csmonitor--2020-06-22--How teens used TikTok to troll Donald Trump's Tulsa rally

Did teens , TikTok users , and fans of Korean pop music influence turnout expectations at President Donald Trump 's rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma ?
For more than a week before President Trump 's first campaign rally in three months on Saturday in Tulsa , these tech-savvy groups opposing the president mobilized to reserve tickets for an event they had no intention of attending .
While it 's unlikely they were responsible for the low turnout , their antics may have inflated the campaign 's expectations for attendance numbers that led to Saturday 's disappointing show .
`` My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Utah have hundreds of tickets .
You have been rolled by America 's teens , '' veteran Republican campaign strategist Steve Schmidt tweeted on Saturday .
The tweet garnered more than 100,000 likes and many responses from people who say they or their kids did the same .
Reached by telephone Sunday , Mr. Schmidt called the rally an `` unmitigated disaster '' – days after Trump campaign chairman Brad Parscale tweeted that more than a million people requested tickets for the rally through Mr. Trump 's campaign website .
Andrew Bates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic opponent , Joe Biden , said the turnout was a sign of weakening voter support .
`` Donald Trump has abdicated leadership and it is no surprise that his supporters have responded by abandoning him , '' he said .
In a statement , the Trump campaign blamed the `` fake news media '' for `` warning people away from the rally '' over COVID-19 and protests against racial injustice around the country .
`` Leftists and online trolls doing a victory lap , thinking they somehow impacted rally attendance , do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or how our rallies work , '' Mr. Parscale wrote .
`` Reporters who wrote gleefully about TikTok and K-Pop fans – without contacting the campaign for comment – behaved unprofessionally and were willing dupes to the charade . ''
On midday Sunday , it was possible to sign up to stream a recap of the Tulsa event later in the day through Mr. Trump 's website .
It requested a name , email address , and phone number .
There was no age verification in the signup process , though the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Inside the 19,000-seat BOK Center in Tulsa , where Mr. Trump thundered that `` the silent majority is stronger than ever before , '' numerous seats were empty .
Tulsa Fire Department spokesperson Andy Little said the city fire marshal 's office reported a crowd of just less than 6,200 in the arena .
City officials had expected a crowd of 100,000 people or more in downtown Tulsa , but that never materialized .
That said , the rally , which was broadcast on cable , also targeted voters in battleground states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Florida .
Social media users who have followed recent events might not be surprised by the way young people ( and some older folks ) mobilized to troll the president .
They did it not just on TikTok but also on Twitter , Instagram , and even Facebook .
K-Pop fans – who have a massive , coordinated online community and a cutting sense of humor – have become an unexpected ally to American Black Lives Matter protesters .
In recent weeks , they 've been repurposing their usual platforms and hashtags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black Lives Matter movement .
They flooded right-wing hashtags such as `` white lives matter '' and police apps with short video clips and memes of their K-pop stars .
Many of the early social media messages urging people to sign up for tickets brought up the fact that the rally had originally been scheduled for Friday , June 19 , which is Juneteenth , commemorating the end of slavery in the United States .
Tulsa , the location for the rally , was the scene in 1921 of one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Schmidt said he was not surprised .
Today 's teens , after all , grew up with phones and have `` absolutely '' mastered them , he said .
They are also the first generation to have remote Zoom classes and have a `` subversive sense of humor , '' having come of age in a world of online trolls and memes , Mr. Schmidt said .
Most of all , he said , `` they are aware of what is happening around them . ''
`` Like salmon in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ methods and means of their lives , '' Mr. Schmidt added .
That said , the original idea for the mass ticket troll may have come not from a teen but from an Iowa woman .
The politics site Iowa Starting Line found that a TikTok video posted on June 11 by Mary Jo Laupp , a 51-year-old grandmother from Fort Dodge , Iowa , suggesting that people book free tickets to `` make sure there are empty seats . ''
Ms. Laupp 's video , which also tells viewers how to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they provide their phone number ( simply text `` STOP '' ) , has had more than 700,000 likes .
It was also possible to sign up for the rally using a fake or temporary phone number from Google Voice , for instance .
As Mr. Parscale himself pointed out in a June 14 tweet , though , the ticket signups were not simply about getting bodies to the rally .
He called it the `` Biggest data haul and rally signup of all time by 10x '' – meaning the hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign now has in its possession to use for microtargeting advertisements and to reach potential voters .
Sure , it 's possible that many of the emails are fake and that the ticket holders have no intention of voting for Mr. Trump in November .
But while it 's possible that this `` bad data '' might prove useless – or even hurt the Trump campaign in some way – experts say there is one clear beneficiary in the end , and that is Facebook .
That 's due to the complex , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political advertising machine is tied up with the social media giant .
Facebook wants data on people , and whether that is `` good '' or `` bad , '' it will be used to train its systems .
`` No matter who signs up or if they go to a rally , Trump gets data to train retargeting on Facebook .
FB 's system will use that data in ways that have nothing to do with Trump , '' tweeted Georgia Tech communications professor Ian Bogost .
`` Might these 'fake ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeting data ?
Maybe it could , to some extent .
But the entire system is so vast and incomprehensible , we 'll never really know . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Ali Swenson contributed to this story from Seattle .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Did teens, TikTok users, and fans of Korean pop music influence turnout expectations at President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
For more than a week before President Trump's first campaign rally in three months on Saturday in Tulsa, these tech-savvy groups opposing the president mobilized to reserve tickets for an event they had no intention of attending. While it's unlikely they were responsible for the low turnout, their antics may have inflated the campaign's expectations for attendance numbers that led to Saturday's disappointing show.
"My 16-year-old daughter and her friends in Park City Utah have hundreds of tickets. You have been rolled by America's teens," veteran Republican campaign strategist Steve Schmidt tweeted on Saturday. The tweet garnered more than 100,000 likes and many responses from people who say they or their kids did the same.
Reached by telephone Sunday, Mr. Schmidt called the rally an "unmitigated disaster" – days after Trump campaign chairman Brad Parscale tweeted that more than a million people requested tickets for the rally through Mr. Trump's campaign website.
Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for Mr. Trump's Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, said the turnout was a sign of weakening voter support. "Donald Trump has abdicated leadership and it is no surprise that his supporters have responded by abandoning him," he said.
In a statement, the Trump campaign blamed the "fake news media" for "warning people away from the rally" over COVID-19 and protests against racial injustice around the country.
"Leftists and online trolls doing a victory lap, thinking they somehow impacted rally attendance, don't know what they're talking about or how our rallies work," Mr. Parscale wrote. "Reporters who wrote gleefully about TikTok and K-Pop fans – without contacting the campaign for comment – behaved unprofessionally and were willing dupes to the charade."
On midday Sunday, it was possible to sign up to stream a recap of the Tulsa event later in the day through Mr. Trump's website. It requested a name, email address, and phone number. There was no age verification in the signup process, though the site required a PIN to verify phone numbers.
Inside the 19,000-seat BOK Center in Tulsa, where Mr. Trump thundered that "the silent majority is stronger than ever before," numerous seats were empty. Tulsa Fire Department spokesperson Andy Little said the city fire marshal's office reported a crowd of just less than 6,200 in the arena.
City officials had expected a crowd of 100,000 people or more in downtown Tulsa, but that never materialized. That said, the rally, which was broadcast on cable, also targeted voters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida.
Social media users who have followed recent events might not be surprised by the way young people (and some older folks) mobilized to troll the president. They did it not just on TikTok but also on Twitter, Instagram, and even Facebook. K-Pop fans – who have a massive, coordinated online community and a cutting sense of humor – have become an unexpected ally to American Black Lives Matter protesters.
In recent weeks, they've been repurposing their usual platforms and hashtags from boosting their favorite stars to backing the Black Lives Matter movement. They flooded right-wing hashtags such as "white lives matter" and police apps with short video clips and memes of their K-pop stars. Many of the early social media messages urging people to sign up for tickets brought up the fact that the rally had originally been scheduled for Friday, June 19, which is Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Tulsa, the location for the rally, was the scene in 1921 of one of the most severe white-on-Black attacks in American history.
Mr. Schmidt said he was not surprised. Today's teens, after all, grew up with phones and have "absolutely" mastered them, he said. They are also the first generation to have remote Zoom classes and have a "subversive sense of humor," having come of age in a world of online trolls and memes, Mr. Schmidt said. Most of all, he said, "they are aware of what is happening around them."
"Like salmon in the river, they participate politically through the methods and means of their lives," Mr. Schmidt added.
That said, the original idea for the mass ticket troll may have come not from a teen but from an Iowa woman. The politics site Iowa Starting Line found that a TikTok video posted on June 11 by Mary Jo Laupp, a 51-year-old grandmother from Fort Dodge, Iowa, suggesting that people book free tickets to "make sure there are empty seats." Ms. Laupp's video, which also tells viewers how to stop receiving texts from the Trump campaign after they provide their phone number (simply text "STOP"), has had more than 700,000 likes. It was also possible to sign up for the rally using a fake or temporary phone number from Google Voice, for instance.
