buzzfeednews--2020-06-09--Black Campaign Staffers "Always Have Had An Awesome Burden." Now They're Struggling With George Floy

Black Campaign Staffers "Always Have Had An Awesome Burden." Now They're Struggling With George Floyd's Death.

Joe Biden spoke to his staff about the protests and Trump ’ s response in a video call that lasted nearly two hours .
Milton Patch was knocking on doors in southern Illinois four years ago when a police officer stopped him and demanded to see a permit .
As the young Black political operative gestured a few doors down to the elected official he was accompanying , the officer reached for a Taser .
“ I have never felt so scared before in my life , ” Patch , now a deputy organizing director for Joe Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with BuzzFeed News .
“ Especially while doing my job.
” The painful memory came rushing back last month after the death of George Floyd , an unarmed Black man whose neck was crushed under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis .
After days of protests that spread across the country and triggered President Donald Trump to threaten the use of deadly force against demonstrators , Biden convened his full staff for a video conference call .
The former vice president , according to those who dialed in , spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his Black employees .
A call most thought would last about 45 minutes went on for nearly two hours .
When Biden asked for questions , Patch worked through his nerves to pose a deeply personal one : What will Biden do if one of his canvassers is racially profiled while knocking doors this summer and fall ?
“ He said that if that ever happens to anyone , report it , and he will call the police department himself , ” Patch said .
“ He will not tolerate anyone treating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly appreciated that.
” Like in so many other jobs , Black people who work on presidential campaigns and for the two major political parties continue that work amid the pain and trauma of another instance of a Black man dying in an encounter with white police .
The politics of this moment — and Trump ’ s incessant , inflammatory role in it — make that pain even more acute .
“ This campaign has been exciting , but also difficult , ” said Jamal Brown , a Black national press secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the president fan the flames of white supremacy and hatred .
We also see the unconscious bias on the political scene.
” Biden ’ s team , according to aides , moved quickly to offer support to Black staffers and others struggling to cope over the last two weeks .
The day after Floyd ’ s death , campaign manager Jen O ’ Malley Dillon emailed the entire staff to “ recognize the events of the last few days.
” O ’ Malley Dillon ’ s email , obtained by BuzzFeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and racist behavior ” from the white woman who called police on a black birdwatcher in New York ’ s Central Park on the same day Floyd was killed .
And she lamented “ the continued divisive language ” from Trump .
“ These injustices , ” O ’ Malley Dillon wrote , “ have real impacts on all of us , especially our staff of color .
Everyone processes these sorts of events in different ways and I want to encourage you all to take care of yourselves and take the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most sense to you.
” Several Black staffers have taken her up on her encouragement to take time off .
Black leaders inside the Democratic National Committee , the party ’ s central political arm in Washington , described the two weeks since Floyd ’ s death as a nonstop effort to respond with action while also consoling colleagues who are processing trauma , some of them alone , separated from friends and loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ As Black people , we are dealing with a pandemic within a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior adviser to Democratic Party Chair Tom Perez who quickly after Floyd ’ s death started hearing Black colleagues who were struggling .
By that Friday — when Minneapolis was engulfed in protests and police tear gas — she convened a Zoom call with Perez , who is Latino , and about two dozen Black DNC staffers .
“ We found that a lot of our team really was dealing with things we weren ’ t aware of , ” Clanton said .
“ We have staff who have been pulled over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have staff who had witnessed police officers kill their loved ones .
We had a lot of stories that came out.
” Clanton also asked a doctor with counseling and healing experience to join the call .
Brandon Gassaway , the DNC ’ s national press secretary , said the anxieties brought up by watching the news of Ahmaud Arbery , the 25-year-old Black man who was fatally shot while jogging in Georgia earlier this year , followed by Floyd ’ s death , were only compounded by the personal and emotional isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How much can my life be worth if it does n't matter how well educated I am , how much money I have , what family I came from , if you can walk outside and get choked out by a police officer just for being Black , ” Gassaway said .
“ Being in a pandemic while all this is happening , that feeling — that loss of value , that feeling of being alone — is amplified in that situation . ''
The pandemic itself has also had a particularly stark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from COVID-19 at disproportionate rates and have faced steep job losses .
And many of the Black staffers who work in Democratic politics — a liberal activist space where non-Black people have spent the last two weeks trying , often imperfectly , to be good allies — have taken on the added responsibility of helping their white colleagues navigate this moment .
Clanton said that after the Friday call , she started hearing from non-Black DNC staffers , including white people who lead various departments staffed by younger people of color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put together a resource guide of sorts for people who felt “ like they don ’ t have the right words , ” she said , and encouraged her colleagues to listen and ask questions .
The following Monday , they held another Zoom call , this time with the entire DNC staff .
The result , said Clanton , has been a period of “ nonstop ” activity .
“ It 's been constant response and consoling and really trying to offer the support that our staff needs.
” Minyon Moore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for many Black women inside the party as an operative in the 1980s , has been a sounding board over the last two weeks for the younger generation of Black Democratic staffers trying to balance their own pain with the demands of their colleagues and the institutions where they work .
“ We always have had an awesome burden , ” Moore said in an interview .
“ I know it 's tough .
It 's tough on me .
I can not tell you how many calls I 've had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I take , I am happy to take it , because I want to be seen as a vessel .
And that 's what I tell them : ‘ You ’ re a vessel .
Use this moment to educate .
Do n't be tired right now.
’ ” The senior staffs of the Democratic and Republican national committees and the presidential campaigns , Biden ’ s included , remain largely white .
That ’ s a reality that can affect how sensitively , if at all , the leaders of these organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dennard , a Black senior communications adviser at the RNC , said in an emailed statement that the national party ’ s chief of staff “ communicated with the entire team in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder , peaceful protests and violent riots in many of America ’ s urban cities , including an incident involving Trump supporters in my home state of Arizona.
” “ As one of many Black American staffers here at the RNC I have felt a sense of community , understanding , and willingness to listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just a Black issue , it is an American issue all of us are impacted by , ” said Dennard .
He added that his recent op-ed for RealClearPolitics — titled “ Black Lives Matter To President Trump ” — “ went out without hesitation.
” ( Asked in a follow-up email how many Black staffers work for the RNC , Dennard responded `` dozens . ''
) At the DNC , where Perez , the party chair , has faced criticism from Black political leaders inside and outside Congress since he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 50 % of senior staff are people of color and about 25 % are black women , according to a DNC official .
This spring , after Biden became the head of the party as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , DNC staffers of color were dismayed by his campaign ’ s choice to replace a woman of color who served as the DNC ’ s chief executive officer , Seema Nanda , as first reported by the New York Times .
Concerns over the decision came out in a tearful senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke , with some staffers in disbelief that the Biden campaign had made it one of their first moves to remove one of the few women of color leading a major political institution , according to a person familiar with the call .
The DNC , under Perez , is now led by two white staffers : CEO Mary Beth Cahill and deputy CEO Sam Cornale .
Both the Biden and Trump campaigns are run at the upper levels mostly by white advisers .
Biden has boasted of having a very diverse staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been disputed , but also one that the campaign hasn ’ t quantified with data .
Even so , Black aides who spoke to BuzzFeed News said they are confident Biden ’ s decisions are informed by a diverse group , including Rep. Cedric Richmond , a Black campaign cochair who speaks with Biden often .
“ You can nitpick it how you want , but actually voices are being heard , ” said Kamau Marshall , the campaign ’ s director of strategic communications .
“ I don ’ t think we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” “ I talk to Anita Dunn , ” Marshall added , referring to a white senior strategist .
“ She will ask for our input.
” A spokesperson for Trump ’ s reelection campaign did not respond to questions about whether senior officials there had communicated with staffers about Floyd ’ s death and the president ’ s rhetoric on it or how they were supporting those upset by the case .
In her May 26 email to staff , O ’ Malley Dillon reminded staffers of the free , campaign-funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counseling .
“ I often say that we can do hard things , ” O ’ Malley Dillon wrote .
“ And we can .
But sometimes we just should n't have to — and that is true far too often for far too many people of color in this country .
Do n't ever forget that the work each and every one of you are doing every day is part of the ever-enduring work to make this country a better place.
” Two nights after the email , with protests continuing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spreading to other cities , Trump called demonstrators “ thugs ” in a series of late-night tweets .
He also threatened that “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts ” — a taunt dating to the civil unrest of the 1960s .
Twitter slapped a disclaimer on the tweets , asserting they violated the social media site ’ s rules and glorified violence .
“ I remember staying up all night , ” said Brown , the campaign ’ s press secretary .
On a call with the communications team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues he would be taking a mental health day .
“ Every single person on that call gave me my space , ” Brown said .
“ They all said take the time that you need to grieve and to heal and to just live.
” Biden , whose campaign is rooted in ending the racist behavior of the Trump era , addressed his staff later that day , via Zoom .
“ The VP is what I like to call an organic gentleman , ” Marshall said .
“ As a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thoughtful , and keeping it real — that meant a lot on so many levels.
” The pandemic has temporarily closed the Biden campaign ’ s Philadelphia headquarters and left most employees working from home .
Like with the DNC staff , the lack of personal contact in a time of such distress has been a challenge , but Black staffers have banded together with virtual hangouts and happy hours — “ a platform just to talk , and ensure that we are OK and to just listen to one another , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have accommodated staffers who request time off to join protests , said Carahna Magwood , a deputy design director who took her 4-year-old son to one in Philadelphia .
“ He sees Omar Jimenez get arrested on CNN , and even he has questions about why he ’ s being arrested , ” Magwood said , referring to the CNN reporter who along with his crew was handcuffed and led away while covering protests in Minneapolis .
“ It ’ s hard , ” Magwood added , “ and I think what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us in that moment because they saw it , they acknowledged it , and then they acted.
” Other staffers based in Philadelphia have struggled with proximity to the unrest .
Brown would go on morning runs past the police officers guarding the statue of former mayor and police commissioner Frank Rizzo , who was known for his hostility toward Black and LGBTQ citizens .
The city removed the statue , a target for protesters , last week .
Brown dashed by that morning , after it was gone .
He took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
“ It just gave me the reminder to keep going.
” At night , though , Brown would hear helicopters whirring around his Center City apartment .
He ’ d turn on the TV and see police officers “ right outside of my apartment tackling people who were outside past the curfew time.
” He ’ d smell the smoke of a fire nearby .
Late last week , Brown decided he ’ d had enough .
“ I had to leave Philadelphia because of the trauma of hearing a helicopter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news every day to make sure your life wasn ’ t in imminent danger right outside your apartment , and having to be reminded of that while you ’ re trying to work , ” he said .
“ I had to leave the city and quarantine elsewhere so I could work healthily and turn my grief into purpose.
” ●

Biden’s team, according to aides, moved quickly to offer support to Black staffers and others struggling to cope over the last two weeks. The day after Floyd’s death, campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon emailed the entire staff to “recognize the events of the last few days.”
O’Malley Dillon’s email, obtained by BuzzFeed News, also called out “the callous and racist behavior” from the white woman who called police on a black birdwatcher in New York’s Central Park on the same day Floyd was killed. And she lamented “the continued divisive language” from Trump.
“These injustices,” O’Malley Dillon wrote, “have real impacts on all of us, especially our staff of color. Everyone processes these sorts of events in different ways and I want to encourage you all to take care of yourselves and take the time you need in whatever way makes the most sense to you.”
Several Black staffers have taken her up on her encouragement to take time off.
Black leaders inside the Democratic National Committee, the party’s central political arm in Washington, described the two weeks since Floyd’s death as a nonstop effort to respond with action while also consoling colleagues who are processing trauma, some of them alone, separated from friends and loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As Black people, we are dealing with a pandemic within a pandemic,” said Waikinya Clanton, a senior adviser to Democratic Party Chair Tom Perez who quickly after Floyd’s death started hearing Black colleagues who were struggling.
By that Friday — when Minneapolis was engulfed in protests and police tear gas — she convened a Zoom call with Perez, who is Latino, and about two dozen Black DNC staffers. “We found that a lot of our team really was dealing with things we weren’t aware of,” Clanton said. “We have staff who have been pulled over by police for no reason. We have staff who had witnessed police officers kill their loved ones. We had a lot of stories that came out.”
Clanton also asked a doctor with counseling and healing experience to join the call.
Brandon Gassaway, the DNC’s national press secretary, said the anxieties brought up by watching the news of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old Black man who was fatally shot while jogging in Georgia earlier this year, followed by Floyd’s death, were only compounded by the personal and emotional isolation of a public health crisis.
“How much can my life be worth if it doesn't matter how well educated I am, how much money I have, what family I came from, if you can walk outside and get choked out by a police officer just for being Black,” Gassaway said. “Being in a pandemic while all this is happening, that feeling — that loss of value, that feeling of being alone — is amplified in that situation."
The pandemic itself has also had a particularly stark impact on Black people, who have died from COVID-19 at disproportionate rates and have faced steep job losses.
And many of the Black staffers who work in Democratic politics — a liberal activist space where non-Black people have spent the last two weeks trying, often imperfectly, to be good allies — have taken on the added responsibility of helping their white colleagues navigate this moment.
Clanton said that after the Friday call, she started hearing from non-Black DNC staffers, including white people who lead various departments staffed by younger people of color, asking for help and advice. Clanton put together a resource guide of sorts for people who felt “like they don’t have the right words,” she said, and encouraged her colleagues to listen and ask questions. The following Monday, they held another Zoom call, this time with the entire DNC staff.
The result, said Clanton, has been a period of “nonstop” activity. “It's been constant response and consoling and really trying to offer the support that our staff needs.”
Minyon Moore, a veteran Democrat who helped pave the way for many Black women inside the party as an operative in the 1980s, has been a sounding board over the last two weeks for the younger generation of Black Democratic staffers trying to balance their own pain with the demands of their colleagues and the institutions where they work.
“We always have had an awesome burden,” Moore said in an interview. “I know it's tough. It's tough on me. I cannot tell you how many calls I've had to take like this. But every call I take, I am happy to take it, because I want to be seen as a vessel. And that's what I tell them: ‘You’re a vessel. Use this moment to educate. Don't be tired right now.’”


buzzfeednews--2020-06-09--The Head Of CrossFit Has Resigned After Telling Staff On A Zoom Call, “We're Not Mourning For George

The Head Of CrossFit Has Resigned After Telling Staff On A Zoom Call, “We're Not Mourning For George Floyd”

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BuzzFeed News is publishing select clips from the call with Glassman , but not the full audio , in order to protect the identity of the source who shared it .
`` Greg believes in equality , '' the statement added .
`` Greg made a mistake .
His communications will have to be reconciled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being put on trial online , and we challenge you to be thorough in your review of a man who is imperfect but sincere in his love of helping others to become better while creating opportunities for others to do the same .
He does make mistakes , but he has done more than anyone for this community and created unimagined opportunities for others .
If you measure Greg Glassman , do it thoroughly . ''
The letter called Glassman 's comments `` incredibly insensitive and hurtful , '' but said he should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We disappointed you , '' the company said .
`` It hurt you and us .
We need to talk . ''
Glassman and representatives for CrossFit did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story , until hours after it was published .
Then , CrossFit released the news of Glassman 's `` retirement '' and a public statement titled `` Why Did n't CrossFit Just Say Something ?
`` “ It 's very interesting that George gets popped with counterfeits , and who comes but the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch : This thing 's going to turn into first-degree murder , ” he said .
“ That 's what it 's going to turn into .
And it 's going to be because I 'm predicting this .
We have friends in the FBI in your neighborhood , and they 're of the view that this was first-degree murder and it was to silence him over the counterfeit money .
That 's the belief .
That 's what the cops think.
” Glassman speculated that the nightclub where both Floyd and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Derek Chauvin , worked has “ been under investigation by the FBI for over a decade for laundering money.
” He also recounted unfounded conspiracy theories on the call that included speculation Floyd was killed to “ silence him ” due to a purported , baseless role in a criminal conspiracy involving counterfeit money .
“ I doubt very much that they ’ re mourning for Floyd , ” Glassman said on the call about protesters and CrossFitters who were looking for the company to speak out .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mourning for Floyd in any community.
” But during the Zoom call hours earlier , which had been between 16 affiliates and staff members , Glassman repeatedly expressed doubts about whether systemic racism existed and questioned the motives of protests around the country .
“ Floyd is a hero in the black community and not just a victim , ” he said in his public apology .
“ I should have been sensitive to that and was n't .
I apologize for that.
” The call was held hours before Glassman responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism a public health issue , writing , “ It ’ s FLOYD-19.
” His tweet drew immediate backlash from gym owners and caused Reebok to end a partnership deal with the company .
CrossFit subsequently posted an apology on Glassman ’ s behalf , calling his words “ not racist but a mistake.
” The 75-minute Zoom call , which was sent to BuzzFeed News via its secure tipline , was part of an initiative that CrossFit had started after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered gyms across the country .
CrossFit affiliate owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were invited at random to the check-in calls over the past three months with Glassman and other staffers from CrossFit 's corporate headquarters .
`` On Saturday I created a rift in the CrossFit community and unintentionally hurt many of its members , '' Glassman said .
`` I can not let my behavior stand in the way of HQ ’ s or affiliates ’ missions .
They are too important to jeopardize . ''
On Tuesday night , shortly after publication of this story , the company released a statement from Glassman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retire '' and was stepping down as CEO .
“ Can you tell me why I should mourn for him ?
Other than that it ’ s the white thing to do — other than that , give me another reason , ” he asked a Minneapolis gym owner who had questioned why the brand hadn ’ t posted a statement about the protests across the country after the death of George Floyd .
Hours before he posted a controversial tweet on Saturday night that has sparked backlash against his company , Greg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told gym owners on a private Zoom call , “ We 're not mourning for George Floyd — I do n't think me or any of my staff are , ” according to a full recording of the meeting obtained by BuzzFeed News .
Listen to clips of Glassman on the call , edited together by BuzzFeed News to protect the identity of the source who shared it .
During the call , Glassman also complained about looting and buildings that had been set on fire .
He questioned the legitimacy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation in the three weeks since Floyd ’ s death .
“ Moved to action ?
Burning the city down , is that the action ?
Destruction of Black- and minority-owned businesses , is that the action ?
” Glassman asked while speaking to a gym owner from Minneapolis who detailed what their members had been doing to help the community in the aftermath of nights of looting and protests .
“ I would prefer a trial of a murderer rather than burning the city down .
I think that the law has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your city to the ground and burning a police station to the ground because a cop killed what was very likely going to be a coconspirator in a counterfeit ring — I just do n't get the burning thing .
How about the Black cop that was killed ?
” Glassman said later in the call , adding that he wasn ’ t going to “ fund antifa ” — another conspiracy theory — because “ a guy got killed.
” Glassman told the owners on the call that “ killing George was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the town down was wrong , killing the Black cop was wrong , and the Black-on-Black murder every weekend in every one of our cities is a tragedy.
” He told the Minneapolis gym owner on the call that he thought the city ’ s plans to defund the police department were “ terrifying ” after they outlined how their community was trying to rebuild from Floyd ’ s death .
“ It sounds like more of the same .
It sounds like punishing the cops .
It sounds like blaming the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities , and I don ’ t think anything could be farther from the truth .
Have you ever done a ride-along with cops in a rough neighborhood ?
” Glassman said .
“ You don ’ t have to answer , but I have many , many times , and that is crazy tough work and almost all of the men and women are professionals.
“ During a lengthy discussion on the coronavirus , Glassman again shared more unfounded theories .
“ The Chinese let this virus get out of the laboratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
( US intelligence officials have said they have not formally concluded whether the virus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology . )
Glassman also trashed epidemiology as “ a social science , ” said upstate New Yorkers should secede from the rest of their state due to the strict lockdown measures in New York City , and urged gym owners to only pretend to comply with health precautions when they reopen .
“ It was a panic .
Absolute panic right from the start .
And I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn out that this has cost way more lives than have been saved .
Way more , ” he said .
“ At some point , you 've got to do what 's right , and it may not come with approval .
It may not be seen as the right thing to do , but you still have to do it .
It 's the burden .
“ I was asked by the Italians , 'What would you do , coach ? '
And I said , ' I would agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health authorities , and I would open my gym , and then 10 minutes later I would do whatever the fuck I wanted .
That 's what I would do . '
'' Mike Young — the owner of a fitness facility in Morrisville , North Carolina , that contains a CrossFit affiliate — was one of the people on the call .
He ’ d had the franchise for more than a decade and had been excited to speak with the CrossFit CEO and owner .
“ I get to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest influence in this field , ” Young told BuzzFeed News , “ and then it turned into a shitshow , really , where the guy is just — conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory .
“ My first thought was , I thought maybe I was being punked , but I knew how he was and I thought this is just batshit crazy .
I ’ m sitting there , like , my jaw is dropping .
Is this happening ?
What is this guy saying ?
“ It was just surreal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose audio had not been working for most of the call , said he had to leave early to attend another meeting .
He said he later wrote to the Minneapolis gym owner to apologize for not being able to defend them on the call .
“ It was beyond awkward , ” he said .
“ The way I would describe it , I was privy to information from a private conversation that the world should know about .
This guy has a couple thousand of these CrossFit affiliates , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s speaking like a lunatic at a time when things like COVID-19 and George Floyd , Black Lives Matter , are basically already causing unrest .
And the things he ’ s saying are unsubstantiated conspiracy theories — inflammatory nonsense , really.
” Young said he went to bed on Saturday night with the conversation weighing on him .
When he woke up on Sunday , he decided to take a stand and publicly announce he would no longer work with CrossFit .
He prepared a post on Medium , but Glassman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet .
But because Young did not record the call , he said , he tried to not go into specific details in his Medium post about what Glassman had said in order to avoid a potential lawsuit .
“ The tweet is bad .
It ’ s insensitive , ” he said .
“ But as someone who listened to the call , you know the tweet is nothing compared to the phone call . ''
Near the end of the call , when a gym owner suggested they were considering dropping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headquarters staff member spoke to defend Glassman .
“ You ’ re not even approaching this with any compassion .
You ’ re approaching this strictly with your agenda , ” they told the gym owner .
“ Do you know how many Black people are going to be saved by CrossFit ?
” CrossFit ’ s days of backlash started when Alyssa Royse , an affiliate owner from Seattle , posted an email that she had received from Glassman in response to a letter she wrote detailing why her gym would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing your best to brand us as racist and you know it 's bullshit , ” Glassman wrote back .
“ That makes you a really shitty person .
Do you understand that ?
You 've let your politics warp you into something that strikes me as wrong to the point of being evil .
I am ashamed of you.
” Glassman went further on the call with affiliates that did not include Royse , saying that her letter had “ all of the class , all of the moral value of putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that says ‘ known pedophile.
’ ” “ It ’ s a horrible fucking thing to do to someone , to call them a racist when there ’ s no evidence , when there ’ s not one scintilla of evidence to suggest anything like that , and that ’ s what she did to me .
And what I sent her back was a ‘ Fuck off ! '
” Glassman told the members of the Zoom call .
“ You call me a racist and I'mma tell you , ‘ Fuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spin around twice or I ’ m a racist and I ’ ll go , ‘ Fuck you !
’ We can get to 'fuck you ' a bunch of ways .
What it leads me to believe is that this isn ’ t about race .
”

