[EDMONDS, Wash] – (MTN) A racist incident caught on camera at an Edmonds, Washington bar on Saturday has created a social media firestorm, catching an innocent business owner in its net. Karlos Dillard, is an author, activist, and foster care advocate who moved to Seattle in 2015 according to his online bio. On Saturday he was eating at Engel’s Pub in Edmonds at their outdoor dining area when another customer accosted him asking, “are you going to pay for your drinks because you can’t get them for free,” according to Dillard. Dillard’s husband was inside at the time picking up their food, and a credit card had been left with the bartender.
In a second video, viewed over 1.2 million times, Dillard is apparently talking to an employee of Engels, which is surprised and empathetic over what happened. According to the person who is not in the video, they discuss how leaving a credit card at the bar wasn’t a requirement.
Internet sleuths thought they had identified the man who started the incident as Dean Worthy, of Seattle, Washington. They were wrong, and now Worthy, along with his business Dean’s Home Repair is caught in the crossfire. “I’ve received over 250 phone calls this morning,” Worthy said. “I’ve been getting death threats, and they are leaving terrible reviews about my business that I worked so hard to build.”
Worthy has a passing resemblance to the man in the video, but that’s where the similarities end. Worthy and his girlfriend were nowhere near Edmonds on Saturday, as he spoke from a car show in Everett this morning. “I have over 200 one-star Yelp reviews, and I want everyone to know I’m not the man in the video.”
Dillard reported in a third video along with comments on the Internet that the staff of Engel’s Pub was supportive and not involved in the incident. As for Dillard’s calm demeanor, many commenters stated they would have taken stronger action in the situation. “I have a lot to lose,” said Dillard. “My career is just taking off. I’m young, I’m cute, I’m sexy, and I have a lot to live for. Hit a white man in a predominately white city and see what happens to you. You have to respond like me, or you don’t have a life.”
[EVERETT, Wash] – (MTN) Snohomish County Prosecutors have charged Benjamin Richey, 20, of Lake Stevens, Washington with a felony hate crime for posting an apparent handgun in a Snapchat post with the caption, “killing minorities soon.” In a report in the Everett Herald, the former Marysville Pilchuck High School student is no stranger to the police. Charging documents indicate he has been investigated previously for hiring racial slurs at People of Color. Richey is the adult child of a Marysville Police Officer at the time of the January 28, 2021 incident.
On December 14, 2020, in an Associated Student Body Junior Leadership virtual meeting, things took an ugly turn for Marysville Pilchuck High School students. Two students during a Zoom meeting stated, “let’s kill all Black people,” and then went on to identify several Black students by name in the call.
A criminal investigation followed, and Marysville police interviewed two impacted Black families. According to police and a press release from the NAACP, one family stated they did not want to pursue charges. The two students that made the statements received suspensions from school and were transferred to a different facility.
On January 28, 2021, a different student came forward and provided images of Snapchat conversations. In one of the screenshots, one of the students involved in the December incident was brandishing a handgun with the caption, “killing minorities soon.” The student who reported this went on to state this wasn’t the first time this type of comment was made.
During the investigation, Richey told the police it was a joke. Students, faculty, and civic leaders didn’t interpret the incident that way, and the phone that was used was the same one involved in the December 14, 2020 incident.
Marysville Pilchuck High School was the site of a 2014 shooting that left five dead, including the perpetrator. Prosecutors argue in charging documents that, given this history, it was reasonable to fear harm from the social media threat.
On March 27, impacted families, the Snohomish County NAACP, and civic leaders called upon the Marysville School District and Snohomish County Prosecutors to take action against the threats.
OUR COVERAGE AND FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR. JANICE GREENE OF THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY NAACP
Richey will be appearing in court on a summons for arraignment on August 5. He is not allowed to possess or has access to firearms, he cannot contact Marysville Pilchuck High School, or violate any other laws as a condition of his release.
[SEATTLE, Wash] – (MTN) Online retailer Amazon continues to wrestle with items for sale that embolden white nationalism with dozens of vendors selling “white privilege” cards. The cards of the same design declare, “White Privilege Card Trump’s Everything,” and are described as “inspirational” by sellers.
Although some may consider it humorous on the surface, two men in California have been indicted for conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used or in affecting interstate commerce. One of the men carried the same white privilege card for sale on Amazon.
The unfounded belief the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump allegedly inspired Ian Rogers and Jarrod Copeland to hatch a plot to blow up the Democratic Party Headquarters in Sacramento, California.
When investigators searched Rogers’ house in January, he allegedly had five pipe bombs, which court documents say were live. They also reportedly seized between 45 and 50 firearms, including at least three fully automatic weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Amazon has come under fire for selling Nazi memorabilia and white supremacist items as far as 2018. As recently as last year, Amazon said they would not sell these types of products.
Amazon’s published policies for Offensive and Controversial materials state that “products that promote intolerance based on race, religion, and sexual orientation” cannot be sold on the platform. Despite this policy, multiple sellers were offering one-day Amazon Prime delivery, and at least one was offering a coupon promotion.
[SEATTLE, Wash] – (MTN) A year after Dawit Kelete, 28-years old, allegedly killed Summer Taylor with his vehicle, the community gathered to remember their legacy and wonder when there will be justice. Approximately 75 people gathered on July 4 to honor and remember Taylor, including former protest organizers and those on the freeway the night of the tragedy.
“Summer was the absolute life of the party,” said Marilyn Manslam as she reflected on the events from last year, “Summer was a magnetic personality.” That evening, a high point was the group dancing together in the northbound lanes before moving to leave the highway for the night. “Getting to dance with Summer that night was one of the best exchanges of my life,” said Manslam through a quivering voice.
“I personally will never have the words to say how much Summer Taylor impacted my life.”
Protesters had been marching on to Interstate 5 for 18 days in a row when July 3, 2020, had arrived. The Washington State Patrol, in coordination with the Washington Department of Transportation (WDoT), would shut down a stretch of I-5 and the Express Lanes between SH-520 and I-90, along with other access ramps. Protesters used spotters on bicycles and vehicles to form a blockade to protect the group further.
The Black Femme March group left Capitol Hill and moved onto the freeway as part of anti-police brutality protests in Seatle. The nighttime protests combined with COVID closures occurred during low traffic periods, making the closures more symbolic versus creating major traffic issues in the city. The highway was closed as in previous nights. As the group moved into the southbound lanes, horror was forming north of them.
Dawit Kelete is alleged to have entered I-5 driving the wrong way up the Olive Street off-ramp, avoiding the police and WDoT roadblocks. He then turned southbound on I-5 and started going at highway speed toward the group despite the closure.
Omari Salisbury of Converge Media spoke to the group that had gathered to remember Taylor a year later. “Seattle is maybe the only place in America that you can say you can see a straight line to people being in the streets to actual change,” Salisbury reflected. “That’s part and parcel to these young people who came out and made their voices heard, and in some cases, lost their lives.”
“People were so impacted by this crime against humanity, against George Floyd, to get into the streets. It went from the streets to city hall, to county, and down to Olympia, where Governor Inslee signed 13 bills for police and police accountability.”
In the weeks and months since Taylor’s death, four police officers in Washington state have been charged with second-degree murder or first-degree assault in two separate incidents. From the establishment of Juneteenth as a holiday to mandatory reporting of police misconduct laws passed by the legislature, Washington state had more police reform measures than another state in the country. Before Jeff Nelson, a city of Auburn police officer accused of murdering Jesse Sarey in the line of duty, no officer had been charged in Washington for 30 years. Further, no officer in Washington state history has ever been convicted of killing a suspect in the line of duty.
Kelete approached two blocking vehicles that were positioned to prevent cars from moving past the travel lanes. Shocking video from a traffic camera shows he never slowed down, veered into the median, then veered again into a travel lane aiming at fleeing protesters. As they ran to the gore, he swerved at them, sending two into the air. Chaos erupted, and one of the block vehicles drove off to search for Kelete.
Kelete stopped about 3/4 miles away on I-5 and was initially confronted by a small group of protesters who blocked his vehicle from driving further. A short time later, the Washington State Patrol took him into custody.
Also hit that day was Diaz Love, who uses they/them pronouns. Both were rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. Taylor died from their injuries 16 hours later, and Love would spend almost a year in recovery.
Love’s physical injuries were massive, but they also experienced a severe closed head injury amplified by PTSD and survivor’s guilt, per their social media posts which provided an intimate and public window into their recovery. Love ultimately relocated to Portland, where they continue to recover and have regained much of their autonomy despite impossible odds.
Speaking at Taylor’s memorial, TK, a high-profile and charismatic organizer, said, “Life is always going to knock you down. But when life knocks you down, are you going to get up again? Because you can get back up and keep going.”
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SUMMER TAYLOR A YEAR AFTER THEIR DEATH – video by renee raketty
Balloons, flowers, signs, and candles punctuated the memories of Taylor, from a group that went from laughter to tears and back to laughter as the moments passed.
Kelete was charged on July 8, 2020, and arraigned on July 22. His bail was initially set at $1.2 million for vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Kelete alleged he was impaired at the time of his arrest, but he passed a field sobriety test and a blood draw did not indicate he was under the influence. Despite not making bail, Kelete was released on December 31, 2020, with adjusted requirements of a $100,000 bond. Love, the surviving victim of the attack, claims prosecutors never notified them of Kelete’s pending release.
A trial date has not been scheduled.
Taylor, a Seattle native, would have been 25. Friends and family remembered them for being committed to racial justice, the LGBTQIA+ community, and a lover of animals who worked as a veterinarian assistant for Urban Animal in Seattle.
TK’s words were met with applause on Monday when she said, “We can hurt and do nothing, or we can heal, and do a Hell of a lot more. We are the cornerstone of change.”
[MILL CREEK] – (MTN) Savannah Jackson had a vision of creating a welcoming and inclusive place for the Black community while introducing her customers to Ecuadorian delights. On June 19, that vision came to life when Mixed Coffee opened its doors in Mill Creek. The cozy and welcoming cafe has artwork from local artists and even a conference room for meetings.
“Our coffee is from Arken Roasters,” Jackson, who is Black-Latinx, told us. “They get their beans from all over South America and Africa. The blend we are using is a Latin American blend, and it tastes so good.” Jackson isn’t just passionate about starting with great beans. She is also passionate about enabling her staff to be successful. “We all went to Seattle Barista Academy. We had two days of full jam-packed training.”
Mixed Coffee is more than just great coffee. The food menu is full of standard fare such as breakfast pastries but offers so much more. Sandwiches make Mixed Coffee a place for lunch, and they have other drink options beyond all the coffee-based drinks you can imagine, tea, and hot chocolate.
The real magic is empanadas and Jackson’s signature pan de yuca. “Pan de Yuca is up and down South America,” Jackson explained. “You can find it in Brazil, Columbia, and Ecuador, where my family is from. It is tapioca flour, cheese, butter, eggs, and some salt. It is like a cheesy ball bread.” If you’re looking for even more pop for your tastebuds, Mixed Coffee had pan de yuca with bacon.
mixed coffee grand opening on june 19, 2021
Mixed Coffee also offers ice cream including vegan options. The cookies are made in-house, and use Ecuadorian chocolate. That same chocolate is used in the mochas and the hot chocolate Jackson explained, to a very approving audience.
Mixed Coffee is located at 800 164th Street SE, Suite N in Mill Creek, Washington. The cafe is open Monday through Thursday 7 AM to 6 PM, Friday 7 PM to 7 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday 8 AM to 5 PM. You can learn more by visiting their Facebook page.
[NEW YORK] – (MTN) The same union-busters who prevented a worker’s union at an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama, are now helping the company in Staten Island, New York. JFK8, New York City’s only Amazon fulfillment center, has a concerning workplace culture, according to several employees.
Amazon’s JFK8 employs consultants to prevent employee activism, but it’s one symptom of a system designed to increase productivity and one that mistreats women and employees of color, according to four current and former employees. Malcontent News also obtained two federal complaints filed against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board regarding illegal union-busting techniques and harassment—complaints filed while some workers can’t afford rent and sleep in their cars.
