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Plenty of blame to go around in Blackhawks’ scandal, including some for silent teammatesRick Morrisseyon July 2, 2021 at 5:51 pm

God help the poor slob who happens to step on the large Blackhawks insignia planted in the middle of the locker room at the United Center. It’s holy ground, and Hawks players will scream bloody murder if a reporter’s foot should accidentally go astray.

Protecting that image is seen as a noble pursuit. But who was protecting two players who allegedly were sexually abused by the team’s video coach in 2010? And where were the voices raised in anger then?

This is what happens when guarding an institution becomes paramount.

Silence.

If all the sexual-abuse scandals in various sectors of society have taught us anything, it’s that those in power can’t be trusted.

But those players who reportedly were abused — where were their Hawks teammates to speak up for them?

We hear so much about the importance of leadership in sports. Where was it inside the Blackhawks’ locker room?

At least three former players from the 2010 Stanley Cup team have said recently that Bradley Aldrich’s alleged assaults were no secret to the team at the time. That’s the definition of “too late.”

I want to be clear here: It was up to the people high in the Hawks’ power structure to act responsibly, to protect the vulnerable, to show courage. To call the police. If what the lawsuit says is true, they failed to do so. A former Hawks skills coach requested in a 2010 meeting with then-president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, executive Al MacIsaac and skills coach James Gary that they go to the police with the allegations. He said the group denied his request.

Three years later, Aldrich allegedly molested a 16-year-old boy in Michigan, served prison time for it and is now on the state’s list of registered sex offenders. The alleged victim in that case has filed a lawsuit against the Hawks, saying the team gave Aldrich positive references despite knowing his history of sexual assault.

It’s all terrible, and there’s more than enough terrible to go around.

Hawks players, especially the older ones, failed. They weren’t high school or college kids who lacked the maturity to speak up. They were adults, some in their mid-to-late 20s, some in their 30s. No doubt there is pressure to conform in professional sports, to do what’s best for the group. Players might have feared they’d lose their jobs or get shipped to another team if they spoke up. Or perhaps they were counting on management to do the right thing.

All those things might have been true, but 11 years later, they look very weak in light of the allegations and the painful fallout. If Hawks players truly thought management would take care of the problem, wouldn’t they have wondered why there was no subsequent news story about police charging the team’s video coach with sexual assault? Couldn’t players have continued to pursue justice for the alleged victims?

I happened to be reading “Bear Town” when details of the Hawks’ scandal began emerging. It’s a novel about a junior hockey team and the hold it has on a small community in Sweden. That hold becomes an angry fist when the star player is accused of rape and the immediate reaction from the team and many in the town is to protect the organization.

It’s what the lawsuit, in so many words, accuses the Hawks of doing. It will be interesting to hear what the two alleged victims say team management told them to do. If the history of these scandals is any guide, staying quiet was strongly suggested. You know, for the good of the team, which was a month away from winning the Stanley Cup. A broom appeared, a rug was lifted and some ugly details found a home with no lights.

But ugly details never go away. Just because a player who wants to stay in the good graces of an NHL team is willing to go along with a shameful corporate strategy doesn’t mean he’s the same person more than a decade later. Hence a lawsuit and an organization that looks horrible right now.

Hawks captain Jonathan Toews disagrees with the notion that the sexual-assault allegations were common knowledge in 2010, telling The Athletic that he didn’t begin to hear whispers about them until the next season.

But who knew what when doesn’t matter. Speaking up matters. So where were the teammates? Where were their voices?

According to the player’s suit, Aldrich ”sent . . . inappropriate text messages,” ”turned on porn and began to masturbate in front of [John Doe] . . . without his consent” and ”threatened to injure [Doe] . . . physically, financially and emotionally if [Doe] . . . did not engage in sexual activity.”

Coaches and general managers stress the positive effects of a good team culture. They want everybody on the same page. They want players to sacrifice individual glory for the good of the team. They don’t want trouble, but if there is trouble, they want it kept “in-house.” Protect the brand, at all costs.

This is how scandals happen, in all walks of life. In this instance, if the details in the lawsuit are fact, it made lots of people who should have known better clam up.

Shame on all of them.

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Plenty of blame to go around in Blackhawks’ scandal, including some for silent teammatesRick Morrisseyon July 2, 2021 at 5:51 pm Read More »

Happy Dependence Day!on July 2, 2021 at 6:46 pm

Where Are We Going So Fast?

Happy Dependence Day!

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

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Happy Dependence Day!on July 2, 2021 at 6:46 pm Read More »

Dem change of plans: VP Harris departs first, then Biden.on July 2, 2021 at 6:47 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

Dem change of plans: VP Harris departs first, then Biden.

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Dem change of plans: VP Harris departs first, then Biden.on July 2, 2021 at 6:47 pm Read More »

1-month-old girl among 7 wounded in Englewood mass shooting. ‘They said your niece was shot, I couldn’t believe it.’Tom Schubaon July 2, 2021 at 4:53 pm

A 1-month-old girl and six other people were hit by gunfire in Englewood Thursday night when three gunmen jumped from a black Jeep Cherokee and began firing up and down the street.

The attack came just days after two mass shootings killed two women and injured 15 other people in Chicago. At least 24 shootings across the city this year have wounded four or more people, according to a Sun-Times analysis.

The Englewood attack occurred around 8:15 p.m. when three gunmen “began shooting in several directions” in the 6500 block of South Halsted Street, according to Chicago police.

The three jumped back into the Jeep and sped off down 66th Street, police said. No one was in custody.

The baby was shot in the head and taken in critical condition to St. Bernard Hospital, then transferred to Comer Children’s Hospital, according to police and a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.

Charles McKenzie, the baby’s uncle, said Friday morning that she was “doing pretty good” after undergoing surgery and was able to breathe on her own.

McKenzie said the bullet did not pierce her skull. The car seat she was strapped into had several bullet holes in it, he said.

A violence prevention activist, McKenzie said he got several calls from the community about the mass shooting. He was devastated to learn a loved one was among the wounded. “They said your niece was shot, I’m like my niece? I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s hurtful, it’s painful,” he said. “To know that I’m out here serving and protecting the community and fighting against gun violence every day and it ends up my people that’s afflicted from this gun violence.”

McKenzie said the family was holding up, and his sister thanks everyone for their prayers and calls.

A man who manages a store near the scene of the shooting said he knows the baby’s family. He described them as “just regular everyday people” who were “hanging out near their car parked outside” when the gunmen pulled up.

The man said the baby’s father was also among those shot.

“He’s a good guy,” said the man, who did not want his name used. “All he’s trying to do is take care of his family. He doesn’t do anything stupid or anything like that. Unfortunately these guys came out of nowhere.

“This area has been like this forever,” the man said. “This is like an ongoing thing that’s been going on for years.”

Outside the emergency room Thursday night, an SUV with at least three bullet holes was parked near the entrance. Police spokesman Tom Ahern said the baby was strapped into a car seat when she was shot.

Chicago police guard a red SUV outside Comer Children's Hospital that was involved in a shooting where at least 7 people were shot in the 6600 block of South Halsted Street, in the Englewood neighborhood neighborhood, Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Chicago police guard a red SUV outside Comer Children’s Hospital that was involved in a shooting where at least 7 people were shot in the 6600 block of South Halsted Street, in the Englewood neighborhood neighborhood, Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

As the child clung to life, a group of people at the hospital held a prayer circle and embraced each other. Community activist Andrew Holmes said the family was “upset and trying to find out information about the baby.”

“The baby’s shot, and they want the shooter to either come forward or somebody to turn them in,” Holmes said.

The others shot:

  • A 15-year-old boy struck in the arm and taken to St. Bernard Hospital;
  • A 46-year-old man shot in the leg and also taken to St. Bernard;
  • A 23-year-old man hit in the leg and transported to Stroger Hospital;
  • A 30-year-old man shot in the arm and brought to Stroger;
  • A 36-year-old man wounded in the buttocks and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center;
  • A 32-year-old man who suffered a graze wound to the hip and refused medical treatment.

They were all in good condition, police said.

Halsted was closed off for blocks as police investigated. At the scene, dozens of shell casings littered the ground near Spirits Beverage Depot at 6601 S. Halsted St.

Ahern told reporters the attack may have been captured on surveillance video.

The shooting happened less than six hours after a 9-year-old girl was shot in the head in another South Side shooting that also wounded a 61-year-old man. She was also in critical condition at Comer, police said.

The Sun-Times reported last month that more children 15 or younger have been shot this year than this time last year.

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1-month-old girl among 7 wounded in Englewood mass shooting. ‘They said your niece was shot, I couldn’t believe it.’Tom Schubaon July 2, 2021 at 4:53 pm Read More »

World Series champion Dodgers make traditional visit to White HouseAssociated Presson July 2, 2021 at 5:23 pm

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden praised sports’ ability to heal and bring a nation together in a time of crisis as he hosted the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Friday.

The Dodgers, who captured the title by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays last October, were the first team to be honored at the White House since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the first since Biden took office.

“I think what we discovered is that we need sports more than we ever realized,” said Biden, who praised baseball an important totem of normalcy in “one of the most challenging years” in the nation’s history.

The president saluted the Dodgers as “a lot more than a baseball club, they are a pillar of American culture.” He also praised the team for using its stadium as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site.

The ceremony marked the latest step in the White House’s efforts to return to large in-person events as it seeks to highlight the nation’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 50 members of the team attended the East Room event as well as a number of political heavyweights with California ties, including Vice President Kamala Harris, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Biden kept the mood light, teasing that he didn’t want to dwell on the fact that Harris roots for the Dodgers’ ancient rival, the San Francisco Giants. He also told stories about his own exploits in a congressional baseball game, saying he hit a ball off the wall that thrilled his sons more than any of his political accomplishments.

Clayton Kershaw, the team’s future Hall of Fame pitcher, presented Biden with what has become the standard gift: a jersey emblazoned on the back with the president’s name and number. Biden, the 46th commander in chief, joked that he was demonstrating that he was “a man of courage” by holding the jersey up because he risked incurring the wrath of First Lady Jill Biden, a rabid Philadelphia Phillies fan.

The jubilant championship ceremony bore few of the political overtones that became a hallmark of teams’ visits during the presidency of Donald Trump. Some title teams, like the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia Eagles, skipped being honored at the White House. Others, like the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox, only sent limited delegations, with many players opting to stay home.

Pitcher Trevor Bauer, who has a protection order against him for allegedly assaulting a woman during what he says was consensual sex, did not attend the event. He has denied the allegations.

The Dodgers, who are in town for a four-game series with the Washington Nationals, said only members of the 2020 World Series team would attend, and Bauer didn’t sign with the team until this year.

Mookie Betts, the star outfielder for the 2018 champion Red Sox, did not make that team’s trip to the White House. But Betts, now on the Dodgers, did attend Friday.

Trump also became known for serving fast food to the teams that did visit to executive mansion; details on any meals consumed by the Dodgers at the White House were not immediately released.

The 2020 title was the Dodgers’ seventh World Series championship and they are among the favorites again this year, prompting Biden to joke that he may see them again.

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World Series champion Dodgers make traditional visit to White HouseAssociated Presson July 2, 2021 at 5:23 pm Read More »

Hot dogs cut wrong are the ‘perfect size’ to lodge in child’s throatAmy Haneline | USA Todayon July 2, 2021 at 5:32 pm

The Fourth of July is already surrounded with enough hazards to stress out parents. We’re looking at you, open water and fireworks.

But what about your kids’ plates?

Summer is peak hot dog season. Considering 150 million franks are consumed on the Fourth of July alone, according to 2019 data, there is a strong chance they will be on the menu over the holiday.

So, now is “a good reminder time that hot dogs can be serious choking hazards,” said Dr. Tanya Altmann, author of “Baby & Toddler Basics.”

The size, shape and texture of hot dogs make them especially dangerous for young children, so the pediatrician is here to explain everything parents should know before handing a kid a dog.

Hot dogs top lists of foods to avoid giving toddlers

Any food that is “large, round and solid” can be a potential choking hazard, Altmann said.

That’s why hot dogs often rank at the top of lists of foods to avoid giving young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that hot dogs should be kept away from children younger than 4 years old.

Other potentially dangerous foods include whole grapes, hard or sticky candy, chunks of meat or cheese and popcorn.

“Hot dogs are long and round and when (young children) bite off a piece of it, it really looks kind of like a thick quarter and that is the perfect size to get lodged into a child’s throat,” Altmann said.

