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In Washington, DC: Celebrating Ramadan, protesting Israel’s siege of Gaza

Washington, DC – Forty-eight folding chairs, but will it be enough? “It’s OK, some of us will stand,” said 60-year-old Haitham Arafat, a soft-spoken, bespectacled man in a keffiyeh and a canary yellow shirt. But soon, more chairs arrived, and were quickly lined up along 40 metres (131 feet) of table that stretched along a street facing the Israeli embassy in the northwest corner of this US capital city. A row of Ramadan lanterns lit the place settings ahead of the iftar meal. “We break fast here every day,” said Arafat, who has been coming to the embassy for the last 21 days as part of a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week protest. “But today is special.” The long-haul demonstration began 35 days ago, inspired by a sister demonstration outside the Virginia home of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. That protest – dubbed Kibbutz Blinken – has been going for 68 consecutive days. Protesters set up an iftar table in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera] But on Sunday, family and friends of protesters were invited to attend an iftar meal at the Israeli embassy. Arafat described it as the latest effort to show the community’s resolve as the killings and deprivation in Gaza continue. Like many of those gathered, Arafat simply would not entertain the notion that fasting for Ramadan was a burden, noting that he has personally lost about 100 relatives in northern Gaza since October 7. “With the massacres that are happening in Palestine, the starvation, this is nothing compared to what they are experiencing,” he said, his voice growing sharper as he spoke. “If we can just experience a little bit of their hardship, just to show them that ‘Hey, we think of you every day, we’re doing our best to stop this madness.’” Soon, Nora Burgan began dispensing hot drinks and cups of tomato and lentil soup to ward off the brisk air of early spring. Salad, dates, kebabs, rice and hummus were spread along the table’s expanse. People took their seats, sitting along one side of the table under a sky that had threatened rain earlier but was now beginning to clear. Nora Burgan loads cups of soup onto a tray for iftar [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera] “It’s not meant to be a feast,” Burgan told Al Jazeera. “It’s not perfect, but we will share whatever food we have … very simple, humble and accepting of community and this moment.” “We want to always think about Gaza, a free Gaza and a free Palestine,” she told those who had gathered for iftar. As of Monday, the official death toll in Gaza had reached 32,845, with humanitarian organisations continuing to warn of impending famine while accusing Israel of blocking the delivery of food, medicine and other supplies to the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that Israeli forces will move ahead with an offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where most of Gaza’s displaced have fled. Meanwhile, warnings from US President Joe Biden’s administration have not yielded any substantive changes on the ground in Gaza. Last week, the Washington Post reported the administration had signed off on yet more weapons transfers to Israel, including one-tonne (2,000-pound) bombs linked to mass casualty events. Ahmed Afifi hands out food during iftar at a protest in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera] ‘Unapologetically out here’ As the day’s fast broke and the evening turned a darker shade of blue, Hazami Barmada, the activist who spearheaded the camps at Blinken’s home and the Israeli embassy, stood over the now-crowded span of table. “We are unapologetically out here breaking bread, side by side in solidarity on a main road, in front of the very thing that does not want us to be here,” said Barmada, whose watermelon earrings danced while her 16-month-old son shifted his weight in her arms. Barmada has learned a lot about this type of protesting in recent months. The demonstration at Blinken’s home began with just Barmada and a few others, who began to stay around the clock. At the end of February, she landed in the emergency room with a fever of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). But the effort has become more formalised since, with schedules and rotating shifts to relieve some of the pressure on the protesters, as well as providing them with a support system to help with needs such as child care or transportation. Barmada believes that the unrelenting demonstration is unique in its ability to shine a light on the public outrage over what is happening in Gaza. A protest camp is seen in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera] Barmada has also become adept at making sure the demonstrations remain peaceful and in compliance with local regulations, while also managing to confront counterprotesters, angry embassy staff and the ever-present US Secret Service and local police. Demonstrators document their interactions to avoid false charges that could conceivably shut down the protests, she said. ‘Part of resistance is finding joy’ Some protesters have been involved in the marathon demonstration since the beginning, and others have just joined. “I think it’s a moral boost for us coming out here and being in a community,” said 41-year-old Jinan Deena, who waved a Palestinian flag in front of the embassy in what she said was her second day of protesting there. Hazami Barmada glances at the Israeli embassy as she speaks to those gathered for iftar [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera] “But also seeing the symbolism of an Israeli embassy being occupied by Palestinians. It’s kind of like a reverse occupation,” Deena said. The scene reflects the deep divide that is inherent in the conflict, with photos of bloodied Gazan children surrounded by Palestinian flags and signs reading “Genocide is Not Self Defense” and “Israel bombs babies”. On the embassy’s grounds, Israeli flags are planted in the grass or hung on external walls, next to photos of

