Tag:

Freedom of Speech

Jersey City, NJ
News
'Lawyer Up:' Lawsuit Filed By Jersey City Employee Fired For Supporting Anti-LGBTQ Sister 'Lawyer Up:' Lawsuit Filed By Jersey City Employee Fired For Supporting Anti-LGBTQ Sister
'Lawyer Up:' Lawsuit Filed By Jersey City Employee Fired For Supporting Anti-lgbtq Sister Jonathan Gomez Noriega, who was fired earlier this year by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop for supporting his sister's political campaign filled with anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, said the mayor axed him to further his political career. Gomez Noriega filed a lawsuit in United States District Court against Fulop and other city employees over what he claims was his wrongful termination. Gomez-Noriega's was forced to resign from the city's LGBTQ+ task force after it was revealed he made four donations to his sister, Valentina Gomez, who was running for the Republican nomination for Missouri Secretary of …

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Mahopac, NY
Schools
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War
School Board Member In Hudson Valley Under Fire For Comments On Israel-Hamas War Elected officials and community members are calling for a Hudson Valley school board member to step down following alleged antisemitic remarks made at a board meeting.  The outrage was prompted following a school board meeting in Putnam County on Tuesday, July 9, when Carmel Central School District Trustee Jim Wise allegedly controversy within the town over a comment on the Israel-Hamas war. The statement in question, "From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free," was defended by Wise in a post on social media on Wednesday, Aug. 7.  "I also reject absolutely the idea that …

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
Berklee Student Threatens Advocate Of Chinese Democracy: 'I Will Chop Your Hands Off': Feds Berklee Student Threatens Advocate Of Chinese Democracy: 'I Will Chop Your Hands Off': Feds
Berklee Student Threatens Advocate Of Chinese Democracy: 'I Will Chop Your Hands Off': Feds A Berklee College of Music student who is a citizen of China was arrested this week after federal investigators said he was stalking and harassing people who posted pro-Democracy in China fliers.  Xiaolei Wu, 25, is charged with stalking and is expected to make his first appearance in court on Wednesday afternoon, the US attorney for Massachusetts said.  In October, a person posted fliers around the prestigious music college that said "Stand with Chinese People" and "We Want Democracy."  This poster is what upset Xiaolei Wu, the FBI alleges. FBI Investigators said that the flyer enrage…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Massapequa, NY
News
NY Duo Accused Of Scheming To Conspire With Chinese Government NY Duo Accused Of Scheming To Conspire With Chinese Government
NY Duo Accused Of Scheming To Conspire With Chinese Government Two New York residents are among five people who have been charged with various crimes related to a transnational repression scheme orchestrated on behalf of the Chinese government, federal authorities announced. Three of the defendants — Long Island residents Fan “Frank” Liu, age 62, of Jericho, and Matthew Ziburis, age 49, of Oyster Bay, and Qiang “Jason” Sun, age 40, of China — allegedly perpetrated in the scheme to target United States residents whose political views and actions are disfavored by the People's Republic of China government, such as advocating for democracy in the PRC, acco…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Bedford, NY
News
Five From China's Secret Police Nabbed In NY For Stalking, Harassing, Spying on US Residents Five From China's Secret Police Nabbed In NY For Stalking, Harassing, Spying on US Residents
Five From China's Secret Police Nabbed In NY For Stalking, Harassing, Spying on US Residents Pro-democracy activists, a Los Angeles artist, and a military veteran running for US Congress were all targets of an elaborate scheme by Chinese government officials to silence critics of their regime, according to a newly unsealed federal indictment. Three of the accused agents lived on Long Island or in Queens — their activities centered on New York City, but some extended to other states.  Five alleged members of the secret police of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are facing charges in New York for allegedly stalking, harassing, and spying on US residents, federal officials an…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Cherry Hill, NJ
News
'Not Your Therapy Session': NJ High School Valedictorian Cut Off During LGBTQ Graduation Speech 'Not Your Therapy Session': NJ High School Valedictorian Cut Off During LGBTQ Graduation Speech
'Not Your Therapy Session': NJ High School Valedictorian Cut Off During LGBTQ Graduation Speech The valedictorian of a New Jersey high school was cut off by a school administrator during his speech during the graduation ceremony while discussing his LGBTQ identity. Eastern Regional High School's Bryce Dersham says his graduation speech was cut short when he began discussing LGBTQ and mental health struggles -- things that he was told he was not allowed to include in his speech. Video shows the principal then stepping behind Dershem on the podium -- then suddenly, Dershem's mic was silenced. A gay pride flag draped over Dersham's shoulders, the audience cheers in his support, hop…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Elizabeth, NJ
News
Profanity Laced Anti-Biden Flags Cause Controversy In NJ Town Profanity Laced Anti-Biden Flags Cause Controversy In NJ Town
Profanity Laced Anti-Biden Flags Cause Controversy In NJ Town WARNING: This story contains vulgar language and graphic content. The rules around signage in Roselle Park are pretty clear-cut. Political flags? Cool. Flags containing profanity or vulgar language? Not cool. One Roselle Park homeowner who recently swapped her pro-Trump flags for vulgar and profanity-laced ones could face penalties if she does not take them down. Mayor Joe Signorello told Daily Voice he received a barrage of complaints regarding the six or more flags at Andrea Dick's Willow Avenue home since last Friday. Dick apparently took down her pro-Trump signs that had been hanging…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Brookfield, CT
News
Anti-Biden Graffiti Spray-Painted At School, Store Across Street In Fairfield County Anti-Biden Graffiti Spray-Painted At School, Store Across Street In Fairfield County
Anti-Biden Graffiti Spray-Painted At School, Store Across Street In Fairfield County Police are investigating graffiti targeting President-elect Joe Biden that was spray-painted at an area school and neighboring retail store in Fairfield County. A member of the Fairfield Board of Education reported that there was graffiti spray-painted on a sidewalk outside McKinley Elementary School on Thompson Street at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Upon police arrival, officers said they found the words “UNITED STATES OF CHINA” spray-painted on the sidewalk outside the school, and the same phrase was also painted outside a snow mount in the back of the building. Police …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
COVID-19: Video Shows Shoppers At Area Department Store Call Out Woman Refusing To Wear Mask COVID-19: Video Shows Shoppers At Area Department Store Call Out Woman Refusing To Wear Mask
Covid-19: Video Shows Shoppers At Area Department Store Call Out Woman Refusing To Wear Mask A video of a woman becoming combative while refusing to wear a mask at a Hudson Valley department store has gone viral after she went on a tirade against customers asking her to cover up during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the video, a man at a Marshall’s in Orange County, located in the Town of Newburgh, can be seen and heard asking the only person on line without a facial covering to put one on, at which point she refused, and went on an expletive-laced tirade against him and other customers waiting to pay. Video of the exchange can be seen on YouTube here. Note: Graphic language. In t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Lakewood, NJ
News
NJ Teen Says He Was Kicked Out Of Class For Keeping Trump Flag NJ Teen Says He Was Kicked Out Of Class For Keeping Trump Flag
NJ Teen Says He Was Kicked Out Of Class For Keeping Trump Flag A 17-year-old high school student in New Jersey removed himself from a virtual chemistry class after being asked and subsequently refusing to take down a flag displaying his support for President Trump. Anthony Ribeiro had logged in early to his remote chemistry class with Toms River High School North teacher Andrew Gilman on Oct. 8, he told Daily Voice. That particular day, he decided to display a banner depicting President Trump’s '2020 Keep America Great!' slogan that he had received for his birthday earlier in the week, he said. While he had gotten through his first several remote clas…

SHARE

by Valerie Musson
Springfield, MA
News
Free Speech Or Racism? Rural General Store Becomes Flashpoint In Culture War Free Speech Or Racism? Rural General Store Becomes Flashpoint In Culture War
Free Speech Or Racism? Rural General Store Becomes Flashpoint In Culture War A small town is being torn apart since the Main Street general store began posting controversial opinions about COVID-19 online. The Huntington Country Store at the heart of town has been a hot topic in rural Huntington where people seem divided on how to react to the owners and the protests that have sprung up around them. Is this about freedom of speech? Is this about racism? Is this a tempest in a teapot? In late August a protest was held outside of the store organized by “No Hate Huntington.” A counter-protest popped up for “Free Speech.” The event was peaceful but heated. Many pro-T…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
Judge In Hudson Valley Rules Mary Trump Can Publicize Newly Released Tell-All Book On Her Uncle Judge In Hudson Valley Rules Mary Trump Can Publicize Newly Released Tell-All Book On Her Uncle
Judge In Hudson Valley Rules Mary Trump Can Publicize Newly Released Tell-All Book On Her Uncle There’s going to be another member of the Trump family making the media rounds after a New York Judge gave the green light for Mary Trump to promote her controversial tell-all book. Hal Greenwald, a judge for the 9th Judicial District Supreme Court in the Hudson Valley, lifted a temporary restraining order on President Donald Trump’s niece, much to the chagrin of her father, Robert. In a lawsuit last month, citing a confidentiality agreement Mary signed in 2011, Robert sought an injunction to prevent promotion of "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created The World's Most Dangerous M…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Brentwood, NY
News
Three Arrested At Long Island Protest Three Arrested At Long Island Protest
Three Arrested At Long Island Protest Three people were arrested after about 100 protesters walked down the streets of East Meadow in what was a peaceful protest on Friday, June 12.  The three men were charged with disorderly conduct, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Police Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder said in a joint statement. "For the demonstrators' safety, Police repeatedly made attempts to keep protesters off moving lanes of traffic," the statement said. "This safety precaution was met with strong opposition and resistance which resulted in the arrests. "We continue to support the rights of individuals …

SHARE

by Daily Voice
Massapequa, NY
News
Thousands Of LIers Protest Throughout Weekend With Limited Number Of Arrests Thousands Of LIers Protest Throughout Weekend With Limited Number Of Arrests
Thousands Of LIers Protest Throughout Weekend With Limited Number Of Arrests Thousands of Long Islanders continued peaceful protests of the police-related death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, though some were arrested during demonstrations over the weekend. Sign-wielding protesters marched along streets in Suffolk and Nassau County over the weekend, chanting rallying cries as the two-week anniversary of Floyd’s death approached on Monday, June 8. Most of the protests remained peaceful, though nearly a dozen protesters were arrested on Saturday, June 6, when two Nassau County Police Department officers suffered injured attempting to suppress them. In Merrick, Nass…

SHARE

by Zak Failla