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(New York) Today PEN America and the Literary Action Coalition sent a letter signed by 21 New York literary organizations to New York State legislators in support of Rap Music on Trial legislation (S.7527/A.8681), which would strengthen free speech protections by ending the use of art created by a defendant as evidence against them in a criminal case. Signatories include Authors Guild, Center for Fiction, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and Asian American Writers Workshop.

When prosecutors focus solely on references to violence in rap music, they are taking the lyrics out of context and neglecting to consider the conventions of the music genre. They are equating the artists creative liberties and artistic persona as confessions of guilt, which is a severe misrepresentation of the artform and goes against the very spirit of freedom of expression, the letter reads.

The use of lyrics as evidence in criminal cases is a prosecutorial practice that is inherently dangerous to peoples First Amendment rights, said James Tager, director of research at PEN America. We also cannot ignore the fact that the submission of lyrics as evidence in criminal cases is disproportionately used to try to lock up people of color, including those in the rap community who call New York home. New York legislators need to pass this legislation now before another musical artists creative expression is weaponized against them.

Nobody understands the importance of the First Amendment quite like the literary community. Im deeply grateful for this letter from PEN America and so many other literary organizations in support of the bill I introduced with Senator Jamaal Bailey, known as Rap Music on Trial (S.7527/A.8681) that protects creative expression from being twisted into criminal evidence. Art is creative expression, not a blueprint of criminal plans. Its time to protect the First Amendment rights of all artists, said New York State Senator Brad Hoylman.

Police, prosecutors, and judges routinely engage in the damaging practice of misusing rap lyrics in criminal trials as a tool of mass incarceration of Black and Brown youth. This is not only about strengthening and protecting the First Amendment rights of artists of color; we need to stop the unjust and blatantly racist practice of using the free expression of artists against them in a courtroom. I am proud to sponsor this groundbreaking and incredibly important legislation in the New York State Assembly, and I thank the advocates and my Senate counterparts for their hard work on getting this bill passed in this years legislative session, said New York State Assemblymember Catalina Cruz.

Rap should not be treated differently from any other art form; yet in courtrooms across the country, artists have been unfairly targeted for simply exercising their right to creative expression, said New York State Senator Jamaal Bailey. With the nation-leading Rap Music on Trial legislation, New York state will protect this fundamental right by prohibiting the use of art, including rap lyrics, from being permissible criminal evidence without a strong, factual nexus between the art and the facts of the case. Presuming a defendants guilt based solely on musical genre or creative expression is antithetical to our foundational rights and perpetuates the systemic racism that is embedded into the criminal justice system through discriminatory conflations of hip-hop and rap with criminality. If we want to preserve the integrity of our First Amendment rights, combat discrimination in our courtrooms, and encourage unbounded creativity, we cannot continue to allow prosecutors to weaponize musicians own lyrics against them.

Forward-thinking legislation like this, that proactively respects and protects artistic expression, is what makes me proud to be a New Yorker. I hope that we can help pass this legislation, and set a positive example for the whole country, and world, as leaders in linguistic and creative freedom, said Lisa Ann Markuson, founder of Ars Poetica.

This is an important moment for the New York City literary community. Writers, booksellers, and literary advocates alike have come together to stand in solidarity with all artists who are affected by the criminalization of rap music lyrics, said Alejandro Heredia, community outreach manager at PEN America.

You can read the full letter here: pen.org/open-letter-new-york-literary-organizations-support-rap-music-on-trial-legislation/

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Literary Coalition Asks New York Leaders to Prevent Lyrics From Becoming Evidence In Criminal Trials - PEN America

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey says the recent actions of a deputy against a YouTuber outside the city jail are inconsistent with its policies and procedures.

In a video that posted today (Jan. 20), an Alexandria Sheriffs Deputy asked that Constitutional activist SeanPaulReyes of Long Island Audit not film outside the city jail. Reyes tells the deputy that he is an independent journalist exercising his First Amendment rights, and then refuses to provide the deputy with his full name.

This is a public area, Reyes tells the deputy. I havent committed a crime.

After refusing to provide his name, the deputy says, Well, I can also detain you, if you like.

Casey said that he is aware of the video, and that a full inquiry is underway.

