Month: June 2022

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Security News: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks Announcing Accused Tops Shooter Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Using a Firearm to Commit Murder

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you, Mr. Attorney General, and U.S. Attorney Ross and Associate Attorney General Gupta. Today, I join my colleagues in grieving the innocent victims of this senseless crime and expressing my condolences to their families, and the Buffalo community that has suffered through this traumatic event. I grieve with you as a New Yorker, as a Black woman and as chief federal law enforcement officer for civil rights at the Department of Justice.

Every day, we see evidence that racially-motivated hate crimes are on the rise across our country. According to the FBI’s most recent data, most victims of racially motivated hate crimes are Black. These acts of hate are a stain on our democracy and have no place in our society.

The Civil Rights Division, like the rest of the Justice Department, will not stand by idly in the fight against white supremacist-fueled violence. As the Attorney General has said, we will pursue the perpetrators of hate crimes and hold them accountable. And we will be vigilant in our quest to secure justice for the victims and their families.

Prosecutions alone will not stop the spread of hate. That’s why the Justice Department is also hard at work addressing non-criminal acts of bias that rear their ugly head inside our schools, workplaces and in our neighborhoods. We are also addressing the need for hate crime prevention through education and awareness. This multi-part strategy is critical to eliminating hate, root and branch. 

Today we charge this defendant with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, alleging he murdered 10 innocent people, and attempted to murder three others, with a firearm because he wanted to kill and injure Black people. 

A core mission of the Civil Rights Division is to fight the scourge of hate crimes – to prevent them, prosecute them and remedy the harms they cause to communities. That is our duty. We intend to fulfill it.

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Defense News: Chief of Naval Operations Visits Iceland, Discusses Maritime Security and Partnership

Source: United States Navy

REYKJAVIK, Iceland – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday travelled to Iceland, June 13-15, as part of a week-long trip to Iceland and Germany.

Gilday visited Reykjavik and Keflavik Air Base, where he spoke with U.S. Sailors flying the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and Italian Air Force servicemembers deployed supporting the NATO air policing mission with their joint strike fighter (F-35A) aircraft.

At Reykjavik, Gilday met with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Martin Eyjólfsson; Director General of Icelandic Coast Guard, Rear Adm. Georg Kristinn Lárusson; and other senior Icelandic officials. Discussions focused on the U.S. defense relationship with Iceland and items of shared national security interests, to include Arctic Security.

“Iceland is the geostrategic linchpin for NATO in the Arctic region and I am grateful for their partnership and collaboration,” said Gilday. “The Arctic is an opportunity to work collaboratively with Allies and partners to keep this a secure and stable region, and we are committed to working together to address challenges and strengthen our collective deterrent against strategic challenges.”

Gilday also toured the Icelandic Coast Guard Headquarters and Joint Rescue Coordination Center. “It’s a confident feeling to be aware of a great ally with large-scale resources available to back up and assist the Icelandic Coast Guard when and if the scope of its challenges exceeds the capability of the organization and the Icelandic safety system on the ocean around Iceland,” said Lárusson. “It is also very beneficial to receive training, education, and development assistance in fields in which the Iceland Coast Guard is not fully developed.”

While visiting Keflavik, Gilday expressed appreciation for Iceland’s leadership role in enhancing regional cooperation, including maritime search and rescue activities.

At Keflavik Air Base, he spoke with U.S. Navy Sailors from Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 and Patrol Squadron 46 and discussed the importance of their mission in the northern European theater.

According to Gilday, the rotational Poseidon aircraft is an integral part of the NATO partnership between the U.S. and Iceland.

“The Navy’s role has never been more consequential or more expansive, and we need a combat credible naval force that can protect our interests in peace and can prevail in combat, while supporting our Allies and partners,” said Gilday. “The Sailors here in Iceland are just that, they remain postured, and ready, with a credible force to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment, which is possible because of the support and partnership we have with Iceland.”

The U.S. Navy and Iceland conducted Exercise Northern Viking 2022 in April. Exercises like Northern Viking strengthens interoperability and readiness between the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations, and enable execution of multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and the Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap.

After this visit, Gilday will travel to Europe to visit a ship participating in BATLOPS 22 and meet with other heads of navies, as well as government leaders.

