truthout--2020-09-24--Protests Erupt as Cops Escape Charges for Killing Breonna Taylor in Her Home

We go to Louisville , where protests erupted after police officers who shot Breonna Taylor in her own home were not charged for her death .
A grand jury indicted a third officer for “ wanton endangerment ” for shooting into an adjacent apartment during the fatal raid that killed Breonna Taylor in March .
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the country demanding justice for Taylor and defunding of police departments .
“ The lack of indictments in the grand jury process is an indictment on the system itself , ” says Sadiqa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisville Urban League .
“ They have created a completely separate grand jury system for police officers.
” This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : A grand jury has failed to charge any of the three white Louisville police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor with her death , more than six months after they stormed the 26-year-old Black woman ’ s home in a no-knock raid and fired a hail of bullets in the middle of the night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s only indictments were three counts of wanton endangerment against former Louisville police detective Brett Hankison for shooting into the apartment of a neighbor during the raid that ended Taylor ’ s life on March 13th .
The two officers who shot her six times were not charged , after the grand jury deemed their actions justified .
In all , the three officers fired 32 shots in the raid .
This is Kentucky ’ s Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron announcing the decision at a news conference on Wednesday .
AMY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to the grand jury ’ s decision through their attorney , Benjamin Crump , who called it , quote , “ outrageous and offensive to Breonna Taylor ’ s memory .
It ’ s yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of color by white police officers .
With all we know about Breonna Taylor ’ s killing , how could a fair and just system result in today ’ s decision ?
” Crump asked .
Soon after the decision came down , protesters flooded the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least two police officers were shot before a 9 p.m. curfew .
Police say the shooting suspect is in custody .
Police fired chemical agents and projectiles at protesters throughout the night , arresting at least 46 people .
This is one of the protesters in Louisville .
AMY GOODMAN : News of the grand jury ’ s decision comes after months of relentless protests demanding justice for Breonna Taylor amidst an uprising for racial justice .
But Wednesday Trump praised how her case was handled .
AMY GOODMAN : All of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the no-knock warrant the officers used to enter Breonna Taylor ’ s home in March is ongoing .
For more , we go directly to Louisville , Kentucky , where we ’ re joined by Sadiqa Reynolds , president and CEO of Louisville ’ s Urban League .
Welcome back to Democracy Now !
, Sadiqa .
You ’ re an attorney .
You ’ re an activist .
You ’ ve been in the streets .
Can you respond to the grand jury decision ?
SADIQA REYNOLDS : I think the lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an indictment on the system itself .
Some of what we heard the attorney general talk about , presenting to the grand jury some of the things he talked about being inconclusive , one example is , we ’ ve all heard and read the death certificate that said five — she had been shot five times .
He indicated yesterday in his talk that that was six times .
These are things that should have gone to a jury .
They have created a completely separate grand jury system for police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compare it to the process that Kenny Walker went through — you all will remember that Kenny Walker was the boyfriend of Breonna , and he was in the home at the time that police arrived .
And he ended up firing at the officers and hitting one of them .
And his grand jury process — I mean , he was there , same fact pattern .
Everything that they would have had to present as it relates to police , they should have had to present as it related to Kenny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took less than three minutes , and for these officers , two days of presenting .
And there ’ s something else .
We are saying now that the grand jury has said that the officers ’ behavior was justifiable , but we don ’ t know if that ’ s what the grand jury said or if that ’ s what the attorney general decided and therefore did not even present to the grand jury .
We don ’ t know what he presented to the grand jury .
And I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to talk about .
I think the other part of it is , anybody practicing law knows there ’ s nothing easier than getting an indictment .
There ’ s nothing easier than getting an indictment .
And so , the fact that they could not and did not get indictments , in my view , is an indictment on this entire system .
And it is the reason that people are protesting and raising their voices , because of this inequity in our justice system .
NERMEEN SHAIKH : Well , Sadiqa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s investigation about the use of force by these police officers — that the use of force was justified because they had been fired upon first by Breonna Taylor ’ s husband , Kenneth Walker — not husband , her partner .
Your response to that , what the attorney general said ?
SADIQA REYNOLDS : The police , the officers , had the right to fire on the person who fired on them .
That self-defense does not apply to Breonna .
Breonna had no weapon .
Breonna did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are changing the law in order to take care of police officers .
That is just not how that should be applied .
There are so many things that are questions of fact here for a jury to decide .
When the attorney general was addressing whether or not Hankison fired any weapon that landed in Breonna ’ s body , he answered there was no conclusive evidence .
Well , was there any evidence at all ?
Because if in fact there was , that ’ s something that would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answered in a grand jury .
When you heard him say there was one witness who indicated that they did hear the police announce themselves , because you ’ ll remember this is a no-knock warrant and then it was changed to a knock-and-announce , and so the police officers are saying , “ We did knock and announce.
” Well , 12 people were interviewed , and 12 people — 11 of them said , “ We did not hear police announce.
” What you heard the attorney general say is there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , “ This is police.
