Rev. Al Sharpton to NYPD and Lt. Christopher Bannon: 'I'm Gonna Show You What A Big Deal Is!'

The Civil Rights Leader and Gwen Carr, Mother of Eric Garner,
Blasts NYPD and Plan Major Marches to Bannon's Command 

 

By Gary Glennell Toms 

The following is an excerpt from an amNewYork article published on May 16.

"When it seemed Eric Garner would die after his confrontation with police officers on Staten Island, an NYPD lieutenant testified Thursday that he texted subordinates, “not a big deal, you were affecting a lawful arrest.”

"Lt. Christopher Bannon, testifying at the police disciplinary trial of Officer Daniel Pantaleo, said he made the statement not to seem callous but to calm cops down in the emotionally charged aftermath of Garner’s death during his arrest on July 17, 2014."

On May 18, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, addressed the matter during a rally at the National Action Network (NAN) headquarters in Harlem.

Sharpton also called for the firing of Lt. Bannon and announced that NAN will plan a series of marches to Bannon's command. He called on New York City residents to join NAN in its effort to ensure that New York Police Department Commissioner James O'Neill and other NYPD officials hold Bannon and Officer Daniel Pantaleo accountable for their actions.  

"How do you ride around.... in vehicles, saying protect and serve, but the people you're protecting....are killed by one of your officers....and it's no big deal? Before....any inquiry....any investigation....you say it's no big deal," said Sharpton.   

"When I heard this commander....this is something that I had not heard before....that when the call came in that the person may be DOA, and he says not a big deal. That means he's talking about our community is not a big deal. But we are gonna make it a big deal! We're gonna be out there on the front line and make it a big deal. That was my son," Carr stated.

Click here for full coverage of the rally. Rev. Sharpton addresses the audience at the 52:45 mark. Carr speaks directly after.    

'They Didn't Let Racism Win' -- The Story of an Interracial Couple on Opposite Sides of WWII

It's "Feel Good Friday" on From The G-Man

This report was published on YouTube on June 17, 2018. 

This and every Friday, the site will only post news stories from around the world that melt the heart and soothe the soul. This will be the case regardless of breaking news. America needs a break from the 24-hour Trump news cycle and negative news coverage, and From The G-Man will proudly showcase stories like the one above. 

After watching the report, I invite you to scroll down and review other heartwarming and humorous posts. You and your loved ones have a good and safe weekend. 

"G-Man"

New York Synagogue Provides Worship Space to Muslims After Fire

This report was published on YouTube on April 3, 2019. 

i24NEWS English: A New York synagogue opened its doors to Muslims to pray after their mosque had experienced a fire. Our Arielle Hixson has the story.

Coming Home: Servicemembers Surprise Their Loved Ones

This video was published on YouTube on April 11, 2019. 

Source: Awesome Life

Make-A-Wish® and Disney: Ayesha's Story

This report was published on YouTube on April 29, 2019.

Saving Our Youth: I Was an MS-13 Gang Member. Here's How I Got Out

This report was published on YouTube on August 29, 2018. 

TEDx Talks: Gerardo Lopez grew up in gang territory in Los Angeles, California and was just 14 years old when he joined MS-13, the notorious Salvadorian gang. Why did he join and why did he leave? In this courageous talk, Gerardo reveals how we can help others get out and stay out of gangs. 

Gerardo "Clever" Lopez has worked in gang intervention for over two decades. Formerly of the notorious Los Angeles gang MS-13, Gerardo escaped gang life and now ensures that at-risk youth from making the same mistakes. He is Executive Director of the Denver chapter of Homies Unidos, a nonprofit dedicated to ending violence and promoting peace through gang intervention and prevention. 

Gerardo is an avid baseball fan waiting for the Dodgers to win the World Series, and the subject of the award-winning, short documentary CLEVER. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Teacher Spotlight: Crystal Winter Shows Students the Importance of Compassion

This report was published on April 22, 2019.

'The Rachel Ray Show' Surprises Army Veteran Who Rescues, Trains and Provides Service Dogs to Other Vets

Rachel Ray Show: After serving in the Army for 16 years, Mark Eberle is saving lives with his non-profit, Paws Healing Heroes.

