police mark the perimeter of a crime scene as investigators work the scene of an officer-involved shooting September 9, 2012. (Photo for USA Today by Brett T. Roseman) 9/10/12 12:19:01 AM -- Chicago , IL -- THIS IS FOR A 1A COVER Chicago enduring a plague of homicides It seems to happen almost every weekend in President Obama's home town. Gunfire erupts, and young men die. While homicide rates in most major cities are flat or declining, Chicago is enduring an epidemic. A toxic mix of gangs, drugs and guns is responsible. On one recent weekend, there were nine shooting deaths and 28 more people wounded. On a recent Thursday, 13 people were shot and wounded in a 30-minute spate of violence, including eight gunned down on a single street. The police superintendent says some of the shootings were retaliation for crimes committed as long as a year ago. Mayor Emanuel Rahm says the ?culture of silence? is part of the problem. Police have suspended almost 80% of their investigations into non-fatal shootings because suspects won?t cooperate. Besides the experts and community activists and people like Rudy Giuliani, who really did turn things around in NYC, we'll talk to pastors and others who live and work in the most-affected neighborhoods. Recently there was a rash of shootings in a neighborhood called South Shore. It?s poor and mostly black, as are all the neighborhoods that are hardest hit. Cops call the area ?terror town? and say it?s a hotbed of gang violence. -- Photo by Brett T. Roseman, Freelance ORG XMIT: BR 42369 Chicago murder c 9/10/2 (Via OlyDrop) Xxx Chicago Murder Capital07 Jpg Il
Riverside, California – A peaceful protest in Riverside turned violent Saturday night when an SUV veered into a crowd of demonstrators, leaving a 21-year-old woman in critical condition and raising fresh concerns over protester safety in the current political climate.
The incident occurred during a local “No Kings” demonstration, one of many held across the country over the weekend in opposition to what organizers have described as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian leadership style. While most events remained nonviolent, the Riverside rally took a dangerous turn when the vehicle struck the young woman and then fled the scene.
According to a statement from the Riverside Police Department, officers located and arrested the suspected driver—a 58-year-old Riverside man—on Monday following a public tip-driven investigation. He may face charges including assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run causing injury.
Police also arrested a 39-year-old woman from Riverside who allegedly drove the SUV into an unincorporated part of the Mojave Desert in an attempt to destroy and hide evidence of the crash. She could face charges including accessory after the fact and destruction of evidence.
The woman injured in the crash remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The “No Kings” movement, which attracted massive turnouts in major cities over the weekend, is rooted in concerns about executive overreach, democratic backsliding, and what protest organizers call the normalization of strongman politics in the United States. The protests have drawn broad participation, particularly from younger voters, civil rights advocates, and immigrant rights groups.
But this weekend’s violence—isolated but jarring—shows the dire risk that protesters face while exercising their First Amendment rights. In addition to the Riverside crash, other incidents disrupted rallies in Utah and Arizona.
In Salt Lake City, a demonstrator was inadvertently shot and killed by a volunteer trying to intervene during a confrontation with an armed man. In Phoenix, a skirmish erupted when a masked man was filmed brandishing a handgun during a protest outside the Arizona Statehouse.
In Riverside, many are asking why anyone would use their car as a weapon at a protest. That the act may have been intentional only adds to the alarm.
At a time of increasing polarization and volatile public discourse, the basic right to gather and speak out peacefully is being tested—not just politically, but physically. Protesters, organizers, and bystanders alike should not have to fear for their safety while demanding accountability.
