Seattle, WA
Seattle dance squad says they were told American flag shirts made audience members feel 'triggered and unsafe'
Members of a regional women’s country line dance team were reportedly kicked out of a Seattle dance convention after organizers claimed their American flag-themed shirts made some attendees feel “triggered and unsafe.”
Over the weekend at the Emerald City Hoedown in Seattle, the Borderline Dance team was set to perform, but were essentially told they weren’t welcome by organizer Rain Country Dance Association, an LGBTQ+ dance community, over their matching American flag themed shirts, Jason Rantz reported for 770 KTTH.
“Unfortunately, what our team was met with upon arrival was that our flag tops were offensive to some of the convention goers,” the dance group posted to Facebook. “There was a small group that felt ‘triggered and unsafe.’”
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Co-captain Lindsay Stamp spoke with Rantz for The Jason Rantz Show, explaining that their costumes sparked a “small percentage” of complainants who brought up Israel’s war against Hamas and transgender issues.
“At first we were told we would just be boo’d, yelled at and likely many of them would walk out,” the group’s Facebook post explained. “This did not deter us. But then we were given an ultimatum. Remove the flag tops and perform in either street clothes (which most didn’t bring as they traveled there in their uniforms) or they would supply us with ECH shirts from years past… Or, don’t perform at all, which effectively was asking us to leave.”
“We don’t speak for our team, we speak on behalf of them so the choice was theirs,” the post said. “As we knew would happen because there really was no choice in our minds, it was a unanimous NO.”
The Borderline Dance Team
Stamp told Rantz that members of the team were shocked after they spent only 30 minutes at the venue before they started receiving complaints, adding that the team is patriotic, but doesn’t make statements about politics.
“My team doesn’t take a political stance. We came to dance,” she said. “We’re a patriotic group. We support our military, our veterans, our first responders. We’re a group of patriots.”
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In the Facebook post, the group said they were not the only one that received this treatment.
“Our friends, West Coast Country Heat, who were also scheduled to dance for the convention that evening also did not perform as they too proudly don the colors of our country in the same spirit of patriotism that we do,” the post said. “Both of our teams stood in solidarity and put actions to words.”
But, the group said watching the two teams band together was “the greatest performance.”
“These people are strong, resolute and unwavering in their patriotism,” the Borderline Dance Team said. “They are the families and friends of people who have suffered the unimaginable so that we may all have our own opinions and sleep soundly in our beds at night. THAT is why we wear the colors. Because although we may not always agree with the current state of things, we recognize that being an American means true FREEDOM.”
“We all understood and accepted this and walked out with class and dignity despite the discrimination we had experienced,” the post added.
The Rain Country Dance Association did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment but indirectly addressed the incident on Facebook.
“Hi y’all! After the close of another amazing Hoedown weekend, we know there are some questions about the Saturday night performance line-up,” the post read. “We appreciate y’all giving us the time to clear up misunderstandings and address the situation with people directly involved. We will be posting a follow-up statement later this week once we are able to have those conversations.”
In a Facebook comment, board president Ziadee Cambier said members of the Borderline Dance Team weren’t asked to leave.
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“We will be in continued communication with the captains of the dance teams that were slated to perform Saturday,” she wrote. “To clarify, as this was not a competition, no one was disqualified and no one was asked to leave. While we are mending our relationships directly with the dance teams we will be disabling comments on this post. We will be sharing more information later this week, to hopefully clear up any misunderstandings.”
Stamp disagreed and told Rantz she didn’t think there was miscommunication.
“It’s pretty clear to me, there’s always room for error in any situation, but I don’t believe so,” she said.
“I would just love to see more conversations opened about people accepting one another,” she added. “About being wholly inclusive. You know, every group of person talks about being inclusive and accepting. And I think that we need to work on being inclusive and accepting of people outside of our immediate comfort zones. I would love to see that.”
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Seattle, WA
Video shows man attempt to push stranger in front of train in Seattle
Video shows man allegedly try to push stranger in front of train
Immediate mental health help is available in the U.S. by calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
A man was charged with attempted murder after a video appeared to show him attempting to push a person in front of a moving train. The moment was captured on surveillance camera footage.
The incident occurred on the Northgate light rail station in Seattle on March 19, as a train was pulling up, according to Storyful.
The video shows a man wearing a black hoodie standing behind a stranger who was on his phone. The man watches the train tracks, and as the train comes into view in the video, the man then pushes the victim, who stumbles forward. When the victim regains his balance, the suspect attempts to push him again and then flees the scene. The victim was able to hold his footing and appears to follow the man.
See shocking video of the attack
Suspect ordered mental health evaluation
Detectives later found the suspect, identified as Elisio Melendez, at a “mental health community facility where he lived,” according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
Melendez was later charged with attempted murder in the second degree and is being held on a $750,000 bail, according to King County arrest records obtained by USA TODAY.
Melendez, whose defense team stated has a history of mental illness, reported KOMO News, was ordered to undergo mental health evaluations during his arraignment on Tuesday, March 31.
USA TODAY has reached out to Melendez’s attorney for comment.
Immediate mental health help is available in the U.S. by calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, space phenomena, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
Seattle, WA
I-5 blocked near Chehalis, WA due to barricaded suspect
Standoff blocks I-5 in Chehalis
Washington State Patrol is in a standoff with a barricaded suspect that attempted to flee from troopers in Lewis County on Thursday.
CHEHALIS, Wash. – All lanes of I-5 are fully blocked near Chehalis due to a barricaded suspect on the freeway.
Washington State Patrol and law enforcement engaged in a standoff on I-5 near Chehalis. (Washington State Patrol)
What we know:
Washington State Patrol troopers are currently engaged in a standoff with a suspect that fled from Mason and Thurston County troopers.
Northbound and southbound I-5 are fully blocked just south of Chehalis, near the U.S. Route 12 interchange. Traffic is being diverted just before US-12.
The suspect’s vehicle was reportedly spiked on Rush Road in Chehalis before coming to a stop on southbound I-5. There is only one person in the vehicle, and troopers are still negotiating with the suspect.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area and expect delays.
What we don’t know:
It’s currently unknown what led up to the pursuit.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Washington State Patrol.
Seattle, WA
Semi overturns onto dump truck, blocks ramp to I-90 in Seattle
SEATTLE — All lanes of the eastbound Interstate 90 on-ramp from 4th Ave S in Seattle were blocked after a semi truck rolled onto its side.
Photos from the scene showed the truck’s trailer was tipped over and was being held up by the bed of a tandem dump truck.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported the crash around 6 a.m. on Thursday.
Initially, only the two right lanes were blocked, but later, all four lanes were closed.
A WSDOT incident response team and the Washington State Patrol responded.
Tow crews with two trucks righted the semi.
The ramp reopened around 8:45 a.m.
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No one was hurt.
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