The Alexandria Sheriffs Office is aware of the Youtube video posted on January 20 documenting an interaction between a deputy and a member of the public, Casey posted on social media. We are actively investigating this incident and understand the publics concern. Based on our initial review of the video, the actions of the deputy are inconsistent with our policies and procedures. A full inquiry is underway.

Reyes, who has 182,000 subscribers, and filmed dozens of other videos with law enforcement around the country.

Were here today to peacefully exercise our First Amendment right to film in public and publicly accessible areas to promote transparency and accountability within our government and to ensure that our public servants respect our rights and treat us with respect, Reyes said.

The deputy later drove away from the jail.

Oh, thank you for leaving, deputy, Reyes says as the deputy drives away. Appreciate it. Please just go.

The Sheriffs Office did not comment further.

Via Youtube

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JUST IN: Sheriff says deputy was wrong in interaction with YouTuber filming outside city jail - ALXnow

For two years now, weve seen Republicans cry My body, my choice in response to the stay-at-home orders and mask mandates put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. A popular saying among the left, pro-choice crowd has become the new chant for the right, anti-masker agenda as if wearing a cloth over ones face is as invasive as a pregnancy.

As much as I hate to admit it, it makes sense that the political right has adopted such a saying. They claim to be, after all, the defenders of our first amendment rights defenders of our freedom of speech.

So why is it that a year since Donald Trumps presidency ended, and a year since the Jan. 6 insurrection, these supposed freedom of speech warriors are censoring themselves? Lets go Brandon is not as powerful or impactful of a phrase as they think it is. In fact, its a display of the constant irony within pro-Trump groups.

The phrase Lets go Brandon grew in popularity among right-wing circles because its a coded, clean version for F Joe Biden. The phrase started during an NBC interview with NASCAR driver Brandon Brown in October. Behind Brown and the reporter, the crowd chanted F Joe Biden, which the interviewer misheard as Lets go Brandon.

The slogan quickly took off within right-wing groups and became yet another catchphrase that Trump supporters like to stick to the bumper of their cars.

Republicans like to proclaim themselves as defenders of our first amendment rights. However, like any political party, they tend to be hypocritical from time to time. For example, When Twitter banned Trump a year ago, Republicans seethed at the idea that Big Tech was infringing upon the first amendment. At the same time, Republicans have been fierce advocates against trans people using their desired bathroom, which is just as much, if not more, of an infringement on first amendment rights.

Being freedom of speech warriors is only one of the many titles Republicans have given themselves over the years. They also used to claim to be the party that advocates for traditional familial values. However, with the rise of Republican superstars like Matt Gaetz and cheating adulterer Trump, these traditional values Republicans once highlighted during the Nixon and Reagan eras seem to be deteriorating.

And even though these traditional values are breaking down, it is apparently still too controversial to say f out loud. Ill admit, the f-word might be too strong of a word to use, I suppose it may corrupt the ears of little children around the country, after all. Oh no! For next time, it might be useful to invest in a thesaurus. There are quite literally thousands of different synonyms to replace the F in FJB.

Many Republicans claim that Democrats want to establish an Orwellian, 1984-esque communist regime. They claim their Democratic neighbors are communists, socialists and Marxists without ever fully grasping the difference between the three. There is no Big Brother waiting to smite you for going against the Democratic agenda. You will not be hunted down and slaughtered if you criticize the president or call him names. If there was a Big Brother who did these things, most people would have died a long time ago.

The reality is, I think there really is not much else to defend when it comes to our freedom of speech we already have it. With the exception of incitement, defamation and a few other kinds of speech that obviously should not be protected, most of what you say is protected under the first amendment. You could say the most heinous and disgusting things, but guess what? Hate speech is protected by the Constitution, and so is your right to cuss out the president.

So why not just say F Joe Biden? Its not a call to arms nor is it some kind of wicked battle-cry. And its definitely not some funny inside joke especially because everyones in on it. I wish I could say that this catchphrase is one big Gen-Z meme created to get a laugh out of people, but of course it isnt. Maybe we truly are living in some dystopian novel.

Representatives on the House floor are sporting Lets go Brandon merch and Florida Republican Bill Posey went as far as to end an October floor speech with the popular saying and a fist bump. Its not just in Washington either. A cryptocurrency called LGBcoin, or Lets Go Brandon Coin, attempted to sponsor Brown, whose name started this charade.

There are many Democrats and non-Trump supporters who think this whole ordeal is ridiculous. At the same time, many Republicans seem to actually enjoy the self-censorship they are participating in. Republican ad maker Jim Innocenzi said this new saying is done with a little bit of a class.

I think many would say that there really is nothing classy about this whatsoever. But regardless of whether the public thinks its classy or not, this whole ordeal just screams idiocy and highlights the hypocrisy of the GOP. The party of freedom of speech once spoke freely and didnt censor themselves on live TV. But now, months after the incident, pro-Trump Republicans are censoring themselves when that is the very thing they swore to fight against.

Honestly, if you want to criticize, ridicule or simply just cuss out the president or any other elected official just do it. There is no need to censor your language or hide behind a thinly veiled joke in order to get your point across. Its cowardly. Those that chant Lets go Brandon are playing into the exact thing they are supposedly trying to protect this country from.

Just swear next time. Itll save you from embarrassment.

Livia LaMarca mostly writes about American politics and pop culture. Write to her at [emailprotected].

Read more:
Opinion | The party of freedom of speech is censoring themselves - The Pitt News

A year ago today, thousands watched transfixed as a young Black woman with a luminous smile outshone US President Joe Biden at his own inauguration ceremony.

As the youngest inaugural poet in US history, many may have wondered who she was as she stepped up to the podium with a composure belying her 22 years, wearing a bright yellow Prada coat with her hair worn up and encircled by a red satin headband.

Today, Amanda Gorman is best remembered for her stirring recitation of her inaugural poem, "The Hill We Climb."

With her opening lines alluding to the siege of the Capitolby a violent mob of Donald Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, just days prior to Biden's inauguration, her poem ended on a note of promise and hope.

The Harvard graduate even suggested running for the office herself: "a skinny Black girl, descended from slaves and raised by a single mother, who can dream of being president one day, only to find herself reciting for one."

Her performance went viral.

Sharing a wefielater featuring thepoet and her mother Joan Wicks as well as former president Bill Clinton former Secretary of State and presidential contender Hillary Clinton tweeted her support forGorman's presidential aspirations.

Some may have also noted her enunciation especially her stressing of the letter "r."This stems from an auditory processing disorder that she was diagnosed with in childhood that impeded her speech articulation. It was writing and oral poetry recitation that helped her deal with this; inthe process, she ended up being named the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017.

Looking regal at the Met Gala in September 2021

Speaking to NPR prior to the inauguration, Gorman said her struggle to speak proved to be a connection for her to Biden and her "beacon,"fellow American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou. Both Biden and Angelou had speech impediments too.

"Maya Angelou was mute growing up as a child and she grew up to deliver the inaugural poem for President Bill Clinton," Gorman said. "So I think there is a real history of orators who have had to struggle with a type of imposed voicelessness, you know, having that stage in the inauguration."

Gorman'sinauguration day outfit actually included a tribute to Angelou. Her ring, gifted by talk show host Oprah Winfrey,featured a caged bird in honor of Angelou's 1969 autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

Gorman's star has been on the ascent since that sunny winter morning of January 20, 2021.

She was on the cover of Time magazine in February 2021, interviewed by Michelle Obama.

Referring to the accolades she'd received, she advised other girls of color to aspire beyond singular events. "You really have to crown yourself with the belief that what I'm about and what I'm here for is way beyond this moment. I'm learning that I am not lightning that strikes once. I am the hurricane that comes every single year, and you can expect to see me again soon."

This was followed up by her turn at the 2021 Super Bowl the first poet ever to perform at a US sporting event.

Reciting her poem "Chorus of the Captains," she honored three individuals who exhibited extraordinary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gorman's sartorial side

She displayed her affinity for fashion when she graced the cover of Vogue in May 2021, during which she also shared how she has become more discerning of work commissions, revealing that she'd turned down about $17 million in publicity offers.

