A school district in Vermont claimed that if schools begin honoring a day that celebrates those who detransitioned after changing their gender (well‚ attempting to)‚ calling it “Detransition Awareness Day” would be hurtful and offensive to “transgender” students.  Townhall obtained documents from Parents Defending Education who’d initially requested the “Detransition Awareness Day.” Supposedly‚ a parent emailed the school board on February 6‚ 2023 asking to add a “Detransition Awareness Day” to the school calendar. The parent proposed March 12 for the celebration.  Townhall reported that the parent also asked that the book “Irreversible Damage‚” a story by Abigail Shrier that details how harmful transgender procedures are‚ be available to students “on an easel atop the shelves in the HS library” in the Essex Westford School District in Vermont. “Within the framework of equity and inclusion‚ those who choose to reverse course on the current prevalent narrative should be celebrated. It is a lonely path since it travels uphill against the downhill slippery slope‚ but students in this marginalized group deserve our support‚” the parent wrote in the email.  While school districts regularly celebrate pride‚ it seems only fair that a day to honor those who don’t celebrate changing their gender be instituted as well‚ yet‚ the Vermont district didn’t agree. Here’s what the school district replied according to Townhall: People who transition genders in any direction are recognized on national coming out day and during Pride month. We would‚ of course‚ support someone transitioning in any direction. Centering transitioning gender as damaging does not align with the EWSD Equity Policy's requirement of being LGBTQIA+ affirming. This particular frame on gender transition -- moving from a trans status to a status of gender assigned at birth because of damage done -- is not something we would center. Instead‚ we would support any person transitioning for any reason through the current days and structures we recognize and be supportive of their transition by recognizing the gender to which they identify. Detransition can be hurtful to transgender people and youth. We want to meet their mental needs. The school district is essentially saying‚ 'We’ll celebrate you if you want to live a delusion but if you accept reality‚ you’re on your own.' In the email‚ the school district indicated that the book‚ “Irreversible Damage‚” “actually goes against our equity policy and can cause harm.” Following that email‚ the parent reached back out insisting that their intention is not to “celebrate cisgender identities‚” but rather bring awareness to “transition regret.” A few days after that email‚ the school district replied that it “would not add a day to the calendar where the underlying narrative or content of the day points at others in harmful ways based on identity or for existing in the first place‚” and later added‚ “If the narrative around detransition day were a genuine celebration or recognition of folks who are detransitioning without pointing toward others as harmful for creating representation and equal rights for trans folks‚ I would see this differently.” So schools can point out how amazing they think transitioning is‚ but not how harmful it can be? Seems like a cherry picked assortment of data and information access in order to push an agenda if you ask me. Erika Sanzi‚ the director of outreach for Parents Defending Education felt similarly and told Townhall the following: Schools should get out of the habit of celebrating all these silly days on the calendar but if they are going to do so‚ they can't choose sides. And if school officials think that detransition awareness violates their equity policy‚ they'd be wise to get rid of that policy because it's clearly not equitable or inclusive despite claims to the contrary. That’s exactly right! Schools shouldn't pick sides or they should allow both or multiple to be supported and be given the opportunity to have equal access and representation.  It’s crazy that parents even have to advocate for a day that brings light to the dangers of transgenderism. Transgenderism isn’t something that should exist‚ so a day celebrating detransitioning shouldn’t have to exist either. But it’s the end of 2023‚ and here we are.  Long story short‚ get your kids out of public school.

