shareblue--2020-06-03--GOP wants to move its convention so it can ignore safety rules

Republicans announced on Tuesday that the party will no longer hold its nominating convention in Charlotte after North Carolina 's Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper said he wo n't ignore guidance from health experts regarding large gatherings .
In a letter sent Tuesday to the Republican National Committee , Cooper said that `` it is very unlikely '' that the coronavirus crisis would be contained enough to hold a full-scale convention .
`` Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantees you seek , '' he said .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina are limited to 10 people .
Republicans want to hold a convention with as many as 19,000 people , who would not be required to wear masks or practice social distancing , the Charlotte Observer reported .
`` Due to the directive from the governor that our convention can not go on as planned and as required by our rules , the celebration of the president 's acceptance of the Republican nomination will be held in another city , '' a committee spokesperson said in a statement to Axios on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Donald Trump complained that Cooper refused to put his nominating convention above the health of residents .
`` Governor Cooper is still in Shelter-In-Place Mode , and not allowing us to occupy the arena as originally anticipated and promised , '' Trump wrote .
After saying Cooper 's decision will mean a loss of income and jobs for the state , Trump said , `` we are now forced to seek another State to host the 2020 Republican National Convention . ''
As of Wednesday , North Carolina had met only two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states by the federal government to safely reopen , according to data updated daily by ProPublica .
The analysis looked at five metrics based on guidance issued by the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : The number of positive coronavirus tests per 100,000 people , the percentage of positive test results , the number of tests per 100,000 per day , the availability of ICU beds , and the number of hospital visits for `` flu-like illness . ''
In North Carolina , the number of positive tests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing rather than decreasing , and hospital visits for flu-like symptoms are holding steady rather than decreasing .
As of Wednesday morning , North Carolina had more than 30,000 confirmed coronavirus cases , according to the New York Times , and at least 950 people had died from the illness .
Trump `` is more concerned about holding a massive party for himself than leading our nation through crisis , '' Xochitl Hinojosa , communications director for the Democratic National Committee , said in a statement on Wednesday .
`` Unlike Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts , follow science , and prioritize the health and safety of the American people , '' she added .
Republicans are looking at cities in four states — Florida , Georgia , Nevada , and Tennessee — as possible replacements , Politico reported on Tuesday .
As of Wednesday , Florida had met two of the five coronavirus metrics for reopening , Georgia had met one , Nevada had met two , and Tennessee had met two , according to ProPublica .
Trump has been encouraging states to lift stay-at-home orders for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and the advice of health experts .
`` Stock Market up BIG , DOW crosses 25,000 .
S & P 500 over 3000 .
States should open up ASAP , '' Trump tweeted on May 26 .
`` There will be ups and downs , but next year will be one of the best ever ! ''
Trump also praised armed protesters who marched on the Michigan Capitol in order to demand that Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer allow more businesses to reopen .
Whitmer `` should give a little , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted on May 1 , adding , `` These are very good people , but they are angry . ''
States lifting stay-at-home orders too soon may lead to `` suffering and death that could be avoided , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert , warned during a May 12 Senate hearing .
Nationwide , there are more than 1.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday morning , at at least 106,195 people have died from COVID-19 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

Republicans announced on Tuesday that the party will no longer hold its nominating convention in Charlotte after North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said he won’t ignore guidance from health experts regarding large gatherings.
In a letter sent Tuesday to the Republican National Committee, Cooper said that “it is very unlikely” that the coronavirus crisis would be contained enough to hold a full-scale convention.
“Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantees you seek,” he said.
At the moment, indoor gatherings in North Carolina are limited to 10 people. Republicans want to hold a convention with as many as 19,000 people, who would not be required to wear masks or practice social distancing, the Charlotte Observer reported.
“Due to the directive from the governor that our convention cannot go on as planned and as required by our rules, the celebration of the president’s acceptance of the Republican nomination will be held in another city,” a committee spokesperson said in a statement to Axios on Tuesday.
In a series of tweets Tuesday night, Donald Trump complained that Cooper refused to put his nominating convention above the health of residents.
“Governor Cooper is still in Shelter-In-Place Mode, and not allowing us to occupy the arena as originally anticipated and promised,” Trump wrote.
After saying Cooper’s decision will mean a loss of income and jobs for the state, Trump said, “we are now forced to seek another State to host the 2020 Republican National Convention.”
As of Wednesday, North Carolina had met only two of the five health criteria suggested to states by the federal government to safely reopen, according to data updated daily by ProPublica.
The analysis looked at five metrics based on guidance issued by the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The number of positive coronavirus tests per 100,000 people, the percentage of positive test results, the number of tests per 100,000 per day, the availability of ICU beds, and the number of hospital visits for “flu-like illness.”
In North Carolina, the number of positive tests and the percentage of positive tests are both increasing rather than decreasing, and hospital visits for flu-like symptoms are holding steady rather than decreasing.
As of Wednesday morning, North Carolina had more than 30,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to the New York Times, and at least 950 people had died from the illness.
Trump “is more concerned about holding a massive party for himself than leading our nation through crisis,” Xochitl Hinojosa, communications director for the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Unlike Republicans, Democrats will continue to listen to health experts, follow science, and prioritize the health and safety of the American people,” she added.
Republicans are looking at cities in four states — Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Tennessee — as possible replacements, Politico reported on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, Florida had met two of the five coronavirus metrics for reopening, Georgia had met one, Nevada had met two, and Tennessee had met two, according to ProPublica.
Trump has been encouraging states to lift stay-at-home orders for weeks, despite guidance from the federal government and the advice of health experts.
“Stock Market up BIG, DOW crosses 25,000. S&P 500 over 3000. States should open up ASAP,” Trump tweeted on May 26. “There will be ups and downs, but next year will be one of the best ever!”
Trump also praised armed protesters who marched on the Michigan Capitol in order to demand that Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer allow more businesses to reopen.
Whitmer “should give a little, and put out the fire,” Trump tweeted on May 1, adding, “These are very good people, but they are angry.”
States lifting stay-at-home orders too soon may lead to “suffering and death that could be avoided,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned during a May 12 Senate hearing.
Nationwide, there are more than 1.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday morning, at at least 106,195 people have died from COVID-19.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-03--Pope condemns racism in US: 'We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye' to it

Protests were largely peaceful and the nation 's streets were calmer than they have been in days since the killing of George Floyd set off demonstrations that at times brought violence and destruction along with pleas to stop police brutality and injustice against African Americans .
There were scattered reports of looting in New York City overnight , and as of Wednesday morning there had been over 9,000 arrests nationwide since the unrest began following Floyd 's death May 25 in Minneapolis .
But there was a marked quiet compared with the unrest of the past few nights , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The calmer night came as many cities intensified their curfews , with authorities in New York and Washington ordering people off streets while it was still daylight .
A block away from the White House , thousands of demonstrators massed following a crackdown a day earlier when officers on foot and horseback aggressively drove peaceful protesters away from Lafayette Park , clearing the way for Donald Trump to do a photo-op at nearby St. John 's Church .
Tuesday 's protesters faced law enforcement personnel who stood behind a black chain-link fence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to the park .
`` Last night pushed me way over the edge , '' said Jessica DeMaio , 40 , of Washington , who attended a Floyd protest Tuesday for the first time .
`` Being here is better than being at home feeling helpless . ''
Pastors at the church prayed with demonstrators and handed out water bottles .
The crowd remained in place after the city 's 7 p.m. curfew passed , defying warnings that the response from law enforcement could be even more forceful .
But the crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At one point , the crowd booed when a protester climbed a light post and took down a street sign .
A chant went up : `` Peaceful protest ! ''
Pope Francis on Wednesday called for national reconciliation and peace .
Francis said that he has `` witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest '' in the United States in recent days .
`` My friends , we can not tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during his weekly Wednesday audience , held in the presence of bishops due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings .
Trump , meanwhile , amplified his hard-line calls from Monday , when he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors did n't do it .
`` NYC , CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD , '' he tweeted .
`` The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart .
Act fast ! ''
Thousands of people remained in the streets of New York City Tuesday night , undeterred by an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were clear by early Wednesday other than police who were patrolling some areas .
Midtown Manhattan was pocked with battered storefronts after Monday 's protests .
Protests also passed across the U.S. , including in Los Angeles , Miami , St. Paul , Minnesota , Columbia , South Carolina , and Houston , where the police chief talked to peaceful demonstrators , vowing reforms .
`` God as my witness , change is coming , '' Art Acevedo said .
`` And we 're going to do it the right way . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been called up in 29 states to deal with the violence .
New York is not among them , and Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he does not want the Guard .
On Tuesday , Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo called what happened in the city `` a disgrace . ''
`` The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night , '' Cuomo said at a briefing in Albany .
He said the mayor underestimated the problem , and the nation 's largest police force was not deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had said it doubled the usual police presence .
Tuesday marked the eighth straight night of the protests , which began after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd 's neck while the handcuffed black man called out that he could n't breathe .
The officer , Derek Chauvin , has been fired and charged with murder .
The mother of George Floyd 's 6-year-old daughter , Gianna , said she wanted the world to know that her little girl lost a good father .
`` I want everybody to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took , '' Roxie Washington said during a Minneapolis news conference with her young daughter at her side .
`` I want justice for him because he was good .
No matter what anybody thinks , he was good . ''
Some protesters framed the burgeoning movement as a necessity after a string of killings by police .
`` It feels like it 's just been an endless cascade of hashtags of black people dying , and it feels like nothing 's really being done by our political leaders to actually enact real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 , who attended a peaceful protest at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul .
`` There 's always going to be a breaking point .
I think right now , we 're seeing the breaking point around the country . ''
`` I live in this state .
It 's really painful to see what 's going on , but it 's also really important to understand that it 's connected to a system of racial violence , '' she said .
Meanwhile , governors and mayors , Republicans and Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send in the military , with some saying troops would be unnecessary and others questioning whether the government has such authority and warning that such a step would be dangerous .
A senior White House official , speaking on condition of anonymity , said Trump is not rushing to send in the military and that his goal was to pressure governors to deploy more National Guard members .
Such use of the military would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history .
Amid the protests , nine states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that tested the nation 's ability to run elections while balancing a pandemic and sweeping social unrest .
Joe Biden won hundreds more delegates and was on the cusp of formally securing the Democratic presidential nomination .
Also Tuesday , Minnesota opened an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police Department has a pattern of discrimination against minorities .

Protests were largely peaceful and the nation’s streets were calmer than they have been in days since the killing of George Floyd set off demonstrations that at times brought violence and destruction along with pleas to stop police brutality and injustice against African Americans.
There were scattered reports of looting in New York City overnight, and as of Wednesday morning there had been over 9,000 arrests nationwide since the unrest began following Floyd’s death May 25 in Minneapolis. But there was a marked quiet compared with the unrest of the past few nights, which included fires and shootings in some cities.
The calmer night came as many cities intensified their curfews, with authorities in New York and Washington ordering people off streets while it was still daylight.
A block away from the White House, thousands of demonstrators massed following a crackdown a day earlier when officers on foot and horseback aggressively drove peaceful protesters away from Lafayette Park, clearing the way for Donald Trump to do a photo-op at nearby St. John’s Church. Tuesday’s protesters faced law enforcement personnel who stood behind a black chain-link fence that was put up overnight to block access to the park.
“Last night pushed me way over the edge,” said Jessica DeMaio, 40, of Washington, who attended a Floyd protest Tuesday for the first time. “Being here is better than being at home feeling helpless.”
Pastors at the church prayed with demonstrators and handed out water bottles. The crowd remained in place after the city’s 7 p.m. curfew passed, defying warnings that the response from law enforcement could be even more forceful. But the crowd Tuesday was peaceful, even polite. At one point, the crowd booed when a protester climbed a light post and took down a street sign. A chant went up: “Peaceful protest!”
Pope Francis on Wednesday called for national reconciliation and peace.
Francis said that he has ”witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest” in the United States in recent days.
“My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life,” the pope said during his weekly Wednesday audience, held in the presence of bishops due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.
Trump, meanwhile, amplified his hard-line calls from Monday, when he threatened to send in the military to restore order if governors didn’t do it.
“NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD,” he tweeted. “The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast!”
Thousands of people remained in the streets of New York City Tuesday night, undeterred by an 8 p.m. curfew, though most streets were clear by early Wednesday other than police who were patrolling some areas. Midtown Manhattan was pocked with battered storefronts after Monday’s protests.
Protests also passed across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, Miami, St. Paul, Minnesota, Columbia, South Carolina, and Houston, where the police chief talked to peaceful demonstrators, vowing reforms.
“God as my witness, change is coming,” Art Acevedo said. “And we’re going to do it the right way.”
More than 20,000 National Guard members have been called up in 29 states to deal with the violence. New York is not among them, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he does not want the Guard. On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo called what happened in the city “a disgrace.”
“The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night,” Cuomo said at a briefing in Albany.
He said the mayor underestimated the problem, and the nation’s largest police force was not deployed in sufficient numbers, though the city had said it doubled the usual police presence.
Tuesday marked the eighth straight night of the protests, which began after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while the handcuffed black man called out that he couldn’t breathe. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with murder.
The mother of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, said she wanted the world to know that her little girl lost a good father.
“I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took,” Roxie Washington said during a Minneapolis news conference with her young daughter at her side. “I want justice for him because he was good. No matter what anybody thinks, he was good.”
Some protesters framed the burgeoning movement as a necessity after a string of killings by police.
“It feels like it’s just been an endless cascade of hashtags of black people dying, and it feels like nothing’s really being done by our political leaders to actually enact real change,” said Christine Ohenzuwa, 19, who attended a peaceful protest at the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul. “There’s always going to be a breaking point. I think right now, we’re seeing the breaking point around the country.”
“I live in this state. It’s really painful to see what’s going on, but it’s also really important to understand that it’s connected to a system of racial violence,” she said.
Meanwhile, governors and mayors, Republicans and Democrats alike, rejected Trump’s threat to send in the military, with some saying troops would be unnecessary and others questioning whether the government has such authority and warning that such a step would be dangerous.
A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is not rushing to send in the military and that his goal was to pressure governors to deploy more National Guard members.
Such use of the military would mark a stunning federal intervention rarely seen in modern American history.
Amid the protests, nine states and the District of Columbia held presidential primaries that tested the nation’s ability to run elections while balancing a pandemic and sweeping social unrest. Joe Biden won hundreds more delegates and was on the cusp of formally securing the Democratic presidential nomination.
Also Tuesday, Minnesota opened an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police Department has a pattern of discrimination against minorities.


shareblue--2020-06-03--Defense secretary reverses claim that he thought Trump's 'special place' was a bathroom

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday partially walked back his claim that he had no idea he was going to be part of Donald Trump 's widely condemned photo-op on Monday night .
In that incident , peaceful protesters in Washington 's Lafayette Park were tear-gassed by military police to clear the way for Trump to walk from the White House to a church to hold up a Bible for the cameras .
Esper , one of the administration officials who walked alongside Trump through the park to St. John 's Episcopal Church for the stunt , had told NBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going to view a vandalized bathroom in the park and had had no idea about the photo-op .
But at a briefing with reporters on Wednesday , Esper said he did know he was going to the church , but claimed he had n't known Trump would use the visit as a photo-op .
`` I did know that we were going to the church ; I was not aware that a photo-op was happening , '' Esper told reporters , adding , `` My aim is to keep the department out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Esper continues to try to distance himself from the stunt , which has been condemned by religious leaders , Democrats , and a few elected Republicans .
In the interview with NBC News on Tuesday , Esper said he thought he was going to view vandalism by some demonstrators and talk to troops whom Trump had called in to quell violent demonstrations .
He also told NBC News that he did not know the protesters near the White House , who were peacefully calling for an end to police brutality against black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white police killing of an unarmed black man , had been tear-gassed for Trump 's photo-op .
`` I did n't know where I was going , '' Esper said then .
`` I wanted to see how much damage actually happened . ''
Prior to his stunt on Monday , Trump gave a speech in the White House Rose Garden vowing to end violent protests .
As Trump delivered his speech , the sound of flash-bang grenades used by the military police could be heard in the background .
He ended his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit a `` very , very special place '' — which turned out to be the church across from the White House .
It 's unclear why Esper would 've thought a public toilet fit that description .
Trump and his administration continue to insist that the stunt was not a photo-op , and that peaceful protesters were not tear-gassed .
Trump stood at the church for just a few minutes as he held up a Bible for cameras .
He did not say a prayer , nor did he offer remarks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the acting chief of the United States Park Police , confirmed they used `` smoke canisters and pepper balls '' to disperse the crowd .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies pepper balls as tear gas .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday partially walked back his claim that he had no idea he was going to be part of Donald Trump’s widely condemned photo-op on Monday night.
In that incident, peaceful protesters in Washington’s Lafayette Park were tear-gassed by military police to clear the way for Trump to walk from the White House to a church to hold up a Bible for the cameras.
Esper, one of the administration officials who walked alongside Trump through the park to St. John’s Episcopal Church for the stunt, had told NBC News on Tuesday that he thought he was going to view a vandalized bathroom in the park and had had no idea about the photo-op.
But at a briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Esper said he did know he was going to the church, but claimed he hadn’t known Trump would use the visit as a photo-op.
“I did know that we were going to the church; I was not aware that a photo-op was happening,” Esper told reporters, adding, “My aim is to keep the department out of politics and to stay apolitical.”
Esper continues to try to distance himself from the stunt, which has been condemned by religious leaders, Democrats, and a few elected Republicans.
In the interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Esper said he thought he was going to view vandalism by some demonstrators and talk to troops whom Trump had called in to quell violent demonstrations. He also told NBC News that he did not know the protesters near the White House, who were peacefully calling for an end to police brutality against black Americans in the wake of yet another white police killing of an unarmed black man, had been tear-gassed for Trump’s photo-op.
“I didn’t know where I was going,” Esper said then. “I wanted to see how much damage actually happened.”
Prior to his stunt on Monday, Trump gave a speech in the White House Rose Garden vowing to end violent protests.
As Trump delivered his speech, the sound of flash-bang grenades used by the military police could be heard in the background. He ended his remarks by saying he was going to visit a “very, very special place” — which turned out to be the church across from the White House.
It’s unclear why Esper would’ve thought a public toilet fit that description.
Trump and his administration continue to insist that the stunt was not a photo-op, and that peaceful protesters were not tear-gassed.
Trump stood at the church for just a few minutes as he held up a Bible for cameras. He did not say a prayer, nor did he offer remarks.
And protesters were tear-gassed: Gregory Monahan, the acting chief of the United States Park Police, confirmed they used “smoke canisters and pepper balls” to disperse the crowd.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies pepper balls as tear gas.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--GOP lawmaker: I was only joking about buying ammunition to shoot protesters

Michigan state Rep. Gary Eisen ( R ) claimed he was just having some fun when he posted a photo of ammunition and promised to purchase more in light of a planned protest , the Port Huron Times Herald reported on Tuesday .
`` I was at my shop this morning working , and an older guy came in , '' Eisen wrote on Facebook on Saturday .
`` We started talking about the protesters and the riots ...
He said 'You know all those protesters are Liberals ' I said 'how do you know that ' ... .
he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest and Conservatives PREPARE for it ' hmm , , so i thought maybe I will load up a few more mags ... . ''
The comment was accompanied by a photo of multiple kinds of ammunition .
Eisen told the Times-Herald that he `` just made a joke , '' and the post `` was never meant to be malicious . ''
He said others were `` tak [ ing ] it out of proportion . ''
MLive.com reported that Eisen posted his `` joke '' days before nearby rallies organized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take place .
Alphonso Amos , chair of Black Lives Matter Port Huron , told the Times Herald he was `` so disheartened '' a local politician `` would think that would be appropriate , knowing what 's been incited . ''
Amos called for Eisen to resign , saying , `` We 're trying to push our community forward .
For this to have partisan politics in play is sickening . ''
Protests organized by the NAACP and Black Lives Matter were part of rallies around the world opposing racist police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a black man in Minnesota who died last week after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes .
Eisen did not appear to post publicly on Facebook about armed protesters who visited Michigan 's Capitol in late April to demand Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat , reopen state businesses during the coronavirus pandemic .
Eisen 's comments were part of a larger trend of violent rhetoric by conservatives against protests held nationwide for racial justice .
In Virginia , Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alert '' for protesters .
On Monday , Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) called for protesters to be killed in the streets , a tweet so egregious that Twitter put a warning on it notifying readers that it `` glorified violence . ''
That same day , Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) encouraged Donald Trump to deploy the military on U.S. soil in order to quell protesters , saying , `` let 's see how these anarchists respond when the 101st Airborne is on the other side of the street .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Foundation .

Michigan state Rep. Gary Eisen (R) claimed he was just having some fun when he posted a photo of ammunition and promised to purchase more in light of a planned protest, the Port Huron Times Herald reported on Tuesday.
“I was at my shop this morning working, and an older guy came in,” Eisen wrote on Facebook on Saturday. “We started talking about the protesters and the riots… He said ‘You know all those protesters are Liberals’ I said ‘how do you know that’ …. he said ‘Liberals look for trouble and civil unrest and Conservatives PREPARE for it’ hmm ,, so i thought maybe I will load up a few more mags….”
The comment was accompanied by a photo of multiple kinds of ammunition.
Eisen told the Times-Herald that he “just made a joke,” and the post “was never meant to be malicious.” He said others were “tak[ing] it out of proportion.”
MLive.com reported that Eisen posted his “joke” days before nearby rallies organized by the NAACP and Black Lives Matter were to take place.
Alphonso Amos, chair of Black Lives Matter Port Huron, told the Times Herald he was “so disheartened” a local politician “would think that would be appropriate, knowing what’s been incited.” Amos called for Eisen to resign, saying, “We’re trying to push our community forward. For this to have partisan politics in play is sickening.”
Protests organized by the NAACP and Black Lives Matter were part of rallies around the world opposing racist police brutality following the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota who died last week after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Eisen did not appear to post publicly on Facebook about armed protesters who visited Michigan’s Capitol in late April to demand Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, reopen state businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eisen’s comments were part of a larger trend of violent rhetoric by conservatives against protests held nationwide for racial justice.
In Virginia, Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase encouraged gun owners to be “on alert” for protesters.
On Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called for protesters to be killed in the streets, a tweet so egregious that Twitter put a warning on it notifying readers that it “glorified violence.”
That same day, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) encouraged Donald Trump to deploy the military on U.S. soil in order to quell protesters, saying, “let’s see how these anarchists respond when the 101st Airborne is on the other side of the street.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--Colorado conservatives want to ban abortions that are already hard to get

Anti-abortion activists in Colorado appear to have obtained enough signatures to put an initiative on the ballot in 2020 .
If the measure were to pass , later abortions would be banned in the state , one of the few to offer the procedure .
The `` Due Date Too Late '' ballot initiative would ban abortion after 22 weeks in almost all cases .
Jack Teter , the political director for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains , said the measure would `` force a woman to ... leave her family and her community and her support system behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't criminalize access to health care . ''
He also noted that the measure makes no exceptions for rape or incest .
Currently , Colorado imposes no limits on when an abortion can be performed .
That 's true of only six other states in the country .
Because of that , the state has been a refuge for those who need later abortions .
During a Congressional hearing last year on a so-called `` born-alive '' bill , Erika Christensen shared her later abortion story with the House of Representatives .
Christensen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development had stopped .
Were she to carry the pregnancy to term , the baby would not have been able to breathe .
Christensen lives in New York , which at that time had a state-imposed limit , so she could n't obtain an abortion there .
At a great financial cost , she flew to Colorado to see a doctor who could perform an abortion for her .
If the ballot initiative succeeds during the 2020 election , Colorado would no longer be a location for those who need later abortions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The anti-abortion backers of the initiative describe it as `` heed [ ing ] science , '' relying on the debunked argument that fetuses can feel pain at 22 weeks .
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has noted that a large study showed a fetus is unlikely to feel pain until much later in pregnancy .
If Colorado voters back this ballot initiative , hundreds of women each year would potentially be denied the right to obtain an abortion later in pregnancy .
Colorado residents would be forced to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states would have one less option for a later abortion .
The denial of abortion access leads to a higher rate of maternal and infant mortality .
The real science behind abortion shows it is one of the safest medical procedures available , and that includes later abortion .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Anti-abortion activists in Colorado appear to have obtained enough signatures to put an initiative on the ballot in 2020. If the measure were to pass, later abortions would be banned in the state, one of the few to offer the procedure.
The “Due Date Too Late” ballot initiative would ban abortion after 22 weeks in almost all cases.
Jack Teter, the political director for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said the measure would “force a woman to … leave her family and her community and her support system behind to travel to another state that doesn’t criminalize access to health care.” He also noted that the measure makes no exceptions for rape or incest.
Currently, Colorado imposes no limits on when an abortion can be performed. That’s true of only six other states in the country. Because of that, the state has been a refuge for those who need later abortions.
During a congressional hearing last year on a so-called “born-alive” bill, Erika Christensen shared her later abortion story with the House of Representatives. Christensen learned at the 30-week mark that fetal development had stopped. Were she to carry the pregnancy to term, the baby would not have been able to breathe.
Christensen lives in New York, which at that time had a state-imposed limit, so she couldn’t obtain an abortion there. At a great financial cost, she flew to Colorado to see a doctor who could perform an abortion for her.
If the ballot initiative succeeds during the 2020 election, Colorado would no longer be a location for those who need later abortions, whether they are Colorado residents or not.
The anti-abortion backers of the initiative describe it as “heed[ing] science,” relying on the debunked argument that fetuses can feel pain at 22 weeks. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has noted that a large study showed a fetus is unlikely to feel pain until much later in pregnancy.
If Colorado voters back this ballot initiative, hundreds of women each year would potentially be denied the right to obtain an abortion later in pregnancy. Colorado residents would be forced to travel to another state, and residents of other states would have one less option for a later abortion.
The denial of abortion access leads to a higher rate of maternal and infant mortality. The real science behind abortion shows it is one of the safest medical procedures available, and that includes later abortion.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--Teachers union: Trump and McConnell are 'putting people in danger'

The president of the National Education Association said Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are standing in the way of safely reopening public schools .
`` There 's a way to do this right and there 's the way Donald Trump is saying to do it , which puts people in danger , '' Lily Eskelsen García said in a phone interview on Thursday .
Eskelsen García noted that Trump has called on the nation to reopen its public schools , which are currently shuttered to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , but has not offered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Trump said , 'Just open them , ' '' she observed , `` but did n't say , 'Here 's the resources we 'll give public schools to do it safely . '
'' `` And Mitch McConnell is putting people in danger by sitting on the HEROES Act , '' Eskelsen García said .
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act , passed by the House of Representatives in May , would provide $ 3 trillion in funding to address the economic crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct aid to state and local governments .
As a sixth-grade teacher , Eskelsen García said , she has seen firsthand that classrooms are closed areas with `` sneezing kids who on their best day have runny noses '' and spread germs widely .
Without clear guidance and funding , she believes , it sounds like politicians want to `` sacrifice the kids '' and `` warehouse them so the parents can get back to work . ''
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month released strict safety guidelines for dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask use , cleaning protocols , distancing requirements , and appropriate ventilation systems .
But Eskelsen García that said leaked CDC guidelines for reopening schools were not nearly as specific .
`` People who looked at that went , 'Oh crap , we 'd have to hire and train more school janitors [ for ] disinfecting [ and socially distance ] kids in overcrowded germ factories . '
'' she said .
Meanwhile , school systems are facing a significant financial crunch caused by the economic meltdown .
With more than 20 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , state and local revenues have dropped significantly since the start of the pandemic .
Around the country , Eskelsen García said , school boards are meeting on Zoom and saying , `` We 're gon na have to cut 30 % out of school budgets . ''
Those cuts could result in far fewer teachers and larger class sizes at a time when social distancing mean kids need to be kept physically separated .
`` The HEROES Act would stop the bleeding of the school budgets , which are patients bleeding in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop it , '' Eskelsen García said .
But , she noted , McConnell has called the bill `` dead on arrival '' in the Senate .
`` Shame on him ! ''
Eskelsen García said .
McConnell has ridiculed the proposal as `` not serious '' and has refused to bring it up for a vote .
He instead suggested states in financial distress consider filing for bankruptcy , which legally they are not allowed to do .
Trump has also dismissed the bill as `` D.O.A.
, dead on arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of guidance at the federal level throughout the pandemic .
`` We do n't have a single point of leadership right now for this response , and we do n't have a master plan for this response .
So those two things are absolutely critical , '' Department of Health and Human Services whistleblower Dr. Rick Bright told Congress last month .
Eskelsen García said that reopening the schools without ample staffing and safety guidelines is a non-starter for school employees and families .
`` If one more politician says , 'Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open them safely , they 're gon na be hearing not only from educators but pretty angry parents , '' she warned .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The president of the National Education Association said Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are standing in the way of safely reopening public schools.
“There’s a way to do this right and there’s the way Donald Trump is saying to do it, which puts people in danger,” Lily Eskelsen García said in a phone interview on Thursday.
Eskelsen García noted that Trump has called on the nation to reopen its public schools, which are currently shuttered to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but has not offered a plan on how to do so safely. “Trump said, ‘Just open them,'” she observed, “but didn’t say, ‘Here’s the resources we’ll give public schools to do it safely.'”
“And Mitch McConnell is putting people in danger by sitting on the HEROES Act,” Eskelsen García said.
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, passed by the House of Representatives in May, would provide $3 trillion in funding to address the economic crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, including about $1 trillion in direct aid to state and local governments.
As a sixth-grade teacher, Eskelsen García said, she has seen firsthand that classrooms are closed areas with “sneezing kids who on their best day have runny noses” and spread germs widely. Without clear guidance and funding, she believes, it sounds like politicians want to “sacrifice the kids” and “warehouse them so the parents can get back to work.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month released strict safety guidelines for dining establishments to reopen, spelling out face mask use, cleaning protocols, distancing requirements, and appropriate ventilation systems. But Eskelsen García that said leaked CDC guidelines for reopening schools were not nearly as specific.
“People who looked at that went, ‘Oh crap, we’d have to hire and train more school janitors [for] disinfecting [and socially distance] kids in overcrowded germ factories.'” she said. Meanwhile, school systems are facing a significant financial crunch caused by the economic meltdown.
With more than 20 million Americans out of work and businesses closing, state and local revenues have dropped significantly since the start of the pandemic. Around the country, Eskelsen García said, school boards are meeting on Zoom and saying, “We’re gonna have to cut 30% out of school budgets.”
Those cuts could result in far fewer teachers and larger class sizes at a time when social distancing mean kids need to be kept physically separated.
“The HEROES Act would stop the bleeding of the school budgets, which are patients bleeding in triage. It could be the tourniquet to stop it,” Eskelsen García said. But, she noted, McConnell has called the bill “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
“Shame on him!” Eskelsen García said.
McConnell has ridiculed the proposal as “not serious” and has refused to bring it up for a vote. He instead suggested states in financial distress consider filing for bankruptcy, which legally they are not allowed to do.
Trump has also dismissed the bill as “D.O.A., dead on arrival.”
Trump has been criticized for lack of guidance at the federal level throughout the pandemic. “We don’t have a single point of leadership right now for this response, and we don’t have a master plan for this response. So those two things are absolutely critical,” Department of Health and Human Services whistleblower Dr. Rick Bright told Congress last month.
Eskelsen García said that reopening the schools without ample staffing and safety guidelines is a non-starter for school employees and families. “If one more politician says, ‘Open the schools’ without saying how to open them safely, they’re gonna be hearing not only from educators but pretty angry parents,” she warned.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--13 GOP lawmakers blame 'antifa' while ignoring arrests of far-right extremists

As protesters take to the streets to demand an end to police brutality against black Americans , Donald Trump has focused more on the scattered reports of violence and looting among the crowds and has cast blame for the destruction on antifa , a loose movement of `` anti-fascists '' who aggressively oppose white supremacy .
Now , even as far-right extremists are detained for attempting to hijack those protests and commit violence , Trump and his Republican defenders have continued their efforts to pin the blame on antifa .
It 's not the first time Trump has summoned antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the 2017 `` Unite the Right '' white supremacist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , Trump blamed `` many sides '' for the violence , specifically criticizing the `` alt-left '' — a non-existent group into which right-wing extremists had lumped antifa — for supposedly jumpstarting the chaos .
One woman was killed at that rally after a white nationalist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters .
Now , Trump wants to designate antifa as a domestic terror organization , which experts say is dangerous , as it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's enemies and deprioritize the threat from organized white nationalist groups .
Authorities say those types of groups have already attempted to target the nationwide protests in order to cause destruction and commit violence .
Federal prosecutors this week charged three right-wing extremists with terrorist activities , alleging the men , who are white , were trying to `` hijack the protests into violence '' as part of the armed `` boogaloo '' movement , which aims to spark the next American Civil War .
The three men , who range in age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military experience , have specifically been charged with two counts each of conspiracy to damage and destroy by fire and explosive and possession of unregistered firearms .
The prosecutors said the men were arrested on Saturday `` on the way to a protest in downtown Las Vegas after filling gas cans at a parking lot and making Molotov cocktails in glass bottles , '' according to the Associated Press .
Neither Trump nor members of his administration have commented on the three arrests , choosing instead to power forward with their efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , mentioned antifa by name at a news conference on Thursday , but did not call out right-wing agitators like the ones in Nevada .
Trump 's usual chorus of congressional defenders have also been largely quiet on the matter , despite many of them proactively calling out what they claim is antifa-led destruction .
Some , like Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton , have even gone so far as to call for military crackdowns on peaceful protesters , who have gathered across the country to demand an end to racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most vocal lawmakers in the wake of the Floyd protests , demanding in a New York Times op-ed that Trump call in the military to target American citizens — an escalation that has since drawn heavy condemnation .
`` Anarchy , rioting , and looting needs to end tonight , '' Cotton tweeted on June 1 .
`` If local law enforcement is overwhelmed and needs backup , let 's see how tough these Antifa terrorists are when they 're facing off with the 101st Airborne Division .
We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Cotton has still not commented publicly on the right-wing extremists arrested in Nevada .
Cruz , who has also been silent on the Nevada arrests , has been vocal about antifa , blaming the group for the violence at anti-racism protests across the country and saying he 's been fighting the group for `` years . ''
`` [ A ] ntifa is a domestic terrorist organization led by hateful , intolerant radicals .
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on The Constitution , I ’ ll convene a hearing on how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction we ’ ve seen throughout our communities , '' Cruz tweeted on Wednesday .
Gaetz , who is well known for backing up even Trump 's most baseless conspiracy theories , has been vocal about blaming antifa for violence at anti-racism protests , but has said nothing about the arrests in Nevada as of Thursday .
Gaetz was punished earlier this week on Twitter , after he questioned why law enforcement could n't `` hunt [ antifa ] down like we do those in the Middle East [ . ]
'' The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channel Newsmax on Wednesday to condemn antifa and praise Trump for `` putting a stop to this lawlessness so the rioters won ’ t overshadow this powerful and important cause . ''
Reschenthaler has also said nothing about the right-wing arrests in Nevada thus far .
Green this week compared antifa to the Chinese Communist Party , pointing to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdowns in which the Chinese government attacked pro-democracy student protesters , killing hundreds .
`` Communism supported by terrorist tactics has always been the enemy of freedom , then at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antifa 's violence , '' he wrote in a Facebook post .
Green has so far been silent on the Nevada arrests .
Gosar praised the show of force by military police guarding the Lincoln Memorial this week , which many — including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — have called disturbing .
Earlier in the week , photos of the uniformed police lining the steps of the memorial made the rounds on Twitter , prompting outcry from those who saw their presence as threatening .
`` Nothing 'deeply disturbing ' about protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gosar tweeted on June 2 .
He has not commented about the arrests of the right-wing extremists in Nevada .
Waltz on Tuesday blamed violence at the widespread protests — which were in reality mostly peaceful — on antifa .
`` If what we 're seeing with Antifa & looters is n't an insurrection as understood by the US Constitution , I do n't know what is , '' he tweeted on June 2 .
So far , Waltz has been silent on the arrests in Nevada .
Cassidy has also blamed antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
`` There are people protesting brutality and racism , which is good .
All Americans are for that , '' he tweeted on Tuesday .
`` What we ’ re not for is Antifa and criminals sneaking into the movement to discredit it and work against society .
That is wrong . ''
There is no publicly available evidence of antifa-related violence or destruction at the various protests .
Early FBI reports on the demonstrations also contradict that claim .
Cassidy has still not commented about the Nevada arrests .
Steube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on alleged violence from Antifa , but has been silent himself on the arrests of right-wing extremists .
`` While leaders on the left remain silent on the violence from groups like Antifa and some governors even excuse their behavior , we will restore law and order and ensure that justice is served for all , '' he tweeted Monday .
Burgess similarly blamed the violence at some protests on antifa .
`` This weekend the nation saw how peaceful protests were turned into violent riots by Antifa .
The President and Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a domestic terrorist organization , '' he tweeted on June 1 .
He has yet to acknowledge the alleged attempt by right-wing extremists in Nevada to carry out a violent attack on demonstrators .
The appointed senator from Georgia pushed Trump 's narrative that antifa was behind violence at some of the protests and should be labeled a terrorist organization .
`` Antifa is a despicable group whose sole mission is to terrorize this country and its citizens .
It deserves to be categorized - and punished - accordingly , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antifa showed this weekend , it is a domestic terrorist organization .
Period . ''
She has yet to comment on the right-wing extremists arrested in Nevada .
Like Trump , Blackburn also blamed antifa this week , calling them `` domestic terrorists . ''
`` This has gone beyond a peaceful protest .
Members of Antifa are domestic terrorists burning American cities down to the ground .
The # ThinBlueLine is standing between chaos and calm , '' Blackburn tweeted on May 31 , linking to a video of her appearance on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Nevada arrests .
Hice defended Trump 's attacks on Antifa late last week , as well as Trump 's call for violence against looters .
`` If @ Twitter is going to block content and limit speech , why are n't they taking action against the # Antifa accounts promoting and organizing last night 's riots ? ''
Hice tweeted on May 29 .
He has not commented on the Nevada arrests , and was silent even after Twitter shut down some accounts posing as antifa that were discovered to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As protesters take to the streets to demand an end to police brutality against black Americans, Donald Trump has focused more on the scattered reports of violence and looting among the crowds and has cast blame for the destruction on antifa, a loose movement of “anti-fascists” who aggressively oppose white supremacy.
Now, even as far-right extremists are detained for attempting to hijack those protests and commit violence, Trump and his Republican defenders have continued their efforts to pin the blame on antifa.
It’s not the first time Trump has summoned antifa to distract from a major news event. During the 2017 “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Trump blamed “many sides” for the violence, specifically criticizing the “alt-left” — a non-existent group into which right-wing extremists had lumped antifa — for supposedly jumpstarting the chaos.
One woman was killed at that rally after a white nationalist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters.
Now, Trump wants to designate antifa as a domestic terror organization, which experts say is dangerous, as it could pressure law enforcement to specifically target Trump’s enemies and deprioritize the threat from organized white nationalist groups.
Authorities say those types of groups have already attempted to target the nationwide protests in order to cause destruction and commit violence.
Federal prosecutors this week charged three right-wing extremists with terrorist activities, alleging the men, who are white, were trying to “hijack the protests into violence” as part of the armed “boogaloo” movement, which aims to spark the next American Civil War.
The three men, who range in age from 23 to 40 years old and military experience, have specifically been charged with two counts each of conspiracy to damage and destroy by fire and explosive and possession of unregistered firearms.
The prosecutors said the men were arrested on Saturday “on the way to a protest in downtown Las Vegas after filling gas cans at a parking lot and making Molotov cocktails in glass bottles,” according to the Associated Press.
Neither Trump nor members of his administration have commented on the three arrests, choosing instead to power forward with their efforts to target antifa. Attorney General William Barr, for example, mentioned antifa by name at a news conference on Thursday, but did not call out right-wing agitators like the ones in Nevada.
Trump’s usual chorus of congressional defenders have also been largely quiet on the matter, despite many of them proactively calling out what they claim is antifa-led destruction.
Some, like Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, have even gone so far as to call for military crackdowns on peaceful protesters, who have gathered across the country to demand an end to racist police brutality.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Cotton has been one of the most vocal lawmakers in the wake of the Floyd protests, demanding in a New York Times op-ed that Trump call in the military to target American citizens — an escalation that has since drawn heavy condemnation.
“Anarchy, rioting, and looting needs to end tonight,” Cotton tweeted on June 1. “If local law enforcement is overwhelmed and needs backup, let’s see how tough these Antifa terrorists are when they’re facing off with the 101st Airborne Division. We need to have zero tolerance for this destruction.”
Cotton has still not commented publicly on the right-wing extremists arrested in Nevada.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Cruz, who has also been silent on the Nevada arrests, has been vocal about antifa, blaming the group for the violence at anti-racism protests across the country and saying he’s been fighting the group for “years.”
“[A]ntifa is a domestic terrorist organization led by hateful, intolerant radicals. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on The Constitution, I’ll convene a hearing on how to hold Antifa responsible for the violence & destruction we’ve seen throughout our communities,” Cruz tweeted on Wednesday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
Gaetz, who is well known for backing up even Trump’s most baseless conspiracy theories, has been vocal about blaming antifa for violence at anti-racism protests, but has said nothing about the arrests in Nevada as of Thursday.
Gaetz was punished earlier this week on Twitter, after he questioned why law enforcement couldn’t “hunt [antifa] down like we do those in the Middle East[.]”
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
The freshman Republican went on the right-wing cable channel Newsmax on Wednesday to condemn antifa and praise Trump for “putting a stop to this lawlessness so the rioters won’t overshadow this powerful and important cause.”
Reschenthaler has also said nothing about the right-wing arrests in Nevada thus far.
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN)
Green this week compared antifa to the Chinese Communist Party, pointing to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdowns in which the Chinese government attacked pro-democracy student protesters, killing hundreds.
“Communism supported by terrorist tactics has always been the enemy of freedom, then at Tiananmen Square & now as seen w/ Antifa’s violence,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Green has so far been silent on the Nevada arrests.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
Gosar praised the show of force by military police guarding the Lincoln Memorial this week, which many — including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — have called disturbing.
Earlier in the week, photos of the uniformed police lining the steps of the memorial made the rounds on Twitter, prompting outcry from those who saw their presence as threatening.
“Nothing ‘deeply disturbing’ about protecting the Lincoln Memorial from ANTIFA,” Gosar tweeted on June 2.
He has not commented about the arrests of the right-wing extremists in Nevada.
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL)
Waltz on Tuesday blamed violence at the widespread protests — which were in reality mostly peaceful — on antifa.
“If what we’re seeing with Antifa & looters isn’t an insurrection as understood by the US Constitution, I don’t know what is,” he tweeted on June 2.
So far, Waltz has been silent on the arrests in Nevada.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Cassidy has also blamed antifa for sparking violence at protests across the country.
“There are people protesting brutality and racism, which is good. All Americans are for that,” he tweeted on Tuesday. “What we’re not for is Antifa and criminals sneaking into the movement to discredit it and work against society. That is wrong.”
There is no publicly available evidence of antifa-related violence or destruction at the various protests. Early FBI reports on the demonstrations also contradict that claim.
Cassidy has still not commented about the Nevada arrests.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL)
Steube accused Democrats of being “silent” on alleged violence from Antifa, but has been silent himself on the arrests of right-wing extremists.
“While leaders on the left remain silent on the violence from groups like Antifa and some governors even excuse their behavior, we will restore law and order and ensure that justice is served for all,” he tweeted Monday.
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Burgess similarly blamed the violence at some protests on antifa.
“This weekend the nation saw how peaceful protests were turned into violent riots by Antifa. The President and Attorney General Barr were right to classify Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization,” he tweeted on June 1.
He has yet to acknowledge the alleged attempt by right-wing extremists in Nevada to carry out a violent attack on demonstrators.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA)
The appointed senator from Georgia pushed Trump’s narrative that antifa was behind violence at some of the protests and should be labeled a terrorist organization.
“Antifa is a despicable group whose sole mission is to terrorize this country and its citizens. It deserves to be categorized – and punished – accordingly,” she tweeted on June 1. “As Antifa showed this weekend, it is a domestic terrorist organization. Period.”
She has yet to comment on the right-wing extremists arrested in Nevada.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Like Trump, Blackburn also blamed antifa this week, calling them “domestic terrorists.”
“This has gone beyond a peaceful protest. Members of Antifa are domestic terrorists burning American cities down to the ground. The #ThinBlueLine is standing between chaos and calm,” Blackburn tweeted on May 31, linking to a video of her appearance on Fox News.
She has not commented on the Nevada arrests.
Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA)
Hice defended Trump’s attacks on Antifa late last week, as well as Trump’s call for violence against looters.
“If @Twitter is going to block content and limit speech, why aren’t they taking action against the #Antifa accounts promoting and organizing last night’s riots?” Hice tweeted on May 29.
He has not commented on the Nevada arrests, and was silent even after Twitter shut down some accounts posing as antifa that were discovered to be run by white nationalists.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--Republican AGs: Acknowledging racism is 'part of the problem, not a solution'

On Tuesday , following a week of protests , Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called on leaders to listen to Americans across the country who are calling for an end to pervasive and racist police violence following the death of George Floyd , a black man in Minnesota who died last week after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes .
In a speech to the Boston Chamber of Commerce , Healey said it was time for `` building anew in ways that rid us of the institutionalized racism that 's led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support calls for a revolution , but not the revolution of violence in our streets .
Instead , I 'm calling for a revolution in mindset .
A fundamental change to our ingrained assumptions , '' she said .
She ender her remarks by saying , `` Yes , America is burning .
But that 's how forests grow . ''
The day after her speech , the Republican Attorneys General Association slammed her comments , claiming Healey was promoting violence with `` inflammatory rhetoric '' that is `` part of the problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General Jeff Landry , chair of the association , said in a statement that Healey 's comments `` incite additional violence by inflaming emotions and condoning lawlessness . ''
Landry also demanded that Healey take down a tweet that included a quote from her speech , and `` quit fanning the flames of emotion for political gain . ''
`` It 's disappointing , but predictable , that the first time Jeff Landry commented on the killing of George Floyd was in a political statement that ignored the facts and significance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group 's executive director , said in a Wednesday email .
The attack on Healey `` proves what we already knew to be true : Jeff Landry and RAGA are a part of the problem . ''
Neither the association 's website nor Landry 's website contains a statement or press release about Floyd 's death .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Tuesday, following a week of protests, Democratic Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called on leaders to listen to Americans across the country who are calling for an end to pervasive and racist police violence following the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota who died last week after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.
In a speech to the Boston Chamber of Commerce, Healey said it was time for “building anew in ways that rid us of the institutionalized racism that’s led to America burning today.”
“I support calls for a revolution, but not the revolution of violence in our streets. Instead, I’m calling for a revolution in mindset. A fundamental change to our ingrained assumptions,” she said.
She ender her remarks by saying, “Yes, America is burning. But that’s how forests grow.”
The day after her speech, the Republican Attorneys General Association slammed her comments, claiming Healey was promoting violence with “inflammatory rhetoric” that is “part of the problem, not a solution.”
Lousiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, chair of the association, said in a statement that Healey’s comments “incite additional violence by inflaming emotions and condoning lawlessness.”
Landry also demanded that Healey take down a tweet that included a quote from her speech, and “quit fanning the flames of emotion for political gain.”
The Democratic Attorneys General Association defended Healey’s remarks.
“It’s disappointing, but predictable, that the first time Jeff Landry commented on the killing of George Floyd was in a political statement that ignored the facts and significance of what happened,” Sean Rankin, the group’s executive director, said in a Wednesday email. The attack on Healey “proves what we already knew to be true: Jeff Landry and RAGA are a part of the problem.”
Neither the association’s website nor Landry’s website contains a statement or press release about Floyd’s death.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--Second poll in a month shows McSally trailing opponent by double digits

