npr--2020-06-01--From Jobs To Homeownership, Protests Put Spotlight On Economic Divide

From Jobs To Homeownership , Protests Put Spotlight On Economic Divide The death of a black man at the hands of white police officers has sparked days of civil unrest in the United States .
Those sparks have landed in a tinderbox assembled over decades of economic inequality , now made worse by the coronavirus pandemic .
Minneapolis police officers initially confronted the man — George Floyd — on suspicion that he 'd used a counterfeit $ 20 bill to buy cigarettes .
The viral video of what followed captured an individual tragedy .
But it 's set against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long colored relations between law enforcement and the African American community .
African Americans are worse off than whites by almost every economic measure .
And that divide has only deepened during the pandemic that 's sent the country into its worst economic downturn in generations .
A survey by the Federal Reserve last year found that even in good times , African Americans are less able to pay their monthly bills than whites or Latinos .
That 's hardly surprising , since median income among African Americans is 41 % lower than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also 40 % less likely to own their homes than whites — depriving many African American families of an opportunity to build wealth .
The gap in homeownership is particularly stark in Minneapolis .
A study by Zillow , the online real estate company , found black homeownership in the city lags more than 50 percentage points below the white rate .
`` It tells us that there 's racism baked in to the housing market , '' said Andre Perry , a fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of Know Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America 's Black Cities .
Income disparity , segregation , and racial redlining have all contributed to low national levels of homeownership among African Americans .
Although blacks made housing gains in the 1990s and early 2000s , that was reversed by the subprime mortgage crisis , which led to a wave of foreclosures .
Before the pandemic struck , African Americans were enjoying a strong job market .
The black unemployment rate in February was 5.8 % — near a 50-year low , though still higher than the white rate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups has soared to double-digits .
But the black-white gap has not noticeably worsened .
African Americans who are working , however , are more likely to hold jobs that put them at risk of infection .
A survey by the Labor Department found that in 2018 , less than 20 % of African Americans held jobs they could do from home , compared to about 30 % of whites .
Higher risk of on-the-job exposure to the coronavirus is compounded by African Americans ' higher rates of diabetes , heart disease and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more severe cases of COVID-19 .
`` There have been epidemics in the black community that have existed for generations before COVID , '' Perry said .
`` COVID accentuated and exposed those epidemics . ''
Just as the pandemic puts unequal health outcomes under a microscope , the video of George Floyd 's last moments illuminates the frustration brought about by generations of economic hardship .
`` That action really symbolized the knee on the neck of black homeowners and renters , '' Perry said .
`` It represents the employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits and wages that will lift African American communities . ''
He suggested the demonstrations taking place across the country , five months before a national election , provide an opportunity for candidates to spell out how they would deal with these challenges .
`` If we do n't address the structural inequality , '' Perry said , `` we 'll be right back in the same place when the next inevitable crisis hits . ''

From Jobs To Homeownership, Protests Put Spotlight On Racial Economic Divide
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Minchillo/AP John Minchillo/AP
Updated at 10:36 a.m. ET Wednesday
The death of a black man at the hands of a white police officer has sparked days of civil unrest in the United States. Those sparks have landed in a tinderbox assembled over decades of economic inequality, now made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.
Minneapolis police officers initially confronted the man — George Floyd — on suspicion that he'd used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. The viral video of what followed captured an individual tragedy. But it's set against a backdrop of poverty and discrimination that have long colored relations between law enforcement and the African American community.
African Americans are worse off than whites by almost every economic measure. And that divide has only deepened during the pandemic that's sent the country into its worst economic downturn in generations.
A survey by the Federal Reserve last year found that even in good times, African Americans are less able to pay their monthly bills than whites or Latinos. That's hardly surprising, since median income among African Americans is 41% lower than that of non-Hispanic whites.
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Blacks are also 40% less likely to own their homes than whites — depriving many African American families of an opportunity to build wealth. The gap in homeownership is particularly stark in Minneapolis. A study by Zillow, the online real estate company, found black homeownership in the city lags more than 50 percentage points below the white rate.
"It tells us that there's racism baked in to the housing market," said Andre Perry, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities.
Income disparity, segregation, and racial redlining have all contributed to low national levels of homeownership among African Americans. Although blacks made housing gains in the 1990s and early 2000s, that was reversed by the subprime mortgage crisis, which led to a wave of foreclosures.
Before the pandemic struck, African Americans were enjoying a strong job market. The black unemployment rate in February was 5.8% — near a 50-year low, though still higher than the white rate. Since then, unemployment for all racial groups has soared to double-digits. But the black-white gap has not noticeably worsened.
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African Americans who are working, however, are more likely to hold jobs that put them at risk of infection. A survey by the Labor Department found that in 2018, less than 20% of African Americans held jobs they could do from home, compared to about 30% of whites.
Higher risk of on-the-job exposure to the coronavirus is compounded by African Americans' higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and other conditions that are thought to contribute to more severe cases of COVID-19.
"There have been epidemics in the black community that have existed for generations before COVID," Perry said. "COVID accentuated and exposed those epidemics."
Just as the pandemic puts unequal health outcomes under a microscope, the video of George Floyd's last moments illuminates the frustration brought about by generations of economic hardship.
Four police officers have been fired over the incident. One — Derek Chauvin — has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin is shown pressing his knee against Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes.
"That action really symbolized the knee on the neck of black homeowners and renters," Perry said. "It represents the employers who don't provide the kind of benefits and wages that will lift African American communities."
He suggested the demonstrations taking place across the country, five months before a national election, provide an opportunity for candidates to spell out how they would deal with these challenges.
"If we don't address the structural inequality," Perry said, "we'll be right back in the same place when the next inevitable crisis hits."


npr--2020-06-01--County Officials Rule George Floyd Death Was A Homicide

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner released a new autopsy report Monday , ruling George Floyd 's death was a homicide .
The office said Floyd 's heart and lungs stopped functioning `` while being restrained '' by law enforcement officers .
Floyd died due to `` cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual , restrain , and neck compression , '' according to the report .
It also specified `` other significant conditions , '' including fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use as well as existing heart disease .
A preliminary report released by the county last week stated there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation . ''
However the new report did n't include such language .
The Floyd family had released a report just hours earlier on the autopsy they had commissioned .
Those findings also said his death was a homicide .
But the experts ' conclusions differed drastically from those of the county .
The independent report concluded the 46-year-old black man was asphyxiated by white officer Derek Chauvin , who pinned him to the ground , pressing a knee into his neck for more than eight minutes while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` George died because he needed a breath , a breath of air , '' Floyd family attorney Ben Crump said during a news conference Monday .
`` For George Floyd , the ambulance was his hearse . ''
Crump then called for the arrest of all the officers who played a part in Floyd 's death and for first-degree murder charges to be brought against Chauvin .
The Minneapolis police officer was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter .
Video of the incident shows Chauvin kneeled on Floyd 's neck for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several other officers watched passively , without intervening , despite Floyd 's cries of `` I ca n't breathe . ''
Floyd appears unresponsive for the last 2 minutes and 53 seconds of the footage .
Medical examiners Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson , who were hired by the family , said sustained pressure impeded blood flow to the brain and Chauvin 's weight on Floyd 's back impeded his ability to breathe .
`` For Chauvin to leave his knee on George 's neck despite warnings and evidence that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue that course for many minutes — demands a first-degree murder charge , '' Crump said .
He added : `` What we know is this : George Floyd was alive before his encounter with Derek Chauvin and fellow officers and he was dead shortly after that .
The tragic cause of his death is incredibly clear . ''
The new findings come after six days of angry protests have cascaded across the U.S. , leading to violent confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators and journalists .
Floyd 's younger brother , Terence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erupting in cities all over the country , calling for an end to the destruction .
He also urged protesters to express their rage and dissatisfaction at the voting booth .
`` Educate yourself and know who you 're voting for .
And that 's how we 're going to hit them , '' he said .
`` There 's a lot of us .
...
It 's a lot of us , '' he shouted emotionally .
`` Let 's switch up .
Let 's do this peacefully , please , '' @ @ @

County Officials Rule George Floyd Death Was A Homicide
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Updated 7:37 p.m. ET
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner released a new autopsy report Monday, ruling George Floyd's death was a homicide. The office said Floyd's heart and lungs stopped functioning "while being restrained" by law enforcement officers.
Floyd died due to "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restrain, and neck compression," according to the report.
It also specified "other significant conditions," including fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use as well as existing heart disease.
In charging documents released last week, prosecutors said that preliminary results from an autopsy "revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation."
However the new report from the medical examiner did not include such language.
The Floyd family had released a report just hours earlier on the autopsy they had commissioned.
Those findings also said his death was a homicide. But the experts' conclusions differed drastically from those of the county.
The independent report concluded the 46-year-old black man was asphyxiated by white officer Derek Chauvin, who pinned him to the ground, pressing a knee into his neck for more than eight minutes while he was already restrained in handcuffs.
"George died because he needed a breath, a breath of air," Floyd family attorney Ben Crump said during a news conference Monday. "For George Floyd, the ambulance was his hearse."
Crump then called for the arrest of all the officers who played a part in Floyd's death and for first-degree murder charges to be brought against Chauvin.
The Minneapolis police officer was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Video of the incident shows Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as several other officers watched passively, without intervening, despite Floyd's cries of "I can't breathe."
Floyd appears unresponsive for the last 2 minutes and 53 seconds of the footage.
Medical examiners Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, who were hired by the family, said sustained pressure impeded blood flow to the brain and Chauvin's weight on Floyd's back impeded his ability to breathe.
"For Chauvin to leave his knee on George's neck despite warnings and evidence that his life was in danger — and to continue that course for many minutes — demands a first-degree murder charge," Crump said.
He added: "What we know is this: George Floyd was alive before his encounter with Derek Chauvin and fellow officers and he was dead shortly after that. The tragic cause of his death is incredibly clear."
The new findings come after six days of angry protests have cascaded across the U.S., leading to violent confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators and journalists.
Floyd's younger brother, Terence Floyd, spoke out against the chaos erupting in cities all over the country, calling for an end to the destruction. He also urged protesters to express their rage and dissatisfaction at the voting booth.
"Educate yourself and know who you're voting for. And that's how we're going to hit them," he said. "There's a lot of us. ... It's a lot of us," he shouted emotionally.
"Let's switch up. Let's do this peacefully, please," he pleaded.


npr--2020-06-01--Anti-Racism Protests Versus COVID-19 Risk: 'I Wouldn't Weigh These Crises Separately'

Mass protests that have erupted over police brutality toward black people in America are raising concerns about the risk of spreading the coronavirus .
But some health experts , even as they urge caution , said they support the demonstrations — because racism also poses a dire health threat .
Tens of thousands of people , masked and unmasked , have thronged the streets of Minneapolis , Atlanta , Louisville , Ky. , and other cities in the week since George Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck .
They are the largest public gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread shutdowns , and many local officials warned of a possible spike in new cases in one or two weeks .
`` Risk of transmission is lower in open spaces , but wherever there is a gathering there is still the risk of transmitting the virus , '' said Dr. Elaine Nsoesie , an assistant professor of global health at Boston University .
Health experts urged protesters not to sing and shout to reduce the threat of person-to-person transmission .
And they cautioned that police tactics such as tear gas and pepper spray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cough and gasp for air .
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a list of tips for demonstrators to lower their risk of contracting COVID-19 , such as covering their faces and staying in small groups .
`` Do n't yell ; use signs & noise makers instead , '' the department advised .
Nsoesie said that while she agrees with the sentiment , `` I can see how some of these tips can be difficult to follow .
For example , if you are angry or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to express that feeling , and speaking is one way of doing that . ''
She added , `` It 's also hard to keep 6 feet of distance at a protest . ''
Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser said she 's worried about how consecutive days of protests could trigger an influx of COVID-19 cases .
Huge demonstrations began in the nation 's capital on Friday — the same day Bowser lifted stay-at-home orders and eased shutdown rules .
The city is still limiting gatherings to no more than 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House , that cap is regularly exceeded by orders of magnitude .
`` I 'm so concerned about it that I 'm urging everybody to consider their exposure if they need to isolate from their family members when they go home and if they need to be tested , because we have worked very hard to blunt the curve , '' Bowser said on NBC 's Meet the Press .
But the risks of congregating during a global pandemic should n't keep people from protesting racism , according to dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open letter in support of the protests .
`` White supremacy is a lethal public health issue that predates and contributes to COVID-19 , '' the letter said .
Initially written by infectious disease experts at the University of Washington , the letter cited a number of systemic problems , from the disproportionately high rate at which black people have been killed by police in the U.S. to disparities in life expectancy and other vital categories — including black Americans ' higher death rate from the coronavirus .
`` Data is showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected by COVID-19 in many states , '' said Nsoesie , who was not among the letter 's signatories when NPR contacted her .
`` Racism is one of the reasons this disparity exists . ''
She continued , `` Racism is a social determinant of health .
It affects the physical and mental health of blacks in the U.S .
So I would n't weigh these crises separately . ''
Local governments should not break up crowded demonstrations `` under the guise of maintaining public health , '' the experts said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement agencies not to use tear gas , smoke and other irritants , saying they could make people more susceptible to infection and worsen existing health conditions .
The medical professionals also acknowledged the potential for COVID-19 cases to rise in the days to come , and they called for public health agencies to boost access to care and testing in affected communities .

Protesting Racism Versus Risking COVID-19: 'I Wouldn't Weigh These Crises Separately'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Makela/Getty Images Mark Makela/Getty Images
Mass protests that have erupted over police brutality toward black people in America are raising concerns about the risk of spreading the coronavirus. But some health experts, even as they urge caution, said they support the demonstrations — because racism also poses a dire health threat.
Tens of thousands of people, masked and unmasked, have thronged the streets of Minneapolis, Atlanta, Louisville, Ky., and other cities in the week since George Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck. They are the largest public gatherings in the U.S. since the pandemic forced widespread shutdowns, and many local officials warned of a possible spike in new cases in one or two weeks.
"Risk of transmission is lower in open spaces, but wherever there is a gathering there is still the risk of transmitting the virus," said Dr. Elaine Nsoesie, an assistant professor of global health at Boston University.
Health experts urged protesters not to sing and shout to reduce the threat of person-to-person transmission. And they cautioned that police tactics such as tear gas and pepper spray could exacerbate the situation by prompting people to cough and gasp for air.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a list of tips for demonstrators to lower their risk of contracting COVID-19, such as covering their faces and staying in small groups.
"Don't yell; use signs & noise makers instead," the department advised.
Nsoesie said that while she agrees with the sentiment, "I can see how some of these tips can be difficult to follow. For example, if you are angry or frustrated about an issue, you want to express that feeling, and speaking is one way of doing that."
She added, "It's also hard to keep 6 feet of distance at a protest."
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said she's worried about how consecutive days of protests could trigger an influx of COVID-19 cases. Huge demonstrations began in the nation's capital on Friday — the same day Bowser lifted stay-at-home orders and eased shutdown rules.
The city is still limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. But in the streets around the White House, that cap is regularly exceeded by orders of magnitude.
"I'm so concerned about it that I'm urging everybody to consider their exposure if they need to isolate from their family members when they go home and if they need to be tested, because we have worked very hard to blunt the curve," Bowser said on NBC's Meet the Press.
But the risks of congregating during a global pandemic shouldn't keep people from protesting racism, according to dozens of public health and disease experts who signed an open letter in support of the protests.
"White supremacy is a lethal public health issue that predates and contributes to COVID-19," the letter said.
Initially written by infectious disease experts at the University of Washington, the letter cited a number of systemic problems, from the disproportionately high rate at which black people have been killed by police in the U.S. to disparities in life expectancy and other vital categories — including black Americans' higher death rate from the coronavirus.
"Data is showing that blacks and Latinos have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in many states," said Nsoesie, who was not among the letter's signatories when NPR contacted her. "Racism is one of the reasons this disparity exists."
She continued, "Racism is a social determinant of health. It affects the physical and mental health of blacks in the U.S. So I wouldn't weigh these crises separately."
Local governments should not break up crowded demonstrations "under the guise of maintaining public health," the experts said in their open letter. They urged law enforcement agencies not to use tear gas, smoke and other irritants, saying they could make people more susceptible to infection and worsen existing health conditions.
The medical professionals also acknowledged the potential for COVID-19 cases to rise in the days to come, and they called for public health agencies to boost access to care and testing in affected communities.


npr--2020-06-01--Facebook Employees Revolt Over Zuckerberg's Hands-Off Approach To Trump

Facebook is facing an unusually public backlash from its employees over the company 's handling of President Trump 's inflammatory posts about protests in the police killing of George Floyd , an unarmed black man in Minneapolis .
At least a dozen employees , some in senior positions , have openly condemned Facebook 's lack of action on the president 's posts and CEO Mark Zuckerberg 's defense of that decision .
Some employees staged a virtual walkout Monday .
`` Mark is wrong , and I will endeavor in the loudest possible way to change his mind , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design for Facebook 's news feed .
`` I work at Facebook and I am not proud of how we 're showing up , '' tweeted Jason Toff , director of product management .
`` The majority of coworkers I 've spoken to feel the same way .
We are making our voice heard . ''
The social network also is under intense pressure from civil rights groups , Democrats and the public over its decision to leave up posts from the president that critics say violate Facebook 's rules against inciting violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the protests in which the president said , `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts . ''
Twitter , in contrast , put a warning label on a tweet in which the president said the same thing , saying it violated rules against glorifying violence .
The move escalated a feud with the president that started when the company put fact-checking labels on two of his tweets earlier in the week .
Trump retaliated by signing an executive order that attempts to strip online platforms of long-held legal protections .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ company should not police what politicians say on its platform , arguing that political speech is already highly scrutinized .
In a post Friday , the Facebook CEO said he had `` been struggling with how to respond '' to Trump 's posts .
`` Personally , I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric , '' he wrote .
`` I know many people are upset that we 've left the President 's posts up , but our position is that we should enable as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies . ''
Zuckerberg said Facebook had examined the post and decided to leave it up because `` we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force . ''
He added that the company had been in touch with the White House to explain its policies .
Zuckerberg spoke with Trump by phone Friday , according to a report published by Axios .
While Facebook 's 48,000 employees often debate policies and actions within the company , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that criticism public .
But the decision not to remove Trump 's posts has caused significant distress within the company , which is spilling over into public view .
`` Censoring information that might help people see the complete picture *is* wrong .
But giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable , regardless who you are or if it 's newsworthy , '' tweeted Andrew Crow , head of design for the company 's Portal devices .
`` I disagree with Mark 's position and will work to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter they were joining Monday 's walkout .
`` Facebook 's recent decision to not act on posts that incite violence ignores other options to keep our community safe , '' tweeted Sara Zhang , a product designer .
In a statement , Facebook spokesman Joe Osborne said : `` We recognize the pain many of our people are feeling right now , especially our Black community .
We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership .
As we face additional difficult decisions around content ahead , we 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Less than 4 % of Facebook 's U.S.-based staff are African American , according to the company 's most recent diversity report .
Facebook will not make employees participating in the walkout use paid time off , and it will not discipline those who participate .
On Sunday , Zuckerberg said the company would commit $ 10 million to groups working on racial justice .
`` I know Facebook needs to do more to support equality and safety for the Black community through our platforms , '' he wrote .
Editor 's note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters .

Facebook Employees Revolt Over Zuckerberg's Hands-Off Approach To Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 10:52 p.m. ET
Facebook is facing an unusually public backlash from its employees over the company's handling of President Trump's inflammatory posts about protests in the police killing of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis.
At least a dozen employees, some in senior positions, have openly condemned Facebook's lack of action on the president's posts and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's defense of that decision. Some employees staged a virtual walkout Monday.
"Mark is wrong, and I will endeavor in the loudest possible way to change his mind," tweeted Ryan Freitas, director of product design for Facebook's news feed.
"I work at Facebook and I am not proud of how we're showing up," tweeted Jason Toff, director of product management. "The majority of coworkers I've spoken to feel the same way. We are making our voice heard."
The social network also is under intense pressure from civil rights groups, Democrats and the public over its decision to leave up posts from the president that critics say violate Facebook's rules against inciting violence. These included a post last week about the protests in which the president said, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Twitter, in contrast, put a warning label on a tweet in which the president said the same thing, saying it violated rules against glorifying violence.
The move escalated a feud with the president that started when the company put fact-checking labels on two of his tweets earlier in the week. Trump retaliated by signing an executive order that attempts to strip online platforms of long-held legal protections.
Zuckerberg has long said he believes the company should not police what politicians say on its platform, arguing that political speech is already highly scrutinized. In a post Friday, the Facebook CEO said he had "been struggling with how to respond" to Trump's posts.
"Personally, I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric," he wrote. "I know many people are upset that we've left the President's posts up, but our position is that we should enable as much expression as possible unless it will cause imminent risk of specific harms or dangers spelled out in clear policies."
Zuckerberg said Facebook had examined the post and decided to leave it up because "we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force." He added that the company had been in touch with the White House to explain its policies. Zuckerberg spoke with Trump by phone Friday, according to a report published by Axios.
On Monday evening, Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, held a Zoom video call with leaders of three civil rights groups that have criticized the company's response to Trump's posts.
Vanita Gupta of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Rashad Robinson of Color of Change said in a joint statement they were "disappointed" by Zuckerberg's "incomprehensible explanations" for allowing Trump's post about the protests as well as earlier false claims about mail-in ballots.
"He did not demonstrate understanding of historic or modern-day voter suppression and he refuses to acknowledge how Facebook is facilitating Trump's call for violence against protesters," they said. "Mark is setting a very dangerous precedent for other voices who would say similar harmful things on Facebook."
Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesman, said: "We're grateful that leaders in the civil rights community took the time to share candid, honest feedback with Mark and Sheryl. It is an important moment to listen, and we look forward to continuing these conversations."
While Facebook's 48,000 employees often debate policies and actions within the company, it is unusual for staff to take that criticism public. But the decision not to remove Trump's posts has caused significant distress within the company, which is spilling over into public view.
"Censoring information that might help people see the complete picture *is* wrong. But giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable, regardless who you are or if it's newsworthy," tweeted Andrew Crow, head of design for the company's Portal devices. "I disagree with Mark's position and will work to make change happen."
Several employees said on Twitter they were joining Monday's walkout.
"Facebook's recent decision to not act on posts that incite violence ignores other options to keep our community safe," tweeted Sara Zhang, a product designer.
In a statement, Facebook spokesman Joe Osborne said: "We recognize the pain many of our people are feeling right now, especially our Black community. We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership. As we face additional difficult decisions around content ahead, we'll continue seeking their honest feedback."
Less than 4% of Facebook's U.S.-based staff are black, according to the company's most recent diversity report.
Facebook will not make employees participating in the walkout use paid time off, and it will not discipline those who participate.
On Sunday, Zuckerberg said the company would commit $10 million to groups working on racial justice. "I know Facebook needs to do more to support equality and safety for the Black community through our platforms," he wrote.
Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.


npr--2020-06-01--Hong Kong Police Block Tiananmen Square Vigil, Citing Coronavirus Concerns

For the first time in 30 years , police in Hong Kong have denied permission for organizers to hold an annual vigil for victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre .
Police have cited concerns over the spread of the coronavirus .
The rally has been held each year since 1990 to commemorate the lives lost in the June 4 , 1989 , crackdown in Beijing 's Tiananmen Square .
The Chinese military opened fire on citizens who were calling for economic and democratic reforms .
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China , which organized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morning Post that alliance members still planned to enter Victoria Park to observe a moment of silence that night .
The alliance also asked the public to join an online gathering and light candles across the city .
NPR 's Emily Feng reported that the move to deny the demonstration comes amid controversy surrounding China 's proposed national security law that could limit Hong Kong 's autonomy .
The potential law has concerned pro-democracy advocates , and as Feng noted , `` Legal scholars question whether Beijing has the authority to impose this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justifying an earlier extension of restrictions to June 4 , police cited a lingering threat of the spread of the coronavirus , The Guardian reported .
`` Police believe the event will not only increase participants ' chances of contracting the virus , but also threaten citizens ' lives and health , thus endangering public safety and affecting the rights of others , '' police said , according to the newspaper .
Lee Cheuk-yan , who chairs the alliance that organized the event , told the South China Morning Post that he believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down the demonstration .
`` We believe this is totally unreasonable and unscientific , because everything is normal in Hong Kong .
They are just using this excuse to suppress our rally , '' he said , adding that many other facilities had already reopened .

Hong Kong Police Block Tiananmen Square Vigil, Citing Coronavirus Concerns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kin Cheung/AP Kin Cheung/AP
For the first time in 30 years, police in Hong Kong have denied permission for organizers to hold an annual vigil for victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Police have cited concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The rally has been held each year since 1990 to commemorate the lives lost in the June 4, 1989, crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The Chinese military opened fire on citizens who were calling for economic and democratic reforms.
The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organized the vigil, told the South China Morning Post that alliance members still planned to enter Victoria Park to observe a moment of silence that night.
The alliance also asked the public to join an online gathering and light candles across the city.
NPR's Emily Feng reported that the move to deny the demonstration comes amid controversy surrounding China's proposed national security law that could limit Hong Kong's autonomy.
The potential law has concerned pro-democracy advocates, and as Feng noted, "Legal scholars question whether Beijing has the authority to impose this law on Hong Kong."
In justifying an earlier extension of restrictions to June 4, police cited a lingering threat of the spread of the coronavirus, The Guardian reported.
"Police believe the event will not only increase participants' chances of contracting the virus, but also threaten citizens' lives and health, thus endangering public safety and affecting the rights of others," police said, according to the newspaper.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who chairs the alliance that organized the event, told the South China Morning Post that he believes the government was using the pandemic to shut down the demonstration.
"We believe this is totally unreasonable and unscientific, because everything is normal in Hong Kong. They are just using this excuse to suppress our rally," he said, adding that many other facilities had already reopened.


npr--2020-06-01--Biden Meets With Black Faith Leaders In Delaware Following Days Of Protest

Biden Meets With Black Faith Leaders In Delaware Following Days Of Protest In his first in-person campaign event in more than two months , presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden met Monday with community leaders at a predominantly African American church in his hometown to address the outrage and protests surrounding George Floyd 's death .
Protests have erupted in dozens of cities over the past week since Floyd , a black man , died after a police officer was seen on video with his knee on Floyd 's neck for minutes on end .
`` I think the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's never been before in understanding a lot of this , '' Biden said at the event .
`` But it 's going to take a whole hell of a lot of hard work .
A lot of hard work .
But I 'm confident it can be done . ''
Fourteen faith leaders and local lawmakers attended the event at Bethel AME church in Wilmington , Del.
, as they donned masks and sat seated two to a pew to help maintain social distancing due to the coronavirus .
Biden spent more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the concerns of community leaders rather than delivering remarks .
He could be seen taking notes as each attendee got up and spoke .
Despite being in a room full of supporters , the group offered critical feedback to the former vice president , with some saying the black community did n't get the economic boost it needed under the Obama administration and that Biden 's role in passing the 1994 crime bill makes some young black voters skeptical of him .
There were recommendations to create a czar dedicated solely to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first 100 days as president .
Several speakers urged Biden to pick an African American woman as his vice president .
U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester , D-Del.
, spoke emotionally of a recent exchange she had with a 23-year-old protester in Wilmington , who told her he was `` willing to die . ''
`` He said , ' I have so much rage . '
And I said , 'How old are you ?
What 's your name ?
How old are you ? '
And I just tried to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the congresswoman said .
After about an hour , Biden rose to address the church gathering .
`` I want to make something clear : I do n't expect anything from the black community , '' he said .
`` It has to be earned , earned every single time . ''
Biden said he 's spent time speaking with black thought leaders about how to move forward as a country and said people who `` do n't think of themselves as having a prejudiced bone in their body '' are now reckoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions .
`` The Band-Aid 's been ripped off by this pandemic and this president .
No one can pretend any longer what this is all about .
Nobody can pretend who has been carrying us on our backs — it 's the minorities , '' Biden said .
Biden listed specific plans for his would-be administration , including heightened federal oversight over local law enforcement , additional training for police officers and increased economic opportunity for African Americans .
He teased the announcement of a new economic proposal in the coming weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong emphasis on housing , education and access to capital .
`` The ultimate answer for every other group has been access to economic opportunity , '' Biden said .
`` What is the future ?
The future is you got ta be able to get out of bed and think , ' I can make it , I can do something .
The deck 's not completely stacked . '
`` He also stressed what he characterized as a critical need to change leadership in the Senate , particularly as it relates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do n't win back the United States Senate , we 're going to be in real trouble , '' Biden said .
`` Presidents come and go .
But I tell you what , justices do n't .
They last a long time . ''
The event ended with a prayer and Biden saying he 'll rely on the group for advice throughout his campaign .
`` I know I 'm going to make mistakes , '' he said before quoting the expression , `` What comes from the heart goes straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to come from the heart .
But I 'll need help , '' the former vice president said .
`` I need help and advice as we go along as to what you think I should and should n't be doing . ''
The event marked Biden 's third public appearance in a week , his first trips away from his home since mid-March .
He has been campaigning from his house due to coronavirus lockdown orders .
Biden left his home on Memorial Day to lay a wreath at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday he visited a site in Wilmington where protesters had gathered the night before in response to Floyd 's death .
Biden held a virtual meeting with mayors later in the day and had virtual fundraisers planned for Monday evening .

Biden Meets With Black Faith Leaders In Delaware Following Days Of Protest
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
In his first in-person campaign event in more than two months, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden met Monday with community leaders at a predominantly African American church in his hometown to address the outrage and protests surrounding George Floyd's death.
Protests have erupted in dozens of cities over the past week since Floyd, a black man, died after a police officer was seen on video with his knee on Floyd's neck for minutes on end.
"I think the public is getting to a place that it's never been before in understanding a lot of this," Biden said at the event. "But it's going to take a whole hell of a lot of hard work. A lot of hard work. But I'm confident it can be done."
Fourteen faith leaders and local lawmakers attended the event at Bethel AME church in Wilmington, Del., as they donned masks and sat seated two to a pew to help maintain social distancing due to the coronavirus.
Biden spent more than half of the event listening to the concerns of community leaders rather than delivering remarks. He could be seen taking notes as each attendee got up and spoke.
Despite being in a room full of supporters, the group offered critical feedback to the former vice president, with some saying the black community didn't get the economic boost it needed under the Obama administration and that Biden's role in passing the 1994 crime bill makes some young black voters skeptical of him.
There were recommendations to create a czar dedicated solely to the study of police brutality within Biden's first 100 days as president. Several speakers urged Biden to pick an African American woman as his vice president.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., spoke emotionally of a recent exchange she had with a 23-year-old protester in Wilmington, who told her he was "willing to die."
"He said, 'I have so much rage.' And I said, 'How old are you? What's your name? How old are you?' And I just tried to hold him, COVID or not," the congresswoman said.
After about an hour, Biden rose to address the church gathering.
"I want to make something clear: I don't expect anything from the black community," he said. "It has to be earned, earned every single time."
Biden said he's spent time speaking with black thought leaders about how to move forward as a country and said people who "don't think of themselves as having a prejudiced bone in their body" are now reckoning with the discrimination endemic in some American institutions.
"The Band-Aid's been ripped off by this pandemic and this president. No one can pretend any longer what this is all about. Nobody can pretend who has been carrying us on our backs — it's the minorities," Biden said.
Biden listed specific plans for his would-be administration, including heightened federal oversight over local law enforcement, additional training for police officers and increased economic opportunity for African Americans.
He teased the announcement of a new economic proposal in the coming weeks, which he said will have a strong emphasis on housing, education and access to capital.
"The ultimate answer for every other group has been access to economic opportunity," Biden said. "What is the future? The future is you gotta be able to get out of bed and think, 'I can make it, I can do something. The deck's not completely stacked.' "
He also stressed what he characterized as a critical need to change leadership in the Senate, particularly as it relates to confirming federal judges.
"If we don't win back the United States Senate, we're going to be in real trouble," Biden said. "Presidents come and go. But I tell you what, justices don't. They last a long time."
The event ended with a prayer and Biden saying he'll rely on the group for advice throughout his campaign.
"I know I'm going to make mistakes," he said before quoting the expression, "What comes from the heart goes straight to the heart."
"It's going to come from the heart. But I'll need help," the former vice president said. "I need help and advice as we go along as to what you think I should and shouldn't be doing."
The event marked Biden's third public appearance in a week, his first trips away from his home since mid-March. He has been campaigning from his house due to coronavirus lockdown orders.
Biden left his home on Memorial Day to lay a wreath at a veterans park near his home, and on Sunday he visited a site in Wilmington where protesters had gathered the night before in response to Floyd's death.
Biden held a virtual meeting with mayors later in the day and had virtual fundraisers planned for Monday evening.


npr--2020-06-02--One Week After George Floyd's Death, Protests Continue Across The Country

One Week After George Floyd 's Death , Protests Continue Across The Country Updated at 7 a.m .
ET One week after the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis , Minn. , police , demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism continued across the United States .
Many cities imposed curfews and President Trump again warned he would order active duty military forces to restore order if state and local governments , in his judgement , failed to do so .
Here are details of some protests around the country .
Four police officers were shot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Louis , according to the city 's police chief , John Hayden .
In an emotional news conference , Hayden said the officers were hurt in an incident downtown following a day of peaceful protests that drew thousands into the city 's streets .
A couple of hundred people `` with no intention of protesting or doing anything constructive '' remained late into the night , he said , looting , vandalizing and throwing objects at police officers .
Just after midnight , shots were fired at a line of officers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the foot and another in the arm , he said .
Hayden said none of the injuries was life threatening .
Hayden called George Floyd 's death tragic , but said what was happening in St. Louis was `` mayhem . ''
`` They 're throwing fireworks on officers , fireworks were exploding on officers , '' he said .
`` They had officers that had gas poured on them .
And you try to figure out what is going on .
How can this be ? ''
Protesters gathered in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Douglas County Attorney Donald Kleine ruled that a white bar owner who shot and killed a 22-year-old black Omaha protester on Saturday acted in self defense .
Protesters carried signs with slogans such as `` Hands up – do n't shoot '' and chanted `` Black lives matter , '' according to Megan Feeney , a freelance journalist reporting for NPR member station NET in Omaha .
`` A lot of black leaders were saying , 'Do n't go downtown tonight , we need to reconsider our approach , think about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any useless violence , pain and potential death , ' `` Feeney said .
After the start of an 8 p.m. curfew , the protest had shrunk considerably , according to Feeney , and military vehicles blocked streets adjacent to the demonstration .
`` Police started to advance and people started running .
They ran down an alley , got blocked and some in the crowd started to throw water bottles and other objects while others yelled to stop , '' Feeney said .
`` Officers started closing in from all four directions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omaha Police Department reported two firearms arrests as well as an unspecified number of arrests for curfew violations .
New York City imposed an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew Monday .
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the curfew would begin Tuesday at 8 p.m .
Protests were largely peaceful , though some looting was reported at a few luxury retailers , including Macy 's flagship store in Manhattan .
In Buffalo , a city police officer and New York state trooper were struck by an SUV during a protest .
The law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was unclear whether the driver intentionally struck the officers .
Two separate shootings — one of a police officer and the other by police of a protester — occurred late Monday during a demonstration along the Las Vegas Strip , according to Metro Police .
The protest began peacefully near Trump Tower but got heated as it moved downtown , according to the Las Vegas Sun .
`` This has been a long night for your police department , '' Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The first incident involved one of our officers being shot and critically injured as he dealt with protesters in front of the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino , '' Lombardo said .
He said officers near the scene of the shooting `` were taking rocks and bottles from the crowd . ''
`` Officers were attempting to get some of the protesters in custody when a shot rang out and an officer went down , '' Lombardo said , adding that the suspect has been identified and taken into custody .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Foley Federal Building on Las Vegas Boulevard .
`` A subject was encountered with multiple fire arms and appeared to be wearing body armor .
During the interaction , the subject reached for his firearm and the officers engaged him .
The subject was struck by gunfire , transported to the hospital , where he was pronounced deceased . ''
In Los Angeles , where some 700 people were arrested on Sunday , there was a heavy police presence in Hollywood and Van Nuys amid multiple protests , mostly peaceful .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Van Nuys Boulevard prompted a response from officers , who fired bean bags .
Authorities also responded to a fire at a strip mall , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Police in Oakland said 40 people were arrested for violating an 8 p.m. curfew .
About 15,000 people marched peacefully along Interstate 680 in Walnut Creek , according to the East Bay Times , but were met by police in riot gear who ordered them to disperse before chasing them with dogs , firing tear gas and rubber bullets , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had vandalized vehicles , according to NPR member station KQED .
The Alameda County Sheriff 's office tweeted late Monday that `` more than 100 '' people were arrested .
`` It is time to go home , '' the office said .
More than a dozen San Francisco Bay Area jurisdictions have imposed nighttime curfews in the wake of protests sparked by Floyd 's death .

Despite Curfews And Heavy Police Presence, Protests Persist Across The Country
Enlarge this image toggle caption Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 11:44 a.m. ET
One week after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody, demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism continued across the United States. Many cities imposed curfews, and President Trump again warned he would order active duty military forces to restore order if state and local governments, in his judgement, failed to do so.
Here are details of some protests around the country.
St. Louis
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Roberson/AP Jeff Roberson/AP
Four police officers were shot and wounded during another night of unrest in St. Louis, according to the city's police chief, John Hayden.
In an emotional news conference, Hayden said the officers were hurt in an incident downtown following a day of peaceful protests that drew thousands into the city's streets.
Chief Hayden provides an update on 4 of our officers who were struck by gunfire tonight during the downtown unrest. https://t.co/Ml1CgIikHf — St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) June 2, 2020
He said a couple hundred people "with no intention of protesting or doing anything constructive" remained late into the night, looting, vandalizing and throwing objects at police officers. Just after midnight, shots were fired at a line of officers, striking two in the leg, one in the foot and another in the arm, he said.
Hayden said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Hayden called Floyd's death tragic but said what was happening in St. Louis was "mayhem."
"They're throwing fireworks on officers, fireworks were exploding on officers," he said. "They had officers that had gas poured on them. And you try to figure out what is going on. How can this be?"
Las Vegas
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bridget Bennett/AFP via Getty Images Bridget Bennett/AFP via Getty Images
There were a pair of shootings overnight in Las Vegas, one of which left a police officer hospitalized and "in grave condition," according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Joseph Lombardo.
The first incident took place in front of the famed Circus Circus Hotel and Casino as police said they were working to disperse protesters. Lombardo said rocks and bottles were being hurled at police.
"Officers were attempting to get some of the protesters in custody when a shot rang out and our officer went down," he said during an early Tuesday morning press briefing.
The unnamed officer was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition, he said. A suspect is in custody.
The other incident took place shortly before midnight on Monday, when LVMPD and federal officers were guarding the Foley Federal Building and U.S. courthouse.
Lombardo said police encountered a man "who was armed with multiple firearms and appeared to be wearing body armor." Then, "officers engaged him" and "the suspect was struck by gunfire," Lombardo said. He was later pronounced dead.
It is unclear if the man was taking part in the protests prior to his deadly encounter with police.
Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
"With these protests, which are leading to riots, one tragedy is only leading to another," Lombardo said. "What has occurred is utterly unacceptable. I hope the community sees it that way too."
Omaha, Neb.
Protesters gathered in downtown Omaha on Monday for the third consecutive night after Douglas County Attorney Donald Kleine ruled that a white bar owner who shot and killed a 22-year-old black Omaha protester on Saturday acted in self-defense.
Protesters carried signs with slogans such as "Hands up — don't shoot" and chanted "Black lives matter," according to Megan Feeney, a freelance journalist reporting for NPR member station NET in Omaha.
"A lot of black leaders were saying, 'Don't go downtown tonight, we need to reconsider our approach, think about how we can reorganize and want to avoid any useless violence, pain and potential death,' " Feeney said.
After the start of an 8 p.m. curfew, the protest had shrunk considerably, according to Feeney, and military vehicles blocked streets adjacent to the demonstration.
"Police started to advance and people started running. They ran down an alley, got blocked and some in the crowd started to throw water bottles and other objects while others yelled to stop," Feeney said. "Officers started closing in from all four directions and nobody could leave."
The Omaha Police Department reported two firearms arrests as well as an unspecified number of arrests for curfew violations.
New York
Enlarge this image toggle caption Seth Wenig/AP Seth Wenig/AP
New York City imposed an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the curfew would begin Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Protests were largely peaceful, though some looting was reported at a few luxury retailers, including Macy's flagship store in Manhattan.
In Buffalo, a city police officer and New York state trooper were struck by an SUV during a protest. The law enforcement officers were not seriously injured. It was unclear whether the driver intentionally struck the officers.
Los Angeles
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ashley Landis/AP Ashley Landis/AP
In Los Angeles, where some 700 people were arrested on Sunday, there was a heavy police presence in Hollywood and Van Nuys amid multiple protests, mostly peaceful.
But looting and vandalism in some areas along Van Nuys Boulevard prompted a response from officers, who fired bean bags. Authorities also responded to a fire at a strip mall, according to the Los Angeles Times.
San Francisco Bay Area
After giving multiple orders to disperse,our officers detained more than 40 people for violating curfew. Reminder the curfew expires at 5 AM. Please stay home. pic.twitter.com/dLhDnfyLCi — Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) June 2, 2020
Some 15,000 people marched peacefully in downtown Oakland, according to a police spokesperson quoted in the East Bay Times. Most dispersed prior to the start of the city's 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. More than 40 people were arrested for violating the curfew, according to the Oakland Police Department.
The Alameda County Sheriff's office tweeted late Monday, "Over 100 people arrested so far. It is time to go home."
In nearby Walnut Creek, several hundred protesters, mostly teenagers and young people, walked onto Interstate 680, according to the East Bay Times. Police in riot gear ordered them to disperse before chasing them with dogs, firing tear gas and rubber bullets, the newspaper said. Police said some protesters had vandalized a handful of vehicles, according to NPR member station KQED.
More than a dozen San Francisco Bay Area jurisdictions have imposed curfews in the wake of protests sparked by Floyd's death.