According to a Truthout report, Amazon pays multiple union-busting companies like the Burke Group thousands of dollars to prevent organizing. Natalie Monarrez, an Amazon employee of three years, says on May 4 she spoke with Bradley Moss, President of the Eastern Division of the Burke Group. Moss is the same union-busting consultant who worked at the Bessemer location.
“He said the organizers [at Bessemer] were just Black Lives Matter protesters,” Monarrez said. “Then he shifted over to, ‘These guys in front [of JKF8 are] never gonna get off the ground. They’re just a bunch of thugs.’ I knew exactly what he meant.”
Monarrez says Moss was referring to union organizers outside JKF8 who pass out literature, connect with workers and host barbecues—and who are Black. It’s not the first time Amazon was racist; Vice reported in 2020 that during one executive meeting CEO Jeff Bezos attended, a company exec called organizer Chris Smalls, who is Black, “not smart or articulate.”
Hiring union-busters aren’t the only way Amazon prevents unionization. Employee and organizer Derrick Palmer recently filed a complaint with the NLRB after an incident on June 12. An Amazon manager took union literature and papers Palmer left on the break room table for other employees. Palmer says the manager wouldn’t reveal who told him to confiscate the material and says complaints have been filed previously for the same thing. After recovering his property, another manager tried to take similar literature from worker organizer Connor Spence.
Amazon has also put up anti-union signs in the bathrooms, according to Palmer, and Malcontent News obtained photos of anti-union digital signs inside the building with messages like, “Be careful who you trust.” Although there has never been an Amazon Labor Union, or ALU, at JKF8, the signs say the ALU has a “history of financial trouble.” This is in addition to a fence Amazon built around JKF8, which according to the Commercial Observer is designed to make organizing harder. Palmer filed charges with the NLRB because of the fence on May 11.
amazon anti-union ads ran on the amazon twitch platform in 2021
Employees say the internal culture is racist, too. Palmer says he believes being Black is part of the reason he hasn’t been promoted. After showing managers he had achieved enough “Matrix points,” a sort of internal tallying system of leadership and experience, management denied him an interview for promotion even though he had exceeded the requirements. Additionally, the New York Times reports that while many hourly workers are people of color, management is overwhelmingly white. Spence agrees, saying many managers are white men hired “fresh out of college.”
The company culture and union-busting do nothing to help employees who are struggling, Monarrez says. Monarrez, who also filed an NLRB report after a now-terminated manager physically prevented her from using the bathroom, says she and nearly 100 other JKF8 employees are homeless and sleep in their cars in the parking lot after work. Monarrez has been homeless for three years. She lost her job after the 2008 recession and had a difficult time finding work, so she moved to New York City and began working for Amazon in 2017.
Monarrez lives on just more than $19 an hour, but in New York City rent can be more than $2,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, which she can’t afford it. She says she’s gotten a gym membership so she can take a shower. However, it’s not easy to work 10-hour shifts handling around 1,800 packages per hour and not be able to afford basic necessities.
“I wish people knew the truth,” Monarrez says. “It’s really bad, and we need help.”
Smalls, Palmer, Spence, and other labor organizers at JFK8 are doing their best to help. Every employee Malcontent News spoke to knew about each other’s struggles and had established relationships. Smalls says the barbecues he hosts outside the building help workers come together.
Because JKF8 has about 5,600 employees, Spence says they need about 1,700 signatures to vote on creating a union. They’re making steady progress, and Spence says they may hit their goals and push for a vote this year. But if it takes longer, they’re willing to put in the work.
In Bessemer, union efforts failed after 738 voted for, and 1,798 voted against a union. However, Amazon installed a mailbox there, and some reports say it’s possible Amazon tampered with votes. In addition to union-busting tactics, JKF8 has a turnover rate of about 150 percent. Spence says this means that in a building of 6,000 people, they may hire and fire as many as 9,000 employees in a year, making it difficult to unionize.
amazon’s union busting training video – full version – from 2019
“It’s not the only reason they do it, but trying to prevent labor organizing is one of the components of that business model,” Spence says. “High turnover prevents labor organizing.”