As Mr. Parscale himself pointed out in a June 14 tweet, though, the ticket signups were not simply about getting bodies to the rally. He called it the "Biggest data haul and rally signup of all time by 10x" – meaning the hundreds of thousands of emails and phone numbers the campaign now has in its possession to use for microtargeting advertisements and to reach potential voters.
Sure, it's possible that many of the emails are fake and that the ticket holders have no intention of voting for Mr. Trump in November. But while it's possible that this "bad data" might prove useless – or even hurt the Trump campaign in some way – experts say there is one clear beneficiary in the end, and that is Facebook. That's due to the complex, murky ways in which Mr. Trump's political advertising machine is tied up with the social media giant. Facebook wants data on people, and whether that is "good" or "bad," it will be used to train its systems.
"No matter who signs up or if they go to a rally, Trump gets data to train retargeting on Facebook. FB's system will use that data in ways that have nothing to do with Trump," tweeted Georgia Tech communications professor Ian Bogost. "Might these 'fake' signups mess up the Trump team's targeting data? Maybe it could, to some extent. But the entire system is so vast and incomprehensible, we'll never really know."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Ali Swenson contributed to this story from Seattle.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-22--Beyond black squares: Calls for real change in fashion industry

When luxury fashion lined up social media posts to show solidarity with Black Lives Matters protests , brands got a whole lot of blowback .
Transgender model and actress Munroe Bergdorf jumped on L'Oreal 's # BlackoutTuesday posts to accuse the beauty brand of hypocrisy for having fired her three years ago when she complained about racism in strong language .
U.S. actor Tommy Dorfman , who appears in a recent campaign for Salvatore Ferragamo , called out the Italian luxury brand for what Mr. Dorfman called a “ homophobic and racist work environment.
” And ordinary Instagram followers piled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than post a black square on their virtual real estate , to instead make runways , magazine covers , boardrooms , and creative studios living showcases of diversity .
Global fashion brands have faced racial backlashes in the past , notably in the wake of scandals like the Gucci knitwear recalling blackface , Prada ’ s Little Black Sambo bag charm , and Dolce & Gabbana ’ s anti-Asian comments .
The U.S. protests against systemic racism , which are spreading around the globe , are also putting the spotlight on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural beacon , and emboldening insiders – some with lucrative deals that often assume their discretion – to speak up .
“ People have the fire under their bottoms , ” said Tamu McPherson , an American content creator based in Milan who collaborates with top luxury brands .
“ Their stories are strong and their voices are being heard .
If the industry ignores them , they can be kept accountable .
Everyone is sharing , and corroborating , their stories.
” Ms. McPherson has been working with luxury brands in Milan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 , contributing to digital campaigns , storytelling , and in-house diversity training .
“ In seven years , I am still one of the only black people invited into those spaces .
That is unacceptable , ” said Ms. McPherson , who urged greater racial inclusion in a letter posted June 6 on her “ All the Pretty Birds ” website , in which she described the fashion industry as “ steeped in racism , anti-Blackness , and white privilege.
” “ For years , they did not want to listen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and the shocking murders we could all pay attention to , because there were not any distractions .
This is the moment , ” she said .
Ferragamo courted criticism when it responded to the protests with a post that said , “ No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin , or his background , or his religion.
” Mr. Dorfman shot back that people at the fashion house “ have said heinous , transphobic , body phobic , and racist things directly to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they promised to change.
” A person close to Ferragamo said that the brand is committed to inclusivity , noting that it features models of all colors in its runway shows .
Nearly half of Ferragamo ’ s Fall 2020 runway models were of diverse races .
The pushback against the industry has had some early results .
Ms. Bergdorf , who was sacked as L'Oreal Britain 's first openly transgender model in 2017 for decrying “ the racial violence of white people , ” has now accepted a role as consultant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board to help “ influence and inform the brand.
” The offer came after she highlighted the hypocrisy of the beauty company 's June 1 statement that it “ stands in solidarity with the Black community , and against injustice of any kind .
...
Speaking out is worth it.
” The Fashion Spot , which has been tracking diversity on runways and magazine covers , has reported progress since launching its surveys in 2015 .
The Spring 2020 season had the highest level of diversity on runways in the four main fashion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York and London , at 41.5 % , only to dip for the Fall 2020 shows , to 40.6 % .
That remains an improvement from 17 % in the website ’ s inaugural survey for Spring 2015 .
New York and London have led in diversity , while Paris and Milan tend to lag , according to the Fashion Spot ’ s data .
After her post , Ms. McPherson said she has gotten feedback from some brands that her appeal was being shared internally .
“ The focus truly is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people of color integrated and hired at all levels of an organization , especially in decision-making positions and senior roles where they can advocate , educate , and inform decisions , ” Ms. McPherson said .
“ Now is the opportunity to rebuild.
” After coming under fire for designs deemed racist , both Gucci and Prada last year announced long-term strategies to both promote diverse voices that have not been properly represented in fashion , including with scholarships .
This time , the reckoning has gone to the fashion world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apologized in an internal email for not doing enough to elevate Black voices and publishing images and stories that have been racially and culturally “ hurtful and intolerant ” during her 32-year tenure at Vogue .
Her comments came as Samira Nasr was named the first editor in chief of color in the 153-year history of U.S. Harper ’ s Bazaar .
Supermodel Naomi Campbell – the first Black woman to appear on the cover of French Vogue – is publicly calling for equal pay for models of color and more representation generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has chosen to deal privately with such issues .
“ It is not something I call out , because I am personally someone who wants to rise to the challenge , ” she told CNN .
But she said , “ in my business , it has gone on for long enough.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Leanne Italie in New York contributed .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It @ @ @ @

When luxury fashion lined up social media posts to show solidarity with Black Lives Matters protests, brands got a whole lot of blowback.
Transgender model and actress Munroe Bergdorf jumped on L'Oreal's #BlackoutTuesday posts to accuse the beauty brand of hypocrisy for having fired her three years ago when she complained about racism in strong language. U.S. actor Tommy Dorfman, who appears in a recent campaign for Salvatore Ferragamo, called out the Italian luxury brand for what Mr. Dorfman called a “homophobic and racist work environment.”
And ordinary Instagram followers piled on, challenging fashion houses to do more than post a black square on their virtual real estate, to instead make runways, magazine covers, boardrooms, and creative studios living showcases of diversity.
Global fashion brands have faced racial backlashes in the past, notably in the wake of scandals like the Gucci knitwear recalling blackface, Prada’s Little Black Sambo bag charm, and Dolce & Gabbana’s anti-Asian comments.
The U.S. protests against systemic racism, which are spreading around the globe, are also putting the spotlight on the fashion world in its role as a cultural beacon, and emboldening insiders – some with lucrative deals that often assume their discretion – to speak up.
“People have the fire under their bottoms,” said Tamu McPherson, an American content creator based in Milan who collaborates with top luxury brands. “Their stories are strong and their voices are being heard. If the industry ignores them, they can be kept accountable. Everyone is sharing, and corroborating, their stories.”
Ms. McPherson has been working with luxury brands in Milan, Paris, and New York since 2013, contributing to digital campaigns, storytelling, and in-house diversity training.
“In seven years, I am still one of the only black people invited into those spaces. That is unacceptable,” said Ms. McPherson, who urged greater racial inclusion in a letter posted June 6 on her “All the Pretty Birds” website, in which she described the fashion industry as “steeped in racism, anti-Blackness, and white privilege.”
“For years, they did not want to listen. Now they are listening because of the pandemic and the shocking murders we could all pay attention to, because there were not any distractions. This is the moment,” she said.
Ferragamo courted criticism when it responded to the protests with a post that said, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion.”
Mr. Dorfman shot back that people at the fashion house “have said heinous, transphobic, body phobic, and racist things directly to me. I called them out every time and they promised to change.”
A person close to Ferragamo said that the brand is committed to inclusivity, noting that it features models of all colors in its runway shows. Nearly half of Ferragamo’s Fall 2020 runway models were of diverse races.
The pushback against the industry has had some early results. Ms. Bergdorf, who was sacked as L'Oreal Britain's first openly transgender model in 2017 for decrying “the racial violence of white people,” has now accepted a role as consultant on the U.K. Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board to help “influence and inform the brand.” The offer came after she highlighted the hypocrisy of the beauty company's June 1 statement that it “stands in solidarity with the Black community, and against injustice of any kind. ... Speaking out is worth it.”
The Fashion Spot, which has been tracking diversity on runways and magazine covers, has reported progress since launching its surveys in 2015. The Spring 2020 season had the highest level of diversity on runways in the four main fashion cities of Paris, Milan, New York and London, at 41.5%, only to dip for the Fall 2020 shows, to 40.6%. That remains an improvement from 17% in the website’s inaugural survey for Spring 2015.
New York and London have led in diversity, while Paris and Milan tend to lag, according to the Fashion Spot’s data.
After her post, Ms. McPherson said she has gotten feedback from some brands that her appeal was being shared internally.
“The focus truly is on getting representation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color integrated and hired at all levels of an organization, especially in decision-making positions and senior roles where they can advocate, educate, and inform decisions,” Ms. McPherson said. “Now is the opportunity to rebuild.”
After coming under fire for designs deemed racist, both Gucci and Prada last year announced long-term strategies to both promote diverse voices that have not been properly represented in fashion, including with scholarships.
This time, the reckoning has gone to the fashion world’s highest levels. Anna Wintour has apologized in an internal email for not doing enough to elevate Black voices and publishing images and stories that have been racially and culturally “hurtful and intolerant” during her 32-year tenure at Vogue. Her comments came as Samira Nasr was named the first editor in chief of color in the 153-year history of U.S. Harper’s Bazaar.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell – the first Black woman to appear on the cover of French Vogue – is publicly calling for equal pay for models of color and more representation generally, while acknowledging that in the past she has chosen to deal privately with such issues.
“It is not something I call out, because I am personally someone who wants to rise to the challenge,” she told CNN. But she said, “in my business, it has gone on for long enough.”
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. Leanne Italie in New York contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-22--Black Roman Catholics ask church to work harder for equality

Black Roman Catholics are hearing their church 's leaders calling for racial justice once again after the killing of George Floyd , but this time they 're demanding not just words but action .
As protests against racism and police brutality continue nationwide , there are rising calls for huge new investment in Catholic schools serving Black communities , a commitment to teach the complex history of Black Catholics , and a mobilization to combat racism with the same zeal the church shows in opposing abortion .
`` As a church , we 're very good with words .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , '' said the Rev .
Mario Powell , a Black priest who heads a Jesuit middle school in Brooklyn .
`` What 's profoundly different this time is folks are n't looking for more words – they 're looking for actual change , '' he said .
Noting that hundreds of Catholic inner-city schools have closed in recent decades , he 's among those urging church leaders to make the necessary spending to reverse that .
He also said all Catholic schools should teach the history of Black Catholics in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination and oppression , '' said Mr. Powell .
`` It 's also a very rich history that should be celebrated , of a population that has overcome a lot . ''
In 2018 , after what it called an accumulation of `` episodes of violence and animosity with racial and xenophobic overtones , '' the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral letter condemning racism and vowing to combat it .
Numerous bishops issued similar statements following Mr. Floyd 's death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Catholic who teaches history at Villanova University , argued in a June 15 article in the National Catholic Reporter that such responses are insufficient .
The recent statements `` fall way short when it comes to acknowledging the church 's role in the contemporary crisis and direct complicity in the sins of anti-Black racism , slavery and segregation , '' she wrote , noting that the church was a major slaveholder in several states and engaged in segregation of parishes , schools , hospitals , convents , and seminaries for decades after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams said the U.S. church hierarchy should formally apologize .
`` We want them to own up to that history , and then atone for it , '' she said .
The same day her article appeared , Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington , D.C. , the highest-ranking Black leader in the U.S. church , joined eight fellow bishops from his region in acknowledging the church 's `` sins and failings '' on racial justice .
`` Prayer and dialogue , alone , are not enough .
We must act to bring about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling for greater equality in health care , education , housing , and criminal justice .
Black Catholics ' somewhat marginal place in the U.S. church is illustrated by statistics compiled by the national bishops ' conference .
According to the conference , there are about 3 million African American Catholics , roughly 4 % of the nation 's 69 million Catholics .
But there are just 250 Black priests , or less than 1 % of the total of 36,500 , along with eight active Black bishops out of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some are calling on church leaders to engage more energetically with youth at the forefront of the protest movement .
Earlier this month scores of young Black Catholics staged a march in Louisville , Kentucky , to protest racial injustice and also signaling they want their local church leadership to do more .
One of the speakers , retired priest John Judie , included the church in a list of institutions that have favored white people over Black people .
In an interview , Mr. Judie said some young people in the archdiocese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When is the leadership going to sit down with the young adults who organized that protest and listen to what drove them to do this ? ''
Mr. Judie said .
`` So far , I 'm not seeing it happen . ''
That 's a notion shared by Ansel Augustine , who as a young priest in New Orleans in 2005 worked in the youth ministry of his parish on rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina .
`` We see our youth and young adults leading these movements , putting their faith into action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director of cultural diversity for the Washington archdiocese .
`` Now is the time to empower them , to listen to what these young prophets are saying . ''
Ralph McCloud , who directs the anti-poverty program of the national bishops ' conference , said such steps are under way .
`` We 've begun with the listening sessions , hearing the very painful stories of people who 've been victims of racism within the church and without , '' Mr. McCloud said .
`` We need to broaden the conversation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he added .
`` With African American Catholics , our numbers are so low that we get overlooked , sometimes inadvertently , sometimes intentionally . ''
Back in 2014 , Mr. Augustine wrote an article for the Catholic media outlet Busted Halo asking why the fight against racism seemed to be a lesser priority for the U.S. Catholic leadership than the anti-abortion cause .
Mr. Augustine took note when those remarks were echoed by Pope Francis earlier this month .
`` We can not close our eyes to any form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend the sacredness of every human life , '' the pontiff said .
Mr. Gregory , the Washington archbishop , echoed the idea that racial justice should be part of pro-life advocacy .
`` Birth is only the first moment of a person 's human dignity , which is never lost throughout the journey of life , '' he said via email .
That message heartens people like Loralean Jordan , a parishioner of the predominantly Black congregation of the Church of Saint Peter Claver in St. Paul , Minnesota .
`` Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , getting the same amount of resources and same amount of zeal as the pro-life movement , '' she said .
She would like to see the church help coordinate a national anti-racism march and direct all U.S. priests to mark the feast day of Peter Claver , the 17th-century patron saint of enslaved people , by preaching about racial injustice .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @

Black Roman Catholics are hearing their church's leaders calling for racial justice once again after the killing of George Floyd, but this time they're demanding not just words but action.
As protests against racism and police brutality continue nationwide, there are rising calls for huge new investment in Catholic schools serving Black communities, a commitment to teach the complex history of Black Catholics, and a mobilization to combat racism with the same zeal the church shows in opposing abortion.
"As a church, we're very good with words. The church has made clear it stands against racism," said the Rev. Mario Powell, a Black priest who heads a Jesuit middle school in Brooklyn.
"What's profoundly different this time is folks aren't looking for more words – they're looking for actual change," he said.
Noting that hundreds of Catholic inner-city schools have closed in recent decades, he's among those urging church leaders to make the necessary spending to reverse that. He also said all Catholic schools should teach the history of Black Catholics in America.
"It's a history of discrimination and oppression," said Mr. Powell. "It's also a very rich history that should be celebrated, of a population that has overcome a lot."
In 2018, after what it called an accumulation of "episodes of violence and animosity with racial and xenophobic overtones," the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral letter condemning racism and vowing to combat it. Numerous bishops issued similar statements following Mr. Floyd's death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer.
Professor Shannen Dee Williams, a Black Catholic who teaches history at Villanova University, argued in a June 15 article in the National Catholic Reporter that such responses are insufficient.
The recent statements "fall way short when it comes to acknowledging the church's role in the contemporary crisis and direct complicity in the sins of anti-Black racism, slavery and segregation," she wrote, noting that the church was a major slaveholder in several states and engaged in segregation of parishes, schools, hospitals, convents, and seminaries for decades after emancipation.
In an interview, Ms. Williams said the U.S. church hierarchy should formally apologize.
"We want them to own up to that history, and then atone for it," she said.
The same day her article appeared, Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., the highest-ranking Black leader in the U.S. church, joined eight fellow bishops from his region in acknowledging the church's "sins and failings" on racial justice.
"Prayer and dialogue, alone, are not enough. We must act to bring about true change," their statement said, calling for greater equality in health care, education, housing, and criminal justice.
Black Catholics' somewhat marginal place in the U.S. church is illustrated by statistics compiled by the national bishops' conference.
According to the conference, there are about 3 million African American Catholics, roughly 4% of the nation's 69 million Catholics. But there are just 250 Black priests, or less than 1% of the total of 36,500, along with eight active Black bishops out of more than 250, or about 3.2%.
Some are calling on church leaders to engage more energetically with youth at the forefront of the protest movement.
Earlier this month scores of young Black Catholics staged a march in Louisville, Kentucky, to protest racial injustice and also signaling they want their local church leadership to do more.
One of the speakers, retired priest John Judie, included the church in a list of institutions that have favored white people over Black people.
In an interview, Mr. Judie said some young people in the archdiocese are uncertain about their place.
"When is the leadership going to sit down with the young adults who organized that protest and listen to what drove them to do this?" Mr. Judie said. "So far, I'm not seeing it happen."
That's a notion shared by Ansel Augustine, who as a young priest in New Orleans in 2005 worked in the youth ministry of his parish on rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
"We see our youth and young adults leading these movements, putting their faith into action," said Mr. Augustine, now executive director of cultural diversity for the Washington archdiocese. "Now is the time to empower them, to listen to what these young prophets are saying."
Ralph McCloud, who directs the anti-poverty program of the national bishops' conference, said such steps are under way.
"We've begun with the listening sessions, hearing the very painful stories of people who've been victims of racism within the church and without," Mr. McCloud said.
"We need to broaden the conversation and see who's missing at the table," he added. "With African American Catholics, our numbers are so low that we get overlooked, sometimes inadvertently, sometimes intentionally."
