Latest news with #NationalDayofAction
7NEWS
22-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Police officer under investigation over Facebook comment on domestic violence rally
A Gold Coast police officer is being investigated over an alleged social media comment insulting women who were protesting against domestic violence. It came after The Gold Coast Bulletin reported on the May 11 rally at Broadbeach as part of a National Day of Action to support domestic violence victims. The report on the outlet's Facebook page showed women holding signs which read: 'We are the voices of the women who no longer have one' and 'Walking home shouldn't be a death sentence'. A comment on the report, from a Facebook account allegedly linked to the officer, said: 'All I see is a lot of women sitting around ... and a lot of sandwiches NOT getting made.' The comment has since been deleted. Queensland Police Service said both the comment and the officer who allegedly made it are being investigated. 'The Queensland Police Service is aware of this matter which is subject to internal investigation, it would be inappropriate to provide further comment at this stage,' QPS said. Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said the alleged comment was 'disappointing'. 'That's not the professional standards I expect, it's not the attitudes I expect,' he said. 'We work hard every single day of the week keeping our victims, victim survivors, safe in domestic and family violence incidents. We expect professional behaviour.' On Thursday, Sunrise reporter Georgia Costi spoke about the incident. 'It's the type of thing that just isn't really socially acceptable to say, especially if you are in the position of someone like a police officer who is held to a higher standard,' Costi said. 'As you can imagine, this has caused a lot of outrage. 'The acting commissioner is aware of the comment and he says there is an internal investigation underway. 'But all of this does come only a few years after a really scathing review was handed down about the way police officers here in Queensland handled family and domestic violence cases. 'It found there is a long history of misogyny, so this is just not a very good look for our police on the Gold Coast.' An Inquiry into Queensland police responses to domestic violence heard 1,676 complaints of sexist, racist, misogynistic and homophobic behaviour were made against officers from 2020 to 2022.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump, Elon Musk National Day of Action protests in Florida: When and where are rallies today?
Before, it was "Hands off!" Now, it's May Day. Less than a month after "Hands off!" protests nationwide against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, including 45 in Trump's home state of Florida, protesters are organizing "May Day 2025: National Day of Action" rallies against the pair. There are about 54 rallies in Florida from Thursday, May 1, to Sunday, May 4. Schedule of protests: Florida has 54 Trump, Elon Musk May Day 2025 rallies. A list, city by city Last month, USA TODAY reported there were more than 1,300 protests across the country against Trump and Musk on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Over 40 of those were planned for Florida, including some down the road from Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago. Many of these mass mobilization rallies have "May Day" plus the name of the city and state and "fight back!" in their titles. They are happening on the weekend that Trump returns to his home, Mar-a-Lago, also known as the Winter White House or Southern White House because of the amount of time spent here during his first and second term. The "Hands off!" Trump-Musk rallies happened just after April 2, 2025, what Trump called 'Liberation Day,' when he imposed sweeping tariffs affecting all U.S. trading partners and imports. Here's why people are gathering for the "anti Donald Trump-Elon Musk" rallies, a list of when and where they are in Florida, and what we know about the protests here. "May Day: National Day of Action 2025" is the title, filter and group behind the "mass mobilization" nationwide rallies and protests aimed at Trump and Musk, SpaceX and Tesla CEO who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE for short. Most of the May Day rallies − which take place from Thursday to Sunday, May 1 to May 4, 2025 − have this message online: "For May Day 2025, workers, parents, seniors, community members, students, and working families are coming together to raise their voices for better, safer, and stronger communities across the country. Topics and signs will likely include: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, jobs, abortion, fair elections, personal data, public lands, veteran services, cancer research, NATO, consumer protections, clean air, clean energy, schools, libraries, free speech, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants and courts, the rally site states. The theme of the "May Day," nonviolent, peaceful protest rallies are, "May Day 2025 we are standing united to fight the billionaire-backed fascist take over our country." Note: Times are noted in Eastern Standard or Central Time. Brandon, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 2 to 4 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, at 6002 Providence Road, Brandon. Boca Raton, Florida: "May Day Strong: Indivisible Boca Raton fights back!" rally will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Clermont, Florida: "May Day Strong: Stop the Billionaire Takeover!" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Tesla, 16775 SR 50, Clermont. (en Espanol) Davenport, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET Sabado, 3 de mayo, direccion de este evento es privada. Inscribase para obtener mas informacion, Daytona Beach, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Daytona Beach City Hall, 301 S. Ridgewood Ave. DeLand, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at New York Avenue West and South Woodland Boulevard in DeLand. Fort Myers, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Old Lee County Courthouse, 2120 Main St., Fort Myers. Hollywood, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Hollywood Young Circle, 1733 E. Young Circle, Hollywood. Key Largo, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 11 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at a private address. Click here to register. Kissimmee, Florida: "May Day Strong: Stop the Broligarchy!" rally will be from noon to 2 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Tesla Kissimmee, 2935 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Kissimmee. Lakeland, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at a private address. Click here to register. Leesburg, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Lake Sumter State College, 9501 U.S. 441, Leesburg. Mount Dora, Florida: "May Day Strong: Mount Dora, Florida" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Donnelly and U.S. 441, 18831 U.S. 441, Mount Dora. New Port Richey, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Citizens Drive and Little Road in New Port Richey. Ocala, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Ocala Downtown Square, 1 SE Broadway St., Ocala. Orlando, Florida: "May Day Strong: Immigrants have rights!" rally will be from 3 to 5 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida: "Speaking Up for America/Indivisible: May Day Strong: We are the Many" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at North County Courthouse, 3188 PGA Blvd., at PGA Boulevard ad Campus Drive in Palm Beach Gardens. Spring Hill, Florida: "May Day Strong: We the People Workers United" rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at a private address. Click here to register. Tallahassee, Florida: "Tallahassee May Day Strong" rally will be from noon to 2 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at a private address. Click here to register. Tampa, Florida: "May Day Protest: Worker's Rights are Human Rights!" rally will be from 4 to 6 p.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Centennial Park, 1800 E. 8th Ave., Tampa. Winter Haven, Florida: "May Day Strong: We are the Many of Winter Haven" rally will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET Saturday, May 3, 2025, at a private address. Click here to register. Note: Times are noted in Eastern Standard or Central Time. Clermont, Florida: "May Day Strong: Four Corners Clermont, Florida" rally will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Caga Crossing Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks, Clermont. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Where are Elon Musk, Trump protests in Florida Saturday, May 3, 2025?
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Workers' rights: Union members tend to become spectators while leaders take decisions
Employment equity – currently a bone of contention between the right and left of SA's political spectrum – 'has had a major effect'. Cosatu members on their way to Johannesburg Stck Exchange in Sandton in Johannesburg, 7 October 2024, to hand memorandum as part of its National Day of Action against the economic crisis' in the country. COSATU allies, the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) and the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) participated in the strike. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/ The Citizen As thousands of workers yesterday marked May Day, a labour expert says the Labour Relations Act (LRA) has affected working conditions. This has been strengthened by labour federations Cosatu and Saftu being united in opposition to the value-added tax (VAT) hike and amendments to labour laws. Prof Lucien van der Walt, of Rhodes University's economics and governance department, lauded the LRA as the first legislation in the country's history to provide all workers 'access to a formal industrial relations machinery.' ALSO READ: Celebrating Workers' Day with no work? Unemployment forum boycotts the day This, said Van der Walt, included protected strikes and other measures from which unions benefited. 'Until the late 1970s, such legislation excluded black African workers, who were confined to a separate, labour-repressive system,' he said. 'The changes in the 1980s facilitated massive union growth, with Cosatu membership growing from 450 000 in 1985 to well over two million in the 2000s.' 'Downsize' However, Van der Walt said the downside of the LRA was that 'it – like its predecessor, the Industrial Conciliation Act – is based around time-consuming and bureaucratic processes'. 'For workers to have a protected strike, other avenues provided to resolve the issues must be exhausted,' he said. ALSO READ: Govt increases minimum wage – here's how much domestic workers should earn from 1 March 'Unions get entangled in lengthy and complicated procedures. This affects how unions work, with members left out. 'Rather than driving and controlling, members tend to become spectators, with organisers and leaders focusing on the legal system, rather than on worker mobilisation and education. 'Organisers and leaders also get more power through their know-how and often make decisions without direction from members. ALSO READ: Numsa demands wage increase, night shift allowance for motor industry workers 'So, over time, the LRA has fostered a much more top-down, passive approach to trade unionism,' he added. Employment equity Employment equity (EE) – currently a bone of contention between the right and left of SA's political spectrum – 'has had a major effect'. 'The SA workforce was historically highly shaped by race and sex. Essentially, white workers dominated many skilled and better-paying jobs, including government,' said Van der Walt. 'Women of all races were locked out of many occupations. 'EE measures have shifted this situation, most notably in government, which is by far the biggest single employer. ALSO READ: Municipal workers place duty above pay as overtime cap hurts residents 'There have also been changes in the private sector. There has been enormous pressure to have what has been deemed a more representative workforce. 'But EE has had little effect on people living with disabilities.' Van der Walt said EE limitations included: Measures expressed in law and policy, not intended to act as a simple quota system reserving jobs by race or sex; and Fostering racial tensions among workers through conflicts over jobs and promotions. 'The reality that EE is simply unable to address broader problems of widespread low-wage work, job insecurity and unemployment,' he said. 'Conflicts over EE would be less serious if there were more jobs and better jobs. There would be less competition for a small number of skilled, well-paid jobs and less stress for people who lost jobs. 'But EE, by its nature, is focused on the redistribution of fairly small numbers of well-paid and skilled jobs.' 'Anti-worker labour laws' In his May Day message, Saftu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi said workers across the labour movement were 'united in opposition to the VAT increase and anti-worker labour laws'. 'Comrades, we meet at a moment of profound danger, with the working class under siege. Brutal austerity is ripping apart our communities. Corporate profiteering is driving hunger and homelessness,' said Vavi. 'The bosses and their government are not stopping at VAT. They are unleashing a direct assault on worker rights through vicious labour law amendments and a draft code of good practice on dismissal. 'These are not technical changes, but are rather a blatant declaration of war on the working class. Saftu calls for mass resistance against these betrayals,' he added. Cosatu said it remained opposed to proposed amendments to labour law, which followed extensive engagements between labour and business at the National Economic Development and Labour Council, with similar public hearings held in parliament. According to Cosatu national spokesperson, Matthew Parks, changes to the law included 'adapting employment equity targets to take into account regional demographic diversity and to adopt more focused targets for sectors falling woefully behind employment equity'. NOW READ: Massive Transnet strike could bring logistics sector to its knees – brians@
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
People protest Trump Administration in West Michigan
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — West Michigan protesters joined in on National Day of Action, happening across the country Thursday to show opposition toward President Donald Trump's policies. The protests are a part of a larger message known as 'May Day.' Along the lakeshore, there was a large turnout near Mart Dock, as demonstrators gathered along the road holding signs and chanting. 'America is in crisis,' protester Diane Parm told News 8. 'Every morning when I wake up, my stomach is in a knot because I hear about a new executive order that has been signed that is tearing America apart.' Where Trump's major campaign promises stand after 100 days Parm said her fear of Trump's policies forced her to join the picket line on Thursday. 'I fear for my grandchildren's future, I fear for America's future, I fear we are going to lose everything we have and its going to take decades of getting any semblance of it back,' Parm said. The message was widespread, with signs and chants touching on a variety of topics like Social Security, Medicare, immigration and the Department of Government Efficiency. Protester Mike Hakenjos told News 8 this was his first protest against the Trump Administration. 'Protests make our voices heard; I am very disturbed by what is going on in our country,' he said. 'This is not right, this is not our democracy and this cannot go unchecked.' Trump's agenda faces courtroom setbacks as Justice Department lawyers struggle to win over judges It was a similar picture in Grand Rapids as demonstrators gathered at Roberto Clemente Park. Organizer Gema Lowe told News 8 that to her, the day was about honoring immigrant workers. 'As immigrant workers, we carry the load of labor that nobody else does in this country, so we are uplifting our immigrant workers,' she said. For many, like Parm, this isn't their first protest against this administration. Parm said it will not be her last. 'I hope it opens people's eyes so they realize what is going on,' she said. 'We have to use our voices, there is more of us then there are of them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Broome County Democrats' rally against Trump
BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – Local Democrats held a rally, calling out the Trump administration and reaffirming their commitment to the Constitution. The Democratic Caucus of the Broome County Legislature rallied outside of the domed courthouse in Binghamton this afternoon. The Democrats says what they're seeing on the federal level isn't about political party or beliefs, but about empathy and morals. Minority Leader Kim Myers says they want to call attention to four sectors of society, specifically, the judiciary branch, education, workforce, and faith communities. 'As elected representatives, we have sworn an oath to defend The Constitution as all elected officials have. Not just in words, but in actions. We will not stand silently as we witness the threats to the very foundation and principals of liberty, justice and human dignity,' says Myers. Progressives have called for a National Day of Action today, and there were other protests around the area, one by 50501 Binghamton at 4 p.m. leading into an Indivisible Binghamton Rally at the Martin Luther King Junior Promenade at 5 p.m. The Broome County GOP released a statement in response to the protests saying quote, 'Local Democrats and their out-of-touch allies should put down the sloppy handmade signs and work honestly with local Republicans to make life better for the people who live here.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