During the call, Glassman also complained about looting and buildings that had been set on fire. He questioned the legitimacy of the protest movement that has gripped the nation in the three weeks since Floyd’s death.
“Moved to action? Burning the city down, is that the action? Destruction of Black- and minority-owned businesses, is that the action?” Glassman asked while speaking to a gym owner from Minneapolis who detailed what their members had been doing to help the community in the aftermath of nights of looting and protests.
“I would prefer a trial of a murderer rather than burning the city down. I think that the law has a better response. I think burning your city to the ground and burning a police station to the ground because a cop killed what was very likely going to be a coconspirator in a counterfeit ring — I just don't get the burning thing. How about the Black cop that was killed?” Glassman said later in the call, adding that he wasn’t going to “fund antifa” — another conspiracy theory — because “a guy got killed.”
Glassman told the owners on the call that “killing George was wrong” before adding that “burning the town down was wrong, killing the Black cop was wrong, and the Black-on-Black murder every weekend in every one of our cities is a tragedy.”
He told the Minneapolis gym owner on the call that he thought the city’s plans to defund the police department were “terrifying” after they outlined how their community was trying to rebuild from Floyd’s death.
“It sounds like more of the same. It sounds like punishing the cops. It sounds like blaming the police for all of the problems in blighted communities, and I don’t think anything could be farther from the truth. Have you ever done a ride-along with cops in a rough neighborhood?” Glassman said. “You don’t have to answer, but I have many, many times, and that is crazy tough work and almost all of the men and women are professionals.“
During a lengthy discussion on the coronavirus, Glassman again shared more unfounded theories. “The Chinese let this virus get out of the laboratory, and that indeed did happen,” he said. (US intelligence officials have said they have not formally concluded whether the virus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.)
Glassman also trashed epidemiology as “a social science,” said upstate New Yorkers should secede from the rest of their state due to the strict lockdown measures in New York City, and urged gym owners to only pretend to comply with health precautions when they reopen.
“It was a panic. Absolute panic right from the start. And I think it's inevitable that it's going to turn out that this has cost way more lives than have been saved. Way more,” he said. “At some point, you've got to do what's right, and it may not come with approval. It may not be seen as the right thing to do, but you still have to do it. It's the burden.
“I was asked by the Italians, 'What would you do, coach?' And I said, 'I would agree to any restrictions put on me by the health authorities, and I would open my gym, and then 10 minutes later I would do whatever the fuck I wanted. That's what I would do.'"
Mike Young — the owner of a fitness facility in Morrisville, North Carolina, that contains a CrossFit affiliate — was one of the people on the call. He’d had the franchise for more than a decade and had been excited to speak with the CrossFit CEO and owner. “I get to meet this guy who’s probably been the biggest influence in this field,” Young told BuzzFeed News, “and then it turned into a shitshow, really, where the guy is just — conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory.
“My first thought was, I thought maybe I was being punked, but I knew how he was and I thought this is just batshit crazy. I’m sitting there, like, my jaw is dropping. Is this happening? What is this guy saying?
“It was just surreal,” he said.
Young, whose audio had not been working for most of the call, said he had to leave early to attend another meeting. He said he later wrote to the Minneapolis gym owner to apologize for not being able to defend them on the call.
“It was beyond awkward,” he said. “The way I would describe it, I was privy to information from a private conversation that the world should know about. This guy has a couple thousand of these CrossFit affiliates, and he’s the figurehead, and he’s speaking like a lunatic at a time when things like COVID-19 and George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, are basically already causing unrest. And the things he’s saying are unsubstantiated conspiracy theories — inflammatory nonsense, really.”
Young said he went to bed on Saturday night with the conversation weighing on him. When he woke up on Sunday, he decided to take a stand and publicly announce he would no longer work with CrossFit. He prepared a post on Medium, but Glassman had already written his “FLOYD-19” tweet. But because Young did not record the call, he said, he tried to not go into specific details in his Medium post about what Glassman had said in order to avoid a potential lawsuit.
“The tweet is bad. It’s insensitive,” he said. “But as someone who listened to the call, you know the tweet is nothing compared to the phone call."
Near the end of the call, when a gym owner suggested they were considering dropping their affiliation with CrossFit, another CrossFit headquarters staff member spoke to defend Glassman. “You’re not even approaching this with any compassion. You’re approaching this strictly with your agenda,” they told the gym owner. “Do you know how many Black people are going to be saved by CrossFit?”
CrossFit’s days of backlash started when Alyssa Royse, an affiliate owner from Seattle, posted an email that she had received from Glassman in response to a letter she wrote detailing why her gym would be leaving the brand.
“You're doing your best to brand us as racist and you know it's bullshit,” Glassman wrote back. “That makes you a really shitty person. Do you understand that? You've let your politics warp you into something that strikes me as wrong to the point of being evil. I am ashamed of you.”
Glassman went further on the call with affiliates that did not include Royse, saying that her letter had “all of the class, all of the moral value of putting a sign in someone’s yard that says ‘known pedophile.’”
“It’s a horrible fucking thing to do to someone, to call them a racist when there’s no evidence, when there’s not one scintilla of evidence to suggest anything like that, and that’s what she did to me. And what I sent her back was a ‘Fuck off!'” Glassman told the members of the Zoom call. “You call me a racist and I'mma tell you, ‘Fuck you!’ You tell me to spin around twice or I’m a racist and I’ll go, ‘Fuck you!’ We can get to 'fuck you' a bunch of ways. What it leads me to believe is that this isn’t about race.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-21--Justin Trudeau Is Calling For A Ban On All "Assault-Style Weapons" Following The Rampage In Canada

Investigators now believe that the rampage started with a domestic violence incident at a home in Portapique , according to CNN .
Police believe that the gunman , Gabriel Wortman , was looking for a former significant other .
He killed two people there before terrorizing the region , using a replica police vehicle and what looked like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform to pull over random drivers and execute them on the spot .
While police in Nova Scotia still have n't released information about what kind of weapons were used in the attack there over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can say that we were on the verge of introducing legislation to ban assault-style weapons across this country , ” Trudeau told reporters during his daily coronavirus briefing on Monday — a briefing that instead largely focused on the weekend shooting .
“ It was interrupted when the pandemic caused parliament to be suspended , but we have every intention of moving forward on that measure , and potentially other measures , when parliament returns . ''
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pledging to continue to push for stricter gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting in Nova Scotia that killed at least 23 people , the deadliest mass shooting in the country 's modern history .
Children lay flowers at an impromptu memorial in front of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in Enfield , Nova Scotia , April 20 .
On Tuesday afternoon , the Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a statement revising the death toll up to 23 from 18 .
During last year 's federal elections , Trudeau campaigned on tightening Canada 's gun laws by banning all military-style weapons and helping cities issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party platform , Trudeau 's Liberal Party wrote that military-style assault rifles `` are designed to inflict mass casualties and have no place in Canada . ''
`` Canadians are tired of excuses and know that 'thoughts and prayers ' don ’ t make our communities any safer , '' it added .
With Canadians now grappling with the deadliest mass shooting in the country 's modern history , the question is whether they will follow the path of nations like New Zealand , which quickly tightened laws following the 2019 Mosque shootings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new gun control legislation in the wake of a 1996 shooting that killed 35 in Tasmania .
Whether Canada takes swift action also depends in part on when parliament can return given the current threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic .
The Small Arms Survey , a project of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva , Switzerland , estimates that Canada has the fifth-highest gun ownership rate in the world .
But Canada 's gun laws are significantly stricter than those of the United States , which has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Canada , gun owners must have a license and most guns have to be registered .
To receive a license , a gun owner must pass an extensive background check and complete gun safety training .
Additionally , handguns can not be carried outside of the home and guns must be stored unloaded in a locked container .
In an open letter to Bill Blair , the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness , a group of gun control advocates urged action now .
`` We understand that prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to act on election promises to restrict access to firearms , '' they wrote .
'While we appreciate the capacity for substantive policy change is difficult at this moment – and acknowledge your government ’ s efforts to respond to the gravity of the COVID-19 crisis and resulting consequences – we implore you to take one decisive , achievable action right now : ban the new sale of military style assault weapons . ''
On Monday , Blair announced a slew of new actions that the government is considering aimed at tightening gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smuggled guns that come across the border , and keeping guns out of the hands of individuals who present a significant risk to themselves or the people around them .
Rod Giltaca , head of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights , said it 's too soon to start debating what , if any , new laws need to be pass to response to the attack in Nova Scotia .
“ Just shy of 24 hours past the tragedy in Nova Scotia , the gun-control lobby is leveraging this community ’ s suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told the Washington Post .
“ No law in this country could have stopped a madman with this level of determination and resources .
”

On Tuesday afternoon, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a statement revising the death toll up to 23 from 18.
During last year's federal elections, Trudeau campaigned on tightening Canada's gun laws by banning all military-style weapons and helping cities issue their own handgun bans. In their party platform, Trudeau's Liberal Party wrote that military-style assault rifles "are designed to inflict mass casualties and have no place in Canada."
"Canadians are tired of excuses and know that 'thoughts and prayers' don’t make our communities any safer," it added.
With Canadians now grappling with the deadliest mass shooting in the country's modern history, the question is whether they will follow the path of nations like New Zealand, which quickly tightened laws following the 2019 Mosque shootings, and Australia, which swiftly passed new gun control legislation in the wake of a 1996 shooting that killed 35 in Tasmania. Whether Canada takes swift action also depends in part on when parliament can return given the current threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Small Arms Survey, a project of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, estimates that Canada has the fifth-highest gun ownership rate in the world.
But Canada's gun laws are significantly stricter than those of the United States, which has the highest gun ownership rate in the world.
In Canada, gun owners must have a license and most guns have to be registered. To receive a license, a gun owner must pass an extensive background check and complete gun safety training. Additionally, handguns cannot be carried outside of the home and guns must be stored unloaded in a locked container.
In an open letter to Bill Blair, the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, a group of gun control advocates urged action now.
"We understand that prior to the pandemic your government had been preparing to act on election promises to restrict access to firearms," they wrote. 'While we appreciate the capacity for substantive policy change is difficult at this moment – and acknowledge your government’s efforts to respond to the gravity of the COVID-19 crisis and resulting consequences – we implore you to take one decisive, achievable action right now: ban the new sale of military style assault weapons."
[Related: Here’s What Actually Reduces Gun Violence]
On Monday, Blair announced a slew of new actions that the government is considering aimed at tightening gun storage rules, reducing the number of smuggled guns that come across the border, and keeping guns out of the hands of individuals who present a significant risk to themselves or the people around them.
Rod Giltaca, head of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, said it's too soon to start debating what, if any, new laws need to be pass to response to the attack in Nova Scotia.
“Just shy of 24 hours past the tragedy in Nova Scotia, the gun-control lobby is leveraging this community’s suffering for their own political gain,” he told the Washington Post. “No law in this country could have stopped a madman with this level of determination and resources.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-21--Nursing Homes Residents, Already In Peril, Get Fewer Inspections As Coronavirus Spreads

`` It 's going to result in horrific cases .
If there was ever a time to promote more oversight , this is the day and age when we need it . ''
With COVID-19 raging through nursing homes in every corner of the nation , the US government last month suspended routine inspections , a critical layer of oversight designed to protect elderly residents from dangerous conditions .
A new BuzzFeed News analysis casts into sharp relief the hazards of the decision , which comes as thousands of nursing home residents are dying and family members are not allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to perform their own inspections , but the troubled track records at many homes suggest this will put vulnerable and isolated residents at even greater risk .
In the last two rounds of inspections , about 60 % of nursing homes were cited for failures in infection control , the analysis found .
Such breaches can lead to a host of ailments , including the flu , pneumonia , skin diseases — and the coronavirus .
Inspectors found caretakers hadn ’ t isolated residents during influenza outbreaks , did n't clean medical equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gloves when treating vulnerable patients .
Regular inspections also turned up residents suffering from gaping , infected wounds ; nurses giving the wrong prescriptions ; and residents left alone with no one on duty .
More than 7 out of 10 homes were operating with staffing levels below federal recommendations , an issue that is one of the leading causes of abuse and neglect in these kinds of facilities .
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced last month it was temporarily halting regular inspections to more than 15,300 facilities so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the imminent threat posed by the novel coronavirus .
It ’ s a radical shift , coming at precisely the moment so many families and residents are left to communicate only by cellphones and laptops — or not at all .
For Krista Hennessy , whose 79-year-old father died of the virus in a New Jersey facility , the inspections offered a crucial safety net for the people he left behind .
“ With the state not watching , it 's only going to get worse , ” she said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of homes fighting the virus , looking for infection control threats , and respond to residents in immediate danger .
States , which share in oversight with the federal government , will follow suit .
That decision already has led to a drastic reduction in oversight , records show .
To carry out their new mission , inspectors visited 96 homes from March 23 through April 10 and found that nearly 1 in 5 were not properly using protective equipment such as gloves or masks .
During a similar time frame last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and turned up more than 6,000 violations for a range of problems , including bedsores , wrong prescriptions , and patients with cognitive impairments wandering out of facilities .
The agency didn ’ t respond to questions from BuzzFeed News about the risks of canceling the routine visits , nor did it say when the new policy would end .
But in a memo to state inspectors last month , it noted the shift `` will allow health care providers time to implement the most recent infection control guidance from both CMS and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Elder advocates , however , say the change in procedure creates a new level of danger , especially in those centers that have been plagued for years by abuse and neglect .
`` It 's going to result in horrific cases , '' said Brian Lee , former chief long-term care ombudsman for Florida 's Department of Elder Affairs .
`` If there was ever a time to promote more oversight , this is the day and age when we need it . ''
The combination of aging residents , inadequate staffing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat the rush of sick patients has created environments for the virus to take a dramatic toll on long-term care homes .
Despite the hardships inside the facilities , the federal government has not tracked which homes have the coronavirus , but recently announced that it will start .
Several news organizations have collected data from the states , including the New York Times , which last week reported 3,800 long-term care centers with cases and at least 6,900 deaths , including residents , staff , and others tied to the homes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade group for nursing homes , defended the government 's decision to lift the inspections , saying they would take time away from the front-line work .
“ Now is not the time to see if policy and procedures are up to date , ” the group said .
However , Cyndy Minnery , a California health care expert who once did surveys for an Indiana nursing home chain , said routine inspections are critical to detecting hazards and , ultimately , saving lives .
`` I 'm talking about the homes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who advises law enforcement agencies on elder abuse cases .
`` There 's got to be oversight .
You walk the halls and you watch the staff .
That ’ s where you ’ re going to see the breakdowns . ''
And Lee , who now runs Families for Better Care , a nonprofit for residents and their families , said that in his experience he ’ s encountered homes beleaguered by a host of severe problems : slipshod medical care , neglect , and decrepit conditions .
For example , records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 3,300 homes since 2018 , inspectors found patients with pressure sores — some so large and gaping that the flesh was rotted and the bone exposed .
Records also show that more than 1,200 homes were cited in that same period for medication errors , including caretakers dispensing the wrong prescriptions and , in some cases , not giving patients their drugs at all .
At Maryland 's Pleasant View Nursing Home , where 121 staff and residents have been infected and 26 died , inspectors previously found a host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lack of critical care plans to address residents ’ medical problems , and a failure to keep accurate medical records .
In a rating system from one to five stars , the home was given the lowest by CMS .
Rob Holmberg , whose father , retired Washington , DC Fire Department Capt .
Gary Holmberg , died with the virus on March 29 , said he grew angrier as he read the inspection reports .
`` I just do n't know how they could have stayed open , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shavell , have formed a support group for relatives whose loved ones and residents who are still inside .
Shavell said the facility , whose staff was briefly augmented by the National Guard , needs full inspections .
`` They can go in there with hazmat suits , '' she said .
`` I just feel bad for the people who are still in there .
They need to be protected . ''
A spokesperson for Pleasant View said the facility declined to comment .
In the New Jersey facility where Krista Hennessy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t the first deadly illness to hit .
Just two years ago , a virus swept through and killed 11 children , leading to a scathing state report that cited the home for failing to respond to the sickness in a timely manner and provide adequate care .
During an unannounced visit to the home , which cares for people of varying ages , inspectors found staff members not washing their hands properly , including one who changed a soiled diaper while wearing gloves and then , without removing them , grabbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a patient ’ s breathing device .
Then known as the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation , the facility later was sold and renamed the Phoenix Center for Rehabilitation and Pediatrics .
When the coronavirus struck , Hennessy and her family knew her father , Art Olsen , might be at risk , especially when his roommate tested positive .
They asked to have him transferred to another room but were told , Hennessy said , he would first have to wait for his own test results .
After several days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days later , he died .
“ It 's almost like when they see someone in my dad 's condition , in my opinion , they kind of give up , ” she said .
“ They do n't see any reason to keep them alive.
” The facility did not answer questions from BuzzFeed News about Art Olsen .
In a written statement , a spokesperson said that it was following the guidance of federal and state health officials `` and our infectious disease doctors while caring for our residents who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee , director of Families for Better Care , said the impact of not carrying out inspections depends on the duration but could be felt for months and years to come if facilities continue to run without any oversight .
In the meantime , the federal government has asked nursing homes to carry out their own reviews through a self-guided checklist , a CMS spokesperson said .
The agency does not collect the assessments but can review them during later visits .
Florida attorney Bill Dean , a former Miami-Dade prosecutor who represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he 's leery of letting any facility — especially one with a troubled record — regulate itself .
“ With no inspections , are we supposed to expect that they are going to do the right thing ?
” he said .
`` It 's a sad situation that we 've come to this in our country , that now we are at a point that we are going to let the nursing homes self-regulate .
”

With COVID-19 raging through nursing homes in every corner of the nation, the US government last month suspended routine inspections, a critical layer of oversight designed to protect elderly residents from dangerous conditions.
A new BuzzFeed News analysis casts into sharp relief the hazards of the decision, which comes as thousands of nursing home residents are dying and family members are not allowed to visit. Facilities are now allowed to perform their own inspections, but the troubled track records at many homes suggest this will put vulnerable and isolated residents at even greater risk.
In the last two rounds of inspections, about 60% of nursing homes were cited for failures in infection control, the analysis found. Such breaches can lead to a host of ailments, including the flu, pneumonia, skin diseases — and the coronavirus.
Inspectors found caretakers hadn’t isolated residents during influenza outbreaks, didn't clean medical equipment, and didn't wear protective masks and gloves when treating vulnerable patients.
Regular inspections also turned up residents suffering from gaping, infected wounds; nurses giving the wrong prescriptions; and residents left alone with no one on duty. More than 7 out of 10 homes were operating with staffing levels below federal recommendations, an issue that is one of the leading causes of abuse and neglect in these kinds of facilities.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced last month it was temporarily halting regular inspections to more than 15,300 facilities so the agency and the facilities can focus on the imminent threat posed by the novel coronavirus. It’s a radical shift, coming at precisely the moment so many families and residents are left to communicate only by cellphones and laptops — or not at all.
For Krista Hennessy, whose 79-year-old father died of the virus in a New Jersey facility, the inspections offered a crucial safety net for the people he left behind. “With the state not watching, it's only going to get worse,” she said.
The CMS said it will conduct targeted surveys of homes fighting the virus, looking for infection control threats, and respond to residents in immediate danger. States, which share in oversight with the federal government, will follow suit.
That decision already has led to a drastic reduction in oversight, records show.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-21--A Company Running An Online Coronavirus Symptom Tracker In Oregon Says It Can Sell Your Data To Adve

A Company Running An Online Coronavirus Symptom Tracker In Oregon Says It Can Sell Your Data To Advertisers

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 .
While tech giants like Google and Apple have faced scrutiny from privacy and anti-surveillance activists for their software projects responding to COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , smaller projects have flown under the radar .
A COVID-19 symptom checker used in Multnomah , Clackamas , and Washington counties in Oregon has a privacy policy claiming the company can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertisers .
Emergency room software company Vital , which makes the tool , said it ’ s a way of telling people whether they should go to the emergency room or self-quarantine .
But the company also said it could sell one 's location and other identifying data gathered with the tool to advertisers , according to its privacy policy , which stated that `` we may use a type of advertising commonly known as interest-based or online behavioral advertising.
” After this story was published , Vital adjusted its privacy policy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 symptom checker to sell information to advertisers .
The tool asks people to input their age , gender , zip code , and symptoms , as well as any underlying health conditions .
It also collects information about location and web browsing history — all of which , according to the privacy policy , may be sold to “ interest-based or online behavioral ” advertisers so it can serve personalized ads .
Vital spokesperson Martha Shaughnessy told BuzzFeed News that the company has not and would never sell personal data gathered using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy did not reflect the company ’ s advertising policies .
In response to BuzzFeed News , Vital cofounder Aaron Patzer said that the company would be updating its terms of service to reflect its actual practices .
`` We probably moved too fast on our privacy policy , our terms of service , and we made them broad because that ’ s the easiest thing to do , '' he said .
Patzer said that the symptom checker 's privacy policy was customized for the tool and adapted from Vital ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explicitly mentions COVID-19 and the specific functions of the tool , like checking for “ fever , dry cough , sore throat , shortness of breath , headache , and nausea , ” the disease 's symptoms .
Based in Atlanta , Vital was founded by Patzer — who also founded Mint , a personal finance website — and his brother-in-law Justin Schrager .
Its symptom checker was designed to control the number of people seeking treatment in an emergency room so that local hospital systems don ’ t become overwhelmed , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] an enterprise product designed for [ the ] emergency room surge in general , ” Shaughnessy said .
“ They shifted their whole team to do COVID checking because they ’ re founded by an emergency room doctor , an epidemiologist , and then a technologist , and when they wanted to add a diagnostic portion for COVID , they didn ’ t find anything in the market to do that.
” The CDC has a COVID-19 symptom checker on its website .
Multnomah , Clackamas , and Washington counties are each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s symptom checker , according to news outlet Oregon Live .
Shaughnessy told BuzzFeed News that prior to these contracts , Vital had only worked with the Emory University Hospital system in Atlanta , which employs Schrager as an emergency room doctor .
Benjamin Diggles , a former Portland resident and cofounder of blockchain company Constellation Network , told BuzzFeed News he recommended Vital to Oregon public safety authorities after his friend , Rich Chatman , public information officer for Portland Fire & Rescue , asked for advice on how to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard about Vital through a friend who was familiar with its role in Emory University ’ s hospital system .
He purchased the c19oregon.com domain name , which hosts the symptom checker tool , and corresponding domain names for the remaining 49 states for a total of $ 547 .
He said he would be willing to give them to Vital or state health authorities for free and that he had recommended Vital to public health and public safety officials in Colorado , Missouri , and California .

While tech giants like Google and Apple have faced scrutiny from privacy and anti-surveillance activists for their software projects responding to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, smaller projects have flown under the radar. A COVID-19 symptom checker used in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties in Oregon has a privacy policy claiming the company can sell people’s personal data to advertisers.
Emergency room software company Vital, which makes the tool, said it’s a way of telling people whether they should go to the emergency room or self-quarantine. But the company also said it could sell one's location and other identifying data gathered with the tool to advertisers, according to its privacy policy, which stated that "we may use a type of advertising commonly known as interest-based or online behavioral advertising.”
After this story was published, Vital adjusted its privacy policy to state that it does not use its COVID-19 symptom checker to sell information to advertisers.
The tool asks people to input their age, gender, zip code, and symptoms, as well as any underlying health conditions. It also collects information about location and web browsing history — all of which, according to the privacy policy, may be sold to “interest-based or online behavioral” advertisers so it can serve personalized ads.
Vital spokesperson Martha Shaughnessy told BuzzFeed News that the company has not and would never sell personal data gathered using the tool, and that its privacy policy did not reflect the company’s advertising policies.
In response to BuzzFeed News, Vital cofounder Aaron Patzer said that the company would be updating its terms of service to reflect its actual practices. "We probably moved too fast on our privacy policy, our terms of service, and we made them broad because that’s the easiest thing to do," he said.
Patzer said that the symptom checker's privacy policy was customized for the tool and adapted from Vital’s general privacy policy. The privacy policy explicitly mentions COVID-19 and the specific functions of the tool, like checking for “fever, dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, headache, and nausea,” the disease's symptoms.
Based in Atlanta, Vital was founded by Patzer — who also founded Mint, a personal finance website — and his brother-in-law Justin Schrager. Its symptom checker was designed to control the number of people seeking treatment in an emergency room so that local hospital systems don’t become overwhelmed, according to Shaughnessy.
“[It's] an enterprise product designed for [the] emergency room surge in general,” Shaughnessy said. “They shifted their whole team to do COVID checking because they’re founded by an emergency room doctor, an epidemiologist, and then a technologist, and when they wanted to add a diagnostic portion for COVID, they didn’t find anything in the market to do that.”
The CDC has a COVID-19 symptom checker on its website.
Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties are each paying $3,300 a month for Vital’s symptom checker, according to news outlet Oregon Live. Shaughnessy told BuzzFeed News that prior to these contracts, Vital had only worked with the Emory University Hospital system in Atlanta, which employs Schrager as an emergency room doctor.
Benjamin Diggles, a former Portland resident and cofounder of blockchain company Constellation Network, told BuzzFeed News he recommended Vital to Oregon public safety authorities after his friend, Rich Chatman, public information officer for Portland Fire & Rescue, asked for advice on how to prevent 911 lines from becoming overburdened.
Diggles heard about Vital through a friend who was familiar with its role in Emory University’s hospital system. He purchased the c19oregon.com domain name, which hosts the symptom checker tool, and corresponding domain names for the remaining 49 states for a total of $547. He said he would be willing to give them to Vital or state health authorities for free and that he had recommended Vital to public health and public safety officials in Colorado, Missouri, and California.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-21--Trump Has Claimed He Will Temporarily Ban Immigration Into The US In Response To The Coronavirus

A US Customs and Border Protection officer gives instructions to immigrants who are on their way to apply for asylum in the United States as they depart Nuevo Laredo , Mexico , in 2019 .
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 .
“ In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy , as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily suspend immigration into the United States !
” Trump tweeted .
President Donald Trump claimed on Twitter late Monday that he would “ temporarily suspend ” immigration into the United States , an unprecedented declaration that came with no details on how the country would enforce such a ban .
In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy , as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens , I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States !
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including blocks on travel from several Muslim-majority countries , from the early days of his presidency .
In March , the administration also blocked travel from China , parts of Europe , and the United Kingdom due to the coronavirus .
It was not immediately clear how the latest planned ban he tweeted about would be implemented .
On Monday , the administration extended a March 20 order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that bars the entry of those who cross into the country without authorization .
The order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has led to US officials quickly deporting immigrant children apprehended alone .
Administration officials say they are following public health orders designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the US , but opponents say they are using the health orders to skirt federal laws that govern the processing of unaccompanied minors .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic the State Department has already stopped processing visas .
The executive order could be focused on foreign worker visas , which has been an issue Trump has faced criticism in the past and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for seasonal foreign workers .
Despite working to restrict immigration since taking office and chastising US companies for hiring overseas workers , Trump 's businesses have hired hundreds of temporary foreign workers in recent years .
Last month , the State Department eased requirements for most seasonal foreign workers , waiving previously required in-person interviews for temporary worker visas .
DHS also announced changes last week that would make it easier for US farmers to hire temporary workers , saying it was necessary to protect the nation 's food supply .

Trump has implemented policies to restrict immigration, including blocks on travel from several Muslim-majority countries, from the early days of his presidency. In March, the administration also blocked travel from China, parts of Europe, and the United Kingdom due to the coronavirus.
It was not immediately clear how the latest planned ban he tweeted about would be implemented.
On Monday, the administration extended a March 20 order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that bars the entry of those who cross into the country without authorization. The order effectively bars asylum at the southern border and has led to US officials quickly deporting immigrant children apprehended alone.
Administration officials say they are following public health orders designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the US, but opponents say they are using the health orders to skirt federal laws that govern the processing of unaccompanied minors.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic the State Department has already stopped processing visas. The executive order could be focused on foreign worker visas, which has been an issue Trump has faced criticism in the past and again during the pandemic for easing requirements for seasonal foreign workers.
Despite working to restrict immigration since taking office and chastising US companies for hiring overseas workers, Trump's businesses have hired hundreds of temporary foreign workers in recent years.
Last month, the State Department eased requirements for most seasonal foreign workers, waiving previously required in-person interviews for temporary worker visas. DHS also announced changes last week that would make it easier for US farmers to hire temporary workers, saying it was necessary to protect the nation's food supply.
Adolfo Flores contributed reporting.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-21--Everyone Wants To Know If They Already Had The Coronavirus. Some People May Be Preying On That.

“ I think we should expect to see companies continue to pop up selling unproven , and in some cases probably just bad , testing , ” a former FDA lawyer said .
As coronavirus antibody tests flood the market , regulators are accusing some sellers of taking advantage of people ’ s desperation to learn if they ’ ve already been infected .
In the last two weeks , state and local regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders to people and businesses selling COVID-19 antibody tests in Southern California , Las Vegas , and New Mexico , on the grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these tests .
Health officials in Kansas have also intervened to block a hospital from falsely claiming the tests could diagnose the disease .
The tests , which reveal the presence of antibodies that presumably protect you against reinfection , are being touted as a key tool for reopening the US economy and for identifying just how many people have actually been infected .
Almost none of the antibody tests currently available in the US have been verified by the FDA , and health care providers across the country are being forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little information about their accuracy .
Many providers are selling manufacturers ’ tests with the proper caveats , making it clear to customers that they aren ’ t FDA-approved and they may not be accurate .
But as demand for the tests skyrockets , other sellers are making false claims , leading state and local regulators to play whack-a-mole .
Following a growing number of local reports about misleading claims , the FDA on Tuesday warned health care providers that antibody tests should not be used to diagnose whether someone currently has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect to see companies continue to pop up selling unproven , and in some cases probably just bad , testing , ” Patti Zettler , an assistant law professor at Ohio State University and a former attorney at the FDA , told BuzzFeed News by email .
“ There ’ s a market to take advantage of because we all , of course , want testing.
” In Dickinson County , Kansas , an hour west of Topeka , Herington Municipal Hospital has gotten into trouble with health officials for the way it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These tests “ will not only tell you if you have the active virus but will also tell you if you have immunity , ” the hospital posted on its website and Facebook page last week .
In fact , according to the FDA , no blood antibody tests have been proven capable of telling if a person currently has the virus , unlike nasal- and throat-swab diagnostic tests .
Scientists also do not know definitively whether , or for how long , antibodies protect a person from getting reinfected .
County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Herington to stop selling the tests , saying that its claims were causing confusion and leading people to mistakenly believe they were infectious , the Abilene-Reflector Chronicle , a local newspaper , reported Monday .
“ They are creating a lot of misinformation in the county and it is having repercussions outside our county , ” Brian Holmes , Dickinson County ’ s health officer , told the paper .
The county and the hospital did not return BuzzFeed News ’ requests for comment .
Last week on a college campus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the COVID Clinic was ordered to stop operating by San Diego County .
The county health agency said it failed to provide “ necessary credentials and certifications required by State law in order to conduct the tests ” and therefore “ may not be producing reliable and verifiable results.
” The COVID Clinic has updated its website to say it was offering tests in Orange County .
Matthew Abinante , a physician behind the clinic , did not return a request for comment .
The California Department of Public Health did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether they could operate elsewhere in the state .
Also last week , the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services issued a cease-and-desist order to Sahara West Urgent Care & Wellness in Las Vegas for allegedly operating an “ unlicensed laboratory.
” It was also reportedly selling antibody tests with the false claim that they could test for a current infection .
The state agency noted in a press release that such “ tests are not to be used for diagnostic purposes ” and that any antibody test sold by the clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the purposes of diagnosing COVID-19.
” A Sahara West representative expressed frustration to the Las Vegas Review-Journal , claiming that it had sought the state ’ s guidance early on .
“ We haven ’ t got much help or clarity from anyone , ” spokesperson Andrew Mann said .
“ And now they ’ re telling us to stop.
” The clinic did not return a request for comment .
And earlier this month , the New Mexico Attorney General issued a cease-and-desist to a woman , Chelsie McGuire , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests that she allegedly claimed could produce results in 10 minutes .
McGuire was ordered to stop advertisements that make “ scientifically unfounded claims ” about coronavirus testing , the attorney general said in its notice to her , which also noted that she was not on the state ’ s list of testing sites .
McGuire declined to comment to BuzzFeed News .
At the same time , it ’ s not always clear , for sellers or consumers , which of these tests can be relied on .
There are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has allowed to go to market without having their accuracy claims verified by the agency , part of an effort to quickly increase the number of tests available during the crisis .
Only four companies ’ tests have received official “ emergency use authorization ” from the FDA , indicating that their accuracy claims have been independently checked by the agency .
While the FDA is currently choosing to allow most antibody tests to go to market without any federal verification , states might have their own certification requirements or take action under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practices .
“ This means requirements may differ from state to state — and we might for that reason expect to see some variation , ” Zettler said .
All those factors make it easier for companies with dishonest claims or credentials to try to capitalize on the moment .
As the virus continues to spread , more bad actors will likely emerge and hamper badly needed attempts to bring the pandemic under control , said Steven Joffe , a bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania .
“ To get past this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine or highly effective treatments , we are going to need widespread testing , ” Joffe said by email .
“ But for widespread testing to work , the public is going to have to trust in that testing .
Particularly at this moment of threat and division , public trust is a fragile thing .
Scammers are going to make it impossible to achieve .
”

As coronavirus antibody tests flood the market, regulators are accusing some sellers of taking advantage of people’s desperation to learn if they’ve already been infected.
In the last two weeks, state and local regulators have issued cease-and-desist orders to people and businesses selling COVID-19 antibody tests in Southern California, Las Vegas, and New Mexico, on the grounds that they were illegally advertising or processing these tests. Health officials in Kansas have also intervened to block a hospital from falsely claiming the tests could diagnose the disease.
The tests, which reveal the presence of antibodies that presumably protect you against reinfection, are being touted as a key tool for reopening the US economy and for identifying just how many people have actually been infected. Almost none of the antibody tests currently available in the US have been verified by the FDA, and health care providers across the country are being forced to choose which tests to offer with very little information about their accuracy.
Many providers are selling manufacturers’ tests with the proper caveats, making it clear to customers that they aren’t FDA-approved and they may not be accurate. But as demand for the tests skyrockets, other sellers are making false claims, leading state and local regulators to play whack-a-mole.
Following a growing number of local reports about misleading claims, the FDA on Tuesday warned health care providers that antibody tests should not be used to diagnose whether someone currently has the virus.
“I think we should expect to see companies continue to pop up selling unproven, and in some cases probably just bad, testing,” Patti Zettler, an assistant law professor at Ohio State University and a former attorney at the FDA, told BuzzFeed News by email. “There’s a market to take advantage of because we all, of course, want testing.”
In Dickinson County, Kansas, an hour west of Topeka, Herington Municipal Hospital has gotten into trouble with health officials for the way it’s been advertising its antibody tests. These tests “will not only tell you if you have the active virus but will also tell you if you have immunity,” the hospital posted on its website and Facebook page last week.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-21--The First Sikh A&E Consultant In Britain Died Of The Coronavirus. His Colleagues Called Him The “Fat

The First Sikh A&E Consultant In Britain Died Of The Coronavirus. His Colleagues Called Him The “Father Of The Emergency Department”.

A consultant described by his colleagues as the “ father of the emergency department ” in Derby is one of the latest victims of the novel coronavirus .
Dr Manjeet Singh Riyat , a 52-year-old celebrated as the first Sikh to be appointed as an emergency medicine consultant in the UK , died at Royal Derby hospital on Monday , April 20 .
The father of two has been remembered for his impact in the medical profession , including being among the first clinical research fellows in the UK , and contributing to the birth of academic emergency medicine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Jagdeesh Singh Dhaliwal told BuzzFeed News about how the pair had met on his first day of Leicester Medical School back in 1986 , in university halls .
“ He was in a room four doors down , he was warm , engaging , and brimming with energy and enthusiasm .
At university , he was always 'the adult in the room ' amongst our group of fresh-faced naive 18-year-olds .
`` Wise beyond his years and always measured , highly principled , and pragmatic .
He had a deep innate desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being of service to others , whether you were a friend , a patient , or a colleague .
Manjeet would be the person you knew you could ask for help , and he would never refuse .
He would go out of his way to do the right thing.
” Dhaliwal , who is now based in Australia , said the news of Riyat ’ s death had impacted their old circle of friends who remembered the consultant for his “ great sense of humour ” and one-liners that would leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ There 's been an outpouring of grief today amongst old medical school friends and Manjeet 's colleagues and students .
I 'm terribly sad for his wife and sons , his wider family , and also gutted for the whole community.
” Dhaliwal also paid tribute to his friend 's career , which has made him a standout figure .
“ Manjeet was at the pinnacle of his career with a wealth of knowledge and hard-won on-the-job experience and know-how , which is really the lifeblood of high-quality clinical care — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage of their careers such as Manjeet possess immense wisdom and serve as role models for younger doctors and indeed all other health care professionals in their teams .
`` I know that Manjeet served as an exemplar in this regard for emergency medicine , ” he added .
Gavin Boyle , chief executive of the hospital , said in a statement : “ I want to pay tribute to Mr Manjeet Riyat , who has sadly passed away .
Mr Riyat , known to his colleagues as Manjeet , was a widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Manjeet was the first A & E consultant from the Sikh community in the country and was instrumental in building the Emergency Medicine Service in Derbyshire over the past two decades .
He was an incredibly charming person and well loved.
” The accomplished doctor was also mourned by leaders in the Sikh community .
Amrik Singh , chair of the Sikh Federation ( UK ) , told BuzzFeed News : “ We were all deeply saddened by the news of Manjeet Singh Riyat passing away yesterday from COVID-19 .
Manjeet had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an A & E consultant , from treating the sick to training junior doctors .
Something very much in line with his faith principles of being a devout Sikh.
” Dr Kathy McLean OBE , chair of the trust , said : “ Mr Manjeet Riyat made a huge contribution to the NHS in Derbyshire and across the field of emergency medicine nationally .
I had known Manjeet from when he first joined the Trust in the early 2000s and he very quickly made an impact with his focus on patient care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that he was an outstanding emergency medicine doctor and generations of families in this region have benefitted from the care he provided .
Manjeet was hugely popular across the hospital and a warm and embracing figure , a person who many of our staff looked up to .

A consultant described by his colleagues as the “father of the emergency department” in Derby is one of the latest victims of the novel coronavirus.
Dr Manjeet Singh Riyat, a 52-year-old celebrated as the first Sikh to be appointed as an emergency medicine consultant in the UK, died at Royal Derby hospital on Monday, April 20.
The father of two has been remembered for his impact in the medical profession, including being among the first clinical research fellows in the UK, and contributing to the birth of academic emergency medicine.
Remembering his former medical school friend, Dr Jagdeesh Singh Dhaliwal told BuzzFeed News about how the pair had met on his first day of Leicester Medical School back in 1986, in university halls.
“He was in a room four doors down, he was warm, engaging, and brimming with energy and enthusiasm. At university, he was always 'the adult in the room' amongst our group of fresh-faced naive 18-year-olds.
"Wise beyond his years and always measured, highly principled, and pragmatic. He had a deep innate desire to do good in the world by being of service to others, whether you were a friend, a patient, or a colleague. Manjeet would be the person you knew you could ask for help, and he would never refuse. He would go out of his way to do the right thing.”
Dhaliwal, who is now based in Australia, said the news of Riyat’s death had impacted their old circle of friends who remembered the consultant for his “great sense of humour” and one-liners that would leave the group floored with laughter.
He said: “There's been an outpouring of grief today amongst old medical school friends and Manjeet's colleagues and students. I'm terribly sad for his wife and sons, his wider family, and also gutted for the whole community.”
Dhaliwal also paid tribute to his friend's career, which has made him a standout figure. “Manjeet was at the pinnacle of his career with a wealth of knowledge and hard-won on-the-job experience and know-how, which is really the lifeblood of high-quality clinical care — for our patients, doctors at the stage of their careers such as Manjeet possess immense wisdom and serve as role models for younger doctors and indeed all other health care professionals in their teams.
"I know that Manjeet served as an exemplar in this regard for emergency medicine,” he added.
Gavin Boyle, chief executive of the hospital, said in a statement: “I want to pay tribute to Mr Manjeet Riyat, who has sadly passed away. Mr Riyat, known to his colleagues as Manjeet, was a widely respected consultant in emergency medicine nationally.
“Manjeet was the first A&E consultant from the Sikh community in the country and was instrumental in building the Emergency Medicine Service in Derbyshire over the past two decades. He was an incredibly charming person and well loved.”
The accomplished doctor was also mourned by leaders in the Sikh community. Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), told BuzzFeed News: “We were all deeply saddened by the news of Manjeet Singh Riyat passing away yesterday from COVID-19. Manjeet had spent most of his life helping others as an A&E consultant, from treating the sick to training junior doctors. Something very much in line with his faith principles of being a devout Sikh.”
Dr Kathy McLean OBE, chair of the trust, said: “Mr Manjeet Riyat made a huge contribution to the NHS in Derbyshire and across the field of emergency medicine nationally. I had known Manjeet from when he first joined the Trust in the early 2000s and he very quickly made an impact with his focus on patient care and high standards.”
“It was clear that he was an outstanding emergency medicine doctor and generations of families in this region have benefitted from the care he provided. Manjeet was hugely popular across the hospital and a warm and embracing figure, a person who many of our staff looked up to.