Washington, D.C. - October 18, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- On Saturday, October 14, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) was targeted by members of a white supremacist group who attempted to hang a banner on the façade of our building in Washington, DC, decrying the Dreamer movement in the name of “Identity Evropa.” A witness confronted two trespassers, causing them to flee. With help from additional bystanders, the banner was removed and the crime was reported to the police. AILA will work with local police to review footage from external security cameras in an effort to identify those involved.
Benjamin Johnson, AILA Executive Director, stated: “For more than 70 years, AILA and its members have fought against xenophobia and advocated for laws and policies that honor America’s proud history as a nation of immigrants. Sadly, there has been a dramatic and disturbing increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric and racially charged scapegoating and stereotyping of immigrants. Too many politicians seem willing to pander to this kind of fear and hatred and too few are willing to stand up against it. In this environment our mission and the work of our members have never been more important. This incident comes on the heels of inflammatory and derogatory statements by Attorney General Jeff Sessions towards immigrants, asylum seekers, and the attorneys that represent them. The Attorney General's remarks were irresponsible and wrong. However, AILA and its members will not be deterred or distracted from our work and our mission to stand by America’s immigrants and to advocate for fair and just immigration laws and policies, by those who peddle fear and hatred. Not today, not ever.”
Related News:
White Supremacist Group Hangs Banner Over American Immigration Lawyer's Association Downtown Office
Lawyers Targeted By White Supremacists
The Unpopular Truth
Showing posts with label White Supremacist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label White Supremacist. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Friday, August 18, 2017
How to deal with the aftermath...
by Shonda Ponder, editor of The Ponder News
The mainstream news channels have been going non-stop on the ISIS car attacks in Barcelona. Here at The Ponder, we are not going to be covering the Barcelona attacks, except to say that the CIA warned them two months ago what was about to happen and they neglected to prepare for it. Let someone warn us here in the U.S. and watch how fast we prepare for it, whether we believe them or not. Therefore, it's as much the government's fault there as it is the criminal's for doing it, in my opinion.
I'm not trying to sound insensitive to the pain that has been inflicted on the city of Barcelona and its people. My thoughts and heartfelt prayers go up for them; but, we have problems here at home, and there is a lot that isn't being reported because the media's focus is not where it should be.
Someone last night asked me, "Why are they reporting on something that is half a world away? I want to know what is going on HERE!"
I answered him with, "Because, after Charlottesville, the media got caught with their pants down, so they are trying to distract us from that." He nodded and smiled as if to agree.
I wonder how many people are actually buying it.
Having said all that...
I was impressed by the words of Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R - UT) as I read these words from a press release he sent out:
"I was just eight years old when my older brother Jesse was killed in World War II. As I said on Saturday, Jesse didn't give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home. I will never hesitate to speak out against hate--whenever and wherever I see it.
In the wake of this weekend's violence, our nation has some soul-searching to do. It is not a time to say "What about" but to seriously ask ourselves "What now?
The choice before us is stark: Either we succumb to the bigotry and tribalism which threaten to tear us apart--or we condemn evil in all its forms and determine to come together as one nation, one people, united under God.
I believe in the infinity capacity of the American people. And I believe that the unbreakable bonds of affection, which for so long have held us together as a nation, are stronger than the forces which seek to divide us.
Above all, I believe in the virtue of civility. While I have strived to demonstrate compassion, comity, and respect throughout my public service, I have, at various times, fallen short of the ideal. But today, I am recommitting myself to civility--and I hope you will join me in doing the same.
Civility requires that we approach debate and discourse with sound logic and new ideas, not with cardboard shields and tiki torches. It asks that we bear our beliefs proudly and in the open, not behind the cowardly anonymity of social media accounts.
The tragedy in Charlottesville calls for a moment of national renewal. Let us all resolve to change. Let us all commit to fighting hatred in our communities with love, empathy, and understanding."
Evil in all its forms. Civility. A call for ALL to resolve to change.