Blind Good Samaritan Thanked By Fort Worth Police After Helping Officers

This report was published on YouTube on April 10, 2019.

The Reunion Between a Mother and Daughter That Was 70 Years in the Making

This report was published on YouTube on May 16.

Beachgoers Help Fisherman Remove Plastic on Shark's Neck

This report was published on YouTube on May 15. 

ABC News: A group of beachgoers helped a fisherman remove plastic that was caught around a 4.5-foot shark's neck on a beach in Queensland.

Saying Farewell to 'The Big Bang Theory'

This report was published on YouTube on May 16.

Lomé, the New African Fashion Capital

Thank You, Tim Conway, and Farewell.

This report was published on YouTube on May 15. 

In Memoriam: I.M. Pei

From The G-Man applauds and salutes the late Chinese-American architect on his phenomenal achievements and legacy. May his family, friends and those mourning in his native homeland find some measure of comfort during this difficult time. 

Rest in peace, sir.

Largest and Oldest T-Rex Skeleton Ever Discovered Goes on Display in Saskatchewan

Global News: The home of the world's largest and oldest Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur opened this weekend in southwestern Saskatchewan, a province in Canada.

Celebrating 50 Years Since Man Landed on the Moon

This report was published on YouTube on May 16.

Mark Armstrong, the youngest son of astronaut Neil Armstrong, details a new documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of man's first steps on the moon. 

The film features never before seen footage of the mission to deliver man to the moon, chronicling the challenges faced by Armstrong, NASA and all its scientists, in the lead up to launch. 

Mark Armstrong also speaks about what it was like growing up as the son of an American hero and reliving the historic achievements of his father.

Mick Jagger Dancing Tweet Inspires TMS 'Moves Like Jagger' Dance-Off

This report was published on YouTube on May 16.

Eiffel Tower Celebrates 130th Anniversary with Light Show

This report was published on YouTube on May 15.

Alex Trebek Says He Had Final Chemotherapy Treatment for Cancer

 

This report was published on YouTube on May 13.

Nadler Issues Sharp Rebuke of Trump Administration in Letter Thursday

CBS News: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler issued a sharp rebuke of the Trump administration Thursday. Sean Sullivan, a CBSN political contributor and national politics reporter for The Washington Post, joins CBSN to discuss Thursday's news.

The Criminalization of Thought on 'When Life Begins'

By Steven Jonas

The Legislature of the (U.S.[!]) State of Georgia recently passed, and the Governor signed into law, a bill that criminalizes abortion in the state, as well as making a felon out of any Georgia woman who travelled outside of the state to obtain an abortion. [The text below summarizing the main provisions of the law is adapted from the article referenced just above.]

Among other things, the law:

* subjects women who get illegal abortions to life imprisonment and the death penalty;

* declares that 'unborn children' [sic, emphasis added] are a class of living, distinct persons that deserves "full legal recognition;"

* thus recognizes "unborn children as natural persons" as a legal rule;

* declares that fetuses "shall be included in population-based determinations;"

* criminalizes women who seek out unlawful abortions or terminate their own pregnancies (by, for example, using the drug Misoprostol) for once it takes effect, a woman who self-terminates will have, as a matter of law, killed a human thereby committing murder --- the penalty for that crime in Georgia is life imprisonment or capital punishment;

* provides that a woman who seeks out an illegal abortion from a health care provider would be a party to murder, subject to life in prison, and a woman who miscarries because of her own conduct, say, using drugs while pregnant would be liable for second-degree murder, punishable by 10 to 30 years' imprisonment;

* provides that if a Georgia resident plans to travel elsewhere to obtain an abortion, she may be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, punishable by 10 years' imprisonment; an individual who helps a woman plan her trip to get an out-of-state abortion, or transports her to the clinic, may also be charged with conspiracy; These individuals, after all, are "conspiring" to end of the life of a "person" with "full legal recognition" under Georgia law.

Yes, folks, for those who have said "it can't happen here," IT IS.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS LAW IS ENTIRELY BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE "UNBORN CHILD," WHICH IS A TOTALLY RELIGIOUS ONE, BASED ON A PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS CONCEPT OF "WHEN LIFE BEGINS." FOR BELIEVING CATHOLICS IT IS BASED ON A DICTUM HANDED DOWN BY POPE PIUS IX IN 1869. FOR MOST BELIEVING PROTESTANTS, IT IS BASED ON THEIR INTERPRETATION OF CERTAIN PASSAGES IN THE "KING JAMES" VERSION OF THE BIBLE. BOTH RELIGION-BASED DOCTRINES SHARE THE RELIGIOUS, NOT BIOLOGICAL, NOTION THAT "LIFE BEGINS AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION." IT HAPPENS THAT THERE ARE MANY RELIGIOUS PERSONS, AS WELL AS OF COURSE MANY NON-RELIGIOUS PERSONS, WHO HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF "WHEN LIFE BEGINS."

Indeed, when Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama signed a bill into law similar to the one enacted in Georgia, she had this to say about it: "Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, a bill that was approved by overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God" (Click here).

Except, Gov., a) not every person who believes in God agrees the "every life is a sacred gift from God," and b) many persons --- an increasing number as it happens --- don't believe in God at all.  In fact, the number of “nones” is increasing rapidly (www.osvnews.com/2019/04/16/new-survey-nones-continue-to-rise).  As the cited article says: “According to an analysis of the Global Social Survey, released in March, the number of Americans now identifying as having ‘no religion’ is equivalent to those who identify as Catholic or evangelical (approximately 23% for each of the three).”

The Alabama and Georgia laws stand at the height of religious authoritarianism and absolutely violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. And whether governors like Ivey, of Alabama, like it or not, the 14th Amendment, adopted in the wake of the Civil War, applies the liberties guaranteed by the first ten amendments to the states.

Click here for the full article.

Source: OpEdNews.com

Alaska Villages Have Some of the Highest Sexual Assault Rates, But 1 in 3 Has No Police

 
Sexual abuse runs rampant, public safety resources are scarce, and Governor Mike Dunleavy wants to cut the budget. 

Click here for the report.

Source: ProPublica

GOP-Led Efforts to Crush Unions Have a New Target: Home Health Care Workers

Click here for the report.

Source: The Intercept_

Lawyer: Cop Who Shot Texas Woman Knew She Was Mentally Ill

Click here to read the Associated Press report.

Judge Orders Former U.S. Soldier and WikiLeaks Source Manning Back to Jail

 
Click here for the report.

Source: Reuters

New York Times Exposé Shows How Syria Used Systematic Torture Against Activists

Democracy Now!: Syria's systematic torture of prisoners has inflicted untold horrors on tens of thousands of people. The Syrian Network for Human Rights counted around 128,000 people who have been imprisoned by security forces and not released — 81,000 of them haven't been heard from at all. "It does sort of make you ask yourself a lot of questions about humanity and how this kind of thing can continue to happen in the 21st century," says New York Times reporter Anne Barnard, the paper's former Beirut bureau chief, who published a seven-year investigation into the Assad torture machine.

House Democrats Read Full Redacted Mueller Report in Marathon Session

New Questions About Seriousness of Iran Threat

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces 2020 Presidential Bid

Pelosi Calls for 'Comprehensive' Immigration Reform as Trump Eyes New Policy

CBS News: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed President Trump's plans for a "merit-based" immigration policy, calling it "condescending," and she signaled that Democrats would not support legislation that does not include a pathway to citizenship.

McCarthy Speaks on Abortion, Immigration at Weekly News Conference

CBS News: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke about new state laws restricting abortion and President Trump's immigration proposal at his weekly press conference.

Analysis: Why is Trump Refusing to Reveal His Tax Returns?

Amnesty Urges ICC to Probe 'Crimes Against Humanity' in Venezuela

Losing Its Way: The Rise and Fall of South Africa's ANC

Gulf Tensions: 'There Are Very Little Parallels Between Today and 2003'

Indian Political Parties Accused of Spreading 'Fake News' as Campaign Enters Final Week

Washington Cracks Down on Chinese Tech Giant Huawei

Bonus Report: Huawei Hits Back at US Blacklist

Sudan Political Crisis: Military Rulers Suspend Negotiations for 72 Hours

At Least 28 Soldiers Killed in Ambush in Niger

Justin Trudeau Slams 'Backsliding' U.S. States Over Laws Restricting Abortions

Canada's Green Party Leader Elizabeth May Calls Climate Change 'Massive Security Threat'

Trudeau and Macron Host News Conference Amid Summit on Online Extremism

Global News: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron hosted a news conference on the discussions had during the "Christchurch Call" summit hosted by Paris on taking action against violent terrorist and extremist content online.

The news conference was conducted in French and English. 

House Democrats Are Investigating DOJ’s Retreat From Police Reform In Trump Era

 

Lawmakers want to know why the Justice Department “sharply curtailed” its role in “eradicating civil rights abuses by law enforcement.”

Click here for the report.

Source: The Huffington Post

New York Medical Examiner Testifies Chokehold Led to Eric Garner's Death

 Click here for the report.

Source: Reuters

The Espionage Axe: Donald Trump and the War Against a Free Press

Another alleged whistleblower has been charged with espionage. This week on Intercepted: Donald Trump is set to shatter Barack Obama’s record of prosecuting journalistic sources under the 1917 Espionage Act. Trevor Timm, executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, talks about the weaponization of this law for use in stopping investigative journalism and the case of Air Force veteran Daniel Hale, who is facing 50 years in prison. Jeremy Scahill tells the story of the prosecution of Socialist leader Eugene Debs in 1918 and its echoes in the modern era. Organizer Bill Fletcher Jr. discusses the Trump administration’s intensifying military threats against Iran, the ongoing coup attempt in Venezuela, and offers strategic thoughts on how to view the 2020 Democratic primary field. The anti-choice movement is making its most intense push to abolish Roe v. Wade in years and with Trump’s new Supreme Court justices, the threat could become reality. Dr. Krystal Redman, executive director of SPARK Reproductive Justice Now in Georgia, talks about the spate of new laws being implemented in several states that seek to criminalize abortion and women’s health care providers.

Click here for the podcast. 

Source: The Intercept_

Intuit CEO in Internal Video: Hiding Free TurboTax Was in 'Best Interest of Taxpayers'

The video obtained by ProPublica shows the CEO defending the company as committed to “integrity without compromise.”

Click here for the report. 

Congressional Democrats Speak Ahead of Health Care Legislation Vote

Congressional Democrats speak to reporters ahead of a House vote on health care and prescription drug legislation.

Click here for video. 

Source: C-SPAN

Senator Graham Introduces Immigration and Border Security Legislation

Senate Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) unveiled legislation to address the rising number of immigrants seeking asylum at the Southern Border. In a news conference, he said the bill would do four things: require asylum requests in country of origin or Mexico; send back unaccompanied minors from Central America; detain families together for 100 days; and hire 500 new immigration judges. Graham responded to questions from reporters about the politics of immigration, saying Democrats and Republicans must work together to address it. He was joined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Operating Officer John Sanders, who reported that border agents have apprehended 520,000 immigrants so far in the 2019 fiscal year. In the previous seven days, he said they had 4500 arrests per day.

Bonus Report: Senator Durbin Expresses

Skepticism About Graham Border Security Proposal

FAA and NTSB Officials Testify on Boeing 737 Max Aircraft Safety

The acting Federal Aviation Administration Administrator and the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board testify before Congress on the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. 

This video may not play on certain browsers. Click here if you experience problems. 

Despite Threats and No Electricity, Anti-Coup Activists Remain Inside Venezuelan Embassy in D.C.

Why the Teamsters President Supports Trump's New Tariffs

This report was published on YouTube on May 14.

Non-Emergency U.S. Employees Told to Evacuate Iraq

What Happens Next, After Alabama Passed a Near-Total Abortion Ban?

Trump Administration to LGBT Couples: Your ‘Out of Wedlock’ Kids Aren’t Citizens

Children of U.S. citizens are falling victim to a policy that de-recognizes their parents’ marriage—and strips them of their birthright citizenship.

Click here for the report.

Source: The Daily Beast 

Julie Oliver Launches Campaign for District 25 US House of Representatives

The following announcement was submitted by the Julie Oliver for Congress Campaign. 

Austin, TX -- Julie Oliver, the Austin working accountant, healthcare finance expert, advocate, and mother whose grassroots, underdog campaign gained national attention in 2018, has announced that she is officially entering the race for US House of Representatives in District 25.

