thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Mayor John Cooper Limits Prayer Vigil to Fewer than 25 People Because of Social Distancing

Nashville Mayor John Cooper held a public prayer vigil before Tuesday ’ s Metro Council meeting on the front lawn of the Metro Courthouse — public to the extent that fewer than 25 people could attend .
Cooper limited the gathering to fewer than 25 people because of COVID-19 for , according to an emailed press release , security and social distancing reasons .
But former Nashville mayoral candidate Carol Swain wondered Tuesday why Cooper limited the number of participants at that particular event — but he didn ’ t impose similar requirements this past Saturday at the George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville ’ s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of Floyd .
Many carried signs demanding that government either defund or abolish the police .
“ The day before he sent out a tweet in celebration of LGBT month , and the next day he participates in a prayer rally .
I ’ m always a believer in prayer .
I believe that prayer can change lives and nations and cities , ” Swain told The Tennessee Star Tuesday .
“ Once Cooper had decided to have that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had seen the importance of prayer at that event .
Maybe it wouldn ’ t have turned so violent by the end of the evening if they had started off with prayer .
Also the hypocrisy and the pandering .
He was obviously pandering that they would have a prayer vigil that they would limit to 25 participants that they handpicked with invitations .
I ’ m sure there were many people across the city , from the churches , that would have loved to have come and been a part of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office for a list of all of the faith leaders who spoke at the vigil — but they did not return our request for comment before press time Tuesday .
Most of the faith leaders who spoke were of the Christian denomination .
Two Jewish rabbis also spoke , as did Executive Director at the American Muslim Advisory Sabina Mohyuddin .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Nashville Mayor John Cooper held a public prayer vigil before Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting on the front lawn of the Metro Courthouse — public to the extent that fewer than 25 people could attend.
Cooper limited the gathering to fewer than 25 people because of COVID-19 for, according to an emailed press release, security and social distancing reasons.
But former Nashville mayoral candidate Carol Swain wondered Tuesday why Cooper limited the number of participants at that particular event — but he didn’t impose similar requirements this past Saturday at the George Floyd rally at Legislative Plaza.
As reported, several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville’s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of Floyd. Many carried signs demanding that government either defund or abolish the police.
“The day before he sent out a tweet in celebration of LGBT month, and the next day he participates in a prayer rally. I’m always a believer in prayer. I believe that prayer can change lives and nations and cities,” Swain told The Tennessee Star Tuesday.
“Once Cooper had decided to have that mass demonstration on Saturday I wish he had seen the importance of prayer at that event. Maybe it wouldn’t have turned so violent by the end of the evening if they had started off with prayer. Also the hypocrisy and the pandering. He was obviously pandering that they would have a prayer vigil that they would limit to 25 participants that they handpicked with invitations. I’m sure there were many people across the city, from the churches, that would have loved to have come and been a part of that evening.”
The Star asked Cooper’s office for a list of all of the faith leaders who spoke at the vigil — but they did not return our request for comment before press time Tuesday.
Most of the faith leaders who spoke were of the Christian denomination. Two Jewish rabbis also spoke, as did Executive Director at the American Muslim Advisory Sabina Mohyuddin.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Commentary: Trump’s Greatest Challenge Now

President Trump faces the greatest challenge of his very eventful life , and also an immense opportunity to silence his detractors .
Not since Charles de Gaulle faced a prolonged general strike in France in 1968 has the leader of a large Western democracy faced something so closely approximating an insurrection as the situation President Trump faces now .
Fortunately , as de Gaulle demonstrated , in such circumstances there is almost always overwhelming support for the legitimate government as long as it restores order with no more force than is necessary and in the impartial national interest .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos , de Gaulle addressed the nation for less than five minutes .
As he had calculated , by this time the avarice and prudence of the French bourgeoisie had asserted themselves and he won the greatest electoral victory in 175 years of Republican French history .
The French take inexplicable pleasure in tearing up paving stones and hurling them at the police and engaging in general disorder and revolutionary sloganeering—but not for long .
President Trump ’ s challenge is less complicated—apart from the declining but still lingering pandemic—as public opinion is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality and mob violence .
He has a precious opportunity and absolute duty to speak for the whole nation and to act decisively .
Virtually every single aware American is disgusted by the video of the Minneapolis policeman holding his knee on the neck of George Floyd for nearly 10 minutes , ignoring pleas from Floyd and advice from onlookers .
At least 95 percent of Americans deplore the wanton violence , desecration , barbarity , and severe economic damage done mainly to minority small business owners , on the fraudulent pretext of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an African American , by a criminally insouciant white police officer grossly abusing his position .
The president spoke eloquently from Cape Canaveral on Saturday , repeating his condemnation of Floyd ’ s death , before there was any reason to believe that violence would erupt on the scale that it has .
The leaders and former leaders of liberal Democratic America were taken by surprise by the eruption of the violence .
Their early spokesmen , including former President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) uttered the usual hackneyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unite the country and being somehow responsible for the homicide by a policeman in one of America ’ s liberal Democratic citadels ( Minnesota ) .
They did their best to incite the inference that Trump was indifferent to racism , and flirted with the usual Democratic bunk about systemic racism ; at least 80 percent of white Americans strongly disapprove of racial discrimination .
As rioting erupted , the earnest youthful Democratic mayor of Minneapolis , Jacob Frey , and his police chief abandoned a precinct building on Friday night and enabled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no more interest in the fate of George Floyd than they did in global warming , to trash the police station and burn down nearly 200 businesses .
It was a shameful debacle .
The rioting spread and intensified throughout the country , and the great majority of the violence occurred in cities governed by left-wing Democrats who obviously hadn ’ t the remotest idea either how virulent the nihilistic Left was in their communities nor how to instruct the police to contain and deter it .
Joe Biden , for once , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief and issued a statement suitably deploring the murder of George Floyd but failing to imply , as Obama had , that the incident and police mistreatment of African-Americans generally lent any justification whatsoever to the havoc wrought in more than a score of American cities in succeeding days .
Public opinion is overwhelmingly united on the issues involved and in its desire for clear leadership from the president .
By Monday evening , he will have waited long enough for public impatience to ripen without waiting so long that he appears ineffectual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the following steps : • The president should offer the Armed Forces to enforce curfews and ensure the arrest and detention of all lawbreakers to all local governments that need them .
President Eisenhower demonstrated how overwhelming the authority of professional soldiers is in times of civic disturbance when he had the 101st Airborne Division integrate Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas in 1957 .
• President Trump should promise special compensation for those who lost their businesses or other important assets in the current violence .
• Since thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many cities where there have been disturbances , President Trump should ensure that those arrested are the hooligans rather than conscientious protesters .
And those hooligans should be interrogated comprehensively so that all the organizers of Antifa and other subversive organizations are identified and can be brought to justice.His designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization is correct .
For once , the tendency of American justice to convict virtually all accused people regardless of guilt may be relied upon to decapitate these sociopathic and seditious organizations and deter impressionable malcontents who might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
• The president would be correct to emphasize that the coronavirus shutdown has greatly contributed to the financial vulnerability of those victimized by the riots and has probably aggravated the level of discontent upon which the rioters fed for a time .
The country was actively reopening anyway , and it would be appropriate for the president to recommend that that process be accelerated.Trump can acknowledge that the whole test and trace system which is being established and in which the Democrats have invested such high hopes for containing the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything more than a marginal impact on the level of ultimate infection .
Fortunately , only those with challenged immune systems are in serious danger , and even they face quite promising odds ( only one in 800 of those over 65 perish from the virus in the United States. )
.
The fatality rate for the 80 percent of young and middle-aged people who have been shut down for two months and shouldered such immense inconvenience is statistically insignificant ( one in 13,000 ) and the sooner they return to their normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code of conduct for law enforcement officers including severe penalties for undoubted racist discrimination should be imposed and where it is not adopted voluntarily by states and municipalities the failure to accept this high standard of conduct should be publicized and fiscally penalized .
All municipalities of 100,000 people or more should be financially assisted by the federal government in establishing riot control and deterrence systems that are a great deal more effective than the Keystone Cops bumbling that was much in evidence in many American cities this past week .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no hint of partisanship , nor any self-praise—he will speak for a united country in hostility to police discrimination and brutality , to mob violence , and to undue delay in reviving the normal commerce and social interaction of all who were not vulnerable to the pandemic .
And for the first time , he will have solid public opinion behind him .
Leadership in crises is preeminently what presidents do and the effectiveness of their responses to crises largely determines how they are evaluated in history .
President Trump is a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility for decisive action .
This ghastly sequence of events has shaken the country and embarrassed it in the world—it is not true that there is systemic racism in the country .
The United States has demonstrated convincingly that there is little prejudice against minorities .
It must not allow the savagery of an unrepresentative fringe of violent troublemakers to demoralize it or distract or deter it from returning as quickly as possible to the full prosperity that is the best assurance of a contented society .
The appalling Floyd killing must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the likelihood of any such outrage occurring again .
All this is now within the president ’ s grasp .
Conrad Black has been one of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S. , and most of the daily newspapers in Canada .
He is the author of authoritative biographies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-volume histories of the United States and Canada , and most recently of Donald J. Trump : A President Like No Other .
He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Conrad Black
President Trump faces the greatest challenge of his very eventful life, and also an immense opportunity to silence his detractors. Not since Charles de Gaulle faced a prolonged general strike in France in 1968 has the leader of a large Western democracy faced something so closely approximating an insurrection as the situation President Trump faces now.
Fortunately, as de Gaulle demonstrated, in such circumstances there is almost always overwhelming support for the legitimate government as long as it restores order with no more force than is necessary and in the impartial national interest.
In May 1968, after a month of chaos, de Gaulle addressed the nation for less than five minutes. As he had calculated, by this time the avarice and prudence of the French bourgeoisie had asserted themselves and he won the greatest electoral victory in 175 years of Republican French history. The French take inexplicable pleasure in tearing up paving stones and hurling them at the police and engaging in general disorder and revolutionary sloganeering—but not for long.
President Trump’s challenge is less complicated—apart from the declining but still lingering pandemic—as public opinion is almost unanimous in opposition both to police brutality and mob violence. He has a precious opportunity and absolute duty to speak for the whole nation and to act decisively.
Virtually every single aware American is disgusted by the video of the Minneapolis policeman holding his knee on the neck of George Floyd for nearly 10 minutes, ignoring pleas from Floyd and advice from onlookers. At least 95 percent of Americans deplore the wanton violence, desecration, barbarity, and severe economic damage done mainly to minority small business owners, on the fraudulent pretext of protesting the apparent murder of Floyd, an African American, by a criminally insouciant white police officer grossly abusing his position.
The president spoke eloquently from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, repeating his condemnation of Floyd’s death, before there was any reason to believe that violence would erupt on the scale that it has. The leaders and former leaders of liberal Democratic America were taken by surprise by the eruption of the violence. Their early spokesmen, including former President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) uttered the usual hackneyed platitudes and recriminations about Trump failing to unite the country and being somehow responsible for the homicide by a policeman in one of America’s liberal Democratic citadels (Minnesota).
They did their best to incite the inference that Trump was indifferent to racism, and flirted with the usual Democratic bunk about systemic racism; at least 80 percent of white Americans strongly disapprove of racial discrimination. As rioting erupted, the earnest youthful Democratic mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, and his police chief abandoned a precinct building on Friday night and enabled the mob of hooligans who evidently had no more interest in the fate of George Floyd than they did in global warming, to trash the police station and burn down nearly 200 businesses. It was a shameful debacle.
The rioting spread and intensified throughout the country, and the great majority of the violence occurred in cities governed by left-wing Democrats who obviously hadn’t the remotest idea either how virulent the nihilistic Left was in their communities nor how to instruct the police to contain and deter it.
Joe Biden, for once, was considerably more astute than his former chief and issued a statement suitably deploring the murder of George Floyd but failing to imply, as Obama had, that the incident and police mistreatment of African-Americans generally lent any justification whatsoever to the havoc wrought in more than a score of American cities in succeeding days.
Public opinion is overwhelmingly united on the issues involved and in its desire for clear leadership from the president. By Monday evening, he will have waited long enough for public impatience to ripen without waiting so long that he appears ineffectual.
He may be expected to take the following steps:
The president should offer the Armed Forces to enforce curfews and ensure the arrest and detention of all lawbreakers to all local governments that need them. President Eisenhower demonstrated how overwhelming the authority of professional soldiers is in times of civic disturbance when he had the 101st Airborne Division integrate Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas in 1957.
President Trump should promise special compensation for those who lost their businesses or other important assets in the current violence.
Since thousands of people have been taken into custody in the many cities where there have been disturbances, President Trump should ensure that those arrested are the hooligans rather than conscientious protesters. And those hooligans should be interrogated comprehensively so that all the organizers of Antifa and other subversive organizations are identified and can be brought to justice.His designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization is correct. For once, the tendency of American justice to convict virtually all accused people regardless of guilt may be relied upon to decapitate these sociopathic and seditious organizations and deter impressionable malcontents who might have been tempted to join or emulate them.
The president would be correct to emphasize that the coronavirus shutdown has greatly contributed to the financial vulnerability of those victimized by the riots and has probably aggravated the level of discontent upon which the rioters fed for a time. The country was actively reopening anyway, and it would be appropriate for the president to recommend that that process be accelerated.Trump can acknowledge that the whole test and trace system which is being established and in which the Democrats have invested such high hopes for containing the COVID-19 threat is clearly unworkable and incapable of anything more than a marginal impact on the level of ultimate infection. Fortunately, only those with challenged immune systems are in serious danger, and even they face quite promising odds (only one in 800 of those over 65 perish from the virus in the United States.). The fatality rate for the 80 percent of young and middle-aged people who have been shut down for two months and shouldered such immense inconvenience is statistically insignificant (one in 13,000) and the sooner they return to their normal occupations the better.
A national code of conduct for law enforcement officers including severe penalties for undoubted racist discrimination should be imposed and where it is not adopted voluntarily by states and municipalities the failure to accept this high standard of conduct should be publicized and fiscally penalized. All municipalities of 100,000 people or more should be financially assisted by the federal government in establishing riot control and deterrence systems that are a great deal more effective than the Keystone Cops bumbling that was much in evidence in many American cities this past week.
If the president makes these points or similar ones—with no hint of partisanship, nor any self-praise—he will speak for a united country in hostility to police discrimination and brutality, to mob violence, and to undue delay in reviving the normal commerce and social interaction of all who were not vulnerable to the pandemic. And for the first time, he will have solid public opinion behind him.
Leadership in crises is preeminently what presidents do and the effectiveness of their responses to crises largely determines how they are evaluated in history. President Trump is a good executive and has no fear of assuming responsibility for decisive action.
This ghastly sequence of events has shaken the country and embarrassed it in the world—it is not true that there is systemic racism in the country. The United States has demonstrated convincingly that there is little prejudice against minorities. It must not allow the savagery of an unrepresentative fringe of violent troublemakers to demoralize it or distract or deter it from returning as quickly as possible to the full prosperity that is the best assurance of a contented society.
The appalling Floyd killing must be used in a way that sharply reduces the likelihood of any such outrage occurring again. All this is now within the president’s grasp.
– – –
Conrad Black has been one of Canada’s most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers, the Fairfax newspapers in Australia, the Jerusalem Post, Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S., and most of the daily newspapers in Canada. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, one-volume histories of the United States and Canada, and most recently of Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other. He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour.
Photo “Donald Trump” by Photo “Donald Trump” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Former President George W. Bush on Riots: ‘Protest Shows Strength’

Former President George W. Bush weighed in Monday on the riots that have torn across the United States , saying that “ lasting justice will only come by peace.
” Bush spoke out following the seventh night of destructive riots following the demise of George Floyd , a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes , according to footage of the incident .
“ Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country , ” the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resisted the urge to speak out , because this is not the time for us to lecture .
It is time for us to listen .
It is time for America to examine our tragic failures – and as we do , we will also see some of our redeeming strengths.
” He continued : “ It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans , especially young African American men , are harassed and threatened in their own country .
It is a strength when protesters , protected by responsible law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The death of Floyd raises questions about how we can end systemic racism in society , Bush emphasized , adding that the only way to do so is to “ listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving.
” “ We know that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means , ” Bush said .
“ Looting is not liberation , and destruction is not progress.
” “ But we also know that lasting peace in our communities requires truly equal justice , ” he added .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system .
And achieving justice for all is the duty of all.
” He continued : “ This will require a consistent , courageous , and creative effort .
We serve our neighbors best when we try to understand their experience .
We love our neighbors as ourselves when we treat them as equals , in both protection and compassion.
” “ There is a better way — the way of empathy , and shared commitment , and bold action , and a peace rooted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I am confident that together , Americans will choose the better way .
”

by Mary Margaret Olohan
Former President George W. Bush weighed in Monday on the riots that have torn across the United States, saying that “lasting justice will only come by peace.”
Bush spoke out following the seventh night of destructive riots following the demise of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, according to footage of the incident.
“Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country,” the former president said.
“Yet we have resisted the urge to speak out, because this is not the time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen. It is time for America to examine our tragic failures – and as we do, we will also see some of our redeeming strengths.”
He continued: “It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country. It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future.”
Former President George W. Bush statement on George Floyd: pic.twitter.com/VtEDTIXqyE — NBC News (@NBCNews) June 2, 2020
The death of Floyd raises questions about how we can end systemic racism in society, Bush emphasized, adding that the only way to do so is to “listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving.”
“We know that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means,” Bush said. “Looting is not liberation, and destruction is not progress.”
“But we also know that lasting peace in our communities requires truly equal justice,” he added. “The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system. And achieving justice for all is the duty of all.”
He continued: “This will require a consistent, courageous, and creative effort. We serve our neighbors best when we try to understand their experience. We love our neighbors as ourselves when we treat them as equals, in both protection and compassion.”
“There is a better way — the way of empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace rooted in justice,” the former president concluded. “I am confident that together, Americans will choose the better way.”
– – –
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Music Spotlight: Adam Sanders

