Ukrainian troops hold out as Russia assaults Sievierodonetsk wasteland

By Edward Era Barbacena

Reuters: Ukrainian forces were holding out in Sievierodonetsk on Tuesday, resisting Russia's all-out assault to capture a bombed-out wasteland that Moscow has made the principal objective of its invasion in recent days.

Both sides said Russian forces now controlled between a third and half of the city. Russia's separatist proxies acknowledged that capturing it was taking longer than hoped, despite one of the biggest ground assaults of the war.

Western military analysts say Moscow has drained manpower and firepower from across the rest of the front to concentrate on Sievierodonetsk, hoping a massive offensive on the small industrial city will achieve one of its stated aims, to secure surrounding Luhansk province for separatist proxies.

"We can say already that a third of Sievierodonetsk is already under our control," Russia's TASS state news agency quoted Leonid Pasechnik, the leader of the pro-Moscow Luhansk People's Republic, as saying.

Fighting was raging in the city, but Russian forces were not advancing as rapidly as might have been hoped, he said, claiming that pro-Moscow forces wanted to "maintain the city's infrastructure" and moving slowly because of caution around chemical factories.

The Ukrainian head of the city administration, Oleksandr Stryuk, said the Russians now controlled half of the city.

"Unfortunately ... the city has been split in half. But at the same time the city still defends itself. It is still Ukrainian," he said, advising those still trapped inside to stay in cellars.

Ukraine says Russia has destroyed all of the city's critical infrastructure with unrelenting bombardment, followed by wave after wave of mass ground assault involving huge numbers of casualties.

Thousands of residents remain trapped. Russian forces are advancing towards the city centre, but slowly, regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said.

Gaidai said there did not appear to be a risk of Ukrainian forces being encircled, though they could ultimately be forced to retreat across the Siverskiy Donets river to Lysychansk, the twin city on the opposite bank.

Stryuk, head of the city administration, said evacuating civilians was no longer possible. Authorities cancelled efforts to evacuate residents after shrapnel killed a French journalist on Monday.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid agency which had long operated out of Sievierodonetsk, said he was "horrified" by its destruction.

"We fear that up to 12,000 civilians remain caught in crossfire in the city, without sufficient access to water, food, medicine or electricity. The near-constant bombardment is forcing civilians to seek refuge in bomb shelters and basements, with only few precious opportunities for those trying to escape."

Elsewhere on the battlefield, there were few reports of major shifts. In the east, Ukraine says Moscow is trying to assault other areas along the main front, regrouping to press towards the city of Solviansk. In the south, Ukraine claimed in recent days to have pushed back Russian forces on a bank of the Inhulets River, a border of Russian-held Kherson province.

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After having failed to capture Kyiv, been driven out of northern Ukraine and made only limited progress elsewhere in the east, Moscow has concentrated its might on Sievierodonetsk, which had a pre-war population of around 110,000.

Victory there and across the river in Lysychansk would bring full control of Luhansk, one of two eastern province Moscow claims on behalf of separatist proxies.

But the huge battle has come at a massive cost, which some Western military experts say could hurt Russia's ability to fend off counterattacks.

"Putin is now hurling men and munitions" at Sievierodonetsk, "as if taking it would win the war for the Kremlin. He is wrong," the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War think tank wrote this week.

"When the Battle of Severodonetsk ends, regardless of which side holds the city, the Russian offensive at the operational and strategic levels will likely have culminated, giving Ukraine the chance to restart its operational-level counteroffensives to push Russian forces back."

Overnight, the EU agreed its toughest sanctions against Russia since the war began, for the first time targeting Russian sales of energy, Moscow's main source of income.

The EU will now ban import of Russian oil by sea. Officials said that would halt two-thirds of Russia's oil exports to Europe at first, and 90% by the end of this year as Germany and Poland also phase out imports by pipeline.

But Hungary, which relies on Russian oil through a huge Soviet-era pipeline, secured an exemption.

Ukraine says the sanctions are taking too long and are still too full of holes to stop Russia: "If you ask me, I would say far too slow, far too late and definitely not enough," said Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office.

Nevertheless, the foreign ministry welcomed the new EU package and said the oil restrictions would cost Moscow of tens of billions of dollars.

Moscow, meanwhile, has switched off gas supplies to several EU countries in a dispute over how to receive payments, although the moves so far, during warm months when demand is lower, have yet to have the severest impact. On Tuesday, Russia switched off the main Dutch gas buyer, GasTerra, which said it would find supplies elsewhere.

Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February claiming Moscow aimed to disarm and "denazify" its neighbour. Ukraine and its Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war to seize territory.

Ukraine accuses Moscow of war crimes on a huge scale, flattening cities with artillery, and killing and raping civilians in areas it occupied. Russia denies targeting civilians and says accusations have been faked.

In the second war crimes trial to be held in Ukraine, two Russian soldiers were sentenced on Tuesday to 11 1/2 years prison after pleading guilty to shelling civilian targets. Ukraine's top prosecutor said Kyiv has identified more than 600 Russian war crime suspects and started prosecuting around 80.

 

‘Star Wars’ Calls Out Racism Against Moses Ingram, Tells ‘Obi-Wan’ Viewers: ‘Don’t Choose to Be Racist’

By Edward Era Barbacena

The ‘Star Wars’ franchise is sticking up for one of its own in the wake of online harassment and racism. Moses Ingram, who made her franchise debut in “Obi-Wan Kenobi” as the villainous Inquisitor Reva, revealed on social media that “hundreds” of racist messages have been sent to her by toxic fans who are obviously white since the Disney+ series debuted May 27. Racist messages sent to Ingram include the use of the N-word, as well as claims that Ingram was nothing but an “Obi-Wan” diversity hire.

“There’s nothing anybody can do about this. There’s nothing anybody can do to stop this hate,” Ingram said in a video posted to her Instagram story. “I question my purposes in even being here in front of you saying that this is happening. I don’t really know.”

The official Star Wars Twitter account stood up for Ingram, writing in a statement: “We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist.”

“There are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don’t choose to be a racist,” the statement concluded.

Prior to “Obi-Wan” debuting on Disney+, Ingram told The Independent that Lucasfilm executives warned her that she would likely face harassment online from racist “Star Wars” trolls. POC actors such as John Boyega and Kelly Marie Train faced their own racism from toxic fans when they joined the “Star Wars” franchise.

“It was something that Lucasfilm actually got in front of, and said, ‘This is a thing that, unfortunately, likely will happen. But we are here to help you; you can let us know when it happens,’” Ingram said.

Moses added at the time, “‘Obi-Wan’ is going to bring the most diversity I think we’ve ever seen in the galaxy before. To me, it’s long overdue. If you’ve got talking droids and aliens, but no people of color, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s 2022, you know. So we’re just at the beginning of that change. But I think to start that change is better than never having started it.”

New episodes of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” debut Fridays on Disney+ 

 

The Catholic priests and the election

By Edward Era Barbacena

THE past elections saw the nation divided between the BBM-Sarah team on the one hand and the Leni-Kiko tandem on the other. News reports of the period of the campaign bear out the observation, already made by many, that while Leni Robredo joined the race "to prevent a Marcos presidency," Marcos did so because he wanted a chance at leading the nation.

It is no secret that Leni threw several punches at Marcos — and the refrain was picked up by her adoring fans that were obviously brainwashed and blind  supporters. The alleged horror stories from the martial law era were revived. Bongbong's academic credentials (or lack of them!) were made an issue against him as were the ill-gotten wealth cases filed against his family. But all of these efforts were indeed futile.

Members of the academic communities of leading universities made it appear that the choice for Leni was the choice of the intelligentsia and that only the unenlightened and the obtuse would settle for Marcos. The well-heeled also threw in their support, announcing the color pink to be the color of the "disente" and the "marangal." In some speeches, homilies and posts on social media there was no attempt to conceal disdain: the choice for Marcos, it was thundered, was the choice for complicity in murder, plunder and deceit.

More unfortunately, some leading members of the Church, priests and religious waded deeply into the murky waters of partisan politics. Despite clear magisterial and papal pronouncements about keeping lines clear between laying down the moral and doctrinal requirements of a just society and the common good on the one hand and indulging in direct political action on the other — through the open endorsement of candidates, some bishops and priests made the contest between Robredo and Marcos a choice between good and evil! For this reason, many accused them as hypocrite servants of the Lord.  

Some would even use their social media platform to persecute voters who have different political preferences and even called Marcos as the modern day Barabbas .  One of the highly critical priests against the government since Duterte came into power was a priest with twitter account name @pads_nosi.  This blatantly curses the so-called BBM supporters calling them ignorant and stupid. 

 And now, we must learn from the results of the elections. In 2016, many bishops and priests came out openly against Rodrigo Duterte because of his imprudent loquaciousness. But the nation gave him 16 million votes. This time, in the face of every insult, slur and charge, the nation gave Marcos 30 plus million votes. It might be difficult to pin down what exactly the voters saw, felt or found in Marcos that caused such a wave of votes to carry him to Malacañang. The only thing that can be said is that the people identified with him. The Filipino penchant for supporting the underdog must have played a part, but it was also the repudiation by the multitude of the anointing by the elite, the posturing of the supposed "intelligentsia," the disente. It made very clear the social and economic divide — although, surprisingly, Marcos got a good share of votes from classes A and B as well!

I am sure that Marcos will not do a Duterte in respect to the Church, but we have lessons to learn. Prior to the elections, voters' education in many parishes was ill-disguised "miting de avance" for Leni and Kiko. The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a letter on behalf of the CBCP that clearly took a swipe at Marcos. It bemoaned "historical revisionism" — the end, clearly, to make the people remember that the scion of the martial law autocrat was in the running. People in the churches sat through the mandated reading of the letter. Fortunately, none walked out — as far as I can tell. I was asked by the pastor of the Cathedral to read the letter. I complied by asking the commentator to read it for me because it was a letter that I was convinced should not have been written, much less publicized in the midst of a divisive campaign period.

The questions we should be asking now are many. I will pick a handful. Pope Francis exhorted pastors, early on in his ministry as pope, not only to be with the sheep but to "smell like the sheep." So, how close to the sheep are we really, knowing now that our exhortations and endorsements notwithstanding, they take the opposite position? I am not saying that bishops, priests and religious people should have voted for Marcos. But do we know how and why the people in an overwhelming, incontrovertible majority did? Have we bothered to find out? The synodal journey was supposed to get us in the Church listening to each other. Did we listen to our faithful during the campaign period, or were we intent on getting them to listen to us?

It starts with characterization and labeling. When you characterize a candidate as evil and label as unworthy someone in the running, of necessity you take a partisan stand, you make a partisan choice. But if, as teachers of the faith, we tell our people what it is to have a just society, what the Church believes should be a well-ordered body politic, what the common good requires, we are doing what we were ordained to do and living the practical consequences of the vows we took. Undoubtedly, these elections — as well as those held six years ago — amply prove that our people will not walk with us when we choose to take sides, when we wear political colors, and repeat partisan refrains, unless our endorsements resonate with their thoughts, sentiments, aspirations as well as idiosyncrasies. If we are serious about synodality, this is what it takes, because, clearly, in these elections the people and many members of the clergy and leaders in the Church walked separate paths. I maintain the position that synodality is best served when, in matters that pertain to political choice and similar issues, the Church maintains a posture of being "mater et magistra" — mother and teacher to all, whatever choices they may make.

One bishop said that all the facts are in, and that the evil of martial law is amply established. In the first place, I do not think that all the facts are in. Of course, many of the reports of egregious violations of rights have proven to be true, as have many allegations of the abuse of power. But I think that it would serve the nation well, and the administration of the incoming president, to form a body — similar to the Truth Commission of South Africa — that will do a thorough inquiry into the martial law era. But I think that sorely lacking on our part as members of the clergy was fidelity to the clear Gospel injunction against judging. We judged, and our judgment was harsh — but the people did not concur!

 

Zelensky visits eastern Ukraine, says Russia should be considered a 'terrorist state'

Ukrainian leader was in Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country, which has suffered from intense bombing since the beginning of the war.

By Edward Era Barbacena

For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the east of the country, where Vladimir Putin's troops are intensifying bombings and seeking to dominate the region. On Saturday, the 28th, the Russians took control of the city of Lyman, an advance that increases the pressure against Lyssychansk and Severodonetsk. In the photos shared by the Ukrainian leader on his Telegram account, it is possible to see him wearing a bulletproof vest and analyzing the destruction caused in the city of Kharkiv, the site of the visit and the second largest in the country, which Ukrainian troops regained control last month, but which Russia bombed again.

Since the conflict began, Zelensky has remained in Kiev . . “In this war, the invaders are trying to get an outcome, whatever that may be. But they must have known for a long time that we will defend our land to the end,” he said. In a speech on Saturday, the Ukrainian said that Russia should be considered a “terrorist state” as a demonstration of what is happening in the country he leads. The conflict is now in its fourth month. “I will remind the world that Russia must be officially recognized as a terrorist state, a sponsoring state of terrorism,” he declared. “This is fair and reflects the daily reality that the invaders have created in Ukraine. And they are looking forward to taking it to Europe,” he added.

On Monday, the 30th, Zelensky will attend the meeting of the European Council, where the leaders of the 27 member states will meet to take a decision on a possible embargo on Russian oil. The European bloc is considering excluding the pipeline that delivers oil to Hungary from the new sanctions package, EU sources said. So far, a new round of sanctions against Russia that hits most of the hydrocarbon sector has been halted by Hungary, which relies heavily on these resources and fears consequences for its economy.

