41 men and women blocked traffic on I-35 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during rush hour on July 13, 2016, to protest the police shooting of Philando Castile. They linked arms and held their ground for about an hour, chanting and singing, causing mass gridlock.

Castile, a school cook from St. Paul, was shot to death by a police officer. Castile’s girlfriend and her daughter were in the car with him — his girlfriend captured his last moments on video. Castile reportedly informed the officer he had a gun and a license to carry, but while reaching for his papers the officer opened fire. According to NBC News, the policeman thought Castile was a suspect in a robbery case.

State troopers arrested the protesters and put them on a city bus. No injuries were reported.

The “Coalition to Wake Your Ass Up,” the group responsible, released a statement after the protest, writing that

…this shut down reinforces our belief that comfort and business as usual must be disrupted until substantive changes occur in our city and throughout the country. We support community-led alternatives, solutions, and programs to protect our communities. On this day, we support the workers attempting to make a living but we also know that sacrifices must be made if we hope to live decently together.

The group is made up of whites and non-black people of color.

Black Lives Matter delivered the statement to the public on behalf of the coalition. Black Lives Matter Minneapolis spokesperson Oluchi Omeoga said, “Yeah, this is a slight inconvenience on your day, maybe 10, 15 minutes. Philando’s family is inconvenienced for the rest of their lives.”

The protest was reportedly inspired by similar highway shutdowns in St. Paul and other cities after the deaths of Castile and Alton Sterling last week.

The protesters are being charged with misdemeanors.

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Libertarian candidate for president Gary Johnson is but two percentage points short of earning a place on the debate stage with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump this fall.

In a new CNN/ORC International poll released Sunday, July 17, 2016, a potential four-way race has Clinton garnering 42%, Trump 37%, Johnson 13%, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein 5%. This is a four-point increase in support for Johnson since four weeks ago, and he is drawing supporters from both sides of the political spectrum in roughly equal numbers.

Johnson and other third party candidates must earn 15% support in five national polls before the presidential debates to be included.

CNN notes that

Typically, support for third party candidates fades as the major party tickets are set heading into their conventions. But Johnson’s support outpaces that of a typical third party candidate and may prove to have more staying power…

And the growing support for third party candidates also seems centered among younger voters, which could prove harmful to Clinton’s campaign. Among those voters under age 35, 46% back Clinton, 21% Trump, 20% Johnson and 10% Stein.

The Commission on Presidential Debates, which set the 15% threshold, has been criticized by third parties and their supporters for limiting inclusion — to the benefit of the two major parties.

The Hill writes:

[It’s] a catch-22 for third-party or late-deciding independent candidates: Most polling outlets are only testing match-ups between Trump and Clinton in their surveys.

“The game is rigged,” said former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who won 1 million votes as the Libertarian Party candidate in 2012 and is seeking the nomination again in 2016. “There’s no way a third-party candidate can compete unless they’re on the debate stage, and you can’t get there unless you’re in the polls.”

Johnson has earned double digits in past polls, but 13% is his highest rating yet.

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As reported by The Pitch, Bonnor Springs high schoolers Jensen Wilcott and Jake Reed will speak at the Democratic Convention on Thursday, July 28, 2016.

Wilcott and Reed were fired from Pizza Studio at the Legends for asking questions about a pay disparity. Wilcott, upon discovering she would make $8.00 an hour, whereas Reed would make $8.25, called a manager to ask why. The high schoolers were hired at the same time and had comparable work experience. The manager told her she was fired — and then fired Reed, too. It was a violation of company policy, the manager said, for employees to discuss wages.

The story made local and then national news, being featured in New York Magazine, New York Daily News, Seventeen, and others.

Ashleigh Siefker, executive director of operations at Pizza Studio, said, “After an in-depth review, we are confident this instance was not one of gender-bias but rather a failure to assign the correct salary and a misunderstanding of our company policies by one of our employees.” The manager was fired, and the company issued an apology to the teens.

Meanwhile, the Hillary Clinton campaign heard of the story. Clinton tweeted in June:

On Monday, the Democratic Convention announced

a diverse range of everyday Americans who will share their stories and experiences at the convention of an America that is stronger together…

As Donald Trump begins his divisive convention in Cleveland with dangerous ideas that would pose a threat to our economy and national security, Democrats are preparing to lay out the clear stakes in this election in Philadelphia – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where everyone has a role to play in building our future.

At the Democratic National Convention, the diverse experiences and voices of Americans from across the country will be shared with millions of Americans…

Wilcott and Reed will speak on the final night — the same night as Clinton.

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The New York Times called it “the most extreme Republican platform in memory.” The Human Rights Campaign called it “the most overtly anti-LGBTQ platform in history.” But is the 2016 Republican platform really that bad?

“WE DENOUNCE BIGOTRY, RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM, ETHNIC PREJUDICE, AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE. THEREFORE, WE OPPOSE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, SEX, RELIGION, CREED, DISABILITY, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN…”

And without further ado, our presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Also, opposing discrimination against sexual orientation or identity? Haha, f*ck that.

“AS THE PARTY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOSTER SOLUTIONS TO AMERICA’S DIFFICULT CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO RACE RELATIONS TODAY. WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE EQUALITY FOR ALL CITIZENS AND ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. MERIT AND HARD WORK SHOULD DETERMINE ADVANCEMENT IN OUR SOCIETY, SO WE REJECT UNFAIR PREFERENCES, QUOTAS, AND SET-ASIDES AS FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION.”

We decided to put these sentences together to highlight our ignorance of how America’s racial history still limits the economic opportunities of minorities in poor communities, something affirmative action was designed to help alleviate.

“A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE BEING INDISPENSABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EDUCATED CITIZENRY…”

That’s right, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, and agnostics — if you don’t learn about our ancient text written by primitive Middle Eastern clans, your education is flawed and so is your ability to be a good U.S. citizen.

“WE BELIEVE THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN NOT AS A FLEXIBLE DOCUMENT, BUT AS OUR ENDURING COVENANT.”

That’s why no changes were ever really necessary. Don’t you dare bring up slavery or votes for women.

“WE BELIEVE IN AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM. WE BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER NATION ON EARTH.”

Isn’t it such a happy coincidence that you happened to be born in the greatest nation of all time?

“EVERY TIME WE SING, ‘GOD BLESS AMERICA,’ WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP. WE ASK FOR DIVINE HELP THAT OUR COUNTRY CAN FULFILL ITS PROMISE.”

Yeah, a little Manifest Destiny never killed anyone.

“GOD BESTOWS CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS ON EVERY INDIVIDUAL, THUS PRODUCING HUMAN EQUALITY… MAN-MADE LAW MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH GOD-GIVEN, NATURAL RIGHTS; AND THAT IF GOD-GIVEN, NATURAL, INALIENABLE RIGHTS COME IN CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT, COURT, OR HUMAN-GRANTED RIGHTS, GOD-GIVEN, NATURAL, INALIENABLE RIGHTS ALWAYS PREVAIL; THAT THERE IS A MORAL LAW RECOGNIZED AS “THE LAWS OF NATURE AND OF NATURE’S GOD”… [THE CONSTITUTION] ENSHRINES OUR GOD-GIVEN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS…”

Guys, we really like the Judeo-Christian deity. A lot.

“THE CORNERSTONE OF THE FAMILY IS NATURAL MARRIAGE, THE UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.”

In case you’re bad with reading between the lines, gay marriage is unnatural, folks.

“WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE SUPREME COURT’S REDEFINITION OF MARRIAGE AND WE URGE ITS REVERSAL, WHETHER THROUGH JUDICIAL RECONSIDERATION OR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RETURNING CONTROL OVER MARRIAGE TO THE STATES.”

Yeah, a little State’s Rights never hurt anybody.

“WE OPPOSE GOVERNMENT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES WHICH DECLINE TO SELL ITEMS OR SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT GO AGAINST THEIR RELIGIOUS VIEWS ABOUT SUCH ACTIVITIES.”

Sorry, ma’am, but you’re an atheist, and the Bible says nonbelievers must be put to death. I don’t actually take that part of the Bible seriously, but I think I’ll still have to ask you to take your business elsewhere.

