Statement by Restorative Justice International
Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the writer and do not reflect those of The Vanguard or its Editorial Staff. The Vanguard does not endorse political candidates and is committed to publishing all public opinions and maintaining an open forum subject to guidelines related to decency and tone, not content.
When democracies are threatened worldwide it is important for those committed to peace, justice and dialogue to take a stand. Restorative Justice International (RJI) takes that stand today.
The rise of the far right has darkened the path of democracies globally. Among the world’s 193 nations, some 22 nations have either currently elected a far right, populist leader, or have done so in recent years, or are increasingly open to the views of the far right. The U.S. election for the presidency with former President Trump running as the Republican nominee is certainly of grave concern to RJI, particularly since his world views have emboldened politicians globally. By electing such politicians, communities suffer by dividing people and causing discord. It is important that far right, populist politicians never become “normalized” in any civilized society.
Increasingly global populist leaders are targeting and demonizing immigrants while often blaming them for crime and violence that they did not commit. RJI condemns those who use hateful rhetoric which blame others for violence and crime they did not cause. We stand by those victims of this hateful rhetoric. The truth is the first victim of the far right’s political vision.
Because democratic nations are critical to the administration of justice, RJI calls for nations to embrace leaders who are committed to democratic values including truth and restorative justice. Restorative justice that is victims-centered brings healing to communities while holding offenders accountable after violence or crime. The foundation of restorative justice is truth, and truth telling. Truthful dialogue between people is required when working to bring peace and stability to all nations, first starting in communities.
Restorative Justice International (RJI) is an association and network of over 7200 members and Affiliates with a robust 19-member Global Advisory Council. RJI is committed to victims-driven restorative justice, systemic justice reform, and human rights. GAC team: https://www.restorativejusticeinternational.com/gac-team/
Since 1996 the whole truth and nothing but the truth has been in short supply with the far right due largely to the rise of Donald Trump. They lie, deceive, deny, deflect and project.
“They lie, deceive, deny, deflect and project.”
Yes, that’s exactly what Democrats do and mainstream media covers for them.
Fact check: 12 election lies Trump is using to set the stage to dispute a potential 2024 defeat
“The threats have not abated; they have only increased,” said Lindsay Daniels, a senior director at the nonpartisan Democracy Fund, which works to strengthen US democracy. “We saw a lot of activity in 2020 around peddling false claims and frivolous lawsuits. We are already seeing signs now, stage-setting, that these things may be attempted again.”
Trump has made at least 12 distinct false claims over the last two months that raise baseless doubts about the validity of a potential victory by Vice President Kamala Harris. (Recent polls suggest the race is very close, and Trump could certainly still win.)
Trump, who wrongly insists the 2020 election was marred by massive fraud, said at a debate in June that he will accept the 2024 results regardless of who wins “if it’s a fair and legal and good election.” A majority of Trump supporters in battleground states like Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania now say they’re “not at all confident” or only “just a little” confident the results will be accurately tallied, according to recent CNN polling.
Trump has lied about the legitimacy of the vote counts in key states, the reliability of mail-in and overseas ballots, the size of Harris’ crowds at rallies, and more. Here’s a fact check of these and other claims.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/30/politics/fact-check-trump-election-lies-2024/index.html
So you don’t think Harris and Walz are telling lies? Please…
Harris and Walz have not lied to nearly the same extant as Trump, Vance and the rest of the Republican Party. The last paragraph describes how Trump’s spokesperson deflected away from the allegations in the lawsuit to try to score political hit points.
Donald Trump Telling ‘Unrelenting Lies’ in Pet Eating Claims—Haitian Lawsuit
“Trump and Vance have knowingly spread a false and dangerous narrative by claiming that Springfield, Ohio’s Haitian community is criminally killing and eating neighbors’ dogs and cats and killing and eating geese,” the lawsuit by the Haitian Bridge Alliance, filed in the Clark County Municipal Court in Ohio, says.
“They accused Springfield’s Haitians of bearing deadly disease. They repeated such lies during the presidential debate, at campaign rallies, during interviews on national television, and on social media. The direct impact on Springfield, Ohio of Trump’s and Vance’s unrelenting lies cannot be overstated.”
It adds: “During the last two weeks, Springfield has received 33 bomb threats. Many public institutions have been forced to evacuate, and vital local resources have been diverted to investigate the barrage of threats to the community. As detailed in the attached, incorporated affidavit, the Haitian Bridge Alliance seeks arrest warrants for Trump and Vance because they disrupted public services.”
In response to the Haitian Bridge Alliance’s case, Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said in an emailed statement to Newsweek: “President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the country. President Trump will secure our border and put an end to the chaos that illegal immigration brings to our communities.”
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-lawsuit-haitian-group-springfield-1962664
Thank you, Walter. All reasonable humans know Trump is one of the biggest liars that has ever walked the planet.
And his buddy boy Vance admitted they made up the lies about the Haitian immigrants eating pets. We are dealing with just purely vile people who need to be relegated to the dust bin of history.
