thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--The Black Lives Matter Protests Are Working. Here's Proof.

In the weeks since police killed George Floyd in Minneapolis , nonstop protests across the U.S. have called out systemic racism and police brutality — and have already given rise to significant reckonings and policy changes in cities and companies nationwide .
Floyd , who was Black , was killed on May 25 when a white police officer , Derek Chauvin , knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes as Floyd pleaded , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” The demonstrations the following night in Minneapolis soon spread across the country and the world , as people took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black victims of police violence and an end to the status quo of racism and white supremacy .
Last week , former President Barack Obama compared the recent protests to those in the late 1960s civil rights era , calling this moment a “ sea change , ” adding that there ’ d been “ as much honest conversation in this country on the topic of race in the past week as has taken place in my living memory.
” Civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis ( D-Ga. ) echoed the sentiment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s protests , which have been largely led by young Black people , saying these would “ help redeem the soul of America.
” And so far , the Black Lives Matter protests — which built off years of work by BLM activists since 2013 , in the streets , in halls of government and educating the public — have spurred some significant changes .
From cities redirecting funding from police departments , to Confederate monuments coming down in droves , here are some of the steps toward racial justice and ending police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 16 days since protests began : Hundreds march with the Coalition of Black Youth in Boston on June 10 .
The protestors marched from Nubian Square to City Hall to urge Boston City Council to reallocate Boston police funding to youth jobs programs like SuccessLink , violence prevention , and to hire additional mental health counselors in Boston Public Schools .
Monuments to racists are being toppled .
Supporters of Black Lives Matter , hold signs during a protest outside the Hall of Justice as they demonstrate against the death of George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 10 , 2020 .
Protesters participating in a Black Lives Matter rally march to Downtown Pittsburgh from Mount Washington on June 7 to protest the death of George Floyd .
For activists out on the streets today and the movement for Black lives and racial justice more broadly , the work is far from over .
Much of these moves represent incremental change or simple promises of change , and fall far short of what activists are calling for .
For instance , while over a dozen cities are considering reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still the only one to go so far as to announce it will “ dismantle ” its police force , and it still has to develop a plan for what “ transformative public safety ” model will take its place .
But the changes are significant , part of a wave of new steps signaling that people are no longer tolerating the status quo on racial injustice , and once again showing that massive protests are an effective tool to galvanize the public ’ s collective voice to put pressure on those @ @ @ @ @ @

In the weeks since police killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, nonstop protests across the U.S. have called out systemic racism and police brutality — and have already given rise to significant reckonings and policy changes in cities and companies nationwide.
Floyd, who was Black, was killed on May 25 when a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” The demonstrations the following night in Minneapolis soon spread across the country and the world, as people took to the streets to demand justice for Black victims of police violence and an end to the status quo of racism and white supremacy.
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Last week, former President Barack Obama compared the recent protests to those in the late 1960s civil rights era, calling this moment a “sea change,” adding that there’d been “as much honest conversation in this country on the topic of race in the past week as has taken place in my living memory.” Civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) echoed the sentiment, praising the racial diversity of today’s protests, which have been largely led by young Black people, saying these would “help redeem the soul of America.”
And so far, the Black Lives Matter protests — which built off years of work by BLM activists since 2013, in the streets, in halls of government and educating the public — have spurred some significant changes.
From cities redirecting funding from police departments, to Confederate monuments coming down in droves, here are some of the steps toward racial justice and ending police brutality that we’ve seen in just 16 days since protests began:
A protester faces military police near the White House to protest the death of George Floyd, on June 3 in Washington, D.C. OLIVIER DOULIERY via Getty Images
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Police are being held accountable.
Hundreds march with the Coalition of Black Youth in Boston on June 10. The protestors marched from Nubian Square to City Hall to urge Boston City Council to reallocate Boston police funding to youth jobs programs like SuccessLink, violence prevention, and to hire additional mental health counselors in Boston Public Schools. Boston Globe via Getty Images
Cities are defunding police.
In Minneapolis, a veto-proof majority of city council members pledged earlier this week to “begin the process of ending” the city’s police department , seeking to instead invest in a “new transformative model for cultivating safety.” What such a model will look like in the city remains to be determined.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a proposal to cut the police department’s budget and shift the money to programs to help “communities of color.” The mayor said the exact amount will be determined with the city council as part of the budget process.
In Los Angeles, the city council introduced a proposal to redirect at least $100 million to $150 million from the LAPD budget to disadvantaged communities and communities of color. The mayor expressed support and pledged additional funds to support the Black community.
In San Francisco, city supervisors and the mayor together said they were committing to redirect part of the police department’s budget to serve the Black community. The amount has not yet been determined.
In Austin, Texas, city council voted to reduce the use of less-lethal force, including tear gas, and reduced funding for new police department hires.
Schools are cutting ties with police.
A statue of Confederacy President Jefferson Davis lies on the street after protesters pulled it down in Richmond, Virginia, on June 10. PARKER MICHELS-BOYCE via Getty Images
Monuments to racists are being toppled.
The tech industry is facing a reckoning.
Facebook, a company notorious for its inadequate oversight on false information or dangerous messaging spreading on its platform, is reviewing the policies that allowed President Donald Trump’s inflammatory “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” post to stay up. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has long been unwilling to budge on such issues, said he would reevaluate the policy after outraged employees staged a virtual walkout.
Reacting to the same violence-inciting language, Twitter put a warning label on one of Trump’s tweets for the first time. The warning, which obscured Trump’s tweet unless users clicked through, said the remarks “violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence” and the company had determined it “may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”
Snapchat announced it will no longer feature Trump’s account on its “Discover” page, saying it can’t promote accounts “linked to people who incite racial violence,” whether they post those comments on the Snapchat platform or elsewhere.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian announced he’s stepping down from the company’s board so that his seat could potentially be filled with a Black candidate. “There are too many white faces around the table,” he said.
Amazon is implementing a year-long moratorium on law enforcement’s use of “Rekognition,” the company’s facial recognition technology, after years of pitching the product to police departments. Law enforcement’s use of facial recognition technology can be abused and lead to mistaken identifications, critics say, and Congress has yet to implement regulations on its use.
Similarly, IBM is no longer offering facial recognition technology and vowed to oppose any use of such software by police forces for mass surveillance or racial profiling. Microsoft followed suit and said it will not sell facial recognition technology to the police.
Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey announced that Juneteenth will be a company holiday. The day, June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.
Driver Bubba Wallace wears a Black Lives Matter shirt as he prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on June 10 in Martinsville, Virginia. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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America’s sports leagues are facing a reckoning.
In a stunning vindication for football players who knelt during the national anthem, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confessed the league was wrong to try to stop their peaceful police brutality protests. “We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” Goodell said.
Following the NFL, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted to repeal an official policy requiring players to stand during the national anthem. “Black Lives Matter. We can do more and we will,” the board said.
NASCAR announced that it would ban the display of the Confederate flag at all its events and properties. The hate symbol is a near-ubiquitous sight at events held by NASCAR, which has a predominately white fan base and whose officials are steadfast Trump supporters.
Major American companies are facing a reckoning.
After hundreds of Adidas workers walked off the job to protest their employer’s lack of support for Black employees, the athletic company committed to fill a minimum of 30% of new positions with Black or Latinx people.
Like Twitter and Square, Nike announced it will recognize Juneteenth as a company holiday .
Walmart announced it would stop placing “multicultural hair care and beauty products” in locked cases in any of its stores. The practice has long been criticized as implying that the customer base for those products, which is largely Black, is more likely to shoplift.
The CEO and founder of The Wing, a women-centered co-working space, stepped down as dozens of employees staged a digital walkout, saying the company “doesn’t practice the intersectional feminism it preaches.”
Supporters of Black Lives Matter, hold signs during a protest outside the Hall of Justice as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd, in Los Angeles, California on June 10, 2020. MARK RALSTON via Getty Images
News media is facing a reckoning.
The New York Times’ editorial page editor James Bennet resigned after widespread backlash to an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that advocated for military action against anti-racism protesters.
On Monday, Bon Appétit magazine’s editor-in-chief stepped down after a photo of him wearing brownface resurfaced and staffers of color publicly criticized the company’s treatment of people of color. Two days later, the magazine apologized for being “too white” and promised changes.
After mounting requests from staff to improve diversity, the Los Angeles Times editor reportedly committed to hiring Black reporters as the next to come on board in the Metro section.
Refinery 29 editor-in-chief Christene Barberich resigned after many former staff members, including several Black employees, came forward to speak about racism they experienced working at the website.
Entertainment is facing a reckoning.
Paramount Network canceled “Cops,” one of the longest-running shows on TV that embeds camera crews with officers as they pursue and arrest suspects, sometimes in humiliating fashions. Since the show started in 1989, critics have pointed out that it’s racially skewed to show more Black arrests and that cops on the show sometimes coerce people they arrest into signing release forms to appear on the show.
A&E canceled “Live PD,” one of the highest-rated shows on cable. Similarly to “Cops,” the show followed real officers and offered a one-sided look at policing from the perspective of law enforcement.
Bravo TV fired two cast members from “Vanderpump Rules,” one of its highest-rated shows, after it came to light that two longtime stars of the reality show, Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, had falsely reported a Black guest star on the show to the police. Bravo also fired two of the show’s other cast members who were exposed for racist tweets several months ago.
The CW network fired Hartley Sawyer, one of the stars of “The Flash,” after he was exposed for writing racist and misogynistic tweets .
The Grammys music awards announced plans to rebrand its “Best Urban Contemporary Album” category. The term “urban” has been criticized as an outdated and stereotyped way to categorize music produced by Black artists.
Country music band Lady Antebellum changed its name to Lady A, apologizing to fans for the ties its name had to the Civil War and slavery.
Lifetime canceled an upcoming reality show with “Dance Moms” star Abby Lee Miller after she was accused of making a racist statement to one of the young girls on her show.
Protesters participating in a Black Lives Matter rally march to Downtown Pittsburgh from Mount Washington on June 7 to protest the death of George Floyd. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Public opinion has shifted.
For activists out on the streets today and the movement for Black lives and racial justice more broadly, the work is far from over. Much of these moves represent incremental change or simple promises of change, and fall far short of what activists are calling for. For instance, while over a dozen cities are considering reducing police budgets, Minneapolis’ city council is still the only one to go so far as to announce it will “dismantle” its police force, and it still has to develop a plan for what “transformative public safety” model will take its place.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Amid Racial Justice Marches, GOP Advances Trump Court Pick Hostile To Civil Rights

Tom Williams via Getty Images Cory T. Wilson , nominee to be U.S. circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals , testifies during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on May 20 .
WASHINGTON ― In the middle of a national reckoning on racial justice , the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance a judicial nominee with a long record of hostility toward civil and voting rights .
Every Republican on the committee voted to send the nomination of Cory Wilson to the full Senate for his confirmation vote .
Every Democrat opposed him .
But given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , as millions of Americans march and protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd ’ s killing , Wilson ’ s record on voting rights and voter suppression is particularly glaring .
In a 2011 op-ed , Wilson dismissed the NAACP ’ s concerns about a proposed Mississippi voter ID law as “ poppycock.
” He ripped the Justice Department in 2013 for sending election observers to the state , which has a long history of voter suppression and intimidation , and instead suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ voter fraud.
” He similarly dismissed the Obama administration ’ s concern about voter suppression in a 2012 op-ed : “ The Rachel Maddows of the media world have joined the chorus of ‘ voter suppression ’ right on cue from Team Obama .
This is as phony as the ‘ war on women.
’ ” Wilson has also described President Barack Obama as ” King Barack , ” ” petty and small ” and ” a fit-throwing teenager.
” And when then-Attorney General Eric Holder discussed why he opposed voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a 2013 op-ed , “ Holder whined , like many liberals , that voter ID laws are part of an illegitimate , orchestrated effort by Republicans to suppress poor and minority voting.
” “ His record is an antithesis to what the American people are marching for and demanding right now , ” said Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) during Thursday ’ s hearing .
“ His record is extremely problematic at this moment in time , especially when given just this week , we saw voter suppression in Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hours-long lines in primarily Black and brown communities , ” Harris continued , referring to the state ’ s disastrous election on Tuesday .
“ Wilson should not be confirmed to this judicial vacancy at this moment in our history.
” Republicans didn ’ t say much of anything as Democrats , one by one , raised concerns with Wilson ’ s record and said they would be voting no .
His record is an antithesis to what the American people are marching for and demanding right now .
In a May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and CEO Derrick Johnson said it is a particular affront to the people of Mississippi , a state with a high percentage of African Americans , that Wilson would preside over voting rights cases in the state .
The 5th Circuit hears appeals from district courts in Mississippi , Louisiana and Texas .
“ Judges serving on those courts must have respect for the rule of law and for the advances our nation has made in ensuring equal justice for all , ” said Johnson .
“ Cory Wilson wholly lacks these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sit in judgment of the rights of residents within this critical circuit in the Deep South.
” Despite his critics , Wilson is expected to be confirmed given that Republicans control the Senate and none have signaled opposition to him .

Cory T. Wilson, nominee to be U.S. circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, testifies during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on May 20. Tom Williams via Getty Images
WASHINGTON ― In the middle of a national reckoning on racial justice, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance a judicial nominee with a long record of hostility toward civil and voting rights.
Every Republican on the committee voted to send the nomination of Cory Wilson to the full Senate for his confirmation vote. Every Democrat opposed him.
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Wilson, 49, is up for a lifetime seat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
But given the timing of the committee’s vote, as millions of Americans march and protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, Wilson’s record on voting rights and voter suppression is particularly glaring.
In a 2011 op-ed, Wilson dismissed the NAACP’s concerns about a proposed Mississippi voter ID law as “poppycock.” He ripped the Justice Department in 2013 for sending election observers to the state, which has a long history of voter suppression and intimidation, and instead suggested federal officials go after incredibly rare cases of “voter fraud.”
He similarly dismissed the Obama administration’s concern about voter suppression in a 2012 op-ed: “The Rachel Maddows of the media world have joined the chorus of ‘voter suppression’ right on cue from Team Obama. This is as phony as the ‘war on women.’”
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Wilson has also described President Barack Obama as ”King Barack,” ”petty and small” and ”a fit-throwing teenager.” And when then-Attorney General Eric Holder discussed why he opposed voter ID laws in 2012, Wilson wrote in a 2013 op-ed, “Holder whined, like many liberals, that voter ID laws are part of an illegitimate, orchestrated effort by Republicans to suppress poor and minority voting.”
“His record is an antithesis to what the American people are marching for and demanding right now,” said Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) during Thursday’s hearing.
“His record is extremely problematic at this moment in time, especially when given just this week, we saw voter suppression in Georgia, including limited ballots, voting machines down and hours-long lines in primarily Black and brown communities,” Harris continued, referring to the state’s disastrous election on Tuesday. “Wilson should not be confirmed to this judicial vacancy at this moment in our history.”
Republicans didn’t say much of anything as Democrats, one by one, raised concerns with Wilson’s record and said they would be voting no.
“His record is an antithesis to what the American people are marching for and demanding right now.” - Sen. Kamala Harris
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In a May letter of opposition to Wilson, NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said it is a particular affront to the people of Mississippi, a state with a high percentage of African Americans, that Wilson would preside over voting rights cases in the state. The 5th Circuit hears appeals from district courts in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
“Judges serving on those courts must have respect for the rule of law and for the advances our nation has made in ensuring equal justice for all,” said Johnson. “Cory Wilson wholly lacks these essential qualities and also the requisite temperament to sit in judgment of the rights of residents within this critical circuit in the Deep South.”
Despite his critics, Wilson is expected to be confirmed given that Republicans control the Senate and none have signaled opposition to him.
His confirmation vote could come as soon as next week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--With DACA In Peril, Black Dreamers Are Hoping For Equality And The Ability To Stay

