Today in History: Tulsa Race Massacre begins
Today in history:
On May 31, 1921, a two-day massacre erupted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as white mobs began looting and burning the affluent Black district of Greenwood over reports a Black man had assaulted a white woman in an elevator; though the exact number remains unknown, as many as 300 Black Tulsans were killed during the riot.
Column: Let's not forget: Chicago had a 'Black Wall Street' tooAlso on this date:
In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U.S. copyright act.
In 1889, over 2,200 people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, died when the South Fork Dam collapsed, sending 20 million tons of water rushing through the town.
In 1949, former State Department official and accused spy Alger Hiss went on trial in New York, charged with perjury (the trial ended with a hung jury, but Hiss was convicted in a second trial.)
In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the Ancash region of Peru; the quake, combined with the landslide it triggered, killed an estimated 67,000 people.
In 1977, the 800-mile-long Trans-Alaska oil pipeline was completed after three years of construction.
In 2005, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein confirmed a Vanity Fair magazine report naming former FBI official W. Mark Felt as the Watergate scandal informant previously known only as 'Deep Throat.'
In 2009, Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, died in Hampshire, England at 97.
In 2014, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan, was freed by the Taliban in exchange for five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Bergdahl, who'd gone missing in June 2009, later pleaded guilty to endangering his comrades by walking away from his post in Afghanistan; his sentence included a dishonorable discharge, a reduction in rank and a fine, but no prison time.)
In 2019, a longtime city employee opened fire in a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia, killing 12 people on three floors before police shot and killed him; officials said DeWayne Craddock had resigned by email hours before the shooting.
Today's Birthdays: Actor-filmmaker Clint Eastwood is 95. Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath is 82. Actor Tom Berenger is 76. Actor-comedian Chris Elliott is 65. Actor Lea Thompson is 64. Musician Corey Hart is 63. Rapper Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels is 61. Actor Brooke Shields is 60. TV host Phil Keoghan is 58. Jazz musician Christian McBride is 53. Actor Archie Panjabi is 53. Actor Colin Farrell is 49. Singer Normani is 29. Tennis player Iga Świątek is 24.
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New York Times
34 minutes ago
- New York Times
Live Updates: Sean Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking but Found Guilty on Lesser Charges
A view from the jury box in a federal courtroom similar to the one where a panel has been listening to testimony in the trial of Sean Combs. The jury in Sean Combs's sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, which revealed some internal conflict during deliberations, was a racially diverse group of eight men and four women who range in age from 30 to 74 and live in Manhattan, Westchester County and the Bronx. The court has not released the names of the jurors, which is common in high-profile trials where their safety is a concern. On Wednesday, the jury announced that it found Mr. Combs not guilty of the most serious charges against him, sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, while convicting him of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. During 28 days of often wrenching testimony, the jurors were punctual, attentive and, for the most part, impassive. Jurors heard two of Mr. Combs's former girlfriends testify about years of sexual encounters with male prostitutes known as 'freak-offs' and 'hotel nights,' some of which were shown on video. They listened to testimony from former personal assistants, law enforcement officials and a hotel security officer who explained a $100,000 cash payment for incriminating video footage of a hotel assault by Mr. Combs. In the end, however, the jurors were not persuaded that Mr. Combs had forced two former girlfriends through violence and coercion to have sex with male prostitutes against their will, the core argument of the sex-trafficking charges against him. Neither were they convinced that Mr. Combs and his employees had formed a criminal racketeering enterprise that agreed to commit a number of crimes over the course of a decade, including bribery, arson, sex-trafficking and drug distribution. When the jurors began deliberating on Monday, they quickly raised concerns to Judge Arun Subramanian, who had sworn them in after a weeklong selection process in May. About one hour into deliberations, the foreperson reported an issue with one juror, identified as No. 25, 'who we are concerned cannot follow your honor's instructions.' Eleven hours later, the jury said it had reached a verdict on four counts but could not on a racketeering charge because of 'unpersuadable opinions on both sides.' In both cases, the judge told the jury to keep deliberating. Two weeks ago, Judge Subramanian dismissed a juror after finding that he had given inconsistent answers about his residence, raising concerns that he might have been angling for a role in the case. Mr. Combs's lawyers argued unsuccessfully that it would unfairly affect their client if that juror, a state corrections department employee who is a Black man, were removed. The original panel had at least two Black women and two Black men; the alternate who replaced the juror was a white man. During the trial, Mr. Combs was reprimanded by the judge after he nodded vigorously at the panel when his lawyers cross-examined a witness about an violent incident that she said had taken place on a balcony. The judge called Mr. Combs's behavior 'absolutely unacceptable.' At another point, Mr. Combs smiled and mouthed 'cold' to a juror who was rubbing his arms; the juror nodded and smiled back. During jury selection, jurors were asked about their occupations and the types of music they listened to. Many said they enjoyed classical music, rock and jazz, while a few mentioned they liked R&B and hip-hop. Some jurors have jobs in finance, health care, and social services. There is also a massage therapist, a deli clerk, a dietary aide at a nursing home and a retired Verizon field technician. Many of the jurors said during voir dire that they were aware of the charges against Mr. Combs and had seen a video of Mr. Combs assaulting his girlfriend, the singer Cassie, at an InterContinental Hotel in March 2016, which CNN aired in 2024. Still, they assured the judge that they could deliver a verdict based on the facts of the case. 'They're allegations, right?' one male juror said during questioning in May. 'I'm old enough to have heard a lot of stories before trial, and then when the evidence is actually presented, things are, you know — the truth comes out.'
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
'He wasn't some gangster.' Family says teen shot and killed after going to friend's home
In a string of recent homicides, Jaylon Hayden's family doesn't want people to gloss over their grief or write him off as another statistic. His shooting death capped a weekend that saw seven people killed and at least nine people injured in shootings across Indianapolis. The 18-year-old joins two other teens who lost their lives in a separate shooting. His mother, Shianna Hayden, told IndyStar her son was a lovable person. Jaylon Hayden was her oldest of three boys and was into mechanics and cars. He planned to go to trade school and eventually own a shop after serving in the military. Understanding how quickly technology is advancing, he wanted to be ahead of the curve and not limit himself. "He was pushing through the fear of going into the military," Shianna Hayden said. "He was speaking with different people to learn more and wanted to join for the benefits, the discipline, and to use what he learned toward his dreams." The teen was previously a student at Crispus Attucks High School, but unenrolled himself earlier this year to join an accelerated program. His mother didn't agree at first, but he explained that he didn't want to be surrounded by distractions. He often spoke about trying to evade certain peer pressures at school. "He was always very good at acknowledging the real from the fake in things and people," his brother, Kevin Hayden, told IndyStar. "He never put himself in a position that would make him uncomfortable." Even with him being so sure of himself, Shianna Haydon worried. Raised with both of his parents in a Christian household, the mother said she was strict, but after her son turned 18, he was granted more freedom. She would warn him about being around certain people. Jaylon Hayden, 18, fatally shot on North Butler Avenue Just before 4 a.m., on June 30, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called to the 3500 block of North Butler Avenue for a person shot. Officers found a Jaylon Hayden shot at a home near Wes Montgomery Park on the city's east side. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition but later died. Shianna Hayden said he was at his best friend's house when other people showed up. Some of those people, the mother was told, had issues with her son. But what led to the shooting remains under investigation. Four hours before his death, he'd texted his cousin Siniya Mincey, 21, to pick him up, but she didn't see the message. "He wasn't a bad kid, period," Mincey told IndyStar. "He didn't deserve this." Ki'ayjah Pierson has known Jaylon Hayden since they were 11 years old, and said she doesn't want people to assume that, as a young Black man, he must have done anything to deserve being shot and killed. "He wasn't some gangster," Pierson said. "He was a Godfearing man." Shianna Hayden said his death was unexpected because her son had a support system. Even though he'd make his own decisions once he turned 18, she said her son was never a fool. "We believe in God almighty and we're just praying for each other," Hayden said. "As a mother, I don't expect people to know how I feel. 'Cause I know even when the smoke clears, and justice is served, and people move on, you're still left dealing with the internal struggles." The family has created a GoFundMe for the 18-year-old's funeral costs. No arrests or suspects have been announced by police in this case. Anyone with any information on Hayden's death is asked to contact Detective Christopher Winter at 317-327-3475 or email him at Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477, by downloading the mobile P3tips app, or visiting
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New Jersey gun-rights advocates target racial disparities in carry permit denials
Gun instructor Tony Simon of Ewing runs The Second Is for Everyone diversity shoots at gun ranges around New Jersey. He said he found the firearms culture in New Jersey "ridiculously white" when he moved here from Virginia in 1993 and aims to change that. (Photo courtesy of Tony Simon) Paterson police denied Mahmoud 'Mo' Ramadan's request for a gun carry permit after he hounded them — and the mayor — about their poky pace in processing his application. Sharon Palombi got denied in South Toms River because of her past police involvement as a crime victim. And Leonard Mirabal's extensive — but non-criminal — driving infractions prompted Carlstadt cops to refuse his carry request. New Jersey law lays out several documentable reasons why police can deny carry permits, including if applicants have criminal convictions, histories of addiction or mental health disorders, or active restraining orders. But it also allows officers to make subjective judgments and reject applicants they deem lack 'the essential character of temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm.' Consequently, a growing, disgruntled group of applicants — including Ramadan, Palombi, and Mirabal — have successfully challenged denials, which two recent studies found have disproportionately impacted people of color in New Jersey. Now, a Republican state lawmaker wants police to answer to the Legislature and the public on the issue, by mandating monthly reporting on permit denials. Municipalities would have to publicly detail their reasons for denying firearm purchaser identification cards and gun carry permits under a bill Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Sussex) introduced Monday. The measure also would require reporting on the age, race, gender identity, and ethnicity of denied applicants. 'There are barriers to exercising your Second Amendment — prior felonies, mental health concerns — that are valid concerns. But the color of your skin is not a valid concern,' Fantasia said. 'There should be no subjective measures. When you allow subjective measures into the conversation, that leaves it up to people, to personalities, to preconceived notions, and to bias, and that's what we want to remove. There should never be bias associated with your ability to exercise a constitutional right.' The attorney general's office already publicly reports applicant demographics but does no analysis of denials and attributes more than two thirds of them to unspecified 'public health, safety and welfare' concerns or just 'other disapproval reasons.' John Petrolino, a firearms instructor and freelance writer who focuses on Second Amendment issues, dove into the data last year and found that Black applicants were denied permits for subjective reasons at twice the rate of whites. Academic researchers with the nonprofit Rise Against Hate drilled deeper into the data and determined the denial disparities reflected 'major systemic issues,' given that people of color applying for carry permits passed the same initial screening requirements (to get firearm ID cards) as white carry applicants. Those researchers also found that denials disproportionately impacted Hispanic applicants too, and that disparities (for subjective and objective reasons) were worst in Ocean, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties. They recommended policymakers mandate more detailed explanations for denials, anti-bias training for law enforcement officers overseeing permit decisions, and increased transparency to eliminate disparities they deemed systemic. Spokespeople for the attorney general's office did not respond to a request for comment about racial disparities in denials. Fantasia, a longtime gun owner and hunter, said she relies on firearms for protection, as both a single mother of three and someone who was held up at gunpoint at the fast-food restaurant where she worked when she was 17. 'Ever since then, it's always been imprinted in me,' Fantasia said of her enthusiasm for gun rights. She has introduced other gun-related legislation in Trenton, including measures that would create Second Amendment license plates and allow school security officers with carry permits to take their guns onto school grounds and buildings. She hasn't yet lined up a Senate sponsor for her bill to mandate public reporting on denials, but she thinks it should have broad, bipartisan appeal because it's about transparency and disparities. 'It really is an issue of: why are we discriminating?' she said. The bill, which Assemblyman Bob Auth (R-Bergen) also signed on to sponsor, would require the state attorney general's office to report in detail on denials dating back to June 2022. That's when the U.S. Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling known as Bruen, declared gun owners have a constitutional right to carry guns, and states cannot require gun owners to prove a need to take firearms outside their homes or businesses. Applications for carry permits have soared in New Jersey since Bruen, with police fielding almost 77,000 between Bruen and May 31, data shows. Less than 1,500 of them were for renewals; the rest were new applicants, the data shows. Four hundred applicants were denied. The New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate is pushing for Fantasia's legislation, which has the same goals as a measure now stalled in Congress. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) introduced a bill in March that would mandate federal reporting on permit denials. The syndicate endorsed Fantasia's reelection bid in May and named her Legislator of the Year. Joe LoPorto, the group's director of legal operations, said Bruen was clear that subjective denials cannot stand. 'The whole point was to establish that law enforcement agencies couldn't arbitrarily decide who and who couldn't exercise their rights,' LoPorto said. 'For Second Amendment purposes, background checking should be straightforward. There really shouldn't be subjective standards at all, and we're not getting enough information on why these denials are coming out the way that they are.' Ramadan seconded that sentiment, saying his fight isn't just one of principle. His permit denial kept him from landing a job in armed security, he said. 'I think the answer here is, literally, just follow what the Constitution says and stop trying to abuse your authority,' Ramadan said. The bill is part of a widening strategy gun-rights groups have undertaken since Bruen to try to dismantle New Jersey's famously tough gun restrictions. Gun owners challenged a state law Gov. Phil Murphy signed in December 2022, in response to Bruen, that barred guns from sensitive places like arenas, polling places and beaches, created new training requirements, and hiked permitting fees, among other things. Nearly two years since lawyers argued the matter in court, the federal appellate court still has not issued its ruling. The law, though, largely remains on hold until the court challenge is resolved. Gun owners have also taken their fight to municipal meetings around the state, lobbying local officials to give up the higher gun-permit fees state legislators mandated in the December 2022 law. Englishtown and Franklin recently became the first towns statewide to authorize municipal officials to refund $150 — the local portion of permit fees — to applicants. LoPorto said officials in about a dozen other towns, including Park Ridge, Dumont, Absecon, and West Amwell, also are considering dropping the local fees. 'It's as much about providing relief for the residents of these towns as it is about sending that statewide message that this is fundamentally unfair,' LoPorto said of the push to eliminate such fees. When Tony Simon moved to New Jersey from Virginia in 1993, he found the firearms culture here 'ridiculously white.' Now Simon, a firearms instructor and military veteran who lives in Ewing, runs The Second Is for Everyone diversity shoots at gun ranges around the state to bring people into the gun community who have historically felt excluded. The subjective judgments built into the gun permitting process in New Jersey ensure police will not enforce gun regulations equally, and denial disparities will persist, Simon said. 'I think it's a racist system,' he said. 'You go in. They say: 'Well why do you want a gun? Why do you need a gun?' They make it complicated. I've heard stories from people: 'They treated me like a criminal, an international drug dealer, a terrorist.' When you have rules like this, it's not going to be enforced in Berkeley Heights, in the high-end neighborhoods. It's going enforced on the poor people and the brown people.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
