Virgil Vaduva speaking with his family during his trial (Photo: Justin King)

The City of Xenia, Ohio made headlines two years ago when they decided to prosecute a local journalist for protesting against the city’s unconstitutional anti-panhandling ordinance.  In early 2015, journalist Virgil Vaduva asked the Xenia City Council to remove the anti-panhandling legislation from their code as it is unconstitutional and it violates the First Amendment rights of citizens, but after refusing to do so, he decided to protest the city’s panhandling ordinance by panhandling in front of the city hall and the police station in Xenia.  He raised about $42 which was donated to a local charity.

He was subsequently ticketed and went all the way through a jury trial leading to his conviction, and a 30 day suspended jail sentence and community service.

He wrote:

By dictating the nature of speech in a public space, the City of Xenia has directly violated the first amendment of the United States Constitution.  Of course, they deny this.  They are now in full damage control mode.  Less than twenty-four hours after I challenged their ordinance, they created a website where they are trying to address poverty in town by explaining why panhandling should be illegal.  Their bureaucrats are desperately trying to control the narrative by saying that they only banned “aggressive panhandling” and not all panhandling.  Of course they never explained why their police still ticketed me for very peaceful panhandling if the ordinance only bans aggressive action.

During the various hearings before the trial, one of the judges involved even stated, “there will be no mentioning of the Constitution here (in this court room).”  The statement drew harsh response from citizens across the country, including Alex Jones’ InfoWars website which discussed some of the details of the case.

But despite the lengthy and expensive legal engagement, Vaduva however won the case after an appeals court ruled that his rights to a fair trial were violated and eventually all charges against him were dropped.

Now, two years after the ordeal took place, a $1.6 million federal lawsuit has been filed against the City of Xenia, its agents and the two police officers involved in enforcing what is clearly an unconstitutional law.

The federal suit, filed in the Southern District of Ohio, names the City of Xenia and several individuals, including all the city council members who conspired to violate constitutional rights and the police officers involved in enforcing the law.  The suit demands relief for over $1.6 million under title 42 U.S. Code § 1983 for conspiring to use the color of  law in order to deprive citizens of their civil rights.

Vaduva claims that he intends to see this lawsuit through to a jury trial, regardless of how much it will cost, all in order to prevent future constitutional violations in the City of Xenia.  Furthermore, he claims that the neighboring cities of Beavercreek and Fairborn have identical anti-panhandling laws on the books, and they will be also targeted for constitutional violations in potential upcoming lawsuits. His hope is that his actions will motivate other activists and citizens in the area to engage in direct action to challenge constitutional violations and abuses of power by local politicians.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA –  Last month 20 Venezuelans were arrested as they were trying to sneak into Curaçao, the island country in the southern Caribbean Sea, using a small boat — just like Cubans rafters do to make their way to Florida.

Venezuela’s northernmost point is less than 20 miles away from the Dutch territory, so this has become the route of choice for dozens trying to flee the socialist, hunger-stricken country every week.

According to a Datin Corp poll released last week, 57 percent of Venezuelan registered voters want to leave the country. This means that approximately 12 million people want out, almost half of the 30 million who populate the country if we take out children and teens.

In a similar survey conducted in 2015, Datin Corp found out that 49 percent of Venezuelans wanted to move overseas.

Datin Corp’s head, political analyst Jesus Seguias, said that one of the most surprising facts this year is that as many as one of every four admirers of the late Hugo Chavez also said they would emigrate if they could.

“They are Chavistas and they declare themselves as such, but they are angry at President Nicolas Maduro because of the country’s situation,” he said to Fox News Latino.

The country’s situation is one of acute shortages of the most basic products, a 700 percent inflation projected for 2016 and record levels of street crime.

According to Seguias, the new rise is partly explained by the number of opposition members and independents who now want out — 71 percent and 59 percent, respectively.

“The desire of leaving is clearly related to the lack of hope and the disappointment at the current situation,” said Seguias, warning that the number could escalate if a vote to recall President Maduro is not held this year, as the majority of Venezuelans expect.

Yet the wish to relocate is for most people an almost impossible dream.

“Leaving your country is a real complex matter,” said sociologist Ivan De La Vega, professor at Simon Bolivar University. “It requires a plan and is risky, so normally those who emigrate are young people without children.”

He said that some countries in the region are setting an increasing number of restrictions to avoid undesired migration from Venezuela.

Curaçao, for example, now requires any Venezuelan entering the island to carry at least $300 in cash, hold hotel reservations and have a return ticket. In neighboring Aruba, some people are asking the government to start demanding a visa to all Venezuelans.

In May, the Curaçao Red Cross announced that they were working on a contingency plan to deal with Venezuelan expatriates, but expressed concern because they said the country simply doesn’t have the resources needed.

Since Chavismo took power in 1999, more than 1.8 million Venezuelans have fled the country, De La Vega said.

Up until 2012 most of them were highly educated professionals who were typically well received anywhere they went. A Pew Research Center conducted in early 2013 estimated that 51 percent of Venezuelans living in the U.S. at the time had at least a college degree.

But that began to change rapidly after Maduro took power in March of 2013.

“In 2013 and 2014 we had a new wave of migration that included a wider range of social strata,” De La Vega told FNL.

According to an investigation published last month by the Grupo de Diarios America, the top three countries receiving Venezuelan exiles are currently the U.S., Spain and Colombia.

“We have been able to find Venezuelans living in all five continents and in at least 96 countries.

The list keeps growing. Many leave to one place and then move to another,” the sociologist said.

Many of those who choose Spain and Colombia are descendants of Spanish and Colombian immigrants who settled in Venezuela years ago, so they don’t count as foreigners.

“The total number of emigrants could rise to up to 3 million,” De La Vega said. “We would be able to calculate the number better if [the government of] Venezuela kept a better record of entries and departures,” he added.

Franz von Bergen is a freelancer reporter living in Caracas.

Source: Reed v. Beckett (West Virginia Supreme Court, 10/26/2016)

Zimbabwe’s army commander said on Friday that his soldiers will deal with threats from activists using social media to mobilise anti-government protests, the first time the military has commented on the demonstrations.

Lieutenant-General Valerio Sibanda, the Zimbabwe National Army Commander, said in an interview with state-owned The Herald newspaper that social media activism was cyber warfare that the army would deal with.

Neither the army, which has anchored President Robert Mugabe’s 36-year rule, nor the police force have been paid on time since June.

Zimbabwe has seen several protests in recent months with unemployment above 80 percent, dollar shortages worsening as commodity prices slumped and as the region suffers its worst drought for 25 years.

The largest anti-government protest in Zimbabwe in the last decade was organised on social media last month, when a strike by #ThisFlag movement shut down businesses.

“As an army, at our institutions of training, we are already training our officers to be able to deal with this new threat we call cyber warfare where weapons – not necessarily guns but basically information and communication technology – are being used to mobilise people to do the wrong things,” Sibanda said.

“The major task we are undertaking now is that of training and preparing the army for whatever eventuality.”

Generals in Zimbabwe’s military are veterans of the 1970s independence war, and while they publicly support Mugabe and his ZANU-PF, they have divided loyalties over who should succeed Mugabe, who is also under pressure from war veteran allies.

Zimbabwe’s army commander said on Friday that his soldiers will deal with threats from activists using social media to mobilise anti-government protests, the first time the military has commented on the demonstrations.

Lieutenant-General Valerio Sibanda, the Zimbabwe National Army Commander, said in an interview with state-owned The Herald newspaper that social media activism was cyber warfare that the army would deal with.

Neither the army, which has anchored President Robert Mugabe’s 36-year rule, nor the police force have been paid on time since June.

Zimbabwe has seen several protests in recent months with unemployment above 80 percent, dollar shortages worsening as commodity prices slumped and as the region suffers its worst drought for 25 years.

The largest anti-government protest in Zimbabwe in the last decade was organised on social media last month, when a strike by #ThisFlag movement shut down businesses.

“As an army, at our institutions of training, we are already training our officers to be able to deal with this new threat we call cyber warfare where weapons – not necessarily guns but basically information and communication technology – are being used to mobilise people to do the wrong things,” Sibanda said.

“The major task we are undertaking now is that of training and preparing the army for whatever eventuality.”

Generals in Zimbabwe’s military are veterans of the 1970s independence war, and while they publicly support Mugabe and his ZANU-PF, they have divided loyalties over who should succeed Mugabe, who is also under pressure from war veteran allies.

Police officers in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, are lawyering up after the city council voted to rescind medals of valor handed out to the SWAT team in 2013.

What did the SWAT team do to earn those valorous medals? They stormed into the home of 107-year old Monroe Isadore, shot him to death—and then successfully dodged a state investigation of the incident.

Nearly three years after the incident, the city council voted unanimously this month to revoke the medals. As of Monday, however, the police force has yet to return the medals and is seeking legal counsel to challenge the city’s decision, according to local TV station KATV.

“I don’t understand the rationale, I don’t understand why anyone would want a medal, who can you show it to? Oh, I have a medal of valor, well were you in the war? No, I killed a 107-year-old man…you know…who would want that?”Councilwoman Thelma Walker told KATV, the local ABC affiliate.