Fox Business host Stuart Varney panned absurd comments made by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at a Dubai environmentalist conference.  Varney bashed Kerry's calls for the banning of coal-fired power plants as "crazy‚ unrealistic green goals.” On Dec. 3‚ Kerry said‚ "There shouldn't be any more coal-fired power plants permitted anywhere in the world.” But Varney lambasted Kerry's draconian recommendations uttered at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. “It shouldn't shock us but it's a grave error‚” Varney said on the Dec. 4 edition of Fox &; Friends. “20% of America's electricity supply today comes from coal. Kerry wants to abandon coal completely. You can't build any new power plants and you will shut down the coal-fired power plants that we have already got probably by 2035.”     Varney went on to ask the obvious question of how to replace all this energy‚ “You face a short-term crunch where they’re gonna get rid of all these coal-fired plants. Where does the electricity come from if it's not from coal? Where are we going to get it from? The president says‚ ‘We can get it from solar and wind.’ They actually said that just a couple of weeks ago.” Varney rejected this suggestion‚ “Dream on‚ Mr. President‚ dream on.”  The Varney &; Co. host then pointed out that many of the already-implemented wind projects are being walked back‚ asking Doocy‚ “Have you seen all those wind projects that have been canceled all up and down the eastern seaboard – Massachusetts‚ Rhode Island‚ New Jersey‚ Delaware‚ [Maryland]. They are not going to get the electricity they will need from those wind farms.”  Varney went on to suggest that restrictions on fracking natural gas in states like New York‚ alongside pipeline issues‚ would make it difficult to replace coal with more natural gas. Varney added‚ “You are going to have an energy crunch because they are committed to these — I think — crazy‚ unrealistic green goals.”  This replacement or at least the destruction of American coal energy without an alternative‚ is already underway.  Earlier this year‚ leftist billionaire Michael Bloomberg perversely celebrated the closure of coal plants at a massive scale and claimed credit for blocking 34 new natural gas plants.  Conservatives are under attack! Contact ABC News (818) 460-7477‚ CBS News (212) 975-3247 and NBC News (212) 664-6192 and demand they report on Michael Bloomberg’s planet-wide push to eliminate coal and make energy more expensive for everyone.

Rabid anti-Semites supporting Hamas terrorists gathered in Philadelphia‚ Pennsylvania Sunday night to call for genocide against Jews and assail a Jewish-owned restaurant. But while the liberal broadcast networks of ABC‚ CBS‚ and NBC had been more concerned with suggesting “islamophobia” was on the rise since the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7‚ they completely ignored the latest act of anti-Semitism in Philadelphia Monday morning. The evil crowd marched on the restaurant called Goldie in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of the city. As noted by The Times of Israel‚ the restaurant was part of a chain “founded by Israeli-American celebrity chef Michael Solomonov.” In a video taken of the anti-Semitic rally‚ which was posted on X‚ the crowd chanted “Goldie‚ Goldie you can’t hide‚ we charge you with genocide.”     Fact check: False. The restaurant was not carrying out a genocide‚ nor was the building attempting to hide. CBS’s omission of the story from Monday’s CBS Mornings was particularly awful given the fact that the news outlet had previously promoted the same restaurant chain for supporting relief work in Israel after October 7. “Philadelphia-based Israeli Chef Michael Solomonov is helping to raise money for those injured in the war in Israel‚” wrote reporters Taleisha Newbill and Andi Korff in an online article. “Solomonov owns four restaurants in Philadelphia under the banner CookNSolo‚ including Zahav‚ Goldie‚ Laser Wolf and K'Far Cafe.” Adding: “Solomonov said he would be donating 100% of all sales Thursday to Friends of United Hatzalah. The nonprofit emergency medical service responds to emergencies across Israel free of charge.” CBS also published the addresses of all four restaurants‚ including Goldie’s. The incident Sunday night was serious enough for national and state political leaders to acknowledge it occurred and issue statements about it. White House spokesman Andrew Bates put out a statement declaring: “It is antisemitic and completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy.” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D)‚ who is Jewish‚ condemned the anti-Semitic hate march on X: “Tonight in Philly‚ we saw a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest. A restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history.” He went on to note that he was planning to meet with Solomonov soon.   