” That person was upstairs and outside .
Well , did you tell the grand jury that there were 11 other people who did not hear police announce ?
Did you tell the grand jury two people called 911 and said , “ We need the police here ” ?
Did you allow the grand jury to listen to Kenneth ’ s tape of him calling 911 , where he ’ s saying , “ Someone has come in , and they shot Breonna ” ?
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Actually , Sadiqa , we want to play that 911 clip .
AMY GOODMAN : This is when Breonna ’ s boyfriend called the police for help .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s Kenny Walker crying .
He calls the police because he doesn ’ t realize it ’ s the police who shot his girlfriend dead with these six bullets .
Now , this is a critically important point .
They were not in uniform , and he clearly did not know who these men were .
SADIQA REYNOLDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , then you have an attorney general who stands up yesterday and tells us that he should have known , basically , that somehow he did know , because there ’ s someone else .
I know there are 12 people who didn ’ t hear police , and there are two people that called 911 , and there ’ s Kenny who called 911 to get police on the scene .
But somehow you should believe that everybody knew it was police , and so , I mean , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is unbelievable .
It is an unbelievable assault on our intelligence .
It is offensive .
And it exposes the system for what it is .
This system is designed to protect the privileged .
And police have the greatest privilege .
And that is why we are in the streets .
People are so frustrated with not being heard , not being seen , not being protected or valued .
There are so many problems with this case .
And anyone knows — I mean , on average , really , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an hour .
I mean , they just keep spitting them out .
It ’ s not a hard process .
Prosecutors go in , they give you a little bit of information , and you move on .
You vote , and you move on .
And if you get a tape of a grand jury , you would see that .
In any criminal case — excuse me — you would get a copy of the grand jury indictment .
And usually they ’ re not five minutes long .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this information and contradictory information , that doesn ’ t happen for regular citizens .
That is just not the way the grand jury process works .
And those of us who know the system understand that .
You know , and there ’ s another thing that is important here .
The attorney general was not prepared yesterday to tell us whether or not the warrant was even a good warrant .
I mean , do you understand that ?
This woman was killed in March , and we are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know if the warrant that they were relying on was even a good warrant ?
He did not answer that question .
If a white woman — if a 26-year-old white woman was killed in this country , and six months later you could not answer the question about whether or not police went in with a good warrant , this country would burn itself down .
But somehow we are supposed to act with all of this restraint and be ready to move on and heal .
It is frustrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be reformed , because there ’ s too much subjectivity .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to ask you about the foot , this new information yesterday , Sadiqa Reynolds , that the attorney general shared , saying that Breonna was shot not five times , but six .
When he was questioned about this , to the shock of everyone , he said , “ Well , there was something in her foot.
” Talk about the significance of what it means to be in her foot .
SADIQA REYNOLDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding that Breonna died in the fetal position on the floor .
And if you think of police officers — we know that Kenny shot one shot , and he stopped firing .
And they continued to fire .
They continued to fire repeatedly into that apartment .
And apparently , according to the attorney general , a bullet was lodged in her foot .
First of all , even the fact that he is contradicting the death certificate is a question of fact .
Was it a bullet ?
What was lodged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to understand more .
This case deserved a jury .
I mean , and I prayed .
When I heard that , all I could think of was , I pray to God that he has told her mother , before he told the world , that her baby was shot in the foot .
I hope he had a very long conversation with the mother .
I have since learned that there was not enough conversation .
He did not explain everything .
This is a — AMY GOODMAN : And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was lying down already .
SADIQA REYNOLDS : Oh , no doubt about it .
No doubt about it , she was lying down already .
And you heard him talk about there was one bullet that would have killed her .
But I don ’ t know if it was — was it the first bullet ?
So , did she suffer through the first three or four or five , and then it was the sixth one that killed her ?
Which one ?
Which bullet killed her ?
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did she suffer ?
She seemed to be alive when Kenny was on that telephone .
And again , they ’ re saying to us , well , she — you know , that one fatal bullet would have killed her within seconds or a couple of minutes .
Well , but there are so many questions here that go unanswered because of this attorney general ’ s process .
How this has been handled is an incredible miscarriage of justice for this city .
We deserve better .
Breonna Taylor deserved better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NERMEEN SHAIKH : Well , Sadiqa , you ’ ve said that nobody would have even known the names of Breonna Taylor or Kenneth Walker if it weren ’ t for the protesters .
Could you talk about the significance of the protests that have broken out , not just in Louisville , but all across the country ?
And also , what happened last night ?
Over a hundred protesters were reportedly arrested in Louisville ?
SADIQA REYNOLDS : So , let ’ s start with the fact that in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , we were at the top of the pandemic , and people were just trying to figure out what this virus was , how their offices were going to work , and we heard that Breonna Taylor had been killed .
The officers did not have on body cameras .
Basically , it was described to us as a drug raid .
And when they went in , the suspect fired , hitting an officer , and then , you know , the female suspect was basically killed in the crossfire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happened , right ?
And so people began to ask questions .
People began to ask questions , but , again , they ’ re doing it in a pandemic with so many other things happening .
And this case is sort of pushed to the back of our minds — some of us .
But , of course , you have her mother still fighting for answers , because she knows who her child is .
And you have us calling to say , “ Explain again why there are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sense .
These officers could not have been undercover .
You know , they obviously were going to serve a warrant .
Any cover would have been blown .
Why were there no body cameras ?
” And so you have this repeated questioning , but no traction , no changes , the police department just saying they did everything right .
And then , Kenny Walker , of course , is in custody .
So , in March , he ’ s arrested .
He ’ s locked up in jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you begin — more and more people are calling her name and saying her name , and we begin to get the national attention .
And when that happens , that ’ s when we see Kenny released from custody , with charges dismissed .
And I have to commend one of the judges here .
I have to tell you , Judge Stevens released Kenny on home incarceration .
That was a sign and a half that this case was a terrible case .
When a Black man shoots a white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , “ I ’ m not going to make him stay in jail because there ’ s something wrong here , ” that is a sign that this is a problematic case .
And so , you fast-forward .
Kenny is ultimately released completely , even from home incarceration .
His charges are dismissed .
And then people are more and more saying her name across the country , across the globe , and you get movement , you get motion .
And these protesters — and I have certainly been one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have protested in this city , raising their voices for justice , for change — to begin with , police reform , but even really going beyond that and saying , “ There are injustices in every system in this city , and we want to see things change.
” And those powerful protests have been successful .
And it was important for us to say to everyone who had been willing to sacrifice their freedom , their bodies , their time , to raise their voices here in Louisville — because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean , the first night of protest , we were met with tear gas and pepper bullets .
Police started that aggression .
And then it did get — you know , things got out of hand very quickly .
David McAtee , I think you all remember — excuse me — David McAtee was killed because police were at 26th and Broadway .
And if you could just understand Louisville , most of the protests have been happening in downtown Louisville , some to the east of downtown .
The West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other urban areas : uninvested , no — nothing there .
So , these folks are not at 5th Street , not in the Highlands , but instead they ’ re all the way down , 21 blocks away from any protest , at 26th and Broadway .
And they are just living .
They ’ re doing what they do all the time .
Police take the National Guard down there .
They begin shooting pepper bullets at people .
David McAtee , who is a beloved community member , and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trainings — he shoots a gun into the air .
We aren ’ t sure that he even realizes it ’ s police that are outside .
He seems to be trying to disperse the crowd .
Police return fire .
He is killed .
But it started with them shooting people who were out — they ’ re literally shooting at people ’ s heads for protest violations — I mean , I ’ m so sorry , for curfew violations .
For curfew violations .
So , you move forward from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s important for us to say what was accomplished in these protests .
It was more than just whether or not Daniel Cameron decided to indict these officers .
We can ’ t just say that ’ s the only way we can measure the success of the protesters , but instead we have to talk about the fact that the police chief was exited ; that there was one officer that was indicted ; that now we have mandatory body cameras here in Louisville , Kentucky , when there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve banned no-knocks in this city , so no more no-knock warrants ; the creation of a civilian review board in order to create an Office of Inspector General to oversee the police department .
This is a review board that I am currently on and helping to create .
Those kinds of things have happened — a top-to-bottom review of our police department .
Now , in writing , we have this duty to intervene ; our police officers have a responsibility to intervene if they see an officer engaged in misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought that that was something that was just understood .
Well , now it ’ s in writing , because we couldn ’ t count on that .
We ’ re getting an independent investigation of our police department .
There are so many things .
And I go back to , again , if this case had not made the national news , please believe me , Kenneth Walker would have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law .
It is because of the protests in the street that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMY GOODMAN : And I want to again reiterate , he was arrested and jailed as he is mourning the death of his girlfriend who is gunned down in front of him .
But I want to go back to the Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron , who , of course , announced the grand jury decision and talked about who he doesn ’ t want weighing in .
AMY GOODMAN : And then , this is the Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron just weeks ago , who spoke at the Republican National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor .
AMY GOODMAN : And yesterday at the news conference , President Trump praised Cameron as a rising star in the Republican Party .
Your response , Sadiqa Reynolds ?
SADIQA REYNOLDS : He certainly is a rising star in the Republican Party .
And I can see very clearly how he is going to be used against us in every imaginable way .
I think we are in a very , very dangerous territory in this country .
And there are people right now who are so focused on greed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves , and they are missing the bigger picture .
This democracy is under attack .
It is not just under attack for Black Americans , it is under attack for all of us .
Life as we know it is changing every day , little by little .
Our democracy is being killed .
It ’ s the death of a thousand cuts .
And we all had better start paying attention .
Daniel Cameron ’ s rhetoric sounds good .
He is an articulate Black man .
And I really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that : “ Oh , you ’ re so articulate.
” But let me tell you , listening to him deliver the results of his investigation yesterday and the grand jury , the danger that is posed to us is real .
And we had better be ready to respond , because this country will change and is changing .
And it is not for the better .
And that is not a political statement .
That is not about partisanship from me .
I don ’ t care if you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run a nonpartisan organization .
But what I care about is justice .
What I care about is somebody who is honest .
And when you look a man in the eye and you expect for them to do their job , and they come back and that is not what happened , you need to hold them accountable .
We are in danger in this state and in this country .
It is not a joke .
It is really almost unreal .
And people of every race , nationality , gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get out of your head about what is best for you , and think about this country .
We have got to do something different here .
AMY GOODMAN : Very quickly , Sadiqa , on the issue of the fired detective , Hankison , who fired wildly into the bedroom window , into the glass door , ultimately not charged for anything involving the death of Breonna Taylor , but for the bullets going into the neighbor ’ s apartment , he is a person who we ’ ve learned more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , one woman after another came forward and said , “ That man sexually assaulted me , picked me up saying he was a cop , he would drive me home after I left a bar , ” and others said that , too .
Can you talk about the fact that he might not even face any jail time , or up to 15 ?
He faces three charges of wanton endangerment .
SADIQA REYNOLDS : You can count on him not facing any charges — any time at all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding that he was arrested in Shelby County .
He turned himself in .
He posted his $ 15,000 bond , and he was out .
So , this is , gain , another slap in the face .
We can plan on him absolutely not spending any time in jail for the death of Breonna Taylor , for wanton endangerment , for anything related to the shooting , the killing that happened at that apartment complex that night .
He may end up spending time in jail for the assault on these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defer .
I think they have really made an attempt to honor this Black woman ’ s life by sort of silencing themselves .
And I expect that they will step forward even more now as time goes on .
Also , it is my understanding that those things are being investigated .
But all it ’ s going to show us is , you can murder a Black woman in America and serve no time , but the sexual assault of a white woman , we ’ ll come down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMY GOODMAN : And the bullets into the neighbor ’ s apartment , that was a white family ?
SADIQA REYNOLDS : I don ’ t know who the families were .
I don ’ t know what color , what race the people were .
I have no idea .
I haven ’ t — to me , the issue is not in that case what their race was .
I ’ m simply saying if — let me say this .
Let me calm down and say this clearly .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman in September , the results of this case would have been different .
That ’ s what Black people know for sure , and that ’ s why they ’ re in the street .
And that is also why our allies are in the street with us .
And I think it is important for us to say here , in Louisville , Kentucky , the demonstrations , the rallies , the protests , they have been integrated .
So , while we certainly have challenges around race , we also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it has been a really interesting thing to watch .
And I pray that we continue to move together as best we can .
I said yesterday , and I sincerely mean it , I think we are in a fight for the soul of our country .
We are at 49-51 , and the good guys are losing .
But it is a close fight .
We ’ ve got to keep fighting .
AMY GOODMAN : Sadiqa Reynolds , thanks so much for joining us , president and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney in Kentucky .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Nermeen Shaikh .
When we come back , we go to Milwaukee , where the investigation of the police shooting of Jacob Blake is underway .
We ’ ll speak to Jake Blake ’ s father , Jacob Blake Sr. Stay with us .

We go to Louisville, where protests erupted after police officers who shot Breonna Taylor in her own home were not charged for her death. A grand jury indicted a third officer for “wanton endangerment” for shooting into an adjacent apartment during the fatal raid that killed Breonna Taylor in March. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the country demanding justice for Taylor and defunding of police departments. “The lack of indictments in the grand jury process is an indictment on the system itself,” says Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League. “They have created a completely separate grand jury system for police officers.”
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: A grand jury has failed to charge any of the three white Louisville police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor with her death, more than six months after they stormed the 26-year-old Black woman’s home in a no-knock raid and fired a hail of bullets in the middle of the night, leaving her dead. The grand jury’s only indictments were three counts of wanton endangerment against former Louisville police detective Brett Hankison for shooting into the apartment of a neighbor during the raid that ended Taylor’s life on March 13th. The two officers who shot her six times were not charged, after the grand jury deemed their actions justified. In all, the three officers fired 32 shots in the raid.
This is Kentucky’s Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron announcing the decision at a news conference on Wednesday.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON: After hearing the evidence from our team of prosecutors, the grand jury voted to return an indictment against detective Hankison for three counts of wanton endangerment for wantonly placing the three individuals in apartment three in danger of serious physical injury or death. The charge of wanton endangerment in the first degree is a Class D felony. And if found guilty, the accused can serve up to five years for each count. Related Story News | Racial Justice Decision Not to Charge Officers for Killing Breonna Taylor Sparks Outcry Charges for Brett Hankison were for "wanton endangerment," over bullets he shot that hit Taylor's neighbors' dwellings. Truthout
AMY GOODMAN: Breonna Taylor’s family responded to the grand jury’s decision through their attorney, Benjamin Crump, who called it, quote, “outrageous and offensive to Breonna Taylor’s memory. It’s yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of color by white police officers. With all we know about Breonna Taylor’s killing, how could a fair and just system result in today’s decision?” Crump asked.
