accountability 2 - The Latremie Post

Syracuse University chancellor says anti-Israel campus protests ‘encouraged’ by Iran

The chancellor of Syracuse University revealed his belief that pro-Hamas, anti-Israel protests were encouraged and potentially orchestrated by Iran while speaking on a panel this week in Washington, D.C.

Chancellor Kent Syverud spoke on a panel Tuesday alongside the chancellors from Vanderbilt and Washington University in St. Louis. He described the protest activity that took place on his college campus as well as other universities across the country.

“When things happened that I really believe were encouraged from Iran,” Syverud explained to the audience. “[The protests] did not have the involvement of very many, if any, of our own students.”

Syracuse’s top official also discussed the difficulty of holding individuals, including students, accountable because of the use of face masks or coverings intentionally used to shield identity.

“People were using masks to avoid accountability for what they were saying and doing,” Syverud added, noting that people in masks could have been “activists from elsewhere.”

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier of Vanderbilt, in Nashville, also pointed out clear coordination and the “playbook” for protests was backed by “organized networks” that could have motivated or directed students and agitators to demonstrate and disrupt campus.

“[Students] were looking at [and] were using the playbook that they had seen at Columbia and other places, and it was the same messaging. It’s more than social contagion,” Diermeier explained. “I think there are organized networks as well. And for sure we saw that.”

Washington University Chancellor Andrew D. Martin nodded in agreement.

“Many of the things that happened on our campus, including an attempted encampment, we didn’t allow it to take place and ultimately had folks arrested to shut it down on a Saturday evening,” Martin added. “Three quarters of those individuals had nothing to do with the university.”

The panel was organized by Alums for Campus Fairness, a group that gathers university alumni and serves to combat antisemitism on college campuses and across the U.S.

The protests which Syverud refers to have plagued university campuses mainly after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Columbia University faced a significant number of protests that still often occur, though just outside the campus gates as the university has changed rules that previously permitted demonstrations.

Last April, more than 100 protesters were arrested after the NYPD was forced to break up an encampment that was impacting students’ ability to navigate campus. In May, protesters occupied Butler Library on Columbia’s campus, calling it “Basel Al-Araj Popular University.” Officers were once again called to the scene and made multiple arrests. More than 70 students were expelled or suspended.

Similar protests occurred at other prominent universities such as Harvard, NYU, and UCLA.

Syracuse University did not respond to a request for comment.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/01/us-news/prominent-university-chancellor-says-anti-israel-campus-protests-were-encouraged-from-iran/

Massachusetts gun violence debate erupts at State House over bill to punish firearms makers

A bill up for consideration on Beacon Hill would open the door for firearm manufacturers and distributors to be sued for the harm their products cause, igniting a debate over what gun violence exactly means.

Backers of the “Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice Act” argue that the bill would create a code of conduct to “reduce the likelihood that guns end up in the wrong hands” by holding the firearm industry accountable. Opponents counter that manufacturers and distributors shouldn’t be punished for harm inflicted by those who are behind the gun at the time the violence occurs and that criminals must be prosecuted.

Under the bill, firearm industry members would be mandated to follow safeguards and business practices designed to prevent the sale or distribution of guns to people prohibited from possession under state or federal law or individuals deemed to pose a “substantial risk” of harming themselves or someone else. The “reasonable controls” would also look to restrict the sale or distribution to straw purchasers—someone who purchases or gains a gun on behalf of a third party and isn’t eligible for an exemption—or firearm traffickers.

Ruth Zakarin, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, is leading the push for the bill with her umbrella organization, which represents over 120 member groups working to address the root causes of gun violence in the Bay State.

Zakarin argues that the firearm industry is the only industry with “broad protection from being held liable for the harms its products cause.” She notes that nine other states, all controlled by Democrats, have similar laws.

“This lack of accountability has allowed some bad actors to behave irresponsibly and put our communities at risk,” Zakarin told lawmakers on Friday. “This bill would change that.”

State Rep. Steven Xiarhos, a Cape Cod Republican who served 40 years with the Yarmouth Police Department, pressed Zakarin during the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security hearing.

“You mentioned gun violence many times. What is it?” Xiarhos asked.

Zakarin responded, “It is when guns are used to harm or hurt people in the Commonwealth.”

Xiarhos shared his perspective, saying his understanding of gun violence, gained over decades in law enforcement, is that “most of the deaths from people with guns are suicide. The rest, or many of the rest, are accidental.”

“There are very few that happen by people with guns,” Xiarhos added, “and those who have guns that commit crimes are mostly criminals.”

Under the proposed bill, firearm industry members include those who manufacture, distribute, import, market, or sell guns. They’d be required to take “reasonable precautions” to ensure that firearms aren’t designed, sold, or advertised in ways that promote the conversion of legal products into illegal ones or target minors or individuals prohibited from possessing guns.

A person who suffers harm due to a firearm industry member failing to follow code-of-conduct protocols could bring a civil action forward in court. The Attorney General could also civilly sue whoever in the industry the victim deems responsible for the incident.

“The ability to sue is long overdue for victims of gun violence and their families,” said Elizabeth Ryan, policy counsel for the group Every Town For Gun Safety. “The gun industry should and must face people it has harmed in court when its own bad acts are responsible for injury and death.”

Ramya Swami, policy counsel for the national organization Brady: United Against Gun Violence, pointed to a “crime gun trace report” published by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in 2022. The analysis found that four of the 329 firearm dealers in the Bay State were responsible for “25% of the problem,” Swami said.

Advocates are backing the bill amid ongoing tensions with Second Amendment proponents. State Sen. Peter Durant describes recent firearms legislation as “one of the most significant infringements on the rights of law-abiding gun owners that we’ve seen in Massachusetts in decades.” Durant refers to Chapter 135, a landmark firearms law enacted last year by Beacon Hill Democrats and Gov. Maura Healey.

Durant, a Spencer Republican, is pursuing bills to repeal that legislation, in part or in full. Regarding the Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice Act, he expressed concern that the bill seeks to punish manufacturers for how someone uses their products.

“That’s the biggest difficulty I have here,” he said at Friday’s hearing. “We don’t do that in so many other industries. If someone takes a car and drives through a crowd of people, we don’t sue Ford for that. We prosecute the crimes where they occur.”

Citing Massachusetts’ strict gun laws, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson relocated to Tennessee in 2023 after moving from its longtime Bay State home. The company had been located in Springfield, Massachusetts, since the mid-19th century, but officials said legislative proposals would prohibit them from manufacturing certain weapons.

State Rep. David Linsky, a Natick Democrat, argued that in “virtually every other industry,” individuals can sue companies over business practices.

“If General Motors makes a defective car, you can sue General Motors,” he said. “If one of those industries uses a deceptive advertising method… you can sue.”

Linsky drew jeers from the public gallery during Friday’s hearing when he said statistics show Massachusetts as the “safest state… as far as gun violence goes.”

John Green, education director for the Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts, appealed for Bay Staters and gun control advocates to “stop referring to it as gun violence.”

“There is no such thing as gun violence,” Green said. “If there were, there would also have to be car and truck violence, knife violence, medicine violence.”

“Let’s admit to the fact: Violence perpetrated with a gun, that is what it is called,” he added. “Using such terminology is making smart people sound ignorant.”
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/01/massachusetts-gun-violence-debate-erupts-at-state-house-over-bill-to-punish-industry-members/

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel makes promise moving forward after embarrassing TNF loss

The Miami Dolphins entered Thursday night seeking redemption but walked off their own field searching for answers after a 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that dropped them to 2-7.

Head coach Mike McDaniel made it clear that the team’s next chapter will not resemble the one that has unfolded through nine frustrating weeks. Speaking after the Thursday Night loss to the Ravens, McDaniel didn’t soften his tone. He called the performance “miserable” and “flat-out embarrassing,” admitting that accountability begins with him.

His message to the locker room and fan base was direct — the Miami football team is entering a reset period focused on effort, pride, and professionalism.

The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) to share the message from the Dolphins head coach, which quickly gained attention amid growing speculation about his job security. “We’ll have a highly motivated team,” McDaniel said.

The Dolphins’ offensive struggles were again on display, despite outgaining Baltimore in total yards. Penalties, red zone failures, and missed opportunities led to a scoreless night on offense.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished 18-of-25 for 209 yards with one interception, while De’Von Achane rushed for 67 yards but saw limited touches as the run game disappeared in the second half.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/miami-dolphins/dolphins-news-mike-mcdaniel-promise-after-tnf-loss

Convicted in Mali for Expressing ‘Unwavering Solidarity’

On Monday, Mali’s national cybercrime court convicted former Prime Minister Moussa Mara for posting a message online expressing solidarity with political prisoners in the country. This prosecution represents the military junta’s starkest expansion yet of its campaign against free expression.

Authorities arrested Mara in August after he publicly expressed his “unwavering solidarity with prisoners of conscience” following visits to jailed critics of the junta. He was charged with “undermining state authority” and “inciting public disorder.” The court sentenced Mara to two years in prison, with one year to be served without parole and the second year suspended.

While the conviction officially centers on his social media post, it carries far-reaching consequences. The case sends a chilling political message: even a former head of government is not safe from prosecution for speaking out against the regime.

Since the 2021 military coup led by Gen. Assimi Goïta, Mali’s junta has steadily expanded its control by dismantling accountability mechanisms and withdrawing from regional and international legal frameworks. The authorities have relied on expansive and vague charges—such as “undermining credibility” or “spreading false information”—to turn personal views and legitimate criticism into punishable offenses.

The use of the special cybercrime court in Mara’s case is another tool for the junta to control online speech and digital activism. What was once a space for “unwavering solidarity” with prisoners is now deemed a threat to the state.

Moussa Mara’s conviction is a stark affront to justice and highlights how Mali’s promise of democratic transition is increasingly out of reach. His case marks a significant milestone in the ongoing erosion of civic and media freedoms in the country and underscores the junta’s embrace of sweeping powers to silence dissent.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/10/29/convicted-in-mali-for-expressing-unwavering-solidarity

Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger’s Son Is Growing Fast in New Pic

**Hasta la vista, baby. bottles!**

That’s because Arnold Schwarzenegger’s kids—Katherine Schwarzenegger, Christina Schwarzenegger, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Chris Schwarzenegger (with ex-wife Maria Shriver), and Joseph Baena (with former housekeeper Mildred Baena)—are all grown up. These days, his favorite title is no longer just dad but grandpa to Katherine and husband Chris Pratt’s three kids together: Lyla, Eloise, and Ford.

“It’s the easiest thing to be a grandfather,” Arnold told Jimmy Kimmel in 2022. “They come over to the house, you play with Lyla for around an hour or two, put her on the horse, put her with the dog. And after two hours, they leave.”

Maria married Arnold in 1986 but filed for divorce in 2011 after she learned he had fathered a child through his affair. Her son-in-law Chris Pratt applauds the way the former first lady of California and her ex co-parented in the spotlight.

“She and Arnold raised four amazing kids, and that’s not always an easy thing to do,” the *Guardians of the Galaxy* actor told *Today* in May 2024. “You see people in Hollywood or people who’ve got a lot of privilege, and they end up kind of raising rotten kids. So I just want to kind of ask her everything. ‘What’d you do? How did you not spoil them? How did you not ruin them?’”

The apparent secret, Chris added, “I think she holds them accountable. When Maria walks in the room, you stand up. She’s big on manners, and she’s big on accountability, and she’s deeply rooted in her faith. These are all things that I definitely want to take and implement in the rearing of our children.”

—

### Patrick Schwarzenegger: The Oldest Son

Born in 1993, Patrick is the oldest son of Arnold and Maria. While having parents in the business is a great start, he credits his brother-in-law Chris Pratt with helping him land one plum role.

“I remember when Chris said, ‘Hey, you know there’s this young role, Donny Mitchell, you’ll be the youngest in the platoon,’” Patrick told Jimmy Kimmel in 2022 about booking a gig in the Amazon Prime Video series *The Terminal List*.

“‘But if you want to get this role, I need you to go and try to get into character and really get this. I need you to gain 20 pounds and start tactical training, and know how they move, the body language, all this stuff.’”

Having the chance to train with real-life Navy SEALs, he added, was “a dream come true.”

More pinch-me moments have followed, with Patrick going on to play Saxon Ratliff on *The White Lotus* and Tim Tebow in FX’s *American Sports Story*.

But even with all his connections, Patrick makes it clear he puts in the hard work.

“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” Patrick told *The Sunday Times* in February 2025 about his part on *The White Lotus*. “They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”

Soon, he’ll be taking on a new role: husband. He proposed to model Abby Champion in December 2023.

—

### Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt’s Growing Family

Katherine is the eldest of the Schwarzenegger kids, born in 1989 to Arnold and Maria. Now, the author of *The Gift of Forgiveness* has a family of her own with Chris Pratt, whom she married in 2019 after a year of dating.

In 2020, they welcomed daughter Lyla. Little sister Eloise was born two years later, followed by younger brother Ford in 2024.

“When I became a mother, I felt like everything in my life had led me right to that baby being put on my chest, and it was perfect,” Katherine wrote in a piece for her mother Maria’s website. “Mom is the title I have always wanted and the role that I have looked forward to for as long as I can remember.”

Plus, she has a bonus stepson, Jack, whom Chris and ex-wife Anna Faris welcomed in 2012.

For Chris, family always comes first. However, he was upset when he received backlash in 2021 after praising Katherine on Instagram for giving him a “gorgeous healthy daughter,” with some social media users finding the post insensitive to Anna and Jack, who was born premature.

“A bunch of articles came out and said, ‘That’s so cringeworthy. I can’t believe Chris Pratt would thank her for a healthy daughter when his first child was born premature. That’s such a dig at his ex-wife,’” the *Parks and Recreation* alum told *Men’s Health* in 2022.