Choking incidents among children

In a 2013 study of choking incidents among young children, the AAP reported “choking is a leading cause of injury among children, and can sometimes be fatal.”

Researchers investigated nonfatal food choking-related emergency department visits among children ages 0 to 14 years from 2001 to 2009. On average, 12,400 children (or 34 per day) were treated for a choking incident.

Hard candy caused most choking episodes (15 percent), followed by other candy (13 percent), meat other than hot dogs (12 percent) and bones (12 percent).

Hot dogs accounted for 2.6% of the cases.

At what age can a child eat a hot dog?

Parents can start introducing solid foods (except raw honey, which can harbor bacteria that causes foodborne illness in infants) to babies around 6 months of age, said Altmann. Parents should consider both the nutritional value and safety of a food when choosing their baby’s diet.

“If you wanted to mash up a hot dog into pureed or bite-sized pieces, theoretically you could feed it to an older infant or toddler, but I would argue it may not be nutritionally the best choice,” she said.

But kids love hot dogs. We all know they will eat them. So when they do, they should be appropriately cut up to reduce the risk of choking.

“I’m one of those crazy moms that goes around the birthday party with the plastic knife that cuts all the hot dogs,” Altmann said.

Cut hot dogs lengthwise first

All foods for babies and young children should be cut into 1/2 -inch or smaller pieces, the AAP recommends. However, “cylindrical-shaped foods” require extra care.

“Hot dogs, for instance, are exactly the size of a child’s airway and can easily wedge in there,” the USDA notes in its April 2019 “Infant Nutrition and Feeding” guide for WIC.

Thus, hot dogs should be cut lengthwise into strips first and then cut again into smaller pieces.

The same goes for other common choking hazards such as grapes, cherries and cherry tomatoes.

For older kids that want to be like the grown-ups and eat a hot dog while holding it, Altmann says parents could still cut the hot dog in half long-ways before putting it in the bun to help reduce the choking risk.

When can parents stop cutting hot dogs for kids?

Usually around age 4 is when the choking risk is reduced because children “are a little more aware, their throats are a little bit bigger and they are able to handle things that need to be chewed a little more before they swallow them,” Altmann said.

But 4 also isn’t a “magical” number, she warned. “Anything can be a choking hazard.”

Besides cutting up risky foods, caregivers should also teach kids how to eat food by taking small bites and appropriately chewing before swallowing. Adults should also stay within reach of children when they are eating so they can help if there is an incident.

What to do in a choking situation

“Make sure the child is really choking,” Altmann said. If a child is coughing or talking, there’s a chance the child can push the food out on his or her own.

But look for the following signs of a choking child:

  • Unable to breathe
  • Gasping or wheezing
  • Unable to talk
  • Turning blue
  • Grasping at their throat
  • Waving their arms
  • Appear panicked
  • Limp or unconscious

If a child is choking, call 911 and start a rescue procedure like back blows for infants or the Heimlich Maneuver for older kids.

But prevention is always best.

“For young children, just cut it up and for older kids, watch them carefully when they are eating and remind them to take small bites,” Altmann said.

Read more at usatoday.com

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Hot dogs cut wrong are the ‘perfect size’ to lodge in child’s throatAmy Haneline | USA Todayon July 2, 2021 at 5:32 pm Read More »

Annual Tacos y Tamales Festival Returns to Pilsen July 16-18Brian Lendinoon July 2, 2021 at 5:03 pm

If there’s anything Chicagoans truly love it is their street festivals, and with the reopening of Chicago in full force this summer, street festivals across the entire city are setting up shop yet again. Now, I’ve long argued that Pilsen is the epicenter of food in Chicago. It’s the best when it comes to authentic, enriching, and memorable culinary experiences and that’s what makes the return of the annual Tacos y Tamales Festival that much better. Here’s what you need to know about the return of this iconic street festival this July.

Per a press release, Green Curtain Events is proud to announce the annual Tacos y Tamales Festival a street affair based off of a traditional Mexican market known as the Tianguis – will open July 16, 17, and 18 in Pilsen! Featuring authentic tacos y tamales from Chicago’s top food vendors, beer portfolio by Modelo, Micheladas, music, art, and shopping.

