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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick believes this is a prime example of why Texas needs to do away with sanctuary cities.

Cori Coffin, KVUE 6:14 PM. CDT July 23, 2017

AUSTIN - Texas lawmakers are reacting to the news after authorities discovered dozens of people stuffed into the back of a big-rig. So far, nine people are confirmed dead. San Antonio police suspect it was a human smuggling operation.

KVUE sat down with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to get his take on the situation. Patrick believes this is a prime example of why Texas needs to do away with sanctuary cities. The hope of coming to a 'sanctuary city' is leading people into dire situations with human traffickers.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (Photo: KVUE)

"It's a humanitarian crisis -- and in my view, murder when you stuff people when it's 100 degrees or more in the back of a truck," explained Patrick. "And who knows how long they were in that truck. I've always said -- I've said this for years: no one should have to die to come to America. We need legal immigration reform. That's up to both parties in Washington -- it has been for a long time -- so that people can come here in dignity. We need to control who comes here. But those who come here, we want them to come here in dignity -- not have to live in the shadows -- and embrace our country."

Patrick is looking to the federal government to overhaul immigration in America. It's something both Republican and Democrat-majority administrations have tried and failed at. Patrick envisions a simpler system to get people in dangerous situations, into the United States quicker.

"We need to streamline the opportunity to come to America legally," he added. "Citizenship may take longer, but you should be able to come here in a reasonable amount of time, with background checks and with jobs waiting for you. Maybe a family that can take you in."

Patrick also told KVUE if Congress can implement a successful immigration system, he believes most illegal immigration would disappear. He said 'sanctuary cities' undermine that effort, empowering smugglers to take advantage of those who are desperate.

State Senator Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) also wants to see comprehensive immigration reform in America. He spoke about the Bracero program of the 1950s, which allowed migrant workers to come into the country for day labor.

"And because they knew they could go and come back, because of this work program, they didn't look for desperate ways to get here at any cost -- at any price," explained Menendez. "They knew there was a way, a legal way, to come into the country, do some work, and leave... We're the wealthiest, most free country in the world. And we're surrounded by places that need help. And I think we could do a better job of being better neighbors."

Senator Menendez believes along with comprehensive reform, it's important to not make people who already live here, victims as well. He also says he would like to see harsher penalties for human traffickers to fight the problem.

On the other side,District 51 Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, who is part of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, believes politics shouldn't be the first thing looked at in a situation like this.

"I know that people will talk about immigration and policy in a partisan and political way. I don't really think that that helps the situation at this particular moment. It's just so heartbreaking. It really illustrates in a very, very drastic way people that are coming to this country -- people who lost their lives -- because they're desperate to come here, he said.

According to ABC News, in this month alone, Border Patrol has reported at least four truck seizures in and around Laredo. Two weeks ago, agents found over 70 people from Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador, all crammed into a truck with no way out.

And it's not just U.S. authorities dealing with these issues, law enforcement in Mexico are seeing it too.Last year, 110 people were found trapped inside a truck after it crashed while speeding in the state of Veracruz.

It's the kind of reality Rodriguez feels needs to change, calling for justice for San Antonio's victims.

And you have some bad actors who tried to bring them here and then leave them in appalling conditions and treated like less than human. We really have to think of tragedies like this from a very human perspective, Rodriguez added.

2017 KVUE-TV

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'No one should have to die to come to America': Lawmakers react to apparent immigrant smuggling case - KVUE

By Mike Farrell Special to NKyTribune

The Scripps Howard First Amendment Center is looking for a Kentuckian who is a champion of the First Amendment.

The center in the College of Communication and Informations School of Journalism and Media at the University of Kentucky is requesting nominations for its annual James Madison Award. The award, created in 2006, honors the nations fourth president, whose extraordinary efforts led to the passage and ratification of the Bill of Rights.

The Madison Award recognizes someone who has worked in one or more of these areas: open government and open records; promotion of the watchdog role of the press; defense against government or private censorship; or robust debate in the marketplace of ideas.

Nominees must have significant ties to Kentucky, and their efforts must have resulted in the preservation or expansion of freedom of the press and/or freedom of speech. Dedication to the First Amendment principle of free expression is not accomplished in a days work but rather a lifetime. Thus the award recognizes a long-term commitment to such ideals.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 1.

Honorees do not have to be journalists. Nominees may include, for example, educators, lawyers, judges, scholars, librarians, students or ordinary citizens. The most deserving recipient will be someone who has made a significant contribution regardless of how much public attention it has received.

The nominator should submit a letter identifying the nominee, listing the nominees address, phone number and position, and explain why the nominee would be a worthy recipient. The letter should detail the specific efforts taken on behalf of First Amendment rights and should discuss obstacles and difficulties as well as the impact of the nominees efforts. The nominator may include up to three letters of support as well as other materials such as published or broadcast information.

Entries will be reviewed by a committee that will include previous winners and the director of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center. The committee will have the option of not selecting a recipient if it does not believe any candidate is deserving.

The award will be presented at the annual First Amendment Celebration, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in the William T. Young Library auditorium on the university campus.

Nominations should be sent to Mike Farrell, Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, School of Journalism and Media, 120 Grehan Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0042, or emailed to farrell@uky.edu.

Mike Farrell is director of the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center and a co-founder of the NKyTribune.

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Scripps Howard First Amendment Center seeking nominations for 2017 James Madison Award - User-generated content (press release) (registration)

An advocate must be free to stimulate his audience with spontaneous and emotional appeals for unity and action in a common cause. When such appeals do not incite lawless action, they must be regarded as protected speech. (NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co., 1982)

In contradiction to such sentiments, Sen. Maggie Hassan is co-sponsoring a Senate bill Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.720/H.R.1697) that would make it a felony for Americans to support an international boycott against Israel.

Its a bill designed to strip Americans of constitutionally protected rights, a bill that targets supporters of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement that works to end international support for Israels oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.

Boycotts to achieve political goals, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has written, are a form of expression that the Supreme Court has ruled are protected by the First Amendments protections of freedom of speech, assembly and petition.

BDS is designed to give Palestinians and their supporters a nonviolent platform from which to resist occupation and illegal settlement activity, activity which the international community believes is a flagrant violation of international law without legal validity, activities condemned by innumerable U.N. resolutions from No. 242 to No. 2334 and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

In 2014, Nobel Peace laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu said: I have witnessed the systemic humiliation of Palestinian men, women and children by members of the Israeli security forces. Their humiliation is familiar to all black South Africans who were corralled and harassed and insulted and assaulted by the security forces of the apartheid government.

BDS is designed to empower Palestinians to resist that humiliation.

In response to (S.720/H.R.1697) the ACLU has written: The bill would amend those laws to bar U.S. persons from supporting boycotts against Israel, including its settlements in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, conducted by international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations and the European Union. It would also broaden the law to include penalties for simply requesting information about such boycotts. Violations would be subject to a maximum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison. We take no position for or against the effort to boycott Israel or any foreign country, for that matter. However, we do assert that the government cannot, consistent with the First Amendment, punish U.S. persons based solely on their expressed political beliefs.

This bill would impose civil and criminal punishment on individuals solely because of their political beliefs about Israel and its policies.

I support BDS because its a nonviolent response that I recognize initiated by Palestinian civil society to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, to the oppression of Palestinians, to the continued incarceration of hundreds of Palestinians held under administrative detention without either indictment or trial.

BDS does not delegitimize Israel; it delegitimizes illegal occupation and oppression.

In April, BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti said, Twelve years ago, we were called romantic dreamers or worse. Today, our fast-growing movement is recognized as being so strong as to be fought by the full force of Israels regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid, and by its partners in crime.

Partners like members of the United State Congress whove aligned themselves with oligarchs and power brokers, partners who not only oppose BDS but who oppose making political and economic distinctions between Israel and occupied Palestinian territory.

I support BDS because I recognized, and supported, the boycott in South Africa that helped to strike down apartheid. I supported the Montgomery bus boycott and the Delano grape strike because I believe in justice.

Because I recognize that were called upon to resist oppression and occupation.

I recognize, too, that even when boycotts dont change anything, as in the anti-Nazi boycott of 1933 that did nothing to stop the harassment of German Jews, that its morally necessary to act.

As Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of the American Jewish Congress said at the time, We must speak out, and If that is unavailing, at least we shall have spoken.

BDS is working.

In 2016, the EU, along with Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands, affirmed the right to support BDS as protected by freedom of speech and freedom of association.

Last month the Spanish parliament unanimously passed a motion affirming the right to advocate for BDS as protected by freedom of speech and freedom of association.

BDS is working.

BDS supporters know its working because of the scale of resources its opponents are devoting to delegitimize and criminalize the nonviolent movement including getting members of Congress to emasculate the First Amendment.

I know BDS is controversial. Some of my dearest friends dont support it at all; others want BDS to apply only to the occupied territories.

I get that, and support their choice.

However, those friends and I do agree that the Israel Anti-Boycott Act is unjust and is a blatant attempt to dissuade American supporters of Palestinian freedom and justice from engaging in protected political speech and action.

Resisting violence is easy. Use greater violence and destroy, imprison and emasculate the enemy. If they resist, hit them harder.

Resisting nonviolence is harder you cant bomb non-violent resisters into submission.

So, to counter BDSs nonviolent philosophy, Israels calling upon America to violently defile existential imperatives and collude in squelching First Amendment rights.

Pay attention: (S.720/H.R.1697) aligns America with governments that choose to deal with dissent and protest by limiting freedoms and speech governments like Poland, Russia, Turkey, Israel and Egypt.

Were not like them. Were better than that.

Pay attention: If speech can be criminalized in order to oppress Palestinians then it could as easily be used against any other group that displease the government or oligarchs in the future.

Pay attention: Last week Vice President Mike Pence said, America stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, as together we confront those enemies who threaten our people, our freedom and our very way of life.

What he, and Hassan, fail to recognize is that those who threaten our people, our freedom, and our very way of life is us that were in danger of becoming our enemy.

Let us speak out: If that is unavailing, at least we shall have spoken.

(Robert Azzi is a photographer and writer who lives in Exeter. He can be reached at theother.azzi@gmail.com and his columns are archived at theotherazzi.wordpress.com.)

See more here:
Robert Azzi: Congress assails First Amendment, BDS, Palestinians ... - Concord Monitor

A lesbian couple says that they were looking for a wedding dress two weeks ago, but all they found in one shop was bigotry.

Shannon Kennedy and Julie Ann Samanas visited W.W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, with Julie Anns sister to prepare for their March, 2018, wedding.

They were given a form to fill out, and thats where the bridal shop owner found out that they were a same-sex couple.

We filled out the form that said Brides name, Budget and then where it said Groom, we crossed it out and wrote Bride and put Shannons name down, Julie Ann told Philadelphia Gay News.

They handed the form in to one of the employees, who asked them if the dress was for a same-sex wedding. She said, I dont know if youve heard, but were Christian and we dont believe in that; our faith doesnt let us believe in that, Shannon said.

Then they left the boutique. I think we were kind of in shock, Shannon said.

Julie Ann posted about the discrimination on Facebook and received a lot of support.

The bridal shop also posted a message to Facebook that they have since deleted. According to the Philadelphia Gay News, the message said, The owners of W.W. Bridal Boutique reserve the rights afforded to them by the First Amendment of the Constitution to live out our lives according to our faith. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. We will continue to serve our customers based on the tenets of our faith.

Pennsylvania has no state-wide law prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The rest is here:
Bridal shop refuses lesbian couple and cites the First Amendment - LGBTQ Nation

Donald Trump returns to campaign-style rhetoric in an apparent attempt to shift attention way from Russias alleged interference in the presidential election by hitting out at his former rival Hillary Clinton.

In a series of tweetsSaturday morning, the president questioned Clintons own ties to Russia, as well as her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state.

So many people are asking why isn't the A.G. or Special Council looking at the many Hillary Clinton or Comey crimes. 33,000 e-mails deleted? he wrote, not specifying who was asking for a further investigation into Clintons emails, the FBI having concluded their own investigation prior to the election.

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An interview with The New York Times reveals just how little Trump understands health care. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

...What about all of the Clinton ties to Russia, including Podesta Company, Uranium deal, Russian Reset, big dollar speeches etc., Trump said, adding: My son Donald openly gave his e-mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!

During Trumps election campaign, the topic of Clintons email use was a frequent one, with his supporters frequently chanting, lock her up when he referred to his Democrat rival.

But despite suggesting he would pursue a further investigation into Clintons emails if elected, Trumps tack initially changed once he won the election, stating back in December 2016 that prosecuting Clinton is not something I feel very strongly about, CNN reported.

However, since news emerged that Trumps son Donald Jr. met with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer who promised him damaging information on Hillary Clinton during the election campaign, Trump has once again turned his attention to his former rival, using social media to resort to tactics that played well for him during his election campaign.

As media attention on his so increased, Trump wrote on July 16: HillaryClinton can illegally get the questions to the Debate & delete 33,000 emails but my son Don is being scorned by the Fake News Media?

And reacting to another story on the information into election meddling by Russia, Trump wrote: Why aren't the same standards placed on the Democrats. Look what Hillary Clinton may have gotten away with. Disgraceful!

Link:
Donald Trump Returns to Familiar Rhetoric By Slamming Hillary Clinton in Attempt to Distract From Russia Probe - Newsweek