This clip was with a reporter detailing the abuses in ICE detention facilities and the illegal actions of ICE agents and for profit prison staff. Profit over people as these ICE and prison staff do not see the detainees as humans like themselves. What is concerning is ICE is learning how to use existing laws to make the local law enforcement work against the will of the people. This young man wont admit he was attacked by ICE agents instead saying he thinks he hit a tree limb in the confusion but I showed Ron the video and he said the guy looks to him like he was hit repeatedly and hard in the head and possibly the body as well. When will we as a people see that these abuses are so very similar to the abuses suffered by the minorities in 1930s Geermany. Hugs
I heard someone say the best thing they could do is offer their hand to those in need of a hand to grab on to, give support to those in need, to be the person I need others to be sometimes for me. Hugs
This is pure racism and entitlement. The boy put the bottles of water back. But even if he had not does stealing bottles of water rate or equate to a death penalty performed by a civilian? This is clearly an extra juditiacal killing. No judge or jury just a store owner and his son angry thinking a kid stole from them deciding to end his life. This automatic killing of Black people with no evidence has to stop. Black Lives Matter. Hugs
Gas station owner charged in shooting death of 14-year-oldRick Chow, 58, has been charged with murder after allegedly killing Cyrus Carmack-Belton in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, police said.
The family of Cyrus Carmack-Belton expressed their indignation towards a South Carolina jury’s decision on Tuesday to acquit Chikei Rick Chow in the 2023 fatal shooting of the Black 14-year-old.
“Yesterday a jury watched our 14-year-old boy run away from two grown men on video. They knew one of them shot him in the back and they still said no one is to blame,” the family said in a statement first released to ABC News. “We are heartbroken. We do not accept it. Cyrus stole nothing. He was a child, and he was running for his life. Our son mattered.”
Chow, a 61-year-old store owner, shot the 14-year-old in the back outside of his Columbia, South Carolina, store in May 2023. He and his son were seen chasing Carmack-Belton outside of the store in video leading to the incident. Chow was charged with murder and denied bond multiple times before his acquittal.
An image of Cyrus Carmack-Belton is displayed in court during closing arguments in the murder trial against his shooter, Chikei Rick Chow, a convenience store owner accused in the 2023 fatal shooting of the 14-year-old, on June 1, 2026, in Columbia, S.C.
Erik Verduzco/AP Photo
Prosecutors alleged that Chow acted out of a false belief that Carmack-Belton had shoplifted four bottles of water from his store. The defense claimed that Chow acted to protect his son, after allegedly seeing Carmack-Belton point a gun at him.
“On behalf of the Chows, we’re very pleased at the jury’s deliberations and their verdict,” attorney Jack Swerling said in a statement to ABC News. “We think it was the appropriate verdict in this case, although it was a difficult decision to come to, because you have two different stories, two extreme differences.”
Video obtained by ABC News shows that Carmack-Belton returned the bottles of water in question and did not steal anything from the store. A 9mm pistol was found next to Carmack-Belton, with prosecutors saying it was in his possession during the chase, and it had fallen to the ground at some point.
In this June 1, 2023, file photo, mourners stop by a memorial to Cyrus Carmack-Belton, in Columbia, S.C.
Jeffrey Collins/AP, FILE
As the verdict was read in the courtroom, members of the Carmack-Belton family and the audience were seen breaking into sobs.
In their statement Tuesday, Carmack-Belton’s family drew a connection between their case and a larger history of violence against the Black community. “Black families have stood right here too many times — burying our children and then being told the law sees nothing. We feel every bit of that today,” the family said.
Troy Belton, center, father of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, reacts after a not guilty verdict against Chikei Rick Chow, a convenience store owner accused in the 2023 fatal shooting of his 14-year-old son, during a murder trial, on June 1, 2026, in Columbia, S.C.
Erik Verduzco/AP Photo
“To everyone hurting with us: honor Cyrus in peace. We will not stop. We’re taking this fight to civil court, and we will not rest until our son’s life is given the dignity this verdict denied him,” the family added.
According to family attorney Todd Rutherford, the family filed a civil lawsuit against Rick Chow in Richland County, which was put on hold until the conclusion of the criminal case.
Hello all, hope you’ll enjoy the upcoming Pride month content! This year, I’m planning to post comics every single day until the end of June. If you caught a glimpse at comment sections under recent strips, it has already pissed off thousands! It’s just the beginning.
It’s been a while since I gave you any life updates. My husband and I are still on the IVF train – it’s slow but steady. We are being crushed under the weight of debts because of it, but at least we got to keep our car after this spring’s threats, for those who wondered. Such is the price for growing our little queer family! At least we’ve got health.
I’m still trying to make a living from my art. I believe covering the internet with queer and trans comics and making bigots foam at the mouth is an important job, and you can help make it happen by getting me a coffee or by subscribing on Patreon. Every bit makes a huge difference!
So I hope Pride month will be good to you all. Except the bigots.
“And, as you head out into the world, your fresh, meaty torsos will be ripped apart and roasted to feed your new alien overlords—wait, why are you all booing?”
If it’s got reliable WiFi, I’ll take it! After I win the lottery, of course. 🙂
Imagine not hearing the neighbors barking dogs, others music or TV shows, no one coming to the door to preach their religion to you. The only thing is I would need a heliport for Amazon deliveries.
House Democrats announce bill to block construction of Trump’s archwww.washingtonpost.com/politics/202…
According to new reports, Trump's White House personally ordered the Pentagon to give a $620M loan to a company linked to Don Jr.Stocks for other Don Jr.-advised defense contractors are surging, amid rumors of more DoD deals.This is corruption. Watch.
National Park Entrance Fees Are Funding Trump’s D.C. ProjectsThe administration is spending at least $67 million worth of fees paid by visitors to national parks on fixing D.C. fountains and the Reflecting Pool.Gift article
Donald Trump Jr is on the advisory board of both Kalshi and Polymarket.The Trump administration IS the most transparent in history. Transparently corrupt, that is.www.fox9.com/news/trump-a…
“It’s no coincidence, of course, that Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, happens to be a paid advisor to both Kalshi and Polymarket. The Trump family has profited handsomely from the president’s second term, with some estimates north of $4 billion since early last year.”
Republicans are always taking credit for projects they voted against and Trump made happen without them.
You cannot believe anything a Republican says
MAGA hypocrites never let a demonstrable truth stop them from telling a lie!
Maine Senate poll: Pine Tree/UNHGraham Platner 51% (+2 since February)Susan Collins 42% (+4)another candidate 2% (-2)don't know/undecided 6% (-3)**Platner leads +11 with moderates, +20 with women.Collins leads +3 with independents, +3 with men.scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcont…
The Trump admin collected $166 billion in tariff payments before the Supreme Court struck them down. Refunds have already started hitting business' bank accounts – but they're not the ones who paid the fees.That would be American consumers who aren't seeing a dime.@alexsjacquez.bsky.social 👇
A court declaration filed by the Trump administration has revealed that Customs and Border Protection overstated its tariff refunds by at least $10 billion.
Look them in the eye and tell them how Joe Biden wanted to codify reproductive rights, ensuring them forever, but he was old. So, you voted for the Party that has repeatedly said they would ban abortion, and some of whom want to repeal the right of women to vote! Or, (just as bad) you decided not to vote at all.
Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America. He embodies the broken system we’re running against.It’s time to come together: The People vs. Ken Paxton
The Republican Party quietly deleted their own ad attacking Ken Paxton's record on crime… because Paxton is now the Republican Party's nominee to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.Figured if the ad is important enough to delete, it's important enough to see…
Alabama seeks Supreme Court approval to use a pro-Republican map, impacting Black voter representation as Trump's party works to maintain congressional power.
NEW: I've filed a claim with Todd Blanche for compensation from the $1.776B slush fund for the unlawful investigation by the government into my podcast in August 2019. I'm seeking $8.647 million in compensation for weaponized lawfare – the equivalent of punitive damages, lost pay and retirement.
NEW: DOJ closes Biden autopen investigation. Jeanine Pirro failed to make a case, and never even brought it to a grand jury http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru…
The Justice Department wants to interview some poll workers and ballot counters who participated in the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, in a new effort to dig up details about the ballot-processing, prosecutors revealed at a court hearing last week. https://cnn.it/4nMl38E
NEW: The Department of Labor told employees to report anyone using DEI, in an email reminding workers that they can even report behavior that predates Donald Trump’s second term. One employee tells @wired.com it felt like a “reminder to narc on your coworkers.”read @telliotter.bsky.social:
Markwayne Mullin looked at 300 starving people in U.S. custody & said they just want “their ethnic food” & can go back to their country to get it. Worms in the food. Cancer patients denied meds. A senator pepper-sprayed at the gate. Mullin’s diagnosis: wrong ethnicity.He’s a racist pig.
DHS Secretary Mullin dismisses the detainee hunger strike in an ICE facility:They're refusing to eat because they want their ethnic food. Well, they can go back to their country and get whatever food they want. This isn't Holiday Inn.
Putin must be so pleased with his US employee and asset. This thin skined ego managi in dementia with a cult following and a terrified Republican Party has ruined all efforts to rein in dictatorships and authoritarian countries. The only authoritarian country they attack is because it has the wrong religion for the religious part of the cult. This tRump guy wrote love letters to the dictator of North Korea and bows deeply metaphorically to Putin, talking lovingly about autocrats around the world who push white supremacy and the Christian family values talking points. But since his first term he has had it out for NATO seemingly at Putin’s behest. He has refused to provide Ukraine with weapons and support again something Putin has been demanding. tRump repeated Russian talking points of Ukraine starting the war with Russia. He has constantly attacked NATO partners about funding not understanding that funding is not money put into a pot for NATO to use, the funding was what each country could / would put into the group in weapons, people, and equipment. He is angry that NATO did not support the US illegal unprovoked war against a country who had not attacked the US. But the NATO charter specifically mandates that they wouldn’t be required to do so in that case. But the only time that article five was activated was for the US after 9-11 attack on the US. tRump is not allowed to remove the US legally from NATO so this is a way he can legally do it with out really removing us from NATO. I wanted to post the linked article but it required allowing adverts and I simply won’t do that. Hugs