Soon after the decision came down, protesters flooded the streets in cities nationwide. In Louisville, at least two police officers were shot before a 9 p.m. curfew. Police say the shooting suspect is in custody. Police fired chemical agents and projectiles at protesters throughout the night, arresting at least 46 people. This is one of the protesters in Louisville.
PROTESTER: It feels like today — and I think it’s a fact — that Black lives do not matter to our elected officials in Louisville, in Kentucky and apparently in this country. This has been an incredibly traumatic, difficult time for the community.
AMY GOODMAN: News of the grand jury’s decision comes after months of relentless protests demanding justice for Breonna Taylor amidst an uprising for racial justice. But Wednesday Trump praised how her case was handled.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I thought it was really brilliant. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is doing a fantastic job. I think he’s a star. … He is handling it very well. You know who he is, right?
AMY GOODMAN: All of this comes as an FBI investigation into the no-knock warrant the officers used to enter Breonna Taylor’s home in March is ongoing.
For more, we go directly to Louisville, Kentucky, where we’re joined by Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of Louisville’s Urban League.
Welcome back to Democracy Now!, Sadiqa. You’re an attorney. You’re an activist. You’ve been in the streets. Can you respond to the grand jury decision?
SADIQA REYNOLDS: I think the lack of indictments in the grand jury process is an indictment on the system itself. Some of what we heard the attorney general talk about, presenting to the grand jury some of the things he talked about being inconclusive, one example is, we’ve all heard and read the death certificate that said five — she had been shot five times. He indicated yesterday in his talk that that was six times. These are things that should have gone to a jury.
They have created a completely separate grand jury system for police officers. And really, if you compare it to the process that Kenny Walker went through — you all will remember that Kenny Walker was the boyfriend of Breonna, and he was in the home at the time that police arrived. And he ended up firing at the officers and hitting one of them. And his grand jury process — I mean, he was there, same fact pattern. Everything that they would have had to present as it relates to police, they should have had to present as it related to Kenny. Kenny’s grand jury process took less than three minutes, and for these officers, two days of presenting.
And there’s something else. We are saying now that the grand jury has said that the officers’ behavior was justifiable, but we don’t know if that’s what the grand jury said or if that’s what the attorney general decided and therefore did not even present to the grand jury. We don’t know what he presented to the grand jury. And I think that’s really important for us to talk about.
I think the other part of it is, anybody practicing law knows there’s nothing easier than getting an indictment. There’s nothing easier than getting an indictment. And so, the fact that they could not and did not get indictments, in my view, is an indictment on this entire system. And it is the reason that people are protesting and raising their voices, because of this inequity in our justice system.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: Well, Sadiqa, the attorney general said that the state’s investigation about the use of force by these police officers — that the use of force was justified because they had been fired upon first by Breonna Taylor’s husband, Kenneth Walker — not husband, her partner. Your response to that, what the attorney general said?
SADIQA REYNOLDS: The police, the officers, had the right to fire on the person who fired on them. That self-defense does not apply to Breonna. Breonna had no weapon. Breonna did not fire. So, again, we are changing the law in order to take care of police officers. That is just not how that should be applied.
There are so many things that are questions of fact here for a jury to decide. When the attorney general was addressing whether or not Hankison fired any weapon that landed in Breonna’s body, he answered there was no conclusive evidence. Well, was there any evidence at all? Because if in fact there was, that’s something that would be a question for a jury, and not answered in a grand jury.
When you heard him say there was one witness who indicated that they did hear the police announce themselves, because you’ll remember this is a no-knock warrant and then it was changed to a knock-and-announce, and so the police officers are saying, “We did knock and announce.” Well, 12 people were interviewed, and 12 people — 11 of them said, “We did not hear police announce.” What you heard the attorney general say is there was one person who did hear them say, “This is police.” That person was upstairs and outside. Well, did you tell the grand jury that there were 11 other people who did not hear police announce? Did you tell the grand jury two people called 911 and said, “We need the police here”? Did you allow the grand jury to listen to Kenneth’s tape of him calling 911, where he’s saying, “Someone has come in, and they shot Breonna”? What did —
AMY GOODMAN: Wait. Actually, Sadiqa, we want to play that 911 clip.
SADIQA REYNOLDS: OK.
AMY GOODMAN: This is when Breonna’s boyfriend called the police for help.
SADIQA REYNOLDS: Yeah.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Kenneth Walker.
KENNETH WALKER: I don’t — I don’t know what’s happening. Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend. … Bre! Oh my god! 911 OPERATOR: You said 26? Where was she shot at? KENNETH WALKER: I don’t know. She’s on the ground right now. I don’t know. … Help! Oh my god! Breonna’s so ill! Help! 911 OPERATOR: What’s her name, sir? Is she alert and able to talk to you? KENNETH WALKER: No!
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s Kenny Walker crying. He calls the police because he doesn’t realize it’s the police who shot his girlfriend dead with these six bullets. Now, this is a critically important point. They were not in uniform, and he clearly did not know who these men were.
SADIQA REYNOLDS: That is exactly right. And so, then you have an attorney general who stands up yesterday and tells us that he should have known, basically, that somehow he did know, because there’s someone else. I know there are 12 people who didn’t hear police, and there are two people that called 911, and there’s Kenny who called 911 to get police on the scene. But somehow you should believe that everybody knew it was police, and so, I mean, this is not a question for a jury. It is unbelievable. It is an unbelievable assault on our intelligence. It is offensive.
And it exposes the system for what it is. This system is designed to protect the privileged. And police have the greatest privilege. And that is why we are in the streets. People are so frustrated with not being heard, not being seen, not being protected or valued.
There are so many problems with this case. And anyone knows — I mean, on average, really, a grand jury could indict 12 people in an hour. I mean, they just keep spitting them out. It’s not a hard process. Prosecutors go in, they give you a little bit of information, and you move on. You vote, and you move on. And if you get a tape of a grand jury, you would see that. In any criminal case — excuse me — you would get a copy of the grand jury indictment. And usually they’re not five minutes long. So, this process of presenting all of this information and contradictory information, that doesn’t happen for regular citizens. That is just not the way the grand jury process works. And those of us who know the system understand that.
You know, and there’s another thing that is important here. The attorney general was not prepared yesterday to tell us whether or not the warrant was even a good warrant. I mean, do you understand that? This woman was killed in March, and we are now in September, and we still don’t know if the warrant that they were relying on was even a good warrant? He did not answer that question. If a white woman — if a 26-year-old white woman was killed in this country, and six months later you could not answer the question about whether or not police went in with a good warrant, this country would burn itself down. But somehow we are supposed to act with all of this restraint and be ready to move on and heal. It is frustrating. The system is completely broken and needs to be reformed, because there’s too much subjectivity.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to ask you about the foot, this new information yesterday, Sadiqa Reynolds, that the attorney general shared, saying that Breonna was shot not five times, but six. When he was questioned about this, to the shock of everyone, he said, “Well, there was something in her foot.” Talk about the significance of what it means to be in her foot.
SADIQA REYNOLDS: Listen, it has been my understanding that Breonna died in the fetal position on the floor. And if you think of police officers — we know that Kenny shot one shot, and he stopped firing. And they continued to fire. They continued to fire repeatedly into that apartment. And apparently, according to the attorney general, a bullet was lodged in her foot.
First of all, even the fact that he is contradicting the death certificate is a question of fact. Was it a bullet? What was lodged there? Who fired it? We need to understand more. This case deserved a jury. I mean, and I prayed. When I heard that, all I could think of was, I pray to God that he has told her mother, before he told the world, that her baby was shot in the foot. I hope he had a very long conversation with the mother. I have since learned that there was not enough conversation. He did not explain everything. This is a —
AMY GOODMAN: And just to be clear, it means she was lying down already.
SADIQA REYNOLDS: Oh, no doubt about it. No doubt about it, she was lying down already. And you heard him talk about there was one bullet that would have killed her. But I don’t know if it was — was it the first bullet? So, did she suffer through the first three or four or five, and then it was the sixth one that killed her? Which one? Which bullet killed her? How long was she alive? How long did she suffer? She seemed to be alive when Kenny was on that telephone. And again, they’re saying to us, well, she — you know, that one fatal bullet would have killed her within seconds or a couple of minutes.
Well, but there are so many questions here that go unanswered because of this attorney general’s process. How this has been handled is an incredible miscarriage of justice for this city. We deserve better. Breonna Taylor deserved better. Her mother deserved better than this.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: Well, Sadiqa, you’ve said that nobody would have even known the names of Breonna Taylor or Kenneth Walker if it weren’t for the protesters. Could you talk about the significance of the protests that have broken out, not just in Louisville, but all across the country? And also, what happened last night? Over a hundred protesters were reportedly arrested in Louisville?
SADIQA REYNOLDS: So, let’s start with the fact that in March, when Breonna was first killed by police, we were at the top of the pandemic, and people were just trying to figure out what this virus was, how their offices were going to work, and we heard that Breonna Taylor had been killed. The officers did not have on body cameras. Basically, it was described to us as a drug raid. And when they went in, the suspect fired, hitting an officer, and then, you know, the female suspect was basically killed in the crossfire.
And so, that is not exactly what happened, right? And so people began to ask questions. People began to ask questions, but, again, they’re doing it in a pandemic with so many other things happening. And this case is sort of pushed to the back of our minds — some of us. But, of course, you have her mother still fighting for answers, because she knows who her child is. And you have us calling to say, “Explain again why there are no body cameras. It doesn’t make sense. These officers could not have been undercover. You know, they obviously were going to serve a warrant. Any cover would have been blown. Why were there no body cameras?” And so you have this repeated questioning, but no traction, no changes, the police department just saying they did everything right.
And then, Kenny Walker, of course, is in custody. So, in March, he’s arrested. He’s locked up in jail. And March, April, May, you begin — more and more people are calling her name and saying her name, and we begin to get the national attention. And when that happens, that’s when we see Kenny released from custody, with charges dismissed.
And I have to commend one of the judges here. I have to tell you, Judge Stevens released Kenny on home incarceration. That was a sign and a half that this case was a terrible case. When a Black man shoots a white police officer, and a Black judge says, “I’m not going to make him stay in jail because there’s something wrong here,” that is a sign that this is a problematic case.
And so, you fast-forward. Kenny is ultimately released completely, even from home incarceration. His charges are dismissed. And then people are more and more saying her name across the country, across the globe, and you get movement, you get motion. And these protesters — and I have certainly been one of them — for 118 days, people have protested in this city, raising their voices for justice, for change — to begin with, police reform, but even really going beyond that and saying, “There are injustices in every system in this city, and we want to see things change.”
And those powerful protests have been successful. And it was important for us to say to everyone who had been willing to sacrifice their freedom, their bodies, their time, to raise their voices here in Louisville — because it has been dangerous for us. I mean, the first night of protest, we were met with tear gas and pepper bullets. Police started that aggression. And then it did get — you know, things got out of hand very quickly.
David McAtee, I think you all remember — excuse me — David McAtee was killed because police were at 26th and Broadway. And if you could just understand Louisville, most of the protests have been happening in downtown Louisville, some to the east of downtown. The West End of this city is much like other urban areas: uninvested, no — nothing there. So, these folks are not at 5th Street, not in the Highlands, but instead they’re all the way down, 21 blocks away from any protest, at 26th and Broadway. And they are just living. They’re doing what they do all the time. Police take the National Guard down there. They begin shooting pepper bullets at people. David McAtee, who is a beloved community member, and even beloved by police — he catered their trainings — he shoots a gun into the air. We aren’t sure that he even realizes it’s police that are outside. He seems to be trying to disperse the crowd. Police return fire. He is killed. But it started with them shooting people who were out — they’re literally shooting at people’s heads for protest violations — I mean, I’m so sorry, for curfew violations. For curfew violations.
So, you move forward from there, and I think it’s important for us to say what was accomplished in these protests. It was more than just whether or not Daniel Cameron decided to indict these officers. We can’t just say that’s the only way we can measure the success of the protesters, but instead we have to talk about the fact that the police chief was exited; that there was one officer that was indicted; that now we have mandatory body cameras here in Louisville, Kentucky, when there’s a search warrant issued; that we’ve banned no-knocks in this city, so no more no-knock warrants; the creation of a civilian review board in order to create an Office of Inspector General to oversee the police department. This is a review board that I am currently on and helping to create. Those kinds of things have happened — a top-to-bottom review of our police department. Now, in writing, we have this duty to intervene; our police officers have a responsibility to intervene if they see an officer engaged in misconduct. You and I probably would have thought that that was something that was just understood. Well, now it’s in writing, because we couldn’t count on that. We’re getting an independent investigation of our police department. There are so many things.
And I go back to, again, if this case had not made the national news, please believe me, Kenneth Walker would have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is because of the protests in the street that this case changed. We changed everything.
AMY GOODMAN: And I want to again reiterate, he was arrested and jailed as he is mourning the death of his girlfriend who is gunned down in front of him. But I want to go back to the Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who, of course, announced the grand jury decision and talked about who he doesn’t want weighing in.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON: There will be celebrities, influencers and activists who, having never lived in Kentucky, will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case and that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do. But they don’t. Let’s not give in to their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions.
AMY GOODMAN: And then, this is the Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron just weeks ago, who spoke at the Republican National Convention and referenced the killing of Breonna Taylor.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON: It was General Dwight Eisenhower, a future Republican president, who said, “Democracy is a system that recognizes the equality of humans before the law.” Whether you are the family of Breonna Taylor or David Dohrn, these are the ideals that will heal our nation’s wounds. Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts, but neither will we accept an all-out assault on Western civilization.
AMY GOODMAN: And yesterday at the news conference, President Trump praised Cameron as a rising star in the Republican Party. Your response, Sadiqa Reynolds?
SADIQA REYNOLDS: He certainly is a rising star in the Republican Party. And I can see very clearly how he is going to be used against us in every imaginable way.
I think we are in a very, very dangerous territory in this country. And there are people right now who are so focused on greed and their money and what they can achieve for themselves, and they are missing the bigger picture. This democracy is under attack. It is not just under attack for Black Americans, it is under attack for all of us. Life as we know it is changing every day, little by little. Our democracy is being killed. It’s the death of a thousand cuts. And we all had better start paying attention.
