thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--White House Staff, Secret Service Eye COVID With Fear And Anger

As he arrived back at the White House on Monday evening , the president defiantly removed his face mask and stopped to pose on a balcony within feet of a White House photographer .
He was seen inside moments later , surrounded by numerous people as he taped a video message urging Americans not to fear a virus that has killed more than 210,000 in the U.S. and 1 million worldwide .
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the White House was “ taking every precaution necessary ” to protect not just the first family but “ every staff member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and best practices .
He added that physical access to the president would be significantly limited and appropriate protective gear worn by those near him .
Nonetheless , the mood within the White House remains somber , with staff fearful they may have been exposed to the virus .
As they confront a new reality — a worksite that once seemed like a bubble of safety is anything but — they also have been engaged in finger-pointing over conflicting reports released about the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information provided internally .
Trump had aides there recording videos and taking photographs of him .
On Sunday evening , he took a surprise drive around the hospital to wave to supporters from the window of an SUV .
The Secret Service agents in the car with him were dressed in personal protective equipment .
“ How do they think he ’ s going to leave ?
Is someone gon na toss him the keys to a Buick and let him drive home by himself ?
They ’ re always around him because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gidley said on Fox News .
Several who spoke with The Associated Press expressed concern over the cavalier attitude the White House has taken when it comes to masks and distancing .
Colleagues , they said , are angry , but feel there ’ s little they can do .
Others noted the difference between facing outside threats they have trained for — a gun , a bomb or a biohazard — and being put at additional risk because of behavior they characterized as reckless at times .
The agents spoke on condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Secret Service has refused to disclose how many of its employees have tested positive or have had to quarantine , citing privacy and security .
But in the midst of the election , thousands of agents are on duty and anyone who tests positive can easily be subbed out , officials have said .
Trump has joined first lady Melania Trump , who also tested positive , in the residential area of the White House .
It is typically served by a staff of roughly 100 people , including housekeepers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or six butlers — who interact most closely with the president , said Kate Andersen Brower , who wrote the “ The Residence : Inside the Private World of the White House.
” “ The butlers always feel protective of the first family , but there ’ s just a concern about whether or not the staff would get sick , ” Brower said .
Most are older , she said , “ because they work from one generation to the next .
They are people who have been on the job for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work to get their full pensions.
” Many of the White House residence staffers are Black or Latino , among the demographic groups showing higher rates of infection and death in the pandemic .
Overall deaths among minorities have risen far higher than among white people , data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show .
Among the risk factors , some communities of color are likely to have lower incomes , less often have insurance to help fight sickness , and have jobs that are deemed essential and expose @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The West Wing is a ghost town. Staff members are scared of exposure. And the White House is now a treatment ward for not one — but two — COVID patients, including a president who has long taken the threat of the virus lightly.
President Donald Trump’s decision to return home from a military hospital despite his continued illness is putting a new focus on the people around him who could be further exposed if he doesn’t abide by strict isolation protocols.
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Throughout the pandemic, White House custodians, ushers, kitchen staff, and members of the U.S. Secret Service have continued to show up for work in what is now a coronavirus hot spot, with more than a dozen known cases this week alone.
Trump, still contagious, has made clear that he has little intention of abiding by best containment practices.
As he arrived back at the White House on Monday evening, the president defiantly removed his face mask and stopped to pose on a balcony within feet of a White House photographer. He was seen inside moments later, surrounded by numerous people as he taped a video message urging Americans not to fear a virus that has killed more than 210,000 in the U.S. and 1 million worldwide.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the White House was “taking every precaution necessary” to protect not just the first family but “every staff member working on the complex” consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and best practices. He added that physical access to the president would be significantly limited and appropriate protective gear worn by those near him.
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Nonetheless, the mood within the White House remains somber, with staff fearful they may have been exposed to the virus. As they confront a new reality — a worksite that once seemed like a bubble of safety is anything but — they also have been engaged in finger-pointing over conflicting reports released about the president’s health as well as a lack of information provided internally.
Many have learned about positive tests from media reports and several were exposed, without their knowledge, to people the White House already knew could be contagious.
Indeed, it took until late Sunday night, nearly three full days after Trump’s diagnosis, for the White House to send a staff-wide note in response. Even then, it did not acknowledge the outbreak.
“As a reminder,” read the letter from the White House Management Office, “if you are experiencing any symptoms ... please stay home and do not come to work.” Staff who develop symptoms were advised to “go home immediately” and contact their doctors rather than the White House Medical Unit.
Even when Trump was at the hospital, his staff was not immune to risk.
Trump had aides there recording videos and taking photographs of him. On Sunday evening, he took a surprise drive around the hospital to wave to supporters from the window of an SUV. The Secret Service agents in the car with him were dressed in personal protective equipment.
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“Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the president and all those supporting it, including PPE,” Deere said.
Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley dismissed media concern about the agents’ safety as “absolutely stupid and foolish.”
“How do they think he’s going to leave? Is someone gonna toss him the keys to a Buick and let him drive home by himself? They’re always around him because that’s their job,” Gidley said on Fox News.
But agents told a very different story.
Several who spoke with The Associated Press expressed concern over the cavalier attitude the White House has taken when it comes to masks and distancing. Colleagues, they said, are angry, but feel there’s little they can do.
One, speaking after White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested positive on Monday, said it felt like he and some of his colleagues had been spared only by a measure of good luck.
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Others noted the difference between facing outside threats they have trained for — a gun, a bomb or a biohazard — and being put at additional risk because of behavior they characterized as reckless at times. The agents spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid jeopardizing their jobs.
The Secret Service has refused to disclose how many of its employees have tested positive or have had to quarantine, citing privacy and security. But in the midst of the election, thousands of agents are on duty and anyone who tests positive can easily be subbed out, officials have said.
Secret Service spokeswoman Julia McMurray said the agency takes “every precaution to keep our protectees, employees and families, and the general public, safe and healthy.”
Trump has joined first lady Melania Trump, who also tested positive, in the residential area of the White House. It is typically served by a staff of roughly 100 people, including housekeepers, cooks, florists, groundskeepers and five or six butlers — who interact most closely with the president, said Kate Andersen Brower, who wrote the “The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House.”
During the pandemic, that staff has been reduced to a skeleton crew, with mask-wearing much more prevalent than in the West Wing, where few have worn them regularly.
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Brower said she recently spoke with three former employees who expressed concern about the health of current workers, but were too afraid to speak publicly.
“The butlers always feel protective of the first family, but there’s just a concern about whether or not the staff would get sick,” Brower said. Most are older, she said, “because they work from one generation to the next. They are people who have been on the job for 20 to 30 years. They want to work to get their full pensions.”
Many of the White House residence staffers are Black or Latino, among the demographic groups showing higher rates of infection and death in the pandemic. Overall deaths among minorities have risen far higher than among white people, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. Among the risk factors, some communities of color are likely to have lower incomes, less often have insurance to help fight sickness, and have jobs that are deemed essential and expose them to higher risk of infection.
For months now, cleaning staff have also privately voiced concerns about their safety, including lack of access to testing and inadequate protective gear.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman, said that “all precautions are being taken to ensure the health and safety of the residence staff,” but she declined to be specific.
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While the White House has refused to implement new safety procedures — such as making masks mandatory — the building was noticeably emptier Monday, with more staffers now staying home on days when they are not needed on site.
On Monday morning, there was just a single staff member in the ground floor press office, where two medical staff members administered COVID-19 tests, surrounded by empty desks.
It’s not the first time a White House has had to contend with a virus. During the flu pandemic of 1918, President Woodrow Wilson was infected as were members of his family and White House staff, including his secretary and several Secret Service members, according to the White House Historical Association.
So were two sheep who spent their days grazing on the South Lawn. They were hospitalized but recovered.
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Medical Tourism Was Booming In Mexican Border Towns. Then Came The Coronavirus.

