npr--2020-06-02--Sports Figures Add Their Voices To Those Of Angry Protesters

Sports Figures Add Their Voices To Those Of Angry Protesters Sports are part of the fabric of American society , and often they 've provided a medium for athlete protest .
In recent years , former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the face of the movement .
In 2016 , he began kneeling before games , during the playing of the national anthem , to protest police treatment of minorities and social inequality .
Since last week 's death of George Floyd , an African American man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports figures speaking out .
Some have even joined demonstrations that have swept the nation .
True to its status as the most politically progressive of this country 's major sports , the NBA has had many players and officials lend their voices – from Commissioner Adam Silver to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to legendary Lakers center and longtime political activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , who wrote about what he believes is the motivation behind the widespread protests .
`` The black community is used to the institutional racism inherent in education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Abdul-Jabbar said in a Los Angeles Times essay last weekend .
`` And even though we do all the conventional things to raise public and political awareness ... the needle hardly budges . ''
He added , `` Yes , protests often are used as an excuse for some to take advantage , just as when fans celebrating a hometown sports team championship burn cars and destroy storefronts .
I do n't want to see stores looted or even buildings burn .
But African Americans have been living in a burning building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke as the flames burn closer and closer .
Racism in America is like dust in the air .
It seems invisible — even if you 're choking on it — until you let the sun in . ''
Even Michael Jordan weighed in publicly , which to many was a surprise .
The recent 10-part ESPN documentary , The Last Dance , lionized the legendary Chicago Bulls star , although it touched on a few perceived shortcomings , including what some see as Jordan 's unwillingness to speak out on political issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for standing up for what he believed in , '' Jordan said in the documentary , adding , `` but I never thought of myself as an activist .
I thought of myself as a basketball player .
`` I was n't a politician when I was playing my sport .
I was focused on my craft .
Was that selfish ?
Probably .
But that was my energy .
That 's where my energy was . ''
But now Jordan is speaking out , an indication of how deeply Floyd 's death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saddened , truly pained and plain angry , '' Jordan said in a statement posted on Twitter .
`` I see and feel everyone 's pain , outrage and frustration .
I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country .
We have had enough . ''
There have been other heartfelt , and perhaps surprising , shows of solidarity .
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz also has been largely apolitical in his four years in the NFL .
But last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent white athletes to speak out .
`` Being from North Dakota , I 've spent a large part of my life surrounded by people of similar color , so I 'm never gon na act like I know what the black community goes through or even has gone through , '' Wentz said on Twitter .
`` I 'll never know the feeling of having to worry about my kids going outside because of their skin color .
... '' I do n't understand the society we live in that does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heartbreaking and disturbing .
My prayers go out to every man , woman and child that has to endure the effects of the racism in our society . ''
`` You did n't have to say a thing but you did , '' former Eagles receiver Torrey Smith tweeted , adding , `` Love you bro . ''
A number of big leaguers have weighed in , including Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle .
He 's white , and he offered historical context in a tweet with the hashtag # BlackLivesMatter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Doolittle wrote .
`` It was here before we even forged a nation , and has been passed down from generation to generation .
And we still struggle to acknowledge that it even exists , much less atone for it .
The generational trauma of racism and violence is killing black men and women before our eyes .
... '' We must not look away from the racism and violence .
... We must take action and call it out for what it is .
We must recognize our shared humanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or else we will continue to curse future generations with it .
Even though the current environment seems to encourage sports figures to speak out , there 's also notable silence coming from the sports world .
Moton is the men 's basketball head coach at North Carolina Central University .
He said white basketball and football coaches from the most prominent college conferences in the nation — the Power Five — are not speaking up .
And he said he believes they should be .
In fact , he said , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reality is , a lot of these coaches have been able to create generational wealth , '' Moton told ESPN Radio .
`` Their grandkids ' kids are gon na be able to live a prosperous life because athletes who were the complexion of George Floyd were able to run a football , throw a football , shoot a basketball or whatever have you , so they have benefited greatly from athletes that look like George Floyd and many more .
But whenever people the complexion of George Floyd are killed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad daylight , they 're silent . ''
Prominent white college basketball coaches have spoken out against Floyd 's death , including the University of Kentucky 's John Calipari , Roy Williams of the University of North Carolina and Michigan State University head coach Tom Izzo .
Nick Saban is the most famous active head coach in Division 1 college football .
He also released a statement about Floyd .
`` We 're at an important moment for our country , '' the University of Alabama coach said in a message that cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. , `` and now is the time for us to choose kindness , tolerance , understanding , empathy , and most importantly ... it 's time to love each other .
Every life is precious , and we must understand we have so many more things that unite us than divide us . ''
Still , the complexity of Kaepernick Sunday 's Houston Chronicle sports section went beyond the myriad athlete and coach statements of grief and resolve .
It took a strong stand with a full-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture of Floyd at the top and a kneeling Kaepernick at the bottom .
In between , a section read , `` Imagine , if we had embraced Colin Kaepernick 's peaceful protest and paid attention to the issue he was trying to address . ''
It was n't the only connector between Floyd and Kaepernick .
A dramatic meme circulating since Floyd 's death shows a picture of the Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd 's neck , next to a picture of Kaepernick kneeling in protest .
The visuals have stirred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest , which began in 2016 , and was politicized from the beginning .
And it 's prompting harsh criticism of the NFL , even as the league joins the massive sports outpouring of grief and anger .
Last weekend , NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement offering condolences to Floyd 's family as well as those of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor , young African Americans also killed in recent high-profile cases .
`` These tragedies inform the NFL 's commitment and our ongoing efforts , '' Goodell said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for action .
We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society .
We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players , clubs and partners . ''
Critics blasted Goodell for what they called hypocrisy .
`` Colin Kaepernick asked the NFL to care about the lives of black people and they banned him from their platform , '' said Michael-Shawn Dugar , an NFL writer for The Athletic .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of minorities and social inequality , Kaepernick 's protests prompted a debate about patriotism and the flag , fueled by President Trump , who used an expletive to describe Kaepernick and other players who joined the pregame protests .
Even though the NFL ultimately endorsed social justice initiatives , Kaepernick still is considered a pariah — no NFL owner has hired him .
And with the league dealing with a significant lack of diversity in important head coaching and general manager positions , Goodell 's critics said his reference to the league 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is insincere .
On their face , Goodell 's words seemed in lockstep with much of the rest of the sports world as it grapples with and grieves over Floyd 's death .
But for many , the renewed attention on Kaepernick and his experience present just as powerful a message about the powerful NFL , where , in the volatile realm of race and justice , words appear louder than actions .

Sports Figures Add Their Voices To Those Of Angry Protesters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Sports are part of the fabric of American society, and often they've provided a medium for athlete protest. In recent years, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the face of the movement. In 2016, he began kneeling before games, during the playing of the national anthem, to protest police treatment of minorities and social inequality.
Since last week's death of George Floyd, an African American man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck, there's been a surge of sports figures speaking out. Some have even joined demonstrations that have swept the nation.
True to its status as the most politically progressive of this country's major sports, the NBA has had many players and officials lend their voices – from Commissioner Adam Silver to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to legendary Lakers center and longtime political activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who wrote about what he believes is the motivation behind the widespread protests.
"The black community is used to the institutional racism inherent in education, the justice system and jobs," Abdul-Jabbar said in a Los Angeles Times essay last weekend. "And even though we do all the conventional things to raise public and political awareness ... the needle hardly budges."
He added, "Yes, protests often are used as an excuse for some to take advantage, just as when fans celebrating a hometown sports team championship burn cars and destroy storefronts. I don't want to see stores looted or even buildings burn. But African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you're choking on it — until you let the sun in."
Even Michael Jordan weighed in publicly, which to many was a surprise.
The recent 10-part ESPN documentary, The Last Dance, lionized the legendary Chicago Bulls star, although it touched on a few perceived shortcomings, including what some see as Jordan's unwillingness to speak out on political issues.
"I do commend Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he believed in," Jordan said in the documentary, adding, "but I never thought of myself as an activist. I thought of myself as a basketball player.
"I wasn't a politician when I was playing my sport. I was focused on my craft. Was that selfish? Probably. But that was my energy. That's where my energy was."
But now Jordan is speaking out, an indication of how deeply Floyd's death has resonated.
"I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry," Jordan said in a statement posted on Twitter. "I see and feel everyone's pain, outrage and frustration. I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough."
There have been other heartfelt, and perhaps surprising, shows of solidarity.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz also has been largely apolitical in his four years in the NFL. But last week, Wentz was one of the first prominent white athletes to speak out.
"Being from North Dakota, I've spent a large part of my life surrounded by people of similar color, so I'm never gonna act like I know what the black community goes through or even has gone through," Wentz said on Twitter. "I'll never know the feeling of having to worry about my kids going outside because of their skin color. ...
"I don't understand the society we live in that doesn't value all human life. It's heartbreaking and disturbing. My prayers go out to every man, woman and child that has to endure the effects of the racism in our society."
Former and current African American teammates praised Wentz.
"You didn't have to say a thing but you did," former Eagles receiver Torrey Smith tweeted, adding, "Love you bro."
Traditionally, Major League Baseball has, as a sport, avoided politics.
Not now.
A number of big leaguers have weighed in, including Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle. He's white, and he offered historical context in a tweet with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
"Racism is America's Original Sin," Doolittle wrote. "It was here before we even forged a nation, and has been passed down from generation to generation. And we still struggle to acknowledge that it even exists, much less atone for it. The generational trauma of racism and violence is killing black men and women before our eyes. ...
"We must not look away from the racism and violence. ... We must take action and call it out for what it is. We must recognize our shared humanity and atone for our Original Sin, or else we will continue to curse future generations with it.
"RIP George Floyd."
Still silence
Even though the current environment seems to encourage sports figures to speak out, there's also notable silence coming from the sports world.
So says LeVelle Moton.
Moton is the men's basketball head coach at North Carolina Central University. He said white basketball and football coaches from the most prominent college conferences in the nation — the Power Five — are not speaking up.
And he said he believes they should be. In fact, he said, they're obligated to do so.
"The reality is, a lot of these coaches have been able to create generational wealth," Moton told ESPN Radio. "Their grandkids' kids are gonna be able to live a prosperous life because athletes who were the complexion of George Floyd were able to run a football, throw a football, shoot a basketball or whatever have you, so they have benefited greatly from athletes that look like George Floyd and many more. But whenever people the complexion of George Floyd are killed, assassinated, murdered in the street in broad daylight, they're silent."
Not all.
Prominent white college basketball coaches have spoken out against Floyd's death, including the University of Kentucky's John Calipari, Roy Williams of the University of North Carolina and Michigan State University head coach Tom Izzo.
Nick Saban is the most famous active head coach in Division 1 college football. He also released a statement about Floyd.
"We're at an important moment for our country," the University of Alabama coach said in a message that cited civil rights icons Rosa Parks and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., "and now is the time for us to choose kindness, tolerance, understanding, empathy, and most importantly ... it's time to love each other. Every life is precious, and we must understand we have so many more things that unite us than divide us."
Still, the complexity of Kaepernick
Sunday's Houston Chronicle sports section went beyond the myriad athlete and coach statements of grief and resolve. It took a strong stand with a full-page editorial statement.
The page had a picture of Floyd at the top and a kneeling Kaepernick at the bottom. In between, a section read, "Imagine, if we had embraced Colin Kaepernick's peaceful protest and paid attention to the issue he was trying to address."
It wasn't the only connector between Floyd and Kaepernick. A dramatic meme circulating since Floyd's death shows a picture of the Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck, next to a picture of Kaepernick kneeling in protest.
The visuals have stirred up the not-too-distant memory of Kaepernick's protest, which began in 2016, and was politicized from the beginning.
And it's prompting harsh criticism of the NFL, even as the league joins the massive sports outpouring of grief and anger.
Last weekend, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement offering condolences to Floyd's family as well as those of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, young African Americans also killed in recent high-profile cases.
"These tragedies inform the NFL's commitment and our ongoing efforts," Goodell said, adding, "There remains an urgent need for action. We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society. We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players, clubs and partners."
Critics blasted Goodell for what they called hypocrisy.
"Colin Kaepernick asked the NFL to care about the lives of black people and they banned him from their platform," said Michael-Shawn Dugar, an NFL writer for The Athletic.
Instead of prompting a discussion about police treatment of minorities and social inequality, Kaepernick's protests prompted a debate about patriotism and the flag, fueled by President Trump, who used an expletive to describe Kaepernick and other players who joined the pregame protests.
Even though the NFL ultimately endorsed social justice initiatives, Kaepernick still is considered a pariah — no NFL owner has hired him. And with the league dealing with a significant lack of diversity in important head coaching and general manager positions, Goodell's critics said his reference to the league's "commitment and our ongoing efforts" is insincere.
On their face, Goodell's words seemed in lockstep with much of the rest of the sports world as it grapples with and grieves over Floyd's death. But for many, the renewed attention on Kaepernick and his experience present just as powerful a message about the powerful NFL, where, in the volatile realm of race and justice, words appear louder than actions.


npr--2020-06-02--How To Get Sleep In Uneasy Times

How To Get Sleep In Uneasy Times

How To Get Sleep In Uneasy Times Having trouble getting to sleep these days ?
You 're not alone .
For people with a history of insomnia , sleep problems are magnified right now .
And many who never struggled before are suddenly experiencing interruptions in their nightly rest or difficulty falling asleep .
It 's pretty typical that in moments of anxiety , sleep suffers , but the situation we 're all living through today means the anxiety never stops , says neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Douglas Kirsch , past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go away when the specific trigger is resolved .
But now , he says , there 's no resolution or relief from `` the constant inflow of anxiety-provoking news . ''
And that spells trouble for sleep .
Family doctors and sleep specialists say many people who are feeling grief , frustration and anxiety , whether about the pandemic , financial worries or racial inequalities and unrest in the U.S. , are finding themselves unable to sleep .
And it 's not just the worry .
It 's the interrupted schedules and isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it 's not all in your head and what they say you can do about it .
We 're suffering `` collective social anxiety '' — tame it to sleep better Before the pandemic , Arlene Rentas , a busy currency trader in Charlotte , N.C. , kept a regular schedule and slept like clockwork .
She would awaken at 5:30 in the morning and be out the door by 7 a.m. , home by 8 p.m. and , after a quick run , in bed around 10 p.m. '' I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she says .
Not so anymore .
`` Now , I probably get up every two hours , and it 's very hard for me to fall back asleep , '' she says .
Dr. Gary LeRoy , a family physician in Dayton , Ohio , and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians , says he 's hearing from a lot of patients about the worries that keep them from sleeping : having to shelter in place , losing a job or financial struggles .
And , he says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There is a kind of collective social anxiety about what they do n't know about coronavirus , and so people are staying up , watching the news , talking with family and friends about it , '' he says .
And , he says , information is `` changing by the week or day or even hour .
I think that 's what 's causing some element of agitated depression . ''
Sleep problems can be a symptom of depression , says LeRoy .
He cautions that if mood problems are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do well to seek professional help .
`` People may just feel fatigue and tired all the time , or angry all the time , and sometimes those are signs and symptoms of major depression or major anxiety-related conditions , '' he says .
Finding a therapist right now may feel daunting , but many counselors are offering online appointments .
And getting started can be easier than you might think .
For managing milder anxiety , psychologist Sonia Ancoli-Israel with the University of California , San Diego , who studies sleep and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Instead of trying to repress your instinct to worry , schedule it .
She says it `` sounds very silly , but it works ! ''
Here 's how to do it : Find 10 minutes during the day , not too close to bedtime .
`` Turn off your phone , do n't let anyone bother you and just sit and concentrate on all the things that you are worried and anxious about , '' Ancoli-Israel says .
With daily practice , she says , the brain gets accustomed to compartmentalizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to relying on this `` worry time . ''
If you awaken in the middle of the night and start ruminating , she says , `` you can say , 'Wait a minute — I have from 10 to 10:15 a.m. to do this tomorrow , and I do n't have to think about it now . '
`` For many people , says sleep specialist Kirsch , `` exercise helps work off their stress and anxiety , '' helping them to sleep better .
But with sheltering in place and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to places where we used to work out — for example , the gym , pool or even parks — so exercise regimes have been interrupted .
Kirsch says he has had patients who really struggled to find a place to get any movement in .
`` I think if you measured people 's step counts these days compared to where they were two or three months ago , I suspect those step counts are certainly down .
I know mine is personally , '' Kirsch says .
He advises upping your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few short walks in the day , like one in the morning and then one more after work , but before dinner .
And he says , there are some workarounds .
For example , Kirsch says numerous exercise classes are now being streamed online , which can be fun and engaging .
People can exercise at home with bands , weights , even a jump rope — anything to get the heart rate up .
`` Whatever you can do to get the body moving will help lead to a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another unfortunate consequence of sheltering at home is that many people 's schedules have been disrupted .
This is n't great news for sleep , says Kirsch , since the body `` thrives best in routine . ''
If people no longer have to be at work at a certain time , they may stay up later and get up later , which can throw the body into a sort of sleep confusion .
On top of that , some people may be `` watching much more electronics or playing video games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can disturb circadian rhythms .
Kirsch 's advice : Try to get back to normal routines ; go to bed and get up at the same time every day , even on weekends ; and steer clear of electronic devices in the later evening .
He says that if your routine is trending really late , a key to readjusting it is to get up at the same time every morning , even if you did stay up late .
This will be hard at first , but if you get tired enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall asleep earlier .
`` Your body likes to know when it 's going to go to sleep and get up , and that allows it to function optimally .
When we change the schedule , that does n't allow sleep to occur in the same pattern , '' and that can throw sleep off .
He also warns not to nap during the day , as that can lead you to stay up later .
`` Set the stage for good sleep to occur '' If you 've tried exercising , managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're still waking up in the middle of the night , it 's time to make sure you 're following good sleep hygiene .
Number one , says Ancoli-Israel , it 's important to get out of bed if you 're not sleeping well .
`` You want to help your brain learn that the bed is for sleeping , '' she says .
That means if you 're lying there , not falling asleep for more than about 20 minutes , she says , `` the most important thing to do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bedroom . ''
She says to go sit in a comfortable place in another room — she cautions that you should sit up , not lie down — and `` do something that is relaxing and calming for you '' until you get sleepy .
That could be listening to audiobooks , reading or watching TV , as long as it 's not something so compelling that it 's `` going to suck you in . ''
During this period of relaxation , if you start feeling sleepy , that 's the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to sleep .
And if you start to get tense or anxious all over again and are n't falling asleep , then `` get out of bed again , and you keep doing this until you can get into bed and fall asleep . ''
She says it does n't help to pressure yourself .
`` Do n't actively try to fall asleep .
Set the stage for good sleep to occur , '' she says .
Another way to calm down and get back to rest , Ancoli-Israel says , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentrating on your breathing .
Take a deep breath , inhale and then exhale and count each breath , '' she explains .
`` Now what often will happen is your mind is going to wander again , so you have to stop yourself and bring your mind back to thinking about your breathing and start counting from one again . ''
You 'll likely have to repeat this a number of times , but eventually , she says , you 'll actually fall asleep while counting your breaths .
Deep breathing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also help stop the mind from wandering .

