Category Archives: Freedom

As the cryptocurrency sector expands, institutions and governments around the world become more polarized regarding its assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), with one former politician heavily advocating for it.

Indeed, British broadcaster and former politician and once the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Nigel Farage, explained all the advantages that Bitcoin holds in his view at the Bitcoin Amsterdam conference in an interview streamed on October 13.

During the interview, the former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) called crypto an economic insurgency led by people who are worried about the sheer size of big government and they want to be free, independent, masters of their own destiny, so for me, its a perfectly natural place to be.

Comparing the idea of Bitcoin with Brexit in terms of opposition, Farage said that:

Any new idea will automatically face the opposition of the entire establishment because they own the settled status quo, theyre very comfortable, theyre doing nicely, they dont want anything to come along and disrupt.

In his words, he is a fan of Bitcoin because:

With Bitcoin, number one the technology has been proved to work and its getting better. Number two government cannot come near it, government cannot tell me what I can and cannot do with Bitcoin

As he added, in that sense, it is the ultimate freedom, and if we work cleverly with lawmakers () there is a chance we can actually get a sensible level of regulation.

With this in mind, Farage stressed the importance of lobbying and education on crypto as many people, lawmakers included, still dont know much about it other than they heard it might be a Ponzi scheme, as its painted out to be the Wild West, the haven of criminals all these negatives.

On the other hand, the CEO of banking giant JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Jamie Dimon, has recently blasted Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, equating them to none other than a Ponzi scheme, as Finbold reported.

His words echo those of a distinguished author, mathematical statistician, and the The Black Swan author Nassim Taleb and an associate member of the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford Robert McCauley, who both referred to Bitcoin as a Ponzi scheme.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin is trading at $18,716, down 2.30% on the day, as well as 7.14% across the previous seven days.

As things stand, the flagship digital assets market capitalization is currently $358.77 billion, as per CoinMarketCap data retrieved on October 13.

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Former MEP Nigel Farage dubs Bitcoin the 'ultimate freedom' as government can't get near it - Finbold - Finance in Bold

By Cynthia Peeples, Honesty for Ohio Education; Maria Bruno, Equality Ohio; andSean McCann, ACLU of Ohio

Across Ohio and the country, LGBTQ+ youth, particularly transgender and gender-nonconforming youth, are being used as pawns in a national extremist political agenda designed to weaponize race and identity in public education. We know from the Trevor Projects 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health that 45% of LGBTQ+ youth surveyed considered attempting suicide in the last year. That rate is significantly lower for those who live in affirming homes and communities.

Instead of pursuing affirming policies, certain elected officials exploit misunderstanding and even hatred of LGBTQ+ youth for their own gain. State legislatures, including Ohios, have catered their legislative agenda for right-wing extremists, and have introduced hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills over the last two years.

This trend continues at the Ohio State Board of Education, in the form of a resolution recently introduced by elected board member Brendan Shea of Madison County. If Sheas name sounds familiar, thats because he was the driving force behind the 2021 repeal of the Boards 2020 antiracism resolution, passed in the wake of George Floyds murder.

Shea is targeting already vulnerable kids to score political points. His resolution proposes express Board support for a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by Ohio Attorney General Yost and 21 other state attorneys general opposing requirements for recipients of federal funds for the free school meal program to adhere to anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Yesyou read that right. Supporters of this resolution would use school meals as a political pawn because they cannot accept the existence of transgender and gender-nonconforming students.

Sheas resolution would also direct the state superintendent of education to send a letter urging all Ohio school districts to ignore forthcoming guidance from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) that reiterates Title IX protections for LGBTQ people.

The resolution also asks the legislature to (1) provide stopgap funding to schools that subsequently lose funding because they do not comply with the guidance and (2) make the following changes to Ohio law:

Sheas resolution sets forth a number of false assertions about the nature of gender identity and the safety of gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care is evidenced-based, lifesaving care supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association.

