Ex-Florida AG calls Rittenhouse ‘a little boy trying to protect his community’

The 17-year old was arrested last month for the shooting death of two Wisconsin protesters.

Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teenager accused of fatally shooting protesters in Kenosha, Wis. last month, is just “a little boy” who was “trying to protect his community,” so says former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R).

The 17-year old was arrested in late August for the shooting death of two Wisconsin protesters. Rittenhouse, who used a semi-automatic rifle in the attack, has been charged with first-degree murder, theGRIO previously reported. 

His case has drawn support from a number of conservative influencers and lawmakers, who have defended the teenager, dubbing him a “patriot.” Political commentator Ann Coulter tweeted that she wanted Rittenhouse as “her president.” 

Read More: Dallas school district apologizes for assignment referencing Kyle Rittenhouse as ‘hero’

When Bondi appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program on Tuesday to discuss the case, she noted that “People have to understand out there, that was a war zone. You have got a 17-year-old out there trying to protect his state,” Bondi said, The Hill reports. 

Rittenhouse is from Antioch, Illinois. His mother reportedly drove him to the anti-police brutality demonstrations in Kenosha, where he decided that it was his duty to protect public property by any means necessary. 

He was arrested in his home state a day after he allegedly shot three people — two fatally. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said one victim was shot in the head and another was shot in the chest, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Read More: Kyle Rittenhouse attorney resigns from defense fund due to legal issues

Many Republicans/conservatives treat Trayvon Martin, 17, and Tamir Rice, 12, with contempt, deeming them to be grown men who got it coming. But accused murderer Kyle Rittenhouse is a “little boy.” https://t.co/NQY2LIYReg

— Stephanie. (@qsteph) September 23, 2020

“He is helping people who have been injured. He has paramedic training from being a lifeguard. He is taking graffiti off walls. He is trying to mitigate the chaos out there,” added Bondi, a former special adviser to President Trump. 

“There were bullets flying everywhere. Other people were firing, This kid was trying to help people. Were there people killed? Absolutely,” she continued. “You’ve got a little boy out there trying to protect his community.”

Bondi went on to say… “Should he have been out there with a gun? No. But should he have been charged with murder? We just don’t know yet,” she added.

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Safaris are back, and luxury lodges are enlisting guests to help save animals

When South Africa reopens on Oct. 1, travelers can visit private game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal that let tourists help protect the country's rhinos and elephants.

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Doc Rivers, NBA attempting to help Delonte West after new photo surfaces

Viral photos show the 37-year-old standing on the side of a road holding a sign, and the disturbing image has drawn a reaction from the league.

Ex-NBA star Delonte West was recently spotted in Dallas, apparently homeless and begging for money. 

Viral photos show the 37-year-old standing on the side of a road holding a sign, and the disturbing image has drawn a reaction from the NBA world.

West’s former coach Doc Rivers and the Players Association have reportedly been trying to him help …ever since he was filmed shirtless on a city curb, shouting expletives with a bloodied and bruised face back in January. At the time, his former college coach took action, enlisting his “basketball network” to come to West’s aid. The NBA also reportedly offered its resources, theGRIO reported.

Read More: Officer who shot video of Delonte West is now suspended from police force

Multiple insiders tell TMZ that the league, NBPA, Rivers, and West’s former St. Joe’s college teammate, Jameer Nelson, have attempted to get him the much needed assistance that he needs.

Delonte west really out here in north dallas smh pic.twitter.com/9SxZzIO5AP

— 🇯🇵 (@CallTcooks) September 22, 2020

Phil Martelli, who coached West and Nelson at Saint Joseph’s before West headed to the NBA, previously took to Twitter to post a compassionate note about watching the former athlete’s downward spiral. 

West played eight seasons in the NBA, including several seasons with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Over the past several hours I have talked with many who are willing to help – please read and embrace Jameer’s wisdom – we are reaching out to our basketball network to get the professional help Delonte needs. This is so very painful,” Martelli tweeted.

Read More: NBA reportedly offers help after disturbing video of Delonte West goes viral

Over the past several hours I have talked with many who are willing to help – please read and embrace Jameer’s wisdom – we are reaching out to our basketball network to get the professional help Delonte needs. This is so very painful. https://t.co/8IAuTdzCc9

— Phil Martelli (@PhilMartelli) January 21, 2020

The NBA has offered to support West and his family, according to TMZ.

Several years ago, after several bizarre events, West’s brother, Dmitri went public with his brother’s bipolar disorder diagnosis.

“Delonte West is not crazy, he is not on drugs. I don’t know what exactly is going on in his mind but I can tell you that he is safe and he’s doing OK,” Dmitri said at that time. “My family are trying to get him the best professional help that’s out there, the best that they can afford.”

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Nicole Ari Parker to tackle police reform on ‘Chicago P.D.’

The actress will tackle police brutality on the NBC cop drama for the upcoming eighth season.

Nicole Air Parker will tackle police brutality in her new recurring role on the upcoming eighth season of NBC’s Chicago P.D.

The actress will play Deputy Superintendent Samatha Miller on the the Dick Wolf drama series. According to Deadline.com, the character hails from Atlanta, Georgia and she’s “a progressive, ardent proponent of police reform” who wants to help a department led by Detective Sergeant Hank Voight  “adapt to the new reality but will not tolerate breaches of the new police guidelines and protocols.”

Chicago P.D. is a spinoff of Chicago Fire, and centers on members of the Chicago Police Department run by Voight. Parker’s Miller is expected to rein in Voight’s violent and excessive force when handling suspects and criminals. She will hold him and his team accountable by “imposing high professional standards.”

Read More: Nicole Ari Parker invents headwrap to protect hair from sweat

Cop shows have become increasingly open to scrutiny as racial tensions continue to rise across the country. Critics have noted that police dramas tend to show officers as heroes and Black people as the “bad guys” that they lock up.

So excited to join this amazing cast, playing this timely role and to be directed 🎥 by my friend the one&only @EriqLaSalle. #DeputySuperintendant #InsideTheBlueWall #ChangeIsGonnaCome #ChicagoPD @NBC https://t.co/YJtlSDSpeh

— nicoleariparker (@nicolearip) September 22, 2020

A January study by advocacy group Color of Change detailed the effects of this type of fantastical portrayal of American policing. The study said “the crime TV genre – the main way that tens of millions of people learn to think about the criminal justice system – advanced debunked ideas about crime, a false hero narrative about law enforcement, and distorted representations about black people, other people of color and women. These shows rendered racism invisible and dismissed any need for police accountability.”

Police brutality and reform are expected to be explored by most cop shows in their upcoming seasons.  

Read More: ‘More Black cops’ and other BS myths for combating police brutality 

#OneChicago Wednesday makes its return this fall on @NBC, streaming on @PeacockTV. 💚❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/2FV83b3XIV

— Chicago P.D. (@NBCChicagoPD) August 28, 2020

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med were all renewed for 3 more seasons by NBC.

“Dick Wolf has proven time and time again that he makes shows audiences love,” said Paul Telegdy, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “We are delighted, excited and proud that as part of this epic deal with Wolf Entertainment, NBC’s loyal audience will know that their favorite shows have a certain future for the next three years.”

Parker gushed about her new Chicago P.D. gig on Twitter, writing “So excited to join this amazing cast, playing this timely role.” She added that her longtime friend, actor Eriq LaSalle, will direct her on the series. 

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The Ring Always Home Cam Flies Around Inside Your House

Look at this freaking drone.

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Reggie Hayes battling heart failure, lack of work after ‘Girlfriends’ stardom

Acting Jobs were not easy to come by for Reggie Hayes after ‘Girlfriends’

Actor Reggie Hayes did not have the best of luck snagging acting roles after Girlfriends ended.

Read More: ‘Girlfriends’ creator Mara Brock Akil signs Netflix deal: ‘It is a dream’

Hayes, 51, played the beloved William Dent on the hit show created by Mara Brock Akil starring Golden Brooks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones. He recently spoke with The Chicago Tribune and told the outlet not only have acting jobs dried up since the show ended in 2008, he now suffers from congestive heart failure.

“Here in L.A., the sky has been orange with smoke (because of wildfires) and it was just really terrible,” the actor told the Tribune. “So I was in the hospital overnight, they were having trouble getting my blood pressure back down. Seems like the more they look, the more problems they find. The good thing is, I don’t have the coronavirus.”

On Girlfriends which ran first on UPN and then The CW from 200-2008, Hayes was the lovable fifth wheel and sometimes lover to a couple of the women. His character was a funny and vibrant fan favorite, so Hayes was shocked when the show ended and he couldn’t find a job. He said the offers just stopped coming in.

Though the show changed his life, the Chicago native says he wasn’t prepared for his success. By 14, he’d lost both parents, finishing high school at a military academy in Wisconsin.

“God, I wish I knew then what I know now. I wish I’d had more time to ease into it. That you have to save your money. And you need to develop good friendships with people that aren’t going to just go away. Try to find people who aren’t just after you for your money. And maybe pursue other interests.”

Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Hayes, Persia White and Golden Brooks of ‘Girlfriends’ (UPN)

The actor says he tried to work as a bouncer but didn’t have the temperament. He also tried moving furniture but said he didn’t have the back for it.

“It was a difficult time, money-wise, I had started a complete rebuild on my house and all of a sudden I didn’t have a job. But the house was on an amazing piece of land and I was able to sell it and break even,” Hayes told the Tribune. “So I moved from a house on the hill down to a little bungalow in a sketchy area and people would come by: “What the hell are you doing here?” Those were pretty awful years. I made it work with my little residual checks for a year and then I ended up moving into my sister’s garage for six years.”

Recently, Girlfriends was picked up by Netflix and Hayes is excited to see himself back on TV.

“Feels like a second birthday,” he said. “Watching it again, I’m surprised at how skinny I was! Because I never really thought of myself as a cool guy who had a lot of luck with the ladies, and now I’m like, ‘Why not, I was gorgeous!’

The actor may have fallen on bad times after his time on the show, but he’s maintained a positive attitude.

Read More: Netflix to air Black sitcom classics ‘Girlfriends’, ‘Moesha’ and more

“It was such a blessing. It really changed my life,” Hayes said. “Of all the parts I could have played on TV, I think that was the best job I could have gotten.”

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Study: US economy lost $16 trillion due to discrimination against Blacks

As it turns out, racism is expensive, a new study shows

Ongoing protests sparked by the death of George Floyd have reignited a national discussion around the systemic racial discrimination in the country. To add insult to injury, a major bank has now been able to quantify just how much money the economy has lost as a result of discrimination against Black Americans.

READ MORE: Trump ready to pass stimulus bill, blames Democrats for holdup

According to a new study by Citigroup, since the year 2000, the United States has lost a whopping $16 trillion in gross domestic product due to discriminatory practices in a plethora of areas from education to access to business loans.

Considering the U.S. GDP totaled $19.5 trillion last year, losing almost the same figure amounts to a massive deficit for everyone. Researchers also found that failing to address these oppressive practices will only lead to continued losses.

Citigroup estimates that if America made a concerted effort to reverse discrimination against Black Americans, in just five years the economy would see a $5 trillion boost.

“We believe we have a responsibility to address current events and to frame them with an economic lens in order to highlight the real costs of longstanding discrimination against minority groups, especially against Black people and particularly in the U.S.,” writes Raymond J. McGuire, a vice chairman at the bank and the chairman of its banking, capital markets, and advisory team.

Discrimination has cost the US economy trillions of dollars (Photo: Stock)

NPR reports that the study came up with the $16 trillion figure by examining four key racial gaps between African Americans and their white counterparts:

• $13 trillion lost in potential business revenue because of discriminatory lending to African American entrepreneurs, with an estimated 6.1 million jobs not generated as a result
• $2.7 trillion in income lost because of disparities in wages suffered by African Americans
• $218 billion lost over the past two decades because of discrimination in providing housing credit
• And $90 billion to $113 billion in lifetime income lost from discrimination in accessing higher education

READ MORE: Chris Rock, Megan Thee Stallion to join forces for ‘SNL’ premiere

Due to these findings, Citigroup now urges key stakeholders to make it a priority to address discrimination, not just as a social issue but also as a matter of fiscal responsibility.

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Harry and Meghan slammed for breaking ‘royal neutrality’ protocol by urging Americans to vote

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared on the Time 100 special and urged people to vote in November

Members of the British royal family have historically stayed clear of making political statements to maintain a sense of “royal neutrality.” However, this week it’s been alleged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle upset their family across the pond after making strong statements about the upcoming presidential election.

Tuesday, while speaking in a Time 100 video message in celebrating of National Voter Registration Day, Harry admitted he was not eligible to vote in America and noted that he had never voted in the U.K. due to guidelines that dictate royals avoid taking sides in politics.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Harry went on to ask voters to “reject hate speech” while he noted the undeniable significance of the current race. 

READ MORE: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry sign multiyear deal with Netflix

“Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime,” said Markle. “But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter because you do and you deserve to be heard.”

Despite their civic minded message, some viewers thought the video to be an “obvious” indication that the duo was backing Joe Biden over President Donald Trump, even though a source close to Harry reportedly denied this.

"This is the most important election of our lifetime."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle discuss voting and the importance of combating misinformation #TIME100 https://t.co/zcTlwpDWnk

— TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

READ MORE: Crowd chants ‘vote him out’, boos Trump at court viewing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg casket

In response to the heated debate in the U.K. about if Harry broke the rules with his statements, when asked for comment a Buckingham Palace spokesman responded: “We would not comment. The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.”

But DailyMailOnline editor-at-large Piers Morgan – a staunch conservative and longtime colleague of Trump – took issue with Harry and Markle’s stance, opining, “Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behavior for a member of the Royal Family.”

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Biden responds to Trump’s refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power

The president ‘says the most irrational things,’ Biden maintained, campaigning to replace him.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump would not commit to a peaceful transition of power if he were to lose the 2020 presidential election in November. 

“We’re going to have to see what happens, you know, but I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots. The ballots are a disaster,” Trump told White House reporters, referring to the increase of absentee and mail-in voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Get rid of the ballots, and you’ll have a very peaceful — there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation,” Trump said. “The ballots are out of control. You know it, and you know who knows it better than anyone else? The Democrats know it better than anyone else.”

Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks after a recent tour of Jerry Alander Carpenter Training Center in Hermantown, Minnesota. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

His Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, responded, when questioned by the press: “What country are we in?” 

He contended that while he was being “facetious,” asking that question, the president, “says the most irrational things.” Biden added, “I don’t know what to say.” 

Read More: President Trump could find ways to get around a Biden win in the election

That Trump will not commit to a conflict-free transfer of power from his presidency to the next is a warning sign for many, even within his own party. 

“Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus,” wrote Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate in 2008 and 2012. “Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable.”

Read More: Trump expands ban on anti-racism training to federal contractors

Romney’s comment on Twitter got a reply from Maya Harris, sister of Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris, who tweeted, “Yeah, we know that. Looking for someone to do something about it.” 

Trump maintains that mail-in voting is akin to voter fraud, despite all evidence to the contrary. All 50 states have seen an increase in absentee ballot applications amid the coronavirus pandemic as people stay home to avoid catching or spreading the highly transmissible disease. 

The Brookings Institute has prepared a scorecard of state-by-state mail-in voter readiness. Alabama ranks last with an F, while most western states have an A rating. 

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Can a Genetically Modified Bug Combat a Global Farm Plague?

Biotech company Oxitec has created a caterpillar with self-destructing eggs in an attempt to curb agricultural damage. But will other pests simply move in?

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Motorola One 5G Review: It Has Battery for Days

Forget plugging in every night. This phone lasts more than 48 hours on a charge.

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Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are in talks to buy a Welsh soccer club

"Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" actor Rob McElhenney are in talks to buy Welsh soccer club Wrexham A.F.C. 

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We Need to Talk About Talking About QAnon

Describing and debunking the phenomenon is not enough. We need to explain why and how it came to be.

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The Ugandan man adopting children in the US

How one man went from being a “street kid” in Uganda, to adopting a white child in the US.

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Senegal's Mendy: From being jobless to joining Chelsea

The story of how Senegal's Edouard Mendy has gone from being unemployed to signing for Chelsea.

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Transracial adoption: 'People accused me of kidnapping my son'

Adopting a child can be a challenging experience, particularly for one African-American woman, Keia whose three-year-old son Princeton is white.

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Founder of bottled water giant Nongfu Spring becomes China's richest man

Steady gains in the public offerings of two Chinese stocks this year have vaulted their controlling stakeholder to the top of China's rich list.

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Covid-19 in Kenya: Unemployed and taking care of my ailing mother

Sam is unemployed as a result of the pandemic and has dedicated himself to taking care of his ailing mother.

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Is Python better than R for data science?

In this Article you are going to know Is Python better than R for data science. https://ift.tt/3engcFS

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Neo-Nazi sentenced to 25 years for shooting Black man in racist attack

Investigators say Brandon Higgs told the victim ‘This is my hood… Black motherf*ckers, go back to Africa.’

Brandon Higgs will spend over 20 years behind bars for charges related to the 2018 shooting of a Black man in Reisterstown, a suburb of Baltimore.

Investigators say 60-year-old Elvis Smith and 48-year-old Robert Peete first encountered the 26-year-old white supremacist as they laid concrete for a driveway at a residential home in December 2019. Higgs’ dog somehow got loose and ran across the wet concrete. The two men exchanged angry words with Higgs over the dog. Higgs became so enraged during the confrontation that he returned home and moments later emerged with a loaded gun, The Huffington Post reports.

Investigators say Higgs told Smith and Peete “This is my hood… Black motherf*ckers, go back to Africa.” That’s when a shoving match ensued between Smith and Higgs. 

Read More: Baltimore illegally took partial police settlement from woman, judge says

Peete said Higgs pointed the gun directly in his face but he managed to get out of the line of fire. According to HuffPost, the men struggled and the gun went off, with the bullet ripping through Smith’s leg and obliterating his tibia. 

Brandon Higgs, who was active in private neo-Nazi chat groups, said "Go back to Africa!" before the shooting in a Baltimore suburb. https://t.co/lH5593btVW

— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) September 24, 2020

After the shooting received national attention, private online chat logs surfaced showing Higgs’ activity with white supremacist groups. In some of the messages he made clear his murderous hatred for Black people.

The Daily Beast linked him to “a long history of hate.” 

Reportedly Higgs attended the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned violent and resulted in the death of Heather Hayer, a paralegal and civil rights activist. 

The state did not mention Higgs’ connection to anti-Black extremist groups during opening statements. However, on his arm is a visible yellow tattoo of a lambda in a circle. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the tattoo is an Identitarian lambda, a symbol of the Identitarianism and opposed to multiculturalism.

The former Navy cryptologist was found guilty in January of first-degree assault, attempted voluntary manslaughter, hate crimes and firearms charges. 

The judge suspended 15 years of the sentence to 25 years in prison, plus five years probation.

“He’s got a long time to think about the shit he did,” Smith told HuffPost after the sentencing hearing in August. “So I’m happy.”

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