And although she signed a contract with the prestigious IMG Models Worldwide, which represents amongothers Gisele Bndchen, Gigi Hadidand Kate Moss, she told Vogue that she is "wary about being perceived as a model."

Reminding young readers of their power to change the world

In addition to her viral inaugural poem that was eventually released as a book, Gorman also published two other books last year: all three topped bestseller lists.

On Instagram, she described her children's book titled "Change Sings," as "a children's anthem to remind young readers that they have the power to shape the world."

Meanwhile, the now 23-year-old's collection of poems, titled "Call Us What We Carry," is this month's pick of The Fearless Book Club founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai.

Exploring history, language and identity through poetry

Often hailed as part of a new generation of poets of color who've made poetry mainstream in popular culture again, Gorman's last 12 months of reflections in rhyme is perhaps best summed up in her own play of words:

On justice: "We've learned that quiet isn't always peace. And the norms and notions of 'what just is' isn't always 'justice.'"

On the power of women: "We are not victims, we are victors. The greatest predictors of progress."

On hope and courage: "There is always light.If only we're brave enough to see it.If only we're brave enough to be it."

On self-determination: "The only approval you need is your own."

On leaving legacies: "For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us."

Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier

Read the rest here:
Amanda Gorman: A year after 'The Hill We Climb' - DW (English)

There is no denying the allure that anything Australian has for Americans. From the accent to the beaches, there is plenty to be admired about the down under lifestyle.

In 1988, Outback Steakhouse capitalized on that attraction. The fast-casual chain was born in Tampa, Fla., and quickly rose to national (and now international) prominence. Today, they are known for much more than just their Aussie aesthetic.

The legendary Bloomin' Onion, for one, is one of the best-known appetizers on the restaurant chain scene. Their slogan, which has been a mantra since the very beginning, is iconic: "No rules, just right." And, perhaps more than anything else, the sizzling steak TV commercials that helped put Outback on the map are now seared into our collective memory. You can probably still hear the "Let's go Outback tonight" jingle playing in your head.

During the decades of success, Outback Steakhouse has also filed away a few secrets. Read on to uncover the details they aren't broadcasting. For more, check out8 Worst Fast-Food Burgers to Stay Away From Right Now.

Three years ago, a former employee of Outback Steakhouse confessed on a Reddit thread that a fellow user's suspicions were correct: If you order your steak well done, the kitchen is going to dole you out a worse cut of meat.

"Honestly yes," said former employee. "We sort steaks to cook all at the same temp, at the same time. So yeah you will get a crappier cut to cook at the same time as your super nice, rare cut."

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If you are familiar with authentic Australian culture, this "secret" might not be shocking. But it's true, the chain from down under actually just hails from Florida, where four people who worked in the hospitality industry decided that an Australian theme would help make their restaurant unique. At the time, none of the founders had even made the trek to the continent.

In 2017, Twitter users uncovered that, in several cities, the layout of Outback's locations looks like a pentagram. Amidst the ensuing viral conspiracy theories that Satanism was involved (you know, a practice that uses pentagrams as symbols), Outback leaned in. "If the Bloomin' Onion is evil then we don't want to be nice," they Tweeted, in a genius marketing move that kept the internet talking.

You know the bread we're talking aboutthat absolutely decadent dark brown loaf, known colloquially as "chocolate bread" (a moniker which, according to Reddit, servers resent.) According to that same former employee, you don't need to sit for an entire meal at Outback to enjoy the bread. You can likely just visit your local location and buy it from them.

Is any restaurant really off the hook with this one? Like many other chains, Outback has been outed for its microwave usage. According to a user on Quora who used to work there, the chain simply "nukes" the pre-made pasta and sauce for a minute and thirty seconds. Not exactly fine dining.

To be fair, depending on who Outback wants to appeal to, they may or may not want you to know this "secret." The chain's parent company Bloomin' Brands made 93% of its political donations to Republicans in 2016, according to Eater. The same can be said of many other major restaurant chains, including Applebee's, IHOP, Chick-fil-A, and even Wendy's.

However, Elizabeth Smith, the CEO of Bloomin' Brands, personally donated to Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016.

Read the rest here:
7 Secrets Outback Steakhouse Doesn't Want You to Know Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That