AZTLAN NEWS: 🏛️ Trump's VP Pick Faces Backlash Over Anti-Indigenous Stance
7/27/24: 🚔 Olympic "Social Cleansing": Paris Evictions Surge Ahead of Games 🌿 Green Games or Greenwashing? Paris 2024's Environmental Claims Questioned
If you want to understand why the Olympics are held in July and August, the hottest months of the year, consider the big contract that NBC signed with the International Olympic Committee. They paid some $7.75 billion for the rights to run the games through 2032.
And guess what? NBC does not want the Olympics to interfere with U.S. American football, which starts in September. That’s why they’re putting athletes into this intense heat.
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Quick Summaries
🚨 Trump's VP Pick J.D. Vance Under Fire for Anti-Indigenous Views 🔥
🍔 Trump Fraud Case Judge Stands Firm: No Recusal Over 'Nothingburger' Encounter ⚖️
🏛️ Justice Delayed: 9th Circuit Shakes Up Long-Running BIA Rape Case 🔁
🏅 The Hidden Cost of Olympic Glory: Paris 2024 Under Scrutiny
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
The Olympics 🏅🇫🇷 are coming to Paris, but not everyone is happy about it 😕. Some people are being forced to leave their homes 🏠➡️, and there are worries about the environment 🌳🌍. In other news, some old awards 🎖️ given to soldiers 🪖 a long time ago are being looked at again 🔍 because they might have been given for hurting Native American people 🏹😢. Also, a judge ⚖️ is staying on a case about Donald Trump 🇺🇸 even though Trump's lawyers 👨⚖️ wanted him to leave 🚪.
👵🏾👴🏾 Summary for Politically-Engaged Seniors
The Paris Olympics are scrutinized for their impact on local communities and the environment. Reports of increased evictions, expanded surveillance, and questionable sustainability practices raise concerns about the true cost of hosting such mega-events.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., the political landscape continues to evolve with the controversy surrounding Trump's VP pick, J.D. Vance, and his anti-Indigenous views. The Pentagon's decision to review the Medals of Honor awarded for the Wounded Knee massacre signals a potential shift in how historical injustices are addressed. Ongoing legal battles, including Trump's fraud case and a long-running BIA rape case, highlight the complexities of the American judicial system and its handling of high-profile and sensitive cases.
🗝️ Takeaways
🏅 The upcoming Paris Olympics are causing controversy and mixed reactions among locals.
🏠 Displacement of residents is a significant concern surrounding the Olympic preparations.
🌍 Environmental impacts of hosting the Olympics are raising worries among some people.
🎖️ Historical military awards are being reevaluated due to potential connections with violence against Native Americans.
⚖️ A judge has decided to remain on a case involving Donald Trump despite objections from Trump's legal team.
🇫🇷 Major events like the Olympics can have complex social, economic, and political implications for host cities and countries.
🔍 There's an ongoing process of reassessing historical actions and honors in light of modern ethical standards.
🚨 Trump's VP Pick J.D. Vance Under Fire 🔥 for Anti-Indigenous Views 🏹
Senator J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's newly chosen running mate, is facing scrutiny over his history of anti-Indigenous statements and policy proposals. Native leaders across the country are raising alarms about Vance's perspectives and their potential impact on Indigenous rights and progress.
Vance's controversial stances include:
Dismissing Indigenous Peoples' Day as a "fake holiday created to sow division"
Introducing the English Language Unity Act, which would establish English as the official U.S. language, disregarding Native languages
Proposing the Freedom to Breathe Act, attempting to override tribal COVID-19 policies
Sponsoring the Protect Children's Innocence Act, which could limit healthcare options for Indigenous youth
Native American officials, including Clara Pratte of the DNC Native Caucus and Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, emphasize the importance of respecting Indigenous histories and sovereignty. They warn that Vance's election could lead to significant setbacks for Native representation and policies.
While some, like former Navajo Nation VP Myron Lizer, hope to engage Vance on these issues, others remain deeply concerned about the potential consequences of his views on a national stage.
🏜️ Jane Fonda endorses Jen Allen?
Look, we’re not talking about the future any more. In Arizona, the climate crisis is 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
Arizonans are fighting for access to water, and battling extreme heat 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸. In Pima County, the Board of Supervisors has the power to enact policies that protect the environment and improve lives.
Jen Allen has a proven record of local, community-based organizing and justice-minded policy-making. I’m behind her all the way as she fights for a green, sustainable future in Pima County. She needs our help — so let’s make it happen.
🔍 Pentagon to Reevaluate Wounded Knee Medals of Honor 🏅
The U.S. Defense Department has announced a critical review of 20 Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers for their actions during the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre. This decision marks a significant step towards addressing a contentious chapter in American history.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a panel of experts to examine each medal, ensuring they were warranted based on the standards of the time. The review will scrutinize historical records and documentation, looking for any disqualifying conduct such as attacks on non-combatants or surrendered individuals.
This reevaluation comes in response to longstanding calls from Native American groups, advocates, and lawmakers to revoke these awards. It reflects a growing awareness of historical injustices and a willingness to reconsider past narratives.
The panel's findings, due by October 15, could potentially lead to the revocation of some medals, signaling a shift in how this tragic event is remembered and honored.
🍔 Trump Fraud Case Judge Stands Firm: No Recusal Over 'Nothingburger' Encounter ⚖️
Judge Arthur Engoron, who ordered Donald Trump to pay a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment, has refused to recuse himself from the case. The judge dismissed claims of impropriety stemming from a brief encounter with another lawyer as a "nothingburger."
