Video: LeVar Burton suggests he'd get physically violent with Moms for Liberty members — and the crowd loves it



During his recent welcome speech for the 2023 National Book Awards ceremony, actor LeVar Burton suggested to the crowd that he'd get physically violent with members of conservative group Moms for Liberty.

"Before we get going, are there any Moms for Liberty in the house?" Burton asked, according to video from Wednesday's broadcast. "Moms for Liberty? No? Good! Then hands will not need to be thrown tonight."

A number of folks in the audience — presumably consisting of individuals who wouldn't tolerate a smidgen of violence against women — hooted, hollered, and clapped following Burton's rather misogynistic declaration:

2023 National Book Awards Ceremony - featuring LeVar Burton welcome and special guest Oprah Winfrey youtu.be

Guess it's all good as long as the correct women get beaten up, eh, LeVar?

What's the background?

The Huffington Post detailed Burton's "outspoken ... disgust" for Moms for Liberty, and the left-wing outlet called the group "extremist" and said Moms for Liberty "has described itself as defending 'parental rights' in government while also seeking to have books removed from libraries. During last week’s U.S. elections, Moms for Liberty set out to take over various school boards but ultimately wasn’t successful."

HuffPost also called attention to an Esquire interview in which Burton indicated he was “thrilled” that “hardly any candidates backed by Moms for Liberty won their races.”

“These are people who would rather children not know the truth,” Burton told Esquire, according to the Post. “Those kids will never know what they’re missing, but it’s our job to stand up for them, to be their voices and their advocates. That’s what being an elder in this society means to me.”

How did Moms for Liberty react to Burton's words?

Moms for Liberty hopped on social media and gave Burton a piece of their collective mind over his remarks:

"American moms weep as a childhood favorite, Reading Rainbow, calls for physical attacks against us because we are protecting the innocence of our children," the group wrote on X. "@levarburton, why have you sunk so low? Threatening physical violence against women?"

— (@)

How are other folks reacting to Burton's words?

While a few individuals loved Burton's suggestion that he'd fistfight Moms for Liberty, quite a number of others didn't take too kindly to it:

  • "So Mr. Reading Rainbow is violently pro-groomer. Sad," one commenter wrote.
  • "Are we gonna punch moms?" another user wondered.
  • "So he likes to beat women. Never liked him as an actor, seems less than honorable as just an everyday average person as well," another commenter observed.
  • "What he’s gonna hit a woman?" another user asked. "Real nice."
  • "A man talking about beating up women over their political views?" another commenter queried. "Very bad look."
  • "Threatening violence? Is that what you stand for?" another user asked.
  • "Hey @levarburton, if you’re so certain this is an acceptable stance, why don’t you be a real man and host a revival episode of Reading Rainbow on PBS with excerpts of the explicit scenes from 'Gender Queer'? You won’t because it wouldn’t be allowed on TV," another user pointed out. "You now think it’s brave to threaten women who want to protect their kids from being exposed to sexually explicit material (like the book mentioned above). You’ve betrayed every value that led you to be a part of Reading Rainbow. You’re aiding and abetting abuse of children. Enjoy watching your legacy burn down around you…you lit the match, bud."

Burton as of Friday afternoon made no clarifying statement on his X page regarding his Moms for Liberty remarks. Fox News said Burton hasn't yet responded to its request for comment.

The National Book Foundation, which presents the National Book Awards, on Friday did not immediately respond to Blaze Media's request for comment regarding Burton's Moms for Liberty remarks.

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Hate crime? One or more pro-Palestinian activists reportedly fight, kill elderly Jewish man holding Israeli flag at protest



One or more pro-Palestinian activists reportedly fought with and killed an elderly Jewish man who was holding an Israeli flag amid dueling protests in southern California over the weekend — and authorities haven't ruled out a hate crime.

What are the details?

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said a pro-Israeli protest and a pro-Palestinian protest were occurring around 3:20 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Thousand Oaks is just over an hour northwest of Los Angeles.

Multiple individuals reported to police that a battery took place at the scene, and responding deputies found Paul Kessler, 69, suffering from a head injury, the sheriff's office said.

Witnesses told authorities that Kessler was "involved in a physical altercation with counter-protester(s)" and fell backward and hit his head on the ground. He was hospitalized for medical treatment and died Monday of his injuries, authorities said.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be blunt force head injury and the manner of death a homicide, authorities said, adding that the sheriff's office is investigating and "has not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime."

Authorities added that the incident appears to be isolated and not part of a large effort.

What else?

A photo posted to social media shows Kessler before the altercation waving an Israeli flag at an intersection, NBC News reported.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

A press photographer captured an image of Kessler receiving treatment on a sidewalk at 3:20 p.m. with his head on a bloodied homemade sign, the network said, adding that video posted online appears to show Kessler lying on the sidewalk with his head covered in blood.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

NBC News said another video appears to show pro-Palestinian demonstrators continuing to shout slogans and wave flags after Kessler was injured as police vehicles and an ambulance sat nearby. The network said the same video shows blood splattered across a homemade sign that reads, "STOP BOMBING BABIES AND FAMILIES."

Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha, which is near the intersection in question, told the network that Kessler is Jewish. NBC News added that Kessler's family declined comment Monday night and asked for privacy.

Anyone who witnessed or knows about what took place or who attended the demonstrations can call 805-384-4745, authorities said, adding that Crime Stoppers can be contacted anonymously at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

California Jewish man dies from injuries sustained in Israel-Palestine rally youtu.be

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Alcohol-fueled family game of Monopoly turns violent as furniture is overturned, gunfire erupts — and man goes to jail on assault with a deadly weapon charge



An alcohol-fueled family game of Monopoly turned violent in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday evening as furniture was overturned, gunfire erupted — and a man was sent to jail on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

What are the details?

Officers were called around 6:25 p.m. about gunshots fired at a home near East Admiral Place and North Mingo Road, KJRH-TV reported.

The caller told dispatch a man — John Armstrong — chased her down a street with a gun and fired shots at her and her father, the station said.

John ArmstrongImage source: David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center

Arriving police quickly arrested Armstrong and began investigating, KJRH said.

Investigators learned a family was hosting a game night and drinking alcohol — and during a Monopoly game a fight broke out between Armstrong and his stepfather, the station said.

The game board was flipped, and furniture was overturned, and a family member told them to take the fight outside, police told KOKI-TV.

When Armstrong got cut in the head, the melee escalated, the station said — and then Armstrong pulled out a gun and chased his stepfather and stepsister down a street, KJRH reported.

Armstrong admitted to police that he fired one round "at the ground” to make sure they stayed away from his mother, KOKI reported.

Officers searched the house for the gun but did not find it, KJRH said, adding that police believe Armstrong hid the gun in the house before his arrest.

Armstrong was booked into jail on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, KTUL-TV reported. He was still behind bars Sunday night, jail data indicates, his bond is set at $25,000, and his next court date is set for Friday.

VIDEO: Man punches school board member in face at meeting, knocking him to floor. Restoring Native American mascot was heated point of contention.



A man was caught on cellphone video punching a Connecticut school board member in the face and knocking him to the ground during a Glastonbury Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, WTIC-TV reported.

What are the details?

The board was holding a special hearing regarding a petition that asked members to reverse their decision to replace the high school's Tomahawks mascot, the station said.

In the summer of 2020, the board voted to ditch the Tomahawks mascot due to appropriation of Native American culture, the Hartford Courant reported, adding that the high school has since chosen a new mascot — the Guardians — that features a student-designed logo.

WTIC said that during Tuesday night's public comment time, resident Mark Finocchiaro got into a heated argument with board members, one of whom told Finocchiaro "your time is up" and then "you're not paying attention" when Finocchiaro kept talking.

The station said an angry Finocchiaro issued an expletive, which concluded public comment.

During a recess when the board was to vote on the petition's request, Ray McFall came down from the stage to confront Finocchiaro, WTIC reported, citing witnesses.

With that, cellphone videos were rolling as the men stood face to face and their tempers boiled over.

'Yeah, I'm in your face'

One clip shows a resident saying to McFall, "That's unprofessional; why are you swearing at a citizen?" Finocchiaro then asks McFall, "You're in my face?" WTIC said.

Image source: WVIT-TV video screenshot

"Yeah, I'm in your face," McFall replies, according to the station.

Finocchiaro then moves even closer to McFall's face and appears to make physical contact with the board member.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

In response, McFall pushes Finocchiaro in the chest and into a row of seats — and that's when Finocchiaro slugs McFall in the face, knocking him to the auditorium floor.

Image source: WVIT-TV video screenshot

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Here's a video report of the incident:

Others milling around the pair attempted to separate them, and WTIC said McFall was brought back up onto the auditorium stage. Then the superintendent announced the meeting was over due the fight, the station said, adding that members of the pubic were asked to leave and police showed up.

"I was there just to watch, and I didn’t know I would end up being involved in separating an argument or a physical fight," Glastonbury Town Councilman John Cavanna, who's also a police officer, told WTIC.

Cavanna added to the station that he sensed tension in the audience from the beginning of the meeting: "They’re upset about the mascot, but they were much more upset about the manner in which the Board of Education went about removing it."

WTIC said the decision to ditch the Tomahawks mascot also happened when all meetings were virtual and resulted in residents feeling as though they weren't properly heard.

Tuesday's meeting ended without a decision on the mascot, the station said.

'Everyone’s getting pushed up in a corner'

Dave Zevin, whose two sons used to be Tomahawks football players, told WTIC he was disappointed that a board member pushed an audience member: "That being said, punching a school board member, it’s just wrong and it’s foolish and does nothing to advance anybody’s cause."

Resident Steven Piersa told WFSB-TV in regard to the fight that "people are getting ... bolder today, just with everything going on, everyone’s in everybody’s face today. It’s crazy."

Piersa added to the station that many are being told "how to live their life, what you should be doing, 'Oh, that’s not acceptable' ... everyone’s getting pushed up in a corner, and eventually people are going to lash out."

Another resident, Olivia Jenkins, told WFSB that "people are over it. People are over the pandemic. People are over politics. I think, too, there’s just a lot going on ... it's crazy."

Anything else?

Finocchiaro was not available for comment, the station said, adding that McFall did not respond to WTIC's request for comment.

Police said they are actively investigating the incident and no arrests have been made, the station said.

VIDEO: Fight breaks out at Glastonbury Board of Education Meetingyoutu.be

Concealed carrier shoots man in cheek in altercation, bullet goes through man's head — and shot man 'was still trying to fight' concealed carrier: Report



A 54-year-old concealed carrier shot a 32-year-old man in the head during afight between them outside a Chicago grocery store around 5 p.m. Monday, WFLD-TV reported.

But the station's video report includes tidbits its written story left out.

What are the details?

The WFLD reporter states in the station's video that after the fight between the men broke out in a Jewel-Osco parking lot in the city's southwest side, the 54-year-old man — who has a valid Firearm Owners Identification card and Concealed Carry License, police told the station — shot the 32-year-old in the cheek.

"The bullet traveled through his head," the reporter stated in the video report, later adding that "sources say a security officer nearby got the [concealed carrier] to hand over his weapon until police arrived; the man shot in the cheek and head was still trying to fight the 54-year-old armed man."

WFLD said in its written story that the 32-year-old man was taken to Christ Hospital in serious condition, according to police, who added that the 54-year-old sustained an injury to his right hand and was taken to Holy Cross in good condition.

A weapon was recovered at the scene, the station said, adding that Area One Detectives were investigating.

WLS-TV said the concealed carrier was not taken into custody after the incident.

Police said it isn't clear what led to the fight, but did say it took place after the 54-year-old concealed carrier left the grocery store, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Officials said Tuesday that "charges are pending" in connection with the shooting but didn't specify who will be charged, the paper also said.

Chicago concealed carry holder shoots man in head during fightyoutu.be

How did folks react?

Some people who commented on the station's video report are decidedly in the concealed carrier's corner:

  • "Based on what was presented, the shooter respected the armed private security’s instructions," one commenter wrote. "Holes-In-Face chose to still walk the warpath after the 54-y/o surrendered his weapon prior to police arriving. Curious to see what the investigation yields. Shooter needs to talk ONLY to a lawyer, as he’ll be fighting for his life a 2nd time...against a very dark blue state."
  • "Still trying to fight after he got shot and didn't get shot again," another commenter observed. "Other guy was definitely using the minimum amount of force needed to defend himself."
  • "The shooter was clearly trying to defend his life," another commenter declared. "Set him free ASAP."