Ash Ponders for HuffPost The wall separating Mexico from the United States in Los Algodones , Baja California , Mexico on Oct. 24 , 2019 .
In Los Algodones , a small town bordered by California to the north and Arizona to the east , dentistry dominates the local economy .
The town has just 5,000 residents , but it ’ s home to hundreds of dental clinics , drugstores and other medical facilities meant not for locals but for foreigners .
But businesses in Los Algodones say confusion about travel restrictions and reentry has deterred more patients than fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the border crossing at Andrade , California , is open have been cut ; the crossing was open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. prior to the pandemic , but now closes at 2 p.m. “ Everyone suffered the same way , ” said Alejandro Gutiérrez , chief operating officer of Sani Dental Group , the biggest player in town .
“ People in Los Algodones , regardless of whether they work in dental clinics or not , we rely on medical and dental tourism .
People with their taco shop , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ Let ’ s get some tacos !
’ The whole community has suffered a lot .
I think a lot of people lost their jobs.
” Frank Navarro and Aida Osuna , husband and wife , own the Supreme Dental Clinic in Los Algodones .
They closed the facility from mid-March until early May .
Their mid-sized clinic treats more than 5,000 foreigners in a typical year , and the business had been growing prior to the pandemic .
They were in the midst of an expansion .
Navarro and Osuna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have devoted considerable resources to implementing new safety protocols .
They have had fewer patients this year , but those who do come are seeking more complex , costlier treatments , Navarro said .
They have not had to lay off any employees and believe their company can recover in time for the winter high season .
Still , it ’ s been a challenging time .
On a typical day , about 8,000 people cross from Andrade to Los Algodones , Navarro said , citing local officials .
In March , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The numbers are slowly rebounding , but it has certainly affected medical clinics and other businesses .
Medical Departures and Dental Departures , two Bangkok-based companies that facilitate medical travel , saw huge drops in bookings early in the pandemic , but they ’ ve begun to pick back up , said founder Paul McTaggart .
Medical tourism bookings through these companies were 89 % lower in April 2020 than in April 2019 .
Although improving , the August figures were still 23 % lower than last August ’ s figures , McTaggart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 has rippled through the U.S. economy , adversely affecting not just low-income families but also middle-class Americans , ” McTaggart said .
“ Medical tourism is being more widely sought out by American patients as an alternative to going without or delaying their medical [ or ] dental care.
” “ Dental clinics and pharmacies , they ’ re going above and beyond to make that sure everybody feels safe , beyond any protocols that are actually required , ” Tomas Osuna said .
( Navarro acted as translator for the interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have fewer seats and a covered outdoor waiting area is now available .
Much more of the patient intake process is done online before arriving at the clinic .
The clinic schedules fewer appointments a day to minimize the number of people present at the same time , instituted a stricter room-sanitizing protocol , and installed a new air filtration system .
“ We saw this like a sandstorm : Let ’ s just wait a little bit , and the idea is to come out the other side complete , ” Gutiérrez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Algodones is we ’ re going to bounce back , and the community will bounce back .
”

From Tijuana to Nuevo Progreso, Mexican towns near the U.S. made a big bet that the high cost of health care in the United States would bring patients and money south of the border for surgeries, dental care and prescription medicines.
Yet amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, that bet has looked like less of a sure thing as travel ground to a halt, businesses shuttered and jobs disappeared.
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In Los Algodones, a small town bordered by California to the north and Arizona to the east, dentistry dominates the local economy. The town has just 5,000 residents, but it’s home to hundreds of dental clinics, drugstores and other medical facilities meant not for locals but for foreigners.
During the busy winter season, thousands of Americans and Canadians flock to Los Algodones for dental work that’s 40% to 50% less expensive than in their home countries. That’s why the town has earned the sobriquet “Molar City.”
Visitors from the north support the town’s entire economy: hotels, restaurants, shops, liquor stores, street vendors and jaladores who get tips for directing patients to clinics. A downturn in the town’s leading sector means lost jobs and lost money for virtually every resident and commuter.
The border never officially closed to Americans seeking medical care in Mexico, and Canadians also are permitted to travel abroad for health care as long as they quarantine for 14 days after returning home.
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But businesses in Los Algodones say confusion about travel restrictions and reentry has deterred more patients than fear of contracting COVID-19. And the hours the border crossing at Andrade, California, is open have been cut; the crossing was open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. prior to the pandemic, but now closes at 2 p.m.
“Everyone suffered the same way,” said Alejandro Gutiérrez, chief operating officer of Sani Dental Group, the biggest player in town. “People in Los Algodones, regardless of whether they work in dental clinics or not, we rely on medical and dental tourism. People with their taco shop, they rely on patients being in the street: ‘Let’s get some tacos!’ The whole community has suffered a lot. I think a lot of people lost their jobs.”
Sani is currently treating about 60% fewer patients than it normally would be, Gutiérrez said.
Frank Navarro and Aida Osuna, husband and wife, own the Supreme Dental Clinic in Los Algodones. They closed the facility from mid-March until early May. Their mid-sized clinic treats more than 5,000 foreigners in a typical year, and the business had been growing prior to the pandemic. They were in the midst of an expansion.
Navarro and Osuna are still moving forward with expansion and have devoted considerable resources to implementing new safety protocols. They have had fewer patients this year, but those who do come are seeking more complex, costlier treatments, Navarro said. They have not had to lay off any employees and believe their company can recover in time for the winter high season.
“As long as there’s people, there are going to be teeth,” said Navarro, who was born in the United States.
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The Sani Dental Group's shuttle was a common sight throughout Los Algadones, aka "Molar City." Here, it is parked outside a busy medical plaza in 2019. Ash Ponders for HuffPost
Still, it’s been a challenging time. On a typical day, about 8,000 people cross from Andrade to Los Algodones, Navarro said, citing local officials. In March, that was down to less than 200. The numbers are slowly rebounding, but it has certainly affected medical clinics and other businesses.
“There’s dental clinics closing and they’re not going to reopen,” Navarro said. “If you were to walk around today, right now, it’s a ghost town. After 2 o’clock, everything closes. Even the pharmacies close, the liquor stores close.”
The pandemic has affected medical tourism destinations worldwide in places like Thailand, Indonesia, Hungary and Argentina, said Josef Woodman, author of the guidebook “Patients Beyond Borders” and founder of a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based organization by the same name.
“It’s devastating” to local economies, Woodman said. “It’s not just the dentists and the clinics. It’s the transportation people, it’s the restaurant people. Their livelihood is 100% all about medical and dental tourism or pharma tourism.”
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Medical Departures and Dental Departures, two Bangkok-based companies that facilitate medical travel, saw huge drops in bookings early in the pandemic, but they’ve begun to pick back up, said founder Paul McTaggart. Medical tourism bookings through these companies were 89% lower in April 2020 than in April 2019. Although improving, the August figures were still 23% lower than last August’s figures, McTaggart said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated medical tourism destinations around the globe,” McTaggart said. “When medical tourists are not able to travel to their global medical [or] dental clinics and hospitals due to quarantine or travel restrictions [or] outright bans, the ecosystem collapses.”
“As long as there’s people, there are going to be teeth.” - Frank Navarro, co-owner, Supreme Dental Clinic
But the faltering world economy, flaws in the American health care system and the lack of dental coverage under Canada’s national health care program are bad enough that even a pandemic can’t kill medical tourism, McTaggart said.
“The economic wave of COVID-19 has rippled through the U.S. economy, adversely affecting not just low-income families but also middle-class Americans,” McTaggart said. “Medical tourism is being more widely sought out by American patients as an alternative to going without or delaying their medical [or] dental care.”
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Businesses in Los Algodones worked quickly to establish safety procedures to limit the spread of the virus, said Tomas Osuna, Aida Osuna’s father and the owner of the Plaza Guadalajara, a large shopping center that includes Supreme Dental Clinic and numerous other businesses.
“Dental clinics and pharmacies, they’re going above and beyond to make that sure everybody feels safe, beyond any protocols that are actually required,” Tomas Osuna said. (Navarro acted as translator for the interview with his father-in-law).
Like Supreme Dental Clinic, Sani Dental Group made significant changes to its procedures and the layouts of its facilities in response to the coronavirus, Gutiérrez said.
Waiting rooms have fewer seats and a covered outdoor waiting area is now available. Much more of the patient intake process is done online before arriving at the clinic. The clinic schedules fewer appointments a day to minimize the number of people present at the same time, instituted a stricter room-sanitizing protocol, and installed a new air filtration system.
“We understood how to work with this pandemic, so the risk is very controlled,” Gutiérrez said.
Sani Dental Group even went ahead with opening a new clinic in Playa del Carmen in the resort area south of Cancún in March, a sign the company is confident it will get through the coronavirus crisis.
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“We saw this like a sandstorm: Let’s just wait a little bit, and the idea is to come out the other side complete,” Gutiérrez said. “The great thing about Los Algodones is we’re going to bounce back, and the community will bounce back.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--PSA: Face Masks Don't Work Very Well In The Rain

In the center of the masks is a material that ’ s better at trapping viruses , he explained , @ @ @ @ @ , damaged or displaced , the mask becomes “ useless.
” It ’ s important @ @ @ @ @ on the mask will be enough to slowly disintegrate it .
A general rule of @ @ @ @ @ be replaced after three hours regardless , Hunter said .
Other masks such as the @ @ @ @ @ as cloth face coverings , are also more vulnerable in damp weather .
Government guidance @ @ @ @ @ their face covering “ if it becomes damp or if you ’ ve touched it.
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s guidance on face masks also urges people to “ replace masks as soon @ @ @ @ @ a new clean , dry mask.
” It ’ s best to take a few @ @ @ @ @ , just in case .

