A school superintendent in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/atlanta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta</a> area this week doubled down on his promise to protect students from &#8220;pornographic material&#8221; after critics called for him to be removed for banning books.
Superintendent Chris Ragsdale of the Cobb County School District <a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/cobb-county-school-board-controversy-superintendent-chris-ragsdale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced</a> both critics and supporters at a heated school board meeting on Thursday, where he emphasized his &#8220;professional and moral obligation to protect Cobb’s students.&#8221;
“I, as superintendent, will not knowingly allow children in the Cobb County School District to access lewd, vulgar, sexually explicit, obscene, or pornographic material,&#8221; Ragsdale <a href="https://www.cobbk12.org/_ci/p/89456" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, according to the school district&#8217;s online post about the board meeting.
“I want to be very clear. This situation is about right and wrong, good and evil. There is no middle ground in this situation. You are either in favor of providing inappropriate material to children, or you are against it. I assure you. I am against it, and I will not be moved,” the superintendent said.
Ragsdale stood firm in his decision to make several controversial books unavailable to students in the district, including the books &#8220;Flamer&#8221; and &#8220;Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl.&#8221;
&#8220;Flamer&#8221; is a graphic novel about a teenage boy who is bullied for acting &#8220;gay.&#8221; One picture in the book <a href="https://behindschooldoors.com/flamer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shows</a> a teenage boy bending down in the shower as another boy washes himself standing up. Another scene shows teenage boys masturbating together into a bottle, and one boy says, &#8220;if you don’t c** you have to drink it.&#8221; No genitals are shown in the pictures.
&#8220;Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl&#8221; <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl/chapters-10-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contains</a> references to masturbation and oral sex.
“If you need someone to blame for deciding to remove books &#8230; you can blame me,” Superintendent Ragsdale said. “The Cobb County School District will not knowingly allow this material to be accessed by children in this District.&#8221;
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“The Cobb County School District is not engaging in book-banning or book-burning,” Superintendent Ragsdale said. “We are following well-established federal and state law and policies and practices of this District that have been with us for years, if not decades.&#8221;
He called it a “radical new idea” that “all children should somehow be forced to encounter sexually explicit language and instruction while at school.”
The superintendent also said the district will continue to review books in the school libraries and will pull books found to contain lewd, sexually explicit, or pornographic material.
Ragsdale also said several book fairs and other reading events have not been canceled, contrary to rumors.
Ragsdale&#8217;s critics showed up at Thursday&#8217;s board meeting and reportedly turned their backs to him when he gave his remarks.
Opponents also held a &#8220;Rally to Replace Ragsdale&#8221; outside before the meeting. The superintendent&#8217;s critics accused him of failing to address discrimination and safety issues as well.
&#8220;A gross failure of leadership with poor decisions related to students experiencing racism, homophobia, antisemitism, parents upset with school safety policies,&#8221; one woman <a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/cobb-county-school-board-controversy-superintendent-chris-ragsdale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox5.
Supporters of the superintendent showed up as well and defended his decisions.
&#8220;Some people are opposing him, saying he&#8217;s done bad stuff, but we&#8217;re just here to show support for him,&#8221; parent Samuel Thelen told Fox5.

Blair Faces Mounting Revolt in Top-Up Fees Row

Atlanta Area Superintendent Stands Firm On Opposing ‘Pornographic Material’ In Schools After Calls For His Removal, Says It’s About ‘Good And Evil’

Atlanta Area Superintendent Stands Firm On Opposing 'Pornographic Material' In Schools After Calls For His Removal, Says It's About 'Good And Evil'

Atlanta

Education

Gender

Public Schools

U.S.

On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/georgia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Georgia&#8217;s</a> Attorney General Chris Carr announced the indictment of 61 alleged &#8220;militant anarchists&#8221; under Georgia&#8217;s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. That indictment was handed down last week by the same Fulton County Grand Jury that indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 other co-defendants on RICO charges.
The charges stem from alleged radical actions taken by anti-police actors connected with the &#8220;Stop Cop City&#8221; movement that occurred between 2020 and 2022, according to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. As The Daily Wire previously reported, far-Left environmental protesters coalesced in response to the 2021 announcement of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center — a first responder and police training facility that received millions in taxpayer funding and is being built on nearly 400 acres of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/5-left-wing-protesters-targeting-planned-georgia-police-center-charged-with-domestic-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Weelaunee Forest</a>. Since then, individuals connected to the &#8220;Stop Cop City&#8221; movement have been accused of participating in riots, vandalizing cop cars, and committing unruly actions as part of their opposition to the training facility.
According to Carr, these individuals have been conspiring to commit violence in the pursuit of anarchy since the summer of 2020, following the death of George Floyd. Yet, he said these alleged &#8220;anti-government anarchists in Atlanta recognized an opportunity to rally against law enforcement&#8221; and changed course following the 2021 announcement of the police training facility. Most of those charged in the indictment are from out of state.
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (R) announces that a grand jury has returned indictments for 61 people on racketeering charges following a state investigation into protests against a controversial police and training facility near Atlanta that critics call “Cop City.” <a href="https://t.co/q4EBoR5cxO">pic.twitter.com/q4EBoR5cxO</a>
&mdash; The Recount (@therecount) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1699160800328646928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In March 2023, 35 individuals were arrested for attacking construction equipment set to be used to build the facility.
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More footage of the group of violent agitators used the cover of a peaceful protest of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. <a href="https://t.co/ewtDRf130G">pic.twitter.com/ewtDRf130G</a>
&mdash; Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) <a href="https://twitter.com/Atlanta_Police/status/1632762902468780034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Yesterday in Atlanta, during the stop cop city riot. Anarchists throw rocks at a burning tractor.<a href="https://t.co/UUUwQvQu4Z">pic.twitter.com/UUUwQvQu4Z</a>
&mdash; Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ViralNewsNYC/status/1632906441571852290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A similar chaotic event broke out in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/5-left-wing-protesters-targeting-planned-georgia-police-center-charged-with-domestic-terrorism">December 2022</a>. Officials at the time pleaded with opponents of the plan to use legal recourse.
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“The discourse of opposition is in city halls, it is in the public square, it is on the sidewalks. That is where you note your displeasure or your disagreement,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at the time. “It is not in Molotov cocktails. It is not in shooting fireworks at firefighters. … It is not throwing rocks at our squad cars. That is criminal activity. The reason that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are investigating this is because this isn’t a protest. This is terrorism.”
In January 2022, black-clad protesters also torched vehicles and vandalized buildings after an anti-police activist was <a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlanta-riots-timeline-stop-cop-city-movement-apd-training-facility">killed</a> by authorities.
In response to last week&#8217;s indictment, the Cop City Vote Coalition released a statement accusing Carr of assaulting &#8220;the broader movement for racial justice and equity.&#8221;
&#8220;Carr’s actions are a part of a retaliatory pattern of prosecutions against organizers nationwide that attack the right to protest and freedom of speech,&#8221; the group <a href="https://capitol-beat.org/2023/09/protesters-of-atlantas-cop-city-training-center-indicted-on-rico-charges/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCarr's%20actions%20are%20part%20of,or%20the%20attorney%20general's%20office.%E2%80%9D">said</a>.
&#8220;The Cop City Vote coalition strongly condemns these anti-democratic charges,&#8221; the Cop City Vote Coalition added. &#8220;We will not be intimidated by power-hungry strongmen, whether in City Hall or the Attorney General’s office. Chris Carr may try to use his prosecutors and power to build his gubernatorial campaign and silence free speech, but his threats will not silence our commitment to standing up for our future, our community, and our city.&#8221;
After Carr&#8217;s announcement, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that &#8220;the same Fulton County grand jury that handed up indictments against Trump and his codefendants also handed up these indictments involving the efforts by activists to block the Atlanta public safety center.&#8221; 
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/ajc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ajc</a> has confirmed that the same Fulton County grand jury that handed up indictments against Trump and his codefendants also handed up these indictments involving the efforts by activists to block the Atlanta public safety center: <a href="https://t.co/dWvr6WQR4g">https://t.co/dWvr6WQR4g</a>
&mdash; Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1699077628257558721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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ATLANTA, USA – JANUARY 21: Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an Atlanta police vehicle was set on fire during a “Stop cop city” protest in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on January 21, 2023. Multiple buildings were vandalized and an Atlanta police vehicle was set on fire as multiple arrests were made.

61 ‘Militant Anarchists’ Charged Under Georgia’s RICO Law — By Same Grand Jury That Indicted Trump

61 'Militant Anarchists' Charged Under Georgia's RICO Law — By Same Grand Jury That Indicted Trump

Crime

Donald Trump

Georgia

Leftists

Police

Rioters

Four inmates being held at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Georgia, have died within the span of a month.
Samuel Lawrence, 34, who was being held in the jail on a second-degree arson charge, was found unresponsive in his cell in the early morning hours on Saturday and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said in <a href="https://fcsoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FCSO-News-Release-Inmate-Dies-After-Being-Taken-to-Grady-Memorial-Hospital-8.30.23.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a press release</a> that the Atlanta Police Department would conduct a death investigation and the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office will “perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.”
Lawrence is the fourth inmate to die within a month, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-jail-death-fulton-county-investigation-a33d11aa8d382c0eedf3fafd539e4a81" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Alexander Hawkins, 66; Christopher Smith, 34; and Montay Stinson, 40, have also died while housed at the jail.
Alexander Hawkins was found unresponsive in his medical unit cell on August 14, the AP <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-jail-death-fulton-county-investigation-448524619ef478f874e377022de441a1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> at the time. Medical personnel attempted to revive him but were unable to. He was being held in the prison on a shoplifting charge.
Christopher Smith was also found unresponsive in a medical unit cell. Like Lawrence, he was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. He was being held on several unspecified felony and misdemeanor charges, the AP <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-inmate-death-adc3597cbe3c7f2c62a7da72e42c2cfc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Montay Stinson reportedly had no obvious signs of injury when he was found unresponsive in his cell (it is not believed the others had injuries either). Medical personnel were unable to revive him.
In July, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation into the Fulton County jail’s conditions, following the death of 35-year-old Lashawn Thompson last year. Thompson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sheriff-responds-to-familys-claim-loved-one-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-at-atlanta-jail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was arrested</a> on June 12, 2022, for a misdemeanor simple battery charge. He was sent to Fulton County Jail and placed in the psychiatric wing because he had mental health issues. Three months later, on September 19, Thompson “was found dead in a filthy jail cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs,” family attorney Michael Harper said in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mharperlaw/posts/pfbid0Yj73vxwdeVdDT4nqYxAApLQUUSivpUbvR32S9TgEmx9nsMmtgz7b229qfzujGwt3l" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a statement</a> on Facebook (WARNING: disturbing images).
Georgia’s Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted on July 30 to approve a mediated settlement of $4 million to Thompson’s family, Inside Edition <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/family-of-schizophrenic-man-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-in-jail-cell-agrees-to-4-million-settlement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
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Harper <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/family-says-atlanta-inmate-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in his Facebook post that jail records show that officials at the facility, as well as medical staff, “noticed that Mr. Thompson was deteriorating, but did nothing to administer aid to him or to help him.”
“They literally watched his health decline until he died,” Harper added. “When his body was found one of the detention officers refused to administer CPR because, in her words, she ‘freaked out.’”
First responders attempted to save Thompson’s life, but were unsuccessful, USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/04/13/atlanta-man-eaten-alive-bed-bugs-fulton-county-jail-claim/11657232002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Harper described the cell where Thompson was kept as “not fit for a diseased animal.”
The Fulton County jail is also where former President Donald Trump and 18 others last week surrendered for booking on charges relating to their questioning of the 2020 election.

Fulton County Jail

Four People Have Died In Past Month In Atlanta Jail Where Man Previously Died In Bug-Infested Cell

Prisons

The family of a man who died in an Atlanta jail cell after allegedly being &#8220;eaten alive&#8221; by bugs has settled their lawsuit against Fulton County for $4 million.
Lashawn Thompson, 35, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sheriff-responds-to-familys-claim-loved-one-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-at-atlanta-jail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was arrested</a> on June 12, 2022, for a misdemeanor simple battery charge. He was sent to Fulton County Jail and placed in the psychiatric wing because he had mental health issues. Three months later, on September 19, Thompson “was found dead in a filthy jail cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs,” family attorney Michael Harper said in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mharperlaw/posts/pfbid0Yj73vxwdeVdDT4nqYxAApLQUUSivpUbvR32S9TgEmx9nsMmtgz7b229qfzujGwt3l" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a statement</a> on Facebook (WARNING: disturbing images).
Georgia’s Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 on Wednesday to approve a mediated settlement of $4 million to Thompson’s family, Inside Edition <a href="https://www.insideedition.com/family-of-schizophrenic-man-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-in-jail-cell-agrees-to-4-million-settlement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Harper told the outlet that the family will not be making a statement regarding the settlement.
&#8220;The Fulton County Commissioners&#8217; vote speaks for itself,&#8221; he said.
Ben Crump, an activist attorney who also represented the family, sent a joint statement out with Harper following the settlement.
“While we are satisfied to reach settlements in these matters with Fulton County and unidentified entities for undisclosed amounts, we are nowhere near the end of this journey to full justice,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;We will continue to work with the Thompson family — and the community that rallied behind them — to ensure that a tragedy like this one never happens to another family or takes one more life.”
&#8220;Lashawn’s life mattered, and together, we can demand and motivate significant change in his name. That will be the legacy of Lashawn Thompson,” the statement continued.
Crump previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/autopsy-confirms-atlanta-inmate-died-from-neglect-after-he-was-found-eaten-alive-by-bugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Thompson had schizophrenia and did not receive the medication he needed, adding that Thompson was neglected for 93 days and became malnourished and dehydrated, losing 30 pounds.
“…[I]t is the opinion of this forensic pathologist that Mr. Lashawn Thompson died due to severe neglect,” wrote the pathologist hired by Thompson’s family to conduct an autopsy. “The combination of dehydration, rapid weight loss, and malnutrition complicated by untreated decompensated schizophrenia led to a fatal cardiac arrhythmia of Lashawn Thompson. Had Mr. Thompson received adequate care during his incarceration at the Fulton County Jail then he would not have died at the time that he did.”
The Fulton County medical examiner had listed Thompson’s cause of death as “undetermined.”
Harper, the attorney for Thompson’s family, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/family-says-atlanta-inmate-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in his Facebook post that jail records show that officials at the facility, as well as medical staff, “noticed that Mr. Thompson was deteriorating, but did nothing to administer aid to him or to help him.”
“They literally watched his health decline until he died,” Harper added. “When his body was found one of the detention officers refused to administer CPR because, in her words, she ‘freaked out.’”
First responders attempted to save Thompson’s life, but were unsuccessful, USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/04/13/atlanta-man-eaten-alive-bed-bugs-fulton-county-jail-claim/11657232002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Harper described the cell where Thompson was kept as “not fit for a diseased animal.”
“He did not deserve this. Someone has to be held accountable for his death,” Harper continued.

Family Of Man Allegedly ‘Eaten Alive’ By Bugs In Jail Settles For $4 Million

Family Of Man Allegedly 'Eaten Alive' By Bugs In Jail Settles For $4 Million

Lawsuit

Prison

An Atlanta man was found not guilty of 26 charges relating to a drive-by shooting that occurred in 2013, after he already spent seven years in prison awaiting trial.
Condell Benyard sat in jail for seven years awaiting his trial, due in part to the pandemic and because the courthouse flooded at some point. Late last week, he was found not guilty, Atlanta News First (ANF) <a href="https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/07/21/after-10-years-jail-without-trial-mans-case-finally-jurys-hands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
At the same time, his co-defendant, Maurice Jimmerson, has spent 10 years in jail for the same charges. His trial resulted in a hung jury, meaning he will continue to be jailed while prosecutors prepare to try him again. Jimmerson is currently being held on $400,000 bail for charges that include felony murder, aggravated assault, possessing a gun during a felony, and street gang activity. He also faces another charge for destroying a toilet at the Dougherty County Jail, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/albany-georgia-pretrial-detention-10-years-jail-1ddba613c37567ab09b4952cfc267f4a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Jimmerson’s attorney, Andrew Fleischmann, said his client’s extended detention is the longest pre-trial incarceration in Georgia history, and the second longest in all of U.S. history.
“I’m old fashioned,” Fleischman said, according to ANF. “I think people should be convicted of a crime before they’re punished. This is an unprecedented case. This is about a core constitutional right, the right to a speedy trial. The right to due process. And, when you see people denied that right, the public needs to know about it.”
Fleischmann argued that the charges should be dismissed entirely, citing U.S. Supreme Court rulings that say cases can be dismissed if the defendant doesn’t receive a speedy trial.
Two other men were found not guilty in 2013 for the shooting, which killed two people and injured more, the AP reported.
Beyond the lengthy pre-trial detentions, the evidence against the men is thin. Dougherty County District Attorney Gregory Edwards told the jury that a witness told investigators he had seen Jimmerson at the shooting, but as Fleischmann countered, that witness later recanted and admitted to lying to investigators. That witness only came forward three years after the crime while serving time in prison, ANF reported. During testimony, he admitted he lied to get out of prison.
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“No cell phone location, no DNA, no fingerprints,” Fleischman said, according to ANF, “and only one eyewitness who recanted his testimony.”
Edwards has expressed his intent to retry Jimmerson, saying he would have more time to call witnesses who could say Jimmerson committed the crime.
Fleischman says he’ll appeal the case to the Georgia Supreme Court, arguing his client’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial was violated.

Silhouette of Hands Behind Jail Bars

Atlanta Man Found Not Guilty After Sitting In Pre-Trial Detention For 7 Years

Murder

A doctor who has vocally opposed the medical transition of minors said he was recently sent a package containing white powder bearing similarities to letters sent to Kansas, Tennessee, and Montana state lawmakers. 
Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist in Atlanta, Georgia, said his office <a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/homeland-security-suspicious-package-howell-mill-road-atlanta">received</a> the mysterious package on June 21, causing the evacuation of an eight-story office building. Van Meter told The Daily Wire that it &#8220;disrupted all patient care&#8221; but turned out to be bleach powder.
&#8220;No one knew what it was specifically, other than it was a suspicious package being investigated by hazmat,&#8221; Van Meter explained, adding that others in the office &#8220;had no idea that this has been aimed at me.&#8221;
The FBI has taken over the investigation.
Van Meter has testified before lawmakers in <a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CMS/ArchiveDetails.cfm?SessYear=2019&amp;MeetingId=1070&amp;Code=55&amp;Chamber=H">Pennsylvania</a>, <a href="https://account.idahostatesman.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=259081458&amp;intcid=ab_archive">Idaho</a>, and <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/05/florida-gender-affirming-medical-treatment-ban-00050174">Florida</a> to advocate against the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone therapy, and sex change operations on minors. He told The Daily Wire that he believes the mailing was related to his advocacy, telling law enforcement he has &#8220;thousands&#8221; of enemies for his efforts to &#8220;save the lives of these kids&#8221; pursuing so-called &#8216;gender-affirming&#8217; surgeries.
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Van Meter said the package he received appeared to be similar to those sent to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/us/kansas-white-powder-letters/index.html">lawmakers</a> in Kansas that were signed by “your secret despiser.” Republican officials and legislators in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/multiple-republican-officials-in-kansas-receive-cryptic-letters-containing-white-powder">Kansas</a> received more than 100 letters between June 16 and June 19. The cryptic letters read, “It is important not to choke on your ambition,” and included what appear to be incoherent phrases in foreign languages. Those mailings, along with similar letters sent to Tennessee politicians, reportedly had a return address of a deceased transgender activist. One source <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-tennessee-republicans-receive-suspicious-packages-radical-trans-activism-suspected">told</a> The Daily Wire that letters received in Tennessee were also signed “your secret despiser.” 
Offices in the Cordell Hull Building, which connects to the Tennessee State Capitol, were forced to close after mysterious packages and letters containing white powder were discovered on June 22.
In <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/montana-becomes-third-state-reporting-suspicious-letters-received-by-gop-officials">Montana</a>, two GOP legislators reported receiving suspicious letters at their homes containing white powder.

