“We welcome the hate crime charges in this case and urge law enforcement authorities in Vermont and nationwide to take similar actions in response to any bias-motivated or anti-immigrant attacks.”
(CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ayan Ajeen)
You are probably like me!
First question is: What the heck did 24-year-old Vermonter, Chase Atkins, say in a phone message to warrant hate crime charges, and to draw the attention of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)?
But we aren’t being told exactly what he said! (We have a picture though!).
Addison County man accused of harassing Migrant Justice members
An Addison County man has been accused of harassing members of Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based organization that advocates for farmworkers and immigrant rights. [Be sure to see Migrant Justice’s website—ed]
Atkins could get two years in jail for the phone call!
Chase Atkins, 24, of Addison was issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury in November, Vermont State Police said. He is expected to be charged with disturbing the peace by using a telephone or electronic communications with a hate crime enhancement.
The accusations stem from incidents that occurred in late August. Police say Atkins was visiting a farm on Vermont 22A in Addison at the time, and during his visit, he let the air out of the tires of a Migrant Justice member’s car. The tires were later re-inflated, and no damage was caused.
Police say that several days later, Atkins left a voicemail for Migrant Justice in which he told them not to return to the farms. State police said the message “would have left a reasonable person to feel threatened and intimidated.”
On Sept. 12, Atkins spoke with members of the Vermont State Police about the incident. The Addison County State’s Attorney’s Office then decided to pursue charges.
The Vermont State Police have notified the Vermont Attorney General’s Office under the Bias Incident Reporting System, police said.
Earlier this month, the Associated Press reported that three other people had also been accused of vandalism and harassment targeted at Migrant Justice members in Addison County during the same late August time period.
So the feud began over access to a local fishing area!
Migrant Justice posted on Facebook in August that for a few nights, a group surrounded farmworkers’ houses, yelled insults, broke windows and air conditioning units and returned later to fire guns into the air.
Police have said that those offenses appeared to be part of a feud between local farm families that started as a dispute over access to a fishing area.
Here, jumping on the bandwagon, is an overjoyed CAIR! As I understand it, the migrant workers at these Vermont dairy farms are Hispanic, so CAIR national’s interest tells us a lot.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which describes itself as the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in America, released a statement Friday welcoming a hate crime charge for the alleged harassment of staff members at Migrant Justice, an immigrant rights group that advocates for farmworkers.
Vermont State Police, in a news release, said Chase Atkins, 24, of Addison, will appear in Middlebury criminal court Nov. 18 to be charged with disturbing the peace by phone. The charge has been enhanced because police believe it was a hate crime.
Last month, CAIR called for a hate crime probe of harassment targeting migrant workers.
CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ayan Ajeen said the group supported the efforts of law-enforcement officers responding to a message Atkins allegedly left on voice mail at Migrant Justice that police said “would have left a reasonable person to feel threatened and intimidated.”
“We welcome the hate crime charges in this case and urge law enforcement authorities in Vermont and nationwide to take similar actions in response to any bias-motivated or anti-immigrant attacks,” Ajeen wrote in his statement.
Ajeen added CAIR has “reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.”
Of course, we don’t know exactly what Atkins said, but the message is loud and clear—they are watching your every move!
There are smarter ways to make your voices heard like getting politically organized, best to stick with those!
Today at Refugee Resettlement Watch I reported on a columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer blasting the President and saying he is morally bankrupt for not being willing to take as refugees thousands more from those two countries.
What do you think? We freed the Iraqis from a tyrant in a war that cost us enormous blood and treasure, so why are we obligated then to take thousands, tens of thousands! of nationals from those countries to live in America.
When is enough enough?
The war in Iraq ended in 2011! Does our obligation continue for decades?
I’m starting to see a pattern! Seems like most of the crime stories I’m seeing these days are coming from three states: Michigan, Maine and Minnesota. What could the connection be?
I’m joking of course. I have done no serious analysis of crimes in all fifty states and it might just be that I have some very watchful readers in those particular states sending me news on an almost daily basis!
Hamtramck school worker charged with sex assault on student
Hamtramck — A student liaison at a charter school has been charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old male student, officials said.
Ibrahim Aljahim
Ibrahim Aljahim, 37, of Hamtramck, was arraigned Sunday in 34th District Court in Romulus on two counts of criminal sexual conduct, according to Hamtramck Police Chief Anne Moise and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials said Aljahim was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving someone who is mentally disabled. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
A judge set his bond at $10,000, Moise said in a statement. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for next Thursday and a preliminary examination of the case against him was set for Oct. 10 in the 31st District Court in Hamtramck, according to court records.
Moise said Aljahim was released after posting bond and further facts and evidence will be presented in court during the preliminary examination.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said police were called to the Oakland International Academy, a charter school, to investigate allegations that Aljahim had inappropriate sexual contact with a male student on school property during school hours.
No further information is being released at this time, officials said.
As usual, no information on nationality or immigration status for this ‘new American.’
Naked man flees captors in Casco who forced him into car trunk, shot him
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded early Monday to reports of shots fired and a naked man running down a road in Casco.
