Saturday, July 9, 2016
Weekly Address: Standing Together to Stop the Violence
WASHINGTON, DC — In this week's address, Vice President Joe Biden
commemorated the lives of the five police officers who were killed and
the seven people who were wounded in Dallas. The police officers were
providing safety to those who were peacefully marching against racial
injustices in the criminal justice system – and the shocking images of
the lives lost in St. Paul and Baton Rouge. Echoing the remarks of
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Police Chief David Brown, the Vice
President called on the American people to act with unity and to stop
the violence. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of everyone to
speak out against disparities within the criminal justice system, just
as much as it is the responsibility of everyone to stand up for the
police who protect us every day. Because together, we as a nation will
persevere and overcome.
The Hate Group Calling for Cop Killing
By Kate Zavadski and Ben Collins
Micah Xavier Johnson, the now-notorious
Dallas cop-killer, was one of a handful of online fans of a group which
proclaimed, “we must kill white police officers across the country!”
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday night, when Micah Xavier Johnson shot and killed five Dallas police officers and wounded nine others, Mauricelm-Lei Millere, founder of the African American Defense League hate group, posted a picture on his Instagram account.
The caption led with this: “We have no alternative! We must kill white police officers across the country!”
The picture was of a meeting with former President Bill Clinton, which Millere alleged occurred in May.
At 10:52 a.m. the morning after
the shooting, Millere posted the following message to the African
American Defense League’s Facebook page:
“WE ARE CALLING ON THE GANGS ACROSS THE NATION! ATTACK EVERYTHING IN BLUE EXCEPT THE MAIL MAN, UNLESS HE IS CARRYING MORE THAN MAIL!”
Micah Johnson was one of just 170 members who follow that Facebook page.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Daily Beast
Friday, July 8, 2016
President Obama Reacts to Dallas Police Shootings
During a news conference with European leaders in Warsaw, Poland,
President Obama reacts to the shooting deaths of five police officers in
Dallas at a rally to protest recent police-involved shootings in
Louisiana and Minnesota.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Attorney General Lynch on Dallas Police Killings
Attorney General Loretta Lynch condemned the fatal shootings of five
Dallas police officers and called on Americans to not let the violence
“become the new normal.” She said that the Justice Department, FBI, and
ATF were working with state and local authorities to help with the
investigation. She ended her remarks acknowledging people were feeling a
sense of helplessness but that the “answer is never violence.”
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
House Leaders on Dallas Shooting
Speaker Ryan (R-WI) and Minority Leader Pelosi (D-CA) reacted to the
killing of five police officers in Dallas and the police shooting of two
African American men in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Representative John Lewis Says Nation Must Deal with Racism
Speaking at a news conference in the wake of the killing of five police
officers in Dallas and two African Americans in separate incidents in
St. Paul and Baton Rouge, the Georgia congressman says the nation must
confront racism. "Sometimes I want to believe we have made much more
progress...then I think sometimes we're sliding back...We cannot sweep
it under the rug in some dark corner. We have to deal with it."
User-Created Clip
by etouhey
July 8, 2016
by etouhey
July 8, 2016
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
NYPD Tells Officers to Partner Up for All Patrols After Dallas Sniper Attack Kills 5 Cops: Source
By Marc Santia, Michael George and Stefan Holt
The NYPD has directed its officers to
partner up for all patrols Friday out of an abundance of caution following the
coordinated sniper attack on 12 officers in Dallas, Texas, according to a law
enforcement source familiar with the order.
Snipers opened fire on law enforcement
following a demonstration there late Thursday, killing five officers. During a
stand-off with police, a suspect said he was angry about fatal police shootings
of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota and that he wanted to kill white law
enforcement officers.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News and the Empire Report (New York)
'From The G-Man' to the New York Post: Cut the Bullshit!!
The following is directed at the publisher and managing editor of the New York Post.
A number of acclaimed news outlets and publications, including the New
York Times, have indicated the rally was an ANTI-VIOLENCE rally and was
led by a MINISTER!! Moreover, it was noted that the rally was PEACEFUL
and that police and protesters were actually speaking to each other in a
respectful manner!
If this was not the case it would've been on every
news outlet in the country, you fools!
If this is your idea of journalism, you need
to resign, effective immediately! You're a true example "jackass
journalism" at its finest. If you have a problem with this public declaration, I'm not
hard to find. Come get some!!
"G-Man"
Death of Black Man Found Hanged from a Tree in Atlanta Park Referred to FBI
By Tobias Salinger
The death of a man found hanged from a tree in an Atlanta park early
Thursday has been referred to the FBI, Atlanta’s mayor said.
Security officers discovered the as-yet-unidentified black man thought
to be between 25 and 35 years old around 5 a.m. near Piedmont Park’s
Charles Allen Dr. entrance, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
An emergency crew pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Police said the man was hanging by a rope from the tree, and
investigators called the scene "consistent with a suicide." Coroners
plan to rule the death a suicide, representatives for Fulton County
Medical Examiner's Office said Thursday night.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The New York Daily News
11 Dallas Officers Shot, 4 Dead in Shooting as Protest Ended
Eleven Dallas law enforcement officers were
shot, four fatally, by what is believed to be two snipers who opened
fire during a demonstration downtown over recent police shootings in
Minnesota and Louisiana, the Dallas police chief said.
The snipers fired from an elevated positions on
police officers minutes before 9 p.m., Dallas Police Chief David Brown
told reporters.
"We believe that these suspects were positioning
themselves in a way to triangulate on these officers from two different
perches in garages in the downtown area, and planned to injure and kill
as many law enforcement officers as they could," he said. Some were
shot in the back.
Police have cornered one of the suspected shooters in a parking garage, Brown said, and were negotiating with him.
Brown said police believe the suspects may have
threatened to have plant a bomb in the downtown area, and were in
contact with the FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News
Thursday, July 7, 2016
President Obama on the Fatal Shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile
President Obama delivers a statement on the reported police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota. Warsaw, Poland.
Congressional Black Caucus News Conference on Police-Involved Shootings
Representatives Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Andre
Carson (D-IN), and others spoke to reporters about the police shootings
of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile in
St. Paul, Minnesota.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
'PBS NewsHour' Report on Russia/Ukraine Conflict Denounced by UCCA
The following was submitted by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, which is based in New York.
Dear friends and allies of Ukraine,
Another report full of
misleading statements and factual errors aired on PBS NewsHour last
night. We urge Ukrainians and supporters of Ukraine to contact PBS
Newshour and demand an explanation as to why neither the report of July 5
nor July 6 did not make clear that #RussiaInvadedUkraine.
Furthermore, the editorial staff needs to explain how a series
purporting to document the "tensions between NATO and Russia," fails to
present the clear documentary evidence proving the existence of the
Russian military on Ukrainian, Georgian and Moldovan territories.
Part 1 of the series can be viewed here:
http://www.pbs.org/…/desire-
http://www.pbs.org/…/desire-
UCCA response to Part 1 can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/UCCA.
https://www.facebook.com/UCCA.
Part 2 of the series can be found here:
http://www.pbs.org/…/can-
http://www.pbs.org/…/can-
Contact PBS NewsHour:
Email: viewermail@newshour.org
Phone: (703)998-2138
To Whom It May Concern:
On July 5, the PBS NewsHour, the nation's longest running nightly news
broadcast, aired a report prepared by Pulitzer Center for Crisis
Reporting grantees Nick Schifrin and Zach Fannin, both well-traveled
journalists, as part of a series highlighting the "tensions between NATO
and Russia". Both PBS NewsHour and the journalists themselves refer to
this series as "Fault Lines," a geological term perhaps suggesting a
natural order, although there is nothing natural at all about Russia's
invasion of Ukraine.
After viewing the first segment of the Fault
Lines series, our office received numerous alerts as to the biased
nature of the presentation. Indeed, after viewing the segment ourselves,
we responded on behalf of the Ukrainian American community with a
letter summarizing the following inaccuracies and omissions:
No
mention of the nearly 2 million displaced persons who have fled the
areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia for their own safety, some having
been specifically targeted;
No mention that those unfortunate to
have remained under occupation are under a constant barrage of Russian
disinformation and propaganda;
No mention of the clear documentary
evidence proving the existence of the Russian military operating in the
occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine, even though the report airs that
there are "claims" made about "thousands of Russian soldiers";
Mistranslating at least one interview subject, who specifically voiced regrets when asked,"Has it been worth it?"
Furthermore, this entire segment was produced and edited to omit one
crucial word - INVASION.
Nowhere in the 11 minute report focusing on the
areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia was the word "invasion" used. For
this omission, we are demanding an explanation from PBS NewsHour
producers as to exclusion of the only possible description for the
Russian Federation not only blatantly violating the UN Charter with its
military actions in Ukraine, but also the Helsinki Final Act, the 1994
Budapest Memorandum, and at least 2 bilateral agreements between Russia
and Ukraine, not least of which was the so-called “Friendship Treaty.”
The reason we are addressing PBS NewsHour specifically, is that a
companion piece to the Newshour's report, misleadingly titled "Desire to
break free from Ukraine keeps devastated Donetsk fighting," was
published by USA Today after being produced for Public Radio
International. Although focusing on the same subject matter, USA Today
decided to focus on the horror of Russians enlisting child soldiers in
Ukraine which was documented in the PBS report, and entitled their
version of the report "Soviet-style youth squads are making a comeback
in eastern Ukraine".
Both reports by Nick Schifrin contain
misleading and factually incorrect statements, not least of which the
repeated description of Ukrainian territory militarily occupied by
Russia as not of Ukraine, even though the world has recognized this
border territory as Ukrainian such since at least 1945 when Ukraine
signed the UN Charter as one of the original member states.
In
addition to the crime of enlisting child soldiers not being called out,
nor not addressing the illegal status of a Russian soldier interviewed
on camera, the report airing on July 5 finished with Judy Woodruff
claiming that on July 6, "Nick Schifrin continues his reporting from the
other side."
The report which aired on July 6 did not, in fact,
report on the "other side" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Beginning
with Judy Woodruff's introduction, we were told that the July 6 report
would move us "inside Ukraine". Again, this in contrast to the fact that
NO INTERNATIONAL BODY HAS RECOGNIZED RUSSIA'S MILITARY OCCUPATION OF
UKRAINE AS A CHANGE OF INTERNATIONAL BORDERS.
After focusing most
of the report on political and governmental reforms in Odesa, a city
350 miles away from Donets'k, Nick Schifrin returns to the Russian
invasion of Ukrainian territory along the eastern border, where, yet
again, the conflict is portrayed as simply Ukrainians fighting amongst
each other. Were this actually a conflict between several thousand
radicalized secessionists and what now stands as one of the largest
militaries in Europe, there would be no prolonged hostilities. Instead,
as nation after nation has attested to, Russia crossed its border with
Ukraine, bombing areas of Ukraine from the Russian side of the border,
and then deployed significant numbers of military personnel and
equipment inside Ukraine to maintain control over a small sliver of
land.
Unfortunately for our fellow Americans, this misleading series continues tonight
with a segment filmed in Estonia. If the summary listed on the website
of the Pulitzer Center is to be believed, the people of Estonia may end
up being characterized as irrationally provoking "tensions" with Russia.
Therefore, we call upon our members and fellow supporters of
Ukraine to contact PBS NewsHour and express directly their opinion of
this reporting.
Again, while I appreciate PBS Newshour airing a
segment on Russia's war on Ukraine, which is regularly ignored by US
news outlets, it is important to add relevant context the reporting and
ensure that the translating is done accurately. As a representative of
Ukrainians in America, I would welcome the opportunity to offer that
context in person, as I have many times over the past 2 years: http://bit.ly/1TeKDkO
With regards,
Andrij V. Dobriansky
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
203 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003
New York, NY 10003
Exclusive: 'Ukrainian Weekly' Editor Responds to Report on Soviet-Style Youth Squads in Eastern Ukraine
The following op-ed was submitted by Matthew Dubas of "The Ukrainian Weekly", which is distributed throughout the United States and Canada. It is in response to the Global Post article entitled Soviet-Styled Youth Squads Making a Comeback in Eastern Ukraine. The views expressed by Mr. Dubas, who is part of the publication's editorial staff, are solely his own.
This is part of the occupying power's (Russia) plan to indoctrinate a
new generation of zombies, to "correct" certain ways of thinking, and to
erase historical memory. In time, Putin hopes that these people will
forget that they ever identified themselves as Ukrainians, just as he
continues to do in the breakaway regions of Georgia (South Osettia and
Abkhazia).
In just two years of occupation (but
centuries of subjugation under the Russian empire and the Soviet Union,
and local oligarchic clans/organized crime groups), we can see how
slavery is maintained.
Russians are tired of
dying in Ukraine (and in Syria), and even the locals don't want to
serve, so children are used as propaganda tools.
This
is a consequence of war - a war no one wants to admit is ongoing - a
distraction point for Putin. But where is the glory in being buried in
secret, without honor, on a mission of invasion of a peaceful neighbor?
How
much longer is this going to be allowed to continue? The parallels
between terrorist warlords and using youths in similar fashion should be
beyond disturbing, but motivate an adequate response.
That response should include cutting Russia's resupply routes to its
proxies on the Ukrainian side of the border because without resupply of
arms, munitions and personnel, Russia's popularity with the so-called
"separatists" would turn against Moscow and it would be unsustainable to
continue to fight.
Economic sanctions, that have recently been extended by the U.S., Canada and the EU, have worked to a point (as has the drop in the price of oil), and it will be telling how Russia copes with the lack of revenue. One such response from Russia as this article shows, is that Russia has upped its propaganda campaign in the occupied territories of Ukraine - with military recruitment efforts increased in Crimea (where the local population is being force to accept Russian citizenship, and Crimean Tatars are being forcibly pushed out of their indigenous homeland) as well. Social payments, on the other hand, are on the back burner and people are being asked to live with less resources, including food, gas and other basic essentials. Yet, the oligarchs and Kremlin elite live in abundance.
Russia also sees the opportunity to increase its propaganda on a European audience that has, through funding by Russia, seen an increase in the popularity of Euro-skeptic parties and the Brexit vote has motivated Russia to continue on this course to divide Europe and its resolve against Russian aggression. We have even seen an increase in Soviet-style espionage tactics with regard to U.S. diplomatic residences being ransacked or furniture rearranged or faucets left running, etc, which are more signs of Russia's increasing frustrations.
The NATO summit in Warsaw this weekend (July 8-9), and a subsequent meeting between Russia and NATO following the summit should give us more clues as to how well the tensions are being managed and to what degree NATO members stand united against Russia.
Economic sanctions, that have recently been extended by the U.S., Canada and the EU, have worked to a point (as has the drop in the price of oil), and it will be telling how Russia copes with the lack of revenue. One such response from Russia as this article shows, is that Russia has upped its propaganda campaign in the occupied territories of Ukraine - with military recruitment efforts increased in Crimea (where the local population is being force to accept Russian citizenship, and Crimean Tatars are being forcibly pushed out of their indigenous homeland) as well. Social payments, on the other hand, are on the back burner and people are being asked to live with less resources, including food, gas and other basic essentials. Yet, the oligarchs and Kremlin elite live in abundance.
Russia also sees the opportunity to increase its propaganda on a European audience that has, through funding by Russia, seen an increase in the popularity of Euro-skeptic parties and the Brexit vote has motivated Russia to continue on this course to divide Europe and its resolve against Russian aggression. We have even seen an increase in Soviet-style espionage tactics with regard to U.S. diplomatic residences being ransacked or furniture rearranged or faucets left running, etc, which are more signs of Russia's increasing frustrations.
The NATO summit in Warsaw this weekend (July 8-9), and a subsequent meeting between Russia and NATO following the summit should give us more clues as to how well the tensions are being managed and to what degree NATO members stand united against Russia.
The Libertarian Party Presidential Campaign
Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson and running mate William
Weld spoke at the National Press Club about the prospects for a
successful third party bid in 2016.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
NY Awarded $24 Million to Combat Terrorism
More than $24 million in federal funding has been awarded to New
York State in support of its counterterrorism efforts across the state.
The funding, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, strengthens
critical efforts already underway between local, state and federal law
enforcement agencies to protect transportation infrastructure and our
borders from terrorism. The federal grants announced today complement a
total $54 million included in the FY 2017 State Budget to protect New
Yorkers and combat terrorism, as proposed by Governor Cuomo this spring.
“The safety and security of all New Yorkers is priority number one,” said Governor Cuomo. “This
funding will ensure that those on the front lines have access to the
equipment, resources and training they need to protect our communities
from those who wish us harm. It is essential that we continue to remain
vigilant and invest and support these counterterrorism efforts.”
$22.7 Million to Protect Transportation Systems
To directly support transportation
infrastructure security activities, specifically against terrorist
attacks, an additional $22.7 million has been awarded to three
transportation authorities in New York State. The grants are part of the
federal Transit Security Grant Program, and will be used to harden
infrastructure, and planning, training and exercise activities.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is
awarded $22,498,175, which is a more than $3 million increase over last
year's award. The MTA funding includes $7,076,949 for the New York
Police Department’s patrol and protection of the subway system. A total
of $153,300 has also been awarded to the Niagara Frontier Transportation
Authority, and $25,000 to the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation
Authority.
$1.6 Million to Secure International Borders
To enhance cooperation and coordination
among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that secure U.S.
borders, an additional $1.6 million has been awarded. The grant is part
of Operation Stonegarden. Grant awardees are below.
Customs/Border Patrol Sector: Buffalo
- · Cayuga County: $96,180
· Chautauqua County: $137,778
· Erie County: $185,855
· Jefferson County: $121,779
· Monroe County: $144,178
· Niagara County: $172,976
· Orleans County: $112,179
· Oswego County: $105,780
· Wayne County: $105,780
Customs/Border Patrol Sector: Swanton
- · Clinton County: $122,030
· Franklin County: $65,264
· St. Lawrence County: $167,228
· St. Regis Mohawk County: $127,679
Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said: “These
federal funds are important for the safety of our border communities
and the entire state. Our state has some of the biggest terror targets
in the nation, and we need to make sure our local law enforcement
agencies have the resources they need to continue protecting us. I will
continue to fight for funding for these programs so we can keep our
communities safe.”
Congressman Charles B. Rangel said: “With
increased threats of terrorism around the world, these federal
investments will make it possible for our transit system to upgrade its
infrastructure and training to protect New Yorkers and people across our
nation. I commend Governor Cuomo for working diligently to ensure that
these crucial funds are available to our State so that we meet national
security demands of the 21st century.”
$54 Million Included in the FY 2017 State Budget
Modern developments in terror attacks
require an expanded approach to the State’s counter terrorism efforts.
Recent terror attacks have revealed a trend towards coordinated strikes
using military-style assault weapons, as well as home-grown extremists
committing lone-wolf attacks. These attacks are easier to carry out on
American soil and can occur anywhere within New York State.
To combat this new normal of terrorism, the
budget includes a $40 million investment, first proposed in the
Governor’s state of the state, to expand the presence of law enforcement
agencies statewide, $10 million for safety equipment for local law
enforcement agencies, and $4 million investment to provide members of
the New York State Police with high-powered rifles, body armor and
ballistic helmets to all on-duty uniformed troopers, along with the
necessary training to prepare them to respond to this evolving threat of
terrorism.
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Representative Hank Johnson on Police Shootings
Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) spoke during Morning Hour about police shootings in both Louisiana and Minnesota.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
House Speaker Weekly Briefing
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) briefed reporters and responded to questions on his party’s legislative agenda.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
House Minority Leader Weekly Briefing
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says “how long can this go on?”
when asked about the House Oversight Committtee’s hearing with FBI
Director James Comey. Director Comey testifies before the committee on
why he did not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton over her use of
private email server.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Federal Officials Tesitify on TSA Employee Misconduct
Transportation Security Administration Deputy Administrator Huban
Gowadia and Homeland Security Assistant Inspector General Andrew
Oosterbaan testified before a House Homeland Security subcommittee on
allegations of TSA employee misconduct.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
The Power of the Pen: New Bills Signed into Law
On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, the President signed into law:
H.R.
3114, which requires the Army Corps of Engineers, using available
funds, to develop a program to hire veterans and members of the Armed
Forces to assist in carrying out curation and historic preservation
activities.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
Dr. Jill Biden to Travel to Africa
Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Ethiopia, Malawi and Niger from July 15 – July 23, 2016
where she, along with Catherine Russell, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for
Global Women's
Issues, will engage government and civil society partners on issues
related to economic empowerment and educational opportunity for women
and girls. During their travel, Dr. Biden and Ambassador Russell will
also highlight partnerships on global health and
food security to reduce hunger and lift people out of poverty.
Source: The White House, Office of the Vice President
High Levels of PFOA Found in Dumps in Hoosick Falls
PETERSBURGH — The former town dumps in both Hoosick Falls and
Petersburgh are leaking dangerously high levels of a toxic chemical
directly into local waterways, and have likely been doing so for years,
according to test results obtained by POLITICO New York.
The town dump in Hoosick Falls tested positive for PFOA levels of
21,000 parts per trillion, a state Department of Environmental
Conservation official confirmed to POLITICO New York. That’s the highest
PFOA level ever disclosed in the upstate village, including at the
factory that has been deemed responsible for the pollution. There, the
groundwater tested at 18,000 parts per trillion.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Politico and the Empire Report
Congress to Probe Hoosick Falls Water Crisis
By Brendan J. Lyons
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent letters to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday demanding documents for a pending congressional probe into the handling of the Hoosick Falls' water crisis.
The House committee's investigation cites Times Union articles and other reports that officials at all levels of government, including the state and Rensselaer County health departments,
as well as the EPA, were aware for at least a year that a dangerous
chemical had polluted the village's water system but did not warn
residents to stop drinking the water.