this edition, thank you adam ramsey, in washington, i'm ray swarez. on america tonight, young and restless. >> a movement sparked by flash point ferguson the death of an unarmed teenager and a brutal police response. now, how the feds are stepping in while young protestors across the nation, are stepping up with more protests. >> also tonight, women this wartime. the mother serving as protectors and fighters against the dangers of the islamic state. >> why is it important to you as a woman to be

involved in this fight? >> because we do this to protect women's right, because there's no one protecting women. >> fault lines correspondent in northern iraq, with an indepth look at the women leading the fight. and the bug police, called in to administer an unexpected drug test. >> and bath salt. >> party goers and a growing business. testing their dope to make sure it is clean mesh tonight's with an exclusive look behind the scenes of the bug police. >> like breaking bad in here. >> breaking good, not breaking bad. >> good evening thank you for joining us. >> you saw it here as we did on the streets of

ferguson, the city just outside of st. louis, which became a flash point of anger after the police shooting death of an unarmed teenager. and a few challenges against the police department many claim had run shot over citizens especially minorities for years. the justice department vowed to look into that case, and today launched an even broader investigation, into the practices and policies of the ferguson and st. louis county police. >> i have said this starting in 2009, i think maybe i guess in the great hall, talks about a need for a conversation, in this country, about race. i think there's still that need, but i think we need to go beyond that, and we need to come up with concrete ways in which we are going to move this country forward. and deal with these issues. i think the vast majority of people's in law enforcement, vast majority of police departments do their job in a way that we would expect.

we need to have the guts to say we are going to identify this, this is a deficiency, and we are going to make it better. the death of young michael brown, days and nights of protests but it also raised new questions about racial profiling and the militarization of local police departments. american tonight, on a new wave of activism, and a question is this just another moment, or is it the start of a true movement? protestors join the nationwide call for change in the weeks following the shooting death of michael brown. >> it was during brown's emotional funeral, attracting locals and celebrities, where family members called for that change, to start with the

youth. we have had enough of the senseless killing, we have had enough of it, and any time change come in this country,s it has come through the youth. >> and the youth listened. that weekend, young activists called for mass civil disobedience in the highways in and around st. louis. >> hands up. >> hundreds of protestors marched through ferguson, chanting don't shoot, and carrying signs that read justice. racial flash points like ferguson are the beginning of a movement for change. >> while this is an issue that occurred in ferguson, it really is embloody warmatic of a national problem. a national problem being police brutality, the overpolicing of communities of color. >> there's no need for all oftous go to ferguson, because we live in ferguson, it is called the united states of america. >> african-american professor at howard

university, doubts the recent surge of young black activist will amount to con crease change. >> people get fired up, can real change happen or is this just the heat of the moment. >> this is what happened. there's ground swells there's maybe some marginal kind of adjustment, but the structural inequality that remains unchanged and until that changes this will continue. where do we go from here? >> what happens next, is people create build a community, and then we have to wais to see what shape and form that takes. but it is the energy that has been revied, what you are in is unique to you, but it is a part of a much larger struggle. splash helping build that community, were the hundreds of people across the u.s., who just last week, paused for a national moment of silence for brown.

residents rallies in what they describe as excessive police force. meanwhile, a collection of hip-hop artists have also weighed in by releasing a record organized by rapper the game. initially just upon hearing it was like really devastating kind of one of those wow factors where it is like wow, not a again. >> the sibling don't shoot features didi, rick ross, two chains and more. 15 recording artists in total are features on the six minute song. >> mike brown is african-american, i am african-american, i do have a voice. i am a entertainer, so so i wanted to do my part, in bringing awareness to

it. so that at the end of the day, that i can sleep well knowing that i used my voice correctly. >> tales benefit the go fund me account, which is so far raised more than $300,000. the outcry following the death of brown, is just the latest example of young activists taking to the street, facing a spotlight on black life in mischaracterize. when trayvon martin an unarmed black teenager was gunned down in 2012, thousands rallied in solidarity. >> i am here because of traevon. >> coming the catalyst for a new generation of activists. and just last week, social justice groups including color of change, calling for a full investigation of the police department to the white house. complete with more than 900,000 signatures.

