Category Archives: Freedom

In the wake of the overturn of Roe v. Wade by a vehemently anti-Democratic Supreme Court, publishers have reported higher sales of both front- and backlist titles about abortion and reproductive freedom.

Among the titles in high demand are Annie Ernauxs memoirHappening(which was recently adapted into an excellent film), Robin Martys The New Handbook for a Post-Roe America, Joshua Pragers The Family Roe(a biography of the Roe v. Wade plaintiff, Norma McCorvey), Lauren Rankins Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America, and Shelly Orias anthology I Know Whats Best for You: Stories on Reproductive Freedom.

Of course, not all publishers are interested in speaking directly about the atrocity that is the overturn of Roe Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp, for instance, decided to send a mealy-mouthed memo letting S&S staff know that the company would be giving away two ebooks books about, uh, finding common ground with those with whom you disagree (or, I guess, with those who want to force you to carry a pregnancy no matter the physical, psychological, or mortal consequences!):

Glad to hear that the CEO of one of the largest publishing companies in the world (and also the one that distributes the conspiracy mongering, Sandy Hook-denying books of Skyhorse) supports a pregnant persons right to choose one of two ebooks (free until 7/31) that will teach them to have a more civilized fucking discourse.

[h/t Publishers Weekly]

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Unsurprisingly, books about abortion and reproductive freedom are in high demand. - Literary Hub

George Michael performs on stage in Australia, March 1988.Photo: Michael Putland (Getty Images)

Theres the story a celebrity wants to you hear, and then theres the truth. Some moments in the new George Michael documentary Freedom: Uncut blur the line between the two, elevating the movie into momentary transcendence. Almost invariably, these moments come via Michaels own words. On his early career as the lead in the two-man boy band Wham!, Michael recalls: We were taking the piss out of ourselves half the time. How could the country be in love with these two idiots? On his ascendance to stardom that would find him standing shoulder-to-shoulder with titans of 80s pop like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince, Michael comments: If I was looking for happiness, this was the wrong road, but I dont think theres any way I couldve controlled my ego enough to have stopped me exploring the possibility of being the biggest-selling artist in the world. On his formative influences, Michael recalls owning records by the Supremes and Tom Jones as a child, and then admits with a chuckle that he essentially settled somewhere between the two in his career.

Michaels aptitude for talking about himself in vivid, pithy terms was part of his job description as a pop star. In a documentary that is presented with such gravity (HIS FINAL WORK reads its poster, and friend Kate Moss says in the films introduction that he had been working on it in the days leading up to his death on Christmas 2016), his words are a double-edged sword. They give Freedom: Uncut, which Michael co-directed alongside his childhood friend and lifelong confidant David Austin, momentary insight that exceeds your usual pop-star vanity doc, and they also make it clear that he deserved better than what is, in other moments, just another pop-star vanity doc.

Freedom: Uncut - Official Trailer

Freedom: Uncut is storied, a restoration of a directors cut that Austin had chopped up to fit on television when it originally aired in the U.K. in 2017, according to a recent New York Times piece. Included in the Uncut version, theTimes reported, are recently discovered outtakes from the Freedom 90 video and home-video footage of Michael and Anselmo Feleppa, his first boyfriend, who died of AIDS complications in March 1993, less than two years after Michael and he met. It was a wonderful six months, says Michael in Freedom of the brief period he knew Feleppa before his diagnosis and health downturn.

We see Michael and Feleppa spending time together (at one point, they pose with Harry of and the Hendersons fame), though we dont hear from Feleppa directly. Those that we do hear from are mostly stars who provide shine of their own. In the section of the movie devoted to Michaels relationship with Black music and embrace by Black audiences (the ballad One More Try from his blockbuster 1987 album Faith went to No. 1 on Billboards Black Singles Chart, as it was then known), Stevie Wonder makes a joke in reference to Michaels appeal and his own blindness: You mean George is white? Are you serious? Oh my God. Nile Rogers cries while listening to Michaels cover of Wonders They Wont Go, and Mark Ronson compares Freedom 90 to the Mona Lisa. Oasiss Liam Gallagher gushes about Michaels sophomore solo album, 1990s Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, and sums up Michaels Faith-era appeal in three words: Modern. Day. Elvis. On appearing in Michaels iconic Freedom 90 video, supermodel Linda Evangelista tells us that lip-syncing is hard.

Freedom! 90" clip from Freedom: Uncut.

According to the Times story, Freedom was devised as a complement to the 2004 BBC documentary A Different Story. Whereas that one focused on Michaels personal life, Freedom followed his musical life, which is why it barely addressed the decade before Michaels death. Theres no mention of his multiple arrests for traffic violations (including crashes and falling asleep at an intersection) in the 2000s, no mention of the boyfriends who came after Feleppa (Kenny Goss and Fadi Fawaz), no indication that he struggled with managing his sexuality while attempting to appeal to the masses (in particular, the girls and women that dominated his audience during his pop heartthrob 80s). The arc in Freedom finds him going from conforming to an image that could be sold to everyone to realizing that, Im not like other people at all. Thats all well and good, but it hardly gets under his skin. Freedom: Uncut is satisfied with rehashing Michaels public triumphs, and his perseverance in the face of setbacks (Feleppas death, losing a lawsuit against Sony in the early 90s, being outed after his arrest for indecent exposure in a Beverly Hills park bathroom). Its a nice reminder to anyone who paid attention and perhaps a decent primer for those who arent acquainted with Michaels work, but theres little new information or insight to behold.

