thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Cop Who Charged Black Senator With ‘Injuring’ Confederate Statues Nurtured A Long Grudge

McGee disagreed .
In his letter to Portsmouth officials the day after the statues were destroyed in June , McGee cited his prior experience as a firefighter and said sitting back was the right thing to do because the statues were “ a lost cause ” and the outcome would have been worse if officers intervened .
“ Occasionally you have to let a house burn in order to save the ones on either side or because collapse is imminent , ” he wrote .
He also slammed Lucas , saying her calls for his boss ’ s resignation were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offensive.
” Greene , through the spokesperson , did not respond to HuffPost ’ s question on why she allowed McGee to work on the case and bring the charges despite initiating an investigation into his letter .
But observers both inside and outside the Portsmouth Police Department believe that Greene is working to appease a vocal group of white officers , including McGee , who helped bring down the first Black female police chief in a former slave state .
McGee , in his probable cause statement against Lucas , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ all can ’ t arrest them.
” She had no formal role in the Portsmouth government , meaning legally speaking her speech was no different from any other member of the public .
While other people spray painted the monument while she was on the scene , she left hours before most of the destruction took place .
McGee slapped her with felonies anyway .
Moves like that cause Black leaders in Portsmouth to see the charges against Black political leaders as falling into a broader pattern of white Portsmouth officials using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as previously reported by The Virginian-Pilot .
At one point , the city ’ s former white sheriff brought a camera crew along as he chased the city ’ s former Black mayor over an expired inspection sticker , then charged him with a felony .
( The charges were later dismissed . )
Observers both inside and outside the Portsmouth Police Department say the department needs change .
When Chapman pushed to increase diversity on the police force , some white officers complained that the department was lowering its standards .
Chapman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the President ’ s Task Force on 21st Century Policing faced opposition from some white officers , which some Black officers believed was simply because the blueprint emerged from the Obama administration .
Officers say there are credible allegations of their colleagues using racial slurs , and described a department with a small contingent of officers who were very resistant to change , where racism always seems to be lingering just below the surface .
“ Are there folks in my department , where if I went into their house , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freakin ’ robe and a Confederate flag in their garage ?
Absolutely , ” one officer said .
“ But guess what , until I actually see it , I don ’ t want to go so far as to say that person is one.
” The trials will be complicated .
With many Portsmouth public defenders facing charges themselves , that office wouldn ’ t be available to help other indigent defendants .
With so many defendants , there may not be enough lawyers on the court-appointed attorneys list to take on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside will likely have to be brought in , and they may not want to sit on the case because of Lucas ’ position in the state government .
They might have to bring in a retired judge instead .
Throw the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on top , and you ’ re looking at what one person described as “ a fucking mess .
”

Left: Sgt. Kevin McGee. Right: Virginia state Senator Louise L. Lucas. WAVY/Getty
A Portsmouth, Virginia, police sergeant ― who charged a Black state senator, local civil rights leaders and city public defenders with crimes under his theory they participated in a conspiracy to “injure” statues glorifying Confederate soldiers who fought for slavery ― was the subject of an internal investigation for an email he sent to city officials that blasted the rhetoric and actions of those he would later accuse of committing felonies, HuffPost has learned.
Sgt. Kevin McGee, according to several sources, was also a prominent opponent of former Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya Chapman. Chapman, Virginia’s first Black female police chief, was forced out last year, which she said was a result of her confronting “racial tensions” from within the majority Black city’s mostly white police force and facing down a police union she said didn’t like her because she wasn’t a white man.
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Current Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene, also a Black woman, has gathered support from a predominately white group of Portsmouth residents, particularly after her department took advantage of Virginia’s magistrate system and bypassed Portsmouth’s Black elected prosecutor to charge Sen. Louise Lucas (D), local NAACP leaders and Portsmouth public defenders with taking part in a conspiracy to cause “injury to” a Confederate monument. The little-known “injury” law previously referred to the Civil War as the “War Between the States,” a preferred term of Confederate sympathizers.
Sen. Lucas was on the scene of a daytime demonstration at Portsmouth’s Confederate monument in June, but, like many other defendants charged with conspiracy, wasn’t actually on the scene later that night when protesters beheaded four Confederate statues and caused one to fall, severely injuring another demonstrator.
The Portsmouth police stayed back from the scene at the time, only intervening once the man was injured. Lucas, citing the police chief’s poor handling of the incident, called on Greene to resign. Some officers on the force believe that Portsmouth police could have stopped the protester from being injured if they intervened earlier.
McGee disagreed. In his letter to Portsmouth officials the day after the statues were destroyed in June, McGee cited his prior experience as a firefighter and said sitting back was the right thing to do because the statues were “a lost cause” and the outcome would have been worse if officers intervened. “Occasionally you have to let a house burn in order to save the ones on either side or because collapse is imminent,” he wrote. He also slammed Lucas, saying her calls for his boss’s resignation were “repulsive” and “absolutely disgusting and offensive.”
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“Chief Greene deserves nothing less than the highest praise and she should be given the resources to continue to rebuild this Police Department,” McGee wrote. “If Senator Lucas wants to place blame on anyone for this incident, she should start by looking in the mirror.”
Two months later, McGee went to a Virginia magistrate, a low-level judicial officer, to obtain felony charges against Lucas and 13 others. He then stood behind Greene during the press conference announcing the unusual felony charges.
McGee’s letter also attacked Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales, the first Black woman elected as Portsmouth’s top prosecutor, who previously prosecuted a white Portsmouth officer for killing an unarmed Black teenager. McGee ― who wrote in his letter that he was “afraid of ... persecution and prosecution for doing my job” ― claimed he’d heard protesters say that Morales wouldn’t prosecute them.
Texts obtained by HuffPost through a public records request indicated that, after Morales told Greene that McGee’s comments speculating about her approach to protester cases were “incorrect and unprofessional at best,” Chief Greene said she’d “definitely have a conversation with” McGee. Chief Greene also told Morales that she referred McGee’s letter to Portsmouth’s Professional Standards Unit.
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A Portsmouth Police Department representative told HuffPost on Monday that they were withholding records about a Professional Standards Unit investigation into McGee’s letter, citing public records exemptions for personnel information and records on administration investigations relating to allegations of wrongdoing.
Greene, through the spokesperson, did not respond to HuffPost’s question on why she allowed McGee to work on the case and bring the charges despite initiating an investigation into his letter. But observers both inside and outside the Portsmouth Police Department believe that Greene is working to appease a vocal group of white officers, including McGee, who helped bring down the first Black female police chief in a former slave state.
The Portsmouth Police Department spokeswoman also confirmed to HuffPost on Monday that five additional defendants were more recently charged, bringing the total to 19 defendants. An image of one of the new arrest warrants posted by a local television station also listed McGee’s name.
McGee, in his probable cause statement against Lucas, said that she told police officers “y’all can’t arrest them.” She had no formal role in the Portsmouth government, meaning legally speaking her speech was no different from any other member of the public. While other people spray painted the monument while she was on the scene, she left hours before most of the destruction took place. McGee slapped her with felonies anyway.
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The investigation into McGee’s letter wasn’t the first time he came under scrutiny. Sources told HuffPost that McGee faced multiple internal investigations for his conduct on the force. McGee did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Chapman, after her dismissal, told a local news station that she’d been told that the department had reversed the disciplinary actions she brought against officers, which may have benefited McGee by eliminating prior disciplinary action.
McGee, sources said, was also upset that Chapman wouldn’t promote him and moved him out of a narcotics unit. McGee is now a member of Portsmouth’s property crimes unit, which isn’t considered a highly desirable post.
McGee’s history helps explain why he was such an opponent of the former chief. Sources said McGee wanted the local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) to take a vote of no confidence in Chapman, with one describing McGee as one of Chapman’s “most vocal” detractors.
Chapman said after she was forced out that the FOP “did not want to take direction from me because I’m not a white male.” The local FOP did not respond to a message from HuffPost.
After McGee brought the charges against Lucas, a white Portsmouth resident used Virginia’s magistrate system to bring misdemeanor charges against Lucas’ daughter, Portsmouth Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, for calling for Greene’s resignation.
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Moves like that cause Black leaders in Portsmouth to see the charges against Black political leaders as falling into a broader pattern of white Portsmouth officials using the criminal system to maintain power, as previously reported by The Virginian-Pilot. At one point, the city’s former white sheriff brought a camera crew along as he chased the city’s former Black mayor over an expired inspection sticker, then charged him with a felony. (The charges were later dismissed.)
Racial incidents within the police department have publicly flared up in the past. In 2018, according to The Virginian-Pilot, the white president of the local FOP was accused of calling a Black officer a “trunk monkey,” evidently referencing a series of television commercials from the early 2000s.
Observers both inside and outside the Portsmouth Police Department say the department needs change. When Chapman pushed to increase diversity on the police force, some white officers complained that the department was lowering its standards. Chapman’s attempts to implement the recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing faced opposition from some white officers, which some Black officers believed was simply because the blueprint emerged from the Obama administration. Officers say there are credible allegations of their colleagues using racial slurs, and described a department with a small contingent of officers who were very resistant to change, where racism always seems to be lingering just below the surface.
“Are there folks in my department, where if I went into their house, would I expect to see a grand wizard freakin’ robe and a Confederate flag in their garage? Absolutely,” one officer said. “But guess what, until I actually see it, I don’t want to go so far as to say that person is one.”
Don Scott, a Virginia state delegate who is representing Lucas, said he believes may of the problems stem from officers’ lack of investment in the communities where they work.
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“The majority of those officers don’t live in Portsmouth. The chief doesn’t even live in Portsmouth, which is amazing. So nobody is invested in the well-being of our community, they come here for a check,” Scott told HuffPost. “We’re being controlled by a hostile force.”
Lucas and other leaders have previously asked for a federal investigation into the Portsmouth Police Department, but the Justice Department has all but ended those probes under the Trump administration.
The FBI did begin an investigation into allegations of systemic racism in the Portsmouth Police Department, but Greene instructed officers not to contact the FBI directly and said that officers should be accompanied by a city official if the feds wanted an interview.
Online, mostly white opponents of Lucas and supporters of Greene and the Portsmouth Police Department have denied racism motivates their movement, even as moderates have asked supporters to refrain from using racist or offensive language. Supporters have traded in racial stereotypes of Black Americans.
“Why does (sic) every time a black person breaks the law they blame white people?” one Facebook commenter wrote. “Stop using the race card!”
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“Personal responsibility is lacking in so many people,” wrote another, using another familiar political trope frequently deployed against Black Americans. (White city officials in Ferguson, Missouri, frequently claimed Black residents lacked “personal responsibility” even as they condoned “a striking lack of personal responsibility among themselves and their friends” by eliminating fines, fees and citations, according to a 2015 Justice Department investigation.)
Even though the city ― after a yearslong effort ― has finally removed the memorial to soldiers who fought and died in support of the institution of slavery, Portsmouth will be dealing with the repercussions of the June protests for a long time.
The trials will be complicated. With many Portsmouth public defenders facing charges themselves, that office wouldn’t be available to help other indigent defendants. With so many defendants, there may not be enough lawyers on the court-appointed attorneys list to take on all the cases. Judges from the outside will likely have to be brought in, and they may not want to sit on the case because of Lucas’ position in the state government. They might have to bring in a retired judge instead. Throw the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on top, and you’re looking at what one person described as “a fucking mess.”
Observers of the situation unfolding in Portsmouth see it as yet another example of the criminal system being used as a weapon against Black leadership.
“The history of police in America is, at the same time, one of extreme lawlessness and brutality and one of the enforcing some laws against some people in some places some of the time in service of white supremacy and people who own things,” said Alec Karakatsanis, the executive director of the group Civil Rights Corps, who has litigated against systems of incarceration across the United States.
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After Chapman was forced out, Black leaders in Portsmouth said it was time to confront racism within the Portsmouth government. Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe, a white man who is not seeking reelection this year, said after Chapman’s firing that he hadn’t seen a “deep, perpetual racial divide in Portsmouth.” The city official who fired Chapman, City Manager Lydia Pettis Patton, is a Black woman who Black leaders ― including Sen. Lucas ― accused of acting as a “puppet” for other interests.
“We believe there’s a deep-seated system of racism there, and we’re hell-bent on destroying it,” James Boyd of the NAACP said at the time.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Trump Lashes Out After Book Mentions Mysterious Walter Reed Visit

In his book “ Donald Trump v. The United States , ” Michael Schmidt writes that the White House wanted Vice President Mike Pence to be put on standby to temporarily assume the powers of the presidency during Trump ’ s unannounced visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in November , according to a copy of the book reviewed by the Times on Monday and by CNN on Tuesday .
Trump denied on Twitter that he ever went to Walter Reed due to problems with his health , and in the past has called the trip “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Now they are trying to say that your favorite President , me , went to Walter Reed Medical Center , having suffered a series of mini-strokes , ” he tweeted on Tuesday .
“ Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS .
Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party !
” It never ends !
Now they are trying to say that your favorite President , me , went to Walter Reed Medical Center , having suffered a series of mini-strokes .
Never happened to THIS candidate - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to another candidate from another Party !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) September 1 , 2020 Trump ’ s White House doctor , Sean Conley , released a statement later Tuesday addressing the president ’ s health .
Conley said Trump “ remains healthy ” and that there are no concerns about his ability to maintain the responsibilities of the presidency .
“ I can confirm that President Trump has not experienced nor been evaluated for a cerebrovascular accident ( stroke ) , transient ischemic attack ( mini stroke ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as have been incorrectly reported in the media , ” the doctor ’ s statement read .
However , Trump and the White House are denying a health issue that was never reported by “ the media ” ― Schmidt said he did not include information about a series of mini-strokes , let alone any specific health issue as a reason for the Walter Reed visit .
Trump ’ s Tuesday tweet did not mention Schmidt ’ s claim about Pence being prepared to temporarily take over the presidency .
In his book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ in the hours leading up to Trump ’ s trip to the hospital , word went out in the West Wing for the vice president to be on standby to take over the powers of the presidency temporarily if Trump had to undergo a procedure that would have required him to be anesthetized.
” Schmidt did not specify the sources for his claims beyond saying “ I learned.
” To this day , the White House has still not fully explained why Trump had an unscheduled , unannounced visit to Walter Reed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the visit , the White House claimed that Trump was getting a head start on his annual physical and that he would undergo the remainder of the exam this year .
Unlike previous trips to Walter Reed , this visit was not published on the president ’ s public schedule .
The president ’ s method of transportation to the hospital , as well as his attire , that day were also starkly different from his routine trips there .
The American public has gotten less transparency about Trump ’ s health than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During his 2016 campaign , Trump refused to release details about his medical history ― something that previous candidates from both parties released .
Instead , he released a short letter from his personal doctor that declared his health to be “ astonishingly excellent .
”

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President Donald Trump lashed out on Tuesday over a New York Times reporter’s book that includes information about the president’s abrupt hospital visit late last year.
In his book “Donald Trump v. The United States,” Michael Schmidt writes that the White House wanted Vice President Mike Pence to be put on standby to temporarily assume the powers of the presidency during Trump’s unannounced visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in November, according to a copy of the book reviewed by the Times on Monday and by CNN on Tuesday.
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Trump denied on Twitter that he ever went to Walter Reed due to problems with his health, and in the past has called the trip “a routine physical.”
“It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes,” he tweeted on Tuesday. “Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!”
It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2020
Trump’s White House doctor, Sean Conley, released a statement later Tuesday addressing the president’s health. Conley said Trump “remains healthy” and that there are no concerns about his ability to maintain the responsibilities of the presidency.
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“I can confirm that President Trump has not experienced nor been evaluated for a cerebrovascular accident (stroke), transient ischemic attack (mini stroke), or any acute cardiovascular emergencies, as have been incorrectly reported in the media,” the doctor’s statement read.
However, Trump and the White House are denying a health issue that was never reported by “the media” ― Schmidt said he did not include information about a series of mini-strokes, let alone any specific health issue as a reason for the Walter Reed visit.
The exact line: "a series of mini-strokes" only appeared two places:
1. My tweet August 1, 2020.
2. Donald Trump's tweet today. Sept 1, 2020.
Why did Trump feel compelled today to send out a tweet denying what I wrote one month ago? — Don Winslow (@donwinslow) September 1, 2020
Trump’s Tuesday tweet did not mention Schmidt’s claim about Pence being prepared to temporarily take over the presidency. In his book, the reporter wrote that he learned “in the hours leading up to Trump’s trip to the hospital, word went out in the West Wing for the vice president to be on standby to take over the powers of the presidency temporarily if Trump had to undergo a procedure that would have required him to be anesthetized.” Schmidt did not specify the sources for his claims beyond saying “I learned.”
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To this day, the White House has still not fully explained why Trump had an unscheduled, unannounced visit to Walter Reed in November. At the time of the visit, the White House claimed that Trump was getting a head start on his annual physical and that he would undergo the remainder of the exam this year. Unlike previous trips to Walter Reed, this visit was not published on the president’s public schedule. The president’s method of transportation to the hospital, as well as his attire, that day were also starkly different from his routine trips there.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Trump Went To Kenosha To Praise Law Enforcement, Blame Democrats

Biden , in his most direct attacks yet , accused Trump on Monday of causing the divisions that have ignited the violence .
He delivered an uncharacteristically blistering speech in Pittsburgh and distanced himself from radical forces involved in altercations .
Biden said of Trump : “ He doesn ’ t want to shed light , he wants to generate heat , and he ’ s stoking violence in our cities .
He can ’ t stop the violence because for years he ’ s fomented it.
” Trump and his campaign team have seized upon the unrest in Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , where a Trump supporter was shot and killed , leaning hard into a defense of law and order while suggesting that Biden is beholden to extremists .
Trump aides believe that tough-on-crime stance will help him with voters and that the more the national discourse is about anything other than the coronavirus , the better it is for the president .
Protests in Kenosha began the night of Blake ’ s shooting , Aug. 23 and were concentrated in the blocks around the county courthouse downtown .
The first three nights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and numerous businesses were vandalized .
There was an estimated $ 2 million in damage to city property , and Kenosha ’ s mayor has said he is seeking $ 30 million from the state to help rebuild .
The violence reached its peak the night of Aug. 25 , two days after Blake was shot , when police said a 17-year-old armed with an illegal semi-automatic rifle shot and killed two protesters in the streets .
Since then marches organized both by backers of police and Blake ’ s family have all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public property .
In Pittsburgh on Monday , Biden resoundingly condemned violent protesters and called for their prosecution — addressing a key Trump critique .
And the former vice president also tried to refocus the race on what has been its defining theme — Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , which has left more than 180,000 Americans dead — after a multi-day onslaught by the president ’ s team to make the campaign about the violence rattling American cities .
Biden ’ s wife , Jill , on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of schools disrupted by the pandemic in eight battleground states , drawing a direct line from the empty classrooms to the administration ’ s failures combating COVID-19 .
During her tour of a Wilmington , Delaware , school , she spoke with teachers and administrators about doubts that in-person learning will actually resume anytime soon and the challenges ― including obtaining new small desks and protective equipment to make sure classrooms can handle social distancing ― if they do .
She said feelings about heading back to school “ have turned from excitement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still.
” Lemire reported from New York .
Weissert reported from Wilmington .
Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison , Wisconsin , and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed reporting .

Biden, in his most direct attacks yet, accused Trump on Monday of causing the divisions that have ignited the violence. He delivered an uncharacteristically blistering speech in Pittsburgh and distanced himself from radical forces involved in altercations.
Biden said of Trump: “He doesn’t want to shed light, he wants to generate heat, and he’s stoking violence in our cities. He can’t stop the violence because for years he’s fomented it.”
Trump and his campaign team have seized upon the unrest in Kenosha, as well as in Portland, Oregon, where a Trump supporter was shot and killed, leaning hard into a defense of law and order while suggesting that Biden is beholden to extremists.
Trump aides believe that tough-on-crime stance will help him with voters and that the more the national discourse is about anything other than the coronavirus, the better it is for the president.
Protests in Kenosha began the night of Blake’s shooting, Aug. 23 and were concentrated in the blocks around the county courthouse downtown. The first three nights, more than 30 fires were set and numerous businesses were vandalized. There was an estimated $2 million in damage to city property, and Kenosha’s mayor has said he is seeking $30 million from the state to help rebuild.
The violence reached its peak the night of Aug. 25, two days after Blake was shot, when police said a 17-year-old armed with an illegal semi-automatic rifle shot and killed two protesters in the streets. Since then marches organized both by backers of police and Blake’s family have all been peaceful with no vandalism or destruction to public property.
In Pittsburgh on Monday, Biden resoundingly condemned violent protesters and called for their prosecution — addressing a key Trump critique. And the former vice president also tried to refocus the race on what has been its defining theme — Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has left more than 180,000 Americans dead — after a multi-day onslaught by the president’s team to make the campaign about the violence rattling American cities.
Biden’s wife, Jill, on Tuesday kicked off a multi-week, 10-city tour of schools disrupted by the pandemic in eight battleground states, drawing a direct line from the empty classrooms to the administration’s failures combating COVID-19.
During her tour of a Wilmington, Delaware, school, she spoke with teachers and administrators about doubts that in-person learning will actually resume anytime soon and the challenges ― including obtaining new small desks and protective equipment to make sure classrooms can handle social distancing ― if they do. She said feelings about heading back to school “have turned from excitement into anxiety, and the playgrounds are still.”
___
Lemire reported from New York. Weissert reported from Wilmington. Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed reporting.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--What To Know About Patriot Prayer, A Far-Right Group Backed By Portland Shooting Victim

Sept 1 ( Reuters ) - The fatal shooting of a Patriot Prayer supporter at protests in Portland , Oregon this weekend has cast a national spotlight on a small but vocal group of conservative activists that emerged after President Donald Trump ’ s 2016 election .
The victim , 39-year-old Aaron Danielson , was partaking in a pro-Trump counter-demonstration to the anti-racism protests that have persisted in the Oregon city for more than three months , his associate said .
Joey Gibson , left , is the founder of Patriot Prayer .
In this August 2018 file photo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally supporting gun rights at City Hall in Seattle .
Since 2016 , Patriot Prayer has hosted dozens of pro-gun , pro-Trump rallies in the Pacific Northwest and attendees have repeatedly clashed with left-wing groups in the Portland area .
In August , the group ’ s supporters have staged counter-rallies which have sometimes turned violent .
Supporters have echoed Trump ’ s characterization of Portland protesters as “ radical anarchists.
” Trump has rebuked the sometimes-violent anti-racism protests in cities run byDemocrats , making “ law and order ” one of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 election .
Patriot Prayer , founded by right-wing activist Joey Gibson , says it is on a non-violent mission to prevent the United States from becoming a “ Godless , socialist ” country , but its opponents accuse it of provoking clashes .
Joey Gibson ( center ) started Patriot Prayer after Trump ’ s election in 2016 because of “ the rise of violent , thuggish gangs '' in Portland that `` support a Godless socialist or communist regime , '' according to court documents .
The group ’ s rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other anti-government extremist groups with records of violence , according to the Southern Poverty Law Center .
“ The right-wing group Patriot Prayer and self-proclaimed militia members drove into downtown Portland last night , armed and looking for a fight , ” Brown said in a statement .
“ I will not allow Patriot Prayer and armed white supremacists to bring more bloodshed to our streets.
” Gibson denies that the group espouses violence , white supremacy or xenophobia .
On local radio this week , he described the shooting victim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very courageous ” person .
Gibson faces felony riot charges stemming from a 2019 clash with left-wing activists outside a pub in Portland to which he has pleaded not guilty .
He did not return Reuters ’ request for comment .
In court papers related to the 2019 charges , Gibson said he was inspired to start Patriot Prayer after Trump ’ s election in 2016 because of “ the rise of violent , thuggish gangs operating in the City of Portland , Oregon , which attack fundamental American values and support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the establishment of which would threaten America ’ s future.
” He has become known for online videos showing him crossing police lines to talk to left-wing protesters who sometimes spit on him or hit him as he does little to defend himself .
Critics say he provokes the encounters by baiting opponents , but Gibson uses the videos to show the “ spiritual evil ” he is fighting , comparing his tactics to those of civil rights leader MartinLuther King .
“ It ’ s basically him and a Facebook account holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s been the subject of a truly astonishing slander campaign , ” said Gibson ’ s lawyer , James Buchal , in a telephone interview .
In a Facebook message , supporter William Baumgardner described the group this way : “ We are just folks from all walks of life who love our country and the Bill of Rights .
”

