Hot Springs, AR — Dumpsters surround a monument of a Confederate soldier in a sprawling garden. Members of pro-Confederacy groups and other right-wing extremist groups mill around dressed in Confederacy period clothing or yellow shirts, waving Confederate and Christian flags.
The group explains that they barricaded the statue with dumpsters to protect it from being taken down by racial justice activists, something that recently occurred in Durham, North Carolina. This marks the 29th pro-Confederate rally that the Confederate Square Group has organized.
The main organizers of the rally, James del Brock and Billy Sessions, have claimed that they intend a peaceful demonstration. However, some of the pro-Confederate protesters publicly stated that they would be armed and urged people to “use their second amendment rights”, a statement that has caused locals and counter-protesters to fear that violence may erupt.
Known as a popular tourist spot within Arkansas, the city of Hot Springs recently saw the removal of the Confederate flag from its town hall. The flag, and now the Confederate statue, attracted criticism from both local residents and out-of-town Arkansans for its use as a racist symbol and its association to America’s history of slavery. Some feared that its presence might even hurt tourism in the area.
Police watch as counter-protesters face harassment
“The police were apathetic.”
Hundreds of counter-protesters from across the state, mostly from Little Rock and Hot Springs, maintained a presence at the rally. The counter-protest included a diverse array of nonprofit organizations and coalitions, including LGBTQ and racial justice organizations, leftist groups, democratic political groups, and community resistance groups.
“I just wanted there to be a presence of people that don’t tolerate racism. Which ultimately, no matter how anyone wants to spin it, is what they stand for,” said one of the counter-protesters.
Some counter-protesters interviewed for this article chose to remain anonymous, stating that they want to avoid being “doxxed” by supporters of the rally (a term that refers to exposing someone’s personal information online, usually by using their names or images).
Other counter-protesters confirmed this, stating that members of the Confederate rally attempted to photograph them without permission and entered the counter-protesters permit area to watch them and even verbally harass them.
“I have visual confirmation from some of our people that at any given time, some of their members would change clothes and come down to spy on us,” he said. “One white male teen in a MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat and a white woman with long blonde hair and a nice camera with a long distance lens were in the area the entire time staring at us. I’m pretty sure they were there to dox us.”
Opposition to the rally has been high on both a local and state level. Counter-protesters outnumbered rally-goers by almost three-to-one, with hundreds of protesters hailing from a multitude of organizations across Arkansas. The pro-Confederate rally benefited from a large police presence — in addition to local police, state park rangers were also stationed in the area. However, many counter-protesters state that they had a much different experience with law enforcement.
“We were clearly threatened with arrest if we engaged with the white supremacists, whereas their people infiltrated our permit area, verbally assaulted us, and were allowed to walk right through our permit area. Our people were extremely compliant with the police […] I saw a lot of teamwork and love in our group in order to be as effective as possible.” — Micah, a counter-protester at the rally
Other counter-protesters corroborated this account, stating that they witnessed members of the Confederate rally purposefully trying to incite violence to get counter-protesters arrested, despite previous claims of a peaceful rally. The police, they stated, were unhelpful and “seemed apathetic”.
At one point, a car slowed down near the counter-protesters while the driver hurled slurs and white-supremacist slogans at the crowd. Carmen, a college student and community activist who attended the counter-protest, said the police did nothing about the hate incident.
“A car passed some of the counter-protesters and the driver started yelling at them. He was calling them ‘freaks’ and ‘queers’ and screaming ‘white lives matter’ and other stuff,” she said.
In spite of these incidents, it appears that law enforcement were more concerned with arresting counter-protesters for minor violations.
Photo by Brian Chilson from the Arkansas Times. A counter-protester was arrested for “flag-burning” after law enforcement mistook a bandanna for a flag. According to witnesses, the bandanna was never seen burning.
“I watched two very unlawful arrests of our people. It was extremely sad,” Micah remembers. Witnesses recount that the individuals who were arrested were not violating any laws. Some were arrested for allegedly blocking the sidewalk and jaywalking.
“The cops are part of the layers of white supremacy…I’m not surprised,” says Micah.
Increasing white extremist activity
More than ever, communities are seeking ways to respond to a spike in neo-nationalist and white supremacist movements.
This rally comes shortly after thousands of white nationalists and right-wing extremists gathered at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville to protest the removal of a Confederate monument, causing the death of a counter-protester and countless injuries.
In response, local communities and organizations called for the removal of Arlington Lawn’s own Confederate monument. The monument has a gruesome history dating back to the early 1900s, with two separate lynchings of black men taking place there.
“During the early 20th century, Hot Springs twice erupted into the kind of violence that has its roots in issues left unresolved by the Civil War, and both times, it happened right where that monument to Confederate soldiers stands today. Will Norman, a black man, was murdered there on June 19, 1913.”
Other communities in Arkansas are also showing solidarity with the victims at Charlottesville by calling for their own local Confederate monuments to be removed. One example is Bentonville, where a petition to remove the monument is circulating — as well as a petition to oppose it.
“The creator of the Flag of the Confederate States of America, William Thompson, said, ‘as a people, we are fighting to maintain the Heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race […] Such a flag […] would soon take rank among the proudest ensigns of the nations, and be hailed by the civilized world as the white man’s flag’”.
— Excerpt from petition to remove Confederate flags from downtown Hot Springs, quoting the creator of the flag as an example.
Photo taken by Brian Chilson from the Arkansas Times. Pictured is James del Brock, one of the organizers of the Confederate rally and a member of the “Hiwaymen”, a group that may be associated with armed, far-right militias.
Though the Confederate Square Group denies any association with white nationalists and white supremacists, members of white extremist groups allegedly made a presence at the rally. Witnesses state that when pro-Confederate protesters crossed into their permit area, they passed out flyers with known white supremacist symbols (including the Celtic cross). These flyers used the phrase “White Lives Matter” and warned readers of “Black on White Violence”.
A group of members from “the Hiwaymen”, displaying hand-signs associated with far-right, armed militias such as the “III% Security Force”.
Many of these individuals wore yellow shirts and identified themselves as “the Hiwaymen”, a far-right political group that is strongly speculated to be a white supremacist organization.
In addition to the flyers, “the Hiwaymen” have been spotted in public photos using hand signs that have been associated with the white nationalist “alt-right”. However, the Southern Poverty Law Center originally attributes these hand signs to the “III% Security Force”, a loose coalition of right-wing extremist militias in the southern U.S. that has been categorized as an anti-Muslim hate group by many organizations, including SPLC.
“They can say whatever [they want] about their ideology. At the end of the day, the ‘patriot’ group Hiwaymen and the Confederate Square Group were there to protect the monuments and memory of the CSA (Confederate States of America)— a literal slave empire,” says counter-protester Arya Gilson.
One of the organizers of the pro-Confederate rally, Billy Sessions, seems to espouse much of the same extremist rhetoric and conspiracy theories that the “III% Security Force” does. Sessions recently made an unverified claim that the counter-protesters were being paid by organizations to protest, a conspiracy theory that is popular among other far-right extremists.
Billy Sessions in a shirt that reads “senator Harry Reid called me a domestic terrorist.” These individuals are holding up the “III%” militia hand sign, with three fingers out to represent three percent.
“They will put out Craigslist ads offering anywhere from $15 to $30 an hour — I’ve seen — [they] pay these people to get on buses and come up to your hometown and tear things up,” Sessions said. He has not yet provided evidence for this claim.
“It’s funny because Sessions mentions Redneck Revolt, BLM (Black Lives Matter), the Black Panthers, etc, when none of those organizations have the means to pay protesters,” says Arya Gilson in response to the interview. “ Everyone who was there was there of their own volition.”
Recommended Organizations & Fundraisers
Where to find resources and opportunities to help communities
Black Lives Matter Little Rock — The Little Rock chapter of the national #BlackLivesMatter movement, a racial justice organization that was formed in response to high rates of police violence targeting the black community
Your color choice speaks volumes. It doesn't just emit an image for the car, it also says something about your style and personality! It's a form of self-expression. Are you confident? Are you sophisticated? Are you easy-going? Are you outgoing? Are you practical? As you're reviewing car sites for your next car purchase, what color will you opt for? Find out what certain color choices says about you!