US doubles down on its defence of arming Israel despite Gaza atrocities

Biden administration says ‘too many civilians’ killed in Gaza but reasserts commitment to supporting Israel in war. Washington, DC – The United States has defended its arms transfers to Israel, reasserting its commitment to the country’s security despite growing concerns about rights abuses in the Gaza Strip. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller was asked on Monday whether recent weapons transfers, which included fighter jets and 900kg (2,000lb) bombs, damaged the “credibility” and “sincerity” of US statements decrying the crisis in Gaza. “I do not agree with that at all. We have been very clear that we want to see Israel do everything it can to minimise civilian casualties. We have made clear that they need to operate at all times in full compliance with international humanitarian law,” Miller said. “At the same time, we are committed to Israel’s right to self-defence, and this is a long-term commitment the United States has made.” The administration of President Joe Biden has been facing criticism over its policy of arming Israel, which critics say violates US laws prohibiting military aid and weapon sales to countries engaged in rights abuses. The Washington Post reported last week that the US had approved the transfer of billions of dollars in weapons to Israel, including thousands of bombs. Miller said on Monday that the weapons were pre-approved, stressing that the administration had notified Congress about the transfers. He gave what he called a fictional example to describe the situation: “Let’s say they requested 100 planes. We make a decision. We notify Congress. That doesn’t mean that they take 100 planes tomorrow. … They draw those down over time, and sometimes it takes years to fulfil those requests.” Still, the administration has the final say over what it chooses to transfer to Israel. Unlike with military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon and State Department have not publicly announced and detailed what the Israeli drawdowns would entail. The weapons transfers come amid accusations that Israel is committing widespread violations of international humanitarian law — a set of rules aimed at protecting civilians in armed conflicts, including the Geneva Conventions. Witnesses and rights groups have accused Israel of indiscriminate bombing in Gaza, targeting civilian infrastructure, mistreating detainees, extrajudicial executions and using humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, among other abuses. But last week, the State Department said it has not found Israel to be in violation of international humanitarian law in any incident. On Monday, Miller argued that the ongoing US arming of Israel is not just about the war in Gaza but is also designed to help the country against regional adversaries, including Iran and Hezbollah. US officials, including Biden, have criticised Israel’s tactics in Gaza. But so far, his administration has rejected calls to place conditions on its military aid to Israel. Miller stressed that Washington regularly urges Israel to use its weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law. “We have had very frank conversations with them about the fact that far too many civilians have died through their operations and that they need to do better and take into account the need to minimise civilian harm, and we’ll continue to do that,” he said. Several progressive lawmakers have urged Biden to end his unconditional support for Israel. On this Easter, let’s ponder Netanyahu’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, which has killed more than 20,000 women and children, and his restriction of humanitarian aid, which has pushed Palestinians to the brink of famine. — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) March 31, 2024 On Sunday, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley invoked the Easter holiday to slam the war on Gaza. “We must also recognize that America is complicit in this tragedy by resupplying Israel with bombs and failing to use America’s leverage to increase aid delivered into Gaza,” he wrote in a series of social media posts. “Reflecting on the admonition to feed the hungry and assist the stranger, and ‘blessed are the peacemakers,’ let’s push Team Biden to do better. More aid. No bombs.” Adblock test (Why?)

Hunter Biden seen with president at White House Easter Egg Roll as House GOP mulls criminal referrals

Hunter Biden was spotted attending Monday’s White House Easter Egg Roll alongside his father, President Biden, as House Republicans reportedly mull potential criminal referrals against them to the Department of Justice. Hunter arrived at the White House on Sunday evening with his wife, Melissa Cohen, and their son, Beau, after spending the Easter weekend at Camp David with the president and First Lady Jill Biden. The five were photographed exiting Marine One at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. The family getaway came as Republicans on the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees are jointly investigating alleged Biden family corruption as part of an impeachment inquiry into the president, and are reportedly floating possible criminal referrals in lieu of an impeachment vote. SWING STATE HOUSE HOPEFUL CHANGES TUNE AFTER SCRUBBING VIOLENT CRIME DEFENSES FROM LAW FIRM WEBSITE Reports that Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., was considering criminal referrals followed the two committees’ joint hearing last week that included testimony from multiple former business associates of Hunter who testified to the extent of Biden’s involvement in his son’s business dealings, which the White House has denied. Although Comer hasn’t specified who these criminal referrals would target, they could provide a way for Republicans to please those anxious for the Biden family to face some sort of consequences from the alleged influence-peddling scheme as the party looks unlikely to have the votes to successfully impeach the president. NEW JERSEY DEMOCRAT FACING PRESSURE TO RESIGN AFTER MOCKING EASTER ONLINE WITH DRAG, ABORTION REFERENCES Hunter’s appearance at the White House capped a multi-day schedule that included his attendance at his dad’s swanky, but controversial, New York City fundraiser held last Thursday, the same day as the wake of an NYPD officer killed in the line of duty. Last year, the White House faced flak for omitting Hunter’s visits and extended stays from its visitor logs from the beginning of the Biden administration through Feb. 2023 despite claiming it was “the most transparent administration in American history.” While many of the events attended by Hunter were ceremonial and a tradition at the White House, Fox News Digital previously reported how Hunter sought to use such events for his personal financial gain during the Obama administration. 

GOP state AGs press Supreme Court to take up Hawaii climate change case they say is ‘grave threat’

FIRST ON FOX – A group of nearly two-dozen Republican attorneys general is asking the Supreme Court to intervene in a climate change liability case out of Hawaii they say could have “grave” consequences on American energy production. In February, a coalition of major oil companies asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the city of Honolulu’s lawsuit that accused the companies of deceiving the public about their role in causing global warming, which could in turn cost the companies billions in damages.  Led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, 20 states on Monday filed an amicus brief asking the high court to review the case — arguing that the lawsuit, and several others like it percolating in the lower courts, is “an affront to the equal sovereignty” of their states and an attempt by one state to use its own laws to impose its energy policies nationwide. “The grave threat these suits pose to equal sovereignty and our Nation’s energy infrastructure are reason enough for this Court to grant review,” the filing states. CONSUMER GROUP REVEALS LEFT-WING GROUPS INCREASINGLY USING COURTS TO PUSH GREEN NEW DEAL In 2020, the city of Honolulu sued several major fossil fuel companies, including Exxon and Chevron, claiming the companies’ products cause greenhouse gas emissions and global warming without warning consumers about the risks.  The city employed a series of state laws like public nuisance and trespass measures and said the companies should pay billions to the state to abate the effects of climate change like weather events, sea level rise, heat waves, flooding, and global warming generally.  The energy companies appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court, arguing federal law prevents individual states from effectively shaping energy policies for all states, but that court disagreed. “The time for this Court’s intervention is now,” the AGs wrote in their brief, adding that “reducing the sale and use of traditional energy everywhere is not among a State’s constitutional powers.” They say the case presents a “unique opportunity” because Hawaii courts granted a rare appeal option and stayed most of the discovery in the case while parties went through the appeals process.  “The Court should act before state courts issue preliminary relief that could trigger a national emergency or fashion a patchwork of new taxes on the Nation’s energy system that would make life harder for every American,” the AGs wrote.  In an interview with Fox News Digital, Attorney General Marshall said the lawsuit is “an effort by environmentalists to control energy policy in this country.” “They’re attempting to do it through friendly forums, in this case, state court in Hawaii. And the people of Alabama absolutely object to a state court judge in Hawaii ultimately determining how it is that we deal with the fossil fuel industry here in this country,” he said.  BILLIONAIRE-FUELED ROCKEFELLER FUND COORDINATED CLIMATE LAWSUITS WITH DEM STATE AG: INTERNAL DOCUMENTS “What we see here is the use of a damages verdict to either change the behavior of fossil fuel companies, or exponentially increase the cost of energy to the citizens of the United States,” Marshall explained.  The attorneys general argue – and cite America’s rich state-sovereignty precedent – that federal common law already says disputes relating to cross-border pollution ought to be decided by federal courts, not states.  They also cite the Clean Air Act, which they argue still lets states have certain powers to regulate emissions notwithstanding federal intervention.  The Clean Air Act recognizes “the primary responsibility” of states to prevent and control “air pollution … at its source.” “The statutory scheme exemplifies cooperative federalism, permitting States to implement their own regulations consistent with a federal baseline,” the AGs write in their brief.  “As a result, our federal system allows States to pursue divergent policies with respect to energy production and environmental protection.”  “You don’t want to allow states like Hawaii or California to define energy policy for the entire country. But they’re using the threat of a massive jury verdict, to be able to bankrupt the fossil fuel industry,” Marshall told Fox News Digital. “And that’s not good for the citizens of Alabama. It’s not good for providing affordable energy and available energy to the people of this country,” he said. DARK MONEY-FUELED LAW FIRM JOINS MASSACHUSETTS CLIMATE SUIT AGAINST BIG OIL “Although a case nestled in the state of Hawaii, a long way from us here in Alabama, it’s critically important for us to be engaged. And in fact, critically important for the Supreme Court, ultimately to help decide this issue,” he said.  The AGs said in the brief that the “theory used against energy companies can be expanded to allow targeting of any cross-border activity that purportedly ‘exacerbate[s] the impacts of climate change.’”  One example they point to happened just a few weeks ago, when the State of New York sued “the world’s largest producer of beef products, for misleading the public about its environmental impact.” The beef producer’s stated commitment to reach “Net Zero by 2040” is allegedly misleading because the company “plans to grow global demand for its product,” rather than “reduce production of and demand for” it. The company’s emissions “of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and … supply chain practices” purportedly “contribut[e] to climate change harms.” “New York’s complaint alleges that ‘the world’s top five meat and dairy corporations combined are responsible for more annual greenhouse gas emissions than ExxonMobil, Shell, or BP, individually.’  Surely in some State’s view, those companies too (and countless others) have ‘exacerbated the impacts of climate change,’” the AG’s brief states. “But the States, upon entering the Union, gave up the right to use their laws for this sort of interstate conflict. The Court should grant review here before any further damage is done to our national economy and our federal scheme,” it concludes.  The city of Honolulu is expected to file its response on May 1, with a final brief scheduled to be May 15. A decision from the Supreme Court on whether they will review the case could

Atlantic City mayor says home was searched over ‘private family issue,’ dismissing corruption whisperings

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said Monday that a search of his home last week by prosecutors involved “a private family issue,” not a crime. The Democratic mayor held a news conference at City Hall to respond to the execution last Thursday of five search warrants by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office naming the mayor and his wife, LaQuetta Small, the city’s superintendent of schools. Small said he and his wife have been interacting with state child welfare authorities and have nothing to hide. TOP ATLANTIC CITY POLITICO CHARGED IN ABSENTEE BALLOT FRAUD CASE “We’re going through family therapy, and that’s what this should be, a family matter,” he said. Small’s wife and two children attended the news conference with him but did not speak, and left before it was completed. Jason Butkowski, a spokesman for the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, said Monday it cannot publicly discuss its cases to protect the privacy of those involved. After officers from the county prosecutor’s office searched the Smalls’ home and vehicles, they left with two cellphones and between four to six laptops, said Small’s attorney, Edwin Jacobs. “This entire investigation arose from nothing more than a personal and emotional family matter,” Jacobs said. “Mayor Small and his wife LaQuetta indeed have high public profiles, deservedly so. Like any family, the Small family has challenges in raising children, and they do not merit investigation or oversight by the county prosecutor.” Small said 20 heavily armed officers from the prosecutor’s office converged on his home a few blocks from the city’s casinos, saying some carried rifles and battering rams. No charges were announced against either of the Smalls after the raid or in subsequent days. The prosecutor’s office issued a statement responding to Small’s news conference, saying its officers followed all policies and protocols, acted professionally, and treated the Smalls with respect, but declining to comment further. The search of the mayor’s home came hours after the prosecutor’s office announced it had charged the principal of Atlantic City High School with failing to report a case of suspected child abuse, as required by law. The prosecutor’s office charged Constance Days-Chapman on Thursday with official misconduct, hindering apprehension of another, obstruction of justice, and failure to report child abuse. The agency said in a news release that on Jan. 22, a juvenile student at the high school informed a school staff member that the student had been emotionally and physically abused by the student’s parents, and that the student had previously disclosed this abuse to Days-Chapman. Days-Chapman told the staff member she would report the matter to state child welfare officials, but never did so, according to the prosecutor’s office. Instead, Days-Chapman met with the juvenile’s parents at the parents’ house and informed them that the juvenile disclosed to school staff that the juvenile was being abused by them. Neither the student nor the parents were identified in the news release. Days-Chapman’s office did not respond to telephone messages left with her office Thursday and Monday seeking comment. Days-Chapman also is the president of the city’s Democratic Committee, and in 2021 headed up Marty Small’s mayoral reelection campaign. Asked directly if the student referenced in the charges brought against Days-Chapman is the Smalls’ daughter, Jacobs said he would not “respond to any specific factual allegations.” “We’re not here to try a case that has not been brought,” he said. But Small defended the principal, referring to her by her nickname and noting that she is such a close friend that she is practically a member of his family. “We stand with Mandy and Mandy stands with us,” Small said. “She has done nothing wrong. We have done nothing wrong.” Small referred to Atlantic City’s long history of political corruption, which was immortalized in the hit TV series “Boardwalk Empire.” Small himself took office after his predecessor admitted stealing $87,000 from a youth basketball program he founded. “Those of you who want to think this is past Atlantic City business as usual — when it’s a raid, it’s involving corruption — this ain’t that,” he said. “My wife and I control over half a billion dollars of taxpayer money, and we’re doing a damn good job at it.”

Biden says he ‘didn’t do that’ when asked about Easter being ‘Trans Visibility Day,’ despite proclamation

President Biden said Monday that he “didn’t do that” when asked about his official White House proclamation, declaring March 31, the same day as Easter, as “Transgender Day Of Visibility.” In an exchange with reporters at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, Biden declined responsibility for the proclamation when asked about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s, R-La., criticism of the action. Over the weekend, Johnson wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the White House “betrayed the central tenet of Easter,” adding that the proclamation was “outrageous and abhorrent.” “He’s thoroughly uninformed,” Biden remarked when asked about Johnson’s comments. “I didn’t do that,” he said. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the White House downplayed the president’s comments, noting that he didn’t choose March 31 as the date for Transgender Day of Visibility. Since 2021, when Biden took office, the White House has issued the same proclamation on March 31 every year. BIDEN SKEWERED AS ‘WORLD’S WORST CATHOLIC’ WHO CHEAPENS IRISH AND CATHOLIC IDENTITY “President Biden is right. He did nothing in conflict with the ‘tenets’ of Easter, which he celebrated yesterday. Nor did he choose the date of March 31 for Transgender Day of Visibility, which has been set since 2009,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in an email. In addition to the Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation, the White House simultaneously issued a flurry of other proclamations, including Cesar Chavez Day, National Donate Life Month, National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, Arab American Heritage Month and Care Workers Recognition Month. BIDEN SLAMMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER ANNOUNCING TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY ON EASTER SUNDAY But the timing of the Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation generated widespread outrage among Christians, who characterized its timing with Easter as disrespectful.  “What a slap in the face to all Christians in America…” conservative commentator Benny Johnson said in a social media post Saturday. “This is a direct assault on Christianity. It’s evident the left is determined to undermine our religion and traditions,” added Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn. “This isn’t just blatant disregard, it’s intentional.” Biden has previously come under fire for his stance on LGBTQ+ and abortion issues given his own position as a “devout Catholic” who regularly attends church. The White House also used the same terminology when addressing Biden’s pro-choice stance on abortion.  A recent poll from Pew Research found that just 13% of Americans think of Biden as “very religious,” while 41% say he is “somewhat religious” and another 44% say he is “not at all” or “not too religious.” Fox News’ Haley Chi-Sing and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

Businesses, environmental groups back bid to put massive hiking trail overhaul before Maine voters

Maine’s beloved outdoor trail network could receive millions of dollars of improvements under a proposal conservationists have asked lawmakers to put before voters. The state has long been a destination for hikers, cyclists, snowshoers and other outdoor adventurers, and the state has more than 14,000 miles of snowmobile trails alone. A proposal before the Maine Legislature would ask voters to approve $30 million in public money for the design, development and maintenance of both motorized and nonmotorized trails. US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FACES LAWSUIT OVER PLAN TO REMOVE HUNDREDS OF STRAY CATS FROM HISTORIC TOURIST SPOT A coalition of more than 500 organizations, businesses and towns in the state has rallied behind the proposal. Members of the coalition, which includes ATV Maine, Maine Municipal Association and the Maine Youth Camping Association, said investing in the trail network is critical to boosting the state’s economy. “In literally every corner of the state, trails are a valued resource for connecting Maine people and visitors with the natural world and reaching destinations to work and play,” the coalition said in a statement. It added that the trails support tens of thousands of jobs. A committee of the Maine Legislature voted last Friday in favor of sending the proposal to voters. The next step is for the full Legislature to cast a vote. The proposal had not been scheduled for a vote as of Monday, a spokesperson for the Legislature said. The proposal states that the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry would provide the money to municipalities and nonprofit organizations via a competitive grant process. Trail networks around the state are operated by local governments as well as private clubs and conservation organizations. The proposal would appear on the statewide ballot in November if the Legislature approves it. The trail improvements should find broad appeal around the state, Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said while testifying in favor of the proposal. “The trails of Maine are near and dear to us all, for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, skiing, running, walking, and many other activities,” Didisheim said.

Transgender activist who fought to abolish ICE honored with 2024 RFK Human Rights award

A transgender woman fighting to shut down U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detention centers is this year’s recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award — an honor bestowed by the advocacy group meant to carry on RFK’s legacy and founded by his daughter, Kerry Kennedy.  Arely Westley, an LGBTQ+ and immigration activist who identifies as a “trans-Latinx woman,” will be the 41st recipient of the award, which was announced over the weekend. The organization said Westley will be recognized during an official ceremony in June. The Human Rights award “honors an individual or group of individuals who stand up to oppression at grave personal risk in the nonviolent pursuit of human rights,” according to its website. Westley is the first transgender woman to receive the award, the organization confirmed to Fox News Digital. ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE WEALTHY FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR AS VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE “From her anti-detention work to her support of LGBTQ+ youth, Arely is a true force for social justice,” Kerry Kennedy said over the weekend. “The difference between a victim and a hero is activism with a loving heart. Arely has used her personal experiences to fuel her advocacy and build a better, more just world. We are honored to recognize her efforts and continue working alongside her.” Westley, a Honduras native, was detained in 2022 at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center. Once released, RFK Human Rights claims Westley began leading “multiple shutdown campaigns,” calling for the closure of ICE detention facilities that have a “history of documented abuse.” According to RFK Human Rights, Westley suffered “egregious human rights violations” and was held in solitary confinement for extra protection.  Westley currently serves as a campaign director at BreakOUT!, an organization that seeks to “end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth who are directly impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system in New Orleans.” VIRGINIA COUNTY DECLARES TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY ON EASTER THIS YEAR “I feel honored to accept this award on behalf of my trans community, standing on the shoulders of our ancestors, who were indigenous to these lands now known as the Americas, where today my trans Latina sisters and I are vilified, caged, and abused,” Westley said in a statement. “But these systems of dehumanizing greed have grossly underestimated us. We are the flowering buds whose deep roots break through the concrete that those in power deign to walk all over, but our beauty, love and brilliance cannot be and we will not be denied.” COLORADO COULD BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO BUILD SEPARATE PRISON UNITS FOR TRANSGENDER FELONS According to its website, RFK Human Rights advocates “for human rights issues and pursues strategic litigation to hold governments accountable at home and around the world.” “We foster a social good approach to business, celebrate agents of change, and to ensure change that lasts, we educate millions of students about human rights, training the next generation of leaders,” the website reads. Previous laureates include Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis, who advocated for peace in Liberia (1999), Kenyan war prisoner Gibson Kamau Kuria (1988), Chinese activist against the communist party and physicist, Fang Lizhi (1989), Brazilian activist for the poor and former seminarian Darci Frigo (2001), among others.

First human case of bird flu in Texas detected after contact with infected dairy cattle

The person had contact with infected cattle, state health officials said. It’s the second recorded human case in the U.S.

