The new show pits amateur drivers against a plethora of pitfalls, from a giant seesaw to a "rail slide."
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Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Meghan Markle’s friend and celebs defends her against ‘racist bullies’
Meghan Markle’s bestie Jessica Mulroney addressed the onslaught of criticism the Duchess of Sussex received over the use of private jet and to address “racist bullies” attacking her.
—‘They don’t make it easy’: Meghan Markle admits struggles with being in public eye—
Mulroney, a fashion stylist, reportedly felt compelled after critics blasted Markle and Prince Harry for using a jet for their travels.
On Sunday The Daily Mail slammed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after pictures of them taking a private jet to the French Riviera surfaced. The couple is known for being very vocal environmental advocates, and therefore made headlines for their choice of transportation.
That criticism caught the eye of actress Jameela Jamil who on Tuesday called out critics saying the attack was race-based, PEOPLE reports.
“Ugh. Dear England and English press, just say you hate her because she’s black, and him for marrying a black woman and be done with it God dammit,” she wrote. “Your bullying is so embarrassing and obvious. You’ve all lost your marbles. It’s 2019. Grow up.”
“I will never forget reading an English s— rag, writing the words, ‘Meghan’s exotic DNA shall certainly THICKEN the royal blue blood line…’ (bangs head against table and throws up in own mouth.)” she continued.
“And ALSO, it’s not safe for us to be on the same planes as royals or presidents you absolute muppets,” Jamil added. “They are prime targets for kidnap and sometimes assassination. It’s in the interest of us civilians to not be endangered by proximity to people in such powerful positions.”
Mulroney retweeted Jamil’s posts and added her own commentary defending her friend.
“Shame on you, you racist bullies,” Mulroney added.
— Meghan Markle pens personal letter about son Archie for British Vogue issue—
Another famous friend, Elton John came to the defense of the Duke and Duchess and said he felt “deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week.”
“Prince Harry’s Mother, Diana Princess Of Wales was one of my dearest friends. I feel a profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death,” he continued. “After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety and tranquility of our home. To maintain a high level of much-needed protection, we provided them with a private jet flight.
Ellen Degeneres also stepped up to defend Markle, tweeting:
“Portia and I met Prince Harry and Meghan in England to talk about their work on wildlife conservation,” DeGeneres tweeted. “They were the most down-to-earth, compassionate people.”
“Imagine being attacked for everything you do, when all you’re trying to do is make the world better,” she added, alongside a photo of the smiling couple.
The post Meghan Markle’s friend and celebs defends her against ‘racist bullies’ appeared first on theGrio.
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Philly police chief resigns as sexual harassment and discrimination claims roil department
Philadelphia’s police commissioner resigned Tuesday amid allegations that members of his department engaged in sexual harassment and racial and gender discrimination against two women serving in the ranks.
Mayor Jim Kenney said in a news release he was disappointed to lose Commissioner Richard Ross Jr., but in light of the new allegations, he said Ross’ “resignation is in the best interest of the department.”
Kenney spokeswoman Deana Gamble said Ross offered his resignation after Kenney learned details of the allegations by the women, including one who says she once had an affair with Ross.
The corporal and patrol officer made the allegations against several department employees. Gamble said Ross knew about the alleged harassment and failed to respond adequately.
An amended version of the women’s federal lawsuit was filed Monday.
“The mayor wanted to figure out what occurred,” Gamble said. “After he read the complaint, the mayor decided to accept his resignation.”
Ross, who is black, joined the department in 1989 and had served as commissioner since January 2016. He did not respond to messages seeking comment.
The lawsuit alleges discrimination, a hostile work environment, retaliation and other counts. It says the women “have suffered continuous and ongoing sexual harassment and discrimination by both co-workers and supervisors,” including groping, sexual comments and sexual advances, and that they faced retaliation for complaining about it.
The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they are victims of a sexual assault such as groping.
The lawsuit, in which Ross and the city are among the defendants, was filed by a corporal and an officer, one black, the other black Hispanic. It claimed Ross had had a two-year relationship with one of the women, an affair that ended in 2011.
The women’s civil lawyer, Ian Bryson, said they had not expected Ross to resign.
“If that’s what it takes to shed light on this issue, then we see it as a win for working people,” Bryson said.
The lawsuit said when one of the women told Ross she had been subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, he responded brusquely.
“Commissioner Ross declined to act on her report, and instead suggested, ‘So why don’t you just order his dumb ass to go sit down and get out of your face officer,'” the lawsuit alleged.
Kenney noted a sexual harassment prevention policy and efforts to prevent workplace discrimination and harassment were implemented a year ago.
“While rolling out a new policy understandably takes time, I do not believe the Police Department has taken the necessary actions to address the underlying cultural issues that too often negatively impact women — especially women of color,” Kenney said in a statement.
The mayor said an unspecified independent entity will investigate the recent allegations and recommend how to address discrimination and harassment within the police agency.
Asked if the city has taken any personnel action related to the lawsuit and Ross’ departure, Gamble responded that an internal investigation is currently underway.
The city police have had a checkered relationship with the people they serve, and this summer about 100 people protested outside police headquarters, demanding action in response to reports some officers had made racist and violent social-media posts.
Ross said the day he took the job that it was a “challenging time for law enforcement” and acknowledged the department had “some issues.”