But that doesn ’ t mean she isn ’ t thinking about it .
Daisy , who is Black , has been to three protests against police brutality in the wake of Floyd ’ s death .
But as she opposes racism , she ’ s also immersed in another harrowing struggle : Daisy is an undocumented immigrant , and she ’ s waiting to see if the Supreme Court will upend her life .
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling this month on whether President Donald Trump can cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 650,000 undocumented immigrants to live and work in the United States .
Those individuals have been waiting for this decision for years ― from when Trump announced an end to the program in September 2017 , to when a lower court blocked his action soon after , to when the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in November 2019 .
While there are no official statistics on the ethnicity of DACA recipients , there are likely thousands of Black people with that status .
About 11,000 DACA recipients came from countries where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the U.S. are Black .
Like Daisy , many of them are balancing the agonizing wait for a Supreme Court ruling with a suddenly front-and-center movement against anti-Black racism ― not to mention a global pandemic .
Daisy came to the U.S. in May 2001 when she was 5 years old .
She only faintly recalls the journey from East Africa to Minnesota .
Her family stopped in Europe and then Chicago , finally arriving in Minneapolis , where she remains still after 19 years .
On Sept. 5 , 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her senior year at the University of Minnesota , the Trump administration announced it would be ending DACA .
Daisy remembers that day well .
She listened to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions make the announcement .
She recalls going into a study room on campus and , much to her surprise , starting to cry .
“ When I thought things through , I gathered myself and I told myself I would not let this bring me down , ” she said .
“ That is what I remember from that day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on with the DACA has motivated me to continue with my education , and it just reminded me that I am doing everything for a purpose , and that ’ s for the benefit of my community.
” The DACA program isn ’ t perfect , Daisy noted .
It applies only to those who came to the U.S. before their 16th birthday , were under the age of 31 when the program was created , and don ’ t have certain criminal records ― which leaves out many undocumented immigrants .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her life .
Without it , she wouldn ’ t be able to work legally and could lose her driver ’ s license .
Getting around in Minnesota without a driver ’ s license ― particularly in the winter ― wouldn ’ t be feasible .
She ’ s not sure what she ’ d do .
It ’ s not known how the Supreme Court will rule or how that decision will play out .
Even if the justices hold that the president can end DACA , it ’ s likely recipients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their latest renewal period , and Congress might step in .
Democratic lawmakers , along with some Republicans , have pushed for a path to citizenship for Dreamers for years , without success .
Trump has voiced support for helping the Dreamers , but has always tied it to measures like a border wall , restrictions on asylum and other causes that immigrant advocacy groups oppose .
“ For me being a Black woman , it ’ s hard because the world sees my blackness first and then they see my immigration status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those two ways : as a Black person and as a DACA recipient , ” she said .
“ To get my voice heard , it is difficult.
” Many undocumented activists have taken up the Black Lives Matter cause .
United We Dream , a nationwide network of advocacy groups for undocumented young people , put together a resource guide for people joining protests and posted another guide on how non-Black undocumented young people can be allies to Black people in talking to their own families .
Other immigrant rights groups have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the cause safely .
One concern for undocumented immigrants is the presence of law enforcement from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the Customs and Border Protection agency at some protests .
An ICE spokeswoman told Roll Call that the agency was supporting local police and that its policy against enforcement at sensitive locations , including protests , was in effect .
Democrats in Congress wrote to the Department of Homeland Security on June 5 to demand more information about the presence of ICE and CBP at protests .
They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office of Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , one of the leaders on the letter .
Daisy herself has been working to support the movement .
Along with attending protests , she ’ s been volunteering in her community to help struggling local business owners and to serve at pop-up locations where people can donate food and clothing for those in need .
Being at the protests and seeing how many people are engaged has given her hope for positive change .

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photos: Getty
Daisy hasn’t watched the video of a police officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. She lives just outside Minneapolis and frequently goes to the area where the incident happened, and she doesn’t want to be reminded of it every time she’s nearby.
But that doesn’t mean she isn’t thinking about it. Daisy, who is Black, has been to three protests against police brutality in the wake of Floyd’s death. But as she opposes racism, she’s also immersed in another harrowing struggle: Daisy is an undocumented immigrant, and she’s waiting to see if the Supreme Court will upend her life.
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The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling this month on whether President Donald Trump can cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which allows about 650,000 undocumented immigrants to live and work in the United States. Those individuals have been waiting for this decision for years ― from when Trump announced an end to the program in September 2017, to when a lower court blocked his action soon after, to when the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in November 2019.
While there are no official statistics on the ethnicity of DACA recipients, there are likely thousands of Black people with that status. About 11,000 DACA recipients came from countries where a majority of the emigrants who leave for the U.S. are Black. Like Daisy, many of them are balancing the agonizing wait for a Supreme Court ruling with a suddenly front-and-center movement against anti-Black racism ― not to mention a global pandemic.
Daisy, whose last name is being withheld due to privacy and safety concerns, said she keeps an eye on news from the Supreme Court every Monday through DACA advocacy groups. For weeks, there’s been no decision.
“Then we have six more days to breathe,” she said. “And then when Monday hits again, we will receive more news.”
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The Journey To DACA
Daisy came to the U.S. in May 2001 when she was 5 years old. She only faintly recalls the journey from East Africa to Minnesota. Her family stopped in Europe and then Chicago, finally arriving in Minneapolis, where she remains still after 19 years.
In 2012, President Barack Obama announced the DACA program. It allows certain undocumented people who came to the U.S. before the age of 16, often referred to as Dreamers, to stay under temporary permits and to work legally.
Daisy applied and became a DACA recipient at the age of 17 just as she was getting ready to embark on her college career. Along with two siblings who also are DACA recipients, Daisy had security in her future.
That security was short-lived.
On Sept. 5, 2017, the first day of the fall semester of her senior year at the University of Minnesota, the Trump administration announced it would be ending DACA. Daisy remembers that day well. She listened to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions make the announcement. She recalls going into a study room on campus and, much to her surprise, starting to cry.
“I thought I wouldn’t get emotional, but I did get emotional,” Daisy said. “I ended up crying. This is a very emotional thing ― it takes a toll on people when it feels like people are playing with your future essentially.”
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Despite the newly heavy weight of uncertainty and even fear for the future, she went forward.
“When I thought things through, I gathered myself and I told myself I would not let this bring me down,” she said. “That is what I remember from that day. But everything that has been going on with the DACA has motivated me to continue with my education, and it just reminded me that I am doing everything for a purpose, and that’s for the benefit of my community.”
The DACA program isn’t perfect, Daisy noted. It applies only to those who came to the U.S. before their 16th birthday, were under the age of 31 when the program was created, and don’t have certain criminal records ― which leaves out many undocumented immigrants.
“I don’t want to forget those people. They matter just as much as I do, and I am not more important than they are,” Daisy said.
Still, DACA has allowed Daisy to live her life. Without it, she wouldn’t be able to work legally and could lose her driver’s license. Getting around in Minnesota without a driver’s license ― particularly in the winter ― wouldn’t be feasible. She’s not sure what she’d do.
It’s not known how the Supreme Court will rule or how that decision will play out. Even if the justices hold that the president can end DACA, it’s likely recipients will be able to keep protections through their latest renewal period, and Congress might step in. Democratic lawmakers, along with some Republicans, have pushed for a path to citizenship for Dreamers for years, without success. Trump has voiced support for helping the Dreamers, but has always tied it to measures like a border wall, restrictions on asylum and other causes that immigrant advocacy groups oppose.
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“There’s been a lot of anxiety around whether or not we are gonna have DACA,” Daisy said.
Supporting Black Lives Matter
Black undocumented immigrants are often overlooked, Daisy noted, because people think of the issue as being primarily about rights for Latinos.
“For me being a Black woman, it’s hard because the world sees my blackness first and then they see my immigration status second, so I am oppressed in those two ways: as a Black person and as a DACA recipient,” she said. “To get my voice heard, it is difficult.”
Many undocumented activists have taken up the Black Lives Matter cause. United We Dream, a nationwide network of advocacy groups for undocumented young people, put together a resource guide for people joining protests and posted another guide on how non-Black undocumented young people can be allies to Black people in talking to their own families. Other immigrant rights groups have similarly collected resources to help undocumented protesters support the cause safely.
“We must be unequivocal when we say that Black lives matter,” Cristina Jiménez, executive director and co-founder of United We Dream, said in a statement. “It must mean that we are actively working to combat the White Supremacy that makes Black people plead for their humanity.”
One concern for undocumented immigrants is the presence of law enforcement from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the Customs and Border Protection agency at some protests. An ICE spokeswoman told Roll Call that the agency was supporting local police and that its policy against enforcement at sensitive locations, including protests, was in effect. Democrats in Congress wrote to the Department of Homeland Security on June 5 to demand more information about the presence of ICE and CBP at protests. They have not received a response, according to the office of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), one of the leaders on the letter.
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CBP personnel have deployed to the National Capital Region to assist law enforcement partners. These “protests” have devolved into chaos & acts of domestic terrorism by groups of radicals & agitators. @CBP is answering the call and will work to keep DC safe. pic.twitter.com/QLueFkgaPO — CBP Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) June 1, 2020
Daisy herself has been working to support the movement. Along with attending protests, she’s been volunteering in her community to help struggling local business owners and to serve at pop-up locations where people can donate food and clothing for those in need. Being at the protests and seeing how many people are engaged has given her hope for positive change.
“With everything going on, on Chicago and 38th, it really gives me hope that people are out there who do care and who won’t turn a blind eye when there is an injustice,” Daisy said.
Although she feels exhausted and overwhelmed these days, she said she plans to continue advocating for herself and others.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--EPA Said Giving Polluters A Pass Protected Its Workers. Its Own Union Says That’s Gaslighting.

Yet now the union representing the agency ’ s own workers say the Trump administration is putting them at risk by rushing to reopen federal offices , even as the White House looks to codify the leniency it gave polluters .
In a letter sent to Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
, the EPA said its order in late March to temporarily stop policing pollution “ appropriately balances ” the need to keep essential services running with steps necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 .
“ EPA is mindful of the health and safety of the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , and co-regulators , ” Joseph Brazauskas Jr. , an associate administrator at the agency , wrote in the May 8 letter , responding to the senator ’ s inquiry from a month earlier .
“ EPA is taking these important considerations into account as we all continue our work to protect human health and the environment.
” The letter , which HuffPost obtained , listed steps the agency took to encourage employees to work remotely , and said it was “ evaluating options to provide as much flexibility to our employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work and family responsibilities.
” But the union that represents EPA employees said the agency only made it more difficult to telework when management unilaterally imposed a labor contract on employees almost a year ago .
The American Federation of Government Employees Council 238 , which represents nearly 7,500 federal workers including much of the EPA , said the agency is now charging ahead to reopen regional offices .
“ Lord forgive me , but you can ’ t pee on my leg and tell me it ’ s raining , ” union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the EPA who left the agency last November , said by phone Wednesday .
Citing concerns for workers as a reason to stop enforcement , he said , amounts to gaslighting .
EPA enforcement of anti-pollution rules fell 22 % between 2018 and 2019 alone , part of a yearslong downward trend since President Donald Trump took office vowing to gut the agency .
“ This is the same administration that has historically cut our budget , defunded us , put up obstacles to doing our work and called us ‘ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drained , ’ ” Morton said .
Defanging enforcement during the pandemic , he added , is “ an attempt to cover up what the administration wanted to do from the very beginning.
” In a statement emailed to HuffPost , the EPA said it held “ seven formal briefings with its unions over the span of 11 weeks to discuss the agency ’ s status and plans for reopening.
” The unions , it said , ” have been regularly informed as the agency moves through its rolling reopening , and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging employees to continue to telework , even in the first phases of reopening.
” “ Employees continue to have maximum telework flexibilities and will not be forced to return to the office as EPA begins its measured and deliberate approach to reopening that ensures our employees ’ health and safety , ” the statement read .
But the Trump administration has charged ahead with more efforts to slash regulations during the pandemic , particularly at the EPA .
This month , the agency finalized a reinterpretation of a Clean Water Act rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reject pipeline permits .
The EPA advanced its widely condemned “ science transparency ” rule , which aims to severely restrict the use of many epidemiological studies that used anonymized health data ― a common practice to preserve subjects ’ medical privacy ― in the agency ’ s rulemaking process , giving industry-funded research more credence .
Just last week , the president signed an executive order allowing companies to bypass key environmental reviews on mines , highways , pipelines and other infrastructure projects .

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The Environmental Protection Agency defended its controversial decision to halt enforcement of bedrock anti-pollution laws amid the coronavirus pandemic on the grounds that doing so protected workers and offered flexibility to companies facing staffing shortages.
Yet now the union representing the agency’s own workers say the Trump administration is putting them at risk by rushing to reopen federal offices, even as the White House looks to codify the leniency it gave polluters.
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In a letter sent to Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, the EPA said its order in late March to temporarily stop policing pollution “appropriately balances” the need to keep essential services running with steps necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“EPA is mindful of the health and safety of the public, as well as workers, EPA staff, and co-regulators,” Joseph Brazauskas Jr., an associate administrator at the agency, wrote in the May 8 letter, responding to the senator’s inquiry from a month earlier. “EPA is taking these important considerations into account as we all continue our work to protect human health and the environment.”
The letter, which HuffPost obtained, listed steps the agency took to encourage employees to work remotely, and said it was “evaluating options to provide as much flexibility to our employees as possible so that they can balance work and family responsibilities.”
A gas-burning power plant in Oregon. Education Images via Getty Images
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But the union that represents EPA employees said the agency only made it more difficult to telework when management unilaterally imposed a labor contract on employees almost a year ago. The American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents nearly 7,500 federal workers including much of the EPA, said the agency is now charging ahead to reopen regional offices.
“Lord forgive me, but you can’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining,” union president Gary Morton, a 26-year veteran at the EPA who left the agency last November, said by phone Wednesday.
Citing concerns for workers as a reason to stop enforcement, he said, amounts to gaslighting. EPA enforcement of anti-pollution rules fell 22% between 2018 and 2019 alone, part of a yearslong downward trend since President Donald Trump took office vowing to gut the agency.
“This is the same administration that has historically cut our budget, defunded us, put up obstacles to doing our work and called us ‘the swamp’ ― something to be ‘drained,’” Morton said. Defanging enforcement during the pandemic, he added, is “an attempt to cover up what the administration wanted to do from the very beginning.”
The agency said its order meant “nobody is allowed to increase their emissions under our enforcement discretion.”
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“Lord forgive me, but you can’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.” - American Federation of Government Employees Council 238 President Gary Morton
But morale, Morton said, was so low workers at the agency began demanding the EPA adopt an employees’ “bill of rights” earlier this year.
In a statement emailed to HuffPost, the EPA said it held “seven formal briefings with its unions over the span of 11 weeks to discuss the agency’s status and plans for reopening.” The unions, it said, ”have been regularly informed as the agency moves through its rolling reopening, and in fact, they know that we are encouraging employees to continue to telework, even in the first phases of reopening.”
“Employees continue to have maximum telework flexibilities and will not be forced to return to the office as EPA begins its measured and deliberate approach to reopening that ensures our employees’ health and safety,” the statement read.
But the Trump administration has charged ahead with more efforts to slash regulations during the pandemic, particularly at the EPA. This month, the agency finalized a reinterpretation of a Clean Water Act rule, making it harder for states to reject pipeline permits. The EPA advanced its widely condemned “science transparency” rule, which aims to severely restrict the use of many epidemiological studies that used anonymized health data ― a common practice to preserve subjects’ medical privacy ― in the agency’s rulemaking process, giving industry-funded research more credence. Just last week, the president signed an executive order allowing companies to bypass key environmental reviews on mines, highways, pipelines and other infrastructure projects.
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Already, states received a tsunami of requests for environmental waivers based on dubious claims of COVID-19 impact, according to an analysis NPR published this week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-12--Don Lemon: Donald Trump Just Said ‘The Dumbest Thing I’ve Ever Heard’

CNN ’ s Don Lemon on Thursday hammered President Donald Trump for what he called “ the dumbest thing I ’ ve ever heard.
” Lemon condemned the president for claiming , in a roundtable event on police reform in Dallas , that officers were “ dominating the street with compassion ” during anti-racism protests that have spread nationwide following last month ’ s police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
“ What is dominating the street with compassion ?
” Lemon asked viewers .
“ Think about that.
” Lemon then reeled off a long list of ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations ― from gassing peaceful protesters so he could carry out a photo-op to spreading false conspiracy theories .
Republicans and Trump ’ s supporters also drew Lemon ’ s venom , as the CNN anchor accused them of being complicit .
Earlier in his “ CNN Tonight ” show , Lemon described Trump as a “ relic ” for appearing to deny that racism exists .
“ This president , I don ’ t really care what he says about race , because he is the birther-in-chief .
He is the sons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries-in-chief , ” Lemon said .
“ I don ’ t care what he has to say about race because it ’ s irrelevant .
It ’ s ignorant anyway .
So , you know , whatever .
All I can do is call him out on his ignorance.
” President Trump says we ’ re going to fight racism “ very easily ” and “ quickly.
” “ Wow .
I wish that was true .
Except that it has been 400 years after the first enslaved black people were forcibly brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and oppression.
” - CNN ’ s @ DonLemon pic.twitter.com/5yzx33szLY — CNN Tonight ( @ CNNTonight ) June 12 , 2020

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CNN’s Don Lemon on Thursday hammered President Donald Trump for what he called “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Lemon condemned the president for claiming, in a roundtable event on police reform in Dallas, that officers were “dominating the street with compassion” during anti-racism protests that have spread nationwide following last month’s police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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“What is dominating the street with compassion?” Lemon asked viewers. “Think about that.”
Lemon then reeled off a long list of ways Trump has not shown compassion amid the demonstrations ― from gassing peaceful protesters so he could carry out a photo-op to spreading false conspiracy theories.
Republicans and Trump’s supporters also drew Lemon’s venom, as the CNN anchor accused them of being complicit.
Earlier in his “CNN Tonight” show, Lemon described Trump as a “relic” for appearing to deny that racism exists.
“This president, I don’t really care what he says about race, because he is the birther-in-chief. He is the sons of bitches-in-chief. He is the shithole countries-in-chief,” Lemon said. “I don’t care what he has to say about race because it’s irrelevant. It’s ignorant anyway. So, you know, whatever. All I can do is call him out on his ignorance.”
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Check out Lemon’s monologue here:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Trump Campaign Says You Can't Sue If You Get COVID-19 At His Rally

Those registering for President Donald Trump ’ s massive rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , next week will notice a message on his campaign website when they sign up : You may contract COVID-19 at the rally , but it ’ s not Trump ’ s fault .
The legal disclaimer is the closest Trump has come in weeks to acknowledging that the coronavirus is still rapidly spreading across much of the country .
The number of cases leapt past 2 million this week while outbreaks grow in 21 states and more than a dozen see record surges .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to holding rallies on June 19 , a day recognized as the end of slavery in the U.S .
The Tulsa rally venue ― an indoor arena with a 19,000-person capacity ― is a prime breeding ground for the virus to spread , especially if basic safety measures aren ’ t put into effect .
In its message to registrants , the Trump campaign says catching the virus is “ an inherent risk ” of attending By clicking register below , you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present .
By attending the Rally , you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President , Inc. ; BOK Center ; ASM Global ; or any of their affiliates , directors , officers , employees , agents , contractors , or volunteers liable for any illness or injury .
By agreeing not to hold Trump or others involved in the event liable if they get sick , attendees waive their right to sue .
“ We are looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind President Trump , ” Michael Glassner , the Trump campaign ’ s chief operating officer , said in a statement announcing the rally .
The registration page doesn ’ t note any social distancing guidelines that will be in effect at the rally and does not note that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear masks indoors when it ’ s difficult to keep a safe distance from others .
People at Trump ’ s rallies are generally packed shoulder to shoulder .
Though cases , hospitalizations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states that have reopened their economies , Trump hasn ’ t changed his tune on the dangers of the pandemic and insists that everything is under control .
Bucking guidance from the CDC and those on his own coronavirus task force , Trump rarely wears a mask in public and has scheduled more rallies in states that are struggling to contain the virus .

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Those registering for President Donald Trump’s massive rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next week will notice a message on his campaign website when they sign up: You may contract COVID-19 at the rally, but it’s not Trump’s fault.
The legal disclaimer is the closest Trump has come in weeks to acknowledging that the coronavirus is still rapidly spreading across much of the country. The number of cases leapt past 2 million this week while outbreaks grow in 21 states and more than a dozen see record surges.
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But that isn’t stopping his return to holding rallies on June 19, a day recognized as the end of slavery in the U.S. The Tulsa rally venue ― an indoor arena with a 19,000-person capacity ― is a prime breeding ground for the virus to spread, especially if basic safety measures aren’t put into effect. In its message to registrants, the Trump campaign says catching the virus is “an inherent risk” of attending
By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By attending the Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.
By agreeing not to hold Trump or others involved in the event liable if they get sick, attendees waive their right to sue.
“We are looking forward to the tremendous crowds and enthusiasm behind President Trump,” Michael Glassner, the Trump campaign’s chief operating officer, said in a statement announcing the rally.
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The registration page doesn’t note any social distancing guidelines that will be in effect at the rally and does not note that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear masks indoors when it’s difficult to keep a safe distance from others. People at Trump’s rallies are generally packed shoulder to shoulder.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Trump Defends Racist Phrase By Citing Philadelphia's Infamous ‘Vote White’ Mayor

President Donald Trump attempted to defend his use of the incendiary phrase “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” which he used last month as a threat to those protesting the police killing of George Floyd .
But in his defense , he cited former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo , who once urged his city to “ vote white.
” Harris Faulkner of Fox News on Thursday explained to Trump that the phrase about looting and shooting comes from former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley , who used it as a threat against civil rights protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence against the demonstrators .
“ We don ’ t mind being accused of police brutality , ” Headley said at the time .
“ They haven ’ t seen anything yet.
” Faulkner , who is Black , told Trump his use of the same phrase “ frightened a lot of people.
” But Trump insisted he didn ’ t hear it from Headley but rather other places , and he cited the “ very tough ” ex-mayor of Philadelphia , who died in 1991 .
“ He had an expression like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense .
“ I ’ ve heard it many times.
” The expression Rizzo is best known for , however , came from a 1978 campaign event .
“ I ’ m asking white people and Blacks who think like me to vote like Frank Rizzo , ” he said .
“ I say vote white.
” Trump also claimed that he didn ’ t mean looters would be shot , only that looting leads to shooting .
“ That ’ s not as a threat .
That ’ s really just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
FAULKNER : When the looting starts , the shooting starts .
Why those words ?
TRUMP : So that ’ s an expression I ’ ve heard over the years and it— FAULKNER : Do you know where it comes from ?
TRUMP : I think Philadelphia , the mayor of Philadelphia— FAULKNER : No .
It comes from 1967. pic.twitter.com/bOLWvYvYV3 — JM Rieger ( @ RiegerReport ) June 11 , 2020 A statue of Rizzo outside Philadelphia ’ s City Hall , reviled by many as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests this week and ultimately removed .
W. Wilson Goode , who defeated Rizzo in a primary to become the city ’ s first Black mayor in 1984 , said in 2017 that Rizzo was “ the first coming of Donald Trump.
” “ He was , in my view , someone who appealed to people who were basic racists ; people who saw Frank Rizzo as their protection from Black people , ” he told the Philadelphia Tribune .
“ People who voted for him thought he was going to keep immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

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President Donald Trump attempted to defend his use of the incendiary phrase “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” which he used last month as a threat to those protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
But in his defense, he cited former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, who once urged his city to “vote white.”
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Harris Faulkner of Fox News on Thursday explained to Trump that the phrase about looting and shooting comes from former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley, who used it as a threat against civil rights protesters in the 1960s as he openly encouraged violence against the demonstrators.
“We don’t mind being accused of police brutality,” Headley said at the time. “They haven’t seen anything yet.”
Faulkner, who is Black, told Trump his use of the same phrase “frightened a lot of people.”
But Trump insisted he didn’t hear it from Headley but rather other places, and he cited the “very tough” ex-mayor of Philadelphia, who died in 1991.
“He had an expression like that,” Trump said in his defense. “I’ve heard it many times.”
The expression Rizzo is best known for, however, came from a 1978 campaign event.
“I’m asking white people and Blacks who think like me to vote like Frank Rizzo,” he said. “I say vote white.”
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Trump also claimed that he didn’t mean looters would be shot, only that looting leads to shooting.
“That’s not as a threat. That’s really just a fact because that’s what happens,” he said.
FAULKNER: When the looting starts, the shooting starts. Why those words?
TRUMP: So that’s an expression I’ve heard over the years and it—
FAULKNER: Do you know where it comes from?
TRUMP: I think Philadelphia, the mayor of Philadelphia—
FAULKNER: No. It comes from 1967. pic.twitter.com/bOLWvYvYV3 — JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) June 11, 2020
A statue of Rizzo outside Philadelphia’s City Hall, reviled by many as a symbol of racism, was vandalized during protests this week and ultimately removed.
Trump has at times drawn comparisons to Rizzo, especially in Philadelphia.
W. Wilson Goode, who defeated Rizzo in a primary to become the city’s first Black mayor in 1984, said in 2017 that Rizzo was “the first coming of Donald Trump.”
“He was, in my view, someone who appealed to people who were basic racists; people who saw Frank Rizzo as their protection from Black people,” he told the Philadelphia Tribune. “People who voted for him thought he was going to keep immigrants out and Blacks in their place.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Joe Biden Mocked In Trump Campaign Ad For Kneeling — In A Church

A campaign ad for President Donald Trump took a giant step beyond criticizing protest kneeling to mocking Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden for kneeling in a church .
The attack is the latest sign that Trump may be losing his way in his battle against kneeling .
Last week his press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany , declared that Trump was “ very much against kneeling in general.
” She likely intended to say that he ’ s opposed in general to taking a knee to protest racism and police brutality during the national anthem at sports events .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of criticism from those who kneel during religious services , at memorials or to pray at gravesites .
The Trump campaign ad released Wednesday includes an image of Biden as he kneels , superimposed over violent protest scenes .
The Biden video was carved out of his appearance last week at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington , Delaware , where he met with Black leaders after George Floyd , a Black man , died last month while a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Trump ad nor a hint that Biden was at church when he knelt .
This screen shot of a new Donald Trump campaign ad carves out an image of Joe Biden kneeling at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington , Delaware .
It 's superimposed over a scene of protest violence , indicating the two are somehow connected .
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a tweet accompanying the ad that Biden is “ KNEELING to leftists ” as Trump “ stands for law & order.
” ( The ad claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , Biden is opposed to defunding police forces . )
Trump posted the ad to YouTube — and retweeted a message from a supporter saying that “ cowards kneel.
” Bethel AME hailed Biden ’ s visit and slammed Trump for using a church as a “ prop or photo-op.
” It juxtaposes photos of both men , insisting that only one image “ shows REAL faith.
” Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester ( D-Del . )
, who was among those who met with Biden , told The Washington Post that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve “ got a president that ain ’ t even showing up , who doesn ’ t even care , ” she said .
“ Come on.
” Critics slammed the campaign ad on Twitter — just as they did McEnany ’ s comment against “ kneeling in general , ” calling it insensitive to religion .
Hahahahahaha , the guy who is ignoring subpoenas to turn over his financial records and ran both a fake university and a fake charity that were shut down calling for law & order .
Too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign coffers and leave the comedy to others .
— Stevie Z ( @ StevieZBrooklyn ) June 10 , 2020

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A campaign ad for President Donald Trump took a giant step beyond criticizing protest kneeling to mocking Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden for kneeling in a church.
The attack is the latest sign that Trump may be losing his way in his battle against kneeling.
Last week his press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, declared that Trump was “very much against kneeling in general.” She likely intended to say that he’s opposed in general to taking a knee to protest racism and police brutality during the national anthem at sports events. But the blanket condemnation of kneeling triggered a wave of criticism from those who kneel during religious services, at memorials or to pray at gravesites.
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The Trump campaign ad released Wednesday includes an image of Biden as he kneels, superimposed over violent protest scenes.
The Biden video was carved out of his appearance last week at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, where he met with Black leaders after George Floyd, a Black man, died last month while a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. There is no context provided in the Trump ad nor a hint that Biden was at church when he knelt.
A narrator intones in the ad: “Antifa destroys our communities. Rioting. Looting. Yet Joe Biden kneels down.”
This screen shot of a new Donald Trump campaign ad carves out an image of Joe Biden kneeling at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware. It's superimposed over a scene of protest violence, indicating the two are somehow connected. Trump Campaign
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Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a tweet accompanying the ad that Biden is “KNEELING to leftists” as Trump “stands for law & order.” (The ad claims Biden wants police forces defunded. In fact, Biden is opposed to defunding police forces.) Trump posted the ad to YouTube — and retweeted a message from a supporter saying that “cowards kneel.”
Bethel AME hailed Biden’s visit and slammed Trump for using a church as a “prop or photo-op.” It juxtaposes photos of both men, insisting that only one image “shows REAL faith.”
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), who was among those who met with Biden, told The Washington Post that she appreciated Biden “showing up.” We’ve “got a president that ain’t even showing up, who doesn’t even care,” she said. “Come on.”
Critics slammed the campaign ad on Twitter — just as they did McEnany’s comment against “kneeling in general,” calling it insensitive to religion.
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Joe Biden is kneeling in a church and Donald Trump’s atheist campaign manager is attacking him.
Why does the president keep attacking people of faith? — Christopher J. Hale (@chrisjollyhale) June 10, 2020
Crazy you use a video of Joe Biden kneeling in a Black church as he listens to Black community leaders. pic.twitter.com/xtW8q1kk2S — Ares 🥁🛹 (@AresStopell) June 10, 2020
Great ad for Biden! — TrumpLootsUSeveryDay (@DrKC4) June 10, 2020
Hahahahahaha, the guy who is ignoring subpoenas to turn over his financial records and ran both a fake university and a fake charity that were shut down calling for law & order.
Too funny. Stick to grifting off the campaign coffers and leave the comedy to others. — Stevie Z (@StevieZBrooklyn) June 10, 2020
I thought you were supposed to be good at this. Lol — michellew🗿🕯 (@michellewither6) June 10, 2020
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This is the message Trump retweeted earlier this week about cowardly kneelers, with responses:


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-12--Supercut Exposes The Ugly Truth Of Donald Trump’s Protests Rhetoric

Nothing about today has been beautiful .
Nothing about the last week has been beautiful .
Nothing about the last @ @ @ @ @ Nothing about the last year has been beautiful .
Nothing about the last 4 years @ @ @ @ @ UglyPresident pic.twitter.com/xliXKjWeWB

Nothing about today has been beautiful.
Nothing about the last week has been beautiful.
Nothing about the last month has been beautiful.
Nothing about the last year has been beautiful.
Nothing about the last 4 years has been beautiful. #UglyPresident pic.twitter.com/xliXKjWeWB


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Trump Praises His 'S.S.' For Protest Crackdown; Critics Go World War II

President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the brutal and controversial crackdown on protesters in Washington last week by law enforcement groups ― including the Secret Service , which he referred to as the “ S.S. ” Twitter critics exploded over Trump ’ s use of the notorious initials for perhaps the vilest paramilitary squad in history : Adolf Hitler ’ s Schutzstaffel .
The U.S. Secret Service is sometimes referred to as the USSS , not the SS .
Germany ’ s SS , originally Hitler ’ s personal bodyguard unit , evolved into a combat force during World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of more than 6 million Jews and others in the Holocaust .
Trump gushed in his tweet that a member of the National Guard called it a “ walk in the park ” to deal with protesters “ around the White House.
” Then he added a shoutout to the “ S.S. ” The “ protesters , agitators , anarchists ( ANTIFA ) , and others , were handled VERY easily by the Guard , D.C. Police , & S.S. GREAT JOB !
” he gloated .
The protests in Washington were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters gathered in and around Lafayette Park across the street from the White House were rushed by law enforcement officers in riot gear to clear the way for him to walk to a church and pose with a Bible for a photo-op .
Protesters were beaten with batons , slammed with shields , manhandled , tear-gassed and struck with rubber bullets .
Our great National Guard Troops who took care of the area around the White House could hardly believe how easy it was .
“ A walk in the park ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , anarchists ( ANTIFA ) , and others , were handled VERY easily by the Guard , D.C. Police , & S.S. GREAT JOB !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) June 11 , 2020 Critics on Twitter erupted over both Trump ’ s boasting about the assault on the protesters — and hailing the “ S.S. ” Some wondered if it was an “ intentional mistake.
” Others noted how Hitler hid in a bunker as Allied troops advanced toward Berlin to finally end his evil regime , and referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bunker at the White House one evening as the demonstrations in Lafayette Park grew unruly .
Perhaps the President of the USA should use the CORRECT abbreviation for the United States Secret Service ( USSS ) instead of using an abbreviation that is more commonly associated with the violent security force used during Hitler 's reign .
pic.twitter.com/0xuiWuB3Nh — MURRAY ( @ murray_nyc ) June 11 , 2020 Translation : `` While I was sobbing until a table in my bunker , my goons gassed one of the priests of St. John 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior citizens , and beat up an Australian news crew .
They do n't call me Chickenfeathers McCrimespree for nothing . ''
— Walter Shaub ( @ waltshaub ) June 11 , 2020 People generally refer the @ SecretService as the `` USSS '' NOT “ S.S. ” I 'm wondering if is it still “ unfair ” to compare Trump to Hitler now or do we still need more time ?
— Chidi® ( @ ChidiNwatu ) June 11 , 2020 ''S.S '' and `` anti-fa '' in the one tweet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the connotation of abbreviating Secret Service ?
Or is it deliberate ?
— Eoin Dineen ( @ Eoin_Dineen ) June 11 , 2020 What the hell are you trying to do ?
It sure sounds like you are trying to anger the protesters even more by mocking how the National Guard handled them .
You literally tear-gassed innocent Americans .
Stop mocking peaceful Americans !
— Black Lives Matter ( @ HKrassenstein ) June 11 , 2020 The American Civil Liberties Union and Black Lives Matter have sued the Trump administration for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ frankly criminal attack ” on the protesters in the attack earlier this month .

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President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the brutal and controversial crackdown on protesters in Washington last week by law enforcement groups ― including the Secret Service, which he referred to as the “S.S.”
Twitter critics exploded over Trump’s use of the notorious initials for perhaps the vilest paramilitary squad in history: Adolf Hitler’s Schutzstaffel. The U.S. Secret Service is sometimes referred to as the USSS, not the SS. Germany’s SS, originally Hitler’s personal bodyguard unit, evolved into a combat force during World War II and was in charge of the murder of more than 6 million Jews and others in the Holocaust.
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Trump gushed in his tweet that a member of the National Guard called it a “walk in the park” to deal with protesters “around the White House.”
Then he added a shoutout to the “S.S.” The “protesters, agitators, anarchists (ANTIFA), and others, were handled VERY easily by the Guard, D.C. Police, & S.S. GREAT JOB!” he gloated.
The protests in Washington were spotlighted on June 1 when peaceful anti-racism protesters gathered in and around Lafayette Park across the street from the White House were rushed by law enforcement officers in riot gear to clear the way for him to walk to a church and pose with a Bible for a photo-op. Protesters were beaten with batons, slammed with shields, manhandled, tear-gassed and struck with rubber bullets.
Our great National Guard Troops who took care of the area around the White House could hardly believe how easy it was. “A walk in the park”, one said. The protesters, agitators, anarchists (ANTIFA), and others, were handled VERY easily by the Guard, D.C. Police, & S.S. GREAT JOB! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020
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Critics on Twitter erupted over both Trump’s boasting about the assault on the protesters — and hailing the “S.S.” Some wondered if it was an “intentional mistake.” Others noted how Hitler hid in a bunker as Allied troops advanced toward Berlin to finally end his evil regime, and referred to Trump briefly taking refuge in a bunker at the White House one evening as the demonstrations in Lafayette Park grew unruly.
Perhaps the President of the USA should use the CORRECT abbreviation for the United States Secret Service (USSS) instead of using an abbreviation that is more commonly associated with the violent security force used during Hitler's reign. pic.twitter.com/0xuiWuB3Nh — MURRAY (@murray_nyc) June 11, 2020
SS?
Hiding in a bunker?
Using the military against his own civilians?
Something oddly familiar about this? — Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) June 11, 2020
Translation: "While I was sobbing until a table in my bunker, my goons gassed one of the priests of St. John's church and other unarmed protesters, including senior citizens, and beat up an Australian news crew. They don't call me Chickenfeathers McCrimespree for nothing." — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 11, 2020
Isn’t the secret service abbreviation USSS? Last time I checked the SS is a nazi organization. Was this a very intentional mistake? — romy reiner (@romyreiner) June 11, 2020
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People generally refer the @SecretService as the "USSS" NOT “S.S.”
I'm wondering if is it still “unfair” to compare Trump to Hitler now or do we still need more time? — Chidi® (@ChidiNwatu) June 11, 2020
Wow. Rebranding the Secret Service as the "S.S."
I did Nazi this coming. — Translate Trump (@TranslateRealDT) June 11, 2020
''S.S'' and ''anti-fa'' in the one tweet. Is he really that stupid not to get the connotation of abbreviating Secret Service? Or is it deliberate? — Eoin Dineen (@Eoin_Dineen) June 11, 2020
Freudian slip.
SS were known for their primitivism and brutality. Natural born torturers. — Aunt Emma (@yourauntemma) June 11, 2020
What the hell are you trying to do? It sure sounds like you are trying to anger the protesters even more by mocking how the National Guard handled them. You literally tear-gassed innocent Americans. Stop mocking peaceful Americans! — Black Lives Matter (@HKrassenstein) June 11, 2020
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The Secret Service did not respond to a HuffPost request for comment.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-12--Stacey Abrams Schools Meghan McCain On Authoritarian Trump, Georgia Voting Mess

Meghan McCain tried to blame Democrats for the primary voting disaster in Georgia this week , but Stacey Abrams pulled her up short .
“ There ’ s a lot of finger-pointing going on and you seem to be implying that it was Georgia ’ s secretary of state that was targeting communities of color , ” McCain said on “ The View ” Thursday .
“ But most of the counties that had issues this week were run by Democrats.
” Abrams , a gubernatorial candidate in 2018 and a possible vice presidential pick , told McCain that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superintendent .
As such , he ’ s responsible for overseeing all voting in the state — even in Democratic areas ― and problems were rife throughout Georgia , she noted .
The pair also went at it over What McCain described as Abrams ’ comparison of the U.S. to Turkey under dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
″ [ Erdogan ] is a horrific , murderous dictator .
Do you really think it ’ s fair to call the United States no better than Turkey ?
” McCain asked .
“ I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey , ” Abrams said .
“ I said that we ’ re on the path to populist authoritarianism similar to what we saw with Erdogan.
” Abrams pointed out that Trump has already begun to follow in Erdogan ’ s path by stacking the courts with judges who support him , eliminating independent guardrails on democracy and using his power to call for the militarization of public institutions .
“ We have to acknowledge the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump , ” she added .
“ And we ’ ve got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want democracy to continue here , and if we want to continue to be the moral leader abroad.
” Check out Abrams ’ take on the Georgia primary in the video above .
Her clash with McCain begins at 3:16 .
.
@ staceyabrams : “ We have to acknowledge the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump and we ’ ve got to nip it in the bud if we want democracy to continue here , and if we want to continue to be the moral leader abroad.
” https : //t.co/RTeZlTfGht pic.twitter.com/nBZjSOvPT2 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 , 2020

“There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on and you seem to be implying that it was Georgia’s secretary of state that was targeting communities of color,” McCain said on “The View” Thursday. “But most of the counties that had issues this week were run by Democrats.”
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Abrams, a gubernatorial candidate in 2018 and a possible vice presidential pick, told McCain that the Republican secretary of state was the election superintendent. As such, he’s responsible for overseeing all voting in the state — even in Democratic areas ― and problems were rife throughout Georgia, she noted.
“Your access to democracy shouldn’t depend on your county of residence,” Abrams said.
The pair also went at it over What McCain described as Abrams’ comparison of the U.S. to Turkey under dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
″[Erdogan] is a horrific, murderous dictator. Do you really think it’s fair to call the United States no better than Turkey?” McCain asked.
“I didn’t call it no better than Turkey,” Abrams said. “I said that we’re on the path to populist authoritarianism similar to what we saw with Erdogan.”
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Abrams pointed out that Trump has already begun to follow in Erdogan’s path by stacking the courts with judges who support him, eliminating independent guardrails on democracy and using his power to call for the militarization of public institutions.
“We’re seeing evidence of that in the United States,” Abrams said.
“We have to acknowledge the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump,” she added. “And we’ve got to nip it in the bud if we want democracy to continue here, and if we want to continue to be the moral leader abroad.”
Check out Abrams’ take on the Georgia primary in the video above. Her clash with McCain begins at 3:16.
Abrams’ warning on Trump’s “authoritarian nature” is shown in the following tweet:
.@staceyabrams: “We have to acknowledge the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump and we’ve got to nip it in the bud if we want democracy to continue here, and if we want to continue to be the moral leader abroad.” https://t.co/RTeZlTfGht pic.twitter.com/nBZjSOvPT2 — The View (@TheView) June 12, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-12--Tom Cotton Accidentally Gives The Washington Monument An Awesome New Name

Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-Ark . )
accidentally gave the Washington Monument a sarcastic new nickname ― and some people are hoping it ’ ll stick .
Cotton , who made headlines last week with a call to send the U.S. military into American cities , decried the cancellation of the TV show “ Cops ” and other elements of “ cancel culture.
” He warned that the “ woke mob ” could be “ coming for any one of you.
” Then he predicted that cancel culture would come to Washington .
“ Are we going to tear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Are we going to rename it the Obelisk of Wokeness ?
” On Twitter , the answer was a resounding yes : My daughters will NEVER not know it as the Obelisk of Wokeness https : //t.co/7TmIFvKMFI — Justin “ Hoops ” McElroy ( @ JustinMcElroy ) June 12 , 2020 I watched this so you don ’ t have to .
All you need to know is that “ THE OBELISK OF WOKENESS ” ( formerly Washington Monument ) and “ THE TEMPLE OF WISDOM ” ( formerly Washington National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dungeons and I ’ m all for it .
https : //t.co/CXKyu4ekA7 — Erika Ishii ( @ erikaishii ) June 12 , 2020 Fact : The Obelisk of Wokeness is the world 's tallest and wokest obelisk .
Originally called the Washington Monument it was renamed to celebrate the defeat of Donald Trump & his racist minions in 2020. https : //t.co/kgibOPybmB — Gary Shteyngart ( @ Shteyngart ) June 11 , 2020 Those of you who had “ Obelisk of Wokeness ” on your bingo cards , today ’ s your lucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonmez ( @ feliciasonmez ) June 11 , 2020 Lightning struck the moment @ SenTomCotton spoke me into existence .
I am the Obelisk of Wokeness.pic.twitter.com/A7GsdcXvMX — Obelisk of Wokeness ( @ ObeliskOfWoke ) June 12 , 2020 The Obelisk of Wokeness .
That is going to stick .
https : //t.co/4G5yrAxlmB — Sheryl Gay Stolberg ( @ SherylNYT ) June 11 , 2020 I 've kept singing Obelisk of Wokeness in my head as a chorus of a thrashing 80 's metal song and it works .
— Wajahat `` Social Distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 12 , 2020 Dropping this new power metal album tomorrow .
Thanks for all the support for Obelisk of Wokeness !
pic.twitter.com/9kXIJDYMwW — Scott Maxia ( @ fkknppl ) June 12 , 2020 we will offer up sacrifices to the Obelisk of Wokeness https : //t.co/eDT9mrsRZj — Matt Binder worships at the Obelisk of Wokeness ( @ MattBinder ) June 12 , 2020 If you 're trying to make a point you need to come up with a fake name that would n't be super cool .
I would pay to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //t.co/MMqt8NlSzr — Travis McElroy , The Internet 's Best Friend ( @ travismcelroy ) June 12 , 2020 The Obelisk of Wokeness is a rad name and I dare you to actually rename it that .
https : //t.co/7u8UbqyxyF — Eric Goldman ( @ TheEricGoldman ) June 12 , 2020 Omg @ TomCottonAR , you mean the Obelisk of Wokeness right next to Tidal Basin of No Quarter ?
https : //t.co/Ugbn08DAMP — Kara Swisher ( @ karaswisher ) June 12 , 2020 I love it when fascists become such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into something totally metal like “ Obelisk of Wokeness ” — Alex Duzik ( @ aduzik ) June 12 , 2020