Whoa, just kidding. We were only talking about the gays.

“TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, BASED ON MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN, IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A FREE SOCIETY AND HAS FOR MILLENNIA BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH REARING CHILDREN AND INSTILLING CULTURAL VALUES.”

You heard it here first. With gay marriage, society cannot be free.

“WE RENEW OUR CALL FOR REPLACING ‘FAMILY PLANNING’ PROGRAMS FOR TEENS WITH SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION THAT SETS ABSTINENCE UNTIL MARRIAGE AS THE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTED STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR.”

Abstinence education works, folks. I’d bet my daughter’s unbroken oyster on it.

“[TITLE IX] IS NOW BEING USED BY BUREAUCRATS — AND BY THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES — TO IMPOSE A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION UPON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BY WRONGLY REDEFINING SEX DISCRIMINATION TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR OTHER CATEGORIES. THEIR AGENDA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS; IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH POWER. THEY ARE DETERMINED TO RESHAPE OUR SCHOOLS — AND OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY — TO FIT THE MOLD OF AN IDEOLOGY ALIEN TO AMERICA’S HISTORY AND TRADITIONS.”

That’s right! Expanding anti-discrimination laws to cover more Americans has simply never been done before.

And just like when it wasn’t done before, with women and minorities, it’s all about power, not people’s well-being.

“WITH ALL OUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WE HAVE WATCHED, IN ANGER AND DISGUST, THE MOCKING OF OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS BY A PRESIDENT WHO MADE HIMSELF SUPERIOR TO THE WILL OF THE NATION. WE STAND WITH THE VICTIMS OF HIS POLICIES, ESPECIALLY THE FAMILIES OF MURDERED INNOCENTS. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ENDANGERS EVERYONE…”

They’re bringing crime. They’re bringing drugs. They’re rapists. And I’m sure a lot of them are good people.

“THE NEXT PRESIDENT MUST NOT SOW SEEDS OF DIVISION AND DISTRUST BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE SWORN TO SERVE AND PROTECT.”

Because everyone knows distrust between police and ordinary citizens is, historically, Obama’s fault.

“THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THAT COAL IS AN ABUNDANT, CLEAN, AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE DOMESTIC ENERGY RESOURCE.”

Trust us, we’ve never been wrong on issues of science.

“OVER A DOZEN STATES HAVE PASSED PAIN CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACTS PROHIBITING ABORTION AFTER TWENTY WEEKS, THE POINT AT WHICH CURRENT MEDICAL RESEARCH SHOWS THAT UNBORN BABIES CAN FEEL EXCRUCIATING PAIN DURING ABORTIONS, AND WE CALL ON CONGRESS TO ENACT THE FEDERAL VERSION.”

Because at twenty weeks, women will still feel healthy enough to make the drive down to Texas to buy Miso on the black market and commit abortion anyway.

“WE SUPPORT BUILDING A WALL ALONG OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AND PROTECTING ALL PORTS OF ENTRY.”

Just like with my daughter.

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John Hinckley, Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, will soon be freed from the psychiatric hospital where he has resided for 35 years.

Hinckley attacked Reagan outside a Washington, D.C., hotel on March 30, 1981. He shot Reagan in the chest, Press Secretary James Brady in the head, and wounded a policeman and a Secret Service agent. Hinckley was tackled and arrested at the scene, while Reagan was rushed to the hospital. The president survived, offering at the hospital the now-famous quip “I hope you’re all Republicans” to the doctors. The bullet missed his heart by an inch.

Brady was paralyzed from the waist down.

• He cannot speak with media. Any media contact by him or his family will constitute a violation of his release.
• No drugs, no weapons.
• No contact with the family members of his victims, which include the Reagan family, Brady family, Thomas Delahanty or Timothy McCarthy.
• He cannot travel to areas where current or former presidents, Congress or senior executives or “United States Secret Service protectees” are found.
• He can use the internet but cannot Google himself, research weapons, porn, or his victims.
• He may not set-up any social media accounts without unanimous permission from his treatment team.

Hinckley will be released as early as August 5, 2016.

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