I’ve communicated tonight with @Mike_Solomonov and his team at Goldie to share our support and Lori and I look forward to breaking bread there with them again soon. — Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) December 4‚ 2023   Philly Congressman Brendan Boyle said on X: “I can’t believe I even have to say this but targeting businesses simply because they’re Jewish-owned is despicable. Philadelphia stands against this sort of harassment and hate.” Nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt‚ who joined NBC in moderating the third GOP presidential debate last month‚ called what happened in Philly a “pogrom” and argued it should be a national story. “The explosion of anti-Semitic acts against Jewish Americans should be leading the news everywhere this morning‚ but legacy media is paralyzed b/c of a reflex that it must also cover hatred against Muslims‚” he said. He noted that the two attacks in Chicago‚ Illinois and Burlington‚ Vermont were “awful‚” but “The number of anti-Semitic acts is far greater. The answer: Cover them all‚ but don't force an equivalency that isn't there.”   The explosion of anti-Semitic acts against Jewish Americans should be leading the news everywhere this morning‚ but legacy media is paralyzed b/c of a reflex that it must also cover hatred against Muslims. There have been two awful attacks against Palestinian-Americans and… https://t.co/QQ6wgop0Pe — Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) December 4‚ 2023

NBC’s Today decided on Monday to further draw out the soap opera of now-ex-Congressman George Santos (R-NY) after he was overwhelmingly expelled Friday from Congress and use it as proof of “deep divisions within the GOP” and use it as a jumping off point to bash the impeachment inquiry of President Biden as a waste of time given there’s “no hard evidence” of malfeasance. Co-host Savannah Guthrie boasted in a tease of “Republicans facing more infighting on Capitol Hill” while Nobles bragged that Santos being forced out came “at a time when Congress has a lot to get done” and “revealed deep divisions within the GOP ahead of a busy sprint to the end of the year where Congress is hoping to pass several important pieces of legislation‚ including aid to Israel‚ Ukraine‚ and Taiwan‚ as well as a border security package.”     “Those negotiations are making little progress. So instead‚ House leadership is focusing on something else‚” Nobles huffed‚ referring to impeachment. After a soundbite from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) saying the House has “a duty to pursue the facts where they lead‚” Nobles argued Republicans are focusing on an impeachment inquiry that’s “already well underway” instead of topics such as Israel and the U.S. border. Nobles‚ of course‚ had to use his variation of “no evidence” to dismiss any and all inklings of Biden family corruption: “Republicans accusing the President and his family of corrupt business deals‚ but so far‚ they’ve produced no hard evidence to back up their claims. For his part‚ the President has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.” Take one look at stories this fall such as here and here from our Geoffrey Dickens and Nobles argument could be assigned a pants-on-fire ruling. For example‚ the House Oversight Committee said on November 1 that now-President Biden received $40‚000 laundered from brother Jim Biden via the Chinese Communist Party-linked CEFC China Energy. Another concerning find Nobles would want to look at is the fact that Biden used a pseudonym for over 82‚000 e-mails‚ including one about Hunter’s meeting with then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. In September‚ Dickens flagged earlier scandals that included Hunter Biden’s business partner Eric Schwerin as having visited the Obama White House 19 times and the allegation that Biden received $5 million from the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. This‚ along with dozens of other revelations in recent years‚ have seen the light of day on NBC or any of the broadcast networks and their flagship morning and evening shows. Instead‚ Nobles resorted to more mockery: “That inquiry was launched without a....but now Republicans are having trouble enforcing high-profile subpoenas of witnesses‚ like the President’s son‚ Hunter Biden.” With a formal vote expected‚ Nobles insinuated it wouldn’t be because of anything discovered about Biden family corruption on a massive‚ global scale enveloping the current President. Instead‚ you see‚ Nobles proclaimed it’s to placate some in the House GOP: “The move to formalize impeachment comes as the right wing members and Speaker Mike Johnson’s ranks are getting increasingly antsy his leadership is not conservative enough.” To see the relevant transcript from December 4‚ click “expand.” NBC’s Today December 4‚ 2023 7:01 a.m. Eastern [TEASE] [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Republican Infighting] SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Republicans facing more infighting on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail with the first presidential contest just six weeks away now. (....) 7:09 a.m. Eastern GUTHRIE: And‚ in the meantime‚ House Republicans are moving toward a vote on a formal impeachment inquiry of President Biden. (....) 