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Canada Standard
5 days ago
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Between intersectionality and intersections: theories and urgent actions with Kimberle Crenshaw
panarmenian 30 May 2025, 23:30 GMT+10 Today the World Social Forum of Intersections in Montreal proposed an inspiring lecture entitled "Between Intersectionality and Intersections: Living Theories, Urgent Actions" with activist and professor Kimberle Crenshaw. Crenshaw is internationally recognized for introducing the concept of intersectionality, a critical approach to understanding the intersections between systems of oppression and the social realities experienced by marginalized people. In this lecture, she shares her expertise and insights on the importance of translating these concepts into concrete actions. View the full conversation with Crenshaw at the World Social Forum of Intersections Crenshaw's work has been foundational in critical race theory and in "intersectionality," a term she coined to describe the double bind of simultaneous racial and gender prejudice. Her studies, writing, and activism have identified key issues in the perpetuation of inequality, including the "school to prison pipeline" for African American children and the criminalization of behavior among Black teenage girls. Through the Columbia Law School African American Policy Forum (AAPF), which she co-founded, Crenshaw co-authored (with Andrea Ritchie) Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women. The World Social Forum of Intersections The World Social Forum of Intersections main objective is to encourage systemic changes, thanks to the intersections of perspectives, knowledge and hopes. It thus aims to break down barriers between action environments, cultures and practices, while creating intergenerational and transnational connections, from the local to the global. Source: Pressenza
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who's in Diddy's sex trafficking trial: The witnesses, lawyers and more
Testimony is underway in Sean 'Diddy' Combs's federal sex trafficking trial, as the government presents its case against the embattled music mogul that threatens to topple his legacy. Combs, 55, who has been detained in a Brooklyn jail since September, has pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, he faces 15 years to life in prison. Combs has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including allegations at the center of a growing number of civil sexual assault lawsuits. The trial, estimated to last eight weeks at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York, is not being publicly broadcast. The government is currently arguing its case against Combs and bringing forward an array of witnesses, including celebrities, hotel workers, male escorts and Combs's former assistants. Combs, meanwhile, has been bolstered by a sprawling defense team and a small but constant corps of supporters. These include his family members, as well as former employees, neighbors and members of the public. With proceedings underway, here are the major players at court — including attorneys, witnesses and family members. This story will be updated throughout the trial. Judge Arun Subramanian Presiding over the Combs trial is Subramanian, 45, who has served as a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of New York since March 2023. Nominated by President Joe Biden, Subramanian was the first South Asian judge appointed to the New York district court. He's been an affable and evenhanded presence on the bench for the Combs trial, occasionally bantering with attorneys and prospective jurors during jury selection. This included a moment when a former colleague of Subramanian's entered the court as a prospective juror, which elicited laughter from the judge. 'What is your opinion about the judge in this case?' Subramanian said jokingly. The prospective juror responded, 'He is fair, he is gregarious, he is decent and he's brilliant. But we have not always agreed on everything.' Subramanian has repeatedly emphasized the importance of having a fair and orderly trial, remarking to attorneys during jury selection that 'efficiency is going to be paramount.' Subramanian graduated Columbia Law School in 2004 and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He also hosted the Southern District's first-ever karaoke happy hour. Casandra Ventura Ventura, an R&B singer who goes by the stage name Cassie, dated Combs for a little more than 10 years after signing to his Bad Boy record label in 2006. At the time, Ventura's debut single, 'Me & U,' was already a global hit, and Combs, a prominent producer and label head who was almost 20 years her senior, promised to further develop the singer's talent. The pair broke up in 2018. Then, in 2023, Ventura filed an explosive lawsuit against her former lover and boss, accusing him of abusing her throughout their relationship and trafficking her for sex. She was one of the first witnesses called at trial, delivering grueling testimony in which she alleged Combs forced her into weekly sex sessions with male prostitutes. Kid Cudi Rapper Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified in Combs's trial that he believes the music mogul broke into his Hollywood home while he was briefly dating Ventura and later blew up his Porsche — confirming a sensational allegation first described in Ventura's 2023 lawsuit. In January 2012, Mescudi said he found his car mangled and burned due to damage caused by a molotov cocktail. The next day, Mescudi said, Combs had a weirdly calm, 'off-putting' demeanor when the two met at Soho House to resolve their romantic dispute over Ventura. 