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US labor activist Chris Smalls assaulted by IDF during Gaza aid trip, group says
US labor activist Chris Smalls assaulted by IDF during Gaza aid trip, group says

The Guardian

time8 hours ago

  • Politics
  • The Guardian

US labor activist Chris Smalls assaulted by IDF during Gaza aid trip, group says

On Saturday night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted and boarded the Handala, an aid ship that attempted to reach Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a grassroots international collective that has worked to end Israel's blockade of Gaza since 2010. According to the coalition, IDF soldiers beat and choked the American labor activist Chris Smalls, who was onboard the ship. Smalls is most well-known for co-founding the Amazon Labor Union. The Handala, which carried food, baby formula, diapers and medicine, was attempting to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza, as Palestinians there continue to starve in what UN-backed hunger experts have called a 'worst-case scenario of famine' that is currently unfolding. 'The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirms that upon arrival in Israeli custody, US human rights defender Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals. They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back,' the Freedom Flotilla Coalition wrote in a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday morning. 'When his lawyer met with him, Chris was surrounded by six members of Israel's special police unit. This level of force was not used against other abducted activists. We condemn this violence against Chris and demand accountability for the assault and discriminatory treatment he faced.' Smalls, the only Black person aboard the boat, was one of 21 members of the group who were detained. Others included 19 civilians, including parliamentarians, medics and engineers, and two journalists. Jacob Berger, a Jewish American actor who shared on Instagram that Smalls was in 'great spirits' after his detainment – everyone else who was detained, he said, should be released on Tuesday or Wednesday. The interception of the Handala came as over 30 Israeli public figures called for 'crippling sanctions' over Israeli's starvation of Gaza. Donald Trump said he wanted 'to make sure [Gazans] get the food, every ounce of food' during a recent meeting with UK prime minister Keir Starmer. The Handala was not the first effort by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to deliver aid to Gaza. Previous attempts, including one in June in which Greta Thunberg was arrested, were also intercepted by Israel. In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 activists setting sail for Gaza on the Mavi Marmara. 'We are calling on others around the world, definitely our countries, to live up to their obligation of enforcing international law, of protecting human rights, but also other institutions that are founded to do the same,' said Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian American attorney and Handala member, in an appearance on Monday on Democracy Now. 'We should not be waiting for Israel to give permission for food or other humanitarian aid to enter … we need to be breaking, challenging and breaking the blockade.' While they were onboard the flotilla, Araf said that the US government did not make contact with the seven American members of the crew, though France, Spain and Italy contacted their citizens to offer consular services after their detainment. It is not yet clear if Smalls or any other American citizens have been contacted since their detainment. They were 'legitimizing Israeli piracy on the high seas. And that is unacceptable to us,' she said, referring to countries that offered services following the illegal onboarding in international waters. 'And that is the kind of impunity that our governments, all governments, really, have been allowing Israel to just violate international law.'

Freedom Flotilla: US Activist Chris Smalls Assaulted in Israeli Custody
Freedom Flotilla: US Activist Chris Smalls Assaulted in Israeli Custody

UAE Moments

time10 hours ago

  • Politics
  • UAE Moments

Freedom Flotilla: US Activist Chris Smalls Assaulted in Israeli Custody

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has reported that prominent US labor activist Chris Smalls was physically assaulted while in Israeli custody after being detained during a humanitarian mission to Gaza. Smalls, the former president of the Amazon Labor Union, was among 21 international activists and journalists aboard the ship Handala when it was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. According to a statement released by the FFC, Smalls was violently attacked by seven uniformed individuals while in detention. 'They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back,' the coalition said in a social media post. The incident reportedly occurred before his lawyer was granted access to meet with him. During that meeting, Smalls was surrounded by six members of Israel's special police unit, a show of force that the FFC claims was not used against other detained activists. The organization strongly condemned what it called the ' discriminatory treatment ' of Smalls, demanding transparency and accountability for the assault. Smalls' presence on the Handala was part of the Freedom Flotilla, a campaign involving civil society members from around the world who aim to break the blockade on Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid and drawing global attention to the crisis in the Palestinian territory. Handala followed the Madleen mission, which also ended in the deportation and arrest deportation of the volunteers, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The FFC emphasized that all participants on board were engaged in a peaceful mission and had committed to nonviolent principles. The group's claims raise serious concerns about the treatment of detainees by Israeli authorities, particularly in cases involving high-profile international figures. As international pressure mounts, human rights organizations are now calling for a thorough investigation into the reported assault and broader scrutiny of Israel's handling of peaceful protest actions related to Gaza. The incident has drawn widespread outrage, with supporters of Smalls and the Freedom Flotilla demanding his immediate release and a public inquiry into the use of force against nonviolent activists. This article was previously published on qatarmoments. To see the original article, click here

At least 34 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza
At least 34 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza

Express Tribune

time21 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Express Tribune

At least 34 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza

Palestinians stand near a damaged vehicle at the site of an overnight Israeli air strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, July 28, 2025 [Ramadan Abed/Reuters] At least 34 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and attacks across Gaza since dawn on Tuesday, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has reported a development involving Chris Smalls, a US labour activist. Smalls, the former president of the Amazon Labour Union, was one of 21 activists and journalists intercepted by Israeli forces while aboard the Handala, a ship attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. According to the FFC, Smalls was assaulted by seven uniformed Israeli personnel who reportedly choked and kicked him, leaving visible injuries on his neck and back. The group condemned the assault as discriminatory, calling for immediate accountability. The violence in Gaza continues to intensify, with Israeli forces carrying out overnight bombings that have killed at least 30 people in the central Nuseirat region. Hospitals in the area are struggling to manage the influx of patients, many of whom are civilians trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Read: Trump warns of 'real starvation' in Gaza The West Bank, too, has seen deadly clashes. A Palestinian activist, Odeh Muhammad Hadalin, was shot dead by an Israeli settler in the village of Umm al-Khair in the occupied Masafer Yatta region. Hadalin, known for his activism in documenting settler violence, was killed while standing in front of a community centre. His death has sparked widespread condemnation, with fellow activists mourning the loss of a committed advocate for Palestinian rights. 'My dear friend Awdah was slaughtered this evening,' said Basel Adra, the co-director of No Other Land, an Oscar-winning film that documents Israeli settler and soldier attacks on the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta. 'This is how Israel erases us – one life at a time.' Israel's war on Gaza The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Orange Crush trademark holder gets head start on permit app, but gets denied for now
Orange Crush trademark holder gets head start on permit app, but gets denied for now

Yahoo

time19-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Orange Crush trademark holder gets head start on permit app, but gets denied for now

Shortly after the newly permitted Orange Crush Festival came and went with less fanfare and angst than in years past, Orange Crush trademark holder George Turner submitted the first permit application for the 2026 event. Although the permit was denied by city staff at the end of May, the action does not mean that the event won't be permitted by next April. Orange Crush had existed as a unpermitted event on Tybee Island since the early-nineties, when Savannah State University cut ties with the Spring Break event after a dozen arrests, a stabbing and a drowning. The gathering, marketed to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on the east coast, was kept alive through word of mouth. Earlier this year, Tybee Island City Council approved a permit after Orange Crush Florida CEO and organizer Steven Smalls who worked with Turner secured the permit. Originally proposed in December 2024 as a three-day event, Smalls and Turner eventually negotiated with city staff to secure a permit for a one-day event with a single stage and agreed to meet several other conditions set by council. Though the event this year went smoothly, tension seemed to be brewing between Turner and Smalls. Turner stopped attending meetings with staff leading up the event and wasn't present the day of. Small, the permit holder who attended the event, said he felt Orange Crush was a success and hoped to do it the same way, although more thoughtfully, in 2026. In the days following Orange Crush 2025, Turner began demanding $50,000 per year for a licensing agreement for the use of the Orange Crush name or $350,000 to purchase and transfer the trademark in emails sent to media. Turner also said he sent a cease-and-desist letter to Smalls and that Smalls would no longer be an organizer for the Orange Crush Festival unless they reached an agreement by May 1. On April 27, Turner submitted to the City of Tybee Island a special event permit application for a three-day event, April 17-19, 2026, on the beach just north of the pier. In his permit application, Turner proposed an event with the 'same exact layout as Orange Crush 2025, but three days instead of only one day.' He then sent more than 20 emails modifying plans for the event in the application, estimated City Manager Bret Bell. A few days later on May 5, Smalls submitted a separate special event permit application for an event called 'Crush Reloaded,' which was proposed for April 18-19, 2026, at the same location on the beach. On May 23, Bell informed Turner by letter that his application had been denied in accordance with city ordinances as outlined below: The feasibility of the event layout 'exactly' as Orange Crush 2025 cannot be determined at this time due to ongoing significant erosion of the beach and the possible further impact from the upcoming hurricane season. Tybee is not able to permit a three-day event, because the need for multiple days of law enforcement and emergency personnel is not feasible for reasons of resource availability. Turner had issued news releases and made other statements to the press indicating that the city manager and mayor had given 'verbal approval' for a three-day music festival in 2026. No verbal or written approval had been given for the event, and it is against the ordinance to promote any special event without a permit. Turner followed up asking for an appeal of the denied permit, indicating that he was willing to modify the duration and event layout, if needed, and had not intended to misrepresent any approvals. He also requested 'reasonable accommodations' in the application process given that he is '100% permanently and totally disabled veteran' and the trademark holder. Day of recap: 'This is just college students having a good time;' Orange Crush one-day crowd about 7,000 By the numbers: Fewer people attended Orange Crush, and police made fewer arrests 'The city would be in a better position to assess beach conditions following the most active part of the hurricane season,' Bell said in the memo. 'The City would then receive presentations from each applicant, and make a decision at that time, which could then be appealed.' Since both applications appeared to be incomplete and competing, Bell proposed that both Turner and Smalls withdraw their appeal requests in a letter sent to them on May 29, and spend time pulling together a final application for submission on Oct. 3. Smalls withdrew his permit, but Turner declined to withdraw his appeal, before eventually relenting. Bell said in an interview that they don't know what the condition of the beach will be like in April — last hurricane season took a chunk off the beach after back-to-back named storms in September. Tybee Island is slated for another beach renourishment, to dump about 1.5 million cubic yards of sand on the beach, but that project would not begin until the end of 2026. Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Island denies Orange Crush permit applications — for now

The ‘Queen of Harlem' helps underserved families in her neighborhood
The ‘Queen of Harlem' helps underserved families in her neighborhood

Yahoo

time03-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

The ‘Queen of Harlem' helps underserved families in her neighborhood

NEW YORK (PIX11) — To many, Michelle Smalls is considered royalty. She is an influencer, a real estate broker, and the owner of seven businesses. But her selfless contributions to the underserved and underprivileged are what earned her the title of the 'Queen of Harlem.' Smalls is incredibly modest about her countless acts of kindness. For nearly two decades, she's pulled from her own pocket to help ease the financial burden of struggling families in the Harlem neighborhood where she grew up. More Local News Every year she's held a massive winter coat and toy drive, a free back-to-school event providing school supplies, and an Easter giveaway with baskets and outfits for Easter Sunday. Every event has drawn long lines of grateful families. 'It's refreshing to see that a little bit of money could just change so many lives. People don't understand. Giving really helps me out. It really changed the dynamics. I don't even think about my childhood trauma no more because now I'm able to help someone out and not go through that trauma,' said Smalls. Smalls' mother was a drug addict. Her father was murdered when she was just a year old. Most would think her future was written in stone. She'd prove them all wrong. Community CloseUp: We're in your neighborhood 'Actually not having a father made me stronger than the average because I had to do a lot more than the average. I sold drugs, I went to jail, and I didn't want that for me. I was very smart in school, but I had nothing, so I did what I had to do,' said Smalls. Now she runs beauty salons, a real estate business and a juice bar, sharing her success by investing in the future of Harlem. She is creating safe spaces and positive programming to keep kids off the street. Smalls used her own money to start the Marcus Garvey Summer Basketball Tournament, and when the coaches recently asked her to help save their Public School Athletic League basketball program and Brandeis High School, she didn't hesitate. More Stories: Our Community, Your Voice 'Everything that we needed she got it for us. And we were able to get more kids. On Saturdays we averaged 75 kids. Now we're getting a hundred something kids. And those additional kids are lives saved,' said coach Evander Ford. A year ago, one of the program's star athletes, 18-year-old Ashley Ballard, was gunned down in Harlem. Her death inspired Smalls to launch a junior high basketball tournament this winter. Ballard's mother is deeply moved. 'The fact that she found the light, I guess, at the end of this dark tunnel, I really appreciate that because the work that she does is the work that we need. What I love about her is it's genuine. I wanna help. I don't want to be in the spotlight. Lets get it done for the kids. I just want the public to know. We need more Michelles. We need more Michelles,' said Krystal Minor. Smalls treated the tournament-winning team with a $5,000 cash prize and tickets to see the Brooklyn Nets, inspiring them to stay focused an achieve their hoop dreams. 'A big thank you because without her and her efforts, we might not be able to be here today,' said 13-year-old Cameron Gray. Smalls said seeing the joy in their faces is the greatest reward of all. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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