theroot--2020-07-08--Trump Isn’t Just Bullying Schools Into Reopening in the Fall, He’s Now Threatening to Withhold Fundi

Trump Isn’t Just Bullying Schools Into Reopening in the Fall, He’s Now Threatening to Withhold Funding If They Don’t [Updated]

I play this game with my 10-month-old daughter in which I put my hands over her eyes and then pull them away , and for that second that her eyes are covered , she really believes that I ’ ve disappeared .
That ’ s been the president ’ s plan for the coronavirus—the Thanos of viruses , the 1996 Suge Knight of Death Row Records of viruses , the 1986 no-socks Mike Tyson of viruses—to hope that if he doesn ’ t acknowledge it , it doesn ’ t exist .
The president is also bat shit crazy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped out of high school and developed a nasty meth habit .
Because the president knows that he ’ s fighting an uphill battle for reelection and the country definitely won ’ t be fucking with him in November if we are still wearing masks and using hand sanitizer on our key rings , the president has put his tiny fingers over his eyes and believes that the coronavirus has disappeared .
Not only is he pushing to reopen schools as the coronavirus is still playing Godzilla throughout the U.S. , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Costco worker than wear a fucking mask is now threatening to withhold funding to any school that doesn ’ t reopen in the fall .
Oh , and the president who holds degrees in “ I got potty by myself ” and “ Asparagus make pee pee smell strange ” doesn ’ t believe that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention knows what they are doing so he ’ s going to meet with them so that they can try to contain their faces when he says things like the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
The coronavirus pandemic is again rearing out of control , rising in a majority of states as a new warning comes that more than 200,000 Americans could be dead by Election Day .
The United States on Tuesday recorded 60,021 new cases of the virus , a new single day record .
But Trump barreled forward anyway , failing to offer detailed proposals or planning on the imminent question of how schools could open safely as soon as next month even as he admitted he intended to crank up pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I would say that when we talk about the fall , that seems like a long time .
It ’ s a long time , ” Trump said in an interview Tuesday with Nexstar Media Group .
Basically , for those who haven ’ t been paying attention , the coronavirus hit and started shaking the tables and scientists and doctors and people trained to deal with this shit told Trump a plan .
The problem is that the plan didn ’ t coincide with Trump getting reelected so Trump ditched that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ hand over eyes ” approach to the coronavirus .
He doesn ’ t care that people are dying or that the infection rate is soaring .
It looks bad for business so he ’ s politicized a pandemic and made two camps : those who believe that the coronavirus is real and adhere to recommendations by the CDC and those who believe that roadkill is just God ’ s way of providing dinner .
It ’ s why the president has now come out against top infectious disease specialist , Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infectious disease , so it ’ s safe to say he knows what he ’ s talking about .
In what arguably may be the dumbest move in the history of presidents , Trump has refused to wear a mask in public and refuses to promote masks because it makes him look weak .
And Trump ’ s still out here running with his eye covered throwing out all kind of wishful lies like the one he told Gray Television ’ s Greta Van Susteren on Tuesday , in which he claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 130,000 Americans and infected some 3 million would just die down in a few weeks .
“ We ’ ve done a good job .
I think we are going to be in two , three , four weeks ...
I think we ’ re going to be in very good shape , ” Trump said , adding that the spike in numbers are just fires that would be extinguished in a few weeks .
Closing your eyes doesn ’ t make it go away ; neither does trying to get back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amok .
At this point , our only hope is to minimize the damage the president can do ( maybe they can extend his presidential nap time ) until November when , hopefully , he ’ s voted out .
That ’ s assuming , of course , that Kanye doesn ’ t fuck it all up .
Updated : Wednesday , July 8 , 2020 , 2:20 p.m .
ET : So get this shit , the president and his goons met with the CDC , who are now “ Tootsie sliding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were only suggestions and not requirements for schools to open .
“ We don ’ t want the guidance from CDC to be a reason why schools don ’ t open , ” Pence said , the Washington Post reports .
“ I think that every American , every American knows that we can safely reopen our schools .
… We want , as the president said this morning , to make sure that what we ’ re doing doesn ’ t stand in the way of doing that.
” At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R. Redfield was among the administration officials who said their guidelines weren ’ t mandatory and that basically state and local officials have the final call .
So if your state is led by a goddamn idiot , like say Florida , then schools will be forced to opened while white women are out here licking doors .
“ Our recommendations are not requirements , and they ’ re not meant to be prescriptive , ” Redfield said .
The CDC requirements weren ’ t even that involved .
All they were asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept “ at least six feet apart and facing the same direction.
” Kids would have “ lunch in classrooms , staggered arrival times , cloth masks for staff and daily temperature screenings for everyone.
” I am confused as to what about this is too much when you consider that children , and I mean this in the kindest way possible , are gotdamn germ machines .
The other day , on our walk , my son picked up an orange peel off the ground and I almost vomited .
I couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my utility belt fast enough .
Meanwhile , when Pence was asked to explain Trump ’ s tweet that he was going to withhold funding to schools that didn ’ t open up on time , the vice president , who may be a robot , kept repeating “ System malfunction ” before he was rushed from the room by his aides .

I play this game with my 10-month-old daughter in which I put my hands over her eyes and then pull them away, and for that second that her eyes are covered, she really believes that I’ve disappeared.
That’s been the president’s plan for the coronavirus—the Thanos of viruses, the 1996 Suge Knight of Death Row Records of viruses, the 1986 no-socks Mike Tyson of viruses—to hope that if he doesn’t acknowledge it, it doesn’t exist.
Advertisement
The president is also bat shit crazy and dumber than a bag of rocks that dropped out of high school and developed a nasty meth habit. Because the president knows that he’s fighting an uphill battle for reelection and the country definitely won’t be fucking with him in November if we are still wearing masks and using hand sanitizer on our key rings, the president has put his tiny fingers over his eyes and believes that the coronavirus has disappeared.
Not only is he pushing to reopen schools as the coronavirus is still playing Godzilla throughout the U.S., but the president of people who would rather fight a Costco worker than wear a fucking mask is now threatening to withhold funding to any school that doesn’t reopen in the fall.
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Oh, and the president who holds degrees in “I got potty by myself” and “Asparagus make pee pee smell strange” doesn’t believe that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention knows what they are doing so he’s going to meet with them so that they can try to contain their faces when he says things like the U.S. is in a good place against the virus.
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From CNN:
The coronavirus pandemic is again rearing out of control, rising in a majority of states as a new warning comes that more than 200,000 Americans could be dead by Election Day. The United States on Tuesday recorded 60,021 new cases of the virus, a new single day record. But Trump barreled forward anyway, failing to offer detailed proposals or planning on the imminent question of how schools could open safely as soon as next month even as he admitted he intended to crank up pressure on governors to do what he wants. “I would say that when we talk about the fall, that seems like a long time. It’s a long time,” Trump said in an interview Tuesday with Nexstar Media Group.
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Basically, for those who haven’t been paying attention, the coronavirus hit and started shaking the tables and scientists and doctors and people trained to deal with this shit told Trump a plan. The problem is that the plan didn’t coincide with Trump getting reelected so Trump ditched that plan as he has basically been using the “hand over eyes” approach to the coronavirus. He doesn’t care that people are dying or that the infection rate is soaring. It looks bad for business so he’s politicized a pandemic and made two camps: those who believe that the coronavirus is real and adhere to recommendations by the CDC and those who believe that roadkill is just God’s way of providing dinner.
It’s why the president has now come out against top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is a doctor of infectious disease, so it’s safe to say he knows what he’s talking about. In what arguably may be the dumbest move in the history of presidents, Trump has refused to wear a mask in public and refuses to promote masks because it makes him look weak.
Advertisement
And Trump’s still out here running with his eye covered throwing out all kind of wishful lies like the one he told Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren on Tuesday, in which he claimed that the virus which has already killed 130,000 Americans and infected some 3 million would just die down in a few weeks.
“We’ve done a good job. I think we are going to be in two, three, four weeks ... I think we’re going to be in very good shape,” Trump said, adding that the spike in numbers are just fires that would be extinguished in a few weeks.
Advertisement
Closing your eyes doesn’t make it go away; neither does trying to get back to normal when the virus is still running amok. At this point, our only hope is to minimize the damage the president can do (maybe they can extend his presidential nap time) until November when, hopefully, he’s voted out. That’s assuming, of course, that Kanye doesn’t fuck it all up.
Updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 2:20 p.m. ET: So get this shit, the president and his goons met with the CDC, who are now “Tootsie sliding” back on its recommendations claiming that they were only suggestions and not requirements for schools to open.
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“We don’t want the guidance from CDC to be a reason why schools don’t open,” Pence said, the Washington Post reports. “I think that every American, every American knows that we can safely reopen our schools. … We want, as the president said this morning, to make sure that what we’re doing doesn’t stand in the way of doing that.”
At the task force briefing, CDC Director Robert R. Redfield was among the administration officials who said their guidelines weren’t mandatory and that basically state and local officials have the final call. So if your state is led by a goddamn idiot, like say Florida, then schools will be forced to opened while white women are out here licking doors.
“Our recommendations are not requirements, and they’re not meant to be prescriptive,” Redfield said.
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The CDC requirements weren’t even that involved. All they were asking for from schools was that desks are kept “at least six feet apart and facing the same direction.” Kids would have “lunch in classrooms, staggered arrival times, cloth masks for staff and daily temperature screenings for everyone.”
I am confused as to what about this is too much when you consider that children, and I mean this in the kindest way possible, are gotdamn germ machines. The other day, on our walk, my son picked up an orange peel off the ground and I almost vomited. I couldn’t get the hand sanitizer off my utility belt fast enough.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, when Pence was asked to explain Trump’s tweet that he was going to withhold funding to schools that didn’t open up on time, the vice president, who may be a robot, kept repeating “System malfunction” before he was rushed from the room by his aides.


theroot--2020-07-08--San Francisco Official Introduces ‘Caren Act’ Aimed at Holding Racists Accountable for False 911 Cal

San Francisco Official Introduces ‘Caren Act’ Aimed at Holding Racists Accountable for False 911 Calls

I wonder if when Black people came up with the name “ Karen ” as a moniker for entitled white women who ask to speak to the manager over the smallest inconveniences and call the police on Black people they consider a nuisance , we could have predicted that the term would catch on so universally .
Just kidding , of course we knew .
Almost nothing becomes popular in America until Black people start the trend .
What we might not have predicted , however , is that the term would potentially become legislation aimed at holding white people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In San Francisco , an ordinance was proposed Tuesday that would do just that .
The Mercury News reports that San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act , which would make it illegal to “ fabricate false racially-biased emergency reports.
” The CAREN Act changes the spelling of the name usually spelled “ Karen.
” ( I mean , they could have called it the “ Keep All Racists from Emancipated Negroes ” Act , but they don ’ t consult me for this kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed is who the legislation targets .
“ Racist 911 calls are unacceptable that ’ s why I ’ m introducing the CAREN Act at today ’ s SF Board of Supervisors meeting , ” Walton tweeted Tuesday .
“ This is the CAREN we need.
” According to Mercury News , Walton will be teaming up with Oakland Assemblyman Rob Bonta to push the statewide AB1550 bill which specifically holds people accountable for calling 911 and saying things they know are exaggerated or untrue ( I know , I also thought it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false police report , but apparently they need a whole new law to stop white people from white-peopleing ) .
One of the examples cited in statements regarding the bill is that of Amy “ Central Park Karen ” Cooper who told the police a Black man was threatening her life when all he actually did was ask that she leash her dog .
Cooper was charged with a misdemeanor for making a false report on Monday .
In May , Cooper ’ s case inspired New York lawmakers to propose hate crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another case cited in proposing the CAREN Act was the local story of Lisa “ San Francisco Karen ” Alexander , a former cosmetics company CEO who , along with her husband , confronted and called the police on a man for stenciling “ Black Lives Matter ” in chalk on his own property .
Hopefully , the bill will pass and all the Karens of California and the world will be put on notice and informed that using the police as their own personal Black people removal service will no longer @ @ @

I wonder if when Black people came up with the name “Karen” as a moniker for entitled white women who ask to speak to the manager over the smallest inconveniences and call the police on Black people they consider a nuisance, we could have predicted that the term would catch on so universally. Just kidding, of course we knew. Almost nothing becomes popular in America until Black people start the trend. What we might not have predicted, however, is that the term would potentially become legislation aimed at holding white people accountable for weaponizing the police against us. In San Francisco, an ordinance was proposed Tuesday that would do just that.
The Mercury News reports that San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act, which would make it illegal to “fabricate false racially-biased emergency reports.”
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The CAREN Act changes the spelling of the name usually spelled “Karen.” (I mean, they could have called it the “Keep All Racists from Emancipated Negroes” Act, but they don’t consult me for this kind of thing.) What hasn’t changed is who the legislation targets.
“Racist 911 calls are unacceptable that’s why I’m introducing the CAREN Act at today’s SF Board of Supervisors meeting,” Walton tweeted Tuesday. “This is the CAREN we need.”
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According to Mercury News, Walton will be teaming up with Oakland Assemblyman Rob Bonta to push the statewide AB1550 bill which specifically holds people accountable for calling 911 and saying things they know are exaggerated or untrue (I know, I also thought it was already a crime to make a false police report, but apparently they need a whole new law to stop white people from white-peopleing).
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One of the examples cited in statements regarding the bill is that of Amy “Central Park Karen” Cooper who told the police a Black man was threatening her life when all he actually did was ask that she leash her dog. Cooper was charged with a misdemeanor for making a false report on Monday. In May, Cooper’s case inspired New York lawmakers to propose hate crime legislation for making race-based false police reports.
Another case cited in proposing the CAREN Act was the local story of Lisa “San Francisco Karen” Alexander, a former cosmetics company CEO who, along with her husband, confronted and called the police on a man for stenciling “Black Lives Matter” in chalk on his own property.
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Hopefully, the bill will pass and all the Karens of California and the world will be put on notice and informed that using the police as their own personal Black people removal service will no longer be tolerated.


theroot--2020-07-08--Civil Rights Orgs Blast Mark Zuckerberg as Audit Finds Facebook’s Weak Hate Speech Policies Are ‘Ser

Civil Rights Orgs Blast Mark Zuckerberg as Audit Finds Facebook’s Weak Hate Speech Policies Are ‘Serious Setbacks for Civil Rights’

For the last two years , Facebook has touted a major civil rights audit as proof that it was taking seriously allegations that it was aiding the spread of hate and misinformation .
The results of that report were released Wednesday morning , and while it praised the company for making some necessary improvements to its platform and processes , the independent audit also made clear that the world ’ s most widely used social media site hadn ’ t done enough to curb hate speech and discrimination .
The 100-page report , conducted by civil rights lawyers Laura Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago at the behest of civil rights organizations and Congress .
Auditors culled through Facebook ’ s policies , practices and structure to determine what it was—and more pertinently , what it was not—doing to address racist , xenophobic , and discriminatory messages proliferating on its platform .
“ While the audit process has been meaningful , and has led to some significant improvements in the platform , we have also watched the company make painful decisions over the last nine months with real-world consequences that are serious setbacks for civil rights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praised Facebook for expanding its voter suppression policies , improving its appeals and penalties process , and for engaging in more frequent consultations with civil rights leaders , it also expressed serious concern over how a lack of robust action on voter suppression could potentially affect the November 2020 election , specifically citing several of Donald Trump ’ s posts from May , which threatened violence against Black Lives Matter protesters .
Murphy also specifically pointed to Zuckerberg ’ s recent comments and decisions regarding free speech over-regulation as “ deeply troubling.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s steadfast commitment since Mark ’ s October 2019 Georgetown speech to protect a particular definition of free expression , even where that has meant allowing harmful and divisive rhetoric that amplifies hate speech and threatens civil rights .
Elevating free expression is a good thing , but it should apply to everyone .
When it means that powerful politicians do not have to abide by the same rules that everyone else does , a hierarchy of speech is created that privileges certain voices over less powerful voices .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values , such as equality and non-discrimination , is deeply troubling to the Auditors .
….Facebook has not , as of this writing , reversed the decisions about the Trump posts and the Auditors are deeply troubled by that because of the precedent they establish for other speakers on the platform and the ways those decisions seem to gut policies the Auditors and the civil rights community worked hard to get Facebook to adopt .
The auditors also expressed dismay that a proper civil rights infrastructure had not yet been set up at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commit more resources to studying and addressing organized hate against Muslims , Jews , and other targeted groups , as well as a more aggressive approach to wiping white separatism and white nationalist messaging from the social networking site .
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg , in response to the audit , said the findings “ couldn ’ t come at a more important time.
” “ Facebook stands firmly against hate , ” she wrote in a statement , adding , “ As hard as it has been to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has undoubtedly been a really important process for our company.
” She urged other major tech companies to conduct similar investigations into their companies .
The report comes at a tense time for Facebook .
Over the last several weeks , more than 300 companies have pulled paid advertisements from the platform as part of the # StopHateforProfit campaign .
This includes some of its biggest advertisers , including Coca-Cola , Starbucks , and Unilever ( though a New York Times article notes that most of these companies are still reaching consumers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the eve of the report ’ s publication , Sandberg and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met with several prominent civil rights organizations , including the NAACP and Color of Change to discuss the audit .
As the Times reports , activists left the hour-plus Zoom meeting feeling like they had no firm actions or commitments from Facebook leadership , who instead attempted to “ spin ” their responses .
Upon leaving the meeting , Color of Change president Rashad Robinson expressed his disappointment with Facebook on Twitter .
“ They have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is abundantly clear that they are not ready to address the vitriolic hate on their platform , ” he wrote .
These demands included updating its community standards , as well as hiring a top executive with a civil rights background .
In conversation with the Times , Robinson compared the recent independent audit to a doctor ’ s visit .
“ It ’ s like going to the doctor , getting a new set of recommendations about your diet and then not doing anything about it and wondering why you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
That sentiment was echoed by other civil rights organizations , including Muslim Advocates , which helped lead the call for Facebook to conduct an independent civil rights audit two years ago .
“ Facebook is enabling violence and genocide against Muslims .
We don ’ t have time for more empty promises and futile data collection exercises .
We need action .
Facebook must , finally , take responsibility for the hate it has unleashed on the world , ” the organization wrote in response to Facebook leadership .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningless if Facebook does not agree to take dramatic and substantial steps to address the many failures outlined in the report .
“ NCAA President Derrick Johnson also rejected Zuckerberg ’ s responses , writing in a statement shared with The Root , “ Facebook wants us to accept the same old rhetoric , repackaged as a fresh response.
” “ Mark Zuckerberg , you aren ’ t breaking things , you are breaking people , ” Johnson continued .
“ With a stroke of a pen , you could make Facebook better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and society .
We hope that you continue thinking about the consequences of what you have wrought and come back to the table soon with real change .
”

