Latest news with #SalemWitchTrials
National Post
01-08-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Amy Hamm: On Feucht and Hockey Canada ruling, ignore the angry mobs
Article content This case does not make a strong hill for the 'believe all women' mob to die on. But then again, mobs seldom make sense. They tend to be driven by emotion, not logic. Article content A mob is, at least superficially, motivated by the desire to rectify injustices, stop wrongdoing or protect the vulnerable and innocent. But the examples provided to us by history reveal how angry mobs rarely get things right, and often fail to accomplish justice. They also, naturally, form within a specific cultural context. Article content An illustration: the Salem Witch Trials. Between 1692 and 1693 in Massachusetts, more than 200 mostly female victims were accused by the mob of being witches. Twenty were put to death. Public officials performed the bidding of persons blinded by misogynist, religiously motivated fears. Due process was non-existent, and literal braying mobs influenced judges' verdicts. Article content Today's dominant (but admittedly receding) cultural orthodoxy is one of reactionary rage against all things white, western, colonial, conservative, traditional, religious and male. Article content Article content One look at Feucht, and the exonerated Team Canada players, and it becomes clear that at the centre of both of these very public controversies are persons who can be perfectly vilified within our cultural milieu. And they all have been. Article content Whatever our collective anger is over — Trump's tariffs, a recession or violence against women — Feucht et al. comprise the perfect target for the mob's rage. Article content Politicians, journalists and judges all have a duty to examine the claims of a mob before falling for its proclaimed narrative — and, more critically, before bending to the will of any irate, pitchfork-wielding folks. Article content One of Feucht's songs contains these lyrics: 'There is a name; Who reigns without contention; Whose power can't be questioned or contained; With humble fame; He rules the earth and heavens; His glory knows no measure or refrain; And it's bursting past the border lines of space.' Article content Article content Article content
See - Sada Elbalad
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Evan Rachel Wood Not Returning for "Practical Magic 2": "It Was Not in My Control"
Yara Sameh Evan Rachel Wood will not be returning for "Practical Magic 2". Wood, 37, announced that she would not return on Friday in an Instagram Stories post. "I am getting asked about this a lot, so l'll just clear it up now;I was not asked to come back and be in the #PracticalMagic sequel. l offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line," she wrote. The Instagram Stories post continued, "I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters." In the original film, Wood played Kylie Owens, the eldest daughter of Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock), who goes to live with her eccentric aunts after the death of her father Michael (Mark Feuerstein). The announcement came briefly following the news that Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest are reprising their roles of the aunts to Sally Owens (Bullock, 60) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) from the original 1998 romantic fantasy. Channing, 81, will once again play Frances "Franny" Owens, the more no-nonsense of the pair, while Wiest, 77, returns as the kind, whimsical, understanding Bridget "Jet" Owens. New additions to the cast in the follow-up to the iconic witchy romance are Joey King as Sally's daughter. Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod have also joined the ensemble. In a statement, the filmmaking team behind "Practical Magic 2" — which includes director Susanne Bier, taking over from Griffin Dunne — said, 'Twenty-five years ago, Sally, Gillian, Aunt Jet and Aunt Franny flew off the pages of Alice Hoffman's beloved novel and into theaters around the world, and we are thrilled to bring the Owens family back to the big screen with Joey, Lee, Maisie, Solly and Xolo joining the next chapter in our story." "The enduring affection for these characters has been our inspiration to deliver the next installment in the Owens' story to new fans, and those who've been with us since the beginning," they added. "Practical Magic", based on Hoffman's 1995 novel of the same name, stars Kidman and Bullock as the Owens sisters, a pair of witches descended from a fictional survivor of the Salem Witch Trials who are fighting off a curse that kills the men they fall in love with, while learning to accept the most magical parts of themselves. The first 'Practical Magic' was not a commercial success, earning $68.3 million worldwide against its $75 million budget. However, it developed a cult following on home entertainment. In an age of diminishing IP, that's enough to justify a sequel. Production is currently underway on 'Practical Magic 2,' which will be released in theaters on September 18, 2026. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
The Independent
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
How Salem faced up to its dark past to become one of the most inclusive towns in America
I moved here from Texas and everyone has been very welcoming – that's just our city for you,' beams Zay Waters, as he checks me into The Hotel Salem. 'We're an inclusive and progressive place that accepts people for who and what they are.' It's quite a transformation from 1692, when the infamous Salem witch trials sent 20 innocent people to their deaths and saw 200 more accused, the youngest just four years old. Salem has been on both a visceral and a cerebral journey since 1692, informed by the vile consequences of letting prejudice, envy and hate mutate into the persecution and execution of its citizens. 'We've been giving a voice to the innocents since 1972,' explains Jill Christiansen of the excellent Salem Witch Museum. 'For Salem knows both the consequences of evil and of other people doing nothing to stop it. These are lessons that resonate today.' You could spend days touring witch-themed attractions in Salem, slick venues where talented actors win awards for their brilliant recreations. I don't. I see and feel enough with the Salem Witch Museum and the Witch House. The latter is an eerie, dark-hued wooden mansion that chills me back to the American horror films of my childhood. The only building that actually played a role in the trials that you can still visit today is even more chilling inside. The floorboards creak with the spectre of Jonathan Corwin, a judge appointed after his predecessor resigned in protest at the first hanging. Corwin had no such qualms. In many ways, Salem has been paying penance for the horrors of 1692 ever since, trying to bury its baleful past. Salem gave the world the joy of Monopoly and Clue (Cluedo in the UK) and America the Peabody Essex Museum, its oldest continually operating museum. Salem knows both the consequences of evil and of other people doing nothing to stop it. These are lessons that resonate today Jill Christiansen It also gave sailors to fight in the War of Independence – and then its warships (along with more than a few appropriated from the British) became trading vessels opening up new routes to China, Japan and Madagascar as America's busiest port and one of the country's 10 biggest cities in the 19th century. The national guard was founded in Salem. The city's rich history lingers on at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, the first of its kind, established back in 1938. This waterfront quarter was never ravaged by the British navy, with its largest wharf, Derby Wharf, still proudly stretching out into the lifeblood harbour. Information boards tell the stories of the days when silks caressed the waterfront and exotic spices filled the air. And US novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne's time working at the Custom House inspired him to write his seminal gothic novel, The House of the Seven Gables, on visits to his cousin's house, which still stands as a museum nearby. Salem has also found its place in the world today – with a sense of deep irony, unsettling for some – as the self-styled 'Witch City'. Witches are everywhere. And out in the open. You would think that being most renowned globally for murdering ' witches ' is not a public relations win, but dark tourism descended on Salem as early as the arrival of the railroad in 1838, with ghoulish visitors knocking on doors demanding eyewitness accounts. The public fascination with the occult has, if anything, increased down the centuries, and Salem has cannily embraced its 'Witch City' moniker. There is a Witch City Mall, Witchcraft Heights School, and a flying witch even adorns police badges. I can have my fortune told, buy a crystal to cure any ailment and explore myriad alternative lifestyles. Blackcraft is a teenage goth's paradise. I explore it with a Halloween-themed – of course – pumpkin-spiced latte from their cafe. At Kakawa Chocolate House, I try their delicious new Salem Spice Elixir. Salem does witch tourism big time. And it does it well. Thankfully, today's witches are not persecuted, more celebrated. At the Halloween Museum, I learn that around 2,000 locals today identify as witches out of a population of around 45,000. This population swells with more than a million visitors during the tourist invasion that swirls around Halloween, a global phenomenon with roots as Samhain in pagan-era Scotland and Ireland, but associated with Salem