'Sean Combs was standing there with his hands behind his back like a Marvel supervillain,' Mescudi testified. But he said Combs spoke calmly, told him they were 'homies' and said he couldn't understand why Mescudi would have a fling with Ventura. Dawn Richard Dawn Richard of Danity Kane testified that she saw Combs physically abuse his former romantic partners Ventura and Kim Porter. After witnessing Combs allegedly attack Ventura with a frying pan in 2009, Richard also claimed he threatened that 'where he comes from, people who say something can end up missing.' Richard filed a lawsuit against Combs in September, claiming that her former employer physically and sexually abused her throughout the eight years they worked together, which spanned her time in Danity Kane and later as a member of his music trio Diddy-Dirty Money. The lawsuit accuses him of groping her and subjecting her to 'inhumane working conditions.' Attorneys for Combs previously called Richard's claims 'facially ridiculous or demonstrably false' and plan to seek dismissal. Kerry Morgan Ventura's former friend Kerry Morgan testified in Combs's trial that Ventura protected the music producer after she was assaulted by him at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. After an enraged Combs went to Ventura's house and banged on the front door with a hammer, LAPD officers arrived to find Ventura with a black eye, Morgan said. 'They asked what happened, [she said] nothing — she didn't respond,' Morgan testified. 'They asked for her license. She said she didn't have it.' Both Morgan and Ventura have also testified that their friendship ended shortly after Combs allegedly attacked Morgan with a wooden hanger while at Ventura's home in 2018. In recounting her last meeting with Ventura, Morgan said Ventura offered her $30,000 in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement. The two haven't spoken since that deal was made. Regina Ventura Ventura's mother, Regina Ventura, testified about photos she took of her daughter in 2011, which showed dark bruising on parts of her body, including her backside and thighs. But the most striking story she told on the stand was about Combs's alleged demand for $20,000 from Regina, as compensation for money the record producer spent on her daughter. His defense team did not deny that Combs asked for the money, but they noted that Combs returned it shortly after Regina wired the payment to him. Despite their strong protests to exclude the testimony before she took the stand, Combs's defense lawyers chose not to cross-examine Regina — the first government witness they declined to question. Capricorn Clark Capricorn Clark, an assistant who worked for Combs, has come up repeatedly throughout witness testimonies, including in Mescudi's account of a break-in at his home. She's expected to take the stand on May 27. Mylah Morales Mylah Morales, a makeup artist who once worked for Combs and had a sisterly bond with Ventura, testified that she feared for her life when she saw Ventura's injuries after Combs struck her while the women were sharing a hotel room in 2010. She explained that her fear prevented her from talking to Combs or calling police about the incident, and that neither Combs nor his employees ever approached her about it. Janice Combs Janice Combs, matriarch of the Combs family, has been one of her son's most vocal defenders, calling his mounting legal troubles a 'public lynching' in a statement released through her attorney in October. 'My son is not the monster they have painted him to be, and he deserves the chance to tell his side. I can only pray that I am alive to see him speak his truth and be vindicated.' Since Combs's arrest, Janice Combs, 84, has faced media scrutiny and legal challenges that claim she helped conceal his alleged misconduct. According to one lawsuit, in which she is named as a co-defendant with Combs, Janice Combs allegedly pressured the accuser to accept hush money from the rapper. In a separate civil suit, Kirk Burrowes, a co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, accuses Janice Combs of unlawfully taking control of his 25 percent stake in the label after Combs allegedly coerced him into signing over ownership under threat of violence. Janice Combs also figures prominently in 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,' a documentary on Peacock that alleges she threw raucous parties, exposing Combs to sex and drugs during his childhood in Harlem. (Sean Combs filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBC, calling the program an 'outrageous set of fresh lies.') A lawyer for Janice Combs did not respond to a request for comment. Quincy Brown Quincy Brown, 33, is Combs's eldest son and a singer/actor best known for his roles in the musical television series 'Star' and the coming-of-age film 'Dope.' On Oct. 22, Brown joined his siblings — Chance, Justin, Christian, Jessie and D'Lila — in releasing a public statement of support for Combs. 'We stand united, supporting you every step of the way. We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family,' the statement read. That same day, Brown announced a YouTube vlog series offering viewers a look at the Combs family 'through their own lens,' documenting vacations, everyday life and 'the highs and lows.' The project drew criticism online, with some accusing the family of trying to sway public opinion in Combs's favor. The following month, prosecutors alleged in a court filing that the rapper had instructed his family to promote narratives on social media to influence a potential jury pool. Brown, whose biological father is singer Albert 'Al B. Sure!' Brown, was raised by Combs during his on-and-off relationship with Brown's mother, model and actress Kim Porter, who died in 2018 of lobar pneumonia. Justin Dior Combs Justin Combs, 31, is Combs's son with stylist Misa Hylton and a former defensive back at UCLA. During an altercation in 2015, Combs allegedly swung a kettlebell at Justin's assistant football coach and was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The charges were later dropped. Music producer Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones named Justin Combs as a co-defendant in a lawsuit that accused Combs of running a sex trafficking operation. Justin Combs was later dismissed from the case after lawyers failed to serve him. Combs's legal team has slammed the claims in Jones's suit as 'pure fiction.' Christian 'King' Combs Combs's son Christian Combs, known by his stage name 'King Combs,' is a 27-year-old music artist and actor often regarded for his resemblance to his father. He and Combs are named as defendants in a lawsuit that alleges Christian Combs drugged and sexually assaulted a yacht stewardess while she was working on a boat chartered by Combs in December 2022. Last year, an attorney for Combs and his son told CNN that the lawsuit contained 'manufactured lies and irrelevant facts,' adding they would seek to 'dismiss this outrageous claim.' Representatives for Christian Combs did not respond to a request for comment. More recently, Christian Combs has made headlines for his and Justin's visits with controversial rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who has publicly called for Combs's release from jail. In March, Ye shared a now-deleted song on X that featured his 11-year-old daughter, North; Christian Combs; and audio of a phone conversation between Ye and Combs. Chance Combs Chance Combs, 19, is Combs's eldest daughter with stylist Sarah Chapman. An aspiring actor, Chance was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2023. Along with her siblings, she has appeared at pretrial hearings as the family maintains a united front amid growing public scrutiny. Jessie and D'Lila Combs Combs has 18-year-old twin daughters, Jessie and D'Lila, from his relationship with Porter. The sisters, both aspiring models who walked in Dolce & Gabbana's Alta Moda show in 2021, have also appeared in court with other family members — support that is expected to continue throughout the trial. Combs's seventh child is Love, his 2-year-old daughter with model Dana Tran. Marc Agnifilo, lead counsel Combs is represented by Agnifilo, who serves as his lead trial counsel. Agnifilo, a founding partner of the white-shoe law firm Agnifilo Intrater, has represented Martin Shkreli and NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere and is currently on the legal team for UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione. Previously, Agnifilo led the violent and organized crime unit at the U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey, where he tried cases against Italian, Russian and Asian organized crime bosses, as well as American gangs. He is expected to argue that Combs's sexual encounters with his former partners, including Ventura, were consensual as part of a 'swingers' lifestyle. Teny Geragos Geragos is part of the Agnifilo Intrater law firm, and also worked with Agnifilo at Brafman and Associates, which has represented Combs in other legal matters. She is the daughter of Mark Geragos, 67, a famed criminal defense attorney who has also represented Chris Brown, Michael Jackson and Winona Ryder. He is also working with the defense team, though in an advisory role. During jury selection, court filings indicate that Mark Geragos was scolded by Subramanian for calling the prosecution team 'a six-pack of White women' on a TMZ podcast. Brian Steel Steel was added to Combs's legal team in April. Steel, who is based in Georgia, represented Young Thug in the YSL racketeering trial that lasted nearly two years — the longest criminal trial in Georgia history. Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, ended up pleading guilty to several drug-, gun- and gang-related offenses and received a sentence of 15 years probation. Xavier R. Donaldson Donaldson joined Combs's defense team on May 2, just days before the trial began. According to his LinkedIn page, he is a former Bronx County prosecutor and a founding partner of Donaldson & Chilliest, LLP, where he practiced for 24 years, representing clients charged with 'complex federal and state cases' that involved murder, firearms possession, rape and domestic violence, among other criminal matters. Nicole Westmoreland Westmoreland is another late addition to Combs's defense team, filing a notice of attorney appearance as jury selection began in his trial. A Black female attorney, Westmoreland fills a demographic Combs was reportedly seeking to include on his legal team. In 2001, she survived a sexual assault at an Atlanta recording studio when she was 19. Like Steel, Westmoreland represented a defendant in the YSL trial. Anna Estevao Estevao led the defense team's cross-examination of Ventura. According to her biography on the website for her New York law firm — Harris Trzaskoma LLP — she is a former federal defender who now represents individuals and businesses in 'high-stakes white collar and criminal matters,' including bank fraud, money laundering, sexual assault, extortion and more. Jonathan Bach Jonathan Bach joined Combs's legal team amid a second week of witness testimony in the music producer's trial — seemingly to cross-examine forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes, who testified that a 'trauma bond' can form between a domestic abuser and their victims. Bach notably represented David Lemus, who after nearly 14 years behind bars was acquitted in 2007 for the death of a Manhattan bouncer. Maurene Comey, assistant U.S. attorney Comey is part of the all-women legal team of U.S. attorneys trying the case against Combs. She recently served as the lead prosecutor in the 2021 sex trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who played a crucial role in facilitating the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors. (Maxwell, who maintains her innocence, was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison.) Comey is the daughter of James B. Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017. The prosecution team includes assistant U.S. attorneys Meredith Foster, Emily A. Johnson, Christy Slavik, Madison Reddick Smyser and Mitzi Steiner.
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Arun Subramanian: The Indian-Origin Judge Overseeing Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Trial
US District Judge Arun Subramanian on Monday began presiding over the high-stakes federal trial of rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs in New York. Combs is facing serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The trial, expected to last eight weeks, could lead to life imprisonment for Combs upon conviction. Indian-origin Judge Subramanian, appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2022, also oversaw the jury selection process. Who Is Arun Subramanian? Arun Srinivas Subramanian was born in 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Indian parents who migrated to the US. His father was a control systems engineer, and his mother worked as a bookkeeper. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University and obtained his Juris Doctor (JD) from Columbia Law School in 2004. Arun Subramanian began his legal career by clerking for Judge Dennis Jacobs at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then served as a law clerk for Judge Gerard E. Lynch at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. He later went on to clerk for US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mr Subramanian joined the law firm Susman Godfrey LLP in New York in 2007. He became a partner and worked there until 2023. Over the course of his career, he helped recover more than $1 billion for clients, including public and private entities defrauded or harmed by illegal practices. He also represented victims of child pornography trafficking and took on consumer rights cases. Mr Subramanian has contributed significantly to the legal community through pro bono service. He served for years on the pro bono panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and has taken on numerous public interest cases. Arun Subramanian was recommended for a federal judgeship by Senator Chuck Schumer. Former President Biden nominated him in 2022, and after clearing Senate procedures, he received his judicial commission in 2023. He holds the distinction of being the first South Asian judge appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
News18
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Who is Arun Subramanian, The Indian-Origin Judge In Sean ‘Diddy' Combs Trial?
Last Updated: The Indian-origin judge, Arun Subramanian, is conducting the trial of famous rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs in connection with a sex trafficking case. An Indian-origin judge, Arun Subramanian, is overseeing the federal trial of American hip-hop mogul, Sean 'Diddy" Combs as witnesses in the sex trafficking case began testifying this week at a district court in New York. The rapper is facing dozens of civil lawsuits from people who accuse him of abusing his power to drug, assault, rape, intimidate and silence people. The charges against Combs include exploitation using his fame and money. He is also charged with coercing women into abusive sex parties. However, the rapper has rejected all allegations and called them attempts 'for a quick payday". The case was assigned to Subramanian after Judge Andrew L Carter Jr removed himself from the case. Who Is Arun Subramanian, The Indian-Origin Judge? The Indian-origin judge, Arun Subramanian, is conducting the trial of famous rapper Sean 'Diddy" Combs in connection with a sex trafficking case. He was born in Pittsburgh in 1979 to parents who had migrated from India. Subramanian was appointed a federal judge by former President Joe Biden in 2022 and is the first South Asian to serve on this bench. He has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and English from Case Western Reserve University. After this, he received a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, where he was recognised as both a James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He then spent over 15 years as a partner at Susman Godfrey LLC in New York City, specialising in commercial and bankruptcy law. First Published: May 15, 2025, 11:39 IST
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Arun Subramanian? All about Indian-origin judge in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial
Witnesses in the sex trafficking case of American rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs began testifying this week at a district court in New York, in the courtroom of US district judge Arun Subramanian. The star witness in the case is Combs' ex-girlfriend and singer Cassie, who accused 'Diddy' of physical assault and control over every aspect of her life. She also accused the rapper of giving her drugs and forcing multiple sexual partners on her, whom she termed as 'freak offs.' Also read | Everything we know about rapper Diddy's sex trafficking trial: From charges to key witnesses Charges against Combs include running an empire of exploitation using his fame and money. He also coerced women into abusive sex parties and silenced them with blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and beatings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said Combs was assisted by an inner circle of bodyguards and high-ranking employees who helped the rapper commit crimes and cover them up. The trial is being conducted at the courtroom of US district judge Arun Subramanian, who was appointed a federal judge by former President Joe Biden in 2022. Subramanian is the first South Asian to serve on this bench. The then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Arun Subramanian by highlighting his immigrant background and dedication to advocating for people, especially in a district with a significant South Asian-American community. Also read | Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former girlfriend said fighting back made hip-hop mogul more violent Born in Pittsburgh in 1979 to Indian immigrant parents, Arun Subramanian earned his BA in Computer Science and English from Case Western Reserve University before obtaining his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, where he was recognised as a James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as Executive Articles Editor for the Columbia Law Review. Subramanian began his legal career as a judicial clerk for Judge Dennis Jacobs on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He subsequently worked with Judge Gerard E. Lynch in the Southern District of New York and also clerked for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also read | A closer look at the jurors in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial From 2007 to 2023, he was a partner at the prominent law firm Susman Godfrey LLP in New York City, specialising in commercial and insolvency law. According to the firm's official website, the attorney of Indian origin has successfully recovered over a billion dollars on behalf of public and private entities that were victims of fraud and other unlawful conduct. His legal career has been devoted to advocating for public entities in False Claims Act cases, victims of child pornography trafficking, consumers, and individuals harmed by unfair practices.
