The Daily Fix: Students Riot at Pumpkin Fest, Nigeria Is Free of Ebola, and Turkey Will Help Kurds Fight Islamic State
On Saturday, police in riot gear responded to reports that a group of drunk Keene State College students were throwing bottles. Throughout the morning, the students set fires, pulled up street signs, and turned over at least two Dumpsters during an annual pumpkin festival in Keene, N.H.
The Boston Globe reported that the scene was chaos. Local police and state troopers in riot gear fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd.
“Pumpkinfest has always been fun,” 23-year-old Julie Conlon told the Globe. “Yeah, kids drink excessively, but it’s never been out of control. This year I watched thousands of kids pile into a backyard and kind of go crazy.”
After the news of the riots broke, some criticized the media for understating the level of disruption and mayhem and drew comparisons between media characterizations of what happened at the pumpkin fest and the protests in Ferguson, Mo., in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death.
“Media on #Ferguson: Angry mob loots and destroys the community. Media on #KeenePumpkinFest: Unruly college kids get a little rowdy. Hmm...” wrote one Twitter user.
In other news…
This Weekend in Ebola: Nigeria announced it was Ebola-free, Obama named Ron Klain the Ebola czar, and dozens of people came out of quarantine Monday in Dallas. (via Newsweek)
Turkey to Aid Kurds: Turkey said it’s helping Kurdish fighters battle the Islamic State in the Syrian border town of Kobani. Kurdish refugees in Turkey had protested against the country’s earlier refusal to intervene in the conflict. (via NPR)
Coaches Suspended in Sayreville: Five high school football coaches at Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey have been suspended in response to allegations of locker-room hazing and sexual assault among players. Seven members of the football team have been arrested and face sexual abuse charges, and the school district superintendent has canceled the football season. (via Reuters)
Nazis Collecting Social Security: Though they were forced out of the United States, dozens of Nazi war criminals and SS guards received a total of millions in social security payments. Four are still collecting money. (via The Associated Press)
Michael Brown Shooter’s Statement: For the first time since fatally killing unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson’s statement on the shooting is public. Wilson said he was punched and scratched by Brown before he shot him six times. This version of events contradicts some witness statements. (via The New York Times)
Polar Scare: Authorities in Arviat, Nunavut, a territory of Canada, have decided to move the town’s Halloween celebrations indoors owing to fears that polar bears might attack children. The bears have been spotted in residential areas more frequently in recent years. (via CBC)
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