Walker sponsored the resolution, which said conferring medals and awards “in the aftermath of such a sensitive and emotionally charged event is unconscionable and reprehensible and should not be sanctioned by the City of Pine Bluff.”

Awarding those medals seems to have been done in secret. Isadore’s children were unaware the medals even existed until the city council voted to rescind them, and the city won’t say how many were actually given or who made the decision to award them, according to KATV.

Asked about the city’s decision to revoke the medals, Pine Bluff Police Chief Jeff Hubanks told the Pine Bluff Commercialthe department was “going to talk to an attorney” and declined further comment.

It’s unclear whether the city has the legal authority to strip the medals. City Attorney Althea Hadden-Scott told theCommercial that the council resolution is not binding and lacks enforcement authority.

Isadore was killed on September 8, 2013. Police responded to a call and found him in his bedroom with a gun—his family later said he was upset about being moved to an assisted living community.

After safely evacuating two other people from the house, the cops used negotiation tactics and smoke bombs in an unsuccessful attempt to get Isadore to surrender.

When that failed, they called in the county SWAT team. When SWAT officers broke down the door to Isadore’s bedroom, he fired at them and they returned fire, killing him.

Although the shooting might have been justified since Isadore reportedly fired at the cops first, it appears that police escalated the situation to a point where a violent ending was nearly unavoidable. It was not a hostage situation and Isadore was not a threat to anyone but himself, at least until officers forced their way into his room. Was sending in a SWAT team to use deadly force against a 107-year old man really the best option available?

It’s doubtful that any answers will be forthcoming. Nearly three years later, even with awareness of police violence at higher levels, it’s unlikely that there will ever be a full investigation of the circumstances that led to Isadore Monroe’s death.

The officer who killed Isadore was placed on paid leave, and his or her name was never released to the public. The state police declined an invitation to investigate the incident and subsequent attempts by Isadore’s family to have the shooting investigated went nowhere.

(Lawyers’ fees for the cops are being covered by the local Fraternal Order of Police, so the police are not costing taxpayers anything by refusing to comply with an order issued by the local government that, theoretically, controls them.)

But even if accountability is out of reach, is it too much to ask that police officers not be feted like they returned home from a war zone after gunning down a confused centenarian?

Isadore’s daughter, Paula Aguilar, told KATV that she doesn’t think the honors were deserved. “I looked up `valor,’ and I’m like, `No, that doesn’t fit to what they did to my dad.”

Published by Reason.com

Ohio Democratic state Sen. Cecil Thomas, who is a former Cincinnati police officer, said Wednesday he will introduce a bill to give cities local control over open- or concealed-carry rules during events of regional or national significance.  The bill in essence would give local politicians and city governments the power to strip Ohioans of their 2nd Amendment rights during events deemed appropriate by these government employees.

Cecil Thomas, a former Cincinnati cop declined to offer additional comments regarding the constitutionality of his proposal or how this law would conflict with the needs of self defense that citizens may have especially in the emergency situations specified by the law.

The proposal comes on the heels of the head of Cleveland’s largest police union calling on Ohio Gov. John Kasich to temporarily restrict the state’s open carry gun laws during this week’s Republican National Convention.

Stephen Loomis the president of Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association said, “I don’t care if it’s constitutional or not at this point” and proposed that the Ohio Governor temporarily suspends the rights of Americans to carry firearms for self defense. The statement drew mocking and criticism on social media from enthusiastic gun owners, calling Stephen Looming an “oath breaker” and asking for his resignation.

“The idea the cops are enthusiastically defending our constitutional rights is a myth,” said Virgil Vaduva of Ohio Open Carry, an organization promoting and defending the rights of Ohioans to openly carry firearms.  “It is very clear that more often than not police take a stand against our 2nd Amendment rights. Police unions testified against the concealed carry law passed here in Ohio, they are openly advocating suspending Constitutional rights in Cleveland and now a former cop is proposing a law to that end. Clearly these cops who are in positions of authority are not only openly violating their oaths, but they are in fact proud of doing so,” said Vaduva.

Cecil Thomas refused to answer questions about this proposal.  His Ohio Senate office can be reached at (614) 466-5980 or on his website.

For the last several months a new smartphone app called Cell 411 has been making news and capturing the attention of various media outlets with its goal to encourage personal responsibility, create safer neighborhoods and put personal safety and responsibility into the hands of citizens. The app has become extremely popular in South Africa among citizens trying to face the extremely high murder and crime rates in the country. South Africans are using the app to alert their friends and families and create neighborhood watch groups to keep their homes and families safe and alert each other of potential criminal activity.

The app has been wildly successful, amassing over 50,000 downloads between the iOS and Android platforms in just a few months, but for some reason cops are not happy with its success, mostly due to the fact that the app has been successful among activists and “cop blockers.”

What Cell 411 does is in essence very simple: it allows users to notify their friends, family or neighbors when problems occur, should they witness crime in a certain area, get a flat tire on the highway or run into a medical emergency or another type of danger. The app will instantly send the exact GPS coordinates of the user to a large number of friends or family members, who can choose to respond to help, getting turn-by-turn directions to the location of an incident.

Furthermore, users can stream live video to allow them to keep a record of a criminal act, police interaction, or any other situation they may find themselves in.

Justin Naimoli, NYPD Officer

But for the last several weeks, this app has come under attacks from American cops and other government employees who appear to be afraid of the competition the app has to offer. It is unsure why American cops would hate the idea of citizens having the freedom to rely on each other for help, but some reviews posted in the Google Play store indicate that cops could in fact be terrified that citizens are starting to understand that after all they don’t  really need police and can easily rely on each other for help as cops often show up and escalate a situation, commit violent acts or even shoot innocent people for no apparent reason.

One review posted in the Google Play store was by New York City police officer Justin Naimoli.  Officer Naimoli was sued several years ago after he assaulted, pepper sprayed and abused a 23 year old woman named Imani Brown. Naimoli gave Cell 411 a one star review calling it a “Commie anti cop app” saying,

“Beware of this app hiding under a hidden platform of safety. But I did download so if i see an alert I can show up and help the Cops and not the person who broke the law and is now crying about the consequences.”

Office Naimoli is clearly against the idea of Americans being free to observe police, record their actions and keeping them accountable for their actions. Perhaps this is because of his own history of abuse, assault and violence against NYC citizens.

Other posts like one from a user named Forrest Hagerman claim that the app “puts people and police in danger” but does not explain how.  According to a google search, Hagerman is a former government employee from the Seattle area.

Other fake one star reviews have been posted as well, and all appear to be from either current or former police officers or other government employees.

What is most ironic about this, is that the users posting these reviews are also in fact in direct violation of the license agreement with Cell 411. The agreement expressly forbids government employees from installing the app and creating an account on the Cell 411 platform, stating:

“Governments, and agents and subcontractors of same, are not permitted to use this software or derivations of this software.”

Clearly, police officers are readily willing to violate license agreements, post fake reviews and even contact the technical support e-mail address to harass the employees of the company.

When we contacted Cell 411 for comments, Virgil Vaduva, the founder and creator of Cell 411 provided us with a screenshot showing that officer Naimoli sent several emails to the support address reserved for Cell 411 users in order to accuse the company of “lying.”

Vaduva said that it is unclear how an app that allows free human beings to network together and send notifications to each other (much like text messaging) is a danger to anyone:

“Our app is no different than Facebook or Uber: it simply allows users to network together and notify each other of emergencies. To imply that it is an anti-cop app is simply ridiculous and ignorant. Over 100,000 alerts have been sent through our platform since our app went live. Those are all calls that police did not have to deal with, in essence lightening the load of their work and eliminating minor and non threatening calls from police logs. The app is helping police already, not harming them.  Police officers should embrace this app and embrace new technology, not harass our tech support team.  Much like taxi unions are attacking Uber due to competition, it appears that now police are doing the same with us when instead they should partner up with us to make the world a better place.”

The company is planning the release of Version 3 of Cell 411 in several months, with a number of important improvements and features, including partnership with private security firms, payments options for first responders and many other features aimed at what they say “making the world a better place.”

You can download Cell 411 from http://getcell411.com

By: Deric Lostutter

The Philippines election is at hand and corruption is taking over.

The Philippines has a long history of political corruption.

Gloria Arroyo, a former Philippines president, even openly admitted to rigging the voting machines to win, using a method called “dag-dag bawas“, and nothing was done about it.

After ousting Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquinos of the Liberal Party was placed in office in the late 1980’s and eventually led a bloody legacy of killing 13 farmers and protesters in the Mendiola Massacre.

Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party is campaigning for presidency and using bribes, extortion, and censorship to do it.

“-They were distributing money behind the stage, away from the cameras (as one guy admitted, he got a t-shirt and 50 pesos, on top of the packed meal, 2 ballers, slippers, fan, and picture of Mar that were given to the attendees)”

Rodrigo Duterte is the representitive of PDP-Laban, or, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, which means basically Demecratic Filipino party, Strength of the Nation, and is the new hope of the Filipino people against the Liberal Party who has been in positions of power including the presidency since the 1980’s after the fall of dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.