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) accidentally gave the Washington Monument a sarcastic new nickname ― and some people are hoping it’ll stick.
Cotton, who made headlines last week with a call to send the U.S. military into American cities, decried the cancellation of the TV show “Cops” and other elements of “cancel culture.” He warned that the “woke mob” could be “coming for any one of you.”
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Then he predicted that cancel culture would come to Washington.
“Are we going to tear the Washington Monument down?” Cotton asked. “Are we going to rename it the Obelisk of Wokeness?”
On Twitter, the answer was a resounding yes:
My daughters will NEVER not know it as the Obelisk of Wokeness https://t.co/7TmIFvKMFI — Justin “Hoops” McElroy (@JustinMcElroy) June 12, 2020
I watched this so you don’t have to. All you need to know is that “THE OBELISK OF WOKENESS” (formerly Washington Monument) and “THE TEMPLE OF WISDOM” (formerly Washington National Cathedral) sound like the raddest Zelda dungeons and I’m all for it. https://t.co/CXKyu4ekA7 — Erika Ishii (@erikaishii) June 12, 2020
Fact: The Obelisk of Wokeness is the world's tallest and wokest obelisk. Originally called the Washington Monument it was renamed to celebrate the defeat of Donald Trump & his racist minions in 2020. https://t.co/kgibOPybmB — Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) June 11, 2020
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Those of you who had “Obelisk of Wokeness” on your bingo cards, today’s your lucky day. https://t.co/UrrZjpMP65 — Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) June 11, 2020
Lightning struck the moment @SenTomCotton spoke me into existence.
I am the Obelisk of Wokeness.pic.twitter.com/A7GsdcXvMX — Obelisk of Wokeness (@ObeliskOfWoke) June 12, 2020
The Obelisk of Wokeness. That is going to stick. https://t.co/4G5yrAxlmB — Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) June 11, 2020
I've kept singing Obelisk of Wokeness in my head as a chorus of a thrashing 80's metal song and it works. — Wajahat "Social Distance Yourself" Ali (@WajahatAli) June 12, 2020
Dropping this new power metal album tomorrow. Thanks for all the support for Obelisk of Wokeness! pic.twitter.com/9kXIJDYMwW — Scott Maxia (@fkknppl) June 12, 2020
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we will offer up sacrifices to the Obelisk of Wokeness https://t.co/eDT9mrsRZj — Matt Binder worships at the Obelisk of Wokeness (@MattBinder) June 12, 2020
If you're trying to make a point you need to come up with a fake name that wouldn't be super cool. I would pay to see the Obelisk of Wokeness FOR SURE. https://t.co/MMqt8NlSzr — Travis McElroy, The Internet's Best Friend (@travismcelroy) June 12, 2020
The Obelisk of Wokeness is a rad name and I dare you to actually rename it that. https://t.co/7u8UbqyxyF — Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) June 12, 2020
Not gonna lie, I prefer “Obelisk of Wokeness” https://t.co/WJ7624ytT6 — Jacob Dean (@SchadenJake) June 12, 2020
Omg @TomCottonAR, you mean the Obelisk of Wokeness right next to Tidal Basin of No Quarter? https://t.co/Ugbn08DAMP — Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) June 12, 2020
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I love it when fascists become such a parody of a parody they accidentally veer into something totally metal like “Obelisk of Wokeness” — Alex Duzik (@aduzik) June 12, 2020
America's Landmarks Renamed
1. Obelisk of Wokeness
2. The Hell Hole
3. Freedom Woman
4. Rebel Smasher pic.twitter.com/mG4dNFsvj1 — JRehling (@JRehling) June 12, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-11--Republicans Move Convention Events, Trump Nomination Acceptance To Jacksonville, Florida

After weeks of speculation and uncertainty about the future of this year ’ s Republican National Convention , the GOP said Thursday that several of the convention ’ s major events would be moved from Charlotte , North Carolina , to Jacksonville , Florida .
The announcement marks the conclusion of a tense and lengthy deadlock between convention organizers and North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper ( D ) , who had refused to relax his state ’ s social-distancing restrictions for the event .
President Donald Trump , who had repeatedly threatened to move the convention unless Cooper changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event would be relocated to an alternate city ― though he didn ’ t specify which .
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel confirmed Thursday that Jacksonville , Florida ’ s most populous city , had been chosen to host the nominating convention ’ s larger events .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) is a staunch ally of Trump ’ s , and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry , a long-serving GOP official , said last month that he ’ d be “ honored ” to host the convention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville , ” McDaniel said .
“ Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trump ’ s heart as his home state , but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020.
” We are thrilled to hold @ realDonaldTrump 's acceptance of the Republican nomination in the great city of Jacksonville !
Not only is Florida his home state , it is crucial to victory .
We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOPChairwoman ) June 12 , 2020 As The Wall Street Journal noted , some convention business will still be conducted in Charlotte as the Republican National Committee had signed a contract with the city .
Instead of a four-day event , however , a limited number of delegates ― about 330 ― will officially nominate the party ’ s candidates for president and vice president in Charlotte on a single day at the end of August .
The convention will then move to Jacksonville for its larger events , including Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be held Aug. 24-27 , the Journal reported , quoting people familiar with the event .
Some health precautions will be taken , including temperature checks , the paper said ; but it ’ s expected that masks won ’ t be mandatory .
CORRECTION : An earlier version of this article referred to Gov .
Roy Cooper as a Republican .
He is a Democrat .

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After weeks of speculation and uncertainty about the future of this year’s Republican National Convention, the GOP said Thursday that several of the convention’s major events would be moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Jacksonville, Florida.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a tense and lengthy deadlock between convention organizers and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who had refused to relax his state’s social-distancing restrictions for the event.
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President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly threatened to move the convention unless Cooper changed his tune, said last week that the event would be relocated to an alternate city ― though he didn’t specify which.
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel confirmed Thursday that Jacksonville, Florida’s most populous city, had been chosen to host the nominating convention’s larger events. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is a staunch ally of Trump’s, and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a long-serving GOP official, said last month that he’d be “honored” to host the convention.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville,” McDaniel said. “Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trump’s heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020.”
We are thrilled to hold @realDonaldTrump's acceptance of the Republican nomination in the great city of Jacksonville!
Not only is Florida his home state, it is crucial to victory.
We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State! — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) June 12, 2020
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As The Wall Street Journal noted, some convention business will still be conducted in Charlotte as the Republican National Committee had signed a contract with the city.
Instead of a four-day event, however, a limited number of delegates ― about 330 ― will officially nominate the party’s candidates for president and vice president in Charlotte on a single day at the end of August.
The convention will then move to Jacksonville for its larger events, including Trump’s acceptance speech.
The convention is expected to be held Aug. 24-27, the Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the event. Some health precautions will be taken, including temperature checks, the paper said; but it’s expected that masks won’t be mandatory.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article referred to Gov. Roy Cooper as a Republican. He is a Democrat.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-06-12--Biden Comes Thisclose To Dropping An F-Bomb On Trump's 'Very Fine' Racists

Former Vice President Joe Biden caught himself before he used the f-word on Thursday to describe the racists who take @ @ @ @ @ words used by President Donald Trump .
Instead , Biden paused and admonished himself to @ @ @ @ @ before ultimately settling on “ folks.
” Biden was speaking at a roundtable discussion about @ @ @ @ @ economy amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
But he also took some shots at Trump @ @ @ @ @ the president was pitting Americans against each other based on race .
Biden recalled Trump @ @ @ @ @ violent clashes between white supremacists and protesters in Charlottesville , Virginia in 2017 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ very fine people ’ on both sides , ” Biden said .
“ No president @ @ @ @ @ United States of America has ever said anything remotely like that.
” “ When a @ @ @ @ @ how good or bad he is , people listen .
And when he speaks and @ @ @ @ @ f- , ” and that ’ s when he caught himself :

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Former Vice President Joe Biden caught himself before he used the f-word on Thursday to describe the racists who take comfort in some of the words used by President Donald Trump. Instead, Biden paused and admonished himself to “watch my language” before ultimately settling on “folks.”
Biden was speaking at a roundtable discussion about his plan to reopen the economy amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But he also took some shots at Trump’s divisiveness, saying the president was pitting Americans against each other based on race.
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Biden recalled Trump’s comments after the violent clashes between white supremacists and protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
“He said there were ‘very fine people’ on both sides,” Biden said. “No president in the history of the United States of America has ever said anything remotely like that.”
Biden also noted that the president’s words matter.
“When a president speaks, no matter how good or bad he is, people listen. And when he speaks and gives credibility to these racist f―”
That’s when he caught himself: