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Russia thwarts protests over the blocking of a popular messaging app, but frustration persists

  • By DASHA LITVINOVA - Associated Press
  • Updated

Authorities in nearly a dozen regions across Russian have refused to authorize protests in recent weeks over internet censorship and the blocking of Telegram, a popular messaging app. In most cases, they succeeded. Mindful of a crackdown on dissent since the 4-year-old invasion of Ukraine, many activists decided not to risk arrest by attending unauthorized rallies, even if they weren’t about the war. Some went to court to challenge government refusals to authorize pickets, while others scaled them back to smaller indoor gatherings. But the discontent over blocking the app remains and adds to a growing list of frustrations over various issues that plague the country.

Taylor Tomlinson’s Netflix special is too ungodly for many churches. This one welcomed her.
National
AP Wire

Taylor Tomlinson’s Netflix special is too ungodly for many churches. This one welcomed her.

  • By KATHRYN POST - Religion News Service
  • Updated

32-year-old Taylor Tomlinson’s fourth Netflix special “Prodigal Daughter” is all about the comedian’s religious trauma. And while the special’s f-bombs and sexual content wouldn’t be welcome at most nondenominational churches, the historic Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan has a reputation for being radical. The historic congregation is known for its support of abortion access, free speech and LGBTQ+ rights. It’s also an interreligious community that rejects specific doctrines. “The charge that has been leveled against Fountain Street Church since the 1890s is that it’s not really a church,” said Fountain Street’s leader, the Rev. Nathan Dannison.

Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral music videos
National
AP Wire

Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral music videos

  • By MARYCLAIRE DALE - Associated Press
  • Updated

The Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman has won a defamation lawsuit filed by seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies who sued him over music videos that used home security footage to mock them over a 2022 raid of his home. The verdict Wednesday evening follows several hours of deliberations. The Adams County deputies say they were publicly harassed over the videos. They show rifle-wielding deputies busting down his door, searching his shoes and eyeing a cake on the kitchen table, inspiring the song, “Lemon Pound Cake.” The 51-year-old Afroman, born Joseph Foreman, says the verdict is a win for free speech rights. No charges were filed in the drug and kidnapping investigation.