thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Esteemed Civil Rights Organizer C.T. Vivian Laid To Rest In Atlanta

Win McNamee via Getty Images WASHINGTON , DC - NOVEMBER 20 : U.S. President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to C.T .
Vivian in the East Room at the White House on November 20 , 2013 in Washington , DC .
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation 's highest civilian honor , presented to individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States , to world peace , or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors .
( Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images ) ATLANTA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding the body of civil rights icon C.T .
Vivian is carried out of Providence Missionary Baptist Church following his funeral service on July 23 , 2020 in Atlanta , Georgia .
Vivian , a close associate and friend of Martin Luther King Jr. was a renowned preacher who participated in the Freedom Rides and helped organize non-violent protest in the South during the 1960s .
( Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images ) ATLANTA ( AP ) — The nation paid its final respects Thursday to the Rev .
C.T .
Vivian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who helped end segregation across the South and left an abiding imprint on U.S. history .
Vivian , a close ally of the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. , was mourned by civil rights icons along with TV personality and author Oprah Winfrey , baseball legend Hank Aaron and others during a funeral at Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta .
Vivian died July 17 at age 95 .
“ C.T .
was truly a remarkable man , a man whose physical courage was exceeded only by his moral courage , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose faith and the power of nonviolence helped forever change our nation , ” former Vice President Joe Biden said in a video tribute aired during the service .
“ In Illinois , and in Tennessee and Florida , and Mississippi — in the north and in the south — CT was there fighting to turn us back toward justice , ” Biden added .
Vivian ’ s death came the same day as the passing of another civil rights icon , U.S. Rep. John Lewis , 80 .
In 1965 , Alabama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alabama , helping to galvanize national opposition to racial segregation .
Details of Lewis ’ funeral have yet to be announced .
At Vivian ’ s funeral in Atlanta on Thursday , many of those who eulogized Vivian described him as a courageous soldier for God and civil rights who always remained humble .
“ He didn ’ t want attention , he didn ’ t want money , he only wanted to do God ’ s will and bring out the best in these United States of America and its people regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or national origin , ” Ambassador Andrew Young said in his videotaped remarks .
But it was his work during the Civil Rights Movement and the decades that followed that left an impression on Winfrey .
She worked with Vivian on a series of racial seminars that aired on her TV show in the 1990s , she recalled in her video tribute during the funeral .
“ In his presence we were always learning more about our country , about ourselves , about what it means to stand for what is right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a giant for justice.
” ATLANTA , GA - JULY 23 : The casket holding the body of civil rights icon C.T .
Vivian is carried out of Providence Missionary Baptist Church following his funeral service on July 23 , 2020 in Atlanta , Georgia .
Vivian , a close associate and friend of Martin Luther King Jr. was a renowned preacher who participated in the Freedom Rides and helped organize non-violent protest in the South during the 1960s .
More than a decade before lunch-counter protests made headlines during the Civil Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregation in Peoria , Illinois , in the 1940s .
He later joined forces with King and organized the Freedom Rides across the South to halt segregation .
Vivian was passionate about voting rights .
In 1965 , he led dozens of marchers to a courthouse in Selma , Alabama , and confronted the local sheriff on the courthouse steps , telling him the marchers should be allowed to register to vote .
The sheriff responded by punching Vivian in the head .
Vivian later discussed the experience in a video that includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The number of times he faced down being drowned , being beaten , being reviled only to stand up straight as a ramrod , bloodied but unbent , and declare the truth he saw so clearly : you can not turn your back on the idea of justice , ” Biden said .
On Wednesday , the eve of his funeral , a horse-drawn carriage took his casket from the Georgia Capitol , where a memorial service was held , to King ’ s tomb in Atlanta .
“ I loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he did , the things that he did , ” Aaron said in videotaped remarks shown during the service .

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 23: The casket holding the body of civil rights icon C.T. Vivian is carried out of Providence Missionary Baptist Church following his funeral service on July 23, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Vivian, a close associate and friend of Martin Luther King Jr. was a renowned preacher who participated in the Freedom Rides and helped organize non-violent protest in the South during the 1960s. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) Elijah Nouvelage via Getty Images
ATLANTA (AP) — The nation paid its final respects Thursday to the Rev. C.T. Vivian, a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement who helped end segregation across the South and left an abiding imprint on U.S. history.
Vivian, a close ally of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., was mourned by civil rights icons along with TV personality and author Oprah Winfrey, baseball legend Hank Aaron and others during a funeral at Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Vivian died July 17 at age 95.
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“C.T. was truly a remarkable man, a man whose physical courage was exceeded only by his moral courage, whose capacity for love overwhelmed incredible hatreds, whose faith and the power of nonviolence helped forever change our nation,” former Vice President Joe Biden said in a video tribute aired during the service.
“In Illinois, and in Tennessee and Florida, and Mississippi — in the north and in the south — CT was there fighting to turn us back toward justice,” Biden added.
Vivian’s death came the same day as the passing of another civil rights icon, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, 80. In 1965, Alabama state troopers beat Lewis in Selma, Alabama, helping to galvanize national opposition to racial segregation. Details of Lewis’ funeral have yet to be announced.
At Vivian’s funeral in Atlanta on Thursday, many of those who eulogized Vivian described him as a courageous soldier for God and civil rights who always remained humble.
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“He didn’t want attention, he didn’t want money, he only wanted to do God’s will and bring out the best in these United States of America and its people regardless of their race, creed, color or national origin,” Ambassador Andrew Young said in his videotaped remarks.
Vivian’s preaching was described as “an echo from heaven” by civil rights activist Bernard Lafayette.
But it was his work during the Civil Rights Movement and the decades that followed that left an impression on Winfrey. She worked with Vivian on a series of racial seminars that aired on her TV show in the 1990s, she recalled in her video tribute during the funeral.
“In his presence we were always learning more about our country, about ourselves, about what it means to stand for what is right,” Winfrey said. “He was a giant for justice.”
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 23: The casket holding the body of civil rights icon C.T. Vivian is carried out of Providence Missionary Baptist Church following his funeral service on July 23, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Vivian, a close associate and friend of Martin Luther King Jr. was a renowned preacher who participated in the Freedom Rides and helped organize non-violent protest in the South during the 1960s. Elijah Nouvelage via Getty Images
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More than a decade before lunch-counter protests made headlines during the Civil Rights Movement, Vivian began organizing sit-ins against segregation in Peoria, Illinois, in the 1940s. He later joined forces with King and organized the Freedom Rides across the South to halt segregation.
Vivian was passionate about voting rights. In 1965, he led dozens of marchers to a courthouse in Selma, Alabama, and confronted the local sheriff on the courthouse steps, telling him the marchers should be allowed to register to vote. The sheriff responded by punching Vivian in the head. Vivian later discussed the experience in a video that includes film footage of the confrontation and attack.
“The number of times he faced down being drowned, being beaten, being reviled only to stand up straight as a ramrod, bloodied but unbent, and declare the truth he saw so clearly: you can not turn your back on the idea of justice,” Biden said.
Vivian was honored by former President Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
On Wednesday, the eve of his funeral, a horse-drawn carriage took his casket from the Georgia Capitol, where a memorial service was held, to King’s tomb in Atlanta.
At Thursday’s funeral, Aaron said, “I got to love him really, not know him.”
“I loved him for what he stood for and what he did, the things that he did,” Aaron said in videotaped remarks shown during the service.
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Several friends said Vivian’s legacy will live on in the nation’s continuing struggle for civil rights for all.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Amber Heard Tells Court She 'Did Not Want To Expose' Johnny Depp

LONDON ( AP ) — Amber Heard insisted Thursday that she never wanted the world to know the details of her years of alleged abuse by Johnny Depp , as she concluded her evidence in her ex-husband ’ s libel case against a British tabloid .
She said she just wanted to be “ left alone ” after the breakup of her and Depp ’ s tempestuous marriage and that she wanted to “ save him the embarrassment.
” “ I didn ’ t want to do this , I did not want to expose this totality of what really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I didn ’ t want to talk about everything that happened in our marriage and happened in our relationship.
” The Sun ’ s defense relies on 14 allegations made by Heard of violence by Depp between 2013 and 2016 , in settings as varied as a rented house in Australia , his private island in the Bahamas and a private jet .
In her testimony on Thursday , the actress-model reiterated allegations that Depp would go on a “ bender ” that often lasted days and abuse her when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Johnny , when he was clean and sober , could be a wonderful person , generous , loving , ” she said .
“ He ’ s a remarkable man when he ’ s like that and I loved him .
The other side of him was a monster but I always held out hope he would get clean and sober.
” In her first three days of testimony , Heard , 34 , accused Depp of an array of acts of violence , including throwing bottles at her “ like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of stubbing out a cigarette on his cheek .
She has claimed that she often feared for her life during their tempestuous relationship .
Sasha Wass , the lawyer representing NGN , read out a series of text messages that Heard had sent to her mother , including one from March 2013 that said : “ He ’ s nuts , mum .
Violent and crazy .
I ’ m heartbroken that this is who I love.
” Heard was followed on the witness stand by her sister , Whitney Henriquez , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Eleanor Laws , about a number of alleged incidents that are at the heart of the case .
Henriquez denied Laws ’ suggestion that she was doing her “ absolute best ” to throw her sister a “ lifeline.
” In written evidence to the court , Henriquez said she “ felt sick ” in September 2013 when she learned her sister was going to marry Depp and told Heard that “ putting a ring on her finger was not going to stop him hitting her.
” During the first two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , judge Andrew Nicol heard from Depp and from several current or former employees who backed his version of events .
In his testimony , Depp said he was the one being abused by Heard and that she had a history of being violent against him .
In written testimony released to the court , Heard said that at various times during her and Depp ’ s relationship she endured “ punching , slapping , kicking , head-butting and choking.
” She said some incidents were so severe she was “ afraid he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally or just by losing control and going too far.
” She said he blamed his actions on “ a self-created third party ” that he referred to as “ the monster .
”

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LONDON (AP) — Amber Heard insisted Thursday that she never wanted the world to know the details of her years of alleged abuse by Johnny Depp, as she concluded her evidence in her ex-husband’s libel case against a British tabloid.
Taking the witness stand for a fourth straight day, Heard testified that everything she had said at the High Court in London was true.
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She said she just wanted to be “left alone” after the breakup of her and Depp’s tempestuous marriage and that she wanted to “save him the embarrassment.”
“I didn’t want to do this, I did not want to expose this totality of what really happened to me,” Heard said. “I didn’t want to talk about everything that happened in our marriage and happened in our relationship.”
She also suggested that having details of her relationship with Depp dissected in open court had and would continue to damage her career.
“What woman has ever benefited from being a victim of domestic violence?” she asked.
Heard was in court because Depp, 57, is suing News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun, and the newspaper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article that labeled him a “wife beater.”
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The Sun’s defense relies on 14 allegations made by Heard of violence by Depp between 2013 and 2016, in settings as varied as a rented house in Australia, his private island in the Bahamas and a private jet.
In her testimony on Thursday, the actress-model reiterated allegations that Depp would go on a “bender” that often lasted days and abuse her when he was high on drugs or was drunk.
“Johnny, when he was clean and sober, could be a wonderful person, generous, loving,” she said. “He’s a remarkable man when he’s like that and I loved him. The other side of him was a monster but I always held out hope he would get clean and sober.”
In her first three days of testimony, Heard, 34, accused Depp of an array of acts of violence, including throwing bottles at her “like grenades,” headbutting her and even of stubbing out a cigarette on his cheek. She has claimed that she often feared for her life during their tempestuous relationship.
Sasha Wass, the lawyer representing NGN, read out a series of text messages that Heard had sent to her mother, including one from March 2013 that said: “He’s nuts, mum. Violent and crazy. I’m heartbroken that this is who I love.”
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Depp denies abusing Heard and claims she was the aggressor during their relationship. He missed Heard’s testimony on Thursday after arriving late to court.
Heard was followed on the witness stand by her sister, Whitney Henriquez, who was quizzed by Depp’s lawyer, Eleanor Laws, about a number of alleged incidents that are at the heart of the case. Henriquez denied Laws’ suggestion that she was doing her “absolute best” to throw her sister a “lifeline.”
In written evidence to the court, Henriquez said she “felt sick” in September 2013 when she learned her sister was going to marry Depp and told Heard that “putting a ring on her finger was not going to stop him hitting her.”
During the first two weeks of case testimony at the High Court, judge Andrew Nicol heard from Depp and from several current or former employees who backed his version of events. In his testimony, Depp said he was the one being abused by Heard and that she had a history of being violent against him.
In written testimony released to the court, Heard said that at various times during her and Depp’s relationship she endured “punching, slapping, kicking, head-butting and choking.” She said some incidents were so severe she was “afraid he was going to kill me, either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far.” She said he blamed his actions on “a self-created third party” that he referred to as “the monster.”
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Depp and Heard met on the set of the film “The Rum Diary,” released in 2011. They married in Los Angeles in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce the following year, and it was finalized in 2017.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Space Force Logo Looks An Awful Lot Like 'Star Trek' And Pontiac Symbols

The logo of the United States Space Force was unveiled Wednesday , immediately calling to mind the logo from “ Star Trek ” or an upside-down Pontiac badge .
The Space Force Twitter account posted a series of tweets outlining the logic behind the logo ’ s various elements , which are all based around a delta symbol .
The delta ’ s silver outline “ signifies defense and protection from all adversaries and threats emanating from the space domain.
” “ The black area inside embodies the vast darkness of deep space , ” the account added .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action of a rocket launching into the outer atmosphere in support of the central role of the Space Force in defending the space domain.
” The beveled ends of the symbol represent other U.S. armed forces , including the Air Force , Army , Navy and Marines .
Within the delta “ is the star Polaris , which symbolizes how the core values guide the Space Force mission.
” Today we are proud to showcase the Space Force logo to the world .
Over the next few hours , we will share the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
pic.twitter.com/tKe8QCWEiG — United States Space Force ( @ SpaceForceDoD ) July 22 , 2020 Reactions to the logo poured in across social media .
Many pointed out that it was reminiscent of the Starfleet delta insignia from “ Star Trek , ” as well as the Pontiac logo .
At least one commentator argued that the explanation for the logo “ genuinely looks like satire.
” Perhaps anticipating the critiques , the Space Force Twitter account tweeted that the delta symbol “ was first used in space organizations as early as 1961 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” SPACE FORCE : hey can I copy your homework ?
STAR TREK : sure , just change it up a bit so it doesn ’ t look obvious you copied .
SPACE FORCE : sure thing https : //t.co/IxrTpAOM1F — Tom ( @ TomHeartsTanks ) July 22 , 2020 Sure am glad to see `` the core values '' getting represented .
Whatever the hell that means .
Also , at what point do CBS and the Roddenberry estate start pursuing legal action against the government .
That 's got to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post genuinely looks like satire .
https : //t.co/4gDSYQtzw7 — Spacedock ( @ SpacedockHQ ) July 22 , 2020 1 : There are no `` threats emanating from the space domain '' 2 : If there were , the only thing the Space Force could throw at them would be this DeviantArt logo .
— Spacedock ( @ SpacedockHQ ) July 22 , 2020 The official seal of the Space Force — featuring more imagery reminiscent of “ Star Trek ’ s ” Starfleet — drew similarly raised eyebrows when it was unveiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who described the Space Force in a Jan. 24 tweet as “ the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military ” — chose the seal from a set of options presented to him by the Department of the Air Force , according to a spokesperson .

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The logo of the United States Space Force was unveiled Wednesday, immediately calling to mind the logo from “Star Trek” or an upside-down Pontiac badge.
The Space Force Twitter account posted a series of tweets outlining the logic behind the logo’s various elements, which are all based around a delta symbol. The delta’s silver outline “signifies defense and protection from all adversaries and threats emanating from the space domain.”
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“The black area inside embodies the vast darkness of deep space,” the account added. The spires within the delta “represent the action of a rocket launching into the outer atmosphere in support of the central role of the Space Force in defending the space domain.”
The beveled ends of the symbol represent other U.S. armed forces, including the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. Within the delta “is the star Polaris, which symbolizes how the core values guide the Space Force mission.”
The Space Force also revealed its Latin motto — “semper supra,” or “always above.”
Today we are proud to showcase the Space Force logo to the world. Over the next few hours, we will share the history and legacy of our new logo. pic.twitter.com/tKe8QCWEiG — United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) July 22, 2020
Reactions to the logo poured in across social media. Many pointed out that it was reminiscent of the Starfleet delta insignia from “Star Trek,” as well as the Pontiac logo. At least one commentator argued that the explanation for the logo “genuinely looks like satire.”
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Perhaps anticipating the critiques, the Space Force Twitter account tweeted that the delta symbol “was first used in space organizations as early as 1961 and has inspired generations of space professionals.”
SPACE FORCE: hey can I copy your homework?
STAR TREK: sure, just change it up a bit so it doesn’t look obvious you copied.
SPACE FORCE: sure thing https://t.co/IxrTpAOM1F — Tom (@TomHeartsTanks) July 22, 2020
Now where have I seen this before..... pic.twitter.com/fBmJ1N3wl6 — Patrick Mueller (@PatrickTMueller) July 22, 2020
Space Force logo left. Upside-down Pontiac logo right. pic.twitter.com/jLDX1fvuwq — James Wester (@jameswester) July 22, 2020
The history of the Space Force logo:
Someone watched Star Trek, and thought this logo looks cool. — DasSkelett (@DasSkelett) July 22, 2020
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Sure am glad to see "the core values" getting represented. Whatever the hell that means.
Also, at what point do CBS and the Roddenberry estate start pursuing legal action against the government. That's got to be like... now, right?
This post genuinely looks like satire. https://t.co/4gDSYQtzw7 — Spacedock (@SpacedockHQ) July 22, 2020
1: There are no "threats emanating from the space domain"
2: If there were, the only thing the Space Force could throw at them would be this DeviantArt logo. — Spacedock (@SpacedockHQ) July 22, 2020
The official seal of the Space Force — featuring more imagery reminiscent of “Star Trek’s” Starfleet — drew similarly raised eyebrows when it was unveiled in January. President Donald Trump — who described the Space Force in a Jan. 24 tweet as “the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military” — chose the seal from a set of options presented to him by the Department of the Air Force, according to a spokesperson.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Ex-Philadelphia Cop Charged With Assault For Pepper-Spraying Kneeling Protesters