For that, you could crack open James Gavins behemoth biography, George Michael: A Life, out next week. The 528-page book is about as definitive as these things get. It seems to spare no lurid detail, and has the feel of a deliciously unauthorized J. Randy Taraborrelli tell-all from the 80s. Tales of drugs (including cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, and, toward the end of Michaels life, GHB), sex, Aretha Franklin eating ribs out of his lap in the studio during the recording of I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), Michaels years-long feud with Boy George, and an aborted Daft Punk collaboration keep things moving at a tantalizing clip.

Gavins particular interest lies in Michaels private life, specifically how he dealt with being in the closet as one of the worlds biggest pop stars. According to Gavin, Michael started cruising for sex with men around the age of 16 and enlisted a line of beards to help keep his cover, including Kathy Jeung, who appeared as his love/sex interest in the video for I Want Your Sex. (For one birthday, Michael bought her a Toyotaher choicewith a license plate that read IWANTYOURSEX.) The rumors swirled around Michael as early as Wham!s signing with manager Simon Napier-Bell, who recalls that when the news hit the trade papers, At least four friends called me up and said, George is gay. I said, No, hes not. They said, Ive been in a toilet with him. Ive seen him in that club.

Michael, Gavin contends, wrote I Want Your Sex for a straight guy named Tony Garcia, a swarthy, curly-haired, handsome French playboy and occasional record producer with whom he had spent glamorous times in St.-Tropez and elsewhere. Michael was repeatedly asked about his sexuality in the press, including by 60 Minutes Australias Jeff McMullen, whose first question in an interview that aired in 1988 was, George, are you gay? Years before he was forced out of the closet, Michael refused to answer the question and indicated that he never would. After the 1998 bathroom incident, though, Michael became one of the few openly gay superstars. Few had been as protective of their queerness, and then as free with it as Michael. In very much the same way, few superstars addressed the topic of monogamy so explicitly (Michael writes EXPLORE and MONOGAMY on Jeungs body in lipstick during the Sex video) and then discussed living in non-monogamy with equal candor (He knows who I am, explained Michael regarding his open relationship with Goss).

The shocking 1988 interview with George Michael on his sexuality for 60 Minutes Australia.

Michael was sometimes winking from the closet (the strand of pearls affixed to the shoulder of his iconic leather jacket in the Faith video was there because I somehow wanted to make people understand that I wasnt stupid enough to think I was butch). In Freedom: Uncut he indicates that Older, his 1996 album that was dedicated to Feleppa and included gender-specific pronouns in love songs, was his soft announcement to the world about his sexuality: For anyone who had a clue about any kind of symbolism, I was coming out. But half out is still half in, and thats an awfully closed-mouthed way to discuss something that caused a considerable amount of concern and perhaps devastation. Gavins account makes the closet sound more like a prison. After his HIV diagnosis, Feleppa had returned to Brazil for medical care, and was admitted to a hospital after falling ill. He was expected, at least by Michael and his people, to recover. He didnt. Why Michael didnt rush to the side of his gravely ill partner was open to speculation. But had he gone, the possibility existed that his secret might have leaked out, especially if he were visiting Feleppa in the hospital, writes Gavin. Feleppa died and was swiftly buried. Michael missed the funeral.

Though the attempt at a 360-degree view of Michaels life is far more pronounced in Gavins book than Michaels movie, George Michael: A Life is nonetheless buoyed by Michaels words, which can read as charmingly self-effacing and otherwise remarkable in their self-awareness. Michael was a true pop scholar, much like Courtney Love or Lady Gaga (though they were more vocal about their self-education). Before the word poptimism was coined, Michael waved the flag for bubblegum: Somewhere along the way, pop lost all its respect. And I think I kind of stubbornly stick up for all of that, he told Rolling Stone. He admitted that theres not much that I write that doesnt stem from some other influence, going as far as to label I Want Your Sex a rather limp attempt to do a Prince. He was very good at soundbites. George Michael on sex workers: You dont pay an escort for sex. What you really pay an escort for is to leave after the sex. George Michael on his gay audience: Theyre only interested when youre in the closet. Once youre out, they dont give a toss. George Michael on motivation: Its the things that are missing that make you a star, its not the things that you have.

I Want Your Sex

Gavin revels in Michaels contradictions. From the closet, Michael wanted to titillate with sex and keep his secrets untouched, according to Gavin. During the Faith era, at the height of Michaels fame in the U.S., he was lonely and, according to Michael himself, The adulation from this huge, huge record put that loneliness into such stark contrast. Michael was generous with his money (Gavin estimates that by the time surrounding Michaels 2004 album Patience, the star had quietly donated 20 million) and also cheap (Friends talked of how he had employed the same housekeeper for over two decades and never given her a raise, writes Gavin, adding that his staff did not receive health insurance). He was ahead of his time, fighting his record label over a shitty contract that he signed under what he claimed was duress and certainly when he had much less knowledge of the business, and yet his allergy to self-promotion reads as quaint in a time when people perform it as a matter of course. I see hard-sell promotion as prostitution, Michael once said.

The Freedom doc, as it originally aired, contains a similar, albeit dubious, multivalence to Gavin: The star renowned for wanting his privacy had shown an almost pathological compulsion to explain himself, spelling out the what, how, and why of his every move, while assuring viewers of how happy he was.

George Michael checks his video camera on a railway station platform in Japan during the Japanese/Australian leg of his Faith World Tour in February 1988.Photo: Michael Putland (Getty Images)

Gavin is not so sure about that happiness. Michaels death was sad and its timingon Christmasmade it sadder. Its incredible poignancy was widely noted: At 53, Michael had died alone [in his room] at Christmas, while his 21-year-old voice was in the air all over England, singing wistfully of a broken heart, writes Gavin in reference to Wham!s enduring holiday chestnut, Last Christmas.

Now Im gonna get myself happy, Michael sang in the autobiographical Freedom 90, and he seemed to not just mean it, but to be taking steps to ensure it. But happiness seemed to elude Michael after losing Feleppa. More than 20 years later, as he was working on the Freedom: Uncut doc, he referred to Feleppa as Anselmo: such a beautiful companion, such an amazing person I was so proud that this was my destiny. After his death, his friend Elton John maintained that Michael never really accepted his sexuality. His press agent Michael Pagnotta said, I always felt that the last fifteen years or so of his life were about him trying to punish himself. George Michael: A Life suggests that making himself happy remained an unrealized ideal, hardly the fait accompli that his smile and ebullient pop would have you believe.

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George Michael and the High Price of Freedom - Jezebel

Join the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) and the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) along with banned author David Levithan, library professionals, authors, and friends for this 2022 Freedom to Read Celebration, Merritt Fund fundraiser, and reception. The organizations will honor the recipients of the FTRF Roll of Honor Award, John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award, and Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award.

Were excited to have author David Levithan launch the evening by sharing his remarks, and experience, with intellectual freedom and censorship. David is a childrens book editor and the author of several books for young adults, including Lambda Literary Award winner Two Boys Kissing; Nick & Norahs Infinite Playlist, Naomi and Elys No Kiss List, and Dash & Lilys Book of Dares (co-authored with Rachel Cohn); Will Grayson, Will Grayson (co-authored with John Green); and Every You, Every Me (with photographs from Jonathan Farmer). David was named the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for his contribution to YA literature. His newest book, Answers in the Pages, was released through Penguin Random House in May. This title has a timely topic as it addresses speaking up and coming out as parents lobby to ban a beloved book from the school curriculum.

The following 2022 intellectual freedom award recipients will be honored at the event.

Add the celebration to your Conference Scheduler.RSVP to attendEvent Date: Friday, June 24th at 7pm - 8:30pm ET.Location: Marriott Marquis, Univ of DC & Catholic UnivCost: Suggested Donation: $20.00 (checks and cash preferred) to benefit the Leroy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund (one free drink ticket included)

FTRF and IFRT wish to thank Penguin Random House for their generous sponsorship of the Freedom to Read Celebration.

About the Freedom to Read FoundationThe Freedom to Read Foundation has been working on behalf of librarians and others to protect the First Amendment for over 50 years. Because FTRF is a non-profit, the staff and trustees may also litigate on behalf of First Amendment issues, as well as educate and advocate. The FTRF board of trustees includes representatives from each of ALAs roundtables. This ensures that librarians representing all forms of library work can bring their voices and concerns to FTRF and carry back valuable information.

About the Intellectual Freedom Round TableThe Intellectual Freedom Round Table of the American Library Association provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians; serves as a channel of communications on intellectual freedom matters; promotes a greater opportunity for involvement among the members of the ALA in defense of intellectual freedom; and promotes a greater feeling of responsibility in the implementation of ALA policies on intellectual freedom.

About the Office for Intellectual FreedomEstablished December 1, 1967, the Office for Intellectual Freedom is charged with implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Associations basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. The goal of the office is to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

About the Merritt FundThe LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund was established in 1970 as a special trust in memory of Dr. LeRoy C. Merritt. It is devoted to the support, maintenance, medical care, and welfare of librarians who, in the Trustees opinion, are: Denied employment rights or discriminated against on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, age, disability, or place of national origin; or Denied employment rights because of defense of intellectual freedom; that is, threatened with loss of employment or discharged because of their stand for the cause of intellectual freedom, including promotion of freedom of the press, freedom of speech, the freedom of librarians to select items for their collections from all the worlds written and recorded information, and defense of privacy rights.