How to get sleep in uneasy times
Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron McCoy/Getty Images Aaron McCoy/Getty Images
Having trouble getting to sleep these days? You're not alone. For people with a history of insomnia, sleep problems are magnified right now. And many who never struggled before are suddenly experiencing interruptions in their nightly rest or difficulty falling asleep.
It's pretty typical that in moments of anxiety, sleep suffers, but the situation we're all living through today means the anxiety never stops, says neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Douglas Kirsch, past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
For occasional insomnia, the problems go away when the specific trigger is resolved. But now, he says, there's no resolution or relief from "the constant inflow of anxiety-provoking news." And that spells trouble for sleep.
Family doctors and sleep specialists say many people who are feeling grief, frustration and anxiety, whether about the pandemic, financial worries or racial inequalities and unrest in the U.S., are finding themselves unable to sleep. And it's not just the worry. It's the interrupted schedules and isolation of the pandemic too.
Here's why it's not all in your head and what they say you can do about it.
We're suffering "collective social anxiety" — tame it to sleep better
Before the pandemic, Arlene Rentas, a busy currency trader in Charlotte, N.C., kept a regular schedule and slept like clockwork. She would awaken at 5:30 in the morning and be out the door by 7 a.m., home by 8 p.m. and, after a quick run, in bed around 10 p.m.
"I would sleep rather deep, rather well," she says. Not so anymore. "Now, I probably get up every two hours, and it's very hard for me to fall back asleep," she says.
Dr. Gary LeRoy, a family physician in Dayton, Ohio, and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, says he's hearing from a lot of patients about the worries that keep them from sleeping: having to shelter in place, losing a job or financial struggles.
And, he says, general uncertainty about the future fuels insomnia.
"There is a kind of collective social anxiety about what they don't know about coronavirus, and so people are staying up, watching the news, talking with family and friends about it," he says.
And, he says, information is "changing by the week or day or even hour. I think that's what's causing some element of agitated depression."
Sleep problems can be a symptom of depression, says LeRoy. He cautions that if mood problems are consistently disrupting your life, you might do well to seek professional help. "People may just feel fatigue and tired all the time, or angry all the time, and sometimes those are signs and symptoms of major depression or major anxiety-related conditions," he says.
Finding a therapist right now may feel daunting, but many counselors are offering online appointments. And getting started can be easier than you might think.
For managing milder anxiety, psychologist Sonia Ancoli-Israel with the University of California, San Diego, who studies sleep and circadian rhythms, offers this preventive technique: Instead of trying to repress your instinct to worry, schedule it. She says it "sounds very silly, but it works!"
Here's how to do it: Find 10 minutes during the day, not too close to bedtime. "Turn off your phone, don't let anyone bother you and just sit and concentrate on all the things that you are worried and anxious about," Ancoli-Israel says.
With daily practice, she says, the brain gets accustomed to compartmentalizing in this way — and gets used to relying on this "worry time." If you awaken in the middle of the night and start ruminating, she says, "you can say, 'Wait a minute — I have from 10 to 10:15 a.m. to do this tomorrow, and I don't have to think about it now.' "
Reset interrupted exercise routines
For many people, says sleep specialist Kirsch, "exercise helps work off their stress and anxiety," helping them to sleep better. But with sheltering in place and social distancing, a lot of us can't go to places where we used to work out — for example, the gym, pool or even parks — so exercise regimes have been interrupted. Kirsch says he has had patients who really struggled to find a place to get any movement in.
"I think if you measured people's step counts these days compared to where they were two or three months ago, I suspect those step counts are certainly down. I know mine is personally," Kirsch says. He advises upping your step count, for instance by taking a few short walks in the day, like one in the morning and then one more after work, but before dinner.
And he says, there are some workarounds. For example, Kirsch says numerous exercise classes are now being streamed online, which can be fun and engaging. People can exercise at home with bands, weights, even a jump rope — anything to get the heart rate up.
"Whatever you can do to get the body moving will help lead to a better night's sleep," he says.
Realign disrupted schedules
Another unfortunate consequence of sheltering at home is that many people's schedules have been disrupted. This isn't great news for sleep, says Kirsch, since the body "thrives best in routine." If people no longer have to be at work at a certain time, they may stay up later and get up later, which can throw the body into a sort of sleep confusion. On top of that, some people may be "watching much more electronics or playing video games later in the night," which can disturb circadian rhythms.
Kirsch's advice: Try to get back to normal routines; go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends; and steer clear of electronic devices in the later evening.
He says that if your routine is trending really late, a key to readjusting it is to get up at the same time every morning, even if you did stay up late. This will be hard at first, but if you get tired enough, it can train your body to fall asleep earlier. "Your body likes to know when it's going to go to sleep and get up, and that allows it to function optimally. When we change the schedule, that doesn't allow sleep to occur in the same pattern," and that can throw sleep off.
He also warns not to nap during the day, as that can lead you to stay up later.
"Set the stage for good sleep to occur"
If you've tried exercising, managing anxiety and resetting your schedule and you're still waking up in the middle of the night, it's time to make sure you're following good sleep hygiene.
Number one, says Ancoli-Israel, it's important to get out of bed if you're not sleeping well. "You want to help your brain learn that the bed is for sleeping," she says.
That means if you're lying there, not falling asleep for more than about 20 minutes, she says, "the most important thing to do is get out of bed and leave the bedroom." She says to go sit in a comfortable place in another room — she cautions that you should sit up, not lie down — and "do something that is relaxing and calming for you" until you get sleepy. That could be listening to audiobooks, reading or watching TV, as long as it's not something so compelling that it's "going to suck you in."
During this period of relaxation, if you start feeling sleepy, that's the time to return to bed and try to go to sleep. And if you start to get tense or anxious all over again and aren't falling asleep, then "get out of bed again, and you keep doing this until you can get into bed and fall asleep."
She says it doesn't help to pressure yourself. "Don't actively try to fall asleep. Set the stage for good sleep to occur," she says.
Another way to calm down and get back to rest, Ancoli-Israel says, is a simple breathing technique.
"Start concentrating on your breathing. Take a deep breath, inhale and then exhale and count each breath," she explains. "Now what often will happen is your mind is going to wander again, so you have to stop yourself and bring your mind back to thinking about your breathing and start counting from one again."
You'll likely have to repeat this a number of times, but eventually, she says, you'll actually fall asleep while counting your breaths. Deep breathing is relaxing itself, but importantly, it can also help stop the mind from wandering.


npr--2020-06-01--Park Police Tear Gas Peaceful Protesters To Clear Way For Trump Church Photo-Op

