csmonitor--2020-06-26--#Justice4Elijah: In Colorado, a new BLM rallying cry emerges

The Colorado governor on Thursday ordered prosecutors to reopen the investigation into the death of Elijah McClain , a Black man put into a chokehold by police who stopped him on the street in suburban Denver last year because he was “ being suspicious.
” Gov .
Jared Polis signed an executive order directing state Attorney General Phil Weiser to investigate and possibly prosecute the three white officers previously cleared in Mr. McClain ’ s death .
Mr. McClain ’ s name has become a rallying cry during the national reckoning over racism and police brutality following the deaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McClain should be alive today , and we owe it to his family to take this step and elevate the pursuit of justice in his name to a statewide concern , ” Mr. Polis said in a statement .
He said he had spoken with Mr. McClain ’ s mother and was moved by her description of her son as a “ responsible and curious child ... who could inspire the darkest soul.
” Police in Aurora responded to a call about a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 24 .
Police body-camera video shows an officer getting out of his car , approaching Mr. McClain and saying , “ Stop right there .
Stop .
Stop .
...
I have a right to stop you because you ’ re being suspicious.
” Police say Mr. McClain refused to stop walking and fought back when officers confronted him and tried to take him into custody .
In the video , the officer turns Mr. McClain around and repeats , “ Stop tensing up.
” As Mr. McClain tries to escape the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , “ Relax , or I ’ m going to have to change this situation.
” As other officers join to restrain Mr. McClain , he begs them to let go and says , “ You guys started to arrest me , and I was stopping my music to listen.
” One of the officers put him in a chokehold that cuts off blood to the brain , something that has been banned in several places in the wake of Mr. Floyd ’ s death May 25 under the knee of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that followed .
In the video , Mr. McClain tells officers : “ Let go of me .
I am an introvert .
Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking.
” Those words have appeared on scores of social media posts demanding justice for Mr. McClain .
He was on the ground for 15 minutes as several officers and paramedics stood by .
Paramedics gave him 500 milligrams of the sedative ketamine to calm him down , and he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital .
Mr. McClain was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken off life support three days later .
A forensic pathologist could not determine what exactly led to his death but said physical exertion during the confrontation likely contributed .
Mr. McClain ’ s younger sister , Samara McClain , told The Denver Post shortly after his death that her brother was walking to a corner store to get tea for a cousin and often wore masks when he was outside because he had a blood condition that caused him to get cold easily .
In the video , Mr. McClain sobs as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m just different.
” Samara McClain said her brother was a massage therapist who planned to go to college .
A photo of him playing violin for stray cats has recently gone viral .
He taught himself the instrument , reports The Cut : The Police Department put the three officers on leave , but they returned to the force when District Attorney Dave Young said there was insufficient evidence to support charging them .
“ Ultimately , while I may share the vast public opinion that Elijah McClain ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not my role to file criminal charges based on opinion , but rather , on the evidence revealed from the investigation and applicable Colorado law , ” Mr. Young said shortly before Mr. Polis ordered the investigation reopened .
Aurora police said interim Police Chief Vanessa Wilson won ’ t comment to avoid interfering with the investigation .
Mari Newman , the McClain family ’ s attorney , said she was pleased with the governor ’ s decision .
“ Clearly , Aurora has no intention of taking responsibility for murdering an innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Its entire effort is to defend its brutality at all costs , and to lie to the public it is supposed to serve .
It is time for a responsible adult to step in.
” Colorado ’ s attorney general said in a statement that the investigation will be thorough and “ worthy of public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Colorado governor on Thursday ordered prosecutors to reopen the investigation into the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man put into a chokehold by police who stopped him on the street in suburban Denver last year because he was “being suspicious.”
Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order directing state Attorney General Phil Weiser to investigate and possibly prosecute the three white officers previously cleared in Mr. McClain’s death. Mr. McClain’s name has become a rallying cry during the national reckoning over racism and police brutality following the deaths of George Floyd and others.
“Elijah McClain should be alive today, and we owe it to his family to take this step and elevate the pursuit of justice in his name to a statewide concern,” Mr. Polis said in a statement.
He said he had spoken with Mr. McClain’s mother and was moved by her description of her son as a “responsible and curious child ... who could inspire the darkest soul.”
Police in Aurora responded to a call about a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms as he walked down a street on Aug. 24. Police body-camera video shows an officer getting out of his car, approaching Mr. McClain and saying, “Stop right there. Stop. Stop. ... I have a right to stop you because you’re being suspicious.”
Police say Mr. McClain refused to stop walking and fought back when officers confronted him and tried to take him into custody.
In the video, the officer turns Mr. McClain around and repeats, “Stop tensing up.” As Mr. McClain tries to escape the officer’s grip, the officer says, “Relax, or I’m going to have to change this situation.”
As other officers join to restrain Mr. McClain, he begs them to let go and says, “You guys started to arrest me, and I was stopping my music to listen.”
One of the officers put him in a chokehold that cuts off blood to the brain, something that has been banned in several places in the wake of Mr. Floyd’s death May 25 under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer and the global protests that followed.
In the video, Mr. McClain tells officers: “Let go of me. I am an introvert. Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking.” Those words have appeared on scores of social media posts demanding justice for Mr. McClain.
He was on the ground for 15 minutes as several officers and paramedics stood by. Paramedics gave him 500 milligrams of the sedative ketamine to calm him down, and he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. Mr. McClain was declared brain dead Aug. 27 and was taken off life support three days later.
A forensic pathologist could not determine what exactly led to his death but said physical exertion during the confrontation likely contributed.
Mr. McClain’s younger sister, Samara McClain, told The Denver Post shortly after his death that her brother was walking to a corner store to get tea for a cousin and often wore masks when he was outside because he had a blood condition that caused him to get cold easily.
In the video, Mr. McClain sobs as he repeatedly tells officers, “I’m just different.” Samara McClain said her brother was a massage therapist who planned to go to college.
A photo of him playing violin for stray cats has recently gone viral. He taught himself the instrument, reports The Cut:
He often spent his lunch breaks at local animal shelters, putting on concerts for cats and dogs because he believed music would help soothe their anxiety. Those who knew him describe him as gentle: “I don’t even think he would set a mouse trap if there was a rodent problem,” his friend, Eric Behrens, told the Sentinel.
The Police Department put the three officers on leave, but they returned to the force when District Attorney Dave Young said there was insufficient evidence to support charging them.
“Ultimately, while I may share the vast public opinion that Elijah McClain’s death could have been avoided, it is not my role to file criminal charges based on opinion, but rather, on the evidence revealed from the investigation and applicable Colorado law,” Mr. Young said shortly before Mr. Polis ordered the investigation reopened.
Aurora police said interim Police Chief Vanessa Wilson won’t comment to avoid interfering with the investigation.
Mari Newman, the McClain family’s attorney, said she was pleased with the governor’s decision.
“Clearly, Aurora has no intention of taking responsibility for murdering an innocent young man,” she said. “Its entire effort is to defend its brutality at all costs, and to lie to the public it is supposed to serve. It is time for a responsible adult to step in.”
Colorado’s attorney general said in a statement that the investigation will be thorough and “worthy of public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-26--A rebuke to oppression

A rebuke to oppression

In 1859 , Abraham Lincoln laid out the racial paradox embodied in the United States of America .
In a letter to a Massachusetts congressman , he wrote : “ All honor ” to Thomas Jefferson , who had the wisdom to introduce into the Declaration of Independence “ an abstract truth , applicable to all men and all times , and so to embalm it there , that to-day , and in all coming days , it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of re-appearing tyranny and oppression.
” Of course , Lincoln was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protestations against slavery , enslaved some 600 people over his lifetime and , in his 1781-82 “ Notes on the State of Virginia , ” stated that Black people are inferior to whites .
This is the struggle so dramatically captured by the upheaval of recent weeks .
America is a nation of ideals , promising its ceaseless rebuke to the harbingers of reappearing oppression , as Lincoln so eloquently said .
But it is also a nation expressly founded on white supremacy , which allowed the systemic codification of prejudice against its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of slavery , and is only now beginning to come to terms with how deeply those generations of oppression have shaped modern society .
How is that embalmed rebuke in the Declaration of Independence turned inward ?
How does one even begin to address the continuing effects of that vast legacy of systemic prejudice ?
This week ’ s cover story is the beginnings of an answer .
As Martin Kuz writes , “ defund the police ” is a potent rallying cry , if inexact .
It is about a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also about something larger .
Martin notes that the movement to defund the police represents nothing less than a chance to begin to redefine the social contract .
Police policy is just one part of “ addressing systemic oppression and historical racism , ” says Brett Grant of Voices for Racial Justice .
This desire to recognize and address the deeper foundations of racial prejudice is seen in other seismic conversations coming to the surface , such as the debate about reparations for slavery .
Big change forces big conversations .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policy proposals .
Looking at this moment , historian Rebecca Solnit harks back to America ’ s original revolution .
In an article for Literary Hub , she quotes John Adams : “ The revolution was in the minds of the people , and in the union of the colonies , both of which were accomplished before hostilities commenced.
” Essentially , she says , “ the revolution was in consciousness ; the war with Britain was just an outcome of it.
” Commentators have noted that laws and regulations have pecked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little success .
Rates of police violence are unchanged , as are levels of Black net worth compared with white net worth .
The call of this moment , evoked in the push to defund police , is something more revolutionary – for an equality not just spoken but committed to and demonstrated .
And it is fueled by a change in thought .

In 1859, Abraham Lincoln laid out the racial paradox embodied in the United States of America. In a letter to a Massachusetts congressman, he wrote: “All honor” to Thomas Jefferson, who had the wisdom to introduce into the Declaration of Independence “an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times, and so to embalm it there, that to-day, and in all coming days, it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of re-appearing tyranny and oppression.”
That truth? “All men are created equal.”
Of course, Lincoln was praising a man who, despite his protestations against slavery, enslaved some 600 people over his lifetime and, in his 1781-82 “Notes on the State of Virginia,” stated that Black people are inferior to whites.
This is the struggle so dramatically captured by the upheaval of recent weeks. America is a nation of ideals, promising its ceaseless rebuke to the harbingers of reappearing oppression, as Lincoln so eloquently said. But it is also a nation expressly founded on white supremacy, which allowed the systemic codification of prejudice against its Black citizens for a century after the end of slavery, and is only now beginning to come to terms with how deeply those generations of oppression have shaped modern society.
How is that embalmed rebuke in the Declaration of Independence turned inward? How does one even begin to address the continuing effects of that vast legacy of systemic prejudice?
This week’s cover story is the beginnings of an answer. As Martin Kuz writes, “defund the police” is a potent rallying cry, if inexact. It is about a different vision for public safety. But it is also about something larger. Martin notes that the movement to defund the police represents nothing less than a chance to begin to redefine the social contract. Police policy is just one part of “addressing systemic oppression and historical racism,” says Brett Grant of Voices for Racial Justice.
This desire to recognize and address the deeper foundations of racial prejudice is seen in other seismic conversations coming to the surface, such as the debate about reparations for slavery. Big change forces big conversations.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Yet there is also something at work behind the policy proposals. Looking at this moment, historian Rebecca Solnit harks back to America’s original revolution. In an article for Literary Hub, she quotes John Adams: “The revolution was in the minds of the people, and in the union of the colonies, both of which were accomplished before hostilities commenced.” Essentially, she says, “the revolution was in consciousness; the war with Britain was just an outcome of it.”
Commentators have noted that laws and regulations have pecked at America’s racist underpinnings with little success. Rates of police violence are unchanged, as are levels of Black net worth compared with white net worth. The call of this moment, evoked in the push to defund police, is something more revolutionary – for an equality not just spoken but committed to and demonstrated. And it is fueled by a change in thought.


csmonitor--2020-06-28--Malawi election: A vote for democracy and a new president

The opposition has won Malawi ’ s historic rerun of the presidential election , the first time a court-overturned vote in Africa has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader .
Lazarus Chakwera ’ s victory late Saturday was a result of months of determined street protests in the southern African nation , and of a unanimous decision by the Constitutional Court that widespread irregularities in the May 2019 election — including the use of correction fluid on ballots —could not stand .
President Peter Mutharika , who had sought a second five-year term , earlier Saturday called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Malawi ’ s history.
” He alleged his party ’ s monitors had been beaten and intimidated during Tuesday ’ s election , but the Malawi Human Rights Commission , an observer , called the vote peaceful and transparent .
Chakwera won with 58 % of the vote , or 2.6 million votes out of 4.4 million cast .
Mutharika received 1.7 million .
Flag-waving supporters erupted in cheers as the results were read out , and some street celebrations began .
Fireworks popped .
“ I ’ m so happy I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , former leader of the Malawi Assemblies of God church , told reporters .
“ This is a win for Malawians , a win for democracy . ''
Malawi ’ s drama was just the second time in Africa that a court has overturned a presidential election , following a ruling on Kenya ’ s vote in 2017 .
In Kenya ’ s fresh election , the president won while the opposition boycotted .
As Malawi prepared for its new vote , incumbent Vice President Saulos Chilima , who split last year ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand as his running mate in a bid to maximize chances of unseating Mutharika .
Some celebrations began Thursday night when Malawi ’ s state broadcaster reported that Chakwera was well ahead with all votes in .
But the electoral commission , revamped since the court ’ s ruling , indicated it was taking time to meet legal requirements in verifying results .
The commission 's new chair , judge Chifundo Kachale , while announcing the results acknowledged that “ it has been a very interesting journey.
” He said turnout was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An attempt by Mutharika ’ s government to get Malawi ’ s chief justice to step down just days before the new election had failed amid an outcry .
Aware that time was running out , the 79-year-old Mutharika on Saturday asked the country to “ move on peacefully ” and respect the presidency .
Critics had accused Mutharika of doing little to tackle corruption .
`` Curbing corruption is crucial now more than ever , '' Lauryn Nyasulu , president of the Economics Association of Malawi told Reuters .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use whatever resources available in efforts to rebuild the economy and safeguard the welfare of those that have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . ''
Chakwera was sworn in for a five-year term on Sunday , hours after officially unseating Mutharika .
`` To stand before you as president today is an honor .
It 's an honor that fills with unspeakable joy and immense gratitude , '' Chakwera said in his acceptance speech .
`` With your help , we will restore a new generation 's faith in the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a government that rules , '' he told a cheering crowd dressed in the colors of his own Malawi Congress Party ( MCP ) and the allied party of Vice President Saulos Chilima .
MCP is Malawi 's founding party and Chakwera 's win brings it back into power after 26 years in opposition .
Critics had accused Mutharika of doing little to tackle corruption .
`` Curbing corruption is crucial now more than ever , '' said Lauryn Nyasulu , president of the Economics Association of Malawi .
`` The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever resources available in efforts to rebuild the economy and safeguard the welfare of those that have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . ''

The opposition has won Malawi’s historic rerun of the presidential election, the first time a court-overturned vote in Africa has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader.
Lazarus Chakwera’s victory late Saturday was a result of months of determined street protests in the southern African nation, and of a unanimous decision by the Constitutional Court that widespread irregularities in the May 2019 election – including the use of correction fluid on ballots – could not stand.
President Peter Mutharika, who had sought a second five-year term, earlier Saturday called the rerun of the election “the worst in Malawi’s history.” He alleged his party’s monitors had been beaten and intimidated during Tuesday’s election, but the Malawi Human Rights Commission, an observer, called the vote peaceful and transparent.
Mr. Chakwera won with 58% of the vote, or 2.6 million votes out of 4.4 million cast. Mutharika received 1.7 million. Flag-waving supporters erupted in cheers as the results were read out, and some street celebrations began. Fireworks popped.
“I’m so happy I could dance all night,” Mr. Chakwera, former leader of the Malawi Assemblies of God church, told reporters. “This is a win for Malawians, a win for democracy."
Malawi’s drama was just the second time in Africa that a court has overturned a presidential election, following a ruling on Kenya’s vote in 2017. In Kenya’s fresh election, the president won while the opposition boycotted.
As Malawi prepared for its new vote, incumbent Vice President Saulos Chilima, who split last year’s results with Mr. Chakwera, decided instead to stand as his running mate in a bid to maximize chances of unseating Mr. Mutharika.
Some celebrations began Thursday night when Malawi’s state broadcaster reported that Mr. Chakwera was well ahead with all votes in. But the electoral commission, revamped since the court’s ruling, indicated it was taking time to meet legal requirements in verifying results.
The commission's new chair, judge Chifundo Kachale, while announcing the results acknowledged that “it has been a very interesting journey.” He said turnout was 64% of 6.8 million registered voters.
An attempt by Mr. Mutharika’s government to get Malawi’s chief justice to step down just days before the new election had failed amid an outcry. Aware that time was running out, Mr. Mutharika on Saturday asked the country to “move on peacefully” and respect the presidency.
Critics had accused Mr. Mutharika of doing little to tackle corruption. "Curbing corruption is crucial now more than ever," Lauryn Nyasulu, president of the Economics Association of Malawi told Reuters. "The government needs to seal all loopholes and use whatever resources available in efforts to rebuild the economy and safeguard the welfare of those that have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."
Mr. Chakwera was sworn in for a five-year term on Sunday, hours after officially unseating Mr. Mutharika.
"To stand before you as president today is an honor. It's an honor that fills with unspeakable joy and immense gratitude," Mr. Chakwera said in his acceptance speech.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
"With your help, we will restore a new generation's faith in the possibility of having a government that serves, not a government that rules," he told a cheering crowd dressed in the colors of his own Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the allied party of Mr. Chilima.
MCP is Malawi's founding party and Mr. Chakwera's win brings it back into power after 26 years in opposition.


csmonitor--2020-06-28--Why Mississippi lawmakers voted to retire the Confederate flag

Mississippi lawmakers voted Sunday to surrender the Confederate battle emblem from their state flag , triggering raucous applause and cheers more than a century after white supremacist legislators adopted the design a generation after the South lost the Civil War .
Mississippi 's House and Senate voted in succession Sunday afternoon to retire the flag , each chamber drawing broad bipartisan support for the historic decision .
Republican Gov .
Tate Reeves has said he will sign the bill , and the state flag would lose its official status as soon as he signs the measure .
He did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
The state had faced mounting pressure to change its flag during the past month amid international protests against racial injustice in the United States .
Cheering and applause erupted as lawmakers hugged each other in the Senate with final passage .
Even those on the opposite side of the issue also hugged as an emotional day of debate drew to a close .
Bells also could be heard ringing in the state capital city as passage of the measure was announced .
A commission would design a new flag that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must have the words “ In God We Trust.
” Voters will be asked to approve the new design in the Nov. 3 election .
If they reject it , the commission will set a different design using the same guidelines , and that would be sent to voters later .
Mississippi has a 38 % Black population — and the last state flag that incorporates the emblem that ’ s widely seen as racist .
Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn , who is white , has pushed for five years to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol is offensive .
The House passed the bill 91-23 Sunday afternoon , and the Senate passed it 37-14 later .
“ How sweet it is to celebrate this on the Lord ’ s day , ” Gunn said .
`` Many prayed to Him to bring us to this day .
He has answered.
” Debate over changing the flag has arisen before , and in recent years an increasing number of cities and all the state ’ s public universities have taken it down on their own .
But the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative Republican-dominated Legislature or with recent governors .
That dynamic changed in a matter of weeks as an extraordinary and diverse coalition of political , business , religious groups and sports leaders pushed to change the flag .
At a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Mississippi Governor ’ s Mansion in early June , thousands cheered as an organizer said the state needs to divorce itself from all Confederate symbols .
Religious groups — including the large and influential Mississippi Baptist Convention — said erasing the rebel emblem from the state flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the banner hinders economic development in one of the poorest states in the nation .
In a sports-crazy culture , the biggest blow might have happened when college sports leagues said Mississippi could lose postseason events if it continued flying the Confederate-themed flag .
Nearly four dozen of Mississippi ’ s university athletic directors and coaches came to the Capitol to lobby for change .
“ We need something that fulfills the purpose of being a state flag and that everybody in the state has a reason to be proud of , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Mississippi State University .
Many people who wanted to keep the emblem on the Mississippi flag said they see it as a symbol of heritage .
Legislators put the Confederate emblem on the upper left corner of Mississippi flag in 1894 , as whites were squelching political power that African Americans gained after the Civil War .
The battle emblem is a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars .
The Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups have waved the rebel flag for decades .
Georgia put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag in 1956 , during a backlash to the civil rights movement .
That state removed the symbol from its banner in 2001 .
The Mississippi Supreme Court found in 2000 that when the state updated its laws in 1906 , portions dealing with the flag were not included .
That meant the banner lacked official status .
The Democratic governor in 2000 , Ronnie Musgrove , appointed a commission to decide the flag ’ s future .
It held hearings across the state that grew ugly as people shouted at each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislators opted not to set a flag design themselves .
They put the issue on a 2001 statewide ballot , and people voted to keep the flag .
An alternate proposal would have replaced the Confederate corner with a blue field topped by a cluster of white stars representing Mississippi as the 20th state .
Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville , who is African American , said the state deserves a flag that will make all people proud .
“ Today is a history-making day in the state of Mississippi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for passage .
“ Let ’ s vote today for the Mississippi of tomorrow.
” Meanwhile , in New Jersey , Princeton University has announced plans to remove the name of former President Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school because of his segregationist views .
The decision reflects a larger shift in views in the America since the killing of George Floyd , as it reverses a decision the Ivy League school made four years ago to retain the name .
University president Christopher Eisgruber said in a letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trustees had concluded that “ Wilson ’ s racist views and policies make him an inappropriate namesake '' for Princeton 's School of Public and International Affairs and the residential college .
Eisgruber said the trustees decided in April 2016 on some changes to make the university “ more inclusive and more honest about its history '' but decided to retain Wilson 's name , but revisited the issue in light of the recent killings of George Floyd and others .
Wilson , governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913 and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1921 , supported segregation and imposed it on several federal agencies not racially divided up to that point .
He also barred Black students from Princeton while serving as university president and spoke approvingly of the Ku Klux Klan .
Earlier this month , Monmouth University of New Jersey removed Wilson ’ s name from one of its most prominent buildings , citing efforts to increase diversity and inclusiveness .
The superintendent of the Camden school district also announced plans to rename Woodrow Wilson High School , one of the district ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s racism was significant and consequential even by the standards of his own time , '' Eisgruber said , adding that the former president 's segregationist policies “ make him an especially inappropriate namesake for a public policy school . ''
The trustees said they had taken what they called “ this extraordinary step ” because Wilson ’ s name was not appropriate “ for a school whose scholars , students , and alumni must be firmly committed to combatting the scourge of racism in all its forms . ''
The school will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public and International Affairs , he said .
Princeton had already planned to close Wilson College and retire its name after opening two new residential colleges currently under construction but will change the name to First College immediately .
Eisgruber said the conclusions “ may seem harsh to some '' since Wilson is credited with having “ remade Princeton , converting it from a sleepy college into a great research university , '' and he went on to become president and receive a Nobel Prize .
But while Princeton honored Wilson despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views , that is part of the problem , Eisgruber said .
“ Princeton is part of an America that has too often disregarded , ignored , or excused racism , allowing the persistence of systems that discriminate against Black people , '' he said .
Four years ago , a 10-member committee gathered input from Wilson scholars and more than 600 submissions from alumni , faculty and the public before concluding that Wilson ’ s accomplishments merited commemoration , so long as his faults were also candidly recognized .
The committee report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no endorsement of views and actions that conflict with the values and aspirations of our times.
” Princeton will retain Wilson 's name on an award given annually to an undergraduate alumnus or alumna since it stems from a gift that requires that the prize be named for Wilson and honor his “ conviction that education is for ‘ use ’ and … the high aims expressed in his memorable phrase , ‘ Princeton in the Nation ’ s Service , ” the trustees said .
Floyd died May 25 after a white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his neck for several minutes even as he pleaded for air and stopped moving .