it's just time to do something. >> missouri senator helped deliver the petitions. >> the unrest is simply because of the lack of respect that african-americans feel that they have had from the system. >> students in the nations capitol, posed with theirnd has up in protest of the brown shooting at the hands of police. and now has 15,000 retweets. what was the purpose of the photo. >> the purpose was really just to take a stand. take a stand, and let people know that enough is enough. we are not sitting idle and quieted about this, although a picture is an idle image it speaks 1,000 words. >> what message do you think it sent. >> can't do this to us any more. we aren't letting this fly any more.

they are also holding hope that today's justice department announcement, will bring the change they are calling for. sara highway, al jazeera, washington. >> ferguson police and the st. louis county police have promised to cooperate with the justice department,s both departments also pledged transparency. as has been the legal council in key civil rights cases involving police misconduct, going all the way back to the lay 70's you may remember his face from the rodney king trial as well, and your experience, looking at this, what are federal investigators looking for? policy maybe more important would be practicing what patterns would they be seeking out. >> well, first off, they are looking at practices. what is going on here. in terms of what african-americans are being stopped are they being arrested. in their cars being searched disproportionately, whether they are being

stopped and fines are being given. and then that's that part, and then secondly you have to look at the internal affairs aspect, are officers really being held accountable for a complaint is being made, does it always rule in favor of the department and against the citizen, so those areas are important. are the supervisors the sergeants holding individual officers accountability, and the way you do that is look at various stops and complaints that have been made, and what has happened to those officers, if nothing has happen, then you have to say well maybe, there's a discriminatory aspect of this. but i will tell you, the main problem that people in that community will have, is being stopped without just cause. basically because of their race, because of their neighborhood, because of their class, they are being stopped and then once they get passed that, then their cars are being serged and often without permission.

or on some pretense, so the justice department has to look and see what are the nature of these, whether or not there's a basis for the search of these cars and then ultimatelity rest. >> let me ask you this, we have had other cases and it is difficult, you look for metrics obviously, rather than experience, but you look at actual metrics something you would be able to trace. but look, in all the cases that you have seen, how likely is it that this producing something besides hey, look, there was some allegation of abuse, how often does it produce real change in departments. >> well, i tell you, that is a difficult one. we have been involved in the oakland situation for ten years and we are just now starting to see real changes. other departments it has to come internally. what happened normally, if lawsuits are filed.

those things can happen, but they generally happen as a result of a lawsuit. you don't have many cases with department of justice comes in and does a thorough serj, now that has happened more recently, but when that does happen, they have to go back and look at documents. and they have to go back and talk to the community, to see if they can then find ways to trace it. fast food workers the d. o.j. decides there's a sufficient bases to desite that it has taken place, they can then cause a series of reforms. and then they have to be implemented, officers have to be trained and then you have to have accountability. it can take time, what the d.o.j. has been there, there has been change. >> but often -- often though it does take quite a long time. >> it takes time.

>> we appreciate your incite. league expert, we appreciate your being here with us. >> thank you. >> on another issue, that has led to protests across the nation, that is money. as workers from mcdonalds burger king other take out shops tooing to the streets in 150 cities with, worst ebolaers seeking a bigger bite of the fast food industries profits. from los angeles to chicago, to new york, to houston. hundreds of fast food workers den't maaing higher pay, and the right to join unions a repeat of last year's campaign met with a new round of arrests. >> the threat didn't stop protestors in detroit or other cities whether workers say their salaries don't amount to a living wage. minimum wages do vary, $5.15s in wyoming, $9.50

an hour in the district of columbia. >> i have a son that's two years old, i am a single father that works on $7.25. should i feed him or me, and i feel like no human on earth should have to make that decision. >> that's what this houston mother of five beatrice makes after 20 years in the fast food business. >> it is not the easy. >> a $15 an hour wage is simply unrealistic, it could put some stores of out business. still workers kept up their demands for more pay, even in chicago, where the mayor has already proposed hiking the minimum wage to $13 an hour, workers say they need more just to make it. >> you are asking that workers be treated justly, and fairly. >> tough to beat the bosses. just last year ceos made

774 times more than those that work for minimum wage, and they pocketed on average more than $11.5 million a year. when we return, women facing war. fault lines correspondent, with the mothers and fighters standing up to the islamic state. >> elost my husband, i save kade,ly be more strong because i have children. they lost their father, but they have their mother. >> also ahead, on the run, the out of control scenes at a juvenile detention facility in tennessee. believe it or not, it is not the first time the kids have gone wild.