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Security News: Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Delivers Remarks Announcing Accused Tops Shooter Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Using a Firearm to Commit Murder

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Remarks as Delivered

Thank you, U.S. Attorney Ross.

It is tragic that we are standing here in the aftermath of such a horrifying act of violence. And we grieve with the families who lost loved ones, and for this whole community. Hate crimes are insidious — they instill fear across entire communities and they undermine the principles upon which our democracy stands. No person — and no community — should ever have to experience this. 

As the Attorney General mentioned, around the time that the Justice Department was founded, the Ku Klux Klan was carrying out a reign of terror against Black Americans. More than 150 years later, white supremacists are still terrorizing Black Americans and other communities of color, and the Justice Department will not tolerate it.

The Justice Department’s top priority is holding accountable those who commit these heinous acts. But we must all continue to combat hate and discrimination in all of its forms, and address them before they ever escalate to violence. Every community deserves to feel safe and protected.

Through vital grant programs and technical assistance, the department is working diligently to support victims and jurisdictions that have experienced these traumatic incidents of mass violence. Here in Buffalo, the Office for Victims of Crime deployed two expert mass violence consultants to work with the community and state officials and ensure that everyone who needs and wants services has continued access to mental health and other resources.

The Justice Department stands with you, and we will continue working to make real this nation’s promise of justice and equality under the law.

I am now going to pass it to Assistant Attorney General Clarke.

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Security News: Justice Department Secures Settlement in Race Discrimination Suit Against Groveport, Ohio, Board of Education

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement with the Groveport Madison Local School District Board of Education (the Board) in Groveport, Ohio. The settlement resolves the department’s complaint alleging that the Board violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it discriminated and retaliated against former Groveport Madison High School Assistant Principal Amon-Ra Dobbins. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion and prohibits retaliation against employees for opposing employment practices that are discriminatory under Title VII.

“No employee should face discipline or reprisals for filing a complaint regarding a dress code policy that may be causing harm to Black students,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We stand with those brave employees who oppose discrimination in the workplace and who work to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of their jobs. This consent decree reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ensuring that no person should face retaliation for standing up against discrimination.”

“We are confident that the consent decree will lead to the development and equitable enforcement of policies that protect and promote the civil rights of all involved,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “The consent decree provides a path for the school district and school board to achieve Title VII-compliant policies, procedures, and training.”

According to the complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Dobbins was unfairly disciplined after he complained that the school district’s dress code policy was being implemented in a manner that discriminated against African-American students. The complaint alleges that the school district began to retaliate against Dobbins for complaining, and ultimately terminated his employment. Under the terms of the consent decree, if approved by the court, the Board will develop and submit to the United States for approval, its discrimination and retaliation policies, complaint investigation procedures, and proposed trainings that will be used by the Board and school district. The consent decree also requires the Board to provide training for all Board and school district employees on these policies and provides for future annual training. The Board will also pay Dobbins $200,000 in back pay and compensatory damages.

The Cleveland Field Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated and attempted to resolve Dobbins’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Department of Justice as an enforcement action. More information about the EEOC’s jurisdiction is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.

The enforcement of Title VII and other federal employment discrimination laws is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and its work is available on its websites at  www.justice.gov/crt and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section.

The case was brought by Trial Attorneys Ejaz Baluch Jr. and Jeffrey Morrison of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section.

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Defense News: Kingsley Assumes Command of NAS Patuxent River

Source: United States Navy

Departing the command is Capt. John Brabazon, who will take a position with Commander, Navy Installations Command in Washington, D.C.
 
Participants in the ceremony included Rear Adm. Nancy Lacore, Commandant, Naval District Washington, and Vice Adm. Yancy Lindsey, Commander, Navy Installations Command.
 
“He assumed command in September 2020, and since then he has focused diligently on building the team, defending our assets, and taking care of Sailors,” said Lindsey of Brabazon. “Brabs, well done to overcome the myriad of challenges you had overcome to execute mission while keeping them safe; it was no easy task.”
 