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Freedom to Read Celebration, Supporting the Merritt Fund, and Featuring Banned Author David Levithan - ala.org

Over the last five years, the current president of Angola, Joo Loureno, has held several unscripted press briefings. The last one was two hours of back and forth between Loureno andtwelve journalists.

While this seems typical for western countries, its almost unheard of in Angola, much less Africa. This, in part, is due to the 40-year rule of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which only recently allowed for a multiparty system and, therefore free press.

From 1979 to 2017, Jos Eduardo dos Santos was Angolas President, during which time the MPLA instituted a one-party state, andgovernment propagandawas rampant. Disinformation was so typical that even today, many Angolans dont trust the media. In a 2017studyby Afrobarometer, only 24% of respondents in Angola said they had a lot or some trust in the media.

This is likely because, for much of Angolan history, the media has been used as a mouthpiece for the government.

The MPLAs Angolan Radio and Television (RTA) was the only media outlet until 1992 when the government allowed a secondradiostation. This, however, was short-lived as the government soon revoked the stations license.

In the early 2000s, the government lifted a ban on private television stations but required them to be 60% Angolan-owned. This was seen as a way to maintain government control over the media. It wasnt until 2012 that a third radio station, Radio Despertar, was allowed to operate.

The governments monopoly on the media began to unravel in 2013 when a group of Angolan journalists created a website called Maka Angola. The website was dedicated to investigative journalism and quickly gained a following.

This was a turning point for the media in Angola as it showed that there was a demand for unbiased reporting, but it hasnt been without pain and controversy.

Under President Joo Loureno, there have been several contradictions in Angolas media landscape in the last five years.

Two journalists wereacquittedof defamation in 2018, encouraging journalists who had previously been in prison for their reporting. However, in 2021 two more journalists were reportedlychargedwith libel.

While President Loureno has been receptive to a more free press, this apparent contradiction could be influenced by the old guard of the MPLA, still holding some power and resistant to change.

And yet, there has been an increase in Angolas press freedom rankings. Angola wasranked121 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Today, Angola isranked 99 out of 180 by Reporters Without Borders.

While this is progress, Angola still has a long way to go before it can be considered a country with a truly free press. The governments monopoly on the media for so many years has created a culture of distrust and cynicism that will take time to change.

Currently, there are only a handful of private media outlets, and most are located in the capital, Luanda. This means that, while more voices are being heard, they are not necessarily representative of the entire country.

There is also a lack of media diversity. Business people own most outlets with ties to the government or the MPLA. This creates a conflict of interest as they are more likely to report favorably on the government to maintain their relationship.

The country will also need to develop the infrastructure and institutions needed to support a free press, such as lower barriers to entry like broadcasting fees, education, and access.

It is also worth noting that, while the government has taken steps to allow for a more free press, they are still very much in control. The media is still heavily regulated, and the government can revoke licenses anytime.

This was made clear in 2020 when the government shut down Radio Despertar, one of the only independent radio stations in the country.

The station was known for its critical reporting and had been a thorn in the governments side for years. The closure of the station was a significant blow to press freedom in Angola.

Overall, Angola is making progress regarding press freedom, but there is still a long way to go. The governments monopoly on the media for so many years has created a culture of distrust and cynicism that will take time to change.

Angola will hold a presidential election this year, 2022, and it is widely expected that President Joo Loureno will win.

This is good news for the media as President Loureno has shown himself to be more receptive to the press. However, he must be willing to force change among the old guard of the MPLA, still influential, to realize an open democracy that values a truly free press.

This means that, while there may be some progress made on press freedom under President Loureno, it is likely to be slow and incremental.

The opposition, on the other hand, Adalberto Costa Junior, has been consistently vocal in his support for a free press. The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) has promised to end the governments monopoly on the media and create an environment where independent journalism can flourish.

However, it is worth noting that UNITA has been in power before and did not make good on its promises. They will have to prove that they are serious about press freedom if they want the people to believe them.

Angola holds excellent potential for hosting a free and independent press that can act as a watchdog on government corruption and human rights abuses and ensure a free and fair election this year.

The world will be watching how the Angolan government handles the press in the lead-up to the election, and it will be a good indicator of how committed they are to the future of a democracy that values a free press.

*Kristi Pelzel is an Policy Analyst, University Adjunct, and Consultant. She was a Former White House Correspondent for Today News Africa and U.N. Graduate Fellow focused on U.S.-Africa relations. She holds an M.A. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

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Angola Tries Out Freedom Of The Press, But Will They Go All In? Analysis - Eurasia Review

Enes Kanter Freedom: The NBA, in my opinion, is the most hypocritical organization out there. So we need to keep pushing the NBA to stand up for what is right. The NBA is a 100 percent American-made organization that the Chinese dictatorship runs. That is unacceptable. Someone, whether its the Senate or other politicians, needs to say enough is enough. And its not just the NBA. Chinese-controlled US institutions also include Hollywood and academia. Someone has to stop this.Source: OutKick

