truthout--2020-05-29--Forget “Looting.” Capitalism Is the Real Robbery.

This morning the president of the United States threatened state-sanctioned murder in response to “ looting , ” laying bare the way in which white supremacy , capitalism and the state work together to violently repress people who defend Black life .
But Trump ’ s angry outburst is not the only blatantly racist response we should be interrogating .
We also must confront the way in which both conservatives and liberals have responded to the Minneapolis uprisings by condemning “ looting.
” Protesters in Minneapolis and around the country are rising up against a lynching and state violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Should our goal simply be to publicize it , in the hope that such publicity will generate condemnation and prevent future lynchings ?
This logic is flawed , in part , because lynchings thrive off of spectatorship .
For white supremacists , the act of killing is also an act of fellowship and opportunity for indoctrination .
Simply spreading images of racist killings and asking the state to stop killing us is not going to stop them .
( In fact , while it ’ s important to publicize the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of such images also galvanizes white supremacists . )
And so , for some who oppose racist killings , watching the videos , waiting to vote , and marching in protest feels like enough .
But for others , more intervention is needed .
The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police comes on the heels of the killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick , Georgia , and Breonna Taylor in Louisville , Kentucky .
These killings were committed by current and former law enforcement .
Understandably , outrage is growing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect property to be damaged , as people rise up against the racist systems complicit with racist violence .
Many of the people taking part in these revolts have decided that respecting property is not more important than respecting Black life .
There is an awareness that if the law doesn ’ t respect Black life , then the law itself can not be relied on for protection or given undeserving respect .
So , as protesters are being accused of “ looting ” and “ rioting ” in Minneapolis or anywhere else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the systematic robbery of Black America .
Corporations in the United States , again , have walked away with an unprecedented and astronomical amount of money in 2020 .
With no accountability in sight , there was little to no opposition to their monumental robbery .
They were handed trillions .
Politicians working in service to the corporate elite — and afraid of appearing opposed to a deal that would largely benefit Wall Street — pushed it through .
Of course , the deal left many vulnerable people in the dust .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt crisis of 2008 that brutalized people around the world with the starvation we know as austerity .
Cuts to social needs have fallen on the public undeterred while the rich continuously grow richer than they ’ ve ever been .
Now , protests breaking out throughout the nation in response to police brutality foreshadow what ’ s to come .
People are likely to take , break and fight because conditions remain miserable .
It should not be surprising .
Still , the “ looting ” by the oppressed will always be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s long taken place under capitalism .
There ’ s this idea that the perpetrators of crises , rather than their victims , deserve our sympathy when their profits decrease .
After at least 100,000 people in the U.S. — disproportionately Black , Native and Latinx people — have died from a merciless pandemic , this absurdity is still being trafficked through the media .
The corporations that do not pay people a living wage and who are benefiting from skyrocketing prices amid disaster are not deserving of pity .
For those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertain , one missed paycheck could mean eviction , imprisonment or hunger .
These circumstances are increasingly common as unemployment reaches levels not seen since the Great Depression .
At least 40 million people in this country are out of work , and people in need are being effectively robbed by the rich .
As they lose their jobs , people are also being robbed of health care — a vulnerability that will kill people and their family members .
People have also been robbed of a safe place to live free from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean air .
People have watched the tax money they paid be given away , time and time again , after being told it would come back to workers , but it never does .
For Black America , there are more than enough prison beds , but not nearly enough hospital beds for a population that ’ s being disproportionately crushed by institutional oppression .
So , of course , with little to no real infrastructure to protect people who the government has long neglected and abandoned , there will be uprisings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take because of what ’ s been taken from them : safety , security , housing , education , food and even their ability to vote .
And , of course , protesters are being robbed of the right to express their anger .
This conversation about “ looting ” always repeats itself .
During virtually every Black uprising that has taken place and shaped this country in the last century , the narrative has remained the same .
White supremacist assaults on the Black community were dubbed “ race riots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been framed as senseless violence .
People lament the destruction of property because they ’ ve bought into the idea that it ’ s another wrong being committed on top of any given white supremacist violence that caused it all .
But stealing because you ’ re being sucked dry by a system that has rendered you disposable is not the same as the ritualistic racist murders of Black people by white supremacists .
Decades of “ looting ” stores during uprisings can ’ t measure up to what Wall Street has looted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are certainly aware of their crimes .
Hedge fund capitalists who amass endless amounts of money through slush funds and financial manipulation have many avenues to escape accountability .
As the U.S. military prepares for “ civil disturbances ” and buys riot gear , it ’ s clear they know that not all people will accept atrocity .
In a nation that has never gotten past the civil war it fought over a wealthy class not giving up slavery profits , defending the wealthy is a tradition .
The same people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis are intentionally mismanaging plenty of other parts of our existence .
Those interested in liberation should not condemn protesters ’ so-called “ rioting ” and “ looting.
” Rather , we should be doing all we can to free the imprisoned protesters in Minnesota and wherever else uprisings occur .
The robbery we should concern ourselves with is the theft perpetrated by a system that creates desperation where people in need have to go and take for themselves what should be a guaranteed right .
Capitalism encourages thievery from the top down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the great writer C.L.R .
James once said , “ The rich are only defeated when running for their lives.
” It has certainly been the case time and time again throughout Black history : People have overcome insurmountable odds to claim victories .
How should we answer the question , “ What do we do in response to a lynching ?
” We must make the very system that enables it run for its life .

This morning the president of the United States threatened state-sanctioned murder in response to “looting,” laying bare the way in which white supremacy, capitalism and the state work together to violently repress people who defend Black life.
But Trump’s angry outburst is not the only blatantly racist response we should be interrogating. We also must confront the way in which both conservatives and liberals have responded to the Minneapolis uprisings by condemning “looting.”
Protesters in Minneapolis and around the country are rising up against a lynching and state violence. How should we respond to a lynching? Should our goal simply be to publicize it, in the hope that such publicity will generate condemnation and prevent future lynchings? This logic is flawed, in part, because lynchings thrive off of spectatorship. For white supremacists, the act of killing is also an act of fellowship and opportunity for indoctrination.
Simply spreading images of racist killings and asking the state to stop killing us is not going to stop them. (In fact, while it’s important to publicize the fact that these killings are occurring, sometimes the spread of such images also galvanizes white supremacists.)
And so, for some who oppose racist killings, watching the videos, waiting to vote, and marching in protest feels like enough. But for others, more intervention is needed. The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police comes on the heels of the killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. These killings were committed by current and former law enforcement. Understandably, outrage is growing.
We should expect uprisings. We should expect property to be damaged, as people rise up against the racist systems complicit with racist violence. Many of the people taking part in these revolts have decided that respecting property is not more important than respecting Black life. There is an awareness that if the law doesn’t respect Black life, then the law itself cannot be relied on for protection or given undeserving respect. So, as protesters are being accused of “looting” and “rioting” in Minneapolis or anywhere else, this time demands that we reflect on the systematic robbery of Black America.
Corporations in the United States, again, have walked away with an unprecedented and astronomical amount of money in 2020. With no accountability in sight, there was little to no opposition to their monumental robbery. They were handed trillions. Politicians working in service to the corporate elite — and afraid of appearing opposed to a deal that would largely benefit Wall Street — pushed it through. Of course, the deal left many vulnerable people in the dust. No changes were made after the unresolved debt crisis of 2008 that brutalized people around the world with the starvation we know as austerity. Cuts to social needs have fallen on the public undeterred while the rich continuously grow richer than they’ve ever been.
Now, protests breaking out throughout the nation in response to police brutality foreshadow what’s to come. People are likely to take, break and fight because conditions remain miserable. It should not be surprising. Still, the “looting” by the oppressed will always be condemned more than the structural robbery that’s long taken place under capitalism.
There’s this idea that the perpetrators of crises, rather than their victims, deserve our sympathy when their profits decrease. After at least 100,000 people in the U.S. — disproportionately Black, Native and Latinx people — have died from a merciless pandemic, this absurdity is still being trafficked through the media. The corporations that do not pay people a living wage and who are benefiting from skyrocketing prices amid disaster are not deserving of pity. For those of us whose stability is much more uncertain, one missed paycheck could mean eviction, imprisonment or hunger. These circumstances are increasingly common as unemployment reaches levels not seen since the Great Depression. At least 40 million people in this country are out of work, and people in need are being effectively robbed by the rich.
Stealing because you’re being sucked dry by a system that has rendered you disposable is not the same as the ritualistic racist murders of Black people by white supremacists.
As they lose their jobs, people are also being robbed of health care — a vulnerability that will kill people and their family members. People have also been robbed of a safe place to live free from state violence, where they can breathe clean air. People have watched the tax money they paid be given away, time and time again, after being told it would come back to workers, but it never does. For Black America, there are more than enough prison beds, but not nearly enough hospital beds for a population that’s being disproportionately crushed by institutional oppression. So, of course, with little to no real infrastructure to protect people who the government has long neglected and abandoned, there will be uprisings and people will take things. They will take because of what’s been taken from them: safety, security, housing, education, food and even their ability to vote. And, of course, protesters are being robbed of the right to express their anger.
This conversation about “looting” always repeats itself. During virtually every Black uprising that has taken place and shaped this country in the last century, the narrative has remained the same. White supremacist assaults on the Black community were dubbed “race riots,” and Black protesters’ self-defense has been framed as senseless violence. People lament the destruction of property because they’ve bought into the idea that it’s another wrong being committed on top of any given white supremacist violence that caused it all. But stealing because you’re being sucked dry by a system that has rendered you disposable is not the same as the ritualistic racist murders of Black people by white supremacists. Decades of “looting” stores during uprisings can’t measure up to what Wall Street has looted through the financial crises it creates.
They are certainly aware of their crimes. Hedge fund capitalists who amass endless amounts of money through slush funds and financial manipulation have many avenues to escape accountability. As the U.S. military prepares for “civil disturbances” and buys riot gear, it’s clear they know that not all people will accept atrocity. In a nation that has never gotten past the civil war it fought over a wealthy class not giving up slavery profits, defending the wealthy is a tradition. The same people who created and currently benefit from the current crisis are intentionally mismanaging plenty of other parts of our existence.
Those interested in liberation should not condemn protesters’ so-called “rioting” and “looting.” Rather, we should be doing all we can to free the imprisoned protesters in Minnesota and wherever else uprisings occur. The robbery we should concern ourselves with is the theft perpetrated by a system that creates desperation where people in need have to go and take for themselves what should be a guaranteed right. Capitalism encourages thievery from the top down. Writing about the Haitian Revolution, the great writer C.L.R. James once said, “The rich are only defeated when running for their lives.” It has certainly been the case time and time again throughout Black history: People have overcome insurmountable odds to claim victories. How should we answer the question, “What do we do in response to a lynching?” We must make the very system that enables it run for its life.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-05-29--Trump Opposes Masks Because Culture War Nihilism Is His Last Line of Defense

I don ’ t think there ’ s ever been a U.S. president with more influence with his political base that Donald Trump .
All presidents are defended by those who support them , of course .
Even the most unpopular failures have diehard fans who stick with them to the bitter end .
But Trump is unusual in that he has only ever attempted to govern on behalf of the people who support him and has no feeling of responsibility toward any other citizens .
He has taken the already polarized Republican Party and turned it into a cult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 to 45 % of the population who seem to idolize him is immense .
Perhaps it ’ s because Trump was a celebrity with a TV show long before he entered politics that makes his fans love him so unconditionally .
Whatever it is , Trump and his supporters have an unusually personal and almost intimate bond .
It ’ s clear after three and a half tumultuous years that they will follow his lead no matter what .
The political implications of this are profound .
This weird relationship between president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , apparently making it impossible for any prominent national figure in the party to allow even the smallest daylight between himself or herself and Trump .
( Frankly , very few even seem to be trying . )
The red MAGA hat serves as an official symbol of Trump loyalty , and there is a certain part of his following that uses it as a tool of intimidation .
Even more disturbing , there has been a spate of mass shootings and other acts of violence by people who have named Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to maintain his supporters ’ devotion , Trump has stoked the culture wars at every turn , ruthlessly dividing the country in order to keep his fans engaged .
They receive such hypocritical gestures of solidarity as his newfound “ pro-life ” zealotry with enthusiastic gratitude — but what they really love are his brutal assaults on those they consider their political and cultural enemies .
In that , Trump and his base are one .
So it should come as no surprise that when Trump faced the first crisis of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making — and failed to meet the challenge — he would reflexively fall back on culture-war tactics to reinforce his base .
His response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been abysmal , with the death toll now over 100,000 and the economy in dire straits .
After bungling the response so badly that it will be studied by historians for centuries as an example of poor leadership , Trump is returning to his original instinct , which was simply to deny that the whole thing mattered , or was even happening .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defying public health guidelines and demanding that their governors “ reopen ” immediately ( or in Trump ’ s own words of incitement , that they “ liberate ” their states . )
Trump clearly believes that he can wish away the virus — or at least people ’ s concern about the virus — by pretending that the crisis is over and that we can go back to normal .
As we speak , he ’ s arguing with the state government of North Carolina about the Republican National Convention , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican officials had reportedly been discussing how they could stage the event while observing CDC social distancing guidelines , and everything had been going smoothly .
Trump , however , wants his big party , and wants it to be crammed with people screaming ecstatically at his every word .
What he doesn ’ t want is anyone wearing masks .
In fact , wearing a mask , or rather not wearing one , is fast becoming as much of a symbol of Trump fealty as those red MAGA hats .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed it hard among the faithful ( with the unexpected exception of Sean Hannity . )
As Salon ’ s Igor Derysh reports , studies show that people who watch Fox are far more inclined to defy public health guidelines .
But really , it ’ s Trump himself who has turned masks into a culture-war symbol by ostentatiously refusing to wear one .
This makes little sense , of course , if he genuinely wants to reopen the country in a way that allows workers and consumers to feel safe going about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are common-sense ways to begin doing that , and normalizing that behavior will bring back the economy more quickly .
But Trump has decided to pretend that the crisis is over , as I said earlier , and mask-wearing and social distancing don ’ t exactly send that message .
I also suspect that his resistance is largely due to vanity .
The man truly believes that wearing one will make him look foolish ( which can only be described as amazing ) and he may also have concerns about the mask rubbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this comes as he ’ s also implying it ’ s somehow weak , unmanly and un-American to wear one .
In fact , he ’ s seized upon this as a new attack line against Joe Biden : Some Republicans are actually pushing back on this , notably state governors who will have to deal with the resurgence of cases if people follow Trump ’ s dangerous example .
Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has urged people to wear them .
It ’ s hard to know why these dissenters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s because they see something really dark and ugly taking hold among the Trump faithful .
For instance , Republicans in the Pennsylvania legislature who have been railing against public health measures turned out to have concealed the fact that one of their own members had contracted the virus .
They quarantined themselves but nevr told their Democratic colleagues , allowing them to potentially expose their family members and loved ones without knowing it .
According to the Washington Post , there are businesses in various parts of the country now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishments .
This was from an interview with Kevin Smith , proprietor of the Liberty Tree Tavern in Elgin , Texas : Trump posted this tweet yesterday , cutely pretending that he was just making an observation : The science is clear on this : Masks work .
If everyone wore them when they were out in public it would make a significant difference in slowing the transmission of the virus .
These people are pretending to be tough , but in reality they ’ re just following the example of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world where , instead of behaving so foolishly , Trump modeled sensible behavior by wearing a mask and social distancing and encouraging businesses to open up responsibly ?
His followers would buy red MAGA masks by the truckload and turn social distancing into the mark of macho American individualism .
But he can ’ t do that , of course , because stoking the culture war is literally his last hope of winning re-election .

I don’t think there’s ever been a U.S. president with more influence with his political base that Donald Trump. All presidents are defended by those who support them, of course. Even the most unpopular failures have diehard fans who stick with them to the bitter end.
But Trump is unusual in that he has only ever attempted to govern on behalf of the people who support him and has no feeling of responsibility toward any other citizens. He has taken the already polarized Republican Party and turned it into a cult of personality. His influence over the 40 to 45% of the population who seem to idolize him is immense.
Perhaps it’s because Trump was a celebrity with a TV show long before he entered politics that makes his fans love him so unconditionally. Whatever it is, Trump and his supporters have an unusually personal and almost intimate bond. It’s clear after three and a half tumultuous years that they will follow his lead no matter what.
The political implications of this are profound. This weird relationship between president and base now completely dominates the Republican Party, apparently making it impossible for any prominent national figure in the party to allow even the smallest daylight between himself or herself and Trump. (Frankly, very few even seem to be trying.)
The red MAGA hat serves as an official symbol of Trump loyalty, and there is a certain part of his following that uses it as a tool of intimidation. Even more disturbing, there has been a spate of mass shootings and other acts of violence by people who have named Trump or his ideas as motivation.
In order to maintain his supporters’ devotion, Trump has stoked the culture wars at every turn, ruthlessly dividing the country in order to keep his fans engaged. They receive such hypocritical gestures of solidarity as his newfound “pro-life” zealotry with enthusiastic gratitude — but what they really love are his brutal assaults on those they consider their political and cultural enemies. In that, Trump and his base are one.
So it should come as no surprise that when Trump faced the first crisis of his presidency that was not of his own making — and failed to meet the challenge — he would reflexively fall back on culture-war tactics to reinforce his base. His response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been abysmal, with the death toll now over 100,000 and the economy in dire straits. After bungling the response so badly that it will be studied by historians for centuries as an example of poor leadership, Trump is returning to his original instinct, which was simply to deny that the whole thing mattered, or was even happening.
His supporters have eagerly followed his lead, defying public health guidelines and demanding that their governors “reopen” immediately (or in Trump’s own words of incitement, that they “liberate” their states.) Trump clearly believes that he can wish away the virus — or at least people’s concern about the virus — by pretending that the crisis is over and that we can go back to normal.
As we speak, he’s arguing with the state government of North Carolina about the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled for late August in Charlotte. Republican officials had reportedly been discussing how they could stage the event while observing CDC social distancing guidelines, and everything had been going smoothly. Trump, however, wants his big party, and wants it to be crammed with people screaming ecstatically at his every word. What he doesn’t want is anyone wearing masks.
In fact, wearing a mask, or rather not wearing one, is fast becoming as much of a symbol of Trump fealty as those red MAGA hats. Trump’s allies on Fox News have pushed it hard among the faithful (with the unexpected exception of Sean Hannity.)
Laura’s war against masks continues pic.twitter.com/iT1jThfuhF — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) May 28, 2020
As Salon’s Igor Derysh reports, studies show that people who watch Fox are far more inclined to defy public health guidelines. But really, it’s Trump himself who has turned masks into a culture-war symbol by ostentatiously refusing to wear one.
This makes little sense, of course, if he genuinely wants to reopen the country in a way that allows workers and consumers to feel safe going about their business. Masks and social distancing are common-sense ways to begin doing that, and normalizing that behavior will bring back the economy more quickly. But Trump has decided to pretend that the crisis is over, as I said earlier, and mask-wearing and social distancing don’t exactly send that message.
I also suspect that his resistance is largely due to vanity. The man truly believes that wearing one will make him look foolish (which can only be described as amazing) and he may also have concerns about the mask rubbing off his thick orange makeup.
All of this comes as he’s also implying it’s somehow weak, unmanly and un-American to wear one. In fact, he’s seized upon this as a new attack line against Joe Biden:
New Trump ads on Facebook mock Biden for wearing a mask pic.twitter.com/wWsZdpjhzY — Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) May 29, 2020
Some Republicans are actually pushing back on this, notably state governors who will have to deal with the resurgence of cases if people follow Trump’s dangerous example. Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has urged people to wear them. It’s hard to know why these dissenters are stepping up now, but maybe it’s because they see something really dark and ugly taking hold among the Trump faithful.
For instance, Republicans in the Pennsylvania legislature who have been railing against public health measures turned out to have concealed the fact that one of their own members had contracted the virus. They quarantined themselves but nevr told their Democratic colleagues, allowing them to potentially expose their family members and loved ones without knowing it.
According to the Washington Post, there are businesses in various parts of the country now barring customers from wearing masks in their establishments. This was from an interview with Kevin Smith, proprietor of the Liberty Tree Tavern in Elgin, Texas:
“If we’re only allowed to be at 25 percent capacity, I want them to be the 25 percent of people that aren’t p—–, that aren’t sheep,” Smith told The Washington Post. “Being scared all the time isn’t good for your health. It suppresses your immune system.”
Trump posted this tweet yesterday, cutely pretending that he was just making an observation:
So many different viewpoints! https://t.co/DCesPbJu5M — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2020
The science is clear on this: Masks work. If everyone wore them when they were out in public it would make a significant difference in slowing the transmission of the virus. These people are pretending to be tough, but in reality they’re just following the example of the president and living in denial.
Imagine a world where, instead of behaving so foolishly, Trump modeled sensible behavior by wearing a mask and social distancing and encouraging businesses to open up responsibly? His followers would buy red MAGA masks by the truckload and turn social distancing into the mark of macho American individualism. But he can’t do that, of course, because stoking the culture war is literally his last hope of winning re-election.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.


truthout--2020-05-29--Minneapolis Protesters Call to Defund the Police

As thousands take to the streets of Minneapolis to protest against the police killing of George Floyd for the third night in a row , we go to Minneapolis to speak with City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison .
Police pointed an automatic rifle at his head in 2015 when he was peacefully protesting the police killing of another African American man , Jamar Clark .
We also speak with Kandace Montgomery with the Black Visions Collective , which is calling for the abolition of police .
This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets of Minneapolis Thursday as protests against the police killing of George Floyd rocked the city for the third night in a row .
Demonstrators set fire to a police precinct just hours after prosecutors said they were not sure yet if they would criminally charge Derek Chauvin , the white police officer who pinned African American man George Floyd to the ground by his neck for eight minutes while Floyd gasped for air .
In a video that ’ s now been seen around the world , Floyd repeatedly gasps , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four officers , including Chauvin , have since been fired , but not arrested .
On Thursday , Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was questioned about the delay in charging and arresting the officers involved in the killing of George Floyd .
AMY GOODMAN : George Floyd ’ s murder sparked an uprising in Minneapolis , as some protesters lit fires and destroyed building fronts .
Solidarity actions brought thousands to the streets of Los Angeles ; Phoenix ; Denver ; Columbus , Ohio .
In Louisville , Kentucky , at least seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of a Black woman , Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old aspiring nurse who was shot to death by police inside her own apartment in March .
Gunfire erupted as demonstrators surrounded a police vehicle Thursday night there .
It ’ s unclear who fired the shots .
Back in Minnesota , the governor , Tim Walz , has called in the National Guard as mass protests rage in Saint Paul and Minneapolis .
On Twitter , President Trump called for violence , calling protesters ” THUGS , ” and threatening , quote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting starts.
” Twitter responded by flagging Trump ’ s tweet , warning , “ This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence .
However , Twitter has determined that it may be in the public ’ s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible , ” unquote .
In another tweet , Trump attacked Minneapolis ’ s mayor , Jacob Frey , who ’ s called for the arrest of now-fired police officer Derek Chauvin over the killing of George Floyd , which the mayor called “ murder.
” Gwen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , traveled to Minneapolis and spoke at a vigil Thursday at the spot where George Floyd was killed .
AMY GOODMAN : Protests in Minneapolis are ongoing .
This morning , the Minnesota State Patrol arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez , along with his producer and camera crew , live on national television outside the charred remains of the 3rd police precinct .
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz later apologized to CNN over the arrests .
The crew was released , and Omar was reporting on the streets an hour and a half later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis Star Tribune reads “ State of Agony.
” That agony expressed in this short excerpt of the damning video of the officer with his knee on the neck of George Floyd .
This is a warning : This is extremely graphic and violent .
We are only showing it to show the extreme nature of what has happened .
AMY GOODMAN : For more , we ’ re joined by two guests : Kandace Montgomery , executive director of Black Visions Collective , a Black-led , queer- and trans-centering community organization based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jeremiah Ellison , Minneapolis city councilmember .
We welcome you both to Democracy Now !
Jeremiah , let ’ s begin with you .
Can you respond to everything that has taken place , beginning with that video , that authorities do not want people to see — some of the authorities — though the mayor himself , of Minneapolis , has called the killing of George Floyd by the police officer “ murder ” ?
JEREMIAH ELLISON : I think the mayor is absolutely right on that point .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s evident from the video .
And not only on officer Chauvin ’ s part , but I think that the three officers aiding him in the murder of George Floyd should also face charges for what transpired there , what happened there .
You know , I think that , obviously , Minneapolis is in a state of unrest .
And while the protests might not be unfolding in a way that I would personally like , I think that our response , the police response , to protesters has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before things were violent .
Our police force responded in a way that was so brutal , it ’ s hard for me to say that we have any moral ground to stand on when it comes to those calls for peace that I ’ ve seen from some of my colleagues .
AMY GOODMAN : I mean , some people may have been wondering , from seeing this video , where the other two officers are .
You ’ ve got Chauvin with his knee on the neck of George Floyd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer standing next to him .
Apparently , Chauvin has something like 18 complaints against him , Thao something like six .
Where the other two are , new video has surfaced of the other two officers holding down George Floyd right next to , but behind the police car of — right next to Chauvin .
JEREMIAH ELLISON : Yeah .
I mean , I think that they are as complicit in this murder as the other two — as the first two officers .
And I think that they need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOODMAN : So , you have the four officers .
How is it possible that they have not been arrested yet ?
We ’ re not talking about convicted or tried .
But you look at what happened with George Floyd himself .
He was being arrested by police .
AMY GOODMAN : Yet , after days of this video being out — even in the case of Ahmaud Arbery , the authorities did not want that video out ; they had it for months .
It ’ s the horror of authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But within a few days of it getting out , the retired officer and his son and another person involved were charged with murder .
What ’ s happening in Minneapolis ?
And what do you make of the Hennepin County Attorney Mike [ Freeman ] saying there may be exonerating evidence ?
JEREMIAH ELLISON : I think it ’ s completely inappropriate .
I think that the video is self-evident .
And I think that the ball is in the district attorney ’ s hands and that he needs to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that video .
And if he wants to sort of pass on that duty to other state law enforcement , I think that he should do that .
But I think that every day that we delay justice , you know , we ’ re potentially denying justice .
And I think that the public certainly feels that way , and you ’ re seeing that in the protests .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to bring Kandace Montgomery into this conversation .
You ’ re with the Minneapolis organization Black Visions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding .
Have you been in the streets ?
Can you respond to what ’ s happening there ?
And can you describe for us when you first saw this video , Kandace ?
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY : Yeah .
Thanks for having me on .
Right now Black Visions as well as Reclaim the Block and other community members are , and for the last several years have been , calling on our City Council and mayor to divest from the police and invest in community-led safety solutions .
We want justice for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice isn ’ t enough .
And now is the time to defund the police and invest in community .
And I was on the streets , not last night , the night before , for some time .
I actually live with my dad , who is really vulnerable to COVID-19 , and so I ’ ve had to figure out ways to keep myself safe so that I can still care for him .
But yeah , I was there witnessing the rebellion being led by young Black and Brown folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t really watched the full video , because I feel like I ’ ve honestly seen enough of those .
But the murder did happen two blocks from my home .
Cup Foods is actually my regular corner deli , yeah .
AMY GOODMAN : So , describe when you saw the video .
And I wanted to ask both you and Councilmember Ellison about the showing of the video .
I mean , we ’ re seeing the fires repeatedly , but what has provoked it , this horrific film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being shown on television ?
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY : Yeah , I mean , I think I have complicated feelings .
I think it ’ s really important that especially people who are not Black , who do not live in the terror and violence of police departments across the country and across the globe on a daily basis , really need to see the hard truths that Black kids grow up with and that Black people see on a regular basis .
As well , I think that it ’ s concerning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to broadcast Black death .
And how are we actually honoring those folks that we are losing ?
So , I feel really mixed about it .
I think there are many benefits to being able to see these .
The same thing with Philando .
Having these videos — *KANDACE MONTGOMERY : Yeah — have mobilized and activated community members and have led to real change .
Yeah .
AMY GOODMAN : And also , Councilmember Ellison , your thoughts ?
JEREMIAH ELLISON : I think I share really similar thoughts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never want to see the video , and I never want to see somebody ’ s last moments , especially when , in their last moments , they are — there ’ s an attempt to deny their dignity , such as the case with George Floyd .
I never want to see that shown to the public .
But often it is the emergence of these videos that even gets us a chance at the pursuit of justice .
AMY GOODMAN : I wanted to go back to a time a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police killing of 24-year-old African American Jamar Clark , November 2015 .
During a protest at the 4th Precinct police station , an officer dressed in fatigues and carrying what appeared to be a gas-launching gun pointed his weapon at you as you stood with your hands up .
At the time , you had long dreads , Jeremiah .
A Star Tribune photographer captured the moment .
And your dad , then-Congressmember Keith Ellison , who ’ s now the attorney general of Minnesota , tweeted , writing , “ Photo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son is PEACEFULLY protesting w/ hands up ; officer is shouldering gun .
Why ?
” And he spoke about it on Democracy Now !
at the time .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s Keith Ellison , former Congressmember , first Muslim member of Congress , now the attorney general of Minnesota .
And , Jeremiah , at the time , you were protesting in the streets , nearby the 3rd Precinct , at the 4th Precinct .
Can you talk about this arc of your life , from standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jamar Clark to now being a city councilmember and you ’ re protesting a similar killing ?
JEREMIAH ELLISON : Yeah .
You know , what I think is really interesting about the last couple years , since that incident occurred , is that , you know , I showed up there as a neighbor .
You know , my dad mentioned that I ’ m an artist .
And that ’ s — I had my art studio , and I grew up in the neighborhood , that I now represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of one of the organizers of the event .
And as a matter of fact , Kandace was one of the main organizers , who was really holding it down and who is somebody I really sought guidance from at the 4th Precinct occupation .
You know , I think that while I ’ ve always been involved in politics , and while I ’ ve always had sort of this desire to pursue justice , that event really , really politicized me in a major way , and it made me realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need leaders to be more creative , more bold in pursuing and ensuring that that kind of thing doesn ’ t happen again .
AMY GOODMAN : Finally , I want to ask both of you , starting with Kandace Montgomery , as we wrap up , what you ’ re demanding right now .
The four officers have been fired , but they haven ’ t been charged .
What are you demanding happen to them , and overall around the issue of police brutality ?
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY : Right now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the mayor and the City Council to defund the police .
We want justice for George Floyd , and we think accountability with the officers is really necessary .
And too often we just lean on that accountability and feed more into a prison system that continues to be harmful to all of our communities .
And so now is really the time for the Minneapolis City Council and mayor to defund the police and invest in community .
As well , we are calling for the Minneapolis Police Department to acknowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways that it has violated the dignity and rights of Black communities and families , make an official apology , and then continue the work .
AMY GOODMAN : And let me also ask you , Kandace — Tamika Mallory and others have been warning people about provocateurs on the streets , and I ’ m wondering your thoughts on this .
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY : Absolutely .
I think that that is always a real issue .
We know the history of COINTELPRO and other state-led interventions to quiet and quell Black organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s very important that folks who are on the streets are being wary of who ’ s actually aligned with the values and the reasons why they are out there , and who ’ s not .
AMY GOODMAN : And finally , your final response , Jeremiah Ellison , also with the CNN whole camera crew being arrested ?
They were there when there were no police at the fires , early this morning , around 4:00 , around 3:00 , and then he showed the local police moving in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground getting out of their police cars , they were tear-gassing people who were on the sidewalk .
CNN was showing all of this .
And then Omar Jimenez himself was handcuffed and taken in .
And he himself , when he came out , said , you know , he understood that the reason he ’ s out on the street now is because the images were shown of him being arrested as he reasonably said , “ What do you want us to do ?
” to the State Patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I think it ’ s inexcusable , I think , not only what happened to the CNN reporters , but , you know , again , at the beginning of this protest , there were protesters who were being sprayed with mace , unprovoked by our officers .
I think that some of our city leadership has struggled to clarify whether officers are acting rogue or whether this is a part of the plan .
And I know that I called that into question .
I ’ ve demanded that we take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has sort of fallen on deaf ears .
And — AMY GOODMAN : And , City Councilmember , you had Josh Campbell , the white CNN reporter , not arrested , narrating what was happening to the reporter of color of CNN , Omar Jimenez .
But finally , President Trump calling the protesters ” THUGS ” and then saying , “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” his tweet being flagged with a warning by Twitter , saying it encourages violence .
Your response to the president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , I ’ m ready to make sure that we keep the residents of Minneapolis safe .
That ’ s including from the president .
And I think that while the way that protest unfolds might be not — it might not be neat , it might be — some might consider it unsightly , but at the end of the day we ’ re seeing damaged property , and he ’ s talking about shooting and killing people , citizens , residents of our city .
I think it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not anything that I would welcome in Minneapolis .
AMY GOODMAN : Jeremiah Ellison , I want to thank you for being with us , a city councilmember of Minneapolis , and Kandace Montgomery , executive director of Black Visions Collective , a Black-led , queer- and trans-centering community organization based in the Twin Cities in Minnesota .
Next up , as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic shifts to Latin America , so too does the use of COVID-19 as a pretext for police repression .
We ’ ll look at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
AMY GOODMAN : “ Ella ’ s Song ” by Sweet Honey in the Rock , Ella for Ella Baker , the great human rights leader .

As thousands take to the streets of Minneapolis to protest against the police killing of George Floyd for the third night in a row, we go to Minneapolis to speak with City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison. Police pointed an automatic rifle at his head in 2015 when he was peacefully protesting the police killing of another African American man, Jamar Clark. We also speak with Kandace Montgomery with the Black Visions Collective, which is calling for the abolition of police.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Thousands took to the streets of Minneapolis Thursday as protests against the police killing of George Floyd rocked the city for the third night in a row. Demonstrators set fire to a police precinct just hours after prosecutors said they were not sure yet if they would criminally charge Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who pinned African American man George Floyd to the ground by his neck for eight minutes while Floyd gasped for air. In a video that’s now been seen around the world, Floyd repeatedly gasps, “I can’t breathe.” The four officers, including Chauvin, have since been fired, but not arrested.
On Thursday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was questioned about the delay in charging and arresting the officers involved in the killing of George Floyd.
MIKE FREEMAN: That video is graphic and horrific and terrible, and no person should do that. But my job, in the end, is to prove that he violated a criminal statute, and there is other evidence that does not support a criminal charge. … Related Story News | Racial Justice Trump Calls Protesters “Thugs” and Threatens “Shooting” in Response to “Looting” Trump's use of the word "thug" was widely condemned as being racist in users' social media postings. Truthout We have to do this right. We have to prove it in a court of law. And I will just point to you the comparison to what happened in Baltimore in the Gray case. It was a rush to charge, it was a rush to justice, and all of those people were found not guilty. I will not rush to justice. I’m going to do this right. And those folks who know me in the African community know I will do my very level best, but I will not rush justice, because justice cannot be rushed.
AMY GOODMAN: George Floyd’s murder sparked an uprising in Minneapolis, as some protesters lit fires and destroyed building fronts. Solidarity actions brought thousands to the streets of Los Angeles; Phoenix; Denver; Columbus, Ohio. In Louisville, Kentucky, at least seven people were shot while protesting the police killing of a Black woman, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old aspiring nurse who was shot to death by police inside her own apartment in March. Gunfire erupted as demonstrators surrounded a police vehicle Thursday night there. It’s unclear who fired the shots. Back in Minnesota, the governor, Tim Walz, has called in the National Guard as mass protests rage in Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
On Twitter, President Trump called for violence, calling protesters ”THUGS,” and threatening, quote, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Twitter responded by flagging Trump’s tweet, warning, “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible,” unquote.
In another tweet, Trump attacked Minneapolis’s mayor, Jacob Frey, who’s called for the arrest of now-fired police officer Derek Chauvin over the killing of George Floyd, which the mayor called “murder.” Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, traveled to Minneapolis and spoke at a vigil Thursday at the spot where George Floyd was killed.
GWEN CARR: As you know, this happened to me almost six years ago. And this is just opening up a old wound, pouring salt into it. They keep coming into — the police officers come into our neighborhoods. They brutalize. They terrorize. They murder our children. And we have done nothing.
AMY GOODMAN: Protests in Minneapolis are ongoing. This morning, the Minnesota State Patrol arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, along with his producer and camera crew, live on national television outside the charred remains of the 3rd police precinct. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz later apologized to CNN over the arrests. The crew was released, and Omar was reporting on the streets an hour and a half later.
The cover of today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune reads “State of Agony.” That agony expressed in this short excerpt of the damning video of the officer with his knee on the neck of George Floyd. This is a warning: This is extremely graphic and violent. We are only showing it to show the extreme nature of what has happened.
EYEWITNESS 1: You have your knee on his neck. EYEWITNESS 2: You’ve got your knee right on his neck, officer. EYEWITNESS 1: He ain’t even resisting arrest. GEORGE FLOYD: I cannot breathe. EYEWITNESS 3: Are you having fun? GEORGE FLOYD: I cannot breathe. EYEWITNESS 1: You’re just a grown — you’re a tough guy. You’re a tough guy, huh? OFFICER TOU THAO: What’s that? EYEWITNESS 1: I said he’s a tough guy. He’s not even resisting arrest, bro. OFFICER TOU THAO: Did you get the whole part when we fought with him? EYEWITNESS 1: But, bro, why are you just sitting there? He ain’t doing nothing now. Put him in the car. GEORGE FLOYD: Don’t kill me. Don’t kill me.
AMY GOODMAN: For more, we’re joined by two guests: Kandace Montgomery, executive director of Black Visions Collective, a Black-led, queer- and trans-centering community organization based in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis city councilmember.
We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Jeremiah, let’s begin with you. Can you respond to everything that has taken place, beginning with that video, that authorities do not want people to see — some of the authorities — though the mayor himself, of Minneapolis, has called the killing of George Floyd by the police officer “murder”?
JEREMIAH ELLISON: I think the mayor is absolutely right on that point. I think it was murder. I think that’s evident from the video. And not only on officer Chauvin’s part, but I think that the three officers aiding him in the murder of George Floyd should also face charges for what transpired there, what happened there.
You know, I think that, obviously, Minneapolis is in a state of unrest. And while the protests might not be unfolding in a way that I would personally like, I think that our response, the police response, to protesters has been so brutal, especially early on, before things were violent. Our police force responded in a way that was so brutal, it’s hard for me to say that we have any moral ground to stand on when it comes to those calls for peace that I’ve seen from some of my colleagues.
AMY GOODMAN: I mean, some people may have been wondering, from seeing this video, where the other two officers are. You’ve got Chauvin with his knee on the neck of George Floyd. You’ve got Thao, the officer standing next to him. Apparently, Chauvin has something like 18 complaints against him, Thao something like six. Where the other two are, new video has surfaced of the other two officers holding down George Floyd right next to, but behind the police car of — right next to Chauvin.
JEREMIAH ELLISON: Yeah. I mean, I think that they are as complicit in this murder as the other two — as the first two officers. And I think that they need to be held accountable for that.
AMY GOODMAN: So, you have the four officers. How is it possible that they have not been arrested yet? We’re not talking about convicted or tried. But you look at what happened with George Floyd himself. He was being arrested by police.
JEREMIAH ELLISON: Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: That happened suddenly.
JEREMIAH ELLISON: Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: Yet, after days of this video being out — even in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, the authorities did not want that video out; they had it for months. It’s the horror of authorities when a video like this gets out. But within a few days of it getting out, the retired officer and his son and another person involved were charged with murder. What’s happening in Minneapolis? And what do you make of the Hennepin County Attorney Mike [Freeman] saying there may be exonerating evidence?
JEREMIAH ELLISON: I think it’s completely inappropriate. I think that the video is self-evident. And I think that the ball is in the district attorney’s hands and that he needs to move forward with what we’re seeing in that video. And if he wants to sort of pass on that duty to other state law enforcement, I think that he should do that. But I think that every day that we delay justice, you know, we’re potentially denying justice. And I think that the public certainly feels that way, and you’re seeing that in the protests.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to bring Kandace Montgomery into this conversation. You’re with the Minneapolis organization Black Visions. Talk about what you’re demanding. Have you been in the streets? Can you respond to what’s happening there? And can you describe for us when you first saw this video, Kandace?
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Yeah. Thanks for having me on. Right now Black Visions as well as Reclaim the Block and other community members are, and for the last several years have been, calling on our City Council and mayor to divest from the police and invest in community-led safety solutions. We want justice for George Floyd, and we know that justice isn’t enough. And now is the time to defund the police and invest in community.
And I was on the streets, not last night, the night before, for some time. I actually live with my dad, who is really vulnerable to COVID-19, and so I’ve had to figure out ways to keep myself safe so that I can still care for him. But yeah, I was there witnessing the rebellion being led by young Black and Brown folks.
Upon seeing the video — I haven’t really watched the full video, because I feel like I’ve honestly seen enough of those. But the murder did happen two blocks from my home. Cup Foods is actually my regular corner deli, yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: So, describe when you saw the video. And I wanted to ask both you and Councilmember Ellison about the showing of the video. I mean, we’re seeing the fires repeatedly, but what has provoked it, this horrific film, how do you feel about it being shown on television?
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Yeah, I mean, I think I have complicated feelings. I think it’s really important that especially people who are not Black, who do not live in the terror and violence of police departments across the country and across the globe on a daily basis, really need to see the hard truths that Black kids grow up with and that Black people see on a regular basis. As well, I think that it’s concerning, the ways that we’re so willing to broadcast Black death. And how are we actually honoring those folks that we are losing? So, I feel really mixed about it. I think there are many benefits to being able to see these. The same thing with Philando. Having these videos —
AMY GOODMAN: Castile.
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Yeah — have mobilized and activated community members and have led to real change. Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: And also, Councilmember Ellison, your thoughts?
JEREMIAH ELLISON: I think I share really similar thoughts. On an emotional level, I never want to see the video, and I never want to see somebody’s last moments, especially when, in their last moments, they are — there’s an attempt to deny their dignity, such as the case with George Floyd. I never want to see that shown to the public. But often it is the emergence of these videos that even gets us a chance at the pursuit of justice.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to go back to a time a few years ago, ask you about the police killing of 24-year-old African American Jamar Clark, November 2015. During a protest at the 4th Precinct police station, an officer dressed in fatigues and carrying what appeared to be a gas-launching gun pointed his weapon at you as you stood with your hands up. At the time, you had long dreads, Jeremiah. A Star Tribune photographer captured the moment. And your dad, then-Congressmember Keith Ellison, who’s now the attorney general of Minnesota, tweeted, writing, “Photo is agonizing for me to see. My son is PEACEFULLY protesting w/ hands up; officer is shouldering gun. Why?” And he spoke about it on Democracy Now! at the time.
REP. KEITH ELLISON: Well, my first reaction when I saw the picture of Jeremiah was horror. I would gladly face whatever dangers were necessary, but to have my son have to face it is another thing. He’s a 24-year-old guy. He has a strong passion for justice. He’s a professional artist. And he doesn’t think he needs his dad worrying about him like that. But I can’t help it. I remember when he was just a little boy, and now he’s a grown man. And I actually am a little proud that he feels this burning desire to stand up for what’s right and to make a better society. But yet, that picture was very, very disturbing. And we’re going to — not going to let it sit there. I mean, to shoulder a weapon like that at nonviolent protesters is outrageous. It’s a violation of decency. And we’re going to find out whether it’s a violation of law.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s Keith Ellison, former Congressmember, first Muslim member of Congress, now the attorney general of Minnesota. And, Jeremiah, at the time, you were protesting in the streets, nearby the 3rd Precinct, at the 4th Precinct. Can you talk about this arc of your life, from standing in the streets protesting the police killing of Jamar Clark to now being a city councilmember and you’re protesting a similar killing?
JEREMIAH ELLISON: Yeah. You know, what I think is really interesting about the last couple years, since that incident occurred, is that, you know, I showed up there as a neighbor. You know, my dad mentioned that I’m an artist. And that’s — I had my art studio, and I grew up in the neighborhood, that I now represent. And I wasn’t sort of one of the organizers of the event.
And as a matter of fact, Kandace was one of the main organizers, who was really holding it down and who is somebody I really sought guidance from at the 4th Precinct occupation.
You know, I think that while I’ve always been involved in politics, and while I’ve always had sort of this desire to pursue justice, that event really, really politicized me in a major way, and it made me realize that we have to be — we need leaders to be more creative, more bold in pursuing and ensuring that that kind of thing doesn’t happen again.
AMY GOODMAN: Finally, I want to ask both of you, starting with Kandace Montgomery, as we wrap up, what you’re demanding right now. The four officers have been fired, but they haven’t been charged. What are you demanding happen to them, and overall around the issue of police brutality?
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Right now we are really honing in on a demand to the mayor and the City Council to defund the police. We want justice for George Floyd, and we think accountability with the officers is really necessary. And too often we just lean on that accountability and feed more into a prison system that continues to be harmful to all of our communities. And so now is really the time for the Minneapolis City Council and mayor to defund the police and invest in community. As well, we are calling for the Minneapolis Police Department to acknowledge the harm of their institution in the ways that it has violated the dignity and rights of Black communities and families, make an official apology, and then continue the work.
AMY GOODMAN: And let me also ask you, Kandace — Tamika Mallory and others have been warning people about provocateurs on the streets, and I’m wondering your thoughts on this.
*KANDACE MONTGOMERY: Absolutely. I think that that is always a real issue. We know the history of COINTELPRO and other state-led interventions to quiet and quell Black organizing and rebellion. And so I think it’s very important that folks who are on the streets are being wary of who’s actually aligned with the values and the reasons why they are out there, and who’s not.
AMY GOODMAN: And finally, your final response, Jeremiah Ellison, also with the CNN whole camera crew being arrested? They were there when there were no police at the fires, early this morning, around 4:00, around 3:00, and then he showed the local police moving in. And before they even landed on the ground getting out of their police cars, they were tear-gassing people who were on the sidewalk. CNN was showing all of this. And then Omar Jimenez himself was handcuffed and taken in. And he himself, when he came out, said, you know, he understood that the reason he’s out on the street now is because the images were shown of him being arrested as he reasonably said, “What do you want us to do?” to the State Patrol who had moved in.
JEREMIAH ELLISON: I think it’s inexcusable, I think, not only what happened to the CNN reporters, but, you know, again, at the beginning of this protest, there were protesters who were being sprayed with mace, unprovoked by our officers. I think that some of our city leadership has struggled to clarify whether officers are acting rogue or whether this is a part of the plan. And I know that I called that into question. I’ve demanded that we take a different approach. And that demand has sort of fallen on deaf ears. And —
AMY GOODMAN: And, City Councilmember, you had Josh Campbell, the white CNN reporter, not arrested, narrating what was happening to the reporter of color of CNN, Omar Jimenez. But finally, President Trump calling the protesters ”THUGS” and then saying, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” his tweet being flagged with a warning by Twitter, saying it encourages violence. Your response to the president of the United States?
JEREMIAH ELLISON: Well, I’m ready to make sure that we keep the residents of Minneapolis safe. That’s including from the president. And I think that while the way that protest unfolds might be not — it might not be neat, it might be — some might consider it unsightly, but at the end of the day we’re seeing damaged property, and he’s talking about shooting and killing people, citizens, residents of our city. I think it’s completely inappropriate, and it’s not anything that I would welcome in Minneapolis.
AMY GOODMAN: Jeremiah Ellison, I want to thank you for being with us, a city councilmember of Minneapolis, and Kandace Montgomery, executive director of Black Visions Collective, a Black-led, queer- and trans-centering community organization based in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
Next up, as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic shifts to Latin America, so too does the use of COVID-19 as a pretext for police repression. We’ll look at a new Amnesty International report. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “Ella’s Song” by Sweet Honey in the Rock, Ella for Ella Baker, the great human rights leader.


truthout--2020-05-29--Police Arrest CNN Journalist During Live TV Coverage of George Floyd Protests

A CNN journalist and his entire camera crew were arrested by Minnesota state police Friday morning during their live television coverage of the aftermath of Minneapolis protests over the killing of George Floyd .
While standing in the middle of a street in front of police officers in riot gear , CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez cooperatively asked the officers where they would like him to stand before two officers approached him from behind , placed him in handcuffs , and led him away .
The officers did not respond as Jimenez asked repeatedly why he was being arrested .
Moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camera crew were also arrested .
“ Why are they being arrested after clearly identifying themselves and complying ?
” asked Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) .
“ This is outrageous and not helpful.
” As Jimenez and others were led away , CNN anchor John Berman — back in the studio watching the arrests happen live — said , “ I ’ ve never seen anything like this.
” “ They arrested a CNN reporter and camera crew for reporting the news but not Derek Chauvin , the police officer who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted attorney Midwin Charles .
“ The irony astounds me.
” About an hour after their arrest , Jimenez and his crew were released from police custody .
Jimenez appeared on air following his release and gave his account of the incident : Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz apologized for the arrest of the CNN crew Friday morning , calling it “ totally unacceptable.
” “ They clearly had the right to be there , ” said Walz .
“ It is never acceptable for this to happen .
”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized for the arrest of the CNN crew Friday morning.
CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez was arrested live on air while covering Minneapolis protests against the police-perpetrated killing of George Floyd on May 29, 2020. Benjamin Dixon via Twitter Screengrab via CNN
A CNN journalist and his entire camera crew were arrested by Minnesota state police Friday morning during their live television coverage of the aftermath of Minneapolis protests over the killing of George Floyd.
While standing in the middle of a street in front of police officers in riot gear, CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez cooperatively asked the officers where they would like him to stand before two officers approached him from behind, placed him in handcuffs, and led him away. The officers did not respond as Jimenez asked repeatedly why he was being arrested.
Moments later, members of Jimenez’s camera crew were also arrested.
“Why are they being arrested after clearly identifying themselves and complying?” asked Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). “This is outrageous and not helpful.”
As Jimenez and others were led away, CNN anchor John Berman — back in the studio watching the arrests happen live — said, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Watch:
Here’s the full video of @CNN’s crew being detained and arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol, live on @NewDay.pic.twitter.com/rmq1nutOiR — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 29, 2020
“They arrested a CNN reporter and camera crew for reporting the news but not Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd on camera,” tweeted attorney Midwin Charles. “The irony astounds me.”
About an hour after their arrest, Jimenez and his crew were released from police custody.
Jimenez appeared on air following his release and gave his account of the incident:
Watch: @OmarJimenez’s account of his arrest this morning pic.twitter.com/rD2fiG8jbP — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 29, 2020
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized for the arrest of the CNN crew Friday morning, calling it “totally unacceptable.”
“They clearly had the right to be there,” said Walz. “It is never acceptable for this to happen.”
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truthout--2020-05-29--Trump Calls Protesters “Thugs” and Threatens “Shooting” in Response to “Looting”

In response to the uprising in Minneapolis against the brutal arrest and killing of a Black man named George Floyd by a white police officer earlier this week , President Donald Trump suggested he was ready to use state violence against the protesters , tweeting , “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Trump ’ s tweets were later flagged by Twitter for “ glorifying violence.
” “ I can ’ t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City , Minneapolis , ” Trump began in his tweets on Friday morning .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing protests .
“ A total lack of leadership .
Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the City under control , or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right , ” Trump wrote .
Trump referred to demonstrators against police brutality as “ THUGS ” who “ are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd ” and expressed a willingness to use force to crush the uprising .
“ Any difficulty and we will assume control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting starts , ” the president wrote .
Twitter flagged Trump ’ s tweets for breaking its rules on promulgating violent actions .
“ This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence , ” the company wrote .
“ However , Twitter has determined that it may be in the public ’ s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.
” The official account of the White House also quoted Trump ’ s earlier tweet , which Twitter also flagged .
Earlier this week , Trump signed an executive order that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media platforms , a move that came in response to a separate fact-check on another set of tweets from Trump regarding mail-in voting .
Trump ’ s tweets on Friday morning were denounced for being racist and potentially inciting violence among his most ardent base of supporters .
The word “ thug ” itself is widely recognized to be racist , with some scholars pointing out that the word has become synonymous with using the “ n-word ” toward Black people .
Journalist and activist Charles Preston took note of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its recent historical significance .
“ Second president in a row to describe Black people uprising as ‘ thugs ’ ; Only this time , this President is explicitly signaling death to those resisting , ” Preston wrote .
“ Know this isn ’ t just a call to the National Guard , but white supremacists that lie in his base.
” Author and congressional candidate Qasim Rashid also spoke out against the president ’ s tweets this morning , noting a stark difference between his response to armed anti-social distancing protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were mostly white , and his response to demonstrators protesting the murder of a Black man by law enforcement .
Rather than calling those Michigan protesters “ thugs , ” Trump referred to them as “ very good people ” who were deserving of a deal , Rashid noted .

Trump’s use of the word “thug” was widely condemned as being racist in users’ social media postings.
In response to the uprising in Minneapolis against the brutal arrest and killing of a Black man named George Floyd by a white police officer earlier this week, President Donald Trump suggested he was ready to use state violence against the protesters, tweeting, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Trump’s tweets were later flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence.”
“I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis,” Trump began in his tweets on Friday morning. He blamed the mayor of Minneapolis for the ongoing protests.
“A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right,” Trump wrote.
Trump referred to demonstrators against police brutality as “THUGS” who “are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd” and expressed a willingness to use force to crush the uprising.
“Any difficulty and we will assume control, but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” the president wrote.
Twitter flagged Trump’s tweets for breaking its rules on promulgating violent actions.
“This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence,” the company wrote. “However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”
The official account of the White House also quoted Trump’s earlier tweet, which Twitter also flagged.
Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order that seeks to regulate Twitter and other social media platforms, a move that came in response to a separate fact-check on another set of tweets from Trump regarding mail-in voting.
Trump’s tweets on Friday morning were denounced for being racist and potentially inciting violence among his most ardent base of supporters. The word “thug” itself is widely recognized to be racist, with some scholars pointing out that the word has become synonymous with using the “n-word” toward Black people.
Journalist and activist Charles Preston took note of Trump’s use of the word “thug” and its recent historical significance.
“Second president in a row to describe Black people uprising as ‘thugs’; Only this time, this President is explicitly signaling death to those resisting,” Preston wrote. “Know this isn’t just a call to the National Guard, but white supremacists that lie in his base.”
Second president in a row to describe Black people uprising as "thugs"; Only this time, this President is explicitly signaling death to those resisting. Know this isn't just a call to the National Guard, but white supremacists that lie in his base. — Charles Preston (@_CharlesPreston) May 29, 2020
Author and congressional candidate Qasim Rashid also spoke out against the president’s tweets this morning, noting a stark difference between his response to armed anti-social distancing protesters storming the Michigan state capitol, who were mostly white, and his response to demonstrators protesting the murder of a Black man by law enforcement.
Rather than calling those Michigan protesters “thugs,” Trump referred to them as “very good people” who were deserving of a deal, Rashid noted.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-05-29--California Sheriff Refuses to Release People From Jail as COVID Outbreak Rages

California Sheriff Chad Bianco recently made a splash in the conservative media after he told Riverside County officials that his department would not enforce local public health orders meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
A viral video of his statement earned Bianco an interview on Fox News on May 8 , where he said it was time for businesses to reopen despite a statewide stay-at-home order .
Bianco did not mention that the five jails he oversees in Riverside County have suffered one of the largest jail outbreaks of COVID-19 in California .
A federal judge declared last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take adequate precautions ” to protect incarcerated people and ordered the department to clean up its act .
As of Thursday , there were 209 confirmed cases in the Riverside County jail system , up from 203 on Wednesday , according to the local public health department .
The Riverside Sheriff ’ s Department said on Wednesday that 3,015 people are incarcerated within the system .
At least two incarcerated people and two sheriff ’ s deputies have died from complications related to COVID-19 , according to reports .
The department said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updates on how many jail employees contracted the virus since April 17 , when Bianco said 71 employees had tested positive .
“ If you don ’ t want to catch the virus while you ’ re in custody , don ’ t break the law , ” Bianco reportedly said during an April press conference .
Compare those numbers to neighboring Los Angeles County , where 182 people currently held in county jails have tested positive , according to the L.A. County Sherriff ’ s Department .
Under legal pressure , L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reduced their population from about 17,000 to fewer than 12,000 by late April with early release programs and other measures , according to the Vera Institute .
In April , California ’ s statewide judicial system set bail for most misdemeanors and low-level felonies at $ 0 to prevent jails from becoming overcrowded with lower-income people awaiting trial as courts closed their doors due to the pandemic — a change many sheriffs opposed .
Across California and the nation , jails and prisons have scrambled to contain gruesome outbreaks of COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the number of people incarcerated in order to make room for social distancing , often under court orders .
Like other hardline sheriffs who bill themselves as “ tough-on-crime , ” Bianco has been defiant , defending his department ’ s handling of the outbreak and resisting calls to make room for social distancing after people with health problems complained about being incarcerated in crowded cells and dormitories .
In public statements and on social media , Bianco said he will not release anyone due to COVID-19 , even if they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of major complications from COVID-19 .
When asked if any people were released to make more space for social distancing within the jails , Bianco ’ s department said in an email , “ we have not released anyone based off of the COVID-19 pandemic.
” Bianco has consistently argued that releasing people from jail would endanger public safety .
However , advocates for decarceration point out that the opposite is true : COVID-19 outbreaks within jails are a major threat to public safety , and the more people who are incarcerated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff go home to their families every day , increasing the risk of community spread .
Meanwhile , activists point to data showing that , in 2016 , nearly 60 percent of those held in Riverside jails were awaiting trial and had not been convicted and sentenced for a crime , suggesting that many people are currently incarcerated because they can not afford bail or their court appearances have been delayed by the pandemic .
In a Facebook post responding to letters from activists and family members , Bianco said people are incarcerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe that they committed a crime and a judge decided they should stand trial .
He suggested that if people want to commit crimes and be released from jail , they should do so in Los Angeles or San Francisco , where they have a better chance of being released .
Family members of those locked up have asked : Who made Bianco judge and jury ?
“ Who makes him judge now ?
” said Lisa Matus , who has two sons awaiting trial in a Riverside jail , in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You ’ re supposed to house and protect them , and your staff.
” The department claimed all prisoners are provided with surgical masks , unlimited soap and cleaning supplies “ free of charge , ” and that they have been instructed on how to properly wear the masks and sanitize common areas .
According to the statement , all staff have access to face masks and protective gowns and receive COVID-19 prevention training based on federal guidelines .
Truthout has so far been unable to reach people inside the jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these supplies are indeed available .
However , it should be noted that providing personal protective equipment is not the same as ensuring at least 6 feet of social distancing between incarcerated individuals .
Jordanna Wong-Omshehe , the public policy fellow at Starting Over Inc. , a nonprofit that provides services to formerly incarcerated people in Riverside County , said Bianco ’ s Facebook post was the only response advocates and family members got from the sheriff after weeks of pressuring county officials for more information about what is going on inside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public — he works for us — and I think as a nonprofit serving those that are directly impacted by him and his decisions , that it ’ s absolutely ludicrous that we have to go to the media and go online to see what he is saying , because we are his constituents , and he is refusing to speak to his own community , ” Wong-Omshehe told Truthout .
The outbreak sent family members scrambling for information , but Wong-Omshehe said currently Bianco has offered little transparency .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not publicly broken down the number of infections in each of its five jails , making it difficult for observers to identify hotspots .
In an email , the department said “ we have not and will not release ” information on how many people held in the jails have been tested for COVID-19 , a decision made by medical staff .
Unless testing is widespread , the number of cases reported by the local health department may be an undercount .
Wong-Omshehe said family members and the public need “ real-time updates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with nursing homes , jails and prisons have become COVID-19 hotspots nationwide because social distancing is physically impossible under the conditions of confinement , making incarcerated people some of the most impacted by the disease .
Black and Brown people are also disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 as well as policing , and Wong-Omshehe provided data showing that while Black people make up 7 percent of the Riverside population , they account for 21 percent of arrests .
“ We have community members locked up right now , and we have family members on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark , ” Wong-Omshehe said .
Wong-Omshehe said local activists have pushed back , holding rallies in cars in support of incarcerated people , sending letters to Bianco and county officials , and launching the # ReleaseRiverside social media campaign .
Similar campaigns have erupted in cities across the United States as COVID-19 spread through jails and prisons as well as immigration jails , where 25 hunger strikes have been documented since March alone .
Some of these campaigns have seen some success in convincing sheriffs and prison wardens to improve conditions behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarcerated as COVID-19 has spread , particularly in cities like New York City and New Orleans where activists are buoyed by consistent media coverage and journalists have been reporting on dismal conditions inside jails for years .
In many cases , civil rights lawyers have filed lawsuits demanding judges intervene as outbreaks in prisons and jails turn deadly .
Yet Wong-Omshehe said local media coverage of the outbreak in Riverside jails has been scant and largely focused on Bianco ’ s statements , making it difficult for activists to make their case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons and jails in rural and more conservative counties that are currently facing outbreaks , but where journalists and civil rights attorneys have yet to train their eyes .
In West Virginia , for example , only one prison has instituted facility-wide COVID-19 testing , and only after the governor stepped in .
In Riverside , it was civil rights lawyers and a federal judge who were able to intervene .
Four years ago , a federal district court found that medical and mental health care in Riverside county jails did not meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Prison Law Office filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of prisoners .
The court now oversees a consent decree that governs how medical care is provided in the jails .
Last month , the Prison Law Office filed an emergency motion in the case to force Riverside jails to institute social distancing and provide hygiene supplies .
A federal judge ordered Bianco ’ s department to come up with a plan for preventing the spread of COVID-19 , and court experts advised the jails to take “ rapid action ” to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable population , according to the legal aid group .
An initial plan was submitted by April 17 , but the judge rejected it as inadequate and asked for another .
The deadline for the latest prevention plan passed a week ago , and Wong-Omshehe said that if a plan has been submitted , it has not been made public .
After a mediation with the Prison Law Office , the county agreed to provide crucial information to the court and its medical supervisors , including the number of tests provided and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deaths among incarcerated people and staff .
Bianco told local media that he does not plan on making any of that information public .
“ We have no information on what ’ s going on inside besides what we hear from people with incarcerated family members , ” said Andrea Smith , an activist with Riverside All of Us or None , an advocacy group for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated .
“ We just need some light shined on him .
”

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
California Sheriff Chad Bianco recently made a splash in the conservative media after he told Riverside County officials that his department would not enforce local public health orders meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A viral video of his statement earned Bianco an interview on Fox News on May 8, where he said it was time for businesses to reopen despite a statewide stay-at-home order.
Bianco did not mention that the five jails he oversees in Riverside County have suffered one of the largest jail outbreaks of COVID-19 in California. A federal judge declared last month that his department “failed to take adequate precautions” to protect incarcerated people and ordered the department to clean up its act.
As of Thursday, there were 209 confirmed cases in the Riverside County jail system, up from 203 on Wednesday, according to the local public health department. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department said on Wednesday that 3,015 people are incarcerated within the system. At least two incarcerated people and two sheriff’s deputies have died from complications related to COVID-19, according to reports. The department said in an email that it has not released updates on how many jail employees contracted the virus since April 17, when Bianco said 71 employees had tested positive.
“If you don’t want to catch the virus while you’re in custody, don’t break the law,” Bianco reportedly said during an April press conference.
Compare those numbers to neighboring Los Angeles County, where 182 people currently held in county jails have tested positive, according to the L.A. County Sherriff’s Department. Under legal pressure, L.A. County jails ramped up their COVID-19 response and reduced their population from about 17,000 to fewer than 12,000 by late April with early release programs and other measures, according to the Vera Institute. In April, California’s statewide judicial system set bail for most misdemeanors and low-level felonies at $0 to prevent jails from becoming overcrowded with lower-income people awaiting trial as courts closed their doors due to the pandemic — a change many sheriffs opposed.
Across California and the nation, jails and prisons have scrambled to contain gruesome outbreaks of COVID-19, and many have taken modest steps to reduce the number of people incarcerated in order to make room for social distancing, often under court orders. Like other hardline sheriffs who bill themselves as “tough-on-crime,” Bianco has been defiant, defending his department’s handling of the outbreak and resisting calls to make room for social distancing after people with health problems complained about being incarcerated in crowded cells and dormitories. In public statements and on social media, Bianco said he will not release anyone due to COVID-19, even if they have pre-existing conditions that put them at risk of major complications from COVID-19.
COVID-19 outbreaks within jails are a major threat to public safety. Jail staff go home to their families every day, increasing the risk of community spread.
When asked if any people were released to make more space for social distancing within the jails, Bianco’s department said in an email, “we have not released anyone based off of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Bianco has consistently argued that releasing people from jail would endanger public safety. However, advocates for decarceration point out that the opposite is true: COVID-19 outbreaks within jails are a major threat to public safety, and the more people who are incarcerated, the worse that threat is. Jail staff go home to their families every day, increasing the risk of community spread.
Meanwhile, activists point to data showing that, in 2016, nearly 60 percent of those held in Riverside jails were awaiting trial and had not been convicted and sentenced for a crime, suggesting that many people are currently incarcerated because they cannot afford bail or their court appearances have been delayed by the pandemic.
In a Facebook post responding to letters from activists and family members, Bianco said people are incarcerated in jail because there is probable cause to believe that they committed a crime and a judge decided they should stand trial. He suggested that if people want to commit crimes and be released from jail, they should do so in Los Angeles or San Francisco, where they have a better chance of being released. Family members of those locked up have asked: Who made Bianco judge and jury?
“Who makes him judge now?” said Lisa Matus, who has two sons awaiting trial in a Riverside jail, in an April interview with the Los Angeles Times. “You’re supposed to house and protect them, and your staff.”
The department claimed all prisoners are provided with surgical masks, unlimited soap and cleaning supplies “free of charge,” and that they have been instructed on how to properly wear the masks and sanitize common areas. According to the statement, all staff have access to face masks and protective gowns and receive COVID-19 prevention training based on federal guidelines.
Truthout has so far been unable to reach people inside the jail or their family members to confirm whether these supplies are indeed available. However, it should be noted that providing personal protective equipment is not the same as ensuring at least 6 feet of social distancing between incarcerated individuals.
Jordanna Wong-Omshehe, the public policy fellow at Starting Over Inc., a nonprofit that provides services to formerly incarcerated people in Riverside County, said Bianco’s Facebook post was the only response advocates and family members got from the sheriff after weeks of pressuring county officials for more information about what is going on inside the county jails.
“We are the public — he works for us — and I think as a nonprofit serving those that are directly impacted by him and his decisions, that it’s absolutely ludicrous that we have to go to the media and go online to see what he is saying, because we are his constituents, and he is refusing to speak to his own community,” Wong-Omshehe told Truthout.
The outbreak sent family members scrambling for information, but Wong-Omshehe said currently Bianco has offered little transparency. For example, the Riverside Sheriff’s Department has not publicly broken down the number of infections in each of its five jails, making it difficult for observers to identify hotspots. In an email, the department said “we have not and will not release” information on how many people held in the jails have been tested for COVID-19, a decision made by medical staff.
Unless testing is widespread, the number of cases reported by the local health department may be an undercount. Wong-Omshehe said family members and the public need “real-time updates” from inside the jails. Along with nursing homes, jails and prisons have become COVID-19 hotspots nationwide because social distancing is physically impossible under the conditions of confinement, making incarcerated people some of the most impacted by the disease. Black and Brown people are also disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 as well as policing, and Wong-Omshehe provided data showing that while Black people make up 7 percent of the Riverside population, they account for 21 percent of arrests.
“We have community members locked up right now, and we have family members on the outside who are completely in the dark,” Wong-Omshehe said.
Wong-Omshehe said local activists have pushed back, holding rallies in cars in support of incarcerated people, sending letters to Bianco and county officials, and launching the #ReleaseRiverside social media campaign. Similar campaigns have erupted in cities across the United States as COVID-19 spread through jails and prisons as well as immigration jails, where 25 hunger strikes have been documented since March alone.
Some of these campaigns have seen some success in convincing sheriffs and prison wardens to improve conditions behind bars and reduce the number of people incarcerated as COVID-19 has spread, particularly in cities like New York City and New Orleans where activists are buoyed by consistent media coverage and journalists have been reporting on dismal conditions inside jails for years. In many cases, civil rights lawyers have filed lawsuits demanding judges intervene as outbreaks in prisons and jails turn deadly.
Yet Wong-Omshehe said local media coverage of the outbreak in Riverside jails has been scant and largely focused on Bianco’s statements, making it difficult for activists to make their case. This raises serious questions about hundreds of prisons and jails in rural and more conservative counties that are currently facing outbreaks, but where journalists and civil rights attorneys have yet to train their eyes. In West Virginia, for example, only one prison has instituted facility-wide COVID-19 testing, and only after the governor stepped in.
In Riverside, it was civil rights lawyers and a federal judge who were able to intervene. Four years ago, a federal district court found that medical and mental health care in Riverside county jails did not meet minimum standards under the Constitution, after the Prison Law Office filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of prisoners. The court now oversees a consent decree that governs how medical care is provided in the jails.
Last month, the Prison Law Office filed an emergency motion in the case to force Riverside jails to institute social distancing and provide hygiene supplies. A federal judge ordered Bianco’s department to come up with a plan for preventing the spread of COVID-19, and court experts advised the jails to take “rapid action” to reduce the population density and protect the medically vulnerable population, according to the legal aid group. An initial plan was submitted by April 17, but the judge rejected it as inadequate and asked for another.
The deadline for the latest prevention plan passed a week ago, and Wong-Omshehe said that if a plan has been submitted, it has not been made public. After a mediation with the Prison Law Office, the county agreed to provide crucial information to the court and its medical supervisors, including the number of tests provided and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths among incarcerated people and staff. Bianco told local media that he does not plan on making any of that information public.
“We have no information on what’s going on inside besides what we hear from people with incarcerated family members,” said Andrea Smith, an activist with Riverside All of Us or None, an advocacy group for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. “We just need some light shined on him.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.