Lindsey was glowing in his assessment of Brabazon’s tenure as commanding officer, remarking how the installation increased its intergovernmental support agreement with St. Mary’s County by $2 million annually to execute critical road repairs, leveraged the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to reconstruct the intersection adjacent to Gate 2, and collaborated with willing landowners and the NAVFAC Environmental team to eventually lead to the preservation of 50,000 acres of open wetlands via the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program under Brabazon’s leadership. Lindsey further commended the NAS Patuxent River personnel during this period.
 
“Under Brabs’ leadership the installation team has made progress and improved quality of life and service in nearly every aspect of installation operations, from airfield reconstruction planning, to increased military working dog kennel capacity, to improved fire houses, to repaired sea walls, to robust personnel recognition programs, and improved single Sailor living conditions, they answered all bells and made a difference,” said Lindsey. “Way to go, Pax River”
 
Brabazon took the opportunity during his remarks to thank the members of Patuxent River by department who made such an impact on the mission under his command, calling out individual teams for their dedication to the mission and looking to the future.
 
“As I depart the team, please know that this is not goodbye but ‘until we meet again,’” said Brabazon to conclude his remarks. “Please stay prepared, stay ready, and continue to have each other’s backs. We rarely get to choose our crucible moments, their timing, or their circumstances – they happen, and we are measured by our response. The best we can do is prepare for them knowing they will arrive. I’m grateful for the honor to serve our nation. Our Navy serves as a strong second family in my life, and I couldn’t imagine living without them; Navy Sailors performing amazing deeds all over the globe in harm’s way both day and night. Deeds that we will never fully know.”
 
Brabazon was formally recognized for his service to NAS Patuxent River with the Legion of Merit, and was presented with proclamations from The Governor of Maryland, the Maryland Senate and House, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, and personally by State Senator Jack Bailey and Delegate Brian Crosby for his contributions to the Southern Maryland community. Following presentations of awards, Kingsley offered brief remarks to the guests in attendance on his plans for the future of the command.
 
“I look forward to working more closely with you all over the next 18 months as we continue to find our way back to normalcy and in-person events,” said Kingsley. “Teams and zoom have been ok, but I think you’ll agree with me that it’s time to get back in touch with each other, find more live and in person partnership events to build upon the great bonds we have previously established.”
 
Kingsley has served since September 2020 as the air station’s executive officer, a position that falls under the Navy’s Fleet-Up program. In that program, executive officers serve in that position for a year and a half before they “fleet up” to become the commanding officer for their command tour on the same ship or station. This practice provides focused command leadership stability throughout a base’s life, according to OPNAVINST 1412.14. Commanding officers reap the benefits of the actions and policies they institute as executive officer.
 
A native of Granite City, Illinois, Kingsley is a 1996 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.  Designated a Naval Aviator in 1998, he has served in a number of squadrons at sea and ashore, including Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five “Night Dippers,” Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Ten (HS-10) “War Hawks,” Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Three (HSC-3) “Merlins,” and as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8) “Eightballers.” He has supported numerous operations worldwide in a variety of leadership roles, including with Carrier Air Wing Seven aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Southern Watch, USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and the John C. Stennis Strike Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of Operation Unified Response in Haiti. Kingsley served as the Chief of Naval Operations Plans and Policy Deputy Branch Head and lead Action Officer for the Strategic Laydown and Dispersal portfolio from January 2015 until January 2018 before reporting to the Joint Staff (J35), where he served as the Chief of Operations for the National Military Command Center and then Chief of Staff for the Director of Operations (J3) from September 2018 until December 2019. Kingsley is no stranger to installation command; he served as the interim commanding officer of Naval Air Facility El Centro in El Centro, California from January to March of 2020.
 
In his new role as commanding officer, Kingsley said he will continue to build on the foundations of leadership laid by his predecessor and provide the best service possible to Pax River’s mission partners.
 
“I am proud of the progress we’ve made thus far and I look forward to our accomplishments on the road ahead,” said Kingsley. “I’m confident that this is the right team, at the right time, for the job at hand. Our mission remains to enable mission partner success by providing the finest base operating support and customer service. So, let’s keep finding ways to get real and get better – take ownership, and work to sustain Naval Aviation’s combat edge over our adversaries.  Thank you all. Let’s get to it!”