Politics & news

Florida's Controversial “Parental Rights in Education: “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Gets Backlash

Supporters remain vocal

By Abigail Oduro

On March 28, 2022, the Parental Rights in Education Act was signed into law, which many have deemed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill based on the contents. The act will become effective on July 1, 2022. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the act with the goal of keeping LGBTQ+ discussions out of the classrooms. The document states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The bill was enacted days after the Republican and potential 2024 presidential candidate signed an additional bill that restricts the types of books distributed in school libraries. The Parental Rights in Education Act allows parents to determine how and when their children will be introduced to sexual orientation and gender identity conversations. Parents have the power to refuse mental and physical health services from their child’s school or they must be notified before the care takes place. Parents can sue the school district if the bill is not followed.

Students around the country are facing measures that prohibit students from discussing sexual identity, gender identification, and LGBTQ+-related matters in the classroom, a situation made more prominent by Florida’s recent approval of the bill. Even the prospect of these measures passing has fanned sentiments of despair, bewilderment, and pessimism among LGBTQ+ adolescents throughout the country. LGBTQ+ advocates claim that the bill instills fear and hatred toward their community. Protestors also see the law as an effort to weaponize parental rights in order to marginalize individuals. Opponents say that the law’s ambiguous phrasing might restrict instructors and students from discussing their experiences outside of the classroom.

On January 7, 2022, Republican Florida state Senator Dennis K. Baxley introduced this act into the Senate. Baxley claimed that he created the law to limit the number of children identifying as part of the LGBTQ community. A companion bill was submitted in the House on January 11 by Republican Florida state Rep. Joe Harding. It was passed by the Florida House on February 24. On March 8, it was approved by the Florida Senate.

High school students around Florida have conducted walkouts since the legislation was proposed. President Biden called the law “hateful.” Other politicians, celebrities, parents, and students from throughout the country have also spoken out against it. LGBTQ+ organizations have filed a lawsuit in Florida, alleging that the act violates human rights. The bill has received a great deal of national attention. At least 20 states, ranging from South Carolina to Ohio to Arizona, had submitted identical legislation. Governor Kay Ivey signed an Alabama variation of the Florida regulation into law. Parents’ dissatisfaction with pandemic politics in schools has fueled a culture war over topics such as Critical Race Theory and transgender students’ rights supporting parents’ beliefs that they should have a role in their children’s education. It remains unclear what the “instruction” of this new curriculum will entail.

Mike Freda Visits North Haven High School and Shares Wisdom and Information

By Noelle Carmody

Mike Freda is the current North Haven First Selectman and has been in this position since 2009. In college, Freda majored in sociology and public speaking. His skills in public speaking were clearly shown to Mr. Bevin's economics class when Freda agreed to answer all of the students' questions about economics, politics, and the role of First Selectman.

Freda started as the CEO of a major company with locations in Boston, Syracuse, and many more states all over the country. Then, the former First Selectman got in touch with Freda and asked him to meet at the town hall in North Haven. The former First Selectman gave Freda the opportunity to take a position on either The Board of Education or The Board of Finance. Freda chose The Board of Finance. Freda ended up filling that spot for about a year and a half. That former First Selectman ended up losing and Freda was offered another position.

He decided to make a name for himself. Not only did he make a name for himself in politics, but he also made a name for himself around the town of North Haven as well. People would often ask him if he was going to run for First Selectman, he put a lot of thought into it but eventually officially decided not to. However, shortly after he made that decision, he realized he needed gas and randomly pulled into Vollero gas station in North Haven. While Freda was pumping his gas, people started coming up to him saying things like “I hear you may want to run for First Selectman. Please run.” He even remembers one elderly man with a tear in his eye asking him to please run.

That was the moment, Mr. Freda decided to run for the role of First Selectman. He understood at that moment, that he has the ability to make a difference in people's lives, for the better. Freda showed his compassionate and kind character to the economics class through some stories along with his responses to the students' questions. He told one story about an elderly couple. A woman had called Freda, letting him know her husband had diabetes and that their furnace went out. There was no oil and they were a very low-income family. It was an extremely cold winter night. She told Freda she felt her husband was going to die, and to please help her. Freda got an oil truck there within hours. He found an anonymous donor and their heat was turned on. The woman was sure to let Freda know that he saved her husband's life.

Another story Freda shared was about a man's granddaughter. This man's granddaughter wrote a letter to Freda asking about the Town Hall for a book report when she was in the first grade. Freda allowed the girl to come visit, and even gave her a personal tour of the Town Hall. The man called Freda to let him know that the granddaughter is now fourteen years old and she still talks about it and remembers it vividly. The man said Freda and his actions meant a lot to their family. As the stories show, Freda mentioned how he really enjoys helping people out. He feels that it’s very interesting that there are opportunities to help others on a personal level in politics. He wanted the class to understand that his job is not just politics. His job is for the good of the people in the Town of North Haven. Freda left the class with some things that the students and all residents of North Haven could look forward to. He told the class there will be a Starbucks with a drive-through, a Five Guys, and one other projected business expected by June 30th of this year. He also let the class know that there will be a new hotel and an At Home store and a Panera Bread all by the end of 2023.

Jamaican Leaders Reject Prince William and Kate's Visit

By Abigail Oduro

Hundreds of prominent Jamaicans, including educators and civil servants, demanded an apology for slavery from Prince William and Kate during their visit in Jamaican in March 2022.

A week-long royal visit to Central America and the Caribbean, aimed at improving relations between Britain and the Commonwealth countries, made for a difficult start. As Barbados did in November, some countries have decided to break their relationship with the monarchy.

The royal couple, on the other hand, have received public criticism of the British Empire’s history and are currently embroiled in a controversy over images taken during various pre-planned activities on the island. Millions of enslaved Africans worked in harsh conditions in Jamaica for more than three hundred years under British authority. The monarchy has declared that the UK and Jamaica have a strong commercial relationship. It also included the establishment of initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, ensuring security, managing natural disasters, and addressing social and economic challenges.

In a letter containing sixty reasons, Jamaican citizens claimed that the British raped and murdered tens of thousands of slaves. They said that the British failed to accept that the slave trade was a crime against humanity and claimed credit for launching the Jamaican abolitionist movement while not being involved. A gathering of Jamaicans at one of the British diplomatic buildings in Kingston, Jamaica, Cambridges landed in the island country. Many others held placards that said things like “Say yuh sorry” and “Apologize immediately!” “Kings, Queens, Princesses, and Princes belong in fairy tales, not in Jamaica!” was read on a young girl’s sign.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were intended to visit a cocoa field in the indigenous Maya village in Belize, but the trip was canceled as residents organized a protest against colonization related to a foundation Prince William supports. The Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the throne, expressed profound "sorrow" for the horrors of Britain's participation in slavery, but made no apologies for the royal family's role. In response to the speech, Jamaican advocates branded his comments as “tone deaf.”

The scandals with the royal family have not helped the situation. The visit comes a year after the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan stated the royal family was concerned about her unborn child’s heritage, and Harry chastised his relatives for neglecting to oppose colonial implications in the media against his wife. Meghan informed Winfrey that when she was pregnant, an unidentified family member expressed concern about the complexion of their newborn son, Archie.

The royal family has a long history of racism and prejudice towards other countries, prompting Jamaica to consider removing Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign in the future.

Frightening Press Release: Five Fetuses Found in Home of Anti-Abortion Activist

By Alivia Renna

Just at the end of March, it was reported that five fetuses were found in the home of an anti-abortion activist in Washington, D.C. Officers were first called to the home to investigate biohazard material, but were shocked to find five well-developed fetuses when they arrived at the house. The homeowner is known to be Lauren Handy, a 28 year old self proclaimed anti abortion activist. Just a week prior to the investigation, Handy and many other anti-abortion activists were indicted by a federal grand jury for blocking access to a DC clinic that provides abortion services.

Handy refused to speak on camera about this incident but told local source, WUSA9, that she’d expected this investigation to take place at one point or another. She declined to comment in depth on the fetuses, but stated that ¨people will freak when they hear¨.

The D.C Superior Court records have shown that Lauren Handy has a history of legal issues that were related to her anti-abortion activities. In December of 2015, a D.C charter school had filed a complaint against Handy for trespassing. Unlawful assembly outside of the school earlier that same year had caused her to be arrested. Handy claims to have stolen 110 fetuses altogether, from a medical waste truck outside the Washington Surgi-Clinic prior to this investigation. However, of the 110 fetuses it was claimed that 5 of them were well-developed. Lauren Handy is now one of the nine anti-abortion activists who have faced federal charges for blocking access to a clinic.

In a news conference after the investigation, Handy claimed that as she was stealing the fetuses, she had informed the truck driver outside the clinic that he was about to transport aborted fetuses. She told the media that the driver felt sympathy for her cause, and willingly handed the 110 fetuses to her. Handy states that a fellow Anti-Abortion leader, Terrisa Bukonivac worked with her as well. After they’d both brought the fetuses back to Handy’s apartment, they claimed that they wanted to give them a proper funeral Mass and burials.

The Washington DC police have not announced any arrests yet in connection to the fetuses, but say that their investigation is ongoing.

U.S. Indigenous Communities Set to Receive $46 million in Climate Funding

By Victoria Pachnik

As the sea levels rise and weather becomes more erratic, the impact of climate change can be felt more than ever. This is especially true for indigenous communities throughout the United States whose food sources, livelihoods, and infrastructure are disproportionately threatened by the climate crisis.

Recently, Joe Biden’s $46 million in climate funding is aimed to combat the effects of the climate change crisis. Specifically for effected tribal communities. This funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law that targets climate resilience in tribal territories over five years. Indigenous communities in Alaska, which make up 40% of the federally recognized tribes in the United States, are especially feeling the effects of rapidly rising temperatures. As sea ice and glaciers melt, it becomes more difficult for tribes to properly hunt, do to partake in traditional hunting practices. Thawing permafrost causes issues for infrastructure like roads, bridges, and housing. Many communities will have to relocate because of rising sea levels and storm surges.

Indigenous people across the world contribute very little to the climate crisis.

These communities thrived through ecologically sustainable hunting and agricultural traditions. There is now is a decline in traditional medicine, fish and game, and other wild crops. It is predicted that by the end of the century, more than half of US salmon and trout habitats will be lost. The many tribes that have relied on these natural resources are slowly suffering, and will continue to suffer as the climate crisis continues.

Biden’s infrastructure law provides $466 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which will include $216 million for programs focused on climate resilience. Out of all the funding, $130 million will be used for community relocation, where as $86 million is provided for climate resilience and adaptation projects, and $43.2 million will be left to spend annually for the next five years. Tribes can submit proposals to the Department of the Interior for a share of the first installment of new funding.

As the money is seen as a saving grace for many of the tribal communities, it is only a start to what is already a large and continuing crisis. Although the money is helpful in combating the effects of climate change on these communities, it does not ease the already increasing climate change crisis that will continue to impact these communities for the years to come.

America's Violent Attacks Continue as Travelers on Brooklyn Subway Become Latest Victims

By Olivia Coish

On the morning of April 10th, the 36th Street subway station of Brooklyn Sunset Park experienced a dramatic change to their Tuesday morning. Among the passengers on a train heading to Manhattan was 62-year-old Frank James, who was later arrested for being responsible for injuring 29 people. While his motive was unclear, his actions were nevertheless unjustifiable. After setting off a smoke bomb, James shot 33 times, striking 10 people who were soon after hospitalized. If not shot, many suffered from smoke inhalation, panic attacks, or from falling down. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, “‘We saw a quiet Tuesday morning turn an N train into a war zone as a smoke bomb was detonated, and multiple shots rang out.”

This shooting only escalates the increasing number of violent acts to have occurred in New York and across the US since the Covid-19 pandemic. In New York alone, there have been 322 shootings, bringing the total number of people who have been shot to over 360. According to research by the NYPD, this is an 8 to 9 percent increase from last year. On account of such unsettling statistics, the New York Governor, Kathy Hochul and Mayor Adams have made many efforts earlier in the year to maintain the city’s subway system safety. According to Lieber, the MTA chair and CEO, “They have put more officers both on the platforms and on the train where people feel vulnerable.” On April 10th, however, there was a malfunction in the camera system at Brooklyn Sunset Park station. Mayor Adams explained that there are nearly 1,000 cameras in the MTA system, 600 of which are located where the incident took place. While the working cameras played a critical role in catching Frank James, controversy has risen regarding why many of the surveillance cameras were not functioning properly. Due to the suspicious timing of the camera malfunction at 3 critical locations of the shooting, an investigation has been set in order.

The effect of the shooting on the passengers has been impactful, many of which claim they will no longer be using the subway as their main source of transportation. Benkada, a New Yorker who needed surgery after being shot stated that, “‘I feel shocked. I feel shaky. I don’t know if I can ever ride a train.’” Many acts of kindness were witnessed during the chaos. Benkada, for example, focused her attention on getting a pregnant woman out of the smoke. Amidst his efforts, he was shot; the bullet going straight threw his knee. Claire Tunkle, another passenger, tied her jacket around the leg of a man who had been shot right in front of her. Tunkel was later sent to the hospital due to smoke inhalation, but her actions have been noticed. Many of the passengers were interviewed afterwards in order to get a better grasp on the horrifying experience. Yav Montano, who spoke to CNN, described the shooting from his perspective. Montano recalled, “‘The whole car was engulfed in smoke. I couldn’t even use my mask anymore because it was black with smoke. It was ridiculous.”’ Montano estimated that the train car was filled with about 40 to 50 people, then followed up by saying he wasn’t sure how many were injured, but that there was certainly a lot of blood across the floor of the car. One passenger, a photojournalist Derck French, managed to get pictures of the incident. French recalled that after capturing the chaos, he used his windbreaker to help a victim who had been shot in the ankle.

While the incident speaks to New York regarding subway safety, the heart of the issue is the nationwide rise of violence. According to Adams, "What we’re facing is a problem that is hitting our entire nation right now and that is why this is a national response. We need a national response."