theguardian--2020-06-08--Minneapolis lawmakers vow to disband police department in historic move

The Minneapolis city council has pledged to disband the city ’ s police department and replace it with a new system of public safety , a historic move that comes as calls to defund law enforcement are sweeping the US .
Speaking at a community rally on Sunday , a veto-proof majority of councilmembers declared their intent to “ dismantle ” and “ abolish ” the embattled police agency responsible for George Floyd ’ s death – and build an alternative model of community-led safety .
The decision is a direct response to the massive protests that have taken over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and is a major victory for abolitionist activists who have long fought to disband police and prisons .
“ In Minneapolis and in cities across the US , it is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe , ” said Lisa Bender , the Minneapolis city council president , at the event .
“ Our efforts at incremental reform have failed , period .
Our commitment is to do what ’ s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing that .
Our commitment is to end policing as we know it and to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.
” Nine councilmembers announced their support and represent a supermajority on the twelve-person council , meaning the mayor , who earlier this weekend opposed disbanding the department , can not override them .
The remaining three councilmembers are broadly supportive of the effort as well , but weren ’ t ready to sign on , activists said .
While the mayor has oversight over the police , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and policy , and could work to dismantle the department through cuts and ordinances .
The formal effort to abolish a major-city police department in America and replace it with a different model of safety would have been unthinkable even weeks ago and is a testament to the impact of the protests that began with Floyd ’ s death on 25 May .
The unarmed 46-year-old was killed by Minneapolis police when an officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes as he pleaded for him to stop .
Four officers now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moment that ’ s going to go down in history as a landmark in the police and prison abolition movement , ” said Tony Williams , a member of MPD150 , a Minneapolis group whose literature on building a “ police-free future ” has been widely shared during the protests .
“ There ’ s a groundswell of support for this .
People are grounded in the history of policing in a way that has never happened before .
It ’ s visible that police are not able to create safety for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face opposition from law enforcement officials and the police union , though activists emphasize that the veto-proof majority has the authority to move forward regardless of opposition .
“ It ’ s pretty clear the political will is here , and they can ’ t stop it , ” said Williams , noting that even if police officers opposed the move , a vast majority of them live outside of Minneapolis and can ’ t vote on their elected leaders .
Spokespeople for the Minneapolis mayor did not immediately respond to inquiries Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After Minneapolis ’ mayor , Jacob Frey , wouldn ’ t commit to abolishing the police at a demonstration on Saturday , protesters shouted , “ Go home , Jacob !
” and “ Shame !
” until he left .
Minneapolis is also home to a powerful union leader who has aggressively resisted any reforms to the department despite the agency ’ s history of racial abuse .
Lawmakers and advocates across the US will likely be closely watching what happens next in Minneapolis .
It ’ s unclear how quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transition could look like .
Supporters are pushing for the council to start with taking money away from the police budget and investing in other government departments , social services and programs , while launching a community process for creating alternative systems .
An alternative safety model , advocates say , can start with finding “ non-police solutions to the problems poor people face ” , such as counselors responding to mental health calls and addiction experts responding to drug abuse .
Like many US municipalities , Minneapolis was already facing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and defunding police could help address some of those gaps .
There are a handful of examples of governments disbanding troubled local police agencies in the US over the years , though the authorities have had other regional law enforcement entities take over policing .
While the effort in Minneapolis is the most radical , a number of other US mayors and local leaders have reversed their positions on police funding .
The mayor of Los Angeles said he would look to cut as much as $ 150m from the police this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward a city budget that was increasing it by 7 % .
Following days of protests and widespread accounts of police misconduct in New York City , mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday that some funding would be moved from the police to “ youth initiatives and social services ” .
Some councilmembers and others , however , have been pushing for a $ 1bn divestment from the NYPD .
“ The details will be worked out in the budget process in the weeks ahead , but I want people to understand that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that the focus is on our young people , ” de Blasio said .
“ And I also will affirm while doing that , we will only do it in a way that we are certain continues to ensure that this city will be safe.
” De Blasio also announced that enforcement of regulations involving street vendors – many of whom are persons of color and , or immigrants – should not be handled by police .
“ Civilian agencies can work on proper enforcement and that ’ s what we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In Philadelphia , Baltimore , Washington DC , San Francisco and other cities , local policymakers have expressed support for some form of defunding or opposing police budget increases in the last week .
For years , abolitionist groups have advocated for governments to take money away from police and prisons and reinvesting the funds in other services .
The basic principle is that government budgets and “ public safety ” spending should prioritize housing , employment , community health , education and other vital programs , instead of police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police reform efforts have been unsuccessful , noting that de-escalation training , body cameras and other moves have not stopped racist brutality and killings .
Police in America kill more people in days than many other countries do in years .
Amid the current protests , abolitionist groups have put forward concrete steps toward dismantling police and prisons , arguing that defunding police is the first move , and that cities need to remove police from schools , repeal laws that “ criminalize survival ” such as anti-homelessness policies , provide safe housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public school systems , museums and other institutions have also increasingly announced plans to divest from police .
The Minneapolis announcement could inspire other cities to follow , Williams said : “ I do believe we are on the precipice of a major global shift .
I ’ m really hopeful in this moment .
”

The Minneapolis city council has pledged to disband the city’s police department and replace it with a new system of public safety, a historic move that comes as calls to defund law enforcement are sweeping the US.
Speaking at a community rally on Sunday, a veto-proof majority of council members declared their intent to “dismantle” and “abolish” the embattled police agency responsible for George Floyd’s death – and build an alternative model of community-led safety. The decision is a direct response to the massive protests that have taken over American cities in the last two weeks, and is a major victory for abolitionist activists who have long fought to disband police and prisons.
“In Minneapolis and in cities across the US, it is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe,” said Lisa Bender, the Minneapolis city council president, at the event. “Our efforts at incremental reform have failed, period. Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth: that the Minneapolis police are not doing that. Our commitment is to end policing as we know it and to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.”
Nine council members announced their support and represent a supermajority on the 12-person council, meaning the mayor, who earlier this weekend opposed disbanding the department, cannot override them. The remaining three council members are broadly supportive of the effort as well, but were not ready to sign on, activists said. While the mayor has oversight over the police, the city council has authority over the budget and policy, and could work to dismantle the department through cuts and ordinances.
The formal effort to abolish a major-city police department in America and replace it with a different model of safety would have been almost unthinkable even weeks ago and is a testament to the impact of the protests that began with Floyd’s death on 25 May. The unarmed 46-year-old was killed by Minneapolis police when an officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes as he pleaded for him to stop. Four officers now face criminal charges.
Alondra Cano, a city council member, speaks at Powderhorn Park on Sunday. Photograph: Jerry Holt/AP
“This is a moment that’s going to go down in history as a landmark in the police and prison abolition movement,” said Tony Williams, a member of MPD150, a Minneapolis group whose literature on building a “police-free future” has been widely shared during the protests. “There’s a groundswell of support for this. People are grounded in the history of policing in a way that has never happened before. It’s visible that police are not able to create safety for communities.”
The council members are expected to face opposition from law enforcement officials and the police union, though activists emphasize that the veto-proof majority has the authority to move forward regardless of opposition.
“It’s pretty clear the political will is here, and they can’t stop it,” said Williams, noting that even if police officers opposed the move, a vast majority of them live outside Minneapolis and cannot vote on their elected leaders.
President Donald Trump tweeted his apparent opposition to the Minneapolis move on Monday morning: “LAW & ORDER, NOT DEFUND AND ABOLISH THE POLICE. The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy!”
Spokespeople for the Minneapolis mayor did not immediately respond to inquiries on Sunday. The police department declined to comment.
After Minneapolis’s mayor, Jacob Frey, would not commit to abolishing the police at a demonstration on Saturday, protesters shouted, “Go home, Jacob!” and “Shame!” until he left. Minneapolis is also home to a powerful union leader who has aggressively resisted any reforms to the department despite the agency’s history of racial abuse.
00:43 'Shame!': Minneapolis mayor heckled by protesters – video
Lawmakers and advocates across the US will probably be closely watching what happens next in Minneapolis. It is unclear how quickly this process could move, and what the transition could look like. Supporters are pushing for the council to start with taking money away from the police budget and investing in other government departments, social services and programs, while launching a community process for creating alternative systems.
An alternative safety model, advocates say, can start with finding “non-police solutions to the problems poor people face”, such as counselors responding to mental health calls and addiction experts responding to drug abuse.
Like many US municipalities, Minneapolis was already facing a budget shortfall due to the Covid-19 crisis, and defunding police could help address some of those gaps. There are a handful of examples of governments disbanding troubled local police agencies in the US over the years, though the authorities have had other regional law enforcement entities take over policing.
Police reforms around the country
While the effort in Minneapolis is the most radical, a number of other US mayors and local leaders have reversed their positions on police funding. The mayor of Los Angeles said he would look to cut as much as $150m from the police this week, just days after he pushed forward a city budget that was increasing it by 7%.
Following days of protests and widespread accounts of police misconduct in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday that some funding would be moved from the police to “youth initiatives and social services”. Some council members and others, however, have been pushing for a $1bn divestment from the NYPD.
Demonstrators march against racism and police brutality in Minneapolis. Photograph: Kerem Yucel/AFP/Getty Images
“The details will be worked out in the budget process in the weeks ahead, but I want people to understand that we are committed to shifting resources to ensure that the focus is on our young people,” De Blasio said. “And I also will affirm while doing that, we will only do it in a way that we are certain continues to ensure that this city will be safe.”
De Blasio also announced that enforcement of regulations involving street vendors – many of whom are persons of color and, or immigrants – should not be handled by police. “Civilian agencies can work on proper enforcement and that’s what we’ll do going forward,” he said.
In Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, San Francisco and other cities, local policymakers have expressed support for some form of defunding or opposing police budget increases in the last week.
For years, abolitionist groups have advocated for governments to take money away from police and prisons and reinvesting the funds in other services. The basic principle is that government budgets and “public safety” spending should prioritize housing, employment, community health, education and other vital programs, instead of police officers.
Advocates for defunding argue that recent police reform efforts have been unsuccessful, noting that de-escalation training, body cameras and other moves have not stopped racist brutality and killings. Police in America kill more people in days than many other countries do in years.
Amid the current protests, abolitionist groups have put forward concrete steps toward dismantling police and prisons, arguing that defunding police is the first move, and that cities need to remove police from schools, repeal laws that “criminalize survival” such as anti-homelessness policies, provide safe housing for people and more. Colleges, public school systems, museums and other institutions have also increasingly announced plans to divest from police.
The Minneapolis announcement could inspire other cities to follow, Williams said: “I do believe we are on the precipice of a major global shift. I’m really hopeful in this moment.”
Victoria Bekiempis contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-06-09--Trump and Republicans use calls to 'defund the police' to attack Democrats

Donald Trump is “ appalled ” by calls to “ defund the police ” .
The Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , called the suggestion “ outlandish ” .
And the House minority leader , Kevin McCarthy , promised police officers : “ Republicans will never turn our backs on you ” , in a major Republican pushback against such radical changes .
Calls to reform , defund and abolish the police have been embraced by protesters and activists amid a national upheaval in response to the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Trump and his Republican allies are seizing on the movement , weaponizing the rallying cry in order to attack Democrats and the party ’ s nominee , Joe Biden .
“ The president is appalled by the ‘ defund the police ’ movement , ” the White House press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany , said on Monday , comparing it to past calls to abolish the government agency known as Ice , US Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
“ It ’ s remarkable to hear this coming from today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declining to say whether the president supported any specific policing reforms .
The effort to turn the national debate over racism and policing so that it works against Democrats comes as Trump continues to fall behind Biden in key battleground states , according to several recent polls , amid his incendiary response to the mass protests against police brutality and his widely criticized handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
In fact , few prominent Democrats have embraced calls to defund the police .
On Monday , Biden distanced himself from the slogan while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and criminal justice .
Biden “ does not believe that police should be defunded ” , the campaign spokesman , Andrew Bates , said in a statement .
“ He hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change ” , and “ supports the urgent need for reform.
” Bates said Biden , who on Monday met privately with the family of George Floyd in Houston , believes that coupling additional funding for “ public schools , summer programs , and mental health and substance abuse treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to improved outcomes .
In stark contrast , Trump has implored law enforcement to “ dominate ” the streets where Americans were marching en masse against police brutality and racism .
“ We won ’ t be defunding our police , ” Trump said at a roundtable with law enforcement officials at the White House on Monday .
“ There won ’ t be dismantling of our police .
There ’ s not going to be any disbanding of our police.
” He conceded that the nation had witnessed “ some horrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers , but suggested that “ 99 % ” of them are “ great , great people ” who have “ done jobs that are record setting ” .
Yet many supporters of the campaign to defund the police say it isn ’ t necessarily about dismantling police departments or stripping them entirely of funding .
Rather they say it is an effort to address systemic problems in policing by radically re-prioritizing community budgets to divert funding from law enforcement to programs related to mental health , poverty and education .
And their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , a veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to dismantle the city ’ s police department , promising to replace it with a new community-based system of public safety .
Meanwhile , several major cities , including Los Angeles and New York , are already considering changes to their policing budgets while others are considering policy changes .
Democrats on Monday forged ahead with a suite of new policy proposals to reform policing , called the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 .
The plan would make it easier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizen ’ s civil rights , limit the transfer of military weaponry to state and local departments and put pressure on the justice department to address racial profiling and systemic racial bias in policing .
Though the legislation has galvanized Democrats , it remains unclear if congressional Republicans will join the effort , particularly in the Senate .
“ We ’ re already seeing outlandish calls , defund the police .
Abolish the police , ” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor Monday that did not address the Democrats ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want a police officer to arrest a criminal before you try to work through his feelings .
”

Donald Trump is “appalled” by calls to “defund the police”. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, called the suggestion “outlandish”. And the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, promised police officers “Republicans will never turn our backs on you”, unveiling a new line of attack ahead of the November elections.
Calls to reform, defund and abolish the police have been embraced by protesters and activists amid a national upheaval in response to the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, both of whom were African American. But Trump, his re-election campaign and his Republican allies are seizing on the movement in an effort to weaponize the rallying cry against Democrats and the party’s nominee, Joe Biden.
“The president is appalled by the ‘defund the police’ movement,” the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said on Monday. She compared it to past calls to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) ahead of the 2018 congressional midterms, which resulted in Democrats regaining control of the House.
“It’s remarkable to hear this coming from today’s Democrat party,” she continued, declining to say whether the president supported any specific policing reforms.
The effort to turn the national debate over racism and policing so that it works against Democrats comes as Trump continues to fall behind Biden in key battleground states, according to several recent polls, amid his incendiary response to the mass protests against police brutality and his widely criticized handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Though Democrats have vowed to curb the powers of the police, few support defunding police departments. On Monday, Biden distanced himself from the slogan while embracing the growing activism around reforms in policing and criminal justice.
Biden “hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change” and “supports the urgent need for reform”, a campaign spokesman, Andrew Bates, said in a statement on Monday. But he stated bluntly that Biden “does not believe that police should be defunded”.
Bates said the former vice president, who on Monday met privately with the family of George Floyd in Houston, believes that coupling additional funding for “public schools, summer programs, and mental health and substance abuse treatment” with support for police departments would lead to improved outcomes.
In stark contrast, Trump has implored law enforcement to “dominate” the streets where Americans were marching en masse against police brutality and racism.
“LAW & ORDER, NOT DEFUND AND ABOLISH THE POLICE,” Trump tweeted on Monday. “The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy!”
Later, at a roundtable with law enforcement officials at the White House, Trump declared: “We won’t be defunding our police. There won’t be dismantling of our police. There’s not going to be any disbanding of our police.”
He conceded that the nation had witnessed “some horrible things” at the hands of police officers but insisted that virtually all – “let’s go with 99%” – of them are “great, great people.”
Republicans sense an opportunity to portray Democrats as extremists eager to disband police departments, while driving a wedge between energized protesters and elected officials advocating for more incremental change.
Yet many supporters of the campaign to defund the police say it isn’t necessarily about dismantling police departments or stripping them entirely of funding. Rather they say it is an effort to address systemic problems in policing by radically re-prioritizing community budgets to divert funding from law enforcement to programs related to mental health, poverty and education.
And as protests continue to swell in cities across the country, their political influence was apparent. On Sunday, a veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to dismantle the city’s police department, promising to replace it with a new community-based system of public safety. Meanwhile, several major cities, including Los Angeles and New York, are already considering changes to their policing budgets while others are considering policy changes.
Democrats on Monday forged ahead with a far-reaching plan to overhaul policing in America, called the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The plan would make it easier to prosecute police misconduct when officers violate a citizen’s civil rights, limit the transfer of military weaponry to state and local departments and put pressure on the justice department to address racial profiling and systemic racial bias in policing.
Though the legislation has galvanized Democrats, it remains unclear if congressional Republicans will join the effort, particularly in the Senate.
“We’re already seeing outlandish calls, defund the police. Abolish the police,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor Monday that did not address the Democrats’ proposal. “I think you may want a police officer to arrest a criminal before you try to work through his feelings.”


theguardian--2020-06-08--Trump plans to resume election rallies despite warnings over large crowds

Donald Trump plans to start holding campaign rallies in person again in the next two weeks , despite the coronavirus pandemic continuing in the US and experts warning about the public health dangers of crowding at events .
The president has not held an election rally since 2 March in Charlotte , North Carolina , as cases of coronavirus in the US began to increase .
Trump ’ s campaign advisers are still determining where the rallies will take place and what safety measures will be implemented , depending on the type of venue chosen , Politico reported on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to present Trump with possibilities within the next few days .
Aides describe Trump as champing at the bit to get out and start campaigning again ahead of the 3 November US presidential election .
An official , confirming Politico ’ s report , said safety measures for attendees were still being worked out .
In a statement , Parscale predicted Trump rallies will surpass those of his Democrat rival for the White House , Joe Biden , whose campaigning has also been sharply curtailed due to the virus in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president in several recent polls .
Trump is under pressure to reverse his tumbling prospects for re-election , and is counting on a rebound in the US economy , which was rocked by the global pandemic .
He also is grappling with mass protests that erupted after George Floyd died on 25 May after a white police officer knelt on his neck .
Experts have warned of the risks of protesters contracting Covid-19 , as social distancing has often fallen by the wayside during demonstrations and marches , as well as police and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is a lower risk of spreading the virus person to person outdoors , and there is no word yet on whether Trump will resume rallies at indoor or outdoor venues .
Trump has already sparked a row over his assertion that he will seek a new state to host this summer ’ s Republican national convention after North Carolina refused to guarantee the event could be held in Charlotte without size restrictions because of ongoing concerns over the pandemic .
The president has lobbied for a full-scale convention without face coverings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has already veered into electioneering during recent work trips and during previous coronavirus briefings and now wants to get back on the road as a candidate .

Donald Trump plans to start holding campaign rallies in person again in the next two weeks, despite the coronavirus pandemic continuing in the US and experts warning about the public health dangers of crowding at events.
The president has not held an election rally since 2 March in Charlotte, North Carolina, as cases of coronavirus in the US began to increase.
Trump’s campaign advisers are still determining where the rallies will take place and what safety measures will be implemented, depending on the type of venue chosen, Politico reported on Monday, adding that campaign manager Brad Parscale is expected to present Trump with possibilities within the next few days.
Aides describe Trump as champing at the bit to get out and start campaigning again ahead of the 3 November US presidential election.
An official, confirming Politico’s report, said safety measures for attendees were still being worked out.
In a statement, Parscale predicted Trump rallies will surpass those of his Democrat rival for the White House, Joe Biden, whose campaigning has also been sharply curtailed due to the virus in recent months, but who is leading the president in several recent polls.
Trump is under pressure to reverse his tumbling prospects for re-election, and is counting on a rebound in the US economy, which was rocked by the global pandemic.
He also is grappling with mass protests that erupted after George Floyd died on 25 May after a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Experts have warned of the risks of protesters contracting Covid-19, as social distancing has often fallen by the wayside during demonstrations and marches, as well as police and demonstrators often being seen not wearing masks.
There is a lower risk of spreading the virus person to person outdoors, and there is no word yet on whether Trump will resume rallies at indoor or outdoor venues.
In many ways, Pres Trump engaged in campaign rally rhetoric during speeches to workers he addressed recently in AZ, PA, MI, @NASA and ME. Even used his campaign rally music at start and finish of his speeches. — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 8, 2020
Trump has already sparked a row over his assertion that he will seek a new state to host this summer’s Republican national convention after North Carolina refused to guarantee the event could be held in Charlotte without size restrictions because of ongoing concerns over the pandemic.
The president has lobbied for a full-scale convention without face coverings, despite the threat of the virus.
Trump has already veered into electioneering during recent work trips and during previous coronavirus briefings and now wants to get back on the road as a candidate.


theguardian--2020-06-08--Democrats unveil ambitious plan for police reform: 'This is a first step'

Democrats in Congress have unveiled a sweeping new set of proposals aimed at reforming policing and transforming law enforcement across the country .
The new legislation , called the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 , comes during ongoing mass protests across the country in response to the death of George Floyd while under police custody , and is the most ambitious change to law enforcement sought by Congress in years .
“ We can not settle for anything less than transformative structural change , ” said the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , the most powerful Democrat in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of slavery .
Before unveiling the package , House and Senate Democrats including Chuck Schumer , Congressman Jim Clyburn , Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester , Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Cory Booker , held a moment of silence at the Capitol ’ s Emancipation Hall , reading the names of Floyd and others killed during police interactions .
They wore kente cloths handed out by the Congressional Black Caucus and knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds , now a symbol of police brutality and violence – it is the length of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a white police officer ’ s knee before he died .
Representative Karen Bass , chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus , which is leading the effort , called it bold and transformative .
“ The world is witnessing the birth of a new movement in this country , ” Bass said .
“ A profession where you have the power to kill should be a profession where you have highly trained officers that are accountable to the public , ” she added .
The legislation would ban chokeholds by police , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a national database for tracking police misconduct and would bar types of “ no-knock ” warrants , according to an early draft .
The bill also aims to make it easier to pursue legal damages when police violate civil rights , stop racial profiling and racial bias in policing , and limit the transfer of military hardware to police forces .
However , the package stops short of fulfilling calls by leading activists to defund the police , a push to dismantle or reduce financial resources to police departments that has struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Floyd ’ s death .
In Minnesota on Sunday , Minneapolis city council members voted to disband the police force there and rethink how it handles emergency response , with a focus on community and social services .
“ This is a first step .
There is more to come , ” said Pelosi .
“ Once the House passes the Justice and Policing Act [ Senate majority leader Mitch ] McConnell will , hopefully , take it up .
During the Congress , the president must not stand in the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country will not relent until this legislation is made into law.
” The presumed Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , who will visit Floyd ’ s family in Houston , Texas , has backed a ban on chokeholds and other elements of the package .
On Monday , his campaign issued a statement saying that though he “ shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change ” he “ does not believe that police should be defunded ” .
However , the bill ’ s path to becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has to go through the Republican-controlled Senate .
It is unclear if law enforcement and the powerful police unions will back any of the proposed changes or if congressional Republicans will join the effort .
Throughout the press conference on Monday , the Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight for its passage – a subtle concession that the proposal may actually stall somewhere in the legislative process .
“ This has never been done before .
At the federal level in the Senate Democrats are going to fight like hell to make this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added that “ now we must collectively , all Americans , raise our voices and call on Leader McConnell , to put this reform bill on the floor of the Senate before July , to be debated and voted on ” .
A far less controversial bill that would explicitly make lynching a federal crime for the first time in US history stalled just last week .
The Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act is named after the 14-year-old black boy who was tortured and killed in 1955 in Mississippi , whose death helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1960s .
Though the bill passed overwhelmingly in the Democrat-dominated House of Representatives earlier this year , one Republican senator has succeeded in blocking its path .
Republicans responded to the bill by arguing it was a move to effectively defund police everywhere .
The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee both sent out statements saying Democrats wanted to defund police departments .
“ What once lived on the liberal fringe has now broken through in serious way , ” said the NRSC communications director , Jesse Hunt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to answer to voters about how they plan to keep Americans safe while their party seeks to ‘ defund the police ’ .
” Brad Parscale , Donald Trump ’ s re-election campaign manager , weighed in on Twitter , claiming : “ Democrats like Joe Biden want to defund the police .
Then , they call Americans ‘ privileged ’ for worrying about safety .
There ’ s nothing privileged about wanting to protect your family .
President Trump will always fight for law and order.
” Trump himself tweeted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AND ABOLISH THE POLICE .
The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy !
” It ’ s not clear if he was referring to the specific bill .
The Associated Press contributed to this report

Daniel Strauss in Washington and agencies

Democrats in Congress have unveiled a sweeping new set of proposals aimed at reforming policing and transforming law enforcement across the country.
The new legislation, called the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, comes during ongoing mass protests across the country in response to the death of George Floyd while under police custody, and is the most ambitious change to law enforcement sought by Congress in years.
“We cannot settle for anything less than transformative structural change,” said the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful Democrat in Congress, drawing on the nation’s history of slavery.
Before unveiling the package, House and Senate Democrats including Chuck Schumer, Congressman Jim Clyburn, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Cory Booker, held a moment of silence at the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall, reading the names of Floyd and others killed during police interactions.
They wore kente cloths handed out by the Congressional Black Caucus and knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, now a symbol of police brutality and violence – it is the length of time prosecutors say Floyd was pinned under a white police officer’s knee before he died.
Representative Karen Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is leading the effort, called it bold and transformative.
“The world is witnessing the birth of a new movement in this country,” Bass said.
“A profession where you have the power to kill should be a profession where you have highly trained officers that are accountable to the public,” she added.
The legislation would ban chokeholds by police, including the one used for Floyd, set up a national database for tracking police misconduct and would bar types of “no-knock” warrants, according to an early draft.
The bill also aims to make it easier to pursue legal damages when police violate civil rights, stop racial profiling and racial bias in policing, and limit the transfer of military hardware to police forces.
However, the package stops short of fulfilling calls by leading activists to defund the police, a push to dismantle or reduce financial resources to police departments that has struck new intensity in the weeks of protests since Floyd’s death.
In Minnesota on Sunday, Minneapolis city council members voted to disband the police force there and rethink how it handles emergency response, with a focus on community and social services.
“This is a first step. There is more to come,” said Pelosi. “Once the House passes the Justice and Policing Act [Senate majority leader Mitch] McConnell will, hopefully, take it up. During the Congress, the president must not stand in the way of justice, the Congress and the country will not relent until this legislation is made into law.”
The presumed Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, who will visit Floyd’s family in Houston, Texas, has backed a ban on chokeholds and other elements of the package. On Monday, his campaign issued a statement saying that though he “shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change” he “does not believe that police should be defunded”.
However, the bill’s path to becoming law is likely to be precarious, and has to go through the Republican-controlled Senate. It is unclear if law enforcement and the powerful police unions will back any of the proposed changes or if congressional Republicans will join the effort.
Throughout the press conference on Monday, the Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight for its passage – a subtle concession that the proposal may actually stall somewhere in the legislative process.
“This has never been done before. At the federal level in the Senate Democrats are going to fight like hell to make this a reality,” Schumer said. He added that “now we must collectively, all Americans, raise our voices and call on Leader McConnell, to put this reform bill on the floor of the Senate before July, to be debated and voted on”.
A far less controversial bill that would explicitly make lynching a federal crime for the first time in US history stalled just last week.
The Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act is named after the 14-year-old black boy who was tortured and killed in 1955 in Mississippi, whose death helped spark the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Though the bill passed overwhelmingly in the Democrat-dominated House of Representatives earlier this year, one Republican senator has succeeded in blocking its path.
Republicans responded to the bill by arguing it was a move to effectively defund police everywhere. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee both sent out statements saying Democrats wanted to defund police departments.
“What once lived on the liberal fringe has now broken through in serious way,” said the NRSC communications director, Jesse Hunt. “Senate Democrats everywhere are going to have to answer to voters about how they plan to keep Americans safe while their party seeks to ‘defund the police’.”
Brad Parscale, Donald Trump’s re-election campaign manager, weighed in on Twitter, claiming: “Democrats like Joe Biden want to defund the police. Then, they call Americans ‘privileged’ for worrying about safety. There’s nothing privileged about wanting to protect your family. President Trump will always fight for law and order.”
Trump himself tweeted out “LAW & ORDER, NOT DEFUND AND ABOLISH THE POLICE. The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy!” It’s not clear if he was referring to the specific bill.
The Associated Press contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-06-08--George Floyd tribute: Democrats take a knee for almost 9 minutes – video

Nancy Pelosi , the Speaker of the House , led House and Senate Democrats in a moment of silence at @ @ @ @ @ after reading the names of George Floyd and others killed in police custody .
They @ @ @ @ @ 46 seconds - the length of time prosecutors say Floyd was pinned under a white @ @ @ @ @ before he died

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, led House and Senate Democrats in a moment of silence at the Capitol's Emancipation Hall after reading the names of George Floyd and others killed in police custody. They kneeled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds - the length of time prosecutors say Floyd was pinned under a white police officer’s knee before he died


theguardian--2020-06-08--Obamas urge class of 2020 to 'create a new normal' after coronavirus and George Floyd – video

In a virtual commencement address , the former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle discuss Covid-19 and the issue @ @ @ @ @ and say young people should build the society they wish to see

In a virtual commencement address, the former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle discuss Covid-19 and the issue of race in the US and say young people should build the society they wish to see


theguardian--2020-05-28--Joe Biden addresses US as its coronavirus death toll passes 100,000 – video

Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential candidate , has addressed the US as the country 's coronavirus death toll passes @ @ @ @ @ recorded more deaths from the disease than any other country , and almost three times @ @ @ @ @ country , Britain , which has recorded more than 37,000 Covid-19 deaths .
The grim @ @ @ @ @ states relax measures intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus • See all our @ @

Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, has addressed the US as the country's coronavirus death toll passes 100,000. The US has recorded more deaths from the disease than any other country, and almost three times as many as the second-ranking country, Britain, which has recorded more than 37,000 Covid-19 deaths. The grim milestone comes even as many states relax measures intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus


theguardian--2020-06-09--US hands out billions in coronavirus aid – but we don't know who's profiting

Businesses have taken at least half a trillion dollars in coronavirus aid from the American public , and the government is refusing to disclose which companies are getting the money .
The lack of oversight in the system for US lawmakers ’ “ paycheck protection program ” makes the historic levels of spending ripe for abuse .
The media and watchdogs can not scrutinize the payments to ensure against waste , fraud or favors to political allies .
Eleven national news publications are suing for public records , yet little public attention has gone to the problem , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cratered economy and unemployment that has soared past 40m jobless claims .
“ It ’ s absolutely mind-boggling that we ’ re in a situation where we ’ re shoveling so much money out to private businesses , and we don ’ t know where it ’ s going , ” said Kyle Herrig , founder of the watchdog group Accountable.US .
Loans under the program are forgivable , meaning companies don ’ t have to pay them back .
Recipients are meant to spend the money on continuing to pay workers or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and utilities .
As Congress rushed to provide economic relief to US businesses , it also sent money to companies that did not critically need financial aid .
More than 300 publicly traded companies received payments .
Indebted fossil-fuel producers have been among them .
At least one company used its aid to benefit wealthy , private jet-owning clients .
Small businesses , meanwhile , say they have struggled to gain access to the loans .
The program has also raised concerns of conflicts of interest .
A top treasury department official charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to benefit financially from the spending he is overseeing .
Liz Hempowicz , policy director at the Project On Government Oversight , said the program and the cracks in it demonstrate a “ shocking lack of transparency ” .
Meaghan Smith , a Democratic strategist and former Department of Health and Human Services official , said the amount of aid is unprecedented .
“ It ’ s trillions of dollars that was passed basically at warp speed so I think there are severe concerns about the level of oversight , ” Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand better transparency with any funds they approve .
But the Senate ’ s Republican majority leader , Mitch McConnell , has said any additional aid legislation should be narrower in scope than Democrats in the House have backed .
Congress and Donald Trump last week updated the program to let businesses spend more of the money on expenses other than payroll – but they declined to set new oversight requirements .
One transparency measure was defeated after failing to get support from two-thirds of lawmakers in the House .
The bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would have required the Small Business Administration to make information about payments to businesses public .
“ We can not accept a situation in which bigger businesses with access to other sources of liquidity are pushing to the front of the line at the expense of those with the greatest need , ” Phillips said on the House floor .
The government bailout for businesses is unprecedented , dwarfing what went out even during the 2008 recession .
In the first 14 days of lending , the SBA oversaw 1.7m loans totaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it administered over the last 14 years .
By 30 May , those figures had grown to 4.5m loans totaling $ 510bn .
The SBA has refused to release its loan records to media organizations and transparency groups .
In a 20 April letter to Accountable.US , the SBA official William Briggs pointed to “ privacy and confidentiality issues ” .
The SBA ’ s internal watchdog has already found that the program “ did not fully align ” with the legislation ’ s provisions , including for giving banks guidance about which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entities involved are required to publicly disclose where the money is going – not the banks lending the money , the companies taking it nor the government agencies overseeing the program .
The government has said it will review loans of more than $ 2m .
Revelations of loans so far have come from voluntary disclosures , leaks by whistleblowers , or regulatory filings required of publicly traded companies .
Big companies – including the $ 4.4bn NBA team the Los Angeles Lakers and $ 2.2bn fast-food chain Shake Shack – have taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media scrutiny .
Congress did establish a five-person panel to oversee spending , but it does not have the power to subpoena records .
Bharat Ramamurti is on that commission and is also managing director for the corporate power program at the liberal Roosevelt Institute thinktank .
“ To me , the biggest issue with the PPP [ paycheck protection program ] is not the Lakers and Shake Shack are not getting the money , it ’ s that hundreds of thousands of small businesses that are eligible for PPP and really need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ramamurti said , noting he was speaking for himself and not the commission .
“ That is more tragic to me than a public company getting a few million bucks.
” Many of the companies getting aid have hundreds of employees and are worth millions or billions of dollars .
They fit the legal description of a “ small business ” but are not the mom-and-pop companies in most Americans ’ minds .
At the same time , businesses like local restaurants and shops have said they have not been able to access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waits than bigger companies – and have been forced to lay off employees and even permanently close .
A survey of small businesses by the Census Bureau through the beginning of May found that only 38 % of those that had asked for a loan had received one .
Minority-owned businesses have had an even harder time – only 12 % that sought loans got them , according to a survey by two equal-rights organizations .
Rob Grover , the economic development coordinator for Trempealeau county in Wisconsin , said “ it seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really focused on helping the large Wall Street businesses ” .
Laid-off workers are frustrated to see big corporations getting money when they have received at most a $ 1,200 payment from the government , Grover said .
An additional unemployment insurance benefit of $ 600 a week has been helpful , but many Wisconsinites have not received it yet because of a backlog in applications , he added .
In all , the government has spent about $ 3tn on coronavirus aid in four separate packages .
Of that , $ 784bn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits , paid leave and direct cash payments , according to NPR .
Far more has been set aside for businesses : $ 810bn for small businesses , $ 513bn in tax benefits for all businesses and $ 532bn in non-forgivable loans to large corporations .
“ A lot of folks feel like maybe the government isn ’ t focusing on them , and is leaving them behind , ” Grover said .