A former Philadelphia police officer who was fired after being filmed pepper-spraying protesters as they knelt on an interstate during a Black Lives Matter demonstration last month now faces criminal charges .
Richard Paul Nicoletti , 35 , faces six misdemeanor charges of simple assault , reckless endangerment , official oppression , and possession of an instrument of crime , the district attorney ’ s office announced Wednesday .
The charges follow a June 1 video showing Nicoletti , then assigned to the police department ’ s SWAT unit , walking up to people kneeling along Interstate 676 and without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their faces , according to the DA ’ s office .
While serving as a Philadelphia police officer , Richard Paul Nicoletti was filmed pepper-spraying peaceful protesters during a Black Lives Matter demonstration on June 1 .
He has since been fired , and now faces six misdemeanor charges .
“ He physically pulled down goggles one of the protesters was wearing for protection , and sprayed her again in the face , ” the office said in a statement .
Nicoletti then approached another protester hunched over in a protective position and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before repeatedly spraying him .
Despite all three protesters being left visually impaired , none of them were offered medical treatment , the DA ’ s office said .
District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office “ will not make excuses for crimes committed by law enforcement that demean the democratic freedoms so many Americans have fought and died to preserve.
” An attorney for Nicollti , reached by The Philadelphia Inquirer , argued that his client was “ being charged with crimes for simply following orders.
” Nicoletti is seen pulling protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second time in her face .
His lawyer is arguing the ex-officer was simply following orders .
“ His unit was ordered by commanders to clear the highway with the approved use of tear gas and pepper spray , ” Fortunateo Perri Jr. told the newspaper .
“ The city ’ s leadership was given the opportunity to apologize for approving the use of force , but Nicoletti finds himself fired and charged with crimes.
” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw publicly apologized last month for the use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially supporting its use .
“ I have never believed tear gas was an effective tool , ” Kenney said .
“ When I ’ ve seen other cities use it in protests , it always seemed to me to make situations worse .
And it has.
” A police commander who permitted the spray ’ s use during the June 1 protest admitted that he did not secure approval by the police commissioner , as instructed , before allowing officers to deploy it .
As a result , he accepted a voluntary @ @ @ @ @

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A former Philadelphia police officer who was fired after being filmed pepper-spraying protesters as they knelt on an interstate during a Black Lives Matter demonstration last month now faces criminal charges.
Richard Paul Nicoletti, 35, faces six misdemeanor charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, official oppression, and possession of an instrument of crime, the district attorney’s office announced Wednesday.
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The charges follow a June 1 video showing Nicoletti, then assigned to the police department’s SWAT unit, walking up to people kneeling along Interstate 676 and without provocation spraying the three of them in their faces, according to the DA’s office.
While serving as a Philadelphia police officer, Richard Paul Nicoletti was filmed pepper-spraying peaceful protesters during a Black Lives Matter demonstration on June 1. He has since been fired, and now faces six misdemeanor charges. CBS PHILLY
“He physically pulled down goggles one of the protesters was wearing for protection, and sprayed her again in the face,” the office said in a statement.
Nicoletti then approached another protester hunched over in a protective position and violently threw the man onto his back before repeatedly spraying him.
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Despite all three protesters being left visually impaired, none of them were offered medical treatment, the DA’s office said.
District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office “will not make excuses for crimes committed by law enforcement that demean the democratic freedoms so many Americans have fought and died to preserve.”
Before being elected DA in 2017, Krasner had a long career of prosecuting police misconduct cases.
An attorney for Nicollti, reached by The Philadelphia Inquirer, argued that his client was “being charged with crimes for simply following orders.”
Nicoletti is seen pulling protective goggles off one woman before spraying her a second time in her face. His lawyer is arguing the ex-officer was simply following orders. CBS PHILLY
“His unit was ordered by commanders to clear the highway with the approved use of tear gas and pepper spray,” Fortunateo Perri Jr. told the newspaper. “The city’s leadership was given the opportunity to apologize for approving the use of force, but Nicoletti finds himself fired and charged with crimes.”
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Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw publicly apologized last month for the use of tear gas on protesters, after initially supporting its use.
“I have never believed tear gas was an effective tool,” Kenney said. “When I’ve seen other cities use it in protests, it always seemed to me to make situations worse. And it has.”
A police commander who permitted the spray’s use during the June 1 protest admitted that he did not secure approval by the police commissioner, as instructed, before allowing officers to deploy it. As a result, he accepted a voluntary demotion for his actions.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Will Smith Has Last Laugh Over Instagram Joker’s ‘Very Funny’ Entanglement Gag

Will Smith saw the funny side of a gag about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith ’ s “ entanglement ” @ @ @ @ @ August Alsina .
Smith on Wednesday shared footage of himself jumping rope .
The Instagram @ @ @ @ @ camera attached to the rope , prompted a plethora of positive and lighthearted comments from @ @ @ @ @ famous friends .
But one joker couldn ’ t resist referencing Pinkett Smith ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Alsina , which happened during a separation from Smith .
Pinkett Smith repeatedly called the @ @ @ @ @ during a “ Red Table Talk ” episode earlier this month .
“ Ok don @ @ @ @ @ ” the Instagram user commented on Smith ’ s video .
Smith jumped into the @ @ @ @ @ the play on words , calling it “ very funny.
” But he had the @ @ @ @ @ “ definitely ” block the user in response : Important conversations are happening now .
@ @ @ @ @ HuffPost Today !

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Smith on Wednesday shared footage of himself jumping rope. The Instagram video, filmed on a camera attached to the rope, prompted a plethora of positive and lighthearted comments from the movie star’s famous friends.
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Check out the clip here:
But one joker couldn’t resist referencing Pinkett Smith’s recently revealed secret relationship with Alsina, which happened during a separation from Smith.
Pinkett Smith repeatedly called the relationship an “entanglement” during a “Red Table Talk” episode earlier this month.
“Ok don’t get entangled,” the Instagram user commented on Smith’s video.
Smith jumped into the comments to note he appreciated the play on words, calling it “very funny.”
But he had the last laugh, vowing to “definitely” block the user in response:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Virginia's Energy Kingpin Could Finally Face A Reckoning Over Race

Under Farrell , Dominion has become a national symbol of how political corruption and monopoly power can undercut efforts to reduce the country ’ s dependence on fossil fuels .
That worked for Farrell so long as Dominion ’ s cash could buy it the acquiescence of state legislatures .
But now Virginia and many other states are looking to transition to 100 % carbon-free electricity , and Dominion ’ s shareholders are in revolt .
In May , nearly 47 % of those shareholders voted in favor of a proposal to require an independent board chair , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as both chairman and chief executive ― a boss .
In early July , Dominion ’ s stock price plunged more than 11 % after the company and its partner , North Carolina-based Duke Energy , announced the Atlantic Coast Pipeline ’ s cancellation .
The stock price has yet to fully recover , even as the market rebounds .
There was a lot of race-baiting from folks who want to maintain a certain kind of racial capitalism in the former capital of the Confederacy .
Chelsea Wise , organizer and host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Summer 2014 was an exciting and nostalgic season for the most powerful unelected man in Virginia.
In May of that year, Dominion Energy CEO Thomas F. Farrell II made his cinematic debut with “Field of Lost Shoes,” a Civil War drama following the victorious Confederate cadets at the Battle of New Market. He had co-written, produced and financed the film. In addition to being a lawyer and the boss of a $62 billion Richmond, Virginia-based utility that serves 6.7 million people in eight states, Farrell is a history buff who said he pulled many of the movie’s lines straight from diaries and speeches of the time. Historians, however, say he added one glaring fiction to his film: depicting the young, white Rebel heroes as would-be abolitionists, who were either apathetic about or opposed to slavery.
Historical criticism aside, Farrell was still riding high on that premiere when, in September, he arrived in a blue suit at the historic state capitol building in Richmond to accept then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s support for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a natural gas project that Farrell hoped would define his legacy as one of his generation’s great industrialists.
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“In the 19th century, we had railroads, the steam engine and the beginning of steel manufacturing. In the 20th century, we had the automobile assembly line, the internet and ― from my perspective, the most important of all ― the electric grid,” Farrell told reporters at the press conference, held on the hottest day in Richmond that year. “In the 21st century, the expansion of our natural gas pipeline network looks to be one of those key infrastructure developments.”
Six years later, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project has been torpedoed by a mix of changing economics, accusations of environmental racism and climate recklessness. The collapse of the pipeline coincides with a national movement against anti-Black racism that has had particular resonance in Virginia, once home to the capital of the Confederacy. Critics of the racial impact of Dominion’s actions under Farrell’s leadership hope that, together with the financial loss from the pipeline project, the current political ferment could finally end his 14-year reign.
Under Farrell, Dominion has become a national symbol of how political corruption and monopoly power can undercut efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. That worked for Farrell so long as Dominion’s cash could buy it the acquiescence of state legislatures. But now Virginia and many other states are looking to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity, and Dominion’s shareholders are in revolt. In May, nearly 47% of those shareholders voted in favor of a proposal to require an independent board chair, which would have given Farrell ― who currently serves as both chairman and chief executive ― a boss. In early July, Dominion’s stock price plunged more than 11% after the company and its partner, North Carolina-based Duke Energy, announced the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s cancellation. The stock price has yet to fully recover, even as the market rebounds.
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Virginia progressives, who cheered the toppling of four Confederate monuments in Richmond in recent weeks, hope Farrell could be the next storied edifice to fall.
“Clearly there’s a need for new leadership and new direction,” said state Del. Sam Rasoul, a Democratic legislator from Roanoke. “Dominion has consistently operated counter to the interests of Virginians and … when you have a CEO who championed a film that essentially glorifies the Confederacy, with all that is going on, it’s clear that there’s a new mindset needed.”
Dominion declined to comment on the record, but internal messages show the company worried this story aimed to “tar” Farrell as part of a coordinated effort to damage the firm. In an on-background phone call, a spokesman pointed to the company’s recent commitments to donate $25 million to historically Black colleges and universities in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina and to fund $10 million in scholarships for minority students. The spokesman also highlighted a corporate pledge in June to direct $5 million to “social justice” and “community rebuilding efforts.”
“At Dominion Energy, we have a saying that ‘Actions Speak Louder.’ We share the anger of our communities at the unjustified deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd,” Farrell said in a press release announcing the latter commitment. “Our communities are grieving. Words can evoke empathy, compassion and understanding, but actions truly speak louder. So, we are investing in recovery and reconciliation, and in the vital work of overcoming years of debilitating actions, attitudes and abuses of authority that have traumatized our country.”
The company denied a request to interview Farrell.
A Tale Of Two Compressor Stations
Opposition from environmental justice groups contributed to the demise of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The proposal would have sent the pipeline through Buckingham County, a rural, mountainous area roughly 90 minutes west of Richmond. Dominion also planned to erect a compressor station in Union Hill, a historically Black community in central Virginia that freed slaves founded in the 1800s before the Civil War.
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Dominion CEO Thomas Farrell speaks at the PGA Tour Champions Dominion Energy Charity Classic at The Country Club of Virginia on Oct. 21, 2018, in Richmond. Stan Badz via Getty Images
Compressor stations, which use fuel from the pipeline to run a series of gas-compressing engines that keep fuel flowing through the pipeline, emit air pollutants that cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Dominion said the Union Hill permit that the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board had unanimously approved set limits on emissions four to 10 times lower than other recent permits granted in the state. But that still allowed for the release of a cocktail of pollutants, including nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
For years, Union Hill residents protested and organized groups against the project. The Virginia NAACP condemned Dominion’s plans and urged regulators to halt permitting. In an August 2018 letter, the 15-member state Advisory Council on Environmental Justice urged Gov. Ralph Northam (D) to suspend the permits already granted and conduct a review of potential “civil and human rights violations” and “ensure that predominantly poor, indigenous, brown and/or black communities do not bear an unequal burden of environmental pollutants and life-altering disruptions.”
“We strongly disagree with the Advisory Council’s recommendations,” the company told The Washington Post at the time.
The company then proposed pouring $5.1 million into the Union Hill community, vowing to build a community center and fund an expansion of emergency services. The money proved divisive, which some there said was exactly the point.
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“Dominion is an expert at the divide-and-conquer tactic,” Rev. Paul Wilson, the preacher at one of Union Hill’s two historically Black churches and a leading opponent of the pipeline, told NBC News in 2018. “There’s a group of people who are even moving to get me out as pastor. Once you inject money into the conversation, it becomes a wedge.”
When former Vice President Al Gore and anti-poverty activist Rev. William Barber II denounced the compressor station as environmental racism in 2019, Dominion started running Facebook ads featuring video from a high school essay contest on civil rights that it had sponsored.
Meanwhile, the company plowed ahead with plans to build the compressor station ― until a federal court intervened in early 2020, overturning the permit because Dominion had failed to resolve questions about how emissions would affect Union Hill.
It had taken Union Hill activists five years to get redress from the courts.
But a similar fight in a largely white and affluent community played out much differently. Three hours north, in Charles County, Maryland, Dominion spent two years planning another compressor station for the Eastern Market Access project. Then the Mount Vernon Ladies Association intervened, noting that the project would sully the view from President George Washington’s plantation across the Potomac River in Virginia. Four months after the society group joined local environmentalists in opposing the compressor station, Dominion canceled its plans.
Building Over Black History
It’s difficult to say how Farrell’s personal views have factored into company positions. But critics argue that redevelopment schemes that Farrell supported as a real estate investor, independent of his work at Dominion, have shown a similar disregard for Black history and communities.
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Workers in Richmond prepare to load a monument to Confederate soldiers and sailors onto a flatbed truck on July 8, 2020. Eze Amos via Getty Images
In 2017, Farrell led a group of developers pushing a $1.5 billion project to rebuild a 10-block swath of downtown Richmond into a new arena, hotel, offices and luxury apartments. He and his co-investors dubbed the planned development Navy Hill after a Black neighborhood that was razed in the 1960s to make way for highways. That clearance demolished landmarks and displaced more than 1,000 families. This time, Farrell lined up the support of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D), who is Black and has recently expedited the removal of Confederate monuments in response to the new protests against racism. Stoney received $10,000 from Dominion during his first year in office and announced in 2018 that he planned to continue accepting donations from the powerful utility.
While the project’s wealthy backers promised some funding, the city planned to largely finance the redevelopment through bond market debt. The proposal swore off tax hikes. But the need to pay off that bond debt threatened to divert funding from city services for decades to come, risking more budget cuts at a moment when municipal deficits were already triggering increased austerity.
Many also feared the project would gentrify a historically Black area of the city and make the neighborhood unaffordable for its longtime residents.
A November 2019 editorial in the Richmond Free Press, a weekly newspaper serving the city’s Black community, savaged the project. The editorial board called the plan “a travesty” that risked “leaving the taxpayers … stuck with the bill for the rising costs of city services.” Any new municipal revenue from the project would end up going toward paying off the new arena, the newspaper concluded.
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“With this latest scheme, our community once again winds up as losers,” the editorial stated. “Only Mr. Farrell and friends are benefiting from this project and the charade being perpetrated to pull it off.”
“There was a lot of race-baiting from folks who want to maintain a certain kind of racial capitalism in the former capital of the Confederacy.” - Chelsea Wise, organizer and host of the Richmond radio show “Race Capitol"
Chelsea Wise, an organizer and host of the Richmond politics radio show “Race Capitol,” said she saw members of her family holding up picket signs supporting the project at a key city council hearing. When she confronted them, they said they’d been offered $25 to show support.
“I like to joke that, after that, Thanksgiving was very different,” Wise said.
But the project was no laughing matter, she said. Wise took to calling the Navy Hill proposal “the second wave of the Bartholomew project,” a reference to the displacement of Black families during the 1960s under city planner Harland Bartholomew.
Among Navy Hill supporters, “there was a lot of race-baiting from folks who want to maintain a certain kind of racial capitalism in the former capital of the Confederacy,” Wise said. “This project would hurt Black people.”
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The Richmond Free Press suggested the paltry rate at which Farrell’s group compensated picketers was an insult unto itself. “Sadly, it shows how deep poverty and depression is within Richmond’s African-American community that $25 can get people to show up and hold signs at a City Council meeting,” the editorial read.
In February, the Richmond City Council voted for a resolution that effectively killed the project.
“While the council resolution didn’t name him, the development proposal process did not reflect civic needs so much as the interests of one man in particular: Navy Hill’s leader and Dominion Energy’s chief executive, Tom Farrell, who has been arguing for a new Richmond arena for almost a decade,” Richard Meagher, an associate professor of political science at Randolph-Macon College, wrote in a February op-ed in Style Weekly, Richmond’s alt-weekly newspaper.
The Rates Card
Electricity rates are another area where the public interest in Virginia has been increasingly at odds with Farrell’s. In 2007, a hastily passed law proposed and backed by lawmakers who received donations from Dominion restricted the State Corporation Commission’s ability to police the utility rates the company charges. Between 2009 and 2018, the company overcharged Virginians by an average of $234 million per year, according to analysis by the advocacy group Clean Virginia. In 2018 alone, state regulators found that the company overcharged ratepayers by nearly $300 million, which averaged out to an extra $113 per customer for the year.
Dominion also asked to raise the percentage of its revenues it could keep as profit ― a request that regulators rejected last November. Now the company wants to raise rates by as much as $50 a month to help cover the cost of complying with Virginia’s new renewable energy targets.
That would come on top of the financial tsunami ratepayers already face in the months ahead as unemployment in Virginia sits at roughly 10% and workers struggle to make rent amid the coronavirus pandemic. Virginia extended its moratorium on utility service shutoffs for nonpayment until the end of August. Dominion said it will maintain the policy until Oct. 15.
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By then, when colder weather risks inflaming the coronavirus infection rate, thousands could lose access to electricity in the state with the seventh-highest average monthly residential electric bill in the country. (Not to mention the other states where Dominion operates. The company said it will apply the same Oct. 15 endpoint to all eight states it serves.)
The risk of losing electricity, advocates say, will fall disproportionately on communities of color. Median-income families in Richmond and Virginia Beach, for example, spent between 3% and 4% of household income on utilities, according to 2013 data from the progressive nonprofit New Virginia Majority. But Black households in the same two cities spent 8% and 10%, respectively. Latino households spent about 6%.
“If you look at what’s actually affordable, paying the current bill plus catching up on arrearage that may have been accumulated during COVID, that may be hard to accommodate,” said Dana Wiggins, director of the Center for Community Outreach and Affordable Clean Energy at the Virginia Poverty Law Center. “When you take into account that they have been overcharged over a long period of time, it makes it very difficult.”
Dominion, meanwhile, increased its dividend to shareholders in February and then paid them an equivalent sum in June.
Had the nearly $3 billion Dominion spent on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline gone instead toward solar and wind projects, it would have likely lowered the cost of Virginia’s effort to transition to 100% clean energy by 2045.
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But Farrell has long maintained that fossil fuels are the past and the future. Until early July, Dominion owned an entire gas transmission and storage subsidiary separate from its utility business. “We’ve come a long way in a relatively short time with renewable energy, but we’re still in the age of fossil fuels, whether we like it or not,” Farrell said in a 2015 speech to regional business leaders. “Seventy-five to eighty percent of it is going to come from fossil fuels, as I said, for many decades to come.”
The election of President Donald Trump, a fossil fuel hardliner, only cemented those views. “We need to acknowledge we are an energy superpower and start acting like it,” Farrell said in a July 2017 lecture to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute. “Instead of trying to keep it all in the ground.”
Thanks to that mindset, Virginia still produces about 63% of its electricity from fossil fuels, compared to 7% from renewables, according to federal figures. The new state rules require that 26% of electricity come from renewables by 2025. In a lone on-the-record statement to HuffPost, a Dominion spokesman said: “We intend to comply with that.”
But climate change’s mounting toll of more disastrous storms, heat waves and flooding show that just meeting that minimum standard is insufficient and “Dominion needs new leadership,” said Harrison Wallace, a community organizer and the Virginia director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a regional grassroots environmental group.
“The leadership of our utility monopoly should at least represent the changing tide in politics and how climate is affecting our planet,” he said.
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Farrell’s Lost Cause Film
Farrell’s movie may offer the most damning indication that the executive is out of step with the current moment. The $6 million film ― which received $1 million in public funding via a state filmmaking tax credit ― was widely panned for its historical revisionism.
Farrell's 2014 film, "Field of Lost Shoes," depicted Confederate cadets at the Virginia Military Institute who didn't support slavery. "Field of Lost Shoes"
The script for “Field of Lost Shoes,” which Farrell co-wrote, depicts its Confederate heroes at the Virginia Military Institute as deeply conflicted over slavery.
Historian Jeffrey Evan Brooks complained in a review that a “black character named Old Judge, who runs the VMI bakery, is inserted into the story in order to give the cadets a slave with whom to sympathize when he runs into trouble.” In The Hollywood Reporter, critic Frank Scheck said that the movie “doesn’t exactly score points for objectivity.”
“Amazingly, none of the staunch Southerners seem to hold any negative feelings toward blacks,” Scheck wrote.
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At one point, a main character suggests as a given that the newly independent Confederacy must abolish slavery after winning the war. Another insists: “This war is not about slavery. It’s about money. It always is.”
For a white person in the Civil War era to express skepticism about slavery, much less outright support for abolition, would “have been an untenable position in Virginia,” said historian Rev. Benjamin Campbell, author of “Richmond’s Unhealed History,” a book about the city’s failure to confront the oppressive racist policies that shaped its past.
“A white person would have been thrown out of the state,” Campbell said. “A newspaper editor who simply questioned slavery was challenged to a duel in 1848 and killed in Virginia.”
Politically acceptable opinions at the time, he said, ranged from full-throated support of slavery to “advocating the American Colonization Society,” which was an effort to deport freed Black people to Africa and establish a U.S. trading colony there.
Campbell said he knows Farrell, who is in his mid-60s, personally and the Dominion boss is “not a rigid racist.”
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“He’s a Virginian of his generation, and he’s a person in moral and emotional transition like all the rest of us,” Campbell said. “But it may not be fast enough.”
An internal text message HuffPost obtained showed what appeared to be public relations employees worrying about a “total of three negative pieces brewing” that will “try to tar us,” including this story, an op-ed due out in a local newspaper criticizing a lawmaker for accepting Dominion contributions, and an investigation in another outlet examining the company’s political donations. The texting thread of five Richmond-area numbers, which appears to have accidentally included this reporter, suggested the publications were “brewing all in rough coordination,” though HuffPost had no prior knowledge of the other two pieces.
Farrell’s role should “certainly be questioned” in the wake of the pipeline project, said Barber, a towering figure of the current civil rights movement.
“A company that would attempt to do all this to communities and put its customers through this kind of fight should be challenged in so many ways,” he said. “Racism is not just about symbolism, it’s about substance.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-24--The Rise Of The CannaSexual: Could This New Movement Spark Your Sex Life?

The first time Ashley Manta got stoned specifically to have sex , it changed everything .
“ I came so hard , like repeatedly , and afterward I just hugged [ my boyfriend ] and cuddled up in his arms and just felt full-on blissed-out all over my body , ” she told me during an interview for D Is For Desire , HuffPost ’ s love and sex podcast .
“ I was like , ‘ There is something to this.
’ ” But it wasn ’ t just Ashley ’ s sex life that changed .
Exploring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex led her to coin the term “ CannaSexual ” and launched her new career leading workshops teaching others about the joys and wonders of embarking on sexy , weed-fueled choose-your-own adventures in the bedroom ( or anywhere else ) .
For this episode of D Is For Desire , I chatted with Ashley about why combining cannabis and sex can be so revolutionary , what folks can expect if they sign up for one of her workshops and a few do ’ s and don ’ ts for experiencing the ultimate sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becky Lynn , an OBGYN , who is doing groundbreaking research into the ways cannabis may affect women ’ s bodies and sexuality and why living the CannaSexual life seems to be so rewarding for some people : Have a question about kink ?
Love ?
Sex ?
Join me and HuffPost Executive Editor Hillary Frey for a free virtual conversation on Thursday , July 30 , at 1:30 p.m .
ET .
We ’ ll go behind the scenes of the podcast and tackle all of the sticky questions about love and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your head , your heart or your pants .
Head here to register for the event .
Bring all your questions ― especially the ones you ’ ve been too afraid to ask anyone else ― and I ’ ll see you on Zoom !
New episodes of “ D Is For Desire , ” which include a journey into the world of sex witches , an interview with a man who ’ s had 10,000 sex partners , and a look at the joys of period sex , will premiere each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t miss a single desire-filled minute .

. Burn & Broad
The first time Ashley Manta got stoned specifically to have sex, it changed everything.
“I came so hard, like repeatedly, and afterward I just hugged [my boyfriend] and cuddled up in his arms and just felt full-on blissed-out all over my body,” she told me during an interview for D Is For Desire, HuffPost’s love and sex podcast. “I was like, ‘There is something to this.’”
But it wasn’t just Ashley’s sex life that changed. Exploring the mindful and deliberate use of cannabis during sex led her to coin the term “CannaSexual” and launched her new career leading workshops teaching others about the joys and wonders of embarking on sexy, weed-fueled choose-your-own adventures in the bedroom (or anywhere else).
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For this episode of D Is For Desire, I chatted with Ashley about why combining cannabis and sex can be so revolutionary, what folks can expect if they sign up for one of her workshops and a few do’s and don’ts for experiencing the ultimate sex high. I also spoke with Dr. Becky Lynn, an OBGYN, who is doing groundbreaking research into the ways cannabis may affect women’s bodies and sexuality and why living the CannaSexual life seems to be so rewarding for some people:
And... before you go...
Have a question about kink? Love? Sex? Join me and HuffPost Executive Editor Hillary Frey for a free virtual conversation on Thursday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. ET. We’ll go behind the scenes of the podcast and tackle all of the sticky questions about love and sex and relationships that might be lurking in your head, your heart or your pants.
Head here to register for the event. Bring all your questions ― especially the ones you’ve been too afraid to ask anyone else ― and I’ll see you on Zoom!
New episodes of “D Is For Desire,” which include a journey into the world of sex witches, an interview with a man who’s had 10,000 sex partners, and a look at the joys of period sex, will premiere each Friday. Subscribe below so you don’t miss a single desire-filled minute.
Subscribe to “D Is For Desire” on your favorite podcast platform:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-24--How Mindfulness Can Help With Racial Trauma

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the Black community , with data showing disproportionate rates of illness and deaths due to socioeconomic factors like insufficient access to health care , crowded and multigenerational living situations , and preexisting medical conditions that increase susceptibility of infection .
On top of that , the ongoing police violence targeting Black and brown people ― and the nationwide protests that have since followed ― has triggered a wave of racial trauma that ’ s difficult to process .
Allsop said that now , more than ever , those in the Black community need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meditation and mindfulness practice to cope with stress during grad school , and is now working to bring this toolkit to the Black community through free online guided meditation sessions .
Allsop quickly realized that his anxieties arose from “ a combination of being in a very high-stress environment but then also having to deal with racial trauma.
” After finding that a consistent month of daily meditation eradicated his panic attacks , he became a proponent of sharing his knowledge so others could benefit , too .
“ Meditation practices attend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained .
“ It helps us , first , recognize what our body and mind are experiencing without judgment , and second , release the tension through breath work and meditative practices .
It regulates the autonomic system and other stress responses .
These stress responses can be either over- or under-active when you experience racial trauma.
” “ Especially for Black people in this country , it ’ s really important to think about because a lot of the other diseases we have , like diabetes , hypertension , hyperlipidemia , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to decrease with meditation , ” Allsop added .
“ Engaging in these interventions can lower things like blood pressure and lead to better control of a lot of physical conditions and help with our overall wellness.
” A 2019 study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research found that as little as 13 minutes a day of meditation over an eight-week period improved attention and mood for people who were new to the practice .
The study also saw reduced anxiety among subjects ages 18 to 45 .
But incorporating mindfulness into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Allsop said there may be a barrier to entry in the Black community , due to cultural , religious and socioeconomic reasons .
For one , many “ identify as Christian and sometimes meditation practices could be seen as going against a Christian form of spirituality , if one isn ’ t properly informed about what the practices really are , ” he said .
Moreover , “ depending on what kind of community you live in , the environment and what mechanisms are available for you , even if you wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that if your environment is unsafe or you don ’ t have money and you can ’ t go somewhere or hire an instructor ?
” Start a daily practice by doing meditation first thing in the morning .
According to Kresence Campbell , psychotherapist and owner of Holly Street Counseling Wellness Services , beginning the day with meditation can “ help to start you off with level headedness and it can help you with mood management , ” giving you an emotional head start to face whatever challenges the day ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on the here and now and slow down a lot of the buzzing thoughts you have in your mind , and deep breathing helps to increase the flow of oxygen to the brain , which helps release endorphins and calm your body , ” Campbell said .
Hargans recommends its daily use in the morning as a “ prevention practice , ” that serves as a “ hedge against the wear and tear of daily racism.
” She also recommends using it as an “ intervention following a racist stressor when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a race-based stress reaction or more chronic racial trauma.
” Campbell also provides low-cost virtual guided meditation at Holly Street Counseling , and recommends the book ” True Refuge ” by Tara Brach for those who are just getting started with the practice .
Allsop recommends free daily guided meditations through New Haven ’ s One Village Healing or downloading the Liberate Meditation App to use on your own .
Starting out with just three to five minutes of meditation after waking up is a great foundation to build on , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( or more ) in a session .
Use a quick grounding exercise during moments of acute stress .
“ The stress hormone , cortisol , can manifest in your body , causing pain and discomfort and compromising your immune system , ” Campbell said .
“ During this pandemic , we want to make sure your immune system is as strong as possible so we ’ re not making ourselves more susceptible to something that ’ s going on in the world in addition to having all these racial tensions.
” If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommends the DBT 5-4-3-2-1 method to counteract any panic .
List five things you can see , four things you can touch , three things you can hear , two things you can smell and one thing you can taste .
Practice mindfulness in the form of creative pursuits or other activities .
Regular mindfulness will help limit some future stressors .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for the Black community, with data showing disproportionate rates of illness and deaths due to socioeconomic factors like insufficient access to health care, crowded and multigenerational living situations, and preexisting medical conditions that increase susceptibility of infection. On top of that, the ongoing police violence targeting Black and brown people ― and the nationwide protests that have since followed ― has triggered a wave of racial trauma that’s difficult to process.
“It creates this perfect storm where you need as much in your toolkit as possible,” AZA Allsop, a psychiatry resident and neuroscience researcher at Yale University, told HuffPost.
Advertisement
Allsop said that now, more than ever, those in the Black community need accessible coping tools. Allsop developed a meditation and mindfulness practice to cope with stress during grad school, and is now working to bring this toolkit to the Black community through free online guided meditation sessions.
Allsop quickly realized that his anxieties arose from “a combination of being in a very high-stress environment but then also having to deal with racial trauma.” After finding that a consistent month of daily meditation eradicated his panic attacks, he became a proponent of sharing his knowledge so others could benefit, too.
Candice Nicole Hargons, a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky and director of the Center for Healing Racial Trauma, said that practicing meditation and mindfulness is vital to processing and recovering from racial trauma, which can cause ”muscle tension, heart racing, shallow breathing and fatigue.”
“Meditation practices attend to the mind and body,” Hargons explained. “It helps us, first, recognize what our body and mind are experiencing without judgment, and second, release the tension through breath work and meditative practices. It regulates the autonomic system and other stress responses. These stress responses can be either over- or under-active when you experience racial trauma.”
Advertisement
“Especially for Black people in this country, it’s really important to think about because a lot of the other diseases we have, like diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, have all been shown to vary with stress and to decrease with meditation,” Allsop added. “Engaging in these interventions can lower things like blood pressure and lead to better control of a lot of physical conditions and help with our overall wellness.”
A 2019 study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research found that as little as 13 minutes a day of meditation over an eight-week period improved attention and mood for people who were new to the practice. The study also saw reduced anxiety among subjects ages 18 to 45.
But incorporating mindfulness into daily life isn’t exactly simple. Allsop said there may be a barrier to entry in the Black community, due to cultural, religious and socioeconomic reasons. For one, many “identify as Christian and sometimes meditation practices could be seen as going against a Christian form of spirituality, if one isn’t properly informed about what the practices really are,” he said.
Moreover, “depending on what kind of community you live in, the environment and what mechanisms are available for you, even if you wanted to do self-care, how can you do that if your environment is unsafe or you don’t have money and you can’t go somewhere or hire an instructor?”
Below, the experts share some accessible mindfulness and meditation resources and how to start a regular practice:
Advertisement
Start a daily practice by doing meditation first thing in the morning.
According to Kresence Campbell, psychotherapist and owner of Holly Street Counseling Wellness Services, beginning the day with meditation can “help to start you off with level headedness and it can help you with mood management,” giving you an emotional head start to face whatever challenges the day ahead brings.
“Meditation can help you focus on the here and now and slow down a lot of the buzzing thoughts you have in your mind, and deep breathing helps to increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, which helps release endorphins and calm your body,” Campbell said.
In 2016, soon after the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Hargons created a 17-minute Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma, which anyone can access online at her website.
Hargons recommends its daily use in the morning as a “prevention practice,” that serves as a “hedge against the wear and tear of daily racism.” She also recommends using it as an “intervention following a racist stressor when we need something to help us recover from a race-based stress reaction or more chronic racial trauma.”
Campbell also provides low-cost virtual guided meditation at Holly Street Counseling, and recommends the book ”True Refuge” by Tara Brach for those who are just getting started with the practice. Allsop recommends free daily guided meditations through New Haven’s One Village Healing or downloading the Liberate Meditation App to use on your own. Starting out with just three to five minutes of meditation after waking up is a great foundation to build on, with a goal to get up to 10-15 minutes (or more) in a session.
Advertisement
RyanJLane via Getty Images
Use a quick grounding exercise during moments of acute stress.
In addition to dedicating a little time every day to meditation, mindfulness tools can be very grounding during moments of high anxiety.
“The stress hormone, cortisol, can manifest in your body, causing pain and discomfort and compromising your immune system,” Campbell said. “During this pandemic, we want to make sure your immune system is as strong as possible so we’re not making ourselves more susceptible to something that’s going on in the world in addition to having all these racial tensions.”
If a moment is particularly stressful, Campbell recommends the DBT 5-4-3-2-1 method to counteract any panic. List five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.
“It helps ground you and puts you in the present, and not focus on the past or the future,” she explained.
Advertisement
Deep belly breathing, where you put one hand below your diaphragm and one on your chest, focusing on the body’s sensations, also works to calm the brain and body.
Practice mindfulness in the form of creative pursuits or other activities.
Research shows that crafts (think knitting or coloring) can put the brain in a meditative state. Exercise also releases endorphins and reduces stress, providing a healthy break that is a coping mechanism in and of itself.
Allsop suggested taking time for creative outlets ― like journaling, playing or listening to music or engaging in a spiritual practice like prayer. All of these activities can provide time for reflection as well as emotional catharsis.
“Taking the time to sit with the negative emotion can be a process that begins healing,” he said.
Westend61 via Getty Images
Regular mindfulness will help limit some future stressors.
Part of mindfulness is about creating more self-awareness around the response to physical and emotional stress triggers. Campbell gives the example of seeing something upsetting on your social media feed, and then noticing your chest tightening or that you’re struggling to focus.
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“Those are the times you want to take a deep breath, do some counts, in addition to turning it off and limiting exposure to that,” Campbell said. “Stopping and recognizing those feelings going on in your body, being self-aware, that’s another thing mindfulness and meditation help you achieve.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-24--States’ Coronavirus Efforts Vary, But Old Inequities Are The Common Thread

The pandemic has entered a new phase .
In the early days of the outbreak , differences between states had to do with the timing of the virus ’ s arrival in the U.S. , and the speed with which various governors imposed quarantines .
Now that governors have lifted their lockdown orders and reopened their economies , outbreaks are beginning to fall along political and economic lines .
COVID-19 is increasingly becoming just another disease of inequality .
The Spread Of The Pandemic Most of the states that took the pandemic seriously , and now have flat or falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cases and deaths .
Northeastern states like New Jersey , New York , Massachusetts and Pennsylvania may be managing the epidemic better now because they experienced a higher death toll and , as a result , have reopened more cautiously .
“ All they did was delay what happened in New York , ” said Jared Baeten , vice dean of the University of Washington ’ s School of Public Health .
“ It ’ s hard to take the virus seriously when you haven ’ t seen a lot of disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t embrace preventative measures unless they experienced that moment of fear and engagement.
” Most of the states currently experiencing severe outbreaks have pushed forward with reopening businesses despite worsening coronavirus conditions .
South Carolina Gov .
Henry McMaster ( R ) allowed restaurants to reopen , then tourist attractions , then bowling alleys , even as cases steadily climbed .
Texas , where new cases have hit 10,000 per day , started to allow restaurants to reopen ( first at 25 % of indoor capacity , then at 50 % ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s earliest lockdown orders on March 19 , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) announced in May that businesses could only reopen if the state hit a series of statistical benchmarks indicating that the virus was under control .
Less than a month later , however , he reopened gyms , hotels , retailers and museums despite the state continuing to fall short of its own benchmarks .
Last week , as COVID-19 caseloads continued to climb , Newsom was forced to restrict indoor dining and bars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400,000 coronavirus cases , overtaking New York as the state with the most infections .
One of the most stark disparities in the American coronavirus epidemic involves the likelihood of people wearing masks .
In some parts of the country , mostly along the coasts and in large cities , over 90 % of residents report that they always wear a mask when they come within six feet of other people .
In some suburban and rural counties , however , the rate can be as low as 15 % .
States themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask use .
Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) has barred cities from imposing mask orders , and the state has relatively low rates of mask usage .
The city of Albany , Georgia , however , has a nearly unanimous rate of face covering , probably due to its large-scale coronavirus outbreak in April .
Similarly , many blue states with high average rates of facial covering nevertheless have counties where rates are much lower .
In general , states that have been successful in controlling COVID-19 have maintained restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that attract younger clientele , like bars and nightclubs .
The states that have not restricted those have fared far worse : In Florida , which reopened bars at 50 % capacity in early June , the median age of new COVID-19 cases has fallen from 65 in March to 39.5 in mid-July .
In Louisiana , bars and restaurants have become the largest source of new infections .
The same inequalities that characterize other disease burdens in the United States will continue to mark the new phase of the virus .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Texas , Arizona and California , have high Latinx populations and stark racial disparities .
The cities with galloping caseloads include Atlanta ; Miami ; Memphis , Tennessee ; and Baton Rouge , Louisiana , all of which have high poverty rates and diverse populations .
Numerous studies have confirmed that communities of color are more severely affected by the coronavirus than their white counterparts .
This is partly due to existing disparities in health and access to care , but also to the way cities and states have responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 testing sites in neighborhoods where people of color are concentrated .
Others require patients to have a car to access drive-in sites or get a prescription from their doctor before being tested , both of which limit access for poorer populations .

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Over the past month, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated nationwide. New daily cases have topped 60,000. Deaths, while still below their peak of nearly 3,000 per day in late March, have been steadily rising and again hit 1,000 on Tuesday. Hospitalizations have almost returned to their early-April peak.
But the pandemic is not affecting all states equally. Last week, Florida added 80,000 new cases. New York had just 5,000. Arizona has roughly the same population as Washington state, but has three times more cases and nearly 10 times more patients on ventilators.
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Regional patterns have also emerged. Nearly every state in the Southeast — Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida — is experiencing a steep rise in cases. By contrast, caseloads in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are all dwindling.
Even neighboring states are seeing vastly different trends. Washington, for example, has a death rate five times higher than Oregon. And while New York, America’s most densely populated city, was the early hot spot, its cases have since flatlined. Meanwhile, virus hot spots now include suburban and even rural counties.
The pandemic has entered a new phase. In the early days of the outbreak, differences between states had to do with the timing of the virus’s arrival in the U.S., and the speed with which various governors imposed quarantines. Now that governors have lifted their lockdown orders and reopened their economies, outbreaks are beginning to fall along political and economic lines. COVID-19 is increasingly becoming just another disease of inequality.
Pedestrians walk along Bourbon Street in New Orleans on July 14. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards allowed bars to reopen at reduced capacity in June, then reimposed restrictions due to rising coronavirus caseloads. Sean Gardner via Getty Images
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The Spread Of The Pandemic
Most of the states that took the pandemic seriously, and now have flat or falling numbers, experienced early, severe spikes in cases and deaths. Northeastern states like New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania may be managing the epidemic better now because they experienced a higher death toll and, as a result, have reopened more cautiously.
States like Florida and Arizona, on the other hand, did not see large caseloads or mass deaths in the early stages of the epidemic, which may have made their residents and policymakers more complacent about containing the virus.
“All they did was delay what happened in New York,” said Jared Baeten, vice dean of the University of Washington’s School of Public Health. “It’s hard to take the virus seriously when you haven’t seen a lot of disease. Without political leadership, communities won’t embrace preventative measures unless they experienced that moment of fear and engagement.”
Most of the states currently experiencing severe outbreaks have pushed forward with reopening businesses despite worsening coronavirus conditions. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) allowed restaurants to reopen, then tourist attractions, then bowling alleys, even as cases steadily climbed. Texas, where new cases have hit 10,000 per day, started to allow restaurants to reopen (first at 25% of indoor capacity, then at 50%) in mid-May.
After imposing one of the nation’s earliest lockdown orders on March 19, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced in May that businesses could only reopen if the state hit a series of statistical benchmarks indicating that the virus was under control. Less than a month later, however, he reopened gyms, hotels, retailers and museums despite the state continuing to fall short of its own benchmarks. Last week, as COVID-19 caseloads continued to climb, Newsom was forced to restrict indoor dining and bars. Nonetheless, on Wednesday, California passed 400,000 coronavirus cases, overtaking New York as the state with the most infections.
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Tourists wearing masks walk near the closed Miami Beach on March 19. CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images
Masks And Distancing Make A Difference
One of the most stark disparities in the American coronavirus epidemic involves the likelihood of people wearing masks. In some parts of the country, mostly along the coasts and in large cities, over 90% of residents report that they always wear a mask when they come within six feet of other people. In some suburban and rural counties, however, the rate can be as low as 15%.
These trends follow complex cultural and political contours. Many states with Democratic governors, including Hawaii and Connecticut, imposed mask orders as early as mid-April. States with Republican governors, including Alabama and Arkansas, waited until mid-July. The overwhelming majority of states that have not mandated face masks have Republican governors.
States themselves, though, contain vast diversity in mask use. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has barred cities from imposing mask orders, and the state has relatively low rates of mask usage. The city of Albany, Georgia, however, has a nearly unanimous rate of face covering, probably due to its large-scale coronavirus outbreak in April. Similarly, many blue states with high average rates of facial covering nevertheless have counties where rates are much lower.
In general, states that have been successful in controlling COVID-19 have maintained restrictions on indoor activities, especially in places that attract younger clientele, like bars and nightclubs. The states that have not restricted those have fared far worse: In Florida, which reopened bars at 50% capacity in early June, the median age of new COVID-19 cases has fallen from 65 in March to 39.5 in mid-July. In Louisiana, bars and restaurants have become the largest source of new infections.
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Social activity outside of bars and restaurants is also emerging as a critical pathway for the virus. Last week, North Carolina authorities announced that a single family gathering had resulted in 40 cases of COVID-19, spread between family members and then to co-workers and other community contacts.
“Folks did not wear masks or observe physical distancing at this gathering,” Catawba County Public Health Director Jennifer McCracken told The Charlotte Observer.
Some partygoers tested positive but didn’t spread the virus to anyone else; some infected as many as eight others. A 9-year-old who attended the gathering infected two grandparents, one of whom infected their 87-year-old neighbor.
Community organizations in Miami are aiming outreach efforts at the homeless and other vulnerable groups. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Pre-Existing Inequalities Matter, Too
The same inequalities that characterize other disease burdens in the United States will continue to mark the new phase of the virus. Many of the states currently experiencing major outbreaks, including Texas, Arizona and California, have high Latinx populations and stark racial disparities. The cities with galloping caseloads include Atlanta; Miami; Memphis, Tennessee; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, all of which have high poverty rates and diverse populations.
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Numerous studies have confirmed that communities of color are more severely affected by the coronavirus than their white counterparts. This is partly due to existing disparities in health and access to care, but also to the way cities and states have responded to the virus. Some cities have limited COVID-19 testing sites in neighborhoods where people of color are concentrated. Others require patients to have a car to access drive-in sites or get a prescription from their doctor before being tested, both of which limit access for poorer populations.
“When virus transmission is out of control, it’s hard to pull it back. The only way to reduce cases quickly is to go back into a severe lockdown.” - Jared Baeten, vice dean, University of Washington's School of Public Health
Communities of color are also more likely to be exposed to the virus in the first place. Contact tracing efforts have shown that the main sites for COVID-19 infection include prisons and workplaces, particularly meatpacking plants and indoor manufacturing facilities. Black and Latinx people are overrepresented in both.
That’s why, Baeten said, states will have to consider a wider range of policies related to criminal justice, sick leave and improved health care access if they want to contain the epidemic in the long term.
“If people are waiting to get tested because they don’t have insurance or they don’t trust government systems on immigration or health care, they’ll end up transmitting to others and the epidemic will just keep going,” he said. “We need care that’s attentive to inequalities.”
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No matter where outbreaks happen, the coronavirus is nearly impossible to contain once it spikes. Mandatory masking and business restrictions, combined with testing and contact tracing efforts, can slow the spread of the virus, but may not be enough to significantly reduce caseloads.
“When virus transmission is out of control, it’s hard to pull it back,” Baeten said. “The only way to reduce cases quickly is to go back into a severe lockdown.”
But the differences between individual states’ figures right now should not mask how poorly the country is doing overall. Cases are worsening at different rates throughout the U.S., but they are worsening almost everywhere: Only three states — Arizona, Delaware and Maine ― are recording a declining number of cases. The COVID Exit Strategy, a collaborative project of public health and crisis experts, lists just five states as making progress toward suppression ― Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-24--Bill Gates Hits Trump's Coronavirus Boast With A Blunt Reality Check

Billionaire Bill Gates had a blunt assessment of President Donald Trump ’ s attempt to whitewash his failed response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic .
Trump on Sunday falsely claimed that the United States has “ one of the lowest mortality rates in the world ” and “ maybe the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world , ” while holding up a chart that showed otherwise during a Fox News interview .
“ Not at all , not even close , ” Gates told CBS .
“ By almost every measure , the U.S. is one of the worst.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of ways of looking at mortality rates .
The United States is not one of the lowest , or the lowest , in any of them .
The Microsoft co-founder said the nation hasn ’ t made headway against the disease the way other countries have because of areas that reopened while cases were still increasing , resistance to masks and lack of overall leadership .
Gates , who CBS said has donated $ 300 million to the global effort to fight the pandemic , said an eventual COVID-19 vaccine would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccines at this point appear like they ’ ll work with a single dose , ” he said .
“ That was the hope at the very beginning.
” Gates has for years warned of a major pandemic as a global threat , and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has focused on fighting infectious diseases , especially in developing nations .
The organization announced in June that it would commit to $ 1.6 billion in funding for vaccines for children in the poorest nations , including $ 100 million for @ @ @ @ @

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Billionaire Bill Gates had a blunt assessment of President Donald Trump’s attempt to whitewash his failed response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Trump on Sunday falsely claimed that the United States has “one of the lowest mortality rates in the world” and “maybe the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world,” while holding up a chart that showed otherwise during a Fox News interview.
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In an interview with CBS News, Gates offered up a fact check.
“Not at all, not even close,” Gates told CBS. “By almost every measure, the U.S. is one of the worst.”
As PolitiFact notes, there are a number of ways of looking at mortality rates. The United States is not one of the lowest, or the lowest, in any of them.
The Microsoft co-founder said the nation hasn’t made headway against the disease the way other countries have because of areas that reopened while cases were still increasing, resistance to masks and lack of overall leadership.
“Serious mistakes were made,” he said.
Gates, who CBS said has donated $300 million to the global effort to fight the pandemic, said an eventual COVID-19 vaccine would likely require two shots.
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“None of the vaccines at this point appear like they’ll work with a single dose,” he said. “That was the hope at the very beginning.”
Gates has for years warned of a major pandemic as a global threat, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has focused on fighting infectious diseases, especially in developing nations.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-24--Ivanka Trump Visits National Park In The Middle Of Pandemic, And People Are Ticked

Twitter users are annoyed over Ivanka Trump ’ s visit to a national park amid the coronavirus pandemic for what appeared to be a photo opportunity .
Critics tore into President Donald Trump ’ s daughter and adviser after she tweeted photographs on Thursday of herself celebrating the passage of The Great American Outdoors Act at the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado .
Trump hailed the widely welcomed bipartisan legislation , which her father has said he will sign , to address maintenance backlogs in national parks and secure funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us value , now more than ever , the national treasure that is our parks & the respite they afford our families .
Today @ SecBernhardt & I visited Rocky Mountain Nat ‘ l Park🏔to celebrate the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act , a landmark win for all 🇺🇸 !
pic.twitter.com/96MwDDTArO — Ivanka Trump ( @ IvankaTrump ) July 23 , 2020 “ The pandemic has made us value , now more than ever , the national treasure that is our parks & the respite they afford our families , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was there in the first place .
They also accused the White House of “ greenwashing , ” given its decidedly anti-environmental agenda and previous attempts to gut the Land and Water Conservation Fund of its funding almost altogether .
Some even put their own spin on what the pandemic ― that has now killed more than 140,000 people in the United States — had really made them value .
“ The pandemic has made us value , now more than ever , decency , integrity , honesty ... all the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said one Twitter user , referencing the Trump administration ’ s disastrous handling of the public health crisis .
Added another : “ It ’ s made me value competent governance , more than ever .
Too bad we lack it.
” The pandemic has also made us value democracy -- it 's an effective tool for destroying nepotism .
— Charlie R. Claywell ( @ CharlieRClaywel ) July 23 , 2020 '' The pandemic has made us value , now more than ever , the national treasure that is ... our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Deacon Blues 💦 🆘🇨🇦 ( @ Phreaddie ) July 23 , 2020 The pandemic has made us value , now more than ever , decency , integrity , honesty ... all the things you are n't capable of .
https : //t.co/0pUTSV3nBW — Angel Incognito ( @ MagaBotAngel1 ) July 23 , 2020 Your dad has reversed or rolled back more than 100 regulations that were protecting the environment .
He has weakened protections for more than half the nation 's wetlands .
He re-allowed hunters to kill hibernating bears and power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Laura Bassett ( @ LEBassett ) July 23 , 2020 You are so far out of touch with reality it is mind blowing .
— 103 days ( @ Kbasl41933 ) July 23 , 2020 The pandemic has a death toll of 145,000 on US soil because President Coronavirus @ realDonaldTrump has failed Americans .
Plus , @ POTUS is no friend of the environment .
https : //t.co/m6kAq7BFBf https : //t.co/lYRBnPY8Uh — Lorena Blas - Register to Vote & Then Vote ( @ byLorenaBlas ) July 23 , 2020 145,000 Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll look at some pictures of you having a marvelous time outside on the taxpayer 's dime .
— Darwin Brender a ’ Brandis ( @ DTBbyTheSea ) July 23 , 2020 None of us can afford to travel for any sort of vacation , but I 'm glad you get to use taxpayer money to go places we can only wish to see .
Good times .
— BoundarySeeker , In COVID HotSpot🌵🦎 🐎🌊🌊🌊 ( @ BoundarySeeker ) July 23 , 2020 Seriously ?
People are stuggling to put food on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your hair cascading in the wind ?
Yuck .
# Biden2020ToSaveAmerica — Yvette with a Y ( @ radiochick841 ) July 23 , 2020 It 's made me value competent governance , more than ever .
Too bad we lack it .
— Rich Swinton ( @ RicoSuaveJD ) July 23 , 2020

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Twitter users are annoyed over Ivanka Trump’s visit to a national park amid the coronavirus pandemic for what appeared to be a photo opportunity.
Critics tore into President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser after she tweeted photographs on Thursday of herself celebrating the passage of The Great American Outdoors Act at the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
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Trump hailed the widely welcomed bipartisan legislation, which her father has said he will sign, to address maintenance backlogs in national parks and secure funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, with this post:
The pandemic has made us value, now more than ever, the national treasure that is our parks & the respite they afford our families.
Today @SecBernhardt & I visited Rocky Mountain Nat‘l Park🏔to celebrate the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark win for all 🇺🇸! pic.twitter.com/96MwDDTArO — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 23, 2020
“The pandemic has made us value, now more than ever, the national treasure that is our parks & the respite they afford our families,” wrote Trump.
But her detractors questioned she was there in the first place.
They also accused the White House of “greenwashing,” given its decidedly anti-environmental agenda and previous attempts to gut the Land and Water Conservation Fund of its funding almost altogether.
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Some even put their own spin on what the pandemic ― that has now killed more than 140,000 people in the United States — had really made them value.
“The pandemic has made us value, now more than ever, decency, integrity, honesty...all the things you aren’t capable of,” said one Twitter user, referencing the Trump administration’s disastrous handling of the public health crisis.
Added another: “It’s made me value competent governance, more than ever. Too bad we lack it.”
The pandemic has also made us value democracy -- it's an effective tool for destroying nepotism. — Charlie R. Claywell (@CharlieRClaywel) July 23, 2020
"The pandemic has made us value, now more than ever, the national treasure that is ... our families."
144,000 dead Americans. — Deacon Blues 💦 🆘🇨🇦 (@Phreaddie) July 23, 2020
The pandemic has made us value, now more than ever, decency, integrity, honesty...all the things you aren't capable of. https://t.co/0pUTSV3nBW — Angel Incognito (@MagaBotAngel1) July 23, 2020
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Made us value the importance of having a functioning government instead of dystopic pandemonium. — Dirk Langford (@stoneboxdirk) July 23, 2020
Your dad has reversed or rolled back more than 100 regulations that were protecting the environment. He has weakened protections for more than half the nation's wetlands. He re-allowed hunters to kill hibernating bears and power plants to release mercury https://t.co/x95Btf2biL — Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) July 23, 2020
Hasn’t trump removed environmental protection and allowed drilling in national parks? — Barbara Tepper (@softlikewater) July 23, 2020
Everything is a photo op for you, isn't it, Ivanka? https://t.co/dbsLUojfPX — *you're (@RKJ65) July 23, 2020
You are so far out of touch with reality it is mind blowing. — 103 days (@Kbasl41933) July 23, 2020
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How quickly Ivanka forgets the all out assault her daddy waged on our National Parks. https://t.co/wqzxAJc0P8 — Karen Rakestraw (@KarenDRakestraw) July 24, 2020
First family encourages all those with private jets to visit our national parks. https://t.co/ioof2Xq1I5 — Stephen Soldz (@ethicalpsycholo) July 23, 2020
The kids in cages get no freedom or respite. #FreeTheMigrantChildren https://t.co/qJwtjh3l4b — Lynn Taylor (@JehseaLynn) July 23, 2020
The pandemic has a death toll of 145,000 on US soil because President Coronavirus @realDonaldTrump has failed Americans. Plus, @POTUS is no friend of the environment. https://t.co/m6kAq7BFBf https://t.co/lYRBnPY8Uh — Lorena Blas - Register to Vote & Then Vote (@byLorenaBlas) July 23, 2020
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145,000 Americans are dead, but sure, we'll look at some pictures of you having a marvelous time outside on the taxpayer's dime. — Darwin Brender a’ Brandis (@DTBbyTheSea) July 23, 2020
None of us can afford to travel for any sort of vacation, but I'm glad you get to use taxpayer money to go places we can only wish to see. Good times. — BoundarySeeker, In COVID HotSpot🌵🦎 🐎🌊🌊🌊 (@BoundarySeeker) July 23, 2020
Seriously? People are stuggling to put food on the table and you're taking Instagram pics of your hair cascading in the wind? Yuck. #Biden2020ToSaveAmerica — Yvette with a Y (@radiochick841) July 23, 2020
It's made me value competent governance, more than ever.
Too bad we lack it. — Rich Swinton (@RicoSuaveJD) July 23, 2020
You mean there's a national park your dad hasn't sold to the fossil fuel industry yet? https://t.co/qGezBuyxAx — Pleasantly Pink (@ReginaRed4) July 24, 2020