1. TRUMP ORGANIZATION SAYS IT WON’T HOST EVENT FOR ANTI-MUSLIM GROUP: The Trump Organization said it wouldn’t host an event for a controversial right-wing group that promoted its annual gala to take place at Mar-a-Lago. The group, Act for America, has been defined as anti-Muslim by the Anti-Defamation League. Michelle Malkin was slated to keynote the event, which was originally advertised on the group’s website as taking place November 7 at Donald Trump’s Palm Beach property. CNN: “According to the SPLC, tickets for the event started at $1,500 and V.I.P. seats—listed at $2,500—had already been sold out by the time the advertisement for the event stopped appearing on the organization's website. Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, told CNN Sunday that the Trump Organization's statement that Mar-a-Lago would not host the event was ‘welcome’ news.” 2. BOSTON MUSEUM MAKES CHANGES AFTER ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM: The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is making changes after it was accused of racism by a group of black middle school students on a field trip last spring, who said they were told by museum patrons and an employee: “No food, no drink, and no watermelon.” Museum director Michael Teitelbaum publicly apologized, banned two patrons, and launched an internal investigation. In an attempt to become a more diverse institution, the museum has launched new exhibits focused on women and Native Americans, and has created a new position of senior director of inclusion. Associated Press: “In a nod to the need for greater gender equity, it has given over an entire wing to female artists in ‘Women Take the Floor,’ an exhibition timed to coincide with next year’s centennial of U.S. women winning the right to vote. And this month, for the first time, it will open its doors for free to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It’s also been using its website to keep the public updated on its efforts to make things right.” 3. CALIFORNIA OKTOBERFEST EXPLOSION INJURES FIREFIGHTERS AND ATTENDEES: Firefighters and patrons were injured in an electrical explosion at an Oktoberfest celebration in Huntington Beach, California. The explosion came from an underground vault at Old World Village’s German Restaurant. Los Angeles Times: “The blasts shattered the beery euphoria of Oktoberfest and left many on Sunday wondering what caused them. It was the busiest weekend of the year for Bischof’s restaurant, which at the time of the explosion was filled with 1,000 people, or two-thirds the night’s expected turnout, said Dan Escamilla, a member of the restaurant’s management team who was tapped as its spokesman after the explosions.” |