Deputies ultimately arrested four men and charged them with trafficking in scheduled drugs. Additional charges are likely as the investigation continues.
The four men arrested are: Ajoung M. Malual, 22, of Westbrook; Mahdi B. Ali, 23, of Boston; Noh Y. Okubazghi, 20, of Boston; and Samson S. Samson, 22, of Minneapolis.
Deputies responded to the 300 block of Tenney Hill Road at 1:30 a.m. Monday after receiving reports of gunshots fired, and then of a man running down the road naked, according to a news release.
They located the naked man, who had been shot and injured. He told police he had been taken at gunpoint from his home in Naples, put into the trunk of a car, and driven to a rural area in Casco and told to strip naked.
He told the deputies that he feared for his life and began running through the woods while shots were fired at him.
[….]
The man who was shot is 39 years old but was not identified by law enforcement. He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and treated for gunshot wounds. He was in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries, but Capt. Donald Goulet of the sheriff’s office declined to talk about the injuries.
Deputies later stopped a vehicle in Windham that matched the victim’s description of the car. The four men inside were detained and later arrested on drug trafficking charges after deputies searched them and the car. Goulet would not say what was found during the search.
The four men arrested are: Ajoung M. Malual, 22, of Westbrook; Mahdi B. Ali, 23, of Boston; Noh Y. Okubazghi, 20, of Boston; and Samson S. Samson, 22, of Minneapolis.
As usual, no mention is made of the immigration status of the four Africans.
This week the feds busted 38 individuals they say are responsible for addiction and death in New Hampshire.
Trump in New Hampshire
The operation dubbed “Devil’s Highway” once again brought attention to Trump’s words about how Lawrence, Mass. is a hub for the distribution of dangerous opioids and other drugs throughout New England.
And, it sure looks like ‘new Americans’ are responsible….
President Trump’s Lawrence comments back in spotlight after massive drug bust
“For anyone who said Lawrence is not a hub for distribution, how you looking now?” said N.H. state Rep. Fred Doucette, who was a state co-chair for Trump’s 2016 campaign.
“This definitely solidifies some statements that people took offense to,” Doucette added.
“Incidents like this are proof positive of the fact that Lawrence is a hub.”
The 10-week enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley targeted drug distribution in Lawrence, and trafficking between Lawrence and destinations in New Hampshire.
These U.S. attorney prosecutions should resonate with New Hampshire voters, said Republican activist Fran Wendelboe.
For details on the bust see Monday’s US Justice Departmentpress release:
Merrimack Valley Operation Results in Arrest of 38 Individuals
See the names of those arrested (no mention of their immigration status).
During the operation, the following defendants were arrested on federal charges:
Jason Medlen, 32, of Methuen, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
Louis Delvecchio, 51, of Methuen, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
Santos Obispo Guerrera Lara, 35, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Douglas “Sunny” Grasso, 34, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
Brian Brae, 35, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
Enel Alfredo Mendez-Aquino, 29, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of fentanyl and cocaine;
Jorge Alexander Andujar Romero, 29, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Edward Jesis Mar Carmona Ortiz, 42, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Steven de Jesus de Leon Trinidad, 22, of Lawrence, charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute a heroine/fentanyl mix;
Luis Felix Franco Herrera, 21, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Jose Rodriquez-Walker, 32, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Johanny Mejia-Nunez, 43, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl;
Ronyel Pena, 18, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Joe Martinez, 24, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Ysrael Nunez, 37, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and aiding and abetting;
William Cabrera, 30, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin; and possession with intent to distribute heroin and oxycodone;
Oscar Guadalupe Martinez, 37, of North Andover, charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin;
Stiven Torres Martinez, 21, of North Andover, charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 1 kilogram or more of heroin;
Jason Jimenez, 24, of Bronx, New York, charged with possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl;
Milton Elias Lara, 42, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
Alexsander Padro, 28, of Methuen, charged with distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
John Mena, 24, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 10 grams or more of acryl fentanyl, a controlled substance analogue;
Yunior Darismir Prandys Torres, 22, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance, to wit, fentanyl;
Juan Perez Diaz, 22, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance, to wit, fentanyl;
Jose Ventura, 37, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl;
Leisy Baez-Zapata, 21, of Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and aiding and abetting;
Erick Alberto Paulino Amador, 28, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl;
Bernardito Carvajal, 28, of Haverhill, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Alfredo Rivera, 31, of Haverhill, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Julio Esthil-Cifre, 30, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Edgar Castro, 45, of Revere, charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine;
Julio Ortiz-Chaparro, 47, of Boston, charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine;
Crishanty Aybar Arias, 22, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Cesar Lara Castillo, 36, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance; false representation of social security number, and aggravated identity theft;
Santiago Rubel Guerrero Tejeda, 22, of Bani, Dominican Republic, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl;
Jesus Maria Aybar Franco, 34, of Lawrence, charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Marino Amador Baez, 34, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and
Willin Arias-Castillo, 35, of Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.
Ah, the joys of diversity come to small town New England.
See the names of those arrested (no mention of their immigration status).