buzzfeednews--2020-06-17--These Pictures Show What It's Like To Survive COVID-19

Photographer Morgana Wingard is a resident of New York City and experienced firsthand the trajectory of COVID-19 as it spread across the city this past spring , infecting 211,000 and killing over 17,000 people there .
After reporting on the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa , Wingard took note of the striking parallels between these two crises and how the proliferation of information from those who survived Ebola had helped to further curb the spread of the outbreak .
By late April , New York state was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US and had reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documented cases and some 15,000 deaths .
At its peak , over 500 COVID-19 deaths were being reported each day with an additional 1,700 daily hospital admissions .
More than 100 days after this lockdown was first enacted , New York state is no longer the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US — now it has one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country .
Meanwhile , states that prematurely eased restrictions on business and movements are now experiencing a surge in new cases .
In 21 states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the rise , with some local health authorities noting an increase in their seven-day average as high as 92 % .
To help share vital information and warnings about the dangers of the coronavirus , Wingard started the Coronavirus Survivor Diaries project , an ongoing documentary series that shares the faces and stories of those who have survived COVID-19 .
Here , Wingard speaks with BuzzFeed News about how this pandemic mirrors and differs from her experience during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa , as well as the importance of telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How did the Coronavirus Survivor Diaries project begin ?
Morgana Wingard : As COVID-19 began to spread in New York earlier this year , I was eerily reminded of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia in 2014 .
I had moved there the year before and spent months helping international humanitarian organizations share their stories of social impact .
After most of my friends were evacuated when Ebola spread to the capital in the summer of 2014 , I stayed for several more months dominated by a virus that fueled uncertainty , fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — much like the environment today .
I learned more than I ever expected about epidemiology , responding to an unprecedented medical emergency , and the critical impact of communication in such a situation .
It was one of the hardest times in my life , but I wouldn ’ t take it back for the world because of what I learned .
As an unexpected witness , I observed what didn ’ t work .
But then I discovered what did .
My biggest takeaway was that survivors have a critical role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , many of the answers that we seek can be found in the survivors — both in their bodies and in their stories .
Then , just as now , people needed to hear from people they know and trust so that humanitarian organizations could work with survivors to pass on vital information to warn , educate , and encourage their communities that Ebola is real , what they can do to protect themselves , and what to do if someone starts getting sick .
Just as importantly , they offered hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not a first responder who can provide lifesaving care .
I ’ m not a scientist who can develop a vaccine .
I ’ m not a politician who can make important public health decisions .
So , it feels like I ’ m too far removed to be able to make a real difference .
I ’ m just a storyteller .
But I believe there ’ s power in learning from each other 's stories .
So , when the COVID-19 outbreak began spreading in my current home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this personal project to document and share these important stories through a series of portraits and first-person accounts of COVID-19 survivors that can spread awareness now and document our shared experience for history .
During the Ebola outbreak we had started a project called Ebola Diaries , so I decided to call this project Coronavirus Survivor Diaries .
In your opinion , how does the coronavirus pandemic in the US differ from the Ebola outbreak in Liberia ?
The coronavirus pandemic is different from the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa because everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak was isolated to three countries on one continent .
This virus has spread to six continents and almost no country is untouched .
The beautiful thing about that is that everyone is going through this together so there is a level of mutual understanding as we share this experience and in some ways it brings us together .
How do you meet these survivors ?
I find survivors through various means , but mostly on social media .
I ’ ve been amazed at how open people have been with a complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moments of their COVID journeys and allow them to photograph them — albeit at a safe distance with masks .
Why is it important to tell their stories ?
It ’ s important to tell survivor stories for two reasons .
First , many of the answers that we seek can be found in the information that survivors have to share : how it ’ s contracted , how it spreads , what it does to the body , what helped them heal , how they coped , etc .
Second , survivors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their communities by telling them facts about their experiences that dispel myths and encourage people to take the disease seriously while at the same time giving them hope that they can get through it .
How has your impression of the coronavirus pandemic changed since beginning work on this project ?
We were initially told the virus was a respiratory disease .
It ’ s clear from speaking with many survivors that it attacks much more than just the lungs .
I thought that the United States was better prepared to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised at our response .
In some ways , African countries have responded far better than we have .
Liberia took the threat of this virus extremely seriously .
The roles reversed .
They quarantined anyone coming into the country from New York before there were any known cases in Liberia .
I ’ m proud of them .
I think we can learn a lot from their example .

Photographer Morgana Wingard is a resident of New York City and experienced firsthand the trajectory of COVID-19 as it spread across the city this past spring, infecting 211,000 and killing over 17,000 people there. After reporting on the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Wingard took note of the striking parallels between these two crises and how the proliferation of information from those who survived Ebola had helped to further curb the spread of the outbreak.
By late April, New York state was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US and had reached a peak infection rate of approximately 250,000 documented cases and some 15,000 deaths. At its peak, over 500 COVID-19 deaths were being reported each day with an additional 1,700 daily hospital admissions.
More than 100 days after this lockdown was first enacted, New York state is no longer the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the US — now it has one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country. Meanwhile, states that prematurely eased restrictions on business and movements are now experiencing a surge in new cases. In 21 states across the US, COVID-19 cases are on the rise, with some local health authorities noting an increase in their seven-day average as high as 92%.
To help share vital information and warnings about the dangers of the coronavirus, Wingard started the Coronavirus Survivor Diaries project, an ongoing documentary series that shares the faces and stories of those who have survived COVID-19.
Here, Wingard speaks with BuzzFeed News about how this pandemic mirrors and differs from her experience during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, as well as the importance of telling the stories of those who have survived.


buzzfeednews--2020-06-17--Black Trans Women Want People To Say Their Names — While They’re Alive

`` Everybody takes to the streets , and they rally , they protest .
But where was that same energy when that lady was alive ? ''
Milan Nicole Sherry , 28 , is a community organizer and former sex worker living with HIV .
She is a founding member of BreakOUT , an organizer of the TGNC Peoples COVID Crisis Fund of Louisiana , and is launching a new for-trans-by-trans community organization called House of Tulip .
Sherry organized the Black Trans Lives Matter rallies in New Orleans on May 30 and June 5 .
My name is Milan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you to write it just as that .
Milan Nicole Sherry .
I think it ’ s very important that it ’ s my name , and for people to know it .
Oftentimes when you hear the names of Black trans women it ’ s because we ’ re murdered .
I think it ’ s very important people hear my name while I ’ m here .
Why did you become an activist ?
As a trans woman , I ’ m fighting for my very own life , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no choice .
I could no longer sit around and just cry and have these conversations with my girlfriends about what we don ’ t have .
So my activism , yeah , it started in my experience and the things and trauma that came from me engaging in sex work .
But it also started as me saying I am a Black trans woman .
I had no choice because I want to live .
When you ’ ve got to constantly look over your shoulder when you leave out your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t safe .
I want to combat the image of this sensationalism and glorification of activism .
As a Black trans woman , I am personally tired .
I am no longer interested in fighting for space within LGBTQ agencies , organizations .
I am no longer interested in fighting for space in these cis-hetero spaces .
I am now focused into building our own , for-us-by-us .
I ’ m tired as a trans woman , giving my power to these cis individuals , these agencies that ultimately don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t value us for real .
The only thing we good for is when they hire us into positions and now all of a sudden “ we ’ re inclusive.
” It ’ s only because at the end of the day we ’ re written into those grants that they ’ re getting funding for .
But yet we get entry-level positions , we get outreach worker positions , we get recovery specialist positions .
But we are the ones that ’ s doing the real work .
Have you been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve participated .
And I ’ ve definitely been there to talk about police brutality .
No one is above accountability .
Black lives will never matter if you ’ re not including Black trans lives .
As long as it continues to exclude Black trans and GNC [ gender nonconforming ] folks , there will always be a divide within the movement .
This movement I describe as a chessboard .
You have to strategically move your pieces so your king and your queen will be saved , most importantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importantly the queen , being Black trans women .
Many people have said the killings of trans people like Tony McDade and Nina Pop don ’ t get the same attention as cis men like George Floyd .
Whose names do you think need to be said and remembered right now ?
To be honest , there are so many .
It ’ s one too many .
It ’ s not about just Tony McDade , about just these current individuals who have lost their lives , whether to law enforcement or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls and transgender men and women being murdered in the street .
You say Tony McDade ’ s name .
You say Keisha Jenkins ’ name .
You say Muhlaysia Booker ’ s name .
You say Penny Proud ’ s name .
You say Chyna Gibson ’ s name .
You say all of their names .
’ Cause the sad part about just saying their names is that when those individuals were alive — it ’ s just unfortunate it took those individuals ’ death to know how worthy they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re murdered , when we ’ re slaughtered in the street ... there ’ s “ Black trans lives matter , ” there ’ s “ say her name.
” Everybody takes to the streets , and they rally , they protest .
But where was that same energy when that lady was alive ?
We could have prevented that death .
We could have prevented that situation , but we didn ’ t .
Is there anything that ’ s bringing you joy or giving you hope right now ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a resilience in my community that has always been there .
What gives me joy and hope is I know that not every trans woman is going to fall victim to hate .
Because we have a lot of talent in our community .
A lot .
We have trans women who are brilliant , who are intelligent , who are doctors , nurses , lawyers , who are running for office , who are in office .
Andrea Jenkins , who is a city councilwoman in Minneapolis .
She ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a city councilwoman .
We have so many of what they consider success stories , but they love to sensationalize the murders and the beatings and the violence that we go through .
But they don ’ t show us in a different light that we are , in fact , like you .
We ’ re like you .
We go to work every day , we put our underwear on one leg at a time , if we ’ re not disabled .
We get dressed , we start our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to do is provide for our families and get home safe to our loved ones just like you .
But many of us don ’ t make it home .
Many of us don ’ t have a home .
Many of us don ’ t know what home is .
And for many of us home isn ’ t safe .
Tamika Spellman , 53 , is a former sex worker and sex workers ' rights advocate and policy and advocacy director at HIPS in Washington , DC .
She is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advocacy Coalition .
What are you fighting for right now ?
I ’ m fighting for my very life at this moment .
I ’ m fighting for the lives of Black people .
I ’ m fighting for the lives of transgender women .
I ’ m fighting for the lives of femme , nonbinary , androgynous people of color .
I ’ m fighting for Black males that are being murdered by the police .
I ’ m fighting for those that have mental health problems .
I ’ m fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting for the marginalized that this country tells this is the land of milk and honey , that this land is free , when it ’ s not .
I ’ m fighting to change the systemic racism that is inherently built into the very fabric of this nation .
I ’ m fighting for the reparations because my people are owed for building this nation , for building the wealth of the few .
It is time for the equality that the Constitution guarantees , that the preamble decreed .
What are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d like to see ?
The most urgent change for the world right now , I would say , is to defund all police .
Number one , that is something that is urgent .
Secondly , we need sensible legislation coming out of Congress .
It is time for them to start putting impact studies on the laws .
All of them should automatically come with impact studies to study their effectiveness — if it is actually meeting its objective .
If it is not meeting the objective then we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever ill it does .
See that ’ s where we come to the war on drugs .
This war has been going on for decades and there is no end in sight , and there is no victory .
And that is one law where many people in Congress have been saying how dreadful it is .
Not one of them has had the courage to go and undo it or change it for the better .
Instead they keep adding dumb shit to it .
When they implemented SESTA and FOSTA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restrict sex-related content ] , they didn ’ t think about the wide-ranging implications of what it could do to people who were not trafficking victims .
And now we have Ro Khanna [ a US House of Representative member from California ] sponsoring that bill to have an impact study on that piece of legislation .
Because it ’ s been damaging peoples ’ lives and their livelihoods , consenting adults .
But you broad-brush the law and don ’ t think about the impact overall .
They broad-brushed laws for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about its impact .
It devastated the urban communities of color .
It ’ s the evolution of what they did to Black Wall Street .
They just didn ’ t burn it .
They put laws in place to keep it from thriving , to keep people from surviving .
Because all the jobs left the cities .
They moved into the suburbs just like the white people did with white flight .
They left the inner cities to die .
They did not want us to have anything of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are not trans or gender nonconforming ?
I need everybody , Black and brown , to understand and to support fully their people , no matter what it is , just because I ’ m asking .
And I need my Caucasian counterparts to have some understanding for why I ’ m asking .
These things that we ’ re asking for are not — it ’ s not like we ’ re asking for you to give us the world .
We ’ re asking for our freedom .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrive and to grow and to live my life unencumbered from barbaric laws .
There are some laws that shouldn ’ t even be put on the books .
I need everyone to think and be rational in their reactions and to push our legislators in the right direction for everybody .
This isn ’ t just for me .
What goes on with me is a result of what can be done to you .
If they ’ re willing to take away my rights , what makes you think that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you been going to the protests ?
No .
Too many people without masks .
Too many people in close quarters .
I have a heart condition .
I have to be strategic .
COVID-19 is still out there , and they don ’ t have a treatment .
And then there is tear gas .
I have asthma .
And then I ’ m definitely scared of the police putting handcuffs on me again .
It has been a looooong time since I ’ ve had handcuffs on .
And I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have blond hair , honey , I ’ m a big girl .
They would love to put handcuffs on me .
I would love to have been down there if COVID-19 wasn ’ t out there .
But , as far as I ’ m concerned , burn it to the damn ground .
They didn ’ t give a flying fuck about how they burnt up Black Wall Street , how they looted and ransacked , how they murdered people , how many times they hung us from trees — when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and just decide “ oh we ’ ll just go over to this house , put a cross in their yard and set the house on fire.
” Did they give a fuck about our stuff that they burnt ?
Burn that shit down .
Until they stop killing us and abolish the police , there is not going to be an end to the unrest .
They can not conceive that this is not fair .
TS Candii , 26 , is a sex worker and lead organizer with Decrim NY and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the founder of Black Trans News .
TS Candii was also a lead organizer for the Justice for Nina Pop and Tony McDade protest at Stonewall Inn on June 2 .
Why did you become an activist ?
Growing up realizing that at heart I ’ m a woman and having to make my inner match my outer was a challenge , and be accepted with all of the above was a challenge .
The acceptance of who I am as a woman was a challenge , the acceptance from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an activist , the reason I started speaking up and speaking out was because a lot of the community was scared because we didn ’ t have a voice .
So I had to come off the menu and get at the table .
So I made my own seat .
A lot of us do not live to see 35 .
I became a voice for them because we were getting washed away .
They silence us .
We ’ re just now starting to be heard .
What are you fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m fighting for right now is our humanity .
I ’ m fighting for our pursuit of happiness , to just be .
And to unknot our existence out of the criminal justice system and to reclaim our narrative and to reformulate — I ’ m trying to find a formula to rewrite the economic systems so it ’ s free for us all , so that we don ’ t have to sell sex for survival .
What are the most urgent changes that you ’ d like to see ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made are the economic system first .
And the criminal justice system .
And the educational system .
The economic system needs to be able to fit us all .
The economic system is only written for white people .
That ’ s the issue .
We live day by day because of the economic system .
That system needs to be rewritten .
Everything that we do to support us , they criminalize it .
What kind of support do you need ?
We need economic support .
We need to abolish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the beginning of time was always slave catchers .
So right now what we need , we need laws to be made , and for laws to be changed and created by those that have lived the experience .
We have individuals that don ’ t understand because they don ’ t know , and refuse because they ’ re uneducated — a lot of people is not educated on certain things , so they automatically judge it and criminalize it and it ’ s done .
Because they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit here and cry and I got ta tell you how the government assistance programs , how they give you pennies .
How they give you pennies .
And I make more money with my god-given body than they give me yearly .
The social programs , you got food stamps , the WIC [ a federal food program for women , infants , and children ] , those pennies .
Those are pennies .
And then you have to explain — what is WIC ?
What is that ?
You know ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ electronic benefit transfer , similar to a debit card for government benefit programs ] ?
What is food stamps ?
What is Section 8 [ a federal rent assistance program ] ?
And they tax the poor and don ’ t tax the rich .
It ’ s just unfair .
It ’ s unfair .
What do you need from people who are not trans or gender nonconforming ?
I need all their money .
And they can donate it to Black Trans News LLC .
Please and thank you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just give me the money .
That ’ s all we need .
We need the money .
If y ’ all give us the money , we good , trust me .
Ceyenne Doroshow , fiftysomething , is a former sex worker and the founder and executive director of GLITS Inc. , which provides housing and crisis services , and helps build sustainability for LGBTQ people in New York City .
Doroshow spoke at the Brooklyn Liberation rally on June 14 .
What are you fighting for right now ?
Sustainability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans lives , Black trans lives , equity within our community .
Housing within our community — sustainable housing .
Because often we ’ re displaced by landlords , if placed at all , but very often we ’ re displaced without support or recourse to the landlords .
Trans folks , and the LGBTQIA community .
But mainly trans folks .
What that looks like to me is not a project or a multi-dwelling building where there are other elements of harm .
It ’ s dangerous for some trans people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think of housing someone , you think of the area , you think of the level of safety .
I know I do when it comes to myself , so why wouldn ’ t I want that for my community ?
This world is based on the who ’ s who , based on not growing , based on elements of disdain , not really on helping people of color or my community get to a place of comfort .
We often have to fight , we often have to do sex work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it ’ s a lot .
I want to be the middleperson for this .
I want to give people a chance to go to school , to be their best selves .
To have the support of housing to get them there .
Who knows better than me that these things are needed ?
What are the biggest obstacles you ’ re facing right now ?
I ’ m not usually one to let anything stand in my way , that ’ s why I ’ ve got lawyers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like me , you ’ re always facing a roadblock — and making it through .
Resilient people !
It ’ s just overcoming , and always breaking a glass ceiling in one way or another .
Society , ignorance , those are obstacles .
Phobias , those are the obstacles .
Police , those are more obstacles .
I honestly think , in my opinion , as a society we ’ re attacking the wrong vessel .
We should be dismantling the police union .
This is how they ’ re often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they ’ re allowed to be doing .
That ’ s an obstacle .
With the police union being able to back them up , we fail .
Without a civilian review board looking at the history and the background , we fail .
Police need policing by civilians , not by theirselves .
We also need to be in rooms with politicians and senators and governors to change these bills and laws which are the chokeholds of our lives .
We need to be a part of the conversation with politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human , to know that we matter .
What are the most urgent changes that you ’ d like to see ?
The WWT bill — the “ walking while trans ” bill , because it wasn ’ t passed .
The equity that we are trying to obtain for a better tomorrow , less trans deaths .
Police reform .
Defund police needs to happen immediately , and in my personal opinion , take guns away from police in New York .
Give them Tasers the way they do in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are not trans or gender nonconforming ?
To do the footwork .
I need them to be accountable .
I need them to do the humane thing .
It ’ s very simple .
It ’ s : What would you want for yourself ?
Or what would you want for your children ?
Is there anything that ’ s bringing you joy or giving you hope right now ?
It gave me joy and it ’ s giving me hope that many people are donating to the work .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the collaboration on mass level being in support of my work last night .
Somebody just donated $ 3K , instead of $ 1K .
It means they ’ ll be able to go on and sustain and possibly go to school and have everything they need .
It ’ s not about me having anything .
It ’ s about them having everything .
It ’ s about them having the equity to build equity .
Community taking care of community .
I think when [ GLITS ] hit $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiring .
I think it ’ s the work that makes them want to donate .
It ’ s seeing the bigger picture .
Because of all of the death , because of George Floyd , because of the degradation and the racism and the simple prejudice we ’ ve had to endure .
But then you add in LGBT , it ’ s like last on the food chain .
Finally people are understanding that it ’ s time to change .
[ On Sunday , June 14 , Doroshow announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to buy housing . ]
I ’ ve been doing this for so long with nothing .
I would do it all again with nothing if I had to .