The central European country – landlocked and supplied by the Druzhba pipeline – has asked for 800 million euros ($860 million) in EU funds to adapt its refineries and pipeline capacities to receive alternative supplies, for example, from Croatia. Currently, a new proposal is being discussed to exclude Druzhba from the oil embargo to limit sanctions on the supply of oil by ship.

 

Russian forces  have entered Sievierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine

By Edward Era Barbacena

The Russian-battered eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk appeared to be on the brink of becoming another Mariupol on Monday as the mayor told The Associated Press that Russian troops have entered, power and communications have been cut and “the city has been completely ruined.”

Moscow seeks to capture all of Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, and Sievierodonetsk is key to that. Fierce street fighting is underway in the city as Ukrainian defenders are trying to push the Russians out, Mayor Oleksandr Striuk told the AP in a phone interview. Russian troops have advanced a few blocks toward the city center, he said.

“The number of victims is rising every hour, but we are unable to count the dead and the wounded amid the street fighting,” the mayor added. He said 12,000-13,000 civilians left in the city that once held more than 100,000 are sheltering in basements and bunkers to escape the Russian bombardment.

Russian forces stormed Sievierodonetsk after trying unsuccessfully to encircle it, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the situation as “indescribably difficult.” A Russian artillery barrage has destroyed critical infrastructure and damaged 90% of buildings. The mayor has estimated that 1,500 civilians in the city have died since the war began, from Russian attacks as well as from a lack of medicine or treatment.

Sievierodonetsk, 143 kilometers (89 miles) south of the Russian border, has emerged in recent days as the epicenter of the Donbas fighting. Mariupol is the city on the Sea of Azov that spent nearly three months under Russian siege before the last Ukrainian fighters surrendered.

The Ukrainian military said Russian forces were reinforcing their positions on the northeastern and southeastern outskirts of Sievierodonetsk and bringing additional equipment and ammunition to press their offensive.

Luhansk regional Gov. Serhiy Haidai said the Russians also are pushing toward nearby Lysychansk. He said two civilians were killed and another five were wounded in the latest Russian shelling in the war.

Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk span the strategically important Siverskiy Donetsk River. They are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, which makes up the Donbas together with the adjacent Donetsk region.

The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, questioned the Kremlin’s strategy of assembling a huge military effort to take Sieverodonetsk, saying it was proving costly for Russia and would bring few returns.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told French TF1 television Sunday that Moscow’s “unconditional priority is the liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” adding that Russia sees them as “independent states.” He also suggested other regions of Ukraine should be able to establish close ties with Russia.

The Ukrainian army reported heavy fighting around Donetsk, the regional capital, as well as Lyman to the north, a small city that serves as a key rail hub in the region. “The enemy is reinforcing its units,” the Ukrainian armed forces’ General Staff said. “It is trying to gain a foothold in the area.”

Authorities in a Russia-backed separatist region said at least five civilians were killed in the latest Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk city including a 13-year-old boy.

Zelenskyy on Monday will address European Union leaders gathering in a new show of solidarity with Ukraine amid divisions over whether to target Russian oil in a new series of sanctions. He has repeatedly demanded that the EU target Russia’s lucrative energy sector and deprive Moscow of billions of dollars each day in supply payments.

Zelenskyy on Sunday visited soldiers in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, where Ukrainian fighters pushed Russian forces back from nearby positions several weeks ago. Russia has kept up bombardment of the northeastern city, and explosions could be heard shortly after Zelenskyy’s visit. Shelling and airstrikes have destroyed more than 2,000 apartment buildings since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov.

In the wider Kharkiv region, Russian troops still held about one-third of the territory, Zelenskyy said.

Russian pressure also continued in the south on Monday. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said an artillery strike on the shipyard in the southern port of Mykolaiv destroyed Ukrainian armored vehicles parked on its territory.

In the Kherson region, the Russia-installed deputy head of the regional administration, Kirill Stremousov, told Russia’s Tass state news agency that grain from last year’s harvest is being delivered to Russian buyers, adding that "obviously there is a lot of grain here.” Ukraine has accused Russia of looting grain from territories its forces hold, and the U.S. has alleged Moscow is jeopardizing global food supplies by preventing Ukraine from exporting its harvest.

In Mariupol on Sunday, an aide to its Ukrainian mayor alleged that after Russia’s forces gained complete control of the city, they piled the bodies of dead people inside a supermarket. Petro Andryushchenko, posted a photo on the Telegram messaging app showing bodies stacked alongside closed supermarket counters. It wasn't immediately possible to verify his claim.

 

Police investigating E. Wichita fatal shooting of a black man as possible hate crime

Gale of Wichita was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault 

By Edward Era Barbacena

The Wichita Police Department (WPD) has arrested 27-year-old Roger R. Gale on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault after fatally shooting 30-year-old Emmanuel Hardy.

WPD is now looking into whether the shooting was a hate crime.

WPD learned that Roger Gale, Emmanuel Hardy, and an unidentified 39-year-old woman got into an argument while Gale was walking his dog. Gale then fired several shots at the woman and Hardy, hitting Hardy multiple times.

Around 9:45 p.m on Saturday, WPD responded to a shooting at an apartment complex at the 4900 block of East Harry. When they arrived, they found Hardy shot and transported him to an area hospital, where he later died.

Hardy’s sister gave a statement to KWCH regarding the shooting.

She said, “my brother was a good man who didn’t deserve to be chased down and killed. I’m just hoping they get him justice because he didn’t deserve to die like that. Or die at all. It was a savage and unnecessary attack.”

Wichita police are looking for suspects in a shooting late Saturday that left a man in his thirties dead. Police were called to an apartment complex near Harry and Oliver shortly before 10:00 p.m. and found a man with gunshot wounds.

Police and paramedics performed aid and rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators are looking into what happened.

No one has been arrested, and police say they do not have any information on possible suspects in the case.

 

Justin Moreira of Hyannis charged with threatening to commit school shooting

By Edward Era Barbacena

A Cape Cod man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly threatening to commit a school shooting.

Justin Moreira, 29, was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats. He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Barnstable District Court.

Barnstable and Yarmouth police received multiple reports about a Facebook post allegedly made by Moreira. In the post, he allegedly threatened  to commit a shooting at an unnamed school.

Moreira was arrested at his Hyannis home and taken into custody without incident.

Police searched Moreira's home, but did not find any guns.

Anyone who has information about similar incidents is encouraged to contact your local police department. 

 

Lutz teen arrested for making a post on social media that appeared to threaten mass shooting

Corey Anderson threatens school shooting in chilling post,

By Edward Era Barbacena

A social media post that appeared to threaten a mass shooting landed a Lutz man behind bars on Sunday. 

