shareblue--2020-09-02--Owner of burned Kenosha business says Trump used his story for political gain

The owner of a camera shop that was destroyed during unrest in Kenosha and highlighted during Donald Trump 's visit says Trump used his store for political gain by appearing with a former owner of the business while touring the epicenter of the latest eruption over racial injustice .
Tom Gram said he bought Rode 's Camera Shop from the Rode family eight years ago , though John Rode still owns the property .
Gram 's four decades of work at the store came to an end Aug. 24 , when the building was destroyed by fire during protests over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gram said he got a call Monday from the White House asking if he would join Trump on a tour that would showcase the destruction to the business , but Gram rejected the offer .
And he said Trump 's references to Rode as the owner of the business were deceptive .
`` I think everything he ( Trump ) does turns into a circus , and I just did n't want to be involved in it , '' Gram told Milwaukee station WTMJ-TV .
The White House , however , noted Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built Rode 's Camera Shop before World War II and still own the building that houses the shop .
Trump did n't visit the site of the shop during Tuesday 's trip to Kenosha , but Rode met with him a few blocks away and participated in a roundtable with Trump .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife , Jill , planned to be in Kenosha on Thursday .
Biden plans to hold a community meeting and make another stop at an undisclosed location , the campaign said .
This will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin as the presidential nominee and his first in the state since October 2018 .
Trump 's visit came over the objections of some state and local leaders .
Kenosha has seen protests since Aug. 23 , when police shot Blake , a Black man , seven times in the back .
On Monday , Trump defended a 17-year-old supporter , Kyle Rittenhouse , who is accused of fatally shooting two demonstrators in Kenosha on Aug. 25 and wounding a third .
BuzzFeed News , citing since-deleted social media , reported that Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump rally in Des Moines in January and a TikTok bio page of his included the slogan `` Trump 2020 . ''
Rittenhouse 's attorney John Pierce tweeted a video of him Tuesday speaking by phone with Rittenhouse from jail in Illinois , where he was arrested .
`` I just want to thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart for the underlining support , it 's just amazing , '' Rittenhouse said from the phone held up by Pierce .
`` I want to thank all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving .
It 's been really helpful .
I just want to let you all know that I 'm going to be out of here soon and stay strong .
And I hope to see you guys soon . ''
Pierce reiterated his position that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense .
Trump emphasized his `` law and order '' campaign message during his stop in Kenosha , where he thanked police but did not meet with anyone from Blake 's family .
Also Tuesday , four people arrested during demonstrations in Kenosha filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local law enforcement arrested only those protesting against police brutality , not `` pro-police protesters and militia '' who were armed with rifles .
The lawsuit claims that enforcement of a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. violates constitutional free speech and equal protection rights .
`` In Kenosha , there are two sets of laws — one that applies to those who protest police brutality and racism , and another for those who support the police , '' the lawsuit said .
Sam Hall , attorney for Kenosha County , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said the county will seek immediate dismissal .
`` The Kenosha County Sheriff 's Department has worked tirelessly to bring order back to the community and has been careful to protect the rights of all citizens throughout that process , '' Hall said in a statement .
An attorney for the city did not immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday .
The lawsuit includes widely circulated cellphone video from Aug. 25 showing law enforcement officers in armored vehicles handing bottles of water to civilians with rifles and thanking them .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rittenhouse .
In the video , police appear to be clearing out protesters while allowing the gun-carrying civilians who said they were there to protect the property to remain .
Those bringing the lawsuit are represented by North Carolina civil rights lawyer Kimberly Motely , who also represents Gaige Grosskreutz , the man prosecutors say was shot in the arm by Rittenhouse .

The owner of a camera shop that was destroyed during unrest in Kenosha and highlighted during Donald Trump’s visit says Trump used his store for political gain by appearing with a former owner of the business while touring the epicenter of the latest eruption over racial injustice.
Tom Gram said he bought Rode’s Camera Shop from the Rode family eight years ago, though John Rode still owns the property. Gram’s four decades of work at the store came to an end Aug. 24, when the building was destroyed by fire during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Gram said he got a call Monday from the White House asking if he would join Trump on a tour that would showcase the destruction to the business, but Gram rejected the offer. And he said Trump’s references to Rode as the owner of the business were deceptive.
“I think everything he (Trump) does turns into a circus, and I just didn’t want to be involved in it,” Gram told Milwaukee station WTMJ-TV.
The White House, however, noted Wednesday that Rode and his family founded and built Rode’s Camera Shop before World War II and still own the building that houses the shop. Trump didn’t visit the site of the shop during Tuesday’s trip to Kenosha, but Rode met with him a few blocks away and participated in a roundtable with Trump.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, planned to be in Kenosha on Thursday. Biden plans to hold a community meeting and make another stop at an undisclosed location, the campaign said. This will mark Biden’s first campaign stop in Wisconsin as the presidential nominee and his first in the state since October 2018.
Trump’s visit came over the objections of some state and local leaders. Kenosha has seen protests since Aug. 23, when police shot Blake, a Black man, seven times in the back. On Monday, Trump defended a 17-year-old supporter, Kyle Rittenhouse, who is accused of fatally shooting two demonstrators in Kenosha on Aug. 25 and wounding a third.
BuzzFeed News, citing since-deleted social media, reported that Rittenhouse sat in the front row at a Trump rally in Des Moines in January and a TikTok bio page of his included the slogan “Trump 2020.”
Rittenhouse’s attorney John Pierce tweeted a video of him Tuesday speaking by phone with Rittenhouse from jail in Illinois, where he was arrested.
“I just want to thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart for the underlining support, it’s just amazing,” Rittenhouse said from the phone held up by Pierce. “I want to thank all of you for the mail I’ve been receiving. It’s been really helpful. I just want to let you all know that I’m going to be out of here soon and stay strong. And I hope to see you guys soon.”
Pierce reiterated his position that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense.
Trump emphasized his “law and order” campaign message during his stop in Kenosha, where he thanked police but did not meet with anyone from Blake’s family.
Also Tuesday, four people arrested during demonstrations in Kenosha filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that local law enforcement arrested only those protesting against police brutality, not “pro-police protesters and militia” who were armed with rifles.
The lawsuit claims that enforcement of a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. violates constitutional free speech and equal protection rights.
“In Kenosha, there are two sets of laws — one that applies to those who protest police brutality and racism, and another for those who support the police,” the lawsuit said.
Sam Hall, attorney for Kenosha County, called the lawsuit “entirely without merit” and said the county will seek immediate dismissal.
“The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department has worked tirelessly to bring order back to the community and has been careful to protect the rights of all citizens throughout that process,” Hall said in a statement.
An attorney for the city did not immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday.
The lawsuit includes widely circulated cellphone video from Aug. 25 showing law enforcement officers in armored vehicles handing bottles of water to civilians with rifles and thanking them. One of the people in that video is Rittenhouse.
In the video, police appear to be clearing out protesters while allowing the gun-carrying civilians who said they were there to protect the property to remain.
Those bringing the lawsuit are represented by North Carolina civil rights lawyer Kimberly Motely, who also represents Gaige Grosskreutz, the man prosecutors say was shot in the arm by Rittenhouse.


shareblue--2020-09-02--Trump campaign excuses Kenosha gunman: Americans 'have to defend themselves'