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Tacos y Tamales Festival

Tacos y Tamales FestivalThe Tacos y Tamales Festival aims to give back to the community in which it is hosted; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the local Pilsen Arts & Community House, Frida Kahlo Community Group, and Opportunities for All. The backdrop for Tacos y Tamales Fest will take place in the shadows of the impressive 16th Street murals, where local as well as national and international artists have their works displayed right on the very walls the festival calls home.

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There will be two performance stages, featuring live music and DJs throughout the weekend with traditional acts, interactive dance performances, and higher energy Latin rock into the night. Notable names include: RICO, Sonora Dinamita, Edward Carpio, Enrique Calderon, La Nueva Sonora Santanera, plus Tribute Acts featuring Santana and Karla Perez as SELENA on Saturday night!

For more information about upcoming local festivals and events, please visit www.GreenCurtainEvents.com.

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Tacos y Tamales FestivalAbout Green Curtain Events

Green Curtain Events is a Chicago-based event company that produces festivals and other lively events across the midwest including WingOut, The Great American Lobster Fest, Tacos y Tamales Fest, and more.

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Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information and announcements about Tacos y Tamales Fest and all of the fun and exciting things UrbanMatter Chicago has cooked up for this years return festival!

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Annual Tacos y Tamales Festival Returns to Pilsen July 16-18Brian Lendinoon July 2, 2021 at 5:03 pm Read More »

8 books that range from ‘Traveling Black’ to grilling veggies right to the real story of bugsSun-Times staffon July 2, 2021 at 4:00 pm

Here’s the lowdown on some recently released books that are worth a read.

‘Traveling Black’ by Mia Bay

The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, nonfiction, $35

What it’s about: Explores ways in which transportation has been used to foster discrimination against Blacks, touching briefly on subjects of particular Chicago interest including the NAACP’s fight against bus discrimination in the 1930s, the lack of affordable parking for urban residents and the late Mayor Richard J. Daley using “the construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway in the 1960s as an opportunity to create a durable barrier between the traditionally Irish white neighborhoods on the western side of the city’s South Side and the Black neighborhoods to the east.”

The buzz: The New York Times called it a “superb history of mobility and resistance, the question of literal movement becomes a way to understand the civil rights movement writ large.”

The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press

‘How to Grill Vegetables’ by Steven Raichlen

Workman Publishing, nonfiction, $24.95

What it’s about: The host of several PBS TV series on barbecuing puts everything you need to know in one handy place to make this summer a great one for grilling vegetables and smoking them, too.

The buzz: Easy-to-follow recipes and grilling hacks to make your veggies fool (or at least perplex) the palates of meat-lovers.

Workman Publishing

‘How Not to Be Eaten: The Insects Fight Back’ by Gilbert Waldbauer

University of California Press, nonfiction, $19.95

What it’s about: Natural History describes this as an insect version of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” that, for us humans, is filled with “well-told stories that illustrate the complex interrelations of species and the creative dynamics of evolution.”

The buzz: “Readers will certainly come away with renewed appreciation for the ways in which insects use mimicry, deceit and poison to survive,” the Washington Post wrote.

University of California Press

‘Survive the Night’ by Riley Sager

Dutton, fiction, $27

What it’s about: Movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is sharing the long drive home to Ohio with a man she just met — whom she starts to suspect might be the Campus Killer, who murdered her best friend.

The buzz: “The novel satisfies like a summer blockbuster, nearly demands you stay until the final scenes and the lights come up,” a USA Today review says.

Dutton

‘Plague, Pestilence, and Pandemic’ by Peter Furtado

Thames & Hudson, nonfiction, $19.95

What it’s about: The coronavirus pandemic, of course, isn’t the first that people have faced. Peter Furtado, former editor of History Today, gathers accounts of the ravages that past ones have caused, how people survived them — and what you can do to protect yourself.

The buzz: If there ever were a time when we needed this book for perspective, this is it.

hames & Hudso

‘The Devil May Dance’ by Jake Tapper

Little, Brown, fiction, $28

What it’s about: Historical thriller by Jake Tapper, the lead Washington anchor for CNN, is set in early 1960s Hollywood and is a follow-up to “The Hellfire Club.” It’s centered on a congressman, his zoologist-wife, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and the Rat Pack, a possible mob plot by the Chicago Outfit’s Sam Giancana to assassinate President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s efforts to use the congressman to confirm that.