“And I’m like, That is f–ked up. My son’s gonna read that one day. He’s 9. And it’s etched in digital stone. It really f–king bothered me, dude. I cried about it. I was like, I hate that these blessings in my life are—to the people close to me—a real burden.”

—

### Jack Pratt’s Early Challenges and Teenage Years

Anna and Chris’ son Jack was born about two months early in August 2012 and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“The day came when I got to take Jack home,” Anna recalled at a 2021 event for the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth, “and the first years were filled with doctor’s appointments, five surgeries, physical therapy, a lot of laughter—because Jack was and is the most adorable, cutest thing I could ever have imagined.”

Now, Jack is navigating his teenage years. However, he isn’t too old to ask his mom and dad for advice.

“I think as parents, we’re always questioning, ‘What are we doing? Are we giving good guidance? Are we raising kids with a good foundation?’” Anna explained to *E!* in March 2025.

So when Jack turns to her for help, “Those indicators make me feel like, ‘Okay, I’m on the right path here,’” she continued. “And I’m really proud of him.”

—

### Sibling Dynamics and Family Life

A little more than a year after Katherine and Chris tied the knot, they welcomed daughter Lyla Maria Schwarzenegger Pratt in August 2020—her middle name a nod to Katherine’s mother.

While Chris keeps much of his family life private, he shared that Jack was already acing his duties as the older sibling.

“He’s really great with her,” the *Jurassic World* star told *Entertainment Tonight* in 2021. “She always wants to pull his glasses off his face, and he’s very patient with her. He’s a great big brother.”

Fast-forward to March 2022, when Chris and Katherine grew their family with the addition of daughter Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt.

“I’m girl dad 2.0,” the *Zero Dark Thirty* actor told *E!* in June 2022. “My oldest daughter is adjusting very well to being a big sister. At first, she was kinda like, ‘So, what’s the deal with that thing? What up with that? Look at me.’ And now, she’s very much embraced the idea. She constantly wants to hold her sister, and she’s just very, very sweet. That’s the stuff that’s important. It’s the stuff that life is made of, and I feel incredibly blessed and filled with joy.”

—

### Christopher and Christina Schwarzenegger

Christopher Schwarzenegger, born in 1997, is Arnold and Maria’s youngest son. He has stayed largely out of the public eye and is Vice Chair of the Special Olympics Founder’s Council.

According to his bio, Christopher is also the Director of Development at production company Indus Valley Media. He previously worked at creative content agency Malka and for sports psychologist Trevor Moawad. Christopher is a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in psychology.

Christina Schwarzenegger, born in 1991, is their youngest daughter. She is an executive producer, with past credits including the 2018 documentary *Take Your Pills* and its 2022 follow-up *Take Your Pills: Xanax*.

—

### Joseph Baena: Arnold’s Son from an Affair

Joseph is Arnold’s son from his affair with then-housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena. Born in 1997, Arnold didn’t learn he was Joseph’s father until much later.

“I had an affair in ’96,” *The Terminator* alum said in his 2023 docuseries *Arnold*. “In the beginning, I really didn’t know. I just started kind of feeling. The older he got, the more it became clear to me, and it was then just really a matter of how do you keep this quiet? How do you keep this a secret?”

Arnold called the affair a “major failure” in his life but noted that Joseph makes him proud.

“It was wrong what I did,” he said in the doc. “But I don’t want to make Joseph feel that he’s not welcome in this world because he’s very much welcome in this world. And I love him, and he’s turned out to be an extraordinary young man.”

Like his dad Arnold, Joseph is an actor with a passion for fitness. He also works in real estate and competed on season 31 of *Dancing With the Stars*.

—

### Chris Pratt and Anna Faris: Marriage and Beyond

Chris and Anna tied the knot in 2009 but announced their breakup after eight years of marriage. Anna (previously married to Ben Indra) hinted that her life with Chris wasn’t as picture-perfect as it seemed.

“I’m sure things were more transparent with my relationship with Ben,” she said on a 2021 episode of her podcast *Unqualified*, “but with Chris, I think that we both protected that imagery even within our close circles.”

Anna—who is now married to cinematographer Michael Barrett and is stepmom to his two kids—suggested being in the same industry as her exes didn’t help.

“My two other marriages were with actors, and I don’t think we did a great job of eliminating competitiveness—or at least I didn’t,” she shared on another episode of her podcast later that year.

“Being a proud person and not wanting to reveal vulnerability, any hints of competitiveness and comparison, I didn’t handle that very well, I don’t think, and I hope I’ve grown from that.”