since her family has to plea they hometown, with only what they could fit in their car, the home she keeps for her family is a at the present time. >> this is not a life. we have to walk a long distance to get to the toilets, and i am afraid to go there at p cos a.m., i also worry about my children, because they are always getting sick, it is hard for me to change my clothes in the at the present times because some people barge into them. the situation is not ideal for women, we need a solution. >> the family is far from alone. more than 3 million people have been displaced be i the crisis. so that show me the ration card, this says they have 17 people living in this small went.

she struggled every day, as much to take care of her family, as to maintain her sanity. >> i am living in here, this whole situation is effects our lyes. >> the war here has spawned the largest crisis in the world. but for a host of reasons the suffering falls on women. rumors of rape, kidnap, and women being sold like cattle run rampant through the catches. >> of course i am afraid. how can i not be afraid. i used to be scared just watching the news. i sometimes have nightmares about them, i would take my own life to avoided seeing them in real life. i used to be terrorized by their name, and i

still am. i don't feel secure as a woman, i am afraid of any noises these days. while she fights to keep her family together, others have chosen to fight the other fashioned way, with a gun. >> we have linked up with the unit of the p. k.k., this happens to be mostly women, and led by a woman as well. asia star, and they brought us over to show us the front line. with the islamic state. >> when commander pointed out the black flag across the way, she noticed something extraordinary happening. two women, one carrying a child, were crossing no man's land. coming toward nervous and p. k.k. fighters. today, they were allowed to pass.

with miles to go before they will find the nearest doctor for the child. quo are surprised to find fighters so far south of their mountain strong hold. these kurdish rebels have struggled against turkey for years from their remote places in northern iraq. until now we haven't taken a position, but we see it as very important. this is very crucial, and above all, we are here to protect our people. >> why is it important to you as a woman, to be involved in this fight. >> we do this to protect women's rights because there is no one protecting women, they are likely to be victimmed. even if a woman is suffering we share the feeling and we are resisting for her here. >> . >> mortars in the distance reenforce her point.

>> in 2003, after the invasion of the u.s., there hasn't been any improvement in iraq. there are always explosions. death, and blood. the only solution at the moment is war. there are no alternatives. >> when i lost my husband, i said okay, i will be more strong because i have children. they lost their father, but they have their mother to take care of them. >> susanne is a director of a women's empowerment organization. >> women using as a weapon. of the conflict, of the war. because this is how the enemy using women. nor sexual violence, for kidnapping. this is what we can see. >> and for women that escape being directly victimized life in the catches offs it's own set of difficulties. >> all the responsibilities, the family's responsibles on women, shoulders so she

has to take care of about all the families members. all the people, that like this -- like handicap people, children, babies, so she needs more like watt tore clean, to cook, to change clothes and there's no clothes. she needs milk for her baby, so she has to think about everything. >> back at the refugee camp, she reaches beyond her specialty as a volunteer doctor treating the sick. >> most of our patients are women and children, but women are the most effected because they are the main pillar in the family, a woman can see the whole family effected around her, children don't have good water or clothes, and women begin to suffer psychologically. and this leads to physical effects. before we treat them, physically, we are treating them psychologically. >> it isn't hard for the doctor empathize with her patients.

because she too is a refugee, who fled from her home, when the i.s. attacked. >> what do you tend to see the most? what do patients come in with the most. >> they come from the skin allergies skin infection, chest pain, the area, dehydrated, low blood pressure, dizziness, generalized weakness. psychotic not good. >> psychological. >> in a place with so many needs it is difficult for the unseen afflictions and mental anguish to be diagnosed or treats. in the meantime, mothers and catched have to find a way to carry on, even when they think they can't, because this war isn't likery to go away any time soon, and unlike many of the women effected by this, war knows no mercy. enough, we need a

solution, even if we wanted to return home, how do we return? we have nothing there. how are we supposed to survive? i don't know how. >> in iraq, in looking at your piece, i am struck by how this is once again, in looking at the plight of the displaced people, once again so much pressure, so much of the challenge falls to the women and that become really the center point of a crisis. refugee crisis. >> you are right, the crisis difficult for anyone, there are over 3 million people who have been displaced by this, the u. says it is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world right now, but it is the women here, who suffer, for a variety of reasonings. what it is is the islamic state and selling women, so women are particularly

fearful of the islamic state. >> josh. >> the midst of the crisis the p. k. k. commander a women, a leader in a highly unusual role. >> so the f.k. k. is a turkish rebel group, they would normally be stations in the most northern part of eyewitness news rack. and they would be struggling against turkey, they are part of that kind of rebel movement, but isis is such a threat here. they have come hundreds of miles south, and being a part of this fight, is a way against fighting back against all of this in the way that women are treated in the world. i was stunned by it, i became the genesis of this piece. >> josh women often suffer the most. from women for women international an organization that

advocates on behalf of women and girls. it isn't just in the battle zone we are talking about, the impact is felt across the region. >> across the region. the crisis that we just witnessed and the stories also create a culture of fear, insecurity, there is a sense of uncertainty, about safety, for going to the schools for being able to go into the marketplaces. and. >> every day life. >> in every day life, the threats of movement, especially for women. who are income earners and responsible for taking care of the families the risks of going into the market. being able to buy food pose as risk. >> you bring up an interesting point, i don't know how many americans are aware that the role of women, or the opportunities have been improving up to this point. >> oh, absolutely. women for women international has been in iraq since 2003.

we have trained over 14,000 women and we are talking about women who are earning when they began the program, 50 plus cent as day. and over 12 months they would come together, find support with a classroom of other women to get the kind of psychological support, and they learn about their rights and learn a skill. >> and they improved the five fold increase. within two years they were able to improve their health, access -- let me tell you this story. a woman who came to our program, when after the war the first war broke out, she lost her husband's ability to have a job, and to support the family, she became responsible for four children, but she was pulled out of school to mary her husband. so she had no skills. when we found her and recruited her, and she came into the program, she learned how to become a tailor, learned about her rights and opened a small business, and was able to support her

family, she decided to give back, she started training in a church. >> and these are the women that are limited now from being able to do anything besides live in this camp. >> it's really disturbing because there was progress made. we have stories that depict not only the resilience, but also the ability these women have to overcome these horrific traumas and challenges. it is quite powerful, but there is people can do something, we don't have to wait for institutions. >> and there are other organizations as well. >> but unformingly all of you are having pressure on being able to help these wimp p women for women international. when we return, where juvenile evidencers ran wild, and made a break for it twice this week. and an insiders evidence that things have been out of control here for a long time. also ahead, good, bad drugs?

>> okay, let's not take bath salt. >> inside the party scene, with an exclusive look at the science behind the bunk police. oscar winning director alex gibney talks about his ground breaking new series edge of eighteen >> these cameras that we gave them. are not recording devices, they're story telling devices >> a powerful portrait of american kids... >> there are so many unexpected stories... >> exploring their hopes, fears, and dreams... >> it's a moment when they're about to be on their own, but not quite ready to be... >> and the realities of modern teenage life... >> these are very vivid human stories... >> talk to al jazeera with alex gibney, only on al jazeera america

making headlines.stories a federal judge has found former virginia governor and her wife guilty of

taking gifts and sweetheart loans in exchange for promoting a company. mcdonnell who was once seen as presidential material, was found guilty on 11 of 14 charges. his wife was convicted on nine of 14, includen obstruction of justice. u.s. justice judge ruled that b. p.m. asked with gross negligence, in part of the gulf of mexico oil spill four years ago. this was the worst oil disaster in u.s. history. that waycease fire can be worked out, comments coming as nato -- to confront a series of crisis when the conflict in ukraine to the growing threat of the state. for a second night in a row, law enforcement was called in to quell violence at a youth detention center, the second time in a week, teenagers were able to break out of a common area and reach a outdoor yard, where officials say

a large disturbance erupts. as america tonight, the detention center has a long history of violence. ml1 c^ than 20 juvenile inmates escopped their dorms running lose on the grounds. ages 14 to 18, some were armed with metal rods and rocks some pushed guards this comes two days after 32 teenagers out of the 78 escaped the facility through a hole in the chain link fence. dozens of officers from the metro police to the tennessee highway patrol were deployed to join the search. seven of the young men are still at large. all of them with felony records. this isn't the first time woodland hills has seen this kind of break out attempt. in 2004, more than a dozening teenagers escaped armed with broom handling. 16 staffers were injured before they were

disbursed by police in riot gear. a study by the department of justice found that woodland hills has one of the highests rates of abuse of any facility in the country. they have met the facility needs to do better. >> you make it better, by having our staff do good work. you make it better by making sure the kids are p prokerly classified. you make sure they get the services that they need. there's no single physician for this. >> adam may al jazeera. >> and it turns outwound land hills center has come under scrutiny before, jeremy findlay leads the i. team in nashville, your team broke the story of guards literally sleeping on the job, and letting the kids run wild. it's been quite the

investigative series. last year, we started looking into the fact we had found those photographs of employees that were sleeping when they were supposed to be watching these young offenders. we brought that information from the state, the state said we had no idea about this. and they took action. we air add piece last night, that showed pretty much the chaos inside of woodland hills. this video is extraordinary. it was leaked to me from a source within state government, and it basically shows these young offenders just running wild. inside this facility, doing back flips at 1 point, fighting each other, fighting guards, throwing chairs in the air. we took this to the government again, to say how is this possible, their response to us, we had no idea this was happening. after we aired our story, they launched an investigation. >> you have been looking at this already for years other investigations as well, and there's indication that the number of attacks we are

talking about a lot, not only on guards but on inmates against each other. >> that are's. and you have to remember, it's been back in 2004 is when the first riot occurred at this facility. i was there in 2004, covering that. so we are talking about a pattern of years and years of problems. of course, these are dangerous offenders. there's a reason they are in this facility, there will be problems. i think what is not expected is that you have this sizable population, and just a few guards that are assigned to watch other need kisses. kiss kids. there has to be legitimate questions if there's enough people watching them. >> people try to evaluate this before, jeremy, but it didn't produce any reaction, was there any effort to move the inmates to other facilities or somehow change the management or woodland hills. >> yeah, we have exposed all of these problems that have been happening at this facility, and there has been a change

over, and a number of new employees that have come in, but currently, there are 26 openings at this facility for jobs. that gives you an idea of how many people they still need in this facility to try to control the situation. >> remarkable out of control there, reporter is with wsmv's award winning, i team, investigative unit out there in nashville, watching other the situation, we appreciate your being with us. after the break, an exclusive look into the shadowdy world of the bunk police, testing to see if bad drugs are good. highlighter yellow is bath salt. >> shake it around. >> just ask tate eight bit. and bath salt. >> oriole he bath salt. >> that's bath salt. >> shut up. >> correspondent takestous this underground world hidden in the excitement of the

festival scene for a look at a different kind of drug test. >> these young people deserve justice >> anatomy of a protest... >> ...the police look like they're getting ready to come down the street >> with militarized police departments >> forces their message... >> they're actually firing canisters of gas... >> a fractured community demands answers >> what do we want? >> justice! >> when do we want it? >> now! >> faul lines, al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> there blocking the door... >> ground breaking... >> truth seeking... >> we have to get out of here... award winning investigative documentary series... special episode ferguson: city under siege only on al jazeera america >> now available, the new al jazeea america mobile news app. get our exclusive in depth, reporting when you want it. a global perspective wherever you are. the major headlines in context. mashable says... you'll never miss the latest news >> they will continue looking for survivors... >> the potential for energy

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>> on tech know, >> what if there was a miracle? >> grace's stem cells are in this box. >> that could save the live of your child... >> we're gonna do whatever we can >> would yo give it a try? >> cell therapy is gonna be the next big advance in medicine >> tech know, every saturday go where science meets humanity. >> this is some of the best driving i've every done, even though i can't see. >> tech know. >> we're here in the vortex. only on al jazeera america. music and drugs seem to go hand in hand, and this summer's festival season is no exception. deathsnth, two deaths and 20 hospitalizations where attributed to drug overdozes. but a new business, is offing help.

with a product aimed at the drug users. america tonight's krzysztof brings us an exclusive interview with a man who makes eight business to see if bad drugs are good. it's the height of the season, and the crowds are ready to go wild. >> but the news of two more deaths at a traveling electronic dance festival has organizerred worried about the substances some festival goers are bringing in. this is an illegal drug, mix wit the right chemical and you will see the same colors every time. it's call spot testing a simple method for identifying unknown substances and now being used in the most unlikely places. what shake it around. >> just agitate it a bit.

and bath salts. >> drug testing kits designed to help people test the purity of their recreational drugs are making the rounds all over the country. one nonand dangerous is bath salts. >> close and it shake it. that's bath salts. >> okay, let's not take bath salts. >> i would rather not do bath salts. >> yeah. >> the kits are made by an an monog organization called the bunk police, it is run mostly by volunteer whose travel from festival to festival, selling kits directly to consumers. this is my office right here. adam is the group's founder. >> a little bit outdated is one of our best

friends. we do have the 2014 edition, but this is the drug identification bible. >> it has all kinds of interesting information about every single drug. you can possibly imagine. we used some of these ideas to get our test kits into music festivals. he took america tonight on a tour of his home, now a makeshift lab bra story. >> it is like breaking bad in here. >> breaking good. now we will mix the drug chemical with this. he says he devoted almost every waking minute to the organization. researching new methods and spreading the word about the risk of the drugs. part business and mission, it is a new player in harm reduction, giving practical information to help people make safer decisions. so in theoryky go to a

festival, music concert, whatever, buy a pill of ecstasies, and use a kit to see if it's what that dealer has claimed that it is? right, and then make the decision. >> yes. >> similar to testing kits used by law enforcement to identify in the field. the kit provide information that is hard to come by in the mercury world. the demand was just absolutely insane. especially once people started to realize what was out there. at this time of the year, he sells thousands per week. he was an intelligence analyst for more than a decade. and so everything is adulterated with something. everything you buy on the

street with something, the question is how much and are they dangerous. the risks of taking the drugs is even higher when they are purchased in the environments like music festivals. drug consumer whose are buying from dealers that have no prior relationship, like music festivals there's no reason whatsoever, that a drug dealer wouldn't sell a bag of glass to a 14-year-old kid, and claim it to be some illegal drug. what are all the ingredients you have seen. >> it would take ten minutes to list them all, moat common are the bath salts. that sort of thing, we do see a lot of amphetamines. >> the testing kits have draw backs. researching a technique called thin layer, or tlc, which he hopes will solve the problems. >> people are making better choices about what

they put in their body because of the cans? >> absolutely. no question in my mind. i have watched the culture change. >> a rash of well publicized overdoses also helped raise awareness. organizers set up tight security, and banned a long list of seemingly harmless items. definitely a good amount of people that do take illegal substances, but i mean, they are taking it at their own risk. i was at the electric zoo last year where two people died. >> one of those people was jeffery rush. who collapsed into a seizure and died. but despite stories like russ, most music festivals won't allow his kits on to the premises. >> the first year when we were doing this, we were

very upfront, trying to get more pigs. and received nothing in response. and from there, we just decided to stop asking and start doing. just going without asking. >> yes. >> and sometimes that means smuggling in the your testing kits? >> i means that event time. we bribe food truck owners, was put them in black duffel bags and throw them over fences, we do whatever it takes. the police operate in a gray area. and festival organizations them are subject to the rave act, can themmize organizers. they can have their land seized something like that, and they think that having us there toasting substances means that they are allowing drug use to go on. the police isn't the first to offer the drug kits although they may be the most aggressive, they

are part of a larger harm reduction movement. the goal should be minimizing the harm. making overdoses, less common, making themless dangerous. slowing the spread of disease, all these things that reduce the harm, rather than just putting people in jail. what's been your general take away have doing that? >> most of what is out there is not what people say it is. >> we just want people to know what they are taking or more importantly before they buy it. aluminum and graphite al jazeera, denver. you can hear the background on the exclusive story, and the fight against bad drugs at music festivals you can visit our website.

the risks of illegal drug use are just one of many issues teenagers face. starting this weekend, al jazeera presents a new groundbreaking documentary series edge of 18. in which high school seniors document their own lyes. with a first hand look at the modern realities confronting teenagers inner city poverty, gun violence, teen pregnancy, illegal immigration, and lgbt issues. in the season premier, we will meet a young man who unveiled the truth to his very conservative father. good morning, family, gweneth paltrow he is who is back. i pledge allegiance to the

flag of the quite of america. >> back on the mike, you heard it from me. >> i like to be the center of attention, my friends can definitely describe me as loud, entertaining, interesting. flamboyant. dramatic. >> definitely dramatic. >> linda. >> hi. >> in school, i'm very popular. >> i am funny, i am very outgoing. everyone loves that in a teenager, of course. no one give as [bleep] if i am guy or not, but before high school it wasn't that easy. >> i am the fabulous. around six or 7th grade, i was a victim of being bullied that's when people started thinking is he gay, is he the f bomb, i think he is. so that's when i started noticing people are acing

thatting me, it was one of the worst years of my life. so i started -- so maybe we can put it out in the open, my principal is 100% with me, and she does not take gay bashing at all. i remember this one guy, and he was my biggest bully, i would do my work, and he would throw me papers and call me the f bomb, anything that would offend me. and i would just sit there and listen to him, but i couldn't do anything, so i learned from that i don't want to be harassed i don't want to be bullied i gist said i need to be strong, and be myself. what was it about coming here or to high school that made you change and be willing to be who you are? >> coming from school, it was a brand new chance. this is fresh out of the box. this is me, soy want to thank you so much for accepting me for me.

>> i shared my story of being bullies can one of your handle it? >> when i first came out. they treated me like i was an alien. just little things to make me feel uncomfortable. so in school everybody accepts me for who i am, but at home it is harder to be myself in my family. i am the only guy male. ever since i came out my dad sees me as a shame. when i was younger me and my dad had a close relationship. ever since i came out, i feel like our relationship is distant.

i knew it would be a huge effect on him, especially since he is dominican, his parents are church owners. his side of the family is very religious. we say oh, it's all right, my son is gay, oh, i am happy, no. when he says i am guy, i think i lose my tongue. that's not easy. believe me it is not easy. >> my parents they say like oh, they never seen any signs but look at me with a pock hon us the shirt, come on now. i want my father to just tell me like i support you. i have your back. and i love my gaison. >> you can catch all the edge of 18 right here on al jazeera america.

this sunday at account p.m. eastern. next up, a funny woman with a tart tongue, a look back at the career of the legendary comedian joan rivers.

>> weekday mornings on al jazeera america >> we do have breaking news this morning... >> start your day with in depth coverage from around the world. first hand reporting from across the country and real news keeping you up to date. the big stories of the day, from around the world... >> these people need help, this is were the worst of the attack took place... >> and throughout the morning, get a global perspective on the news... >> the life of doha... >> this is the international news hour... >> an informed look on the night's events, a smarter start to your day. mornings on al jazeera america al jazeera america. we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. >> we pursue that story beyond the headline, pass the spokesperson, to the streets. >> thousands of riot police deployed across the capital. >> we put all of our global resources behind every story. >> it is a scene of utter devastation. >> and follow it no matter where it leads - all the way to you.

al jazeera america, take a new look at news. we could never be as sharp tongued add quitty and clef a the drowned breaking needian, who has died at the age of 81, after complications from surgery. hollywood and fans jeff where quickly delivered tributes but remember she was the one that had the last word. can we talk. she was a trap. >> her no holds bar style,s shot joan reinvigorates like to the top. from the very first days on the stand up stage. in the early days stand

up was a man's world, but jones river was never the shrinking violet. >> outrageous, outsized even in her tiny frame, riffs costic comedy made her a star by the mid 60's. when she first appeared on the johnny carson show. >> changed my life. >> did she really say that style earned her her own show. bringing down the house. >> what is under the kilt. >> and awards that crowned her the queen of comedy. >> nothing was off limits from her plastic surgery. >> i saw what was going on under my chin, i don't want to be the one the president has to pardon on thank giving. >> to the death of her husband, edgar rosen burg, and still not over his suicide. i am still furious with him. some of the [bleep]. oh, you will go to heaven, i will kill him. >> in her last year river turns heads on the red carpet.

>> orange is the new -- keeping good on a promise to never retire, her 50 year career was full of triumph, she starred in two broadway plays authored a dozen best selling books and starred in a reality show with her daughter melissa. don't do that. >> never stop laughing and telling the jokes that's it for america tonight, this weekend on our program, a new front in the immigration battle, a gentler approach to undocumented immigrants, how that program could change the immigration debate, that's on a program this sunday. aljazeera.com,/america tonight. and join the conversation with us on twitter or on our facebook page, good night, see you next time with more of america tonight.

america's biggest trading partner is in trouble and that could affect you in the long run. isle tell you what is being done. also nato is now facing a cold war for a new age, i'm looking at how the alliance could respond to vladimir putin's land grab. plus i'll tell you why more americans are getting evicted from their homes, and what it says about the country's economy. "real money." ♪