Back in 2014, Mr. Augustine wrote an article for the Catholic media outlet Busted Halo asking why the fight against racism seemed to be a lesser priority for the U.S. Catholic leadership than the anti-abortion cause. Mr. Augustine took note when those remarks were echoed by Pope Francis earlier this month.
"We cannot close our eyes to any form of racism or exclusion, while pretending to defend the sacredness of every human life," the pontiff said.
Mr. Gregory, the Washington archbishop, echoed the idea that racial justice should be part of pro-life advocacy.
"Birth is only the first moment of a person's human dignity, which is never lost throughout the journey of life," he said via email.
That message heartens people like Loralean Jordan, a parishioner of the predominantly Black congregation of the Church of Saint Peter Claver in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"Black Lives Matter should be a pro-life issue, getting the same amount of resources and same amount of zeal as the pro-life movement," she said.
She would like to see the church help coordinate a national anti-racism march and direct all U.S. priests to mark the feast day of Peter Claver, the 17th-century patron saint of enslaved people, by preaching about racial injustice.
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csmonitor--2020-06-22--In Italy, a case for music to return to concert halls

Conducting a joyful Mozart motet , Riccardo Muti sent a resounding message Sunday night , that live classical music has returned to the Italian stage after the coronavirus lockdown .
A full summer festival program is planned in his adopted home of Ravenna , even as the musical outlook remains grim in the United States , where he also conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra .
The renowned conductor said the coronavirus had “ destroyed music , ” with shuttered venues depriving the world of “ spiritual food ” as it faced a pandemic that still threatens uncalculated economic repercussions beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world wars , Mr. Muti noted , theaters stayed open to provide cultural relief except during the worst of the bombings .
“ In that sense , this virus was even more devastating than bombs , ” Mr. Muti told The Associated Press before the inaugural concert for the Ravenna Festival ’ s 30th anniversary season , in which he conducted the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra that he founded in 2004 .
The festival , founded by Mr. Muti 's wife , salvaged its season by scheduling its nearly 50 events in outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musicians at least a meter apart – challenging what Mr. Muti noted was the literal symphonic order of “ playing together.
” “ In the message of solidarity that I send to the entire cultural world , I give a signal from Ravenna , that at a certain point you can restart , you must restart , with caution and with care , ” said Mr. Muti , who has been at the helm of some of the world ’ s most famous theaters , including Milan ’ s La Scala and London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , he won accolades leading the Philadelphia Orchestra in the 1980s and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2010 .
“ You pay a high price for the absence of culture , ” he said .
The Ravenna Festival program , which runs through July , is another signal of the gradual reawakening of European classical music after strict closures to slow the spread of coronavirus .
In a sign of its symbolic importance , Italy ’ s Senate president and culture minister attended , along with the head of the UNESCO world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small city of Ravenna ’ s outsized role in world history as a three-time ancient capital with eight protected monuments , and the final resting place of poet Dante Alighieri .
In other signs of cultural life , Mr. Muti conducted Cimarosa , Mozart , and Schubert earlier this month with the Vienna Philharmonic , with a full orchestra at a normal distance thanks to regular virus testing , while theaters in Florence and Venice have staged concerts with small audiences .
Milan ’ s La Scala will signal its re-emergence with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its official reopening in September .
After leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on a European tour in January , Mr. Muti spent Italy ’ s lockdown in Ravenna , studying for what is supposed to be the CSO ’ s September season-opening of Beethoven ’ s “ Missa solemnis.
” But the start of the season remains in question , as U.S. cultural landmarks like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York and Philadelphia ’ s Kimmel Theater have announced their closure through the end of the year due to the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy to say : ‘ Close.
’ But ... there are thousands of people who no longer provide culture and spiritual food to the public , and who , at a certain point , won ’ t have even a salary to live on , ” Mr. Muti said .
Mr. Muti suggested that concerts could be held in Chicago ’ s Memorial Park , with 2,000 guests instead of the 30,000 capacity , and by first testing musicians for the virus and possibly sticking to a repertoire that limits the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CSO 's season that was canceled , Mr. Muti was to have conducted in April a symphony by African American composer Florence Price , which the program said “ gives powerful voice to the African American experience.
” Mr. Muti , who has been watching the Black Lives Matters protests from afar , said classical music must do more to integrate people of color .
In Chicago , he works with the orchestra ’ s African American network to bring the local Black community to concerts and rehearsals , which has grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he also recalls a 1991 concert he conducted in Philadelphia in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. , where for the “ first and only time I saw the Academy of Music filled 90 % with African Americans.
” “ My dream would be to have many more African Americans in orchestras , choruses , and in audiences , ” Mr. Muti said .
“ But this was also our own fault , by giving the sensation that our musical culture is a culture of an elite , a culture of superior people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not true .
We must open our arms , as we have done and will continue to do in Chicago.
” 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 .

Conducting a joyful Mozart motet, Riccardo Muti sent a resounding message Sunday night, that live classical music has returned to the Italian stage after the coronavirus lockdown.
A full summer festival program is planned in his adopted home of Ravenna, even as the musical outlook remains grim in the United States, where he also conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The renowned conductor said the coronavirus had “destroyed music,” with shuttered venues depriving the world of “spiritual food” as it faced a pandemic that still threatens uncalculated economic repercussions beyond the lives lost.
Even during two world wars, Mr. Muti noted, theaters stayed open to provide cultural relief except during the worst of the bombings.
“In that sense, this virus was even more devastating than bombs,” Mr. Muti told The Associated Press before the inaugural concert for the Ravenna Festival’s 30th anniversary season, in which he conducted the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra that he founded in 2004.
The festival, founded by Mr. Muti's wife, salvaged its season by scheduling its nearly 50 events in outdoor venues with limited audiences, and spacing musicians at least a meter apart – challenging what Mr. Muti noted was the literal symphonic order of “playing together.”
“In the message of solidarity that I send to the entire cultural world, I give a signal from Ravenna, that at a certain point you can restart, you must restart, with caution and with care,” said Mr. Muti, who has been at the helm of some of the world’s most famous theaters, including Milan’s La Scala and London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. In the U.S., he won accolades leading the Philadelphia Orchestra in the 1980s and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2010.
“You pay a high price for the absence of culture,” he said.
The Ravenna Festival program, which runs through July, is another signal of the gradual reawakening of European classical music after strict closures to slow the spread of coronavirus. In a sign of its symbolic importance, Italy’s Senate president and culture minister attended, along with the head of the UNESCO world heritage center, in recognition of the small city of Ravenna’s outsized role in world history as a three-time ancient capital with eight protected monuments, and the final resting place of poet Dante Alighieri.
In other signs of cultural life, Mr. Muti conducted Cimarosa, Mozart, and Schubert earlier this month with the Vienna Philharmonic, with a full orchestra at a normal distance thanks to regular virus testing, while theaters in Florence and Venice have staged concerts with small audiences. Milan’s La Scala will signal its re-emergence with a few musical evenings in July ahead of its official reopening in September.
After leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on a European tour in January, Mr. Muti spent Italy’s lockdown in Ravenna, studying for what is supposed to be the CSO’s September season-opening of Beethoven’s “Missa solemnis.” But the start of the season remains in question, as U.S. cultural landmarks like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York and Philadelphia’s Kimmel Theater have announced their closure through the end of the year due to the virus’ threat.
“It is too easy to say: ‘Close.’ But ... there are thousands of people who no longer provide culture and spiritual food to the public, and who, at a certain point, won’t have even a salary to live on,” Mr. Muti said.
Mr. Muti suggested that concerts could be held in Chicago’s Memorial Park, with 2,000 guests instead of the 30,000 capacity, and by first testing musicians for the virus and possibly sticking to a repertoire that limits the number of musicians on stage.
During part of the CSO's season that was canceled, Mr. Muti was to have conducted in April a symphony by African American composer Florence Price, which the program said “gives powerful voice to the African American experience.” Mr. Muti, who has been watching the Black Lives Matters protests from afar, said classical music must do more to integrate people of color.
In Chicago, he works with the orchestra’s African American network to bring the local Black community to concerts and rehearsals, which has grown to 3,000 members since 2016. But he also recalls a 1991 concert he conducted in Philadelphia in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., where for the “first and only time I saw the Academy of Music filled 90% with African Americans.”
“My dream would be to have many more African Americans in orchestras, choruses, and in audiences,” Mr. Muti said.
“But this was also our own fault, by giving the sensation that our musical culture is a culture of an elite, a culture of superior people, of very refined people. It is not true. We must open our arms, as we have done and will continue to do in Chicago.”
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csmonitor--2020-06-22--The 10 best books of June bring hope and insight

1 .
The Voyage of the Morning Light by Marina Endicott An intrepid young woman journeys with her half-sister and captain brother-in-law aboard a Nova Scotia merchant ship to the South Seas in 1912 .
Awash with vistas of beauty , the novel follows the deep pull of the characters toward harmony , justice , and home .
The tale shimmers with intelligence and humor .
Twin sisters take very different paths in this gripping exploration of race , identity , and the meaning of home .
A poignant combination of mystery and history , the novel moves as briskly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of great weight .
While the plot occasionally hinges on unlikely coincidences and surprises , the same could be said for the nation and the times that are chronicled in this book .
Set adrift by their parents in the difficult world of 1910s America , two young sisters anchor themselves by embellishing their family myths ; in alternating chapters , their descendants work to understand their legacy .
Flashes of gleaming prose illuminate Martha McPhee ’ s novel , which is rooted in her own family history and offers much insight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This gripping mystery introduces Maggie D ’ Arcy , a top-notch Long Island homicide detective whose cousin vanished in Ireland 23 years ago .
The book ’ s intriguing characters spiral through multiple timelines , plot twists , and lush Irish settings , and Maggie ’ s quest to finally learn the truth runs parallel to her hopes of reuniting with a lost love .
The poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow aren ’ t in great fashion today , but in the first major biography of the fabled New England poet in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Longfellow is starting to make a comeback .
His exhaustively researched account of Longfellow ’ s life and career should give that reappraisal a boost .
Historian Colin Woodard tells not the story of how America became a nation , but rather of how America crafted its own version of its national history , and how that national mythology has changed over the decades .
7 .
The Language of Butterflies by Wendy Williams In this fascinating book , Wendy Williams not only lovingly relates the variety and natural history of butterflies around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ readers the weird and wonderful stories of the people who have chased , studied , and explained butterflies over the centuries .
Former New York Times foreign correspondent Anthony DePalma tells the vivid story of communism through the eyes of several generations of Cubans .
He includes telling details , such as the pantomime of stroking imaginary beards before criticizing the government , to avoid retribution for mentioning Castro ’ s name .
DePalma shows what life was like , and is like , for Cubans .
Rutger Bregman puts forth a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , deep down , are pretty decent.
” In a chatty , engaging style , the Dutch historian sifts through academic studies and reassesses historical events to support his feel-good thesis – one that , he notes , ought to have far-reaching implications for how we run our workplaces , schools , and prisons .
Thomas Penn puts an irresistible personal face on the legendary Wars of the Roses between the houses of York and Lancaster by focusing on the tempestuous brothers at the heart of the conflict .

1. The Voyage of the Morning Light by Marina Endicott
An intrepid young woman journeys with her half-sister and captain brother-in-law aboard a Nova Scotia merchant ship to the South Seas in 1912. Awash with vistas of beauty, the novel follows the deep pull of the characters toward harmony, justice, and home. The tale shimmers with intelligence and humor.
2. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Courtesy of Penguin Random House View caption Hide caption “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett, Riverhead Books, 343 pp.
Twin sisters take very different paths in this gripping exploration of race, identity, and the meaning of home. A poignant combination of mystery and history, the novel moves as briskly as a beach read while addressing issues of great weight. While the plot occasionally hinges on unlikely coincidences and surprises, the same could be said for the nation and the times that are chronicled in this book.
3. An Elegant Woman by Martha McPhee
Set adrift by their parents in the difficult world of 1910s America, two young sisters anchor themselves by embellishing their family myths; in alternating chapters, their descendants work to understand their legacy. Flashes of gleaming prose illuminate Martha McPhee’s novel, which is rooted in her own family history and offers much insight, if you have time to linger.
4. The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor
This gripping mystery introduces Maggie D’Arcy, a top-notch Long Island homicide detective whose cousin vanished in Ireland 23 years ago. The book’s intriguing characters spiral through multiple timelines, plot twists, and lush Irish settings, and Maggie’s quest to finally learn the truth runs parallel to her hopes of reuniting with a lost love.
5. Cross of Snow by Nicholas A. Basbanes
The poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow aren’t in great fashion today, but in the first major biography of the fabled New England poet in many years, Nicholas A. Basbanes argues that Longfellow is starting to make a comeback. His exhaustively researched account of Longfellow’s life and career should give that reappraisal a boost.
6. Union by Colin Woodard
Historian Colin Woodard tells not the story of how America became a nation, but rather of how America crafted its own version of its national history, and how that national mythology has changed over the decades.
7. The Language of Butterflies by Wendy Williams
In this fascinating book, Wendy Williams not only lovingly relates the variety and natural history of butterflies around the world, but also shares with readers the weird and wonderful stories of the people who have chased, studied, and explained butterflies over the centuries.
8. The Cubans by Anthony DePalma
Former New York Times foreign correspondent Anthony DePalma tells the vivid story of communism through the eyes of several generations of Cubans. He includes telling details, such as the pantomime of stroking imaginary beards before criticizing the government, to avoid retribution for mentioning Castro’s name. DePalma shows what life was like, and is like, for Cubans.
9. Humankind by Rutger Bregman
Courtesy of Hachette Book Group View caption Hide caption “Humankind: A Hopeful History” by Rutger Bregman, Little, Brown and Company, 461 pp.
Rutger Bregman puts forth a “radical idea”: that “most people, deep down, are pretty decent.” In a chatty, engaging style, the Dutch historian sifts through academic studies and reassesses historical events to support his feel-good thesis – one that, he notes, ought to have far-reaching implications for how we run our workplaces, schools, and prisons.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
10. The Brothers York by Thomas Penn
Thomas Penn puts an irresistible personal face on the legendary Wars of the Roses between the houses of York and Lancaster by focusing on the tempestuous brothers at the heart of the conflict.


csmonitor--2020-06-23--Nearly all Americans want criminal justice reform, poll finds

Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards on when police officers may use force and consequences for officers who do so excessively , according to a new poll that finds nearly all Americans favor at least some level of change to the nation 's criminal justice system .
The new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also finds there is strong support for penalizing officers who engage in racially biased policing .
Americans are more likely now than five years ago to say that police violence against the public is a very serious problem and that officers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are treated too leniently .
`` For me , as a Black person , I 'm like , this has been happening , '' said Kevin Richardson , of Charlotte , North Carolina .
`` We should 've been knowing it , we should 've been seeing this and so now what 's happened is , I 'll be honest , white people are seeing it and saying , 'This is wrong . '
'' The survey of American adults took place after weeks of mass demonstrations against police violence and calls from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' departments in response to the death of George Floyd , a Black man who died in custody after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd 's neck for nearly eight minutes .
Americans are largely united behind the idea that action is required : 29 % think the criminal justice system needs `` a complete overhaul , '' 40 % say it needs `` major changes '' and 25 % say it needs `` minor changes . ''
Just 5 % believe no changes are necessary .
Megan Pecknold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests have forced her to think about these issues in a way she had the luxury , as a white person , of previously ignoring .
`` I had never really given much thought to police use of force .
I 'm white .
I 've never had a bad encounter with a police officer , '' she said .
`` The last few months have brought to light more of this for me , and now I am educating myself . ''
Nearly 6 in 10 Black Americans think the criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with about a quarter of white Americans who said the same .
About 4 in 10 white Americans say major changes are needed ; 3 in 10 prefer minor changes .
While Democrats are more likely than Republicans to think the system needs an overhaul , 44 % to 12 % , Americans across party lines are nearly unanimous in thinking at least some change is necessary .
Another 44 % of Democrats think major changes are necessary .
Among Republicans , 34 % call for major changes and 47 % for minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for changes in how police departments operate : requiring officers to wear body cameras , establishing clear standards for use of force , prosecuting officers who use excessive force , and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers .
Despite their popularity , body cameras have not always proved to be the fix reformers hoped .
But Kimberly Jones of New York City , said they are at the top of her list .
`` You need more seeing what 's going on as they 're pulling up on people , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know from the start so you can stop something bad from happening . ''
Majorities of Democrats and Republicans alike strongly support establishing clear standards for use of force , requiring officers to wear video cameras , and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers .
There also is bipartisan support for prosecuting officers who use excessive force and penalizing officers for racially biased policing , though more Democrats than Republicans intensely favor these policies .
Brian Bernard , a Republican and retired IT worker from Baton Rouge , Louisiana , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death was like watching a `` 9-minute murder . ''
But he said the problem is one of a bad cop , not a bad system .
Banning chokeholds or requiring retraining wo n't make a bad officer better , he said .
`` Democrats and liberals seem to have a problem of only fixing symptoms , '' he said .
`` They can never see the actual problem , and the problem is just a bad cop . ''
While chants of `` defund the police '' have become a rallying cry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that only 25 % of Americans favor reducing law enforcement funding .
Democrats are somewhat more likely to support than oppose doing so , 41 % to 33 % , while Republicans are overwhelming opposed .
Bob Haines , a pilot from Oklahoma City who supports President Donald Trump , said he thinks police officers do an excellent job .
`` Just like in my profession , most of us do a good job , but there are a few bad pilots , '' Mr. Haines said .
`` A couple of incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sudden the sky 's falling , you know ? ''
Democrats and Republicans divide on whether the justice system should reduce the focus on policing and prosecuting low-level offenses , with 63 % of Democrats and 30 % of Republicans in favor .
Overall , Americans are more likely to be in favor than opposed , 46 % to 25 % .
To prevent police violence , most Americans also favor requiring all officers to participate in more extensive racial bias training .
Majorities of Americans think that police are more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that Black Americans are generally treated less fairly by police .
Ms. Peckhold , who favors moderate changes in the criminal justice system , said those changes should be targeted at chipping away at systemic racist behavior .
`` I do n't think Americans really understand how police are taught these tactics to begin with , '' she said .
`` Understanding the details more will help us make smarter changes . ''
The AP-NORC poll of 1,301 adults was conducted June 11-15 using a sample drawn from NORC 's probability-based AmeriSpeak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representative of the United States population .
The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Sean Murphy in Tulsa , Oklahoma , 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 .

Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards on when police officers may use force and consequences for officers who do so excessively, according to a new poll that finds nearly all Americans favor at least some level of change to the nation's criminal justice system.
The new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also finds there is strong support for penalizing officers who engage in racially biased policing. Americans are more likely now than five years ago to say that police violence against the public is a very serious problem and that officers who cause injury or death on the job are treated too leniently.
"For me, as a Black person, I'm like, this has been happening," said Kevin Richardson, of Charlotte, North Carolina. "We should've been knowing it, we should've been seeing this and so now what's happened is, I'll be honest, white people are seeing it and saying, 'This is wrong.'"
The survey of American adults took place after weeks of mass demonstrations against police violence and calls from some politicians and activists to "defund" departments in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in custody after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes.
Americans are largely united behind the idea that action is required: 29% think the criminal justice system needs "a complete overhaul," 40% say it needs "major changes" and 25% say it needs "minor changes." Just 5% believe no changes are necessary.
Megan Pecknold of Spokane, Washington, said the protests have forced her to think about these issues in a way she had the luxury, as a white person, of previously ignoring.
"I had never really given much thought to police use of force. I'm white. I've never had a bad encounter with a police officer," she said. "The last few months have brought to light more of this for me, and now I am educating myself."
Nearly 6 in 10 Black Americans think the criminal justice system needs a complete overhaul, compared with about a quarter of white Americans who said the same. About 4 in 10 white Americans say major changes are needed; 3 in 10 prefer minor changes.
While Democrats are more likely than Republicans to think the system needs an overhaul, 44% to 12%, Americans across party lines are nearly unanimous in thinking at least some change is necessary. Another 44% of Democrats think major changes are necessary. Among Republicans, 34% call for major changes and 47% for minor changes.
The poll finds overwhelming support for changes in how police departments operate: requiring officers to wear body cameras, establishing clear standards for use of force, prosecuting officers who use excessive force, and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers.
Despite their popularity, body cameras have not always proved to be the fix reformers hoped. But Kimberly Jones of New York City, said they are at the top of her list.
"You need more seeing what's going on as they're pulling up on people," she said. "You need to know from the start so you can stop something bad from happening."
Majorities of Democrats and Republicans alike strongly support establishing clear standards for use of force, requiring officers to wear video cameras, and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers. There also is bipartisan support for prosecuting officers who use excessive force and penalizing officers for racially biased policing, though more Democrats than Republicans intensely favor these policies.
Brian Bernard, a Republican and retired IT worker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said the bystander video of Mr. Floyd's death was like watching a "9-minute murder." But he said the problem is one of a bad cop, not a bad system. Banning chokeholds or requiring retraining won't make a bad officer better, he said.
"Democrats and liberals seem to have a problem of only fixing symptoms," he said. "They can never see the actual problem, and the problem is just a bad cop."
While chants of "defund the police" have become a rallying cry at some protests, the survey found that only 25% of Americans favor reducing law enforcement funding. Democrats are somewhat more likely to support than oppose doing so, 41% to 33%, while Republicans are overwhelming opposed.
Bob Haines, a pilot from Oklahoma City who supports President Donald Trump, said he thinks police officers do an excellent job.
"Just like in my profession, most of us do a good job, but there are a few bad pilots," Mr. Haines said. "A couple of incidents have happened, and all of a sudden the sky's falling, you know?"
Democrats and Republicans divide on whether the justice system should reduce the focus on policing and prosecuting low-level offenses, with 63% of Democrats and 30% of Republicans in favor. Overall, Americans are more likely to be in favor than opposed, 46% to 25%.
To prevent police violence, most Americans also favor requiring all officers to participate in more extensive racial bias training.
Majorities of Americans think that police are more likely to use deadly force against a Black person and that Black Americans are generally treated less fairly by police.
Ms. Peckhold, who favors moderate changes in the criminal justice system, said those changes should be targeted at chipping away at systemic racist behavior.
"I don't think Americans really understand how police are taught these tactics to begin with," she said. "Understanding the details more will help us make smarter changes."
The AP-NORC poll of 1,301 adults was conducted June 11-15 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the United States population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Sean Murphy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-23--View from Myrtle Beach, S.C.: Reopening during a pandemic

The elevator doors opened and inside were 10 people crammed into a space no bigger than a closet , none of them wearing a mask .
In bathing suits , they walked out of the hotel , across the pool deck , and into the sand in what is fast becoming South Carolina 's hot spot for COVID-19 – Myrtle Beach .
People in this resort city are leaving their cares – and sometimes their face coverings – at home after months of worry as hotels , restaurants , and beaches reopen .
Mark Johnson said he does n't like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work delivering doughnuts to grocery stores around Charlotte , North Carolina .
“ Just wash your hands and use common sense , ” Mr. Johnson said as he sat on a chair in the sand .
The coronavirus has not taken a vacation .
When hotels were allowed to start taking reservations again on May 15 , there had been 283 COVID-19 cases in Horry County , which includes Myrtle Beach .
By June 22 , that number had climbed to more than 2,000 , and infections had doubled in nine days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in the county .
The figures do not count anyone who tests positive after taking COVID-19 home along with a souvenir hermit crab or an airbrushed T-shirt .
Business leaders estimate 20 million people visit the area each year , 60 times Horry County 's population of about 330,000 .
It was unclear how many visitors could be expected in 2020 .
In April , just 3 % of hotel rooms , condominiums , and campsites in Horry County were rented , according to research from Coastal Carolina University .
By mid-June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only slightly less than the typical 81 % at this point in the summer , the college reported .
Health officials in at least five West Virginia counties determined through contact tracing that trips to Myrtle Beach likely led to infections .
They recommend finding safer destinations or self-quarantining for two weeks after a trip .
“ Please be careful .
And please think real hard about getting tested when you get home , '' West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice told people who visited Myrtle Beach .
`` If you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state parks or do something in this great place in West Virginia , we ’ d rather you do that.
” Christy Kasler is from another state that produces many Myrtle Beach visitors – Ohio .
As she sat in a chair and watched her daughter-in-law play with her 11-month-old grandson on his first trip to the beach , she said the recommendation to self-quarantine when she returns to her Nelsonville home was asking too much .
“ If I get it , I could have just as easily got it back home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You ca n't live your life in fear.
” Horry County is n't South Carolina 's only hot spot .
Health officials are tracking virus clusters in the Latino community around Greenville , restaurants workers in Charleston , rural churches that returned to services , and large family gatherings .
When Gov .
Henry McMaster effectively closed the state at the start of April , the rate of new cases flattened out .
It started climbing again after reopening began in early May , and the rate keeps rising .
South Carolina now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation when adjusted for population , trailing just Arizona , Arkansas , and Alabama .
The state sets records almost daily for the number of new cases , the percentage of positive tests , and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 .
Since reopening six weeks ago , the message from both local and state governments in South Carolina shifted from shutdowns to personal responsibility , like washing hands and wearing masks , although Mr. McMaster has said he will not require face coverings .
After giving televised COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first started to spread , Mr. McMaster and state health officials have not spoken in front of cameras for more than a week .
When they do talk , they say shutting businesses again is out of the question .
“ We understand that what we ’ re continuing to ask of everyone is not easy and that many are tired of hearing the same warnings and of taking the same daily precautions , but this virus does not take a day off , ” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead of a shutdown , the community now fears that bad publicity could keep people away .
That would be terrible news after restaurants and many hotels were closed for two months .
From February to April , more than 1 in 4 workers lost their jobs , and nearly 45,000 jobs disappeared in the Myrtle Beach area , vaulting Horry County to the top of South Carolina jobless rate , according to unemployment figures .
Some of those businesses remain closed .
Others that reopened are struggling with the extra cost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the reduction in revenue because they can not accommodate as many customers under social-distancing rules .
“ Man , at this point I 'm just praying we get back to normal .
I want to keep people healthy , but businesses are hurting too , '' Myrtle Beach City Councilman Michael Chestnut said outside his restaurant , Big Mike 's Soul Food .
He paused and shook his head .
“ I 'm not sure what normal is ever going to look like , ” Mr .
Chestnut said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit of three people per elevator when adopting rules to reopen hotels .
But in a place where the oceanfront skyline is dominated by tall hotels , it was impractical to make people climb all those stairs or wait for an empty elevator , Mr .
Chestnut said .
Jacko Morowitz has run a gift shop somewhere in Myrtle Beach for more than 25 years .
He thought about putting a sign on the door requiring masks and asking customers to cover their mouth and nose when inside .
But he bought $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good Vibes Gift Shop , and the inventory just sat there for two months .
He figures he ca n't risk turning a single customer away by pushing masks .
Asked what might happen if suddenly people get scared of the virus and stop coming to Myrtle Beach , Mr. Morowitz blurted out “ we 're ” followed by an expletive .
“ Sorry about that , ” he said .
“ But that 's the best word I can use whether I get sick or everybody stays home.
” Nations around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge of coronavirus infections as lockdowns ease .
In Germany , more than 1,550 people have tested positive for coronavirus at the Toennies slaughterhouse in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck and thousands more workers and family members have been put under a quarantine to try to halt the outbreak .
Across the Channel , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday announced a major rollback of lockdown measures that will let millions in England back into pubs , cinemas , churches , and hair salons starting July 4 .
The move came amid strong pressure from businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists worried the move is too hasty , especially since measures like a track-and-trace system to stamp out any outbreaks are n't yet in place .
“ This is far too premature , ” said David King , a former chief scientific adviser to the government .
“ To come out of [ lockdown ] too early is extremely risky.
” India has been recording about 15,000 new infections each day , and some states Tuesday were considering fresh lockdown measures to try to halt the spread of the virus among the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the government is determined to buoy the frail economy by opening up the country even if overcrowded hospitals are turning away patients .
New cases have also been rising steeply in Mexico , Colombia , and Indonesia .
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest infection rates in the Middle East , with more than 161,000 confirmed cases so far , including 1,307 deaths .
Concerns over the spread of the virus prompted Saudi Arabia 's unprecedented decision to limit the number of people performing the hajj pilgrimage this year to only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draws up to 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world .
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it took more than three months for the world to see 1 million confirmed infections but just eight days to see the most recent 1 million cases .
“ The greatest threat we face now is not the virus itself .
It ’ s the lack of global solidarity and global leadership , '' he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP journalists Frank Jordans reported from Berlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cyprus ; and Nick Perry reported from Wellington , New Zealand .
AP journalists from around the world contributed .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The elevator doors opened and inside were 10 people crammed into a space no bigger than a closet, none of them wearing a mask.
In bathing suits, they walked out of the hotel, across the pool deck, and into the sand in what is fast becoming South Carolina's hot spot for COVID-19 – Myrtle Beach. People in this resort city are leaving their cares – and sometimes their face coverings – at home after months of worry as hotels, restaurants, and beaches reopen.
Mark Johnson said he doesn't like wearing a mask when he's at work delivering doughnuts to grocery stores around Charlotte, North Carolina. “Just wash your hands and use common sense,” Mr. Johnson said as he sat on a chair in the sand.
The coronavirus has not taken a vacation. When hotels were allowed to start taking reservations again on May 15, there had been 283 COVID-19 cases in Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach. By June 22, that number had climbed to more than 2,000, and infections had doubled in nine days.
And those numbers include only people who live in the county. The figures do not count anyone who tests positive after taking COVID-19 home along with a souvenir hermit crab or an airbrushed T-shirt. Business leaders estimate 20 million people visit the area each year, 60 times Horry County's population of about 330,000.
It was unclear how many visitors could be expected in 2020. In April, just 3% of hotel rooms, condominiums, and campsites in Horry County were rented, according to research from Coastal Carolina University. By mid-June, occupancy rates rebounded to 74%, only slightly less than the typical 81% at this point in the summer, the college reported.
Health officials in at least five West Virginia counties determined through contact tracing that trips to Myrtle Beach likely led to infections. They recommend finding safer destinations or self-quarantining for two weeks after a trip.
“Please be careful. And please think real hard about getting tested when you get home," West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice told people who visited Myrtle Beach. "If you would opt to go to one of our state parks or do something in this great place in West Virginia, we’d rather you do that.”
Christy Kasler is from another state that produces many Myrtle Beach visitors – Ohio. As she sat in a chair and watched her daughter-in-law play with her 11-month-old grandson on his first trip to the beach, she said the recommendation to self-quarantine when she returns to her Nelsonville home was asking too much.
“If I get it, I could have just as easily got it back home,” Ms. Kasler said. “You can't live your life in fear.”
Horry County isn't South Carolina's only hot spot. Health officials are tracking virus clusters in the Latino community around Greenville, restaurants workers in Charleston, rural churches that returned to services, and large family gatherings.
When Gov. Henry McMaster effectively closed the state at the start of April, the rate of new cases flattened out. It started climbing again after reopening began in early May, and the rate keeps rising. South Carolina now has the fourth-highest new infection rate in the nation when adjusted for population, trailing just Arizona, Arkansas, and Alabama.
The state sets records almost daily for the number of new cases, the percentage of positive tests, and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19.
Since reopening six weeks ago, the message from both local and state governments in South Carolina shifted from shutdowns to personal responsibility, like washing hands and wearing masks, although Mr. McMaster has said he will not require face coverings.
After giving televised COVID-19 briefings nearly every day when the virus first started to spread, Mr. McMaster and state health officials have not spoken in front of cameras for more than a week. When they do talk, they say shutting businesses again is out of the question.
“We understand that what we’re continuing to ask of everyone is not easy and that many are tired of hearing the same warnings and of taking the same daily precautions, but this virus does not take a day off,” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in a statement.
Myrtle Beach needs visitors. Instead of a shutdown, the community now fears that bad publicity could keep people away. That would be terrible news after restaurants and many hotels were closed for two months.
From February to April, more than 1 in 4 workers lost their jobs, and nearly 45,000 jobs disappeared in the Myrtle Beach area, vaulting Horry County to the top of South Carolina jobless rate, according to unemployment figures.
Some of those businesses remain closed. Others that reopened are struggling with the extra cost of cleaning, food, and other supplies, and the reduction in revenue because they cannot accommodate as many customers under social-distancing rules.
“Man, at this point I'm just praying we get back to normal. I want to keep people healthy, but businesses are hurting too," Myrtle Beach City Councilman Michael Chestnut said outside his restaurant, Big Mike's Soul Food.
He paused and shook his head. “I'm not sure what normal is ever going to look like,” Mr. Chestnut said.
The Myrtle Beach City Council initially imposed a limit of three people per elevator when adopting rules to reopen hotels. But in a place where the oceanfront skyline is dominated by tall hotels, it was impractical to make people climb all those stairs or wait for an empty elevator, Mr. Chestnut said.
Jacko Morowitz has run a gift shop somewhere in Myrtle Beach for more than 25 years. He thought about putting a sign on the door requiring masks and asking customers to cover their mouth and nose when inside.
But he bought $100,000 of merchandise last winter for his Good Vibes Gift Shop, and the inventory just sat there for two months. He figures he can't risk turning a single customer away by pushing masks.
Asked what might happen if suddenly people get scared of the virus and stop coming to Myrtle Beach, Mr. Morowitz blurted out “we're” followed by an expletive.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “But that's the best word I can use whether I get sick or everybody stays home.”
Nations around the world are similarly struggling to contain the surge of coronavirus infections as lockdowns ease.
In Germany, more than 1,550 people have tested positive for coronavirus at the Toennies slaughterhouse in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck and thousands more workers and family members have been put under a quarantine to try to halt the outbreak.
Across the Channel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday announced a major rollback of lockdown measures that will let millions in England back into pubs, cinemas, churches, and hair salons starting July 4. The move came amid strong pressure from businesses to ease social distancing rules.
Some scientists worried the move is too hasty, especially since measures like a track-and-trace system to stamp out any outbreaks aren't yet in place. “This is far too premature,” said David King, a former chief scientific adviser to the government. “To come out of [lockdown] too early is extremely risky.”
Rates continue to climb globally
India has been recording about 15,000 new infections each day, and some states Tuesday were considering fresh lockdown measures to try to halt the spread of the virus among the country's 1.3 billion people.
In Pakistan, the government is determined to buoy the frail economy by opening up the country even if overcrowded hospitals are turning away patients. New cases have also been rising steeply in Mexico, Colombia, and Indonesia.
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest infection rates in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 confirmed cases so far, including 1,307 deaths.
Concerns over the spread of the virus prompted Saudi Arabia's unprecedented decision to limit the number of people performing the hajj pilgrimage this year to only a few thousand. The pilgrimage usually draws up to 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it took more than three months for the world to see 1 million confirmed infections but just eight days to see the most recent 1 million cases.
“The greatest threat we face now is not the virus itself. It’s the lack of global solidarity and global leadership," he said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP journalists Frank Jordans reported from Berlin; Menelaos Hadijicostis reported from Nicosia, Cyprus; and Nick Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand. AP journalists from around the world contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-23--What a shift in public opinion means for powerful police unions

The fiery leader of Minneapolis ' police union has built a reputation of defying the city , long before he offered the union 's full support to the officers charged in George Floyd 's death .
When the mayor banned `` warrior training '' for officers last year , Lt. Bob Kroll said the union would offer the training instead .
When the city restricted officers from wearing uniforms at political events , he had T-shirts made to support President Donald Trump .
He commended off-duty officers who walked away from a security detail after players on the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Lynx , wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts .
And after Mr. Floyd 's death , he did n't hold back as he called unrest in the city a `` terrorist movement . ''
As Minneapolis tries to overhaul its police department in the wake of Mr. Floyd 's death , city leaders will collide with a pugnacious and powerful union that has long resisted such change .
But that union and Lieutenant Kroll are coming under greater pressure than ever before , with some members daring to speak out in support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contract tougher on bad cops .
Other unions have publicly called for Lieutenant Kroll 's removal , while public opinion polls show more Americans are shifting their views on police violence and believe offending officers are treated too leniently .
`` People recognize that this just ca n't just be half-baked measures and tinkering around the edges in policy reform .
What we 're talking about right now is attacking a full-on culture shift of how police departments in Minneapolis and around the nation operate , '' Mayor Jacob Frey said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ died May 25 after Derek Chauvin , a white officer , used his knee to pin Mr. Floyd to the ground while he was handcuffed .
Mr. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder , third-degree murder , and manslaughter .
Three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter .
All four officers were fired , but Lieutenant Kroll issued a statement saying they had the union 's full support and warned against rushing to judgment .
The Minnesota AFL-CIO and some of the state 's biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lieutenant Kroll , whom the Star Tribune reported is planning to step down when his term ends in 2021 , has n't responded to interview requests .
Mr. Floyd 's death sparked outrage in Minneapolis and beyond , as protests erupted around the world amid emphatic calls for police reform .
In Minneapolis , the first steps are being aimed at the union , long seen as a barrier .
Chief Medaria Arradondo said he would withdraw from union contract negotiations to consider structural changes , and Mr. Frey is calling on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he said reverses roughly half of police terminations in the state .
In an interview Sunday on `` 60 Minutes , '' Chief Arradondo said Lieutenant Kroll is `` absolutely ... an influencer . ''
`` He and others are going to have to come to a reckoning that either they are going to be on the right side of history or they 're going be on the wrong side of history… or they will be left behind , '' the chief said .
One of the union 's victories happened in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curtail the power of the Minneapolis Civilian Review Authority by shielding from public view a finding that a complaint had been sustained against an officer .
The union 's power has consistently stymied change , community leaders say .
`` It makes it very hard to implement reforms if… the federation is in the background saying , 'Do n't worry about this , we 'll file a grievance , ' '' said Steve Fletcher , one of nine City Council members who pledged to revamp the police department .
`` That sends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignore leadership .
That has , over time , created a culture that is very resistant to change . ''
When the City Council declined last year to put additional officers on the street , Mr. Fletcher described police pushback as a `` protection racket . ''
He said business owners began calling him to complain that officers were slowing response times or not resolving issues , and telling businesses to call their council members .
Police unions across the country are seen as just as powerful , enshrining protections for officers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such special privileges as allowing them to wait 24 hours to be interrogated .
They also have fought against making public misconduct claims , and traditionally lawmakers have been reticent to battle them over fears of being seen as anti-police .
There are signs that the power of police unions may be eroding .
In New York , lawmakers passed on party lines a reform bill for the nation 's largest department and others that makes major changes to officer security reviled by the union .
In Minneapolis , 14 officers signed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they `` stand ready to listen and embrace the calls for change , reform , and rebuilding . ''
The move was seen as a big deal for a police department where such public dissent is rare .
A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that when compared with five years ago , more Americans believe police brutality is a very serious problem that unequally targets Black Americans .
The poll also found that Americans are far more likely now than they were five years ago to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or death in the course of their job are treated too leniently by the justice system .
Allen Berryman , a retired police sergeant and president of the union for most of the 1990s , said the union is doing its job .
`` People like the idea of due process for themselves when they get arrested ... or anything like that , but they do n't seem to like it '' for officers , he said , adding that a lack of progressive discipline by management is part of the problem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press , Assistant Chief Mike Kjos said issues involving discipline are complex and the union 's involvement is just one piece .
One hurdle , he said , is that discipline handed out in past cases may be used as precedent for present cases that results in light punishment .
`` It 's not impossible , but it does present challenges for increased levels of discipline when previous administrations may have operated from a different lens on accountability , '' he said .
Michael Friedman , who chaired the Civilian Review Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's history of supporting officers `` without any common regard for community standards for what policing should be '' is a problem `` that rightfully frustrates many . ''
`` But it 's also very convenient for others to say , especially right now , 'Hey , it 's a union problem , ' '' Mr. Friedman said .
`` And say if we change the union , or get rid of the union , or remove a right or two , that changes everything . ''
This story was reported by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The fiery leader of Minneapolis' police union has built a reputation of defying the city, long before he offered the union's full support to the officers charged in George Floyd's death.
When the mayor banned "warrior training" for officers last year, Lt. Bob Kroll said the union would offer the training instead. When the city restricted officers from wearing uniforms at political events, he had T-shirts made to support President Donald Trump. He commended off-duty officers who walked away from a security detail after players on the state's professional women's basketball team, the Minnesota Lynx, wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts. And after Mr. Floyd's death, he didn't hold back as he called unrest in the city a "terrorist movement."
As Minneapolis tries to overhaul its police department in the wake of Mr. Floyd's death, city leaders will collide with a pugnacious and powerful union that has long resisted such change. But that union and Lieutenant Kroll are coming under greater pressure than ever before, with some members daring to speak out in support of change and police leaders vowing to negotiate a contract tougher on bad cops.
Other unions have publicly called for Lieutenant Kroll's removal, while public opinion polls show more Americans are shifting their views on police violence and believe offending officers are treated too leniently.
"People recognize that this just can't just be half-baked measures and tinkering around the edges in policy reform. What we're talking about right now is attacking a full-on culture shift of how police departments in Minneapolis and around the nation operate," Mayor Jacob Frey said.
Mr. Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after Derek Chauvin, a white officer, used his knee to pin Mr. Floyd to the ground while he was handcuffed. Mr. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter. Three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.
All four officers were fired, but Lieutenant Kroll issued a statement saying they had the union's full support and warned against rushing to judgment.
The Minnesota AFL-CIO and some of the state's biggest unions called for Lieutenant Kroll to quit. Lieutenant Kroll, whom the Star Tribune reported is planning to step down when his term ends in 2021, hasn't responded to interview requests.
Mr. Floyd's death sparked outrage in Minneapolis and beyond, as protests erupted around the world amid emphatic calls for police reform. In Minneapolis, the first steps are being aimed at the union, long seen as a barrier. Chief Medaria Arradondo said he would withdraw from union contract negotiations to consider structural changes, and Mr. Frey is calling on state lawmakers to fix an arbitration process that he said reverses roughly half of police terminations in the state.
In an interview Sunday on "60 Minutes," Chief Arradondo said Lieutenant Kroll is "absolutely ... an influencer."
"He and others are going to have to come to a reckoning that either they are going to be on the right side of history or they're going be on the wrong side of history… or they will be left behind," the chief said.
One of the union's victories happened in 2007, when it persuaded the city to curtail the power of the Minneapolis Civilian Review Authority by shielding from public view a finding that a complaint had been sustained against an officer.
The union's power has consistently stymied change, community leaders say.
"It makes it very hard to implement reforms if… the federation is in the background saying, 'Don't worry about this, we'll file a grievance,'" said Steve Fletcher, one of nine City Council members who pledged to revamp the police department. "That sends a strong signal that you can just ignore leadership. That has, over time, created a culture that is very resistant to change."
When the City Council declined last year to put additional officers on the street, Mr. Fletcher described police pushback as a "protection racket." He said business owners began calling him to complain that officers were slowing response times or not resolving issues, and telling businesses to call their council members.
Police unions across the country are seen as just as powerful, enshrining protections for officers who have been accused of crimes, including such special privileges as allowing them to wait 24 hours to be interrogated. They also have fought against making public misconduct claims, and traditionally lawmakers have been reticent to battle them over fears of being seen as anti-police.
There are signs that the power of police unions may be eroding. In New York, lawmakers passed on party lines a reform bill for the nation's largest department and others that makes major changes to officer security reviled by the union.
In Minneapolis, 14 officers signed an open letter condemning Mr. Chauvin, saying they "stand ready to listen and embrace the calls for change, reform, and rebuilding." The move was seen as a big deal for a police department where such public dissent is rare.
A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that when compared with five years ago, more Americans believe police brutality is a very serious problem that unequally targets Black Americans. The poll also found that Americans are far more likely now than they were five years ago to say that police officers who cause injury or death in the course of their job are treated too leniently by the justice system.
Allen Berryman, a retired police sergeant and president of the union for most of the 1990s, said the union is doing its job.
"People like the idea of due process for themselves when they get arrested ... or anything like that, but they don't seem to like it" for officers, he said, adding that a lack of progressive discipline by management is part of the problem.
In answers to emailed questions from The Associated Press, Assistant Chief Mike Kjos said issues involving discipline are complex and the union's involvement is just one piece. One hurdle, he said, is that discipline handed out in past cases may be used as precedent for present cases that results in light punishment.
"It's not impossible, but it does present challenges for increased levels of discipline when previous administrations may have operated from a different lens on accountability," he said.
Michael Friedman, who chaired the Civilian Review Authority for three years, said the union's history of supporting officers "without any common regard for community standards for what policing should be" is a problem "that rightfully frustrates many."
"But it's also very convenient for others to say, especially right now, 'Hey, it's a union problem,'" Mr. Friedman said. "And say if we change the union, or get rid of the union, or remove a right or two, that changes everything."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Doug Glass 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.