I can go with that, as long as that doesn't mean I have to shut up and that my point of view should be stifled and displaced just because you don't like me. Debate means being willing to listen to the other side, even though you already know you disagree, and addressing the words that come out of their mouth with respect, not insults.
I've learned a lot through my years of debating on the internet.
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to create an interagency task force to address the tragic increase in hate crimes that has stricken the United States. The recent outburst of violent racism and domestic terrorist activity by white supremacist organizations and individuals in Charlottesville, Virginia, has made the senators’ call for action more forceful.
“President Trump’s reluctance to quickly and directly condemn the hate, bigotry, and racism of the white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan that gathered in Charlottesville was deeply alarming to us and to millions of Americans,” wrote the Senators. “In light of the horrific attack and hatred demonstrated this weekend in Charlottesville, we urge you to act quickly to address the alarming rise of hate in our country.”
That right there is lack of sufficient information, which leads me to believe that the senators in question did not listen to the press conference I heard. Instead, they heard what CNN and the Main Stream Media had to say. There should be a law against our leaders in office listening to the news on television. Instead, they should be required to converse and read what their constituents are saying.
In April, Senator Hirono joined a similar group of her colleagues to send a letter to President Trump asking for the task force; to this day, the letter has yet to be directly answered by the Administration. Although the Department of Justice has created a subcommittee focused on hate crimes, the subcommittee lacks sufficient power to effectively address the rise of hate crimes as its scope has never been defined. It's scope? You mean, should the BLM and ANTIFA groups be included in any investigations?
The letter notes that hate crime incidents have increased from 5,479 in 2014 to 5,850 in 2015, a rise of seven percent, and expresses concerns about the Administration’s recent actions to decrease funding for efforts to stop white extremism and eliminate funding for efforts dedicated to de-radicalizing neo-Nazis. The Southern Poverty Law Center found that the number of hate groups operating in the U.S. rose to 917 in 2016, an increase of 25 from 2015. In particular, anti-Muslim hate groups almost tripled in 2016.
Well, considering that the SPLC doesn't have correct information on who is a white supremacist and who isn't, I wouldn't be depending on their information in order to secure funding for anything...and if white supremacy is going to be addressed, shouldn't also black supremacy? This is the one-sided madness that needs to be stopped. This is what is causing the racial rift in our nation today. It ALL needs to stop.
In addition to the formation of the task force, the Senators’ letter urged the Attorney General to devote more resources from his department to supporting states and local communities in addressing the root causes of hate through education, community development, and cross-cultural exchanges. I'm all for that.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) released a letter in response to Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and the Democrat Members’ call for a hearing on the threat of domestic terrorism. In the letter he said:
"On September 12th, we will hold a full committee hearing and have invited the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center to discuss the most serious threats America faces. I strongly encourage Members of both parties to engage the witnesses on the dangers posed by domestic terrorists and other extremist groups."
This should be interesting to watch.
The mainstream news channels have been going non-stop on the ISIS car attacks in Barcelona. Here at The Ponder, we are not going to be covering the Barcelona attacks, except to say that the CIA warned them two months ago what was about to happen and they neglected to prepare for it. Let someone warn us here in the U.S. and watch how fast we prepare for it, whether we believe them or not. Therefore, it's as much the government's fault there as it is the criminal's for doing it, in my opinion.
I'm not trying to sound insensitive to the pain that has been inflicted on the city of Barcelona and its people. My thoughts and heartfelt prayers go up for them; but, we have problems here at home, and there is a lot that isn't being reported because the media's focus is not where it should be.
Someone last night asked me, "Why are they reporting on something that is half a world away? I want to know what is going on HERE!"
I answered him with, "Because, after Charlottesville, the media got caught with their pants down, so they are trying to distract us from that." He nodded and smiled as if to agree.
I wonder how many people are actually buying it.
Having said all that...
I was impressed by the words of Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R - UT) as I read these words from a press release he sent out:
"I was just eight years old when my older brother Jesse was killed in World War II. As I said on Saturday, Jesse didn't give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home. I will never hesitate to speak out against hate--whenever and wherever I see it.
In the wake of this weekend's violence, our nation has some soul-searching to do. It is not a time to say "What about" but to seriously ask ourselves "What now?
The choice before us is stark: Either we succumb to the bigotry and tribalism which threaten to tear us apart--or we condemn evil in all its forms and determine to come together as one nation, one people, united under God.
I believe in the infinity capacity of the American people. And I believe that the unbreakable bonds of affection, which for so long have held us together as a nation, are stronger than the forces which seek to divide us.
Above all, I believe in the virtue of civility. While I have strived to demonstrate compassion, comity, and respect throughout my public service, I have, at various times, fallen short of the ideal. But today, I am recommitting myself to civility--and I hope you will join me in doing the same.
Civility requires that we approach debate and discourse with sound logic and new ideas, not with cardboard shields and tiki torches. It asks that we bear our beliefs proudly and in the open, not behind the cowardly anonymity of social media accounts.
The tragedy in Charlottesville calls for a moment of national renewal. Let us all resolve to change. Let us all commit to fighting hatred in our communities with love, empathy, and understanding."
Evil in all its forms. Civility. A call for ALL to resolve to change.
I can go with that, as long as that doesn't mean I have to shut up and that my point of view should be stifled and displaced just because you don't like me. Debate means being willing to listen to the other side, even though you already know you disagree, and addressing the words that come out of their mouth with respect, not insults.
I've learned a lot through my years of debating on the internet.
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to create an interagency task force to address the tragic increase in hate crimes that has stricken the United States. The recent outburst of violent racism and domestic terrorist activity by white supremacist organizations and individuals in Charlottesville, Virginia, has made the senators’ call for action more forceful.
“President Trump’s reluctance to quickly and directly condemn the hate, bigotry, and racism of the white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan that gathered in Charlottesville was deeply alarming to us and to millions of Americans,” wrote the Senators. “In light of the horrific attack and hatred demonstrated this weekend in Charlottesville, we urge you to act quickly to address the alarming rise of hate in our country.”
That right there is lack of sufficient information, which leads me to believe that the senators in question did not listen to the press conference I heard. Instead, they heard what CNN and the Main Stream Media had to say. There should be a law against our leaders in office listening to the news on television. Instead, they should be required to converse and read what their constituents are saying.
In April, Senator Hirono joined a similar group of her colleagues to send a letter to President Trump asking for the task force; to this day, the letter has yet to be directly answered by the Administration. Although the Department of Justice has created a subcommittee focused on hate crimes, the subcommittee lacks sufficient power to effectively address the rise of hate crimes as its scope has never been defined. It's scope? You mean, should the BLM and ANTIFA groups be included in any investigations?
The letter notes that hate crime incidents have increased from 5,479 in 2014 to 5,850 in 2015, a rise of seven percent, and expresses concerns about the Administration’s recent actions to decrease funding for efforts to stop white extremism and eliminate funding for efforts dedicated to de-radicalizing neo-Nazis. The Southern Poverty Law Center found that the number of hate groups operating in the U.S. rose to 917 in 2016, an increase of 25 from 2015. In particular, anti-Muslim hate groups almost tripled in 2016.
Well, considering that the SPLC doesn't have correct information on who is a white supremacist and who isn't, I wouldn't be depending on their information in order to secure funding for anything...and if white supremacy is going to be addressed, shouldn't also black supremacy? This is the one-sided madness that needs to be stopped. This is what is causing the racial rift in our nation today. It ALL needs to stop.
In addition to the formation of the task force, the Senators’ letter urged the Attorney General to devote more resources from his department to supporting states and local communities in addressing the root causes of hate through education, community development, and cross-cultural exchanges. I'm all for that.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) released a letter in response to Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and the Democrat Members’ call for a hearing on the threat of domestic terrorism. In the letter he said:
"On September 12th, we will hold a full committee hearing and have invited the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center to discuss the most serious threats America faces. I strongly encourage Members of both parties to engage the witnesses on the dangers posed by domestic terrorists and other extremist groups."
This should be interesting to watch.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
ICE Announces Unprecedented Prosecution of White Supremacists
Dallas, TX - August 16, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas have wrapped up what is believed to be the largest prosecution in the nation’s history of individuals connected to violent white supremacist gangs, announced John Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
This investigation was led by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS-CID) Gang Unit and the Dallas Police Department Criminal Intelligence Unit with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Garland (Texas) Police Department Neighborhood Police Officer Unit; the Collin County (Texas) Sheriff's Office; and the Texas police departments of Mesquite, Sherman, Denison and Sulphur Springs.
The 89th and last defendant to be sentenced in this case, Jeramy Weatherall, 29, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 20 years in federal prison, following his guilty plea in March 2017 to one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Out of 91 defendants charged, 89 were convicted, one remains a fugitive and is believed to be in Mexico, and one died before trial began. Those convicted received a combined total of 1,070+ years in federal prison. Casey Rose, 36, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced to life in federal prison, following his conviction at trial in September 2015 on conspiracy, drug trafficking and firearm charges.
“The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and the Aryan Circle have essentially been decimated in North Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “The outstanding collaborative work of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Dallas Police Department helped ensure that each of the 89 defendants who were arrested have now been convicted and sentenced.”
“Strong law enforcement partnerships and the hard work of all those involved led to a successful investigation and the resulting prosecutions,” said Department of Public Safety Region 1 Commander Jack Webster. “We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to proactively protect the citizens of Texas in an ever-changing threat environment.”
“The Dallas Police Department is proud to have participated in this investigation that resulted in 89 convictions of dangerous gang members who terrorized communities with their criminal activity,” said Interim Dallas Police Chief David Pughes. “It is a great example of the success of local and Federal Law Enforcement working together with the United States Attorney to ensure that the worst career criminals are brought to justice.”
The defendants were members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), the Aryan Circle, the “Irish Mob,” the “Dirty White Boys,” the “White Knights,” and the “Peckerwood” – all of which are violent white supremacist gangs. Each of these gangs is an organized crime group, but in recent years, the white supremacy ideology of each of these groups has taken a backseat to traditional criminal ventures, such as drug-dealing. The defendants in this case included several high-ranking members of these organizations.
Particularly noteworthy is that collectively, the defendants were held accountable for 956 kilograms (about 2,108 pounds) of methamphetamine, with a conservative street value of just under $10 million, as well as possessing and using 88 firearms and dangerous weapons.
Combined, the 89 defendants had been previously convicted of 736 crimes. Of the 736 previous convictions, 234 were drug-related offenses; 76 were violent offenses; 36 were gun offenses; 37 were burglaries; seven were sex or child abuse offenses; and one was a murder conviction. Fifteen of the defendants were deemed “career offenders” under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Some defendants had as many as 25 prior convictions. And only six of the 89 had no prior convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. J. Meitl, Northern District of Texas, was in charge of these prosecutions.
This investigation was led by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS-CID) Gang Unit and the Dallas Police Department Criminal Intelligence Unit with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Garland (Texas) Police Department Neighborhood Police Officer Unit; the Collin County (Texas) Sheriff's Office; and the Texas police departments of Mesquite, Sherman, Denison and Sulphur Springs.
The 89th and last defendant to be sentenced in this case, Jeramy Weatherall, 29, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 20 years in federal prison, following his guilty plea in March 2017 to one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Out of 91 defendants charged, 89 were convicted, one remains a fugitive and is believed to be in Mexico, and one died before trial began. Those convicted received a combined total of 1,070+ years in federal prison. Casey Rose, 36, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced to life in federal prison, following his conviction at trial in September 2015 on conspiracy, drug trafficking and firearm charges.
“The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and the Aryan Circle have essentially been decimated in North Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “The outstanding collaborative work of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Dallas Police Department helped ensure that each of the 89 defendants who were arrested have now been convicted and sentenced.”
“Strong law enforcement partnerships and the hard work of all those involved led to a successful investigation and the resulting prosecutions,” said Department of Public Safety Region 1 Commander Jack Webster. “We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to proactively protect the citizens of Texas in an ever-changing threat environment.”