7:09 a.m. Eastern RYAN NOBLES The fallout from his short time in office continues‚ at a time when congress has a lot to get done. (....) 7:10 a.m. Eastern [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Biden Impeachment Inquiry] NOBLES: But the vote that led to his removal revealed deep divisions within the GOP ahead of a busy sprint to the end of the year where Congress is hoping to pass several important pieces of legislation‚ including aid to Israel‚ Ukraine‚ and Taiwan‚ as well as a border security package. Those negotiations are making little progress. So instead‚ House leadership is focusing on something else. SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA) [on 11/29/23]: We have a duty to pursue the facts where they lead. NOBLES: The impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is already well underway‚ with Republicans accusing the President and his family of corrupt business deals‚ but so far‚ they’ve produced no hard evidence to back up their claims. For his part‚ the President has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. That inquiry was launched without a vote under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy‚ but now Republicans are having trouble enforcing high-profile subpoenas of witnesses‚ like the President’s son‚ Hunter Biden. They acknowledge a formal vote would help move that forward. JOHNSON [on FNC’s Fox &; Friends Saturday‚ 12/02/23]: A formal impeachment inquiry vote on the floor will allow us to take it to the next necessary step and I think it’s something we have to do at this juncture. NOBLES: The move to formalize impeachment comes as the right wing members and Speaker Mike Johnson’s ranks are getting increasingly antsy his leadership is not conservative enough. And the Senate Majority Leader‚ Chuck Schumer‚ said that he plans to put the supplemental aid package on the floor‚ perhaps as early as this week‚ but if it does not include a border package that some Republicans can support‚ it likely cannot pass. Savannah? GUTHRIE: All right. Ryan‚ thank you.

The Liz Cheney book tour has begun‚ and it’s very pleasing to Democrats to hear her demand everyone vote against Republicans. On the second hour of Monday’s Today‚ co-host Savannah Guthrie gave Cheney nine-and-a-half minutes of book promotion -- for this "staunch conservative‚" as she put it. The first six minutes (and seven questions) were along the expected line of “please underline how dangerous Trump and his GOP enablers are.” This portion had all the “if Trump wins‚ democracy ends” bluster. It was more interesting when Guthrie pressed her on just how much she wants Democrats to win. “You said the Republican Party of today has made a choice‚ has not chosen the constitution. Do you think Democrats‚ it would be better for Democrats to regain control of Congress in 2024?” Cheney said yes. Some "staunch conservative‚" pushing for an all-Democrat Washington.   Guthrie underlined: "This is just crazy stuff! You are Liz Cheney. You are previously known as one of the most conservative members of Congress. You're the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. You are saying it would be safer if Republicans weren't in control of the House." Cheney said "I think what we have seen is that you cannot count on this group of elected Republicans to uphold their oath."  Guthrie pressed further: "You write that. You say every one of us‚ Republican‚ Democrat‚ independent must work and vote together. I will put it to you plainly. Will you vote for President Biden if Donald Trump is on the other side of the ticket?" Cheney said‚ " I will never vote for Donald Trump" and that she would "do whatever it takes to make sure that Donald Trump is defeated in 2024." Asked if that means she'd vote for Biden‚ she repeated‚ "I will do whatever it takes." Guthrie then noted Trump is beating Biden in the polls‚ not just nationally‚ but in battleground states. "Do you wish the Democrats had nominated someone other than Biden? Do you feel he is the best chance to defeat Donald Trump?" Cheney wouldn't answer that directly. Then came a question about persuadable voters:  GUTHRIE: I keep thinking when I was reading your book‚ about who is persuadable at this point? You call it a cult of personality on the Trump side. Okay‚ fine. So if you're in the cult‚ you're not going to vote for anyone except Trump. And then you have people on the other side‚ they will vote for the Democrats. This is a sliver of people who think‚ "okay‚ I may not have loved Trump. I'm tired of his antics‚ but I'm worried about the border. I'm worried about crime. And I think Biden is too old." What do you say to them that they think a Trump vote is -- it'll end up being all right. Maybe not pleasant but it'll be all right.  Cheney explicitly lectured: "I think that's a real problem‚ and the challenge is to make sure those people understand and recognize that a Trump vote is not acceptable....that choice can never be Donald Trump because a vote for Donald Trump may mean the last election that you ever get to vote in. " Welcome to democracy! 

