thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Trump's Incursion Into Cities Distracts From A Real Gun Violence Crisis

President Donald Trump revealed plans to send hundreds of federal law enforcement officers to Chicago and Albuquerque on Wednesday despite widespread condemnation of his deployment of violent and secretive federal forces to Portland , Oregon .
He justified the controversial move by citing an uptick in violence in American cities ― a real problem that experts say his approach will do little to help .
“ For decades , politicians running many of our major cities have put the interests of criminals over the rights of our law-abiding citizens , ” the president said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s cities could not be more different than the lawlessness pushed by the radical left .
...
I want to support and honor our great police.
” Trump ’ s plan is overtly political : He noted that the cities are run by Democratic lawmakers , accused police brutality protesters of promoting violence and has repeatedly ― and dishonestly ― said that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called to defund the police .
The narrative that cities are out of control helps him argue that Democrats can not be trusted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to see how his show of force will help the millions of people in cities where gun crime is reaching record highs , particularly in largely nonwhite neighborhoods badly hurt by the coronavirus pandemic .
Chicago , which Trump later called “ a disaster , ” is on track to see its most murders since 2016 ; on Tuesday , police said 15 people were shot during a funeral for a man killed in a recent drive-by shooting .
In New York , there have been nearly twice as many shootings so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same period in 2019 .
And Philadelphia , Milwaukee and Kansas City , Missouri , have seen significantly more homicides than usual .
The U.S. has also experienced more mass shootings this May and June than it has ever seen in a single month ― 60 in May and 95 in June , compared with the previous record of 51 in June 2019 ― according to research from GVPedia , a nonprofit that works on gun violence prevention .
Analysts see multiple reasons for the bloodshed .
Guns , particularly assault weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes but claim more lives in each incident , continue to be easily available in much of the country , and firearm purchases have increased this year as COVID-19 has spread and disrupted normal life .
The coronavirus has both worsened people ’ s desperation by hurting the economy and led to artificial drops in crime during lockdowns .
Officials have eased those restrictions in recent months , allowing for shootings to resume , potentially at a higher rate ― and in the summer , when crime almost always increases even under normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the videos of George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police , which Trump and Attorney General William Barr described as directly responsible for the losses many families have experienced , has diminished trust in law enforcement , making it harder to work with witnesses and informants to solve crimes and prevent further offenses .
“ He ’ s trying to shove federal law enforcement down the throats of the mayors , ” said Christopher Herrmann , a John Jay College of Criminal Justice assistant professor who has worked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The best thing they could do is say , ‘ Do you guys need help ?
’ and ‘ This is how we can help.
’ ” Coming after federal officers ’ crackdowns in Portland , those agents will likely be poorly received , Herrmann said .
Their ability to contribute is limited , he added .
The ATF , for instance , could help track guns entering cities from states with more lax laws , but many likely criminals already possess guns .
The FBI could pursue prosecutions of gang leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who would continue the cycle of violence .
There are other approaches , though .
Politicians who want to stem gun violence should focus on gun control and greater economic opportunity through policies such as a living wage , which would reduce the chances of people turning to crime to survive , said Ronnie Dunn , an urban studies professor at Cleveland State University .
The announcement did not come as a surprise to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot .
Though she had said she would not permit federal forces to come to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan Wednesday : “ It ’ s too soon to be able to say if this is a value add or not , ” she said after Trump ’ s remarks .

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President Donald Trump revealed plans to send hundreds of federal law enforcement officers to Chicago and Albuquerque on Wednesday despite widespread condemnation of his deployment of violent and secretive federal forces to Portland, Oregon. He justified the controversial move by citing an uptick in violence in American cities ― a real problem that experts say his approach will do little to help.
“For decades, politicians running many of our major cities have put the interests of criminals over the rights of our law-abiding citizens,” the president said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. “My vision for America’s cities could not be more different than the lawlessness pushed by the radical left. ... I want to support and honor our great police.”
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Trump’s plan is overtly political: He noted that the cities are run by Democratic lawmakers, accused police brutality protesters of promoting violence and has repeatedly ― and dishonestly ― said that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has called to defund the police. The narrative that cities are out of control helps him argue that Democrats cannot be trusted with the presidency. But it’s hard to see how his show of force will help the millions of people in cities where gun crime is reaching record highs, particularly in largely nonwhite neighborhoods badly hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
Chicago, which Trump later called “a disaster,” is on track to see its most murders since 2016; on Tuesday, police said 15 people were shot during a funeral for a man killed in a recent drive-by shooting. In New York, there have been nearly twice as many shootings so far this year as there were in the same period in 2019. And Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Kansas City, Missouri, have seen significantly more homicides than usual.
The U.S. has also experienced more mass shootings this May and June than it has ever seen in a single month ― 60 in May and 95 in June, compared with the previous record of 51 in June 2019 ― according to research from GVPedia, a nonprofit that works on gun violence prevention.
Analysts see multiple reasons for the bloodshed. Guns, particularly assault weapons, which are involved in relatively few crimes but claim more lives in each incident, continue to be easily available in much of the country, and firearm purchases have increased this year as COVID-19 has spread and disrupted normal life.
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“He’s trying to shove federal law enforcement down the throats of the mayors.” - Christopher Herrmann, John Jay College assistant professor
The coronavirus has both worsened people’s desperation by hurting the economy and led to artificial drops in crime during lockdowns. Officials have eased those restrictions in recent months, allowing for shootings to resume, potentially at a higher rate ― and in the summer, when crime almost always increases even under normal circumstances. Public anger in reaction to the videos of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, which Trump and Attorney General William Barr described as directly responsible for the losses many families have experienced, has diminished trust in law enforcement, making it harder to work with witnesses and informants to solve crimes and prevent further offenses.
Trump’s strategy is unlikely to address any of those factors.
“He’s trying to shove federal law enforcement down the throats of the mayors,” said Christopher Herrmann, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice assistant professor who has worked with the New York City Police Department. “The best thing they could do is say, ‘Do you guys need help?’ and ‘This is how we can help.’”
The president said he will send officials from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security to Chicago and other cities.
Coming after federal officers’ crackdowns in Portland, those agents will likely be poorly received, Herrmann said. Their ability to contribute is limited, he added. The ATF, for instance, could help track guns entering cities from states with more lax laws, but many likely criminals already possess guns. The FBI could pursue prosecutions of gang leaders who would soon be replaced with others who would continue the cycle of violence.
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Trump has dealt inconsistently with the question of whether federal or local authorities bear responsibility for crime within American communities, blaming former President Barack Obama for spikes in violence as he campaigned in 2016 but now calling the current rise in crime a failure of Democratic city officials.
When asked Wednesday why he blamed Obama for past violence but blamed only local officials for the crime spike under his watch, Trump insisted that his predecessor should have sent in federal authorities.
There are other approaches, though. Politicians who want to stem gun violence should focus on gun control and greater economic opportunity through policies such as a living wage, which would reduce the chances of people turning to crime to survive, said Ronnie Dunn, an urban studies professor at Cleveland State University.
“This is just political gamesmanship and theater… [Trump has] explicitly tried to appeal to the racial fears of white suburbanites once again to drive further racial division,” Dunn said.
The president cited some Democratic leaders’ choice to create “sanctuary cities” for undocumented migrants in describing the growth in crime during his Wednesday remarks, blasting “deadly policies… by these deadly politicians.”
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Trump’s latest move may at least avoid the kind of chaos his squads of Department of Homeland Security officers have spurred in Portland.
“It doesn’t look nearly as scary as the kind of intervention force that was inserted into Portland, really without coordination with the city or the police department ― they just appeared,” said Wesley Skogan, a professor emeritus at Northwestern University.
The announcement did not come as a surprise to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Though she had said she would not permit federal forces to come to the city, she appeared open to the plan Wednesday: “It’s too soon to be able to say if this is a value add or not,” she said after Trump’s remarks.
Chicago’s law enforcement apparatus could use support and has previously worked well with federal agencies, Skogan said, adding that a key factor would be if the government agencies were closely overseen by a specific team or person.
He cited the coronavirus, its economic toll, the crisis in police legitimacy and tension over the upcoming presidential election as a volatile mix of reasons for the escalating violence in cities like Chicago.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--New Orleans Musician Offers Kids Trumpets For Guns

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) — A New Orleans trumpeter , vocalist and bandleader is offering kids trumpets in exchange for guns .
Shamarr Allen started the project last week , after a 9-year-old boy was shot and killed and two teens wounded , news agencies reported .
“ I have a 9-year-old son and I grew up in that environment so I understand what those kids are going through .
They aren ’ t bad kids , they just don ’ t have anything to do , ” Allen told WVUE-TV .
So — after checking with police to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get any kids in trouble and would be able to give police the guns for safe disposal — he posted a note on his Instagram account : “ To all the youth in New Orleans , Bring me a gun and I ’ ll give you a trumpet no questions asked.
” Allen told WWL-TV that his life changed when he was 12 or 13 and first played for tips in the French Quarter .
“ I realized , ‘ OK , I can do this , ’ ” he recounted .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , this is my career because of that trumpet .
So if it can do that for me , it can do that for someone else.
” He quickly ran through trumpets he owned but wasn ’ t using .
Other people offered to help .
Then he started an online fundraiser with a $ 6,500 goal .
By Tuesday afternoon — four days in — he ’ d raised $ 8,800 for trumpets costing about $ 250 plus instruction books .
He ’ s also raising money by selling T-shirts with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” WWL-TV reported .
Several musicians have agreed to offer free virtual lessons to kids who get the trumpets , he said .
“ You pick out the trumpet you want because it ’ s always a bunch of different ones , ” Allen , who also is getting donated instruments , told WDSU-TV .

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans trumpeter, vocalist and bandleader is offering kids trumpets in exchange for guns.
Shamarr Allen started the project last week, after a 9-year-old boy was shot and killed and two teens wounded, news agencies reported.
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“I have a 9-year-old son and I grew up in that environment so I understand what those kids are going through. They aren’t bad kids, they just don’t have anything to do,” Allen told WVUE-TV.
So — after checking with police to make sure that he wouldn’t get any kids in trouble and would be able to give police the guns for safe disposal — he posted a note on his Instagram account: “To all the youth in New Orleans, Bring me a gun and I’ll give you a trumpet no questions asked.”
Allen told WWL-TV that his life changed when he was 12 or 13 and first played for tips in the French Quarter.
“I realized, ‘OK, I can do this,’” he recounted. “Now, I’m traveling the world, this is my career because of that trumpet. So if it can do that for me, it can do that for someone else.”
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He quickly ran through trumpets he owned but wasn’t using. Other people offered to help. Then he started an online fundraiser with a $6,500 goal. By Tuesday afternoon — four days in — he’d raised $8,800 for trumpets costing about $250 plus instruction books. He’s also raising money by selling T-shirts with the slogan “Trumpet is my weapon,” WWL-TV reported.
Several musicians have agreed to offer free virtual lessons to kids who get the trumpets, he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--COVID-19, Elections And Protests: Views From HuffPost Readers

“ Everyone needs to ask themselves in whose hands they would like to put their personal safety ?
” “ @ @ @ @ @ is just admitting that he has no idea when or how to make it happen @ @ @

“Everyone needs to ask themselves in whose hands they would like to put their personal safety?”
— Amanda Anderson
“Eventually everything ends. Trump is just admitting that he has no idea when or how to make it happen sooner.”
— TC


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Derek Chauvin, Ex-Cop Accused In George Floyd Death, Faces Tax Evasion Charges

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) — The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd was charged Wednesday with multiple felony counts of tax evasion .
Derek Chauvin and his wife , Kellie May Chauvin , were each charged in Washington County with six counts of filing false or fraudulent tax returns for the tax years 2014 through 2019 and three counts of failing to file tax returns for 2016 , 2017 and 2018 .
Floyd , a Black man who was handcuffed , died May 25 after Chauvin , who is white , pressed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly eight minutes as Floyd pleaded for air .
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder , third-degree murder and manslaughter .
He and three other officers who were at the scene were fired .
Chauvin is in custody on the charges in the Floyd case .
Kellie Chauvin , who filed for divorce after Floyd ’ s death , is not in custody .
Online court records didn ’ t list attorneys for either in the tax evasion case , and calls to Kellie Chauvin did not go through .
Washington County Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chauvins was started in June by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Oakdale Police Department .
Authorities allege in the criminal complaints that the Chauvins failed to file income tax returns and pay state income taxes , and that they underreported and underpaid taxes on income they earned from various jobs each year .
The complaints allege that they also failed to pay proper sales tax on a $ 100,000 BMW purchased in Minnesota in 2018 .
Prosecutors say the Chauvins bought the car in Minnetonka but registered it in Florida , where @ @ @ @ @ @

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder in the death of George Floyd was charged Wednesday with multiple felony counts of tax evasion.
Derek Chauvin and his wife, Kellie May Chauvin, were each charged in Washington County with six counts of filing false or fraudulent tax returns for the tax years 2014 through 2019 and three counts of failing to file tax returns for 2016, 2017 and 2018.
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Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, died May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd pleaded for air. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. He and three other officers who were at the scene were fired.
Chauvin is in custody on the charges in the Floyd case. Kellie Chauvin, who filed for divorce after Floyd’s death, is not in custody. Online court records didn’t list attorneys for either in the tax evasion case, and calls to Kellie Chauvin did not go through.
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said the investigation into the Chauvins was started in June by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Oakdale Police Department.
Authorities allege in the criminal complaints that the Chauvins failed to file income tax returns and pay state income taxes, and that they underreported and underpaid taxes on income they earned from various jobs each year.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Amber Heard Accuses Johnny Depp Of Throwing Bottles At Her Like 'Grenades'

LONDON ( AP ) — Amber Heard alleged in a British court on Wednesday that her ex-husband Johnny Depp threw “ 30 or so bottles ” at her as if they were “ grenades or bombs ” while they were in Australia in March 2015 and that he accidentally severed part of his finger during the assault .
Taking to the witness box for a third day at the High Court in London during Depp ’ s libel case against a British tabloid , the actress refuted his allegation that it was she who lost her temper and that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her stay in Australia with Depp as akin to a “ three-day hostage situation , ” during which Depp was “ completely out of his mind and out of control.
” She has said that she feared for her life while at the rented property on Australia ’ s Gold Coast .
The incident is central to The Sun ’ s labeling of Depp in an April 2018 article as a “ wife beater.
” The Sun ’ s defense relies on 14 allegations made by Heard of violence by Depp between 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rented house in Australia , his private island in the Bahamas , and a private jet .
He denies the charges and claims Heard was the aggressor during their relationship .
He was present once again to hear Heard ’ s testimony .
Depp , 57 , is suing The Sun ’ s publisher , News Group Newspapers , and its executive editor , Dan Wootton , over the article .
Heard , 34 , said she got “ angry at times but not into a rage that would cause me to throw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she did break one bottle in their second evening together in Australia as they argued about the scale of his drinking .
“ I regret I did that , ” said Heard , who also claimed that Depp would often credit her for saving him by trying to get him clean and sober .
“ He threw all the bottles that were in reach , all except for one which was a celebratory magnum-sized bottle of wine , ” she said .
Heard also denied severing the tip of Depp ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she put out a cigarette on his cheek during the incident .
She said it was something that Depp used to do to himself .
In the first nine days of 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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.
” Depp and Heard met on the set of the comedy “ The Rum Diary , ” released in 2011 .
They married in Los Angeles in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the following year , and it was finalized in 2017 .

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LONDON (AP) — Amber Heard alleged in a British court on Wednesday that her ex-husband Johnny Depp threw “30 or so bottles” at her as if they were “grenades or bombs” while they were in Australia in March 2015 and that he accidentally severed part of his finger during the assault.
Taking to the witness box for a third day at the High Court in London during Depp’s libel case against a British tabloid, the actress refuted his allegation that it was she who lost her temper and that she had injured him.
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Heard has described her stay in Australia with Depp as akin to a “three-day hostage situation,” during which Depp was “completely out of his mind and out of control.” She has said that she feared for her life while at the rented property on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The incident is central to The Sun’s labeling of Depp in an April 2018 article as a “wife beater.” The Sun’s defense relies on 14 allegations made by Heard of violence by Depp between 2013 and 2016, in settings including the rented house in Australia, his private island in the Bahamas, and a private jet.
He denies the charges and claims Heard was the aggressor during their relationship. He was present once again to hear Heard’s testimony. Depp, 57, is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over the article.
Depp’s lawyer, Eleanor Laws, said Heard had worked herself “into a rage” during her stay in Australia, where Depp was filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
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Heard, 34, said she got “angry at times but not into a rage that would cause me to throw anything at him.”
She did concede that she did break one bottle in their second evening together in Australia as they argued about the scale of his drinking.
“I regret I did that,” said Heard, who also claimed that Depp would often credit her for saving him by trying to get him clean and sober.
After she smashed the bottle, Heard alleges that Depp, fueled by drink and drugs, started throwing bottles, full enough that they broke a window behind her.
“He threw all the bottles that were in reach, all except for one which was a celebratory magnum-sized bottle of wine,” she said.
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Heard also denied severing the tip of Depp’s finger during the bottle-throwing frenzy and that she put out a cigarette on his cheek during the incident. She said it was something that Depp used to do to himself.
“Johnny did it right in front of me, he often did things like that,” she said.
In the first nine days of 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 their 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.”
Depp and Heard met on the set of the comedy “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.
Heard’s testimony is expected to last for four days, through Thursday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Sen. Kelly Loeffler: Supporting Black Lives Matter Could Alienate Sports Fans

