Detroit, MI

Tlaib tells pro-Palestinian activists to continue protest: ‘We are winning’

Published

8 months ago

August 31, 2025

Tlaib tells pro-Palestinian activists to continue protest: ‘We are winning’

Detroit — Pro-Palestinian activists are making headway with Americans and in Congress, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib said during a sweeping speech to thousands gathered for a weekend conference in downtown Detroit.

She said her colleagues in Congress are “scared” by protesters at their district offices and town hall attendees questioning U.S. arms sales to Israel. She said activists are “winning” outside of Washington, D.C., and encouraged them to continue mobilizing for Palestinian rights, boycotting companies that support Israel’s war and protesting the U.S. support of Israel.

“The tide is turning in a way that it can never be turned back,” she said. “Palestine will be free.”

Tlaib was the closing speaker at the People’s Conference for Palestine, a weekend conference at Huntington Place that ended Sunday. She exited to a standing ovation.

The conference was organized by pro-Palestinian groups. Other speakers included doctors who have worked recently in Gaza, a local civil rights attorney, journalists, artists and activists including Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained for 104 days for his role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

Khalil spoke Saturday. He said he continues to appear publicly and speak on behalf of Gaza despite the risk it places on his freedom because “silence is not an option.”

“I will not remain silent in the face of genocide,” he said. “I will not be silent when people are being starved and massacred.”

Tlaib is first Palestinian American elected to Congress, which she noted is an achievement of the Detroit voters who sent her to D.C. She credited Detroit and her Palestinian heritage with teaching her to rely on people, not institutions, and to continue speaking up for Palestinian people.

“They thought they could kill us, rape us, imprison us, uproot us from our olive tree farms, starve our children to death, and we would disappear,” she said. “Well guess what? Now we’re in Congress.”

Tlaib read a letter written by a Palestinian woman about her experience raising children amid the bombing, food insecurity and squalid conditions in Gaza. She also likened America’s arms sales to Israel to recent moves by the Republican-led Congress and the Trump Administration to cut health care spending and food assistance programs in the most recent budget and deploy federal agents in cities including Los Angeles, California, and Washington, D.C.

“A government that doesn’t value human life in Gaza will never value human life in our country,” Tlaib said.

Erin Cavataro, the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s director of community relations, previously told The News her organization is “deeply disturbed that the (conference) provides a platform to speakers advocating for the destruction of Israel.

“(It) does nothing to advance peace and alarmingly escalates tensions in Detroit, around the country and abroad,” she said.

Cavataro also said she looks forward to a day when there is peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and when the region is not threatened by terrorist organizations.

Tlaib spoke after Belal Muhammad, a mixed martial artist and former UFC Welterweight Champion who is of Palestinian descent. He said his fights are merely games compared to the fighting Palestinians do daily to survive. They are “the strongest people in the world,” he said.

Muhammad encouraged people to proudly display Palestinian flags and wear their keffiyeh to symbolize their Palestinian heritage.

“Show them we walk with pride,” he said. “Show them who you are.”

Israel launched a massive offensive into Gaza after Hamas-led militants attacked Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people and capturing 251. Hamas still holds some hostages amid foundering cease-fire negotiations.

Since it started its campaign in 2023, Israel has killed more than 63,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The United Nations in August declared there was famine in Gaza alongside increasing spread of preventable disease.

ckthompson@detroitnews.com

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Detroit, MI

Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron

Published

3 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron

The Pistons have made recent moves to add more shooting, but still don’t have anyone quite as lethal as former Detroit guard Luke Kennard. On Saturday night, Kennard had a brilliant start to his postseason with 27 uber-efficient points for the Lakers in a win against the Rockets. His level of 3-point accuracy is something the Pistons have desperately been seeking all season long to bolster their offense.

Luke Kennard’s shooting makes him a dangerous playoff performer

Kennard was originally drafted to Detroit with the 17th pick of the 2017 Draft. The Pistons have plenty of draft regrets from that general era of team history, but picking Kennard has never been one of them. Despite any other weaknesses he may have, his strength as a shooter has always been enough to offset them.

In terms of pure 3-point percentage, Kennard is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He averages 44% behind the arc for his career, and shot a blistering 48% this season – the best mark in the league. Given his incredible track record, it’s not exactly a shocker to see him shoot 5-of-5 from three en route to 27 points in Game 1.

Not only is Kennard obviously an excellent standstill shooter, but he’s also a master of getting himself open with his movement. On Saturday night, he was able to play off LeBron James perfectly for a few easy looks. After that, he caught enough of a rhythm to create 3-point looks for himself, even in transition.

A player like Kennard is easily capable of turning an entire playoff game when he gets hot. In a close series, that one game where Kennard hits several threes can be all the difference his team needs to advance. If the Lakers do manage to win this series, even without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Kennard’s shooting will be a major reason why.

The Pistons could use someone like Kennard

Kennard would be a perfect marginal addition for the Pistons that only makes them better without taking anything away from the team. To be fair, the Pistons do have two shooters who have been hot recently in Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. But having more than one respected shooter on the court at a time is often necessary to maintain a solid offense in today’s NBA.

Given the Pistons’ current lack of shooting, any additional shooters are welcome. And Kennard is understandably one of the most feared shooters in the league, capable of bending defenses just by the threat of him taking a three. Rolling him out on the Pistons would surely open up more lanes for Detroit’s stars to attack the paint and score easier points.

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Detroit, MI

Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94

Published

15 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94

A Detroit woman was arrested in the aftermath of a hit-and-run collision and shooting on Interstate 94, Michigan State Police reported.

Emergency dispatchers were called shortly after midnight Saturday about the altercation. Troopers reported the caller said while they were driving eastbound on I-94, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a black Jeep sideswiped them and sped off.

The caller then decided to follow the Jeep.

In response, police said, the driver of the Jeep fired several gunshots in the caller’s direction.

None of the gunshots struck the vehicle.

Troopers were able to use license plate reader camera technology to locate the Jeep while it was on the Lodge Freeway, made a traffic stop. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without incident.

The passengers were released shortly afterwards; troopers believe that the 19-year-old driver was the shooter. She has been lodged pending further review by the prosecutor’s office.

In addition, a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.

The above video originally aired on Aug. 19, 2025.

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Detroit, MI

Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday

Who is favored in the NBA playoffs odds for Game 1 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic?

Here’s what you need to know about NBA playoff betting odds for the NBA game between the No. 8 seed Magic and No. 1 seed Pistons, which is being played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

What is the point spread for the Pistons vs Magic game?

What is the moneyline for the Magic vs Pistons game?

What is the over/under (point total) for betting on the first-round NBA playoff matchup?

Watch Magic at Pistons on Peacock

Magic vs Pistons odds: What is point spread?

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Detroit Pistons are an 8.5-point favorite over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Pistons vs Magic odds: What is moneyline?

BetMGM Sportsbook lists Detroit as -375 on the moneyline for the first-round NBA playoff game. It has Orlando at +290.

Magic vs Pistons odds: What is over/under?

The point total for the opening game of the NBA playoffs series between the Pistons and Magic is listed at 218.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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