The family of the 15 year-old suspect, who was allegedly seen in a viral video slamming another girls head to the pavement, is pleading for mercy in the handling of the incident.
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“Prior to an incident on March 8th where she was seen defending herself from harassment and bullying, she had never been in trouble,” her family wrote in a Change.org petition, obtained by the New York Post, asking Chief Juvenile Officer Rick Gaines not to charge her as an adult.
Her family noted her numerous academic accomplishments, including the fact that she speaks four languages, plays the violin, and was selected for AP classes.
“It is unjust that such an accomplished young woman should be charged as an adult for assault without considering all the facts of the case that led to the incident where harm occurred,” in their petition.
The case drew significant racial uproar on social media, with some commentators alleging “reverse racism.”
Kaylee Gain, who appears to be white, was reportedly hospitalized and in critical condition after a fight near Hazelwood East High School on Friday. In the video, a group of teen girls, who appear to be Black, are seen punching and kicking the girl on the ground. St. Louis County Police responded to the fight and arrested a 15 year-old suspect on assault charges.
“This evil and complete disregard for human life has no place in Missouri, or anywhere,” he wrote on X. “I am praying for the victim. The criminal should be charged and tried as an adult. If the victim dies, that offense should rise to a homicide”
The video caught the attention of conservatives on social media largely because of the suspected races of the suspects and the injured girl.
Charlie Kirk, Founder of Turning Points USA and the man behind a campaign to discredit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., circulated images of the fight calling the other teen girls a “mob.” His followers quickly latched on to the fight complaining of “reverse racism,” and targeting the race of the girls in the video.
“Lots of diversity doing diversity things,” wrote one social media user.
“Am I the only one noticing the race of the attacker,” wrote another.
“If a white girl did that to a black girl, Biden would be meeting with the victims family tonight In other words, he won’t be meeting with her family tonight,” added another user.
“If the races were reversed, there would be riots,” wrote another.
Valentina Gomez, a candidate for Missouri Secretary of State, used the incident to politically attack Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) for “defunding the police.”
“Kaylee was brutally killed,” tweeted Gomez. “@AGAndrewBailey I EXPECT you to charge the killer with First Degree Murder, and everyone else as an adult for Aiding and Abetting. I call for the resignation of Representative @RepCori for defunding the Police, and @CityofHazelwood Mayor Matthew Robinson for failing to protect its citizens. @EndWokeness@MarioNawfal@libsoftiktok.”
To be clear, Rep. Bush did not defund the police in the City of Hazelwood Missouri or anywhere else for that matter and an arrest was made. Gomez also claimed that the girl was brutally murdered — but so far there have been no official reports that the teen has passed away.
Former adult film actress Emily Willis, actual name Litzy Lara Banulos, is still in a vegetative coma at a California hospital after suffering cardiac arrest in February, according to her stepfather Michael Willis, who talked with TMZ on Friday (March 29).
The 25-year-old has made some progress, displaying symptoms of consciousness like tracking objects with her eyes and responding emotionally during discussions.
Despite these promising achievements, medical doctors do not predict further improvement in Willis’ condition. The actual cause of her cardiac arrest has yet to be confirmed, although initial toxicology testing shows no narcotics in her system.
Willis was at a celebrity rehab center for eight days before being found unresponsive on February 5th. She was promptly transferred to a hospital in Thousand Oaks, California, and placed on a ventilator.
Initially stabilized, Willis’ family had been bracing for the worst, according to her father, Michael, who provided updates on a GoFundMe page established to assist with the financial burden of her hospitalization earlier this month.
The GoFundMe campaign, which was started to help Willis with his medical expenses, has raised more than $66,063 as of Friday (March 29). Willis’ sickness became known while fellow adult film actress Sophia Leone died, following the deaths of previous adult film stars Kagney Linn Carter, 36, and Jesse Jane, 43, in February and January, respectively.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia could join other states in requiring children younger than 16 to have their parents’ explicit permission to create social media accounts.
Lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to Senate Bill 351, which also would ban social media use on school devices and internet services, require porn sites to verify users are 18 or over and mandate additional education by schools on social media and internet use. The House passed the measure 120-45 and the Senate approved it 48-7.
The bill, which Republican Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas called “transformative,” now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto.
