Connect with us

West

FBI to probe claims of 'targeted violence' against religious groups after evangelicals' protest in Seattle

Published

on

FBI to probe claims of 'targeted violence' against religious groups after evangelicals' protest in Seattle

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Tuesday he had requested an investigation into allegations of “targeted violence” against religious groups after an evangelical conservative group held a rally at Seattle City Hall in response to the mayor blaming Christians for igniting a weekend demonstration that turned violent.

“We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion,” Bongino wrote on X.

The Christians’ “Rattle in Seattle” demonstration began at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the 4th Avenue steps of City Hall in downtown Seattle, where counter-protesters were also present, according to Fox 13.

A total of eight people were arrested for assault during dueling demonstrations as of 8 p.m., according to Seattle Police. No injuries were reported.

SEATTLE MAYOR BLAMES CHRISTIAN RALLY FOR INSPIRING VIOLENT ‘ANARCHISTS’ WHO ‘INFILTRATED’ COUNTER-PROTEST

Advertisement

The FBI is investigating allegations of “targeted violence” against religious groups, deputy director Dan Bongino said. (Reuters)

“Two opposing groups gathered along 4th Avenue. Streets around the dueling demonstrations were shut down for several hours, but reopened just before 8 p.m.,” police said in a press release.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Seattle Police for possible updated arrest totals.

Tuesday’s protest comes after a demonstration on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park during MayDayUSA’s “Don’t Mess With Our Kids” rally and a pro-LGBTQ counter-protest. Police made 23 arrests at that demonstration after violence broke out when event organizers, attendees and counter-protesters converged.

Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, released a statement after the weekend demonstration, blaming the Christian rally and infiltrating “anarchists” for the violence breaking out at the counter-protest.

Advertisement

BLUE STATE MAYOR PROPOSES CITY ORDINANCE TO STRENGTHEN TRANSGENDER CARE PROTECTIONS IN THE FACE OF TRUMP EOS

A total of eight people were arrested for assault during dueling demonstrations on Tuesday. (SDOT Traffic)

“Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice,” the mayor said at the time. “Today’s far-right rally was held here for this very reason – to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values, in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.”

“Anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did,” he continued.

The mayor also released respective statements on Tuesday from several of the city’s Christian and Jewish leaders siding with Harrell and condemning the weekend “Rattle in Seattle” protest.

Advertisement

“Mayday’s desire is to wrap their personal hate, fear, and bigotry in Christian speak. It won’t work,” Rev. Dr. Patricia L. Hunter, a Baptist pastor, said in a statement. “The call of Jesus to his followers was to first love God and secondly to love our neighbors. In no way does the ideology or bad theology of this fringe group embody the love of God we are to exhibit. Those of us who actually follow the Jesus of the New Testament work to make the welcome tent bigger so that all God’s children regardless of sexuality or sexual identity are welcome at the table of love, justice, grace, and mercy.”

Mayor Bruce Harrell released a statement after the weekend demonstration, blaming a Christian rally and infiltrating “anarchists” for the violence breaking out at a counter-protest. (David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Organizers of the “Rattle in Seattle” protest took issue with the mayor’s statement, which they said showed religious bigotry and an attack on their First Amendment rights, and held the rally on Tuesday to protest his remarks.

“Following the MayDay USA worship event at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, Mayor Harrell had the audacity to issue a press release blaming Christians for the premediated violence of Antifa which resulted in the hospitalization of Seattle Police Department personnel and the arrest of 23 Antifa agitators,” the organizers said in a statement. “Under Mayor Harrell’s leadership, the city of Seattle has continued its spiral into lawlessness and dysfunction while the First Amendment rights of citizens to peacefully assemble has been disregarded.”

Advertisement

Fox News Digital has out to the mayor’s office for comment.

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Alaska

Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Limits Increased

Published

on

Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Limits Increased


 

Spawning Coho. Image-BLM

(Soldotna) – To allow anglers additional harvest opportunity of Kasilof River sockeye salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, to six fish per day and twelve fish in possession; however, no more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon, in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. These provisions are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 26 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2026.

The biological escapement goal on the Kasilof River is 140,000-320,000 sockeye salmon. Through June 23, a total of 117,665 sockeye salmon have passed the Kasilof River sonar site. The current escapement of sockeye salmon into the Kasilof River is proceeding at a rate that is projected to exceed the biological escapement goal.

In addition to increasing the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, ADF&G issued emergency order 2-RS-1-32-26 expanding the area open to the personal use dip net fishery on the Kasilof River.

Advertisement

For additional information, please contact the Soldotna ADF&G office at (907) 262-9368.



Source link

Continue Reading

Arizona

Where to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs St. Louis Cardinals: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 25

Published

on

Where to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs St. Louis Cardinals: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 25


play

The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

Advertisement

The MLB action continues on Thursday as the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the St. Louis Cardinals.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Arizona Diamondbacks vs St. Louis Cardinals?

First pitch between the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, June 25.

How to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

Advertisement
  • Matchup: ARI at STL
  • Date: Thursday, June 25
  • Time: 7:45 p.m. (ET)
  • Venue: Busch Stadium
  • Location: St. Louis, Missouri
  • TV: Cardinals.TV and DBACKS.TV
  • Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for June 25 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

California

Bug infestation found at California Department of Education headquarters, employees sent home

Published

on

Bug infestation found at California Department of Education headquarters, employees sent home


Bugs have once again been found inside the California Department of Education headquarters in downtown Sacramento, prompting employees to leave the building and raising concerns among workers about returning to the office.

Employees were instructed to go home after bugs were detected in the building, according to state workers and union representatives.

They say it’s not the first time. Union representatives and employees confirmed to CBS News Sacramento that this is the second bug-related incident at the headquarters in the past two years.

“If they’re in one place, it’s very easy for them to be throughout the entire building,” said Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 100.

Advertisement

The discovery has renewed concerns about workplace safety, particularly as state employees prepare for expanded return-to-office requirements.

“Let’s do what’s necessary and make sure that our employees stay safe and that when they are in the building, they’re not contracting or taking home anything that they don’t need to be,” Walls said.

The California Department of Education confirmed the building experienced a bed bug incident in 2024. However, officials said they are still awaiting pest control reports to determine whether the insects recently discovered are bed bugs or another species.

State workers say they want a permanent solution rather than temporary fixes.

“It’s smart to fix the problem the correct way rather than trying to just mitigate the issue and shut down certain floors,” Walls said.

Advertisement

While most state agencies are scheduled to move to a four-day-a-week, in-office schedule beginning next week, California Department of Education employees will continue their current hybrid schedule of two in-office days per week through the end of the year.

In a statement, the department said it is working with the Department of General Services and pest control specialists to inspect the entire building.

“As stated in the message to our employees, we are actively coordinating follow-up inspections and remediation efforts and will provide updates as soon as additional information becomes available,” the department said.

Union representatives said the department was responsive during the previous infestation and expressed hope for a quicker resolution this time.

“Last time, they were really receptive to the conversations with employees, which was good. We’re hoping for another good outcome, hopefully just a little more expedient this time,” Walls said.

Advertisement

CBS News Sacramento also spoke with a local pest control company, which said that if the insects are confirmed to be bed bugs, treatment could take several months.

The process typically involves repeated inspections and treatments every one to two weeks, including high-heat treatments reaching approximately 160 degrees and extensive cleaning to prevent the infestation from returning.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending