Aaron Coleman’s election to the Kansas House of Representatives would have been remarkable for a young candidate trying to unseat an incumbent. But it has instead left state Democratic leaders saying that they will take “every necessary step” to ensure that Coleman is not seated in the state Legislature.

Coleman’s campaign over the summer was overshadowed by his admissions that he had sent revenge porn and bullied girls online in middle school.

In August, Coleman, 20, won a Democratic primary against a seven-term incumbent, Stan Frownfelter, by 14 votes. Coleman initially planned to withdraw as his party’s nominee but then ran in the general election. Frownfelter ran as a write-in candidate in the general election and lost, The Kansas City Star reported.

“I want to let my policy viewpoints to be what people know me for,” Coleman said in an email Saturday.

Since Coleman’s election, Democratic leaders have distanced themselves from him and are looking to ensure that he is not seated, said Tom Sawyer, the Kansas House minority leader.

The Associated Press reported that party leaders took this position after Coleman made comments on Twitter that they perceived as threatening to the state’s governor, Laura Kelly, a Democrat.

A political operative provided the AP with a screen shot of one of Coleman’s tweets, which has since been deleted, in which he said Kelly would face an “extremely bloody” Democratic primary race in two years.

“I’m not playing around,” Coleman wrote, the AP reported. “People will realize one day when I call a hit out on you it’s real.”

Coleman said that he could have chosen his words better but that his tweet had not been a call for physical violence.

“My tweets were a political call for action for progressives to run against establishment candidates,” Coleman said. “Many of my constituents have agreed with the statement and actually read my tweets in their whole context.”

Democratic state leaders, including Kelly and Vicki Hiatt, the chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party, have called Coleman “unfit to serve in the Kansas Legislature.”

“Kansas House Democrats will take every necessary step to ensure Coleman is not seated in the Legislature,” Sawyer, the minority leader, said. “With Republican cooperation, I believe we can resolve this issue and find a replacement who is competent, stable and principled to serve the 37th District.”

But Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman told the The Kansas City Star’s editorial board that he would “be leery of an attempt to override the vote of the people.”

Coleman has admitted that in middle school he harassed girls online, calling one sixth-grade girl fat and suggesting she should kill herself. Seven years ago, he told another girl, who was 13 at the time, that he would circulate a naked photo of her if she didn’t send him more nude images. He ended up doing so.

The Kansas House of Representatives maintains responsibility for its own members, said Richard E. Levy, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Kansas. The process to remove Coleman would begin with a complaint and an investigation by a committee. The committee would make a report, and a two-thirds House vote would then be needed to remove a member from office.

Levy said the rules and standards were fairly loose about when a member of the House might be expelled and for what offenses.

“It’s possible that he could make his case to the House of Representatives that he should not be removed or expelled based on conduct that occurred some time in the past,” he said of Coleman. “And ultimately it would just depend on the vote.”

As for efforts to block or unseat him, Coleman told the AP, “Until I break the public’s trust and I break my oath of office, you know, you cannot undo the results of democracy.”

Coleman said that from now on he would like to be known for his political ideas and policies, including introducing a bill to legalize cannabis.

“I realize not all representatives will have the same ideas in line with mine,” he said. “But I am willing to work with anyone who wants to bring positive change to Kansas.”

Aaron Coleman’s election to the Kansas House of Representatives would have been remarkable for a young candidate trying to unseat an incumbent. But it has instead left state Democratic leaders saying that they will take “every necessary step” to ensure that Coleman is not seated in the state Legislature.

