Foreign
Stacey Plaskett Emerges first delegate in US history to serve on a team of impeachment managers
Stacey Plaskett made history on the Senate floor Wednesday when she became the first non voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve as an impeachment manager.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 10: Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) speaks on the second day of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol on February 10, 2021 in Washington, DC. House impeachment managers will make the case that Trump was “singularly responsible” for the January 6th attack at the U.S. Capitol and he should be convicted and barred from ever holding public office again. (Photo by congress.gov via Getty Images)
Plaskett represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, which as a territory does not have a vote in Congress. She is in the unique position of arguing the case to convict former President Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol but having been barred from voting to impeach him in the chamber she serves.
“I’ve learned throughout my life that preparation and truth can carry you far, can allow you to speak truth to power,” Plaskett said in her opening remarks.
She touched on her unlikely journey from housing projects in Brooklyn, N.Y., to St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, “and now as an adult woman representing an island territory speaking to the U.S. Senate.”
She left unsaid that with Vice President Harris no longer a senator, Plaskett was the only Black woman in the chamber.
Lead House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin, D-Md., introduced Plaskett, whom he taught in law school, calling it “a moment of special pride” for him.
Democrats say the insurrection was prepared in full public view
Plaskett presented House Democrats’ argument that Trump played a leading role in both organizing and ordering the attack on the nation’s citadel of democracy.
“You’ll see that this violent attack was not planned in secret. The insurgents believed they were doing the duty of their president. They were following his orders,” Plaskett said.
Trump’s legal team has argued that the former commander in chief should bear no responsibility for the deadly attack on the Capitol that left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer who was beaten by rioters.
During impeachment proceedings Tuesday, Trump’s defense attorneys argued that his remarks at the rally prior to the attack are protected speech under the First Amendment.
His team added that if House Democrats were serious about seeking justice, they would wait for the investigations into the attack to be completed and look to prosecute the self-styled militias whose members communicated in real time during the siege.
Plaskett pushed back on those assertions, telling senators that the former president was central to the attack.
She said Trump spent months “cultivating a base of people who were violent, praising that violence and then leading that violence, that rage, straight at our door.”
The four-term congresswoman ticked off examples, including the presidential debate in September when the then-president refused to denounce the far-right group the Proud Boys, telling them to ‘ stand back and stand by’
She weaved in other incidents, arguing that Trump continued to stoke this violent base, such as during a December 12 rally in Washington, D.C , when pro-Trump supporters clashed with counterprotesters. Four people were stabbed and dozens were arrested.
Plaskett said that the rally was organized by Women for America First, the same group that secured the permit for the rally that preceded the attack on the Capitol. The Proud Boys were present at both, Plaskett said.
“He organized Jan. 6 with the same people that had just organized a rally resulting in substantial violence,” Plaskett added.
She noted that the difference between the December and January events is that Trump took it a step further and made sure “his cavalry” did not remain unused.
Plaskett then read Trump’s own words from the rally:
” ‘We’re going to the Capitol,’ ” she quoted. ” ‘We fight. We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.’ ”
Plaskett said that for all these reasons, the former president must be convicted and disqualified from seeking federal office again.
Trump’s legal team claimed on Tuesday that House Democrats are trying to convict Trump in part because they are fearful of facing him in the 2024 election.
Hamas Frees Two Israeli Women From Gaza
Hamas on Monday (23 October) said it had freed two Israeli women who were among the more than 200 hostages taken during its 7 October rampage in southern Israel while sources said the US had advised Israel to hold off on a ground assault in the Gaza Strip.
“We decided to release them for humanitarian and poor health grounds,” Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas militant group, said on Telegram.
The Israeli prime minister’s office issued a statement confirming that the women, whom it named as Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, were handed over to the Israeli military and would be taken to a medical facility.
The two were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border, along with their husbands, who were still held by Hamas, it added. Hamas freed them after releasing an American woman and her daughter on Friday.
All four were seized in the 7 October cross-border assault in which the Islamist Hamas killed 1,400 people.
In public, the United States has stressed Israel’s right to defend itself but two sources familiar with the matter said the White House, Pentagon and State Department have stepped up private appeals for caution in conversations with the Israelis.
A US priority is to gain time for negotiations to free other hostages, especially after Friday’s unexpected release of Americans Judith and Natalie Raanan on Friday, said the sources, who spoke before the hostage releases were announced on Monday.
Asked about the possibility of a ceasefire, US President Joe Biden said: “”We should have those hostages released and then we can talk.”
Israel pounded hundreds of targets in Gaza from the air on Monday as its soldiers fought Hamas militants during raids into the besieged Palestinian strip where deaths are soaring and civilians are trapped in harrowing conditions.
Gaza’s health ministry said 436 people had been killed in bombardments over the last 24 hours, most in the south of the narrow, densely populated territory, next to which Israeli troops and tanks have massed for a possible ground invasion.
The Israeli military said it had struck more than 320 targets in Gaza over 24 hours, including a tunnel housing Hamas fighters, dozens of command and lookout posts, and mortar and anti-tank missile launcher positions.
The Israeli bombardment was triggered by the 7 October assault, the bloodiest episode in a single day since the state of Israel was founded 75 years ago.
With Gaza’s 2.3 million people running short of basics, European leaders looked set to follow the United Nations and Arab nations in calling for a “humanitarian pause” in hostilities so aid could reach them.
Prince Williams Ends Homelessness In The Uk
PRINCE WILLIAMS– The Prince of Wales has visited Sheffield as he launches a five-year campaign to end homelessness in the UK.
The city is one of six places to benefit from Prince William’s charitable fund.
The project means there will be a team in Sheffield and funding for the council and other agencies to support those who don’t have a stable home.
Prince William visited a youth project in the city as part of his tour.
Young people from Reach Up Youth met with the royal visitor to share their stories and discuss the work the organization is doing to support those struggling.
In Sheffield, the prince’s scheme, Homewards, will focus on families experiencing hidden homelessness, including those living in temporary accommodations such as hostels and shelters.
The city council said it would also address an issue where a disproportionate number of people of black and minority ethnic backgrounds were becoming homeless.
The authority added that teams, made up of a range of partners, would “further strength their links and the ability to direct people to services that they might need”.
The council said the programme will aim to reach families before they risk losing their homes and plans on exactly how it will work are being developed over the coming months
.
Kate Josephs, chief executive for Sheffield City Council, said: “We are really proud that Sheffield has been selected to be part of Homewards.
“No one should find themselves in crisis, without a roof over their heads and this is an incredible opportunity to prevent people and families from becoming homeless.
“This programme, created by Prince William, will enable us to focus efforts, with much-needed financial backing, on getting people the help and support they need before they lose their homes.”
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