thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Prosecutor Fights Cop's 'Bad Faith' Bid To Usurp Authority In Confederate Statue Cases

The elected prosecutor of Portsmouth , Virginia , is fighting what her attorney described as a “ bad faith ” and “ improper ” attempt by a disgruntled police officer to disqualify her from the questionable felony cases he brought against a state senator , local civil rights leaders and city public defenders stemming from the destruction of a Confederate monument .
On June 10 , a few weeks after police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd , a group of protesters gathered at Portsmouth ’ s monument to soldiers who rebelled against the U.S. and died defending slavery .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an old slave whipping post , had been covered up ahead of a city council debate over the statutes ’ fate , but the coverings were removed .
In the afternoon , protesters spray-painted the statues .
During the night , people brought out sledgehammers and removed the statues ’ heads .
Portsmouth police didn ’ t intervene until one statue fell on a protester , seriously injuring him .
Two months later , taking advantage of Virginia ’ s magistrate system , Portsmouth police Sgt .
Kevin McGee brought felony charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louise Lucas ( D ) ― under a state law banning “ injury to ” war monuments .
Five more defendants were later charged under the 70-year-old law , which originally referred to the Civil War as the “ War Between the States .
Lucas and several other defendants charged in the case left the scene hours before the worst destruction took place .
McGee had come under internal investigation for a vitriolic letter he sent to city officials criticizing those he would later charge with felonies , as well as Morales .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had “ a pretty good idea ” what Morales ’ reaction would have been if police officers used force to stop the protesters that night .
“ Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Stephanie N. Morales is simply not a witness in any of these matters .
Period .
Dead Stop .
There is no basis for the request for a subpoena to her because she is not a fact witness , ” Ungvarsky wrote .
McGee has a history of internal affairs complaints and was a prominent opponent of former Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head a police department in Virginia .
After her forced departure from the chief ’ s job last year , Chapman said that in her nearly 30-year career in law enforcement , she ’ d “ never witnessed the degree of bias and acts of systemic racism , discriminatory practices and abuse of authority ” that she did in Portsmouth .
She was replaced by another Black woman , Angela Greene , who ’ s coalesced support from a mostly white group of Portsmouth residents .
Under Virginia law , Ungvarsky wrote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree-bearing prosecutor should get to decide when she has a conflict , not some unelected cop in the city ’ s property crimes unit who holds a grudge against her .
“ The insinuation of the requested witness subpoena suggests that the Commonwealth ’ s Attorney may have a conflict between the role of witness and the role of prosecutor .
She is not a witness .
She has no conflict .
If she ― and not a police sergeant under investigation ― determines in the future that she has a conflict , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any such conflict , ” Ungvarsky wrote .
Ungvarsky ’ s motion asks a judge to order the court clerk to not issue any witness subpoenas to Morales , which would allow her office to do the job voters elected her to perform .

Portsmouth, Virginia, police Sgt. Kevin McGee, left, and the local prosecutor, Stephanie Morales. WAVY/Stephanie Morales
The elected prosecutor of Portsmouth, Virginia, is fighting what her attorney described as a “bad faith” and “improper” attempt by a disgruntled police officer to disqualify her from the questionable felony cases he brought against a state senator, local civil rights leaders and city public defenders stemming from the destruction of a Confederate monument.
On June 10, a few weeks after police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, a group of protesters gathered at Portsmouth’s monument to soldiers who rebelled against the U.S. and died defending slavery. The four statues, located at the spot of an old slave whipping post, had been covered up ahead of a city council debate over the statues’ fate, but the coverings were removed.
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In the afternoon, protesters spray-painted the statues. During the night, people brought out sledgehammers and removed the statues’ heads. Portsmouth police didn’t intervene until one statue fell on a protester, seriously injuring him.
Two months later, taking advantage of Virginia’s magistrate system, Portsmouth police Sgt. Kevin McGee brought felony charges against 14 defendants ― including state Sen. Louise Lucas (D) ― under a state law banning “injury to” war monuments. Five more defendants were later charged under the 70-year-old law, which originally referred to the Civil War as the “War Between the States.” Lucas and several other defendants charged in the case left the scene hours before the worst destruction took place.
The first batch of defendants have arraignments scheduled for Friday morning. This is normally where the local prosecutor, Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales, would take over the cases ― in this matter, potentially move to dismiss them. But McGee, in a clear attempt to get Morales removed from the cases, named Morales as a witness even though she wasn’t on the scene.
In a court filing on Thursday, Morales’ attorney Edward J. Ungvarsky wrote that McGee had requested subpoenas “in bad faith for an improper purpose.”
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McGee had come under internal investigation for a vitriolic letter he sent to city officials criticizing those he would later charge with felonies, as well as Morales. McGee wrote in his letter that he had “a pretty good idea” what Morales’ reaction would have been if police officers used force to stop the protesters that night.
Ungvarsky wrote in his filing that McGee’s letter contained “false assumptions and statements made by the sergeant” about her.
“Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie N. Morales is simply not a witness in any of these matters. Period. Dead Stop. There is no basis for the request for a subpoena to her because she is not a fact witness,” Ungvarsky wrote.
McGee has a history of internal affairs complaints and was a prominent opponent of former Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya Chapman, the first Black woman to head a police department in Virginia.
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After her forced departure from the chief’s job last year, Chapman said that in her nearly 30-year career in law enforcement, she’d “never witnessed the degree of bias and acts of systemic racism, discriminatory practices and abuse of authority” that she did in Portsmouth. She was replaced by another Black woman, Angela Greene, who’s coalesced support from a mostly white group of Portsmouth residents.
Under Virginia law, Ungvarsky wrote, the city’s elected and law degree-bearing prosecutor should get to decide when she has a conflict, not some unelected cop in the city’s property crimes unit who holds a grudge against her.
“The insinuation of the requested witness subpoena suggests that the Commonwealth’s Attorney may have a conflict between the role of witness and the role of prosecutor. She is not a witness. She has no conflict. If she ― and not a police sergeant under investigation ― determines in the future that she has a conflict, the Virginia Code authorizes her to resolve any such conflict,” Ungvarsky wrote.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Affluent Parents Are Pulling Their Kids Out Of Public Schools

Illustration : HuffPost ; Photo : Getty Images Private-school students are able to attend classes in person , unlike at public schools that rely on virtual training .
“ It made sense for us to pay for it , so my husband and I could continue our own professional goals , ” said Blackburn , who lives in Oklahoma City and works in marketing for the state .
“ In order for her to progress in her education and for us to maintain our lifestyle , this was the best option.
” Anecdotal evidence suggests that an increasing number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools in the COVID-19 era , sending their kids to private schools in pursuit of in-person learning .
The aim , as with the advent of “ learning pods , ” is to insulate their children from the downsides of remote schooling and the confusion around hybrid school .
Many also want to get back to a normal workday .
The flight of wealthy families away from public schools is just one more way the coronavirus is widening existing inequalities in the U.S. , and a sign of how well-off Americans can buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the side effects of this pandemic .
What this means for the public education system is worrying .
Richer families pulling out of schools could worsen the disparities between well-resourced children and their less advantaged peers .
Blackburn struggled with her decision , though it felt like the right one for her family .
She feared that if her daughter attended school only part-time , she or her husband would have to cut back on work , or even quit their jobs , in order to help educate her .
Paying tuition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she noted .
“ My sense of the situation is that parents were just thinking , ‘ Gosh , what am I going to do ?
Something here is not meeting my needs or I just need to figure out what options I have available , ’ ” said Myra McGovern , vice president of media for the National Association of Independent Schools .
“ What suits you in May might not suit you in July.
” Another parent , Amy , who asked that her last name not be used to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled her daughter out of public school this year in favor of private school .
The private school is fully in-person , while the public school is not .
It ’ s a decision she continues to wrestle with , as she knows not everyone gets to make this choice .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , the Cato Institute , a libertarian think tank , has been tracking the number of permanent private school closures via news reports .
So far it has counted at least 118 ― likely a steep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of richer families flocking to private schools , Cato ’ s Neal McCluskey suspects that these stories obscure the one-third of private schools that enroll fewer than 50 students , and that may be quietly struggling .
It ’ s unclear if voucher programs , which provide taxpayer-funded scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools , are similarly seeing any type of application bump .
In Florida , where a vast majority of public schools are offering in-person learning , one of the state ’ s scholarship programs saw a surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dormancy .
Overall , it seems as though the program will provide the same number of low-income children with scholarships as it did last year .

