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Twenty-eight years have passed since that show at the Palladium on Sunset Boulevard when Man first stood before an L.A. audience. A romance was kindled that night between the Mexican pop-rock band and the California city that today is like Man's second home.

Since then, no place has received the acclaimed band from Guadalajara lead vocalist and guitarist Fher Olvera, drummer lex Gonzlez, bassist Juan Calleros and guitarist Sergio Valln more frequently or rapturously than L.A. Several years ago, Man owners of four Grammys and eight Latin Grammys, and the first Spanish-language rock band to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame broke a concert record held by the Eagles when it played seven times at the Forum in Inglewood. Man returns to the Forum on Friday and Saturday, with two more scheduled dates each in April, June and July, extending its streak of annual L.A. residencies.

The idea is to continue until people get tired of us, Olvera says.

Olvera and Valln spoke with The Times about their deep attachment to Los Angeles, the politics of COVID-19 and and the postponement of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Man, from left: Sergio Valln, Fher Olvera, Alex Gonzlez, and Juan Calleros.

(Live Nation)

Many artists think of doing a musical residency in Las Vegas. You decided to do one in Los Angeles. Why?Olvera: Los Angeles has it all. It has connections to the entire world. It is a city that we love deeply. It is the city, practically in the entire world, that suits us best.

Youve waited until 2022 to resume touring, although other artists and groups started last year. I imagine that you did it with caution so that people could recover economically from the pandemic.Olvera: Yes, just like you say. And you appear to be Mexican...?

Im Peruvian.Olvera: Ah, Peruvian. But you do know the song El Rey?

Yeah, sure.Olvera: The one that says, You dont have to get there first, you have to know how to get there. That is the important thing here, that there is access to the tickets, a positive cost-benefit. We bring the same equipment as a group like Coldplay or U2, tons of equipment, but the ticket prices for those groups and many others I include Latinos are very different from ours. We do make tickets accessible and we also get closer to people, to those who dont have the ability to buy such an expensive ticket.

Los Angeles is quite important to you. You were willing to donate the rights to your songs so that L.A. schools could teach Spanish. Why?Olvera: We deeply admire the Latino community, the Mexican community. We know that they, or their parents, found it difficult in the past and have come here to work they have made this country great. We have respect and admiration for all these people.

And we have to start at the bottom: The gringos dont yet trust us to the degree that they should, but here we come. We embrace human rights with a great passion. We spoke four or five times with President Obama, but we didnt have that opportunity with the next president [Trump] because we detached ourselves from him. To us, he seemed extremely racist and radical, with the policies he passed. Then come Democrats [like Biden] who are more pro-Latino.

But the fact is that Latinos are awesome. And we have seized Los Angeles as a way to reconquer a part that was ours, of Mexicans, and we have conquered it culturally, peacefully, artistically, economically. The power that Latin Americans have in the United States, both economically and politically, is impressive. It is something that we have been living for these last 30 years.

At the Forum in 2019, you were asking people to go out and vote their conscience, for whoever they wanted, but to come out and vote. Today we have a president who understands the needs of Latinos, but that long-awaited immigration reform that was promised still hasnt arrived. How do you see it?Olvera: Its very bad. There must be immigration reform to allow work for the Mexicans and Latin Americans. Lets not play the fool. Theres something strange going on, like maybe they want to keep having cheap labor so they can compete with China. I have doubts right now, because it would be very logical for them to legalize everyone. I told that to Hillary Clinton we were with Obama, talking about this. It is also important that Americans, that the American government, have an ID, that people have a legal identification, that they can pay taxes, but also that a Latin American person does not feel that they might take it away tomorrow.

The borders between Mexico and the United States have reopened for nonessential travel and for people to be able to reunite with their families. Do you think this decision was delayed too long, or did it come at the right time?Olvera: I think it was delayed, but the thing about COVID has also been difficult. Wear masks, get vaccinated, for the love of God. This is an issue of survival. The most intelligent people are those who survive. Those of us who get vaccinated will not infect those who do not. How can it be that in this century these things are still with us for anyone to question that two plus two equals four?

Valln: It is very sad that vaccination in our countries has been turned into a political strategy, as is the case in Mexico.

Will we ever have a Latino president in this country?Olvera: The next one has to be a Latino. Why not?

Valln: If there is already a Latin Pope.

Man guitarist Sergio Valln at a 2021 performance.

(Vctor Armando Garca)

You touched on the song El Rey [The King], by Jos Alfredo Jimnez, that you sang when boxer Canelo lvarez was going out to his fight against Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last November. How did you feel about that, because you were singing by yourself?Olvera: Well, it was very easy, brother, because that guy is the king. Canelo deserves that, and he likes Man a lot. Hes from Guadalajara, from Jalisco, another gran tapato. And he trains with the music of Man. We were previously with him at his wedding. And now he had this rock n roll that he loved, and finally he told me, You know, you filled me with strength to defeat Plant.