When it comes to car shopping you likely have certain preferences, including what color it should be. Your color choice speaks volumes. It doesn't just emit an image for the car, it also says something about your style and personality! It's a form of self-expression. Are you confident? Are you sophisticated? Are you easy-going? Are you outgoing? Are you practical? As you're reviewing car sites for your next car purchase, what color will you opt for? Find out what certain color choices says about you!
Red Cars
The color red is intense, and it is often associated with love, passion, and even danger. It's a color that calls out to people and grabs their attention. It says to people that you want to be heard and seen. It's fitting that the driver of a red vehicle is confident, ambitious, and full of energy.
Black Cars
The color black is often associated with power and sophistication. It's a color choice that exhibits classiness and elegance. This is very fitting for many business vehicles. It's also a very popular color for many luxury cars on the market. Beyond that, it's a safe bet color that tends to never go out of style.
White Cars
The color white represents purity. You are someone who's clean, clear, and who desires what's contemporary and elegant. You are also one who is hard-working and dependable because no detail is lost.
Blue Cars
The color blue is associated with authority. You may be viewed as someone who is credible, professional, and trustworthy. Blue is also a sign of self-assurance and calm. Those who opt for a lighter blue exhibit signs of friendliness and an upbeat attitude.
Silver Cars
The color silver represents innovation just like many of today's technology products. You are tech-savvy and someone who has an appreciation for what is current. It's a statement that you're sleek, modern, and forward-thinking.
Gray Cars
The color gray is associated with practicality. You are someone who does not require flashiness and attention, but rather what is convenient and practical. You are mature, sophisticated, and pragmatic in the way you go about life. Let's also be realistic! It's a great color for those of us who don't have much time to wash the car often. The gray helps hide the dirt and dust buildup. No wonder it remains as one of the more popular color choices for cars as revealed in BASF's recent Automotive Color Trends report.
Beige Cars
The color beige is associated with earthiness. You are someone who's down to earth, has an appreciation and respect for nature and the environment, and someone who uses common sense. You are someone who makes responsible decisions.
Your car color choice is a form of self-expression whether you realize it or not. Even when you make your color choice based on what's the best potential resale value, that's speaking to your personality and character. Are you one to play it safe or are you a risk-taker? Also, don't be surprised as more colors come on the market to help drivers with their self-expression. According to PPG, the trending color ahead is a sophisticated grey-green to represent healing, regrowth, and resiliency.
I don't know about you, but I start each day off with a one-mile walk to class. I have to have good tunes flowing through my ears during those 20 minutes, not to mention the walks between classes and the walks home. So, here is my 30 song playlist to get me through this almost unfamiliar concept we call walking to class.
One way you can improve your quality of life is to take care of your mental health. As a result, you'll feel less depressed and be able to enjoy spending time with friends and family more often. These mental health tips might be just what you need to forget about your problems.
One way you can improve your quality of life is to take care of your mental health. As a result, you'll feel less depressed and be able to enjoy spending time with friends and family more often. These mental health tips might be just what you need to forget about your problems.
Be Grateful Each Day
If you don't feel like you have much to live for, you might be surprised. All you have to do is write down a few things you're grateful for in a daily journal, and before you know it, you'll likely have a whole list. For starters, you might be thankful for your home, job, kids, nature, or dog.
Enjoy Creative Self-Expression
Creative self-expression can help you be a better problem solver, boost your imagination and enhance your ability to be empathetic, among other things. Creative activities include drawing, cooking, sewing, painting, playing a musical instrument, creative writing, etc. If you can't get motivated, consider taking an arts & crafts class locally or online.
Socialize Regularly
Spending time with people can increase your happiness, enhance your well-being and stave off loneliness. Indeed, making meaningful connections is a great way to stay healthy and forget about technology for a while. You and a friend or family member can check out a new restaurant, visit a museum or see a movie.
Hang Out with a Pet
Pets can motivate you to exercise often, decrease your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and lower your stress levels. Then, of course, you can take your dog for a walk, teach him tricks or bake him some tasty pet-safe treats. And if you don't have a pet, consider adopting an animal from a nearby shelter to give a dog or cat a loving home.
Color in a Coloring Book
One of the simplest activities can have a profound effect on mental health and well-being. To reduce stress or anxiety, try coloring in a coloring book. You don't have to be a child to gain other benefits such as improved sleep, vision, and focus. Adult coloring books and crayons are inexpensive, or use a kid's coloring book if you'd like. The point is to forget about life stresses and focus on something simple.
