An ophthalmologist in Tehran reported over 400 eye injuries from gunshots in a single hospital, as medical staff struggle to cope with the escalating violence. Doctors describe hospitals overwhelmed with wounded protesters, with injuries concentrated on the head and eyes, suggesting deliberate targeting by security forces. The demonstrations, which began over economic issues, have transformed into the largest anti-government movement since 2009, prompting a severe crackdown by authorities, including internet shutdowns. Rights groups accuse the government of using the blackout to carry out a brutal crackdown. Doctors suspect the death toll is significantly higher than reported, citing a lack of medical supplies and the deliberate targeting of vital organs.
Read More
In response to perceived violent crime, former President Trump has initiated a week-long crackdown in Washington, D.C., deploying federal officers in “high traffic tourist areas.” This mobilization, starting Thursday night, involves multiple federal agencies and local police, despite data showing declining violent crime rates. The operation, led by U.S. Park Police, follows Trump’s threat to federalize the city and his call for harsher penalties for juvenile offenders, though the actual presence of federal agents on the first night was reportedly minimal. The Washington Legal Clinic has expressed concerns over the operation’s scope and potential impact on vulnerable populations, as the White House stated the operation could be extended.
Read More
Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party, is disbanding due to Beijing’s intensifying crackdown. Following warnings of repercussions, the party initiated its dissolution process after decades of advocating for universal suffrage and other issues. The party’s demise reflects Beijing’s intolerance of even moderate dissent and the near impossibility for opposition groups to operate under the city’s national security law and restrictive electoral reforms. Analysts see this as a clear signal of Hong Kong’s shift towards authoritarian rule and the silencing of opposition voices. The Hong Kong government, however, maintains that the party’s decision is unrelated to freedoms enshrined in law.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker