npr--2020-06-05--Facebook Will Review Policies On Posts About State Violence, Voting

Facebook Will Review Policies On Posts About State Violence , Voting CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Facebook employees on Friday that the social network will review how it handles some of the most incendiary posts on its platform , including those by President Trump .
His announcement follows a revolt by employees over his decision to do nothing about messages the president posted about violence toward protesters and mail-in voting .
In a memo to staff , Zuckerberg said he wanted `` to acknowledge that the decision I made last week has left many of you angry , disappointed and hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labeling posts that violate its rules , a more nuanced approach than the company 's current policy , which states that posts should either be removed or left alone .
It will also review its policies allowing `` discussion and threats of state use of force '' and its policies on voter suppression .
Trump wrote in a Facebook post last week , `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts , '' referring to protests over the death of George Floyd , the black man in Minneapolis who was allegedly murdered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , falsely , that California is sending mail-in ballots to all residents .
When Trump made the same statements on Twitter , it put warning labels and fact-checks on his tweets .
Facebook , in contrast , said the posts did not break its rules .
Zuckerberg has publicly criticized Twitter 's approach .
He reiterated his concerns on Friday , even as he said Facebook may do something similar .
`` In general , I worry that this approach has a risk of leading us to editorialize on content we do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our policies , so I think we need to proceed very carefully , '' he wrote .
Zuckerberg has long said he believes the company should not police what politicians say on its platform .
In a company-wide meeting on Tuesday , he said he found Trump 's rhetoric offensive , but decided to leave the post up in the interest of letting people see what the president had to say .
That decision has been widely criticized , including inside Facebook .
Some employees staged a virtual walkout on Monday and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees called the decision a `` betrayal '' of Facebook 's ideals .
During the staff meeting , Zuckerberg fielded questions from employees who were distressed by his decision and connected it to the lack of diversity at the company , according to staff who were on the call .
Many were dismayed when Zuckerberg said that the group of people who made the decision to leave up Trump 's post was entirely white except for Maxine Williams , the chief diversity officer , who is black .
Zuckerberg acknowledged these concerns in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to review whether we need to change anything structurally to make sure the right groups and voices are at the table , '' he wrote .
`` I 'm committed to elevating the representation of diversity , inclusion and human rights in our processes and management team discussions . ''
Like other big tech companies , Facebook 's workforce is largely white and Asian .
Just under 4 % of Facebook 's U.S.-based staff is black and 5 % is Hispanic , according to the company 's most recent diversity report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % are black and 3.5 % are Hispanic .
One former employee , Mark Luckie , wrote a memo when he left in 2018 accusing the company of `` failing its black employees and its black users '' through discrimination and problems in representation .
On Friday , Luckie tweeted : `` I honestly felt insulted reading Mark 's post .
I 'm an optimistic person and I was excited to see details of concrete change .
But there 's little to be found there which is hugely disappointing . ''
Editor 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial supporters .

Facebook Will Review Policies On Posts About State Violence, Voting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Facebook employees on Friday that the social network will review how it handles some of the most incendiary posts on its platform, including those by President Trump. His announcement follows a revolt by employees over his decision to do nothing about messages the president posted about violence toward protesters and mail-in voting.
In a memo to staff, Zuckerberg said he wanted "to acknowledge that the decision I made last week has left many of you angry, disappointed and hurt."
Zuckerberg said Facebook will consider labeling posts that violate its rules, a more nuanced approach than the company's current policy, which states that posts should either be removed or left alone. It will also review its policies allowing "discussion and threats of state use of force" and its policies on voter suppression.
Trump wrote in a Facebook post last week, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," referring to protests over the death of George Floyd, the black man in Minneapolis who was allegedly murdered by police officers. Trump separately claimed, falsely, that California is sending mail-in ballots to all residents.
When Trump made the same statements on Twitter, it put warning labels and fact-checks on his tweets. Facebook, in contrast, said the posts did not break its rules.
Zuckerberg has publicly criticized Twitter's approach. He reiterated his concerns on Friday, even as he said Facebook may do something similar.
"In general, I worry that this approach has a risk of leading us to editorialize on content we don't like even if it doesn't violate our policies, so I think we need to proceed very carefully," he wrote.
Zuckerberg has long said he believes the company should not police what politicians say on its platform. In a company-wide meeting on Tuesday, he said he found Trump's rhetoric offensive, but decided to leave the post up in the interest of letting people see what the president had to say.
That decision has been widely criticized, including inside Facebook. Some employees staged a virtual walkout on Monday and one engineer publicly resigned this week. Former employees called the decision a "betrayal" of Facebook's ideals.
During the staff meeting, Zuckerberg fielded questions from employees who were distressed by his decision and connected it to the lack of diversity at the company, according to staff who were on the call. Many were dismayed when Zuckerberg said that the group of people who made the decision to leave up Trump's post was entirely white except for Maxine Williams, the chief diversity officer, who is black.
Zuckerberg acknowledged these concerns in his memo on Friday. "We're going to review whether we need to change anything structurally to make sure the right groups and voices are at the table," he wrote. "I'm committed to elevating the representation of diversity, inclusion and human rights in our processes and management team discussions."
Like other big tech companies, Facebook's workforce is largely white and Asian. Just under 4% of Facebook's U.S.-based staff is black and 5% is Hispanic, according to the company's most recent diversity report. Among senior leadership, only 3% are black and 3.5% are Hispanic.
One former employee, Mark Luckie, wrote a memo when he left in 2018 accusing the company of "failing its black employees and its black users" through discrimination and problems in representation.
On Friday, Luckie tweeted: "I honestly felt insulted reading Mark's post. I'm an optimistic person and I was excited to see details of concrete change. But there's little to be found there which is hugely disappointing."
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-06-05--Biden Formally Clinches Democratic Nomination, While Gaining Steam Against Trump

Former Vice President Joe Biden has secured the delegates needed to win the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination on the first ballot at the August convention , crossing the threshold of 1,991 delegates according to the Associated Press .
The delegate count formalizes what 's been clear since Biden took a commanding delegate lead in mid-March and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race in early April : the 78-year-old , who served as Delaware 's U.S .
Senator for decades before becoming vice president in 2009 , will be his party 's standard bearer against President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has started to re-emerge on the campaign trial outside of his home , addressing twin crises that appear to be contributing to his lead over Trump in national polls , as well as in battleground states .
The AP delegate estimate reached the magic number of 1,991 delegates for Biden as seven states and the District of Columbia continue counting votes from Tuesday 's primaries .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , who conceded and endorsed Biden in April while remaining on the ballot , failed to reach the 15 % threshold to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more delegates than many political observers expected him to secure this week .
Biden spent much of 2019 battling questions about whether he had the campaign resources to compete with better-funded primary opponents , and whether he was in step with the more progressive activists who have set the Democratic Party 's national agenda since Biden and President Barack Obama left the White House in 2017 .
At the start of the 2020 campaign , he finished a distant fourth in Iowa and then fifth in New Hampshire .
Despite that , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dominant run in March , when most delegates were awarded , and he wrapped up the nomination in practical terms faster than any Democrat since John Kerry in 2004 .
Biden spent almost all of the past three months inside his Delaware house , as stay-at-home orders across the country suspended all in-person campaign activities .
He only began holding campaign events outside his home over the last week .
The massive coronavirus death toll , the record unemployment it created , and Trump 's uneven and increasingly unpopular response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .
Now , as the president has taken a largely divisive , confrontational approach to widespread protests in nearly every American city , as well as some violence , several national polls have given Biden a significant lead , including the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll , released on Friday , which had Biden at 50 % and Trump at 43 % , a gap beyond the margin of error .
Biden has run from the start on the idea of his campaign as a battle for the `` soul of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency would be a return to normalcy more than anything else .
Responding to unrest and anger in the wake of George Floyd 's killing , Biden doubled down on the first theme , but seemed to walk away from the second .
`` I ask every American to look at where we are now , and think anew : Is this who we are ?
Is this who we want to be ?
Is this what we pass on to our kids ' and grandkids ' lives ? ''
Biden asked in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall on Tuesday .
`` Fear and finger-pointing rather than hope and the pursuit of happiness ?
Incompetence and anxiety ?
Self-absorption and selfishness ? ''
Biden also vowed to focus on the type of large-scale structural change that Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , not Biden , had spent the primary campaign calling for .
`` Let us vow to make this , at last , an era of action to reverse systemic racism , with long overdue and concrete changes , '' Biden said .
Biden 's political allies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marker of his campaign .
`` I think it was a key moment , not just for the 2020 campaign , but for American history , '' said Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle , one of just a handful of people who were in the room to hear Biden deliver the address , due to coronavirus precautions .
`` The enthusiam level is off the charts '' since the Tuesday speech , said former Pennsylvania Gov .
Ed Rendell , who has been raising money for Biden since the day he launched his presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I 've ever experienced this in all the money I 've raised for myself and for other people . ''
Rendell said the boost in Biden contributions is twofold : It 's based on donors ' response to Biden 's speech , but also what he described as `` Trump 's abysmal conduct clearing the crowds [ in Lafayette Square Monday night . ]
'' Biden 's campaign immediately turned the speech into a minute-long digital ad that will be seen in Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Michigan , Florida , North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , but where recent polls show Biden leading or roughly even with the president .
As much as Biden 's camp is enjoying the wave of positive polls , many of his allies expect a much closer race this fall .
The Trump campaign has an unprecedented campaign war chest , and despite recent dips , Trump 's overall approval rating has remained essentially unchanged despite continuous controversies .
Polls and primary results show lagging enthusiasm for Biden among several key parts of the general election Democratic alliance , particularly younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about what the state of coronavirus restrictions in the fall will mean for turnout and the voting process .
Boyle said he believes that , despite a year that has brought an impeachment trial , a global pandemic , economic disruption and social unrest not seen since the late 1960s , `` ultimately this is a very stable race that Joe will win by a five to six-point margin .
Trump is doing absolutely nothing to appeal to the voters he needs to win . ''
Rendell , who conceded he often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thinks it will ultimately be even narrower .
`` I still think we win , '' he said .
`` But I 'd be surprised if Biden gets 300 electoral votes . ''

