News snapshots of December 2019

Betsy Barreto and Karen Ruiz|December 12, 2019

A police official supervises a homeless man as he removes his belongings from the sidewalk. Photo courtesy of Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG.

CITY—The Fullerton Police Department began the cleanup for unlawful camping off of Gilbert Street and Valencia Drive. Police officials said the purpose of the removal was to assist those in need rather than to incarcerate them. Homeless people will be moved into shelters in Buena Park and Placentia.

COUNTY— To determine if the Angels will stay another 30 years in Anaheim, local officials will vote on the Anaheim Stadium deal on Dec. 20. The deal explains that they plan to sell the 153-acre property for $325 million and keep the team playing home until 2050.

Angel Stadium was built in 1966 and renovated in 1998. Photo Courtesy of Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG.

 

STATE—Controversy stirred when Claremont United Methodist Church in Claremont displayed a nativity scene that depicts Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in separate cages. Church officials state that they chose to display the nativity scene in this way to bring to attention to the societal issue of refugees and President Trump’s proposed wall along the southern border. A traditional nativity scene is exhibited inside the church.

A church in Claremont displayed a Nativity scene—Joseph (left), baby Jesus (middle), and Mary (right)—in wired cages. Photo courtesy of NBC News.

NATION—The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi announced the House of Representatives is moving forward with impeachment proceedings on Dec. 5. This week, impeachment hearings continued and committee lawyers presented evidence to the House Judiciary Committee. This is the last hearing before the House makes their vote on whether they are going forward with the impeachment process, which will need 218 votes to proceed to the Senate. On Dec. 10, Chairman Jerry Nadler announced that they are charging President Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Chairman Jerry Nadler explains the charges against President Trump. Photo Courtesy of CNN News.

WORLD— Documents from the Chinese Communist Party were leaked exposing the cultural genocide happening to Uighur people, a minority group of Turkish-speaking Muslims in Xinjiang. The party has been placing Uighurs and other Muslims in concentration camps in order to “cleanse” them and erase their ethnic cultures in fear that these people were going to commit crimes. Muslims were forced to learn Mandarin, denounce their religion and assimilate into Chinese culture. Detainees weren’t released until they earned a score high enough to prove they were re-educated.