npr--2020-06-12--Pressure Grows On Joe Biden To Pick A Black Woman As His Running Mate

Pressure Grows On Joe Biden To Pick A Black Woman As His Running Mate In late April , more than 200 black women leaders and activists within the Democratic party signed an open letter to the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden calling on him to select a black woman as his running mate .
`` It is a fact that the road to the White House is powered by Black women and Black women are the key to a Democratic victory in 2020 , '' they wrote .
In early May , about a dozen of the women who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Biden and some of his senior staff in a conference call .
Their pitch was about timing and history , but it was also about strategy .
They believed a black woman would help Biden win the White House .
No commitments to the specific demands were made , according to two people on the call .
But the lines of communication , they say , remain open and they 've had a few calls with the Biden campaign to discuss the issue .
`` That was couple of weeks ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than ever that when we see what is happening right now in this country , there is a cry , there 's a clarion call , for us to do something different , for this country to literally face structural racism ... We feel like a black woman could actually bring that to the ticket , '' said LaTosha Brown , the co-founder of Black Votes Matter Fund and a political strategist who was on the call with Biden .
Brown is not alone .
As widespread protests against racial injustice have swept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of George Floyd , this moment is putting renewed attention on who the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden ought to choose as his running mate .
The demands to pick a black woman are growing louder , and not just from black voters .
Polling from a POLITICO/Morning Consult survey this week found 46 % of Democrats say it 's important for Biden to choose a candidate of color as his running mate .
That 's up from 36 % in early April .
Former DNC Chair and 2o04 Democratic presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evolution in his own thinking in just the last two weeks .
`` I have n't lived through a time like this since 1968 , '' he said .
Dean said prior to the last few weeks , he thought having a black running mate `` would have been nice , '' now he thinks it 's critical .
A black woman , he says , could energize the young voters protesting in the streets and bring about real reform .
`` I just think it 's smart politics , '' said Dean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were on the vetting team , I would now go back and look again , because I think I think there 's been an earthquake in the United States . ''
For some Democrats , the choice is about strategy — and the realization that Democrats need to have high turnout among a diverse group of voters to win the presidency in November .
They believe a black woman will boost turnout among black voters .
For others , the decision is about policy — and the belief that a black candidate will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and push Joe Biden further left on issues of racial justice and police reform , while also giving him credibility with some Democratic voters who might doubt his convictions .
And , yet for others , this demand is about loyalty — black women , they point out , have been the most consistent voting bloc of the Democratic base , they saved Biden 's campaign in South Carolina , and yet they 're never the candidates chosen for the number one or number two spot .
The focus on choosing a candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the vice president comes despite the fact that a historically diverse field of presidential candidates this cycle resulted in a final contest between two white men in their 70s .
`` For some people ... geographics was important , '' said Antjuan Seawright , a Democratic strategist in South Carolina , referring to the Democrats ' attention on winning back the midwest .
`` Now I think demographics is important . ''
Perhaps , because of that — there is pressure for Biden to racially balance the Democratic ticket .
Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was a presidential candidate herself this cycle , as one of the most viable options .
But other names often mentioned include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , former national security adviser Susan Rice , Florida congresswoman Val Demings , and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
At the same time , many Democratic activists and leaders agree that this moment has made it clear that one candidate who was being touted just a few weeks ago as a likely pick — Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar — is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record as a prosecutor and her history with the black community have raised questions about how much she genuinely understands the concerns of structural racism .
Some went so far as to say that Biden choosing her as a running mate would be `` tone deaf '' and `` disrespectful '' to black voters .
Activists are not as critical of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , but they admit some of her momentum has stalled .
Some feel she 's right on the issues , and they personally like her , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70s as the Democratic ticket in 2020 compared to Biden next to a young black woman are incomparable .
Brown endorsed Warren and voted for her .
But now she 's lobbying for a black woman as vice president .
`` I still think that [ Warren ] would be a wonderful president .
There 's nothing about how I feel about her that has shifted , '' said Brown .
`` This is n't about an individual or picking our particular favorite .
That 's not what this is about .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's a larger issue around the underrepresentation of black women . ''
Brown questions why black women , who have been the most loyal voters in the Democratic party , have never been nominated for president or vice president , and yet white men who have `` not shown up for the Democratic Party in more than 20 years '' are `` still considered the prime prize type of candidate and leadership to lead the political party . ''
No Democrat has won a majority of white men since Lyndon B. Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic pollster who worked on Barack Obama 's presidential campaigns , questions how anyone could think it 's sound strategy for Democrats to have an all-white ticket this November .
`` You should have to explain to me how in the hell it makes sense for you not to have a diverse ticket , given the success of our diverse ticket , '' said Belcher , referring to the fact that Obama won over 51 % of the national popular vote in both of his victories , making him the first president in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should tell — you should have a reservation about an all-white ticket because we have a lot harder time winning majorities with an all white ticket than we do with a diverse one . ''
The electoral benefits of a vice presidential pick are unclear .
History shows that rarely does a candidate win a state by picking a candidate from a particular geographic region , but the decision of whom they select is seen as a litmus test for their judgement as president .
The VP pick is a presidential candidate 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for how voters should judge their thinking , so by picking a black woman , some feel Biden would send a signal about his priorities .
Still , strategists and advocates are eager to point out that they want the right black candidate , not just anybody who fits the demographic description .
The killing of George Floyd has raised questions about bias in the criminal justice system and law enforcement 's relationship with the black community .
And one complicating factor is that a couple of the black women on the VP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a prosecutor in San Francisco and Demings was the police chief in Orlando .
A law enforcement record was once seen as an admirable trait on a political resume , but some progressives are leery of a candidate with such ties .
Steve Phillips , a Democratic and fundraiser who leads an advocacy group called Democracy in Color , has been advocating for Abrams , in part because he thinks her understanding of the criminal justice system is unusual .
`` She has been very public that her brother was incarcerated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` So that 's a distinguishing dimension to the race at this point in time . ''
Some progressives point out that the protests in the street are being led by young people , who are already skeptical of Biden 's campaign .
Rather than focusing on just choosing a black face , they say , Biden needs to focus on choosing a candidate who 's credible on criminal justice issues .
`` It 's not just enough to have a woman of color in the abstract .
We need somebody who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system that is harmful to people of color writ large , '' said Phillips .
But above all , Democrats want Biden to win , and they 're not sure what the right ingredients for victory are .
And , so , even some of those who say they understand the desire for a black woman , say Biden ultimately needs to pick someone he trusts .
`` It 's easy to say you should pick this kind of woman or that kind of woman , '' said Stephanie Cutter , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ But ] the chemistry is so incredibly important to get it right . ''
Cutter speaks from experience .
She worked on the 2004 Democratic campaign when John Kerry chose North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as his running mate .
`` They paid a price for it , '' said Cutter .
`` They just were n't seen as a team . ''
She said the campaign chose Edwards over Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt , even though Kerry had more personal chemistry with Gephardt .
`` The decision was to go with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented a southern states that was moving in the Democratic direction .
He was younger .
Different generation .
And had captured an economic message at that time that really mattered , '' she said .
But that personal connection was missing , she said , and voters noticed .
Symone Sanders , a senior adviser to the Biden campaign , told ABC 's The View that Biden `` hears the concerns of folks across this country who have asked for an African American woman vice president running mate , '' but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Latino community have said he should pick a Latina .
There are folks that believe he should pick someone that represents the LGBTQ+ community , '' she added .
And , ultimately , he has n't made a decision .

Pressure Grows On Joe Biden To Pick A Black Woman As His Running Mate
Enlarge this image toggle caption Susan Walsh/AP Susan Walsh/AP
In late April, more than 200 black women who are leaders and activists within the Democratic party signed an open letter to the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden calling on him to select a black woman as his running mate.
"It is a fact that the road to the White House is powered by Black women and Black women are the key to a Democratic victory in 2020," they wrote.
In early May, about a dozen of the women who had signed that letter made their case directly to Biden and some of his senior staff in a conference call. Their pitch was about timing and history, but it was also about strategy. They believed a black woman would help Biden win the White House.
No commitments to the specific demands were made, according to two people on the call. But the lines of communication, they say, remain open and they've had a few calls with the Biden campaign to discuss the issue.
"That was couple of weeks ago, and now I'm even more convinced than ever that when we see what is happening right now in this country, there is a cry, there's a clarion call, for us to do something different, for this country to literally face structural racism ... We feel like a black woman could actually bring that to the ticket," said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund and a political strategist who was on the call with Biden.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Brown is not alone. As widespread protests against racial injustice have swept the country in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, this moment is putting renewed attention on who Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, ought to choose as his running mate.
The demands to pick a black woman are growing louder, and not just from black voters. Polling from a Politico/Morning Consult survey this week found 46% of Democrats say it's important for Biden to choose a candidate of color as his running mate. That's up from 36% in early April.
If I were on the vetting team, I would now go back and look again, because I think, I think there's been an earthquake in the United States.
Former DNC Chair and 2o04 Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said he's witnessed an evolution in his own thinking in just the past two weeks.
"I haven't lived through a time like this since 1968," he said. Dean said prior to the past few weeks, he thought having a black running mate "would have been nice." Now he thinks it's critical.
A black woman, he says, could energize the young voters protesting in the streets and bring about real reform. "I just think it's smart politics," said Dean. "If I were, if I were on the vetting team, I would now go back and look again, because I think, I think there's been an earthquake in the United States."
Media no longer available
For some Democrats, the choice is about strategy — and the realization that Democrats need to have high turnout among a diverse group of voters to win the presidency in November. They believe a black woman will boost turnout among black voters. For others, the decision is about policy — and the belief that a black candidate will have a better understanding of structural racism and push Joe Biden further left on issues of racial justice and police reform, while also giving him credibility with some Democratic voters who might doubt his convictions. And yet for others, this demand is about loyalty.
Black women, they point out, have been the most consistent voting bloc of the Democratic base, they saved Biden's campaign in South Carolina, and yet they're never the candidates chosen for the No. 1 or No. 2 spot. The focus on choosing a candidate of color, specifically a black woman, as the vice president comes despite the fact that a historically diverse field of presidential candidates this cycle resulted in a final contest between two white men in their 70s.
"For some people ... geographics was important," said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist in South Carolina, referring to the Democrats' attention on winning back the Midwest. "Now I think demographics are important."
Perhaps because of that there is pressure for Biden to racially balance the Democratic ticket.
Democratic leaders frequently mention California Sen. Kamala Harris, who was a presidential candidate herself this cycle, as one of the most viable options. Other names often mentioned include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former national security adviser Susan Rice, Florida Congresswoman Val Demings and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
At the same time, many Democratic activists and leaders agree that this moment has made it clear that one candidate who was being touted just a few weeks ago as a likely pick — Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar — is not a good fit. Black leaders say her record as a prosecutor and her history with the black community have raised questions about how much she genuinely understands the concerns of structural racism. Some went so far as to say that Biden choosing her as a running mate would be "tone deaf" and "disrespectful" to black voters.
Activists are not as critical of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but they admit some of her momentum has stalled. Some feel she's right on the issues, and they personally like her, but the visuals of two white people in their 70s as the Democratic ticket in 2020 compared to Biden next to a young black woman are incomparable.
Brown endorsed Warren and voted for her. But now she's lobbying for a black woman as vice president.
"I still think that [Warren] would be a wonderful president. There's nothing about how I feel about her that has shifted," said Brown. "This isn't about an individual or picking our particular favorite. That's not what this is about. This is more about a systemic issue ... there's a larger issue around the underrepresentation of black women."
Brown questions why black women, who have been the most loyal voters in the Democratic Party, have never been nominated for president or vice president, and yet white men who have "not shown up for the Democratic Party in more than 20 years" are "still considered the prime prize type of candidate and leadership to lead the political party." No Democrat has won a majority of white men since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Cornell Belcher, a Democratic pollster who worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, questions how anyone could think it's sound strategy for Democrats to have an all-white ticket this November.
"You should have to explain to me how in the hell it makes sense for you not to have a diverse ticket, given the success of our diverse ticket," said Belcher, referring to the fact that Obama won over 51% of the national popular vote in both of his victories, making him the first president in decades to do so. "History should tell — you should have a reservation about an all-white ticket because we have a lot harder time winning majorities with an all white ticket than we do with a diverse one."
The electoral benefits of a vice presidential pick are unclear. History shows that rarely does a candidate win a state by picking a candidate from a particular geographic region, but the decision of whom they select is seen as a litmus test for their judgment as president. The VP pick is a presidential candidate's first major decision and a cue for how voters should judge their thinking. So by picking a black woman, some feel Biden would send a signal about his priorities.
Still, strategists and advocates are eager to point out that they want the right black candidate, not just anybody who fits the demographic description. The killing of George Floyd has raised questions about bias in the criminal justice system and law enforcement's relationship with the black community. And one complicating factor is that a couple of the black women on the VP shortlist have law enforcement backgrounds. Harris was a prosecutor in San Francisco and Demings was the police chief in Orlando. A law enforcement record was once seen as an admirable trait on a political resume, but some progressives are leery of a candidate with such ties.
Steve Phillips, a Democratic fundraiser who leads an advocacy group called Democracy in Color, has been advocating for Abrams, in part because he thinks her understanding of the criminal justice system is unusual. "She has been very public that her brother was incarcerated, was in prison," he said. "So that's a distinguishing dimension to the race at this point in time."
Some progressives point out that the protests in the street are being led by young people, who are already skeptical of Biden's campaign. Rather than focusing on just choosing a black face, they say, Biden needs to focus on choosing a candidate who's credible on criminal justice issues.
"It's not just enough to have a woman of color in the abstract. We need somebody who is going to be progressive and reform the system that is harmful to people of color writ large," said Phillips.
But above all, Democrats want Biden to win, and they're not sure what the right ingredients for victory are. And so, even some of those who say they understand the desire for a black woman say Biden ultimately needs to pick someone he trusts.
"It's easy to say you should pick this kind of woman or that kind of woman," said Stephanie Cutter, a veteran of multiple Democratic campaigns. "[But] the chemistry is so incredibly important to get it right."
Cutter speaks from experience. She worked on the 2004 Democratic campaign when John Kerry chose North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as his running mate.
"They paid a price for it," said Cutter. "They just weren't seen as a team."
She said the campaign chose Edwards over Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, even though Kerry had more personal chemistry with Gephardt.
"The decision was to go with Edwards because, you know, he represented a southern states that was moving in the Democratic direction. He was younger. Different generation. And had captured an economic message at that time that really mattered," she said.
But that personal connection was missing, she said, and voters noticed.
Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign, told ABC's The View that Biden "hears the concerns of folks across this country who have asked for an African American woman vice president running mate," but he hears other concerns too.
"Folks from the Latino community have said he should pick a Latina. There are folks that believe he should pick someone that represents the LGBTQ+ community," she added. And, ultimately, he hasn't made a decision.


npr--2020-06-12--Prosecutors Move To Drop Their Own Case After Evidence Issue. The Judge Wants Answers

Prosecutors Move To Drop Their Own Case After Evidence Issue .
The Judge Wants Answers Prosecutors wove a simple narrative : The man in their sights had engaged in shady dealings involving a foreign adversary .
But the case fell into disarray after allegations the government had cheated by failing to hand over evidence favorable to the defense .
Now , a judge is demanding answers .
This is not the saga of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn , whose abandoned prosecution has exposed the Justice Department to questions about political interference and favoritism for an ally of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers on Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad , accused of violating American sanctions laws against Iran by moving millions of dollars in payments for his family business through the U.S. financial system .
Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York moved to drop the Sadr case late last Friday evening , June 5 , nearly three months after his conviction and more than two years after his indictment .
In court papers , they referenced `` disclosure-related issues , '' without much explanation .
`` The Government has determined that it would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further prosecute this case , '' they said .
But U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan is n't leaving it there .
She 's ordered prosecutors to provide a list of exculpatory material the government withheld before , during and after the trial , and to identify which members of the government team are responsible for the failures , `` including supervisors . ''
The judge also invited arguments about whether she had the power to impose sanctions for ethical violations or prosecutorial misconduct , no matter which way she closes the case against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
Their written response to the court is due next week .
For Sadr 's lawyers , the government 's statements no longer mean much anyway .
`` The government 's repeated misrepresentations and misconceptions of its duties require significant action from the Court , '' attorneys Reid Weingarten and Brian Heberlig wrote after the trial concluded earlier this year .
`` The government has lost the benefit of the doubt . ''
Problems with sharing evidence emerged in the middle of the two-week trial , when prosecutors turned over for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labeling it as potentially helpful to the defense .
The judge declared that was `` no small matter , '' gave the jurors an instruction to try to limit the damage , and struck some testimony by a government witness in response .
Eventually , the jury convicted Sadr of bank fraud , money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran .
In the weeks after the conviction , prosecutors turned over other documents they had never produced .
The newly disclosed materials included a recording of an FBI interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
That witness cast doubt about whether Sadr knew he was violating Iranian sanctions laws , a central issue in the case .
Court papers suggest prosecutors in New York received the recording in a FedEx package before the trial began , but that there may have been confusion or miscommunication among prosecutors and agents about it .
Preston Burton , a former federal prosecutor who now defends white collar cases at the Buckley law firm in Washington , said `` it 's extraordinarily rare '' for prosecutors to be forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be violations of evidence sharing rules .
He said he expects more action from the judge in the Sadr case .
`` Her order makes it quite clear that she 's simply not going to stamp this case 'closed ' and move on , '' Burton said .
The Sadr case is unraveling at the same time as the government 's case against Michael Flynn .
This week , a special advocate hired by the judge in the Flynn case examined the Justice Department 's decision to walk away from his guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had provided were a pretext for action to benefit an ally of President Trump .
Earlier , Flynn 's new legal team had accused prosecutors of violating evidence-sharing rules of the sort at issue in the Sadr case , but Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected those claims .
Now , an appeals court in Washington is preparing to decide whether the judge may be exceeding his authority and second-guessing the Justice Department 's decision to abandon the prosecution .

Prosecutors Move To Drop Their Own Case After Evidence Issue. The Judge Wants Answers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Prosecutors wove a simple narrative: The man in their sights had engaged in shady dealings involving a foreign adversary. But the case fell into disarray after allegations that the government had cheated by failing to hand over evidence favorable to the defense. Now, a judge is demanding answers.
This is not the saga of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, whose abandoned prosecution has exposed the Justice Department to questions about political interference and favoritism for an ally of the president.
Instead, this dispute centers on Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad, accused of violating American sanctions laws against Iran by moving millions of dollars in payments for his family business through the U.S. financial system.
Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York moved to drop the Sadr case late last Friday evening, June 5, nearly three months after his conviction and more than two years after his indictment. In court papers, they referenced "disclosure-related issues," without much explanation. "The Government has determined that it would not be in the interests of justice to further prosecute this case," they said.
But U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan isn't leaving it there. She has ordered prosecutors to provide a list of exculpatory material the government withheld before, during and after the trial and to identify which members of the government team are responsible for the failures, "including supervisors." The judge also invited arguments about whether she had the power to impose sanctions for ethical violations or prosecutorial misconduct, no matter which way she closes the case against Sadr.
A spokesman for prosecutors declined to comment. Their written response to the court is due next week.
For Sadr's lawyers, the government's statements no longer mean much anyway. "The government's repeated misrepresentations and misconceptions of its duties require significant action from the Court," attorneys Reid Weingarten and Brian Heberlig wrote after the trial concluded earlier this year. "The government has lost the benefit of the doubt."
Problems with sharing evidence emerged in the middle of the two-week trial, when prosecutors turned over for the first time a new exhibit, without labeling it as potentially helpful to the defense.
The judge declared that was "no small matter," gave the jurors an instruction to try to limit the damage, and struck some testimony by a government witness in response. Eventually, the jury convicted Sadr of bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran.
In the weeks after the conviction, prosecutors turned over other documents they had never produced. The newly disclosed materials included a recording of an FBI interview with a project manager on an overseas construction deal. That witness cast doubt about whether Sadr knew he was violating Iranian sanctions laws, a central issue in the case. Court papers suggest prosecutors in New York received the recording in a FedEx package before the trial began, but that there may have been confusion or miscommunication among prosecutors and agents about it.
Preston Burton, a former federal prosecutor who now defends white collar cases at the Buckley law firm in Washington, said "it's extraordinarily rare" for prosecutors to be forced to drop a case because of what appear to be violations of evidence sharing rules. He said he expects more action from the judge in the Sadr case. "Her order makes it quite clear that she's simply not going to stamp this case 'closed' and move on," Burton said.
The Sadr case is unraveling at the same time as the government's case against Michael Flynn. This week, a special advocate hired by the judge in the Flynn case examined the Justice Department's decision to walk away from his guilty plea and concluded the reasons the government had provided were a pretext for action to benefit an ally of President Trump.
Earlier, Flynn's new legal team had accused prosecutors of violating evidence-sharing rules of the sort at issue in the Sadr case, but Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected those claims. Now, an appeals court in Washington is preparing to decide whether the judge may be exceeding his authority and second-guessing the Justice Department's decision to abandon the prosecution.


npr--2020-06-12--First Known U.S. Lung Transplant For COVID-19 Patient Performed In Chicago

First Known U.S .
Lung Transplant For COVID-19 Patient Performed In Chicago Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago announced Thursday they 've performed the first successful double lung transplant on a COVID-19 patient in the U.S .
The Hispanic woman in her twenties was otherwise healthy , but developed a severe case of COVID-19 that resulted in hospitalization , says Dr. Ankit Bharat , Northwestern 's chief of thoracic surgery .
For two months , she was in the intensive care unit on a ventilator and another machine , known as ECMO , that pumps and oxygenates blood outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleared the coronavirus from her body , she remained in severe condition .
By early June , Bharat says the patient 's lungs showed irreversible damage .
She was at risk of further decline — and began showing signs that her kidneys and liver were starting to fail , with no improvement in her lung function .
`` As a result of the COVID , she had formed these cavities inside the lung , and those cavities had become infected , and that bacteria was driving sepsis , '' Bharat says .
Bharat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her only chance of survival .
As a precaution , they performed additional tests to confirm the coronavirus was no longer present in her body .
They placed her on the waiting list for a lung donor , and on June 5 , the woman received the transplant .
`` She was so sick .
In fact , I can say without hesitation , the sickest patient I 've transplanted , '' Bharat says .
Northwestern Medicine performs 40 to 50 lung transplants a year , and Bharat says he does most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he removed from the patient , he says he found no viable regions left .
The patient has been making progress since the procedure , he says .
Her lungs are now working , and other organs — including her heart , kidney and liver — have `` completely recovered . ''
On Wednesday , she smiled as she interacted with her mother through FaceTime .
The patient 's name is being withheld to protect her privacy .
The woman has a long road to recovery ahead .
Bharat says her body started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so she has been given medication aimed at preventing her body from rejecting the lungs .
Since she spent weeks sedated in bed prior to the transplant , her body is weak .
She is not able to stand or take deep breaths on her own , but Bharat says they expect to be able to take her off the ECMO ( extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ) device , which has been pumping and oxygenating her blood outside of her body .
`` I 'm quite confident that she will regain her strength @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other organs have recovered , '' Bharat says .
`` It 's just a matter of time . ''
Dr. Elizabeth Malsin is among the physicians in Northwestern 's ICU who cared for the patient when she still had an active COVID-19 infection .
`` She was so young , and the only thing that was sick about this patient was her lungs and the scarring left from the coronavirus , '' Malsin says .
The chance of long-term recovery for transplant patients depends on many factors , including what illness they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since they believe this patient to be the first in the U.S. — and among the first in the world — to receive a transplant after having COVID-19 , Malsin says there are still many unknowns , but she remains hopeful .
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic , Malsin says influenza was the most common reason patients would be placed on an ECMO device .
In her experience , most patients eventually recover and move off the machines as their lungs heal .
`` So there are very few cases where those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transplant or qualifying for transplants , '' Malsin says .
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic , she says they 've seen more people who end up needing to be placed on a ventilator and ECMO device .
Some of them heal and eventually move off the life-support machines and are discharged home .
`` And we hope that they continue to recover and regain their strength , '' she says .
`` But there are other people that end up like this patient did , and either qualify for transplant .
Or we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the machines ) . ''
Malsin says some of those patients end up experiencing complications , most commonly infection or injury to other organs , like the kidneys or heart .
`` And at that point , if they 're not a transplant candidate , sometimes that 's what they pass away from , '' she says .
It 's too soon to know how many COVID-19 patients will be good candidates for lung transplants , Bharat says , but it 's certainly not an option for every patient who 's on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reasons such as age and co-occurring health conditions .
But he says it could be a life-saving intervention of last resort for some .
Dr. Daniel Kreisel , surgical director of lung transplantation at Washington University in St. Louis , says he expects lung transplantation will be an option for only a small minority of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 .
`` The people who get really sick , based on what we know so far , are people who have severe pre-existing conditions , '' Kreisel says .
`` Irrespective of COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may disqualify them from candidacy for lung transplantation to begin with .
I think it would be a rare patient , ( but ) obviously not zero . ''
Bharat says if providers know that a transplant could be an option , they may feel more comfortable keeping patients on life-support devices as they wait for the virus to clear , instead of withdrawing care .
Due to the technical challenges of performing transplants on severely ill COVID-19 patients , Bharat cautions that the procedures should be reserved for `` very experienced centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Bharat says he has already been contacted by health centers across the U.S. — including in Texas , California and New York — asking if Northwestern would consider accepting COVID-19 patients for a transplant .
They 're now evaluating five patients to determine whether they are candidates for a lung transplant , he says .
Asked whether the current nationwide shortage of organ donations could limit how many eligible COVID-19 patients can receive a lung transplant , Bharat says he 's optimistic that if the need grows , the medical community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pool .
He says currently , fewer than 15 % of donor lung offers are accepted and used for clinical transplantation .
The low acceptance rate is due in part to rejection of lungs that are damaged , but Bharat says a technique known as ex vivo lung perfusion can be used to repair some of those organs .
`` I think once we have the need , we 'll figure out a way to serve those patients , '' he says .
Even the set of lungs offered for his patient did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team spent two-and-a-half days working to repair it until it was `` of exceptional quality for transplant , '' Bharat says .
The medical team at Northwestern will be continuing to closely follow the transplant patient , doing all they can to ensure her successful recovery , he says .
This story is part of NPR 's reporting partnership with Illinois Public Media and Kaiser Health News .

1st-Known U.S. Lung Transplant For COVID-19 Patient Performed In Chicago
Enlarge this image toggle caption Northwestern Medicine Northwestern Medicine
Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago announced Thursday they've performed the first successful double-lung transplant on a COVID-19 patient in the United States.
The woman in her 20s was otherwise healthy but developed a severe case of COVID-19 that resulted in hospitalization, says Dr. Ankit Bharat, Northwestern's chief of thoracic surgery.
For two months, she was in the intensive care unit on a ventilator and another machine, known as ECMO, that pumps and oxygenates blood outside of the body. Although she eventually cleared the coronavirus from her body, she remained in severe condition.
By early June, Bharat says the patient's lungs showed irreversible damage. She was at risk of further decline and began showing signs that her kidneys and liver were starting to fail with no improvement in her lung function.
"As a result of the COVID, she had formed these cavities inside the lung, and those cavities had become infected, and that bacteria was driving sepsis," Bharat says.
Bharat says they determined a double-lung transplant was her only chance of survival.
As a precaution, they performed additional tests to confirm that the coronavirus was no longer present in her body. They placed her on the waiting list for a lung donor, and on June 5 the woman received the transplant.
toggle caption Northwestern Medicine
"She was so sick. In fact, I can say without hesitation, the sickest patient I've transplanted," Bharat says.
Northwestern Medicine performs 40 to 50 lung transplants a year, and Bharat says he does most of them. Upon studying the COVID-ravaged lungs he removed from the patient, he says he found no viable regions left.
The patient has been making progress since the procedure, he says. Her lungs are now working, and other organs — including her heart, kidneys and liver — have "completely recovered."
On Wednesday, she smiled as she interacted with her mother through FaceTime. The patient's name is being withheld to protect her privacy.
The woman has a long recovery ahead. Bharat says her body started to show antibodies against the transplanted organ, so she has been given medication aimed at preventing her body from rejecting the lungs.
After spending weeks sedated in bed prior to the transplant, she is physically weak. She is not able to stand or take deep breaths on her own, but Bharat says they expect to be able to take her off the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) device, which has been pumping and oxygenating her blood.
"I'm quite confident that she will regain her strength now because the infection is gone and other organs have recovered," Bharat says. "It's just a matter of time."
toggle caption Northwestern Medicine
Dr. Elizabeth Malsin is among the physicians in Northwestern's ICU who cared for the patient when she still had an active COVID-19 infection.
"She was so young, and the only thing that was sick about this patient was her lungs and the scarring left from the coronavirus," Malsin says.
The chance of long-term recovery for transplant patients depends on many factors, including what illness they had going into the transplant, she says.
Since they believe this patient to be the first in the U.S. — and among the first in the world — to receive a transplant after having COVID-19, Malsin says there are still many unknowns, but she remains hopeful.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Malsin says influenza was the most common reason patients would be placed on an ECMO device. In her experience, most patients eventually recover and move off the machines as their lungs heal.
"So there are very few cases where those people have gone on to needing a transplant or qualifying for transplants," Malsin says.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she says they've seen more people who end up needing to be placed on a ventilator and ECMO device.
Some of them heal and eventually move off the life-support machines and are discharged home.
"And we hope that they continue to recover and regain their strength," she says. "But there are other people that end up like this patient did, and either qualify for transplant or we're continuing to give them more time (on the machines)."
Malsin says some of those patients end up experiencing complications, most commonly infection or injury to other organs such as the kidneys or heart.
"And at that point, if they're not a transplant candidate, sometimes that's what they pass away from," she says.
It's too soon to know how many COVID-19 patients will be good candidates for lung transplants, Bharat says, but it's certainly not an option for every patient who's on a ventilator.
Many won't qualify for reasons such as age and co-occurring health conditions. But he says it could be a life-saving intervention of last resort for some.
Dr. Daniel Kreisel, surgical director of lung transplantation at Washington University in St. Louis, says he expects lung transplantation will be an option for only a small minority of patients hospitalized for COVID-19.
"The people who get really sick, based on what we know so far, are people who have severe preexisting conditions," Kreisel says. "Irrespective of COVID, a lot of those preexisting conditions may disqualify them from candidacy for lung transplantation to begin with. I think it would be a rare patient, (but) obviously not zero."
Bharat says if providers know that a transplant could be an option, they may feel more comfortable keeping patients on life-support devices as they wait for the virus to clear, instead of withdrawing care.
Due to the technical challenges of performing transplants on severely ill COVID-19 patients, Bharat cautions that the procedures should be reserved for "very experienced centers that have the right team in place."
Bharat says he has already been contacted by health centers across the United States — including in Texas, California and New York — asking whether Northwestern would consider accepting COVID-19 patients for a transplant.
They're now evaluating five patients to determine whether they are candidates for a lung transplant, he says.
Asked whether the current nationwide shortage of organ donations could limit how many eligible COVID-19 patients can receive a lung transplant, Bharat says he's optimistic that if the need grows, the medical community will find strategies to expand the donor pool.
He says less than 15% of donor lung offers are accepted and used for clinical transplantation. The low acceptance rate is due in part to rejection of lungs that are damaged, but Bharat says a technique known as ex vivo lung perfusion can be used to repair some of those organs.
"I think once we have the need, we'll figure out a way to serve those patients," he says.
Even the set of lungs offered for his patient did not meet standards until after the Northwestern team spent 2 1/2 days working to repair it until it was "of exceptional quality for transplant," Bharat says.
The medical team at Northwestern will continue to closely follow the transplant patient, doing all they can to ensure her recovery, he says.
This story is part of NPR's reporting partnership with Illinois Public Media and Kaiser Health News.


npr--2020-06-12--In Omaha, Protesters Vow To Keep Pushing For Systemic Policing Changes

In Omaha , Protesters Vow To Keep Pushing For Systemic Policing Changes Twenty-nine-old Morgann Freeman 's right eye is still alarming to look at .
It 's blotched bright red after a hemorrhage from exposure to tear gas .
She 's come back to the scene of where protests over the police killing of George Floyd turned violent in her hometown , Omaha , Neb .
`` When the warning shots were fired , I was standing right where that grate is , '' she says , pointing down the block toward the now permanently shuttered Hive Bar .
Late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as protests in the city 's Old Market District heated up , the owner of the bar , a white man named Jake Gardner shot and killed a 22-year-old black man , James Scurlock , during a scuffle that eyewitnesses said was racially charged .
As a protest leader and community organizer in Omaha , Freeman is shattered .
`` I believe my whole purpose in life is to try to protect our people , '' she says .
`` Not one block away a young black man in support of our movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorney ruled the shooting was self-defense , not murder , saying at one point Scurlock had his arm around the bar owner 's neck .
Eyewitness video that 's surfaced so far is inconclusive , though it does appear that at one point Scurlock had Gardner pinned to the ground .
Gardner , a veteran , had posted on Facebook that night he was going to his bar for a `` military style fire watch , '' as local protests were getting bigger .
Gardner 's concealed carry permit was also expired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the building where he owned two bars .
Freeman is still trying to process what happened .
But it 's clear she 's also hoping all the momentum , all the people willing to come out into these streets to protest against injustice , keeps going .
`` We have a lot of healing to do as a community , '' she says .
`` But we ca n't do that until conversations about minimal justice start to happen . ''
Police were not involved in the killing of James Scurlock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades of systemic racism , violence against minorities and over-policing in the predominantly black neighborhoods north of downtown .
The bar owner has so far not been charged .
But as the protests continued , Douglas County District Attorney Don Kleine welcomed a special prosecutor to take a further look at the case .
A judge African-American attorney Frederick Franklin .
The local DA cited broad mistrust in the justice system in agreeing to call for a grand jury in the case .
Freeman took that as an opening .
`` I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that works for all people you have to dismantle the system that is inherently corrupt , '' she says .
Freeman says the movement wants changes large and small in Omaha : cultural sensitivity training for police and elected officials on deescalating violence and an independent auditor to oversee the police department , among other demands .
She 's also watching what happens next in nearby Minneapolis as that city begins a debate on disbanding its police force .
`` I want to see what that looks like , how it 's implemented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see if that 's the model that can work across the nation . ''
Freeman ran for Congress last year in Nebraska 's second district .
She was the first African-American woman to ever mount such a bid in this largely conservative state where 88 % of residents are white .
She still thinks the ballot box is the best way for real change .
One morning at North Omaha 's Culxr House , a center for arts and activism in the city 's black community , volunteers were organizing aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about the election broke out .
Freeman said she thinks that in light of recent local and nationwide protests , there is finally momentum to elect new leaders in the city that she says will represent all of Omaha .
As for the presidential race , the consensus here appeared to be a reluctant `` yes '' for former Vice President Joe Biden .
`` We have no other choice , '' Freeman says .
`` But understand this is the last time that you 're going to give me a substandard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only option . ''
She then assured the small group of activists perched on stools and chairs that unlike after Ferguson or the Trayvon Martin killing in Florida , this moment is n't going to fade .
`` The difference is the whole world is with us and the whole world is watching , '' Freeman says .

In Omaha, Protesters Vow To Keep Pushing For Systemic Policing Changes
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
Twenty-nine-old Morgann Freeman's right eye is still alarming to look at. It's blotched bright red after a hemorrhage from exposure to tear gas. She's come back to the scene of where protests over the police killing of George Floyd turned violent in her hometown, Omaha, Neb.
"When the warning shots were fired, I was standing right where that grate is," she says, pointing down the block toward the now permanently shuttered Hive Bar.
Late on the night of May 30, as protests in the city's Old Market District heated up, the owner of the bar, a white man named Jake Gardner shot and killed a 22-year-old black man, James Scurlock, during a scuffle that eyewitnesses said was racially charged.
As a protest leader and community organizer in Omaha, Freeman is shattered.
"I believe my whole purpose in life is to try to protect our people," she says. "Not one block away a young black man in support of our movement was literally murdered."
The local district attorney ruled the shooting was self-defense, not murder, saying at one point Scurlock had his arm around the bar owner's neck. Eyewitness video that's surfaced so far is inconclusive, though it does appear that at one point Scurlock had Gardner pinned to the ground.
Gardner, a veteran, had posted on Facebook that night he was going to his bar for a "military style fire watch," as local protests were getting bigger. Gardner's concealed carry permit was also expired, and he's since been evicted from the building where he owned two bars.
Freeman is still trying to process what happened. But it's clear she's also hoping all the momentum, all the people willing to come out into these streets to protest against injustice, keeps going.
"We have a lot of healing to do as a community," she says. "But we can't do that until conversations about minimal justice start to happen."
Police were not involved in the killing of James Scurlock. But Omaha civil rights activists point to decades of systemic racism, violence against minorities and over-policing in the predominantly black neighborhoods north of downtown.
The bar owner has so far not been charged. But as the protests continued, Douglas County District Attorney Don Kleine welcomed a special prosecutor to take a further look at the case. A judge African-American attorney Frederick Franklin. The local DA cited broad mistrust in the justice system in agreeing to call for a grand jury in the case.
Freeman took that as an opening.
"I believe that in order to build a system that works for all people you have to dismantle the system that is inherently corrupt," she says.
Freeman says the movement wants changes large and small in Omaha: cultural sensitivity training for police and elected officials on deescalating violence and an independent auditor to oversee the police department, among other demands. She's also watching what happens next in nearby Minneapolis as that city begins a debate on disbanding its police force.
"I want to see what that looks like, how it's implemented," Freeman says. "I want to see if that's the model that can work across the nation."
Freeman ran for Congress last year in Nebraska's second district. She was the first African-American woman to ever mount such a bid in this largely conservative state where 88% of residents are white.
She still thinks the ballot box is the best way for real change.
One morning at North Omaha's Culxr House, a center for arts and activism in the city's black community, volunteers were organizing aid and supplies for protesters.
National What Would Dismantling Minneapolis' Police Department Look Like? What Would Dismantling Minneapolis' Police Department Look Like? Listen · 5:16 5:16
An impromptu talk about the election broke out.
Freeman said she thinks that in light of recent local and nationwide protests, there is finally momentum to elect new leaders in the city that she says will represent all of Omaha.
As for the presidential race, the consensus here appeared to be a reluctant "yes" for former Vice President Joe Biden.
"We have no other choice," Freeman says. "But understand this is the last time that you're going to give me a substandard candidate and tell me that he's the only option."
She then assured the small group of activists perched on stools and chairs that unlike after Ferguson or the Trayvon Martin killing in Florida, this moment isn't going to fade.
"The difference is the whole world is with us and the whole world is watching," Freeman says.


npr--2020-06-12--PJ: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

PJ: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future .
Introducing NPR Music 's Tiny Desk ( home ) concerts , bringing you performances from across the country and the world .
It 's the same spirit — stripped-down sets , an intimate setting — just a different space .
Before Paris Jones , aka PJ , starts `` Smoke , '' the second song of her Tiny Desk ( home ) concert , she briefly reveals the meaning : `` So the thing about me is that I got a lot of different influences .
John Mayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Burning Room ' and this is my take on it . ''
One listen and it 's clear that those `` different influences '' do n't fit a genre or era and could be any number of artists — and they all come together in ways I have n't seen or heard in a long time .
Backed by Drin Elliot on the keys , the Los Angeles-based North Carolina native breezes through two tracks off of her new EP , Waiting on Paris , from quarantine digs complete with mannequins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final song and with the biggest grin on her face she `` switches vibes '' with the upbeat and anthemic `` Element , '' from this season of HBO 's Insecure .
Here , her energy is nearly impossible to harness as she exclaims `` quarantined but in my element ! ''
There 's plenty to sulk over in these times , so let PJ 's performance and beaming spirit remind us of the joy that most of us deserve through it all .

PJ: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.
Before Paris Jones, aka PJ, starts "Smoke," the second song of her Tiny Desk (home) concert, she briefly reveals the meaning: "So the thing about me is that I got a lot of different influences. John Mayer got a song called 'Slow Dancing In A Burning Room' and this is my take on it." One listen and it's clear that those "different influences" don't fit a genre or era and could be any number of artists — and they all come together in ways I haven't seen or heard in a long time.
Backed by Drin Elliot on the keys, the Los Angeles-based North Carolina native breezes through two tracks off of her new EP, Waiting on Paris, from quarantine digs complete with mannequins, floral arrangements and radiant artwork. For the final song and with the biggest grin on her face she "switches vibes" with the upbeat and anthemic "Element," from this season of HBO's Insecure. Here, her energy is nearly impossible to harness as she exclaims "quarantined but in my element!" There's plenty to sulk over in these times, so let PJ's performance and beaming spirit remind us of the joy that most of us deserve through it all.
SET LIST
"Privately"
"Smoke"
"Element"
MUSICIANS
PJ: vocals; Drin Elliot: keys
CREDITS
Videographer: Logan Fields; Audio Engineer: Stanley Springer III; Producers: Bobby Carter, Sidney Madden; Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Video Producers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann


npr--2020-06-12--Dear Class Of 2020: Graduation Messages From Frontline Workers

Frontline workers are the mostly unsung heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Their jobs are critical and ca n't be done from home .
They 're nurses and orderlies , grocery store workers and letter carriers .
They run warehouses , deliver packages and drive trucks , buses and trains .
These workers may have been required to be on the job during the pandemic , but many — often guided by a sense of duty , commitment , compassion and honor — are proud to do it .
Duty , commitment , compassion and honor .
These are thematic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so NPR asked everyday workers , who normally would not be asked speak at a commencement ceremony , to offer insight forged by the simple act of showing up every day and doing what needs to be done .
My name is Ashley Robinson and I have been a nurse for nine years .
Working on the frontline during this pandemic has had its ups and down .
My coworkers and I worked hard to adjust to the increasing volume of patients coming to be treated for COVID-19 .
We had to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the influx of patients .
During this pandemic I have learned to be more compassionate for patients because they were alone , scared and without their family .
One day the ER was filled to capacity .
We were taking care of patients in the hall because they were too sick to leave in the lobby .
Once I became so overwhelmed , I had to remove myself .
I walked out on the ramp and FaceTimed my husband and I broke down .
At that moment I felt defeated and wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation was much bigger than me .
As a leader , I had to stay strong because not only the patients depended on me , but my coworkers also .
You will have to learn to be strong as well .
I know you all had to adjust to this pandemic also .
Your senior year ended early and you did not have a prom or graduation ceremony .
Even though your celebration is n't traditional , it 's still joyous and memorable .
So stay strong and continue to persevere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ labors of the past , the accomplishments of the present and the possibilities of the future .
Congratulations class of 2020 , the world is yours .
My name is Nick Schlatz .
Congratulations !
This building here is 1.2 million square feet and employs more than 2,000 full-time associates .
We process a lot of larger sized items : canoes , rafts , furniture , bikes , ladders .
But suddenly that all started to change and my team started seeing paper towels , masks , cleaning supplies , disinfectant wipes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was a serious global issue , and we were working to help our community stay safe and stay at home .
I have roommates that are working from home every day , and I notice that their routine has come out of place .
And that 's when it really stood out to me that what I was doing was considered an essential role .
We had a shift one night ; we were over staffed , so the manager who was on shift was asking his associates to go home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the responses he was getting was simply , no , I 'm going to stay .
I like what I 'm doing .
I 'm making a difference .
Now , there was a quote that I came across in college that really stood out to me .
And that quote is `` Adversity introduces a man to himself . ''
That means you really show yourself when there is no plan .
That 's when you find out who you really are .
We were n't ready for this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not an ideal situation to be in for anyone , especially you guys as graduates .
But looking to yourself , look into what you 've done and look to what you 're about to do .
Those next steps are going to determine the rest of your life .
And that starts right now .
We are in the middle of an unforeseen crisis that you and I have been cast into .
On many occasions , natural disasters have decimated Puerto Rico .
The COVID-19 pandemic is the new disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
I have taken a few words which I have made pillars of my life , and I hope they help any of you that I can reach .
The first one I 'd like to say : resilience .
The key to being resilient is being able to adapt to your reality .
Using rain water to wash clothes .
Reading by candlelight in the dark .
Walking miles to get a few gallons of gasoline for a small generator that keeps a simple refrigerator running .
Try to be resilient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only for your sake , but also the sake of those around you .
This brings me to kindness .
A small hello with a smile .
Simple consideration for the elderly .
Sharing enthusiasm for a small child 's bicycle .
These are seemingly small gestures that can provide some comfort to another person who might need that small act of kindness .
This brings me to commitment .
I have a commitment to deliver supplies to my community in Guaynabo .
I would have had more than enough reason to hide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My reward for this commitment : the face of hope .
Every person who sees my little white truck with red and blue stripes and the eagle with the words United States Postal Service can see that we are committed .
And that fills my heart with pride .
This brings me to balance .
Work , rest , recreation and family create a balance in your life .
Balance affords you the opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest .
So these four words — resilience , commitment , kindness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most trying situations .
In Puerto Rico we have a phrase that unites the whole island to stand together against any adversity : Puerto Rico se levanta — Puerto Rico will rise .
To you I say , El mundo se levanta — The world will rise .
You 're here because you , too , have seen trying times and endured them .
You 're capable and can take on your next challenge .
You have my respect .
I take my hat off to you and congratulate you .
My name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Kroger cashier since 2019 .
It did n't take long for me to form what I consider to be lifelong friendships .
But when the pandemic started , everything changed .
We could n't get together and just enjoy the outside air after shifts .
I could n't hug the customers that I had a bond with because it was n't safe .
Even helping to bag groceries when the store got busy became a challenge because I did n't want to get in anyone 's space and make them uncomfortable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earliest days of the pandemic .
I 'd survived Black Friday and Christmas , but nothing could have prepared me for the sea of people that filled our store in the coming weeks .
This is not the world we graduates envisioned .
It feels like our accomplishments are somewhat incomplete because we did n't get our time to dress up , or down , wear our caps and gowns and walk across the stage with our friends .
We did n't get to do senior activities , class pictures or college athletes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent a good handful of nights crying .
But what I want to say is whether we had a graduation ceremony or not , you totally earned your diploma and you definitely worked hard for your degree .
Nobody can take that from you .
As for my future , I will be attending Southern University in Baton Rouge , La.
, majoring in nursing .
During this pandemic , I have n't been afraid of being surrounded by so many potentially sick people .
Instead , I felt compelled to help .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assisting people in getting the medicine and other household items they needed , has solidified my dream to be a nurse .
I had to exercise compassion , patience and quick thinking under pressure .
And I am so very grateful for that experience .
What I hope you graduates have learned from this experience is that you have to be in the moment and live for today .
Have goals and dreams .
But be adaptable .
Congratulations , class of 2020 .
We did it .
And I wish you the @ @

Dear Class Of 2020: Graduation Messages From Front-Line Workers
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Rodriguez, Ashley Robinson, Nick Schlatz and Haley Watts Carlos Rodriguez, Ashley Robinson, Nick Schlatz and Haley Watts
Front-line workers are the mostly unsung heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their jobs are critical and can't be done from home. They're nurses and orderlies, grocery store workers and letter carriers. They run warehouses, deliver packages and drive trucks, buses and trains.
These workers may have been required to be on the job during the pandemic, but many — often guided by a sense of duty, commitment, compassion and honor — are proud to do it.
Duty, commitment, compassion and honor. These are thematic cornerstones of high school graduation speeches, so NPR asked everyday workers, who normally would not be asked to speak at a commencement ceremony, to offer insight forged by the simple act of showing up every day and doing what needs to be done.
Ashley Robinson, nurse
Dear Class of 2020,
My name is Ashley Robinson and I have been a nurse for nine years.
Working on the front line during this pandemic has had its ups and down.
My co-workers and I worked hard to adjust to the increasing volume of patients coming to be treated for COVID-19. We had to become creative in finding ways to take care of the influx of patients.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ashley Robinson Ashley Robinson Listen: Ashley Robinson reads her graduation message Listen · 1:58 1:58
During this pandemic I have learned to be more compassionate for patients because they were alone, scared and without their family.
One day the ER was filled to capacity. We were taking care of patients in the hall because they were too sick to leave in the lobby. Once I became so overwhelmed, I had to remove myself. I walked out on the ramp and FaceTimed my husband and I broke down. At that moment I felt defeated and wanted to give up. But I realized the situation was much bigger than me. As a leader, I had to stay strong because not only the patients depended on me, but my co-workers also.
You will have to learn to be strong as well. I know you all had to adjust to this pandemic also. Your senior year ended early and you did not have a prom or graduation ceremony. Even though your celebration isn't traditional, it's still joyous and memorable.
So stay strong and continue to persevere. Take this time to reflect on the labors of the past, the accomplishments of the present and the possibilities of the future. Congratulations, Class of 2020, the world is yours.
Nick Schlatz, warehouse worker
Dear Class of 2020,
My name is Nick Schlatz. Congratulations!
This building here is 1.2 million square feet and employs more than 2,000 full-time associates.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nick Schlatz Nick Schlatz Listen: Nick Schlatz reads his graduation message Listen · 2:03 2:03
We process a lot of larger sized items: canoes, rafts, furniture, bikes, ladders. But suddenly that all started to change and my team started seeing paper towels, masks, cleaning supplies, disinfectant wipes.
That's when I started to realize this was a serious global issue, and we were working to help our community stay safe and stay at home.
I have roommates that are working from home every day, and I notice that their routine has come out of place. And that's when it really stood out to me that what I was doing was considered an essential role.
We had a shift one night; we were overstaffed, so the manager who was on shift was asking his associates to go home, see if they wanted to cut out. And the responses he was getting was simply, no, I'm going to stay. I like what I'm doing. I'm making a difference.
Now, there was a quote that I came across in college that really stood out to me. And that quote is "Adversity introduces a man to himself." That means you really show yourself when there is no plan. That's when you find out who you really are. We weren't ready for this. We weren't expecting this.
This is not an ideal situation to be in for anyone, especially you guys as graduates. But looking to yourself, look into what you've done and look to what you're about to do. Those next steps are going to determine the rest of your life. And that starts right now.
Again, graduates of 2020, congratulations. Excellent work.
Carlos Rodriguez, mail carrier
Dear Class of 2020,
We are in the middle of an unforeseen crisis that you and I have been cast into. On many occasions, natural disasters have decimated Puerto Rico. The COVID-19 pandemic is the new disaster. We are getting to know too well.
I have taken a few words which I have made pillars of my life, and I hope they help any of you that I can reach.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Carlos Rodriguez Carlos Rodriguez Listen: Carlos Rodriguez reads his graduation message Listen · 2:42 2:42
The first one I'd like to say: resilience. The key to being resilient is being able to adapt to your reality. Using rainwater to wash clothes. Reading by candlelight in the dark. Walking miles to get a few gallons of gasoline for a small generator that keeps a simple refrigerator running.
Try to be resilient while sustaining a positive outlook — not only for your sake, but also the sake of those around you.
This brings me to kindness. A small hello with a smile. Simple consideration for the elderly. Sharing enthusiasm for a small child's bicycle. These are seemingly small gestures that can provide some comfort to another person who might need that small act of kindness.
This brings me to commitment. I have a commitment to deliver supplies to my community in Guaynabo. I would have had more than enough reason to hide from the risks and just stay home. My reward for this commitment: the face of hope. Every person who sees my little white truck with red and blue stripes and the eagle with the words "United States Postal Service" can see that we are committed. And that fills my heart with pride.
This brings me to balance. Work, rest, recreation and family create a balance in your life. Balance affords you the opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest.
So these four words — resilience, commitment, kindness, balance — have helped me through the most trying situations.
In Puerto Rico we have a phrase that unites the whole island to stand together against any adversity: Puerto Rico se levanta — Puerto Rico will rise.
To you I say, El mundo se levanta — the world will rise.
You're here because you, too, have seen trying times and endured them. You're capable and can take on your next challenge. You have my respect. I take my hat off to you and congratulate you.
Haley Watts, grocery store cashier
Dear Class of 2020,
My name is Hayley Watts. I have been a Kroger cashier since 2019. It didn't take long for me to form what I consider to be lifelong friendships.
But when the pandemic started, everything changed. We couldn't get together and just enjoy the outside air after shifts. I couldn't hug the customers that I had a bond with because it wasn't safe. Even helping to bag groceries when the store got busy became a challenge because I didn't want to get in anyone's space and make them uncomfortable.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Haley Watts Haley Watts Listen: Haley Watts reads her graduation message 2:01
My most memorable moments came in the earliest days of the pandemic. I'd survived Black Friday and Christmas, but nothing could have prepared me for the sea of people that filled our store in the coming weeks. This is not the world we graduates envisioned. It feels like our accomplishments are somewhat incomplete because we didn't get our time to dress up, or down, wear our caps and gowns and walk across the stage with our friends. We didn't get to do senior activities, class pictures or college athletes signing day.
My sisters and I spent a good handful of nights crying.
But what I want to say is whether we had a graduation ceremony or not, you totally earned your diploma and you definitely worked hard for your degree. Nobody can take that from you.
As for my future, I will be attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., majoring in nursing. During this pandemic, I haven't been afraid of being surrounded by so many potentially sick people. Instead, I felt compelled to help. My job as a Kroger cashier, assisting people in getting the medicine and other household items they needed, has solidified my dream to be a nurse. I had to exercise compassion, patience and quick thinking under pressure. And I am so very grateful for that experience.
What I hope you graduates have learned from this experience is that you have to be in the moment and live for today. Have goals and dreams. But be adaptable. Congratulations, Class of 2020. We did it. And I wish you the best.


npr--2020-06-12--100 Graves Dug At Copacabana Beach To Protest Brazil's COVID-19 Response

Volunteers critical of Brazil 's response to the coronavirus pandemic dug 100 graves with black crosses in Rio 's Copacabana Beach as a reminder of the more than 40,000 people who have died because of the virus in the country so far .
The event was held by an organization called Rio de Paz .
In a Facebook post , the organization said the graves were meant to protest a `` succession of mistakes made by the Federal Government in conducting this humanitarian crisis . ''
Brazil has become a major epicenter of COVID-19 , with the number of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticized for downplaying the gravity of the pandemic and questioning the validity of reported case numbers , suggesting they are inflated to damage his government 's reputation .
Citizens were outraged after Bolsonaro was seen on Facebook calling for his supporters to enter public hospitals and film what they see in an effort to prove that there are fewer patients hospitalized for COVID-19 than reported .
Medical officials say walking into hospitals without permission is prohibited and risks spreading the virus and violating patient privacy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also came under fire when the Ministry of Health suddenly stopped publishing a running total of new COVID-19 infections on its website , instead sharing only the number of new confirmed cases each day .
A justice on Brazil 's Supreme Court later ruled that the ministry must start providing the data again .
Justice Alexandre de Moraes said in his ruling that concealing such information could hinder efforts to understand the spread of the virus and have `` disastrous consequences '' for the country 's pandemic response .
In a tweet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` manipulation '' of data a `` maneuver of totalitarian regimes . ''

100 Graves Dug At Copacabana Beach To Protest Brazil's COVID-19 Response
Enlarge this image toggle caption Leo Correa/AP Leo Correa/AP
Volunteers critical of Brazil's response to the coronavirus pandemic dug 100 graves with black crosses in Rio's Copacabana Beach as a reminder of the more than 40,000 people who have died because of the virus in the country so far.
The event was held by an organization called Rio de Paz. In a Facebook post, the organization said the graves were meant to protest a "succession of mistakes made by the Federal Government in conducting this humanitarian crisis." Brazil has become a major epicenter of COVID-19, with the number of infections there second only to the United States.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticized for downplaying the gravity of the pandemic and questioning the validity of reported case numbers, suggesting they are inflated to damage his government's reputation.
Citizens were outraged after Bolsonaro was seen on Facebook calling for his supporters to enter public hospitals and film what they see in an effort to prove that there are fewer patients hospitalized for COVID-19 than reported. Medical officials say walking into hospitals without permission is prohibited and risks spreading the virus and violating patient privacy.
Earlier this month, the Brazilian president also faced criticism when the Ministry of Health suddenly stopped publishing a running total of new COVID-19 infections on its website, instead sharing only the number of new confirmed cases each day.
A justice on Brazil's Supreme Court later ruled that the ministry must start providing the data again. Justice Alexandre de Moraes said in his ruling that concealing such information could hinder efforts to understand the spread of the virus and have "disastrous consequences" for the country's pandemic response.
In a tweet, Justice Gilmar Mendes called the ministry's "manipulation" of data a "maneuver of totalitarian regimes."
NPR's Philip Reeves contributed to this report.


npr--2020-06-12--Cameras Can Roll In Hollywood Again

Cameras Can Roll In Hollywood Again

Cameras Can Roll In Hollywood Again The cameras are once again allowed to roll in Los Angeles starting Friday , months after the coronavirus pandemic shut down Hollywood .
State and county officials gave the green light for film and TV productions to resume as long as they follow new health and safety protocols .
Beyond social distancing , face coverings and testing for the coronavirus , only essential cast and crew are allowed on set and on location under new rules issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health .
That means for productions in Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and actors must wash hands and `` be as silent as possible to avoid spreading droplets through talking . ''
There will be no craft service buffets , and fight scenes and `` intimate scenes '' are discouraged .
In addition , casts and crews would need to work in small `` zones , '' monitored by health and safety staff , according to new COVID-19 guidelines written jointly by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists , Directors Guild of America , International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic craft unions .
The latest COVID-19 safety guidelines , released Friday , are even more detailed than an industrywide protocol `` white paper '' they sent to governors in New York , California and other states .
`` People are both excited and nervous about returning to work , '' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland , SAG-AFTRA 's chief operating officer and general counsel .
He also heads the union 's safety and industry reopening initiative .
`` Being out of work has had a huge impact on so many people in the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to work if it might cost them their lives . ''
Crabtree-Ireland said the protocols have been verified by epidemiologists consulting with the unions , and that frequent testing for the virus is crucial .
`` That should give comfort not just to the cast and crew who are there on set , '' he told NPR , `` but also to the producers who care about keeping people who work for them safe , and care about making sure their production does n't have to be called to a halt right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of [ the ] coronavirus . ''
While many production companies are eager to start working , FilmLA , the city and county 's film office , wo n't begin accepting applications for location permits in Los Angeles until Monday .
The group 's president , Paul Audley , said the permits will need to be approved , so the soonest any on-location filming could happen is perhaps next Thursday or June 19 .
`` Two-hundred fifty thousand people who were working in the industry want to get back to work , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're anxious to get back to getting them all working as quickly as possible . ''
Before the shutdown , FilmLA was issuing 1,300 permits every month .
During the shutdown , Audley said , there were reports that some filmmakers worked illegally on location .
`` I 'm aware of someone who was trying to do a documentary on how to safely film during COVID-19 , which is sort of almost funny in that they did n't follow the process to make the film , '' he said .
Over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to get creative while sheltering in place .
Late-night talk-show hosts and the cast of `` Saturday Night Live '' filmed themselves at home , with directors , editors and producers working remotely .
Some animated productions were able to continue working remotely .
Now , shooting short-turnaround commercials may be the first live-action productions to resume .
Kerstin Emhoff , president of Prettybird , said her production company was able to work remotely throughout the pandemic shutdown , on a documentary , a digital series and commercials ( including one for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to begin filming a beer commercial in San Francisco next week .
`` We want to keep the work in California rather than going to Australia , where , you know , everyone is able to shoot , '' she said .
Emhoff said getting new insurance coverage will be a challenge for producers .
So will organizing casts and crews to work in small groups .
`` As producers , we love trying to tackle problems like this , and we will figure it out , '' she said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be slower because you ca n't have everyone working all at once .
But we do n't have a choice .
We have to make this work . ''

Cameras Can Roll In Hollywood Again
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
The cameras are once again allowed to roll in Los Angeles starting Friday, months after the coronavirus pandemic shut down Hollywood. State and county officials gave the green light for film and TV productions to resume as long as they follow new health and safety protocols.
Beyond social distancing, face coverings and testing for the coronavirus, only essential cast and crew are allowed on set and on location under new rules issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. That means for productions in Los Angeles, sets and props must be disinfected, and actors must wash hands and "be as silent as possible to avoid spreading droplets through talking." There will be no craft service buffets, and fight scenes and "intimate scenes" are discouraged.
In addition, casts and crews would need to work in small "zones," monitored by health and safety staff, according to new COVID-19 guidelines written jointly by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Directors Guild of America, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the basic craft unions. The latest COVID-19 safety guidelines, released Friday, are even more detailed than an industrywide protocol "white paper" they sent to governors in New York, California and other states.
"People are both excited and nervous about returning to work," said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's chief operating officer and general counsel. He also heads the union's safety and industry reopening initiative. "Being out of work has had a huge impact on so many people in the industry. But people don't want to return to work if it might cost them their lives."
Crabtree-Ireland said the protocols have been verified by epidemiologists consulting with the unions, and that frequent testing for the virus is crucial. "That should give comfort not just to the cast and crew who are there on set," he told NPR, "but also to the producers who care about keeping people who work for them safe, and care about making sure their production doesn't have to be called to a halt right in the middle because of an outbreak of [the] coronavirus."
While many production companies are eager to start working, FilmLA, the city and county's film office, won't begin accepting applications for location permits in Los Angeles until Monday. The group's president, Paul Audley, said the permits will need to be approved, so the soonest any on-location filming could happen is perhaps next Thursday or June 19.
"Two hundred fifty thousand people who were working in the industry want to get back to work," he told NPR. "And we're anxious to get back to getting them all working as quickly as possible."
Before the shutdown, FilmLA was issuing 1,300 permits every month.
During the shutdown, Audley said, there were reports that some filmmakers worked illegally on location.
"I'm aware of someone who was trying to do a documentary on how to safely film during COVID-19, which is sort of almost funny in that they didn't follow the process to make the film," he said.
Over the past few months, film and TV productions had to get creative while sheltering in place. Late-night talk-show hosts and the cast of "Saturday Night Live" filmed themselves at home, with directors, editors and producers working remotely. Some animated productions were able to continue working remotely. Now, shooting short-turnaround commercials may be the first live-action productions to resume.
Kerstin Emhoff, president of Prettybird, said her production company was able to work remotely throughout the pandemic shutdown, on a documentary, a digital series and commercials (including one for Uber). She said it's set to begin filming a beer commercial in San Francisco next week. "We want to keep the work in California rather than going to Australia, where, you know, everyone is able to shoot," she said.
Emhoff said getting new insurance coverage will be a challenge for producers. So will organizing casts and crews to work in small groups. "As producers, we love trying to tackle problems like this, and we will figure it out," she said. "But, yeah, it's going to be slower because you can't have everyone working all at once. But we don't have a choice. We have to make this work."


npr--2020-06-12--Boston Mayor Declares Racism A Public Health Crisis

Mayor Marty Walsh on Friday declared racism a public health crisis in Boston .
To tackle the emergency , Walsh said he will reallocate $ 3 million of the department 's overtime budget to public health .
Walsh said the decision comes after he listened to Black people — both in the Black Lives Matter movement and in his life — who shared with him `` how racism shapes lives and hurts communities . ''
The transfer of $ 3 million from the city 's police department to public health accounts for less than 1 % of the Boston police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 're determined to accelerate our work towards systemic change , '' Walsh said during a media conference .
`` What I 'm announcing today is the beginning . ''
The mayor also said he would propose transferring an additional $ 9 million from the police department 's overtime budget to initiatives around housing and counseling , as well as support for businesses owned by women and people of color , for a total of $ 12 million in changes to the overtime budget .
Walsh said he will also form a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things , police use-of-force policies .
In response to Walsh 's announcement , Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said his officers wear `` too many hats anyway '' and that if the community shares responsibility , there will naturally be less of a need to pay cops overtime .
`` A child does n't want to go to school , you call the Boston police ; a child 's on the bus being unruly , you call the Boston police ; there 's an emotionally disturbed person in a home , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` How many hats do you want us to wear ? ''
Walsh also announced that the department will no longer subject officers to a scientifically unsound hair test that has been discredited in studies , and courts have ruled disproportionately affect people of color .
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial court last year ruled in favor of a Boston cadet who was bypassed by the department after taking the hair test .
Walsh said he will also form a new task force to review , among other things , police use-of-force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't enough .
`` The main reason why the protests are happening is for the demand of the prosecution of police , '' said Brock Satter , with Mass Action Against Police Brutality .
While he said the money being transferred from BPD to the community is `` a pittance , '' he did say it was a step in the right direction .
`` Keep it coming , '' he said .
`` They can defund all they want , but if they do n't punish police for the crimes they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep committing crimes . ''
Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker declined to say whether he would consider shifting the state police overtime budget in the same way Walsh has committed to doing in Boston .
`` I 'm not a big believer , at the end of the day , that the right way to solve a number of problems is to so-called 'defund the police . '
'' Baker said he does believe in accountability and transparency .
With additional reporting from WBUR 's Ally Jarmanning , Jack Mitchell and Lisa Creamer

Boston Mayor Declares Racism A Public Health Crisis
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Dwyer/AP Michael Dwyer/AP
Mayor Marty Walsh on Friday declared racism a public health crisis in Boston. To tackle the emergency, Walsh said he will reallocate $3 million of the department's overtime budget to public health. Walsh said the decision comes after he listened to Black people — both in the Black Lives Matter movement and in his life — who shared with him "how racism shapes lives and hurts communities."
The transfer of $3 million from the city's police department to public health accounts for less than 1% of the Boston police's annual $414 million budget.
"We're determined to accelerate our work towards systemic change," Walsh said during a media conference. "What I'm announcing today is the beginning."
The mayor also said he would propose transferring an additional $9 million from the police department's overtime budget to initiatives around housing and counseling, as well as support for businesses owned by women and people of color, for a total of $12 million in changes to the overtime budget.
Walsh said he will also form a new task force to review, among other things, police use-of-force policies.
In response to Walsh's announcement, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said his officers wear "too many hats anyway" and that if the community shares responsibility, there will naturally be less of a need to pay cops overtime.
"A child doesn't want to go to school, you call the Boston police; a child's on the bus being unruly, you call the Boston police; there's an emotionally disturbed person in a home, you call the Boston police," Gross said. "How many hats do you want us to wear?"
Walsh also announced that the department will no longer subject officers to a scientifically unsound hair test that has been discredited in studies, and courts have ruled disproportionately affect people of color. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial court last year ruled in favor of a Boston cadet who was bypassed by the department after taking the hair test.
Walsh said he will also form a new task force to review, among other things, police use-of-force policies.
Some Boston protesters say it isn't enough.
"The main reason why the protests are happening is for the demand of the prosecution of police," said Brock Satter, with Mass Action Against Police Brutality.
While he said the money being transferred from BPD to the community is "a pittance," he did say it was a step in the right direction.
"Keep it coming," he said. "They can defund all they want, but if they don't punish police for the crimes they commit, police are just going to keep committing crimes."
Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker declined to say whether he would consider shifting the state police overtime budget in the same way Walsh has committed to doing in Boston. "I'm not a big believer, at the end of the day, that the right way to solve a number of problems is to so-called 'defund the police.'" Baker said he does believe in accountability and transparency.
With additional reporting from WBUR's Ally Jarmanning, Jack Mitchell and Lisa Creamer


npr--2020-06-12--Zoom Acknowledges It Suspended Activists' Accounts At China's Request

Teleconferencing company Zoom acknowledged it shut down the accounts of several activists and online commemorations of the Tiananmen Square massacre at China 's request .
The revelation followed media reports , citing Hong Kong and U.S.-based activists , who found their accounts suspended .
Zoom confirmed the reports , in a blog post Thursday , saying China had notified it in late May and early June of four public gatherings hosted on the platform .
According to the post , China asserted the activities were illegal and requested the events and hosts ' accounts be terminated .
Zoom said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the events came from China and shut them down .
The host accounts for the gatherings were then suspended .
`` Zoom does not currently have the ability to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting , '' the company said .
None of the three accounts — two belonging to U.S.-based activists and the third to a Hong Kong activist — were based in mainland China .
The company said it would no longer block accounts outside of mainland China at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say outright how it would handle such requests that affect users within mainland China .
Instead , Zoom said , it would develop technology to block users based on geography .
`` This will enable us to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders ; however , we will also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed , '' the company said .
Thursday 's acknowledgement also drew the attention of U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese authorities .
On Friday , a bipartisan group of senators , including Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , and Ed Markey , D-Mass.
, sent a letter to the company 's CEO Eric Yuan .
In the letter , lawmakers asked which Chinese laws mandated that the company suspend the accounts of U.S.-based activists Zhou Fengsuo and Wang Dan .
The senators also wanted to know why the company terminated the account of labor leader Lee Cheuk Yan who is based in Hong Kong .
Lawmakers called the suspensions deeply concerning .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so at the request of the Chinese government to comply with the laws of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) , because some of the participants resided inside the PRC .
... Zoom 's millions of daily users across the world who support and demand basic freedoms deserve answers , '' the senators wrote .
On Friday , Lee told NPR that his event was part of a series of weekly talks : `` Is China 's autocratic regime a threat to the world ? ''
He said he found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third session .
`` If you said that , you know , you follow the law of [ a ] country , but that country [ suppresses ] free speech .
...
Which side are you on ?
Free speech or suppression of free speech ? ''
Lee said .

Zoom Acknowledges It Suspended Activists' Accounts At China's Request
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
Teleconferencing company Zoom acknowledged it shut down the accounts of several activists and online commemorations of the Tiananmen Square massacre at China's request. The revelation followed media reports, citing Hong Kong and U.S.-based activists, who found their accounts suspended.
Zoom confirmed the reports, in a blog post Thursday, saying China had notified it in late May and early June of four public gatherings hosted on the platform.
According to the post, China asserted the activities were illegal and requested the events and hosts' accounts be terminated. Zoom said it determined a majority of participants in three of the events came from China and shut them down. The host accounts for the gatherings were then suspended.
"Zoom does not currently have the ability to remove specific participants from a meeting or block participants from a certain country from joining a meeting," the company said.
None of the three accounts — two belonging to U.S.-based activists and the third to a Hong Kong activist — were based in mainland China. The company said it would no longer block accounts outside of mainland China at Beijing's request, but did not say outright how it would handle such requests that affect users within mainland China. Instead, Zoom said, it would develop technology to block users based on geography.
"This will enable us to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders; however, we will also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed," the company said.
Thursday's acknowledgement also drew the attention of U.S. lawmakers, over Zoom's cooperation with Chinese authorities. On Friday, a bipartisan group of senators, including Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., sent a letter to the company's CEO Eric Yuan.
In the letter, lawmakers asked which Chinese laws mandated that the company suspend the accounts of U.S.-based activists Zhou Fengsuo and Wang Dan. The senators also wanted to know why the company terminated the account of labor leader Lee Cheuk Yan who is based in Hong Kong. Lawmakers called the suspensions deeply concerning.
"Your company has admitted that it did so at the request of the Chinese government to comply with the laws of the People's Republic of China (PRC), because some of the participants resided inside the PRC. ... Zoom's millions of daily users across the world who support and demand basic freedoms deserve answers," the senators wrote.
On Friday, Lee told NPR that his event was part of a series of weekly talks: "Is China's autocratic regime a threat to the world?" He said he found his account was blocked just before the third session.
"If you said that, you know, you follow the law of [a] country, but that country [suppresses] free speech. ...Which side are you on? Free speech or suppression of free speech?" Lee said.
NPR's John Ruwitch contributed to this story.