Private school students are able to attend classes in person, unlike at public schools that rely on virtual training. Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images
This summer, Amy Blackburn had a choice. She and her husband could keep their 6-year-old daughter in public school and take a hit to their careers, or they could put her in private school, shell out thousands of dollars and be able to do their work.
Her daughter’s public school was using a hybrid schedule, where kids went in person part-time. The nearby private school allowed kids to attend five days a week. Blackburn and her husband decided the cost was worth it. If her daughter couldn’t be at school full-time, Blackburn feared she’d end up sacrificing even more money to stay home and shepherd her daughter through remote learning.
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“It made sense for us to pay for it, so my husband and I could continue our own professional goals,” said Blackburn, who lives in Oklahoma City and works in marketing for the state. “In order for her to progress in her education and for us to maintain our lifestyle, this was the best option.”
Anecdotal evidence suggests that an increasing number of affluent parents are giving up on public schools in the COVID-19 era, sending their kids to private schools in pursuit of in-person learning. The aim, as with the advent of “learning pods,” is to insulate their children from the downsides of remote schooling and the confusion around hybrid school. Many also want to get back to a normal workday.
The flight of wealthy families away from public schools is just one more way the coronavirus is widening existing inequalities in the U.S., and a sign of how well-off Americans can buy their way out of at least some of the side effects of this pandemic. What this means for the public education system is worrying. Richer families pulling out of schools could worsen the disparities between well-resourced children and their less advantaged peers.
At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, the average student likely fell months behind due to COVID-related learning disruptions, research shows. Low-income students and students of color likely suffered from the greatest learning loss. Students in the highest-poverty districts are more likely to be starting school remotely this year, according to the Center for Reinventing Public Education.
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All parents are in a tough spot. But not all parents have the resources that make private school an option.
Blackburn struggled with her decision, though it felt like the right one for her family. She feared that if her daughter attended school only part-time, she or her husband would have to cut back on work, or even quit their jobs, in order to help educate her. Paying tuition is cheaper than quitting her job, she noted.
“Even in my own friend group they’re having to make difficult decisions, and to say we took her back to private makes me feel gross,” she said. “It was a clear exercise of privilege. I feel guilty.”
Over 80% of private Catholic schools are reopening in person, compared to about half of school districts in the country. Jessie Wardarski / ASSOCIATED PRESS
In the spring, private schools were warning of COVID-19’s catastrophic effect on their finances, calling on legislators to provide them with considerable relief. Families could no longer afford tuition amid the widespread economic tumult, they said, and fundraiser events had been canceled or delayed.
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But many private schools may have found themselves in a better position than public schools to reopen for in-person learning. They tend to have smaller class sizes, fewer students and less administrative bureaucracy, all of which may have helped some schools stave off financial devastation.
Over 80% of private Catholic schools are reopening in person, said Kathy Mears, interim president and CEO of the National Catholic Education Association, compared to about half of school districts in the country, according to an analysis from the Center on Reinventing Public Education.
Around 130 Catholic schools have permanently closed since the beginning of the pandemic. But Mears believes that increased interest from affluent families has helped avoid further closures, although overall enrollment appears to be down.
“The schools in suburban areas seem to be doing better, in that they do in many cases have waiting lists because the public schools maybe are opening remotely,” Mears said. “Three weeks ago I wouldn’t have thought we would be having this conversation.”
Urban Catholic schools that serve lower-income students and provide more scholarships are continuing to struggle ― they haven’t seen an influx of students ― making it more difficult for the schools to subsidize scholarships for their needier kids. “It would be nice if those areas had waiting lists,” Mears said.
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An August survey of more than 400 schools, from the National Association of Independent Schools, found that just over half had reported maintaining or increasing enrollment from the previous year. While some schools said they’d been flooded with calls from parents looking to enroll, others were hit hard by a sharp decline, especially from international students.
Some fully virtual private schools even reported an increase in interest. About 40% of schools in the organization’s survey said they would be opening fully in-person, compared to about half of districts, though most of these districts are in rural areas.
“My sense of the situation is that parents were just thinking, ‘Gosh, what am I going to do? Something here is not meeting my needs or I just need to figure out what options I have available,’” said Myra McGovern, vice president of media for the National Association of Independent Schools. “What suits you in May might not suit you in July.”
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy Devos attends an event on reopening schools amid the coronavirus pandemic at the White House, July 7, 2020. Kevin Lamarque / reuters
Another parent, Amy, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her family’s privacy, also pulled her daughter out of public school this year in favor of private school. The private school is fully in-person, while the public school is not. It’s a decision she continues to wrestle with, as she knows not everyone gets to make this choice.
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“There’s a lot of guilt among all of us. We were all planning to stay with public school, and knowing we’re making this choice is heartbreaking,” said Amy, who owns a tutoring company and lives in California.
Meanwhile, some public schools around the country struggle to provide lower-income students with laptops and hot spots for virtual learning. There are reports of students forced to work in Taco Bell and McDonald’s parking lots to get Wi-Fi. Parents are struggling with quitting their jobs in order to provide child care.
“I feel really lucky,” said Amy, who is paying $27,000 a year for her daughter’s private school, and $42,000 a year for her son, who was already attending a private school.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, has been tracking the number of permanent private school closures via news reports. So far it has counted at least 118 ― likely a steep underestimate. While there’s anecdotal evidence of richer families flocking to private schools, Cato’s Neal McCluskey suspects that these stories obscure the one-third of private schools that enroll fewer than 50 students, and that may be quietly struggling.
All in all, though, the situation is much rosier than McCluskey anticipated. In July, he co-wrote an op-ed for The Baltimore Sun warning that “private schools are in existential trouble.” Now he’s not so sure.
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“My expectation was that we would see hundreds of announcements of private schools going out of business,” said McCluskey, director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. “We definitely haven’t seen that.”
The dire financial circumstances facing private schools were used as partial justification for a U.S. Department of Education rule that would force public schools to share a large amount of their CARES Act aid, meant for disadvantaged students, with private schools. That rule has encountered a litany of legal challenges and faced a rejection in court.
“A growing list of nonpublic schools have announced they will not be able to reopen, and these school closures are concentrated in low-income and middle-class communities,” U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos wrote in a May letter to the Council of Chief State School Officers, in an effort to justify the rule.
It’s unclear if voucher programs, which provide taxpayer-funded scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools, are similarly seeing any type of application bump. In Florida, where a vast majority of public schools are offering in-person learning, one of the state’s scholarship programs saw a surge in applications in July, after months of dormancy. Overall, it seems as though the program will provide the same number of low-income children with scholarships as it did last year.
“In past years, we have had so much demand so early on that application season gets closed in June or July,” said Patrick Gibbons, public affairs manager for Step Up for Students, the group that manages these scholarships. “This year we are still open. Parents are slowly deciding what they want to do.”
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At First Baptist Academy in Dallas, head of school Jason Lovvorn says enrollment is up 5%. Few families left ― the school offered generous aid to those who could no longer afford it. Then he saw a surge in interest from parents over the summer, after public schools struggled to define their plans. First Baptist Academy announced early that it would open for in-person learning.
“I wasn’t sure what this summer would hold when it came to new families,” Lovvorn said. “I was pleasantly surprised. We were prepared for a decrease.”
Like many other parents, Blackburn, in Oklahoma City, said she found remote learning for her daughter last year overwhelming to the point of uselessness. This year, even if she or her husband were to quit their jobs, she doesn’t feel either of them has the skills necessary to help supervise remote learning.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls To 8.4% Even As Hiring Slows

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The U.S. unemployment rate fell sharply in August to 8.4 % from 10.2 % even as hiring slowed , with employers adding the fewest jobs since the pandemic began .
Employers added 1.4 million jobs , the Labor Department said Friday , down from 1.7 million in July .
The U.S. economy has recovered about half the 22 million jobs lost to the pandemic .
Friday ’ s report from the Labor Department added to evidence that nearly six months after the coronavirus paralyzed the country , the economy is mounting only a fitful recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants , airlines and entertainment venues , a wide spectrum of companies are struggling to survive the loss of customers with confirmed viral cases still high .
After an epic collapse in the spring , when the economy shrank at a roughly 30 % annual rate , growth has been rebounding as states have reopened at least parts of their economies .
Yet the recovery remains far from complete .
Many economists think significant hiring may be hard to sustain because employers are operating under a cloud of uncertainty about the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70,000 in June to about 40,000 .
The decline has leveled off in the past week and the viral caseload remains higher than it was in May and June .
As a result activities like restaurant dining and air travel are still far below pre-pandemic levels .
Most economists say a meaningful economic recovery will likely be impossible until the coronavirus is brought under control , most likely from the widespread use of a vaccine .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. unemployment dropped sharply in August from 10.2% to a still-high 8.4%, with about half the 22 million jobs lost to the coronavirus outbreak recovered so far, the government said Friday in one of the last major economic reports before Election Day.
Employers added 1.4 million jobs last month, down from 1.7 million in July and the fewest since hiring resumed in May. And an increasingly large share of Americans reported that their jobs are gone for good, according to the Labor Department report.
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Altogether, that was seen by economists as evidence that further improvement is going to be sluggish and uneven.
“The fact that employment is settling into a trend of slower, grinding growth is worrisome for the broader recovery,” said Lydia Boussour, an economist at Oxford Economics.
Still, President Donald Trump, who is seeking reelection in less than two months amid the worst economic downturn since the Depression in the 1930s, exulted over the latest unemployment figure, saying, “That is many, many months ahead of schedule.”
Democratic nominee Joe Biden downplayed the report and said the viral outbreak is still weighing on the economy.
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“Donald Trump may be the only president in modern history to leave office with fewer jobs than when he took office,” Biden said. The U.S. has 4.7 million fewer jobs now than when Trump was inaugurated, but if the monthly gains continue at the same pace as in August, those jobs would be recovered by January.
Friday’s figures were the next-to-last employment report before the presidential election Nov. 3. For many voters, the unemployment rate is the most visible measure of the economy.
Should unemployment keep dropping rapidly, it could near 7% by early November, said Michael Strain, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute.
“That’s bad, it’s too high, many people will be suffering, but you can see healthy from there,” Strain said. “The question always has been: What’s going to matter more on Election Day — the rate of improvement of the economy or the absolute condition of the economy?”
The drop in unemployment was sharper than most economists expected and was attributed mainly to businesses recalling workers who had been temporarily laid off.
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Private companies added just over 1 million jobs in August, with the government providing nearly 350,000 others, including a quarter-million temporary census workers. The fall in private hiring from 1.5 million jobs in July was seen as a sign that employers remain cautious with the virus still out of control.
The outbreak is blamed for about 187,000 deaths and almost 6.2 million confirmed infections in the U.S., by far the highest totals in the world.
Richard Moody, chief economist at Regions Financial, noted that about half the private-sector job gains were in three categories: retail, restaurants, hotels and casinos, and health care. All have benefited from the reopening of most states’ economies.
“When the reopening effect wears off, the overall job gains in coming months should be considerably smaller,” he said.
Retailers added 250,000 jobs, led by big gains at warehouse clubs and supercenters, and restaurants, hotels and entertainment firms gained 174,000. Health care added 90,000. But manufacturers, which are enjoying a jump in demand, particularly for cars, added just 29,000 jobs, one-tenth of their job growth in June. Construction added just 16,000 despite strong home building.
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After an epic collapse in the spring, when the economy shrank at a roughly 30% annual rate, growth has been rebounding as states have reopened at least parts of their economies. But uncertainty is running high, and many companies are still cutting jobs, with most of the layoffs permanent.
Casino and hotel operator MGM Resorts, slammed by declines in travel and tourism, said last week that it is eliminating 18,000 jobs. Coca Cola, which derives half its sales from stadiums, theaters and other venues that have been largely shut down, is offering buyouts to 4,000 employees. Bed, Bath & Beyond will shed 2,800 jobs.
More than 20% of small businesses are still closed, a figure that has been flat since June, according to Homebase, a provider of time-management software to small companies.
Millions of people have given up looking for work since the outbreak began, many to avoid contracting the coronavirus. That has helped bring down the jobless rate, because the government doesn’t count people as unemployed unless they are actively seeking jobs.
In Friday’s report, less than half of the 13.6 million unemployed said their layoffs were temporary, down from three-quarters in April.
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Brandon Stephens, president of Christmas Decor, is struggling with the uncertainty. The business has 300 franchised outlets across the U.S. that are mostly landscape and pest control companies but turn to setting up lights and decorations for Christmas, Halloween and other holidays in the colder months. That switch typically enables the franchisees to save 3,000 jobs.
Stephens said he is seeing a big increase in interest in holiday decorations from consumers. But businesses are much more cautious about committing to big holiday displays.
“The challenge with our business is we don’t know if we’re screwed until the last couple of weeks of the year,” he said.
Roughly 29 million Americans are receiving state unemployment benefits but are no longer drawing an extra $600 a week in federal jobless aid, which expired more than a month ago. The Trump administration has set up a program to provide some of the unemployed with $300 a week. But the new rules will make many ineligible.
One consequence of the crisis is that rising stress and anxiety are evident at therapists’ offices and mental health hotlines around the country.
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“Not many days go by where I don’t have a couple where one partner or both are not working or furloughed,” said Todd Creager, a therapist in Southern California who treats mostly middle- to upper-middle-class adults.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Joanne Rogers, Mr. Rogers' Widow, Has Some Not-So-Neighborly Words For Trump

Everyone might be welcome in “ Mister Rogers ’ Neighborhood , ” but the late TV host ’ s widow won ’ t be singing the show ’ s famous theme song to President Donald Trump any time soon .
Joanne Rogers also offered up a few other descriptions for Trump that definitely would not be heard around the neighborhood , including “ pathologically ill ” and “ mentally ill. ” Fred Rogers , who died of cancer in 2003 , was famously apolitical and tried to see the good in all .
Joanne Rogers told The Los Angeles Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been especially political herself in the past .
That changed when Trump entered the scene .
“ And I want to vote for whoever is going to beat Trump , ” she told the newspaper .
Joanne Rogers told The Daily Beast that she ’ d go into mourning if the president won reelection .
“ I can ’ t even imagine , ” she said .
“ I would feel so badly.
” She also endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden with a compliment that Fred Rogers would appreciate .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ I think we all need somebody like Biden who can give us little pats on the back.
” Fred Rogers famously strived to see the good in anyone .
Tom Junod , whose much-cited profile of Fred Rogers for Esquire in 1998 became the basis of the Tom Hanks film “ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood , ” tried to take a stab at what the TV host would say about the president .
“ He would say that Donald Trump was a child once too , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He would say that the latest Twitter victim or villain was a child once too .
”

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Everyone might be welcome in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” but the late TV host’s widow won’t be singing the show’s famous theme song to President Donald Trump any time soon.
“I think he’s just a horrible person,” Joanne Rogers, 92, told The Daily Beast.
Joanne Rogers also offered up a few other descriptions for Trump that definitely would not be heard around the neighborhood, including “pathologically ill” and “mentally ill.”
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Fred Rogers, who died of cancer in 2003, was famously apolitical and tried to see the good in all. Joanne Rogers told The Los Angeles Times last year that she hadn’t been especially political herself in the past. That changed when Trump entered the scene.
“And I want to vote for whoever is going to beat Trump,” she told the newspaper.
Joanne Rogers told The Daily Beast that she’d go into mourning if the president won reelection.
“I can’t even imagine,” she said. “I would feel so badly.”
She also endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden with a compliment that Fred Rogers would appreciate.
“I think he’s kind,” she said. “I think we all need somebody like Biden who can give us little pats on the back.”
Fred Rogers famously strived to see the good in anyone. Tom Junod, whose much-cited profile of Fred Rogers for Esquire in 1998 became the basis of the Tom Hanks film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” tried to take a stab at what the TV host would say about the president.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-03--Kenosha Mother Goes Off-Script In Heartbreaking Plea To Biden

Why are they not being done the same exact way that me and my brothers and sisters are being treated @ @ @ @ @ police officers in the Black neighborhoods than the white neighborhoods ?
Why are we being @ @ @ @ @ ?
We walk somewhere , automatically it ’ s ‘ You fit the description.
’ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s ‘ You ’ re a bad person.
’ I ’ m only @ @ @ @ @ seen enough within these last two years to say I ’ m tired .
I @ @ @ @ @ their future to be better than what I have right now because my present is @ @ @ @

Why are they not being done the same exact way that me and my brothers and sisters are being treated? Why are there more police officers in the Black neighborhoods than the white neighborhoods? Why are we being targeted more than anybody else?
We walk somewhere, automatically it’s ‘You fit the description.’ We wear something, automatically it’s ‘You’re a bad person.’ I’m only 31 and I’ve seen enough within these last two years to say I’m tired.
I do this because I want their future to be better than what I have right now because my present is not good.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--LGBTQ Americans Bearing Brunt Of COVID-19 Economic Crash, Survey Finds

Sept 4 ( Thomson Reuters Foundation ) - Economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic is having a harsher impact on LGBT+ Americans than on the general population , said a survey released on Friday showing gay and trans people 30 % more likely to have lost their jobs since May .
LGBT+ employees are 20 % more likely to have had hours reduced than their straight colleagues , a figure that rises to 44 % among gay and trans people of color , said the survey by the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) , a U.S. advocacy group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic from the end of May , when many U.S. states started easing lockdowns and initiating policies to reopen businesses .
“ As some communities start to go back to work ... we ’ re seeing that LGBTQ people , especially LGBTQ people of color and transgender people , are being left behind , ” said HRC President Alphonso David in a statement .
“ The data continues to reinforce what we already know - that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is not over because the pandemic is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already marginalized in this country.
” More than 6 million cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the United States , according to a Reuters tally , with at least 185,000 deaths .
The government ’ s most recent report on joblessness showed nearly 30 million Americans claiming some form of unemployment benefit in mid-August , with some 880,000 people filing for claims last week alone .
Rights advocates say gay and trans people are bearing the brunt - locked out of education and work opportunities due to discrimination , many were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit .
Even with many states starting to reopen , Black and Latino LGBT+ people have been 70 % more likely than the general population to have lost their jobs , according to the HRC survey .
LGBT+ people were 50 % more likely to have taken pay cuts since lockdown measures eased , and LGBT+ people of color were one and a half times more likely , it said .
Nevertheless , the survey found eight in 10 LGBT+ people favored containing the virus rather than reopening the economy after lockdown measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % among the general population .

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Sept 4 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic is having a harsher impact on LGBT+ Americans than on the general population, said a survey released on Friday showing gay and trans people 30% more likely to have lost their jobs since May.
LGBT+ employees are 20% more likely to have had hours reduced than their straight colleagues, a figure that rises to 44% among gay and trans people of color, said the survey by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a U.S. advocacy group.
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The research looked at the economic impact of the pandemic from the end of May, when many U.S. states started easing lockdowns and initiating policies to reopen businesses.
“As some communities start to go back to work ... we’re seeing that LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ people of color and transgender people, are being left behind,” said HRC President Alphonso David in a statement.
“The data continues to reinforce what we already know - that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is not over because the pandemic is not over, especially for communities who were already marginalized in this country.”
More than 6 million cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the United States, according to a Reuters tally, with at least 185,000 deaths.
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The government’s most recent report on joblessness showed nearly 30 million Americans claiming some form of unemployment benefit in mid-August, with some 880,000 people filing for claims last week alone.
Rights advocates say gay and trans people are bearing the brunt - locked out of education and work opportunities due to discrimination, many were in a fragile state financially before the pandemic hit.
Even with many states starting to reopen, Black and Latino LGBT+ people have been 70% more likely than the general population to have lost their jobs, according to the HRC survey.
LGBT+ people were 50% more likely to have taken pay cuts since lockdown measures eased, and LGBT+ people of color were one and a half times more likely, it said.
Nevertheless, the survey found eight in 10 LGBT+ people favored containing the virus rather than reopening the economy after lockdown measures eased, compared with less than 70% among the general population.
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The HRC survey was conducted with analytics consultancy firm PSB among 12,000 U.S. adults between April 16 and Aug. 6.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Trump Scorns Biden For The Way He Wears Mask: 'This Guy’s Got Some Big Issues'

The U.S. continues to lead the world in coronavirus cases , but that didn ’ t stop President Donald Trump from taking aim at Democratic rival Joe Biden for choosing to wear a mask at public appearances ― the protocol that federal health officials constantly urge as a key to stemming the pandemic .
Speaking at a rally in Latrobe , Pennsylvania , Trump on Thursday asked supporters if they ’ d ever seen “ a man that likes a mask as much ” as Biden .
“ He makes a speech and always has it ― not always , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has it hanging down , because you know what ?
It gives him a feeling of security , ” Trump told the largely mask-free crowd .
“ If I were a psychiatrist , I ’ d say , ‘ This guy ’ s got some big issues.
’ Hanging down .
Hanging down !
” While the president has repeatedly downplayed and politicized the wearing of masks , he said Thursday he was “ all for ” taking social distance measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 over Labor Day weekend .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that stuff , ” he said .
“ Wear your mask when you ’ re close together in particular and wash your hands , all of those things.
” Trump ’ s comments came days after the U.S. recorded more than 6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
As of Friday , the coronavirus had accounted for more than 186,000 deaths across the country .
It isn ’ t the first that the president has mocked Biden over the mask issue .
In May , he retweeted Fox News commentator Brit Hume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for wearing a mask at a Memorial Day ceremony in Delaware .
Speaking to CNN ’ s Dana Bash a day later , Biden blasted Trump as “ an absolute fool ” for attempting to deepen the partisan divide over the wearing of masks .
“ Presidents are supposed to lead , ” he said , “ not engage in folly and be falsely masculine.
” By July , Trump had appeared to backpedal somewhat , tweeting an image of himself wearing a mask and calling the act “ patriotic.
” Just hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a Washington fundraiser without a mask .
And last week , few among the large crowd on White House grounds listening to Trump ’ s speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination wore masks .

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The U.S. continues to lead the world in coronavirus cases, but that didn’t stop President Donald Trump from taking aim at Democratic rival Joe Biden for choosing to wear a mask at public appearances ― the protocol that federal health officials constantly urge as a key to stemming the pandemic.
Speaking at a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Trump on Thursday asked supporters if they’d ever seen “a man that likes a mask as much” as Biden.
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“He makes a speech and always has it ― not always, but a lot of times ― he has it hanging down, because you know what? It gives him a feeling of security,” Trump told the largely mask-free crowd. “If I were a psychiatrist, I’d say, ‘This guy’s got some big issues.’ Hanging down. Hanging down!”
While the president has repeatedly downplayed and politicized the wearing of masks, he said Thursday he was “all for” taking social distance measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 over Labor Day weekend.
“Distance on the weekend, and all of that stuff,” he said. “Wear your mask when you’re close together in particular and wash your hands, all of those things.”
Trump’s comments came days after the U.S. recorded more than 6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. As of Friday, the coronavirus had accounted for more than 186,000 deaths across the country.
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It isn’t the first that the president has mocked Biden over the mask issue.
In May, he retweeted Fox News commentator Brit Hume, who criticized the Democratic presidential nominee for wearing a mask at a Memorial Day ceremony in Delaware.
This might help explain why Trump doesn’t like to wear a mask in public. Biden today. pic.twitter.com/9l1gw1ljBE — Brit Hume (@brithume) May 25, 2020
Speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash a day later, Biden blasted Trump as “an absolute fool” for attempting to deepen the partisan divide over the wearing of masks.
“Presidents are supposed to lead,” he said, “not engage in folly and be falsely masculine.”
By July, Trump had appeared to backpedal somewhat, tweeting an image of himself wearing a mask and calling the act “patriotic.”
Just hours later, however, he was seen at a Washington fundraiser without a mask. And last week, few among the large crowd on White House grounds listening to Trump’s speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination wore masks.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--College Professor Dies Teaching Online Class After Weekslong Battle With COVID-19

A college professor in Buenos Aires , Argentina , who had been battling symptoms of the coronavirus for several weeks reportedly collapsed and died on Wednesday while delivering an online class from her home .
Paola De Simone , 46 , a member of the government and international relations faculty at the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa , passed out while teaching via the video conferencing platform Zoom , reported the Clarín newspaper .
Students participating in the virtual lecture reportedly asked De Simone for her address so that they could send medical help , according to the Pagina 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t ” before passing out , per MDZ Online .
Images of the tragic incident were later shared online , according to local news reports , sparking anger among social media users .
De Simone , the mother of a young daughter , had just days earlier noted on Twitter how she ’ d been fighting COVID-19 for a month and that her symptoms were showing no signs of easing off , reported Perfil .
She also revealed that her husband , a doctor who was not at home at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhausted from the increased workload resulting from the public health crisis .
He reportedly arrived home to find his wife dead .
The coronavirus has killed more than 9,300 people in Argentina .
Upwards of 450,000 have tested positive for the contagion nationwide .
The country is currently experiencing a severe uptick in the number of confirmed cases , with around 12,000 new infections now being recorded each day .
The university described De Simone , an employee for 15 years , in a statement shared on its social media accounts as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ great ” person .
Friends and colleagues also honored the educator , hailing her spirit and dedication to her students .

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A college professor in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who had been battling symptoms of the coronavirus for several weeks reportedly collapsed and died on Wednesday while delivering an online class from her home.
Paola De Simone, 46, a member of the government and international relations faculty at the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, passed out while teaching via the video conferencing platform Zoom, reported the Clarín newspaper.
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Students participating in the virtual lecture reportedly asked De Simone for her address so that they could send medical help, according to the Pagina 12 outlet. But she only responded “I can’t” before passing out, per MDZ Online.
Images of the tragic incident were later shared online, according to local news reports, sparking anger among social media users.
De Simone, the mother of a young daughter, had just days earlier noted on Twitter how she’d been fighting COVID-19 for a month and that her symptoms were showing no signs of easing off, reported Perfil.
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She also revealed that her husband, a doctor who was not at home at the time of her death, was exhausted from the increased workload resulting from the public health crisis. He reportedly arrived home to find his wife dead.
Está muy complicado. Llevo más de 4 semanas y los síntomas no se van. Un amigo nuestro está complicado. Mi marido está agotado por trabajar tanto en este momento (médico terapia y emergencias) Llega a más público y daña más. — Paola De Simone (@paolillabombon) August 28, 2020
The coronavirus has killed more than 9,300 people in Argentina.
Upwards of 450,000 have tested positive for the contagion nationwide. The country is currently experiencing a severe uptick in the number of confirmed cases, with around 12,000 new infections now being recorded each day.
The university described De Simone, an employee for 15 years, in a statement shared on its social media accounts as “a passionate and dedicated teacher” and a “great” person.
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Friends and colleagues also honored the educator, hailing her spirit and dedication to her students.
Despedida a una amiga. Te vamos a extrañar, @paolillabombon. pic.twitter.com/f7uXiR2EMC — Facundo Cruz 💚 (@facucruz) September 2, 2020
Una de las personas más dedicadas a sus alumnos, con la que trabajé y compartí mil anécdotas ya de graduada, hasta con su adorada hija, hoy nos dejó. Estoy en shock. Gracias @paolillabombon Dejaste una huella irremplazable en todos los que tuvimos la suerte de conocerte 💔 — Dani (@DanuVarela) September 2, 2020
Una amiga queridísima que se llevó este maldito virus.
Hasta cuando sea @paolillabombon
Me quedo con tu sonrisa y tus palabras siempre amables y certeras. Mi abrazo inmenso a tu hijita y tu esposo.
Por favor, cuídense y cuiden a los demás. Usen barbijo; tomen precauciones. https://t.co/IDe1lEKnu2 — SilvinaSterinPensel✨ (@SilSterinPensel) September 3, 2020
Hoy nos dejó @paolillabombon una querida colega, profesora y amiga. Un día triste para todos los que la conocimos. pic.twitter.com/dtriT5Nm8B — Juan Battaleme (@battaleme) September 2, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--GOP Candidate Who Touts QAnon Posts Photo Seemingly Threatening Democrats With Rifle

