buzzfeednews--2020-05-31--“How Many Times Does It Have To Happen?”: People In Minneapolis Talk About What Brought Them To The

“How Many Times Does It Have To Happen?”: People In Minneapolis Talk About What Brought Them To The Streets In A Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is ongoing , but the `` continued anger ” stemming from George Floyd 's death drove people to protest anyway .
Joe Carter was just 14 years old when Michael Brown was killed by an officer in Ferguson , Missouri , in 2014 and the subsequent protests gave rise to the modern Black Lives Matter movement .
He was 15 when Jamar Clark was killed by an officer in his hometown of Minneapolis , and 16 when Philando Castile was killed by an officer in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights .
Each time , Carter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gut-punched ; then after watching the protests on social media , he ’ d turn optimistic because of “ the energy you could feel ” — an attempt to fight back against police violence .
But again and again , he said , it felt like no matter how much people talked of reform , “ nothing was done.
” No one was ever charged in Clark ’ s death ; the officer in Castile ’ s case was charged but then acquitted .
Around the country , it felt like the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers in de-escalation tactics and outfitted them with body cameras for public accountability .
In cities from Philadelphia to San Francisco , voters elected district attorneys who vowed to hold police officers accountable .
At least 14 officers involved in high-profile killings — in Albuquerque , New Mexico ; North Charleston , South Carolina ; Cincinnati ; Baltimore ; St. Louis ; Tulsa , Oklahoma ; Milwaukee ; and Falcon Heights , Minnesota — were criminally charged .
And then they were acquitted or got off on a hung jury , or prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without anyone going to prison , even on occasions when the brutality had been caught on video for all the world to see .
“ How many times does it have to happen ?
” Carter said .
“ How many lives have to be turned into hashtags ?
” On Monday , May 25 , George Floyd died after being placed in a knee chokehold by Derek Chauvin , a Minneapolis police officer .
In the days that followed , Carter and his friend Brayleigh Keliin took to the streets for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perilous backdrop of a deadly pandemic .
On Tuesday afternoon , the day after Floyd died , Keliin , a 19-year-old caregiver for adults with disabilities , drove two and a half hours from her home in Superior , Wisconsin , to Minneapolis .
The next day , Carter , now 20 and an aide at an assisted living facility , joined her at a rally in Duluth , Minnesota .
By Thursday , the pair were organizing their own rallies .
They wore cloth masks to protect themselves and encouraged others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep at least a few feet away from fellow protesters .
They knew it might not be enough .
They were willing to take the risk anyway .
They appreciated the strong response to Floyd ’ s death : Minneapolis Police Department Chief Medaria Arradondo fired the four officers involved in the arrest .
Mayor Jacob Frey called for criminal charges .
The country ’ s largest police union , the Fraternal Order of Police , released a statement on the “ tragic death ” that “ shocked and horrified our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and respect our communities have for the men and women of law enforcement.
” But none of it felt like enough — not for Carter , nor thousands of others in Minneapolis , nor tens of thousands of others across the country .
“ People are just fed up with false promises , ” said Alexander Bourne , a 30-year-old business consultant from St. Paul who marched from Lake Street to Minneapolis 's Third Precinct police station on Thursday .
“ What you ’ re seeing now is continued anger.
” Bourne said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence after Castile ’ s killing four years ago .
More people came out this time , he noted , despite the pandemic .
“ I think the emotions are higher , ” he said .
Chanting through his white medical mask , Bourne stood on the police station steps with both arms raised , a phone in one hand capturing the scene .
He remembers being struck , in that moment , by the feeling that he and the rest of the crowd of thousands were “ peacefully calling for revolution.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks of being locked inside , absorbing one horrible piece of news after another , like they were finally doing something .
About an hour after he arrived at the station , however , he heard the first window shatter right behind him .
“ That was the tipping point for the police , ” he recalled .
The line of armored officers closed in with shields .
Bourne retreated .
His mask didn ’ t do much to protect against the billowing white clouds of tear gas that police unleashed .
Back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just across the river , he was stunned to see footage of the police station where he had just been , now engulfed in flames .
Bourne said he wasn ’ t bothered about the damage to the precinct : “ Taxpayers paid for that building , ” he said , “ and taxpayers will pay to repair it.
” He worried more about the small business owners who “ were already hurting and now they ’ re just literally seeing their business come to an end.
” But he said the frustrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accumulated for years and were now clearly bursting forth .
“ People are grieving , ” Bourne said .
“ Personally , I feel that anyone who is outraged right now deserves to be outraged and anyone who isn ’ t needs to ask themselves why.
” Notably , after the death of Floyd , many powerful people have gone out of their way to express outrage — and unlike in the aftermath of most killings by officers , few have risen to defend what Chauvin did .
Voices far afield of policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team owners , Michael Jordan , shoe companies like Nike and Adidas , and the New York City Ballet , which posted on its Instagram on Saturday : “ New York City Ballet Stands With You , ” following up with a ballet pun that may be lost on some : “ # BalletRelevesForBlackLives.
” Even President Donald Trump , who has almost always sided with law enforcement , called the incident “ very sad and tragic ” in his initial statement , though he didn ’ t mention Floyd by name and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tweeted , “ When the looting starts , the shooting starts . ''
Among the strongest statements against Chauvin ’ s actions have come from police chiefs .
“ Reprehensible , ” said Chicago ’ s David Brown .
“ Inexcusable , ” said Denver ’ s Paul Pazen .
“ Deeply disturbing , ” said New York City ’ s Dermot Shea .
“ Throughout the nation , communities of color are tired of reliving atrocities such as this over and over again , '' said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle M. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer who heads a training program that holds seminars for 20,000 law enforcement agents a year , said he was surprised by how many police officers reached out to him to express horror and disgust after the Floyd video went public .
He said he believes it ’ s less a result of shifting attitudes than the starkness of the video .
“ Most use of force cases are so much more complicated than people think they are , ” he said .
Not this one .
“ The guy is handcuffed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What can he possibly say that justifies that ?
” For many in Minneapolis , it felt like a final straw .
In the wake of the Ferguson protests in 2014 , Minneapolis was one of the first cities to participate in the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice , a federal program that encourages police departments to prioritize community relations over low-level arrests .
But in the years that followed , officers accused of excessive force were rarely sanctioned , and there seemed to be one questionable police shooting after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis police in the six years after Ferguson , more than in the six years prior — all but one of those killed were black , Latinx , or Asian .
In 2017 the city appointed its first black police chief , Medaria Arradondo , then a 28-year veteran of the force who , along with four other high-ranking black officers , had sued the department for systemic racial discrimination and a hostile work environment — a case that ended with a $ 740,000 settlement .
A year into Arradond ’ s tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28-year-old resident , fled from officers who were responding to a call about someone firing shots .
A white officer , Justin Schmidt , fatally shot Blevins , who was black .
Body camera footage showed that Blevins appeared to be holding a gun , though he didn ’ t point it at the officers chasing him .
As he ran , he pleaded , “ Please , don ’ t shoot me .
Leave me alone.
” Protesters again filled the streets .
After a monthlong investigation , Schmidt and his partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongdoing and kept their jobs .
“ It ’ s years and years of the same thing going on , ” said David Bicking , vice president of Communities United Against Police Brutality , a Minneapolis advocacy group .
“ We ’ ve heard so much nice talk , but the system in place is designed to not discipline officers.
” Of the 2,600 complaints filed with the Minneapolis ’ s civilian review board since it was established in 2012 , just 12 led to disciplinary action , according to data compiled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over his 19-year career , Derek Chauvin had 17 complaints filed against him .
Only one resulted in any disciplinary action .
In one case that ended without reprimand , a group of teenagers accused him of pulling a gun on them while they were playing with Nerf guns .
Bicking , who is 69 and white , joined what he said seemed like a thousand others outside the Hennepin County Courthouse on Thursday .
He recalled a calm scene , filled with chanting , colorful signs , and respectful nods .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 73 and white , was among those outside the Target where some people broke windows and stole items .
But even amid the shattered glass , the energy of the crowd was positive , she recalled to him .
“ No animosity from anyone , ” he said .
“ These weren ’ t race riots .
These were people who don ’ t feel that real change is coming unless they press for it.
” By the weekend , Carter and Keliin were organizing their own protests closer to home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Superior .
On Saturday , they led a march to Duluth City Hall from the Clayton Jackson McGhee Memorial , which was named for three black men lynched in the city exactly 100 years ago .
The pair held a sign listing the names of black people killed by police around the country .
Duluth police officers , wearing regular uniforms , not riot gear , looked on .
Some were , by now , getting to know the protesters .
Keliin said she spoke to one sergeant several times at different demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read aloud the list of names of people killed by police on her sign , drawing cheers from the crowd .
By Saturday evening , as the city hall rally ended and protesters began to disperse , the mood seemed to be relatively light .
Carter and Keliin went home .
But on Sunday morning , they said they got word that Duluth police had teargassed people who had broken curfew and arrested three of their fellow protesters , including a 14-year-old boy .
A few hours away in Minneapolis on Sunday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called into that city , Los Angeles , and Chicago — Bourne , the business consultant , switched gears from protesting and joined a group of volunteers providing donated supplies to local residents in St. Paul who have been hit hard by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic .
Stacks of toilet paper , boxes of diapers , tables piled with soap , and paper bags packed with pasta , cereal , and produce blanketed a field near Highway 94 .
Hundreds of people , cloth masks or bandanas over their faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 yards along the sidewalk .
The sky was clear , the temperature an idyllic 70 degrees .
Children lolled in strollers or played near their parents .
But across the street , a brick convenience store was charred black , its facade tagged with graffiti demanding justice in white spray paint .
On the other side of the highway was a Target store that was closed after being looted and vandalized .
Other stores were boarded up for protection .
It was suddenly harder to find groceries in the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ All these things are happening , ” Bourne said .
“ I ’ m drained .
Exhausted .
Traumatized.
” ●

