Poll: Gay marriage still divisive issue

Poll: Gay marriage still divisive issue

NEW YORK

The Supreme Court’s ruling last month legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide has left Americans sharply divided, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll that suggests support for gay unions may be down slightly from earlier this year.

The poll also found a near-even split over whether local officials with religious objections should be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, with 47 percent saying that should be the case and 49 percent say they should be exempt.

Overall, if there’s a conflict, a majority of those questioned think religious liberties should win out over gay rights, according to the poll. While 39 percent said it’s more important for the government to protect gay rights, 56 percent said protection of religious liberties should take precedence.

Black group, KKK have rallies in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C.

Hundreds of people taunted one another on the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse during separate rallies staged by two groups from outside the state.

Black Educators for Justice, based in Jacksonville, Fla., had its rally Saturday on the north side of the Statehouse, where the Confederate flag was removed earlier this month. Later, the North Carolina-based Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan had a rally on the opposite side of the building to protest the flag’s removal.

The S.C. Department of Public Safety estimated the crowd at approximately 2,000. Spokeswoman Sherri Iacobelli said five people were arrested and 23 people needed medical attention; many were treated for heat.

Federal charges are sought in chokehold death of NY man

NEW YORK

The widow of Eric Garner and hundreds of protesters rallied outside a courthouse Saturday to call on federal prosecutors to indict the white police officer who put the black New York City man in a fatal chokehold a year ago.

“You all keep me empowered to speak,” Garner’s widow, Esaw Garner, told the demonstrators at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

The rally brought Garner’s family together with the loved ones of other blacks whose high-profile deaths have prompted outcry and protests: Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Ramarley Graham. It was the second day of protests to mark the anniversary of Garner’s death July 17, 2014.

Iran leader: Nuke deal won’t change policy to ‘arrogant’ US

TEHRAN, IRAN

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday a landmark nuclear deal won’t change his country’s policy toward the “arrogant” U.S., making his first public speech since the Islamic Republic’s historic pact with world powers.

Khamenei said a more wide-ranging agreement with America is unlikely, striking a different pose from moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who earlier said the Vienna accord could “step-by-step remove bricks from the wall of mistrust” between Iran and the U.S. The ayatollah’s remarks also praised the Iranian negotiators who struck the deal.

Five bodies found

MODESTO, CALIF.

Police say five people have been found dead in a California home.

Modesto police spokeswoman Heather Graves said officers received a call Saturday about the discovery in a residential neighborhood. She had no immediate information on the victims and circumstances of the deaths. Detectives were processing the crime scene.

Modesto is in the state’s Central Valley.

Associated Press