Still thankful for KICs

The time for annihilating the nation’s turkey population has arrived. While the scents of sizzling turkey and grandma’s pumpkin pie take over the house, take a look at these KICs to hold you over. This week of Thanksgiving Eve, we have a death sentence for an Iranian protester, a Georgia detainee being beaten in his holding cell, a Fayette County teen charged with terrorism, Starbucks workers on strike, and U.S. involvement in a controversial situation in Saudi Arabia.

November 14 –  Iran protester sentenced to death

Two months ago in Iran, protests broke out after the death of 22-year-old Masha Amini. She was detained for allegedly breaking the hijab rules. One of the protesters had set fire to a government facility, was named guilty of “enmity against God,” and has been sentenced to death. 

Another court has jailed at least five other protesters for 5-10 years, and 20 people are currently facing charges that are punishable by death. A human rights group warned that authorities might be planning hasty executions. The protests were reported to have spread to 140 cities and towns. The protest has become the most significant challenge in over a decade to the Islamic Republic. There have been around 15,800 protesters who have been detained, and 326 protesters have been killed, including 43 children and 25 women.

Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has warned that rioters could be charged with enmity against God, corruption of the earth, and armed rebellion, all of which can be punishable by death. Each day, more are detained and this situation has not slowed down. 

November 15 – Detainee being beaten while in Georgia holding cell

In Savannah, Georgia at Camden County Jail back in September, security camera footage showed detainee Jarrett Hobbs getting beaten by multiple officers while being held in a jail cell. The security camera recorded everything that occurred in the holding cell. The video footage is starting to surface on social media and is going viral. 

Hobbs was arrested for possession of illegal drugs, speeding, and driving with a revoked or suspended license. In the video, Hobbs is seen in handcuffs, being beaten and kneed in the upper body and head, then being taken out of his cell by the officers. 

Hobbs’ attorney, Harry Daniels, said that charges should be applied to the sheriff’s deputies affiliated with the incident. Once the video started to surface on social media, the Camden sheriff did say he ordered an investigation to be opened immediately. A spokesperson of the office at Camden County Jail refused to announce whether the deputies involved are still on duty. 

November 16 – Fayette County 17-year-old charged with terrorism after posting threats

Seventeen-year-old Javon Sullivan was arrested on Tuesday after posting threats on social media to at least two high schools. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has not specified which of the Fayette County Schools were targeted.

Sullivan was accused of posting threats of school violence on social media. Sullivan is now being charged with domestic terrorism as well as terroristic threats and is being held at the Fayette County Jail. He has not been allowed bond.

Officials have announced that they want to encourage and urge parents to talk to their children about school violence and the severity of these threats. They have also said that the consequences of these threats are being charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent because of their detriment to a safe learning environment.

November 17 – Starbucks union goes on strike at over 100 different locations

On Thanksgiving, many workers plan to go on strike at 100 different Starbucks locations. The strike is meant to bring attention to Starbucks companies and find a solution to making their contracts fair.

Organizers of this strike plan to protest over a version of the red cup that features the Grinch’s hand holding an ornament with the Starbucks logo printed on it. Over the past 12 months, 260 company-owned Starbucks locations have voted to unionize Workers United. 

The number of new cafes has filed for union elections has slowed in recent months, but a contract agreement could boost this movement. This is still the most significant collective action Starbucks Workers United has participated in over the past year.

November 18 – U.S. shield Saudi prince in the killing of journalist

Biden’s crew should shield the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in his part in killing an American journalist. An American judge is to settle if immunity will be granted for Prince Mohammed. Saudi Arabia decreased their oil production to help the U.S. to pressure Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018 with Prince Mohammed’s approval due to Khashoggi’s critical stories about the prince. Saudi Arabia denies any involvement of the prince in the murder when Khashoggi’s fiancé sued the prince in the federal court in Washington DC. 

The U.S. military said they wanted to help Saudi Arabia with international threats if they kept their oil production up. Those against Biden’s administration claim that the administration will help the country or others in rights abuses if it supports the prince.