Things That Matter

Thousands Nationwide Protest The End Of DACA And Vow To Defend It

By September 5, 2017 at 2:52 pm
Twitter / CosechaMovement

Before the White House officially announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, people nationwide were prepared to fight. There had been speculation about the fate of DACA for weeks: President Donald Trump had spoken about the program unfavorably in the past, and then shifted somewhat more recently, saying he would show some heart. Despite the rhetoric, there was no definite conclusion as to what the President would announce today.

In a last-minute attempt, DACA supporters pleaded with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump with a vigil outside their home. Alas, that didn’t stop the White House from rescinding the DACA program. When official word came this morning by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, people were already in the streets demanding justice.

Here’s how people all over the country came out to support DACA.

Washington D.C.

While protestors took to the streets in support of DACA, senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Dick Durbin (D), who reintroduced the DREAM Act to the Senate in July, held a press conference to discuss the proposed law that would provide a pathway to permanent residency to undocumented people who came here as minors. In the press conference, both senators pushed for a bipartisan plan to protect undocumented people from deportation.

Vowing to reach a positive resolution, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told DACA beneficiaries: “You have done nothing wrong.”

Connecticut

DACA rally, ECSU.

A post shared by Katie Corrado (@katiecorrado) on

While some students held a rally at Eastern Connecticut State University, another group of Connecticut residents were already on their way to D.C. The Connecticut Mirror is reporting that 40 DREAMers are heading to the nation’s capital for a protest alongside other DREAMers.

Phoenix

Elsewhere in Phoenix, social media reporter Cydney Henderson tweeted that “at least 100 South Mountain High students” marched to the Phoenix police department to support DACA and demand that police be removed from their campus.

San Francisco

Oakland Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee tweeted, “Ending #DACA is cruel and heartless. Congress must act now to protect #DREAMers and pass comprehensive reform once and for all.”

New York City

Members of Movimiento Cosecha sat down and locked hands in front of Trump Tower. Several members were arrested, including nine DACA recipients.

ABC News is reporting that at least 34 people have been arrested at protests in New York City without incident.

Los Angeles

A protest is planned for 5 p.m. at La Placita Olvera in Downtown Los Angeles.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon told the Los Angeles Times: “The Dreamers who were brought to this country as young children, who are American to their core, deserve better.” Rendon added, “The Legislature will do everything we can working with local governments, universities and schools to keep these young people secure, safe and here where they belong.”

Raleigh, North Carolina

“This whole political debate is absolutely ridiculous. The concept of illegality is not real, we were not born illegal,” 20-year-old Jorge Ramos, who is a DACA recipient, said at a protest in Raleigh, according to the News & Observer. “This is all just a complex facade to further criminalize our people and exploit us for our cheap labor and unmerited contributions to this country. All we want to do is go to school and work. Why is that so hard to swallow…I know that in the end, justice will be on our side. Don’t be discouraged. We are worth so much more than this and we are here to stay.”

Denver

News reports estimate that about 1,100 Denver students walked out of class this morning to protest the DACA announcement.

San Jose

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a press release that he will support DACA recipients in his city.

“The Attorney General’s announcement of the Trump Administration’s rescission of DACA abandons 800,000 of America’s hardest-working, most patriotic residents,” Liccardo said. “Punting the issue to Congress, without any affirmative leadership to enact a legislative solution, amounts to a cowardly cop-out, placing the futures of these young women and men in serious jeopardy.”

San Diego

San Diego Rep. Susan Davis says that ending the program will have a negative effect on the economy. “He has not only put them at risk, but our economy at risk as well. While it’s sad that Trump is siding with the worst elements of his administration, it’s not surprising given his past rhetoric on immigration,” Davis said in a statement.

Miami

“If they take DACA away, I hope they do something permanent for us,” 20-year-old Javiera Garate told The Miami Herald. “Not just take away the entire opportunity. If they do that, what do we do?”

Boston

U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey tweeted: “We will #DefendDACA so that all Dreamers in Massachusetts have the same chance to succeed. #DACAWorks”

Chicago

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel tweeted: “President Trump’s decision to end #DACA strikes a blow against our core American values and is an affront to basic human decency.”

READ: The Trump Administration Has Officially Rescinded DACA. Here’s What You Need To Know.

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Puerto Rico Is Planning To Vote On U.S. Statehood Once Again And Here’s Why So Many Are Against The Idea

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Puerto Rico Is Planning To Vote On U.S. Statehood Once Again And Here’s Why So Many Are Against The Idea

By May 21, 2020 at 2:59 pm
BY  | May 21, 2020 AT 2:59 pm
VisitPR / Instagram

Puerto Rican’s are no stranger to referendums. Since 1967, they’ve had five chances to make their opinions known on U.S. statehood and each and every time, their voice hasn’t been listened to. Congress has failed to take up the issue after each referendum and local leaders are often guilty of using the referendum simply to drudge up support for their candidates.

But this upcoming referendum is different in that it comes at a crossroads for Puerto Rican politics. The island has been plagued by natural disasters, political scandals, and unprecedented hate crimes. Even Bad Bunny is letting his thoughts out on the referendum and many others have lots to say on the issue.

For the first time in the island’s history, the referendum will ask a single question: Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted as a U.S. state?

On Saturday, Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood Republican governor, Wanda Vázquez, announced yet another vote on the question (the sixth since 1967 and the third since 2012). It’s a move that comes amid growing frustration with the island’s territorial government and its relationship with the mainland.

However, it’s a question that also outraged the island’s independence supporters and members of the main opposition Popular Democratic Party – which supports the status quo.