Tamika Spellman, 53, is a former sex worker and sex workers' rights advocate and policy and advocacy director at HIPS in Washington, DC. She is the lead organizer of the Sex Worker Advocacy Coalition.
What are you fighting for right now?
That’s a lot. That’s a big question. Oh my.
I’m fighting for my very life at this moment. I’m fighting for the lives of Black people. I’m fighting for the lives of transgender women. I’m fighting for the lives of femme, nonbinary, androgynous people of color. I’m fighting for Black males that are being murdered by the police. I’m fighting for those that have mental health problems. I’m fighting for the homeless.
I’m fighting for the marginalized that this country tells this is the land of milk and honey, that this land is free, when it’s not. I’m fighting to change the systemic racism that is inherently built into the very fabric of this nation. I’m fighting for the reparations because my people are owed for building this nation, for building the wealth of the few. It is time for the equality that the Constitution guarantees, that the preamble decreed.
What are the most urgent changes that you’d like to see?
The most urgent change for the world right now, I would say, is to defund all police. Number one, that is something that is urgent.
Secondly, we need sensible legislation coming out of Congress. It is time for them to start putting impact studies on the laws. All of them should automatically come with impact studies to study their effectiveness — if it is actually meeting its objective. If it is not meeting the objective then we need to undo it, change it, alter whatever ill it does. See that’s where we come to the war on drugs. This war has been going on for decades and there is no end in sight, and there is no victory. And that is one law where many people in Congress have been saying how dreadful it is. Not one of them has had the courage to go and undo it or change it for the better. Instead they keep adding dumb shit to it.
When they implemented SESTA and FOSTA [a 2018 law that caused websites to restrict sex-related content], they didn’t think about the wide-ranging implications of what it could do to people who were not trafficking victims. And now we have Ro Khanna [a US House of Representative member from California] sponsoring that bill to have an impact study on that piece of legislation. Because it’s been damaging peoples’ lives and their livelihoods, consenting adults. But you broad-brush the law and don’t think about the impact overall. They broad-brushed laws for the drug war, and did not think about its impact. It devastated the urban communities of color. It’s the evolution of what they did to Black Wall Street. They just didn’t burn it. They put laws in place to keep it from thriving, to keep people from surviving. Because all the jobs left the cities. They moved into the suburbs just like the white people did with white flight. They left the inner cities to die. They did not want us to have anything of our own.
What do you need from people who are not trans or gender nonconforming?
I need everybody, Black and brown, to understand and to support fully their people, no matter what it is, just because I’m asking. And I need my Caucasian counterparts to have some understanding for why I’m asking. These things that we’re asking for are not — it’s not like we’re asking for you to give us the world. We’re asking for our freedom. We’re asking for the ability to thrive and to grow and to live my life unencumbered from barbaric laws. There are some laws that shouldn’t even be put on the books.
I need everyone to think and be rational in their reactions and to push our legislators in the right direction for everybody. This isn’t just for me. What goes on with me is a result of what can be done to you. If they’re willing to take away my rights, what makes you think that they won’t take yours?
Have you been going to the protests?
No. Too many people without masks. Too many people in close quarters. I have a heart condition. I have to be strategic. COVID-19 is still out there, and they don’t have a treatment. And then there is tear gas. I have asthma. And then I’m definitely scared of the police putting handcuffs on me again. It has been a looooong time since I’ve had handcuffs on. And I’m a big sore thumb. I have blond hair, honey, I’m a big girl. They would love to put handcuffs on me. I would love to have been down there if COVID-19 wasn’t out there.
But, as far as I’m concerned, burn it to the damn ground. They didn’t give a flying fuck about how they burnt up Black Wall Street, how they looted and ransacked, how they murdered people, how many times they hung us from trees — when they just go running through the neighborhood and just decide “oh we’ll just go over to this house, put a cross in their yard and set the house on fire.” Did they give a fuck about our stuff that they burnt? Burn that shit down. Until they stop killing us and abolish the police, there is not going to be an end to the unrest. They cannot conceive that this is not fair.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-23--A Man Died After Self-Medicating With A Drug Trump Promoted As A Potential Treatment For The Coronav

A Man Died After Self-Medicating With A Drug Trump Promoted As A Potential Treatment For The Coronavirus

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
A man died and his wife needed critical care after they both took a drug meant for aquariums that contains chloroquine , a drug President Trump recently touted as a treatment for COVID-19 in spite of a lack of study by health officials or approval by the World Health Organization .
According to the Banner Health hospital system in Phoenix , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingested chloroquine phosphate , `` an additive commonly used at aquariums to clean fish tanks . ''
One aquarium supply store online described it as a `` wonder drug '' that was once only available through veterinarians — for saltwater fish , not humans .
The site is currently sold out of the drug .
Thirty minutes after taking the chloroquine phosphate , the couple experienced serious , immediate effects that required them to go to the hospital .
Dr. Daniel Brooks , medical director of the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple ingested has the same active ingredients as the anti-malaria drug chloroquine .
However , the formula activated differently than the prescription , Alexis Kramer-Ainza , spokesperson for Banner Health , told BuzzFeed News , making them seriously ill .
The man 's wife , who asked her name not be used to protect her privacy , told NBC News that she took the drug after `` I saw it sitting on the back shelf and thought , 'Hey , is n't that the stuff they 're talking about on TV ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting sick , '' she told NBC News .
Kramer-Ainza confirmed that the couple took the additive because they most likely read about chloroquine online and in recent news reports .
`` We understand people are panicked and looking for answers , '' she said .
`` This is not the way to handle it .
Self-medicating will only cause more damage . ''
Toxicologists confirmed the substance was responsible for the symptoms they were experiencing , Kramer-Ainza said .
The woman 's condition is now stable , and she 's expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug .
Chloroquine , which has been used in various medications to treat malaria and lupus , has been in the news recently because doctors in countries including South Korea , China , and France have reported positive results when administered to COVID-19 patients , the New York Times reported .
Trump has repeatedly said the drug could be instrumental in the fight against the coronavirus .
In a press conference last week , he said the drug , which the FDA has not yet approved for treating COVID-19 , `` could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And maybe not .
Maybe not , but I think it could be , based on what I see , it could be a game changer .
Very powerful , they ’ re very powerful , '' he said .
The next day , Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , bluntly walked back Trump 's assertions .
`` The answer is no , '' he said in response to reporters ' questions about the drug as a coronavirus treatment , calling the evidence `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been any official studies .
`` We 're trying to strike a balance between making something with a potential of an effect to the American people available , at the same time that we do it under the auspices of a protocol that would give us information to determine if it 's truly safe and truly effective , '' Fauci said .
`` But the information that you 're referring to specifically is anecdotal — it was not done in a controlled clinical trial .
So you really ca n't make any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later went on Fox News to emphasize that there is no `` definitive proof '' the drug is effective .
But on Saturday , the president heralded the drug 's promise again , tweeting that coupling chloroquine with the antibiotic azithromycin has `` a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine . ''

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today.
A man died and his wife needed critical care after they both took a drug meant for aquariums that contains chloroquine, a drug President Trump recently touted as a treatment for COVID-19 in spite of a lack of study by health officials or approval by the World Health Organization.
According to the Banner Health hospital system in Phoenix, the couple, both in their sixties, ingested chloroquine phosphate, "an additive commonly used at aquariums to clean fish tanks." One aquarium supply store online described it as a "wonder drug" that was once only available through veterinarians — for saltwater fish, not humans. The site is currently sold out of the drug.
Thirty minutes after taking the chloroquine phosphate, the couple experienced serious, immediate effects that required them to go to the hospital.
Dr. Daniel Brooks, medical director of the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, said that the aquarium additive that the couple ingested has the same active ingredients as the anti-malaria drug chloroquine. However, the formula activated differently than the prescription, Alexis Kramer-Ainza, spokesperson for Banner Health, told BuzzFeed News, making them seriously ill.
The man's wife, who asked her name not be used to protect her privacy, told NBC News that she took the drug after "I saw it sitting on the back shelf and thought, 'Hey, isn't that the stuff they're talking about on TV?'"
"We were afraid of getting sick," she told NBC News.
Kramer-Ainza confirmed that the couple took the additive because they most likely read about chloroquine online and in recent news reports.
"We understand people are panicked and looking for answers," she said. "This is not the way to handle it. Self-medicating will only cause more damage."
Toxicologists confirmed the substance was responsible for the symptoms they were experiencing, Kramer-Ainza said. The woman's condition is now stable, and she's expected to survive because she managed to throw up the drug.
Chloroquine, which has been used in various medications to treat malaria and lupus, has been in the news recently because doctors in countries including South Korea, China, and France have reported positive results when administered to COVID-19 patients, the New York Times reported.
Trump has repeatedly said the drug could be instrumental in the fight against the coronavirus. In a press conference last week, he said the drug, which the FDA has not yet approved for treating COVID-19, "could be a game changer."
"And maybe not. Maybe not, but I think it could be, based on what I see, it could be a game changer. Very powerful, they’re very powerful," he said.
The next day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, bluntly walked back Trump's assertions.
"The answer is no," he said in response to reporters' questions about the drug as a coronavirus treatment, calling the evidence "anecdotal" and emphasizing that there has not been any official studies.
"We're trying to strike a balance between making something with a potential of an effect to the American people available, at the same time that we do it under the auspices of a protocol that would give us information to determine if it's truly safe and truly effective," Fauci said. "But the information that you're referring to specifically is anecdotal — it was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really can't make any definitive statement about it."
Fauci later went on Fox News to emphasize that there is no "definitive proof" the drug is effective.
But on Saturday, the president heralded the drug's promise again, tweeting that coupling chloroquine with the antibiotic azithromycin has "a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine."


buzzfeednews--2020-03-26--Actor Mark Blum, Who Had Roles In “You” And “Succession,” Has Died Of Coronavirus Complications

Mark Blum , an actor who played character roles in dozens of popular television series and film projects over the years , died of complications with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , at the age of 69 .
Blum ’ s first television appearance was a guest role on St .
Elsewhere , a medical drama in 1980 .
Over his career , the actor also showed up in TV classics like The West Wing , Frasier , Roseanne , NYPD Blue , and The Practice .
In recent years , Blum even appeared on fan favorites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2018 , Blum appeared on the hit series You , memorably playing Mr. Mooney , the bookstore owner and Joe Goldberg ’ s ( Penn Badgley ) creepy father figure .
Blum ’ s last-ever role will be a posthumous appearance on the upcoming fifth season of Showtime ’ s Billions .
Madonna , who starred alongside Blum in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan , shared photos of the two of them in the movie along with a message in the actor 's memory .
“ I Want to Acknowledge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor and friend Mark Blum , who succumbed to Coronavirus .
This is really tragic and my heart goes out to him , his family and his loved ones , ” she wrote in an Instagram caption .
“ I remember him as funny , warm , loving and professional when we made Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985 !
!
Another reminder that this virus is no joke , nothing to be casual about or pretend wo n't affect us in some way.
” Madonna also urged people to “ follow the quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .

Mark Blum, an actor who played character roles in dozens of popular television series and film projects over the years, died of complications with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, at the age of 69.
Blum’s first television appearance was a guest role on St. Elsewhere, a medical drama in 1980. Over his career, the actor also showed up in TV classics like The West Wing, Frasier, Roseanne, NYPD Blue, and The Practice. In recent years, Blum even appeared on fan favorites like Succession and The Good Fight.
In 2018, Blum appeared on the hit series You, memorably playing Mr. Mooney, the bookstore owner and Joe Goldberg’s (Penn Badgley) creepy father figure.
Blum’s last-ever role will be a posthumous appearance on the upcoming fifth season of Showtime’s Billions.
Madonna, who starred alongside Blum in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan, shared photos of the two of them in the movie along with a message in the actor's memory.
“I Want to Acknowledge the Passing of a remarkable Human, fellow actor and friend Mark Blum, who succumbed to Coronavirus. This is really tragic and my heart goes out to him, his family and his loved ones,” she wrote in an Instagram caption.
“I remember him as funny, warm, loving and professional when we made Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985!! Another reminder that this virus is no joke, nothing to be casual about or pretend won't affect us in some way.”
Madonna also urged people to “follow the quarantine rules” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-29--A Field Hospital Is Being Built In Central Park As The Coronavirus Outbreak Continues

This is one of many initiatives to increase the amount of hospital beds in New York City .
The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York is working with a humanitarian aid organization to set up a field hospital in Central Park to help house the continuing influx of patients during the coronavirus pandemic .
The tents in Central Park are expected to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will be open on Tuesday , a spokesperson for the hospital said .
The hospital partnered with Samaritan 's Purse , an evangelical Christian aid organization , to set up the field hospital , and photos showed construction well underway on Sunday .
“ Samaritan ’ s Purse , in partnership with Mount Sinai Health System and intergovernmental agencies , are constructing an Emergency Field Hospital in East Meadow in Central Park to provide care for patients seriously ill with COVID-19 , ” a spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been preparing for the influx of patients and ringing the alarm over the lack of protective equipment and respirators needed to handle the expected high volume of cases .
In a press conference on Sunday , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said he expects to see a high death toll from the virus in New York state .
So far , 59,513 people have tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , and 965 have died in the state .
“ I don ’ t see how you can read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cuomo said .
A field hospital has also been under construction by the US Army Corps of Engineers at the city 's Javits Convention Center .
The temporary hospital is expected to open Monday with almost 3,000 beds , and it is planned to treat patients who do not have COVID-19 to free up hospitals to care for people with the disease .
According to its website , Samaritan 's Purse has also helped set up a 68-person field hospital in Italy , another coronavirus hot spot .
The organization is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of evangelical pastor Billy Graham .
It previously responded to the Ebola outbreak , and the group made headlines when an aid worker contracted the deadly virus in Liberia and had to be returned to the US for treatment .
In addition to the field hospitals , Cuomo also said in the press conference on Sunday that USNS Comfort , a naval hospital ship , will dock in New York on Monday and be available to house patients who have medical needs unrelated to the coronavirus .
“ This is New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve made it through far greater things , we ’ re going to be ok .
”

Mount Sinai Hospital in New York is working with a humanitarian aid organization to set up a field hospital in Central Park to help house the continuing influx of patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
The tents in Central Park are expected to have 70 regular beds and 10 ICU beds and will be open on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the hospital said. The hospital partnered with Samaritan's Purse, an evangelical Christian aid organization, to set up the field hospital, and photos showed construction well underway on Sunday.
“Samaritan’s Purse, in partnership with Mount Sinai Health System and intergovernmental agencies, are constructing an Emergency Field Hospital in East Meadow in Central Park to provide care for patients seriously ill with COVID-19,” a spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-28--The Disorienting Quiet In New York During The Coronavirus Pandemic

