theguardian--2020-05-28--Trump campaign attempts to remove satirical cartoon from online retailer

The Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Nick Anderson has described Donald Trump as an “ adolescent wannabe authoritarian ” , after the US president ’ s re-election campaign failed to pull one of Anderson ’ s cartoons mocking Trump ’ s inaccurate suggestion that injecting disinfectant could protect against Covid-19 .
Anderson put his cartoon The Trump Cult up for sale on the online retailer Redbubble this month .
The illustration shows Trump with supporters in Maga hats , serving them a drink that has been labeled “ Kool-Aid ” , then “ Chloroquine ” and finally “ Clorox ” , a US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference to the 1978 Jonestown massacre , where more than 900 people died after drinking cyanide-laced punch at the order of cult leader Jim Jones , and to Trump ’ s widely denounced idea of injecting bleach to protect against coronavirus .
Trump has also been taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a protection against Covid-19 , despite a study showing it has been linked to increased deaths in patients .
But Redbubble pulled Anderson ’ s illustration from sale following a trademark infringement claim made by Trump ’ s campaign organisation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Writing on the Daily Kos , Anderson said that he believed the claim was made due to his depiction of Maga hats , and described the situation as “ absurd ” .
“ We live in a strange time when the # POTUS can falsely accuse someone of murder with impunity ( violating @ Twitter ’ s terms of service ) , while at the same time bully a private business into removing content it doesn ’ t like , ” Anderson added on Twitter .
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsequently got involved , sending a group letter to Redbubble that accused Trump ’ s campaign of having “ misused Redbubble ’ s reporting mechanism to suppress protected political expression in the form of parody , critique , and satire ” , and arguing that the work and those who publish it are protected by the first amendment .
Redbubble reinstated Anderson ’ s cartoon this week , saying that it strives “ to respect IP rights and freedom of speech , but we sometimes make mistakes , as we did here … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this has caused.
” In a statement , Anderson praised Redbubble for recognising the error , but said there were some “ troubling issues ” raised by the affair , including that the cartoon was removed less than 24 hours after he posted it , before he had received a single order .
“ I doubt anyone had even seen it yet on the site , ” he said .
“ This reveals that the Trump campaign has a system in place , trawling for material they find objectionable .
If it happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has happened to others .
How much other content has been removed this way on Redbubble and other sites ?
” He added : “ It must be pointed out : the president of the United States is a hypocrite who complains about the ‘ violation ’ of his free speech on Twitter , then tries to actively suppress the free speech of others .
These are actions of an adolescent wannabe-authoritarian.
” Trump criticised Twitter this week for “ completely stifling FREE SPEECH ” , after the social media platform put a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading lies about mail-in voting .
CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein said the organisation was “ sensitive to the issues companies like Redbubble face in balancing competing rights owner issues , and were alarmed to see the president ’ s re-election campaign exploiting those issues to suppress protected speech ” .
“ We ’ re pleased that Redbubble has done the right thing in this case , ” he said .
“ We hope that they will continue to assert the First Amendment rights they and their sellers are guaranteed by rejecting any @ @ @ @ @

The Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Nick Anderson has described Donald Trump as an “adolescent wannabe authoritarian”, after the US president’s re-election campaign failed to pull one of Anderson’s cartoons mocking Trump’s inaccurate suggestion that injecting disinfectant could protect against Covid-19.
Anderson put his cartoon The Trump Cult up for sale on the online retailer Redbubble this month. The illustration shows Trump with supporters in Maga hats, serving them a drink that has been labeled “Kool-Aid”, then “Chloroquine” and finally “Clorox”, a US bleach brand. The cartoon is a reference to the 1978 Jonestown massacre, where more than 900 people died after drinking cyanide-laced punch at the order of cult leader Jim Jones, and to Trump’s widely denounced idea of injecting bleach to protect against coronavirus. Trump has also been taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a protection against Covid-19, despite a study showing it has been linked to increased deaths in patients.
But Redbubble pulled Anderson’s illustration from sale following a trademark infringement claim made by Trump’s campaign organisation, Donald J Trump for President Inc. Writing on the Daily Kos, Anderson said that he believed the claim was made due to his depiction of Maga hats, and described the situation as “absurd”.
“We live in a strange time when the #POTUS can falsely accuse someone of murder with impunity (violating @Twitter’s terms of service), while at the same time bully a private business into removing content it doesn’t like,” Anderson added on Twitter.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) and other free speech organisations subsequently got involved, sending a group letter to Redbubble that accused Trump’s campaign of having “misused Redbubble’s reporting mechanism to suppress protected political expression in the form of parody, critique, and satire”, and arguing that the work and those who publish it are protected by the first amendment.
Redbubble reinstated Anderson’s cartoon this week, saying that it strives “to respect IP rights and freedom of speech, but we sometimes make mistakes, as we did here … We’re sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.”
In a statement, Anderson praised Redbubble for recognising the error, but said there were some “troubling issues” raised by the affair, including that the cartoon was removed less than 24 hours after he posted it, before he had received a single order.
“I doubt anyone had even seen it yet on the site,” he said. “This reveals that the Trump campaign has a system in place, trawling for material they find objectionable. If it happened to me so quickly, it likely has happened to others. How much other content has been removed this way on Redbubble and other sites?”
He added: “It must be pointed out: the president of the United States is a hypocrite who complains about the ‘violation’ of his free speech on Twitter, then tries to actively suppress the free speech of others. These are actions of an adolescent wannabe-authoritarian.”
Trump criticised Twitter this week for “completely stifling FREE SPEECH”, after the social media platform put a warning label on two of his tweets spreading lies about mail-in voting.
CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein said the organisation was “sensitive to the issues companies like Redbubble face in balancing competing rights owner issues, and were alarmed to see the president’s re-election campaign exploiting those issues to suppress protected speech”.
“We’re pleased that Redbubble has done the right thing in this case,” he said. “We hope that they will continue to assert the First Amendment rights they and their sellers are guaranteed by rejecting any similar censorship attempts.”


theguardian--2020-05-28--Donald Trump's move against Twitter factchecking could backfire

Donald Trump ’ s apparent plans to punish Twitter for appending a factcheck to his claims that mail-in ballots would be “ substantially fraudulent ” could reshape the web – but not necessarily in the ways he or his supporters intend .
Trump ’ s expected avenue of attack focuses on section 230 of the Communications Decency Act .
That law underpins much of how the internet is regulated in the United States , by effectively creating the hybrid publisher/platform model that has become the norm for social media companies worldwide .
Before the CDA , passed in 1996 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law : they could either act as “ mere conduits ” , passing on all content without alteration – akin to a phone service – or they could intervene , moderating their platforms but taking legal liability for anything they let pass .
Section 230 changed that , by creating a legal exception that allows platforms to moderate their sites as they see fit , without taking on the risk of being sued for the content they leave up .
It holds that : “ No provider or user of an interactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.
” The clause has been described by the lawyer Jeff Kosseff as “ The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet ” .
The law has been widely misunderstood in the years since it passed , noted the neoconservative thinktank AEI , with one “ unfortunately persistent misunderstanding ” being that it requires platforms to exercise political neutrality .
As a result , it has come under increasing attack , particularly from the US right , which believes it is the victim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to a draft executive order seen by Reuters , Trump plans to hit back at Twitter by weakening section 230 .
The order would require the Federal Communications Commission to “ clarify ” the law in a number of ways , proposing that “ editing content ” could lead to a platform forfeiting its protections under section 230 , as well as looking at whether it uses “ deceptive policies ” to moderate , or if those policies are “ inconsistent with its terms of service ” .
If the FCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulation , the primary goal appears to be to force the companies to dial back their actions , for fear of losing the protection .
A ban on “ editing ” content , for instance , would seem to be targeted at warnings like those Twitter appended to Trump ’ s mail-in ballots tweets , while the ban on “ deceptive policies ” has been interpreted as an attempt to formally introduce a requirement for political neutrality into the section 230 constraints .
But the regulation could backfire , at least in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By barring social media companies from using the nuanced forms of moderation they currently employ , the executive order could force them to resort to heavy-handed actions : deleting posts , or blocking users , rather than simply factchecking or reducing the reach of the worst material .
Similarly , removing section 230 protections entirely from a technology firm would be unlikely to force it to act as a politically neutral “ mere conduit ” , since any moderation at all – even simply deleting the vast quantities of automated spam that hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day – would then open them up to lawsuits about the content they had left up .
As Kosseff said in 2019 : “ Are they saying you don ’ t do any moderation at all ?
A free for all ?
I seriously would not want to be on the internet at all if that was the case .
”

Donald Trump’s apparent plans to punish Twitter for appending a factcheck to his claims that mail-in ballots would be “substantially fraudulent” could reshape the web – but not necessarily in the ways he or his supporters intend.
Trump’s expected avenue of attack focuses on section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. That law underpins much of how the internet is regulated in the United States, by effectively creating the hybrid publisher/platform model that has become the norm for social media companies worldwide.
Before the CDA, passed in 1996, American communications firms had two options under the law: they could either act as “mere conduits”, passing on all content without alteration – akin to a phone service – or they could intervene, moderating their platforms but taking legal liability for anything they let pass.
Section 230 changed that, by creating a legal exception that allows platforms to moderate their sites as they see fit, without taking on the risk of being sued for the content they leave up. It holds that: “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” The clause has been described by the lawyer Jeff Kosseff as “The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet”.
The law has been widely misunderstood in the years since it passed, noted the neoconservative thinktank AEI, with one “unfortunately persistent misunderstanding” being that it requires platforms to exercise political neutrality. As a result, it has come under increasing attack, particularly from the US right, which believes it is the victim of undue censorship from major web platforms.
According to a draft executive order seen by Reuters, Trump plans to hit back at Twitter by weakening section 230. The order would require the Federal Communications Commission to “clarify” the law in a number of ways, proposing that “editing content” could lead to a platform forfeiting its protections under section 230, as well as looking at whether it uses “deceptive policies” to moderate, or if those policies are “inconsistent with its terms of service”.
If the FCC followed suit and implemented the suggestions into regulation, the primary goal appears to be to force the companies to dial back their actions, for fear of losing the protection. A ban on “editing” content, for instance, would seem to be targeted at warnings like those Twitter appended to Trump’s mail-in ballots tweets, while the ban on “deceptive policies” has been interpreted as an attempt to formally introduce a requirement for political neutrality into the section 230 constraints.
But the regulation could backfire, at least in terms of creating the internet Trump desires. By barring social media companies from using the nuanced forms of moderation they currently employ, the executive order could force them to resort to heavy-handed actions: deleting posts, or blocking users, rather than simply factchecking or reducing the reach of the worst material.
Similarly, removing section 230 protections entirely from a technology firm would be unlikely to force it to act as a politically neutral “mere conduit”, since any moderation at all – even simply deleting the vast quantities of automated spam that hit platforms such as Facebook and Twitter each day – would then open them up to lawsuits about the content they had left up.
As Kosseff said in 2019: “Are they saying you don’t do any moderation at all? A free for all? I seriously would not want to be on the internet at all if that was the case.”


theguardian--2020-05-28--Why Twitter should ban Donald Trump | Julia Carrie Wong

The president ’ s executive order on social media will kick off a heated debate over free speech on the internet that will , in all likelihood , lead to nothing .
This manufactured dispute is a distraction for the media , and it will almost certainly be an effective one .
It would be in everyone ’ s interest – including its own – if Twitter pulled the plug on this specious debate , banned Trump for repeated and egregious violations of its rules , and helped us all focus on what ’ s more important .
• None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States have died of Covid-19 , more than any other nation in the world .
The figure is probably an undercount .
• None More than 1.7 million people in the US have had confirmed cases of Covid-19 , more than any other nation in the world .
The figure is almost certainly an undercount .
• None The US federal government completely botched the rollout of testing for the coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic , and continues to lag in providing adequate testing for its populace .
• None Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans were living in poverty .
• None More than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past 10 weeks .
• None Before the pandemic , 11.2 million US children lived in a food-insecure household .
• None Experts project that pandemic-related unemployment could increase the number of children experiencing food-insecurity to between 12.4 million and 18 million , or one out of every four children .
• None The Covid-19 mortality rate for black Americans is more than twice as high as the rate for white , Latino and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60,000 healthcare workers in the US have been infected with the coronavirus and nearly 300 have died .
• None US hospitals laid off 1.4 million healthcare workers in April .
• None There is no federal plan to address any of this .

The president’s executive order on social media will kick off a heated debate over free speech on the internet that will, in all likelihood, lead to nothing. This manufactured dispute is a distraction for the media, and it will almost certainly be an effective one. It would be in everyone’s interest – including its own – if Twitter pulled the plug on this specious debate, banned Trump for repeated and egregious violations of its rules, and helped us all focus on what’s more important.
More than 100,000 people in the United States have died of Covid-19, more than any other nation in the world. The figure is probably an undercount.
More than 1.7 million people in the US have had confirmed cases of Covid-19, more than any other nation in the world. The figure is almost certainly an undercount.
The US federal government completely botched the rollout of testing for the coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic, and continues to lag in providing adequate testing for its populace.


theguardian--2020-05-28--The Guardian view on Covid-19 and cults of strength: the weakest response | Editorial

Even leaders who thrive by bullying people have realised that they can ’ t bully a pandemic .
But nor does caution fit easily with their macho political image .
Their temptation has been to let it run its course instead .
Now the facts are catching up with them .
The Brazilian president , Jair Bolsonaro , has repeatedly dismissed the risks from coronavirus , defied his own government ’ s advice by meeting crowds of supporters , and pushed states to reopen beauty parlours as the death toll climbed .
This week it passed 25,000 , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early August .
Brazil ranks second in the world for recorded cases – all the more shocking given its strong performance in the previous HIV and Zika virus health crises .
Mr Bolsonaro ’ s friend Donald Trump has now imposed a travel ban on non-US citizens coming from Brazil .
Yet the US is leading the world for coronavirus cases and fatalities , with 100,000 deaths , and the toll is rising as the lockdown eases .
Mr Trump brushed aside warnings of the approaching crisis , failed to prepare his country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desperation to see some improvement in economic conditions ahead of November ’ s elections .
Third in the tally of confirmed cases is Russia , where Vladimir Putin announced an end to the lockdown he imposed at the end of March even as infections hit a record high .
More than 375,000 have now tested positive , though the death toll remains strikingly – many say suspiciously – low .
Though officials claim the rate of infections has begun to slow , the polls suggest that the Russian president , like Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political price .
India is further behind , with around 150,000 cases , but catching up fast .
The disastrous failure of Narendra Modi , the prime minister , to address the needs of millions of migrant workers when imposing lockdown created a humanitarian crisis and helped to facilitate the disease ’ s spread through the country .
Now he is easing restrictions without introducing other effective measures such as test and trace , effectively telling Indians that they must just accept the risk .
Last week , the World Health Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-thirds of all new cases .
Instead of prioritising saving lives while finding ways to ameliorate the suffering caused by lockdowns , leaders have made the same cynical gamble : taking the shortest route to reopening their economies , blaming anyone more cautious for the lost jobs and hungry households – and anyone convenient for the death toll resulting from their own inaction .
Abandoned by their national leaders , many states , cities , businesses and institutions have taken matters into their own hands to reduce the spread of the disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil ’ s favelas , community organisers and volunteers are organising public information campaigns and hiring private medical teams .
These welcome efforts may reduce the damage , but they can not avert it entirely – as the rising death tolls show .
These men have sold a cult of strength that mocks and dismisses the weak , yet are too feeble to shoulder the burden of responsibility .
They use their power to protect not their countries but themselves .
Will they ultimately pay , as their people have ?

Even leaders who thrive by bullying people have realised that they can’t bully a pandemic. But nor does caution fit easily with their macho political image. Their temptation has been to let it run its course instead. Now the facts are catching up with them.
The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has repeatedly dismissed the risks from coronavirus, defied his own government’s advice by meeting crowds of supporters, and pushed states to reopen beauty parlours as the death toll climbed. This week it passed 25,000, and a study suggested it could hit 125,000 by early August. Brazil ranks second in the world for recorded cases – all the more shocking given its strong performance in the previous HIV and Zika virus health crises.
Mr Bolsonaro’s friend Donald Trump has now imposed a travel ban on non-US citizens coming from Brazil. Yet the US is leading the world for coronavirus cases and fatalities, with 100,000 deaths, and the toll is rising as the lockdown eases. Mr Trump brushed aside warnings of the approaching crisis, failed to prepare his country and has pushed for reopening in his desperation to see some improvement in economic conditions ahead of November’s elections. Third in the tally of confirmed cases is Russia, where Vladimir Putin announced an end to the lockdown he imposed at the end of March even as infections hit a record high. More than 375,000 have now tested positive, though the death toll remains strikingly – many say suspiciously – low. Though officials claim the rate of infections has begun to slow, the polls suggest that the Russian president, like Mr Trump and Mr Bolsonaro, is now paying a political price.
India is further behind, with around 150,000 cases, but catching up fast. The disastrous failure of Narendra Modi, the prime minister, to address the needs of millions of migrant workers when imposing lockdown created a humanitarian crisis and helped to facilitate the disease’s spread through the country. Now he is easing restrictions without introducing other effective measures such as test and trace, effectively telling Indians that they must just accept the risk.
Last week, the World Health Organization noted that these four countries accounted for two-thirds of all new cases. Instead of prioritising saving lives while finding ways to ameliorate the suffering caused by lockdowns, leaders have made the same cynical gamble: taking the shortest route to reopening their economies, blaming anyone more cautious for the lost jobs and hungry households – and anyone convenient for the death toll resulting from their own inaction.
Abandoned by their national leaders, many states, cities, businesses and institutions have taken matters into their own hands to reduce the spread of the disease. So have individuals and communities. In Brazil’s favelas, community organisers and volunteers are organising public information campaigns and hiring private medical teams.
These welcome efforts may reduce the damage, but they cannot avert it entirely – as the rising death tolls show. These men have sold a cult of strength that mocks and dismisses the weak, yet are too feeble to shoulder the burden of responsibility. They use their power to protect not their countries but themselves. Will they ultimately pay, as their people have?


theguardian--2020-05-29--George Floyd killing: journalist arrested while reporting on Minneapolis protest; Trump calls protes

George Floyd killing: journalist arrested while reporting on Minneapolis protest; Trump calls protesters 'thugs' - as it happened

Police nationwide , in unequivocal and unprecedented language , have condemned the actions of Minneapolis police in the custody death of a handcuffed black man who cried for help as an officer knelt on his neck , pinning him to the pavement for at least eight minutes .
But some civil rights advocates say their denunciations are empty words without meaningful reform behind them .
Authorities say George Floyd was detained Monday because he matched the description of someone who tried to pay with a counterfeit bill at a convenience store , and the 46-year-old resisted arrest .
A disturbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is white , kneeling on Floyd ’ s neck , even as Floyd begs for air and slowly stops talking and moving .
There is no need to see more video , Chattanooga , Tennessee , Police Chief David Roddy tweeted Wednesday .
|There no need to wait to see how it plays out .
There is no need to put a knee on someone ’ s neck for NINE minutes .
There IS a need to DO something .
If you wear a badge and you dont have an issue with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police chiefs have strongly criticized the Minneapolis officer on social media and praised the city ’ s police chief for his quick dismissal of four officers at the scene .
Some even called for them to be criminally charged .
“ I am deeply disturbed by the video of Mr. Floyd being murdered in the street with other officers there letting it go on ” , Polk County , Georgia , Sheriff Johnny Moats wrote on Facebook .
“ I can assure everyone , me or any of my deputies will never treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff .
This kind of brutality is terrible and it needs to stop .
All Officers involved need to be arrested and charged immediately .
Praying for the family .
”

Sarah Marsh (now); Michael McGowan, Maanvi Singh  in Oakland,Joan E Greve in Washington and Joanna Walters in New York (earlier)

29 May 2020 12.49 BST Summary of the latest developments Sarah Marsh We are now closing this live blog but you can find all the latest updates on this story here: George Floyd killing: protests spread across US as Twitter hides Trump tweet 'glorifying violence' – live Read more Please see below a summary of the latest news: Twitter accused President Donald Trump on Friday of “glorifying violence” , attaching a disclaimer to one of his tweets about unrest in Minneapolis that it said broke its rules.
, attaching a disclaimer to one of his tweets about unrest in Minneapolis that it said broke its rules. CNN has reported that its correspondent Omar Jimenez and his crew have been released from police custody after being arrested earlier this morning live on air while covering the protests. Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz said he “deeply apologizes” after the arrest.
from police custody after being arrested earlier this morning live on air while covering the protests. Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz said he “deeply apologizes” after the arrest. A Mississippi mayor whose remarks about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody is refusing calls to resign, including from his own town’s board of aldermen. “Why in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today?” Petal Mayor Hal Marx tweeted Tuesday, the day four Minneapolis police officers were fired.
police custody is refusing calls to resign, including from his own town’s board of aldermen. “Why in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today?” Petal Mayor Hal Marx tweeted Tuesday, the day four Minneapolis police officers were fired. Police nationwide, in unequivocal and unprecedented language, have condemned the actions of Minneapolis police in the custody death of a handcuffed black man who cried for help as an officer knelt on his neck, pinning him to the pavement for at least eight minutes
of a handcuffed black man who cried for help as an officer knelt on his neck, pinning him to the pavement for at least eight minutes Protesters angry over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody turned out for a demonstration in Columbus that began peacefully but turned violent , leaving smashed storefront windows along downtown streets around the statehouse.
, leaving smashed storefront windows along downtown streets around the statehouse. Protesters torched a Minneapolis police station that the department was forced to abandon as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the US over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck.
Updated at 12.54 BST
29 May 2020 12.42 BST CNN has reported that its correspondent Omar Jimenez and his crew have been released from police custody. Jimenez, along with producer Bill Kirkos and photojournalist Leonel Mendez, were arrested earlier this morning live on air, while covering the protests.
29 May 2020 12.40 BST A flash mob under the American consulate in Milan to protest the death of George Floyd. See a selection of pictures below. Photograph: Mairo Cinquetti/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: Mairo Cinquetti/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: Mairo Cinquetti/REX/Shutterstock
29 May 2020 12.29 BST Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz said he “deeply apologizes” after the arrest of a CNN journalist and his crew. He added that he is working to have the CNN team released immediately. Walz described the arrests as “unacceptable,” and said CNN’s team clearly has the right to be there. He added that he wants the media to be in Minnesota to cover the protests.
29 May 2020 12.15 BST Sarah Marsh Hello. I am running the Guardian’s live feed from London, bringing you the latest updates on the Minneapolis protests. Please do get in touch with me if you have any information to share. Twitter: @sloumarsh
Instagram: sarah_marsh_journalist
Email: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com
29 May 2020 12.12 BST The arrest of the CNN crew in Minneapolis “did not make any sense, according to a former police chief who now serves as a CNN law enforcement analyst. “The state police are going to have a lot to answer for with this arrest here,” said Charles Ramsey. “He’s standing there, he identified himself. You can see his credentials. Just move him to your want him to be.” Ramsey added that the there was “no way something like that should occur.” “I don’t know where the person in command of that platoon is. But that’s an individual who is definitely not taking charge,” he added.
29 May 2020 12.01 BST CNN has criticized the arrest of one of its teams on the ground in Minneapolis in a tweet this morning, and called for their release. They tweeted: A CNN reporter & his production team were arrested this morning in Minneapolis for doing their jobs, despite identifying themselves - a clear violation of their First Amendment rights. The authorities in Minnesota, incl. the Governor, must release the 3 CNN employees immediately. — CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 29, 2020
29 May 2020 11.56 BST The Minnesota State Patrol arrested a CNN reporter reporting live on television early Friday morning while covering the Minneapolis protests, without giving any reason, and led him and three crew members away in handcuffs.
Reporter Omar Jiminez had just shown a protester being arrested when about half a dozen white police officers surrounded him.
“We can move back to where you like,” he told the officers wearing gas masks and face shields, before explaining that he and his crew were members of the press. “We’re getting out of your way.”
29 May 2020 11.54 BST A Mississippi mayor whose remarks about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody is refusing calls to resign, including from his own town’s board of aldermen.
“Why in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today?” Petal Mayor Hal Marx tweeted Tuesday, the day four Minneapolis police officers were fired.
In a follow-up tweet, the Republican directly referenced the Floyd case, saying he didn’t see anything unreasonable: “If you can say you can’t breathe, you’re breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack. Video doesn’t show his resistance that got him in that position. Police being crucified.
Javon Patterson, an offensive lineman with the Indianapolis Colts, and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Alford both criticized Marx on social media. “How could you watch this disturbing video and make such an idiotic comment. But this guy is supposed to be the leader of the friendly city,’ Alford, a Petal High School alumnus, wrote on Facebook. This is why it’s important to vote people. You don’t want people like Mayor Hal Marx in charge. Marx’s Twitter account no longer exists.
29 May 2020 11.51 BST Police nationwide, in unequivocal and unprecedented language, have condemned the actions of Minneapolis police in the custody death of a handcuffed black man who cried for help as an officer knelt on his neck, pinning him to the pavement for at least eight minutes.
But some civil rights advocates say their denunciations are empty words without meaningful reform behind them.
Authorities say George Floyd was detained Monday because he matched the description of someone who tried to pay with a counterfeit bill at a convenience store, and the 46-year-old resisted arrest. A disturbing video shows Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on Floyd’s neck, even as Floyd begs for air and slowly stops talking and moving.
There is no need to see more video, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Police Chief David Roddy tweeted Wednesday. |There no need to wait to see how it plays out. There is no need to put a knee on someone’s neck for NINE minutes. There IS a need to DO something. If you wear a badge and you dont have an issue with this ... turn it in.”
Sheriffs and police chiefs have strongly criticized the Minneapolis officer on social media and praised the city’s police chief for his quick dismissal of four officers at the scene. Some even called for them to be criminally charged.
“I am deeply disturbed by the video of Mr. Floyd being murdered in the street with other officers there letting it go on”, Polk County, Georgia, Sheriff Johnny Moats wrote on Facebook. “I can assure everyone, me or any of my deputies will never treat anyone like that as long as Im Sheriff. This kind of brutality is terrible and it needs to stop. All Officers involved need to be arrested and charged immediately. Praying for the family.”
29 May 2020 11.37 BST Police and fire engines have arrived at the centre of the protests in Minneapolis. CNN crew on the site reported that they witnessed the authorities arriving to the scene just after 4:30 am ET.
29 May 2020 11.31 BST CNN journalist arrested during live Minneapolis broadcast CNN has reported that one of their journalists, Omar Jimenez, was taken into police custody during a live broadcast at the site of the protests in Minneapolis. Jimenez’s crew, including a producer and a camera operator, were also placed in handcuffs. My colleague @OmarJimenez, reporting calmly and cooperatively, was just arrested on live television along with his crew. — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 29, 2020 Police clearly saw that @OmarJimenez and his team were broadcasting live, reporting on the protests. During the arrest Omar kept asking them where they wanted him to be. They arrested him anyway. I just cannot believe this. — Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) May 29, 2020 Minnesota State Police arresting CNN's @OmarJimenez and crew live on TV on @NewDay for reporting on the protests. Police say they were arrested because they were told to move and didn't. Omar was completely respectful and cooperative, ans asked the police where to do the report. pic.twitter.com/HPVtvQ59Xo — Sam Fernando (@Sujayanth) May 29, 2020
Updated at 11.53 BST
29 May 2020 10.21 BST Protesters angry over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody turned out for a demonstration in Columbus that began peacefully but turned violent, leaving smashed storefront windows along downtown streets around the statehouse.
The crowd of around 400 people entered into a standoff with Columbus police Thursday night, blocking the intersection of key streets in the Ohio capital for hours, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
The demonstration began as a peaceful protest, but news outlets reported protesters began throwing objects like water bottles at officers, who responded by using tear gas on the crowd. A scuffle between a protester and an officer broke out around 9:45 pm, WCMH-TV reported.
Some protesters attempted to breach the Ohio Statehouse later Thursday, the TV station reported, sharing photographs of what appeared to be smashed windows at the statehouse.
Calls and emails to Columbus police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which covers Capitol security, from The Associated Press weren’t returned overnight.
“I understand why some residents are angry and taking to the streets. I have said many times that racism exists across the country, state and right here in Columbus. We are committed to addressing racism wherever we see it, Mayor Andrew Ginther tweeted before 9 p.m. I respect peaceful protests and ask residents to remain peaceful in their actions tonight and every night.”
29 May 2020 09.41 BST Sarah Marsh Hello everyone. I am running the Guardian’s live feed from London, bringing you the latest updates on the Minneapolis protests. Please do get in touch with me if you have any information to share via any of the channels below. Twitter: @sloumarsh
Instagram: sarah_marsh_journalist
Email: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com
29 May 2020 09.30 BST Twitter accused President Donald Trump on Friday of “glorifying violence”, attaching a disclaimer to one of his tweets about unrest in Minneapolis that it said broke its rules.
“...These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won*t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!” Trump’s tweet read.
Trump’s message can now be read only after clicking on a notice which says: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”
In a thread, Twitter said it had taken the action “in the interest of preventing others from being inspired to commit violent acts”. People will still “be able to retweet with comment, but will not be able to like, reply or retweet it.”
Twitter’s action came just hours after Trump said he would introduce legislation that may scrap or weaken a law that has protected internet companies, including Twitter and Facebook , in an extraordinary attempt to regulate social media platforms where he has been criticized.
The proposed legislation is part of an executive order Trump signed on Thursday afternoon. Trump had attacked Twitter for tagging tweets about unsubstantiated claims of fraud about mail-in voting with a warning prompting readers to fact-check the posts.


theguardian--2020-05-29--‘Are you saying Trump never lies?’: reporters quiz McEnany over White House Twitter feud – video

Reporters have interrogated the White House press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany , over Donald Trump 's feud with Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ things in these tweets that are not true .
Do you acknowledge that ? '
@ @ @ @ @ News , said during the briefing .
McEnany said she did not .
Earlier , @ @ @ @ @ aimed at limiting social media firms such as Facebook and Twitter from policing content on @ @ @ @ @ order came days after Twitter put a warning on a false claim tweeted by the @

Reporters have interrogated the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, over Donald Trump's feud with Twitter. 'The president has clearly said things in these tweets that are not true. Do you acknowledge that?' Jon Karl, of ABC News, said during the briefing. McEnany said she did not. Earlier, Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting social media firms such as Facebook and Twitter from policing content on their sites. The executive order came days after Twitter put a warning on a false claim tweeted by the president


theguardian--2020-05-29--Move on from lies and arrogance? No, let’s reflect | Letters

How quickly the Tory-supporting newspapers reverted to type , and quietly let Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings off the hook .
Johnson says it ’ s time to move on .
That ’ s been his mantra all his life .
Trash a restaurant as a student – move on .
Make a career of lying journalism – move on ( but with plenty of money in the bank ) .
Cheat on your wives – deny it , move on .
Get your girlfriends pregnant – deny it , move on .
Worst foreign secretary for a century – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , move on .
Campaign for Brexit , which will destroy our economy , unity and position in the world – tell lots of lies , move on .
Two factors throughout Johnson ’ s life – lies and arrogance .
Both have been on full display this last week .
Meantime , Matt Hancock – responding by laughing during an interview on Sky – showed that arrogance in this government of incompetents is not just confined to Johnson , Cummings and Gove .
Don ’ t ever think the Tories are here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party cousins in the US – whom they now resemble – this Tory government is all about elitism , selfishness and power .
Garth Groombridge Southampton • In view of the refusal of the prime minister to recognise the feelings of the people of the UK and many of his MPs regarding the apparently perverse lockdown decisions and the inconsistent explanations given by his special adviser , am I the only person asking questions regarding the current health of our political leader ?
I suffered an episode of Covid-19 about three weeks before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain lethargic , with reduced capacity for sustained work .
Such experiences are common in those recovering from this devastating virus .
Looking at his features , growing ever more tired and worn on TV each night , it would be easy to conclude that he needed a longer period of convalescence and should stand aside again to allow others to step into the leadership role and take the difficult decisions required , be they the future of a disgraced special adviser or the introduction of a potentially intrusive but essential track-and-trace system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Southport , Merseyside • There was something distasteful and frighteningly Trumpellian about Boris Johnson ’ s refusal to let journalists question Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance on the Cummings affair ( Boris Johnson brushes off Tory revolt over Dominic Cummings , 28 May ) .
There was nothing political about the questions , as Johnson claimed when blocking the questions to Whitty and Vallance .
It is the PM and his cabinet who have transposed this critical public health matter into a political issue , with their farcical defence of Cummings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slope towards actually barring uncomfortable questions from the press ?
Journalists have already been accused of spreading “ false news ” re Cummings , so what next ?
George Orwell said : “ Freedom of the press , if it means anything at all , means the freedom to criticise and oppose.
” Even more crucial is its freedom to question and investigate .
Natalie Cohen Glasgow • Surely the expression “ lay doggo ” refers to someone keeping their head down , staying quiet .
It is a strange term to apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quarantine article by Dominic Cummings ’ wife reported to regulator , 28 May ) .
What was going on in the head , or the subconscious , of Mary Wakefield – an experienced journalist – to cause her to use that phrase in that context about her husband , Dominic Cummings ?
Francis Blake London • Join the debate – email guardian.letters @ theguardian.com • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

How quickly the Tory-supporting newspapers reverted to type, and quietly let Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings off the hook. Johnson says it’s time to move on. That’s been his mantra all his life. Trash a restaurant as a student – move on. Make a career of lying journalism – move on (but with plenty of money in the bank). Cheat on your wives – deny it, move on. Get your girlfriends pregnant – deny it, move on. Worst foreign secretary for a century – laugh, tell a joke in Latin, move on. Campaign for Brexit, which will destroy our economy, unity and position in the world – tell lots of lies, move on.
Two factors throughout Johnson’s life – lies and arrogance. Both have been on full display this last week. Meantime, Matt Hancock – responding by laughing during an interview on Sky – showed that arrogance in this government of incompetents is not just confined to Johnson, Cummings and Gove. Don’t ever think the Tories are here for your benefit. Like their Republican party cousins in the US – whom they now resemble – this Tory government is all about elitism, selfishness and power.
Garth Groombridge
Southampton
In view of the refusal of the prime minister to recognise the feelings of the people of the UK and many of his MPs regarding the apparently perverse lockdown decisions and the inconsistent explanations given by his special adviser, am I the only person asking questions regarding the current health of our political leader?
I suffered an episode of Covid-19 about three weeks before Boris Johnson, and even now I remain lethargic, with reduced capacity for sustained work. Such experiences are common in those recovering from this devastating virus. Looking at his features, growing ever more tired and worn on TV each night, it would be easy to conclude that he needed a longer period of convalescence and should stand aside again to allow others to step into the leadership role and take the difficult decisions required, be they the future of a disgraced special adviser or the introduction of a potentially intrusive but essential track-and-trace system.
Dr Jim Ford
Consultant occupational physician, Southport, Merseyside
There was something distasteful and frighteningly Trumpellian about Boris Johnson’s refusal to let journalists question Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance on the Cummings affair (Boris Johnson brushes off Tory revolt over Dominic Cummings, 28 May). There was nothing political about the questions, as Johnson claimed when blocking the questions to Whitty and Vallance. It is the PM and his cabinet who have transposed this critical public health matter into a political issue, with their farcical defence of Cummings.
Is Johnson sliding down the slippery slope towards actually barring uncomfortable questions from the press? Journalists have already been accused of spreading “false news” re Cummings, so what next? George Orwell said: “Freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticise and oppose.” Even more crucial is its freedom to question and investigate.
Natalie Cohen
Glasgow


theguardian--2020-05-29--The Minnesota paradox: how race divides prosperous Minneapolis

It has been called the “ Minnesota paradox ” .
The Twin Cities , comprising the conjoined urban areas of Minneapolis and St Paul , regularly tops the list of places in the US with the best quality of living .
Largely low rise and sprawling , set around the cities ’ lakes and the Mississippi , the area is marked by affordable and largely good quality housing with lawns , parks , museums and tree-lined streets .
Its politics too have long reflected a strong progressive strand , represented by figures such as the late senator Paul Wellstone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Senate .
Employment – pre-pandemic , at least – was high , and St Paul serves as the global headquarters for 3M .
But there is another side to living in Minnesota , often ignored .
Factor in the black and ethnic minority experience , and the state is suddenly not such a good place to live .
Despite Minneapolis celebrating itself as the city of Prince and Paisley Park , Minnesota ’ s black education and employment outcomes by US national standards have long been dismal in comparison with those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rated in 2018 second in terms of overall best states in which to live in the US , in the same year Minnesota ranked close to the bottom for both employment gap by race ( 47th ) and income gap by race ( 38th ) .
According to a report released last year , even before the mass unemployment triggered by the coronavirus took hold , some 10 % of black American residents of the Twin Cities were unemployed compared with just under 4 % of white American residents .
Given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color , that already bad situation has now worsened .
The reality of Minneapolis and St Paul is that behind the veneer of “ Minnesota nice ” , behind the reputation of a socially liberal and highly tolerant metropolitan area ( in contrast with the state ’ s more conservative rural areas ) , there have long been glaring divisions along racial lines in a place where 20 % of the population is African-American .
Despite having a white mayor , Jacob Frey , who has been outspoken about the problems of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same congressional district that elected Ilhan Omar , the state ’ s first non-white woman to be elected to Congress , race relations have foundered on chronic inequalities and a series of high-profile killings of black people involving the 800-strong police force .
As the academic Samuel Myers , who coined the notion of the Minnesota paradox , pointed out two years ago , it is not only in employment and income gaps that the paradox exists , pointing to racial disparities in incarceration rates , in child maltreatment report rates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in drowning rates .
Among all these indicators , it is education that has witnessed one of the worst disparities , despite this being acknowledged as a problem by state officials and leading to a current restructuring effort to try to address the inequalities .
According to a report last year , while 95.9 % of white adults in the Twin Cities metro area have a high school diploma , one of the highest figures in the US , just 82.2 % of black adults do , a number below the national black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Add to all that the dangerous accelerant of the issue of police violence against black people , including the police shootings of Philando Castile in 2016 and Jamar Clark in 2015 , which led to protests that shut down some of the city ’ s highways , and what occurred this week becomes more understandable .
Finally , as one resident pointed out to the Guardian , the impact of the coronavirus – not least its devastating economic impact on the poorest and least protected communities – has fed the simmering anger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing .
All of which has left a journey along Minneapolis ’ s historic east-west thoroughfare Lake Street , location of the 3rd police precinct which was attacked after the Floyd killing , as a metaphor for many of the tensions .
A longtime magnet for new immigrants , from Scandinavians in the 19th century through black Americans during the Great Migration and those who relocated from cities such as Chicago in the 60s and 70s , to Hispanic , Hmong and most recently Somali immigrants , this street underlines the disparities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and bookended by the middle class neighborhoods close to the river where Black Lives Matter placards proliferated on lawns in 2016 after Castile ’ s killing , it also traverses poorer neighborhoods with immigrant-run businesses .
It was not always this way .
While race relations in the state have largely mirrored the wider experience of the US , the Twin Cites in the 60s and 70s were seen for the African Americans who relocated there as a place with access to jobs and good schooling .
But race in Minnesota has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ era , as some local rightwing politicians in towns such as Saint Cloud , outside the metropolitan area , have fostered anti-immigrant sentiment aimed largely at Somalis and Latinos .
All of which led Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor to write in the New York Times that what is “ unmistakable in the bitter protests in Minneapolis and around the country is the sense that the state is either complicit or incapable of effecting substantive change ” .

It has been called the “Minnesota paradox”. The Twin Cities, comprising the conjoined urban areas of Minneapolis and St Paul, regularly tops the list of places in the US with the best quality of living.
Largely low rise and sprawling, set around the cities’ lakes and the Mississippi, the area is marked by affordable and largely good quality housing with lawns, parks, museums and tree-lined streets.
Its politics too have long reflected a strong progressive strand, represented by figures such as the late senator Paul Wellstone, once described as the most liberal member of the Senate. Employment – pre-pandemic, at least – was high, and St Paul serves as the global headquarters for 3M.
But there is another side to living in Minnesota, often ignored. Factor in the black and ethnic minority experience, and the state is suddenly not such a good place to live.
Despite Minneapolis celebrating itself as the city of Prince and Paisley Park, Minnesota’s black education and employment outcomes by US national standards have long been dismal in comparison with those of the state’s white population.
Rated in 2018 second in terms of overall best states in which to live in the US, in the same year Minnesota ranked close to the bottom for both employment gap by race (47th) and income gap by race (38th).
According to a report released last year, even before the mass unemployment triggered by the coronavirus took hold, some 10% of black American residents of the Twin Cities were unemployed compared with just under 4% of white American residents. Given the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on communities of color, that already bad situation has now worsened.
The reality of Minneapolis and St Paul is that behind the veneer of “Minnesota nice”, behind the reputation of a socially liberal and highly tolerant metropolitan area (in contrast with the state’s more conservative rural areas), there have long been glaring divisions along racial lines in a place where 20% of the population is African-American.
Despite having a white mayor, Jacob Frey, who has been outspoken about the problems of structural racism, and being located in the same congressional district that elected Ilhan Omar, the state’s first non-white woman to be elected to Congress, race relations have foundered on chronic inequalities and a series of high-profile killings of black people involving the 800-strong police force.
As the academic Samuel Myers, who coined the notion of the Minnesota paradox, pointed out two years ago, it is not only in employment and income gaps that the paradox exists, pointing to racial disparities in incarceration rates, in child maltreatment report rates, educational outcomes, and even racial disparities in drowning rates.
Among all these indicators, it is education that has witnessed one of the worst disparities, despite this being acknowledged as a problem by state officials and leading to a current restructuring effort to try to address the inequalities.
According to a report last year, while 95.9% of white adults in the Twin Cities metro area have a high school diploma, one of the highest figures in the US, just 82.2% of black adults do, a number below the national black high school attainment rate of 84.9%.
Add to all that the dangerous accelerant of the issue of police violence against black people, including the police shootings of Philando Castile in 2016 and Jamar Clark in 2015, which led to protests that shut down some of the city’s highways, and what occurred this week becomes more understandable.
Finally, as one resident pointed out to the Guardian, the impact of the coronavirus – not least its devastating economic impact on the poorest and least protected communities – has fed the simmering anger that existed before George Floyd’s killing.
All of which has left a journey along Minneapolis’s historic east-west thoroughfare Lake Street, location of the 3rd police precinct which was attacked after the Floyd killing, as a metaphor for many of the tensions.
A longtime magnet for new immigrants, from Scandinavians in the 19th century through black Americans during the Great Migration and those who relocated from cities such as Chicago in the 60s and 70s, to Hispanic, Hmong and most recently Somali immigrants, this street underlines the disparities.
Running from uptown with its wealthy homes, and bookended by the middle class neighborhoods close to the river where Black Lives Matter placards proliferated on lawns in 2016 after Castile’s killing, it also traverses poorer neighborhoods with immigrant-run businesses.
It was not always this way. While race relations in the state have largely mirrored the wider experience of the US, the Twin Cites in the 60s and 70s were seen for the African Americans who relocated there as a place with access to jobs and good schooling.
But race in Minnesota has become foregrounded even more in the Trump era, as some local rightwing politicians in towns such as Saint Cloud, outside the metropolitan area, have fostered anti-immigrant sentiment aimed largely at Somalis and Latinos.
All of which led Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor to write in the New York Times that what is “unmistakable in the bitter protests in Minneapolis and around the country is the sense that the state is either complicit or incapable of effecting substantive change”.