Notably, after the death of Floyd, many powerful people have gone out of their way to express outrage — and unlike in the aftermath of most killings by officers, few have risen to defend what Chauvin did.
Voices far afield of policing weighed in — university presidents, sports team owners, Michael Jordan, shoe companies like Nike and Adidas, and the New York City Ballet, which posted on its Instagram on Saturday: “New York City Ballet Stands With You,” following up with a ballet pun that may be lost on some: “#BalletRelevesForBlackLives.”
Even President Donald Trump, who has almost always sided with law enforcement, called the incident “very sad and tragic” in his initial statement, though he didn’t mention Floyd by name and later called the protesters “thugs” and tweeted, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Among the strongest statements against Chauvin’s actions have come from police chiefs. “Reprehensible,” said Chicago’s David Brown. “Inexcusable,” said Denver’s Paul Pazen. “Deeply disturbing,” said New York City’s Dermot Shea.
“Throughout the nation, communities of color are tired of reliving atrocities such as this over and over again," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw.
Jim Glennon, a former officer who heads a training program that holds seminars for 20,000 law enforcement agents a year, said he was surprised by how many police officers reached out to him to express horror and disgust after the Floyd video went public.
He said he believes it’s less a result of shifting attitudes than the starkness of the video. “Most use of force cases are so much more complicated than people think they are,” he said. Not this one. “The guy is handcuffed on his stomach for nine minutes. ... What can he possibly say that justifies that?”
For many in Minneapolis, it felt like a final straw. In the wake of the Ferguson protests in 2014, Minneapolis was one of the first cities to participate in the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice, a federal program that encourages police departments to prioritize community relations over low-level arrests.
But in the years that followed, officers accused of excessive force were rarely sanctioned, and there seemed to be one questionable police shooting after another. Eight people were killed by Minneapolis police in the six years after Ferguson, more than in the six years prior — all but one of those killed were black, Latinx, or Asian.
In 2017 the city appointed its first black police chief, Medaria Arradondo, then a 28-year veteran of the force who, along with four other high-ranking black officers, had sued the department for systemic racial discrimination and a hostile work environment — a case that ended with a $740,000 settlement.
A year into Arradond’s tenure as chief, Thurman Blevins, a 28-year-old resident, fled from officers who were responding to a call about someone firing shots. A white officer, Justin Schmidt, fatally shot Blevins, who was black. Body camera footage showed that Blevins appeared to be holding a gun, though he didn’t point it at the officers chasing him. As he ran, he pleaded, “Please, don’t shoot me. Leave me alone.” Protesters again filled the streets. After a monthlong investigation, Schmidt and his partner, Ryan Kelly, were cleared of wrongdoing and kept their jobs.
“It’s years and years of the same thing going on,” said David Bicking, vice president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, a Minneapolis advocacy group. “We’ve heard so much nice talk, but the system in place is designed to not discipline officers.”
Of the 2,600 complaints filed with the Minneapolis’s civilian review board since it was established in 2012, just 12 led to disciplinary action, according to data compiled by the Communities United Against Police Brutality. Over his 19-year career, Derek Chauvin had 17 complaints filed against him. Only one resulted in any disciplinary action. In one case that ended without reprimand, a group of teenagers accused him of pulling a gun on them while they were playing with Nerf guns.
Bicking, who is 69 and white, joined what he said seemed like a thousand others outside the Hennepin County Courthouse on Thursday. He recalled a calm scene, filled with chanting, colorful signs, and respectful nods. A day earlier, his girlfriend, who is 73 and white, was among those outside the Target where some people broke windows and stole items. But even amid the shattered glass, the energy of the crowd was positive, she recalled to him. “No animosity from anyone,” he said. “These weren’t race riots. These were people who don’t feel that real change is coming unless they press for it.”
By the weekend, Carter and Keliin were organizing their own protests closer to home in Duluth, just over the bridge from Superior. On Saturday, they led a march to Duluth City Hall from the Clayton Jackson McGhee Memorial, which was named for three black men lynched in the city exactly 100 years ago.
The pair held a sign listing the names of black people killed by police around the country. Duluth police officers, wearing regular uniforms, not riot gear, looked on. Some were, by now, getting to know the protesters. Keliin said she spoke to one sergeant several times at different demonstrations. At one point, he even read aloud the list of names of people killed by police on her sign, drawing cheers from the crowd.
By Saturday evening, as the city hall rally ended and protesters began to disperse, the mood seemed to be relatively light. Carter and Keliin went home. But on Sunday morning, they said they got word that Duluth police had teargassed people who had broken curfew and arrested three of their fellow protesters, including a 14-year-old boy.
A few hours away in Minneapolis on Sunday morning — after the National Guard had been called into that city, Los Angeles, and Chicago — Bourne, the business consultant, switched gears from protesting and joined a group of volunteers providing donated supplies to local residents in St. Paul who have been hit hard by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
Stacks of toilet paper, boxes of diapers, tables piled with soap, and paper bags packed with pasta, cereal, and produce blanketed a field near Highway 94. Hundreds of people, cloth masks or bandanas over their faces, stood in a line that snaked more than 100 yards along the sidewalk.
The sky was clear, the temperature an idyllic 70 degrees. Children lolled in strollers or played near their parents. But across the street, a brick convenience store was charred black, its facade tagged with graffiti demanding justice in white spray paint. On the other side of the highway was a Target store that was closed after being looted and vandalized. Other stores were boarded up for protection. It was suddenly harder to find groceries in the area — but people still needed to eat.
“All these things are happening,” Bourne said. “I’m drained. Exhausted. Traumatized.” ●


buzzfeednews--2020-03-03--An Asian Student Said He Was Beaten Up By Men Who Yelled "I Don’t Want Your Coronavirus In My Countr

An Asian Student Said He Was Beaten Up By Men Who Yelled "I Don’t Want Your Coronavirus In My Country"

`` However , stories and videos of racially-motivated assaults always seem like they would never happen to you .
After all , people might be racist and might say things , but surely , they wouldn ’ t dare attack you , especially on one of the busiest streets in London ? ''
Mok wrote .
`` To those people who told me that London isn ’ t racist , think again . ''
Mok , who said he has been going to the prestigious University College London ( UCL ) for two years , said the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although he said he had been repeatedly subjected to racist remarks , he had n't believed he would face physical violence .
In a Facebook post Monday , Jonathan Mok shared images of his bruised and swollen face , described what happened to him , and urged others to be vigilant against racism and hate — even in a global city like London .
The city 's Metropolitan Police Department is now investigating the attack as a `` racially aggravated assault . ''
A 23-year-old Asian student said he was attacked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one yelled at him , `` I don ’ t want your coronavirus in my country . ''
Mok said he was walking past a group of men on Oxford Street around 9:15 p.m. Feb. 24 when one of the men looked at him and said something about the coronavirus .
`` I was stunned and turned around to have a look at the man made the statement , '' Mok wrote .
`` He shouted ‘ Don ’ t you dare look at me , you ____ ’ ( I could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accent ) .
Within 3 seconds , he was in my face , together with 3/4 other young men , and a young lady . ''
The man then punched Mok in the face multiple times , Mok wrote .
Another man tried to kick Mok , then said , `` I do n't want your coronavirus in my country , '' before delivering another punch across his face , according to Mok 's post .
Mok said a few passersby stopped to help him and called the police .
The men who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived , he said .
In a statement provided to BuzzFeed News on Tuesday , Metropolitan Police described the attack as `` a racially aggravated assault . ''
Officials said they were still working to identify the suspects and are reviewing available footage from CCTV .
Police released the images of four male suspects on Wednesday and asked the public for help identifying them .
No arrests have been made .
Mok said doctors told him he suffered a few fractures to bones in his face in the attack and may need reconstructive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately respond to an interview request from BuzzFeed News .
A spokesperson for UCL said they were horrified to hear of the incident .
`` We thoroughly condemn this attack and are offering our full support to the student at this time , '' the spokesperson said .
`` We condemn racism , bullying and harassment of any kind . ''
COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus first identified late last year in Wuhan , China , has been spreading across the globe .
The disease has sickened tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , with the majority of cases in China .
Cases have been reported in more than 30 countries , including the UK , with sizable outbreaks in South Korea , Italy , and Iran .
In Mok 's post , he said the outbreaks were just the latest reason for racists to act on their hatred of people from other countries or who have a different skin color .
He urged people who read his post to do their part to be the change .
`` Racism has changed it form and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once again rearing its ugly head in light of the COVID-19 crisis , '' he said .

