theroot--2020-06-09--The Fight for Our Collective Liberation

The Fight for Our Collective Liberation

When black people and our allies take to the streets tonight in protest—as we have on previous nights past and as we will on nights to come—we will be calling for justice .
Justice for our community means justice for George Floyd .
Justice for our community means justice for Breonna Taylor .
And justice for our community means justice for Brianna “ BB ” Hill , because when we declare Black Lives Matter , we also mean Black Trans Lives Matter .
You are not alone if you do not know the name Brianna “ BB ” Hill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black transgender woman killed months before George Floyd ’ s horrific murder sent thousands into the street in righteous protest .
A community leader in Kansas City , where BB lived , said of BB , “ When BB was in the room , there was no mistake.
” She was a beloved member of the Dior Family in the local ballroom scene , “ a firecracker , ” and a passionate fan of Kansas City football .
And like so many black transgender women trying to survive in a system structured against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with homelessness and poverty .
On May 24 , 2019 , two Kansas City police officers assaulted BB .
In a video recorded by a concerned bystander , Officer Matthew Brummett slams her face to the sidewalk before dropping his knee onto her neck and right shoulder as she cries out in pain .
In spite of the video , it took a year for charges to be brought against the officers .
But for BB , it was too late .
On October 26 , 2019 , BB was shot and killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 transgender and gender nonconforming people killed in the United States in 2019 , the majority of whom were Black transgender women .
Since 2013 , when the Human Rights Campaign began tracking this data , we have seen at least 172 transgender and gender nonconforming people violently killed in the United States .
Seventy-three percent of these individuals were black .
Since March 28 of this year alone , we have seen seven violent deaths of transgender and gender nonconforming people in the United States , constituting the second-highest spike the Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrific spike in violence is disturbing and particularly so , given that they all occurred during a period of quarantine and curfew .
Just last week , Tony McDade , a black transgender man in Florida , was shot by the police .
These numbers are more than just statistics .
Behind these numbers are real people who left behind loved ones and dreams for the future .
Tragically , there are more deaths we don ’ t know because these deaths are all too often unreported due to a variety of factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement , the media and the victim ’ s family .
In this moment of reckoning , as so many across the nation are demanding an end to white supremacy and the toxic complicity and indifference it feeds off of , we must remember that when we declare Black Lives Matter , we also mean Black Trans Lives .
No person going forward can be indifferent to the cost of our racist systems on the black minds and bodies that are brutalized or the black lives that are shattered every day .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by necessity , our black transgender , non-binary and gender non-conforming siblings .
It is a shameful fact that for too long the LGBTQ movement has not done enough to protect , empower and listen to the transgender community—particularly those who are black and brown .
Last year , a few weeks after I joined the Human Rights Campaign and before COVID-19 shut down much of the country , I embarked on a listening tour to hear directly from community leaders .
Trans leaders of color told me of the violence , harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They told me how they had been treated as disposable by those who were supposed to be protecting their interests .
These advocates made it clear that both our movement and our nation had failed them .
This heartbreaking reality is compounded by the fact that our movement simply would not exist as we know it without transgender and gender non-conforming women of color .
It was Marsha P. Johnson , Sylvia Rivera , Stormé DeLarverie , Miss Major Griffin-Gracy and countless others who refused to bow before police brutality and oppression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the process .
The fight for liberation has always required all of us .
Bayard Rustin , a close collaborator of Martin Luther King , Jr. , organized the March on Washington and was a key figure in the civil rights movement .
Pauli Murray , a black gender-nonconforming legal and spiritual leader , laid the intellectual groundwork that brought us that much closer to gender justice .
The Black Lives Matter movement was established by leaders like Alicia Garza and Charlene Carruthers whose transformative leadership was founded in a black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this moment of crisis , there has been so much healing and hope brought by the leadership of two transgender black leaders in Minneapolis—City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and City Council member Phillipe Cunningham .
Jenkins and Cunningham were the first and remain the only openly transgender black leaders serving elected public offices in the U.S .
The fight for liberation must go on with all of us together .
As we mourn George and BB and Breonna and and Tony and Ahmaud and Nina and all the black victims of violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with us .
We may come to the struggle from different backgrounds and carry different experiences with us—but our fight for liberation is one and the same .
We are the beloved community we need .
Their lives mattered .
Black Trans Lives Matter .
And we must never give up or be divided on these truths .
Alphonso David is president of the Human Rights Campaign .
Alphonso is an accomplished and nationally recognized LGBTQ civil rights lawyer and advocate .
He ’ s the first civil rights lawyer , the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve as president of HRC in the organization ’ s 40-year history .
Updated : 6/9/20 , 2:10 p.m.ET : The story has been slightly edited to update the story to its final version .

When black people and our allies take to the streets tonight in protest—as we have on previous nights past and as we will on nights to come—we will be calling for justice. Justice for our community means justice for George Floyd. Justice for our community means justice for Breonna Taylor. And justice for our community means justice for Brianna “BB” Hill, because when we declare Black Lives Matter, we also mean Black Trans Lives Matter.
You are not alone if you do not know the name Brianna “BB” Hill, but you should. She was a black transgender woman killed months before George Floyd’s horrific murder sent thousands into the street in righteous protest.
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A community leader in Kansas City, where BB lived, said of BB, “When BB was in the room, there was no mistake.” She was a beloved member of the Dior Family in the local ballroom scene, “a firecracker,” and a passionate fan of Kansas City football. And like so many black transgender women trying to survive in a system structured against them at every turn, BB grappled with homelessness and poverty.
On May 24, 2019, two Kansas City police officers assaulted BB. In a video recorded by a concerned bystander, Officer Matthew Brummett slams her face to the sidewalk before dropping his knee onto her neck and right shoulder as she cries out in pain. In spite of the video, it took a year for charges to be brought against the officers.
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But for BB, it was too late. On October 26, 2019, BB was shot and killed. She was one of at least 26 transgender and gender nonconforming people killed in the United States in 2019, the majority of whom were Black transgender women.
Since 2013, when the Human Rights Campaign began tracking this data, we have seen at least 172 transgender and gender nonconforming people violently killed in the United States. Seventy-three percent of these individuals were black. Since March 28 of this year alone, we have seen seven violent deaths of transgender and gender nonconforming people in the United States, constituting the second-highest spike the Human Rights Campaign has ever tracked. This horrific spike in violence is disturbing and particularly so, given that they all occurred during a period of quarantine and curfew. Just last week, Tony McDade, a black transgender man in Florida, was shot by the police.
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These numbers are more than just statistics. Behind these numbers are real people who left behind loved ones and dreams for the future. Tragically, there are more deaths we don’t know because these deaths are all too often unreported due to a variety of factors, including inaccuracy and indifference by law enforcement, the media and the victim’s family.
Advertisement
In this moment of reckoning, as so many across the nation are demanding an end to white supremacy and the toxic complicity and indifference it feeds off of, we must remember that when we declare Black Lives Matter, we also mean Black Trans Lives. No person going forward can be indifferent to the cost of our racist systems on the black minds and bodies that are brutalized or the black lives that are shattered every day. And this challenge to confront indifference includes, by necessity, our black transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming siblings.
It is a shameful fact that for too long the LGBTQ movement has not done enough to protect, empower and listen to the transgender community—particularly those who are black and brown. Last year, a few weeks after I joined the Human Rights Campaign and before COVID-19 shut down much of the country, I embarked on a listening tour to hear directly from community leaders. Trans leaders of color told me of the violence, harassment, discrimination and utter indifference they faced. They told me how they had been treated as disposable by those who were supposed to be protecting their interests. These advocates made it clear that both our movement and our nation had failed them.
Advertisement
This heartbreaking reality is compounded by the fact that our movement simply would not exist as we know it without transgender and gender non-conforming women of color. It was Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy and countless others who refused to bow before police brutality and oppression at Stonewall and changed our nation forever in the process.
The fight for liberation has always required all of us. Bayard Rustin, a close collaborator of Martin Luther King, Jr., organized the March on Washington and was a key figure in the civil rights movement. Pauli Murray, a black gender-nonconforming legal and spiritual leader, laid the intellectual groundwork that brought us that much closer to gender justice. The Black Lives Matter movement was established by leaders like Alicia Garza and Charlene Carruthers whose transformative leadership was founded in a black, queer, feminist praxis. And in this moment of crisis, there has been so much healing and hope brought by the leadership of two transgender black leaders in Minneapolis—City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and City Council member Phillipe Cunningham. Jenkins and Cunningham were the first and remain the only openly transgender black leaders serving elected public offices in the U.S.
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The fight for liberation must go on with all of us together. As we mourn George and BB and Breonna and and Tony and Ahmaud and Nina and all the black victims of violence known and unknown, we carry them with us. We may come to the struggle from different backgrounds and carry different experiences with us—but our fight for liberation is one and the same. We are the beloved community we need. Their lives mattered. Black Trans Lives Matter. And we must never give up or be divided on these truths.
Alphonso David is president of the Human Rights Campaign. Alphonso is an accomplished and nationally recognized LGBTQ civil rights lawyer and advocate. He’s the first civil rights lawyer, the first black man and first person of color to serve as president of HRC in the organization’s 40-year history.
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Updated: 6/9/20, 2:10 p.m.ET: The story has been slightly edited to update the story to its final version.


theroot--2020-06-11--US Navy Latest Military Force to Ban the Confederate Flag

The nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism have caused many long-standing American institutions to look inward and figure out how they can do the bare minimum to support the cause .
The Marines have ordered the removal of Confederate flags from their bases ; the Army has expressed openness to the idea of renaming bases named after Confederate generals ; and now , the Navy has joined in with its own performative gesture .
CNN reports that an order is being crafted to ensure the removal of all Confederate iconography from Navy institutions .
“ The Chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has directed his staff to begin crafting an order that would prohibit the Confederate battle flag from all public spaces and work areas aboard Navy installations , ships , aircraft and submarines , ” Cmdr .
Nate Christensen , Gilday ’ s spokesperson , said in a statement .
Initially , U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy , Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley expressed openness to holding bipartisan discussions to rename approximately a dozen military bases named after Confederate generals—b ut President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though .
In a series of tweets sent out Wednesday , the president said : “ my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations… ” If I seem cynical about these moves , well , that ’ s because I am .
While these are cute gestures , until the military makes active efforts to combat white nationalism within its ranks , the gestures will ring hollow .
Last year , a measure designed to combat white nationalism in the armed forces had the phrase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , an active duty member of the Army plotted with a white nationalist to bomb a Kansas City hospital as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified .
There ’ s a clear problem here that the military just seems content to ignore .

The nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism have caused many long-standing American institutions to look inward and figure out how they can do the bare minimum to support the cause. The Marines have ordered the removal of Confederate flags from their bases; the Army has expressed openness to the idea of renaming bases named after Confederate generals; and now, the Navy has joined in with its own performative gesture .
CNN reports that an order is being crafted to ensure the removal of all Confederate iconography from Navy institutions. “The Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Mike Gilday, has directed his staff to begin crafting an order that would prohibit the Confederate battle flag from all public spaces and work areas aboard Navy installations, ships, aircraft and submarines,” Cmdr. Nate Christensen, Gilday’s spokesperson, said in a statement.
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Initially, U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley expressed openness to holding bipartisan discussions to rename approximately a dozen military bases named after Confederate generals—b ut President Trump shut that shit down with the quickness, though. In a series of tweets sent out Wednesday, the president said: “my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations…”
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If I seem cynical about these moves, well, that’s because I am. While these are cute gestures, until the military makes active efforts to combat white nationalism within its ranks, the gestures will ring hollow. Last year, a measure designed to combat white nationalism in the armed forces had the phrase “white nationalism” removed. In March, an active duty member of the Army plotted with a white nationalist to bomb a Kansas City hospital as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified. There’s a clear problem here that the military just seems content to ignore.
It’s nice they’re removing some flags, though.


theroot--2020-06-10--Bellesa Can't Keep This Oral Sex Simulator in Stock and Now I Know Why

As our period of social distancing and quarantine isolation drags on , we ’ ll be bringing you a series of sex toy reviews to help you make the best buying decisions to keep your solo sex life buzzing along , or to spice things up for couples ( or thruples or etc , etc , etc . )
who may be experiencing some boredom in the bedroom .
On deck today is the Satisfyer Pro 2 from Bellesa .
This review was originally scheduled for last month but had to be held because the Satisfyer Pro 2 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mimic the experience of having oral sex performed on you , kept selling out .
After using it , I understand why .
The Satisfyer Pro 2 is an oral sex simulator ; it ’ s only intended for external use , so if you ’ re a person who knows you want penetration or G-spot stimulation , this won ’ t be the toy for you .
But if you love having oral sex performed on you and/or you prefer to orgasm from clitoral stimulation alone , you will love-love-love the Satisfyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The handle is made of metal and the head is made of silicone .
It has 11 “ pressure wave ” modes , which are controlled by easy-to-use buttons that are positioned in the center of the handle—if you ’ ve been following these reviews , you ’ ll know that I ’ ve flagged usability issues in a bunch of the vibrators I ’ ve tried out , which I mention because people who haven ’ t seen our previous coverage are probably like , “ Is that a big problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn them on and off ?
” I know it seems crazy but literally yes , being able to turn them on and off has been an issue with a lot of vibrators !
But not this one , it ’ s super easy to turn on and off , and to cycle through the 11 modes .
It charges via USB , and its cord connects via easy-to-use magnets .
If you suspect that I said that because other USB-charged toys have been not-so-easy-to-use , ding ding ding !
You are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very easy : The silicone cap is removable and can be washed with regular soap and water , or with any toy cleaner that is safe to use on silicone .
Satisfyer Pro 2 retails for $ 59 at Bellesa , but Inventory readers can get 20 % off by using the code INVENTORY .
Who Is Satisfyer Pro 2 For ?
Satisfyer Pro 2 delivers a very specific experience ; basically , it ’ s designed to stimulate the clit and nothing else , although you can certainly explore other areas with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an insertable toy and should only be used externally .
While it ’ s not an especially versatile toy , and doesn ’ t strike me as a great candidate for couples play , it is very , very good at what it does .
Basically , if oral sex is the way you like to get off , Satisfyer Pro 2 will make you very , very happy .
Once again , I assembled The Test Vaginas ( The T.V.s ) to help bring you this review—except I accidentally only gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thankfully the one I shunned forgave me and I hope you will too .
Fortunately , the lucky T.V .
who did get the Satisfyer sample was—and I ’ m so sorry for this but I ’ ve made it this far into the review without doing it to you and I ’ m only so strong—quite satisfied with it .
Here ’ s what she , and I , thought of it .
The Test Vaginas ’ names have been changed for privacy reasons .
Teresa : I have Satisfyer feedback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sucky toy .
Jolie : Lol “ sucky toy ” is a terrible and perfect description .
For the record , the official description of its mechanism is “ Air-Pulse Technology , ” and they describe its effect thusly : “ Stimulates the clitoris using intense pressure waves without direct contact.
” Teresa : Yup !
This does seem like it ’ s good for beginners because it ’ s less legwork—the toy just does its thing without you having to do much .
Also , there are so many levels of vibration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jolie : Okay can we talk about the vibrations because , WHOA .
When I first started testing it [ J.K .
Note : When a toy comes in , I wash it , label its parts , charge it , and then test out its functionality using my hand to get a literal feel for it ] I was like , “ Hmm this is very gentle , I ’ m gon na have to really crank it up to get it to do something for me.
” But when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was like , “ Oh wow no , nope , no cranking up necessary !
” Teresa : This one is bigger than some of the other ones , too , which makes using the controls a lot easier .
But it ’ s kind of heavy/big/bulky .
Jolie : I never thought I ’ d see the day when you ’ re complaining about size !
I didn ’ t find the weight off-putting , but yeah , it ’ s definitely on the weightier side because of , I assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m assuming the battery life is also longer than most toys because it ’ s heavier .
Jolie : I couldn ’ t find information about the charge time ( it ’ s motorized , not battery operated ) but other reviewers have noted that it has a very long run time , so yup , I bet you ’ re right .
Teresa : The weight issue also makes me think this isn ’ t really a partner-play toy .
Jolie : Agreed !
I definitely see this as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I would feel bad if my partners saw how incapacitated I was from the orgasms this guy gave me , I ’ d be worried it would hurt their ego .
Like , I couldn ’ t feel my legs !

Jolie Kerr on The Inventory, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

20% off Satisfyer Pro 2 | Bellesa Boutique | Promo code INVENTORY
As our period of social distancing and quarantine isolation drags on, we’ll be bringing you a series of sex toy reviews to help you make the best buying decisions to keep your solo sex life buzzing along, or to spice things up for couples (or thruples or etc, etc, etc.) who may be experiencing some boredom in the bedroom. On deck today is the Satisfyer Pro 2 from Bellesa.
This review was originally scheduled for last month but had to be held because the Satisfyer Pro 2, a clitoral stimulator that’s designed to mimic the experience of having oral sex performed on you, kept selling out.
After using it, I understand why.
The Details
The Satisfyer Pro 2 is an oral sex simulator; it’s only intended for external use, so if you’re a person who knows you want penetration or G-spot stimulation, this won’t be the toy for you. But if you love having oral sex performed on you and/or you prefer to orgasm from clitoral stimulation alone, you will love-love-love the Satisfyer Pro 2.
Advertisement
Here are some specs: The handle is made of metal and the head is made of silicone. It has 11 “pressure wave” modes, which are controlled by easy-to-use buttons that are positioned in the center of the handle—if you’ve been following these reviews, you’ll know that I’ve flagged usability issues in a bunch of the vibrators I’ve tried out, which I mention because people who haven’t seen our previous coverage are probably like, “Is that a big problem with sex toys? Not being able to turn them on and off?” I know it seems crazy but literally yes, being able to turn them on and off has been an issue with a lot of vibrators! But not this one, it’s super easy to turn on and off, and to cycle through the 11 modes. It charges via USB, and its cord connects via easy-to-use magnets.
If you suspect that I said that because other USB-charged toys have been not-so-easy-to-use, ding ding ding! You are correct. Cleanup, also, is very easy: The silicone cap is removable and can be washed with regular soap and water, or with any toy cleaner that is safe to use on silicone.
Advertisement Advertisement
Satisfyer Pro 2 retails for $59 at Bellesa, but Inventory readers can get 20% off by using the code INVENTORY.
Who Is Satisfyer Pro 2 For?
Advertisement
Satisfyer Pro 2 delivers a very specific experience; basically, it’s designed to stimulate the clit and nothing else, although you can certainly explore other areas with it. It is not, however, an insertable toy and should only be used externally.
While it’s not an especially versatile toy, and doesn’t strike me as a great candidate for couples play, it is very, very good at what it does. Basically, if oral sex is the way you like to get off, Satisfyer Pro 2 will make you very, very happy.
What the Test Vaginas Thought
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Once again, I assembled The Test Vaginas (The T.V.s) to help bring you this review—except I accidentally only gave one of them the Satisfyer Pro 2. Thankfully the one I shunned forgave me and I hope you will too. Fortunately, the lucky T.V. who did get the Satisfyer sample was—and I’m so sorry for this but I’ve made it this far into the review without doing it to you and I’m only so strong—quite satisfied with it. Here’s what she, and I, thought of it.
The Test Vaginas’ names have been changed for privacy reasons.
Teresa: I have Satisfyer feedback! I definitely like this type of sucky toy.
Jolie: Lol “sucky toy” is a terrible and perfect description. For the record, the official description of its mechanism is “Air-Pulse Technology,” and they describe its effect thusly: “Stimulates the clitoris using intense pressure waves without direct contact.”
Advertisement
Teresa: Yup! This does seem like it’s good for beginners because it’s less legwork—the toy just does its thing without you having to do much. Also, there are so many levels of vibration, which also seems good for beginners.
Jolie: Okay can we talk about the vibrations because, WHOA. When I first started testing it [J.K. Note: When a toy comes in, I wash it, label its parts, charge it, and then test out its functionality using my hand to get a literal feel for it] I was like, “Hmm this is very gentle, I’m gonna have to really crank it up to get it to do something for me.” But when I started using it not on my hand I was like, “Oh wow no, nope, no cranking up necessary!”
Teresa: This one is bigger than some of the other ones, too, which makes using the controls a lot easier. But it’s kind of heavy/big/bulky.
Advertisement
It’s, like, SO heavy!
And huge!
Jolie: I never thought I’d see the day when you’re complaining about size! I didn’t find the weight off-putting, but yeah, it’s definitely on the weightier side because of, I assume, the metal handle.
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Teresa: I’m assuming the battery life is also longer than most toys because it’s heavier.
Jolie: I couldn’t find information about the charge time (it’s motorized, not battery operated) but other reviewers have noted that it has a very long run time, so yup, I bet you’re right.
Teresa: The weight issue also makes me think this isn’t really a partner-play toy.
Advertisement
Jolie: Agreed! I definitely see this as a solo use-only jobbie. Which is good because I would feel bad if my partners saw how incapacitated I was from the orgasms this guy gave me, I’d be worried it would hurt their ego. Like, I couldn’t feel my legs!
Disclaimer: Bellesa provided sample units for this review. Under normal circumstances, these would be returned. For obvious reasons, Bellesa probably won’t want these ones back, but this did not factor into the content of this review.


theroot--2020-06-10--Tulsa Police Major Says They're Shooting Black People '24 Percent Less Than We Probably Ought to Be'

It ’ s starting to feel like white people are in a competition to see who can have the worst take during this period of social upheaval .
Today ’ s contestant is Travis Yates , a major in the Tulsa Police Department who has come under fire after going on a podcast and making some truly wild comments .
According to the Hill , Yates went on The Pat Campbell Show and said police officers are shooting black people “ 24 percent less than we probably ought to be.
” That , uh ... that ’ s gon na @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog .
Yates was on the podcast to discuss the nationwide protests against police brutality that have occurred in recent weeks .
Obviously , he is not a fan .
Yates , in the podcast , knocked the protests that have erupted nationwide following Floyd ’ s death and the subsequent arrest of the officers involved .
“ The officer was arrested the next day .
They were prosecuted , they were fired .
What are you doing ?
What do you mean , ‘ justice ?
’ Justice at this point has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
“ Well , then it turned into systematic racism , systematic police brutality.
” “ This is what they ’ re trying to say that all these changes need to come from : this is why we ’ re protesting , this is why we ’ re rioting .
Because of systematic abuse of power and racism .
That just doesn ’ t exist , ” he added .
After rightfully being called out for his headass comments , Yates wheeled out the “ taken out of context ” defense that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years .
“ I never said ‘ actually.
’ This is plainly false and factually inaccurate .
And to think that beyond a discussion of comparative statistics that I would suggest that the ‘ police should actually be shooting ’ anyone is simply outrageous.
” Yates said in a statement to KTUL in Tulsa .
This isn ’ t the first time Yates has said some truly egregious shit .
“ Would we even know where Ferguson was if Michael Brown would have simply got out of the street like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Yates asked in a 2016 essay entitled “ Follow Commands or Die.
” “ Can anyone produce me a video of a police officer telling someone to do something , they comply and then the officer just shoots them .
Can you imagine that video ?
” Yates goes on to ask in the essay .
Literally a week after he wrote this , Charles Kinsey was shot by a Miami p olice officer while laying on the ground with his hands up .
Only a few months later , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department shot and killed Terrance Crutcher while he was standing in the middle of the street with his hands up .
It doesn ’ t appear Yates will face any disciplinary action for what he said .
Tulsa P olice Capt .
Richard Meulenberg was seemingly indifferent when asked by Public Radio Tulsa about Yates ’ comments .
“ Everybody ’ s got a right to their opinion .
Obviously , he being a major with the Tulsa Police Department , it carries some weight that he has his opinion , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of go through this .
I mean , I can ’ t speak upon the thing that he talked about here because I don ’ t have the data .
I can ’ t refute or substantiate what it is that he said here , ” Meulenberg said .

It’s starting to feel like white people are in a competition to see who can have the worst take during this period of social upheaval. Today’s contestant is Travis Yates, a major in the Tulsa Police Department who has come under fire after going on a podcast and making some truly wild comments.
According to the Hill, Yates went on The Pat Campbell Show and said police officers are shooting black people “24 percent less than we probably ought to be.”
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That, uh... that’s gonna be a big yikes for me, dog.
Yates was on the podcast to discuss the nationwide protests against police brutality that have occurred in recent weeks. Obviously, he is not a fan.
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From The Hill:
Yates, in the podcast, knocked the protests that have erupted nationwide following Floyd’s death and the subsequent arrest of the officers involved. “The officer was arrested the next day. They were prosecuted, they were fired. What are you doing? What do you mean, ‘justice?’ Justice at this point has been done,” Yates said on Monday. “Well, then it turned into systematic racism, systematic police brutality.” “This is what they’re trying to say that all these changes need to come from: this is why we’re protesting, this is why we’re rioting. Because of systematic abuse of power and racism. That just doesn’t exist,” he added.
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After rightfully being called out for his headass comments, Yates wheeled out the “taken out of context” defense that white people have grown so fond of in recent years. “I never said ‘ actually.’ This is plainly false and factually inaccurate. And to think that beyond a discussion of comparative statistics that I would suggest that the ‘police should actually be shooting’ anyone is simply outrageous.” Yates said in a statement to KTUL in Tulsa.
This isn’t the first time Yates has said some truly egregious shit. “Would we even know where Ferguson was if Michael Brown would have simply got out of the street like the officer had asked him to do?” Yates asked in a 2016 essay entitled “Follow Commands or Die.” “Can anyone produce me a video of a police officer telling someone to do something, they comply and then the officer just shoots them. Can you imagine that video?” Yates goes on to ask in the essay. Literally a week after he wrote this, Charles Kinsey was shot by a Miami p olice officer while laying on the ground with his hands up. Only a few months later, one of Yates’ fellow officers in the Tulsa Police Department shot and killed Terrance Crutcher while he was standing in the middle of the street with his hands up.
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It doesn’t appear Yates will face any disciplinary action for what he said. Tulsa P olice Capt. Richard Meulenberg was seemingly indifferent when asked by Public Radio Tulsa about Yates’ comments.
“Everybody’s got a right to their opinion. Obviously, he being a major with the Tulsa Police Department, it carries some weight that he has his opinion, and we’ll have to just kind of go through this. I mean, I can’t speak upon the thing that he talked about here because I don’t have the data. I can’t refute or substantiate what it is that he said here,” Meulenberg said.


theroot--2020-06-10--HBO Max Temporarily Removes Gone With the Wind, Will Return With 'Discussions of Its Historical Cont

HBO Max Temporarily Removes Gone With the Wind, Will Return With 'Discussions of Its Historical Context'

It ’ s been 81 years since the release of Gone with the Wind and as we enter a new chapter of discussions on race relations , HBO Max is attempting to revisit the 1939 film in another way .
According to NBC News , the newly launched streaming platform from WarnerMedia Entertainment has decided to temporarily remove Gone With the Wind over “ racist depictions ” but will re-upload the film at a later date with more context .
“ These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today , and we felt that to keep this title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those depictions would be irresponsible , ” the spokesperson said .
The spokesperson added that when the film returns to HBO Max , it “ will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions , ” and will be presented “ as it was originally created , because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.
” “ If we are to create a more just , equitable and inclusive future , we must first acknowledge and understand our history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move is rather similar to decisions made by Disney+ with regard to its classic films Dumbo ( 1941 ) and Song of the South ( 1946 ) , each of which was filled with racist tropes .
Plus , there ’ s the news of The Help trending on Netflix , which appeared to serve as sort of a “ quick fix ” to address racism in a palatable way .
The decision to remove Gone With the Wind was met with some mixed reactions , with some comparing the move to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wind received a whopping ten Academy Awards ( eight competitive , two honoraries ) , most notably being the film that secured the first-ever Oscar for an African American—Hattie McDaniel .
While her character “ Mammy ” may have introduced a racist trope depicting an enslaved domestic worker , erasing a large part of black American history isn ’ t the best move .
While it may be an uncomfortable visual , it also represents an aspect of racism we ’ re currently still reckoning with .
Removing it completely isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to seeing how HBO Max reframes this when it returns in the future .
Overall , screenwriter-director John Ridley offered a productive solution in a recent op-ed for the Los Angeles Times , noting that the film “ could be paired with conversations about narratives and why it ’ s important to have many voices sharing stories from different perspectives rather than merely those reinforcing the views of the prevailing culture .
”

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

It’s been 81 years since the release of Gone with the Wind and as we enter a new chapter of discussions on race relations, HBO Max is attempting to revisit the 1939 film in another way.
According to NBC News, the newly launched streaming platform from WarnerMedia Entertainment has decided to temporarily remove Gone With the Wind over “racist depictions” but will re-upload the film at a later date with more context.
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An HBO Max spokesperson released a statement, per CNN:
“These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that when the film returns to HBO Max, it “will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions,” and will be presented “as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.” “If we are to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history,” the spokesperson said.
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This move is rather similar to decisions made by Disney+ with regard to its classic films Dumbo (1941) and Song of the South (1946), each of which was filled with racist tropes. Plus, there’s the news of The Help trending on Netflix, which appeared to serve as sort of a “quick fix” to address racism in a palatable way. The decision to remove Gone With the Wind was met with some mixed reactions, with some comparing the move to “book burning”:
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Gone With the Wind received a whopping ten Academy Awards (eight competitive, two honoraries), most notably being the film that secured the first-ever Oscar for an African American—Hattie McDaniel. While her character “Mammy” may have introduced a racist trope depicting an enslaved domestic worker, erasing a large part of black American history isn’t the best move. While it may be an uncomfortable visual, it also represents an aspect of racism we’re currently still reckoning with. Removing it completely isn’t the solution, so I am looking forward to seeing how HBO Max reframes this when it returns in the future.
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Overall, screenwriter-director John Ridley offered a productive solution in a recent op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, noting that the film “could be paired with conversations about narratives and why it’s important to have many voices sharing stories from different perspectives rather than merely those reinforcing the views of the prevailing culture.”


theroot--2020-06-10--Save Up to 40% During Anthropologie's Summer Must-Haves Sale

The best Anthropologie sales for June 2020 have arrived .
With the summer heat starting to settle in , Anthropologie has launched a promotion offering up to 40 % off hundreds of must-have summer items .
We ’ ve picked a few of our favorites from the list and put them at the top of ours below , but there ’ s plenty more .
And act fast , as this deal only lasts 48 hours !
Elsewhere , Anthropologie is still offering 25 % off of all regular sale items ( except furniture ) , driving down the prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The final price is reflected in the cart , so don ’ t fret if you see a higher price on the listing once you click through .
Camouflage is usually supposed to help you blend in , but we bet these cute shorts will help you stand out this summer instead .
These utility shorts have side slant pockets , a front button flap pocket , and back flap pockets , and are currently 25 % off during the summer sale .
• None Buy it now for $ 66 Make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your summer look by snagging it on sale .
Available in a variety of bold colors , including Luminous Yellow and Neon Coral , this 62 % acrylic/38 % nylon ( and 100 % awesome ) tank is $ 23 off at the moment .
• None Buy it now for $ 55 This gorgeous mini shift dress looks like a painting come to life , with a boldly-colored glimpse of furniture and architecture amidst an eye-catching silhouette .
It ’ s $ 71 off the regular price during Anthropologie ’ s summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 107 Hopefully we ’ ll all still get a chance to take a safe , socially-distanced dip this summer—and if you need a new suit , Anthropologie has many on sale right now .
L Space ’ s Sydney one-piece is black number with a deep V-neck and ruched sides that ’ s down from $ 187 right now ( no additional savings ) .
• None Buy it now for $ 131 Available in both neutral and turquoise colors , the Lily Huggie hoop earring is more than half-off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both feature gold-plated metal with glass stones , in jade or turquoise .
• None Buy it now for $ 22 Be ready for sunnier days ahead with dRA ’ s Sierra smocked linen jumpsuit , which packs in warm colors , a smocked bodice , and adjustable tie straps .
This one ’ s available in both standard and petite sizes ( plus-sized is sold out as of this writing ) , and it ’ s down from the usual $ 158 list price .
• None Buy it now for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bookshelf could be a perfect accent to any room , whether it ’ s by a couch , a bed , or standing on its own .
According to Anthropologie , this online exclusive “ grows even more beautiful with use , love , and time.
” Ready to put that claim to the test ?
Just give it a few years .
It ’ s discounted from the original $ 898 price point .
• None Buy it now for $ 670 I think we ’ ve done it : we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparel on the entire Anthropologie website .
The company ’ s own Essential Slim Trousers surely are essential if you ’ re on the hunt for something truly striking and memorable , and they ’ re all the more essential if you ’ re keen on saving $ 65 off the usual price right now .
• None Buy it now for $ 45 Save $ 73 on this bright mini skirt , a jacquard with a beautiful floral pattern and a flounced hem .
There may not be a whole lot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but this would still be the perfect late spring attire for a nice , socially-distanced stroll .
• None Buy it now for $ 50 The sleeves give this simple silhouette a little flare and fun .
It ’ s soft and great to match with jeans or leggings .
I ’ m a sucker for a sharp black and white stripe but it comes in four other colors that will blend right into anything already in your closet .
A flirty speckled dress is a must and this one is perfect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cinched but giving waist make it friendly to many forms .
There ’ s definitely something vintage and modern about the black and white option .
There ’ s also a blue , green , and white flower print to choose from , too , which ’ ll absolutely get you ready for a spring fling .
• None Buy it now for $ 37

Sheilah Villari and Andrew Hayward on Roundups, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Featured Deal: Aleksi Faux Fur Throw Blanket | $90
Anthropologie has announced a great list of deals for September 2021!
The bohemian retailer is clearing through its products with bonus savings right now. For a limited time, shoppers can also get free shipping and returns, and free express shipping on app orders over $150.
At Kinja Deals, we have selected a few of our favorite items that we think you should cash in on sooner, rather than later.
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The season of getting cozy on the sofa is fast approaching and what better way to do that than with a new blanket. This luxurious faux fur throw comes in 6 colors to vibe with your decor. It’s super soft to make sure your next binge session or football Sunday is the comfiest.
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Don’t you want to say goodbye to dark circles once and for all? Then, try the Patchology Served Chilled Rose Eye Gels. They’re made with antioxidants from strawberry extract and grape-sourced resveratrol to soothe your skin. Plus, it has a dash of hyaluronic acid for a bit of hydration.
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The online exclusive Pointelle Wide-Leg Pants are a great, breezy addition to your summer wardrobe. Available in clay and blue, this garment is made with a cool, super stylish fabric that can be paired with a cami or bralette. Aside from standard sizing, it also comes in petite.
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Look cute as can be with this rose-colored smocked cami. This garment will evoke nostalgia for lazy days and can be easily be layered as fall approaches. Plus, the adjustable shoulder bow ties make for an extra sweet accessory. Note that it is recommended to hand wash this cami to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
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Who doesn’t love a good picnic? The Business & Pleasure Co. Cooler Bag can be easily taken to the park on a warm fall afternoon. It is made from leftover premium canvas, so it’s super eco-friendly. Note that this bag comes in four different color options, so you have plenty to choose from.
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The Pilcro Breezy Split-Back Tee is a beautiful, effortless shirt available in this brilliant yellow color. It comes with words embroidered in the fabric with multi-colored stitching as a whimsical touch. This piece is part of Anthropologie’s exclusive Pilcro label, known for offering versatile style in ultra-flattering silhouettes.
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Even in fall, you need a good pair of sneakers and even better if they are colorful. These beautiful platform sneakers from LA-based designer Jeff Campbell definitely fit the bill. There are still plenty of warm days and cools nights to rock a sweet pair of flowery kicks.
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It’s time to look dainty! Get the Let Me Be Lace Peplum Tank to add a little bit of lace mystery to your life. This silhouette is timeless with classic, feminine details added as the frosting on top. It has a scalloped, peplum hem for a breezy, romantic feel that can be dressed up or dressed down. And let’s not forget about that beadwork!
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Pilcro really does offer some of the best denim products at Anthropologie. This brand delivers versatile and comfy items, crafted from premium denim. This pair of jeans is no exception. Style it with a boho blouse, or a breezy button-down. And, let’s not even get started on that ultra-flattering fit!
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The Ruffled Floral Maxi Dress comes in a gorgeous, rich green fabric with a flower pattern stitched along the bottom half. Its botanical flourish is a great outfit to wear to the mall, beach, or outdoor dinner. Stylists recommend pairing it with a pair of oversized sunglasses and a silk headband for an ultra retro look.
This story was originally published by Sheilah Villari on 03/24/2020 and updated with new information by her on 09/13/2021.


theroot--2020-06-10--George Floyd and Derek Chauvin 'Bumped Heads' at Nightclub Where They Worked, Co-Worker Says

Shortly after George Floyd died , it was revealed that Floyd had previously worked alongside Derek Chauvin , the cop charged with his death , at a local nightclub .
While it was initially unclear if the two had ever crossed paths , one of their co-workers says they had a rather contentious past .
“ They bumped heads , ” Dave Pinney told CBS News .
Pinney worked alongside Chauvin and Floyd at the Minneapolis nightclub El Nuevo Rodeo .
“ It has a lot to do with Derek being extremely aggressive within the club with some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pinney said , explaining the source of the conflict between the two men .
The Floyd family says they believe what happened on May 25 was in part personal .
Their lawyer has called for Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder , “ because we believe he knew who George Floyd was.
” “ Is there any doubt in your mind that Derek Chauvin knew George Floyd ?
” CBS News asked Pinney .
“ No .
He knew him , ” the coworker said .
“ How well did he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the course of the previous year , Floyd frequently worked as a security guard inside the nightclub .
For 17 years , Maya Santamaria , the owner of El Nuevo Rodeo , paid Chauvin to sit outside the club in his squad car on the nights he was off duty .
Chauvin and Floyd both worked Tuesday nights when the club hosted a popular dance competition .
“ I think he was afraid and intimidated.
” Santamaria said when asked by CBS News if Chauvin had a problem with black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unintentional murder and second degree manslaughter and is currently being held on $ 1.25 million bail .
Thomas Lane , Tou Thao , and J. Alexander Kueng , the other three former officers involved in Floyd ’ s death , have been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder as well as aiding and abetting second degree manslaughter .

Updated: 6/11/2020, 2:49 p.m. ET: CBS News reports Dave Pinney has now retracted his story about Derek Chauvin and George Floyd not getting along. In the interview that aired, Pinney gave conflicting accounts of why Floyd and Chauvin didn’t get along at the nightclub where they worked. He attributed it both to Chauvin being “extremely aggressive” with customers and there being an apparent dispute over a paycheck that Chauvin felt was short and blamed it on Floyd.
In an email written to CBS, Pinney states “There has been a mix up between George and another fellow co-worker.” CBS stated that it verified the paycheck incident with “another person” but didn’t indicate who that was.
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From CBS:
The club’s former owner, Maya Santamaria, had connected Pinney with CBS News. “She specifically said she was unable to give detailed information about George because she did not have a close relationship with him as I did,” Pinney said in the email. He said that led to his mistake. “I apologize for not doing my due diligence and placing you in a very uncomfortable situation,” he wrote.
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Earlier:
Shortly after George Floyd died, it was revealed that Floyd had previously worked alongside Derek Chauvin, the cop charged with his death, at a local nightclub. While it was initially unclear if the two had ever crossed paths, one of their co-workers says they had a rather contentious past.
“They bumped heads,” Dave Pinney told CBS News. Pinney worked alongside Chauvin and Floyd at the Minneapolis nightclub El Nuevo Rodeo. “It has a lot to do with Derek being extremely aggressive within the club with some of the patrons, which was an issue,” Pinney said, explaining the source of the conflict between the two men.
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From CBS News:
The Floyd family says they believe what happened on May 25 was in part personal. Their lawyer has called for Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder, “because we believe he knew who George Floyd was.” “Is there any doubt in your mind that Derek Chauvin knew George Floyd?” CBS News asked Pinney. “No. He knew him,” the coworker said. “How well did he know him?” CBS News asked. “I would say pretty well,” Pinney replied.
Over the course of the previous year, Floyd frequently worked as a security guard inside the nightclub. For 17 years, Maya Santamaria, the owner of El Nuevo Rodeo, paid Chauvin to sit outside the club in his squad car on the nights he was off duty. Chauvin and Floyd both worked Tuesday nights when the club hosted a popular dance competition. “I think he was afraid and intimidated.” Santamaria said when asked by CBS News if Chauvin had a problem with black people.
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Chauvin has been charged with second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter and is currently being held on $1.25 million bail. Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng, the other three former officers involved in Floyd’s death, have been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder as well as aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.


theroot--2020-06-10--No, Serena Williams Didn't Convince Alexis Ohanian to Leave Reddit—but Daughter Alexis Olympia Helpe

No, Serena Williams Didn't Convince Alexis Ohanian to Leave Reddit—but Daughter Alexis Olympia Helped

We ’ ve long known that Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian rides hard for wife Serena Williams ; he ’ s almost always to be found in the stands at his wife ’ s matches or front row at her runway shows , loudly cheering her on , and his steadfast support has made him one of our favorite hype-men on social media .
But when it came to stepping down from the board of the online platform he co-founded in 2005 in the wake of the global protests in response to the murder of George Floyd , Ohanian says he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought about what I could do beyond a social media post ; beyond a donation—but really lead , ” said Ohanian in an exclusive interview with his wife for her Serena Saturday Instagram series .
Positing that “ resignation can be a form of leadership , ” Ohanian also explained his recommendation that he be replaced by a black candidate .
“ [ W ] e need diversity at the highest levels of business now more than ever ... it ’ s in the interest of every company to make that happen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book White Fragility as he described his own privilege and personal duty “ to lean into the discomfort ” of acknowledging his place on that once-binary spectrum .
“ Once I realized why I needed to do it , it became very easy , ” he added ( h/t People ) .
Ohanian ’ s announcement last week was accompanied by news that he ’ ll henceforth be donating profits from his Reddit stock to organizations supporting the black community and racial equality , beginning with a $ 1 million pledge to Colin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But while wife Serena may be a powerful woman , she claims to have found Ohanian ’ s departure as “ shocking ” as the rest of the world , despite the couple having several discussions about race and his place at Reddit .
“ A lot of people might think I told you to do something , or I forced you , ” she said , before quipping : “ [ But ] he doesn ’ t listen to me , ever.
” Both Williams and Ohanian are major forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Latinx communities are woefully underrepresented .
Williams admits to pressuring Ohanian to invest in those communities ( she does the same through Serena Ventures ) , but he also urges industry outsiders to wield influence in exacting change and demanding accountability and representation from large companies ; especially in tech .
But it was a factor much closer to home that ultimately helped inspire Ohanian ’ s major announcement—though at two-and-a-half , daughter Alexis Olympia is still far too young to understand her impact .
“ I thought about what those dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly suffered for far too long , and that I , with my power and my influence and my privilege want to do something meaningful to start to show a change .
To make a better world for Olympia , ” Ohanian tells his wife .
“ I wanted to put as much weight behind the gesture as I could because I felt I owed it to you and I owed it to her .
“ I was looking at Olympia ; she ’ s two-and-a-half now , and she is such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only knows love ...
There is not an ounce of hate in her body ... That ’ s the crushing thing , ” Ohanian continues , later adding : “ At some point , Olympia is going to have to have a talk with you—a talk with us , but especially a talk with you—about how she ’ s going to have to work that much harder , how she ’ s going to have to deal with this much more .
That pisses me off.
” Then , he asks a question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask themselves before dismissing racism and the righteous anger of Black America—though arguably , many already know the answer : “ If I ’ m this pissed off just now , how have you been able to endure your entire life ?
How have generations of black Americans been able to endure your entire life ?
Because i f I ’ m just getting this mad right now , I wouldn ’ t be able to function .
”

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

We’ve long known that Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian rides hard for wife Serena Williams; he’s almost always to be found in the stands at his wife’s matches or front row at her runway shows, loudly cheering her on, and his steadfast support has made him one of our favorite hype-men on social media.
But when it came to stepping down from the board of the online platform he co-founded in 2005 in the wake of the global protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, Ohanian says he wanted to do more.
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“I thought about what I could do beyond a social media post; beyond a donation—but really lead,” said Ohanian in an exclusive interview with his wife for her Serena Saturday Instagram series. Positing that “resignation can be a form of leadership,” Ohanian also explained his recommendation that he be replaced by a black candidate.
“[W]e need diversity at the highest levels of business now more than ever...it’s in the interest of every company to make that happen,” he said, referencing the bestselling book White Fragility as he described his own privilege and personal duty “to lean into the discomfort” of acknowledging his place on that once-binary spectrum. “Once I realized why I needed to do it, it became very easy,” he added (h/t People).
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Ohanian’s announcement last week was accompanied by news that he’ll henceforth be donating profits from his Reddit stock to organizations supporting the black community and racial equality, beginning with a $1 million pledge to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp. But while wife Serena may be a powerful woman, she claims to have found Ohanian’s departure as “shocking” as the rest of the world, despite the couple having several discussions about race and his place at Reddit.
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“A lot of people might think I told you to do something, or I forced you,” she said, before quipping: “[But] he doesn’t listen to me, ever.”
Both Williams and Ohanian are major forces in venture capitalism, an industry where black and Latinx communities are woefully underrepresented. Williams admits to pressuring Ohanian to invest in those communities (she does the same through Serena Ventures), but he also urges industry outsiders to wield influence in exacting change and demanding accountability and representation from large companies; especially in tech.
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But it was a factor much closer to home that ultimately helped inspire Ohanian’s major announcement—though at two-and-a-half, daughter Alexis Olympia is still far too young to understand her impact.
“I thought about what those dollars could do for a community that has clearly suffered for far too long, and that I, with my power and my influence and my privilege want to do something meaningful to start to show a change. To make a better world for Olympia,” Ohanian tells his wife. “I wanted to put as much weight behind the gesture as I could because I felt I owed it to you and I owed it to her.
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“I was looking at Olympia; she’s two-and-a-half now, and she is such a pure, just blank canvas. She only knows love... There is not an ounce of hate in her body...That’s the crushing thing,” Ohanian continues, later adding: “At some point, Olympia is going to have to have a talk with you—a talk with us, but especially a talk with you—about how she’s going to have to work that much harder, how she’s going to have to deal with this much more. That pisses me off.”
Then, he asks a question we honestly wish more white people would ask themselves before dismissing racism and the righteous anger of Black America—though arguably, many already know the answer : “If I’m this pissed off just now, how have you been able to endure your entire life? How have generations of black Americans been able to endure your entire life? Because i f I’m just getting this mad right now, I wouldn’t be able to function.”


theroot--2020-06-10--New Jersey Attorney General Releases Footage Connected to Police Shooting of Unarmed Black Man

On May 23 , an unarmed black man was fatally shot in Bass River , N.J. , after a brief struggle with a police officer , who pulled him over for speeding .
On Monday , New Jersey ’ s state attorney general released about 30 hours ’ worth of audio and video files connected to the traffic stop .
NBC News reports that 28-year old Maurice Gordon was stopped on the Garden State Parkway by state police Sgt .
Randall Wetzel , who said Gordan was driving 110 mph on the parkway .
Here ’ s what happened , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the trooper ’ s vehicle shows that during the stop , Wetzel asks Gordon to move his car because he pulled over in the fast lane rather than on the shoulder , but Gordon says it has died .
Wetzel calls for a tow and asks Gordon , “ Where do you want to go ?
” Gordon says he is headed to a car dealership , and the trooper tells him he can sit in the back seat of his patrol car , as can be heard on the video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you a ride wherever you ’ re trying to go , ” Wetzel tells Gordon in the video .
Wetzel returned to Gordon after about 20 minutes , opened the back door and offered him a mask , at which point Wetzel “ exited the vehicle ” and “ attempted to enter the driver seat of Sgt .
Wetzel ’ s vehicle on two occasions , ” according to the attorney general ’ s release .
After the first attempt , Wetzel pepper-sprayed Gordon , the release says .
“ After the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gordon from the vehicle and , after a physical struggle on the left shoulder of the southbound Parkway , Sgt .
Wetzel shot and killed Mr. Gordon with his service weapon , ” the attorney general ’ s office said .
“ Sgt .
Wetzel fired six times and then placed handcuffs on Mr. Gordon.
” A state trooper who arrived after the shooting tried to provide aid to Gordon but did not detect a pulse .
He was pronounced dead at 7:28 a.m. , according to the attorney general ’ s release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s unclear what ’ s going on once both men are outside of the car , but the report alleges that Gordon went for Wetzel ’ s gun and drove away in the police car before he was shot .
Also included in the attorney general ’ s files was an audio recording of a 911 call made by a friend of Gordon ’ s in Poughkeepsie the day before the shooting .
The friend was expressing concerns about Gordon ’ s wellbeing , reporting that “ he just said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t tell me where he was going .
He looked very , very panicked…he said something about a paranormal experience.
” The files also show that Wetzel ’ s stop was actually the fourth interaction Gordon had with police officers that morning .
Gordon was first approached by an off-duty officer in Red Bank , New Jersey , at 3:13 a.m. when he ran out of gas and was stopped in the middle lane of the southbound Garden State Parkway .
The officer called a tow truck and an off-duty state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At 4:54 a.m. , another state trooper pulled up behind Gordon ’ s car because it was stopped in the left lane of the southbound Garden State Parkway .
The trooper called a tow truck and left before a civilian brought Gordon to a Wawa convenience store to get gas , which was recorded on video .
Gordon got back in his car and kept driving .
He is then pulled over at 6:13 a.m. by a state trooper who gives him a ticket for allegedly driving 101 mph .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 minutes after the last officer stopped him .
According to USA Today , William O. Wagstaff , an attorney representing Gordon ’ s family , said Gordan ’ s mother and sister are “ outraged ” that they couldn ’ t view the footage before it was released to the public .
“ They were hurt .
They were beside themselves .
Both of them were in my arms crying uncontrollably .
Because of what they felt was the further victimization of this family , ” Wagstaff said .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s released to the public and the family is receiving text messages from people saying that they believe that it is on YouTube.
” The attorney general ’ s office claims it offered multiple ways to view and listen to the footage , but Wagstaff called that offer an “ unreasonable request ” for the family to travel from New York to Whippany , N.J. , on short notice .
Wetzel is currently on paid administrative leave .
Gordon ’ s mother , Racquel Barrett , isn ’ t happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe Wetzel is as innocent of wrongdoing as the report makes him out to be .
“ I think the police need to be charged , Barrett told MSNBC .
“ I don ’ t think he should be on leave , getting paid , because it ’ s just distasteful and everything , you know .
I have no words ; it ’ s just distasteful.
” Barrett described her son as “ the most amazing , amazing person.
” “ He ’ s a wonderful son , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the same again .
I lost a piece of me—that ’ s my son .
”

On May 23, an unarmed black man was fatally shot in Bass River, N.J., after a brief struggle with a police officer, who pulled him over for speeding. On Monday, New Jersey’s state attorney general released about 30 hours’ worth of audio and video files connected to the traffic stop.
NBC News reports that 28-year old Maurice Gordon was stopped on the Garden State Parkway by state police Sgt. Randall Wetzel, who said Gordan was driving 110 mph on the parkway.
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Here’s what happened, as reported by NBC:
Dashcam video from the trooper’s vehicle shows that during the stop, Wetzel asks Gordon to move his car because he pulled over in the fast lane rather than on the shoulder, but Gordon says it has died. Wetzel calls for a tow and asks Gordon, “Where do you want to go?” Gordon says he is headed to a car dealership, and the trooper tells him he can sit in the back seat of his patrol car, as can be heard on the video. Gordon accepts. “I can give you a ride wherever you’re trying to go,” Wetzel tells Gordon in the video. Wetzel returned to Gordon after about 20 minutes, opened the back door and offered him a mask, at which point Wetzel “exited the vehicle” and “attempted to enter the driver seat of Sgt. Wetzel’s vehicle on two occasions,” according to the attorney general’s release. After the first attempt, Wetzel pepper-sprayed Gordon, the release says. “After the second occasion, Sgt. Wetzel removed Mr. Gordon from the vehicle and, after a physical struggle on the left shoulder of the southbound Parkway, Sgt. Wetzel shot and killed Mr. Gordon with his service weapon,” the attorney general’s office said. “Sgt. Wetzel fired six times and then placed handcuffs on Mr. Gordon.” A state trooper who arrived after the shooting tried to provide aid to Gordon but did not detect a pulse. He was pronounced dead at 7:28 a.m., according to the attorney general’s release.
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Looking at the dashcam video, it’s unclear what’s going on once both men are outside of the car, but the report alleges that Gordon went for Wetzel’s gun and drove away in the police car before he was shot.
Also included in the attorney general’s files was an audio recording of a 911 call made by a friend of Gordon’s in Poughkeepsie the day before the shooting. The friend was expressing concerns about Gordon’s wellbeing, reporting that “he just said he was going for a drive, he wouldn’t tell me where he was going. He looked very, very panicked…he said something about a paranormal experience.”
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The files also show that Wetzel’s stop was actually the fourth interaction Gordon had with police officers that morning.
From NBC:
Gordon was first approached by an off-duty officer in Red Bank, New Jersey, at 3:13 a.m. when he ran out of gas and was stopped in the middle lane of the southbound Garden State Parkway. The officer called a tow truck and an off-duty state trooper and on-duty state trooper also assisted. At 4:54 a.m., another state trooper pulled up behind Gordon’s car because it was stopped in the left lane of the southbound Garden State Parkway. The trooper called a tow truck and left before a civilian brought Gordon to a Wawa convenience store to get gas, which was recorded on video. Gordon got back in his car and kept driving. He is then pulled over at 6:13 a.m. by a state trooper who gives him a ticket for allegedly driving 101 mph.
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According to the release, Wetzel pulled Gordon over 10 minutes after the last officer stopped him.
According to USA Today, William O. Wagstaff, an attorney representing Gordon’s family, said Gordan’s mother and sister are “outraged” that they couldn’t view the footage before it was released to the public.
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“They were hurt. They were beside themselves. Both of them were in my arms crying uncontrollably. Because of what they felt was the further victimization of this family,” Wagstaff said. “It was radio silent for a matter of hours, it’s released to the public and the family is receiving text messages from people saying that they believe that it is on YouTube.”
The attorney general’s office claims it offered multiple ways to view and listen to the footage, but Wagstaff called that offer an “unreasonable request” for the family to travel from New York to Whippany, N.J., on short notice.
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Wetzel is currently on paid administrative leave. Gordon’s mother, Racquel Barrett, isn’t happy about that as she doesn’t believe Wetzel is as innocent of wrongdoing as the report makes him out to be.
“I think the police need to be charged, Barrett told MSNBC. “I don’t think he should be on leave, getting paid, because it’s just distasteful and everything, you know. I have no words; it’s just distasteful.”
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Barrett described her son as “the most amazing, amazing person.”
“He’s a wonderful son,” she said. “My life will never ever ever be the same again. I lost a piece of me—that’s my son.”


theroot--2020-06-10--Add This $14 Foot Mask to Your List of Items for Sandal Prep

I was just thinking about an ex who did the B aby F eet mask on Memorial Day every year as his pre-summer tradition .
I just remember what a gross process it was .
Ultimately they look and feel great and it ’ s like a reset but oh boy , it ’ s a thing .
This set from Lavinso is 45 % off today and is a top-seller from Amazon .
So it works with the same idea as an exfoliator for your face by safely removing dead skin .
These foot peel masks smooth feet that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runner , I could definitely use this on my sore heels .
It ’ s made of all-natural ingredients and vibes with all skin types .
The whole process takes about an hour for the gel to moisturize your feet and return them to baby soft status .
This box comes with two sets so you can do it with your partner or sav e for a touch up later in the summer .
The company does offer a full refund if you aren ’ t satisfied but looking at reviews it doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Lavinso Foot Peel Mask Pack | $14 | Amazon Gold Box
I was just thinking about an ex who did the B aby F eet mask on Memorial Day every year as his pre-summer tradition. I just remember what a gross process it was . Ultimately they look and feel great and it’s like a reset but oh boy, it’s a thing. This set from Lavinso is 45% off today and is a top-seller from Amazon.
So it works with the same idea as an exfoliator for your face by safely removing dead skin. These foot peel masks smooth feet that are dry or cracked. As a runner, I could definitely use this on my sore heels. It’s made of all-natural ingredients and vibes with all skin types. The whole process takes about an hour for the gel to moisturize your feet and return them to baby soft status. This box comes with two sets so you can do it with your partner or sav e for a touch up later in the summer. The company does offer a full refund if you aren’t satisfied but looking at reviews it doesn’t seem like that happens often.
Free shipping for Prime members.


theroot--2020-06-10--'Representation Matters': Vanity Fair's Samira Nasr Becomes the 1st Black Editor-in-Chief of Harper'

'Representation Matters': Vanity Fair's Samira Nasr Becomes the 1st Black Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar

If the world at large is struggling with its response to the outcry that black lives matter , so , too , is the fashion industry—much of which , in the words of one fashion editor to The Glow Up , has quite obviously been “ scrambling ” to show solidarity in recent weeks .
The lack of both preparedness and representation within the industry ’ s ranks have been telling ; to paraphrase the immortal words of The Devil Wears Prada ’ s Miranda Priestly , “ Why was no one ready ?
” While the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Harper ’ s Bazaar was ready with an answer : After an exhaustive search for a new editor-in-chief following the January announcement of longtime EIC Glenda Bailey ’ s departure , on Tuesday it was announced that the coveted spot would be filled by Vanity Fair Executive Fashion Director Samira Nasr .
As a woman of Lebanese-Trinidadian heritage , Nasr will be the first black woman—and woman of color—to helm the 153-year-old publication , starting her role as editor-in-chief of Bazaar on July 6 .
“ My lens by nature is colorful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin a new chapter in Bazaar ’ s history by shining a light on all individuals who I believe are the inspiring voices of our time , ” Nasr said in a taped announcement of her new role , in which she both acknowledged her own intersectionality and expressed gratitude for those leading the current protest movement , saying “ I see you , I thank you , and I hope we can join forces to amplify the message of equality because black lives matter.
” The timing couldn ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the woodwork as of late to indict several fashion publications and parent companies—Paper magazine , Refinery29 and Condé Nast among them—for microaggressions , pay inequities , tone policing , sidelining , and demeaning treatment of their black talent , in particular .
Nasr ’ s appointment will no doubt mark a sea change at Bazaar—hopefully , in much the same way Edward Enninful ’ s ascension at British Vogue immediately ushered in inclusity at the legacy publication .
“ It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with moving this legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colorful , inclusive , and celebrates the beauty of fashion on every platform , ” Samr said in a statement to Bazaar .
Like Enninful , Nasr ’ s extensive experience and accomplishments in the industry should dispel presumptions that she is a token or diversity hire .
Aside from reportedly beating out other industry veterans ( h/t New York Post ) , as Bazaar points out , prior to her role at Vanity Fair , Nasr spent five years as fashion director at Elle .
Prior to that role , she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countless campaigns and fashion shoots since starting her career as an assistant to Vogue ’ s legendary creative director Grace Coddington after earning her master ’ s in journalism from New York University .
And if Nasr looks familiar , it might be because of her recent appearance in Tracee Ellis Ross ’ inaugural campaign for Pattern , which Nasr also styled .
The two women have been best friends for over 25 years ; accordingly , Ross had words of congratulations for her bestie , posting an online tribute via Instagram which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a win for everyone .
My heart is bursting .
I am so proud .
I ’ ve never been shy about my love for this woman .
I could not do this life thing without her.
” A win for everyone , indeed .
Congratulations , Samira Nasr .
We ’ re looking forward to a more inclusive world at Bazaar .

If the world at large is struggling with its response to the outcry that black lives matter, so, too, is the fashion industry—much of which, in the words of one fashion editor to The Glow Up, has quite obviously been “scrambling” to show solidarity in recent weeks. The lack of both preparedness and representation within the industry’s ranks have been telling; to paraphrase the immortal words of The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly, “Why was no one ready?”
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While the rest of the industry may be struggling with that question, Harper’s Bazaar was ready with an answer: After an exhaustive search for a new editor-in-chief following the January announcement of longtime EIC Glenda Bailey’s departure, on Tuesday it was announced that the coveted spot would be filled by Vanity Fair Executive Fashion Director Samira Nasr.
As a woman of Lebanese-Trinidadian heritage, Nasr will be the first black woman—and woman of color—to helm the 153-year-old publication, starting her role as editor-in-chief of Bazaar on July 6.
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“My lens by nature is colorful and so it is important to me to begin a new chapter in Bazaar’s history by shining a light on all individuals who I believe are the inspiring voices of our time,” Nasr said in a taped announcement of her new role, in which she both acknowledged her own intersectionality and expressed gratitude for those leading the current protest movement, saying “I see you, I thank you, and I hope we can join forces to amplify the message of equality because black lives matter.”
Advertisement
The timing couldn’t be better, as journalists have been coming out of the woodwork as of late to indict several fashion publications and parent companies—Paper magazine, Refinery29 and Condé Nast among them—for microaggressions, pay inequities, tone policing, sidelining, and demeaning treatment of their black talent, in particular.
Nasr’s appointment will no doubt mark a sea change at Bazaar—hopefully, in much the same way Edward Enninful’s ascension at British Vogue immediately ushered in inclusity at the legacy publication. “It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with moving this legacy brand into a new era—one that is colorful, inclusive, and celebrates the beauty of fashion on every platform,” Samr said in a statement to Bazaar.
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Like Enninful, Nasr’s extensive experience and accomplishments in the industry should dispel presumptions that she is a token or diversity hire. Aside from reportedly beating out other industry veterans (h/t New York Post), as Bazaar points out, prior to her role at Vanity Fair, Nasr spent five years as fashion director at Elle. Prior to that role, she was style director for InStyle and has styled countless campaigns and fashion shoots since starting her career as an assistant to Vogue’s legendary creative director Grace Coddington after earning her master’s in journalism from New York University.
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And if Nasr looks familiar, it might be because of her recent appearance in Tracee Ellis Ross’ inaugural campaign for Pattern, which Nasr also styled. The two women have been best friends for over 25 years; accordingly, Ross had words of congratulations for her bestie, posting an online tribute via Instagram which read, in part:
“This is a win for everyone. My heart is bursting. I am so proud.
I’ve never been shy about my love for this woman. I could not do this life thing without her.”
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A win for everyone, indeed. Congratulations, Samira Nasr. We’re looking forward to a more inclusive world at Bazaar.


theroot--2020-06-10--'Big Gretch,' aka Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Got Some Splainin' to Do!

It ’ s hard for me to think about Big Gretch , the nickname Detroit rapper Gmac Cash bestowed upon Democratic Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , without thinking of Big Meech , who was born Demetrius Flenory .
He was a notorious drug kingpin and leader of the Black Mafia Family who was born and raised in Detroit and later moved his enterprise down to Atlanta .
Big Gretch and Big Meech are two totally different people .
Meech is a dope boy who is serving time in a federal prison and Big Gretch is a sitting governor who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s running mate .
But one thing I like about dope boys—and I know this because I grew up in the trap with them—is that dope boys tend to shoot it straight .
Politicians , on the other hand , —and I know this because I get paid to interview them for a living—tend to shoot bullshit .
Or , at least in Big Gretch ’ s case with my interview—which you can watch in its entirety above—and her subsequent comments to local media , flip flops or clarifications to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where she stands on anything .
I interviewed Whitmer Tuesday and asked her if she supported the defunding the police movement and reallocating some of those funds for education , for example .
She told me that “ You look at budgets and they ’ re overwhelmingly focused on policing and corrections systems and the criminal justice where they should be focused on education of our population , transportation accessibility , access to healthcare , access to skills and making sure people have a path so they can get a skill and leveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think you do all those other things , you don ’ t need all the money that ’ s going to the police departments , ” Whitmer said .
“ So , yeah , I mean , the spirit of it , I do support that spirit of it.
” ( you can hear the full question and answer on this issue at the 00:41 mark in the video above . )
But she later told Detroit Free-Press that her words may have been “ a little confusing ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police should be defunded , ” but “ what I hear from all of my friends who are part of this moment and who are leading on the front lines is we have a real need for greater investment in communities , ” and “ we need to rebuild and level the playing field through better schools and better transportation and access to healthcare and those are all the critical investments that I absolutely support.
” When the Free-Press drilled down on whether she thought making those community investments should come by cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I even told her communications staff that we would be discussing defunding the police and other policing issues , so she had time to think of words she could stand by or not .
My question was straightforward , no chaser .
Her followup to the Free Press was bottom shelf and a huge cube of ice .
There are a lot of definitions of what defunding the police means , but , at its core , it doesn ’ t generally mean getting rid of police departments altogether ( though abolitionists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop pumping money into already well-funded departments under the false guise of public safety and start investing more of those dollars into education and social service programs that actually address safety .
In the Free-Press followup story , she released a statement that called for police reform but did not mention defunding police or limiting qualified immunity , something she told me in the interview that she was open to considering .
Qualified immunity shields cops and other civil servants from personal liability in cases of misconduct .
My question on qualified immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the doctrine of qualified immunity for police officers ?
” Her answer : “ Yeah , I think that is something that we need to look at .
I don ’ t know that I ’ ve got the perfect answer , but I recognize there is this blanket immunity gives people a sense that there is no repercussions for their actions and that feeds into part of the problem we have .
So I definitely think that ’ s something worth , you know , flushing out what that look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes sense in that space.
” ( You can hear the question and answer to this issue at the 5:18 mark in the video ) .
I do not think she purposely lied or tried to mislead me .
I do believe she was inconsistent in her tone and tenor with me versus the Free-Press .
The governor was very gracious with her time in ways people in her position rarely are with any publication regardless of size , so I appreciated her words overall and welcome another interview in the future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistency in which she addressed a very important question .
I felt like she had a different spirit with the Free-Press on defunding the police and qualified immunity .
If she believes in the “ spirit ” of defunding police , I really wish she ’ d reaffirm those words when talking to white , mainstream publications because what she tells black publications matters .

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theroot--2020-06-10--For Years, ‘Qualified Immunity’ Protected Violent Cops. Could a New Court Decision Mark a Shift?

On Tuesday , a federal court went against more than a decade of decisions in denying qualified immunity to a cop who shot a black man 22 times .
The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel concerns the case of Wayne Jones , who was shot and killed in West Virginia in 2013 by five cops , who fired at him while he lay motionless on the ground , reports BuzzFeed .
Judge Henry Floyd of the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals wrote on behalf of the panel , citing the recent police killing of George Floyd .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are often asked to make split-second decisions , we expect them to do so with respect for the dignity and worth of black lives .
Before the ink dried on this opinion , the FBI opened an investigation into yet another death of a black man at the hands of police , this time George Floyd in Minneapolis , ” wrote Floyd , who is not believed to be related to George Floyd .
“ This has to stop.
” Judge Floyd wrote that granting the five officers qualified immunity , and thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would signal absolute immunity for fear-based use of deadly force , which we can not accept.
” As calls for massive structural changes to policing have gotten louder in the last week— # DefundThePolice being perhaps the most prominent among them—more politicians , activists , and celebrities are talking about qualified immunity , a powerful doctrine that protects law enforcement and city officials from personal liability for constitutional violations .
These violations include excessive force and claims of civil rights violations , which government officials can sidestep so long as they did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass . )
introduced the Ending Qualified Immunity Act to the House of Representatives last Thursday , reports Boston.com .
Co-written by Rep. Justin Amash , a Michigan rep who once ran as Republican ( he now identifies as a Libertarian ) , the legislation has 16 Democratic co-sponsors , including Reps. Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) .
“ Qualified immunity shields police from accountability , impedes true justice , and undermines the constitutional rights of every person in this country , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , which recently received an endorsement from more than 1,400 current and former athletes , coaches and executives from major professional sports leagues , would amend a portion of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 and “ effectively cancel the precedents set by the Supreme Court , ” writes Boston.com : The way the current doctrine is written makes it difficult to successfully sue cops for excessive force if their cases haven ’ t already been found unconstitutional in a case with “ virtually identical facts.
” Over the last 15 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cops in excessive force cases with the help of this doctrine .
As Reuters recently reported , the Supreme Court has only bolstered these protections .
The judgment coming out of the 4th Circuit is significant , then , not because it cites the killing of George Floyd , but because it is an anomaly in how lawsuits claiming police abuse typically are decided .
While the conversation around qualified immunity is perhaps the loudest it ’ s ever been , whether this latest decision is a notable exception or the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be seen .

On Tuesday, a federal court went against more than a decade of decisions in denying qualified immunity to a cop who shot a black man 22 times.
The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel concerns the case of Wayne Jones, who was shot and killed in West Virginia in 2013 by five cops, who fired at him while he lay motionless on the ground, reports BuzzFeed.
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Judge Henry Floyd of the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals wrote on behalf of the panel, citing the recent police killing of George Floyd.
From BuzzFeed:
“Although we recognize that our police officers are often asked to make split-second decisions, we expect them to do so with respect for the dignity and worth of black lives. Before the ink dried on this opinion, the FBI opened an investigation into yet another death of a black man at the hands of police, this time George Floyd in Minneapolis,” wrote Floyd, who is not believed to be related to George Floyd. “This has to stop.”
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Judge Floyd wrote that granting the five officers qualified immunity, and thus dismissing the lawsuit against them, “would signal absolute immunity for fear-based use of deadly force, which we cannot accept.”
As calls for massive structural changes to policing have gotten louder in the last week—#DefundThePolice being perhaps the most prominent among them—more politicians, activists, and celebrities are talking about qualified immunity, a powerful doctrine that protects law enforcement and city officials from personal liability for constitutional violations. These violations include excessive force and claims of civil rights violations, which government officials can sidestep so long as they did not violate “clearly established” law.
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Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) introduced the Ending Qualified Immunity Act to the House of Representatives last Thursday, reports Boston.com. Co-written by Rep. Justin Amash, a Michigan rep who once ran as Republican (he now identifies as a Libertarian), the legislation has 16 Democratic co-sponsors, including Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
“Qualified immunity shields police from accountability, impedes true justice, and undermines the constitutional rights of every person in this country,” Pressley said in a statement.
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The bill, which recently received an endorsement from more than 1,400 current and former athletes, coaches and executives from major professional sports leagues, would amend a portion of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 and “effectively cancel the precedents set by the Supreme Court,” writes Boston.com:
Specifically, the legislation would clarify the law to say it is not a sufficient defense for a government official to say they were acting in good faith or reasonably believed their conduct was lawful “at the time,” nor is it a defense that the rights violated were not “clearly established.”
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The way the current doctrine is written makes it difficult to successfully sue cops for excessive force if their cases haven’t already been found unconstitutional in a case with “virtually identical facts.” Over the last 15 years, courts across the country have sided with cops in excessive force cases with the help of this doctrine. As Reuters recently reported, the Supreme Court has only bolstered these protections.
The judgment coming out of the 4th Circuit is significant, then, not because it cites the killing of George Floyd, but because it is an anomaly in how lawsuits claiming police abuse typically are decided. While the conversation around qualified immunity is perhaps the loudest it’s ever been, whether this latest decision is a notable exception or the first wave of a shifting tide remains to be seen.