Biden Formally Clinches Democratic Nomination, While Gaining Steam Against Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP
Former Vice President Joe Biden has secured the delegates needed to win the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on the first ballot at the August convention, crossing the threshold of 1,991 delegates according to The Associated Press.
The delegate count formalizes what has been clear since Biden took a commanding delegate lead in mid-March and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race in early April: The 77-year-old, who served as Delaware's U.S. senator for decades before becoming vice president in 2009, will be his party's standard-bearer against President Trump.
Biden reached the benchmark as he has started to reemerge on the campaign trail outside of his home, addressing twin crises — the coronavirus and nationwide protests to racial injustice — that appear to be contributing to his lead over Trump in national polls, as well as in battleground states.
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The AP delegate estimate reached the magic number of 1,991 delegates for Biden as seven states and the District of Columbia continue counting votes from Tuesday's primaries. Sanders, who endorsed Biden in April but remained on the ballot, failed to reach the 15% threshold to receive delegates in several contests, giving Biden more delegates than many political observers expected him to secure this week.
Biden spent much of 2019 battling questions about whether he had the campaign resources to compete with better-funded primary opponents and whether he was in step with the more progressive activists who have set the Democratic Party's national agenda since Biden and Barack Obama left the White House in 2017.
At the start of the 2020 campaign, he finished a distant fourth in Iowa and then fifth in New Hampshire. Despite that, Biden turned a strong South Carolina win into a dominant run in March, when most delegates were awarded, and he wrapped up the nomination in practical terms faster than any Democrat since John Kerry in 2004.
Facing Trump amid uncertainty
Biden spent almost all of the past three months inside his Delaware house, as coronavirus-related stay-at-home orders across the country suspended all in-person campaign activities. He only began holding campaign events outside his home over the past week.
The massive coronavirus death toll, the record unemployment it created, and Trump's uneven and increasingly unpopular response to the crisis had boosted Biden's poll numbers in recent weeks.
Now, as the president has taken a largely divisive, confrontational approach to widespread protests, which have included some violence, in most American cities over the death of a black man in police custody, several national polls have given Biden a significant lead. The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, released on Friday, which had Biden at 50% and Trump at 43%, a gap beyond the margin of error.
Biden has run from the start on the idea of his campaign as a battle for the "soul of America" and often implied his presidency would be a return to normalcy more than anything else. Responding to unrest and anger in the wake of George Floyd's killing by a police officer in Minneapolis, Biden doubled down on the first theme but seemed to walk away from the second.
"I ask every American to look at where we are now, and think anew: Is this who we are? Is this who we want to be? Is this what we pass on to our kids' and grandkids' lives?" Biden asked in a speech delivered from Philadelphia's City Hall on Tuesday. "Fear and finger-pointing rather than hope and the pursuit of happiness? Incompetence and anxiety? Self-absorption and selfishness?"
Biden also vowed to focus on the type of large-scale structural change that Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren had spent the primary campaign calling for. "Let us vow to make this, at last, an era of action to reverse systemic racism, with long overdue and concrete changes," Biden said.
Biden's political allies are already viewing the speech as a defining marker of his campaign. "I think it was a key moment, not just for the 2020 campaign, but for American history," said Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle, one of just a handful of people who were in the room to hear Biden deliver the address — attendance being limited by coronavirus precautions.
"The enthusiasm level is off the charts" since the Tuesday speech, said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who has been raising money for Biden since the day he launched his presidential campaign. "I don't know if I've ever experienced this in all the money I've raised for myself and for other people."
Rendell said the boost in Biden contributions is twofold: It's based not only on donors' response to Biden's speech, but also on what he described as "Trump's abysmal conduct clearing the crowds [in Lafayette Square Monday night.]"
Biden's campaign immediately turned the speech into a minutelong digital ad that will be seen in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona – all states Trump won in 2016, but where recent polls show Biden leading or roughly even with the president.
As much as Biden's camp is enjoying the wave of positive polls, many of his allies expect a much closer race this fall.
The Trump campaign has an unprecedented campaign war chest, and despite recent dips, Trump's overall approval rating has remained essentially unchanged despite continuous controversies. Polls and primary results show lagging enthusiasm for Biden among several key parts of the general election Democratic alliance, particularly younger voters of color.
There are also questions about what the state of coronavirus restrictions in the fall will mean for turnout and the voting process.
Boyle said he believes that, despite a year that has brought an impeachment trial, a global pandemic, economic disruption and social unrest not seen since the late 1960s, "ultimately this is a very stable race that Joe will win by a 5- to 6-point margin. Trump is doing absolutely nothing to appeal to the voters he needs to win."
Rendell, who conceded he often takes a more pessimistic view of campaigns, thinks it will ultimately be even narrower.
"I still think we win," he said. "But I'd be surprised if Biden gets 300 electoral votes."


npr--2020-06-05--Guantanamo Judge Rules Tortured Prisoner Could Get Reduced Sentence

A judge at the U.S. military court in Guantánamo Bay , Cuba , has ruled that a prisoner there may be entitled to a more lenient sentence if he was tortured in CIA custody .
The decision could potentially apply to several of the other 40 remaining prisoners there , including five men facing charges in the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks .
The ruling by Col. Douglas K. Watkins came in the case of Majid Khan , who in 2012 pleaded guilty to helping finance the 2003 bombing of a Marriott hotel in Jakarta , Indonesia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been held in captivity for more than 17 years , and he alleges he suffered egregious mistreatment during his imprisonment .
In his decision , Judge Watkins wrote that , for the purposes of his ruling , he assumed Khan 's claims of abuse are true because `` there is no serious dispute that Mr. Khan was tortured and suffered other illegal pretrial punishment both in CIA detention and at Guantánamo . ''
Among Khan 's allegations are that he was waterboarded , subjected to forced `` rectal feedings '' that human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his wrists while naked and hooded .
Watkins described the abuse as `` shocking . ''
`` This mistreatment rises to the level of torture , '' Watkins wrote , `` and violated the ... universal right to be free of torture under U.S. and international law . ''
As a result , he ruled , Khan may have legitimate grounds for a lighter sentence .
Guantánamo prosecutors had argued that military judges do not have the authority to grant more lenient sentences as a result of torture , but Watkins ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a very big deal , '' Scott Roehm , director of the Washington , D.C. , office of the Center for Victims of Torture , which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case , said of the ruling .
`` It 's a big deal in Mr. Khan 's case , '' he said .
`` It 's an equally big deal in its potential much broader application to other torture survivors at Guantanamo . ''
Almost 800 prisoners have passed through the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo since 2002 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants .
About a quarter of the remaining prisoners are facing criminal charges in various terrorism cases , but most of the others have never been charged and are being held indefinitely .
Guantánamo has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $ 6 billion despite finalizing only one conviction in nearly two decades .
Khan , 40 , pleaded guilty to multiple charges in 2012 but has not yet been sentenced because he is serving as a government witness in a pending case , and because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been pending .
Khan faces a sentence of up to 19 years , and his lawyers have requested that be cut in half because he was tortured .
His sentencing date has not been scheduled , but eventually Watkins will hold a sentencing hearing and decide whether to apply leniency .
`` You have a military judge at Guantánamo saying , I 've looked at these allegations and if these allegations are true , they rise to the level of torture , '' said Khan 's lawyer , J .
Wells Dixon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Added Dixon : `` The judge did not promise that he would grant credit and he did not say how much , if any , credit he would grant .
...
But that certainly opens the door to a significant reduction in Mr. Khan 's sentence . ''
Khan was born in Pakistan in 1980 , moved to the United States in 1996 , and graduated from a high school in suburban Baltimore .
He remained in the U.S. until 2002 , when he traveled overseas to work for al-Qaeda .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken into custody by the CIA , which for three years held him in its network of secret overseas prisons known as black sites .
In 2006 , Khan was transferred to Guantánamo , where he has remained .
Contacted for comment , the Office of Military Commissions sent NPR a statement that said , `` When matters are pending litigation , it would be inappropriate for the Department of Defense to comment beyond expressing our confidence in the parties who have raised the issues and in the military judges who will decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ever-present at Guantánamo , and helps explain why the Sept. 11 case is still dragging on nearly 20 years after the attacks : The defendants are difficult to prosecute because so much evidence can not be used at trial since it was gained through torture .
`` This is the first ruling in which a judge has confronted the moral and legal question of torture head-on , '' said James Connell , lead attorney for Guantánamo prisoner Ammar al-Baluchi , one of the five Sept. 11 defendants .
`` The military commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many years .
The fact that somebody took it head-on is going to be an important precedent for the other cases . ''