The buzz: “The gears of this thriller move expertly and fast,” says The New York Times, which also says the rampant racism and sexism and gossipy coverage that passes for news are as of the moment as they were in 1962.

Little, Brown

‘Hell of a Book’ by Jason Mott

Dutton, fiction, $27

What it’s about: A bestselling Black author goes on a cross-country publicity tour that turns into an exploration of racism and police violence in America.

The buzz: “By turns playful and surprising and intimate, a moving meditation on being Black in America,” Kirkus Reviews says.

Dutton

‘Bad Moon Rising’ by John Galligan

Atria Books, fiction, $17

What it’s about: Sheriff Heidi Kick tracks down a killer during a record heat wave in her rural Wisconsin community while embroiled in a nasty reelection campaign. Third in the Bad Axe County series.

The buzz: “Intriguing characters take a wild ride through backwoods Wisconsin in this irresistible mystery,” Kirkus Reviews writes.

Atria Books

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8 books that range from ‘Traveling Black’ to grilling veggies right to the real story of bugsSun-Times staffon July 2, 2021 at 4:00 pm Read More »

Commentary: NFL dismisses accountability with light punishment of Washington Football TeamUSA TODAYon July 2, 2021 at 4:07 pm

After devoting so many resources over the past several years to convey a strong sense of morality and understanding, the NFL on Thursday seemed more intent on protecting its own rather than ensuring accountability and the protection of women in its employment.

While announcing the completion of a year-long investigation into the allegations of rampant sexual harassment and misconduct within the Washington Football Team, the NFL fined the team $10 million, instructing that money to be paid to charities that focus on character building and anti-bullying initiatives. And rather than suspend team owner Daniel Snyder, the league announced he has voluntarily turned over day-to-day operations of the team to his wife Tanya Snyder while he focuses on securing a new stadium deal.

Very little about this conveys accountability from the NFL.

Instead, the decision to take it easy on Snyder made many former employees who experienced mistreatment under Snyder’s watch view the NFL’s investigation as a sham.

“Today’s decision by the NFL leaves me livid and extremely disappointed,” Megan Imbert, who worked for Washington from 2006-11, said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. “Over the past several months the NFL, specifically Roger Goodell, has spent his energy praising the changes the Snyders have made with very little commentary surrounding us and the investigation. I can’t help but wonder if (Goodell’s) daughters experienced what I know is in that report if he would act more empathetically and ensure without a doubt that no one would ever have the chance to be mistreated under Dan Snyder’s reign again.”

The amount of the fine alone proved eye-popping for many.

“Slap on the wrist. Unbelievable,” a former employee who requested anonymity to avoid backlash told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s bull s—.”

Slap on the wrist indeed.

Snyder and his organization came under fire a year ago when news of the long-running misconduct and harassment first became public following an investigation by The Washington Post.

The report detailed a toxic work environment, incidents in which cheerleaders were secretly videotaped in various stages of undress, and other female employees were subjected to sexual advancements and lewd comments from team employees.

Snyder claimed ignorance and blamed himself for being too hands off in his leadership. In July, he enlisted the services of Beth Wilkinson to conduct an investigation, and then said he thought it was best if the NFL had oversight of the probe.

When Snyder named his wife as co-CEO this week, it seemed as if Wilkinson’s investigation had concluded, and so it was on Thursday that the NFL announced the team’s punishment.

“Based on Wilkinson’s review, the Commissioner concluded that for many years the workplace environment at the Washington Football Team, both generally and particularly for women, was highly unprofessional,” the NFL said in a statement.

“Bullying and intimidation frequently took place and many described the culture as one of fear, and numerous female employees reported having experienced sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace.

“Ownership and senior management paid little or no attention to these issues. In some instances, senior executives engaged in inappropriate conduct themselves, including use of demeaning language and public embarrassment.”

But the specifics of the investigation were not released and will remain private.

Lisa Friel, NFL Special Counsel for Investigations, explained to reporters that there is no written report of Wilkinson’s investigation.

Instead, she communicated it verbally to the league to ensure confidentiality.

This too proved upsetting to former employees.

“The fact that the NFL chose to receive an oral report instead of hard copy proves that they are scared of a paper trail and would have to be held to higher standards of integrity,” Imbert said.

Friel declined to discuss specific allegations against Snyder and the organization because she said many of the 150-plus individuals interviewed by Wilkinson spoke on condition of anonymity.

She declined to provide any context on an incident in which Snyder reportedly reached a $1.6 million settlement with a former cheerleader who accused him of misconduct.

Friel said Wilkinson’s task wasn’t to confirm the validity of the many allegations, but instead to learn about the culture and discover if Snyder was making meaningful changes.

Friel, despite acknowledging that Washington had a “very toxic culture that fell well short of (the NFL’s) standards,” like the NFL seemed more intent on commending Snyder on the changes he has made, which includes firing high-ranking officials accused of misconduct, hiring a diverse leadership team and putting in place new protocols aimed at creating a safer work environment for women.

When asked why Snyder wasn’t suspended, and if Wilkinson had recommended a suspension, Friel danced.

Repeatedly, she explained that league’s goal is to ensure that Washington continues to make strides in its culture changes and that a tone of strong accountability is set in place.

Then why slap Snyder on the wrist and let him go on his way?

That remains a mystery. It also sends a rather contradictory message.

The NFL in recent years has donated millions of dollars to the social justice charitable work of its players. The league has implemented strengthened protocols to tackle long-standing discriminatory hiring practices.

The league has gone to great lengths the past few weeks to present itself as a champion for diversity, inclusivity and to support LGBTQ community.

But now, as Snyder essentially skates after more than a decade of toxic leadership of an oppressive organization that so grossly mistreated and disrespected women, all of the NFL’s aforementioned efforts seem hollow.

And the many women who looked to the league to enact justice after enduring years of mistreatment instead revived yet another painful chapter to their saga.

Read more at usatoday.com

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Commentary: NFL dismisses accountability with light punishment of Washington Football TeamUSA TODAYon July 2, 2021 at 4:07 pm Read More »

Motion seeks evidence of past violence at Kyle Rittenhouse trialAssociated Presson July 2, 2021 at 4:29 pm

KENOSHA, Wis. — Prosecutors in Wisconsin want a judge to allow evidence at Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial that shows he had a previous violent encounter in Kenosha before he fatally shot two men and injured another during a police brutality protest last year.

The state’s motion filed Thursday in Kenosha County Circuit Court also seeks to show Rittenhouse, of Antioch, was associated with the far-right Proud Boys, a group linked to political violence.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, on Aug. 25 during protests in Kenosha over the police shooting two days earlier of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed when he was shot by a white police officer.

Prosecutors want to introduce a video from July 1, 2020, which they say shows Rittenhouse striking a teenage girl in the back at Kenosha’s lakefront.

“In both the July 1, 2020 incident and the August 25, 2020 incident, the defendant, an Illinois resident, willingly and intentionally put himself in violent situations in Wisconsin that do not involve him in order to commit further acts of violence,” the motion states.

Prosecutors also said Rittenhouse’s association with the Proud Boys should be considered at the trial because it shows that he takes pride in violence.

Photos taken in January show Rittenhouse drinking inside a Mount Pleasant bar and gesturing with what appeared to be a white power symbol. The motion states that prosecutors have since learned that the people with Rittenhouse at the bar included the leader of the Wisconsin Proud Boys chapter and several of its highest-ranking members.

Prosecutors allege Rittenhouse, who is white, left his home and traveled to Kenosha to answer a call for paramilitary groups to protect businesses during the protest.

Rittenhouse faces multiple charges, including two homicide counts. He has argued he fired in self-defense after protesters attacked him.

Black Lives Matter supporters have painted him as a trigger-happy white supremacist, but some conservatives see him as a symbol for gun rights and have rallied around him, generating $2 million for his bail in November.

Rittenhouse’s defense attorney did not immediately respond to a message and email seeking comment on prosecutors’ latest motion.

Rittenhouse’s trial is scheduled to start Nov. 1.

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Motion seeks evidence of past violence at Kyle Rittenhouse trialAssociated Presson July 2, 2021 at 4:29 pm Read More »