Emily Holden and Daniel Strauss in Washington

Businesses have taken at least half a trillion dollars in coronavirus aid from the American public, and the government is refusing to disclose which companies are getting the money.
The lack of oversight in the system for US lawmakers’ “paycheck protection program” makes the historic levels of spending ripe for abuse. The media and watchdogs cannot scrutinize the payments to ensure against waste, fraud or favors to political allies.
Eleven national news publications are suing for public records, yet little public attention has gone to the problem, as the government has scrambled to respond to a cratered economy and unemployment that has soared past 40m jobless claims.
“It’s absolutely mind-boggling that we’re in a situation where we’re shoveling so much money out to private businesses, and we don’t know where it’s going,” said Kyle Herrig, founder of the watchdog group Accountable.US.
Loans under the program are forgivable, meaning companies don’t have to pay them back. Recipients are meant to spend the money on continuing to pay workers or on recurring expenses, such as rent and utilities.
As Congress rushed to provide economic relief to US businesses, it also sent money to companies that did not critically need financial aid. More than 300 publicly traded companies received payments. Indebted fossil-fuel producers have been among them. At least one company used its aid to benefit wealthy, private jet-owning clients. Small businesses, meanwhile, say they have struggled to gain access to the loans.
The program has also raised concerns of conflicts of interest. A top treasury department official charged with steering the coronavirus bailout program is set to benefit financially from the spending he is overseeing.
Liz Hempowicz, policy director at the Project On Government Oversight, said the program and the cracks in it demonstrate a “shocking lack of transparency”.
Meaghan Smith, a Democratic strategist and former Department of Health and Human Services official, said the amount of aid is unprecedented.
“It’s trillions of dollars that was passed basically at warp speed so I think there are severe concerns about the level of oversight,” Smith said.
Oversight advocates want Democrats to demand better transparency with any funds they approve. But the Senate’s Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has said any additional aid legislation should be narrower in scope than Democrats in the House have backed. Congress and Donald Trump last week updated the program to let businesses spend more of the money on expenses other than payroll – but they declined to set new oversight requirements.
One transparency measure was defeated after failing to get support from two-thirds of lawmakers in the House. The bill, sponsored by Congressman Dean Phillips from Minnesota, would have required the Small Business Administration to make information about payments to businesses public.
“We cannot accept a situation in which bigger businesses with access to other sources of liquidity are pushing to the front of the line at the expense of those with the greatest need,” Phillips said on the House floor.
The government bailout for businesses is unprecedented, dwarfing what went out even during the 2008 recession. In the first 14 days of lending, the SBA oversaw 1.7m loans totaling more than $342bn, more than it administered over the last 14 years. By 30 May, those figures had grown to 4.5m loans totaling $510bn.
The SBA has refused to release its loan records to media organizations and transparency groups. In a 20 April letter to Accountable.US, the SBA official William Briggs pointed to “privacy and confidentiality issues”.
The SBA’s internal watchdog has already found that the program “did not fully align” with the legislation’s provisions, including for giving banks guidance about which loans to prioritize.
None of the entities involved are required to publicly disclose where the money is going – not the banks lending the money, the companies taking it nor the government agencies overseeing the program. The government has said it will review loans of more than $2m.
Revelations of loans so far have come from voluntary disclosures, leaks by whistleblowers, or regulatory filings required of publicly traded companies. Big companies – including the $4.4bn NBA team the Los Angeles Lakers and $2.2bn fast-food chain Shake Shack – have taken money and then given it back following media scrutiny.
Congress did establish a five-person panel to oversee spending, but it does not have the power to subpoena records.
Bharat Ramamurti is on that commission and is also managing director for the corporate power program at the liberal Roosevelt Institute thinktank.
“To me, the biggest issue with the PPP [paycheck protection program] is not the Lakers and Shake Shack are not getting the money, it’s that hundreds of thousands of small businesses that are eligible for PPP and really need PPP are not getting it,” Ramamurti said, noting he was speaking for himself and not the commission.
“That is more tragic to me than a public company getting a few million bucks that will likely go to help its workers because of the design of the program.”
Many of the companies getting aid have hundreds of employees and are worth millions or billions of dollars. They fit the legal description of a “small business” but are not the mom-and-pop companies in most Americans’ minds.
At the same time, businesses like local restaurants and shops have said they have not been able to access the funds – or have had longer waits than bigger companies – and have been forced to lay off employees and even permanently close.
Hundreds of thousands of small businesses are eligible for PPP and are not getting it Bharat Ramamurti
A survey of small businesses by the Census Bureau through the beginning of May found that only 38% of those that had asked for a loan had received one. Minority-owned businesses have had an even harder time – only 12% that sought loans got them, according to a survey by two equal-rights organizations.
Rob Grover, the economic development coordinator for Trempealeau county in Wisconsin, said “it seems like this program and many others have really focused on helping the large Wall Street businesses”.
Laid-off workers are frustrated to see big corporations getting money when they have received at most a $1,200 payment from the government, Grover said. An additional unemployment insurance benefit of $600 a week has been helpful, but many Wisconsinites have not received it yet because of a backlog in applications, he added.
Republicans leaders in Washington oppose extending that benefit.
In all, the government has spent about $3tn on coronavirus aid in four separate packages.
Of that, $784bn has been allocated to individuals, including unemployment benefits, paid leave and direct cash payments, according to NPR. Far more has been set aside for businesses: $810bn for small businesses, $513bn in tax benefits for all businesses and $532bn in non-forgivable loans to large corporations.
“A lot of folks feel like maybe the government isn’t focusing on them, and is leaving them behind,” Grover said.


theguardian--2020-06-09--Protesters across US attacked by cars driven into crowds and men with guns

Anti police-brutality protesters have been confronted by armed men in cities around America in recent days , with some brandishing firearms or other weapons , some driving vehicles at crowds , and others – including members of the so-called “ boogaloo movement ” – claiming they have come to help anti-racism demonstrations .
On Sunday , in Seattle , a man drove at speed towards protesters , while several protesters tried to slow or stop the vehicle .
One who reached through the car window was shot in the arm by the driver .
The driver then exited the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographs to have a modified , extra-long magazine .
He moved into the crowd , and later surrendered to police .
But this was not even the first such incident that day .
In Lakeside , Virginia , an armed man named Harry “ Skip ” Rogers , was arrested on charges of assault and battery after he allegedly drove his truck at protesters , hitting a cyclist .
Rogers , reportedly an organizer for the National Association for Awakening Confederate Patriots , carried out a one-man protest in 2016 wearing Ku Klux @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Unite the Right demonstration in Charlottesville in 2017 , where protestor Heather Heyer was murdered in a vehicular homicide .
Two days days after Unite the Right , according to photographs and accounts of activists , Rogers was bloodied in an altercation that took place when he attempted to disrupt a memorial rally for Heyer , while wearing a shirt with KKK and Confederate flag patches .
Other vehicular attacks have also occurred , among other places , on 29 May in Bakersfield , California and day before in Denver .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gun before driving through a crowd in Gainesville , Florida .
In Minneapolis , a man in a semi-trailer truck parted the crowd on an overpass when he drove towards them .
Further incidents involving firearms and other weapons have also occurred .
In McAllen , Texas , last Friday , a lone man threatened Black Lives Matter protesters with a running chainsaw , first screaming “ go home ” before shouting racial slurs .
In Upland , California , on 1 June , a man pulled an AR-15 from his truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was subsequently arrested .
In Chicago on 31 May , a lone man armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a sidearm pistol was led away from the scene of a protest by police .
Earlier , protesters say , he had brandished the weapon at them .
In Boise , Idaho , on 1 June , two armed men disguised with skull masks similar to those favored by some neo-Nazi groups counter-protested a local Black Lives Matter march .
One , Michael Wallace , 19 , was later arrested after what police were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapon .
In Salt Lake City on 31 May , a man was arrested after threatening a crowd of protesters with a hunting bow .
But some armed individuals attending protests , identified as members of the “ boogaloo movement ” , have presented protesters with a troubling ambiguity .
So-called “ boogaloo bois ” are members of a loose-knit , pro-gun , anti-government movement , which is preoccupied with what they believe to be a looming second American civil war .
Last week , three former armed servicemen associated with the movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plot aimed at vital national infrastructure .
In general , the subculture resents the police and government agencies who would restrict their access to firearms .
But they are divided within themselves on several questions , including racial politics .
While some ardent white supremacists use the vocabulary and imagery of the movement – including donning Hawaiian shirts – others express strong sympathy for black victims of police violence .
At protests around the country , some members of the boogaloo movement have shown up armed to protect stores from protesters , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim to support the protests .
Social media material obtained by the Guardian shows some in smaller communities in the Pacific north-west marching alongside Black Lives Matter protesters .
On social media , some of the most popular Facebook pages and groups associated with the movement have celebrated the protests against the killing of George Floyd .
One viral social video shows a “ boogaloo boi ” vocally criticizing police brutality and sympathizing with the protesters .
But worries about infiltration and uncertainty about the true motivations of boogaloo sympathizers have led many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club is a leftist “ community defense organization ” , which itself frequently openly carries firearms in defense of leftwing protests , and is known for attempting dialogue with members of rightwing militia groups .
Via a messaging app , its spokesman reflected the ambivalence with which many protesters regard boogaloo bois .
“ The ‘ boog movement ’ has many bad actors within its ranks proliferating antisemitic , racist and QAnon dogwhistles , either deliberately or inadvertently , but the movement has also scooped up legitimately disillusioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked how the group and other leftists should respond to “ boogaloo bois ” seeking to join or assist protests , the spokesperson said : “ We ’ ve had boogaloo types show up at events .
Usually we watch from a distance because of the risk and unpredictability .
”

Anti police-brutality protesters have been confronted by armed men in cities around America in recent days, with some brandishing firearms or other weapons, some driving vehicles at crowds, and others – including members of the so-called “boogaloo movement” – claiming they have come to help anti-racism demonstrations.
On Sunday, in Seattle, a man drove at speed towards protesters, while several protesters tried to slow or stop the vehicle.
One who reached through the car window was shot in the arm by the driver. The driver then exited the vehicle carrying a handgun, which appeared in photographs to have a modified, extra-long magazine. He moved into the crowd, and later surrendered to police.
Video shows protester shot by man who drove into George Floyd protest in Seattle – video
But this was not even the first such incident that day.
In Lakeside, Virginia, an armed man named Harry “Skip” Rogers, was arrested on charges of assault and battery after he allegedly drove his truck at protesters, hitting a cyclist.
Rogers, reportedly an organizer for the National Association for Awakening Confederate Patriots, carried out a one-man protest in 2016 wearing Ku Klux Klan robes, and was also part of the Unite the Right demonstration in Charlottesville in 2017, where protester Heather Heyer was murdered in a vehicular homicide.
Two days days after Unite the Right, according to photographs and accounts of activists, Rogers was bloodied in an altercation that took place when he attempted to disrupt a memorial rally for Heyer, while wearing a shirt with KKK and Confederate flag patches.
Other vehicular attacks have also occurred, among other places, on 29 May in Bakersfield, California, and day before in Denver. On 30 May an armed man pulled a gun before driving through a crowd in Gainesville, Florida.
In Minneapolis on 31 May, a man in a semi-trailer truck parted the crowd on an overpass when he drove towards them. The driver, Bogan Vechirko, was arrested and a police investigation continues, but Minnesota’s public safety commissioner, John Harrington, later said that interviews with Vechirko seemed to indicate the driver was not intending harm. “He knew the protest was going on, but it doesn’t appear that he was trying to intercept the protest,” Harrington said.
Further incidents involving firearms and other weapons have also occurred.
In McAllen, Texas, last Friday, a lone man threatened Black Lives Matter protesters with a running chainsaw, first screaming “go home” before shouting racial slurs.
In Upland, California, on 1 June, a man pulled an AR-15 from his truck and brandished it at protesters, and was subsequently arrested.
In Chicago on 31 May, a lone man armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a sidearm pistol was led away from the scene of a protest by police. He proved to be a private security guard licensed to carry a weapon. Protesters, who complained he had brandished a weapon at this, later expressed surprise he had not been detained.
In Boise, Idaho, on 1 June, two armed men disguised with skull masks similar to those favored by some neo-Nazi groups counter-protested a local Black Lives Matter march. One, Michael Wallace, 19, was later arrested after what police were investigating as an accidental discharge of his weapon.
In Salt Lake City on 31 May, a man was arrested after threatening a crowd of protesters with a hunting bow.
But some armed individuals attending protests, identified as members of the “boogaloo movement”, have presented protesters with a troubling ambiguity.
So-called “boogaloo bois” are members of a loose-knit, pro-gun, anti-government movement, which is preoccupied with what they believe to be a looming second American civil war.
Last week, three former armed servicemen associated with the movement were arrested and charged over an alleged plot aimed at vital national infrastructure.
In general, the subculture resents the police and government agencies who would restrict their access to firearms. But they are divided within themselves on several questions, including racial politics.
While some ardent white supremacists use the vocabulary and imagery of the movement – including donning Hawaiian shirts – others express strong sympathy for black victims of police violence.
At protests around the country, some members of the boogaloo movement have shown up armed to protect stores from protesters, and others are implicitly hostile.
But others claim to support the protests. Social media material obtained by the Guardian shows some in smaller communities in the Pacific north-west marching alongside Black Lives Matter protesters.
On social media, some of the most popular Facebook pages and groups associated with the movement have celebrated the protests against the killing of George Floyd.
One viral social video shows a “boogaloo boi” vocally criticizing police brutality and sympathizing with the protesters.
But worries about infiltration and uncertainty about the true motivations of boogaloo sympathizers have led many protesters to keep their distance.
The Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club is a leftist “community defense organization”, which itself frequently openly carries firearms in defense of leftwing protests, and is known for attempting dialogue with members of rightwing militia groups.
Via a messaging app, its spokesman reflected the ambivalence with which many protesters regard boogaloo bois.
“The ‘boog movement’ has many bad actors within its ranks proliferating antisemitic, racist and QAnon dog whistles, either deliberately or inadvertently, but the movement has also scooped up legitimately disillusioned people,” the spokesperson said.
Asked how the group and other leftists should respond to “boogaloo bois” seeking to join or assist protests, the spokesperson said: “We’ve had boogaloo types show up at events. Usually we watch from a distance because of the risk and unpredictability.”
This article was amended on 10 June 2020 to include an official comment stating that indications so far were that the driver of a tanker truck had not necessarily driven with the intent to harm a Minneapolis protest group. A police investigation continues but no charges have been laid. For avoidance of doubt, a photograph and video of the Minneapolis incident have also been removed from this piece. A line has been added giving further information about an armed man at a Chicago demonstration.


theguardian--2020-06-09--Are they gone for good? The Trump supporters who regret their vote

Donald Trump once famously boasted he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue , and not lose supporters .
For years that seemed true .
But his latest actions – including the deployment of an ad hoc paramilitary force against protesters on avenues around the country – may have been too much .
New polls show Trump ’ s support is slipping among key groups , some showing him at a double-digit disadvantage to Democratic rival Joe Biden .
Last Monday night , police and soldiers violently cleared protesters so Trump could walk from the White House to St John ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At that moment , Nolan Fuzzell had seen enough .
Fuzzell is a table server at a restaurant in Lawrence , Kansas , and previously supported Trump .
But after the photo stunt he tweeted : “ Beginning to regret wearing all Trump gear on Election Day 2016 .
This is not right , on any level.
” So how did Trump lose supporters like Fuzzell , and are they gone for good ?
It ’ s helpful to remember , first , what the president has asked of Republicans .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ancient ship , replacing one plank at a time until it becomes unrecognizable as itself .
From a party whose elites sought to reject Trump in 2016 , it has now become almost unerringly loyal and much changed .
Under Trump ’ s leadership , Republicans have gone to war against their traditional allies , the FBI .
They have cozied up to their old opponents , in Russia .
Republican leaders have signed off on federal deficits so gargantuan – this year it will top a trillion dollars – they would make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had to boycott the reddest of American sports , professional football .
Towering Republican heroes – political like Mitt Romney , military like John Kelly , both like John McCain – have come under Trump ’ s withering attack .
Trump ’ s own former defense secretary , James Mattis , felt compelled to speak out against the treatment of American citizens during protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police .
Comparing the president to Nazi propagandists , Mattis wrote : “ We must reject and hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mockery of our constitution.
” Among other things Trump has asked evangelical Christians , his staunchest allies , to overlook lurid descriptions of his sexual escapades , hush money paid to a porn actor and – with difficulty – the abandonment of vulnerable Christian communities in northern Syria .
But the most difficult demand of Trump ’ s followers is unfolding now .
For years , activists on the right railed against the possibility of US military deployment within the country ’ s borders .
A conspiracy theory about such a program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – grew so adamant that in 2015 Texas senator Ted Cruz requested an explanation from the Pentagon .
It was a figment of the fevered rightwing imagination .
But now , under Trump , the American self-invasion is coming true : squads of troops from agencies that normally oversee prisons , borders and drug enforcement have taken to the streets , often with no identifying insignia , to tamp down protests and riots .
This week , active-duty troops mustered outside Washington , awaiting Trump ’ s command .
“ Militarizing our response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sets up a conflict – a false conflict – between the military and civilian society , ” he wrote .
“ It erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect , and of which they themselves are a part.
” All these circumstances have converged to chip away at Trump ’ s previously granite-hard base .
Fuzzell , the regretful waiter in Kansas , is not alone .
“ If I were a Republican operative , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these numbers , ” said Natalie Jackson , director of research at the Monmouth University Polling Institute .
Monmouth ’ s latest poll shows Trump with an 11-point deficit to Biden .
And underneath that margin , Jackson said , there are some previously unseen trends .
For example , 47 % of white voters with no college degree saw Trump favorably .
“ That ’ s an all-time low , ” Jackson said .
In 2019 that rating had averaged 52 % .
“ It ’ s statistically significant.
” Much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white voters – Trump ’ s hard core – have suffered mightily during the coronavirus outbreak .
“ They are more likely to work in the service industry , and are losing jobs at a higher rate , or going to work at a significant risk to their health , ” Jackson said .
It ’ s difficult to know , yet , how the current civil unrest may affect Trump ’ s support .
But the initial signs are not in his favor .
Monmouth ’ s researchers collected their information around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Midway through that span , protests reached an inflection point when rioters burned down the Minneapolis police ’ s third precinct building .
So the researchers , curious about the protests ’ effect , divided their polling into pre- and post-precinct-burning samples .
Among all Republicans , Jackson said , Trump ’ s favorability dropped a whopping 9 % after the precinct fire , from 88 % to 79 % .
Republican leaders have not turned against Trump , largely , but they have fallen silent .
After Trump ’ s photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s , senators Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Rob Portman of Ohio told NBC , separately , they couldn ’ t comment because they were “ late for lunch ” .
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell , of Kentucky , said he didn ’ t want to “ critique other people ’ s performances ” .
Cruz did offer criticism , of a sort .
He leveled charges of abuse of power : “ By the protesters , yes.
” But other Republican leaders , those who have less to fear from Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The last Republican president , George W Bush , sided with the protesters with a clear reference to Trump .
He wrote : “ The only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving .
Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America – or how it becomes a better place.
” Senator Mitt Romney , of Utah , said in a statement : “ From the news clips I have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House were orderly and nonviolent .
They should not have been removed by force and without warning , particularly when the apparent purpose was to stage a photo op.
” One voter , who requested anonymity due to threats , wrote in a message : “ Considering how far right the Trumpublican party has moved , I ’ m now considered left.
” So he started a Facebook page , directly titled I Regret Voting for Donald Trump in 2016 .
“ Many are afraid of posting in public due to fears of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , ” the voter said .
But his page has 8,600 followers now .