Package

Doctor Opposed To Child Transgenderism Says He Received Eerie Package With White Powder

Doctor Opposed To Child Transgenderism Says He Received Package With White Powder

General

minors

Transgender

Lululemon’s CEO <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/06/05/lululemon-ceo-who-fired-employees-for-confronting-thieves-stands-by-decision/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=nypost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended his company&#8217;s decision</a> to terminate two employees who called the police as three masked men robbed their Georgia store location.
Calvin McDonald, the head of the Vancouver-based retailer, cited Lululemon’s “zero-tolerance policy” on engaging thieves when asked during a recent interview about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lululemon-employees-fired-after-confronting-thieves-reports">firing</a> of Jennifer Ferguson and Rachel Rogers, a pair of workers who confronted thieves and called the police at their shop in Peachtree City, located in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft. Why? Because we put the safety of our team, of our guests, front and center. It’s only merchandise,&#8221; he told <a href="https://twitter.com/SquawkStreet/status/1664659272914063360?s=20">CNBC</a>.
When pressed, McDonald claimed that the employees were not fired for calling the police but because they broke company policy by “engaging the thieves across multiple points, including following them out of the store.”
Ferguson — who was an assistant manager — told NBC’s local affiliate 11Alive that when a robbery occurs, workers are told to “scan a QR code. And that’s that. We’ve been told not to put it in any notes, because that might scare other people. We’re not supposed to call the police, not really supposed to talk about it.”
The robbery at the Peachtree City location is part of a <a href="https://www.uschamber.com/economy/rising-retail-theft-heres-what-business-owners-need-to-know">trend</a> of retail theft across the nation which has brought increased attention to the risks faced by employees, shopper safety, and rising prices.
McDonald admitted that “retail theft and shrink has been a growing topic.” The CEO stated that the company is investing under three “pillars”: training, technology, and working with law enforcement.  
“We take that policy seriously because we have had instances — and we have seen with other retailers, instances — where employees step in and are hurt, or worse, killed,&#8221; McDonald said. &#8220;And the policy is to protect them. But we have to stand behind the policy to enforce it.”
Four men have been arrested and charged after multiple Lululemon stores were ransacked around the Atlanta area, according to <a href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/lululemon-snatch-and-grab-robbery-peachtree-city-arrest">Fox 5 Atlanta</a>.
The public’s help and officers’ quick action sends a message to thieves that “you will not get away with it, and we have the court systems to support us as well to ensure that you’re tied up in it for a long enough time to where you’re not going to be committing these crimes in the future, at least not in our area,&#8221; said Lt. Chris Hyatt of the Peachtree City Police Department.

Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald

‘It’s Only Merchandise’: Lululemon CEO Defends Firing Of Employees Who Confronted Thieves

'It's Only Merchandise': Lululemon CEO Defends Firing Of Employees Who Confronted Thieves

