thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Power Couple Megan Rapinoe And Sue Bird Share Sweet Engagement Photo

Power couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird shared what appeared to be an engagement photo on social media on Friday .
The sweet photo shows Rapinoe , the U.S. soccer star who led her team to a World Cup victory last year , on bended knee , placing something on Bird ’ s outstretched hand .
Bird , a veteran player for the 2020 WNBA champion Seattle Storm , posted the photo without a caption on her Instagram .
The Storm and the U.S. Soccer Women ’ s National Team appeared to confirm the couple ’ s engagement , tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Bird have been dating since 2016 , after meeting at that year ’ s Rio Olympics ― and they haven ’ t been shy about publicly expressing their adoration for each other .
In an interview with InStyle last year , Rapinoe said she tells Bird , “ I love the shit out of you.
” “ I always tell her , ‘ If you break up with me , I ’ m going to crumble .
I ’ ll be a pile of ashes .
So think about it , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” the OL Reign captain said .
Bird has been similarly effusive in expressing her love for her woman .
After Team USA clinched the title at the 2019 FIFA Women ’ s World Cup , Bird wrote a lengthy ode to Rapinoe titled “ So the President F*cking Hates My Girlfriend ” ― referring to the feud between the outspoken athlete and President Donald Trump .
I ’ m closer to 40 than 30 .
I ’ ve only been legally permitted to get married in the last handful of years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an overthinker , and ― if it ’ s your type of thing ― a 3x WNBA champion .
But on Friday ?
It was like for this one , perfect , fleeting , uncomplicated day…..
I was everyone .
I was happy .
I was crazy .
I was PROUD .
I was pretending to know about soccer .
I was a little overwhelmed .
I was pretty damn American .
And I was in love with Megan Rapinoe .
As InStyle magazine noted last year , Rapinoe and Bird make an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympic gold medals , four FIBA World Cups , three NCAA championships , three WNBA championships , and two FIFA World Cups ” between them , and they ’ ve only won more accolades since .

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Power couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird shared what appeared to be an engagement photo on social media on Friday.
The sweet photo shows Rapinoe, the U.S. soccer star who led her team to a World Cup victory last year, on bended knee, placing something on Bird’s outstretched hand.
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Bird, a veteran player for the 2020 WNBA champion Seattle Storm, posted the photo without a caption on her Instagram.
The Storm and the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team appeared to confirm the couple’s engagement, tweeting their congratulations to the duo.
“#LoveWins,” the Storm wrote.
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Rapinoe and Bird have been dating since 2016, after meeting at that year’s Rio Olympics ― and they haven’t been shy about publicly expressing their adoration for each other.
In an interview with InStyle last year, Rapinoe said she tells Bird, “I love the shit out of you.”
“I always tell her, ‘If you break up with me, I’m going to crumble. I’ll be a pile of ashes. So think about it, because you’ll ruin my life,’ ” the OL Reign captain said.
Bird has been similarly effusive in expressing her love for her woman.
After Team USA clinched the title at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Bird wrote a lengthy ode to Rapinoe titled “So the President F*cking Hates My Girlfriend” ― referring to the feud between the outspoken athlete and President Donald Trump.
Reminiscing on the World Cup win, Bird wrote:
I’m closer to 40 than 30. I’ve only been legally permitted to get married in the last handful of years. I’m a worrier, an overthinker, and ― if it’s your type of thing ― a 3x WNBA champion.
But on Friday? It was like for this one, perfect, fleeting, uncomplicated day….. I was everyone.
I was happy.
I was crazy.
I was PROUD.
I was pretending to know about soccer.
I was a little overwhelmed.
I was pretty damn American.
And I was in love with Megan Rapinoe.
As InStyle magazine noted last year, Rapinoe and Bird make an eye-poppingly impressive athletic duo with “five Olympic gold medals, four FIBA World Cups, three NCAA championships, three WNBA championships, and two FIFA World Cups” between them, and they’ve only won more accolades since.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Oregon Could Become 1st US State To Decriminalize Hard Drugs

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) — In what would be a first in the U.S. , possession of small amounts of heroin , cocaine , LSD and other hard drugs could be decriminalized in Oregon under a ballot measure that voters are deciding on in Tuesday ’ s election .
Measure 110 is one of the most watched initiatives in Oregon because it would drastically change how the state ’ s justice system treats people caught with amounts for their personal use .
It may sound like a radical concept even in one of the most progressive U.S. states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netherlands and Switzerland have already decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs , according to the United Nations .
Portugal ’ s 2000 decriminalization brought no surge in drug use .
Drug deaths fell while the number of people treated for drug addiction in the country rose 20 % from 2001 to 2008 and then stabilized , Portuguese officials have said .
Doing so would also “ address prison overcrowding and overincarceration by people accused of drug crimes , ” said the board , which is made up of the leaders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies .
Opponents include two dozen district attorneys who urged a no vote , saying the measure “ recklessly decriminalizes possession of the most dangerous types of drugs ( and ) will lead to an increase in acceptability of dangerous drugs.
” “ Every time that this happens , not only does that individual enter the criminal justice system but it makes it very difficult for us , on the back end , to house any of these folks because a lot of landlords won ’ t touch people with recent criminal history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t touch people with possession charges.
” The measure would decriminalize possession of less than one gram of heroin or methamphetamine ; two grams of cocaine ; 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms ; 40 doses of LSD , oxycodone or methadone ; and one gram or five pills of MDMA .
Marijuana tax revenues collected by the state in excess of $ 45 million annually would fund the centers .
Doing so would reduce the amount given to schools , the state police , mental health programs and local governments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial impact statement published by the Oregon secretary of state .
Opponents have seized on the funding reductions in an attempt to sway voters to vote against the measure and have also said that decriminalizing hard drugs would make young people more likely to start using them .

Individual bags of illegal drugs on a black background Douglas Sacha via Getty Images
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — In what would be a first in the U.S., possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine, LSD and other hard drugs could be decriminalized in Oregon under a ballot measure that voters are deciding on in Tuesday’s election.
Measure 110 is one of the most watched initiatives in Oregon because it would drastically change how the state’s justice system treats people caught with amounts for their personal use.
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Instead of being arrested, going to trial and facing possible jail time, the users would have the option of paying $100 fines or attending new, free addiction recovery centers.
The centers would be funded by tax revenue from retail marijuana sales in the state that was the country’s first to decriminalize marijuana possession.
It may sound like a radical concept even in one of the most progressive U.S. states — but countries including Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland have already decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs, according to the United Nations.
Portugal’s 2000 decriminalization brought no surge in drug use. Drug deaths fell while the number of people treated for drug addiction in the country rose 20% from 2001 to 2008 and then stabilized, Portuguese officials have said.
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The U.N. Chief Executives Board for Coordination, chaired by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is also advocating a different approach.
In a 2019 report, the board announced its commitment to “promote alternatives to conviction and punishment in appropriate cases, including the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use.”
Doing so would also “address prison overcrowding and overincarceration by people accused of drug crimes,” said the board, which is made up of the leaders of all U.N. agencies, funds and other bodies.
Oregon’s measure is backed by the Oregon Nurses Association, the Oregon chapter of the American College of Physicians and the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians.
“Punishing people for drug use and addiction is costly and hasn’t worked. More drug treatment, not punishment, is a better approach,” the groups said in a statement.
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Opponents include two dozen district attorneys who urged a no vote, saying the measure “recklessly decriminalizes possession of the most dangerous types of drugs (and) will lead to an increase in acceptability of dangerous drugs.”
Three other district attorneys back the measure, including the top prosecutor in Oregon’s most populous county, which includes Portland, the state’s largest city.
“Misguided drug laws have created deep disparities in the justice system,” said Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. “Arresting people with addictions is a cruel punishment because it slaps them with a lifelong criminal record that can ruin lives.”
Jimmy Jones, executive director of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action, a group that helps homeless people, said arresting people who are using but not dealing hard drugs makes life extremely difficult for them.
“Every time that this happens, not only does that individual enter the criminal justice system but it makes it very difficult for us, on the back end, to house any of these folks because a lot of landlords won’t touch people with recent criminal history,” Jones said. “They won’t touch people with possession charges.”
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The measure would decriminalize possession of less than one gram of heroin or methamphetamine; two grams of cocaine; 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms; 40 doses of LSD, oxycodone or methadone; and one gram or five pills of MDMA.
The new addiction recovery centers that would be launched in the state would be funded by tax revenues from Oregon’s legal, regulated marijuana industry.
Marijuana tax revenues collected by the state in excess of $45 million annually would fund the centers. Doing so would reduce the amount given to schools, the state police, mental health programs and local governments, according to the ballot measure’s financial impact statement published by the Oregon secretary of state.
The Oregon revenue department said it received about $133 million in marijuana taxes during the most recent fiscal year that started in July 2019 and ended last June.
Opponents have seized on the funding reductions in an attempt to sway voters to vote against the measure and have also said that decriminalizing hard drugs would make young people more likely to start using them.
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The state’s voters in 2014 legalized recreational use and sale of marijuana. But it passed by fewer than 200,000 votes of the 1.5 million counted.
Given that margin, the more controversial hard drugs decriminalization measure is unlikely to pass, said Catherine Bolzendahl, director of Oregon State University’s School of Public Policy.
But Christopher McKnight Nichols, associate professor of history at Oregon State University, said it’s hard to gauge the outcome because voter participation seems headed for a historic high, with many first-time voters.
“We don’t know as much about their preferences,” Nichols said.
If Oregon’s voters reject Measure 110, “it may well pass next time, which has been the model for marijuana legalization, for instance, across the country,” Nichols said.
The measure’s political action committee, More Treatment for a Better Oregon: Yes on 110, received a $500,000 donation from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which supports science and education work and promotes criminal justice reform.
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“If the measure passes, Oregon will shift to a health-based approach to drugs and addiction,” the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s website says.
___
Associated Press writer Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed to this story.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--McDonald’s Bringing Back McRib Nationally For 1st Time In 8 Years

NEW YORK ( AP ) — McRib , the fast food sandwich that went viral before viral was a thing , is back .
McDonald ’ s announced Friday that for the first time in eight years it will be offering nationwide its barbeque slathered sandwich with the cult following .
The McRib will appear on the menus Dec. 2 , for a limited time of course .
The McRib is an elusive prize for adherents , who scour the internet for reports of its surfacing at limited locations , and for a short amount of time .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , created to spread the word about McDonald ’ s restaurants that are offering the boneless pork sandwich served with slivered onions and pickles on top .
The company ’ s social media team this month lamented a lack of concern over its feelings , when the McRib enters the conversation .
McDonald ’ s is reintroducing the McRib nationally as it tries to regain its footing during the pandemic , which left many of its dining rooms sparsely populated or empty , though drive-thrus continued to operate .
When it released second-quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline in net income , the world ’ s largest burger chain said it would spend more than $ 200 million to support franchisee marketing during the second quarter in a bid to get customers back .
It ’ s not impossible to get a McRib any time you want it , but you might need to travel to Germany , where it ’ s on the menu year round .

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NEW YORK (AP) — McRib, the fast food sandwich that went viral before viral was a thing, is back.
McDonald’s announced Friday that for the first time in eight years it will be offering nationwide its barbeque slathered sandwich with the cult following.
The McRib will appear on the menus Dec. 2, for a limited time of course.
The McRib is an elusive prize for adherents, who scour the internet for reports of its surfacing at limited locations, and for a short amount of time. There is even a website called the McRib Locator, created to spread the word about McDonald’s restaurants that are offering the boneless pork sandwich served with slivered onions and pickles on top.
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The company’s social media team this month lamented a lack of concern over its feelings, when the McRib enters the conversation.
McDonald’s is reintroducing the McRib nationally as it tries to regain its footing during the pandemic, which left many of its dining rooms sparsely populated or empty, though drive-thrus continued to operate.
When it released second-quarter earnings in July showing a 68% decline in net income, the world’s largest burger chain said it would spend more than $200 million to support franchisee marketing during the second quarter in a bid to get customers back.
It’s not impossible to get a McRib any time you want it, but you might need to travel to Germany, where it’s on the menu year round.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Illinois Judge Approves Extradition Of Kyle Rittenhouse To Wisconsin

The ruling came several hours after a hearing at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan , where defense lawyers sought to persuade Judge Paul Novak to block their Kyle Rittenhouse ’ s transfer to Wisconsin .
At the hearing began , Rittenhouse ’ s lawyer said he ’ d had a change of heart since notifying the court that he planned to call witnesses , including Rittenhouse ’ s mother .
Instead , John Pierce focused on what he called “ fatal defects ” in extradition papers .
After 45 minutes of arguments delving into the minutia of extradition law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pierce said his client should remain in Illinois .
The shootings happened Aug. 25 , two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back , paralyzing him from the waist down .
Video of the police shooting sparked outrage and helped spur on the protests .
Rittenhouse ’ s case has become a rallying point for some conservatives who see him as a patriot who was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest .
Others portray him as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up wielding a rifle .
Rittenhouse sat at a defense table Friday wearing a dress shirt and tie — mask across his face .
He appeared calm and at least once turned to look at his mother , Wendy Rittenhouse , on a spectactors ’ bench .
Later , as officers led him from the hearing room , she began to cry .
Without witnesses from either side , the part of the hearing meant for evidence and testimony lasted less than 30 seconds , when Scheller handed the judge Illinois Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Rittenhouse ’ s extradition .
Pierce told Novak that Wisconsin authorities were required by law to present charging documents to a magistrate judge and that their failure to do so rendered their extradition request invalid .
State-to-state extraditions are typically formalities and judges rarely refuse another state ’ s request to transfer a suspect .
Efforts to fight extradition are nearly always in vain but can help attorneys buy time to compile evidence and prepare a defense .
The most serious charge Rittenhouse faces in Wisconsin is first-degree intentional homicide , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also charged with attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third protester , as well as a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession .
His lawyers have argued he was acting in self-defense .
Legal experts say that on the rare occasions when state extradition cases are contested , defense lawyers usually argue that either no crime was committed in the other state or that the defendant was not the person who committed whatever crime occurred .
While trying to get away in the immediate aftermath , Rittenhouse was captured on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed somebody.
” According to a complaint filed by prosecutors , someone in the crowd said , “ Beat him up !
” and another yelled , “ Get him !
Get that dude !
” Video shows that Rittenhouse tripped .
As he was on the ground , 26-year-old Anthony Huber , of Silver Lake , hit him with a skateboard and tried to take his rifle .
Rittenhouse opened fire , killing Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz , of West Allis , who was holding a handgun .

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WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois judge on Friday ordered a 17-year-old accused of killing two demonstrators in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to be extradited across the border to stand trial on homicide charges.
The ruling came several hours after a hearing at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, where defense lawyers sought to persuade Judge Paul Novak to block their Kyle Rittenhouse’s transfer to Wisconsin.
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At the hearing began, Rittenhouse’s lawyer said he’d had a change of heart since notifying the court that he planned to call witnesses, including Rittenhouse’s mother. Instead, John Pierce focused on what he called “fatal defects” in extradition papers.
After 45 minutes of arguments delving into the minutia of extradition law and how precedent should be interpreted, Pierce said his client should remain in Illinois.
“This Illinois child must go free,” he told the judge.
A local prosecutor said the law is unambiguous in requiring Rittenhouse’s extradition, saying that blocking his transfer would undermine the justice system.
“You can imagine the chaos if someone can commit a crime and step over the (state borderline) and get sanctuary,” Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Scheller said.
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Judge Paul Novak did not comment on the arguments. He said he would issue a written ruling by 5 p.m.
The shootings happened Aug. 25, two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Jacob Blake shot the 29-year-old Black man seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. Video of the police shooting sparked outrage and helped spur on the protests.
Rittenhouse’s case has become a rallying point for some conservatives who see him as a patriot who was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest. Others portray him as a domestic terrorist who incited protesters by showing up wielding a rifle.
Rittenhouse sat at a defense table Friday wearing a dress shirt and tie — mask across his face. He appeared calm and at least once turned to look at his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, on a spectactors’ bench. Later, as officers led him from the hearing room, she began to cry.
Near the courthouse steps, around 20 protesters, some wearing Black Lives Matter shirts, chanted, “Kyle is a murderer!”
During arguments, Pierce at one point said, “This is a political prosecution.” The prosecutor objected and the judge instructed Pierce to stick to issues of law.
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Without witnesses from either side, the part of the hearing meant for evidence and testimony lasted less than 30 seconds, when Scheller handed the judge Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signed warrant calling for Rittenhouse’s extradition.
Pierce told Novak that Wisconsin authorities were required by law to present charging documents to a magistrate judge and that their failure to do so rendered their extradition request invalid.
State-to-state extraditions are typically formalities and judges rarely refuse another state’s request to transfer a suspect. Efforts to fight extradition are nearly always in vain but can help attorneys buy time to compile evidence and prepare a defense.
The most serious charge Rittenhouse faces in Wisconsin is first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a life prison sentence. He is also charged with attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third protester, as well as a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession. His lawyers have argued he was acting in self-defense.
Rittenhouse and the man he allegedly injured are white, as were the two men who were killed.
A day after the shooting, Rittenhouse surrendered to police in his Illinois hometown of Antioch, some 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Kenosha.
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Legal experts say that on the rare occasions when state extradition cases are contested, defense lawyers usually argue that either no crime was committed in the other state or that the defendant was not the person who committed whatever crime occurred.
The defense made none of those arguments Friday.
According to prosecutors and court documents, Rittenhouse killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, of Kenosha, after Rosenbaum threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, missing him, and tried to wrestle his rifle away.
While trying to get away in the immediate aftermath, Rittenhouse was captured on cellphone video saying, “I just killed somebody.” According to a complaint filed by prosecutors, someone in the crowd said, “Beat him up!” and another yelled, “Get him! Get that dude!”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Man Smashes Trump's Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star For 2nd Time This Month

A Los Angeles man who doesn ’ t like Donald Trump is taking drastic steps to hammer that point home ― by attacking the president ’ s star on Hollywood ’ s famous Walk of Fame .
Early Friday morning , activist James Otis went to Hollywood Boulevard and attempted to demolish the star bearing Trump ’ s name with a pickax .
Afterward , he turned himself in to cops and was booked for felony vandalism , according to TMZ .
In a statement , Otis said he attacked Trump ’ s star “ to dramatize Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage that this president has done to our American way of life.
” You can see the attack below , courtesy of TMZ : Otis had already attempted to smash the star earlier this month while dressed as the Incredible Hulk , according to the New York Daily News .
“ I have no hatred at all for Donald Trump , ” Otis told the paper after that attack .
“ I just don ’ t agree with the things he says and does.
” After that attack , Otis made arrangements with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restitution for damaging the star .
Trump got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 , but it has become the subject of many attacks since he first announced he was running for president in 2016 .
Some of the more popular methods of vandalism include graffiti , urination and doggy defecation .
One person even spray-painted a swastika on Trump ’ s star .

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A Los Angeles man who doesn’t like Donald Trump is taking drastic steps to hammer that point home ― by attacking the president’s star on Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame.
Early Friday morning, activist James Otis went to Hollywood Boulevard and attempted to demolish the star bearing Trump’s name with a pickax. Afterward, he turned himself in to cops and was booked for felony vandalism, according to TMZ.
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In a statement, Otis said he attacked Trump’s star “to dramatize Trump’s policies of income inequality and the enormous damage that this president has done to our American way of life.”
A spokesperson told HuffPost that Otis has been released from jail.
You can see the attack below, courtesy of TMZ:
Friday’s incident marks Otis’ third attempt to destroy Trump’s star since 2016.
Otis had already attempted to smash the star earlier this month while dressed as the Incredible Hulk, according to the New York Daily News.
“I have no hatred at all for Donald Trump,” Otis told the paper after that attack. “I just don’t agree with the things he says and does.”
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After that attack, Otis made arrangements with local authorities to pay $4,400 in restitution for damaging the star.
Trump got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007, but it has become the subject of many attacks since he first announced he was running for president in 2016.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--2020 Feels Like An Apocalypse Because It Is One

Giovanni Bazzana , a professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School , has been studying the apocalypse for years .
He ’ s taught classes about the subject and has scoured through many ancient texts .
That ’ s why , when Bazzana reflects on the natural disasters and social upheaval that have upended American life in 2020 , he feels comfortable giving it a label .
“ It ’ s important to remember that apocalypse means revelation ; it ’ s the moment that reveals something about one individual ’ s life or about society in general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is really a moment of big revelations , not revelations in terms of visions or prophecies , but revelations in the sense of seeing the truth of things.
” The months that followed provided plenty of fodder for apocalyptic thinking : a pandemic that has upended daily life , wildfires raging on the West Coast , widespread protests , a divisive presidential election in which the incumbent has yet to fully commit to a peaceful transition of power .
News stories about “ murder hornets ” or speculation about signs of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be crossed off on imagined 2020 bingo cards .
Attributed to a man named John living at the end of the first century , the book contains vivid visions of a cosmic war between the forces of good and evil .
It prophesies a future in which God will judge the nations , punish evildoers , avenge his people , and establish a just new world .
The book was the coded yet defiant response of an exiled community to the Roman Empire ’ s oppression of Jewish people and destruction of Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apocalypses , divine agency is less prominent and humans become the agents of their own destruction or salvation .
These secular narratives tap into fears that people have about the fragility of modern life , Bounds said ― fears about the collapse of the government or the economy , the failure of technology , the threat of terrorist attacks or the effects of climate change .
Popular visions of the apocalypse often deal with world-altering , cataclysmic global events .
But an apocalypse can also happen to a group of people .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an apocalypse for Native Americans , Bazzana said , as was the experience of slavery for African Americans .
For some groups , the apocalypse is a way to grapple with a perceived threat to the status quo .
An apocalyptic imagination is prevalent in some facets of white evangelicals ’ support for President Donald Trump today .
The religious group , used to wielding unquestioned cultural influence , is now contending with a rapidly diversifying country .
Apocalyptic thinking also underpins the far-right , pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon .
The art and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humor ― that arises from apocalyptic thinking is a way for people to regain a sense of control over what seems like an impossible situation , Bounds suggested .
It helps people imagine what survival would look like and what they would want to bring with them into a new , post-apocalyptic world .
“ It ’ s about us thinking about how we can participate in the creative and more positive rebirth of the world , ” she said .
“ It makes you turn inward and it makes you take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the world ’ s kind of crazy — what can I do to anchor myself and what can I do to make a good contribution to the world ?
”

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Giovanni Bazzana, a professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School, has been studying the apocalypse for years. He’s taught classes about the subject and has scoured through many ancient texts. That’s why, when Bazzana reflects on the natural disasters and social upheaval that have upended American life in 2020, he feels comfortable giving it a label.
The apocalypse is here, Bazzana insists. In fact, he believes it’s “always with us.”
Bazzana isn’t talking about monstrous beasts emerging from the sea or horsemen descending from a cosmic stage to wreak havoc on the earth. The trials of 2020 are an apocalypse in the original sense of the Greek word, he claims: a revelation or uncovering.
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This year has revealed truths about American society that can’t be ignored or swept under the rug, Bazzana suggested ― whether it’s inequality in health care, racial injustice or the ineptitude of the government.
“It’s important to remember that apocalypse means revelation; it’s the moment that reveals something about one individual’s life or about society in general,” he said. “I think this is really a moment of big revelations, not revelations in terms of visions or prophecies, but revelations in the sense of seeing the truth of things.”
Albrecht Durer's "Four Horsemen" of his Apocalypse series (1498) ivan-96 via Getty Images
The events of 2020 have primed many Americans to think about the apocalypse. Google searches for the word apocalypse spiked in late March in the U.S. as states began to impose coronavirus-related shutdowns.
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The months that followed provided plenty of fodder for apocalyptic thinking: a pandemic that has upended daily life, wildfires raging on the West Coast, widespread protests, a divisive presidential election in which the incumbent has yet to fully commit to a peaceful transition of power. News stories about “murder hornets” or speculation about signs of life on Venus are now mere boxes to be crossed off on imagined 2020 bingo cards.
Against this backdrop, Americans’ private, personal traumas feel even heavier, contributing to a sense that anything is possible ― and that the worst is yet to come.
The apocalyptic imagination often awakens in periods just like this, when societies experience upheaval and uncertainty. Many scholars believe the Bible’s Book of Revelation ― possibly the most culturally influential story of apocalypse for Americans ― was originally written as resistance literature.
Attributed to a man named John living at the end of the first century, the book contains vivid visions of a cosmic war between the forces of good and evil. It prophesies a future in which God will judge the nations, punish evildoers, avenge his people, and establish a just new world. The book was the coded yet defiant response of an exiled community to the Roman Empire’s oppression of Jewish people and destruction of Jerusalem, scholars say.
“Very often, these texts are written by people experiencing oppression from some power that is becoming too invasive or strongly persecuting them,” Bazzana said.
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A woodcut of a drawing by the German painter Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld illustrates a chapter from the Book of Revelation that describes a new Jerusalem. ZU_09 via Getty Images
Apocalyptic thinking can be found in the religious texts of all three Abrahamic faiths, as well as in the cycles of destruction and reconstitution that appear in Buddhist and some other religious traditions.
Secular visions of the apocalypse exist as well, according to Anna Maria Bounds, a sociologist at Queens College, City University of New York, who has written a book about the city’s Doomsday preppers.
In these modern-day apocalypses, divine agency is less prominent and humans become the agents of their own destruction or salvation. These secular narratives tap into fears that people have about the fragility of modern life, Bounds said ― fears about the collapse of the government or the economy, the failure of technology, the threat of terrorist attacks or the effects of climate change.
“There’s a sense of loss of control, an increased sense of anxiety about all sorts of things,” Bounds said. “From the pandemic, to the wildfires, to the economic instability, to concerns about the upcoming election. All sorts of things.”
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Popular visions of the apocalypse often deal with world-altering, cataclysmic global events. But an apocalypse can also happen to a group of people. The arrival of Europeans in North America was an apocalypse for Native Americans, Bazzana said, as was the experience of slavery for African Americans.
Apocalyptic narratives can encourage cultural forms of resistance that demonstrate resilience in the face of great adversity. Bazzana said the Ghost Dance, a late 19th century Native American spiritual movement that imagined an end to westward expansion, was one such resistance movement, as is some of the apocalyptic speculative fiction written by Native and African American writers today.
Copies of "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video games, which are based on a popular series of Christian novels about the apocalypse. Scott Olson via Getty Images
For some groups, the apocalypse is a way to grapple with a perceived threat to the status quo. An apocalyptic imagination is prevalent in some facets of white evangelicals’ support for President Donald Trump today. The religious group, used to wielding unquestioned cultural influence, is now contending with a rapidly diversifying country. Apocalyptic thinking also underpins the far-right, pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon.
Ideas about the apocalypse persist throughout the centuries because they are a way for humans to grapple with their anxiety about change, Bazzana said.
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“I think humans need mechanisms to cope with that change,” he said. “To prepare oneself for change or to face change when it happens.”
The art and activism ― even some of the dark humor ― that arises from apocalyptic thinking is a way for people to regain a sense of control over what seems like an impossible situation, Bounds suggested. It helps people imagine what survival would look like and what they would want to bring with them into a new, post-apocalyptic world.
“It’s about us thinking about how we can participate in the creative and more positive rebirth of the world,” she said. “It makes you turn inward and it makes you take a productive look at yourself and figure out, the world’s kind of crazy — what can I do to anchor myself and what can I do to make a good contribution to the world?”
Catherine Keller, a constructive theologian at the Theological School of Drew University, has been interested in the apocalypse since the 1980s, when she started seeing Christian apocalyptic fundamentalism work its way into the Republican Party.
But more recently, she’s become concerned with secular apocalypticism about climate change becoming imbued with nihilism ― as if it’s too late to make any positive changes.
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In January, the keepers of the Doomsday Clock moved the symbolic countdown to global disaster to the closest point to midnight in the clock's 73-year history. EVA HAMBACH via Getty Images
Whether it’s based in religious belief or not, thinking about the apocalypse as a final end to the world can be a “dangerous simplification,” Keller said, since it diminishes humans’ agency to impact the course of history.
2020 has been an “apocalyptically charged time” ― and that can be a good thing if it means that “we’re having our eyes opened,” Keller said. The emergence of apocalyptic thinking today is a “deep, ancient warning” that something about the way power flows in society needs to change.
“The apocalypse that we’re in now, if we read apocalypse faithfully, not as an end of the world but as a radical and painful opening, there is a chance, I suspect a big last chance, to really turn our world around.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--10 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

10 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week that ended Friday .
Check them out @ @ @ @ @ cargo plane on its final approach into Long Beach Airport passes in front a hazy @ @ @ @ @ the nearby Silverado fire on Monday , Oct. 26 , in Huntington Beach , California @ @ @ @ @ Images

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week that ended Friday.
Check them out below.
Above: A cargo plane on its final approach into Long Beach Airport passes in front a hazy sun caused by smoke from the nearby Silverado fire on Monday, Oct. 26, in Huntington Beach, California. Credit: Michael Heiman/Getty Images


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Woman Goes Into Labor, But Won't Go To Hospital Until She Votes

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) — A pregnant Florida woman didn ’ t let labor stop her from casting her vote in the presidential election , refusing to go to the hospital until she filled out her ballot .
Officials with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections said the woman was already in labor when she arrived at the polling site with her husband Tuesday afternoon , news outlets reported .
Elections employee Karen Briceño González said the husband asked for a ballot for his wife and later told the staff that she was in the car , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital until she was able to vote .
Briceño González said she rushed outside to give the woman her ballot and check her ID .
The staffer thought the woman would fill it out later , but while doing some controlled Lamaze breathing , the woman filled the ballot out right away .
Elections clerk Eileen Deliz said the couple never mentioned why the woman waited until she was in labor to cast her vote .
“ Maybe she wanted to come in-person at one point and that ’ s why she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t go to the hospital until she voted , ” Deliz said .
“ We are very , very busy , but when something like that happens it just makes our day , ” Deliz said .
“ Every election cycle brings us a great little story.
” Officials said the woman ’ s husband later drove her to an Orlando hospital .

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A pregnant Florida woman didn’t let labor stop her from casting her vote in the presidential election, refusing to go to the hospital until she filled out her ballot.
Officials with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections said the woman was already in labor when she arrived at the polling site with her husband Tuesday afternoon, news outlets reported.
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Elections employee Karen Briceño González said the husband asked for a ballot for his wife and later told the staff that she was in the car, in labor and refusing to go to the hospital until she was able to vote.
Briceño González said she rushed outside to give the woman her ballot and check her ID. The staffer thought the woman would fill it out later, but while doing some controlled Lamaze breathing, the woman filled the ballot out right away.
Elections clerk Eileen Deliz said the couple never mentioned why the woman waited until she was in labor to cast her vote.
“Maybe she wanted to come in-person at one point and that’s why she was waiting, who knows. But she wouldn’t go to the hospital until she voted,” Deliz said.
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Deliz said the unexpected incident delivered a bunch of smiles to the election workers.
“We are very, very busy, but when something like that happens it just makes our day,” Deliz said. “Every election cycle brings us a great little story.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Cop Involved In Breonna Taylor Shooting Sues Her Boyfriend For Emotional Distress

Louisville Metro Police Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly is countersuing Breonna Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , claiming Walker ’ s actions the night Mattingly and two other officers barged into Taylor ’ s apartment and shot her to death caused him “ emotional distress.
” The 27-year-old licensed gun owner fired one round at the door in self-defense after he says police failed to announce themselves while serving a warrant at 1 a.m. on the morning of March 13 .
Walker ’ s bullet struck Mattingly in the leg , causing “ severe trauma , mental anguish , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Walker ’ s conduct in shooting Mattingly is outrageous , intolerable , and offends all accepted standards of decency and morality.
” Mattingly ’ s attorney , Kent Wicker , told the Courier-Journal in a statement that his client is “ entitled to , and should , use the legal process to seek a remedy for the injury that Walker has caused him.
” The plainclothes officers , who ’ d used a battering ram to enter Taylor ’ s home , responded by firing more than two dozen bullets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know what is happening , ” Walker can be heard saying in a frantic 911 call .
“ Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend.
” Walker later said he and Taylor feared an ex-boyfriend was at the door .
A subsequent search of Taylor ’ s apartment found none of the drugs or paraphernalia enumerated in the warrant .
“ This is the latest in a cycle of police aggression , deflection of responsibility , and obstruction of the facts in what is an obvious coverup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to HuffPost .
“ The counterclaim just brings it full circle .
If Kenny can be sued for defending himself , make no mistake , all lawful gun owners ’ rights are at risk .
And that should scare everyone , ” he continued .
“ We intend to defend Kenny — once again — from baseless charges intended to harm , intimidate , and cover up the events of March 13 , 2020.
” Prosecutors initially tried to charge Walker with attempted murder of a police officer and assault .
The charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand jury said there wasn ’ t sufficient evidence to indict him .
“ I was raised by a good family .
I am a legal gun owner , and I would never knowingly shoot at a police officer , ” Walker said at a news conference at the time .
While Detective Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment in Taylor ’ s shooting death , none of the officers were charged with murder .
Curiously , a juror in the case said prosecutors never even presented homicide @ @ @ @ @ @

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Louisville Metro Police Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly is countersuing Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, claiming Walker’s actions the night Mattingly and two other officers barged into Taylor’s apartment and shot her to death caused him “emotional distress.”
The 27-year-old licensed gun owner fired one round at the door in self-defense after he says police failed to announce themselves while serving a warrant at 1 a.m. on the morning of March 13.
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Walker’s bullet struck Mattingly in the leg, causing “severe trauma, mental anguish, and emotional distress,” the lawsuit claims. “Walker’s conduct in shooting Mattingly is outrageous, intolerable, and offends all accepted standards of decency and morality.”
Mattingly’s attorney, Kent Wicker, told the Courier-Journal in a statement that his client is “entitled to, and should, use the legal process to seek a remedy for the injury that Walker has caused him.”
The plainclothes officers, who’d used a battering ram to enter Taylor’s home, responded by firing more than two dozen bullets, fatally striking the 26-year-old EMT.
“I don’t know what is happening,” Walker can be heard saying in a frantic 911 call. “Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend.” Walker later said he and Taylor feared an ex-boyfriend was at the door.
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A subsequent search of Taylor’s apartment found none of the drugs or paraphernalia enumerated in the warrant.
Walker’s attorney Steve Romines dismissed the new lawsuit as baseless.
“This is the latest in a cycle of police aggression, deflection of responsibility, and obstruction of the facts in what is an obvious coverup,” Romines said in a statement to HuffPost.
“The counterclaim just brings it full circle. If Kenny can be sued for defending himself, make no mistake, all lawful gun owners’ rights are at risk. And that should scare everyone,” he continued. “We intend to defend Kenny — once again — from baseless charges intended to harm, intimidate, and cover up the events of March 13, 2020.”
Prosecutors initially tried to charge Walker with attempted murder of a police officer and assault. The charges were dropped, however, after a grand jury said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to indict him.
Walker sued the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department over its conduct, claiming that Kentucky’s stand-your-ground laws protected him from criminal charges.
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“I was raised by a good family. I am a legal gun owner, and I would never knowingly shoot at a police officer,” Walker said at a news conference at the time.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Walmart Removes Guns For Sale, Citing 'Civil Unrest,' Then Abruptly Returns Them

Retail giant Walmart removed guns and ammunition from its U.S. sales floors this week out of concern for theft amid “ civil unrest ” over the killings of Black people by police .
Even when they were not displayed , guns were available for purchase upon request , said the company , which sells firearms in about half of its 4,750 U.S. stores .
Walmart has pulled guns off its shelves in the past ― most recently in June , amid the summer ’ s protests over police killings .
The shooting death of Walter Wallace Jr. by Philadelphia police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of demonstrations as a contentious election season comes to a head .
Walmart said in a statement Friday afternoon that the guns had been moved to “ a secure location in the back of the store ” because “ civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores.
” “ As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated , we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today , ” the company said .
A previous statement , first reported Thursday by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated civil unrest ” for the decision to put away the guns .
A letter to store managers viewed by the Journal indicated that the instructions had been given on Wednesday .
″ [ A ] s we have done on several occasions over the last few years , we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers , ” the retailer said in the earlier statement .
Wallace , 27 , was shot numerous times by Philadelphia officers after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health crisis .
Shaky cellphone video shows the officers demanding that Wallace , several yards from them , “ put the knife down ” before firing .
The family had called for an ambulance , not police , their lawyer said .
Walmart has been pushed to make adjustments to its firearms department after other incidents of violence .
After a mass shooting left 17 people dead at a high school in Parkland , Florida , in 2018 , the retailer raised the minimum age to purchase guns to 21 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a mass shooting at a Walmart in Texas , the retailer stopped selling ammunition for assault-style rifles .

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Retail giant Walmart removed guns and ammunition from its U.S. sales floors this week out of concern for theft amid “civil unrest” over the killings of Black people by police.
On Friday, it reversed course, returning guns to shelves.
Even when they were not displayed, guns were available for purchase upon request, said the company, which sells firearms in about half of its 4,750 U.S. stores.
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Walmart has pulled guns off its shelves in the past ― most recently in June, amid the summer’s protests over police killings. The shooting death of Walter Wallace Jr. by Philadelphia police on Monday has touched off another wave of demonstrations as a contentious election season comes to a head.
Walmart said in a statement Friday afternoon that the guns had been moved to “a secure location in the back of the store” because “civil unrest earlier this week resulted in damage to several of our stores.”
“As the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today,” the company said.
A previous statement, first reported Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, credited “some isolated civil unrest” for the decision to put away the guns. A letter to store managers viewed by the Journal indicated that the instructions had been given on Wednesday.
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″[A]s we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers,” the retailer said in the earlier statement.
A Walmart in Philadelphia was trashed during this week’s unrest.
Wallace, 27, was shot numerous times by Philadelphia officers after his mother called for help for a mental health crisis. Shaky cellphone video shows the officers demanding that Wallace, several yards from them, “put the knife down” before firing.
The family had called for an ambulance, not police, their lawyer said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-31--'Law And Order' President Tries To Skirt Rules On COVID-19, Insults Minnesota Officials

Donald Trump , who refers to himself as the “ law-and-order president , ” tried to thumb his nose at local health restrictions at a campaign rally Friday in Minnesota .
Then he insulted officials who enforced the law .
Crowds in Minnesota are restricted to no more than 250 people as the state grapples with a surge of COVID-19 cases — and deaths .
And that ’ s exactly the crowd size local officials allowed at the Rochester airport for Trump ’ s rally .
“ The governor wants to play games , ” a miffed Trump told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walz .
“ He ’ s a weak governor .
He ’ s done a terrible job.
” Trump claimed “ thousands of people ” were “ injured ” by the crowd restriction because they couldn ’ t see him .
He insisted 25,000 people wanted to attend the rally .
In truncated remarks to his dozens of supporters at the airport , he also blasted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for enforcing the law .
“ Your far-left Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison and your Democrat governor tried to shut down our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and take away your freedom and your rights , ” Trump told supporters .
Authorities in a number of cities have reported spikes in COVID-19 cases after Trump rallies , where supporters often fail to wear masks or maintain social distancing .
Five counties ― two in Minnesota , two in Pennsylvania and one in Wisconsin ― recorded surges in coronavirus cases following Trump campaign rallies held since mid-August , according to an analysis by USA Today .
Trump addressed reporters immediately after arriving in Rochester , Minnesota , and bashed Tim Walz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a terrible job '' because he tried to required rally attendees to observe social distancing pic.twitter.com/RFKYkAe2oB — Aaron Rupar ( @ atrupar ) October 30 , 2020 We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

Donald Trump, who refers to himself as the “law-and-order president,” tried to thumb his nose at local health restrictions at a campaign rally Friday in Minnesota. Then he insulted officials who enforced the law.
Crowds in Minnesota are restricted to no more than 250 people as the state grapples with a surge of COVID-19 cases — and deaths. And that’s exactly the crowd size local officials allowed at the Rochester airport for Trump’s rally.
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“The governor wants to play games,” a miffed Trump told reporters, referring to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. “He’s a weak governor. He’s done a terrible job.”
Trump claimed “thousands of people” were “injured” by the crowd restriction because they couldn’t see him. He insisted 25,000 people wanted to attend the rally.
In truncated remarks to his dozens of supporters at the airport, he also blasted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for enforcing the law.
“Your far-left Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison and your Democrat governor tried to shut down our rally, silence the people of Minnesota and take away your freedom and your rights,” Trump told supporters.
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Authorities in a number of cities have reported spikes in COVID-19 cases after Trump rallies, where supporters often fail to wear masks or maintain social distancing. Five counties ― two in Minnesota, two in Pennsylvania and one in Wisconsin ― recorded surges in coronavirus cases following Trump campaign rallies held since mid-August, according to an analysis by USA Today.
Trump addressed reporters immediately after arriving in Rochester, Minnesota, and bashed Tim Walz for "playing games" and doing "a terrible job" because he tried to required rally attendees to observe social distancing pic.twitter.com/RFKYkAe2oB — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 30, 2020
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-31--Biden Shows A Simple Way To Silence Trump’s Conspiracy Theories Once And For All

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden demonstrated how to silence President Donald Trump ’ s climate change denials once and for @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
The spot begins with audio of Trump falsely claiming that the climate @ @ @ @ @ but the sound of the president ’ s conspiracy theories gets quieter and quieter as @ @ @ @ @ circle to vote for Biden .
“ You have the power to silence him , @ @ @ @ @ ad read .
You have the power to silence him .
Vote : https : @ @ @ @ @ ( @ JoeBiden ) October 30 , 2020 Trump has repeatedly called global warming “ @ @ @ @ @ administration has pursued an anti-environment agenda by slashing climate regulations and promoting the use of @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile , has called Trump a “ climate arsonist ” and has proposed transitioning America @ @ @ @ @ gas and coal by 2035 .

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden demonstrated how to silence President Donald Trump’s climate change denials once and for all in a new ad on Friday.
The spot begins with audio of Trump falsely claiming that the climate crisis is a hoax — but the sound of the president’s conspiracy theories gets quieter and quieter as a pen fills in a circle to vote for Biden.
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“You have the power to silence him,” the tweet sharing the ad read.
You have the power to silence him.
Vote: https://t.co/eoxT07uII9 pic.twitter.com/zIJUQEWlyx — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 30, 2020
Trump has repeatedly called global warming “bullshit,” and his administration has pursued an anti-environment agenda by slashing climate regulations and promoting the use of fossil fuels.
Biden, meanwhile, has called Trump a “climate arsonist” and has proposed transitioning America’s electricity grid off gas and coal by 2035.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Judge Rejects Trump Appointee's Attempt To Keep Band Member Jailed Over Photo Shoot

Coffman , a member of the Jackson-based band The Gunpowder Plot , is facing charges under a federal gun law that makes it illegal for drug users to possess weapons .
Coffman was a legal gun owner , but a small baggie of marijuana that law enforcement reportedly found in his home would make gun possession illegal .
Federal prosecutors have previously used the charge as a way to lock up alleged white supremacists accused of discussing violent racist plots but whose conduct didn ’ t offer any clear violation of federal law .
Coffman isn ’ t anything remotely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t a hotbed of political unrest , just a few wholly peaceful protests .
But law enforcement officials , on edge as rioting and unrest broke out cities across the nation after police officers killed George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis , raided Coffman ’ s home because he had posted three images to his band ’ s Facebook page that showed him posing in front of a Jackson police transport vehicle with what looked like a Molotov cocktail .
Nobody set fire to a police vehicle in Jackson .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the photo , he says , was filled with apple cider vinegar and water , and he later used it as a centerpiece when he made dinner for his girlfriend .
The professionally shot images weren ’ t even taken in reaction to the protests ; they were snapped before Floyd ’ s murder by a “ concept-based portrait photographer ” working under the name December Rain Conceptual Portraiture .
It ’ s been a rough month for Coffman , who has been locked up in Madison County Jail in the weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bright spot , with about two dozen supporters coming to Jackson ’ s federal courthouse to show they had Coffman ’ s back while a representative of the federal government , Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham , argued that images from a photo shoot posted on a rock band ’ s Facebook page made him a danger to the community .
The government called just one witness : Special Agent Josh Lunn of the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ( ATF ) .
( Coffman had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the months between the raid on his home in early June and his Oct. 13 arrest , and its unclear why an agent from the FBI was no longer involved in the case .
Coffman has said the FBI special agent didn ’ t seem to care about the bag of pot . )
Josh Spickler is the executive director of Just City , a Memphis-based criminal justice reform organization that seeks to “ create a smaller , fairer , and more humane criminal justice system.
” He said he was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go along with what he called “ a charade and an abuse of power in support of Donald Trump ’ s reelection bid.
” As of Friday night , Coffman remained in Madison County Jail , where he ’ s being held on $ 50,000 bond connected to the state ’ s rare use of the “ possession of a hoax device ” felony charge , an amount that Camp called “ unreasonable.
” Coffman would need to pay a bail bondsman $ 5,000 to secure his release , and he wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state case were to fall apart .

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A federal judge in Tennessee on Friday rejected a federal prosecutor’s attempt to keep a bassist locked up in jail for months over a photo shoot for his anarcho-punk band, telling an assistant U.S. attorney that the federal government can’t keep someone incarcerated before trial simply because that person exercised his First Amendment rights on Facebook.
It was a deeply embarrassing rebuke for Justice Department prosecutors who decided to charge 29-year-old Justin Coffman under a rarely used federal statute amid President Donald Trump’s campaign against the loosely organized anti-fascism protest movement known as “antifa.”
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Coffman, a member of the Jackson-based band The Gunpowder Plot, is facing charges under a federal gun law that makes it illegal for drug users to possess weapons. Coffman was a legal gun owner, but a small baggie of marijuana that law enforcement reportedly found in his home would make gun possession illegal. Federal prosecutors have previously used the charge as a way to lock up alleged white supremacists accused of discussing violent racist plots but whose conduct didn’t offer any clear violation of federal law.
Justin Coffman, the bassist in a punk rock band, is facing felony charges after posting images from an album photo shoot. Courtesy of Leah Harris
Coffman isn’t anything remotely like those suspects. And Jackson isn’t a hotbed of political unrest, just a few wholly peaceful protests. But law enforcement officials, on edge as rioting and unrest broke out cities across the nation after police officers killed George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis, raided Coffman’s home because he had posted three images to his band’s Facebook page that showed him posing in front of a Jackson police transport vehicle with what looked like a Molotov cocktail.
Nobody set fire to a police vehicle in Jackson. The antique liquor bottle that Coffman was holding in the photo, he says, was filled with apple cider vinegar and water, and he later used it as a centerpiece when he made dinner for his girlfriend. The professionally shot images weren’t even taken in reaction to the protests; they were snapped before Floyd’s murder by a “concept-based portrait photographer” working under the name December Rain Conceptual Portraiture.
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Federal officials knew this before charging Coffman, who had begun selling T-shirts, magnets and stickers featuring one of the photos before his arrest Oct. 13. But federal officers didn’t reveal any of that critical information when they rolled out the case, obscuring the fact that the photos were snapped for a band’s publicity.
Instead, U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant ― a Republican Trump appointee who has posted images of himself alongside the president and at a Trump campaign rally during his time as the top federal prosecutor for the Western District of Tennessee ― held a press conference and put out a misleading press release to tout the “outstanding investigative work” that led to Coffman’s arrest.
U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant with President Donald Trump, who appointed him. Shealah Craighead/White House Photo via Twitter
It’s been a rough month for Coffman, who has been locked up in Madison County Jail in the weeks since his arrest. But Friday was a bright spot, with about two dozen supporters coming to Jackson’s federal courthouse to show they had Coffman’s back while a representative of the federal government, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham, argued that images from a photo shoot posted on a rock band’s Facebook page made him a danger to the community.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon A. York, several people in the court said, appeared deeply skeptical of the government’s argument. York ended up setting what’s considered a very low unsecured bond of $10,000 for Coffman, meaning he can be released from federal custody without posting cash or collateral.
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“You couldn’t ask for a better result in federal,” Alex Camp, Coffman’s court-appointed attorney, told HuffPost. “That’s probably one of the best bond awards you can get in that forum, so I was definitely happy with it.”
The government called just one witness: Special Agent Josh Lunn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). (Coffman had been in touch with an FBI special agent in the months between the raid on his home in early June and his Oct. 13 arrest, and its unclear why an agent from the FBI was no longer involved in the case. Coffman has said the FBI special agent didn’t seem to care about the bag of pot.)
Camp said Lunn tried to make Coffman’s Facebook activity appear “as flagrant and incendiary” as possible. But when Camp asked Lunn whether he thought Coffman was a danger to the community, Camp said Lunn indicated he didn’t have any basis to believe that.
Images posted on The Gunpowder Plot's Facebook page led to a federal charge against the band's bassist. The Gunpowder Plot/Facebook
A number of character witnesses were prepared to testify on Coffman’s behalf. But because the federal government’s case for detention was so weak, their statements weren’t necessary.
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“I didn’t have to use any character witnesses at all,” Coffman told HuffPost. “He basically said to the [federal prosecutor], ‘Your own witness doesn’t think he’s a threat, and the only proof you have is Facebook posts, and here in America, we don’t lock people up for their First Amendment rights.’”
Once it was clear that the judge didn’t believe that the government had met its burden of proof, Camp said, he rested his case without calling witnesses.
“The judge ruled that he’s not going to lock somebody up over utilizing or invoking his First Amendment rights,” Camp said. “And that’s basically what has happened.”
Coffman told HuffPost that the federal government’s argument was “destroyed” in court. On a GoFundMe page set up by his girlfriend, Leah Harris, Coffman called the charges “bullshit” and said they were a product of “obvious political targeting.” A spokesperson for Dunavant said the U.S. attorney’s office had no comment at this time.
The affidavit in the federal case against Coffman was signed the same week that U.S. Attorney General William Barr urged all of the nation’s top federal prosecutors to charge defendants in protest-related cases whenever possible, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
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Josh Spickler is the executive director of Just City, a Memphis-based criminal justice reform organization that seeks to “create a smaller, fairer, and more humane criminal justice system.” He said he was not surprised that Dunavant apparently was willing to go along with what he called “a charade and an abuse of power in support of Donald Trump’s reelection bid.”
“This man is being targeted because he has views that the president doesn’t like, full stop,” Spickler said. “Michael Dunavant is willing to use the full force and power of the federal government to drag a man into a local jail, and local authorities are going right along with it.”
“It’s just a direct line to the election and Donald Trump, and it’s just appalling that people who are sworn to uphold the law and sworn to protect us believe that this is where our resources should go,” Spickler said.
Had the federal government succeeded in persuading a federal judge to keep Coffman locked up because of his band’s Facebook posts, the consequences could have been enormous. Federal cases can stretch out for months, and trials in the district remain paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He would have waited a while, I’ll be honest,” said Camp. “Probably a calendar year. That’s a long time. For Justin, getting his freedom back, that’s humongous.”
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“This man is being targeted because he has views that the president doesn’t like, full stop.” - Josh Spickler, executive director of Just City
As of Friday night, Coffman remained in Madison County Jail, where he’s being held on $50,000 bond connected to the state’s rare use of the “possession of a hoax device” felony charge, an amount that Camp called “unreasonable.” Coffman would need to pay a bail bondsman $5,000 to secure his release, and he wouldn’t get that money back even if the state case were to fall apart.
That’s not out of the question. Jody Pickens, the elected prosecutor in Tennessee’s 26th judicial district, pursued the “hoax device” charge even though a plain reading of the statute ― which includes both an intent component and an exemption when the device is “reasonably related to a lawful dramatic performance” ― doesn’t appear to apply to a photo shoot for an anarcho-punk band.
Pickens’ office appears to have hidden basic facts of the case from grand jurors: The state indictment of Coffman says that “a more particular description” of the device was “unknown” to the grand jurors.
Tracy Boyd, a prominent activist in Jackson, said law-and-order politics plays a huge role in Jackson. About half of Jackson’s residents are Black, but the city remains highly segregated. Boyd says Pickens has a backward-facing view on criminal justice issues and seems to encourage his prosecutors to “go for the max” regardless of the circumstances.
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Boyd met Coffman at protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. At first, Boyd said, he was a “little skeptical” of Coffman, who showed up to protests in outfits covered in patches and carrying a giant “Cat Lovers Against White Supremacy” flag, but they built a relationship.
“He is an awesome individual. He stands for what he believes in, and he does believe in his rights,” Boyd said. “Justin is a good cat, and I stand with him in support.”
Coffman’s next court date in his state case is scheduled for Nov. 9. Camp said there’s a long road ahead on the federal case.
“We won the battle, but we are still fighting a war,” Camp said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Videotape Reveals Corporate-Funded Plan To Try To Overturn A Trump Loss

A powerful corporate-funded right-wing organization that includes state legislators and lobbyists was already mobilizing early this year to overturn a possible election loss by President Donald Trump , according to a videotape of an official discussing the plan .
“ Obviously we all want President Trump to win , ” said Lisa Nelson , chair of the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council , which was responsible for getting the at-times-lethal “ Stand your ground ” laws enacted in several states .
“ Really what it comes down to is the states and the state legislators , ” Nelson noted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videotape obtained by Documented , a watchdog group that tracks corporate influence on public policy .
Nelson and three Republican attorneys were already drafting letters then “ questioning the validity ” of a Trump loss that state legislator members of ALEC could submit to local officials to challenge the ballots .
“ They can write a letter to the secretary of state questioning the validity of an election and saying what did happen that night , ” Nelson told an election strategy session of the conservative Council for National Policy ( see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are drafting a lot of those things ... they can start to ... exercise their political muscle in that area.
” ALEC has come under fire for undermining public interest in a marriage of state legislators and corporate and right-wing interests in a powerful nonprofit organization whose tax-exempt status is supposed to restrict it to nonpartisan activities .
ALEC ’ s plan to challenge , with an eye to overturning , the election if it goes against Trump is consistent with its efforts to undermine a democracy ruled by the majority , ALEC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hertel-Fernandez told HuffPost .
ALEC is “ seeking ways to control by a minority , ” he said .
He added : “ States and their state legislators ... have an obligation to ensure our nation has a free and fair election.
” He did not explain why ALEC was automatically preparing back in February to challenge a Trump loss — or why a Trump defeat wouldn ’ t constitute a free and fair election .
ALEC is best known as a “ bill mill , ” writing corporate-friendly legislation that is handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their state legislatures .
ALEC claims that nearly a quarter of state legislators and other public policy “ stakeholders ” are members .
ALEC was the source of “ Stand your ground ” laws in several states , which legally protect people who use force , including deadly force , when facing the threat of a serious crime .
The law influenced a jury ’ s decision to acquit George Zimmerman , a white neighborhood vigilante , who fatally shot unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 after confronting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The 17-year-old was walking back to a relative ’ s home from a convenience store .
Some major corporate ALEC members pulled out after ALEC ’ s links to the law were revealed by the Center for Media and Democracy , and for other reasons .
Google dropped its membership in 2014 after executive chair Eric Schmidt accused the organization of “ literally lying ” about the reality of climate change .
ALEC serves corporate and other right-wing interests , from fighting environmental regulations and slashing consumer protections to loosening gun restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at repealing the 17th Amendment , which provides for the direct election of U.S. senators .
ALEC has also been active on voting and election issues , including redistricting and election administration with “ an eye to boosting the political clout of conservatives over the long run , ” Hertel-Fernandez told HuffPost .
“ They were an early proponent of voter ID laws and restrictions on voter registrations thought to disadvantage left-leaning constituencies.
” The group has also gone after union rights to “ weaken the political left and the Democratic Party by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and grassroots mobilizers , ” as well as trial lawyers .
Attorneys are “ another important backer of the Democratic Party and left-leaning causes in many states , ” he explained