Migrants in Iowa consider leaving over a bill that could see some arrested and deported

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill in Iowa that would allow the state to arrest and deport some migrants is stoking anxiety among immigrant communities, leaving some to wonder: “Should I leave Iowa?” The legislation, which is expected to be signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, would make it a state crime for a person to be in Iowa if previously denied admission to or removed from the United States. It mirrors part of a Texas law that is currently blocked in court. MIDWEST STATE ON VERGE OF DEFYING BIDEN WITH TEXAS-STYLE BILL TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION Across Iowa, Latino and immigrant community groups are organizing informational meetings and materials to try to answer people’s questions. They’re also asking local and county law enforcement agencies for official statements, as well as face-to-face meetings. As 80 people gathered in a Des Moines public library community room last week, community organizer Fabiola Schirrmeister pulled written questions out of a tin can. In Spanish, one asked: “Is it safe to call the police?” Another asked: “Can Iowa police ask me about my immigration status?” And: “What happens if I’m racially profiled?” Erica Johnson, executive director of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, the organization hosting the meeting, sighed when one person asked: “Should I leave Iowa?” “Entiendo el sentido,” she said. I understand the sentiment. Schirrmeister, who hosts a local Spanish-language radio show, explained how long organizers have worked to build a bridge with law enforcement. “It’s sad how it’s going to hurt the trust between local enforcement, pro-immigrant organizations and the immigrant communities,” she said. Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert told The Associated Press in an email that immigration status does not factor into the department’s work to keep the community safe, and he said it would be “disingenuous and contradictory” to incorporate it at the same time law enforcement has been working to eliminate such bias. “I’m not interested, nor are we equipped, funded or staffed to take on additional responsibilities that historically have never been a function of local law enforcement,” he added. In Iowa and across the country, Republican leaders have rallied around the refrain that “every state is a border state” as they accuse President Joe Biden of neglecting his responsibilities to enforce federal immigration law. That’s led Republican governors to send troops to support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, and legislatures to propose a variety of state-level strategies. Iowa’s lawmakers advanced the measure to address what one lawmaker called a “clear and present danger” posed to Iowans by some migrants crossing the southern border. Republican Rep. Steve Holt acknowledged questions of constitutionality around the bill but ultimately argued that Iowa has “the right, the duty and the moral obligation to act to protect our citizens and our sovereignty.” “If we end up in a court battle with the federal government, should this pass, bring it on,” Holt said during a subcommittee meeting in February. “I think it’s time for every state to stand up and say … ‘we’ve had enough. We will defend our people.’” The Texas law is stalled in court, after a challenge from the U.S. Department of Justice, which says it conflicts with the federal government’s immigration authority. The department did not immediately comment on the Iowa bill. The Iowa legislation, like the Texas law, could mean criminal charges for people who have outstanding deportation orders or who have previously been removed from or denied admission to the U.S. Once in custody, migrants could either agree to a judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted. The judge’s order must identify the transportation method for leaving the U.S. and a law enforcement officer or Iowa agency to monitor migrants’ departures. Those who don’t leave could face rearrest under more serious charges. The bill in Iowa faces the same questions of implementation and enforcement as the Texas law, since deportation is a “complicated, expensive and often dangerous” federal process, said immigration law expert Huyen Pham of Texas A&M School of Law. “How are Iowa law enforcement agencies going to determine if someone has entered Iowa in violation of an immigration order?” Pham asked. She said questions remain about which country a detained person would be sent back to, how they would get there and how agencies would communicate with those countries. Deportations are a binational process, she said, meaning the federal government negotiates with the governments of other countries. Disjointed immigration policy state-by-state could threaten those international relationships, Pham said. Mexico has already said that it would reject any state or local government enforcement of immigration laws. The Iowa State Patrol, as well as representatives of multiple police departments and county sheriff’s offices across the state, declined to comment on the bill before it is signed into law. Shawn Ireland, president of the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association and a deputy sheriff in Linn County, said in an email that law enforcement officials would consult with county attorneys for guidance if the bill becomes law. But Ireland added that community-police relations are a priority, and law enforcement’s focus “is not on looking for people who came to this country illegally and are not committing crimes.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Manny Galvez, leader of the Escucha Mi Voz (Hear My Voice) community group based in the rural city of West Liberty, said the bill has galvanized immigrant communities, including some that are in harder-to-reach areas of Iowa, to send the message that immigration is a human issue and that the state’s meatpacking plants, cornfields and construction projects rely on immigrant labor. Lawmakers advancing a bill like this one are disconnected from that reality, Galvez said. “Criminalizing the immigrant community is not the answer,” he said. “We tell people: ‘Don’t be afraid. No tengan miedo. We are going to keep fighting this.’”