Three activists who help head up an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/atlanta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta</a>-based Left-wing bail fund have been arrested by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/georgia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Georgia</a> investigators.  
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Atlanta Police Department <a href="https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-05-31/three-arrested-money-laundering-and-charity-fraud-atlanta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Wednesday that 39-year-old Marlon Scott Kautz of Atlanta, 30-year-old Savannah Patterson of Savannah, and 42-year-old Adele Maclean of Atlanta had been charged with money laundering and charity fraud. The arrests come after months of investigations following a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/35-arrested-in-fiery-atlanta-police-training-site-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fiery riot</a> that took place at the site of an Atlanta police training center in March.
According to the GBI, the arrests were linked to the “ongoing investigation of individuals responsible for numerous criminal acts at the future site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center and other metro Atlanta locations.”
Kautz, Patterson, and Maclean help oversee the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which is used to pay bail for protesters and others who have been arrested. The group <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/atlanta-bail-fund-rushes-support-arrested-cop-city-activists-23-charged-domestic-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fundraised</a> for individuals arrested in the wake of a riot that took place at the future site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training, dubbed “Cop City” by critics.
 “We will not rest until we have held accountable every person who has funded, organized, or participated in this violence and intimidation,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr <a href="https://twitter.com/Georgia_AG/status/1663919197846482947" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
During the March incident, people launched fireworks and threw large rocks, bricks, and Molotov cocktails during the clash, police said, and some construction equipment caught fire. Many were charged with domestic terrorism charges.
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Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp <a href="https://twitter.com/GovKemp/status/1663943106859786240/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also commented</a> on the arrests, saying that he was proud to announce that “those who backed their [protesters&#8217;] illegal actions are also under arrest and will face justice.” 
“These criminals facilitated and encouraged domestic terrorism with no regard for others, watching as communities faced the destructive consequences of their actions,” he added. “Here in Georgia, We DO NOT allow that to happen. Today’s announcement is a reminder that we will track down every member of a criminal organization, from violent foot soldiers to their uncaring leaders.”  
The group itself said that the organizers <a href="https://twitter.com/ATLSolFund/status/1664110983428681728" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were</a> “arrested in an attempt to cut off protestors from legal aid. We remain unafraid and stand strong in fighting to protect civil liberties.”
The unrest in March marked a crescendo in the clashes with law enforcement by anti-police demonstrators and environmentalists after the $90 million training center was approved by the Atlanta City Council in 2021 and construction began in a forested area.
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.

US-SHOOTING-ENVIRONMENT-PROTEST

Atlanta Activists Linked To Fiery Police Protests Charged With Fraud, Money Laundering: Police

Activists

Brian Kemp

Two women say they were fired by Lululemon after trying to stop thieves ransacking an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/atlanta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta</a>-area store and calling police to report the robbery last month.
The former employees, Rachel Rogers and Jennifer Ferguson, said they were told they violated <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/retailer-lululemon-mocked-for-urging-customers-to-resist-capitalism-while-selling-120-leggings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the &#8220;athleisure&#8221; company&#8217;s</a> &#8220;zero-tolerance policy&#8221; upon being let go in the weeks that followed the incident, according to <a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/lululemon-employees-fired-after-robbery-store-theft-theives/85-6bf57aca-8fba-4ca9-a0a1-4458a572b5b3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local NBC affiliate 11Alive</a>.
&#8220;We are not supposed to get in the way. You kind of clear path for whatever they&#8217;re going to do,&#8221; Ferguson said, &#8220;And then, after it&#8217;s over, you scan a QR code. And that&#8217;s that. We&#8217;ve been told not to put it in any notes, because that might scare other people. We&#8217;re not supposed to call the police, not really supposed to talk about it.&#8221;
<a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1663172754269405186" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Video</a> of the robbery, recorded by Rogers, shows a group of individuals wearing jackets, hoods, and masks dart out of the shop in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, with clothes in hand as the employees demand they leave.
<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lululemon-employees-say-they-were-fired-reporting-robbery-to-police-2023-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider reported</a> that Lululemon&#8217;s company policy indicates the pair were fired because they confronted and recorded the thieves, not because they called the police to report the robbery.
&#8220;The safety and security of our employees and guests is always Lululemon’s top priority, and we have policies and protocols in place to uphold a safe environment,&#8221; a Lululemon spokesperson <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/lululemon-employees-fired-after-chasing-robbers-out-store-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Fox Business</a>. &#8220;We take thefts and vandalism very seriously and our focus right now is supporting our educators, as well as continuing to collaborate with local partners and law enforcement.&#8221;
Police arrested the shoplifters the following day as they attempted yet another robbery and charged them with multiple felonies, investigators told local <a href="https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/metro-woman-says-she-was-fired-trying-stop-thieves-stealing-clothes-store/RKCM2XKT6RCQDEA34TMYYCFGD4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC affiliate WSB-TV</a>.
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Both Rogers and Ferguson told 11Alive about the struggles they faced after being abruptly fired.
&#8220;That was my sole income,&#8221; Rogers said, &#8220;So, I did have to file for unemployment and use all of my savings to pay for my car payments, car insurance payments, my dog&#8217;s food, my food.&#8221;
&#8220;They put us in a bit of a bind,&#8221; said Ferguson, who noted that she has four children. &#8220;My husband is self-employed. So, we&#8217;re trying to figure out insurance.&#8221;