And it’s going to happen. People are fed up with MAGA antics and are ready for a “new way forward” that Harris is offering.
And apparently it’s a pretty compelling vision, since a LOT of Republicans are flocking to support her.
But we know Keith lies and deals in right wing shibboleths. Just laugh. Sometimes that’s all you can do is laugh at the ignorance.
I laugh at the ignorance of those on the left acting like Democrats don’t lie. Yes, all I can do is laugh.
“Shibboleths” and all… LOL
I don’t think that’s really the point of contention
David, should I start posting link after link of Democrat lies?
“A new way forward” that Harris is offering? Really, she’s been VP for 4 years and everyone knows it will be the same old sheeeet.
You can but it would still miss the point
VP Is not President, smart guy. It’s not her job to do the job of the President. It seems like more civics classes are needed.
Just more MAGA lies, LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Something wrong with my comment here that hasn’t posted?
Yeah, I was busy doing something else.
And you keep studiously ignoring how much of a PROVEN liar Trump is.
And, yes, shibboleths. That’s all you seem to have. I’ve seen your stuff on here for years. It’s laughable. Reasonable people laugh at Trump cultists.
” I’ve seen your stuff on here for years.”
Thanks, I know that you and Walter hang on my every word.
I know that Keith regularly checks if I have made any recent comments. I reside in his brain.
I don’t hang on anything belonging to a fascist fluffer. Don’t flatter yourself.
So Vanguard, you wouldn’t allow my comment from yesterday but somehow calling someone a “fascist fluffer” is okay with your comment rules?
“So Vanguard, you wouldn’t allow my comment from yesterday but somehow calling someone a “fascist fluffer” is okay with your comment rules?”
Boo hoo hoo, Keith. You lob insults on the regular, so just sit down.
And a hit dog yelps. Maybe consider NOT fluffing fascists and you won’t get called out on it.
“Boo hoo hoo, Keith. You lob insults on the regular, so just sit down.”
Kendra, first of all I don’t insult anyone unless they fire at me first.
Secondly I have never lobbed any insults at you that rise to the hateful pejoratives that you throw my way.
Why the Vanguard allows you to do this when it breaks their comment rules just shows what the Vanguard has become and why almost no one comments here anymore.
Big surprise (not). Conservatives can dish it out but can’t take it. Too bad. *shrug*
“why almost no one comments here anymore.”
You can’t infer the reasons why people don’t comment less frequently unless you can read everyone’s minds Keith.
“You can’t infer the reasons why people don’t comment less frequently unless you can read everyone’s minds Keith.”
Apparently he thinks he can read people’s minds. This morning, he’s already told me what my favorite word is and what newscast I watch. LMAO!!!!!!!!
I reckon that these are the money paragraphs in Restorative Justice International’s piece. In the United States this means electing Kamala Harris and not Donald Trump.
“Increasingly global populist leaders are targeting and demonizing immigrants while often blaming them for crime and violence that they did not commit. RJI condemns those who use hateful rhetoric which blame others for violence and crime they did not cause. We stand by those victims of this hateful rhetoric. The truth is the first victim of the far right’s political vision.
Because democratic nations are critical to the administration of justice, RJI calls for nations to embrace leaders who are committed to democratic values including truth and restorative justice. Restorative justice that is victims-centered brings healing to communities while holding offenders accountable after violence or crime. The foundation of restorative justice is truth, and truth telling. Truthful dialogue between people is required when working to bring peace and stability to all nations, first starting in communities.”
Here are 2 choice lies from Donald Trump. He is obviously in cognitive decline.
1. Donald Trump said the audience during his debate with Vice President Harris was cheering him on. There was no audience. This has been widely reported as an obvious lie.
2. On September 29, 2024 in a rally in Erie, PA Trump stated: Kamala Harris “let in the 13,099 convicted murderers and opposes all efforts to find them and to remove them.” False according to Politifact
Here is an entire academic book about Donald Trump’s lies.
“The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning”
By Dan P. McAdams
Quote from Abstract:
“Truth” aims to explain why Donald Trump lies more than any other public official in the United States today, and why his supporters, nonetheless, put up with his lies. The chapter combs the biographical record to highlight some of the most egregious examples of Trump’s untruths and then considers reasons behind Trump’s remarkable penchant for lying. For Trump, truth is effectively whatever it takes to win the moment, moment by moment, battle by battle—as the episodic man, shorn of any long-term story to make sense of his life, struggles to win the moment.
More importantly is why are so many Americans supporting him? About 25-30% of die-hard MAGAs at this point (with many Republicans flocking to Harris b/c most people are tired of living in the constant violent clown show that MAGA has turned our country into).
It says more about their ignorance, stupidity, and pig-blind hatred than it does about him. He’s just taking advantage of it.
Why are they so stupid and gullible to believe it?
No need to answer. It was rhetorical. We all know the multitude of reasons why.