Flashpoints in the last few weeks this June have burnt their way across the news in the US. The killing of nine church-members in the historic AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 16, and by an avowed white supremacist (and his subsequent chase and capture), was followed by the clamor for removal of confederate flags from state houses across the country and then, for retailers like Wal-Mart, KMART and Sears to remove such symbols from their shelves. Then for a week as many as eight historically black churches across the south were engulfed by fire. The FBI has opened investigations on those cases and four of them have already been called arson fires. Author of 'Lies My Teacher Told Me' gives a recent overview of 20th century narratives about the Old South here.
BREAKING:
FBI opens investigation into now 7 arsons at black churches in a week.
http://t.co/gYh1BtBgEu pic.twitter.com/inTSHNYOXD
— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) June 28, 2015
Kmart will not allow third parties to sell confederate themed merchandise #TakeItDown http://t.co/FL6g49FocW pic.twitter.com/IXh9nMrAof
— Eli On The Rework (@ELITUCKERINC) June 23, 2015
Woman takes down Confederate flag in front of South Carolina statehouse http://t.co/m2sIjk0mRq pic.twitter.com/MPEZAZwrJF
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 28, 2015
____________________________________________Also the US Supreme Court handed down a number of decisions late in June. A couple popular challenges, against same-sex marriage and against the Healthcare ACAct, were turned down. A couple others went another way. EPA limits on mercury emissions from power plants were relaxed, and a controversial form of state-sanctioned execution, the lethal injection was allowed. An overview is found at DemocracyNow! Also,
.@imillhiser: John Roberts has made it his mission on the court to cut back on civil rights laws. http://t.co/7Nuf0KpYVa #SCOTUS
— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) July 1, 2015
SCOTUS ruling will allow 10 abortion clinics to stay open in Texas http://t.co/dGNdkM9e0M
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) June 29, 2015
Supreme Court OKs independently drawn House districts, spurring backers' hopes for nonpartisan lines: http://t.co/rosIIbNAtl
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 30, 2015
____________________________________________
Conflict in Egypt heats up:
More than 100 dead as militants, Egyptian army clash in North Sinai : http://t.co/c9neVgDC92 pic.twitter.com/eolQV4aDQ6
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 2, 2015
And in Yemen.
Saba: UN Secretary-General calls for humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen http://t.co/pyiEZFF6mu
— Yemen Watch (@yemenwatch) July 2, 2015
______________________________________________Greece has passed the deadline for a payment to the ECB. A referendum by Greek voters is scheduled
on Sunday.
The people of #Greece supporting their Government tonight. Never have I seen such a demonstration of solidarity pic.twitter.com/3i6DhrlV0q
— Joan Byrne (@jemb123) June 29, 2015
______________________________________________Spook trolling on internet? Here's some evidence:
We published more than 100 pages of Snowden docs today w/ articles from @ggreenwald @AndrewDFish & @headhntr. https://t.co/xsHsefyFSd
— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) June 23, 2015
_____________________________________________Researchers think this may be the map Columbus took with him on his first voyage.
Miguel de Cervantes wanted to be buried under this convent. And so he is.