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“ So now we come to New York City , the incomparable , the brilliant star city of cities , ” begins a chapter in a 1946 survey of the country called Inside U.S.A .
Here in the star city of cities , as the coronavirus pandemic continues , the sound of sirens is way up .
But sirens are , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hears outside anymore in New York .
The coronavirus pandemic is like an invisible natural disaster happened — a situation where , weirdly , the physical world remains unchanged , but inside hospitals and homes , people suffer terribly , and stunning economic destruction takes place .
As the weeks have progressed , however , there has been a physical change here , even if the sun still shines and daffodils still shoot up .
You ’ ve almost definitely seen photos of various notable locations ( Times Square , the bridges ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reduced the city in tangible waves , in less notable places : New York becomes quieter and quieter .
The result is bizarre and foreign , like walking through a giant false-front movie set .
Generally , the ongoing state of New York is noise : cars , bars , music up from the street , silverware clinking and gently thudding in restaurants with sidewalk tables , people spilling out of those restaurants and waiting for tables on the curb , teen crisis and romance on the subway platform , the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch the accompanying ambient scenes of life all the time — e.g.
, a father , in pristine Jordans , carefully decking out a picnic table for his daughter ’ s birthday party ( pink tablecloth , pink plates , pink cups , pink balloons ) in Brooklyn Bridge Park last summer — just with , maybe , a higher frequency of good scenes and bad scenes because of the sheer crush of humanity .
But above all : the endless , glowing hum of noise .
The back of my apartment sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings ; all morning , shouts from the playground on the block echo between the buildings and up through my window .
But that space is silent now .
There ’ s no music up from the street in my colleague ’ s neighborhood .
The basketball courts in Brooklyn Bridge Park sit silent and empty on a pier in the East River .
Remaining on the streets , besides the walkers , are medical professionals ( who don ’ t have adequate protections ) ; UPS , FedEx , and postal workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections ) ; home health aides headed to work ( who don ’ t have adequate protections ) ; delivery people ( who don ’ t have adequate protections ) ; construction workers ( worried about spreading the virus ) ; and police officers ( who can ’ t isolate as the city enforces the physical distance measures ) .
At night , familiar blocks can carry the vibe of passing through a suburban neighborhood you ’ ve never been in before — minimal cars , minimal people , a nagging disorientation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Emptiness and absence contradict the very concept of the city , ” as the New Yorker put it last week .
The quiet is strange ; it seems obvious to say , but you don ’ t know how much you miss people you don ’ t know until they ’ re not around .
Four years ago , the New York Times interviewed kids about what defined a New York City kid .
“ I like the noise ; it helps me sleep at night , ” one subject , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bronx neighborhood .
“ I feel like I know the city is still awake and protecting me .
”

“So now we come to New York City, the incomparable, the brilliant star city of cities,” begins a chapter in a 1946 survey of the country called Inside U.S.A.
Here in the star city of cities, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the sound of sirens is way up. But sirens are, also, one of the few things anyone hears outside anymore in New York.
The coronavirus pandemic is like an invisible natural disaster happened — a situation where, weirdly, the physical world remains unchanged, but inside hospitals and homes, people suffer terribly, and stunning economic destruction takes place. As the weeks have progressed, however, there has been a physical change here, even if the sun still shines and daffodils still shoot up. You’ve almost definitely seen photos of various notable locations (Times Square, the bridges) suddenly devoid of people. But March has reduced the city in tangible waves, in less notable places: New York becomes quieter and quieter.
The result is bizarre and foreign, like walking through a giant false-front movie set.
Generally, the ongoing state of New York is noise: cars, bars, music up from the street, silverware clinking and gently thudding in restaurants with sidewalk tables, people spilling out of those restaurants and waiting for tables on the curb, teen crisis and romance on the subway platform, the whole thing. Like anywhere else, you catch the accompanying ambient scenes of life all the time — e.g., a father, in pristine Jordans, carefully decking out a picnic table for his daughter’s birthday party (pink tablecloth, pink plates, pink cups, pink balloons) in Brooklyn Bridge Park last summer — just with, maybe, a higher frequency of good scenes and bad scenes because of the sheer crush of humanity. But above all: the endless, glowing hum of noise.
The back of my apartment sits across from and adjacent to several other buildings; all morning, shouts from the playground on the block echo between the buildings and up through my window. But that space is silent now. There’s no music up from the street in my colleague’s neighborhood. The basketball courts in Brooklyn Bridge Park sit silent and empty on a pier in the East River.
Remaining on the streets, besides the walkers, are medical professionals (who don’t have adequate protections); UPS, FedEx, and postal workers (who don’t have adequate protections); home health aides headed to work (who don’t have adequate protections); delivery people (who don’t have adequate protections); construction workers (worried about spreading the virus); and police officers (who can’t isolate as the city enforces the physical distance measures).
At night, familiar blocks can carry the vibe of passing through a suburban neighborhood you’ve never been in before — minimal cars, minimal people, a nagging disorientation, buildings sapped of all their energy.
“Emptiness and absence contradict the very concept of the city,” as the New Yorker put it last week. The quiet is strange; it seems obvious to say, but you don’t know how much you miss people you don’t know until they’re not around.
Four years ago, the New York Times interviewed kids about what defined a New York City kid.
“I like the noise; it helps me sleep at night,” one subject, then 11, told the Times about her Bronx neighborhood. “I feel like I know the city is still awake and protecting me.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-03--Jared Kushner Contradicted A Government Agency's Description Of The National Medical Supply Stockpil

Jared Kushner Contradicted A Government Agency's Description Of The National Medical Supply Stockpile. Then The Agency Changed It.

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A government agency suddenly changed its own description of the national stockpile of medical supplies Friday , shortly after reporters noted it directly contradicted the president 's son-in-law , Jared Kushner .
During a COVID-19 briefing at the White House , the senior White House adviser suggested that the Strategic National Stockpile was not meant for the use of states .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's supposed to be our stockpile , '' Kushner said .
`` It 's not supposed to be the states ' stockpiles that they then use . ''
Kushner added that the Trump administration was `` encouraging the states to make sure that they are assessing the needs and getting the data from their local situations . ''
But that directly contradicted the Department of Health and Human Services ' own description of the program , which noted that , `` When state , local , tribal , and territorial responders request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency . ''
Multiple reporters , and some lawmakers , quickly noted the discrepancy , including Politico 's Playbook newsletter .
A few minutes later , journalist Laura Bassett noted the language on the government 's website describing the stockpile was changed , aligning closely to Kushner 's comments .

A government agency suddenly changed its own description of the national stockpile of medical supplies Friday, shortly after reporters noted it directly contradicted the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
During a COVID-19 briefing at the White House, the senior White House adviser suggested that the Strategic National Stockpile was not meant for the use of states.
"The notion of the federal stockpile was it's supposed to be our stockpile," Kushner said. "It's not supposed to be the states' stockpiles that they then use."
Kushner added that the Trump administration was "encouraging the states to make sure that they are assessing the needs and getting the data from their local situations."
But that directly contradicted the Department of Health and Human Services' own description of the program, which noted that, "When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency."
Multiple reporters, and some lawmakers, quickly noted the discrepancy, including Politico's Playbook newsletter.
A few minutes later, journalist Laura Bassett noted the language on the government's website describing the stockpile was changed, aligning closely to Kushner's comments.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-04--Trump Is Firing The Intelligence Community Watchdog Who Brought Forward The Whistleblower Complaint

“ As is the case with regard to other positions where I , as President , have the power of appointment , by and with the advice and consent of the Senate , it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General , ” Trump wrote .
“ That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.
” In letters sent to the congressional intelligence committees late Friday night , without warning , Trump told lawmakers that he had lost confidence in Atkinson , who has served as the watchdog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has informed Congress that he is firing Michael Atkinson , the inspector general of the intelligence community who alerted lawmakers to the whistleblower complaint that led to the president ’ s impeachment .
Here are the letters , sent to both intelligence committees .
They only received it about an hour ago .
In September , Atkinson told the intelligence committees about the existence of the whistleblower complaint , which alleged that the president has misused the powers of his office to pressure the Ukrainian government to announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Atkinson had found the complaint to be credible , but Joseph Maguire , then the acting director of national intelligence , blocked it from being sent to Congress .
The whistleblower complaint became the basis for Trump ’ s impeachment in the fall and winter .
Trump reportedly considered firing Atkinson months ago , privately complaining that the longtime career public servant had been disloyal .
On Saturday , Trump told reporters that Atkinson was `` a disgrace '' and criticized him for alerting Congress to the whistleblower complaint , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by law .
“ I thought he did a terrible job .
Absolutely terrible , '' Trump said during a coronavirus briefing at the White House .
`` He took a fake report and he brought it to Congress.
” '' He never even came into to see me .
How can you do that without seeing the person ? ''
Trump later added .
The whistleblower complaint was largely corroborated during the impeachment inquiry by witness testimony , documents , and a transcript of the president 's July call with the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the firing would take effect 30 days from now .
“ At a later date , I will be submitting to the Senate my nomination of an individual for this position who has my full confidence and who meets the appropriate qualifications , ” Trump concluded .
Congress is currently in recess until at least late April as the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic .
Atkinson 's dismissal received immediate backlash from the Democratic leaders of the intelligence committees .
“ In the midst of a national emergency , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again attempting to undermine the integrity of the intelligence community by firing yet another intelligence official simply for doing his job , ” Sen. Mark Warner , the vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee , said in a statement .
“ The work of the intelligence community has never been about loyalty to a single individual ; it ’ s about keeping us all safe from those who wish to do our country harm .
We should all be deeply disturbed by ongoing attempts to politicize the nation ’ s intelligence agencies.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Intelligence Committee , called the decision “ yet another blatant attempt by the President to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing .
“ At a time when our country is dealing with a national emergency and needs people in the Intelligence Community to speak truth to power , the President ’ s dead of night decision puts our country and national security at even greater risk , ” Schiff said in a statement .
“ Moreover , this retribution against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job and informing Congress of an urgent and credible whistleblower complaint is a direct affront to the entire inspector general system ” Schiff added .
“ It undermines the transparency and oversight the American people expect of their government , and in its absence will undoubtedly lead to even greater corruption in the Administration.
” Republicans began weighing in on Atkinson 's termination on Saturday .
Sen. Richard Burr , the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , thanked Atkinson for his two years of service and stressed the importance of having an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Like any political appointee , the Inspector General serves at the behest of the Executive , '' Burr wrote .
`` However , in order to be effective , the IG must be allowed to conduct his or her work independent of internal or external pressure .
It is my hope the next nominee for the role of ICIG will uphold the same important standards laid out by Congress when we created this role . ''
Burr also drew attention to Atkinson 's success in transforming the inspector general 's office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over .
`` Over the last two years , he turned the Office of the ICIG around , restoring an important organization , '' Burr said .
`` I 've appreciated his professionalism and responsiveness when working with the Senate Intelligence Committee on a wide range of issues and I wish him the best . ''
Sen. Chuck Grassley , who has a history of advocating for whistleblowers , issued a statement saying that Trump 's explanation for why he fired Atkinson was insufficient .
“ Inspectors general play a critical role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and misconduct , and their work helps ensure the government efficiently serves the people , '' Grassley wrote .
`` And they often serve as an outlet to whistleblowers who shine a light to problems in government .
They help drain the swamp , so any removal demands an explanation .
Congress has been crystal clear that written reasons must be given when IGs are removed for a lack of confidence .
More details are needed from the administration . ''

In September, Atkinson told the intelligence committees about the existence of the whistleblower complaint, which alleged that the president has misused the powers of his office to pressure the Ukrainian government to announce an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden. Atkinson had found the complaint to be credible, but Joseph Maguire, then the acting director of national intelligence, blocked it from being sent to Congress. The whistleblower complaint became the basis for Trump’s impeachment in the fall and winter.
Trump reportedly considered firing Atkinson months ago, privately complaining that the longtime career public servant had been disloyal.
On Saturday, Trump told reporters that Atkinson was "a disgrace" and criticized him for alerting Congress to the whistleblower complaint, which the inspector general was required to do by law.
“I thought he did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible," Trump said during a coronavirus briefing at the White House. "He took a fake report and he brought it to Congress.”
"He never even came into to see me. How can you do that without seeing the person?" Trump later added.
The whistleblower complaint was largely corroborated during the impeachment inquiry by witness testimony, documents, and a transcript of the president's July call with the Ukrainian president.
In his letter, Trump said that the firing would take effect 30 days from now. “At a later date, I will be submitting to the Senate my nomination of an individual for this position who has my full confidence and who meets the appropriate qualifications,” Trump concluded. Congress is currently in recess until at least late April as the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
Atkinson's dismissal received immediate backlash from the Democratic leaders of the intelligence committees.
“In the midst of a national emergency, it is unconscionable that the President is once again attempting to undermine the integrity of the intelligence community by firing yet another intelligence official simply for doing his job,” Sen. Mark Warner, the vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement. “The work of the intelligence community has never been about loyalty to a single individual; it’s about keeping us all safe from those who wish to do our country harm. We should all be deeply disturbed by ongoing attempts to politicize the nation’s intelligence agencies.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, called the decision “yet another blatant attempt by the President to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing.
“At a time when our country is dealing with a national emergency and needs people in the Intelligence Community to speak truth to power, the President’s dead of night decision puts our country and national security at even greater risk,” Schiff said in a statement.
“Moreover, this retribution against a distinguished public servant for doing his job and informing Congress of an urgent and credible whistleblower complaint is a direct affront to the entire inspector general system” Schiff added. “It undermines the transparency and oversight the American people expect of their government, and in its absence will undoubtedly lead to even greater corruption in the Administration.”
Republicans began weighing in on Atkinson's termination on Saturday. Sen. Richard Burr, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, thanked Atkinson for his two years of service and stressed the importance of having an impartial watchdog for the intelligence community.
"Like any political appointee, the Inspector General serves at the behest of the Executive," Burr wrote. "However, in order to be effective, the IG must be allowed to conduct his or her work independent of internal or external pressure. It is my hope the next nominee for the role of ICIG will uphold the same important standards laid out by Congress when we created this role."
Burr also drew attention to Atkinson's success in transforming the inspector general's office, which was in disarray when he took over. "Over the last two years, he turned the Office of the ICIG around, restoring an important organization," Burr said. "I've appreciated his professionalism and responsiveness when working with the Senate Intelligence Committee on a wide range of issues and I wish him the best."
Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has a history of advocating for whistleblowers, issued a statement saying that Trump's explanation for why he fired Atkinson was insufficient.
“Inspectors general play a critical role in protecting against fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct, and their work helps ensure the government efficiently serves the people," Grassley wrote. "And they often serve as an outlet to whistleblowers who shine a light to problems in government. They help drain the swamp, so any removal demands an explanation. Congress has been crystal clear that written reasons must be given when IGs are removed for a lack of confidence. More details are needed from the administration."


buzzfeednews--2020-05-22--Small Businesses Owned By Women And Minorities Are Struggling To Get Coronavirus Loans

BuzzFeed News has reporters around the world bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — Business at Murphy ’ s Maids was somewhat steady in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic .
Just before New York announced a stay-at-home order , calls into the 40-year-old cleaning service in Little Neck had slowed .
But loyal customers kept at least a handful of the 12- to 15-person staff working , according to Linda Broderick who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister , Kathleen Labadie .
Broderick sought help from the Paycheck Protection Program — an initiative in Congress ’ s $ 2.2 trillion economic stimulus plan meant to help small businesses stay afloat and keep employees on the books .
Broderick spent more than two hours to complete the “ cumbersome ” application on April 8 .
More than a month later , she ’ s still waiting for the money .
“ That has been one fiasco after another , ” Broderick told BuzzFeed News .
“ First of all , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve been using phones and having my friends help me to get all this stuff through.
” Broderick said she kept getting error messages when she was prompted to put in tax forms that didn ’ t really apply to her business .
She resigned to just photographing and then downloading a note that said , `` We do n't have 940 and 945 [ tax forms ] .
We have 1099s.
” It went through .
Now they ’ re waiting to hear from the third bank after two others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Broderick still has to pay the fees that come with running the business , including $ 1,000 every month for worker ’ s compensation insurance .
“ My payroll per month is 20,000 , ” she said .
“ And I do n't have $ 20,000 to pay these girls until I can get money back from my customers , ” adding , “ I mean , it ’ s like a saga . ''
Broderick ’ s is one of many small businesses that are hemorrhaging money because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Paycheck Protection Program was explicitly supposed to prioritize loans to help rural small businesses and those , like Broderick ’ s , that are women- and minority-owned .
Earlier this month , the Small Business Administration ’ s inspector general found it did not .
On May 8 , SBA Inspector General Mike Ware issued a report that found the agency failed to provide guidance to lenders requiring they prioritize rural , women , and minority-owned businesses , even though the coronavirus legislation passed by Congress expressly says to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it “ did not find any evidence ” that SBA issued that guidance to any lenders doling out the payroll protection loans .
Since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act ( CARES Act ) , the SBA says they ’ ve issued more than 4.3 million small businesses paycheck protection loans as of May 20 , equalling just over 13 % of the country ’ s 30 million small businesses .
And it ’ s impossible to know how many women and minority-owned businesses received loans from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , because the agency did not instruct lenders to collect demographic data .
Absent federal data , the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce gathered their own data , finding that only 4 % of women and minority small business owners who applied for PPP loans in the first phase received them , in a survey of 592 small businesses in the borough .
By the second phase — which SBA instituted after larger businesses exhausted the bulk of the first round of PPP funding — that number rose to 87 % .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first round that in the second round , they were just more responsive to small businesses , ” Randy Peers , the president of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce , told BuzzFeed News .
The SBA also implemented emergency lending facilities to assist in processing and distributing loans during the second phase ; several small business owners who spoke to BuzzFeed News said they didn ’ t get loans until the second phase began .

WASHINGTON — Business at Murphy’s Maids was somewhat steady in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
Just before New York announced a stay-at-home order, calls into the 40-year-old cleaning service in Little Neck had slowed. But loyal customers kept at least a handful of the 12- to 15-person staff working, according to Linda Broderick who runs the business with her 73-year-old twin sister, Kathleen Labadie.
On March 20, the phone stopped ringing altogether.
Broderick sought help from the Paycheck Protection Program — an initiative in Congress’s $2.2 trillion economic stimulus plan meant to help small businesses stay afloat and keep employees on the books.
Broderick spent more than two hours to complete the “cumbersome” application on April 8. More than a month later, she’s still waiting for the money.
“That has been one fiasco after another,” Broderick told BuzzFeed News. “First of all, I don’t have a computer so I’ve been using phones and having my friends help me to get all this stuff through.”
Broderick said she kept getting error messages when she was prompted to put in tax forms that didn’t really apply to her business. She resigned to just photographing and then downloading a note that said, "We don't have 940 and 945 [tax forms]. We have 1099s.” It went through.
Now they’re waiting to hear from the third bank after two others denied their application. In the meantime, Broderick still has to pay the fees that come with running the business, including $1,000 every month for worker’s compensation insurance.
“My payroll per month is 20,000,” she said. “And I don't have $20,000 to pay these girls until I can get money back from my customers,” adding, “I mean, it’s like a saga."
Broderick’s is one of many small businesses that are hemorrhaging money because of the coronavirus and seeking help from the federal government. The Paycheck Protection Program was explicitly supposed to prioritize loans to help rural small businesses and those, like Broderick’s, that are women- and minority-owned. Earlier this month, the Small Business Administration’s inspector general found it did not.
On May 8, SBA Inspector General Mike Ware issued a report that found the agency failed to provide guidance to lenders requiring they prioritize rural, women, and minority-owned businesses, even though the coronavirus legislation passed by Congress expressly says to do so. In fact, the report says it “did not find any evidence” that SBA issued that guidance to any lenders doling out the payroll protection loans.
Since Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the SBA says they’ve issued more than 4.3 million small businesses paycheck protection loans as of May 20, equalling just over 13% of the country’s 30 million small businesses. And it’s impossible to know how many women and minority-owned businesses received loans from the program, the SBA inspector general wrote, because the agency did not instruct lenders to collect demographic data.
Absent federal data, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce gathered their own data, finding that only 4% of women and minority small business owners who applied for PPP loans in the first phase received them, in a survey of 592 small businesses in the borough. By the second phase — which SBA instituted after larger businesses exhausted the bulk of the first round of PPP funding — that number rose to 87%.
“The big banks got such bad press in the first round that in the second round, they were just more responsive to small businesses,” Randy Peers, the president of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, told BuzzFeed News.
The SBA also implemented emergency lending facilities to assist in processing and distributing loans during the second phase; several small business owners who spoke to BuzzFeed News said they didn’t get loans until the second phase began.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-22--Trump Wants To Hold The G7 Summit In Person But He Didn’t Ask Other World Leaders About The Idea Bef

Trump Wants To Hold The G7 Summit In Person But He Didn’t Ask Other World Leaders About The Idea Before Tweeting It

Gathering for the G7 summit when the world is tiptoeing out of coronavirus lockdowns : an “ awkward proposition to deal with.
” BuzzFeed News has reporters around the world bringing you trustworthy stories about the impact of the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
Donald Trump hadn ’ t talked to other world leaders about his idea to host June ’ s G7 Summit in person when he started tweeting about it , senior officials from two participating governments told BuzzFeed News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transitioning back to Greatness ’ , I am considering rescheduling the G-7 , on the same or similar date , in Washington , D.C. , at the legendary Camp David , ” Trump posted Wednesday .
“ The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK .
It would be a great sign to all - normalization !
” Short for “ Group of Seven , ” the G7 is a yearly meetup of leaders from the world ’ s most advanced economies — the US , Germany , France , Italy , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US is this year ’ s host .
After his tweet on Wednesday , the president later told reporters that the gathering would `` primarily '' take place at the White House and `` there could be a piece of it at Camp David . ''
Either way , it would mean an in-person gathering at a time when each country is tiptoeing out of coronavirus lockdowns , with strict social distancing measures — and restrictions on international travel — likely to still be in place .
It is an “ awkward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the government officials told BuzzFeed News .
The other official said that privately , “ the initial reception to the idea among Europeans had been cold — but they can not immediately reject it.
” In public , each country has responded diplomatically .
Reuters quoted a French official saying that President Emmanuel Macron was open to traveling to the US for the meeting — if the COVID-19 situation allows .
Canada 's prime minister Justin Trudeau told reporters , “ We ’ ll certainly take a look at what the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see what kind of measures will be in place to keep people safe.
” The UK struck a similar tone .
At a daily briefing this week , the prime minister 's official spokesperson said : `` In the event of any travel , the PM would follow the guidelines at the time . ''
`` We are in close contact with the US in the run-up to the summit , '' the spokesperson added .
`` We will need to look at the details of what the US are proposing.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for June 10–12 at Camp David in Maryland , but when the outbreak took hold it was moved to a virtual setting .
Trump had originally proposed holding the event at his luxury Doral resort in Florida .
Preparatory meetings ahead of the summit have been held via video conference , and the seven governments have at times struggled to find a consensus .
In March , the Trump administration wanted foreign ministers to sign up to a joint statement calling the coronavirus “ the Wuhan virus.
” The six other governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in person in just a few weeks would involve organizing travel and security arrangements for dozens of officials , diplomats and support staff from each country .
Governments would have to make those arrangements even as many borders around the world remain shut , and most of the world ’ s airplanes remain grounded .
It is not the first time that Trump has surprised his allies with major moves or announcements without talking to them first .
BuzzFeed News reported earlier this year that the US did n't warn Britain or its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that killed Iran 's top military commander , Qassem Soleimani .
Trump also did n't consult with European leaders before introducing a coronavirus travel ban in mid-March .

In public, each country has responded diplomatically.
Reuters quoted a French official saying that President Emmanuel Macron was open to traveling to the US for the meeting — if the COVID-19 situation allows.
Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, “We’ll certainly take a look at what the US is proposing as host of the G7 to see what kind of measures will be in place to keep people safe.”
The UK struck a similar tone. At a daily briefing this week, the prime minister's official spokesperson said: "In the event of any travel, the PM would follow the guidelines at the time."
"We are in close contact with the US in the run-up to the summit," the spokesperson added. "We will need to look at the details of what the US are proposing.”
The meeting of G7 leaders was originally scheduled for June 10–12 at Camp David in Maryland, but when the outbreak took hold it was moved to a virtual setting. Trump had originally proposed holding the event at his luxury Doral resort in Florida.


buzzfeednews--2020-05-22--The Coronavirus Canceled Most Ramadan Celebrations, So One Man Re-Created Them In “Animal Crossing”

We couldn ’ t eat the food in front of us , but we could escape reality for a moment .
A few weeks into the height of the coronavirus pandemic causing lockdowns and stay-at-home orders around the world , Rami Ismail was doing what many of us have done in the face of this historic cataclysm : He was playing Animal Crossing .
He was participating in Bunny Day ( the game ’ s version of Easter , which involves hunting hundreds of eggs just to build useless objects ) , when he had a thought : Why couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well ?
Animal Crossing : New Horizons has become an escapist phenomenon during the pandemic — a bright point for people to escape their dreary indoor existence and instead be a tiny villager , wandering around a deserted tropical island in the bright sun doing mundane chores and interacting with talking animals and friends who can visit over the internet .
The game sold more than 13.4 million copies in its first six weeks — after launching worldwide on March 20 , as many stay-at-home orders went into effect across the globe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever for the Nintendo Switch , and the console itself has sold out at numerous stores and websites , becoming almost as difficult to find as Lysol wipes or hand sanitizer during the pandemic .
Ismail is a video game developer based in Hilversum in the Netherlands and has a large Twitter following of fellow gamers and game developers .
He loves Animal Crossing , he told me , but playing it has highlighted the representation gap for Muslims in gaming — not just in the Animal Crossing franchise , but across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available in Arabic , he said .
“ Christianity is often treated in sort of a secular way ” in media like video games , Ismail told me , speaking over video chat from his home .
“ Bunny Day is obviously very far removed from the Christian idea of Easter , and I thought maybe you could do that with Ramadan — take the culture and community of this religious event and make it into something similar to how Christianity often gets treated.
” Games like Animal Crossing , where you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their own homes , have been fun ways to replace people ’ s actual social lives .
The game includes its own versions of several major holidays , including Valentine ’ s Day , St. Patrick ’ s Day , Thanksgiving , Halloween , Christmas , and , yes , Easter .
But Ismail realized that a game like Animal Crossing was unlikely to depict Ramadan .
“ I think a lot of people are just scared of touching Islam as a subject , or a thing to add to their games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid of being offensive , or afraid of making people angry and causing controversy , ” Ismail continued .
“ It 's just not an interest , despite Muslims being a quarter of the human population.
” So he decided to do it himself .
“ I wanted to work a bit on the representation of Muslims in this game , ” he said .
“ But also , as Ramadan got closer , I realized that I was very lonely.
” Ismail lives alone , about 30 minutes away from his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , he hasn ’ t been able to see his parents during the outbreak due to a lockdown in his neighborhood and not wanting to spread the virus .
A huge part of Ramadan is about the community , Ismail said .
Not just getting together with family and friends for iftar meals to break fast at the end of the day , but eating with strangers and gathering with large groups to celebrate in the mosque .
He wanted to try to emulate that in a game that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the community aspect .
He put out a call on Twitter , offering to host people to celebrate Ramadan on his island , and very quickly got a lot of responses from friends , internet acquaintances , and complete strangers .
There was so much interest that he had to create a sign-up tool to ensure everyone could be distributed to different meals throughout the month ( Animal Crossing only allows eight people to visit an island at one time ) .
Ismail decided to start hosting iftars and suhoors ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) on Animal Crossing .
He said so far he ’ s had 70 to 80 people visit his island for Ramadan , which began on April 23 .
Although I did not sign up through official channels , Ismail was kind enough to let me join a suhoor at 3 a.m. his time , 9 p.m. my time in New York .
All the guests called into Nintendo Voice Chat and flew our tiny villagers onto Ismail ’ s island .
He had set up a long dinner table with custom-designed blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
There were candles and lanterns , and covered booths with plates of food and tea on them ( even though Animal Crossing characters can only eat fruit and bamboo shoots , there is an array of food for sale that your character can stare at ) .
This was similar to how Ismail and his friends and family often have IRL Ramadan meals in normal times , he told his guests , dining outside potluck-style , joined by some friends and family , and some strangers .
Because Ramadan lasts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crescent moon is the month ’ s symbol .
Animal Crossing takes place in real time : The season on your island is the season outside your window ; when it ’ s 3 p.m. on Monday in your apartment , it ’ s 3 p.m. on Monday in the game ; and the moon in the game is in the same phase as the moon in the real-life sky .
On the night I attended suhoor with Ismail , the moon was a few days from full , a few days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above his guests as we entered one by one , placed our shoes and little in-game gifts like peaches and espresso makers on the ground , and showed off our outfits .
Most people ’ s avatars wore various head coverings , Ismail another guest wore customized thawbs , and one person came wearing a face mask , triggering someone to make a joke about Animal Crossing facing a “ Nookvirus pandemic ” ( a reference to Nook Inc. , the capitalist overlords of the game ) .
Once everyone had gathered at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up , we just began talking .
Those who were breaking fast on the phone shared what they were eating IRL for their early morning or late evening meal — rice and meat in one case , fruits , nuts , and peanut butter in another .
We talked about how we all knew Ismail .
One guest , Sarah Elmaleh , whose Animal Crossing character was dressed in her “ ‘ 90s singer-songwriter outfit , ” as she called it — a beanie and camo pants — is a voiceover actor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice work for video games , and she and Ismail do an online charity event together .
Another , Aiden Strawhun , is a journalism student at the University of California Berkeley and announced halfway through the evening that it was her birthday .
Everyone made their characters clap .
The guest list of that event was unusual , Ismail told me later , in that most of the people attending were friends of his and nearly everyone was from the US .
Usually he only knows a few of the attendees personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the world .
“ I ’ ve had people from every continent , ” Ismail said , looking at a list of his former guests .
“ I see Baghdad here , Singapore , Mexico , Central Europe , Ireland , South Africa , Sydney , Moscow , really just all over the place.
” “ I think it ’ s honestly about 50-50 Muslim , non-Muslim , ” Ismail said of most of his Animal Crossing meals .
He said he had expected it to lean more toward non-Muslims because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly gamers .
The non-Muslims who join , he said , have mostly been interested in asking questions about Ramadan , about the symbolism of the moon , and , of course , the question every Muslim gets asked each Ramadan : “ You can ’ t even drink water ?
?
” But no matter their religions , Ismail ’ s global guests have been his favorite part of the experience because one of the things he misses most about his pre-coronavirus life is the constant travel he did for work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling , ” he said .
“ I like talking to random groups of people , hearing about the weather , what they ’ re eating.
” The most interesting conversation he ’ s had in his Animal Crossing Ramadan meals so far , he told me , was with a man who lives right next to Mecca , the site in Saudi Arabia where the Prophet Muhammad and Islam itself was said to be born , and a site of pilgrimage for Muslims .
“ I have never done the pilgrimage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such familiarity was fascinating to me , ” Ismail said .
Mecca is currently completely empty due to the lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Ramadan is normally a time when it is at its most full , when thousands of people pilgrimage from across the world to do the daily prayer and circle the Kaaba , the famous cube at the center of Islam ’ s most important mosque — the Great Mosque of Mecca .
For the first time , in a picture of the empty landmark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floors .
“ If Muslims were the primary moviemakers in our age , a shot of Mecca empty would be in every disaster movie , ” Ismail said .
“ It ’ s a terrifying view .
You look at it and you ’ re like , That is wrong .
This should not happen.
” Because even when you ’ re on a deserted island , sitting at a table with a bunch of small people with giant heads surrounded by talking animals , the pandemic has a way of creeping into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wholesome escapism with an undertone of horror .
After we sat at the table for a few minutes or hours ( what is time ? )
, Ismail took us on a tour of his incredibly impressive island and his home .
We all oohed and ahhed at the soccer field he built and his Japanese garden .
At one point , Sarah got stuck across a small pond and we all laughed , giving her advice on how to get out .
In some ways , it felt like a normal gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awkward , people coming and going based on their schedules .
But , I realized after , this was the first time since the lockdown began that I got to meet new people , that I had to introduce myself .
It was refreshing .
It was something I didn ’ t know I had missed .
Hopefully we ’ ll all get to attend events like this in person sooner rather than later , but until then , Ismail is in the midst of making some big plans for Eid al-Fitr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
“ Eid is much harder than Ramadan — I really want to do it in Animal Crossing , and I 've been collecting gifts in case I do figure out something , ” Ismail told me in a Twitter DM about a week after I visited his island .
While iftars and suhoors are usually just a small gathering of people , Eid is a big festival full of people , more than the eight people Animal Crossing allows on an island at once .
Ismail said to solve this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday , he ’ s been thinking of trying to create a “ queuing system , ” as he put it .
Basically , designing an external website where people can sign up for a certain time slot , come to the island for 15 minutes or so , party there , and then head back out to let the next people fly in .
“ Then at the end you can maybe send people a photo souvenir or something , ” he said , adding that this would be his project for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Outside of his deserted island , Ismail said he ’ s actually made Eid plans with some real three-dimensional humans .
“ I 'll definitely meet up with my family somewhere outside , and maybe just wave at each other from our cars , ” he said .
“ It 's not great , but it 's something.
” ●

“Bunny Day is obviously very far removed from the Christian idea of Easter, and I thought maybe you could do that with Ramadan — take the culture and community of this religious event and make it into something similar to how Christianity often gets treated.”
Games like Animal Crossing, where you can virtually gather with friends and family playing in their own homes, have been fun ways to replace people’s actual social lives. The game includes its own versions of several major holidays, including Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and, yes, Easter. But Ismail realized that a game like Animal Crossing was unlikely to depict Ramadan.
“I think a lot of people are just scared of touching Islam as a subject, or a thing to add to their games. I think they’re likely afraid of being offensive, or afraid of making people angry and causing controversy,” Ismail continued. “It's just not an interest, despite Muslims being a quarter of the human population.”
So he decided to do it himself.
“I wanted to work a bit on the representation of Muslims in this game,” he said. “But also, as Ramadan got closer, I realized that I was very lonely.”
Ismail lives alone, about 30 minutes away from his family. But like many people all over the world, he hasn’t been able to see his parents during the outbreak due to a lockdown in his neighborhood and not wanting to spread the virus.
A huge part of Ramadan is about the community, Ismail said. Not just getting together with family and friends for iftar meals to break fast at the end of the day, but eating with strangers and gathering with large groups to celebrate in the mosque. He wanted to try to emulate that in a game that has been so appealing to people in quarantine precisely because of the community aspect.
He put out a call on Twitter, offering to host people to celebrate Ramadan on his island, and very quickly got a lot of responses from friends, internet acquaintances, and complete strangers. There was so much interest that he had to create a sign-up tool to ensure everyone could be distributed to different meals throughout the month (Animal Crossing only allows eight people to visit an island at one time).
Ismail decided to start hosting iftars and suhoors (the early morning meal before the sunrises) on Animal Crossing. He said so far he’s had 70 to 80 people visit his island for Ramadan, which began on April 23.
Although I did not sign up through official channels, Ismail was kind enough to let me join a suhoor at 3 a.m. his time, 9 p.m. my time in New York. All the guests called into Nintendo Voice Chat and flew our tiny villagers onto Ismail’s island.