thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Trump Calls George Floyd Protestors ‘THUGS,' Threatens Violent Intervention In Minneapolis

President Donald Trump raged against those demonstrating in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd , a Black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck .
Trump called protestors “ thugs ” and threatened a violent intervention in a series of after-midnight tweets early Friday .
“ Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the City under control , or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right , ” Trump wrote on Twitter .
“ These THUGS are dishonoring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t let that happen .
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way.
” I can ’ t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City , Minneapolis .
A total lack of leadership .
Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the City under control , or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right ... .. — Donald J. Trump ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... .These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd , and I won ’ t let that happen .
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way .
Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts .
Thank you !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) May 29 , 2020 Trump ’ s remarks are a stark contrast to those made during another demonstration , one involving white nationalists in Charlottesville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in the killing of counter-protestor Heather Heyer .
Trump expressed sympathy for the extremist protestors at the time , saying there were “ some very fine people ” on both sides .
His comments sparked widespread controversy .
The president ’ s new threats came during the third day of protests in Minneapolis over Floyd ’ s death .
The demonstrations broke out after the release of a shocking video showing Floyd ’ s arrest .
In the clip , Officer Derek Chauvin is seen holding the man to the ground with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Floyd pleas , “ Please man , I can ’ t breathe .
I can not breathe .
I can not breathe.
” Floyd ’ s eyes are seen closed later in the video and he appears unresponsive after he has been pinned on the ground for nearly eight minutes .
Officers later called an ambulance , but he died after being transported to an area hospital .
Paramedics said they spent nearly an hour trying to revive him , but said he had arrived without a pulse .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Lane , Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng — were at the scene , but they made no apparent effort to intervene .
All four were fired on Tuesday .
Protests grew increasingly violent in the Minneapolis region on Thursday and some demonstrators broke into a local police station , setting it on fire and forcing personnel to evacuate .
Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz activated the state ’ s National Guard , which said it was sending 500 troops to the city to help quell the protests .
Trump said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him that the Military is with him all the way.
” It ’ s unclear if the president intends to send more troops to the city should demonstrations continue .
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey , whom Trump targeted in his message early Friday , has urged residents to protest peacefully and called for charges to be brought against the officers in the case .
“ If you ’ re feeling that sadness , that anger , it ’ s not only understandable , it ’ s right .
It ’ s a reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has lived , ” Frey said at a press conference Thursday .
“ We must believe that we can be better than we have been .
”

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President Donald Trump raged against those demonstrating in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck. Trump called protesters “thugs” and threatened a violent intervention in a series of after-midnight tweets early Friday.
“Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way.”
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“Any difficulty and we will assume control,” he continued, “but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
....These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Twitter later applied a “glorifying violence” label to Trump’s second tweet, which it said had violated its rules.
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We have placed a public interest notice on this Tweet from @realdonaldtrump. https://t.co/6RHX56G2zt — Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) May 29, 2020
Trump’s remarks are a stark contrast to those made during another demonstration, one involving white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, which resulted in the killing of counterprotester Heather Heyer. Trump expressed sympathy for the right-wing extremist protesters at the time, saying there were “some very fine people” on both sides. His comments sparked widespread controversy.
The president’s new threats came during the third day of protests in Minneapolis over Floyd’s death. The demonstrations broke out after the release of a shocking video showing Floyd’s arrest. In the clip, Officer Derek Chauvin is seen holding the handcuffed man to the ground with his knee on Floyd’s neck as Floyd pleads, “Please, man, I can’t breathe. I cannot breathe. I cannot breathe.”
Floyd’s eyes are seen closed later in the video, and he appears unresponsive after he has been pinned on the ground for nearly eight minutes. Officers later called an ambulance, but he was declared dead at the hospital. Paramedics said they spent nearly an hour trying to revive him but said he had arrived without a pulse.
In addition to Chauvin, three other officers — Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng — were at the scene, but they made no apparent effort to intervene. All four were fired on Tuesday.
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Protests grew increasingly violent in the Minneapolis region on Thursday and some demonstrators broke into a police station, setting it on fire and forcing personnel to evacuate. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz activated the state’s National Guard, which said it was sending 500 troops to the city to help quell the protests.
Trump said he had spoken with Walz and “told him that the Military is with him all the way.” It’s unclear if the president intends to send more troops to the city should demonstrations continue.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, whom Trump targeted in his message early Friday, has urged residents to protest peacefully and called for charges to be brought against the officers in the case.
“If you’re feeling that sadness, that anger, it’s not only understandable, it’s right. It’s a reflection of the truth that our Black community has lived,” Frey said at a news conference Thursday. “We must believe that we can be better than we have been.”
Earlier Thursday, Trump said he felt “very, very badly” about Floyd’s death, noting the video was a “very shocking sight.”
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This story has been updated with Twitter’s response to Trump’s tweet.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--'Brutish' Trump Could Be Sued For Damages Over Cruel Scarborough Attacks, Warns Expert

President Donald Trump ’ s repeated suggestion that media critic Joe Scarborough killed an aide is not only shocking to many Americans and even members of his own party , it could end up costing him a fortune if he ’ s sued over the hurtful comments , warned a legal expert .
For all of Trump ’ s past vicious insults against opponents and critics , this time his “ wantonly cruel attacks ” are “ distinctive , ” Yale emeritus law professor Peter H. Schuck wrote Thursday in an op-ed in The New York Times .
His Scarborough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which a civil jury could award punitive damages against him ” — and he could be sued for his actions while still in the White House , Schuck warned .
Trump has repeatedly indicated on Twitter that Scarborough , co-host of MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe , ” had something to do with the 2001 death of intern Lori Klausutis , who worked in his Florida office when he was a Republican congressman .
“ The president has offered no evidence for this slander , because there is none , ” wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any evidence to support his calumny either before the tweets or in response to the backlash since then.
” The medical examiner ruled the death an accident , determining that Klausutis suffered a fatal head injury after fainting due to an undiagnosed heart condition .
Her widower , Timothy Klausutis , earlier this week pleaded in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to remove Trump ’ s “ horrifying lies ” that were causing her family pain .
The president is now vulnerable to court actions for “ intentional infliction of emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to condemn wanton cruelty to another person who suffers emotionally as a result , ” noted Schuck .
This “ readily applies to Mr. Trump ’ s tweets about Ms. Klausutis .
They were intentional and reckless , and were ‘ extreme and outrageous ’ without a scintilla of evidence to support them .
And they caused severe emotional distress — the protracted , daily-felt grief described in Mr. Klausutis ’ s letter.
” Scarborough may have less of a claim than Klausutis ’ s widower of emotional distress because the cable news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typical Trump behavior , noted Schuck .
But he may have grounds to sue for defamation because Trump ’ s attacks may “ seriously harm ” Scarborough ’ s reputation , according to Schuck .
Because of a 1998 ruling in favor of Paula Jones in her sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton , lawsuits by both Klausutis and Scarborough “ could proceed ” against Trump “ while he is still in office , ” wrote Schuck .
Suits could likely be brought in any state — and because the tweets had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ presidential responsibilities , he probably could not hide behind an assertion of executive privilege , ” noted Schuck .
The Klausutis family has suffered enough .. without having to endure Mr. Trump ’ s ... malicious raking of the coals , ” Schuck concluded .
“ Tort law might hold our brutish president to account .
”

