Eleven-year-old Cristian Pineda died in his family’s mobile home during the historic cold weather in Texas. The family suspects that he died from hypothermia. They filed a lawsuit against the state’s power providers, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Entergy Corporation.

“Despite having knowledge of the dire weather forecast for at least a week in advance, and the knowledge that the system was not prepared for more than a decade, ERCOT and Entergy failed to take any preemptory action that could have averted the crisis and were wholly unprepared to deal with the crisis at hand,” the lawsuit states.

“This is a young man who died for no reason other than corporate decisions,” the family’s attorney Tony Buzbee told ABC News. “There are a lot of decisions that were made a long time ago that led to the death of this young man. That is unacceptable.” – family’s attorney Tony Buzbee via ABC News.

The family moved to the United States from Honduras two years ago. Maria Pineda said her son was a healthy boy. A day before his death, the child was playing in the snow for the first time, the mother said.

“Everything was well. He was happy that day. He was not at all sick,” Maria via the Houston Chronicle. “There were images of empty downtown Houston office buildings with power, but the Pineda’s mobile home park was left without power,” the lawsuit states.

“Estamos tratando de recaudar fondos para poder trasladar el cuerpo a Honduras. Su deseo fue volver a ver a sus abuelos y Eso selo quiere cumplir la mama porfavor ayuden con lo que puedan dios los bendiga.” — gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-cristian-pavon-para-enviar-el-cuerpo

Cristian loved to draw. He also aspired to be a pilot. And he embraced his role as a big brother. The boy had promised his mom that he would work hard and make sure that his family can return to their native country. His family plans to transport the boy’s remains to Honduras, where his grandparents live.

“The failure to adequately inform plaintiffs of the length of the blackouts prevented them from properly preparing for the lack of power, or leaving the area. Accurate information might have saved Cristian Pineda’s young life.” – lawsuit.

Read More:

https://blavity.com/texas-family-says-11-year-old-froze-to-death-during-texas-power-outage-files-100m-lawsuit

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/23/us/texas-cristian-pineda-death-lawsuit/index.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56153580

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ayuda-para-cristian-pavon-para-enviar-el-cuerpo

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“God put me there to save those animals”

Keith Walker, a 53-year-old homeless man in Atlanta, rushed into the W-Underdogs shelter on Dec. 18 after a fire engulfed its kitchen, saving  several cats and dogs who were trapped.

“I was nervous as hell, I’m not going to lie. I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals,” Walker told CNN. “If you love a dog, you can love anyone in the world. My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn’t be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs.”

W-Underdogs founder Gracie Hamlin said Walker is her guardian angel.

“Even the firefighters didn’t want to handle the dogs. They called animal control, but Keith was already in the building pulling out the cats and dogs until they were all safe,” Hamlin said.

Walker, who has been homeless since he was 13 years old, has been keeping his pitbull, Bravo, at the shelter every night. The Atlanta man was going to the shelter on Dec. 18 to pick up his dog and take him for a walk. But Walker saw the fire upon arrival, then rushed to save all of the six dogs and 10 cats.

“I’m still in disbelief, because I’ve been around a fire and I know how fast they flare up. He is my hero,” Hamlin said.

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A 15-year-old girl seeking refuge in the U.S. was expelled by border agents. Marjory says she had fled Guatemala after being sexually abused, but authorities denied her an immigration hearing. Read More.

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Since 2016, residents in Cameroon’s largely English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have been protesting against marginalisation by the French-dominated central government. *Tensions have been escalating through the years as separatist armed groups emerged to fight against government forces. *Human rights groups said at least 3,000 people have been killed during the crisis. *Seven school children were killed by unknown gunman last week. “When the child who was wailing got to our home, he fell to the ground and shouted ‘Pastor! Pastor! They have killed Victory; Victory is dead. The child said some armed men came to school on motorbikes, went into classrooms and killed some children.” — Tamangoua Boniface, a father who lost his son in the attack. Source: AlJazeera

A post shared by Tomas Kassahun (@kassmedia) on Oct 29, 2020 at 5:24pm PDT

Since 2016, residents in Cameroon’s largely English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have been protesting against marginalisation by the French-dominated central government.
*Tensions have been escalating through the years as separatist armed groups emerged to fight against government forces.
*Human rights groups said at least 3,000 people have been killed during the crisis.
*Seven school children were killed by unknown gunman last week.

“When the child who was wailing got to our home, he fell to the ground and shouted ‘Pastor! Pastor! They have killed Victory; Victory is dead. The child said some armed men came to school on motorbikes, went into classrooms and killed some children.” —  Tamangoua Boniface,
a father who lost his son in the attack.

KIDS ATE LITERALLY RUNNING AWAY FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE ON SHOOTINGS ON CAMEROON https://t.co/6zy3a4tbg2

— ANGLOPHONE CRISIS (@zjawn) October 27, 2020

Video received: Women in Bamenda, Cameroon have today led protests demanding peace, justice and an end to the Anglophone crisis.
This just days after at least 6 children were killed following an attack on a school in Kumba pic.twitter.com/tyV6sMR4zn

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) October 27, 2020

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With the year 2020 bringing crisis from various angles, advocates for underserved groups have been busier than ever. On the one hand, social justice groups are working for undocumented families who have been devastated by the pandemic. Then there’s the on-going issue of police brutality, bringing more trauma to Black communities in recent months and making it more urgent for advocacy groups to work for solutions.

While the challenges of undocumented groups and Black communities are nothing new, the issues are now exasperated more than ever. In the case of undocumented groups, that means economically disadvantaged people are facing an even greater challenge during the pandemic. For Black communities, who are also devastated by the pandemic, the recent killings of victims such as Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd bring even more cause for worry.

With the avalanche of crisis stacking up, social justice organizations are finding their work more imperative than ever. Here’s a closer look at how these community leaders are juggling the pandemic and police brutality.

Undocumented In A Pandemic

On a normal day, undocumented groups include many young people and parents who struggle to find meals and safe spaces. Fresno Barrios Unidos in Fresno, California is one organization which works year-around to address these issues. But the organization now holds an even bigger task during the pandemic.

“A lot of our young people are undocumented or their parents are undocumented. They are living well-below the federal poverty line, they’re already significantly economically disadvantaged pre-COVID-19,” said Ashley Rojas, Fresno Barrios Unidos Executive Director.

With the pandemic now taking a toll on undocumented families, Rojas said the burden especially falls on the shoulders of the youth.

“Young people are working in the fields or other essential jobs because their parents’ hours have been cut or their parents have lost their jobs,” Rojas said. “Young people are not only feeling their own stressful traumas about what’s happening in the world, but also have to step in and be the providers for their families, especially if their parents are undocumented.”

Fresno Barrios Unidos has been trying to lift some of that burden. In addition to raising funds, the organization has been supplying items such as diapers, formulas, groceries, baby wipes and water.

Still, undocumented families have many more worries. Some of their stress comes from the legal battles they have to fight, hoping to avoid deportation — even during a pandemic. Fresno Barrios Unidos takes a close at the families’ concerns and works to help them navigate the challenges.

“What does it mean to be a young mother who is undocumented and navigating the criminal justice system because she had her baby taken during the COVID-19 crisis?” Rojas said. “What does it mean to navigate court and family reunification system and criminal charges?”

For people judging from the outside, Rojas said it’s not easy to understand the challenge of being undocumented in the midst of a pandemic.

“People say ‘why aren’t young people taking it seriously?’ First of all, they ain’t got a shelter. They live in tiny apartments with their whole families, so what are they supposed to do? Sit on top of each other?” Rojas said. “What are people supposed to do if they don’t have a home? There isn’t enough private space.”

In Los Angeles, one organization is helping undocumented workers who are facing unemployment during the pandemic. Collecting donations on its website, NO US WITHOUT YOU! is now feeding more than 300 families.

Damian Diaz, Aaron Melendrez and Othón Nolasco launched the program in an effort to show “undocumented workers that they are not being forgotten.”

“When COVID-19 struck, we saw a lot of GoFundMes and charity drives pop up, but most of these were geared toward front-of-the-house workers. But undocumented workers are the backbone of this industry, whether you hate to admit it or not,” Diaz told the Los Angeles Times. “And they are the most at risk right now for health issues and hunger.”

Last month, California approved a $125 million program to help undocumented immigrants. The financial assistance gives $500 per adult, with a maximum of $1,000 per household, according to ABC7. CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, is adminstrating the program.