You are going to have special guests at the Forum, and you have done duets throughout your career we remember Pablo Alborn, Shakira, Sebastin Yatra. But there is a very important one that you did last year with Alejandro Fernndez a re-recording of Mariposa Traicionera.Valln: Yes, indeed, we have been working on this album project of duets and now it is Alejandro Fernndezs turn with Mariposa Traicionera.

Olvera: Its a mix that Sergio came up with.

Valln: It is still the same essence of Mariposa Traicionera, but it has a touch of mariachi. And when we did it, we said why dont we invite Alejandro Fernndez, who is also from Guadalajara, who has a great voice and is also our friend. And it fit like a ring on the finger.

See the rest here:
Mexican stars Man on why L.A. is their home away from home - Los Angeles Times

Nine Democrats and two Republicans are running in the CO-3 primary, hoping to challenge first-term Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has been a lightning rod for national controversy since her first days in office.

From supporting objections to the certification of President Bidens election, to Islamophobic comments about Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, to heckling the president during the State of the Union, Boebert has raised her media profile, but not necessarily her legislative one. Thats helped her fundraising she now has a lot of campaign money on hand but none of the 26 bills she has introduced thus far have made much progress in the House.

While CO-3 has been represented by Republicans for the past decade, redistricting appears to have given the seat an even stronger GOP lean. The new map of CO-3 subtracts some bluer counties in the north and adds redder areas in southeastern Colorado.

As the incumbent, Boebert will be tough to beat. But given that she herself beat an incumbent to get to Congress, tough does not mean impossible.

Here are the candidates running for the seat.

Lauren Boebert: The owner of a gun-themed restaurant in Rifle, Boebert parlayed her support of the 2nd amendment, opposition to COVID-restrictions and a Trump-like social media presence into a successful run for Congress. A staunch Trump supporter, Boebert has made inroads with that wing of the Republican party. She co-chairs the 2nd amendment caucus and is communications chair for the House Freedom Caucus. Boebert announced her plans to seek reelection in December, saying, We dont just need to take the House back in 2022, but we need to take the House back with fearless conservatives, strong Republicans, just like me.

Don Coram: Coram currently serves as a state Senator, representing the southwestern corner of Colorado. He previously spent five years in the state House. Coram is considered a relative moderate, who has worked on bipartisan legislation from expanding rural broadband to increasing access to contraception. When announcing his run, the Montrose resident said he wants to go to D.C. to bring back funds for Colorado and work with people on both sides of the aisle: Why can't we just go (to Congress) and do the people's business, rather than promote sound bites and hate and division?

Marina Zimmerman: A crane operator from the small town of Arboles in Archuleta County, Zimmerman says she is running to advocate for the working class and to restore sensibility, civility and ethics in Congress. Zimmerman told Colorado Politics she voted for Biden in 2020, as a protest against Trump. The issues she highlights on her campaign website are sustainable housing, water issues, and wildfires and forest health.

Debby Burnett: Burnett is a veterinarian and has also worked as a licensed hospital physical therapist. She and her family recently moved to Gunnison from Jackson County. She says she will advocate for agriculture, environmental stewardship and an economy that works for everyone as the country transitions to renewable energy.

Adam Frisch: Frisch joined the race in February. He served two terms on the Aspen City Council and describes himself as a mainstream Democrat who supports small businesses, the environment, public education and affordable health care. Frisch says he will work to bring the people of the district together to make progress on rural issues in a bipartisan manner.

Kellie Rhodes: The Crested Butte resident comes from a farming and ranching family. She has worked in human services, including as a child protection caseworker. Rhodes says shes running because shes watched many policy solutions fail because they ignored the actual needs and experiences of the people they were intended to help.

Root Routledge: The Durango resident ran a short-lived campaign for CO-3 in 2020. He pitches himself as a staunch progressive, buts running again, but has said on Facebook that he plans to support fellow candidate Burnett in the primary.

Sol Sandoval: The daughter of immigrants from Mexico, Sandoval is a social worker and community organizer. In announcing her run last year, the Pueblo-based candidate said she is concerned about what she sees as Boeberts lack of concern for the district. She says her goal is to increase opportunities for Coloradans, support water rights and public lands, work on immigration reform and reduce health care costs.

Donald Valdez: Valdez is a 5th generation farmer and rancher who hails from the San Luis Valley. Since 2017, Valdez has served in the Colorado state House. Hes a conservative Democrat who has been known to buck the party on issues, like 2nd amendment rights. Valdez says he has a record of delivering results for rural America, and will focus on constituents, not conspiracy theories or mudslinging.