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-Ga. ) , co-owner of the Atlanta Dream WNBA team , is worried that a plan by the league to express public support for the Black Lives Matter movement may leave some people feeling “ excluded ” and could drive sports fans away .
In a Tuesday interview with ESPN , Loeffler said , “ I think a lot of people feel that they may not have a place ” as fans of a league that openly backs Black Lives Matter .
“ They may feel excluded from this sport and other sports that make them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the core of what we ’ re doing here.
” Loeffler , a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump , expressed opposition to the movement in a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on July 7 that opposed “ Black Lives Matter ” warmup jerseys for the players , the majority of whom are Black .
The jerseys would feature the organization ’ s name and also read , “ Say Her Name , ” a reference to Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old Black EMT who was killed by police in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( left ) , cheers on the Atlanta Dream basketball team , which she co-owns , during a game .
She has become an outspoken opponent of a WNBA plan to publicly support the Black Lives Movement -- a position that has put her at odds with the Dream 's players .
“ I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement , which has advocated for the defunding of police , called for the removal of Jesus from churches and the disruption of the nuclear family structure , harbored anti-Semitic views , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , ” she wrote .
“ I believe it is totally misaligned with the values and goals of the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream , where we support tolerance and inclusion.
” Loeffler , in the ESPN interview , argued that there ’ s “ no room for racism in this country , and we have to root it out where it exists , ” but that the Black Lives Matter organization is “ very different ” from the statement : Black lives matter .
The movement ’ s website identifies its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world free of anti-Blackness , where every Black person has the social , economic , and political power to thrive.
” It makes no mention of removing images of Jesus from churches .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler , seen here at a campaign rally in March with former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley , warns that supporting the Black Lives Matter movement could alienate some WNBA fans .
The movement ’ s website does call for defunding the police , in the sense of dramatically cutting department budgets and investing that money into community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing .
It also calls for the disruption of the “ Western-prescribed nuclear family structure ” and replacing it with a support system for all .
In such a world , everyone would support “ each other as extended families and ‘ villages ’ that collectively care for one another , especially our children , to the degree that mothers , parents , and children are comfortable , ” the website states .
Loeffler ’ s claim that the organization harbors “ anti-Semitic views ” appears to echo recent depictions by the anti-LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month accused the movement of using tactics that are reminiscent of the Nazis .
Loeffler , who was appointed to the Senate in December and is facing a competitive fight to win a full term this November , has co-owned the Atlanta Dream since 2011 .
Since her Senate appointment by Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) , she has faced calls to sell her stake in the team .
Engelbert has said that there are no plans to force Loeffler to sell her stake in the Atlanta team .
She has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated to advocating for social justice .
“ The WNBA is based on the principle of equal and fair treatment of all people and we , along with the teams and players , will continue to use our platforms to vigorously advocate for social justice , ” she said in a statement .

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Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), co-owner of the Atlanta Dream WNBA team, is worried that a plan by the league to express public support for the Black Lives Matter movement may leave some people feeling “excluded” and could drive sports fans away.
Her words of concern came weeks after she accused the movement of harboring anti-Semitic views and encouraging violence in a letter to the league’s commissioner.
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In a Tuesday interview with ESPN, Loeffler said, “I think a lot of people feel that they may not have a place” as fans of a league that openly backs Black Lives Matter. “They may feel excluded from this sport and other sports that make them feel like American values aren’t at the core of what we’re doing here.”
Loeffler, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, expressed opposition to the movement in a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on July 7 that opposed “Black Lives Matter” warmup jerseys for the players, the majority of whom are Black. The jerseys would feature the organization’s name and also read, “Say Her Name,” a reference to Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black EMT who was killed by police in her Kentucky home in March.
Kelly Loeffler (left), cheers on the Atlanta Dream basketball team, which she co-owns, during a game. She has become an outspoken opponent of a WNBA plan to publicly support the Black Lives Movement -- a position that has put her at odds with the Dream's players. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement, which has advocated for the defunding of police, called for the removal of Jesus from churches and the disruption of the nuclear family structure, harbored anti-Semitic views, and promoted violence and destruction across the country,” she wrote. “I believe it is totally misaligned with the values and goals of the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream, where we support tolerance and inclusion.”
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Loeffler, in the ESPN interview, argued that there’s “no room for racism in this country, and we have to root it out where it exists,” but that the Black Lives Matter organization is “very different” from the statement: Black lives matter.
The movement’s website identifies its mission as “imagining and creating a world free of anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive.” It makes no mention of removing images of Jesus from churches.
Loeffler, seen here at a campaign rally in March with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, warns that supporting the Black Lives Matter movement could alienate some WNBA fans. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The movement’s website does call for defunding the police, in the sense of dramatically cutting department budgets and investing that money into community services like education, health care and housing. It also calls for the disruption of the “Western-prescribed nuclear family structure” and replacing it with a support system for all.
In such a world, everyone would support “each other as extended families and ‘villages’ that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable,” the website states.
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Loeffler’s claim that the organization harbors “anti-Semitic views” appears to echo recent depictions by the anti-LGBTQ hate group Mass Resistance, which last month accused the movement of using tactics that are reminiscent of the Nazis.
Loeffler, who was appointed to the Senate in December and is facing a competitive fight to win a full term this November, has co-owned the Atlanta Dream since 2011. Since her Senate appointment by Gov. Brian Kemp (R), she has faced calls to sell her stake in the team.
“E-N-O-U-G-H! O-U-T!” the WNBA players union tweeted out with a photo of Loeffler earlier this month in response to her letter to Engelbert.
Dream guard Renee Montgomery reacted to the letter with a Twitter post saying, “I’m pretty sad to see that my team ownership is not supportive of the movement and all that it stands for.” Montgomery had already decided to sit out this year’s WNBA season, which like all other major sports leagues has been on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, to pursue social justice initiatives. She said Loeffler’s letter “is an example of why” she made that decision.
Engelbert has said that there are no plans to force Loeffler to sell her stake in the Atlanta team. She has also reaffirmed that this season will be dedicated to advocating for social justice.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--California Now Has The Most Recorded Coronavirus Cases In The U.S.

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) — California ’ s confirmed coronavirus cases have topped 409,000 , surpassing New York for most in the nation , according to data from John ’ s Hopkins University showing Wednesday that California now has about 1,200 more cases than New York .
However , New York ’ s 32,520 deaths are by far the highest total in the country and four times more than California ’ s tally , and its rate of confirmed infections of about 2,100 per 100,000 people is twice California ’ s rate .
California is by far the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 million people , while New York has about 19.5 million .
The U.S. also has had consistent testing failures that experts say contribute to an undercount of the actual virus rate .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study said true COVID-19 rates were more than 10 times higher than reported cases in most U.S. regions from late March to early May .
It is based on COVID-19 antibody tests performed on routine blood samples in 16,000 people in 10 U.S. regions .
California initially succeeded in slowing the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a sharp reversal , with COVID-19 infection rates climbing sharply in recent weeks .
California residents starting in March were urged to stay home as much as possible and state health orders shut down all but essential businesses such as grocery stores .
Throughout May and June , California reopened much of its economy , and people resumed shopping in stores and dining in restaurants .
The extent of reopening was evident in data that showed California ’ s unemployment rate fell in June as the state added a record 558,000 jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new round of business restrictions were imposed , including a ban on indoor dining in restaurants and bars .
Los Angeles County , the nation ’ s most populous with 10 million residents , reported that younger people were driving the spread of new infections .
More than half of the county ’ s new cases came from people under age 41 and the county ’ s COVID-19 deaths was at 4,154 with positive cases topping 161,670 , the county ’ s Department of Public Health said .
“ The tragedy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our younger residents are interacting with each other and not adhering to the recommended prevention measures , while our older residents continue to experience the results of this increased spread with the worst health outcomes , including death , ” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
This story has been corrected to show that the number of New York deaths is 32,250 , not 72,302 , and that the New York death toll is four times higher than California ’ s toll , not eight times .

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s confirmed coronavirus cases have topped 409,000, surpassing New York for most in the nation, according to data from John’s Hopkins University showing Wednesday that California now has about 1,200 more cases than New York.
However, New York’s 32,520 deaths are by far the highest total in the country and four times more than California’s tally, and its rate of confirmed infections of about 2,100 per 100,000 people is twice California’s rate.
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California is by far the most populous U.S. state, with nearly 40 million people, while New York has about 19.5 million.
U.S. government data published Tuesday found that reported and confirmed coronavirus cases vastly underestimate the true number of infections, echoing results from a smaller study last month.
The U.S. also has had consistent testing failures that experts say contribute to an undercount of the actual virus rate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study said true COVID-19 rates were more than 10 times higher than reported cases in most U.S. regions from late March to early May. It is based on COVID-19 antibody tests performed on routine blood samples in 16,000 people in 10 U.S. regions.
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California initially succeeded in slowing the spread of the virus, but the state has had a sharp reversal, with COVID-19 infection rates climbing sharply in recent weeks.
California residents starting in March were urged to stay home as much as possible and state health orders shut down all but essential businesses such as grocery stores.
Throughout May and June, California reopened much of its economy, and people resumed shopping in stores and dining in restaurants.
The extent of reopening was evident in data that showed California’s unemployment rate fell in June as the state added a record 558,000 jobs.
But infections began to surge and a new round of business restrictions were imposed, including a ban on indoor dining in restaurants and bars.
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Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous with 10 million residents, reported that younger people were driving the spread of new infections.
More than half of the county’s new cases came from people under age 41 and the county’s COVID-19 deaths was at 4,154 with positive cases topping 161,670, the county’s Department of Public Health said.
“The tragedy of what we are witnessing is that many of our younger residents are interacting with each other and not adhering to the recommended prevention measures, while our older residents continue to experience the results of this increased spread with the worst health outcomes, including death,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--EPA Proposes First-Ever Limits On Carbon Dioxide From Airlines

