thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Georgia Democrats Nominate Nikema Williams To Succeed John Lewis

“ The presidential administration changes in January , and we need to hit the ground running with a qualified , experienced person in this position , ” Bobby Fuse , chairman of the Democratic Party in Georgia ’ s 2nd , said on a Monday conference call announcing his support for Williams .
“ We do not need to wait another two years to have an election for a permanent congressman , because we ’ ll lose two years ’ seniority.
” Williams ’ nomination was the culmination of a two-day mad dash to put forward a candidate for Lewis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning that it was considering five local leaders and politicians : Park Cannon , a progressive queer state representative , Andre Dickens , an Atlanta city council member , Robert Franklin , the president of Morehouse College , a historically Black men ’ s college in Atlanta , James “ Major ” Woodall , the president of the Georgia NAACP , and Williams .
Georgia ’ s election code requires the party ’ s executive committee to offer a substitute candidate to the Secretary of State by 4 p.m. on the business day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the candidate .
The state ’ s Democratic Party held a single-day open call for candidate applications Sunday , and received a total of 131 applicants that were reviewed by a committee of local politicians and party officials .
A separate executive committee in the party , which Williams was on , met Monday , to nominate a single candidate .
Williams abstained from the voting and the five finalists were given the opportunity to address the party ’ s executive committee , however the final tally among party committee members was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hank Johnson and Lucy McBath both voted for Williams .
Among those on the nominating committee were Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , former Democratic leader of the Georgia House and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams , as well as state party members and former leaders , like Jason Carter , a former state senator and 2014 gubernatorial candidate .
The district , which encompasses much of the city of Atlanta , is 59 % Black , and overwhelmingly Democratic .
Because of the district ’ s electoral makeup , the general election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the district by a margin of 73 percentage points and Williams is expected to win easily .
In effect , the Democratic officials charged with selecting a nominee in an unusually rapid , behind-closed-doors process will likely install a long-term successor for Lewis without the input of Democratic voters in the Atlanta-area district .
The nominee is all but certain to be an incumbent member of Congress in 2022 , when the district next holds its Democratic primary .
Given the advantages of incumbency , that makes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone new .
Vincent Fort , a progressive labor lobbyist who represented southwest Atlanta in the state Senate for two decades , denounced the process for depriving Atlanta Democrats of the chance to pick a nominee in an open primary for the first time since 1986 when Lewis defeated fellow civil rights leader Julian Bond .
“ Foremost voting rights advocate in last 65 years , Rep. John Lewis , is going to be replaced in [ a ] rigged process by a few dozen people most of whom don ’ t live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort tweeted .
Fort told HuffPost in a follow-up interview that he wanted the party to nominate a senior figure like former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as a placeholder who would resign after the November election .
Likewise , ahead of Williams ’ selection on Monday , Tharon Johnson , a former campaign manager for Lewis , called for the party ’ s pick to immediately resign in order to allow for an open primary to fill Lewis ’ seat .
“ Out of respect to Lewis ’ legacy , his successor should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the GA-5th District , ” Johnson wrote on Twitter .
Lewis , an iconic civil rights organizer , was a fierce voting rights activist for his entire career and a key supporter of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .
He served in the House for 33 years , and died as a high-ranking lawmaker who chaired the powerful House ’ s Ways and Means oversight subcommittee — a group that in recent weeks oversaw inquiries into delayed coronavirus stimulus payments .
Just a month before his death , he visited protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C .

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Georgia’s Democratic Party picked its own party chair, Nikema Williams, a state senator, to run in Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, the seat held by the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis. Lewis died Friday after a battle with cancer.
“The presidential administration changes in January, and we need to hit the ground running with a qualified, experienced person in this position,” Bobby Fuse, chairman of the Democratic Party in Georgia’s 2nd, said on a Monday conference call announcing his support for Williams. “We do not need to wait another two years to have an election for a permanent congressman, because we’ll lose two years’ seniority.”
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Williams’ nomination was the culmination of a two-day mad dash to put forward a candidate for Lewis’ seat. The party announced Monday morning that it was considering five local leaders and politicians: Park Cannon, a progressive queer state representative, Andre Dickens, an Atlanta city council member, Robert Franklin, president emeritus of Morehouse College, a historically Black men’s college in Atlanta, James “Major” Woodall, the president of the Georgia NAACP, and Williams.
Georgia’s election code requires the party’s executive committee to offer a substitute candidate to the Secretary of State by 4 p.m. on the business day following the actual knowledge of the death of the candidate.
The state’s Democratic Party held a single-day open call for candidate applications Sunday, and received a total of 131 applicants that were reviewed by a committee of local politicians and party officials. A separate executive committee in the party, which Williams was on, met Monday, to nominate a single candidate.
Williams abstained from the voting and the five finalists were given the opportunity to address the party’s executive committee, however the final tally among party committee members was overwhelming for their own chair. Reps. Hank Johnson and Lucy McBath both voted for Williams.
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Among those on the nominating committee were Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Democratic leader of the Georgia House and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, as well as state party members and former leaders, like Jason Carter, a former state senator and 2014 gubernatorial candidate.
The district, which encompasses much of the city of Atlanta, is 59% Black, and overwhelmingly Democratic. Because of the district’s electoral makeup, the general election is little more than a formality. Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the district by a margin of 73 percentage points and Williams is expected to win easily.
In effect, the Democratic officials charged with selecting a nominee in an unusually rapid, behind-closed-doors process will likely install a long-term successor for Lewis without the input of Democratic voters in the Atlanta-area district.
The nominee is all but certain to be an incumbent member of Congress in 2022, when the district next holds its Democratic primary. Given the advantages of incumbency, that makes it that much harder for voters to elect someone new.
Vincent Fort, a progressive labor lobbyist who represented southwest Atlanta in the state Senate for two decades, denounced the process for depriving Atlanta Democrats of the chance to pick a nominee in an open primary for the first time since 1986 when Lewis defeated fellow civil rights leader Julian Bond.
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“Foremost voting rights advocate in last 65 years, Rep. John Lewis, is going to be replaced in [a] rigged process by a few dozen people most of whom don’t live in the 5th congressional district,” Fort tweeted.
Fort told HuffPost in a follow-up interview that he wanted the party to nominate a senior figure like former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as a placeholder who would resign after the November election.
Likewise, ahead of Williams’ selection on Monday, Tharon Johnson, a former campaign manager for Lewis, called for the party’s pick to immediately resign in order to allow for an open primary to fill Lewis’ seat.
“Out of respect to Lewis’ legacy, his successor should be chosen and elected by the voters of the GA-5th District,” Johnson wrote on Twitter.
Lewis, an iconic civil rights organizer, was a fierce voting rights activist for his entire career and a key supporter of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He served in the House for 33 years, and died as a high-ranking lawmaker who chaired the powerful House’s Ways and Means oversight subcommittee — a group that in recent weeks oversaw inquiries into delayed coronavirus stimulus payments. Just a month before his death, he visited protesters demonstrating for Black lives in Washington, D.C.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--'Wall Of Moms' In Portland Protects Protesters From Federal Agents

The group was brought together via a Facebook group “ Wall of Moms ” organized by Bev Barnum .
It @ @ @ @ @ do what we do best ― protect people.
” Barnum ’ s Facebook notes refer @ @ @ @ @ protests in Portland that have followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
@ @ @ @ @ have read and seen on the news , protestors are being hurt ( without cause @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And as of late , protestors are being stripped of their rights by @ @ @ @ @ by unidentifiable law enforcement.
” She added : “ We moms are often underestimated .
@ @ @ @ @ than we ’ re given credit for .
So what do you say , will @ @ @ @ @ Will you help me create a wall of moms ?
” Barnum ’ s plea @ @ @ @ @ to wear “ a face mask , helmet and closed toe shoes ” and to @ @ @ @ @ the police presence .

The group was brought together via a Facebook group “Wall of Moms” organized by Bev Barnum. It called on mothers to “do what we do best ― protect people.”
Barnum’s Facebook notes refer to nearly two months of protests in Portland that have followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“As most of you have read and seen on the news, protestors are being hurt (without cause),” Barnum wrote. “And as of late, protestors are being stripped of their rights by being placed in unmarked cars by unidentifiable law enforcement.”
She added: “We moms are often underestimated. But we’re stronger than we’re given credit for. So what do you say, will you stand with me? Will you help me create a wall of moms?”
Barnum’s plea advised people who join her to wear “a face mask, helmet and closed toe shoes” and to be prepared to deal with the police presence.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--White House Pans More COVID-19 Testing Money As Clock Ticks On New Aid Package

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Top Republicans in Congress are expected to meet Monday with President Donald Trump at the White House on the next COVID-19 aid package as the crisis many hoped would have improved has dramatically worsened , just as emergency relief is expiring .
New divisions between the Senate GOP majority and the White House posed fresh challenges .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was prepared to roll out the $ 1 trillion package in a matter of days .
But administration panned more virus testing money and interjected other priorities that could complicate quick passage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ disappear , ” but the president ’ s view did not at all match projections from the leading health professionals straining to halt the alarming U.S. caseload and death toll .
Lawmakers were returning to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists , another sign of the nation ’ s difficulty containing the coronavirus .
Rather than easing , the pandemic ’ s devastating cycle was happening all over again , leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue .
Businesses were shutting down again , schools could not fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while federal aid expired .
The political stakes were high for all sides before the November election , but even more so for the nation , which now registered more coronavirus infections and a higher death count of 140,500 than any other country .
The package from McConnell had been quietly crafted behind closed doors for weeks and was expected to include $ 75 billion to help schools reopen , reduced unemployment benefits alongside a fresh round of direct $ 1,200 cash payments to Americans , and a sweeping five-year liability shield against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House weighed in , the administration was panning some $ 25 billion in proposed new funds for testing and tracing , said one Republican familiar with the discussions .
The administration ’ s objections were first reported by The Washington Post .
Trump was also reviving his push for a payroll tax break , which was being seriously considered , said another Republican .
Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks .
The new push from the White House put the administration at odds with GOP allies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upend an already difficult legislative process .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already passed Democrats ’ vast $ 3 trillion proposal and virus cases and deaths had only increased since .
Trump raised alarms on Capitol Hill when he suggested last month at a rally in Oklahoma that he wanted to slow virus testing .
Some of Trump ’ s GOP allies wanted new money to help test and track the virus to contain its spread .
Senate Democrats were investigating why the Trump administration had not yet spent some of $ 25 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid bill .
The payroll tax Trump wanted also divided his party .
Senate Republicans in particular opposed the payroll tax break as an insufficient response to millions of out-of-work Americans , especially as they tried to keep the total price tag of the aid package at no more than $ 1 trillion .
Trump said Sunday in the Fox News interview that he would consider not signing any bill unless it included the payroll tax break , which many GOP senators opposed .
As McConnell prepared to roll out his $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have full support .
This would be the fifth virus aid package , after the $ 2.2 trillion bill passed in March , the largest U.S. intervention of its kind .
Despite flickers of an economic upswing as states eased stay-at-home orders in May and June , the jobless rate remained at double digits , higher than it ever was in the last decade ’ s Great Recession .
Pelosi ’ s bill , approved in May , included $ 75 billion for testing and tracing to try to get a handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 billion to schools to safely reopen and called for $ 1 trillion to be sent to cash-strapped states to pay essential workers and prevent layoffs .
The measure would give cash stipends to Americans , and bolster rental and mortgage and other safety net protections .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Republicans in Congress are expected to meet Monday with President Donald Trump at the White House on the next COVID-19 aid package as the crisis many hoped would have improved has dramatically worsened, just as emergency relief is expiring.
New divisions between the Senate GOP majority and the White House posed fresh challenges. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was prepared to roll out the $1 trillion package in a matter of days. But administration panned more virus testing money and interjected other priorities that could complicate quick passage.
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Trump insisted again Sunday that the virus would “disappear,” but the president’s view did not at all match projections from the leading health professionals straining to halt the alarming U.S. caseload and death toll.
Lawmakers were returning to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists, another sign of the nation’s difficulty containing the coronavirus. Rather than easing, the pandemic’s devastating cycle was happening all over again, leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue. Businesses were shutting down again, schools could not fully reopen and jobs were disappearing, all while federal aid expired.
Without a successful federal strategy, lawmakers are trying to draft one.
“It’s not going to magically disappear,” said a somber McConnell, R-Ky., last week during a visit to a hospital in his home state to thank front-line workers.
McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy were set to meet with Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “to fine-tune” the legislation, acting chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News.
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The political stakes were high for all sides before the November election, but even more so for the nation, which now registered more coronavirus infections and a higher death count of 140,500 than any other country.
The package from McConnell had been quietly crafted behind closed doors for weeks and was expected to include $75 billion to help schools reopen, reduced unemployment benefits alongside a fresh round of direct $1,200 cash payments to Americans, and a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits.
But as the White House weighed in, the administration was panning some $25 billion in proposed new funds for testing and tracing, said one Republican familiar with the discussions. The administration’s objections were first reported by The Washington Post.
Rafael Ruiz, left, is tested for COVID-19 at a walk-up testing site during the coronavirus pandemic, Friday, July 17, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trump was also reviving his push for a payroll tax break, which was being seriously considered, said another Republican. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks.
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The new push from the White House put the administration at odds with GOP allies in Congress, a disconnect that threatened to upend an already difficult legislative process. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already passed Democrats’ vast $3 trillion proposal and virus cases and deaths had only increased since.
Trump raised alarms on Capitol Hill when he suggested last month at a rally in Oklahoma that he wanted to slow virus testing. Some of Trump’s GOP allies wanted new money to help test and track the virus to contain its spread. Senate Democrats were investigating why the Trump administration had not yet spent some of $25 billion previously allocated for testing in an earlier aid bill.
The payroll tax Trump wanted also divided his party. Senate Republicans in particular opposed the payroll tax break as an insufficient response to millions of out-of-work Americans, especially as they tried to keep the total price tag of the aid package at no more than $1 trillion.
Trump said Sunday in the Fox News interview that he would consider not signing any bill unless it included the payroll tax break, which many GOP senators opposed.
“I want to see it,” he said.
As McConnell prepared to roll out his $1 trillion-plus proposal, he acknowledged it would not have full support. This would be the fifth virus aid package, after the $2.2 trillion bill passed in March, the largest U.S. intervention of its kind.
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The first round of virus aid is running out.
A federal $600-a-week boost to regular unemployment benefits would expire at the end of the month. So, too, would the federal ban on evictions on millions of rental units.
With 17 straight weeks of unemployment claims topping 1 million — usually about 200,000 — many households were facing a cash crunch and losing employer-backed health insurance coverage.
Despite flickers of an economic upswing as states eased stay-at-home orders in May and June, the jobless rate remained at double digits, higher than it ever was in the last decade’s Great Recession.
Pelosi’s bill, approved in May, included $75 billion for testing and tracing to try to get a handle on the virus spread, funneled $100 billion to schools to safely reopen and called for $1 trillion to be sent to cash-strapped states to pay essential workers and prevent layoffs. The measure would give cash stipends to Americans, and bolster rental and mortgage and other safety net protections.
In the two months since Pelosi’s bill passed, the U.S. had 50,000 more deaths and 2 million more infections.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Attack On Federal Judge's Family Came Amid Growing Threats To The Judiciary

Eduardo Munoz / Reuters Law enforcement officials are seen July 20 outside the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas , where her son was killed and husband critically injured , in North Brunswick , New Jersey .
The deadly attack on the family of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in New Jersey on Sunday came amid skyrocketing threats against federal judges , whose security is overseen by an increasingly stretched federal agency that says it needs more help assessing when to deploy protective resources .
The killing of Daniel Anderl , a 20-year-old rising junior at Catholic University and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the judge ’ s husband highlight growing dangers for the federal judiciary in the internet era , when judges ’ home addresses are often just a few clicks away .
( ABC and CNN reported Monday that the suspected gunman died of what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound . )
The U.S .
Marshals Service , which falls under the umbrella of the Justice Department , is charged with protecting federal judges .
Members of the federal judiciary rarely have security around the clock and typically only receive individual protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heightened threat to their lives .
In the 2019 fiscal year , the Marshals Service said there were 4,449 threats and inappropriate communications against its protected persons .
That ’ s a huge spike from 2015 when it logged just 926 threats .
The jump , according to the agency , was at least partially attributable to “ improved effectiveness in data collection and reporting of potential threats.
” But the number of significant threats that triggered a “ predicate protective investigation ” has also risen , spiking to 531 in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Of those 305 threat investigations in 2015 , just 17 resulted in threat-based protective details , according to the Marshals Service .
The agency has also spent millions improving home security for judges by installing and repairing residential alarm systems .
In a congressional budget request earlier this year , the Marshals Service asked for additional resources to help develop “ protective intelligence to make informed decisions regarding the employment , withdrawal , or withholding of scarce protective resources.
” Without such intelligence , the agency said , it “ could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their effectiveness , or even fail to employ them when needed most.
” After news of the shooting broke on Sunday , the Marshals Service declined to talk about specific threats against Salas or protective measures the agency had taken but said it was “ responsible for the protection of federal judicial officials and we take that responsibility very seriously.
” A decade ago , former U.S .
Marshals Director John Clark told this reporter that there were “ more individuals who are more prone to threatening judges ” in the modern era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has to do with the availability of information with the use of technology and the internet , ” Clark said in a 2010 interview .
“ Individuals can find out more about particular cases and judges ’ decisions .
They can use internet sources to find out more about the judge .
So if someone is prone to want to threaten someone , there are a number of ways they can find material about a judge.
” Despite what the Marshals Service described as “ scarce protective resources , ” the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the agency should take over security operations for Cabinet members .