Deputies say Corey Anderson, 18, posted images of himself with what appeared to be a handgun, a rifle, and a tactical style vest. The photo was distributed with the caption "Hey Siri, directions to the nearest school."

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, detectives investigating the case determined that the handgun and rifle in the photo were ‘airsoft guns’.

"This type of threat is unacceptable. This man intentionally instilled fear into our community as a sick joke, but be warned, this is no laughing matter," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We will do everything within our power to apprehend, and pursue charges on those who make school-based threats. Protecting students is our greatest priority. We take school threats very seriously, if you see something suspicious, please contact us immediately."

Anderson is charged with a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism.

 

U.S. Army reservist and white supremacist convicted for his role in U.S. Capitol insurrection 

Prosecutors said Hale-Cusanelli openly espoused white supremacist and antisemitic ideology and wore an Adolf Hitler-style mustache to work. 

By Edward Era Barbacena

A former U.S. Army reservist described by prosecutors as a Nazi sympathizer was convicted Friday of storming the U.S. Capitol to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory.

Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who worked a security contractor at a Navy base when he joined the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, was also convicted of disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors.

Hale-Cussanelli took the stand in his defense and claimed he didn't know that Congress met at the Capitol building.

"I know this sounds idiotic, but I'm from New Jersey," Hale-Cusanelli said, according to WUSA-TV. "In all my studies, I didn't know there was an actual building that was called the 'Capitol.' It's embarrassing and idiotic."

Hale-Cusanelli's trial was the fifth before a jury and the seventh overall for a Capitol riot case. The first four juries unanimously convicted the riot defendants of all charges. Roughly 300 others have pleaded guilty to crimes stemming from the riot, including seditious conspiracy and assault.

Prosecutors said Hale-Cusanelli openly espoused white supremacist and antisemitic ideology and wore an Adolf Hitler-style mustache to work. On his cellphone, investigators found photos of him with the distinctive mustache and combed-over hairstyle associated with the Nazi leader.

Hale-Cusanelli had a "secret" security clearance for his job as a security contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey. He also lived on the base with a roommate who reported him to the Naval Criminal Investigation Service and secretly recorded a conversion about the Capitol riot.

During the trial's opening statements Tuesday, a Justice Department prosecutor said Hale-Cusanelli stormed the Capitol because he wanted to kick off a civil war and create "a clean slate."

Defense attorney Jonathan Crisp told jurors that "groupthink" and a desperate desire "to be heard" drove Hale-Cusanelli to follow a mob into the Capitol. Crisp described Hale-Cusanelli as a bombastic agitator prone to making "extreme statements to get attention."

In pretrial court filings, prosecutors framed Hale-Cusanelli's bigoted, antisemitic views as motivating factors for his participation in the Jan. 6 riot.

"Days after the incident, Hale-Cusanelli told a friend that being in the Capitol was 'exhilarating,' he was hoping for a 'civil war,' and that the 'tree of liberty must be refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants,'" the Justice Department wrote.

One Navy seaman said Hale-Cusanelli told him "he would kill all the Jews and eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and he wouldn't need to season them because the salt from their tears would make it flavorful enough," according to prosecutors. Other coworkers recalled Hale-Cusanelli making derogatory remarks about women, Black people and other minorities, prosecutors said.

Before the trial, Crisp argued that any testimony about Hale-Cusanelli's alleged statements about Jewish people and their role in the U.S. government would be "highly prejudicial in nature without substantive value."

Crisp acknowledged Hale-Cusanelli shouldn't have entered the Capitol building.

"But the question of why he was there is what is important," he told jurors Tuesday.

Hale-Cusanelli wasn't charged with engaging in any violence or property destruction. He was indicted on five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or destructive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

The obstruction charge is a felony. The rest are misdemeanors.

Crisp said Hale-Cusanelli believed then-President Donald Trump's false claims about a stolen election. But the defense attorney said Hale-Cusanelli went to Washington to peacefully protest, wearing a suit while many others wore tactical gear.

A video captured Hale-Cusanelli yelling profanities at police officers and screaming, "The revolution will be televised!"

"This was not a peaceful protest," Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Fifield said.

More than 800 people have been charged with Capitol crimes stemming from the riot. Many of then are military veterans. Hale-Cusanelli is among a few defendants who were on active duty on Jan. 6.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who presided over Hale-Cusanelli's trial, decided two other Capitol riot cases after hearing testimony without a jury. McFadden acquitted one of the defendants of all charges and partially acquitted the other after bench trials.

Hale-Cusanelli was arrested less than two weeks after the attack and has remained jailed since February 2021. He was discharged from the U.S. Army Reserves and barred from the Navy base after his arrest.

 

Another mass shooting took place in the United States that injured 6 people in Chattanooga

By Edward Era Barbacena

After the horrible 7 mass shootings that took place in different parts of the United States, another one just happened in Chattanooga.

Chattanooga police say that six people were shot in downtown, Chattanooga Saturday night, just before 11.

Officers patrolling around the 100 block of Cherry Street first heard the shots.

Police say 2 of the victims have life-threatening injuries.

The other four have non-life-threatening injuries.

CPD says those shot have been transferred to a local hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

Chattanooga police believe the victims who were shot were outside of the incident.

They say the victims ages range from teenagers to 20-year-olds.

CPD had asked everyone to avoid the area during the investigation.

One person of interest is detained.

CPD believes there is no ongoing threat to the public.

 

White supremacist Jarl Rockhill arrested for placing swastika sticker at immigrant center

By Edward Era Barbacena

Source:  AP NEWS 

A suburban Portland, Oregon, man was arraigned in court Friday for allegedly placing a white-supremacist, neo-Nazi sticker near an immigrant community center in east Portland, and police said more than a dozen guns were found during a search of his car and residence.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office said Friday Jarl Rockhill, 35, is accused of committing a second-degree bias crime and third-degree criminal mischief, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. It wasn’t immediately known if he has a lawyer to comment on the case.

Rockhill allegedly placed the sticker on a fence at the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization on April 23. Police say the red sticker depicted a male figure holding up its arm in a “Heil Hitler” pose, with the word “pure” written above.

The Portland Police Bureau said it used video surveillance footage to identify Rockhill. It showed him driving to the community organization’s headquarters and placing the sticker at 5 a.m., police said.

Officers arrested Rockhill during a traffic stop Wednesday. Police searched Rockhill’s home and car with warrants and found over a dozen firearms and neo-Nazi materials, including a large red flag featuring a swastika, officials said.

Investigators said Rockhill’s online activity was associated with multiple white supremacists groups and a tattoo on Rockhill’s forearm is a white supremacist symbol.

 

Seriously Wounded NPA Commander Left to Die by his Comrades Rescued by the Government Forces in Asipulo, Ifugao

By Edward Era Barbacena

Government forces conducted first aid to the rescued wounded Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) Commander in Brgy Namal, Asipulo, Ifugao on May 26, 2022. During the pursuit operation of the military near the encounter sites in Brgy Namal, Asipulo, Ifugao, a wounded CTG Commander was rescued by the government forces.

The NPA terrorist was abandoned to die by his fleeing comrades after a series of armed encounter between the troops of 54th Infantry “Magilas” Battalion, Philippine Army and the members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). The said NPA Commander was identified as Avelino Cruz aka Junel/Alcaras, Vice Commanding Officer, Front Operational Command, Guerilla Front Abra-Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur (GF-AMPIS), Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee. The soldiers on the ground extended initial medical treatment and brought him to the nearest hospital for further medication.

“We extend our gratitude to the people of Barangay Namal, Asipulo, Ifugao for the information on the presence of a wounded terrorist in the area. I commend the troops for immediately aiding the wounded terrorist to save his life. The military truly values human lives and will always uphold human rights”, said Lt. Colonel Franz Josef S. Diamante, Battalion Commander of 54IB.

 

Tennessee principal Helen Campbell fired after dragging special needs student through school

The school board at Walter Hill Elementary School in Rutherford County, Tennessee voted to recommend the termination of the principal who dragged a special needs student the length of nearly two football fields

By Edward Era Barbacena

Schools is supposed to be a place of learning for children and free from any form of danger but for the past decade, schools in the United states has become a place where in you are no longer sure if children are still safe while learning 

Aside from the fear of being bullied by cruel racist white kids, children at school are now becoming victims of mass shootings and the most recent one was in Uvalde, Texas where 19 children were murdered. Now there is another reason for parents to be concerned for the safety of their children while at school and that is the abuses by the white faculty members made to children.  

Though there are only few incidents, there are number of reports of abuses committed by either teachers or principal to poor naive kids. Sexual molestation is the most gruesome form of abuse ever done to a students and the culprits are usually white educators.   

A Tennessee school board on Thursday voted to recommend the termination of a principal who is now on unpaid suspension after allegedly dragging a special education student by his ankle through a hallway in 2019.

The initial incident took place on Nov. 4, 2019 when an elementary special education student didn't comply with a request from Walter Hill Elementary principal Helen Campbell, according to Fox 17.

When the student didn't comply with the request, Campbell and Bonnie Marlar, a teacher, grabbed him by the ankles and proceeded to drag him through the hallways, according to Director of Schools Bill Spurlock.

Child abuse charges were filed against both Campbell and Marlar, but were later dismissed by a judge. The individuals were suspended from their jobs at the elementary school, according to the report.

Spurlock said during a Rutherford County Schools board meeting on Thursday that Campbell's charges, which range from child abuse to destruction of government property after allegedly attempting to delete security footage of the incident, meet the definition of unprofessional conduct and are grounds for dismissal.

Campbell pleaded no contest to the charges of destruction of government records and neglect, and will complete probation through judicial diversion to dismiss the charges, according to the Daily News Journal.

The report states that the boy who was allegedly dragged through the hallway had autism. Laura Heath is currently serving as the interim principal.

The school board's attorney shared still images from a recording of the incident, which show the student being dragged through the hallway. 

While in the administration office, Campbell and Marlar held the student up by the loopholes on his pants.

After exiting the office, the attorney said that the individuals were pulling him by the wrists and arms. The individuals, according to the attorney, dragged the student for a length of 570 feet, which is almost two football fields, with his shirt "riding up in the back with his bare skin rubbing up against that floor."

Kate Kasuboski, who is the coordinator of special education at the school district, said that she "did not see any behavior that constitutes an emergency situation," which would have necessitated the child being restrained. She also added that "dragging a student" by the lengths of "almost two football fields" is "not a proper restraint."

One board member, Tammy Sharp, wasn't fully on-board with the idea of voting to terminate Campbell, and said that she's a "phenomenal principal," and criticized the board for not getting her side of the story.

"This is absolutely disgusting that this would be put on TV and Mrs. Campbell would not be given opportunity to defend (herself)," Sharp said.

"Not one of us on this board have spoken to Miss Campbell. We don't know the background of this student, we don't know what his issues were," Sharp said. "I think its disgusting and I'm sure our teachers that deal with problems like this every day have a chill down their back today and they're looking for more jobs."

The school board voted to recommend Campbell's termination by a vote of 5-2.

 

NJ woman charged with hate crime for assaulting muslim teens

By Edward Era Barbacena

A 59-year-old Clifton woman was arrested Wednesday and charged with bias crimes after she allegedly screamed anti-Muslim slurs at two teenagers at a nail salon and struck one in the head in an unprovoked attack.

Nancy B. Jones was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, bias intimidation and harassment, as well as simple assault, according to a statement from the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

The alleged incident took place on April 30 when two sisters, ages 13 and 15, were waiting to get their nails done at New Natural Nails on Lakeview Avenue. Clifton police responded to a report of an assault at around 2 p.m.

Upon arriving, the girls told officers, Jones "approached them in a harassing and tumultuous manner and told them to go back to their country," according to the statement.

"During the incident, the actor struck the 13-year-old victim in the head," authorities said

The alleged incident took place on April 30 when two sisters, ages 13 and 15, were waiting to get their nails done at New Natural Nails on Lakeview Avenue. Clifton police responded to a report of an assault at around 2 p.m.

Upon arriving, the girls told officers, Jones "approached them in a harassing and tumultuous manner and told them to go back to their country," according to the statement.

"During the incident, the actor struck the 13-year-old victim in the head," authorities said

Jones also yelled at another person in the salon who was wearing a hijab, assuming it was their mother, but they did not know each other, Fadwa said.

The teens' mother said she had called on her way to pick them up and heard that her daughter was crying on the phone. When she arrived at the salon, she got a description from customers in the nail salon and stopped the woman at her car. The woman shouted and cursed at her and drove away, she said.

Fadwa said she took a picture of the vehicle and license plate. Police interviewed the teens and witnesses and issued an arrest warrant for Jones, who turned herself in on Wednesday.

Since the incident, the girls have been nervous about going out and their mother said she reduced her working hours to be home with them more often.

"They're upset and a little scared and I'm scared also," she said.

Jones was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. Charges were referred to a Passaic County grand jury, the Prosecutor's Office said.

In a statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization, called the incident deeply troubling.

"Physically and verbally attacking two young girls to the point of tears is appalling," said Selaedin Maksut, executive director of the New Jersey chapter. "We welcome the ongoing police investigation by Clifton officers and hope the matter is taken seriously and justice is done."

