In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Violence; sexual assault; child abuse; guns; anti-immigration sentiment; racism] This is a difficult but necessary piece on reframing the "immigration crisis" as a refugee crisis: "To permanently stem this flow of children, we must address the complex root causes of violence in Honduras, as well as the demand for illegal drugs in the United States that is fueling that violence. In the meantime, however, we must recognize this as a refugee crisis, as the United Nations just recommended. These children are facing threats similar to the forceful conscription of child soldiers by warlords in Sudan or during the civil war in Bosnia. Being forced to sell drugs by narcos is no different from being forced into military service. ...By sending these children away, 'you are handing them a death sentence,' says José Arnulfo Ochoa Ochoa, an expert in Honduras with World Vision International, a Christian humanitarian aid group." (Note: I don't agree with all the suggested policy prescriptions, and I believe we should extend the same sympathies to adult refugees.)

[CN: Abuse; neglect; anti-immigrationism; racism] Relatedly: "After she arrived at an immigrant detention facility, a Guatemalan woman who sought out medical care for an ear injury and extreme pain was given a cotton ball, ear drops, and a mild painkiller. Her son, who had a severe cough which persisted for eight days, had a fever that went untreated. One six-year-old girl vomited blood for several days and was given emergency medical care only after she lost consciousness. Another eight-year-old girl regressed to breastfeeding after she stayed in detention for eight months. These are just some of the details that five migrant women and their children are alleging in a $10 million tort claim, a precursor to a federal lawsuit seeking damages for the 'abuse, neglect, and trauma' that they say they suffered at the hands of the Department of Homeland Security officials." Rage. Seethe. Boil.

[CN: Transmisogynoir; violence; death] RIP Shade Schuler: "A 22-year-old woman found dead last month in Dallas is the 13th transgender person murdered in the US this year, eclipsing the total from all of 2014. ...On Tuesday, after I forwarded her an article about Schuler, Trans Pride Initiative's Nell Gaither confirmed the victim was transgender. 'Several of us spent time verifying she was trans and trying to learn more this afternoon and evening,' Gaither wrote on Facebook Tuesday night. 'Her name was Ms. Shade, and she was only 22 years old. … Our hearts and thoughts are with her family and friends who now must confront this unfortunate taking of life. May we find space in our hearts to celebrate her time with us and the lives she touched. May we find inspiration in this loss to work together, trans and cis alike, to end the violence that has taken so many of our trans siblings from us far too soon.'" My condolences to Shade's family and friends and community.

The latest in the Hillary Clinton Email Thing: "Hillary Clinton has directed her aides to hand over to the Justice Department a private e-mail server that she used during her tenure as secretary of state, her presidential campaign said Tuesday. Spokesman Nick Merrill confirmed Clinton's request and said the Democratic front-runner has also asked that the department be given a thumb drive that contains copies of her e-mails. Clinton has 'pledged to cooperate with the government's security inquiry, and if there are more questions, we will continue to address them,' Merrill said."

[CN: Police brutality; racism; death] The white Arlington, Texas, police officer who shot and killed 19-year-old Christian Taylor, who was black, has been fired from his job: "Brad Miller, 49, could also face criminal charges once police complete their investigation, Police Chief Will Johnson said. ...Instead of helping to set up a perimeter around the [location which Taylor was suspected of damaging and robbing], Miller confronted Taylor and ordered him to get down on the ground, Johnson said. Taylor did not comply. Instead, he began 'actively advancing toward Officer Miller,' Johnson said. ...'This is an extraordinarily difficult case,' Johnson said. 'Decisions were made that have catastrophic outcomes.'" Decisions were made. How contemptibly passive.

[CN: Racism; misogyny; harassment] Another good read from Imani Gandy: "#BlackLivesMatter More Than the Hurt Feelings of White Progressives^TM."

Good news: "Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that banning same-sex couples from adopting children violates the nation's constitution." Yay! Obviously one court ruling doesn't translate to immediate change for families headed by same-sex couples, but this is a crucial start.

Neat: "A British archaeologist says he may have discovered where ancient Egyptians buried Nefertiti, the Egyptian queen and wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. ...Nicholas Reeves of the University of Arizona says that he has identified the location of her hidden tomb behind a wall in the Valley of Kings. In a research paper, Reeves suggests that Nefertiti may be connected to Tut's tomb through a portal."

And finally! A kitten goes for a walk with her husky pack. SO CUTE!