“So tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)…..end violence against girls!” This may not be the way you remember Spice Girl’s debut hit single “Wannabe,” but thanks to a new viral campaign, it is now.

UN initiative The Global Goals released the video produced by Project Everyone on Tuesday as part of its #WhatIReallyWant campaign. Aside from ending violence against women, the video also contains signs explaining that women want equal pay for equal work, an end to child marriage, and quality education for all girls.

. @AsliJacqueline is a force of world changing girl power in our #WhatIReallyReallyWant video..

What do YOU want? pic.twitter.com/udvDUhkLYi

— The Global Goals (@TheGlobalGoals) July 6, 2016

According to the organization’s Facebook page,

The Spice Girls always have represented girl power — and this time their song “Wannabe” is being used to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, especially No. 5 Gender Equality.

As part of the #WhatIReallyWantCampaign, The Global Goals initiative is asking women to share a photo of themselves holding up sign with what “YOU really, really want” for girls and women. A host of women and girls have already begun uploading their own handcrafted signs to social media, including Posh Spice herself, Victoria Beckham. 

#WhatIReallyReallyWant is no more girls dying of HIV @TheGlobalGoals X vb pic.twitter.com/mFza6cHyBx

— Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) July 5, 2016

Get involved. xxx #WhatIReallyReallyWant pic.twitter.com/kLzQ1wXCc7

— amanda abbington (@CHIMPSINSOCKS) July 5, 2016

Join the movement & tell our world leaders it’s #TimeforGirls. #whatireallyreallywant @TheGlobalGoals pic.twitter.com/q9865lCMTF

— Tanya Burr (@TanyaBurr) July 5, 2016

Many older women don’t get hired for interesting jobs because they’re not…what? Interesting? #WhatIReallyReallyWant pic.twitter.com/LyNJHnOPrI

— Heather McDougal (@wundergrrl) July 6, 2016

Your gender should not be the reason you can’t achieve goals or succeed @TheGlobalGoals #WhatIReallyReallyWant pic.twitter.com/vfPNGcgRiz

— Samantha Kingston (@K_Samantha1) July 5, 2016

This is #WhatIReallyReallyWant #TimeforGirls pic.twitter.com/6MBVbjmAbT

— ell ♡ tan (@tanburrbear) July 5, 2016

Equal Opportunities for all #WhatIReallyReallyWant #TWUK pic.twitter.com/0jjAJoyMkA

— L a u r a (@LauraHJenkins) July 5, 2016

“Every boy and every girl, Spice up your life”#WhatIReallyReallyWant #TimeforGirls @TheGlobalGoals @victoriabeckham pic.twitter.com/yWfgA3ZZF6

— Omri (@Omri_Rawrlan) July 5, 2016

Melanie C, a.k.a. Sporty Spice, said she felt “flattered and [honored]” by the video, and Emma Bunton, a.k.a. Baby Spice, also tweeted out the video.

MJ Delaney, who directed the film said,

This is about modern day girl power. The Spice Girls were about a group of different women joining together and being stronger through that bond. These differences are what we want to celebrate in this film, while showing there are some universal things that all girls, everywhere, really, really want.

Watch Project Everyone Remake:

Original Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” Music Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” Gets Viral Feminist Makeover appeared first on Law Street.

A South Carolina sheriff’s deputy is under investigation after a video went viral Monday showing him violently bodyslam a female Spring Valley High School student after she refused to leave a classroom.

Senior Deputy Ben Fields reportedly ordered the girl out of her seat saying, “either you’re coming with me, or I’ll make you.” Then in the shaky 15-second video, he appears to place her in a headlock, flip her out of her desk, and then drag her several feet across the classroom floor.

Watch Videos of the Assault Below

The full video of the Spring Valley High School Police Officer brutally assaulting a peaceful student. pic.twitter.com/oHIS8GrtSS

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) October 26, 2015

RETWEET if you agree This Racist Cop should be fired & arrested for this brutality. #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh pic.twitter.com/AhzQ6WXM2l

— سید فیاض علی #TeamIK (@IamTeamIK) October 27, 2015

In an interview with USA Today, Tony Robinson Jr., a student at Spring Valley High School who captured video of the incident, said the girl involved “really hadn’t done anything wrong.” According to him, the teacher had accused the girl of having her phone out during class. When the teacher asked for the phone, the girl said “no,” resulting in an administrator being called to the room. The administrator then pleaded with the girl get out of her seat, but she refused. That’s when Fields entered the classroom and things got physical. Robinson said,

I’ve never seen anything so nasty looking, so sick to the point that you know, other students are turning away, don’t know what to do, and are just scared for their lives. That’s supposed to be somebody that’s going to protect us. Not somebody that we need to be scared of, or afraid.

Watch Robinson’s Interview Below

The unidentified female student was charged with disturbing school before being released into the custody of her parents. Fellow student Niya Kenny, 18, was also charged after she stood up for the girl.

Several outlets initially reported that the female student did not suffer any physical injuries from the arrest, however, her lawyer Todd Rutherford told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday that she actually suffered several. Rutherford said,

She now has a cast on her arm, she has neck and back injuries. She has a Band-Aid on her forehead where she suffered rug burn on her forehead.

According to USA Today, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott Fields has enlisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation of Monday’s incident. The Columbia FBI Field Office’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina will be tasked with deciding whether or not the African-American student’s civil rights were violated. In the mean time, Fields has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation’s results.

But from the looks of it, Fields has a history of civil rights complaints from civilians. In a pending civil rights lawsuit stemming from a February 2013 incident, former Spring Valley student, Ashton Reese, stated Officer Fields “unfairly and recklessly targets African-American students with allegations of gang membership and criminal gang activity.” And in 2007, a couple accused Fields of excessive force and battery along with two other officers, after they responded to a noise complaint at their residence. However, in 2010 a jury ruled in favor of the deputies, and the couple lost a subsequent appeal.

Outraged supporters of the female student have flocked to social media with the help of the trending hashtag, #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh to express their disgust over the violent assault.

Y’all See The Difference ?? Cuz I Do #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh #Retweet pic.twitter.com/14d3jnmvFd — IX-XXX-MCMXC (@_SheLovesQuan) October 27, 2015

How long will it take for Officer Fields to say that he “feared for his life,” which caused him to assault her? #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh — deray mckesson (@deray) October 26, 2015

i can’t unsee what i just saw. #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh

— octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) October 26, 2015

The ACLU, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also voiced their outrage.

“There is no justification whatsoever for treating a child like this” ACLU of SC abt vid of student flipped, dragged https://t.co/DV6YZj9zDG — ACLU National (@ACLU) October 27, 2015

The police officer should be fired and the police department should be sued. #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh pic.twitter.com/yOsptB2jlx

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) October 27, 2015

There is no excuse for violence inside a school. The #AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh is unacceptable—schools should be safe places. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 27, 2015

It will be interesting to see if other celebrities and politicians choose to comment publicly on the arrest, but many people are already agreeing with Rev. Jackson, and think the officer should be sued. Hopefully the FBI and DOJ will be able to provide more information in the following weeks.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Cop Bodyslams South Carolina Student For Refusing to Leave Classroom appeared first on Law Street.

Luke Gatti has posted an apology on Youtube in response to the viral video of him profanely accosting a UConn employee over bacon-jalapeño mac and cheese. The video, which he titled “Drunk UConn Student Apology Mac and Cheese,” has already been viewed over 150,000 times and begins with Gatti apologizing to those that he mistreated–especially the manager he verbally and physically assaulted. Gatti said, “He was just doing his job. He gave me so many chances to walk away. And I didn’t listen to him. No one deserves to be treated that way, like ever.”

Watch Luke Gatti’s Apology Below

Gatti called the incident a “wake up call” and attempted to humble himself by also apologizing to the university student body and his friends and family. Unfortunately the apology came off very insincere and rehearsed, particularly when Gatti began to smirk when discussing all of the mac and cheese he’s been sent. Gatti said, “To all those who want to send donations of mac and cheese to me, please just send it to your local food pantry,” he said. “There’s a lot of hungry people out there.”

A GoFundMe.com page was also set up by UConn freshman Sadie Rumsey to thank the Union Street Market staff by treating them to a “nice night out.” The fundraiser has already doubled its goal, receiving over $2,000 in four days. People can still donate by clicking here.

According to the Hartford Courant, Gatti is scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Rockville on Tuesday on charges of second-degree breach of peace and criminal trespass in connection with the incident, but his family has filed a continuance.

It’s also been reported that this isn’t his first run in with the law. Gatti was previously a student at the University of Massachusetts, where he was arrested twice last year on disorderly conduct charges. The Hartford Courant writes, “During one of those arrests, he was accused of using a racial slur against a police officer, court filings show.”

Based on this we are still in agreement that this kid sucks.

To check out the original story, click here.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Update: Drunk Mac and Cheese Kid Issues a Cheesy Apology appeared first on Law Street.

One of the perils of doing a live news broadcast is that something could go horribly, horribly wrong. In fact, there are entire corners of the internet developed to chronicling the weird things that happen on news broadcasts–particularly smaller stations with fewer resources and less security. Usually they’re pretty hilarious:

But there’s been an incredibly bizarre and very offensive trend taking root in North America and the United Kingdom for the past year or so when it comes to photo or video-bombing local news broadcasts. The name of the movement is “FHRITP” and fair warning, it’s incredibly NSFW.

FHRITP stands for “F**** her right in the p*****.” The trend basically consists of running up to a newscaster–usually one standing on a city street reporting on something–grabbing their microphone, and yelling the above phrase. It can also involve yelling the phrase as you run by or drive by in a car. Here’s a compilation of some of the incidents, although you really don’t need to watch more than a few to get an idea.

While the prank seems harmless to some, it has incredibly weird roots. It started in January 2014 when a video went viral. It showed a young male reporter supposedly talking about a missing 20-year-old girl, and he proclaims that he would like to “FHRITP” when she’s found. The video was later discovered to be a hoax, created by a filmmaker named Justin Cain, although bizarrely, what purports to be the official “FHRITP” website still claims that the incident really did happen. As the legend goes, then a man named “Fred” in Cincinnati, Ohio, yelled the phrase twice during two different news broadcasts. It’s become clear now that those were also hoaxes orchestrated by Cain.

The entire thing appears to have been a ploy to get famous/sell a bunch of FHRITP merchandise. But, that hasn’t stopped people from still repeating the same phrase for the last year and a half. Seriously, people are still doing this incredibly childish prank. It’s caused a lot of problems for newscasters. After all, they’re broadcasting live, and children are sometimes watching the news with their parents. No one really wants to have to hear “FHRITP” screamed into a news broadcast, particularly when its on a topic that requires respect.

So, in order to combat the stupid sort of fake internet trend that won’t die, there have been a few different developments lately. First, about a week and a half ago, Canadian CityNews Reporter Shauna Hunt confronted a bunch of the men harassing her by yelling FHRITP as she was covering a soccer game in Toronto. Check it out in the video below.

Hunt is now being lauded for speaking out against the inappropriate trend. Hunt’s confrontation of the men who were harassing her opened up an international dialogue about how demeaning the trend really is.

As a result of the recent resurgence in dealing with this, Canadian police in some cities have begun ticketing those who shout the obscenities at reporters. While they don’t think they’d necessarily hold up in court, they think the charges will serve as deterrents, and hopefully finally put an end to the disgusting viral hoax. Police have explained that it’s usually very easy to figure out who the people yelling the phrase are, given that they’re caught on film.

So there does seem to be some progress toward stopping the incredibly stupid and annoying practice. While right now most of the fighting back appears to be occurring in Canada, hopefully the U.S. will follow suit. Newscasters don’t deserve to have obscenities yelled at them just because they’re doing their jobs.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post FHRITP: Will the Offensive Internet Trend Ever Die? appeared first on Law Street.

Public defenders don’t always have the best reputation. TV shows sometimes portray them as being fresh out of law school, inexperienced, and not dedicated to their clients–essentially the type of person you don’t want defending you in any legal capacity. In reality, many are dedicated veterans of the courtroom, and Jami Tillotson is a prime example. In fact, the long-time public defender was arrested January 27, 2015 for sticking to her job–defending her client. The entire scene was caught on two cellphone videos recorded by other attorneys present.

In the videos, Tillotson is seen standing next to her client and another man outside of a San Francisco Hall of Justice restroom, refusing to let their pictures be unlawfully taken. While trying to protect her client’s right to counsel she was arrested for “resisting arrest” (if that’s even a thing) by a plainclothes police officer, Sergeant Inspector Brian Stansbury. There was no mention of any other charge for her to even resist being arrested for, but when cops threatened her with arrest, she calmly replied, “Please do.”

The day of the incident Tillotson was in a courtroom representing her client on an unrelated misdemeanor theft charge, when she heard he and another man were being questioned by a group of police in the hallway, even though her client obviously had representation. Police were instructing her client how to pose for a photo when she intervened. She was well within her rights to do so on behalf of her client’s Fifth Amendment rights. Police didn’t see it that way though. Of course, after she was taken away in handcuffs their photos were taken anyways.

If you haven’t seen the cellphone footage of her arrest yet, you can watch the injustice below.

Apparently this isn’t the first time Sergeant Stansbury has used force to get his way. He was part of a 2013 federal civil rights lawsuit by a black San Francisco PD officer alleging racial profiling. In that case, Officer Lorenzo Adamson was stopped for not having a license plate when Stansbury immediately asked him if he was on probation or parole (because if you’re black you must be on one or the other), leading Adamson to believe that he was being racially profiled. Adamson was then choked and thrown to the ground by another police officer all the while repeating, “I’m a cop!”

