Author: David M. Rock

NPR – by John Burnett

Brandon Martinez, 16, was one of nearly 40 undocumented immigrants found on a blistering summer day inside an unventilated trailer parked at a San Antonio Wal-Mart. Ten died, and Brandon barely survived.

Federal officials who interviewed some of the survivors say that the human cargo was assembled and loaded into the truck in the border city of Laredo.

Some had paid smugglers to take them across the Rio Grande in rafts. One immigrant said there were as many as 200 people in the back of the truck.   Continue reading “He Crossed The Border In A Packed, Unventilated Trailer And Survived”

NPR – by Bill Chappell

A federal grand jury has indicted James Matthew Bradley, Jr., on five counts related to the discovery of dozens of immigrants who were crammed into a semi’s trailer in a Walmart parking lot during hot weather in San Antonio last month.

Ten immigrants died; Bradley is charged with crimes ranging from conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented aliens for financial gain resulting in death to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, the charges could result in life imprisonment or death.   Continue reading “Driver Faces 5 Charges — And Potential Death Penalty — Over Immigrants’ Deaths”

Politico

The nationwide debate over the removal of monuments to the Confederacy is coming to the U.S. Capitol.

While President Donald Trump on Thursday urged the preservation of “our beautiful statues and monuments” honoring Confederates, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) plans to craft legislation that would remove the Capitol’s statues lionizing supporters of the slave-holding era and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called for their elimination.   Continue reading “Pelosi, Booker push for removal of Capitol’s Confederate statues”

Herald Sun – by Ray Gronberg

DURHAM – A vandal or vandals defaced the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee near the entrance of Duke Chapel.

The incident happened sometime overnight, Duke University spokesman Keith Lawrence said, adding that the campus police are investigating.

Lawrence declined to speculate about how the damage was inflicted. Parts of Lee’s face had been chipped off, including all of his nose.    Continue reading “Vandals strike statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Duke University”

NPR – by Bill Chappell

Shortly after President Trump posted a link for tickets to a rally in Phoenix, the city’s mayor issued a statement asking the president not to come, saying, “our nation is still healing from the tragic events in Charlottesville.”

Mayor Greg Stanton continued, “If President Trump is coming to Phoenix to announce a pardon for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, then it will be clear that his true intent is to enflame emotions and further divide our nation.”

Stanton, a Democrat, is in his second term as Phoenix’s mayor, having won re-election last November.   Continue reading “Phoenix Mayor Asks Trump To Delay Visit, Hoping For ‘More Sound Judgment’”

Fox 10 News

PHOENIX – President Donald Trump will hold a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center next week.

The rally has been confirmed by Donald Trump’s campaign and will take place on August 22 at 7:00 p.m.

The announcement of the rally in Phoenix came after news of a possible visit were reported last Friday. It also came, just a day after Trump blamed “both sides” for weekend violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, between white supremacists and counter-demonstrators.   Continue reading “President Trump to hold rally at Phoenix Convention Center”

NPR – by Claudio Sanchez

Demonstrators came from across the country to gather at the White House in support of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as toddlers and children.

Five years ago today, President Obama signed an executive order protecting them from deportation. It’s known as DACA — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Now immigrant rights groups — and immigrants themselves — worry that opponents and President Trump’s administration are quietly working to revoke protection for DACA participants — young people like Claudia Quiñonez from Bolivia:   Continue reading “Five Years In, What’s Next For DACA?”

Fox 10 News

Civil rights leaders in Arizona are calling on Gov. Doug Ducey (R) to remove Confederate monuments in the state.

The renewed push came, just days after the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

“These monuments of terror, these monuments of hatred must come down,” said Rev. Reginald Walton, the Pastor for Phillips Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. “They have no place in our society. At best, they belong in a museum.”   Continue reading “Debate rages on over fate of Confederate monuments in Arizona”

NPR

A “White Lives Matter” rally scheduled at Texas A&M University for Sept. 11 has been called off over “risks of threat to life and safety,” the school says.

The white nationalist rally, organized by former Texas A&M student Preston Wiginton, was not sponsored by any campus organizations, the university says. But the university, which is required to observe First Amendment rights, had allowed Wiginton to reserve space in a public area on campus.  Continue reading “Texas A&M Cancels Sept. 11 ‘White Lives Matter’ Rally Over Safety Concerns”

Fox 10 News

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – Deputies have arrested the woman who climbed a Confederate statue and tied the rope that was used to tear it down.

During a news conference Tuesday, Takiyah Thompson identified herself as the woman who climbed the statue in Durham. She said her actions were justified because Confederate statues represent white supremacy.   Continue reading “Durham protester who helped topple Confederate statue arrested”