The icon for the video sharing TikTok app is seen on a smartphone, Feb. 28, 2023, in Marple Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
A number of other states including Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Utah passed laws last year requiring parental consent for children to use social media. In Arkansas, a federal judge in August blocked enforcement of a law requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.
Some in Congress also are proposing parental consent for minors.
State Rep. Scott Hilton, a Peachtree Corners Republican, argued the state should do more to limit social media use by children, saying it’s causing harm.
“Every rose has a thorn, and that’s social media in this generation,” Hilton said. “It’s great for connectivity and activism, but it has reared its ugly head on mental health.”
But opponents warned the bill would cause problems. For example, Rep. David Wilkerson, a Powder Springs Democrat, said that the ban on use of social media in schools could ban teachers from showing educationally valuable YouTube videos.
“If we do pass this, we’ll be back fixing this next year, because there are too many issues with this bill,” Wilkerson said.
The bill says social media services would have to use “commercially reasonable efforts” to verify someone’s age by July 1, 2025.
Services would have to treat anyone who can’t be verified as a minor. Parents of children younger than 16 would have to consent to their children joining a service. Social medial companies would be limited in how they could customize ads for children younger than 16 and how much information they could collect on those children.
To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms, but children have been shown to easily evade the bans.
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Up to 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use them “almost constantly,” the Pew Research Center found.
The Georgia bill also aims to shut down porn sites by requiring submission of a digitized identification card or some other government-issued identification. Companies could be held liable if minors were found to access the sites, and could face fines of up to $10,000.
“It will protect our children,” said Rep. Rick Jasperse, a Jasper Republican who argues age verification will lead porn sites to cut off access to Georgians. In March, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Texas law, leading Pornhub to cut off access to Texans.
The Free Speech Coalition, which represents adult film makers, says the bill would be ineffective because users could mask their location and because people would be forced to transmit sensitive information. They also argue it’s unconstitutional because there are less restrictive ways to keep children out and discriminate against certain types of speech. The coalition has sued multiple states over the laws.
The ban on school social media excludes email, news, gaming, online shopping, photograph editing and academic sites. The measure also requires a model program on the effects of social media and for students in grades 6-12, and requires existing anti-bullying programs to be updated.
The move comes after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in May that social media hasn’t been proven to be safe for young people.
Murthy called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take “immediate action to protect kids now” and asked tech companies to share data and increase transparency and for policymakers to regulate social media for safety the way they do car seats and baby formula.
Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instragram, announced in 2022 it was taking steps to verify ages. Meta says it provides “age-appropriate experiences” for teens 13-17 on Instagram, including preventing unwanted contact from unknown adults.
Dozens of U.S. states, including California and New York, also are suing Meta Platforms Inc., claiming the company harms young people and contributes to a youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.
Florida recently passed a law banning social media accounts for children under 14 regardless of parental consent and require parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds.
Photo: Christopher Willard/ABC // Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic // Leon Bennett (Getty Images)
Easter Sunday is a special day in the Black community. Not only because it’s our day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also because it’s our time to stunt on our family, friends, and those nosy members of our local congregation.
For men, it is especially a time to step outside of the box and deviate from our normal formal wear to something a little more flashy. And with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of our favorite Black celebs, athletes and influencers who are changing the game, and the look, of what it means to be suited and booted as a brother.
A recent incident involving an elderly woman and an Amazon delivery driver has aroused significant concern, with various videos of the argument going viral. Sharon Smith, the Amazon driver, posted on TikTok about her encounter, alleging harassment from the elderly woman over a parking disagreement.
In the first video shared by Smith, the elderly woman, Catharine Clark, is seen sitting in her truck, obstructing Smith from leaving while demanding her personal information. Smith eventually provides her name and advises the woman to file a complaint through the Amazon app.
The second video that Smith posts shows Clark following her to her car and complaining about parking problems because Smith’s Amazon van takes up two parking spaces.
The videos rapidly went viral on TikTok, totaling over 2.2 million views, with many viewers denouncing Clark’s actions. Commenters chastised Clark for what they saw as outrageous behavior, especially considering the triviality of the parking conflict.
TikTok users reacted to the videos with shock and irritation, with comments ranging from surprise at the woman’s conduct to open mocking. Heather Watrous replied sarcastically, “OMG she had to wait…the horror!” while Peach Grower questioned the intensity of Clark’s reaction, saying, “Seriously?!?! This is because she had to wait for the space you were in. Wow!”
As the videos gained popularity, interest in Clark’s identity grew. ThatDaneshGuy, a TikTok user, decided to uncover Catharine Clark’s identity by creating a duet video incorporating her Facebook profile and place of employment.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Generations of Maryland workers — longshoremen, seafarers, steelworkers and crabbers whose livelihoods depend on Baltimore’s port — watched in disbelief this week as an iconic symbol of their maritime culture crumbled into the Patapsco River.
The deadly collapse of the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge has shaken Baltimore to its core.
“What happened was kind of a travesty,” said Joe Wade, a retired port worker who remembers fishing near the bridge as a child. “I’m not a crier, but … I got emotional.”
In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, the M/V Dali is shown with the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
Baltimore was a port long before it was incorporated as a city — and long before the United States declared its independence from Britain. Many of the city’s brick rowhouses were built to house fishermen, dockworkers and sailors. They earned a reputation for being pioneering and tough, unafraid of rough seas and long days.
It’s a cultural identity that persists among modern-day watermen like Ryan “Skeet” Williams, who makes a living harvesting crabs from the Chesapeake Bay.
“We’re rugged and salty,” he said. “You build your own life.”
Williams relied on the Key Bridge to connect his small maritime community outside Baltimore with Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the lifeblood of the state’s robust seafood industry. Many of his friends and relatives used the bridge for their daily commutes.
Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, said the union represents about 2,400 people whose jobs now hang in the balance. Shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore can’t resume until the underwater wreckage has been cleared.
“They always say it’s the port that built the city,” said Cowan, who followed in his father’s footsteps when he became a longshoreman decades ago.
The disaster early Tuesday marks the latest blow to a city whose storied history often gets lost in conversations about its more recent struggles: poverty, violent crime and population loss.
Six members of a roadwork crew plunged to their deaths after a 985-foot (300-meter) cargo ship lost power and crashed into the bridge, eliminating a key piece of Baltimore’s skyline and halting maritime traffic to one of the east coast’s busiest ports.
In the aftermath, some experts questioned whether the span’s supporting columns should have been better protected against the gigantic container ships that would routinely pass by them. But Baltimore is an old city with aging infrastructure that often receives little attention from national politicians.
Officials have promised to rebuild the Key Bridge, but that could take years.
“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during a news conference in Baltimore earlier this week. “So the path to normalcy will not be easy. It will not be quick. It will not be inexpensive.”
A storied history: Francis Scott Key, and generations of dockworkers
Baltimore became a global leader in shipbuilding early on in its history. It later became a major transportation hub with the addition of a railroad line connecting the east coast to the Midwest and beyond.
During the War of 1812, British forces attacked Baltimore in hopes of weakening its industrial and maritime prowess. But American troops successfully defended south Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, and the invasion inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem after he witnessed an American flag flying defiantly overhead following a night of heavy bombing.
More than 150 years later, construction began on a bridge that would be named in his honor.
An outbound cargo ship passes under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, March 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
The Key Bridge opened in 1977, spanning 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) at the entrance of Baltimore’s harbor and allowing residents to traverse the waterway without driving through the city. It provided a direct connection between two working-class, water-oriented communities that formed during World War II — when nearby steel mills produced hundreds of massive warships to aid in the defense effort.
Baltimore’s history is rife with iconic characters, from debaucherous pirates and corrupt politicians to the treasured poet Edgar Allan Poe and jazz legend Billie Holiday. Through it all, the port was a relative constant.
It has allowed countless people to earn a decent living by showing up and putting in the hours, including immigrants and other disenfranchised groups. And it has remained an economic engine, adapting and evolving even as other local businesses have shuttered amid declines in industrial production.
It currently processes more cars and farm equipment than any other port in the country. Last year alone, it handled $80 billion of foreign cargo, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at a news conference earlier this week.
“The collapse of the Key Bridge is not just a Maryland crisis. The collapse of the Key Bridge is a global crisis,” he said. “The national economy and the world’s economy depends on the Port of Baltimore.”