Duterte has been a mayor of the city of Davo for almost 22 years and the crime rate under his mayorship has significantly dropped as he managed to weed out the corruption in the city.

In Camiguin city, they have banned any political posters that are not pro Mar Roxas’, and the local government cut power to a building that housed an opposing rally.

Citizens of the Philipines reached out to TruthVoice in a pleading to get international coverage about the oppression and censorship that is occuring in their country, impoverishing thousands.

One citizen, Angel, tells TruthVoice that Mar Roxas comissioned rented jeeps and trucks, to “round people up from the fringes of the city (Rogongon, Digkilaan, etc.)” forcing them to attend a pro Roxas rally or they would take down their name and threaten to take away their 4ps (government assistance).

Unbeknownst to most of the impoverished citizens, Roxas does not have the power to take away their government assistance.

Angel went on to state that protesters received bribes, and clothing if they vote for Roxas.

Roxas’ party erroneously tweeted that 10,000 people, (who were extorted to attend), attended his rally at Illigan City Plaza, which can only hold a maximum of 1000 people, elbow to elbow.

Angel went on to state that “a lot of people went because they were (falsely) told Kathniel (a famous T.V. couple) would be there.”

When asking Angel what she wanted to say to the rest of the world, she replied:

“All I wants is an honest to god chance at an honest election for once, and I, like a lot of the Filipino people believe this may be our only shot at real change.”

Another resident alien, who is actually still a United States citizen spoke to TruthVoice about the police corruption in the area.

-Right now in the Philippines, it is not uncommon for a police officer to stop you for nothing and tell you if you do not pay them they will find something to fine you for, for a lot more money. I have had this happen to me personally, and who do you turn to? The police? They are the ones doing it, lol. “

When asking the U.S. citizen what he would want to tell the world, he replied:

“Most people won’t care because “Oh, who cares it’s just some third world country” but it is more than that, it is a third world country trying to make themselves better, but being held down by the neck, by people who are profiting by it being beaten down.

I would ask that the world watches, and gets as angry about it as I am, then maybe something can be done when people are oppressed like this action can be taken.”

A shopkeeper in the same area confirmed that merchandise was ordered for her store, and the Philippines Customs agents seized her shipment, trying to extort her for 3 times what the shipment was worth to obtain it, or they would keep it. Luckily for the shopkeeper, she knew someone in Customs, and the package was cleared.

“-In the Philippines it is all about who you know.”

North Korea’s highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.

Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial in North Korea’s Supreme Court.

He was charged with subversion under Article 60 of North Korea’s criminal code. The court held that he had committed a crime “pursuant to the U.S. government’s hostile policy toward (the North), in a bid to impair the unity of its people after entering it as a tourist.”

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to take control of the Korean Peninsula.

Tensions are particularly high following North Korea’s recent nuclear test and rocket launch, and massive joint military exercises now underway between the U.S. and South Korea that the North sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

The University of Virginia said it was aware of the reports about Warmbier and remained in touch with his family, but would have no additional comment at this time.

Before the trial, the 21-year-old from Wyoming, Ohio, said he had tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. That would be grounds in North Korea for a subversion charge.

Trials for foreigners facing similar charges in North Korea are generally short and punishments severe. Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea with a New Year’s tour group.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal. Arrests of tourists are rare but the U.S. State Department strongly advises against such travel.

Further complicating matters, Washington and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang acts as a go-between in consular issues when U.S. citizens run afoul of North Korean authorities.

North Korea announced Warmbier’s arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with “the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation.” It remains unclear how the U.S. government was allegedly connected to Warmbier’s actions.

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In a tearful statement made before his trial, Warmbier told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he tried to take the banner as a trophy for the mother of a friend who said she wanted to put it up in her church.

He said he was offered a used car worth $10,000 if he could get a banner and was also told that if he was detained and didn’t return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier said he accepted the offer because his family was “suffering from very severe financial difficulties.”

Warmbier also said he had been encouraged by the university’s “Z Society,” which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university’s alumni association describes the Z Society as a “semi-secret ring society” founded in 1892 that conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners and grants academic awards.

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

In the past, North Korea has held out until senior U.S. officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, all the way up to former President Bill Clinton, whose visit in 2009 secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling.

In November 2014, U.S. spy chief James Clapper went to Pyongyang to bring home Matthew Miller, who had ripped up his visa when entering the country and was serving a six-year sentence on an espionage charge, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been sentenced to 15 years for alleged anti-government activities.

Jeffrey Fowle, another U.S. tourist from Ohio detained for six months at about the same time as Miller, was released just before that and sent home on a U.S. government plane. Fowle left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offense in North Korea.