Alex Walker: Walker also announced his entrance in the race in February with an intensely scatological viral video attacking Boebert. He describes himself as a politically moderate, queer, engineering nerd. He says he would work for nonpartisan solutions that make sense. He lives in Eagle County, but not within the new boundaries for CO-3. He has already qualified for the ballot via the signature process.

Colin Wilhelm: Wilhelm is an attorney working out of Glenwood Springs. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the Colorado Legislature. He said the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and Boeberts actions leading up to that day prompted him to run. He describes himself as someone who can unite people across party lines.

Scott Yates: Yates is a businessman and former writer; he has contributed to papers across Colorado and worked for former Gov. Bill Owens. The Pueblo resident says hes running to improve peoples lives one hour at a time. His main issue is to end Daylight Saving Time.

Read this article:
Colorado District 3: Who's running to challenge Lauren Boebert in the 2022 elections? - Colorado Public Radio

Black Lives Mattershut down all of its online fundraising streams late Wednesday afternoon, just days after California threatened to hold the charitys leaders personally liable over its lack of financial transparency.

The move comes less than a week after aWashington Examinerinvestigationfound that BLM has had no known leader in charge of its $60 million bankroll since its co-founder resigned in May. California and Washington recently ordered BLM to cease all fundraising activities in their blue states due to the failure of theBlack Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the legal entity that represents the national BLM movement, to report information about its finances in 2020, the year it raised tens of millions amid the racial protests and riots that followed George Floyds killing.

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The donation button that used to be featured prominently on BLMs website was nowhere to be found as of Wednesday evening.

The California Department of Justice told theWashington Examineron Tuesday that BLMGNF is prohibited from soliciting donations so long as its status is listed as delinquent.

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BLM also received notice from the state of Washington on Jan. 5 to immediately cease all fundraising activities in the state. {snip}

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BLMs charity registration is also out of compliance in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Read more:
Black Lives Matter Shuts Down Fundraising Days After ...

The People's Convoy block the roads to protest against country's COVID-19 restrictions and mandatory vaccination in Washington, United States on March 16, 2022. (Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

After weeks of slowly circling the Capital Beltway aggravating commuters, the so-called Peoples Convoy of MAGA truckers finally breached the D.C. city line Thursday, where they honked at residents, drove in circles, and were met with a very predictable Fuck off!

But at theirFriday-morning rally 70 miles away in Hagerstown, Maryland, the truckers made it clear they cared little for what the weirdos who live in downtown D.C. and cant even fly an American flag think. So organizers said theyll go on a little ride again through downtown D.C. and see what a Friday afternoon in the swamp looks like.

This time, theyve got more than mask and vaccine mandates on their minds.

Whats gonna happen up here in D.C., Black Lives Matter Street, were gonna take it back, said one of the protesters the organizers invited on stage to speak. All that paint is coming off that street, he said. Before I get put in my grave, its gonna get tarred and feathered.

The crowd cheered their approval of the idea. The protester was referring to Black Lives Matter Plaza, a two-block section of 16th Street in Washington D.C., where Black Lives Matter was painted in large yellow letters on the street in the wake of protests following the May 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of police. The plaza was officially renamed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in 2020.

Since the convoy arrived in early March, its been somewhat in search of a cause, with leadership pleading with the crowd to avoid going into downtown D.C.mainly to avoid being tricked into a Jan. 6-style event. Instead, their orders were to just loop the Beltway slowly. This week, apparently hearing all the power in Inside the Beltway, leadership and participants started to breakfrom that approach.

Over the last few days, several small groups had made their way downtown. At a Thursday morning meeting, leadership told protesters to form mini-convoys and go ahead and truck wherever they wanted. With the Beltway shackles removed, multiple members of the convoy finally decided to head straight downtown.

Video taken from downtown D.C. and posted to social media shows the protesters being sworn at, flipped off, and told to leave.

One video shows a man driving alongside the convoy and yelling at each of them (almost all have their windows down) to go home. When he reaches someone not with them, he apologizes.

Other videos show residents standing on the sidewalk yelling at the convoy to "fuck off."

One reporter on the ground said those who did make it downtown just did little loops and complained about parking. The protesters backed up traffic and the City of D.C. issued a warning to residents that because of demonstration activity expected on roadways in and around DC today, motorists should expect traffic delays.

The convoy arrived at a racetrack parking lot in Hagerstown on March 4 and has been driving and honking around the area ever since. The group, many of which are deeply entrenched in right-wing conspiracy culture, are protesting vaccine mandates and hoping the government will rescind the federal emergency declaration set in 2020 about COVID-19. Several politicians have met with the group, including Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Matt Gaetz.

While the group remains active, their numbers are dwindling as the days go by. A video of the Friday drivers meeting shows a sparse crowd significantly smaller than what the group had before.