It is important to note that the Board does not have the power to enforce this resolutionit is just political theater. However, we must acknowledge the immense harm these actions cause for LGBTQ+ youth by providing cover for districts to implement any of these harmful practices and ignore federal law.

During the September 20th board meeting, 61 people delivered in-person testimony, and 40+ submitted written comments. The vast majority were in opposition to the resolution, including, LGBTQ+ youth, loving parents and guardians of LGBTQ+ youth, education and medical professionals, civil rights advocates, and members of the faith community.

The resolution is scheduled for a vote during the Boards next monthly meeting on October 12. We strongly encourage Ohioans to oppose this resolution by showing up and speaking out for LGBTQ+ children at the October meeting, learn more at bit.ly/H4OE_SBOETitleIX. Additionally, five Board seats will be on the ballot this November. Together, we can elect State Board Members that support inclusive schools, listen to educators, and embrace ALL students, including and especially LGBTQ+ students.

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LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio are fighting for the freedom to exist - Ohio Capital Journal

SOUTH CHICAGO An exhibition centering artwork from youth in state detention facilities runs this weekend through the end of the year, providing incarcerated children a platform for their work while showing the value of creativity as a tool for restorative justice.

Can you see me? opens with a reception 5 p.m. Friday at the Weinberg/Newton Gallery, 688 N. Milwaukee Ave. in West Town. The exhibition centers large, collaborative paintings that created by young incarcerated artists.

The exhibition will expand to two other locations and include panel discussions and a film premiere in the coming weeks.

FREEDOM SPACE, a healing space created from objects and artworks that center Black girls play, opens Oct. 21 at Arts + Public Life, 301 E. Garfield Blvd. in Washington Park. The space was curated by Scheherazade Tillet and highlights the South Side Home Movie Project, alongside other creators.

Can you see me? Envisioning the Future, an exhibit of artworks by Southeast Side community members who work with youth and are directly impacted by incarceration, opens Oct. 28 at SkyARTs studios, 3026 E. 91st St. in South Chicago. The exhibit examines what is possible in a future that centers justice for youth.

A panel discussion on the effects of and alternatives to youth incarceration is Nov. 4. A conversation on the healing power of art is Nov. 11, and a talk about youth incarceration in the Americas will be held Nov. 17. All discussions begin 5:30 p.m. at the Weinberg/Newton Gallery.

Video artist Kirsten Leenaars and local restorative justice group Circles & Ciphers will premiere their feature-length film 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Weinberg/Newton Gallery, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

The youth whose work is central to the exhibition are kids and not criminals, co-curator Devon VanHouten-Maldonado said.

They reject the stigma that theyre unsalvageable, as theyre not only worthy of all the same attention and resources as more privileged kids who are not involved in the criminal justice system but they need more, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

Can you see me? grew out of SkyARTs Just-Us art therapy program, which serves young people at juvenile detention centers in Chicago and Warrenville and at the Manuel Saura shelter in Logan Square, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

Just-Us participants developed themes of freedom, flying, innocence and other aspirational ideas through discussion and collaboration, said VanHouten-Maldonado, who participates in the program every week as SkyARTs program director.

Even as the artists explore those aspirations, they depict them in complex, sometimes tragic ways that may not immediately click with people who have never been incarcerated, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

Can you see me? paints a nuanced portrait of youth in the criminal justice system a necessary concept in the contemporary art world, where patrons may not otherwise engage with the issues those youth face, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

The young artists creations are complemented by works from Ebony G. Patterson, Jim Duignan and Cheryl Pope, who center social justice in their practices, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

The work these incarcerated youth are creating is as valuable, as meaningful and as deep as the pieces created by their working artist collaborators, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

The multi-venue exhibition allows for two-way accessibility, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

The South and West side communities most impacted by incarceration have access to contemporary art through the Washington Park and South Chicago exhibits. Meanwhile, the West Town gallery brings lived experiences and structural issues from the criminal justice system into the art world, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

Exhibition organizers are working with the states corrections department to bring the incarcerated creators on a field trip to see the exhibit they started and inspired, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

Organizers also want to bring Can you see me? to other cities once it wraps at Arts + Public Life Dec. 16 and at SkyART and the Weinberg/Newton Gallery Dec. 17.

A traveling exhibit would engage more people around creating restorative justice systems for kids and give the young creators more chances to show their work as artists once theyre released from the system, VanHouten-Maldonado said.

For the amount we spend on incarcerating youth, we could put them through college, provide food and housing for their families and provide mental services, he said. If were investing in surrounding these youth with resources, well have much better outcomes than if were depriving them of resources. Deprivation leads to criminality.

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Incarcerated Youth Express Freedom, Justice, Innocence Through Art In Exhibition Opening This Weekend - Block Club Chicago

Saturday, October 29, 2022Lehigh Valley Corporate Center1525 Valley Center Pkwy,Bethlehem, PA 1801810 a.m. to 2 p.m.

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA. Join ASPIRE (a local human services non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals that have been, are currently being, and who are at high risk of being trafficked or exploited) and other sponsors for Freedom Fest. This one-day, family-friendly outdoor festival includes a 5K run/walk.

The 2022 Freedom Fest will offer music, food, educational resources, and more. Guest speakers will discuss survival and resilience.

Other invited guests includegovernment officials, regional human trafficking organizations, and other members of the recovery and mental health communities. This event unites social services organizations that work in physical and mental health, veteran support, and human trafficking in an environment that promotes and celebrates the grassroots, modern abolitionist movent in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Sponsorships and/or donations are tax-deductible; ASPIRE to Autonomy Inc is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation.

Funds raised go directly to supporting ASPIRE To Autonomys efforts, in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, including their Path To Autonomy Safe House/Emergency Shelter, Project Underground Railroad education and activation training series, and Community Intervention Services.

In addition, ASPIRE will also present their fourth annual Victory Through Service Award, presented by Univest Bank, to recognize and celebrate chosen organizations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery.

2022 VICTORY Through Service Awardrecipients are:

Lamont McClure Jr, County Executive, County of NorthamptonTatum Wilson, Chief Prosecutor, Northampton CountyCatharine Kessack, Executive Director, VAST Valley Against Sex Trafficking, Allentown, PAHayaj Jaquie Howells, St Lukes Parish Nurses, Allentown, PAEmily Perruso, Former ASPIRE to Autonomy Student Intern, Allentown PALehigh Dialog Center/ Chestnut Retreat Center

For more information, please visitwww.freedomfestlv.com

Information provided to TVL by:http://pathtoautonomy.org/

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Fourth Annual Freedom Fest 5k, a community event and run/walk for freedom from human trafficking, open to families on Oct. 29 - The Valley Ledger

Alison Zimmerman says a 2018 DUI completely changed the trajectory of her life.

She describes a program she went through afterward as incredible, adding that it opened her eyes to change her relationship with alcohol.

I feel like theres a lot of people out there that dont know they have a choice in the matter, Zimmerman said. For me and my addiction, I didnt know that it was possible to be clear.

Through the process, she found yoga and a community at Steamboats Out Here Yoga that helped inspire her to do further inquiry and look within and then to share those experiences with others. Zimmerman said that community and the variety of resources she found in Steamboat saved her.

Kristin Burge found the same community at Out Here Yoga before she even lived in Steamboat and tuned in to virtual sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burge moved to Steamboat last year and is now a therapist and licensed clinical social worker with Mind Springs Health locally.

When I moved here, I immediately got a bunch of inquiries from people at the studio, Burge said. It became clear to me that theres an openness in this community to seeking help and support and there is a real lack of clarity how to do that.

That led the pair to the idea of hosting an event at the studio and inviting anyone interested to join the community that each of them found so welcoming. On Friday, Oct. 14, Out Here Yoga will host that event and hopes to foster the idea that there is no right or wrong way to deal with addiction or mental health issues.