Law enforcement officials are seen July 20 outside the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, where her son was killed and husband critically injured, in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters
The deadly attack on the family of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in New Jersey on Sunday came amid skyrocketing threats against federal judges, whose security is overseen by an increasingly stretched federal agency that says it needs more help assessing when to deploy protective resources.
The killing of Daniel Anderl, a 20-year-old rising junior at Catholic University and Salas’ son, and the shooting of the judge’s husband highlight growing dangers for the federal judiciary in the internet era, when judges’ home addresses are often just a few clicks away. (ABC and CNN reported Monday that the suspected gunman died of what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.)
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The U.S. Marshals Service, which falls under the umbrella of the Justice Department, is charged with protecting federal judges. Members of the federal judiciary rarely have security around the clock and typically only receive individual protection outside the courthouse when there’s a heightened threat to their lives.
In the 2019 fiscal year, the Marshals Service said there were 4,449 threats and inappropriate communications against its protected persons. That’s a huge spike from 2015 when it logged just 926 threats. The jump, according to the agency, was at least partially attributable to “improved effectiveness in data collection and reporting of potential threats.”
But the number of significant threats that triggered a “predicate protective investigation” has also risen, spiking to 531 in 2018 (and up from 305 in 2015). Of those 305 threat investigations in 2015, just 17 resulted in threat-based protective details, according to the Marshals Service. The agency has also spent millions improving home security for judges by installing and repairing residential alarm systems.
In a congressional budget request earlier this year, the Marshals Service asked for additional resources to help develop “protective intelligence to make informed decisions regarding the employment, withdrawal, or withholding of scarce protective resources.” Without such intelligence, the agency said, it “could employ protective resources unnecessarily, inadvertently reduce their effectiveness, or even fail to employ them when needed most.”
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After news of the shooting broke on Sunday, the Marshals Service declined to talk about specific threats against Salas or protective measures the agency had taken but said it was “responsible for the protection of federal judicial officials and we take that responsibility very seriously.”
A decade ago, former U.S. Marshals Director John Clark told this reporter that there were “more individuals who are more prone to threatening judges” in the modern era.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the availability of information with the use of technology and the internet,” Clark said in a 2010 interview. “Individuals can find out more about particular cases and judges’ decisions. They can use internet sources to find out more about the judge. So if someone is prone to want to threaten someone, there are a number of ways they can find material about a judge.”
Despite what the Marshals Service described as “scarce protective resources,” the Trump administration last year proposed a study of whether the agency should take over security operations for Cabinet members.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--She Spent Nearly Four Years In Prison. Now She’s Running For Congress.

Keeda Haynes Keeda Haynes outside the public defender 's office where she worked in 2016 .
But Haynes , 42 , thinks her district is ready for change .
At about the same time Cooper began representing the 5th district in early 2003 , Haynes started her time behind bars .
She spent three years and 10 months in prison for a marijuana-related felony she says she ’ s innocent of .
After her release , Haynes completed her law degree and practiced as a public defender in Nashville for over six years .
Haynes thinks her time in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in the country ’ s racist criminal justice system — are precisely what would make her a great congresswoman .
“ I am running because looking around I can see that people that look like me , that have the same issues I have , we were not being represented in this district , ” Haynes told HuffPost .
Haynes ’ status — an underdog up against a longtime politician — recalls the dynamic in Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez ’ s 2018 upset in New York , and Haynes is similarly running on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All and criminal justice reform , including eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing , and has joined recent nationwide calls to defund the police .
At age 19 , she met an older man who , after they started dating , asked her to receive packages for his cell phone and beeper business that ended up containing marijuana .
She and a couple dozen others were eventually indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana .
She was acquitted of six charges , but found guilty of one felony : aiding and abetting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimums , she was sentenced to seven years , later appealed down to five years , of which she served nearly four .
In 2003 , two weeks after she graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in criminal justice and psychology , her parents dropped her off to serve her time in prison .
Behind bars , she studied for the LSAT and helped other people in prison with their own legal issues .
After getting out , she enrolled in Nashville School of Law , going to class at night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary for the attorney who ’ d defended her .
She began working at the public defender ’ s office in 2013 .
She now serves as a senior legal advisor for the nonprofit Free Hearts , which advocates for incarcerated people and their families .
“ In Congress , it ’ s important that we center the voices of people formerly incarcerated , ” Haynes said , saying that members of Congress who craft legislation around issues like restoring voting rights for the formerly incarcerated need to “ understand the impact these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Due to her felony record , Haynes had to petition a court earlier this year to restore some of her civil rights .
( Without such a process , she wouldn ’ t have been eligible to run for office on the state or local level , but could do so at the federal level . )
She had her voting rights restored a few years after her release , once her “ supervision ” period was complete .
“ Everything is connected : if people don ’ t have jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if they ’ re living in neighborhoods that are overpoliced , there ’ s going to be this disparity , ” Haynes said , speaking of racial disparities throughout the justice system , from police stops to sentencing .
“ If you have police criminalizing the color of people ’ s skin , they ’ re going to end up in the criminal justice system.
” Her upcoming primary comes as people in prison are “ ending up with death sentences , ” as she put it , due to deadly coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the streets over the last eight weeks protesting against racism and police brutality .
Cooper pushed back on Haynes ’ characterization , touting his record in Congress , which includes his co-sponsorship of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that passed the House last month , and his vote in favor of the First Step criminal justice reforms of 2018 , and 2010′s Fair Sentencing Act , which reduced sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine .

Keeda Haynes outside the public defender's office where she worked in 2016. Keeda Haynes
Former public defender Keeda Haynes, who was also formerly incarcerated, is running for Congress in Tennessee, challenging a nearly two-decade Democratic incumbent and hoping to become the first Black woman the state sends to Congress.
In the Aug. 6 primary election, Haynes is a long shot against Rep. Jim Cooper, who’s held the seat in the state’s 5th district, which includes Nashville, for 17 years.
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But Haynes, 42, thinks her district is ready for change. At about the same time Cooper began representing the 5th district in early 2003, Haynes started her time behind bars. She spent three years and 10 months in prison for a marijuana-related felony she says she’s innocent of.
After her release, Haynes completed her law degree and practiced as a public defender in Nashville for over six years. Haynes thinks her time in prison — and her experience defending others caught up in the country’s racist criminal justice system — are precisely what would make her a great congresswoman.
“I am running because looking around I can see that people that look like me, that have the same issues I have, we were not being represented in this district,” Haynes told HuffPost.
The last time Tennessee sent a Black person to Congress was in the 1990s. Haynes’ district, which is nearly 25% Black, has never had a Black representative in Congress. Haynes called the lack of representation “really disappointing” and “very telling.”
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“It’s important to have someone in Congress that can view the policy from the lens of being formerly incarcerated, as a woman, an African American, saddled with student loan debt, from a working class family,” Haynes said.
Haynes’ status — an underdog up against a longtime politician — recalls the dynamic in Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 upset in New York, and Haynes is similarly running on a progressive platform. She supports Medicare for All and criminal justice reform, including eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing, and has joined recent nationwide calls to defund the police.
The political newcomer is up against Cooper, 66, a white, more moderate Democrat whose father was governor in the 1940s and whose brother John is Nashville’s mayor.
In the safely Democratic district with no Republican in the race, whoever wins in August would almost certainly be elected to Congress in November.
Keeda Haynes with a campaign volunteer at a July Fourth Black Lives Matter rally in Nashville. Keeda Haynes
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Haynes grew up in a close-knit family in Franklin, Tennessee, about a 25-minute drive south of Nashville.
“I never envisioned myself in politics,” Haynes said. “It wasn’t my plan for my life, but neither was going to prison, so here we are.”
At age 19, she met an older man who, after they started dating, asked her to receive packages for his cell phone and beeper business that ended up containing marijuana. She and a couple dozen others were eventually indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. She was acquitted of six charges, but found guilty of one felony: aiding and abetting the sale of marijuana. Due to mandatory minimums, she was sentenced to seven years, later appealed down to five years, of which she served nearly four.
In 2003, two weeks after she graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in criminal justice and psychology, her parents dropped her off to serve her time in prison. Behind bars, she studied for the LSAT and helped other people in prison with their own legal issues.
After getting out, she enrolled in Nashville School of Law, going to class at night and working by day as a legal secretary for the attorney who’d defended her. She began working at the public defender’s office in 2013. She now serves as a senior legal advisor for the nonprofit Free Hearts, which advocates for incarcerated people and their families.
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“In Congress, it’s important that we center the voices of people formerly incarcerated,” Haynes said, saying that members of Congress who craft legislation around issues like restoring voting rights for the formerly incarcerated need to “understand the impact these laws have on people’s lives.”
Due to her felony record, Haynes had to petition a court earlier this year to restore some of her civil rights. (Without such a process, she wouldn’t have been eligible to run for office on the state or local level, but could do so at the federal level.) She had her voting rights restored a few years after her release, once her “supervision” period was complete.
“When talking about criminal justice reform, we get caught up in the numbers. We’re not numbers, we’re people, we have lives,” Haynes said.
“I am one of those numbers,” she added, reciting her inmate number from memory: 00017-011.
Haynes speaking on a juvenile justice task force committee in the Tennessee state legislature. Keeda Haynes
For Haynes, many of the issues she’s pushing in her campaign — criminal justice reform, better access to affordable housing, raising the minimum wage — are part of the same fight.
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“Everything is connected: if people don’t have jobs, if people don’t have housing, if they’re living in neighborhoods that are overpoliced, there’s going to be this disparity,” Haynes said, speaking of racial disparities throughout the justice system, from police stops to sentencing. “If you have police criminalizing the color of people’s skin, they’re going to end up in the criminal justice system.”
Her upcoming primary comes as people in prison are “ending up with death sentences,” as she put it, due to deadly coronavirus outbreaks, and as thousands have taken to the streets over the last eight weeks protesting against racism and police brutality.
Haynes criticized her opponent, Cooper, for “only choosing to talk about criminal justice issues now because it’s popular,” despite representing a district that has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country.
Cooper pushed back on Haynes’ characterization, touting his record in Congress, which includes his co-sponsorship of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that passed the House last month, and his vote in favor of the First Step criminal justice reforms of 2018, and 2010′s Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine.
Haynes’ primary follows two recent wins for progressive Black candidates: Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones in New York’s 16th and 17th congressional districts, respectively. Similar dynamics were at play in Charles Booker’s narrow primary loss in Kentucky.
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In Tennessee — which, like many other states, has to face sending voters to the polls amid a pandemic — all voters were eligible to submit ballots by mail, thanks to a court ruling in June.
The race remains an uphill battle for Haynes. She trails Cooper in the latest fundraising numbers from June, having raised about $73,000 to his $674,000, according to OpenSecrets. (Joshua Rawlings, a 27-year-old former Republican and small business owner, who is also running, has raised $17,000).
But Haynes has nabbed endorsements from major progressive political groups, including Democracy for America and Indivisible.
“With Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd ... people took notice, said, ‘Hey, we need to protest in the streets, but we also need to look at who is in office and determine if they represent who we are,’” Haynes said.
Keeda Haynes at a Black Lives Matter rally in Nashville. Keeda Haynes


