U.S.
The U.S. Has Administered Its First Doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Published
4 months agoon

- The United States officially started administering its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. New York nurse Sandra Lindsay is believed to be the first American to receive it.
- During a livestream with Governor Andrew Cuomo, Lindsay said it felt like getting any other vaccine and added, “I feel hopeful today, relieved. I feel like healing is coming.“
- The FDA authorized Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine on Friday. The Director of the CDC approved the administration of it on Sunday.
- Trucks are delivering close to 3 million doses of the vaccine from Michigan to all 50 states. It will arrive at 145 vaccine distribution sites by Monday and another 425 on Tuesday.
- Healthcare workers and those in long term care facilities will get it first. The general public will likely have to wait until the spring or summer before being vaccinated.
First Vaccine Administered in New York
A nurse from New York is believed to be the first American to become vaccinated against the coronavirus outside of scientific trials.
Nurse Sandra Lindsay, who works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York received the vaccine on Monday during a livestream with Governor Andrew Cuomo. It was administered by Northwell Health Director of Employee Health Services Dr. Michelle Chester. This vaccination marks a historic and hopeful moment for the country, which has lost nearly 300,000 lives to the deadly virus.
“Sandra, you didn’t even flinch,” Cuomo said after Lindsay received the shot. “I take it Dr. Chester has a good touch.”
“She has a good touch and it felt like taking any other vaccine,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay is among the many healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines responding to the pandemic. The hospital she works at is located in one of the New York boroughs hit hardest by the virus when it struck the city in the spring.
“I feel hopeful today, relieved,” she added during the live stream. “I feel like healing is coming. I hope this marks the beginning to the end of a very painful time in our history.”
Both Lindsay and Cuomo encouraged people to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing as the country continues to ride out the worst wave of the pandemic yet. While healthcare workers and those in long-term care are getting priority access, the general public will likely have to wait until the spring or summer until they get their hands on it.
“This is the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a long tunnel,” Cuomo said.
President Donald Trump also celebrated the news of the vaccination on Twitter.
First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020
Vaccine Marks Major Medical Triumph
The Food and Drug Administration issued authorization for Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. On Sunday, CDC Director Robert Redfield approved it for administration. The vaccine requires two shots and trials proved it to be 95% effective, marking a milestone medical triumph.
The first coronavirus case was reported less than a year ago, and by comparison, vaccines for other illnesses like mumps and measles took four years and nine years respectively.
The timing of this vaccine could not be any more crucial as the pandemic is worsening throughout the country. There have been a total of 16.3 million infections in the U.S. and nearly 300,000 deaths. Cases are on the rise, and experts believe we are nearing a point where we could see over 3,000 deaths a day consistently—the equivalent of losing more lives than a 9/11 a day.
Vaccinations will begin in several states Monday and continue throughout the week. In addition to New York; Iowa, Kentucky, Connecticut, Washington D.C. and other states and cities have vaccinations scheduled.
Nearly 3 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine left a plant in Michigan on Sunday headed to all 50 states. Doses will reach 145 vaccination distribution sites Monday, land at another 425 on Tuesday, and then 66 more on Wednesday.
Distribution will be challenging for states as the vaccine needs to be kept in ultra-cold temperatures. States have also said they lack the federal funding needed to administer the shot and track who has and has not gotten it. Still, federal officials say that by the end of 2020, 20 million doses will have been distributed.
Side effects for the vaccine include fatigue, fever, headaches, injection site pain, and joint and muscle pain, which are generally common vaccine side effects which are said to last only a few days. Two nurses who received it in the U.K. did get allergic reactions, but both had histories of allergic reactions and are recovering well. While health officials are looking into this, experts still believe there are very few people who will not be able to safely take this vaccine.
Four people in Pfizer’s trial also developed Bell’s Palsy, but it is not believed that this is related to or caused by the vaccine. Those cases are still being researched and there is still no reason to believe Bell’s Palsy is a side effect of the vaccine.
See what others are saying: (CBS News) (Washington Post) (New York Times)
U.S.
Bodycam Footage Shows Adam Toledo Wasn’t Holding Gun When an Officer Shot Him
Published
3 days agoon
April 16, 2021By
Lili Stenn
- Chicago officials released body camera footage Thursday which showed that 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was shot and killed by police last month, had put his hands up in the air right before the officer opened fire.
- The graphic video showed the officer, who has now been identified as Eric Stillman, yelling at Adam to stop as he chases him through an alley.
- The teenager obeyed and stopped by a fence, where he can be seen holding what appears to be a gun behind his back. Stillman ordered him to drop it, and then shot him a split second after Adam raised his empty hands in the air.
- The footage prompted renewed outrage, protests, and calls for an investigation. A lawyer for the Toledo family called the killing “an assassination,” while Stillman’s lawyer defended the officer, and claimed he acted appropriately.
Officer Bodycam Footage Made Public
Body camera footage released by Chicago officials Thursday showed that Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old boy killed by police last month, had his hands up when he was fatally shot.
The footage, which was released as part of a report by the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), showed officers chasing Adam, who was Latino, through an alley in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Little Village during the early hours of March 29.
The officer ordered Adam to stop. The teenager complied and halted by the side of a fence, holding what looks like a gun in one of his hands behind his back. The policeman yelled at him to drop it and show his hands.
Adam turned and lifted his empty hands, and the officer fired his weapon, striking the teenager once in the chest. The policeman is then seen administering CPR and asking him, “You alright? Where you shot?” while blood poured out of his mouth.
The COPA report published Thursday also identified the officer who shot Adam as 34-year-old Eric Stillman, who is white, and whose lawyer said he had been put on administrative duties for 30 days.
Stillman’s lawyer also argued that the shooting was justified, as did John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“He was 100% right,” Catanzara said. “The offender still turned with a gun in his hand. This occurred in eight-tenths of a second.”
Renewed Backlash and Protests
Adeena Weiss Ortiz, an attorney obtained by Adam’s family, said they are looking into taking legal action against Stillman.
“If you’re shooting an unarmed child with his arms in the air, it’s an assassination,” she said at a news conference Thursday.
Ortiz acknowledged the bodycam footage did appear to show Adam holding something that “could be a gun,” but argued the video must be independently analyzed to confirm.
“It’s not relevant because he tossed the gun,” she said. “If he had a gun, he tossed it.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois also echoed Ortiz’s demands on Thursday, calling for a “complete and transparent” investigation.
“The video released today shows that police shot Adam Toledo even though his hands were raised in the air,” said Colleen Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois.
“The people of Chicago deserve answers about the events surrounding this tragic interaction. The anger and frustration expressed by many in viewing the video is understandable and cannot be ignored.”
Hours before the video was released, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pleaded for calm in the city, where anti-police protests have taken place in the weeks following the shooting.
“We must proceed with deep empathy and calm and importantly, peace,” she said. “No family should ever have a video broadcast widely of their child’s last moments, much less be placed in the terrible situation of losing their child in the first place.”
Some businesses in downtown Chicago boarded prepared for violence ahead of the video’s publication by boarding up their windows. City vehicles stood by to block traffic.
However, the demonstrations that took place Thursday were small, peaceful, and spread out over several parts of the city. Organizers said they plan to hold more protests Friday.
See what others are saying: (The Chicago Sun-Times) (The New York Times) (The Chicago Tribune)

- Eight people were killed and several more were injured after a gunman opened fire at a FedEx Ground Facility in Indianapolis late Thursday.
- The gunman took his life after opening fire. Authorities have not identified his motive yet.
- According to the Gun Violence Archive, in 2021, there have been 147 U.S. mass shootings, defined as verified incidents with four or more gunshot victims.
- President Joe Biden released a statement calling gun violence “an epidemic in America,” adding, “We should not accept it. We must act.”
Eight Killed in Shooting
Eight people were killed and several others have been wounded after a gunman opened fire at a FedEx Ground Facility in Indianapolis late Thursday.
The gunman killed four people in the parking lot then four people inside before taking his own life, according to local officials. Authorities have identified the gunman and are searching his home, but have not disclosed any potential motives.
“There was no confrontation with anyone that was there,” Deputy Chief Craig McCartt of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said during a press conference. “There was no disturbance, there was no argument. He just appeared to randomly start shooting.”
Several witnesses told local outlets they initially thought the gunshots were engines backfiring or another type of mechanical noise until they saw the gunman. Some said they heard him shouting indistinctly before opening fire. The investigation is still in very early stages and victims have not yet been identified.
The facility employs 4,500 team members. It is unclear how many were working at the time of the shooting. FedEx released a statement expressing its condolences to the victims and their families.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of our team members following the tragic shooting at our FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis,” the statement read. “Our most heartfelt sympathies are with all those affected by this senseless act of violence. The safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with investigating authorities.”
Gun Violence in the U.S.
This tragedy follows a recent string of mass shootings in the U.S., including in Atlanta, Colorado, Southern California, and Texas. According to the Associated Press, this is at least the third in Indianapolis this year.
The Gun Violence Archive has logged a total of 147 mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2021. The organization defines mass shootings as reported and verified incidents with at least four gunshot victims.
Several politicians have released statements about the shooting, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who said this pattern “must end.”
“Yet again we have families in our country that are grieving the loss of their family members because of gun violence,” she said. “There is no question that this violence must end, and we are thinking of the families that lost their loved ones.”
President Joe Biden also released a statement saying that, “Too many Americans are dying every single day from gun violence. It stains our character and pierces the very soul of our nation.”
“Gun violence is an epidemic in America,” Biden added. “But we should not accept it. We must act.”
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett echoed those remarks in a news conference.
“The scourge of gun violence that has killed far too many in our community and in our country,” he said.
As law enforcement works to learn more about this tragedy, our prayers are with the families of those whose lives were cut short.
— Mayor Joe Hogsett (@IndyMayorJoe) April 16, 2021
“Our prayers are with the families of those whose lives were cut short,” he added on Twitter.
Hogsett is among 150 U.S. mayors who recently signed a letter asking the Senate to take up gun legislation, including expanding background checks.
Editor’s Note: At Rogue Rocket, we make it a point to not include the names and pictures of mass murders or suspected mass murderers who may have been seeking attention or infamy. Therefore, we will not be linking to other sources, as they may contain these details.
U.S.
Soldier Charged With Assault After Shoving Black Man in Viral Video
Published
4 days agoon
April 15, 2021
- Authorities charged Army soldier Jonathan Pentland with third-degree assault and battery on Wednesday after a viral video showed him shoving a Black man while yelling at him to leave a South Carolina neighborhood.
- Many people, including dozens who protested outside Pentland’s home this week, condemned the confrontation as another instance of someone being attacked for “walking while Black.”
- Pentland and others claimed the unidentified man was picking a fight with neighbors, which the man denied, but police said nothing that may have happened earlier justified Pentland’s actions.
- If convicted, Pentland faces a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.
Viral Video
A U.S. soldier was charged with assault on Wednesday after a video that circulated online showed him yelling at and shoving a Black man in a South Carolina neighborhood.
Footage of the April 8 incident was posted to social media Monday. It shows the Army soldier, Jonathan Pentland, confronting the unidentified man and telling him to leave the neighborhood.
The other man explains that he’s just walking through the area and doing nothing wrong, but Pentland becomes increasingly aggressive. “You better walk away,” he shouts at the man after shoving him.
“You either walk away, or I’m gonna carry your ass out of here,” he continues before adding, “You’re in the wrong neighborhood motherf*ker. Get out!”
The man then tries to tell Pentland that he lives in the neighborhood, and Pentland then asks for his address, which he does not give.
The confrontation continues with Pentland cursing and getting in the man’s face. As he does so, the man says that Pentland smells drunk.
It’s unclear what exactly led up to the confrontation, but in the video, a woman off-camera says the man “picked a fight with some random young lady that’s one of our neighbors.”
“I don’t even know who she is. Nobody picked a fight when someone ran up on me,” the man replies. Another woman off-screen then encourages the man to leave with her, saying, “What’s your name? Come on. You don’t want no trouble.”
Video Triggers Protests Outside Pentland’s Home
After this video spread online, many social media users condemned it as another instance of someone being attacked for “walking while Black.”
In fact, protesters even began demonstrating outside of Penland’s home. Those protests started off peaceful, but deputies were then called after 8 p.m. because unknown individuals vandalized the house. That forced police to shut down access to the area and remove Pentland’s family to another location.
Starting a thread:#JonathanPentland pic.twitter.com/HVQKYfVUou
— ThatFuzzyPotat (@SSaJC) April 14, 2021
#JonathanPentland pic.twitter.com/IFULVwZq4y
— ThatFuzzyPotat (@SSaJC) April 14, 2021
#JonathanPentland pic.twitter.com/FeKi698NSA
— ThatFuzzyPotat (@SSaJC) April 15, 2021
As far as the viral video, deputies were told that the man approached “several neighbors in a threatening manner” and that someone had asked Pentland to “intervene.”
Police did confirm that there are two reports of alleged assault against the unnamed man Pentland shoved that are being investigated. However, they also added that the man has “an underlying medical condition that may explain the behavior exhibited in the alleged incidents.”
Pentland Charged
Either way, police said whatever happened earlier did not justify Pentland’s actions. He was ultimately arrested Wednesday morning and was charged with third-degree assault and battery. He faces a $500 fine and 30 days in jail if convicted.
“We’re not going to let people be bullies in our community,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a news conference Wednesday. “And if you are, you’re going to answer for it, and that’s what we’ve done in this case.”
On top of that, the Justice Department reportedly was investigating. Pentland’s Commanding General even issued a statement condemning his behavior, adding that Pentland “brought disrespect to @fortjackson our Army and the trust with the public we serve.”
As an update on the unfortunate incident that brought disrespect to @fortjackson our Army and the trust with the public we serve, please see below. 👇🏾 I will be transparent in the future with shareable information. The subject in this case was arrested. @PaulFunk2 @TradocDCG pic.twitter.com/prihGao1Nv
— Fort Jackson Commanding General (@fortjacksoncg) April 14, 2021
See what others are saying: (The Washington Post) (ABC News) (Huffpost)

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