Ex-con is arrested and charged with hate crimes after unwittingly targeting an undercover NYPD cop with anti-Asian slurs and threating to stab him in the face
- Juvian Rodriguez, 35, was arrested and charged with menacing and harassment
- The former convict is accused of spewing anti-Asian abuse to an undercover cop
- Police say Rodriguez approached the plainclothes officer in Midtown Manhattan on Friday afternoon
- 'Go back to China before you wind up in the f***ing graveyard!' he allegedly said
- He also threatened to 'slap' and stab the officer in the face, according to police
Juvian Rodriguez, 35, was arrested and charged with hate crimes including menacing and harassment on Friday
A New York City man was arrested and charged with hate crimes after allegedly hurling anti-Asian abuse and threats at an undercover cop.
Police say Juvian Rodriguez, 35, unwittingly targeted a member of the NYPD's Asian Hate Crime Task Force on patrol in Midtown Manhattan on Friday afternoon.
Rodriguez, an ex-convict, approached the plainclothes officer outside Madison Square Garden on 33rd Street, and allegedly began spewing hate speech and threats.
'Go back to China before you wind up in the f***ing graveyard!', he said, the New York Post reported.
A police source said Rodriguez also allegedly told the cop: 'I'm going to slap the holy piss out of you and stab you in the face.'
The officer, who was not identified, alerted the precinct and subsequently arrested the man.
Rodriguez, who is reported to have had a number of brushes with the law in the past, was charged with menacing and harassment - as hate crimes - as well as drug possession.
The ex-convict unwittingly targeted an undercover officer from NYPD's Asian Hate Crime Task Force, police said
Rodriguez is accused of threatening to stab the officer and telling him to 'go back to China'
He allegedly remained defiant even after he was busted, telling cops: 'I don't give a f***k if I go to jail,' the Post reported.
When asked to comment by reporters outside the precinct, Rodriguez reportedly shouted: 'Your mother!'
His arrest comes amid a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the city.
The NYPD last month announced it was deploying plainclothes officers as part of their Asian Hate Crime Task Force to help tackle the recent uptick.
The department reports that New York City alone has at least 35 anti-Asian hate crime reports since January, compared to the 28 in all of 2020.
Since the coronavirus shutdown in the US last march, a report from Stop AAPI Hate has documented at least 3,795 racially motivated attacks against Asian Americans in the last year alone.
Raised awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US has led to the popular 'Stop Asian Hate' movement online and in rallies across the nation
Raised awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US has led to the popular 'Stop Asian Hate' movement online and in rallies across the nation.
The movement gained traction after the high profile March shootings at three spas in Georgia, where a gunman killed eight people, including six Asian women.
Last week surveillance footage caught an elderly 65-year-old Asian woman viciously attacked by a stranger who hurled anti-Asian statements in a random attack in New York City.
In 2020 the United Nations brought attention to the issue, attributing 'alarming level' of racist attacks in the US due to COVID -19, the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China.
'Racially motivated violence and other incidents against Asian-Americans have reached an alarming level across the United States since the outbreak of COVID19' the report said.
The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, reported that anti-Asian hate crimes in America's largest cities rose 149% in 2020, while overall hate crimes dropped seven percent.
The report found that the hugest surge was in New York, where anti-Asian hate crimes rose from just three in 2019 to 28 in 2020, a 833% increase.
Emmy-winning black producer and screenwriter Lena Waithe faces backlash for fueling 'hate crime fantasies' with extreme racial violence in new Amazon series 'Them'
- New horror series 'Them' tells the fictional story of a black family who move from North Carolina to an all-white neighborhood in Compton, LA in the 1950s
- The Emory family aim to escape the Jim Crow South during the Great Migration
- They soon find themselves facing the peril of both supernatural forces and racism from their new white neighbors who scorch the n-word into their lawn
- It was created by Little Marvin and Lena Waithe and released on Amazon Prime Video Friday
- Several people took to Twitter Saturday to slam it over a brutal scene in the fifth episode where a baby is brutally murdered while its mother is raped
- The furor erupted after the Los Angeles Times published a piece questioning if the series had gone 'too far'
- Some called it 'propaganda for white terrorists' and 'disgusting'
- Little Marvin defended the violence saying it showed 'authenticity'
- He pointed out the key timing of its release as he said it is 'a scary place to be in 2021' amid a nationwide racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd
Lena Waithe is facing a backlash on social media over her new series 'Them', with some saying they 'thought a white person wrote it' because of its portrayal of racial violence.