In the center of the masks is a material that’s better at trapping viruses, he explained, but if that gets wet, damaged or displaced, the mask becomes “useless.”
It’s important to remember your breath alone on the mask will be enough to slowly disintegrate it. A general rule of thumb is that they should be replaced after three hours regardless, Hunter said.
Other masks such as the N95 mask, as well as cloth face coverings, are also more vulnerable in damp weather. Government guidance states a person must change their face covering “if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it.”
The World Health Organization’s guidance on face masks also urges people to “replace masks as soon as they become damp with a new clean, dry mask.”
It’s best to take a few spare masks out with you, just in case.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Biden Says He Will Make Roe v. Wade ‘The Law Of The Land’

Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to protect the right to an abortion even if Roe v. Wade is overturned .
At a town hall in Miami , the former vice president was asked about his plan for protecting abortion access in light of President Donald Trump ’ s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
“ Number one , we don ’ t know exactly what she will do , though the expectation is that she will move to overrule Roe , ” Biden said .
“ The only responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation making Roe the law of the land .
That ’ s what I would do.
” With less than a month until Election Day , abortion rights have emerged as a central issue in the presidential race .
Barrett , Trump ’ s pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg , is a strict Catholic who signed a letter in 2006 calling for the end of “ abortion on demand.
” Many believe that if seated , she would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade , the landmark 1973 decision establishing the legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his website that in addition to codifying Roe into federal law , he would “ reverse the Trump Administration and states ’ all-out assault on women ’ s right to choose , ” and use his Justice Department to stop state laws that violate the constitutional right to an abortion .
Codifying Roe v. Wade is shorthand for passing a law that protects the right to choose .
But without additional details , it is unclear exactly what that would look like at the federal level , said Noel León , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law Center .
Biden did not immediately respond to a request for more information .
“ The Supreme Court has changed the way that the constitutional right to abortion operates over the years , as have lower courts , so it ’ s really hard to say , ” she said .
“ What we hope he means is to pass explicit protections for people ’ s reproductive decision-making into law .
The law would have to recognize that in order to realize that constitutional right to abortion , you have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where you live or what your income is.
” Any attempt to codify Roe into law would also need to include efforts to overturn and repeal restrictions at the federal and state level , she added .
“ You can ’ t codify a right to abortion access without recognizing that there are a huge number of federal and state laws that make that right not real for people , ” León said .
If Roe is overturned , regulation of abortion would fall to the states .
At least 10 states have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion illegal immediately .
Other states , such as Illinois and New York , have passed proactive bills protecting to the right to abortion even if Roe is repealed .
Between 2011 and 2019 , nearly 500 abortion restrictions were enacted in 33 states , according to the Guttmacher Institute , making it exponentially harder for patients to seek timely care .
In six states , only one abortion clinic remains .
“ Reminder : Roe v. Wade *is* the law of the land and abortion is inaccessible or nearly so for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marty , author of “ Handbook for a Post-Roe America , ” in a tweet .
“ Yes it would be bad if it ’ s overturned , but promising to codify it isn ’ t enough .
We deserve real policies that will make it available to everyone.
” “ Donald Trump is , again , intentionally spreading false information about abortion , ” said Alexis McGill Johnson , president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund .
“ Trump has proven over and over again that he will say anything to stoke fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , blatantly false rhetoric is part of his full-on assault on women ’ s access to care and the right to an abortion .
”

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has pledged to protect the right to an abortion even if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden reaffirmed on Monday that he would work to codify abortion rights into federal law if elected.
At a town hall in Miami, the former vice president was asked about his plan for protecting abortion access in light of President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
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“Number one, we don’t know exactly what she will do, though the expectation is that she will move to overrule Roe,” Biden said. “The only responsible response to that would be to pass legislation making Roe the law of the land. That’s what I would do.”
With less than a month until Election Day, abortion rights have emerged as a central issue in the presidential race. Barrett, Trump’s pick to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is a strict Catholic who signed a letter in 2006 calling for the end of “abortion on demand.” Many believe that if seated, she would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision establishing the legal right to an abortion.
Biden says on his website that in addition to codifying Roe into federal law, he would “reverse the Trump Administration and states’ all-out assault on women’s right to choose,” and use his Justice Department to stop state laws that violate the constitutional right to an abortion.
Roe v. Wade must remain the law of the land. pic.twitter.com/1Gq6Ncc2IK — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 6, 2020
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Codifying Roe v. Wade is shorthand for passing a law that protects the right to choose. But without additional details, it is unclear exactly what that would look like at the federal level, said Noel León, a lawyer with the National Women’s Law Center. Biden did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
“The Supreme Court has changed the way that the constitutional right to abortion operates over the years, as have lower courts, so it’s really hard to say,” she said. “What we hope he means is to pass explicit protections for people’s reproductive decision-making into law. The law would have to recognize that in order to realize that constitutional right to abortion, you have to be able to access it ― no matter where you live or what your income is.”
Any attempt to codify Roe into law would also need to include efforts to overturn and repeal restrictions at the federal and state level, she added.
“You can’t codify a right to abortion access without recognizing that there are a huge number of federal and state laws that make that right not real for people,” León said.
If Roe is overturned, regulation of abortion would fall to the states. At least 10 states have laws on the books that would make abortion illegal immediately. Other states, such as Illinois and New York, have passed proactive bills protecting to the right to abortion even if Roe is repealed.
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As it is, access to abortion differs dramatically depending on where you live.
Between 2011 and 2019, nearly 500 abortion restrictions were enacted in 33 states, according to the Guttmacher Institute, making it exponentially harder for patients to seek timely care. In six states, only one abortion clinic remains.
“Reminder: Roe v. Wade *is* the law of the land and abortion is inaccessible or nearly so for many who want it,” said Robin Marty, author of “Handbook for a Post-Roe America,” in a tweet. “Yes it would be bad if it’s overturned, but promising to codify it isn’t enough. We deserve real policies that will make it available to everyone.”
On Tuesday morning, Trump responded to Biden’s comments by falsely accusing him of supporting abortion until the time of birth.
“Donald Trump is, again, intentionally spreading false information about abortion,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Trump has proven over and over again that he will say anything to stoke fear and rally his base. This disgusting, blatantly false rhetoric is part of his full-on assault on women’s access to care and the right to an abortion.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--7 Self-Care Tips If The News Cycle Is Pummeling You Right Now

Far too many people have been unable to be with or say goodbye to their loved ones during their final moments .
Mandatory quarantines and lengthy recoveries have kept people sick with COVID-19 socially isolated for days , sometimes weeks on end .
Many are struggling with crippling health-care costs from their treatments for the virus .
Some didn ’ t get treatment at all .
Trump , on the other hand , has displayed an often incautious , seemingly cavalier approach toward contracting the potentially life-threatening disease .
Over the weekend , he was able to scoot out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t paying for ― to greet supporters , putting members of the Secret Service at risk .
He was given experimental treatments that are not yet available for others .
1 .
Know what you ’ re feeling is natural 2 .
Be kind to yourself 4 .
Open up to your friends and family People don ’ t grieve well when they ’ re on their own , Skritskaya said .
Coping with the loss of a loved one and the grief that follows is an extremely isolating and lonely experience ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which so many are physically distancing and unable to see family and friends due to their health risks .
6 .
Focus on what you can control , not on what you can ’ t Instead of focusing on what you could have done differently , think about all the things you ’ ve been able to do for yourself or your loved ones .
If it helps , write down a list of the items you have a say in right now .
And remember : The precautions you may have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good reason .
7 .
Know you ’ re not alone There is no ignoring the widespread devastation and pain this virus has inflicted on so many .
“ People across the globe are affected , everybody knows what this is and their lives are limited or upended by this event , ” Skritskaya said .
“ The whole of humankind is trying to grapple with this virus .
”

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It’s safe to say that President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 experience has played out differently compared to many other people who’ve either contracted the virus themselves or lost a loved one to the disease.
Far too many people have been unable to be with or say goodbye to their loved ones during their final moments. Mandatory quarantines and lengthy recoveries have kept people sick with COVID-19 socially isolated for days, sometimes weeks on end. Many are struggling with crippling health-care costs from their treatments for the virus. Some didn’t get treatment at all.
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Trump, on the other hand, has displayed an often incautious, seemingly cavalier approach toward contracting the potentially life-threatening disease. Over the weekend, he was able to scoot out of the hospital ― which he isn’t paying for ― to greet supporters, putting members of the Secret Service at risk. He was given experimental treatments that are not yet available for others.
He was also granted an early release from the hospital and has since downplayed the severity of the infection. Upon returning to the White House, he told the public not to let COVID-19 “dominate you” and “don’t be afraid of it.”
For those who’ve struggled with or lost someone to COVID-19, watching this unfold can be incredibly triggering and bring on intense feelings of anger, frustration and pain. Here are a few ways to cope if the news cycle is reigniting your grief:
1. Know what you’re feeling is natural
The first thing to do is accept that what you’re feeling is completely normal, said Natalia Skritskaya, a clinical psychologist and researcher with the Center for Complicated Grief at New York’s Columbia University.
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Fighting an infectious disease or losing a loved one to it is very painful and tragic events at any point. But the emotional impact can be magnified during the pandemic due to the restrictions and quarantine guidelines keeping people apart. Throw Trump’s recent conduct into the mix and things can feel downright unfair and frustrating.
Recognize that whatever you’re feeling — be it anger, a sense of injustice, or confusion — is a natural human reaction to a tough situation.
2. Be kind to yourself
Self-compassion is a must right now, according to Skritskaya. Be gentle and understanding with yourself as you work through and heal from any tragedies the pandemic has brought your way.
“Try to treat yourself as you would treat a good friend,” Skritskaya said. Observe your feelings with mindfulness and patience. Engage in activities that bring you joy.
If you get caught up in certain thoughts or with news stories that are agitating you, ask yourself: Is focusing on this helping me heal or is it only causing more pain and misery? Allow and acknowledge these feelings, then question how helpful they are.
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“If those thoughts are not helping you, then you can learn to turn your attention away from them,” said Mary-Frances O’Connor, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona who specializes in grief.
3. Cut back on your media consumption
Brittany LeMonda, a senior neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, suggested cutting back on media and social media.
Much of what’s being covered, whether it be Trump’s Secret Service joyride or cable news talking heads minimizing the virus, can reignite some of the pain people have dealt with during their own COVID-19 experiences and leave them feeling angry and isolated.
Research has found that media consumption during the pandemic has directly affected people’s stress and anxiety levels. Too much of it can be overwhelming and trigger more negative emotions than positive ones.
“Try to take some breaks from inundating with the media. We just have it at our fingertips and it can really be dangerous to have so much access 24/7, so really take some time to unplug,” LeMonda said.
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If it’s too difficult to look away, try deleting the apps from your phone or turning off the notifications.
4. Open up to your friends and family
People don’t grieve well when they’re on their own, Skritskaya said. Coping with the loss of a loved one and the grief that follows is an extremely isolating and lonely experience ― even more so during a pandemic in which so many are physically distancing and unable to see family and friends due to their health risks.
Grief is best managed when we can share our stories and struggles with others. Skritskaya recommended finding a supportive person, perhaps a friend or family member, to open up to about how you feel. Talking about what’s bothering you with a confidant can make sadness, anger, and pain feel a little less intense, research shows.
Win McNamee via Getty Images As President Donald Trump continues to exude a cavalier attitude toward the recommended guidelines for stemming the coronavirus pandemic, experts say that taking action through volunteerism or voting can help alleviate some stress and anxiety.
5. Take action
Seeing Trump, who remains highly contagious, go out in public when millions of people have made sacrifices for their communities by not being with loved ones battling COVID-19 can be infuriating and spark an overwhelming amount of grief. O’Connor said channeling that energy into meaningful action can help you cope.
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“This can mean helping others who are also hurting, or it can mean standing up and using our voice where we see injustice,” O’Connor said..
Engage with civic organizations and in collective action, volunteer, contribute to political campaigns or issues, and make a plan to vote.
6. Focus on what you can control, not on what you can’t
So much of the pandemic has been completely out of our control, whether it be Trump’s attitude about his own infection or watching a loved one suffer with the disease.
“The best advice I have is to really focus on what is in our control. We can control our behavior, our actions, our reactions,” LeMonda said.
Instead of focusing on what you could have done differently, think about all the things you’ve been able to do for yourself or your loved ones. If it helps, write down a list of the items you have a say in right now. And remember: The precautions you may have had to take for your safety were for good reason.
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“With grief, we try to help people think about what they can change and what they cannot change and not spend a lot of energy or misdirect their energy into something that they cannot change and instead focus on things that they could,” Skritskaya said.
7. Know you’re not alone
Recognize that while you may feel completely isolated in your experience, you’re not. Other people may not fully understand what you’re going through, but they do care. And everyone is struggling with the pandemic in one way or another.
Data suggests that for every person who dies of COVID-19, they leave behind nine family members. That means nearly 2 million people theoretically have experienced a death of a close relative due to the disease, O’Connor said. If it helps, look for virtual support groups with people going through the same thing or reach out to a mental health professional.
There is no ignoring the widespread devastation and pain this virus has inflicted on so many. “People across the globe are affected, everybody knows what this is and their lives are limited or upended by this event,” Skritskaya said. “The whole of humankind is trying to grapple with this virus.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Fight Breaks Out On Plane After Man Refuses To Wear Face Mask

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) — A man who refused to wear a face mask on a Utah-bound flight was escorted off the plane in Arizona after he and another man who asked him to follow the rules got into a physical altercation , police said Monday .
Rylie Lansford of Lehigh , Utah , boarded the Allegiant flight in Mesa , Arizona , on Saturday and was sitting near both passengers .
As soon as the two men started fighting on the Provo-bound flight , Lansford said , she ran to the front of the plane and started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that something was going to go down and so really all I was thinking about was getting out of the way , ” she said Monday .
Lansford said the fight began when a man sitting behind her started arguing with a flight attendant after she asked him to wear a mask .
He was wearing a face shield , but “ face shields must be worn in addition to a face covering , but not as an alternative , ” according to Allegiant ’ s policy .
Another passenger sitting in Lansford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started yelling at the man to wear a mask and began shouting obscenities and other threats , she said .
Police said the first man told him to mind his own business .
A gate supervisor came to remove the man wearing a face shield who then elbowed the man in front of him and said he was the reason why he had to leave , Mesa police said in a statement .
Lansford ’ s video shows the man in front choking the passenger who refused to wear a mask , pulling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
An off-duty police officer stopped the fight and escorted the man who wouldn ’ t wear a mask off the flight , police said .
“ I was just annoyed that it was just one simple thing that one person had to do , ” she said .
“ If you buy a plane ticket , wear a mask.
” Allegiant Air said in a statement that passengers are required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when traveling .
Authorities identified the man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rio Honaker .
An officer cited Honaker with one count of disorderly conduct .
It was not clear if Honaker had an attorney , and no listed phone number could be found .

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A man who refused to wear a face mask on a Utah-bound flight was escorted off the plane in Arizona after he and another man who asked him to follow the rules got into a physical altercation, police said Monday.
Rylie Lansford of Lehigh, Utah, boarded the Allegiant flight in Mesa, Arizona, on Saturday and was sitting near both passengers. As soon as the two men started fighting on the Provo-bound flight, Lansford said, she ran to the front of the plane and started recording video.
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“I just knew that something was going to go down and so really all I was thinking about was getting out of the way,” she said Monday.
Lansford said the fight began when a man sitting behind her started arguing with a flight attendant after she asked him to wear a mask. He was wearing a face shield, but “face shields must be worn in addition to a face covering, but not as an alternative,” according to Allegiant’s policy.
Another passenger sitting in Lansford’s row then turned around, started yelling at the man to wear a mask and began shouting obscenities and other threats, she said. Police said the first man told him to mind his own business.
A gate supervisor came to remove the man wearing a face shield who then elbowed the man in front of him and said he was the reason why he had to leave, Mesa police said in a statement.
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Lansford’s video shows the man in front choking the passenger who refused to wear a mask, pulling his hair and hitting him in the back.
An off-duty police officer stopped the fight and escorted the man who wouldn’t wear a mask off the flight, police said.
The second man was allowed to stay on the plane, Lansford said.
“I was just annoyed that it was just one simple thing that one person had to do,” she said. “If you buy a plane ticket, wear a mask.”
Allegiant Air said in a statement that passengers are required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when traveling.
Authorities identified the man who was removed from the flight as 52-year-old Rio Honaker. An officer cited Honaker with one count of disorderly conduct.
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It was not clear if Honaker had an attorney, and no listed phone number could be found.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Michelle Obama Releases Video Panning 'Tragedy' Of Trump's Coronavirus Response

These countries were hit by the same virus as we were .
They had the same kind of resources to @ @ @ @ @ .
But what they didn ’ t have to contend with was this president ... @ @ @ @ @ deadly this virus is but who lied to us and told us it would just @ @ @ @ @ the greatest crisis of our lifetimes , doubled down on division and resentment , railed @ @ @ @ @ mitigated the damage and continues to hold massive events without requiring masks or social distancing @ @ @ @ @ supporters to a dangerous virus .

These countries were hit by the same virus as we were. They had the same kind of resources to contain it as we did. But what they didn’t have to contend with was this president ...
A man who knew how deadly this virus is but who lied to us and told us it would just disappear. Who, in the greatest crisis of our lifetimes, doubled down on division and resentment, railed against measures that could have mitigated the damage and continues to hold massive events without requiring masks or social distancing, knowingly exposing his own supporters to a dangerous virus.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--GOP Praises Trump For Not Dying Of COVID-19

GOP Praises Trump For Not Dying Of COVID-19 President Donald Trump ’ s supporters are praising him for not dying @ @ @ @ @ he is not yet in the clear .