Lululemon store

Lululemon Employees Fired After Confronting Thieves: Reports

Independent autopsy results released Monday by the family of a Fulton County inmate who says their relative was “eaten alive” by bed bugs confirmed the man died of neglect.
Lashawn Thompson, 35, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sheriff-responds-to-familys-claim-loved-one-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-at-atlanta-jail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was arrested</a> on June 12, 2022, for a misdemeanor simple battery charge. He was sent to Fulton County Jail and placed in the psychiatric wing because he had mental health issues. Three months later, on September 19, Thompson “was found dead in a filthy jail cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs,” family attorney Michael Harper said in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mharperlaw/posts/pfbid0Yj73vxwdeVdDT4nqYxAApLQUUSivpUbvR32S9TgEmx9nsMmtgz7b229qfzujGwt3l" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a statement</a> on Facebook (WARNING: disturbing images).
On Monday, attorney Benjamin Crump, who is also representing Thompson’s family, held a press conference and said Thompson had schizophrenia and didn’t receive the medication he needed. Crump added that Thompson was neglected for 93 days and became malnourished and dehydrated, losing 30 pounds.
“…[I]t is the opinion of this forensic pathologist that Mr. Lashawn Thompson died due to severe neglect,” wrote the pathologist hired by Thompson’s family to conduct an autopsy. “The combination of dehydration, rapid weight loss, and malnutrition complicated by untreated decompensated schizophrenia led to a fatal cardiac arrythmia of Lashawn Thompson. Had Mr. Thompson received adequate care during his incarceration at the Fulton County Jail then he would not have died at the time that he did.”
The Fulton County medical examiner listed Thompson’s cause of death as “undetermined.”
Harper, the attorney for Thompson’s family, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/family-says-atlanta-inmate-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in his Facebook post that jail records show that officials at the facility, as well as medical staff, “noticed that Mr. Thompson was deteriorating, but did nothing to administer aid to him or to help him.”
“They literally watched his health decline until he died,” Harper added. “When his body was found one of the detention officers refused to administer CPR because, in her words, she ‘freaked out.’”
First responders attempted to save Thompson’s life, but were unsuccessful, USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/04/13/atlanta-man-eaten-alive-bed-bugs-fulton-county-jail-claim/11657232002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Harper described the cell where Thompson was kept as “not fit for a diseased animal.”
“He did not deserve this. Someone has to be held accountable for his death,” Harper continued.
Before the press conference, Crump released a statement blaming the Fulton County Jail for Thompson’s death.
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“These autopsy findings confirm that Lashawn Thompson was killed by the extreme neglect of the Fulton County Jail and its staff,” Crump said in the statement. “He was dehydrated, malnourished, and his body was infested inside and out with insects – it is truly one of the most horrific cases we have seen.”
In mid-April, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) posted <a href="https://twitter.com/FultonSheriff/status/1646964730597199873?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a statement</a> to Twitter saying it would launch “a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding [Thompson’s] death.”
After the internal investigation is complete, the statement said, Sheriff Patrick Labat will ask the Georgia Bureau of Investigations to determine whether any criminal charges are warranted in Thompson’s death.
“The health, well-being, and security of inmates in our care is our top priority,” the statement said. “It’s no secret that the dilapidated and rapidly eroding conditions of the current facility make it incredibly difficult to meet the goal of providing safe, clean, well-maintained, and healthy environment for all inmates and staff. Without making any explicit statements about Mr. Thompson’s health, it’s fair to say that this is one of the many cases that illustrate the desperate need for expanded and better mental health services. That is precisely why Sheriff Labat continues to call [for] building a new Fulton County Jail and Criminal Justice Complex which will provide humane care in a safe and clean environment that offers mental health and other services that provide a strong foundation for rehabilitation.”
The FCSO stated that it couldn’t share information about Thompson’s health condition when he was arrested “or what decisions he made regarding his right to accept or refuse medical care,” but that it would be taking multiple steps to improve the jail even before the investigation into Thompson’s death was complete.
The FCSO said it had approved an additional $500,000 to address “the infestation of bed bugs, lice and other vermin” in the jail. The sheriff’s office will also update protocols for security rounds, add additional staff for the mental health unit, and transfer more than 600 inmates to other jails to reduce overcrowding.

Autopsy Confirms Atlanta Inmate Died From Neglect After He Was Found ‘Eaten Alive’ By Bugs

Jail

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Atlanta Shooting:
One person is dead and four are injured after a shooter opened fire in an Atlanta medical facility shortly after noon today. According to police, the shooter entered Northside Hospital Medical Midtown wearing a gray hoodie and gloves and carrying a bag. It is believed that the suspect is a male and used a handgun. Police are conducting a manhunt for the suspect who is still at large. No motives have been suggested thus far. 
Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Assassination Attempt:
Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-accuses-ukraine-of-sending-drones-to-assassinate-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Video on social media appears to show a drone exploding above the Kremlin on Wednesday. 
The Kremlin said in a statement that two drones were intercepted and shot down by Russian security forces and that the impacts didn’t hurt any people or property. Putin was apparently away from the Kremlin at the time. A spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Russia’s allegations.
 However, right after news of the drone attack broke, Zelensky’s chief of staff posted a string of fire emojis to his Telegram channel. He deleted the post shortly after. The attack, if it was Ukraine, would be a significant escalation in Ukraine’s attacks on Russian territory. The drone strike follows a string of attacks on Russian freight lines, military depots, and other targets, most of which have gone unaddressed by Ukraine’s government.
New York Bans Gas Stoves In Most New Buildings
New York has <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/05/03/ny-first-state-to-pass-gas-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">officially become the first state</a> in the nation to ban natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups in most new buildings. 
On Tuesday evening, the New York Senate and Assembly voted to approve the $229 billion dollar state budget which contained the provision. There are exceptions, such as some commercial and industrial buildings including hospitals, laundromats, restaurants, and more. Governor Hochul called the move necessary, comparing the transition to the move away from coal as a primary energy source. Meanwhile, Republican State Senator Thomas O&#8217;Mara criticized the move, saying the electrical grid isn’t equipped for the transition.
Olympian Dead:
American <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-olympic-champion-sprinter-tori-bowie-dies-at-32" target="_blank" rel="noopener">track and field star Tori Bowie</a>, a three-time Olympic medalist and a two-time world champion in track and field, has died. She was 32 years old.  No cause of death has been given.
Texas Authorities Arrested Accused Illegal Alien Killer&#8217;s Wife:
Authorities have now arrested the wife of the illegal immigrant accused of killing five people, including a 9-year-old, last week in Cleveland, Texas. Police say the shooting suspect is a Mexican national illegally in the country after having been deported several times. Tim Kean, chief deputy with the San Jacinto County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://abc7ny.com/francisco-oropesa-arrested-cleveland-texas-mass-shooting-divimara-lamar-nava-shooter/13207789/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters, &#8220;Anybody that helped this maniac definitely has some kind of issues as far as I&#8217;m concerned.&#8221;
Brazilian Police Seach Home Of Former President:
Brazil’s Federal Police <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazilian-police-search-home-of-ex-president-bolsonaro-in-vaccine-probe-42bc4e1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">searched</a> the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro and seized his phone as part of an investigation into alleged counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards. According to a police statement, the investigation focused on whether cards held by Bolsonaro and his family members were altered in order to comply with U.S. vaccine mandates for travelers coming from outside the country. 
Fed Hikes Rates:
The federal reserve <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-reserve-unveils-quarter-point-target-interest-rate-hike-as-banking-system-reels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Wednesday that it raised interest rates for the 10th time in a little more than 12 months. The quarter-point hike brings the Fed’s interest rate to between 5 and 5.25 percent. 
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Wednesday

Wednesday Afternoon Update: Atlanta Shooting, Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Assassination Attempt, Olympian Dead At 32

Brazil

Federal Reserve

Gas stoves

Illegal Immigration

Jair Bolsonaro

Kathy Hochul

New York

Olympics

Russia

A suspect is still at large after a shooting rocked midtown <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/atlanta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlanta, Georgia</a>, on Wednesday — when a man opened fire at a medical facility, leaving one dead and several others injured.
The suspect has been identified as Coast Guard veteran Deion Patterson, who <a href="https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta-police-investigating-active-shooter-incident-midtown/HFIIPRLDQNCVRLLVGRZCPXO6LE/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> enlisted in 2018 and served as an Electrician’s Mate Second Class and was discharged from active duty in January of this year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Update as of 1:30p &#8211; There have been no additional shots fired since the initial incident unfolded. We are currently aware of 4 shooting victims related to this situation. (1/3)
&mdash; Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) <a href="https://twitter.com/Atlanta_Police/status/1653814571797295123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/atlanta-midtown-shooting/h_a08b17d5cea2c63637e522653b48fb33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Patterson was visiting the medical facility with his mother when he became agitated and then opened fire, injuring five women ranging in age from 25 to 71. One woman, aged 39, has died from her injuries. None of the victims have been identified.
According to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, the suspect&#8217;s mother was not among those injured in the shooting and she has been cooperating with law enforcement. Schierbaum also noted during a Wednesday afternoon press conference that the suspect had previous but &#8220;limited&#8221; contact with law enforcement in the past.
During and immediately after the shooting, Atlanta Police asked people in the immediate area to shelter in place as they attempted to apprehend the suspect — but as police were first arriving on the scene, he carjacked a vehicle and fled the area. Officials are not aware of any further shots fired since he fled the scene, but have continued to search the area for additional victims.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Based on our preliminary investigation, these are photos believed to be of the active shooter. Anyone with any information on this person&#39;s whereabouts is asked to call 911. The suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached. (3/3)
&mdash; Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) <a href="https://twitter.com/Atlanta_Police/status/1653814574565531649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Police have urged anyone who might have information leading to the suspect&#8217;s apprehension to call 911. &#8220;The suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached,&#8221; they added.

US-VIOLENCE-CRIME

Suspect Still At Large After Atlanta Shooting, Identified As Coast Guard Veteran

Shooting

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