New Times.

 

On December 19, 2022, there is a new historic moment here in America. The January 6th Committee is done with its meetings and recommends criminal charges against Donald Trump and some of his allies. This is the first time in American history that a former American President caused a federal committee to desire the DOJ charge him with felony charges in dealing with trying to overthrow a legal election. All members of the public meeting voted to send a referral of at least four criminal charges against Trump. The committee has released an executive summary of its final report after approving it in Monday's meeting. The full report will come out on Wednesday, marking the end of the panel's large probe into the terrorist insurrection against the U.S. Capitol (on January 6th, 2021). Right now, the DOJ special counsel investigation is already examining Trump in its extensive probe into the events of January 6th.  Many officers who defended the Capitol on January 6 sat in the front row during the committee meeting. Their names are former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, and USCP Officer Harry Dunn. Donald Trump refused to send federal National Guard troops to stop the violence for hours. He watched TV in the White House. 

The executive summary report warns that if Donald Trump isn't held responsible for his corrupt, abhorrent actions involving the 2020 election, then doing nothing may threaten the viability of the American Republic. We live in precarious times having the biggest threat to our democracy since the American Civil War. It's that serious. We have an increased amount of hate crimes unparalleled since decades ago, threats against elected officials, and far-right MAGA cultists trying to eliminate basic human rights. The committee panel had more than 1,000 interviews and issued many subpoenas and court battles to get thousands of documents. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must approve criminal referrals if Trump is to be officially charged with various crimes. Liz Cheney is right to mention that no man who acted like Trump did in response to the January 6th insurrection should run for future office. Trump must be held accountable for his criminal actions and treason against America. Hope Hicks said that Trump refused to tell his supporters to be nonviolent. The January 6th committee referred Trump to the DOJ for obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and inciting, assisting, or aiding/comforting an insurrection.

The Netflix Harry and Meghan documentary is what we (from the States) have been saying from the rooftops. Isn't ironic that they have more support from us American than many from the UK. The truth is that the Royals have a long history of racism, colonialism, and other injustices. In the modern age, Harry and Meghan gave their honest accounts of some in the media harassing him, racism, sexism, and other evils. The curtain being revealed shows us how far we have to go in defeating injustice. Racism is a global phenomenon. It isn't just found in America. Some of the media in the UK have some of the most vicious attacks on Meghan Merkle. They aren't lying, because we have images and pictures from many tabloids using vicious personal invective against Meghan Merkle.

Former Texas officer has been sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison for the killing of Atatiana Jefferson in her home. Jefferson died in 2019. Aaron Dean is the name of the officer, and he is 38 years old. Jefferson was only 28 years old when she was murdered by Dean. Jefferson did nothing wrong. She only wanted to play a video game with her relative. The defense attorneys made up the lie that Dean fired his weapon in the mode of self-defense. Dean said that Jefferson pointed a gun at him. The truth is that there was no evidence that he saw a gun in the woman's hand before he fired at her. Jefferson's 11-year-old nephew (who was with her at the home) said that he didn't see her raise a gun to the window. Jefferson's life mattered.

Days ago was the Birthday of the late Steve Biko. Steve Biko was a South African freedom fighter who believed in opposing apartheid. He gave speeches, created institutions, and developed ideologies that wanted a free South Africa along with advancing Black Consciousness. By the 1960's and 1970's, he was very active in standing up for justice. Biko wanted independent black power to be used as a means to seek freedom. Universal suffrage was his aim. He promoted the Black People's Convention or the BPC in 1972 to promote Black Consciousness ideas among the wider population. Racists were jealous of his intellectual power. That is why state security officers arrested him and beat him to death in 1977. His funeral was held by over 20,000 people. His life has been celebrated and remembered in the movie Cry Freedom in 1987, based on the 1978 biography by his friend Donald Woods. Steve Biko helped to spark the minds of anti-apartheid activists and was part of the many black African intellectuals who stirred up the world to fight against oppression in general. 

Rest in Power Brother Steve Biko.

By Timothy