CAIR reported 308 anti-Muslim hate and bias incidents across the U.S. last year, which included reports of forcible removal of hijabs, harassment, vandalism and physical assault. Another 177 bias incidents took place at schools, the organization reported.

 

Police investigate swastika painted on historically Black Missouri church

Pitts Chapel, Springfield’s oldest historically Black church, was founded in 1847 by a group of enslaved Africans.

By Edward Era Barbacena

A black swastika was painted on the outside wall of a historically Black church in southwestern Missouri, and police are investigating the vandalism as a hate crime.

Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church in Springfield reported that the swastika was spray painted on the building on May 18 or 19. The NAACP and the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the vandalism. A county parks crew removed the swastika.

Swastika is a symbol used by the Nazi during the WWII and in the modern days, it has been used widely by white supremacists in the United States. These are the kind of white people who would usually target people of color and have been involved in commiting domestic terrorist attacks.

During a news conference Friday with the NAACP at the church, the pastor, the Rev. Tracy Wolff, said her congregation was particularly disturbed that their church was targeted given recent violent hate crimes nationwide, including the deadly mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, that investigators have said was racially motivated.

“I want to be clear that this is not simply tagging. This is not graffiti. This is not vandalism," Wolff said. "This was a hate crime, and it is unacceptable.”

Pitts Chapel is Springfield’s oldest historically Black church, Wolff said. It was founded in 1847 by a group of enslaved Africans.

“Though we are historically Black, on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m., we’re becoming one of the most diverse places in town. I don’t think a lot of people know that,” she said.

Police have not identified a suspect and are asking witnesses or anyone with information to contact police. In the meantime, Wolff said, the church is beefing up security.

California Karen’ caught harassing ‘one of four black people in Santa Barbara By Edward Barbacena

 

California Karen’ caught harassing ‘one of four black people in Santa Barbara

By Edward Barbacena

A woman dubbed “California Karen” is being ripped online after hurling racial abuse at a DJ who filmed her berating staff at a Santa Barbara restaurant.

A now-viral video of her bizarre remarks to a man she declared “one of four black people in Santa Barbara” — originally uploaded by the recipient of her rant — has amassed more than 10s of thousands of views and international headlines as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Sooo this just happened @sb_boathouse, Santa Barbra needs to do better. Almost lost my s – – t,” wrote Ian Soleimani, a 39-year-old African-American man who works as a DJ, in the clip’s caption.

In the footage of the incident, which took place in the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach, the unnamed woman can first be seen laying into a restaurant manager over an unpaid check.

The altercation was sparked after the unidentified woman allegedly tried to pay her bill with PayPal after her credit card was declined, according to a thread on Reddit, where the video first went viral. The restaurant subsequently confiscated her ID and told her to come back the next day with a viable payment method, causing the customer to fly off the handle.

“It was paid, though, ma’am, and you rejected the payment,” the sunglasses-sporting woman spluttered in the clip. Things heated up after she noticed Soleimani filming her, and proceeded to bombard him with racial comments.

“Excuse me, sir. Hi, one of four black people in Santa Barbara,” fumed the incensed restaurant customer. “Oh, now I’m a racist, terrible person, sorry, just because you’re an obnoxious guy. It’s not your fault that you’re black, of course. Just obnoxious.”

The fourth-wall breaker continued, “I’m against obnoxious people to be clear, not against the black people.”

Elsewhere in the clip, she asked Soleimani what he’s doing, to which he responded, “Taking a video of this. This is absolutely ridiculous.”

“Are you sending it to the FBI after this?” snarked the woman in response. “I might go psychotic pretty soon. I’m probably going to, I’m probably going to get very violent pretty soon, I’m glad you’re here.”

Soleimani, impressively maintaining a level head, replied, “Cool, keep going.”

That’s when the outspoken gal fired off yet another offensive salvo: “Don’t you have some fish to catch, African-American man?” she raged. “Don’t you want to go on the boat and do some African-American fishing?”

After going back and forth with the manager for a while, the displeased patron then resumed her attack on the cameraman, saying: “And this man, who thinks he’s Mother Teresa for Santa Barbarans everywhere who want a pretentious breakfast, now he’s here.

“Thank god he’s doing his three black people in Santa Barbara part — for Oprah apparently,” she added. (BTW: Oprah Winfrey is a resident of the upscale Montecito neighborhood in Santa Barbara, along with A-listers such as expat royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and comic Larry David.)

The clip concluded with the manager giving the ID back to the woman, and barring her from ever returning to the restaurant.

Needless to say, the woman’s racially charged meltdown sparked a fierce backlash on Instagram with one commenter, writing: “This is so infuriating on so many levels! Wtf. You handled this so well, Ian!” Meanwhile, one commenter on Reddit wrote, “WTF is African American fishing.”

“Insane but unfortunately not surprising,” lamented one Instagram commenter, while another advised Soleimani to find “this Karen & send this video to her work place.” Interestingly, while the bozo’s identity has yet to be confirmed, a Reddit user claimed that the restaurant manager’s husband told them she was actually named Karen and hails from Florida.

Many were shocked that such a racist incident could occur in progressive Santa Barbara. “What the hell?! NOT SB… no way,” said one flabbergasted poster.

However, Soleimani claims this is not an isolated incident.

“People have been kicked out of boathouse a few times for [racially] motivated comments towards myself, unfortunately,” the DJ told the Daily Dot. “Lived here since 2003 and this happens all the time. This person just got caught.  People think this doesn’t exist let alone here and it certainly does.”

In a similar racial incident closer to home, an irate New York City man was caught on camera going on a racist tirade against an Asian NYPD officer during protests in Washington Square Park in 2021.

 

Georgia dad tracks teen daughter’s phone location, shoots at boy he found her with

Dustin Vandegrift has been charged with a litany of crimes for the incident.

By Edward Era Barbacena

An enraged Georgia father who is white tracked down his teenage daughter’s location on her cell phone and shot the 17-year-old boy he found her with, police said.

Deputies from the Habersham County Sheriff’s department responded to a call of shots fired in a church parking lot across the street from two schools in Mount Airy around 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday morning, according to the sheriff’s department.

Upon arrival, police found 36-year-old Dustin Vandegrift attempting to flee The Central Alliance Church in a white Camaro. He was detained for questioning, cops said.

After ensuring that both schools were secure, police located the 17-year-old male victim. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Investigators later determined that the boy was not hit by a bullet, but suffered injuries from a physical assault and ricochet debris.

Vandergrift told police that he had tracked his daughter’s cell phone location to the back of the church and drove there to check on her. When he found his 17-year-old daughter with the male he confronted the pair and attached the boy and fired a shot at him.

Vandergrift’s daughter said her father showed up and “battered” the boy she was with before shooting at him. She said her father also struck her.

A search warrant executed on Vandergrift’s car yielded the .45 caliber pistol he had shot.

He’s charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, simple battery involving family violence, two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, two counts of third-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of recklessly causing harm or endangering safety.

He was booked at the Habersham County Jail with no bond.

 

Leader of Michigan white supremacist group sentenced to prison

By Edward Era Barbacena

The leader of The Base, a national white supremacist group that advocates for violence against the government, was sentenced to prison Tuesday after preparing for years to kill police and minorities in an effort to start a race war.

Justen Watkins, 25, of Bad Axe, was sentenced to 32 months - four years for conspiring to train for a civil disorder and a mandatory consecutive two years for a felony firearm charge by Judge Amy Gierhart of the Tuscola County Circuit Court.

One of the charges filed against Watkins, conspiring to train for a civil disorder, marked the first time a defendant has faced the felony in Michigan’s history.

The neo-Nazi organization embraced the idea of militant accelerationism, urging members to commit acts that will hasten society's downfall in the hopes of then building a white ethno-state, according to court documents.

The group's plans involved calling for police assistance to an area and then killing officers that arrived, according to sentencing documents 

“In the months prior to his arrest, Watkins conspired with his co-defendants to enhance their tactical capabilities and firearms proficiencies to engage in violence against minorities and the government in furtherance of a civil disorder," sentencing documents say. “Their concerted efforts included regularly conducting tactical firearms training, and hosting 'hate camps' for members of The Base and other like-minded individuals.”

“In late November 2019, as part of his in-real-life vetting, Watkins traveled to downtown Detroit where he walked around the city streets harassing and attempting to bait African-Americans into a physical altercation,” reads the document. “When exchanging messages with members of The Base about the night, Watkins described his actions as having 'harassed n*****s and called out race mixers.'"

Court documents also say members of The Base began to plan possible attacks against the headquarters of VICE News.

“I truly believe that we prevented a massacre of untold proportions by investigating in this case and moving in when we did,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said during a press conference Tuesday.

Watkins and a fellow neo-Nazi training with firearms (Attorney General's Office)

In October 2020, Watkins was charged in connection to a December 2019 incident in which a Dexter family was terrorized at their home after Watkins used intimidation tactics and posted messages to other members of The Base targeting the home.

From this incident, Watkins faced charges in Washtenaw County including gang membership, unlawful posting of a message and using computers to commit a crime.

After these charges, authorities found evidence that Watkins and two other members of The Base, Thomas Denton and Tristan Webb, entered two former and vacant Michigan Department of Corrections sites in the city of Caro a few weeks prior to the charges being filed.

The men assessed the properties as potential areas for paramilitary firearms training exercises, the Attorney General's Office said.

From this, Watkins was charged with one count larceny in a building, one count gang membership, one count conspiracy to train with firearms for a civil disorder and one count felony firearm.

Webb pleaded no contest to gang membership, conspiracy to train with firearms for a civil disorder and felony firearm on May 16.

Denton pleaded no contest to felony firearm and conspiracy to train with firearms for a civil disorder.

Founded in 2018, The Base is a white supremacy gang that advocates for violence against the U.S. and purports to be training for a race war to establish white ethno-nationalist rule in areas of the U.S., including Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Watkins claims to have been the leader of The Base and reportedly ran a "hate camp" for members to learn firearms training with the goal of being prepared for the violent overthrow of the government.

 

Anti-Marcos protests compose of pro-communist militants and Robredo's supporters  inside CHR compound turns chaotic while being dispersed by anti-riot police

 By Edward Era Barbacena

According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the rallyists were attempting to proceed to Batasang Pambansa where Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, would later proclaim Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the winner of the May 2022 presidential race.

The protesters were compose of the supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Leni Robredo and pro-communist militants.  It has been anticipated that these groups of Marcos antagonist will not accept the results of the election and would definitely protests against proclamations of Bongbong Marcos as president-elect  and Sara Duterte-Carpio as vice-president-elect.

According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the rallyists were attempting to proceed to Batasang Pambansa where Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, would later proclaim Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the winner of the May 2022 presidential race.

The protesters included human rights advocates who denounced the atrocities of martial rule, which was declared by Marcos Jr.’s father and namesake, Ferdinand Sr. on September 21, 1972. The Philippines was under martial law until Ferdinand Sr.’s administration was toppled by a bloodless uprising of Filipinos, who condemned the regime’s massive rights abuses and corruption, in 1986.

Police said an estimated 200 demonstrators were at Liwasang Diokno within the CHR compound in Diliman, Quezon City, where they are allowed to stage their activity since it is a freedom park or an area where political gatherings, rallies, and demonstrations may be held even without government permits.

But the NCRPO claimed the rallyists tried to go outside Liwasang Diokno purportedly to advance towards Batasang Pambansa. The NCRPO also claimed that “a brief scuffle ensued when a group of protesters who were denied passage along Commonwealth Avenue attacked police contingents.”

“Accordingly, protesters tried to kick and waggle the shields of the police force,” the police further claimed.

This incident, the NCRPO said, prompted firemen to bombard the protesters with water.

“Police officers did not retaliate from the violent actions of the rallyists. Unfortunately, the broken shields which are made out of plastic may have caused injury to anybody who has come in contact with it if applied with considerable force,” the police said.

The Philippine National Police backed the NCRPO narrative. It said that some participants of the proclamation day protest were dispersed and water cannoned because they kicked the police’s riot shields and caused traffic along Commonwealth Avenue.

The PNP also said in a separate statement that police exercised maximum tolerance on the demonstrators.

“The PNP exercises maximum tolerance in every mass action where police intervention is necessary. Nirerespeto po namin ang freedom of expression nila (We respect their freedom of expression) but they went overboard,” it said.

But human rights group Karapatan denied the story of the police, asserting that it was a peaceful gathering. It condemned the violent dispersal of their colleagues “in strongest possible terms.”

Citing reports of its health marshals, Karapatan said the protestors were hit with truncheons and shields and that at least 10 people from their ranks were wounded.

“We will not take these violations sitting down, and in the face of the looming return of the forces of tyranny and fascism, all the more that we will protest and resist any and all attempts to unleash the horrors of Marcosian martial law and State repression,” the group said.

The CHR, for its part, said Wednesday that it has deployed investigators to probe the incident.

It also expressed alarm over the methods used by the police in dispersing the protesters.

The CHR pointed out that using water cannons and carrying firearms during peaceful protests are prohibited under Batas Pambansa Blg. 880.

“CHR-National Capital Region and the Central Investigation Office have dispatched its lawyers and investigators early on in line with our mandate to monitor rallies and to investigate. The CHR-NCR lawyers explained to the police officers the intricacies of BP 880 urging them to practice maximum tolerance. In the same manner, they also talked with the leaders of the rallyists,” CHR Executive Director Jacqueline de Guia said.