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed the nation ’ s first-ever standards on carbon dioxide pollution from commercial airplanes , marking the first time the Trump administration has increased regulations on climate-changing emissions .
The requirements align with what the United Nations ’ International Civil Aviation Organization agreed in 2017 was a key first step to curbing climate-changing pollution from the aviation industry .
The roughly 150,000 planes that crisscross the planet daily spewed about 900 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018 , making up less than 3 % of global emissions that year , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to at least triple by 2050 .
“ Airplane engines emit greenhouse gases , ” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said on a call with reporters .
“ Hopefully , maybe for this one regulation , everybody will tell us that we got it right.
” Yet he spent much of the 30-minute call Wednesday morning pushing back on questions about his record so far .
Adding to the country ’ s dwindling suite of climate regulations is an unusual step for the Trump administration , which has proposed weakening or scrapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wins a second term in November , President Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw from the Paris climate accords , which would make the United States only major nation on Earth to pull out of the nonbinding diplomatic agreement , a decision Wheeler said he supports .
Trump ’ s EPA has only proposed two other rules to regulate carbon dioxide , and both were legally required in order to roll back existing Obama-era regulations .
But those rules ― regulating emissions from power plants and cars ― were significantly weaker than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ versions as being based on firmer legal arguments than the rules established by the previous administration .
“ We have actually taken more steps than the Obama administration to reduce CO2 emissions because theirs were unlawful and didn ’ t hold up in court , ” he added .
Yet the EPA was compelled to regulate aircraft emissions under a December 2016 agency finding that determined such greenhouse gases pose a risk to public health .
Neglecting the need to regulate emissions risked additional legal challenges at a moment when the administration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court .
In January , a coalition of environmental groups said it planned to sue the EPA for failing to propose CO2 standards on aircraft .
Commercial airline manufacturing , moreover , is a competitive global industry in which national governments routinely intervene .
Boeing , the world ’ s largest aerospace manufacturer and the chief producer of U.S.-made aircraft , endorsed the U.N. ’ s regulatory proposal , as has its Netherlands-based rival Airbus .
In a sign where the costs of failing to address planet-heating emissions are going , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a carbon border tax ― a fee on imports from countries that don ’ t price carbon pollution ― by the start of 2023 .
Still , some environmental groups say the U.N. standards are too weak , and could sue the EPA for stronger requirements .
The Center for Biological Diversity called the rule a “ toothless proposal ” that ” does nothing to meaningfully address the serious problem of airplanes ’ planet-warming pollution.
” On the call , Wheeler said , “ Nobody in particular reached out to me asking for @ @ @ @ @

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The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed the nation’s first-ever standards on carbon dioxide pollution from commercial airplanes, marking the first time the Trump administration has increased regulations on climate-changing emissions.
The requirements align with what the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization agreed in 2017 was a key first step to curbing climate-changing pollution from the aviation industry. The roughly 150,000 planes that crisscross the planet daily spewed about 900 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018, making up less than 3% of global emissions that year, according to a U.N. estimate. But that figure is expected to at least triple by 2050.
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The standards will apply to planes designed this year, but won’t affect planes in production until 2028. Existing aircraft will be exempted.
“Airplane engines emit greenhouse gases,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said on a call with reporters. “Hopefully, maybe for this one regulation, everybody will tell us that we got it right.”
Yet he spent much of the 30-minute call Wednesday morning pushing back on questions about his record so far. Adding to the country’s dwindling suite of climate regulations is an unusual step for the Trump administration, which has proposed weakening or scrapping more than 100 environmental rules. If he wins a second term in November, President Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw from the Paris climate accords, which would make the United States only major nation on Earth to pull out of the nonbinding diplomatic agreement, a decision Wheeler said he supports.
Trump’s EPA has only proposed two other rules to regulate carbon dioxide, and both were legally required in order to roll back existing Obama-era regulations. But those rules ― regulating emissions from power plants and cars ― were significantly weaker than those they replaced. Wheeler defended his versions as being based on firmer legal arguments than the rules established by the previous administration.
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“We have actually taken more steps than the Obama administration to reduce CO2 emissions because theirs were unlawful and didn’t hold up in court,” he added.
Yet the EPA was compelled to regulate aircraft emissions under a December 2016 agency finding that determined such greenhouse gases pose a risk to public health. Neglecting the need to regulate emissions risked additional legal challenges at a moment when the administration is already struggling to defend its deregulatory efforts in court. In January, a coalition of environmental groups said it planned to sue the EPA for failing to propose CO2 standards on aircraft.
Commercial airline manufacturing, moreover, is a competitive global industry in which national governments routinely intervene. Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace manufacturer and the chief producer of U.S.-made aircraft, endorsed the U.N.’s regulatory proposal, as has its Netherlands-based rival Airbus. In a sign where the costs of failing to address planet-heating emissions are going, the European Union on Tuesday agreed to institute a carbon border tax ― a fee on imports from countries that don’t price carbon pollution ― by the start of 2023.
Wheeler noted that other nations could “ban use of any planes in airspace” that don’t meet the U.N. requirements.
“This standard supports domestic manufacturing and increases global competitiveness,” he said.
Still, some environmental groups say the U.N. standards are too weak, and could sue the EPA for stronger requirements. The Center for Biological Diversity called the rule a “toothless proposal” that ”does nothing to meaningfully address the serious problem of airplanes’ planet-warming pollution.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Sarah Cooper Praises Donald Trump In The Most Backhanded Way

Sarah Cooper paid Donald Trump a backhanded compliment on Tuesday when she explained why “ everyone should be a little @ @ @ @ @ .
The comedian — who has garnered tens of millions of views on social media @ @ @ @ @ with her mocking lip-synced impressions of Trump — told MSNBC ’ s Nicolle Wallace that @ @ @ @ @ something you don ’ t think you can do , just remember , Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ United States and that should just make you realize anything is possible.
” Cooper later @ @ @ @ @ with Trump ’ s ability — which she envied — to “ BS his way @ @ @ @ @ to be the most powerful man in the world.
” Check out the full interview @ @ @ @ @ ’ s clips below : Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
@ @ @ @

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Sarah Cooper paid Donald Trump a backhanded compliment on Tuesday when she explained why “everyone should be a little inspired” by the president.
The comedian — who has garnered tens of millions of views on social media over the last few weeks with her mocking lip-synced impressions of Trump — told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace that “if there’s something you don’t think you can do, just remember, Donald Trump is the president of the United States and that should just make you realize anything is possible.”
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Ouch.
Cooper later contrasted her own imposter syndrome with Trump’s ability — which she envied — to “BS his way through life and make it to be the most powerful man in the world.”
Check out the full interview above and some of Cooper’s clips below:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--30 Years Later, Disabled Americans Are Still Fighting For Their Civil Rights

Something told me this was going to be something different .
I felt kind of like we were crawling our @ @ @ @ @ Cameron , member of ADAPT and protester at the Capitol Crawl in 1990 The Before @ @ @ @ @ Behind “ I had to learn the hard way that you can ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ movement and be your true authentic self , ” she said .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ thing right now in the disability community — we really have to address the structural @ @ @ @ @ .
And we have to look at the ableism that allows us to not take @ @ @ @ @ have intellectual disabilities seriously .
”

