theroot--2020-07-13--Thousands of Workers In The Service Industry to 'Strike for Black Lives'

In an effort to fight against the systemic racism that ’ s embedded in both society and workplaces within the service industry , tens of thousands of workers have planned a massive , full day strike later this month .
On July 20 , fast food workers , nursing home employees , gig workers and airport staff will stage the “ Strike for Black Lives , ” which , according to NBC News will take place in over 25 cities across the country , and those who can not strike for the entirety of the day will walk out for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time George Floyd had a former officer ’ s knee on his neck .
The strike is a massive endeavor that is the result of coordination between multiple labor unions and social justice organizations including Service Employees International Union ( SEIU ) , the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , the American Federation of Teachers , United Farm Workers and the Fight for $ 15 as well as the social justice groups March On , the Center for Popular Democracy , the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Movement for Black Lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike is for corporations and the U.S government to declare “ Black Lives Matter.
” They want elected officials in both local and federal governments to pass laws that will increase equity between all races as well as for employers to provide higher wages and allow them to unionize so they can negotiate for better health care benefits , sick leave and support for child care .
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson , a strike organizer with the Movement for Black Lives , said corporate giants that have come out in support of the BLM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also profited from racial injustice and inequity .
“ They claim to support Black lives , but their business model functions by exploiting Black labor — passing off pennies as ‘ living wages ’ and pretending to be shocked when COVID-19 sickens those Black people who make up their essential workers , ” said Henderson , co-executive director of Tennessee-based Highlander Research and Education Center .
“ Corporate power is a threat to racial justice , and the only way to usher in a new economy is by tackling those forces that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , ” she said in a statement .
Trece Andrews , a worker at a retirement home in the Detroit area that ’ s managed by Ciena Healthcare , is among those planning to strike .
“ I ’ ve got 20 years in the game and I ’ m only at $ 15.81 ( per hour ) , ” she told NBC News .
Andrews , 49 , believes that racial discrimination has been the primary factor for her being continuously passed over for multiple promotions .
A single mother to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a lack of proper protections at her job could result in her contracting COVID-19 and bringing it home to her child .
“ We ’ ve got the coronavirus going on , plus we ’ ve got this thing with racism going on .
They ’ re tied together , like some type of segregation , like we didn ’ t have our ancestors and Martin Luther King fighting against these types of things .
It ’ s still alive out here , and it ’ s time for somebody to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take action , ” Andrews said .
The strike continues a decades-old labor rights movement tradition .
Most notably , organizers have drawn inspiration from the Memphis sanitation workers ’ strike over low wages , benefits disparity between Black and white employees , and inhumane working conditions that contributed to the deaths of two Black workers in 1968 .
At the end of that two-month strike , some 1,300 mostly Black sanitation workers bargained collectively for better wages .
“ Strike for Black Lives ” organizers say they want to disrupt a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other policies that make it difficult to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions .
Systemic poverty affects 140 million people in the U.S , with 62 million people working for less than a living wage , according to the Poor People ’ s Campaign : A National Call for Moral Revival , a strike partnering organization .
An estimated 54 percent of Black workers and 63 percent of Hispanic workers fall into that category , compared to 37 percent of white workers and 40 percent of Asian American workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walking out , various marches and rallies will take place across the country throughout the day .
A group of workers will rally at a McDonalds in Ferguson , Mo.
, the city where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in 2014 .
The workers will then march to a memorial located where Brown was killed .
In Minneapolis , where Floyd died in May , nursing home workers will stage a caravan across the city that includes a stop at the airport .
“ The reason why , on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see strikes and protests and the walk-offs and socially distanced sit-ins and voter registration outreach is because thousands and thousands of poor , low-wage workers of every race , creed and color understand that racial , economic , health care , immigration , climate and other justice fights are all connected , ” the Rev .
William Barber II , co-chair of the Poor People ’ s Campaign , told NBC News .
“ If in fact we are going to take on police violence that kills , then certainly we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .

In an effort to fight against the systemic racism that’s embedded in both society and workplaces within the service industry, tens of thousands of workers have planned a massive, full day strike later this month.
On July 20, fast food workers, nursing home employees, gig workers and airport staff will stage the “Strike for Black Lives,” which, according to NBC News will take place in over 25 cities across the country, and those who cannot strike for the entirety of the day will walk out for almost eight minutes, representing the amount of time George Floyd had a former officer’s knee on his neck.
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The strike is a massive endeavor that is the result of coordination between multiple labor unions and social justice organizations including Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Federation of Teachers, United Farm Workers and the Fight for $15 as well as the social justice groups March On, the Center for Popular Democracy, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Movement for Black Lives.
One of the core demands of the strike is for corporations and the U.S government to declare “Black Lives Matter.” They want elected officials in both local and federal governments to pass laws that will increase equity between all races as well as for employers to provide higher wages and allow them to unionize so they can negotiate for better health care benefits, sick leave and support for child care.
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From NBC News:
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, a strike organizer with the Movement for Black Lives, said corporate giants that have come out in support of the BLM movement amid nationwide protests over police brutality have also profited from racial injustice and inequity. “They claim to support Black lives, but their business model functions by exploiting Black labor — passing off pennies as ‘living wages’ and pretending to be shocked when COVID-19 sickens those Black people who make up their essential workers,” said Henderson, co-executive director of Tennessee-based Highlander Research and Education Center. “Corporate power is a threat to racial justice, and the only way to usher in a new economy is by tackling those forces that aren’t fully committed to dismantling racism,” she said in a statement.
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Trece Andrews, a worker at a retirement home in the Detroit area that’s managed by Ciena Healthcare, is among those planning to strike.
“I’ve got 20 years in the game and I’m only at $15.81 (per hour),” she told NBC News. Andrews, 49, believes that racial discrimination has been the primary factor for her being continuously passed over for multiple promotions. A single mother to a 13-year-old daughter, she has concerns that a lack of proper protections at her job could result in her contracting COVID-19 and bringing it home to her child.
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“We’ve got the coronavirus going on, plus we’ve got this thing with racism going on. They’re tied together, like some type of segregation, like we didn’t have our ancestors and Martin Luther King fighting against these types of things. It’s still alive out here, and it’s time for somebody to be held accountable. It’s time to take action,” Andrews said.
From NBC News:
The strike continues a decades-old labor rights movement tradition. Most notably, organizers have drawn inspiration from the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike over low wages, benefits disparity between Black and white employees, and inhumane working conditions that contributed to the deaths of two Black workers in 1968. At the end of that two-month strike, some 1,300 mostly Black sanitation workers bargained collectively for better wages. “Strike for Black Lives” organizers say they want to disrupt a multi-generational cycle of poverty perpetuated by anti-union and other policies that make it difficult to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions. Systemic poverty affects 140 million people in the U.S, with 62 million people working for less than a living wage, according to the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, a strike partnering organization. An estimated 54 percent of Black workers and 63 percent of Hispanic workers fall into that category, compared to 37 percent of white workers and 40 percent of Asian American workers, the group said.
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In addition to walking out, various marches and rallies will take place across the country throughout the day. A group of workers will rally at a McDonalds in Ferguson, Mo., the city where Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in 2014. The workers will then march to a memorial located where Brown was killed. In Minneapolis, where Floyd died in May, nursing home workers will stage a caravan across the city that includes a stop at the airport.
“The reason why, on July 20th, you’re going to see strikes and protests and the walk-offs and socially distanced sit-ins and voter registration outreach is because thousands and thousands of poor, low-wage workers of every race, creed and color understand that racial, economic, health care, immigration, climate and other justice fights are all connected,” the Rev. William Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, told NBC News.
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“If in fact we are going to take on police violence that kills, then certainly we have to take on economic violence that also kills,” he said.


theroot--2020-07-13--More Than 100 Family Members of Victims of Police Violence Gathered for the National Mother’s March

More Than 100 Family Members of Victims of Police Violence Gathered for the National Mother’s March in St. Paul, Minn.

More than a thousand people participated in the National Mother ’ s March and Weekend Against Police Violence by marching to the Minnesota State Capitol on Sunday .
Those demonstrators included the family members of more than 100 victims of police violence who had come from all over the country to join the protest in St. Paul .
CBS Minnesota reports that a number of family members of citizens who lost their lives at the hands of police officers spoke at the event .
Those speakers included Ashley Quinones whose husband , 30-year-old Brian Quinones , was fatally shot by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his car holding a knife after leading police in a chase which he live-streamed from inside his car .
“ It ’ s the crappiest club that you could ever be a part of , but it ’ s the most needed club to be a part of , ” Ashley said during the march .
“ We are tired of not getting the justice our families deserve.
” Some of the protesters were calling for their loved ones ’ cases to be reopened after the cops who killed them weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not isolated incidents .
It ’ s systemically happening and it needs to stop , ” Tawanda Jones , who came from Baltimore to speak on behalf of her brother Tyrone West , said .
“ I could go on all day and wouldn ’ t have enough breath in my body to call out every victim ’ s name.
” An autopsy on West concluded that he died of “ cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac conduction system abnormality , complicated by dehydration ” after a fight with police officers in 2013 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ equals murder , and that ’ s what they did , ” Jones said at the time .
Of course , prosecutors didn ’ t see it that way and declined to file charges .
According to CBS , former NBA player Royce White attended the march with members of the non-profit organization 10K Foundation which has organized several marches in Minnesota since the death of George Floyd .
“ To be able to meet these people [ who lost loved ones to police violence ] in person in one place and share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also strength , is invaluable to me , ” White said .
City Pages reports one of the first speakers at the event was Lisa Simpson whose 18-year-old son , Richard Risher , was killed by Los Angeles police officers in 2016 .
Risher ran from officers who had approached a group of people hanging outside a Watts public housing building .
Officers reportedly chased Risher on foot and fired over 60 rounds at him and hit him twice killing him at the scene .
Simpson also introduced other family members who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many .
Also from L.A. was Dionne Smith-Downs , mother of James Rivera — an unarmed 16-year-old killed by officers who fired 29 rounds into the stolen van he was driving — and Valerie Rivera , mother of Eric Rivera — shot by LAPD and run over by an uncontrolled patrol car because he had a toy gun .
From St. Louis there was Toni Taylor , mother of Cary Ball Jr. , shot 21 times as he ran from police .
The list went on and on .
Families from New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Valero .
A large group from Atlanta .
Family members of police murder victims who made international news — Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery , Philando Castile — were in attendance , but there were a great deal more whose deaths never received widespread attention .
“ Sorry , I have been encouraged to speed this up a little so people can ’ t miss their flights , ” Simpson eventually said before handing the microphone to another speaker .
“ Unfortunately we won ’ t be able to call everybody @ @ @ @ @

