csmonitor--2020-08-12--Europe’s missing democratic piece

Europe’s missing democratic piece

Earlier this year , the new president of the European Commission , Ursula von der Leyen , proclaimed that Europe must do more in managing crises near its borders .
It must “ step up ” and be “ more assertive in the world.
” This week , her words finally met their match in Belarus , a country at the center of Eastern Europe .
A flawed election in Belarus on Sunday has led to mass protests in a number of cities and violent crackdowns by special forces .
To her credit , Ms. von der Leyen has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Alexander Lukashenko , to publish accurate poll results .
And she added , “ Harassment and violent repression of peaceful protesters has no place in Europe.
” A special European Union meeting will be held Friday to discuss the crisis .
Lithuania is caring for the safety of the election ’ s main opposition candidate , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who was forced into exile .
And Germany , which stated that there was “ absolutely no sign ” of a free election in Belarus , has demanded that “ peaceful protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Europe ’ s moment to step up and safeguard democracy in the world , perhaps leading instead of following the United States in that role ?
The coming days will tell if the EU sees itself as something more than a trade union with minimal engagement in promoting democracy .
The democratic revolution underway in Belarus is one of the unfinished pieces in the restructuring of Europe after the collapse of communism in 1989 .
With the U.S. largely preoccupied with a presidential election and deciding its role in the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expansion of its values on the continent .
Given the size of the crowds coming out for Ms. Tikhanovskaya during the campaign , Belarus is ripe for a transition .
The country is considered the last Soviet-style dictatorship in Europe .
Germany has called for sanctions against the leaders of Belarus , not only for the rigged election but also for the brutality against demonstrators .
Such actions would show the EU , despite its own current problems , is stepping up in the world .
The first step is right in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have clearly made a choice for democracy .
Now the EU can , too .

Earlier this year, the new president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proclaimed that Europe must do more in managing crises near its borders. It must “step up” and be “more assertive in the world.” This week, her words finally met their match in Belarus, a country at the center of Eastern Europe.
A flawed election in Belarus on Sunday has led to mass protests in a number of cities and violent crackdowns by special forces. To her credit, Ms. von der Leyen has called on the country’s longtime dictator, President Alexander Lukashenko, to publish accurate poll results. And she added, “Harassment and violent repression of peaceful protesters has no place in Europe.”
A special European Union meeting will be held Friday to discuss the crisis. Lithuania is caring for the safety of the election’s main opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was forced into exile. And Germany, which stated that there was “absolutely no sign” of a free election in Belarus, has demanded that “peaceful protesters” in detention be released.
Is this Europe’s moment to step up and safeguard democracy in the world, perhaps leading instead of following the United States in that role? The coming days will tell if the EU sees itself as something more than a trade union with minimal engagement in promoting democracy.
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The democratic revolution underway in Belarus is one of the unfinished pieces in the restructuring of Europe after the collapse of communism in 1989. With the U.S. largely preoccupied with a presidential election and deciding its role in the world, the EU has an opportunity to support the expansion of its values on the continent. Given the size of the crowds coming out for Ms. Tikhanovskaya during the campaign, Belarus is ripe for a transition. The country is considered the last Soviet-style dictatorship in Europe.
Germany has called for sanctions against the leaders of Belarus, not only for the rigged election but also for the brutality against demonstrators. Such actions would show the EU, despite its own current problems, is stepping up in the world. The first step is right in its backyard. The people of Belarus have clearly made a choice for democracy. Now the EU can, too.


csmonitor--2020-08-12--'Squad' member Ilhan Omar defends her seat in Minnesota primary

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota survived a stiff Democratic primary challenge Tuesday from a well-funded opponent who tried to make an issue of her national celebrity , the latest in a string of victories by a new generation of emboldened progressive lawmakers .
Ms. Omar , seeking her second term in November , easily defeated Antone Melton-Meaux , an attorney and mediator who raised millions in anti-Omar money .
Ms. Omar and her allies gained confidence in her reelection chances after primary victories last week by fellow `` Squad '' member Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and by Cori Bush , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a longtime St. Louis-area congressman .
They also claimed momentum from the renewed focus on racial and economic justice after George Floyd 's death in Minneapolis .
`` Tonight , our movement did n't just win , '' Ms. Omar tweeted .
`` We earned a mandate for change .
Despite outside efforts to defeat us , we once again broke turnout records .
Despite the attacks , our support has only grown . ''
Mr. Melton-Meaux used the cash to paper the district and flood airwaves with his `` Focused on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as out of touch with the heavily Democratic Minneapolis-area 5th District , which has n't elected a Republican to Congress since 1960 .
He conceded defeat and acknowledged that his efforts were n't enough , while declining to speculate on why .
`` I 'm also incredibly proud of the work that we did , that garnered at least over 60,000 votes from the district , from people who resonated with our message of effective leadership grounded in the district , and bringing people together to get things done , '' Mr. Melton-Meaux @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress , building on a national profile that started when the onetime refugee from Somalia was elected to the Minnesota Legislature just two years earlier .
Her aggressive advocacy on liberal issues , and her eagerness to take on Donald Trump , made her even more prominent .
Ms. Omar rejected Mr. Melton-Meaux 's attacks , saying they were funded by interests who wanted to get her out of Congress because she 's effective .
She also downplayed Mr. Melton-Meaux 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` organized people will always beat organized money . ''
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Republican challenger Jason Lewis easily won their primaries in the only statewide races on the ballot .
Elsewhere , in western Minnesota 's conservative 7th District , former state Sen. Michelle Fischbach won a three-way Republican race for the right to challenge Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson .
Mr. Peterson , chairman of the House Agriculture Committee , is one of the GOP 's top targets to flip a House seat in November .
After entering Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early with comments about Israel and money that even some fellow Democrats called anti-Semitic , and found herself apologizing .
She also came under scrutiny when her marriage fell apart and she married her political consultant months after denying they were having an affair .
Republicans also raised questions about continuing payments to her new husband 's firm , though experts said they are n't necessarily improper .
In the wake of Mr. Floyd 's death , police reform also emerged as an issue .
Ms. Omar supported a push by a majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city 's police department with something new .
Mr. Melton-Meaux did n't support that but did support shifting some funding away from police to more social service-oriented programs .
Both touched on the issue in personal ways , with Ms. Omar saying she wanted her son to grow up safely .
Mr. Melton-Meaux , who is also Black , told a personal story of being detained while at the University of Virginia by police seeking an assault suspect reported to have run into his apartment building .
Wendy Helgeson , a consultant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even installing a lawn sign in her yard , and said she was `` awfully proud of her being the first Black Muslim woman that we elected . ''
But she said she was concerned about campaign payments to Ms. Omar 's husband 's firm as well as her national presence , and found it easy to vote for Mr. Melton-Meaux , whom she said has been her friend for 12 years .
`` I admire her as a woman , '' Ms. Helgeson said of Ms. Omar .
`` As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reservations . ''
John Hildebrand , a teacher in Minneapolis who voted for Ms. Omar , said her national profile is an advantage .
`` I think just her presence encourages other Muslims and Somalis to run for office and to seek to be represented , '' he said .
`` I think she just engages people in the political system more and more . ''
Blake Smith , a parks worker who is Black and described himself as a leftist , also backed Ms. Omar .
He 's concerned about climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money out of politics , and he sees her as an ally .
`` It 's more time for radical change than like small – I do n't think we have time for incremental change anymore , '' Mr. Smith said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Doug Glass contributed to this story .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota survived a stiff Democratic primary challenge Tuesday from a well-funded opponent who tried to make an issue of her national celebrity, the latest in a string of victories by a new generation of emboldened progressive lawmakers.
Ms. Omar, seeking her second term in November, easily defeated Antone Melton-Meaux, an attorney and mediator who raised millions in anti-Omar money.
Ms. Omar and her allies gained confidence in her reelection chances after primary victories last week by fellow "Squad" member Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and by Cori Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist who ousted a longtime St. Louis-area congressman. They also claimed momentum from the renewed focus on racial and economic justice after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.
"Tonight, our movement didn't just win," Ms. Omar tweeted. "We earned a mandate for change. Despite outside efforts to defeat us, we once again broke turnout records. Despite the attacks, our support has only grown."
Mr. Melton-Meaux used the cash to paper the district and flood airwaves with his "Focused on the Fifth" message that portrayed Ms. Omar as out of touch with the heavily Democratic Minneapolis-area 5th District, which hasn't elected a Republican to Congress since 1960. He conceded defeat and acknowledged that his efforts weren't enough, while declining to speculate on why.
"I'm also incredibly proud of the work that we did, that garnered at least over 60,000 votes from the district, from people who resonated with our message of effective leadership grounded in the district, and bringing people together to get things done," Mr. Melton-Meaux told The Associated Press.
Ms. Omar in 2018 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, building on a national profile that started when the onetime refugee from Somalia was elected to the Minnesota Legislature just two years earlier. Her aggressive advocacy on liberal issues, and her eagerness to take on Donald Trump, made her even more prominent.
Ms. Omar rejected Mr. Melton-Meaux's attacks, saying they were funded by interests who wanted to get her out of Congress because she's effective. She also downplayed Mr. Melton-Meaux's prodigious fundraising before the vote, saying, "organized people will always beat organized money."
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Republican challenger Jason Lewis easily won their primaries in the only statewide races on the ballot. Elsewhere, in western Minnesota's conservative 7th District, former state Sen. Michelle Fischbach won a three-way Republican race for the right to challenge Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson. Mr. Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, is one of the GOP's top targets to flip a House seat in November.
After entering Congress with fanfare, Ms. Omar hurt herself early with comments about Israel and money that even some fellow Democrats called anti-Semitic, and found herself apologizing. She also came under scrutiny when her marriage fell apart and she married her political consultant months after denying they were having an affair.
Republicans also raised questions about continuing payments to her new husband's firm, though experts said they aren't necessarily improper.
In the wake of Mr. Floyd's death, police reform also emerged as an issue. Ms. Omar supported a push by a majority of the Minneapolis City Council to replace the city's police department with something new. Mr. Melton-Meaux didn't support that but did support shifting some funding away from police to more social service-oriented programs. Both touched on the issue in personal ways, with Ms. Omar saying she wanted her son to grow up safely.
Mr. Melton-Meaux, who is also Black, told a personal story of being detained while at the University of Virginia by police seeking an assault suspect reported to have run into his apartment building.
Wendy Helgeson, a consultant, backed Ms. Omar two years ago, even installing a lawn sign in her yard, and said she was "awfully proud of her being the first Black Muslim woman that we elected." But she said she was concerned about campaign payments to Ms. Omar's husband's firm as well as her national presence, and found it easy to vote for Mr. Melton-Meaux, whom she said has been her friend for 12 years.
"I admire her as a woman," Ms. Helgeson said of Ms. Omar. "As a candidate, ehhh ... I have some reservations."
John Hildebrand, a teacher in Minneapolis who voted for Ms. Omar, said her national profile is an advantage.
"I think just her presence encourages other Muslims and Somalis to run for office and to seek to be represented," he said. "I think she just engages people in the political system more and more."
Blake Smith, a parks worker who is Black and described himself as a leftist, also backed Ms. Omar. He's concerned about climate change, Medicare for all, and getting money out of politics, and he sees her as an ally.
"It's more time for radical change than like small – I don't think we have time for incremental change anymore," Mr. Smith said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Doug Glass contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-08-12--The adults weighed in on reopening schools. What do kids say?

Parents have weighed in on reopening schools .
Teachers have weighed in .
Public health experts , too , along with cities , states , and President Donald Trump .
But what about the kids themselves ?
As the grown-ups fret , kindergartners to high schoolers faced with a range of scenarios for virtual and in-person classes are expressing both fear and glee over leaving home to learn .
Many said they 're most worried about fellow students breaking the rules on wearing masks and keeping their distance , especially in areas that are hot spots for the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , '' said a skeptical Peter Klamka , a student in a Las Vegas county that logged 95 % of new coronavirus cases reported in Nevada early last week .
The eighth-grader will return to his private school in about three weeks .
`` Some kids will be more responsible than others .
I 'm not looking forward to it but I 've got to go [ to ] school so I 'd rather be there in person , '' Peter said .
Kindergartner Rivington Hall in Westport , Connecticut , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at least in part on Zoom after finishing preschool at home .
`` I 'd rather go to school because it has more toys and it 's more fun , '' she said as she munched on animal crackers and sipped from a juice box .
Anxious parents around the country are looking to schools that have already opened for signs of how it might go .
One , North Paulding High School in suburban Atlanta , rescinded a five-day suspension for a student who shared photos and video of crowded hallways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened this month .
The school has since suffered an outbreak of COVID-19 , along with other schools in hard-hit Georgia .
Nearly 50 miles away in Alpharetta , Georgia , Collier Evans will attend school remotely when he begins fifth grade Aug. 17 .
He could have gone in person full time or picked a blended option but said he was anxious about returning to school .
As for distance learning , he said : `` I hope it 's going to go better than last year .
You had to wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask the teacher one question . ''
In Tucson , Arizona , Simon Joubeaud Pulitzer returned to his private school Aug. 3 , his blue button-down uniform shirt and tie in place .
He was happy to see his friends again and have face-to-face access to his teachers .
`` Not the first day but after , yes , I felt a bit safer , '' Simon said .
`` All kids were following the rules . ''
Those rules include masks worn indoors , socially distanced desks , and only two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end for lunch .
Most American parents said it was unsafe to send their children back to school , with more than 80 % favoring school conducted at least partly online , according to a new Washington Post-Schar School survey conducted by Ipsos .
But many expressed displeasure at the quality of online instruction .
As summer winds down , the mixed feelings mirror the lack of consensus around the country on how to balance virus risks and schooling .
Some Scandinavian countries with far fewer cases than in the United States reopened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no outbreaks connected to their operations .
In Israel , schools that reopened when virus activity was low ended up shutting down a few weeks later when cases spiked .
In the U.S. , some school districts plan a mix of in-person classes and online learning to help maintain social distancing .
Other districts , including those in Miami , Houston , and Los Angeles , are starting classes online only .
Ella Springer of Kenosha , Wisconsin , will start her sophomore year of high school at home after her school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall semester .
That could change as the year progresses .
`` At first I was wanting to go back to school in person but I feel like , watching the numbers in Wisconsin , it makes more sense to go back virtual because it 's rising , '' she said .
`` It 's pretty boring at home but what can you do ?
Last year the virtual was easier for me to slack off at home because it was a loose kind of thing , but I feel like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 've had the whole summer to prepare . ''
Aiden Anderson , in Orlando , Florida , will begin sixth grade at home for two weeks , then happily head out to school in a state that 's among the nation 's worst hot spots for the virus .
`` I do n't like that there 's two weeks online , '' he said .
`` At home it 's so easy to get distracted . ''
In Littleton , Colorado , Will Asbury is going into third grade .
School starts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in person .
There was a distance learning option but Will and his little sister , Luca , wanted to go .
`` I 'm going to feel good because I get to see my friends .
Masks are a bummer but at least we get to play with our friends during recess and see them at lunch , '' he said .
Of distance learning , Luca got right to the point : `` I did n't like it . ''
She 's hoping for a unicorn mask to wear when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a high school freshman and his sister , Amelia , a high school senior in Great Neck , New York .
Their school , for now , decided on full time , at-home learning to start in September with a possible staggered approach in person later on , allowing half the students in at a time .
`` I really want to go back .
It would be nice to interact with people and have a more separate life at school and home , '' Alec said .
`` But if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kids follow it ?
I 'm really not sure . ''
Amelia said exactly how responsible students will be is what worries her the most , based on what she 's seen among peers .
`` Some people are n't as careful as others , '' she said .
`` They are n't following any type of safety measures , which really scares me .
But I really want to go back .
It 's the last year .
We did n't even get to say goodbye to any of our teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School for Indianapolis , Indiana , seventh-grader Maria Beck started July 30 .
She is attending online full time .
At first , her school district was going to offer some in-person instruction , then changed its mind .
There 's been a recent uptick in reported COVID-19 cases in her area .
`` I 'm a big extrovert , '' Maria said of missing face-to-face school .
`` But so far , it 's been going very well .
I do hope we get to go back some day . ''
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too , is OK with distance learning .
Among the things she misses most about real school ?
Lunch .
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 .