Several people took to Twitter Saturday accusing the show of appealing to 'hate crime fantasies' due to a scene in the fifth episode where a baby is brutally murdered while its mother is raped.
The new horror series tells the fictional story of a black family who move from North Carolina to an all-white neighborhood in Compton, Los Angeles, during the Great Migration of the 1950s.
Despite hoping the move will be an escape from the Jim Crow South, the Emory family quickly find themselves facing the peril of both supernatural forces and racism from their new white neighbors who, among other things, scorch the n-word into their front lawn.
Lena Waithe is facing a backlash on social media over her new series 'Them' (pictured promo poster), with some saying they 'thought a white person wrote it' because of its portrayal of racial violence
The series, created by black producer and writer Little Marvin and produced by Emmy-winning black producer, actress and screenwriter Waithe, was released on Amazon Prime Video Friday.
But the furor over the series largely erupted after the Los Angeles Times published a piece questioning if the series had gone 'too far'.
The review pointed out a flashback moment in episode five showing the infant's murder before the family moved away from North Carolina.
In the scene, the mother Lucky hides her son Chester in a closet as a white mob break into her home.
The mob find them and the men sexually assault Lucky while the woman stuffs the baby into a pillowcase and throws him around while chanting 'cat in the bag' before dropping the infant to the floor, killing him.
The episode in question was written by Little Marvin and Dominic Orlando and directed by Janicza Bravo.
Social media users slammed the violent depiction and hit out at Waithe, questioning its depiction of violence against black people with some calling it 'propaganda for white terrorists.'
'I've been a horror super fan for over 30 years. Lena Waithe's 'Them' is the cheapest kind of horror,' one person wrote.
'It's propaganda for white terrorists and torture porn fetishists. There is a huge difference between fear and disgust. The show is disgusting.'
The series, created by black producer and writer Little Marvin (left) and produced by Emmy-winning black producer, actress and screenwriter Waithe (right), was released on Amazon Prime Video Friday
Another person chimed in: 'Lena Waithe like a lot of bourgeoise black artists uses black trauma to give their work depth that they are too lazy or incapable of providing.
'Too often people treat a piece of work as profound because black people are being victimized and Waithe doubles down to seem profound.'
Others cast doubt over how any people of color approved the series.
'I think lena waithe should review 'them' and try to decipher who her target audience was,' one person wrote.
'who exactly was she making this series for? honestly, when i saw the trailers for it and read about the series, i thought a white person wrote it. do NOT watch 'them'.'
Another agreed: 'Lena Waithe getting as far as she does might be a sign that there's still little to no diversity in these rooms because there's no way Lena presented this story to an actual living breathing black person and got the green light.'
'Lena Waithe will pay for her crimes against the black community,' one person wrote alongside a meme of an angry Barney the dinosaur.
Several people took to Twitter Saturday to slam what they claim appeals to 'hate crime fantasies' over a brutal scene in the fifth episode where a baby is brutally murdered while its mother is raped
Both Waithe and Little Marvin are black.
Little Marvin defended the show of violence saying it was necessary for 'authenticity' about the experience of black people during that period in America.
'Yes, there is a concern, but at the end of the day, I as an artist have to sit with myself and grapple with the authenticity of the show,' he told the LA Times.
'If I can sleep at night knowing this entire enterprise has an authenticity and integrity to it, then I'm good.'