House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to sit idly and let Democrats attack Christians with bad-faith attacks.On Friday‚ Democratic strategist James Carville was speaking with Bill Maher when he offered his perspective on Christians like Johnson: They're "a bigger threat" than al-Qaeda."Mike Johnson and what he believes is one of the greatest threats we have today to the United States‚" Carville claimed. "This is a bigger threat than al-Qaeda to this country."Carville continued:And let me tell you something: The speaker of the House‚ they got probably at least two Supreme Court justices‚ maybe more‚ don’t kid yourself. People in the press have no idea who this guy is‚ how he was formed‚ what the threat is — and this is a fundamental threat to the United States. It is a fundamental thing. They don’t believe in the Constitution. They’ll tell you that. Mike Johnson himself says‚ "What is democracy but two wolves and a lamb having lunch?"That’s what they really‚ really‚ really believe. And to say‚ "Oh‚ come on‚ man. It’s just some crazy s***." No‚ no. They believe that. And they’re coming and they’ve been doing it forever. They’re funded. They’re funded. They’re relentless and‚ you know‚ they probably won’t win for a while but they might. And if they do‚ the whole country blows a gasket.Maher actually threw Carville a bone‚ asking if he was referring to "Christian nationalism‚" and Carville responded‚ "Absolutely." However‚ the way in which Carville pontificated about Johnson indicated that he was speaking about Christianity generally‚ not any form of nationalism per se. This is an important distinction because Johnson has never said he ascribes to any form of "Christian nationalism." Quite tellingly‚ that phrase is only used when the media and Democrats want to attack him. — (@) Johnson responded to Carville's attack on Sunday‚ exposing the absurdity of his claim."It's twisted and shameful that a leading Democrat strategist says millions of Christians in America are a greater threat than foreign terrorists who murdered more than 3‚000 Americans‚" Johnson said. "The Democratic Party should condemn this. But they won’t‚" he added. — (@) Meanwhile‚ it's not true‚ as Carville claimed‚ that Johnson does not believe in the Constitution. Johnson‚ in fact‚ worked as a constitutional lawyer prior to entering politics. Johnson has also repeatedly explained that he is not "trying to establish Christianity as the national religion or something." Instead‚ he describes himself as a "rule-of-law guy" who respects the "rule of law" and the "law of the land" — even when that law contradicts his Christian faith. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A disturbing new trend is on the rise in America. Women have begun selling adult content online — and leaving their hard-earned careers to do it full-time. Some teachers set out to simply supplement their income‚ and in some cases‚ what starts as a side gig becomes the main one. In one case‚ a teacher was placed on leave after her OnlyFans page was discovered. The teacher‚ Brianna Coppage‚ made $42‚000 a year as a teacher. She is now making close to $1 million on OnlyFans after just starting her account this summer. “I don’t want to fight the school district; I’m just ready for peace‚” Coppage said when she resigned. “I knew nothing was ever going to be the same if I went back‚ so this was the best option‚” she added. Even ex-supermodel Carol Alt‚ who is 63 years old‚ has set up an OnlyFans account. “I’m taking control of my image by joining OnlyFans‚” Alt said‚ noting that she’s “doing tastefully done nude photos.” “I’d be concerned that it wouldn’t be tasteful‚” Pat Gray mocks.“So I’m really comforted that she’s doing it tastefully.” OnlyFans creation has spread to the UFC now too. Fighter Ailin Perez started her own page and made $30‚000 in just four days after winning her fight over the weekend. That’s in stark contrast to the $24‚000 she made from winning the fight‚ which has taken years of practice to be able to do. “I’m taking advantage of OnlyFans because that’s where I’m making my money‚” Perez said. “My OnlyFans is not pornography‚” she continued‚ “It is art.” “Tells you where we are as a society and a civilization‚ doesn’t it?” Gray asks. Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

A Chicago-area school district has begun offering segregated advanced-level courses for black and Latino students as part of a larger effort to combat racism‚ which it calls "the most devastating factor" in academic achievement disparities.Last spring‚ Evanston Township High School began offering several race-based higher-level courses‚ including algebra 2‚ pre-calculus‚ AP calculus‚ and advanced English. These so-called "affinity" courses do not just seemingly discriminate against white students but also other minority students‚ as AXLE — which stands for Advancing Excellence‚ Lifting Everyone — is geared toward black students‚ while Ganas — a Spanish term that the New York Post translated as "giving it all you got" — is designed for Latino students.Superintendent Marcus Campbell recently defended the programs‚ arguing that they provide "a different‚ more familiar setting to kids who feel really anxious about being in an AP class." And at least one black student who has participated in an affinity course confirmed that the segregated setting made him feel more comfortable. "In AP classes that are mostly white‚ I feel like if I answer wrong‚ I am representing all black kids. I stay quiet in those classes‚" the unnamed student said.The programs have also demonstrated marginal success‚ as "students of color" have recently performed better on AP tests than they had in years past‚ the Post reported. However‚ the Post did not specify which racial groups had begun performing better or whether students attending race-based AP courses had outperformed those taking AP courses with students of all races.Of ETHS' approximately 3‚600 students‚ 25% are black and 20% are Latino‚ but the affinity courses do not appear to be very popular among those groups. Just one out of every seven Latino students and one out of every nine black students at ETHS has taken an affinity course.Since the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954‚ federal law has strictly prohibited racial segregation in public schools‚ and many legal scholars have cried foul about the practices in Evanston‚ as well as similar practices in Minneapolis‚ Seattle‚ San Francisco‚ and Oakland. David Bernstein of George Mason Law School called such race-based courses "blatantly unconstitutional." "There is no way that could possibly pass legal muster if someone sued‚" he added.However‚ the Wall Street Journal indicated in its reporting late last month that affinity courses may not violate the law because they are voluntary. "Federal antidiscrimination laws prevent public schools from mandatorily separating students by race‚ but education lawyers say optional courses can comply with the law‚" the outlet wrote‚ according to the Washington Free Beacon.The district also noted that affinity courses are no longer "restricted" to members of certain racial groups. "If push came to shove and you look at the master schedule‚ and a kid needs calculus that period and there’s nothing else that works and that kid is white‚ of course we’ll put them in the affinity class‚" Superintendent Campbell claimed‚ focusing on the logistics of student scheduling and overcrowding rather than issue of racial discrimination. ETHS course descriptions currently say that affinity classes are "open to all students" but are "intended to support students who identify as 'latinx' or 'black‚'" the Evanstonian reported back in August.The issue also extends beyond race-based classes. The Evanston Township school board has made ending overall disparities in racial achievement outcomes its stated goal: "Recognizing that racism is the most devastating factor contributing to the diminished achievement of students‚ ETHS will strive to eliminate the predictability of academic achievement based upon race."This move by the school board should come as no surprise‚ as the city of Evanston has made several attempts in the last few years to eradicate racism by governmental fiat. In 2019‚ the city council declared Evanston to be "an anti-racist city." Two years later‚ Evanston became the first city in America to approve reparation payments for black people.Despite these overtures‚ black students have still struggled academically. "Our black students are‚ for lack of a better word — and I hate using this word‚ but they are at the bottom and they are being outperformed constantly‚" school board vice president Monique Parsons said last month. "It’s not good. We’re always chasing this and trying to figure it out."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A German court delivered its verdict Tuesday concerning those responsible for the barbaric September 2020 gang-rape of a 15-year-old German girl in the northern city of Hamburg. Of the eleven men initially charged in relation to the gang-rape of the minor — only four of whom were technically German — two were acquitted. Nine were found guilty. Eight got probation‚ not exceeding two years. Only one is headed to prison. There has been significant backlash following the release of eight convicted rapists‚ prompting officials to condemn critiques of the judgment‚ particularly those of an "anti-migrant" nature. What's the background? Spiegel reported that the victim attended a party on the festival lawn in Hamburg's over 350-acre city park on Sept. 19‚ 2020. Four of the men dragged the girl‚ then intoxicated‚ into a bush and raped her. One of the rapists added insult to grievous injury and stole her phone and wallet. Two other men then joined in‚ raping the victim. After the initial series of attacks‚ the victim reportedly began stumbling away‚ right into the arms of yet another rapist from the pack. The rapist who intercepted her near the festival meadow was then joined by three additional rapists‚ who are suspected to have all similarly sexually assaulted the victim. Owing to the uncertainty about whether the final three all raped the victim‚ one rapist was acquitted. The brutal gang rape lasted nearly three hours. According to German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung‚ after her violent dehumanization‚ the victim managed to get onto a train. However‚ her aggressors‚ understanding that she was traveling alone‚ followed her. Fortunately‚ she fled to a group of people who "recognized her condition and called the police." DNA evidenced implicated nine of the rapists. There was also video evidence‚ but Spiegel indicated that the footage was "irretrievably deleted shortly after the crime" such that neither investigators nor the court could confirm what genetic evidence made abundantly clear. An eleventh defendant charged with aiding and abetting and filming the rape was acquitted earlier this year. While four of the rapists were allegedly of German nationality‚ another four reportedly had Afghan‚ Kuwaiti‚ Armenian‚ and Montenegrin nationalities. The Morgenpost Verlag GmbH indicated one was born in Iran‚ another in Libya‚ and a third in Egypt. The court has not indicated the nationality of two of the rapists. Trial Although the rapists were ages 17 to 21 at the time of the horrific crime‚ they were tried in a youth court. The trial‚ where the court prohibited media coverage‚ began in May 2022 and lasted 68 days. Ninety-six witnesses and several experts ultimately gave testimony. Among the so-called expert witnesses was psychiatrist Nahlah Saimeh. Saimeh intimated that the gang rape may have been a means to let off some of the "frustration" that supposedly comes with "migration experiences and socio-cultural homelnessness." Saimeh said rapists "who live on the margins of society‚ completely uprooted culturally‚ linguistically and socially" might face a "mix of emotions of anger‚ sadness‚ powerlessness‚ depression‚ fantasies of grandeur as a compensation attempt to cope with one's own misery‚ and drug use." "Disordered‚ unprepared migration experiences and socio-cultural homelessness increase the risk of addiction and psychosis‚" said the so-called expert. Sex‚ she continued‚ could serve as a "means of releasing frustration and anger." The psychiatrist further suggested that gang rape fosters identity and strengthens group feeling. The rapists' lawyers called for acquittals‚ suggesting that the traces of their semen on the victim's clothing did not prove the sex was forced. While presiding Judge Anne Meier-Goering acknowledged that "none of the defendants uttered a word of regret" during the trial‚ she nevertheless sentenced eight of the rapists to probation‚ of no more than two years. Only one rapist‚ a 19-year-old‚ received prison time. He was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison without parole. Matthias Jahn from the Goethe University Frankfurt told ZDFHeute that the court took into account the fact that none of the rapists had previously been sentenced to a youth prison or had been convicted of sexual offenses. The court's decision can still be appealed. Apparently Germany has previously been willing to lock up gang rapists. Ten migrants — eight Syrians‚ an Iraqi‚ and a Algerian who similarly said their victim had consented — were sentenced to prison in July 2020 for gang-raping an 18-year-old woman in Freiburg. The maximum prison sentence dished out was five years and six months. Backlash Spiegel indicated that those involved in the trial have been subjected to overwhelming criticism and hostilities since the rapists were set free. "We are observing the hostility in connection with the proceedings and the verdict with great concern‚" said Kai Wantzen‚ a spokesman for the court. Wantzen suggested that the hateful messages targeting Meier-Goering and others have both crossed the line into criminal offenses and "reached a new‚ worrying level in terms of intensity and mass." The Hamburg Judges Association noted it was concerned over the "unbearable agitation against a colleague who had fulfilled the task assigned to her under the Basic Law in this difficult case." Heike Hummelmeier‚ chairwoman of the association‚ said‚ "The calls for violence against the judge – which also have an anti-migrant background – are completely unbearable." Arne Timmermann‚ a criminal defense attorney on the board of the Hamburg Working Group for Criminal Defense Lawyers‚ suggested that in the case of outrage over Saimeh's controversial remarks to Spiegel‚ she was being taken out of context. "The psychiatrist creates a general profile of perpetrators (perpetrators who live on the fringes of society‚ completely uprooted culturally‚ linguistically and socially) and argues with racist stereotypes‚" said Timmermann. "The reader gets confirmation of what he always thought about 'gang rapists.'" While the perception that Saimeh meant to write off gang rape as an opportunity to vent migrant frustrations generated outrage‚ it did not seem to register nearly as much anger as the court's decision to set the rapists free. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The parents of a 9-year-old boy accused by a Deadspin writer of wearing blackface during a Kansas City Chiefs football game threatened to sue the outlet and demanded a retraction and apology‚ NewsNation reported.What's the background?The writer of the article‚ Carron J. Phillips‚ used a photo for his Deadspin piece showing only half of Holden Armenta's face‚ which was black. Problem is‚ the other half of Holden's face was red — one of the Chiefs' team colors: — (@) What's more‚ Holden's mother stated on her Facebook page that her son actually is Native American. The Armenta family noted they are part of the Chumash tribe of California and used to live on a reservation‚ Fox News said.Dubiously‚ Phillips wrote in his Deadspin piece that Holden "found a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time."Holden's father told Fox News' Jesse Watters that he's "mad" and "upset" about the toll the controversy has taken on his son: "He's pretty devastated."Parents reportedly hire law firmAccording to a letter NewsNation said it obtained‚ Holden’s parents — Shannon and Raul Armenta — hired Clare Locke LLP to threaten action against Phillips‚ Deadspin‚ G/O Media‚ and Great Hill Partners.“These Articles‚ posts on X‚ and photos about Holden and his parents must be retracted immediately. It is not enough to quietly remove a tweet from X or disable the article from Deadspin’s website‚" the letter reads‚ according to NewsNation. "You must publish your retractions and issue an apology to my clients with the same prominence and fanfare with which you defamed them."NewsNation added that Clare Locke helped Dominion Voting Systems win a $787.5 million settlement against Fox News.Anything else?Blaze News writer Carlos Garcia pointed out that Phillips‚ in his effort to double down against numerous critics railing against him‚ used a non-sequitur that accused them of hating Mexicans."For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red‚ I could make the argument that it makes it even worse‚" Phillips wrote in an X post‚ which now appears to have been deleted. "Y’all are the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco."In addition‚ a recent update to his Deadspin article notes that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians released a statement "condemning" the "wearing regalia as part of a costume or participating in any other type of cultural appropriation." Strangely‚ the full statement from the tribe‚ which is included in the update‚ does not use the word "condemn" — rather that the tribe "does not endorse" the aforementioned activities.Holden's father acknowledged in his interview with Watters that he's seen a "whirlwind of comments" about his son's headdress and that some tribal members "think it's OK‚ some think it's not OK" but that ultimately "it's a 9-year-old boy supporting his team." — (@) Holden's dad also told Watters that it’s "a little too late" for an apology from Phillips because the "damage is already done."What's more‚ Phillips on Thursday posted a pair of entries on the X platform calling attention to a Native American tribe's reaction to Holden wearing a headdress. Phillips didn't use words to preface his pair of posts; instead he employed "eyeball" emojis‚ which typically are used as a "Look at this!" signal to readers. In response‚ X users became furious and were in the process of ratioing each entry into oblivion (i.e.‚ when comments outnumber likes) and blasting him. It appears‚ however‚ that the X posts in question have been deleted.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!