Park Police Tear Gas Peaceful Protesters To Clear Way For Trump Church Photo-Op The plaza between St. John 's Church and Lafayette Park was full of people nonviolently protesting police brutality late Monday afternoon when U.S. Park Police and National Guard troops , with the use of tear gas , suddenly started pushing them away for no apparent reason .
And then it became clear .
President Trump wanted to walk from the White House through the park to the Episcopal church .
Camera crews scrambled to keep up with him as he strode through the park , followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner , along with Attorney General William Barr and other administration officials .
Trump stopped briefly outside the church and held up a Bible .
`` We have the greatest country in the world , '' he said .
`` Keep it nice and safe . ''
The impromptu visit came just after Trump delivered remarks at the White House , declaring himself `` your president of law and order '' and demanding that governors deploy National Guard units and `` dominate the streets . ''
St. John 's Church opened in 1816 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Presidents , '' having hosted every U.S. president since James Madison .
On this occasion , however , the president 's visit was unannounced , and church authorities were furious that the White House did not bother to alert them beforehand .
`` There was no reaching out , no sense that it would require some sort of authorization before using the church as a backdrop in that way , '' said The Right Rev .
Mariann Edgar Budde , Episcopal Bishop of Washington , with oversight responsibilities for the church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bible , without praying or quoting a verse appropriate for the moment , Budde was further incensed .
`` It almost looked like a prop , '' she told NPR .
`` That is the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition .
It speaks messages of love , of God , love of neighbor .
I was outraged that he felt that he had the license to do that , and that he would abuse our sacred symbols and our sacred space in that way . ''
The church has long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes , and in the hours before the president showed up , clergy and lay volunteers had been ministering to the protesters in the plaza .
Protests , some of them violent , had occurred around the church on previous nights , and the church was briefly in danger on Sunday after a fire started in the church basement .
A former St. John 's minister , Gini Gerbasi , was among those attending to the protesters in front of the church when the police moved in .
`` We were literally DRIVEN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lafayette Square patio with tear gas and concussion grenades and police in full riot gear , '' she wrote in a Facebook post .
`` PEOPLE WERE HURT SO THAT [ President Trump ] COULD HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH !
!
!
HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO STEP OVER THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES WE LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE WE WERE BEING TEAR GASSED !
!
!
! ''
In a statement Monday evening , the Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joined in the criticism of Trump 's visit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States stood in front of St. John 's Episcopal Church , lifted up a bible , and had pictures of himself taken , '' Curry said .
`` In so doing , he used a church building and the Holy Bible for partisan political purposes .
This was done in a time of deep hurt and pain in our country , and his action did nothing to help us or to heal us . ''
The church visit was praised , however , by a member of Trump 's Evangelical Advisory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I will never forget seeing @ POTUS @ realDonaldTrump slowly & in-total-command walk from the @ WhiteHouse across Lafayette Square to St. John 's Church defying those who aim to derail our national healing by spreading fear , hate & anarchy , '' Moore tweeted .

Peaceful Protesters Tear-Gassed To Clear Way For Trump Church Photo-Op
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Editor's note: The Interior Department's inspector general released a report in June 2021 that concludes that the clearing of Lafayette Square of protesters on June 1, 2020, had been previously planned by the U.S. Park Police before President Trump made his public statement at a nearby church. The report is not comprehensive in that it focuses on U.S. Park Police conduct but not other law enforcement agencies and is the first of several expected examinations of the events of that day by the Interior Department. We have added our coverage on this page.
The plaza between St. John's Church and Lafayette Park was full of people nonviolently protesting police brutality late Monday afternoon when U.S. Park Police and National Guard troops, with the use of tear gas, suddenly started pushing them away for no apparent reason.
And then it became clear.
President Trump wanted to walk from the White House through the park to the Episcopal church. Camera crews scrambled to keep up with him as he strode through the park, followed by his daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, along with Attorney General William Barr and other administration officials.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
Trump stopped briefly outside the church and held up a Bible.
"We have the greatest country in the world," he said. "Keep it nice and safe."
The visit came just after Trump delivered remarks at the White House, declaring himself "your president of law and order" and demanding that governors deploy National Guard units and "dominate the streets."
St. John's Church opened in 1816 and is known as "the Church of the Presidents," having hosted every U.S. president since James Madison. On this occasion, however, the president's visit was unannounced, and church authorities were furious that the White House did not bother to alert them.
"There was no reaching out, no sense that it would require some sort of authorization before using the church as a backdrop in that way," said the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, with oversight responsibilities for the church.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
When the president held up the Bible, without praying or quoting a verse appropriate for the moment, Budde was further incensed.
"It almost looked like a prop," she told NPR. "That is the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition. It speaks messages of love, of God, love of neighbor. I was outraged that he felt that he had the license to do that, and that he would abuse our sacred symbols and our sacred space in that way."
The church has long been known for its support of social justice causes, and in the hours before the president showed up, clergy and lay volunteers had been ministering to the protesters in the plaza. Protests, some of them violent, had occurred around the church on previous nights, and the church was briefly in danger on Sunday after a fire started in the church basement.
A former St. John's minister, Gini Gerbasi, was among those attending to the protesters in front of the church when the police moved in.
"We were literally DRIVEN OFF of the St. John's, Lafayette Square patio with tear gas and concussion grenades and police in full riot gear," she wrote in a Facebook post. "PEOPLE WERE HURT SO THAT [President Trump] COULD HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH!!! HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO STEP OVER THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES WE LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE WE WERE BEING TEAR GASSED!!!!"
In a statement Monday evening, the Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joined in the criticism of Trump's visit.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
"This evening, the President of the United States stood in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, lifted up a bible, and had pictures of himself taken," Curry said. "In so doing, he used a church building and the Holy Bible for partisan political purposes. This was done in a time of deep hurt and pain in our country, and his action did nothing to help us or to heal us."
The church visit was praised, however, by a member of Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board, the Rev. Johnnie Moore.
"I will never forget seeing @POTUS @realDonaldTrump slowly & in-total-command walk from the @WhiteHouse across Lafayette Square to St. John's Church defying those who aim to derail our national healing by spreading fear, hate & anarchy," Moore tweeted.


npr--2020-06-01--Nearly 26,000 Nursing Home Residents Have Died From COVID-19, Federal Data Show

Nearly 26,000 Nursing Home Residents Have Died From COVID-19 , Federal Data Show Newly released data from the U.S. government show that nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19 and more than 60,000 have fallen ill .
These figures , however , do n't account for all nursing homes across the country .
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services , known as CMS , about 80 % of nursing homes nationwide reported data to the CDC as is now required .
The remaining 20 % could face fines if they do n't comply .
CMS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference call Monday that the data has limitations : Some facilities have reported cumulative figures , and some have reported weekly .
She said she expects the discrepancies will even out over time .
The figures will be publicly available Thursday on a government website called Nursing Home Compare .
Verma also said CMS had found that the nursing homes with the lowest ratings had some of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 .
In March , CMS ordered states to inspect nursing homes for proper infection control .
But figures released Monday show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those inspections have been done , with Nevada completing 100 percent of inspections and West Virginia completing around 11 percent .
States that do not finish all of the required infection inspections by the end of July could face having to forfeit some of their funding under the coronavirus aid package known as the CARES Act .
That money could be redistributed among states that are in compliance with the requirement .
CMS also announced Monday that it will be stepping up fines for nursing homes that fail to sufficiently control infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited for lax infection control could receive fines ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 20,000 .

Nearly 26,000 Nursing Home Residents Have Died From COVID-19, Federal Data Show
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Newly released data from the U.S. government show that nearly 26,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19 and more than 60,000 have fallen ill. These figures, however, don't account for all nursing homes across the country.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS, about 80% of nursing homes nationwide reported data to the CDC as is now required. The remaining 20% could face fines if they don't comply.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma told reporters on a conference call Monday that the data has limitations: Some facilities have reported cumulative figures, and some have reported weekly. She said she expects the discrepancies will even out over time. The figures will be publicly available Thursday on a government website called Nursing Home Compare.
Verma also said CMS had found that the nursing homes with the lowest ratings had some of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19. In March, CMS ordered states to inspect nursing homes for proper infection control. But figures released Monday show that nationwide, a little over half of those inspections have been done, with Nevada completing 100 percent of inspections and West Virginia completing around 11 percent.
States that do not finish all of the required infection inspections by the end of July could face having to forfeit some of their funding under the coronavirus aid package known as the CARES Act. That money could be redistributed among states that are in compliance with the requirement.
CMS also announced Monday that it will be stepping up fines for nursing homes that fail to sufficiently control infections. Nursing homes that have previously been cited for lax infection control could receive fines ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.


npr--2020-06-02--Lawsuit Says Trump's Order Against Tech Companies Will 'Chill Future Online Speech'

Lawsuit Says Trump 's Order Against Tech Companies Will 'Chill Future Online Speech' A technology policy nonprofit organization on Tuesday sued President Trump over his executive order attempting to strip away a legal protection long enjoyed by social media platforms .
In the first of what is anticipated to be a raft of legal challenges against the controversial executive order , the Center for Democracy and Technology argues that Trump 's action was an act of revenge that violates the First Amendment rights of both tech companies like Twitter and ordinary Americans who use social media .
`` The Executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services from fighting misinformation , voter suppression , and the stoking of violence on their platforms , '' said Alexandra Givens , who leads the center .
Trump 's confrontation with Twitter started after the company placed a warning on two of the president 's tweets that made false claims about voting by mail .
Aggravated over the modest reality check , Trump threatened to shut down social media companies .
The president alone does not have the power to close a private company .
Shorter afterward , Trump signed an executive order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shield that prevents companies like Facebook , Twitter and Google from being held legally responsible for what users post and gives the platforms the ability to police content based on its own internal rules .
The safeguard , Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act , is widely credited with giving rise to the modern day Internet , where unfettered free speech thrives and views of all stripes are easily found .
Experts have said that if Section 230 were scrapped , online sites would become more aggressive about combating any content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fearing defamation lawsuits , pushing Facebook and Twitter to censor more often .
Additionally , online operations like Wikipedia , the Internet Archives , Yelp and others could be crushed under an unrelenting wave of litigation , experts noted .
Trump and his conservative allies have long accused Twitter of limiting the reach of conservative voices , without offering direct evidence to support that claim .
The president and his supporters have also hammered Twitter for labeling and hiding tweets by the president that violate Twitter 's terms of service .
Critics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter is acting more like a publisher than a platform and thus should no longer have the legal safeguards of a neutral forum .
Facebook , which has chosen to take a hands-off approach to Trump 's posts that have sparked controversy , has seen a revolt among some of its employees for allowing Trump 's inflammatory online comments to spread on the platform .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said it is not the company 's role to become `` arbiters of truth . ''
Legal experts agreed that Trump 's executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Congress .
Still , the Center for Democracy and Technology 's lawsuit contends that the order `` clouds the legal landscape '' and puts social media companies on notice that if content moderation decisions are made that displease Trump , executive action could follow .
The suit , which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia , asks a federal judge to rule that the president 's order is unconstitutional and to block its implementation .
`` Courts have recognized that retaliatory conduct chills a person or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future , '' the lawsuit states .
`` President Trump—by publicly attacking Twitter and issuing the Order—sought to chill future online speech by other speakers . ''
The White House did not immediately respond to the lawsuit .

Lawsuit Says Trump's Order Against Tech Companies Will 'Chill Future Online Speech'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Twitter via AP Twitter via AP
A technology policy nonprofit organization on Tuesday sued President Trump over his executive order attempting to strip away a legal protection long enjoyed by social media platforms.
In the first of what is anticipated to be a raft of legal challenges against the controversial executive order, the Center for Democracy and Technology argues that Trump's action was an act of revenge that violates the First Amendment rights of both tech companies like Twitter and ordinary Americans who use social media.
"The Executive Order is designed to deter social media services from fighting misinformation, voter suppression, and the stoking of violence on their platforms," said Alexandra Givens, who leads the center.
Trump's confrontation with Twitter started after the company placed a warning on two of the president's tweets that made false claims about voting by mail.
Aggravated over the modest reality check, Trump threatened to shut down social media companies. The president alone does not have the power to close a private company.
Shorter afterward, Trump signed an executive order encouraging federal regulators to reexamine a legal shield that prevents companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google from being held legally responsible for what users post and gives the platforms the ability to police content based on its own internal rules.
The safeguard, Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, is widely credited with giving rise to the modern day Internet, where unfettered free speech thrives and views of all stripes are easily found.
Experts have said that if Section 230 were scrapped, online sites would become more aggressive about combating any content that can be perceived as offensive, fearing defamation lawsuits, pushing Facebook and Twitter to censor more often. Additionally, online operations like Wikipedia, the Internet Archives, Yelp and others could be crushed under an unrelenting wave of litigation, experts noted.
Trump and his conservative allies have long accused Twitter of limiting the reach of conservative voices, without offering direct evidence to support that claim.
The president and his supporters have also hammered Twitter for labeling and hiding tweets by the president that violate Twitter's terms of service. Critics of Twitter say such actions are proof that Twitter is acting more like a publisher than a platform and thus should no longer have the legal safeguards of a neutral forum.
Facebook, which has chosen to take a hands-off approach to Trump's posts that have sparked controversy, has seen a revolt among some of its employees for allowing Trump's inflammatory online comments to spread on the platform. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said it is not the company's role to become "arbiters of truth."
Legal experts agreed that Trump's executive order would not change a law passed by Congress.
Still, the Center for Democracy and Technology's lawsuit contends that the order "clouds the legal landscape" and puts social media companies on notice that if content moderation decisions are made that displease Trump, executive action could follow.
The suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asks a federal judge to rule that the president's order is unconstitutional and to block its implementation.
"Courts have recognized that retaliatory conduct chills a person or entity from exercising their First Amendment rights in the future," the lawsuit states. "President Trump—by publicly attacking Twitter and issuing the Order—sought to chill future online speech by other speakers."
The White House did not immediately respond to the lawsuit.


npr--2020-06-02--Don't Send U.S. Military To Protests, Hill Democrats Warn Trump

Democratic leaders in Congress inveighed Tuesday against what they described as a push by President Trump to use the U.S. military for cracking down on nationwide protests triggered by George Floyd 's death last week in Minneapolis while he was in police custody .
`` Violence has no place and violence must be addressed , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told NPR 's All Things Considered .
`` But there is no reason for the U.S. military to be called out for this . ''
Pelosi was referring to a threat Trump made Monday evening in the Rose Garden at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , '' Trump declared in a brief statement , `` then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them . ''
As the president spoke , federal officers in riot gear near the White House launched tear gas and pepper spray at peaceful protesters .
Shortly thereafter , Trump strode through a park cleared of the demonstrators to pose with a Bible in front of St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of officials that included Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
`` Walking like lapdogs behind a five-time draft dodging coward who is more interested in looking like a leader than actually being one , '' Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill. , who lost both legs in combat as a military helicopter pilot in Iraq , said of Esper and Milley , `` sends a horrifying message to our troops — including our black and brown troops — that our military 's leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In a statement on Twitter , Duckworth added , `` We can not allow any Commander in Chief to put our Armed Forces ' reputation as the last institution Americans can trust and respect at risk by using them unlawfully and putting them in a position of exacerbating the divisions driving our union apart .
...
Threatening military force and imprisonment against Americans exercising their Constitutional rights is not Presidential , it 's tin-pot dictatorial . ''
But Trump does appear to have the power unilaterally to dispatch active-duty soldiers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 1807 Insurrection Act authorizes a U.S. president to deploy military forces for domestic emergencies .
The law was updated in 2006 to include natural disasters and terrorist attacks as grounds for sending federal troops to restore order .
While condemning looting and vandalism that rocked Providence , R.I. , on Monday evening , U.S. Sen. Jack Reed , a Rhode Island Democrat , called Trump 's threats to use military force against American citizens `` irresponsible and destablizing . ''
`` The job of bringing calm will take law enforcement and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee , said in an emailed statement Tuesday .
`` It will not come from recklessly invoking the Insurrection Act . ''
The Democratic chairman of the House Armed Services Committee told reporters Tuesday he plans to convene an in-person congressional hearing next week to press the Pentagon 's top two officials on Trump 's possible invocation of the Insurrection Act .
`` We need to hear from Chairman Milley and Secretary Esper as to exactly how they intend to use the U.S. military trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' U.S. Rep. Adam Smith , D-Wash. , said on a video conference call .
`` If the president is basically threatening to use the U.S. military to go in and enforce the law in U.S. cities , that runs the risk of an extreme escalation in violence and of a hugely disruptive practice . ''
Asked about Milley wearing camouflage fatigues in public Monday night , Smith said the nation 's highest military officer may have misread the message being sent .
`` The optics of him being in uniform out there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we did n't have the president out there talking about going to war with the country and using the military and using overwhelming force , '' Smith said of Milley .
In a conference call Monday , Trump told the nation 's governors that Milley was `` a fighter , a war hero , a lot of victories and no losses and he hates to see the way it 's being handled in the various states , and I just put him in charge . ''
Milley , whom Trump said was on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior Pentagon official , speaking on condition of anonymity , said later that the Insurrection Act had not been invoked by Trump and insisted that Milley 's role and authorities have not changed .

Don't Send U.S. Military To Protests, Hill Democrats Warn Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Democratic leaders in Congress inveighed Tuesday against what they described as a push by President Trump to use the U.S. military for cracking down on nationwide protests triggered by George Floyd's death last week in Minneapolis while he was in police custody.
"Violence has no place and violence must be addressed," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told NPR's All Things Considered. "But there is no reason for the U.S. military to be called out for this."
Pelosi was referring to a threat Trump made Monday evening in the Rose Garden at the White House.
"If a city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents," Trump declared in a brief statement, "then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them."
As the president spoke, federal officers in riot gear near the White House launched tear gas and pepper spray at peaceful protesters. Shortly thereafter, Trump strode through a park cleared of the demonstrators to pose with a Bible in front of St. John's Church, leading a group of officials that included Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
"Walking like lapdogs behind a five-time draft dodging coward who is more interested in looking like a leader than actually being one," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who lost both legs in combat as a military helicopter pilot in Iraq, said of Esper and Milley, "sends a horrifying message to our troops — including our black and brown troops — that our military's leaders will not protect them from unlawful orders."
In a statement on Twitter, Duckworth added, "We cannot allow any Commander in Chief to put our Armed Forces' reputation as the last institution Americans can trust and respect at risk by using them unlawfully and putting them in a position of exacerbating the divisions driving our union apart. ... Threatening military force and imprisonment against Americans exercising their Constitutional rights is not Presidential, it's tin-pot dictatorial."
But Trump does appear to have the power unilaterally to dispatch active-duty soldiers to trouble spots in the United States.
The 1807 Insurrection Act authorizes a U.S. president to deploy military forces for domestic emergencies. The law was updated in 2006 to include natural disasters and terrorist attacks as grounds for sending federal troops to restore order.
While condemning looting and vandalism that rocked Providence, R.I., on Monday evening, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, called Trump's threats to use military force against American citizens "irresponsible and destablizing."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
"The job of bringing calm will take law enforcement and the community working together," Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. "It will not come from recklessly invoking the Insurrection Act."
The Democratic chairman of the House Armed Services Committee told reporters Tuesday he plans to convene an in-person congressional hearing next week to press the Pentagon's top two officials on Trump's possible invocation of the Insurrection Act.
"We need to hear from Chairman Milley and Secretary Esper as to exactly how they intend to use the U.S. military trying to deal with this domestic crisis," U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said on a video conference call. "If the president is basically threatening to use the U.S. military to go in and enforce the law in U.S. cities, that runs the risk of an extreme escalation in violence and of a hugely disruptive practice."
Asked about Milley wearing camouflage fatigues in public Monday night, Smith said the nation's highest military officer may have misread the message being sent.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tyrone Turner/WAMU Tyrone Turner/WAMU
"The optics of him being in uniform out there might not have been so bad if we didn't have the president out there talking about going to war with the country and using the military and using overwhelming force," Smith said of Milley.
In a conference call Monday, Trump told the nation's governors that Milley was "a fighter, a war hero, a lot of victories and no losses and he hates to see the way it's being handled in the various states, and I just put him in charge."
Milley, whom Trump said was on the call, said nothing.
But a senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said later that the Insurrection Act had not been invoked by Trump and insisted that Milley's role and authorities have not changed.


npr--2020-06-02--D.C. Protesters Hail The Hero Of Swann St., Who Sheltered Them From Arrest

D.C .
Protesters Hail The Hero Of Swann St. , Who Sheltered Them From Arrest When Washington , D.C. , resident Rahul Dubey realized dozens of protesters were facing pepper spray and arrest for violating curfew Monday night , he did what he says anyone else would do : He invited about 70 people into his home , to spend the night .
The protesters had been herded into Swann Street near Dupont Circle as police forces around the city used helicopters and flash-bang munitions in a crackdown on anyone violating the 7 p.m. curfew .
By the time they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of them young , were desperate to get away .
But they were hemmed in by police .
`` They unleashed sheer hell on peaceful protesters right outside my stoop , '' Dubey tells NPR 's All Things Considered .
`` I do n't know , I just flung the door open .
And I just kept yelling , 'Come in .
Get in the house , get in the house . '
`` '' Literally I can hear skulls being cracked , '' he said , describing a scene that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 minutes , he said , people flowed inside .
As they did , Dubey shouted directions , hoping to find room for them all in his row house .
`` It was a full escalator , is what it felt like — just pouring into the house .
I was screaming , 'Downstairs !
Outside !
There 's a backyard !
Upstairs !
There 's bedrooms ! '
`` he says .
`` There was this bottleneck , and I did n't want anyone to get crushed , including myself . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 300 arrests Monday night — most of them for violations of the curfew .
Of that total , Police Chief Peter Newsham said , 194 people were arrested in the area of Swann Street NW .
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday , Newsham added that police were in regular communication with Dubey throughout the night .
Dubey says the unique layout of the area — Swann Street is a narrow , one-way street — made it a perfect place for police to box in a crowd of people on foot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , people began trying to soothe their eyes , pouring milk and water over their faces .
`` Everyone was coughing — we were all coughing for 45 minutes to an hour , '' Dubey says , adding that police officers also came up to his door and sprayed pepper spray into the house .
One of the protesters who was trapped is a woman named Jenny — who livestreamed her plight on Instagram and shared what was happening inside Dubey 's home .
Her name quickly inspired a hashtag : # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strangers , Dubey was hailed as a hero by protesters and people following the story through social media .
`` Rahul saved lives last night , '' one Black Lives Matter activist wrote on Twitter .
`` He ended this with an inspirational speech about not giving up and keeping up the peaceful fight .
What a guy .
Thank you Rahul . ''
But for hours , the police did not go away .
Dubey , worried that anyone who left the house might be accused of breaking in , went around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handing out his business card so anyone who ran into trouble could get in touch .
`` They waited for us , man , like predators , so they could arrest us .
We were doing no wrong in my house .
I even said , 'They 're my guests . '
`` Eventually , help arrived from outside .
`` My neighbors brought pizza — I 'd never met them , '' Dubey says .
The protesters stayed until the curfew lifted at 6 a.m. , when they began filtering out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many received rides from strangers who had coordinated a volunteer effort online .
Dubey told a journalist from local TV station WUSA , `` I did n't do anything special .
I know most people would have flung open that door . ''
Despite the hardships , there were some `` magical '' moments in the house , he says .
And he says he was impressed that the people in the group were , in his words , `` doing their civic duty '' by protesting .
`` They were doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was proud , '' Dubey says .
And the protesters showed their gratitude .
People offered money ; they cleaned up the house .
`` Those were the beautiful things , the hugs , '' he says .
But by around 2 a.m. , Dubey says , he was forced to make two rules .
`` No one was allowed to say thank you to me anymore , because it was , you know , 'Stop ! '
`` he says .
`` The other rule was , they were n't allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

D.C. Protesters Hail The Hero Of Swann St., Who Sheltered Them From Arrest
When Washington, D.C., resident Rahul Dubey realized dozens of protesters were facing pepper spray and arrest for violating curfew Monday night, he did what he says anyone else would do: He invited about 70 people into his home, to spend the night.
The protesters had been herded into Swann Street near Dupont Circle as police forces around the city used helicopters and flash-bang munitions in a crackdown on anyone violating the 7 p.m. curfew.
By the time they reached Dubey's home, the protesters, many of them young, were desperate to get away. But they were hemmed in by police.
"They unleashed sheer hell on peaceful protesters right outside my stoop," Dubey tells NPR's All Things Considered. "I don't know, I just flung the door open. And I just kept yelling, 'Come in. Get in the house, get in the house.' "
"Literally I can hear skulls being cracked," he said, describing a scene that he recalls as pandemonium.
For around 10 minutes, he says, people flowed inside. As they did, Dubey shouted directions, hoping to find room for them all in his row house.
"It was a full escalator, is what it felt like — just pouring into the house. I was screaming, 'Downstairs! Outside! There's a backyard! Upstairs! There's bedrooms!' " he says. "There was this bottleneck, and I didn't want anyone to get crushed, including myself."
D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department made more than 300 arrests Monday night — most of them for violations of the curfew. Of that total, Police Chief Peter Newsham said, 194 people were arrested in the area of Swann Street NW.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, Newsham added that police were in regular communication with Dubey throughout the night.
Dubey says the unique layout of the area — Swann Street is a narrow, one-way street — made it a perfect place for police to box in a crowd of people on foot.
Once the group was inside, he says, people began trying to soothe their eyes, pouring milk and water over their faces.
"Everyone was coughing — we were all coughing for 45 minutes to an hour," Dubey says, adding that police officers also came up to his door and sprayed pepper spray into the house.
One of the protesters who was trapped was a woman named Jenny — who livestreamed her plight on Instagram and shared what was happening inside Dubey's home. Her name quickly inspired a hashtag: #savejenny.
By taking in dozens of strangers, Dubey was hailed as a hero by protesters and people following the story through social media.
"Rahul saved lives last night," one Black Lives Matter activist wrote on Twitter. "He ended this with an inspirational speech about not giving up and keeping up the peaceful fight. What a guy. Thank you Rahul."
But for hours, the police did not go away. Dubey, worried that anyone who left the house might be accused of breaking in, went around to each of his new guests, handing out his business card so anyone who ran into trouble could get in touch.
"They waited for us, man, like predators, so they could arrest us. We were doing no wrong in my house. I even said, 'They're my guests.' "
Eventually, help arrived from outside.
"My neighbors brought pizza — I'd never met them," Dubey says.
The protesters stayed until the curfew lifted at 6 a.m., when they began filtering out of the house. To get home, many received rides from strangers who had coordinated a volunteer effort online.
Dubey told a journalist from local TV station WUSA, "I didn't do anything special. I know most people would have flung open that door."
Despite the hardships, there were some "magical" moments in the house, he says. And he says he was impressed that the people in the group were, in his words, "doing their civic duty" by protesting.
"They were doing that with pride and peacefully. And I was proud," Dubey says.
And the protesters showed their gratitude. People offered money; they cleaned up the house.
"Those were the beautiful things, the hugs," he says.
But by around 2 a.m., Dubey says, he was forced to make two rules.
"No one was allowed to say thank you to me anymore, because it was, you know, 'Stop!' " he says. "The other rule was, they weren't allowed to ask me what my Venmo was."


npr--2020-06-02--Louisville Police Release Video It Says Shows David McAtee Firing At Officers

Louisville Police Release Video It Says Shows David McAtee Firing At Officers Louisville Metro Police officials released security footage Tuesday of what they said appears to show a black businessman fire a weapon at law enforcement officers before they returned fire , killing him .
Police said David McAtee , owner of Yaya 's BBQ , began to shoot `` outside his business door '' early Monday morning as officers worked to clear a parking lot at a nearby establishment , then began moving toward his business .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear said in a statement Monday both Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were in the area working to disperse a crowd when they were fired upon .
`` LMPD and the Kentucky National Guard returned fired resulting in a death . ''
The crowds had gathered to call for justice for Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old black woman who was killed by police in her home in March .
Prior to releasing the security video , Rob Schroeder , the LMPD interim chief said there are still several questions that remain about the McAtee incident .
`` The video does not provide all the answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said investigators are still trying to piece together issues that include `` Why did he fire ? ''
and `` Where were police at the time he fired ? ''
The security footage comes from two videos , one from inside McAtee 's eatery and another giving an outside view from an adjoining business .
There is no sound on either video .
The first shows McAtee , wearing a shirt with a red back , carrying what appear to be cooking utensils .
At one point , roughly a dozen people start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishment through an open door .
At around the 2:27 mark , McAtee can be seen reaching outside the doorway .
Moments later he clutches his upper chest and eventually collapses to the floor .
The second angle , at around 5:15 , appears to show officers shooting toward the door , but who is standing there is obscured from view by a screen door .
The video 's release comes a day after the termination of police chief Steve Conrad .
He was relieved of duty when state and local officials called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage , only to learn the devices worn by officers on the scene had not been activated .
Member station WFPL in Louisville reports both the governor and the Louisville 's Mayor Greg Fischer said that was unacceptable .
LMPD Maj. Paul Humphrey was asked during the press conference what he thought of the sequence of events based on the footage .
He said officers looked like they were addressing individuals at Dino 's Food Mart nearby .
`` As the officers are addressing those individuals Mr. McAtee appears to fire at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire , '' Humphrey said .
`` But without the audio and without having interviewed the officers yet , that is yet to be determined exactly how those incidents occurred . ''
He later said `` at this point , '' it appears McAtee fired first .
Humphrey was asked if a gun was recovered from the body of McAtee .
He said the answer , and whether or not McAtee was shot by police or National Guard will come out as the investigation unfolds .
He did say LMPD officers involved had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press briefing , adding it is `` typical that officers will have their legal counsel prior to interviewing . ''
He said he expected those interviews to take place 48 hours after the incident .

Louisville Police Releases Video It Says Shows David McAtee Firing At Officers
Louisville Metro Police officials released security footage Tuesday of what they said appears to show a black businessman firing a weapon at law enforcement officers before they return fire, killing him.
Police said David McAtee, owner of Yaya's BBQ, began to shoot "outside his business door" early Monday morning as officers worked to clear a parking lot at a nearby establishment and then began moving toward his business.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement Monday that both the Louisville Metro Police Department and the Kentucky National Guard were in the area working to disperse a crowd when they were fired upon. "LMPD and the Kentucky National Guard returned fired resulting in a death."
The crowd had gathered to call for justice for Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was killed by police in her home in March.
Prior to releasing the security video, Rob Schroeder, the LMPD's interim chief, said several questions still remain about the McAtee incident.
"The video does not provide all the answers," Schroeder said.
He also said investigators are still trying to piece together issues that include "Why did he fire?" and "Where were police at the time he fired?"
The security footage comes from two videos, one from inside McAtee's eatery and another giving an outside view from an adjoining business.
There is no sound on either video.
The first shows McAtee, wearing a shirt with a red back, carrying what appear to be cooking utensils.
At one point, roughly a dozen people start to hastily make their way inside his establishment through an open door. At around the 2:27 mark, McAtee can be seen reaching outside the doorway. Moments later he clutches his upper chest and eventually collapses to the floor.
The second angle, at around 5:15, appears to show officers shooting toward the door, but who is standing there is obscured from view by a screen door.
The video's release comes a day after the termination of Police Chief Steve Conrad.
He was relieved of duty when state and local officials called for the release of officer body-camera footage, only to learn that the devices worn by officers on the scene had not been activated. Member station WFPL in Louisville reports that both the governor and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said that was unacceptable.
LMPD Maj. Paul Humphrey was asked during the news conference what he thought of the sequence of events based on the footage. He said officers looked like they were addressing individuals at Dino's Food Mart nearby.
"As the officers are addressing those individuals, Mr. McAtee appears to fire at the officers, and they take cover and return fire," Humphrey said.
"But without the audio and without having interviewed the officers yet, that is yet to be determined exactly how those incidents occurred."
He later said, "At this point," it appears McAtee fired first.
Humphrey was asked if a gun was recovered from the body of McAtee. He said the answer, as well as whether McAtee was shot by the police or the National Guard, will come out as the investigation unfolds.
He did say LMPD officers involved had not been questioned by investigators as of the press briefing, adding it is "typical that officers will have their legal counsel prior to interviewing." He said he expected those interviews to take place 48 hours after the incident.


npr--2020-06-02--6 Atlanta Officers Charged After Release Of 'Disturbing' Arrest Video

Six Atlanta police officers are facing a slew of charges for their role in the arrest of two young people last weekend .
The incident , during which officers used stun guns on the pair and pulled them from their vehicle , received national attention after bystanders recorded and posted video to social media .
`` I agree with Mayor [ Keisha Lance ] Bottoms and I agree with our police chief , Erika Shields , when they both have conveyed in so many separate ways that the conduct in this incident — it is not indicative of the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Atlanta , '' Fulton County , Ga. , District Attorney Paul Howard told reporters Tuesday .
Howard 's office has filed charges — mostly assorted aggravated assault and battery counts — against a half-dozen officers involved in the arrest : Lonnie Hood , Willie Sauls , Ivory Streeter , Mark Gardner , Armond Jones and Roland Claud .
Streeter and Gardner have been fired from the force since Saturday 's confrontation , while three others have been placed on desk duty .
Howard said the charges are backed up by extensive interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Messiah Young , as well as video evidence from bystanders and the officers ' body camera footage .
The district attorney played one such video from a bodycam .
During the video , officers on foot confront Pilgrim and Young , who had been passing them in a car .
After the two black occupants appear to drive away briefly from the officers , Pilgrim and Young stop — at which point the officers swarm the vehicle .
Stun guns are used on both occupants , who are ripped from the car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pilgrim was never charged ; Young was charged with attempting to elude officers before the charge was dismissed at the request of the mayor , who apologized .
`` We just need to see that all officers are held accountable , and that there really is change moving forward within the culture of policing , '' Young said at a news conference .
Atlanta and other cities have seen widespread protests over the past week after another video — that of George Floyd 's arrest in Minneapolis — catalyzed outrage over violence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — who has since been fired from the Minneapolis police and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter — dug a knee into Floyd 's neck for nearly nine minutes .
Video of the incident involving Pilgrim and Young caused a stir of its own .
`` We understand our officers are working very long hours under an enormous amount of stress , '' the Atlanta mayor said Sunday , describing the video as `` disturbing on many levels . ''
`` But we also understand that the use of excessive force is never @ @ @

6 Atlanta Officers Charged After Release Of 'Disturbing' Arrest Video
Enlarge this image toggle caption John Bazemore/AP John Bazemore/AP
Six Atlanta police officers are facing a slew of charges for their role in the arrest of two young people last weekend. The incident, during which officers used stun guns on the pair and pulled them from their vehicle, received national attention after bystanders recorded and posted video to social media.
"I agree with Mayor [Keisha Lance] Bottoms and I agree with our police chief, Erika Shields, when they both have conveyed in so many separate ways that the conduct in this incident — it is not indicative of the way that we treat people in the city of Atlanta," Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Paul Howard told reporters Tuesday.
Howard's office has filed charges — mostly assorted aggravated assault and battery counts — against a half-dozen officers involved in the arrest: Lonnie Hood, Willie Sauls, Ivory Streeter, Mark Gardner, Armond Jones and Roland Claud. Streeter and Gardner have been fired from the force since Saturday's confrontation, while three others have been placed on desk duty.
Howard said the charges are backed up by extensive interviews with the young couple, Taniyah Pilgrim and Messiah Young, as well as video evidence from bystanders and the officers' body camera footage.
Watch the news conference
The district attorney played one such video from a bodycam. During the video, officers on foot confront Pilgrim and Young, who had been passing them in a car. After the two black occupants appear to drive away briefly from the officers, Pilgrim and Young stop — at which point the officers swarm the vehicle. Stun guns are used on both occupants, who are ripped from the car over Pilgrim's screams to stop.
Pilgrim was never charged; Young was charged with attempting to elude officers before the charge was dismissed at the request of the mayor, who apologized.
"We just need to see that all officers are held accountable, and that there really is change moving forward within the culture of policing," Young said at a news conference.
Atlanta and other cities have seen widespread protests over the past week after another video — that of George Floyd's arrest in Minneapolis — catalyzed outrage over violence in policing. Floyd died after Derek Chauvin — who has since been fired from the Minneapolis police and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter — dug a knee into Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes.
Video of the incident involving Pilgrim and Young caused a stir of its own.
"We understand our officers are working very long hours under an enormous amount of stress," the Atlanta mayor said Sunday, describing the video as "disturbing on many levels."
"But we also understand that the use of excessive force is never acceptable."


npr--2020-06-02--Catholic Archbishop Criticizes Trump's Visit To St. John Paul II Shrine

President Trump drew fresh criticism from religious leaders on Tuesday when he and first lady Melania Trump visited a shrine to St. John Paul II in Washington , D.C .
The trip to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine drew a sharp response from Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory , who said , `` I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles . ''
The visit took place less than 24 hours after an Episcopal bishop said the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a photo op outside the historic St. John 's Church .
Trump walked from the White House to the church on Monday after federal police and the National Guard used tear gas and other measures to force demonstrators out of an adjacent park .
`` He used violent means to ask to be escorted across the park into the courtyard of the church , '' said Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington .
Trump 's outing to the shrine did not require the disruption of large protests against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , he traveled by motorcade .
`` President Trump and the first lady laid a wreath and observed a moment of silence at the shrine , '' NPR 's Ayesha Rascoe reports for our Newscast unit .
The Saint John Paul II National Shrine , which sits on the edge of the campus of Catholic University , was created by the Knights of Columbus , a Catholic men 's fraternal group .
It was designated a national shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2014 .
In the first few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage of the event appeared on his reelection campaign 's Twitter feed ; it did not initially appear on the White House 's official media outlets .
Gregory said in a statement that Pope John Paul II was a defender of the dignity of human beings who `` certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence , scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace . ''
Gregory , who became Washington 's Catholic archbishop last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardinal from the United States .
In response to the criticism , the shrine said Trump 's trip on Tuesday had been planned in advance .
`` The White House originally scheduled this as an event for the president to sign an executive order on international religious freedom , '' the shrine said in a statement .
`` This was fitting given Saint John Paul II was a tireless advocate of religious liberty throughout his pontificate . ''
It concluded , `` The Shrine welcomes all people to come and pray and learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ II . ''
The White House said Trump signed an executive order on advancing international religious freedom after he returned to the Oval Office , shortly after noon .

Catholic Archbishop Criticizes Trump's Visit To St. John Paul II Shrine
President Trump drew fresh criticism from religious leaders on Tuesday when he and first lady Melania Trump visited a shrine to St. John Paul II in Washington, D.C.
The trip to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine drew a sharp response from Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, who said, "I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles."
The visit took place less than 24 hours after an Episcopal bishop said the president had used the Bible as a prop during a photo op outside the historic St. John's Church. Trump walked from the White House to the church on Monday after federal police and the National Guard used tear gas and other measures to force demonstrators out of an adjacent park.
"He used violent means to ask to be escorted across the park into the courtyard of the church," said Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
Trump's outing to the shrine did not require the disruption of large protests against police brutality to clear a path. Instead, he traveled by motorcade.
"President Trump and the first lady laid a wreath and observed a moment of silence at the shrine," NPR's Ayesha Rascoe reports for our Newscast unit.
The Saint John Paul II National Shrine, which sits on the edge of the campus of Catholic University, was created by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's fraternal group. It was designated a national shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2014.
In the first few hours after Trump's visit, video footage of the event appeared on his reelection campaign's Twitter feed; it did not initially appear on the White House's official media outlets.
Gregory said in a statement that Pope John Paul II was a defender of the dignity of human beings who "certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace."
Gregory, who became Washington's Catholic archbishop last year, is poised to become the first black cardinal from the United States.
In response to the criticism, the shrine said Trump's trip on Tuesday had been planned in advance.
"The White House originally scheduled this as an event for the president to sign an executive order on international religious freedom," the shrine said in a statement. "This was fitting given Saint John Paul II was a tireless advocate of religious liberty throughout his pontificate."
It concluded, "The Shrine welcomes all people to come and pray and learn about the legacy of Saint John Paul II."
The White House said Trump signed an executive order on advancing international religious freedom after he returned to the Oval Office, shortly after noon.


npr--2020-06-02--Pelosi Asks Black Caucus To Come Up With Police Reforms Following Protests

Pelosi Asks Black Caucus To Come Up With Police Reforms Following Protests House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , has asked the Congressional Black Caucus to lead the process of drafting a legislative response to the protests that have swept the country following the death of George Floyd .
House Democrats are sorting through dozens of proposals to address policing issues , including excessive use of force and racial profiling .
`` It is time , it is time for us to address the concerns that were being expressed by the protesters , '' Pelosi said at a press event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not a single incident .
We know this is a pattern of behavior .
and we also know the history that brings us to this sad place . ''
Democrats hope to calm the increasingly incendiary atmosphere in the country over Floyd 's death by finding ways to address the underlying systemic problems enraging protesters in the streets .
There is some degree of bipartisan support for reviewing the tactics that led to Floyd 's death .
Many Republicans , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and Sen. Lindsey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell called `` egregious wrongs . ''
McConnell said Tuesday there could be a role for Congress to play here .
`` It 's certainly something that we need to take a look at , '' McConnell told reporters .
`` We 'll be talking to our colleagues about what , if anything , is appropriate for us to do in the wake of what 's going on . ''
But the discussion has often become entwined with public outcry over President Trump 's handling of the unrest and his threat to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Floyd 's killing `` happened in broad daylight , it happened for all the world to see .
A knee to the neck , not only by the perpetrator of that murder but by three officers observing it . ''
Congress has often struggled to address policing issues .
Many decisions about policing tactics , training and strategies are determined at the state and local level .
Pelosi is asking members of the Congressional Black Caucus to sort through the ideas and find legislation that can pass the House where Democrats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Among the options is a 2015 bill introduced by House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y. , that would outlaw the use of chokeholds in policing .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has endorsed that idea .
Democrats are hoping to reach an agreement quickly .
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, told reporters he could call lawmakers back to Washington to vote before their scheduled return on June 30 .
Hoyer said that he has been in contact with the Congressional Black Caucus over the last four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 50 pieces of legislation , including a proposal to end qualified immunity for police officers , or their legal protection shield for certain actions .
Democrats also plan to try to force the Senate to go on record condemning Trump for `` ordering federal officers to use gas and rubber bullets against Americans who were peaceably protesting '' Monday outside the White House .
The resolution , proposed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , would also affirm the rights of free assembly and protest while condemning looting .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires unanimous consent to be approved .
Republicans , including McConnell , have largely focused on calling for protests to remain peaceful without directly discussing the conflict at the White House .
`` It is well past time that we also unite on the side of peace in our streets and peace in our communities , '' McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor .
`` We need to unite against these violent rioters who seek only to aggrandize themselves and further damage a nation that needs healing . ''
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear gas incident at the White House when reporters on Capitol Hill asked them about it .
Some avoided the question ; others said they did n't see the incident .
Those who did speak to reporters mostly focused on condemning violent protests .
Graham , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , has announced a June 16 hearing on police use of force .
`` We intend to shine a bright light on the problems associated with Mr. Floyd 's death , with the goal of finding a better way forward for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement Friday .

Pelosi Asks Black Caucus To Come Up With Police Reforms Following Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has asked the Congressional Black Caucus to lead the process of drafting a legislative response to the protests that have swept the country following the death of George Floyd.
House Democrats are sorting through dozens of proposals to address policing issues, including excessive use of force and racial profiling.
"It is time, it is time for us to address the concerns that were being expressed by the protesters," Pelosi said at a press event at the Capitol Tuesday. "This is not a single incident. We know this is a pattern of behavior. and we also know the history that brings us to this sad place."
Democrats hope to calm the increasingly incendiary atmosphere in the country over Floyd's death by finding ways to address the underlying systemic problems enraging protesters in the streets. There is some degree of bipartisan support for reviewing the tactics that led to Floyd's death.
Many Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have acknowledged what McConnell called "egregious wrongs." McConnell said Tuesday there could be a role for Congress to play here.
"It's certainly something that we need to take a look at," McConnell told reporters. "We'll be talking to our colleagues about what, if anything, is appropriate for us to do in the wake of what's going on."
But the discussion has often become entwined with public outcry over President Trump's handling of the unrest and his threat to use military force to quell protests.
Pelosi said Floyd's killing "happened in broad daylight, it happened for all the world to see. A knee to the neck, not only by the perpetrator of that murder but by three officers observing it."
Congress has often struggled to address policing issues. Many decisions about policing tactics, training and strategies are determined at the state and local level. Pelosi is asking members of the Congressional Black Caucus to sort through the ideas and find legislation that can pass the House where Democrats have enough votes for approval without GOP support.
Among the options is a 2015 bill introduced by House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., that would outlaw the use of chokeholds in policing. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has endorsed that idea.
Democrats are hoping to reach an agreement quickly. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters he could call lawmakers back to Washington to vote before their scheduled return on June 30.
Hoyer said that he has been in contact with the Congressional Black Caucus over the last four days and that it is considering more than 50 pieces of legislation, including a proposal to end qualified immunity for police officers, or their legal protection shield for certain actions.
Democrats also plan to try to force the Senate to go on record condemning Trump for "ordering federal officers to use gas and rubber bullets against Americans who were peaceably protesting" Monday outside the White House. The resolution, proposed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would also affirm the rights of free assembly and protest while condemning looting.
The measure is unlikely to pass as it requires unanimous consent to be approved.
Republicans, including McConnell, have largely focused on calling for protests to remain peaceful without directly discussing the conflict at the White House.
"It is well past time that we also unite on the side of peace in our streets and peace in our communities," McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor. "We need to unite against these violent rioters who seek only to aggrandize themselves and further damage a nation that needs healing."
Most Senate Republicans declined Tuesday to discuss the tear gas incident at the White House when reporters on Capitol Hill asked them about it. Some avoided the question; others said they didn't see the incident. Those who did speak to reporters mostly focused on condemning violent protests.
Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has announced a June 16 hearing on police use of force.
"We intend to shine a bright light on the problems associated with Mr. Floyd's death, with the goal of finding a better way forward for our nation," Graham said in a statement Friday.