All posts tagged: squads

Pope Leo reiterates opposition to death penalty on same day U.S. approves firing squads : NPR

Pope Leo reiterates opposition to death penalty on same day U.S. approves firing squads : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8 in Vatican City, Vatican. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe hide caption toggle caption Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe The Trump administration announced Friday that it will authorize firing squads as a federally permitted method of execution, deepening its push to revive the death penalty — underscoring a sharp divide with Pope Leo XIV and recent Catholic teaching. Hours after the Justice Department made its announcement, the pontiff condemned the death penalty as an attack on human dignity. In a prerecorded video message shared with DePaul University in Chicago to mark the 15th anniversary of Illinois’ abolition of the death penalty, Pope Leo declared that the Catholic Church has consistently taught that each human life, from conception until natural death, is sacred and deserves protection. “We affirm that the dignity of the person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed,” Leo said. Hours earlier, the pontiff had condemned capital punishment aboard the papal plane, when …

The DOJ will allow firing squads as Trump administration pushes to step up federal executions : NPR

The DOJ will allow firing squads as Trump administration pushes to step up federal executions : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, on May 6, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption toggle caption Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department will adopt firing squads as a permitted method of execution as the Trump administration moves to ramp up and expedite capital punishment cases, officials said Friday. The Justice Department is also reauthorizing the use of single-drug lethal injections with pentobarbital that were used to carry out 13 executions during the first Trump administration — more than under any president in modern history. The Biden administration had removed pentobarbital from the federal protocol over concerns about the potential for unnecessary pain and suffering. The moves were announced as part of a broader push to step up federal executions after a moratorium under the Biden administration. Only three defendants remain on federal death row after Democratic President Joe Biden converted 37 of their sentences to life in prison, though the Trump administration has so far authorized …

DOJ seeks to bring back firing squads, electric chairs for some death penalty cases

DOJ seeks to bring back firing squads, electric chairs for some death penalty cases

Published by Sam Flores

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Friday it will bring back the use of firing squads and electric chairs for some death penalty cases, as well as “readopting” the use of lethal injections as used during the first Trump administration. Department officials said in a statement that bringing back these manners of execution “are critical… Source link

DOJ says it will use firing squads again for federal executions

DOJ says it will use firing squads again for federal executions

Published by Sam Flores

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a news conference at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building on April 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The U.S. government should add firing squads, electrocution and gas asphyxiation as methods of executing people convicted of the gravest federal crimes, the Department of Justice said on Friday in a report that noted difficulties in getting drugs for lethal injections. The report was a fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s promise to resume capital punishment in his second term. In his first term, which ended in 2021, he resumed it after a 20-year gap, executing 13 federal prisoners with lethal injections in his final few months in office. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who released the report, has authorized seeking death sentences against nine people after Trump rescinded a moratorium on federal executions by his predecessor, Joe Biden, the department said. “Among the actions taken are readopting the lethal injection protocol utilized during the first Trump Administration, expanding the protocol to include additional manners of …

Trump administration to prioritise seeking death penalty, use firing squads | Donald Trump News

Trump administration to prioritise seeking death penalty, use firing squads | Donald Trump News

Published by Sam Flores

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to expand the use of the federal death penalty, including through the deployment of firing squads. The announcement on Friday was part of a policy document issued by the Department of Justice, setting out the legal argument for various methods of execution. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list It touted steps for “restoring and strengthening” the death penalty as integral to the pursuit of justice. “The Department of Justice acted to restore its solemn duty to seek, obtain, and implement lawful capital sentences – clearing the way for the Department to carry out executions once death-sentenced inmates have exhausted their appeals,” the Justice Department said in a news release. While the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution outlaws “cruel and unusual punishments”, the Justice Department maintains that execution by gunfire, electrocution and lethal gas are all legally acceptable. The policy document also takes aim at Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for implementing a moratorium on the federal executions. “The federal death penalty …

Fly-tippers to be forced to join ‘clean-up squads’ – and made to ‘pick up the bill’ | UK News

Fly-tippers to be forced to join ‘clean-up squads’ – and made to ‘pick up the bill’ | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

Fly-tippers in England could be forced to carry out unpaid clean-ups of streets, parks and dumping hotspots under new plans announced by the government. So-called “clean-up squads” will see fly-tippers given conditional cautions by local authorities, making them clear up waste for up to 20 hours. Currently, fly-tippers are only punished after conviction, often after lengthy court proceedings. You need javascript enabled to view this content Enable javascript to share Share Court grants a restriction order to close Epping waste site The government hopes this plan will speed up enforcement. The measure is part of a major 10-point plan being unveiled by the Environment Agency on Friday, aimed at tackling both low-level fly-tipping and large-scale organised illegal waste crime. Image: EA staff block the illegal waste dump site in Epping, Essex Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “If you dump rubbish on our streets, you will be joining a clean-up squad and picking up the bill, not the taxpayer. “We are clamping down on these criminals, making sure those responsible clean up and pay up. This …

American Death Squads: ICE and the Administrative Evil of ‘Just Following Orders’

American Death Squads: ICE and the Administrative Evil of ‘Just Following Orders’

Published by Sam Flores

Renée Good, Alex Pretti, Parady La, Heber Sánchez Dominguez, Luis Beltrán Yáñez–Cruz, Víctor Manuel Díaz, Geraldo Lunas Campos and Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres were all killed at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during enforcement actions or in a detention facility. That is eight people dead just in the first few weeks of 2026. Thirty two people died in ICE custody in 2025, with at least six more people who were either shot, hit by a truck or SUV, or fell from a roof. On New Year’s Eve, Keith Porter was killed by an off-duty ICE agent who alleged that Porter was instigating a confrontation involving firearms. Regardless of any explanations given by the Trump administration and its representatives, deaths are never justified. To MAGA and those in power, ICE was victimized by almost all peaceful and law-abiding individuals. That is a disgrace to American public safety, security and stability. It speaks to the rise of Donald Trump’s authoritarianism masquerading as patriotism and traditional values. I submit to you that what is …

Fixtures, results, squads and how to watch on TV

Fixtures, results, squads and how to watch on TV

Published by Sam Flores

Ticket prices and how to get them The cost of tickets ranges considerably, from around £26 for the cheapest tickets for France’s three home games to £203 for the most expensive England home tickets against Wales and Ireland. Tickets for each of the home games can be bought from the respective federations: England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy. Who is in the squads? England Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton), Ben Earl (Saracens), Greg Fisilau (Exeter), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton), Guy Pepper (Bath), Henry Pollock (Northampton), Bevan Rodd (Sale) Vilikesa Sela (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath). Backs: Henry Arundell (Bath), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), George Furbank (Northampton), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack …