Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic gold medallist, is on a spree, signing endorsement deals after his historic win in javelin throw at the Tokyo games. Some of the notable names that have signed him up include Tata AIA Life Insurance, a pharmaceutical brand and Byju’s. As per a report in Economic Times, JSW Sports, the agency representing Chopra, may soon finalise at least six more deals with brands, including a luxury auto, apparel and more.
Currently, Nike, ExxonMobil, sports drink Gatorade, and MuscleBlaze sports supplements have existing deals with Chopra. As the fees that are being offered to Chopra is much higher after his win at the Olympics, it is expected that these brands will try to match and renew the deals at higher rates. Reportedly, there is a 10-fold increase in his fees.
Mustafa Ghouse, chief executive of JSW Sports, said, “These are multi-year deals which will run-up to the Paris Olympics,” said Mustafa Ghouse chief executive of JSW Sports. He further added that Chopra has denied getting associated with alcohol or tobacco brands.
Ghouse said, “While we have requested from close to 80 brands, Neeraj has a limited number of free days between training camps in India and abroad over the next 12-14 months, so we have to be selective about signing on brands.” Apart from the mainstream endorsements, Ghouse informed that a series of digital-only deals are also lined up.
A record in its own
Experts believe that the 10-fold rise in the endorsement fees is a record for any Indian athlete after an individual event. Before the win, he charged an annual fee of just Rs 15-20 lakh per endorsement. His online presence saw a massive rise the day he won the gold and added 1.1 million followers in a single day, reports suggest. Currently, Chopra has over 4 million followers on Instagram, and almost 6,00,000 followers on Twitter and these numbers are increasing every day.
Brands tried to use Chopra’s win for their own benefit
Reports suggest that several brands tried to take advantage of his win and published posts on social media platforms without having any legal contracts with Chopra. JSW Sports had to intervene and tell those brands to take down the posts. Similar incidents had happened with PV Sindhu when she won the medal. Her talent management company Baseline Ventures had to send legal notices to over a dozen brands to take down posts that included Sindhu.
As the Taliban consolidated its control of Afghanistan there is a growing concern among the residents, especially among women, about the return to a stricter interpretation of Islamic rule that had characterised the Taliban regime in the late nineties, which relegated women’s status in the society and straitjacketed their freedom and individual liberties.
Now, a video of Talibani terrorists casually expressing their misogynistic views against women has revealed why the Taliban’s promise of embracing a more moderate outlook was nothing more than a window dressing, aimed to project a mirage of refinement to gain international legitimacy and suppress internal opposition.
A BBC journalist recently took to Twitter to share a video in which a Talibani official is seen making an appalling analogy to justify the hijab. Explaining the importance of the hijab, the Talibani official says: “Do you buy a sliced melon or an intact melon. Of course the intact one. A woman without a hijab is like a sliced melon.”
A Taliban official in an interview in Kabul on the importance of Hijab: “Do you buy a sliced melon or an intact melon? . Of course the intact one. A woman without Hijab is like a sliced melon ?”pic.twitter.com/9lHpQnohyd
Equating women with fruit or commodities on sale is just an example of the Taliban’s blatant misogynist views.
Analogies used to objectify women and justify the Hijab
Moreover, the comparison of a woman without a hijab to a sliced melon perpetuates the culture of analogies that rabid Islamists use to rationalise the adoption of the hijab. For a long time now, women who refuse to wear hijabs are objectified as unwrapped candies or lollipops, to motivate others to embrace the hijab.
The lollipop analogy is particularly popular among conservative Muslims on social media. Two lollipops are shown: a bare lollipop with a swarm of flies on it and a wrapped lollipop with flies moving away from it. The caption reads: “You cannot avoid them, but you can protect yourself. Your Creator knows what is better for you.”
A popular image about the importance of Hijab that goes around social media, via Pinterest
Another popular narrative is that women without Hijab are like a sweet without cover, which attracts pests, becomes unsuitable for consumption and hence remains ‘untaken’.
The analogy goes on to say that Muslim women who wear their hijabs deserve respect while those who don’t abide by the Islamic edict of wearing a veil are equivalent to unwrapped lollipops and sweets who deserve to be shunned and discarded.