The official kickoff event for the campaign will take place on May 18, 4 p.m., at The Skylark Lounge in Austin, Texas.
 
“Our democracy and our future success depend on restoring true, effective representation to this district. Congress is corrupted by special interests -- but veterans, working people, and everyone, no matter what political party they are, should have a representative who will show up, listen to the people she is sworn to serve and represent, and uphold the Constitution. The challenges we face are urgent -- climate change is an existential threat to our national security, economy, and ability to survive as a species, our immigration system is broken, wages are stagnant and our costs of living keep driving us out of our homes. Healthcare which is unaffordable for far too many, and massive corporations make more money than ever, but pay no taxes while we foot the bill. The thousands and thousands of people I was lucky enough to meet as I traveled up, down, and across this district deserve so much better.”
 
Oliver has again committed to run a campaign 100% funded by individual donations. She has refused all PAC money, including from Democratic funding sources. Oliver’s campaign out-raised Weatherford car dealer Roger Williams -- who fell under an ethics review for proffering an amendment in 2015 to allow car dealers to rent or loan out vehicles even if they are subject to safety recalls -- two quarters in a row in 2018. She wound up raising just over $630,000 in 2018 -- more than every Democrat who had run before her combined. 76% of those contributions came from donors in Texas.
 
Julie has put forth a proposal to tax super PACs to fund publicly financed elections. She has also called for radical transparency in campaign finance reform and is running a campaign focused on healthcare, investing in clean energy jobs, ensuring that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, humane immigration reform, preventing the outsourcing of jobs overseas, investing in rural infrastructure and rural broadband internet, fighting corruption, and strengthening public education.
 
During her 2018 campaign, Oliver put over 40,000 miles on her car traveling, holding town halls, and meeting with Texans in every one of the thirteen counties in District 25 -- logging over 40 visits to Johnson county alone. Similar in spirit, the 2020 campaign is already barnstorming across Texas -- leading up to the official launch event in Austin on Saturday, Oliver has held events in Valley Mills, Cleburne, Gatesville, and Hillsboro.

NYS Division of Human Rights to Host Age Discrimination Conference

On May 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the New York State Division of Human Rights Acting Commissioner Angela Fernandez will speak at the “Fighting Workplace Age Discrimination” conference in Manhattan. 

Panelists and conference partners, which include the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Transition Network, will discuss protections against age discrimination under federal, state and local laws. Strategies for combating age discrimination will also be discussed. 

The conference will be held at the Silberman Building – Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, Room 115A-B. 

Source: The New York State Division of Human Rights

The Men Behind Ava DuVernay Series Describe ‘Indelible Scar’ Of False Conviction

The series shows “what it is like to be a person of color in America,” said Yusef Salaam, one of five men wrongly convicted of raping a woman in Central Park.

Click here for the report.

Source: The Huffington Post 

Franklin Graham, Mayor Buttigieg, and Religious Doctrine on Homosexuality

By Steven Jonas

Franklin Graham, a Far-Right cleric, is a strong supporter of the Republican Donald Trump. (It happens that he is the son of the Far-Right cleric Billy Graham, who happened to be a strong supporter of the last President to be threatened with impeachment, the Republican Richard Nixon.) Homosexuality is a human characteristic that has gotten this Graham very upset, over a long period time. Recently, The Hill published this reporting on what Graham had to say about Mayor Pete Buttigieg and his sexual orientation .

"Franklin Graham, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, on Wednesday slammed 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg for calling himself a 'gay christian,' saying that the Bible defines homosexuality as something to be repentant of. . . . 

"Graham . . . added in a separate tweet that 'as a Christian I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized.' "

'The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman not two men, not two women,' Graham said, before saying in a final tweet that 'the core of the Christian faith is believing and following Jesus Christ, who God sent to be the Savior of the world to save us from sin, to save us from hell, to save us from eternal damnation."

Graham is making a number of points here, both directly and indirectly. One is that he is sure what Biblical Doctrine is (and we will get back to that one below). Second, he is sure that Biblical Doctrine and his concept of a Christian "God" as he sets them forth should have a major role to play in the U.S. political system, despite the fact that neither the word "God" nor the word "Christian[ity]" appear in foundational document for the U.S. system of government, the Constitution. The word "religious" appears once, as the last clause of Article VI: "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." The word "religion" also appears once, as the first clause of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. . ." 