via its infamous trials. Witches today in Salem are closer to the charming souls of the TV series Bewitched, rather than the green-faced goblin of the old Wizard of Oz film – Salem didn't thank MGM for searing the green skin into the public consciousness. Fittingly, a statue of Bewitched 's good-natured Samantha stands proudly on Salem's main thoroughfare, Essex Street. After a few days in Salem, the darkness of 1692 is starting to drift off in a gentle breeze under sunny skies. And there's great food to be found in this foodie hub. I discover why Turner's was named the best seafood restaurant in New England in 2025, with the best lobster roll I've ever savoured. Sea Level Oyster Bar serves up a rich bounty of boat-fresh seafood overlooking Derby Wharf, and even The Hotel Salem sports a rooftop bar restaurant offering delicious lobster tacos to go with the views. Then I take a walk. No ordinary stroll. It's a guided Salem deep dive with Witch City Walking Tours; there is a dizzying array. Our guide, Hancock, shares his eclectic Irish, Scottish and Native American heritage, before swirling me back through the centuries to the baleful days of 1692, the shiny shops and foodie haunts vanishing under the bleakness of a Puritan capotain hat as the sky clouds over. The tour shudders to an end at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, a brutally simple garden with stones for each of the 20 executed. Another innocent quintet died in custody. But Hancock is proud of Salem today: 'You can truly be yourself here, not like in some parts of America today,' he says. 'Everyone is welcome, witches and all.' His eyes narrow, though, and his smile disappears as he whispers a cautionary note: 'There is always a danger of witch trials in many forms, and we all must make sure we don't sit around and do nothing when they threaten to start. Above all, 1692 has taught us that.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
CRIME HUNTER: Is there a serial killer terrorizing New England?
Behind the facades of Cape Cod homes and charming fishing villages, evil has long lurked in the shadows of the New England states. Murder just seems creepier in the Northeastern United States. From the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s to the Boston Strangler, Lizzie Borden, and Jesse Pomeroy, the world's youngest serial killer, the oldest settlements in the U.S. take a back seat to no one when it comes to the macabre. Now, like a spectre from the gothic past, a suspected serial killer may be preying on the women of New England. So far, there have been at least 13 mysterious deaths. *** Adriana Suazo is the latest suspected victim, sparking more fears. The 21-year-old's body was discovered by a passerby in a wooded area of Milton, Massachusetts, on the outskirts of Boston, on June 1. But cops said there were no obvious signs of trauma, and the death remains under investigation. Suazo's mysterious death would likely have been a line-item on Page 56 of The Boston Herald — if there weren't 12 other bodies since March. Remains have been found in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine. Most were recovered in rural, wooded areas within a 115 km radius. And the circumstances of the deaths have also varied. That includes at least one dismemberment. 'I just want to know the truth about what happened to her. I'm not accusing anyone, but her circumstances are suspicious. She was with someone either when she died or before. My family just wants closure on the events leading up to her death,' Suazo's sister Melanie Pizarro told Fox News. *** Investigators, prosecutors and at least one serial killer expert have pooh-poohed the idea that a homicidal maniac is on the loose. So far, the investigations have remained at a local level, with each case examined on an individual basis. Cops have torpedoed the notion that a single perpetrator is stalking New England. For starters, detectives have pointed to the paucity of forensic evidence. 'There is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public at this time,' Connecticut State Police told Fox News, adding that speculation has been fueled by 'internet rumours.' Then again, there are the bodies. *** The first body was found on March 6. Paige Fannon, 35, was discovered floating in Connecticut's Norwalk River. On the same day, a human skull was recovered in a forest near Plymouth, Massachusetts. On March 19, cops were confronted by the gruesome discovery of the dismembered remains of Suzanne Wormser, 58, stuffed in a suitcase in Groton, Connecticut. A roommate was arrested but died later in custody. Six days later, on March 25, Denise Leary, 59, was discovered dead in New Haven. The next day, the remains of Michele Romano, 56, were found in the woods around Foster, Rhode Island. In Killingly, Connecticut, on April 9, police found unidentified remains. The pace of death continued. In two separate locations on April 20, unidentified bodies were pulled from bodies of water. One corpse was recovered from the Seekonk River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with the second body found in the Connecticut River near Rocky Hill. On April 22, the body of 45-year-old Meggan Meredith was found near a bike path in Springfield, Massachusetts. On April 27, another body was discovered in Taunton, Massachusetts. And 34-year-old Jasmine Wilkes was discovered dead in New Haven's Edgewood Park on May 30. But do these bizarre, seemingly more than coincidental deaths point to the sinister hands of a serial killer at work? 'Most serial killers have some commonality in their victims,' said Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox. 'Usually it's the sex, race, age or physical features of the victims. That's not always true, of course, but they tend to have a particular preference for the victim type. 'But in these cases, there are so many dissimilarities.' And some of the mystery deaths may not even be murders, Fox told the Daily Northeastern. But those rational words have not calmed people's fears. CRIME HUNTER: Did scorned ex-wife murder hubby and new gal pal? CRIME HUNTER: Why did OnlyFans model lure man to his murder? CRIME HUNTER: Sunday Morning Slasher murdered up to 100 women MOST WANTED 411: On Monday, July 20, 2011, around 2 a.m., officers responded to the Tasty Bite restaurant located at 7079 Torbram Rd. in Mississauga for a report of a disturbance. Nittish Khana, 20, had visible signs of trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Cops learned that the victim and two pals were involved in a verbal confrontation and were assaulted with golf clubs by four accused as they left. The suspected killers were identified and charged with second-degree murder. Two were arrested shortly thereafter. Detectives are still hunting Manjeet Singh, 34, and Manmeet Kang. They are believed to have fled to India. If you know their whereabouts, contact Peel Regional Police or the RCMP. SERIAL KILLERS FOR SUMMER? John Wayne Gacy remains one of the most terrifying serial killers in history. For nearly a decade he terrorized suburban Chicago, kidnapping, torturing and raping young men and boys before murdering them. The Killer Clown got the big adios in 1994, but some of his victims remain unidentified. And cops always believed there were more than the 33 known victims. In my book, Inside the Mind of John Wayne Gacy: The Real-Life Killer Clown, I update the story. Love, money and sex are the three big-ticket items for homicide. And they're all there in my first book Cold Blooded Murder: Shocking True Stories of Killers and Psychopaths. (available through FYI: Both books were rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. bhunter@ @HunterTOSun
Toronto Sun
14-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
CRIME HUNTER: Is there a serial killer terrorizing New England?
Get the latest from Brad Hunter straight to your inbox Victim Adriana Suazo. Behind the facades of Cape Cod homes and charming fishing villages, evil has long lurked in the shadows of the New England states. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Murder just seems creepier in the Northeastern United States. From the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s to the Boston Strangler, Lizzie Borden, and Jesse Pomeroy, the world's youngest serial killer, the oldest settlements in the U.S. take a back seat to no one when it comes to the macabre. Serial killer Albert DeSalvo, aka The Boston Strangler. Photo by BOSTON GLOBE / GETTY IMAGES Now, like a spectre from the gothic past, a suspected serial killer may be preying on the women of New England. So far, there have been at least 13 mysterious deaths. *** Adriana Suazo is the latest suspected victim, sparking more fears. The 21-year-old's body was discovered by a passerby in a wooded area of Milton, Massachusetts, on the outskirts of Boston, on June 1. But cops said there were no obvious signs of trauma, and the death remains under investigation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Suazo's mysterious death would likely have been a line-item on Page 56 of The Boston Herald — if there weren't 12 other bodies since March. Remains have been found in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine. Most were recovered in rural, wooded areas within a 115 km radius. In this Sept. 16, 2023, photo, provided by Alexina Jones, people dressed as witches gather near a newly installed marker, in Pownal, Vt., that recognizes the survivor of Vermont's only recorded witch trial. Photo by Alexina Jones / Associated Press And the circumstances of the deaths have also varied. That includes at least one dismemberment. 'I just want to know the truth about what happened to her. I'm not accusing anyone, but her circumstances are suspicious. She was with someone either when she died or before. My family just wants closure on the events leading up to her death,' Suazo's sister Melanie Pizarro told Fox News . *** Investigators, prosecutors and at least one serial killer expert have pooh-poohed the idea that a homicidal maniac is on the loose. So far, the investigations have remained at a local level, with each case examined on an individual basis. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Cops have torpedoed the notion that a single perpetrator is stalking New England. For starters, detectives have pointed to the paucity of forensic evidence. VICTIMS: Paige Fannon; Denise Leary; Michele Romano. GoFundMe; New Haven Police Department; Help find Michele Romano/Facebook 'There is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public at this time,' Connecticut State Police told Fox News , adding that speculation has been fueled by 'internet rumours.' Then again, there are the bodies. *** The first body was found on March 6. Paige Fannon, 35, was discovered floating in Connecticut's Norwalk River. On the same day, a human skull was recovered in a forest near Plymouth, Massachusetts. On March 19, cops were confronted by the gruesome discovery of the dismembered remains of Suzanne Wormser, 58, stuffed in a suitcase in Groton, Connecticut. A roommate was arrested but died later in custody. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Six days later, on March 25, Denise Leary, 59, was discovered dead in New Haven. The next day, the remains of Michele Romano, 56, were found in the woods around Foster, Rhode Island. In Killingly, Connecticut, on April 9, police found unidentified remains. The pace of death continued. In two separate locations on April 20, unidentified bodies were pulled from bodies of water. One corpse was recovered from the Seekonk River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with the second body found in the Connecticut River near Rocky Hill. On April 22, the body of 45-year-old Meggan Meredith was found near a bike path in Springfield, Massachusetts. On April 27, another body was discovered in Taunton, Massachusetts. And 34-year-old Jasmine Wilkes was discovered dead in New Haven's Edgewood Park on May 30. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But do these bizarre, seemingly more than coincidental deaths point to the sinister hands of a serial killer at work? 'Most serial killers have some commonality in their victims,' said Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox. 'Usually it's the sex, race, age or physical features of the victims. That's not always true, of course, but they tend to have a particular preference for the victim type. 'But in these cases, there are so many dissimilarities.' And some of the mystery deaths may not even be murders, Fox told the Daily Northeastern . But those rational words have not calmed people's fears. MANJEET SINGH. PRPS Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. MOST WANTED 411: On Monday, July 20, 2011, around 2 a.m., officers responded to the Tasty Bite restaurant located at 7079 Torbram Rd. in Mississauga for a report of a disturbance. Nittish Khana, 20, had visible signs of trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Cops learned that the victim and two pals were involved in a verbal confrontation and were assaulted with golf clubs by four accused as they left. The suspected killers were identified and charged with second-degree murder. Two were arrested shortly thereafter. Detectives are still hunting Manjeet Singh, 34, and Manmeet Kang. They are believed to have fled to India. If you know their whereabouts, contact Peel Regional Police or the RCMP. Inside the Mind of John Wayne Gacy: The Killer Clown is the new book by Toronto Sun National Crime Columnist Brad Hunter. AD LIB PUBLISHERS SERIAL KILLERS FOR SUMMER? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. John Wayne Gacy remains one of the most terrifying serial killers in history. For nearly a decade he terrorized suburban Chicago, kidnapping, torturing and raping young men and boys before murdering them. The Killer Clown got the big adios in 1994, but some of his victims remain unidentified. And cops always believed there were more than the 33 known victims. In my book, Inside the Mind of John Wayne Gacy: The Real-Life Killer Clown, I update the story. Love, money and sex are the three big-ticket items for homicide. And they're all there in my first book Cold Blooded Murder: Shocking True Stories of Killers and Psychopaths. (available through FYI: Both books were rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. bhunter@ @HunterTOSun Sunshine Girls Golf Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls