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Ex-Fox News Host Ed Henry Accused Of Rape In Disturbing Lawsuit

Two women are accusing ousted Fox News correspondent Ed Henry of rape and sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed Monday , claiming that he groomed one of them to be his “ sex slave ” and that the network overlooked his allegedly abusive behavior for years .
The federal lawsuit , which also accuses several other Fox News stars of sexual harassment and misconduct , was filed by two women who previously worked with the network : former associate producer Jennifer Eckhart and frequent guest Cathy Areu .
“ Mr .
Henry , approximately twice Ms. Eckhart ’ s age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Eckhart starting at the young age of 24 , by exerting his abuse of power over her and her career , ” the lawsuit reads .
“ Mr .
Henry not only leveraged this imbalance of power for control over his victim , Ms. Eckhart , but asked her to be his ‘ sex slave ’ and his ‘ little whore , ’ and threatened punishment and retaliation if Ms. Eckhart did not comply with his sexual demands.
” The lawsuit recounts an alleged encounter in 2017 when Eckhart “ was violently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handcuffs ” as Henry performed “ sadistic acts on her without her consent that left her injured , bruised and battered with bloody wrists , ” and then allegedly took photos of her naked body in order to blackmail her if she spoke out .
Henry ’ s lawyer Catherine Foti released a statement denying the allegations .
“ The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society , and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard , ” she said .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News released a statement Monday saying its hands were clean .
The network said it “ took swift action as soon as it learned of Ms. Eckhart ’ s claims on June 25 ” ― which is when she informed Fox News that she had retained legal counsel in connection with her claims against Henry and the network ― and it noted that as of July 1 , “ Mr .
Henry is no longer employed by the network.
” But the lawsuit argues that the network should have taken action against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she complained to human resources officers about a toxic work environment in February and that no one followed up with her .
She received notice in June that she was being fired after seven years at the network , which she took to be retaliation for making those complaints , according to the lawsuit .
The lawsuit also alleges that Fox News had been aware of accusations of Henry ’ s sexual misconduct since 2017 and “ never should have put him in a position to engage in this behavior to begin with.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made regular guest commentator appearances on several of the network ’ s top-rated shows , said in the lawsuit that throughout the first half of 2020 , Henry regularly sent her sexually explicit texts and images .
When she reached out to him about full-time job openings at Fox News in May , he responded that she was too “ boring ” to help , which she interpreted as a punishment for refusing to engage in a sexual relationship with him .
In the lawsuit , Areu also accuses several other top Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they indicated she ’ d have to sleep with or date them in order to grow her career at the network .
The accused include Carlson , Kurtz , Gianno Caldwell and Hannity , who she claims once put $ 100 down on the table and demanded someone on set take her out on a date .
In response , Fox News said it had “ determined that all of Cathy Areu ’ s claims against FOX News , including its management as well as its hosts Tucker Carlson , Sean Hannity & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are false , patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit.
” “ What this lawsuit reveals is that today ’ s Fox News is the same old Fox News , ” Wigdor said in a statement .
“ Some of the names in leadership may have changed since Roger Ailes ’ regime , but Fox News ’ institutional apathy towards sexual misconduct has not .
”

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Two women are accusing ousted Fox News correspondent Ed Henry of rape and sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed Monday, claiming that he groomed one of them to be his “sex slave” and that the network overlooked his allegedly abusive behavior for years.
The federal lawsuit, which also accuses several other Fox News stars of sexual harassment and misconduct, was filed by two women who previously worked with the network: former associate producer Jennifer Eckhart and frequent guest Cathy Areu.
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WARNING: This story includes excerpts from the lawsuit detailing graphic descriptions of rape and violence.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, includes a highly disturbing accusation that Henry, whom the network fired earlier this month for sexual misconduct, psychologically manipulated and raped Eckhart.
Ed Henry was fired from Fox News earlier in July. A new lawsuit contends the network didn't do enough. Matthew Eisman via Getty Images
“Mr. Henry, approximately twice Ms. Eckhart’s age, preyed upon, manipulated and groomed Ms. Eckhart starting at the young age of 24, by exerting his abuse of power over her and her career,” the lawsuit reads. “Mr. Henry not only leveraged this imbalance of power for control over his victim, Ms. Eckhart, but asked her to be his ‘sex slave’ and his ‘little whore,’ and threatened punishment and retaliation if Ms. Eckhart did not comply with his sexual demands.”
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The lawsuit recounts an alleged encounter in 2017 when Eckhart “was violently raped while helpless and restrained in metal handcuffs” as Henry performed “sadistic acts on her without her consent that left her injured, bruised and battered with bloody wrists,” and then allegedly took photos of her naked body in order to blackmail her if she spoke out.
The suit accuses defendants of a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, gender-motivated violence and retaliation under New York state and city law. It also accuses Fox News and Henry specifically of violating federal sex trafficking laws.
Other defendants named include Fox News personalities Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz.
Henry’s lawyer Catherine Foti released a statement denying the allegations. “The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society, and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard,” she said. “This is not one of those cases.”
I will fight with every fiber of my being. A statement from attorney Cathy Foti: pic.twitter.com/Ha6IqdWkKw — Ed Henry (@edhenry) July 21, 2020
Fox News released a statement Monday saying its hands were clean. The network said it “took swift action as soon as it learned of Ms. Eckhart’s claims on June 25” ― which is when she informed Fox News that she had retained legal counsel in connection with her claims against Henry and the network ― and it noted that as of July 1, “Mr. Henry is no longer employed by the network.” A Fox News spokesperson added that there were no sexual harassment claims made against Henry at the network prior to Eckhart’s June 25 claim.
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But the lawsuit argues that the network should have taken action against Henry much earlier. Eckhart contends that she complained to human resources officers about a toxic work environment in February and that no one followed up with her. She received notice in June that she was being fired after seven years at the network, which she took to be retaliation for making those complaints, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that Fox News had been aware of accusations of Henry’s sexual misconduct since 2017 and “never should have put him in a position to engage in this behavior to begin with.”
Areu, the other plaintiff who made regular guest commentator appearances on several of the network’s top-rated shows, said in the lawsuit that throughout the first half of 2020, Henry regularly sent her sexually explicit texts and images. When she reached out to him about full-time job openings at Fox News in May, he responded that she was too “boring” to help, which she interpreted as a punishment for refusing to engage in a sexual relationship with him.
In the lawsuit, Areu also accuses several other top Fox News personalities of sexual misconduct, saying they indicated she’d have to sleep with or date them in order to grow her career at the network. The accused include Carlson, Kurtz, Gianno Caldwell and Hannity, who she claims once put $100 down on the table and demanded someone on set take her out on a date.
In response, Fox News said an independent investigation conducted by an outside law firm “determined that all of Cathy Areu’s claims against FOX News, including its management as well as its hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity & Howard Kurtz and its contributor Gianno Caldwell, are false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit.”
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“We take all claims of harassment, misconduct and retaliation seriously, promptly investigating them and taking immediate action as needed — in this case, the appropriate action based on our investigation is to defend vigorously against these baseless allegations,” the network said.
Douglas Wigdor, the attorney representing Areu and Eckhart, said this new lawsuit should serve as a reminder that Fox News’ toxic workplace culture is alive and well.
“What this lawsuit reveals is that today’s Fox News is the same old Fox News,” Wigdor said in a statement. “Some of the names in leadership may have changed since Roger Ailes’ regime, but Fox News’ institutional apathy towards sexual misconduct has not.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Major Trump Donors Received At Least $41 Million In PPP Loans For Their Companies

Carlos Barria/Reuters Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ( left ) sought to keep the names of Paycheck Protection Program recipients secret for weeks .
On April 28 , he watched as President Donald Trump spoke about PPP loans in the White House East Room .
William Scott , CEO of railroad contractor Trans-Global Solutions , donated $ 150,000 to the Trump Victory committee in the weeks after his company received as much as $ 10 million from the Paycheck Protection Program on April 14 .
And Dan Eberhart , the head of oilfield services provider Canary LLC , gave $ 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months after receiving as much as $ 8.4 million in PPP loans for Canary and three affiliated companies .
PPP was passed by Congress and is being implemented by Trump ’ s appointees .
Its payments to companies are structured as traditional loans handed out by banks , with the expectation that they will ultimately be forgiven and treated as federal grants .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for weeks wanted to keep the names of recipients secret and only recently relented to making the list public .
Many small business owners without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found it difficult to get these loans , while larger , richer companies often were approved quickly .
Trump Victory and the Make America Great Committee are both joint fundraising committees that pass along donations to both the Trump reelection campaign , which can not take more than $ 5,600 from a single individual for an election cycle , and the Republican National Committee , which can accept as much as $ 1.4 million per election cycle per person .
Among the donors to those committees , according to their 2020 second-quarter filings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 individuals and couples affiliated with two dozen businesses that received PPP money , as reported by the Treasury earlier this month .
Those companies together received at least $ 40.8 million and as much as $ 87.7 million in payments ( based on the ranges of amounts provided by the Treasury ) .
Eberhart said there is no relationship between his personal donations and the Scottsdale , Arizona , companies he runs , which received between $ 3.5 million and $ 8.4 million to preserve a total of 268 jobs .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
It ’ s not the same as one ’ s personal balance sheet , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t really see a connection between the two.
” Eberhart ’ s explanation , though , is at odds with the views of the beneficiary of his largess , who explained his own theory on campaign contributions when he began his presidential run in 2015 .
“ As a businessman and a very substantial donor to very important people , when you give , they do whatever the hell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump told The Wall Street Journal in July 2015 .
He expanded on that thought days later at the first GOP debate in Cleveland : “ I give to everybody .
When they call , I give .
And do you know what ?
When I need something from them two years later , three years later , I call them , they are there for me.
” The campaign of 2020 presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Trump is now practicing the same pay-to-play scheme that he described as a candidate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ efforts have simply continued to shovel taxpayer money to the wealthy and well-connected instead of middle class families and small businesses in need , ” spokesman Michael Gwin said .
“ It should come as no surprise that big donors to Donald Trump ’ s campaign are reaping a windfall of taxpayer support because this is the exact sort of cronyism that Trump has practiced since his first day in the White House.
” “ The Trump administration stalled on releasing who got loans and now Secretary Mnuchin is suggesting forgiving all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the requirements , ” said Jordan Libowitz with the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , which received a PPP payment on April 27 of as much as $ 1 million to protect 35 jobs .
“ It ’ s important this process not only be transparent , but adhered to .
”

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (left) sought to keep the names of Paycheck Protection Program recipients secret for weeks. On April 28, he watched as President Donald Trump spoke about PPP loans in the White House East Room. Carlos Barria/Reuters
WASHINGTON ― As the coronavirus ravaged America this spring, 15 business leaders gave President Donald Trump and the Republican Party $1.4 million in big checks while their businesses collected at least $41 million in federal assistance.
William Scott, CEO of railroad contractor Trans-Global Solutions, donated $150,000 to the Trump Victory committee in the weeks after his company received as much as $10 million from the Paycheck Protection Program on April 14.
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Alfred Hendrickson, the owner of a South Florida Toyota dealership, donated $41,100 to Trump’s Make America Great Committee on April 27, the same day his dealership received a PPP loan worth as much as $5 million.
And Dan Eberhart, the head of oilfield services provider Canary LLC, gave $100,000 to Trump Victory on June 10, two months after receiving as much as $8.4 million in PPP loans for Canary and three affiliated companies.
Robert Weissman, head of the liberal watchdog group Public Citizen, said the big-dollar donations from principals at businesses receiving swift approval for federal aid erode confidence in an important and necessary government program.
“Recipients should have been prohibited from making political contributions,” he said.
PPP was passed by Congress and is being implemented by Trump’s appointees. Its payments to companies are structured as traditional loans handed out by banks, with the expectation that they will ultimately be forgiven and treated as federal grants. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for weeks wanted to keep the names of recipients secret and only recently relented to making the list public. Many small business owners without established lines of credit at major banks found it difficult to get these loans, while larger, richer companies often were approved quickly.
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Trump Victory and the Make America Great Committee are both joint fundraising committees that pass along donations to both the Trump reelection campaign, which cannot take more than $5,600 from a single individual for an election cycle, and the Republican National Committee, which can accept as much as $1.4 million per election cycle per person.
Among the donors to those committees, according to their 2020 second-quarter filings to the Federal Election Commission, were 15 individuals and couples affiliated with two dozen businesses that received PPP money, as reported by the Treasury earlier this month. Those companies together received at least $40.8 million and as much as $87.7 million in payments (based on the ranges of amounts provided by the Treasury).
Eberhart said there is no relationship between his personal donations and the Scottsdale, Arizona, companies he runs, which received between $3.5 million and $8.4 million to preserve a total of 268 jobs.
“I think they’re two different things. It’s not the same as one’s personal balance sheet,” he said. “I don’t really see a connection between the two.”
Eberhart’s explanation, though, is at odds with the views of the beneficiary of his largess, who explained his own theory on campaign contributions when he began his presidential run in 2015.
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“As a businessman and a very substantial donor to very important people, when you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal in July 2015. He expanded on that thought days later at the first GOP debate in Cleveland: “I give to everybody. When they call, I give. And do you know what? When I need something from them two years later, three years later, I call them, they are there for me.”
The campaign of 2020 presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Trump is now practicing the same pay-to-play scheme that he described as a candidate. “Trump’s economic ‘relief’ efforts have simply continued to shovel taxpayer money to the wealthy and well-connected instead of middle class families and small businesses in need,” spokesman Michael Gwin said. “It should come as no surprise that big donors to Donald Trump’s campaign are reaping a windfall of taxpayer support because this is the exact sort of cronyism that Trump has practiced since his first day in the White House.”
Neither the White House nor the Trump campaign responded to HuffPost queries regarding the donations.
“The Trump administration stalled on releasing who got loans and now Secretary Mnuchin is suggesting forgiving all the loans regardless of whether companies met the requirements,” said Jordan Libowitz with the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which received a PPP payment on April 27 of as much as $1 million to protect 35 jobs. “It’s important this process not only be transparent, but adhered to.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Workers Nationwide Protest Racial Inequality In 'Strike For Black Lives'

Workers across the country walked off the job on Monday to protest racial inequality as part of an organized action dubbed “ Strike For Black Lives.
” More than 50 labor unions and workers ’ rights groups , including the Service Employees International Union , the American Federation of Teachers and the Working Families Party , banded together to organize the strike .
Strikes were planned in more than 25 cities , including Detroit , Los Angeles , Minneapolis and New York .
In Ferguson , Missouri , demonstrators planned to gather at a McDonald ’ s and march to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black teenager killed by police in 2014 .
Photos and videos posted to social media on Monday showed nurses and other essential workers marching through the streets .
Other people who have continued to work during the coronavirus pandemic ― sanitation workers , delivery people , fast-food workers and more ― also were expected to strike .
As part of the action , participants plan to take a knee , hold a moment of silence , or walk off the job for 8 minutes and 46 seconds beginning at noon in memory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked massive anti-racism protests across the country .
Prosecutors initially said a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd ’ s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds , though that time estimate was later reduced by one minute .
The exact amount of time remains unclear , The New York Times reported last month .
Among the demands , strikers are calling for corporations to take immediate action to dismantle racism and for every worker in the U.S. to be given the opportunity to form a labor union .
“ We can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” SEIU President Mary Kay Henry said in a statement .
“ From our nation ’ s founding , white supremacy and economic exploitation have been inextricably linked.
” “ Today , in this national moment of reckoning , working people are demanding fundamental changes to America ’ s broken system , ” Henry continued .
“ They ’ re coming together in the Strike for Black Lives to declare that until Black people can thrive , none of our communities can thrive .
”

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Workers across the country walked off the job on Monday to protest racial inequality as part of an organized action dubbed “Strike For Black Lives.”
More than 50 labor unions and workers’ rights groups, including the Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of Teachers and the Working Families Party, banded together to organize the strike.
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Strikes were planned in more than 25 cities, including Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York. In Ferguson, Missouri, demonstrators planned to gather at a McDonald’s and march to a memorial for Michael Brown, a Black teenager killed by police in 2014.
Photos and videos posted to social media on Monday showed nurses and other essential workers marching through the streets. Other people who have continued to work during the coronavirus pandemic ― sanitation workers, delivery people, fast-food workers and more ― also were expected to strike.
@32BJSEIU security officer at @Harvard kicks off our Essential Workers for Black Lives rally! Immigrant lives INCLUDES Black lives. #StrikeForBlackLives #DrivingMAForward pic.twitter.com/tz3axPdWJd — 32BJ SEIU (@32BJSEIU) July 20, 2020
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As part of the action, participants plan to take a knee, hold a moment of silence, or walk off the job for 8 minutes and 46 seconds beginning at noon in memory of George Floyd, whose death in May sparked massive anti-racism protests across the country.
Prosecutors initially said a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, though that time estimate was later reduced by one minute. The exact amount of time remains unclear, The New York Times reported last month.
Among the demands, strikers are calling for corporations to take immediate action to dismantle racism and for every worker in the U.S. to be given the opportunity to form a labor union.
“We cannot achieve economic justice without racial justice,” SEIU President Mary Kay Henry said in a statement. “From our nation’s founding, white supremacy and economic exploitation have been inextricably linked.”
“Today, in this national moment of reckoning, working people are demanding fundamental changes to America’s broken system,” Henry continued. “They’re coming together in the Strike for Black Lives to declare that until Black people can thrive, none of our communities can thrive.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Whole Foods Accused Of Punishing Workers Wearing Black Lives Matter Masks

( Reuters ) - Whole Foods Market was sued on Monday by employees who accused the upscale grocery chain of punishing workers who wear “ Black Lives Matter ” face masks on the job .
The 14 plaintiffs in the proposed nationwide class action accused Whole Foods , a unit of Amazon.com Inc ( AMZN.O ) , of sending workers home without pay or imposing disciplinary actions for wearing the masks and related apparel .
Whole Foods said the masks violate its longstanding dress code banning clothing with “ visible slogans , messages , logos or advertising ” unrelated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Boston federal court said Whole Foods has selectively enforced its code , and seeks an injunction to stop it from targeting Black Lives Matter supporters .
Savannah Kinzer , a white plaintiff , said she was fired on Saturday after organizing co-workers in protest at a Whole Foods in Cambridge , Massachusetts .
“ Many companies are making enthusiastic statements about how they support Black Lives Matter and protests that have shaken up the country , ” Shannon Liss-Riordan , a lawyer for the plaintiffs , said in an interview .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as champions of racial justice , but when their employees try to speak out , they get muzzled.
” A Whole Foods spokeswoman declined to discuss the lawsuit , but said the company has “ zero tolerance ” for retaliation .
She also said Kinzer was fired for lateness and missing shifts .
Kinzer disputed this , and said Whole Foods has let employees wear masks bearing political messages and sports team logos , and let her wear a mask with the phrase “ Soup is Good , ” without incident .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several racial and ethnic backgrounds .
More plaintiffs are expected .
Black Lives Matter protests gained new strength after the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , where a police officer pinned his neck to the ground .
The case is Frith et al v Whole Foods Market Inc , U.S. District Court , District of Massachusetts , No .
20-11358 .

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(Reuters) - Whole Foods Market was sued on Monday by employees who accused the upscale grocery chain of punishing workers who wear “Black Lives Matter” face masks on the job.
The 14 plaintiffs in the proposed nationwide class action accused Whole Foods, a unit of Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), of sending workers home without pay or imposing disciplinary actions for wearing the masks and related apparel.
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Whole Foods said the masks violate its longstanding dress code banning clothing with “visible slogans, messages, logos or advertising” unrelated to the company.
But the complaint filed in Boston federal court said Whole Foods has selectively enforced its code, and seeks an injunction to stop it from targeting Black Lives Matter supporters.
Savannah Kinzer, a white plaintiff, said she was fired on Saturday after organizing co-workers in protest at a Whole Foods in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“Many companies are making enthusiastic statements about how they support Black Lives Matter and protests that have shaken up the country,” Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an interview. “Whole Foods and Amazon have portrayed themselves as champions of racial justice, but when their employees try to speak out, they get muzzled.”
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A Whole Foods spokeswoman declined to discuss the lawsuit, but said the company has “zero tolerance” for retaliation. She also said Kinzer was fired for lateness and missing shifts.
Kinzer disputed this, and said Whole Foods has let employees wear masks bearing political messages and sports team logos, and let her wear a mask with the phrase “Soup is Good,” without incident.
The plaintiffs come from four states, and several racial and ethnic backgrounds. More plaintiffs are expected.
Black Lives Matter protests gained new strength after the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, where a police officer pinned his neck to the ground.
On June 3, Amazon said “Black lives matter” and announced a $10 million donation to social justice organizations.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Florida Teachers Union Sues Governor DeSantis Over School Reopenings

Earlier this month , Corcoran issued an executive order requiring that all schools open in August for five days a week for families who want their children to attend in-person classes , even as COVID-19 cases in the state continue to surge .
Families have the option of participating in remote learning if they prefer .
By forcing schools to reopen and teachers to return to the classroom , the state is failing to provide a safe and secure environment as required in the constitution , says the lawsuit , which also names the state Department of Education , Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County as defendants .
The state ’ s constitution mandates “ [ a ] dequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform , efficient , safe , secure , and high quality system of free public schools.
” “ Reopening schools in the middle of a COVID-19 resurgence , and without the proper plan , resources , and safety precautions will inevitably exacerbate the spread of the virus , jeopardize public health , and ultimately cause longer closures , ” says the lawsuit .
The lawsuit comes after President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last few weeks pressuring schools to reopen for in-person classes .
Major school districts , like the one in Los Angeles , have already announced they will begin the school year online .
Other districts , including New York City , are providing in-person instruction one to three days a week .
Even though Florida families will be given an option of whether to attend school in person or online , staff will still have to report to the building to keep it operational , putting their health and the health of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The lawsuit also says that districts do not have the funds to implement proper safety precautions .
No one wants to be back in the classroom with students more than educators , but we must do so only if we can ensure it is done in a safe way .
“ No one wants to be back in the classroom with students more than educators , but we must do so only if we can ensure it is done in a safe way .
Unfortunately , Gov .
Ron DeSantis , like Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to solve the real issues facing public schools during a pandemic , and that ’ s a major concern to students , educators and parents , ” says a statement on the suit from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García .
“ This [ executive order ] did not order any new directives regarding the requirements of schools to be open , it simply created new innovative options for families to have the CHOICE to decide what works best for the health and safety of their student and family , ” says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the order created guaranteed funding for districts and schools to educate innovatively , as long as they continue to provide all students , especially at-risk students , with a world-class education , no matter what option they choose.
” A new HuffPost/YouGov poll found that just 19 % of Americans think schools should fully reopen in the fall .
A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences , Engineering , and Medicine says that schools should prioritize in-person learning while balancing safety concerns but not without a huge influx of state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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The Florida Education Association, a teachers union representing about 140,000 school employees, filed a lawsuit Monday against several state leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, in an effort to stop schools from reopening for in-person instruction.
Earlier this month, Corcoran issued an executive order requiring that all schools open in August for five days a week for families who want their children to attend in-person classes, even as COVID-19 cases in the state continue to surge. Families have the option of participating in remote learning if they prefer.
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By forcing schools to reopen and teachers to return to the classroom, the state is failing to provide a safe and secure environment as required in the constitution, says the lawsuit, which also names the state Department of Education, Board of Education and the mayor of Miami-Dade County as defendants. The state’s constitution mandates “[a]dequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools.”
“Reopening schools in the middle of a COVID-19 resurgence, and without the proper plan, resources, and safety precautions will inevitably exacerbate the spread of the virus, jeopardize public health, and ultimately cause longer closures,” says the lawsuit.
The lawsuit comes after President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have spent the last few weeks pressuring schools to reopen for in-person classes. Major school districts, like the one in Los Angeles, have already announced they will begin the school year online. Other districts, including New York City, are providing in-person instruction one to three days a week.
Even though Florida families will be given an option of whether to attend school in person or online, staff will still have to report to the building to keep it operational, putting their health and the health of the students they serve at risk. The lawsuit also says that districts do not have the funds to implement proper safety precautions.
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“No one wants to be back in the classroom with students more than educators, but we must do so only if we can ensure it is done in a safe way.” - Lily Eskelsen García, National Education Association president
Meanwhile, some district education funding is contingent upon school reopening, putting an arbitrary and capricious demand on schools, says the lawsuit.
The nation’s two major teachers unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, support the lawsuit.
“No one wants to be back in the classroom with students more than educators, but we must do so only if we can ensure it is done in a safe way. Unfortunately, Gov. Ron DeSantis, like Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos, has no plan to solve the real issues facing public schools during a pandemic, and that’s a major concern to students, educators and parents,” says a statement on the suit from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García.
The Florida Department of Education has pushed back on the lawsuit, saying that a Florida statute already requires schools to operate 180 days a year.
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“This [executive order] did not order any new directives regarding the requirements of schools to be open, it simply created new innovative options for families to have the CHOICE to decide what works best for the health and safety of their student and family,” says a statement from Corcoran. “Additionally, the order created guaranteed funding for districts and schools to educate innovatively, as long as they continue to provide all students, especially at-risk students, with a world-class education, no matter what option they choose.”
A new HuffPost/YouGov poll found that just 19% of Americans think schools should fully reopen in the fall. A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says that schools should prioritize in-person learning while balancing safety concerns but not without a huge influx of state and federal funding to implement precautionary measures.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--'He Has No Idea What To Do': Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton Hit Trump's COVID-19 Response

Former Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lambasted the Trump administration ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday , saying the president lacked empathy and had failed the American people as cases of COVID-19 surge around the nation .
The pair both appeared for interviews on Joy Reid ’ s debut news program on MSNBC , “ The ReidOut , ” on Monday to discuss President Donald Trump ’ s ongoing response to the coronavirus .
Both had harsh appraisals of the federal response amid reports that cases have continued to skyrocket in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House had pushed to block new funding for testing and tracing in the next coronavirus relief bill .
“ There is no leadership here .
He ’ s surrendered .
He raised the white flag .
He has no idea what to do .
Zero , ” Biden said during a sweeping interview .
“ It ’ s only one thing he has on his mind : How does he win reelection .
And it doesn ’ t matter how many people get COVID and/or die from COVID.
” '' He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Joe Biden says of Pres .
Trump 's coronavirus response .
`` It 's only one thing he has in mind .
How does he win reelection and it does n't matter how many people get COVID and/or die from COVID ...
I 've never seen a president who has been so self-serving . ''
pic.twitter.com/ipF3FP7J1Z — MSNBC ( @ MSNBC ) July 20 , 2020 Seven states and Puerto Rico reported Monday that a record number of patients were hospitalized with severe illnesses due to the coronavirus .
More than 3.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in the U.S. and more than 140,000 have died .
“ I ’ ll be right eventually , ” the president told Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday .
“ You know , I said , it ’ s going to disappear .
I ’ ll say it again : It ’ s going to disappear .
And I ’ ll be right.
” Such comments prompted Clinton , who lost the 2016 election to Trump , to say Trump wasn ’ t up to the nation ’ s top job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watched over the last four years has to be concerned.
” “ Clearly he has failed , ” Clinton told Reid .
“ He ’ s failed at the most fundamental job of being president .
He doesn ’ t seem up to the job .
He doesn ’ t seem capable of having the attention , the concentration , the focus , the discipline , to stay with the problem.
” Hillary Clinton discusses foreign interference in 2016 and 2020 elections : `` It 's very clear that Russia succeeded .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the minds and even votes of Americans , so why would they stop ?
They really want to pursue their agenda of dividing us . ''
pic.twitter.com/kDz3y6L29g — MSNBC ( @ MSNBC ) July 20 , 2020 Biden added earlier in the hour that Trump appeared to be solely focused on winning the election rather than responding to the crisis , pointing to his calls for the country to reopen against medical advice and the president ’ s efforts to ostracize those who disagree with him .
The White House has in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , who has continued to give the public bleak assessments of the pandemic even amid the reopening push from Trump .
“ This guy has no sense of empathy or concern for people .
People are dying , ” Biden told Reid on Monday .
“ He has made every serious mistake , and he has absolutely bludgeoned people that disagree with him .
”

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Former Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lambasted the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, saying the president lacked empathy and had failed the American people as cases of COVID-19 surge around the nation.
The pair both appeared for interviews on Joy Reid’s debut news program on MSNBC, “The ReidOut,” on Monday to discuss President Donald Trump’s ongoing response to the coronavirus. Both had harsh appraisals of the federal response amid reports that cases have continued to skyrocket in a majority of the U.S. and that the White House had pushed to block new funding for testing and tracing in the next coronavirus relief bill.
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“There is no leadership here. He’s surrendered. He raised the white flag. He has no idea what to do. Zero,” Biden said during a sweeping interview. “It’s only one thing he has on his mind: How does he win reelection. And it doesn’t matter how many people get COVID and/or die from COVID.”
"He has no idea what to do," Joe Biden says of Pres. Trump's coronavirus response. "It's only one thing he has in mind. How does he win reelection and it doesn't matter how many people get COVID and/or die from COVID ... I've never seen a president who has been so self-serving." pic.twitter.com/ipF3FP7J1Z — MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 20, 2020
Seven states and Puerto Rico reported Monday that a record number of patients were hospitalized with severe illnesses due to the coronavirus. More than 3.8 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S. and more than 140,000 have died.
At the same time, Trump has maintained that the coronavirus will “disappear” one day.
“I’ll be right eventually,” the president told Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday. “You know, I said, it’s going to disappear. I’ll say it again: It’s going to disappear. And I’ll be right.”
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Such comments prompted Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to Trump, to say Trump wasn’t up to the nation’s top job while noting that anyone “who has watched over the last four years has to be concerned.”
“Clearly he has failed,” Clinton told Reid. “He’s failed at the most fundamental job of being president. He doesn’t seem up to the job. He doesn’t seem capable of having the attention, the concentration, the focus, the discipline, to stay with the problem.”
Hillary Clinton discusses foreign interference in 2016 and 2020 elections: "It's very clear that Russia succeeded. They believe that they were able to influence the minds and even votes of Americans, so why would they stop? They really want to pursue their agenda of dividing us." pic.twitter.com/kDz3y6L29g — MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 20, 2020
Biden added earlier in the hour that Trump appeared to be solely focused on winning the election rather than responding to the crisis, pointing to his calls for the country to reopen against medical advice and the president’s efforts to ostracize those who disagree with him. The White House has in recent days moved to undercut the advice of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, who has continued to give the public bleak assessments of the pandemic even amid the reopening push from Trump.
“This guy has no sense of empathy or concern for people. People are dying,” Biden told Reid on Monday. “He has made every serious mistake, and he has absolutely bludgeoned people that disagree with him.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Top ABC News Executive Barbara Fedida To Exit After Probe Into Racist Comments

Barbara Fedida , a senior ABC News executive in charge of talent , has been let go following an investigation into inappropriate behavior including racially insensitive comments .
In an email sent to staff Monday , Walt Disney Television Chairman Peter Rice said Fedida would not be returning to the company after an independent investigation into the accusations .
She was placed on administrative leave after an article written by Yashar Ali for HuffPost last month , citing dozens of sources , alleged that Fedida had a long history of making insensitive remarks ― including racist and derogatory comments ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This included an allegation that during a contract negotiation for Robin Roberts , a Black woman who co-anchors “ Good Morning America , ” Fedida asked what more she could want and said it wasn ’ t as if the network were asking Roberts to “ pick cotton.
” “ The investigation substantiated that Ms. Fedida did make some of the unacceptable racially insensitive comments attributed to her .
It also substantiated that Ms. Fedida managed in a rough manner and , on occasion , used crass and inappropriate language , ” Rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple news outlets .
“ Lastly , the investigation found no basis for the claims that Ms. Fedida was the subject of dozens of HR complaints and that ABC News spent millions of dollars in confidential settlements related to Ms. Fedida , as alleged in some press accounts.
” Ali reported that Fedida ’ s alleged misconduct led the network to pay for confidential settlements with former talent and staff , including at least one settlement related to allegations of racial discrimination .
Sources had alleged she was the subject of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 human resources investigation that led the network to hire an executive coach for her .
ABC News staffers who were aware of the investigation told HuffPost they were stunned that it did not result in her dismissal .
Given the manner in which Fedida “ wielded the power of her position , ” Rice said , the position will now be restructured to separate the business affairs role from talent relations and recruitment .
Each function will have its own leader going forward , he said .
“ We understand that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to enhance the culture of inclusion and make further progress on our goal of attracting , fostering and retaining diverse talent , ” Rice added .
“ We will provide more details about these initiatives later this week .
”

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Barbara Fedida, a senior ABC News executive in charge of talent, has been let go following an investigation into inappropriate behavior including racially insensitive comments.
In an email sent to staff Monday, Walt Disney Television Chairman Peter Rice said Fedida would not be returning to the company after an independent investigation into the accusations. She was placed on administrative leave after an article written by Yashar Ali for HuffPost last month, citing dozens of sources, alleged that Fedida had a long history of making insensitive remarks ― including racist and derogatory comments ― to people who report to her. This included an allegation that during a contract negotiation for Robin Roberts, a Black woman who co-anchors “Good Morning America,” Fedida asked what more she could want and said it wasn’t as if the network were asking Roberts to “pick cotton.”
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“The investigation substantiated that Ms. Fedida did make some of the unacceptable racially insensitive comments attributed to her. It also substantiated that Ms. Fedida managed in a rough manner and, on occasion, used crass and inappropriate language,” Rice wrote in his email, obtained by multiple news outlets.
“Lastly, the investigation found no basis for the claims that Ms. Fedida was the subject of dozens of HR complaints and that ABC News spent millions of dollars in confidential settlements related to Ms. Fedida, as alleged in some press accounts,” Rice wrote, wrongly suggesting that HuffPost reported dozens of HR complaints. (The story said there were “more than a dozen.”)
Ali reported that Fedida’s alleged misconduct led the network to pay for confidential settlements with former talent and staff, including at least one settlement related to allegations of racial discrimination. Sources had alleged she was the subject of more than a dozen human resources complaints and a 2016 human resources investigation that led the network to hire an executive coach for her. ABC News staffers who were aware of the investigation told HuffPost they were stunned that it did not result in her dismissal.
Given the manner in which Fedida “wielded the power of her position,” Rice said, the position will now be restructured to separate the business affairs role from talent relations and recruitment. Each function will have its own leader going forward, he said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Amber Heard Tells British Court She Feared Johnny Depp Would Kill Her

LONDON ( AP ) — Amber Heard has accused ex-husband Johnny Depp of abusing her both physically and verbally while he was allegedly bingeing on alcohol and drugs , claiming that at various times during their tempestuous relationship she feared for her life .
On the first day of her testimony Monday at Britain ’ s High Court in London , Heard also denied accusations she was a heavy drug user and drinker as well as a controlling and abusive person .
The court is examining Depp ’ s libel suit against The Sun newspaper over an April 2018 article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for allegedly abusing Heard .
Chronicling a series of incidents over their deteriorating relationship , that purportedly included Depp throwing a magnum of champagne and a phone at her , Heard insisted any action she took in response was purely in self-defense .
“ When I felt my life was threatened , I tried to defend myself and that started to happen years into the relationship , years into the violence , ” she told the court .
“ Before that , I didn ’ t even try to defend myself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lawyer Eleanor Laws played a recording of an argument between the pair in which Depp accuses Heard of throwing pots and other items at him the night before .
Heard said she had hit — but not punched — Depp and that she had only thrown things “ to escape him.
” Heard said the argument , like so many others , had stemmed from Depp passing out once again in the bathroom after another binge .
“ I was worried about Johnny ’ s life and this is the context of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended in a physical altercation of sorts , ” she said .
Depp , 57 , is suing The Sun ’ s publisher , News Group Newspapers , and the paper ’ s executive editor , Dan Wootton , over the article .
The Hollywood star , who strongly denies abusing Heard , was at the court to hear his ex-wife ’ s evidence .
Heard ’ s testimony is due to last for three days .
She also described an incident in January 2015 in a hotel room in Tokyo concerning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and suggested there was an argument about it .
“ There was an argument in a hotel room in Tokyo that resulted in Johnny kneeling on my back and hitting me on the back of the head , ” she said .
In written testimony released as she took to the witness box , Heard said that at various times during their relationship she endured “ punching , slapping , kicking , head-butting and choking.
” She said “ some incidents were so severe that I was afraid he was going to kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing control and going too far.
” According to the 34-year-old Heard , Depp “ explicitly threatened to kill me many times , especially later in our relationship.
” She said he blamed his actions on “ a self-created third party ” that he referred to as “ the monster.
” Heard told the court that she loved Depp when he was himself but that she was “ terrified of the monster.
” The actor also dismissed evidence from witnesses such as Depp ’ s security guard , Sean Bett , that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument .
Heard said Depp has “ a unique ability to use his charisma to convey a certain impression of reality ” and that he is “ very good at manipulating people.
” Heard is facing questioning over 14 allegations she made of suffering domestic violence by Depp in various locations between 2013 and 2016 — which The Sun ’ s publisher News Group Newspapers is relying on in its defense of the April 2018 article .
Depp and Heard met in 2009 on the set of the film “ The Rum Diary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
They married in Los Angeles in February 2015 .
Heard filed for divorce the following year , and the divorce was finalized in 2017 .

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LONDON (AP) — Amber Heard has accused ex-husband Johnny Depp of abusing her both physically and verbally while he was allegedly bingeing on alcohol and drugs, claiming that at various times during their tempestuous relationship she feared for her life.
On the first day of her testimony Monday at Britain’s High Court in London, Heard also denied accusations she was a heavy drug user and drinker as well as a controlling and abusive person. The court is examining Depp’s libel suit against The Sun newspaper over an April 2018 article that labelled him a “wife beater” for allegedly abusing Heard.
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Chronicling a series of incidents over their deteriorating relationship, that purportedly included Depp throwing a magnum of champagne and a phone at her, Heard insisted any action she took in response was purely in self-defense.
“When I felt my life was threatened, I tried to defend myself and that started to happen years into the relationship, years into the violence,” she told the court. “Before that, I didn’t even try to defend myself, I just checked out.”
Depp’s lawyer Eleanor Laws played a recording of an argument between the pair in which Depp accuses Heard of throwing pots and other items at him the night before. Heard said she had hit — but not punched — Depp and that she had only thrown things “to escape him.”
Heard said the argument, like so many others, had stemmed from Depp passing out once again in the bathroom after another binge.
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“I was worried about Johnny’s life and this is the context of this argument, one of many that ended in a physical altercation of sorts,” she said.
Depp, 57, is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over the article. The Hollywood star, who strongly denies abusing Heard, was at the court to hear his ex-wife’s evidence. Heard’s testimony is due to last for three days.
She also described an incident in January 2015 in a hotel room in Tokyo concerning a prenuptial agreement between herself and Depp, and suggested there was an argument about it.
“There was an argument in a hotel room in Tokyo that resulted in Johnny kneeling on my back and hitting me on the back of the head,” she said.
In written testimony released as she took to the witness box, Heard said that at various times during their relationship she endured “punching, slapping, kicking, head-butting and choking.” She said “some incidents were so severe that I was afraid he was going to kill me, either intentionally or just by losing control and going too far.”
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According to the 34-year-old Heard, Depp “explicitly threatened to kill me many times, especially later in our relationship.” She said he blamed his actions on “a self-created third party” that he referred to as “the monster.”
Heard told the court that she loved Depp when he was himself but that she was “terrified of the monster.”
The actor also dismissed evidence from witnesses such as Depp’s security guard, Sean Bett, that she was the one who would start an argument.
“These things happened behind closed doors,” she said.
Heard said Depp has “a unique ability to use his charisma to convey a certain impression of reality” and that he is “very good at manipulating people.”
Heard has been present throughout the trial, watching the proceedings as her ex-husband gave evidence over five days.
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Heard is facing questioning over 14 allegations she made of suffering domestic violence by Depp in various locations between 2013 and 2016 — which The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers is relying on in its defense of the April 2018 article.
Depp and Heard met in 2009 on the set of the film “The Rum Diary,” which was released two years later. They married in Los Angeles in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce the following year, and the divorce was finalized in 2017.
Depp claims Heard was the aggressor during their volatile relationship, which he has likened to “a crime scene waiting to happen.”
In nine days of testimony at the High Court, judge Andrew Nicol has heard from Depp and from several current or former employees who have backed his version of events.
Heard claimed in her written testimony that Depp “often didn’t remember what he had done” because of the amount of alcohol and drugs he had consumed, and that “it was as if it hadn’t happened for him.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-20--Atlanta Braves Remove 'Chop On' Sign, Slogan, But No Call On Chant

ATLANTA ( AP ) — The Atlanta Braves have removed a “ Chop On ” sign that sat near an entrance to Truist Park and are still considering their stance on the fans ’ tomahawk chop chant .
The removal of the wooden sign came as the team changed its slogan from “ Chop On ” to “ For The A ” for the 2020 season .
A new slogan is customary marketing strategy , but the team ’ s stance on the chant has been watched closely since last year ’ s NL Division Series .
St. Louis Cardinals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cherokee Nation , said he found the chant insulting .
The Braves did not distribute the red foam tomahawks before the decisive Game 5 of the series , won by the Cardinals , “ out of respect for the concerns ” expressed by Helsley .
The Braves said they would continue to examine the chant after the 2019 season , a process that continues .
Since there will be no fans at Braves ’ home games for at least the start of the pandemic-delayed 60-game season , the team may feel no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chant .
Braves fans began chopping and chanting in the early 1990s .
The team has encouraged the chant by playing music and distributing the foam tomahawks .
The Braves open their season at the New York Mets on Friday .
Their first home game is July 29 against Tampa .
The Braves have announced firm plans to keep their team name .
The team said in a letter to season ticket holders on July 10 , “ We will always be the Atlanta Braves.
” The NFL ’ s Washington team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name from the Redskins along with dropping its Indian head logo , and baseball ’ s Cleveland Indians are considering changing their name .
The Braves said in the letter they are seeking input from the Native American community , fans , players and former players as they examine the fan experience , including the chant .
In the letter , the team said the chant “ continues to inspire our players on the field .
”

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ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have removed a “Chop On” sign that sat near an entrance to Truist Park and are still considering their stance on the fans’ tomahawk chop chant.
The removal of the wooden sign came as the team changed its slogan from “Chop On” to “For The A” for the 2020 season.
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A new slogan is customary marketing strategy, but the team’s stance on the chant has been watched closely since last year’s NL Division Series.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley, a member of the Cherokee Nation, said he found the chant insulting. The Braves did not distribute the red foam tomahawks before the decisive Game 5 of the series, won by the Cardinals, “out of respect for the concerns” expressed by Helsley.
The Braves said they would continue to examine the chant after the 2019 season, a process that continues.
Since there will be no fans at Braves’ home games for at least the start of the pandemic-delayed 60-game season, the team may feel no urgency to release a new policy on the chant.
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Braves fans began chopping and chanting in the early 1990s. The team has encouraged the chant by playing music and distributing the foam tomahawks.
The Braves open their season at the New York Mets on Friday. Their first home game is July 29 against Tampa.
The Braves have announced firm plans to keep their team name. The team said in a letter to season ticket holders on July 10, “We will always be the Atlanta Braves.”
The NFL’s Washington team has announced plans to change its team name from the Redskins along with dropping its Indian head logo, and baseball’s Cleveland Indians are considering changing their name.
The Braves said in the letter they are seeking input from the Native American community, fans, players and former players as they examine the fan experience, including the chant.
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In the letter, the team said the chant “continues to inspire our players on the field.”
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