New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara showed his support for Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's only black driver, during Sunday's Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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"What's right is right, and what's wrong is wrong, and I think Bubba's a testament to that," Kamara told ESPN "With them being able to, I guess, step away from that, that's a huge step. And flipping the script, just rewriting the narrative on what this sport is and what it stands for. There's obviously some people that are against that decision of removing the flag, and I think there's way more people that are for that decision. Because I think there's a certain stigma on the type of fans that support this sport, and there's some bad ones. But I don't think the bad ones represent all the good ones."
Kamara tweeted out his support for NASCAR, after the organization banned Confederate flags sporting events, earlier this week.
Wallace rocked a Black Lives Matter paint scheme on his No. 43 Chevy during the race.
Kamara is teammates with Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who came under fire last week for criticizing players who have knelt during the national anthem.
"But being here today, I'm learning a lot. It's definitely a different experience in person," Kamara said.
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Starbucks Reverses Black Lives Matter Clothing Policy: "Just Be You"
Starbucks is now allowing its employees to wear whatever Black Lives Matter clothes they would like.
Starbucks is reversing its ban on employees wearing independent Black Lives Matter clothing while working. “Just be you,” the COO and vice president for inclusion and diversity of Starbucks said together in a new letter to partners, Friday.
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“As we talked about earlier this week, we’re designing new t-shirts with the graphic below to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity,” wrote Roz Brewer, the COO of Starbucks, and Zing Shaw, Starbucks’ vice president for inclusion and diversity. “Until these arrive, we’ve heard you want to show your support, so just be you. Wear your BLM pin or t-shirt. We are so proud of your passionate support of our common humanity. We trust you to do what’s right while never forgetting Starbucks is a welcoming third place where all are treated with dignity and respect.”
“Together, we’re saying: Black Lives Matter and it’s going to take ALL of us, working together, to affect change,” the letter continues. “That means using our voice to vote in our elections, volunteering in our black communities, joining local peaceful protests, ensuring our diverse slates of job candidates translate into diverse hires, mentoring and sponsoring partners of color so they can reach their maximum potential and taking steps to build greater understanding with empathy.”
Brewer and Shaw have told employees to expect more guidance on June 15.
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Starbucks Bans Employees From Wearing Any Black Lives Matter Gear
Starbucks sent a memo to all of its employees indicating that they are not permitted to wear anything in support of Black Lives Matter while on the clock.
Despite sending out a message through their social media channels in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Starbucks has banned all of their employees from wearing any clothing or accessories in support of the organization. Like many major corporations, Starbucks recently stood in solidarity with BLM by sharing a message on social media about their commitment to change the landscape of racism in the United States. "Black lives matter," the company tweeted last Thursday (June 4th). "We are committed to being a part of change."
However, according to an internal memo sent to all staff, Starbucks has forbidden employees from wearing T-shirts, pins, or anything that makes any mention of Black Lives Matter. In the memo, which was obtained by BuzzFeed News, the company acknowledges that some of their employees have been inquiring about wearing BLM gear at work. They reiterate that their dress code policy states that employees may wear a pin or button that “identifies [their] support for a particular labor organization” unless “it interferes with Starbucks public image” or “advocates a political, religious, or personal issue.”
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They specifically state that "clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matter do not currently adhere to policy” because “there are agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles of the Black Lives Matter movement - and in certain circumstances, intentionally repurpose them to amplify divisiveness.” In short, garments and accessories supporting BLM could incite violence if its message is misconstrued, Starbucks says.
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Many employees were upset and confused by this bulletin, especially since Starbucks allows and often encourages them to wear pins in support of causes like LGBTQ+ rights. “Starbucks LGBTQ+ partners wear LGBTQ+ pins and shirts, that also could incite and create violent experiences amongst partners and customers,” a Black transgender Starbucks employee told BuzzFeed. “We have partners who experienced harassment and transphobia/homophobia for wearing their pins and shirts, and Starbucks still stands behind them.”
A spokesperson from Starbucks backed the memo's authenticity, and indicated that, "we respect all of our partners’ opinions and beliefs, and encourage them to bring their whole selves to work while adhering to our dress code policy."
US Marine Corps Bans Display Of Confederate Flag
The US Marine Corps bans the display of the Confederate flag.
The US Marine Corps is banning the display of the Confederate flag from all Marine installations, the Marines announced Friday.
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“The Marine Corps shall remove the Confederate battle flag from all installation public spaces and work areas in order to support our core values, ensure unit cohesion and security, and preserve good order and discipline,” the order reads.
The order gives leeway for certain images containing the Confederate flag: “Displays where the Confederate battle flag is depicted, but not the main focus of the display. For example, works of art, educational, or historical displays depicting a civil war battle where the confederate battle flag is present, but not the main focus of the work.”
The Marines explained the decision on Twitter writing, “The Confederate battle flag has all too often been co-opted by violent extremist and racist groups whose divisive beliefs have no place in our Corps. Our history as a nation, and events like the violence in Charlottesville in 2017, highlight the divisiveness the use of the Confederate battle flag has had on our society. This presents a threat to our core values, unit cohesion, security, and good order and discipline.”
Check out the official order for yourself here.
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Donald Trump Places Travel Ban On Brazil During Coronavirus Pandemic
Donald Trump is placing a travel restriction on Brazil during the coronavirus pandemic.
President Donald Trump is restricting the entry of anyone who has been to Brazil in the last 14 days into the United States.
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“I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States,” the order says.
Brazil has had over 347,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, as of Sunday. There have also been over 22,000 deaths related to coronavirus in the country.
“Today’s action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country,” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. “These new restrictions do not apply to the flow of commerce between the United States and Brazil.”
It’s likely that Brazil will not be the only country to see restricted access to the United States. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brienthe told CBS’s “Face the Nation,” that the White House would “take a look at the other countries on a country by country basis” in that region.
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Canada Places Ban On Assault Weapons Following Deadly Mass Shooting
Canada has placed a ban on assault weapons following a mass shooting that left 22 dead.
Canada is banning assault weapons, following the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.
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“These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada.”
The new policy forbids the use, purchase, sale, transportation, and import of 1,500 different assault weapon models.
“Their families deserve more than thoughts and prayers,” Trudeau continued “Canadians deserve more than thoughts and prayers.”
22 people were murdered in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19 by a gunman equipped with semi-automatic rifles and handguns.
Opponents of the decision cite the illegality of means by which weapons used in mass shootings are acquired. Andrew Scheer, the leader of the Conservative Party, reacted in a statement, explaining his position that this will not stop criminals from accessing guns: “Taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens does nothing to stop dangerous criminals who obtain their guns illegally. The reality is, the vast majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms.”
Politico reports that over 72,000 gun-owning Canadians will be affected by the new assault weapon policy.
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China To Reportedly Ban Online Gaming With Foreign Countries
Following a moment of protest expressed through Nintendo’s “Animal Crossing,” China has moved to ban online gaming with foreign countries.
A new report from Taiwanese publication Taiwan News has revealed an interesting development happening overseas in China, indicating that the Chinese Communist Party is gearing up to censor online gaming in a major way. Apparently, the CCP was displeased after a young activist used the Nintendo Switch megahit Animal Crossing to protest the Chinese government, adorning his island with messages reading “Free Hong Kong, revolution now.”
Fearing that Chinese gamers risked subjecting themselves to alternative, and possibly unflattering viewpoints pertaining to their government, measures were put in place to essentially ban connectivity with any foreign country. According to the report from Taiwan News, the decision will prevent gamers from playing or chatting with anyone from another country, with increased protective measures being implemented to further monitor all online play.
It also states that certain themes will be expressly prohibited, with topics ranging from zombies and plagues no longer acceptable. Should this indeed come to pass, Chinese gamers will no longer be able to engage in “map editing and roleplaying,” the latter of which being notably open to interpretation. In addition to these new limitations, all gamers under the age of eighteen will be subjected to a “curfew period,” which is set to take place between 10 PM and 8 AM.
Due to the sensitive nature of this content, please take note that all racist comments will be met with a ban.
Diddy Swiftly Shuts Down Lizzo’s Twerk Session On IG Live
Diddy inadvertently sparked a debate after shutting Lizzo down while allowing Draya Michelle to twerk freely.
As the ongoing state of affairs has rendered many hobbies temporarily obsolete, it seems as if Instagram Live has experienced a net increase in total twerking time. These days, you can't venture onto social media without being subjected to a seemingly endless barrage of twerking, fueled in part by Tory Lanez' highly viral and antics-fueled "Quarantine Radio" sessions and the lucrative possibilities of OnlyFans entrepreneurship.
For Lizzo, twerking has become part of her entire image, one that has left many championing the singer's dedication to rewriting body image stigmas. She even attempted to bust out her signature move during Diddy's IG Live Easter dance party, only for Diddy to swiftly come through with the kibosh. "It's Easter Sunday," maintains Diddy, requesting something a little more family-friendly.
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Though Lizzo is a good sport about it, many of her fans took issue with Diddy's request, citing hypocrisy from the legendary mogul. After all, he didn't exactly keep the same energy when Draya Michelle came through to twerk her way through Juvenile's "Back Dat Azz Up," an act that was met with not one, but several airhorns of encouragement. Naturally, much of the outrage was reserved to Twitter, who proceeded to slam Puffy with labels of "fatphobic" among other dubious titles.
As Diddy himself explains it, he considered Lizzo to be among the great twerkers of the century but felt he had to shut it down over the explicit content of the music itself. "My queen, my sister, Lizzo, when I stopped the music, it's because it had a lot of curses in there. Not because she was twerking. She's one of the best twerkers in the world, okay?" he writes. "So let's keep that clear. It wasn't about twerking. You're allowed to twerk on Easter. There was a lot of cursing on the record and I don't need child services knocking on my door right now, you understand?"
It should be noted that Lizzo's hypersexuality has been a sticking point in the past, what with the infamous buttless-chaps incident coming to mind. Yet she is free to do as she likes, just as Diddy is free to hand out twerk permits to those he deems worthy. On the same hand, Twitter possesses the same freedom to go directly for his neck as a result
The House Passes Bill Banning Flavored E-Cigs & Tobacco Products
The House has approved a bill that bans the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and tobacco products.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and tobacco products on Friday, according to The Hill.
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The bill narrowly passed with a 213-195 vote. The primary reason for polarization was Democrats’ fear that the current structure of the bill unfairly targets African-Americans.
“This legislation has dire, unintended consequences for African Americans,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), a member of the CBC. “Law enforcement would have an additional reason to stop and frisk menthol tobacco users because menthol would be considered illegal under this ban.”
Clarke expanded, adding that the bill exempts products favored by the wealthy white community such as premium cigars.
“The message that we’re sending is that, you know, for poorer communities — communities with less franchise that are gonna be over-policed — we’re going to add an extra burden to them,” Clarke told The Hill on Thursday.
Government data suggests that 5.4 million middle and high school students were using e-cigarettes in 2019.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. explained, “We need to ban flavors across the board because that’s what masks the nicotine and makes people think that it’s OK.”
According to The Hill, President Trump’s advisers said Thursday that they will recommend he vetos the bill as it is currently written.