A pacesetter of a youth group from two Maryland church buildings mentioned Friday that about two dozen folks have been caught at an oceanside compound in Panama for per week amid political turbulence and protests which have shut down main roads within the nation.
Maryland
Md. churches’ youth group stuck at Panama compound amid political unrest
![Md. churches’ youth group stuck at Panama compound amid political unrest Md. churches’ youth group stuck at Panama compound amid political unrest](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/GA4ADHQEOMI63C7LFNHEQGYVAA.jpg&w=1440)
When the group from New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fulton and Frederick Seventh-day Adventist Church first arrived, they hit a few roadblocks that delayed their drive a number of hours, Shepard texted a buddy, however “on the time we had been unaware of the gravity of the scenario.”
For the previous week, 1000’s of Panamanians have been marching within the capital and in cities throughout the nation to point out anger over skyrocketing gas costs, the Related Press reported. Indigenous teams from the realm the place the church teams are caught are among the many nation’s most impoverished, and so they joined protesting lecturers and staff from Panama’s highly effective building trade because the unrest grew thereafter. Protesters blocked the Pan-American Freeway, the AP mentioned, and a few buses that attempted to cross roadblocks had been broken by protesters.
There have been no reviews of accidents, in response to the AP, however Shepard mentioned that the driving force who was speculated to take the youth to and from volunteering every day has been caught on the roadside by the blockade for per week and that others mentioned some on the street had been being held up at gunpoint.
“We’re good targets. It’s not secure. We have now all these youngsters,” Shepard mentioned. Her 17-year-old daughter was together with her.
The mission teams have been going to the realm to work with Indigenous teams for almost a decade, Shepard mentioned, although the coronavirus pandemic had interrupted the journeys the previous couple of years.
A discover dated Thursday on the U.S. State Division’s web site warns of protests in Panama and recommends guests “train warning close to any giant gatherings or protests and keep situational consciousness.”
“Sadly, protests and street blockages are part of life in Panama,” the warning states. “There could also be demonstrations to protest inside Panamanian points or, extra hardly ever, manifestations of anti-U.S. sentiment. Whereas most demonstrations are nonviolent, the Panamanian Nationwide Police have used tear fuel and/or riot management munitions in response to demonstrations, notably when roadways are blocked or aggression is used in opposition to the police.”
Shepard mentioned there have been no such warnings earlier than the group headed to Panama final week. She mentioned that they had contacted the State Division and several other Maryland officers.
The regional Maryland workplace of the Seventh-day Adventist Church didn’t instantly reply to a message on Friday.
Shepard mentioned one of many group’s leaders had simply left when the group arrived to the provincial capital of David to get cellphone playing cards and was blocked by protesters from leaving that metropolis. That chief has two teenagers with him, she mentioned.
The facility went off for some time Friday, Shepard mentioned, however the compound’s homeowners “have been utilizing their underground community” to safe the youth group meals. She mentioned they’re making an attempt to maintain the teenagers’ spirits up and never fear them.
“We’re doing all kinds of issues, like making an attempt to get them to play playing cards, go within the water. We hold telling them it’s going to be tremendous,” she mentioned. “They’re anxious and leery.”
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Maryland
University of Maryland reverses decision to allow anti-Israel protest on October 7
The University of Maryland on Sunday reversed its decision to allow an anti-Israel protest on the first anniversary of the October 7 Massacre, following backlash from local Jewish groups.
UMD Students for Justice in Palestine and UMD Jewish Voice for Peace had been set to hold their October 7 vigil for Gazans killed in the Israel-Hamas War at the campus’s Mckeldin Mall, but the University System of Maryland (USM) said in a statement that on the day of the Hamas-led pogrom it would limit campus events requiring permits or approval to those supporting “a university-sponsored Day of Dialogue.”
“From the beginning of the war, we have come together as a University System to urge that we use this moment to encourage conversation, compassion, and civility; to engage with one another across our differences and draw on our shared humanity and our shared values to bridge what divides us,” said USM. “These dialogues aren’t new. Many of our universities have been hosting this kind of programming for several months. Reserving Oct. 7 gives us a chance to continue these urgent conversations and to mark this solemn anniversary in a way that gives students—all students—the time and space to share and to be heard.”
USM said that its intent was not to infringe of the free expression and speech of students, but to be sensitive to the needs of students as October 7 was a “day of enormous suffering and grief for many in our campus communities.”
UMD Jewish Student Union, Maryland Hillel, Terps for Israel, and Israeli American Council Mishelanu at Maryland welcomed the USM decision and thanked UMD leadership in a joint social media statement on Sunday.
“October 7, the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, is a day of mourning for the Jewish and Israeli community,” said the UMD JSU. “We are relieved that SJP will no longer to be able to appropriate the suffering of our family and friends to fit their false and dangerous narrative.”
The Jewish groups said that it was distraught that the decision to only hold university-sponsored event had to be made at all, and wished to used the campus space to “grieve together as a community” to promote unity at the university. The unideal situation was necessary, according to the Jewish groups, to ensure the physical and psychological safety of students on the day of mourning.
UMD JVP and SJP attacked the decision to cancel the event, claiming that the vigil for Palestinians killed since the October 7 Massacre was attacked without familiarity of the content. The anti-Israel groups said that the discourse was “the continuation inherently racist, Islamophobic, and dehumanizing rhetoric surrounding Palestinians.” JVP and SJP said that the actions against their event were an attempt to paint “Muslim, Arab, and anti-Zionist Jewish students as barbaric.”
The anti-Israel groups asserted that their vigil for Palestinians who died in the war was no threat to the campus’s Jewish community, but conflation of Zionism and Judaism did threaten UMD and the Jewish community.
“To claim that Palestinians cannot hold a day of remembrance in mourning one year of genocide, or lay claim to that date is an insult to every life lost in the Zionist entity’s genocidal campaign,” UMD SJP and JVP said on Instagram on Sunday. “The disproportionate scale of suffering experienced by the Palestinians over the past year necessitates their remembrance and our solidarity on this day. The suffering of all innocents killed must not be monopolized and necessitates a fair and just representation.”
SJP and JVP demanded the right to organize and exercise their right to free speech, accusing Zionists of attempting to stifle Palestinian voices.
The organizations indicated on their Sunday Instagram post that they still planned to hold their all-day event at Mckeldin Mall, and on Monday a link to register still active and listing the campus building as the rally location.
UMD Jewish groups said that they would be holding their own event to memorialize the victims of the October 7 pogrom at the Maryland Hillel.
Maryland
Sunshine for your Labor Day in Maryland
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Maryland
Michigan State Has Several Things to Fix Before Heading to Maryland
![Michigan State Has Several Things to Fix Before Heading to Maryland Michigan State Has Several Things to Fix Before Heading to Maryland](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4622,h_2599,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/spartan_nation/01j6q3dyp4hhn9f949m6.jpg)
Michigan State’s football team emerged with a 16-10 win against Florida Atlantic, but it was far from a convincing victory. The Spartans struggled throughout the game, exhibiting a range of issues that need immediate attention if they hope to find more consistent success moving forward.
With less than a week to prepare for its next opponent, Michigan State has a critical opportunity to address these shortcomings and refine its game plan.
The win over FAU exposed several areas of concern for Michigan State, particularly on offense. The Spartans were plagued by poor execution and missed opportunities, with several drives stalling due to penalties and miscues. The offensive line, in particular, struggled to establish a rhythm, which led to limited success in both the running and passing games.
Quarterback play from Aidan Chiles was inconsistent, with errant throws and a lack of cohesion with the receiving corps contributing to the team’s inability to sustain drives and put the game away early.
Defensively, Michigan State managed to hold FAU to just 10 points, but there were still some worrying signs. Despite the Spartans having multiple interceptions and a safety, they gave up several big plays, revealing potential vulnerabilities in the secondary and raising concerns about the unit’s ability to maintain discipline and focus throughout the game. Missed tackles and lapses in coverage could prove costly against more formidable opponents, making it imperative for the coaching staff to address these issues in the coming week.
Special teams were another area where Michigan State faltered. On multiple occasions, the Spartans gave up more punt return yards than they should have because of missed tackles.
With less than a week before its next game, Michigan State has a valuable window to regroup and make the necessary adjustments. The coaching staff will need to focus on tightening up execution across all phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams. This includes refining the game plan, improving communication and instilling a greater sense of urgency and discipline among the players.
The Spartans cannot afford to let the issues that plagued them against FAU carry over into their matchup against Maryland. If they hope to be competitive as the season progresses, the team must use this time to correct course and demonstrate growth in all facets of its game.
Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
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