“The Dallas Police Department is proud to have participated in this investigation that resulted in 89 convictions of dangerous gang members who terrorized communities with their criminal activity,” said Interim Dallas Police Chief David Pughes. “It is a great example of the success of local and Federal Law Enforcement working together with the United States Attorney to ensure that the worst career criminals are brought to justice.”
The defendants were members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), the Aryan Circle, the “Irish Mob,” the “Dirty White Boys,” the “White Knights,” and the “Peckerwood” – all of which are violent white supremacist gangs. Each of these gangs is an organized crime group, but in recent years, the white supremacy ideology of each of these groups has taken a backseat to traditional criminal ventures, such as drug-dealing. The defendants in this case included several high-ranking members of these organizations.
Particularly noteworthy is that collectively, the defendants were held accountable for 956 kilograms (about 2,108 pounds) of methamphetamine, with a conservative street value of just under $10 million, as well as possessing and using 88 firearms and dangerous weapons.
Combined, the 89 defendants had been previously convicted of 736 crimes. Of the 736 previous convictions, 234 were drug-related offenses; 76 were violent offenses; 36 were gun offenses; 37 were burglaries; seven were sex or child abuse offenses; and one was a murder conviction. Fifteen of the defendants were deemed “career offenders” under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Some defendants had as many as 25 prior convictions. And only six of the 89 had no prior convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. J. Meitl, Northern District of Texas, was in charge of these prosecutions.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Demonstrators in Colorado cities protest white supremacists
Ft. Collins Coloradoan
Demonstrators marched and waved signs in at least four Colorado cities after a white supremacist rally in Virginia turned deadly.
Rallies were held Sunday in Denver, Durango, Fort Collins and Lafayette.
In Fort Collins, marchers chanted “Everyone is welcome here. No hate, no fear.” One demonstrator’s sign said, “Make racists ashamed again.”
While I applaud the fact that they are doing what they think they should to fight hate, I question their perception on the reasons they felt they had to. Are there signs in that crowd that decry the actions of the BLM along with those that decry the actions of the KKK? If not, isn't that being racist?
Demonstrators marched and waved signs in at least four Colorado cities after a white supremacist rally in Virginia turned deadly.
Rallies were held Sunday in Denver, Durango, Fort Collins and Lafayette.
In Fort Collins, marchers chanted “Everyone is welcome here. No hate, no fear.” One demonstrator’s sign said, “Make racists ashamed again.”
Read more...
While I applaud the fact that they are doing what they think they should to fight hate, I question their perception on the reasons they felt they had to. Are there signs in that crowd that decry the actions of the BLM along with those that decry the actions of the KKK? If not, isn't that being racist?
Crash suspect’s ex-teacher says he idolized Hitler, Nazism
Fairfield Republic
The young man accused of plowing a car into a crowd of people protesting a white supremacist rally was fascinated with Nazism, idolized Adolf Hitler, and had been singled out by school officials in the 9th grade for his “deeply held, radical” convictions on race, a former high school teacher said Sunday.
James Alex Fields Jr. also confided that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was younger and had been prescribed an anti-psychotic medication, Derek Weimer said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Schizophrenia. Anti-psychotic medication. Go Figure. Also, just because the KKK was there does not make it a
"white supremacist rally". When are people going to stand up and tell the main stream media to either do proper research before publicizing trash or suffer the consequences, including but not limited to the dollars people spend on them.
The young man accused of plowing a car into a crowd of people protesting a white supremacist rally was fascinated with Nazism, idolized Adolf Hitler, and had been singled out by school officials in the 9th grade for his “deeply held, radical” convictions on race, a former high school teacher said Sunday.
James Alex Fields Jr. also confided that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was younger and had been prescribed an anti-psychotic medication, Derek Weimer said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Read more...
Schizophrenia. Anti-psychotic medication. Go Figure. Also, just because the KKK was there does not make it a
"white supremacist rally". When are people going to stand up and tell the main stream media to either do proper research before publicizing trash or suffer the consequences, including but not limited to the dollars people spend on them.
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