Mok said he was walking past a group of men on Oxford Street around 9:15 p.m. Feb. 24 when one of the men looked at him and said something about the coronavirus.
"I was stunned and turned around to have a look at the man made the statement," Mok wrote. "He shouted ‘Don’t you dare look at me, you ____’ (I could not catch the last word because of the accent). Within 3 seconds, he was in my face, together with 3/4 other young men, and a young lady."
The man then punched Mok in the face multiple times, Mok wrote. Another man tried to kick Mok, then said, "I don't want your coronavirus in my country," before delivering another punch across his face, according to Mok's post.
Mok said a few passersby stopped to help him and called the police. The men who attacked him fled the area before police arrived, he said.
In a statement provided to BuzzFeed News on Tuesday, Metropolitan Police described the attack as "a racially aggravated assault." Officials said they were still working to identify the suspects and are reviewing available footage from CCTV.
Police released the images of four male suspects on Wednesday and asked the public for help identifying them. No arrests have been made.
Mok said doctors told him he suffered a few fractures to bones in his face in the attack and may need reconstructive surgery to repair them.
He did not immediately respond to an interview request from BuzzFeed News.
A spokesperson for UCL said they were horrified to hear of the incident.
"We thoroughly condemn this attack and are offering our full support to the student at this time," the spokesperson said. "We condemn racism, bullying and harassment of any kind."
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus first identified late last year in Wuhan, China, has been spreading across the globe. The disease has sickened tens of thousands and killed more than 3,000 people, with the majority of cases in China.
Cases have been reported in more than 30 countries, including the UK, with sizable outbreaks in South Korea, Italy, and Iran.
In Mok's post, he said the outbreaks were just the latest reason for racists to act on their hatred of people from other countries or who have a different skin color. He urged people who read his post to do their part to be the change.
"Racism has changed it form and shape through the years and it is once again rearing its ugly head in light of the COVID-19 crisis," he said.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-04--Panicked Coronavirus Shoppers Are Overwhelming Prepper And Survivalist Stores

Online stores for survivalists and preppers have seen a massive uptick in sales as the coronavirus outbreak in the US has worsened — but the interest is not from survivalists or preppers .
It ’ s from people who hadn ’ t thought of emergency preparations until now .
“ What we 're seeing now is that people are finally seeing that the world is a fragile place , ” Adam Handelsman , a spokesperson for Mira Safety , told BuzzFeed News .
Started a little over a year ago , Mira Safety is an online store that focuses on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respirator masks .
Handelsman said the shop is currently running about a three-week back order on all its products , which include military-grade respirators , hazmat suits , and Geiger counters .
Handelsman waved away the notion , however , that it was members of the prepper community who were stocking up in light of the COVID-19 outbreak , which as of Wednesday had reached 128 cases in the US and nine deaths .
“ The fact is that the doomsday prepper community that 's mocked isn ’ t buying our product , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had this stuff for years.
” Instead , he said , its customers are people from large cities like New York or San Francisco who have never considered disaster prep before .
“ I really need to harp on this : Doomsday preppers in America , they 're spoofed on , there are shows , ” he said .
But , “ they 're ready for this.
” He ’ s also seen a huge increase in interest in the other survivalist company for which he does public relations : Gladiator Solutions — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are getting more concerned about civil unrest , ” he said .

Online stores for survivalists and preppers have seen a massive uptick in sales as the coronavirus outbreak in the US has worsened — but the interest is not from survivalists or preppers. It’s from people who hadn’t thought of emergency preparations until now.
“What we're seeing now is that people are finally seeing that the world is a fragile place,” Adam Handelsman, a spokesperson for Mira Safety, told BuzzFeed News.
Started a little over a year ago, Mira Safety is an online store that focuses on emergency supplies for forest fires, like respirator masks. Handelsman said the shop is currently running about a three-week back order on all its products, which include military-grade respirators, hazmat suits, and Geiger counters.
Handelsman waved away the notion, however, that it was members of the prepper community who were stocking up in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, which as of Wednesday had reached 128 cases in the US and nine deaths.
“The fact is that the doomsday prepper community that's mocked isn’t buying our product,” he said. “They've had this stuff for years.”
Instead, he said, its customers are people from large cities like New York or San Francisco who have never considered disaster prep before. “I really need to harp on this: Doomsday preppers in America, they're spoofed on, there are shows,” he said. But, “they're ready for this.”
He’s also seen a huge increase in interest in the other survivalist company for which he does public relations: Gladiator Solutions — which sells body armor. “People are getting more concerned about civil unrest,” he said.


buzzfeednews--2020-03-04--Men Yelling “Chinese” Tried To Punch Her Off Her Bike. She’s The Latest Victim Of Racist Attacks Lin

Men Yelling “Chinese” Tried To Punch Her Off Her Bike. She’s The Latest Victim Of Racist Attacks Linked To Coronavirus.

LONDON — It happened when Jiye Seong-Yu , a 29-year-old Korean interpreter who lives in the Netherlands , was biking the 10 minutes home from the Monday dance class she looks forward to every week .
Two men with brown hair and beards driving past her on a scooter yelled out “ Chinese , ” and the man sitting on the back tried to punch her .
“ It was really scary because it was late , and I was alone and I was on a street where I could n't see anyone nearby , ” she said .
Seong-Yu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on edge already because she was biking alone past 10 p.m. She swerved when she saw the punch coming and nearly crashed her bike .
The men drove away and , terrified , she rode the rest of the way home to tell her roommates what had happened and to file a police report online , which BuzzFeed News has seen .
Seong-Yu , who has a Dutch stepfather and has lived in the Netherlands for three years , had just experienced what seemingly hundreds of people of East Asian descent have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a racist attack in the time of coronavirus .
The problem is so bad that the South Korean embassy in Germany warned its citizens about possible incidents of racial violence in a Facebook post on Feb. 3 after reports that a 23-year-old Chinese woman was beaten by two women in Berlin and hospitalized .
In France , Twitter users of Chinese descent have used the hashtag # JeNeSuisPasUnVirus — meaning “ I am not a virus ” — to push back on racism .
In the UK , a student said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do n't want your coronavirus in my country , '' and a 24-year-old tax consultant from Thailand was attacked and robbed by teenagers yelling “ coronavirus.
” In Italy , one of the countries the virus has hit the hardest , Chinese Italian activists say misinformation from anti-immigration politicians has fueled assaults on people of East Asian descent and boycotts of Chinese businesses .
In the United States , Asian Americans have reported being attacked and having racial slurs yelled at them in public , and Asian American lawmakers have urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing verified information .
Seong-Yu said she was so shaken by what happened to her that she decided not to go out at night at all for a couple of weeks .
What if , she thought , she coughed in public ?

LONDON — It happened when Jiye Seong-Yu, a 29-year-old Korean interpreter who lives in the Netherlands, was biking the 10 minutes home from the Monday dance class she looks forward to every week. Two men with brown hair and beards driving past her on a scooter yelled out “Chinese,” and the man sitting on the back tried to punch her.
“It was really scary because it was late, and I was alone and I was on a street where I couldn't see anyone nearby,” she said.
Seong-Yu, who lives in the Hague, was on edge already because she was biking alone past 10 p.m. She swerved when she saw the punch coming and nearly crashed her bike. The men drove away and, terrified, she rode the rest of the way home to tell her roommates what had happened and to file a police report online, which BuzzFeed News has seen.
Seong-Yu, who has a Dutch stepfather and has lived in the Netherlands for three years, had just experienced what seemingly hundreds of people of East Asian descent have reported in Europe and the United States — a racist attack in the time of coronavirus. The problem is so bad that the South Korean embassy in Germany warned its citizens about possible incidents of racial violence in a Facebook post on Feb. 3 after reports that a 23-year-old Chinese woman was beaten by two women in Berlin and hospitalized.
In France, Twitter users of Chinese descent have used the hashtag #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus — meaning “I am not a virus” — to push back on racism. In the UK, a student said he was beaten up by men who yelled "I don't want your coronavirus in my country," and a 24-year-old tax consultant from Thailand was attacked and robbed by teenagers yelling “coronavirus.” In Italy, one of the countries the virus has hit the hardest, Chinese Italian activists say misinformation from anti-immigration politicians has fueled assaults on people of East Asian descent and boycotts of Chinese businesses. In the United States, Asian Americans have reported being attacked and having racial slurs yelled at them in public, and Asian American lawmakers have urged their colleagues to quell hysteria by only sharing verified information.
Seong-Yu said she was so shaken by what happened to her that she decided not to go out at night at all for a couple of weeks. What if, she thought, she coughed in public?


buzzfeednews--2020-03-03--Senators Insist They Will Be Fine During A Coronavirus Outbreak And Won’t Need To Shut Down Congress

The average age of a United States senator is 62.9 years old , with five senators over the age of 80 , and despite being at heightened risk of coronavirus because of their jobs and demographic profile , senators insist they will not need to shut down Congress in the event of a pandemic .
The Senate is sometimes jokingly described as the world ’ s greatest retirement home .
But the advanced age of so many federal politicians is also a major vulnerability .
Most people who contract coronavirus will have mild symptoms or none at all , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those age 65 and older .
Almost half of the Senate — 48 out of 100 senators — are 65 or older .
Every week , senators and members of the House travel between their homes all across the country , where they interact with constituents , and Washington , DC , where they all congregate in the same rooms .
Despite this , senators insist they do not see Congress being shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Several told BuzzFeed News they are not planning to do their jobs any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue to live our lives and do our jobs .
We ’ re just going to probably wash our hands twice as much , ” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio .
Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said he plans to continue holding town halls and community meetings , even if he has to wear a face mask .
But he agrees that it is likely only a matter of time before coronavirus hits Congress .
“ I fully anticipate that folks here will end up with it .
We just do too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he rejects the idea of shutting down Congress , saying the legislative branch becoming “ paralyzed ” could do more damage than good .
“ I think if you start doing that kind of stuff then what , are we going to shut down the elections ?
I think it would set a poor precedent.
” A study of 70,000 Chinese patients with coronavirus put the mortality rate at around 2 % .
But that rate rose to 8 % for people in their seventies and up to 15 % for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet there are no formal plans for how Congress will respond to the risk of coronavirus , but congressional leaders are meeting Wednesday to discuss it .
Thousands of visitors walk through the halls of Congress every day .
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said his staff is reviewing policies on how to protect the health of politicians and visitors , but that he won ’ t comment on hypothetical scenarios .
Senators were unanimously confident in Congress ’ s ability to weather a potential outbreak .
“ Speaking for the octogenarians that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty fit , ” said Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts , who is 83 .
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy , a doctor , said that most members of Congress lead an active lifestyle , which would put them at lower risk of suffering life-threatening effects of the virus .
He said the key thing to look at is underlying health , not age .
“ Given that most folks who work here live fairly active lifestyles , I think we should not overstate the need for concern , ” he said .
When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had recently undergone cancer treatment , Cassidy said individuals may get specific precautions from their doctors .

The average age of a United States senator is 62.9 years old, with five senators over the age of 80, and despite being at heightened risk of coronavirus because of their jobs and demographic profile, senators insist they will not need to shut down Congress in the event of a pandemic.
The Senate is sometimes jokingly described as the world’s greatest retirement home. But the advanced age of so many federal politicians is also a major vulnerability. Most people who contract coronavirus will have mild symptoms or none at all, but the people at most acute risk are those age 65 and older. Almost half of the Senate — 48 out of 100 senators — are 65 or older.
Every week, senators and members of the House travel between their homes all across the country, where they interact with constituents, and Washington, DC, where they all congregate in the same rooms.
Despite this, senators insist they do not see Congress being shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak. Several told BuzzFeed News they are not planning to do their jobs any differently. “We’re going to continue to live our lives and do our jobs. We’re just going to probably wash our hands twice as much,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said he plans to continue holding town halls and community meetings, even if he has to wear a face mask. But he agrees that it is likely only a matter of time before coronavirus hits Congress.
“I fully anticipate that folks here will end up with it. We just do too much travel,” said Tester. But he rejects the idea of shutting down Congress, saying the legislative branch becoming “paralyzed” could do more damage than good. “I think if you start doing that kind of stuff then what, are we going to shut down the elections? I think it would set a poor precedent.”
A study of 70,000 Chinese patients with coronavirus put the mortality rate at around 2%. But that rate rose to 8% for people in their seventies and up to 15% for people age 80 and over.
As of yet there are no formal plans for how Congress will respond to the risk of coronavirus, but congressional leaders are meeting Wednesday to discuss it. Thousands of visitors walk through the halls of Congress every day. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said his staff is reviewing policies on how to protect the health of politicians and visitors, but that he won’t comment on hypothetical scenarios.
Senators were unanimously confident in Congress’s ability to weather a potential outbreak.
“Speaking for the octogenarians that are here, most of us are pretty fit,” said Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, who is 83.
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a doctor, said that most members of Congress lead an active lifestyle, which would put them at lower risk of suffering life-threatening effects of the virus. He said the key thing to look at is underlying health, not age. “Given that most folks who work here live fairly active lifestyles, I think we should not overstate the need for concern,” he said.
When a reporter responded that at least two senators had recently undergone cancer treatment, Cassidy said individuals may get specific precautions from their doctors.


buzzfeednews--2020-06-01--After The "Plandemic" Video Went Viral In The US, It Was Exported To The Rest Of The World

The discredited video has been translated into more than a dozen languages and has spread across the non-English-speaking world .
English-language mentions of the conspiratorial video “ Plandemic ” have dwindled since it debuted in May .
But according to new research exclusively shared with BuzzFeed News by First Draft , a nonprofit organization dedicated to fact-checking worldwide , the popularity of the video has soared in other languages and countries around the world .
Featuring scientist Judy Mikovits , whose history includes a retracted paper , being fired by her research institution , and jail time , the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was released on May 4 .
When it was first published , it outperformed legitimate content and spread across the web faster than fact-checkers could debunk it .
But even though the video centered on the United States , seeking to discredit National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases head Dr. Anthony Fauci , it found an audience abroad , too .
The video was shared in Facebook groups in a dozen languages including Spanish , Portuguese , Italian , German , Polish , Armenian , and Tagalog , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also translated and either subtitled or dubbed into at least 13 different languages so that local audiences could understand it .
The result is evidence that while the United States constantly worries about foreign disinformation operations , the country exports false information as well .
`` Stuff that goes viral or takes off in the US will generally circulate throughout the world , ” Rory Smith , research manager at First Draft , told BuzzFeed News .
“ And when it ’ s kind of exported abroad , it will have a much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Smith and First Draft surveyed Facebook Groups , which were the main vector for the video ’ s spread , by gathering data for mentions of “ Plandemic ” and “ Judy Mikovits.
” That amounted to just over 47,000 posts , with over a million likes , shares , and comments .
The data , shown in the graphs above , revealed that non-English interactions peaked around a week or two after the English-language peak , and including a much smaller number of shares , which can be attributed to audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video had over 175,000 interactions in English , but less than a 10th of that on its most-viral day in languages other than English .
Smith said he also worried about the “ Plandemic ” video turning into zombie hoaxes — disinformation that ’ s already been debunked but circulates anew .
“ Information might die or it might kind of decrease in popularity here , ” Smith said .
“ But if it persists over time , there is the chance that will again get seized on and you 'll see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups in which the video was shared were in Spanish , followed by Portuguese and Italian .
No matter the language , the groups that shared the video were devoted to unproven or debunked conspiracy theories , fixated on Microsoft founder Bill Gates , or drew on the anti-Semitic hoaxes of former UK Green Party spokesperson David Icke : The top Spanish-language group , for example , is called Reptilians Are Among Us .
After YouTube and Vimeo booted “ Plandemic ” off their sites , the hoax found a new home on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long sought to support right-wing content creators .
Smith found nearly 2,000 uploads of “ Plandemic ” on BitChute , amounting to 5.4 million views , which he described as a significant number for a site most people have n't heard of .
“ It is getting lots of traction right now based off of the hundreds of ‘ Plandemic ’ videos that have been stored on the platform , ” Smith said .
Some of the videos included subtitles for other languages and some are dubbed , as DFRLab disinformation researcher Zarine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early spread of “ Plandemic ” and in subsequent research came across it being spread in Armenian in what sounded to her as a professional dub on a page called “ Coronavirus — fraud of the century.
” “ It does n't sound like someone just took their phone and recorded themselves speaking over it , ” Kharazian said .
“ It 's almost like a dramatic reading of the documentary .
It 's pretty emotional in its delivery.
” The Facebook page where it was posted was created in April and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the pandemic .
It also shared the dubbed version of “ Plandemic , ” and , unlike with English-language versions , it wasn ’ t fact-checked or deleted by Facebook .
Similarly , the posts Smith found weren ’ t fact-checked on the platform if they included a link to the video instead of an embed of it .
“ For languages with fewer speakers , like Armenian , you do n't have as many people on the content moderation side who are constantly monitoring , ” Kharazian said .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local journalists and partners is really helpful.
” She ’ s also seen it spread in Slavic languages , like Russian and Ukrainian , and across texting apps .
Kharazian said that diasporas who live in the US can sometimes be a bridge between disinformation in America and overseas .
“ The thing that still surprises me is how widespread the appeal is , ” she said .
“ Not only — as we ’ ve seen in the US — does it cross these niche conspiracy communities , it also seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and linguistic nuance .
It seems to translate fairly well to different regions and cultures .
”

English-language mentions of the conspiratorial video “Plandemic” have dwindled since it debuted in May. But according to new research exclusively shared with BuzzFeed News by First Draft, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fact-checking worldwide, the popularity of the video has soared in other languages and countries around the world.
Featuring scientist Judy Mikovits, whose history includes a retracted paper, being fired by her research institution, and jail time, the video became a centerpiece of coronavirus disinformation after it was released on May 4. When it was first published, it outperformed legitimate content and spread across the web faster than fact-checkers could debunk it.
But even though the video centered on the United States, seeking to discredit National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases head Dr. Anthony Fauci, it found an audience abroad, too. The video was shared in Facebook groups in a dozen languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Polish, Armenian, and Tagalog, as well as English-language groups across Africa. It was also translated and either subtitled or dubbed into at least 13 different languages so that local audiences could understand it.
The result is evidence that while the United States constantly worries about foreign disinformation operations, the country exports false information as well.
"Stuff that goes viral or takes off in the US will generally circulate throughout the world,” Rory Smith, research manager at First Draft, told BuzzFeed News. “And when it’s kind of exported abroad, it will have a much longer tail.”


buzzfeednews--2020-06-02--Joe Biden Promised His Presidency Will Be About Addressing Pain — And Not About Him

For 20 minutes on Tuesday , Joe Biden framed the themes that have guided his presidential run with a call to action and clear rationale from a candidacy that at times had lacked both .
The country is in pain , Biden said repeatedly in remarks in Philadelphia , his first foray outside the neighboring Delaware since the coronavirus outbreak quarantined his campaign .
He pitched himself as a healer in the aftermath of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected people of color and the tragedy of another black man killed during an encounter with a white police officer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and provocations from President Donald Trump .
Biden typically offers himself as someone uniquely and narrowly suited to such healing .
But on Tuesday he spoke of a broader collective , emphasizing the “ us ” instead of the “ I.
” “ It ’ s going to take the work of a generation , ” the 77-year-old former vice president said in the speech , which , in another change that rewarded Biden ’ s efforts to assert more leadership , was carried live by cable networks .
“ But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it should not wait for the first 100 days of my presidency to get started .
A down payment on what is long overdue should come now , should come immediately .
I call on the Congress to act this month on measures that will be the first step in this direction , starting with real police reform.
” Specifically , Biden asked that a bill banning police chokeholds be sent to Trump 's desk soon .
This followed the news last week that a white Minneapolis police officer put George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee chokehold before he died .
This bill is not likely to pass , given that the Senate is controlled by Trump ’ s Republican allies .
But it was a rare marker for Biden , whose speeches aren ’ t typically a list of things he wants from lawmakers in Washington .
“ There ’ s no place for violence , no place for looting or destroying property or burning churches or destroying businesses , many of them built by the very people of color who for the first time in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and build wealth for their families , ” Biden said .
“ Nor is it acceptable for our police — sworn to protect and serve all people — to escalate tension and resort to excessive violence .
We need to distinguish between legitimate peaceful protests and opportunistic violent destruction .
We have to be vigilant about the violence that ’ s being done by this incumbent president to our economy and to the pursuit of justice.
” Biden ’ s speech clawed at Trump in a way his first remarks last week on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the president ’ s incendiary response to them — did not .
“ Pain is raw .
Pain is real , ” Biden said .
“ The president of the United States must be part of the solution , not the problem .
But this president today is part of the problem and accelerates it .
When he tweeted the words ‘ when the looting the starts , the shooting starts ’ — they weren ’ t the words of a president .
They were the words of a racist Miami police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also criticized Trump for a stunt the president had orchestrated the night before : a walk from the White House to the nearby St. John ’ s Episcopal Church .
Law enforcement officials accommodated the president ’ s visit to the church — where Trump stood outside and posed with a Bible — by using force to clear Lafayette Square of peaceful protesters .
“ When peaceful protesters are dispersed in order for a president , a president , from the doorstep of the people ’ s house , the White House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to stage a photo op , a photo op , at one of the most historic churches in the country , or at least in Washington , DC , we can be forgiven for believing that the president is more interested in power than in principle , ” said Biden , repeating his words for emphasis in places .
“ The president held up the Bible at St. John ’ s Church , ” Biden later jabbed .
“ I just wish he opened it once in a while instead of brandishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could have learned something.
” Biden ’ s campaign launched last year under the pledge that he would rebuild the soul of the nation .
At times he has presented himself as a figure to address grief , sharing his own experiences with loss — the car accident that killed his first wife and daughter , the brain cancer that killed his eldest son , Beau .
On Tuesday , he distinguished his personal pain from what people of color have endured .
“ I know what it means to have that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your grief is being sucked into it , ” said Biden , before reflecting on Beau ’ s death five years ago last week .
“ There are still moments when the pain is so great that it feels no different than the day I sat in that bed as he passed away .
But I also know that the best way to bear loss and pain is to turn that anger and anguish into purpose.
” It was perhaps the sharpest connection Biden has made between his grief and this moment — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
“ Nobody will get it right every time , ” he said .
“ And I won ’ t either .
But I promise you this : I won ’ t traffic in fear and division .
I won ’ t fan the flames of hate .
I ’ ll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country , not use them for political gain .
I ’ ll do my job , and I will take responsibility .
I won ’ t blame others .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
This job is not about me .
It ’ s about you .
It ’ s about us.
” As the speech neared the end , Biden spoke in triads , a device that lends a ministerial sound and cadence that is new , at least to his third presidential campaign .
“ We ’ re a nation in pain .
We must not let our pain destroy us , ” Biden said .
“ We ’ re a nation enraged , but we can ’ t let our rage consume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s exhausted , but we will not let our exhaustion defeat us .
”

For 20 minutes on Tuesday, Joe Biden framed the themes that have guided his presidential run with a call to action and clear rationale from a candidacy that at times had lacked both.
The country is in pain, Biden said repeatedly in remarks in Philadelphia, his first foray outside the neighboring Delaware since the coronavirus outbreak quarantined his campaign. He pitched himself as a healer in the aftermath of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected people of color and the tragedy of another black man killed during an encounter with a white police officer. The latter has stirred days of protests — and provocations from President Donald Trump.
Biden typically offers himself as someone uniquely and narrowly suited to such healing. But on Tuesday he spoke of a broader collective, emphasizing the “us” instead of the “I.”
“It’s going to take the work of a generation,” the 77-year-old former vice president said in the speech, which, in another change that rewarded Biden’s efforts to assert more leadership, was carried live by cable networks. “But if this agenda will take time to complete, it should not wait for the first 100 days of my presidency to get started. A down payment on what is long overdue should come now, should come immediately. I call on the Congress to act this month on measures that will be the first step in this direction, starting with real police reform.”
Specifically, Biden asked that a bill banning police chokeholds be sent to Trump's desk soon. This followed the news last week that a white Minneapolis police officer put George Floyd, a black man, in a knee chokehold before he died. This bill is not likely to pass, given that the Senate is controlled by Trump’s Republican allies. But it was a rare marker for Biden, whose speeches aren’t typically a list of things he wants from lawmakers in Washington.
“There’s no place for violence, no place for looting or destroying property or burning churches or destroying businesses, many of them built by the very people of color who for the first time in their lives are beginning to realize their dreams and build wealth for their families,” Biden said. “Nor is it acceptable for our police — sworn to protect and serve all people — to escalate tension and resort to excessive violence. We need to distinguish between legitimate peaceful protests and opportunistic violent destruction. We have to be vigilant about the violence that’s being done by this incumbent president to our economy and to the pursuit of justice.”
Biden’s speech clawed at Trump in a way his first remarks last week on Floyd and the protests in Minneapolis — and the president’s incendiary response to them — did not.
“Pain is raw. Pain is real,” Biden said. “The president of the United States must be part of the solution, not the problem. But this president today is part of the problem and accelerates it. When he tweeted the words ‘when the looting the starts, the shooting starts’ — they weren’t the words of a president. They were the words of a racist Miami police chief in the ’60s.”
Biden also criticized Trump for a stunt the president had orchestrated the night before: a walk from the White House to the nearby St. John’s Episcopal Church. Law enforcement officials accommodated the president’s visit to the church — where Trump stood outside and posed with a Bible — by using force to clear Lafayette Square of peaceful protesters.
“When peaceful protesters are dispersed in order for a president, a president, from the doorstep of the people’s house, the White House, using tear gas and flash grenades in order to stage a photo op, a photo op, at one of the most historic churches in the country, or at least in Washington, DC, we can be forgiven for believing that the president is more interested in power than in principle,” said Biden, repeating his words for emphasis in places.
“The president held up the Bible at St. John’s Church,” Biden later jabbed. “I just wish he opened it once in a while instead of brandishing it. If he opened it, he could have learned something.”
Biden’s campaign launched last year under the pledge that he would rebuild the soul of the nation. At times he has presented himself as a figure to address grief, sharing his own experiences with loss — the car accident that killed his first wife and daughter, the brain cancer that killed his eldest son, Beau. On Tuesday, he distinguished his personal pain from what people of color have endured.
“I know what it means to have that black hole in your chest, where your grief is being sucked into it,” said Biden, before reflecting on Beau’s death five years ago last week. “There are still moments when the pain is so great that it feels no different than the day I sat in that bed as he passed away. But I also know that the best way to bear loss and pain is to turn that anger and anguish into purpose.”
It was perhaps the sharpest connection Biden has made between his grief and this moment — and how his presidency would respond to it.
“Nobody will get it right every time,” he said. “And I won’t either. But I promise you this: I won’t traffic in fear and division. I won’t fan the flames of hate. I’ll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country, not use them for political gain. I’ll do my job, and I will take responsibility. I won’t blame others. I’ll never forget, I promise you. This job is not about me. It’s about you. It’s about us.”
As the speech neared the end, Biden spoke in triads, a device that lends a ministerial sound and cadence that is new, at least to his third presidential campaign.
“We’re a nation in pain. We must not let our pain destroy us,” Biden said. “We’re a nation enraged, but we can’t let our rage consume us. We’re a nation that’s exhausted, but we will not let our exhaustion defeat us.”


buzzfeednews--2020-06-02--To Build Its COVID-19 Task Force, Las Vegas Partnered With A Company Linked To UAE Intelligence

A company that owns an app that some allege may have been secretly used by the autocratic regime of the United Arab Emirates to spy on people may have gained an entry point into Southern Nevada , after a COVID-19 relief task force in Nevada struck a deal in May with the company — despite the company 's ties to the UAE 's intelligence services .
Both the firm , Abu Dhabi–based Group 42 , and the private-sector Nevada COVID-19 Response , Relief , and Recovery Task Force said in a press release that Nevada had obtained “ vital testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UAE and G42.
” According to the press release , the government of the UAE donated coronavirus test kits , and G42 offered its expertise and technical capabilities , as well as help with an “ innovative genomic study ” at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas , the press release said .
Former CEO of MGM Resorts Jim Murren , the head of the task force , said in the release that “ resources from G42 will substantially increase our ability to conduct COVID-19 testing and research to help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But what Murren appears not to have known is that G42 was involved in building a digital tool allegedly used by the intelligence services of the United Arab Emirates .
G42 , an artificial intelligence company , is the only registered shareholder of ToTok , a chat app that was the subject of an exposé in the New York Times in December .
Downloaded millions of times around the world , ToTok may have been used by the UAE 's intelligence services to collect data on people who use it , their conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Times ’ analysis of the app .
The app 's creator was listed as a company called Breej Holding , but according to the Times , it was `` most likely a front company affiliated with DarkMatter , an Abu Dhabi-based cyberintelligence and hacking firm where Emirati intelligence officials , former National Security Agency employees and former Israeli military intelligence operatives work .
DarkMatter is under F.B.I .
investigation , according to former employees and law enforcement officials , for possible cybercrimes . ''
After the New York Times investigation , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app stores .

A company that owns an app that some allege may have been secretly used by the autocratic regime of the United Arab Emirates to spy on people may have gained an entry point into Southern Nevada, after a COVID-19 relief task force in Nevada struck a deal in May with the company — despite the company's ties to the UAE's intelligence services.
Both the firm, Abu Dhabi–based Group 42, and the private-sector Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief, and Recovery Task Force said in a press release that Nevada had obtained “vital testing materials thanks to a long-term partnership with the UAE and G42.”
According to the press release, the government of the UAE donated coronavirus test kits, and G42 offered its expertise and technical capabilities, as well as help with an “innovative genomic study” at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, the press release said.
Former CEO of MGM Resorts Jim Murren, the head of the task force, said in the release that “resources from G42 will substantially increase our ability to conduct COVID-19 testing and research to help us mitigate the effects of this virus.”
But what Murren appears not to have known is that G42 was involved in building a digital tool allegedly used by the intelligence services of the United Arab Emirates.
G42, an artificial intelligence company, is the only registered shareholder of ToTok, a chat app that was the subject of an exposé in the New York Times in December. Downloaded millions of times around the world, ToTok may have been used by the UAE's intelligence services to collect data on people who use it, their conversations, and their images, according to the Times’ analysis of the app.
The app's creator was listed as a company called Breej Holding, but according to the Times, it was "most likely a front company affiliated with DarkMatter, an Abu Dhabi-based cyberintelligence and hacking firm where Emirati intelligence officials, former National Security Agency employees and former Israeli military intelligence operatives work. DarkMatter is under F.B.I. investigation, according to former employees and law enforcement officials, for possible cybercrimes."
After the New York Times investigation, both Google and Apple removed ToTok from their app stores.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-24--Native American Tribes Say They’re At Risk Of Losing Out On Potentially Millions Of Coronavirus Stim

Native American Tribes Say They’re At Risk Of Losing Out On Potentially Millions Of Coronavirus Stimulus Dollars

BuzzFeed News has reporters across five continents 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 — Dozens of Native American tribal governments have raced to court in the past week to try to stop the Treasury Department from allowing for-profit Native corporations to access a special pool of $ 8 billion in federal coronavirus relief money .
The tribes argue that if Alaska Native corporations , or ANCs , are eligible for the funds , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in aid .
In court papers , the tribal governments said they needed the money to provide immediate relief to communities hit by the pandemic , including buying personal protective equipment , expanding testing for COVID-19 ( the disease caused by the novel coronavirus ) , and delivering meals to the elderly and children .
Congress intended the money for “ desperate tribal governments , ” Nicole Ducheneaux , a lawyer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe , told a judge on Friday afternoon .
“ COVID-19 is causing devastating harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of tribal governments wrote in one of three lawsuits filed in the past week .
“ By way of just a few examples , as of April 15 , 2020 , the Navajo Nation alone has reported 921 cases and 38 deaths related to COVID-19 .
The Pueblo of Zuni has reported 33 cases .
And the Cherokee Nation has reported 28 cases with one fatality as of April 9 .
Native Americans suffer from disproportionately high rates of diabetes , cancer , heart disease , asthma , which subject them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19.
” As part of the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act ( CARES Act ) that became law in late March , Congress designated $ 8 billion in funding for “ Tribal governments.
” What exactly qualifies as a “ tribal government ” is at the heart of the legal fight that ’ s quickly bubbled up in a federal district court in Washington , DC .
ANCs were established by a 1971 law governing how Alaska Natives manage and benefit from their land .
In court papers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a position to help tribe members during the pandemic and that their for-profit status shouldn ’ t get in the way of accessing stimulus funds .
The ANCs and the Treasury Department argue Congress used language in the stimulus package that allowed these corporations , which serve as holding companies for a variety of business interests , to apply for the money .
US District Judge Amit Mehta heard arguments on Friday via video and telephone .
The tribal governments that sued want the judge to issue an immediate order to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department lawyer Jason Lynch told Mehta that the Treasury Department would hold off distributing the money until at least April 28 .
Mehta said he ’ d rule by April 27 .
There are 574 federally recognized tribal governments that have a government-to-government relationship with the United States , and 237 ANCs throughout Alaska , according to court filings .
The ANCs have shareholders — primarily members of Native American tribes — and boards of directors , and they serve as holding companies for businesses that range from construction and pipeline maintenance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribal governments argue that allowing the ANCs to apply for coronavirus relief money could reduce the amount available to all the tribes .
They offered two hypothetical scenarios in court papers : If the money were divided equally among 811 entities instead of 574 , it would mean the tribal governments would get approximately $ 10 million instead of $ 14 million .
And if the money were divided up proportionally based on a combination of factors that included land , they said , the ANCs would disproportionately benefit given the millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tribal government said in court papers that the money they ’ d normally get from businesses that operate on tribal lands and fund health care , law enforcement , and other services for tribal members had “ evaporated overnight ” due to the pandemic .
The Treasury Department contends that the language of the CARES Act didn ’ t exclude ANCs from being eligible for the money , and that the court should not second-guess the executive branch ’ s “ time-pressed determination ” about how to distribute the funds .
Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in the CARES Act from another law , the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act , which covers ANCs , and the Treasury Department is arguing that a board of directors is a type of governing body .
During arguments on Friday , Mehta asked Riyaz Kanji , a lawyer for one set of tribal governments , if they ’ d be satisfied if the Treasury Department said it would only give money to ANCs that were delivering the kind of health care and other public services that tribal governments were delivering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be for the money to go to the tribal governments , who could then decide how best to spend it .
Mehta also questioned why Congress used a definition of “ Indian tribe ” that included ANCs if it meant to exclude the corporations from the stimulus money .
Kanji said it was Congress ’ s “ habit ” and “ pattern ” to use that definition when legislating issues related to Native American affairs .
According to Lynch , the Treasury Department is still deciding how to divide the money .
Mehta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s algorithm or methodology .
Lynch said he didn ’ t , and that even if he did he wouldn ’ t be able to share it because it was part of the nonpublic “ predecisional ” process .
A lawyer for one of the ANCs that filed a `` friend of the court '' ( or amicus ) brief asked Mehta for time to argue at the end of the hearing , saying there had been “ misinformation ” about ANCs she wanted to address .
Mehta denied the request , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any of the groups that filed briefs but weren ’ t part of the lawsuit .

WASHINGTON — Dozens of Native American tribal governments have raced to court in the past week to try to stop the Treasury Department from allowing for-profit Native corporations to access a special pool of $8 billion in federal coronavirus relief money.
The tribes argue that if Alaska Native corporations, or ANCs, are eligible for the funds, it could cost federally recognized tribal governments millions of dollars in aid. In court papers, the tribal governments said they needed the money to provide immediate relief to communities hit by the pandemic, including buying personal protective equipment, expanding testing for COVID-19 (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus), and delivering meals to the elderly and children.
Congress intended the money for “desperate tribal governments,” Nicole Ducheneaux, a lawyer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, told a judge on Friday afternoon.
“COVID-19 is causing devastating harm in Indian country,” lawyers for a group of tribal governments wrote in one of three lawsuits filed in the past week. “By way of just a few examples, as of April 15, 2020, the Navajo Nation alone has reported 921 cases and 38 deaths related to COVID-19. The Pueblo of Zuni has reported 33 cases. And the Cherokee Nation has reported 28 cases with one fatality as of April 9. Native Americans suffer from disproportionately high rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, asthma, which subject them to greater risk of fatal complications from COVID-19.”
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that became law in late March, Congress designated $8 billion in funding for “Tribal governments.” What exactly qualifies as a “tribal government” is at the heart of the legal fight that’s quickly bubbled up in a federal district court in Washington, DC.
ANCs were established by a 1971 law governing how Alaska Natives manage and benefit from their land. In court papers, one ANC argued that these corporations are in a position to help tribe members during the pandemic and that their for-profit status shouldn’t get in the way of accessing stimulus funds. The ANCs and the Treasury Department argue Congress used language in the stimulus package that allowed these corporations, which serve as holding companies for a variety of business interests, to apply for the money.
US District Judge Amit Mehta heard arguments on Friday via video and telephone. The tribal governments that sued want the judge to issue an immediate order to stop money from going to the corporations. Justice Department lawyer Jason Lynch told Mehta that the Treasury Department would hold off distributing the money until at least April 28. Mehta said he’d rule by April 27.
There are 574 federally recognized tribal governments that have a government-to-government relationship with the United States, and 237 ANCs throughout Alaska, according to court filings. The ANCs have shareholders — primarily members of Native American tribes — and boards of directors, and they serve as holding companies for businesses that range from construction and pipeline maintenance to janitorial and food services.
The tribal governments argue that allowing the ANCs to apply for coronavirus relief money could reduce the amount available to all the tribes. They offered two hypothetical scenarios in court papers: If the money were divided equally among 811 entities instead of 574, it would mean the tribal governments would get approximately $10 million instead of $14 million. And if the money were divided up proportionally based on a combination of factors that included land, they said, the ANCs would disproportionately benefit given the millions of acres that they cover across Alaska.
The tribal government said in court papers that the money they’d normally get from businesses that operate on tribal lands and fund health care, law enforcement, and other services for tribal members had “evaporated overnight” due to the pandemic.
The Treasury Department contends that the language of the CARES Act didn’t exclude ANCs from being eligible for the money, and that the court should not second-guess the executive branch’s “time-pressed determination” about how to distribute the funds. Congress used a definition of “Indian tribe” in the CARES Act from another law, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which covers ANCs, and the Treasury Department is arguing that a board of directors is a type of governing body.
During arguments on Friday, Mehta asked Riyaz Kanji, a lawyer for one set of tribal governments, if they’d be satisfied if the Treasury Department said it would only give money to ANCs that were delivering the kind of health care and other public services that tribal governments were delivering. Kanji said the best option would be for the money to go to the tribal governments, who could then decide how best to spend it.
Mehta also questioned why Congress used a definition of “Indian tribe” that included ANCs if it meant to exclude the corporations from the stimulus money. Kanji said it was Congress’s “habit” and “pattern” to use that definition when legislating issues related to Native American affairs.
According to Lynch, the Treasury Department is still deciding how to divide the money. Mehta asked if he knew the agency’s algorithm or methodology. Lynch said he didn’t, and that even if he did he wouldn’t be able to share it because it was part of the nonpublic “predecisional” process.
A lawyer for one of the ANCs that filed a "friend of the court" (or amicus) brief asked Mehta for time to argue at the end of the hearing, saying there had been “misinformation” about ANCs she wanted to address. Mehta denied the request, saying he wasn’t giving argument time to any of the groups that filed briefs but weren’t part of the lawsuit.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-24--The FDA Is Warning That Drugs Promoted By Trump To Treat COVID-19 Pose Serious Heart Risks

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The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned against the widespread use of two antimalarial drugs — hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine — to prevent or treat COVID-19 , noting they could cause serious side effects including heart problems and even death .
President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the drugs as a possible treatment for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose ?
Take it , ” Trump said at coronavirus task force press briefing on April 5 .
The FDA 's warning comes as a growing number of studies and experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the drugs in safely and effectively treating COVID-19 , for which there is currently no known cure .
A small clinical trial in Brazil was halted after some coronavirus patients being treated with chloroquine experienced irregular heart rates and more than a dozen died , according to a study published Friday .
`` The preliminary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher [ chloroquine ] dosage should not be recommended for critically ill patients with COVID-19 because of its potential safety hazards , especially when taken concurrently with azithromycin and oseltamivir , '' the researchers wrote .
In March , the FDA approved the use of the drugs as a possible COVID-19 treatment in hospitals in certain situations .
Several clinical trials are also underway to test the effectiveness of these drugs against the coronavirus .
Outside of these settings , the FDA said on Friday , the use of the medicines is inappropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are being used inappropriately to treat non-hospitalized patients for coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) or to prevent that disease , '' according to the drug warning .
`` These medicines have a number of side effects , including serious heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening . ''
After reviewing cases in the FDA 's own adverse events database , published medical studies , and reports in the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Poison Data System , federal officials concluded the drugs may cause `` abnormal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart rate , '' and pose risks when combined with other medicine used to treat COVID-19 , such as the antibiotic azithromycin .
Talk of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as miracle drugs in response to the coronavirus pandemic has caused a run on pharmacies , triggering shortages for people who rely on the drugs to treat other serious medical conditions , such as lupus .
After pushing for more rigorous study of hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment , Rick Bright said he was recently removed from his role as director of the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research and Development Authority , according to the New York Times .
`` We are continuing to investigate these safety risks in patients with COVID-19 and will communicate publicly when more information is available , '' the FDA wrote .

The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned against the widespread use of two antimalarial drugs — hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine — to prevent or treat COVID-19, noting they could cause serious side effects including heart problems and even death.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the drugs as a possible treatment for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. "What do you have to lose? Take it,” Trump said at coronavirus task force press briefing on April 5.
The FDA's warning comes as a growing number of studies and experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the drugs in safely and effectively treating COVID-19, for which there is currently no known cure.
A small clinical trial in Brazil was halted after some coronavirus patients being treated with chloroquine experienced irregular heart rates and more than a dozen died, according to a study published Friday. "The preliminary findings of this study suggest that the higher [chloroquine] dosage should not be recommended for critically ill patients with COVID-19 because of its potential safety hazards, especially when taken concurrently with azithromycin and oseltamivir," the researchers wrote.
In March, the FDA approved the use of the drugs as a possible COVID-19 treatment in hospitals in certain situations. Several clinical trials are also underway to test the effectiveness of these drugs against the coronavirus. Outside of these settings, the FDA said on Friday, the use of the medicines is inappropriate and very risky.
"FDA is concerned that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are being used inappropriately to treat non-hospitalized patients for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or to prevent that disease," according to the drug warning. "These medicines have a number of side effects, including serious heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening."
After reviewing cases in the FDA's own adverse events database, published medical studies, and reports in the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Poison Data System, federal officials concluded the drugs may cause "abnormal heart rhythms," "dangerously rapid heart rate," and pose risks when combined with other medicine used to treat COVID-19, such as the antibiotic azithromycin.
Talk of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as miracle drugs in response to the coronavirus pandemic has caused a run on pharmacies, triggering shortages for people who rely on the drugs to treat other serious medical conditions, such as lupus.
After pushing for more rigorous study of hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment, Rick Bright said he was recently removed from his role as director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, according to the New York Times.
"We are continuing to investigate these safety risks in patients with COVID-19 and will communicate publicly when more information is available," the FDA wrote.


buzzfeednews--2020-04-24--A Stanford Professor’s Wife Recruited People For His Coronavirus Study By Claiming It Would Reveal I

A Stanford Professor’s Wife Recruited People For His Coronavirus Study By Claiming It Would Reveal If They Could “Return To Work Without Fear”

The number of participants included in the Stanford University study .
Los Altos , where Ardis G. Egan Junior High School is located , is in the shaded area south of Palo Alto .
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To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
A Stanford University professor ’ s wife invited parents in a wealthy enclave of Northern California to sign up for her husband ’ s coronavirus antibody study this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA approved ” test would tell them if they had immunity and could “ return to work without fear , ” according to an email obtained by BuzzFeed News .
The email , sent to a listserv for Ardis G. Egan Junior High School in the city of Los Altos on Thursday , April 2 , advertised a study set to begin the next day .
With the subject line “ COVID-19 antibody testing - FREE , ” the email described how participants could gain “ peace of mind ” and “ know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would help researchers calculate the virus ’ s spread throughout the surrounding county of Santa Clara , according to the message sent by Catherine Su , a radiation oncologist married to Jay Bhattacharya , the Stanford professor of medicine leading the study .
Weeks later , early results from Bhattacharya ’ s team would conclude that , based on the tests , the area had 50 to 85 times more infections than reported cases .
That finding , along with their claim that the coronavirus would therefore have a lower fatality rate than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But almost as immediately , the study came under fire from scientists , who said it was based on a heavily flawed data analysis that ignored questions about the antibody test ’ s false positive rate — as well as a problematic Facebook recruitment strategy .
The email reveals that the researchers did not disclose another way participants were recruited that could have further skewed the results .
In addition to targeting a specific demographic of parents in a wealthy part of Silicon Valley — making it even less likely that the participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely claimed that the study ’ s antibody test was FDA approved , and was worded in a way that might have disproportionately attracted people who had previously been sick .
It also misrepresented what participants could learn about their health from the testing .
Given how new this coronavirus is , scientists do not definitively know how long antibodies can protect you from getting sick again .
Yet Su ’ s email stated : “ If you have antibodies against the virus , you are FREE from the danger of a ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
In China and U.K. they are asking for proof of immunity before returning to work .
If you know any small business owners or employees that have been laid off , let them know -- they no longer need to quarantine and can return to work without fear.
” Marm Kilpatrick , an infectious disease researcher at the University of California at Santa Cruz , told BuzzFeed News these statements were “ super concerning.
” “ They 're offering people information about their possible immunity that I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might put these people in danger if they take actions like interact with people without social distancing in unsafe ways , ” he said .
Asked for comment , Bhattacharya said that his wife ’ s email was not associated with the research team ’ s work .
“ The email you reference was sent out without my permission or my knowledge or the permission of the research team , ” he wrote in an email to BuzzFeed News .
He said that he believes the note was also shared on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skewed the makeup of the study ’ s participants , but argued that the researchers corrected for the difference in volunteers .
“ Our tracking of signups very strongly suggests that this email attracted many people from the wealthier and healthier parts of Santa Clara County to seek to volunteer for the study , ” he wrote .
“ In real time , we took immediate steps to slow the recruitment from these areas and open up recruitment from all around Santa Clara County.
” He added that a revised preprint would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would address criticisms of the study ’ s sample selection .
Su did not return requests for comment .
On Monday , Stanford spokesperson Julie Greicius said in a statement , “ Stanford Medicine is aware of news reports regarding the recruitment of participants for the recent COVID-19 seroprevalence study in Santa Clara County .
These matters are being handled by the appropriate committees at Stanford .
”

A Stanford University professor’s wife invited parents in a wealthy enclave of Northern California to sign up for her husband’s coronavirus antibody study this month, falsely claiming that an “FDA approved” test would tell them if they had immunity and could “return to work without fear,” according to an email obtained by BuzzFeed News.
The email, sent to a listserv for Ardis G. Egan Junior High School in the city of Los Altos on Thursday, April 2, advertised a study set to begin the next day. With the subject line “COVID-19 antibody testing - FREE,” the email described how participants could gain “peace of mind” and “know if you are immune.” The results would help researchers calculate the virus’s spread throughout the surrounding county of Santa Clara, according to the message sent by Catherine Su, a radiation oncologist married to Jay Bhattacharya, the Stanford professor of medicine leading the study.
Weeks later, early results from Bhattacharya’s team would conclude that, based on the tests, the area had 50 to 85 times more infections than reported cases. That finding, along with their claim that the coronavirus would therefore have a lower fatality rate than previously thought, made national headlines. But almost as immediately, the study came under fire from scientists, who said it was based on a heavily flawed data analysis that ignored questions about the antibody test’s false positive rate — as well as a problematic Facebook recruitment strategy.
The email reveals that the researchers did not disclose another way participants were recruited that could have further skewed the results. In addition to targeting a specific demographic of parents in a wealthy part of Silicon Valley — making it even less likely that the participants represented a random sample — the email falsely claimed that the study’s antibody test was FDA approved, and was worded in a way that might have disproportionately attracted people who had previously been sick. It also misrepresented what participants could learn about their health from the testing.
Given how new this coronavirus is, scientists do not definitively know how long antibodies can protect you from getting sick again. Yet Su’s email stated: “If you have antibodies against the virus, you are FREE from the danger of a) getting sick or b) spreading the virus. In China and U.K. they are asking for proof of immunity before returning to work. If you know any small business owners or employees that have been laid off, let them know -- they no longer need to quarantine and can return to work without fear.”
Marm Kilpatrick, an infectious disease researcher at the University of California at Santa Cruz, told BuzzFeed News these statements were “super concerning.”
“They're offering people information about their possible immunity that I don’t think they can accurately give them, that might put these people in danger if they take actions like interact with people without social distancing in unsafe ways,” he said.
Asked for comment, Bhattacharya said that his wife’s email was not associated with the research team’s work. “The email you reference was sent out without my permission or my knowledge or the permission of the research team,” he wrote in an email to BuzzFeed News. He said that he believes the note was also shared on social media sites.
Bhattacharya acknowledged that the email skewed the makeup of the study’s participants, but argued that the researchers corrected for the difference in volunteers. “Our tracking of signups very strongly suggests that this email attracted many people from the wealthier and healthier parts of Santa Clara County to seek to volunteer for the study,” he wrote. “In real time, we took immediate steps to slow the recruitment from these areas and open up recruitment from all around Santa Clara County.”
He added that a revised preprint would be released in the next two days and would address criticisms of the study’s sample selection.
Su did not return requests for comment.
On Monday, Stanford spokesperson Julie Greicius said in a statement, “Stanford Medicine is aware of news reports regarding the recruitment of participants for the recent COVID-19 seroprevalence study in Santa Clara County. These matters are being handled by the appropriate committees at Stanford.”


buzzfeednews--2020-04-24--He Allegedly Sold Face Masks At A 1,328% Markup. Now He's Facing Federal Charges.

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A New York man has become the first person to face federal charges over hoarding and price-gouging scarce medical supplies since President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act last month in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
According to a complaint filed by prosecutors in federal court on Friday , Amardeep Singh , 45 , had been hoarding face masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfecting products at a Long Island warehouse and selling them at inflated prices .
Among the people Singh allegedly price-gouged were particularly vulnerable organizations , including the Association to Benefit Children , the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens , and Rewarding Environments for Adult Living .
On March 18 , Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to make it illegal to acquire scarce medical supplies in order to hoard them or sell them at excessive prices .
The Defense Production Act allows the government to control the distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense and creates criminal penalties for those found to be hoarding or price-gouging those items .
If convicted , Singh faces up to a year in prison .
Bradley Gerstman , Singh 's attorney , denies that his client price-gouged anyone .
`` This is a man trying to make a living , '' Gerstman told BuzzFeed News .
`` He 'd never gouge .
He 's a family man who has run a store for people in the community for 25 years .
He 's got three young daughters , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then we will show by way of evidence that our client has done nothing wrong . ''
“ During a crisis of this magnitude , we must come together as a country to fight this common enemy , '' said Philip R. Bartlett with the US Postal Inspection Service .
`` Unfortunately , Mr. Singh allegedly chose to use this opportunity to make money by hoarding and price-gouging [ personal protective equipment ] .
The conduct charged in the complaint is reprehensible and against our most fundamental American values .
”

A New York man has become the first person to face federal charges over hoarding and price-gouging scarce medical supplies since President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act last month in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a complaint filed by prosecutors in federal court on Friday, Amardeep Singh, 45, had been hoarding face masks, face shields, surgical gowns, and disinfecting products at a Long Island warehouse and selling them at inflated prices.
Among the people Singh allegedly price-gouged were particularly vulnerable organizations, including the Association to Benefit Children, the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, and Rewarding Environments for Adult Living.
On March 18, Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to make it illegal to acquire scarce medical supplies in order to hoard them or sell them at excessive prices.
The Defense Production Act allows the government to control the distribution of items deemed essential to the national defense and creates criminal penalties for those found to be hoarding or price-gouging those items.
If convicted, Singh faces up to a year in prison.
Bradley Gerstman, Singh's attorney, denies that his client price-gouged anyone.
"This is a man trying to make a living," Gerstman told BuzzFeed News. "He'd never gouge. He's a family man who has run a store for people in the community for 25 years. He's got three young daughters, and we're going to plead not guilty and then we will show by way of evidence that our client has done nothing wrong."
Federal officials accused Singh of un-American behavior during "challenging times."
“During a crisis of this magnitude, we must come together as a country to fight this common enemy," said Philip R. Bartlett with the US Postal Inspection Service. "Unfortunately, Mr. Singh allegedly chose to use this opportunity to make money by hoarding and price-gouging [personal protective equipment]. The conduct charged in the complaint is reprehensible and against our most fundamental American values.”