Latest news with #PeterFoley
UPI
5 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
'No Kings' protests draw millions nationwide, organizers say
1 of 10 | Protesters hold signs and banners at a "No Kings Protest" in New York City on Saturday. Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo June 14 (UPI) -- Millions of people turned out for "No Kings" protests nationwide on Saturday that were largely peaceful though there were some arrests and police had to disperse unruly crowds, including in Georgia and Los Angeles. In Texas, a credible threat led to the temporary closing of the Texas Capitol building in Austin on Saturday before a planned protest there. The Texas Department of Public Safety evacuated the building and grounds after learning of a threat made against state lawmakers planning to attend the, KXAN reported. The DPS arrested one person during a traffic stop in La Grange and reopened the Capitol grounds shortly before 5 p.m. CDT, which is when the protest was scheduled to start. Law enforcement did not identify the suspect or any charges against that person. In Atlanta, members of the far-right Proud Boys appeared at the city's protest, wearing the group's distinctive black and yellow colors. Police in Georgia arrested at least eight protesters after they entered a roadway in DeKalb County during the afternoon, WSB-TV reported. Hundreds gathered to protest against President Donald Trump at a site near Chamblee Tucker Road, and many began marching in the road toward Interstate 285 northeast of Atlanta. Local police ordered the crowd to return to the sidewalk and deployed tear gas when they did not. Two motorists have been arrested in separate incidents on opposite ends of the country after driving into protesters, according to a report by The Guardian. At least four protesters suffered non-life-threatening injuries at a protest in San Francisco when a motorist allegedly drove into them. The unidentified motorist was detained. Police in Culpeper, Va., arrested Joseph Checklick Jr., 21, on reckless driving charges in an incident that caused no injuries. 1,500 protests scheduled nationwide At least 1,500 "No Kings" protests nationwide were scheduled Saturday, the same day as President Donald Trump's large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army and his 79th birthday. The protests across all 50 states and commonwealths were "largest single-day mobilization since President Trump returned to office -- a mass, nationwide protest rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy," according to the organizers' website. The 50501 Movement -- 50 protests, 50 states, one movement -- is one of the main organizers of the demonstrations that are designed to be peaceful. "The 'No Kings' mobilization is a direct response to Donald Trump's self-aggrandizing $100 million military parade and birthday celebration, an event funded by taxpayers while millions are told there's no money for Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, or public schools," according to the website. The parade is officially celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and has been planned for well over a year, although it has been expanded to meet Trump's requests since he retook office. The protests were organized by a coalition of more than 200 organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers and the Communications Workers of America. Protests nationwide began after Trump's inauguration for his second presidency on Jan. 20 over several of the Trump administration's moves, including its crackdown on immigrants and cuts to the federal workforce and services. Where protests happened A map shows where the events took place. In New York, about 50,000 protesters marched a mile on Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Madison Square Park, an NYPD spokesperson told WNBC-TV. As of 4:30 p.m., the NYPD reported no arrests or incidents of note related to the demonstrations. "Real power looks like the thousands of people that are going to gather here in Bryant Park and stand up to their neighbors and for their communities," 50501 organizer Hannan Strauss told CNN during an interview in New York. In Chicago, several thousand people packed streets in and around Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. They then marched to Trump Tower, shouting "Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go," and "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here." Events in Minnesota, including in Minneapolis, were canceled though several thousand showed up in the state capital, St. Paul. Minnesota State Patrol and Gov. Tim Walz asked people not to participate after State Rep. and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed. State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife Yvette were shot multiple times. Despite triple-digit temperatures, a crowd demonstrated at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. More than 75 protests were scheduled in Florida, including near Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach where demonstrators marched to the Mar-a-Lago gates. They were met by Trump supporters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state is ready to "quell any violence" at events in his state. During an interview on Fox News, he said local police, county sheriffs, highway patrol and the National Guard will be ready to stop any violence or "unrest" against federal anti-illegal immigration efforts. The protests, large and small, are taking place everywhere except the nation's capital "to draw a clear contrast between our people-powered movement and the costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade in Washington." "We're showing up everywhere he isn't -- to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings," the website reads. Trump on Thursday told reporters that, despite the protests' title, "I don't feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved." Demonstrators gathered outside a Metro station in Arlington, Va. D.C. residents were encouraged to go to a demonstration in Philadelphia, which is America's first capital and the birthplace of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The protest includes plans to march from Love Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson told WCAU-TV an estimated 80,000 people attended the protect along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Situation in Los Angeles Protests against immigration arrests have been going on for a week in downtown Los Angeles. Some protesters in downtown Los Angeles threw objects at police officers as they attempted to clear the crowd using chemical irritants ahead of a nightly curfew, city police said. The Los Angeles Police Department issued dispersal orders in downtown and approved the use of less lethal munitions that it said "may cause discomfort and pain." On Saturday, protesters in Los Angeles carried an enormous copy of the Constitution through the streets. The protest drew about 25,000, KCBS-TV reported. And there was a 20-foot balloon of Trump wearing a diaper in downtown's Gloria Molina Grand Park. A nightly curfew that began Tuesday will remain in effect through the weekend, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference Friday. It turns from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Trump has nationalized California's National Guard at the opposition of Gov. Gavin Newsom. There are 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines.
ABC News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Country pub flies the flag for live music and the arts
In an unassuming rural hamlet, two hours' drive south-east of Melbourne, a little country pub is growing a big reputation as a popular live music venue in regional Victoria. Nestled between the rustic cliffs of Bass Coast and South Gippsland's dairy farms and green, rolling hills, Archies Creek is a village of 16 houses, a pub, a hall, a telephone booth, a junkyard and an evangelical church. Having run venues for 20 years, most famously the Caravan Music Club in Melbourne, tree-changers Peter Foley, and his partner Mary Howlett moved to Archies Creek six years ago, buying the Archies Creek Hotel. Redecorating the venue with an intimate cabaret lounge, the once sleepy pub was re-imagined with an inner Melbourne rock'n'roll pub vibe and a touch of laid-back country bohemia. The Archies Creek Hotel has since become a pivotal meeting place for locals, frequented by a largely mature crowd seeking nostalgic outings, new cultural experiences and community connections. "It's a different kind of venue, there's just an energy about the place," publican Peter Foley said. "It's an opportunity for people to gather and celebrate music and community." With a mailing list of 18,000, the Archies Creek Hotel runs movies every Thursday night, live music from Friday to Sunday as well as comedy and quiz nights, choral singing, life-drawing classes, spoken word and poetry readings. "This venue can be anything — it's a chameleon venue, because it's outdoors, it's a bit rustic, it's a bit odd, and it works with any type of music and it's in the middle of nowhere, but it still works," Mr Foley said. Veteran radio broadcaster, semi-professional musician and civil celebrant Jon Von Goes moved to Archies Creek as part of Peter and Mary's campaign to re-populate the town with "music types". Living within stumbling distance of the pub, he has since become the unofficial "captain" of the Archies Creek Arts Council that curates a calendar of music and arts events to keep the pub and district parishioners set lists have included The Models, Weddings Parties Anything and You Am I. "The most popular gigs are the people who had hits in the 70s, Ross Wilson, Jo Camilleri and James Reyne," Mr Von Goes said. "They're great gigs because they're established professionals who are great show people," he said, recalling a visit by some retired Phillip Island surfers who hugged and cried through a performance of Girls on the Avenue, when Richard Clapton recently played. Despite the altruistic intentions of owner Peter Foley and the local community's strong appetite for music and arts, balancing the books remains an ongoing struggle with ever increasing costs, including an annual $45,000 insurance bill. With the hotel almost hitting financial breaking point last year, Mr Foley turned to the public for help, calling out for subscribers to pay a $30 annual membership fee, in exchange for priority access to tickets and member discounts. "Rather than seeking government support, we've gone to the community, and we've had an incredible response because people love the place and they wanted to support it, because there's a bit of a cultural vacuum down here," Mr Foley said. "As soon as we put it out there that we were seeking community support, it came in abundance — we've had 1,041 people join up so far." He believes the community subscription model is a much more direct and efficient means of generating funds than applying for grants, and could be applied to venues facing similar challenges across Australia. "I actually think it's a viable model for sustaining a venue, if younger people really took possession of it," Mr Foley said. With three residences on the property, the venue also offers space for songwriter retreats and rehearsal camps. Now in his mid-60s, and getting beyond the late nights of the "hospo grind", the relentless physical work of running a bar and the 7am trips to the tip to recycle countless empty bottles, Mr Foley is looking for someone to run the bar and kitchen or a new owner to take gradual possession of the venue over time. "I still love the place and I want it to keep going and I'm happy to guide anybody who has got any energy to deal with the physical work," he said. "It's not a business that you can make a lot of money out of, but you make enough to survive. "We have a holiday every year and we have a lot of fun — it depends what you define as success really. "It feels like you're doing something decent and worthwhile, but if it was just about the money, you wouldn't do it."
UPI
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Flo Milli to join Aespa for 'Dirty Work' remix
1 of 3 | Aespa will release four versions of "Dirty Work" on June 27, including a remix with Flo Milli. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo June 12 (UPI) -- Flo Milli is joining South Korean girl group Aespa on a remix of their song "Dirty Work," due June 27. A performance video features the K-pop group members Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning dancing in a dark warehouse. Four versions of the song will arrive June 27, including the remix with Flo Milli, an instrumental song, and a song with English lyrics. "With its empowering lyrics, the song showcases Aespa's vocal colors in a cool and chill vibe, offering a fresh contrast to their usual powerful charm," a press release states. Aespa released the album Armageddon in 2024, while Flo Milli dropped the single "Gripper" with T-Pain in April.
