Funky Code Medea: One American has taken full use of her free speech rights at every major political event of the past decade.
Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin heckles, shouts, yells, and berates politicians to listen to the organization’s messages.
Benjamin shouted at U.S. President Obama to close Guantanamo and apologize to innocent people killed in military strikes around the world during a major foreign policy speech today.
Watch: Medea Benjamin shouts at President Obama:
Photos: REUTERS and photographers Jason Reed, Mike Theiler, Mike Segar, Yuri Gripas, Damir Sagol, Brendan McDermid.
Obama gives major foreign policy speech: President Barack Obama plans to limit the use of U.S. drone strikes and close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Obama also asked the Attorney General to report on how the Department of Justice investigates the media. The report is due by July 12, 2013.
Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing
Boy Scouts of America set to vote on gay youth ban
The Boy Scouts of America will vote on Thursday on a proposal to remove its ban on openly gay scouts that has been in place throughout the organization’s 103-year history.
The vote by more than 1,400 delegates comes amid intense lobbying by gay-rights activists and members of conservative organizations. The proposal would not remove the organization’s ban on gay adult leaders.
Representatives from both sides have rallied in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas, where the scouting organization is hosting its national annual meeting.
shortformblog: While much of the BSA leadership apparently supports the rule change, recent polls show that many of the people directly associated with the Boy Scouts of America aren’t as supportive. According to Reuters, an online survey of roughly 200,000 BSA members, parents, and leaders showed that the majority opposed the changes at a nearly 2-1 ratio.
Today in legal history: on May 23, 1934, Clyde Champion Barrow and Bonnie Parker, a.k.a. the infamous Bonnie and Clyde, were shot to death by officers in Louisiana after a long manhunt.
An warrant was issued for Bonnie and Clyde on May 20, claiming the couple transported a stolen car across state lines. At the time of their deaths, they were suspected to have committed 13 murders and several robberies and burglaries.
Photo: The bullet-riddled shirt of the notorious outlaw Clyde Barrow. Auctioneers paid nearly $188,000 for 11 items associated with Barrow and Bonnie Parker. REUTERS
Interactive: Map of chemical stockpiles across the United States
Many first responders do not have the training to respond to hazardous chemical accidents, endangering not only firefighters and emergency medical technicians, but also people nationwide living near chemical stockpiles.
At least 800,000 Americans live within a mile of 440 sites that store potentially explosive ammonium nitrate, which investigators say was the source of the explosion’s deadly aftermath in West.
Find your city and state, and call your local firefighter station — do they know how to respond to a chemical blast?
(Photos: REUTERS/Jason Reed and Andrees Latif)
From our Editor’s Choice (photos from the past 24 hours)
Vendors nap at their stalls inside a market in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, China. REUTERS/William Hong
WATCH: live update on Oklahoma tornado recovery efforts
Photo: REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Syria conflict: In a war that has already killed at least 90,000 people, world powers continue to speak of peace in Syria while also promising to consider increasing support and funding to each side of the war if a U.S./Russian peace conference does not end in solutions:
Iran, Hezbollah are increasing support for the government, says Britain.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said if President Assad was not prepared to discuss a way to find peace, the U.S. and others would consider increasing support for opponents.
Russia says that government opposition lacks commitment to peace talks.
Meanwhile, opposition groups continue to ask for reinforcements. On Tuesday, a U.S. Senate panel voted to send them weapons.
Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
![The dog was guarding its deceased owner. It’s been taken to shelter; deputy plans on adopting.
— Oklahoma County Sheriff (@OkCountySheriff) May 21, 2013 [edited]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/02c0b5d9a21f0638b080580ed4f0e35d/tumblr_mn60r26Kzb1qmaoalo1_1280.jpg)
The dog was guarding its deceased owner. It’s been taken to shelter; deputy plans on adopting.
— Oklahoma County Sheriff (@OkCountySheriff) May 21, 2013 [edited]