Trump campaign spokesperson Hogan Gidley appeared to defend Kyle Rittenhouse , the alleged Kenosha gunman , during an interview with CNN on Wednesday .
Rittenhouse , 17 , was charged with two counts of first-degree homicide , one count of attempted homicide , and a number of other crimes last week after allegedly shooting three anti-racism protesters in Kenosha , Wisconsin , last week , killing two of them .
Rittenhouse had traveled from his home in Illinois to the protests in Kenosha , claiming he was there to protect property alongside a number of other far-right vigilantes .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry out the shooting .
During a White House news conference on Monday , Donald Trump defended Rittenhouse , a Trump supporter , alleging Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense .
Gidley appeared to echo those sentiments on Wednesday , saying , `` If you do n't allow police to do their job , then the American people have to defend themselves some way . ''
Moments later , he appeared to cautiously walk back his statements , admitting that vigilantism was `` a bad idea . ''
HOGAN GIDLEY : A couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Trump ] pointed out the fact that what he wants is for the brave men and women of law enforcement to be able to do their job .
The problem is : So many Democratic governors , so many Democratic mayors have now said , 'Do n't do your jobs , stand down .
Let these riots , let these looters continue to criminalize our communities . '
And the president does n't want that .
He wants them to be able to stand up .
But it just makes sense , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow police to do their job , then the American people have to defend themselves some way .
And so they have to be cognizant of the fact that so often times ... CNN ANCHOR JIM SCIUTTO : You just there justified vigilantism .
GIDLEY : We have a Second Amendment in this country .
And when the Democrats are doing something quite dangerous — they 're saying , first of all , the cops ca n't defend you .
Oh , and by the way , we also want to strip away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be one thing if they said we do n't want the cops to do their jobs , but here are a lot of guns to protect yourselves .
But they 're not doing that .
They 're saying they want to get rid of both .
That leaves American families in grave danger , and the president is against that .
SCUITTO : So you wo n't condemn vigilantism ?
I 'll give you an opportunity to say , 'let the cops do their job .
We do n't want people from out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law enforcement role untrained . '
Can you say , just definitively , that 's a bad idea ?
I had the commissioner of the New York Police Department ... GIDLEY : It is a bad idea , yes .
And we 've said many times that we want the men and women of law enforcement to do their jobs , not be hamstrung by local officials .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Trump campaign spokesperson Hogan Gidley appeared to defend Kyle Rittenhouse, the alleged Kenosha gunman, during an interview with CNN on Wednesday.
Rittenhouse, 17, was charged with two counts of first-degree homicide, one count of attempted homicide, and a number of other crimes last week after allegedly shooting three anti-racism protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week, killing two of them.
Rittenhouse had traveled from his home in Illinois to the protests in Kenosha, claiming he was there to protect property alongside a number of other far-right vigilantes. He used a military-style assault weapon to allegedly carry out the shooting.
During a White House news conference on Monday, Donald Trump defended Rittenhouse, a Trump supporter, alleging Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense.
Gidley appeared to echo those sentiments on Wednesday, saying, “If you don’t allow police to do their job, then the American people have to defend themselves some way.”
Moments later, he appeared to cautiously walk back his statements, admitting that vigilantism was “a bad idea.”
From a Sept. 2, 2020 interview on CNN:
HOGAN GIDLEY: A couple of night ago, on another network, [Trump] pointed out the fact that what he wants is for the brave men and women of law enforcement to be able to do their job. The problem is: So many Democratic governors, so many Democratic mayors have now said, ‘Don’t do your jobs, stand down. Let these riots, let these looters continue to criminalize our communities.’ And the president doesn’t want that. He wants them to be able to stand up. But it just makes sense, just logically: If you don’t allow police to do their job, then the American people have to defend themselves some way. And so they have to be cognizant of the fact that so often times … CNN ANCHOR JIM SCIUTTO: You just there justified vigilantism. [crosstalk] GIDLEY: We have a Second Amendment in this country. And when the Democrats are doing something quite dangerous — they’re saying, first of all, the cops can’t defend you. Oh, and by the way, we also want to strip away your Second Amendment rights. It’d be one thing if they said we don’t want the cops to do their jobs, but here are a lot of guns to protect yourselves. But they’re not doing that. They’re saying they want to get rid of both. That leaves American families in grave danger, and the president is against that. SCUITTO: So you won’t condemn vigilantism? I’ll give you an opportunity to say, ‘let the cops do their job. We don’t want people from out of state coming in and taking on a law enforcement role untrained.’ Can you say, just definitively, that’s a bad idea? I had the commissioner of the New York Police Department… GIDLEY: It is a bad idea. SCUITTO: That’s a bad idea? GIDLEY: It is a bad idea, yes. And we’ve said many times that we want the men and women of law enforcement to do their jobs, not be hamstrung by local officials.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-02--GOP Senate candidates say they don't think systemic racism exists in US

The two Republicans vying to challenge incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in the 2020 New Hampshire Senate election on Tuesday denied that systemic racism exists in the United States .
Corky Messner and Don Bolduc were asked about the issue by the moderator of a primary debate in Manchester .
`` I do not believe there 's systemic racism in the United States , '' answered Messner .
`` I think the situation requires everybody to muster the courage to come together and talk about this issue , to talk about about all the issues affecting people of color , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Messner said : `` There are issues affecting people of color in the inner city that need to be dealt with , the carnage that goes on in Chicago every weekend , with people of color getting shot — and shot by other people of color . ''
After declining significantly in recent years , homicide rates in Chicago and some other large cities have increased this year .
Some experts claim such increases are fueled by the early release of inmates and other actions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic .
Bolduc was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men killed by police .
`` Well , first of all , the statistics do n't bear that out at all , '' Bolduc laughed , `` so I do n't think that that is correct . ''
When the moderator corrected him , citing data from Statista.com and the Washington Post showing Black men shot by police at more than twice the rate of white men , Bolduc dismissed the correction , saying , `` Well , I think their facts need to be checked , because if you look over time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of police shooting Blacks , shooting whites . ''
Bolduc then suggested that police shooting rates are dictated by who is committing crimes .
`` It 's not about who gets shot .
If you 're breaking the law and you 're using violence and the police are within the law , within their means to use that force , then that 's the question , '' he said .
`` Everybody is convoluting this .
Statistics aside , the police have a job to do .
We need to support them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it wrong ; they need to be held accountable by their leadership . ''
The candidates ' comments came as other Republicans have adopted a similar approach of simply denying that systemic racism exists .
On June 7 , Attorney General William Barr said : `` I do n't think that the law enforcement system is systemically racist . ''
`` I do not think that we have a systemic racism problem with law enforcement officers across this country , '' acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said that day .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trip to Kenosha , Wisconsin — where anti-racism protests have followed the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake — whether systemic racism was a problem in the United States .
Rather than answer the question , Trump scolded the reporter for asking it and denounced protesters as `` really bad people . ''
Tuesday 's debate was not the first time Bolduc and Messner have made offensive comments about race .
In February , Bolduc blamed the Civil War on `` Gridlock , blaming , pointing the finger .
Not working together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' He did not mention slavery .
A month later , Bolduc claimed that he was not `` being racist at all '' when he used racist language in talking about the coronavirus .
`` I really do n't want to hear any noise that gets thrown at me about being a racist because I call this the China coronavirus or the president does , or anybody else does , because it is , you know .
And I 'm not racist about it , '' he said .
Experts say that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus '' fuels xenophobia toward Asians and people of Asian decent .
Messner said in June that `` smart African American folks '' should stand up to Black Lives Matter : `` It 's very clear that Black Lives Matter has a leftist agenda and it 's very clear it 's a revolutionary agenda and sadly , the African American community will suffer because of it . ''
At Tuesday 's debate , Bolduc also was asked what the federal government should do to curb the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` The federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread , '' he answered .
`` It must be locally controlled and handled .
The bottom-up approach : communities , colleges , businesses , hospitals doing the right thing .
Personal responsibility and trusting people — it 's nonexistent .
That is why we have the problems that we have today . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The two Republicans vying to challenge incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in the 2020 New Hampshire Senate election on Tuesday denied that systemic racism exists in the United States.
Corky Messner and Don Bolduc were asked about the issue by the moderator of a primary debate in Manchester.
“I do not believe there’s systemic racism in the United States,” answered Messner. “I think the situation requires everybody to muster the courage to come together and talk about this issue, to talk about about all the issues affecting people of color, all the issues affecting our country.”
Messner said: “There are issues affecting people of color in the inner city that need to be dealt with, the carnage that goes on in Chicago every weekend, with people of color getting shot — and shot by other people of color.”
After declining significantly in recent years, homicide rates in Chicago and some other large cities have increased this year. Some experts claim such increases are fueled by the early release of inmates and other actions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
Bolduc was asked about the disproportionate number of Black men killed by police.
“Well, first of all, the statistics don’t bear that out at all,” Bolduc laughed, “so I don’t think that that is correct.”
When the moderator corrected him, citing data from Statista.com and the Washington Post showing Black men shot by police at more than twice the rate of white men, Bolduc dismissed the correction, saying, “Well, I think their facts need to be checked, because if you look over time, there isn’t a disproportionate rate of police shooting Blacks, shooting whites.”
Bolduc then suggested that police shooting rates are dictated by who is committing crimes.
“It’s not about who gets shot. If you’re breaking the law and you’re using violence and the police are within the law, within their means to use that force, then that’s the question,” he said. “Everybody is convoluting this. Statistics aside, the police have a job to do. We need to support them. Some police make mistakes, some police do it wrong; they need to be held accountable by their leadership.”
The candidates’ comments came as other Republicans have adopted a similar approach of simply denying that systemic racism exists.
On June 7, Attorney General William Barr said: “I don’t think that the law enforcement system is systemically racist.”
“I do not think that we have a systemic racism problem with law enforcement officers across this country,” acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said that day.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump was asked during a trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin — where anti-racism protests have followed the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake — whether systemic racism was a problem in the United States. Rather than answer the question, Trump scolded the reporter for asking it and denounced protesters as “really bad people.”
Tuesday’s debate was not the first time Bolduc and Messner have made offensive comments about race.
In February, Bolduc blamed the Civil War on “Gridlock, blaming, pointing the finger. Not working together, not being a partnered team.” He did not mention slavery.
A month later, Bolduc claimed that he was not “being racist at all” when he used racist language in talking about the coronavirus. “I really don’t want to hear any noise that gets thrown at me about being a racist because I call this the China coronavirus or the president does, or anybody else does, because it is, you know. And I’m not racist about it,” he said. Experts say that the use of terms such as “China virus” fuels xenophobia toward Asians and people of Asian decent.
Messner said in June that “smart African American folks” should stand up to Black Lives Matter: “It’s very clear that Black Lives Matter has a leftist agenda and it’s very clear it’s a revolutionary agenda and sadly, the African American community will suffer because of it.”
At Tuesday’s debate, Bolduc also was asked what the federal government should do to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The federal government doesn’t need to do anything to slow the spread,” he answered. “It must be locally controlled and handled. The bottom-up approach: communities, colleges, businesses, hospitals doing the right thing. Personal responsibility and trusting people — it’s nonexistent. That is why we have the problems that we have today.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-02--California passes bill giving transgender inmates a say in where they're housed

A California bill that would require the state 's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to let transgender , non-binary , and intersex inmates be `` housed at a correctional facility designated for men or women based on the individual 's preference , '' with some exceptions , received final approval in the state Senate on Monday .
The bill now heads to Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom , who is expected to sign it .
He has until Sept. 30 to do so .
Asked whether the governor plans to sign the legislation , a spokesperson said , `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The governor will evaluate each bill on its merit before taking action . ''
Senate Bill 132 , known as the Transgender Respect , Agency , and Dignity Act , was introduced by California state Sen. Scott Wiener ( D ) .
LGBTQ advocacy groups , including Equality California , Transgender Law Center , and TransLatin @ Coalition , co-wrote the bill .
The bill had been discussed last year , the Bay Area Reporter wrote , but was paused after advocates for transgender prisoners said they should have input to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons currently place transgender people in men or women 's prisons based on the sex assigned at birth , where they are often vulnerable to violence .
The bill aims to reduce the likelihood trans people will be harmed by housing them according where they feel they would be safest .
On Tuesday , Wiener tweeted , `` SB.132 protects transgender people in prison , by allowing them to be housed where they 're safest , instead of automatically being placed in the facility corresponding to their birth-assigned gender .
Trans women are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Thirty percent of transgender inmates said they had been physically assaulted or sexually assaulted by an inmate or facility staff in the preceding year , according to the National Center for Transgender Equality 's 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey .
Research on transgender prisoners has found that incarcerated transgender women are frequently targets of sexual violence and that the practice in most prisons and jails is to house transgender people according to the sex assigned at birth , according to an article published in 2019 by Scott Schweikart , a senior research associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Ethical and Judicial Affairs .
The policy of housing people based on sex assigned at birth is often not a documented policy with official justification , Schweikart writes .
Under the California bill , corrections officials would have to certify in writing why they have chosen to deny a prisoner their choice of housing and share that documentation with the prisoner .
The bill cites possible concerns about management or security being one of the reasons the department might deny someone their housing preference .
The prisoner is supposed to be provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have their denial documented , and , if they raise concerns about safety , have their current housing reassessed .
Further , the legislation says that corrections officials ca n't deny an inmate 's preferences for discriminatory reasons , including a their anatomy , physical characteristics , and sexual orientation .
Under the bill , the department would also be required to ask incarcerated people during intake what their gender and pronouns are , as well as their sex assigned at birth , in a private setting .
If a person did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are prohibited from disciplining them .
Prison staff , volunteers , and contractors are not allowed to misgender people and disregard the information they provide .
There are similar safeguards in place for the search of prisoners .
Shawn Meerkamper , senior staff attorney at the Transgender Law Center , stated that the bill `` is a necessary and long overdue harm reduction measure that will allow our trans family to seek safer situations while incarcerated . ''
They added , `` As our movements work toward defunding the police and abolishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments can and must also take immediate intermediary steps to increase agency and prevent some of the worst violence our incarcerated neighbors suffer . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A California bill that would require the state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to let transgender, non-binary, and intersex inmates be “housed at a correctional facility designated for men or women based on the individual’s preference,” with some exceptions, received final approval in the state Senate on Monday.
The bill now heads to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is expected to sign it. He has until Sept. 30 to do so.
Asked whether the governor plans to sign the legislation, a spokesperson said, “We don’t typically comment on pending legislation. The governor will evaluate each bill on its merit before taking action.”
Senate Bill 132, known as the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act, was introduced by California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D). LGBTQ advocacy groups, including Equality California, Transgender Law Center, and TransLatin@ Coalition, co-wrote the bill. The bill had been discussed last year, the Bay Area Reporter wrote, but was paused after advocates for transgender prisoners said they should have input to the bill before it moved forward.
California prisons currently place transgender people in men or women’s prisons based on the sex assigned at birth, where they are often vulnerable to violence. The bill aims to reduce the likelihood trans people will be harmed by housing them according where they feel they would be safest.
On Tuesday, Wiener tweeted, “SB.132 protects transgender people in prison, by allowing them to be housed where they’re safest, instead of automatically being placed in the facility corresponding to their birth-assigned gender. Trans women are frequently brutalized in men’s prisons.”
Thirty percent of transgender inmates said they had been physically assaulted or sexually assaulted by an inmate or facility staff in the preceding year, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality’s 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.
Research on transgender prisoners has found that incarcerated transgender women are frequently targets of sexual violence and that the practice in most prisons and jails is to house transgender people according to the sex assigned at birth, according to an article published in 2019 by Scott Schweikart, a senior research associate for the American Medical Association’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. The policy of housing people based on sex assigned at birth is often not a documented policy with official justification, Schweikart writes.
Under the California bill, corrections officials would have to certify in writing why they have chosen to deny a prisoner their choice of housing and share that documentation with the prisoner. The bill cites possible concerns about management or security being one of the reasons the department might deny someone their housing preference. The prisoner is supposed to be provided an opportunity to object to the denial, have their denial documented, and, if they raise concerns about safety, have their current housing reassessed.
Further, the legislation says that corrections officials can’t deny an inmate’s preferences for discriminatory reasons, including a their anatomy, physical characteristics, and sexual orientation.
Under the bill, the department would also be required to ask incarcerated people during intake what their gender and pronouns are, as well as their sex assigned at birth, in a private setting. If a person did not wish to disclose this information, officials are prohibited from disciplining them.
Prison staff, volunteers, and contractors are not allowed to misgender people and disregard the information they provide. There are similar safeguards in place for the search of prisoners.
Shawn Meerkamper, senior staff attorney at the Transgender Law Center, stated that the bill “is a necessary and long overdue harm reduction measure that will allow our trans family to seek safer situations while incarcerated.”
They added, “As our movements work toward defunding the police and abolishing prisons, California is showing that our governments can and must also take immediate intermediary steps to increase agency and prevent some of the worst violence our incarcerated neighbors suffer.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-02--Lara Trump campaigns with Islamophobic far-right GOP House candidate

Lara Trump , the wife of Donald Trump 's son Eric and an adviser to her father-in-law 's campaign , appeared in Florida on Tuesday with Laura Loomer , a GOP House nominee whose Islamophobic comments have gotten her banned from numerous social media platforms .
A Trump campaign spokesperson tweeted photos of Lara Trump with Loomer with text reading : `` @ LaraLeaTrump visited our hardworking volunteers in Boca Raton , FL .
These volunteers are knocking doors , making calls , and training new volunteers — all to spread the President ’ s record of success with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the Republican primary in Florida 's 21st Congressional District late last month — has a history of making virulently anti-Muslim comments .
She 's called herself a `` proud Islamophobe , '' said Muslims are `` savages '' and in 2017 tweeted that she never wants `` another Muslim entering this country EVER AGAIN ! ''
Loomer 's comments have earned her lifetime bans from Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , Uber , Lyft , PayPal , Venmo , GoFundMe , TeeSpring , and Medium .
She was banned from both Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she never wanted to be driven by a Muslim driver .
`` Someone needs to create a non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft because I never want to support another Islamic immigrant driver , '' Loomer tweeted in 2017 .
She was banned from Twitter in 2018 after she criticized Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar 's Muslim faith .
And in 2019 , she was one of a handful of far-right personalities banned from Facebook for violating the company 's policies against `` Dangerous Individuals and Organizations . ''
It 's unclear why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has virtually no chance of winning Florida 's 21st District — which includes Trump 's Mar-a-Lago resort , where he is registered to vote .
Hillary Clinton carried the district by 20 points in 2016 .
And the district 's current Rep. Lois Frankel , a Democrat , won by nearly 28 points in 2016 , the last time she had a contested race .
Donald Trump , however , praised Loomer after her primary win back in August , falsely tweeting , `` Great going Laura .
You have a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Lara Trump, the wife of Donald Trump’s son Eric and an adviser to her father-in-law’s campaign, appeared in Florida on Tuesday with Laura Loomer, a GOP House nominee whose Islamophobic comments have gotten her banned from numerous social media platforms.
A Trump campaign spokesperson tweeted photos of Lara Trump with Loomer with text reading: “@LaraLeaTrump visited our hardworking volunteers in Boca Raton, FL. These volunteers are knocking doors, making calls, and training new volunteers — all to spread the President’s record of success with their fellow Floridians.”
Loomer, who won the Republican primary in Florida’s 21st Congressional District late last month — has a history of making virulently anti-Muslim comments.
She’s called herself a “proud Islamophobe,” said Muslims are “savages” and in 2017 tweeted that she never wants “another Muslim entering this country EVER AGAIN!”
Loomer’s comments have earned her lifetime bans from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Uber, Lyft, PayPal, Venmo, GoFundMe, TeeSpring, and Medium.
She was banned from both Uber and Lyft in 2017 after she said she never wanted to be driven by a Muslim driver.
“Someone needs to create a non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft because I never want to support another Islamic immigrant driver,” Loomer tweeted in 2017.
She was banned from Twitter in 2018 after she criticized Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Muslim faith.
And in 2019, she was one of a handful of far-right personalities banned from Facebook for violating the company’s policies against “Dangerous Individuals and Organizations.”
It’s unclear why Lara Trump would campaign with Loomer, who has virtually no chance of winning Florida’s 21st District — which includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where he is registered to vote.
Hillary Clinton carried the district by 20 points in 2016. And the district’s current Rep. Lois Frankel, a Democrat, won by nearly 28 points in 2016, the last time she had a contested race.
Donald Trump, however, praised Loomer after her primary win back in August, falsely tweeting, “Great going Laura. You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet!”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-02--Trump administration claims it blocked Russian interference report for lack of 'evidence'

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf blocked the release of an intelligence report in July that found Russia is pushing a false narrative about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's health , ABC News reported on Wednesday .
A DHS official claimed this week that the department did so because the intelligence report purportedly `` failed to meet the agency 's standards , '' ABC wrote .
According to the outlet , the intelligence community determined earlier this summer , with `` high confidence , '' that `` Russian malign influence actors are likely to continue denigrating presidential candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health to influence the outcome of the 2020 election . ''
Donald Trump and his surrogates have been pushing the same false narrative that Biden is in cognitive decline , even sharing a doctored video to try to bolster their smear .
The DHS official who spoke to ABC News this week claimed that while the department `` generally does not comment on leaked documents , this particular draft product lacked the necessary context and evidence for broader dissemination outside of the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Office of Intelligence and Analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary and he asked questions , [ Office of Intelligence and Analysis ] career leadership decided to delay the product for further review , '' they added .
The revelation comes one day after Facebook and Twitter announced that they had removed several Russian-backed accounts and pages whose aim was to hurt Biden 's candidacy by `` target [ ing ] public debate in the US '' — just as Russia did in 2016 when it targeted Hillary Clinton 's campaign and sought to help elect Trump .
In late August , Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he would stop briefing members in person on issues pertaining to election security , leading to accusations that the administration was trying to hide information from the American people .
Multiple reports throughout the years have also claimed that Trump himself is so resistant to hearing about Russian interference in U.S. elections that the intelligence community has opted to not brief him on the efforts .
Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections , now-former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was told not to brief Trump on Russian meddling because it `` was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept below his level . ''
The Trump campaign , for its part , claimed to ABC News this week that it does n't `` need or want any foreign interference '' ahead of the 2020 election .
`` There 's no question that the President has been tougher on Russia than any president before him , imposing sanctions and expelling diplomats , in contrast to the Obama-Biden Administration , which choked in the face of Russian interference , '' Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh claimed in a statement .
`` President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump has not been tough on Russia as he claims .
He refused to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin following reports from the intelligence community earlier this summer that Russia put bounties on the heads of American troops .
`` I have never discussed it with him , '' Trump told Axios in an interview in July .
`` That was a phone call to discuss other things , and frankly that ’ s an issue that many people said was fake news . ''
Though the National Security Agency reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports , as Axios noted , the CIA had confirmed them several months earlier .
In that same interview , Trump also claimed that reports Russia was supporting the Taliban , first flagged by his own military officials in 2018 , `` never reached '' his office .
Trump has also famously refused to condemn Putin over Russia 's 2016 interference campaign on multiple occasions , despite his own intelligence officials determining that Russia engaged in a `` sweeping and systematic '' effort to meddle in that election to support his bid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Putin at the G-20 summit in Osaka , Japan , last year , just 10 weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller 's report on Russian interference was made public , Trump was asked whether he would discuss that interference campaign with the Russian leader , to which he replied , `` Yes , of course I will . ''
Turning to Putin and wagging his finger playfully , he added , `` Do n't meddle in the election , president .
Do n't meddle in the election . ''
Published with permission @ @ @ @ @ @

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf blocked the release of an intelligence report in July that found Russia is pushing a false narrative about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s health, ABC News reported on Wednesday.
A DHS official claimed this week that the department did so because the intelligence report purportedly “failed to meet the agency’s standards,” ABC wrote.
According to the outlet, the intelligence community determined earlier this summer, with “high confidence,” that “Russian malign influence actors are likely to continue denigrating presidential candidates through allegations of poor mental or physical health to influence the outcome of the 2020 election.”
Donald Trump and his surrogates have been pushing the same false narrative that Biden is in cognitive decline, even sharing a doctored video to try to bolster their smear.
The DHS official who spoke to ABC News this week claimed that while the department “generally does not comment on leaked documents, this particular draft product lacked the necessary context and evidence for broader dissemination outside of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.”
“After briefing the Acting Secretary and he asked questions, [Office of Intelligence and Analysis] career leadership decided to delay the product for further review,” they added.
The revelation comes one day after Facebook and Twitter announced that they had removed several Russian-backed accounts and pages whose aim was to hurt Biden’s candidacy by “target[ing] public debate in the US” — just as Russia did in 2016 when it targeted Hillary Clinton’s campaign and sought to help elect Trump.
In late August, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe informed Congress that he would stop briefing members in person on issues pertaining to election security, leading to accusations that the administration was trying to hide information from the American people.
Multiple reports throughout the years have also claimed that Trump himself is so resistant to hearing about Russian interference in U.S. elections that the intelligence community has opted to not brief him on the efforts.
Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, now-former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was told not to brief Trump on Russian meddling because it “wasn’t a great subject and should be kept below his level.”
The Trump campaign, for its part, claimed to ABC News this week that it doesn’t “need or want any foreign interference” ahead of the 2020 election.
“There’s no question that the President has been tougher on Russia than any president before him, imposing sanctions and expelling diplomats, in contrast to the Obama-Biden Administration, which choked in the face of Russian interference,” Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh claimed in a statement. “President Trump will beat Joe Biden fair and square.”
Trump has not been tough on Russia as he claims.
He refused to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin following reports from the intelligence community earlier this summer that Russia put bounties on the heads of American troops.
“I have never discussed it with him,” Trump told Axios in an interview in July. “That was a phone call to discuss other things, and frankly that’s an issue that many people said was fake news.”
Though the National Security Agency reportedly broke with other intelligence agencies on the reports, as Axios noted, the CIA had confirmed them several months earlier.
In that same interview, Trump also claimed that reports Russia was supporting the Taliban, first flagged by his own military officials in 2018, “never reached” his office.
Trump has also famously refused to condemn Putin over Russia’s 2016 interference campaign on multiple occasions, despite his own intelligence officials determining that Russia engaged in a “sweeping and systematic” effort to meddle in that election to support his bid for the White House.
During a meeting with Putin at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, last year, just 10 weeks after special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference was made public, Trump was asked whether he would discuss that interference campaign with the Russian leader, to which he replied, “Yes, of course I will.”
Turning to Putin and wagging his finger playfully, he added, “Don’t meddle in the election, president. Don’t meddle in the election.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-02--Trump claims his trip to Kenosha amid protests 'solved the problem quickly'

A day after visiting Kenosha , Wisconsin , Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that he had `` solved '' the violent clashes in the city between anti-racism protesters and his supporters .
But the clashes continued .
Trump used his brief visit to attack Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for the violence that has been occurring on his own watch .
`` Joe Biden is not on the side of Law Enforcement , and that was spectacularly evident on my very successful trip yesterday to Kenosha , '' he tweeted .
`` We solved the problem quickly , and it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin .
Joe Biden would n't know where to begin — a bad record ! ''
Trump made the trip — despite explicit requests from Wisconsin 's governor and local officials to stay away — a week after a Kenosha police officer repeatedly shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake , who is Black , in the back and just days after a Trump supporter allegedly murdered protesters responding to the shooting .
Trump met with law enforcement officials and with business owners who sustained property damage during some of the demonstrations .
When Tom Gram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was burned down , refused to participate in a photo opportunity with Trump , Trump posed for photo with a former owner of the store , who had sold it to Gram eight years earlier , instead .
Said Gram , `` I think everything he does turns into a circus and I just did n't want to be involved in it . ''
Rather than address the racial tensions that have fueled days of protests by Black Lives Matter supporters and counterprotests by his fans , Trump attacked the people protesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to his trip , Trump attacked Black Lives Matter as `` a bunch of thugs '' and `` discriminatory . ''
Asked if he would condemn 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse , the Trump supporter who was arrested last week and charged with multiple homicides after traveling from Illinois to Kenosha with an AR-15-style assault weapon , Trump defended the accused killer .
During his visit on Tuesday , Trump was asked at a press availability if he believed systemic racism was a real problem , given the many incidents of police violence against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of answering the question , he scolded the reporter for asking it and denounced anti-racism protesters as `` really bad people . ''
As Trump railed against what he called `` domestic terror '' by protesters in Kenosha , he made little mention of Jacob Blake .
He refused to meet with Blake 's family or call them on the phone because the family wanted their lawyer to participate in the call .
Biden responded to Trump 's visit on Tuesday night , saying , `` Donald Trump has failed to protect America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scare the hell out of America .
Violence is n't a problem in Donald Trump 's eyes .
It 's a political strategy . ''
Biden noted that Trump had failed to condemn `` violence of all kinds , no matter who commits it . ''
After Trump left Kenosha , protests continued on Tuesday evening , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported , including a fist fight between a Black Lives Matter activist and a Trump supporter .
As of Wednesday morning , the police officer who shot Blake had still not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A day after visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin, Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that he had “solved” the violent clashes in the city between anti-racism protesters and his supporters. But the clashes continued.
Trump used his brief visit to attack Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for the violence that has been occurring on his own watch.
“Joe Biden is not on the side of Law Enforcement, and that was spectacularly evident on my very successful trip yesterday to Kenosha,” he tweeted. “We solved the problem quickly, and it was very much appreciated by the people of Wisconsin. Joe Biden wouldn’t know where to begin — a bad record!”
Trump made the trip — despite explicit requests from Wisconsin’s governor and local officials to stay away — a week after a Kenosha police officer repeatedly shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake, who is Black, in the back and just days after a Trump supporter allegedly murdered protesters responding to the shooting.
Trump met with law enforcement officials and with business owners who sustained property damage during some of the demonstrations. When Tom Gram, the owner of a camera store that was burned down, refused to participate in a photo opportunity with Trump, Trump posed for photo with a former owner of the store, who had sold it to Gram eight years earlier, instead. Said Gram, “I think everything he does turns into a circus and I just didn’t want to be involved in it.”
Rather than address the racial tensions that have fueled days of protests by Black Lives Matter supporters and counterprotests by his fans, Trump attacked the people protesting against systemic racism.
On Monday, prior to his trip, Trump attacked Black Lives Matter as “a bunch of thugs” and “discriminatory.” Asked if he would condemn 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, the Trump supporter who was arrested last week and charged with multiple homicides after traveling from Illinois to Kenosha with an AR-15-style assault weapon, Trump defended the accused killer.
During his visit on Tuesday, Trump was asked at a press availability if he believed systemic racism was a real problem, given the many incidents of police violence against Black people across the nation. Instead of answering the question, he scolded the reporter for asking it and denounced anti-racism protesters as “really bad people.”
As Trump railed against what he called “domestic terror” by protesters in Kenosha, he made little mention of Jacob Blake. He refused to meet with Blake’s family or call them on the phone because the family wanted their lawyer to participate in the call.
Biden responded to Trump’s visit on Tuesday night, saying, “Donald Trump has failed to protect America. So now he’s trying to scare the hell out of America. Violence isn’t a problem in Donald Trump’s eyes. It’s a political strategy.” Biden noted that Trump had failed to condemn “violence of all kinds, no matter who commits it.”
After Trump left Kenosha, protests continued on Tuesday evening, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, including a fist fight between a Black Lives Matter activist and a Trump supporter. As of Wednesday morning, the police officer who shot Blake had still not been charged with any crime.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-03--Former governor becomes latest high-profile Republican to back Biden

Former Michigan Gov .
Rick Snyder backed Joe Biden for president on Thursday , becoming the latest high-profile Republican to support the Democratic nominee over Donald Trump .
`` Donald Trump has actually been leading the charge on incivility .
The divisiveness in our nation has not been worse in our lifetimes , '' Snyder told The Associated Press after he announced his decision in a USA Today op-ed .
Biden , he said , is `` a good , decent man .
... You can tell he 's a person of character that cares .
We need to heal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Snyder — who is known for staying positive — was uncharacteristically critical of Trump .
He called him a `` bully , '' saying it is `` tragedy watching our world suffer from one . ''
He said Trump lacks a moral compass , ignores the truth and does not appreciate public policy matters .
The announcement from Snyder , who served in battleground Michigan from 2011 through 2018 , came in conjunction with the launch of Republicans and Independents for Biden , a coalition of nearly 100 former and current officeholders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group is affiliated and funded by the anti-Trump Lincoln Project PAC .
The coalition is the latest group of Republicans supporting Biden to come out publicly as Trump comes under criticism for his handling of the coronavirus and race relations .
Some backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Snyder did not endorse a candidate in that race , when Trump became the first Republican to win Michigan in 28 years , by roughly two-tenths of a percentage point .
Former New Jersey Gov .
Christine Todd Whitman , who endorsed Biden at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich , is chairing the group 's steering committee , which includes Snyder , former Massachusetts Gov .
Bill Weld , and at least 20 former members of Congress .
`` More than 180,000 Americans are dead from a pandemic that , with consistent leadership , could have been contained , '' Whitman said .
`` Instead , it has been left to spin out of control by a president who ignored it , refused to lead and endangered American lives . ''
In a tweet , Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's decision , calling him `` Mr .
Irrelevant '' and saying no voter cares whom he supports .
Trump `` won in '16 w/o him and will do in '20 ! ''
she said .
In an interview , Snyder said he tried to have an open mind about Trump but when he attended his inauguration , the president talked about `` how he was going to take care of the people that voted for him .
It was n't about representing all Americans . ''
He said he had good relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it was `` challenged '' overall in getting things done for Michigan , with some exceptions .
The virus outbreak requires national leadership to `` get us out of this , '' said Snyder , who said he remains a Republican and will back other GOP candidates .
`` The Trump response to the pandemic has not been good — everything from masks to testing to having PPE supplies .
That 's not gone well . ''

Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder backed Joe Biden for president on Thursday, becoming the latest high-profile Republican to support the Democratic nominee over Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump has actually been leading the charge on incivility. The divisiveness in our nation has not been worse in our lifetimes,” Snyder told The Associated Press after he announced his decision in a USA Today op-ed. Biden, he said, is “a good, decent man. … You can tell he’s a person of character that cares. We need to heal our country.”
In the op-ed, Snyder — who is known for staying positive — was uncharacteristically critical of Trump. He called him a “bully,” saying it is “tragedy watching our world suffer from one.” He said Trump lacks a moral compass, ignores the truth and does not appreciate public policy matters.
The announcement from Snyder, who served in battleground Michigan from 2011 through 2018, came in conjunction with the launch of Republicans and Independents for Biden, a coalition of nearly 100 former and current officeholders, government officials and political operatives. The group is affiliated and funded by the anti-Trump Lincoln Project PAC.
The coalition is the latest group of Republicans supporting Biden to come out publicly as Trump comes under criticism for his handling of the coronavirus and race relations. Some backed Hillary Clinton in 2016. Snyder did not endorse a candidate in that race, when Trump became the first Republican to win Michigan in 28 years, by roughly two-tenths of a percentage point.
Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, who endorsed Biden at the recent Democratic National Convention along with former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, is chairing the group’s steering committee, which includes Snyder, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, and at least 20 former members of Congress.
“More than 180,000 Americans are dead from a pandemic that, with consistent leadership, could have been contained,” Whitman said. “Instead, it has been left to spin out of control by a president who ignored it, refused to lead and endangered American lives.”
In a tweet, Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Laura Cox dismissed Snyder’s decision, calling him “Mr. Irrelevant” and saying no voter cares whom he supports. Trump “won in ’16 w/o him and will do in ’20!” she said.
In an interview, Snyder said he tried to have an open mind about Trump but when he attended his inauguration, the president talked about “how he was going to take care of the people that voted for him. It wasn’t about representing all Americans.” He said he had good relationships with some people in Trump’s administration but it was “challenged” overall in getting things done for Michigan, with some exceptions.
The virus outbreak requires national leadership to “get us out of this,” said Snyder, who said he remains a Republican and will back other GOP candidates. “The Trump response to the pandemic has not been good — everything from masks to testing to having PPE supplies. That’s not gone well.”


shareblue--2020-09-03--Trump administration is ignoring Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ discrimination

Experts on LGBTQ equality say the Trump administration is uninterested in fully enforcing a Supreme Court ruling on workplace discrimination from earlier this summer , and that slow-walking that decision could have larger implications for the broader LGBTQ community .
According to those experts , Trump administration agencies have been slow to respond to the landmark ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County , which states that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , which bars employment discrimination based on sex , also prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people .
Other agencies have altogether denied the ruling 's relevance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on certain parts of the decision and not others .
The court ruled this summer that `` it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex . ''
On Monday , however , the U.S. Department of Education 's Office for Civil Rights decided it would only heed part of that decision , publishing two letters signed by Kimberly Richey , the acting assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights , that addressed how the department would respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling .
In one letter , the office said it would investigate a complaint related to sexual orientation discrimination because of Bostock .
But in the second letter , Richey said that schools have a right to keep transgender students out of athletic teams that correspond with their gender and that schools that do n't discriminate against transgender students are not complying with the law .
The department argued that Title IX , the federal civil rights law that protects people from discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VII for the recent Supreme Court decision to be relevant in this case .
Eliza Byard , executive director of GLSEN , a group focused on ending discrimination against and harassment of LGBTQ students , responded to the second letter this week , saying that the department 's actions were part of a `` cruel and discriminatory '' agenda .
`` We urge the Department to cease these attacks and fully embrace the recent decision in Bostock that affirms what GLSEN has long known : Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is prohibited under federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sharita Gruberg , senior director for the LGBTQ research and communications project at the Center for American Progress , explained in a brief released last week that there are many reasons to think Bostock has much wider reach for LGBTQ people than simply employment discrimination .
Gruberg wrote that Title IX ’ s language is `` closely modeled '' on Title VII ’ s language and that courts often look to case law on the latter for guidance on sex discrimination under Title IX .
In response to the Department of Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and school discrimination , Gruberg said , `` I ca n't imagine working as a civil rights attorney and with a straight face claiming these are not related . ''
`` A government that actually did care about the law and ensuring that it is correctly enforcing it would direct a whole government approach to the enforcement of sex discrimination prohibition that would be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity , '' she said .
Gruberg added that the difference between the letters shows how the administration has focused on policies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , and the education department specifically , has advanced regulations that hurt queer people 's rights , its anti-transgender actions have been particularly bold , she said .
`` The difference between these two letters is also so in line with the way that they try to create a wedge between sexual orientation and gender identity , '' she said .
`` ...
They have been more explicit and more public in their attacks on transgender people . ''
Gruberg said the letter speaks to the `` anti-trans animus '' throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations rolling back Obama-era protections for trans people in health care , housing , and one of its first anti-LGBTQ actions , which was to rescind guidance that provided protections for transgender students .
The letters are just one example of how the administration has largely disregarded Bostock .
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed a rule , for instance , that encourages discrimination against transgender homeless people in single-sex shelters .
In June , Reps. Maxine Waters ( D-CA ) and Jennifer Wexton ( D-VA ) wrote to Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelter regulation in light of the court 's decision in June .
Carson responded in July and claimed that the ruling `` has no impact '' on the proposed HUD rule .

Experts on LGBTQ equality say the Trump administration is uninterested in fully enforcing a Supreme Court ruling on workplace discrimination from earlier this summer, and that slow-walking that decision could have larger implications for the broader LGBTQ community.
According to those experts, Trump administration agencies have been slow to respond to the landmark ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which states that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employment discrimination based on sex, also prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Other agencies have altogether denied the ruling’s relevance to other proposed regulations or decided to focus on certain parts of the decision and not others.
The court ruled this summer that “it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex.”
On Monday, however, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights decided it would only heed part of that decision, publishing two letters signed by Kimberly Richey, the acting assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights, that addressed how the department would respond to complaints of LGBTQ discrimination in light of the ruling.
In one letter, the office said it would investigate a complaint related to sexual orientation discrimination because of Bostock.
But in the second letter, Richey said that schools have a right to keep transgender students out of athletic teams that correspond with their gender and that schools that don’t discriminate against transgender students are not complying with the law.
The department argued that Title IX, the federal civil rights law that protects people from discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities, is too different from Title VII for the recent Supreme Court decision to be relevant in this case.
Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, a group focused on ending discrimination against and harassment of LGBTQ students, responded to the second letter this week, saying that the department’s actions were part of a “cruel and discriminatory” agenda.
“We urge the Department to cease these attacks and fully embrace the recent decision in Bostock that affirms what GLSEN has long known: Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is prohibited under federal civil rights laws,” Byard said.
Sharita Gruberg, senior director for the LGBTQ research and communications project at the Center for American Progress, explained in a brief released last week that there are many reasons to think Bostock has much wider reach for LGBTQ people than simply employment discrimination.
Gruberg wrote that Title IX’s language is “closely modeled” on Title VII’s language and that courts often look to case law on the latter for guidance on sex discrimination under Title IX.
In response to the Department of Education letters and the attempt to separate workplace and school discrimination, Gruberg said, “I can’t imagine working as a civil rights attorney and with a straight face claiming these are not related.”
“A government that actually did care about the law and ensuring that it is correctly enforcing it would direct a whole government approach to the enforcement of sex discrimination prohibition that would be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said.
Gruberg added that the difference between the letters shows how the administration has focused on policies that harm transgender people specifically.
Although the administration, and the education department specifically, has advanced regulations that hurt queer people’s rights, its anti-transgender actions have been particularly bold, she said.
“The difference between these two letters is also so in line with the way that they try to create a wedge between sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said. “… They have been more explicit and more public in their attacks on transgender people.”
Gruberg said the letter speaks to the “anti-trans animus” throughout the administration, including its proposed and current regulations rolling back Obama-era protections for trans people in health care, housing, and one of its first anti-LGBTQ actions, which was to rescind guidance that provided protections for transgender students.
The letters are just one example of how the administration has largely disregarded Bostock.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed a rule, for instance, that encourages discrimination against transgender homeless people in single-sex shelters. In June, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) wrote to Secretary Ben Carson to raise concerns about the shelter regulation in light of the court’s decision in June.
Carson responded in July and claimed that the ruling “has no impact” on the proposed HUD rule.


shareblue--2020-09-03--GOP congressman falsely claims there have been no riots in Republican-led cities

South Carolina Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman claimed Thursday that there have been no riots in six major cities led by Republican mayors or governors .
He was wrong about all six .
`` The map of the United States tells the tale of two parties : Where are the riots ?
In major cities such as Jacksonville , San Diego , or Oklahoma City , governed by Republican mayors ?
No . ''
Norman wrote in an opinion piece published by the Washington Examiner .
`` Did protests turn into riots in places such as Charleston , Salt Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are governed by Democratic mayors but Republican governors ?
No again . ''
Without evidence , he asserted that `` one could argue the greatest predictor of violent unrest is long-term Democratic governance . ''
But in the aftermath of the May police killing of George Floyd , an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis , all six of the cities Norman named have seen arrests , violence , looting , or destruction related to riots surrounding anti-racism protests .
In Jacksonville , Florida , several law enforcement officers and protesters reportedly clashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several police officers .
They vandalized several police cars , attempting to light them on fire , breaking windows , '' Sheriff Mike Williams told a local paper .
`` We have one officer who was stabbed — was slashed in the neck and is currently at the hospital . ''
In San Diego on May 31 , more than 100 people were arrested and police deployed tear gas and flash-bang grenades against protesters , according to local news , as law enforcement officials were pelted with rocks and water bottles and looters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend , Oklahoma City reportedly saw rioting too .
`` We 're not putting up with lawlessness here , '' said Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater in June as he charged protesters with felony counts of assault , rioting , and terrorism .
There was reportedly looting , vandalism , and burning of businesses in Charleston , South Carolina as well , with Police Chief Luther Reynolds announcing at least 10 arrests on May 31 .
Rioting in Salt Lake City on May 30 reportedly included vandalism around the state capitol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 21 law enforcement officers requiring medical treatment .
And in Houston , local police reportedly made more than 100 arrests on May 30 after protests and riots .
The city 's Galleria shopping mall was closed the next day after looters smashed the windows of one of its stores .
Norman 's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story .
But he is not the only Republican suggesting that racial tensions are only boiling over in Democratic jurisdictions .
Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and order . ''
His administration has claimed that these areas are not `` Donald Trump 's watch , '' even though he promised in January 2017 that the `` American carnage '' of poverty and crime in inner cities would immediately end .
On Wednesday , Trump ordered his administration to look into stripping federal funding from any place it deems an `` anarchist jurisdiction . ''
`` My Administration will not allow Federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones , '' read a five-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is imperative that the Federal Government review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy , violence , and destruction in America 's cities . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

South Carolina Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman claimed Thursday that there have been no riots in six major cities led by Republican mayors or governors. He was wrong about all six.
“The map of the United States tells the tale of two parties: Where are the riots? In major cities such as Jacksonville, San Diego, or Oklahoma City, governed by Republican mayors? No.” Norman wrote in an opinion piece published by the Washington Examiner. “Did protests turn into riots in places such as Charleston, Salt Lake City, or Houston, all of which are governed by Democratic mayors but Republican governors? No again.”
Without evidence, he asserted that “one could argue the greatest predictor of violent unrest is long-term Democratic governance.”
But in the aftermath of the May police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis, all six of the cities Norman named have seen arrests, violence, looting, or destruction related to riots surrounding anti-racism protests.
In Jacksonville, Florida, several law enforcement officers and protesters reportedly clashed on May 30. “They attacked several police officers. They vandalized several police cars, attempting to light them on fire, breaking windows,” Sheriff Mike Williams told a local paper. “We have one officer who was stabbed — was slashed in the neck and is currently at the hospital.”
In San Diego on May 31, more than 100 people were arrested and police deployed tear gas and flash-bang grenades against protesters, according to local news, as law enforcement officials were pelted with rocks and water bottles and looters robbed city stores.
Over that same weekend, Oklahoma City reportedly saw rioting too. “We’re not putting up with lawlessness here,” said Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater in June as he charged protesters with felony counts of assault, rioting, and terrorism.
There was reportedly looting, vandalism, and burning of businesses in Charleston, South Carolina as well, with Police Chief Luther Reynolds announcing at least 10 arrests on May 31.
Rioting in Salt Lake City on May 30 reportedly included vandalism around the state capitol, a flipped police car, 41 arrests, and 21 law enforcement officers requiring medical treatment.
And in Houston, local police reportedly made more than 100 arrests on May 30 after protests and riots. The city’s Galleria shopping mall was closed the next day after looters smashed the windows of one of its stores.
Norman’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. But he is not the only Republican suggesting that racial tensions are only boiling over in Democratic jurisdictions.
Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed “Democrat cities” for undermining “law and order.” His administration has claimed that these areas are not “Donald Trump’s watch,” even though he promised in January 2017 that the “American carnage” of poverty and crime in inner cities would immediately end.
On Wednesday, Trump ordered his administration to look into stripping federal funding from any place it deems an “anarchist jurisdiction.”
“My Administration will not allow Federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones,” read a five-page memo issued by Trump. “It is imperative that the Federal Government review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence, and destruction in America’s cities.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-03--McEnany says she's 'not engaging in conspiracy theories' seconds after promoting one

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday told a reporter that questions over the ever-changing story surrounding Donald Trump 's unannounced visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in November 2019 amount to a conspiracy theory .
Trump 's visit to Walter Reed has once again made news after a book from New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt reported that Mike Pence was put on standby while Trump went to the hospital .
Trump then fanned the flames , denying that he had been hospitalized for `` mini strokes '' — which no one had accused him of .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Trump 's visit to the hospital : `` The president said he went there to begin his physical .
This week , he said he was there to complete his physical .
Which one was it ? ''
That 's when McEnany accused `` the media '' of `` engaging in conspiracy theories about the president 's health . ''
`` I am not engaging in conspiracy theories , '' McEnany said .
McEnany 's comment came roughly 60 seconds after she herself engaged in conspiracy theories .
She said the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism charges against antifa '' — something experts have said is impossible because antifa is not an organized group with a single ideology , making it unenforceable as a terrorist organization , according to the Washington Post .
In addition , Trump had recently endorsed a GOP candidate who traffics in dangerous conspiracy theories and has pushed debunked conspiracy theories several times over the course of this term in office .
Back in August , after Trump endorsed Marjorie Taylor Greene — a Republican House candidate who believes in the bizarre and dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by claiming that he `` has n't done a deep dive into the statements . ''
McEnany also defended Trump back in June , when he lobbed a false accusation that a 75-year-old man brutalized by police was a member of antifa and faked his injuries .
`` The president was raising questions based on a report that he saw .
They are questions that need to be asked , '' McEnany said of Trump 's attack on the man .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday told a reporter that questions over the ever-changing story surrounding Donald Trump’s unannounced visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in November 2019 amount to a conspiracy theory.
Trump’s visit to Walter Reed has once again made news after a book from New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt reported that Mike Pence was put on standby while Trump went to the hospital. Trump then fanned the flames, denying that he had been hospitalized for “mini strokes” — which no one had accused him of.
NBC News’ Peter Alexander asked McEnany about Trump’s visit to the hospital: “The president said he went there to begin his physical. This week, he said he was there to complete his physical. Which one was it?”
That’s when McEnany accused “the media” of “engaging in conspiracy theories about the president’s health.”
“I am not engaging in conspiracy theories,” McEnany said.
McEnany’s comment came roughly 60 seconds after she herself engaged in conspiracy theories.
She said the Department of Justice will be “pursuing domestic terrorism charges against antifa” — something experts have said is impossible because antifa is not an organized group with a single ideology, making it unenforceable as a terrorist organization, according to the Washington Post.
In addition, Trump had recently endorsed a GOP candidate who traffics in dangerous conspiracy theories and has pushed debunked conspiracy theories several times over the course of this term in office.
Back in August, after Trump endorsed Marjorie Taylor Greene — a Republican House candidate who believes in the bizarre and dangerous QAnon conspiracy theory — McEnany defended Trump by claiming that he “hasn’t done a deep dive into the statements.”
McEnany also defended Trump back in June, when he lobbed a false accusation that a 75-year-old man brutalized by police was a member of antifa and faked his injuries.
“The president was raising questions based on a report that he saw. They are questions that need to be asked,” McEnany said of Trump’s attack on the man.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-03--Trump silent after an ally urges vigilantes to 'have a plan' to justify shootings

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke told residents of Wisconsin last week to `` have a plan '' before going ahead and engaging in vigilantism against anti-racism protesters .
Clarke 's `` good friend '' Donald Trump has not condemned the remarks .
`` I 'm just telling people , 'Hey , you 're on your own . '
Think about it , have a plan .
Act reasonably .
You have to act reasonably .
Then you 're going to have to articulate what you did afterwards , '' Clarke said during a stint hosting a radio show in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 17-year-old Trump supporter , allegedly shot and killed two people protesting against police violence in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
`` But you ca n't have government officials and law enforcement executives telling people , 'Do not take the law into your own hands . '
Well , you 're forcing them to ! ''
Clarke said .
`` The majority of these gun purchases are first-time gun owners .
And when we leave this up to the individual , it 's not going to end real pretty .
But I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Have a plan , think it through , be able to articulate it , and be reasonable .
It 's all the law requires .
You have the right to defend yourself , you do n't need permission from the police or a sheriff . ''
The comments were reported by Media Matters for America on Monday .
J.J. McNabb , a fellow with the Program on Extremism at George Washington University , tweeted on Wednesday : `` Former Sheriff David Clarke advises radio listeners on how to get away with killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted in response to a query for this story that Clarke had previously urged armed citizens to act in self-defense before police arrive and that the former sheriff `` always stands by what he says .
He does n't sugarcoat anything . ''
After a joint appearance with Clarke at a National Rifle Association event in April 2015 , Trump tweeted , `` David , keep up the great work ! ''
A few weeks later , he praised Clarke as `` a wonderful representative of calm and reason , a real pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and self-proclaimed `` America 's Sheriff '' was among the most prominent public officials supporting Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign .
At a September 2016 rally in Waukesha , Wisconsin , Trump introduced him as `` our good friend , Sheriff Clarke . ''
In 2017 , the Trump administration reportedly offered Clarke an assistant secretary position with the Department of Homeland Security ; ultimately he did not end up in the position .
Instead , he became a spokesperson for the pro-Trump America First Action super PAC .
He later left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the private We Build the Wall crowdfunding effort .
Last month , Steve Bannon and others involved in the crowdfunding were arrested and indicted on charges of defrauding donors ; Clarke was not among those indicted .
In August 2017 , Trump tweeted an endorsement promoting a book Clarke had published , praising it as a `` great book by a great guy , highly recommended . ''
Trump and the White House have not commented on Clarke 's remarks , but Trump said on Monday when asked during a press conference about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'd like to see law enforcement take care of everything .
I think everything should be taken care of — law enforcement . ''
But moments earlier , he appeared to defend Kyle Rittenhouse , the alleged Kenosha killer .
`` That was an interesting situation .
You saw the same tape as I saw , and he was trying to get away from them , I guess , it looks like .
And he fell .
And then they very violently attacked him , '' Trump claimed .
`` And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , and it 's under investigation .
But I guess he was in very big trouble .
He probably would 've been killed .
But it 's under investigation . ''
Police have charged Rittenhouse with multiple felonies , including two counts of first-degree homicide , one count of attempted first-degree homicide , and one count of endangering safety with a deadly weapon .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke told residents of Wisconsin last week to “have a plan” before going ahead and engaging in vigilantism against anti-racism protesters.
Clarke’s “good friend” Donald Trump has not condemned the remarks.
“I’m just telling people, ‘Hey, you’re on your own.’ Think about it, have a plan. Act reasonably. You have to act reasonably. Then you’re going to have to articulate what you did afterwards,” Clarke said during a stint hosting a radio show in Milwaukee a day after Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old Trump supporter, allegedly shot and killed two people protesting against police violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“But you can’t have government officials and law enforcement executives telling people, ‘Do not take the law into your own hands.’ Well, you’re forcing them to!” Clarke said.
“The majority of these gun purchases are first-time gun owners. And when we leave this up to the individual, it’s not going to end real pretty. But I don’t blame them,” he said. “Have a plan, think it through, be able to articulate it, and be reasonable. It’s all the law requires. You have the right to defend yourself, you don’t need permission from the police or a sheriff.”
The comments were reported by Media Matters for America on Monday.
J.J. McNabb, a fellow with the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, tweeted on Wednesday: “Former Sheriff David Clarke advises radio listeners on how to get away with killing protesters.”
A spokesperson for Clarke noted in response to a query for this story that Clarke had previously urged armed citizens to act in self-defense before police arrive and that the former sheriff “always stands by what he says. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything.”
After a joint appearance with Clarke at a National Rifle Association event in April 2015, Trump tweeted, “David, keep up the great work!”
A few weeks later, he praised Clarke as “a wonderful representative of calm and reason, a real pro!”
The former Fox News regular and self-proclaimed “America’s Sheriff” was among the most prominent public officials supporting Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign. At a September 2016 rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Trump introduced him as “our good friend, Sheriff Clarke.”
In 2017, the Trump administration reportedly offered Clarke an assistant secretary position with the Department of Homeland Security; ultimately he did not end up in the position.
Instead, he became a spokesperson for the pro-Trump America First Action super PAC. He later left that role and joined the board of the private We Build the Wall crowdfunding effort.
Last month, Steve Bannon and others involved in the crowdfunding were arrested and indicted on charges of defrauding donors; Clarke was not among those indicted.
In August 2017, Trump tweeted an endorsement promoting a book Clarke had published, praising it as a “great book by a great guy, highly recommended.”
Trump and the White House have not commented on Clarke’s remarks, but Trump said on Monday when asked during a press conference about individual citizens acting as vigilantes: “I’d like to see law enforcement take care of everything. I think everything should be taken care of — law enforcement.”
But moments earlier, he appeared to defend Kyle Rittenhouse, the alleged Kenosha killer.
“That was an interesting situation. You saw the same tape as I saw, and he was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like. And he fell. And then they very violently attacked him,” Trump claimed. “And it was something that we’re looking at right now, and it’s under investigation. But I guess he was in very big trouble. He probably would’ve been killed. But it’s under investigation.”
Police have charged Rittenhouse with multiple felonies, including two counts of first-degree homicide, one count of attempted first-degree homicide, and one count of endangering safety with a deadly weapon.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-03--Family of Black man killed by Rochester police remember him as loving

The man who suffocated after police in New York 's third-largest city put a `` spit hood '' over his head was the loving father of five adult children , had some mental health issues but was harmless , and had just arrived in Rochester for a visit with his brother , his aunt said .
Daniel Prude , 41 , known to his big Chicago-based family as `` Rell , '' died March 30 after he was taken off life support , seven days after the encounter with police in Rochester .
Prude , who was Black , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the coronavirus was raging out of control in New York and received no public attention at the time .
Wednesday , Prude 's family held a news conference and released police body camera video obtained through a public records request that captured his fatal interaction with the officers .
Prude had been taken to a Rochester hospital for a mental health evaluation about eight hours before the encounter that led to his death .
He was released back into the care of his family and then abruptly ran into the street and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been traumatized by the deaths of his mother and a brother in recent years , having lost another brother before that , his aunt Letoria Moore said in an interview .
In his final months , he 'd been going back and forth between his Chicago home and his brother 's place in Rochester because he wanted to be close to him , she said .
She knew her nephew had some psychological issues , she said .
Still , when he called two days before his death , `` he was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore said .
`` I did n't know what was the situation , why he was going through what he was going through that night , but I know he did n't deserve to be killed by the police , '' she said .
When officers found Prude , they handcuffed him , put a hood over his head because he had been spitting , and then pressed his face into the pavement for two minutes , police video shows .
The hoods are intended to protect officers from a detainee 's saliva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the deaths of several prisoners in recent years .
The videos show Prude , his voice muffled by the hood , begging the white officer pushing his head down to let him go .
As the officer , Mark Vaughn , says , `` Calm down '' and `` Stop spitting , '' Prude 's shouts became anguished whimpers and grunts .
`` OK , stop .
I need it .
I need it , '' he says .
The officer lets Prude go after about two minutes when he stops moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water coming out of Prude 's mouth and call over waiting medics , who start CPR .
A medical examiner concluded that Prude 's death was a homicide caused by `` complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint . ''
The report lists excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine , or PCP , as contributing factors .
New York Attorney General Letitia James ' office took over the investigation of the death in April .
It is ongoing .
Protesters demonstrated Wednesday at the police headquarters building in Rochester and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Activists are demanding that the officers involved be suspended and prosecuted on murder charges .
Calls to the union representing Rochester police officers , and to the organization 's attorney , rang unanswered Wednesday .

The man who suffocated after police in New York’s third-largest city put a “spit hood” over his head was the loving father of five adult children, had some mental health issues but was harmless, and had just arrived in Rochester for a visit with his brother, his aunt said.
Daniel Prude, 41, known to his big Chicago-based family as “Rell,” died March 30 after he was taken off life support, seven days after the encounter with police in Rochester. Prude, who was Black, was from Chicago.
His death happened just as the coronavirus was raging out of control in New York and received no public attention at the time.
Wednesday, Prude’s family held a news conference and released police body camera video obtained through a public records request that captured his fatal interaction with the officers.
Prude had been taken to a Rochester hospital for a mental health evaluation about eight hours before the encounter that led to his death. He was released back into the care of his family and then abruptly ran into the street and took off his clothes.
Prude had been traumatized by the deaths of his mother and a brother in recent years, having lost another brother before that, his aunt Letoria Moore said in an interview. In his final months, he’d been going back and forth between his Chicago home and his brother’s place in Rochester because he wanted to be close to him, she said.
She knew her nephew had some psychological issues, she said. Still, when he called two days before his death, “he was the normal Rell that I knew,” Moore said.
“I didn’t know what was the situation, why he was going through what he was going through that night, but I know he didn’t deserve to be killed by the police,” she said.
When officers found Prude, they handcuffed him, put a hood over his head because he had been spitting, and then pressed his face into the pavement for two minutes, police video shows.
The hoods are intended to protect officers from a detainee’s saliva and have been scrutinized as a factor in the deaths of several prisoners in recent years.
The videos show Prude, his voice muffled by the hood, begging the white officer pushing his head down to let him go. As the officer, Mark Vaughn, says, “Calm down” and “Stop spitting,” Prude’s shouts became anguished whimpers and grunts.
“OK, stop. I need it. I need it,” he says.
The officer lets Prude go after about two minutes when he stops moving and falls silent. Officers then notice water coming out of Prude’s mouth and call over waiting medics, who start CPR.
A medical examiner concluded that Prude’s death was a homicide caused by “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.” The report lists excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP, as contributing factors.
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office took over the investigation of the death in April. It is ongoing.
Protesters demonstrated Wednesday at the police headquarters building in Rochester and at the spot where Prude died.
Activists are demanding that the officers involved be suspended and prosecuted on murder charges.
Calls to the union representing Rochester police officers, and to the organization’s attorney, rang unanswered Wednesday.


shareblue--2020-09-03--North Carolina elections chief pushes back on Trump's illegal voting scheme

The head of the North Carolina State Board of Elections on Thursday pushed back on Donald Trump 's advice to commit voter fraud in the state .
In a message to voters posted on social media , Karen Brinson Bell , the board 's executive director , said that Trump himself may have broken state law on Wednesday when he told voters to vote twice in the presidential election in November .
`` Attempting to vote twice in an election or soliciting someone to do so also is a violation of North Carolina law , '' Bell wrote .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state 's absentee voting system : `` Let them send it in , and let them go vote , and if the system is as good as they say it is , then obviously they wo n't be able to vote .
If it is n't tabulated , they wo n't be able to vote .
So that 's the way it is .
And that 's what they should do . ''
In her message to voters , Bell said that there is no need to physically go to the polls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There are numerous checks in place in North Carolina that prevent people from double voting , '' Bell said , adding that if voters want to see if their absentee ballot was accepted , they can do so online .
Going in person to check , Bell said , would `` lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19 . ''
Trump doubled down on his advice for North Carolina voters , tweeting Thursday morning that voters should `` go to your Polling Place to see whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Counted ) .
If it has you will not be able to Vote & the Mail In System worked properly .
If it has not been Counted , VOTE ( which is a citizen 's right to do ) . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Fox News that Trump was `` not suggesting anyone do anything unlawful . ''
However , Rick Hasen , a professor of law and political science at the University of California , Irvine School of Law and an expert on election law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think a case could be made '' that Trump broke the law .
`` He was encouraging people to vote both by mail and in person , '' Hasen wrote .
`` I do n't expect Trump to be prosecuted for this statement but it is a terrible thing to encourage voter fraud—especially by someone who consistently makes claims that it is rampant in the U.S. ( it 's not ) . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The head of the North Carolina State Board of Elections on Thursday pushed back on Donald Trump’s advice to commit voter fraud in the state. In a message to voters posted on social media, Karen Brinson Bell, the board’s executive director, said that Trump himself may have broken state law on Wednesday when he told voters to vote twice in the presidential election in November.
“Attempting to vote twice in an election or soliciting someone to do so also is a violation of North Carolina law,” Bell wrote.
Trump had said during an interview about the state’s absentee voting system: “Let them send it in, and let them go vote, and if the system is as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they won’t be able to vote. So that’s the way it is. And that’s what they should do.”
In her message to voters, Bell said that there is no need to physically go to the polls to check whether their mail-in ballot was received. “There are numerous checks in place in North Carolina that prevent people from double voting,” Bell said, adding that if voters want to see if their absentee ballot was accepted, they can do so online. Going in person to check, Bell said, would “lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19.”
Trump doubled down on his advice for North Carolina voters, tweeting Thursday morning that voters should “go to your Polling Place to see whether or not your Mail In Vote has been Tabulated (Counted). If it has you will not be able to Vote & the Mail In System worked properly. If it has not been Counted, VOTE (which is a citizen’s right to do).”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Fox News that Trump was “not suggesting anyone do anything unlawful.”
However, Rick Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine School of Law and an expert on election law, wrote on Wednesday night, “I think a case could be made” that Trump broke the law.
“He was encouraging people to vote both by mail and in person,” Hasen wrote. “I don’t expect Trump to be prosecuted for this statement but it is a terrible thing to encourage voter fraud—especially by someone who consistently makes claims that it is rampant in the U.S. (it’s not).”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.