Land Of The Flea

Nicaragua, Venezuela willing to take in Edward Snowden

"The quest by NSA leaker Edward Snowden for a safe haven has taken a turn toward Latin America, with offers for asylum coming from the leftist presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela. But there were no immediate signs that efforts were under way to bring him to either nation after Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua made their offers during separate speeches in their home countries Friday. The offers came one day after leftist South American leaders gathered to denounce the rerouting of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane over Europe amid reports that the fugitive American was aboard." Continue reading →

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Jimmy Carter: ‘A Cruel and Unusual Record’

"Recent legislation has made legal the president’s right to detain a person indefinitely on suspicion of affiliation with terrorist organizations or 'associated forces,' a broad, vague power that can be abused without meaningful oversight from the courts or Congress. In addition to American citizens’ being targeted for assassination or indefinite detention, recent laws have canceled the restraints in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow unprecedented violations of our rights to privacy through warrantless wiretapping and government mining of our electronic communications." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJimmy Carter: ‘A Cruel and Unusual Record’

This group of Houston gun owners celebrated Independence Day the best way possible

"The group? Come and Take it Houston – a group of gun owners that gather publicly to 'educate Texans on their right to openly carry shotguns and rifles in a safe manner.' Even in front of a police station. 'It’s Independence Day – where it all started,' said shotgun toting Jenn Kroll, to the Houston Chronicle. 'What better day to show our rights?' Can’t argue with that." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThis group of Houston gun owners celebrated Independence Day the best way possible

California police slammed with death threats after shooting Max the Rottweiler

"The social media fallout from the Sunday shooting has the Hawthorne Police Department scrambling to protect its officers and also tell another version of the story. Police released a new video of the shooting taken from a different angle. They believe this alternative perspective will prove to viewers that the officer’s actions were justified. Max the Rottweiler was shot four times on Sunday after lunging at officers who were handcuffing his owner, Leon Rosby. The original graphic cellphone recording of Max’s death went viral on YouTube, prompting a flood of threats against the officers and their families through telephone, email and Facebook." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia police slammed with death threats after shooting Max the Rottweiler

Police Commandeer Homes, Get Sued

"Henderson police arrested a family for refusing to let officers use their homes as lookouts for a domestic violence investigation of their neighbors, the family claims in court. The Mitchell family's claim includes Third Amendment violations, a rare claim in the United States. The Third Amendment prohibits quartering soldiers in citizens' homes in times of peace without the consent of the owner. Police took Anthony and Michael Mitchell to jail and booked them for obstructing an officer. They were jailed for at least nine hours before they bailed out, they say in the complaint." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Commandeer Homes, Get Sued

4th of July DUI Checkpoint – Drug Dogs, Searched without Consent, Rights Taken Away, while Innocent

"The officer orders me to pull over and get out of my car, bullies me around, gets the drug sniffing K-9, lies about me having 'Illegal Drugs' in the car, searches without consent, and tells me that it is ok to take away my freedom. All while not being detained. All this harassment because my window was not lowered enough to his preference. I broke no laws whatsoever. All of this on a day that we are supposed to be celebrating freedom and liberty. At the end of the encounter, the officer did not want to give me his name when I asked him. After I repeatedly asked him, he finally gave it to me." Continue reading →

Continue Reading4th of July DUI Checkpoint – Drug Dogs, Searched without Consent, Rights Taken Away, while Innocent

Israeli security strip searches Arab journalist at U.S. July Fourth party

"Security guards for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strip searched an Arab journalist working for the U.S.-funded Alhurra network at the the U.S. ambassador’s Fourth of July celebration in Tel Aviv, the network said on Thursday. The AP report said that Jallad was forced to remove his shoes and sit in the sun for half an hour. He was then taken to a room and ordered to remove his pants and submit to a body inspection. After 90 minutes, he was allowed to enter the event. The network said that Jallad had previously covered Netanyahu on many occasions and had a government-issued press card." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIsraeli security strip searches Arab journalist at U.S. July Fourth party

Ex-Marine Arrested for Wearing Wrong T-Shirt at Supreme Court

"Police had probable cause to arrest a Marine Corps veteran in the Supreme Court building for wearing a jacket that said 'Occupy Everywhere,' a federal judge ruled. Deputy Chief Timothy Dolan approached him and told Scott that he could not wear the jacket in the building because it was comparable to a sign or demonstration. Dolan told Scott he must either take off the jacket or leave the building. When Scott refused to do either, Dolan instructed another officer to place Scott under arrest for unlawful entry. Scott was released the same day, and charges against him were later dropped." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-Marine Arrested for Wearing Wrong T-Shirt at Supreme Court

Use of garages as social gathering place spurs action by officials

"More patio than parking place or storage for power tools, Mariam Khalaf said her garage is primarily for 'chilling purposes' — including smoking, eating and watching TV with family and friends, including next-door neighbors Muheeb Nabulsy and his wife, Fatima Mkkawi. Now, officials in the Detroit suburb are looking at changing an ordinance on garage use, arguing that as people get a little too comfortable hanging out in the garage, more cars are clogging side streets. Dearborn officials say the ordinance-tightening is not meant to target Arabs or anyone else. They say the structures are not meant to be living spaces, so building permits cannot be issued to convert them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUse of garages as social gathering place spurs action by officials