Aaron Coleman’s election to the Kansas House of Representatives would have been remarkable for a young candidate trying to unseat an incumbent. But it has instead left state Democratic leaders saying that they will take “every necessary step” to ensure that Coleman is not seated in the state Legislature. Coleman’s campaign over the summer was overshadowed by his admissions that he had sent revenge porn and bullied girls online in middle school. In August, Coleman, 20, won a Democratic primary against a seven-term incumbent, Stan Frownfelter, by 14 votes. Coleman initially planned to withdraw as his party’s nominee but then ran in the general election. Frownfelter ran as a write-in candidate in the general election and lost, The Kansas City Star reported. “I want to let my policy viewpoints to be what people know me for,” Coleman said in an email Saturday. Since Coleman’s election, Democratic leaders have distanced themselves from him and are looking to ensure that he is not seated, said Tom Sawyer, the Kansas House minority leader. The Associated Press reported that party leaders took this position after Coleman made comments on Twitter that they perceived as threatening to the state’s governor, Laura Kelly, a Democrat. A political operative provided the AP with a screen shot of one of Coleman’s tweets, which has since been deleted, in which he said Kelly would face an “extremely bloody” Democratic primary race in two years. “I’m not playing around,” Coleman wrote, the AP reported. “People will realize one day when I call a hit out on you it’s real.” Coleman said that he could have chosen his words better but that his tweet had not been a call for physical violence. “My tweets were a political call for action for progressives to run against establishment candidates,” Coleman said. “Many of my constituents have agreed with the statement and actually read my tweets in their whole context.” Democratic state leaders, including Kelly and Vicki Hiatt, the chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party, have called Coleman “unfit to serve in the Kansas Legislature.” “Kansas House Democrats will take every necessary step to ensure Coleman is not seated in the Legislature,” Sawyer, the minority leader, said. “With Republican cooperation, I believe we can resolve this issue and find a replacement who is competent, stable and principled to serve the 37th District.” But Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman told the The Kansas City Star’s editorial board that he would “be leery of an attempt to override the vote of the people.” Coleman has admitted that in middle school he harassed girls online, calling one sixth-grade girl fat and suggesting she should kill herself. Seven years ago, he told another girl, who was 13 at the time, that he would circulate a naked photo of her if she didn’t send him more nude images. He ended up doing so. The Kansas House of Representatives maintains responsibility for its own members, said Richard E. Levy, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Kansas. The process to remove Coleman would begin with a complaint and an investigation by a committee. The committee would make a report, and a two-thirds House vote would then be needed to remove a member from office. Levy said the rules and standards were fairly loose about when a member of the House might be expelled and for what offenses. “It’s possible that he could make his case to the House of Representatives that he should not be removed or expelled based on conduct that occurred some time in the past,” he said of Coleman. “And ultimately it would just depend on the vote.” As for efforts to block or unseat him, Coleman told the AP, “Until I break the public’s trust and I break my oath of office, you know, you cannot undo the results of democracy.” Coleman said that from now on he would like to be known for his political ideas and policies, including introducing a bill to legalize cannabis. “I realize not all representatives will have the same ideas in line with mine,” he said. “But I am willing to work with anyone who wants to bring positive change to Kansas.”

Kansas Democrat who admitted to revenge porn wins state house seat

Mark Martin's family restaurant weathered two world wars, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression, serving up heaping plates of hand-battered fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn to a devoted clientele. But it could not survive the pandemic.

The restaurant, nestled by the highway in Abilene, Kansas, closed permanently on Sept. 25, after struggling to break even amid shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We're kind of in shock that this will be the end of it for us," said Martin, the fourth generation to run the Brookville Hotel, a name that reflects its origins as a small hotel in nearby Brookville, Kansas that his family acquired in 1894.

The virus has upended travel and spending habits for millions of Americans. Small business failures in the first months of the pandemic were modest, however, as federal aid helped companies make payrolls as they waited for life to return to normal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/pangolins-found-to-carry-coronavirus-strains-still-being-used-in-china-334888" hreflang="en">Pangolins, found to carry coronavirus strains, still being used in China</a>

But the virus continues to spread, shattering records&nbsp;for new cases in the Midwest last week, while emergency federal aid is running out. With cold weather and flu season nearing, which typically brings a drop in business for restaurants even in good years, Brookville's fate may be a harbinger of things to come.

Based on an analysis of credit card transactions by the online marketing firm Womply, one in five small businesses in the United States open at the beginning of 2020 had permanently stopped operating as of mid-September - including 23% of restaurants. About 40% of restaurants recently surveyed&nbsp;by the National Restaurants Association say they will be out of business in six months unless there is more financial relief from the government.

Martin, 70, said he was hopeful in the first months of the pandemic. The restaurant secured a $57,000 loan through the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program - a vital lifeline, he said. Three-quarters of that went to pay his several dozen employees, "which allowed us to free up those dollars to pay other expenses, like the mortgage and gas bill — all the stuff a restaurant needs," he said.

They reopened Easter weekend for takeout only and hit their goals: 200 meals on Saturday and 400 on Easter itself. Mother's Day was a hit, with 700 takeout meals. They were eventually able to reopen the dining rooms, with limited seating.

However, business remained half the level of a year ago, Martin said. Summer is normally the busy season, thanks to a steady stream of visitors to the nearby Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. Often, Brookville would have two tour buses a week stop by for lunch or dinner. But the museum remains closed, and they had just two buses all summer.

Martin cut costs everywhere, including switching to hauling the restaurant's garbage to the dump with his own trailer to shave the $375 a month cost of pickup - but it was not enough to turn a profit.

By the time they closed in September, he estimates he had lost $50,000 in total for the year, compared to the up to $50,000 annual profit he was used to.

SHUTDOWN RIPPLES THROUGH COMMUNITY

Martin and his wife Connie rebuilt the restaurant in Abilene in 2000, painstakingly mirroring the old hotel's distinctive look, with a round-roof facade and the words "Since 1870" in large letters. His mortgage, which helped to fund the revamp, stands at around $700,000.

There was no fifth generation waiting to take over. The couple's only child, daughter Brandy Lea, passed away 25 years ago at age 17.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/i-feel-so-powerful-trump-returns-to-campaign-trail-after-testing-negative-for-coronavirus-334848" hreflang="en">'I feel so powerful': Trump returns to campaign trail after testing negative for coronavirus</a>

Martin has heard from his bank that there might be interest from someone who could reopen the restaurant, but he thinks that is unlikely until after the pandemic subsides. He said he has no plans to retire, in part because he has poured most of his savings into the restaurant, and just applied for a job as a courier.

Among the personal things he took with him: the framed bronze medallion Brookville received in 2007 from the James Beard Foundation when they were given an 'America's Classics' award.

The shutdown has rippled through the Abilene community, population 6,300. Kim Palenske, who hostessed at the restaurant for eight years, said she knew they were struggling but was still startled when Martin decided to close.

The restaurant was so well known, Palenske said, she was sure it would survive. "We had people from Australia," she said, "and there were people who would make a day of it to drive from Wichita to have lunch on a Sunday."

Palenske, who also works part-time at the local school, said she will need something new to make up for the lost income. "I haven't started looking yet," she said. "I'm still kind of in shock."

Customers are also reeling. Mary Stirtz and her husband, local retirees, would pick up dinner almost every warm Friday night and eat it at nearby Eisenhower Park while they watched the swimmers in the outdoor pool. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the park two years ago, with 35 dinners from Brookville for extended family and friends who attended.

"We loved it," she said. "We just loved it."

Mark Martin's family restaurant weathered two world wars, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression, serving up heaping plates of hand-battered fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn to a devoted clientele.

Mark Martin's family restaurant weathered two world wars, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression, serving up heaping plates of hand-battered fried chicken, mashed potatoes and creamed corn to a devoted clientele. But it could not survive the pandemic. The restaurant, nestled by the highway in Abilene, Kansas, closed permanently on Sept. 25, after struggling to break even amid shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. "We're kind of in shock that this will be the end of it for us," said Martin, the fourth generation to run the Brookville Hotel, a name that reflects its origins as a small hotel in nearby Brookville, Kansas that his family acquired in 1894. The virus has upended travel and spending habits for millions of Americans. Small business failures in the first months of the pandemic were modest, however, as federal aid helped companies make payrolls as they waited for life to return to normal. Also read: Pangolins, found to carry coronavirus strains, still being used in China But the virus continues to spread, shattering records for new cases in the Midwest last week, while emergency federal aid is running out. With cold weather and flu season nearing, which typically brings a drop in business for restaurants even in good years, Brookville's fate may be a harbinger of things to come. Based on an analysis of credit card transactions by the online marketing firm Womply, one in five small businesses in the United States open at the beginning of 2020 had permanently stopped operating as of mid-September - including 23% of restaurants. About 40% of restaurants recently surveyed by the National Restaurants Association say they will be out of business in six months unless there is more financial relief from the government. Martin, 70, said he was hopeful in the first months of the pandemic. The restaurant secured a $57,000 loan through the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program - a vital lifeline, he said. Three-quarters of that went to pay his several dozen employees, "which allowed us to free up those dollars to pay other expenses, like the mortgage and gas bill — all the stuff a restaurant needs," he said. They reopened Easter weekend for takeout only and hit their goals: 200 meals on Saturday and 400 on Easter itself. Mother's Day was a hit, with 700 takeout meals. They were eventually able to reopen the dining rooms, with limited seating. However, business remained half the level of a year ago, Martin said. Summer is normally the busy season, thanks to a steady stream of visitors to the nearby Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. Often, Brookville would have two tour buses a week stop by for lunch or dinner. But the museum remains closed, and they had just two buses all summer. Martin cut costs everywhere, including switching to hauling the restaurant's garbage to the dump with his own trailer to shave the $375 a month cost of pickup - but it was not enough to turn a profit. By the time they closed in September, he estimates he had lost $50,000 in total for the year, compared to the up to $50,000 annual profit he was used to. SHUTDOWN RIPPLES THROUGH COMMUNITY Martin and his wife Connie rebuilt the restaurant in Abilene in 2000, painstakingly mirroring the old hotel's distinctive look, with a round-roof facade and the words "Since 1870" in large letters. His mortgage, which helped to fund the revamp, stands at around $700,000. There was no fifth generation waiting to take over. The couple's only child, daughter Brandy Lea, passed away 25 years ago at age 17. Also read: 'I feel so powerful': Trump returns to campaign trail after testing negative for coronavirus Martin has heard from his bank that there might be interest from someone who could reopen the restaurant, but he thinks that is unlikely until after the pandemic subsides. He said he has no plans to retire, in part because he has poured most of his savings into the restaurant, and just applied for a job as a courier. Among the personal things he took with him: the framed bronze medallion Brookville received in 2007 from the James Beard Foundation when they were given an 'America's Classics' award. The shutdown has rippled through the Abilene community, population 6,300. Kim Palenske, who hostessed at the restaurant for eight years, said she knew they were struggling but was still startled when Martin decided to close. The restaurant was so well known, Palenske said, she was sure it would survive. "We had people from Australia," she said, "and there were people who would make a day of it to drive from Wichita to have lunch on a Sunday." Palenske, who also works part-time at the local school, said she will need something new to make up for the lost income. "I haven't started looking yet," she said. "I'm still kind of in shock." Customers are also reeling. Mary Stirtz and her husband, local retirees, would pick up dinner almost every warm Friday night and eat it at nearby Eisenhower Park while they watched the swimmers in the outdoor pool. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the park two years ago, with 35 dinners from Brookville for extended family and friends who attended. "We loved it," she said. "We just loved it."

After frying chicken for over 100 years, Kansas restaurant is shut by pandemic

Four people lost their lives and nine are injured in a mass shooting in a bar at Kansas city. Watch this video to know more.

US: 4 killed in mass shooting in a Kansas bar

A US man accused of killing India engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla last year has been sentenced to life in prison. US Navy veteran Adam Purinton pleaded guilty in March of killing Srinivas in a racially motivated hate crime at a bar in Kansas city last year.&nbsp;

52-year-old Purinton was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla. He was also charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla's friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander who had chased Purinton after he fled the bar.

According to reports, Purinton, yelled, "Get out of my country," before shooting Kuchibhotla, who succumbed to injuries and was declared dead.

Purinton was sentenced to life in prison by a federal judge in Kansas yesterday. He will also serve 165 months imprisonment for each of the other two murder charges.

Kuchibhotla's wife Sunayana Dumala welcomed the court's decision but added that the ruling will not get back her deceased husband.

"Today's sentencing in the murder of my husband will not bring back my Srinu, but it sends a strong message that hate is never acceptable," Dumala said in a statement.

"I want to thank the District Attorney's office and the Olathe police for their efforts to bring this man to justice," she added.

Srinivas, 33, hailed from Hyderabad and moved to the&nbsp;US to study engineering at the University of Texas. He worked as an aviation systems engineer at Garmin. Srinivas used to meet his friends customarily at Kansas's Austin's Bar and Grill where the tragic incident occurred on February 22 last year.&nbsp;

Srinivas' murder sparked international outcry and raised debates over hate crimes and racial bullying in the country shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration.&nbsp;

The US President received much flak for not speaking on the incident, he later spoke about the same during his Congressional address. Kuchibhotla's wife Sunayana Dumala was invited to Trump's first State of the Union address in January.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

52-year-old Purinton was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla

A US man accused of killing India engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla last year has been sentenced to life in prison. US Navy veteran Adam Purinton pleaded guilty in March of killing Srinivas in a racially motivated hate crime at a bar in Kansas city last year. 52-year-old Purinton was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla. He was also charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla's friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander who had chased Purinton after he fled the bar. According to reports, Purinton, yelled, "Get out of my country," before shooting Kuchibhotla, who succumbed to injuries and was declared dead. Purinton was sentenced to life in prison by a federal judge in Kansas yesterday. He will also serve 165 months imprisonment for each of the other two murder charges. Kuchibhotla's wife Sunayana Dumala welcomed the court's decision but added that the ruling will not get back her deceased husband. "Today's sentencing in the murder of my husband will not bring back my Srinu, but it sends a strong message that hate is never acceptable," Dumala said in a statement. "I want to thank the District Attorney's office and the Olathe police for their efforts to bring this man to justice," she added. Srinivas, 33, hailed from Hyderabad and moved to the US to study engineering at the University of Texas. He worked as an aviation systems engineer at Garmin. Srinivas used to meet his friends customarily at Kansas's Austin's Bar and Grill where the tragic incident occurred on February 22 last year. Srinivas' murder sparked international outcry and raised debates over hate crimes and racial bullying in the country shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration. The US President received much flak for not speaking on the incident, he later spoke about the same during his Congressional address. Kuchibhotla's wife Sunayana Dumala was invited to Trump's first State of the Union address in January. (With inputs from agencies)

US man accused of murdering Indian techie Srinivas gets life term

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kansas-bar-shooting-hero-honoured-by-indian-american-community-13820">24-year-old American Ian Grillot</a>, who was hit with bullets during an attack on Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibothla in February at the Austins Bar and Grill in Olath, Kansas has been honoured by Time magazine.

The magazine<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-veteran-charged-with-killing-indian-in-kansas-bar-12768"> has named Grillot as &quot;5 heroes</a> who gave us hope in 2017&quot;.&nbsp;

Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed after an American ex-Navy veteran opened fire at the Kansas bar. &nbsp;

Police had filed a case against Adam Purinton, 51, for possible &quot;hate crime&quot; and charged him with one count of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted premeditated first-degree murder.

The murder was taken up by the Indian foreign ministry later which had requested US authorities to conduct a &quot;thorough and speedy investigation&quot;.

Grillot was severely injured during the shooting.&nbsp;He told Time that,&quot;I wouldn&#39;t have been able to live with myself if I didn&#39;t do anything.&quot;

&quot;Without all the prayers and positive support from everybody, I wouldn&#39;t be doing as well as I am right now. It has been a wonderful year and a blessing to be alive,&quot; Grillot told PTI later.

Grillot was watching a basketball game on TV at the restaurant when Purinton approached Srinivas and another Indian Alok and reportedly told them to &quot;get out of my country.&quot;

Grillot was shot in the chest during the attack on Srinivas as he tried to fend off Purinton.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla was ultimately cremated in Bachupally area on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed after an American ex-Navy veteran opened fire at the Kansas bar. ?

24-year-old American Ian Grillot, who was hit with bullets during an attack on Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibothla in February at the Austins Bar and Grill in Olath, Kansas has been honoured by Time magazine. The magazine has named Grillot as "5 heroes who gave us hope in 2017". Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed after an American ex-Navy veteran opened fire at the Kansas bar. Police had filed a case against Adam Purinton, 51, for possible "hate crime" and charged him with one count of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted premeditated first-degree murder. The murder was taken up by the Indian foreign ministry later which had requested US authorities to conduct a "thorough and speedy investigation". Grillot was severely injured during the shooting. He told Time that,"I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I didn't do anything." "Without all the prayers and positive support from everybody, I wouldn't be doing as well as I am right now. It has been a wonderful year and a blessing to be alive," Grillot told PTI later. Grillot was watching a basketball game on TV at the restaurant when Purinton approached Srinivas and another Indian Alok and reportedly told them to "get out of my country." Grillot was shot in the chest during the attack on Srinivas as he tried to fend off Purinton. Srinivas Kuchibhotla was ultimately cremated in Bachupally area on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Time magazine honours American Ian Grillot who took bullets during attack on Indian techie in Kansas

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, opened his address to the joint session of the US Congress by a cursory reference to last week&rsquo;s shooting in Kansas City of Indian national Srinivas Kuchibhotla.&nbsp;

For the record, Trump has not apologised on behalf of his country or his people.

He left it to his nation to stand united in &ldquo;condemning hate and evil in all its forms&rdquo;. As the executive head of the US government, Trump failed to live up to his responsibility of condemning Kuchibhotla&#39;s killing, an act of blatant hatred and putrid jingoism.

The president did not mention the name of the victim either. After all, Mr Kuchibhotla is neither American, nor a hero. He is just another member of the waves of immigrants from the countries of the global South who have travelled to the US to eke out a living.&nbsp;

No consolation message from the president has reached Kuchibhotla&rsquo;s family yet.&nbsp;

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<h5>The suspect, Adam W&nbsp;Purinton, admitted in court that he shot Kuchibhotla, thinking he was an Iranian. There are thousands of Iranians working and studying all over the US -- why would a Kansas citizen suddenly become so conscious of the presence of an Iranian national in his own town?</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The suspect, Adam W?Purinton, admitted in court that he shot Kuchibhotla, thinking he was an Iranian. There are thousands of Iranians working and studying all over the US -- why would a Kansas citizen suddenly become so conscious of the presence of an Iranian national in his own town? " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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Clearly, the president does not care. His mentioning of the Kansas shooting is perfunctory at best, a face-saving measure to embellish America&rsquo;s image as the land of law and order. &nbsp;

&ldquo;America is strong, America is proud, and America is free,&rdquo;&nbsp;the president pointed out, but in obfuscating over the recent evidence of jingoism in the US, the president evaded engaging with his own role in stirring up negative emotions among many of his countrymen -- which is what led to the killing of Kuchibhotla. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The suspect, Adam W&nbsp;Purinton, admitted in court that he shot Kuchibhotla, thinking he was an Iranian. There are thousands of Iranians working and studying all over the US -- why would a Kansas citizen suddenly become so conscious of the presence of an Iranian national in his own town? &nbsp;

It is virtually universally known that President Trump is committed to painting Iran as a terrorist state. But unlike a responsible leader, Trump deliberately did not distinguish between the Iranian state and common Iranians living in the US. Can the President deny that this consistent blurring of categories is fueling a blanket animosity towards anybody who does not look or speak like a white American?

The death of Kuchibhotla is not an isolated incident of hate crime, it is part of a deeper malice the US is suffering from. The country has high unemployment rates, its people are terrified and confused about terrorism. Under the circumstances, the easy answer the country has found is to obliterate&nbsp;&ldquo;outsiders&rdquo;, anybody it considers not American.&nbsp;

Instead of diffusing culpability for the act, the president needs to address it head on. The United States of America stands at a critical juncture, one at which it needs to recognise the threat insularity poses to the nation&#39;s democratic fabric. Otherwise, this slow smouldering hatred towards immigrants will turn into a normalised practice of violence in the US.&nbsp;

And all future Kuchibhotlas will turn into nameless victims of hate crime in presidential speeches.&nbsp;

(WION)

The answer is no. His mention of the Kansas shooting was perfunctory at best, a face-saving measure

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, opened his address to the joint session of the US Congress by a cursory reference to last week’s shooting in Kansas City of Indian national Srinivas Kuchibhotla. For the record, Trump has not apologised on behalf of his country or his people. He left it to his nation to stand united in “condemning hate and evil in all its forms”. As the executive head of the US government, Trump failed to live up to his responsibility of condemning Kuchibhotla's killing, an act of blatant hatred and putrid jingoism. The president did not mention the name of the victim either. After all, Mr Kuchibhotla is neither American, nor a hero. He is just another member of the waves of immigrants from the countries of the global South who have travelled to the US to eke out a living. No consolation message from the president has reached Kuchibhotla’s family yet. The suspect, Adam W Purinton, admitted in court that he shot Kuchibhotla, thinking he was an Iranian. There are thousands of Iranians working and studying all over the US -- why would a Kansas citizen suddenly become so conscious of the presence of an Iranian national in his own town? × Clearly, the president does not care. His mentioning of the Kansas shooting is perfunctory at best, a face-saving measure to embellish America’s image as the land of law and order. “America is strong, America is proud, and America is free,” the president pointed out, but in obfuscating over the recent evidence of jingoism in the US, the president evaded engaging with his own role in stirring up negative emotions among many of his countrymen -- which is what led to the killing of Kuchibhotla. The suspect, Adam W Purinton, admitted in court that he shot Kuchibhotla, thinking he was an Iranian. There are thousands of Iranians working and studying all over the US -- why would a Kansas citizen suddenly become so conscious of the presence of an Iranian national in his own town? It is virtually universally known that President Trump is committed to painting Iran as a terrorist state. But unlike a responsible leader, Trump deliberately did not distinguish between the Iranian state and common Iranians living in the US. Can the President deny that this consistent blurring of categories is fueling a blanket animosity towards anybody who does not look or speak like a white American? The death of Kuchibhotla is not an isolated incident of hate crime, it is part of a deeper malice the US is suffering from. The country has high unemployment rates, its people are terrified and confused about terrorism. Under the circumstances, the easy answer the country has found is to obliterate “outsiders”, anybody it considers not American. Instead of diffusing culpability for the act, the president needs to address it head on. The United States of America stands at a critical juncture, one at which it needs to recognise the threat insularity poses to the nation's democratic fabric. Otherwise, this slow smouldering hatred towards immigrants will turn into a normalised practice of violence in the US. And all future Kuchibhotlas will turn into nameless victims of hate crime in presidential speeches. (WION)

Did Trump really condemn Srinivas Kuchibhotla's killing?

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