But it’s a gamble that members of the governor’s pro-statehood party are confident will pay off given that Puerto Rico has struggled to obtain federal funds for hurricanes Irma and Maria, a string of recent strong earthquakes and the coronavirus pandemic amid growing complaints that the island does not receive fair and equal treatment.

“Our people will have the opportunity once and for all to define our future,” Vázquez said. “It’s never too late to be treated as equals.”

The upcoming referendum is just the recent in a long line of previously failed ones.

In the past, voters have been asked more than one question and presented with various options, including independence or continuing with the current territorial status – but none of them have ever been as direct as the upcoming one scheduled for the November 3 general election.

However, many on the island see the referendum as little more than a political move by the governor’s New Progressive Party to get voters out on Nov 3 – to boost her party’s candidates.

The New Progressive Party has been rattled with scandal after scandal and many are ready for change.

The past few years have not been good for the party – or the island for that matter. A string of devastating hurricanes, a severe debt crisis, ongoing corruption scandals that even forced a pro-statehood governor to resign, earthquakes, and now a global pandemic – have all led to challenging times in Puerto Rico. To some observers, the idea seems to be: Let’s dangle the illusion of a yes or no statehood referendum (nonbinding) that is already dead on arrival?

Many also feel that Gov. Vasquez is not truly authorized to make such a decision since she was never actually elected to the office. Instead, she became governor after Ricardo Rosselló was forced to resign following massive protests.

Meanwhile, the Republican government on the island doesn’t even have the support of the Republican-led federal government. The Trump administration’s blunt response was basically, “The first priority for all Puerto Rico leaders should be getting their financial house in order.”

This coming November, there will be plenty of incentive to vote “no” and punish the Vázquez administration. Even prominent figures such as Bad Bunny are jumping into the fray against her leadership.

What would statehood mean for Puerto Rico?

Statehood would award Puerto Rico two senators and five representatives, but it’s unlikely a Republican-controlled Congress would acknowledge the referendum because Puerto Rico tends to favor Democrats.

Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections. And while the island is exempt from the U.S. federal income tax, it still pays Social Security and Medicare and local taxes and receives less federal funding than U.S. states. Many believe the island’s territorial status has contributed to its struggle to recover from the hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as worsened its economic crisis, largely caused by decades of heavy borrowing and the elimination of federal tax incentives.

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politicsPuerto RicoStatehood

President Trump Thinks Injecting Disinfectants Could Cure COVID-19 And The Memes Are Hilarious

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President Trump Thinks Injecting Disinfectants Could Cure COVID-19 And The Memes Are Hilarious

By April 24, 2020 at 12:55 pm
BY  | April 24, 2020 AT 12:55 pm
lysol / realdonaldtrump / Instagram

The world is still grappling with COVID-19. Mainly, health experts around the globe are still experimenting with new ways to cure people sick of the coronavirus. President Donald Trump has often criticized health experts and has tried contradicting them during press conferences. The latest claim from President Trump has everyone very confused and concerned about the well-being of his supporters.

President Donald Trump recently floated the idea of experimenting with injecting disinfectants to fight COVID-19.

“And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” President Trump suggested during a press conference. “And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning cause you see it gets in the lungs and does a tremendous number so it would be interesting to check it.”

The memes immediately started flowing because this is just too crazy to be real life.

The number of U.S. infections from COVID-19 has topped 800,000 and deaths are over 50,000. There is still no real national response in place for handling the virus as President Trump has been pressuring states to reopen their economies against the advice of health experts.

Latinos have come through with the Fabuloso jokes because we have to keep our cures culturally relevant.

But, seriously, don’t go injecting disinfectant if you think you have COVID-19. President Trump has been throwing out suggestions for cures that have consistently been discredited by health experts around the world. Namely, President Trump has been pushing for more hospitals and doctors so start experimenting with hydroxychloroquine. Yet, a recent study disproved the president’s claims and he has quietly stopped talking about it.

The bizarre claim reminded people of the classic “Heathers” death scene.

If you haven’t seen “Heathers,” it is a great movie to watch while in lockdown. Winona Rider’s character goes on an accidental killing spree with her high school boyfriend. One of the first deaths is the main Heather who is given drain cleaner in secret killing her.

Disinfectant companies felt the claim was so outrageous from the president of the United States that they released statements.

“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” a spokesperson for Reckitt Benckiser, the United Kingdom-based owner of Lysol, said in a statement to NBC News. “As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information.”

President Trump’s press conference was less to the press and more to Dr. Deborah Birx.

Dr. Birx was off-camera as President Trump suggested ways to cure people with COVID-19. One thing the Republican president suggested was using lights to kill the virus. While using UV light to kill the virus is something that is being researched, it is being used to disinfect contaminated surfaces. President Trump wants Dr. Birx to see if there is a way to introduce the light under the skin as a cure.

The memes just keep flowing with people making fun of President Trump suggesting disinfectants and lights as cures.

People fear that President Trump’s suggestion of injecting disinfectants could only exacerbate the COVID-19 health crisis. The fear is that people trying the disinfectant suggestion would only further overwhelm healthcare workers and already burdened hospitals.

Please, if you ever have questions about health issues, contact your doctor and a healthcare professional.

Never listen to advice about medicine from people who are not in the medical field. It is important to keep yourself aware and safe during these times. Stay safe. Stay home. Stay healthy. We are all in this together.

READ: Chile Plans To Issue Covid-19 Immunity ID Cards And Here’s Why That’s Such A Bad Idea

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CoronavirusCOVID-19FabulosohealthLysolpoliticsPresident Trump