—

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s family story is one of growth, accountability, and navigating both the blessings and challenges of fame and relationships. As his children continue to carve their own paths, the family remains deeply interconnected, with love and resilience at its core.
https://www.eonline.com/news/1424335/chris-pratt-katherine-schwarzeneggers-son-ford-in-rare-photo?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories

What to know about immigration enforcement raids in Chicago after nearly 2 months

As the Trump administration’s mass deportation raids enter their second month, their impact has been felt across the Chicago region and the nation. Political tensions have deepened, hundreds have been detained or arrested, and thousands have protested—from a two-story brick U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in suburban Broadview to city street corners and suburban downtowns.

Throughout it all, activists, protesters, and journalists have faced tear gas and pepper ball rounds. President Donald Trump’s threats to send in the National Guard—first to quell crime in Chicago, then to assist ICE and Border Patrol agents—have, for the moment, not come to fruition.

Here’s what we know about federal immigration enforcement in and around Chicago, as well as other immigration-related stories and the National Guard deployment.

**Stay current with the latest news by subscribing to the Chicago Tribune and signing up for our free Immigration Bulletin newsletter.**

—

### How We Got Here

On September 8, President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security announced a surge in immigration enforcement in Chicago, dubbing it “Operation Midway Blitz.” The operation targets what officials refer to as “criminal illegal aliens” who have allegedly benefited from the city and state’s sanctuary policies.

This announcement came more than two weeks after Trump said he planned to target Chicago due to its crime rates. In response, Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson warned residents about potential immigration sweeps.

“Let’s be clear, the terror and cruelty is the point, not the safety of anyone living here,” Pritzker said on September 2.

Trump had set the stage for the operation with a social media post showing military helicopters flying over Chicago’s lakefront skyline under the title “Chipocalypse Now.” “Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” Trump wrote, a day after signing an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to its pre-1949 title.

—

### ICE in and Around Chicago

Operation Midway Blitz has been visible throughout Chicago and its suburbs. Incidents have ranged from tear gas deployed in Logan Square and the detention of a mother and child at Millennium Park to a manhunt in suburban Mount Prospect and multiple arrests involving rideshare drivers at O’Hare International Airport.

A federal judge has ruled that all immigration enforcement agents must wear body cameras. The judge expressed particular concern over alleged violations during recent clashes, including an incident on Chicago’s East Side where agents used a controversial and potentially dangerous tactic to disable a fleeing vehicle before deploying tear gas during a tense gathering.

Tear gas usage by federal agents during immigration raids has escalated lately—from neighborhoods like Little Village to Lakeview and Irving Park.

On September 12, the operation took a violent turn when agents fatally shot a man in Franklin Park. The man, identified by federal officials as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Mexican citizen living illegally in the U.S., allegedly tried to flee a traffic stop and struck the officer with his vehicle.

On October 4, federal immigration authorities shot a Chicago woman in Brighton Park, after she allegedly tried to impede them. In the shooting’s aftermath, protesters gathered at the intersection to confront federal forces. Some threw water bottles as agents responded with tear gas and flash-bang grenades.

—

### Impact on Local Communities

Gig workers, street vendors, and day laborers have been caught up in the crackdown. Emotional arrests have unfolded in the region, including one where federal agents detained a man outside his Naperville apartment as his young sons watched and cried “Pa, te amo.”

In other cases, a Rogers Park man was fined $130 for not carrying his legal papers during questioning, and an Oak Park attorney arrested near a school described agents pointing guns at him and referencing a “Chiraq Team 2” group chat.

Federal immigration raids have also targeted local businesses and events:
– Swap-O-Rama on the Southwest Side was raided by federal agents.
– Videos of targeted raids in Carpentersville circulated online, including activity near the village hall.
– A flower vendor arrested during the launch of Operation Midway Blitz was deported to Mexico.

Waukegan’s mayor has even stepped in during a Border Patrol arrest to ensure the safety of residents.

—

### What’s Happening in Broadview?

The small suburb of Broadview has become a national spotlight due to confrontations between federal agents and protestors at the local ICE processing center. Since the launch of Operation Midway Blitz in early September, protesters have held near-daily demonstrations outside the facility.

Larger crowds—and subsequent arrests—often gather on Fridays and Sundays, sometimes violating Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson’s order that protests only occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

A controversial 8-foot-high security fence erected by federal officials outside the facility was torn down on October 14 following a court order. Broadview officials pushed back, deeming the fence “illegally built,” and demanded the Department of Homeland Security remove it.

Residents remain fearful as the ICE center becomes a battleground amid the immigration blitz. Mayor Thompson, who is the first Black woman to lead Broadview, has refused to take “a position of fear” while navigating the national attention.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently indicated that ICE may expand operations in Broadview, stating, “we’re here to stay.”

—

### Chicago Takes Action

In Chicago, aldermen and residents are responding in various ways—leading street patrols, sounding whistles to alert communities of enforcement activity, and organizing protests.

“We’ll do everything in our power to make sure that ICE is out of Chicago,” Alderman Michael Rodriguez of Little Village told the Tribune on October 3.

Numerous U.S. citizens and others have reported being detained or questioned, including:
– A 44-year-old U.S. citizen zip-tied and questioned after work at a downtown bar.
– A Rogers Park man fined for not carrying his legal documents during questioning.

If stopped by ICE, here is what you should do to protect yourself.

Local clergy and faith leaders have publicly condemned the crackdown as “antithetical to the Gospel,” while cafes and restaurants across the city have posted signs barring immigration agents.

Community activism continues ward by ward, with faith leaders offering resources, moral support, and solidarity to those affected.

—

### The “No Kings” Protests

On October 18, the “Hands Off Chicago” protest at Butler Field in Grant Park drew a large crowd. The sound of whistles—an ominous warning signaling ICE activity in recent weeks—rang out as a sign of solidarity and resistance.

Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the crowd:

“There are those in this country that have decided, at the behest of this president, to declare war on Chicago and American cities across this country,” Johnson said, eliciting boos from attendees.

“They have clearly decided that they want a rematch of the Civil War. But we are here to stand firm, to stay committed, that we will not bend, we will not bow, we will not cower, we will not submit.”

This demonstration was one of roughly 2,500 similar protests nationwide—another flashpoint in Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown.

—

### Could the National Guard Be Next?

Governor J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration’s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, arguing that the stated purpose—combating violent crime—is a cover for militarizing Democratic-controlled cities as political payback.

Appearing on ABC’s *This Week* on October 13, Pritzker said the administration’s goal is to “militarize, especially blue cities and blue states.”

On October 17, the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court for permission to dispatch troops to the Chicago area while an appeal is pending.

However, a federal judge in Chicago extended a restraining order on October 22, barring President Trump from deploying the National Guard in Illinois as officials await a Supreme Court ruling that could decide the case.

Members of the Texas National Guard arrived in the Chicago area on October 7 as part of preparations.

Trump has discussed invoking the two-century-old Insurrection Act—a statutory exception to the Posse Comitatus Act—which would allow U.S. military involvement in law enforcement during a “rebellion” or when enforcing federal law is deemed “impractical.”

—

The situation remains fluid as Chicago and its suburbs grapple with the ongoing immigration enforcement surge, community resistance, and the looming possibility of National Guard deployment.

Stay informed with the Chicago Tribune for the latest updates on this critical issue.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/27/chicago-immigration-enforcement-raids/

Exxon sues California over new laws requiring corporate climate disclosures

**ExxonMobil Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging California’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Laws**

ExxonMobil has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging two California laws that require the oil giant to report the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of its products worldwide.

The company submitted a 30-page complaint on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. ExxonMobil argues that these laws violate its First Amendment free speech rights by compelling it to “trumpet California’s preferred message even though ExxonMobil believes the speech is misleading and misguided.”

—

**Overview of the California Climate Legislation**

Senate Bill 253, known as the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act of 2023, mandates the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt regulations this year. These regulations require public and private companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions across three different “scopes”:

– **Scope 1:** Direct greenhouse gas emissions from the company and its branches.
– **Scope 2:** Indirect emissions, such as electricity purchased by the company.
– **Scope 3:** Emissions from the company’s supply chain, including waste, water usage, business travel, and employee commutes. Notably, these account for about 75% of a company’s greenhouse gas emissions in many industries.

Reporting on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions will begin in 2026, with Scope 3 reporting starting in 2027.

—

**ExxonMobil’s Objections**

According to the lawsuit, the Air Resources Board solicited public input during the rule-making process but has yet to respond to ExxonMobil’s September 5 letter, which detailed its objections to the proposed reporting methods.

ExxonMobil contends that the legislative history reveals the laws aim to unfairly single out companies like ExxonMobil “for being large” and to spur public criticism. The complaint states, “California may believe that companies that meet the statutes’ revenue thresholds are uniquely responsible for climate change, but the First Amendment categorically bars it from forcing ExxonMobil to speak in service of that misguided viewpoint.”

—

**Expert and Legislative Perspectives**

Michael Gerrard, a prominent climate change legal expert at Columbia University, commented, “These laws do not require Exxon to make any changes in the way it produces, transports, refines or sells oil. They are just about information that Exxon doesn’t want to provide to the public.” He continued, “If Exxon thinks any of the information would be misleading, it’s free to explain why so that readers can draw their own conclusions.”