Guantanamo Judge Rules Tortured Prisoner Could Get Reduced Sentence
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
A judge at the U.S. military court in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, has ruled that a prisoner there may be entitled to a more lenient sentence if he was tortured in CIA custody. The decision could potentially apply to several of the other 40 remaining prisoners there, including five men facing charges in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The ruling by Col. Douglas K. Watkins came in the case of Majid Khan, who in 2012 pleaded guilty to helping finance the 2003 bombing of a Marriott hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, that killed 11 people. Khan has been held in captivity for more than 17 years, and he alleges he suffered egregious mistreatment during his imprisonment.
In his decision, Judge Watkins wrote that, for the purposes of his ruling, he assumed Khan's claims of abuse are true because "there is no serious dispute that Mr. Khan was tortured and suffered other illegal pretrial punishment both in CIA detention and at Guantánamo." Among Khan's allegations are that he was waterboarded, subjected to forced "rectal feedings" that his lawyer calls anal rape, and hung from his wrists while naked and hooded. Watkins described the abuse as "shocking."
"This mistreatment rises to the level of torture," Watkins wrote, "and violated the...universal right to be free of torture under U.S. and international law." As a result, he ruled, Khan may have legitimate grounds for a lighter sentence.
Guantánamo prosecutors had argued that military judges do not have the authority to grant more lenient sentences as a result of torture, but Watkins ruled otherwise.
"I consider it to be a very big deal," Scott Roehm, director of the Washington, D.C., office of the Center for Victims of Torture, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, said of the ruling.
"It's a big deal in Mr. Khan's case," he said. "It's an equally big deal in its potential much broader application to other torture survivors at Guantanamo."
Almost 800 prisoners have passed through the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo since 2002, and the 40 still there include alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants. About a quarter of the remaining prisoners are facing criminal charges in various terrorism cases, but most of the others have never been charged and are being held indefinitely. Guantánamo has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $6 billion despite finalizing only one conviction in nearly two decades.
Khan, 40, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in 2012 but has not yet been sentenced because he is serving as a government witness in a pending case, and because his request for leniency in sentencing has also been pending.
Khan faces a sentence of up to 19 years, and his lawyers have requested that be cut in half because he was tortured. His sentencing date has not been scheduled, but eventually Watkins will hold a sentencing hearing and decide whether to apply leniency.
"You have a military judge at Guantánamo saying, I've looked at these allegations and if these allegations are true, they rise to the level of torture," said Khan's lawyer, J. Wells Dixon. "That is tremendously significant."
Added Dixon: "The judge did not promise that he would grant credit and he did not say how much, if any, credit he would grant. ... But that certainly opens the door to a significant reduction in Mr. Khan's sentence."
Khan was born in Saudi Arabia in 1980, spent part of his childhood in Pakistan, moved to the United States in 1996, and graduated from a high school in suburban Baltimore. He remained in the U.S. until 2002, when he traveled overseas to work for al-Qaeda. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2003 and taken into custody by the CIA, which for three years held him in its network of secret overseas prisons known as black sites. In 2006, Khan was transferred to Guantánamo, where he has remained.
Contacted for comment, the Office of Military Commissions sent NPR a statement that said, "When matters are pending litigation, it would be inappropriate for the Department of Defense to comment beyond expressing our confidence in the parties who have raised the issues and in the military judges who will decide them."
The legacy of torture is ever-present at Guantánamo, and helps explain why the Sept. 11 case is still dragging on nearly 20 years after the attacks: The defendants are difficult to prosecute because so much evidence cannot be used at trial since it was gained through torture.
"This is the first ruling in which a judge has confronted the moral and legal question of torture head-on," said James Connell, lead attorney for Guantánamo prisoner Ammar al-Baluchi, one of the five Sept. 11 defendants. "The military commission has dodged the issue of torture for so many years. The fact that somebody took it head-on is going to be an important precedent for the other cases."


npr--2020-06-06--Chicago Mayor Says Police Union Is 'Extraordinarily Reluctant To Embrace Reform'

Chicago Mayor Says Police Union Is 'Extraordinarily Reluctant To Embrace Reform' With nationwide protests focusing renewed attention and urgency on the issue of police brutality , Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago says that police unions continue to be one of the biggest obstacles to reform .
`` Unfortunately , in history in our city , and I think the history of other cities , unions are extraordinarily reluctant to embrace reform and that 's a current state of affairs here , '' Lightfoot said in an interview Saturday with NPR 's Weekend Edition .
`` We have had to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms , and that 's a shame of the history of collective bargaining where there has n't been an emphasis on reform and accountability . ''
`` These contracts , '' she said , `` are a significant problem and challenge in getting the reforms necessary . ''
Lightfoot rose to political prominence in Chicago by fighting for police reform as a lawyer and head of the Chicago Police Board , a task force on police accountability .
Now , one year into her tenure , and with demonstrations over the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's being tested on whether she 'll be able to enact changes that stymied her predecessors .
Lightfoot has been critical of the police in her time as mayor .
This week , she said police violence and brutality `` demean the badge '' and asked people to report misconduct .
Her comments came amid heightened tensions in Chicago between demonstrators and law enforcement .
Last weekend , six people were shot – one fatally — 240 people were arrested and roughly 20 police officers were injured , the Associated Press reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board president , Ghian Foreman , accused officers of hitting him with batons while he was going for a walk near a protest .
In response , Lightfoot enforced a curfew and called for the firing of officers who hid their badge numbers , and for the firing of an officer who gave the middle finger to protesters .
Speaking with NPR , Lightfoot said the issue of police violence went beyond unions .
She also pointed to the culture of policing .
`` It really comes down to change in the culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture lies in a lot of ways with the supervision .
So we 've placed a lot of emphasis this week — 'we ' meaning the public and the media — on the actions of individual officers , but what I want to know is what 's happening at the supervision level . ''
She cited reports about how Derek Chauvin , the officer who has been charged in the murder of George Floyd , was a training officer .
`` The supervision is critically important , '' Lightfoot said .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire , how you train , and how you hold those supervisors accountable , because that 's where the culture lies , particularly at the first level of supervision .
And we 've got a ways to go in Chicago , but I 'm committed and determined to make sure that we get it right . ''
Hiba Ahmad and Peter Breslow produced and edited this story for radio .

Chicago Mayor Says Police Union Is 'Extraordinarily Reluctant To Embrace Reform'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
With nationwide protests focusing renewed attention and urgency on the issue of police brutality, Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago says that police unions continue to be one of the biggest obstacles to reform.
"Unfortunately, in history in our city, and I think the history of other cities, unions are extraordinarily reluctant to embrace reform and that's a current state of affairs here," Lightfoot said in an interview Saturday with NPR's Weekend Edition. "We have had to take them to arbitration to win very modest reforms, and that's a shame of the history of collective bargaining where there hasn't been an emphasis on reform and accountability."
"These contracts," she said, "are a significant problem and challenge in getting the reforms necessary."
Lightfoot rose to political prominence in Chicago by fighting for police reform as a lawyer and head of the Chicago Police Board, a task force on police accountability. Now, one year into her tenure, and with demonstrations over the death of George Floyd gripping the nation, she's being tested on whether she'll be able to enact changes that stymied her predecessors.
Lightfoot has been critical of the police in her time as mayor. This week, she said police violence and brutality "demean the badge" and asked people to report misconduct.
Her comments came amid heightened tensions in Chicago between demonstrators and law enforcement. Last weekend, six people were shot – one fatally — 240 people were arrested and roughly 20 police officers were injured, the Associated Press reported. On Friday, the current Chicago Police Board president, Ghian Foreman, accused officers of hitting him with batons while he was going for a walk near a protest.
In response, Lightfoot enforced a curfew and called for the firing of officers who hid their badge numbers, and for the firing of an officer who gave the middle finger to protesters.
Speaking with NPR, Lightfoot said the issue of police violence went beyond unions. She also pointed to the culture of policing.
"It really comes down to change in the culture," Lightfoot said. "The culture lies in a lot of ways with the supervision. So we've placed a lot of emphasis this week — 'we' meaning the public and the media — on the actions of individual officers, but what I want to know is what's happening at the supervision level."
She cited reports about how Derek Chauvin, the officer who has been charged in the murder of George Floyd, was a training officer.
"The supervision is critically important," Lightfoot said. "You have got to think about how you hire, how you train, and how you hold those supervisors accountable, because that's where the culture lies, particularly at the first level of supervision. And we've got a ways to go in Chicago, but I'm committed and determined to make sure that we get it right."
Hiba Ahmad and Peter Breslow produced and edited this story for radio.


npr--2020-06-06--Crowd In Canton Joins Small New York Towns Protesting Racism, Police Brutality

Crowds gathered in the northern New York village of Canton , population 6,400 , on Saturday for a vigil honoring black lives lost to police brutality .
The gathering in the village near the Canadian border was one of several taking place this weekend in smaller , more rural towns scattered across New York , reflecting how widespread protests have become outside of major cities .
Another march held in Plattsburgh , about 100 miles east of Canton , drew several hundred more , while about 75 others also gathered south of Plattsburgh in the town of Westport .
Organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kneel on the village green as church bells rang for nine minutes , the length of time a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd before he died .
`` Our discomfort is but a fraction of the pain , '' said Teresa Veramendi after the bells had stopped ringing .
Veramendi works as the social justice coordinator at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton , which for several days has been ringing its bells to honor George Floyd and other black lives lost to police brutality .
Speakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the names and manner of deaths of several black people either killed by police or during a racist altercation .
Mal Brewster just finished her freshman year at SUNY Potsdam , a local university , and shared her own experiences as a black student in northern New York .
`` I 've been to a couple of different frat parties , and there 's been a couple of people that — one too many drinks — and they think it 's comfortable to say the N-word , '' she said .
`` Me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I 've been told I 'm starting a problem . ''
Canton is the county seat of St. Lawrence County , one of the most rural in the state .
Its population is also overwhelmingly white at about 94 % .
Black residents make up just 2.6 % of its demographics .
New York City and other major metropolitan cities continue to attract thousands of protesters and a large portion of media coverage , but smaller protests are popping up everywhere .
BuzzFeed reporter Anne Helen Petersen has been aggregating a thread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut across demographics and geographic spaces . ''
Canton is the home of a small private university and although its politics lean Democratic , the county as a whole has been trending more conservative , voting for President Trump in 2016 .
Michael Welch , a retired mail carrier , was driving by when he decided to stop and join the vigil .
He said he remembers some protests taking place after the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Mo.
, but `` not nearly this size . ''
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea that this is not a matter of Republican or Democrat , this is not a matter of liberal vs. conservative , this is a matter that affects everybody , '' he said .
`` Injustice is injustice . ''

Crowd In Canton Joins Small New York Towns Protesting Racism, Police Brutality
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julia Ritchey/NCPR Julia Ritchey/NCPR
Crowds gathered in the northern New York village of Canton, population 6,400, on Saturday for a vigil honoring black lives lost to police brutality.
The gathering in the village near the Canadian border was one of several taking place this weekend in smaller, more rural towns scattered across New York, reflecting how widespread protests have become outside of major cities. Another march held in Plattsburgh, about 100 miles east of Canton, drew several hundred more, while about 75 others also gathered south of Plattsburgh in the town of Westport.
Organizers of the Canton gathering asked attendees to kneel on the village green as church bells rang for nine minutes, the length of time a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd before he died.
"Our discomfort is but a fraction of the pain," said Teresa Veramendi after the bells had stopped ringing.
Veramendi works as the social justice coordinator at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton, which for several days has been ringing its bells to honor George Floyd and other black lives lost to police brutality.
Speakers at Saturday's vigil also read out the names and manner of deaths of several black people either killed by police or during a racist altercation.
Mal Brewster just finished her freshman year at SUNY Potsdam, a local university, and shared her own experiences as a black student in northern New York.
"I've been to a couple of different frat parties, and there's been a couple of people that — one too many drinks — and they think it's comfortable to say the N-word," she said. "Me being outnumbered, if I say something, I've been told I'm starting a problem."
Canton is the county seat of St. Lawrence County, one of the most rural in the state. Its population is also overwhelmingly white at about 94%. Black residents make up just 2.6% of its demographics.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julia Ritchey/NCPR Julia Ritchey/NCPR
New York City and other major metropolitan cities continue to attract thousands of protesters and a large portion of media coverage, but smaller protests are popping up everywhere. BuzzFeed reporter Anne Helen Petersen has been aggregating a thread of these protests, noting they "cut across demographics and geographic spaces."
Canton is the home of a small private university and although its politics lean Democratic, the county as a whole has been trending more conservative, voting for President Trump in 2016.
Michael Welch, a retired mail carrier, was driving by when he decided to stop and join the vigil. He said he remembers some protests taking place after the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., but "not nearly this size."
"I think people are coming around to the idea that this is not a matter of Republican or Democrat, this is not a matter of liberal vs. conservative, this is a matter that affects everybody," he said. "Injustice is injustice."


npr--2020-06-06--Crowds Assemble Across Washington In Mass Demonstrations Against Police Violence

Crowds Assemble Across Washington In Mass Demonstrations Against Police Violence Since George Floyd 's death in Minneapolis , few communities have teemed with such outspoken frustration as the city just outside President Trump 's window — and that dissatisfaction was again on ample display Saturday in Washington , D.C. Throngs of protesters gathered peacefully in front of the Lincoln Memorial by midday for a rally that was slated to be just the first of more than a dozen similar events at other major landmarks around the greater D.C. region on Saturday .
Thousands have already joined a massive demonstration across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park and the intersection that has become a focal point of the district 's protests over the death of George Floyd .
Floyd , a black man , was killed last month when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes .
At one corner of the intersection is St. John 's Church in Lafayette Square , the site of a controversial visit by the president on Monday in which peaceful protesters were tear-gassed in order to make way for his appearance there .
Now , with the blessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowser — whom Trump has roundly criticized on Twitter — the stretch of street in front of the church has been officially renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza and now bears a two-block-long mural declaring the slogan in bold yellow letters .
The atmosphere of the protests was largely peaceful , joyful and optimistic .
With temperatures approaching 90 degrees , participants handed one another water and passed around masks to help protect against the coronavirus .
The crowd rippled with chants of `` no justice , no peace , '' and at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lean on Me , '' which has become something of an unofficial anthem at protests in Washington since since local singer Kenny Sway led the crowd in a singalong Wednesday in front of the White House .
The show of law enforcement at the protest Saturday appeared lighter in comparison with other recent demonstrations in which large contingents of police and National Guard troops were deployed .
In previous days , troops in riot gear had stood shoulder to shoulder in Lafayette Square in front of the White House , but troops or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon .
The presence of law enforcement also appeared diminished across much of the downtown perimeter as compared with earlier in the week .
Defense Department officials earlier this week ordered home some 1,600 active-duty soldiers who had been brought to military bases near D.C .
The troops were never deployed in the nation 's capital , though Trump had threatened to do so .

Crowds Assemble Across Washington In Mass Demonstrations Against Police Violence
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
Since George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, few communities have teemed with such outspoken frustration as the city just outside President Trump's window — and that dissatisfaction was again on ample display Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Throngs of protesters gathered peacefully in front of the Lincoln Memorial by midday for a rally that was slated to be just the first of more than a dozen similar events at other major landmarks around the greater D.C. region on Saturday.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
Thousands have already joined a massive demonstration across from the White House, overflowing a park and the intersection that has become a focal point of the district's protests over the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, a black man, was killed last month when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
At one corner of the intersection is St. John's Church in Lafayette Square, the site of a controversial visit by the president on Monday in which peaceful protesters were tear-gassed in order to make way for his appearance there.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Cheryl Diaz Meyer for NPR Cheryl Diaz Meyer for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Now, with the blessing of city leaders such as Mayor Muriel Bowser — whom Trump has roundly criticized on Twitter — the stretch of street in front of the church has been officially renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza and now bears a two-block-long mural declaring the slogan in bold yellow letters.
The atmosphere of the protests was largely peaceful, joyful and optimistic. With temperatures approaching 90 degrees, participants handed one another water and passed around masks to help protect against the coronavirus.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
The crowd rippled with chants of "no justice, no peace," and at one point broke into a rendition of "Lean on Me," which has become something of an unofficial anthem at protests in Washington since since local singer Kenny Sway led the crowd in a singalong Wednesday in front of the White House.
The show of law enforcement at the protest Saturday appeared lighter in comparison with other recent demonstrations in which large contingents of police and National Guard troops were deployed.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Cheryl Diaz Meyer for NPR Cheryl Diaz Meyer for NPR
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eman Mohammed for NPR Eman Mohammed for NPR
In previous days, troops in riot gear had stood shoulder to shoulder in Lafayette Square in front of the White House, but troops or police were not easily visible early Saturday afternoon. The presence of law enforcement also appeared diminished across much of the downtown perimeter as compared with earlier in the week.
Defense Department officials earlier this week ordered home some 1,600 active-duty soldiers who had been brought to military bases near D.C. The troops were never deployed in the nation's capital, though Trump had threatened to do so.


npr--2020-06-06--Maryland Man Charged In Assault On Activists For Racial Justice Along D.C. Area Trail

Maryland Man Charged In Assault On Activists For Racial Justice Along D.C. Area Trail A 60-year-old man has been arrested in Maryland following allegations that he assaulted a group of three young adults who were hanging flyers in support of George Floyd and an end to racial injustice .
The confrontation drew widespread outrage when video of the encounter was posted online .
Authorities with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police said Friday that Anthony Brennan III of Kensingston , Md.
, has been charged with second-degree assault in relation to the Monday incident .
In a 34-second video , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male cyclist is seen confronting two young women .
As one of them steers clear of him , he walks toward her and grabs her arm as he tries to rip the flyers from her hand .
The other woman and the man taping the incident yell at the cyclist : `` leave her alone , '' `` walk away '' and `` do not touch her . ''
The cyclist then picks up his bike and begins to run toward the man with the camera and knocks him over , according the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a local NBC affiliate , the male victim , who asked to remain anonymous , said the cyclist rushed at him while he was filming the incident and then pinned him to the ground .
`` You guys [ are ] inciting riots , ' '' he said the cyclist yelled at him .
`` He kept saying we 're 'deviants . '
I 'm not sure exactly what he meant by that . ''
WJLA , a local ABC affiliate , reports that the flyers read : `` Killer cops will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to text `` Floyd '' to a number listed on the flyer .
George Floyd was killed last month when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for about nine minutes .
His death has sparked worldwide protests .
Police say the incident occurred along the Capital Crescent Trail , which runs from the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington , D.C. through Bethesda , Md.
, a nearby affluent suburb .
Authorities in Maryland began asking for help identifying the cyclist on Tuesday , leading to hundreds of tips .
Brennan has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys , according to media reports .
The website DCist reports that Brennan says he is `` sick with remorse for the pain and fear I caused the victims . ''
`` I am committed to making amends by addressing , through counseling , the underlying issues that led to my abhorrent behavior , '' Brennan said .
Before Brennan was identified as a suspect , however , Internet sleuths wrongly identified at least two other men as the cyclist — a former employee of the Montgomery County Department of Police and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautioned the public against circulating the names of individuals believed to be the cyclist .
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said on Twitter the public response had led authorities to a `` strong suspect . ''
But , he warned , publicly identifying individuals could `` risk harm to innocent people . ''

Maryland Man Charged In Assault On Activists For Racial Justice Along D.C. Area Trail
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
A 60-year-old man has been arrested in Maryland following allegations that he assaulted a group of three young adults who were hanging flyers in support of George Floyd and an end to racial injustice. The confrontation drew widespread outrage when video of the encounter was posted online.
Authorities with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police said Friday that Anthony Brennan III of Kensingston, Md., has been charged with second-degree assault in relation to the Monday incident.
In a 34-second video, which quickly went viral, an older white male cyclist is seen confronting two young women. As one of them steers clear of him, he walks toward her and grabs her arm as he tries to rip the flyers from her hand.
The other woman and the man taping the incident yell at the cyclist: "leave her alone," "walk away" and "do not touch her." The cyclist then picks up his bike and begins to run toward the man with the camera and knocks him over, according the police press release.
In an interview with a local NBC affiliate, the male victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said the cyclist rushed at him while he was filming the incident and then pinned him to the ground.
"You guys [are] inciting riots,'" he said the cyclist yelled at him."He kept saying we're 'deviants.' I'm not sure exactly what he meant by that."
WJLA, a local ABC affiliate, reports that the flyers read: "Killer cops will not go free" and instructed individuals to text "Floyd" to a number listed on the flyer.
George Floyd was killed last month when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for about nine minutes. His death has sparked worldwide protests.
Police say the incident occurred along the Capital Crescent Trail, which runs from the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington, D.C. through Bethesda, Md., a nearby affluent suburb.
Authorities in Maryland began asking for help identifying the cyclist on Tuesday, leading to hundreds of tips.
Brennan has since expressed remorse for the attack through his attorneys, according to media reports. The website DCist reports that Brennan says he is "sick with remorse for the pain and fear I caused the victims."
"I am committed to making amends by addressing, through counseling, the underlying issues that led to my abhorrent behavior," Brennan said.
Before Brennan was identified as a suspect, however, Internet sleuths wrongly identified at least two other men as the cyclist — a former employee of the Montgomery County Department of Police and a marketing director. In response, authorities cautioned the public against circulating the names of individuals believed to be the cyclist.
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said on Twitter the public response had led authorities to a "strong suspect." But, he warned, publicly identifying individuals could "risk harm to innocent people."


npr--2020-06-06--2 Buffalo Police Officers Charged With Shoving Protester To Ground

Prosecutors have handed down charges for the two Buffalo Police officers seen apparently shoving an elderly protester in a graphic video earlier this week .
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced Saturday that officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski are facing one count each of second-degree assault .
Both officers have pleaded not guilty .
Flynn said the severity of the charge , which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison , is partly because of the age difference between the protester and the men charged .
In the video , the officers appear to shove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of City Hall as their fellow officers walk past .
`` It 's black and white in the letter of the law , '' Flynn told a news conference .
`` It says right there , anyone who 's a victim 65 years or older and the perpetrator is [ at least ] 10 years younger — it 's a felony . ''
After McCabe and Torgalski were suspended without pay , all 57 members of their unit , the Emergency Response Team ( ERT ) , resigned their positions with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department .
`` While some officers have chosen to remove themselves from a voluntary assignment with the ERT , it is important to note that no officers have actually resigned from the police force , '' Commissioner Byron Lockwood said in a statement Friday .
`` We have a contingency plan , '' Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told a news conference , when asked about the resignations .
`` We always have a contingency plan . ''
The officers have not publicly come forward to explain the mass resignation .
John Evans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , told local NBC affiliate WGRZ the reason was `` disgust because of the treatment of two of their members , who were simply executing orders . ''
Another local media outlet , ABC affiliate WKBW , cited a pair of unnamed members of the ERT who contradicted the union 's explanation , saying the resignation `` has nothing to do with us supporting '' the pair of suspended officers .
Rather , the resignations , according to one officer , came because the union is not `` legally backing us anymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversy gripping the department is the incident Thursday evening in downtown Buffalo , where officers were beginning to clear the area for a curfew .
In a video captured by local NPR member station WBFO , Gugino approaches riot police officers , only to have them shove him backward .
When the man falls , his head hits the pavement and blood begins to drip from his ear as the bulk of the unit continues to walk past him ; and at least one officer seeks help .
Gugino was hospitalized and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' according to a statement issued by his attorneys on Friday .
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz , at a news conference Friday , said he is `` progressing in his recovery . ''
`` Police and other law enforcement have a duty to serve and protect the public .
We need them to be the guardians of the public , not warriors engaged in battle with the public , '' Poloncarz said .
The charges brought Saturday add to what has been a growing tally of such actions filed against officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Minneapolis , prosecutors charged George Floyd 's arresting officer with murder after video showed him planting his knee on Floyd 's neck for nearly nine minutes ; three other officers who were at the scene were charged with aiding and abetting murder .
In Atlanta , a half-dozen officers face charges for a violent arrest during protests set off by Floyd 's death .

2 Buffalo Police Officers Charged With Shoving Protester To Ground
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Desmond/WBFO via AP Mike Desmond/WBFO via AP
Updated at 12:53 p.m. ET
Prosecutors have handed down charges for the two Buffalo Police officers seen apparently shoving an elderly protester in a graphic video earlier this week.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced Saturday that officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski are facing one count each of second-degree assault. Both officers have pleaded not guilty.
Flynn said the severity of the charge, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, is partly because of the age difference between the protester and the men charged. In the video, the officers appear to shove and injure Martin Gugino, 75, outside of City Hall as their fellow officers walk past.
"It's black and white in the letter of the law," Flynn told a news conference. "It says right there, anyone who's a victim 65 years or older and the perpetrator is [at least] 10 years younger — it's a felony."
After McCabe and Torgalski were suspended without pay, all 57 members of their unit, the Emergency Response Team (ERT), resigned their positions with the team on Friday and sought reassignment within the department.
"While some officers have chosen to remove themselves from a voluntary assignment with the ERT, it is important to note that no officers have actually resigned from the police force," Commissioner Byron Lockwood said in a statement Friday.
"We have a contingency plan," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told a news conference, when asked about the resignations. "We always have a contingency plan."
The officers have not publicly come forward to explain the mass resignation. John Evans, president of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, told local NBC affiliate WGRZ the reason was "disgust because of the treatment of two of their members, who were simply executing orders."
Another local media outlet, ABC affiliate WKBW, cited a pair of unnamed members of the ERT who contradicted the union's explanation, saying the resignation "has nothing to do with us supporting" the pair of suspended officers. Rather, the resignations, according to one officer, came because the union is not "legally backing us anymore."
At the root of the controversy gripping the department is the incident Thursday evening in downtown Buffalo, where officers were beginning to clear the area for a curfew. In a video captured by local NPR member station WBFO, Gugino approaches riot police officers, only to have them shove him backward.
When the man falls, his head hits the pavement and blood begins to drip from his ear as the bulk of the unit continues to walk past him; and at least one officer seeks help.
Gugino was hospitalized and is now in "serious but stable condition," according to a statement issued by his attorneys on Friday. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, at a news conference Friday, said he is "progressing in his recovery."
"Police and other law enforcement have a duty to serve and protect the public. We need them to be the guardians of the public, not warriors engaged in battle with the public," Poloncarz said.
The charges brought Saturday add to what has been a growing tally of such actions filed against officers in multiple cities in recent days. In Minneapolis, prosecutors charged George Floyd's arresting officer with murder after video showed him planting his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes; three other officers who were at the scene were charged with aiding and abetting murder. In Atlanta, a half-dozen officers face charges for a violent arrest during protests set off by Floyd's death.


npr--2020-06-06--After Unprecedented Strains With Longtime Friend U.S., Kosovo Has A New Government

After Unprecedented Strains With Longtime Friend U.S. , Kosovo Has A New Government Albin Kurti became prime minister of Kosovo in February by promising jobs and justice .
A former activist who was often arrested at anti-corruption protests and once set off tear gas in parliament , he is described by friends and foes alike as a cross between Che Guevara and Bernie Sanders .
But there 's one view he shares with all politicians in Kosovo : He loves the United States .
`` I always viewed the United States of America as the greatest ally , '' Kurti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an indispensable partner for us in war and in peace , for justice and development and democracy . ''
This year , though , unprecedented tensions arose between Washington and Kosovo , which is widely acknowledged as the most pro-American country in the world .
The strains emerged over U.S. efforts to find a quick solution to Kosovo 's long-troubled relationship with neighboring Serbia , of which it used to be part .
After only weeks in office , Kurti 's government was toppled , and this week a new prime minister was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliamentary coup d'etat '' engineered by political rivals and supported by a U.S. envoy .
The U.S. helped create Kosovo , whose population is Muslim-majority and mostly ethnic Albanian , as an independent nation .
When the U.S. led NATO into war in the Balkans in the 1990s , one of its missions was to protect the people of Kosovo from ethnic cleansing .
In 2008 , when Kosovo declared independence , the U.S. was one of the first countries to recognize it , opening an embassy in the capital Pristina .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Serbia 's allies , including Russia , have blocked Kosovo from joining the United Nations .
Some European Union countries — including allies of Serbia or those wanting to avoid encouraging separatists at home — are also blocking Kosovo from joining the EU .
Serbia tried to block Kosovo from joining Interpol , and in response , Kosovo imposed 100 % customs duties on Serbian goods .
Kosovar political analyst Agon Maliqi sees the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo sapping both countries ' economies and democracies and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have these malign actors using regions like the Balkans for proxy battles by abusing nationalist sentiments , '' he says .
`` So why not do something big that resolves this thing once and for all ? ''
Enter Richard Grenell , appointed by President Trump last fall , while Grenell was serving as U.S .
Ambassador to Germany , as special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations .
`` President Trump has been singularly focused on trying to solve this problem by not looking backwards , by not just having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Grenell told reporters in Kosovo in January .
Petrit Selimi , a former Kosovo foreign minister who now runs the U.S.-funded Millennium Foundation , welcomed Grenell 's appointment as a `` very positive '' sign that the U.S. had re-engaged with the Balkans after `` dropping the ball during the last decade . ''
He said there was hope for an `` intensive diplomatic effort to close painful chapters between Kosovo and Serbia . ''
Grenell — who resigned this week as U.S .
Ambassador to Germany but remains Serbia-Kosovo envoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would bring economic benefits .
`` What I am trying to do is just look at all of the issues that have been stuck on the table that have economic impact and we are just going to a wrestle them through , '' he said in January .
`` We 're going to push both the government and the leaders in Kosovo and Serbia to say , 'look at the people , start moving forward with jobs . '
'' Grenell 's pitch initially appealed to Kurti , who leads Kosovo 's leftist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate is 26 % .
But Kurti objected to the way Grenell went about it .
`` In the past , American envoys , be they from State Department or from the White House , they were meeting us halfway , they were mediators , '' he says .
`` It is the first time now that we have an American envoy , he has the same identical stance with Serbia . ''
According to Kurti and diplomats involved in the negotiations , Grenell largely bypassed the European Union , which has traditionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unconditionally drop its tariffs on Serbian goods .
Kurti refused to do so .
In response , the U.S. froze $ 50 million in development aid to Kosovo .
Grenell retweeted a call by Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue saying , `` If Kosovo is not fully committed to peace , then the U.S. should reconsider its presence there . ''
Some 600 U.S. peacekeeping troops are stationed in the country .
`` It appears Grenell put extraordinary pressure on the government of Kosovo , '' says Molly Montgomery , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution .
`` And he also seems to have given up the United States ' traditional role as Kosovo 's main champion . ''
Kurti also claims Grenell and Kosovo 's President Hashim Thaci are pushing land swaps with Serbia , which would likely involve population exchanges — a potentially explosive move in countries that made up the former Yugoslavia , torn apart by war and ethnic violence in the 1990s .
`` The implementation could result in de facto ethnic cleansing , '' warns Montgomery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence between Serbs and Kosovars , as well as movement toward secession in other parts of the Western Balkans . ''
In an April tweet , Grenell denied discussing land swaps .
Neither he nor the State Department would elaborate further to NPR .
A spokesperson for Grenell , Dick R. Custin , said Grenell was `` unavailable for comment . ''
Kurti suggests Grenell is trying to rush a Kosovo-Serbia deal to clinch a quick foreign policy win for President Trump in an election year .
`` Obviously , [ Grenell ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an agreement rather than to its content and consequences , '' he says .
`` And with this rush , he can cause more problems than offer solutions . ''
Others worry the longer things drag on , the more difficult it will be to reach an agreement .
`` I 'm not not saying that Kosovo has now to do whatever U.S. tells it to do and that we should swallow some extremely bitter pills , '' Maliqi says , `` but a deal sooner rather than later is in our strategic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see Grenell as a `` new opening for Serbian-American relations , '' says Milan Igrutinovic , an international relations scholar at the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade , Serbia 's capital .
The Serbian government , he says , now feels it can manage a deal that `` is more than the recognition of Kosovo 's independence , something that can be presented as an equitable , reasonable , productive deal , a non-defeat , to the Serbs . ''
As the coronavirus pandemic was spreading in March , Kurti 's government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament .
Kosovo 's citizens protested the political turmoil by banging pots and pans from home , where they were in quarantine .
`` People here were very , very keen to see Albin Kurti as prime minister , '' says Teuta Arifaj , a news editor at Kohavision television .
`` For many , he is the only hope for this country . ''
On June 3 , the parliament voted to install a new prime minister , Avdullah Hoti , an economics professor from the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a `` final deal '' with Serbia but does not support changing Kosovo 's borders .
Grenell has welcomed Hoti 's appointment .
As for Kurti , he questions whether Grenell can negotiate a sustainable deal between Kosovo and Serbia , but still considers the U.S. Kosovo 's best friend .
Just a few days after the vote to oust him , he tweeted support for the U.S. — `` a beacon of hope for millions '' — as it battles COVID-19 , with a photo of a Kosovo government building draped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , '' he says .
`` We still do say that . ''

After Unprecedented Strains With Longtime Friend U.S., Kosovo Has A New Government
Enlarge this image toggle caption Visar Kryeziu/AP Visar Kryeziu/AP
Albin Kurti became prime minister of Kosovo in February by promising jobs and justice. A former activist who was often arrested at anti-corruption protests and once set off tear gas in parliament, he is described by friends and foes alike as a cross between Che Guevara and Bernie Sanders.
But there's one view he shares with all politicians in Kosovo: He loves the United States.
"I always viewed the United States of America as the greatest ally," Kurti, 45, tells NPR, "an indispensable partner for us in war and in peace, for justice and development and democracy."
This year, though, unprecedented tensions arose between Washington and Kosovo, which is widely acknowledged as the most pro-American country in the world. The strains emerged over U.S. efforts to find a quick solution to Kosovo's long-troubled relationship with neighboring Serbia, of which it used to be part. After only weeks in office, Kurti's government was toppled, and this week a new prime minister was named — something Kurti calls a "parliamentary coup d'etat" engineered by political rivals and supported by a U.S. envoy.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Visar Kryeziu/AP Visar Kryeziu/AP
The U.S. helped create Kosovo, whose population is Muslim-majority and mostly ethnic Albanian, as an independent nation. When the U.S. led NATO into war in the Balkans in the 1990s, one of its missions was to protect the people of Kosovo from ethnic cleansing. In 2008, when Kosovo declared independence, the U.S. was one of the first countries to recognize it, opening an embassy in the capital Pristina.
But Serbia still claims Kosovo as its own. Serbia's allies, including Russia, have blocked Kosovo from joining the United Nations. Some European Union countries — including allies of Serbia or those wanting to avoid encouraging separatists at home — are also blocking Kosovo from joining the EU. Serbia tried to block Kosovo from joining Interpol, and in response, Kosovo imposed 100% customs duties on Serbian goods.
Kosovar political analyst Agon Maliqi sees the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo sapping both countries' economies and democracies and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by Russia and China.
"You have these malign actors using regions like the Balkans for proxy battles by abusing nationalist sentiments," he says. "So why not do something big that resolves this thing once and for all?"
Enter Richard Grenell, appointed by President Trump last fall, while Grenell was serving as U.S. Ambassador to Germany, as special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations.
"President Trump has been singularly focused on trying to solve this problem by not looking backwards, by not just having the same old political stalemate and arguments," Grenell told reporters in Kosovo in January.
Petrit Selimi, a former Kosovo foreign minister who now runs the U.S.-funded Millennium Foundation, welcomed Grenell's appointment as a "very positive" sign that the U.S. had re-engaged with the Balkans after "dropping the ball during the last decade." He said there was hope for an "intensive diplomatic effort to close painful chapters between Kosovo and Serbia."
Grenell — who resigned this week as U.S. Ambassador to Germany but remains Serbia-Kosovo envoy — has urged a quick deal that would bring economic benefits.
"What I am trying to do is just look at all of the issues that have been stuck on the table that have economic impact and we are just going to a wrestle them through," he said in January. "We're going to push both the government and the leaders in Kosovo and Serbia to say, 'look at the people, start moving forward with jobs.'"
Grenell's pitch initially appealed to Kurti, who leads Kosovo's leftist Self-Determination Movement party. Kosovo's unemployment rate is 26%. But Kurti objected to the way Grenell went about it.
"In the past, American envoys, be they from State Department or from the White House, they were meeting us halfway, they were mediators," he says. "It is the first time now that we have an American envoy, he has the same identical stance with Serbia."
According to Kurti and diplomats involved in the negotiations, Grenell largely bypassed the European Union, which has traditionally led Kosovo-Serbia negotiations, and pressed Kosovo to unconditionally drop its tariffs on Serbian goods.
Kurti refused to do so. In response, the U.S. froze $50 million in development aid to Kosovo. Grenell retweeted a call by Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue saying, "If Kosovo is not fully committed to peace, then the U.S. should reconsider its presence there." Some 600 U.S. peacekeeping troops are stationed in the country.
"It appears Grenell put extraordinary pressure on the government of Kosovo," says Molly Montgomery, a former U.S. diplomat in the Balkans and now a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution. "And he also seems to have given up the United States' traditional role as Kosovo's main champion."
Kurti also claims Grenell and Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci are pushing land swaps with Serbia, which would likely involve population exchanges — a potentially explosive move in countries that made up the former Yugoslavia, torn apart by war and ethnic violence in the 1990s.
"The implementation could result in de facto ethnic cleansing," warns Montgomery. "We would potentially see renewed ethnic violence between Serbs and Kosovars, as well as movement toward secession in other parts of the Western Balkans."
In an April tweet, Grenell denied discussing land swaps. Neither he nor the State Department would elaborate further to NPR. A spokesperson for Grenell, Dick R. Custin, said Grenell was "unavailable for comment."
Kurti suggests Grenell is trying to rush a Kosovo-Serbia deal to clinch a quick foreign policy win for President Trump in an election year.
"Obviously, [Grenell] gives priority to the speed of reaching an agreement rather than to its content and consequences," he says. "And with this rush, he can cause more problems than offer solutions."
Others worry the longer things drag on, the more difficult it will be to reach an agreement.
"I'm not not saying that Kosovo has now to do whatever U.S. tells it to do and that we should swallow some extremely bitter pills," Maliqi says, "but a deal sooner rather than later is in our strategic interest."
Serbs, meanwhile, see Grenell as a "new opening for Serbian-American relations," says Milan Igrutinovic, an international relations scholar at the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade, Serbia's capital. The Serbian government, he says, now feels it can manage a deal that "is more than the recognition of Kosovo's independence, something that can be presented as an equitable, reasonable, productive deal, a non-defeat, to the Serbs."
As the coronavirus pandemic was spreading in March, Kurti's government lost a no-confidence vote in Kosovo's parliament. Kosovo's citizens protested the political turmoil by banging pots and pans from home, where they were in quarantine.
"People here were very, very keen to see Albin Kurti as prime minister," says Teuta Arifaj, a news editor at Kohavision television. "For many, he is the only hope for this country."
On June 3, the parliament voted to install a new prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, an economics professor from the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo. Hoti told parliament that he would push for a "final deal" with Serbia but does not support changing Kosovo's borders. Grenell has welcomed Hoti's appointment.
As for Kurti, he questions whether Grenell can negotiate a sustainable deal between Kosovo and Serbia, but still considers the U.S. Kosovo's best friend. Just a few days after the vote to oust him, he tweeted support for the U.S. — "a beacon of hope for millions" — as it battles COVID-19, with a photo of a Kosovo government building draped by the American flag.
"America First," he says. "We still do say that."


npr--2020-06-06--From 'Flash Bangs' To 'Rubber' Bullets: The Very Real Risks of 'Riot Control Agents'

From 'Flash Bangs ' To 'Rubber ' Bullets : The Very Real Risks of 'Riot Control Agents' Nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism have brought tens of thousands of Americans into tense and sometimes violent encounters with law enforcement .
Many police departments are using crowd-control tactics like barriers , curfews and surveillance and riot-control weapons such as tear gas , rubber bullets and flash bangs .
Concern about the excessive use of these weapons has been growing in recent days : On Friday , the mayor of Seattle announced a 30-day ban on the use of tear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities to do the same .
In Minneapolis , where George Floyd died last week after a police officer pressed a knee into his neck , the police department agreed to ban the use of chokeholds .
Police departments use a variety of strategies and weapons against crowds .
Often dubbed `` less than lethal '' weapons , they can still cause serious injuries , and the occasional death , especially when used at close range .
What is it ?
Tear gas is an umbrella term for a variety of aerosolized chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incapacitate and disperse crowds .
CS gas and pepper spray are the most common .
Although chemically different , they both target pain-sensing nerves and cause similar symptoms .
The active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum , which is derived from chiles .
In contrast , CS gas ( o‐chlorobenzylidene malononitrile ) is a chlorinated , organic chemical .
( An alternative to CS gas is CN ( chloroacetophenone ) , still used in Mace , but it 's not widely used for crowd control anymore because it is more toxic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear gas '' chemicals now seen drifting over crowds in the recent protests are banned in warfare .
But the Chemical Weapons Convention does not bar their use against civilians as `` riot control agents , '' or RCAs .
How do police use these chemicals ?
In law enforcement , they are called `` riot control agents . ''
Police spray them as a liquid from a pressurized dispenser , lob them into crowds as grenades or fire off canisters that contain a powdered blend , which then disperses as smoke or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine what exact chemicals are being used , though , says Charles Mesloh , a professor of criminal justice at Northern Michigan University .
`` There 's no regulation on chemical agents , so you can put anything in that you want , '' he says .
Mesloh has analyzed numerous brands and found in them chemicals such as dry-cleaning solvent .
Mesloh says sometimes you can get hints of what is being used from the color of the smoke .
He warns that one should be extra wary when the smoke has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the 2014 Ferguson protests .
An unusual blend of colors can indicate different brands and chemicals are mixing together , which could be hazardous , Mesloh says .
What do they do to your body ?
Tear gases and pepper sprays induce a cascade of symptoms .
Eyes tear up , become inflamed , and feel like they 're burning .
Sometimes vision becomes blurry .
Your skin may turn red , break out in blisters , or develop a rash or chemical burn .
Inhaling tear gas causes violent coughing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggle to breathe .
CS gas can also provoke severe inflammation and cause chemical injury to the lining of the airways and the lungs , according to Duke University professor Sven Eric Jordt , who studies the physiological effects of tear gas .
Some people also experience severe respiratory symptoms such as pulmonary edema , reactive airways dysfunction and respiratory arrest , vomiting and allergic reactions from these chemical agents .
Other possible health effects include permanent damage to the tissues of the eye , persistent symptoms of asthma and traumatic brain injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemicals .
How likely am I to be seriously hurt from tear gas ?
The use of tear gas and other chemical irritants has been increasing , both in the U.S. and globally .
Jordt and other experts say there needs to be more research on their risks , especially when used against civilians who may have underlying health conditions .
A 2017 review of the evidence found the majority of exposed people recover after being exposed to tear gas and pepper spray .
The chemical irritants are rarely lethal , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant injuries as well as permanent disabilities , '' particularly if there is prolonged exposure .
Your overall vulnerability hinges on several factors : how close you are , how much is used and whether the exposure happens outdoors ( safer ) versus indoors ( less safe ) .
`` We now have more evidence that tear gas is much more toxic than it was previously thought , '' says Jordt .
A 2014 study showed that tear gas makes people more susceptible to developing respiratory illness .
This finding led the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CS gas its recruits were exposed to during training exercises .
Experts have told NPR that using these chemical agents during the coronavirus pandemic is especially problematic because they cause people to cough and spread infectious droplets , and set back the body 's antiviral defenses , making it more likely for someone to develop symptomatic or severe COVID-19 .
What should I do if I 'm exposed to tear gas or pepper spray ?
The best thing you can do is get away from the chemicals .
Then apply `` copious amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using soap if possible , says Dr. Ruddy Rose , director of the Virginia Poison Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center .
For your eyes , Rose advises continuously irrigating them for 10 to 15 minutes with saline solution , if possible .
Although milk can help relieve the burning sensation of spicy food , and can have soothing effects on the skin , Rose says it is not necessarily helpful for dealing with the pain of tear gas or pepper spray .
You should definitely not flush your eyes with milk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothing that came into contact with tear gas .
Flash bangs are explosives that are intended to stun and disorient people .
`` All you are trying to do is make a loud noise and a bright light , '' says Mesloh , who compares the explosion to that of an M-80 firecracker .
Flash bangs are designed to temporarily blind or deafen people .
But in rare circumstances , they can cause serious injuries ( like blowing off fingers or hands ) or even death .
That may happen when the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and injure themselves .
You are also at risk if a flash-grenade explodes near glass or gravel , creating a dangerous spray of tiny sharp fragments .
Also , flash bangs can start fires .
What are they ?
Protest coverage has described police officers shooting `` rubber bullets , '' but that term can be misleading , says Brian Higgins at John Jay College of Criminal Justice .
Police use a wide variety of `` less than lethal '' projectiles made of plastic , rubber , dense foam or a sponge-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have metal cores .
Police also shoot special bean bags that fit into shotgun casings .
`` Pepper balls '' are filled with pepper spray , but are sometimes mistaken for rubber bullets when they do n't explode on impact .
Another form of projectile are baton rounds made of plastic , wood or rubber that are intended to be shot toward the ground and skip , before making contact with someone .
How dangerous are `` less than lethal '' projectiles ?
There are now numerous examples from recent days of protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blinded by these projectiles .
Higgins says `` these rounds are not supposed to be fired indiscriminately into a crowd . ''
He says police should be trained to shoot them at the lower body — never above the shoulders — and not at close contact .
As Kaiser Health News reports , they can break bones , fracture skulls , explode eyeballs , cause traumatic brain injury and damage internal organs .
A 2017 study found that among people injured by `` less than lethal '' projectiles , more than 70 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanently injured and less than 3 % percent died .
The study 's authors concluded that these projectiles `` do not appear to be an appropriate means of force in crowd-control settings . ''
Research shows that using these weapons does not deescalate tensions during protests , but can actually lead to more violence .

From 'Flash Bangs' To 'Rubber' Bullets: The Very Real Risks of 'Riot Control Agents'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism have brought tens of thousands of Americans into tense and sometimes violent encounters with law enforcement. Many police departments are using crowd-control tactics like barriers, curfews and surveillance and riot-control weapons such as tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs.
Concern about the excessive use of these weapons has been growing in recent days: On Friday, the mayor of Seattle announced a 30-day ban on the use of tear gas. There are calls for other cities to do the same. In Minneapolis, where George Floyd died last week after a police officer pressed a knee into his neck, the police department agreed to ban the use of chokeholds.
Police departments use a variety of strategies and weapons against crowds. Often dubbed "less than lethal" or "less lethal" weapons, they can still cause serious injuries, and the occasional death, especially when used at close range.
"Tear gas"
What is it? Tear gas is an umbrella term for a variety of aerosolized chemical irritants used by police and military to incapacitate and disperse crowds. CS gas and pepper spray are the most common. Although chemically different, they both target pain-sensing nerves and cause similar symptoms. The active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum, which is derived from chiles. In contrast, CS gas (o‐chlorobenzylidene malononitrile) is a chlorinated, organic chemical. (An alternative to CS gas is CN (chloroacetophenone), still used in Mace, but it's not widely used for crowd control anymore because it is more toxic than CS gas.)
The "tear gas" chemicals now seen drifting over crowds in the recent protests are banned in warfare. But the Chemical Weapons Convention does not bar their use against civilian populations, during protests, riots, or other forms of upheaval.
How do police use these chemicals?
In law enforcement, they are called "riot control agents," or RCAs. Police spray them as a liquid from a pressurized dispenser, lob them into crowds as grenades or fire off canisters that contain a powdered blend, which then disperses as smoke or fog. It can be difficult to determine what exact chemicals are being used because manufacturers don't have to disclose their formulas, says Charles Mesloh, a professor of criminal justice at Northern Michigan University. "There's no regulation on chemical agents, so you can put anything in that you want," he says.
Mesloh has analyzed numerous brands and found in them chemicals such as dry-cleaning solvent. Mesloh says sometimes you can get hints of what is being used from the color of the smoke. He warns that one should be extra wary when the smoke has a rainbow-like appearance — something he observed during the 2014 Ferguson protests. An unusual blend of colors can indicate different brands and chemicals are mixing together, which could be hazardous, Mesloh says.
What do they do to your body?
Tear gases and pepper sprays induce a cascade of symptoms. Eyes tear up, become inflamed, and feel like they're burning. Sometimes vision becomes blurry. Your skin may turn red, break out in blisters, or develop a rash or chemical burn. Inhaling tear gas causes violent coughing, crying and mucus production. Sometimes people struggle to breathe.
SAFETY TIPS FOR PROTESTERS Don't wear contact lenses, but do consider eye protection
Wear a bike helmet to protect your head
Bring plenty of water
Use a cloth face covering and goggles for chemical irritants and the coronavirus
Leave most valuables at home, but consider bringing a small towel, umbrella for sun and shielding, sunscreen, ID and medical information
Find a buddy and keep track of each other
CS gas can also provoke severe inflammation and cause chemical injury to the lining of the airways and the lungs, according to Duke University professor Sven Eric Jordt, who studies the physiological effects of tear gas. Some people also experience severe symptoms from these chemical agents such as pulmonary edema, reactive airways dysfunction, respiratory arrest, vomiting and allergic reactions. Other possible health effects include permanent damage to the tissues of the eye, persistent symptoms of asthma and traumatic brain injury from the projectiles used to deploy the chemicals.
How likely am I to be seriously hurt from tear gas?
The use of tear gas and other chemical irritants has been increasing, both in the U.S. and globally. Jordt and other experts say there needs to be more research on their risks, especially when used against civilians who may have underlying health conditions. A 2017 review of the evidence found the majority of exposed people recover after being exposed to tear gas and pepper spray. The chemical irritants are rarely lethal, but the authors concluded that they "can cause significant injuries as well as permanent disabilities," particularly if there is prolonged exposure. Your overall vulnerability hinges on several factors: how close you are, how much is used and whether the exposure happens outdoors (safer) versus indoors (less safe).
"We now have more evidence that tear gas is much more toxic than it was previously thought," says Jordt.
A 2014 study showed that tear gas makes people more susceptible to developing respiratory illness. This finding led the U.S. military to significantly reduce the amount of CS gas its recruits were exposed to during training exercises.
Experts have told NPR that using these chemical agents during the coronavirus pandemic is especially problematic because they cause people to cough and spread infectious droplets, and set back the body's antiviral defenses, making it more likely for someone to develop symptomatic or severe COVID-19.
What should I do if I'm exposed to tear gas or pepper spray?
The best thing you can do is get away from the chemicals. Then apply "copious amounts of water on your skin," using soap if possible, says Dr. Ruddy Rose, director of the Virginia Poison Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. For your eyes, Rose advises continuously irrigating them for 10 to 15 minutes with saline solution, if possible. Although milk can help relieve the burning sensation of spicy food, and can have soothing effects on the skin, Rose says it is not necessarily helpful for dealing with the pain of tear gas or pepper spray. You should definitely not flush your eyes with milk, Rose says. Thoroughly wash any clothing that comes into contact with tear gas.
"Flash bangs"
How dangerous are "flash-bang" grenades?
Flash bangs are explosives that are intended to stun and disorient people. "All you are trying to do is make a loud noise and a bright light," says Mesloh, who compares the explosion to that of an M-80 firecracker. Flash bangs are designed to temporarily blind or deafen people. But in rare circumstances, they can cause serious injuries (like blowing off fingers or hands) or even death. That may happen when the police officers make an error throwing the devices, and injure themselves. You are also at risk if a flash-grenade explodes near glass or gravel, creating a dangerous spray of tiny sharp fragments. Also, flash bangs can start fires.
"Rubber bullets"
What are they?
Protest coverage has described police officers shooting "rubber bullets," but that term can be misleading, says Brian Higgins at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Police use a wide variety of "less than lethal" projectiles made of plastic, rubber, dense foam or a sponge-like material with a rubber coating. Others have metal cores. Police also shoot special bean bags that fit into shotgun casings. "Pepper balls" are filled with pepper spray, but are sometimes mistaken for rubber bullets when they don't explode on impact. Other projectiles in this category are "baton rounds" made of plastic, wood or rubber that are intended to be shot toward the ground and skip, before making contact with someone.
How dangerous are "less than lethal" projectiles?
There are now numerous examples from recent days of protesters and journalists being seriously injured and permanently blinded by these projectiles. Higgins says "these rounds are not supposed to be fired indiscriminately into a crowd." He says police should be trained to shoot them at the lower body — never above the shoulders — and not at close contact. As Kaiser Health News reports, they can break bones, fracture skulls, explode eyeballs, cause traumatic brain injury and damage internal organs. A 2017 study found that among people injured by "less than lethal" projectiles, more than 70% had severe injuries, 15% were permanently injured and less than 3% percent died. The study's authors concluded that these projectiles "do not appear to be an appropriate means of force in crowd-control settings." Research shows that using these weapons does not deescalate tensions during protests, but can actually lead to more violence.
This story is part of NPR's reporting collaboration with Kaiser Health News.