Latest news with #JimKenney
Sunday World
2 days ago
- General
- Sunday World
Mass grave discovered in US likely that of Irish railroad workers
Researchers believe 120 Irish immigrants could be buried at the site Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia at the Duffy's Cut Memorial Service. Photo: Duffy's Cut Project/Brian Quinn, Clonoe Gallery/Flickr A mass grave discovered in the United States is likely that of Irish railroad workers. This week, a team of researchers announced the discovery of human remains at a cemetery in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The Duffy's Cut Project suspect that up to 120 bodies were buried in the grave in 1892. It comes 19 years after the bodies of 57 Irish immigrants were discovered in a mass grave at Duffy's Cut in Malvern. Stock Image Railway Track Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12th The men and women who worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad died from cholera, while some were murdered. The workers travelled to work in Philadelphia from Donegal, Tyrone, and Derry. While most of the workers were reburied in the US, John Ruddy from Donegal and Catherine Burns from Tyrone were repatriated and buried in their hometowns in 2012 and 2015. The two mass graves are believed to be linked. It's suspected that a worker at Duffy's Cut ran the tracks from Malvern to Downingtown and infected the workers there with disease. Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia at the Duffy's Cut Memorial Service. Photo: Duffy's Cut Project/Brian Quinn, Clonoe Gallery/Flickr The grave in Downingtown was discovered when ground-penetrating radar detected an anomaly in the ground, Daily Local News in West Chester, Pennsylvania, has reported. The land was excavated manually, and human bones and teeth were found. The area has been closed off to the public, and the team plans to rebury the remains and construct a memorial Celtic cross in honour of the deceased. 'We are doing this out of a sense of justice, honour and dignity,' said Researcher Frank Watson. 'Their stories need to be told. They have the right to be remembered. 'There's still more to find, there is still more to tell.' Retired Police officer Bob McAllister said it's about justice. 'This was a soul, this was somebody's life. 'This was a human being that we are excavating from the ground.' Downingtown Mayor Phil Dague added: 'This is a crime, there is no statute of limitations.' 'Others can go visit the graves, you can't put a dollar value on that. 'I hate mysteries. There are a couple less mysteries here.'
CBS News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Watch live: Philadelphia leaders respond to federal immigration actions, remind residents of rights
Philadelphia leaders are gathering at City Hall on Friday to respond to recent federal immigration enforcement actions and remind residents of their rights and protections under the law. Officials from City Council, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office will speak in a news conference at 10 a.m. You can watch live in the player above or wherever CBS News Philadelphia is streaming. Leaders have spoken out about residents' rights since President Trump undertook several executive orders and actions on immigration in the first days of his second term. The orders and actions include one that aims to end birthright citizenship, have immigrant communities and other groups in the city on edge. Another order suspends federal funding for so-called "sanctuary cities," which are places that restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration has also instructed border agents to summarily deport migrants crossing into the country illegally without allowing them to request legal protection like an asylum hearing. In a recent "Trump preparedness hearing," Philadelphia officials said the city has not changed its commitment to Executive Order No. 5-16, enacted during Mayor Jim Kenney's administration. The order says the city will not honor ICE detainer requests unless supported by a judicial warrant and pertain to a person convicted of a felony involving violence. The School District of Philadelphia has also had to respond to rumors that ICE has been spotted near school buildings (which the district has refuted). Superintendent Tony Watlington said ahead of his State of the Schools address the district is committed to "creating safe, welcoming spaces for our students and families ... in alignment with the U.S. Constitution, Pennsylvania state law..." ICE recently conducted a raid Wednesday at Complete Auto Wash in North Philadelphia, entering the lot and detaining seven employees suspected of being in the country illegally.