Republican House candidate and QAnon follower Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a photo of herself holding a rifle next to images of Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( N.Y. ) , Ilhan Omar ( Minn. ) and Rashida Tlaib ( Mich. ) .
“ Squad ’ s worst nightmare , ” Greene wrote on the Facebook caption Friday , referring to the three progressive lawmakers .
“ Hate America leftists want to take this country down .
Our country is on the line .
America needs fighters who speak the truth .
We need strong conservative Christians to go on the offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our country apart .
Americans must take our country back .
SAVE AMERICA .
STOP SOCIALISM .
DEFEAT THE DEMOCRATS !
” “ Posting a photo with an assault rifle next to the faces of three women of color is not advertising .
It ’ s incitement , ” Omar tweeted .
“ There are already death threats in response to this post.
” Posting a photo with an assault rifle next to the faces of three women of color is not advertising .
It ’ s incitement .
There are already death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook should remove this violent provocation .
https : //t.co/VYKzRv6VcB — Ilhan Omar ( @ IlhanMN ) September 4 , 2020 Andy Stone , a communications spokesperson for Facebook , said that the photo had been removed for violating the company ’ s policies .
Greene , who ’ s favored to win an open seat in Georgia ’ s heavily Republican 14th Congressional District , has promoted the QAnon conspiracy that falsely posits a dark web exists of Satanic pedophiles who have infiltrated the highest levels of media , entertainment and government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump , and in previous Facebook posts has referred to Black Americans as “ slaves to the Democratic Party , ” and said that billionaire philanthropist George Soros is a Nazi .
After Facebook removed the post , Greene offered no apology .
Instead , she said she will give away the gun in the photo that “ triggered so many leftists .
”

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Republican House candidate and QAnon follower Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a photo of herself holding a rifle next to images of Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.).
“Squad’s worst nightmare,” Greene wrote on the Facebook caption Friday, referring to the three progressive lawmakers. “Hate America leftists want to take this country down. Our country is on the line. America needs fighters who speak the truth. We need strong conservative Christians to go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart. Americans must take our country back. SAVE AMERICA. STOP SOCIALISM. DEFEAT THE DEMOCRATS!”
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Omar tweeted about the image, calling the post “incitement.”
“Posting a photo with an assault rifle next to the faces of three women of color is not advertising. It’s incitement,” Omar tweeted. “There are already death threats in response to this post.”
Posting a photo with an assault rifle next to the faces of three women of color is not advertising. It’s incitement.
There are already death threats in response to this post.
Facebook should remove this violent provocation. https://t.co/VYKzRv6VcB — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 4, 2020
Andy Stone, a communications spokesperson for Facebook, said that the photo had been removed for violating the company’s policies.
Greene, who’s favored to win an open seat in Georgia’s heavily Republican 14th Congressional District, has promoted the QAnon conspiracy that falsely posits a dark web exists of Satanic pedophiles who have infiltrated the highest levels of media, entertainment and government.
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Greene, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, in previous Facebook posts has referred to Black Americans as “slaves to the Democratic Party” and called billionaire philanthropist George Soros a Nazi.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Top Cop Ousted After Charging Civil Rights Leaders In Confederate Monument Case

The city manager of Portsmouth , Virginia , ousted the city ’ s police chief on Friday , weeks after the chief announced highly unusual felony charges against a sitting state senator , local civil rights leaders and city public defenders in connection with the destruction of a Confederate monument .
Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene allowed Sergeant Kevin McGee to bring the felony charges against Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas ( D ) , NAACP officials , and others under a 70-year-old state law that allows for felony charges involving “ injury to ” Confederate monuments .
She did so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McGee to internal affairs after he wrote a vitriolic letter criticizing Lucas and several of the other defendants he ’ d later charge .
A group of protesters beheaded four statues on the city ’ s Confederate monument back in June , but many of the defendants charged with felonies had left the scene of the protest long before most of the destruction took place .
One of the statues fell on a protester , seriously injuring him .
Greene has been removed from her position and placed on leave , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ television station , reported that Greene was facing an internal investigation and was placed on administrative leave for 30 days .
The Portsmouth Police Department refused to say where the investigation into McGee stands .
Greene had replaced former Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya Chapman , who was Virginia ’ s first Black female police chief and was pushed out last year .
After her forced departure , Chapman said that she ’ d never encountered the degree of racial bias that she saw in Portsmouth .
Greene is also Black , but has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of Portsmouth residents , particularly after she announced that charges against Lucas and other local Black leaders .
Sources who know McGee told HuffPost that he was one of Chapman ’ s most prominent detractors , and pushed his local Fraternal Order of Police to take a vote of no confidence in her .
Greene ’ s ouster happened the same day the majority of the defendants and their lawyers appeared in court for the first time .
Portsmouth General District Judge Morton Whitlow announced that Virginia ’ s state Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Portsmouth to hear the cases , according to The Virginian-Pilot .
Another hearing is set for Sept. 17 .
A total of 19 defendants have been charged .
Some allegedly participated in the most serious destruction .
But in Lucas ’ case , McGee never alleged that she took part .
Rather , under his own amateur legal theory , McGee alleged that Lucas ’ rhetoric made her a part of a broad criminal conspiracy .
McGee had also attempted to sideline the city ’ s elected prosecutor , Commonwealth ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a suspect in the case , despite the fact that she wasn ’ t on the scene .
Morales ’ lawyer fought back in a motion this week , saying that Morales was “ a constitutional officer charged with representing the Commonwealth in criminal prosecutions in the City of Portsmouth ” and that she would “ fulfill her professional duties.
” The motion said McGee was acting in bad faith and that Morales ― “ and not a police sergeant under investigation ” ― would determine for herself whether she had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucas ’ daughter Lisa Lucas-Burke , who serves as Portsmouth ’ s vice mayor , is facing misdemeanor charges after a Portsmouth resident alleged that her calls for Greene ’ s dismissal violated an obscure city statute .
Virginia ’ s magistrate system , which allowed McGee to obtain felony warrants without the approval of an actual prosecutor , also allows citizens to bring charges against officials in some cases .

Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene was suspended after she announced questionable felony charges against a state senator, local NAACP leaders and city public defenders. City of Portsmouth
The city manager of Portsmouth, Virginia, ousted the city’s police chief on Friday, weeks after the chief announced highly unusual felony charges against a sitting state senator, local civil rights leaders and city public defenders in connection with the destruction of a Confederate monument.
Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene allowed Sergeant Kevin McGee to bring the felony charges against Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas (D), NAACP officials, and others under a 70-year-old state law that allows for felony charges involving “injury to” Confederate monuments. She did so despite the fact that she had referred McGee to internal affairs after he wrote a vitriolic letter criticizing Lucas and several of the other defendants he’d later charge.
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A group of protesters beheaded four statues on the city’s Confederate monument back in June, but many of the defendants charged with felonies had left the scene of the protest long before most of the destruction took place. One of the statues fell on a protester, seriously injuring him.
Greene has been removed from her position and placed on leave, according to The Virginian-Pilot. WAVY, a local television station, reported that Greene was facing an internal investigation and was placed on administrative leave for 30 days. The Portsmouth Police Department refused to say where the investigation into McGee stands.
Greene had replaced former Portsmouth Police Chief Tonya Chapman, who was Virginia’s first Black female police chief and was pushed out last year. After her forced departure, Chapman said that she’d never encountered the degree of racial bias that she saw in Portsmouth. Greene is also Black, but has gathered the support of a largely white group of Portsmouth residents, particularly after she announced the charges against Lucas and other local Black leaders. Sources who know McGee told HuffPost that he was one of Chapman’s most prominent detractors, and pushed his local Fraternal Order of Police to take a vote of no confidence in her.
Greene’s ouster happened the same day the majority of the defendants and their lawyers appeared in court for the first time. Portsmouth General District Judge Morton Whitlow announced that Virginia’s state Supreme Court would assign a special judge from outside of Portsmouth to hear the cases, according to The Virginian-Pilot. Another hearing is set for Sept. 17.
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A total of 19 defendants have been charged. Some allegedly participated in the most serious destruction. But in Lucas’ case, McGee never alleged that she took part. Rather, under his own amateur legal theory, McGee alleged that Lucas’ rhetoric made her a part of a broad criminal conspiracy.
McGee had also attempted to sideline the city’s elected prosecutor, Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales, by naming her as a suspect in the case, despite the fact that she wasn’t on the scene. Morales’ lawyer fought back in a motion this week, saying that Morales was “a constitutional officer charged with representing the Commonwealth in criminal prosecutions in the City of Portsmouth” and that she would “fulfill her professional duties.” The motion said McGee was acting in bad faith and that Morales ― “and not a police sergeant under investigation” ― would determine for herself whether she had a conflict of interest with the case.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Pentagon Pushes To Shut Down Legendary Military Newspaper

The Pentagon plans to shut down Stars and Stripes , a longtime publication that covers the U.S. military community and is published for service members around the world , ordering it to cease operations and shutter its newsroom by the end of September under proposed budget cuts .
A Pentagon memo gives the paper ’ s publisher until Sept. 15 to outline a procedure that “ dissolves the Stars and Stripes ” and begin plans “ for vacating government owned/leased space worldwide , ” according to USA Today , which first reported the memo Friday .
According to the paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paper received the Pentagon memo and had been preparing contingency plans .
But he said he was “ encouraged ” by Trump ’ s tweet and cautiously optimistic it would mean that a deal to restore the funding could be reached soon .
“ If the president ’ s tweeted , there probably won ’ t be much resistance from his side , ” he told HuffPost Friday evening .
“ We ’ re just going to keep doing what we ’ re doing .
Now we have some hope that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis.
” Stars and Stripes is housed under and receives funding from the Department of Defense , but is editorially independent of it .
Dating back to the Civil War , it has operated continuously since World War II , publishing print editions around the world for U.S. military members serving overseas .
“ Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation ’ s freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom , ” the 15 senators wrote in a letter Wednesday .
“ Therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your decision to discontinue support for Stars and Stripes and that you reinstate the funding necessary for it to continue operations.
” According to the letter , the Defense Department “ plans to cease publication of Stars and Stripes on September 30 , 2020 and completely dissolve the organization by January 31 , 2021 as a result of the proposed termination of funding in the fiscal year 2021 President ’ s budget.
” In February , the DoD first signaled it would be stripping funding from the publication in the department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cost-saving measure , despite the fact that the $ 15.5 million for the publication makes up a tiny fraction of the Pentagon ’ s proposed $ 705.4 billion budget for 2021 .
“ We trimmed the support for Stars and Stripes because we need to invest that money , as we did with many , many other programs , into higher-priority issues , ” Esper said at the time , citing space , nuclear programs and hypersonic missiles .
In July , the House passed a defense spending bill that included funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate has yet to vote on the bill or pass a continuing resolution to temporarily preserve funding while it negotiates next year ’ s defense budget .
Without any legislative action , the publication ’ s funding would expire on Sept. 30 , the end of the 2020 fiscal year .
The senators wrote that a continuing resolution “ places a legal obligation on the Department to not act on a termination of a program until a full-year appropriations bill is enacted , ” asking Esper for “ written assurance that the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps that would preempt the funding prerogative of Congress.
” Leonard , in his Friday comments , said , “ We know of a lot of support we have in Congress , so we felt everything was on track to keep ( the publication ) going for another year .
It ’ s a great relief that this may be working toward a solution.
” Trump regularly touts his support of the U.S. military and uses it for his political image , while also reportedly denigrating services members .
On Thursday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has made , including that while visiting France in 2018 , he referred to military members who died in World War I as “ suckers ” and “ losers .
”

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The Pentagon plans to shut down Stars and Stripes, a longtime publication that covers the U.S. military community and is published for service members around the world, ordering it to cease operations and shutter its newsroom by the end of September under proposed budget cuts.
A Pentagon memo gives the paper’s publisher until Sept. 15 to outline a procedure that “dissolves the Stars and Stripes” and begin plans “for vacating government owned/leased space worldwide,” according to USA Today, which first reported the memo Friday.
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Later Friday, President Donald Trump claimed in a tweet that he would “NOT be cutting funding” to the newspaper, “a wonderful source of information to our Great Military.”
The United States of America will NOT be cutting funding to @starsandstripes magazine under my watch. It will continue to be a wonderful source of information to our Great Military! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
According to the paper’s editorial director Terry Leonard, the paper received the Pentagon memo and had been preparing contingency plans. But he said he was “encouraged” by Trump’s tweet and cautiously optimistic it would mean that a deal to restore the funding could be reached soon.
“If the president’s tweeted, there probably won’t be much resistance from his side,” he told HuffPost Friday evening. “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. Now we have some hope that we can keep going before this becomes a crisis.”
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Stars and Stripes is housed under and receives funding from the Department of Defense, but is editorially independent of it. Dating back to the Civil War, it has operated continuously since World War II, publishing print editions around the world for U.S. military members serving overseas.
I filed two stories today, one of which revealed coronavirus was found aboard the USS Ronald Reagan while at sea. We still owe our service members so much, and we’re going to continue telling their stories as long as we possibly can. #savestarsandstripes https://t.co/HggnZHadRs https://t.co/onHz3Hs8Bj — Caitlin Doornbos (@CaitlinDoornbos) September 4, 2020
Earlier this week, a bipartisan group of senators urged Defense Secretary Mark Esper to reverse plans to shutter the publication.
“Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation’s freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom,” the 15 senators wrote in a letter Wednesday. “Therefore, we respectfully request that you rescind your decision to discontinue support for Stars and Stripes and that you reinstate the funding necessary for it to continue operations.”
According to the letter, the Defense Department “plans to cease publication of Stars and Stripes on September 30, 2020 and completely dissolve the organization by January 31, 2021 as a result of the proposed termination of funding in the fiscal year 2021 President’s budget.”
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A push by Defense Secretary Mark Esper (above) to shut down the longtime publication Stars and Stripes for budget reasons may be thwarted by President Donald Trump. Army Staff Sgt. Nicole Mejia/Department of Defense via AP
In February, the DoD first signaled it would be stripping funding from the publication in the department’s 2021 budget. Esper claimed it was a cost-saving measure, despite the fact that the $15.5 million for the publication makes up a tiny fraction of the Pentagon’s proposed $705.4 billion budget for 2021.
“We trimmed the support for Stars and Stripes because we need to invest that money, as we did with many, many other programs, into higher-priority issues,” Esper said at the time, citing space, nuclear programs and hypersonic missiles.
In July, the House passed a defense spending bill that included funding for the publication. However, the Senate has yet to vote on the bill or pass a continuing resolution to temporarily preserve funding while it negotiates next year’s defense budget. Without any legislative action, the publication’s funding would expire on Sept. 30, the end of the 2020 fiscal year.
The senators wrote that a continuing resolution “places a legal obligation on the Department to not act on a termination of a program until a full-year appropriations bill is enacted,” asking Esper for “written assurance that the Department will comply with this obligation and avoid steps that would preempt the funding prerogative of Congress.”
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Leonard, in his Friday comments, said, “We know of a lot of support we have in Congress, so we felt everything was on track to keep (the publication) going for another year. It’s a great relief that this may be working toward a solution.”
A spokesperson for the Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
Trump regularly touts his support of the U.S. military and uses it for his political image, while also reportedly denigrating services members. On Thursday, the Atlantic reported several examples of disparaging comments he has made, including that while visiting France in 2018, he referred to military members who died in World War I as “suckers” and “losers.”
The White House denied the comments, though several DoD officials confirmed them to The Associated Press and The Washington Post.
This story has been updated with comments from Terry Leonard, the Stars and Stripes editorial director.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Joe Biden: Trump's Military Comments Are 'Sick,' 'Deplorable,' 'Un-American'

“ I am always cautioned not to lose my temper .
This may be as close as I ’ ve come this campaign , ” Biden said during an address in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ When my son was an assistant U.S. Attorney and he volunteered to go to Kosovo while the war was going on , as a civilian , he wasn ’ t a sucker , ” Biden said .
“ When my son volunteered and joined the United States military as the attorney general and went to Iraq for a year and won the Bronze Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t a sucker .
The servicemen and women he served with , particularly those who did not come home , were not losers.
” The Atlantic reported in a story on Thursday that Trump called 1,800 deceased American soldiers “ suckers ” for getting killed .
Sources told The Atlantic that when Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 , he asked why he would want to go to a cemetery “ filled with losers.
” The Associated Press , Washington Post and Fox News confirmed details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If it is true , and based on the things he ’ s said , I believe the article is true , I would ask you all a rhetorical question : How would you feel if you had a kid in Afghanistan right now ?
How would you feel if you lost a son , daughter , husband , wife ?
How would you feel , for real ?
” Biden asked reporters .
How would you feel if you had a kid in Afghanistan right now ?
How would you feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , husband , wife ?
How would you feel , for real ?
Trump , who never served in the military , has repeatedly denigrated American veterans and clashed with their families .
He insulted the parents of Capt .
Humayun Khan , a Muslim soldier killed during the Iraq War , because they spoke out against Trump ’ s proposed Muslim ban during the 2016 Democratic National Convention .
He publicly criticized the late Sen. John McCain ( R-Ariz. ) as a “ loser ” because he was a prisoner of war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ H.W .
Bush a “ loser ” for being shot down as a pilot during World War II .
He criticized generals .
He reportedly didn ’ t want amputees at a military parade , according to The Atlantic .
And although Trump publicly proclaims himself a close ally to the military , he ’ s also limited certain duties as a commander in chief .
As HuffPost ’ s S.V .
Dáte reported this week , Trump stopped going to Dover Air Force Base to ceremoniously receive the bodies of fallen soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a fallen Navy SEAL berated him .
“ You can count on one hand the number of times Donald Trump has been to Dover , ” Jon Soltz , chairman of the progressive political group VoteVets and an Iraq War veteran , told Dáte .
“ There simply is no bottom when it comes to what he ’ ll lie about .
I wish there was more outrage about Trump lying about the dignified transfer of the fallen for political reasons , because as a veteran it really disgusts me.
” VoteVets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article , in which several family members of fallen soldiers said Trump “ has no right being commander in chief ” and that he “ doesn ’ t know what it is to sacrifice.
” All the while , Trump claims he is a great supporter of the military , including by touting the Veterans Choice health care program .
That program , however , was actually signed into law by President Barack Obama , and was written by McCain .
“ I like people who weren ’ t captured , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCain died in August 2018 , he referred to him yet again as a “ loser ” and became enraged when flags were lowered to half-staff .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Democratic nominee Joe Biden issued a fiery response Friday afternoon to recent reports that President Donald Trump disparaged fallen World War I soldiers as “suckers” and “losers,” along with his well-documented jabs against veterans and military family members.
“I am always cautioned not to lose my temper. This may be as close as I’ve come this campaign,” Biden said during an address in Wilmington, Delaware.
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Biden called Trump’s words “deplorable,” and mentioned his own deceased son, Beau, whose political career overlapped with his military service.
“When my son was an assistant U.S. Attorney and he volunteered to go to Kosovo while the war was going on, as a civilian, he wasn’t a sucker,” Biden said.
“When my son volunteered and joined the United States military as the attorney general and went to Iraq for a year and won the Bronze Star and other commendations, he wasn’t a sucker. The servicemen and women he served with, particularly those who did not come home, were not losers.”
The Atlantic reported in a story on Thursday that Trump called 1,800 deceased American soldiers “suckers” for getting killed. Sources told The Atlantic that when Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he asked why he would want to go to a cemetery “filled with losers.” The Associated Press, Washington Post and Fox News confirmed details of The Atlantic’s piece.
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Trump on Friday denied said allegations, calling it a “fake story.” But Biden believes the allegations to be true.
“If it is true, and based on the things he’s said, I believe the article is true, I would ask you all a rhetorical question: How would you feel if you had a kid in Afghanistan right now? How would you feel if you lost a son, daughter, husband, wife? How would you feel, for real?” Biden asked reporters.
“How would you feel if you had a kid in Afghanistan right now? How would you feel if you lost a son, daughter, husband, wife? How would you feel, for real?” - Joe Biden
Trump, who never served in the military, has repeatedly denigrated American veterans and clashed with their families. He insulted the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan, a Muslim soldier killed during the Iraq War, because they spoke out against Trump’s proposed Muslim ban during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He publicly criticized the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as a “loser” because he was a prisoner of war, and reportedly called former President George H.W. Bush a “loser” for being shot down as a pilot during World War II. He criticized generals. He reportedly didn’t want amputees at a military parade, according to The Atlantic.
And although Trump publicly proclaims himself a close ally to the military, he’s also limited certain duties as a commander in chief. As HuffPost’s S.V. Dáte reported this week, Trump stopped going to Dover Air Force Base to ceremoniously receive the bodies of fallen soldiers for nearly two years after the father of a fallen Navy SEAL berated him.
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“You can count on one hand the number of times Donald Trump has been to Dover,” Jon Soltz, chairman of the progressive political group VoteVets and an Iraq War veteran, told Dáte. “There simply is no bottom when it comes to what he’ll lie about. I wish there was more outrage about Trump lying about the dignified transfer of the fallen for political reasons, because as a veteran it really disgusts me.”
VoteVets issued a video response to The Atlantic article, in which several family members of fallen soldiers said Trump “has no right being commander in chief” and that he “doesn’t know what it is to sacrifice.”
Donald Trump called our fallen troops "suckers" and "losers."
They can't speak for themselves, but these 6 Gold Star families speak for our fallen.
Here is their POWERFUL message.#GoldStarParentsAgainstTrump #VeteransAgainstTrump pic.twitter.com/ZnbFevqkNR — VoteVets (@votevets) September 4, 2020
All the while, Trump claims he is a great supporter of the military, including by touting the Veterans Choice health care program. That program, however, was actually signed into law by President Barack Obama, and was written by McCain.
While Trump has clashed with multiple veterans and military family members, his greatest feud has been with McCain.
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“I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump said of McCain in 2015. When McCain died in August 2018, he referred to him yet again as a “loser” and became enraged when flags were lowered to half-staff.
“What the fuck are we doing that for? Guy was a fucking loser,” Trump reportedly told his aides.
While Trump denied that he objected to lowering the flags, a former Department of Homeland Security official-turned-Trump critic confirmed the report on Friday.
Biden called Trump out for his consistent disrespect of McCain’s military service.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--GOP Rep. Thomas Massie Says He Wouldn't Convict Accused Killer Kyle Rittenhouse

“ Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend our city tonight from the evil thugs ?
” the Facebook event description read .
“ No doubt they are currently planning on the next part of the city to burn tonight.
” In his interview on Thursday , Massie said he would not convict Rittenhouse for the alleged killings .
“ I think the strongest thing he has for him is the actual video evidence , ” Massie said .
“ And if I were on a jury and all I had was the evidence that I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the videos that are out there , I would not convict him of a single one of these charges.
” President Donald Trump has also defended Rittenhouse , saying the teen “ probably would have been killed ” if he hadn ’ t shot the protestors .
“ He was trying to get away from them , I guess ... and he fell , ” Trump said Monday .
“ And then they very violently attacked him.
” “ He was in very big trouble , ” Trump added .
“ He probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s under investigation .
”

“Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend our city tonight from the evil thugs?” the Facebook event description read. “No doubt they are currently planning on the next part of the city to burn tonight.”
In his interview on Thursday, Massie said he would not convict Rittenhouse for the alleged killings.
“I think the strongest thing he has for him is the actual video evidence,” Massie said. “And if I were on a jury and all I had was the evidence that I have been able to acquire through social media and the videos that are out there, I would not convict him of a single one of these charges.”
President Donald Trump has also defended Rittenhouse, saying the teen “probably would have been killed” if he hadn’t shot the protestors.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--You Know Things Are Bad For Trump When 'Even Fox News' Trends On Twitter

President Donald Trump may soon be angrily tweeting insults to Fox News after the conservative news network corroborated reports that he has shown contempt for the military .
On Thursday , The Atlantic ’ s Jeffrey Goldberg published a report alleging Trump referred to U.S. service members who died in World War I as “ losers ” and “ suckers.
” The story by the magazine ’ s editor-in-chief was based largely on what he identified as “ four people with firsthand knowledge ” of the matter ; quickly confirming it independently , based on anonymous sources , were The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Friday , Fox News risked upsetting the easily angered president by reporting that two former Trump administration officials had confirmed details in the story .
In addition , national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin quoted one official who said Trump called the Vietnam War “ a stupid war ” and that “ anyone who went was a sucker.
’ ” According to one former senior Trump administration official : `` When the President spoke about the Vietnam War , he said , 'It was a stupid war .
Anyone who went was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ JenGriffinFNC ) September 4 , 2020 Trump , of draft age during the war , received medical exemptions due to bone spurs in his feet .
Considering Fox News typically is so supportive of the president that some wags have called it “ state TV , ” many Twitter users took note that one of its reporters was corroborating a negative Trump story .
When Trump 's disrespect for and abuse of American veterans is so obvious even Fox News ca n't spin the truth this time : https : //t.co/NidFgcpZVp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 4 , 2020 Now that even Fox News has confirmed the ways Donald Trump has denigrated and dishonored our veterans , will Ron DeSantis , Rick Scott and Marco Rubio stand up for our service men and women , or stay silent in the face of this disgrace ?
https : //t.co/afsXUzYhZt — Chris King ( @ ChrisKingFL ) September 4 , 2020 So now that even Fox News is corroborating the Trump/veterans story the only place left for him is OANN , which is probably already framing the whole thing as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Barack Obama to take down JFK Jr. https : //t.co/HJEO7pWzto — Jared Yates Sexton ( @ JYSexton ) September 4 , 2020 Even Fox News is confirming the story in the Atlantic .
It 's time for this former official to just come forward publicly , but you can now see why the Trump team is working so furiously to stop the bleeding over these quotes .
https : //t.co/ngreDbQyfS — Josh Jordan ( @ NumbersMuncher ) September 4 , 2020 Wow , even Fox News is confirming that Trump shat all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also has done it many times in public . )
https : //t.co/PnSTkvDy5n — Amanda Marcotte ( @ AmandaMarcotte ) September 4 , 2020 Skepticism also abounded that Griffin ’ s reportage of Trump ’ s comments would have any effect on his supporters .
Even Fox News confirms it now .
But his cult followers will never believe it .
Their love is utterly blind .
https : //t.co/XtPrxfym3R — Stuart Hazeldine ( @ stuarthazeldine ) September 4 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump may soon be angrily tweeting insults to Fox News after the conservative news network corroborated reports that he has shown contempt for the military.
On Thursday, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg published a report alleging Trump referred to U.S. service members who died in World War I as “losers” and “suckers.”
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The story by the magazine’s editor-in-chief was based largely on what he identified as “four people with firsthand knowledge” of the matter; quickly confirming it independently, based on anonymous sources, were The Associated Press and The Washington Post.
On Friday, Fox News risked upsetting the easily angered president by reporting that two former Trump administration officials had confirmed details in the story.
In addition, national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin quoted one official who said Trump called the Vietnam War “a stupid war” and that “anyone who went was a sucker.’”
According to one former senior Trump administration official: "When the President spoke about the Vietnam War, he said, 'It was a stupid war. Anyone who went was a sucker'." — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) September 4, 2020
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Trump, of draft age during the war, received medical exemptions due to bone spurs in his feet.
Considering Fox News typically is so supportive of the president that some wags have called it “state TV,” many Twitter users took note that one of its reporters was corroborating a negative Trump story.
As a result, “Even Fox News” became a trending term Friday afternoon.
When Trump's disrespect for and abuse of American veterans is so obvious even Fox News can't spin the truth this time: https://t.co/NidFgcpZVp — Max Burns (@themaxburns) September 4, 2020
Even Fox News confirms the worst about Trump and the accuracy of the Atlantic.https://t.co/VRVrkVeBKK — Grant Stern (@grantstern) September 4, 2020
Now that even Fox News has confirmed the ways Donald Trump has denigrated and dishonored our veterans, will Ron DeSantis, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio stand up for our service men and women, or stay silent in the face of this disgrace? https://t.co/afsXUzYhZt — Chris King (@ChrisKingFL) September 4, 2020
So now that even Fox News is corroborating the Trump/veterans story the only place left for him is OANN, which is probably already framing the whole thing as a false flag psyop by Bill Gates and Barack Obama to take down JFK Jr. https://t.co/HJEO7pWzto — Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) September 4, 2020
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Even Fox News is confirming the story in the Atlantic.
It's time for this former official to just come forward publicly, but you can now see why the Trump team is working so furiously to stop the bleeding over these quotes. https://t.co/ngreDbQyfS — Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) September 4, 2020
Wow, even Fox News is confirming that Trump shat all over the troops in private. (He also has done it many times in public.) https://t.co/PnSTkvDy5n — Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) September 4, 2020
Skepticism also abounded that Griffin’s reportage of Trump’s comments would have any effect on his supporters.
Even Fox News confirms it now. But his cult followers will never believe it. Their love is utterly blind. https://t.co/XtPrxfym3R — Stuart Hazeldine (@stuarthazeldine) September 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-04--Spokane Protester: I Was Abducted By Unidentified Officers, Put In Unmarked Van

Jeremy Logan Activist Jeremy Logan , pictured here in his car , says unidentified officers in Spokane , Washington , abducted him as he walked to a protest and put him in an unmarked van .
A co-chair of the Spokane , Washington , chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America says unidentified law enforcement agents arrested him while he was walking to a Black Lives Matter protest last weekend , put him in an unmarked van and detained him for more than a day as federal agents attempted to interview him .
The local sheriff ’ s office later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arrest .
The Spokane DSA is now calling for a “ full investigation ” into the incident , while the sheriff — who ’ s made previous statements lashing out at “ antifa ” — is accusing Logan of lying about what happened .
It all started at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday , Aug. 30 , Logan told HuffPost , after he parked his car near the site of a protest against police brutality in Spokane .
As he walked to join up with a few friends on their way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself suddenly apprehended by two men , one of whom wore a green tactical vest and was carrying a gun .
Logan says the officers never showed him a badge and repeatedly refused to identify the agencies for which they worked .
They also made contradictory statements about the alleged warrant , at different times saying it had been issued in Chelan or Okanogan counties .
Spokane , where the arrest took place , is in Spokane County .
“ He has made threatening public statements toward law enforcement in the past , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not elaborate on the nature of the supposed statements .
( Logan laughed at the accusation that he ’ d somehow threatened cops .
“ I ’ ve been really critical , ” he said , “ but never made a threat of any kind.
” ) “ I know it is difficult for the Huffington Post to understand the rule of law , ” the sheriff said .
“ They seemed to have forgotten we are a country of laws .
They ’ ve also forgotten their duty to our country to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections provided by the Constitution of the United States.
” Earlier this summer , Knezovich claimed that “ antifa , ” or anti-fascist activists , from out of town were responsible for some property destruction in Spokane during a May 31 demonstration after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Knezovich has never provided any evidence to support this assertion .
As thousands of historic uprisings against police brutality have swept the nation this summer ( a vast majority of them nonviolent ) , cops have dubiously tried to tie protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cast them as extreme .
President Donald Trump has also referred to anti-fascist activists as “ terrorists.
” While in his cell , he said , he was approached by someone from the sheriff ’ s office who told him there were two federal agents there who wanted to talk to him .
“ They were going to try to convince me that something bad is going to happen to me if I don ’ t cooperate with them , ” Logan theorized .
“ And even though I ’ m scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ...
I know that there ’ s nothing that they can do to me .
I know that they have nothing on me .
”

Activist Jeremy Logan, pictured here in his car, says unidentified officers in Spokane, Washington, abducted him as he walked to a protest and put him in an unmarked van. Jeremy Logan
A co-chair of the Spokane, Washington, chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America says unidentified law enforcement agents arrested him while he was walking to a Black Lives Matter protest last weekend, put him in an unmarked van and detained him for more than a day as federal agents attempted to interview him.
The arrest, which two of the activist’s friends witnessed and confirmed to HuffPost, follows a disturbing trend of law enforcement snatching protesters off the street this summer, often without identifying themselves.
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Jeremy Logan — a 40-year-old DSA member, tenants rights organizer, and owner of a painting company ― believes the whole ordeal was either an attempt to pressure him into providing intel on his fellow anti-fascist activists, or retaliation for past statements he’s made criticizing police.
The local sheriff’s office later confirmed to HuffPost that it carried out the arrest. The Spokane DSA is now calling for a “full investigation” into the incident, while the sheriff — who’s made previous statements lashing out at “antifa” — is accusing Logan of lying about what happened.
It all started at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, Logan told HuffPost, after he parked his car near the site of a protest against police brutality in Spokane. As he walked to join up with a few friends on their way to the protest, Logan says he found himself suddenly apprehended by two men, one of whom wore a green tactical vest and was carrying a gun.
About four other men, all in plainclothes, also suddenly surrounded Logan. They threw him into the back of an unmarked silver Dodge Caravan, telling him he was under arrest for an outstanding warrant.
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Two of Logan’s friends, William Neville and Quinna B., witnessed the arrest and confirmed his story to HuffPost. “It was scary,” said Quinna, who asked that HuffPost not use her full name.
Logan says the officers never showed him a badge and repeatedly refused to identify the agencies for which they worked. They also made contradictory statements about the alleged warrant, at different times saying it had been issued in Chelan or Okanogan counties. Spokane, where the arrest took place, is in Spokane County.
Logan says the officers drove him in the van to a rendezvous point four or five blocks away, where he was put in a Spokane Police Department car and taken to the county jail downtown.
He was detained until Monday evening, when he was released after his father paid a $500 bond. HuffPost viewed a receipt of the bond payment.
A spokesperson for the Spokane Police Department confirmed to HuffPost that one of its officers transported Logan to jail on Sunday, but said the department was otherwise uninvolved in the arrest.
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The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office initiated Logan’s arrest, Cpl. Mark Gregory told HuffPost in an email, “because we learned he had a valid felony warrant.”
“He has made threatening public statements toward law enforcement in the past,” Gregory said, although he would not elaborate on the nature of the supposed statements. (Logan laughed at the accusation that he’d somehow threatened cops. “I’ve been really critical,” he said, “but never made a threat of any kind.”)
Logan, by his own admission, has an open warrant in Douglas County from 2013, due to unpaid fines.
Gregory said the warrant in question stems from a failure to appear in court on charges of drug possession. Although Logan also admits to previous drug-related arrests, he denies having any open warrants for not showing up in court.
Gregory did not answer HuffPost’s questions as to why the sheriff’s office suddenly needed to arrest Logan on a years-old warrant from a different county as Logan was on his way to a protest against police brutality.
In a separate statement, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich lashed out at HuffPost for writing this story.
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“I know it is difficult for the Huffington Post to understand the rule of law,” the sheriff said. “They seemed to have forgotten we are a country of laws. They’ve also forgotten their duty to our country to provide unbiased, factual reporting per the protections provided by the Constitution of the United States.”
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich blamed property destruction on "antifa" earlier this summer, but offered no evidence to back it up. Spokane County Sheriff's Office
Earlier this summer, Knezovich claimed that “antifa,” or anti-fascist activists, from out of town were responsible for some property destruction in Spokane during a May 31 demonstration after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Knezovich has never provided any evidence to support this assertion.
His rhetoric echoes fearmongering by other law enforcement officials across the country about the supposed menace of “antifa” ― a loose and hard-to-define confederation of often anonymous leftists who sometimes confront white supremacists and other far-right groups in the streets.
As thousands of historic uprisings against police brutality have swept the nation this summer (a vast majority of them nonviolent), cops have dubiously tried to tie protesters to “antifa” in an effort to cast them as extreme. President Donald Trump has also referred to anti-fascist activists as “terrorists.”
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In this atmosphere, law enforcement has grown increasingly aggressive against protesters.
Logan’s story of his arrest bears striking similarities to the shocking arrests of protesters in Portland, Oregon, and New York, where videos showed armed officers abducting demonstrators off the street and tossing them into unmarked vans.
NYC is taking after Portland - a trans femme protestor was pulled into an unmarked van at the Abolition Park protest - this was at 2nd Ave and 25th Street pic.twitter.com/1PDhSYuK9h — michelle lh࿊࿊q (@MichelleLhooq) July 28, 2020
Logan, like many other protesters this summer, also claims that federal agents attempted to interview him in jail.
While in his cell, he said, he was approached by someone from the sheriff’s office who told him there were two federal agents there who wanted to talk to him.
“Maybe just talk to them,” the man from the sheriff’s office said, according to Logan. “They might have something good for you.”
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It was at that moment, Logan says, he suspected his arrest was part of a ploy to get him to give up information about his fellow protesters.
“They were going to try to convince me that something bad is going to happen to me if I don’t cooperate with them,” Logan theorized. “And even though I’m scared, even though I’m tired ... I know that there’s nothing that they can do to me. I know that they have nothing on me.”
So he refused to speak with them.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that federal agents were at the jail. “It is my understanding agents requested to speak with Mr. Logan the following day, but he declined,” Gregory told HuffPost.
In a statement this week, the Spokane chapter of the DSA called on the Spokane city government to investigate Logan’s arrest and detention.
“We are deeply concerned that the proliferation of unaccountable, non-transparent policing and police-like activity mirrors historical patterns of authoritarianism,” the group’s statement says. “It could also open the door for vigilante, neo-fascist militias to impersonate plainclothes law enforcement and abduct people of political or demographic identities against whom they advocate committing violence.”
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Such far-right groups, DSA’s statement noted, are active in Spokane, “where white militias have walked our streets open carrying after peaceful protests.”
In his statement to HuffPost, Knezovich said it is a “great honor to represent a political party.”
“Mr. Logan has chosen to represent his in a negative light by not taking care of his criminal obligations,” Knezovich said, “and then chose to bring more shame by lying about the facts of what occurred during his arrest and using the just cause of equality to do it.”
But Logan said nothing will get in between him and his fellow activists.