Gov't for the "Vuntut Gwitchin" Indian Tribe in Yukon, Canada, uses COVID-19 law to ban RC from community

If you thought I lived in the middle of nowhere, you haven't seen this small Indian tribe in the Yukon, population 300, close to thr Arctic Ocean. But this is why there should be no registry and no community notification. 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/small-yukon-first-nation-bans-sex-offender-using-its-covid-emergency-law-1.6105090

Small Yukon First Nation bans sex offender using its COVID emergency law

Ashley Joannou

The Canadian Press

Published Tuesday, October 11, 2022 8:09PM EDT

Last Updated Tuesday, October 11, 2022 9:05PM EDT

WHITEHORSE -- A First Nation of fewer than 300 people in Yukon's north has used a law it created during the COVID-19 pandemic to bar a convicted sex offender from being sent to its community.

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in Old Crow issued a declaration under its Community Emergency Act banning Christopher Schafer from the fly-in community nearly 800 kilometres north of Whitehorse for at least the next 90 days.

Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm said Yukon's territorial court decision to allow Schafer to live in Old Crow came via fax to the local RCMP detachment 24 hours before he was scheduled to arrive and was made without consulting the First Nation, which has limited supports available with only two RCMP officers and no clinical health staff.

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"This action shows that although we may speak about reconciliation in this country, and we may feel it's important, the work is left to our communities, (which are) understaffed and under-supported," he said at a news conference Tuesday.

Tizya-Tramm said when news hit the small community that Schafer, whom the First Nation called a "repeat violent sex offender," may return, "the emotions and the pain were visceral."

He said the emergency declaration was the only tool available to "slow this process down."

"I'm not here to pass judgment on Mr. Schafer. I'm here to deal with the systematic problems in our justice (system) that does not allow our people … a modicum of influence in the larger cogs of the justice system, which is continuing to fail Yukoners and our Indigenous women across the country."

He said the community has previously attempted to reintegrate Schafer into Old Crow and provided the court with details of what supports would be required.

The chief said he is in contact with Schafer's family and there is a willingness to work on another plan, but the community needs more time and support.

For now, Schafer remains in the Whitehorse jail and will appear in front of a judge Wednesday to continue discussions about his future.

Doris Bill, chief of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation in Whitehorse, said similar situations have happened in other small communities where people are released from jail without proper supports or reintegration plans.

"It has to stop. We have to give the communities the proper resources, in order to deal with these cases," she said.

"They cannot be left out there to fend for themselves and to take care of these individuals without the proper expertise and the resources in place."

Tizya-Tramm said he wants an apology and a public inquiry into what happened. He has sent a letter to federal Justice Minister David Lametti, territorial Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee and Michael Cozens, chief judge of the territorial court of Yukon.

"We do not and will never tolerate such institutionalized indifference which denies the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, our citizens and community of Old Crow -- particularly Indigenous women and girls -- of our inherent rights and freedoms to survive and live with dignity, well-being, peace and security on our land," the letter says.

In a statement, a cabinet spokeswoman said McPhee would be responding to Tizya-Tramm's letter.

A "hub," including counsellors and a mental health nurse based 400 kilometres away in Dawson City, supports Old Crow with staff travelling regularly to the community, the statement said.

"The department is working directly with Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation to coordinate mental wellness education and supports, in addition to the visiting counsellors, that aim to meet the specific needs of the community as well as Vuntut Gwitchin citizens in Whitehorse," the statement said.

When Predator Panic is not enough: New Mexico GOP adds fears of White Replacement into fearmongering ad

What can be worse than scaring the ignorant masses with good old fashioned Predator Panic? How about adding a nod to the WhitevReplacement Theory into the mix?

https://www.abqjournal.com/2536044/nm-gop-needs-to-explain-doctored-mailer.html

Editorial: NM GOP needs to explain doctored mailer

BY ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD

PUBLISHED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2022 AT 12:02AM

UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2022 AT 12:15AM

 

An altered image of darkened hands cutting a white child’s hair sure does appear to play on racist fears and should be denounced by the political party that created it.

The Republican Party of New Mexico recently mailed flyers to voters in several state House districts showing a barber with darkened hands. “Do you want a sex offender cutting your child’s hair?” the flyer asks.

Democrats are calling this political flyer created by the Republican Party of New Mexico a racist “dog whistle.”

The flyers cite two unsuccessful bills related to occupational licenses and accuse House Democrats of voting to allow convicted sex offenders to obtain them. Democrats and Republicans supported the GOP-sponsored bill in 2019, but it was vetoed by the governor.

A GOP amendment to the Dems’ version of a similar bill in 2021 — denying or revoking a barber’s license if they failed to register as a sex offender after conviction — was opposed by Democrats on a question of constitutionality. It passed the House on a bipartisan vote but died in the Senate.

Democrats quickly denounced the flyer because the hands of a white barber had been darkened considerably from the original stock image. “This is one of the most vile examples of racist dog whistles that I have ever seen,” said House Majority Leader Javier Martínez of Albuquerque.

The RPNM response missed the mark, saying Democrats were trying to divert attention “from their soft-on-crime agenda.” House Republican whip Rod Montoya of Farmington says images were darkened to make the flyers “gloomy.”

“Any charge of racism over this mailer is ridiculous,” he said. “A shadowy, gray figure is not a racial category. What this mailer does depict is the danger in which Democrats voted to put our children.”

But the image is not a shadowy figure — it shows clearly darkened hands. If “shadowy figure” was the intent, whoever checked the flyer should have caught the error. Otherwise, it raises the spectre of such political images as Willie Horton’s mugshot and darkened photos of Barack Obama.

State party chairman Steve Pearce must give a better explanation. As local civil rights activist Rev. Charles Becknell Sr. said last week, “It is time we put an end to this kind of crap. … We’re better than this.”

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.

Ocala FL News outlet posts Registrant shelter info in their "Pets" section

The only reason I'm not posting this under "worst news media" is  there’s no real way to tell if it was the Ocala News or the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management that made the announcement this way since news outlets often just copy-paste gov’t alerts verbatim.

https://floridaactioncommittee.org/ocala-news-com-includes-registrant-emergency-plans-in-their-pets-section/

Ocala-news.com includes Registrant emergency plans in their pets section

Sep 29, 2022 | 1 comment

A big F-You to Ocala-news.com who reported on Marion County’s Emergency Management Plans for the Hurricane!

The news outlet organized their report into subheadings labeled “Special Needs Shelter”, “General Population Shelter” and “Pet friendly shelter”. Guess which section they included instructions for registrants? If you guessed under pets, you would be right! Soooo dehumanizing.

Oh, and there’s another big F-You owed to Marion County, because guess what? Registrants don’t even get a shelter! The pets get a shelter, but registrants don’t. If we have nowhere else to go (“Any sex offenders or sex predators who need shelter are encouraged to first seek shelter with family or friends in a non-residency restricted area.” – Seriously?!?!? During a hurricane when schools and parks are closed you are still going to enforce your stupid residency restriction?!?!?)? It’s the police station.  “If that is not an option, then they must report to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender / Predator Unit office for shelter. According to MCSO, they should bring hygiene items, snack food, medicine, bedding, or anything else that is needed.”

These are some sick, sadistic people!

Brevard County FL Commission admits they are out to harm Persons Forced to Register

Brevard County Commissioners John Tobia, Kristine Zonka, and Rita Pritchett walked in goosestep... er, "lockstep" with each other in condemning anti-registry activists at a county commission meeting held on May 17th, 2022. 

To see the offensive part, start listening at 23:45 (from 40:00 to 45:25 was some old fart blathering on about trees, then goes back to the topic at hand) but listen in particular from 48:25 to 54:10--

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2022/05/18/sex-offenders-want-brevard-change-rules-restricting-their-presence/9800708002/

Registered sex offenders address county commission after rule changed to allow them

Ralph Chapoco

Florida Today

Registered sex offenders had their day to be heard before Brevard County commissioners and explain how an ordinance banning them from certain locations in the county has negatively affected them.

In their statements to commissioners on Tuesday, petitioners pleaded with the commission to reverse an amendment to an ordinance passed in 2020, barring them from entering within 1,000 feet of businesses where children typically congregate.

Their comments included examples of barriers they face because of the county regulation, and the negative impact that is having for their families and other loved ones.

But, after hearing the three speakers, county commissioners took to action to change the rules.

The attendance of the registered sex offenders at Tuesday's meeting was made possible because commissioners modified a section of the county code in March that prohibited those on the sex offender registry list from entering the Brevard County Government Center in Viera. The regulation, passed in 2006, bars someone on the list from occupying a space within 1,000 feet of a school or a recreation area.

Because the Government Center is near Brevard Public Schools' district offices and Viera High School, people on the registry had been prohibited from entering the Government Center to attend meetings or conduct business.

Registered offenders, with the Florida Justice Institute acting on their behalf, filed a lawsuit, claiming the 2006 rule violated their freedom of speech rights and hindered them from seeking redress from their government.

That lawsuit continues, despite the changes that commissioners enacted that now allows them to attend County Commission meetings.

The plaintiffs are challenging an amendment they made to the ordinance passed in 2006.

In the fall of 2020, commissioners passed an ordinance that expanded restrictions already in place because of the 2006 rule. It allows business owners to certify their establishments as places where youngsters congregate. This would prohibit registered offenders from entering a 1,000-foot buffer zone around their businesses.  

Their comments included examples of barriers they confront as they go about their lives.

“As an American citizen, I can only hope that more care goes into our lawmaking,” Charles Violi said during public comment. He is on the offender list and is subject to the restrictions passed by the county.

“Do they meet our constitutional requirements, or will they violate a person’s human or civil rights before they are enacted?” he said. “Are we using the correct data to make all these decisions? Are these laws actually producing safety or excessive punishment, as well as wasting police time or our taxpayer dollars, keeping in mind that all lives matter?”

The speakers made a point to explain that they repaid their debt to society for the crimes they committed.

“I am a registered citizen from an offense in Virginia,” Charles Munsey Jr. said during public comment. “I have never had a sexual offense in Florida, yet I am designated as a predator in Florida, not in Virginia.”

“My daughter, the victim, long ago resolved this situation, and we get along fine just now,” Munsey said. “I have been active in community affairs, both here and in Virginia. I was released from probation 11 years early.”

The speakers also explained how the ordinance is negatively affecting their lives.

Vincent Rinaldi wanted to place his house in a trust to plan his estate. He needed to obtain a notary to complete the transaction, but couldn’t obtain one because his bank was located within 1,000 feet of a park, prohibiting him from entering the establishment.

“I cannot conduct normal business that any other citizen of this county is permitted to do,” Rinaldi said. “This is one example of many that I can offer that proves this ordinance hurts and punishes other individuals.”

The speakers also claim the ordinance is having a negative impact on their families.

Rinaldi said he cares for his partner, who is ill, and helping her could place him in custody should he need to take her to the hospital for medical care.

County commissioners, however, took no action to change the restrictions on registered sex offenders. 

“People go in and they serve their time,” Commissioner Rita Pritchett said. “They can come back out and live. There are some things you do you can never gain trust back. I will always err on the side of kids, so if there is ever an opportunity to protect children, I am with Commissioner (John) Tobia and Commissioner (Kristine) Zonka on that.”

Tobia proposed the amendment because he said he wanted to protect children in the community.

“I think children are precious and innocent, and anyone that takes that away is absolutely horrific at the time they take that innocence away,” Tobia said. “Yes, there are people with much more forgiveness than me, but that is something that I don’t have that level of compassion.”

Ralph Chapoco is government and politics watchdog reporter. You can reach Chapoco at rchapoco@floridatoday.com and follow him on Twitter @rchapoco.

Don't like being called Nazis? Then don't do Nazi things

Christina Pushaw, Ron DeSantis' Press Secretary, calls “Don’t Say Gay” bill opponents "pedophiles"

PSHAW (/(p)SHô/) (exclamation): an expression of contempt or impatience.

Well, whenever you say this woman's name, the U is silent. 

Christina PSHAW called opponents of the controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill are "probably a groomer" or at least supporting the "grooming" of children. 

Maybe PSHAW doesn't know this but the first sex offender registry in California, created in the 1940s, was largely used as a suppression tactic against the gay community. I can't imagine any sane person wanting to be her groom. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2022/03/07/govs-press-secretary-it-was-my-personal-account-and-i-was-tweeting-off-work-hours/

Gov’s Press Secretary: ‘It was my personal account and I was tweeting off work hours’

HB 1557 has drawn nationwide attention and protests across the state, and is one of the main ‘culture war’ bills considered this session

BY: DANIELLE J. BROWN - MARCH 7, 2022 2:43 PM

The Florida Phoenix reached out to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Press Secretary, Christina Pushaw, about calls from Florida lawmakers for her firing or resignation regarding tweets she made over the weekend on controversial legislation restricting classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity.

She provided her response in an email to the Phoenix Monday afternoon: Pushaw said:

“It’s inappropriate for adults to instruct children in VPK-3rd grade (ages 3-9) about sexuality. There is no good reason a teacher needs to talk to a 7 year old about sex, any questions a child has at that age should be addressed by their parent or guardian. Talking about adult topics with young children is a tactic of groomers, and as I said, not everyone who opposes the bill is a groomer — but they apparently don’t see a problem with adults instructing very young children about sexual topics. And sadly, that creates an environment where grooming can happen.”

“The governor has never referred to the bill as an anti-grooming bill or used that term. It was my personal account and I was tweeting off work hours. The governor in his statements about this legislation, has emphasized the importance of parental rights and making sure all instruction in our schools is developmentally appropriate. For ages 3-9, classroom instruction on sexual topics is not developmentally appropriate, and it’s difficult to understand why anyone would disagree.”

“I don’t regret raising concerns about child safeguarding. The only people who singled out the LGBT community are the opponents of the bill, who have been baselessly accusing us of homophobia — when the bill itself doesn’t single out the LGBT community or even mention the word “gay.” Any type of sexual content, whether it’s straight, LGBT or anything else, is inappropriate for 3-9 year old children — and I can’t believe that is controversial to rational adults.”

Following those comments, the Phoenix provided information about the bill in question, HB 1557 says: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

Opponents to the bill have referred to it as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

HB 1557 has drawn nationwide attention and protests across the state, and is considered one of the main “culture war” bills to be considered in the 2022 legislative session in Florida. Crowds have continued to be in the Capitol building Monday, awaiting the HB 1557 discussion in the Senate.