The loss of life falls on one of Baltimore’s hardworking communities
The men who died in the collapse were filling potholes during an overnight shift. While police quickly stopped traffic after the ship sent a mayday signal, they didn’t have time to alert the construction crew — a group of Latino immigrants in active pursuit of the American dream.
Two survivors were rescued almost immediately and divers recovered two bodies the following day. The remaining four victims are still missing and presumed dead.
Advocates say their deaths take on larger significance in the context of the myriad challenges facing immigrants in the U.S. The men were performing a physically grueling job for relatively low wages. They were laboring during nighttime hours to avoid inconveniencing Maryland commuters.
Construction workers and supporters arrive for a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
It comes as little surprise that these already disenfranchised workers are the ones who ended up paying the ultimate price, said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of the Baltimore-based immigration services nonprofit Global Refuge. Immigrants will almost inevitably be involved in rebuilding the bridge as well, she added.
The workers came to Maryland from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, seeking higher wages and better opportunities for themselves and their families.
By settling in the Baltimore area, they added to a long history of immigration that has played a key role in shaping the city’s culture and commerce. That history is inextricably linked to the port.
Between the Civil War and World War I, Baltimore became one of the country’s largest points of entry for European immigrants. In 1868, an immigration pier opened in south Baltimore not far from the historic battlefield that birthed the Star-Spangled Banner.
Many immigrants passed through the city on their way to the Midwest, but others stayed and put down roots. Those without specialized skills or advanced education worked on the docks and in the railroad yards, often alongside African Americans who came north to escape slavery. Their contributions are memorialized in the Baltimore Immigration Museum, which occupies a historic building constructed in 1904 to house European immigrants.
“Baltimore became a real melting pot of cultures,” said local historian Johns Hopkins, who directs the nonprofit Baltimore Heritage.
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In more recent decades, Latino immigrants have settled in and around Baltimore, though other cities have received larger influxes, likely because they’re experiencing more job growth.
CASA, an immigrant advocacy group based in Maryland, has been in contact with two of the families whose loved ones are among those still missing. Both men — Maynor Suazo Sandoval and Miguel Luna — were husbands and fathers who left their home countries over 15 years ago.
“These construction workers are absolutely essential,” said Gustavo Torres, the organization’s executive director. “In a time when there is so much hatred against the immigrant community, we look to the quiet leadership of Maynor and Miguel and appreciate how they uphold our society so that Americans can live comfortably.”
A key thoroughfare
Many port workers and thousands of others used the Key Bridge on a daily basis.
Along with their neighbors, they awoke Tuesday morning to news of its demise and quickly logged onto social media, still in disbelief. They watched video footage showing every detail of the catastrophic collapse, replaying the horrific sequence until it finally seemed real.
Seeing a major piece of their city’s infrastructure crumble like a toy left some Baltimoreans with an uneasy sense of shock, jolted by the realization that anything can happen.
A person views from Fort McHenry a container ship as it rests against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
In the days that followed, many residents stopped at various vantage points near the collapse site to survey the wreckage and pay their respects. Some recalled watching the bridge take shape in the 1970s, arching majestically across the water.
“It was always there. It was a landmark,” said Niki Putinski, who spent years living in a small residential neighborhood at the base of the bridge. “I just didn’t think something could bring it down like that.”
The whole city is grieving, said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, whose father moved to Baltimore as a young man to work at the port. But there’s a reason Baltimoreans are known for their grit and perseverance, Scott said.
“You can’t talk about Baltimore — past, present and future — without talking about the port,” he said. “And this will be the latest example of Baltimore bouncing back. That’s really ingrained in us here. We don’t give up, we ignore the noise and we keep that gritty chip on our shoulder.”
Twitch streamer Amouranth, noted for her inflammatory content and repeated bans from the network, has returned to Twitch following a three-hour restriction. This is her ninth suspension on the platform, raising issues about Twitch’s moderation procedures.
The news of Amouranth’s ban and subsequent unbanned spread fast among her followers, with the streamer herself confirming the suspension on social media platform X (previously Twitter). In a typical move, Amouranth tweeted a bikini photo alongside a tweet reading, “I just got banned on Twitch.”
The announcement piqued the interest of her followers, who were curious about the length of her ban and when Twitch would reinstate her account. Their doubts were addressed quickly when Amouranth’s suspension was removed three hours after it was enforced, marking the veteran streamer’s return to the platform.
Famous fans and co-stars react to the death of Louis Gossett Jr., who died at 87.
“He was open and generous. Kind beyond measure. Regal. We owe so much to him. What a monumental life he lived.” — Colman Domingo, Gossett’s co-star in “The Color Purple,” on X.
“The role of Master Sergeant Foley in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ was written as a white man. When I visited the Navy Officers Flight Training Center in Pensacola, Florida, I discovered that many of the drill Instructors there were men of color. At that moment I changed the casting profile for Sergeant Foley. Lou Gossett came to see me. He told me he’d served in the U.S. Army as a Ranger, so in addition to being an accomplished actor, he knew military life — I hired him on the spot. Lou Gossett’s Sergeant Foley may have been the first Black character in American cinema to have absolute authority over white characters. The Academy recognized his consummate performance by voting him an Oscar for best supporting actor. He definitely deserved it.” — Taylor Hackford, who directed “An Officer and a Gentleman,” in a statement.
“One of the great American actors of our generation. A personal hero.” — Actor Wendell Pierce on X.
Louis Gossett Jr. attends a Legacy of Changing Lives Gala on March 13, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
“Lou was set to play the role of my grandfather in the proposed feature film of my life. I will miss my friend.” — Singer Dionne Warwick in a statement.
“From ‘Roots’ to ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ to ‘The Color Purple’ and now beyond, Lou was always an amazing artist and giving human being to me.” — Actor Sheryl Lee Ralph on X.
“I loved Lou. We did ‘The Choirboys’ in an ensemble, and then later starred together in ‘Diggstown.’ That experience cemented a lifelong friendship. I had always admired his fabulous talent, but grew to admire his modest demeanor more. A true gentleman.” — Actor James Woods on X.
“Louis was a groundbreaker, a brilliant, kind man, and an incendiary presence on screen. Each of us was lucky to have him.” — Actor and director Lee Grant on X.
“Your incredible talent and unforgettable performances will forever inspire generations to come. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. You will be deeply missed.” — NAACP on X.
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“In our eyes, you were a LEADING man despite your many inspiring roles as supporting characters. Thank you for your undeniable talent. Rest In Power!” — Trial lawyer Ben Crump on X.
“As a city, we are grateful for the privilege of having had Louis Gossett Jr. among us, and we join together in honoring his life and contributions.” — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in a statement.
Travis Scott, the trailblazing artist behind the critically acclaimed album “UTOPIA,” has unveiled the official music video for his hit track “FE!N.” Directed by Gabriel Moses, the mesmerizing visual spectacle sets the stage for Scott’s highly anticipated performance on Saturday Night Live tonight at 11:30 pm ET on NBC.
“FE!N,” a fan favorite from his record-breaking fourth studio album “UTOPIA,” has captivated audiences worldwide with its infectious beats and Scott’s signature style. The release of the music video comes on the heels of Scott’s monumental success with “UTOPIA,” which solidified his position as one of hip hop’s leading figures.
Following the album’s release, “UTOPIA” soared to the top of the charts, becoming the biggest-selling hip-hop album of 2023. Scott embarked on the SOLD-OUT North American stadium and arena UTOPIA – CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR, making history as the first rap artist to sell out the iconic Los Angeles SoFi Stadium.
Last year, he treated fans to the CIRCUS MAXIMUS film, a visually stunning journey set to the sounds of “UTOPIA,” which sold out instantly in select AMC Theatres nationwide.
“UTOPIA” showcases Scott’s unparalleled talent as a performer, songwriter, producer, and collaborator, earning widespread acclaim and cementing his status as a sonic innovator. The album held the coveted No.1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 for four consecutive weeks and remained in the top 5 for seven weeks, with over 4 billion streams globally to date.
In addition to the album’s success, Scott released five unique album covers available on vinyl, CD, and merchandise box sets, further solidifying his place as a cultural icon.
“UTOPIA” is out now and available on shop.travisscott.com, inviting listeners to experience Scott’s groundbreaking vision and unparalleled artistry firsthand. Tune in tonight to catch Travis Scott’s electrifying performance on Saturday Night Live, as he continues to push the boundaries of music and entertainment.
