csmonitor--2020-05-29--Minneapolis protests turn violent as mayor appeals for peace

Cheering protesters torched a Minneapolis police station that the department abandoned as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the United States over the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck .
A police spokesman confirmed late Thursday that staff had evacuated the 3rd Precinct station , the focus of many of the protests , `` in the interest of the safety of our personnel '' shortly after 10 p.m. livestream video showed the protesters entering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sprinklers ran as blazes were set .
Protesters could be seen setting fire to a Minneapolis Police Department jacket .
Late Thursday , President Donald Trump blasted the `` total lack of leadership '' in Minneapolis .
`` Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way .
Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts , '' he said on Twitter .
Mr. Trump , who called protesters in Minneapolis `` thugs , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhetoric , saying it violated the platform 's rules about `` glorifying violence . ''
A visibly tired and frustrated Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey made his first public appearance of the night at City Hall near 2 a.m. Friday and took responsibility for evacuating the precinct , saying it had become too dangerous for officers there .
As Mr. Frey continued , a reporter cut across loudly with a question : `` What 's the plan here ? ''
`` With regard to ? ''
Mr. Frey responded .
Then he added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anger right now in our city .
I understand that .
... What we have seen over the past several hours and past couple of nights here in terms of looting is unacceptable . ''
He defended the city 's lack of engagement with looters – only a handful of arrests across the first two nights of violence – and said , `` We are doing absolutely everything that we can to keep the peace . ''
He said National Guard members were being stationed in locations to help stem looting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pharmacies .
On Friday morning , the Minnesota State Patrol arrested a CNN television crew as they reported on the unrest in Minneapolis .
While live on air , CNN reporter Omar Jimenez was handcuffed and led away .
A producer and a photojournalist for CNN were also led away in handcuffs .
The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the journalists were among four people arrested as troopers were `` clearing the streets and restoring order , '' and they `` were released once they were confirmed to be members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter that the crew was arrested `` for doing their jobs , despite identifying themselves – a clear violation of their First Amendment rights . ''
Atlanta-based CNN said that the crew was released later Friday morning .
Late Thursday in Minneapolis , cheering protesters torched a police station that the department abandoned as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the United States .
Thick smoke rose over the city as fires burned Friday morning .
Firefighters worked to contain a number of fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets where businesses had been damaged .
They marched side by side and block by block as they expanded a perimeter around a heavily damaged area .
Protests first erupted Tuesday , a day after Mr. Floyd 's death in a confrontation with police captured on widely seen citizen video .
On the video , Mr. Floyd can be seen pleading as Officer Derek Chauvin presses his knee against him .
As minutes pass , Mr. Floyd slowly stops talking and moving .
The 3rd Precinct covers the portion of south Minneapolis where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier Thursday activated the National Guard at the Minneapolis mayor 's request .
The Guard tweeted minutes after the precinct burned that it had activated more than 500 soldiers across the metro area .
A couple dozen Guard members , armed with assault-style rifles , blocked a street Friday morning near a Target store that has sustained heavy damage by looters .
The Guard said a `` key objective '' was to make sure fire departments could respond to calls , and said in a follow-up tweet it was `` here with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But no move was made to put out the 3rd Precinct fire .
Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said fire crews could not safely respond to fires at the precinct station and some surrounding buildings .
Earlier Thursday , dozens of businesses across the Twin Cities boarded up their windows and doors in an effort to prevent looting , with Minneapolis-based Target announcing it was temporarily closing two dozen area stores .
Minneapolis shut down nearly its entire light-rail system and all bus service through Sunday out of safety concerns .
In St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air as police armed with batons and wearing gas masks and body armor kept a watchful eye on protesters along one of the city 's main commercial corridors , where firefighters also sprayed water onto a series of small fires .
At one point , officers stood in line in front of a Target , trying to keep out looters , who were also smashing windows of other businesses .
Hundreds of demonstrators returned Thursday to the Minneapolis neighborhood at the center of the violence , where the nighttime scene veered between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At one point , a band playing in a parking lot across from the 3rd Precinct broke into a punk version of Bob Marley 's `` Redemption Song . ''
Nearby , demonstrators carried clothing mannequins from a looted Target and threw them onto a burning car .
Later , a building fire erupted nearby .
But elsewhere in Minneapolis , thousands of peaceful demonstrators marched through the streets calling for justice .
Mr. Floyd 's death has deeply shaken Minneapolis and sparked protests in cities across the United States .
Local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
`` Please stay home .
Please do not come here to protest .
Please keep the focus on George Floyd , on advancing our movement and on preventing this from ever happening again , '' tweeted St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter , who is black .
Erika Atson was among thousands of people who gathered outside government offices in downtown Minneapolis , where organizers had called for a peaceful protest .
Many protesters wore masks because of the coronavirus pandemic , but there were few attempts at social distancing .
Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing her 14- and 11-year-old brothers tackled by Minneapolis police years ago because officers mistakenly presumed the boys had guns .
She said she had been at `` every single protest '' since Mr. Floyd 's death and worried about raising children who could be vulnerable in police encounters .
`` We do n't want to be here fighting against anyone .
We do n't want anyone to be hurt .
We do n't want to cause any damages , '' she said .
`` We just want the police officer to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacefully for three hours before another confrontation with police broke out , though details were scarce .
After calling in the National Guard , Mr. Walz urged widespread changes in the wake of Floyd 's death .
`` It is time to rebuild .
Rebuild the city , rebuild our justice system and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they 're charged to protect , '' Mr. Walz said .
Much of the Minneapolis violence occurred in the Longfellow neighborhood , where protesters converged on the precinct station of the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strip mall across the street from the 3rd Precinct station , the windows in nearly every business had been smashed , from the large Target department store at one end to the Planet Fitness gym at the other .
Only the 24-hour laundromat appeared to have escaped unscathed .
`` WHY US ? ''
demanded a large expanse of red graffiti scrawled on the wall of the Target .
A Wendy 's restaurant across the street was charred almost beyond recognition .
Among the casualties of the overnight fires : a six-story building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 apartments of affordable housing .
`` We 're burning our own neighborhood , '' said a distraught Deona Brown standing with a friend outside the precinct station , where a small group of protesters were shouting at a dozen or so stone-faced police officers in riot gear .
`` This is where we live , where we shop , and they destroyed it . ''
No officers could be seen beyond the station .
`` What that cop did was wrong , but I 'm scared now , '' Ms. Brown said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different in the wreckage .
Protesters destroyed property `` because the system is broken , '' said a young man who identified himself only by his nickname , Cash , and who said he had been in the streets during the violence .
He dismissed the idea that the destruction would hurt residents of the largely black neighborhood .
`` They 're making money off of us , '' he said angrily of the owners of the destroyed stores .
He laughed when asked if he had joined in the looting or violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The protests that began Wednesday night and extended into Thursday were more violent than Tuesday 's , which included skirmishes between officers and protesters but no widespread property damage .
Protests have also spread to other cities in the United States .
In New York City , protesters defied New York 's coronavirus prohibition on public gatherings Thursday , clashing with police , while demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Denver and downtown Columbus .
A day earlier , demonstrators had taken to the streets in Los Angeles and Memphis .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least seven people had been shot Thursday night as protesters demanded justice for Breonna Taylor , a black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March .
Anger over the killing also has spread in Africa , where the head of the African Union Commission on Friday rejected `` continuing discriminatory practices against black citizens of the USA . ''
In a series of tweets , Moussa Faki Mahamat urged the `` total elimination '' of all forms of racism in the United States .
In Mississippi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign following his remarks about Floyd 's death .
The Republican on Twitter asked `` Why in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today ? ''
and in a follow-up tweet said he `` did n't see anything unreasonable . ''
Amid the violence in Minneapolis , a man was found fatally shot Wednesday night near a pawn shop , possibly by the owner , authorities said .
Fire crews responded to about 30 intentionally set blazes on Wednesday , and multiple fire trucks were damaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire department said .
No one was hurt by the blazes .
The city on Thursday released a transcript of the 911 call that brought police to the grocery store where Mr. Floyd was arrested .
The caller described someone paying with a counterfeit bill , with workers rushing outside to find the man sitting on a van .
The caller described the man as `` awfully drunk and he 's not in control of himself . ''
Asked by the 911 operator whether the man was `` under the influence of something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Something like that , yes .
He is not acting right . ''
Police said Mr. Floyd matched the caller 's description of the suspect .
The United States Attorney 's Office and the FBI in Minneapolis said Thursday they were conducting `` a robust criminal investigation '' into the death .
Mr. Trump has said he had asked an investigation to be expedited .
The FBI is also investigating whether Mr. Floyd 's civil rights were violated .
Mr. Chauvin , the officer who kneeled on Floyd 's neck , was fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arrest .
The next day , the mayor called for Mr. Chauvin to be criminally charged .
He also appealed for the activation of the National Guard .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Steve Karnowski , Jeff Baenen and Doug Glass in Minneapolis , and Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report .
Editor 's Note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Cheering protesters torched a Minneapolis police station that the department abandoned as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the United States over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck.
A police spokesman confirmed late Thursday that staff had evacuated the 3rd Precinct station, the focus of many of the protests, "in the interest of the safety of our personnel" shortly after 10 p.m. livestream video showed the protesters entering the building, where fire alarms blared and sprinklers ran as blazes were set.
Protesters could be seen setting fire to a Minneapolis Police Department jacket.
Late Thursday, President Donald Trump blasted the "total lack of leadership" in Minneapolis. "Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts," he said on Twitter. Mr. Trump, who called protesters in Minneapolis "thugs," drew another warning from Twitter for his rhetoric, saying it violated the platform's rules about "glorifying violence."
A visibly tired and frustrated Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey made his first public appearance of the night at City Hall near 2 a.m. Friday and took responsibility for evacuating the precinct, saying it had become too dangerous for officers there. As Mr. Frey continued, a reporter cut across loudly with a question: "What's the plan here?"
"With regard to?" Mr. Frey responded. Then he added: "There is a lot of pain and anger right now in our city. I understand that. ... What we have seen over the past several hours and past couple of nights here in terms of looting is unacceptable."
He defended the city's lack of engagement with looters – only a handful of arrests across the first two nights of violence – and said, "We are doing absolutely everything that we can to keep the peace." He said National Guard members were being stationed in locations to help stem looting, including banks, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
On Friday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol arrested a CNN television crew as they reported on the unrest in Minneapolis. While live on air, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez was handcuffed and led away. A producer and a photojournalist for CNN were also led away in handcuffs.
The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the journalists were among four people arrested as troopers were "clearing the streets and restoring order," and they "were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media." CNN said on Twitter that the crew was arrested "for doing their jobs, despite identifying themselves – a clear violation of their First Amendment rights."
Atlanta-based CNN said that the crew was released later Friday morning.
Late Thursday in Minneapolis, cheering protesters torched a police station that the department abandoned as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the United States.
Thick smoke rose over the city as fires burned Friday morning. Firefighters worked to contain a number of fires as National Guard troops blocked access to streets where businesses had been damaged. They marched side by side and block by block as they expanded a perimeter around a heavily damaged area.
Protests first erupted Tuesday, a day after Mr. Floyd's death in a confrontation with police captured on widely seen citizen video. On the video, Mr. Floyd can be seen pleading as Officer Derek Chauvin presses his knee against him. As minutes pass, Mr. Floyd slowly stops talking and moving. The 3rd Precinct covers the portion of south Minneapolis where Mr. Floyd was arrested.
Mr. Walz earlier Thursday activated the National Guard at the Minneapolis mayor's request. The Guard tweeted minutes after the precinct burned that it had activated more than 500 soldiers across the metro area. A couple dozen Guard members, armed with assault-style rifles, blocked a street Friday morning near a Target store that has sustained heavy damage by looters.
The Guard said a "key objective" was to make sure fire departments could respond to calls, and said in a follow-up tweet it was "here with the Minneapolis Fire Department" to assist. But no move was made to put out the 3rd Precinct fire. Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said fire crews could not safely respond to fires at the precinct station and some surrounding buildings.
Earlier Thursday, dozens of businesses across the Twin Cities boarded up their windows and doors in an effort to prevent looting, with Minneapolis-based Target announcing it was temporarily closing two dozen area stores. Minneapolis shut down nearly its entire light-rail system and all bus service through Sunday out of safety concerns.
In St. Paul, clouds of smoke hung in the air as police armed with batons and wearing gas masks and body armor kept a watchful eye on protesters along one of the city's main commercial corridors, where firefighters also sprayed water onto a series of small fires. At one point, officers stood in line in front of a Target, trying to keep out looters, who were also smashing windows of other businesses.
Hundreds of demonstrators returned Thursday to the Minneapolis neighborhood at the center of the violence, where the nighttime scene veered between an angry protest and a street party. At one point, a band playing in a parking lot across from the 3rd Precinct broke into a punk version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." Nearby, demonstrators carried clothing mannequins from a looted Target and threw them onto a burning car. Later, a building fire erupted nearby.
But elsewhere in Minneapolis, thousands of peaceful demonstrators marched through the streets calling for justice.
Mr. Floyd's death has deeply shaken Minneapolis and sparked protests in cities across the United States. Local leaders have repeatedly urged demonstrators to avoid violence.
"Please stay home. Please do not come here to protest. Please keep the focus on George Floyd, on advancing our movement and on preventing this from ever happening again," tweeted St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, who is black.
Erika Atson was among thousands of people who gathered outside government offices in downtown Minneapolis, where organizers had called for a peaceful protest. Many protesters wore masks because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there were few attempts at social distancing.
Ms. Atson, who is black, described seeing her 14- and 11-year-old brothers tackled by Minneapolis police years ago because officers mistakenly presumed the boys had guns. She said she had been at "every single protest" since Mr. Floyd's death and worried about raising children who could be vulnerable in police encounters.
"We don't want to be here fighting against anyone. We don't want anyone to be hurt. We don't want to cause any damages," she said. "We just want the police officer to be held accountable."
The group marched peacefully for three hours before another confrontation with police broke out, though details were scarce.
After calling in the National Guard, Mr. Walz urged widespread changes in the wake of Floyd's death.
"It is time to rebuild. Rebuild the city, rebuild our justice system and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they're charged to protect," Mr. Walz said.
Much of the Minneapolis violence occurred in the Longfellow neighborhood, where protesters converged on the precinct station of the police who arrested Mr. Floyd. In a strip mall across the street from the 3rd Precinct station, the windows in nearly every business had been smashed, from the large Target department store at one end to the Planet Fitness gym at the other. Only the 24-hour laundromat appeared to have escaped unscathed.
"WHY US?" demanded a large expanse of red graffiti scrawled on the wall of the Target. A Wendy's restaurant across the street was charred almost beyond recognition.
Among the casualties of the overnight fires: a six-story building under construction that was to provide nearly 200 apartments of affordable housing.
"We're burning our own neighborhood," said a distraught Deona Brown standing with a friend outside the precinct station, where a small group of protesters were shouting at a dozen or so stone-faced police officers in riot gear. "This is where we live, where we shop, and they destroyed it." No officers could be seen beyond the station.
"What that cop did was wrong, but I'm scared now," Ms. Brown said.
Others in the crowd saw something different in the wreckage.
Protesters destroyed property "because the system is broken," said a young man who identified himself only by his nickname, Cash, and who said he had been in the streets during the violence. He dismissed the idea that the destruction would hurt residents of the largely black neighborhood.
"They're making money off of us," he said angrily of the owners of the destroyed stores. He laughed when asked if he had joined in the looting or violence. "I didn't break anything."
The protests that began Wednesday night and extended into Thursday were more violent than Tuesday's, which included skirmishes between officers and protesters but no widespread property damage.
Protests have also spread to other cities in the United States. In New York City, protesters defied New York's coronavirus prohibition on public gatherings Thursday, clashing with police, while demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Denver and downtown Columbus. A day earlier, demonstrators had taken to the streets in Los Angeles and Memphis.
In Louisville, Kentucky, police confirmed that at least seven people had been shot Thursday night as protesters demanded justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March.
Anger over the killing also has spread in Africa, where the head of the African Union Commission on Friday rejected "continuing discriminatory practices against black citizens of the USA." In a series of tweets, Moussa Faki Mahamat urged the "total elimination" of all forms of racism in the United States.
In Mississippi, Petal Mayor Hal Marx resisted calls to resign following his remarks about Floyd's death. The Republican on Twitter asked "Why in the world would anyone choose to become a police officer in our society today?" and in a follow-up tweet said he "didn't see anything unreasonable."
Amid the violence in Minneapolis, a man was found fatally shot Wednesday night near a pawn shop, possibly by the owner, authorities said.
Fire crews responded to about 30 intentionally set blazes on Wednesday, and multiple fire trucks were damaged by rocks and other projectiles, the fire department said. No one was hurt by the blazes.
The city on Thursday released a transcript of the 911 call that brought police to the grocery store where Mr. Floyd was arrested. The caller described someone paying with a counterfeit bill, with workers rushing outside to find the man sitting on a van. The caller described the man as "awfully drunk and he's not in control of himself." Asked by the 911 operator whether the man was "under the influence of something," the caller said: "Something like that, yes. He is not acting right." Police said Mr. Floyd matched the caller's description of the suspect.
The United States Attorney's Office and the FBI in Minneapolis said Thursday they were conducting "a robust criminal investigation" into the death. Mr. Trump has said he had asked an investigation to be expedited.
The FBI is also investigating whether Mr. Floyd's civil rights were violated.
Mr. Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on Floyd's neck, was fired Tuesday with three other officers involved in the arrest. The next day, the mayor called for Mr. Chauvin to be criminally charged. He also appealed for the activation of the National Guard.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Steve Karnowski, Jeff Baenen and Doug Glass in Minneapolis, and Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report.
Editor's Note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-29--Chants of 'no justice, no peace' at heated Louisville protests

At least seven people were shot in Louisville , Kentucky , as hundreds of protesters converged on City Hall demanding justice for Breonna Taylor , a black woman who was fatally shot in March by police who broke down her door .
Louisville Metro Police said early Friday that at least one person was in critical condition .
`` No officers discharged their service weapons , '' and all seven shot were civilians , police spokesman Sgt .
Lamont Washington wrote in an email to The Associated Press .
`` I feel the community 's frustration , the anger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and destruction is not the way to solve it , '' Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a video posted to Twitter .
He said two of the wounded underwent surgery and five were in good condition .
Thursday night 's demonstration came as protesters across the country , in cities including Los Angeles , Denver , New York , and Memphis , turned out in alliance with demonstrators in Minneapolis , where George Floyd became the latest black man to die in police custody .
It also came hours after the release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boyfriend made on March 13 , moments after the emergency medical technician was shot eight times by narcotics detectives who knocked down her front door .
No drugs were found in the home .
Around 500 to 600 demonstrators marched through the Kentucky city 's downtown streets , the Courier Journal reported .
The protests continued for more than six hours , ending in the early hours of Friday as rain poured down .
At one point , protesters took turns hoisting the stone hand of King Louis XVI after it was broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shots were later heard , prompting some of the protesters to scramble for safety .
`` Understandably , emotions are high , '' Mr. Fischer tweeted just before midnight , sharing a Facebook post that appealed for people to remain non-violent as they demand justice and accountability .
`` As Breonna 's mother says let 's be peaceful as we work toward truth and justice , '' the mayor wrote .
Attention on Ms. Taylor 's death has intensified after her family sued the police department this month .
The case has attracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arbery in a Georgia neighborhood in February .
Around 12:20 a.m. , Mr. Fischer tweeted a video that he said was a message from Ms. Taylor 's family .
`` Louisville , thank you so much for saying Breonna 's name tonight .
We are not going to stop until we get justice , '' a woman says in the video .
`` But we should stop tonight before people get hurt .
Please go home , be safe and be ready to keep fighting . ''
Meanwhile , live video from downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind makeshift wooden barricades , which appeared to be made out of picnic tables spray-painted with the words `` You ca n't kill us all . ''
A small fire inside a trash can was visible in the middle of the street .
Police in body armor and face shields held batons and lined up downtown .
They appeared to fire rubber bullets and deploy tear gas canisters , fogging the air and inducing coughs among the remaining members of the crowd .
Protesters recorded officers with their cellphones .
Kentuckians are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
Many protesters wore masks .
Chants early Friday included `` No justice , no peace '' and `` Whose streets ?
Our streets . ''
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 .

At least seven people were shot in Louisville, Kentucky, as hundreds of protesters converged on City Hall demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot in March by police who broke down her door.
Louisville Metro Police said early Friday that at least one person was in critical condition. "No officers discharged their service weapons," and all seven shot were civilians, police spokesman Sgt. Lamont Washington wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
"I feel the community's frustration, the anger, the fear, but tonight's violence and destruction is not the way to solve it," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a video posted to Twitter. He said two of the wounded underwent surgery and five were in good condition.
Thursday night's demonstration came as protesters across the country, in cities including Los Angeles, Denver, New York, and Memphis, turned out in alliance with demonstrators in Minneapolis, where George Floyd became the latest black man to die in police custody.
It also came hours after the release of a 911 call Ms. Taylor's boyfriend made on March 13, moments after the emergency medical technician was shot eight times by narcotics detectives who knocked down her front door. No drugs were found in the home.
Around 500 to 600 demonstrators marched through the Kentucky city's downtown streets, the Courier Journal reported. The protests continued for more than six hours, ending in the early hours of Friday as rain poured down.
At one point, protesters took turns hoisting the stone hand of King Louis XVI after it was broken off his statue outside City Hall. Shots were later heard, prompting some of the protesters to scramble for safety.
"Understandably, emotions are high," Mr. Fischer tweeted just before midnight, sharing a Facebook post that appealed for people to remain non-violent as they demand justice and accountability. "As Breonna's mother says let's be peaceful as we work toward truth and justice," the mayor wrote.
Attention on Ms. Taylor's death has intensified after her family sued the police department this month. The case has attracted national headlines alongside the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in a Georgia neighborhood in February.
Around 12:20 a.m., Mr. Fischer tweeted a video that he said was a message from Ms. Taylor's family.
"Louisville, thank you so much for saying Breonna's name tonight. We are not going to stop until we get justice," a woman says in the video. "But we should stop tonight before people get hurt. Please go home, be safe and be ready to keep fighting."
Meanwhile, live video from downtown Louisville around 12:30 a.m. showed some protesters behind makeshift wooden barricades, which appeared to be made out of picnic tables spray-painted with the words "You can't kill us all." A small fire inside a trash can was visible in the middle of the street.
Police in body armor and face shields held batons and lined up downtown. They appeared to fire rubber bullets and deploy tear gas canisters, fogging the air and inducing coughs among the remaining members of the crowd. Protesters recorded officers with their cellphones.
Kentuckians are still under social distancing mandates driven by the coronavirus pandemic. Many protesters wore masks.
Chants early Friday included "No justice, no peace" and "Whose streets? Our streets."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
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csmonitor--2020-05-29--Chinese grad students in crosshairs of rising Sino-US tension

The Trump administration may soon expel thousands of Chinese graduate students enrolled at U.S. universities and impose other sanctions against Chinese officials in the latest signs of tensions between Washington and Beijing that are raging over trade , the coronavirus pandemic , human rights , and the status of Hong Kong .
President Donald Trump said he would make an announcement about China on Friday , and administration officials said he is considering a months-old proposal to revoke the visas of students affiliated with educational institutions in China linked to the People ’ s Liberation Army or Chinese intelligence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and financial sanctions against Chinese officials for actions in Hong Kong , according to the officials , who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
“ We ’ ll be announcing what we ’ re doing tomorrow with respect to China and we are not happy with China , '' Mr. Trump told reporters at an unrelated event Thursday , referring mainly to COVID-19 .
`` We are not happy with what ’ s happened .
All over the world people are suffering , 186 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re suffering .
We ’ re not happy.
” Although the student expulsions are n't directly related to Hong Kong and China ’ s move to assert full control over the former British territory , potential sanctions against officials involved in that effort would be a result of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo 's determination that Hong Kong can no longer be considered autonomous from mainland China .
Mr. Pompeo notified Congress on Wednesday that Hong Kong is no longer deserving of the preferential trade and commercial status it has enjoyed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese rule in 1997 .
Under a joint Sino-British agreement on the handover , Hong Kong was to be governed differently than the mainland for 50 years under a “ one country , two systems ” policy .
Mr. Pompeo 's determination opened the door to possible sanctions and the loss of special perks Hong Kong has received from the U.S .
But neither Mr. Pompeo nor other officials were able Wednesday to describe what action the administration might take , an uncertainty related to the impact that such sanctions would have on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the city 's position as Asia 's major financial hub .
Mr. Trump 's comments sparked a drop in U.S. financial markets .
Serious consideration of the visa revocation proposal , first reported by The New York Times , has faced opposition from U.S. universities and scientific organizations who depend on tuition fees paid by Chinese students to offset other costs .
In addition , those institutions fear possible reciprocal action from Beijing that could limit their students ' and educators ' access to China .
In a nod to those concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be narrowly tailored to affect only students who present a significant risk of engaging in espionage or intellectual property theft .
The officials could not say how many people could ultimately be expelled , although they said it would be only a fraction of the Chinese students in the country .
Still , the possibility that the proposal may be implemented has drawn concerns from educators .
“ We ’ re very worried about how broadly this will be applied , and we ’ re concerned it could send a message that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around the globe , '' said Sarah Spreitzer , director of government relations at the American Council on Education .
“ We don ’ t have a lot of details about how they are going to define ties to Chinese universities , what type of universities are they going to target , what would constitute a university having ties to the Chinese military , '' she said .
If the situation were reversed and another nation imposed limits on students from U.S. universities that receive Defense Department funding , she noted it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. hosted 133,396 graduate students from China in the 2018-19 academic year , and they made up 36.1 % of all international graduate students , according to the Institute of International Education .
Overall , there were 369,548 students from China , accounting for 33.7 % of international students who contributed nearly $ 15 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018 .
The proposal to revoke the visas is not directly related to the dispute over Hong Kong , nor is it tied to U.S. criticism of China for its handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is connected to various elements of trade and human rights issues that have seen U.S. officials complain about Chinese industrial espionage and spying and harassment of dissidents and religious and ethnic minorities .
But the timing of a potential announcement could come at a time of increasingly heated rhetoric about the imposition of national security laws on Hong Hong in violation of the Sino-British accord .
The proposal first began to be discussed last year when the administration moved to require Chinese diplomats based in the U.S. to report their domestic U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academics .
At the time , U.S. officials said it was a reciprocal measure to match restrictions that American diplomats face in China .
Those limits were followed by a requirement that Chinese state-run media in the U.S. register as “ foreign diplomatic missions ” and report their property holdings and employee rosters to the government .
That was , in turn , followed by the limiting of the number of visas for Chinese journalists allowed to work in the U.S. China retaliated for the visa limitations by expelling several reporters from U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and The New York Times .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP Education Writer Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The Trump administration may soon expel thousands of Chinese graduate students enrolled at U.S. universities and impose other sanctions against Chinese officials in the latest signs of tensions between Washington and Beijing that are raging over trade, the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, and the status of Hong Kong.
President Donald Trump said he would make an announcement about China on Friday, and administration officials said he is considering a months-old proposal to revoke the visas of students affiliated with educational institutions in China linked to the People’s Liberation Army or Chinese intelligence.
Mr. Trump is also weighing targeted travel and financial sanctions against Chinese officials for actions in Hong Kong, according to the officials, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
“We’ll be announcing what we’re doing tomorrow with respect to China and we are not happy with China," Mr. Trump told reporters at an unrelated event Thursday, referring mainly to COVID-19. "We are not happy with what’s happened. All over the world people are suffering, 186 countries. All over the world they’re suffering. We’re not happy.”
Although the student expulsions aren't directly related to Hong Kong and China’s move to assert full control over the former British territory, potential sanctions against officials involved in that effort would be a result of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's determination that Hong Kong can no longer be considered autonomous from mainland China.
Mr. Pompeo notified Congress on Wednesday that Hong Kong is no longer deserving of the preferential trade and commercial status it has enjoyed from the United States since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. Under a joint Sino-British agreement on the handover, Hong Kong was to be governed differently than the mainland for 50 years under a “one country, two systems” policy.
Mr. Pompeo's determination opened the door to possible sanctions and the loss of special perks Hong Kong has received from the U.S. But neither Mr. Pompeo nor other officials were able Wednesday to describe what action the administration might take, an uncertainty related to the impact that such sanctions would have on U.S. companies that operate in Hong Kong and the city's position as Asia's major financial hub. Mr. Trump's comments sparked a drop in U.S. financial markets.
Serious consideration of the visa revocation proposal, first reported by The New York Times, has faced opposition from U.S. universities and scientific organizations who depend on tuition fees paid by Chinese students to offset other costs. In addition, those institutions fear possible reciprocal action from Beijing that could limit their students' and educators' access to China.
In a nod to those concerns, the officials said any restrictions would be narrowly tailored to affect only students who present a significant risk of engaging in espionage or intellectual property theft. The officials could not say how many people could ultimately be expelled, although they said it would be only a fraction of the Chinese students in the country.
Still, the possibility that the proposal may be implemented has drawn concerns from educators.
“We’re very worried about how broadly this will be applied, and we’re concerned it could send a message that we no longer welcome talented students and scholars from around the globe," said Sarah Spreitzer, director of government relations at the American Council on Education.
“We don’t have a lot of details about how they are going to define ties to Chinese universities, what type of universities are they going to target, what would constitute a university having ties to the Chinese military," she said. If the situation were reversed and another nation imposed limits on students from U.S. universities that receive Defense Department funding, she noted it would affect a wide range of schools.
The U.S. hosted 133,396 graduate students from China in the 2018-19 academic year, and they made up 36.1% of all international graduate students, according to the Institute of International Education. Overall, there were 369,548 students from China, accounting for 33.7% of international students who contributed nearly $15 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018.
The proposal to revoke the visas is not directly related to the dispute over Hong Kong, nor is it tied to U.S. criticism of China for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Rather, it is connected to various elements of trade and human rights issues that have seen U.S. officials complain about Chinese industrial espionage and spying and harassment of dissidents and religious and ethnic minorities.
But the timing of a potential announcement could come at a time of increasingly heated rhetoric about the imposition of national security laws on Hong Hong in violation of the Sino-British accord.
The proposal first began to be discussed last year when the administration moved to require Chinese diplomats based in the U.S. to report their domestic U.S. travel and meetings with American scientists and academics. At the time, U.S. officials said it was a reciprocal measure to match restrictions that American diplomats face in China.
Those limits were followed by a requirement that Chinese state-run media in the U.S. register as “foreign diplomatic missions” and report their property holdings and employee rosters to the government. That was, in turn, followed by the limiting of the number of visas for Chinese journalists allowed to work in the U.S.
China retaliated for the visa limitations by expelling several reporters from U.S. media outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP Education Writer Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-29--How long can Americans live in a state of emergency?

“ That ’ s the question .
What time frame are we willing to accept to live in a state of emergency ?
” A useful analogy there , says Professor Chertoff , is 9/11 and the ongoing war on terror .
“ We need to be guided by science , but we need to be careful in what we are willing to accept in an emergency , because rights once given up can be very difficult to bring back again , ” she says .
“ What is different about this crisis is both the invisibility of the adversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unfolding , ” says Meryl Chertoff , executive director of the Project on State and Local Government Policy and Law at the Georgetown University Law Center .
While there has been recent progress , it ’ s still unclear how long the pandemic is going to last , and thus how long restrictions on personal liberties may be asked of citizens .
Tracking and eliminating the virus will likely raise new civil rights concerns as well .
The pandemic represents the latest test of civil liberties , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as the U.S. death count passed 100,000 this week .
Civil liberties are a cornerstone of American democracy , but nothing tests those liberties quite like a major crisis .
Every crisis poses distinct threats and requires distinct responses .
But throughout America ’ s history , restricting civil liberties in some way has frequently been part of the response .
In the interests of security , people have often been willing to surrender liberties during a crisis and in its aftermath .
The state has also used crises as a justification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the notorious internment of Japanese Americans during World War II .
The coronavirus pandemic represents the latest test of civil liberties , and it ’ s testing these liberties in unprecedented ways , even as the U.S. death count passed 100,000 this week .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
“ What is different about this crisis is both the invisibility of the adversary and the time frame in which it ’ s unfolding , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project on State and Local Government Policy and Law at the Georgetown University Law Center .
“ We need to be guided by science , but we need to be careful in what we are willing to accept in an emergency , because rights once given up can be very difficult to bring back again , ” she adds .
While there has been recent progress on developing treatments and a vaccine , it ’ s still unclear how long the pandemic is going to last , and thus how long restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tracking and eliminating the virus will likely raise new civil rights concerns as well .
A useful analogy , says Professor Chertoff , is 9/11 and the ongoing war on terror .
“ Emergency measures were put in place , and the question – and it was a difficult question for policymakers – was when do you go from red to yellow ?
” she says .
“ That ’ s the question .
What time frame are we willing to accept to live in a state of emergency ?
” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political and cultural , and some of that is hardwired into us as people , that there ’ s only so long that people can live in a state of hypervigilance , or in a state of isolation.
” Indeed , Memorial Day weekend saw a widespread chafing against social distancing restrictions imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 .
With all 50 states now in the process of reopening , lockdown fatigue seems to be setting in , and while a majority of the public continues to support social distancing guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey , for example , 69 % of Americans favored restricting gatherings to 10 people or fewer , down from 82 % in April .
“ When people perceive a threat to their safety , when they feel unsafe , they ’ re very willing to give up liberties they might not have in other contexts , ” says Kevin Cope , an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Law .
“ In terms of the liberty restrictions we ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support them in such high numbers is because they expect them to be quite temporary.
” That expectation of impermanence is a critical justification for restricting civil liberties in a crisis .
What is proving vexing about the COVID-19 pandemic is that it ’ s difficult to know what to expect .
The pandemic is both an urgent crisis , with people falling ill and dying every day , and a slow-burning one , wrought by a relatively invisible and enigmatic virus that could be eradicated in months , years , or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said that , in a situation with an infectious disease and asymptomatic carriers , restrictions on liberty of movement make sense .
( Though restricting other rights , like freedom to attend socially distanced houses of worship , may not , they say . )
“ The normal conditions that justify liberty of movement and travel ... are regrettably not present when each of us ( with no conscious choice on our parts ) is potentially highly lethal to people around us .
However peaceable we might be in our intentions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our judgments about liberty , I think , need to reflect that , ” wrote Eugene Volokh , a constitutional law expert at the UCLA School of Law , on April 4 .
With the broad powers state and local leaders can tap into in emergencies , it ’ s perhaps unsurprising that courts have so far been reluctant to strike down pandemic-related government actions .
The only successful legal challenge so far came in Wisconsin earlier this month , when the state Supreme Court sided with Republican state lawmakers and struck down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders .
The court ’ s 4-3 ruling – which immediately lifted all restrictions imposed by the governor , with the exception of schools staying closed until fall – hinged on that expectation of impermanence .
Unlike in a sudden and short-lived crisis like a natural disaster , the majority wrote , the governor needs to follow the normal rule-making process and allow the state legislature to review his orders .
“ If a forest fire breaks out , there is no time for debate .
Action is needed , ” wrote Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But in the case of a pandemic , which lasts month after month , the governor can not rely on emergency powers indefinitely.
” Governor Evers said the ruling would throw the state “ into chaos , ” while Justice Brian Hagedorn , who broke with his conservative colleagues to dissent from the ruling , accused the majority of engaging in “ freewheeling constitutional theory.
” Two weeks later , Wisconsin set a record for both new cases and deaths in the state .
Testing , however , also has expanded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional questions , but those could soon emerge .
The American Civil Liberties Union last week filed a lawsuit on behalf of two journalists challenging two new laws in Puerto Rico : one criminalizing the raising of “ false alarms ” during a declared emergency , and one criminalizing the sharing of “ false information ” about the government ’ s emergency orders or curfew orders .
The government has yet to respond – it has until June 5 – but this is not the first time Puerto Rico has faced criticism for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit struck down a criminal libel law as unconstitutional .
“ These laws are just those old criminal libel laws coming back with a vengeance , ” says Brian Hauss , an ACLU staff attorney , “ and the government is trying to use the COVID-19 crisis to reclaim powers already declared unconstitutional.
” The Puerto Rico laws contain echoes from an earlier major public health crisis in the U.S .
Yet when it comes to civil liberties and the 1918 flu , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , according to John M. Barry , a historian at Tulane University and author of “ The Great Influenza : The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.
” What happened during the 1918 pandemic fell into an infrastructure created by World War I , which the U.S. had joined a year earlier , he says .
Many Americans favored American neutrality , and months after entering the war Congress passed the Espionage Act , which prohibited the distribution of information and materials in opposition to the war effort .
In 1918 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which criminalized the use of “ disloyal , profane , scurrilous , or abusive language ” about the Constitution , the government , the military , or the flag .
Those two laws – along with the Committee on Public Information , a pro-war federal propaganda agency – created a climate where people knew they couldn ’ t believe what they were being told , but didn ’ t know what to believe , says Professor Barry .
“ Instead of communities rallying together and supporting each other , ” he adds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody for himself or herself , almost a breakdown of society.
” While there ’ s not been any overt censorship in the U.S. pandemic response , there has been a growing polarization in how Americans view the pandemic .
While Democrats are mostly wary of lifting lockdown measures too early , Republicans are mostly wary of keeping them in place too long , several surveys have shown .
That politicization is what makes the American response to this crisis distinct from other countries , according to Aziz Huq , a professor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he hasn ’ t seen any significant threat to civil liberties – yet .
“ With almost all civil liberties , the question is whether the state has some kind of compelling justification for doing what it ’ s doing , ” he says .
So far , “ I have a hard time seeing [ challenges to lockdown measures ] as serious civil liberties concerns.
” That could change if the threat of the virus wanes but lockdown measures stay in place .
Be it technology to assist contact tracing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been exposed to an infected person that Apple and Google are helping develop , or “ immunity passports ” that allow people who are immune to the virus to not be subject to restrictions , how governments try to monitor the virus in a post-lockdown world is already raising concerns .
As November nears , concerns over the right to vote will likely become more pronounced .
Looking ahead , Professor Huq says , “ predicting where and how the disease is going is an area where privacy considerations are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“That’s the question. What time frame are we willing to accept to live in a state of emergency?”
A useful analogy there, says Professor Chertoff, is 9/11 and the ongoing war on terror.
“We need to be guided by science, but we need to be careful in what we are willing to accept in an emergency, because rights once given up can be very difficult to bring back again,” she says.
“What is different about this crisis is both the invisibility of the adversary and the time frame in which it’s unfolding,” says Meryl Chertoff, executive director of the Project on State and Local Government Policy and Law at the Georgetown University Law Center.
What constitutes an emergency and what becomes a new normal? That’s the question being weighed as the coronavirus crisis tests American civil liberties.
While there has been recent progress, it’s still unclear how long the pandemic is going to last, and thus how long restrictions on personal liberties may be asked of citizens. Tracking and eliminating the virus will likely raise new civil rights concerns as well.
The pandemic represents the latest test of civil liberties, and it’s testing these liberties in unprecedented ways, even as the U.S. death count passed 100,000 this week.
Civil liberties are a cornerstone of American democracy, but nothing tests those liberties quite like a major crisis.
Every crisis poses distinct threats and requires distinct responses. But throughout America’s history, restricting civil liberties in some way has frequently been part of the response.
In the interests of security, people have often been willing to surrender liberties during a crisis and in its aftermath. The state has also used crises as a justification to forcibly restrict citizens’ liberties, such as the notorious internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Why We Wrote This What constitutes an emergency and what becomes a new normal? That’s the question being weighed as the coronavirus crisis tests American civil liberties.
The coronavirus pandemic represents the latest test of civil liberties, and it’s testing these liberties in unprecedented ways, even as the U.S. death count passed 100,000 this week.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
“What is different about this crisis is both the invisibility of the adversary and the time frame in which it’s unfolding,” says Meryl Chertoff, executive director of the Project on State and Local Government Policy and Law at the Georgetown University Law Center.
“We need to be guided by science, but we need to be careful in what we are willing to accept in an emergency, because rights once given up can be very difficult to bring back again,” she adds.
While there has been recent progress on developing treatments and a vaccine, it’s still unclear how long the pandemic is going to last, and thus how long restrictions on personal liberties may be asked of citizens. Tracking and eliminating the virus will likely raise new civil rights concerns as well.
A useful analogy, says Professor Chertoff, is 9/11 and the ongoing war on terror.
“Emergency measures were put in place, and the question – and it was a difficult question for policymakers – was when do you go from red to yellow?” she says.
“That’s the question. What time frame are we willing to accept to live in a state of emergency?” she adds. “Some of that is political and cultural, and some of that is hardwired into us as people, that there’s only so long that people can live in a state of hypervigilance, or in a state of isolation.”
Lockdown fatigue
Indeed, Memorial Day weekend saw a widespread chafing against social distancing restrictions imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19. With all 50 states now in the process of reopening, lockdown fatigue seems to be setting in, and while a majority of the public continues to support social distancing guidelines, that majority is shrinking.
In a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey, for example, 69% of Americans favored restricting gatherings to 10 people or fewer, down from 82% in April.
“When people perceive a threat to their safety, when they feel unsafe, they’re very willing to give up liberties they might not have in other contexts,” says Kevin Cope, an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Law.
“In terms of the liberty restrictions we’re seeing now, one of the reasons people support them in such high numbers is because they expect them to be quite temporary.”
That expectation of impermanence is a critical justification for restricting civil liberties in a crisis. What is proving vexing about the COVID-19 pandemic is that it’s difficult to know what to expect. The pandemic is both an urgent crisis, with people falling ill and dying every day, and a slow-burning one, wrought by a relatively invisible and enigmatic virus that could be eradicated in months, years, or not at all.
Even some prominent libertarians have said that, in a situation with an infectious disease and asymptomatic carriers, restrictions on liberty of movement make sense. (Though restricting other rights, like freedom to attend socially distanced houses of worship, may not, they say.)
“The normal conditions that justify liberty of movement and travel ... are regrettably not present when each of us (with no conscious choice on our parts) is potentially highly lethal to people around us. However peaceable we might be in our intentions, our assembling is a physical threat. Our judgments about liberty, I think, need to reflect that,” wrote Eugene Volokh, a constitutional law expert at the UCLA School of Law, on April 4.
Shelly Yang/Kansas City Star/AP View caption Hide caption Crowds of people gather at Coconuts Caribbean Beach Bar & Grill in Gravois Mills, Missouri, May 24, 2020. The Lake of the Ozarks was packed with party-goers during the Memorial Day weekend. Several political leaders have condemned revelers for failing to practice social distancing, amid fears they could spread the coronavirus.
Wisconsin ruling
With the broad powers state and local leaders can tap into in emergencies, it’s perhaps unsurprising that courts have so far been reluctant to strike down pandemic-related government actions.
The only successful legal challenge so far came in Wisconsin earlier this month, when the state Supreme Court sided with Republican state lawmakers and struck down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ shutdown orders.
The court’s 4-3 ruling – which immediately lifted all restrictions imposed by the governor, with the exception of schools staying closed until fall – hinged on that expectation of impermanence. Unlike in a sudden and short-lived crisis like a natural disaster, the majority wrote, the governor needs to follow the normal rule-making process and allow the state legislature to review his orders.
“If a forest fire breaks out, there is no time for debate. Action is needed,” wrote Chief Justice Patience Roggensack for the majority. “But in the case of a pandemic, which lasts month after month, the governor cannot rely on emergency powers indefinitely.”
Governor Evers said the ruling would throw the state “into chaos,” while Justice Brian Hagedorn, who broke with his conservative colleagues to dissent from the ruling, accused the majority of engaging in “freewheeling constitutional theory.”
Two weeks later, Wisconsin set a record for both new cases and deaths in the state. Testing, however, also has expanded.
Puerto Rico “false information” law
The case didn’t raise any constitutional questions, but those could soon emerge.
The American Civil Liberties Union last week filed a lawsuit on behalf of two journalists challenging two new laws in Puerto Rico: one criminalizing the raising of “false alarms” during a declared emergency, and one criminalizing the sharing of “false information” about the government’s emergency orders or curfew orders.
The government has yet to respond – it has until June 5 – but this is not the first time Puerto Rico has faced criticism for violating the First Amendment. In 2003, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit struck down a criminal libel law as unconstitutional.
“These laws are just those old criminal libel laws coming back with a vengeance,” says Brian Hauss, an ACLU staff attorney, “and the government is trying to use the COVID-19 crisis to reclaim powers already declared unconstitutional.”
Lessons from 1918
The Puerto Rico laws contain echoes from an earlier major public health crisis in the U.S.
Yet when it comes to civil liberties and the 1918 flu, even that comparison isn’t fully on point, according to John M. Barry, a historian at Tulane University and author of “The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.”
What happened during the 1918 pandemic fell into an infrastructure created by World War I, which the U.S. had joined a year earlier, he says.
Many Americans favored American neutrality, and months after entering the war Congress passed the Espionage Act, which prohibited the distribution of information and materials in opposition to the war effort. In 1918, Congress passed the Sedition Act, which criminalized the use of “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the Constitution, the government, the military, or the flag.
Those two laws – along with the Committee on Public Information, a pro-war federal propaganda agency – created a climate where people knew they couldn’t believe what they were being told, but didn’t know what to believe, says Professor Barry.
“Instead of communities rallying together and supporting each other,” he adds, “it was more an approach of everybody for himself or herself, almost a breakdown of society.”
While there’s not been any overt censorship in the U.S. pandemic response, there has been a growing polarization in how Americans view the pandemic. While Democrats are mostly wary of lifting lockdown measures too early, Republicans are mostly wary of keeping them in place too long, several surveys have shown.
That politicization is what makes the American response to this crisis distinct from other countries, according to Aziz Huq, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School. But he hasn’t seen any significant threat to civil liberties – yet.
“With almost all civil liberties, the question is whether the state has some kind of compelling justification for doing what it’s doing,” he says. So far, “I have a hard time seeing [challenges to lockdown measures] as serious civil liberties concerns.”
That could change if the threat of the virus wanes but lockdown measures stay in place.
Be it technology to assist contact tracing, like an app alerting you if you’ve been exposed to an infected person that Apple and Google are helping develop, or “immunity passports” that allow people who are immune to the virus to not be subject to restrictions, how governments try to monitor the virus in a post-lockdown world is already raising concerns. As November nears, concerns over the right to vote will likely become more pronounced.
Looking ahead, Professor Huq says, “predicting where and how the disease is going is an area where privacy considerations are going to come up.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.