“To prevent a similar incident in consecutive rallies, the CHR will communicate with the PNP regarding its initial findings and recommendations,” she added.

 

Cops hunt for NYC synagogue firebug

The arsonist definitely looks like a white woman

By Edward Era Barbacena

A woman who was obviously a caucasian ignited a book and piece of cloth and hurled it through the gate of a Gramercy Park synagogue, according to police, who released video footage of the alleged firebug.

The disturbing incident — which is being investigated as a hate crime — happened at 1:30 a.m. Thursday at the Brotherhood Synagogue on Gramercy Park South, near 3rd Avenue, cops said.

There was no serious damage to the building, police said.

The NYPD late Friday night released a 16-second video clip seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect, who ran off.

The clip shows the woman — who is dressed in all black and  wearing glasses, a white baseball hat and carrying a green shopping bag — walking on a sidewalk.

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Saturday afternoon denounced the attempted arson.

“Any attack targeting a house of worship must be condemned in the strongest terms possible, with the alleged perpetrator apprehended swiftly to face the full force of the law,” CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said in a statement. “Americans of all faiths and backgrounds must join together in challenging the growing bigotry we are witnessing nationwide.”

 

Ferdinand 'Bongbong' officially proclaimed as the new and 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines

By Edward Era Barbacena

 Manila: Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was officially proclaimed the next Philippine president, the same position his dictator father and namesake occupied for 20 years before he was overthrown by Filipinos in a peaceful revolt in 1986.

The official canvass of votes by the joint congressional canvassing committee on Wednesday showed Marcos received 31,629,783 votes from nearly 60 percent of the electorate, commanding a landslide victory over his closest rival and defeated presidential hopeful Leni Robredo.

Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte will occupy the top two positions in the country for the next six years once their terms start on June 30.

'I want to do well'

Following the Congress' proclamation, Marcos vowed that his administration will be one that "strives for perfection."

"[To] have received over 31 million votes from our countrymen is as valuable [an] expression of trust as can be had by anyone in public life," Marcos said, adding he was "humbled" by the victory.

"I promise you, we may not be perfect, but we will always strive [for] perfection," he stated.

Marcos also sought the public's prayers so he could perform well as the next chief executive.

"I ask you all— pray for me. Wish me well. I want to do well. Because when a president does well, the country does well. And I want to do well for this country," he said.

Marcos' win came as no surprise since he had been the frontrunner in pre-election surveys despite having a significantly smaller attendance in his campaign rallies nationwide compared to the mammoth crowds at Robredo's events.

The result of the pre-elections surveys was immediately reflected in the first hours after voting precincts closed on the May 9 election day, which was hounded by complaints of by vote-buying and errors in over 1,000 vote-counting machines.

Despite Marcos' stunning rise to power, garnering nearly double the votes that outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte got in the 2016 election, ghosts from his and his family's past continue to hound him.

The impending return of another Marcos to Malacañang palace 36 years after the family fled the "people power" revolt against abuses committed by Ferdinand E. Marcos' regime has been a deeply divisive issue for Filipinos.

Source: CNN

200 decomposing bodies found in basement in Mariupol’s ruins

 

200 decomposing bodies found in basement in Mariupol’s ruins

By Edward Era Barbacena

The decomposing bodies of 200 people were found in the basement of a bombed-out apartment building in battered Mariupol, authorities said Tuesday, marking the latest in a series of dismal discoveries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began three months ago.

Mayoral adviser Petro Andryushchenk said local residents had refused Russian demands to collect the bodies of the dead, so Russia's Ministry of Emergencies left the bodies amid the rubble. 

International observers have accused Vladimir Putin's forces of deliberately targeting civilian buildings in their effort to crush Ukrainian resistance during the three-month-old conflict. 

The bodies were decomposing and the stench hung over the neighbourhood, said Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor. He did not say when they were discovered, but the sheer number of victims makes it one of the deadliest known attacks of the war.

Heavy fighting, meanwhile, continued in the Donbas, the eastern industrial region that Moscow´s forces are intent on seizing. Russian troops intensified their efforts to encircle and capture Sievierodonetsk and neighbouring cities.

Mariupol was relentlessly pounded during a nearly three-month siege that ended last week after some 2,500 Ukrainian fighters abandoned a steel plant where they had made their stand. Russian forces already held the rest of the city, where an estimated 100,000 people remain out a prewar population of 450,000, many of them trapped during the siege with little food, water, heat or electricity.

 

ARIZONA MAN HIT, DRAGGED AND RAN OVER BICYCLIST, THEN LEFT THE VICTIM TO DIE AS HE FLED THE AREA, POLICE SAID

By Edward Era Barbacena

A man in Arizona is accused of hitting a bicyclist and then leaving the man to die while he fled the area.

Fernando Ramos was arrested in Buckeye, Arizona, in connection to the May 21 incident, according to 12 News.

Police said Ramos was driving his truck on Jackrabbit Trail when he crashed into a bicyclist, dragged the victim along the road and then ran over him before fleeing.

The victim was identified as George Cooper, 60, according to 12 News.

Cooper was found dead at the scene and police said Ramos didn’t stop to help or call police, according to the report. Tipsters reported the suspect’s vehicle and Ramos was pulled over about 10 miles from the scene.

Ramos told officers he didn’t see Cooper when the crash happened, according to 12 News. He also said he panicked and called his wife multiple times.

Investigators said Ramos was speeding at the time of the wreck.

Ramos was arrested and faces charges of manslaughter and hit-and-run resulting in death or injury.

 

Chinatown senior attacked with bear spray in Vancouver 

By Edward Era Barbacena

Police in Vancouver, Canada are asking for the public’s help in tracking down a man who attacked a senior in Chinatown with a bear spray. The man appears to be a caucassian

The Vancouver Sun reports the unprovoked assault on the 87-year-old man may be racially motivated.

“Every indication is that this incident was completely unprovoked and may have been fuelled by anti-Asian hate,” said Const. Tania Visintin, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver police.

CBC reports that investigators accuse the suspect of making racial slurs and attacking the man during his morning walk Friday morning. Visintin described the victim as traumatized but not seriously injured.

Police are also investigating whether the incident may be connected to the spraying of offensive graffiti on the nearby Sun Yat-Sen memorial. Someone scrawled the word “shhhh” across the statue, considered by some a response to the increased outspokenness of the community to anti-Asian attacks.

“People who live and work in Chinatown deserve to feel safe, valued, and respected,” adds Constable Visintin. “Violent and unprovoked attacks, rampant graffiti, and street disorder are appalling, and these incidents continue to erode peoples’ sense of safety.”

Police are looking for a man 30-40-years old who is about 6 feet tall. He was wearing a black jacket, dark-coloured pants, a grey baseball cap, grey shoes with red trim and white soles and was carrying a black backpack.

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