Donald Trump once famously boasted he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, and not lose supporters. For years that seemed true.
But his latest actions – including the deployment of an ad hoc paramilitary force against protesters on avenues around the country – may have been too much.
New polls show Trump’s support is slipping among key groups, some showing him at a double-digit disadvantage to Democratic rival Joe Biden.
Last Monday night, police and soldiers violently cleared protesters so Trump could walk from the White House to St John’s church for a photo opportunity. At that moment, Nolan Fuzzell had seen enough.
Fuzzell is a table server at a restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas, and previously supported Trump. But after the photo stunt he tweeted: “Beginning to regret wearing all Trump gear on Election Day 2016. This is not right, on any level.”
So how did Trump lose supporters like Fuzzell, and are they gone for good?
It’s helpful to remember, first, what the president has asked of Republicans. He has treated the party like Theseus’s ancient ship, replacing one plank at a time until it becomes unrecognizable as itself. From a party whose elites sought to reject Trump in 2016, it has now become almost unerringly loyal and much changed.
Under Trump’s leadership, Republicans have gone to war against their traditional allies, the FBI. They have cozied up to their old opponents, in Russia. Republican leaders have signed off on federal deficits so gargantuan – this year it will top a trillion dollars – they would make Franklin D Roosevelt blush.
Trump adherents have had to boycott the reddest of American sports, professional football.
Towering Republican heroes – political like Mitt Romney, military like John Kelly, both like John McCain – have come under Trump’s withering attack.
Trump’s own former defense secretary, James Mattis, felt compelled to speak out against the treatment of American citizens during protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. Comparing the president to Nazi propagandists, Mattis wrote: “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our constitution.”
Among other things Trump has asked evangelical Christians, his staunchest allies, to overlook lurid descriptions of his sexual escapades, hush money paid to a porn actor and – with difficulty – the abandonment of vulnerable Christian communities in northern Syria.
Donald Trump walks past police in Lafayette Park after the visit to St John’s Church across from the White House. Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP
But the most difficult demand of Trump’s followers is unfolding now.
For years, activists on the right railed against the possibility of US military deployment within the country’s borders. A conspiracy theory about such a program – called “Jade Helm 15” – grew so adamant that in 2015 Texas senator Ted Cruz requested an explanation from the Pentagon. It was a figment of the fevered rightwing imagination.
But now, under Trump, the American self-invasion is coming true: squads of troops from agencies that normally oversee prisons, borders and drug enforcement have taken to the streets, often with no identifying insignia, to tamp down protests and riots. This week, active-duty troops mustered outside Washington, awaiting Trump’s command.
The troop build-up alarmed Mattis, a retired marine general.
“Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington DC, sets up a conflict – a false conflict – between the military and civilian society,” he wrote. “It erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, and of which they themselves are a part.”
All these circumstances have converged to chip away at Trump’s previously granite-hard base.
Fuzzell, the regretful waiter in Kansas, is not alone.
“If I were a Republican operative, I’d be concerned about some of these numbers,” said Natalie Jackson, director of research at the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
PRRI’s latest poll shows Trump with an 11-point deficit to Biden. And underneath that margin, Jackson said, there are some previously unseen trends. For example, 47% of white voters with no college degree saw Trump favorably.
“That’s an all-time low,” Jackson said. In 2019 that rating had averaged 52%. “It’s statistically significant.”
Much of the drop may be because those non-degreed white voters – Trump’s hard core – have suffered mightily during the coronavirus outbreak.
“They are more likely to work in the service industry, and are losing jobs at a higher rate, or going to work at a significant risk to their health,” Jackson said.
It’s difficult to know, yet, how the current civil unrest may affect Trump’s support. But the initial signs are not in his favor. PRRI researchers collected their information around the country between May 26 and 31. Midway through that span, protests reached an inflection point when rioters burned down the Minneapolis police’s third precinct building.
So the researchers, curious about the protests’ effect, divided their polling into pre- and post-precinct-burning samples. Among all Republicans, Jackson said, Trump’s favorability dropped a whopping 9% after the precinct fire, from 88% to 79%.
Republican leaders have not turned against Trump, largely, but they have fallen silent. After Trump’s photo with a Bible outside St John’s, senators Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Rob Portman of Ohio told NBC, separately, they couldn’t comment because they were “late for lunch”.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, said he didn’t want to “critique other people’s performances”.
Cruz did offer criticism, of a sort. He leveled charges of abuse of power: “By the protesters, yes.”
But other Republican leaders, those who have less to fear from Trump, have begun to denounce him. The last Republican president, George W Bush, sided with the protesters with a clear reference to Trump. He wrote: “The only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving. Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America – or how it becomes a better place.”
Senator Mitt Romney, of Utah, said in a statement: “From the news clips I have seen, the protesters across from the White House were orderly and nonviolent. They should not have been removed by force and without warning, particularly when the apparent purpose was to stage a photo op.”
One voter, who requested anonymity due to threats, wrote in a message: “Considering how far right the Trumpublican party has moved, I’m now considered left.”
So he started a Facebook page, directly titled I Regret Voting for Donald Trump in 2016.
“Many are afraid of posting in public due to fears of being attacked by unforgiving people on the left,” the voter said.
But his page has 8,600 followers now.


theguardian--2020-06-09--Republican criticism of Trump grows – but will it make a difference at the polls?

Now they were truly on different sides of the fence .
Donald Trump , the 2016 Republican nominee for president , spent Sunday tweeting from inside the White House .
Outside the fortified cage , Mitt Romney , the 2012 Republican nominee , wore a face mask and joined marchers supporting Black Lives Matter .
It was a symbolic standoff between the new Republican party and the old .
And it came on the same day that Colin Powell , former secretary of state under George W Bush , announced that he would be voting for Democrat Joe Biden in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ lies about things ” .
There is no guarantee voices of dissent from party leaders will translate to the Republican grassroots , where Trump retains overwhelming support .
But some critics of the president believe his responses to both the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests triggered by the police killing of George Floyd leave him uniquely exposed .
Whatever their public pledges of fealty , many Republican senators privately agree with Romney and Powell , according to Rick Wilson , creative director of the Lincoln Project , a political action committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reelection .
“ We have elected members of Congress , elected governors , statewide elected officials , House members – not as many House members any more because the House is pretty ‘ Trumpy ’ now – but I have people in the White House who , the minute the day is over , call me on their burner phones and just data-dump every day because the madness is that deep and that crazy inside and it ’ s going to get worse .
And Trump knows it ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , Trump has exercised a vice-like grip on the Republican party .
Many former political foes , such as Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham , have become ardent backers .
Graham told Fox News last week : “ To lay the blame at President Trump ’ s feet for the division in this nation is a pretty short-sighted view of it.
” But a growing chorus of Republicans and military leaders have condemned Trump ’ s aggressive response to the protests , which included a threat to deploy American soldiers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional grasp of centuries of racial injustice .
Last week , Trump ’ s former defence secretary , the retired general Jim Mattis , spoke out against what he called Trump ’ s “ deliberate ” efforts to divide the country .
His long-awaited intervention was welcomed by Romney , now a senator for Utah , and the retired four-star general John Kelly , Trump ’ s former chief of staff .
The former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairmen Michael Mullen and Martin Dempsey have also eviscerated Trump ’ s handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator Lisa Murkowski admitted she was “ struggling ” with whether to support Trump ’ s re-election .
Several Republican groups have formed to oppose his 2020 bid , including Republican Voters Against Trump , which last week launched a $ 10m digital ad campaign , and the Lincoln Project , which has produced a series of hard-hitting advertisements that got under the president ’ s skin .
Wilson , who is also one of its co-founders , said : “ For a long time individuals in the party were very suppressed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he would tweet about them , he would say bad things about them and it could wreck somebody ’ s primary chances or hurt them in some other political space .
“ Now we ’ ve reached a point where the intolerance for his incompetence has reached just stratospheric levels .
People just can not abide it .
It ’ s one thing to say , ‘ Oh , he ’ s rough around the edges but he gets things done , ’ but now he ’ s failing in so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it.
” Some Republicans fear that Trump ’ s unpopularity , which led to defeat in the House of Representatives in 2018 , could cost them their Senate seats in November .
Wilson added : “ His political standing has collapsed so greatly that it ’ s easier for these folks to not feel the same risk level .
There ’ s going to come a point very soon where having a nasty tweet from the president is a badge of honour and a tool of survival because my rule of ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The people that are trying to get away from it now , I think , are going to end up in a better position than they would have been prior to this .
There are many more people that are going to put daylight between themselves and this president because he is political herpes .
They don ’ t want to be touched by it.
” There are reasons to be cautious , however .
Trump has the backing of more Republican elected officials than he did in 2016 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and be grateful for his tax cuts , conservative judges and other policies .
Those now criticising the president did not vote for him in 2016 either , and Romney pinned his colours to the mast when he was the sole Republican to vote for Trump ’ s removal from office after the impeachment trial .
Moreover , attacks from party elders have sometimes been counterproductive , reinforcing Trump ’ s image as a Washington outsider who will shake up the status quo .
The president ’ s base remains solid , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the protests is likely to harden it even further .
In a recent NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll , Biden stands at 49 % and Trump at 42 % , though among self-identified Republicans , the margin is 92 % to 4 % in favour of the president .
A CNN analysis noted that , since 2000 , no Republican ever had more than 91 % of Republicans supporting him at this point in ABC News/ Washington Post polling .
But Trump is faring worse at this point with independents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period .
The base alone may not be enough to secure a second electoral college win .
Despite a global pandemic , economic slump and mass protests , Trump , who in April tweeted that Mutiny on the Bounty was one of his favourite films , has been quick to crush any signs of rebellion .
Murkowski , Powell and Romney were all met with disparaging tweets , a clear warning to anyone else who might be tempted .
Monika McDermott , a political science professor at Fordham University , said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s always held them back is fear of the retribution because he ’ s shown with [ retired senator ] Jeff Flake and others that he will wreak havoc or vengeance on those who don ’ t toe his line .
I think that you might have more people speaking out against him if they weren ’ t afraid of the consequences of it.
” Some Republicans , however , feel liberated to call out the president at this historic moment of reckoning .
Ed Rogers , a political consultant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad support but there ’ s less suppression of candour than there has been and you see that manifested with the likes of Murkowski , Mattis , whoever it is .
Defending the indefensible and denying the obvious is untenable in the long term in the political realm.
” Rogers served in the Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush administrations .
Will he vote for Trump ?
“ Probably .
”

Now they were truly on different sides of the fence. Donald Trump, the 2016 Republican nominee for president, spent Sunday tweeting from inside the White House. Outside the fortified cage, Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, wore a face mask and joined marchers supporting Black Lives Matter.
It was a symbolic standoff between the new Republican party and the old. And it came on the same day that Colin Powell, former secretary of state under George W Bush, announced that he would be voting for Democrat Joe Biden in November. Trump, Powell told CNN, “lies about things”.
There is no guarantee voices of dissent from party leaders will translate to the Republican grassroots, where Trump retains overwhelming support. But some critics of the president believe his responses to both the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests triggered by the police killing of George Floyd leave him uniquely exposed.
Whatever their public pledges of fealty, many Republican senators privately agree with Romney and Powell, according to Rick Wilson, creative director of the Lincoln Project, a political action committee formed by Republicans opposed to Trump’s reelection.
“We have elected members of Congress, elected governors, statewide elected officials, House members – not as many House members any more because the House is pretty ‘Trumpy’ now – but I have people in the White House who, the minute the day is over, call me on their burner phones and just data-dump every day because the madness is that deep and that crazy inside and it’s going to get worse.
“And Trump knows it’s going to get worse.”
Since winning the White House, Trump has exercised a vice-like grip on the Republican party. Many former political foes, such as Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, have become ardent backers. Graham told Fox News last week: “To lay the blame at President Trump’s feet for the division in this nation is a pretty short-sighted view of it.”
But a growing chorus of Republicans and military leaders have condemned Trump’s aggressive response to the protests, which included a threat to deploy American soldiers on the streets and showed little intellectual or emotional grasp of centuries of racial injustice.
Last week, Trump’s former defence secretary, the retired general Jim Mattis, spoke out against what he called Trump’s “deliberate” efforts to divide the country. His long-awaited intervention was welcomed by Romney, now a senator for Utah, and the retired four-star general John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff.
Colin Powell has said he will vote for Joe Biden. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairmen Michael Mullen and Martin Dempsey have also eviscerated Trump’s handling of the unrest. And last week the Republican senator Lisa Murkowski admitted she was “struggling” with whether to support Trump’s re-election.
Several Republican groups have formed to oppose his 2020 bid, including Republican Voters Against Trump, which last week launched a $10m digital ad campaign, and the Lincoln Project, which has produced a series of hard-hitting advertisements that got under the president’s skin.
Wilson, who is also one of its co-founders, said: “For a long time individuals in the party were very suppressed by the fear of Donald Trump destroying them because he would tweet about them, he would say bad things about them and it could wreck somebody’s primary chances or hurt them in some other political space.
“Now we’ve reached a point where the intolerance for his incompetence has reached just stratospheric levels. People just cannot abide it. It’s one thing to say, ‘Oh, he’s rough around the edges but he gets things done,’ but now he’s failing in so many dimensions that people are no longer tolerant of it.”
Some Republicans fear that Trump’s unpopularity, which led to defeat in the House of Representatives in 2018, could cost them their Senate seats in November. Wilson added: “His political standing has collapsed so greatly that it’s easier for these folks to not feel the same risk level. There’s going to come a point very soon where having a nasty tweet from the president is a badge of honour and a tool of survival because my rule of ‘everything Trump touches dies’ is real.
“The people that are trying to get away from it now, I think, are going to end up in a better position than they would have been prior to this. There are many more people that are going to put daylight between themselves and this president because he is political herpes. They don’t want to be touched by it.”
There are reasons to be cautious, however. Trump has the backing of more Republican elected officials than he did in 2016, with many having learned to bite their lips and be grateful for his tax cuts, conservative judges and other policies.
Those now criticising the president did not vote for him in 2016 either, and Romney pinned his colours to the mast when he was the sole Republican to vote for Trump’s removal from office after the impeachment trial. Moreover, attacks from party elders have sometimes been counterproductive, reinforcing Trump’s image as a Washington outsider who will shake up the status quo.
The president’s base remains solid, and his “law and order” response to the protests is likely to harden it even further. In a recent NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll, Biden stands at 49% and Trump at 42%, though among self-identified Republicans, the margin is 92% to 4% in favour of the president.
A CNN analysis noted that, since 2000, no Republican ever had more than 91% of Republicans supporting him at this point in ABC News/ Washington Post polling. But Trump is faring worse at this point with independents and Democrats than any Republican over the same period. The base alone may not be enough to secure a second electoral college win.
Despite a global pandemic, economic slump and mass protests, Trump, who in April tweeted that Mutiny on the Bounty was one of his favourite films, has been quick to crush any signs of rebellion. Murkowski, Powell and Romney were all met with disparaging tweets, a clear warning to anyone else who might be tempted.
Monika McDermott, a political science professor at Fordham University, said: “In terms of officeholders, I think what’s always held them back is fear of the retribution because he’s shown with [retired senator] Jeff Flake and others that he will wreak havoc or vengeance on those who don’t toe his line. I think that you might have more people speaking out against him if they weren’t afraid of the consequences of it.”
Some Republicans, however, feel liberated to call out the president at this historic moment of reckoning. Ed Rogers, a political consultant, said: “I think he has broad support but there’s less suppression of candour than there has been and you see that manifested with the likes of Murkowski, Mattis, whoever it is. Defending the indefensible and denying the obvious is untenable in the long term in the political realm.”
Rogers served in the Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush administrations. Will he vote for Trump? “Probably.”