The more that we come together and share our experiences, the more it ripples out, the more confident we get in our own voices, with our own stories, Zimmerman said. Its not just us; there is a ton of us that ripple out from the impact this community has made.

The event, Freedom Out Here, is free and open to anyone who is sober curious, growth and transformation curious, or recovering or still healing, as well as their friends, family and allies. A flier for the event declares: It is for you.

Burge said knowing yoga is not required. The class that will start off the event is designed for all skill levels, and there will be people to demonstrate various modifications to poses so everyone can participate.

After the class, Burge said, there would be a sober happy hour and potluck followed by a series of speakers including Dr. Michael Barnes, chief clinical officer at the Foundry Treatment Center in Steamboat. Burge invited attendees to bring a chair if they want because the studio has limited seating and they often end up sitting on the floor.

Weve got meditation and speakers sharing their stories and their experiences with mental health and substance-use healing, Burge said. (Barnes) is going to come and share data about prevalence and some warning signs and some of the science behind how these diseases work.

Burge said people could come to as much or as little of the event as they want.

We heal in community; we make the decision to grow in community, she said. We learn whats possible through hearing others stories and sharing our stories with others.

Zimmerman said planning for the event has become a cool collaboration of local people passionate about mental health, recovery and reducing the stigma surrounding both. She and Burge both hope this event is just the beginning.

The more of these events there are, the better, Burge said. The day that it becomes super saturated and people are like, Theres too many healing events, thatll be a good day.

To reach Dylan Anderson, call 970-871-4247 or email danderson@SteamboatPilot.com.

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Freedom Out Here highlights a community for healing - Steamboat Pilot & Today

Designed to enhance the recruitment of graduate students committed to teaching, research, and mentorship around racial justice, UC Santa Barbaras Racial Justice Fellowship has begun in its second year, with a second impressive cohort of students.

Victoria Diaz (chemical engineering), Kaela Farisse (counseling, clinical, and school psychology), Humberto Flores (sociology), Nya Hayes (classics), Fabin Pavn (Chicana/o studies), and Kendall Rallins (feminist studies) are Graduate Divisions 2022 Racial Justice Fellows.

This years Racial Justice Fellows bring experience in and commitment to a wide variety of projects, said Interim Graduate Dean Leila J. Rupp. We are especially pleased with the diversity of fields they represent, from chemical engineering to classics. In so many different ways, these students will join last years cohort in enhancing and conveying knowledge about racial justice and providing social support to students from underrepresented communities.

Awardees say the fellowship funding provides not just motivation and support, but also the much-needed flexibility to pursue their research goals.

This fellowship means that I have more time and freedom to focus on the reasons I decided to pursue a Ph.D. to examine Black and Latinx mental health disparities through research and take more risks that can lead to better mental health outcomes, said Farrise, a licensed mental health therapist with a background in clinical work who will pursue her doctorate in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. It also indicated to me as a prospective student that studying issues of racial justice from a mental health perspective is meaningful to and supported by the university which was a huge driving factor for my decision to come to UC Santa Barbara.

New fellow Rallins, a doctoral student in feminist studies, had a similar experience.

Being awarded the Racial Justice Fellowship was just further confirmation that UC Santa Barbara was the place I needed to be, Rallins said. They showed me that they placed value in work like mine. To know that UCSB sees value in research that centers Black queer folks and wants to support my project and myself means everything.

The annual competition is open for nominations from all departments actively recruiting incoming students to graduate-level programs. We continue to be amazed at the brilliant cohort of scholars that are awarded the Racial Justice Fellowship, said Walter Boggan, Director of Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity Initiatives. The continued support and commitment from the Graduate Division and the deans from across all of our disciplines will maintain our efforts in recruiting the best and the brightest graduate student scholars from diverse backgrounds.