For the last two years, Facebook has touted a major civil rights audit as proof that it was taking seriously allegations that it was aiding the spread of hate and misinformation. The results of that report were released Wednesday morning, and while it praised the company for making some necessary improvements to its platform and processes, the independent audit also made clear that the world’s most widely used social media site hadn’t done enough to curb hate speech and discrimination.
The 100-page report, conducted by civil rights lawyers Laura Murphy and Megan Cace, began two years ago at the behest of civil rights organizations and Congress. Auditors culled through Facebook’s policies, practices and structure to determine what it was—and more pertinently, what it was not—doing to address racist, xenophobic, and discriminatory messages proliferating on its platform.
Advertisement
“While the audit process has been meaningful, and has led to some significant improvements in the platform, we have also watched the company make painful decisions over the last nine months with real-world consequences that are serious setbacks for civil rights,” wrote Murphy.
While the audit praised Facebook for expanding its voter suppression policies, improving its appeals and penalties process, and for engaging in more frequent consultations with civil rights leaders, it also expressed serious concern over how a lack of robust action on voter suppression could potentially affect the November 2020 election, specifically citing several of Donald Trump’s posts from May, which threatened violence against Black Lives Matter protesters.
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Murphy also specifically pointed to Zuckerberg’s recent comments and decisions regarding free speech over-regulation as “deeply troubling.”
From the report:
The Auditors have expressed significant concern about the company’s steadfast commitment since Mark’s October 2019 Georgetown speech to protect a particular definition of free expression, even where that has meant allowing harmful and divisive rhetoric that amplifies hate speech and threatens civil rights. Elevating free expression is a good thing, but it should apply to everyone. When it means that powerful politicians do not have to abide by the same rules that everyone else does, a hierarchy of speech is created that privileges certain voices over less powerful voices. The prioritization of free expression over all other values, such as equality and non-discrimination, is deeply troubling to the Auditors. ….Facebook has not, as of this writing, reversed the decisions about the Trump posts and the Auditors are deeply troubled by that because of the precedent they establish for other speakers on the platform and the ways those decisions seem to gut policies the Auditors and the civil rights community worked hard to get Facebook to adopt.
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The auditors also expressed dismay that a proper civil rights infrastructure had not yet been set up at Facebook, and called for the company to commit more resources to studying and addressing organized hate against Muslims, Jews, and other targeted groups, as well as a more aggressive approach to wiping white separatism and white nationalist messaging from the social networking site.
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, in response to the audit, said the findings “couldn’t come at a more important time.”
Advertisement
“Facebook stands firmly against hate,” she wrote in a statement, adding, “As hard as it has been to have our shortcomings exposed by experts, it has undoubtedly been a really important process for our company.” She urged other major tech companies to conduct similar investigations into their companies.
The report comes at a tense time for Facebook. Over the last several weeks, more than 300 companies have pulled paid advertisements from the platform as part of the #StopHateforProfit campaign. This includes some of its biggest advertisers, including Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Unilever (though a New York Times article notes that most of these companies are still reaching consumers on the platform through unpaid content).
Advertisement
On the eve of the report’s publication, Sandberg and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met with several prominent civil rights organizations, including the NAACP and Color of Change to discuss the audit. As the Times reports, activists left the hour-plus Zoom meeting feeling like they had no firm actions or commitments from Facebook leadership, who instead attempted to “spin” their responses.
Upon leaving the meeting, Color of Change president Rashad Robinson expressed his disappointment with Facebook on Twitter.
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“They have had our demands for years and yet it is abundantly clear that they are not ready to address the vitriolic hate on their platform,” he wrote.
Advertisement
These demands included updating its community standards, as well as hiring a top executive with a civil rights background. In conversation with the Times, Robinson compared the recent independent audit to a doctor’s visit.
“It’s like going to the doctor, getting a new set of recommendations about your diet and then not doing anything about it and wondering why you’re not getting any healthier,” he said.
Advertisement
That sentiment was echoed by other civil rights organizations, including Muslim Advocates, which helped lead the call for Facebook to conduct an independent civil rights audit two years ago.
“Facebook is enabling violence and genocide against Muslims. We don’t have time for more empty promises and futile data collection exercises. We need action. Facebook must, finally, take responsibility for the hate it has unleashed on the world,” the organization wrote in response to Facebook leadership. “This audit is illuminating but it is ultimately meaningless if Facebook does not agree to take dramatic and substantial steps to address the many failures outlined in the report. “
Advertisement
NCAA President Derrick Johnson also rejected Zuckerberg’s responses, writing in a statement shared with The Root, “Facebook wants us to accept the same old rhetoric, repackaged as a fresh response.”
“Mark Zuckerberg, you aren’t breaking things, you are breaking people,” Johnson continued. “With a stroke of a pen, you could make Facebook better for your users, your advertisers, and society. We hope that you continue thinking about the consequences of what you have wrought and come back to the table soon with real change.”


theroot--2020-07-08--Trump’s Consumer Watchdog Just Approved Predatory Lending, Again

The greatest president to ever set his Stacy Adams inside the Oval Office did something monumental during his time in office .
Former President Barack Obama changed payday loans to make it so that the lenders had to be sure the borrower could actually repay the loan .
Meaning , the lender couldn ’ t just give cash to any old body and then use borrowers ’ inability to repay the loan to take all their stuff .
Well , because the current president , the worst president to ever rest his uncoastered Diet Coke on the Oval Office desk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the people or what they lose , the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Tuesday issued the final rule on payday lending , and I bet you can ’ t guess what the decision was ?
Well , it removed Obama ’ s restrictions , which now makes it legal for predatory lending .
To help ensure borrowers were not getting sucked into so-called debt traps , the CFPB released a new , multi-part payday loan regulation in 2017 that , among other things , required payday lenders to check that borrowers could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time by verifying information like incomes , rent and even student loan payments .
But the Trump administration blocked those rules from going into effect and called for a review .
On Tuesday , the CFPB — under new leadership — released a finalized rule that doesn ’ t require lenders to check that borrowers can afford to pay .
CFPB claims that lifting restrictions “ ensures that consumers have access to credit and competition in states that have decided to allow their residents to use such products , subject to state law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement viewed by CBC .
Additionally , CFPB noted that there was “ insufficient legal and evidentiary bases ” in requiring lenders to verify consumers ’ ability to repay loans .
The CFPB did keep one restriction in place : They don ’ t allow bruisers to show up at your workplace carrying a bat and wanting to know where the fuck the money is They will continue to “ bar payday lenders from repeatedly trying to directly withdraw payments from a person ’ s bank account.
” Some payday lenders would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checking accounts and then take monthly payments directly from the borrower ’ s account .
But if the money wasn ’ t there , the lender would continue to charge the account , drawing overdraft fees and ruining the borrower ’ s credit score , CNBC reports .
“ By eliminating the ability-to-repay protections , the CFPB is making a grave error that leaves the 12 million Americans who use payday loans every year exposed to unaffordable payments at annual interest rates that average nearly 400 % , ” Alex Horowitz , senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer finance project , told CNBC .
“ Last October we learned that , in exchange for contributions to the Trump campaign , payday lenders were bragging about being able to ‘ pick up the phone and ... get the president ’ s attention ’ to fend off regulation , ” Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) said in a statement Tuesday , CNBC reports .
“ Today , the CFPB gave payday lenders exactly what they paid for by gutting a rule that would have protected American families from predatory loans that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