“We have to confront them and we have to be bold about it,” Ross said in 2016.
John McNesby, president of the police union, called Ross “a shining example that hard work and dedication can lead you to the top of your profession” and said he served with honor and respect.
Just last week, Kenney called Ross the best police commissioner in America after a gunman’s long standoff with police.
But during that standoff, hostility between residents and police was evident, as residents harassed officers trying to keep peace at the scene.
Kenney named Deputy Commissioner Christine Coulter to serve as acting commissioner during a search for Ross’ replacement.
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Beto O’Rourke on historical racist attacks: US as divided as ever
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke this week visited sites in Tulsa and Oklahoma City that were targeted by violence, and made a point of linking the Tulsa race riots and a recent deadly mass shooting in his Texas hometown.
The former congressman stopped Monday in Tulsa’s Greenwood District, where a white mob in 1921 looted black businesses , left homes and churches smoldering and killed an estimated 300 people. He later visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which honors the 168 victims of a 1995 domestic terrorist bombing of a federal building.
O’Rourke’s visit to Oklahoma followed the Aug. 3 shooting in El Paso, Texas, where a white nationalist killed 22 people and wounded two dozen others. Police said the attacker targeted Mexicans when he went into a Walmart with an AK-47 assault rifle. The shooting is one of the deadliest in U.S. history.
“What I find Tulsa doing for me and for the rest of America today is to connect those dots all the way back to 1921 and before — the very foundation of this country,” O’Rourke said. “Not only are we as divided as we’ve ever been, but the racism that has been foundational to this country has now been admitted out into the open. And people are acting on that,” he said.
Following the El Paso shooting, O’Rourke suspended his campaign for nearly two weeks. He rejoined the race last Thursday with a speech to his grieving hometown, in which he called out President Donald Trump as morally unfit for a second term. And while many top Democrats have indirectly blamed the president for the El Paso shooting, O’Rourke took it further, lashing out at reporters who asked about his comments.
“He’s been calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals,” O’Rourke responded.
Trump has since accused O’Rourke of exploiting tragedy to boost his campaign.
During his Oklahoma visit this week, O’Rourke recounted some of Trump’s most incendiary remarks.
“If I don’t stand up to this — if I don’t stand up and connect the dots for my fellow Americans — then I have failed this country. I have failed my community,” O’Rourke said.
He also praised Greenwood’s strength in rebuilding after the 1921 race riots.
“That is how Greenwood will be defined — its resilience and how it has overcome, not the acts of violence and racism against it,” O’Rourke said. “So I’m learning from the people of Oklahoma, learning from our past to ensure we are safer and more secure going into our future.”
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Miami Dolphins’ player objects to comments by Jay-Z about NFL deal
Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills objected Monday to recent comments from rapper Jay-Z about social activism by current and former NFL players, including Colin Kaepernick.
Jay-Z and the league last week announced a partnership he characterized as a progressive step to carry on the campaign that Kaepernick began by kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to police brutality and racial division.
Stills said he isn’t so sure the Jay-Z partnership represents progress.
“I felt like he really discredited Colin and myself and the work that’s being done,” Stills said. “I’m going to try and give this man the benefit of the doubt for now, but it doesn’t sit right with me. It’s not something that I agree with. It’s not something that I respect.”
While Kaepernick is out of the NFL, Stills continues to kneel during the anthem to protest social injustice. Last week Jay-Z said kneeling has served its purpose.
“I think everyone knows what the issue is — we’re done with that,” Jay-Z said. “We all know the issue now. OK, next.”
Stills said Jay-Z could have reached out to him or to Kaepernick before announcing the partnership.
“He’s talking about, ‘We’re moving past kneeling,’ like he ever protested,” Stills said. “He’s not an NFL player. He’s never been on a knee. … To say that we’re moving past something, it didn’t seem very informed.”
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Florida battery charge dropped against singer Chris Brown
A felony battery charge has been dropped against singer Chris Brown, who had been accused of attacking a nightclub photographer in Florida two years ago.
Hillsborough County prosecutors filed a notice Friday to drop the charge. The State Attorney’s Office released a statement saying there was insufficient evidence.
Tampa police say Brown was at the former AJA Channelside club following a concert in April 2017 when he punched a photographer working for the club. Brown was gone when police arrived.
Brown was arrested more than a year later in Palm Beach County. He was met by officers with a warrant while walking off stage after a July 2018 show.
Brown’s attorney, Kevin Napper, told the Tampa Bay Times Brown had been wrongfully accused and that prosecutors made the right decision.
The post Florida battery charge dropped against singer Chris Brown appeared first on theGrio.
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Status hearing set for civil lawsuit against Jussie Smollett
A hearing is set in the city of Chicago’s effort to recover costs from actor Jussie Smollett after police said his claims of a racist and anti-gay attack were phony and staged.
The status hearing Tuesday is the first since the lawsuit was moved to federal court from state court in July.
The city sued in April after a prosecutor’s surprise decision to drop criminal charges against Smollett, who was accused of making a false report. Chicago wants Smollett to pay $130,000 to cover police overtime, among other expenses.
Attorneys for the former “Empire” actor say assertions that Smollett concocted the incident are defamatory. They’re asking U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall to throw out the lawsuit. She’ll likely take several weeks to rule on that request.
The post Status hearing set for civil lawsuit against Jussie Smollett appeared first on theGrio.
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