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President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestion that media critic Joe Scarborough killed an aide is not only shocking to many Americans and even members of his own party, it could end up costing him a fortune if he’s sued over the hurtful comments, warned a legal expert.
For all of Trump’s past vicious insults against opponents and critics, this time his “wantonly cruel attacks” are “distinctive,” Yale emeritus law professor Peter H. Schuck wrote Thursday in an op-ed in The New York Times. His Scarborough attacks “may constitute intentional torts for which a civil jury could award punitive damages against him” — and he could be sued for his actions while still in the White House, Schuck warned.
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Trump has repeatedly indicated on Twitter that Scarborough, co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” had something to do with the 2001 death of staffer Lori Klausutis, who worked in his Florida office when he was a Republican congressman.
“The president has offered no evidence for this slander, because there is none,” wrote Schuck. “He has not cited any evidence to support his calumny either before the tweets or in response to the backlash since then.”
The medical examiner ruled the death an accident, determining that Klausutis suffered a fatal head injury after fainting due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Her widower, Timothy Klausutis, earlier this week pleaded in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to remove Trump’s “horrifying lies” that were causing her family pain.
The president is now vulnerable to court actions for “intentional infliction of emotional distress, which the courts developed precisely to condemn wanton cruelty to another person who suffers emotionally as a result,” noted Schuck. This “readily applies to Mr. Trump’s tweets about Ms. Klausutis. They were intentional and reckless, and were ‘extreme and outrageous’ without a scintilla of evidence to support them. And they caused severe emotional distress — the protracted, daily-felt grief described in Mr. Klausutis’s letter.”
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Scarborough may have less of a claim than Klausutis’s widower of emotional distress because the cable news host has largely dismissed the attacks as typical Trump behavior, noted Schuck. But he may have grounds to sue for defamation because Trump’s attacks may “seriously harm” Scarborough’s reputation, according to Schuck.
Because of a 1998 ruling in favor of Paula Jones in her sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton, lawsuits by both Klausutis and Scarborough “could proceed” against Trump “while he is still in office,” wrote Schuck.
Suits could likely be brought in any state — and because the tweets had nothing to do with Trump’s “presidential responsibilities, he probably could not hide behind an assertion of executive privilege,” noted Schuck.
The Klausutis family has suffered enough .. without having to endure Mr. Trump’s ... malicious raking of the coals,” Schuck concluded. “Tort law might hold our brutish president to account.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Joe Biden Gives Donald Trump A Blunt Reminder Of What They Tweeted On Same Day In October

One day .
Two very contrasting tweets .
Presumptive Democratic 2020 nominee Joe Biden on Thursday pointed out how , on the same day in October 2019 , he was warning on Twitter about the United States ’ lack of preparedness for a pandemic while President Donald Trump was posting some head-scratching advice for Apple CEO Tim Cook .
“ Two tweets from the same day in October , ” tweeted Biden with screenshots of the posts : Indeed , Biden did on October 25 call for “ leadership that builds public trust , focuses on real threats , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach our shores.
” We are not prepared for a pandemic .
Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security .
We need leadership that builds public trust , focuses on real threats , and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores .
https : //t.co/1qqpgayUEX — Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) October 25 , 2019 Trump , meanwhile , was whining about the swipe function on the iPhone : To Tim : The Button on the IPhone was FAR better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) October 25 , 2019 Biden lamented in a later tweet Thursday that the coronavirus crisis “ didn ’ t have to be this bad.
” The hard truth is that this crisis didn ’ t have to be this bad .
— Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) May 28 , 2020 Biden ’ s campaign has this week hammered Trump with multiple tweets and attack ads , as the nationwide death toll from the pandemic topped 100,000 .
Trump continues to face criticism for initially downplaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his response .
Nearly 100,000 lives have been lost , and tens of millions are out of work .
Meanwhile , the president spent his day golfing .
pic.twitter.com/H1BVNtgVjA — Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) May 24 , 2020

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One day. Two very contrasting tweets.
Presumptive Democratic 2020 nominee Joe Biden on Thursday pointed out how, on the same day in October 2019, he warned on Twitter about the United States’ lack of preparedness for a pandemic while President Donald Trump posted some head-scratching advice for Apple CEO Tim Cook.
“Two tweets from the same day in October,” Biden tweeted, including screenshots of the posts:
Two tweets from the same day in October. pic.twitter.com/rsSslLCsTW — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 28, 2020
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Indeed, on October 25, Biden did call for “leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores.”
We are not prepared for a pandemic. Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security. We need leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores. https://t.co/1qqpgayUEX — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 25, 2019
Trump, meanwhile, was whining about the swipe function on the iPhone:
To Tim: The Button on the IPhone was FAR better than the Swipe! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2019
The former vice president lamented in a later tweet Thursday that the coronavirus crisis “didn’t have to be this bad.”
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The hard truth is that this crisis didn’t have to be this bad. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 28, 2020
Biden’s campaign this week hammered Trump with multiple tweets and attack ads, just as the nationwide death toll from the pandemic topped 100,000.
Trump continues to face criticism for initially downplaying the threat of the pandemic and then dithering with his response.
Every day Donald Trump proves how unfit he is to lead our nation. pic.twitter.com/zymzZw8619 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 28, 2020
Nearly 100,000 lives have been lost, and tens of millions are out of work.
Meanwhile, the president spent his day golfing. pic.twitter.com/H1BVNtgVjA — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 24, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Twitter Users Go Postal Over Donald Trump’s Latest Baseless Voter Fraud Claims

President Donald Trump drew scorn and ridicule on Twitter with his latest bizarre and baseless attack on mail-in voting .
Trump has repeatedly attacked voting-by-mail in recent weeks as states push to expand the process in a bid to ensure the safety of citizens amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 103,000 people nationwide .
The president ’ s tweets with baseless attacks on mail-in balloting have earned him fact-check labels on Twitter .
He ’ s also gotten a blunt fact-check from Fox News host Chris Wallace .
The president ’ s latest claim , made in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an executive order on social media , suggested children in California were raiding mailboxes and handing ballots “ to people that are signing the ballots down the end of the street.
” “ They grab the ballots , ” said Trump .
“ You don ’ t think that happens ?
There ’ s ballot harvesting , ” later adding : “ You don ’ t think they rip them out of mailboxes ?
It ’ s all the time , you read about it , you can read about it .
Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , been no reports of that happening .
Instances of serious fraud from mail-in voting are also very rare .
Twitter users were quick to debunk and poke fun at Trump ’ s statement : Yep .
I live here and it ’ s all the rage with the kids .
Raiding mailboxes for ballots .
I tell them , “ go play video games ” , but all they wan na do is go outside and raid mailboxes .
https : //t.co/pAFwJzsH4K — andy lassner ( @ andylassner ) May 28 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did as a young ’ un in the Midwest .
Cow-tippin ’ and ballot-stealin ’ .
Right after watermelon-spikin ’ .
What terrific memories .
— Mark Hertling ( @ MarkHertling ) May 28 , 2020 CA mail-in voter here .
I received a text when I updated my registration , when my ballot left the Registrar 's office , when it hit my mailbox , when it left my post office , when it was received by the Registrar 's office and when it was counted .
SIX texts for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlene E. ( @ u2charlene ) May 28 , 2020 Next week it will be dogs opening the mailboxes and chewing up the ballots .
— Denise Shearin 🌊 ( @ DeniseShearin ) May 28 , 2020 Again , the data suggests voter fraud is exceptionally rare .
Trump can make stuff up all day long but it does n't change the facts .
This does , however , make clear he will do anything , including putting your life & your family 's at risk to win in November .
https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) May 28 , 2020 Glad that someone 's FINALLY talking about the epidemic of lawless kids who turned their backs on booze and reefer and now get their teenage kicks by stealing ballots from mailboxes and distributing them specifically to people who ... are n't registered to vote .
Wait , what ?
https : //t.co/2jr0KzNvBr — Michael Marshall Smith ( @ ememess ) May 28 , 2020