Supporters of the legislation argue it discourages corporate greenwashing—the practice of falsely portraying a company’s efforts to reduce climate emissions. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author, stated at the time of adoption, “We need the full picture to make the deep emissions cuts that scientists tell us are necessary to avert the worst impacts of climate change.”

—

**Additional Legislation and Legal Challenges**

Another related bill, Senate Bill 261, requires corporations with revenues over $500 million to disclose their climate-related financial risks. In its lawsuit, ExxonMobil claims this law would force it “to engage in granular conjecture about unknowable future developments and to publicly disseminate that speculation on its website.”

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**Defendants Named in the Lawsuit**

The lawsuit names as defendants California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez, Executive Officer Steven S. Cliff, and two officials from the Board’s Industrial Strategies Division.

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Neither the Attorney General’s office nor ExxonMobil responded to requests for comment on Saturday. The case is expected to bring significant attention to the intersection of climate policy, corporate responsibility, and free speech rights.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-25/exxonmobil-lawsuit-california-greenhouse-emissions

Report warns reforms are fueling rise in Colorado violent crime

As part of efforts to lower its prison population, a recent report found that both incarceration rates and arrests in Colorado have declined sharply over the past decade. The state’s rate of recidivism—when a convicted criminal reoffends—has also decreased. However, this does not necessarily mean that crime is decreasing.

Instead, the report attributes these declines to a prioritization by lawmakers on leniency. This approach has largely led to reductions in recidivism, arrests, and the overall prison population.

“Over the past two decades, Colorado has pursued a steady course of criminal justice reform aimed at reducing the footprint of the state’s correctional system,” the report stated. “Lawmakers have prioritized leniency: lower sentences for drug offenses, expanded parole and probation opportunities, and restrictions on law enforcement discretion.”

This tension between enforcement and leniency is reflected in the state’s crime trends over the past decade. From 2014 to 2024, the number of arrests declined by nearly 30%. Similarly, Colorado’s recidivism rate fell by 40% between 2008 and 2019—ranking as the third-highest decline of any state nationwide.

“In 2008, Colorado had the country’s fifth highest recidivism rate,” said DJ Summers, the institute’s director of communications and research operations, during a press conference about the report on Tuesday. “Now the state’s recidivism has dropped to a more average rate.”

The decline in arrests has played a significant role in this progress. Between 2016 and 2024, the total number of inmates in Colorado’s prisons and jails decreased by 12%. This drop was largely due to a significant reduction in the prison population in 2020, when many inmates were released early amid public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, the prison population has been slowly increasing again—though it remains below levels seen in the 2010s.

Despite these positive trends in incarceration and recidivism, the report warns that the overall picture is more complex. From 2014 to 2024, Colorado’s violent crime rate increased by more than 55%.

Looking more closely between December 2019 and December 2021, the report found that while the number of inmates in state prisons fell by over 20%, the violent crime rate rose nearly 25%.

“Arrest counts and violent crime have been shifting at inversely proportional rates, meaning that as arrests decrease, violent crime increases,” the report noted.

Summers added that Common Sense Institute conducted an analysis showing a “strong correlation” between decreases in arrests and prison population and increases in crime.

Furthermore, even with the decline in the recidivism rate, 31% of inmates released by the Colorado Department of Corrections still return to prison within three years.

The report argues that it is time to refocus the state’s priorities away from leniency and toward deterrence, accountability, and public safety.

“The state’s challenge is no longer to reduce its correctional footprint; it is to restore accountability and deterrence without abandoning compassion,” the report stated. “Colorado must find a middle ground between punitive excess and permissive neglect.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3862533/report-warns-reforms-fuel-rise-colorado-violent-crime/

Mexican priest’s violent murder sparks demand for transparent investigation

A Christian advocacy group has joined calls for a transparent investigation into the killing of a Catholic priest in southern Mexico. The priest was found dead earlier this month in a region plagued by cartel violence and targeted attacks on clergy.

The body of Rev. Bertoldo Pantaleón Estrada, 59, was discovered on October 6 in Guerrero state, days after he was reported missing by the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa. Pantaleón was last seen on October 5 while returning from Atzcala to his parish in Mezcala, a short drive of about 30 minutes. However, his body was found roughly 56 miles south of Atzcala with gunshot wounds to the neck, according to the United Kingdom-based watchdog group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

Pantaleón had served as pastor of the San Cristóbal Church in Mezcala. Jesuit leaders in Mexico released a statement mourning his death and demanding clarity in the ongoing investigation.

Authorities announced the arrest of a suspect, identified as Miguel Ángel N., on October 10. Officials said the suspect was an acquaintance of the priest and had given inconsistent accounts of their last meeting. They initially claimed the priest had been killed by his chauffeur, but church leaders denied Estrada had a chauffeur.

