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Wesley Bell Explains His Position on Israel’s Actions in Gaza | St. Louis

Published

11 months ago

November 22, 2023

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click to enlarge DANNY WICENTOWSKI Wesley Bell.

U.S. Representative Cori Bush has become one of Israel’s staunchest critics in Congress as her opponent, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, takes a much different stance.

Bell has not wavered in his support of Israel since he told reporters at his campaign announcement last month that the U.S. needs to “stand with our allies.” In interviews since, including one with the Jewish Insider, Bell has continued that message. He told the Insider “we have to be reliable partners.”

When pressed about his stance at a Maryland Heights Township Democrats meeting this week, Bell’s rationale for his support was far less diplomatic.

In a lengthy question to Bell, a local resident named Sally Hunt, who describes herself as a “Jewish Anti-Zionist,” called the prosecuting attorney’s support of Israel a “contradiction” given past statements Bell has made about holding police accountable when they use excessive force. Video of the discussion was posted as a nine-minute clip on TikTok; what preceded Hunt’s question is not included.

“Why can we not hold them [Israel] accountable for their very, very excessive force over 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, half of which are children, are killed,” Hunt asked.

@sallyhatescapitalism2 It’s obvious that AIPAC & other Zionists asked #WesleyBell to run in the primaries against #CoriBush and that they’re funding his campaign. #FreePalestine #StandWithGaza #FreeGaza #FromTheRiverToTheSeaPalestineWillBeFree #StandwithPalestine #GazaUnderAttack #LandBack ♬ original sound – Sally Hates Capitalism

Bell responded: “It is offensive to me that you would say that Israel defending itself is genocide. Genocide is intentionally trying to wipe out a people. And no reasonable person would say that is Israel’s intention.

“… Israel was attacked by a terrorist organization, who in their charter, says that the destruction of Israel is their goal. They stated after this attack that they were going to do it again and again,” Bell continued. “They attacked people at a concert. Those were not military targets.”

To call Israel’s military actions “ethnic cleansing” is “just wrong” and “misguided,” Bell later added.

“Her statements and your statements are just wrong on that,” Bell said. “Period.”

Hunt then interjected, “Wesley, did this begin on October 7th?”

Bell did not address the question but continued on his previous point.

“… I’m not going to sit here and play these word games and try to reinvent what is actually happening on the ground and what is actually happening historically,” Bell said.

Dozens of area Jewish organizations and leaders signed onto a letter earlier this month to condemn Bush’s statements about Israel. They took particular issue with Bush describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as an “ethnic cleansing campaign.”

Among the letter’s over 30 signatories were the Central Reform Congregation, which is the only synagogue in St. Louis city, as well as the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the St. Louis Jewish Community Center.

Rabbi Susan Talve, a founder of the Central Reform Congregation, has endorsed Bell along with various board members of the organizations that signed onto the letter excoriating Bush.

In the past several weeks, Bush has called for a ceasefire in Gaza numerous times. Today, in a statement about the recent hostage release and temporary pause in violence in Gaza, Bush called for a permanent ceasefire.

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Fenton Man Charged in Sword Attack on Roommate

Published

5 months ago

May 22, 2024

Natural Bridge

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A warrant is out for a Fenton man’s arrest after he allegedly attacked his roommate with a sword.

Police say that on Sunday, Angelus Scott spoke openly about “slicing his roommate’s head” before he grabbed a sword, raised it up and then swung it down at the roommate.

The roommate grabbed Scott’s hand in time to prevent injury. When police arrived at the scene, they found the weapon used in the assault.

The sword in question was a katana, which is a Japanese sword recognizable for its curved blade.

This isn’t the first time a samurai-style sword has been used to violent effect in St. Louis. In 2018, a man hearing voices slaughtered his ex-boyfriend with a samurai sword. His mother said he suffered from schizoaffective disorder.

As for Scott, 35, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was charged yesterday with two felonies, assault first degree and armed criminal action. The warrant for his arrest says he is to be held on $200,000 bond.

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Caught on Video, Sheriff Says He’s Ready to ‘Turn It All Over’ to Deputy

Published

5 months ago

May 22, 2024

Natural Bridge

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Video of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts taken by a former deputy suggests that the sheriff has a successor in mind to hand the reins of the department over to, even as Betts is in an increasingly heated campaign for reelection.

“I ain’t here for all this rigmarole,” Betts says in the video while seated behind his desk at the Carnahan Courthouse. “The Lord sent me here to turn this department around and I’m doing the best I can and I think I’ve done a good job. I’ve got about eight months and I’m going to qualify for my fourth pension.”

He goes on, “Right now I can walk up out of here and live happily ever after and forget about all this…and live like a king.”

The sheriff then says his wife has been in Atlanta looking at houses and that the other deputy in the room, Donald Hawkins, is someone Betts has been training “to turn it all over to him.”

Asked about the video, Betts tells the RFT, “My future plans are to win reelection on August 6th by a wide margin and to continue my mission as the top elected law enforcement official to make St. Louis safer and stronger. Serving the people of St. Louis with integrity, honor and professional law enforcement qualifications is a sacred responsibility, and I intend to complete that mission.”

The video of Betts was taken by Barbara Chavers, who retired from the sheriff’s office in 2016 after 24 years of service. Chavers now works security at Schnucks at Grand and Gravois. Betts’ brother Howard works security there, too.

Chavers tells the RFT that she was summoned to Betts’ office last week after Betts’ brother made the sheriff aware that she was supporting Montgomery. It was no secret: Chavers had filmed a Facebook live video in which she said she was supporting Betts’ opponent Alfred Montgomery in the election this fall. “Make the judges safe,” she says in the video, standing in front of a large Montgomery sign on Gravois Avenue. “They need a sheriff who is going to make their courtrooms safe.”

In his office, even as Chavers made clear she was filming him, Betts told Chavers he was “flabbergasted” and “stunned” she was supporting Montgomery.

“I don’t know what I did that would make you go against the preacher man,” he says, referring to himself. He then refers to Montgomery as “ungodly.”

Betts goes on to say that not long ago, he was walking in his neighborhood on St. Louis Avenue near 20th Street when suddenly Montgomery pulled up in his car and, according to Betts, shouted, “You motherfucker, you this, you that. You’re taking my signs down.”

Montgomery tells the RFT that he’s never interacted with Betts outside of candidate forums and neighborhood meetings.

“I don’t think anyone with good sense would do something like that to a sitting sheriff,” Montgomery says.

Montgomery has had campaign signs missing and on at least two occasions has obtained video of people tearing them down. (Chavers notes that the sign that she filmed her original Facebook video in front of is itself now missing.)

One man who lives near Columbus Square says that he recently put out two Montgomery signs, which later went missing. “If they keep taking them, I’ll keep putting them up,” he said.

Betts says he has nothing to do with the missing signs. In the video Chavers filmed in Betts’ office, Betts says that his campaign isn’t in a spot where it needs to resort to tearing down opponents’ signs.

“If you sit here long enough, a man is getting ready to come across the street from City Hall bringing me $500, today,” Betts says. “I’m getting that kind of support. I don’t need to tear down signs.”

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St. Louis to Develop First Citywide Transportation Plan in Decades

Published

5 months ago

May 21, 2024

Natural Bridge

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The City of St. Louis is working to develop its first citywide mobility plan in decades, Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office announced Tuesday. This plan seeks to make it easier for everyone — drivers, pedestrians, bikers and public transit users — to safely commute within the city.

The plan will bring together other city projects like the Brickline Greenway, Future64, the MetroLink Green Line, and more, “while establishing new priorities for a safer, more efficient and better-maintained transportation network across the City,” according to the release.

The key elements in the plan will be public engagement, the development of a safety action plan, future infrastructure priorities and transportation network mapping, according to Jones’ office.

The overarching goals are to create a vision for citywide mobility, plan a mixture of short and long-term mobility projects and to develop improved communication tools with the public to receive transportation updates. In recent years, both people who use public transit and cyclists have been outspoken about the difficulties — and dangers — of navigating St. Louis streets, citing both cuts to public transit and traffic violence.

To garner public input and participation for the plan, Jones’ office said there will be community meetings, focus groups and a survey for residents to share their concerns. The city will also be establishing a Community Advisory Committee. Those interested in learning more should check out at tmp-stl.com/

“Everyone deserves to feel safe when getting around St. Louis, whether they’re driving, biking, walking or taking public transit,” Jones said in a news release. “Creating a comprehensive transportation and mobility plan allows us to make intentional and strategic investments so that moving around St. Louis for jobs, education, and entertainment becomes easier, safer and more enjoyable.”

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