Still, there are ways the public can help. Smalls says locals are welcome to come and volunteer and that anyone can donate.
“We are self-funded,” Smalls says. “Donate whatever you can on amazonlaborunion.org. Help us amplify anything online. If they can volunteer, they can come on down.”
[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) White Nationalists hacked the Lake Washington School District website and replaced the homepage and other resources with offensive and racist content on Thursday. Reports of the site being defaced spread quickly on social media during the afternoon hours.
The website was restored briefly by officials, but moments later returned to its defaced state. The content was so offensive, Facebook was removing screenshots of images people were sharing.
Additionally, some people received an offensive message from a school district e-mail address named, “Very Important! Heil Hitler.” The content contained the same graphic and a similar message that was on the website.
The homepage of the website displayed a small graphic of what appeared to be a woman dressed as a German World War II SS soldier and a swastika. The site then had a list of racial slurs and praised Brenton Tarrant, Anders Breivik, Timothy McVeigh, and Dylann Roof. Brenton Tarrant was a mass killer in New Zealand, Anders Breivik a mass killer in Norway, Timothy McVeigh was the Oklahoma City Bomber, and Dylann Roof executed nine people in a historic Black church in South Carolina.
The Lake Washington School District released the following statement:
Just after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 17, we received reports of a hack to our district’s website and all of its pages. The page that was presented as part of the hack included vile, disgusting and disturbing language that is filled with hate, racism and is completely unacceptable. Lake Washington School District (LWSD) does not, in any way, condone this type of language and we are saddened that this action is intentionally trying to hurt people of certain races and cultures. We will get to the bottom of this hack and in the meantime we want to apologize to everyone who had to see this page, and we especially want to say our sincerest apologies to anyone who may have felt personally impacted by this. LWSD is committed to all of our students, staff and families, and in this moment, we stand united in protecting our community as anti-racist educators and leaders. We will continue to provide updates as necessary.
Editor’s note: Our service agreements with Google News and NewsBreak prevent us from sharing these images on those services. If you want to see the photo gallery you will need to visit using a PC, Mac, iOS, or Android web browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Safari. Viewer discretion is advised.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”53″ gal_title=”Lake Washington Website Hack”]
The image also declared, “long live Evropa,” and 14/88.
Evropa is a possible reference to Identity Evropa, a white nationalist group that is aligned to identity politics. On May 31, 2020, Identity Evropa created a fake Twitter account declaring that Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters were coming to the suburban and rural areas on June 1, initiating near panic in some communities, including the local town of Snohomish.
The number 14 is code for 14 words, a white nationalist view of, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” according to the ADL. The 88 is code for “Heil Hitler,” with H being the eighth letter in the alphabet.
The Lake Washington School District website currently has a single message, “We’re experiencing technical difficulties and are working on restoring service. Thank you for your patience.”
Dylann Roof, a person highlighted in the hack, executed 9 Black members of the Emanuel African American Methodist Episcopal Church six years ago today. The timing of the hack may just be coincidental, or coordinated to commemorate the horrific event.
Roof was taken alive by police in Shelby, North Carolina, who received harsh criticism for taking him to Burger King before booking him into jail. Roof boldly confessed to the massacre and stated to authorities he hoped to start a Race War. His racist views were formed after the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin. He was convicted of 33 crimes in federal court on December 15, 2016, and 13 additional state crimes in South Carolina on March 31, 2017. He was sentenced to death in federal court and made a plea deal to serve nine consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole in South Carolina.
Roof appealed his death sentence in federal court on May 25, 2021.
[MINNEAPOLIS] – (MTN) Nicholas Kraus, 35-years old, has been formally charged with intentional second-degree murder in the car attack that left Deona Marie Erickson dead, and two counts of second-degree assault for the injuries to two others, including an independent journalist who had their leg broken in the attack. Kraus admitted to officials that he drove toward the protesters on purpose and sped up to jump the barricades.
According to the police report, Erickson died from massive head trauma in the attack. The report also indicates that Kraus was drunk at the time, but the results of his toxicology report have not been made public.