They were ready to do anything.
It was March 1990, and a bill that could potentially end discrimination against people with disabilities was winding its way through Congress. Many disability activists feared that if they didn’t do something drastic, the legislation could get squashed, especially since it was opposed by pro-business groups.
And so in the middle of the day, amid rallies and speeches calling for accessibility and equal rights, hundreds of disabled people left behind their wheelchairs, canes, crutches and other mobility aids and began to crawl up the steps of the U.S. Capitol, demanding that lawmakers pass the Americans With Disabilities Act.
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Disability activist Anita Cameron was among them.
“I actually started out dragging my friend’s wheelchair up the stairs. I will never forget — it was such a hot day,” Cameron, who has multiple sclerosis, low vision and autism, among other disabilities, told HuffPost. “I got so tired, and so I handed his chair off to others, and I sat down and then fought my way back up the rest of the stairs.”
Then 24, Cameron wasn’t new to protesting. She was a member of the American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit (now called the American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, or ADAPT), a national grassroots organization that works to advance disability rights. She had already marched in several demonstrations calling for public accommodations and gone to hearings where disabled activists spoke about why a civil rights law was needed.
But this wasn’t like other protests.
“Something told me this was going to be something different,” said Cameron, now 55. “I felt kind of like we were crawling our way into history.”
Some protesters physically carried each other up, while others inched forward on their hands and knees, fueled by people cheering at the top, according to oral history compiled by the magazine New Mobility.
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The day became known as the Capitol Crawl, a symbolic demonstration of the barriers that people with disabilities had faced for decades and one of the most well-known events in modern disability history.
“Something told me this was going to be something different. I felt kind of like we were crawling our way into history.” - Anita Cameron, member of ADAPT and protester at the Capitol Crawl in 1990
But they weren’t done. A couple of days later, Cameron and dozens of other disability activists swarmed the Capitol Rotunda.
“We took it over, blocked off the doors, and we began chanting so loud that our chants reverberated throughout the building: ‘ADA now! ADA today!’” Cameron said.
A few lawmakers came to try to persuade the protesters to leave, but that only inspired them to chant louder. Eventually, “hordes” of police officers came in to seize them, Cameron said. That day, 104 people were arrested. Cameron was No. 81.
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Cameron, still a member of ADAPT, believes that “the takeover” of the Capitol Rotunda was even more effective than the Capitol Crawl in helping to pass the Americans With Disabilities Act, which President George H.W. Bush signed in July 1990.
“I wouldn’t change it. I’d do it again over and over,” she said.
Since then, the Americans With Disabilities Act has transformed the lives of disabled people everywhere. But three decades later, many disability rights activists, including Cameron, say problems of inaccessibility and the stigma against disabled people persist.
The Before And After
More than 61 million people with disabilities live in the United States, making it the largest minority group in the country. Before the ADA was passed, accessible public restrooms and transportation weren’t mandated. Restaurants could deny service to people with disabilities. Employers could legally fire — or refuse to hire — someone because of their health conditions, and many disabled kids couldn’t attend schools alongside nondisabled children and were often sent to institutions instead.
Much of that changed when Bush signed the landmark ADA, which made it illegal to discriminate against disabled Americans in both the public and private sector. It “guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life,” according to the ADA government website. It was also a recognition of disabled people as a community deserving of respect, dignity and the right to make their own choices about how to live their lives.
“One of the meaningful parts of the ADA was an acknowledgment on the part of Congress that discrimination not only existed, but it existed across the country and it was a responsibility of the government to intervene once such discrimination was proven to protect the rights of disabled people,” said Judith Heumann, an international disability rights activist and wheelchair user.
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President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans With Disabilities Act on the South Lawn of the White House on July 26, 1990. With him are the Rev. Harold Wilke (rear left), Evan Kemp, chair of the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (left), Sandra Parrino, chair of the National Council on Disability, and Justin Dart, chair of The President's Council on Disabilities. Jefferson Memorial is in the background. BARRY THUMMA/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Many advocates said the ADA might not have been passed if it weren’t for other campaigns for disability rights legislation. According to Jaipreet Virdi, a disability historian at the University of Delaware, more than 50 pieces of legislation on disability rights were passed from the 1960s to the 1990s, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which banned disability discrimination within federal programs, the Air Carrier Access Act, which was intended to make air travel accessible, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Section 504 was particularly significant because it helped determine who would be protected (according to the legal definition of “disability”) and what counted as “discrimination,” said Heumann, who helped lead the 504 Sit-in, a late 1970s nonviolent occupation of federal buildings that lasted 28 days and successfully led to the signing of the anti-discrimination law.
“It really paved the way to allow for the ADA to move forward,” she said. “If we didn’t have a robust 504, we would not have gotten the ADA because of many of the issues that needed to be worked out.”
Cameron, who attended the University of Illinois in the 1980s, recalled just how different her experience as a student was before and after the ADA and IDEA were signed into law.
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“I had no support, no nothing. I couldn’t even continue because my disabilities got to the point where I was told to find another career path,” Cameron said. “I remember one of my professors telling me it was lazy for me to record my lectures. It didn’t matter that I’m almost totally blind.”
“And then I went back to university to get my degree in computer information systems [in 1996], and it was totally different,” she continued. “I was able to get my audiobooks, I was able to get note takers, I was able to get extra time to take tests, things of that nature. Going to school as someone with a disability was a whole lot easier.”
For Cameron and many other disabled people, becoming more integrated into society also had a profound psychological effect, leading to a sense of disability pride to replace years of internalized ableism.
“We were able to get out more, be on the buses, go to the movies, go to the grocery stores. It allowed us to get out more and do things,” Cameron said. “We developed this pride to say, hey, we’re not going to be hidden anymore.”
Who Got Left Behind
But many disabled Americans are still fighting for their civil rights, partly due to persistent ableism and partly because adhering to the ADA requires enforcement from a dedicated White House administration.
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Racism and poverty, too, powerfully shape disabled people’s lives. Disabled people are more likely to be poor and remain unemployed than nondisabled people. Black disabled people are at greater risk of being killed at the hands of police. People with disabilities under the Supplemental Security Income program are barred from possessing a certain amount of money in assets, which has prevented many from taking new jobs or getting married — or making the painful, unwanted decision to divorce. Workplace discrimination and inaccessible voting remain prevalent.
“It’s hardly perfect,” Virdi, managing editor of the Disability History Association’s blog All Of Us, said of the Americans With Disabilities Act. “Despite 30 years in place, businesses and employers still perceive the ADA as an option rather than a legal requirement to provide service. When they are forced to provide access, it’s usually the bare minimum.”
The coronavirus pandemic has also shed light on several barriers that continue to exist due to structural ableism. For example, many employers and schools began normalizing accommodations for everyone — such as work-from-home policies — only after COVID-19 hit, despite the fact that disabled people have fought for such access for years, long after the ADA was enacted.
People with disabilities, particularly those who are also Black, Latinx, elderly and/or living in nursing homes, are dying of the coronavirus at a disproportionate rate. Some state health care systems are under investigation for drawing up guidelines on how to ration health care during the pandemic, with disabled people’s lives being viewed as among the least valuable. And many nondisabled people have created ‘exemption ID cards’ claiming that the ADA protects their right to not wear face masks — perpetuating the notion that actually disabled people are “fakers.”
In this context, many disability advocates are saying that the ADA needs to be better implemented and enforced.
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“Every civil rights bill is basically only a piece of paper, and the critical thing is it has to be enforced by the Justice Department,” said former Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Calif.), who was a primary sponsor of the ADA. “So it depends on who’s president as to whether you have an effective ADA.”
While the ADA had mostly seen broad support from both Republicans and Democrats throughout the years, including significant efforts by former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama to help strengthen and enforce the law, Coelho said that disability rights is no longer a bipartisan issue and that attempts to gut the law continue.
In 2018, a GOP-backed bill gutting the Americans With Disabilities Act passed the House and made its way to the Senate. The proposal allowed ADA-noncompliant businesses to take 60 days to respond to complaints submitted by disabled patrons and gave them an additional 120 days to rectify their lack of accommodations.
As in previous years, protesters from ADAPT swarmed the U.S. Capitol and chanted “Hands off the ADA” before getting arrested.
“I was one of the ADAPT members arrested in the [House] Gallery at Congress when members of the House were voting on that bill,” Cameron said. “When it passed, it wasn’t a pretty scene. I was one of the activists dragged out.”
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Facing staunch opposition from lawmakers including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a disabled veteran and wheelchair user, the bill ultimately died in the Senate.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, has in recent months integrated disability rights into his campaign. If Biden wins the presidential race in November and Democrats regain control of the Senate, Coelho said, it could be an opportune time to consider amendments to strengthen the ADA.
“Having leaders in the Congress creates the atmosphere to make it again bipartisan and bicameral, and I’m optimistic it’s going to go there,” Coelho said.
Building Community
Those who grew up when the ADA and IDEA were signed are now considered to be the “ADA generation.” The term was coined by disability activist Rebecca Cokley, who said these individuals made up “the first generation who was asked what they wanted to be when they grow up and had the laws in place to make it more of a reality.”
But many people still don’t know the law exists or that they have health conditions that would fall under the ADA.
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“We have a major issue in the disability community that others still are afraid to acknowledge they have a disability or really may not know that they are protected by the law,” Heumann said.
Coelho said supporting disability rights behooves everyone, including those who are nondisabled.
“I take the position for Americans who don’t have a disability that the ADA is your insurance policy because if you develop a disability at 30 or 40 or 50, people can’t discriminate against you,” Coelho said.
“I take the position for Americans who don’t have a disability that the ADA is your insurance policy because if you develop a disability at 30 or 40 or 50, people can’t discriminate against you.” - Former Rep. Tony Coelho, primary sponsor of the Americans With Disabilities Act
And individuals who are multiply marginalized or have certain types of disabilities are still often ignored even in the disability community — a pattern that has existed since before the ADA.
“There are lots of us Black folks who put our bodies on the line, fighting for the Americans With Disabilities Act as well,” Cameron said, citing Black Panthers who advocated alongside disabled people and the late Congressman Major Owens (D-N.Y.), who was “instrumental” in getting the ADA passed. “But our stories often get whitewashed, our participation and what we’ve done.”
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Being a Black disabled activist also comes with the risk of being tokenized even in supposedly welcoming circles, Cameron said, adding that a “hierarchy” within the disability community means some people are listened to over others.
“I had to learn the hard way that you can’t be Black in the disability rights movement and be your true authentic self,” she said. “I think that’s the biggest thing right now in the disability community — we really have to address the structural racism that permeates our organizations. And we have to look at the ableism that allows us to not take people who are neurodivergent or have intellectual disabilities seriously.”
By and large, the Americans With Disabilities Act has been a “boon” for people with disabilities and has managed to address many inequalities, Cameron said. But it will require a sustained, intentional and collective effort from everyone to dismantle the structural racism and ableism that continue to permeate many spaces that the ADA is supposed to protect.
“There’s just so much that we’re here 30 years later, we shouldn’t have to be figuring out the Americans With Disabilities Act,” she said. “But unfortunately, we are.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Texas Stores Bodies In Refrigerated Trucks While Setting COVID-19 Death Record

( Reuters ) - Texas on Wednesday set one-day records for increases in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations in the state , forcing one county to store bodies in refrigerated trucks and prompting a top health official there to call for new stay-at-home orders .
Texas , which reported 197 deaths and 10,893 hospitalizations , has been one of the states hardest hit by the resurgent coronavirus .
Hidalgo County , at the southern tip of the state on the U.S. border with Mexico , has seen cases rise 60 percent in the last week , according to a Reuters tally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 360 .
“ We ’ ve got to lasso this virus , this stallion , bring the numbers back down and get control of this thing , ” Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said .
“ Because our hospitals – they ’ re war zones , they are really struggling right now.
” Cortez , a Democrat who serves as the top county official , issued a shelter-in-place order for residents .
That mandate put him at odds with Republican Governor Greg Abbott , who maintains that local officials do not have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hidalgo area have a wait list of two weeks , Cortez said , forcing the county to use five refrigerated trucks that can hold 50 bodies each .
Hidalgo ’ s top medical official , Dr. Ivan Melendez , partly blamed Abbott ’ s move to override local officials for the spike in coronavirus infections , which he said has jammed the local medical system at every level .
On Tuesday , U.S. deaths from COVID-19 topped 1,000 in a single day for the first time since June 10 .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the past five months and deaths are rising in 23 states , according to the Reuters tally .
California on Wednesday reported more than 12,800 new infections , a one-day record .
The state has now eclipsed New York for the highest number of cases overall , although New York has seen far more deaths at 32,000 versus 7,800 in California .
“ If the biggies make the decisions that teachers are going back fully in class , then somebody is going to die .
If it isn ’ t a student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a teacher ’ s grandmother or a student ’ s grandmother , ” said retired teacher Jerome Jordan , 78 .
The protesting teachers said officials have not unveiled a detailed plan to clean schools adequately , provide disinfectant and personal protective equipment and instruct them how to implement social distancing in large groups of children .
In Georgia , a third judge has been appointed in the dispute between Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta ’ s Keisha Lance Bottoms , a Democrat and mayor of the state ’ s largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
Among the few states seeing a drop in infections was Arizona , another recent hotspot which saw new infections fall 13 percent last week .
Hospitalizations in the state have steadily trended downward after peaking on July 13 .
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey , a Republican , was encouraged by those trends , his office said in a written statement , but cautioned that it was not time for the public to let down its guard .
“ We need to continue doing the things we know make a difference : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying home as much as possible , ” Ducey ’ s office said in the statement .

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(Reuters) - Texas on Wednesday set one-day records for increases in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations in the state, forcing one county to store bodies in refrigerated trucks and prompting a top health official there to call for new stay-at-home orders.
Texas, which reported 197 deaths and 10,893 hospitalizations, has been one of the states hardest hit by the resurgent coronavirus. Hidalgo County, at the southern tip of the state on the U.S. border with Mexico, has seen cases rise 60 percent in the last week, according to a Reuters tally, with deaths doubling to more than 360.
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“We’ve got to lasso this virus, this stallion, bring the numbers back down and get control of this thing,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said. “Because our hospitals – they’re war zones, they are really struggling right now.”
Cortez, a Democrat who serves as the top county official, issued a shelter-in-place order for residents. That mandate put him at odds with Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who maintains that local officials do not have the authority to make residents stay home.Crematoriums in the Hidalgo area have a wait list of two weeks, Cortez said, forcing the county to use five refrigerated trucks that can hold 50 bodies each.
Hidalgo’s top medical official, Dr. Ivan Melendez, partly blamed Abbott’s move to override local officials for the spike in coronavirus infections, which he said has jammed the local medical system at every level.
“Do I think that a stay-at-home order is medically indicated at this point? Absolutely,” Melendez said.
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On Tuesday, U.S. deaths from COVID-19 topped 1,000 in a single day for the first time since June 10. More than 142,000 people have died in the country during the past five months and deaths are rising in 23 states, according to the Reuters tally.
The country’s three most populous states, Florida, Texas and California, top the list of 44 states where cases are increasing, based on a Reuters analysis.
SCHOOL DISPUTES
California on Wednesday reported more than 12,800 new infections, a one-day record. The state has now eclipsed New York for the highest number of cases overall, although New York has seen far more deaths at 32,000 versus 7,800 in California.
The surge has fueled disputes over mandatory mask orders and how best to resume schooling.
In Chicago, dozens of teachers staged a socially distant motor protest against Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan for Chicago Public Schools to start the academic year with a mix of in-person instruction and remote learning.
“If the biggies make the decisions that teachers are going back fully in class, then somebody is going to die. If it isn’t a student, it’ll be a teacher, a teacher’s grandmother or a student’s grandmother,” said retired teacher Jerome Jordan, 78.
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The protesting teachers said officials have not unveiled a detailed plan to clean schools adequately, provide disinfectant and personal protective equipment and instruct them how to implement social distancing in large groups of children.
In Georgia, a third judge has been appointed in the dispute between Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta’s Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat and mayor of the state’s largest city, over whether people must wear masks.
Among the few states seeing a drop in infections was Arizona, another recent hotspot which saw new infections fall 13 percent last week. Hospitalizations in the state have steadily trended downward after peaking on July 13.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, was encouraged by those trends, his office said in a written statement, but cautioned that it was not time for the public to let down its guard.
“We need to continue doing the things we know make a difference: wearing a mask, physically distancing and staying home as much as possible,” Ducey’s office said in the statement.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Republican Group Uses Trump's Own Words Against Him In Searing Swing-State Ad

A group of Republicans opposed to President Donald Trump has taken out a TV ad in the battleground state of Arizona calling out the administration ’ s failures on the coronavirus pandemic .
Arizona has been hit especially hard , with more than 150,000 cases and almost 3,000 deaths .
The new ad from Republican Voters Against Trump , airing on Fox News in the state this week , shows how Trump has consistently underestimated the toll .
It concludes with a damning quote from Trump himself : “ I don ’ t take responsibility at all.
” Trump made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his administration ’ s failure to deliver tests and other essential supplies early in the pandemic .
Trump won Arizona by more than 3 percentage points in 2016 , but polls this year show Joe Biden holding a slight but consistent edge .
The current FiveThirtyEight average has Biden up by 2.7 percentage point in the state , which has 11 electoral votes .
Republican Voters Against Trump said the spot is in conjunction with its $ 10 million campaign .
Many of the organization ’ s ads highlight the voices of rank-and-file @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
The group says it has more than 500 anti-Trump video testimonials from Republican voters .
Another anti-Trump GOP group is also out with a new video hitting the president ’ s indifference to the rising death toll , among other issues .
The spot from the Lincoln Project ― co-founded by George Conway , husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , and other longtime GOP insiders ― also uses the president ’ s own words against him :

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A group of Republicans opposed to President Donald Trump has taken out a TV ad in the battleground state of Arizona calling out the administration’s failures on the coronavirus pandemic.
Arizona has been hit especially hard, with more than 150,000 cases and almost 3,000 deaths.
The new ad from Republican Voters Against Trump, airing on Fox News in the state this week, shows how Trump has consistently underestimated the toll. It concludes with a damning quote from Trump himself: “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
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Trump made the comment in March when asked about his administration’s failure to deliver tests and other essential supplies early in the pandemic.
Trump won Arizona by more than 3 percentage points in 2016, but polls this year show Joe Biden holding a slight but consistent edge. The current FiveThirtyEight average has Biden up by 2.7 percentage point in the state, which has 11 electoral votes.
Republican Voters Against Trump said the spot is in conjunction with its $10 million campaign. Many of the organization’s ads highlight the voices of rank-and-file GOP voters who have turned on the president. The group says it has more than 500 anti-Trump video testimonials from Republican voters.
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Another anti-Trump GOP group is also out with a new video hitting the president’s indifference to the rising death toll, among other issues.
The spot from the Lincoln Project ― co-founded by George Conway, husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and other longtime GOP insiders ― also uses the president’s own words against him:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Trump Has 'Amazing' New Boast About Passing His 'Difficult' Cognitive Test

President Donald Trump once again bragged about passing a cognitive test , then went into detail about how he amazed his doctors by remembering five words in order .
Experts say the Montreal Cognitive Assessment ( MoCA ) test is supposed to be easy , as it is not a measure of intelligence but rather a way to look for signs of cognitive impairment .
But Trump on Sunday told Chris Wallace on Fox News that the test gets “ very hard , ” and he made a similar claim to Fox News ’ Dr. Marc Siegel in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first questions are very easy , ” he said .
“ The last questions are much more difficult .
Like a memory question.
” Trump described being asked to repeat five words : person , woman , man , camera , TV , then being asked to recall those words a few minutes later and saying that he repeated them in order .
“ They said nobody gets it in order .
It ’ s actually not that easy , but for me it was easy , ” Trump said .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said the doctors were so impressed they told him so ― right in the middle of the test .
“ They say , ‘ That ’ s amazing .
How did you do that ?
’ I do it because I have , like , a good memory , ” he said .
“ Because I ’ m cognitively there.
” Trump ’ s unusual boast led to a lot of discussion on Twitter ... much of it centered on “ person , woman , man , camera , TV , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the test , which is included in the clips below : Imagine explaining to yourself , on the day that Obama was elected , that the next president would brag on national television that he was able to remember five words in order .
— Ian Millhiser ( @ imillhiser ) July 23 , 2020 Many successive generations of Americans will marvel at how someone as profoundly stupid as @ realDonaldTrump could have been elected president of the United States .
https : //t.co/yUTJEUWREf — George Conway ( @ gtconway3d ) July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fixation on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment is particularly puzzling because the test is normally administered only if someone is concerned that they or their loved ones may be experiencing dementia or other cognitive decline .
@ AshleyRParker https : //t.co/QVxBQESpGe — Chris Jansing ( @ ChrisJansing ) July 23 , 2020 It ’ s pretty clear he couldn ’ t remember the actual ones on his test and was naming things in front of him like a bit in a comedy where a dude vamps a fictitious Mister Toastjuice on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ Rschooley ) July 23 , 2020

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President Donald Trump once again bragged about passing a cognitive test, then went into detail about how he amazed his doctors by remembering five words in order.
Experts say the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test is supposed to be easy, as it is not a measure of intelligence but rather a way to look for signs of cognitive impairment.
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But Trump on Sunday told Chris Wallace on Fox News that the test gets “very hard,” and he made a similar claim to Fox News’ Dr. Marc Siegel in an interview that aired Wednesday night.
“The first questions are very easy,” he said. “The last questions are much more difficult. Like a memory question.”
Trump described being asked to repeat five words: person, woman, man, camera, TV, then being asked to recall those words a few minutes later and saying that he repeated them in order.
“They said nobody gets it in order. It’s actually not that easy, but for me it was easy,” Trump said. “That’s not an easy question.”
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He said the doctors were so impressed they told him so ― right in the middle of the test.
“They say, ‘That’s amazing. How did you do that?’ I do it because I have, like, a good memory,” he said. “Because I’m cognitively there.”
Trump’s unusual boast led to a lot of discussion on Twitter... much of it centered on “person, woman, man, camera, TV,” as well as his rather lengthy explanation of the test, which is included in the clips below:
I've never been moved to change my twitter "name" until now. — Person Woman Man Camera TV (@ClaraJeffery) July 23, 2020
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Wow. I think he is now trolling @sarahcpr. Can there be any other explanation? https://t.co/kiRnRWL7DB — David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 23, 2020
Imagine explaining to yourself, on the day that Obama was elected, that the next president would brag on national television that he was able to remember five words in order. — Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) July 23, 2020
Many successive generations of Americans will marvel at how someone as profoundly stupid as @realDonaldTrump could have been elected president of the United States. https://t.co/yUTJEUWREf — George Conway (@gtconway3d) July 23, 2020
these are the saddest of possible words
person woman man camera tv
trio of bear cubs and fleeter than birds
person woman man camera tv — Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) July 23, 2020
Listen, I’m not saying that I am THE smartest songwriter but... person woman man camera tv 😎 — FINNEAS (@finneas) July 23, 2020
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Oh my god. pic.twitter.com/hP3h20Oxuc — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 23, 2020
Person, woman, man, camera, tv? https://t.co/poPc7PMXaw — THERE IS NO NEW TONE (@PhoBu3) July 23, 2020
Experts say the president’s fixation on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment is particularly puzzling because the test is normally administered only if someone is concerned that they or their loved ones may be experiencing dementia or other cognitive decline. @AshleyRParker https://t.co/QVxBQESpGe — Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) July 23, 2020
It’s pretty clear he couldn’t remember the actual ones on his test and was naming things in front of him like a bit in a comedy where a dude vamps a fictitious Mister Toastjuice on a call during breakfast. pic.twitter.com/MZUEYnzVOt — Schooley (@Rschooley) July 23, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Washington Post Editorial Board Puts Senate GOP On Notice Over Coronavirus Relief

The Washington Post editorial board has taken Senate Republicans to task for failing to agree on a new coronavirus relief @ @ @ @ @ s board , in an editorial published Wednesday , accused GOP senators of instead “ @ @ @ @ @ and ideological point-scoring .
“ Congress needs an agreement , now , ” the editorial @ @ @ @ @ passed a comprehensive coronavirus relief bill in May .
Republicans waited , ” the board @ @ @ @ @ with federal economic aid expiring at month ’ s end , they can not agree @ @ @ @ @ , let alone forge a compromise with Democrats.
” “ The GOP is out of @ @ @ @ @ no reasonable alternative to continuing massive federal aid , ” the op-ed continued , noting @ @ @ @ @ ” Republican senators appear to actually favor the bill .
It added : “ Republicans @ @ @ @ @ get a bill passed , immediately.
” Important conversations are happening now .
Add your @ @ @ @ @ !

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The newspaper’s board, in an editorial published Wednesday, accused GOP senators of instead “grandstanding,” denying reality and ideological point-scoring.
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“Congress needs an agreement, now,” the editorial urged.
“House Democrats passed a comprehensive coronavirus relief bill in May. Republicans waited,” the board recalled. “Now, with federal economic aid expiring at month’s end, they cannot agree among themselves on a plan, let alone forge a compromise with Democrats.”
“The GOP is out of time, and there is no reasonable alternative to continuing massive federal aid,” the op-ed continued, noting how “quite a few” Republican senators appear to actually favor the bill.
It added: “Republicans must admit the obvious and get a bill passed, immediately.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--White House Cafeterias Closed After Employee Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Two cafeterias in the White House complex have been temporarily closed after a food service employee tested positive for the coronavirus .
A cafeteria in the New Executive Office Building and Ike ’ s Eatery in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building ― reportedly frequented by dozens of President Donald Trump ’ s West Wing aides ― were shut this week after the staffer ’ s positive diagnosis , The New York Times reported Wednesday .
“ There is no reason for panic or alarm , ” the White House told staff in an email , per CNN .
The message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there was no need for anyone else to self-quarantine .
White House staff just got an email that says there is “ no reason for panic or alarm , ” but the cafeterias in the two buildings next to the White House — the Executive Office Building and the New Executive Office Building — are closed because a staffer tested positive for Covid-19 — Kaitlan Collins ( @ kaitlancollins ) July 23 , 2020 Email says contract tracing has been done and no West Wing staff need to quarantine at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) July 23 , 2020 It ’ s unclear when the premises , both run by contractors , will reopen .
“ All proper protocols were in place by the vendor including masks , gloves , plastic shielding at check out , and no dine-in service , ” a spokesperson for the General Services Administration , responsible for the maintenance of the buildings , told NBC News .
“ The White House Medical Unit has done contact tracing and determined that the risk of retransmission is low.
” Vice President Mike Pence ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a personal military valet for Trump both tested positive for COVID-19 in May .
Trump said on Tuesday he is tested for the coronavirus “ probably on average ” every two or three days .

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Two cafeterias in the White House complex have been temporarily closed after a food service employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
A cafeteria in the New Executive Office Building and Ike’s Eatery in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building ― reportedly frequented by dozens of President Donald Trump’s West Wing aides ― were shut this week after the staffer’s positive diagnosis, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
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“There is no reason for panic or alarm,” the White House told staff in an email, per CNN. The message said contact tracing had been carried out and there was no need for anyone else to self-quarantine.
White House staff just got an email that says there is “no reason for panic or alarm,” but the cafeterias in the two buildings next to the White House — the Executive Office Building and the New Executive Office Building — are closed because a staffer tested positive for Covid-19 — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 23, 2020
Email says contract tracing has been done and no West Wing staff need to quarantine at the time. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 23, 2020
It’s unclear when the premises, both run by contractors, will reopen.
“All proper protocols were in place by the vendor including masks, gloves, plastic shielding at check out, and no dine-in service,” a spokesperson for the General Services Administration, responsible for the maintenance of the buildings, told NBC News. “The White House Medical Unit has done contact tracing and determined that the risk of retransmission is low.”
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Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Waldman Miller, and a personal military valet for Trump both tested positive for COVID-19 in May.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-23--Nearly 3,500 Public Health Experts Sign Letter Defending Fauci Amid White House Attacks

Nearly 3,500 public health experts sent an open letter to President Donald Trump amid a spate of attacks launched over the last two weeks at Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , calling those seeking to undercut him a “ dangerous distraction.
” In the letter , which was organized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest , the group calls the coronavirus pandemic “ one of the greatest challenges the United States has faced in its history.
” But the signatories , which include two previous heads of the Food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general and a former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services , said they were troubled by efforts to smear Fauci , who they said has provided a clear voice to Americans during the health crisis .
“ Since the beginning of the pandemic , he has remained one of the world ’ s most trusted scientists on COVID-19 , daily explaining in lay terms the complexity of an illness we still don ’ t fully understand , ” the letter says .
“ And he has done so by placing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discourse .
Attempting to marginalize highly respected researchers such as Dr. Fauci is a dangerous distraction at a time when we most need voices like his.
” The letter comes amid an effort to discredit Fauci as he delivers bleak assessments of the pandemic .
The doctor has regularly pushed back against Trump ’ s assertions that the virus would go away on its own and that the U.S. had things under control in an effort to reopen swaths of the economy .
Peter Navarro , a senior Trump administration official , wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to smear his public health advice as often wrong without noting that it was based on the best available science at the time he gave it .
Trump also called Fauci a “ little bit of an alarmist ” this week even as the nation ’ s COVID-19 death toll topped 140,000 .
The attempts to smear one of the nation ’ s touchstones for guidance during the pandemic was not well-received , and Fauci himself called them “ bizarre.
” “ Ultimately , it hurts the president to do that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
“ I think if you talk to reasonable people in the White House , they realize that was a major mistake on their part , because it doesn ’ t do anything but reflect poorly on them .
And I don ’ t think that that was their intention.
” This week ’ s letter also points to Fauci ’ s long history in public health , noting his work under six presidents to address outbreaks “ from HIV to SARS , from Ebola to H1N1 influenza.
” “ We call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media and all Americans to reject the sidelining of science , to speak out against the silencing of scientists , and to champion open and public scientific discussions of the issues facing our country as we struggle to make progress against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic , ” the letter says .
“ For that , we need the clear voices of government experts , including Dr. Fauci , to be available to the American public without limitation .
”

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Nearly 3,500 public health experts sent an open letter to President Donald Trump amid a spate of attacks launched over the last two weeks at Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, calling those seeking to undercut him a “dangerous distraction.”
In the letter, which was organized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the group calls the coronavirus pandemic “one of the greatest challenges the United States has faced in its history.” But the signatories, which include two previous heads of the Food and Drug Administration, a former U.S. surgeon general and a former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said they were troubled by efforts to smear Fauci, who they said has provided a clear voice to Americans during the health crisis.
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“Since the beginning of the pandemic, he has remained one of the world’s most trusted scientists on COVID-19, daily explaining in lay terms the complexity of an illness we still don’t fully understand,” the letter says. “And he has done so by placing science front and center in the public discourse. Attempting to marginalize highly respected researchers such as Dr. Fauci is a dangerous distraction at a time when we most need voices like his.”
Breaking: Nearly 3,500 public health pros are signaling their support for Dr. Anthony Fauci and are denouncing the White House attacks on him. Thank you @gregggonsalves for cowriting and circulating this with us:https://t.co/g5eX4yEn34 pic.twitter.com/CKtz7Ktr1t — Peter G. Lurie, MD (@DrPeterLurie) July 22, 2020
The letter comes amid an effort to discredit Fauci as he delivers bleak assessments of the pandemic. The doctor has regularly pushed back against Trump’s assertions that the virus would go away on its own and that the U.S. had things under control in an effort to reopen swaths of the economy.
Peter Navarro, a senior Trump administration official, wrote an op-ed last week attacking Fauci and attempting to smear his public health advice as often wrong without noting that it was based on the best available science at the time he gave it. Trump also called Fauci a “little bit of an alarmist” this week even as the nation’s COVID-19 death toll topped 140,000.
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The attempts to smear one of the nation’s touchstones for guidance during the pandemic was not well-received, and Fauci himself called them “bizarre.”
“Ultimately, it hurts the president to do that,” Fauci told The Atlantic earlier this month. “I think if you talk to reasonable people in the White House, they realize that was a major mistake on their part, because it doesn’t do anything but reflect poorly on them. And I don’t think that that was their intention.”
This week’s letter also points to Fauci’s long history in public health, noting his work under six presidents to address outbreaks “from HIV to SARS, from Ebola to H1N1 influenza.”
“We call on our political leaders, members of the media and all Americans to reject the sidelining of science, to speak out against the silencing of scientists, and to champion open and public scientific discussions of the issues facing our country as we struggle to make progress against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic,” the letter says. “For that, we need the clear voices of government experts, including Dr. Fauci, to be available to the American public without limitation.”
“That is the only path that can bring success in our efforts to control the virus,” the signatories conclude.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-22--Biden Claims Trump Is The First Racist President

Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , claimed Wednesday that there had never been a racist president in the U.S. until Donald Trump .
Biden made the claim at a virtual town hall on Wednesday after being asked about Trump ’ s decision to call the coronavirus the “ China virus ” or “ Wuhan virus ” whenever he speaks publicly about the pandemic , which places a stigma on Asian people .
“ The way he deals with people based on the color of their skin , their national origin , where they ’ re from , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ No sitting president has ever done this , ” Biden added .
“ Never , never , never .
No Republican president has done this .
No Democratic president .
We ’ ve had racists , and they ’ ve existed , they ’ ve tried to get elected president .
He ’ s the first one that has.
” The former vice president said that Trump pitted people against each other to “ divide the country , divide people , not pull them together.
” Though Trump is known for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country and attacking people of color , he is not the first racist elected to the White House .
President Andrew Jackson , also a slave owner , would order “ harsh , even brutal punishment for enslaved people who disobeyed orders , ” according to the White House Historical Association .
Jackson was also responsible for the Indian Removal Act , which forced Native Americans off their tribal lands in the South so white settlers could grow cotton .
The expulsion led to the infamous “ Trail of Tears.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recording of Ronald Reagan calling African delegates of the United Nations “ monkeys ” during a phone call with President Richard Nixon in 1971 .
Reagan was the governor of California at the time of the call .
“ To see those , those monkeys from those African countries — damn them , they ’ re still uncomfortable wearing shoes , ” Reagan told Nixon , according to The Atlantic .
When asked about Biden ’ s remarks during the White House coronavirus update , Trump boasted about how his administration has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to the China plague coming in , floating in , coming into our country and doing terrible things , we had the best African American , Hispanic American , Asian American , almost every group was the best for unemployment , ” Trump said .
Trump added : “ Most importantly , when you look at criminal justice reform … I ’ ve done more for Black Americans than anybody with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln .
Nobody has even been close.
” Biden later said he “ should not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said he ’ d never “ take the African American community for granted .
”

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Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, claimed Wednesday that there had never been a racist president in the U.S. until Donald Trump.
Biden made the claim at a virtual town hall on Wednesday after being asked about Trump’s decision to call the coronavirus the “China virus” or “Wuhan virus” whenever he speaks publicly about the pandemic, which places a stigma on Asian people.
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“The way he deals with people based on the color of their skin, their national origin, where they’re from, is absolutely sickening,” Biden said.
“No sitting president has ever done this,” Biden added. “Never, never, never. No Republican president has done this. No Democratic president. We’ve had racists, and they’ve existed, they’ve tried to get elected president. He’s the first one that has.”
The former vice president said that Trump pitted people against each other to “divide the country, divide people, not pull them together.”
Though Trump is known for making racist remarks, provoking racial tension in the country and attacking people of color, he is not the first racist elected to the White House.
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There were a number of presidents who either owned slaves, held racist views or were overtly racist.
Many of the early American presidents owned slaves, including George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.
President Andrew Jackson, also a slave owner, would order “harsh, even brutal punishment for enslaved people who disobeyed orders,” according to the White House Historical Association. Jackson was also responsible for the Indian Removal Act, which forced Native Americans off their tribal lands in the South so white settlers could grow cotton. The expulsion led to the infamous “Trail of Tears.”
In July 2019, a historian uncovered a recording of Ronald Reagan calling African delegates of the United Nations “monkeys” during a phone call with President Richard Nixon in 1971. Reagan was the governor of California at the time of the call.
“To see those, those monkeys from those African countries — damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes,” Reagan told Nixon, according to The Atlantic.
During World War II in 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order that forced Japanese Americans into prison camps.
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When asked about Biden’s remarks during the White House coronavirus update, Trump boasted about how his administration has benefited Black and minority communities.
“Prior to the China plague coming in, floating in, coming into our country and doing terrible things, we had the best African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, almost every group was the best for unemployment,” Trump said.
Trump added: “Most importantly, when you look at criminal justice reform … I’ve done more for Black Americans than anybody with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. Nobody has even been close.”
Biden has also been accused of racial insensitivity.
In May, he suggested to New York radio host Charlamagne Tha God that Black voters who supported Trump over him “ain’t black.”
Biden later said he “should not have been so cavalier” with his comment and said he’d never “take the African American community for granted.”