“They need to meet three qualifications – that they were undocumented adults, but they did not qualify for federal stimulus assistance and that they’ve suffered by the pandemic some hardship,” Luis Perez with CHIRLA, told ABC7.

In Fresno, Rojas and her team is putting pressure on their elective leaders, urging them to address the families’ needs.

“If they cannot prioritize for communities that have been systemically left out of economic prosperity, then we will continue to see a steepening of this divide,” Rojas said.

Addressing Escalating Racial Tensions

Despite having their hands full with addressing the needs of undocumented groups, organizations like Fresno Barrios Unidos are still juggling multiple tasks. Like many groups around the country who are pushing for police reform following recent cases of police brutality, Rojas and her team want to see change.

“Black and brown people have been singing this song and chorus for decades,” Rojas said. “We know why the police force in America was born. We know the origins of that organization as slave catchers, serving white, wealthy, business owners to ensure that they don’t lose their property. “

As part of its reform initiative, Fresno Barrios Unidos has been advocating for the removal of law enforcement from school campuses. Instead of paying police to spend the day on school campuses, the organization wants the money to go to other community programs.

“There’s a lot of reasons to not pay educational dollars to police our young people,” Rojas told ABC30. “If they’re going to school and being branded as a criminal, it’s hard for them to be successful in that setting. We should be putting our resources in prevention and early intervention.”

The idea of taking police out of schools has been discussed extensively around the country in recent weeks. In Minneapolis, the local school board has already decided to cancel its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department. Portland, Oregon, and Charlottesville, Virginia have also followed suit.

While the debate continues about what to do or not to do with police, Rojas said it’s simply a matter of survival.

“When we think about police accountability or police abolition, police reform, we’re really talking about our survival,” she said. “We’re talking about our rights to live. We’re talking about our rights to safety. “

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed the current state of relationship between police and communities.

“There is no trust between the community and the police. That’s what the protests have said. There’s no trust,” Cuomo said. “And if there is no trust, the relationship doesn’t work. If there’s no trust, the police can’t effectively police. If there’s no trust, the community is not going to allow the police to police.”

That’s where Rojas stands when it comes to faith in law enforcement

“This is not just a narrative for media,” she said. “This is knowing that we can’t trust them. We know that they are not here to serve us. As community members we are navigating our safety. We know that those who are tasked with keeping us safe, will not.”

So how do communities move forward despite a severed relationship with law enforcement?

“We have to start leaning on each other. This is where we get community rapid response and community-led violence prevention initiatives and where you get communities that will not call the cops,” Rojas said. “Because we cannot trust them. And things usually just get worse when they’re around.”

The relationship between communities and elected officials is also being tested more than ever during this period of increasing racial tensions.

“We get a lot of conservative, local officials who are stepping into this moment and saying ‘hay, that was really wrong what those cops did in Minneapolis, shame on them.’ When we point out to them what the atrocities are that are committed here in town, we don’t get an ounce of that response from them,” Rojas said.

The executive director points to the case of Isiah Murrietta-Golding, an unarmed 16-year-old who was shot and killed by Fresno police in 2017.

“When Fresno PD executed Isiah in the back of his head as that young man was running away from police officers, we didn’t get statements from our city council,” Rojas said. “Our Chief of Police gave a statement that lacked compassion. We forget that these are alleged criminals and they are not found guilty. It’s infuriating.”

More than three years after the death of Murrietta-Golding, the family is still looking for justice. Earlier this month, protesters gathered at the same location where Fresno police Sgt. Ray Villalvazo shot the 16-year-old.

“We demand that Villalvazo officially be charged for the murder of Isiah,” advocates wrote in a statement.

Having seen the case of Murrietta-Golding and many other cases of police brutality, Fresno Barrios Unidos is looking to rely on community services for protection.

“Law enforcement has never cultivated safety and community. It is community that cultivates safety and community,” Rojas said. “Our community centers, our youth centers, our churches, our grandmothers, our elders, our parks, those are the networks that make us safe. And it’s not law enforcement that makes us safe.”

Calling for the community also means calling on young people to get involved.

“Young people, find your place in the community that is gonna show up for you,” Rojas said. “Our hearts are broken too and we will work with you to make changes in all our communities. There are people who care, there are people who see you, there are people who value you. You just have to look for them. Please find them, find us. Because we want to serve you.”