Launched last fall, the Racial Justice Fellowship Program is a collaboration supported by the Graduate Division and the deans of the Bren School; the College of Engineering; the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts; the Division of Social Sciences; the Division of Mathematical, Life, and Physical Science; and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.

Awardees receive an $8,000 summer stipend for the first three years of their program in addition to a five-year, fully-funded support offer.

It is a privilege to be distinguished as someone deserving of such an award because there are many odds against me as a Mexican and Native American female wanting to obtain a higher education in STEM, said Diaz, a masters student in chemical engineering who was a Sally Casanova Scholar during her undergraduate years at CSU Long Beach. I want to connect with other students through the mutual goal of creating a more diverse STEM community, promoting what a diverse collective can bring to the table.

A first-generation student, Humberto Flores completed his BA in sociology at UCLA and studied policing as a member of the Million Dollar Hoods project. The fellowship provides funding for Flores to travel from UC Santa Barbara to the Inland Empire each summer to pursue his graduate research as a doctoral student in sociology.

The Racial Justice Fellowship reaffirms my research on police illegitimacy in minoritized communities, he said. Being a Chicano first-generation college student drives me to become a strong agent of diversity in the academy. Additionally, conducting policy-oriented research that has the potential to reimagine public safety keeps me motivated to finish the Ph.D. program. As a member of UCSBs intellectual community, I am looking forward to working with the sociology departments trailblazing faculty and learning from my colleagues in the program.

Previous awardees were able to present their research to students, faculty and staff at the inaugural Racial Justice Symposium in May 2022, where the new cohort of fellows were among attendees.

Their work demonstrates the intertwined relationship between intellectual merit and the broader impact, something that all researchers strive for in their research programs, said Carlos Nash, director of graduate diversity programs. I am excited for our second cohort and eager to learn how their research will positively contribute to the lives of many in our society.

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Freedom to Focus | The UCSB Current - The UCSB Current

While stressing the importance of freedom, President Yoon Suk-yeols office inquired about the process by which a broadcasting company reported fake news regarding the so-called hot mic incident. Some have accused the inquiry of being a contradiction. While the opposition party was mainly behind the accusation, there have been a number of news outlets that seem to agree that the presidential offices inquiry is a form of government-issued press guidelines aimed at preventing criticisms of the ruling party and that this constitutes an act of suppression against the press. Citing press guidelines issued during Koreas military rule to criticize the Yoon administrations inquiry is highly inappropriate in a modern democratic society such as Korea and can only be considered a political ploy. In order to seriously examine this matter, two questions must be answered. The first question is whether the dissemination of fake news can be considered part of the freedom of the press. The other question is whether the presidential offices questionnaire to the broadcasting company is comparable to the previous administrations acts of suppression against the press.

First, the broadcasting companys reporting of the incident has aroused questions about its ability to report facts given that it failed to adhere to the due process required of news journalism.

The recording of Yoon does not accurately capture his voice, which is muddled by background noises and, therefore, difficult to decipher. As such, this was an incident that desperately needed a fact-checking process. When members of the press conduct reports involving the president that require a fact-check, they usually follow a common process of consultation with official channels such as the presidents spokesperson. In other words, there is a customary practice by the press to hold on to reports that require fact-checking by the presidents office and to report only if the official channels remain unresponsive or deny the report. Even then, the press is expected to relay the presidential offices official position or include in its report that a representative of the presidents office has declined to comment. One can still make the argument that a report may be published without confirmation by the presidents office if it serves the benefit of the public.

However, the broadcasting company first reported the incident by unilaterally determining that a specific word (Biden) was uttered by President Yoon and including that word in the subtitle even though the recording was inaudible. This reporting led to a serious situation where an unconfirmed piece of information became a fait accompli. As a result, this incident has now become a domestic political issue and has damaged Koreas international reputation. The broadcasting company went on to add the term United States in its subtitle even though the president did not mention the country. This is further evidence that leads us to speculate that the reporting was ill-intentioned from the very start.