Music Spotlight: Adam Sanders

Nashville , Tennessee – A native of Lake City , Florida , Adam Sanders knew at an early age that music would be his life .
“ My mom likes to say I could sing before I could talk .
It was as far back as I could remember .
My earliest memories were dressing up like Alan Jackson and singing ‘ Chattahoochee ’ and ‘ Don ’ t Rock the Jukebox , ’ ” he said .
The singer grew up in rural North Central Florida where he was raised on hunting and fishing .
“ I feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my adult years .
With the music industry being so crazy with fans and being in the spotlight , with hunting and fishing I can kind of be by myself .
I get a lot of song ideas and do a lot of praying , it ’ s the perfect yin and yang , ” he said .
Sanders admitted he has never had formal guitar lessons .
“ All my family is pretty well musically inclined .
My dad showed me three cords when I was ten or so .
He showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gave me a capo and I pretty much was self-taught after that , ” he said .
The singer ’ s uncle Scotty Sanders is a steel guitar player who lives in Nashville and has played on every album from George Jones to Sam Hunt .
Sanders recalled , “ When I was about twelve years , he called my dad one day and asked to speak to me .
He already living in Nashville recording albums .
He said , “ Adam , have you ever thought about writing songs ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ songwriting as a way to help get into the music industry .
“ The next day my dad helped me write my first song which was terrible , ” he claimed .
But he fell in love with songwriting and process and continued writing songs throughout his high school years .
For the next three years , he entered talent shows and sang throughout North Florida and was pretty well-known .
“ I was famous in a small town , ” he related .
Even though he initially had cold feet , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 21-year-old finally moved to Nashville in 2009 , and songwriting was the means he used to get his foot in the door .
He worked construction to pay the bills while developing his chops as a songwriter .
His skills caught the attention of executives at Big Yellow Dog who signed him to a publishing deal in 2011 .
Six months into his publishing deal he got song recorded by Luke Bryan on his Crash My Party album and the rest was history .
Now as one of Music Row ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped the charts with such number 1 singles such as Cole Swindell ’ s “ Ain ’ t Worth the Whiskey ” and Dustin Lynch ’ s “ Hell of a Night.
” Even though he recently signed a publishing deal with Round Hil Music , being a performer has always been the ultimate goal .
He conceded that having a relatively new singing career in the middle of a pandemic can be challenging .
“ It ’ s a challenge for all of us , ” Sanders said .
The country crooner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Bro-Country ” so often played on terrestrial radio .
He also acknowledges that he prefers the 1990s country music , specifically the years 1996-1999 .
He stated that early Tim McGraw , Kenny Chesney were among his favorites .
I wanted to know how a songwriter determines which songs to give to other artists and which ones they keep for themselves .
He explained , “ The song “ Ain ’ t Worth the Whiskey ” is a perfect example .
We wrote the song six years before was released and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artists along the way .
It never ended up anywhere .
We joked , ‘ whoever gets a record deal first can release this song , and it just happened to be Cole Swindell.
’ We now know why it was never recorded , because it was meant for Cole all the time .
Songs end up where they are supposed to be.
” In 2019 , Sanders released the song “ Life I ’ m Livin ’ .
” Another song he wrote for himself and recently released is “ Ruled The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his fellow singer-songwriters along with a music video that stars his musical heroes Tracy Lawrence , Aaron Tippin , and Shenandoah ’ s Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire .
The 1990s country influence can be heard in the rollicking , high energy tune .
On June 2 , Sanders released “ Make Em Want to Change , ” which was written by Sanders , Adam Craig , and Dallas Wilson .
These guys take a more heartfelt approach to a song that kind of has a little bit of a love song vibe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a past relationship that didn ’ t work out .
It challenged me to be the best version of myself for future relationships , ” he clarified .
It , too , has a late 90s influence .
Sanders states , “ Over the last year or so , as I release songs of my own , I ’ ve learned to listen to my fans and tease songs and [ Make Em Want to Change ] was a song that people gravitated toward immediately.
” The fans encouraged him to release the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ song later on this summer and eventually release a full record , but it won ’ t be in the traditional album form .
“ It will be a little different capacity than what people may think .
I am super excited to bring it to life.
” You can follow Adam Sanders on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer .
You can follow her blog , Bethany Writes , Instagram , and Twitter .

Nashville, Tennessee – A native of Lake City, Florida, Adam Sanders knew at an early age that music would be his life.
“My mom likes to say I could sing before I could talk. It was as far back as I could remember. My earliest memories were dressing up like Alan Jackson and singing ‘Chattahoochee’ and ‘Don’t Rock the Jukebox,’” he said.
The singer grew up in rural North Central Florida where he was raised on hunting and fishing.
“I feel like I’ve gotten more into it my adult years. With the music industry being so crazy with fans and being in the spotlight, with hunting and fishing I can kind of be by myself. I get a lot of song ideas and do a lot of praying, it’s the perfect yin and yang,” he said.
Sanders admitted he has never had formal guitar lessons.
“All my family is pretty well musically inclined. My dad showed me three cords when I was ten or so. He showed me G, C, and D and gave me a capo and I pretty much was self-taught after that,” he said.
The singer’s uncle Scotty Sanders is a steel guitar player who lives in Nashville and has played on every album from George Jones to Sam Hunt.
Sanders recalled, “When I was about twelve years, he called my dad one day and asked to speak to me. He already living in Nashville recording albums. He said, “Adam, have you ever thought about writing songs?” He encouraged the boy to use songwriting as a way to help get into the music industry.
“The next day my dad helped me write my first song which was terrible,” he claimed. But he fell in love with songwriting and process and continued writing songs throughout his high school years.
For the next three years, he entered talent shows and sang throughout North Florida and was pretty well-known. “I was famous in a small town,” he related. Even though he initially had cold feet, the goal was always to move to Nashville.
The 21-year-old finally moved to Nashville in 2009, and songwriting was the means he used to get his foot in the door. He worked construction to pay the bills while developing his chops as a songwriter. His skills caught the attention of executives at Big Yellow Dog who signed him to a publishing deal in 2011.
Six months into his publishing deal he got song recorded by Luke Bryan on his Crash My Party album and the rest was history. Now as one of Music Row’s hottest young songwriters, Sanders has topped the charts with such number 1 singles such as Cole Swindell’s “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and Dustin Lynch’s “Hell of a Night.”
Even though he recently signed a publishing deal with Round Hil Music, being a performer has always been the ultimate goal. He conceded that having a relatively new singing career in the middle of a pandemic can be challenging.
“It’s a challenge for all of us,” Sanders said.
The country crooner has a more traditional sound than the “Bro-Country” so often played on terrestrial radio. He also acknowledges that he prefers the 1990s country music, specifically the years 1996-1999. He stated that early Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney were among his favorites.
I wanted to know how a songwriter determines which songs to give to other artists and which ones they keep for themselves.
He explained, “The song “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” is a perfect example. We wrote the song six years before was released and it was on hold for so many other artists along the way. It never ended up anywhere. We joked, ‘whoever gets a record deal first can release this song, and it just happened to be Cole Swindell.’ We now know why it was never recorded, because it was meant for Cole all the time. Songs end up where they are supposed to be.”
In 2019, Sanders released the song “Life I’m Livin’.” Another song he wrote for himself and recently released is “Ruled The World,” which features seven of his fellow singer-songwriters along with a music video that stars his musical heroes Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin, and Shenandoah’s Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire. The 1990s country influence can be heard in the rollicking, high energy tune.
On June 2, Sanders released “Make Em Want to Change,” which was written by Sanders, Adam Craig, and Dallas Wilson. These guys take a more heartfelt approach to a song that kind of has a little bit of a love song vibe.
“The song was inspired by a past relationship that didn’t work out. It challenged me to be the best version of myself for future relationships,” he clarified. It, too, has a late 90s influence.
Sanders states, “Over the last year or so, as I release songs of my own, I’ve learned to listen to my fans and tease songs and [Make Em Want to Change] was a song that people gravitated toward immediately.”
The fans encouraged him to release the song.
He plans to release another song later on this summer and eventually release a full record, but it won’t be in the traditional album form. “It will be a little different capacity than what people may think. I am super excited to bring it to life.”
You can follow Adam Sanders on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
– – –
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Bethany Writes, Instagram, and Twitter.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Police: Retired St. Louis Police Captain Killed Amid Unrest

ST. LOUIS , Missouri ( AP ) — A retired St. Louis police officer was shot and killed early Tuesday by people who had broken into a pawn shop during the unrest that followed a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , police said .
David Dorn , 77 , was found dead on the sidewalk in front of Lee ’ s Pawn & Jewelry .
Police have not released details of what led to the shooting about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and no one has been arrested .
The shooting and theft at the pawn shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the video has since been taken down .
It came on a violent night in St. Louis , which saw four officers shot , officers , pelted with rocks , and businesses burned and robbed .
Cities across the U.S. have seen protests and violence since Floyd died last week after an officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes even after the handcuffed black man stopped moving and pleading for air .
Dorn was a friend of the pawn shop ’ s owner and frequently checked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife , Ann Marie Dorn , told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .
Dorn served 38 years on the St. Louis police force before retiring in October 2007 .
He then became chief of Moline Acres , a small town north of St. Louis .
The Ethical Society of Police , which represents black officers in St. Louis , said in a news release that Dorn was “ the type of brother that would ’ ve given his life to save them if he had to.
” “ Many of us , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hayden said .
” “ Was very well-liked , very pleasant .
And his wife still works here .
So a very sad time for our agency .
We will honor him.
” State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge , D-St. Louis , told the Post-Dispatch that he watched to Facebook Live post before it was removed .
“ Very traumatized right now , ” he said about an hour after the shooting occurred .
“ I ’ m hurting.
” About the Headline Photo : Police investigate the scene of a shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St. Louis , Tuesday , June 2 , 2020 .
A 77-year-old retired St. Louis police officer who served 38 years on the force was shot and killed by looters at the pawn shop early Tuesday , police said .
David Dorn was found dead on the sidewalk in front of Lee ’ s Pawn & Jewelry , which had been ransacked after peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd turned violent overnight .
( David Carson/St .
Louis Post-Dispatch via AP )

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (AP) — A retired St. Louis police officer was shot and killed early Tuesday by people who had broken into a pawn shop during the unrest that followed a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, police said.
David Dorn, 77, was found dead on the sidewalk in front of Lee’s Pawn & Jewelry. Police have not released details of what led to the shooting about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and no one has been arrested.
The shooting and theft at the pawn shop apparently was posted on Facebook Live, but the video has since been taken down. It came on a violent night in St. Louis, which saw four officers shot, officers, pelted with rocks, and businesses burned and robbed. Cities across the U.S. have seen protests and violence since Floyd died last week after an officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes even after the handcuffed black man stopped moving and pleading for air.
Dorn was a friend of the pawn shop’s owner and frequently checked on the business when alarms went off, his wife, Ann Marie Dorn, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Dorn served 38 years on the St. Louis police force before retiring in October 2007. He then became chief of Moline Acres, a small town north of St. Louis.
The Ethical Society of Police, which represents black officers in St. Louis, said in a news release that Dorn was “the type of brother that would’ve given his life to save them if he had to.”
Colonel John W. Hayden, Jr., a St. Louis police commissioner, called Dorn a “fine captain.”
“Many of us, the other officers, looked up to him,” Hayden said. ”“Was very well-liked, very pleasant. And his wife still works here. So a very sad time for our agency. We will honor him.”
State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that he watched to Facebook Live post before it was removed.
“Very traumatized right now,” he said about an hour after the shooting occurred. “I’m hurting.”
– – –
About the Headline Photo: Police investigate the scene of a shooting at Lee’s Pawn & Jewelry in St. Louis, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. A 77-year-old retired St. Louis police officer who served 38 years on the force was shot and killed by looters at the pawn shop early Tuesday, police said. David Dorn was found dead on the sidewalk in front of Lee’s Pawn & Jewelry, which had been ransacked after peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd turned violent overnight. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Nashville Chamber Calls on Metro Council to Vote For Mayor Cooper’s 32 Percent Tax Hike

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce wants Davidson County residents ’ property taxes to be hiked 32 percent .
The chamber is urging the Metro Council to vote for Mayor John Cooper ’ s budget that includes a 32 percent property tax increase , the Nashville Business Journal reported .
The chamber ’ s board endorsed the budget in an announcement Monday and a letter to council members .
The chamber ’ s 40-member board , led by Pinnacle Bank chairman Rob McCabe , is a roster replete with prominent executives and entrepreneurs — representing most of Nashville ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber , with more than 2,000 members in the Greater Nashville region , is a notable business voice now weighing into a debate that will culminate by the end of the month .
If the council does not approve an alternative budget , Cooper ’ s proposal becomes law with the July 1 start of the new fiscal year .
Metro Finance estimates that the city will experience a $ 470 million revenue decline over a 16-month time frame due to the impact of COVID-19 and the March tornado .
The decline in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required Metro to cut expenditures and spend down remaining fund balances , leaving Metro with only $ 12 million of fund balances at the end of FY20 .
The financial impact of the tornado and COVID-19 on Q4 and FY21 require a budget that increases the property tax rate by $ 1.00 , raising the current rate of $ 3.155 up to $ 4.155 .
Over the past 25 years , Metro ’ s combined GSD/USD property tax rate has averaged $ 4.30 .
This is not the first time the chamber has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the chamber was a major backer of former Mayor Megan Barry ’ s $ 9 billion transit plan that failed 2-1 in a public referendum in 2017 , The Tennessee Star previously reported .
The Star reported that Marc Hill , Chief Policy Officer at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce , tweeted , “ # LetsMoveNashville transit plan is the result of years of work , tens of thousands of citizen engagements .
Thank you to Vice Mayor Briley and Metro Council members who are providing strong leadership to put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the people of Nashville decide.
” The chamber had ties to the Citizens for Greater Mobility PAC , which supported the transit plan .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce wants Davidson County residents’ property taxes to be hiked 32 percent.
The chamber is urging the Metro Council to vote for Mayor John Cooper’s budget that includes a 32 percent property tax increase, the Nashville Business Journal reported.
The chamber’s board endorsed the budget in an announcement Monday and a letter to council members.
The chamber’s 40-member board, led by Pinnacle Bank chairman Rob McCabe, is a roster replete with prominent executives and entrepreneurs — representing most of Nashville’s most influential companies and industries. The chamber, with more than 2,000 members in the Greater Nashville region, is a notable business voice now weighing into a debate that will culminate by the end of the month. If the council does not approve an alternative budget, Cooper’s proposal becomes law with the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.
Cooper’s proposed budget totals $2.447 billion, the city said.
Metro Finance estimates that the city will experience a $470 million revenue decline over a 16-month time frame due to the impact of COVID-19 and the March tornado. The decline in revenue during Q4 of fiscal year 2020 required Metro to cut expenditures and spend down remaining fund balances, leaving Metro with only $12 million of fund balances at the end of FY20. The financial impact of the tornado and COVID-19 on Q4 and FY21 require a budget that increases the property tax rate by $1.00, raising the current rate of $3.155 up to $4.155. Over the past 25 years, Metro’s combined GSD/USD property tax rate has averaged $4.30.
This is not the first time the chamber has supported government taxation of citizens and businesses — the chamber was a major backer of former Mayor Megan Barry’s $9 billion transit plan that failed 2-1 in a public referendum in 2017, The Tennessee Star previously reported.
The Star reported that Marc Hill, Chief Policy Officer at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, tweeted, “#LetsMoveNashville transit plan is the result of years of work, tens of thousands of citizen engagements. Thank you to Vice Mayor Briley and Metro Council members who are providing strong leadership to put the plan to a May 1 vote to let the people of Nashville decide.”
The chamber had ties to the Citizens for Greater Mobility PAC, which supported the transit plan.
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “John Cooper” by John Cooper.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Medicare to Ratchet up Enforcement Against Nursing Homes as Coronavirus Fatalities Exceed 25,000

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) unveiled enhanced enforcement actions on Monday against nursing homes after preliminary federal data shows that at least 25,923 nursing home residents across the country have died from coronavirus .
“ This data , and anecdotal reports across the country , clearly show that nursing homes have been devastated by the virus , ” CMS Administrator Seema Verma and Centers for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield wrote in a letter to U.S. governors on Sunday .
CMS will ratchet up penalties for nursing homes with longstanding violations of infection control practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes that received low health survey scores from CMS prior to the coronavirus outbreak are more likely to have more cases among its residents than facilities that received high scores , according to the agency .
“ The Trump Administration is taking consistent action to protect the vulnerable , ” Verma said in a statement Monday .
“ While many nursing homes have performed well and demonstrated that it ’ s entirely possible to keep nursing homes patients safe , we are outlining new instructions for state survey agencies and enforcement actions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety requirements.
” At least 25,923 nursing home residents have died from coronavirus as of May 24 according to CMS , but those figures are likely to increase as only 80 % of Medicare-regulated nursing homes have reported figures to the agency .
CMS ’ s figures are at least 14,000 deaths too low according to an NBC News tally that has tracked nearly 40,000 nursing home coronavirus deaths , which represents nearly 40 % of all coronavirus deaths in the country .
New Jersey and New York lead the country in coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CMS ’ s figures .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has faced criticism for his March 25 order that nursing homes can not deny admission to coronavirus patients , an order which critics say contributed to the state ’ s massive nursing home fatality rate .
Cuomo has has argued that his state ’ s directive was in line with a March 13 order from CMS that stated nursing homes “ should admit any individuals they normally admit to their facility , including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Cuomo was wrong to attempt to deflect blame for his order on the federal government .
“ Under no circumstances should a hospital discharge a patient to a nursing home that ’ s not prepared to take care of those patients ’ s needs , ” the CMS chief said on Fox News Radio .
“ The federal guidelines are absolutely clear about this.
” “ Yes , the nursing homes will have COVID positive people … if they are prepared to handle the unique needs of that patient , ” Verma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patent from the hospital it is the responsibility of the hospital to make sure that the patient is safe when they discharge them.
” Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Texas National Guard Nursing Home Cleaning ” by National Guard .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Andrew Kerr
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled enhanced enforcement actions on Monday against nursing homes after preliminary federal data shows that at least 25,923 nursing home residents across the country have died from coronavirus.
“This data, and anecdotal reports across the country, clearly show that nursing homes have been devastated by the virus,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma and Centers for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield wrote in a letter to U.S. governors on Sunday.
CMS will ratchet up penalties for nursing homes with longstanding violations of infection control practices, according to the letter. Nursing homes that received low health survey scores from CMS prior to the coronavirus outbreak are more likely to have more cases among its residents than facilities that received high scores, according to the agency.
“The Trump Administration is taking consistent action to protect the vulnerable,” Verma said in a statement Monday. “While many nursing homes have performed well and demonstrated that it’s entirely possible to keep nursing homes patients safe, we are outlining new instructions for state survey agencies and enforcement actions for nursing homes that are not following federal safety requirements.”
At least 25,923 nursing home residents have died from coronavirus as of May 24 according to CMS, but those figures are likely to increase as only 80% of Medicare-regulated nursing homes have reported figures to the agency.
CMS’s figures are at least 14,000 deaths too low according to an NBC News tally that has tracked nearly 40,000 nursing home coronavirus deaths, which represents nearly 40% of all coronavirus deaths in the country.
New Jersey and New York lead the country in coronavirus deaths among nursing home residents, according to CMS’s figures.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has faced criticism for his March 25 order that nursing homes cannot deny admission to coronavirus patients, an order which critics say contributed to the state’s massive nursing home fatality rate.
Cuomo has has argued that his state’s directive was in line with a March 13 order from CMS that stated nursing homes “should admit any individuals they normally admit to their facility, including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 was/is present.”
Verma said last Wednesday that Cuomo was wrong to attempt to deflect blame for his order on the federal government.
“Under no circumstances should a hospital discharge a patient to a nursing home that’s not prepared to take care of those patients’s needs,” the CMS chief said on Fox News Radio. “The federal guidelines are absolutely clear about this.”
“Yes, the nursing homes will have COVID positive people … if they are prepared to handle the unique needs of that patient,” Verma said. “Anytime you discharge a patent from the hospital it is the responsibility of the hospital to make sure that the patient is safe when they discharge them.”
– – –
Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Texas National Guard Nursing Home Cleaning” by National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--George Floyd’s Brother Pleads for Peace

George Floyd’s Brother Pleads for Peace

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — George Floyd ’ s brother pleaded for peace in the streets Monday , saying destruction is “ not going to bring my brother back at all.
” Terrence Floyd ’ s emotional plea came as the United States braced for another night of violence in response to Floyd ’ s killing a week ago .
Chants of “ What ’ s his name ?
George Floyd !
” filled the air as a large crowd gathered at the spot where the black man who became the latest symbol of racial injustice in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer pressed his knee into his neck .
Wearing a face mask with Floyd ’ s image on it , his brother dropped to his knees at the storefront that has been turned into a memorial covered with flowers and signs .
As he kneeled silently , many who were around him joined him on the ground .
The memorial site was a space of calm compared to the devastation left in the wake of fires and violence that paralyzed the city for days last week before it spread nationwide .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I doubt y ’ all are half as upset as I am , ” said Terrence Floyd , who lives in New York .
“ So if I ’ m not over here blowing up stuff , if I ’ m not over here messing up my community , then what are y ’ all doing ?
What are y ’ all doing ?
Y ’ all doing nothing .
Because that ’ s not going to bring my brother back at all.
” George Floyd , 46 , died last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of using a forged $ 20 bill to pay for goods at a grocery store .
The white officer , Derek Chauvin , has been charged with murder .
Terrence Floyd took several minutes sitting in the spot where the officer pinned his brother , and he sobbed .
Addressing the crowd , he said he did not understand why the other three police officers who arrested Floyd and were fired with Chauvin have not been charged .
Still , he said , the Floyd family , which he described as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants calm protests at this time with hopes that justice will follow .
“ In every case of police brutality , the same thing has been happening .
Y ’ all protest , y ’ all destroy stuff .
… Let ’ s do this another way , ” he said , encouraging the crowd to vote and to educate themselves .
“ Let ’ s switch it up , y ’ all.
” In contrast to the peaceful message , President Donald Trump took a tough tone later in the day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mobilize “ thousands and thousands ” of U.S. soldiers if state governors don ’ t deploy the National Guard to “ dominate the streets ” and halt the protests .
As he spoke , tear gas canisters could be heard exploding just a block away as police and National Guard soldiers worked to force people protesting the death of Floyd back .
Before his death , George Floyd — like millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic — was out of work and looking for a new job .
He and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston around 2014 to find work and start a new life , his lifelong friend Christopher Harris has said .
But he was laid off when Minnesota shut down restaurants as part of a stay-at-home order .
“ My brother moved here from Houston .
He loved it here , ” Terrence Floyd said Monday .
“ So I know he would not want y ’ all to be doing this.
” He said he appreciates the show of support and love for his brother and their family .
Civil rights leader Rev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he brought Terrence Floyd , community members and others out to the memorial site in Minneapolis to urge calm .
“ We ’ re sending a message to people all over the country , ” he said .
“ Stop the looting and throw up the peace sign .
Don ’ t stop protesting , but throw up the peace sign.
” At the end of his remarks , Terrence Floyd led the crowd in more chants .
“ What ’ s his name ?
” he said .
Written by Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the AP ’ s Race and Ethnicity team .
About the Headline Photo : An emotional Terrence Floyd , second from right , is comforted as he touch the spot at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue , Minneapolis , Minn. , where his brother George Floyd , encountered police and died while in their custody , Monday , June 1 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews )

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AP) — George Floyd’s brother pleaded for peace in the streets Monday, saying destruction is “not going to bring my brother back at all.”
Terrence Floyd’s emotional plea came as the United States braced for another night of violence in response to Floyd’s killing a week ago.
Chants of “What’s his name? George Floyd!” filled the air as a large crowd gathered at the spot where the black man who became the latest symbol of racial injustice in America lay handcuffed and dying as a white police officer pressed his knee into his neck.
Wearing a face mask with Floyd’s image on it, his brother dropped to his knees at the storefront that has been turned into a memorial covered with flowers and signs. As he kneeled silently, many who were around him joined him on the ground.
The memorial site was a space of calm compared to the devastation left in the wake of fires and violence that paralyzed the city for days last week before it spread nationwide.
“I understand y’all are upset. I doubt y’all are half as upset as I am,” said Terrence Floyd, who lives in New York. “So if I’m not over here blowing up stuff, if I’m not over here messing up my community, then what are y’all doing? What are y’all doing? Y’all doing nothing. Because that’s not going to bring my brother back at all.”
George Floyd, 46, died last week after he was arrested in Minneapolis, accused of using a forged $20 bill to pay for goods at a grocery store. The white officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with murder.
Terrence Floyd took several minutes sitting in the spot where the officer pinned his brother, and he sobbed.
Addressing the crowd, he said he did not understand why the other three police officers who arrested Floyd and were fired with Chauvin have not been charged.
Still, he said, the Floyd family, which he described as “peaceful” and “God-fearing,” wants calm protests at this time with hopes that justice will follow.
“In every case of police brutality, the same thing has been happening. Y’all protest, y’all destroy stuff. … Let’s do this another way,” he said, encouraging the crowd to vote and to educate themselves. “Let’s switch it up, y’all.”
In contrast to the peaceful message, President Donald Trump took a tough tone later in the day in the White House Rose Garden, threatening to mobilize “thousands and thousands” of U.S. soldiers if state governors don’t deploy the National Guard to “dominate the streets” and halt the protests. As he spoke, tear gas canisters could be heard exploding just a block away as police and National Guard soldiers worked to force people protesting the death of Floyd back.
Before his death, George Floyd — like millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic — was out of work and looking for a new job.
He and some friends moved to Minneapolis from his native Houston around 2014 to find work and start a new life, his lifelong friend Christopher Harris has said. But he was laid off when Minnesota shut down restaurants as part of a stay-at-home order.
“My brother moved here from Houston. He loved it here,” Terrence Floyd said Monday. “So I know he would not want y’all to be doing this.”
He said he appreciates the show of support and love for his brother and their family.
Civil rights leader Rev. Kevin McCall of New York, said he brought Terrence Floyd, community members and others out to the memorial site in Minneapolis to urge calm.
“We’re sending a message to people all over the country,” he said. “Stop the looting and throw up the peace sign. Don’t stop protesting, but throw up the peace sign.”
At the end of his remarks, Terrence Floyd led the crowd in more chants.
“What’s his name?” he said.
“George Floyd!” the crowd answered back.
– – –
Written by Associated Press’ Aaron Morrison. Morrison is a member of the AP’s Race and Ethnicity team.
About the Headline Photo: An emotional Terrence Floyd, second from right, is comforted as he touch the spot at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn., where his brother George Floyd, encountered police and died while in their custody, Monday, June 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--George Floyd Had ‘Fentanyl Intoxication’ and ‘Recent Methamphetamine Use,’ Autopsy Shows

George Floyd had fentanyl in his system and had recently used methamphetamine before his death , which was ruled a homicide , according to a county medical examiner autopsy released Monday .
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ’ s autopsy report said Floyd experienced “ fentanyl intoxication ” and “ recent methamphetamine use ” were “ significant conditions ” leading to his death .
The report ultimately deemed his death a “ homicide ” due to law enforcement restraint and “ neck compression ” that contributed to a heart attack .
“ Decedent experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the report said .
Ruling the death a homicide is not proof of guilt , the medical examiner said .
“ Manner of death is not a legal determination of culpability or intent , and should not be used to usurp the judicial process , ” the press release said .
Demonstrations sprang up following Floyd ’ s death May 25 in Minneapolis , Minnesota .
Police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd ’ s neck for more than 8 minutes , a video of the incident showed .
Chauvin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were immediately fired after the incident , and Chauvin faces charges of manslaughter and 3rd degree murder .
Hennepin County ’ s medical examiner did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for clarification regarding the fentanyl and methamphetamine found in the toxicology report .
Results of the Hennepin County report came hours after Floyd ’ s family ’ s independent autopsy showed he died of a combination of asphyxia and underlying medical conditions , including hypertension and possible drug use .
The family ’ s autopsy was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former chief medical examiner of New York City who conducted the autopsy of Eric Garner , a black man who died when a NYPD officer used a chokehold during his arrest .
“ George died because he needed a breath , ” said Ben Crump , a lawyer representing Floyd ’ s family .
“ He needed a breath of air.
” Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ George Floyd ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Chris White
George Floyd had fentanyl in his system and had recently used methamphetamine before his death, which was ruled a homicide, according to a county medical examiner autopsy released Monday.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report said Floyd experienced “fentanyl intoxication” and “recent methamphetamine use” were “significant conditions” leading to his death. The report ultimately deemed his death a “homicide” due to law enforcement restraint and “neck compression” that contributed to a heart attack.
“Decedent experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s),” the report said.
Ruling the death a homicide is not proof of guilt, the medical examiner said. “Manner of death is not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process,” the press release said.
Demonstrations sprang up following Floyd’s death May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than 8 minutes, a video of the incident showed. Chauvin and three other police officers on the scene were immediately fired after the incident, and Chauvin faces charges of manslaughter and 3rd degree murder.
Hennepin County’s medical examiner did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for clarification regarding the fentanyl and methamphetamine found in the toxicology report.
Results of the Hennepin County report came hours after Floyd’s family’s independent autopsy showed he died of a combination of asphyxia and underlying medical conditions, including hypertension and possible drug use.
The family’s autopsy was conducted by Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner of New York City who conducted the autopsy of Eric Garner, a black man who died when a NYPD officer used a chokehold during his arrest.
“George died because he needed a breath,” said Ben Crump, a lawyer representing Floyd’s family. “He needed a breath of air.”
– – –
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “George Floyd” by Lorie Shaull. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Host Leahy and TN State Senator Roberts Discuss Mayor Cooper’s Pandering to the Left During Saturday

Host Leahy and TN State Senator Roberts Discuss Mayor Cooper’s Pandering to the Left During Saturday’s Protest

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist and Tennessee state Senator Kerry Roberts to the studio .
During the second hour , Leahy and Roberts discussed Saturday ’ s rally where Mayor Cooper sat and listened to local left-wing social justice warrior Justin Jones advocate for overcoming oppressors and de-funding the police department .
They noted that it was at that point Cooper should have left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by violence in downtown Nashville .
Leahy : We are joined in studio by our very good friend state Senator Kerry Roberts .
Good morning Kerry .
Leahy : Well .
What a week it ’ s been since you were last here .
Roberts : Yes .
And pretty unbelievable .
I was listening earlier talking about this thing in Nashville with Mayor Cooper attending .
What we ’ re you thinking Mayor ?
Roberts : All you had to do was take a look at the list of organizations that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed any of them or read any of their ideology , do you really want to be in the audience when a Justin Jones starts having conversations about disbanding the police force ?
Roberts : Well of course he did .
If you are paying attention that ’ s what he does you know ?
He ’ s receiving a high-quality education at Vanderbilt University in theology and of course , that ’ s what they teach people at Vanderbilt University in theology .
The only way to have a successful and orderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppressor ?
How did he say it ?
You overthrow the oppressor .
And are you willing to de-fund the police apartment ?
Leahy : By the way , this is Justin Jones who is kind of a caricature .
He ’ s just a dopey kid who ’ s looking for press .
He ’ s not the brightest bulb but he ’ s pretending to be Martin Luther King Jr. with a violent element to it right ?
Roberts : And he has the media on his side .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goodness gracious .
The way the media reports this guy in town .
Leahy : It ’ s ridiculous .
But you are quite right .
The Tennessee Star is the only media outlet in Tennessee that is accurately reporting the facts of what ’ s going on here .
The rest of them are kind of whitewashing it .
Roberts : When you hear that kind of rhetoric and if you are the mayor of a major metropolitan area , that ’ s when you get up and you leave .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was there yeah nodding his head .
The exact language from this left-wing kid Justin Jones .
He said you don ’ t just vote out your oppressor .
You overthrow them .
So the mayor is sitting in the audience right there and this kid is saying you overthrow them .
Roberts : And he ’ s asking , will you de-fund the police department ?
Disband or de-fund the police department ?
Leahy : Now the mayor had also invited every member of the city council to attend this rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a contention of people there who were violent thugs that would then go out and wreak havoc on downtown Nashville .
Roberts : Right .
Right .
Right .
Leahy : I mean how could you not see that ?
( Chuckles ) Roberts : Here ’ s the funny part about it .
In a pre-mask era , Mayor Cooper would be standing there with a fake smile on his face but at least he got to grit his teeth ( Chuckles ) because he had his mask covering his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting here thinking , why would you be there ?
Then you set yourself up .
This is the textbook definition of pandering .
This is pandering to the greatest extent .
Leahy : And weakness .
Weakness .
Manny Sethi called him cowardly .
That wouldn ’ t be the word that I would use .
I would say that he was just being weak .
He ’ s being like Neville Chamberlain and misreading there .
Manny Sethi called him cowardly and it ’ s one of our top stories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a problem with that .
( Leahy laughs ) What he said was , cowardly Democrat mayors like John Cooper .
He kind of lumped them all into that category .
Leahy : Bill DeBlasio yesterday said , “ Oh now it ’ s all nice and peaceful.
” And an hour later they were looting Macy ’ s in downtown Manhattan .
Roberts : And what bothers me about this media coverage is they are not differentiating protesters and thugs .
I mean people who want to protest , more power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause I ’ ll be right there with you .
But the moment it turns violent they are thugs , not protesters .
Leahy : They planned that to be violent .
Roberts : They are no longer protesting George Floyd .
Roberts : Yes , they are rioters .
What bothers me is when you look at the media coverage of this , I had my TV on last night for five minutes , and then I turned it off .
I don ’ t normally have it on at night and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to see how stuff at the capitol worked out last night .
And it ’ s the same thing .
Rioters are not protesting George Floyd .
Roberts : They are absolutely rioting .
It ’ s just ridiculous the whole thing .
Leahy : I think you are exactly right .
I look at the way the mainstream media or the Manchurian media reports it around the country and its all , oh , these peaceful protesters .
They are rioters folks .
I don ’ t know if you saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see about the Las Vegas story ?
Leahy : Came up from behind and shot him in the head .
He ’ s now on life support .
If you get shot in the head… Roberts : Multiple police officers across the country have been injured in these protests in a variety of ways .
There have been multiple shootings .
Leahy : So this is all about justice for George Floyd right ?
Leahy : It ’ s anarchy .
Now the other part of this is , so who do we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
All of the mainstream media except maybe FOX and even they are a little suspect in some of their reporting .
At least some of the way , like Chris Wallace .
Chris Wallace is just terrible .
A very much kind of an Antifa leaning kind of guy in his reporting at least from what I ’ ve seen .
Yes .
Chris Wallace .
That guy .
Roberts : Honestly , I don ’ t have cable .
And I barely get the Nashville stations .
I ’ ve sworn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t tell you that it ’ s that I ’ m even worse off for it .
Leahy : The Nashville stations here , I ’ m talking WKRN , WSMV , and News Channel 5 .
Their reporting on this , none of them have reported that Mayor Cooper before the rally on Saturday that then became immediately violent after it invited all 40 metro council members to attend .
None of them has reported that Steve Glover said , “ I ’ m not going , this is a bad idea.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ real bad idea .
Don ’ t do it .
It ’ s not going to end up well .
Carol Swain who is the former mayoral candidate had told Mayor Cooper before it , don ’ t do it .
You are doing the wrong thing .
What you should do mayor is hold a press conference with the police chief and get the national guard in there and say we are not going to tolerate violence .
You will be handled with overwhelming force .
Cooper didn ’ t do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roberts : They also didn ’ t report some of the crazy things that were said at the protest .
That bothers me too .
When you start reporting some of the , I ’ m going to call them the outlier speakers , the ones with crazy ideology , then you start losing a lot of people real quick .
But as long as it ’ s about George Floyd , oppression and racial oppression and things like that , people are very sympathetic .
But as soon as you start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , whoa .
These are the conspiracy theorists .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist and Tennessee state Senator Kerry Roberts to the studio.
During the second hour, Leahy and Roberts discussed Saturday’s rally where Mayor Cooper sat and listened to local left-wing social justice warrior Justin Jones advocate for overcoming oppressors and de-funding the police department. They noted that it was at that point Cooper should have left the rally but instead stayed and was followed by violence in downtown Nashville.
Leahy: We are joined in studio by our very good friend state Senator Kerry Roberts. Good morning Kerry.
Roberts: Good morning.
Leahy: Well?
Roberts: Well?
Leahy: Well. What a week it’s been since you were last here.
Roberts: Yes. And pretty unbelievable. I was listening earlier talking about this thing in Nashville with Mayor Cooper attending. What we’re you thinking Mayor?
Leahy: I mean really. (Laughs)
Roberts: All you had to do was take a look at the list of organizations that were sponsoring the thing and if you had followed any of them or read any of their ideology, do you really want to be in the audience when a Justin Jones starts having conversations about disbanding the police force?
Leahy: Apparently he did!
Roberts: Well of course he did. If you are paying attention that’s what he does you know? He’s receiving a high-quality education at Vanderbilt University in theology and of course, that’s what they teach people at Vanderbilt University in theology. The only way to have a successful and orderly society is to get rid of the oppressor? How did he say it? You overthrow the oppressor. And are you willing to de-fund the police apartment?
Leahy: By the way, this is Justin Jones who is kind of a caricature. He’s just a dopey kid who’s looking for press. He’s not the brightest bulb but he’s pretending to be Martin Luther King Jr. with a violent element to it right?
Roberts: And he has the media on his side. Let’s not forget.
Leahy: Oh goodness gracious. The way the media reports this guy in town.
Roberts: He walks on water.
Leahy: It’s ridiculous. But you are quite right. The Tennessee Star is the only media outlet in Tennessee that is accurately reporting the facts of what’s going on here. The rest of them are kind of whitewashing it.
Roberts: When you hear that kind of rhetoric and if you are the mayor of a major metropolitan area, that’s when you get up and you leave.
Leahy: But he didn’t! He was there yeah nodding his head. The exact language from this left-wing kid Justin Jones. He said you don’t just vote out your oppressor. You overthrow them. So the mayor is sitting in the audience right there and this kid is saying you overthrow them.
Roberts: And he’s asking, will you de-fund the police department? Disband or de-fund the police department?
Leahy: Now the mayor had also invited every member of the city council to attend this rally. It was entirely predictable that there would be a contention of people there who were violent thugs that would then go out and wreak havoc on downtown Nashville.
Roberts: Right. Right. Right.
Leahy: I mean how could you not see that? (Chuckles)
Roberts: Here’s the funny part about it. In a pre-mask era, Mayor Cooper would be standing there with a fake smile on his face but at least he got to grit his teeth (Chuckles) because he had his mask covering his facial expressions. I’m just sitting here thinking, why would you be there? Then you set yourself up. This is the textbook definition of pandering. This is pandering to the greatest extent.
Leahy: And weakness. Weakness. Manny Sethi called him cowardly. That wouldn’t be the word that I would use. I would say that he was just being weak. He’s being like Neville Chamberlain and misreading there. Manny Sethi called him cowardly and it’s one of our top stories.
Roberts: I don’t have a problem with that. (Leahy laughs) What he said was, cowardly Democrat mayors like John Cooper. He kind of lumped them all into that category.
Leahy: Bill DeBlasio yesterday said, “Oh now it’s all nice and peaceful.” And an hour later they were looting Macy’s in downtown Manhattan.
Roberts: And what bothers me about this media coverage is they are not differentiating protesters and thugs. I mean people who want to protest, more power to you. And if I believe your cause I’ll be right there with you. But the moment it turns violent they are thugs, not protesters.
Leahy: They planned that to be violent.
Roberts: They are no longer protesting George Floyd.
Leahy: They are rioters.
Roberts: Yes, they are rioters. What bothers me is when you look at the media coverage of this, I had my TV on last night for five minutes, and then I turned it off. I don’t normally have it on at night and it was a mistake. But I wanted to see how stuff at the capitol worked out last night. And it’s the same thing. Rioters are not protesting George Floyd.
Leahy: They are rioting.
Roberts: They are absolutely rioting. It’s just ridiculous the whole thing.
Leahy: I think you are exactly right. I look at the way the mainstream media or the Manchurian media reports it around the country and its all, oh, these peaceful protesters. They are rioters folks. I don’t know if you saw this in Las Vegas. Did you see about the Las Vegas story?
Roberts: No.
Leahy: A protester literally shot a police officer in the head.
Roberts: Amazing.
Leahy: Came up from behind and shot him in the head. He’s now on life support. If you get shot in the head…
Roberts: Multiple police officers across the country have been injured in these protests in a variety of ways. There have been multiple shootings.
Leahy: So this is all about justice for George Floyd right?
Roberts: It’s anarchy. No.
Leahy: It’s anarchy. Now the other part of this is, so who do we have kind of promoting these false narratives? All of the mainstream media except maybe FOX and even they are a little suspect in some of their reporting. At least some of the way, like Chris Wallace. Chris Wallace is just terrible. A very much kind of an Antifa leaning kind of guy in his reporting at least from what I’ve seen. Yes. Chris Wallace. That guy.
Roberts: Honestly, I don’t have cable. And I barely get the Nashville stations. I’ve sworn off the TV. I can’t tell you that it’s that I’m even worse off for it.
Leahy: The Nashville stations here, I’m talking WKRN, WSMV, and News Channel 5. Their reporting on this, none of them have reported that Mayor Cooper before the rally on Saturday that then became immediately violent after it invited all 40 metro council members to attend. None of them has reported that Steve Glover said, “I’m not going, this is a bad idea.”
Sharon Hurt council member, mayor real bad idea. Don’t do it. It’s not going to end up well. Carol Swain who is the former mayoral candidate had told Mayor Cooper before it, don’t do it. You are doing the wrong thing. What you should do mayor is hold a press conference with the police chief and get the national guard in there and say we are not going to tolerate violence. You will be handled with overwhelming force. Cooper didn’t do that. And guess what? Nashville burned.
Roberts: They also didn’t report some of the crazy things that were said at the protest. That bothers me too. When you start reporting some of the, I’m going to call them the outlier speakers, the ones with crazy ideology, then you start losing a lot of people real quick. But as long as it’s about George Floyd, oppression and racial oppression and things like that, people are very sympathetic. But as soon as you start reporting some of the crazy stuff they said, whoa. These are the conspiracy theorists.
Listen to the full second hour here:

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Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
Photo “John Cooper” by John Cooper.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Rudy Giuliani Says Mayor Frey, Other ‘Progressive Democrats’ Should Resign for Handling of Riots

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to resign for failing to protect his citizens from a week of riots that left portions of his city in ruins .
In a Friday interview with Fox News , Giuliani said “ progressive Democrats are incapable of keeping their people safe because they have criminal-friendly policies that are pathetic.
” “ Watch the cities that start burning .
They are all going to be run by so-called progressive , idiot Democrats who let criminals out of jail , who set bail for murderers and who encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a police precinct , the mayor should resign , ” he said .
“ Telling police officers to flee a precinct , he should resign and be replaced by somebody who can protect his people , ” he continued , criticizing Mayor Frey ’ s controversial decision to give up the Minneapolis Police Department ’ s Third Precinct , which was heavily damaged by fire .
Giuliani also called on Gov .
Tim Walz to resign , since it took him “ four days to protect his people.
” “ One man has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to die before somebody decides to protect the people of Minnesota , Minneapolis , the people of Atlanta , the people of New York ?
” he said .
“ There is no one who feels more strongly about the killing of Mr. Floyd than I do .
I think it ’ s outrageous what happened.
” In a Monday interview , Giuliani suggested that the former Minneapolis police officer at the center of the case , Derek Chauvin , should be charged with first-degree murder because he was warned at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing ” Floyd .
Giuliani , who now serves as an attorney for President Donald Trump , has continued to criticize mayors of major cities for their response to the riots that are sweeping the nation .
On Monday , he called on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to step down and asked Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to remove him .
“ Again today lawlessness reigned supreme .
The police hardly interfered , ” Giuliani said on Twitter Monday night .
“ All of this shows just how dangerous the progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their impracticality and desire to pander makes it impossible for them to take action necessary to protect us.
” He again cited Frey ’ s decision to abandon the police precinct in a Monday tweet , saying it is “ obvious that these mayors are incapable of protecting their citizens.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Rudy Giuliani ” by Fox News .

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to resign for failing to protect his citizens from a week of riots that left portions of his city in ruins.
In a Friday interview with Fox News, Giuliani said “progressive Democrats are incapable of keeping their people safe because they have criminal-friendly policies that are pathetic.”
“Watch the cities that start burning. They are all going to be run by so-called progressive, idiot Democrats who let criminals out of jail, who set bail for murderers and who encourage this kind of thing. Giving up a police precinct, the mayor should resign,” he said.
“Telling police officers to flee a precinct, he should resign and be replaced by somebody who can protect his people,” he continued, criticizing Mayor Frey’s controversial decision to give up the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct, which was heavily damaged by fire.
Giuliani also called on Gov. Tim Walz to resign, since it took him “four days to protect his people.”
“One man has died already. How many more are going to die before somebody decides to protect the people of Minnesota, Minneapolis, the people of Atlanta, the people of New York?” he said. “There is no one who feels more strongly about the killing of Mr. Floyd than I do. I think it’s outrageous what happened.”
In a Monday interview, Giuliani suggested that the former Minneapolis police officer at the center of the case, Derek Chauvin, should be charged with first-degree murder because he was warned at least five times that “he might be killing” Floyd.
Giuliani, who now serves as an attorney for President Donald Trump, has continued to criticize mayors of major cities for their response to the riots that are sweeping the nation. On Monday, he called on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to step down and asked Gov. Andrew Cuomo to remove him.
Mayor de Blasio needs to step down. He is incompetent. We are losing a tremendous amount of property. We are seeing people damaged and hurt. Pretty soon, we're going to lose lives if this man doesn't get out of the way and let someone activate the police department! — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) June 2, 2020
“Again today lawlessness reigned supreme. The police hardly interfered,” Giuliani said on Twitter Monday night. “All of this shows just how dangerous the progressive Democrats are as mayors and governors. Their impracticality and desire to pander makes it impossible for them to take action necessary to protect us.”
Again today lawlessness reigned supreme.The police hardly interfered. All of this shows just how dangerous the Progressive Democrats are as Mayors and Governors. Their impracticality and desire to pander makes it impossible for them to take action necessary to protect us. — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) June 2, 2020
He again cited Frey’s decision to abandon the police precinct in a Monday tweet, saying it is “obvious that these mayors are incapable of protecting their citizens.”
Now with 7 days of Mob rule of cities with mostly DEMOCRAT MAYORS, it is obvious that these Mayors are incapable of protecting their citizens. They enable the rioters by abandoning police precincts for burning and ordering police to stand down and be assaulted without arrest. — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) June 1, 2020
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rudy Giuliani” by Fox News.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-03--Charges: Illinois Man Traveled to Minneapolis to Riot

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — An Illinois man who allegedly traveled to Minneapolis to participate in riots after the death of George Floyd has been arrested and charged with federal counts , after prosecutors say videos posted to his Facebook page showed him handing out explosives and damaging property .
Matthew Lee Rupert , 28 , of Galesburg , Illinois , was arrested in Chicago and charged Monday by criminal complaint with three counts , including civil disorder , carrying on a riot and possession of unregistered destructive devices .
According to an FBI affidavit , Rupert posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week that show him in Minneapolis .
In one video , he is seen handing out explosive devices to others and encouraging them to throw them at law enforcement .
He ’ s also shown damaging property and attempting to light a business on fire .
In that video , Rupert says : “ We come to riot , boy !
This is what we came for !
” Floyd , a black man , died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t breathe .
The arrest was recorded by a bystander and viewed widely .
Floyd ’ s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and around the country , some of which became violent .
A medical examiner said Monday that Floyd ’ s heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck .
The charges against Rupert come as civic leaders nationwide have frequently blamed outsiders for bringing trouble into their communities .
In Minnesota , Gov .
Tim Walz made the assertion in the early days of protests that outsiders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He later backed away from that , and arrest data so far have showed most people taken into custody were from Minnesota .
But authorities have also said they have made arrests involving people with equipment , including incendiary devices , that could be used to burn and damage .
Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said authorities in the Minneapolis area had stopped cars without license plates , driving without lights , then found such material inside .
Harrington said Monday he had at least two confirmed incidents and was working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says that on Thursday , Rupert posted references to the protests in Minneapolis on his Facebook page , and later that night he said he was heading there .
By Friday , he was posting videos of himself in Minneapolis .
One video lasts more than two hours .
In it , Rupert references SWAT vehicles and says , “ I ’ ve got some bombs if some of you all want to throw them back … bomb them back … here I got some more … light it and throw it.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hands out an item with a brown casing and a green wick .
Shortly after one person throws a device , an explosion can be heard in the background .
In that same video , he is seen entering a boarded up liquor store , then asking for lighter fluid and entering a Sprint store which he says he lit on fire .
He is then seen entering and stealing from an Office Depot , according to the affidavit .
The FBI affidavit says that on Saturday , Rupert posted on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago , and that he would “ loot ” there .
Early Sunday morning , he posted more videos of himself in and around Chicago .
In one video , he talks about starting a “ riot ” and causing damage .
He was arrested early Sunday by Chicago police for violating an emergency curfew in the city .
Officers found several destructive devices , a hammer , a heavy-duty flashlight and cash in his vehicle , according to the affidavit .
Rupert appeared in federal court in Chicago for a hearing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges .
It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney to comment on his behalf .

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AP) — An Illinois man who allegedly traveled to Minneapolis to participate in riots after the death of George Floyd has been arrested and charged with federal counts, after prosecutors say videos posted to his Facebook page showed him handing out explosives and damaging property.
Matthew Lee Rupert, 28, of Galesburg, Illinois, was arrested in Chicago and charged Monday by criminal complaint with three counts, including civil disorder, carrying on a riot and possession of unregistered destructive devices.
According to an FBI affidavit, Rupert posted self-recorded videos on his Facebook page last week that show him in Minneapolis. In one video, he is seen handing out explosive devices to others and encouraging them to throw them at law enforcement. He’s also shown damaging property and attempting to light a business on fire. In that video, Rupert says: “We come to riot, boy! This is what we came for!”
Floyd, a black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck while Floyd was handcuffed and saying that he couldn’t breathe. The arrest was recorded by a bystander and viewed widely. Floyd’s death sparked protests in Minneapolis and around the country, some of which became violent.
A medical examiner said Monday that Floyd’s heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck.
The charges against Rupert come as civic leaders nationwide have frequently blamed outsiders for bringing trouble into their communities. In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz made the assertion in the early days of protests that outsiders were responsible for most of the violence. He later backed away from that, and arrest data so far have showed most people taken into custody were from Minnesota.
But authorities have also said they have made arrests involving people with equipment, including incendiary devices, that could be used to burn and damage. Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said authorities in the Minneapolis area had stopped cars without license plates, driving without lights, then found such material inside. Harrington said Monday he had at least two confirmed incidents and was working to verify other reports.
The FBI affidavit says that on Thursday, Rupert posted references to the protests in Minneapolis on his Facebook page, and later that night he said he was heading there. By Friday, he was posting videos of himself in Minneapolis.
One video lasts more than two hours. In it, Rupert references SWAT vehicles and says, “I’ve got some bombs if some of you all want to throw them back … bomb them back … here I got some more … light it and throw it.” As he is making the comments, he hands out an item with a brown casing and a green wick. Shortly after one person throws a device, an explosion can be heard in the background.
In that same video, he is seen entering a boarded up liquor store, then asking for lighter fluid and entering a Sprint store which he says he lit on fire. He is then seen entering and stealing from an Office Depot, according to the affidavit.
The FBI affidavit says that on Saturday, Rupert posted on his Facebook page that he was headed to Chicago, and that he would “loot” there. Early Sunday morning, he posted more videos of himself in and around Chicago. In one video, he talks about starting a “riot” and causing damage.
He was arrested early Sunday by Chicago police for violating an emergency curfew in the city. Officers found several destructive devices, a hammer, a heavy-duty flashlight and cash in his vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Rupert appeared in federal court in Chicago for a hearing to have him moved to Minnesota to face charges. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney to comment on his behalf.
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Written by Associated Press’ Amy Forliti.