Wellness for Social Justice Advocates

While underserved families across the country face increased stress in a time of crisis, the people fighting for the families are also making it a point to take care of themselves.

At Fresno Barrios Unidos, Rojas situated her staff to work from home during the shelter-in-place. The executive director also sets at least three hours per week to check on the wellness of her team, which is mostly made up of young people.

“I know that as young people of color, they’re navigating real-life stress,” Rojas said. “I have to make sure they can make it through this so that we can continue to show up for our communities.”

Rojas said she been fortunate enough to not cut anybody from payroll or to not cut anybody’s hours during the pandemic.

The post Stepping Up For Underserved Groups In Time Of Crisis appeared first on KassDigitalMedia.

Police: Hamdi Mohamed Farah, 19, was allegedly gang raped, thrown off a six-story building and killed in Mogadishu, Somalia. Eleven suspects have been arrested. 

“We have arrested 11 people over the recent rape case in Wabari neighborhood in Mogadishu and efforts to track and identify other suspects are ongoing,” police stated.

Fight For Justice

“There is no justice in the country. Our people are killed. We need justice.” — family of Farah.

“The Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development is outraged by the reported gang-rape and murder of 19-year-old Mohamed Farah in Waberi district of Mogadishu on (Sept. 11). The Ministry condemns this horrendous crime in the strongest terms possible.” — Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development.

“Rape & sexual offenses against women are acts that have recently become rampant in our society. We have to collectively confront this kind of crime and reject it with one voice,” — Abdirahman Abdishakur, leader of the Wadajir Party in Somalia.

“I and other religious leaders are demanding of the government that it should conduct a serious investigation into this rape case – Hamdi and her family need justice.” — Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad, chairman of Somalia’s religious council.

“The rising cases of gruesome rape and killing of our young girls and boys is not only unacceptable but shameful. These incidents are heinous and are against our Islamic and human rights law.” — Ilyas Ali Hassan, Somali senator.

“In Somalia, I am alarmed by an increase in reports of sexual violence against women, girls and boys, with minimal investigation.” —  Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Time To Tackle Sexual Abuse”

“In the Horn of Africa and elsewhere the daily litany of human wrongs involving crimes of sexual abuse and domestic violence is both shocking and utterly depressing . . . the vast majority of crimes that involve sexual assault and domestic violence go largely unreported. Whilst concrete evidence is hard to come by, enough is known to understand that the problem is widespread, and all too often not taken seriously by communities and multiple agencies . . . ” — Somaliland Current.

Somaliland Current Identifies Key Factors Compounding Issue of Sexual Assault

1. Survivors feel that they must suffer in silence, fearing the possibility of bringing shame to their family by speaking out. Perpetrators take advantage of this stigma and continue to violate girls.

“A family or community’s desire to protect its supposed goodname leads to a conspiracy of silence . . .  primary consideration should be about protecting the victim and safeguarding others who might fall prey to acts of sexual violence and domestic abuse.”

2. Many survivors in Africa are located in remote areas, where support services are difficult to access. Rape often goes unreported in remote areas.

“Individuals are extremely vulnerable in remote camps, or in situations where they are required to venture off in search of firewood and water.”

3. Police Lack Training Needed To Handle Crimes Of Sexual Assault. The officers, who are mostly men, aren’t comfortable to talk about sensitive subjects such as rape.

Somalia Sees Increase In Sex Crimes In recent months

Via VOA– Two soldiers in Somalia were executed last month after they confessed to raping an 11-year-old boy, authorities said. Liban Hassan Amin, 29, and Farhan Abdulkadir Abdi, 23, were held at a detention center, before a 14-member security council approved their execution.

March 29 — Two girls, ages 3 and 4, abducted and raped in a field, needed multiple surgeries after suffering injuries during the attack. 

April 7— Two females, ages 30 and 13, were raped while returning to their rural village. 

May 14 — a 4-year-old girl was raped in the capital, Mogadishu. Officials described the assault as a brutal attack.

Sources:

https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/four-suspects-in-custody-over-gruesome-rape-and-murder-of-somali-woman/#

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/somalia-11-held-for-rape-murder-of-teen-student/1974491

https://www.voanews.com/africa/2-somali-soldiers-executed-firing-squad-rape-boy

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