'Non-binary' son of House Democrat whip who called Republicans 'extremists' charged for attack on Boston police



The No. 2 Democrat in Congress suggested earlier this month that Republicans were "extremists." On Saturday night, her son Jared Dowell was charged with assaulting a Boston police officer amid a wave of Antifa violence.

Leftist extremism

The Boston Police Department noted that around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, officers responded to a scene of leftist disturbance at the Parkman Bandstand Monument in the Boston Common.

According to the BPD, officers found the son of House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) vandalizing the monument, writing "NO COP CITY" and "ACAB," the latter of which stands for "all cops are bastards."

Jared Dowell, 23, was not alone, however. Other Antifa thugs were blocking traffic and making a scene.

When officers intervened to arrest the son of the Democratic whip and restore order, a group of 20 leftist violators began "screaming profanities through megaphones" and interfering with Dowell's arrest.

\u201cIt appears that the child of Democrat House Minority Whip Katherine M. Clark was arrested for assaulting police as part of an #antifa event in Boston last night.\n\nJared 'Riley' Dowell allegedly graffiti'd "stop cop city" and assaulted police while resisting arrest.\u201d
— AntifaWatch (@AntifaWatch) 1674410419

An officer was brutally struck in the face and left "bleeding from the nose and mouth" during the leftists' violent efforts to prevent the arrest, which Dowell is accused of partaking in.

Despite the efforts of the leftist mob, officers were ultimately able to arrest Dowell and charge him with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, destruction of personal property, and damage of property by graffiti/tagging. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.

AntifaWatch reported that Dowell appears to run a leftist mutual aid group and has posted about it on anarchist subreddits.

Dowell's apparent antipathy for police may not be an anomaly in his family. After all, his BLM-supporting mother stressed in 2020 that it should be "easier to prosecute" officers.

\u201cBy failing to stop police brutality, lives, opportunities, and dreams have been lost. \n\nWe cannot watch one more video or hear one more cry. \n\nWe must act now. #blacklivesmatter\u201d
— Katherine Clark (@Katherine Clark) 1591211183

Clark — the Democrat who reportedly failed to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock trades in 2021 —confirmed that her son, whom she refers to as a "daughter" and calls "Riley," was arrested in Boston, noting that "this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting."

\u201cLast night, my daughter was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts. I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting. \n\nThis will be evaluated by the legal system, and I am confident in that process.\u201d
— Katherine Clark (@Katherine Clark) 1674427498

While apparently reluctant to denounce Antifa's violent attacks on Boston police over the weekend, Clark has previously been quick to accuse her political rivals of fomenting unrest and to warn of violence when politically expedient.

The Democratic minority whip suggested to CNN earlier this month that congressional Republicans were "extremists" and that the fruitful debates concerning the House speakership "endangered our country's national security."

Axios reported that ahead of the midterm elections, Clark claimed that the answer to America's political conflicts "cannot be through division, misinformation and appeals to hate speech and violence," intimating that's what the GOP had on offer.

Dowell's mother tweeted on Nov. 2, "The tolerance of violence and bigotry in our political discourse must end. We are one nation, one community, and we can't allow ourselves to be torn apart by the GOP's campaign of lies, hate and misinformation."

Clark noted in a follow-up tweet, "Violence begets violence. Hate begets hate. When brutality is campaign currency, it is legitimized."

Christina Kulich, an instructor of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University, told Boston.com in December that Clark's new role in Congress means she "will probably spend less time in her district than she was able to before."

It is unclear if less time in her district might mean less time monitoring potential extremism at home or less time addressing family members' "nightmares over concern around climate change."

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LSU's Olivia Dunne assigned bodyguard after horde of rowdy boys mobs another gymnastics meet



Louisiana State University is stepping up its security to ensure that its star gymnast, Olivia Dunne, will escape future competitions unscathed.

What's the background?

Olivia Dunne has attracted a great deal of attention on and off the bars.

Dunne, a WCGA All-American in the uneven bars, boasts over 6.7 million followers on TikTok and nearly 3 million followers on Instagram.

Since the NCAA dropped its policy prohibiting college athletes from profiting off their internet fame in 2021, the 20-year-old college junior has become America's top-paid female college athlete.

On3 reported that the 20-year-old has signed deals with various big brands including American Eagle, Plant Fuel, and Bartleby, bringing in over $2 million. Dunne frequently showcases her sponsors' products in the videos she posts to social media.

Dunne told the New York Times in November that she is proud of her resultant seven-figure earnings, "Especially since I'm a woman in college sports."

While her notoriety has proven lucrative, it can be discomfiting at times.

Nola.com reported that when Dunne's gymnastics team competed against the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Jan. 6, fans packed the stands and stalked the exits of the building in hopes of snagging a selfie with the gymnast, some chanting, "We want her."

Dunne was not even competing last week, having been sidelined with an injury.

Olympic medalist and broadcaster Samantha Peszek posted a video of some of Dunne's predominantly male fans with the caption, "This is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey. I'm embarrassed for them."

\u201cThis is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey. I\u2019m embarrassed for them\u2026\u201d
— Samantha Peszek (@Samantha Peszek) 1673149010

KSL.com sports reporter Josh Furlong indicated that LSU was forced to move its team bus to avoid Dunne's fans and that police had to be stationed to prevent the boys from getting in.

Furlong tweeted, "There’s literally a line outside of the Huntsman Center of teenage boys that keep asking if Livvy is coming out. I’ve never seen anything like this."

\u201cThere\u2019s literally a line outside of the Huntsman Center of teenage boys that keep asking if Livvy is coming out. I\u2019ve never seen anything like this.\u201d
— Josh Furlong (@Josh Furlong) 1673064403

The mother of a Utah gymnast suggested that the fans, keen on seeing and meeting Dunne, were "rude and disrespectful" to other athletes.

The New York Post reported that the rowdy mob disrupted other athletes' routines.

Dunne's mother underscored that it was inappropriate to blame the fans' behavior on the gymnast:

\u201cIt is not ok to blame any athlete/celebrity when fan behavior crosses the line. In a sport where all the girls wear nothing but leotards stop suggesting that how Livvy dresses means she deserves this in any way. Stop shaming girls for the behavior of boys.\u201d
— Katherine Dunne (@Katherine Dunne) 1673193135

Over the weekend, Dunne responded, tweeting, "I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job."

Safe landing

Jay Clark, Dunne's coach, indicated he has previously "run people off," and there has been at least one instance where LSU police had to intervene.

Moving forward, a security officer will stand guard outside the LSU team's locker room and hotels when they travel to competitions across the country for the remainder of the year.

Clark told the Advocate/Times-Picayune, "That person will be in our hotel and outside our locker room and getting us to and from the bus at the venue. ... (The officer) will be there to create a perimeter that keeps everybody safe."

"We want to be accessible to our fans with autographs and kids, but we also don't want to bury our heads in the sand. We want to make sure everybody is safe at all times," said Clark.

Dunne's coach suggested that things have to change; that student athletes cannot be left exposed to the mob, especially as this trend accelerates.

Extra to the security guard, moving forward, LSU athletes will not be permitted to go into the stands immediately following a meet.

\u201c"It was a little bit disconcerting, the level of intensity that went with it. There was a moblike kind of feel to that out there."\n\n@LSUgym Jay Clark shares his thoughts on some of rabid @livvydunne fans that attended the Tigers' meet in Utah. #LSU\u201d
— Jacques Doucet (@Jacques Doucet) 1673466685

Concerning the incident in Utah, Dunne admitted that "things got out of control."

"We wanted to get ahead of it, but we didn't see what happened last week coming as big as it's been. It's been bubbling under the surface for a year now," he added.

"Probably 99 percent of the people there were seeking autographs, but you never know when you get a crowd like that. We'll do the best we can to protect them," said the coach. "It's at the forefront of my mind as a father and coach of these young women. We take very seriously the responsibility to keep them safe."

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Republicans blast Democrats who are calling for single occupancy bathrooms at the Capitol: 'House Democrats have ... pivoted to their favorite topic—themselves'



Democratic Reps. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Hakeem Jeffries of New York are advocating for single occupancy bathrooms on Capitol Hill in order to cater to transgender and nonbinary individuals, as well as and disabled people and others.

They described the matter an "important issue" in a letter to Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the Committee on House Administration.

"We write today to urge the Committee to support efforts to install single occupancy restrooms in the House of Representatives and the Capitol," the Democratic duo declared. "Implementing single-use restrooms will make a visible difference in the lives of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, as well as other marginalized communities, including people with disabilities, older adults, and parents of small children. As such, we ask for further examination of this issue and for your facilitation in installing additional restroom facilities to better accommodate those who work or seek to work in the House of Representatives."

"The House Appropriations Committee has taken steps to address this issue, including report language accompanying the FY21 appropriations bill that directed the Architect of the Capitol to detail the availability of single-stall restrooms in House office buildings, and subsequent report language accompanying the FY22 appropriations bill that directed the Architect to ensure that future construction and remodeling projects incorporate single-stall restrooms. Currently, there is only one single-use restroom located in the Longworth basement. For individuals working in the Cannon and Rayburn office buildings, they must leave their buildings and, in some cases, walk outside to find a safe and comfortable restroom to use," the lawmakers said in the letter.

Multiple Republican lawmakers slammed their Democratic colleagues for focusing on the bathroom issue while Americans endure real-world problems such as roaring inflation and sky-high gas prices.

"All across the country, Americans are suffering from record inflation, shortages, crime, the border crisis and now a tanking stock market," GOP Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana told Fox News Digital. "House Democrats have no solutions, so they’ve pivoted to their favorite topic—themselves."

"While Americans are suffering under record inflation and skyrocketing gas prices, House Democrats are focused on gender-neutral bathrooms in their office buildings," Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told the outlet. "Give me a break. This is political theater, a true parody of leadership."

GOP Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois described the bathroom advocacy as "just the latest example of House Democrats’ misplaced priorities."

"With soaring gas prices, baby formula shortages, rising crime, and a border crisis, this is what they choose to focus on," he noted, according to Fox News. "The American People are tired of it, as Democrats will learn the hard way come November."

\u201cGender-neutral restrooms ensure that every person - no matter their gender identity - feels safe in our nation's Capitol. I am proud to lead this effort and to partner with @RepJeffries to ensure that the People's House is a welcoming space for all.\u201d
— Katherine Clark (@Katherine Clark) 1655312210

Multiple casualties after house explosion in Pennsylvania: Authorities



At least four people are dead after a home in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, exploded around 8 p.m. local time on Thursday, ABC News has reported.

Two others, officials added, may still be missing.

What are the details?

Pottstown Borough Manager Justin Keller said two people were hospitalized after the incident. Their condition was not known at the time of publication.

It is not known at the time of this reporting what caused the deadly explosion.

One witness said that he first believed the explosion was nothing more than thunder.

"I really thought it was really loud thunder just nearby, but it shook the area," area resident Christian Gonzalez told WPVI-TV. Another neighbor added, "We went running down the street and a house was completely destroyed."

Children, one resident said, may have been inside the home at the time of the devastating explosion.

Resident Eunice Rome said that her grandson knew some of the children who lived in the house.

"I was crying earlier because I was sad that they died," the child told the station. "It's crazy because nothing really happens in Pottstown."

Police have yet to announce the victims' identities.

WPVI's Katherine Scott tweeted a photo of the wreckage on Friday morning. He captioned it, "4 people have died, 2 people injured, and 2 unaccounted for after a house explosion last night in Pottstown. Crews have been on the scene since last night."

\u201c4 people have died, 2 people injured, and 2 unaccounted for after a house explosion last night in Pottstown. Crews have been on the scene since last night.\u201d
— Katherine Scott (@Katherine Scott) 1653644448

Pottstown School District Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez said that all classes in the district were canceled on Friday.

Rodriguez wrote in a letter to families, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families. When schools open again, our counselors and psychologists will be available to provide support."

"When schools open again, our counselors and psychologists will be available to provide support," the letter added.

\u201cSchool closed tomorrow 5/27 \n\n@JohnJarmato\u201d
— Pottstown Schools (@Pottstown Schools) 1653619059

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the state fire marshal's office are working to investigate the explosion.

Democratic lawmaker wants unmasked House members relegated to isolation boxes in the gallery



Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) wants to put unmasked House members in a box — literally.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, Clark is asking the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives William Walker to require lawmakers who forego masks to attend the floor from isolation boxes in the gallery.

As #Omicron rages, Members breaking House rules by refusing to #maskup are threatening our dedicated staff and Members. Fines are not enough. I'm calling for unmasked Members to attend the floor and vote from the isolation boxes in the House Gallery. Read morepic.twitter.com/UTDAJDlqiE
— Katherine Clark (@Katherine Clark) 1641923422

Members already face fines for entering the House floor without wearing a mask. The first offense costs $500 while subsequent instances of non-compliance cost a whopping $2,500.

"Unfortunately, these fines have proven insufficient to prevent some Members from repeatedly violating this commonsense rule," Clark wrote in the letter to Walker. "In fact, two House members alone have accumulated more than $100,000 in fines over the last year. This callous disregard for House rules endangers the health of Members of Congress and the professional staff whose physical presence is required to ensure continuity of government."

"That is why, in addition to imposing fines, I am requesting that your office begin requiring Members who fail to comply with this rule to attend the House floor from the isolation boxes in the House Gallery. These boxes were designed to minimize the risk of exposure to quarantined Members, yet those who refuse to mask pose the same or higher risk of exposing individuals around them to COVID," Clark declared.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told Newsmax last week that she has been fined nearly $90,000.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) has racked up at least $58,000 in fines related to the mask requirement, according to The Hill. The outlet also said that multiple other legislators have been slapped with at least one fine.