GOP Praises Trump For Not Dying Of COVID-19
President Donald Trump’s supporters are praising him for not dying from the coronavirus even though he is not yet in the clear.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Lawyer At White House COVID-Cluster Event Spoke Later To Group Fighting Mail-In Votes

Cleta Mitchell , a partner in the politically connected law firm Foley & Lardner , was photographed without a face mask and failing to social distance at both the Sept. 26 White House event celebrating the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett and the FreedomWorks “ Election Protection Summit ” that began on Friday with a reception .
At the Rose Garden event , Mitchell sat in the row behind former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie and was seen with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway .
Both have since tested positive for the coronavirus .
Mitchell also was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has gone into self-quarantine .
Still , Mitchell attended the weekend FreedomWorks conference in Washington and was a key speaker .
She told HuffPost that she first heard that Conway and Christie had tested positive as the conference was winding down on Saturday .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people exposed to COVID-19 to isolate themselves for 14 days .
FreedomWorks did not respond to HuffPost ’ s requests for comment .
Events like the Rose Garden celebration and the FreedomWorks conference threaten to extend the reach of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaches of the GOP , sickening President Donald Trump , members of his administration and at least three senators .
Mitchell ’ s connection to both events was first reported by Wisconsin watchdog group Documented , which probes corporate influence on public policy .
Lawyer Cleta Mitchell at the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event with former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , who announced days later that she had tested positive , and Attorney General Bill Barr , who has since gone into self-quarantine .
At least 17 people who either attended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with guests have since been diagnosed with the coronavirus .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , on Monday called the Rose Garden ceremony the kind of “ dangerous situation ” medical officials have long warned could become a COVID-19 superspreader event .
Trump attended a fundraiser at his golf resort in Bedminster , New Jersey , on Thursday , even after knowing his close aide Hope Hicks had tested positive .
Early the next morning he announced that he and the first lady had also tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a COVID test on the way to a fundraising event in his state on Friday and said he found out later it was positive .
Johnson wasn ’ t at the Rose Garden event , but took the test after learning that fellow Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) tested positive after attending the Barrett celebration .
Photos and videos of the FreedomWorks Election Protection Summit showed few attendees following face mask and social distancing health guidelines .
Right-wing radio host Sebastian Gorka , who also spoke at the event , posed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants .
FreedomWorks said about 80 people attended .
Mitchell told HuffPost that she thought she wore a mask at the conference , except during her speech and while eating .
The photo below , from a video of the reception , shows her without a mask , near other maskless attendees .
On Monday , Mitchell participated in a FreedomWorks remote group press conference that also included Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-Fla. ) and Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-Ariz. ) .
She attacked voting by mail and “ the left , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get COVID-19 , anyone can .
“ Frankly , we have to live our lives and go on with business ... people are going to get COVID , as we see , ” she said .
The coronavirus has killed more than 210,000 people in the U.S .

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A prominent conservative attorney who attended a White House event linked to a cluster of COVID-19 infections was the featured speaker days later at a conference fighting to restrict mail-in voting.
Cleta Mitchell, a partner in the politically connected law firm Foley & Lardner, was photographed without a face mask and failing to social distance at both the Sept. 26 White House event celebrating the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett and the FreedomWorks “Election Protection Summit” that began on Friday with a reception.
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At the Rose Garden event, Mitchell sat in the row behind former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and was seen with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. Both have since tested positive for the coronavirus. Mitchell also was photographed near Attorney General William Barr, who has gone into self-quarantine.
Still, Mitchell attended the weekend FreedomWorks conference in Washington and was a key speaker. She told HuffPost that she first heard that Conway and Christie had tested positive as the conference was winding down on Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people exposed to COVID-19 to isolate themselves for 14 days. FreedomWorks did not respond to HuffPost’s requests for comment.
Events like the Rose Garden celebration and the FreedomWorks conference threaten to extend the reach of the coronavirus as it spreads through the upper reaches of the GOP, sickening President Donald Trump, members of his administration and at least three senators. Mitchell’s connection to both events was first reported by Wisconsin watchdog group Documented, which probes corporate influence on public policy.
Arrow points to attorney Cleta Mitchell in the crowd at the Rose Garden event Sept. 26 celebrating the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Courtesy Documented
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Lawyer Cleta Mitchell at the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event with former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who announced days later that she had tested positive, and Attorney General Bill Barr, who has since gone into self-quarantine. Courtesy Documented
At least 17 people who either attended the White House event or were in contact with guests have since been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, on Monday called the Rose Garden ceremony the kind of “dangerous situation” medical officials have long warned could become a COVID-19 superspreader event.
Mitchell is not the only person at the White House event who later attended another major gathering.
Trump attended a fundraiser at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Thursday, even after knowing his close aide Hope Hicks had tested positive. Early the next morning he announced that he and the first lady had also tested positive.
Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson took a COVID test on the way to a fundraising event in his state on Friday and said he found out later it was positive. Johnson wasn’t at the Rose Garden event, but took the test after learning that fellow Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) tested positive after attending the Barrett celebration.
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Photos and videos of the FreedomWorks Election Protection Summit showed few attendees following face mask and social distancing health guidelines. Right-wing radio host Sebastian Gorka, who also spoke at the event, posed maskless for photos with his arms around participants. FreedomWorks said about 80 people attended.
Seb Gorka at FreedomWorks conference. Facebook/FreedomWorks
Mitchell told HuffPost that she thought she wore a mask at the conference, except during her speech and while eating. The photo below, from a video of the reception, shows her without a mask, near other maskless attendees.
Cleta Mitchell without a mask at the FreedomWorks Election Protection Summit reception on Oct. 2 in Washington. Screen Shot/FreedomWorks/Election Protection Summit/Live Stream
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On Monday, Mitchell participated in a FreedomWorks remote group press conference that also included Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). She attacked voting by mail and “the left,” and suggested that if the president can get COVID-19, anyone can.
“Frankly, we have to live our lives and go on with business ... people are going to get COVID, as we see,” she said. The coronavirus has killed more than 210,000 people in the U.S.
FreedomWorks, a partisan nonprofit working against Democratic nominee Joe Biden, hosted the summit to organize activists against mail-in ballots.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--I Wear A BLM Pin At The Hospital And It's The Best $0.70 I've Ever Spent. Here's Why.

More than being frustrated , I was embarrassed ― I felt a sense of shame so deep , it seemed to be coursing through my veins .
Saying yes would surely lead to an argument .
Saying no would be lying to myself .
So I mumbled something about not being well-versed in the Bible and apologized profusely for offending him .
And yet , despite his shallow breathing , he went on to accuse me of being yet another “ brainwashed liberal ” and asked , point-blank , “ Do you really think President Trump contacted Ukraine ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anger funneled toward me firsthand .
While a big part of me wanted to engage in the dialogue , doing so would have certainly exacerbated the situation .
I also felt a jolt of nervousness as the thought dawned on me that the nature of the circumstances and my inability to establish a rapport with the patient would likely hurt my end-of-rotation evaluation .
Nonetheless , I excused myself from Room 3 and requested Dr. B to join in .
It wasn ’ t because I wanted to self-identify my sexual orientation among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that might ’ ve been part of it .
It was because I was committed to establishing a safe environment for patients who felt particularly vulnerable about their sexual identities .
I wanted an explicit symbol over the bridge of my chest for every person to feel welcomed and loved , where their queerness could be celebrated and discussed , and not be pushed aside to the periphery .
I grew up in India hiding my queerness because , in addition to homosexuality being illegal in my country , I knew that my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I tried to bring it up with my pediatrician , he admonished me for being “ careless.
” I was told that I was “ inconsiderate ” for putting unnecessary stress on my family , and I was assured that it was a phase that most teenagers went through and that I would surely outgrow .
“ Don ’ t tell your parents anything yet ” was his advice .
“ You certainly don ’ t want to give them a heart attack.
” I always just assumed that it was my pediatrician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his repudiation of my sexuality .
Or perhaps it was an Indian thing — or a “ third world ” thing — for the doctor to chide the patient for having fairy fantasies .
The America I knew from Hollywood movies seemed so liberal , so welcoming .
And the New York I ’ d constructed from novels that featured the Stonewall riots felt so positively celebratory .
That “ first-world ” children in urban America could face similar episodes of stigma and violence never once occurred to me as a real possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an LGBTQ+ clinic .
The narratives I encountered there were heartbreaking .
Elana ’ s father in Clinton , Mississippi , had poured boiling water down her back when she came out as transgender .
Tony ’ s uncle beat him up and threw him out of the house when his browser history suggested that he ’ d been watching gay porn .
And Liliana , from Macon , Alabama , was repeatedly pricked with insulin syringes as punishment for being lesbian .
Even worse ― and completely unforgivable to me ― was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had all sided with their parents to punish the “ anomaly ” of their queerness .
And their experiences with New York doctors , after they ran away from home , continued to be alienating .
There were pamphlets along every wall of the clinic with rainbow flags and transgender stickers .
The doctor I worked with wore a pin that stated the pronouns he used and a rainbow button to create an air of respect and inclusion from the moment a patient saw him .
The differences that these symbols made were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wayside .
Not a single day went by without patients giving positive comments on them .
And I vowed to myself that when I started medical school , I would also wear those pins .
As I combed through this emotional experience that night after I left the ER , my husband ’ s nudge quickly rejuvenated me .
And in hindsight , I ’ m grateful that I decided to keep wearing the pin for the rest of my clinical rotation .
That following week , a patient I ’ ll call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status to me — a critical piece of health information he didn ’ t share with Dr. B. or any of the other medical residents who had evaluated him for blood in his urine .
He gestured at my rainbow pin , taking it as a sign that I would be understanding of his diagnosis .
And the week after , a high school student who came in citing suicidal ideation ultimately disclosed that he was having sex for money without his parent ’ s knowledge , saying that my pin had provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him for his actions .
But we still have time to turn this around and make a tangible difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable .
And something as simple as wearing a pin can serve as a reminder to prioritize diversity .
Until we can speak through our actions to the Ms. Carters of the world that their lives matter , there ’ s a lot more work left to do .

The author wears his Black Lives Matter and rainbow pins. Courtesy of Lala Tanmoy Das
Note: All names and identifying details in this essay have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
“We are doctors, not politicians,” Dr. P. said during a medical school orientation lecture on professional responsibility.
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His words were hard for me to reconcile with, because I have always been the kind of person who wears his politics on his sleeve. And, more fundamentally, it was my frustration with divisive politics and its bearings on health care outcomes that made me switch careers from finance to medicine in the first place.
So it came as no surprise when, a few weeks later, he noticed the rainbow pin on my hospital lanyard and said, “Be careful with that. You might alienate some of your patients.”
Unfortunately, he was right.
Two months after classes started, each student was assigned a clinical site where we would learn how to take a patient’s medical history. My placement was in an emergency room, which excited and terrified me at the same time.
When “an easy case” arrived, Dr. B. — my supervising physician — said, “Tom, why don’t you start taking the history and I’ll join you in a few minutes?” I did as I was told and walked over to Room 3.
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The patient was in his late 50s, a Brooklyn local and an emergency room regular. He was breathing heavily and pursing his lips — a sign that’s often characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I introduced myself as the medical student and asked, “Do you have any questions before we get started?”
He was silent at first. But after a few minutes of belabored breathing, he blurted out, “Papi, that’s just wrong. That thing you got on your ID, that’s not biblical.”
I tried to deflect the remark and start the interview. But he wouldn’t budge. When I asked, “What brings you in today?” he replied, “Do you think that’s natural?”
More than being frustrated, I was embarrassed ― I felt a sense of shame so deep, it seemed to be coursing through my veins. Saying yes would surely lead to an argument. Saying no would be lying to myself. So I mumbled something about not being well-versed in the Bible and apologized profusely for offending him. And yet, despite his shallow breathing, he went on to accuse me of being yet another “brainwashed liberal” and asked, point-blank, “Do you really think President Trump contacted Ukraine?”
I had never experienced that much political anger funneled toward me firsthand. While a big part of me wanted to engage in the dialogue, doing so would have certainly exacerbated the situation. I also felt a jolt of nervousness as the thought dawned on me that the nature of the circumstances and my inability to establish a rapport with the patient would likely hurt my end-of-rotation evaluation. Nonetheless, I excused myself from Room 3 and requested Dr. B to join in.
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When I left the emergency room that evening, I felt defeated. And by the time I got back home, I promised my husband that I would throw the pin away. While he was sympathetic toward my decision and understood why I wanted to do that, he encouraged me to think about the reason I chose to wear it in the first place.
“I wanted an explicit symbol over the bridge of my chest for every person to feel welcomed and loved, where their queerness could be celebrated and discussed, not pushed aside to the periphery.”
It wasn’t because I wanted to self-identify my sexual orientation among a crowd of medical professionals — although that might’ve been part of it. It was because I was committed to establishing a safe environment for patients who felt particularly vulnerable about their sexual identities. I wanted an explicit symbol over the bridge of my chest for every person to feel welcomed and loved, where their queerness could be celebrated and discussed, and not be pushed aside to the periphery.
I grew up in India hiding my queerness because, in addition to homosexuality being illegal in my country, I knew that my parents would be ashamed. And when I tried to bring it up with my pediatrician, he admonished me for being “careless.” I was told that I was “inconsiderate” for putting unnecessary stress on my family, and I was assured that it was a phase that most teenagers went through and that I would surely outgrow. “Don’t tell your parents anything yet” was his advice. “You certainly don’t want to give them a heart attack.”
But I did almost give my mother a heart attack when she unexpectedly returned home early one evening to find me in my sister’s dress, wearing gold filigree bangles, my face caked in makeup. I wanted to be a bride so badly then that I’d even stolen some of my mother’s sindoor — a vermilion red powder that Hindu women wear as a symbol of marriage — and traced a line along where my hair parted.
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“What’s going on?” my mother asked, with a look of horror in her eyes.
“Oh nothing. Just dress rehearsing my character for a school play.”
I sensed her immediate relief. My lie felt like a believable explanation to what had been years of periodic cross-dressing. I quickly returned her bangles, the play never happened, and we never once talked about that day ever again.
I always just assumed that it was my pediatrician’s Hindu conservatism that led to his repudiation of my sexuality. Or perhaps it was an Indian thing — or a “third world” thing — for the doctor to chide the patient for having fairy fantasies. The America I knew from Hollywood movies seemed so liberal, so welcoming. And the New York I’d constructed from novels that featured the Stonewall riots felt so positively celebratory. That “first-world” children in urban America could face similar episodes of stigma and violence never once occurred to me as a real possibility until I started shadowing a doctor at an LGBTQ+ clinic.
The narratives I encountered there were heartbreaking. Elana’s father in Clinton, Mississippi, had poured boiling water down her back when she came out as transgender. Tony’s uncle beat him up and threw him out of the house when his browser history suggested that he’d been watching gay porn. And Liliana, from Macon, Alabama, was repeatedly pricked with insulin syringes as punishment for being lesbian. Even worse ― and completely unforgivable to me ― was the fact that these patients’ pediatricians had all sided with their parents to punish the “anomaly” of their queerness. And their experiences with New York doctors, after they ran away from home, continued to be alienating.
A close-up of the author's rainbow, Black Lives Matter and pronoun pins. Courtesy of Lala Tanmoy Das
They needed visible signs of love and support and tangible acceptance of their sexual and gender identity vulnerabilities — something I intimately understood from my own experiences growing up. They needed gentle reassurance that they weren’t freak shows or purposeless in the present with no hope for a future. And it was that sense of invitation and reassurance that the clinic provided, not only through the care providers’ words but also through their actions.
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There were pamphlets along every wall of the clinic with rainbow flags and transgender stickers. The doctor I worked with wore a pin that stated the pronouns he used and a rainbow button to create an air of respect and inclusion from the moment a patient saw him. The differences that these symbols made were not just occasional blips caught by the wayside. Not a single day went by without patients giving positive comments on them. And I vowed to myself that when I started medical school, I would also wear those pins.
As I combed through this emotional experience that night after I left the ER, my husband’s nudge quickly rejuvenated me. And in hindsight, I’m grateful that I decided to keep wearing the pin for the rest of my clinical rotation. That following week, a patient I’ll call Mr. K. felt comfortable disclosing his HIV status to me — a critical piece of health information he didn’t share with Dr. B. or any of the other medical residents who had evaluated him for blood in his urine. He gestured at my rainbow pin, taking it as a sign that I would be understanding of his diagnosis. And the week after, a high school student who came in citing suicidal ideation ultimately disclosed that he was having sex for money without his parent’s knowledge, saying that my pin had provided reassurance that I wouldn’t judge him for his actions.
While the ER experience was an eye-opening rotation that I truly enjoyed, the following semester I was assigned to an HIV clinic, and it was there that I met Ms. Carter.
Ms. Carter was in her mid-60s, a retired teacher and a parent of three. She had come to the clinic for medical clearance before undergoing a repeat vaginoplasty. Even though she’d had gender reconstruction surgery the previous year, the excruciating pain of daily dilation had prevented her vagina from healing properly.
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“It was as if my body had eaten up my womanhood,” she said to me in the clinic. The frustration and pain wreaked havoc on her self-confidence, and before long she became deeply depressed.
“My partner refused to talk to me because we couldn’t be intimate,” she recalled, tears clouding her eyes.
And one time, when she was having thoughts of self-harm, she walked over to the emergency room.
“It was awful. Not only was I having these awful thoughts, but in the ER, all these doctors were talking behind my back, making fun of me. I could hear one of them joke, ′Is she doing this surgery to keep her busy after retirement because she’s bored?’”
She said they also made derogatory comments about her being Black and being “reckless,” commenting that her “hips weren’t big enough to be a ‘real’ woman” and asking if this was how “Black people seek attention.”
I remember being so shocked that I asked, almost involuntarily, “They really said that?”
She gave me a wistful nod and said, “If you’re Black and transgender, your life just doesn’t matter.”
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The comment struck such a nerve in me that I impulsively gave her a hug. I held her hand and said, “Your life matters, Ms. Carter. Your life matters.”
“As much as the button serves the purpose of being a visible symbol of my stance, it is also a constant reminder to myself to be more compassionate, sympathetic and culturally humble, even more so when seeing patients.”
Recently, as videos of anti-Black police brutality spread across the internet and the value of Black lives became, yet again, a political deliberation, I told myself that enough was enough and bought a Black Lives Matter button for my hospital lanyard.
It was the best 70 cents I’d ever spent.
Criticism ensued. A scientist at an adjacent laboratory from where I worked over the summer made it a point to clarify that such political gestures were why people didn’t trust science anymore. A nurse acquaintance told me, “You will change your mind when you find out that these patients rarely follow orders.” And a neighbor inquired, “Why must you make a statement out of everything?”
But I let the negative comments slide as I thought of Ms. Carter, who unfortunately passed away from COVID-19 a few months later. And I know there are many Ms. Carters out there who might feel the same sense of despondency as they think about their lives and reflect on their experiences navigating the health care system. As much as the button serves the purpose of being a visible symbol of my stance, it is also a constant reminder to myself to be more compassionate, sympathetic and culturally humble, even more so when seeing patients.
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The history of medicine painfully illustrates its pivotal role in perpetuating racial disparities. For instance, the Tuskegee syphilis study — sponsored by the United States Public Health Service — is just one out of many examples of how Black lives have been devalued in the past.
And the ripple effect of these injustices lives with us till this day. COVID-19 mortality has disproportionately affected Black communities. Black children are three times more likely to die within a month of surgery than their white counterparts. And Black youth have more than three times the number of new HIV diagnoses than white youth in the United States.
But we still have time to turn this around and make a tangible difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable. And something as simple as wearing a pin can serve as a reminder to prioritize diversity. Until we can speak through our actions to the Ms. Carters of the world that their lives matter, there’s a lot more work left to do.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Trump's 'Don't Be Afraid' COVID-19 Tweet Angers Pandemic Survivors

SEATTLE ( AP ) — Dizzy with a soaring fever and unable to breathe , Scott Sedlacek had one thing going for him : He was among the first people to be treated for COVID-19 at Seattle ’ s Swedish Medical Center , and the doctors and nurses were able to give him plenty of attention .
The 64-year-old recovered after being treated with a bronchial nebulizer in March , but the ensuing months have done little to dull the trauma of his illness .
Hearing of President Donald Trump ’ s advice by Tweet and video on Monday not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the president ’ s insistence on riding in a motorcade outside Walter Reed Medical Center and returning to the White House while still infectious — enraged him .
“ I ’ m so glad that he appears to be doing well , that he has doctors who can give him experimental drugs that aren ’ t available to the masses , ” Sedlacek said .
“ For the rest of us , who are trying to protect ourselves , that behavior is an embarrassment.
” COVID-19 has infected about 7.5 million Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions more unemployed , including Sedlacek .
The U.S. has less than 5 % of the globe ’ s population but more than 20 % of the reported deaths .
Yet the world ’ s highest-profile coronavirus patient tweeted on Monday , as he was due to be released from the hospital following a three-day stay : “ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” The advice fit in with Trump ’ s downplaying of the virus , his ridiculing of those who wear masks to protect themselves and others , and his insistence on holding rallies and White House events in contravention of federal guidelines .
But emergency room doctors , public health experts , survivors of the disease and those who have lost loved ones were nevertheless aghast , saying his cavalier words were especially dangerous at a time when infections are on the rise in many places .
Marc Papaj , a Seneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York , lost his mother , grandmother and aunt to COVID-19 .
He was finding it tough to follow the president ’ s advice not to let the virus “ dominate your life.
” “ The loss of my dearest family members will forever dominate my life in every way for all of my days , ” Papaj said , adding this about Trump : “ He does not care about any of us — he ’ s feeling good.
” The county is a farming region along the Mexican border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s highest infection rate .
Its 180,000 residents are largely Latino and low-income , groups that have suffered disproportionately from the virus .
Cases overwhelmed its two hospitals in May .
“ The president has access to the best medical care in the world , along with a helicopter to transport him to the hospital as needed , ” Dr. Janet Baseman , an epidemiologist at the University of Washington ’ s School of Public Health , wrote in an email .
“ The rest of us who don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to worry about covid , which has killed a million people around the world in just a handful of months.
” “ I ’ m not saying the coronavirus isn ’ t real .
I ’ m not saying that it isn ’ t a pandemic , ” she said .
“ I believe tuberculosis could be called a pandemic when it kills a person every 21 seconds , but we haven ’ t shut down the entire world .
I just find it interesting that we are taking this particular pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the owner of Boyd Funeral Home in Los Angeles , which serves many Black families , said Trump ’ s comments were infuriating and an “ example of him not living in reality.
” The funeral home receives fewer virus victims now than it did in the spring , when it was several a day , but people continue to die , she said .

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SEATTLE (AP) — Dizzy with a soaring fever and unable to breathe, Scott Sedlacek had one thing going for him: He was among the first people to be treated for COVID-19 at Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center, and the doctors and nurses were able to give him plenty of attention.
The 64-year-old recovered after being treated with a bronchial nebulizer in March, but the ensuing months have done little to dull the trauma of his illness. Hearing of President Donald Trump’s advice by Tweet and video on Monday not to fear the disease — as well as the president’s insistence on riding in a motorcade outside Walter Reed Medical Center and returning to the White House while still infectious — enraged him.
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“I’m so glad that he appears to be doing well, that he has doctors who can give him experimental drugs that aren’t available to the masses,” Sedlacek said. “For the rest of us, who are trying to protect ourselves, that behavior is an embarrassment.”
COVID-19 has infected about 7.5 million Americans, leaving more than 210,000 dead and millions more unemployed, including Sedlacek. The U.S. has less than 5% of the globe’s population but more than 20% of the reported deaths.
Yet the world’s highest-profile coronavirus patient tweeted on Monday, as he was due to be released from the hospital following a three-day stay: “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
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He reiterated the message in a video Monday night, saying “Be careful,” but “don’t let it dominate you.”
“You’re going to beat it,” he said. “We have the best medical equipment, we have the best medicines.”
The advice fit in with Trump’s downplaying of the virus, his ridiculing of those who wear masks to protect themselves and others, and his insistence on holding rallies and White House events in contravention of federal guidelines. But emergency room doctors, public health experts, survivors of the disease and those who have lost loved ones were nevertheless aghast, saying his cavalier words were especially dangerous at a time when infections are on the rise in many places.
Marc Papaj, a Seneca Nation member who lives in Orchard Park, New York, lost his mother, grandmother and aunt to COVID-19. He was finding it tough to follow the president’s advice not to let the virus “dominate your life.”
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“The loss of my dearest family members will forever dominate my life in every way for all of my days,” Papaj said, adding this about Trump: “He does not care about any of us — he’s feeling good.”
Dr. Tien Vo, who has administered more than 40,000 coronavirus tests at his clinics in California’s Imperial County, had this to say: “Oh, my Lord. That’s a very bad recommendation from the president.”
The county is a farming region along the Mexican border that, at one point, had California’s highest infection rate. Its 180,000 residents are largely Latino and low-income, groups that have suffered disproportionately from the virus. Cases overwhelmed its two hospitals in May.
“The president has access to the best medical care in the world, along with a helicopter to transport him to the hospital as needed,” Dr. Janet Baseman, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health, wrote in an email. “The rest of us who don’t have such ready access to care should continue to worry about covid, which has killed a million people around the world in just a handful of months.”
Some of Trump’s supporters said they wouldn’t be swayed by the White House outbreak: Wearing a mask is a choice, and to mandate its use limits freedom, said Melissa Blundo, chairwoman of the “No Mask Nevada” PAC.
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“I’m not saying the coronavirus isn’t real. I’m not saying that it isn’t a pandemic,” she said. “I believe tuberculosis could be called a pandemic when it kills a person every 21 seconds, but we haven’t shut down the entire world. I just find it interesting that we are taking this particular pandemic and shutting down economies.”
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show 8,920 cases of tuberculosis in 2019. In 2017, the most recent year it reported deaths, 515 died from the bacterial lung infection.
Candy Boyd, the owner of Boyd Funeral Home in Los Angeles, which serves many Black families, said Trump’s comments were infuriating and an “example of him not living in reality.” The funeral home receives fewer virus victims now than it did in the spring, when it was several a day, but people continue to die, she said.
“We have people dying and this is a joke to him,” Boyd said. “I don’t take that lightly. This is sad. This is absurd.”
___
Prengaman reported from Phoenix. Associated Press reporters Elliot Spagat in San Diego, Michelle Price in Las Vegas and Report for America’s Sam Metz in Carson City, Nevada, contributed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Trump Pulls Plug On Coronavirus Stimulus Talks Until After Election

President Donald Trump announced he is giving up on congressional negotiations over another coronavirus stimulus package until after the Nov. 3 presidential election , delaying critical aid to millions of Americans and handing Democrats a potent line of attack amid a devastating pandemic .
“ I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when , immediately after I win , we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business , ” Trump tweeted on Tuesday .
Trump ’ s announcement is a huge blow for thousands of airline workers facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 26 million unemployed Americans .
It also dashes hopes for another round of stimulus checks .
The biggest sticking points to a deal for another stimulus package have been pretty consistent for months now : financial aid to cities and states , liability protections for businesses , and the overall cost of the package .
The two sides made some progress during renewed negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin this month , but they were still said to be far apart , particularly on the scope of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.2 trillion bill last week ; Republicans , particularly in the Senate , opposed a larger package .
“ We made a very generous offer of $ 1.6 Trillion Dollars and , as usual , she is not negotiating in good faith , ” Trump claimed of Pelosi in a tweet on Tuesday .
Meanwhile , Pelosi blasted Trump for walking away from talks and accused him of “ putting himself first at the expense of the country , with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress.
” Trump walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially vulnerable ones who are on the ballot this year , of a key talking point just weeks from the Nov. 3 election .
Prior to Tuesday , GOP lawmakers often claimed Pelosi did not want a deal on another stimulus package .
Now Democrats can say it was Trump who killed the talks and who does not want to provide additional coronavirus relief to millions of struggling Americans .
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said earlier on Tuesday that the U.S. economy will suffer without more fiscal relief from Congress , warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not act .
“ At this early stage , I would argue that the risks of policy intervention are still asymmetric .
Too little support would lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship , ” Powell said .
Economists are for the most part astonished that Trump has not pushed for more stimulus , at a time when a boost to the economy could help his reelection chances .
“ I ’ ve been floored it hasn ’ t happened , ” said Heidi Shierholz , a senior economist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama Labor Department .
“ People are begging Republicans to do the thing that would make it more likely that Trump gets reelected , including me .
”

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President Donald Trump announced he is giving up on congressional negotiations over another coronavirus stimulus package until after the Nov. 3 presidential election, delaying critical aid to millions of Americans and handing Democrats a potent line of attack amid a devastating pandemic.
“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday.
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Trump’s announcement is a huge blow for thousands of airline workers facing layoffs, millions of small businesses, and 26 million unemployed Americans. It also dashes hopes for another round of stimulus checks.
The financial markets reacted negatively immediately following Trump’s tweet, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging more than 600 points.
The biggest sticking points to a deal for another stimulus package have been pretty consistent for months now: financial aid to cities and states, liability protections for businesses, and the overall cost of the package.
The two sides made some progress during renewed negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin this month, but they were still said to be far apart, particularly on the scope of the measure. Democrats passed a scaled-down $2.2 trillion bill last week; Republicans, particularly in the Senate, opposed a larger package.
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“We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith,” Trump claimed of Pelosi in a tweet on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Pelosi blasted Trump for walking away from talks and accused him of “putting himself first at the expense of the country, with the full complicity of the GOP Members of Congress.”
“Clearly the White House is in complete disarray,” the speaker added in a statement.
Trump walking away from stimulus talks robs Republicans, especially vulnerable ones who are on the ballot this year, of a key talking point just weeks from the Nov. 3 election. Prior to Tuesday, GOP lawmakers often claimed Pelosi did not want a deal on another stimulus package. Now Democrats can say it was Trump who killed the talks and who does not want to provide additional coronavirus relief to millions of struggling Americans.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said earlier on Tuesday that the U.S. economy will suffer without more fiscal relief from Congress, warning of “tragic” consequences if it does not act.
“At this early stage, I would argue that the risks of policy intervention are still asymmetric. Too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship,” Powell said.
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Economists are for the most part astonished that Trump has not pushed for more stimulus, at a time when a boost to the economy could help his reelection chances.
“I’ve been floored it hasn’t happened,” said Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute who served in the Obama Labor Department. “People are begging Republicans to do the thing that would make it more likely that Trump gets reelected, including me.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-10-06--Grand Jury Indicts St. Louis Couple Who Waved Guns At Anti-Racism Demonstrators

Al Watkins , an attorney for the couple , confirmed to The Associated Press the indictments against Mark McCloskey , 63 , and his wife , Patricia McCloskey , 61 .
A spokeswoman for Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner declined comment .
The McCloskeys , who are both attorneys , have become folk heroes among some conservatives .
They argue that they were simply exercising their Second Amendment right to bear arms , and were protected by Missouri ’ s castle doctrine law that allows the use of deadly force against intruders .
The case has caught the attention of President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mike Parson has said he will pardon the couple if they are convicted .
The McCloskeys also were featured speakers on the first night of the Republican National Convention .
They ’ ve accused the “ leftist ” Democratic St. Louis leadership for their plight .
But Gardner , a Democrat , charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon .
She said the display of guns risked bloodshed at what she called an otherwise peaceful protest .
Watkins said that addition to the weapons charge , the grand jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It wasn ’ t clear what led to that additional count , he said .
The McCloskeys contend the protest was hardly peaceful .
They say protesters came onto the private street after knocking over an iron gate and ignoring a “ No Trespassing sign , ” and said they felt threatened .
The incident happened June 28 as protesters were walking toward the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson , a few blocks away .
They suddenly decided to veer onto the McCloskeys ’ street , prompting the confrontation that was caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCloskey in front of the $ 1.15 million home armed with an AR-15 rifle and Patricia McCloskey with a semiautomatic handgun .
Nine people involved in the protest were charged with misdemeanor trespassing , but the city counselor ’ s office later dropped the charges .
The city counselor ’ s office handles lesser crimes and is not affiliated with the circuit attorney ’ s office .
Mark McCloskey , after a brief court hearing last week , expressed anger that he and his wife faced criminal charges while those who trespassed onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single human being that was in front of my house was a criminal trespasser , ” McCloskey said on Oct. 6 .
“ They broke down our gate .
They trespassed on our property .
Not a single one of those people is now charged with anything .
We ’ re charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law licenses .
”

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — A grand jury on Tuesday indicted the St. Louis couple who displayed guns while hundreds of racial injustice protesters marched on their private street.
Al Watkins, an attorney for the couple, confirmed to The Associated Press the indictments against Mark McCloskey, 63, and his wife, Patricia McCloskey, 61. A spokeswoman for Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner declined comment.
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The McCloskeys, who are both attorneys, have become folk heroes among some conservatives. They argue that they were simply exercising their Second Amendment right to bear arms, and were protected by Missouri’s castle doctrine law that allows the use of deadly force against intruders. The case has caught the attention of President Donald Trump, and Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has said he will pardon the couple if they are convicted.
The McCloskeys also were featured speakers on the first night of the Republican National Convention. They’ve accused the “leftist” Democratic St. Louis leadership for their plight.
But Gardner, a Democrat, charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon. She said the display of guns risked bloodshed at what she called an otherwise peaceful protest.
Watkins said that addition to the weapons charge, the grand jury indictment includes a tampering with evidence charge. It wasn’t clear what led to that additional count, he said.
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The McCloskeys contend the protest was hardly peaceful. They say protesters came onto the private street after knocking over an iron gate and ignoring a “No Trespassing sign,” and said they felt threatened.
The incident happened June 28 as protesters were walking toward the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson, a few blocks away. They suddenly decided to veer onto the McCloskeys’ street, prompting the confrontation that was caught on cellphone video. It showed Mark McCloskey in front of the $1.15 million home armed with an AR-15 rifle and Patricia McCloskey with a semiautomatic handgun.
A police probable cause statement said protesters feared “being injured due to Patricia McCloskey’s finger being on the trigger, coupled with her excited demeanor.”
Nine people involved in the protest were charged with misdemeanor trespassing, but the city counselor’s office later dropped the charges. The city counselor’s office handles lesser crimes and is not affiliated with the circuit attorney’s office.
Mark McCloskey, after a brief court hearing last week, expressed anger that he and his wife faced criminal charges while those who trespassed onto his property did not.
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“Every single human being that was in front of my house was a criminal trespasser,” McCloskey said on Oct. 6. “They broke down our gate. They trespassed on our property. Not a single one of those people is now charged with anything. We’re charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law licenses.”