Make Yourself Laugh
Although it's not always easy to find something to laugh at, you're likely to be successful if you keep trying. For one thing, you can get creative and make up original jokes. Other ideas are watching cartoons, reading free comics online, watching comedy movies, or something else you enjoy. No matter what, try to remember not to take life too seriously.
Write it Out
When something makes you feel negative, the last thing you want to do is hold in your emotions. So instead, try letting go of tenseness by writing down your feelings. Once you've rid yourself of unwanted thoughts, you'll have additional peace of mind.
Share Your Recovery Story
If you've endured struggles you'd like to share, don't hesitate to tell someone. For one, plenty of people can benefit from reading about any problems you've had with depression or recovery. Second, you can join a social media group or submit your story to a magazine for possible publication.
If you don't feel like you have the time to take care of your mental health, all you need is a few minutes a day to gain the benefits. For instance, try meditating for a couple of minutes on work breaks, upon waking, or before bedtime. Maintaining optimum mental health begins with small steps towards progress.
The gas and oil prices are too high to run in a smaller vehicle. You are better off with an SUV for hauling cargo and driving larger loads around the town. In addition, owning an SUV is more comfortable and safe than driving a smaller vehicle.
However, should you own an SUV if you live in a snowy area? It depends on where you live and how often you drive there. If you live in a region with a lot of snow then driving in an SUV could be dangerous if the car is not equipped with all wheel drive options. Even kids know who to call in case of an accident. There are a few steps you can take to make sure you will not have an accident in snowy conditions.
The first thing is to pay attention to what you are driving. While you might think that a car is safe to drive in the city, it can be at risk of being driven in a hazardous way in the city. Driving through heavy traffic, going fast, driving while talking on the cell phone or texting are all things to avoid.
When you are driving in a city, pay attention to every street sign for traffic laws. Every so often, a city councilor will stop traffic for a safety inspection. Many cities also do this periodically throughout the year. Paying attention to the signs and obey the rules of the road can keep you safe.
When you are on the road, you should pay attention to what the traffic around you is doing. A huge group of cars driving in the same direction can cause trouble. You don't want to get involved in a pile-up with someone behind you. You also don't want to crash into someone who is driving in front of you. Driving safely is very important to driving enjoyment.
If you plan to buy an SUV, you need to have a good driving record as well. Most insurance companies will not cover any damages due to accidents or traffic violations. Even when you are not the one at fault, sometimes it is a real struggle to get what is owed to you. That is why it is critical that you take care of any tickets or accidents that you get before you sign any documents. In the future, these tickets can count against you when it comes time to purchase a new vehicle. Make sure you have a good paper trail. You should also hire a Colorado attorney for Car Accidents if you live in a snowy state such as Colorado. There are professionals that will know the legal requirements of insurance companies. They are hired to help you.
If you plan on owning an SUV if you live in a town, you need to drive a dependable vehicle. Town cars tend to be smaller and less expensive than other types of vehicles. While they do make driving more fun, there are some drawbacks to owning a town car. The biggest drawback is that if you ever need to make an emergency stop, you may find that your town car is unable to pull you over quickly enough. This can be dangerous because you may end up stranded in a strange area without any means of transportation.
So, now that you know how to drive a town car like a professional driver should, you should know that owning an SUV if you live in a town is not a good idea. You should instead drive a four-door sedan. Or, if you are really into sports and you often drive around to play sports games, then you should definitely consider purchasing a sports car. Either way, you should always drive safely and with care so that you can prevent accidents and save money in the long run.
However, not all SUVs are good in the snow. Some SUVs such as the Tesla model or the GMC Terrain do awful in the snow. In these cases, there are sports cars or sedans that have all wheel drive and can handle better in the snow than most other SUVs. Doing your research will get you the top cars to own in a state that snows a lot. This will prevent accidents and unforeseen weather problems.
It is a question every dog owner has asked themselves at some point. The reasons for licking can vary from one action to another and with each species. Many people think that it is a sign of love or affection while others think it is more so a sign of submission. In some cases, licking may indicate a health problem. There are many reasons as to why your dog licks you and below we will explore some of those.
