Thursday, May 27, 2010
FBI Shuts Down Child Porn Social Networking Site
Click to read full story from CNN
Authorities have shut down a global social networking-like site where members traded child porn, talked about their fantasies and traded tips about not getting caught, according to the Department of Justice.
The investigation into the site is ongoing, the agency said, and it is working with police officials from several countries to try to find members who haven't been identified. More than 50 people have been arrested around the world and 35 convicted since the 2008 start of the investigation, dubbed Operation Nest Egg, the Department of Justice said.
The members "participated in a sophisticated, password-protected Internet bulletin board group, which existed to allow members to meet like-minded individuals with a sexualized interest in children, to discuss that interest and to trade images of child pornography," according to court documents.
At one point, the site had more than 1,000 active members.
"The individuals who participated in this Internet-based bulletin board exploited the most innocent and vulnerable in our society," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said.
The Department of Justice said the operation began by targeting 26 defendants who were charged in the Southern District of Indiana and then expanded to about 500 other individuals around the globe who were a part of the online group that was "dedicated to trading images of child pornography."
Most of the people charged are accused of conspiring to advertise and distribute child pornography, along with substantive counts of advertising and distributing child pornography.
Officials said the inquiry led them to further investigate some people for sexual abuse of children.
High School Valedictorian Sues School To Stop Graduation Prayer
GREENWOOD, Ind. -- A student who sued his school to stop a prayer at graduation spoke out for the first time about his intentions and a backlash at school.
In September, Greenwood High School gave its senior class a ballot, asking them if they wanted to include prayer at graduation. Most students were in favor, but not all.
"I saw that as the school asking the students whether or not we wanted to violate the U.S. Constitution," said Eric Workman, the school's valedictorian. "I'm a Christian, but I also believe the law is the law."
With the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, Workman sued the school and won.After the courtroom battle ended, Workman had another to fight at the school with angry students."Dealing with my peers, it was difficult, but it showed their true character," Workman said.
Workman has heard rumors that there will be protests when he addresses his peers at commencement on Friday."Someone is going to sneeze, and everyone says, 'God bless you,' in order to get back at Eric Workman," said Nick Rice, a junior at the school."If something does happen, I wouldn't be the one to stop it," said senior Craig Egenolf. "I wouldn't be the one to not participate in it, either."Workman said that he's a little concerned about his safety and that no matter what happens, he is going to finish his speech, which will address the controversy."I would have done it again in a heartbeat, because I know I was standing up for what I believe was right," he said. "To do anything but that would have let me down at the end of the day."
In the wake of the suit, school officials said they will not screen speeches by four seniors, which leads some to believe a student will read a prayer as part of their speech.David Edds, superintendent of Greenwood Schools, said he expects students to behave at commencement, but he is concerned about audience members. Extra security officers will be on hand.
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JMC Ministries Response
This young man is the future of the United States Of America. And even before he graduates high school he is already trampling on the Rights of his fellow Students and American Citizens Even while saying he is a Christian but The Law is the Law.
If students want to pray at their graduation let them pray. If they don't then let them sit by silently out of respect for those who do want to. No one is forcing this kid to pray.
What is so wrong with people wanting to pray over your future and life? When we pray we ask for blessing not curses and bad things or so we have been taught in the bible.
As long as "Freedom Of Religion" is in our U.S Constitution People need to continue to fight against children and people like this or we will just see all our rights taken away.
WE can only pray for this young man that he sees the truth and allow the Love of Christ to infiltrate into his heart and change his life.
13 year old Suspended Indefinitely from School For Wearing Rosary
Click to read full story from World Net Daily
By Michael Carl
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
Officials at a New York middle school have decided a rosary could be a symbol of gang activity and have suspended a student for wearing one, but now a legal action is developing that will challenge the school's censorship.
Oneida Middle School officials say their district-wide police in the Schenectady Public School District bans any bandanas or other apparel – including beads – that can be associated with street gangs.
The result? The suspension of 13-year-old middle schooler Raymond Hosier, who chose to wear the rosary as a symbol of his faith and in honor of a deceased brother and uncle.
The American Center for Law and Justice now has confirmed officials have dispatched a letter to the school demanding the school allow the rosary, as protected by the First Amendment, or face a court challenge.
The ACLJ said the school system's dress code is too vague and that just about any clothing accessory could be labeled gang-related.
The dispute started last week when Hosier came to school wearing a rosary, and a principal ordered him to go home.
"A week ago, he was told to either remove the rosary or be sent home. The first day he was sent home. He returned back to school with the rosary, and the school district said he was suspended for two more days.
He said 'Fine, send me home,'" Jordan Sekulow of the ACLJ explained.
"Raymond goes home, the weekend comes and he came to school this week, and when he showed up with his rosary on, they said he was suspended indefinitely," Sekulow said.
Sekulow, the ACLJ's foreign affairs coordinator, said Hosier was just trying to do what he believes he should.
"You know, Raymond decided to take a stand. He's just 13 years old. He decided to take a stand and I don't think many 13-year-olds would be able to take a stand like that," Sekulow said. "He was clearly trying to do something here that his conscience was telling him to do."
"Raymond said he wasn't trying to start something, but the school officials targeted him specifically and came after him because of their policy on gang-related items including bandanas, colors, flags, and beads," Sekulow added.
Sekulow believes that if the issue goes to court as he expects, Hosier's suspension will not be the only issue that will be on trial. Sekulow believes that the district's dress code will also be on trial.
"The federal courts have been very leery of these school dress code policies that ban anything that could be related to gang imagery. If you look at their school policy, it's so broad that they go to the point where they are defining what is gang related," Sekulow added.
"In their definition, they can ban colors, flags, bandanas, and anything with beads. Let me read you the actual policy. Quoting directly, 'A student's dress shall not denote, represent or be deemed to be gang related, including but not limited to, bandanas, colors, flags or beads,'" Sekulow quoted.
"The school told him to take that (the rosary) off because it could be gang related," Sekulow stated.
"He said, 'Listen, I'm doing this for my uncle and my brother. I'm not doing this because I'm a member of a gang. Everyone knows I'm not a member of a gang,'" Sekulow quoted.
The ACLJ attorney added that Hosier had not been in trouble before.
"He's a good student. He's never been in any trouble. He's not a rabble rouser and he's not trying to start any controversy. He's not trying to start a religious trend. He only wanted to express his faith and honor his uncle and brother," Sekulow said.
Sekulow said this isn't the first time the Schenectady school system has been sued over the issue.
"In 2005 a 12-year-old girl (Raven Furbert) had family members serving in Iraq and she wore a red, white and blue beaded necklace and was told by the school to take it off," Sekulow said.
"She sued and the school had to settle out of court and that presumably means a monetary out of court settlement. The superintendent of the school district was an assistant superintendent then and he was named in the suit," Sekulow said.