Since Tillotson’s arrest video was uploaded to YouTube, her case has gone viral. Many are hailing her as a hero against this type of police intimidation and bullying, as well as questioning the legitimacy of her arrest. Stansbury might have just misspoken, intending to say “obstruction of justice” instead of “resisting arrest.” Either way, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest are charges abused far too often by police as a means to get their way or exert an alpha mentality.

David L. Carter, a criminology professor and former police officer, told NPR that police sometimes feel they have to arrest someone in order to “save face.” He also said some unjustified arrests also stem from officer fatigue when dealing with challenging members of the public, especially in protest situations. While Carter offers up some plausible reasons, it’s not the intent behind the injustice that matters; it’s the fact that there was even any to begin with.

Tillotson spoke about the arrest in a press conference last week, saying:

I was arrested for what we do as public defenders every day. I asked questions. I talked to my client and explained to him his rights. At that point, I was told I was interfering and taken into custody.

Her willingness to be taken away in cuffs is striking–it wouldn’t be surprising if she filed a civil suit against Stansbury and the other officers involved. While the current status of Tillotson’s case is unclear, one thing is certain; she will continue to defend her clients by any means necessary.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post San Francisco Public Defender Arrested While Defending Client appeared first on Law Street.

Recently a video has been making the rounds on my Facebook feed, posted both by people cheering it on and by people questioning the sanity of its producers. The now-viral video features little girls dressed up as princesses and talking about women’s rights. It doesn’t sound so harmless, right? What is so controversial?

The video boasts the title: “Potty-Mouthed Princesses Drop F-Bombs for Feminism.”

Aha.

The video is produced by FCKH8.com, a for-profit clothing company that features t-shirts with mottos like “This is what a #feminist looks like” and “Some kids are gay, that’s okay.” Since its inception in 2010, it has donated more than a quarter-million dollars to foundations fighting for equality, and boast celebrity customers like Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Dan Savage, and Zac Efron. Now, it can add “viral video production” to its list of accolades. It has nearly 100,000 “likes” and more than 400,000 shares on Facebook, and nearly one million views on YouTube.

Watch the video below, and if you are at work or around sensitive ears, I suggest the use of headphones:

Obviously, the first time you watch these little girls swearing like a middle-age man with road rage, it is pretty shocking. We’re not accustomed to hearing proper young ladies use such language!

Here’s the thing: it is meant to shock you. It is meant to grab your attention, and it succeeds. Through all the f-bombs and a-bombs (and I don’t mean atomic), their message is loud and clear: sexism still exists, and it needs to stop.

Or, in the words of one princess, “F*** that sexist sh**!”

Many of the complaints lodged against the video are about the children using curse words. Clearly, though, their parents gave them permission to be in the video, and their message is more important than their foul language. The point is that the rampant sexism and hate in society today is more shocking than girls and boys saying “f***.” Don’t focus on the swearing, focus on the statistics and the facts they are sharing.

Others agree with the message, but dislike the use of children to communicate it. One Facebook commenter said “using children to push a political agenda is one of the quickest ways to lose my respect.” While I agree that young kids should not be forced to share the political opinions of their parents, or stand on street corners holding signs supporting one politician over another, I think these kids do understand — at least fundamentally — what they are saying. They are all old enough to have experienced sexism already, like being told to play with Barbies instead of Tonka trucks or to dress up as princesses instead of superheroes. As the boy featured at the end said, “When you tell a boy not to act like a girl, it means you think it’s bad to be a girl.” Gender roles and sexism are ingrained in us early, and these children are meant to represent that.

One of the big points the girls make is that women are still paid less than men for the same work. Some viewers of the video had a real issue with that, one male Facebook user even posting this ill-informed meme:

The response to this is simple. Companies cannot hire all women for the same reason they cannot hire all men or all people of one race: equal opportunity. Yet, even with this supposed “equal opportunity,” women will be offered lower salaries. The pay gap is real, and by all accounts will not close anytime soon.

“F*** that sexist sh**!”

Along with pointing out the pay gap, they bring attention to the fact that one in five women will be sexually assaulted, using themselves as examples, and saying “Instead of telling girls how to dress, start teaching boys not to f***ing rape!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

So, go back and watch the video again, share it, discuss it, and look past the swearing. They have to put quarters in a swear jar at the end anyway!

Morgan McMurray

Morgan McMurray is an editor and gender equality blogger based in Seattle, Washington. A 2013 graduate of Iowa State University, she has a Bachelor of Arts in English, Journalism, and International Studies. She spends her free time writing, reading, teaching dance classes, and binge-watching Netflix. Contact Morgan at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Children “Drop F-Bombs For Feminism,” Are You Listening? appeared first on Law Street.