csmonitor--2020-06-26--Points of Progress: Legal protections for LGBTQ employees, and more

The United States has confirmed the first African American leader of a military branch .
In June , the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Gen. Charles Q .
Brown Jr. as chief of staff of the Air Force .
General Brown has flown 3,000 hours , including combat missions , and oversaw Air Force operations in the Middle East from his command post in Qatar .
In a video released shortly before his confirmation , General Brown shared his experience living in what he describes as two worlds , including moments in his career “ that didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Senate vote also makes General Brown the Pentagon ’ s first Black senior leader since Army Gen. Colin Powell .
Although General Powell served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993 , he didn ’ t serve as chief of staff of the Army .
( The Wall Street Journal ) The Supreme Court has affirmed that LGBTQ employees are legally protected from workplace discrimination under a 1964 civil rights law .
Approximately 11 million Americans identify as LGBTQ , but 28 states offer the community little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise decision , the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law barring sex discrimination in the workplace extends to sexual orientation and gender identity .
Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch , President Donald Trump ’ s first nominee to the court , wrote that employers who fire LGBTQ people based on “ traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex ” are breaking the law .
The decision is expected to have a sweeping impact on cases pending in lower courts .
( USA Today ) Scientists have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for tropical forests , or a threshold at which the amount of carbon the forests store drops .
When trees get too hot or dry , they can stop absorbing carbon through photosynthesis .
And when they die or decay , they release the carbon locked up in their wood back into the atmosphere .
Tropical forests hold about 40 % of all the carbon stored by land plants .
The researchers found that when daytime temperatures reach above about 90 degrees Fahrenheit , tropical forests lose that carbon more quickly .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions at nearly 600 sites around the world , including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama .
Based on the study and future warming predictions , scientists believe South American forests will be most affected by climate change , but understanding this temperature threshold could help improve conservation efforts .
( Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ) For the first time , archaeologists have mapped an entire Roman city using scanning technology .
The ground-penetrating radar created highly detailed images of Falerii Novi , a town about 30 miles north of Rome .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s water system layout and revealed evidence of a religious processional route that probably never would have been uncovered by excavation alone .
Some mysterious monuments may offer clues about the culture of the Faliscan people , who occupied this region before it was ultimately conquered by Rome .
“ You can dig a trench and get little insights , but it ’ s very difficult to see how [ those artifacts ] work as a whole , ” said Martin Millett , a classical archaeology professor at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , archaeologists were able to look at the entire 74-acre site , gaining new understanding of life and governance in the Roman Empire .
( The Guardian ) Pangolin scales are no longer included on the official list of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients , a major step in protecting the world ’ s most trafficked animal .
More than 130 tons of scales and other pangolin-related products were seized in cross-border busts last year , representing up to 400,000 animals , according to a conservation group ’ s estimate .
This change came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mammal was raised from a second-level protected species to first-level , a category shared by the panda .
“ I am very encouraged , ” said Zhou Jinfeng , secretary-general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation and longtime pangolin advocate .
“ Our continuous efforts for several years have not been in vain.
” ( CNN , The Guardian , China Daily ) Kenya has banned single-use plastics in national parks , beaches , forests , and conservation areas .
Three years after banning plastic bags nationwide , the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring items such as plastic water bottles , disposable cutlery , and straws into protected areas .
The new rule came into effect on World Environment Day as part of the country ’ s green agenda .
Renowned for its striking landscapes and wildlife , Kenya has been waging a war against plastic for years .
In 2017 , it joined the United Nations # CleanSeas campaign , promising to protect its waters from marine plastic litter and promote recycling .
( United Nations Environment Program , Global Citizen )

1. United States
The United States has confirmed the first African American leader of a military branch. In June, the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as chief of staff of the Air Force. General Brown has flown 3,000 hours, including combat missions, and oversaw Air Force operations in the Middle East from his command post in Qatar.
Kevin Dietsch/Reuters View caption Hide caption Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.
In a video released shortly before his confirmation, General Brown shared his experience living in what he describes as two worlds, including moments in his career “that didn’t always sing of liberty and equality.” The Senate vote also makes General Brown the Pentagon’s first Black senior leader since Army Gen. Colin Powell. Although General Powell served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993, he didn’t serve as chief of staff of the Army. (The Wall Street Journal)
Why We Wrote This This is more than feel-good news – it's where the world is making concrete progress. A roundup of positive stories to inspire you.
2. United States
The Supreme Court has affirmed that LGBTQ employees are legally protected from workplace discrimination under a 1964 civil rights law. Approximately 11 million Americans identify as LGBTQ, but 28 states offer the community little or no workplace protections. In a surprise decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law barring sex discrimination in the workplace extends to sexual orientation and gender identity. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s first nominee to the court, wrote that employers who fire LGBTQ people based on “traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex” are breaking the law. The decision is expected to have a sweeping impact on cases pending in lower courts. (USA Today)
3. Panama
Scientists have identified a “temperature tipping point” for tropical forests, or a threshold at which the amount of carbon the forests store drops. When trees get too hot or dry, they can stop absorbing carbon through photosynthesis. And when they die or decay, they release the carbon locked up in their wood back into the atmosphere. Tropical forests hold about 40% of all the carbon stored by land plants. The researchers found that when daytime temperatures reach above about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, tropical forests lose that carbon more quickly. Scientists monitored tropical forest behavior in various thermal conditions at nearly 600 sites around the world, including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Based on the study and future warming predictions, scientists believe South American forests will be most affected by climate change, but understanding this temperature threshold could help improve conservation efforts. (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)
4. Italy
For the first time, archaeologists have mapped an entire Roman city using scanning technology. The ground-penetrating radar created highly detailed images of Falerii Novi, a town about 30 miles north of Rome. Researchers say the scans helped piece together the city’s water system layout and revealed evidence of a religious processional route that probably never would have been uncovered by excavation alone. Some mysterious monuments may offer clues about the culture of the Faliscan people, who occupied this region before it was ultimately conquered by Rome.
Yara Nardi/Reuters View caption Hide caption Falerii Novi specialist Raniero Pedica shows a map of the ancient Roman city being explored using radar technology.
“You can dig a trench and get little insights, but it’s very difficult to see how [those artifacts] work as a whole,” said Martin Millett, a classical archaeology professor at the University of Cambridge. With the radar technique, archaeologists were able to look at the entire 74-acre site, gaining new understanding of life and governance in the Roman Empire. (The Guardian)
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5. China
Pangolin scales are no longer included on the official list of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, a major step in protecting the world’s most trafficked animal. More than 130 tons of scales and other pangolin-related products were seized in cross-border busts last year, representing up to 400,000 animals, according to a conservation group’s estimate. This change came shortly after the status of the cat-sized mammal was raised from a second-level protected species to first-level, a category shared by the panda.
CBCGDF/AP View caption Hide caption A conservation worker cradles Lijin, a pangolin, on June 9, 2020, before its release from the Jinhua wild animal rescue center in China.
“I am very encouraged,” said Zhou Jinfeng, secretary-general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation and longtime pangolin advocate. “Our continuous efforts for several years have not been in vain.” (CNN, The Guardian, China Daily)
6. Kenya
Kenya has banned single-use plastics in national parks, beaches, forests, and conservation areas. Three years after banning plastic bags nationwide, the East African country will no longer allow visitors to bring items such as plastic water bottles, disposable cutlery, and straws into protected areas. The new rule came into effect on World Environment Day as part of the country’s green agenda. Renowned for its striking landscapes and wildlife, Kenya has been waging a war against plastic for years. In 2017, it joined the United Nations #CleanSeas campaign, promising to protect its waters from marine plastic litter and promote recycling. (United Nations Environment Program, Global Citizen)


csmonitor--2020-06-26--North Korea and Trump: Is it back to square one, only worse?

“ Whoever is in the Oval Office next January , where North Korea figures on the list of national security threats will largely depend on whether North Korea is acting up and forcing some kind of response , ” says Mr. Klingner .
“ But it won ’ t exactly be back to where we were , ” he adds , “ because both [ the North ’ s ] nuclear and missile capabilities are higher – in both quality and quantity – than they were in 2017.
” When President Trump took office , North Korea was what his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s gravest national security challenge .
Has that changed ?
But North Korea “ does not like to be ignored , ” notes Bruce Klingner , a Heritage Foundation research fellow and former CIA analyst , especially when it wants something very much , such as relief from punishing U.S. and international economic sanctions .
And so , in recent weeks , Pyongyang has launched a series of provocations aimed at alarming and punishing both South Korea and the United States .
After the collapse last year of the second summit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Un , North Korea retreated to the background of the world stage .
The North ultimately balked at the U.S. demand for full denuclearization before economic sanctions relief .
On Inauguration Day 2017 , when Barack Obama ushered Donald Trump into the Oval Office , the outgoing president had a blunt warning for his successor concerning North Korea .
The volatile and unpredictable dictatorship with a nascent nuclear arsenal and an intercontinental missile program nearing an ability to reach the continental United States would be the new president ’ s gravest national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 1/2 years later , and as the 2020 presidential election gears up , many Northeast Asian experts say the same warning Mr. Obama offered President Trump is very likely to apply for whoever occupies the Oval Office on Inauguration Day 2021 – whether it ’ s Mr. Trump settling into a second term , or former Vice President Joe Biden moving up to the top job .
Indeed , after Mr. Trump ’ s unorthodox diplomatic approach to the North Korea of Kim Jong Un , which temporarily lowered tensions but failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s essentially back to square one with Pyongyang , some experts say .
That is , with one big catch .
“ We are basically back to square one – only in some cases it ’ s worse , ” says Frank Aum , a former Pentagon senior adviser on North Korea who is now senior expert on North Korea at the U.S. Institute of Peace ( USIP ) in Washington .
He notes the North Koreans are quietly amassing more fissile material every year – enough to build seven to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and are steadily improving their intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities .
“ So they have all that , ” he adds , “ but we don ’ t have anything to show for the last 3 1/2 years in terms of denuclearization.
” Others bluntly deem the “ back where we started ” characterization inaccurate and even dangerous , because it fails to take into account the North ’ s significant nuclear and missile progress – and fails to recognize that four more years of Pyongyang as a de facto nuclear power is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to negotiate away its nuclear status .
“ Whoever is in the Oval Office next January , where North Korea figures on the list of national security threats will largely depend on whether North Korea is acting up and forcing some kind of response , ” says Bruce Klingner , a former CIA Korea analyst who is now a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation in Washington .
“ But it won ’ t exactly be back to where we were , ” he adds , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] nuclear and missile capabilities are higher – in both quality and quantity – than they were in 2017.
” With the world preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic , North Korea had receded to the background of the global stage , an ignominious spot it retreated to after the collapse of the second Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi , Vietnam , last year .
The North ultimately balked at the U.S. demand for full denuclearization before economic sanctions relief .
That summit appeared to end the “ love ” Mr. Trump had said existed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Klingner notes , the North “ does not like to be ignored , ” especially when there is something – in this case relief from punishing U.S. and international economic sanctions – it wants very much .
And so , in recent weeks , Pyongyang has launched a series of provocations aimed at alarming and punishing both South Korea and the U.S. Last week Pyongyang rattled Northeast Asia – and Korea watchers in the U.S. – by blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong .
The North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South , and threatened to send troops into border cooperation zones and remilitarize the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas .
On Tuesday Pyongyang did an abrupt about-face and announced suspension of its military plans against the South – a move analysts summed up as typical “ keep them guessing ” behavior .
But it did not signal a significant rhetorical softening toward Seoul and Washington .
On Thursday , Pyongyang chose the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War to attack “ hostile policy ” from the U.S. , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counter “ nuclear with nuclear ” and make that a cornerstone of its national security policy .
The recent harsh pronouncements have coincided with the emergence and expanding public profile of Mr. Kim ’ s sister , Kim Yo Jong , as a hard-liner with strengthening links to the military .
Ms. Kim was trumpeted as the Ivanka Trump of the Kim regime when she appeared – impeccably dressed and with expensive designer bag in hand – to lead the North ’ s delegation to the Seoul Olympics in 2018 .
But her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her own right may be a kind of insurance policy for the Kim regime ’ s survival , given Mr. Kim ’ s suspected precarious health , some experts say .
It may also be a message both to North Koreans and to the world that the family-based regime is here to stay – and still has the wherewithal to unsettle neighbors and superpowers alike .
Signs have grown recently that a jilted Mr. Kim intends to remind Mr. Trump that the two countries have unfinished business – and that Pyongyang has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. election if it chooses to use them .
Earlier this month the North ’ s foreign minister , Ri Son Gwon , issued a blistering critique of Mr. Trump ’ s summit diplomacy , calling it “ nothing but a foolish trick hatched to keep [ Pyongyang ] bound to dialogue ” and to skew “ the political situation and election in the U.S. ” “ Never again , ” he added , “ will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy emerges as a major factor in the presidential campaign , Mr. Trump will be able to claim the U.S. benefited from his outside-the-box approach to North Korea , some analysts say .
After the initial “ fire and fury ” stage of his engagement with the North , the spectacle of the 2018 Singapore summit did lead to reduced tensions , a hiatus in weapons and missile testing , and Mr. Trump ’ s assurance to Americans that they could “ sleep well at night.
” Even some big names in national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of the president ’ s effort to do something different .
In his new book , “ Exercise of Power , ” former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he supported Mr. Trump ’ s summit diplomacy because “ every other effort to limit the North Korean nuclear capability over the last 25 years ” had failed .
Still , Pyongyang may have no intention of sitting passively in the plus column of the president ’ s foreign policy achievements .
Heritage ’ s Mr. Klingner says he has never seen such direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North , a development he believes could mean the North is considering a splashy move – perhaps around October ?
– to try to act as a spoiler in the presidential election .
Mr. Aum of USIP differs with that assessment , noting that while he believes the North could continue with minor provocations in the coming months to let the world know it can still cause a ruckus , he does not expect any crossing of “ red lines ” – like a nuclear test or an intercontinental missile launch – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more sanctions .
Whoever ends up in the Oval Office next January , Mr. Aum says the lesson of the last four years will not be that trying something new with North Korea was a mistake , but rather that a combination of “ superficial ” summits with all-or-nothing U.S. policies was a recipe for failure .
“ We shouldn ’ t fault the president ’ s outside-the-box approach to North Korea for why we got nowhere , ” he says , “ but we should be critical of the way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combination of “ reality-TV diplomacy based on personalities ” and “ the maximalist demands that [ the North ] give up all of its nuclear program before getting any sanctions relief ” was not a productive match , Mr. Aum says .
“ That was never going to work .
”

“Whoever is in the Oval Office next January, where North Korea figures on the list of national security threats will largely depend on whether North Korea is acting up and forcing some kind of response,” says Mr. Klingner. “But it won’t exactly be back to where we were,” he adds, “because both [the North’s] nuclear and missile capabilities are higher – in both quality and quantity – than they were in 2017.”
When President Trump took office, North Korea was what his predecessor, Barack Obama, characterized as America’s gravest national security challenge. Has that changed?
President Trump’s outside-the-box approach to North Korea earned praise for temporarily lowering tensions. But has it materially changed the national security challenge confronting the United States?
But North Korea “does not like to be ignored,” notes Bruce Klingner, a Heritage Foundation research fellow and former CIA analyst, especially when it wants something very much, such as relief from punishing U.S. and international economic sanctions. And so, in recent weeks, Pyongyang has launched a series of provocations aimed at alarming and punishing both South Korea and the United States.
After the collapse last year of the second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, North Korea retreated to the background of the world stage. The North ultimately balked at the U.S. demand for full denuclearization before economic sanctions relief.
On Inauguration Day 2017, when Barack Obama ushered Donald Trump into the Oval Office, the outgoing president had a blunt warning for his successor concerning North Korea.
The volatile and unpredictable dictatorship with a nascent nuclear arsenal and an intercontinental missile program nearing an ability to reach the continental United States would be the new president’s gravest national security challenge, Mr. Obama cautioned.
Now 3 1/2 years later, and as the 2020 presidential election gears up, many Northeast Asian experts say the same warning Mr. Obama offered President Trump is very likely to apply for whoever occupies the Oval Office on Inauguration Day 2021 – whether it’s Mr. Trump settling into a second term, or former Vice President Joe Biden moving up to the top job.
Why We Wrote This President Trump’s outside-the-box approach to North Korea earned praise for temporarily lowering tensions. But has it materially changed the national security challenge confronting the United States?
Indeed, after Mr. Trump’s unorthodox diplomatic approach to the North Korea of Kim Jong Un, which temporarily lowered tensions but failed to move the country toward denuclearization, it’s essentially back to square one with Pyongyang, some experts say.
That is, with one big catch.
“We are basically back to square one – only in some cases it’s worse,” says Frank Aum, a former Pentagon senior adviser on North Korea who is now senior expert on North Korea at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington. He notes the North Koreans are quietly amassing more fissile material every year – enough to build seven to 12 nuclear bombs annually, experts estimate – and are steadily improving their intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.
“So they have all that,” he adds, “but we don’t have anything to show for the last 3 1/2 years in terms of denuclearization.”
Others bluntly deem the “back where we started” characterization inaccurate and even dangerous, because it fails to take into account the North’s significant nuclear and missile progress – and fails to recognize that four more years of Pyongyang as a de facto nuclear power is not likely to make the North any more likely to negotiate away its nuclear status.
“Whoever is in the Oval Office next January, where North Korea figures on the list of national security threats will largely depend on whether North Korea is acting up and forcing some kind of response,” says Bruce Klingner, a former CIA Korea analyst who is now a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.
“But it won’t exactly be back to where we were,” he adds, “because both [the North’s] nuclear and missile capabilities are higher – in both quality and quantity – than they were in 2017.”
Series of provocations
With the world preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic, North Korea had receded to the background of the global stage, an ignominious spot it retreated to after the collapse of the second Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, last year. The North ultimately balked at the U.S. demand for full denuclearization before economic sanctions relief.
That summit appeared to end the “love” Mr. Trump had said existed between the two leaders.
But as Mr. Klingner notes, the North “does not like to be ignored,” especially when there is something – in this case relief from punishing U.S. and international economic sanctions – it wants very much. And so, in recent weeks, Pyongyang has launched a series of provocations aimed at alarming and punishing both South Korea and the U.S.
Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP View caption Hide caption This photo provided by the North Korean government shows the demolition of an inter-Korean liaison office building in Kaesong, North Korea, June 16, 2020, just north of the tense Korean border. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event.
Last week Pyongyang rattled Northeast Asia – and Korea watchers in the U.S. – by blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong. The North closed off all communication lines with the South, and threatened to send troops into border cooperation zones and remilitarize the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas.
On Tuesday Pyongyang did an abrupt about-face and announced suspension of its military plans against the South – a move analysts summed up as typical “keep them guessing” behavior.
But it did not signal a significant rhetorical softening toward Seoul and Washington.
On Thursday, Pyongyang chose the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War to attack “hostile policy” from the U.S., saying it has had no choice but to counter “nuclear with nuclear” and make that a cornerstone of its national security policy.
Sister act
The recent harsh pronouncements have coincided with the emergence and expanding public profile of Mr. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, as a hard-liner with strengthening links to the military.
Ms. Kim was trumpeted as the Ivanka Trump of the Kim regime when she appeared – impeccably dressed and with expensive designer bag in hand – to lead the North’s delegation to the Seoul Olympics in 2018. But her transformation from fashion plate to tough-talking leader in her own right may be a kind of insurance policy for the Kim regime’s survival, given Mr. Kim’s suspected precarious health, some experts say.
It may also be a message both to North Koreans and to the world that the family-based regime is here to stay – and still has the wherewithal to unsettle neighbors and superpowers alike.
Signs have grown recently that a jilted Mr. Kim intends to remind Mr. Trump that the two countries have unfinished business – and that Pyongyang has tricks up its sleeve to influence the U.S. election if it chooses to use them.
Pyongyang Press Corps/AP/File View caption Hide caption Kim Yo Jong (right) helps her brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, sign a joint statement following the summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sept. 19, 2018. The powerful Ms. Kim recently has played a prominent role in increased North-South tensions.
Earlier this month the North’s foreign minister, Ri Son Gwon, issued a blistering critique of Mr. Trump’s summit diplomacy, calling it “nothing but a foolish trick hatched to keep [Pyongyang] bound to dialogue” and to skew “the political situation and election in the U.S.”
“Never again,” he added, “will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns.”
To the extent that foreign policy emerges as a major factor in the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump will be able to claim the U.S. benefited from his outside-the-box approach to North Korea, some analysts say. After the initial “fire and fury” stage of his engagement with the North, the spectacle of the 2018 Singapore summit did lead to reduced tensions, a hiatus in weapons and missile testing, and Mr. Trump’s assurance to Americans that they could “sleep well at night.”
Even some big names in national security issues have recently come out in support of the president’s effort to do something different. In his new book, “Exercise of Power,” former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he supported Mr. Trump’s summit diplomacy because “every other effort to limit the North Korean nuclear capability over the last 25 years” had failed.
October surprise?
Still, Pyongyang may have no intention of sitting passively in the plus column of the president’s foreign policy achievements.
Heritage’s Mr. Klingner says he has never seen such direct and repeated referencing of U.S. elections by the North, a development he believes could mean the North is considering a splashy move – perhaps around October? – to try to act as a spoiler in the presidential election.
Mr. Aum of USIP differs with that assessment, noting that while he believes the North could continue with minor provocations in the coming months to let the world know it can still cause a ruckus, he does not expect any crossing of “red lines” – like a nuclear test or an intercontinental missile launch – that could lead the world to impose even more sanctions.
Whoever ends up in the Oval Office next January, Mr. Aum says the lesson of the last four years will not be that trying something new with North Korea was a mistake, but rather that a combination of “superficial” summits with all-or-nothing U.S. policies was a recipe for failure.
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“We shouldn’t fault the president’s outside-the-box approach to North Korea for why we got nowhere,” he says, “but we should be critical of the way that out-of-the-box diplomacy was carried out.”
The combination of “reality-TV diplomacy based on personalities” and “the maximalist demands that [the North] give up all of its nuclear program before getting any sanctions relief” was not a productive match, Mr. Aum says. “That was never going to work.”


csmonitor--2020-06-26--A safe landing for Hong Kong's democracy refugees

In coming days , China ’ s rulers are expected to give final approval to a draconian measure that will end Hong Kong ’ s autonomy and allow the arrest of any pro-democracy activist in the territory .
By some estimates , as many as 100,000 Hong Kongers will emigrate soon after .
Millions more could follow .
Where will all these freedom-seekers go ?
While Britain and Japan have made moves to welcome some of the likely political refugees , perhaps the best landing spot will be Taiwan , only 400 miles away .
The island nation of 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and democracy are compatible .
It needs young talent .
The cultural is similar .
Yet most of all , Taiwan has shown moral courage in standing up to Beijing ’ s bullying .
The independent island is often harassed by China ’ s military , hackers , and propagandists for not wanting to join the mainland .
Last month Taiwan ’ s president , Tsai Ing-wen , said that if democracies allow autocrats to advance abroad , “ we are neglecting our own democratic values.
” On June 18 , Taiwan took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong protesters who have already fled to the island to avoid persecution at home .
The government plans to open an office July 1 that will help them resettle , find a job , or study in Taiwan .
The move is seen as preparation for eventually absorbing more people from Hong Kong .
China refers to pro-democracy defenders in Hong Kong as a “ political virus , ” which translates as a threat to the survival of the Chinese Communist Party .
By comparison , Ms. Tsai was handily reelected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects her country as a “ force for good ” in the world .
A measure of that good is the welcome mat being put down for Hong Kong ’ s freedom lovers .

In coming days, China’s rulers are expected to give final approval to a draconian measure that will end Hong Kong’s autonomy and allow the arrest of any pro-democracy activist in the territory. By some estimates, as many as 100,000 Hong Kongers will emigrate soon after. Millions more could follow. Where will all these freedom-seekers go?
While Britain and Japan have made moves to welcome some of the likely political refugees, perhaps the best landing spot will be Taiwan, only 400 miles away. The island nation of 24 million has proved that Chinese Confucian culture and democracy are compatible. It needs young talent. The cultural is similar.
Yet most of all, Taiwan has shown moral courage in standing up to Beijing’s bullying. The independent island is often harassed by China’s military, hackers, and propagandists for not wanting to join the mainland. Last month Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, said that if democracies allow autocrats to advance abroad, “we are neglecting our own democratic values.”
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On June 18, Taiwan took initial steps toward assisting the hundreds of Hong Kong protesters who have already fled to the island to avoid persecution at home. The government plans to open an office July 1 that will help them resettle, find a job, or study in Taiwan. The move is seen as preparation for eventually absorbing more people from Hong Kong.
China refers to pro-democracy defenders in Hong Kong as a “political virus,” which translates as a threat to the survival of the Chinese Communist Party. By comparison, Ms. Tsai was handily reelected in a popular election last January. She projects her country as a “force for good” in the world. A measure of that good is the welcome mat being put down for Hong Kong’s freedom lovers.


csmonitor--2020-06-26--Racial justice: Five eye-opening documentaries

As the United States continues to reel in the aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death , conversations about injustice in the Black community have permeated the zeitgeist .
Close examinations of the role of white supremacy in every facet of American life , from the economy and politics to justice and education , are happening with more regularity .
In an effort to stand in solidarity with Black folks , there have been numerous calls to buy from Black businesses , read Black authors , and support Black art .
As many look to media as a prominent vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documentaries can be crucial in educating the public .
Over the last decade , there have been several that explore the political ramifications of anti-Blackness – and how Black people often pay with their lives .
Below is a list of five powerful documentaries that bravely address the systems and institutions designed to oppress a vulnerable population .
“ I Am Not Your Negro ” This critically acclaimed documentary , produced and directed by Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck , is about the life of novelist , poet , playwright , and activist James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I Am Not Your Negro , ” which was inspired by Baldwin ’ s unfinished manuscript “ Remember This House.
” Baldwin ’ s exploration of racial tension in America is eloquent yet brutal ; he plainly expresses how the history of this country is rooted in anti-Black sentiment .
Through various speeches and interview footage from television appearances , he explains the importance of Black liberation .
Baldwin also shares how those who aimed to achieve it – like his contemporaries Malcolm X , Martin Luther King Jr. , and Medgar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The future of the Negro in this country is precisely as bright or as dark as the future of the country , ” he states .
( Rated PG-13 ; available on Amazon Prime Video , iTunes ) Directed by Ava DuVernay , “ 13th ” is a film that explores the epidemic of mass incarceration in America .
Its title references the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution , which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime .
However , prisons are disproportionately occupied by people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state under what many see as modern-day convict leasing – and as perpetuating slavery .
DuVernay also delves into how Black folks have been historically disenfranchised in this country , which includes everything from Jim Crow to the war on drugs targeting Black communities .
This documentary focuses on a system that arguably demonizes minorities – and then uses their bodies for profit .
( Rated TV-MA ; available on Netflix ) This potent film chronicles the 2014 Ferguson , Missouri , uprising following the shooting death of Black teenager Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer .
Filmmakers Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis went to Ferguson to speak directly to those protesting police brutality shortly after Brown ’ s death .
“ Whose Streets ” addresses how Black communities are subject to overpolicing and subsequent violence .
It also zeroes in on the people at the epicenter of a revolution .
Told by activists standing on the front lines , it is a must-watch documentary that covers the unrest in Ferguson with honesty , candor , and care .
It also shows how the Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Rated R ; available on Amazon Prime Video , Hulu , iTunes ) “ The Central Park Five , ” directed by Ken Burns , Sarah Burns , and David McMahon , delves deep into the wrongful rape conviction of five Black and Latino teenagers from Harlem .
The accused – Antron McCray , Kevin Richardson , Raymond Santana , Korey Wise , and Yusef Salaam – serve out their sentences in their entirety , ranging from six to 13 years , before another person confesses to the 1989 crime ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The film examines how race and class – the victim was a white woman – publicly led to a guilty verdict long before the five were on trial .
It is told from the perspective of the five men who describe how they were coerced into taking blame for a crime they didn ’ t commit .
It also shows how the media , law enforcement , and social institutions went out of their way to persecute young boys of color .
Ava DuVernay ’ s Netflix miniseries , “ When They See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was based on their story .
( “ The Central Park Five ” is unrated ; available on Amazon Prime Video , iTunes ) The most extraordinary trait of this documentary is that there is no narration – just archival footage and images of the infamous 1992 Los Angeles riots .
Although the brutal beating of Rodney King at the hands of four Los Angeles Police Department officers ( who were acquitted of all charges despite the attack being caught on video ) was the main catalyst of the uprising , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins by a convenience store owner ( who served no jail time ) , an economic recession , the drought in California .
This very much mirrors the political and social unrest of today .
Directors T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay let the scenes speak for themselves , tracing the events from before the King verdict to the aftermath of the violent protests .
“ LA 92 ” is now more relevant than ever .
( Rated R ; available on Amazon Prime Video , Hulu , iTunes , Netflix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Monitor .
Her work has appeared in outlets including Rolling Stone , MTV , NBC News , and Entertainment Weekly .
You can follow her on Instagram @ candace.mcduffie .

As the United States continues to reel in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, conversations about injustice in the Black community have permeated the zeitgeist. Close examinations of the role of white supremacy in every facet of American life, from the economy and politics to justice and education, are happening with more regularity.
In an effort to stand in solidarity with Black folks, there have been numerous calls to buy from Black businesses, read Black authors, and support Black art. As many look to media as a prominent vehicle for learning more about Black history, documentaries can be crucial in educating the public.
Over the last decade, there have been several that explore the political ramifications of anti-Blackness – and how Black people often pay with their lives. Below is a list of five powerful documentaries that bravely address the systems and institutions designed to oppress a vulnerable population.
Why We Wrote This Since the killing of George Floyd, there has been a concerted effort to better understand the Black experience – and documentaries can be crucial to that learning. In this column, Candace McDuffie identifies five films that chronicle injustice in the Black community, and whose messages are arguably more relevant than ever.
“I Am Not Your Negro”
This critically acclaimed documentary, produced and directed by Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck, is about the life of novelist, poet, playwright, and activist James Baldwin. Actor Samuel L. Jackson narrates “I Am Not Your Negro,” which was inspired by Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript “Remember This House.”
Baldwin’s exploration of racial tension in America is eloquent yet brutal; he plainly expresses how the history of this country is rooted in anti-Black sentiment. Through various speeches and interview footage from television appearances, he explains the importance of Black liberation. Baldwin also shares how those who aimed to achieve it – like his contemporaries Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers – were murdered because of it. “The future of the Negro in this country is precisely as bright or as dark as the future of the country,” he states. (Rated PG-13; available on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes)
Netflix View caption Hide caption Angela Davis is among those interviewed for “13th,” which explores the epidemic of mass incarceration in America. The documentary’s title references the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime.
“13th”
Directed by Ava DuVernay, “13th” is a film that explores the epidemic of mass incarceration in America. Its title references the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime. However, prisons are disproportionately occupied by people of color who are forced to work for the state under what many see as modern-day convict leasing – and as perpetuating slavery.
DuVernay also delves into how Black folks have been historically disenfranchised in this country, which includes everything from Jim Crow to the war on drugs targeting Black communities. This documentary focuses on a system that arguably demonizes minorities – and then uses their bodies for profit. (Rated TV-MA; available on Netflix)
“Whose Streets?”
This potent film chronicles the 2014 Ferguson, Missouri, uprising following the shooting death of Black teenager Michael Brown at the hands of a white police officer. Filmmakers Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis went to Ferguson to speak directly to those protesting police brutality shortly after Brown’s death.
“Whose Streets” addresses how Black communities are subject to overpolicing and subsequent violence. It also zeroes in on the people at the epicenter of a revolution. Told by activists standing on the front lines, it is a must-watch documentary that covers the unrest in Ferguson with honesty, candor, and care. It also shows how the Black Lives Matter movement gained more momentum during this time. (Rated R; available on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, iTunes)
“The Central Park Five”
“The Central Park Five,” directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, delves deep into the wrongful rape conviction of five Black and Latino teenagers from Harlem. The accused – Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam – serve out their sentences in their entirety, ranging from six to 13 years, before another person confesses to the 1989 crime (DNA testing corroborated this admission).
The film examines how race and class – the victim was a white woman – publicly led to a guilty verdict long before the five were on trial. It is told from the perspective of the five men who describe how they were coerced into taking blame for a crime they didn’t commit. It also shows how the media, law enforcement, and social institutions went out of their way to persecute young boys of color.
Ava DuVernay’s Netflix miniseries, “When They See Us,” premiered in 2019 and was based on their story. (“The Central Park Five” is unrated; available on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes)
“LA 92”
The most extraordinary trait of this documentary is that there is no narration – just archival footage and images of the infamous 1992 Los Angeles riots. Although the brutal beating of Rodney King at the hands of four Los Angeles Police Department officers (who were acquitted of all charges despite the attack being caught on video) was the main catalyst of the uprising, there were other contributing factors: the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins by a convenience store owner (who served no jail time), an economic recession, the drought in California. This very much mirrors the political and social unrest of today.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Directors T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay let the scenes speak for themselves, tracing the events from before the King verdict to the aftermath of the violent protests. “LA 92” is now more relevant than ever. (Rated R; available on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix)
Candace McDuffie is a culture writer for the Monitor. Her work has appeared in outlets including Rolling Stone, MTV, NBC News, and Entertainment Weekly. You can follow her on Instagram @candace.mcduffie.


csmonitor--2020-06-26--Soul search: Country music artists challenge racial barriers

When country singer Rissi Palmer was working on her debut album , she wanted a song like Gretchen Wilson ’ s “ Redneck Woman , ” a song that would introduce her and tell her story to fans .
On her 2007 debut single , “ Country Girl , ” she celebrated her country roots while explaining that she didn ’ t have to look or talk a certain way to call herself a country girl .
“ I said that I am not white in the first verse , and the label was like , ‘ No , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palmer , who then rewrote the lyrics to make it feel more universal .
“ It was very intentional when I wrote that song to talk about all the women , or all the people , that might not necessarily fit in the box , but are still of the same mindset.
” The country music industry has long been hesitant to address its long and complicated history with race , but the death of George Floyd in police custody and the protests it sparked in the United States and around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genre to ignore .
Over the past weeks , country artists , labels , and country music organizations posted about Black Lives Matter on social media , participated in the industry wide Blackout Tuesday , or denounced racism outright .
On Thursday , Grammy-winning country group , The Dixie Chicks announced it would drop “ dixie ’ ’ from its name .
The group said in a statement that it wanted to meet “ this moment.
” But Black artists say the industry still needs to address the systematic racial barriers that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stereotypes that country music is just for white audiences , written by white songwriters , and sung by mostly white males are reinforced daily on country radio , playlists , label rosters , and tour lineups .
In recent years , however , the conversations about country music have shifted to a broader acknowledgement that non-white artists have always been in the genre , even if they aren ’ t always recognized .
Artist/scholar Rhiannon Giddens received a MacArthur Foundation grant for her work to reclaim Black contributions to country and folk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kane Brown , and Jimmie Allen have all had No .
1 country hits in recent years , while Mickey Guyton just released an unflinching song called “ Black Like Me.
” But that ingrained culture of exclusivity remains a struggle to change .
“ You can look at the reviews of my first album .
I was called colored , like , ‘ I didn ’ t know colored people like country music , ’ ” said Ms. Palmer , who had three singles reach the Hot Country Songs Chart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time on MySpace , saying , ‘ I am so sick of you .
Why are you trying to be white ?
’ or ‘ Why are you trying to take over country music ?
’ ” Change hasn ’ t been easy .
After Grammy-winning country group Lady Antebellum announced they were changing their name to Lady A , they later had to apologize to a Black singer who had been using that stage name for years .
Atlanta-based country rapper Breland also wanted to address , with a wink and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial blinders with his TikTok-fueled song “ My Truck.
” The music video starts with a white guy in a black cowboy hat singing as smoke billows across a dusty landscape , then Breland abruptly shoves him out of the frame to announce , “ Don ’ t touch my truck.
” “ I just felt like it was time for people to change their perspective on what country music is and what country music can be , because there is an audience of country music listeners under 30 who believe Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ song reached No .
26 on Billboard ’ s Hot Country Songs chart and has been remixed with Sam Hunt .
Like Lil Nas X ’ s genre bending “ Old Town Road , ” Breland playfully fuses trap rhythms with country tropes about horses , do-si-dos , and beer on his self-titled EP and sings with country artists Chase Rice and Lauren Alaina .
Breland said country music labels can ’ t just continue to focus on one type of audience .
“ There ’ s a group of country listeners who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds , but don ’ t love some of the politics that they know are going on behind the scenes , ” he said .
Historically country music was created by and played in both white and Black communities in the South , but the music became marketed along racial lines in the Jim Crow era , said Amanda Marie Martinez , a historian and writer who is studying country music and race .
White country music was stigmatized early on as “ hillbilly music ” so the industry started pushing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to make the genre more respected and hugely profitable .
“ In the process , they ’ ve also prioritized the white , middle income , relatively conservative listener as their demographic , kind of the opposite of youth culture , ” Ms. Martinez said .
But there were periods of diversity , such as the post-Civil Rights era , when Black artists like Charley Pride , Linda Martell , O.B .
McClinton , and Stoney Edwards were having success , alongside Johnny Rodriguez and Freddy Fender , who were singing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today are also reclaiming spaces that have been overwhelmingly white domains .
Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony , who work as a duo called Louis York , were already hit-making songwriters and producers behind pop songs like “ Party in the USA ” by Miley Cyrus and “ Grenade ” by Bruno Mars when they moved to Franklin , Tennessee , a Nashville suburb that is home to historical sites of a major Civil War battle and plantations where slaves were once held .
There they set up their Weirdo Workshop artist collective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted author and poet Caroline Randall Williams .
“ We knew that if we were to make our mark in this town as musicians and as Black musicians that playing the Grand Ole Opry would be the pinnacle for that , ” Mr. Harmony said .
They got a standing ovation at the Opry , but more importantly for Mr. Harmony , he wanted the audience to learn about country music ’ s roots .
“ I just wanted their unbiased , undivided attention , so that they can make the correlation between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the music that we make as Black people , ” Mr. Harmony said .
Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association started diversity task forces more than a year ago when country music was being criticized for a lack of female voices and women were being left out of major categories like entertainer of the year .
Becky Gardenhire , a top executive at talent agency WME in Nashville who leads ACM ’ s diversity task force , said they are looking at ways to recruit and retain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on the stage , with efforts like mentorships , networking , and outreach to build up a pipeline of future leaders and artists .
“ We ’ re hungry for diversity .
We want the candidates to come and knock on the door , but we have to also show them that the door is open for them , ” said Damon Whiteside , CEO of ACM .
But just as country artists outwardly reflect a predominantly white image , there are few Black country music executives working behind the scenes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ big breaks in country music working as the day-to-day manager for Keith Urban between 2009 and 2011 .
“ That changed my life because obviously he ’ s a superstar , ” said Ms. Watkins , who is now the vice president for marketing for Big Loud Records , whose roster includes Jake Owen and Morgan Wallen .
But in that manager ’ s role , she realized that she was often the only Black person at the boardroom table .
Ms. Watkins said her label supports her and values her opinion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same for other minorities and their companies .
“ How is a young A & R person empowered to come back to the table and maybe pitch a Black artist or person of color ?
Culturally speaking , do they feel free to do that or do they automatically know this is dangerous ground for them to even bring up ?
” Ms. Watkins said .
“ There ’ s a dismantling of culture that needs to happen.
” Ms. Palmer , who is recording a podcast that focuses on the experiences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she feels optimistic that the current discussions about race and country music can lead to progress , if real changes are implemented .
“ I love country music , always have , always will .
It ’ s healing music .
It ’ s beautiful music at its core .
It ’ s heartfelt .
It ’ s spiritual , ” Ms. Palmer said .
“ And it would be a shame if not everybody got to enjoy it because of the outward package.
” This story was reported by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

When country singer Rissi Palmer was working on her debut album, she wanted a song like Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman,” a song that would introduce her and tell her story to fans.
On her 2007 debut single, “Country Girl,” she celebrated her country roots while explaining that she didn’t have to look or talk a certain way to call herself a country girl.
“I said that I am not white in the first verse, and the label was like, ‘No, no, no,’” said Ms. Palmer, who then rewrote the lyrics to make it feel more universal. “It was very intentional when I wrote that song to talk about all the women, or all the people, that might not necessarily fit in the box, but are still of the same mindset.”
The country music industry has long been hesitant to address its long and complicated history with race, but the death of George Floyd in police custody and the protests it sparked in the United States and around the world became a sound too loud for the genre to ignore.
Over the past weeks, country artists, labels, and country music organizations posted about Black Lives Matter on social media, participated in the industry wide Blackout Tuesday, or denounced racism outright. On Thursday, Grammy-winning country group, The Dixie Chicks announced it would drop “dixie’’ from its name. The group said in a statement that it wanted to meet “this moment.”
But Black artists say the industry still needs to address the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. Stereotypes that country music is just for white audiences, written by white songwriters, and sung by mostly white males are reinforced daily on country radio, playlists, label rosters, and tour lineups. In recent years, however, the conversations about country music have shifted to a broader acknowledgement that non-white artists have always been in the genre, even if they aren’t always recognized.
Artist/scholar Rhiannon Giddens received a MacArthur Foundation grant for her work to reclaim Black contributions to country and folk music. And artists like Darius Rucker, Kane Brown, and Jimmie Allen have all had No. 1 country hits in recent years, while Mickey Guyton just released an unflinching song called “Black Like Me.” But that ingrained culture of exclusivity remains a struggle to change.
“You can look at the reviews of my first album. I was called colored, like, ‘I didn’t know colored people like country music,’” said Ms. Palmer, who had three singles reach the Hot Country Songs Chart. “I used to get messages all the time on MySpace, saying, ‘I am so sick of you. Why are you trying to be white?’ or ‘Why are you trying to take over country music?’”
Change hasn’t been easy. After Grammy-winning country group Lady Antebellum announced they were changing their name to Lady A, they later had to apologize to a Black singer who had been using that stage name for years.
Atlanta-based country rapper Breland also wanted to address, with a wink and a smile, country music’s racial blinders with his TikTok-fueled song “My Truck.” The music video starts with a white guy in a black cowboy hat singing as smoke billows across a dusty landscape, then Breland abruptly shoves him out of the frame to announce, “Don’t touch my truck.”
“I just felt like it was time for people to change their perspective on what country music is and what country music can be, because there is an audience of country music listeners under 30 who believe Black Lives Matter,” said Breland, whose song reached No. 26 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and has been remixed with Sam Hunt.
Like Lil Nas X’s genre bending “Old Town Road,” Breland playfully fuses trap rhythms with country tropes about horses, do-si-dos, and beer on his self-titled EP and sings with country artists Chase Rice and Lauren Alaina. Breland said country music labels can’t just continue to focus on one type of audience.
“There’s a group of country listeners who love country music because of the way it sounds, but don’t love some of the politics that they know are going on behind the scenes,” he said.
Historically country music was created by and played in both white and Black communities in the South, but the music became marketed along racial lines in the Jim Crow era, said Amanda Marie Martinez, a historian and writer who is studying country music and race. White country music was stigmatized early on as “hillbilly music” so the industry started pushing it toward the rising white middle class as a way to make the genre more respected and hugely profitable.
“In the process, they’ve also prioritized the white, middle income, relatively conservative listener as their demographic, kind of the opposite of youth culture,” Ms. Martinez said.
But there were periods of diversity, such as the post-Civil Rights era, when Black artists like Charley Pride, Linda Martell, O.B. McClinton, and Stoney Edwards were having success, alongside Johnny Rodriguez and Freddy Fender, who were singing in English and Spanish.
Black artists today are also reclaiming spaces that have been overwhelmingly white domains.
Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony, who work as a duo called Louis York, were already hit-making songwriters and producers behind pop songs like “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus and “Grenade” by Bruno Mars when they moved to Franklin, Tennessee, a Nashville suburb that is home to historical sites of a major Civil War battle and plantations where slaves were once held. There they set up their Weirdo Workshop artist collective and have worked with Jimmie Allen and noted author and poet Caroline Randall Williams.
“We knew that if we were to make our mark in this town as musicians and as Black musicians that playing the Grand Ole Opry would be the pinnacle for that,” Mr. Harmony said.
They got a standing ovation at the Opry, but more importantly for Mr. Harmony, he wanted the audience to learn about country music’s roots.
“I just wanted their unbiased, undivided attention, so that they can make the correlation between the music that they came to see and the music that we make as Black people,” Mr. Harmony said.
Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association started diversity task forces more than a year ago when country music was being criticized for a lack of female voices and women were being left out of major categories like entertainer of the year.
Becky Gardenhire, a top executive at talent agency WME in Nashville who leads ACM’s diversity task force, said they are looking at ways to recruit and retain diverse voices, both in the boardroom and on the stage, with efforts like mentorships, networking, and outreach to build up a pipeline of future leaders and artists.
“We’re hungry for diversity. We want the candidates to come and knock on the door, but we have to also show them that the door is open for them,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of ACM.
But just as country artists outwardly reflect a predominantly white image, there are few Black country music executives working behind the scenes. Candice Watkins got one of her first big breaks in country music working as the day-to-day manager for Keith Urban between 2009 and 2011.
“That changed my life because obviously he’s a superstar,” said Ms. Watkins, who is now the vice president for marketing for Big Loud Records, whose roster includes Jake Owen and Morgan Wallen.
But in that manager’s role, she realized that she was often the only Black person at the boardroom table. Ms. Watkins said her label supports her and values her opinion, but she knows that might not be the same for other minorities and their companies.
“How is a young A&R person empowered to come back to the table and maybe pitch a Black artist or person of color? Culturally speaking, do they feel free to do that or do they automatically know this is dangerous ground for them to even bring up?” Ms. Watkins said. “There’s a dismantling of culture that needs to happen.”
Ms. Palmer, who is recording a podcast that focuses on the experiences of women of color in country music, said she feels optimistic that the current discussions about race and country music can lead to progress, if real changes are implemented.
“I love country music, always have, always will. It’s healing music. It’s beautiful music at its core. It’s heartfelt. It’s spiritual,” Ms. Palmer said. “And it would be a shame if not everybody got to enjoy it because of the outward package.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-26--In Venezuela, as water runs out, communities improvise solutions

Venezuela 's economic collapse has left most homes without reliable running water , so Caracas resident Iraima Moscoso saw water pooling inside an abandoned construction site as the end of suffering for thousands of her poor neighbors .
Workers had long ago stopped building a nearby highway tunnel through the mountain above them .
Yet , spring water continued to collect inside the viaduct and then stream past their homes , wasted .
The construction firm had also left behind coils of tube .
Ms. Moscoso rallied her neighbors to salvage the materials and build their own system , tapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running the waterline to their homes .
Today , they 're free of the city 's crumbling service and enjoy what many in Venezuela consider a luxury .
`` Everybody here has water , '' said Ms. Moscoso , seated on the stairs of her hillside neighborhood of cinder block homes .
`` We all benefit . ''
Venezuela 's water crisis is nothing new , but it 's started driving residents to extraordinary measures – banding together to rig their own water systems and even hand-dig shallow wells at home .
Water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to protect against the pandemic .
Critics of the socialist government blame chronic infrastructure failures on years of corruption and mismanagement that have also left the electrical grid fragile and destroyed Venezuela 's once-thriving oil industry .
An estimated 86 % of Venezuelans reported unreliable water service , including 11 % who have none at all , according to an April survey of 4,500 residents by the non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Public Services .
María Eugenia Gil , of the Caracas-based non-profit Clear Water Foundation , said residents have no other choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nationwide quarantine that was imposed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus .
They 're exposing themselves to illness or possibly spreading the virus to others , she said .
`` They do n't have an alternative , '' Ms. Gil said .
`` You ca n't stay at home locked inside if you do n't have water . ''
President Nicolás Maduro 's government has accused political foes of sabotaging pump stations , and recently celebrated the purchase of a fleet of 1,000 `` super tanker '' trucks from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's no solution for Arcangel Medina , who recruited young men in his neighborhood to dig for five days , striking water at a depth of 13 feet .
He bought $ 200 worth of pipes and an electric pump so he can share the water with other homes .
`` We went four months without running water , '' said Mr. Medina , complaining that when city lines used to flow every two weeks , dirty water spewed from his faucets .
`` It 's a blessing , '' said Mr. Medina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sector who took the drastic measure .
He next had to figure out how to get rid of the dirt pile on the street in front of his home .
Ms. Moscoso , who proudly organized her neighbors to build their own system , estimates that 5,000 people in her neighborhood now have water .
It started flowing in May , said Ms. Moscoso , who works at the mayor 's office .
Their above-ground water line starts at the abandoned tunnel 's mouth and runs 3,200 feet – under a highway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city street , and down to their homes .
Four other neighborhoods have run similar lines from the tunnel .
Ms. Moscoso said the water is perfectly safe , drinking down a glass as proof .
She declined to say how much it cost them after salvaging the abandoned pipes , claiming she has n't had time to add up the expenses .
`` For me it 's priceless , '' Moscoso said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Venezuela's economic collapse has left most homes without reliable running water, so Caracas resident Iraima Moscoso saw water pooling inside an abandoned construction site as the end of suffering for thousands of her poor neighbors.
Workers had long ago stopped building a nearby highway tunnel through the mountain above them. Yet, spring water continued to collect inside the viaduct and then stream past their homes, wasted. The construction firm had also left behind coils of tube.
Ms. Moscoso rallied her neighbors to salvage the materials and build their own system, tapping into the tunnel's vast lagoon and running the waterline to their homes. Today, they're free of the city's crumbling service and enjoy what many in Venezuela consider a luxury.
"Everybody here has water," said Ms. Moscoso, seated on the stairs of her hillside neighborhood of cinder block homes. "We all benefit."
Venezuela's water crisis is nothing new, but it's started driving residents to extraordinary measures – banding together to rig their own water systems and even hand-dig shallow wells at home. Water today is even more important as a way to protect against the pandemic.
Critics of the socialist government blame chronic infrastructure failures on years of corruption and mismanagement that have also left the electrical grid fragile and destroyed Venezuela's once-thriving oil industry.
An estimated 86% of Venezuelans reported unreliable water service, including 11% who have none at all, according to an April survey of 4,500 residents by the non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Public Services.
María Eugenia Gil, of the Caracas-based non-profit Clear Water Foundation, said residents have no other choice than to hunt for water, breaking a nationwide quarantine that was imposed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. They're exposing themselves to illness or possibly spreading the virus to others, she said.
"They don't have an alternative," Ms. Gil said. "You can't stay at home locked inside if you don't have water."
President Nicolás Maduro's government has accused political foes of sabotaging pump stations, and recently celebrated the purchase of a fleet of 1,000 "super tanker" trucks from China to deliver water to residents.
That's no solution for Arcangel Medina, who recruited young men in his neighborhood to dig for five days, striking water at a depth of 13 feet. He bought $200 worth of pipes and an electric pump so he can share the water with other homes.
"We went four months without running water," said Mr. Medina, complaining that when city lines used to flow every two weeks, dirty water spewed from his faucets.
"It's a blessing," said Mr. Medina, one of a dozen residents in his sector who took the drastic measure. He next had to figure out how to get rid of the dirt pile on the street in front of his home.
Ms. Moscoso, who proudly organized her neighbors to build their own system, estimates that 5,000 people in her neighborhood now have water. It started flowing in May, said Ms. Moscoso, who works at the mayor's office.
Their above-ground water line starts at the abandoned tunnel's mouth and runs 3,200 feet – under a highway, strung from power poles over a city street, and down to their homes.
Four other neighborhoods have run similar lines from the tunnel.
Ms. Moscoso said the water is perfectly safe, drinking down a glass as proof. She declined to say how much it cost them after salvaging the abandoned pipes, claiming she hasn't had time to add up the expenses.
"For me it's priceless," Moscoso said.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-26--As virus cases rise, Trump urges Supreme Court to overturn ACA

As coronavirus cases rise in more than half of the states , the Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act .
The administration 's high court filing Thursday came the same day the government reported that close to half a million people who lost their health insurance amid the economic shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 have gotten coverage through HealthCare.gov .
The administration 's legal brief makes no mention of the virus .
More than 20 million Americans could lose their health coverage and protections for people with preexisting health conditions also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court agrees with the administration in a case that wo n't be heard before the fall .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the administration 's latest move in a partisan battle over `` Obamacare '' that has stretched on for a full decade since the law 's passage in 2010 .
Ms. Pelosi is planning a floor vote early next week on her own bill to expand the ACA .
`` There is no legal justification and no moral excuse for the Trump administration 's disastrous efforts to take away Americans ' health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
Just as the nation seemed to be getting better control over the virus outbreak , states including Arizona , California , Florida , Georgia , Nevada , and Texas are reporting a surge in cases .
And more than half the states are seeing case increases .
Anger over problems with `` Obamacare '' was once a winning issue for Republicans , helping them gain control of the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2014 .
But the politics of the issue flipped after President Donald Trump failed to deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeal and replace '' the health law .
Democrats were energized by their successful defense of the ACA , and that contributed to their winning back the House .
In the case before the Supreme Court , Texas and other conservative-led states argue that the ACA was essentially rendered unconstitutional after Congress passed tax legislation in 2017 that eliminated the law 's unpopular fines for not having health insurance , but left in place its requirement that virtually all Americans have coverage .
Mr. Trump has put the weight of his administration behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance requirement is invalidated , `` then it necessarily follows that the rest of the ACA must also fall , '' Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote Thursday .
Other prominent Republicans , including Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , have said Congress did n't intend to bring down the whole law by striking the coverage penalty .
The Trump administration 's views on what parts of the ACA might be kept or replaced if the law is overturned have shifted over time .
But in legal arguments , it has always supported getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against people on account of their medical history .
Nonetheless , Mr. Trump has repeatedly assured Americans that people with preexisting conditions would still be protected .
Neither the White House nor congressional Republicans have specified how .
The government report showing rising sign-ups for health coverage under the ACA amid the coronavirus shutdown came from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) .
The figures are partial because they do n't include sign-ups from states that run their own health insurance marketplaces .
Major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not counted in the federal statistics .
An estimated 27 million people may have lost job-based coverage due to layoffs , and it 's unclear what – if anything – they 're turning to as a fallback .
People who lose employer health care are eligible for a special sign-up period for subsidized plans under the Obama-era law .
Many may also qualify for Medicaid .
The Trump administration has been criticized for not doing as much as states like California to publicize these readily available backups .
In response , administration officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it easier for consumers to find information on special sign-up periods .
Thursday 's report from the government showed that about 487,000 people signed up with HealthCare.gov after losing their workplace coverage this year .
That 's an increase of 46 % from the same time period last year .
It 's unclear from the government numbers how many of the new enrollees lost their coverage because of layoffs due to the pandemic .
CMS also made no estimate of how many people will ultimately seek coverage through the Obama health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waves .
Generally there 's a 60-day window to apply after losing coverage .
However , the report found a clear connection .
`` While the magnitude may be unclear , job losses due to COVID-19 have led to increased enrollments on HealthCare.gov , '' it said .
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 .

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Mark Sherman

As coronavirus cases rise in more than half of the states, the Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act.
The administration's high court filing Thursday came the same day the government reported that close to half a million people who lost their health insurance amid the economic shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 have gotten coverage through HealthCare.gov.
The administration's legal brief makes no mention of the virus.
More than 20 million Americans could lose their health coverage and protections for people with preexisting health conditions also would be put at risk if the court agrees with the administration in a case that won't be heard before the fall.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the administration's latest move in a partisan battle over "Obamacare" that has stretched on for a full decade since the law's passage in 2010. Ms. Pelosi is planning a floor vote early next week on her own bill to expand the ACA.
"There is no legal justification and no moral excuse for the Trump administration's disastrous efforts to take away Americans' health care," she said in a statement.
Just as the nation seemed to be getting better control over the virus outbreak, states including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas are reporting a surge in cases. And more than half the states are seeing case increases.
Anger over problems with "Obamacare" was once a winning issue for Republicans, helping them gain control of the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2014. But the politics of the issue flipped after President Donald Trump failed to deliver in 2017 on his vow to "repeal and replace" the health law. Democrats were energized by their successful defense of the ACA, and that contributed to their winning back the House.
In the case before the Supreme Court, Texas and other conservative-led states argue that the ACA was essentially rendered unconstitutional after Congress passed tax legislation in 2017 that eliminated the law's unpopular fines for not having health insurance, but left in place its requirement that virtually all Americans have coverage.
Mr. Trump has put the weight of his administration behind the legal challenge.
If the health insurance requirement is invalidated, "then it necessarily follows that the rest of the ACA must also fall," Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote Thursday.
Other prominent Republicans, including Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, have said Congress didn't intend to bring down the whole law by striking the coverage penalty.
The Trump administration's views on what parts of the ACA might be kept or replaced if the law is overturned have shifted over time. But in legal arguments, it has always supported getting rid of "Obamacare" provisions that prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against people on account of their medical history.
Nonetheless, Mr. Trump has repeatedly assured Americans that people with preexisting conditions would still be protected. Neither the White House nor congressional Republicans have specified how.
The government report showing rising sign-ups for health coverage under the ACA amid the coronavirus shutdown came from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The figures are partial because they don't include sign-ups from states that run their own health insurance marketplaces. Major states like California and New York are not counted in the federal statistics.
An estimated 27 million people may have lost job-based coverage due to layoffs, and it's unclear what – if anything – they're turning to as a fallback. People who lose employer health care are eligible for a special sign-up period for subsidized plans under the Obama-era law. Many may also qualify for Medicaid.
The Trump administration has been criticized for not doing as much as states like California to publicize these readily available backups. In response, administration officials say they have updated the HealthCare.gov website to make it easier for consumers to find information on special sign-up periods.
Thursday's report from the government showed that about 487,000 people signed up with HealthCare.gov after losing their workplace coverage this year. That's an increase of 46% from the same time period last year.
It's unclear from the government numbers how many of the new enrollees lost their coverage because of layoffs due to the pandemic. CMS also made no estimate of how many people will ultimately seek coverage through the Obama health law as a result of economic shock waves. Generally there's a 60-day window to apply after losing coverage.
However, the report found a clear connection. "While the magnitude may be unclear, job losses due to COVID-19 have led to increased enrollments on HealthCare.gov," it said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-26--'We hear you': House passes police reform act after Floyd death

The House has approved a far-reaching police overhaul from Democrats in a vote heavy with emotion and symbolism as a divided Congress struggles to address the global outcry over the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gathered with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the Capitol steps , challenging opponents not to allow the deaths to have been in vain or the outpouring of public support for changes to go unmatched .
But the collapse of a Senate Republican bill leaves final legislation in doubt .
`` Exactly one month ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' I ca n't breathe ' – and changed the course of history , '' Ms. Pelosi said .
She said the Senate faces a choice `` to honor George Floyd 's life or to do nothing . ''
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is perhaps the most ambitious set of proposed changes to police procedures and accountability in decades .
Backed by the nation 's leading civil rights groups , it aims to match the moment of demonstrations that filled streets across the nation .
It has almost zero chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Thursday vote , President Donald Trump 's administration said he would veto the bill .
And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also said it would not pass the Republican-held chamber .
After the GOP policing bill stalled this week , blocked by Democrats , Mr. Trump shrugged .
`` If nothing happens with it , it 's one of those things , '' Mr. Trump said .
`` We have different philosophies . ''
Congress is now at a familiar impasse despite protests outside their door and polling that shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mr. Floyd , Breonna Taylor , and others in interactions with law enforcement .
The two parties are instead appealing to voters ahead of the fall election , which will determine control of the House , Senate , and White House .
`` We hear you .
We see you .
We are you , '' said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y. , during the debate .
It has been a month since Mr. Floyd 's May 25 death sparked a global reckoning over police tactics and racial injustice .
Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brooks , a Black man shot and killed by police in Atlanta .
Thursday is also what would have been the 18th birthday of Tamir Rice , a Black boy killed in Ohio in 2014 .
Lawmakers who have been working from home during the COVID-19 crisis were summoned to the Capitol for an emotional , hours-long debate .
Dozens voted by proxy under new pandemic rules .
During the day , several Democratic lawmakers read the names of those killed , shared experiences of racial bias , and echoed support of Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D-Calif. , the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus , said hundreds of thousands of people `` in every state in the union '' are marching in the streets to make sure Mr. Floyd `` will not be just another Black man dead at the hands of the police . ''
Republican lawmakers countered the bill goes too far and failed to include GOP input .
`` All lives matter , '' said Rep. Debbie Lesko , R-Ariz. New York Rep. Pete King said it 's time to stand with law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue . ''
House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy decried the `` mob '' of demonstrators .
At one point Rep. Barry Loudermilk , R-Ga. , stood up to say he just did n't understand what was happening in the country – from Mr. Floyd 's death to the protests that followed .
Several Black Democratic lawmakers rose to encourage him to pick up a U.S. history book or watch some of the many films now streaming about the Black experience in America .
Later , Rep. Bennie Thompson , D-Miss.
, noting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` walk in my shoes . ''
In the stalemate over the policing overhaul , the parties are settled into their political zones , almost ensuring no legislation will become law .
While there may be shared outrage over Mr. Floyd 's death , the lawmakers remain far apart on the broader debate over racial bias in policing and other institutions .
The 236-181 House vote was largely on party lines .
Three Republicans joined Democrats in favor of passage and no Democrats were opposed .
Both bills share common elements that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Central to both would be the creation of a national database of use-of-force incidents , which is viewed as a way to provide transparency on officers ' records if they transfer from one agency to another .
The bills would restrict police chokeholds and set up new training procedures , including beefing up the use of body cameras .
The Democratic bill goes much further , mandating many of those changes , while also revising the federal statute for police misconduct and holding officers personally liable for damages in lawsuits .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment to local law enforcement agencies .
Neither bill goes as far as some activists want with calls to defund the police and shift resources to other community services .
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , the only Black Republican senator , who drafted the GOP package , said the bill is now `` closer to the trash can than it 's ever been . ''
`` I 'm frustrated , '' he said on Fox News Channel .
Mr. Scott insisted he was open to amending his bill with changes proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell would allow a thorough debate , and instead blocked the GOP bill .
Senate Democrats believe Senate Republicans will face mounting public pressure to open negotiations and act .
But ahead of the November election , that appears uncertain .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Laurie Kellman , Andrew Taylor , Darlene Superville , and Jill Colvin contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ @ @ @

The House has approved a far-reaching police overhaul from Democrats in a vote heavy with emotion and symbolism as a divided Congress struggles to address the global outcry over the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gathered with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the Capitol steps, challenging opponents not to allow the deaths to have been in vain or the outpouring of public support for changes to go unmatched. But the collapse of a Senate Republican bill leaves final legislation in doubt.
"Exactly one month ago, George Floyd spoke his final words – 'I can't breathe' – and changed the course of history," Ms. Pelosi said.
She said the Senate faces a choice "to honor George Floyd's life or to do nothing."
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is perhaps the most ambitious set of proposed changes to police procedures and accountability in decades. Backed by the nation's leading civil rights groups, it aims to match the moment of demonstrations that filled streets across the nation. It has almost zero chance of becoming law.
On the eve of the Thursday vote, President Donald Trump's administration said he would veto the bill. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also said it would not pass the Republican-held chamber.
After the GOP policing bill stalled this week, blocked by Democrats, Mr. Trump shrugged.
"If nothing happens with it, it's one of those things," Mr. Trump said. "We have different philosophies."
Congress is now at a familiar impasse despite protests outside their door and polling that shows Americans overwhelmingly want changes after the deaths of Mr. Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others in interactions with law enforcement. The two parties are instead appealing to voters ahead of the fall election, which will determine control of the House, Senate, and White House.
"We hear you. We see you. We are you," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., during the debate.
It has been a month since Mr. Floyd's May 25 death sparked a global reckoning over police tactics and racial injustice. Since then, funeral services were held for Rayshard Brooks, a Black man shot and killed by police in Atlanta. Thursday is also what would have been the 18th birthday of Tamir Rice, a Black boy killed in Ohio in 2014.
Lawmakers who have been working from home during the COVID-19 crisis were summoned to the Capitol for an emotional, hours-long debate. Dozens voted by proxy under new pandemic rules.
During the day, several Democratic lawmakers read the names of those killed, shared experiences of racial bias, and echoed support of Black Lives Matter activists.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said hundreds of thousands of people "in every state in the union" are marching in the streets to make sure Mr. Floyd "will not be just another Black man dead at the hands of the police."
Republican lawmakers countered the bill goes too far and failed to include GOP input. "All lives matter," said Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz. New York Rep. Pete King said it's time to stand with law enforcement, the "men and women in blue." House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy decried the "mob" of demonstrators.
At one point Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., stood up to say he just didn't understand what was happening in the country – from Mr. Floyd's death to the protests that followed. Several Black Democratic lawmakers rose to encourage him to pick up a U.S. history book or watch some of the many films now streaming about the Black experience in America.
Later, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., noting the legacy of Emmett Till, asked others to "walk in my shoes."
In the stalemate over the policing overhaul, the parties are settled into their political zones, almost ensuring no legislation will become law. While there may be shared outrage over Mr. Floyd's death, the lawmakers remain far apart on the broader debate over racial bias in policing and other institutions. The 236-181 House vote was largely on party lines. Three Republicans joined Democrats in favor of passage and no Democrats were opposed.
Both bills share common elements that could be grounds for a compromise. Central to both would be the creation of a national database of use-of-force incidents, which is viewed as a way to provide transparency on officers' records if they transfer from one agency to another. The bills would restrict police chokeholds and set up new training procedures, including beefing up the use of body cameras.
The Democratic bill goes much further, mandating many of those changes, while also revising the federal statute for police misconduct and holding officers personally liable for damages in lawsuits. It also would halt the practice of sending military equipment to local law enforcement agencies.
Neither bill goes as far as some activists want with calls to defund the police and shift resources to other community services.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican senator, who drafted the GOP package, said the bill is now "closer to the trash can than it's ever been."
"I'm frustrated," he said on Fox News Channel.
Mr. Scott insisted he was open to amending his bill with changes proposed by Democrats. But Democrats doubted Mr. McConnell would allow a thorough debate, and instead blocked the GOP bill.
Senate Democrats believe Senate Republicans will face mounting public pressure to open negotiations and act. But ahead of the November election, that appears uncertain.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Laurie Kellman, Andrew Taylor, Darlene Superville, and Jill Colvin 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.