Parents have weighed in on reopening schools. Teachers have weighed in. Public health experts, too, along with cities, states, and President Donald Trump.
But what about the kids themselves? As the grown-ups fret, kindergartners to high schoolers faced with a range of scenarios for virtual and in-person classes are expressing both fear and glee over leaving home to learn.
Many said they're most worried about fellow students breaking the rules on wearing masks and keeping their distance, especially in areas that are hot spots for the coronavirus.
"We'll be home in a month," said a skeptical Peter Klamka, a student in a Las Vegas county that logged 95% of new coronavirus cases reported in Nevada early last week.
The eighth-grader will return to his private school in about three weeks.
"Some kids will be more responsible than others. I'm not looking forward to it but I've got to go [to] school so I'd rather be there in person," Peter said.
Kindergartner Rivington Hall in Westport, Connecticut, will begin her first big-kid year in September, at least in part on Zoom after finishing preschool at home.
"I'd rather go to school because it has more toys and it's more fun," she said as she munched on animal crackers and sipped from a juice box.
Anxious parents around the country are looking to schools that have already opened for signs of how it might go. One, North Paulding High School in suburban Atlanta, rescinded a five-day suspension for a student who shared photos and video of crowded hallways and few students in masks after doors opened this month.
The school has since suffered an outbreak of COVID-19, along with other schools in hard-hit Georgia.
Nearly 50 miles away in Alpharetta, Georgia, Collier Evans will attend school remotely when he begins fifth grade Aug. 17. He could have gone in person full time or picked a blended option but said he was anxious about returning to school.
As for distance learning, he said: "I hope it's going to go better than last year. You had to wait in a queue for like 30 minutes to ask the teacher one question."
In Tucson, Arizona, Simon Joubeaud Pulitzer returned to his private school Aug. 3, his blue button-down uniform shirt and tie in place. He was happy to see his friends again and have face-to-face access to his teachers.
Did he feel safe?
"Not the first day but after, yes, I felt a bit safer," Simon said. "All kids were following the rules."
Those rules include masks worn indoors, socially distanced desks, and only two kids per outdoor picnic table at either end for lunch.
Most American parents said it was unsafe to send their children back to school, with more than 80% favoring school conducted at least partly online, according to a new Washington Post-Schar School survey conducted by Ipsos. But many expressed displeasure at the quality of online instruction.
As summer winds down, the mixed feelings mirror the lack of consensus around the country on how to balance virus risks and schooling.
Some Scandinavian countries with far fewer cases than in the United States reopened schools with new safety protocols and have had no outbreaks connected to their operations. In Israel, schools that reopened when virus activity was low ended up shutting down a few weeks later when cases spiked.
In the U.S., some school districts plan a mix of in-person classes and online learning to help maintain social distancing. Other districts, including those in Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles, are starting classes online only.
Ella Springer of Kenosha, Wisconsin, will start her sophomore year of high school at home after her school board rescinded an in-class option to open the fall semester. That could change as the year progresses.
"At first I was wanting to go back to school in person but I feel like, watching the numbers in Wisconsin, it makes more sense to go back virtual because it's rising,'' she said. "It's pretty boring at home but what can you do? Last year the virtual was easier for me to slack off at home because it was a loose kind of thing, but I feel like this year will go a lot better since they've had the whole summer to prepare."
Aiden Anderson, in Orlando, Florida, will begin sixth grade at home for two weeks, then happily head out to school in a state that's among the nation's worst hot spots for the virus.
"I don't like that there's two weeks online," he said. "At home it's so easy to get distracted."
In Littleton, Colorado, Will Asbury is going into third grade. School starts Aug. 24 and he'll be there in person. There was a distance learning option but Will and his little sister, Luca, wanted to go.
"I'm going to feel good because I get to see my friends. Masks are a bummer but at least we get to play with our friends during recess and see them at lunch," he said.
Of distance learning, Luca got right to the point: "I didn't like it."
She's hoping for a unicorn mask to wear when she returns to the classroom.
Alec Blumberg is a high school freshman and his sister, Amelia, a high school senior in Great Neck, New York. Their school, for now, decided on full time, at-home learning to start in September with a possible staggered approach in person later on, allowing half the students in at a time.
"I really want to go back. It would be nice to interact with people and have a more separate life at school and home," Alec said. "But if the school lays out a plan, will the kids follow it? I'm really not sure."
Amelia said exactly how responsible students will be is what worries her the most, based on what she's seen among peers.
"Some people aren't as careful as others," she said. "They aren't following any type of safety measures, which really scares me. But I really want to go back. It's the last year. We didn't even get to say goodbye to any of our teachers when we left last year."
School for Indianapolis, Indiana, seventh-grader Maria Beck started July 30. She is attending online full time. At first, her school district was going to offer some in-person instruction, then changed its mind. There's been a recent uptick in reported COVID-19 cases in her area.
"I'm a big extrovert," Maria said of missing face-to-face school. "But so far, it's been going very well. I do hope we get to go back some day."
Her third-grade sister, Felicity, said she, too, is OK with distance learning. Among the things she misses most about real school? Lunch.
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--2020-08-12--'We Have Her Back': The war room blocking Kamala Harris' trolls

In the weeks before Joe Biden named Sen. Kamala Harris his running mate , women 's groups were readying a campaign of their own : shutting down sexist coverage and disinformation about a vice presidential nominee they say is headed for months of false smears and `` brutal '' attacks from internet haters .
The groups put the media on notice in recent days that they will call out bias – one campaign is dubbed `` We Have Her Back '' – and established a `` war room '' to refute sexist or false attacks as they happen .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Within minutes of the presumptive Democratic nominee 's announcement Tuesday , false information was circulating on social media , claiming that Ms. Harris had called Mr. Biden a `` racist '' and that she is not eligible to be president .
The women 's groups say their efforts are informed by the sexism Hillary Clinton faced from Donald Trump , some of his supporters , and the media during the 2016 campaign .
`` This time we understand the patterns , and this time we have the organizational infrastructure to push back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the women 's advocacy group UltraViolet , which released a 32-page guide for media along with a coalition of groups including Color of Change PAC , Planned Parenthood Votes , and Women 's March .
While the groups have primarily been led by Democrats , their efforts are backed by nonpartisan groups and some Republicans .
The war room will call out bias and disinformation against women in both parties up and down the ballot , said Tina Tchen , CEO of Time 's Up Now , which fights sexual harassment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutiny of a vice presidential nominee is to be expected , but women are often unfairly criticized as overly emotional , weak , or unqualified , or for their appearance or demeanor in a way that men are not .
The attacks , which include false smears and threats of violence online , not only hurt campaigns but also dissuade women from seeking office .
Christine Todd Whitman , a former New Jersey governor and Republican , said Mr. Biden 's running mate will be at the center of an `` ugly '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This is going to be brutal because these platforms allow people to do things anonymously , saying things anonymously , '' Ms. Whitman said .
If elected , Ms. Harris would be the country 's first Black vice president .
Her mother is from India and her father is from Jamaica .
That has invited not only sexist but also racist commentary and misinformation around her candidacy .
Ms. Harris , who was born in Oakland , California , has been the victim of online falsehoods for more than a year that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president because her parents were not born in America .
More recently , Facebook users added a new twist to the misinformation : that since Ms. Harris is not eligible to be president , if Mr. Biden did n't finish his term , the presidency would automatically default to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a Democrat .
There is no truth to that – Ms. Harris is a natural-born U.S. citizen who 's eligible to be president – yet the misinformation has been shared by thousands of Facebook users .
Facebook has labeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed them from its platform .
The misinformation hearkens back to the conspiracy theories in 2008 around Democrat Barack Obama , the first Black U.S. president , that claimed he was born in Kenya , not the United States .
Those claims were amplified by Donald Trump , then a reality TV star , and gained so much traction during the campaign that Mr. Obama produced a birth certificate showing he was born in Honolulu .
The latest attacks on Ms. Harris ' citizenship were highlighted in a letter from more than 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sent to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg .
It called on them to remove misinformation , as well as posts or accounts that threaten women .
`` Much of the most hateful content directed at women on Facebook is amplified by your algorithms which reward extreme and dangerous points of view with greater reach and visibility , '' said the letter , which was spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of California .
Cindy Southworth , Facebook 's head of women 's safety , said the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface new solutions . ''
`` Abuse of women on the internet is a serious problem , one we tackle in a variety of ways – through technology that identifies and removes potentially abusive content before it happens , by enforcing strict policies , and by talking with experts to ensure we stay ahead of new tactics , '' she said .
But mere minutes after Ms. Harris was announced as Mr. Biden 's running mate , pro-Trump social media personalities and conservative news outlets claimed Ms. Harris called Mr. Biden a racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In reality , she said , `` I do not believe you 're a racist , '' before criticizing his past opposition to policies around school desegregation .
The road to becoming Mr. Biden 's running mate had been littered with misleading online attacks on women under consideration .
Former national security adviser Susan Rice was accused of committing crimes in office , and Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who authorized strict stay-at-home orders in Michigan this year , was pelted with memes and images likening her to Adolf Hitler or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris is likely prepared for the onslaught ahead after watching how 2016 unfolded on social media , said Sarah Oates , a political communications professor at the University of Maryland .
`` She is going to be vilified , no matter who she is , '' Ms. Oates said .
`` In 2020 , people are much more attuned and aware of it .
That does n't mean it 's going to make it better , but at least you can be more aware of the toxicity . ''
This story was reported @ @ @ @ @

In the weeks before Joe Biden named Sen. Kamala Harris his running mate, women's groups were readying a campaign of their own: shutting down sexist coverage and disinformation about a vice presidential nominee they say is headed for months of false smears and "brutal" attacks from internet haters.
The groups put the media on notice in recent days that they will call out bias – one campaign is dubbed "We Have Her Back" – and established a "war room" to refute sexist or false attacks as they happen.
They didn't have to wait long. Within minutes of the presumptive Democratic nominee's announcement Tuesday, false information was circulating on social media, claiming that Ms. Harris had called Mr. Biden a "racist" and that she is not eligible to be president.
The women's groups say their efforts are informed by the sexism Hillary Clinton faced from Donald Trump, some of his supporters, and the media during the 2016 campaign.
"This time we understand the patterns, and this time we have the organizational infrastructure to push back," said Shaunna Thomas, executive director of the women's advocacy group UltraViolet, which released a 32-page guide for media along with a coalition of groups including Color of Change PAC, Planned Parenthood Votes, and Women's March.
While the groups have primarily been led by Democrats, their efforts are backed by nonpartisan groups and some Republicans.
The war room will call out bias and disinformation against women in both parties up and down the ballot, said Tina Tchen, CEO of Time's Up Now, which fights sexual harassment in the workplace.
The groups say intense scrutiny of a vice presidential nominee is to be expected, but women are often unfairly criticized as overly emotional, weak, or unqualified, or for their appearance or demeanor in a way that men are not. The attacks, which include false smears and threats of violence online, not only hurt campaigns but also dissuade women from seeking office.
Christine Todd Whitman, a former New Jersey governor and Republican, said Mr. Biden's running mate will be at the center of an "ugly" social media campaign from online bullies.
"This is going to be brutal because these platforms allow people to do things anonymously, saying things anonymously," Ms. Whitman said.
If elected, Ms. Harris would be the country's first Black vice president. Her mother is from India and her father is from Jamaica. That has invited not only sexist but also racist commentary and misinformation around her candidacy.
Ms. Harris, who was born in Oakland, California, has been the victim of online falsehoods for more than a year that say she is not eligible to become president because her parents were not born in America. More recently, Facebook users added a new twist to the misinformation: that since Ms. Harris is not eligible to be president, if Mr. Biden didn't finish his term, the presidency would automatically default to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.
There is no truth to that – Ms. Harris is a natural-born U.S. citizen who's eligible to be president – yet the misinformation has been shared by thousands of Facebook users. Facebook has labeled the posts as false but has not removed them from its platform.
The misinformation hearkens back to the conspiracy theories in 2008 around Democrat Barack Obama, the first Black U.S. president, that claimed he was born in Kenya, not the United States. Those claims were amplified by Donald Trump, then a reality TV star, and gained so much traction during the campaign that Mr. Obama produced a birth certificate showing he was born in Honolulu.
The latest attacks on Ms. Harris' citizenship were highlighted in a letter from more than 100 female lawmakers from across the world that was sent to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. It called on them to remove misinformation, as well as posts or accounts that threaten women.
"Much of the most hateful content directed at women on Facebook is amplified by your algorithms which reward extreme and dangerous points of view with greater reach and visibility," said the letter, which was spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of California.
Cindy Southworth, Facebook's head of women's safety, said the company will work with the lawmakers to "surface new solutions."
"Abuse of women on the internet is a serious problem, one we tackle in a variety of ways – through technology that identifies and removes potentially abusive content before it happens, by enforcing strict policies, and by talking with experts to ensure we stay ahead of new tactics," she said.
But mere minutes after Ms. Harris was announced as Mr. Biden's running mate, pro-Trump social media personalities and conservative news outlets claimed Ms. Harris called Mr. Biden a racist during a televised Democratic debate last year. In reality, she said, "I do not believe you're a racist," before criticizing his past opposition to policies around school desegregation.
The road to becoming Mr. Biden's running mate had been littered with misleading online attacks on women under consideration.
Former national security adviser Susan Rice was accused of committing crimes in office, and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who authorized strict stay-at-home orders in Michigan this year, was pelted with memes and images likening her to Adolf Hitler or an "evil queen."
Ms. Harris is likely prepared for the onslaught ahead after watching how 2016 unfolded on social media, said Sarah Oates, a political communications professor at the University of Maryland.
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"She is going to be vilified, no matter who she is," Ms. Oates said. "In 2020, people are much more attuned and aware of it. That doesn't mean it's going to make it better, but at least you can be more aware of the toxicity."
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-08-12--#WeWantToPlay: Why Big Ten, Pac-12 canceled fall football season

A crumbling college football season took a massive hit Tuesday when the Big Ten and Pac-12 , two historic and powerful conferences , succumbed to the pandemic and canceled their fall football seasons .
Five months almost to the day after the first spikes in coronavirus cases in the United States led to the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournaments , the still raging pandemic is tearing down another American sports institution : fall Saturdays filled with college football .
`` This was an extremely difficult and painful decision that we know will have important impacts on our student-athletes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said .
`` We know nothing will ease that . ''
Despite pleas from players , coaches , and President Donald Trump in recent days to play on , 40 % of major college football teams have now decided to punt on a fall season , a decision that will cost schools tens of millions of dollars and upends traditions dating back a century .
Both conferences cited the risk of trying to keep players from contracting and spreading the coronavirus when the programs are not operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLS , and NHL are doing .
They also cited the broader state of the pandemic in the U.S. , which has had more than 5 million cases of COVID-19 .
`` Every life is critical , '' first-year Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren told the AP .
`` We wanted to make sure we continually , not only in our words but in our actions , do put the health and safety and wellness of our student-athletes first . ''
Two smaller conferences , the Mid-American and Mountain West , had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The decisions by the deep-pocketed Big Ten and Pac-12 , with hundred million-dollar television contracts and historic programs , shook the foundation of college sports .
The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference released statements expressing cautious optimism .
The Big 12 was quiet , but a person familiar with the conference 's discussions told The Associated Press the league was continuing to work toward playing in the fall .
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference was not planning to make its internal discussions public .
The Big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule .
Outside the Power Five conferences , the American Athletic Conference , Conference USA , and Sun Belt made no immediate moves .
`` Everyone is going to make their independent decisions and I certainly respect our colleagues , '' Mr. Scott said .
`` We try to be very collaborative , communicative with our peers across the country .
But at the end of the day , our presidents and chancellors looked at what was in best interest of Pac-12 student-athletes based on the advice and frankly what 's going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ten said it was postponing all fall sports and hoping to make them up in the second semester .
An hour later , the Pac-12 , the Big Ten 's Rose Bowl partner , said all sports would be paused until Jan. 1 , including basketball .
Players around the country were stunned .
Many had recently taken to social media with the hashtag # WeWanttoPlay .
Ohio State star quarterback Justin Fields was among those trying to present a unified front and save their season .
After the announcement , Mr. Fields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' short for shaking my head .
`` Our lives are changing forever right before our eyes , '' Arizona offensive lineman Donovan Laie tweeted .
Less than a week ago , the Big Ten – which includes perennial powers such as Ohio State , Michigan , Nebraska , and Penn State – had released a revised conference-only football schedule it hoped would help it navigate a fall season filled with potential COVID-19 disruptions .
Even after the Big Ten made its call , there were diverging thoughts about how it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gene Smith said he would have liked to have pushed back the season from Sept. 5 to maybe early October .
`` Wish we could have had a little bit more time to evaluate , but we certainly understand this was the time we had to pull the plug , '' Mr. Smith told the Big Ten network .
A statement from Nebraska 's president , athletic director , and coach was more stern : `` We are very disappointed in the decision by the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to be ready to play . ''
Nebraska coach Scott Frost and Ohio State coach Ryan Day had both suggested Monday that if the Big Ten did not play their schools might look elsewhere for games .
`` We have 14 schools in the Big Ten right now and I expect to have 14 schools in the Big Ten , '' Mr. Warren said .
In the Pac-12 , where Southern California , Oregon , Washington , and Stanford have won championships in recent years , there seemed to more consensus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Oregon President Michael Schill said .
`` We would have made this decision independent of the Big Ten .
We respect the institutions in the Big Ten .
Many of them have the same values we have .
We 're pleased they are joining us . ''
The cost of losing football will be devastating to athletic departments .
The Big Ten distributed more than $ 50 million to most of its members in 2018 , but most of that came from media rights deals and a conference TV network powered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recouped in the spring , but there are bills to pay now .
Wisconsin of the Big Ten has estimated $ 100 million in losses with no football at all .
Michigan said it could be in the red more than that .
`` We do have a reserve that will take us so far , but we 're going to have to have some layoffs , '' Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said .
`` There will be some of our units that wo n't be working .
Those are things we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very difficult decisions to make . ''
Over the last month , conferences had been reworking schedules in the hopes of being able to buy time and play a season .
The Big Ten was the first to settle on conference-only play , in early July , and all the Power Five conferences eventually switched to either all or mostly conference play .
The idea behind it was to create flexibility to deal with the possibility of having to cancel or reschedule games because of COVID-19 outbreaks , like the ones that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created an every-conference-for-itself atmosphere that could now lead to two college football seasons – one in the fall and one in the spring .
Or maybe none at all .
And will highly regarded future NFL players such as Mr. Fields , Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell , and Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth bother participating in a spring season ?
The NFL scouting combine is in late February and the draft is in late April .
If the NFL does nothing to accommodate spring college football some of the sure-things are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who needed another year of tape to improve their stock might be more inclined to stay and play .
But an injury in the spring could be an even bigger problem when it comes time to earn a spot on an NFL roster in the summer .
Maybe players will still try to play in the fall , but in another conference .
The Southeastern Conference , Atlantic Coast Conference , Big 12 , American Athletic Conference , Conference USA , and Sun Belt are all still on track to start their seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go before classes start at most schools , there is still time for a player to transfer , apply for a waiver from the NCAA , and be eligible by opening day .
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 .

A crumbling college football season took a massive hit Tuesday when the Big Ten and Pac-12, two historic and powerful conferences, succumbed to the pandemic and canceled their fall football seasons.
Five months almost to the day after the first spikes in coronavirus cases in the United States led to the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournaments, the still raging pandemic is tearing down another American sports institution: fall Saturdays filled with college football.
"This was an extremely difficult and painful decision that we know will have important impacts on our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and our fans," Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said. "We know nothing will ease that."
Despite pleas from players, coaches, and President Donald Trump in recent days to play on, 40% of major college football teams have now decided to punt on a fall season, a decision that will cost schools tens of millions of dollars and upends traditions dating back a century.
Both conferences cited the risk of trying to keep players from contracting and spreading the coronavirus when the programs are not operating in a bubble like the NBA, MLS, and NHL are doing. They also cited the broader state of the pandemic in the U.S., which has had more than 5 million cases of COVID-19.
"Every life is critical," first-year Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren told the AP. "We wanted to make sure we continually, not only in our words but in our actions, do put the health and safety and wellness of our student-athletes first."
Two smaller conferences, the Mid-American and Mountain West, had already announced the uncertain move to spring football. The decisions by the deep-pocketed Big Ten and Pac-12, with hundred million-dollar television contracts and historic programs, shook the foundation of college sports.
What's next?
The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference released statements expressing cautious optimism. The Big 12 was quiet, but a person familiar with the conference's discussions told The Associated Press the league was continuing to work toward playing in the fall. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference was not planning to make its internal discussions public. The Big 12 has still not released its revised schedule.
Outside the Power Five conferences, the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, and Sun Belt made no immediate moves.
"Everyone is going to make their independent decisions and I certainly respect our colleagues," Mr. Scott said. "We try to be very collaborative, communicative with our peers across the country. But at the end of the day, our presidents and chancellors looked at what was in best interest of Pac-12 student-athletes based on the advice and frankly what's going on in our communities."
The Big Ten said it was postponing all fall sports and hoping to make them up in the second semester. An hour later, the Pac-12, the Big Ten's Rose Bowl partner, said all sports would be paused until Jan. 1, including basketball.
Players around the country were stunned. Many had recently taken to social media with the hashtag #WeWanttoPlay. Ohio State star quarterback Justin Fields was among those trying to present a unified front and save their season.
After the announcement, Mr. Fields simply posted to Twitter: "smh," short for shaking my head.
"Our lives are changing forever right before our eyes," Arizona offensive lineman Donovan Laie tweeted.
Less than a week ago, the Big Ten – which includes perennial powers such as Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State – had released a revised conference-only football schedule it hoped would help it navigate a fall season filled with potential COVID-19 disruptions.
Even after the Big Ten made its call, there were diverging thoughts about how it should have proceeded.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said he would have liked to have pushed back the season from Sept. 5 to maybe early October.
"Wish we could have had a little bit more time to evaluate, but we certainly understand this was the time we had to pull the plug," Mr. Smith told the Big Ten network.
A statement from Nebraska's president, athletic director, and coach was more stern: "We are very disappointed in the decision by the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall football season, as we have been and continue to be ready to play."
Nebraska coach Scott Frost and Ohio State coach Ryan Day had both suggested Monday that if the Big Ten did not play their schools might look elsewhere for games.
"We have 14 schools in the Big Ten right now and I expect to have 14 schools in the Big Ten," Mr. Warren said.
In the Pac-12, where Southern California, Oregon, Washington, and Stanford have won championships in recent years, there seemed to more consensus.
"We feel good about our decision," Oregon President Michael Schill said. "We would have made this decision independent of the Big Ten. We respect the institutions in the Big Ten. Many of them have the same values we have. We're pleased they are joining us."
The cost of losing football will be devastating to athletic departments. The Big Ten distributed more than $50 million to most of its members in 2018, but most of that came from media rights deals and a conference TV network powered by football. Maybe some can be recouped in the spring, but there are bills to pay now.
Wisconsin of the Big Ten has estimated $100 million in losses with no football at all. Michigan said it could be in the red more than that.
"We do have a reserve that will take us so far, but we're going to have to have some layoffs," Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said. "There will be some of our units that won't be working. Those are things we have a plan for. Those are very difficult decisions to make."
Over the last month, conferences had been reworking schedules in the hopes of being able to buy time and play a season. The Big Ten was the first to settle on conference-only play, in early July, and all the Power Five conferences eventually switched to either all or mostly conference play.
The idea behind it was to create flexibility to deal with the possibility of having to cancel or reschedule games because of COVID-19 outbreaks, like the ones that have hit Major League Baseball.
It also created an every-conference-for-itself atmosphere that could now lead to two college football seasons – one in the fall and one in the spring. Or maybe none at all.
And will highly regarded future NFL players such as Mr. Fields, Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell, and Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth bother participating in a spring season?
The NFL scouting combine is in late February and the draft is in late April. If the NFL does nothing to accommodate spring college football some of the sure-things are almost certain to leave. The players who needed another year of tape to improve their stock might be more inclined to stay and play. But an injury in the spring could be an even bigger problem when it comes time to earn a spot on an NFL roster in the summer.
Maybe players will still try to play in the fall, but in another conference. The Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, and Sun Belt are all still on track to start their seasons in September.
With a few weeks to go before classes start at most schools, there is still time for a player to transfer, apply for a waiver from the NCAA, and be eligible by opening day.
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--2020-08-13--A slogan whose ambiguity serves a purpose

The slogan “ Defund the police ” has been shouted during protests over the May 25 death of George Floyd .
Merriam-Webster defines defund as “ to withdraw funding from.
” The Cambridge Dictionary puts it in plainer terms : “ to stop providing the money to pay for something.
” This rallying cry seems crystal clear and quite radical : Stop giving money to police departments .
It turns out to be a lot more complicated , as the Monitor reported in a June 7 article , “ ‘ Defund the police ’ : What does that mean exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does indeed translate to “ get rid of , ” as activist Mariame Kaba writes in the New York Times opinion column “ Yes , We Mean Literally Abolish the Police ” ( June 12 ) .
Yet the majority of protesters don ’ t seem to take it literally , understanding it instead as a call to redirect some funds away from police departments and into other community services .
Some language experts argue that the ambiguity of “ Defund the police ” makes it useless .
Branding consultant Nancy Friedman writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a slogan by saying ‘ What we really mean is ... ’ , it ’ s a bad slogan and you ’ re losing the argument.
” How can people protest in support of a phrase if they can ’ t agree on its meaning ?
Perhaps , though , the slogan serves its purpose .
Democratic-leaning voters are spread across an ideological spectrum .
Slightly fewer than half consider themselves to be “ liberal , ” while 51 % identify as “ moderate ” or “ conservative , ” according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , in contrast , identify as “ conservative.
” ) “ Defund the police ” appeals to both poles .
Progressives can read it as “ abolish ” and centrists as “ reform ” or “ reallocate resources from , ” with the understanding that the details will be hammered out later .
The fact that the slogan needs explanation is a plus .
Protesters may disagree about what defunding the police should involve , but they share the view that police violence against Black people can only be eradicated by restructuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defund the police ” serves as a quick , catchy way into a larger , more complex story .
When people search for “ What does defund the police mean ?
” they retrieve hundreds of articles and videos , from The Atlantic to Fox News , which explain the racial , economic , and political issues behind the phrase .
Its very ambiguity opens a door to nuanced discussions , which can be rare in politics .
Political comedian John Oliver explains the slogan as “ moving away from a narrow conception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and punishment , and investing in a community ’ s actual safety net : things like stable housing , mental health services , and community organizations.
” That meaning of defund is not in any dictionary .

The slogan “Defund the police” has been shouted during protests over the May 25 death of George Floyd. Merriam-Webster defines defund as “to withdraw funding from.” The Cambridge Dictionary puts it in plainer terms: “to stop providing the money to pay for something.” This rallying cry seems crystal clear and quite radical: Stop giving money to police departments.
It turns out to be a lot more complicated, as the Monitor reported in a June 7 article, “‘Defund the police’: What does that mean exactly?” For some people, defund does indeed translate to “get rid of,” as activist Mariame Kaba writes in the New York Times opinion column “Yes, We Mean Literally Abolish the Police” (June 12). Yet the majority of protesters don’t seem to take it literally, understanding it instead as a call to redirect some funds away from police departments and into other community services.
Some language experts argue that the ambiguity of “Defund the police” makes it useless. Branding consultant Nancy Friedman writes, “Whenever you have to explain a slogan by saying ‘What we really mean is ...’, it’s a bad slogan and you’re losing the argument.” How can people protest in support of a phrase if they can’t agree on its meaning?
Perhaps, though, the slogan serves its purpose. Democratic-leaning voters are spread across an ideological spectrum. Slightly fewer than half consider themselves to be “liberal,” while 51% identify as “moderate” or “conservative,” according to the Pew Research Center. (Two-thirds of Republicans, in contrast, identify as “conservative.”) “Defund the police” appeals to both poles. Progressives can read it as “abolish” and centrists as “reform” or “reallocate resources from,” with the understanding that the details will be hammered out later.
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The fact that the slogan needs explanation is a plus. Protesters may disagree about what defunding the police should involve, but they share the view that police violence against Black people can only be eradicated by restructuring many parts of American society. “Defund the police” serves as a quick, catchy way into a larger, more complex story.
When people search for “What does defund the police mean?” they retrieve hundreds of articles and videos, from The Atlantic to Fox News, which explain the racial, economic, and political issues behind the phrase. Its very ambiguity opens a door to nuanced discussions, which can be rare in politics. Political comedian John Oliver explains the slogan as “moving away from a narrow conception of public safety that relies on policing and punishment, and investing in a community’s actual safety net: things like stable housing, mental health services, and community organizations.” That meaning of defund is not in any dictionary.


csmonitor--2020-08-13--‘I have a right to be here’: German Muslims push back against Islamophobia

“ About half the population sees Islam as a threat , and the picture has become cemented , ” says Yasemin El-Menouar of research foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung .
Her research also shows that contact between people of different religions is key to dismantling stereotypes , and that results are strongest among young people .
“ We need to deconstruct social distance so you realize people who practice a different religion aren ’ t necessarily that different.
” Such tensions are a growing issue for Germany .
The incidence of anti-Muslim hate is on the rise .
Transgressions range from daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unconscious , that reinforce discrimination ) to horrific attacks that capture national media attention , such as the February Hanau shooting in which a far-right extremist killed nine people .
When it comes to Germany ’ s acceptance of its Muslim community – its largest religious group after Christians – 2020 has been a year of fits and starts .
The German government has promised more security at mosques this year .
But at the same time , the interior minister halted an audit of racial profiling by the police , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are predominantly Muslim .
And last month , the German state of Baden-Württemberg banned children from wearing hijabs and niqabs in school .
Israa Alsabagh started wearing a headscarf to school when she was 10 years old .
A practicing Muslim born and raised in Germany , she had begged her mother to let her wear the head covering .
When she finally wore it to class for the first time , “ I had the feeling everyone was looking at me , because I looked different.
” Over time , it became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems .
It was older teachers – and strangers – who were occasional headaches .
“ Every once in awhile , I ’ d get a dumb remark [ from a teacher ] like , ‘ Well , why don ’ t you ask your God ?
’ ” says Ms. Alsabagh , now 16 years old .
Another time , a stranger on the metro asked , “ ‘ Go home , what are you doing here ?
’ ” “ I always answer , ‘ I am German .
My mom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Alsabagh says .
“ And they are always surprised.
” While much attention has been shone on anti-Semitism in Germany , anti-Muslim bigotry is potentially even more damaging to the country ’ s social fabric by targeting a group 5 million strong , compared to Germany ’ s roughly 150,000 Jews .
The incidence of anti-Muslim hate is on the rise .
Transgressions range from daily microaggressions ( everyday slights , conscious and unconscious , that reinforce discrimination ) to horrific attacks that capture national media attention , such as the February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremist targeted two hookah bars and killed nine people , or the murder of the pro-refugee politician in the state of Hesse by a neo-Nazi in June of last year .
Progress towards acceptance of Germany ’ s second-largest religious group after Christianity has come in fits and starts .
The German government has promised more security at mosques this year .
But at the same time , the interior minister halted an audit of racial profiling by the police , in a country where the largest racial minority groups are predominantly Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German state of Baden-Württemberg banned children from wearing hijabs and niqabs in school .
“ About half the population sees Islam as a threat , and the picture has become cemented , ” says Yasemin El-Menouar , a researcher at the German research foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung .
“ But 15 or 20 years ago German society had much to say about Muslims , while they didn ’ t get to speak .
Now we have a generation [ of Muslims ] who were raised here , are well educated , and who say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be here and be part of the discussion.
’ ” Lamya Kaddor is one of that generation .
An author , activist , and teacher , she has fielded countless questions from colleagues when she teaches her classes on Islam .
They include , “ ‘ Are you teaching students to build bombs ?
’ or ‘ How can such an emancipated woman like yourself teach such antiquated beliefs ?
’ ” says Ms. Kaddor , author of the 2010 book “ Muslim , Female , German !
” Other times people might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey.
’ No one cares that I ’ m not actually from Turkey , ” she says .
Meanwhile , media continue to associate Islam with violence or oppression , and Muslims are now suffering more severe exclusion than Jews , both in the rates and in the scope of alienation , says Ms. Kaddor , who has studied both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment .
“ Unfortunately many Germans think racism has been defeated in our country because Adolf Hitler isn ’ t here anymore , ” says Ms. Kaddor .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adapts quickly and adjusts to societal conditions.
” Those conditions include Germany ’ s intake of a million refugees in 2015 , after Chancellor Angela Merkel suspended a protocol to send them back to other “ safe ” countries .
The influx of migrants , mostly Muslims from Syria , Iraq , and Afghanistan , helped trigger the rise of a far-right political party that campaigned partly on an anti-Muslim platform .
In 2017 it won 94 seats in Germany ’ s federal parliament .
Politics , media , and society must change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she has received death threats once she began publishing books .
“ It ’ s about seeing Muslims as victims and active members of this society .
As equal Germans.
” Young Germans are growing up in a society that ’ s the most ethnically diverse in generations .
That means they ’ re ideally coming into contact with people of all kinds , who practice all sorts of religions .
On religious acceptance , there ’ s progress .
German society is already starting from a strong base of tolerance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out Ms. El-Menouar of Bertelsmann Stiftung .
Her research also shows that contact between people of different religions is key to dismantling stereotypes , and that results are strongest among young people .
“ We need to deconstruct social distance so you realize people who practice a different religion aren ’ t necessarily that different.
” This work is critical , she says , especially as the Muslim population will only increase in Germany and across Europe .
And , as Germany ’ s population continues to age , migration will help relieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those new immigrants likely to be Muslim .
Back in Berlin , Ms. Alsabagh has faith in people .
“ Racism doesn ’ t come intrinsically .
It is something that is taught to you , ” she says .
“ After [ exposure ] , people are more open .
I think the generation after us will be more open as well.
” In fact , with the last teacher who gave her trouble , she began pushing back with remarks of her own .
Then , five or six fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s behalf .
“ They sat down with my teacher .
And it did get better.
” There ’ s hope , she says .
And social media is a powerful force to help connect people , and also enable talk about differences and individualities .
“ Never get riled up , ” she says she has learned .
“ That doesn ’ t help .
It only reinforces the opinions they have .
”

Anti-Semitism is a constant concern in Germany, but as great a worry is Islamophobia. The country's 5 million Muslims are increasingly part of the fabric of society, but anti-Muslim incidents are on the rise too.
“About half the population sees Islam as a threat, and the picture has become cemented,” says Yasemin El-Menouar of research foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung. Her research also shows that contact between people of different religions is key to dismantling stereotypes, and that results are strongest among young people. “We need to deconstruct social distance so you realize people who practice a different religion aren’t necessarily that different.”
Such tensions are a growing issue for Germany. The incidence of anti-Muslim hate is on the rise. Transgressions range from daily microaggressions (everyday slights, conscious and unconscious, that reinforce discrimination) to horrific attacks that capture national media attention, such as the February Hanau shooting in which a far-right extremist killed nine people.
When it comes to Germany’s acceptance of its Muslim community – its largest religious group after Christians – 2020 has been a year of fits and starts. The German government has promised more security at mosques this year. But at the same time, the interior minister halted an audit of racial profiling by the police, in a country where the largest racial minority groups are predominantly Muslim. And last month, the German state of Baden-Württemberg banned children from wearing hijabs and niqabs in school.
Israa Alsabagh started wearing a headscarf to school when she was 10 years old.
A practicing Muslim born and raised in Germany, she had begged her mother to let her wear the head covering. When she finally wore it to class for the first time, “I had the feeling everyone was looking at me, because I looked different.”
Over time, it became clear her classmates wouldn’t be problems. It was older teachers – and strangers – who were occasional headaches. “Every once in awhile, I’d get a dumb remark [from a teacher] like, ‘Well, why don’t you ask your God?’” says Ms. Alsabagh, now 16 years old. Another time, a stranger on the metro asked, “‘Go home, what are you doing here?’”
Why We Wrote This Anti-Semitism is a constant concern in Germany, but as great a worry is Islamophobia. The country's 5 million Muslims are increasingly part of the fabric of society, but anti-Muslim incidents are on the rise too.
“I always answer, ‘I am German. My mom is German, too,’” Ms. Alsabagh says. “And they are always surprised.”
While much attention has been shone on anti-Semitism in Germany, anti-Muslim bigotry is potentially even more damaging to the country’s social fabric by targeting a group 5 million strong, compared to Germany’s roughly 150,000 Jews. The incidence of anti-Muslim hate is on the rise. Transgressions range from daily microaggressions (everyday slights, conscious and unconscious, that reinforce discrimination) to horrific attacks that capture national media attention, such as the February 2020 Hanau shooting in which a far-right extremist targeted two hookah bars and killed nine people, or the murder of the pro-refugee politician in the state of Hesse by a neo-Nazi in June of last year.
Courtesy of Israa Alsabagh View caption Hide caption Israa Alsabagh started wearing a headscarf to school when she was 10 years old. “I had the feeling everyone was looking at me, because I looked different,” she remembers. But she found that it was older teachers and strangers, not classmates, who were most critical of her choice.
Progress towards acceptance of Germany’s second-largest religious group after Christianity has come in fits and starts. The German government has promised more security at mosques this year. But at the same time, the interior minister halted an audit of racial profiling by the police, in a country where the largest racial minority groups are predominantly Muslim. And, last month, the German state of Baden-Württemberg banned children from wearing burqas and niqabs in school.
“About half the population sees Islam as a threat, and the picture has become cemented,” says Yasemin El-Menouar, a researcher at the German research foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung. “But 15 or 20 years ago German society had much to say about Muslims, while they didn’t get to speak. Now we have a generation [of Muslims] who were raised here, are well educated, and who say, ‘I have a right to be here and be part of the discussion.’”
‘Racism is a dynamic phenomenon’
Lamya Kaddor is one of that generation.
An author, activist, and teacher, she has fielded countless questions from colleagues when she teaches her classes on Islam. They include, “‘Are you teaching students to build bombs?’ or ‘How can such an emancipated woman like yourself teach such antiquated beliefs?’” says Ms. Kaddor, author of the 2010 book “Muslim, Female, German!”
Other times people might say, “‘Go back to Turkey.’ No one cares that I’m not actually from Turkey,” she says. Meanwhile, media continue to associate Islam with violence or oppression, and Muslims are now suffering more severe exclusion than Jews, both in the rates and in the scope of alienation, says Ms. Kaddor, who has studied both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment.
“Unfortunately many Germans think racism has been defeated in our country because Adolf Hitler isn’t here anymore,” says Ms. Kaddor. “But racism is a dynamic phenomenon. It adapts quickly and adjusts to societal conditions.”
Those conditions include Germany’s intake of a million refugees in 2015, after Chancellor Angela Merkel suspended a protocol to send them back to other “safe” countries. The influx of migrants, mostly Muslims from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, helped trigger the rise of a far-right political party that campaigned partly on an anti-Muslim platform. In 2017 it won 94 seats in Germany’s federal parliament.
Politics, media, and society must change, says Ms. Kaddor, who adds that she has received death threats once she began publishing books. “It’s about seeing Muslims as victims and active members of this society. As equal Germans.”
Dismantling stereotypes
Young Germans are growing up in a society that’s the most ethnically diverse in generations. That means they’re ideally coming into contact with people of all kinds, who practice all sorts of religions.
On religious acceptance, there’s progress. German society is already starting from a strong base of tolerance of all religions, save Islam, points out Ms. El-Menouar of Bertelsmann Stiftung. Her research also shows that contact between people of different religions is key to dismantling stereotypes, and that results are strongest among young people. “We need to deconstruct social distance so you realize people who practice a different religion aren’t necessarily that different.”
This work is critical, she says, especially as the Muslim population will only increase in Germany and across Europe. And, as Germany’s population continues to age, migration will help relieve a graying labor force, with many of those new immigrants likely to be Muslim.
Back in Berlin, Ms. Alsabagh has faith in people. “Racism doesn’t come intrinsically. It is something that is taught to you,” she says. “After [exposure], people are more open. I think the generation after us will be more open as well.”
In fact, with the last teacher who gave her trouble, she began pushing back with remarks of her own. Then, five or six fellow students spoke with him on Ms. Alsabagh’s behalf. “They sat down with my teacher. And it did get better.”
There’s hope, she says. And social media is a powerful force to help connect people, and also enable talk about differences and individualities. “Never get riled up,” she says she has learned. “That doesn’t help. It only reinforces the opinions they have.”
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Clara Suchy contributed research assistance from Berlin.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that children’s burqas and niqabs were banned in Baden-Württemberg.


csmonitor--2020-08-13--How Jordan’s crackdown on teachers puts pandemic success at risk

“ Everywhere people no longer believe the government ’ s stats or statements on corona .
They think it is a conspiracy , ” says Oraib Rantawi , a researcher .
“ The government has lost all this credit and goodwill for nothing.
” Support for coronavirus efforts is waning .
The government has cited the pandemic as the reason to increase police presence across the country and threatened a renewed lockdown if case levels remain high .
Citizens are voicing suspicions that Amman is manipulating coronavirus statistics for its political needs .
The government response was harsh .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissolved .
Union leaders and teachers were arrested .
A gag order was issued blocking media from discussing the issue .
Cellphone footage of clubbings and knee-to-the-throat arrests is circulating on social media , pushing citizens to side with the teachers ’ demands .
It was amid this positive atmosphere that Jordan ’ s teachers , whose average salary is below the country ’ s poverty line , demanded that the government live up to a $ 50 to $ 70 monthly raise first promised in 2013 and set to kick in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the curve .
To take the country ’ s coronavirus cases from dozens a day to zero , Jordanians diligently followed government guidelines and quietly coped with the mounting economic costs .
Jordan ’ s economy saw a smooth reopening in late June .
When he first insisted on his $ 60 a month raise in July , Omar did not expect to wind up in a jail cell .
The Jordanian public-school teacher , who makes $ 450 a month , says he thought that with the country recovering from its pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the government last year was a just , and unremarkable , demand .
Now , with his teachers union dissolved , colleagues arrested or on the run , and daily protests growing amid a violent government crackdown , he is left wondering how the issue of teachers ’ salaries could have rapidly pushed his country to the brink .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
As the union-government showdown escalates into a bitter nationwide struggle over speech freedoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are signs that the Jordanian state ’ s old way of doing business can no longer quell discontent , and risks harming its coronavirus response .
“ Things are growing and escalating by the day , ” Omar ( his full name and others in this story are known to the Monitor ) says over a secure messaging app , four days after his detention and release for participating in a protest in the northern Jordanian city of Irbid in the face of “ unprecedented ” force by anti-riot police .
“ These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all becoming a mess ; but our demands are just , and we will not back down.
” The teachers union crisis has been a sudden twist of fate for Jordan , which had emerged relatively unscathed as a COVID-19 success story .
A three-month lockdown imposed in early March – among measures implemented by a government given broad emergency powers to keep businesses afloat and citizens at home – helped Jordan “ crush ” the curve .
Jordanians diligently followed government guidelines and quietly coped with the mounting economic costs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day came multiple weeks of no new daily cases and a total of 10 deaths .
With a smooth reopening in late June , Jordan avoided the protests and unrest over lockdowns and joblessness that hit European countries and neighboring Israel .
Jordan ’ s pharmaceutical sector was positioned to produce regional batches of a future vaccine .
The country began exporting personal protective equipment .
It was amid this positive atmosphere that the teachers union demanded that the government live up to a raise – calculated according to years of service and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2013 and set to kick in this fall .
When the government refused to negotiate , citing a March order freezing all public-sector salaries , the union published a call for activism on its website for the raises to be honored .
The government response was as swift as it was harsh , a shocking assault on civil society in a kingdom that has allowed professional unions relative freedom for decades .
On July 25 , the attorney general ordered the union ’ s leadership council dissolved and shuttered union headquarters – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Jordanian law .
Police raided the homes and offices of union leaders across the country , arresting them and putting them in pretrial detention , often without warrants .
The same day , a Jordanian court issued a gag order blocking media from discussing the teachers union under threat of arrest ; a Jordanian media blackout continues today .
Police have arrested more than 120 teachers and detained dozens more without charges ; cellphone video footage of clubbings and knee-to-the-throat arrests is circulating on social media , outraging Jordanians .
A dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its 19th day .
Two were rushed to the hospital Thursday for emergency care .
The government ’ s response is reminiscent of previous crackdowns on economic protests in the 1980s and ’ 90s , some here say .
Yet hundreds of Jordanian citizens are gathering in near-nightly protests in support of teachers in towns across the kingdom , defying emergency orders restricting large gatherings .
Observers say the sudden government crackdown may be rooted in a desire to prevent wider economic protests at a time of budgetary stress and recession .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s financial resources are especially meager , with Jordan ’ s deep-pocketed Gulf Arab neighbors also feeling the effects of the coronavirus-fueled recession .
It ’ s an economic climate that also has robbed teachers of vital supplementary sources of income in the form of home-based businesses .
With each side surprised at the other ’ s intransigence and convinced it can win a battle of wills , the showdown has led to rapid escalations neither was anticipating .
With more than 100,000 members , the teachers union is the largest civil society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political sway .
It first showed its strength last September , when a four-week strike forced the government to put the previously promised monthly raises of $ 50 to $ 70 in the 2020-21 school year budget .
Teachers earn average wages of $ 600 per month , below the government-acknowledged poverty line of $ 880 .
“ When the union started to organize sit-ins and demonstrations , it alarmed ” the government , says Musa Shteiwi , professor of political sociology at the University of Jordan .
“ In the mind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for something more in these uncertain times when the government budget is under strain due to the coronavirus , ” he says .
“ The government saw it as the wrong time and wrong approach to discuss economic demands.
” A segment of society agrees , worrying that protests may rock the stability in the resource-poor kingdom .
“ All of us are suffering economically .
The time is not right for a protest , ” says Hussein , a farmer whose exports have been hit by pandemic logistics , and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do they want to destroy the country for a 40-dinar [ $ 56 ] raise ?
” Yet as the crisis escalates , security forces are crossing previously-held red lines , such as assaulting and arresting women and journalists .
That is pushing more citizens once skeptical of the teachers ’ demands to side with the union .
“ If the teachers are arrested for criticizing the government for cutting their salaries , then any of us could go to jail for being unhappy with the government , ” says Abu Laith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those initially opposed to the teachers ’ demands amid the pandemic .
“ All of Jordan is unhappy with the economic situation and the government ; all of us could be in jail right now , ” he says .
“ Any one of us could be a teacher.
” The crisis has started to dent the reputation of West-friendly Jordan , which has drawn rebukes from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , Reporters Without Borders , and Human Rights Watch , among others .
Yet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ support for – and belief in – the government ’ s coronavirus efforts .
The Jordanian government had built up goodwill for its pandemic response , which citizens treated as a war effort .
The government ’ s approval rating shot from 45 % in January to 77 % in late March , according to public opinion surveys for the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan .
Yet a few months later , and with cases rising again , Jordanians on the street and on social media say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response .
In its arrests of teachers , the government has cited “ defense orders ” banning gatherings of 20 people or more .
This week it also cited the pandemic as the reason to increase police presence in cities and towns across the country and enforce electronic monitoring of residential areas , and said the whole country could be put back under lockdown if case levels remain high .
In response , citizens are voicing their suspicions , on social media and in the streets , that Amman is manipulating coronavirus statistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come amid a surge of coronavirus cases owing to the arrival of infected truck drivers from neighboring states .
This week new infections reached 12 to 15 cases per day .
“ Everywhere people no longer believe the government ’ s stats or statements on corona .
They think it is a conspiracy and the government wants to put Jordanians on a lockdown to prevent public gatherings , ” says Oraib Rantawi , director of the Amman-based Al Quds Center for Political Studies .
“ The government has lost all this credit and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the debt-ridden Jordanian government , which boasts it protected 70 % of salaries and expanded health care during the lockdown , insists it must freeze government salaries and new hiring for the rest of 2020 .
Yet while the most vulnerable have been bolstered , heading into September , Jordan ’ s middle class is under serious strain , with many having lost jobs or income and are struggling to pay mortgages , car loans , and groceries .
Teachers are emerging as a symbol of this struggle .
“ If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are trying to silence the teachers , they have another thing coming , ” says banker Um Samer , who is selling her Amman house after losing her job .
Observers say it is a lesson that in these extraordinary times , what had been tried-and-true regime tactics have unexpected consequences .
“ If the government is not aware of what is lying around the corner for us , I think we are risking the stability of our country , ” says Mr. Rantawi .
“ We must turn back.
” Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“Everywhere people no longer believe the government’s stats or statements on corona. They think it is a conspiracy,” says Oraib Rantawi, a researcher. “The government has lost all this credit and goodwill for nothing.”
Support for coronavirus efforts is waning. The government has cited the pandemic as the reason to increase police presence across the country and threatened a renewed lockdown if case levels remain high. Citizens are voicing suspicions that Amman is manipulating coronavirus statistics for its political needs.
The government response was harsh. The teachers union’s leadership council was dissolved. Union leaders and teachers were arrested. A gag order was issued blocking media from discussing the issue. Cellphone footage of clubbings and knee-to-the-throat arrests is circulating on social media, pushing citizens to side with the teachers’ demands.
From arrests to media blackouts, Jordan’s harsh response to teachers’ protests has been a surprise. Spurred, perhaps, by an economy weakened by the pandemic, the government is imperiling its own public health success.
It was amid this positive atmosphere that Jordan’s teachers, whose average salary is below the country’s poverty line, demanded that the government live up to a $50 to $70 monthly raise first promised in 2013 and set to kick in this fall.
Jordan had “crushed” the curve. To take the country’s coronavirus cases from dozens a day to zero, Jordanians diligently followed government guidelines and quietly coped with the mounting economic costs. Jordan’s economy saw a smooth reopening in late June.
When he first insisted on his $60 a month raise in July, Omar did not expect to wind up in a jail cell.
The Jordanian public-school teacher, who makes $450 a month, says he thought that with the country recovering from its pandemic lockdown, getting paid the raise granted by the government last year was a just, and unremarkable, demand.
Now, with his teachers union dissolved, colleagues arrested or on the run, and daily protests growing amid a violent government crackdown, he is left wondering how the issue of teachers’ salaries could have rapidly pushed his country to the brink.
Why We Wrote This From arrests to media blackouts, Jordan’s harsh response to teachers’ protests has been a surprise. Spurred, perhaps, by an economy weakened by the pandemic, the government is imperiling its own public health success.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
As the union-government showdown escalates into a bitter nationwide struggle over speech freedoms and the right to protest, there are signs that the Jordanian state’s old way of doing business can no longer quell discontent, and risks harming its coronavirus response.
“Things are growing and escalating by the day,” Omar (his full name and others in this story are known to the Monitor) says over a secure messaging app, four days after his detention and release for participating in a protest in the northern Jordanian city of Irbid in the face of “unprecedented” force by anti-riot police.
“These actions may aggravate matters, and it is all becoming a mess; but our demands are just, and we will not back down.”
The teachers union crisis has been a sudden twist of fate for Jordan, which had emerged relatively unscathed as a COVID-19 success story.
A three-month lockdown imposed in early March – among measures implemented by a government given broad emergency powers to keep businesses afloat and citizens at home – helped Jordan “crush” the curve. Jordanians diligently followed government guidelines and quietly coped with the mounting economic costs. After dozens of new coronavirus cases per day came multiple weeks of no new daily cases and a total of 10 deaths.
With a smooth reopening in late June, Jordan avoided the protests and unrest over lockdowns and joblessness that hit European countries and neighboring Israel. Jordan’s pharmaceutical sector was positioned to produce regional batches of a future vaccine. The country began exporting personal protective equipment.
Harsh response
It was amid this positive atmosphere that the teachers union demanded that the government live up to a raise – calculated according to years of service and their starting base salary – first promised in 2013 and set to kick in this fall.
When the government refused to negotiate, citing a March order freezing all public-sector salaries, the union published a call for activism on its website for the raises to be honored.
The government response was as swift as it was harsh, a shocking assault on civil society in a kingdom that has allowed professional unions relative freedom for decades.
On July 25, the attorney general ordered the union’s leadership council dissolved and shuttered union headquarters – a move that has no judicial basis in Jordanian law. Police raided the homes and offices of union leaders across the country, arresting them and putting them in pretrial detention, often without warrants.
The same day, a Jordanian court issued a gag order blocking media from discussing the teachers union under threat of arrest; a Jordanian media blackout continues today.
As of Friday, police have arrested more than 250 teachers and detained dozens more without charges; cellphone video footage of clubbings and knee-to-the-throat arrests is circulating on social media, outraging Jordanians.
A dozen union leaders are on a hunger strike in its 19th day. Two were rushed to the hospital Thursday for emergency care.
The government’s response is reminiscent of previous crackdowns on economic protests in the 1980s and ’90s, some here say. Yet hundreds of Jordanian citizens are gathering in near-nightly protests in support of teachers in towns across the kingdom, defying emergency orders restricting large gatherings.
Hearts and minds
Observers say the sudden government crackdown may be rooted in a desire to prevent wider economic protests at a time of budgetary stress and recession.
To be sure, the government’s financial resources are especially meager, with Jordan’s deep-pocketed Gulf Arab neighbors also feeling the effects of the coronavirus-fueled recession. It’s an economic climate that also has robbed teachers of vital supplementary sources of income in the form of home-based businesses.
With each side surprised at the other’s intransigence and convinced it can win a battle of wills, the showdown has led to rapid escalations neither was anticipating.
With more than 100,000 members, the teachers union is the largest civil society group in the kingdom with potential large political sway.
It first showed its strength last September, when a four-week strike forced the government to put the previously promised monthly raises of $50 to $70 in the 2020-21 school year budget. Teachers earn average wages of $600 per month, below the government-acknowledged poverty line of $880.
“When the union started to organize sit-ins and demonstrations, it alarmed” the government, says Musa Shteiwi, professor of political sociology at the University of Jordan.
“In the mind of the state it was another attempt to push for something more in these uncertain times when the government budget is under strain due to the coronavirus,” he says. “The government saw it as the wrong time and wrong approach to discuss economic demands.”
A segment of society agrees, worrying that protests may rock the stability in the resource-poor kingdom.
“All of us are suffering economically. The time is not right for a protest,” says Hussein, a farmer whose exports have been hit by pandemic logistics, and who only gave his first name. “Do they want to destroy the country for a 40-dinar [$56] raise?”
Yet as the crisis escalates, security forces are crossing previously-held red lines, such as assaulting and arresting women and journalists. That is pushing more citizens once skeptical of the teachers’ demands to side with the union.
“If the teachers are arrested for criticizing the government for cutting their salaries, then any of us could go to jail for being unhappy with the government,” says Abu Laith, an Amman shopkeeper who counts himself among those initially opposed to the teachers’ demands amid the pandemic.
“All of Jordan is unhappy with the economic situation and the government; all of us could be in jail right now,” he says. “Any one of us could be a teacher.”
Impact on pandemic policies
The crisis has started to dent the reputation of West-friendly Jordan, which has drawn rebukes from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders, and Human Rights Watch, among others.
Yet the greatest casualty so far has been citizens’ support for – and belief in – the government’s coronavirus efforts.
The Jordanian government had built up goodwill for its pandemic response, which citizens treated as a war effort. The government’s approval rating shot from 45% in January to 77% in late March, according to public opinion surveys for the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.
Yet a few months later, and with cases rising again, Jordanians on the street and on social media say they have soured on the government’s response.
In its arrests of teachers, the government has cited “defense orders” banning gatherings of 20 people or more. This week it also cited the pandemic as the reason to increase police presence in cities and towns across the country and enforce electronic monitoring of residential areas, and said the whole country could be put back under lockdown if case levels remain high. In response, citizens are voicing their suspicions, on social media and in the streets, that Amman is manipulating coronavirus statistics for its political needs.
Public doubts come amid a surge of coronavirus cases owing to the arrival of infected truck drivers from neighboring states. This week new infections reached 12 to 15 cases per day.
“Everywhere people no longer believe the government’s stats or statements on corona. They think it is a conspiracy and the government wants to put Jordanians on a lockdown to prevent public gatherings,” says Oraib Rantawi, director of the Amman-based Al Quds Center for Political Studies. “The government has lost all this credit and goodwill for nothing.”
Middle class struggling
As protests continue, the debt-ridden Jordanian government, which boasts it protected 70% of salaries and expanded health care during the lockdown, insists it must freeze government salaries and new hiring for the rest of 2020.
Yet while the most vulnerable have been bolstered, heading into September, Jordan’s middle class is under serious strain, with many having lost jobs or income and are struggling to pay mortgages, car loans, and groceries.
Teachers are emerging as a symbol of this struggle.
“If the government thinks they can silence me like they are trying to silence the teachers, they have another thing coming,” says banker Um Samer, who is selling her Amman house after losing her job.
Observers say it is a lesson that in these extraordinary times, what had been tried-and-true regime tactics have unexpected consequences.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“If the government is not aware of what is lying around the corner for us, I think we are risking the stability of our country,” says Mr. Rantawi. “We must turn back.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.