Mississippi lawmakers voted Sunday to surrender the Confederate battle emblem from their state flag, triggering raucous applause and cheers more than a century after white supremacist legislators adopted the design a generation after the South lost the Civil War.
Mississippi's House and Senate voted in succession Sunday afternoon to retire the flag, each chamber drawing broad bipartisan support for the historic decision. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has said he will sign the bill, and the state flag would lose its official status as soon as he signs the measure. He did not immediately signal when the signing would take place.
The state had faced mounting pressure to change its flag during the past month amid international protests against racial injustice in the United States. Cheering and applause erupted as lawmakers hugged each other in the Senate with final passage. Even those on the opposite side of the issue hugged as an emotional day of debate drew to a close. Bells also could be heard ringing in the state capital city as passage of the measure was announced.
A commission would design a new flag that cannot include the Confederate symbol and that must have the words “In God We Trust.” Voters will be asked to approve the new design in the Nov. 3 election. If they reject it, the commission will set a different design using the same guidelines, and that would be sent to voters later.
Mississippi has a 38% Black population – and the last state flag incorporates the emblem that's widely seen as racist.
Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn, who is white, has pushed for five years to change the flag, saying that the Confederate symbol is offensive. The House passed the bill 91-23 Sunday afternoon, and the Senate passed it 37-14 later.
“How sweet it is to celebrate this on the Lord’s day,” Mr. Gunn said. "Many prayed to Him to bring us to this day. He has answered.”
Debate over changing the flag has arisen before, and in recent years an increasing number of cities and all the state’s public universities have taken it down on their own. But the issue has never garnered enough support in the conservative Republican-dominated Legislature or with recent governors.
That dynamic changed in a matter of weeks as an extraordinary and diverse coalition of political, business, religious groups, and sports leaders pushed to change the flag.
At a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in early June, thousands cheered as an organizer said the state needs to divorce itself from all Confederate symbols.
Religious groups – including the large and influential Mississippi Baptist Convention – said erasing the rebel emblem from the state flag is a moral imperative.
Business groups said the banner hinders economic development in one of the poorest states in the nation.
In a sports-crazy culture, the biggest blow might have happened when college sports leagues said Mississippi could lose postseason events if it continued flying the Confederate-themed flag. Nearly four dozen of Mississippi’s university athletic directors and coaches came to the Capitol to lobby for change.
“We need something that fulfills the purpose of being a state flag and that everybody in the state has a reason to be proud of,” said Mike Leach, football coach at Mississippi State University.
Many people who wanted to keep the emblem on the Mississippi flag said they see it as a symbol of heritage.
Legislators put the Confederate emblem on the upper left corner of Mississippi flag in 1894, as whites were squelching political power that African Americans gained after the Civil War.
The battle emblem is a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars. The Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups have waved the rebel flag for decades. Georgia put the battle emblem prominently on its state flag in 1956, during a backlash to the civil rights movement. That state removed the symbol from its banner in 2001.
The Mississippi Supreme Court found in 2000 that when the state updated its laws in 1906, portions dealing with the flag were not included. That meant the banner lacked official status. The Democratic governor in 2000, Ronnie Musgrove, appointed a commission to decide the flag’s future. It held hearings across the state that grew ugly as people shouted at each other about the flag.
After that, legislators opted not to set a flag design themselves. They put the issue on a 2001 statewide ballot, and people voted to keep the flag. An alternate proposal would have replaced the Confederate corner with a blue field topped by a cluster of white stars representing Mississippi as the 20th state.
Democratic state Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville, who is African American, said the state deserves a flag that will make all people proud. “Today is a history-making day in the state of Mississippi,” Mr. Simmons told colleagues before the Senate voted for passage. “Let’s vote today for the Mississippi of tomorrow.”
Princeton drops Woodrow Wilson
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Princeton University has announced plans to remove the name of former President Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school because of his segregationist views. The decision reflects a larger shift in views in the America since the killing of George Floyd, as it reverses a decision the Ivy League school made four years ago to retain the name.
University president Christopher Eisgruber said in a letter to the school community Saturday that the board of trustees had concluded that “Wilson’s racist views and policies make him an inappropriate namesake" for Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs and the residential college.
Mr. Eisgruber said the trustees decided in April 2016 on some changes to make the university “more inclusive and more honest about its history" but decided to retain Wilson's name, but revisited the issue in light of the recent killings of George Floyd and others.
Wilson, governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913 and then the 28th U.S. president from 1913 to 1921, supported segregation and imposed it on several federal agencies not racially divided up to that point. He also barred Black students from Princeton while serving as university president and spoke approvingly of the Ku Klux Klan.
Earlier this month, Monmouth University of New Jersey removed Wilson’s name from one of its most prominent buildings, citing efforts to increase diversity and inclusiveness. The superintendent of the Camden school district also announced plans to rename Woodrow Wilson High School, one of the district’s two high schools.
“Wilson’s racism was significant and consequential even by the standards of his own time," Mr. Eisgruber said, adding that the former president's segregationist policies “make him an especially inappropriate namesake for a public policy school."
The trustees said they had taken what they called “this extraordinary step” because Wilson’s name was not appropriate “for a school whose scholars, students, and alumni must be firmly committed to combatting the scourge of racism in all its forms."
The school will now be known as the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, he said. Princeton had already planned to close Wilson College and retire its name after opening two new residential colleges currently under construction but will change the name to First College immediately.
Mr. Eisgruber said the conclusions “may seem harsh to some" since Wilson is credited with having “remade Princeton, converting it from a sleepy college into a great research university," and he went on to become president and receive a Nobel Prize.
But while Princeton honored Wilson despite or perhaps even in ignorance of his views, that is part of the problem, Mr. Eisgruber said. “Princeton is part of an America that has too often disregarded, ignored, or excused racism, allowing the persistence of systems that discriminate against Black people," he said.
Four years ago, a 10-member committee gathered input from Wilson scholars and more than 600 submissions from alumni, faculty and the public before concluding that Wilson’s accomplishments merited commemoration, so long as his faults were also candidly recognized. The committee report also said using his name “implies no endorsement of views and actions that conflict with the values and aspirations of our times.”
Princeton will retain Wilson's name on an award given annually to an undergraduate alumnus or alumna since it stems from a gift that requires that the prize be named for Wilson and honor his “conviction that education is for ‘use’ and … the high aims expressed in his memorable phrase, ‘Princeton in the Nation’s Service,” the trustees said.
Mr. Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes even as he pleaded for air and stopped moving.
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csmonitor--2020-06-29--Monday Sunrise Briefing: New US surges and shutdowns

In adjusting the balance between economic health and public health , 13 states are now reversing - or putting on pause - the reopening of businesses .
On Sunday , California joined Texas and Florida in shutting down bars .
Walt Disney Co. scrapped plans to reopen its California theme parks on July 17 .
Vice President Mike Pence praised Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott Sunday for reimposing restrictions , and told residents to “ wear a mask.
” A rise in coronavirus cases prompted the Trump-Pence reelection team to call off campaign events in Florida and Arizona this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases to young people flouting social distancing rules .
Two Florida counties will close beaches over the Fourth of July weekend .
New York is now offering to help Arizona , Texas , and Florida , noting that other states came to its aid .
“ We will never forget that graciousness , and we will repay it any way we can , ” Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
2 .
Democracy wins in Africa , Poland , and Ireland .
The opposition candidate won Malawi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , the first time a court-overturned vote in Africa has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader .
It ’ s an affirmation of the integrity of the electoral process and constitutional checks and balances .
The victory by Lazarus Chakwera , a former evangelical church leader , came after months of street protests in the southern African nation .
In Poland , the conservative president , Andrzej Duda , fell short of the needed 50 % of votes to win in a first round , according to exit polls Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice party has been in conflict with the European Union over passage of laws that give it control over top courts and key judicial bodies .
A July 12 runoff will likely pit the populist incumbent against the centrist Warsaw mayor , Rafal Trzaskowski .
In Ireland , centrist politician Micheál Martin became the new prime minister Saturday , fusing two longtime rival parties into a coalition government .
The deal will see Mr. Martin ’ s Fianna Fail govern with Fine Gael — the party of outgoing PM Leo Varadkar — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fail and Fine Gael have never before formed a government together .
“ I believe civil war politics ended a long time ago in our country , but today civil war politics ends in our parliament , ’ ’ said Mr. Varadkar 3 .
Symbols of racial injustice fall .
Mississippi is the last U.S. state flying the Confederate battle flag .
It has resisted past efforts to remove what is a symbol of oppression for many of its residents .
On Sunday , Mississippi lawmakers voted to retire the flag .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time that he would sign a bill to change the flag : “ The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it 's time to end it . ''
In New Jersey , Princeton University announced it will remove the name of former President Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school because of his segregationist views .
Meanwhile , President Trump reposted a video Sunday of his supporters in Florida , including a man shouting “ white power.
” A few hours later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House said the president had not heard “ the one statement ” on the video .
Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , said the tweet was “ indefensible.
” Rule of law The U.S. Supreme Court has several big cases they could issue opinions on Monday and Tuesday , including decisions on abortion , religion and school tuition , as well as the separation of powers between the president and Congress ( i.e .
accessing President Trump ’ s tax returns ) .
Rethinking a relationship : The EU and the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time since the coronavirus outbreak .
Negotiations will be conducted in person in Brussels .
Seeking solutions .
The annual Aspen Ideas Festival goes digital this year , featuring 56 speakers on subjects ranging from Black Lives Matters and COVID-19 to immigration and communication .
The festival is available to stream for free through July 3 .
Reckoning with history .
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo ’ s independence , the Belgian city of Ghent is scheduled to remove a statue of Belgian King Leopold II , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congolese in what was at the time Belgian Congo , Economic insights .
Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee about the CARE Act , the $ 2 trillion federal aid package to help individuals , families , and businesses during the COVID-19 shutdown .
West Bank annexation .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to officially announce Israel 's annexation of the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea .
Annexation is a term used when a state unilaterally incorporates another territory within its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League Baseball players are expected to report to training camps Wednesday .
A shortened 60-game season is planned starting late July .
‘ Hamilton ’ on the small screen .
The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical from Lin-Manuel Miranda debuts on the Disney Plus streaming service , starring the original Broadway cast .
Imagine graduating from high school and no one is there to celebrate with you .
As Dominique Moore was cleaning up after graduation festivities at Bessemer City High School in Alabama on June 18 , the teacher noticed one of his students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your people ?
’ and he was like , ‘ Nobody ’ s here , ‘ ’ ' Mr. Moore told Carol Robinson at the Alabama Media Group .
The teacher invited him out for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory .
After a meal of shrimp , fries , and Oreo cheesecake ( a first for the student ) , Mr. Moore dropped off the graduate at his new job at Amazon .
The teacher never asked why no one came to the boy ’ s graduation - he just wanted to celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like most teachers , he does these small things for students regularly and never tells anyone .
“ But this one just didn ’ t sit well with me .
I don ’ t know what it was.
” He decided to post the story on Facebook , and included his Cash App in case anyone wanted to be a “ blessing ” to the teen .
As of Thursday , more than $ 5,000 had been collected .
The next day the two went to a local bank and opened a checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , they went shopping for a used car to transport the graduate to his job .
The teacher says they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity .
“ It shows that mankind is good , ” said Mr. Moore .
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about how a black magician makes racism disappear .
Finally , check out the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to square one , only worse ?
• Tourist treks helped save gorillas .
What happens in lockdown ?
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
Thank you !

In adjusting the balance between economic health and public health, 13 states are now reversing - or putting on pause - the reopening of businesses. On Sunday, California joined Texas and Florida in shutting down bars. Walt Disney Co. scrapped plans to reopen its California theme parks on July 17. Vice President Mike Pence praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Sunday for reimposing restrictions, and told residents to “wear a mask.” A rise in coronavirus cases prompted the Trump-Pence reelection team to call off campaign events in Florida and Arizona this week. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attributed the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases to young people flouting social distancing rules. Two Florida counties will close beaches over the Fourth of July weekend. New York is now offering to help Arizona, Texas, and Florida, noting that other states came to its aid. “We will never forget that graciousness, and we will repay it any way we can,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
2. Democracy wins in Africa, Poland, and Ireland. The opposition candidate won Malawi’s historic rerun of the presidential election Saturday, the first time a court-overturned vote in Africa has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader. It’s an affirmation of the integrity of the electoral process and constitutional checks and balances. The victory by Lazarus Chakwera, a former evangelical church leader, came after months of street protests in the southern African nation.
In Poland, the conservative president, Andrzej Duda, fell short of the needed 50% of votes to win in a first round, according to exit polls Sunday. President Duda’s Law and Justice party has been in conflict with the European Union over passage of laws that give it control over top courts and key judicial bodies. A July 12 runoff will likely pit the populist incumbent against the centrist Warsaw mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, June 29 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been tubing, tandem bicycling and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
In Ireland, centrist politician Micheál Martin became the new prime minister Saturday, fusing two longtime rival parties into a coalition government. The deal will see Mr. Martin’s Fianna Fail govern with Fine Gael — the party of outgoing PM Leo Varadkar — and with the smaller Green Party. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have never before formed a government together. “I believe civil war politics ended a long time ago in our country, but today civil war politics ends in our parliament,’’ said Mr. Varadkar
3. Symbols of racial injustice fall. Mississippi is the last U.S. state flying the Confederate battle flag. It has resisted past efforts to remove what is a symbol of oppression for many of its residents. On Sunday, Mississippi lawmakers voted to retire the flag. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Saturday for the first time that he would sign a bill to change the flag: “The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it's time to end it."
In New Jersey, Princeton University announced it will remove the name of former President Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school because of his segregationist views. Meanwhile, President Trump reposted a video Sunday of his supporters in Florida, including a man shouting “white power.” A few hours later, Mr. Trump deleted the tweet. The White House said the president had not heard “the one statement” on the video. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said the tweet was “indefensible.”
Italian Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS View caption Hide caption Italian Coast Guard divers freed a sperm whale caught in a fishing net off the coast of Lipari, Italy, June 26, 2020.
Look Ahead
Monday, June 29
Rule of law The U.S. Supreme Court has several big cases they could issue opinions on Monday and Tuesday, including decisions on abortion, religion and school tuition, as well as the separation of powers between the president and Congress (i.e. accessing President Trump’s tax returns).
Rethinking a relationship: The EU and the UK resume future relationship negotiations for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak. Negotiations will be conducted in person in Brussels.
Seeking solutions. The annual Aspen Ideas Festival goes digital this year, featuring 56 speakers on subjects ranging from Black Lives Matters and COVID-19 to immigration and communication. The festival is available to stream for free through July 3.
Tuesday, June 30
Reckoning with history. To mark the 60th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence, the Belgian city of Ghent is scheduled to remove a statue of Belgian King Leopold II, accused of causing the death of millions of Congolese in what was at the time Belgian Congo,
Economic insights. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee about the CARE Act, the $2 trillion federal aid package to help individuals, families, and businesses during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Wednesday, July 1
West Bank annexation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to officially announce Israel's annexation of the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea. Annexation is a term used when a state unilaterally incorporates another territory within its borders.
Baseball warms up. Major League Baseball players are expected to report to training camps Wednesday. A shortened 60-game season is planned starting late July.
Friday, July 3
‘Hamilton’ on the small screen. The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical from Lin-Manuel Miranda debuts on the Disney Plus streaming service, starring the original Broadway cast.
Generosity Watch
Dominique Moore via Facebook View caption Hide caption Dominique Moore, a teacher at Bessemer City High School in Alabama, took a 2020 graduate to lunch. His Facebook post may have changed the teen's life.
Imagine graduating from high school and no one is there to celebrate with you.
As Dominique Moore was cleaning up after graduation festivities at Bessemer City High School in Alabama on June 18, the teacher noticed one of his students sitting alone.
“‘Where are your people?’ and he was like, ‘Nobody’s here,‘’' Mr. Moore told Carol Robinson at the Alabama Media Group.
The teacher invited him out for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. After a meal of shrimp, fries, and Oreo cheesecake (a first for the student), Mr. Moore dropped off the graduate at his new job at Amazon.
The teacher never asked why no one came to the boy’s graduation - he just wanted to celebrate the achievement. And Moore says, like most teachers, he does these small things for students regularly and never tells anyone. “But this one just didn’t sit well with me. I don’t know what it was.” He decided to post the story on Facebook, and included his Cash App in case anyone wanted to be a “blessing” to the teen. As of Thursday, more than $5,000 had been collected.
The next day the two went to a local bank and opened a checking account in the student’s name. Then, they went shopping for a used car to transport the graduate to his job. The teacher says they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity. “It shows that mankind is good,” said Mr. Moore.
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
Beyond fortitude: COVID-19 nurses tap a hidden strength – “sisu”
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about how a black magician makes racism disappear.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!


csmonitor--2020-06-28--California joins Texas and Florida in reversing reopening

California on Sunday ordered some bars to close , the first major rollback of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous U.S. state as cases nationwide soar to record levels day after day .
Governor Gavin Newsom 's order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday .
Public health officials in California and throughout the nation have identified bars as the most risky non-essential businesses currently open , the state said .
Consuming alcohol reduces inhibitions that leads to less compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials warn .
Bars are also generally noisy , requiring patrons to shout , which spreads droplets more widely .
The surge in COVID-19 cases has been most pronounced in several Southern and Western states that did not follow health officials ' recommendations to wait for a steady decline in cases before reopening their economies .
For a third consecutive day on Saturday , the number of confirmed U.S. cases leapt by more than 40,000 , one of the largest surges in the world .
In many of these states , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of new cases .
More tests are also coming back positive , up to 25 % in some areas .
Even in states where cases have been declining for weeks , bars have been a source of outbreaks .
One bar in East Lansing , Michigan has been linked to more than 85 cases , according to local health officials who say that number is likely to rise .
In addition to bars , Texas shuttered tubing and rafting business on Friday to try to avoid crowds like those seen on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Phoenix .
As temperatures rose to above 100 Fahrenheit ( 38 Celsius ) , dozens of people climbed into inflatable inner tubes with coolers and took to the water to escape the heat .
Very few wore masks .
Some beaches in Florida are also closing ahead of next weekend 's Fourth of July holiday , which would have drawn large crowds .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people are driving the surge in his state .
“ Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Arizona , cases have risen by 267 % so far in June and jumped by a record 3,857 cases on Sunday , the eighth record-breaking increase this month .
Georgia reported a record increase of 2,225 cases on Sunday .
Fifteen states , including California , Florida and Texas , saw record rises in cases last week .
Just a day after he sounded a note of optimism about the U.S. response to the pandemic and said the country was in `` a much better place , '' Vice President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump 's re-election in Florida and Arizona due to the outbreak , campaign officials said on Saturday .
On Sunday , Pence traveled to Texas and attended a service at the First Baptist Church of Dallas where a 100-member choir sang without masks .
Pence did wear a face covering while sitting in the audience , according to a video .
In early March , a church choir in Washington state gathered for a rehearsal before the state issued a stay-at-home order .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two members of the choir died .
Pence urged Texans to follow local laws requiring masks and said towns and counties in about half the state are requiring face coverings in public .
Pence has defended Trump 's refusal to directly ask all Americans to wear masks .
On Tuesday , Pence was supposed to address a Trump-Pence campaign “ Faith in America ” event in Tuscon , Arizona , before meeting Gov .
Doug Ducey in Yuma .
The campaign event has been postponed , reported the Associated Press .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embark on a bus tour , including an appearance in Lake Wales at an event organized by the pro-Trump group America First Policies billed as the “ Great American Comeback tour.
” The group announced that “ out of an abundance of caution at this time , we are postponing the Great American Comeback tour stop in Florida .
We look forward to rescheduling soon.
” The Sarasota County Republican Party confirmed in a note to supporters that Pence ’ s campaign event along the Gulf Coast of the state was also postponed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Gov .
Ron DeSantis .
In the state of Washington , Gov .
Jay Inslee put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase .
But in Hawaii , the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing .
Arizona Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey reversed himself and allowed cities and counties to require face masks in public even though he hasn ’ t been seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sprint , this is a marathon , ” said Dr. Lisa Goldberg , director of the emergency department of Tucson Medical Center in Arizona .
“ In fact , it ’ s an ultra-marathon.
” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar stressed that “ the window is closing ” for the U.S. to take action to effectively curb the coronavirus .
Azar pointed to a recent spike in infections , particularly in the South .
He says people have “ to act responsibly ” by social distancing and wearing face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones.
” Speaking on NBC and CNN , Azar argued that the U.S. is in a better position than two months ago in fighting the virus because it is conducting more testing and has therapeutics available to treat COVID-19 .
But he acknowledged that hospitalizations and deaths could increase in the next few weeks .
Global coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday according to a Reuters tally , marking a major milestone in the spread of the respiratory disease that has so far killed almost half a million people in seven months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sacramento and Lisa Shumaker in Chicago ; Additional reporting from the Associated Press .
Additional Reuters reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Maria Caspani in New York ; Writing by Lisa Shumakmer ; Editing by Daniel Wallis

