convictions: Whatโs the difference between malice murder and felony murder, and who can make a citizenโs arrest?
Read full article: Ahmaud Arbery convictions: Whatโs the difference between malice murder and felony murder, and who can make a citizenโs arrest?Itโs a video that, for those who have viewed it, many will likely never forget. A 25-year-old Black man jogging through a Georgia neighborhood and a pickup truck chasing behind him. Although some shots were out of view, the video shows the truck cutting off the jogger, the truckโs occupants brandishing guns, a struggle, multiple shotgun blasts at point-blank range and a young life cut short.
Police: Teens driven by racial hatred targeted BLM leader
Read full article: Police: Teens driven by racial hatred targeted BLM leaderAuthorities say three teenagers driven by racial hatred were behind hoax calls that brought major police responses to the home of one of the leading Black Lives Matter activists in Los Angeles.
Starbucks celebrating its 50th anniversary, National Coffee Day with FREE cups of coffee
Read full article: Starbucks celebrating its 50th anniversary, National Coffee Day with FREE cups of coffeeWednesday, Sept. 29 will be a BIG day for Starbucks as it celebrates its 50th anniversary as well as National Coffee Day.
Houstonians visit George Floyd mural in Third Ward after guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin
Read full article: Houstonians visit George Floyd mural in Third Ward after guilty verdict for Derek ChauvinHoustonians from all over the city are reacting to the guilty verdict of the Minneapolis officer, Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all charges Tuesday afternoon.
Globes group ousts member over his Black Lives Matter email
Read full article: Globes group ousts member over his Black Lives Matter emailA former president of the organization that hosts the Golden Globes has been dropped from the groupโs board after calling Black Lives Matter a โracist hate movementโ in an email.
UN experts slam UK report for repackaging 'racist tropes'
Read full article: UN experts slam UK report for repackaging 'racist tropes'A body of experts that advises the United Nations on human rights concerns has slammed a widely criticized British government-backed report that concluded there was no systemic racism in the country.
Authors of UK racism report hit back at 'misrepresentation'
Read full article: Authors of UK racism report hit back at 'misrepresentation'The commission behind a report that concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism has defended itself against critics, some of whom have argued that it downplayed the countryโs historic role in slavery.
Plan to revamp police force proceeds in Ithaca, New York
Read full article: Plan to revamp police force proceeds in Ithaca, New YorkBlack Lives Matter is seen along East Green Street where is passes under South Aurora Street, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Ithaca, N.Y. The nationwide reexamination of policing after the killing of George Floyd has led the Ivy League town in New York to consider an ambitious and contentious plan to remake its force. A proposal would replace the 63-officer Ithaca Police Department with a new Department of Community Solutions and Public Safety. The Ithaca Common Council unanimously approved a series of reform recommendations Wednesday night that included reconstituting the city police force to add unarmed officers to handle nonviolent calls like petty thefts. AdArmed officers of the 63-officer force would be able to keep their positions, and supporters of the plan said the new unarmed officers would be able to engage more with communities distrustful of police.
Black adviser quits UK government in wake of racism report
Read full article: Black adviser quits UK government in wake of racism report(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, FILE)LONDON โ The most senior Black adviser to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned, the government said Thursday, the day after a report on racial disparities concluded that Britain does not have a systemic problem with racism. But Simon Woolley, a former government equalities adviser and a member of the U.K. House of Lords, said Kasumuโs exit was connected to the โgrubbyโ and โdivisiveโ report. The Conservative government launched the inquiry into racial disparities in the wake of anti-racism protests last year. The panel of experts concluded that while โoutright racismโ exists in Britain, the country is not โinstitutionally racistโ or โriggedโ against ethnic minorities. โThere are very serious issues that our society faces to do with racism that we need to address,โ he said.
With drivers confused, Atlantic City to redo BLM road paint
Read full article: With drivers confused, Atlantic City to redo BLM road paint(AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. โ Atlantic City says it will redo a Black Lives Matter tribute on a street because the original painting of those words across the entire road confused motorists who didn't know where to drive on it. Instead, the words โBlack Lives Matterโ will be painted onto the repaved road in a manner that does not obscure lane divider markings, Mayor Marty Small said Thursday. โThe words โBlack Lives Matter" will still be on the street." The road painting was a compromise that averted a potential confrontation between activists who wanted to paint the words โBlack Lives Matterโ on the famous Boardwalk, and city officials who would not allow it. City Council member LaToya Dunston accused the city of wasting taxpayer dollars by painting the road without knowing the rules governing it.
Journalist acquitted in Iowa case seen as attack on press
Read full article: Journalist acquitted in Iowa case seen as attack on pressDes Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, facing, hugs her mother, Muna Tareh-Sahouri, after being found not-guilty at the conclusion of her trial at the Drake University Legal Clinic, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Kelsey Kremer/The Des Moines Register via AP, Pool)IOWA CITY, Iowa โ An Iowa jury on Wednesday acquitted a journalist who was pepper-sprayed and arrested by police while covering a protest, in a case that critics have derided as an attack on press freedoms and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Robnett, 24, said he was sprayed and handcuffed after telling the officer that Sahouri was a Register journalist. Sahouri was the first working U.S. journalist to face a criminal trial since 2018, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. Another Register reporter, Katie Akin, was near Sahouri and quickly informed police that they were journalists.
TSU professor considered the โfather of environmental justiceโ
Read full article: TSU professor considered the โfather of environmental justiceโKPRC 2โฒs ReโChelle Turner spoke to Dr. Robert Bullard, who is known as the โfather of environmental justiceโ. Dr. Robert Bullard is a distinguished professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at TSU. His goal is to make sure everyone has the right to live, work and play in a clean environment. Dr. Bullard said the environmental justice movement also relates to the Black Lives Matter Movement and the death of Houston Native George Floyd. Dr. Bullard said just this month, TSU received a $1.25 million grant from the Houston Endowment to start the Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice.
New George Floyd mural unveiled during ceremony at Yates High School
Read full article: New George Floyd mural unveiled during ceremony at Yates High SchoolโGeorge Floydโฆsay his name George Floyd,โ said George Floydโs niece Bianca Williams. Itโs been nine months since Houston native George Floyd was killed. On Saturday, his alma mater Jack Yates High School and several others honored his life in a special way. Lee also presented the Floyd family with the George Floyd Justice and Policing Bill. George Floyd may be gone, but his death sparked a movement and his name will always be remembered.
Yates High School graduate bringing Black Lives Matter mural to Third Ward community
Read full article: Yates High School graduate bringing Black Lives Matter mural to Third Ward communityHOUSTON โ A Jack Yates High School graduate is bringing a massive mural to Houstonโs Third Ward community. The Black Lives Matter-inspired street painting is located across from the school on West Alabama Street. Floyd was also a Jack Yates High School graduate. He continued: โIโm doing this because I feel like this will send out a great message to us in this community and also a message to people who donโt think Black Lives Matter. There will be a parade with students from Texas Southern University and Jack Yates High School.
Reports: Seattle police violated policies at summer protests
Read full article: Reports: Seattle police violated policies at summer protestsProtests erupted in Seattle and across the country after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. The latest findings are separate from three other investigations into Seattle officers by the Office of Police Accountability. In the latest reports, investigators found that officers and one commander violated department policies while responding to demonstrations in Seattle. As she walked toward a group of people, the officer threw the blast ball and it hit her in the chest. Investigations found that the officer violated department policy by throwing the blast ball overhand toward a person who was unarmed and not throwing projectiles at officers.
Houston pastor shares in-depth look of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.โs final book
Read full article: Houston pastor shares in-depth look of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.โs final bookHOUSTON โ Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister, activist and prominent leader in the civil rights movement. Dr. Rudy Rasmus, Pastor of St. Johnโs Downtown, shares an in-depth look at Kingโs book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? โIf you read the text in this book, it sounds like we are reading it this week, but in actuality Dr. King wrote this in 1967 at that very critical moment in civil right history,โ said Rasmus. Rasmus explains that King wrote the novel while secluded in Ocho Rios, Jamaica with his wife, Coretta Scott King. To connect with Dr. Rudy Rasmus, visit the Rudy Rasmus website.
Social media users point out contrasting responses to storming of the U.S. Capitol in comparison to Black Lives Matter protests
Read full article: Social media users point out contrasting responses to storming of the U.S. Capitol in comparison to Black Lives Matter protestsFar-right social media users for weeks openly hinted in widely shared posts that chaos would erupt at the U.S. Capitol while Congress convened to certify the election results. โ Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) January 6, 2021These guys are engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police after storming the US Capitol. The Guard was mobilized Wednesday afternoon to support local police following the storming of the Capitol. Members of the National Guard and the Washington D.C. police keep a small group of demonstrators away from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Getty Images)The Defense Department has activated approximately 6,200 members of the National Guard to support the Capitol Police through the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Judge bans Proud Boys leader from Washington after arrest
Read full article: Judge bans Proud Boys leader from Washington after arrestFILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore. Police in the nations capital on Jan. 4, 2021, arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)WASHINGTON โ A judge has banned the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, from the nationโs capital after he was accused of vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church and found with high-capacity firearm magazines when he was arrested. Tarrio was arrested Monday by the Metropolitan Police Department and accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington last month. A large Black Lives Matter sign was ripped from Asbury United Methodist Church property, torn and set aflame in December. Tarrio was seen with the sign in video of the incident posted on YouTube, according to a police report.
Proud Boys leader arrested, accused of burning church banner
Read full article: Proud Boys leader arrested, accused of burning church bannerFILE - In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore. Police in the nations capital on Jan. 4, 2021, arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington in December 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)WASHINGTON โ Police in the nationโs capital on Monday arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic Black church in downtown Washington last month. By nightfall, vandals tore down a Black Lives Matter banner and sign from two historic Black churches in downtown Washington and set the banner ablaze. Tarrio told The Washington Post he had participated in the burning of the Black Lives Matter banner and said he would plead guilty to destruction of property and pay the church the cost of the banner. Another video showed men removing a Black Lives Matter sign at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church.
Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020
Read full article: Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020The NBA painted โBlack Lives Matterโ on the courts inside their Orlando, Florida, โbubble" and social justice messages were emblazoned on the backs of jerseys. Paul met with NBA players, and they decided awareness wasnโt enough anymore. โBlack Lives Matterโ also was featured prominently on the leagueโs courts. Wallace, the only full-time Black driver at the NASCAR national level, first began speaking out against racial injustice in America in the spring. His car featured a โBlack Lives Matterโ paint scheme.
Analyzing 2020: Racial justice and police reform
Read full article: Analyzing 2020: Racial justice and police reformDemonstrations for racial justice and against police violence began in Texas and across the country after the killing of Houston native George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. But as Novemberโs general election approached, Republican politicians began to rally behind police, decrying protesters and campaigning on law and order. June 4Events โ and their own words โ put Texas Republicans in an election year bindTexas Democrats convened last week. But it was the state's Republicans giving them the most hope about the coming November elections. June 8With elections coming, Texas Republican leaders join the thin blue lineFreezing local taxes in Texas cities that cut police funding sounds better than it works.
Christmas unites community after fire guts historic church
Read full article: Christmas unites community after fire guts historic churchThe site of Middle Collegiate Church, which was devastated by a fire earlier in the month, is seen in New York on Dec. 14, 2020. The facade and the New York Liberty Bell are the only parts of the 128-year-old church that remain. Middle Collegiate had previously occupied two other locations in Manhattan beginning in 1729. Middle Collegiate has also welcomed 25 new parishioners since the fire, she said. โThe church is made up of the congregation and what the people in the congregation believe and do,โ said Slacik, who married her wife at the church.
2 local artists design mini murals highlighting COVID-19, social justice in Midtown
Read full article: 2 local artists design mini murals highlighting COVID-19, social justice in MidtownMidtown Houston has partnered with UP Art Studio to create relevant, unconventional mini murals in the district. HOUSTON โ Midtown Houston and UP Art Studio commissioned local artists to create mini murals that focused on the global pandemic and social justice issues. They have more than 300 mini murals currently on display. It also includes representation of children from different backgrounds to capture what a truly inclusive community might look like. โI thought it was important that the artists selected use this opportunity to create work that was relevant and important to them,โ said Cynthia Alvarado, Operations Manager at the Midtown Management District.
Police guide that calls BLM a terrorist group draws outrage
Read full article: Police guide that calls BLM a terrorist group draws outrageFILE - In this July 11, 2020 file photo, Alycia Pascual-Pena, left, and Marley Ralph kneel while holding a Black Lives Matter banner during a protest in memory of Breonna Taylor, in Los Angeles. The document, labeled โrestricted to law enforcement only,โ is one of the few publicly available materials on its website. The law enforcement association, known by its nickname ILEETA, says in a mission statement that it's โcommitted to the reduction of law enforcement riskโ and saving lives through high-quality training. The paper claims that those who participated in months of protests earlier this year in Portland and Seattle were โuseful idiotsโ designed to give cover to the โhard-core, terrorist trained troopsโ that would follow. Goff, whose group works with departments to make policing โless racist and deadly,โ said the document showed why it's important for critics to engage directly with local law enforcement to seek changes.
Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from police
Read full article: Portland, Oregon rejects bid to cut $18M more from policeBack the Blue police supporters, left, stand next to Black Lives Matter protesters calling for defunding the police, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)
Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in election
Read full article: Black Lives Matter faces test of its influence in electionโBlack Lives Matter saved us, because we had nobody,โ said Jones. Now, BLMโs influence faces a test, as voters in Tuesdayโs election consider candidates who endorsed or denounced the BLM movement amid a national reckoning on race. Enter Black Lives Matter. Across social media platforms, the Black Lives Matter movement boasts a following of millions. โBlack Lives Matter,โ as a slogan, elicited โAll Lives Matterโ and โBlue Lives Matterโ responses from foes.
Is there a racial divide when it comes to length of the voting lines?
Read full article: Is there a racial divide when it comes to length of the voting lines?Is there a racial divide when it comes to voting wait times at precincts? In 2016, white voters waited an average of 10 minutes, according to a survey of voters conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In comparison, Black voters waited an average of 16 minutes and Latino voters were in line an average of 13 minutes, according to the survey. During the 2018 election, Black voters waited an average of 11.5 minutes, Latino voters an average of 11.7 minutes and white voters an average of 8.8 minutes, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In precincts with 90% or more non-white voters, the average wait time was 32.4 minutes and the median was 13.3 minutes.
Starbucks supports Black baristaโs response in confrontation with anti-mask customer
Read full article: Starbucks supports Black baristaโs response in confrontation with anti-mask customerA Starbucks barista is being praised for maintaining composure during an incident in which a customer who repeatedly refused to wear a mask and then shouted โ(expletive) Black Lives Matter,โ Fox News reports. Beckom asked the woman to properly wear the mask, which had โTrump 2020โ printed on it, over her face. Disregarding the womanโs remarks, Beckom reminds her to once again wear a mask inside Starbucks. The woman argues that wearing a mask is not a law, saying โI can show you the penal code and everything. Iโm not going to wear a mask.โShe then leaves the store, only to return and shout โ(expletive) Black Lives Matter,โ again.
Environmental groups sue over Portland tear gas use
Read full article: Environmental groups sue over Portland tear gas useThe federal lawsuit alleges the U.S. government violated federal environmental law by deploying โan unprecedented amount of dangerous chemical weaponsโ without assessing their environmental impacts beforehand, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Oregonโs Department of Environmental Quality noted that โthe repeated deployment of tear gas in downtown Portland has led to elevated levels of certain contaminantsโ in stormwater drains. But state officials said air-quality monitors arenโt located nearby and donโt measure tear gas exposure. Medical experts say there are few studies on health effects of tear gas. A European Union agency says it โis very toxic to aquatic life.โFiguring out precisely what tear gas components are in the environment is also a challenge.
Yelp creates alert to warn consumers of businesses accused of racist behavior
Read full article: Yelp creates alert to warn consumers of businesses accused of racist behaviorHOUSTON โ Yelp announced that it will now alert consumers of businesses that are accused of racist behavior in efforts to fight against racism and ensure the safety of its community following the rise in the Black Lives Matter movement, according to the company. - Yelp says it will only escalate to a Business Accused of Racist Behavior Alert when thereโs resounding evidence of egregious, racist actions from a business owner or employee, such as using overtly racist slurs or symbols. We know these values are important to our users and now more than ever, consumers are increasingly conscious of the types of businesses they patronize and support. In fact, weโve seen that reviews mentioning Black-owned businesses were up more than 617% this summer compared to last summer. While searches for Black-owned businesses surged on Yelp, the company said so did the volume of reviews โwarning users of racist behavior at businesses.โIn response to the increased complaints, Yelp introduced the now place Consumer Alert on business pages to caution people about businesses that may be associated with overtly racist actions.
Ask 2: Are voters banned from wearing clothing with political slogans at the polls?
Read full article: Ask 2: Are voters banned from wearing clothing with political slogans at the polls?As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Are voters banned from wearing clothing with political slogans at the polls or t-shirts with the โBlack Lives Matter" message? Under Texas law, the conduct of voting by personal appearance upholds an electioneering ban at polling places. The law states "a person may not electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, political partyโ within 100 feet of a voting site during early voting or on Election Day. An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, according to the State of Texas election code.
White man seeks forgiveness in attack on Black family's home
Read full article: White man seeks forgiveness in attack on Black family's homeA 24-year-old white man has been charged with ethnic intimidation and other counts for firing shots into the Hall's home just north of Detroit after the family put a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)WARREN, Mich. โ A white man accused of firing shots into the home of a Black suburban Detroit family who put a Black Lives Matter sign in their front window asked for forgiveness during a court hearing Thursday. Frederick told Judge Michael Chupa that he wanted Eddie and Candace Hall to forgive him, though he didn't specify what he did to make him seek their forgiveness. Outside, they discovered the swastika and found that someone had written โterrorist Black Lives Matter,โ โnot welcomeโ and a phrase containing an expletive on their pickup truck. A neighborโs home surveillance video showed a masked and hooded man carrying what appears to be a handgun outside the Halls' home.
Houston churchโs Black Lives Matter banner targeted for second time
Read full article: Houston churchโs Black Lives Matter banner targeted for second timeHOUSTON โ A Houston church community is praying that thieves and vandals stop making them a target. For the second time in two months, someone has destroyed or stolen a Black Lives Matter banner from the front of Resurrection MCC Church on West 11th Street near the Heights. This isnโt the first time someone tampered with a Black Lives Matter sign at Resurrection MCC. โI cannot believe that I just drove by your church and you have the sign of Black Lives Matter,โ the voice said. โIt matters enough to our congregation and it matters enough to our world right now to say: Black Lives Matter,โ said Threash.
Secret grand jury files in Breonna Taylor case to be public
Read full article: Secret grand jury files in Breonna Taylor case to be publicBlack Lives Matter protesters march, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Louisville. Breonna Taylor's family demanded Friday that Kentucky authorities release all body camera footage, police files and the transcripts of the grand jury hearings that led to no charges against police officers who killed the Black woman during a March drug raid at her apartment. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Officer charged in Breonna Taylor case pleads not guilty
Read full article: Officer charged in Breonna Taylor case pleads not guiltyLOUISVILLE, Ky. โ The lone Kentucky detective facing charges related to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor pleaded not guilty Monday. The decision not to charge the officers set off protests in Louisville and across the country. On Monday, Louisville's mayor lifted the curfew put in place after people refused to end their nighttime protests. Her response comes after Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott was charged with the felony last week while participating in Louisville protests for racial justice. Many marched along Louisvilleโs streets chanting โBreonna Taylor, say her name,โ and โno justice, no peace."
Homespun BLM products include cookie kits, garden gnomes
Read full article: Homespun BLM products include cookie kits, garden gnomesOne of the cookie-decorating kits she offers has a Black Lives Matter theme. Other examples of homespun BLM merchandise include wine stoppers and even garden gnomes โ objects more often associated with white suburbia. The yellow-and-black-clad gnome โ a nod to the colors used on a Black Lives Matter website โ wears a โBLMโ hat. โHopefully, someone who sees it is not offended.โHe has since gotten a few orders for either Black Lives Matter gnomes or African American gnomes. Kate Mayer, 37, of Cincinnati, decided to offer a Black Lives Matter wine bottle stopper among her dozens of handmade wine stoppers.
Breonna Taylor protests continue as Louisville under curfew
Read full article: Breonna Taylor protests continue as Louisville under curfew(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)LOUISVILLE, Ky. โ Police maintained barricades and plans for a nighttime curfew as Louisville prepared Saturday for a fourth night of protests after a grand jury declined to charge the officers who shot Breonna Taylor. Protests Friday night were peaceful but police arrested 22 people for curfew violations. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer urged continued peaceful protests in a news conference Saturday evening. On Wednesday, Kentucky Attorney General Cameron announced a grand jury indicted one officer on wanton endangerment charges, saying he fired gunshots into a neighboring home that didnโt strike anyone. Since when does freedom and civil rights have a curfew?โ___Associated Press writer Claire Galofaro contributed to this report from Louisville.
Texas woman says she was fired by Whataburger for wearing a Black Lives Matter mask
Read full article: Texas woman says she was fired by Whataburger for wearing a Black Lives Matter maskOver the summer, two Texas teachers faced disciplinary action from their schools, one for wearing a mask and the other for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign, among other signs, in her virtual classroom. Meanwhile in Ohio, a Taco Bell worker was fired for refusing to take off his Black Lives Matter mask; the same happened to a convenience store worker in New Jersey. Maโkiya Congious, 19, lost her job at the fast-food chain shortly after her supervisor told her to remove her Black Lives Matter mask, when a white customer complained, said her attorney Jason Smith. In the complaint, Congious said she was let go by the fast-food restaurant because of her race and for having the words โBlack Lives Matterโ on her mask. I hope she sues,โ said Ashton P. Woods, founder of the Houston chapter of Black Lives Matter, in a statement.
Houstonians propose citizenโs board to hold HPD accountable
Read full article: Houstonians propose citizenโs board to hold HPD accountableHOUSTON โ A group of local community leaders proposed a Houston Police Independent Citizens Investigative Board to create transparency between the community and the Houston Police Department. The board would be comprised of community members from multiple organizations and the law schools at Texas Southern University and the University of Houston. The citizens' investigative board would work to ban the use of no-knock warrants. According to the proposal, the board would be funded by the City of Houston budget not to exceed $3 million a year. Turner also appointed a Policing Reforms Task Force to review Houston Police Department policies and practices.
Gov. Greg Abbott calls for new crimes, mandatory jail time for certain offenses related to protests
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott calls for new crimes, mandatory jail time for certain offenses related to protestsGreg Abbott issued a string of new legislative proposals to raise penalties and create new crimes for offenses committed at protests. Abbottโs proposals would create felony-level offenses for causing injury or destroying property during what is deemed to be a โriot.โ Blocking hospital entrances and using lasers to target police would also be felony offenses, Abbott said. Striking an officer with something like a water bottle would lead to a mandatory minimum of six months in jail. Many protesters in Texas have been arrested on suspicion of such offenses since protests erupted in May after the death of George Floyd. DeSantis' proposal also created new crimes and enhanced penalties like Abbottโs proposal, including a mandatory six months in jail for striking an officer.
2 Louisville officers shot amid Breonna Taylor protests
Read full article: 2 Louisville officers shot amid Breonna Taylor protestsPolice move after a Louisville Police officer was shot, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. A grand jury has indicted one officer on criminal charges six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in Kentucky. He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. ___This story has been updated to clarify that, according to the investigation, officers did not execute the warrant as a no-knock warrant, not that they didnโt use a no-knock warrant.