Dog Licking is
Natural
It is a natural instinct for dogs to lick. If you look at
the behavior of wild animals, especially carnivores such as wolves and coyotes,
licking young or even other adults is a common practice. It can be seen as a
mother tending to her young or as an intermediate step of communication. You
may have even heard of the phrase "licking their wounds".
Wolves are predators, but they are also prey animals.
This means that they are often hunted by other animals such as lions and bears,
so licking their wounds is a way for them to heal without being detected. In
this case, licking is much the same as when a cat licks its own wounds.
In domesticated dogs, licking can take on different
meanings. For example, in less dominant or younger dogs you may see them lick
their owner out of affection and submission.
In older animals, it can be seen as a sign of respect and
an indication to lower yourself slightly in order to show your appreciation.
Even with all these differences though, there are some universal truths about
why dogs lick humans that we will explore below.
Dogs Lick to
Communicate
Licking is a way for a dog to communicate certain things
to other animals including humans. One study from 2009 conducted by Péter Pongrácz at the Family Dog Project
found when presented with two objects both containing a treat, dogs would spend
significantly more time licking the one they found most desirable.
This is evidence for them believing that licking can be
used as a way to show affection and to indicate their desire for something such
as food or attention.
Another study from 2012 by Kawalilak Applja and Brian
Hare at Duke University also concluded similar things with dogs and object
preference.
They found that when given multiple objects each
containing a piece of food, dogs chose to eat from those which were closest to
them and licked those furthest away from the most (indicating an indirect
preference).
As we can see, this research has shown how licking is
indeed seen as a form of communication between animals including humans. It can
be used within social hierarchies and relationships to show need, desire, and
affection.
Whether it be a young pup licking its mother or an older
dog licking an owner, the actions remain surprisingly similar.
What does this mean for other dogs? Well, dogs recognize
each other's scents through their pheromones which are secreted from their
saliva, urine, and feces. As such dogs can tell whether another animal is a friend
or foe and use this information accordingly (such as marking over an enemy's
scent).
For dogs living in social groups though they may also
look at how much time another dog spends around them and if they lick them
regularly, this tells them that the other individual is either higher up on the
hierarchy or less threatening - meaning it should be fine to approach without
any kind of aggression.
In this sense, licking on its own doesn't mean too much
apart from trying to gain the other individual's trust or at least show them
that you are not a threat. Therefore, it is important for owners to be more
aware of these actions and read into them accordingly.
There may also be some medical reasons as to why your dog
licks you so regularly. A 2013 study led by James R. Jugan investigated the
causes of excessive licking in dogs and found that of the 991 canine cases
studied, 25% suffered from anxiety while 20% had pruritus (itching). CBD Oil for dogs with anxiety could be beneficial to help
alleviate those symptoms.
This itching could have been caused by allergies,
infections or parasites such as fleas and mites which would explain their constant need to lick the affected area.
Another study conducted in 2016 by Sarah E. Radford and
Christine Mallis investigated the influence of saliva on wound healing in dogs.
The veterinary professionals recruited 18 dogs with
lacerations of various sizes, some were bathed three times a day with a saline solution while others had their wounds bathed in dog saliva three times a day.
After four weeks, the team concluded that there was no a significant difference between the two groups so licking alone cannot speed up
an animal's recovery time - not unless combined with other treatments such as
Medihoney is antibacterial and has been clinically proven to promote
faster healing or tea tree oil which can also have similar effects.
However, if your pet ever needs any treatment or surgery
then it may be required for them not to lick the affected area.
As seen in an article by Merriam-Webster, dogs are one
of few animals (other than humans) with lips over their teeth which can make it
difficult for vets to carry out certain procedures like surgery which would
require them to be put under anesthesia or sedation.
Therefore, tying a bandage around your pet's head maybe
helpful as they cannot then reach the wound and this also prevents any dirt
from entering too.
Conclusion
By now you should have some idea as to why your four-legged friend licks you so regularly and the importance behind these actions.
Whether it is due to stress or happiness, this action has been observed across multiple species including humans, and does indeed bear significance within a dog's daily routine. Check out some Dog Treats with CBD if you're looking to help calm your pup.
Therefore, it is worth trying to understand the context behind these actions and how they should be interpreted in order to best care for your pet.