Hennepin County officials wrote in a press release Kraus’ “behavior and admittance to intentionally driving towards the protestors is one important reason why we have charged him with intentional second-degree murder.”
“When Kraus spoke to police after the fatal incident the following day, he admitted to driving his SUV in the Uptown area,” the report continues. “Upon seeing the barricade, felt the need to ‘get over it.’ He also told police that he did not brake and accelerated in an attempt to jump the barricade despite seeing people.”
Kraus is facing up to 54 years in prison and has five prior DWI convictions in his past, including 2 felony convictions. Bail has been set at $1,000,000 with the condition of no drugs or alcohol while on release. Kraus’ next hearing is on June 17.
[MINNEAPOLIS] – (MTN) Police statements within a warrant submitted to secure a toxicology report for Nicholas Kraus in the moments after he crashed through a vigil for Winston Smith in Minneapolis, Minnesota, provides insight into his state of mind, but doesn’t answer questions about his motivations.
According to the warrant, Kraus admitted to driving through the group holding a vigil. He refused to provide his name, stating he was Tim Burton, the movie producer, and Jesus Christ. Police noted that Kraus’ pupils were “pinpoints” and non-reactive. Officers were unable to provide a field sobriety test on the scene due to injuries Kraus sustained in the accident.
In the same warrant, it is reported a traffic camera caught the incident and that the brake lights never turned on as Kraus tore through the group. The video has not been released to the public.
Kraus is a convicted felon with a criminal record spanning 17 years and 18 criminal cases. He has five convictions for DUI, including twice in 2007, once in 2009, 2012, and 2016. He had a 2013 DUI dismissed in a plea deal. He was also convicted of fifth-degree assault in 2004, falsely reporting a crime in 2006, and obstruction of justice in 2015. In the 2015 case, he was accused of attempting to smother his girlfriend and trying to throw her over the top railing of a balcony. Those charges were later dropped in a plea deal. The woman involved is the mother of his two children.
Kraus was arrested and convicted in 2020 for giving a false name to the police. In that case, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail and got time served for 43 of those days. That arrest and conviction caused a violation of his 2016 parole conditions and triggered a warrant for his arrest.
Deona Marie Erickson was killed in the incident that left 3 others injured. Video of the incident show Erickson flying through the air. Volunteer medics who were there to support the ongoing vigil for Winston Smith provided lifesaving care and were able to get a pulse back, however Erickson was declared dead shortly after arriving at an area hospital.
Kraus remains in custody without bail while prosecutors mull additional charges. A number of states have passed Republican-led initiatives providing drivers with legal justification to drive through protesters. Minnesota does not have any such law passed.
[LOUISIVILLE] – (MTN) A $2500 reward is being offered for the arrest and conviction of two individuals who were caught on a security camera vandalizing a mural of Breonna Taylor, less than a week after it was revealed. The mural located in Lannan Park in Louisville, Kentucky, was revealed to the public ten days ago.
The mural, painted on a recently renovated basketball court, featured Taylor and an urbanized version of the iconic “coexist” graphic. The project to create the mural was greenlighted by the city in August 2020, and involved local and national artists. Taylor’s mom, Tamika Palmer, was at the unveiling on June 4, and in an emotional statement said, “I’m happy…to have so many people, good people around to honor and support it.”
The surveillance video shows two individuals arriving on a small motorbike or scooter driving onto the court.
Palmer released a statement that said in part, “It’s very disappointing and heartbreaking that other people of the community would go to this length to say a black woman’s life didn’t matter, a woman who still deserves justice today.”
On March 13, 2020, Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville Metro police officers service a search warrant on her apartment. A lengthy investigation found that the warrant was issued under false allegations, the police did not follow proper procedures, and the person they were targeting for arrest was not only not in Taylor’s apartment, but was already in custody. Members of a grand jury commissioned by the state of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron claim they were never instructed to consider criminal charges directly related to Taylor’s death.
Breonna Taylor of Louisville, and George Floyd of Minneapolis, became eponymous within the Black Lives Matter movement that was reinvigorated after both their deaths.
Journalists, activists, and researchers defending the First Amendment
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