Authorities had closed off several exits leading from the Beltway to the downtown core, but the drivers were able to find alternative routes. For the weekend, the convoy will be working without their de facto leader, Brian Brase, who announced hed be temporarily leaving the convoy to go see his family. Mike Landis, another key organizer, is taking the reins.

Were going to go down and were just going to keep annoying them and exhausting their resources and playing with them, said Landis Friday morning. Weve got nothing but time sitting here doing what were doing, thats why were here.

Follow Mack Lamoureux on Twitter.

Continued here:
The MAGA Truckers Are Threatening to Take Back DCs Black Lives Matter Plaza - VICE

In the past five years, 172,039 people have been subject to strip-searches by the MetropolitanPolice while in custody,and9,088 were carried out on children. 2,360 of these searches were on children under the age of 15. These statistics,which have left us astonished, do not cover strip-searches in schoolssuch as that experienced by Child Q, a 15-year-old Hackney schoolchild who was removed from an exam and stripped by police, because her teachers thought she smelled of weed.In the subsequent safeguarding report, which was released this week, each detail of the case is worse than the last: the child was on her period when she was searched, she was asked to remove her sanitary towel and expose her private parts, she wasnt allowed to go to the bathroom despite multiple requests, and no appropriate adult (for example, a teacher) was in attendance during the search.

The individual trauma caused by incidents like this cannot be understated, and its important that steps are taken to address the significant harm that has already been caused. This incident took place in 2020, and two years on, Child Q is reportedly a changed person, struggling with eating, panic attacks and self-harm. Child Q writes in the safeguarding report: I cant go a single day without wanting to scream, shout, cry or just give up... I feel like Im locked in a box, and no one can see or cares that I just want to go back to feeling safe again, my box is collapsing around me, and no-one wants to help.

In the interest of aftercare, we demand to know what will be done in terms of support for Child Q and her family. Simultaneously, to understand how this incident came about, we must look at the bigger picture. This case, while being predominately framed as a safeguarding failure, exposes a number of disturbing issues relating to institutional racism, criminalisation of young Black people, and the normalisation of sexual violence within policing.

It is easy for politicians and the police to cast this incident as an unfortunate one-off in a police force that is otherwise keeping our communities safe. This is a gross misrepresentation of what the police do, and whose interests they protect. Racial and gendered violence including towards children is the police's modus operandi. Over a third of total strip-searches by the Met in the last five years were conducted on people from ethnic minorities, with the figure appearing to be even higher in east London. It is also well known that Black people in England and Wales are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. This affects tens of thousands of young people, but also includes children under the age of ten.

Then there are the chilling stories. Last year, a report revealed that unnamed police officers had exchanged jokes about raping women and killing Black babies. The public has also become more aware of police racism and misogyny through recent cases like that of Sarah Everard, who was raped and murdered by a police officer, and Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, whose dead bodies were inappropriately photographed by police and circulated on WhatsApp. All of this takes place in a climate in which the government is calling for more police funding, more police in schools in deprived areas, and is pushing through a policing bill that encourages more overlap between schools and incarceration.

Black children are not seen as innocent, vulnerable and in need of protection and safeguarding. They deserve better

The Child Q safeguarding report has recommended changes to process. Meanwhile, politicians have called for heads to roll. But neither of these changes will prevent incidents like this from happening again. Steps must be abolitionist in nature to truly address the deep-rooted nature of police racism and misogyny, which, as demonstrated by this case, takes aim at the most marginalised and powerless. In 2020, we gave funding to the Northern Police Monitoring Project, which is currently leading the No Police in Schools campaign with Kids of Colour. The project grew out of young peoples concerns that they were being increasingly criminalised in spaces of education, and centres their calls for the removal of police from schools. They know as well as we do that police do not keep us safe we keep us safe. This is why BLMUK also calls for divestment from policing, with funds distributed to local communities who know what they need.

In our work, we have seen time and time again that when youre Black, you dont have the same expectation to be safe. Black children are not seen as innocent, vulnerable and in need of protection and safeguarding. They deserve better than to be traumatised in the spaces that should nurture them, and then sent home alone. We are tired of the endless reports, apologies and promises to do better in the future. We are tired of lessons learned at our expense. Now is the time for radical change, that takes power out of the hands of the police and puts it back into our communities. In the words of Child Q: Someone walked into the school, where I was supposed to feel safe, took me away from the people who were supposed to protect me and stripped me naked, while on my period... I need to know that the people who have done this to me cant do it to anyone else ever again.

Black Lives Matter UK would like to explicitly extend our support to Child Q and her family, who can contact us directly at any point while maintaining confidentiality, at: contact@ukblm.org

Continued here:
BLM UK on Child Q: we're tired of promises and apologies - Dazed