theguardian--2020-05-29--'Trump knows nothing of Minneapolis': mayor hits back at president's tweets

The mayor of Minneapolis has accused Donald Trump of shirking responsibility and chided the president for insulting him on social media at a time of crisis in his city and the country .
Protests have erupted across the country over the killing of George Floyd , a black man , by a white police officer in Minneapolis , that was captured on cellphone video .
The city has seen large-scale demonstrations and unrest , as protesters call for the officer who knelt on Floyd ’ s neck and the three officers who were there during the incident to be criminally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , have also broken out elsewhere in the US .
But , tweeting about an hour after midnight in Washington , Trump launched a Twitter attack on Minneapolis ’ s mayor , Jacob Frey .
The president wrote : “ I can ’ t stand back and watch this happen to a great American City , Minneapolis .
A total lack of leadership .
Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the City under control , or I will send in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right.
” In a second tweet , Trump wrote : “ These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd , and I won ’ t let that happen … Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts .
Thank you !
” Twitter has since hidden the second tweet behind a warning that it violated “ Twitter rules about glorifying violence ” , fanning the president ’ s anger toward the social media company .
Frey responded to the attack when a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at him and the protests .
“ Let me say this : weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions .
Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else at a time of crisis , ” Frey said .
The mayor shook his head when the reporter read that Trump called him a “ very weak radical left mayor ” .
Frey said : “ Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis .
We are strong as hell .
This is a difficult time , yes , but you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to get through this.
” Late on Thursday night , the protests took a dramatic turn as a police precinct was set alight by demonstrators .
Police officers working in the precinct fled the building after unconfirmed reports that gas lines had been cut and explosives were in the area .
Although no explosions went off in the night , the building continued to burn into the early hours of the morning .
At the press conference , Frey said it was his call to evacuate officers from the building .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not outweigh the importance of life , ” he said .
Frey also denounced the riots that were taking place in the context of the demonstrations .
He said : “ What we have seen over the past several hours and past couple of nights is unacceptable .
These are banks that people rely on to get cash , grocery stores that people rely on to get food .
They are essential to our community.
” Earlier , Frey called on the district county attorney to arrest the officer who suffocated Floyd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color , had done what a police officer did late Monday , they ’ d already be behind bars , ” Frey tweeted on Wednesday .

The mayor of Minneapolis has accused Donald Trump of shirking responsibility and chided the president for insulting him on social media at a time of crisis in his city and the country.
Protests have erupted across the country over the killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, that was captured on cellphone video. The city has seen large-scale demonstrations and unrest, as protesters call for the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck and the three officers who were there during the incident to be criminally prosecuted. Protests, some marred by violence, have also broken out elsewhere in the US.
But, tweeting about an hour after midnight in Washington, Trump launched a Twitter attack on Minneapolis’s mayor, Jacob Frey.
The president wrote: “I can’t stand back and watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right.”
In a second tweet, Trump wrote: “These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen … Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
Twitter has since hidden the second tweet behind a warning that it violated “Twitter rules about glorifying violence”, fanning the president’s anger toward the social media company.
Frey responded to the attack when a reporter read aloud Trump’s tweets directed at him and the protests. “Let me say this: weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions. Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else at a time of crisis,” Frey said.
The mayor shook his head when the reporter read that Trump called him a “very weak radical left mayor”.
Frey said: “Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis. We are strong as hell. This is a difficult time, yes, but you better be damn sure that we’re going to get through this.”
Late on Thursday night, the protests took a dramatic turn as a police precinct was set alight by demonstrators. Police officers working in the precinct fled the building after unconfirmed reports that gas lines had been cut and explosives were in the area. Although no explosions went off in the night, the building continued to burn into the early hours of the morning.
At the press conference, Frey said it was his call to evacuate officers from the building. “The symbolism of a building cannot outweigh the importance of life,” he said.
Frey also denounced the riots that were taking place in the context of the demonstrations.
He said: “What we have seen over the past several hours and past couple of nights is unacceptable. These are banks that people rely on to get cash, grocery stores that people rely on to get food. They are essential to our community.”
Earlier, Frey called on the district county attorney to arrest the officer who suffocated Floyd.
“If most people, particularly people of color, had done what a police officer did late Monday, they’d already be behind bars,” Frey tweeted on Wednesday.


theguardian--2020-05-29--'Gross incompetence at highest levels': ex-Obama adviser blasts Trump's Covid response

The US has shown “ gross incompetence … at the highest levels ” in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic , according to Samantha Power , who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under Barack Obama .
Speaking to Philippe Sands for the online version of the Hay festival , Power said that Donald Trump ’ s administration had failed to learn from the countries hit by the coronavirus before the US .
“ We could have had an awful lot in place before it struck in earnest on the continent , ” she said , highlighting the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heroic health workers and public servants who are on the frontlines , but at the highest levels , diminishing the threat posed by the pandemic in its early stages ” .
Power served for four years as Obama ’ s human rights adviser and from 2013 to 2017 in his cabinet and as US ambassador to the UN .
The coronavirus outbreak in the US has been “ mishandled for a set of reasons that go well beyond the pandemic , a scepticism about science and evidence and global cooperation , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration had “ definitely underestimated the potency ” of “ a view represented by President Trump but shared by millions of Americans , that the international system has ripped us off , that we have been giving more than we ’ ve been getting ” .
“ We saw the pain caused , of course , by economic globalisation and saw the degree to which many in our own communities were being left behind .
But the idea that that would be laid squarely on political globalisation or on alliances or on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate , it seemed like too big a leap to get the fuel and the momentum that Trump has given it , so we were wrong to underestimate that , ” she said .
Power was asked by Sands if there was any coming back for the US after what he called “ almost irrecoverable ” damage done to the support for global order by the Trump presidency .
Power said it wasn ’ t just about Trump threatening to pull out of the World Health Organization , and withdrawing the US from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights council .
“ There is that .
But maybe even more damaging than that is the pullback from alliances that are at the heart of effective multilateralism … How do you recover the belief among German , French , British , Irish , Spanish citizens that when America attaches its name to an agreement , whether a climate agreement , or an Iran nuclear agreement , that is going to be an enduring signature ?
” she said .
“ What Trump has jeopardised more than anything is the sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to be there when you need us .
And that ’ s going to be the hardest thing of all , I think to build back that trust.
” Power was hopeful that Joe Biden will emerge the victor at this November ’ s presidential election due to Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic .
“ You can holler fake news and be kind of tribal in terms of your party mentality .
But if your insulin prices have tripled , and you no longer have a paycheck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t enough to pay for insulin for your kid , there ’ s only so many Trump tweets and allegations of voter fraud that are going to distract you from your own plight , ” said Power , who recently published her memoir , The Education of an Idealist .
Asked by Sands if there was any chance that Michelle Obama would step in as Biden ’ s vice-president , Power said that while there was a “ very , very , very slim ” possibility because of “ how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was unlikely .
“ I suppose there is some scenario where maybe she could be convinced that this is the only way , ” Power added .
“ But now that Biden has at least a modest lead in some of the polls , I think she ’ ll be convinced probably that there are other paths .
I ’ m not sure anybody who has seen the presidency up close would volunteer for it .
”