The priest’s vehicle was located far from the area he was expected to be traveling, in a zone controlled by rival criminal organizations. The region is known for violent turf wars between gangs, including Los Ardillos and Los Tacos, both allegedly involved in drug trafficking and armed conflict.

CSW Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl stated that the murder was part of a longstanding pattern of violence against church leaders across Mexico.

> “The violent killing of Father Bertoldo Pantaleón Estrada is yet another in a chain of murders of church leaders in Guerrero and across the country over the past two decades, making Mexico one of the deadliest countries in the world for priests and other religious leaders,” she said. “We join in the calls for a full and transparent investigation into this horrific murder and call on the Mexican authorities at both the state and federal levels to ensure that all of those responsible for Father Pantaleón Estrada’s death are held to account and the motive behind this murder firmly established.”

On October 11, at least 400 clergy members and churchgoers reportedly marched in a “caravan of peace and justice” in the Guerrero capital, Chilpancingo, to demand accountability in the case.

Pantaleón’s death comes over a year after a retired bishop known for mediating cartel disputes, Salvador Rangel, was kidnapped in the same region. He was later found and taken to a hospital. In 2018, parish priest Germain Muñiz Garcia and another clergyman, Iván Añorve Jaimes, were killed in a highway ambush in the same area.

Over the past year, Guerrero has also seen a series of political assassinations, including the October 2024 beheading of Chilpancingo Mayor Alejandro Arcos Catalán, less than a week after taking office.

On the television program *Sacro y Profano*, Guillermo Ganzanini of the Catholic Multimedia Center raised concerns about the reliability of investigations into clergy killings.

> “Unfortunately, we have a paper with eight columns of news, but continuity [of the coverage] on the case fades,” Ganzanini said. “We don’t know what has happened with the families, we don’t know what happened in the interrogations, there is no official answer from the institutions about the result of the investigations.”

The Catholic Multimedia Center has tracked 80 murders of Catholic priests in Mexico over the past 30 years. Its December 2024 report lists the recent deaths of several priests across the country, including:

– Father Ícmar Arturo Orta Llamas in Tijuana (2018)
– Father José Martín Guzmán Vega in Tamaulipas (2019)
– Franciscans Juan Antonio Orozco Alvarado, Gumersindo Cortés González in Guanajuato, and José Guadalupe Popoca Soto in Morelos (2021)
– Father José Guadalupe Rivas in Tijuana, and Jesuits Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar in Chihuahua (2022)

Between 2019 and 2024, the Catholic Multimedia Center documented 10 priest killings and 900 cases of extortion, death threats, or violence against Catholic clergy across Mexico, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Religious freedom watchdog Open Doors ranked Mexico 31st in its 2025 World Watch List of the most dangerous countries for Christians. The group cited cartel-related violence, corruption, clan oppression, and secular hostility as factors driving attacks on clergy.

The growing violence against religious leaders in Mexico underscores the urgent need for justice and protection for those serving vulnerable communities amid ongoing cartel conflicts.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/mexican-priests-violent-murder-sparks-demand-for-transparency.html

Vikings condmen racial slurs sent to CB Isaiah Rodgers

The Minnesota Vikings released a statement on Monday condemning the racism directed at cornerback Isaiah Rodgers following their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.

On his Instagram Stories, Rodgers shared screenshots of hateful messages sent to him by a fan after the 28-22 defeat. Rodgers, who won the Super Bowl with the Eagles last season, logged two total tackles in the game. He also took to X (formerly Twitter) to plead for an end to racism in football.

“Racism is real. Keep football, football. That’s not even the worst I’ve seen. Stay solid or stay silent,” the 27-year-old Rodgers wrote. He added, “Some of the most racist comments I have seen or read since I entered the league.”

The Vikings did not take the issue lightly, describing the racial slurs directed at Rodgers as “disgusting.”

“As we have said previously, there simply is no room for racist words or actions in sports or society. We support Isaiah and all players who, unfortunately, experience this type of ignorant and prejudicial behavior far too often, and we ask our fans to continue to fight racism,” the team stated.

In the game, Rodgers allowed two significant catches that contributed to the Vikings’ loss: a 79-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith in the third quarter, and a 45-yard reception to wide receiver AJ Brown with only 1:45 left in the game. The latter catch ended the Vikings’ last-ditch effort to rally.

Taking accountability, Rodgers said, “I put it on me. I came here for a reason, and those type of plays I know I can make. So, I put it on me,” as reported by ESPN’s Kevin Siefert.

Rodgers signed a two-year, $15 million deal with Minnesota during the offseason.

As of now, the NFL has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/vikings-news-minnesota-condemns-racial-slurs-sent-isaiah-rodgers