Operation Exploding Kilo - 17 drug trafficking arrests | DOJ drops Durham "disparate impact" lawsuit | Durham schools celebrate "radical resistance to whiteness"
No. 113 — Feb. 23-Mar. 1, 2025
Anti-drug-trafficking "Operation Exploding Kilo" results in 17 arrests
17 people arrested as part of Wake County drug operation targeting opioid and cocaine trafficking - WRAL
DEA, Wake County deputies conduct drug investigation at house near Wake Forest; 17 arrested - ABC11
17 arrested in drug trafficking operation in Wake County, deputies say - CBS17
The Wake County Sheriff's Office has announced that an operation targeting drug traffickers has resulted in 17 arrests, the majority of whom were charged with trafficking opium, heroin, and/or cocaine.
The investigation included multiple raids in the Wake Forest area, as well as joint-effort from a number of law enforcement departments, including the DEA, US Marshals, ATF, NC SBI, Wake Co. DA's Office, Raleigh Police, Wake Forest Police, Franklin Co. Sheriff's Office, and Henderson Police.
The arrestees ranged from 20-year-old Marzavier Richardson to 66-year-old Sophia Jeffreys, who may be related to at least four other defendants among the arrestees sharing the last name Jeffreys.
According to Franklin Co. Sheriff Kevin White, the operation resulted in the seizure of "tremendous amounts of prepackaged cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, 55 firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and other assets.
Trump DOJ dismisses "disparate impact" lawsuit over Durham Fire Department entrance exam
Trump Administration Stops Lowering Standards for Police, Firefighters - White House Press Release
Durham firefighter applicants lose $1M settlement after Justice Department reversal on lawsuit - N&O
DOJ reverses course on series of discrimination lawsuits, including Durham Fire Department - ABC11
The (Trump) DOJ has filed to dismiss the lawsuit against the City of Durham over an exam which black firefighter applicants were failing at a higher rate.
Under the Biden administration, Durham had agreed to a Consent Decree with in Oct. 2024 including $1+ million in reparations and priority hires for applicants who had failed the basic competency test, which involved questions which tested the applicant's reading, writing, math, map reading, etc. at about a 4th grade level.
Although the DOJ and the city agreed to the settlement before the lawsuit was filed with the court, it still required the approval of the court.
The judge had asked for briefing on the applicability of Ricci v. Destefano, a 2009 case involving the "Disparate Impact" doctrine in which SCOTUS held that a Connecticut fire department had violated Title VII equal opportunity law by throwing out the results of a race blind promotion examination because the white candidates had passed at a significantly higher rate.
In response to the dismissal, the City of Durham has confirmed that they would still be aiming to replace the test with with the pipe dream of an exam which is both predictively valid and "equitable" in outcome; Durham Mayor Leo Williams also affirming the city council's it's commitment to "equity."
For more details on the original lawsuit and consent decree:
Durham Public Schools celebrate "radical resistance to whiteness" by CRT promoter
As part of a social media campaign against "hair discrimination," the official Facebook account of the Durham Public Schools shared a quote by Dr. Ronda Taylor Bullock about how she "found a deep appreciation for my own heritage and radical resistance to whiteness:"
Bullock is a self-described "Critical Race scholar," as well as the executive director and co-founder (along with her husband) of "WE-ARE" (Working to Extend Anti-Racist Education), which provides "workshops, consultations, and presentations" such as an "implicit bias workshop" for the Wake County Board of Education members in 2023.
Durham CRT promoter honored by VP (No. 10 — Mar. 11, 2023)
Wake County Board of Education invites “Critical Race Scholar” for implicit bias training (No. 46 — Nov. 18, 2023)
Protest Watch
Small immigration protest in Louisburg
Sunday: Video from Louisburg shows approximately nine Hispanics with an American flag in order to protest in favor of illegal immigration with chants of “no papers, no fear” and “we are here, we're not going:”
Hundreds rally to support Ukraine in downtown Raleigh - ABC11
Sunday: Supporters of Ukraine rallied in Raleigh on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion ahead of Ukrainian President Zelensky's contentions meeting with President Trump and Vice President Vance on Friday.
The rally reportedly included both "members of the Triangle's Ukrainian population," as well as non-Ukrainian supporters such as Morrisville Councilmember Steve Rao.
Anti-Musk protest outside Tesla showroom
Protests and dropping sales, but Tesla is still top car dealer in NC - WRAL
Tuesday: Over a hundred protesters gathered outside the Tesla dealership-equivalent on Glenwood Avenue to protest against its CEO, Elon Musk over his role in the Trump administration. The protest, which was reportedly organized by "Engaged Durhamites for Democracy," included symbology including signs opposing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE,) accusations of Nazism, and a number of Ukrainian flags.
A previous protest along these lines at this location earlier this month only attracted approximately five participants.
‘Duke, don’t comply’: Duke, Durham community members protest to demand University stand up to Trump, end PPD policy - The Chronicle
Wednesday: Leftist and pro-Palestine groups attracted approximately 200 attendees at Duke for a protest opposing Trump's anti-DEI executive orders and anti-illegal-immigration policies, calling on the university not to comply with the new administration's agenda. Speakers also opposed the university's updated "Pickets, Protests and Demonstrations policy," which they see as restrictive of the type of "free speech" such as the encampment or vandalism at UNC.