npr--2020-06-02--What We're Reading About The Past Week Of Protests

What We 're Reading About The Past Week Of Protests If you 've been trying to keep up with news about the nationwide protests against police brutality , the stream of stories can be overwhelming .
In the days following George Floyd 's homicide at the hands of Minneapolis police , reporters have been covering the protests in more than 140 cities across the country , trying to make sense of this tumultuous moment .
Here are some of the most illuminating stories that we 've read this week to help us understand how we got here , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hardly the first time that Minneapolis has erupted into protests about police brutality and the killings of black people .
In 2016 , people took to the streets after police shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in a nearby suburb , Falcon Heights .
And in 2015 , Minneapolis police shot and killed Jamar Clark , which ignited two weeks of protests .
In The Boston Review , Elizabeth Stinton relates the current protests in Minneapolis to the ones that followed the deaths of Clark and Castile .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 .
Similar to the uprisings that took place over half a century ago , she writes , Minneapolis residents are fed up with the `` buildup of unanswered grievances and the lack of concrete changes to their immediate living conditions . ''
Over at Slate , Joel Anderson writes that while many police chiefs are condemning the excessive use of force by the police officer who killed Floyd , it 's important to pay attention to what police are doing during protests : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured police on tape pointing guns , shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at them .
Michael Dessam compiled a list at Slate of the ways police incited violence : `` Police all over the country tear-gassed protesters , drove vehicles through crowds , opened fire with nonlethal rounds on journalists or people on their own property , and in at least one instance , pushed over an elderly man who was walking away with a cane . ''
The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging during the protests , and as we 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus at disproportionate rates .
And as Annelisa Merelli at Quartz writes , police brutality is also a public health crisis that affects black people at a much higher rate than others : Many argue that these two crises for the black community—police brutality and the coronavirus—are n't independent of each other .
In fact , in both cases the extent of the death toll stems from systematic discrimination , and in both cases , the solution may require a deep rethinking of the overall system .
In The Atlantic , Ibram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statistician that says black people were naturally selected for disease and death , and would gradually become extinct .
Kendi goes on to write that `` too many Americans have been waiting for black extinction since Hoffman , '' and that black Americans are `` living in a nightmare '' rather than the elusive American Dream : Our NPR colleague Leila Fadel wrote about a Somali immigrant , Safia Munye , who opened a restaurant in Minneapolis more than two years ago—only to close her doors due to COVID-19 .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised more than $ 180,000 to re-open this weekend—that is , until it was burned down during the protests .
But despite her loss , Munye says she wants justice for George Floyd and change for Minneapolis .
And The New York Times brought us another story about resilience and solidarity , about a Bangaldeshi family in Minneapolis who also lost their restaurant after it was burned down during one of the protests .
Yet they support the uprising , and even opened the restaurant 's doors as a medical haven for protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're following right now , make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive this week 's edition about the protests unfolding across the nation .

What We're Reading About The Past Week Of Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Barria/Reuters Carlos Barria/Reuters
If you've been trying to keep up with news about the nationwide protests against police brutality, the stream of stories can be overwhelming. In the days following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody, reporters have been covering the protests in more than 140 cities across the country, trying to make sense of this tumultuous moment.
Here are some of the most illuminating stories that we've read this week to help us understand how we got here, and the larger issues driving the protests.
Minneapolis in context
This is hardly the first time that Minneapolis has erupted into protests about police brutality and the killings of black people. In 2016, people took to the streets after police shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in a nearby suburb, Falcon Heights. And in 2015, Minneapolis police shot and killed Jamar Clark, which ignited two weeks of protests.
In the Boston Review, Elizabeth Hinton relates the current protests in Minneapolis to the ones that followed the deaths of Clark and Castile. She also looks at the nationwide unrest that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Similar to the uprisings that took place more than half a century ago, she writes, Minneapolis residents are fed up with the "buildup of unanswered grievances and the lack of concrete changes to their immediate living conditions."
"Rather than responding to violent political rebellion with policy—such as addressing mass unemployment, failing public schools, and inhumane housing conditions—policymakers and officials, from Richard Nixon's War on Crime to the bipartisan War on Drugs to Donald Trump's embrace of 'Law and Order' politics, have consistently sought to manage the material consequences of socioeconomic problems (e.g., urban decay and drug abuse) with more police, more surveillance, and, eventually, more incarceration. We as a nation still fail to reckon with the wisdom King prophetically offered toward the end of his life: that only 'social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention. There is no other answer. Constructive social change will bring certain tranquility; evasions will merely encourage turmoil.' "
Policing
Over at Slate, Joel Anderson writes that while many police chiefs are condemning the excessive use of force by the police officer who killed Floyd, it's important to pay attention to what police are doing during protests:
"The initial response of police leaders may have felt like progress, but video footage of police and protesters clashing in the streets reveals the truth: Officers are much closer to what we see in viral videos documenting their brutality than in the well-intentioned words of their leaders. Despite the shift in public statements, police haven't changed since the protests of 2014 and 2015."
Many protesters, including journalists, have captured police on tape pointing guns, shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at them. Matthew Dessem compiled a list at Slate of the ways police incited violence: "Police all over the country tear-gassed protesters, drove vehicles through crowds, opened fire with nonlethal rounds on journalists or people on their own property, and in at least one instance, pushed over an elderly man who was walking away with a cane."
Existing while black
The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging during the protests, and as we've reported, black people are dying from the virus at disproportionate rates. And as Annalisa Merelli at Quartz writes, police brutality is also a public health crisis that affects black people at a much higher rate than others:
"To give a sense of the magnitude of the crisis, the APHA reported that in 2016 alone (the latest year for which the organization could get reliable data, in itself a telling sign of the lack of priority accorded to the issue) at least 1,019 people were killed due to police intervention, and 76,440 were injured. This resulted in nearly 55,000 years of life lost, and had a large price tag, too: Police brutality costs $1.8 billion per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control's most recently available data (2010)."
Many argue that these two crises for the black community — police brutality and the coronavirus — aren't independent of each other. In fact, in both cases, the extent of the death toll stems from systemic discrimination, and in both cases, the solution may require a deep rethinking of the overall system.
In The Atlantic, Ibram X. Kendi examines an 1896 document by a statistician that says black people were naturally selected for disease and death, and would gradually become extinct. Kendi goes on to write that "too many Americans have been waiting for black extinction since Hoffman," and that black Americans are "living in a nightmare" rather than the elusive American dream:
"A nightmare is essentially a horror story of danger, but it is not wholly a horror story. Black people experience joy, love, peace, safety. But as in any horror story, those unforgettable moments of toil, terror, and trauma have made danger essential to the black experience in racist America. What one black American experiences, many black Americans experience. Black Americans are constantly stepping into the toil and terror and trauma of other black Americans. Black Americans are constantly stepping into the souls of the dead. Because they know: They could have been them; they are them. Because they know it is dangerous to be black in America, because racist Americans see blacks as dangerous."
Stories of solidarity
Our NPR colleague Leila Fadel wrote about a Somali immigrant, Safia Munye, who opened a restaurant in Minneapolis more than two years ago — only to close her doors because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the community rallied behind her business and raised more than $180,000 to reopen this weekend — that is, until it was burned down during the protests. But despite her loss, Munye says she wants justice for Floyd and change for Minneapolis.
" 'My heart is broken. My mind is broken,' she says. 'I know I can't come back from this. But this can be replaced. George's life cannot. George's life was more important. That man that got killed in the most inhumane way. I hope he gets justice.' "
And The New York Times brought us another story about resilience and solidarity, about a Bangladeshi family in Minneapolis who also lost their restaurant after it was burned down during one of the protests. Yet they support the uprising, and even opened the restaurant's doors as a medical haven for protesters.
" 'We were just trying to do what we could to help our community,' said [Hafsa] Islam, who helped treat wounded protesters. 'Sure, we had our business. Sure, we were trying to keep our kitchen open. But more than anything, we were concerned for our people.' "The tension in [Ruhel] Islam's adopted city reminds him of his childhood in Bangladesh, when he lived through a dictatorship. Two of his fellow students were killed by the police, he said. 'We grew up in a traumatic police state, so I am familiar with this type of situation,' he said."
To find more of the stories we're following right now, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive this week's edition about the protests unfolding across the nation.


npr--2020-06-02--Governors Push Back On Trump's Threat To Deploy Federal Troops To Quell Unrest

Governors Push Back On Trump 's Threat To Deploy Federal Troops To Quell Unrest President Trump , in a conference call Monday with the nation 's governors , threatened to deploy the U.S. military to restore order unless states hit by days of unrest `` put down '' violent demonstrations , urging leaders to `` dominate '' lawbreakers or risk looking like `` a bunch of jerks . ''
The upbraiding from the White House did n't sit well with many governors , who have been busy responding to clashes between protesters and law enforcement in dozens of U.S. cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week ago of George Floyd after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck .
Trump took a tough line with the governors , saying he was putting Attorney General Bill Barr in charge of the federal law enforcement response .
The president said the White House was `` strongly looking for arrests . ''
`` You have to arrest people and you have to try people .
And they have to go to jail for long periods of time , '' the president said .
`` If people are running amok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are n't dominating , you 're wasting your time , '' he said .
`` They 're going to run over you , you 're going to look like a bunch of jerks . ''
`` It 's a movement , if you do n't put it down it will get worse and worse , '' Trump said .
`` The only time it 's successful is when you 're weak and most of you are weak . ''
The call followed yet another night of unrest Sunday over the May 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day that the president urged in a Rose Garden address that the governors deploy National Guard troops to quell the unrest .
`` If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them , '' he said .
In the nation 's capital , where U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers , military police and other law enforcement on Monday fired tear gas on peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said he was already `` dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers , military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting , looting , vandalism , assaults and the wanton destruction of property . ''
While some governors , such as South Carolina 's Henry McMaster , a Republican , praised Trump 's calls for a crackdown , others took umbrage at the president 's combative tone and questioned his authority to unilaterally deploy federal troops to the states .
In Michigan , where police and protesters have skirmished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful , Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat , called the president 's remarks `` dangerous '' and said they should be `` gravely concerning to all Americans . ''
The president 's comments , she said , `` send a clear signal that this administration is determined to sow the seeds of hatred and division , which I fear will only lead to more violence and destruction . ''
`` We must reject this way of thinking .
This is a moment that calls for empathy , humanity , and unity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is one of the most challenging periods in our nation 's history , but as Americans , we must remember our enemy is racial injustice , not one another . ''
The Republican governor of Massachusetts , Charlie Baker , said he was n't surprised by the president 's `` incendiary words . ''
`` At so many times during these last several weeks , when the country needed compassion and leadership the most , it simply was nowhere to be found , '' he said following the phone call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got bitterness , combativeness and self-interest .
That 's not what we need in Boston , it 's not what we need right now in Massachusetts , '' he said as his voice cracked with emotion , `` and it 's definitely not what we need across this great country of ours either . ''
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee , a Democrat , called the president 's remarks the `` rantings of an insecure man trying to look strong after building his entire political career on racism . ''
On the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo told CNN that he would respond to such an offer by saying `` Thank you , but no thank you . ''
`` He wants to make this about looting because he does n't want to talk about the killing of Mr. Floyd , '' Cuomo said .
`` [ He ] does n't want to really talk about racism and discrimination . ''
In the conference call , Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker , a Democrat , warned the president that the `` rhetoric coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it worse , '' to which Trump snapped back , `` I do n't like your rhetoric that much either . ''
Pritzker , speaking later on CNN , remarked : `` Well , it 's illegal .
He ca n't do it .
We wo n't request military assistance here in the state of Illinois .
I ca n't imagine why any governor is going to do that .
This is , it 's ridiculous , '' he said .
Kentucky Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear was reportedly not on the call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking with the mother of Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old African American resident of Louisville who was killed in March by police executing a `` no knock '' warrant .
The president did praise one Democratic governor for his response to the unrest — Minnesota 's Tim Walz , who fully mobilized National Guard troops on Saturday to supplement law enforcement .
But at another point in the call , Trump called Minnesota `` a laughingstock all over the world . ''
Walz said Monday that he responded by saying : `` No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in pain .
We 're crying .
We saw a man lose his life in front of them and our challenge is that this is about social trust , social compacts and reestablishing faith in the people who are there to serve them . ''

Governors Push Back On Trump's Threat To Deploy Federal Troops To Quell Unrest
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Updated at 10:33 a.m. ET
President Trump, in a conference call Monday with the nation's governors, threatened to deploy the U.S. military to restore order unless states hit by days of unrest "put down" violent demonstrations, urging leaders to "dominate" lawbreakers or risk looking like "a bunch of jerks."
The upbraiding from the White House didn't sit well with many governors, who have been busy responding to clashes between protesters and law enforcement in dozens of U.S. cities sparked by the death a week ago of George Floyd after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.
Trump took a tough line with the governors, saying he was putting Attorney General William Barr in charge of the federal law enforcement response. The president said the White House was "strongly looking for arrests."
"You have to arrest people and you have to try people. And they have to go to jail for long periods of time," the president said.
"If people are running amok, you have to dominate. If you aren't dominating, you're wasting your time," he said. "They're going to run over you; you're going to look like a bunch of jerks."
"It's a movement. If you don't put it down, it will get worse and worse," Trump said. "The only time it's successful is when you're weak and most of you are weak."
The call followed yet another night of unrest Sunday over the May 25 death of Floyd and came on the same day that the president in a Rose Garden address urged governors deploy National Guard troops to quell the unrest.
YouTube
"If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them," he said.
In the nation's capital, where U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers, military police and other law enforcement on Monday fired tear gas on peaceful protesters outside of the White House, Trump said he was already "dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property."
While some governors, such as South Carolina's Henry McMaster, a Republican, praised Trump's calls for a crackdown, others took umbrage at the president's combative tone and questioned his authority to unilaterally deploy federal troops to the states.
During the conference call, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, warned the president that the "rhetoric coming out of the White House is making it worse," to which Trump snapped back, "I don't like your rhetoric that much either."
"I had to speak up, and I told him that his rhetoric is inflaming matters, that it's making things worse, and that we need to call for police reform," Pritzker told NPR's Morning Edition on Tuesday. "We need to call for calm, that that's what the president should do and we need national leadership in this regard."
"He unfortunately — you know," the governor added, "he reacted badly."
Pritzker also said that what Trump's suggesting is "illegal."
"The governor of a state has to ask for federal help. I don't know any governor that intends to do that," he said. "And secondly, you know, you can hear in his rhetoric that he is simply trying to make himself sound like a strong man — almost like a dictator, as if he's going to be responsible for bringing order all the way."
In Michigan, where police and protesters have skirmished in Grand Rapids despite many demonstrations remaining peaceful, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, called the president's remarks "dangerous" and said they should be "gravely concerning to all Americans."
The president's comments, she said, "send a clear signal that this administration is determined to sow the seeds of hatred and division, which I fear will only lead to more violence and destruction."
"We must reject this way of thinking. This is a moment that calls for empathy, humanity, and unity," Whitmer said in a statement. "This is one of the most challenging periods in our nation's history, but as Americans, we must remember our enemy is racial injustice, not one another."
The Republican governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, said he wasn't surprised by the president's "incendiary words."
"At so many times during these last several weeks, when the country needed compassion and leadership the most, it simply was nowhere to be found," he said following the phone call with Trump.
"Instead, we got bitterness, combativeness and self-interest. That's not what we need in Boston, it's not what we need right now in Massachusetts," he said as his voice cracked with emotion, "and it's definitely not what we need across this great country of ours either."
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, called the president's remarks the "rantings of an insecure man trying to look strong after building his entire political career on racism."
On the subject of the deploying of federal troops, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN that he would respond to such an offer by saying, "Thank you, but no thank you."
"He wants to make this about looting because he doesn't want to talk about the killing of Mr. Floyd," Cuomo said. "[He] doesn't want to really talk about racism and discrimination."
Beshear says he was not on the call with President Trump this morning, but instead was talking with Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother.
Trump reportedly urged governors to crack down on protesters, saying "you have to dominate," per @CBSNews account of obtained audio. — Marcus Green (@MarcusGreenWDRB) June 1, 2020
Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was reportedly not on the call with the president. Beshear was instead talking with the mother of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American resident of Louisville who was killed in March by police executing a no-knock warrant.
The president did praise one Democratic governor for his response to the unrest — Minnesota's Tim Walz, who fully mobilized National Guard troops on Saturday to supplement law enforcement.
But at another point in the call, Trump called Minnesota "a laughingstock all over the world."
Walz said Monday that he responded by saying: "No one's laughing here. We're in pain. We're crying. We saw a man lose his life in front of them and our challenge is that this is about social trust, social compacts and reestablishing faith in the people who are there to serve them."
NPR's Colin Dwyer contributed to this report.


npr--2020-06-02--Tuesday's Primaries: Races To Watch And Live Results

With everything going in the country — from the unrest in many cities after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — it 's easy to have missed that there are elections being held .
But several states have primaries up and down the ballot : Indiana , Iowa , Maryland , Montana , New Mexico , Rhode Island , South Dakota and Washington , D.C. Pennsylvania is holding primary voting on Tuesday , though Gov .
Tom Wolf extended the deadline for voting by mail one week , until June 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Live results will appear Tuesday evening .
Presidential primaries press on .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , has not yet officially clinched the nomination .
He is 425 delegates short of the magic number of 1,991 .
With 500 delegates at stake Tuesday , he needs 85 % of the delegates up for grabs , which he 's unlikely to do .
More likely , Biden will cross the threshold next week , June 9 , when Georgia and West Virginia vote with their 133 delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the results of Pennsylvania 's primary with its 186 delegates ) .
Steve King on the ropes .
Controversial conservative Rep. Steve King of Iowa faces real danger in his primary for reelection from Iowa 's 4th Congressional District .
After racist and pro-white nationalist remarks , much of the Republican establishment abandoned King .
They 've come for him before in his almost 20 years in Congress unsuccessfully .
But this has been their best chance so far .
King has trailed in the polls , with only $ 30,000 cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The favorite among his challengers has been state Sen. Randy Feenstra , who painted King as ineffective in the House , given he was stripped of key committee assignments .
But King is well known as a familiar choice for conservatives in western Iowa and has been resilient .
In Iowa 's 2nd Congressional District , Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack is retiring , opening up his seat .
State Sen. Rita Hart will be the Democratic nominee and will face off against either State Sen. Mariannette Miller-Meeks or ex-Illinois Congressman Bobby Schilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Miller-Meeks got the backing of Gov .
Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst , as well as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy .
Fomer Sen. Rick Santorum and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , a top Trump ally , backed Schilling .
Steny Hoyer faces challenge from the left .
A veteran lawmaker from Maryland 's 5th Congressional District and No .
2 in House Democratic leadership , Hoyer faces a progressive primary challenge from 29-year-old McKayla Wilkes .
Wilkes , a single mother , was inspired by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 's victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran white , male Democratic leader .
Wilkes raised $ 300,000 and said Hoyer , who has been in Congress almost 40 years , is out of touch with the district .
The Democratic establishment remained behind Hoyer , though , including the Congressional Black Caucus , which endorsed him .
He outspent Wilkes $ 2.7 million to $ 237,000 .
Spy games in New Mexico .
The announced retirement of New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall set off a domino effect .
Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Luján declared for Udall 's Senate seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3rd Congressional District .
Enter : Valerie Plame , the ex-CIA agent .
She raised and spent more than any candidate in this race and gained national attention with her glossy campaign ad showing her racing backward in a Chevy Camaro on a dusty road .
But locally , her candidacy has looked less like an easy Sunday drive .
She faced criticism for being a relative newcomer , moving to the area in 2007 ; the district is 41 % Latino and 19 % Native American , and another candidate , Teresa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and EMILY 's List .
It is very possible that New Mexico sends an all-female House delegation to Congress in 2021 , as freshman Democrats Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small are the incumbents in the state 's other two districts .
But Torres Small has to win what 's expected to be a tough reelection race in the 2nd District .
Trump won there by 10 points in 2016 , and the primary to decide who will take Torres Small on this fall is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's been a nasty primary between Yvette Herrell , the 2018 nominee , and Claire Chase , an oil executive .
Both have campaigned on who 's the most pro-Trump ; Herrell got the backing of the House Freedom Caucus , but Chase outraised and outspent Herrell , with support from Defending Main Street , a group with ties to establishment Republicans .
Senate match-ups to be set in Iowa and Montana .
Democrats are hoping to take back the Senate this fall .
They have an outside shot at that right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly better of late .
Partially , that 's because of these two races .
In Iowa , Democrats are targeting incumbent Republican Joni Ernst , but first there 's the primary Tuesday .
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee backed real estate executive Theresa Greenfield in the four-way contest .
Greenfield raised $ 7.1 million and went into Tuesday as the favorite .
Other Democrats include retired U.S. Admiral Mike Franken , attorney Kimberly Graham and Eddie Mauro , a businessman and former teacher and coach , who has spent the second most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary .
When Montana Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock changed his mind and decided to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Daines , it suddenly put this race on the map for Democrats in a big way .
Three other Democrats are on the ballot Tuesday , but Bullock has been expected to win easily , raising more than 10 times his next opponent .
Indiana openings .
The retirements of moderate Democrat Pete Visclosky in Indiana 's 1st District and Republican Susan Brooks , one of only 13 Republican women in Congress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both of these ideologically divergent seats .
More than half a dozen Democrats have competed in the 1st District , which is suburban and exurban Chicago , a place that went for Hillary Clinton with 54 % of the vote in 2016 .
In the 5th District , a handful of Republicans have duked it out , including state Sen. Victoria Spartz , who raised and spent the most and got the backing of the Club for Growth , and Beth Henderson , a local businesswoman with the endorsement of Indiana Sen. Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate , Christina Hale .
This district has been in GOP hands for a long time , but it could be one to watch this fall .
The Cook Political Report lists it as only `` lean Republican . ''
Trump won it with 53 % in 2016 .

Tuesday's Primaries: Races To Watch And Live Results
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Neibergall/AP Charlie Neibergall/AP
With everything going in the country — from the unrest in many cities after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police to the coronavirus pandemic — it's easy to have missed that elections are being held.
But several states and the District of Columbia have primaries up and down the ballot: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota.
Pennsylvania is holding primary voting on Tuesday, though Gov. Tom Wolf extended the deadline for voting by mail by one week, until June 9.
Here are the races to watch. Live results will appear Tuesday evening.
Presidential primaries press on. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has not yet officially clinched the nomination. He went into the day 425 delegates short of the magic number of 1,991.
With 500 delegates at stake Tuesday, he needs 85% of the delegates up for grabs, which he's unlikely to get. More likely, Biden will cross the threshold next week, June 9, when Georgia and West Virginia vote, with their 133 delegates at stake (and when we'll get the results of Pennsylvania's primary, with its 186 delegates).
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Rep. Steve King on the ropes. The controversial Iowa conservative faces real danger in his primary for reelection from Iowa's 4th Congressional District. After racist and pro-white nationalist remarks, much of the Republican establishment abandoned King. They've come for him before in his almost 20 years in Congress unsuccessfully. But this has been their best chance so far. King has trailed in the polls, with only $30,000 cash on hand and no TV ads running. The favorite among his challengers has been state Sen. Randy Feenstra, who has painted King as ineffective in the House, given that he was stripped of key committee assignments. But King is well known as a familiar choice for conservatives in western Iowa and has been resilient.
Polls close at 10 p.m. ET
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In Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack is retiring, opening up his seat. Former state Sen. Rita Hart will be the Democratic nominee and will face either state Sen. Mariannette Miller-Meeks or ex-Illinois Congressman Bobby Schilling, who moved to Iowa in 2017. Miller-Meeks got the backing of Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst, as well as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Former Sen. Rick Santorum and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a top Trump ally, have backed Schilling.
Polls close at 10 p.m. ET
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Steny Hoyer faces a challenge from the left. A veteran lawmaker from Maryland's 5th Congressional District and No. 2 in House Democratic leadership, Hoyer faces a progressive primary challenge from 29-year-old Mckayla Wilkes. Wilkes, a single mother, was inspired by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory in New York in 2018 over another veteran white male Democratic leader. Wilkes raised $300,000 and said Hoyer, who has been in Congress almost 40 years, is out of touch with the district. The Democratic establishment has remained behind Hoyer, though, including the Congressional Black Caucus, which endorsed him. He has outspent Wilkes $2.7 million to $237,000.
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET
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Spy games in New Mexico. The announced retirement of New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall set off a domino effect. Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Luján declared for Udall's Senate seat, leaving open his seat in the 3rd Congressional District. Enter: Valerie Plame, the ex-CIA agent. She has raised and spent more than any candidate in this race and gained national attention with her glossy campaign ad showing her racing backward in a Chevy Camaro on a dusty road.
But locally, her candidacy has looked less like an easy Sunday drive. She faced criticism for being a relative newcomer, moving to the area in 2007; the district is 41% Latino and 19% Native American, and another candidate, Teresa Leger Fernandez, got the endorsements of the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and EMILY's List.
Polls close at 9 p.m. ET
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It is very possible that New Mexico sends an all-female House delegation to Congress in 2021, as freshman Democrats Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small are the incumbents in the state's other two districts. But Torres Small has to win what's expected to be a tough reelection race in the 2nd District. Trump won there by 10 points in 2016, and the primary to decide who will take on Torres Small this fall is a contest between two Republican women.
It has been a nasty primary between Yvette Herrell, the 2018 nominee, and Claire Chase, an oil executive. Both have campaigned on who's the most pro-Trump; Herrell got the backing of the House Freedom Caucus, but Chase has outraised and outspent Herrell, with support from Defending Main Street, a group with ties to establishment Republicans.
Polls close at 9 p.m. ET
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Senate matchups to be set in Iowa and Montana. Democrats are hoping to take back the Senate this fall. They have an outside shot at that right now, but their odds have looked increasingly better of late. Partially, that's because of these two races.
In Iowa, Democrats are targeting incumbent Republican Joni Ernst, but first there's the primary Tuesday. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has backed real estate executive Theresa Greenfield in the four-way contest. Greenfield raised $7.1 million and went into Tuesday as the favorite. Other Democrats include retired Adm. Mike Franken, attorney Kimberly Graham and Eddie Mauro, a businessman and former teacher and coach who has spent the second most — $1.4 million — on this primary.
Polls close at 10 p.m. ET
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When Montana Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock changed his mind and decided to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Daines, it suddenly put this race on the map for Democrats in a big way. Three other Democrats are on the ballot Tuesday, but Bullock has been expected to win easily, raising more than 10 times what his next opponent has.
Polls close at 10 p.m. ET
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Indiana openings. The retirements of moderate Democrat Pete Visclosky in Indiana's 1st District and Republican Susan Brooks, one of only 13 Republican women in Congress, in the 5th District has opened up both of these ideologically divergent seats. More than half a dozen Democrats are competing in the 1st District, which is suburban and exurban Chicago, a place that went for Hillary Clinton with 54% of the vote in 2016.
Polls close at 7 p.m. ET
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In the 5th District, a handful of Republicans have duked it out, including state Sen. Victoria Spartz, who raised and spent the most and got the backing of the Club for Growth, and Beth Henderson, a local businesswoman with the endorsement of Indiana Sen. Mike Braun. Democrats have rallied around one candidate, Christina Hale. This district has been in GOP hands for a long time, but it could be one to watch this fall. The Cook Political Report lists it as only "lean Republican." Trump won it with 53% in 2016.
Polls close at 6 p.m. ET