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Charlotte Kates, a New Jersey native and Rutgers Law School graduate who co-founded the pro-Hamas organization Samidoun, has become the focus of an ongoing legal debate: When does free speech cross the line into breaking federal anti-terrorism laws? Germany banned the organization last November, and Israel designated it a terrorist organization in 2021. Kates’ open support of terrorist organizations puts her in the middle of a growing legal dispute: When does free speech cross the line into breaking federal anti-terrorism laws? “As far as I’m concerned, this is legitimate political advocacy, unpleasant as it may be.”What is ‘knowingly’ coordinating with a terrorist organization? “You don’t have a right to pick and choose which law to follow.”Not all federal law enforcement experts agree with Burns’ approach.

Persons: Charlotte Kates, Kates, “, ” Kates, Samidoun, Tom Petrowski, ” Petrowski, Dr Basem Naim, Odysee Petrowski, David Goldberger, Goldberger, ”, —, Basem Naim, Naim, Israel “, Andrew Lichtenstein, they’re, John Roberts, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “ We’re, “ It’s, Frank Figliuzzi, ” Figliuzzi, Daniel Richman, webinars, ” Richman, “ Definitionally, Khaled Barakat, Barakat, ” Samidoun, Lara Burns, Burns, George, ” Burns, Barbara McQuade, ” McQuade, McQuade, webinar Organizations: Rutgers Law School, NBC News, Treasury, Canadian, Republican, Justice Department, FBI, Civil, Terrorism Task Force, Hamas, Samidoun, Odysee, Palestine Islamic, American Civil Liberties Union, YouTube, ”, Columbia University, Supreme, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party, Liberation Tigers, NBC, Columbia, Treasury Department, Front, Liberation, PFLP, Palestine, Palestinian, Columbia University Apartheid, World Trade, Patriot, Brandenburg, Land Foundation, George Washington University’s Program, Extremism, Islamic State, Eastern, Eastern District of Locations: New Jersey, Vancouver , British Columbia, U.S, South Africa, Germany, Israel, Vietnam, Dallas, Palestine, American, Skokie , Illinois, New York, Chicago, New York City, Kurdistan, Tamil Eelam, webinars, Swiss, Instagram, Brandenburg v . Ohio, Texas, Eastern District, Eastern District of Michigan

☆ Ellis Island Museum: An American landmark is getting a $100 million makeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Today about 40% of the US population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island, according to the National Park Service. A group of recently arrived immigrants carry their belongings on Ellis Island in the early 1900s. Courtesy Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island FoundationAfter decades of disrepair, a new museum was bornThe brick building that currently houses the museum opened in 1900. After processing more than 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island closed its doors in 1954 and fell into disrepair for decades. “Right now, it can feel in places like a book on the walls, because it’s a 34-year-old museum,” Brackenbury says.

Persons: CNN — Ellis, ”, Jesse Brackenbury, –, ” Brackenbury, Ellis, Ellis Island's, Ronald Reagan, Lee Iacocca, Brackenbury Organizations: CNN, – Ellis Island Foundation, National Park Service, Records Discovery, Ellis, Chrysler, of Liberty, National, Service, United, National Museum of Immigration Locations: America, New York, Ellis, United States, of New York, Port of San Francisco, New Orleans, Liberty, of, American

☆ Misty Copeland reflects on the ‘generational trauma’ felt by Black ballet dancers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Matt Marshall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And that wasn’t always the case.”There were also instances of discrimination that could have easily turned Copeland away from dance all together. “There were times that I was not cast in certain roles because I would stand out too much and kind of ruin the aesthetic, especially if it was a performance that was being filmed,” Copeland told Wallace. “I think about this kind of generational trauma for Black dancers that comes with that role,” she said. And I feel that that’s what I’ve done with a lot of the roles I’ve taken on, but especially Swan Lake,” Copeland told Wallace. Misty Copeland and James Whiteside perform in "Swan Lake" at Lincoln Center in New York, June 24, 2015.

Persons: Misty Copeland, Copeland, “, ” Copeland, CNN’s Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, ”, who’s, “ I’ve, it’s, wasn’t, Wallace, “ Odette, Odile ”, Theatre’s, “ We’ve, that’s, Odette, Swan, James Whiteside, Julieta Cervantes, ABT, Jackie Robinson, haven’t, Daniil Simkin, Kevin Sullivan, Max Organizations: CNN, American Ballet Theatre, New York Times, Lincoln Center, Register, Getty, Motion Productions, ”, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Misty Copeland Foundation Locations: American, Swan, ”, Swan Lake, “, New York, Orange

☆ Wall Street execs, Spielberg, 'dark money' groups quietly back Democrat running for Pennsylvania Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Daniel McCaffery, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Supreme Court judge, arrives at his polling place to vote in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. If McCaffery wins, it would give the Democrats one more seat to boost their majority on the state court. Beyond the Spielberg group, the PAC has received funds from at least two veteran finance executives, according to the records. The "dark money" group is chaired by Chuck Hadley, according to his LinkedIn page. The North Fund, another 501(c)(4) "dark money" organization, gave $600,000 to the PAC, according to records.

