The White House isn’t the only one cracking down on misinformation, as conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines continue to spread online. Twitter reportedly suspended Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s account again, this time for one week, after the GOP official (again) posted misleading “information” about COVID-19 vaccines.
Anti-maskers took their ignorance to a new level during a St. Louis County Council meeting last week. The session, attended by hundreds of maskless protesters, ended with the council reversing a day-old countywide mask mandate. In the following days, many attendees reported that they had contracted COVID-19.
The anti-vaxx ideology most of the world associates with the U.S. has moved beyond the border. In the first reported case of travelers using fake vaccination documents to enter Canada from the U.S., two airline passengers were caught submitting fake vaccination cards and COVID-19 test results, officials said Friday.
Young adults and Gen Z close to Republicans are taking to TikTok to expose them. First former White House aide Kellyanne Conway’s daughter went viral for sharing suspicions that her mom and others contracted COVID-19; now 20-year-old Roxanne Luckey, sister to Florida Congressman’s Matt Gaetz’s fiance Ginger Luckey, has taken to the platform to share her thoughts.
Americans and gymnastics fans alike were shocked this Tuesday at the news that Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles opted to withdraw from an event after failing to land a challenging vault. Biles’ announcement came as a shock because many saw her as the American face of the Tokyo Olympics; however, while some were disappointed, others applauded Biles for her courage to stand up for herself and put her health above the sport.
Social media is at it again. In the last few years, viral videos on social media have exposed racism and other incidents of violence. In a recent incident, a Muslim woman used the social media platform TikTok to share an experience in which a white woman harassed her in the line of a Santa Monica, California, grocery store.
The Muslim woman—who was wearing a hijab, or headscarf—was approached by a white woman who asked if she was in line.
I hate to stereotype them all, but Republicans across the country have garnered reputations for their lack of empathy towards humanity. However, one GOP official has allegedly taken it to the next level. A Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate is under investigation in connection with a fatal motor vehicle accident in which he claims he wasn’t involved … although a motorcycle was found stuck to the front of his car.
The pandemic is far from over. Across the country, hospitals are filling up again, but not without a common trend. With more than 90% of COVID-19 related deaths amongst unvaccinated people, unvaccinated individuals are making up the majority of patients in hospitals. While some are begging for vaccines when it’s too late, others still refuse to despite getting COVID-19 and recovering.
Local GOP officials aren’t the only ones who seem to openly use racial slurs—some Democratic officials need to be held accountable too. A state lawmaker in Delaware apologized Tuesday after sending an email that used a racist, sexist slur against Asian women. The email about sex work was sent to an advocate working on decriminalizing prostitution by Democratic State Rep. Gerald Brady on June 27, NBC News reported.
The delta variant is spreading fast in the U.S., resulting in more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 every hour. According to reports, more than 90% of coronavirus-related deaths occurring right now are among unvaccinated people. Despite warnings of the deadly threat the coronavirus still poses, misinformation is being credited for why some people refuse to be vaccinated.
Gun violence doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it should; This year alone there have been almost 300 mass shootings in the country, according to Gun Violence Archive. In the most recent incident of gun violence reported nationally, a shooting occurred outside Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Saturday during a game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals. Echoes of the gunfire could be heard inside the stadium and caused fans to seek safety.
For the first time in months, the U.S. is reporting more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 every hour as the delta variant spreads nationwide. The increase in cases comes at a time when the number of people being vaccinated is decreasing and the rollout of vaccinations has slowed, the Associated Press reports.
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a string of attacks against the Asian American Pacific Islander community, especially the elderly. According to Stop AAPI Hate, the total number of anti-Asian incidents reported during the pandemic last year has doubled by March alone. In California, the increase is even higher. A new report from the state’s Department of Justice found that hate crimes against Asian Americans in California increased by over 100% in 2020.
Uh-oh, a slip of the tongue is never a good thing but it’s even worse when it’s in an international public announcement. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach made his already not so fond reputation in Japan worse by referring to Japanese people as “Chinese” Tuesday during his first public appearance in Tokyo.
As crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander community increase, nationwide calls to combat hate and teach Asian American history in schools have followed. Anti-Asian bias is not new to American history and one of the ways to dismantle racism is teaching children why it’s wrong.
He’s no longer in office but that doesn’t stop former President Donald Trump from inciting violence on people of color and Democrats. In an interview Sunday with Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo Trump attempted to shift responsibility of the Jan. 6 insurrection on Democrats, completely changing the narrative of the deadly Capitol riots.
Ignorance has halted the chance for a product geared toward inclusion from making an appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the products being swimming caps designed for natural Black hair. According to CBS News, Fédération Internationale De Natation (FINA), the federation for international competitions in water sports, rejected an application for the caps to be officially recognized—meaning the caps cannot be worn at upcoming games.
Sisterhood and women supporting women is a thing and we’re all here for it. Simone Biles is headed back to the Olympics, her second one as the world’s most decorated gymnast but that’s not all: Biles will be joined by friend Jordan Chiles. This year’s 2021 Olympics will be Chiles’ first Olympics; Securing a spot on Team USA came as a proud moment not just for Chiles but Biles who supported the athlete as an older sister.
In a heartfelt moment, loud cheering and a standing ovation were given to one of the British scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at this year’s first match at Wimbledon. According to the Independent, Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert and her colleagues were invited to the Royal Box Monday for the first day of the tennis tournament. She was surprised when she and her colleagues were met with applause and cheers from other match-attenders.
Having difficulty talking to your children about the rising anti-Asian violence across the country? Well, Sesame Street has got you covered. Amid the bullying many Asian American children are facing, Sesame Street has created content to help parents and children talk about why it’s wrong to make comments on one’s appearance. Additionally, the video featuring a child who experiences bullying also reminds children that they should be proud of what they look like.
After Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, GOP officials just can’t stop talking about alleged election fraud. But the truth is, Republicans think voter fraud is rampant because they are the ones who are committing it. It’s like they say, those who are the most suspicious are the ones to be suspicious of.
The reality behind many of those who support the “stop the steal” initiative is coming to light.
Donald Trump is no longer in office but evidence of the violence he encouraged during his term continues to surface. According to a book by Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender, Trump suggested targeting protestors using extreme military force several times. While the suggestions were rejected by the country’s top general, they depict the reality of Trump’s attempts at abusing his power.
Graduations are a time for celebration, not only for those achieving the milestone but their family members and friends alike. But unfortunately, not all students are treated the same way or given the respect they deserve. Instead of being able to enjoy her high school graduation peacefully with her peers, a hijab-wearing Muslim student was subjected to harassment and boos from parents and peers alike.
Joining hundreds of firsts that Muslim Americans have seen in the past five years is Judge Zahid Quraishi. He was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday to a lifetime seat on a U.S. district court, making him the first Muslim American federal judge in U.S. history.
Senators voted 81-16 to confirm 46-year-old Quraishi to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
As calls for immigration reform continue, the Biden administration has teamed up with six humanitarian groups to admit up to 250 asylum-seekers a day until July 31. According to NBC News, the groups have been tasked with recommending which migrants should be allowed to stay in the country, as opposed to being rapidly removed under the federal pandemic-related orders that blocked individuals from seeking asylum.
The Associated Press (AP) faces backlash after the outlet fired a news associate, Emily Wilder, for allegedly violating the company’s social media policies. The move to fire Wilder follows her being targeted by right-wing media outlets for pro-Palestinian activism in college. Wilder, a graduate of Stanford University, began her job at the news outlet earlier this month.
After a ban that lasted more than 25 years, Alabama has decided to allow yoga to be taught in public schools. GOP officials initiated the ban in 1993, claiming that yoga’s historic ties with Hinduism would be detrimental to children. They were basically implying that by practicing yoga, children would be forced into Hinduism. But while the ban has been lifted and schools will be able to teach yoga, it’s not without conditions.
Republican lawmakers just don’t understand the concept of thinking before speaking. Time after time state officials are found to make comments they allegedly did not realize could come off as racist, but that doesn’t excuse their behavior. In a recent incident, a Louisiana state representative was ousted from his position as chairman of the House Education Committee after making comments around teaching slavery in schools.
Republican lawmakers just don’t understand the concept of thinking before speaking. Time after time state officials are found to make comments they allegedly did not realize could come off as racist, but that doesn’t excuse their behavior. In a recent incident, a Louisiana state representative was ousted from his position as chairman of the House Education Committee after making comments around teaching slavery in schools.
A university in Pennsylvania announced an investigation into a “horrific” incident in which LGBTQ students were harassed after at least 15 to 20 male students tried to storm into the Tower House, a Fran’s House affinity house for the LGBTQ community at Bucknell University, university officials said. Students were left traumatized with their “sense of place and security” threatened and little to no support from public safety officials.