US: Warriors, Families, and Avengers Assemble at Marvel Universe Live

Army National Guard veteran Jason Bowden and his family gather during Marvel Universe Live

Injured veterans and their families immersed themselves into the wild live-action world of Marvel comic book heroes during a recent Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) event. When warriors and their families come together, that's when the healing happens.

"My son loves everything Marvel," said Army National Guard veteran Jason Bowden. "He and the other kids at the event were thoroughly entertained with the Marvel heroes and villains, and I enjoyed being with fellow warriors and my family. Being a warrior is a great honor for me."

This energetic experience brought warriors and their families face-to-face with Spider-Man, Black Panther, the Hulk, and Captain America — all on one stage, where they used their powers in an epic quest to defend the universe from evil.

WWP program gatherings offer settings that provide opportunities for injured veterans to form bonds with one another, their families, and their communities.

"I took my son and invited my twin sister and niece," said Army National Guard veteran Sonya Merkman. "We thought the character actors did a great job. My son and I were glad to see our favorite hero, the Hulk." 

Socializing with other veterans helps warriors connect with the support network they need to overcome the challenges they face. In a WWP survey (www.woundedwarriorproject.org/survey) of the wounded warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.6 percent) expressed they talk with fellow veterans to address their mental health issues.

"Wounded Warrior Project, to me, means support," Sonya said. "This is an organization that my boyfriend, who is also a warrior, and I are grateful for. It allows families to get involved in relaxing and stress-reducing activities."

Wounded Warrior Project is recognizing 15 years of impactful programs and services. Independence Program helps seriously injured warriors live more meaningful lives. (PRNewsfoto/Wounded Warrior Project)

About Wounded Warrior Project:

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. 

⏩ Learn more about opportunities for warriors to connect with each other and their communities at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/alumni.

SOURCE: Wounded Warrior Project

More Related Wounded Warrior Project Stories:

• One Wounded Warrior Project's Supporter Recently Wrote A Song To Raise Support & Awareness For It 
• French Holocaust Survivor Donates $500,000 to Aid American Wounded Veterans 
• #PokemonGo Trainer Travels Across America to Catch 'Em All for Wounded Warrior Project 
• US: Injured Veterans and Families Enjoy North Pole Christmas

The LGBT Israel Task Force and Creator of Eurovision's Winning Song "Toy" Fight For The Israeli LGBT Community and Present: "Waiting In Youtube's Antechamber"

Doron Medalie hosts Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit - two well-known filmmakers in the LGBT community - and authors of the new ‘Haneshef’ movie starring trans model and actress Stav Strashko.

The LGBT Israel Task Force ('The Aguda') and renowned Israeli composer and song writer Doron Medalie are launching together with Google a very unusual YouTube experience. 

This experience will effectively turn pre-roll ads into a waiting room where people wanting to listen to one of Medalie's many hits will have to patiently wait, while listening to a series of interviews. 

But with Medalie's songs figuring in most Israelis' playlists, the LGBT Israel Task Force have essentially hacked the medium and ensured their message is heard through YouTube. 

With close to 50 musical hits, the campaign has not gone unnoticed and to boot, Medalie has tailored every pre-roll's opening statement to suit the title of the song chosen and kick off the discussion of LGBT rights from a different angle. So if the song chosen was 'Aba' (which means Dad in Hebrew), the pre-roll's opening statement related to the fact the LGBT community in Israel is barred from adopting or using a surrogate to become a parent. If the song chosen was "Heaven" – the opening statement alludes the fact that Spain is gay heaven, as gays are allowed to marry there, but not in Israel.

The YouTube virtual waiting room is in fact a two and a half hour long pre-roll ad that will be activated every time someone plays one of Medalie's songs. This will be a waiting room where viewers will be invited to join Medalie, as he talks to friends and guests about the subject of LGBT rights until they are granted to them by law.

Among the guests hosted in Medalie's antechamber are some of the country's leading music stars like Noa Kirl, Eliad Nahum, Stephan, Nikki Goldstein, Gal Ochovsky and many other artists and celebrities, as well as representatives of the various bodies that are taking part in the LGBT community's struggle. 

This includes the members of the parents of gay children organization 'Tehila', youngsters belonging to 'IGY' (The Israeli Gay Youth organization) and other people; homosexuals, lesbians, transgenders and activists, who are outraged by the injustice and current state of affairs. 

To truly understand the extent of this campaign and its pervasiveness, it must be taken into account that Medalie is one of the country's most prolific song writers. According to Israeli music copyright organization 'Acum', it is estimated that in 2018, no less than 10 hit songs written and composed by Doron Medalie are played at any given wedding in Israel. Songs like "Tel Aviv", "Revolution of Joy," "Just Want to Dance," "Caramel," "Golden Boy" (Eurovision 2016), "Melted from You", "Tikritas", "I Built on You", "Wai Li", "Bereshit Olam" and more. 

The pre-rolls which play before any of Medalie's hit songs are meant to illustrate the irony in the fact that while Medalie's songs are used to celebrate weddings, he himself can only be a guest at those weddings, as gays do not have the right to marry in Israel.

Doron Medalie is a well-known music composer and song writer and an active, outspoken member of the LGBT community. This is a community for which he has actively campaigned by promoting a message of equality and love in Israeli society. 

And while until recently, Medalie was essentially a well-known figure within the confines of the Israeli borders, he broke onto the International scene and the public's consciousness this year as the composer and writer of Neta Barzilai's winning song - TOY – which took home the first prize at the much acclaimed Eurovision Song Contest.

Now Medalie is harnessing the extensive press coverage he received to further the rights of Israeli homosexuals, lesbians and trans-genders and make sure the Israeli Parliament grants them equal rights by law – a fight that touches him and many of his friends on a very personal level.  

This is a struggle which he has been walking for the past two years with the BBR Saatchi & Saatchi advertising agency, that has shouldered his efforts by working together with him on a variety of projects including last month's #Proudstrikers project – a one-day nationwide strike urging the LGBT community to stay away from work and demand their equal rights. A point he is now trying to drive home even further.

When asked why he is doing this, Medalie says "The time has come to put things on the table and call a spade a spade: I am Doron Medalie, a homosexual and a second-class citizen in the State of Israel. For the past 20 years, I have been working behind the scenes to promote culture and further the status of artists in Israel – as a law abiding, tax paying citizen should. But here is where the absurdity of it all lies: I, in fact, fall in the highest tax paying bracket in Israel. That means that hundreds of thousands of shekels that I earn, go towards funding segments of the population, whose representatives do everything in their power so that I remain a second-class citizen, voting against laws designed to equalize my status."

"Over the past two years, I have had long brainstorming sessions with the BBR Saatchi & Saatchi advertising agency, who generously volunteered to accompany me on my journey," says Medalie. "One of those sessions generated the #Proudstrikers idea which saw over 100,000 people take to the streets in protest, but more importantly pushed Israeli decision makers to take a stand and decide on which side of this issue they want to be.

The brands and companies that joined in the protest last month moved me very much, but it will be more significant to see how much effort and thought they put into caring for their LGBT employees once the issue has moved out of the newspaper headlines. On a personal level, I felt it was my duty to contribute to the LGBT struggle by creating a personal protest campaign, because I have the tools to do that in a way that cannot be ignored. So in the next few days, I'm taking over YouTube. Every time you look for one of the songs I've written or listen to a playlist that has one of my songs in it, an ad will appear and you'll see me talking. Instead of skipping the 'pre roll ad' viewers will be invited to listen. Because what we created is not an ad – but material designed to make you think, act and hopefully also contribute by signing our petition."

⏩ Click here to see the dedicated website and sign the petition ⏪

About Doron Medalie:

Doron Medalie is an Israeli songwriter, composer and artistic director. His song "Toy" won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018. 

A graduate of the School of Music, Habima National Theatre and Alon high-school for the performing arts, he is one of Israel's most successful hit-makers.  

Doron has written over 250 songs, ballads, Middle Eastern pop songs, children songs, soundtracks and theme songs for TV for some of Israel's most prominent artists and shows. 

⏩ As an outspoken gay man, Medalie is a well-known activist for Israeli LGBT rights.  

To learn more, he can be found on Facebook or his body of work is available on YouTube.

About The Aguda:

The Aguda - Israel's LGBT Task Force was founded in 1975 as a non-profit organization for the LGBT community. 

Since its establishment the Aguda has striven to improve the LGBT community's standing in Israel to achieve equal rights, and security. 

The Aguda works in partnership with all the LGBT organizations in Israel. 

To learn more about The Aguda, visit www.lgbt.org.il/english 

SOURCE: The LGBT Israel Task Force (‘The Aguda’) and Doron Medalie

The Pre Roll Intro Video:

Audiences Love The Anger: Alex Jones, Or Someone Like Him, Will Be Back

Alex Jones speaks during a rally for candidate Donald Trump near the Republican National Convention in July 2016. (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

Confrontational characters spouting conspiracy theories and promoting fringe ideas have been with us since the invention of American broadcasting. First on radio, then on television, the American audience has consistently proven eager to consume the rants of angry and bitter men.

Before Alex Jones and InfoWars, there was Glenn Beck.

A decade ago, Beck was hawking his conspiracy theories on HLN and Fox News. Beck eventually left HLN and lost the Fox News job, just as the inflammatory Morton Downey Jr. lost his lucrative syndicated broadcast decades earlier.

And before Morton Downey Jr., there was Joe Pyne, the war hero who eventually ended up railing against “hippies, homosexuals and feminists” on the airwaves in the 1960s.

Before Pyne, there was Father Coughlin, “the radio priest.” Coughlin was eased off CBS in the 1930s when he refused to allow the network to vet his inflammatory commentary.

You get the idea. Alex Jones is not unique. Nor do I believe, as a historian of American media, that he will be the last of his kind.

Father Charles E. Coughlin broadcasts in Royal Oak, Michigan, in 1936. (AP photo)

Public airwaves in private hands 

Earlier this week, Jones’ InfoWars content was banned by Apple, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify and other web content distributors. It apparently violated policies against hate speech and inciting violence.
Whether you agree or disagree with the decision to constrict the reach of Jones’ toxic InfoWars videos, the upholding of these speech policies by commercial corporations represents a thorny historical issue in existence since the inception of broadcasting in the U.S.

Traditionally, it’s not been state censorship that’s cleansed American public debate. Rather, since the advent of electronic communication, commercial corporations have often acted out of fear of reprisal - from both the government and the public.

The U.S. regulatory system for broadcasting began in 1912, when the Commerce Department assumed an administrative role that up until then had been haphazardly applied by different governmental agencies.

That system lasted until it was struck down by a U.S. federal court ruling in 1926, which resulted in Congress establishing the the Federal Radio Commission the next year and its successor, the Federal Communications Commission in 1934. Each regulatory entity generally ceded supervision of broadcast content to independent, commercial entities acting as licensees of the airwaves.

This means the U.S. government has entrusted, and continues to entrust, private corporations with structuring public debate and discussion. Regulators are empowered to act but rarely do because the expectation that independent outlets remain responsible and civic-minded is deeply ingrained in the American system.

Screenshot from InfoWars website, August 6, 2018. (InfoWars)

The web is governed by different protocols than broadcast media. The web was invented to share information widely and open up new spaces for community interaction, exchange and engagement that the old mass media made difficult (if not impossible).

The web’s inventors saw their role in contrast to broadcast media: as facilitating rather than censoring. The regulatory system that specifically indemnifies and protects them from content posted under their banners is a recognition of this status.

So, despite this new, open, democratic and accessible ideal of the web – the opposite of corporate-owned traditional broadcast media – the fact that mass web access to the American public remains largely controlled by corporate gatekeepers such as Facebook and Google may seem surprising.

Yet history, in the guise of Alex Jones and InfoWars, seems to have cast these social media and search engine giants into a more traditional role.

Google and Facebook might not want to police the marketplace of ideas, but it appears that they have little choice at this point. The creation they spawned is now littered with crackpots and conspiracy theorists, and it’s been exploited by a foreign government to damage the American political system.

But strong believers in the unfettered exchange of ideas as embodied by the First Amendment can take comfort in knowing the moves to limit peddlers of hate and lies like InfoWars won’t actually change much. There will be another Alex Jones in existence eventually.

It’s the American way.

From self-invention to crazy 

When Richard Hofstadter, the noted American historian, published “The Paranoid Style in American Politics,” he identified a timeless and universal problem inherent in American political discourse.
Freakish conspiracy beliefs have continually given rise to such movements as the Know Nothings in the 1850s and the John Birch Society in the 1950s. Long before Hofstadter, Alexis de Tocqueville noted that a particularly American insecurity sprung from the ideology of democratic equality.

A 1955 flyer alleging water fluoridation was a communist plot. (Wikipedia)

In societies where everyone knows their place – say, in the caste system of India or the traditional aristocratic hierarchies of Europe – the lack of personal opportunity and social mobility often creates apathy and acquiescence.

But in the United States, where everyone is officially born equal, we are supposedly empowered to make of ourselves what we will.

Whether it’s unscientific anti-vaccination theories, anti-Semitic rantings, or baldfaced scientific racism, anybody can be an “expert” in America simply by proclaiming their expertise.

Though this expertise might be assisted by celebrity, it’s in no way beholden to education or class. That’s the American way.

Failure begets conspiracy thinking 

The Alex Joneses, Glenn Becks and Father Coughlins in our media world represent fissures in our dominant ideology of success. When the American Dream isn’t working out well, scapegoats must be found.
And a large audience of disappointed people looking for excuses will always exist. Their civics textbooks and teachers taught them that hard work, diligence, obedience to authority and responsible living inevitably results in economic prosperity.

But it often doesn’t work out that way. They feel lied to, and InfoWars exists to confirm their suspicions.

Because there will always exist a rabble to be aroused, this is the space that rabble-rousers historically exploit.

They speak to – and claim to speak for – not simply the downtrodden and downwardly-mobile; they also speak to those feeling wronged and forgotten. They simultaneously soothe and stoke the anxieties and insecurities of Americans living in a world that’s increasingly complex and beyond comprehension. Author Julia Belluz interviewed Jones’ fans and wrote, “I learned that Jones’s listeners felt let down by government, medicine and the media.”

People turn to Alex Jones and Glenn Beck for the same reason they tuned in the earlier incarnations – to obtain answers that explain their experience.

That’s a rational choice that sadly often results in an irrational outcome. The conspiracy theorists are always very good at giving details, but they tend to be far less effective at imparting information and knowledge.

Alex Jones promotes InfoWars as educational, but its pedagogical function resembles nothing so much as Trump University, which was sued by New York state for “… making false promises to convince people to spend tens of thousands of dollars … for lessons they never got.” Trump settled that suit.

Whether Jones believes his theories or not – and there exists some question about this – InfoWars looks like little more than a classic American con job. Even Alex Jones’ attorneys have argued that “no reasonable person” could believe what he says.

That’s ultimately why Jones is just a symptom.

Conspiracies are interwoven into the fabric of our national culture, and, as Jesse Walker pointed out in “United States of Paranoia,” they are so cyclical and persistent as to be thematically detectable across centuries. As long as insecurity and anxiety can be exploited, there will be new versions of InfoWars to pollute our nation.

How’s that for a conspiracy theory?

About Today's Contributor:
Michael J. Socolow, Associate Professor, Communication and Journalism, University of Maine

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

Super LTD Acquires ACTIVE MEASURES - A Film That Reveals Putin's Long Game With Trump

Active Measures Key Art

Super LTD recently announced it has acquired ACTIVE MEASURES, a film from director Jack Bryan that details a decades long connection between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, including shocking new reporting on Trump's dealings with Russian mob figures, and expert analysis on the largest and most effectively executed espionage operation in history—Russia's meddling in the 2016 US Presidential Election. 

The film made its world premiere at this year's Hot Docs, and will be released on August 31, day and date with exclusive theatrical engagements in New York and Los Angeles and on digital platforms.

In ACTIVE MEASURES, Bryan exposes a 30-year history of covert political warfare devised by Vladmir Putin to disrupt, influence, and ultimately control world events, democratic nations through cyber attacks, propaganda campaigns, and corruption. 

In the process, the filmmakers follow a trail of money, real estate, mob connections, and on the record confessions to expose an insidious plot that leads directly back to The White House. 

Unravelling the true depth and scope of "the Russia story," as we have come to know it, it is a jarring reminder that some conspiracies hide in plain sight. 

ACTIVE MEASURES is essential viewing in today's world.

⏩ The film features original interviews with experts on Russia and Putin, including: Senator John McCain, Hillary Clinton, former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Steven Hall (former CIA Chief of Russia Operations), author Michael Isikoff, John Podesta (Chair, Hillary for America, Founder, Center for American Progress), Jeremy Bash (former CIA Chief of Staff and Pentagon Chief of Staff), James Woolsey (former CIA director), Evan McMullin (2016 Presidential candidate), and many more. 

Produced by Shooting Films' Bryan, Laura DuBois, and Marley Clements, ACTIVE MEASURES was co-written by Bryan and Clements.

"When we embarked on this project we thought we'd find a scandal but what we uncovered was the greatest threat to democracy in almost a century. It is impossible to understand what is happening today unless you know how it started and why. Once you do the news becomes terrifyingly predictable," said director Jack Bryan.

➤ "Active Measures" is a Soviet term for the actions of political warfare conducted by the Soviet and Russian security services to influence the course of world events, in addition to collecting intelligence and producing "a politically correct" assessment of it.

SOURCE: Super LTD

The Trailer:

Bonus Video:

Horror Is Back In The Hood! "Tales From The Hood 2" Will Be Available On Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital And On Demand In October

From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Tales from the Hood 2

Starring Keith David ("Community," The Nice Guys), Tales from the Hood 2 introduces the audience to four new dreadful short tales, that follow the original film's cult classic roots. 

Sparked with both humor and terror, this brand new movie is filled with even more gritty social commentary and cultural subtext that will provoke and haunt viewers, while putting them on the edge of their seats.

Horror is back in the hood! The sequel to the groundbreaking original film Tales from the Hood reunites executive producer and Honorary Academy Award winner Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Malcom X) and writers/directors/producers Rusty Cundieff ("Chappelle's Show," "The Wanda Sykes Show")  and Darin Scott (Menace II Society, Caught Up) for an all-new gripping, horrifying and oftentimes devilishly comical anthology. 

Keith David stars as Mr. Simms to tell bloodcurdling stories about lust, greed, pride and politics through tales with demonic dolls, possessed psychics, vengeful vixens and historical ghosts. 

Mr. Simms's haunting stories will make you laugh...while you scream.

⏩Tales from the Hood 2 will make its world premiere at the 22nd edition of the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec on Friday, July 13.

"Tales from the Hood 2" (Still from the trailer)

Filmmakers:

Cast: Keith David, Bryan Batt, Lou Beatty Jr., Alexandria DeBerry, Bill Martin Williams, Martin Bradford, Kendrick Cross
Casting By: Tracy Kilpatrick
Music By: Frederik Wiedmann
Costume Designer: Jillian Ann Kreiner
Editors: John Quinn, Miriam L. Preissel
Production Designer: Christina E. Kim
Director of Photography: Keith L. Smith
Executive Producers: Spike Lee, Robert Aaronson
Produced By: Jim Steele, Rusty Cundieff, Elaine Dysinger, Darin Scott
Written By: Rusty Cundieff & Darin Scott
Directed By: Rusty Cundieff, Darin Scott

"Tales from the Hood 2" (Still from the trailer)

Technical Information Blu-ray:

Street Date: October 2, 2018
Copyright: 2018 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 63198852 (US) / 63198851 (CDN)
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes, 9 seconds
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.78:1 Widescreen
Rating: Rated R for language throughout, violence, disturbing images, and sexual references. 
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, German and Latin American Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Language/Subtitles: English SDH, Cantonese, Complex Mandarin, Dutch, French Canadian, German, Greek, Latin American Spanish

Technical Information DVD:
Street Date: October 2, 2018
Copyright: 2018 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 63197417 (US) / 63197420 (CDN)
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes, 16 seconds
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: Rated R for language throughout, violence, disturbing images, and sexual references.
Sound: English and Latin American Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Language/Subtitles: English SDH, Cantonese, Complex Mandarin, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish

SOURCE: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

The Trailer:

Northern Lights: A Journey Through Canada's History and a Must-See Summer Attraction on Parliament Hill

Northern Lights - Banner (Via Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill)

The opening performance of the fourth season of Northern Lights—the free bilingual sound and light show presented against the backdrop of the Peace Tower and the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings—will take place at 10 p.m. on July 9, 2018. 

Residents and visitors to Canada's Capital Region will be able to enjoy a unique sensory experience as they learn more about Canada's history and culture. Thirty minutes of spectacular effects and dazzling images will highlight the inspiring stories of the men and women who helped build our country.

The fourth season of the show will run from July 9 to September 3, 2018, with performances every night at 10 p.m. in July, 9:30 p.m. in August, and 9 p.m. in September. 

⏩ This perfect evening activity is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Quote:

"Every year, Northern Lights offers a memorable experience for residents and visitors to Canada's Capital Region. Parliament Hill is the ideal setting for this unique show, thanks to its history and what it represents. This summer, get together with family and friends to discover our country's history, and let yourself be transported by the magic of the show."

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Quick Facts:

• Northern Lights broke records last year, during the Canada 150 celebrations. More than 314,400 people saw the show in 2017.
• The show is expected to welcome its millionth visitor in its fourth season—a milestone that previous shows did not reach until their fifth season.
• For the 2018 show, the national anthem has been updated with the new, gender-neutral version of "O Canada."
• Manulife is the exclusive sponsor of Northern Lights.

⏩ Follow Northern Lights on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and with hashtag #NorthernLights.

Northern Lights (Via Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill)

More About Northern Lights: 

(Via Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill)

The show
Northern Lights is a free bilingual show presented nightly from July 9 to September 3, 2018. Show times: in July at 10:00 p.m., in August at 9:30 p.m., and in September at 9:00 p.m.

This experience of sound and light is a thrilling thematic journey through Canada’s history. Combining bold digital technology with the architectural splendour of the Parliament Buildings, the show illuminates Canadian stories of nation-building, partnership, discovery, valour, pride and vision at the heart of our country.

Audiences have been captivated by sound and light shows on Parliament Hill for more than 30 years.

Key figures, events and achievements from Canadian history are brought to life using five distinct artistic styles. All are presented in spectacular detail, with stirring narration and an original score, against the backdrop of the Centre Block and Peace Tower.

⏩ The narrative unfolds through five thematic “books”:

Book One: Foundations of the Nation. 
A fluid ink-in-water style is used to paint stories of how people from all over the world have expanded our foundations. From traditional indigenous ways of life and early European settlements to modern citizenship ceremonies, these stories are linked by our desire to call Canada “home”.

Book Two: Strength in Partnership.
Partnership and determination have made Canada strong. Using an illustration style inspired by classical paintings, this book explores alliances that have shaped our country.

Book Three: Discovery and Adventure.
A lithographic style takes us on a voyage showcasing the achievements of explorers, scientists and innovators whose quests into the unknown continue to inspire us to follow our dreams.

Book Four: Valour.
This powerful book combines dramatic performances with archival materials and charcoal drawings to honour the men and women who have served their country, both at home and abroad, in military conflicts since the First World War.

Book Five: Pride and Vision.
Inspired by the stained glass windows of the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower, this intensely colourful book celebrates the natural grandeur of our country and the diversity of her people.

⏩ For more info, visit Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage

Northern Lights – teaser:

More Related Videos:

CAIR Calls on GOP to Repudiate Trump's 'Aggressively Racist and Misogynistic' Rant in Montana

Donald Trump

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Republican Party leaders and elected officials to repudiate Donald Trump's "aggressively racist and misogynistic" rant at a rally last night in Montana.

⏩ In his speech, Trump repeated his use of the racist slur "Pocahontas" to target Sen. Elizabeth Warren, mocked the #MeToo movement and falsely claimed that an African-American congresswoman has a "low IQ."

Trump Unloads in Montana: President Mocks #Metoo, 'Low IQ' Maxine Watersand Elizabeth 'Pocahontas' Warren (Click here to watch the video)

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

"Republican Party leaders and elected officials should no longer ignore or excuseDonald Trump's aggressively racist, white supremacist and misogynistic views and policies. Instead, they must stand up for the integrity of their party and the unity of our nation by publicly repudiating an individual who does daily damage to his office and to America's founding principles.

Last night's hate rally in Montana was reminiscent of the dark days of the 1930s during which demagogues promoted hatred of minority groups to advance their own twisted political agendas.

As representatives of the party in control of all branches of the national government, it is up to GOP leaders to take a principled stance against the very dangerous and un-American views and policies championed by the current occupant of the White House."

CAIR has repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic, white supremacist and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.

The Washington-based civil rights organization recently applauded the decision by members of the United Nation's International Organization for Migration (IOM) to reject President Trump's nominee for the position of director general to lead the organization because of his history of Islamophobic statements.

CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

⏩ CAIR Calls for Removal of Anti-Muslim Hate Group Leader from White House National Security Council Staff 

⏩ CAIR Condemns Distribution of Anti-Semitic Pamphlets in Maryland as Symptom of 'Empowered' Bigotry 

Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2018 Civil Rights Report, "Targeted," which showed a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against American Muslims from 2016 to 2017, and a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in that same time period.

⏩ CAIR 2018 Civil Rights Report: Targeted 

SOURCE: Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

More Related Stories:

• CAIR Calls for FEC and IRS Probes of Anti-Muslim Ads Backed by Trump Supporter and Targeting Voters in Swing States
• Video: CAIR Responds to Donald Trump's Anti-Muslim Retweets
• CAIR Calls on Feds to Probe Call to Violence Against U.S. Muslims at N.C. Meeting of Hate Groups

Bonus Picture:
(Via Trumpton Facebook Page)

"Vlad? ... are we the bad guys? ..."

More Donald Trump Related Stories:

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