The greatest president to ever set his Stacy Adams inside the Oval Office did something monumental during his time in office. Former President Barack Obama changed payday loans to make it so that the lenders had to be sure the borrower could actually repay the loan. Meaning, the lender couldn’t just give cash to any old body and then use borrowers’ inability to repay the loan to take all their stuff.
Well, because the current president, the worst president to ever rest his uncoastered Diet Coke on the Oval Office desk, doesn’t give a fuck about the people or what they lose, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Tuesday issued the final rule on payday lending, and I bet you can’t guess what the decision was? Well, it removed Obama’s restrictions, which now makes it legal for predatory lending.
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From CNBC:
To help ensure borrowers were not getting sucked into so-called debt traps, the CFPB released a new, multi-part payday loan regulation in 2017 that, among other things, required payday lenders to check that borrowers could afford to pay back their loan on time by verifying information like incomes, rent and even student loan payments. But the Trump administration blocked those rules from going into effect and called for a review. On Tuesday, the CFPB — under new leadership — released a finalized rule that doesn’t require lenders to check that borrowers can afford to pay.
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CFPB claims that lifting restrictions “ensures that consumers have access to credit and competition in states that have decided to allow their residents to use such products, subject to state law limitations,” the agency said in a statement viewed by CBC. Additionally, CFPB noted that there was “insufficient legal and evidentiary bases” in requiring lenders to verify consumers’ ability to repay loans.
The CFPB did keep one restriction in place: They don’t allow bruisers to show up at your workplace carrying a bat and wanting to know where the fuck the money is They will continue to “bar payday lenders from repeatedly trying to directly withdraw payments from a person’s bank account.” Some payday lenders would ask for access to the borrowers’ checking accounts and then take monthly payments directly from the borrower’s account. But if the money wasn’t there, the lender would continue to charge the account, drawing overdraft fees and ruining the borrower’s credit score, CNBC reports.
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“By eliminating the ability-to-repay protections, the CFPB is making a grave error that leaves the 12 million Americans who use payday loans every year exposed to unaffordable payments at annual interest rates that average nearly 400%,” Alex Horowitz, senior research officer with Pew Charitable Trusts’ consumer finance project, told CNBC.
“Last October we learned that, in exchange for contributions to the Trump campaign, payday lenders were bragging about being able to ‘pick up the phone and...get the president’s attention’ to fend off regulation,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said in a statement Tuesday, CNBC reports.
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“Today, the CFPB gave payday lenders exactly what they paid for by gutting a rule that would have protected American families from predatory loans that trap them in cycles of debt.”
Stay woke.


theroot--2020-07-08--Tyler Perry Is Paying for Funeral of 8-Year-Old Secoriea Turner, Asks 'When Does This End?'

Tyler Perry is paying for the funeral of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner , a little girl who was shot and killed in Atlanta on July 4 , not far from the location where Rayshard Brooks was killed weeks ago .
According to CNN , Turner and her mother were riding in their family car when “ a group of individuals illegally placed barricades ” in the parking lot the vehicle pulled into .
Several shots were fired into the car , and Turner ’ s mother drove to the hospital , where Secoriea was pronounced dead .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be paying for 8-year-old Secoriea Turner ’ s college than her funeral , ” the entertainment mogul told People in an exclusive statement , adding “ when does this end ?
” “ Enough is enough , ” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said during a press conference on Sunday regarding Turner ’ s death and the deaths of three others in a separate Atlanta gunfire incident .
“ We have talked about this movement that is happening across America at this moment in time when we have the ears and the interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this globe who are saying they want to see change.
” Elsewhere in his statement to People , Perry also explained that people are people , no matter their skin color , and he wants to help those who need it most .
“ Who said that outrage has to choose a side ?
” he said .
“ When so many Black people like George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks were killed , I was outraged and did what I could to help their families.
” Perry funded Brooks ’ funeral in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer .
He will also reportedly pay for the future college education of Brooks ’ four children .
“ When a white police officer was shot in the head trying to stop a shoplifter in a suburb outside of Atlanta , I was outraged and I did what I could to help him and his family , ” Perry continued .
In 2018 , he paid the medical expenses for Matthew Cooper , a Georgia police officer who was shot in the head while trying to stop a shoplifter .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in May .
“ ...
When we are killing each other , including our innocent children , I am outraged , ” Perry concludes .
“ It doesn ’ t matter what color wrong comes in , wrong is wrong.
” Atlanta is not the only city experiencing troubling upticks in gun violence .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot condemned gunfire surges during a news conference on Monday after incidents grew during the July 4 weekend , marking a third consecutive weekend in which children were among those killed by gunfire in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing growing numbers of gun violence concerns .
The New York Times reports that 64 people were shot in the Big Apple over the weekend , and 10 of those people succumbed to their injuries .
There were 205 shootings in the month of June in NYC .

J'na Jefferson on The Grapevine, shared by J'na Jefferson to The Root

Tyler Perry is paying for the funeral of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner, a little girl who was shot and killed in Atlanta on July 4, not far from the location where Rayshard Brooks was killed weeks ago.
According to CNN, Turner and her mother were riding in their family car when “a group of individuals illegally placed barricades” in the parking lot the vehicle pulled into. Several shots were fired into the car, and Turner’s mother drove to the hospital, where Secoriea was pronounced dead.
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“I’m outraged today because I’d rather be paying for 8-year-old Secoriea Turner’s college than her funeral,” the entertainment mogul told People in an exclusive statement, adding “when does this end?”
“Enough is enough,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said during a press conference on Sunday regarding Turner’s death and the deaths of three others in a separate Atlanta gunfire incident. “We have talked about this movement that is happening across America at this moment in time when we have the ears and the interest of people across this country and across this globe who are saying they want to see change.”
Elsewhere in his statement to People, Perry also explained that people are people, no matter their skin color, and he wants to help those who need it most.
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“Who said that outrage has to choose a side?” he said. “When so many Black people like George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks were killed, I was outraged and did what I could to help their families.” Perry funded Brooks’ funeral in June after he was killed by a white police officer. He will also reportedly pay for the future college education of Brooks’ four children.
“When a white police officer was shot in the head trying to stop a shoplifter in a suburb outside of Atlanta, I was outraged and I did what I could to help him and his family,” Perry continued. In 2018, he paid the medical expenses for Matthew Cooper, a Georgia police officer who was shot in the head while trying to stop a shoplifter. He has recovered from the incident and returned to work in May.
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“...When we are killing each other, including our innocent children, I am outraged,” Perry concludes. “It doesn’t matter what color wrong comes in, wrong is wrong.”
Atlanta is not the only city experiencing troubling upticks in gun violence. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot condemned gunfire surges during a news conference on Monday after incidents grew during the July 4 weekend, marking a third consecutive weekend in which children were among those killed by gunfire in the city. New York City is also experiencing growing numbers of gun violence concerns. The New York Times reports that 64 people were shot in the Big Apple over the weekend, and 10 of those people succumbed to their injuries. There were 205 shootings in the month of June in NYC.


theroot--2020-07-08--Acclaimed Chef Kwame Onwuachi Is Leaving Kith/Kin, the Restaurant He Made Famous

He won the 2019 James Beard Rising Star Award ( among many other honors ) ; co-wrote the poignant and powerful memoir Notes From a Young Chef ( which is being developed into a film ) ; competed for the title of Top Chef on Bravo ’ s long-running show ; was a 2019 Root 100 honoree and helmed the kitchen of one of the best-reviewed restaurants in Washington , D.C. At only 30 , Chef Kwame Onwuachi has done all of this and more—while steadfastly advocating for himself and other Black culinary talents .
“ 54 years ago is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jim Crow was lifted .
And here I am , my ancestors ’ wildest dreams , ” he said while accepting his Rising Star Award in May of last year .
“ Thank you to my ancestors , who have worked in the kitchen for hundreds of years with no recognition , no choice ; just in order to survive .
This is for you.
” Now , the New York Times reports , Chef Onwuachi has resigned from Kith/Kin—the restaurant he named and opened within the InterContinental Washington D.C. , basing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( which includes ties to Louisiana , Jamaica , Trinidad , and Nigeria ) .
After guiding the restaurant through a post-lockdown reopening in June , Onwuachi is now planning to pursue his own venture , citing the intellectual and creative capital he literally brings to the table as his reason .
( The Times also notes the resignation of Kith/Kin ’ s Executive Pastry Chef Paola Velez , also co-founder of the recently launched Bakers Against Racism , “ an ‘ online virtual bake sale ’ to benefit organizations that try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will oversee pastry for two other D.C.-area restaurants . )
“ Something that profits off of Black and brown dollars should be Black-owned , ” Onwuachi told the Times .
“ It ’ s something that ’ s very , very important to me and something that I want to achieve in the future.
” The as-yet-unnamed venture will not be his first attempt at ownership ; in 2016 , Onwuachi opened the Shaw Bijou in a converted townhouse in D.C. ’ s Shaw neighborhood with an ambitious 13-course tasting menu .
Shaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and by the end of 2017 , Onwuachi was hired to develop and open Kith/Kin .
Additionally , he experimented with a fast-food concept , opening two Philly Wing Fry food stalls in the city , with 50-day dry-aged ribeye cheesesteaks as the draw .
That venture closed in November of last year , according to the D.C. affiliate of Eater , as Onwuachi was already teasing a pivot to a new project in addition to Kith/Kin .
And then came the outbreak of COVID-19 and an ensuing months-long lockdown .
While Onwuachi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kith/Kin “ was not directly related to the pandemic , ” he shared that he ’ d used the time off to “ think about what mattered to him.
” Additionally , he spent several weeks volunteering with World Central Kitchen in his childhood neighborhood of the Bronx , and area notoriously hit hard in the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak , making free meals for locals and emergency medical workers .
“ It was inspiring to cook for the community , ” he told the Times .
“ It wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this curry doesn ’ t have enough anise seed in it.
’ They were just like , ‘ Thank you for this food.
’ ” Onwuachi has yet to disclose the concept of his next restaurant or whether he ’ ll remain in D.C. or return to his native New York .
Among future possibilities is a comeback of Philly Wing Fry , but as the chef explained , there are several options simmering .
“ I ’ m going to cook , I was born to cook , I have to cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do need to take some time to think about how to build a better future .
And I need ownership to do that .
”

He won the 2019 James Beard Rising Star Award (among many other honors); co-wrote the poignant and powerful memoir Notes From a Young Chef (which is being developed into a film); competed for the title of Top Chef on Bravo’s long-running show; was a 2019 Root 100 honoree and helmed the kitchen of one of the best-reviewed restaurants in Washington, D.C. At only 30, Chef Kwame Onwuachi has done all of this and more—while steadfastly advocating for himself and other Black culinary talents.
“54 years ago is when the last restaurant was integrated and Jim Crow was lifted. And here I am, my ancestors’ wildest dreams,” he said while accepting his Rising Star Award in May of last year. “Thank you to my ancestors, who have worked in the kitchen for hundreds of years with no recognition, no choice; just in order to survive. This is for you.”
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Now, the New York Times reports, Chef Onwuachi has resigned from Kith/Kin—the restaurant he named and opened within the InterContinental Washington D.C., basing its Afro-Caribbean cuisine on his own diasporic heritage (which includes ties to Louisiana, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Nigeria). After guiding the restaurant through a post-lockdown reopening in June, Onwuachi is now planning to pursue his own venture, citing the intellectual and creative capital he literally brings to the table as his reason. (The Times also notes the resignation of Kith/Kin’s Executive Pastry Chef Paola Velez, also co-founder of the recently launched Bakers Against Racism, “an ‘online virtual bake sale’ to benefit organizations that try to help Black people and communities. Velez will oversee pastry for two other D.C.-area restaurants.)
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“Something that profits off of Black and brown dollars should be Black-owned,” Onwuachi told the Times. “It’s something that’s very, very important to me and something that I want to achieve in the future.”
The as-yet-unnamed venture will not be his first attempt at ownership; in 2016, Onwuachi opened the Shaw Bijou in a converted townhouse in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood with an ambitious 13-course tasting menu. Shaw Bijou would close 11 weeks later, and by the end of 2017, Onwuachi was hired to develop and open Kith/Kin. Additionally, he experimented with a fast-food concept, opening two Philly Wing Fry food stalls in the city, with 50-day dry-aged ribeye cheesesteaks as the draw. That venture closed in November of last year, according to the D.C. affiliate of Eater, as Onwuachi was already teasing a pivot to a new project in addition to Kith/Kin.
Advertisement
And then came the outbreak of COVID-19 and an ensuing months-long lockdown. While Onwuachi told the Times his decision to depart Kith/Kin “was not directly related to the pandemic,” he shared that he’d used the time off to “think about what mattered to him.” Additionally, he spent several weeks volunteering with World Central Kitchen in his childhood neighborhood of the Bronx, and area notoriously hit hard in the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak, making free meals for locals and emergency medical workers.
“It was inspiring to cook for the community,” he told the Times. “It wasn’t, ‘Oh the nuances, this curry doesn’t have enough anise seed in it.’ They were just like, ‘Thank you for this food.’”
Advertisement
Onwuachi has yet to disclose the concept of his next restaurant or whether he’ll remain in D.C. or return to his native New York. Among future possibilities is a comeback of Philly Wing Fry, but as the chef explained, there are several options simmering. “I’m going to cook, I was born to cook, I have to cook,” he said. “But I do need to take some time to think about how to build a better future. And I need ownership to do that.”


theroot--2020-07-09--The Instant Pot Aura Packs 10 Useful Cooking Modes, Now $50 off

There ’ s nothing like prepping your meal beforehand and just dumping it all into a hot pot for slow @ @ @ @ @ and kick back as dinner roasts away in the Instant Pot Ace— featuring roast , @ @ @ @ @ , saute , and more cooking options—now down to $ 80 .
Its bowl holds @ @ @ @ @ of unused ingredients you can scrape from your cabinets and freezers .

Quentyn Kennemer on Kinja Deals, shared by Quentyn Kennemer to The Root

Instant Pot Aura Slow Cooker | $80 | Amazon
There’s nothing like prepping your meal beforehand and just dumping it all into a hot pot for slow cooking. Set a timer and kick back as dinner roasts away in the Instant Pot Ace— featuring roast, stew, bake, steam, saute, and more cooking options—now down to $80. Its bowl holds six quarts of whichever combination of unused ingredients you can scrape from your cabinets and freezers.


theroot--2020-07-09--Bodycam Footage of Phoenix Man's Death Reveals Disturbing Similiarites to George Floyd

“ I can ’ t breathe ” has depressingly become a common refrain as it pertains to police brutality.Eric Garner , George Floyd and countless men and women who have uttered these words before dying in police custody revealing that this is not some anomaly .
And now , sadly , Muhammad Muhaymin Jr. ’ s is yet another name to be added to that list .
CNN reports that newly released bodycam footage shows Muhaymin repeatedly telling officers that he couldn ’ t breathe while they detained him .
On January 27 , 2017 , Phoenix Police responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequented in Maryvale , Ari z .
He wanted to use the restroom in the center but they wouldn ’ t allow him to go in with his emotional support dog .
After Muhaymin argued with the manager , an employee was ordered to call 911 .
Initially , when the officers arrived they allowed Muhaymin to use the restroom with his dog but a background check ran on Muhaymin while he was in there showed he had an outstanding warrant for misdemeanor possession of a marijuana pipe .
When Muhaymin emerged from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of control .
Officers tried to arrest him , and ultimately Muhaymin wound up facedown on the pavement just outside the facility with at least four officers on top of him struggling to put his hands in cuffs .
Within eight minutes , Muhaymin was dead .
His dog has not been seen since .
The Muhaymin family is suing the city for $ 10 million in a wrongful death suit that names 10 Phoenix police officers as defendants and is expected to go to jury trial early next year .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers with guns to deal with somebody who ’ s having a mental breakdown — it ’ s a recipe for disaster , ” said the family ’ s attorney , David Chami .
“ We have heard the mayor of Phoenix and the police chief of Phoenix police talk about what happened in Minneapolis , say that they are ashamed , condemn the people involved as if it were something separate from us .
They never acknowledge that what happened to George Floyd , their police officers did here , to Muhammad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director of Poder in Action , a Phoenix advocacy group told CNN .
Oswald Grenier , Jason Hobel , Ronaldo Canilao and David Head , the four officers involved , were not subject to any disciplinary action for Muhaymin ’ s death and all four are still active on the force .
The Phoenix Police force is one of the largest police forces in the country without civilian oversight , though according to AZ Central , Phoenix City Council approved almost $ 3 billion to go towards the formation of an oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own investigation of Muhaymin ’ s death and found there was no wrongdoing .
“ The department is investigating itself here .
There ’ s an incentive to find no wrongdoing , ” Chami told CNN .
Muhaymin was intermittently homeless and suffered from schizophrenia and anxiety according to documents obtained by CNN .
The officers can even be heard referencing Muhaymin ’ s mental health saying , “ he is a little 918 , ” which is police code for mentally ill .
Despite Muhaymin not being physically violent during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muhaymin had assaulted an officer and an employee of the community center .
“ When did they ever retract those statements ?
They never did.
” Chami said of the police .
An autopsy conducted by Maricopa County medical examiner , Dr. Amanda Maskovyak labeled Muhaymin ’ s death a homicide and said the primary cause of death was cardiac arrest , intensified by “ coronary artery disease , psychiatric disease , acute methamphetamine intoxication and physical exertion during law enforcement subdual.
” Muhaymin ’ s family brought on Dr. Bennet Omalu as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s assessment .
“ Asphyxiation due to compression of his trunk and body ” — not underlying conditions or drug use — was the cause of death , said Omalu , a forensic pathologist known for his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ) injuries in football players , and who was portrayed by Will Smith in the 2015 film “ Concussion.
” By the time Muhaymin vomited , his body had been compressed under the weight of the officers for eight minutes , Omalu wrote in a report for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-scale traumatic stressor ” caused Muhaymin to vomit , which entered and blocked his air passageways , cutting off oxygen to his brain and leading to “ sudden death , ” Omalu ’ s report says .
The report , exclusively obtained by CNN , concludes : “ If Muhammad did not encounter the police on Jan. 4 , 2017 , he would not have died.
” The release of the body camera footage comes as Phoenix police are under increased pressure from protesters to release body camera footage from the shooting death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on July 4th .
In May , protests were held in the city when Dion Johnson died after being shot by a state trooper .
In 2018 , a report from the National Police Foundation showed that Phoenix Police led the nation in officer involved shooting , with 23 of the 44 incidents reported that year resulting in the victim ’ s death .
Chami has said that , similarly to Colorado Governor Jared Polis reopening the investigation into Elijah McClain ’ s death , he would like Muhaymin ’ s death to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Muhammad ’ s sister , has expressed a desire for better police oversight in Phoenix .
“ The police was judge , jury and executioner .
And just because he wanted to use a public bathroom.
” Mussallina told CNN .

“I can’t breathe” has depressingly become a common refrain as it pertains to police brutality.Eric Garner, George Floyd and countless men and women who have uttered these words before dying in police custody revealing that this is not some anomaly. And now, sadly, Muhammad Muhaymin Jr. ’s is yet another name to be added to that list.
CNN reports that newly released bodycam footage shows Muhaymin repeatedly telling officers that he couldn’t breathe while they detained him. On January 27, 2017, Phoenix Police responded to a call from a community center Muhaymin frequented in Maryvale, Ari z. He wanted to use the restroom in the center but they wouldn’t allow him to go in with his emotional support dog. After Muhaymin argued with the manager, an employee was ordered to call 911. Initially, when the officers arrived they allowed Muhaymin to use the restroom with his dog but a background check ran on Muhaymin while he was in there showed he had an outstanding warrant for misdemeanor possession of a marijuana pipe.
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From CNN:
When Muhaymin emerged from the restroom, the situation swiftly spiraled out of control. Officers tried to arrest him, and ultimately Muhaymin wound up facedown on the pavement just outside the facility with at least four officers on top of him struggling to put his hands in cuffs. Within eight minutes, Muhaymin was dead. His dog has not been seen since. The Muhaymin family is suing the city for $10 million in a wrongful death suit that names 10 Phoenix police officers as defendants and is expected to go to jury trial early next year. “In general, sending out armed police officers with guns to deal with somebody who’s having a mental breakdown — it’s a recipe for disaster,” said the family’s attorney, David Chami.
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“We have heard the mayor of Phoenix and the police chief of Phoenix police talk about what happened in Minneapolis, say that they are ashamed, condemn the people involved as if it were something separate from us. They never acknowledge that what happened to George Floyd, their police officers did here, to Muhammad Muhaymin,” said Viri Hernandez, executive director of Poder in Action, a Phoenix advocacy group told CNN.
Oswald Grenier, Jason Hobel, Ronaldo Canilao and David Head, the four officers involved, were not subject to any disciplinary action for Muhaymin’s death and all four are still active on the force. The Phoenix Police force is one of the largest police forces in the country without civilian oversight, though according to AZ Central, Phoenix City Council approved almost $3 billion to go towards the formation of an oversight board last month. Phoenix PD conducted its own investigation of Muhaymin’s death and found there was no wrongdoing. “The department is investigating itself here. There’s an incentive to find no wrongdoing,” Chami told CNN.
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Muhaymin was intermittently homeless and suffered from schizophrenia and anxiety according to documents obtained by CNN. The officers can even be heard referencing Muhaymin’s mental health saying, “he is a little 918,” which is police code for mentally ill.
Despite Muhaymin not being physically violent during the encounter, Phoenix police nonetheless said that Muhaymin had assaulted an officer and an employee of the community center. “When did they ever retract those statements? They never did.” Chami said of the police.
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An autopsy conducted by Maricopa County medical examiner, Dr. Amanda Maskovyak labeled Muhaymin’s death a homicide and said the primary cause of death was cardiac arrest, intensified by “coronary artery disease, psychiatric disease, acute methamphetamine intoxication and physical exertion during law enforcement subdual.” Muhaymin’s family brought on Dr. Bennet Omalu as an expert witness who disagrees with Maskovyak’s assessment.
From CNN:
“Asphyxiation due to compression of his trunk and body” — not underlying conditions or drug use — was the cause of death, said Omalu, a forensic pathologist known for his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) injuries in football players, and who was portrayed by Will Smith in the 2015 film “Concussion.” By the time Muhaymin vomited, his body had been compressed under the weight of the officers for eight minutes, Omalu wrote in a report for the family’s attorney. This “high-scale traumatic stressor” caused Muhaymin to vomit, which entered and blocked his air passageways, cutting off oxygen to his brain and leading to “sudden death,” Omalu’s report says. The report, exclusively obtained by CNN, concludes: “If Muhammad did not encounter the police on Jan. 4, 2017, he would not have died.”
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The release of the body camera footage comes as Phoenix police are under increased pressure from protesters to release body camera footage from the shooting death of James Garcia by Phoenix Police officers on July 4th. In May, protests were held in the city when Dion Johnson died after being shot by a state trooper. In 2018, a report from the National Police Foundation showed that Phoenix Police led the nation in officer involved shooting, with 23 of the 44 incidents reported that year resulting in the victim’s death.
Chami has said that, similarly to Colorado Governor Jared Polis reopening the investigation into Elijah McClain’s death, he would like Muhaymin’s death to be re-examined as well. Mussallina Muhaymin, Muhammad’s sister, has expressed a desire for better police oversight in Phoenix.
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“The police was judge, jury and executioner. And just because he wanted to use a public bathroom.” Mussallina told CNN.


theroot--2020-07-09--From 'Fifty' to 'Milly': Virgil Abloh Announces $1 Million Scholarship Fund for Black Creatives

Virgil Abloh heard y ’ all callin ’ him “ Fifty ” —and he ’ s not having it .
The groundbreaking yet increasingly controversial artistic director of Off-White and Louis Vuitton Menswear is seemingly willing to put his money where his ( sometimes misspoken ) mouth is , announcing a new $ 1 million scholarship fund “ for students of academic promise of Black , African-American , or of African descent.
” Entitled the Virgil Abloh™ “ Post-Modern ” Scholarship Fund , it has been endowed with financial contributions from Abloh himself , and further funding from his partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guards Group ( the conglomerate of which Off-White is a member ) , as well as Farfetch .
The Abloh Fund will be operated in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund ( originally named the Young Menswear Association ) which has operated in the US since 1937 to create opportunities for young American fashion creatives of all backgrounds in fashion .
As one of the rare Black designers to reach the heights of the international fashion industry ( currently paralleled only by Balmain ’ s Olivier Rousteing ) , Abloh undoubtedly recognizes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutiny .
In the past year , the one-time industry darling has faced repeated backlash over his personal politics over the past year , most recently when he commented on the looting that accompanied some of the nationwide protests this spring .
Prior , he was taken to task for the overwhelming whiteness of the Milan staff of his inaugural brand , Off-White , as many rightly questioned why a man who had broken racial barriers in a notoriously exclusionary industry wasn ’ t employing and elevating more who looked like him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about where his loyalty and advocacy lie , Abloh has repeatedly tried to show receipts of the fellow black talents he ’ s mentored as a Chicagoan , I can vouch for several contributions to underserved communities and as-yet-unrecognized talents in our shared hometown .
“ Our city is sort of known—which is a shame—amongst these other beautiful things , it ’ s always known as like , these stark statistics of reality , ” said Abloh at the opening of his first museum exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MCA Chicago x Virgil Abloh Design Challenge , an Instagram-based , multidisciplinary design challenge for Chicagoland youth .
“ The design challenge is a way for all of us to sort of put some skin in the game , in terms of fostering something new and sort of opening the door for a wider audience that relates to contemporary institutions , ” he explained at the time .
Skin in the game , yes .
But putting skills in the brain is the focus of Abloh ’ s new initiative ; as Vogue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important opportunity there is .
It is also unequally distributed , which perpetuates inequality.
” Spending his quarantine back in Chicago , Abloh shared that his next challenge is yet again designed to help level that proverbial playing field .
“ By the metrics we ’ re projecting we ’ ll put 100 kids , Black kids , through a wide spectrum of educational institutions , ” he said , specifically indicting the inequities within his own industry .
“ [ A ] benefit of this uprising is that we are paying attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t move on… .
To some , $ 1 million may sound meager for a luxury designer ( International Business Times assesses Abloh ’ s current net worth at $ 4 million ) , Vogue reports it ’ s only the initial investment for the Virgil Abloh™ “ Post-Modern ” Scholarship Fund .
“ It ’ s time for us not to make this industry about fashion , but about people , .
” said the designer .
“ And I ’ ve been pouring that into my own work .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to action for me to take on more challenges that don ’ t only end up on the runway , but that end up changing people ’ s lives .
”

Maiysha Kai on The Glow Up, shared by Maiysha Kai to The Root

Virgil Abloh heard y’all callin’ him “Fifty”—and he’s not having it. The groundbreaking yet increasingly controversial artistic director of Off-White and Louis Vuitton Menswear is seemingly willing to put his money where his (sometimes misspoken) mouth is, announcing a new $1 million scholarship fund “for students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or of African descent.”
Vogue reports:
Entitled the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund, it has been endowed with financial contributions from Abloh himself, and further funding from his partners Louis Vuitton, Evian, and New Guards Group (the conglomerate of which Off-White is a member), as well as Farfetch. The Abloh Fund will be operated in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund (originally named the Young Menswear Association) which has operated in the US since 1937 to create opportunities for young American fashion creatives of all backgrounds in fashion.
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As one of the rare Black designers to reach the heights of the international fashion industry (currently paralleled only by Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing), Abloh undoubtedly recognizes that with great power comes great responsibility—and great scrutiny. In the past year, the one-time industry darling has faced repeated backlash over his personal politics over the past year, most recently when he commented on the looting that accompanied some of the nationwide protests this spring. Prior, he was taken to task for the overwhelming whiteness of the Milan staff of his inaugural brand, Off-White, as many rightly questioned why a man who had broken racial barriers in a notoriously exclusionary industry wasn’t employing and elevating more who looked like him.
Advertisement Advertisement
In response to these and other queries about where his loyalty and advocacy lie, Abloh has repeatedly tried to show receipts of the fellow black talents he’s mentored as a Chicagoan, I can vouch for several contributions to underserved communities and as-yet-unrecognized talents in our shared hometown.
“Our city is sort of known—which is a shame—amongst these other beautiful things, it’s always known as like, these stark statistics of reality,” said Abloh at the opening of his first museum exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago last June, where he simultaneously launched the MCA Chicago x Virgil Abloh Design Challenge, an Instagram-based, multidisciplinary design challenge for Chicagoland youth.
Advertisement
“The design challenge is a way for all of us to sort of put some skin in the game, in terms of fostering something new and sort of opening the door for a wider audience that relates to contemporary institutions,” he explained at the time.
Skin in the game, yes. But putting skills in the brain is the focus of Abloh’s new initiative; as Vogue writes: “Education is the most important opportunity there is. It is also unequally distributed, which perpetuates inequality.” Spending his quarantine back in Chicago, Abloh shared that his next challenge is yet again designed to help level that proverbial playing field.
Advertisement
“By the metrics we’re projecting we’ll put 100 kids, Black kids, through a wide spectrum of educational institutions,” he said, specifically indicting the inequities within his own industry. “[A] benefit of this uprising is that we are paying attention to systemic problems...we can’t move on….
Advertisement
To some, $1 million may sound meager for a luxury designer (International Business Times assesses Abloh’s current net worth at $4 million), Vogue reports it’s only the initial investment for the Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund.
“It’s time for us not to make this industry about fashion, but about people,.” said the designer. “And I’ve been pouring that into my own work. I’m looking at this as a call to action for me to take on more challenges that don’t only end up on the runway, but that end up changing people’s lives.”


theroot--2020-07-09--Marsai Martin Partners With Urban School Food Alliance and Student Voice to Support Free School Meal

Marsai Martin Partners With Urban School Food Alliance and Student Voice to Support Free School Meals for All K-12 Students

Marsai Martin believes all students should have access to free lunch .
I do , too .
The Black-ish actress has partnere with school nutrition leaders Urban School Food Alliance and the national student-led coalition Student Voice to make sure students aren ’ t denied access to lunch and to prevent families from going into debt due to accumulating unpaid fees .
In some cases , unpaid lunch fees can lead to other means of punishment and penalties , such as denying a student access to other school activities such as prom and non-curricular field trips , and , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied the ability to graduate .
Per a press release sent to The Root : School Lunch for All is a national campaign led by The Soze Agency and Galaxy Gives to ensure that school meals are provided , free of charge , to every K-12 student in America .
To kick off the campaign , School Lunch for All is launching a Change.org petition which will put pressure on several legislative leaders including , the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , reallocated COVID-19 relief funds to ensure that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors reopen for the 2020-21 academic year .
“ With all the things that kids have to worry about while attending school , I believe a healthy lunch shouldn ’ t be one of them , ” Martin said in a statement .
“ Kids should be able to focus on learning while at school , not whether or not they have enough money to eat.
” Martin and the two organizations are supporting a petition written by Dwight Howard , the grandfather of then-kindergartener Anya Howard , who was refused a hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having enough money in her school lunch account .
We ’ ve also reported on other instances such as a Florida high school student who was denied school lunch for being 15 cents short in 2018 .
“ The time has come to stop putting the burden of family income in exchange for school meals on the shoulders of our children , ” Katie Wilson , Ph.D. , Executive Director of the Urban School Food Alliance said in a statement .
“ When they come to school , children can receive a bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology , science labs , and great learning opportunities as part of the school day .
Only when it comes to school meals do we ask them for information about their family income .
The science is clear , a well-nourished child has a much better chance at success in the classroom and on the athletic field , so why do we tie the educational tool that school meals bring to the table to family income ?
” “ School meals provide a benefit to local economies and America ’ s farmers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure they also provide a benefit to the children they were meant to serve .
Make school meals a Universal free program , ” Wilson ’ s statement continued.
“ The money saved in administrative paperwork can be reinvested in the quality of the food and health and wellbeing of our nation ’ s children can be reinvested in our future .
The time is now to invest in our children , it is the right thing to do.
” As a former Chicago Public School student who was a part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot to me , and I ’ ll certainly be signing this petition .
If you ’ d like to sign the petition and/or learn more information about this initiative , please head to change.org .
For more information on the School Lunch For All campaign , go to schoollunchforall.org .

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Grapevine, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

Marsai Martin believes all students should have access to free lunch. I do, too.
The Black-ish actress has partnere with school nutrition leaders Urban School Food Alliance and the national student-led coalition Student Voice to make sure students aren’t denied access to lunch and to prevent families from going into debt due to accumulating unpaid fees. In some cases, unpaid lunch fees can lead to other means of punishment and penalties, such as denying a student access to other school activities such as prom and non-curricular field trips, and, in the worst cases, students can be denied the ability to graduate.
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Per a press release sent to The Root:
School Lunch for All is a national campaign led by The Soze Agency and Galaxy Gives to ensure that school meals are provided, free of charge, to every K-12 student in America. To kick off the campaign, School Lunch for All is launching a Change.org petition which will put pressure on several legislative leaders including, the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, reallocated COVID-19 relief funds to ensure that all students have access to free meals whenever doors reopen for the 2020-21 academic year.
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“With all the things that kids have to worry about while attending school, I believe a healthy lunch shouldn’t be one of them,” Martin said in a statement. “Kids should be able to focus on learning while at school, not whether or not they have enough money to eat.”
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Martin and the two organizations are supporting a petition written by Dwight Howard, the grandfather of then-kindergartener Anya Howard, who was refused a hot lunch meal and also shamed for not having enough money in her school lunch account. We’ve also reported on other instances such as a Florida high school student who was denied school lunch for being 15 cents short in 2018.
“The time has come to stop putting the burden of family income in exchange for school meals on the shoulders of our children,” Katie Wilson, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Urban School Food Alliance said in a statement. “When they come to school, children can receive a bus ride, textbooks, the most updated technology, science labs, and great learning opportunities as part of the school day. Only when it comes to school meals do we ask them for information about their family income. The science is clear, a well-nourished child has a much better chance at success in the classroom and on the athletic field, so why do we tie the educational tool that school meals bring to the table to family income?”
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“School meals provide a benefit to local economies and America’s farmers, so let’s join together and make sure they also provide a benefit to the children they were meant to serve. Make school meals a Universal free program,” Wilson’s statement continued.“The money saved in administrative paperwork can be reinvested in the quality of the food and health and wellbeing of our nation’s children can be reinvested in our future. The time is now to invest in our children, it is the right thing to do.”
As a former Chicago Public School student who was a part of the free lunch program, this means a lot to me, and I’ll certainly be signing this petition. If you’d like to sign the petition and/or learn more information about this initiative, please head to change.org. For more information on the School Lunch For All campaign, go to schoollunchforall.org.


theroot--2020-07-09--Black People Are Still Disproportionately Arrested for Marijuana Possession in California Despite Le

Black People Are Still Disproportionately Arrested for Marijuana Possession in California Despite Legalization

There was hope that when states like California voted to legalize marijuana , it would correlate with a reduction in marijuana related arrests for Black people .
In Los Angeles , the opposite has proven to be true due to both a lack of access to legal means and red tape making it harder for Black entrepreneurs to break into the industry .
Crosstown reports that the number of Black people arrested on marijuana charges in L.A has steadily increased over the last three years , going from 173 arrests in 2017 to 239 arrests in 2018 and increasing again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Black people made up 32.2 percent of marijuana related arrests despite only representing 8.9 percent of the city ’ s population .
Comparatively , white people , who make up 28.5 percent of the city ’ s population , only accounted for 11.5 percent of marijuana arrests .
The numbers come from data provided by the Los Angeles Police Department .
“ Marijuana legalization can dramatically reduce arrests overall , including the numbers of arrests of people of color , but it can ’ t alone undo racially biased policing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why we over and unfairly police some communities .
And I think these numbers reflect that large problem.
, ” Tamar Todd , a civil rights lawyer who also serves on the California Cannabis Advisory Committee , told Crosstown .
In a press conference last month , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom stated that legalizing marijuana was intended to reduce some of the racial disparities in the criminal justice system when it comes to drug charges .
Judging by the numbers , it has inadvertently had the opposite effect and a large part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal access .
While predominantly white areas such as West Hollywood and Studio City have dozens of dispensaries , the entirety of South Los Angeles , which includes predominantly Black neighborhoods such as Watts , have less than 10 dispensaries registered in total .
“ Legalization creates legal access , but that access can be unequal .
Those with the means to access limited legal supply , transport to a legal source , and private residence where they can legally consume reflect larger race and wealth disparities in society beyond marijuana , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s process for granting licenses for marijuana dispensaries did not offer adequate opportunities to businesses in areas that had borne the brunt of repressive drug policies .
The city ’ s Department of Cannabis Regulation announced a social-equity program last summer that would help applicants applying for ownership opportunities in the marijuana industry “ in order to decrease disparities in life outcomes for marginalized communities and to address the disproportionate impacts of the War on Drugs.
” The Los Angeles City Council is also changing the criteria for people who qualify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those hardest hit by unequal drug policies are able to benefit , since Black cannabis entrepreneurs are underrepresented .
The city is also changing the rules about when cannabis companies can open in neighborhoods that already hit limits on the number of dispensaries .
So far , of the 411 marijuana arrests that have occurred in L.A this year only 20 of them were for smoking marijuana in public .
The vast majority of the remaining arrests are filed as “ possess marijuana for sale ” or “ transport/sell/furnish/etc.
” An anonymous detective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these arrests happen due an officer seeing someone selling marijuana or finding evidence such as baggies or scales that would lead them to believe the marijuana was not for personal consumption .
Nick Stewart-Oaten , an attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender ’ s office , told Crosstown that the police reports on these arrests typically don ’ t state that the officer actually witnessed a person selling marijuana .
Instead , it ’ s far more common that the arrest is made due the officer assuming a person was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possession of a large quantity of marijuana or something as simple as baggies .
“ The problem is that many of the things that suggest a defendant was selling marijuana can be interpreted multiple ways and are not necessarily proof that the defendant was selling .
For example , the fact that the defendant had a lot of marijuana could mean the defendant was selling , but it could also just mean the defendant likes weed , ” Stewart-Oaten told Crosstown .
For its part , the NAACP has tried to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Ron Hasson , chair of the California-Hawaii State Conference Branch Development committee for the NAACP , the organization sent a series of proposals to both LAPD Chief Michel Moore and Mayor Eric Garcetti in June called “ Black Community Wellness.
” The proposal recommended multiple programs for the city to implement that would increase inclusion of Black people in the city ’ s marijuana industry .
“ We are interested in having conversations with the LAPD to get more insight as to why the [ arrest ] numbers are going up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of racial profiling ?
It ’ s important that we understand how this law is affecting our community , ” Hasson said .
Unfortunately , this trend only highlights the continuing reality that the law is not equally enforced between Black and white people .
While legalization is a necessary step , it ’ s ultimately a half measure if it doesn ’ t include steps to ensure that Black people , who for so long bore the brunt of the war on drugs , are provided both ease of access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it comes to dispensaries .

There was hope that when states like California voted to legalize marijuana, it would correlate with a reduction in marijuana related arrests for Black people. In Los Angeles, the opposite has proven to be true due to both a lack of access to legal means and red tape making it harder for Black entrepreneurs to break into the industry.
Crosstown reports that the number of Black people arrested on marijuana charges in L.A has steadily increased over the last three years, going from 173 arrests in 2017 to 239 arrests in 2018 and increasing again to 261 arrests in 2019. Last year, Black people made up 32.2 percent of marijuana related arrests despite only representing 8.9 percent of the city’s population. Comparatively, white people, who make up 28.5 percent of the city’s population, only accounted for 11.5 percent of marijuana arrests. The numbers come from data provided by the Los Angeles Police Department.
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“Marijuana legalization can dramatically reduce arrests overall, including the numbers of arrests of people of color, but it can’t alone undo racially biased policing and the much larger issue of how and why we over and unfairly police some communities. And I think these numbers reflect that large problem.,” Tamar Todd, a civil rights lawyer who also serves on the California Cannabis Advisory Committee, told Crosstown.
In a press conference last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that legalizing marijuana was intended to reduce some of the racial disparities in the criminal justice system when it comes to drug charges. Judging by the numbers, it has inadvertently had the opposite effect and a large part of that stems from a lack of legal access. While predominantly white areas such as West Hollywood and Studio City have dozens of dispensaries, the entirety of South Los Angeles, which includes predominantly Black neighborhoods such as Watts, have less than 10 dispensaries registered in total. “Legalization creates legal access, but that access can be unequal. Those with the means to access limited legal supply, transport to a legal source, and private residence where they can legally consume reflect larger race and wealth disparities in society beyond marijuana,” Todd said.
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From Crosstown:
Critics charge that the city’s process for granting licenses for marijuana dispensaries did not offer adequate opportunities to businesses in areas that had borne the brunt of repressive drug policies. The city’s Department of Cannabis Regulation announced a social-equity program last summer that would help applicants applying for ownership opportunities in the marijuana industry “in order to decrease disparities in life outcomes for marginalized communities and to address the disproportionate impacts of the War on Drugs.” The Los Angeles City Council is also changing the criteria for people who qualify for the program to make sure that those hardest hit by unequal drug policies are able to benefit, since Black cannabis entrepreneurs are underrepresented. The city is also changing the rules about when cannabis companies can open in neighborhoods that already hit limits on the number of dispensaries.
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So far, of the 411 marijuana arrests that have occurred in L.A this year only 20 of them were for smoking marijuana in public. The vast majority of the remaining arrests are filed as “possess marijuana for sale” or “transport/sell/furnish/etc.” An anonymous detective with the 77th St. Station told Crosstown that these arrests happen due an officer seeing someone selling marijuana or finding evidence such as baggies or scales that would lead them to believe the marijuana was not for personal consumption.
Nick Stewart-Oaten, an attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office, told Crosstown that the police reports on these arrests typically don’t state that the officer actually witnessed a person selling marijuana. Instead, it’s far more common that the arrest is made due the officer assuming a person was selling marijuana due to the evidence such as possession of a large quantity of marijuana or something as simple as baggies.
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“The problem is that many of the things that suggest a defendant was selling marijuana can be interpreted multiple ways and are not necessarily proof that the defendant was selling. For example, the fact that the defendant had a lot of marijuana could mean the defendant was selling, but it could also just mean the defendant likes weed,” Stewart-Oaten told Crosstown.
For its part, the NAACP has tried to take steps to address this ongoing issue. According to Ron Hasson, chair of the California-Hawaii State Conference Branch Development committee for the NAACP, the organization sent a series of proposals to both LAPD Chief Michel Moore and Mayor Eric Garcetti in June called “Black Community Wellness.” The proposal recommended multiple programs for the city to implement that would increase inclusion of Black people in the city’s marijuana industry.
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“We are interested in having conversations with the LAPD to get more insight as to why the [arrest] numbers are going up for African Americans. Is it a result of racial profiling? It’s important that we understand how this law is affecting our community,” Hasson said.
Unfortunately, this trend only highlights the continuing reality that the law is not equally enforced between Black and white people. While legalization is a necessary step, it’s ultimately a half measure if it doesn’t include steps to ensure that Black people, who for so long bore the brunt of the war on drugs, are provided both ease of access to legal marijuana and a pathway to ownership when it comes to dispensaries.