Persons: Daniel McCaffery, Steven Spielberg, Carolyn Carluccio, Adam Bonin, Jeffrey Yass, Spielberg, Forbes, Stephen Mandel, Susan, Mandel, Mark Heising, Heising, Lynn Schusterman, Charles Schusterman, Schusterman, Chuck Hadley, Hadley, Arabella Organizations: Democratic, Pennsylvania, Democrat, Republican, Susquehanna International Group, Trust, Foundation, Lone, Lone Pine Capital, Medley Partners, PAC, Forbes, McCaffery PAC, Partners, North Fund Locations: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's, Hollywood, Tuesday's, Lone Pine

☆ Who's funding Hamas?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementFor Iran, Levitt said, funding Hamas ultimately offers a financially and politically inexpensive way to undermine Israel's stability and increase the pressure against their adversaries while maintaining an air of deniability regarding its involvement. Both Asal and Levitt told Insider the funds from that transaction had little to do with the latest escalation in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. As with many terrorist organizations that control swaths of land or trade routes, Hamas gets funding through taxation, extortion, smuggling, kidnapping, and robbery, Asal told Insider. Money laundering and cryptoTo move all its money around, Levitt said, Hamas relies largely on cryptocurrency transactions and trade-based money laundering to avoid being easily tracked. "And that also allows Hamas to divert money from providing for its people to support its war machine."

Persons: —, Victor Asal, France —, Matthew Levitt, they're, Levitt, Biden, Asal, Reinhard, it's, Alex Zerden Organizations: Hamas, International, Service, European Union, Israel, Center for Policy Research, University of Albany, State University of New, US Treasury, Department, Land Foundation for Relief, Development, Federal Bureau of, Washington Institute for Near East, State Department, US, Street Locations: Gaza, United States, State University of New York, Switzerland, Austria, Lebanon, France, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, East, North Africa

Copeland spoke with The Associated Press about her new focus, fighting for more inclusive emojis, and staying in shape. She wants to push the boundaries and it didn’t matter what question I asked her, she was going to push me (laughs) in every way. That to me is like the grand scheme theme is that art saves lives, and dance and ballet can be inclusive. AP: Why did you start a petition to create new emojis related to dance that are more inclusive? All of these things that I think are such an incredible evolution of where I’ve come from as an artist and as a Black artist.

Persons: Misty Copeland, Copeland, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Twlya Tharp, Tharp, COPELAND, Twyla, I’ve, we’ve, she’s, Misty, Quinn, it’s, Tik, I’m, ABT, Derek Jeter, Wayne Gretzky Organizations: American Ballet Theatre, PBS, Associated Press, Twitter, Misty Copeland Foundation, Lincoln Center Locations: It’s

Political Cartoons View All 1205 ImagesHe acknowledged that Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group have helped Hamas in the past, but said that since the 2014 Gaza war Hamas has been producing its own rockets and training its own fighters. He also said Hamas believed Israel had plans to kill its top leaders. He said nearly 2,000 Hamas fighters have taken part in the latest fighting, out of an army of 40,000 in Gaza alone. On Monday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group claimed it sent four gunmen across Lebanon’s border into Israel. Barakeh said Hamas is ready to fight a long war with Israel, saying it has an arsenal of rockets that will last a long time.

Persons: —, Lebanese Hezbollah “, ” Ali Barakeh, ’, Israel’s, Barakeh, ” Barakeh, Israel, “, ” Organizations: Lebanese Hezbollah, Associated Press, U.S, Hamas, Sunday, Islamic Jihad, ’, Land Foundation for Relief, Development Locations: BEIRUT, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Beirut, “, Hamas, Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, Al, Aqsa, Lebanon’s, Lebanon, United States, America, Dallas

☆ Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline to Step Down June 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Eric Bazail-Eimil | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. David Cicilline was first elected to Congress in 2011. Rep. David Cicilline (D., R.I.) said Tuesday he will leave Congress on June 1 to serve as the president and chief executive of the Rhode Island Foundation, a move that could trigger a competitive showdown between Democrats to fill the seat. “Serving the people of Rhode Island’s First Congressional District has been the honor of my lifetime,” Mr. Cicilline said. In his new role, he said he looks forward to “expanding on the work I have led for nearly 30 years in helping to improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders.”

☆ Democratic U.S. Rep. Cicilline to resign, head Rhode Island foundation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In a surprise announcement, Cicilline, a former Providence mayor, said he will become president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, a major funder of nonprofit organizations in the state. "The chance to lead the Rhode Island Foundation was unexpected, but it is an extraordinary opportunity to have an even more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of residents of our state," Cicilline said in a statement. There are 212 Democrats, including Cicilline, and one vacancy that is expected to add another Democrat following voting in a special election on Tuesday. Officials in the Rhode Island governor's office were not immediately available for comment on when that special election might be set. Rhode Island's two U.S. Senate seats and two House seats are currently held by Democrats in this "blue" state.

BANGKOK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A Thai celebrity media tycoon, transgender rights advocate and new owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant wants to use the event to inspire women like her and boost tourism. She bought the Miss Universe Organisation on Wednesday for $20 million, marking the first time the beauty pageant organiser has been owned by a woman, her company said. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha 1 2 3 4She said Miss Universe can promote Thailand's Five F-factors tourism campaign, boosting fighting (Thai boxing), film, festival, fashion and food. “Every country - not just Thailand - will get tourism income when you are the (pageant) host country,” Jakapong said. Other plans for Miss Universe include licensing and merchandising opportunities, including integration with JKN’s own businesses like fashion, beverages and cosmetics.

☆ Thai businesswoman buys Miss Universe pageant for $20 mln
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BANGKOK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A Thai celebrity media tycoon and transgender rights advocate has bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, marking the first time the beauty pageant organiser will be owned by a woman, her company said on Wednesday. She has been outspoken about her experience as a transgender woman and also set up the Life Inspired For Thailand Foundation to advocate for the rights to dignity and opportunities for transgender people. The acquisition is "a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio," said Jakapong, adding that Miss Universe, with its content, licensing and merchandising opportunities, plans to expand in Asia. JKN produces its own shows and distributes content in Thailand from abroad including documentaries and Bollywood dramas. The annual beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organisation, which was co-owned by Donald Trump between 1996 and 2002, is broadcast in 165 countries and has been running for 71 years.

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