Click here for the full article.

Source: OpEdNews.com

Governor Cuomo Signs Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (S.1077/ A.3974), a bill that codifies more meaningful sentence reductions for domestic abuse survivors in the criminal justice system and a key initiative in the Governor's 2019 Women's Justice Agenda. Current law allows judges to administer indeterminate sentences for domestic violence survivors who have committed a crime only in relation to their abuser under certain circumstances. 

The Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act will build upon this law by adding offenses committed due to coercion by an abuser, as well as offenses committed against or at the behest of an abuser who does not share a household or family with the survivor—preventing further victimization of individuals who have endured domestic and sexual violence at the hands of their abusers.

Click here for the full announcement. 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

Largest Class of Black Women to Graduate from West Point

White House Reviewing Military Options for Iran: Report

Alabama Expected to Pass Controversial Abortion Bill

Marijuana Legalization Stalled in New York and New Jersey as Support Dwindles

Ticking Time Bomb? Cancer Lawsuits Mount for Monsanto Over Glyphosate

'A Life Given is Not a Life Lost': France Honours Troops Slain in Burkina Faso Hostage Raid

Marine Le Pen Seeks anti-EU Friends in Slovakia

Mike Pompeo, Sergey Lavrov Hold Joint Press Conference in Russia

Mayor de Blasio Announces Rockaway Beach Will Reopen in Time for Summer

Why Overtime and a Trump Comparison Are Fueling Threats of a Subway Strike

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo accused workers of overtime fraud. The transit union’s leader then likened Mr. Cuomo to President Trump.

Click here for the report. 

Source: The New York Times

Daniel Pantaleo’s Lawyer Says Accused Cop Saved Eric Garner’s Life in First Day of NYPD Disciplinary Trial

 
Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Daily News

Bonus Report: Top NYPD Trainer Testifies Officer Daniel Pantaleo Used Banned Chokehold in Eric Garner Death

Harlem's Sol Cinema Cafe Presents 'Sprinter' on May 17

Starring Lorraine Toussaint, David Alan Grier, and Bryshere Y. Gray, the award-winning "Sprinter" is the story of a Jamaican teen who hopes his meteoric rise in track and field can reunite him with his mother. 

Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith served as executive producers for the film. 

Click here for additional information. 

Source: ImageNation

Happening in Harlem: 32nd Precinct Community Council Meeting

  Click on the flier to increase its size.

Source: A. Smith, President/NYPD Civilian Volunteer, 32nd Precinct CC

From The G-Man is urging community residents to attend this meeting and others. It is the only way to find out what the precinct and department are doing to address crime in the area.

Additionally, the meetings provide information on community events and allow residents to convey concerns or pose important questions to those charged with the task of protecting and serving.

Show up, stand up and be counted.  

Fact-Checking Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and Ukraine

 
Click here for the report.

Source: Politifact

7th Annual FDNY Medical Special Operations Conference

Click on the image to increase its size. 

The FDNY, in partnership with the FDNY Foundation, is proud to invite all first responders to the 7th annual Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC). For the past seven years, MSOC continues to be the conference that military, federal, state and local medical responders attend to share their experiences, best practices, and ideas. 

Each year MSOC continues to evolve to include current hot topics, latest medical technological updates, and recent case studies from around the world. Continuing Education Units (CEU) are available to paramedics, nurses, physician assistants and physicians.

MSOC takes place over four days and consists of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, hands-on skills scenarios, and a vendor showcase with the latest equipment and products. The optional pre-conference workshops have several options and includes light fare and drinks at the NYC Fire Museum.

Click here for additional information. 

Source: FDNYPro.org

Newest Beto O’Rourke Hire Lobbied for Keystone XL, Seaworld, and Private Prisons

Click here for the report.

Source: The Intercept_

Trade Row Deepens as China Ups Tariffs on $60B in US Goods

Click here for the report.

