theguardian--2020-06-07--Trump's use of the military backfired – but will it back him if he loses? | Robert Reich

History teaches that mass protests against oppression can lead either to liberation or brutal repression .
This past week , Donald Trump bet his political future on repression .
Much of the rest of America , on the other hand , wants to liberate black people from police brutality and centuries of systemic racism .
As of this writing , it looks like Trump is losing and America winning , but the contest is hardly over .
Trump knows he can ’ t be re-elected on his disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic or on what ’ s likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he must believe a racist campaign could work .
After all , stoking racism got him into the White House in the first place .
The protests against George Floyd ’ s brutal killing by Minneapolis police seemed like a golden opportunity .
“ The nation needs law and order , ” Trump responded immediately , repeating the phrase that propelled Richard Nixon to the presidency after a summer of black unrest across the country .
His trump card was threatening to send federal troops into American cities .
Trump called on states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ lowlifes and losers ” , promising “ total domination ” of protesters and telling governors “ if you don ’ t dominate , you ’ re wasting your time.
” Previous presidents haven ’ t even used this language to describe invading other countries .
He looked like a deranged dictator , an impression made all the more vivid as officers in riot gear used flash grenades and chemical spray ( a weapon banned in war ) on peaceful protesters to clear a path for Trump to walk from the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of St John ’ s church .
It was too much even for Trump ’ s own top military brass .
The defense secretary , Mark Esper , insisted military personnel “ be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations ” .
Mark Milley , chairman of the joint chiefs of staff , reminded the armed services of the rights of their fellow citizens to free assembly , adding : “ We all committed our lives to the idea that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that oath and the American people.
” But it was Trump ’ s own former secretary of defense , James Mattis , whose rebuke cut deepest .
“ Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people , ” Mattis said .
“ Instead he tries to divide us … We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square .
We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emperor-has-no-clothes ” moment that prompted the Republican senator Lisa Murkowski to admit she was considering not voting for Trump and suggest other Senate Republicans felt the same way .
“ Perhaps we ’ re getting to the point where we can be more honest with the concerns that we might hold internally and have the courage of our own convictions to speak up , ” she said .
Trump expected white voters to recoil from the rioting and looting .
Over the past week , Fox News obliged by mentioning rioting or rioters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But 64 % of Americans sympathize with the protesters and appear receptive to stopping police brutality and 55 % disapprove of Trump ’ s response .
Black Americans are now more committed than ever to defeating him in November .
More than 80 % believe he ’ s a racist .
If black voters return to the polls at 2012 levels , Joe Biden would win the electoral college 294-244 , according to the Center for American Progress .
College-educated white people and younger voters have also been galvanized against Trump .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , millennials and Gen Z voters could make up as much as 37 % of the electorate this year .
But although Trump ’ s response to the protests seems to have backfired , it also raises a troubling question .
If Trump loses and refuses to give up the presidency , will the military support him ?
The possibility is hardly far-fetched .
As Trump ’ s former bagman Michael Cohen warned in congressional testimony in March 2019 , “ I fear that if he loses the election in 2020 there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” After winning in 2016 , Trump claimed without evidence that 3-5m votes were illegally counted for Hillary Clinton .
A former chairman of joint chiefs of staff , Adm Mike Mullen , wrote recently that although he remains “ confident in the professionalism of our men and women in uniform ” , he is “ deeply worried ” they “ will be co-opted for political purposes ” .
If that happens , the mass protests against decades of harsh policing and unjust killings of Black Americans will be followed by another uprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of American democracy .
• None Robert Reich , a former US secretary of labor , is professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and the author of Saving Capitalism : For the Many , Not the Few and The Common Good .
His new book , The System : Who Rigged It , How We Fix It , is out now .
He is a columnist for Guardian US

History teaches that mass protests against oppression can lead either to liberation or brutal repression.
This past week, Donald Trump bet his political future on repression. Much of the rest of America, on the other hand, wants to liberate black people from police brutality and centuries of systemic racism. As of this writing, it looks like Trump is losing and America winning, but the contest is hardly over.
Trump knows he can’t be re-elected on his disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic or on what’s likely to be a tepid economic recovery. But he must believe a racist campaign could work. After all, stoking racism got him into the White House in the first place.
The protests against George Floyd’s brutal killing by Minneapolis police seemed like a golden opportunity.
“The nation needs law and order,” Trump responded immediately, repeating the phrase that propelled Richard Nixon to the presidency after a summer of black unrest across the country.
His trump card was threatening to send federal troops into American cities. Trump called on states to bring in the military to combat “lowlifes and losers”, promising “total domination” of protesters and telling governors “if you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time.” Previous presidents haven’t even used this language to describe invading other countries.
But Trump overplayed his hand.
He looked like a deranged dictator, an impression made all the more vivid as officers in riot gear used flash grenades and chemical spray (a weapon banned in war) on peaceful protesters to clear a path for Trump to walk from the White House through Lafayette Square to a photo op in front of St John’s church.
It was too much even for Trump’s own top military brass. The defense secretary, Mark Esper, insisted military personnel “be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations”. Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, reminded the armed services of the rights of their fellow citizens to free assembly, adding: “We all committed our lives to the idea that is America – we will stay true to that oath and the American people.”
But it was Trump’s own former secretary of defense, James Mattis, whose rebuke cut deepest.
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people,” Mattis said. “Instead he tries to divide us … We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our constitution.”
It was an “emperor-has-no-clothes” moment that prompted the Republican senator Lisa Murkowski to admit she was considering not voting for Trump and suggest other Senate Republicans felt the same way.
“Perhaps we’re getting to the point where we can be more honest with the concerns that we might hold internally and have the courage of our own convictions to speak up,” she said.
Trump expected white voters to recoil from the rioting and looting. Over the past week, Fox News obliged by mentioning rioting or rioters six times as much as CNN. But 64% of Americans sympathize with the protesters and appear receptive to stopping police brutality and 55% disapprove of Trump’s response.
Black Americans are now more committed than ever to defeating him in November. More than 80% believe he’s a racist. If black voters return to the polls at 2012 levels, Joe Biden would win the electoral college 294-244, according to the Center for American Progress.
College-educated white people and younger voters have also been galvanized against Trump. The most racially diverse generations in American history, millennials and Gen Z voters could make up as much as 37% of the electorate this year.
A protester raises her hands near a line of national guard soldiers, near the White House on Monday. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
But although Trump’s response to the protests seems to have backfired, it also raises a troubling question. If Trump loses and refuses to give up the presidency, will the military support him?
The possibility is hardly far-fetched. As Trump’s former bagman Michael Cohen warned in congressional testimony in March 2019, “I fear that if he loses the election in 2020 there will never be a peaceful transition of power.” After winning in 2016, Trump claimed without evidence that 3-5m votes were illegally counted for Hillary Clinton.
A former chairman of joint chiefs of staff, Adm Mike Mullen, wrote recently that although he remains “confident in the professionalism of our men and women in uniform”, he is “deeply worried” they “will be co-opted for political purposes”.
If that happens, the mass protests against decades of harsh policing and unjust killings of Black Americans will be followed by another uprising, this time against Trump’s murder of American democracy.


theguardian--2020-06-07--Colin Powell endorses Joe Biden for US president

Colin Powell endorsed Democratic former US vice-president Joe Biden on Sunday and said Donald Trump ’ s behaviour endangers democracy , becoming the first major Republican to publicly back Trump ’ s rival ahead of November ’ s election .
Powell , who led the US military during the 1991 Gulf War in Iraq under Republican former President George HW Bush and later led the Department of State under President George W Bush , said Trump has “ drifted away ” from the US Constitution and “ lies about things ” .
“ I was deeply troubled by the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody , ” Powell told CNN .
“ Insulting Gold Star mothers , insulting John McCain , insulting immigrants , and I ’ m a son of immigrants .
Insulting anybody who dared to speak against him.
” “ And that is dangerous for our democracy , it is dangerous for our country .
And I think what we ’ re seeing now , the most massive protest movement I have ever seen in my life , I think suggests the country is getting wise to this and we ’ re not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can not in any way support President Trump this year , ” Powell , who did not vote for the Republican president in 2016 , told CNN .
Asked if he would vote for Biden , he added : “ I will be voting for him.
” Trump , who has been critical of the Iraq war , in a tweet called Powell “ a real stiff ” .
Powell is the latest former top military officer to rebuke Trump in the wake of sweeping mass protests aimed at fighting racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an unarmed black man in Minnesota .
Former defense secretary Jim Mattis and other retired officers have condemned Trump in recent days in a rare rebuke with few precedents in US history .
A few Republican lawmakers have also spoken out against Trump ’ s handling of the outcry and have raised questions about their support for his re-election bid , though most have remained quiet or continued to voice support for the president .
US Senator Lisa Murkowski last week told reporters she was struggling over whether she would back Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mattis ’ s strong words as did fellow Republican Mitt Romney .
Powell , who is black , was one of the few prominent Republicans to denounce Trump during the former reality television star ’ s 2016 presidential run and publicly endorse Trump ’ s then-rival Hillary Clinton .

Colin Powell endorsed Democratic former US vice-president Joe Biden on Sunday and said Donald Trump’s behaviour endangers democracy, becoming the first major Republican to publicly back Trump’s rival ahead of November’s election.
Powell, who led the US military during the 1991 Gulf War in Iraq under Republican former President George HW Bush and later led the Department of State under President George W Bush, said Trump has “drifted away” from the US Constitution and “lies about things”.
“I was deeply troubled by the way in which he was going around insulting everybody,” Powell told CNN. “Insulting Gold Star mothers, insulting John McCain, insulting immigrants, and I’m a son of immigrants. Insulting anybody who dared to speak against him.”
“And that is dangerous for our democracy, it is dangerous for our country. And I think what we’re seeing now, the most massive protest movement I have ever seen in my life, I think suggests the country is getting wise to this and we’re not going to put up with it any more.”
“I cannot in any way support President Trump this year,” Powell, who did not vote for the Republican president in 2016, told CNN. Asked if he would vote for Biden, he added: “I will be voting for him.”
Trump, who has been critical of the Iraq war, in a tweet called Powell “a real stiff”. The president later accused him of being “weak” and claimed the retired general “gave away everything to everybody – so bad for the USA”.
Powell is the latest former top military officer to rebuke Trump in the wake of sweeping mass protests aimed at fighting racial injustice spurred by the 25 May death of an unarmed black man in Minnesota.
Former defense secretary Jim Mattis and other retired officers have condemned Trump in recent days in a rare rebuke with few precedents in US history.
A few Republican lawmakers have also spoken out against Trump’s handling of the outcry and have raised questions about their support for his re-election bid, though most have remained quiet or continued to voice support for the president.
US Senator Lisa Murkowski last week told reporters she was struggling over whether she would back Trump in the 3 November election and praised Mattis’s strong words as did fellow Republican Mitt Romney.
Powell, who is black, was one of the few prominent Republicans to denounce Trump during the former reality television star’s 2016 presidential run and publicly endorse Trump’s then-rival Hillary Clinton.


theguardian--2020-06-07--New York Times senior editor resigns amid backlash over controversial op-ed

A senior editor at the New York Times has resigned amid a furious backlash over the newspaper ’ s publication of a controversial and unfiltered comment piece penned by a Republican senator .
The article by Tom Cotton , junior senator for Arkansas and a fierce ally of Donald Trump , titled Send in the Troops , called for the president to invoke the insurrection act of 1807 and use US military forces against citizens to quell unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd .
In the days following its publication on 3 June , numerous current and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and the newspaper added a note to the essay on 5 June conceding it “ fell short of our standards and should not have been published ” .
On Sunday , the Times announced that James Bennet , its editorial page director since May 2016 , had resigned with immediate effect , and that one of his deputy editors , Jim Dao , had been reassigned to the newsroom .
The announcement gave no explanation for Bennet ’ s resignation or Dao ’ s transfer , but the news drew swift comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion editor had “ quit over the excellent Op-Ed penned by our great Senator @ TomCottonAR .
“ The New York Times is fake news , ” the president added , repeating a familiar claim .
Cotton also weighed in , accusing the Times of lying and smearing his character .
Cotton claimed he had not called for troops to be used against protesters but should be called on as a back-up “ only if police are overwhelmed ” .
Earlier in the day , Cotton blasted Bennet and the Times for reversing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the column in the aftermath of the staff revolt .
“ The New York Times editorial page editor and owner defended it in public statements but then they totally surrendered to a woke child mob from their own newsroom that apparently gets triggered if they ’ re presented with any opinion contrary to their own , as opposed to telling the woke children in their newsroom this is the workplace , not a social justice seminar on campus , ” Cotton fumed in an interview on Fox News Sunday .
Sewell Chan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was among those who spoke out against his former employers for running the article in the first place .
“ The decision to publish [ Cotton ] calling for troop deployments to quell unrest falls short of sound journalistic practice , ” he tweeted .
Nikole Hannah-Jones , a black New York Times magazine writer , said she was “ deeply ashamed ” of the newspaper in a tweet that amassed almost 120,000 likes .
The New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger acknowledged the turmoil in an internal memo sent to Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a painful week across the company , it has sparked urgent and important conversations , ” Sulzberger wrote in the memo , reported by CNN .
“ Last week we saw a significant breakdown in our editing processes , not the first we ’ ve experienced in recent years .
James and I agreed that it would take a new team to lead the department through a period of considerable change.
” Those changes include an expansion of the newspaper ’ s fact-checking procedures and a reduction in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AP reported .
Kathleen Kingsbury , another deputy editorial page editor who won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing at the Boston Globe before joining the NY Times in 2017 , will take over Bennet ’ s role until at least the November presidential election , the statement said .
It ’ s not the first time the paper has faced backlash over a controversial op-ed .
Earlier this year readers and staff spoke out against a piece published by the columnist Bret Stephens that critics said embraced eugenics .
The protest at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia Inquirer called in sick over the newspaper ’ s decision to use the headline Buildings Matter , Too on an architecture article , a choice considered tone deaf and insensitive to the Black Lives Matter movement .
The Inquirer has since apologized for a “ horribly wrong ” decision .

A senior editor at the New York Times has resigned amid a furious backlash over the newspaper’s publication of a controversial and unfiltered comment piece penned by a Republican senator.
The article by Tom Cotton, junior senator for Arkansas and a fierce ally of Donald Trump, titled Send in the Troops, called for the president to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and use US military forces against citizens to quell unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd.
In the days following its publication on 3 June, numerous current and former Times journalists criticised the decision to run it and the newspaper added a note to the essay on 5 June conceding it “fell short of our standards and should not have been published”.
On Sunday, the Times announced that James Bennet, its editorial page director since May 2016, had resigned with immediate effect, and that one of his deputy editors, Jim Dao, had been reassigned to the newsroom.
The announcement gave no explanation for Bennet’s resignation or Dao’s transfer, but the news drew swift comment from Trump, who tweeted that the opinion editor had “quit over the excellent Op-Ed penned by our great Senator @TomCottonAR.
“The New York Times is fake news,” the president added, repeating a familiar claim.
Cotton also weighed in, accusing the Times of lying and smearing his character. Cotton claimed he had not called for troops to be used against protesters but should be called on as a back-up “only if police are overwhelmed”.
Earlier in the day, Cotton blasted Bennet and the Times for reversing their initial decision to defend publication of the column in the aftermath of the staff revolt.
“The New York Times editorial page editor and owner defended it in public statements but then they totally surrendered to a woke child mob from their own newsroom that apparently gets triggered if they’re presented with any opinion contrary to their own, as opposed to telling the woke children in their newsroom this is the workplace, not a social justice seminar on campus,” Cotton fumed in an interview on Fox News Sunday.
Sewell Chan, a former NY Times editorial page director, was among those who spoke out against his former employers for running the article in the first place.
“The decision to publish [Cotton] calling for troop deployments to quell unrest falls short of sound journalistic practice,” he tweeted.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, a black New York Times magazine writer, said she was “deeply ashamed” of the newspaper in a tweet that amassed almost 120,000 likes.
The New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger acknowledged the turmoil in an internal memo sent to Times staff on Sunday.
“While this has been a painful week across the company, it has sparked urgent and important conversations,” Sulzberger wrote in the memo, reported by CNN.
“Last week we saw a significant breakdown in our editing processes, not the first we’ve experienced in recent years. James and I agreed that it would take a new team to lead the department through a period of considerable change.”
Those changes include an expansion of the newspaper’s factchecking procedures and a reduction in the number of opinion pieces written by non-staff members, AP reported.
Kathleen Kingsbury, another deputy editorial page editor who won a Pulitzer prize for editorial writing at the Boston Globe before joining the NY Times in 2017, will take over Bennet’s role until at least the November presidential election, the statement said.
It’s not the first time the paper has faced backlash over a controversial op-ed. Earlier this year readers and staff spoke out against a piece published by the columnist Bret Stephens that critics said embraced eugenics.
The protest at the newspaper came as staff at the Philadelphia Inquirer called in sick over the newspaper’s decision to use the headline Buildings Matter, Too on an architecture article, a choice considered tone deaf and insensitive to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Inquirer has since apologized for a “horribly wrong” decision.


theguardian--2020-06-07--George Floyd protests enter third week as push for change sweeps America

Streets in countless cities and towns across America filled with demonstrators again on Sunday as largely peaceful protests over systemic racism and police brutality , sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , headed towards a third week .
The scenes were markedly different from the previous weekend , which saw police beating back protesters with teargas and batons , and a non-violent gathering in a Washington DC park on Monday forcibly cleared in military-style assault ahead of a photo opportunity for Donald Trump .
Meanwhile , the body of Floyd , 46 , whose killing on Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his neck for almost nine minutes was captured on a now infamous video , arrived in his hometown of Houston on Sunday for a public viewing on Monday , and a private funeral Tuesday .
This weekend ’ s protests , which saw moments of levity and jubilance , appeared to reflect a shifting mood across the country .
Thousands of marchers gathered close to the White House on Sunday afternoon , mirroring Saturday ’ s peaceful demonstration in Washington DC in which more than 10,000 people poured into the streets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his giant marble memorial .
The words Black Lives Matter had been painted in bright yellow letters along a street near the White House .
In the capital late on Sunday afternoon , Utah ’ s Republican senator Mitt Romney – a critic of Donald Trump – was seen among the roughly 1,000 demonstrators marching in a faith-based protest to the White House .
In New York , an estimated 1,600 protesters stopped outside Trump International Hotel in Manhattan chanting “ Throw him out ” on their way to Central Park .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Get off our necks ” and “ Racism is America ’ s original sin ” as they marched uptown from the National Black Theatre .
Elsewhere on Sunday , sizeable protests in cities including Los Angeles , Chicago , Austin , Boston , Philadelphia and Washington DC also appeared to be passing off peacefully .
In Compton , California , there were protests on horseback and a caravan of cars driving past Los Angeles police headquarters .
Crowds were also back on the streets in Minneapolis , despite the arrest and charging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers involved in Floyd ’ s death .
More cities announced they were dropping or relaxing their curfews on Sunday with Philadelphia and New York , which saw late-night violence earlier in the week , joining Atlanta , Chicago , and Buffalo .
Bill de Blasio , the mayor of New York , announced he was canceling the city ’ s curfew with immediate effect , after two days of relatively calm protests .
“ Yesterday and last night we saw the very best of our city , ” de Blasio said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Philadelphia and New York , which saw late-night violence earlier in the week , dropped or relaxed their curfews .
Others announced restrictions on police tactics that have come under scrutiny .
Portland , Oregon , became the latest to ban the use of teargas , joining cities including Denver and Seattle , while California state and municipalities including Minneapolis , where Floyd died , have outlawed chokeholds and neck restraints .
In Washington DC on Sunday , federal troops that Trump insisted he could use to quell riots and looting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president , in what has become almost a weekend ritual , spent his Sunday morning sending furious tweets as developments unfolded , claiming the withdrawal of the National Guard was a victory for his administration “ now that everything is under complete control ” and excoriating his political foes , some of them prominent Republicans who this week criticised his heavy-handed approach to the protests .
Among them was Colin Powell , a key ally of the most recent Republican president George W Bush , who told CNN ’ s State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ drifted away from the US constitution ” and that he would vote for the Democratic candidate Joe Biden in November ’ s election .
He became the first major Republican figure to publicly back Biden , after a report in the New York Times on Saturday that other leading figures would not support Trump .
Powell ’ s words elicited a predictable response from Trump , who tweeted that the retired four-star general , national security adviser , chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and US Secretary of State was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel to Houston and meet with Floyd ’ s family ahead of his funeral .
As well as the continuing demonstrations in many large cities , and across the globe in Europe , Australia and elsewhere , protests and rallies spread to numerous smaller towns in the US .
One of them took place in Vidor , a tiny town in east Texas once a stronghold for the Ku Klux Klan , where dozens of protesters carrying Black Lives Matter placards rallied peacefully .
Calls for defunding police departments nationwide have increased in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Democratic senator and former presidential candidate , told NBC ’ s Meet the Press on Sunday that “ we are over-policed as a society ” .
Investing in police , he said , “ is not solving problems , but making them worse.
” The Trump administration was criticised for ordering police to violently remove peaceful protesters in Washington DC ’ s Lafayette Park , tactics defended by attorney general Bill Barr on CBS ’ s Face the Nation on Sunday .
The network reported Trump demanded 10,000 active duty troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital , but received pushback from Barr , defence secretary Mark Esper and others .
“ The decision was made to have at the ready and on hand in the vicinity some regular troops , but everyone agreed that the use of regular troops is a last resort and that as long as matters can be controlled with other resources they should be , ” Barr insisted .
Barr also denied the police were systematically racist .
“ I think there ’ s racism in the United States still but I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is systemically racist , ” said Barr .
“ I understand the ... the distrust , however , of the African American community given the history in this country.
” • None Material from AP and Reuters was used in this report

Streets in countless cities and towns across America filled with demonstrators again on Sunday as largely peaceful protests over systemic racism and police brutality, sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, headed towards a third week.
Rallies swelled as some cities lifted the evening curfews and withdrew national guard support, and protesters claimed a landmark victory as a veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis city council pledged to dismantle the city’s troubled police force.
The scenes were markedly different from the previous weekend, which saw police beating back protesters with teargas and batons, and a non-violent gathering in a Washington DC park on Monday forcibly cleared in military-style assault ahead of a photo opportunity for Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the body of Floyd, 46, whose killing on Memorial Day when a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes was captured on a now infamous video, arrived in his hometown of Houston on Sunday for a public viewing on Monday, and a private funeral on Tuesday.
This weekend’s protests, which saw moments of levity and jubilance, appeared to reflect a shifting mood across the country.
Demonstrators protest near the White House on Sunday. Photograph: Maya Alleruzzo/AP
Thousands of marchers gathered close to the White House on Sunday afternoon, mirroring Saturday’s peaceful demonstration in Washington DC in which more than 10,000 people poured into the streets and coalesced at the feet of Abraham Lincoln at his giant marble memorial. The words Black Lives Matter had been painted in bright yellow letters along a street near the White House.
In the capital late on Sunday afternoon, Utah’s Republican senator Mitt Romney – a critic of Donald Trump – was seen among the roughly 1,000 demonstrators marching in a faith-based protest to the White House.
In New York, an estimated 1,600 protesters stopped outside Trump International Hotel in Manhattan chanting “Throw him out” on their way to Central Park. A day earlier in Harlem demonstrators shouted “Get off our necks” and “Racism is America’s original sin” as they marched uptown from the National Black Theatre.
Speaking at virtual commencement speech for 2020 graduates, the former president Barack Obama joined a star-studded lineup including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Tom Brady, offering inspirational messages.
“As scary and uncertain these times may be, they are also a wake-up call. And they’re an incredible opportunity for your generation,” Obama said.
02:55 Obamas urge class of 2020 to 'create a new normal' after coronavirus and George Floyd – video
Elsewhere on Sunday, sizable protests in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Boston, Portland, Philadelphia and Washington DC passed largely in peace. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the NBA team the Milwaukee Bucks led a march of about 7,500. In Compton, California, there were protests on horseback and a caravan of cars driving past Los Angeles police headquarters, while an estimated 20,000 people packed Hollywood Boulevard, filling the street from curb to curb.
Scenes in Seattle, Washington, turned briefly chaotic when a man drove into a crowd and shot a demonstrator. Seattle police department said a suspect was in custody and a gun was recovered at the scene.
Crowds were also back on the streets in Minneapolis. On top of a stage with a sign reading “Defund police”, the Minneapolis city council president, Lisa Bender, announced the intention of nine members of the council – a veto-proof majority – to dismantle the police department and replace it with an alternative model of community-led safety. “In Minneapolis and in cities across the United States, it is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe,” she said to massive cheers.
Sunday also saw major demonstrations against racism and police brutality around the world in solidarity with a movement that has spread far beyond the US. Demonstrators turned out in Rome, Milan, London, Brussels and Prague. In Bristol, England, protesters toppled a statue of a 17th-century slave trader.
More cities announced they were dropping or relaxing their curfews on Sunday with Philadelphia and New York, which saw late-night violence earlier in the week, joining Atlanta, Chicago and Buffalo.
Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, announced he was canceling the city’s curfew with immediate effect, after two days of relatively calm protests. “Yesterday and last night we saw the very best of our city,” De Blasio said in a tweet.
On Sunday, cities including Philadelphia and New York, which saw late-night violence earlier in the week, dropped or relaxed their curfews.
Others announced restrictions on police tactics that have come under scrutiny. Portland, Oregon, became the latest to ban the use of teargas, joining cities including Denver and Seattle, while California state and municipalities including Minneapolis, where Floyd died, have outlawed chokeholds and neck restraints.
In Washington DC on Sunday, federal troops that Trump insisted he could use to quell riots and looting, were sent back to their barracks.
Bryan Smart plants American flags along Hillcroft Avenue as he walks toward The Fountain of Praise church on Sunday in Houston. A public memorial and private funeral service for George Floyd will be held at the church. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP
The president, in what has become almost a weekend ritual, spent his Sunday morning sending furious tweets as developments unfolded, claiming the withdrawal of the national guard was a victory for his administration “now that everything is under complete control” and excoriating his political foes, some of them prominent Republicans who this week criticised his heavy-handed approach to the protests.
Among them was Colin Powell, a key ally of the most recent Republican president George W Bush, who told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that Trump had “drifted away from the US constitution” and that he would vote for the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, in November’s election.
He became the first major Republican figure to publicly back Biden, after a report in the New York Times on Saturday that other leading figures would not support Trump.
Powell’s words elicited a predictable response from Trump, who tweeted that the retired four-star general, national security adviser, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and US secretary of state was “a real stiff”.
Biden will travel to Houston and meet with Floyd’s family ahead of his funeral.
As well as the continuing demonstrations in many large cities, and across the globe in Europe, Australia and elsewhere, protests and rallies spread to numerous smaller towns in the US. One of them took place in Vidor, a tiny town in east Texas once a stronghold for the Ku Klux Klan, where dozens of protesters carrying Black Lives Matter placards rallied peacefully.
Defunding calls grow
Calls for defunding police departments nationwide have increased in volume this week, and Cory Booker, the Democratic senator and former presidential candidate, told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that “we are over-policed as a society”.
Investing in police, he said, “is not solving problems, but making them worse”.
Demonstrators raise their fists at Times Square during a protest on Sunday. Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters
The Trump administration was criticised for ordering police to violently remove peaceful protesters in Washington DC’s Lafayette Park, tactics defended by the attorney general, Bill Barr, on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday.
The network reported Trump demanded 10,000 active duty troops be used to quell protests in the capital, but received pushback from Barr, the defense secretary, Mark Esper, and others.
“The decision was made to have at the ready and on hand in the vicinity some regular troops, but everyone agreed that the use of regular troops is a last resort and that as long as matters can be controlled with other resources they should be,” Barr insisted.
Barr also denied the police were systematically racist. “I think there’s racism in the United States still but I don’t think that the law enforcement system is systemically racist,” said Barr. “I understand the … the distrust, however, of the African American community given the history in this country.”


theguardian--2020-06-07--Racism in America is not the exception – it's the norm | Nesrine Malik

When a black CNN reporter was arrested live on air last week while covering the protests in Minneapolis , it was met with denunciation that something like this could happen in the US .
It was “ a sign of American disintegration ” , wrote the Washington Post .
The head of civil liberties group PEN America called it a “ dystopian spectacle ” .
On social media , the accompanying indignation to his arrest was that : “ This is America , arresting journalists for doing their job doesn ’ t happen here.
” But the list of things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America continues to grow .
Peaceful protesters don ’ t get teargassed : this is America .
Presidents don ’ t threaten to unleash troops on those protesting against killing and oppression : this is America .
For black and minority ethnic people , the country has always been the America of an immune police force , white supremacy and a legal system that protects only those who can afford it .
The Trump administration is simply suspending convention , ditching the pretence of pious protocol and ritual that has always been central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America ” myth .
This has always been America , what ’ s different is that it no longer feels the need to hide its true nature .
Since Donald Trump became president , non-Americans have taken to drawing tongue-in-cheek comparisons between America and Arab dictatorships – its fetishising of the military , its president ’ s clumsy and vulgar stabs at religiosity , its centuries-old ethnic tension erupting in clashes – but even these jokes now wear thin .
Because since George Floyd ’ s death , since the government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teeth , the US ’ s flattering view of itself has taken such a battering that jokes are no longer needed to do the job .
Those clutching their pearls at assaults on the media and police brutality hold dear the belief that America ’ s inherent virtue will prevail , even as police officers hammer it with batons on mobile phone footage .
American exceptionalism is the proverbial cockroach weathering a nuclear attack – it survives everything .
It survives school shootings , the suspension of due process in Guantánamo Bay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of innocent civilians from Vietnam to Iraq .
It is at this moment surviving despite the US having the highest coronavirus death toll in the world .
American exceptionalism is at its most robust when faced with the reality of its structures of racial oppression , the central challenge for which it was designed .
In the founding years of the US , a belief in its inherent morality , godliness and superiority to its European origins had to be squared with its savage cruelty toward , and exploitation of , black slaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of abolition came , the more elaborate the excuses became .
In order to defend slavery , John C Calhoun , seventh vice-president of the US , leaned on Aristotle ’ s theory of natural slavery , the history of Greek democracy and the glory of the Roman empire .
The argument was that not only was slavery a positive good , it was a feature of successful civilisations and not bad at all for the slaves themselves who , according to Calhoun , had never “ attained a condition so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physically , but morally and intellectually ” .
The reconciling of moral mutual exclusivities continues to reproduce the same denial : racism without racists to pin it on to when black Americans die at disproportionately high rates of Covid-19 ; police killings without murderers when their perpetrators aren ’ t charged ; and a president who exploited racial animus for support but for whom no racists voted , only the “ left behind ” .
But Trump is a challenge to this robust tradition of normalising evil through eloquent guile .
Vulgar and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ushering it closer to some endgame .
There is something old and something new in this latest racial conflagration .
Its global resonance and its national traction is a result not of its uniqueness , but its intensity following an escalation of events .
Trump ’ s rhetoric , the bloodlust of Republicans spoiling for a fight , police with clear orders and appetite to stifle protest , and emboldened white supremacists , have heaped provocation on a nation that was already a tinderbox after three years of Trump related polarisation .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recent entrants to the race war , Trump and his emboldened cohort , are seen as too central to the crisis .
Too often , the US is cast as a protagonist in a morality play , wrestling with demons that will eventually be defeated if only the right conditions are met .
If only the Democrats hadn ’ t nominated Hillary Clinton , if only Joe Biden can win the election , if only another messianic Barack Obama figure would appear and heal the nation .
These historic moments will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ American tragedy ” , as David Remnick called it in his New Yorker essay on the day of Trump ’ s election , will once again be decried .
But they will reach the wrong conclusions , as Remnick did , when he ended on the note that the way forward is “ to struggle honorably and fiercely in the name of American ideals ” .
There are not two competing visions of America battling it out .
There has always been one – under Trump , Obama or whoever is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have always been the same : to deny its black population the human rights it extends to its white one , and whenever it is caught doing so graphically , brutally , undeniably on camera , convince itself that this is the exception and not the norm .
• On Tuesday 9 June at 7pm BST ( 2pm EDT ) the Guardian is holding a live-streamed event about the meaning of George Floyd ’ s killing , featuring Guardian journalists including US southern bureau chief Oliver Laughland , reporter Kenya Evelyn , writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Book tickets here

When a black CNN reporter was arrested live on air last week while covering the protests in Minneapolis, it was met with denunciation that something like this could happen in the US. It was “a sign of American disintegration”, wrote the Washington Post. The head of civil liberties group PEN America called it a “dystopian spectacle”. On social media, the accompanying indignation to his arrest was that: “This is America, arresting journalists for doing their job doesn’t happen here.” But the list of things that don’t supposedly happen in America continues to grow. Peaceful protesters don’t get teargassed: this is America. Presidents don’t threaten to unleash troops on those protesting against killing and oppression: this is America.
For black and minority ethnic people, the country has always been the America of an immune police force, white supremacy and a legal system that protects only those who can afford it. The Trump administration is simply suspending convention, ditching the pretence of pious protocol and ritual that has always been central to the survival of the “not in America” myth. This has always been America, what’s different is that it no longer feels the need to hide its true nature.
Since Donald Trump became president, non-Americans have taken to drawing tongue-in-cheek comparisons between America and Arab dictatorships – its fetishising of the military, its president’s clumsy and vulgar stabs at religiosity, its centuries-old ethnic tension erupting in clashes – but even these jokes now wear thin. Because since George Floyd’s death, since the government and institutions of sanctioned violence have bared their teeth, the US’s flattering view of itself has taken such a battering that jokes are no longer needed to do the job.
Those clutching their pearls at assaults on the media and police brutality hold dear the belief that America’s inherent virtue will prevail, even as police officers hammer it with batons on mobile phone footage. American exceptionalism is the proverbial cockroach weathering a nuclear attack – it survives everything. It survives school shootings, the suspension of due process in Guantánamo Bay, and the torture and killing of millions of innocent civilians from Vietnam to Iraq. It is at this moment surviving despite the US having the highest coronavirus death toll in the world.
American exceptionalism is at its most robust when faced with the reality of its structures of racial oppression, the central challenge for which it was designed. In the founding years of the US, a belief in its inherent morality, godliness and superiority to its European origins had to be squared with its savage cruelty toward, and exploitation of, black slaves on an industrial scale.
The closer the threat of abolition came, the more elaborate the excuses became. In order to defend slavery, John C Calhoun, seventh vice-president of the US, leaned on Aristotle’s theory of natural slavery, the history of Greek democracy and the glory of the Roman empire. The argument was that not only was slavery a positive good, it was a feature of successful civilisations and not bad at all for the slaves themselves who, according to Calhoun, had never “attained a condition so civilised and so improved, not only physically, but morally and intellectually”.
The reconciling of moral mutual exclusivities continues to reproduce the same denial: racism without racists to pin it on to when black Americans die at disproportionately high rates of Covid-19; police killings without murderers when their perpetrators aren’t charged; and a president who exploited racial animus for support but for whom no racists voted, only the “left behind”.
But Trump is a challenge to this robust tradition of normalising evil through eloquent guile. Vulgar and relishing conflict, he seems to be ushering it closer to some endgame. There is something old and something new in this latest racial conflagration. Its global resonance and its national traction is a result not of its uniqueness, but its intensity following an escalation of events. Trump’s rhetoric, the bloodlust of Republicans spoiling for a fight, police with clear orders and appetite to stifle protest, and emboldened white supremacists, have heaped provocation on a nation that was already a tinderbox after three years of Trump related polarisation.
It will inevitably be a wasted opportunity if the recent entrants to the race war, Trump and his emboldened cohort, are seen as too central to the crisis. Too often, the US is cast as a protagonist in a morality play, wrestling with demons that will eventually be defeated if only the right conditions are met. If only the Democrats hadn’t nominated Hillary Clinton, if only Joe Biden can win the election, if only another messianic Barack Obama figure would appear and heal the nation.
These historic moments will be written rhapsodically in liberal publications, where the “American tragedy”, as David Remnick called it in his New Yorker essay on the day of Trump’s election, will once again be decried. But they will reach the wrong conclusions, as Remnick did, when he ended on the note that the way forward is “to struggle honorably and fiercely in the name of American ideals”. There are not two competing visions of America battling it out. There has always been one – under Trump, Obama or whoever is to come next. And its ideals have always been the same: to deny its black population the human rights it extends to its white one, and whenever it is caught doing so graphically, brutally, undeniably on camera, convince itself that this is the exception and not the norm.
Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnist


theguardian--2020-06-08--‘Apathy is no longer a choice’: will the George Floyd protests energize young voters?

With the US presidential election looming , equal rights groups and others on the left say the protests sparked by George Floyd ’ s death can translate into a surge in young people voting in November .
While Donald Trump ’ s autocratic response to the demonstrations has shocked young people into action in the US and beyond , advocates believe the movement against police brutality has energized youth voters to think beyond the presidential election , which could have a real impact on state and local elections , where decisions about policing and criminal justice are made .
Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office say they are already seeing a spike in enthusiasm among 18 – 29-year-olds , who historically vote in smaller numbers than their elders .
“ I have so many young kids reaching out to our campaign , saying : ‘ How do we volunteer , can I intern to learn more , I ’ d really like to run for office , ” said Nada Elmikashfi , a 24-year-old candidate for state senate in Wisconsin .
“ I think whatever political apathy afflicted our generation , it isn ’ t a choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of protests in Madison , Wisconsin ’ s capital city , said the brutal death of Floyd has “ brought a lot of attention on down-ballot races ” , but she isn ’ t sure whether that enthusiasm will carry over to the presidential election , where Joe Biden , the Democratic candidate , has faced criticism for his responses to the demonstrations .
“ From conversations that I ’ ve been having with people my own age , and whether this is right and wrong , it ’ s this idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ This is the sole reason you should vote for us ’ , ” Elmikashfi said .
“ I think constituencies across the country are put in a tight spot , where you have a fascist president who is incredibly destructive to America , but then you also have Democratic party leadership that isn ’ t very progressive , that doesn ’ t uplift the working class , but that feels entitled to your vote .
“ Young kids understand Trump is more damaging , the question is : is it really gon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reaction to Floyd ’ s death , and the ensuing surge in protests nationwide , has included him musing that police officers could shoot suspects in the leg , “ instead of in the heart ” , a suggestion that seemed to overlook the issue of people of color being apprehended at far higher rates than white people .
The former vice-president , who is 78-years-old , struggled to attract young supporters during the Democratic primary , weighed down by a problematic record that includes opposing bussing minority students to different school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 1994 “ tough on crime ” law that some blame for mass incarceration in the US , and seems in danger of misjudging the level of emotion and the desire for change .
“ The death of George Floyd is emblematic of everything that ’ s wrong with America , whether it ’ s how we handle Covid , to the existing racism and police brutality that black and brown communities have suffered for years , ” said Moumita Ahmed , who is running for district leader in New York ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Floyd ’ s death , along with the recent killings of Ahmaud Aubrey , in Georgia , and Breonna Taylor , in Kentucky had “ opened eyes for a lot of young people ” .
“ The younger generation are just so much more aware and active and ready to make a difference , ” said Ahmed , who co-founded the group Millennials for Bernie , which supported Bernie Sanders during his 2016 and 2020 election campaigns .
“ I think a lot of people are going to start paying attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The federal government can do a lot , but the local government has a lot of power in the police departments .
They can do so much more than the federal government.
” There is precedent for protest movements prompting real change .
In recent years the youth-led protests against gun violence following the Parkland school shooting , led to stronger gun laws , while young climate activists succeeded in drawing attention to the Green New Deal environment legislation , which many Democratic politicians have since endorsed .
On Monday George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called for people to vote in November , particularly in statewide and local elections like Ahmed and Elmikashfi ’ s .
That effort to build on the energy of the past two weeks is being supported by organizations like Organizing 2.0 , NextGen America , and the NAACP , which aims to build equal rights in the US .
Tiffany Dena Loftin , director of the NAACP youth & college division , said it has been registering people to vote at demonstrations , demonstrate how the voting process works , and help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said young people had been stunned by Trump ’ s advocating of violence against protesters and “ encouragement of police violence ” .
“ That is resonating with young black voters across the country , they ’ re paying attention , ” Loftin said .
“ They ’ re fed up and they ’ re done .
So that is definitely a motivation to go to the polls .
I want to be clear – it ’ s not a scare tactic .
We ’ re not afraid of Donald Trump being president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NAACP has also encouraged people to take part in the 2020 census , a once-a-decade event that will influence the amount of government funding neighborhoods receive , and potentially how they are represented in Ccongress .
Like Ahmed and Elmikashfi , she said local races are just as important as the headline-grabbing Trump v Biden election .
“ There is a laser focus on district attorney races , mayoral races , district races , the president and what their decisions are going to mean for how black folks in this country walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of participating in elections was on the minds of people at a protest in New York City on Tuesday , where thousands walked through Manhattan to demonstrate at Gracie Mansion , the official residence of Mayor Bill de Blasio .
“ There ’ s another stage of this movement that does need to happen .
I think voting is important , ” said Justin Withers , 23 .
“ I hope that this does change the voting .
I hope it does .
We ’ ve failed in the past but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people that people will finally wake up.
” Just 46.1 % of 18 – 29-year-olds voted in the 2016 presidential election , compared to an overall turnout of 61.4 % .
The highest turnout , meanwhile , was among people aged 65 and over , who are statistically more likely to be conservative .
In the 2018 midterms , the less glamorous elections that re-elect members of the House of Representatives and some Senators as well as local officials , 36 % of young people voted – although this was a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – 29-year-olds who voted in the 2014 midterms .
That could suggest interest and awareness is growing among younger voters .
Although Withers , who lives in Brooklyn , predicted that despite renewed enthusiasm , the turnout in 2020 would remain relatively low among people of color – due to efforts in states around the US to make it more difficult for black people , and other minority groups , from voting .
Since the Voting Rights Act was weakened in 2013 , many states have brought in laws making it more difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral rolls if they have not voted in a given amount of time , to preventing efforts to register voters , to requiring government-issued photo ID to vote – something people of color and low-income Americans are less likely to have .
“ The problem is voter suppression is still happening , ” Withers said .
“ It ’ s still ten times harder for the people who know what ’ s right , for the people who are minorities , to be able to vote .
That ’ s still a problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it won ’ t be the numbers we want .
”

With the US presidential election looming, equal rights groups and others on the left say the protests sparked by George Floyd’s death can translate into a surge in young people voting in November.
While Donald Trump’s autocratic response to the demonstrations has shocked young people into action in the US and beyond, advocates believe the movement against police brutality has energized youth voters to think beyond the presidential election, which could have a real impact on state and local elections, where decisions about policing and criminal justice are made.
Around the country, people running for local office say they are already seeing a spike in enthusiasm among 18- to 29-year-olds, who historically vote in smaller numbers than their elders.
“I have so many young kids reaching out to our campaign, saying: ‘How do we volunteer, can I intern to learn more, I’d really like to run for office,” said Nada Elmikashfi, a 24-year-old candidate for state senate in Wisconsin.
“I think whatever political apathy afflicted our generation, it isn’t a choice any more.”
Elmikashfi, who has been part of protests in Madison, Wisconsin’s capital city, said the brutal death of Floyd has “brought a lot of attention on down-ballot races”, but she isn’t sure whether that enthusiasm will carry over to the presidential election, where Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, has faced criticism for his responses to the demonstrations.
Demonstrators take a knee in front of law enforcement officers during a protest against the death of George Floyd, near the White House on 3 June. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
“From conversations that I’ve been having with people my own age, and whether this is right and wrong, it’s this idea that the Democrats are putting Trump as ‘This is the sole reason you should vote for us’,” Elmikashfi said.
“I think constituencies across the country are put in a tight spot, where you have a fascist president who is incredibly destructive to America, but then you also have Democratic party leadership that isn’t very progressive, that doesn’t uplift the working class, but that feels entitled to your vote.
“Young kids understand Trump is more damaging, the question is: is it really gonna change under Biden.”
Biden’s reaction to Floyd’s death, and the ensuing surge in protests nationwide, has included him musing that police officers could shoot suspects in the leg, “instead of in the heart”, a suggestion that seemed to overlook the issue of people of color being apprehended at far higher rates than white people.
The former vice-president, who is 78 years old, struggled to attract young supporters during the Democratic primary, weighed down by a problematic record that includes opposing bussing minority students to different school districts, and his lead role in a 1994 “tough on crime” law that some blame for mass incarceration in the US, and seems in danger of misjudging the level of emotion and the desire for change.
“The death of George Floyd is emblematic of everything that’s wrong with America, whether it’s how we handle Covid, to the existing racism and police brutality that black and brown communities have suffered for years,” said Moumita Ahmed, who is running for district leader in New York’s 24th assembly district.
Ahmed, 30, said Floyd’s death, along with the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky had “opened eyes for a lot of young people”.
“The younger generation are just so much more aware and active and ready to make a difference,” said Ahmed, who co-founded the group Millennials for Bernie, which supported Bernie Sanders during his 2016 and 2020 election campaigns.
“I think a lot of people are going to start paying attention to local elections,” Ahmed said.
“The federal government can do a lot, but the local government has a lot of power in the police departments. They can do so much more than the federal government.”
Protesters gather near the makeshift memorial in honor of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 1 June. Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
There is precedent for protest movements prompting real change. In recent years the youth-led protests against gun violence following the Parkland school shooting, led to stronger gun laws, while young climate activists succeeded in drawing attention to the Green New Deal environment legislation, which many Democratic politicians have since endorsed.
On Monday George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, called for people to vote in November, particularly in statewide and local elections like Ahmed and Elmikashfi’s. That effort to build on the energy of the past two weeks is being supported by organizations like Organizing 2.0, NextGen America and the NAACP, which aims to build equal rights in the US.
Tiffany Dena Loftin, director of the NAACP youth & college division, said it has been registering people to vote at demonstrations, demonstrate how the voting process works and help people find their voting precincts. Loftin said young people had been stunned by Trump’s advocating of violence against protesters and “encouragement of police violence”.
“That is resonating with young black voters across the country, they’re paying attention,” Loftin said.
“They’re fed up and they’re done. So that is definitely a motivation to go to the polls. I want to be clear – it’s not a scare tactic. We’re not afraid of Donald Trump being president for another four years.”
Loftin said the NAACP has also encouraged people to take part in the 2020 census, a once-a-decade event that will influence the amount of government funding neighborhoods receive, and potentially how they are represented in Ccongress. Like Ahmed and Elmikashfi, she said local races are just as important as the headline-grabbing Trump v Biden election.
“There is a laser focus on district attorney races, mayoral races, district races, the president and what their decisions are going to mean for how black folks in this country walk and experience their everyday lives.”
The importance of participating in elections was on the minds of people at a protest in New York City on Tuesday, where thousands walked through Manhattan to demonstrate at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“There’s another stage of this movement that does need to happen. I think voting is important,” said Justin Withers, 23.
“I hope that this does change the voting. I hope it does. We’ve failed in the past but I hope now because it’s so many people that people will finally wake up.”
Just 46.1% of 18- to 29-year-olds voted in the 2016 presidential election, compared with an overall turnout of 61.4%. The highest turnout, meanwhile, was among people aged 65 and over, who are statistically more likely to be conservative.
In the 2018 midterms, the less glamorous elections that re-elect members of the House of Representatives and some senators as well as local officials, 36% of young people voted – although this was a big increase on the 20% of 18 – 29-year-olds who voted in the 2014 midterms.
That could suggest interest and awareness is growing among younger voters. Although Withers, who lives in Brooklyn, predicted that despite renewed enthusiasm, the turnout in 2020 would remain relatively low among people of color – due to efforts in states around the US to make it more difficult for black people, and other minority groups, from voting.
Since the Voting Rights Act was weakened in 2013, many states have brought in laws making it more difficult to vote, from purging people from electoral rolls if they have not voted in a given amount of time, to preventing efforts to register voters, to requiring government-issued photo ID to vote – something people of color and low-income Americans are less likely to have.
“The problem is voter suppression is still happening,” Withers said.
“It’s still 10 times harder for the people who know what’s right, for the people who are minorities, to be able to vote. That’s still a problem. And because of that I know that it won’t be the numbers we want.”


theguardian--2020-06-08--‘They set us up’: US police arrested over 10,000 protesters, many non-violent

Since George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis , Minnesota , on 25 May , around 140 cities in all 50 states throughout the US have seen protests and demonstrations in response to the killing .
More than 10,000 people have been arrested around the US during the protests , as police forces regularly use pepper spray , rubber bullets , teargas and batons on protesters , media and bystanders .
Several major US cities have enacted curfews in an attempt to stop demonstrations and curb unrest .
Jarah Gibson was arrested while non-violently protesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
“ The police were there from the jump and literally escorted us the whole march , ” said Gibson .
She said around 7.30pm , ahead of Atlanta ’ s 9pm city-wide curfew , police began boxing in protesters .
While protesters were attempting to leave , Gibson tried to video record a person on a bicycle who appeared to be hit by a police car and was arrested by police .
She was given a citation for “ pedestrian in a roadway , ” and “ refusing to comply when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police are instigating everything and they are criminalizing us .
Now I have my mugshot taken , my fingerprints taken and my eyes scanned .
Now I ’ m a criminal over an illegal arrest , ” added Gibson .
“ I want to be heard and I want the police to just abide by basic human decency.
” Ruby Anderson was arrested while non-violently protesting in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , on 31 May .
The police refused to provide a reason for her detention until they were placed in a police van @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was loitering .
They were given a wristband that stated “ unlawful assembly ” and ultimately charged with disorderly conduct .
“ While I was arrested , I was standing next to two white people who were doing the same thing as me , standing between a group of officers and a group of black teenagers .
I was the only one arrested in my group of three , I was the only black person , ” Anderson said .
Reports of excessive police force throughout the protests have emerged around the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being attacked by police have been recorded since 28 May .
On 2 June , six police officers in Atlanta , Georgia , were charged with excessive force during an arrest of two college students on 30 May .
A staggering 12,000 complaints against police in Seattle , Washington , were made over the weekend of 30 May in response to excessive force at protests .
A Denver , Colorado , police officer was fired for posting on Instagram “ let ’ s start a riot ” .
In New York City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun at protesters , driving an SUV into a crowd of protesters , swiping a protester with a car door , an officer flashing a white supremacy symbol , and another officer shoving a woman to the ground , which left her hospitalized .
Several protesters and bystanders around the US have been left hospitalized from rubber bullet wounds , bean bags , teargas canisters and batons , while police have reportedly torn down medical tents and destroyed water bottles meant for protesters .
In Minneapolis , Minnesota , Dan Rojas was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though there were no protests occurring at the time , Rojas had decided to clean up fragments of rubber bullets , teargas and frag canisters on the public sidewalk in his neighborhood when six police officers confronted him and arrested him .
“ They put me in handcuffs , took my property off of me , and they shoved a local reporter out of the way .
They put me in a squad car and arrested me for rioting at 10.30 in the morning , the day after a peaceful protest , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released until over 48 hours later .
“ At the end of it no charges were filed , everything was dropped and I was never told the probable cause they had to arrest me , ” Several non-violent protesters arrested during demonstrations requested to remain anonymous for fear of police retaliation as they still face citations and pending charges .
The protesters described police tactics of “ kettling ” , where protesters were surrounded and blocked by police forces from leaving , often until curfews took effect or arrests were made for obstructing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to give police more power , exactly the opposite of what protesters want .
These curfews , like most other ‘ law and order ’ tactics , will disproportionately impact the very same communities that are protesting against state-sponsored violence and brutality , ” said Dr LaToya Baldwin Clark , assistant professor of law at UCLA .
One protester in Los Angeles , California , told how she was returning to her apartment before the city ’ s 6pm curfew , while police were blocking protesters and obstructing exits .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my apartment , it had just turned 6pm , ” said the protester .
She noted during the arrests , bystanders were protesting the arrests from their apartment balconies , while police were aiming rubber bullets , teargas , and pepper spray at them .
“ They handcuffed us all with zip tie handcuffs and left us in a police bus for about five hours… I asked for medical assistance and they denied it to me , I was handcuffed for over five hours with a bleeding hand that eventually turned purple until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually released at 1am on 2 June , with a citation for being out past curfew .
“ The police set us up to get arrested .
They shut off the streets forcing us onto Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge .
Once we were on the bridge , the police blocked both exits in front and behind us , ” said a protester in Dallas , Texas , who was arrested on 1 June and later released without charges .
She added : “ They shot teargas at us and shot a protester with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand .
The police made us all get on the ground , proceeded to zip tie our hands together , lined us up on the side of the highway and left us there for hours.
” In Cincinnati , Ohio , a resident in a neighborhood where protests were occurring on 31 May saw several protesters were at risk of being caught outside past the city ’ s curfew at 8pm .
“ It felt like a trap to me .
I felt if I could pick some people up and take them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people from getting arrested , so I jumped in my car , drove down the street , saw a group of people hiding , they had their hands up , and they climbed into the car , and shut the doors .
We tried to drive , but were stopped , ” said the resident .
“ We were asked to leave the car , zip tied on the side of the road , loaded onto a bus , and they detained us for a few hours doing paperwork.
” A protester in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her and other protesters before getting arrested on 31 May for obstructing a roadway .
“ We weren ’ t allowed to go home , ” she said .
“ We tried our best to go home and were told ‘ no , you ’ re not leaving.
’ From then on , the cops said anyone outside their circle is going to jail and they would push us further from the sidewalk .
They had us closed in .
”

Since George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May, about 140 cities in all 50 states throughout the US have seen protests and demonstrations in response to the killing.
More than 10,000 people have been arrested around the US during the protests, as police forces regularly use pepper spray, rubber bullets, teargas and batons on protesters, media and bystanders. Several major US cities have enacted curfews in an attempt to stop demonstrations and curb unrest.
Jarah Gibson was arrested while non-violently protesting in Atlanta, Georgia, on 1 June.
“The police were there from the jump and literally escorted us the whole march,” said Gibson.
She said around 7.30pm, ahead of Atlanta’s 9pm city-wide curfew, police began boxing in protesters. While protesters were attempting to leave, Gibson tried to video-record a person on a bicycle who appeared to be hit by a police car and was arrested by police. She was given a citation for “pedestrian in a roadway,” and “refusing to comply when asked to leave”.
“The police are instigating everything and they are criminalizing us. Now I have my mugshot taken, my fingerprints taken and my eyes scanned. Now I’m a criminal over an illegal arrest,” added Gibson. “I want to be heard and I want the police to just abide by basic human decency.”
Protesters clash with New York City police in Manhattan on 31 May. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
Ruby Anderson was arrested while non-violently protesting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 31 May. The police refused to provide a reason for her detention until they were placed in a police van, where they were told the charge was loitering. They were given a wristband that stated “unlawful assembly” and ultimately charged with disorderly conduct.
“While I was arrested, I was standing next to two white people who were doing the same thing as me, standing between a group of officers and a group of black teenagers. I was the only one arrested in my group of three, I was the only black person,” Anderson said.
Reports of excessive police force throughout the protests have emerged around the US. More than 130 reports of journalists being attacked by police have been recorded since 28 May.
On 2 June, six police officers in Atlanta, Georgia, were charged with excessive force during an arrest of two college students on 30 May. A staggering 12,000 complaints against police in Seattle, Washington, were made over the weekend of 30 May in response to excessive force at protests.
05:16 What the George Floyd protests say about America – video explainer
A Denver, Colorado, police officer was fired for posting on Instagram “let’s start a riot”. In New York City, videos surfaced of NYPD officers pointing a gun at protesters, driving an SUV into a crowd of protesters, swiping a protester with a car door, an officer flashing a white supremacy symbol, and another officer shoving a woman to the ground, which left her hospitalized.
Several protesters and bystanders around the US have been left hospitalized from rubber bullet wounds, bean bags, teargas canisters and batons, while police have reportedly torn down medical tents and destroyed water bottles meant for protesters.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dan Rojas was arrested on the morning of 27 May. Though there were no protests occurring at the time, Rojas had decided to clean up fragments of rubber bullets, teargas and frag canisters on the public sidewalk in his neighborhood when six police officers confronted him and arrested him.
A police officer aims a non-lethal launcher at protesters as they clash in Washington DC on 31 May. Photograph: Samuel Corum/AFP/Getty Images
“They put me in handcuffs, took my property off of me, and they shoved a local reporter out of the way. They put me in a squad car and arrested me for rioting at 10.30 in the morning, the day after a peaceful protest,” said Rojas, who was not released until over 48 hours later. “At the end of it no charges were filed, everything was dropped and I was never told the probable cause they had to arrest me.”
Several non-violent protesters arrested during demonstrations requested to remain anonymous for fear of police retaliation as they still face citations and pending charges. The protesters described police tactics of “kettling”, where protesters were surrounded and blocked by police forces from leaving, often until curfews took effect or arrests were made for obstructing a roadway.
“The curfews are a way to give police more power, exactly the opposite of what protesters want. These curfews, like most other ‘law and order’ tactics, will disproportionately impact the very same communities that are protesting against state-sponsored violence and brutality,” said Dr LaToya Baldwin Clark, assistant professor of law at UCLA.
One protester in Los Angeles, California, told how she was returning to her apartment before the city’s 6pm curfew, while police were blocking protesters and obstructing exits.
Atlanta police clash with a demonstrator during a protest on 2 June in Atlanta. Photograph: John Bazemore/AP
“I was arrested two streets away from my apartment, it had just turned 6pm,” said the protester. She noted during the arrests, bystanders were protesting against the arrests from their apartment balconies, while police were aiming rubber bullets, teargas and pepper spray at them.
“They handcuffed us all with zip tie handcuffs and left us in a police bus for about five hours … I asked for medical assistance and they denied it to me, I was handcuffed for over five hours with a bleeding hand that eventually turned purple until I was finally released.”
She was eventually released at 1am on 2 June, with a citation for being out past curfew.
“The police set us up to get arrested. They shut off the streets forcing us on to Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Once we were on the bridge, the police blocked both exits in front and behind us,” said a protester in Dallas, Texas, who was arrested on 1 June and later released without charges.
She added: “They shot teargas at us and shot a protester with a rubber bullet and it injured her hand. The police made us all get on the ground, proceeded to zip tie our hands together, lined us up on the side of the highway and left us there for hours.”
Protesters and police clash in Columbia, South Carolina, on 31 May. Photograph: Jason Lee/AP
In Cincinnati, Ohio, a resident in a neighborhood where protests were occurring on 31 May saw several protesters were at risk of being caught outside past the city’s curfew at 8pm.
“It felt like a trap to me. I felt if I could pick some people up and take them to their cars, I could stop people from getting arrested, so I jumped in my car, drove down the street, saw a group of people hiding, they had their hands up, and they climbed into the car, and shut the doors. We tried to drive, but were stopped,” said the resident. “We were asked to leave the car, zip-tied on the side of the road, loaded on to a bus, and they detained us for a few hours doing paperwork.”
A protester in Houston, Texas, described police kettling her and other protesters before getting arrested on 31 May for obstructing a roadway.
“We weren’t allowed to go home,” she said. “We tried our best to go home and were told ‘no, you’re not leaving.’ From then on, the cops said anyone outside their circle is going to jail and they would push us further from the sidewalk. They had us closed in.”


theguardian--2020-06-08--UK diplomats fear end of special relationship if Trump re-elected

The UK ’ s special relationship with the US may end if Donald Trump wins a second term , some of the UK ’ s most senior retired diplomats and Conservative foreign policy specialists have said .
They also say that if the Democrat Joe Biden wins , Washington may view the EU rather than the UK as its primary partner .
The anxious assessment of what is at stake for Britain in the US presidential election in November has been made on and off the record in a variety of seminars over the past month , and underlines concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
It also reflects diplomatic outreach to the UK by Biden ’ s chief foreign policy adviser , Antony Blinken .
UK diplomats have instead been looking to form a broader alternative alliance of democracies that dilutes dependence on the US .
Rory Stewart , the former Conservative international development secretary , said in one assessment : “ If Trump comes in for another four years that will be very challenging for the global system and for Britain ’ s relationship with the US .
If we were to move away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poses the challenge that that may have to happen , we are going to find ourselves in a situation in which much of our Foreign Office infrastructure had been predicated on working very closely with the US for a very long time .
“ If we have to move away from the US , it will involve a much bigger shift in national security infrastructure than we have ever experienced .
Almost since Suez , they have been our default.
” The UK had taken for granted for years that it would fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Any change to that would require a rethink by the Foreign Office because it “ sometimes had no idea what an independent policy would feel like ” .
Sir John Sawers , the former head of M16 and a former UK ambassador to the UN , also said Trump ’ s re-election would be problematic .
“ There is no doubt President Trump is the most difficult president for us to deal with , ” he said .
“ He does not really feel that sense of being part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not really believe in alliances .
He does not really believe in American leadership in the world .
We are seeing in this pandemic for the first time what a crisis is like without American leadership .
It is the first time in our lifetime we have experienced that .
“ If he gets elected for a second time some of the changes we have seen in the past few years will become embedded and entrenched and then , absolutely Britain will not be so much a bridge between the US and Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely together with our European partners ” .
Speaking before the Black Lives Matter protests , he said the election was poised 50-50 , and that if Biden were elected the UK would not simply be able to get back into bed with the US as it had been in the past .
He called for “ middle-level powers to come together to tackle China and climate change ” .
Both men were speaking at Cambridge University ’ s Centre for Geopolitics .
In a sign of British diplomats ’ despair with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambassador to Washington , said : “ I would love to say , as we look to the future , would it not be nice to see political leadership also addressing old-fashioned principles such as accountability , respect for the rule of law , independent judiciary , telling the truth , institutional independence and indeed the importance of a free press ?
“ That may not be what public opinion is crying out for , but they are not very far removed from the principles that … Biden believes in .
Otherwise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of moral leadership and giving itself the right to call out other people when they behave badly will be gone forever.
” Debate is fierce in British diplomatic circles about whether Trump merely marks the acceleration of a pre-existing trend to a more disengaged US , and whether Biden is either willing or able to reverse the trend .
Blinken has tried to reassure British diplomats that Biden will re-engage with multilateral institutions , and told the London thinktank Chatham House that US leadership would return .
“ When Joe Biden looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
Whether we like it not , the world tends not to organise itself and , for 75 plus years , the US played the leading role in working to organise the world , establishing the institutions , writing the rules and setting the norms , ” he said .
“ If we are not doing that , then one of two things happen .
Either someone else is , and probably not in a way that advances our interest and values , or no one is , and that can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacuum which tends to be filled by malevolent things before good things .
So the US has a responsibility and self-interest in leading with humility.
” Many senior former UK ambassadors are desperately hoping Washington will lead again .
One said : “ I think that if you have a different , more internationally minded leadership in the US then a lot of what has happened over the past few years can be reversed .
If we get another four years of this leadership , then some of the bonds and some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and holds Europe and America together will be broken forever .
If things change in November then we can recapture things if we get the right sort of leadership in Europe.
” The same diplomat also said , however , that Biden might – like Barack Obama – see Europe and particularly Germany as his primary interlocutor : “ If you get a Joe Biden presidency in the US , then the relationship will focus again on Europe , on Germany and France , and we may feel a little neglected.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to Trump than most European leaders , the importance of the special relationship was overrated .
“ If I ’ m brutally frank it has not been that special for awhile , ” he said .
“ If Obama wanted to know what Europe thought about something his first call was to Merkel.
” Another ambassador from Tony Blair ’ s time as prime minister said : “ It ’ s possible to imagine restored American leadership to a multilateral world .
I do not think it is all over , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important .
I can not see that happening under a Trump II administration .
It ’ s possible , however , to imagine Joe Biden trying to lead us back to a more normative , multilateral and cohesive world.
” He pointed to Trump ’ s decision to withdraw 9,500 US troops from Germany as a sign of the pressure likely to be placed on Nato if he is re-elected .
In his address to Chatham House , Blinken gave the impression that the US under Biden would seek to revive the Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandoned .
Although he was unremitting in his criticism of Iran ’ s behaviour in the Middle East , he stressed that the original deal was designed to constrain Iran ’ s nuclear ambitions and not its wider behaviour .
Blinken was also critical of China for its lack of transparency over the coronavirus , and called on Beijing to be a responsible stakeholder , a phrase first used in 2005 by the then US assistant secretary of state Robert Zoellick .

The UK’s special relationship with the US may end if Donald Trump wins a second term, some of the UK’s most senior retired diplomats and Conservative foreign policy specialists have said. They also say that if the Democrat Joe Biden wins, Washington may view the EU rather than the UK as its primary partner.
The anxious assessment of what is at stake for Britain in the US presidential election in November has been made on and off the record in a variety of seminars over the past month, and underlines concerns at Trump’s performance during the coronavirus pandemic. It also reflects diplomatic outreach to the UK by Biden’s chief foreign policy adviser, Antony Blinken.
UK diplomats have instead been looking to form a broader alternative alliance of democracies that dilutes dependence on the US.
Rory Stewart, the former Conservative international development secretary, said in one assessment: “If Trump comes in for another four years that will be very challenging for the global system and for Britain’s relationship with the US. If we were to move away from the US, and Trump obviously poses the challenge that that may have to happen, we are going to find ourselves in a situation in which much of our Foreign Office infrastructure had been predicated on working very closely with the US for a very long time.
“If we have to move away from the US, it will involve a much bigger shift in national security infrastructure than we have ever experienced. Almost since Suez, they have been our default.”
Rory Stewart. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters
The UK had taken for granted for years that it would fall into line with US foreign policy position, he said. Any change to that would require a rethink by the Foreign Office because it “sometimes had no idea what an independent policy would feel like”.
Sir John Sawers, the former head of M16 and a former UK ambassador to the UN, also said Trump’s re-election would be problematic. “There is no doubt President Trump is the most difficult president for us to deal with,” he said.
“He does not really feel that sense of being part of that transatlantic community, he does not really believe in alliances. He does not really believe in American leadership in the world. We are seeing in this pandemic for the first time what a crisis is like without American leadership. It is the first time in our lifetime we have experienced that.
“If he gets elected for a second time some of the changes we have seen in the past few years will become embedded and entrenched and then, absolutely Britain will not be so much a bridge between the US and Europe. We will need to be bounding closely together with our European partners” .
Speaking before the Black Lives Matter protests, he said the election was poised 50-50, and that if Biden were elected the UK would not simply be able to get back into bed with the US as it had been in the past. He called for “middle-level powers to come together to tackle China and climate change”. Both men were speaking at Cambridge University’s Centre for Geopolitics.
In a sign of British diplomats’ despair with Trump, Sir Peter Westmacott, a former ambassador to Washington, said: “I would love to say, as we look to the future, would it not be nice to see political leadership also addressing old-fashioned principles such as accountability, respect for the rule of law, independent judiciary, telling the truth, institutional independence and indeed the importance of a free press?
“That may not be what public opinion is crying out for, but they are not very far removed from the principles that … Biden believes in. Otherwise the chances of the western world retaining any sort of moral leadership and giving itself the right to call out other people when they behave badly will be gone forever.”
Peter Westmacott. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Debate is fierce in British diplomatic circles about whether Trump merely marks the acceleration of a pre-existing trend to a more disengaged US, and whether Biden is either willing or able to reverse the trend.
Blinken has tried to reassure British diplomats that Biden will re-engage with multilateral institutions, and told the London thinktank Chatham House that US leadership would return. “When Joe Biden looks at the world, one thing stands out. Whether we like it not, the world tends not to organise itself and, for 75 plus years, the US played the leading role in working to organise the world, establishing the institutions, writing the rules and setting the norms,” he said.
“If we are not doing that, then one of two things happen. Either someone else is, and probably not in a way that advances our interest and values, or no one is, and that can be even worse. Then you have a vacuum which tends to be filled by malevolent things before good things. So the US has a responsibility and self-interest in leading with humility.”
Many senior former UK ambassadors are desperately hoping Washington will lead again. One said: “I think that if you have a different, more internationally minded leadership in the US then a lot of what has happened over the past few years can be reversed. If we get another four years of this leadership, then some of the bonds and some of the cement that holds the west together, and holds Europe and America together will be broken forever. If things change in November then we can recapture things if we get the right sort of leadership in Europe.”
The same diplomat also said, however, that Biden might – like Barack Obama – see Europe and particularly Germany as his primary interlocutor: “If you get a Joe Biden presidency in the US, then the relationship will focus again on Europe, on Germany and France, and we may feel a little neglected.”
Barack Obama and Angela Merkel pictured in April 2016. Photograph: Kay Nietfield/EPA
He said that although Boris Johnson was closer to Trump than most European leaders, the importance of the special relationship was overrated. “If I’m brutally frank it has not been that special for awhile,” he said. “If Obama wanted to know what Europe thought about something his first call was to Merkel.”
Another ambassador from Tony Blair’s time as prime minister said: “It’s possible to imagine restored American leadership to a multilateral world. I do not think it is all over, but it does make the November election incredibly important. I cannot see that happening under a Trump II administration. It’s possible, however, to imagine Joe Biden trying to lead us back to a more normative, multilateral and cohesive world.” He pointed to Trump’s decision to withdraw 9,500 US troops from Germany as a sign of the pressure likely to be placed on Nato if he is re-elected.
In his address to Chatham House, Blinken gave the impression that the US under Biden would seek to revive the Iran nuclear deal Obama signed but which Trump abandoned. Although he was unremitting in his criticism of Iran’s behaviour in the Middle East, he stressed that the original deal was designed to constrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions and not its wider behaviour.
Blinken was also critical of China for its lack of transparency over the coronavirus, and called on Beijing to be a responsible stakeholder, a phrase first used in 2005 by the then US assistant secretary of state Robert Zoellick.