Burack: You are not on an NBA team right now. Is that because you speak out about human rights violations in China and Turkey? Enes Kanter Freedom:Let me give you a very easy stat, it is not rocket science: last year, I played for the Portland Trail Blazers and averaged a double-double. We made the playoffs. And they are telling me that six months later, I forgot how to play basketball? Even the kids on the streets will laugh at that notion. I believe I could start in many cases right now, but because the things I say are hurting the NBA financially, they wanted me out of the league. Its that simple. I just turned 30, and they are pushing me to retire. I can play another six or seven years easily. But unfortunately, with a league like this and with the players in it like this, it looks like its not possible. -via OutKick / June 17, 2022

Burack: If you had known that speaking out would have cost you your NBA career, would you have still done it? Enes Kanter Freedom:I would do this every time. No question. Why? While they are playing basketball right now, there is a genocide happening on the other side of the ocean. There are three to four million people in concentration camps who are tortured every day. And Uyghurs are not the only ones you see whats happening in places like Hong Kong, Tibet, Taiwan and Mongolians. So this is bigger than my next paycheck. Of course I would do it all over again. -via OutKick / June 17, 2022

While the Celtics and Warriors battle on the court in a tightly contested NBA Finals, the governors of California and Massachusetts have joined in on the action. In a tweet Wednesday, about a half hour before the tipoff of game three, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker promised California Gov. Gavin Newsom that the Celtics would claim the Larry OBrien Trophy this year. -via Boston Globe / June 9, 2022

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Enes Kanter Freedom: The NBA is a 100 percent American-made organization that the Chinese dictatorship runs - Yahoo Sports

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On this episode: Enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. More than 150 years later, Juneteenth - the name for the day they got the news - is finally recognized as afederal holiday.

But what does freedom mean to the Black community these days? After both so little and so much time?

In this episode of the "On the Line" podcast, host Cary Junior II takes a stroll through the history of Juneteenth, and asks the question: has freedom been attained?

Junior speaks with Kefentse Chike, professor of African American history at Wayne State University, and Detroit historian and journalist Ken Coleman to find answers.

He also hears from Miss Juneteenth, 6-year-old Robyn "Rosie" White who was crowned in 2021 at theannual Juneteenth in Detroit Family Day. Rosie, her mom, Kenya White, and otherDetroiters all weigh in on what Juneteenth and freedom mean to them.

"On The Line"is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts.

For more:

5-year-old Robyn 'Rosie' White to be crowned Miss Juneteenth 2021

Juneteenth celebrations in metro Detroit include films, food, music and shopping

Juneteenth becomes 13th Michigan court holiday

Fact check: Southern states used convict leasing to force Black people into unpaid labor

COVID-19 shined a light on racial health disparities. What comes next?

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'On The Line': For Black folks, what does freedom look like in 2022? - Detroit Free Press

Another busy weekend is coming up in southwest Minnesota, with community events celebrating freedom, flight, and lots of fun.

Events for Canbys Hat Daze and Lake Bentons Saddle Horse Holiday are kicking off today. The Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show, featuring World War II aircraft from the Pacific theater, is Saturday at the Granite Falls airport. And on Sunday, Marshall community members will be celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

Hat Daze/Fathers Day Air Show

A weekend of fun kicks off in Canby this afternoon, with a pork supper and kids events, followed by a full day of activities on Saturday. Canbys Hat Daze festival includes everything from a downtown sidewalk art gallery, to a fun run with inflatable obstacles, a parade and other family-friendly events.

On Sunday, the free Fathers Day Air Show will bring a variety of aerobatic and formation fliers to the Canby airport, said airport manager Matt Wagner.

Its a great family outing for Fathers Day, Wagner said. Over the past 16 years, he said, Weve had a very loyal following.

In addition to the air show, Wagner said there will be a performance by the Neon Gypsy band, and bounce houses for the kids. Some bounce houses will have a water feature, to help beat the heat forecast for Sunday, he said.

Lake Benton Saddle Horse Holiday

Trail riders will be returning to the Lake Benton area this weekend, but theres also lots to do even if you dont have a horse. Saddle Horse Holiday events start today, with the announcement of the Lake Benton Citizen of the Year, kids events, and a fireworks display at dusk.

Family fun events continue on Saturday, plus a 5K walk/run, a car cruise-in and more. A talent contest will be held at the Lake Benton Opera House on Saturday night, followed by a dance featuring Hicktown Mafia at the Lake Benton Fire Hall.

The Dakota-Minnesota Trail Ride will be held Sunday morning, followed by the 76th annual Saddle Horse Holiday Parade, and Dakota-Minnesota saddle horse riding events.

Ray Fagen Memorial

Air Show

Saturday will be a big day for fans of historic airplanes as the Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show starts at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum near Granite Falls. The theme for this years show is Pride of the Pacific, and the show will include former Navy aircraft from the Fagen Fightersas well as guest warbirds and air show performers Tora, Tora, Tora and Younkin Airshows.

The show begins at 3 p.m., but theres a lot more on the schedule, including a panel discussion featuring World War II veterans, and a parachute demonstration. Later in the evening, there will be a concert by Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry.