Source: Associated Press

Amazon Rolls Out Machines That Pack Orders and Replace Jobs

A Reuters Exclusive

Amazon started adding technology to a handful of warehouses that scans goods coming down a conveyor belt and envelopes them seconds later in boxes custom-built for each item.  

Click here for the report.

'Grannies Respond' is Now a Nonprofit Organization

The following statement was submitted by Roya Salehi, Chairwoman, Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden.

It’s been less than a year since the Trump administration began separating families looking for asylum at our southern borders. I remember too well the first images I saw on TV last summer of terrified children and parents being pulled apart, and the sounds of babies wailing. It was these images and sounds that propelled me, and a group of other horrified citizens, to quickly form a caravan to drive from our homes in the Northeast to the border town of McAllen, Texas, where we witnessed, firsthand, the inhumanity of Trump’s policies.

We called ourselves Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden, and what we saw on our journey changed us forever.

In McAllen, we learned that asylum seekers who are allowed to stay in the country need help on their journeys, often by bus, to the homes of families and sponsors across the country. Many of these folks are sent off with nothing more than a bus ticket and the clothes they are wearing. They don’t have money, they don’t have supplies, and many don’t speak English.

What we learned made us angry and upset, and we vowed to channel our rage toward helping those who need it most. So we began to organize again, and developed the Grannies Respond Overground Railroad Project: Our volunteers go to bus stations every day in cities across the country to greet asylum seekers and to provide them with the basic necessities they need to get them to their next stops. What started in just one bus station, in one city, has grown to include more than eight cities, and we are expanding to others.

To further our work, we recently formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with the mission to provide compassionate and respectful support to immigrants seeking safety and security in the United States.

In addition to the Overground Railroad, we send volunteers to the border to support efforts there, and we help with resettlement work, to assist asylum seekers as they establish roots in their new homes.

We hope you will join us; we can use all the help we can get. 

Click here for additional information. 

Latest Whistleblower Arrest Signals Ongoing Attempts to 'Silence the Press'

This report was published on YouTube on May 11. 

Democracy Now!: Former intelligence analyst Daniel Hale was arrested this week for leaking classified documents detailing the secretive U.S. drone program. Hale is the latest in a string of journalists charged under the Trump administration for allegedly leaking classified government intelligence. James Risen, The Intercept’s senior national security correspondent, views the arrests of journalistic sources as an attempt to stifle the "debate about this fundamental issue of who lives and dies." He says, "It is only through a lot of different disclosures in the press that we understand what the war on terror has really been about."

Rising Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran

This report was published on YouTube on May 12. 

PBS NewsHour: Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated over the Trump administration’s economic sanctions and Tehran’s threat of stepped-up uranium enrichment. This week, the U.S. sent aircraft carriers to the Persian Gulf. Suzanne Maloney, deputy director of the foreign policy program at Brookings Institute, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the standoff.

Felicity Huffman Expected to Plead Guilty Today in College Admissions Scandal

Thailand: Disappeared Activists Forced Home from Vietnam

Iyad el-Baghdadi Faces Threat from Saudi Arabia

Al Jazeera English: A Palestinian activist who was warned by the Norwegian government of a possible threat against him from Saudi Arabia is holding a press conference for the first time. Iyad el-Baghdadi was told that the threat had been passed on to Norwegian authorities by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. 

He was informed there could be several reasons why Saudi Arabia would target him. Iyad was granted asylum in Norway four years ago and is a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Deadly Cholera Outbreak Hits African Migrants in Yemen

Assange Investigation: Which Extradition Request Will Take Precedence, US or Sweden?

Real-Life Issues, Not Ideology Dominate India’s Youth Vote

In Sudan, Demands for a Civilian Government as Protests Show No Sign of Abating

Six Killed in Attack on Catholic Church in Burkina Faso

Philippines Votes in Election Expected to Deliver Greater Power for Duterte

U.N. Chief Says World is 'Not on Track' to Achieve Paris Agreement Objectives

This report was published on YouTube on May 12. 

Global News: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday that the political will to fight climate change seems to be fading at the same time as things are getting worse for those feeling the effects. 

Guterres made the comments after arriving in New Zealand, where he spoke to media alongside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Auckland. Guterres plans to spend three days in New Zealand as part of a trip to the South Pacific to highlight the problems of climate change.