A powerful corporate-funded right-wing organization that includes state legislators and lobbyists was already mobilizing early this year to overturn a possible election loss by President Donald Trump, according to a videotape of an official discussing the plan.
“Obviously we all want President Trump to win,” said Lisa Nelson, chair of the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council, which was responsible for getting the at-times-lethal “Stand your ground” laws enacted in several states.
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“Really what it comes down to is the states and the state legislators,” Nelson noted in remarks in February, recorded in a videotape obtained by Documented, a watchdog group that tracks corporate influence on public policy.
Nelson and three Republican attorneys were already drafting letters then “questioning the validity” of a Trump loss that state legislator members of ALEC could submit to local officials to challenge the ballots.
“They can write a letter to the secretary of state questioning the validity of an election and saying what did happen that night,” Nelson told an election strategy session of the conservative Council for National Policy (see the video above). “So we are drafting a lot of those things ... they can start to ... exercise their political muscle in that area.”
Trump wouldn’t begin raising questions about the legitimacy of the election until months later, well before any votes were cast.
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ALEC has come under fire for undermining public interest in a marriage of state legislators and corporate and right-wing interests in a powerful nonprofit organization whose tax-exempt status is supposed to restrict it to nonpartisan activities.
ALEC’s plan to challenge, with an eye to overturning, the election if it goes against Trump is consistent with its efforts to undermine a democracy ruled by the majority, ALEC expert and Columbia University assistant professor Alexander Hertel-Fernandez told HuffPost. ALEC is “seeking ways to control by a minority,” he said.
ALEC official Bill Meierling told HuffPost in a statement that with “new, rapidly developed voting plans, it’s no surprise state legislators would request ‘action items,’ and information to ensure election security and ballot access,” which Nelson provided.
He added: “States and their state legislators ... have an obligation to ensure our nation has a free and fair election.” He did not explain why ALEC was automatically preparing back in February to challenge a Trump loss — or why a Trump defeat wouldn’t constitute a free and fair election.
ALEC is best known as a “bill mill,” writing corporate-friendly legislation that is handed off to its politician members to introduce in their state legislatures. ALEC claims that nearly a quarter of state legislators and other public policy “stakeholders” are members.
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ALEC was the source of “Stand your ground” laws in several states, which legally protect people who use force, including deadly force, when facing the threat of a serious crime.
The law influenced a jury’s decision to acquit George Zimmerman, a white neighborhood vigilante, who fatally shot unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 after confronting the teen he later said looked “suspicious.” The 17-year-old was walking back to a relative’s home from a convenience store.
Some major corporate ALEC members pulled out after ALEC’s links to the law were revealed by the Center for Media and Democracy, and for other reasons. Google dropped its membership in 2014 after executive chair Eric Schmidt accused the organization of “literally lying” about the reality of climate change.
ALEC keeps its membership secret, but records obtained from 2017 by Documented listed Koch Industries, Honeywell, Exxon Mobil, UPS, Chevron and Southwest Airlines as members or event sponsors, among several other corporate backers.
ALEC’s budget, provided largely by its corporate members and conservative wealthy individuals, according to Hertel-Fernandez, typically is about $10 million a year, records show.
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ALEC serves corporate and other right-wing interests, from fighting environmental regulations and slashing consumer protections to loosening gun restrictions. ALEC also adopted a policy aimed at repealing the 17th Amendment, which provides for the direct election of U.S. senators.
ALEC has also been active on voting and election issues, including redistricting and election administration with “an eye to boosting the political clout of conservatives over the long run,” Hertel-Fernandez told HuffPost. “They were an early proponent of voter ID laws and restrictions on voter registrations thought to disadvantage left-leaning constituencies.”
The group has also gone after union rights to “weaken the political left and the Democratic Party by taking out one of its strongest funders and grassroots mobilizers,” as well as trial lawyers. Attorneys are “another important backer of the Democratic Party and left-leaning causes in many states,” he explained
Trump, meanwhile, is willing to “outsource” much of the strategy and policy development to groups like ALEC to strengthen right-wing power, Hertel-Fernandez said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-31--‘Deadly Sins’ Ad Busts The Myth That Donald Trump Is A Religious Man

President Donald Trump ’ s attempts at positioning himself as a religious man are roundly debunked in a new ad from the progressive PAC MeidasTouch .
The 2-minute spot released Friday — titled “ Trump ’ s Deadly Sins ” ― shows how the president has repeatedly failed to adhere to the Ten Commandments .
“ Trump ’ s connection with religion is like his connection with reality –- it is nonexistent and he assaults it every day , ” the PAC wrote on its website .
In its first 12 hours online , the video was seen on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear if it will air on television .
Many of the anti-Trump ads released by the progressive group ― which was founded by attorney Ben Meiselas and his two brothers earlier this year ― have gone viral in recent weeks .
But the effect that their clips , and those released by other political groups , have on persuading swing voters is still up for debate .
Republican Voters Against Trump , meanwhile , closed its campaign to defeat the president on Tuesday with this video of rank-and-file Republicans endorsing Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Countless Republicans are putting country over party & voting for the candidate of character – @ JoeBiden .
Thank you to all Republicans who 've united against Trump , it 's been an honor amplifying your voices .
Airing on TV in swing states this weekend .
pic.twitter.com/rTl4hbZwkq — Republican Voters Against Trump ( @ RVAT2020 ) October 29 , 2020

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President Donald Trump’s attempts at positioning himself as a religious man are roundly debunked in a new ad from the progressive PAC MeidasTouch.
The 2-minute spot released Friday, titled “Trump’s Deadly Sins,” shows how the president has repeatedly failed to adhere to the Ten Commandments.
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“Trump’s connection with religion is like his connection with reality — it is nonexistent and he assaults it every day,” the PAC wrote on its website.
Check out the ad here:
In its first 12 hours online, the video was seen on Twitter more than 700,000 times. It’s unclear if it will air on television.
Many of the anti-Trump ads released by the progressive group ― which was founded by attorney Ben Meiselas and his brothers earlier this year ― have gone viral in recent weeks. But the effect that the online clips, and those released by other political groups, have on persuading swing voters is debatable.
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Republican Voters Against Trump, meanwhile, closed its campaign to defeat the president with this video of Republican voters endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-30--Trump 'Wall Of Lies' Resurrected In Manhattan After Vandalism

The new 100 ft. # WallOfLies in Manhattan is up !
You can see it at the northwest corner of @ @ @ @ @ Soho The opening reception will take place this Saturday , October 24th , from 12-5pm @ @ @ @ @ by Israeli-American rapper Kosha Dillz at 2pm .
We hope to see our friends , @ @ @ @ @ and then !

A mosaic of about 20,000 of President Donald Trump’s lies was reborn in SoHo in Manhattan earlier this week after vandals had defaced the original exhibit.
The public art “Wall of Lies,” which looks like a mass of multicolored Post-it Notes (they’re color-coded by subject), now covers a 100-foot-long section of cyclone fence, Time Out reported. All of the false or misleading statements by Trump since the start of his presidency in the exhibit were identified by Washington Post fact-checkers.
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The mosaic was initially displayed in Brooklyn outside independent Radio Free Brooklyn in Bushwick, but it was vandalized with pro-Trump slogans, including “Vote Trump or die” and “Stand back and stand by,” which was the president’s message to the Proud Boys hate group during his first debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) visited the wall in Brooklyn before it was defaced and picked out several lies about him.
NY Senator Chuck Schumer at the “Wall of Lies” today in Bushwick, Brooklyn, reading aloud some of Trump’s lies about him. @radiofreebk #walloflies pic.twitter.com/NYdNbXbb67 — Phil Buehler (@pwbuehler) October 5, 2020
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“Seen from a distance, it looks like chaos — perhaps an apt metaphor for this presidency,” Bushwick artist Phil Buehler told the Bushwick Daily. The work is a collaboration of Buehler and Tom Tenney, the executive director of Radio Free Brooklyn.
“But when you step closer, you can read the individual lies, which are in chronological order, color-coded by categories like coronavirus, Russia, immigration, the environment and jobs,” Buehler added. “Then when you step back, you can recognize patterns in Trump’s lying.”
The defaced wall of lies remains in the original site.
Creators held a fundraiser to remount the exhibit — at twice the size — in downtown Manhattan.
They're gonna need another wall
A massive mural featuring 20,000 of Trump's lies has been installed in Soho https://t.co/7xt999iQpL — Sebastian Roché (@sebroche) October 30, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-31--How This Woman Is Prepping People For The Worst-Case Scenarios At The Polls

Between a global pandemic , an economic crisis and a summer of mass demonstrations , there ’ s an unprecedented potential for strife and contention at the polls on Tuesday .
The country has already seen pockets of political violence this year with civil unrest and the presence of armed militia at Black Lives Matter protests .
President Donald Trump has undermined confidence in the voting system , sending out dark warnings to his supporters to go to polling sites and “ watch very carefully.
” Experts in political violence warn that the president ’ s directives are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves as soldiers in a civil war and have interpreted past comments from Trump as marching orders .
This summer , Thompson-Washington created the Voter Guardian Program , a nonpartisan initiative at the Center for Popular Democracy that trains people in de-escalation tactics .
So far , she has taught over 500 people how to interrupt harmful tensions and potential violence at the polls , and she has four more trainings to go before Election Day .
For example , if two people start to argue in line , the voter guardian will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody is driven away before all parties are able to vote .
If someone shows up without a mask and refuses to wear one for political reasons , a de-escalator will know how to isolate that person so everybody can vote safely .
If someone wears campaign paraphernalia at a polling site ( which is banned in many states ) or the police show up at the polls , the voter guardian will be trained in how to handle those situations .
Voter guardians should not be confused with poll monitors , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at the right polling place , have the correct identification and are not pushed to vote a provisional ballot when they qualify to vote a regular ballot .
Voter guardians are a supplement to that effort , helping poll monitors focus on their jobs by de-escalating any issues that arise before people get to cast their ballots .
The two-hour training program , which is offered remotely and in person , consists of three main parts .
The first orients folks on what voting is supposed to feel like .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s supposed to be simple and it ’ s supposed to be fast , ” Thompson-Washington said during a training session this week .
Lastly , the training lays out best practices on how to interact with law enforcement , including how to advocate for yourself and others .
The presence of uniformed officers at polling sites can feel like ― and historically has often been ― an attempt at voter intimidation .
There have already been concerns about police this year , including a uniformed Miami cop who showed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
Some voting rights activists believe de-escalation tactics will be critical to ensuring people are able to cast ballots on Nov. 3 .
Thompson-Washington said she even worries somewhat about more extreme situations like people weaponizing their coughs or bringing guns to a voting site .
And her worries seem justified after listening to Trump on the campaign trail .
The president ’ s rhetoric has set the stage for his followers to reject the election ’ s results unless he wins .
Besides repeatedly and falsely claiming that mail-in voting will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has called into question the integrity of in-person voting ― and effectively urged his supporters to engage in voter intimidation .
During the first presidential debate in late September , Trump told his fans “ to go into the polls and watch very carefully , ” a suggestion he also made in 2016 and 2018 .
The president ’ s son , Donald Trump Jr. , called for supporters to protect the integrity of all voting in a campaign video from September .
“ We need every able-bodied man , woman to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation at defendyourballot.com , ” Trump Jr. said in the video .
“ We need you to help us watch them .
Not just on Election Day , but also during early voting and at the counting boards .
President Trump is going to win .
Don ’ t let them steal it.
” So she added , “ What I ’ ve been trying to get across is the voter ’ s job is to go vote .
I want them to know that there are lots of people that have their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that their vote is counted as cast.
” “ We ’ re arming ourselves with knowledge and our constitutional rights .
It ’ s optimistic and sometimes idealistic , but we have to continue to maintain that energy because that ’ s the only way we ’ re going to win , ” she said .
“ And I don ’ t think winning is about who ’ s in the White House ; it ’ s about how we organize and strategize to use this moment to come together in @ @ @ @ @

Between a global pandemic, an economic crisis and a summer of mass demonstrations, there’s an unprecedented potential for strife and contention at the polls on Tuesday. The country has already seen pockets of political violence this year with civil unrest and the presence of armed militia at Black Lives Matter protests. President Donald Trump has undermined confidence in the voting system, sending out dark warnings to his supporters to go to polling sites and “watch very carefully.” Experts in political violence warn that the president’s directives are likely to influence far-right militia members, who view themselves as soldiers in a civil war and have interpreted past comments from Trump as marching orders.
While legal observers and law enforcement are grappling with all of this, people like Ría Thompson-Washington, a voting rights advocate and the national democracy manager at the Center for Popular Democracy, are leading a grassroots effort to de-escalate routine tensions that could arise on Election Day.
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The goal is to make sure that even if there are arguments about masks, police presence or other issues, people can still do what they came to the polls to do: vote.
This summer, Thompson-Washington created the Voter Guardian Program, a nonpartisan initiative at the Center for Popular Democracy that trains people in de-escalation tactics. So far, she has taught over 500 people how to interrupt harmful tensions and potential violence at the polls, and she has four more trainings to go before Election Day.
The Center for Popular Democracy hopes to deploy voter guardians to precincts across the country, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania and Florida and states with no statewide mask mandate like Georgia and Arizona.
“A de-escalator is trained in basic First Amendment work, like knowing how to interact with police, being able to speak articulately, and being able to de-escalate harm when it happens,” Thompson-Washington said.
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For example, if two people start to argue in line, the voter guardian will seek to defuse the situation so that nobody is driven away before all parties are able to vote. If someone shows up without a mask and refuses to wear one for political reasons, a de-escalator will know how to isolate that person so everybody can vote safely. If someone wears campaign paraphernalia at a polling site (which is banned in many states) or the police show up at the polls, the voter guardian will be trained in how to handle those situations.
Voter guardians should not be confused with poll monitors, whose job it is to ensure that voters are at the right polling place, have the correct identification and are not pushed to vote a provisional ballot when they qualify to vote a regular ballot. Voter guardians are a supplement to that effort, helping poll monitors focus on their jobs by de-escalating any issues that arise before people get to cast their ballots.
The two-hour training program, which is offered remotely and in person, consists of three main parts. The first orients folks on what voting is supposed to feel like. “It’s supposed to be boring, it’s supposed to be simple and it’s supposed to be fast,” Thompson-Washington said during a training session this week.
The second part is more introspective, asking participants to dissect how they personally process trauma and harm. Voter guardians need to understand their own triggers so they know how they’ll react when put in different situations, Thompson-Washington said.
Ría Thompson-Washington wears "Vote" socks while posing for a portrait at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, on Oct. 28, 2020. Lynsey Weatherspoon for HuffPost
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Lastly, the training lays out best practices on how to interact with law enforcement, including how to advocate for yourself and others. The presence of uniformed officers at polling sites can feel like ― and historically has often been ― an attempt at voter intimidation. There have already been concerns about police this year, including a uniformed Miami cop who showed up at a voting location wearing a pro-Trump mask.
After training participants break into groups and role-play several de-escalation scenarios. The Center for Popular Democracy later helps connect the new voter guardians to polling sites in their own states.
Some voting rights activists believe de-escalation tactics will be critical to ensuring people are able to cast ballots on Nov. 3. Thompson-Washington said she even worries somewhat about more extreme situations like people weaponizing their coughs or bringing guns to a voting site. And her worries seem justified after listening to Trump on the campaign trail.
The president’s rhetoric has set the stage for his followers to reject the election’s results unless he wins. Besides repeatedly and falsely claiming that mail-in voting will lead to widespread voter fraud, he has called into question the integrity of in-person voting ― and effectively urged his supporters to engage in voter intimidation. During the first presidential debate in late September, Trump told his fans “to go into the polls and watch very carefully,” a suggestion he also made in 2016 and 2018.
The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., called for supporters to protect the integrity of all voting in a campaign video from September. “We need every able-bodied man, woman to join Army for Trump’s election security operation at defendyourballot.com,” Trump Jr. said in the video. “We need you to help us watch them. Not just on Election Day, but also during early voting and at the counting boards. President Trump is going to win. Don’t let them steal it.”
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A recent joint report from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project and Militiawatch found that armed militia groups “pose a serious threat to the safety and security of American voters” this year, especially in swing states.
In the past, Trump’s attempts to galvanize his supporters to monitor polling sites haven’t lead to significant disruptions. That is why some voting advocates like Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections at the pro-democracy organization Common Cause, are cautious when describing what voters might face at the polls.
“The threat of violence ... in and of itself can be a deterrent to people. The continuing discussion and planning sort of adds to the tension,” Albert said.
So she added, “What I’ve been trying to get across is the voter’s job is to go vote. I want them to know that there are lots of people that have their back and are going to be working to ensure that their vote is counted as cast.”
Thompson-Washington wants people to understand the importance of voting and then to vote: “We’re arming ourselves with knowledge and our constitutional rights." Lynsey Weatherspoon for HuffPost
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Thompson-Washington said her ultimate goal is for people to understand the importance of voting and then to vote without barriers, including the kinds of situations she’s preparing volunteers to de-escalate.
“We’re arming ourselves with knowledge and our constitutional rights. It’s optimistic and sometimes idealistic, but we have to continue to maintain that energy because that’s the only way we’re going to win,” she said. “And I don’t think winning is about who’s in the White House; it’s about how we organize and strategize to use this moment to come together in our collective power.”
As a self-described queer AfroLatinX and Black Southerner, she grew up watching her mother cook big pots of gumbo and invite the neighbors over so she could help them with their taxes or workers’ compensation claims. Her mom wasn’t an accountant or a lawyer but she had a knack for numbers and loved helping people ― “the first community organizer I ever met,” Thompson-Washington said.
“Voting is the tool that we have to create the society that we want to live in,” she said. “I see this civic participation — this simple thing that should be so easy and boring — as a very direct means of making the change that I want in my life.”