More than a thousand people participated in the National Mother’s March and Weekend Against Police Violence by marching to the Minnesota State Capitol on Sunday. Those demonstrators included the family members of more than 100 victims of police violence who had come from all over the country to join the protest in St. Paul.
CBS Minnesota reports that a number of family members of citizens who lost their lives at the hands of police officers spoke at the event. Those speakers included Ashley Quinones whose husband, 30-year-old Brian Quinones, was fatally shot by police officers last September when he exited his car holding a knife after leading police in a chase which he live-streamed from inside his car.
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“It’s the crappiest club that you could ever be a part of, but it’s the most needed club to be a part of,” Ashley said during the march. “We are tired of not getting the justice our families deserve.”
Some of the protesters were calling for their loved ones’ cases to be reopened after the cops who killed them weren’t charged.
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“Unfortunately, these are not isolated incidents. It’s systemically happening and it needs to stop,” Tawanda Jones, who came from Baltimore to speak on behalf of her brother Tyrone West, said. “I could go on all day and wouldn’t have enough breath in my body to call out every victim’s name.”
An autopsy on West concluded that he died of “cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac conduction system abnormality, complicated by dehydration” after a fight with police officers in 2013.
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“Ten officers on one unarmed man equals murder, and that’s what they did,” Jones said at the time. Of course, prosecutors didn’t see it that way and declined to file charges.
According to CBS, former NBA player Royce White attended the march with members of the non-profit organization 10K Foundation which has organized several marches in Minnesota since the death of George Floyd.
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“To be able to meet these people [who lost loved ones to police violence] in person in one place and share that energy and spirit of loss, but also strength, is invaluable to me,” White said.
City Pages reports one of the first speakers at the event was Lisa Simpson whose 18-year-old son, Richard Risher, was killed by Los Angeles police officers in 2016. Risher ran from officers who had approached a group of people hanging outside a Watts public housing building. Officers reportedly chased Risher on foot and fired over 60 rounds at him and hit him twice killing him at the scene.
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Simpson also introduced other family members who came to speak...and there were many.
From City Pages:


theroot--2020-07-13--Remodel Your Home With Wayfair's Sales of the Day

The best Wayfair sales for July 2020 are here .
If you ’ re keen on making some key home upgrades this summer , look no further than Wayfair .
The site has just a bout anything you could possibly need for your home , whether it ’ s a matress , pillows , blankets , tables , chairs , outdoor furniture , kitchen appliances , and so on and so forth .
Best of all , the site is packed with amazing deals , potentially saving you hundreds of dollars on furniture and delivering sizable savings on everything else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of right now , plus orders $ 35+ ship free .
Upgrade your bowl-and-plate game without breaking the bank thanks to this affordable Three Posts Wickham 16-piece dinnerware set .
You ’ ll get four place settings with a dinner plate , salad plate , cereal bowl , and cup for each , and this Mineral Bay color is knocked down the most from its original $ 100 price point .
A couple of other colors are available as of this writing for a bit more cash .
• None Buy it now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little more ambitious with your outdoor cooking skills ?
Royal Gourmet ’ s two-in-one coo ker has a small , dedicated smoker compartment alongside the large , barrel-shaped grill .
It has porcelain-enameled grates and an adjustable charcoal pan , and this versatile grill is currently 20 % off the list price at Wayfair .
• None Buy it now for $ 112 If you are planning to grill more regularly , then make sure you have somewhere sturdy and roomy to sit and eat o utside with this Loon Peak Jonathon outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cedar-stained table with two standalone benches , and it ’ s currently knocked down 43 % from the usual $ 433 list price .
An unfinished version sells for $ 207 , meanwhile .
• None Buy it now for $ 248 Nothing says summer like kicking back in an Adirondack chair , and luckily Wayfair has some on deep discount right now .
Highland Dunes ’ Rivale wood Adirondack chair comes in 17 different colors for 48 % off the list price—as well as unfinished chairs for just $ 11 0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 146 Summer is here , and if you ’ re in an area in which playgrounds are closed—and/or you don ’ t feel com fortable taking your tykes there—then you might need to invest in some backyard entertainment .
Luckily , Wayfair has this wooden sandbox frame with cover for 25 % off the list price ; sand not included , obviously .
• None Buy it now for $ 97 If your pots and pans have seen better days , then you might want to jump on this stellar deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuisinart Advantage nonstick cookware set for 64 % off the list price .
It ’ s available in red or black , both marked down from $ 280 .
• None Buy it now for $ 100 If you ’ ve got a little one on the way , then you ’ re surely on the search for furniture that ’ s affordable , yet hig h-quality .
Sorelle ’ s Montgomery 4-in-1 convertible crib seems to fit that bill .
Usually priced at $ 600 , it ’ s currently just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ espresso colors .
The convertible design means that it can grow with your child , from a full-sized crib into a toddler bed , daybed , and ultimately full-size bed ( mattress not included ) .
• None Buy it now for $ 290 Get a cozy sleeptime upgrade with Alwyn Home ’ s encased medium shredded gel memory foam cooling pillow .
It ’ s marked down from $ 100 right now , with an encased gel bead design th at keeps the surface cool and even while surrounding the shredded memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and King-sized versions available .
• None Buy it now for $ 35 Rugs totally change the look or a room .
I ’ ve had a ton of great rugs over the years , and they have absolutely elevated the vibes of my living room .
Wayfair has a million options , but customers have been fawning over this one .
I really like the geometric shapes and it is a pretty standard color , so it ’ ll be easy to match with other furniture .
• None Buy it now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accent chair that doesn ’ t match the sofa .
The solid wood frame of this chair is covered with a polyester blend of a gorgeous greyish blue .
It ’ s easy to spot clean if need be , and the seat cus hion is removable too .
This is another one customers said was easy to assemble and very comfortable to sit in .
• None Buy it now for $ 230 Bookends are the perfect punctuation marks on your literary collections .
They can add an extra bit of character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will need to be heavy to keep your publications perpendicular .
These adorable bulldogs are up for the job of protecting any all periodicals .
Hand-painted and hand-crafted in foundry cast iron , these cuties look like a treasured antique ... but only you will know that they are brand new .
• None Buy it now for $ 43 Another item brought up multiple times by my friends is a chandelier .
There ’ s something modern and retro about this one ... which makes sense , because it was inspired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will brightly illuminate any room you put it in .
Arranged strategically from crafted metal , the “ Space Race ” gives your home just the touch of mid-century modern style you were looking for .
• Buy it now for $ 142

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

Featured Deal: Hurst Steel Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pit | $17 0
Are you ready to cash in on one of Wayfair’s biggest sales of the year? That’s right, I’m talking about the Memorial Day Sale, where you can save up to 70% off on the website’s best-selling products.
Be sure to cash in on all of the summer essentials and everything you’ll need to host BBQs seamlessly. Spice up your indoor and outdoor spaces with the latest styles in decor and furniture!
While you’re at it, why not finance your sale with the Wayfair Mastercard? When you open a Wayfair credit card, not only will you get $40 off your first qualifying order of $250.
Here are some of the best discounts that Wayfair has to offer!
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How many of you are tired of heading off to your dingy local laundromat? Why not treat yourself to an in-unit laundry appliance, starting with the Samsung 4.5 Cubic Feet Cu. Ft. Front Load Washer. This washer is Energy Star Certified and highly efficient (because Samsung is looking out for your electrical bill). At 4.5 cubic feet, the drum will allow you to wash more in a single load to spend more time focusing on work, friends, and family. It also features an improved drum pattern to extract more water, more quickly during the rinse cycle and prevent snags during washes.
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At a whopping 59 % off, the Sealy 12" Plush Memory Foam Mattress provides the medium firmness to keep you snug at night. The knit cover is luxuriously soft, so you can enjoy the full benefits of this premium mattress. It also has low-motion transfer, so you won’t wake up when your partner rolls over at night. It’s even hypoallergenic and works well with adjustable bases for the ultra-sensitive sleeper.
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Does Joanna Gaines have you wishing your home had a rustic flair? Well, you’re in luck the Sand & Stable Laguna Coffee Table with Storage (Natural Pine Brown) is the perfect item to complete your living room transformation. Not only is it available in three beautiful finishes, but its metal accents will be the perfect accent for that farmhouse chic look you’re going for. This table even comes with a shelf for extra storage space.
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This Rachael Ray Cucina bakeware set is a must for your kitchen. This set is non-stick and PFOA and PTFE free for the ultimate ease and safety. Each baking pan is oven safe to 450°F and even has heat-safe silicone grips at the top and bottom of the handles to protect your hands. Just note that these pans are not dishwasher safe.
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Get the perfect chair to rock your baby to sleep with the Sand & Stable Baby & Kids Albie Upholstered Manual Glider Recliner. Available in Gray linen, beige, and dark gray, this product has a full 360°swiveling, reclining, and gliding capabilities. And the poped trim gives it a coastal farmhouse chic look! Note that the frame is built from solid and engineered wood with scooped arms and a wingback.
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For those lucky enough to experience warm weather year-round, it might be time to upgrade your outdoor decor. The Zipcode Design Wicker/Rattan 4 - Person Seating Group is perfect for chilling poolside or catching up with friends over drinks and a charcuterie board. Crafted from a steel frame, each piece is constructed with wicker rattan and is designed to outlast harsh sun and relentless rainstorms. This set also comes with removable cushions for your cleaning needs.
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Did you know that a fire pit can really tie an outdoor space together? At 59 % off, the Hurst Steel Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pit is a great, high-quality option. Constructed from durable steel, this pit is guaranteed to outlast years of use. It’s also stylish and practical, complete with a mesh screen and handles that make it easy to lift and dump ashes.
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Finding the right tv stand that can pull a whole room together can definitely be a challenge. But not with the Three Posts Lorraine. This stand makes curling up on the couch such a cozy experience with a fireplace included. It even has two cabinets with shelves included, so you can organize your belongings as you see fit.
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Perfect your bedroom or sitting room with the Dmitry Tall Drawer End Table. This table’s bright color and compact design are great for sprucing up any room in your home. The drawers and lower shelf also provide some really handy storage and display options.
This article was originally published by Sheillah Villari on 5/19/22 and was updated by Miranda Martin on 9/7/22.


theroot--2020-07-13--Pennsylvania Police Officers Under Investigation After Videos Shows Them Placing Knee on Man's Neck

One would think that literally everything that has occurred over the course of the last few months would result in police officers actively trying to not become the center of yet another viral video .
But we ’ re in dark times , so common sense is out the window , and instead , we have to watch both white folks and law enforcement double down on the behavior that ’ s got everyone mad at them in the first place .
Such is the case for a group of officers in Allentown , Pa. , that according to CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their elbows and then their knees on a man ’ s neck while arresting him .
The man did not appear to be resisting throughout the duration of the video which was filmed last Saturday night outside of the Sacred Heart Campus of St. Luke ’ s Hospital .
This incident occurred only weeks after the Allentown Police Department released new use of force policy that banned neck restraints and chokeholds .
“ It ’ s really concerning and it ’ s scary in fact because now that the policy was made public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So what are we doing here ?
What was the point in releasing it if we ’ re not going to adhere to it ?
” Black Lives Matter to Lehigh Valley leader Justan Parker told CBS Philly .
Allentown Police released a statement about the incident over the weekend , alleging the officers were at the hospital for another matter when they saw the man in the video vomiting , stumbling in the street and blocking the driveway to the ER .
The man allegedly began to yell and spit at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interact with him .
“ The individual continued to be noncompliant which required officers to restrain the individual and the hospital applied a spit shield .
The male in question was escorted into the hospital for treatment .
The male was treated and later released , ” the statement read .
The police have still not identified the names of anyone captured in the video .
A protest was staged outside the police station on Saturday night by Black Lives Matter to Lehigh Valley after the video was posted to their Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Allentown Mayor Ray O ’ Connell and Police Chief Glenn Grannitz .
O ’ Connell found the video “ disturbing ” and both O ’ Connell and Grannitz believe the matter needs to be investigated .
The statement released by Allentown police said more videos of the incident will be released .
Still , to some of the protesters , this fee ls like insufficient baby steps .
“ We ’ re done , ” Parker said .
“ People think that it couldn ’ t happen here and it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough is enough .
”

One would think that literally everything that has occurred over the course of the last few months would result in police officers actively trying to not become the center of yet another viral video. But we’re in dark times, so common sense is out the window, and instead, we have to watch both white folks and law enforcement double down on the behavior that’s got everyone mad at them in the first place.
Such is the case for a group of officers in Allentown, Pa., that according to CBS News, was caught on video placing their elbows and then their knees on a man’s neck while arresting him. The man did not appear to be resisting throughout the duration of the video which was filmed last Saturday night outside of the Sacred Heart Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital. This incident occurred only weeks after the Allentown Police Department released new use of force policy that banned neck restraints and chokeholds.
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“It’s really concerning and it’s scary in fact because now that the policy was made public there’s still not a buy-in. So what are we doing here? What was the point in releasing it if we’re not going to adhere to it?” Black Lives Matter to Lehigh Valley leader Justan Parker told CBS Philly.
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Allentown Police released a statement about the incident over the weekend, alleging the officers were at the hospital for another matter when they saw the man in the video vomiting, stumbling in the street and blocking the driveway to the ER. The man allegedly began to yell and spit at the officers and hospital staff who attempted to interact with him. “The individual continued to be noncompliant which required officers to restrain the individual and the hospital applied a spit shield. The male in question was escorted into the hospital for treatment. The male was treated and later released,” the statement read. The police have still not identified the names of anyone captured in the video.
A protest was staged outside the police station on Saturday night by Black Lives Matter to Lehigh Valley after the video was posted to their Facebook page. The protest was attended by both Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell and Police Chief Glenn Grannitz. O’Connell found the video “disturbing” and both O’Connell and Grannitz believe the matter needs to be investigated. The statement released by Allentown police said more videos of the incident will be released. Still, to some of the protesters, this fee ls like insufficient baby steps.
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“We’re done,” Parker said. “People think that it couldn’t happen here and it has been happening and it happened yesterday. So enough is enough.”


theroot--2020-07-13--Surgeon General Jerome Adams Explains Government's Reversal on Wearing Face Masks by Comparing Them

Surgeon General Jerome Adams Explains Government's Reversal on Wearing Face Masks by Comparing Them to...Cocaine

From the surgeon general who brought you “ do it for your big momma ” comes another profound moment in intellectual flatulence : that the government reversing its stance on face masks is kind of like when doctors gave cocaine as medicine .
U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams , in an interview with CBS ’ Face the Nation on Sunday , revisited the federal government ’ s guidelines from early March in which officials—including Adams—explicitly told the public to not purchase face masks in response to the coronavirus .
As Mother Jones notes , Adams previously appeared on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sans mask , and told host Margaret Brennan that masks “ do not work for the general public.
” This was a followup to his earlier appeal to the public , which he delivered via Twitter the week before : “ Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS.
” Adams graced the show again , this time wearing a mask .
Naturally , Brennan wanted to know if he perhaps felt ...
I don ’ t know , a tinge of regret about the whole thing .
Adams ’ response : Remember when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Idk , bro , shit gets wild sometimes !
“ It ’ s important for people to understand that once upon a time we prescribed cigarettes for asthmatics , and leeches and cocaine and heroin for people as medical treatments , ” Adams said in response to Brennan ’ s question .
“ When we learn better we do better.
” Pbbbbbbbtht .
At least he was wearing a face mask ?
Yes , the medical establishment used to prescribe cocaine , which can be a powerful anesthetic , to treat all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and early 20th century .
And yes , cigarettes were prescribed to asthmatics at roughly the same time but they didn ’ t contain tobacco .
Instead , they were made up of a variety of leaves believed to provide respiratory relief at the time .
In any case , none of these comparisons are appropriate for the issue at hand : a face mask policy that was given , then reversed , within weeks , at a time when other countries experiencing the coronavirus pandemic were explicitly advising their residents to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was analyzing data about asymptomatic spread of the virus as early as February .
The government reversed its stance on masks in early April , after what CNN describes as a “ heated internal debate ” about the effects of issuing such a guidance .
The reversal came after studies showed that more asymptomatic people were spreading the coronavirus than previously thought ( this New York Times article from March 31 provides a helpful time capsule ) .
But part of the disagreement among federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than concerns about public behavior .
Some worried that advising Americans to wear face masks would keep from them social distancing properly .
Reluctance to give face mask guidance also stemmed from the shortage of medical-grade masks for hospital workers , and concerns about whether a face mask guidance would further jeopardize the availability of those masks for frontline workers .
Right now , as the country continues to battle its first wave of infections , hospital workers still aren ’ t guaranteed to have the protective equipment they need—that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a management failure .
This would have been the complete answer , but it ’ s not the answer Adams gave .
And the fact that the goddamn SURGEON fucking GENERAL of these United States is incapable of giving a truthful , unmuddled answer to a simple , important question is part of the problem this country has had with managing its pandemic .
It ’ s one thing to be wrong and loud , but when the opportunity to come correct ( and save some lives ) arises , Adams—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dribble some nonsense and let everyone else figure it out .

From the surgeon general who brought you “do it for your big momma” comes another profound moment in intellectual flatulence: that the government reversing its stance on face masks is kind of like when doctors gave cocaine as medicine.
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, in an interview with CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, revisited the federal government’s guidelines from early March in which officials—including Adams—explicitly told the public to not purchase face masks in response to the coronavirus. As Mother Jones notes, Adams previously appeared on the political talk show on March 8, sans mask, and told host Margaret Brennan that masks “do not work for the general public.” This was a followup to his earlier appeal to the public, which he delivered via Twitter the week before: “Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS.”
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Adams graced the show again, this time wearing a mask. Naturally, Brennan wanted to know if he perhaps felt...I don’t know, a tinge of regret about the whole thing.
Adams’ response: Remember when we used to put fucking leeches on people? Idk, bro, shit gets wild sometimes!
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“It’s important for people to understand that once upon a time we prescribed cigarettes for asthmatics, and leeches and cocaine and heroin for people as medical treatments,” Adams said in response to Brennan’s question. “When we learn better we do better.”
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Pbbbbbbbtht. At least he was wearing a face mask?
Yes, the medical establishment used to prescribe cocaine, which can be a powerful anesthetic, to treat all manner of ills in the late 1800s and early 20th century. And yes, cigarettes were prescribed to asthmatics at roughly the same time but they didn’t contain tobacco. Instead, they were made up of a variety of leaves believed to provide respiratory relief at the time.
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In any case, none of these comparisons are appropriate for the issue at hand: a face mask policy that was given, then reversed, within weeks, at a time when other countries experiencing the coronavirus pandemic were explicitly advising their residents to wear face masks. And as Brennan notes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was analyzing data about asymptomatic spread of the virus as early as February.
The government reversed its stance on masks in early April, after what CNN describes as a “heated internal debate” about the effects of issuing such a guidance. The reversal came after studies showed that more asymptomatic people were spreading the coronavirus than previously thought (this New York Times article from March 31 provides a helpful time capsule). But part of the disagreement among federal officials had less to do with science than concerns about public behavior.
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Some worried that advising Americans to wear face masks would keep from them social distancing properly. Reluctance to give face mask guidance also stemmed from the shortage of medical-grade masks for hospital workers, and concerns about whether a face mask guidance would further jeopardize the availability of those masks for frontline workers. Right now, as the country continues to battle its first wave of infections, hospital workers still aren’t guaranteed to have the protective equipment they need—that’s not a data or science failure, it’s a management failure.
This would have been the complete answer, but it’s not the answer Adams gave. And the fact that the goddamn SURGEON fucking GENERAL of these United States is incapable of giving a truthful, unmuddled answer to a simple, important question is part of the problem this country has had with managing its pandemic. It’s one thing to be wrong and loud, but when the opportunity to come correct (and save some lives) arises, Adams—and the administration he works for—would rather just dribble some nonsense and let everyone else figure it out.