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President Donald Trump drew scorn and ridicule on Twitter with his latest bizarre and baseless attack on mail-in voting.
Trump has repeatedly attacked voting-by-mail in recent weeks as states push to expand the process in a bid to ensure the safety of citizens amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 103,000 people nationwide.
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The president’s tweets with baseless attacks on mail-in balloting have earned him fact-check labels on Twitter. He’s also gotten a blunt fact-check from Fox News host Chris Wallace.
The president’s latest claim, made in the Oval Office on Thursday after signing an executive order on social media, suggested children in California were raiding mailboxes and handing ballots “to people that are signing the ballots down the end of the street.”
“They grab the ballots,” said Trump. “You don’t think that happens? There’s ballot harvesting,” later adding: “You don’t think they rip them out of mailboxes? It’s all the time, you read about it, you can read about it. Take a look.”
Check out the video here:
President Trump: "Anybody in California that breathing gets a ballot."
Reporter: "Mr. President, that's not true." pic.twitter.com/OjfccRD6EU — The Hill (@thehill) May 28, 2020
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There have, however, been no reports of that happening.
Instances of serious fraud from mail-in voting are also very rare.
Twitter users were quick to debunk and poke fun at Trump’s statement:
Californian here. 🙋🏻♀
No they do not do this. — Lisa Guerrero 💃🏽 (@4lisaguerrero) May 28, 2020
Imagine if he spent this much time talking about the GRU. https://t.co/tfwf2ShGGs — Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) May 28, 2020
Yep.
I live here and it’s all the rage with the kids.
Raiding mailboxes for ballots.
I tell them, “go play video games”, but all they wanna do is go outside and raid mailboxes. https://t.co/pAFwJzsH4K — andy lassner (@andylassner) May 28, 2020
I know that’s what I did as a young’un in the Midwest. Cow-tippin’ and ballot-stealin’. Right after watermelon-spikin’. What terrific memories. — Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 28, 2020
CA mail-in voter here. I received a text when I updated my registration, when my ballot left the Registrar's office, when it hit my mailbox, when it left my post office, when it was received by the Registrar's office and when it was counted. SIX texts for one ballot. He's LYING. — Charlene E. (@u2charlene) May 28, 2020
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It's been well-known for years that teens' misbehavior centers on their overwhelming desire to vote. — JRehling (@JRehling) May 28, 2020
Next week it will be dogs opening the mailboxes and chewing up the ballots. — Denise Shearin 🌊 (@DeniseShearin) May 28, 2020
STAFFER: “Who let the President watch Little Rascals again?!” https://t.co/W6o0AtMGrq — Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) May 28, 2020
Again, the data suggests voter fraud is exceptionally rare. Trump can make stuff up all day long but it doesn't change the facts. This does, however, make clear he will do anything, including putting your life & your family's at risk to win in November. https://t.co/Feqw0s7MY7 — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) May 28, 2020
Glad that someone's FINALLY talking about the epidemic of lawless kids who turned their backs on booze and reefer and now get their teenage kicks by stealing ballots from mailboxes and distributing them specifically to people who... aren't registered to vote. Wait, what? https://t.co/2jr0KzNvBr — Michael Marshall Smith (@ememess) May 28, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-28--Child Poverty Projected To Rise By 15% In 2020 Amid Coronavirus: UNICEF

Up to 86 million more children could live in poor households by the end of the year if countries don ’ t take more urgent action to address the economic crisis wrought by the coronavirus pandemic , reports UNICEF .
Child poverty is projected to rise by 15 % in 2020 , largely due to the pandemic and its economic effects , according to an analysis by UNICEF and Save the Children released Thursday .
The groups looked at World Bank data across more than 100 low- and middle-income countries .
The report did not include higher-income countries , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An analysis that includes all nations should be released in the coming months , a UNICEF spokesperson said .
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global economic downturn in the wake of broad shutdowns of businesses to prevent the virus ’ spread .
A significant loss of income for many families has left them unable to afford basic necessities , including food , housing and more .
The majority of children expected to be living below their country ’ s poverty line by year ’ s end reside in sub-Saharan Africa and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , low- and middle-income countries in Europe and central Asia may see the most significant increases , of up to 44 % more children in poverty , the analysis reported , and in Latin America the overall increase could be 22 % .
“ The coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented socio-economic crisis that is draining resources for families all over the world , ” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a release .
“ The scale and depth of financial hardship among families threaten to roll back years of progress… Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be pushed into poverty , and the poorest families could face levels of deprivation that have not been seen for decades.
” The # coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented socio-economic crisis that is draining resources for families all over the world .
Without concerted action , the poorest families could face levels of deprivation that have not been seen for decades .
https : //t.co/QXx7CzFnBI — Henrietta H. Fore ( @ unicefchief ) May 28 , 2020 UNICEF recommends countries step up their social supports to families with “ rapid and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash transfers , child benefits and food distribution through schools .
The group also recommends broader policies to support children and families , including universal access to health care , paid job leave and expanded child care .
Nearly 6 million confirmed coronavirus cases had been reported worldwide as of Thursday , with a death toll of more than 350,000 dead .
In Brazil , the outbreak ’ s new epicenter , more than 400,000 confirmed cases have been reported and its public health systems are reaching their breaking points .
The coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been deeply felt in higher-income countries , including the U.S. , which currently leads the world with the most coronavirus cases and deaths .
Meanwhile , U.S. billionaires ’ net worth has grown by 15 % over the last two months , providing stark proof of the unequal impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the related economic crisis .

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Up to 86 million more children could live in poor households by the end of the year if countries don’t take more urgent action to address the economic crisis wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, reports UNICEF.
Child poverty is projected to rise by 15% in 2020, largely due to the pandemic and its economic effects, according to an analysis by UNICEF and Save the Children released Thursday. The groups looked at World Bank data across more than 100 low- and middle-income countries.
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The report did not include higher-income countries, including the U.S., France, Japan. An analysis that includes all nations should be released in the coming months, a UNICEF spokesperson said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global economic downturn in the wake of broad shutdowns of businesses to prevent the virus’ spread. A significant loss of income for many families has left them unable to afford basic necessities, including food, housing and more.
The majority of children expected to be living below their country’s poverty line by year’s end reside in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, per UNICEF. However, low- and middle-income countries in Europe and central Asia may see the most significant increases, of up to 44% more children in poverty, the analysis reported, and in Latin America the overall increase could be 22%.
“The coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented socio-economic crisis that is draining resources for families all over the world,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a release. “The scale and depth of financial hardship among families threaten to roll back years of progress… Without concerted action, families barely getting by could be pushed into poverty, and the poorest families could face levels of deprivation that have not been seen for decades.”
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The #coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented socio-economic crisis that is draining resources for families all over the world. Without concerted action, the poorest families could face levels of deprivation that have not been seen for decades. https://t.co/QXx7CzFnBI — Henrietta H. Fore (@unicefchief) May 28, 2020
UNICEF recommends countries step up their social supports to families with “rapid and large-scale expansion” of services, including cash transfers, child benefits and food distribution through schools. The group also recommends broader policies to support children and families, including universal access to health care, paid job leave and expanded child care.
Nearly 6 million confirmed coronavirus cases had been reported worldwide as of Thursday, with a death toll of more than 350,000 dead. In Brazil, the outbreak’s new epicenter, more than 400,000 confirmed cases have been reported and its public health systems are reaching their breaking points.
The coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact have also been deeply felt in higher-income countries, including the U.S., which currently leads the world with the most coronavirus cases and deaths.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--They Were Fervent Trump Supporters. Then Coronavirus Hit.

Above : Vincent Harris of Missouri pictured in front of a flag at half-staff to honor U.S. victims of COVID-19 .
Credit : Jill Toyoshiba for HuffPost Biden ’ s appeal to older voters , especially to those who are 65 and older , had been evident long before the United States ’ first documented COVID-19 death in February .
But Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis could push even more of those voters toward the presumptive Democratic candidate .
The vast majority of Trump voters are likely to stay with him , but in a close election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could prove important .
“ He acts like everything comes down to money , like he doesn ’ t really care about the people , ” Paquin , 69 , said .
“ I have a daughter who is a nurse , and she puts herself at risk all the time .
So if she can do that , why can ’ t he man up and do his job in a professional manner ?
” Paquin said she ’ s been a strong Republican for as long as she can remember and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a businessman .
But his initial decision to publicly shrug off the virus ’ potential threat , followed by his push to reopen the country despite a dearth in testing capacity and hospital preparedness , repelled her in recent months .
Paquin said she would rather vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders — who dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination last month — than for Biden .
But she added that she isn ’ t ruling out voting for a Democrat in 2020 .
She indicated she would consider voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and who tells the truth ( including actor Sean Penn , apparently ) .
She said she supported Trump in 2016 because she felt he offered a better plan for job creation and economic stimulus than Clinton .
But his botched response to the virus — including offering misinformation and frequently lambasting the media — caused her to withdraw her support .
Barring the emergence of a third-party candidate , she said she ’ ll likely vote for Biden this year .
Asked why , if science was his biggest concern , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president sooner , Harris pointed to his exasperation with Democrats .
He said he was so angered by their accusations of Russian collusion against Trump ’ s 2016 campaign and the negative impact it had on the president ’ s ability to fulfill campaign promises that he was able to look past the president ’ s potential shortcomings .

Above: Vincent Harris of Missouri pictured in front of a flag at half-staff to honor U.S. victims of COVID-19.
Credit: Jill Toyoshiba for HuffPost
In his northern Missouri town of about 6,000, Vincent Harris suspects he was one of the most vocal supporters President Donald Trump had there.
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The 54-year-old Navy veteran was a self-described “deplorable” (a reference to Hillary Clinton’s notorious dig at Trump supporters in 2016). He fiercely defended the #MAGA mindset on social media, acting as one of the president’s model “keyboard warriors.”
But his staunch support for Trump began to slip as the coronavirus began to spread.
“Up until that time, I felt like the press had been uncharacteristically hard on him,” Harris said. For him, Trump’s “disregard for science” amid a pandemic marked a turning point that warranted national scrutiny.
Harris grew frustrated and discouraged as he watched Trump contradict the country’s top public health experts from the White House podium, downplaying the threat of the virus in the U.S. and hawking unproven treatments.
“I think what some may perceive as attacks from the media now are very fair, are accurate and are pointing out the inconsistencies that are incredibly dangerous from a public health perspective,” said Harris, a lifelong Republican.
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Older Americans were key to securing Trump’s victory in 2016. But some ― including Harris, who supported the president in the last election ― aren’t so firmly in his camp this time around, a shift that could present a hurdle for Trump as he seeks a second term.
Among voters 45 to 64 years old, Trump outperformed Clinton by a 4-point margin, according to the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, a survey of more than 64,000 voters organized by Harvard University and administered by YouGov. The same survey showed Trump won voters 65 and older by a hefty margin of about 13 points.
This time around, according to a FiveThirtyEight average of national polls, voters 55 and older are almost evenly split between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden’s appeal to older voters, especially to those who are 65 and older, had been evident long before the United States’ first documented COVID-19 death in February. But Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis could push even more of those voters toward the presumptive Democratic candidate. The vast majority of Trump voters are likely to stay with him, but in a close election, even a small erosion in support could prove important.
“He acts like everything comes down to money, like he doesn’t really care about the people.” - Melody Paquin
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A survey conducted by HuffPost earlier this month showed 45% of voters aged 45 to 64 disapprove of Trump’s response to the pandemic, compared to 54% who approve. The objection is stronger among voters 65 and older, with 56% who disapprove compared to 41% who approve.
Still, Trump maintains strong backing overall from those who voted for him in 2016, according to the poll. Just 12% of Trump voters disapprove of his response, with a staggering 85% who approve, the poll showed.
Melody Paquin of Barrow County, Georgia, is one of the former.
“He acts like everything comes down to money, like he doesn’t really care about the people,” Paquin, 69, said. “I have a daughter who is a nurse, and she puts herself at risk all the time. So if she can do that, why can’t he man up and do his job in a professional manner?”
Melody Paquin of Georgia says she voted for Trump because he was a businessman, but his response to the coronavirus has made her question his judgment. Dustin Chambers for HuffPost
Paquin said she’s been a strong Republican for as long as she can remember and was first drawn to Trump because he was a businessman. But his initial decision to publicly shrug off the virus’ potential threat, followed by his push to reopen the country despite a dearth in testing capacity and hospital preparedness, repelled her in recent months.
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“Testing, testing, testing ― if that would have been done very early on, we wouldn’t have the mass number of deaths that we have had,” Paquin said.
“He was running his mouth about everybody having [personal protective equipment] while my own daughter in a big hospital was having to reuse masks,” she added. “He just lied and lied and lied.”
Paquin said she would rather vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders — who dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination last month — than for Biden. But she added that she isn’t ruling out voting for a Democrat in 2020. She indicated she would consider voting for almost anyone who isn’t Trump and who tells the truth (including actor Sean Penn, apparently).
Starting To Question Things
Like Paquin, Harriette Sucher, a 61-year-old in Northern California, voted for Trump because of what she considered to be his business acumen. She said she “started to question things” when Trump appeared to ignore the warnings coming from Chinese doctors about the virus. His dubious suggestion that injecting disinfectant might help COVID-19 patients recover didn’t help.
“I started seeing a less intelligent man who’s not understanding the simple science,” Sucher said. She added: “It really matters how we handle this COVID-19 pandemic as a nation and how our leaders handle it. This disease does not know political boundaries.”
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Sucher isn’t sure whom she’ll vote for in November. There’s a slight chance she’ll go for Biden, but she worries about his age, she said.
The decision is more straightforward for others, such as 51-year-old Stephanie Rivers of western Massachusetts. She’s one of roughly 40 million Americans who have lost their jobs in the midst of the economic crash caused by the pandemic.
“I looked to our president to guide us and make hard decisions to protect Americans, but what I saw and heard from him was anything but leadership,” said Rivers, an independent who has voted for both Republicans and Democrats in the past.
She said she supported Trump in 2016 because she felt he offered a better plan for job creation and economic stimulus than Clinton. But his botched response to the virus — including offering misinformation and frequently lambasting the media — caused her to withdraw her support. Barring the emergence of a third-party candidate, she said she’ll likely vote for Biden this year.
HuffPost heard from several past Trump voters who cited his rejection of science amid the pandemic as their top reason for dumping him in 2020. Of course, this isn’t the first time the president has undermined his own scientists.
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Trump has kneecapped U.S. environmental policy, pulled out of an international climate agreement and buried his own government’s global warming report, which warned of catastrophic consequences for failing to act.
“What I’m seeing from some of the people who are ardent supporters of Trump is very synonymous with cult behavior.” - Vincent Harris
Asked why, if science was his biggest concern, he didn’t speak out against the president sooner, Harris pointed to his exasperation with Democrats. He said he was so angered by their accusations of Russian collusion against Trump’s 2016 campaign and the negative impact it had on the president’s ability to fulfill campaign promises that he was able to look past the president’s potential shortcomings.
Plus, the threat of the pandemic feels more immediate than global warming, making it a concern that’s easier to push to the back of his mind, Harris said.
Vincent Harris said he wasn't ready to commit to voting for Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election, but is no longer a Trump supporter. Jill Toyoshiba for HuffPost
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Paquin believes Trump is committing “political suicide” with the way he’s handling the coronavirus crisis. Harris, however, appears unconvinced that the president’s rhetoric will be reflected in the larger pool of past Trump voters.
He said he turned many people onto Trump, but those same people didn’t follow him when he began questioning the president’s coronavirus response. Friends he’s had for 40 years asked whether he had lost his mind, he said.
“If you would have asked me before this pandemic ... if Trump followers were cultish, I would have said, ‘That’s ridiculous,’” Harris said. “At this point, I would tell you that what I’m seeing from some of the people who are ardent supporters of Trump is very synonymous with cult behavior.”
HuffPost received several emails from Trump voters who said they believe he’s done a stellar job navigating the pandemic. Others said they aren’t thrilled with his response but will stick with him for other reasons, namely his support for Israel and his tax cuts.
Neither Paquin nor Harris felt ready to commit to voting for Biden in November. But both suggested it seemed unlikely they could cast a ballot in favor of Trump, a man they once believed would bring spirited change to the country.
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“This guy is refuting one of the most knowledgable disease experts in the world in the middle of a pandemic,” Harris said, referring to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading infectious disease expert on the White House’s coronavirus task force.
“I will take a president who embraces science over a president who rejects science any day,” Harris added, “even if they are a Democrat. Even if that means having to vote for Biden.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Veterans Administration Hospitals Finally Scale Back Risky COVID-19 Drug Touted By Trump

An April study of hospitalized U.S. veterans who were also given the drug revealed similar findings .
The president attacked that study as a “ Trump enemy statement ” and insisted it was politically motivated .
Trump campaign megadonor Bernard Marcus , the co-founder of Home Depot who was trained as a pharmacist , was a key driver in the push for the drug .
Marcus , who donated more than $ 7 million to groups supporting Trump ’ s 2016 presidential run , founded the conservative nonprofit Jobs Creators Network , which helped orchestrate the push .
The group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Bayer , Novatis and Teva , which all manufacture hydroxychloroquine .
Marcus took out Facebook ads and helped organize a petition drive and messages to the White House calling for relaxed regulations to get hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 patients , ProPublica reported in March .
Despite the groundswell of advice against using the drug for COVID-19 , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany again on Thursday strongly endorsed the “ prophylactic ” use of hydroxychloroquine to prevent contracting the coronavirus .
Former top federal vaccine official and whistleblower Rick Bright testified before Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part for refusing to make the potentially dangerous drug more widely available , a strategy pushed by Trump and backed by politically connected interests .
Studies about using hydroxychloroquine to fight COVID-19 had already failed to show promise early on , according to Bright .
He said he was led to believe the Trump administration would “ stop at nothing to make the experimental drug widely available to the American people , no matter the consequences ... because it was seen by the administration as a ‘ BIG immediate win , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Wednesday on CNN that the “ scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy ” of hydroxychloroquine on treating COVID-19 .
Hydroxychloroquine is commonly prescribed for malaria , lupus and rheumatoid arthritis .

An April study of hospitalized U.S. veterans who were also given the drug revealed similar findings. The president attacked that study as a “Trump enemy statement” and insisted it was politically motivated.
Trump campaign megadonor Bernard Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot who was trained as a pharmacist, was a key driver in the push for the drug. Marcus, who donated more than $7 million to groups supporting Trump’s 2016 presidential run, founded the conservative nonprofit Jobs Creators Network, which helped orchestrate the push. The group was further funded by Big Pharma, including Bayer, Novatis and Teva, which all manufacture hydroxychloroquine.
Marcus took out Facebook ads and helped organize a petition drive and messages to the White House calling for relaxed regulations to get hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 patients, ProPublica reported in March.
Despite the groundswell of advice against using the drug for COVID-19, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany again on Thursday strongly endorsed the “prophylactic” use of hydroxychloroquine to prevent contracting the coronavirus.
Former top federal vaccine official and whistleblower Rick Bright testified before Congress earlier this month that he was demoted in part for refusing to make the potentially dangerous drug more widely available, a strategy pushed by Trump and backed by politically connected interests. Studies about using hydroxychloroquine to fight COVID-19 had already failed to show promise early on, according to Bright.
He said he was led to believe the Trump administration would “stop at nothing to make the experimental drug widely available to the American people, no matter the consequences ... because it was seen by the administration as a ‘BIG immediate win,’” Bright said in his whistleblower statement.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Trump Takes No Questions From Press Amid Nationwide Protests On Police Violence

President Donald Trump took zero questions from reporters Friday after three days of escalating nationwide protests over police violence and the death of George Floyd .
At what the White House had described as a news conference Friday afternoon , Trump read a statement in the Rose Garden criticizing China and saying the U.S. was “ terminating ” its relationship with the World Health Organization over its response to the coronavirus .
The president made no mention of the protests , nor did he take any queries from the press .
Later that afternoon at a roundtable on the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Black man who pleaded “ I can ’ t breathe ” as a white police officer knelt on his neck .
The president expressed “ deepest condolences ” to Floyd ’ s family , whom he said he spoke to , and lamented the “ horrible , horrible situation.
” He also condemned the civil unrest in Minneapolis in response to the dayslong delay in charging the officer who pinned his knee into Floyd ’ s neck , saying “ we can ’ t allow ” protests “ to turn into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be allowed to drown out the voices of peaceful protesters.
” Trump later claimed to clarify his tweet , saying “ looting leads to shooting , ” noting there was a shooting in Minneapolis on Wednesday and seven people shot in Louisville Thursday amid protests .
However , in Trump ’ s initial tweet , the expression — first used by a racist Miami police chief in the 1960s — came after the president mentioned the military was “ with ” Minnesota ’ s governor and said , “ Any difficulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news conference , Trump ’ s 2020 campaign also put out a statement blaming the media and Democrats for “ purposefully misrepresenting ” what Trump said in his tweet , claiming they were doing so for “ political gain ” and “ ratings.
” On Friday afternoon , that officer , Derek Chauvin , was arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter .
The charges came four days after Floyd ’ s death and a bystander video of Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyd ’ s neck went viral , and followed @ @ @ @ @ @

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President Donald Trump took zero questions from reporters Friday after three days of escalating nationwide protests over police violence and the death of George Floyd.
At what the White House had described as a news conference Friday afternoon, Trump read a statement in the Rose Garden criticizing China and saying the U.S. was “terminating” its relationship with the World Health Organization over its response to the coronavirus. The president made no mention of the protests, nor did he take any queries from the press.
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Later that afternoon at a roundtable on the coronavirus, Trump addressed the protests for Floyd, a Black man who pleaded “I can’t breathe” as a white police officer knelt on his neck. The president expressed “deepest condolences” to Floyd’s family, whom he said he spoke to, and lamented the “horrible, horrible situation.” He also condemned the civil unrest in Minneapolis in response to the dayslong delay in charging the officer who pinned his knee into Floyd’s neck, saying “we can’t allow” protests “to turn into anarchy and chaos” and “looters should not be allowed to drown out the voices of peaceful protesters.”
Trump later claimed to clarify his tweet, saying “looting leads to shooting,” noting there was a shooting in Minneapolis on Wednesday and seven people shot in Louisville Thursday amid protests. However, in Trump’s initial tweet, the expression — first used by a racist Miami police chief in the 1960s — came after the president mentioned the military was “with” Minnesota’s governor and said, “Any difficulty and we will assume control.”
After the news conference, Trump’s 2020 campaign also put out a statement blaming the media and Democrats for “purposefully misrepresenting” what Trump said in his tweet, claiming they were doing so for “political gain” and “ratings.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--The Racist Origins Of Trump’s ‘When The Looting Starts, The Shooting Starts’ Quote

“ I can ’ t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City , Minneapolis , ” he wrote Thursday night .
“ Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the City under control , or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right.
” He continued in a second tweet : “ These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd , and I won ’ t let that happen .
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts .
Thank you !
” Twitter posted a content warning over the latter half of the president ’ s message , warning users that it violated the platform ’ s rules about glorifying violence but was still available out of public interest .
( The same label was applied to an identical tweet from the official White House account . )
It was the second time this week that the company labeled Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning .
Later Friday , Trump attempted to backpedal with a nonsensical series of tweets , claiming that his racist call to violence was misunderstood ( a reading that would require ignoring the immediate context of the threat , in which the president invoked the military to assert “ control ” of the situation ) .
“ It was spoken as a fact , not as a statement .
It ’ s very simple , nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters , and those looking to cause trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump did not coin the phrase “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” The line is half a century old , and combative Miami Police Chief Walter Headley Jr. originally used it during the height of civil rights protests in the 1960s .
Headley led the Florida city ’ s law enforcement from 1948 until his sudden death in 1968 .
He attracted national attention and condemnation in December 1967 , when he threatened to step up already severe policing practices that included use of tear gas and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war , ” Headley told reporters , according to a United Press International article from the time .
He described his problem with “ young hoodlums , from 15 to 21 , who have taken advantage of the civil rights campaign.
” His comments angered civil rights leaders at the time .
Martin Davies , a spokesman for the NAACP , told UPI : “ This man has no place in a position of public trust .
If necessary , we will get a lawsuit to keep him from enforcing this type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference so alarmed residents that he was put before the Miami City Commission to explain himself , according to his New York Times obituary .
He claimed his remarks had been partly misinterpreted , and the publication said he “ held his ground on enforcement and gained the commission ’ s support.
” The city council and its mayor were all white men at the time .
We don ’ t mind being accused of police brutality .
They haven ’ t seen anything yet .
former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley Jr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t the first time Headley would publicly use the “ looting ” phrase , either .
Facing criticism in August 1968 for remaining on vacation while riots broke out in Liberty City , a majority-Black neighborhood in Miami , Headley said his department could handle the situation without him .
“ They know what to do .
When the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” he said , according to the Times obituary .
Headley ’ s defenders said he transformed the department , which Miami Herald columnist Charles Whited had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more beef than brains.
” But it became known for brawny tactics .
Protesters have demonstrated across the country since George Floyd , a Black man , died Monday after a white police officer restrained him by pinning his neck to the ground with a knee .
Video of the incident shows Floyd pleading for his life and saying he could not breathe .

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As protests intensified in Minneapolis following the death of a Black man pinned down by a white police officer, President Donald Trump issued a naked threat in a pair of tweets.
“I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis,” he wrote Thursday night. “Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right.”
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He continued in a second tweet: “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
Twitter posted a content warning over the latter half of the president’s message, warning users that it violated the platform’s rules about glorifying violence but was still available out of public interest. (The same label was applied to an identical tweet from the official White House account.) It was the second time this week that the company labeled Trump’s tweets with some kind of content warning.
I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
....These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
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Later Friday, Trump attempted to backpedal with a nonsensical series of tweets, claiming that his racist call to violence was misunderstood (a reading that would require ignoring the immediate context of the threat, in which the president invoked the military to assert “control” of the situation).
“It was spoken as a fact, not as a statement. It’s very simple, nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media,” he tweeted.
Trump did not coin the phrase “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” The line is half a century old, and combative Miami Police Chief Walter Headley Jr. originally used it during the height of civil rights protests in the 1960s.
Headley led the Florida city’s law enforcement from 1948 until his sudden death in 1968. He attracted national attention and condemnation in December 1967, when he threatened to step up already severe policing practices that included use of tear gas and an aggressive stop-and-frisk policy.
“This is war,” Headley told reporters, according to a United Press International article from the time. He described his problem with “young hoodlums, from 15 to 21, who have taken advantage of the civil rights campaign.”
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“We don’t mind being accused of police brutality,” Headley said. “They haven’t seen anything yet.”
The police chief then explained that he maintained order by threatening violence: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
His comments angered civil rights leaders at the time. Martin Davies, a spokesman for the NAACP, told UPI: “This man has no place in a position of public trust. If necessary, we will get a lawsuit to keep him from enforcing this type of arbitrary action.”
Headley’s news conference so alarmed residents that he was put before the Miami City Commission to explain himself, according to his New York Times obituary. He claimed his remarks had been partly misinterpreted, and the publication said he “held his ground on enforcement and gained the commission’s support.” The city council and its mayor were all white men at the time.
“We don’t mind being accused of police brutality. They haven’t seen anything yet.” - former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley Jr., in the 1960s
It wasn’t the first time Headley would publicly use the “looting” phrase, either. Facing criticism in August 1968 for remaining on vacation while riots broke out in Liberty City, a majority-Black neighborhood in Miami, Headley said his department could handle the situation without him. “They know what to do. When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” he said, according to the Times obituary.
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His officers killed three people. Eighteen were wounded.
Headley’s defenders said he transformed the department, which Miami Herald columnist Charles Whited had once described as being “comprised of more beef than brains.” But it became known for brawny tactics.
In the Headley era, two cops strip-searched a Black teenager suspected of bringing a knife into a pool hall and dangled him by his feet over a bridge crossing the Miami River, according to a Washington Post article about the era’s unrest.
At the time, local leaders claimed Headley was effective, but his authoritarian policies increased distrust between the Black community and law enforcement ― a long trend that has since led to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Protesters have demonstrated across the country since George Floyd, a Black man, died Monday after a white police officer restrained him by pinning his neck to the ground with a knee. Video of the incident shows Floyd pleading for his life and saying he could not breathe.
Some of the protesters turned violent on Wednesday night, setting fire to several Minneapolis businesses. They breached a city police station on Thursday, setting it ablaze and smashing windows as officers retreated.
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Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, called for the violence to end earlier this week.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Amy Klobuchar Defends Record As A Prosecutor After George Floyd's Death

Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) defended her record as a prosecutor on Friday following the death of George Floyd , a Black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck .
Floyd , 46 , died on Monday after a police officer pinned him to the street while he repeatedly pleaded , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” The moment was captured on video , prompting a nationwide outcry and violent demonstrations in the city of Minneapolis .
On Thursday , police were forced to abandon a precinct station after protesters stormed it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement authorities announced on Friday the officer who kneeled on Floyd ’ s neck had been placed in custody .
“ There should be charges , ” Klobuchar , a former Hennepin County prosecutor , said on MSNBC shortly before the announcement .
“ I hope that we will see swift justice in this case .
... this is right in front of our eyes.
” The senator added there ought to be a “ large scale investigation of what has been going on at the Minneapolis Police Department.
” Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s record as a prosecutor in the state ― where she was known for her tough-on-crime approach ― as Vice President Joe Biden considers potential 2020 running mates .
According to The Washington Post , Klobuchar chose not to bring charges against officers in more than two dozen cases in which people died in encounters with police , instead handing the decision to grand juries , which tend to side with officers .
Klobuchar said on MSNBC that while the practice of referring cases to a grand jury was common at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong now.
” But she said it is “ absolutely false ” that she declined to prosecute Derek Chauvin , the officer at the center of Floyd ’ s death , for a police shooting that took place in 2006 in which Chauvin and five other officers shot and killed a man who they said aimed a shotgun at them .
Klobuchar said the case went to a grand jury after she had left her Hennepin County office and was elected to the Senate .
The Hennepin County prosecutor ’ s office also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had “ no involvement ” in the prosecution of the 2006 case .
Asked on MSNBC whether she should withdraw from consideration as Biden ’ s running mate over the matter , Klobuchar said the decision was up to the former vice president .
“ Since I ’ ve got into the Senate , I ’ ve been one of the leaders in terms of pushing for sentencing reform .
That ’ s my record .
And Joe Biden will decide who he wants in this job , ” Klobuchar said .

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Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) defended her record as a prosecutor on Friday following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Floyd, 46, died on Monday after a police officer pinned him to the street while he repeatedly pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” The moment was captured on video, prompting a nationwide outcry and violent demonstrations in the city of Minneapolis. On Thursday, police were forced to abandon a precinct station after protesters stormed it and set the building on fire.
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Law enforcement authorities announced on Friday the officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck had been placed in custody.
“There should be charges,” Klobuchar, a former Hennepin County prosecutor, said on MSNBC shortly before the announcement. “I hope that we will see swift justice in this case. ... this is right in front of our eyes.”
The senator added there ought to be a “large scale investigation of what has been going on at the Minneapolis Police Department.”
Floyd’s death has again raised questions about Klobuchar’s record as a prosecutor in the state ― where she was known for her tough-on-crime approach ― as Vice President Joe Biden considers potential 2020 running mates.
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According to The Washington Post, Klobuchar chose not to bring charges against officers in more than two dozen cases in which people died in encounters with police, instead handing the decision to grand juries, which tend to side with officers.
Klobuchar said on MSNBC that while the practice of referring cases to a grand jury was common at the time, she thinks “that was wrong now.”
But she said it is “absolutely false” that she declined to prosecute Derek Chauvin, the officer at the center of Floyd’s death, for a police shooting that took place in 2006 in which Chauvin and five other officers shot and killed a man who they said aimed a shotgun at them. Klobuchar said the case went to a grand jury after she had left her Hennepin County office and was elected to the Senate.
The Hennepin County prosecutor’s office also issued a statement on Friday saying Klobuchar had “no involvement” in the prosecution of the 2006 case.
Asked on MSNBC whether she should withdraw from consideration as Biden’s running mate over the matter, Klobuchar said the decision was up to the former vice president.
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“Since I’ve got into the Senate, I’ve been one of the leaders in terms of pushing for sentencing reform. That’s my record. And Joe Biden will decide who he wants in this job,” Klobuchar said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Melania Trump Says 'There Is No Need For Violence' In George Floyd Protests

The first lady posted a tweet calling for those protesting the police killing to be peaceful and offering condolences to Floyd ’ s family .
Floyd , who was Black , died after a white police officer knelt on his neck .
“ Our country allows for peaceful protests , but there is no reason for violence , ” the first lady wrote .
“ I ’ ve seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can ’ t stop now .
My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace , prayers & healing.
” Our country allows for peaceful protests , but there is no reason for violence .
I ’ ve seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can ’ t stop now .
My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd .
As a nation , let 's focus on peace , prayers & healing .
— Melania Trump ( @ FLOTUS ) May 29 , 2020 Trump ’ s call for unity stood as a stark contrast to her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis violence with the National Guard and evoking bellicose tough-cop lines from the 1960s .
One of the president ’ s tweets early Friday was flagged by Twitter for “ glorifying violence.
” Some people on Twitter , including CNN ’ s Chris Cilleza , pointed out that the first lady ’ s tweet showed more sensitivity than her husband .
What if the president had just sent this tweet ?
Rather than one using racially coded language ( `` thugs '' ) and issuing a direct threat of violence against protesters ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CillizzaCNN ) May 29 , 2020 Others noted the contradiction in Melania Trump ’ s message and her husband ’ s threats .
Your husband sent out a message saying to kill .
That ’ s quite the opposite of peaceful — mary elizabeth ( @ mxryelizabeth ) May 29 , 2020 Why then is your husband calling for shooting the looters .
Do you agree .
If you do n't , could you have a word with him if you see him in the next couple of days ?
— Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 Your husband cheered on white people storming the Michigan State Capitol armed with assault weapons so they could get a haircut https : //t.co/9Mc6eB2epY — Jason Le Miere ( @ JasonLeMiere ) May 29 , 2020 Colin Kaepernick ’ s mother weighed in , noting that the president wasn ’ t very fond of peaceful protests .
The man who peacefully protested against systemic racism and police brutality was called a `` Son of a Bitch '' by your idiot husband and lost his job .
Let 's not focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on change !
https : //t.co/GiX1QANOKZ — Teresa Kaepernick ( @ TessKap ) May 29 , 2020 One person suggested Melania Trump ’ s predecessor as first lady might have a more meaningful comment .

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The first lady posted a tweet calling for those protesting the police killing to be peaceful and offering condolences to Floyd’s family. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck.
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“Our country allows for peaceful protests, but there is no reason for violence,” the first lady wrote. “I’ve seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can’t stop now. My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. As a nation, let’s focus on peace, prayers & healing.”
Our country allows for peaceful protests, but there is no reason for violence. I’ve seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can’t stop now. My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. As a nation, let's focus on peace, prayers & healing. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 29, 2020
Trump’s call for unity stood as a stark contrast to her husband’s tweets threatening to escalate the Minneapolis violence with the National Guard and evoking bellicose tough-cop lines from the 1960s. One of the president’s tweets early Friday was flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence.”
Some people on Twitter, including CNN’s Chris Cilleza, pointed out that the first lady’s tweet showed more sensitivity than her husband.
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What if the president had just sent this tweet? Rather than one using racially coded language ("thugs") and issuing a direct threat of violence against protesters? https://t.co/KJObggH9aK — Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) May 29, 2020
Others noted the contradiction in Melania Trump’s message and her husband’s threats.
Your husband sent out a message saying to kill. That’s quite the opposite of peaceful — mary elizabeth (@mxryelizabeth) May 29, 2020
Why then is your husband calling for shooting the looters. Do you agree. If you don't, could you have a word with him if you see him in the next couple of days? — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) May 29, 2020
Your husband just told white people to kill black people if they break a window. — Liddle’ Savage (@littledeekay) May 29, 2020
Your husband cheered on white people storming the Michigan State Capitol armed with assault weapons so they could get a haircut https://t.co/9Mc6eB2epY — Jason Le Miere (@JasonLeMiere) May 29, 2020
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Colin Kaepernick’s mother weighed in, noting that the president wasn’t very fond of peaceful protests.
The man who peacefully protested against systemic racism and police brutality was called a "Son of a Bitch" by your idiot husband and lost his job. Let's not focus on peace and prayers, let's focus on change! https://t.co/GiX1QANOKZ — Teresa Kaepernick (@TessKap) May 29, 2020
One person suggested Melania Trump’s predecessor as first lady might have a more meaningful comment.
Would rather hear from our real first lady Michelle Obama right now. — Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) May 29, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Says 'F U' To Trump For 'Looting' Tweet

When Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot was asked if there was anything she ’ d like to say to Donald Trump , she was ready with an answer .
“ I will encode what I really want to say to Donald Trump .
It ’ s two words : It begins with ‘ F ’ and it ends with ‘ U.
’ ” she said on Friday .
And , yes , there ’ s video .
Thanks for asking .
Lightfoot ’ s comment came in reaction to a tweet the president posted early Friday morning where he threatened protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers responsible for George Floyd ’ s death by saying , “ When the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” The Chicago mayor also said the president ’ s comment “ was profoundly dangerous , ” according to WGN TV .
“ And we must stand firm in solidarity and say this is totally unacceptable no matter who the speaker is.
” Lightfoot added : “ And we see the game he is playing .
Because he ’ s transparent and he ’ s not very good at it .
”

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When Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot was asked if there was anything she’d like to say to Donald Trump, she was ready with an answer.
“I will encode what I really want to say to Donald Trump. It’s two words: It begins with ‘F’ and it ends with ‘U.’” she said on Friday.
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And, yes, there’s video. Thanks for asking.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has two words for Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/kBNlsJi84s — BallerAlert (@balleralert) May 29, 2020
Lightfoot’s comment came in reaction to a tweet the president posted early Friday morning where he threatened protesters demanding the arrest of the four Minneapolis police officers responsible for George Floyd’s death by saying, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
The Chicago mayor also said the president’s comment “was profoundly dangerous,” according to WGN TV. “And we must stand firm in solidarity and say this is totally unacceptable no matter who the speaker is.”
Lightfoot added: “And we see the game he is playing. Because he’s transparent and he’s not very good at it.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Joe Biden Bluntly Reminds Donald Trump Of What They Tweeted On Same Day In October

One day .
Two very contrasting tweets .
Presumptive Democratic 2020 nominee Joe Biden on Thursday pointed out how , on the same day in October 2019 , he warned on Twitter about the United States ’ lack of preparedness for a pandemic while President Donald Trump posted some head-scratching advice for Apple CEO Tim Cook .
“ Two tweets from the same day in October , ” Biden tweeted , including screenshots of the posts : Indeed , on October 25 , Biden did call for “ leadership that builds public trust , focuses on real threats , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they reach our shores.
” We are not prepared for a pandemic .
Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security .
We need leadership that builds public trust , focuses on real threats , and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores .
https : //t.co/1qqpgayUEX — Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) October 25 , 2019 Trump , meanwhile , was whining about the swipe function on the iPhone : To Tim : The Button on the IPhone was FAR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) October 25 , 2019 The former vice president lamented in a later tweet Thursday that the coronavirus crisis “ didn ’ t have to be this bad.
” The hard truth is that this crisis didn ’ t have to be this bad .
— Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) May 28 , 2020 Biden ’ s campaign this week hammered Trump with multiple tweets and attack ads , just as the nationwide death toll from the pandemic topped 100,000 .
Trump continues to face criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and then dithering with his response .
Nearly 100,000 lives have been lost , and tens of millions are out of work .
Meanwhile , the president spent his day golfing .
pic.twitter.com/H1BVNtgVjA — Joe Biden ( @ JoeBiden ) May 24 , 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Taylor Swift Slams Trump For 'Stoking' Fires Of 'White Supremacy And Racism'

He also added : “ Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” The controversial message prompted Twitter to issue a content warning over the tweet , warning users that it violated the platform ’ s rules about glorifying violence but was still available out of public interest .
The warning marked the second time this week that one of Trump ’ s tweets had been labeled as such by the platform .
Though Swift had remained quiet on the political front for quite some time throughout her career , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian last year that she feels Trump and his administration are “ gaslighting the American public into being like , ’ If you hate the president , you hate America.
’ ” As such , she ’ s pledged to “ do everything I can for 2020.
” Of her silence prior to the last two years , Swift has said that she was “ just trying to protect my mental health ― not read the news very much , go cast my vote , tell people to vote.
” “ I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew what I couldn ’ t .
I was literally about to break , ” she said , adding that she has since felt “ really remorseful ” for not officially endorsing Hillary Clinton when she ran for president in 2016 .

He also added: “Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
The controversial message prompted Twitter to issue a content warning over the tweet, warning users that it violated the platform’s rules about glorifying violence but was still available out of public interest. The warning marked the second time this week that one of Trump’s tweets had been labeled as such by the platform.
Though Swift had remained quiet on the political front for quite some time throughout her career, the “Lover” singer told The Guardian last year that she feels Trump and his administration are “gaslighting the American public into being like, ’If you hate the president, you hate America.’” As such, she’s pledged to “do everything I can for 2020.”
Of her silence prior to the last two years, Swift has said that she was “just trying to protect my mental health ― not read the news very much, go cast my vote, tell people to vote.”
“I just knew what I could handle and I knew what I couldn’t. I was literally about to break,” she said, adding that she has since felt “really remorseful” for not officially endorsing Hillary Clinton when she ran for president in 2016.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Joe Biden Says He's Spoken With George Floyd's Family, Calls For Police Reform

AP Photo/Matt Rourke Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden , accompanied by South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn , speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia , South Carolina , on Feb. 29 , 2020 .
Promising to bring real police reform if elected president , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Friday that he had spoken with the family of George Floyd , the African American man killed by Minneapolis police officers on Monday .
“ The original sin of this country still stains our nation today , ” the former vice president said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to more than 400 years of “ Black men , Black women , Black children ” whose potential was “ wiped out unnecessarily.
” “ Everyday African Americans go about their lives with constant anxiety and trauma wondering who will be next ...
The anger and frustration and the exhaustion is undeniable.
” Protests broke out nationwide after video showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd ’ s neck despite his pleas that he could not breathe .
The officer , Derek Chauvin , was fired from his post after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on murder and manslaughter charges .
After days of protests , Minneapolis was in flames Thursday night as some people set fire to the Minneapolis Police Department ’ s 3rd Precinct building .
Other local businesses were set on fire as people broke into stores and threw fireworks at law enforcement .
President Donald Trump responded by tweeting that the protesters were “ THUGS ” and called for shooting any looters .
Biden did not mention Trump by name in his remarks , but explicitly censured the president ’ s response to Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the time for “ incendiary tweets ” or “ inciting violence.
” “ In the moment where we ’ re at , in a moment that is so volatile , anything we do to add fuel to that fire is really , really challenging , ” Walz said .
Biden ’ s presidential campaign has proposed allocating $ 300 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services program , which he argues has been underfunded , as well as directing the Department of Justice to hold police departments accountable for excessive use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, speaks at a primary night election rally in Columbia, South Carolina, on Feb. 29, 2020. AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Promising to bring real police reform if elected president, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Friday that he had spoken with the family of George Floyd, the African American man killed by Minneapolis police officers on Monday.
“The original sin of this country still stains our nation today,” the former vice president said in a video message from his Delaware home, referring to more than 400 years of “Black men, Black women, Black children” whose potential was “wiped out unnecessarily.”
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“Everyday African Americans go about their lives with constant anxiety and trauma wondering who will be next ... The anger and frustration and the exhaustion is undeniable.”
Protests broke out nationwide after video showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck despite his pleas that he could not breathe. The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired from his post after the incident and taken into custody Friday on murder and manslaughter charges.
After days of protests, Minneapolis was in flames Thursday night as some people set fire to the Minneapolis Police Department’s 3rd Precinct building. Other local businesses were set on fire as people broke into stores and threw fireworks at law enforcement.
President Donald Trump responded by tweeting that the protesters were “THUGS” and called for shooting any looters.
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Biden did not mention Trump by name in his remarks, but explicitly censured the president’s response to Floyd’s death, saying this was not the time for “incendiary tweets” or “inciting violence.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also said Trump’s comments were “just not helpful.”
“In the moment where we’re at, in a moment that is so volatile, anything we do to add fuel to that fire is really, really challenging,” Walz said.
Biden’s presidential campaign has proposed allocating $300 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which he argues has been underfunded, as well as directing the Department of Justice to hold police departments accountable for excessive use of force and other civil rights violations.
View Biden’s remarks below.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Transit Workers Union Backs Members Who Refuse Transporting Minneapolis Police

The union representing more than 200,000 public transit workers in the U.S. and Canada said its members in Minneapolis have the right to refuse to transport police , in solidarity with protests over the police killing of George Floyd .
“ As our members – bus drivers – have the right to refuse work they consider dangerous or unsafe during the pandemic , so too Minneapolis bus drivers – our members – have the right to refuse the dangerous duty of transporting police to protests and arrested demonstrators away from these communities where many of these drivers live , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Thursday .
“ This is a misuse of public transit.
” ATU Local 1005 , the union ’ s chapter in Minneapolis and St. Paul , issued a letter of solidarity with the protesters , calling for “ a new Civil Rights Movement ... that is joined with the labor movement.
” “ ATU members face racism daily .
Our members live in and work the neighborhoods where actions like this happen , and where this took place , now watched in horror across the globe , ” the local ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable !
We say ‘ NOT ONE MORE ’ execution of a black life by the hands of the police .
NOT ONE MORE !
JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD !
” Metro Transit officials suspended most of the region ’ s mass transit starting at 4 p.m. Thursday “ out of concern for the safety of our customers and employees.
” The suspension was later extended through Sunday .
A spokesperson would not say if the suspension was solely due to the protests , the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to the transit workers ’ solidarity action .

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The union representing more than 200,000 public transit workers in the U.S. and Canada said its members in Minneapolis have the right to refuse to transport police, in solidarity with protests over the police killing of George Floyd.
“As our members – bus drivers – have the right to refuse work they consider dangerous or unsafe during the pandemic, so too Minneapolis bus drivers – our members – have the right to refuse the dangerous duty of transporting police to protests and arrested demonstrators away from these communities where many of these drivers live,” union President John Costa said in a statement Thursday. “This is a misuse of public transit.”
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ATU Local 1005, the union’s chapter in Minneapolis and St. Paul, issued a letter of solidarity with the protesters, calling for “a new Civil Rights Movement ... that is joined with the labor movement.”
“ATU members face racism daily. Our members live in and work the neighborhoods where actions like this happen, and where this took place, now watched in horror across the globe,” the local’s letter said. “Police brutality is unacceptable! We say ‘NOT ONE MORE’ execution of a black life by the hands of the police. NOT ONE MORE! JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD!”
Metro Transit officials suspended most of the region’s mass transit starting at 4 p.m. Thursday “out of concern for the safety of our customers and employees.” The suspension was later extended through Sunday.
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A spokesperson would not say if the suspension was solely due to the protests, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. It’s also unclear if the decision was directly related to the transit workers’ solidarity action.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-29--Barack Obama Responds To George Floyd's Death: 'This Shouldn't Be Normal'

Former President Barack Obama on Friday spoke out against the death of George Floyd , saying he shares the same anguish that millions of other Americans feel .
“ This shouldn ’ t be ‘ normal ’ in 2020 America , ” Obama said in a statement .
“ It can ’ t be ‘ normal.
’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals , we can and must be better.
” Floyd , an unarmed 46-year-old Black man , died Monday after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd repeatedly pleaded , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” The incident was captured on video and has since sparked nationwide outrage .
“ It ’ s natural to wish for life ‘ to just get back to normal ’ as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us , ” Obama said .
“ But we have to remember that for millions of Americans being treated differently on account of race is tragically , painfully , maddeningly ‘ normal ’ — whether it ’ s while dealing with the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice system , or jogging down the street , or just watching birds in a park.
” The last two examples he shared appear to reference Ahmaud Arbery , the 25-year-old Black man shot and killed by two white men while jogging in February , and Christian Cooper , the Black man who was bird-watching when a white woman called the cops on him this week .
The Minneapolis Police Department has fired the four officers involved in Floyd ’ s death .
Derek Chauvin , the officer who pushed his knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested Friday .
The case is in the hands of Minnesota authorities , Obama said , but there ’ s work that all Americans need to do .
“ [ I ] t falls on all of us , ” he said , “ regardless of our race or station — including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way , every day — to work together to create a ‘ new normal ’ in which the legacy of bigotry and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or our hearts .
”

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Former President Barack Obama on Friday spoke out against the death of George Floyd, saying he shares the same anguish that millions of other Americans feel.
“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America,” Obama said in a statement. “It can’t be ‘normal.’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better.”
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Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old Black man, died Monday after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the street with his knee. Floyd repeatedly pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” The incident was captured on video and has since sparked nationwide outrage.
My statement on the death of George Floyd: pic.twitter.com/Hg1k9JHT6R — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 29, 2020
“It’s natural to wish for life ‘to just get back to normal’ as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us,” Obama said. “But we have to remember that for millions of Americans being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’ — whether it’s while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park.”
The last two examples he shared appear to reference Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old Black man shot and killed by two white men while jogging in February, and Christian Cooper, the Black man who was bird-watching when a white woman called the cops on him this week.
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The Minneapolis Police Department has fired the four officers involved in Floyd’s death. Derek Chauvin, the officer who pushed his knee into Floyd’s neck, was arrested Friday.
The case is in the hands of Minnesota authorities, Obama said, but there’s work that all Americans need to do.