The results of a Fox News poll conducted between May 30 and June 2 show Democratic Senate candidate and former astronaut Mark Kelly leading incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally by 13 points in Arizona .
The poll is the latest in a yearlong trend showing McSally trailing in a key U.S. Senate race that could help determine which party controls the chamber next year .
The poll results show Kelly leading McSally 50 % to 37 % among registered voters .
Fox News noted that 88 % of Democratic voters support Kelly while only 73 % of Republican voters back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statewide poll in a row to show McSally trailing by 13 points .
A poll of likely voters conducted in May by OH Predictive Insights showed Kelly leading by a 51 % to 38 % margin .
The last time McSally led in a poll was more than a year ago , in May 2019 , when she held a slim 45 % to 44 % advantage .
Since then , 11 consecutive state polls conducted by six different polling outfits have shown Kelly ahead , according to Real Clear Politics .
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Senate .
McSally lost a 2018 Senate race to Kyrsten Sinema , the first Democratic senator to represent Arizona in three decades .
After her loss , McSally was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. John McCain in August 2018 and the resignation of Jon Kyl , who had taken it over , in December 2018 .
McSally 's campaign has been plagued by numerous campaign finance law violations and an inability to raise as much campaign cash as Kelly .
In late 2019 , McSally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercials supporting her because her campaign could not afford to do so .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The results of a Fox News poll conducted between May 30 and June 2 show Democratic Senate candidate and former astronaut Mark Kelly leading incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally by 13 points in Arizona. The poll is the latest in a yearlong trend showing McSally trailing in a key U.S. Senate race that could help determine which party controls the chamber next year.
The poll results show Kelly leading McSally 50% to 37% among registered voters. Fox News noted that 88% of Democratic voters support Kelly while only 73% of Republican voters back McSally.
The survey is the second statewide poll in a row to show McSally trailing by 13 points. A poll of likely voters conducted in May by OH Predictive Insights showed Kelly leading by a 51% to 38% margin.
The last time McSally led in a poll was more than a year ago, in May 2019, when she held a slim 45% to 44% advantage.
Since then, 11 consecutive state polls conducted by six different polling outfits have shown Kelly ahead, according to Real Clear Politics.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate.
McSally lost a 2018 Senate race to Kyrsten Sinema, the first Democratic senator to represent Arizona in three decades.
After her loss, McSally was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. John McCain in August 2018 and the resignation of Jon Kyl, who had taken it over, in December 2018.
McSally’s campaign has been plagued by numerous campaign finance law violations and an inability to raise as much campaign cash as Kelly. In late 2019, McSally asked outside conservative groups to air television commercials supporting her because her campaign could not afford to do so.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--10 people Trump appointed and later attacked for being incompetent

Donald Trump 's new attack on his former secretary of defense is the latest in a series of broadsides against the very people he appointed .
As a candidate , Trump said in 2016 that he would only hire outstanding people .
`` I 'm going to surround myself only with the best and most serious people , '' he told the Washington Post .
`` We want top of the line professionals . ''
On Wednesday , he accused retired Gen. Jim Mattis of having done an incompetent job during his two years running the Pentagon .
`` Probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis , the world 's most overrated General .
I asked for his letter of resignation , & felt great about it , '' Trump tweeted .
`` I gave him a new life , things to do , and battles to win , but he seldom 'brought home the bacon ' .
I did n't like his 'leadership ' style or much else about him , and many others agree .
Glad he is gone ! ''
Trump was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2018 was `` retiring , with distinction '' after making `` tremendous progress , '' had criticized him in a story published on Wednesday by the Atlantic magazine .
Mattis said in his statement , `` We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution . ''
Donald Trump , he said , `` is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try .
Instead , he tries to divide us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long line of Trump appointees who have been on the receiving end of his attacks .
Here are nine other people he hired and then later accused of incompetence .
Donald Trump selected Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions in December 2016 to run the Justice Department , calling him a `` world-class legal mind . ''
After Sessions recused himself in March 2017 from decisions related to the investigation of Russia 's meddling in the 2016 election , Trump began a yearslong series of attacks on him .
In September 2018 , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attorney general , '' two months before firing Sessions .
Last month , he told Sinclair Television that Sessions `` was a disaster as attorney general , '' `` should never have been attorney general , '' and `` was not mentally qualified to be attorney general . ''
Trump selected Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson in December 2016 to be secretary of state , saying , `` I can think of no one more prepared and no one more dedicated to serve as secretary of state at this critical time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump fired Tillerson via tweet , later saying Tillerson `` did n't have the mental capacity needed '' for the job , `` was dumb as a rock , '' and `` was lazy as hell . ''
Former chief of staff and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly Trump selected retired Gen. John Kelly in December 2016 to run the Department of Homeland Security .
In July 2017 , he appointed him White House chief of staff , calling him a `` Great American . ''
When he replaced Kelly with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 2018 , Trump lauded Kelly for serving `` our Country with distinction . ''
But after Kelly criticized Trump this February for firing impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , Trump changed his tune .
`` When I terminated John Kelly , which I could n't do fast enough , he knew full well that he was over his head .
Being Chief of Staff just was n't for him , '' he tweeted .
Trump picked Powell in November 2017 to chair the Federal Reserve , praising his `` integrity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he was already criticizing Powell for a `` horrendous lack of vision . ''
He called him an `` enemy '' of America , comparing him to the head of China 's Communist Party .
This March , Trump tweeted that the `` Jerome Powell led Federal Reserve has called it wrong from day one .
Sad ! ''
Trump appointed John Bolton to be his national security adviser in March 2018 .
Soon after , he tweeted that it `` Feels great '' to have Bolton `` on board . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had `` informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House . ''
`` I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions , as did others in the Administration , '' he wrote , later complaining , `` He was holding me back ! ''
Trump nominated Rod Rosenstein in February 2017 to be second-in-command at the Justice Department .
With Session 's recusal , Rosenstein became acting attorney general overseeing the Russia investigation .
Before Rosenstein resigned in May 2019 , Trump frequently attacked his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` planning a very illegal act , '' conflicts of interest , and even treason .
Trump hired financier Anthony Scaramucci in July 2017 to be White House communications director .
His tenure lasted 10 days , after which he was fired for profanity-laden attacks on other staffers .
After Scaramucci criticized him in August 2019 , Trump tweeted that he was `` Just another disgruntled former employee fired for gross incompetence ! ''
Trump named his campaign aide Steve Bannon to be chief White House strategist days after his November 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August after Bannon clashed with other White House staff .
After initially praising Bannon for his tenure , Trump ridiculed him in January 2018 for his critical comments he 'd made that made it into a published book about the Trump White House .
`` Sloppy Steve Bannon , '' he charged `` cried when he got fired and begged for his job .
Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone .
Too bad ! ''
Trump selected Omarosa Manigault Newman , a three-time fired contestant on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison and serve as an adviser .
When she was fired that December by chief of staff Kelly , Trump thanked her and wished her `` continued success . ''
After she released secretly recorded audio tapes from her time in the White House , Trump tweeted : `` Wacky Omarosa , who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice , now got fired for the last time .
She never made it , never will .
She begged me for a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ok. People in the White House hated her .
She was vicious , but not smart . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s new attack on his former secretary of defense is the latest in a series of broadsides against the very people he appointed.
As a candidate, Trump said in 2016 that he would only hire outstanding people. “I’m going to surround myself only with the best and most serious people,” he told the Washington Post. “We want top of the line professionals.”
On Wednesday, he accused retired Gen. Jim Mattis of having done an incompetent job during his two years running the Pentagon. “Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it,” Trump tweeted. “I gave him a new life, things to do, and battles to win, but he seldom ‘brought home the bacon’. I didn’t like his ‘leadership’ style or much else about him, and many others agree. Glad he is gone!”
Trump was angry that Mattis, who he said in December 2018 was “retiring, with distinction” after making “tremendous progress,” had criticized him in a story published on Wednesday by the Atlantic magazine.
Mattis said in his statement, “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.” Donald Trump, he said, “is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.”
Mattis is the latest in a long line of Trump appointees who have been on the receiving end of his attacks. Here are nine other people he hired and then later accused of incompetence.
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Donald Trump selected Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions in December 2016 to run the Justice Department, calling him a “world-class legal mind.” After Sessions recused himself in March 2017 from decisions related to the investigation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, Trump began a yearslong series of attacks on him.
In September 2018, Trump said, “I don’t have an attorney general,” two months before firing Sessions. Last month, he told Sinclair Television that Sessions “was a disaster as attorney general,” “should never have been attorney general,” and “was not mentally qualified to be attorney general.”
Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Trump selected Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson in December 2016 to be secretary of state, saying, “I can think of no one more prepared and no one more dedicated to serve as secretary of state at this critical time in our history.”
In March 2018, Trump fired Tillerson via tweet, later saying Tillerson “didn’t have the mental capacity needed” for the job, “was dumb as a rock,” and “was lazy as hell.”
Former chief of staff and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly
Trump selected retired Gen. John Kelly in December 2016 to run the Department of Homeland Security. In July 2017, he appointed him White House chief of staff, calling him a “Great American.”
When he replaced Kelly with Mick Mulvaney as chief of staff in December 2018, Trump lauded Kelly for serving “our Country with distinction.” But after Kelly criticized Trump this February for firing impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Trump changed his tune. “When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn’t do fast enough, he knew full well that he was over his head. Being Chief of Staff just wasn’t for him,” he tweeted.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
Trump picked Powell in November 2017 to chair the Federal Reserve, praising his “integrity and good judgment.”
By last August, he was already criticizing Powell for a “horrendous lack of vision.” He called him an “enemy” of America, comparing him to the head of China’s Communist Party. This March, Trump tweeted that the “Jerome Powell led Federal Reserve has called it wrong from day one. Sad!”
Former national security adviser John Bolton
Trump appointed John Bolton to be his national security adviser in March 2018. Soon after, he tweeted that it “Feels great” to have Bolton “on board.”
Last September, Trump tweeted that he had “informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House.” “I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration,” he wrote, later complaining, “He was holding me back!”
Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
Trump nominated Rod Rosenstein in February 2017 to be second-in-command at the Justice Department. With Session’s recusal, Rosenstein became acting attorney general overseeing the Russia investigation.
Before Rosenstein resigned in May 2019, Trump frequently attacked his handling of the probe, accusing him of “planning a very illegal act,” conflicts of interest, and even treason.
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci
Trump hired financier Anthony Scaramucci in July 2017 to be White House communications director. His tenure lasted 10 days, after which he was fired for profanity-laden attacks on other staffers.
After Scaramucci criticized him in August 2019, Trump tweeted that he was “Just another disgruntled former employee fired for gross incompetence!”
Former chief strategist Steve Bannon
Trump named his campaign aide Steve Bannon to be chief White House strategist days after his November 2016 victory. He ousted him the following August after Bannon clashed with other White House staff.
After initially praising Bannon for his tenure, Trump ridiculed him in January 2018 for his critical comments he’d made that made it into a published book about the Trump White House. “Sloppy Steve Bannon,” he charged “cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad!”
Former assistant Omarosa Manigault Newman
Trump selected Omarosa Manigault Newman, a three-time fired contestant on his reality television show, in January 2017 to run communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison and serve as an adviser. When she was fired that December by chief of staff Kelly, Trump thanked her and wished her “continued success.”
After she released secretly recorded audio tapes from her time in the White House, Trump tweeted: “Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-06-04--Democrats in Congress plan sweeping police reforms following George Floyd's death

Congressional Democrats , powered by the Congressional Black Caucus , are preparing a sweeping package of police reforms as pressure builds on the federal government to respond to the death of George Floyd and others in law enforcement interactions .
With the urgency of mass protests outside their doors , lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working furiously to draft what could become one of the most ambitious efforts in years to oversee the way law enforcement works .
Sens .
Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California , both former presidential candidates , are expected to announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a House bill coming soon .
Both the Senate and House efforts are expected to include changes to police accountability laws , such as revising immunity provisions , and creating a database of police use-of-force incidents .
Revamped training requirements are planned , too , among them a ban on the use of choke holds .
Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , has endorsed such a ban .
`` We have a moral moment in our country , '' Rep. Karen Bass ( D-CA ) , the chairwoman of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
The political stakes of any police reform effort are high , amplified in an election year by Donald Trump 's `` law and order '' stance , including his threats to call in the U.S. military to clamp down on protesters .
With mass unrest now entering a second week , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to shift the national tone Wednesday by walking and talking with protesters outside the Capitol .
The House is expected to vote by month 's end .
`` We 'll be intense , proactive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in the majority , the bills will almost certainly pass the House .
But the outcome in the Senate is less certain .
Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the chamber would take a look at the issues , but he has not endorsed any particular legislation .
Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , the chairman of the Judiciary Committee , tweeted that his panel will conduct a hearing `` to shine a bright light on the problems associated with Mr. Floyd 's death , with the goal of finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
But much like efforts to stem gun violence after mass shootings , the political momentum for changes to policing procedures could fade from public view as the protests wane and the memories of those who have died in connection with police interactions dims .
For example , a long-sought federal anti-lynching bill has languished in Congress .
`` Words of kindness and grace are essential to America , but they 're not enough right now , '' Booker said during a Senate floor speech this week .
`` It 's on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change the law . ''
`` This is just one thing we can do , '' said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ( D-NY ) , who is introducing a bill in the Senate similar to one in the House that seeks to make choke-hold suffocation a federal crime .
`` This is a moment that demands leadership , it demands a reckoning . ''
Sen. Brian Schatz ( D-HI ) is considering an upcoming defense bill provision that would ban the transfer of military equipment , including armor and tanks , to police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at proposing other measures .
Rep. Frederica Wilson ( D-FL ) is proposing a national commission on the status of young black men and boys , and Rep. Barbara Lee ( D-CA ) has legislation to establish a national truth and reconciliation commission on black Americans .
It 's not clear whether law enforcement will back the changes .
Many of the efforts will likely be supported by other minority lawmakers .
Rep. Judy Chu ( D-CA ) , the chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus , convened the call Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hispanic and Native American caucuses .
`` We stand together , '' she said .
Rep. Brenda Lawrence ( D-MI ) is among several members of the black caucus who will be attending memorial or funeral services for Floyd on Thursday in Minnesota and Texas .
She acknowledged the opposition the bills will likely face , but called on fellow lawmakers to consider the option of doing nothing .
`` It 's very hard to watch that video and go back in your corner , '' Lawrence said .

Congressional Democrats, powered by the Congressional Black Caucus, are preparing a sweeping package of police reforms as pressure builds on the federal government to respond to the death of George Floyd and others in law enforcement interactions.
With the urgency of mass protests outside their doors, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working furiously to draft what could become one of the most ambitious efforts in years to oversee the way law enforcement works. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, both former presidential candidates, are expected to announce a package in coming days, with a House bill coming soon.
Both the Senate and House efforts are expected to include changes to police accountability laws, such as revising immunity provisions, and creating a database of police use-of-force incidents. Revamped training requirements are planned, too, among them a ban on the use of choke holds. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has endorsed such a ban.
“We have a moral moment in our country,” Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), the chairwoman of the CBC, said on a conference call Wednesday.
The political stakes of any police reform effort are high, amplified in an election year by Donald Trump’s “law and order” stance, including his threats to call in the U.S. military to clamp down on protesters. With mass unrest now entering a second week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to shift the national tone Wednesday by walking and talking with protesters outside the Capitol.
The House is expected to vote by month’s end. “We’ll be intense, proactive,” Pelosi said on MSNBC.
With Democrats in the majority, the bills will almost certainly pass the House. But the outcome in the Senate is less certain. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the chamber would take a look at the issues, but he has not endorsed any particular legislation.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, tweeted that his panel will conduct a hearing “to shine a bright light on the problems associated with Mr. Floyd’s death, with the goal of finding a better way forward for our nation.”
But much like efforts to stem gun violence after mass shootings, the political momentum for changes to policing procedures could fade from public view as the protests wane and the memories of those who have died in connection with police interactions dims. For example, a long-sought federal anti-lynching bill has languished in Congress.
“Words of kindness and grace are essential to America, but they’re not enough right now,” Booker said during a Senate floor speech this week. “It’s on us in this body to do something to change the law.”
“This is just one thing we can do,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who is introducing a bill in the Senate similar to one in the House that seeks to make choke-hold suffocation a federal crime. “This is a moment that demands leadership, it demands a reckoning.”
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) is considering an upcoming defense bill provision that would ban the transfer of military equipment, including armor and tanks, to police and sheriff’s departments.
Lawmakers are looking at proposing other measures. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) is proposing a national commission on the status of young black men and boys, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has legislation to establish a national truth and reconciliation commission on black Americans.
It’s not clear whether law enforcement will back the changes. Many of the efforts will likely be supported by other minority lawmakers.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus, convened the call Wednesday with the leaders of the Black, Hispanic and Native American caucuses. “We stand together,” she said.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) is among several members of the black caucus who will be attending memorial or funeral services for Floyd on Thursday in Minnesota and Texas. She acknowledged the opposition the bills will likely face, but called on fellow lawmakers to consider the option of doing nothing.
“It’s very hard to watch that video and go back in your corner,” Lawrence said.