She is bold, knows her mind, and not afraid to draw attention. But does Lizzo consume weed and just chill sometimes?
The post Does Lizzo Consume Weed appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
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UW Sends Barricades and Cops to Gaza Encampment Protest
Protesters say cops don’t keep them safe, “We keep us safe.”
by Hannah Krieg
This afternoon the University of Washington propped up police-guarded barricades at all entrances of the Quad. This marks the UW’s first crackdown on student protesters after six days of peaceful camping. While a UW spokesperson told The Stranger that the barricades are a “temporary effort today,” the spokesperson did not address protesters’ primary concern, the presence of police. In other similar protests across the country, police presence has led to arrests, violence, and encampment sweeps. While the students are taking precautions after UW’s flex of power, they maintain they won’t leave their tents until the administration caves to their demands.
For several days, student protesters have expressed concern over Charlie Kirk’s scheduled campus appearances. Kirk is the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that promotes conservative politics at US schools. Students worried the event would bring right-wing agitators to their encampment. The encampment, once a group of 20 or so tents relegated to one corner of the lawn, has exploded in size over the past week, taking all four quadrants with at least 100 tents and even more canopies.
NOW: A large group of student advocates are setting up more tents at the quad at UW, at least doubling the existing Gaza solidarity encampment that’s already calling for the Universoty to divest from Israel pic.twitter.com/9PrpN2VXIz
— Hannah Krieg (@hannahkrieg) May 1, 2024
All the while, the occupation seems to have remained relatively peaceful. Students told The Stranger that they want to keep it that way. They said the encampment should be about their three demands: materially and academically divest from Israel, cut ties with Boeing, and end repression of pro-Palestinian students and faculty. Police violence against students is “connected” to state violence against Palestinians, but “the focus really needs to be on Palestine and ending the genocide,” media liaison Gina Liu said last week.
To keep the peace, the United Front for Palestinian Liberation (UF) and other groups supporting the encampment protest asked the UW to cancel Kirk’s campus events, which included tabling at the HUB lawn at 12:30 pm and a talk at the HUB Ballroom at 6:30 pm.
UW claimed it could not cancel the event—one of UW’s registered student organizations (RSOs) invited him and they are “free to extend invitations to guest speakers.” According to the ACLU, barring speech at a public campus, no matter how offensive, violates the Constitution.
UF asked if the administration could at least move the event to a different part of campus, since the encampment sits just a short walk away from one of the events.
Some students have raised concerns about the Charlie Kirk events on campus today because his right-wing crowd will be so near by the encampment. I walked (possibly not the most direct route) between the protest and the Turnimg Point USA table to give you and idea of proximity pic.twitter.com/Z5kwUYZs6i
— Hannah Krieg (@hannahkrieg) May 7, 2024
In an email to the administration, UF wrote, “We ask this out of concern for student safety and with the knowledge that administration cares to take steps that will reduce the potential for conflict or violence that could result in harm to students.”
UW did not move the event and instead propped up metal fences, guarded by a handful of police officers, at all six entrances to the Quad around the time Kirk started his debate event on the HUB lawn.
Cops stand inside the barricade around the Quad.
“Our priority is the safety and security of our campus community,” UW spokesperson Victor Balta said in an email statement. “There are multiple events on campus today and this evening that could draw attendees with strongly opposing viewpoints. We recognize that tensions are especially high due to events around the world, and our hope is that people with opposing views refrain from seeking confrontations and avoid antagonizing one another.”
Balta said the barricades are a “temporary effort today,” but did not specify under what circumstances UW would close the gates. Balta also did not comment about police presence.
Students said they would have been fine with barricades, but they claim the UW only offered them contingent on police presence. In a statement on social media, UF wrote “[UW admin] claim that this is a protective measure, but we know that police do not keep us safe.”
Cops did not keep protesters safe in UCLA when pro-Israel counter-protesters attacked their encampment. Instead, the Los Angeles Police Department let counter-protesters beat up students for more than two hours. Governor Gavin Newsom said the “limited and delayed” response was “unacceptable.” Cops have shown up to other demonstrations across the country in riot gear, shooting rubber bullets and spraying tear gas into crowds of students. Civil rights groups say their response has been excessive.
For now, students are holding down the fort and continuing their scheduled programming. A media liaison told The Stranger that they bolstered their security team in anticipation of counter-protesters, but have not encountered more activity than usual. Only a few people counter-protested Kirk’s event, which he claimed as a victory.
Acting like Turning Point USA team didn’t go into the encampment and ask them to come debate. You WISH you got a reaction from them lol https://t.co/DsGkT8e0Oj
— Hannah Krieg (@hannahkrieg) May 7, 2024
Tuesday afternoon, students appeared to practice forming a defensive line with makeshift shields. A student told The Stranger that the encampment protesters have not had to form a line against the police or counter-protesters, and they hope they never have to, but seeing what happened at other schools, they are preparing for the worst.
The Stranger
Does Lizzo Consume Weed
She is bold, knows her mind, and not afraid to draw attention. But does Lizzo consume weed and just chill sometimes?
The post Does Lizzo Consume Weed appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Does Lizzo Consume Weed
She is bold, knows her mind, and not afraid to draw attention. But does Lizzo consume weed and just chill sometimes?
The post Does Lizzo Consume Weed appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Spring is here and here comes the summer sun. Could you help your lisp with CBD balm? You bet your smile.
The post Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Spring is here and here comes the summer sun. Could you help your lisp with CBD balm? You bet your smile.
The post Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Spring is here and here comes the summer sun. Could you help your lisp with CBD balm? You bet your smile.
The post Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Spring is here and here comes the summer sun. Could you help your lisp with CBD balm? You bet your smile.
The post Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm
Spring is here and here comes the summer sun. Could you help your lisp with CBD balm? You bet your smile.
The post Could You Help Your Lips With CBD Balm appeared first on The Fresh Toast.
The Fresh Toast
Slog AM: New Seattle Police Contract Costs City $96 Million in 2024, SPD Officer Threatened to Beat Another Officer ‘To Death,’ Israel Cuts Off Aid to Gaza
The Stranger’s morning news roundup.
by Ashley Nerbovig
Morning! Low chance of rain this morning before 2 pm, and the National Weather Service expected today to start cloudy and then turn sunny, with a nigh near 57. Looking outside right now, just appears to start sunny. Grab some sunscreen and hit the streets!
Seattle Police Officers contract cost released: City Council central staff released the cost of the 2020-2023 Seattle Police Officer’s Guild (SPOG) contract and the cops absolutely hustled us. This year, the City plans to pay officers an additional $96 million in backpay and raises. If SPOG negotiates for zero new dollars in their next round of contract negotiations—which start immediately—then the ongoing additional cost of the contract in salary pay alone will be about $39.1 million. With zero accountability measures. The City says it’s entered into mediation over the next contract, which involves negotiations over wages, hours, working conditions, and disciplinary systems. The contract adds about $40 million in additional spending to the 2025 budget, a year in which the City expects a $240 million budget deficit. The contract heads to full Council vote next Tuesday.
Looks like the new SPOG contract will go directly to Full Council for a final vote on Tuesday, 5/14. Seattle will be paying $57.1 million in backpay to SPOG members for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Accounting for the raises, officer pay will then cost about $40 million more per year.
— Amy Sundberg (@amysundberg) May 6, 2024
Very related… Here are all the council members’ email addresses:
rob.saka@seattle.gov
tammy.morales@seattle.gov
joy.hollingsworth@seattle.gov
maritza.rivera@seattle.gov
cathy.moore@seattle.gov
dan.strauss@seattle.gov
robert.kettle@seattle.gov
tanya.woo@seattle.gov
sara.nelson@seattle.gov
Speaking of Seattle Police Department Officers: SPD Officer Ryan Rose challenged another officer to a fight after the officer went to talk to him about how Rose had ruined a potential drug bust, causing the suspects to scatter, according to DivestSPD. Officers said Rose had “Leeroy Jenkins’d” the drug bust. When Officer Seth Romeo tried to speak to Rose about it, Rose became angry and called Romeo a “pussy.” Rose later told another officer that Romeo was “lucky that I am not off duty. I would drag him out the car and beat him to death.” Anyway, no increased accountability measures in the new SPOG contract that gives this cop a raise.
Speaking of raising wages: The King County Council plans to vote Tuesday on whether to increase the County’s minimum wage to more than $20 an hour, according to the Seattle Times. The bill has some caveats: it only applies to unincorporated King County and has some different minimums for small-to-mid-sized businesses, so it really only applies to three businesses. Still, that’s probably good. The bill looks likely to pass, with five out of nine council members already voicing their support.
University of Washington has no plans to cut ties with Boeing: Through a spokesperson Friday, UW President Ana Mari Cauce maintained that the University had no plans to meet student protestors’ demands that UW end its relationship with the weapons manufacturer, according to the Seattle Times. Cauce stands with a long list of college presidents who continue to say, “Nom nom nom, we love blood money.”
Israel seizes border crossing as it prepares to invade Rafah: Israel’s preparations for a “limited” ground incursion into Rafah has “choked off” aid to Gaza as it closes a crucial border crossing, according to NBC News. The cutting of aid comes as the people of northern Gaza deal with a “full-blown famine.” More than a million Palestinians fled to Rafah after Israel began raining airstrikes down on Gaza. Now, Israel has asked 100,000 Palestinians to evacuate eastern Rafah. Hamas agreed to a cease-fire proposal, and yet Israel has said it plans to continue its invasion. More than 34,700 Palestinians have died in the conflict so far, according to the Associated Press, and other outlets acknowledge that’s likely an incomplete count.
HIND’S HALL. Once it’s up on streaming all proceeds to UNRWA. pic.twitter.com/QqZEKmzwZI
— Macklemore (@macklemore) May 6, 2024
[Eds note: Macklemore’s past taste in, uh, “disguises” may open him up to criticism.]
Customers launch fundraiser for Ballard market: An explosion engulfed Take 5 Urban Market in Ballard in flames early Thursday. The building itself survived, but the accidental natural gas explosion destroyed everything inside. Customers want to make sure the market can bounce back and have launched a fundraiser— MyBallard has more.
Republican City Attorney Ann Davison kind of sucks at her job: Between February 2022 and August 2023, Davison’s office has taken 36 cases to trial and secured a guilty verdict in exactly eight. I have to dive into these numbers a little more, but the lack of convictions out of her office, and lack of trials, seems about right for a candidate with limited trial experience.
Repubican City Attorney Ann Davison’s Office literally can’t win at trial. Between February 2022 and August 2023, her office took 36 cases to trial, and she only won 8. Her conviction rate at trial is 22%.
— Ashley Nerbovig (@AshleyNerbovig) May 6, 2024
Former Bothell City Council member remains in jail on murder charge: James McNeal, 58, faces second-degree murder charges for the death of 20-year-old Liliya Guyvoronsky. Prosecutors say McNeal met Guyvoronsky while she worked as a dancer, but then began seeing her and financially supporting her after she left the adult entertainment industry, according to the Everett Herald. The charging documents say Guyvoronsky tried to break up with McNeal, and wrote herself a note: “Do not interact w/James today.” Authorities have not yet released a cause of death.
Trump’s hush-money trial continues: Prosecutors called Stormy Daniels to the stand Tuesday to testify about her sexual encounter with the former president in 2006, which she says she was paid to keep silent about, according to the Associated Press. Should be interesting reading. This is more of an aside, but I think we should start calling it “Shush money.”
Mayor plans to move some refugees: Mayor Bruce Harrell said his office plans to move some families with kids out of Powell Barnett Park, saying they’ve identified some other shelter. Lilly Ana Fowler has more:
Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office plans to clear Powell Barnett Park in the Central District where 100s of asylum seekers — mostly from Venezuela & Angola — have been camping. They say they’ve identified other shelter. Response comes after some raised questions about conditions. pic.twitter.com/dvZ439EdlC
— Lilly Ana Fowler (@LillyAFowler) May 6, 2024
“Tried to talk to God/But He said sort yourself out”: Pillow Queens’ new album Name Your Sorrow is a beautiful, lyrical piece of art. Highly recommend listening on a long, sunny walk.
The Stranger