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Sept 1 (Reuters) - The fatal shooting of a Patriot Prayer supporter at protests in Portland, Oregon this weekend has cast a national spotlight on a small but vocal group of conservative activists that emerged after President Donald Trump’s 2016 election.
The victim, 39-year-old Aaron Danielson, was partaking in a pro-Trump counter-demonstration to the anti-racism protests that have persisted in the Oregon city for more than three months, his associate said.
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Photos show Danielson wearing a hat with the Patriot Prayer insignia at the time. Portland police are still investigating the shooting.
Joey Gibson, left, is the founder of Patriot Prayer. In this August 2018 file photo, he argues with a bystander following a rally supporting gun rights at City Hall in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Since 2016, Patriot Prayer has hosted dozens of pro-gun, pro-Trump rallies in the Pacific Northwest and attendees have repeatedly clashed with left-wing groups in the Portland area. In August, the group’s supporters have staged counter-rallies which have sometimes turned violent.
Supporters have echoed Trump’s characterization of Portland protesters as “radical anarchists.” Trump has rebuked the sometimes-violent anti-racism protests in cities run byDemocrats, making “law and order” one of his central campaign themes ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
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Patriot Prayer, founded by right-wing activist Joey Gibson, says it is on a non-violent mission to prevent the United States from becoming a “Godless, socialist” country, but its opponents accuse it of provoking clashes.
Joey Gibson (center) started Patriot Prayer after Trump’s election in 2016 because of “the rise of violent, thuggish gangs" in Portland that "support a Godless socialist or communist regime," according to court documents. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The group’s rallies have been attended by the Proud Boys and other anti-government extremist groups with records of violence, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
On Sunday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown denounced PatriotPrayer supporters as instigators of the violence.
“The right-wing group Patriot Prayer and self-proclaimed militia members drove into downtown Portland last night, armed and looking for a fight,” Brown said in a statement. “I will not allow Patriot Prayer and armed white supremacists to bring more bloodshed to our streets.”
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Gibson denies that the group espouses violence, white supremacy or xenophobia. On local radio this week, he described the shooting victim, Danielson, as a “very gentle, very courageous” person.
Gibson faces felony riot charges stemming from a 2019 clash with left-wing activists outside a pub in Portland to which he has pleaded not guilty. He did not return Reuters’ request for comment.
In court papers related to the 2019 charges, Gibson said he was inspired to start Patriot Prayer after Trump’s election in 2016 because of “the rise of violent, thuggish gangs operating in the City of Portland, Oregon, which attack fundamental American values and support a Godless socialist or communist regime, the establishment of which would threaten America’s future.”
In this June 15, 2020, file photo, Joey Gibson takes part in a live broadcast during a protest in Seattle. Portland shooting victim Aaron Danielson was reportedly a good friend of Gibson's. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
He has become known for online videos showing him crossing police lines to talk to left-wing protesters who sometimes spit on him or hit him as he does little to defend himself. Critics say he provokes the encounters by baiting opponents, but Gibson uses the videos to show the “spiritual evil” he is fighting, comparing his tactics to those of civil rights leader MartinLuther King.
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Patriot Prayer has some 3,000 members in a private Facebook group and more than 34,000 followers on a public Facebook page.
“It’s basically him and a Facebook account holding rallies in favor of patriotism and prayer. He’s been the subject of a truly astonishing slander campaign,” said Gibson’s lawyer, James Buchal, in a telephone interview.
In a Facebook message, supporter William Baumgardner described the group this way: “We are just folks from all walks of life who love our country and the Bill of Rights.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Jacob Blake's Father Is 'Not Going To Play Politics' As Trump Visits Kenosha

Jacob Blake Sr. said he refuses to “ play politics ” ahead of President Donald Trump ’ s visit on Tuesday to Kenosha , Wisconsin , where a white police officer shot Blake ’ s 29-year-old son seven times in the back last week .
“ I ’ m not going to play politics .
This is my son ’ s life we are talking about , ” he said Monday in an interview with CNN .
“ I am not getting into politics .
It is all about my son , man .
It has nothing to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Jacob ’ s operation.
” Trump is visiting the city despite the objections of local and state leaders , including Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian ( D ) and Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers ( D ) .
Both have argued Trump ’ s presence would cause more harm than good .
“ I am disappointed he is coming .
Our community has gone through a great deal , ” Antaramian said Monday .
“ At this time , it ’ s just the wrong time .
It ’ s a time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter on Sunday that read in part : “ I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing .
I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.
” Trump said Monday that he would not meet with the Blakes because they “ wanted to have lawyers involved , and I thought that was inappropriate.
” Civil rights attorney Ben Crump , who is representing the family , told CNN : “ I don ’ t know why the president wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the phone .
He seems to have lawyers with him when he talks to people.
” “ The family ’ s primary objectives are to support Jacob ’ s recovery and to ensure justice for him , ” Crump said in a statement .
All summer , demonstrators across the country have protested racism and police violence against Black people , including the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor .
The protests have again swelled in the week since the police shooting of Blake .
He has been left paralyzed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for dear life , ” his father said Monday .
Blake Sr. also said the family has “ received some threats , ” and that his younger son has been hospitalized for depression .
“ It ’ s saddening to me that people don ’ t understand the type of pressure this family is under , and what the rest of the family is dealing with , ” he said .

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Jacob Blake Sr. said he refuses to “play politics” ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit on Tuesday to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where a white police officer shot Blake’s 29-year-old son seven times in the back last week.
“I’m not going to play politics. This is my son’s life we are talking about,” he said Monday in an interview with CNN. “I am not getting into politics. It is all about my son, man. It has nothing to do with a photo-op. It has to do with Jacob’s operation.”
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Jacob Blake’s father responds to President Trump’s reason for not visiting or speaking to his family: “I’m not going to play politics. This is my son’s life we're talking about.” https://t.co/Wi3qzfmF1F pic.twitter.com/ozjtVtjNWV — The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) August 31, 2020
Trump is visiting the city despite the objections of local and state leaders, including Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian (D) and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D). Both have argued Trump’s presence would cause more harm than good.
“I am disappointed he is coming. Our community has gone through a great deal,” Antaramian said Monday. “At this time, it’s just the wrong time. It’s a time for us to heal.”
Evers sent Trump a letter on Sunday that read in part: “I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”
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Trump said Monday that he would not meet with the Blakes because they “wanted to have lawyers involved, and I thought that was inappropriate.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, told CNN: “I don’t know why the president wouldn’t want the family to have their lawyers on the phone. He seems to have lawyers with him when he talks to people.”
“The family’s primary objectives are to support Jacob’s recovery and to ensure justice for him,” Crump said in a statement.
The Blake family’s legal team has released the following response to comments made by President Trump during tonight's White House briefing: pic.twitter.com/Jivk8RYqk3 — Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 1, 2020
All summer, demonstrators across the country have protested racism and police violence against Black people, including the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
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The protests have again swelled in the week since the police shooting of Blake. He has been left paralyzed from the waist down and “holding on for dear life,” his father said Monday.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--California Lawmaker Denied Remote Vote Had To Bring Newborn To Capitol

The flaws in a California Assembly rule limiting who can vote remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic came to light Monday when a member had no choice but to bring her newborn to the floor in order to vote .
A spokesperson for California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks , who represents several cities in the San Francisco Bay Area , said Assembly leadership denied her request to vote by proxy on Monday “ on the grounds that maternity leave is not eligible for proxy voting.
” That ’ s according to a rule the chamber adopted Aug. 3 allowing members “ at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to have someone else vote on her behalf .
A postpartum mother bringing a newborn to the state Capitol , where a senator just tested positive for the coronavirus , apparently did not qualify as high-risk .
Wicks , who gave birth in late July , hasn ’ t made any public comments about the situation , and her office did not immediately return a request for her thoughts on the Assembly ’ s policy .
But she wasn ’ t quiet about her circumstances during Monday ’ s vote .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see you all , ” Wicks said at the podium , rocking her newborn , Elly , in her arms .
“ I was actually in the middle of feeding my daughter when this bill came up , and I ran down on the floor today because I strongly believe we need to pass this bill , ” she said of legislation aimed at creating multi-unit housing , which ultimately did not pass .
“ We are 3.5 million homes shy of where we need to be right now in this state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her crying daughter , “ and Elly agrees.
” She concluded : “ So please , please , please pass this bill , and I ’ m going to go finish feeding my daughter.
” Absolutely devastated about # SB1120 .
Our housing crisis requires us to act , and tonight we failed to do that .
But I promise you this : I will *always* show up for housing — no matter what .
pic.twitter.com/I4n6X07CNp — Buffy Wicks ( @ BuffyWicks ) September 1 , 2020 Wicks ’ colleagues in the upper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict rules .
That same day , the Senate Republicans voted remotely after GOP Sen. Brian Jones tested positive for the coronavirus .
Like so much about COVID-19 , not much is known for sure about its risks for infants and postpartum mothers .
While infected children typically don ’ t become as sick as adults do with the disease , those who are hospitalized are admitted to the intensive care unit at the same rate as adults .
Children under 2 are more likely than older children to develop severe illness from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune systems and smaller airways .
A study published in Sweden in July found that pregnant or immediately postpartum women with COVID-19 were nearly six times more likely to be admitted to the ICU than female COVID-19 patients without those conditions .

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The flaws in a California Assembly rule limiting who can vote remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic came to light Monday when a member had no choice but to bring her newborn to the floor in order to vote.
A spokesperson for California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, who represents several cities in the San Francisco Bay Area, said Assembly leadership denied her request to vote by proxy on Monday “on the grounds that maternity leave is not eligible for proxy voting.”
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That’s according to a rule the chamber adopted Aug. 3 allowing members “at a higher risk from the COVID-19 virus” to have someone else vote on her behalf. A postpartum mother bringing a newborn to the state Capitol, where a senator just tested positive for the coronavirus, apparently did not qualify as high-risk.
Wicks, who gave birth in late July, hasn’t made any public comments about the situation, and her office did not immediately return a request for her thoughts on the Assembly’s policy. But she wasn’t quiet about her circumstances during Monday’s vote.
“Colleagues, it’s good to see you all,” Wicks said at the podium, rocking her newborn, Elly, in her arms. “I was actually in the middle of feeding my daughter when this bill came up, and I ran down on the floor today because I strongly believe we need to pass this bill,” she said of legislation aimed at creating multi-unit housing, which ultimately did not pass.
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“We are 3.5 million homes shy of where we need to be right now in this state,” she said, pausing to comfort her crying daughter, “and Elly agrees.”
She concluded: “So please, please, please pass this bill, and I’m going to go finish feeding my daughter.”
Absolutely devastated about #SB1120. Our housing crisis requires us to act, and tonight we failed to do that.
But I promise you this: I will *always* show up for housing — no matter what. pic.twitter.com/I4n6X07CNp — Buffy Wicks (@BuffyWicks) September 1, 2020
Wicks’ colleagues in the upper chamber aren’t bound by such strict rules. That same day, the Senate Republicans voted remotely after GOP Sen. Brian Jones tested positive for the coronavirus.
Like so much about COVID-19, not much is known for sure about its risks for infants and postpartum mothers. While infected children typically don’t become as sick as adults do with the disease, those who are hospitalized are admitted to the intensive care unit at the same rate as adults. Children under 2 are more likely than older children to develop severe illness from COVID-19, likely because of their immature immune systems and smaller airways.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Here's What Voters Thought Of The 2020 Presidential Conventions

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House on the last night of the Republican National Convention on Aug. 27 .
New polls gauge voters ' reactions to the RNC and the Democratic convention preceding it .
The core audience for each convention was the party faithful ― politically engaged voters who were predisposed to take a friendly view of the events .
About three-quarters of the voters who reported following the Republican National Convention “ very closely ” were Republicans or leaned toward the Republican Party , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voters who paid similar levels of attention to the Democratic National Convention were Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents .
Relatively few were persuadable voters : In both polls , the number of undecided voters who reported that they ’ d followed the convention fell far below the minimum sample size necessary for reporting their views .
Even if they weren ’ t watching closely , the majority of voters paid at least some attention to both conventions : 79 % said they ’ d seen or heard some coverage from the DNC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ d seen or heard something about the RNC .
A plurality of voters who followed the DNC said it hadn ’ t really changed their minds about either the Democratic Party or Biden , while a plurality of those who followed the RNC said their views of the GOP and Trump were similarly unchanged .
Those who said their minds were changed by the DNC reported that the shift was , on balance , positive ― they were 13 percentage points likelier to say the event had improved their views of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , and 7 points likelier to say it had improved their views of the Democratic Party than it had soured them .
By contrast , voters whose minds were changed by the RNC were split evenly between saying it had improved or worsened their views of Trump , and close to split on how it had affected their views of the GOP .
People ’ s self-reported recollections of how their opinions have shifted , of course , generally deserve a grain of salt .
In this instance , much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which each nominee further riled his opponents : Republican voters who followed the DNC mostly said it left their views of Biden unchanged , while a majority of Democratic voters who paid some attention to the RNC said it worsened their views of Trump .
Voters who ’ d heard anything about the RNC said by a 20-point margin that it was well-managed , rather than poorly run .
Voters who ’ d followed the DNC said the same of it by a 23-point margin .
About a quarter of voters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was better than the usual format , with 22 % calling it worse and roughly a third saying it was about the same .
Both conventions were perceived as going negative .
Voters said , 33 % to 18 % , that Democratic convention speakers spent more time attacking Trump than explaining what Biden would do as president ; another 24 % said they devoted equal time to both .
By 31 % to 24 % , voters said speakers at the Republican convention devoted more time to attacking Biden than laying out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 23 % saying they spent equal time on both .
The main message of the Democratic Convention , a 38 % plurality said , was to vote for Biden in order to get Trump out of office ― a finding that aligns with many Biden supporters ’ self-described rationale for their votes .
Another 21 % said the main message was about Biden ’ s competence as a leader , with 11 % saying the convention focused on his personal character and 7 % on his political policies .
The rest didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the takeaway from the convention or said they weren ’ t sure .
Asked about the RNC , voters were close to evenly split over whether the messaging focused mostly on Trump ’ s leadership ( 29 % ) or on preventing Biden from getting in office ( 27 % ) .
Another 14 % saw the convention messaging as more focused on Trump ’ s political policies , with just 5 % saying it focused on his personal character .
Democrats ’ strongest argument for Biden , 36 % of voters said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 19 % saying Biden ’ s competence was the strongest argument and fewer than 1 in 10 choosing each of the other two options .
Republicans ’ strongest argument for Trump , 26 % said , was his competence , followed by 22 % who said it was that reelecting him would block Biden from the White House .
It ’ s still too soon to know exactly what effect , if any , the conventions will have on the presidential race .
Conventions often give each party consecutive bumps in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s effects could be muted for a number of reasons : not only the coronavirus pandemic but also the relative stability of the race and the back-to-back scheduling of the two events .
As more post-convention polling comes out , it ’ ll paint a clearer picture of the state of the race heading into the fall .
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov post-DNC survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov post-RNC survey , using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups :

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the White House on the last night of the Republican National Convention on Aug. 27. New polls gauge voters' reactions to the RNC and the Democratic convention preceding it. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
This year’s presidential nominating conventions served to confirm many voters’ opinions about Joe Biden and Donald Trump, according to two HuffPost/YouGov polls taken after the Democratic and Republican gatherings.
The core audience for each convention was the party faithful ― politically engaged voters who were predisposed to take a friendly view of the events. About three-quarters of the voters who reported following the Republican National Convention “very closely” were Republicans or leaned toward the Republican Party, the poll found, while 81% of the voters who paid similar levels of attention to the Democratic National Convention were Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents. Relatively few were persuadable voters: In both polls, the number of undecided voters who reported that they’d followed the convention fell far below the minimum sample size necessary for reporting their views.
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Even if they weren’t watching closely, the majority of voters paid at least some attention to both conventions: 79% said they’d seen or heard some coverage from the DNC, and an essentially equivalent 81% said they’d seen or heard something about the RNC.
A plurality of voters who followed the DNC said it hadn’t really changed their minds about either the Democratic Party or Biden, while a plurality of those who followed the RNC said their views of the GOP and Trump were similarly unchanged.
Those who said their minds were changed by the DNC reported that the shift was, on balance, positive ― they were 13 percentage points likelier to say the event had improved their views of Biden than to say it had worsened them, and 7 points likelier to say it had improved their views of the Democratic Party than it had soured them. By contrast, voters whose minds were changed by the RNC were split evenly between saying it had improved or worsened their views of Trump, and close to split on how it had affected their views of the GOP.
People’s self-reported recollections of how their opinions have shifted, of course, generally deserve a grain of salt. In this instance, much of the difference seems to stem from the degree to which each nominee further riled his opponents: Republican voters who followed the DNC mostly said it left their views of Biden unchanged, while a majority of Democratic voters who paid some attention to the RNC said it worsened their views of Trump.
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Results of new HuffPost/YouGov polling on the conventions. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
A 72% majority of the (mostly Democratic) audience for Biden’s speech rated it as good or excellent, while 68% of the (mostly Republican) audience for Trump’s speech gave the president similarly high ratings.
Voters who’d heard anything about the RNC said by a 20-point margin that it was well-managed, rather than poorly run. Voters who’d followed the DNC said the same of it by a 23-point margin. About a quarter of voters who followed the DNC said its digital format was better than the usual format, with 22% calling it worse and roughly a third saying it was about the same.
Both conventions were perceived as going negative. Voters said, 33% to 18%, that Democratic convention speakers spent more time attacking Trump than explaining what Biden would do as president; another 24% said they devoted equal time to both. By 31% to 24%, voters said speakers at the Republican convention devoted more time to attacking Biden than laying out what Trump would do if reelected, with 23% saying they spent equal time on both.
The main message of the Democratic Convention, a 38% plurality said, was to vote for Biden in order to get Trump out of office ― a finding that aligns with many Biden supporters’ self-described rationale for their votes. Another 21% said the main message was about Biden’s competence as a leader, with 11% saying the convention focused on his personal character and 7% on his political policies. The rest didn’t see any of those as the takeaway from the convention or said they weren’t sure.
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Asked about the RNC, voters were close to evenly split over whether the messaging focused mostly on Trump’s leadership (29%) or on preventing Biden from getting in office (27%). Another 14% saw the convention messaging as more focused on Trump’s political policies, with just 5% saying it focused on his personal character.
Results of new HuffPost/YouGov polling on the conventions. Ariel Edwards-Levy/HuffPost
Democrats’ strongest argument for Biden, 36% of voters said, was that he would unseat Trump, with 19% saying Biden’s competence was the strongest argument and fewer than 1 in 10 choosing each of the other two options. Republicans’ strongest argument for Trump, 26% said, was his competence, followed by 22% who said it was that reelecting him would block Biden from the White House.
It’s still too soon to know exactly what effect, if any, the conventions will have on the presidential race. Conventions often give each party consecutive bumps in the polls, but this year’s effects could be muted for a number of reasons: not only the coronavirus pandemic but also the relative stability of the race and the back-to-back scheduling of the two events. As more post-convention polling comes out, it’ll paint a clearer picture of the state of the race heading into the fall.
Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov post-DNC survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
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Use the widget below to further explore the results of the HuffPost/YouGov post-RNC survey, using the menu at the top to select survey questions and the buttons at the bottom to filter the data by subgroups:
The HuffPost/YouGov post-DNC poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Aug. 21-24 among U.S. adults, including 757 registered voters. The HuffPost/YouGov post-RNC poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Aug. 28-31 among U.S. adults, including 764 registered voters. Each poll was conducted using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--500 Faith Leaders Endorse Joe Biden And Kamala Harris For The White House

Five hundred religious leaders ― Christians , Muslims , Jews , Hindus , Sikhs and others ― have jointly endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris , according to the multi-faith advocacy group Faith 2020 .
The endorsees include some who have never publicly backed a White House candidate , such as Ron Sider , the founder of Evangelicals for Social Action .
The list also includes clergy from diverse theological positions ― from the progressive Christian pastor Rev .
Nadia Bolz-Weber , long a critic of President Donald Trump , to the evangelical preacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militant anti-abortion rights activist who has pledged to vote for a Democrat for the first time in 44 years .
Lisa Sharon Harper , a Christian writer and founder of the faith-based consulting group Freedom Road , told HuffPost she believes Biden is a “ man of true faith ” who is guided by Jesus ’ commandment to love God and love one ’ s neighbor .
Harper decided to break from her regular practice and explicitly endorse the Biden-Harris ticket because she believes “ now is the time for clarity.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A second Trump term could deal a mortal blow to our democracy .
It would surely deal a mortal blow to the witness of the evangelical faith , ” Harper , who identifies as evangelical herself , told HuffPost .
“ Faith leaders will be held accountable by God and history for how we used our voices right now , ” she added .
“ Did we bless our neighbor or did we curse them .
That will be the question.
” Faith 2020 calls itself a “ group of friends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris to “ lead us in restoring our nation ’ s values.
” Its bid to create a “ big-tent , multi-faith coalition ” echoes one of the main messages of outreach that marked last month ’ s Democratic National Convention .
The endorsement list was spearheaded by the head of Faith 2020′s board , Rev .
Fred Davie , the executive vice president of New York ’ s Union Seminary , according to the Religion News Service .
The list of supporters , first published with about 350 names last Thursday before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden campaign expands its outreach to communities of faith .
The former vice president ’ s team hired an evangelical Christian and former Republican , Josh Dickson , as its national faith engagement director in July .
Religious voters were explicitly courted during the party ’ s convention that sought to highlight Biden ’ s faith as a Roman Catholic .
Biden ’ s campaign has also been targeting specific groups of faith voters in swing states , including Latino evangelicals , Catholics , Hindus and young people of faith .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith , ” Faith 2020′s executive director Rev .
Adam Nicholas Phillips told HuffPost in an email .
“ It ’ s outrageous to think that Donald Trump would be ‘ the values candidate ’ in 2020 , especially , as he consistently stokes racial division and lets neighbors near and far lose loved ones and livelihoods amidst the pandemic.
” Phillips , a progressive evangelical pastor from Portland , Oregon , also pointed to the scandals surrounding Trump ’ s “ so-called faith supporters ” ― such as Liberty University ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was pushed out of his post after a sex scandal , Pastor John MacArthur , whose church has been flouting COVID-19 regulations , and the conservative activist Charlie Kirk , who has helped to spread the patently false QAnon conspiracy theory .
Biden joined clergy members and community activists in prayer at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington , Delaware , on June 1 .
Biden 's commitment to his Catholic faith was spotlighted at the recent Democratic National convention .
Phillips said he believes Biden and Harris are the “ morally serious candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially on issues such as systemic racism .
He also said he believes religious voters across party lines are deeply committed to “ welcoming the stranger , ” a goal that in his view Trump ’ s “ cruel ” policies toward migrant children and refugees has harmed .

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Five hundred religious leaders ― Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and others ― have jointly endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, according to the multi-faith advocacy group Faith 2020.
The endorsees include some who have never publicly backed a White House candidate, such as Ron Sider, the founder of Evangelicals for Social Action. The list also includes clergy from diverse theological positions ― from the progressive Christian pastor Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, long a critic of President Donald Trump, to the evangelical preacher Rev. Rob Schenck, a former militant anti-abortion rights activist who has pledged to vote for a Democrat for the first time in 44 years.
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Lisa Sharon Harper, a Christian writer and founder of the faith-based consulting group Freedom Road, told HuffPost she believes Biden is a “man of true faith” who is guided by Jesus’ commandment to love God and love one’s neighbor. Harper decided to break from her regular practice and explicitly endorse the Biden-Harris ticket because she believes “now is the time for clarity.”
“There is no time to mince words. A second Trump term could deal a mortal blow to our democracy. It would surely deal a mortal blow to the witness of the evangelical faith,” Harper, who identifies as evangelical herself, told HuffPost.
“Faith leaders will be held accountable by God and history for how we used our voices right now,” she added. “Did we bless our neighbor or did we curse them. That will be the question.”
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The list of religious leaders publicly backing Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris include Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Sikhs. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Faith 2020 calls itself a “group of friends and neighbors” who are backing Biden and Harris to “lead us in restoring our nation’s values.” Its bid to create a “big-tent, multi-faith coalition” echoes one of the main messages of outreach that marked last month’s Democratic National Convention.
The endorsement list was spearheaded by the head of Faith 2020′s board, Rev. Fred Davie, the executive vice president of New York’s Union Seminary, according to the Religion News Service.
The list of supporters, first published with about 350 names last Thursday before swelling in size, comes as the Biden campaign expands its outreach to communities of faith. The former vice president’s team hired an evangelical Christian and former Republican, Josh Dickson, as its national faith engagement director in July. Religious voters were explicitly courted during the party’s convention that sought to highlight Biden’s faith as a Roman Catholic. Biden’s campaign has also been targeting specific groups of faith voters in swing states, including Latino evangelicals, Catholics, Hindus and young people of faith.
“For too long the Republican Party has hijacked faith,” Faith 2020′s executive director Rev. Adam Nicholas Phillips told HuffPost in an email. “It’s outrageous to think that Donald Trump would be ‘the values candidate’ in 2020, especially, as he consistently stokes racial division and lets neighbors near and far lose loved ones and livelihoods amidst the pandemic.”
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Phillips, a progressive evangelical pastor from Portland, Oregon, also pointed to the scandals surrounding Trump’s “so-called faith supporters” ― such as Liberty University’s ex-president Jerry Falwell, Jr., who was pushed out of his post after a sex scandal, Pastor John MacArthur, whose church has been flouting COVID-19 regulations, and the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who has helped to spread the patently false QAnon conspiracy theory.
“These guys are outliers, not representative of faithful Americans,” Phillips said.
Biden joined clergy members and community activists in prayer at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 1. Biden's commitment to his Catholic faith was spotlighted at the recent Democratic National convention. JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Phillips said he believes Biden and Harris are the “morally serious candidates” that faith-motivated voters are looking for, especially on issues such as systemic racism. He also said he believes religious voters across party lines are deeply committed to “welcoming the stranger,” a goal that in his view Trump’s “cruel” policies toward migrant children and refugees has harmed.
“Most faithful Americans are increasingly inclusive and forward-looking ― looking for justice and healing, not tired old toxic ways,” Phillips said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Gay Couple's Child Born In England Is A US Citizen, Judge Rules

ATLANTA ( AP ) — A federal judge in Atlanta has ruled that the daughter of a married gay couple in Georgia who was born via surrogate in England has been an American citizen since birth , and ordered the State Department to issue a U.S. passport for her .
U.S. District Judge Michael Brown wrote in an order issued Thursday that the girl is not required to be biologically related to both of her U.S. citizen parents to be eligible for citizenship .
The State Department , which has appealed similar orders in other cases , is aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Justice , according to an an agency spokesperson .
Derek Mize and Jonathan Gregg filed a lawsuit in July 2019 after the State Department refused to recognize their daughter Simone as a U.S. citizen .
Simone was born in July 2018 , three years after the couple got married .
Both Mize and Gregg are U.S. citizens and are listed as her parents on the birth certificate , but the State Department treated her as if she was born outside of marriage , since only one of them has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered additional conditions for the recognition of citizenship .
The State Department ’ s policy treats married same-sex couples as if their marriages do not exist , treating them differently from married straight couples in violation of the law and the Constitution , the lawsuit said .
Mize was born and raised in Mississippi , while Gregg was born in London to a U.S. citizen mother and British father and was raised in London with dual citizenship .
A close friend in England agreed to be their surrogate and both men were present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family traveled home to Decatur , just outside Atlanta , a few months later .
It was when they tried to get a Social Security Number to claim her as a dependent when filing their taxes in 2019 that they ran into problems .
Since she ’ s the child of two men and not biologically related to both , the State Department treated her as if she was born “ out of wedlock.
” And because Gregg , the biological parent , hadn ’ t lived in the U.S. for five years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State Department determined Simone was not a U.S. citizen .
Last week ’ s ruling comes on the heels of a similar ruling in favor of a married gay couple in Maryland , Roee Kiviti and Adiel Kiviti , whose daughter was born via surrogate in Canada .
The judge in that case also rejected the State Department ’ s argument that the girl was born out of wedlock because one of her parents isn ’ t her biological parent .
A federal judge in California ruled in February 2019 that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a U.S. citizen since his birth .
The judge concluded that the Immigration and Nationality Act doesn ’ t require a child born during the parents ’ marriage to demonstrate a biological relationship with both married parents .

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ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge in Atlanta has ruled that the daughter of a married gay couple in Georgia who was born via surrogate in England has been an American citizen since birth, and ordered the State Department to issue a U.S. passport for her.
U.S. District Judge Michael Brown wrote in an order issued Thursday that the girl is not required to be biologically related to both of her U.S. citizen parents to be eligible for citizenship.
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The State Department, which has appealed similar orders in other cases, is aware of the ruling and is reviewing it with the Department of Justice, according to an an agency spokesperson.
Derek Mize and Jonathan Gregg filed a lawsuit in July 2019 after the State Department refused to recognize their daughter Simone as a U.S. citizen. Simone was born in July 2018, three years after the couple got married.
Both Mize and Gregg are U.S. citizens and are listed as her parents on the birth certificate, but the State Department treated her as if she was born outside of marriage, since only one of them has a biological connection to her, and that triggered additional conditions for the recognition of citizenship.
The State Department’s policy treats married same-sex couples as if their marriages do not exist, treating them differently from married straight couples in violation of the law and the Constitution, the lawsuit said.
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Mize was born and raised in Mississippi, while Gregg was born in London to a U.S. citizen mother and British father and was raised in London with dual citizenship.
The couple met in 2014 in New York, married in 2015 and moved to Georgia in 2017.
A close friend in England agreed to be their surrogate and both men were present for Simone’s birth. The family traveled home to Decatur, just outside Atlanta, a few months later. It was when they tried to get a Social Security Number to claim her as a dependent when filing their taxes in 2019 that they ran into problems.
Since she’s the child of two men and not biologically related to both, the State Department treated her as if she was born “out of wedlock.” And because Gregg, the biological parent, hadn’t lived in the U.S. for five years prior to Simone’s birth, the State Department determined Simone was not a U.S. citizen.
Last week’s ruling comes on the heels of a similar ruling in favor of a married gay couple in Maryland, Roee Kiviti and Adiel Kiviti, whose daughter was born via surrogate in Canada. The judge in that case also rejected the State Department’s argument that the girl was born out of wedlock because one of her parents isn’t her biological parent.
The State Department on Aug. 13 appealed that ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
A federal judge in California ruled in February 2019 that a son of a gay married couple has been a U.S. citizen since his birth. The judge concluded that the Immigration and Nationality Act doesn’t require a child born during the parents’ marriage to demonstrate a biological relationship with both married parents.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones Raises $100,000 After GOP's Anti-Gay Smear Effort

Gina Ortiz Jones , an openly lesbian Democratic congressional candidate for a key swing seat in Texas , raised nearly $ 100,000 in three days after the National Republican Congressional Committee asked other GOP and conservative groups to attack her for being gay .
“ The outpouring of grassroots support our campaign received after Washington Republicans ’ bigoted and homophobic attacks shows just how out of touch they are with Texans in this district , ” Jones ’ campaign manager , Lacey Morrison , said Tuesday .
HuffPost first reported last week that an NRCC website , DemocratFacts.org , instructed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ sexual orientation in advertising and mailers .
It highlighted an image of Jones with her partner , as well as the talking point that “ Jones and her female partner lived and worked near Washington , DC , not Texas ” before Jones ran for Congress .
The website is a way for the NRCC to communicate its preferred messaging to Republican super PACs and conservative groups without breaking campaign finance laws barring direct coordination .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posts similar information on its site , and both parties have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But of the dozens of candidates covered by DemocratFacts , Jones appears to be the only one pictured with a partner .
Others are typically shown making unflattering faces or posing with political figures the NRCC hopes to link them to , and outside groups typically use the images in attack ads .
The site does attack other candidates for having spent time in Washington , but it typically does not mention people they lived with .
Jones , a career civil servant who served in the Air Force in Iraq under President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Office of the President under Barack Obama , went on the offense after HuffPost reported on the NRCC ’ s effort .
“ I remember what it was like to serve under Don ’ t Ask , Don ’ t Tell .
To hide who I am to serve our country , ” Jones tweeted last Tuesday .
“ To the bigots : take your best shot .
To everyone else : donate here to join our fight.
” I remember what it was like to serve under Do n't Ask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am to serve our country .
To the bigots : take your best shot .
To everyone else : donate here to join our fight .
https : //t.co/7Q9HkSw87R https : //t.co/2PtrdUi3Pb — Gina Ortiz Jones ( @ GinaOrtizJones ) August 25 , 2020 “ Their efforts to attack an Air Force and Iraq War veteran who served under Don ’ t Ask , Don ’ t Tell clearly backfired , ” Morrison said .
“ Our campaign will continue building on our momentum and expanding our coalition of supporters to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this November.
” The NRCC removed its language pointing to Jones ’ sexual orientation following HuffPost ’ s report , no longer referring to her female partner .
But DemocratFacts.org continues to feature the photo of Jones and her partner , and it still refers to her partner under a different tab on the website .
NRCC spokesman Bob Salera would not say why the NRCC ’ s website still features a photo of Jones with her partner , or whether it plans to switch it to a photo of Jones by herself @

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Gina Ortiz Jones, an openly lesbian Democratic congressional candidate for a key swing seat in Texas, raised nearly $100,000 in three days after the National Republican Congressional Committee asked other GOP and conservative groups to attack her for being gay.
“The outpouring of grassroots support our campaign received after Washington Republicans’ bigoted and homophobic attacks shows just how out of touch they are with Texans in this district,” Jones’ campaign manager, Lacey Morrison, said Tuesday.
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HuffPost first reported last week that an NRCC website, DemocratFacts.org, instructed outside groups to include reminders of Jones’ sexual orientation in advertising and mailers. It highlighted an image of Jones with her partner, as well as the talking point that “Jones and her female partner lived and worked near Washington, DC, not Texas” before Jones ran for Congress.
The website is a way for the NRCC to communicate its preferred messaging to Republican super PACs and conservative groups without breaking campaign finance laws barring direct coordination. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posts similar information on its site, and both parties have used the tactic in the past.
But of the dozens of candidates covered by DemocratFacts, Jones appears to be the only one pictured with a partner. Others are typically shown making unflattering faces or posing with political figures the NRCC hopes to link them to, and outside groups typically use the images in attack ads. The site does attack other candidates for having spent time in Washington, but it typically does not mention people they lived with.
Jones, a career civil servant who served in the Air Force in Iraq under President George W. Bush and worked in the Executive Office of the President under Barack Obama, went on the offense after HuffPost reported on the NRCC’s effort.
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“I remember what it was like to serve under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. To hide who I am to serve our country,” Jones tweeted last Tuesday. “To the bigots: take your best shot. To everyone else: donate here to join our fight.”
I remember what it was like to serve under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. To hide who I am to serve our country.
To the bigots: take your best shot.
To everyone else: donate here to join our fight. https://t.co/7Q9HkSw87R https://t.co/2PtrdUi3Pb — Gina Ortiz Jones (@GinaOrtizJones) August 25, 2020
Within 72 hours, Jones brought in close to $100,000 between her campaign committee and the LGBTQ Victory Fund, a national organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ candidates.
“Their efforts to attack an Air Force and Iraq War veteran who served under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell clearly backfired,” Morrison said. “Our campaign will continue building on our momentum and expanding our coalition of supporters to ensure we elect Gina Ortiz Jones to Congress this November.”
The NRCC removed its language pointing to Jones’ sexual orientation following HuffPost’s report, no longer referring to her female partner. But DemocratFacts.org continues to feature the photo of Jones and her partner, and it still refers to her partner under a different tab on the website.
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Here’s a screenshot of the photo still on the website:
The NRCC is asking conservative groups to attack Gina Ortiz Jones for being gay. DemocratFacts.Org
NRCC spokesman Bob Salera would not say why the NRCC’s website still features a photo of Jones with her partner, or whether it plans to switch it to a photo of Jones by herself.
Instead, Salera provided this comment:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-01--Trump Insists Portland Is 'Ablaze All The Time'; Fire Department Says No, It Really Isn't

“ WE ARE NOT ABLAZE IN PORTLAND , ” Lt. Rich Chatman , the public information officer for Portland Fire & Rescue , wrote in a text message to CNN reporter Daniel Dale after the president made the remarks at a Monday press conference .
“ There is a very isolated pocket of demonstrations that have involved fire , none of which have been substantial enough to need more than one fire engine.
” Demonstrations calling for racial justice have taken place in Portland since the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , but , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been “ inside dumpsters or trash cans and away from structures.
” Chatman did acknowledge “ a handful of incidents that involve direct attempts at starting a building fire , ” but emphasized that they involved “ a small group of demonstrators.
” Lt. Rich Chatman of the Portland fire department texts me just now : “ WE ARE NOT ABLAZE IN PORTLAND .
There is a very isolated pocket of demonstrations that have involved fire , ” “ none of which have been substantial enough to need more than 1 fire engine.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ ddale8 ) September 1 , 2020 During his press conference , Trump talked about the fatal shooting Saturday of Aaron J. Danielson , who was associated with the far-right group Patriot Prayer and who died in a series of clashes between left-wing protesters and Trump supporters at an anti-racism demonstration .
The president stressed that his supporters had been peacefully protesting by shooting paintballs ― a “ defensive mechanism ” ― instead of bullets , and he condemned the shooting of Danielson .
Trump , who has shown support for viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities ” in the past , grouped Portland with New York and Chicago and claimed that lawlessness had run rampant in the cities .
The president said that if Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler would offer his consent , the violence in the city could be ended by federal troops in “ approximately one hour.
” “ The mayor refuses , perhaps for political reasons , ” Trump said .
“ I don ’ t know why it ’ s good for him to have a city that ’ s falling apart and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
But , really , it ’ s been under siege for years , if you know Portland .
So , to the mayor , I say : Whenever you ’ re ready , let us know .
We ’ ll solve your problem of violence .
We ’ ll solve your problem of crime .
We ’ ll arrest those criminals very rapidly , and you ’ ll be able to have some nice evenings in Portland.
” There is no evidence to support Trump ’ s claim that Portland has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” but the president repeated this line in an interview with Fox News ’ Laura Ingraham on Monday , arguing that the city had been burning “ for decades.
” Wheeler , who wrote Trump a letter explicitly turning down federal law enforcement aid , has accused the president of deliberately inciting “ hate and division ” that have made the friction in Portland worse .

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The Portland, Oregon, fire department has refuted President Donald Trump’s claim that the “entire city is ablaze all the time.”
“WE ARE NOT ABLAZE IN PORTLAND,” Lt. Rich Chatman, the public information officer for Portland Fire & Rescue, wrote in a text message to CNN reporter Daniel Dale after the president made the remarks at a Monday press conference. “There is a very isolated pocket of demonstrations that have involved fire, none of which have been substantial enough to need more than one fire engine.”
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Demonstrations calling for racial justice have taken place in Portland since the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but, according to Chatman, fires at protests have largely been “inside dumpsters or trash cans and away from structures.” Chatman did acknowledge “a handful of incidents that involve direct attempts at starting a building fire,” but emphasized that they involved “a small group of demonstrators.”
Lt. Rich Chatman of the Portland fire department texts me just now: “WE ARE NOT ABLAZE IN PORTLAND. There is a very isolated pocket of demonstrations that have involved fire,” “none of which have been substantial enough to need more than 1 fire engine.” https://t.co/hj4Zke3Ss7 — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 1, 2020
During his press conference, Trump talked about the fatal shooting Saturday of Aaron J. Danielson, who was associated with the far-right group Patriot Prayer and who died in a series of clashes between left-wing protesters and Trump supporters at an anti-racism demonstration. The president stressed that his supporters had been peacefully protesting by shooting paintballs ― a “defensive mechanism” ― instead of bullets, and he condemned the shooting of Danielson.
Trump, who has shown support for viral tweets predicting the downfall of “Democrat cities” in the past, grouped Portland with New York and Chicago and claimed that lawlessness had run rampant in the cities. The president said that if Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler would offer his consent, the violence in the city could be ended by federal troops in “approximately one hour.”
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“The mayor refuses, perhaps for political reasons,” Trump said. “I don’t know why it’s good for him to have a city that’s falling apart and that’s under siege now for 94 days. But, really, it’s been under siege for years, if you know Portland. So, to the mayor, I say: Whenever you’re ready, let us know. We’ll solve your problem of violence. We’ll solve your problem of crime. We’ll arrest those criminals very rapidly, and you’ll be able to have some nice evenings in Portland.”
There is no evidence to support Trump’s claim that Portland has been “under siege for years,” but the president repeated this line in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Monday, arguing that the city had been burning “for decades.”