Women in Afghanistan fret over their fate as Afghanistan falls to the Taliban
Nevertheless, the callous remarks for women bear a stark contrast to claims of greater moderation it has sought to project in the wake of the lightning offensive that resulted in the fall of Kabul on August 15 this year. Such comments would naturally spark fears among women, reminding them of the ham-handed rule of the Taliban from 1996 to 2001.
Back then, women were proscribed from attending school or working outside their homes, in conformity with Sharia Islamic law. Besides, they were also mandated to wear fully covered overgarments called chadaree and be chaperoned by a male relative whenever they went outside. The Taliban had also placed a ban on music and imposed severe punishments on those who violated the Sharia law, such as chopping off the hands of thieves, lashing women in public and stoning people over the allegations of adultery.
Sundar Singh Gurjar, an Indian para-javelin thrower who brought home a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, revealed that the Rajasthan Forest Department, where he has worked since November 2020, approved his salary due for ten months only after he won the Paralympic medal.
Sundar has been working as an officer in the Rajasthan government’s forest department alongside fellow para athletes Avani Lekhara and Devendra Jhajharia.
Speaking to PTI, the Paralympic medallist lamented, “I have been working in the forest department in Rajasthan since 5th November 2020. But the day I won the Paralympics medal, within two hours I got my first salary of 10 months”.
How Sundar Singh Gurjar battled suicidal thoughts
Sundar reminisced on the highs and lows of his life, recalling a time, during his career, when he was suicidal.
Sundar competed in able-bodied contests till 2015 and was a part of a junior national camp that included Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra and others until his life changed forever. One day, a tin shed fell on him at his friend’s house leading to the amputation of his left hand.
Sundar didn’t give up hope, and with his coach’s unwavering support, he returned to the field in the para-athlete category. He qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics in less than a year before fate struck again and wrecked his dreams. A delay of 52 seconds in reaching the call room led to his disqualification from Rio Games, the Paralympic medallist recalled.
“I fought back and qualified for the 2016 Paralympics only to be disqualified. That time I started thinking everything is finished, there is nothing left for me. I thought of committing suicide but that time my coach (Mahavir Saini) realised something wrong is going on in my mind. For a month he kept me along with him 24×7, didn’t leave me alone”, Sundar told PTI
“As time passed, my thoughts started to change. I started thinking I will start playing again and answer back to the world,” he added.
Sundar Sigh Gurjar credits his coach for single-handedly transforming his life and career
Attributing his life and career transformation solely to his mentor Mahavir Saini. The F46 javelin throw bronze-medallist from Tokyo said: “I used to play sports since 2009. Initially, I used to do shot put and I had a medal in shot put in nationals. I did shot put for one-and-half years and after that, my coach Mahavir Saini told me if you have to shine in your career you have to leave shot put and start javelin.”
“He might have seen some talent in me and he started training me. From there till now, coach saab has supported me a lot,” said Sundar, feeling beholden to his coach Mahavir Saini.
Tokyo Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and Sundar Singh Gurjar played together until he met with an accident
Recalling his time training at the camp with Neeraj Chopra, who scripted history by winning India’s only gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Sundar said: “He was two years junior to me. I used to play Under-20 and he used to be in Under-18. We played a few competitions together at the youth level”.
“In junior India camp me and Neeraj were together in SAI Sonepat camp in 2013-14. Then I suffered an accident in 2015 and came under para,” he added.
Sundar is convinced that their success will undoubtedly encourage future generations to participate in the sport.
The Paralympic champion thrives to win a gold for the country
Adamant about pushing himself further, Sundar said during the interview that he was not satisfied because his target was to win the gold. “I feel I still have some drawbacks. I won a medal in the Paralympics but I am not satisfied because my target was to win the gold and I hope to do that in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
“My first focus would be on Para Asian Games and the World Championships next year but the final target is Paris,” Sundar added.
In a bizarre incident from Kerala, a class 10 student reportedly stole from her mother and ‘gifted‘ 750 grams of gold to ‘friends’ she met on social media last year.
As per a report in Lokmat, in a recently cracked case from Thiruvananthapuram, the girl had come across a social media post by one Shibin who was allegedly facing a financial crisis last year. The 15-year-old spoke to Shibin about the same and the two eventually became friends.
To help her friend overcome the financial difficulties, the schoolgirl stole 750 grams of gold that belonged to her mother, kept it in a box and handed it over to Shibin. Shibin had taken the gold and along with his mother, had sold it for cash. Making use of the money made by selling the gold, Shibin’s mother then renovated their home and kept the remaining Rs 10 lakhs with her.
On finding the gold missing, the girl’s mother lodged an official complaint. Shibin and his mother Shaji were later arrested and remanded on the basis of the complaint. The police have also seized around Rs 10 lakhs in cash from Shibin’s home.
The 15-year-old confessed that she had given the gold to her online friend a year ago. However, during the investigation, Shibin claimed that the girl had given him just 270 grams of gold.
The student later revealed that she gave 40 grams of gold to another Instagram friend from Palakkad. This second ‘friend’ then reportedly blocked her after receiving the gold. The police, however, is not convinced with the statements. Further investigation in the case is on.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while addressing a Covid-19 review meeting on Monday announced that no fresh cases of the Chinese virus have surfaced in 64 districts of the state. As many as 28 districts have been corona-free, while 11 districts reported fresh cases in single-digit.
Advising the citizens to remain cautious, CM Yogi Adityanath said, “The state has only 227 active Covid cases. In the last 24 hours, the daily positivity rate was 0.01% and the overall recovery rate in the state is 98.7%.”
The state indeed recorded just 12 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and reported 15 recoveries.
Vaccine administration records
The CM in the meeting had further informed that as many as 7.75 crore doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered in the state. However, the fresh data suggests that the state on Monday crossed the 8 crore mark in vaccine jabs. More than 6.5 crore people have received their first dose of the vaccine while over a crore in the state of Uttar Pradesh are now fully vaccinated.
CM Aditynath took to Twitter to congratulate the citizens and encouraged them to keep the “Teeka Jeet Ka” campaign going. “More than 8 crore 36 thousand doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in UP,” announced the CM in his Tweet.
उ.प्र. में कोविड टीके की कुल 8 करोड़ 36 हजार से अधिक डोज लग चुकी हैं।
यह उपलब्धि आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी के मार्गदर्शन, ‘नए भारत के नए उत्तर प्रदेश’ की सामर्थ्य व स्वास्थ्यकर्मियों के अथक परिश्रम को समर्पित है।
पात्र नागरिक ‘टीका जीत का’ अवश्य लगवाएं और इस महाभियान को सफल बनाएं।
On Monday, Lucknow became the first district in the state to inoculate over 1 lakh people in a single day, since the beginning of the vaccination drive. M.K. Singh, an in-charge of one vaccination centre in Lucknow said, “By 9 PM 1,03,143 doses had been administered in Lucknow. No other district has achieved this figure in a single day.”
An official statement on the virus containment by the state government read, “Through (the) implementation of measures such as the intensive ‘Trace, Test & Treat’, prevention through vaccination and partial corona curfews to decimate the pandemic, as many as 29 districts in UP have been able to bring down the fresh and active covid-19 cases to zero.”
On Monday (September 6), Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi fired off a letter to the Union Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology alleging inaction against the contentious ‘Sulli Deals’ app. It must be mentioned that the app made headlines in July after it had put pictures of Muslim women for an online auction.
While addressing IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chaturvedi claimed that the Ministry did not take any action against the perpetrators. “It is disheartening to see that no written reply or action has been taken as of now despite the sensitivity of the issue. I request you to kindly look into this matter as these incidents yet again lay bare the protection and safety of women, especially in cyber-space. I look forward to stringent action in this regard,” the Shiv Sena MP alleged.
Screengrab of the letter by Priyanka Chaturvedi.
It must be mentioned that Priyanka Chaturvedi had earlier written to Minister for Electronics and Information Technology on July 30 raising concerns about the ‘Sulli Deals’ app and women’s safety in cyberspace. In a tweet, she claimed that her recent letter was a ‘reminder’ to the Vaishnaw to take action against the creators of the contentious app.
No action taken against Sulli Deals? Here is what the government said
While Priyanka Chaturvedi claimed that no action had been taken against Sulli Deals app, the truth could be far from it. A day after the app came to light, the Delhi police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the unidentified creators for using images of Muslim women without their consent and putting them up for auction.
Sources involved in the investigation of the case said, “Action in the matter was taken two months ago in July even before the MP wrote a letter in August. The government had already taken action against this website and both the app as well as the YouTube channel had been blocked”.
The source further said, “Delhi Police special cell filed an FIR on July 7 against unknown persons terminating the YouTube channel, and another FIR was filed on July 9 before the MP wrote the letter to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw”.
It is also pertinent to note that the IT rules enacted by the government already has a provision to deal with such apps. In the press release issued by the government on the 25th of February, the IT rules made provisions to deal with apps and information that compromise the dignity of women.
Govt issued IT rules
The rule says that intermediaries shall remove access to the information or app within 24 hours of the receipt of complaint of contents that exposes private areas of individuals, show such individuals in full or partial nudity or in sexual act etc. The rule also provided to take down information that contained morphed images of women.
While it was believed initially that the app was made by Hindus lusting over Muslim women, an account with the username ‘sullidealsXpose’ had alleged that the creator of the app is a Muslim man by the name of Javed Alam. The ‘expose’ account claimed that he studied at the GLA University in Mathura and was working with Accenture. It also claimed to have found three of his phone numbers. After the allegations came to light, Shalabh Mani Tripathi, adviser to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, took cognisance of the matter and said that the matter is being further investigated to nab whoever was responsible for the app.
On September 6, a video was shared on Twitter depicting the VVIP culture and its impacts on commoners. Shared by Journalist Man Aman Singh Chhina, the undated video shows a man identified as Sumeet Gill shooting the traffic jam caused by the convoy of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Chinna wrote, “VIP woes of Punjab. Traffic stopped on Baddi-New Chandigarh highway to let Capt Amarinder’s convoy get to his farmhouse nearby where he stays. The harassed person who filmed this traffic blockade this evening @TheSumeetGill says he had to wait for 35 minutes on the road!”
VIP woes of Punjab. Traffic stopped on Baddi-New Chandigarh highway to let Capt Amarinder’s convoy get to his farmhouse nearby where he stays. The harassed person who filmed this traffic blockade this evening @TheSumeetGill says he had to wait for 35 minutes on the road! pic.twitter.com/XVyj3tEZES
What appears to be the case, there is a farmhouse on Baddi-New Chandigarh Highway where Captain Amarinder Singh stays. As there is a turn on the Highway that leads to his farmhouse on the left side and the convoy was supposed to be coming from the right side of the road, the Police blocked the left side to give a “clear way” to the convoy.
The traffic was stopped for over 35 minutes that irked Sumeet, who started filming the incident. He was heard saying, “This is Siswa-Baddi Highway, and this is the traffic jam caused by Capt Amarinder Singh (he shows the long line of vehicles waiting for the roadblock to get cleared). Because this is right there, you can see a turn where CM is coming. This is what it is.” He was then asked by a police officer to move away from the road, to which he said in Punjab, “Yes, I am getting away from the road. I am on the side of the road. So police officer has asked me to stay on the side. I am on the side. You can see the road.”
He continued, “This is the situation. Our CM will come to ask for votes like a beggar. But today, look how many people are suffering because of him. What bloody hell do they want? If his Pakistani guests come, a similar thing happens. See, he is coming. Look at that (points out at the convoy taking the turn to the farmhouse). Only because of him we are standing here for an hour. Now I will make this video viral.”
Quoting Chhina’s post, Sumeet said, “Plus threatened by Police Inspector Simranjeet Singh.”
Not many people know that a Pakistani friend of Capt Amarinder is a regular at his Chandigarh house. Aroosa Alam shares a close relationship with him and had also attended his swearing-in ceremony in 2017. She was also present at the launch of Captain Amarinder Singh’s biography ‘The People’s Maharaja’ in February 2020.
The duo has manifestly been low-key about their lesser-known ‘affair’ and has often shied away from talking about it in public. Notably, Alam is a former Pakistani defence journalist and was known in Pakistani circles for having close ties with the military establishment. Alam is the daughter of Akleen Akhtar, also known as the famous General Rani, a socialite who was described by the Pakistani media as the “muse and mistress” of Pakistani leader Yahya Khan.
“My relationship is a sensitive issue even back home, I am a Muslim woman, and you know how people back home think,” said Aroosa in February 2018 when she was in Chandigarh.
Reaction from the netizens
Several netizens commented under the video that they have faced a similar situation due to CM’s convoy. Another Twitter user wrote “I waited for 45 minutes at Lake road for the same issue a few months back. Tabh bhi Capt sahab ne aana tha. (Even then Capt was coming).”
I waited for 45 minutes at Lake road for the same issue few months back. Tabh bhi Capt sahab ne aana tha.
Suni Issar said, “I used to work in Chennai when this used to be done for Jayalalitha. Waiting for these so-called VIP’s is very frustrating and throws all schedules out of gear.” Freesoulsimi also shared her experience from Chennai. She said, “I remember one such incident from Chennai… left office at 6 pm only to reach home by 11.30 pm!!! I literally hate this VIP – inconvenience to the general public – culture.”
I remember one such incident from Chennai… left office at 6 pm only to reach home by 11.30 pm!!! I literally hate this VIP – inconvenience to general public – culture.
Puneet Naagar said, “He came from the airport today, this drama happened at the IISER light point as well, where a traffic police ASI held the traffic in the rain for CMs welcome.”
He came from the airport today, this drama happened at the IISER light point as well, where a traffic police ASI held the traffic in rain for CMs welcome.
Mayur Said, “This happened a few weeks ago when Capt Amarinder visited Gurjeet Aujla and the entry to Guru Amardass Avenue in Amritsar was blocked with an army of police force.”
This happened a few weeks ago when @capt_amarinder visited @GurjeetSAujla and the entry to Guru Amardass Avenue in Amritsar was blocked with an army of police force.
Sumeet, in a comment, said that he was detained by the Police for 15-20 minutes. In another reply, he said that it had become a regular scene in the region.
Source: Twitter
This is not the first time Punjab CM is being accused of indulging in VIP culture. In June 2021, five Cabinet ministers have expressed stern disapproval of Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s decision of tweaking the rules to provide government jobs to sons of party MLAs during a cabinet meeting. Reports suggest that the ministers questioned the appointment of the sons of party MLAs and the unusual relaxation allowed to accommodate them. The case pertains to the appointment of sons of legislators Fateh Jung Bajwa and Rakesh Pandey as Inspector and Naib Tehsildar, respectively, on compassionate grounds by altering rules.
After gaining rapid control over Afghanistan, the Taliban has now shown interest to be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid on Monday reportedly said that they “desire” to join China’s ambitious ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.
Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who sees CPEC as an economic lifeline said, “It is good if Taliban’s views about China are similar to that of Pakistan.”
“Pakistan is proud of its friendship with China and if Taliban hold similar views, then it’s encouraging,” he said, sounding positive over Taliban’s affinity towards China.
Just like Pakistan, the Taliban is now looking up to China to rebuild the country ravaged by the 20 years of war. On Saturday, the radical organization had described China as their “most important partner”.
The Taliban is hopeful that Beijing will play a crucial role to rebuild the country and exploit its rich copper deposits to save it from mass hunger and economic collapse.
China concerned over the instability
The Taliban is affirmative and exhilarated at the thought of China gaining economic and infrastructure control of the region. However, Beijing is deeply concerned over the instability with the fall of the government in Afghanistan, as per reports.
On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani and Iranian counterpart expressed that a government in the war-ravaged country should be established as soon as possible.
The trio stressed the need for an ‘ intra-Afghan dialogue’ to establish peace in the country. The foreign ministers of Iran and China agreed that there is a need to form an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of all tribes and groups.
While the takeover of the Taliban has presented opportunities for China to make political and economic advancements, the threat of instability looming over Central Asia has got the CCP in a fix.
Moreover, China which is already dealing with Uygur militants of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) at the Afghanistan border, fears a spillover of the movement in the heavily Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang.
On September 5, the Taliban, with support from Pakistani forces, initiated an attack on the Panjshir area of Afghanistan in which Fahim Dashty, spokesperson, National Resistance Front (NRF), was killed. The top commander of the front, General Sahib Abdul Wadood, was also killed in the attack. It is being seen as a major blow to the NRF chief Ahmed Masood as both of them were close and trusted to him. There are speculations making rounds on social media platforms that Fahim’s location may have been leaked due to a mistake of BBC.
People are blaming the BBC for leaking the satellite number of Fahim, which could have been traced by the Taliban, resulting in the drone attack on Panjshir. As per reports, Fahim was giving an interview to the BBC when the screen suddenly stopped showing the video on Fahim and flashed a satellite number which is believed to be of Fahim’s. Zalmai Nishat, a policy expert, tweeted that while he was watching Fahim’s interview on BBC Persia, the connection was cut, and his satellite mobile number was flashed on the screen.
I was watching an interview of @FahimDashty with @bbcpersian. At one point the former’s video disappeared. Instead, his satellite phone number was displayed on the screen. The BCC failed to ensure its anonymity. There are allegations that a drone traced has him via this number: pic.twitter.com/oI7mANuVuP
Institute for World Affairs & Security said, “Fahim Dashty was interviewed by BBC. Network issue led to loss of connection, Fahim’s satellite phone number appeared on screen. Did the drone that killed him trace him using this no.? Is BBC responsible? Fahim-Afghan journalist fighting for his home against Taliban in Panjshir.”
Fahim Dashty was interviewed by BBC. Network issue led to loss of connection, Fahim’s satellite phone number appeared on screen. Did the drone that killed him trace him using this no.? Is @BBC responsible?
— IWAS Institute for World Affairs & Security (@IWASInstitute) September 6, 2021
It is being alleged that the number was used to trace Fahim leading to the deadly attack. People are blaming BBC for the mistake and Fahim’s death.
Notably, Fahim had said during the interview that NRF had no intentions to form a government with the Taliban. He made it clear that NRF fighters would lay down their lives for the future of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, people are angry on BBC. A Twitter user, Sumi wrote, “This is a serious war crime, and the BBC should be charged for this.” Another user Allabtme alleged that BBC deliberately did this.
Screenshot of tweets where people blaming BBC for the death of Faheem
Panjshir is facing a tense situation due to the ongoing war between the Taliban and NRF. While the Taliban has claimed that Panjshir has fallen, NRF denied the claims and said its fighters are stationed at every strategic place in the region.
Update
The BBC has issued a statement over the matter. In its statement, the BBC said, “There are false allegations that the BBC broadcast a number which identified the location of Fahim Dashty during a live interview. This is not true. His interview was conducted via zoom and connected to the studio through a BBC satellite.”
“We take the safety of our contributors very seriously,” it added.
San Francisco’s latest monthly allowance scheme offers 300$ per month to select group of criminals or future criminals for not resorting to shooting. The No Shooting Allowance project is being financed by the San Francisco’s Dream Keeper Fellowship which will give away gift cards to 10 chosen candidates most likely to engage in gun violence if they stay away from gun crime.
According to the New York Post, the scheme is connected to the Mayor’s two year plan of investing 120 million dollars in the city’s black community and would supposedly be run on tax payers’ money also funded by private donations and a possible federal grant. A possible expansion to 75 people a year is expected.
The plan of reducing violence through a monthly allowance is based on a pilot project that was implemented in Richmond California in 2016 which supposedly had reduced violence according to the officials. However, the Richmond project came under fire when Dawaun Rice, a 22-year-old member of the scheme, got sentenced for 40 years for murdering two people, that included a 17-year-old boy, in two separate shootings while still being part of the program. According to a 2016 interview with KGO, Yolanda Ficklin-Prothro, the mother of one Rice’s victims said, “You didn’t take their guns. You were giving them money to buy more guns.”
Rev. Eugene Rivers III, a founder of the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies, called the San Francisco scheme a “policy gimmick” and a “terrible idea.” He also said “For many young people, it will be Christmas in … October”.
However, San Francisco Mayor London Breed maintained that the scheme was not meant to give cash to criminals. “We’re looking at ways in which we can provide incentives,” Breed told KPIX. “Incentives to keep them motivated, to keep them searching for a better opportunity is what this program is about,” he added.
The program’s pilot will be launched in October and will be called ‘Dream Keeper Fellowship’.