Juneteenth comes

to Marshall

Area residents are welcome to enjoy a day of food, music and community during Juneteenth celebrations at Independence Park Sunday.

Its going to be great, said Joyce Tofte, one of the organizers of Sundays event.

Juneteenth is also known as Black Freedom Day, Tofte said. Although the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the U.S. in 1863, it couldnt be enforced in parts of the country that were still under Confederate control. It wasnt until June 19, 1865, when troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to announce that enslaved Black people in the state were now free.

Traditionally, Juneteenth is the kind of holiday celebrated with food like barbecue, music and community get-togethers, Tofte said. We wanted to honor that, she said.

Juneteenth celebrations will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Independence Park. There will be food vendors, live music including a performance by Titambe West African Dance Ensemble of Minnesota, and a red velvet cake competition judged by Mainstay Cafe.

Were excited for the amount of partnership, with community members and businesses, she said.

Canby Hat Daze

Events at Central Park unless otherwise specified.

Friday

1 p.m. Lancer Open 9-hole golf scramble

3-6 p.m. Free bowling for kids at Lancer Lanes

4 p.m. Kids read aloud and art project

5-7 p.m. Pork supper

6 p.m. Kids pedal pull

Saturday

8 a.m. Disc golf tournament at Swimming Pool Park

8-10 a.m. Pancake and sausage breakfast at Canby Depot

9 a.m. Noon Independent Oil Hat Daze Golf Scramble

9 a.m. 1 p.m. Free gnome painting

9 a.m. Fun run with inflatables

9 a.m. Vendor fair at Central Park

10:30 a.m. Free movie showing of Clifford at Canby Theater

11 .m. Co-ed volleyball tournament

Noon Beanbag tournament at Heroes Sports Bar & Grill

3 p.m. Hat Daze Parade

4-6 p.m. Beef supper

5:30 p.m. Canby Fire Department water fights

9 p.m. 1 a.m. Uncle Chunk live band at Heroes Sports Bar & Grill

Sunday

Free Fathers Day Air Show at Canby airport. Pancakes and waffles will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Burger feed from 11-2. Airshow begins at 1 p.m.

Lake Benton Saddle Horse Holiday

Lake Benton Saddle Horse Holiday

Friday

11 a.m. 1 p.m. First Security Bank hot dog feed

11:30 a.m. 2022 Citizen of the Year and Organization of the Year presentation

1 p.m. Iron Man Jr. competition at School Park

2 p.m. Kids Party at School Park

5-7 p.m. American Legion baked chicken/pork chop fundraiser

6-9 p.m. Softball tournament

Fireworks display at dusk

Saturday

Softball tournament all day

8:30 a.m. Kids 1-mile walk/run at Hole-In-the-Mountain Park

9 a.m. 5K walk/run

9 a.m. Youth 3-on-3 basketball tournament

10 a.m. 1 p.m. Family Fun Day activities at School Park

12-3 p.m. Car Cruise-In at Lake Benton Resort

Noon Relay For Life beanbag tournament

1-3 p.m. Opera House ice cream social

2-3:30 p.m. Legion bingo

4-6:30 p.m. Live band, music by Rockin Woody at Lake Benton resort

7 p.m. Talent Contest at Lake Benton Opera House

9 p.m. Firemens dance featuring Hicktown Mafia

Sunday

10 a.m. Dakota-Minnesota trail ride

Noon Saddle Horse Holiday parade

1 p.m. Dakota-Minnesota Saddle Horse Events on Horse Hill, and kids saddle horse events

Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show

10:30 a.m. Gates open

12:30 p.m. WWII veterans panel discussion, featuring Navy ace Donald M. McPherson, P-38 pilot Jim Tyler, and Lt. Col. Huie Lamb, with moderator retired Brig. Gen. Edward McIlhenny.

1:55 p.m. 101 Airborne Reenactor Group parachute demonstration

2:05 p.m. Vehicle parade

2:25 p.m. Chord-Ayres choral group, presentation of colors, opening prayer

3 p.m. Air show begins

7 p.m. Concert featuring Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry. Night air show featuring Younkin Airshows after the concert.

Juneteenth celebrations

at Independence Park

10 a.m. 2 p.m. Food vendors and music, story walk

11 a.m. Red Velvet Cake competition

1 p.m. Story hour by the Marshall-Lyon County Library

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Freedom, flights and fun lined up this weekend - Marshall Independent

By McKell Park and Andrea Zapata

BYUs Religious Freedom Annual Review addressed attendees on multiple religious topics under this years theme of Living Peaceably: Religious Freedom as a Foundation for Civic Harmony on June 16 at the BYU Conference Center.

Keynote speakers and moderators included Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-say Saints, executive vice president of The New York Board of Rabbis Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, writer for The Atlantic Yair Rosenberg and associate director of the BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies Elizabeth A. Clark.

During the conference, panelists and keynote speakers talked on religious freedom and its importance today, as well as shared their experiences on coming from different backgrounds and religious upbringings.

Our hope is that you leave more empowered, more positive about the ways we can live as peacemakers, said Brett G. Scharffs, the director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies. Listen carefully and lean from people with whom you disagree, because we believe religious freedom can actually bring us together and it can become a foundation for civic harmony.

Building bridges with LGBTQ groups, religion and criminal justice

Panelists discussed how religious freedom unites people and how it can be used to give a sense of belonging to others. Speakers such as Long Island University professor Dalia Fahmy talked about the dangers of islamophobia and racial profiling and shared her personal experience dealing with it.

The Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen tailed about how she did not come out as gay until she was 40 years old and already had a full career as a member of the clergy. She emphasized how these two parts of her identity are compatible and said her hopes are to make the LGBTQ community feel welcome when it comes to religion.

It is not because I am clergy that I am passionate about religious freedom, it is because I am LGBTQ and an advocate for LGBT youth, the Rev. Edmonds-Allen said. I believe that religious freedom is the very best hope for the world and for people like me, who are LGBT.

In a breakout session, speakers including Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi of the Quorum of the Seventy, discussed the positive role of religion in criminal justice.

We are training churches to come outside of their four walls so that they can work with other organizations who are specialized on these topics, the Rev. Dr. Denise Strothers said. Just because we are spiritual leaders does not mean that we know how to deal with all issues.

The Rev. Strothers explained how there is a stigma among religious people around criminal justice, and how it needs to be stopped and replaced by understanding and willingness to having open conversations about it.

As people in the church, we can be come judgmental people because we dont understand what we dont know, Strothers said. The first thing you need to do is remove the stigma and the same, we encourage people to begin teaching on criminal justice to generate conversations.

Religious partnerships for stronger communities

In the concluding session of the conference, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles moderated a panel discussing the role of religious groups in society and how they can benefit communities.

The discussion was centered on two principles of religious freedom: how religious accountability benefits secular society and the multitude of good works that religion inspires people of faith to perform on behalf of others.

The panelists included Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the Rev. A.R. Bernard, the Rev. Dr. Que English and Elder David L. Buckner.

The panelists, three of whom belong to the Commission of Religious Leaders of New York, discussedthe importance of morality and combating injustices in society and government.

Were going to tackle these injustices together, because if it pains the heart of God, surely it pains our heart, too, English said. Its not about religion, its about the needs of humanity and what we need to do together to address it.

The group also addressed the importance of religion for a generation blurring the lines between religion and spirituality.

We are spiritual by nature, we have attributes and faculties that are not physical and religion codifies these attributes into thought, ritual and practice, Bernard said.

Potasnik touched on the importance of democracy and liberty in the United States and how religious freedom is being tested by those who are highly educated but look down on people of faith.

You can disagree with me, but dont denigrate me, Potasnik said. Education can make us smart but not necessarily moral. We have to be that part of the equation that inserts morality.

Bernard agreed that religious freedom goes beyond the ability to worship.

It means also that I shouldnt have to compromise my core values and beliefs and practices to conform to culture, Bernard said.

The group also talked about what they are doing to help in their own communities.

Bernard told the audience that because of their partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his organization was able to feed 125,000 people in New York City following the pandemic. Potasnik noted the importance of letting go of religious labels and working together to help humanity.

Its about opening doors for one another so someone else can enter, Potasnik said. We can walk on separate paths in our respective houses of worship but there comes that moment when all of us know we have to walk on that path of humanity together as one family.

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BYU Religious Freedom Annual Review on building bridges with LGBTQ groups, religion's role in criminal justice - The Daily Universe - Universe.byu.edu

"This vital report illustrates that cyberattacks go hand in hand with online repression." Mike Abramowitz, Freedom House

"Our findings indicate that where governments around the world restrict their citizens' online freedom, there is a corresponding increased risk of people falling victim to cyber attacks. This is often tied to a lower GDP in these countries which leads to the use of older systems which are more prone to attack, and the use of free and potentially illegal content which often is less secure. However, the distinction isn't cut and dried - people in countries with more digital freedom still face frequent attacks, and our findings show that there is still work to do when it comes to privacy protection - in free and in unfree countries," said Ondrej Vlcek, CEO of Avast. "To solve the problem of digital freedom, innovation is needed in the field of cybersecurity and digital trust solutions that will create more safety and transparency for all."

For the Digital Wellbeing Report, Avast combined its own data on cybersecurity risks and privacy challenges with Freedom House's "Freedom on the Net" report 2021, which assesses how much freedom people have using the internet in a country, based on the existence of surveillance and restrictions such as blocked social networks, censorship, or deliberately manipulated online discussions and disrupted ICT networks. Avast defines digital wellbeing as a combination of digital freedom, cybersecurity and privacy, with the ability of an internet user to utilize the internet in an open, regulated, private, secure, and informed way.

Amidst concerning global trends that include rising cybercrime and malicious activity, and governments around the world adopting increasingly authoritarian tactics, today wellbeing and free expression online are increasingly under threat across the globe. For the report, Avast compared data including risks of falling victim to cyber attacks, users' computer system age, and presence, transparency and readability of privacy policies to data of Freedom House's Freedom on the Net report, which assesses the online freedom of countries by looking at aspects such as whether their government blocked social media platforms, deliberately disrupted ICT networks, or arrested, or physically harmed a blogger or ICT user for political or social content.

"This vital report illustrates that cyberattacks go hand in hand with online repression. We're proud that Freedom House's Freedom on the Net report informs Avast's work to strengthen digital wellbeing," said Mike Abramowitz, President of Freedom House.

Less digital freedom, higher cyber risks

The report found that people living in Free countries are at a lower risk of falling victim to a cyber attack (30%) than people in countries that are Partly Free or Not Free (both 36%). This could be related to factors that include a higher rate of violation of user rights, prohibition of encryption services, large scale state surveillance, data collection and the presence of backdoors used for state surveillance, showing an indirect correlation between the Freedom on the Net Index score of a state and the risk ratio of encountering a cyber-attack. Moreover, countries that are Not Free often have a lower GDP per capita which can lead to a higher use of torrent sites to access free content, games, movies via unsecure sources, which in turn can expose users to a high number of online risks.

Risk of falling victim to a cyber attack in the top ten Free countries (no. 1 being most free)

Risk of falling victim to a cyber attack in the lowest ten countries Not Free (no. 1 being least free)

Avast's researchers further observed a correlation between the age of operating systems being used and the risk of citizens to cyber-attacks. By comparing the ranking in the Freedom House Freedom on the Net Index to Avast's internal data, it can be inferred that in wealthier countries, such as those found higher up in the Index including Germany, France and the UK, users tend to have up-to-date operating systems, which can better guard them against cyberattacks. Conversely, users in countries that scored lower on the Freedom on the Net Index, like Indonesia, Turkey, and Belarus, have on average a lower GDP per capita and tend to use more outdated operating systems, which increases the risk of a cyberattack. The researchers found that only 28% of users in Free countries are still using outdated operating systems. By contrast, 38% percent of users in Partly Free countries are using outdated systems, and this figure is even higher in Not Free countries as ranked by the Freedom on the Net Index (41%).

Research shows that privacy policies aren't enough

The report published today also found that privacy policies in general can be found more often in Free countries, with websites in Free countries (as designated by the Freedom on the Net Index) more likely to have in place privacy policies (70%) than websites in countries considered Partly Free and Not Free (52% and 47%). However, the report also found that even though privacy policies are more prevalent in Free countries, there does not seem to be a direct correlation between the vagueness and readability of those policies and the level of online freedom in those countries. In other words, it appears that the mere presence of a robust privacy policy in a country may not be enough to guarantee enough privacy protection to its citizens.

"Privacy regulations such as GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California require that users are informed about how their data is used, which is supposed to create more transparency for the user. However, if privacy policies are written in a vague and unreadable way, this goal is essentially missed," said Ondrej Vlcek.

Average readability of English privacy policies in top ten Free countries (higher is better)

Average readability of English privacy policies in lowest ten countries Not Free (no. 1 being least free) / (higher is better)

Metrics: <46% very difficult to read; 46%-58% difficult to read; Please note that data for the least free country, China, and the tenth least free country, Uzbekistan were not assessed and therefore not included in this table.

This study further builds on Avast's Digital Citizenship Reportpublished in September 2021, which explored post-pandemic online behaviors, and is part of Avast's efforts in understanding how our life online can be improved.

For more detailed information visit the full report: https://press.avast.com/digital-wellbeing-report

About Avast:

Avast (LSE: AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is a global leader in digital security and privacy, headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. With over 435 million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avastdigital security productsfor Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom, and the Internet Watch Foundation. Visit: http://www.avast.com.

Keep in touch with Avast:

Media Contact: Marina Ziegler, [emailprotected]

SOURCE Avast Software, Inc.

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Cybersecurity Disconnect Between Digitally Free and Unfree Countries Persists While Freedom on the Net Declines - PR Newswire

Freedom, strength, and resilience were the themes set for this years Manhattan Juneteenth art auction, held Thursday at Manhattans Douglass Activity Center.

The second-annual event showcased works from artists across the community. These pieces were created by artists of all ages and skill levels.

Event organizer and artist Hilary Wahlen spoke with KMAN about the event, and she said that one change was made to the auction this year that benefited the event very well.

Wahlen

Wahlen had one piece up for auction at the event, which featured three generations of black women. She said that these women perfectly represented this years themes.

Wahlen

Another notable piece from the event was created by 15-year-old Kaylyn Parker. Parker was the second youngest artist whose work was part of the auction, yet her piece brought in the third highest amount of the night.

Parker

Overall, nearly $2,700 was raised at the auction. While the amount raised was a great benefit to the organization and the artists, Wahlen also said that the messages the art conveys are just as important.

Wahlen

Proceeds from Thursdays auction will be split between the artists and the Juneteenth Committee to help fund future Juneteenth events.

Downtown Manhattans website includes further details about this years art and artists as well as images of the pieces that were featured.

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Freedom, strength, and resilience on display at Juneteenth art auction - News Radio KMAN