Trump, social media, right-wing news stir up antifa scares
Read full article: Trump, social media, right-wing news stir up antifa scaresIt's a scene that has unfolded in many other cities and small towns this year, the product of fear and conflict stoked by bogus posts on social media, right-wing news outlets and even some of the nation's most powerful leaders. A man suspected of fatally shooting a Trump supporter after a pro-Trump caravan in Portland, Oregon, last month had described himself in a social media post as โ100% ANTIFA." Theyโre trying to blame all this stuff on antifa, and Iโm like, โWho exactly is antifa? Adam Klein, an associate professor of communication studies at Pace University, analyzed social media posts by far-right extremists and antifascist activists leading up to the Charlottesville rally three years ago. โYou donโt get the sense online that there is an organization as much as there are some prominent (social media) accounts associated with antifa,โ he said.
Police cancel vacations, prepare for Kentucky AGโs decision on whether or not to charge officers in Breonna Taylorโs death
Read full article: Police cancel vacations, prepare for Kentucky AGโs decision on whether or not to charge officers in Breonna Taylorโs deathLOUISVILLE, Ky. โ Louisville, Kentucky, police said Monday that they had canceled vacations and were setting up barricades in preparation for the state attorney generalโs announcement about whether he will charge officers in Breonna Taylorโs shooting death. โIt is important to note that (Cameron) has said there is no timetable for the announcement,โ the statement added. โWhen the investigation concludes and a decision is made, we will provide an update about an announcement,โ he said. Celebrities, athletes, activists and Taylorโs family have for months pushed Cameron to criminally charge the officers involved in the raid. Last week, the city of Louisville settled a lawsuit from Taylorโs family for $12 million and pledged several police reforms as part of the agreement.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, accused in killing of protesters listed in โheroโ assignment at Dallas ISD high school
Read full article: Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, accused in killing of protesters listed in โheroโ assignment at Dallas ISD high schoolDALLAS โ A Dallas school district is investigating a high school English teacher who asked students to write about a modern-day hero and listed the 17-year-old accused of killing two people during Wisconsin protests as one possible option. Kyle Rittenhouse has been accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding another in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The writing assignment also listed Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the protesters Rittenhouse is accused of killing; along with Mahatma Gandhi, Cรฉsar Chรกvez, Malcolm X and George Floyd. The Dallas Independent School District did not release the name of the W. T. White High School teacher who assigned the report. In a statement, the district said: โAn unapproved assignment posted in Google Classroom yesterday has been brought to our attention.
In crackdown on violent protesters, Justice Dept. says federal sedition charge may be applied
Read full article: In crackdown on violent protesters, Justice Dept. says federal sedition charge may be appliedNeither was a man accused of shooting and killing a demonstrator in Louisville following the death of Breonna Taylor. Demonstrations have slowed, though not necessarily because of the federal charges. Carroll accused federal authorities of using the cases to try to make the protests seem more violent and disruptive than they really were. โThere is absolutely an agenda here to blow these out of proportion, make these look more serious or more sinister than it is,โ Barnett said of the pursuit of federal charges. โThis is the Justice Department, from the top, furthering an agenda that has nothing to do with justice,โ he said.
Michigan Catholic priest compared BLM to 9/11 attackers
Read full article: Michigan Catholic priest compared BLM to 9/11 attackersDEARBORN, Mich. (AP) โ The pastor of a Roman Catholic church in suburban Detroit is apologizing after a fellow priest likened Black Lives Matter to the people responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Bob McCabe of the Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn said on Facebook. โAs your pastor, I want to assure you that at Divine Child we love and respect all persons. Graney said itโs โvery goodโ that BLMโs website says it works for justice for Blacks, but thatโs where his praise ended. And they would have done it if they could,โ said Graney, who has been a priest since 2016.
Stadiums quiet but college football, shows of unity go on
Read full article: Stadiums quiet but college football, shows of unity go onPlayers for Kansas State and Arkansas State locked arms on the sidelines with their teammates before the game in Manhattan, Kansas. The patch featured the raised clenched fist of the Black Lives Matter movement encircled by the words โPeace,โ โJustice,โ โFreedom,โ โEqualityโ and โSay Their Names.โโWeโre more than just athletes,โ Fox said. Trice died of injuries sustained in a football game in 1923, and the Cyclones' stadium is named in his honor. Clemson players had decals on their helmets with a choice of four stickers and the Tigers' opponent, Wake Forest, had โBlack Lives Matterโ on the back of players' helmets. Texas players wore โWe Are Oneโ jersey patches for their game against UTEP in Austin.
Hereโs why the Texans say they decided to stay in the locker room for the national anthem
Read full article: Hereโs why the Texans say they decided to stay in the locker room for the national anthemโ Most of the time players stand on the sidelines as the national anthem is sung before an NFL game, but Thursday nightโs season opener between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs was different. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said he felt it was important for the teams to show solidarity. Booing could be heard as players from both teams locked arms at the center of the field for the moment of silence. โThe booing was unfortunate during that moment,โ Watt said. โIt has really been a growing experience for our team,โ Watt said.
After Needville HS senior asked to remove Black Lives Matter mask, parents and students cry foul
Read full article: After Needville HS senior asked to remove Black Lives Matter mask, parents and students cry foulHOUSTON A ban on Black Lives Matter face masks at Needville High School has some parents and students accusing the school and district of bias and silencing students trying to express their first amendment rights to free speech. She says she questioned his rationale and asked why other students are allowed to wear masks that say Trump on them, apparently in support of President Donald Trump. The Needville Independent School District did not answer KPRC 2s specific questions regarding students being allowed to wear Trump masks. When a student wore a Black Lives Matter face mask, that student was told the same thing that face mask was not permitted. The district recognizes that it is important to provide students with guidance regarding what face masks are permitted and which are not.
Texans star JJ Watt talks about the start of the season on Today
Read full article: Texans star JJ Watt talks about the start of the season on TodayIts been different but our guys have adapted extremely well," Watt said during the interview on NBCs Today show. The Chiefs are one of five teams out of 32 total in the league allowing fans to attend home games. Coronavirus aside, another big question remains: what social statements will players make? When asked, Watt said the Texans are having a conversation Wednesday about social statements and the teams plan when the National Anthem plays. Fans can watch the game on KPRC 2 with coverage starting at 6 p.m.
Organizers assemble Black Lives More Than Matter rally at Emancipation Park
Read full article: Organizers assemble Black Lives More Than Matter rally at Emancipation ParkHOUSTON Several dozens gathered at Emancipation Park for a Black Lives More Than Matter rally Saturday. The gathering was one of several across Houston, part a growing movement to demand change. We want to reimagine policing and reallocating things, such as having maybe a mental health team, said organizer Dav Lewis. Were just trying to raise awareness and show people how voting can enact change and affect change in their community, said organizer Carl Ward. That is our message: Its really not just vote but be an informed voter.Organizers said a march to city hall will take place in the coming days.
Portland's grim reality: 100 days of protests, many violent
Read full article: Portland's grim reality: 100 days of protests, many violentBlack Lives Matter protests, vigils and speeches marking the occasion are planned over three days and Trump supporters are planning another caravan rally. But smaller protests have continued, with groups of 100 to 200 people marching nightly. The protesters want city officials to slash the police budget and reallocate that money to Black residents and businesses. The tension reached a new high last weekend when the pro-Trump caravan motored into downtown, with some shooting paintballs and spraying bear repellent at Black Lives Matter protesters who tried to block the streets. Lost amid the escalating tensions are the voices of the citys Black residents, who are divided about the best way to keep up the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement.
More than 250 arrested since Blake shooting in Wisconsin
Read full article: More than 250 arrested since Blake shooting in WisconsinA protester holds a flag during a Black Lives Matter march Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)If you need help with the Public File, call (713) 778-4745.
Astros opt to not play Friday night in protest of police brutality, Jacob Blake shooting
Read full article: Astros opt to not play Friday night in protest of police brutality, Jacob Blake shootingThe Astros were scheduled to host Oakland and the game was to begin at 8:10 p.m. That game will be postponed. Players from both teams laid number 42 jerseys on home plate in honor of Jackie Robinson, accompanied with a Black Lives Matter jersey. The Houston Astros players, with support from the Oakland players, have decided to postpone tonights game, the Astros wrote in a statement. We support their decision to make a strong statement in support of the fight for racial equality. The Astros and As will proudly celebrate Jackie Robinson Day tomorrow when play is resumed.See what happened:
5 things for Houstonians to know for Friday, August 28
Read full article: 5 things for Houstonians to know for Friday, August 28Here are things you need to know for Friday, August 28:1. 6 deaths in Louisiana tied to Hurricane LauraLouisiana officials now know of 6 deaths tied to Hurricane Laura. President Donald Trump says hell visit Texas to survey damagePresident Donald Trump is planning to visit Texas this weekend in the wake of Hurricane Laura. On the digital chalk board, she asked students to put their name and preferred pronoun in the chatbox. 3 things to shareWORD OF THE DAY:Whinge: [ hwinj, winj ] (verb) to complain; whine.
A Texas teacher who posted Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ posters in her virtual classroom was placed on leave after parents complained
Read full article: A Texas teacher who posted Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ posters in her virtual classroom was placed on leave after parents complainedThen, she posted a screenshot of her classroom on her social media. I guess once that happened I knew that it might be a rocky road, but considering being put on leave? Roma school officials said that several parents and community members filed complaints to the district about the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ posters. Thousands of parents, students and community members have expressed outrage at the school district for punishing Lifka. Scott Schneider, an Austin lawyer who specializes in education, said the school district was likely employing a scare tactic to discourage her from displaying the posters.
Kenosha Police: 3 shot, 2 fatally, during Wisconsin protests
Read full article: Kenosha Police: 3 shot, 2 fatally, during Wisconsin protestsHe is recovering from being shot multiple times by Kenosha police on Aug. 23. The shooting was reported at about 11:45 p.m. in an area where protests have taken place, Kenosha police Lt. Joseph Nosalik said in a news release. Earlier Tuesday, Blake's father spoke alongside other family members and lawyers, telling reporters that police shot his son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter." Hundreds of people again defied curfew Tuesday in Kenosha, where destruction marred protests the previous night as fires were set and businesses vandalized. I really ask you and encourage everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts," Blake's mother said.
Rockets, Thunder game postponed as players boycott Game 5 in protest of police brutality
Read full article: Rockets, Thunder game postponed as players boycott Game 5 in protest of police brutalityHOUSTON The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to boycott Game 5 of the NBA playoffs, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Thunder and Rockets are boycotting Game 5, sources said. The Bucks and Magic first opted to boycott the game after the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Before the game, Rockets star Russell Westbrook met with ex-Rockets and NBA Players Association President Chris Paul of the OKC Thunder in the hallway. After spending more than a month in the bubble calling for reform, multiple players have spoken publically about taking stronger action.
ACLU sues over federal action in Portland, Oregon, protests
Read full article: ACLU sues over federal action in Portland, Oregon, protestsThe American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, challenging the legality of the actions taken by U.S. agents sent by President Donald Trump to subdue protests in Portland. The federal agents exceeded the limits of their authority, making illegal arrests and using tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other tactics to squelch the protests, the lawsuit alleges. A video of plaintiff and Navy veteran Christopher David's encounter with U.S. agents outside the Portland courthouse circulated widely on social media. It showed one agent hitting David with a baton and another dousing him in the face with pepper spray. Local police have arrested hundreds of people over the three months and federal agents arrested at least 94 people at the height of the demonstrations in July.
Photos: Protesters, authorities clash in Wisconsin after video emerges of police shooting unarmed Black man
Read full article: Photos: Protesters, authorities clash in Wisconsin after video emerges of police shooting unarmed Black manThis time, the town is Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has about 100,000 people and sits just south of Milwaukee. The city is now trying to quell racial tension after police were caught on camera shooting 29-year-old Jacob Blake in the back multiple times. (2020 Getty Images)A car attempts to drive through a crowd of protesters on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha. (2020 Getty Images)Demonstrators chant in front of a burning truck on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (2020 Getty Images)A man stands with a sign on Aug. 24, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Police shooting lays bare Wisconsin's deep partisan divide
Read full article: Police shooting lays bare Wisconsin's deep partisan divideA small group of Black Lives Matter protesters pray near the sight of a police shooting Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. Kenosha police shot a man Sunday evening, setting off unrest in the city after a video appeared to show the officer firing several shots at close range into the man's back. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
St. Louis couple, in RNC speech, defend show of weapons
Read full article: St. Louis couple, in RNC speech, defend show of weaponsThe McCloskey case drew Trump's attention, especially after Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed felony unlawful use of a weapon charges in July. A police probable cause statement said protesters feared being injured due to Patricia McCloskeys finger being on the trigger, coupled with her excited demeanor." They broke the gate down, Patricia McCloskey said on Fox & Friends." They had weapons, they had fire material.Mark McCloskey said on the Fox News program that Democrat-controlled St. Louis is a very dangerous place, and the statistics back him up. The people of St. Louis expect me to pursue equal justice under the law without fear or favor, and that is what I intend to do.Gardner, St. Louis first Black circuit attorney, was elected in 2016 and appears headed to another term.
Debate over defunding the Houston Police Department heats up after Austin slashes budget
Read full article: Debate over defunding the Houston Police Department heats up after Austin slashes budgetMany of these calls have coalesced into a โdefund the policeโ movement in cities across the country, including in Houston. โWeโre talking about making sure thereโs money in programs where itโs needed,โ said Ashton Woods, the head of Black Lives Matter Houston. Dr. James Douglas, President of the Houston NAACP, wants to see HPD spend its money differently. โJust arresting people alone is not going to reduce crime,โ he said. When we asked Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner for his thoughts, he said he believes the budget is in line with the cityโs needs.
Local baker wins local competition with impressive Black Lives Matter cake
Read full article: Local baker wins local competition with impressive Black Lives Matter cakePastry chefs Nikita Freeman and Neciey Shelton entered a baking competition last June to gain exposure for their at-home baking businesses. The experience pushed them to create their own baking competition, Bakers of Mo City. The winning cake was a Black Lives Matter themed design made by Tenique Guillory. For me, Black Lives Matter is very touchy because of my skin complexion, said Guillory. Putting all that hurt and pain into my craft.Bakers of Mo City also donated $1,000 to Black Lives Matter Houston.
Black creatives in Italian fashion demand cultural reform
Read full article: Black creatives in Italian fashion demand cultural reformFashion designer Stella Jean talks during an interview with the Associated Press, in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)MILAN The only Black designer belonging to Italys influential fashion council is demanding a "long overdue cultural reform from her colleagues under the slogan: Do Black Lives Matter in Italy? A frequent refrain from Black creatives in Italian fashion is that they are often the only person of color in the workplace. Stella chafes at the Africa Hub, which promoted five brands during Milan Fashion Week in February. While she won't show in September, she has asked Capasa to host a Black Lives Matter event to kick off "the immediate launch of a long-overdue fashion cultural reform.''
Pearland ISD teacher under fire for โwhite slavesโ post
Read full article: Pearland ISD teacher under fire for โwhite slavesโ postPEARLAND, Texas โ The NAACP of Brazoria County has called on the Pearland Independent School District to give special needs teacher, Holly Hardwicke Kanipes, 57, diversity training before she gets back in the classroom. Kanipes is under fire for a Facebook post, which has since been deleted, that said โWhite slaves were treated worse than any other race in the US. You wonโt.โMany people quickly commented, telling Kanipes she should not be a teacher. Parent Dara Hooker-Williams said she was disappointed with the post but says this can be a teaching moment. This is a personnel matter and the district will work with the employee on training with our district Culturally Responsive Council.โThe NAACP has filed a grievance with the school, the school district has ten days to respond.
Looking back on the Watts Riots, 55 years later: In photos
Read full article: Looking back on the Watts Riots, 55 years later: In photos(Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965.
Lack of study and oversight raises concerns about tear gas
Read full article: Lack of study and oversight raises concerns about tear gasFILE - In this July 26, 2020, file photo, federal officers launch tear gas at demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore. The Associated Press found that there is no government oversight of the manufacture and use of tear gas. Instead, the industry is left to regulate itself. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Disturbing leaked bodycam footage shows first moments of George Floyds arrest
Read full article: Disturbing leaked bodycam footage shows first moments of George Floyds arrestHOUSTON Newly leaked bodycam footage shows the moments Houston-raised George Floyd, 46, was arrested. In the disturbing video, Floyd is heard begging for the officers to not lock him in a squad car, shortly before he lost consciousness. The video, published by UK-based The Daily Mail, is part of the evidence against former Minneapolis officers, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Lane, Kueng and Thao are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
40 people arrested in Austin during weekend protests
Read full article: 40 people arrested in Austin during weekend protestsAUSTIN, Texas Forty people were arrested over two nights of weekend protests in Austin, police said Monday. Perry has not been charged, and Austin police have not named him as a suspect in their investigation. A call was put out Thursday by Austin officers asking the public to come forward if they had relevant information. Austin police renewed their plea Monday for any witnesses to the confrontation and shooting to come forth with what they saw. The Austin Police Department posted images on its social media of persons that detectives hope will provide statements.
Analysis: Early returns say so far, so good for NBA bubble
Read full article: Analysis: Early returns say so far, so good for NBA bubbleIf that wasnt enough, the quality of play is so good that its almost like the NBA hadnt stopped playing for 4-1/2 months. In all honestly, its better than I was expecting ... talking about all the teams in general, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. So, you see some of the talents these guys have are coming out.The numbers inside the bubble are ridiculous. Try 36 points again, 18 rebounds and eight assists in the Bucks loss to Houston on Sunday night. The Rockets beat the Mavs 153-149 in overtime Friday and then tried 61 3-pointers to tie an NBA regulation-game record Sunday.
Black Dallas church alleges intimidation by pro-police rally
Read full article: Black Dallas church alleges intimidation by pro-police rallyDALLAS A predominantly Black Dallas church active in the Black Lives Matter movement alleges a pro-police rally tried to intimidate its members by roaring into its parking lot Sunday afternoon. Organizers said a Friendship-West Baptist Church pastor gave them permission to use its parking lot to rest. Leaders of the church, which displays a huge Black Lives Matter banner on its exterior wall, said in a statement, however, that it was asked to use the parking lot for a Black Lives Matter rally, not a Back the Blue event. Were the only one out of those seven or eight that has a Black Lives Matter sign up. Fellow organizer Nathan Adams also blamed a communication breakdown and apologized "for any kind of misconceptions or misunderstandings or anything.Nevertheless, some church members responded Sunday evening with a Black Lives Matter rally and march at Dallas police headquarters Sunday night.
Portland protest peaceful after federal presence reduced
Read full article: Portland protest peaceful after federal presence reducedLeshan Terry hold his son Leshan Terry, Jr., 6, during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Friday, July 31, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A group identified as Firefighters for Black Lives Matter gathered in a small park a couple miles west of the courthouse. A parade of cars with Black Lives Matter signs taped to their windows slowed traffic in the city. Since then, there have been no visible signs of any federal law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully, Portlands federal courthouse became a target for some protesters.
Portland, Oregon, protests relatively calm after US drawdown
Read full article: Portland, Oregon, protests relatively calm after US drawdownMarshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement pulled back, troopers with the Oregon State Police were supposed to take over. There were no signs of any law enforcement presence outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, however, where a protest lasted into early Friday. Protests have roiled Portland for more than 60 days following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. And while thousands have marched and rallied peacefully over the past two months, Portland's federal courthouse became a target for some protesters. He apologized to peaceful demonstrators exposed to tear gas used by Portland police before federal officials arrived.
Players, coaches kneel before NBA's re-opening night
Read full article: Players, coaches kneel before NBA's re-opening nightThe NBA had a strong, powerful re-opening night message. Tonight we witnessed sober, powerfully moving and heartfelt demonstrations by our players of their commitment to the pursuit of justice," National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Michele Roberts tweeted. And all the players, all the coaches, are united in that fact and committed to do what we can do to effect long-term change.Many players warmed up wearing shirts that said Black Lives Matter." Thursday also marked the debut of new jerseys bearing messages that many players chose to have added, such as Equality" and Peace." NBA players have used their platforms both in the bubble and on social media to demand equality, to demand justice for Taylor.
Boateng recounts pain of racist abuse to Bayern teammates
Read full article: Boateng recounts pain of racist abuse to Bayern teammatesFor weeks Bayern Munich players had been showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at games when Jerome Boateng was approached by teammates for a deeper conversation. Before our break, I talked actually to Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka about it, Boateng recalled on a video call. There are some situations of course that are really hard to help, but you can always help in a situation, the defender said. Now the German champions are preparing to take the field again in the Champions League next week, in the round of 16 against Chelsea where they lead 3-0 from the first leg in February. I think about racism you never can do enough as you see how bad it is still in the world right now," Boateng said.
WATCH: Austin police release video of deadly police shooting of unarmed man in April
Read full article: WATCH: Austin police release video of deadly police shooting of unarmed man in AprilAUSTIN, Texas Police in Austin, Texas, released video Monday of an officer fatally shooting an unarmed man in April as he drove away. Officers Mitchell Pieper and Christopher Taylor were involved in the shooting, according to the video. Officer Pieper fired one less-lethal round at Mr. Ramos, striking him in the upper thigh, hip area," Austin police said in the video. "Officer Taylor fired three rounds from his rifle as Mar. Austin Mayor Steve Adler called the shooting disturbing after viewing previously released video captured by a bystander.
1 arrest after gunfire report near Portland protest site
Read full article: 1 arrest after gunfire report near Portland protest sitePortland has seen protests nightly for two months since Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in May. President Donald Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest but state and local officials say they are making the situation worse. Portland Police say they arrested six people. Protesters paused outside a downtown hotel, where federal agents are staying, chanting Feds go home and yelling the names of Black people killed by police. During demonstrations Friday night, federal agents repeatedly fired tear gas to break up rowdy protests that continued into the early morning Saturday.
Portland: Big protest crowds again over US agents' presence
Read full article: Portland: Big protest crowds again over US agents' presenceDuring demonstrations the previous night federal agents repeatedly fired tear gas to break up rowdy protests that continued into the early morning Saturday. Authorities say six federal officers were injured and one person was arrested. Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest but state and local officials say they are making the situation worse. There were demonstrations for police reform and against the increased presence of federal law enforcement in cities across the country Saturday. The Federal Protective Service had declared the gathering in Portland that began Friday evening an unlawful assembly.
Yanks, Nats kneel in Black Lives Matter salute; Fauci's toss
Read full article: Yanks, Nats kneel in Black Lives Matter salute; Fauci's tossThe New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals kneel while holding a black ribbon to honor Black Lives Matter before playing an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. before the start of the first inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. Players from both clubs wore T-shirts saying Black Lives Matter during batting practice, and the letters BLM were stenciled into the back of the mound at the center of the diamond. In a poignant reference to the racial reckoning happening in the U.S., players and other members of both teams held a long black ribbon while standing spaced out along the two foul lines. That followed a series of videos: about Black Lives Matter, showing major league players such as New Yorks Aaron Judge and Washingtons Howie Kendrick; about the Nationals postseason run; about the COVID-19 outbreak.
VIDEO: All the Yankees and Nationals players and coaches kneel during anthem in Black Lives Matter salute
Read full article: VIDEO: All the Yankees and Nationals players and coaches kneel during anthem in Black Lives Matter saluteThe New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals kneel while holding a black ribbon to honor Black Lives Matter before playing an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. before the start of the first inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. Players from both clubs wore T-shirts saying Black Lives Matter during batting practice, and the letters BLM were stenciled into the back of the mound at the center of the diamond. All players and coaches on the Yankees & Nationals took a knee before the national anthem tonight@MarkZuckermanpic.twitter.com/mLai859LzN Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 23, 2020In a poignant reference to the racial reckoning happening in the U.S., players and other members of both teams held a long black ribbon while standing spaced out along the two foul lines. That followed a series of videos: about Black Lives Matter, showing major league players such as New Yorks Aaron Judge and Washingtons Howie Kendrick; about the Nationals postseason run; about the COVID-19 outbreak.
5 Things to Know for Today
Read full article: 5 Things to Know for TodaySmoke fills the sky as federal officers try to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Portland, Ore. A federal judge is hearing arguments on Oregon's request for a restraining order against federal agents who have been sent to the state's largest city to quell protests that have spiraled into nightly clashes between authorities and demonstrators. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)