MO school responds after a racist meme was shared among students “Go be a n***** somewhere else.”
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (KMOV.com) — Hixson Middle School in Webster Groves said a student directly sent a racist meme to two classmates that impacted others in “very deep and profoundly hurtful ways.”
The Webster Groves School District said in a message on Facebook that staff members will be available for support for those affected by the image. The image has script saying “Go be a n***** somewhere else.”
The student’s parents, Shaun Swearengen and Yolanda Morris, said their 14-year-old told them about what happened during lunch when she got home from school Thursday.
“I’ve been crying on and off all day, all night, it was very… every time I see the picture I just immediately start crying because I just can’t believe someone would think that was okay to send to my child… to anyone,” said Morris.
Morris said she immediately emailed the principal and superintendent about the situation. Morris and Swearengen met with the Hixson Middle School principal and vice principal Friday morning.
“They couldn’t hold the tears back. They were very apologetic. I really feel like they understood kinda what she was going through,” said Swearengen.
They feel this issue needs to be dealt with on a district level.
The Webster Groves School District declined News4’s request for an interview and said the district’s statement is what has been posted to its Facebook page.
“Upon learning of what had reportedly happened, the school’s administrators responded immediately,” the school’s statement read. “You can be assured that this kind of behavior has no place in our schools and will not be tolerated. We place great value on empathy and respect in our learning environment and have district policies in place that set high expectations for students.”
Morris and Swearengen feel the student who sent the meme should be suspended at the very least to set an example that this behavior is not tolerated. The district says it cannot comment on student discipline because it goes against privacy laws.
Photo Credit: kmov.com
Houses frozen over near Lake Erie in New York due to cold temps
HAMBURG, N.Y. — Cold temperatures, gale-force winds, and 18-foot waves from Lake Erie created an ice spectacle at Hoover Beach in Hamburg.
Homeowners on South Shore Drive woke to the ice completely covering their doors and windows. In some cases, their homes were dark because of how thick the ice was.
Ed Mis, resident and homeowner in Hoover Beach, says he’s never seen conditions this bad before. The front of his home is completely covered in ice that is likely one to three feet thick.
“I actually had to go out a secondary door and then chisel my way back into the house by breaking the ice,” he told 2 On Your Side’s Karys Belger.
Mis says he spent the morning checking on neighbors when he wasn’t assessing his own home. He says there’s a woman living next door to him whose home is completely blocked. The ice almost reaches her roof.
He also said the ice is an additional hardship for a community that has already dealt with many harsh storms.
“This is like our sixth storm in a matter of a few months, and it’s kind of wearing on everybody,” he said.
As bad as the ice is, Mis says his biggest concern is the damage that could be left behind after the ice melts. When his home was hit last October, he had been remodeling his home. He had to begin again from scratch after the storm was over.
The ice accumulated Thursday and overnight into Friday as waves from Lake Erie pounded the shoreline. This winter storm also brought strong winds to the region, which allowed water to be blown over the homes and freeze to trees and power lines located behind them.
Besides property damage (the ice-covered homes), several power lines and trees collapsed due to the weight of the ice and fell.
2 On Your Side spoke with the Town of Hamburg’s Emergency Services Manager, Sean Crotty, he said the ice would have to thaw before he could send in a team to asses the damage.
2 On Your Side received several pictures of the homes and trees covered in ice.
Photo Credit: ktvb.vom
College recruiter fired after lining students up by skin color and hair texture at metro high school – “Okay, everyone now line up from darkest to lightest skin complexion” then “Nappiest hair in the back and straighter hair in the front”
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Metro high school students were forced to line up by the color of their skin, and then their hair was allegedly ranked from nappy to not.
A recruiter from Oklahoma Christian University was fired following an exercise he decided to implement at Harding Charter Preparatory in Oklahoma City.
“He barely talked about the school itself,” Rio Brown said.
At Harding Charter Preparatory High School, college recruiters stop by all the time, but this gym assembly was different.
“I could already see through his BS basically,” Korey Todd said. “He was a white man.”
A man representing Oklahoma Christian University left the 11th grade class stunned.
“He was like, ‘Let’s play a little game,’” Todd said. “He said, ‘Okay, everyone now line up from darkest to lightest skin complexion.’”
“He said, ‘Okay, who is going to line up the fastest,’” Brown said.
Then, the juniors were told to shuffle again.
“He told us nappiest hair in the back and straighter hair in the front,” Brown said.
“That’s when I felt uncomfortable like, ‘Okay, this isn’t right,’” Todd said.
“Teachers left,” Brown said. “They were crying and they were offended. Their faces just look disgusted. I know they had a talk with him after, like, ‘That’s not okay.'”
According to Oklahoma Christian University, the recruiter was fired shortly after. The university released the following statement to News 4:
“The OC admissions counselor who visited Harding Charter Preparatory Academy on Monday is no longer an Oklahoma Christian University employee. OC admissions leadership did not approve the inappropriate activity in advance and has communicated closely with Harding administration since the visit. Admissions staff are scheduled to visit the academy Monday to apologize to Harding students and staff on behalf of the University.”
The principal at Harding Charter Prep also admitted all of it was true, releasing this statement to News 4, saying:
“As you are aware, our school is visited by many college representatives each year to recruit the most hardworking students in the state of Oklahoma. Unfortunately, an incident occurred this Monday when a college recruiter from Oklahoma Christian University led a group activity with our students that involved inappropriate and hurtful statements.
The Harding Charter Preparatory High School governance board, administration, and staff does not condone any behavior and/or language that undermines our community’s values. Our community, from its inception, has valued diversity, inclusion, and a safe and supportive learning environment. We will continue to do so.”
“I hope it is a wake-up call because many people at the school need to hear how we feel,” Brown said.
Oklahoma Christian University officials also tells News 4 they will be making a personal visit on Monday to apologize to the entire campus.
Photo Credit: kfor.com
Man set fire to a trans woman’s apartment: “Anyone who is a tr***y offends me”
43-year old Lee Harrison has been sentenced to five years and ten months in jail for charges connected to a transphobia-fueled arson attack.
On August 15, 2019, Harrison of Sheffield, U.K. tried to pour gas through the victim’s mailbox and set the front door on fire, just a few days after telling her, “I’m going to burn you out.”
BBC reports that before setting the fire, Harrison regularly harassed the victim, a transgender woman. According to the prosecutor on the case, Robert Sandford, Harrison would deadname her in the street, and he also once told her, “Anyone who is a tr**ny offends me; it’s a lifestyle choice.”
On the night Harrison set the fire, a lock on the mailbox prevented the gas from getting through the door, and a neighbor was able to put out the fire before it spread.
The intended victim was not home when Harrison set the fire, but her roommate was there.
“I could not escape,” the roommate said. “I was trapped because the fire was coming from the front door and smoke was coming up the stairs. I truly believed I was about to die.”
The intended victim said, “I feel guilty that my best friend could have been killed because of someone trying to attack me.”
Harrison was sentenced by Judge Graham Reeds, who said he had put the lives of the apartment resident and the downstairs neighbors at risk.
“This was an offense aggravated by hostility towards the victim’s transgender identity,” Reeds said, “which is a very significant aggravating feature.”
via: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/02/man-set-fire-trans-womans-apartment-anyone-try-offends/
Photo Credit: lgbtqnation.com
Vets pull entire beach towel out of python
(Meredith/CNN) — A team of veterinarians pulled an entire beach towel out of a python in Australia to save it, and the intense moment was caught on camera.
The 18-year-old jungle carpet python, named Monty, ate the beach towel Saturday night at a home in Sydney, according to the reptile’s owners.
The following morning, the owners took Monty to the Small Animal Specialist Hospital, where vets performed a special procedure.
First, they placed a flexible endoscope down Monty’s gastrointestinal tract to find the end of the towel in her stomach. They then used long forceps to grasp the towel.
“Once we had a good grip, the towel was able to be carefully removed from the gastrointestinal tract with endoscopic guidance,” the animal hospital wrote on Facebook. “It was smiles all round, and we’re happy to report that both Monty and the beach towel have lived to see another day!”
Monty is back at home with her owners, who say she’s now back to her “happy and hungry self.”
Photo Credit: people.com
Teacher of the year suspended for showing students a picture of her fiancée wins $100,000 settlement
A Texas art teacher who was placed on administrative leave after talking about “her future wife” in class hopes her settlement with a school district will change the lives of other LGBTQ people.
Stacy Bailey, who was on paid leave, reached a $100,000 settlement with the Mansfield Independent School District last week, her attorney said. The district near Fort Worth agreed to remove the eight-month leave from her record, as well as offer mandatory training on LGBTQ issues to human resources and counseling staff in its schools.
The two-time teacher of the year was giving a welcome back to school presentation in August 2017 to her class when she showed a photo of her and her then-fiancee dressed as characters from the movie “Finding Nemo,” according to court documents obtained by CNN. A parent complained to the school, saying that Bailey was “promoting the homosexual agenda,” according to court documents.”
That’s one of the biggest reasons that I did stand up, because I thought if I would have stayed silent or I would have resigned that this would have just happened to someone else after me,” Bailey said Tuesday at a press conference, according to CNN affiliate KTVT.Being able to finally talk about what happened is a relief for Bailey, but it’s also been bittersweet, her attorney Jason C. N. Smith told CNN on Thursday.
“She is glad to finally be able to speak about this,” Smith said. “She’s talked about how she’s a gay teacher, a dedicated gay teacher, and they put her through a lot of pain, but she is hopeful that some of the provisions of the settlement will make Mansfield ISD a more tolerant place for LGBTQ people.”Bailey taught for 10 years at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School in Arlington, Smith said. The teacher was transferred to Lake Ridge High School, which is in the same school district, at the end of the 2018 school year. She is still at Lake Ridge. The district’s school board agreed to the settlement terms on Monday.
“The Mansfield ISD School Board has voted on an agreement to settle the case in question in an amicable and beneficial manner,” Donald Williams, associate superintendent of communications and marketing, said in a statement. “All parties deny any wrongdoing or liability, but wish to resolve their disputes to avoid the time, expense, stress and other impacts of continuing litigation, which would interfere with the mission of educating the students of MISD.”Bailey argued she was discriminated against and her constitutional rights were violated. The school district said the teacher refused to follow administration directions “regarding age-appropriate conversations with students” about sexual orientation.Beyond the mandatory LGBTQ training, optional training will be offered to administrators, staff, teachers or parents who would like to attend, according to settlement documents.
The settlement also requires the school district to provide Bailey with a “neutral” letter of recommendation.
As the Supreme Court is considering cases based on sexual orientation that may affect the district board’s policies, the board of trustees will consider adopting a policy barring discrimination of teachers and students based on sexual orientation within 60 days of the end of the court’s term, the settlement says.”I think this settlement was a win-win for Stacy, the educators and the students of Mansfield ISD,” Smith said. “The judge in this case ruled that gay teachers are protected by the Constitution. That’s a precedent that will protect every gay teacher in this country.”
Smith said that Bailey hopes other teachers will also be more open and be their genuine selves.
“Stacy has encouraged other teachers to live their truth and openly be who they are in the classroom so they can be better people and better teachers,” Smith said.Bailey and her wife, Julie Vazquez, were married in March 2018, Smith said. The couple said they will donate $10,000 of the settlement money to a nonprofit that focuses on LGBTQ issues. Smith said he will donate $10,000 of his reduced legal fees to the Human Rights Campaign, which is the largest LGBTQ advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the US.
Article via CNN
Some Americans aren’t buying Corona beer due to coronavirus, survey finds
(CNN) — Two surveys released this week show Corona’s brand is suffering from negative buzz.
The first survey, conducted by 5W Public Relations, said that 38% of Americans wouldn’t buy Corona “under any circumstances” because of the outbreak, and another 14% said they wouldn’t order a Corona in public. The survey encompasses polling from 737 beer drinkers in the United States.
In another survey conducted by YouGov, the firm found consumers’ intent to purchase Corona fell to its lowest level in two years. The survey also showed that Corona’s buzz score, a metric that that measures favorability, has dropped significantly since the beginning of the year.
Still, Corona beer isn’t making any changes to its advertising despite the name’s unfortunate similarity to the deadly coronavirus.
Constellation Brands, which brews several variations of the popular lager, said in a statement that its customers “understand there is no link between the virus and our business.”
“Sales of Corona remain very strong and we appreciate the continued support from our fans,” Constellation Brands spokesperson Stephanie McGuane told CNN Business. “Our advertising with Corona is consistent with the campaign we have been running for the last 30 years and is based off strong consumer sentiment.”
The spread of the coronavirus couldn’t have come at a worse time for Constellation, which is spending $40 million to launch its new Corona-branded hard seltzer. Part of the promotion includes a sponsored tweet that has sparked criticism for using the phrase “coming ashore soon.”
Replies to the tweet say the ad is in “poor taste” and that the brand should “lay low for a few weeks.”
Online searches for “corona beer virus” spiked in early February, but have since declined.
Constellation Brands’ stock dropped 8% on Thursday, although the entire stock market has fallen sharply as fear grows about the spread of coronavirus. The number of cases have climbed to 83,577 globally Friday. Nearly 3,000 people have died from the virus.
Photo Credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images
UCLA Gymnast Goes Viral for Incredible Beyoncé Routine 1 Year After Former Teammate Katelyn Ohashi
Nia Dennis is wowing the internet with her sensational floor routine, set to a powerful medley of Beyoncé hits
Move over Beyoncé, the internet is getting in formation for Nia Dennis’ sensational performance.
After the UCLA Bruins gymnast wowed the juges at a NCAA women’s collegiate gymnastics meet last weekend, her floor routine — set to a powerful medley of Beyoncé hit songs — went viral.
The college junior — who has made air-signing her name part of her signature stand-out floor choreography — took things to the next level with her one-of-a-kind Beyoncé mashup.
A homecoming performance that would make @Beyonce proud! @DennisNia made us lose our breath with her 9.975 on floor exercise last weekend in Pauley.
Who else is crazy in love with her routine? ? pic.twitter.com/XE4VvTrZOK
— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) February 28, 2020
Featuring orchestral versions of hits like “Crazy in Love,” “Ego,” and even Destiny Child’s “Lose My Breath,” Dennis commanded the floor, mixing her stunts with some of the Grammy-winner’s famous dance moves.
The gymnast kicked off her routine with a powerful strut across the floor, mimicking Beyoncé’s famous 2018 Coachella stage dancers. As the routine continued — in between round-offs and jumps — Dennis can be seen doing the singer’s signature “Single Ladies” shuffle while incorporating traditional stepping movements.
The 21-year-old —who celebrated her milestone birthday Sunday night — also creatively threw in the dab move and ended her routine by confidently placing an invisible crown on her head.
Dennis earned a 9.975 score out of 10.0 for her routine and was the first of three members of her team to achieve that high score for the Bruins, ESPN reported.
And while the Beyoncé-loving gymnast was just short of a perfect score, her teammate, senior Grace Glenn, made history as the first NCAA gymnast to land a perfect 10.0 as the leadoff member of the UCLA team, according to ESPN.
Dennis and her team’s viral and history-making routines come a year after former teammate Katelyn Ohashi broke the internet with her own perfect 10-scoring floor routine.
Last January, Ohashi’s electric routine featured impressive passes and flips and was soundtracked by upbeat music like Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” and The Jackson 5’s “ABC.”
The recent college graduate previously told PEOPLE she knew her routine was going well at the time, but she wasn’t thinking about her score.
“I would have never guessed I have like senators reposting me,” she previously said, referencing the likes of California Senator Kamala Harris. “It’s just crazy and honoring.”
Article via People
‘Mulan’: Why Captain Li Shang Isn’t in the Live-Action Remake
As Disney fans eagerly await the theatrical release of the live-action Mulan, some wonder how this version will hold up compared to the animated classic without its heartthrob Li Shang. When fans noticed Captain Li Shang’s name was absent from the casting notices for Mulan, an avalanche of displeasure made its way across social media, calling the decision “dishonor on you.”
General Li Shang was not only a key character in the animated film, but he stole our hearts with his good looks, sick martial arts skills, a catchy song, and status as a bisexual icon. His character helped drive the story forward, pushing not only Mulan but the rest of his troops to be their best and rise to a massive challenge. We also saw the devastation of war through his experience of losing his father.
Li Shang’s bond with Mulan’s male alter-ego Ping speaks volumes for the LGBTQ community, so why isn’t Li Shang in the movie? According to producer Jason Reed, we’ll actually still have Li Shang in the new Mulan—sort of.
“We split Li Shang into two characters. One became Commander Tung (Donnie Yen) who serves as her surrogate father and mentor in the course of the movie. The other is Honghui (Yoson An) who is [Mulan’s] equal in the squad.”
Reed cites #MeToo movement as an influence on their decision to rework the character.
“I think particularly in the time of the #MeToo movement, having a commanding officer that is also the sexual love interest was very uncomfortable and we didn’t think it was appropriate.”.
This decision removes the power differential, but how will Mulan and Honghui Chen’s dynamic play out? Reed and his team used the animated movie as the model for that level of relationship.
New Zealand actor Yoson An who plays Honghui describes his character as very still, honorable, and observant, and talks about his and Mulan’s initial dynamic.
“They start off on the wrong foot, really. As they progress through the training together, they kind of have this unspoken bond about it because they recognize each other’s warrior spirit. That’s how they kind of build their friendship up to begin with, through the training and acknowledging each other.”
While remaining tight-lipped on the LGBTQ aspect of his character, An talked about how he drew his inspiration for Honghui,
“I see this film as a different variation from the animated version and the original story of The Ballad of Mulan. I kind of took a different angle from Li Shang’s character. I can’t really say to a lot of how that will come across but there is a multi-dimensional layer to him and the audience will be able to see that when they watch the movie.“.
Li Shang will always have a special place in our hearts and we’ll see for ourselves how the dynamic between Mulan and Honghui plays out on March 27th when Mulan hits theaters. Tickets are on sale starting today.
For more of my set visit coverage, check out my rundown of the biggest differences from the animated film and why the characters won’t be breaking out into song.
Article via Collider
Jay-Z files second lawsuit against ‘barbaric’ Mississippi prison
Jay-Z has filed a civil lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Corrections on behalf of 152 inmates at a state prison, alleging “barbaric” conditions.
Parchman prison is accused of “abhorrent conditions, abuse and constant violence, inadequate health care and mental health care, and overuse of isolation … the people confined at Parchman live a miserable and hopeless existence confronted daily by imminent risk of substantial harm in violation of their rights under the US Constitution”.
Among the problems detailed by the lawsuit and an accompanying documentary film made by Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation are a lack of staffing that has allowed prisoner violence to flourish, sewage-filled cells, contaminated food and water, and a lack of adequate healthcare. Nine inmates have died at the prison so far in 2020.
The suit calls for the Department of Corrections to eliminate health and safety risks within 90 days. The department wouldn’t comment on the suit, but has previously said that violence is gang-related rather than linked to staffing issues.
It is the second lawsuit brought against the prison by Jay-Z, in tandem with fellow rapper Yo Gotti – the pair filed a suit on behalf of 29 other inmates in January.
Jay-Z has frequently involved himself in African American civil rights cases using his philanthropy arm Team Roc, including those of other figures from the rap world. He intervened over 21 Savage’s detainment by immigration officials, and the sentencing of Meek Mill following a probation violation, saying: “What’s happening to Meek Mill is just one example of how our criminal justice system entraps and harasses hundreds of thousands of black people every day.”
He has also reportedly bailed out protesters in Baltimore and Ferguson who were detained during anti-police brutality demonstrations, and has taken on dozens of other cases with civil rights lawyer Alex Spiro.
Article via The Guardian