He said the aim was not to be 'provocative or hot button' but to ask two things: 'what terrified us the most and what felt most true. Typically, those two things were the same.'
The executive producer also pointed out the key timing of its release as he said it is 'a scary place to be in 2021.'
'We're incredibly fractured and split down the middle,' he said.
'There are people who want to take the country back to a time they consider great, and there are folks who are fighting for progress. That's a scary place to be in 2021.'
The nation is facing a racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd and multiple police killings of black people.
The new horror series tells the fictional story of a black family who move from North Carolina to an all-white neighborhood in Compton, Los Angeles, during the Great Migration of the 1950s. A clip from the show
Despite hoping the move would be an escape from the Jim Crow South, the Emory family quickly find themselves facing the peril of both supernatural forces and racism from their new white neighbors who, among other things, scorch the n-word into their front lawn
The trial of white cop Derek Chauvin for Floyd's murder is currently in progress in Minneapolis court.
Floyd's death sparked renewed calls for racial justice and an end to systemic racism but it comes as concerns are also growing over the re-emergence of white supremacy and extremism.
Little Marvin said seeing shocking videos of violence against black people in recent times inspired him to tell the story of 'Them.'
'My inspiration was waking up every day and seeing cellphone videos of black people being terrorized in some ways, either by threats from police, surveillance or something else,' he said.
'That history goes all the way back to the founding of our country. I was also thinking about the American Dream. There's nothing more emblematic of that than owning one's home.
'There's great pride in that, particularly for black people. But as you know, it's been anything but a dream. It's been a nightmare for Black folks.'
Little Marvin defended the violence saying it showed 'authenticity' of the experience of racism and several social media users agreed arguing those criticizing it are just 'uncomfortable' facing up to the reality of racism
Several social media users agreed with the creators, arguing those criticizing the depiction of violence are just 'uncomfortable' facing up to the reality of racism.
'#THEM on Amazon is insane. This new-ish genre of horror that examines Black trauma through racism isn't going away any time soon,' one person wrote.
'And judging by the reviews, it's making our melanin-free friends uncomfortable. So you know it's good.'
Another person agreed, replying: 'Glad you are enjoying(?!) it! I couldn't agree more - I heard one reviewer saying it was just too much and she wished it had been dialed back.
'Missing the entire point there. Really tough show to work on all things considered but I'm glad it's getting the recognition.'
The criticism was largely directed against Waithe who is more well-known than Little Marvin, after she became the first black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the Netflix comedy drama series Master of None.
llinois man who was trying to give phones to the Islamic State to use as DETONATORS in Syria is jailed for 13 years
- Edward Schimenti tried to give phones to ISIS to be used as bombs
- Schimenti didn't know that he was dealing with a government informant when he agreed to get phones to use as detonators, according to prosecutors
- Prosecutors claim Schimenti trained the informant at a local gym, where Schimenti expressed a desire to 'cut the neck' of non-believers
- Schimenti apologized for his actions during a sentencing hearing on Friday
- A co-conspirator, Joseph D. Jones, was sentenced to 12 years last month
An Illinois man who believed he was giving phones to help the Islamic State group commit violence was sentenced Friday to 13 1/2 years in federal prison.
Edward Schimenti was convicted of one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to ISIS and one count of making false statements to the FBI in 2019 for providing phones to an informant that he thought the Islamic State would use as detonators.
Schimenti was first charged alongside Joseph D. Jones back in 2017, four years ahead of Friday's sentencing.
U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood said Schimenti was more culpable of the two men, who were convicted by a jury in 2019.
Joseph D. Jones (left) and Edward Schimenti (center) posing in front of an ISIS flag
But she also said the crime was 'on the less serious end of a scale that starts at a very serious level,' the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Last month, Jones was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison following his conviction on a conspiracy charge.
Schimenti didn't know that he was dealing with a government informant when he agreed to get phones to use as detonators, according to prosecutors.
'Drench that land with ... they blood,' Schimenti told the man before taking him to an airport for a purported trip to Syria, according to the government.
The FBI began investigating the Zion, Illinois, man based on social media posts in favor of the Islamic State.
Pictured: Edward Schimenti, who sometimes went by 'Abdul Wali' online
Prosecutors allege Schimenti wrote on social media, 'Islamic State will control your country, matter of fact, Islam will dominate the world!!'
Schimenti also allegedly prominently displayed the Islamic State flag on his Google+ account.
The feds set up a 'ruse scenario' to help determine the intentions of Jones and Schimenti, though their lawyers claim they were entrapped.
The U.S. District Court released several social media messages allegedly posted by Schimenti
An undercover agent who referred to himself as Omar allegedly struck up a friendship with Jones after the latter was summoned to a police station in regards to the murder of a friend.
According to prosecutors, Omar informed Jones that he knew someone who could help Jones travel to the Islamic State, although that turned out to be another undercover agent, called Bilal.
Jones and Schimenti then met with Omar and Bilal on December 29, 2015, a meeting prosecutors say Schimenti left when he became suspicious upon being asked about pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.
In November 2016, an informant was allegedly sent to Schimenti's employer, where he earned a job and started socializing with Schimenti.
An alleged social media post from Schimenti threatens to 'slaughter Pagans'
Another alleged post from Schimenti appears to link to Boko Haram, another terrorist group
The informant learned that Schimenti had a brother in the Islamic State and that he aimed to join his brother in Syria, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors claim Schimenti trained the informant at a local gym, where Schimenti expressed a desire to 'cut the neck' of non-believers.
Additionally, the informant allegedly relayed to Schimenti about how Islamic State fighters could use cell phones as bombs and told the two men about a YouTube video demonstrating the tactic.
Schimenti later allegedly helped gather cell phones for the informant while declining payment for his work.
'I know where they’re going,' Schimenti said.
Schimenti also said 'I want to see blood flowing, either way' during a shopping trip with the informant.
On April 7, 2017, Jones and Schimenti dined with the informant before driving him to O'Hare Airport, where they believed he was traveling to Syria.
Pictured: Joseph D. Jones, who was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison last month
His lawyers said Schimenti was 'consistently manipulated' by the government 'until he took the bait.'
Schimenti's defense attorneys also claim he was never taken seriously by a terrorist group, as they never reached out to him.
'In the end, your honor, really I guess I'm just asking for another chance at life,' Schimenti told the judge while apologizing.
Prior to their arrests in 2017, Jones was a part-time chef and college student, while Schimenti worked at a cancer treatment center.
NYPD Searching for Woman Who Brutally Beat Laundromat Worker in Brooklyn
The New York Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a woman who robbed a laundromat and then beat an employee in Brooklyn.
The incident happened in East Flatbush near East 58th Street and Clarendon Road around 5 p.m. on Monday, according to PIX11.
WANTED for A Robbery in the vicinity of Claredon Road . #Brooklyn@NYPD67pct on 4/5/21 @ 5:00 PM Reward up to $2500 Seen him ? Know who he is ? Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us! Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! pic.twitter.com/vhAEwYYFx3
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) April 7, 2021
Security footage taken inside 6 Star Laundromat & Dry Cleaners shows the woman, wearing a shirt with the word “LOVE” printed in the front, going behind the counter and opening a cabinet. A 47-year-old Asian employee comes out from the back to confront the suspect, the New York Post reported.
When the worker tries to stop the suspect, she gets hit in the head with a detergent bottle. She then goes after the suspect who used the bottle again to repeatedly strike the worker on the head until she falls to the ground.
The suspect reportedly fled the scene with a cart from the laundromat. A female bystander was also present at the scene when the incident occurred.
Authorities said the victim suffered swelling and bruising to her face and refused medical attention.
Though the victim is Asian, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has ruled out the possibility of a bias crime.
Anyone who has information can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visit the Crime Stoppers website (crimestoppers.nypdonline.org), download the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or text 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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