Instead of adding unconfirmed subtitles, the broadcasting company should have included a question mark in order to afford its viewers room for interpretation. It should have included an additional explanation that the audio was inaudible. The broadcasting company failed to adhere to the customary due process of journalism and mislead its viewers to believe that Yoon had somehow criticized the United States. This type of reporting distorts the truth. In the end, it was an act of reporting that created fake news for political purposes. Can we then consider the propagation of fake news to be covered as part of freedom of the press? Just for reference, Yoon used the term Kuk-hoe, a term used by Koreans to refer to their National Assembly. If he had intended to refer to the United States legislative branches, he would have used the terms, Ui-hoe (U.S. Congress), Sang-won (Upper House), or Ha-won (Lower House).

The second question is whether the presidential offices inquiry into the dissemination of fake news is considered an act of suppression against the press even though the broadcasting company has no legal obligation to respond to it. If we want to look at acts of government suppression against the press, we need not look further than the past five years under the previous administration of Moon Jae-in.

Immediately following its inauguration, the Moon administration sought to dominate the board meeting of KBS, a public broadcasting service, by trying to overhaul the board members. To do so, it had to remove a board member recommended by the opposition party. This board member, Kang Kyu-hyung, went through a thorough review process, after which he was dismissed for a minor incident involving the use of a corporate card. No penalty was leveled against another board member, who faced a far bigger charge involving the inappropriate use of a corporate card. Kang then filed a lawsuit to nullify his dismissal from the KBS board. Even though he eventually won the lawsuit, the Moon administration was no longer in office and the Yoon administration now has to pay all of his litigation expenses using the national budget.

There are other examples. In September, prosecutors launched an investigation into the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) after the Board of Audit and Inspection raised suspicion that certain KCC review panel members deliberately gave a lower fairness score to TV Chosun during the license renewal process in 2020. KCC, an organization that is tasked with maintaining its independence and neutrality, lost sight of its mission, became an agent of the ruling government, and tried to close down a media outlet that did not succumb to power and authority. This is an act of suppression against the press.

Yoon has already explained that his statement was not referring to the U.S. Congress. If the broadcasting company in question is a normal, functioning media company, it should admit to its erroneous reporting and claim responsibility for disseminating fake news.

A democracy values its citizens freedom more than anything else. During his inauguration speech, Yoon stressed the value of freedom. Recently, he spoke about freedom and solidarity during a speech at the UN General Assembly. The creation and dissemination of fake news endanger such freedom and democracy. Anyone who argues that Yoon has contradicted himself on the values of freedom by raising questions about a certain media companys professional and journalistic integrity is ignoring the fact that this reporting was politically initiated rather than based on professional journalism.

Heeseok Yoon served as a spokesperson of PPP (Peoples Power Party) for a year and a spokesperson of the campaign headquarters of PPP for the 2022 Presidential Election. He received a masters degree in Business Administration from Indiana University and a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Seoul University.

Image: Reuters.

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Is the 'Hot Mic Incident' Really About Freedom of the Press? - The National Interest Online

There was no evidence of violence by Freedom Convoy organizers and supporters when they protested against federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa earlier this year, according to security reports from an internal department of Public Safety Canada.

In a security update dated Feb. 14the day the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Actthe public safety departments Government Operations Centre (GOC) characterized the Freedom Convoy protest as small, peaceful, and having little impact on federal operations.

Approximately 10 people on Parliament Hill and approximately 100 on the surrounding streets, reads the Feb. 14 daily security update from the GOC, obtained by Blacklocks Reporter.

No concerns at this time, said an assessment by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service included in the report.

The federal government proceeded to declare a state of emergency that day, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau depicting the truckers protest as illegal and dangerous at a relatedpress conference.

The Freedom Convoy movement began on Jan. 29 as a demonstration by truck drivers opposing the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border travel but grew exponentially as supporters from across the country joined in to call for an end to all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

Occupying streets, harassing people, breaking the lawthis is not a peaceful protest, Trudeau said on Feb. 14.

The invocation of the Emergencies Act granted the police extraordinary powers to clear out protesters from Ottawas downtown area and granted banks the power to freeze the accounts of convoy organizers and supporters without a court order.

Daily security updates by the GOCfrom the beginning of the protest to days before the escalated operations by police on Feb. 18at no time described the Ottawa protest as dangerous or violent. The GOCs statedrole is to lead and coordinate integrated federal response to all-hazard events of national interest.

The Freedom Convoy so far has been peaceful and cooperative with police, said a Jan. 27 report.

Other daily updates on the convoy protest obtained by Blacklocks Reporters include confirming: no major incidents (Jan. 29), no violence took place (Feb. 1), disruption to government activities is so far minor (Feb. 6), there are minimal people on Parliament Hill (Feb. 10) and situation remains stable and planning is ongoing (Feb. 11).

On Feb. 17, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told the House of Commons that the convoy protests were not about mandates or freedom.

Its about a very small, organized, and targeted group of individuals who are trying to strip away the very freedoms that we here have sworn to uphold, he said, adding that one of the reasons to invoke the act is to deal with an ideologically motivated operation.

The GOC memos contradict his claim.

Overall assessment: The majority of the events have been peaceful, wrote staff. Since most government employees are working remotely, the disruption to government activities is so far minor. There is currently no known end time for the demonstrations.

The memos also contracted claims by Liberal cabinet members who said the Freedom Convoy was funded by foreign actors to undermine Canadas democracy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has not observed any significant indicators of foreign state involvement related to the truckers convoy, said a report included in GOCs daily updates for Feb. 14.

An analysis of social media posts with regard to the convoy did not uncover any organized activity to subvert the countrys sovereignty.

A significant proportion of content and engagement online is still being driven by organic activity by average users, wrote staff.

No Chartier contributed to this report.

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Isaac Teo is an Epoch Times reporter based in Toronto.

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No Evidence of Violence, Threats From Freedom Convoy: Internal Gov. Reports - The Epoch Times

I will now make a statement in my capacity as Frances Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Secretary-General,Prime Minister,Ministers,Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with the deepest concern that I address this Security Council meeting devoted to Ukraine, and more specifically, the crimes committed there.

The war of aggression that Russia alone decided to wage against Ukraine, a sovereign state whose only mistake was its desire to exist in freedom, flagrantly violates the basic norms of our shared charter, the Charter of the United Nations. The non-use of force, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for other nations sovereignty and territorial integrity are principles that all of us around this Council table have all embraced. Each and every one of them has been openly violated.

The war that began on February 24 has been accompanied by abuses and the destruction of civilian targets. There must be accountability for the many violations of the rules of war and other acts. Unspeakable crimes have been committed in Bucha, Chernihiv and so many other places. The liberation of Izium led to the discovery of further atrocities carried out by torturers.So, Frances message today is simple: justice must be our shared priority. There will be no peace without justice.

Justice is obviously crucial for the victims, who are entitled to recognition and reparations for their suffering. For all of the suffering that each victim has experienced.

Justice is also an international security imperative, and I say this to all those who think that this war is simply yet another conflict. If everything is permitted here, that will hold true all the more elsewhere, making wars of aggression even more likely.And lastly, justice is a political imperative. We must ensure we will ensure that individuals are held accountable for their crimes, whether they committed them, ordered them or planned them. But it is the very idea that such crimes, such attacks on our shared humanity, are possible that we must fight with our words and actions.

A framework has been established for this purpose a professional, specialized judicial system. At its apex is the International Criminal Court. Forty-three nations including France have already referred this matter to the ICC. It is the first time that so many nations have done so, and it reflects the importance of what we collectively believe is at stake. As you know, the Court will work together with Ukrainian and other relevant judicial authorities, including those in France and in other countries represented here today.

In light of this, there must be justice. France is therefore working with many other partners to strengthen the ability of all of these judicial authorities to collect evidence and reliable information.

That is why France has taken concrete action. Last April, as soon as information surfaced about the crimes that were committed in Bucha, we sent two teams of investigators to Ukraine. Over the course of three months, they helped the Ukrainian judicial authorities to meticulously and patiently establish the facts. Additionally, we donated a mobile DNA-analysis laboratory. Now that the world has learned of the new atrocities committed in Izium, we have decided to send a new support mission to assist the investigators on the ground. Because where Russia employs disinformation and propaganda, justice must be grounded in facts.

Of course, our support extends to the International Criminal Court. This support takes the form of both funding and personnel, who have been made available to assist the ICC magistrates and investigators, with due deference for the courts independence.

Lastly, our support extends to all of the judicial authorities that need to cooperate effectively with one another. To this end, the Eurojust legal framework was amended under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in order to allow the International Criminal Court to take part in joint investigation teams that comprise judicial authorities from multiple countries, including Ukraine.

The actions we are taking have meaning. It is not only a matter of combating impunity but also defending the integrity of our international order.

The fact that Russia chose to go to war under false pretexts is deeply shocking, as is its gross manipulation of a concept as weighty as genocide, which constitutes the crime of crimes and which served as grounds for creating an international criminal justice system at the end of World War II. The International Criminal Court itself has pointed out the spuriousness of this false statement.

This same manipulation is at work when mention is made of referendums in territories that were taken by force and subjected to terror. This is likewise true in instances where certain individuals threaten us with the use of all possible means when we are the ones, alongside others, who refuse to take part in any form of escalation.

Faced with those who deprive words of their meaning, it is the mission, the obligation and the task of those of us seated around this Council table to restore the meaning of things.

I would like to conclude with a quote from a Russian author. We have to condemn publicly the very idea that some people have the right to repress others. In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future. When Solzhenitsyn wrote these lines, he was referring to the decades of crimes committed by the U.S.S.R. on its own territory. Unfortunately, not a word need be changed to describe the crimes that Russia is currently committing beyond its borders.

The ICC is investigating evidence that, according to its prosecutor, may be proof of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will learn of his conclusions later on, but today, what we can and must say is that those responsible will be found, charged and, ultimately, judged. The wait may seem long for the victims and their families but they should rest assured that the perpetrators will not go unpunished. We owe it to them. Not only do we owe it to them but our very security is at stake, as are the universal principles that bind us together.

Thank you very much. I will now resume my duties as the Council Chair and give the floor to his Excellency, Jonas Gahr Stre, the Prime Minister of Norway.

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"Ukraine's only mistake was its desire to exist in freedom" - France ONU

Following 20 years of delaysand red tape, the construction of the first state monument for African Americans is almost complete.

North Carolina Freedom Park is under constructionon a one-acre site on Lane Street, located between the state legislature and the governor's mansion. It is the first monument on or nearthe Capitol grounds to honor Black North Carolinians.

The centerpiece of the park, a 40-foot-tall metal structure dubbed the Beacon of Freedom, was installedthis week after traveling to Raleigh from Denver, Colorado,where it was built.

The beacon will stand at the intersection of five walkways, to be inscribed with quotes fromBlack North Carolinians who fought for freedom. Each night, a beam of light from the beacon will illuminatethe park.

The design is the work oflegendary late architect Phil Freelon, who also led the design team for theMuseum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. The park was one of Freelon's last designs before he died in 2019 from ALS.

NCFreedom Parkwas first conceived in 2002, but it took two decadesand a lot of fundraisingfor the $4 million project to become a reality. Construction finally began last year and is expected to be complete in the coming months. A grand opening is set for 2023.

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Follow Staff Writer Jasmine Gallup on Twitter or send an email to jgallup@indyweek.com.

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Construction on NC Freedom Park Wrapping Up - INDY Week