The US has shown “gross incompetence … at the highest levels” in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Samantha Power, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under Barack Obama.
Speaking to Philippe Sands for the online version of the Hay festival, Power said that Donald Trump’s administration had failed to learn from the countries hit by the coronavirus before the US.
“We could have had an awful lot in place before it struck in earnest on the continent,” she said, highlighting the “gross incompetence” shown “not by the heroic health workers and public servants who are on the frontlines, but at the highest levels, diminishing the threat posed by the pandemic in its early stages”.
Power served for four years as Obama’s human rights adviser and from 2013 to 2017 in his cabinet and as US ambassador to the UN. The coronavirus outbreak in the US has been “mishandled for a set of reasons that go well beyond the pandemic, a scepticism about science and evidence and global cooperation,” she said.
Underestimated … Trump supporters in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in November 2016. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters
She admitted that the Obama administration had “definitely underestimated the potency” of “a view represented by President Trump but shared by millions of Americans, that the international system has ripped us off, that we have been giving more than we’ve been getting”.
“We saw the pain caused, of course, by economic globalisation and saw the degree to which many in our own communities were being left behind. But the idea that that would be laid squarely on political globalisation or on alliances or on the United Nations, it was not accurate, it seemed like too big a leap to get the fuel and the momentum that Trump has given it, so we were wrong to underestimate that,” she said.
Power was asked by Sands if there was any coming back for the US after what he called “almost irrecoverable” damage done to the support for global order by the Trump presidency. Power said it wasn’t just about Trump threatening to pull out of the World Health Organization, and withdrawing the US from organisations including Unesco and the United Nations human rights council.
“There is that. But maybe even more damaging than that is the pullback from alliances that are at the heart of effective multilateralism … How do you recover the belief among German, French, British, Irish, Spanish citizens that when America attaches its name to an agreement, whether a climate agreement, or an Iran nuclear agreement, that is going to be an enduring signature?” she said. “What Trump has jeopardised more than anything is the sense of American constancy, [that] we’re going to be there when you need us. And that’s going to be the hardest thing of all, I think to build back that trust.”
Hopeful … Joe Biden campaigning in Detroit in March. Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP
Power was hopeful that Joe Biden will emerge the victor at this November’s presidential election due to Trump’s handling of the pandemic.
“You can holler fake news and be kind of tribal in terms of your party mentality. But if your insulin prices have tripled, and you no longer have a paycheck and the government subsidy you’re getting isn’t enough to pay for insulin for your kid, there’s only so many Trump tweets and allegations of voter fraud that are going to distract you from your own plight,” said Power, who recently published her memoir, The Education of an Idealist.
Asked by Sands if there was any chance that Michelle Obama would step in as Biden’s vice-president, Power said that while there was a “very, very, very slim” possibility because of “how much she cares about the country”, it was unlikely.
“I suppose there is some scenario where maybe she could be convinced that this is the only way,” Power added. “But now that Biden has at least a modest lead in some of the polls, I think she’ll be convinced probably that there are other paths. I’m not sure anybody who has seen the presidency up close would volunteer for it.”


theguardian--2020-05-29--We shouldn't have to witness George Floyd's killing for it to spark outrage | Leah Green

ou know that dream where you ’ re screaming – really loud – but no one can hear you ?
Your throat is burning from the effort but still the noise you make won ’ t register with the people right in front of you .
Imagine that nightmare was playing out in real life .
That the volume you had to reach to be heard was so high that you lost your voice every time .
After the death of George Floyd at the hands – or , more accurately , the knee – of a white police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessing how loud we need to shout about police brutality in the United States .
As it happens , we ’ re turning the dial all the way up : a black man pleads for his life , the white officer kneeling on his neck maintaining a blank expression .
An Asian fellow officer stands guard , deaf to anguished cries of passersby pleading for Floyd ’ s life .
Now you hear it .
Imagine again that you were scrolling through Twitter and stumbled across the image of a coronavirus victim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ images of British soldiers being tortured flickered by in the sidebar of a news website .
There are some things that are too painful to look at : like when you stare directly into the sun , its image is stuck at the centre of your vision all day .
But images of black people being killed in the US have become part of the furniture of our lives .
We have a compartment for them in our brain now , filed under “ so sad , we must do something ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these videos now that we recognise what they are before we hear the story : brown body on the floor , another one of those .
Racism makes something that should be unrecognisable recognisable , the unseeable easy to look at .
Showing the moment of someone ’ s death should be the last resort , when nothing else can cut through ; when nothing else can spark a public reaction .
That ’ s where we are with black lives .
I struggle to remember a story of a black person being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned ” neighbours , as in the case of Ahmaud Arbery ) that has sparked international outrage where there wasn ’ t a video of the moment of death available .
Trayvon Martin was an exception , but it took several days and a strong social-media campaign before the 17-year-old ’ s story was picked up by the mainstream media .
There are countless more instances that go unnoticed and covered up because no one was there with a smart phone to capture the person ’ s last moments .
Sharing footage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very powerful tool to have in our arsenal .
But it seems to be the only tool .
The problem is the last resort is your last resort because you ’ ve got no more aces up your sleeve .
We ’ ve turned the dial up to 100 .
Our eardrums should be bleeding , yet to a lot of people it ’ s starting to sound like a background hum .
For some of us , these videos are impossible to watch .
For a lot of black people , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your stomach while you watch another person being killed , needing to take time out to recover .
That ’ s a normal response .
We won ’ t stop seeing these videos , and without them progress would , unfortunately , be even slower .
But if you do look at them , interrogate whether you feel more numb than you should .
Avert your eyes , try to unlearn the normalisation we ’ ve all inherited .
And watching in itself is not enough .
If you want to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petitions , make direct complaints to police departments , donate to the families of victims if they need help .
If you ’ re white , have conversations with your other white friends about racism .
But let ’ s all try to get to the point where a black life matters , without having to witness the slow , painful sight of it ending .

You know that dream where you’re screaming – really loud – but no one can hear you? Your throat is burning from the effort but still the noise you make won’t register with the people right in front of you. Imagine that nightmare was playing out in real life. That the volume you had to reach to be heard was so high that you lost your voice every time.
After the death of George Floyd at the hands – or, more accurately, the knee – of a white police officer in Minneapolis, we’re left assessing how loud we need to shout about police brutality in the United States. As it happens, we’re turning the dial all the way up: a black man pleads for his life, the white officer kneeling on his neck maintaining a blank expression. An Asian fellow officer stands guard, deaf to anguished cries of passersby pleading for Floyd’s life. Now you hear it.
Imagine again that you were scrolling through Twitter and stumbled across the image of a coronavirus victim, dead in a morgue. Or that images of British soldiers being tortured flickered by in the sidebar of a news website. There are some things that are too painful to look at: like when you stare directly into the sun, its image is stuck at the centre of your vision all day.
But images of black people being killed in the US have become part of the furniture of our lives. We have a compartment for them in our brain now, filed under “so sad, we must do something”. We’ve seen so many of these videos now that we recognise what they are before we hear the story: brown body on the floor, another one of those.
Racism makes something that should be unrecognisable recognisable, the unseeable easy to look at. Showing the moment of someone’s death should be the last resort, when nothing else can cut through; when nothing else can spark a public reaction. That’s where we are with black lives.
I struggle to remember a story of a black person being killed by police (or by “concerned” neighbours, as in the case of Ahmaud Arbery) that has sparked international outrage where there wasn’t a video of the moment of death available. Trayvon Martin was an exception, but it took several days and a strong social-media campaign before the 17-year-old’s story was picked up by the mainstream media. There are countless more instances that go unnoticed and covered up because no one was there with a smart phone to capture the person’s last moments. Sharing footage of these brutal events is no doubt a very powerful tool to have in our arsenal. But it seems to be the only tool.
The problem is the last resort is your last resort because you’ve got no more aces up your sleeve. We’ve turned the dial up to 100. Our eardrums should be bleeding, yet to a lot of people it’s starting to sound like a background hum.
For some of us, these videos are impossible to watch. For a lot of black people, they leave deep personal scars: feeling sick to your stomach while you watch another person being killed, needing to take time out to recover. That’s a normal response.
We won’t stop seeing these videos, and without them progress would, unfortunately, be even slower. But if you do look at them, interrogate whether you feel more numb than you should. Avert your eyes, try to unlearn the normalisation we’ve all inherited.
And watching in itself is not enough. If you want to raise awareness then write to politicians, sign petitions, make direct complaints to police departments, donate to the families of victims if they need help. If you’re white, have conversations with your other white friends about racism.
But let’s all try to get to the point where a black life matters, without having to witness the slow, painful sight of it ending.


theguardian--2020-05-29--'Here's a bedsheet, make a parachute!' Republicans say, pushing us out of a plane | Hamilton Nolan

The Republican fetish for “ work ” has always been a sham .
The prime beneficiaries of Republican policies are , after all , the investor class , who by definition make their money while not working .
As our current economic crisis worsens , Republicans cling to ideas that become increasingly separated from reality , like fundamentalists rejecting modern medicine even as their family member is dying .
All of you , go back to work , or die trying !
Most of the world has asked people to stop going to work – temporarily , in theory – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the wiser countries of the world , the government is covering the payrolls of businesses through the worst part of these shutdowns , which has the dual benefits of helping employers not go broke , and keeping workers paid and employed until things can start getting back to normal .
America , of course , did not do anything so rational .
Instead , we just sweetened unemployment benefits , forcing nearly 40 million people to pile into broken and dysfunctional state unemployment systems , while millions more give up altogether .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the financial markets , a mediocre job giving lifelines to businesses , and a poor job saving working people .
And now , as we stare down the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression , Republicans in Congress have a bright idea : cutting off the extra money we ’ ve been giving to unemployed people , and instead incentivizing work .
As if workers needed more incentive than desperately trying to avoid starvation .
Rob Portman , the Republican senator from Ohio , is proposing a temporary new $ 450-a-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work .
Consider the wonderful benefits this would provide : the Republicans will do away with the $ 600-a-week benefit you are currently getting for the unemployment you were forced into , and instead offer you a lesser amount in order to return to your job that no longer exists .
The government ’ s failure to put in place a coherent response to this crisis from the beginning – a failure that will now force countless small businesses to close forever and will leave tens of millions of people persistently unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part-time jobs without benefits – will now be compounded by a weird adherence to the idea that everyone is dying to cling to public benefits for the rest of their lives , unless we force them to do otherwise .
Portman ’ s plan is like pushing someone out of a plane and then offering them some string and a bed sheet on the way dow – incentivize them to make their own parachute , rather than lazily relying on a government handout .
( Republicans are also pushing a capital gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investor class will be handed two parachutes each , just in case anything goes wrong with the first . )
It is the lie at the heart of the Republican governing philosophy that causes all of these ludicrously insufficient responses to an existential crisis .
The fundamental purpose of the Republican party is to cut taxes and otherwise serve the interests of the rich .
That ’ s it .
Everything else is in service of that goal .
In order to hang on to enough electoral support to do this , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work and the evil of government handouts , a quasi-religious tale designed to ensure both the upper class and working class parts of the party ’ s base that the existing social arrangement is honorable and right .
Now that we find ourselves in a crisis for which the obvious solution is unprecedented government support of the economy , the Republican party finds itself in a quandary .
Doing what should be done would lead a lot of people to begin asking uncomfortable questions .
If government aid can save us from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to do something about inequality too ?
Republicans simply can ’ t have that in their own party .
What we will get instead are paltry tax credits and work incentives and much rhetoric about Strong Americans Rallying Around the Flag , while the stock market is backstopped and everyone without six months of expenses saved up is told that risking their lives to return to work is the patriotic thing to do .
In one sense , the Republican leadership was prepared for their role at this moment .
Fomenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid any softening of the public ’ s attitude towards socialism is something that they have been adept at for many years .
People need healthcare .
People need jobs that pay a living wage .
People need food , and the forgiveness of rent payments , and a social safety net that is up to the challenge of being strained like it never has before .
These are things the Republicans do not offer .
They have an alternate plan : support for capital markets , a little bonus if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a vow to “ wait and see ” how things go , after state and local governments are forced to slash public services .
Doesn ’ t that sound nice ?
Your $ 0 stock portfolio can sustain you over the next year after the restaurant where you worked goes out of business .
The closer you slide to homelessness , the greater your incentive to participate in the economy will become .
The government ’ s response to this crisis does not work for the majority of humans .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work itself .
Work comes above all .
The more of your fellow Americans that die , the greater your chance of finding a new job .
When you look at it like that , it ’ s a win-win situation .
• None Hamilton Nolan is a labor reporter at In These Times

The Republican fetish for “work” has always been a sham. The prime beneficiaries of Republican policies are, after all, the investor class, who by definition make their money while not working. As our current economic crisis worsens, Republicans cling to ideas that become increasingly separated from reality, like fundamentalists rejecting modern medicine even as their family member is dying. All of you, go back to work, or die trying!
Most of the world has asked people to stop going to work – temporarily, in theory – for the sake of public health. In the wiser countries of the world, the government is covering the payrolls of businesses through the worst part of these shutdowns, which has the dual benefits of helping employers not go broke, and keeping workers paid and employed until things can start getting back to normal.
America, of course, did not do anything so rational. Instead, we just sweetened unemployment benefits, forcing nearly 40 million people to pile into broken and dysfunctional state unemployment systems, while millions more give up altogether. The US did an excellent job propping up the financial markets, a mediocre job giving lifelines to businesses, and a poor job saving working people. And now, as we stare down the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression, Republicans in Congress have a bright idea: cutting off the extra money we’ve been giving to unemployed people, and instead incentivizing work. As if workers needed more incentive than desperately trying to avoid starvation.
Rob Portman, the Republican senator from Ohio, is proposing a temporary new $450-a-week bonus for unemployed people who go back to work. Consider the wonderful benefits this would provide: the Republicans will do away with the $600-a-week benefit you are currently getting for the unemployment you were forced into, and instead offer you a lesser amount in order to return to your job that no longer exists. The government’s failure to put in place a coherent response to this crisis from the beginning – a failure that will now force countless small businesses to close forever and will leave tens of millions of people persistently unemployed and tens of millions more newly stuck in part-time jobs without benefits – will now be compounded by a weird adherence to the idea that everyone is dying to cling to public benefits for the rest of their lives, unless we force them to do otherwise. Portman’s plan is like pushing someone out of a plane and then offering them some string and a bed sheet on the way dow – incentivize them to make their own parachute, rather than lazily relying on a government handout. (Republicans are also pushing a capital gains tax “holiday”, so the investor class will be handed two parachutes each, just in case anything goes wrong with the first.)
It is the lie at the heart of the Republican governing philosophy that causes all of these ludicrously insufficient responses to an existential crisis. The fundamental purpose of the Republican party is to cut taxes and otherwise serve the interests of the rich. That’s it. Everything else is in service of that goal. In order to hang on to enough electoral support to do this, they construct a morality tale about the sanctity of work and the evil of government handouts, a quasi-religious tale designed to ensure both the upper class and working class parts of the party’s base that the existing social arrangement is honorable and right. Now that we find ourselves in a crisis for which the obvious solution is unprecedented government support of the economy, the Republican party finds itself in a quandary. Doing what should be done would lead a lot of people to begin asking uncomfortable questions. If government aid can save us from another Great Depression, might it not be able to do something about inequality too? Republicans simply can’t have that in their own party.
Your $0 stock portfolio can sustain you over the next year after the restaurant where you worked goes out of business
What we will get instead are paltry tax credits and work incentives and much rhetoric about Strong Americans Rallying Around the Flag, while the stock market is backstopped and everyone without six months of expenses saved up is told that risking their lives to return to work is the patriotic thing to do. In one sense, the Republican leadership was prepared for their role at this moment. Fomenting the possibility of mass death in order to avoid any softening of the public’s attitude towards socialism is something that they have been adept at for many years.
People need healthcare. People need jobs that pay a living wage. People need food, and the forgiveness of rent payments, and a social safety net that is up to the challenge of being strained like it never has before. These are things the Republicans do not offer. They have an alternate plan: support for capital markets, a little bonus if you can find yourself a new job, and a vow to “wait and see” how things go, after state and local governments are forced to slash public services. Doesn’t that sound nice? Your $0 stock portfolio can sustain you over the next year after the restaurant where you worked goes out of business. The closer you slide to homelessness, the greater your incentive to participate in the economy will become.
The government’s response to this crisis does not work for the majority of humans. But it does work for the Republican idea of work itself. Work comes above all. The more of your fellow Americans that die, the greater your chance of finding a new job. When you look at it like that, it’s a win-win situation.