Engoron's decision came in response to Trump's attorneys' request for his recusal, based on real estate attorney Adam Leitman Bailey's claim of discussing the case with the judge prior to the verdict. Engoron vehemently disputed Bailey's account in his eight-page order, describing the encounter as an unwelcome 90-second "tirade" initiated by Bailey.
The judge emphasized that such fleeting incidents, whether complimentary or derogatory, never influence his rulings. He maintained that he would have forgotten the encounter entirely had Bailey not attempted to claim influence over judges.
This development adds another layer to the ongoing legal saga surrounding Trump's civil fraud case.
🏛️ Justice Delayed: 9th Circuit Shakes Up Long-Running BIA Rape Case 🔁
In a stunning turn of events, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has made a pivotal decision in a case that has been winding its way through the legal system for seven long years. The case, involving a former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer who raped and impregnated a Northern Cheyenne woman while on duty, has been a source of controversy and legal complexity since its inception.
The appeals court has taken the unusual step of reversing a previous judgment and removing Judge Susan P. Watters from the case entirely. This decision comes in light of the judge's involvement in the case's criminal and civil aspects, where the accused, Dana Bullcoming, made contradictory statements.
Key points of this legal saga include:
The victim, known only as L.B., has been fighting to hold the U.S. government liable for Bullcoming's actions.
Despite Bullcoming being on duty at the time of the assault, the government has argued it shouldn't be held responsible.
The Montana Supreme Court previously ruled that federal law enforcement officers could be held liable for criminal actions, even if working for a federal agency.
The 9th Circuit panel unanimously decided that more facts needed to be established and that Judge Watters erred in making a summary judgment.
This case raises critical questions about accountability in federal agencies, the protection of tribal members, and the complexities of jurisdiction in cases involving tribal lands and federal officers. As the legal battle continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in achieving justice for victims of sexual assault, especially within Native American communities.
The reassignment of the case to a new judge offers hope for a fresh perspective and, potentially, a long-overdue resolution. However, it also underscores the often glacial pace of the justice system, particularly in cases involving federal liability and tribal law enforcement.
As this case progresses, it will undoubtedly continue to be closely watched by legal experts, tribal rights advocates, and those concerned with government accountability. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for similar cases in the future and may help shape policies regarding federal officer conduct on tribal lands.
🏅 The Hidden Cost of Olympic Glory: Paris 2024 Under Scrutiny
As the world turns its eyes to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, a complex narrative unfolds behind the spectacle. While athletes prepare to showcase their talents, activists and researchers shed light on the Games' darker implications.
🏘️ Displacement in the City of Light
In the lead-up to the Olympics, Paris has seen a troubling surge in the displacement of vulnerable populations. Paul Alauzy, an activist with Other Side of the Medal, reports a staggering 40% increase in evictions over the past year:
"More than 12,500 people - homeless individuals, refugees, sex workers, drug users, Eastern European communities - have been expelled from tent cities, slums, and squats," Alauzy explains. "This mass displacement is directly linked to Olympic preparations."
Just days before the opening ceremony, hundreds more migrants were forcibly removed from Paris streets, highlighting the ongoing nature of this "social cleansing."
🌿 Green Games or Greenwashing?
While Olympic organizers tout sustainability initiatives, critics argue these efforts fall short. Jules Boykoff, author and former Olympian, points to fundamental contradictions:
"They're hosting surfing events 9,735 miles away in Tahiti," Boykoff notes. "Even worse, construction for broadcasting equipment has damaged delicate coral reefs, devastating local ecosystems."
Boykoff characterizes the Paris Olympics' environmental approach as "pale green capitalism" rather than the systemic change needed to address climate concerns.
🕵️ Surveillance State on Steroids
The Games have ushered in unprecedented levels of surveillance and policing in Paris. A 2023 law legalized AI-powered video monitoring specifically for the Olympics. Boykoff warns:
"These 'temporary' measures often become permanent, normalizing increased surveillance and potentially exacerbating racialized policing."
The heightened security has made it challenging for activists to voice concerns, while a series of rail network attacks on the eve of the Games underscores ongoing tensions.
💡 Misplaced Priorities?
For activists like Alauzy, the Olympics represent missed opportunities:
"They spent $1.4 billion cleaning the Seine for swimming events but rejected a $10 million plan to assist homeless and refugee populations. It's clear where the priorities lie."
🤔 A Time for Reflection
As the Olympic flame ignites, it illuminates athletic achievement and pressing social and environmental issues. The Paris Games serve as a case study in the complex legacy of mega-events:
Displacement of vulnerable communities
Environmental impacts masked by greenwashing
Increased surveillance and policing
Questionable allocation of resources
Without systemic changes to the Olympic model, future host cities may face similar challenges, prompting us to question the true cost of these global spectacles.
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Vance is now to Trump what Agnew was to Nixon: the attack dog that says the things that even the presidential candidate doesn't. In other words, all the homophobia, racism, transphobia, xenophobia, and other good "family values" for which ReThuglicans stand.
I am surprised, though, that no one has picked up on what TRUMP said (within the headlines): << Trump urges Christians to vote: ‘You won’t have to do it’ in four years. >> If the would-be Führer gets his way, there won't be ANY elections in 2028, because the Reich will rule.