California on Sunday ordered some bars to close, the first major rollback of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous U.S. state as cases nationwide soar to record levels day after day.
Governor Gavin Newsom's order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday. Public health officials in California and throughout the nation have identified bars as the most risky non-essential businesses currently open, the state said.
Consuming alcohol reduces inhibitions that leads to less compliance with wearing masks and keeping apart, health officials warn. Bars are also generally noisy, requiring patrons to shout, which spreads droplets more widely.
The surge in COVID-19 cases has been most pronounced in several Southern and Western states that did not follow health officials' recommendations to wait for a steady decline in cases before reopening their economies.
For a third consecutive day on Saturday, the number of confirmed U.S. cases leapt by more than 40,000, one of the largest surges in the world. In many of these states, people under 35 have accounted for a large percentage of new cases. More tests are also coming back positive, up to 25% in some areas.
Even in states where cases have been declining for weeks, bars have been a source of outbreaks. One bar in East Lansing, Michigan has been linked to more than 85 cases, according to local health officials who say that number is likely to rise.
In addition to bars, Texas shuttered tubing and rafting business on Friday to try to avoid crowds like those seen on Saturday in Arizona along the Salt River east of Phoenix.
As temperatures rose to above 100 Fahrenheit, dozens of people climbed into inflatable inner tubes with coolers and took to the water to escape the heat. Very few wore masks.
Some beaches in Florida are also closing ahead of next weekend's Fourth of July holiday, which would have drawn large crowds.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people are driving the surge in his state. “Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are," Mr. DeSantis said.
In Arizona, cases have risen by 267% so far in June and jumped by a record 3,857 cases on Sunday, the eighth record-breaking increase this month. Georgia reported a record increase of 2,225 cases on Sunday. Fifteen states, including California, Florida, and Texas, saw record rises in cases last week.
WEAR A MASK
Just a day after he sounded a note of optimism about the U.S. response to the pandemic and said the country was in "a much better place," Vice President Mike Pence canceled events to campaign for Republican President Donald Trump's re-election in Florida and Arizona due to the outbreak, campaign officials said on Saturday.
On Sunday, Mr. Pence traveled to Texas and attended a service at the First Baptist Church of Dallas where a 100-member choir sang without masks. Mr. Pence did wear a face covering while sitting in the audience, according to a video.
In early March, a church choir in Washington state gathered for a rehearsal before the state issued a stay-at-home order. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 87% of the singers developed COVID-19. Two members of the choir died.
Mr. Pence urged Texans to follow local laws requiring masks and said towns and counties in about half the state are requiring face coverings in public. Mr. Pence has defended Mr. Trump's refusal to directly ask all Americans to wear masks.
On Tuesday, Mr. Pence was supposed to address a Trump-Pence campaign “Faith in America” event in Tuscon, Arizona, before meeting Gov. Doug Ducey in Yuma. The campaign event has been postponed, reported the Associated Press.
In Florida on Thursday, Mr. Pence was to embark on a bus tour, including an appearance in Lake Wales at an event organized by the pro-Trump group America First Policies billed as the “Great American Comeback tour.” The group announced that “out of an abundance of caution at this time, we are postponing the Great American Comeback tour stop in Florida. We look forward to rescheduling soon.”
The Sarasota County Republican Party confirmed in a note to supporters that Mr. Pence’s campaign event along the Gulf Coast of the state was also postponed. He was still set to meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In the state of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase. But in Hawaii, the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing.
Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey reversed himself and allowed cities and counties to require face masks in public even though he hasn’t been seen wearing one.
“This is not a sprint, this is a marathon,” said Dr. Lisa Goldberg, director of the emergency department of Tucson Medical Center in Arizona. “In fact, it’s an ultra-marathon.”
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar stressed that “the window is closing” for the United States to take action to effectively curb the coronavirus.
Mr. Azar pointed to a recent spike in infections, particularly in the South. He says people have “to act responsibly” by social distancing and wearing face masks, especially “in these hot zones.”
Speaking on NBC and CNN, Mr. Azar argued that the U.S. is in a better position than two months ago in fighting the virus because it is conducting more testing and has therapeutics available to treat COVID-19.
But he acknowledged that hospitalizations and deaths could increase in the next few weeks.
Global coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday according to a Reuters tally, marking a major milestone in the spread of the respiratory disease that has so far killed almost half a million people in seven months.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento and Lisa Shumaker in Chicago; Additional reporting from The Associated Press. Additional Reuters reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Maria Caspani in New York; Writing by Lisa Shumakmer; Editing by Daniel Wallis.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-02--'We can do this': US engineers fix piles of broken ventilators

It was late when engineer Joe Tavi 's boss called with an odd question : Could their company , which makes fuel cells , learn how to fix a ventilator ?
California had a bunch of broken ones , and the governor had asked if San Jose-based Bloom Energy could repair them so coronavirus patients could breathe .
Mr. Tavi , an engineer who grew up taking apart the family vacuum cleaner to see if he could put it back together , said he would sleep on it .
But he did n't sleep .
Instead , he downloaded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1200 , the type of ventilator state officials said they needed repaired .
At 4:45 a.m. the next day , his boss called again .
`` We can do this , '' Mr. Tavi told her .
`` We wo n't be able to do it if we do n't try . ''
Since then , a company that knew nothing about ventilators has fixed more than 500 of them .
It 's a transformation akin to World War II , when manufacturing behemoths used their assembly line expertise to make airplanes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tapping their storehouses of brainpower to do the same thing with medical equipment .
The Society of Critical Care Medicine estimates about 960,000 COVID-19 patients in the United States might need a ventilator .
But there are only about 200,000 machines available .
In California , the nation 's most populous state with nearly 40 million people , Gov .
Gavin Newsom is on the hunt for at least 10,000 ventilators .
So far , he 's found just over 4,000 of them – including 170 from the federal government 's national stockpile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel cells , which combine air and hydrogen to create electricity through a chemical reaction .
To get the air and the hydrogen in the right quantities , the fuel cell uses hoses and valves and fans – similar functions to a ventilator .
Chief Operations Officer Susan Brennan says the company is n't profiting from the repairs ; they hope to eventually recoup some of their expenses from the state .
Once he knew he could do it , Mr. Tavi gathered with other company engineers to come up with a plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ventilator settings and calibrations .
The company 's head of supply chain ordered the parts .
There were some anxious moments , especially during testing .
As a kid , Mr. Tavi said , when he would take apart his family vacuum cleaner , sometimes he could n't get it back together correctly .
A ventilator is n't something you want to put together and find a few screws left over .
But once the team got the ventilators hooked up to balloons , hearing the soft `` woosh '' of air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tavi said it went from being a machine to something much more personal .
`` I would think about my mom or my uncle or a family member of a friend or a co-worker needing one of those machines , '' he said .
`` We do n't view it as a number of units we are turning over .
We view it as the maximum number of people we could potentially positively impact by having an extra ventilator that works .
Even if it 's just one person . ''
This story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

It was late when engineer Joe Tavi's boss called with an odd question: Could their company, which makes fuel cells, learn how to fix a ventilator?
California had a bunch of broken ones, and the governor had asked if San Jose-based Bloom Energy could repair them so coronavirus patients could breathe.
Mr. Tavi, an engineer who grew up taking apart the family vacuum cleaner to see if he could put it back together, said he would sleep on it.
But he didn't sleep. Instead, he downloaded the more than 300-page manual for the LTD 1200, the type of ventilator state officials said they needed repaired.
At 4:45 a.m. the next day, his boss called again.
"We can do this," Mr. Tavi told her. "We won't be able to do it if we don't try."
Since then, a company that knew nothing about ventilators has fixed more than 500 of them. It's a transformation akin to World War II, when manufacturing behemoths used their assembly line expertise to make airplanes and tanks. Now, some companies are tapping their storehouses of brainpower to do the same thing with medical equipment.
The Society of Critical Care Medicine estimates about 960,000 COVID-19 patients in the United States might need a ventilator. But there are only about 200,000 machines available.
In California, the nation's most populous state with nearly 40 million people, Gov. Gavin Newsom is on the hunt for at least 10,000 ventilators. So far, he's found just over 4,000 of them – including 170 from the federal government's national stockpile that needed repairs.
Bloom Energy makes fuel cells, which combine air and hydrogen to create electricity through a chemical reaction. To get the air and the hydrogen in the right quantities, the fuel cell uses hoses and valves and fans – similar functions to a ventilator. Chief Operations Officer Susan Brennan says the company isn't profiting from the repairs; they hope to eventually recoup some of their expenses from the state.
Once he knew he could do it, Mr. Tavi gathered with other company engineers to come up with a plan, guided by lots of YouTube videos on ventilator settings and calibrations. The company's head of supply chain ordered the parts.
There were some anxious moments, especially during testing. As a kid, Mr. Tavi said, when he would take apart his family vacuum cleaner, sometimes he couldn't get it back together correctly. A ventilator isn't something you want to put together and find a few screws left over.
But once the team got the ventilators hooked up to balloons, hearing the soft "woosh" of air as they expanded and contracted, Mr. Tavi said it went from being a machine to something much more personal.
"I would think about my mom or my uncle or a family member of a friend or a co-worker needing one of those machines," he said. "We don't view it as a number of units we are turning over. We view it as the maximum number of people we could potentially positively impact by having an extra ventilator that works. Even if it's just one person."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-28--London-based Ned Temko navigates us through challenging times

In our series Navigating Uncertainty , the Monitor is delving deeply into the growing global disorder challenging leaders and institutions worldwide .
It ’ s a disorder that has been made all the more striking by the crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
But as the 12 correspondents reporting our Navigating Uncertainty series are discovering , with great challenges come new paths to progress .
Ned Temko is the Monitor ’ s London correspondent and wrote the first story for the series .
I asked Ned why the series was launched .
Many of us at the Monitor had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unmooring ” from many of the institutions and assumptions that had underpinned national and international politics – and our own lives – since the aftermath of World War II .
In their place , in many countries , was a rising polarization and a brand of politics powered by populism , nationalism , and often resentment and anger .
All of this at a time when the old economic certainties were being challenged not just by new technology and a shift toward a more globally interwoven economy , but by ever-widening gaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many of those who were being left behind .
The aim of the series , as it evolved , was ambitious : to look at the human stories behind these headline trends ; to draw out the patterns and connections that linked these different stories .
I think what the series most aspires to do – what we think of as “ Monitor journalism ” – is to step back from the day-to-day headline events and , along with readers , navigate our way toward a clearer , more nuanced picture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also , importantly , we wanted to shine a light on individuals and institutions who are actively looking for new ways to make common cause on issues like human rights , social and religious tolerance , free speech , economic development and fairness – as well as to tackle specific new challenges like climate change .
In other words , efforts to shape whatever “ new world order ” emerges on the other side of the instability and uncertainty that have grown dramatically over the past few years .
Find all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home page .
When the Monitor first planned the Navigating Uncertainty series , we were still weeks away from the point where millions of people were forced to shelter in their homes from a virus that is knocking the global economy off its axis .
Has coronavirus changed the need for this series ?
A good question , and one we have naturally been asking ourselves as the COVID-19 crisis has spread and intensified .
I think the answer is that it hasn ’ t so much changed the need for the series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the issues we ’ d set out to chronicle and illuminate have proved strikingly relevant to the pandemic .
To take just one example , the question of the increasingly interconnected world economy , which both contributed to the worldwide spread of the virus and has had a major impact on the frantic scramble around the globe to secure things like ventilators or protective equipment – much of which turns out to come from the country where COVID-19 first appeared : China .
The halting , and in some cases belated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus also brings in other issues we ’ d set out to explore in the series : the rise of populist politics , or the growing distrust among many people of existing institutions , leaders , policy experts , and of the idea of facts-based policy .
The pandemic has also become a major stress test for longstanding international partnerships and alliances that were also , as the series reflects , becoming increasingly fragile .
We look back at what the world was experiencing in the 1930s as a reference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Remind us what we went through then and how that compares and contrasts with what we ’ ve experienced in recent years ?
There are indeed potential parallels , I think , which are likely to become more significant in light of the huge economic contraction being caused by the shutdowns put in effect in many major countries to control the spread of COVID-19 .
The 1930s – the years of the Great Depression – also saw a rise in nationalism , populism , protectionism , and isolationism .
All of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major democracies , or in opposition politicians opposing sitting governments .
The open question – part of the “ uncertainty ” we ’ re trying to navigate in the series – is whether those trends will become ever more dominant , or whether we ’ ll see a kind of new world order that retains an outward-looking , cooperative , international point of view .
Where are the biggest threats now to all of the gains that were achieved as democracy and human rights expanded after World War II ?
My own sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreate a sense among governments , within communities , and among individual citizens both of the importance , and fragility , of the post-war consensus .
It was not perfect .
It was , of course , initially a series of structures and principles largely focused on Western countries and which was led , indeed created , largely by the United States .
But over many decades , the main guiding principles – democracy , free markets , trade and , perhaps above all , human rights and the rule of law – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or at least aspired to .
And maybe they also were , by the turn of the new century , simply taken for granted .
That ’ s why I say there is a new and important challenge for governments and civic groups and citizens who do believe in them .
In many countries , they ’ re having to make a renewed case for these principles , to explain why they matter , and to risk criticism , opprobrium , or sometimes personal freedom or even their lives , to defend them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions who are countering the forces giving rise to growing authoritarian power and the decline of human rights .
That ’ s one of the most extraordinary things amid all the dramatic changes occurring in the world : the enormous resiliency of those who , broadly speaking , believe passionately in human rights and in the idea that might does not necessarily mean right .
This has been very much part of the series articles that have appeared so far , whether in Anne Scott Tyson ’ s fascinating look at the protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to defend a separate political path for Taiwan from mainland China ’ s ; or , for instance , Sara Miller Llana ’ s encounter with pro-democracy activists in populist President Jair Bolsinaro ’ s Brazil .
And in a series piece that ’ s coming up in the weeks ahead , our Middle East correspondent , Taylor Luck , will be looking at the lonely but determined struggle being waged by rights activists in the Arab world now that the proclaimed hope and promise of the so-called Arab Spring seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a compelling “ Navigating Uncertainty ” audio report by Dominique Soguel based on conversations with a number of those opposing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ’ s consolidation of power and his increasing constraints on democracy and free expression .
You also wrote in your overview story how a woman in a public housing development in the north of England is tied to NATO , the E.U.
, the White House and the Kremlin in the same way as China ’ s leader Xi Jinping .
What ’ s the connection and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The link is in the erosion of many of the institutions and life assumptions that for so long defined the politics of the post-World War II world , and which I suppose began to unravel in the wake of the international economic crisis of 2008 .
But the other reason we began with the example of this woman , Margaret Farley , whom I in fact met on a reporting assignment in the aftermath of 2008 crash , was to emphasize that the changes and challenges which we ’ ve been tracing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not involve only heads-of-government , or international alliances , or corporate CEOs , but millions of individual citizens in dozens of countries around the world .
I was struck by a recent opinion piece by Henry Kissinger in the Wall Street Journal in which he states `` No country , not even the U.S. , can in a purely national effort overcome the virus .
Addressing the necessities of the moment must ultimately be coupled with a global collaborative vision and program .
If we can not do both in tandem , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' What ’ s your take on this ?
I agree wholeheartedly with Kissinger ’ s view .
What I ’ d add is that one of the major issues over the next few years is likely to be America ’ s role in the world .
Though President Donald Trump has supercharged the idea of “ America first , ” at the time he was elected the U.S. was already on a post-Iraq war path toward a less assertive and engaged role .
I recognize , and in fact share , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military action only in response to a clearly defined threat , and with a clearly defined and well-thought-out aim .
And I wouldn ’ t suggest that American policies and actions have always been perfect .
No country ’ s policies are .
Yet my long experience as an international correspondent has left me firmly convinced that American involvement has far more often been a force for good and that American leadership has been , and almost certainly still is , indispensable to achieving the kind of collaborative vision for which Dr. Kissinger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come back to where we started , the Navigating Uncertainty series .
I ’ ve been hugely privileged in my journalistic career , beginning in Lisbon not long after the overthrow of the dictatorship , then , for the Monitor , based in Beirut and later Jerusalem , covering both sides of the Middle East conflict , in Moscow during the waning years of the Soviet Union , in South Africa during the waning years , and final violence , of apartheid .
For Monitor television , I returned there to cover the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Berlin the night the wall came down .
All of this , I suppose , brought home to me the importance of the values and principles that were part of the post-World War II architecture built under that American leadership : above all , perhaps , institutions like an independent judiciary , an independent media , and basic individual rights and freedoms .
Read much more of Ned Temko ’ s interview on CSMonitor.com .
You can also find more profiles of our writers here .
Got a question for Ned Temko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d love to hear your feedback .
Send your thoughts to me at fitzgeraldg @ csmonitor.com .

In our series Navigating Uncertainty, the Monitor is delving deeply into the growing global disorder challenging leaders and institutions worldwide. It’s a disorder that has been made all the more striking by the crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But as the 12 correspondents reporting our Navigating Uncertainty series are discovering, with great challenges come new paths to progress.
Ned Temko is the Monitor’s London correspondent and wrote the first story for the series. I asked Ned why the series was launched.
Many of us at the Monitor had been witnessing the ground-level effects of that “unmooring” from many of the institutions and assumptions that had underpinned national and international politics – and our own lives – since the aftermath of World War II. In their place, in many countries, was a rising polarization and a brand of politics powered by populism, nationalism, and often resentment and anger. All of this at a time when the old economic certainties were being challenged not just by new technology and a shift toward a more globally interwoven economy, but by ever-widening gaps in income and a narrowing of opportunities for many of those who were being left behind.
The aim of the series, as it evolved, was ambitious: to look at the human stories behind these headline trends; to draw out the patterns and connections that linked these different stories.
I think what the series most aspires to do – what we think of as “Monitor journalism” – is to step back from the day-to-day headline events and, along with readers, navigate our way toward a clearer, more nuanced picture of the major changes that have been underway.
Also, importantly, we wanted to shine a light on individuals and institutions who are actively looking for new ways to make common cause on issues like human rights, social and religious tolerance, free speech, economic development and fairness – as well as to tackle specific new challenges like climate change. In other words, efforts to shape whatever “new world order” emerges on the other side of the instability and uncertainty that have grown dramatically over the past few years.
Find all of our Navigating Uncertainty stories on the series home page.
When the Monitor first planned the Navigating Uncertainty series, we were still weeks away from the point where millions of people were forced to shelter in their homes from a virus that is knocking the global economy off its axis. Has coronavirus changed the need for this series?
A good question, and one we have naturally been asking ourselves as the COVID-19 crisis has spread and intensified. I think the answer is that it hasn’t so much changed the need for the series as made it more timely. Some of the issues we’d set out to chronicle and illuminate have proved strikingly relevant to the pandemic.
To take just one example, the question of the increasingly interconnected world economy, which both contributed to the worldwide spread of the virus and has had a major impact on the frantic scramble around the globe to secure things like ventilators or protective equipment – much of which turns out to come from the country where COVID-19 first appeared: China. The halting, and in some cases belated, response of many Western governments to the spread of the virus also brings in other issues we’d set out to explore in the series: the rise of populist politics, or the growing distrust among many people of existing institutions, leaders, policy experts, and of the idea of facts-based policy. The pandemic has also become a major stress test for longstanding international partnerships and alliances that were also, as the series reflects, becoming increasingly fragile.
We look back at what the world was experiencing in the 1930s as a reference point to today’s global challenges. Remind us what we went through then and how that compares and contrasts with what we’ve experienced in recent years?
There are indeed potential parallels, I think, which are likely to become more significant in light of the huge economic contraction being caused by the shutdowns put in effect in many major countries to control the spread of COVID-19. The 1930s – the years of the Great Depression – also saw a rise in nationalism, populism, protectionism, and isolationism. All of these have been evident in a number of major democracies, or in opposition politicians opposing sitting governments. The open question – part of the “uncertainty” we’re trying to navigate in the series – is whether those trends will become ever more dominant, or whether we’ll see a kind of new world order that retains an outward-looking, cooperative, international point of view.
Where are the biggest threats now to all of the gains that were achieved as democracy and human rights expanded after World War II?
My own sense is that the main challenge is to recreate a sense among governments, within communities, and among individual citizens both of the importance, and fragility, of the post-war consensus. It was not perfect. It was, of course, initially a series of structures and principles largely focused on Western countries and which was led, indeed created, largely by the United States. But over many decades, the main guiding principles – democracy, free markets, trade and, perhaps above all, human rights and the rule of law – became more and more widely accepted, or at least aspired to. And maybe they also were, by the turn of the new century, simply taken for granted. That’s why I say there is a new and important challenge for governments and civic groups and citizens who do believe in them. In many countries, they’re having to make a renewed case for these principles, to explain why they matter, and to risk criticism, opprobrium, or sometimes personal freedom or even their lives, to defend them.
Give us examples of people and institutions who are countering the forces giving rise to growing authoritarian power and the decline of human rights.
That’s one of the most extraordinary things amid all the dramatic changes occurring in the world: the enormous resiliency of those who, broadly speaking, believe passionately in human rights and in the idea that might does not necessarily mean right. This has been very much part of the series articles that have appeared so far, whether in Anne Scott Tyson’s fascinating look at the protest movement in Hong Kong or those who continue to defend a separate political path for Taiwan from mainland China’s; or, for instance, Sara Miller Llana’s encounter with pro-democracy activists in populist President Jair Bolsinaro’s Brazil. And in a series piece that’s coming up in the weeks ahead, our Middle East correspondent, Taylor Luck, will be looking at the lonely but determined struggle being waged by rights activists in the Arab world now that the proclaimed hope and promise of the so-called Arab Spring seem to have largely faded. There’s also a compelling “Navigating Uncertainty” audio report by Dominique Soguel based on conversations with a number of those opposing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s consolidation of power and his increasing constraints on democracy and free expression.
You also wrote in your overview story how a woman in a public housing development in the north of England is tied to NATO, the E.U., the White House and the Kremlin in the same way as China’s leader Xi Jinping. What’s the connection and why is that important to progress?
The link is in the erosion of many of the institutions and life assumptions that for so long defined the politics of the post-World War II world, and which I suppose began to unravel in the wake of the international economic crisis of 2008. But the other reason we began with the example of this woman, Margaret Farley, whom I in fact met on a reporting assignment in the aftermath of 2008 crash, was to emphasize that the changes and challenges which we’ve been tracing in the “Navigating Uncertainty” series do not involve only heads-of-government, or international alliances, or corporate CEOs, but millions of individual citizens in dozens of countries around the world.
I was struck by a recent opinion piece by Henry Kissinger in the Wall Street Journal in which he states "No country, not even the U.S., can in a purely national effort overcome the virus. Addressing the necessities of the moment must ultimately be coupled with a global collaborative vision and program. If we cannot do both in tandem, we will face the worst of each." What’s your take on this?
I agree wholeheartedly with Kissinger’s view. What I’d add is that one of the major issues over the next few years is likely to be America’s role in the world. Though President Donald Trump has supercharged the idea of “America first,” at the time he was elected the U.S. was already on a post-Iraq war path toward a less assertive and engaged role. I recognize, and in fact share, the view that the U.S. should engage in military action only in response to a clearly defined threat, and with a clearly defined and well-thought-out aim. And I wouldn’t suggest that American policies and actions have always been perfect. No country’s policies are. Yet my long experience as an international correspondent has left me firmly convinced that American involvement has far more often been a force for good and that American leadership has been, and almost certainly still is, indispensable to achieving the kind of collaborative vision for which Dr. Kissinger is calling.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
And if I could come back to where we started, the Navigating Uncertainty series. I’ve been hugely privileged in my journalistic career, beginning in Lisbon not long after the overthrow of the dictatorship, then, for the Monitor, based in Beirut and later Jerusalem, covering both sides of the Middle East conflict, in Moscow during the waning years of the Soviet Union, in South Africa during the waning years, and final violence, of apartheid. For Monitor television, I returned there to cover the release of Nelson Mandela, and was in Berlin the night the wall came down. All of this, I suppose, brought home to me the importance of the values and principles that were part of the post-World War II architecture built under that American leadership: above all, perhaps, institutions like an independent judiciary, an independent media, and basic individual rights and freedoms.
Read much more of Ned Temko’s interview on CSMonitor.com. You can also find more profiles of our writers here. Got a question for Ned Temko or comments about our series? We’d love to hear your feedback. Send your thoughts to me at fitzgeraldg@csmonitor.com.