Daniel Cameron’s rhetoric sounds good. He is an articulate Black man. And I really, generally — I hate when people say that: “Oh, you’re so articulate.” But let me tell you, listening to him deliver the results of his investigation yesterday and the grand jury, the danger that is posed to us is real. And we had better be ready to respond, because this country will change and is changing. And it is not for the better. And that is not a political statement. That is not about partisanship from me. I don’t care if you are a Democrat or a Republican; I run a nonpartisan organization. But what I care about is justice. What I care about is somebody who is honest. And when you look a man in the eye and you expect for them to do their job, and they come back and that is not what happened, you need to hold them accountable.
We are in danger in this state and in this country. It is not a joke. It is really almost unreal. And people of every race, nationality, gender, religion had better be paying attention and get out of your head about what is best for you, and think about this country. We have got to do something different here.
AMY GOODMAN: Very quickly, Sadiqa, on the issue of the fired detective, Hankison, who fired wildly into the bedroom window, into the glass door, ultimately not charged for anything involving the death of Breonna Taylor, but for the bullets going into the neighbor’s apartment, he is a person who we’ve learned more about because as his picture got out there, one woman after another came forward and said, “That man sexually assaulted me, picked me up saying he was a cop, he would drive me home after I left a bar,” and others said that, too. Can you talk about the fact that he might not even face any jail time, or up to 15? He faces three charges of wanton endangerment.
SADIQA REYNOLDS: You can count on him not facing any charges — any time at all. In fact, it’s my understanding that he was arrested in Shelby County. He turned himself in. He posted his $15,000 bond, and he was out. So, this is, gain, another slap in the face. We can plan on him absolutely not spending any time in jail for the death of Breonna Taylor, for wanton endangerment, for anything related to the shooting, the killing that happened at that apartment complex that night.
He may end up spending time in jail for the assault on these women, who I think have tried to defer. I think they have really made an attempt to honor this Black woman’s life by sort of silencing themselves. And I expect that they will step forward even more now as time goes on. Also, it is my understanding that those things are being investigated. But all it’s going to show us is, you can murder a Black woman in America and serve no time, but the sexual assault of a white woman, we’ll come down on you for that. Or maybe —
AMY GOODMAN: And the bullets into the neighbor’s apartment, that was a white family?
SADIQA REYNOLDS: I don’t know who the families were. I don’t know what color, what race the people were. I have no idea. I haven’t — to me, the issue is not in that case what their race was. I’m simply saying if — let me say this. Let me calm down and say this clearly.
If we were talking about a 26-year-old white woman in September, the results of this case would have been different. That’s what Black people know for sure, and that’s why they’re in the street. And that is also why our allies are in the street with us.
And I think it is important for us to say here, in Louisville, Kentucky, the demonstrations, the rallies, the protests, they have been integrated. So, while we certainly have challenges around race, we also have alignment, too, for justice. And it has been a really interesting thing to watch. And I pray that we continue to move together as best we can. I said yesterday, and I sincerely mean it, I think we are in a fight for the soul of our country. We are at 49-51, and the good guys are losing. But it is a close fight. We’ve got to keep fighting.
AMY GOODMAN: Sadiqa Reynolds, thanks so much for joining us, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, an attorney in Kentucky.
I’m Amy Goodman, with Nermeen Shaikh. When we come back, we go to Milwaukee, where the investigation of the police shooting of Jacob Blake is underway. We’ll speak to Jake Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr. Stay with us.


truthout--2020-09-24--Trump Threatens to Block Stricter COVID-19 Vaccine Standards

With the Food and Drug Administration reportedly planning to propose stricter guidelines for emergency approval of a coronavirus vaccine , President Donald Trump late Wednesday threatened to block the agency ’ s push for tougher standards because he trusts for-profit pharmaceutical corporations to conduct adequate safety testing .
“ I have tremendous trust in these massive companies that are so brilliantly organized in terms of what they ’ ve been doing with the tests .
I don ’ t know that a government as big as we are could do tests like this , ” Trump said during a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government has played in coordinating and providing much of the funding for vaccine trials .
Asked specifically about the FDA ’ s push for stricter vaccine guidelines , the president declared that any revisions to existing standards “ have to be approved by the White House.
” The FDA declined to comment when a CNN reporter asked about the president ’ s remarks .
“ We may or may not approve it , ” Trump said .
“ That sounds like a political move , because when you have Pfizer , Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies coming up with the vaccines and they ’ ve done testing and everything else , I ’ m saying why would they have to be , you know , adding great length to the process ?
” Trump ’ s decision to publicly undercut the FDA came amid growing concerns among experts and lawmakers that the president is putting public safety at risk by pushing for the speedy approval of a coronavirus vaccine in an effort to boost his reelection chances .
“ Everybody wants a vaccine , but we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) said earlier this month .
“ We don ’ t want to see that vaccine put on the market for political reasons.
” The New York Times reported Tuesday that the new guidance the FDA is expected to propose as early as this week “ would lay out more specific criteria for clinical trial data and recommend that the data be vetted by a committee of independent experts before the FDA authorizes any vaccine .
The guidelines would be the most detailed description yet by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vetting process will proceed.
” In a statement Wednesday , Eli Zupnick , spokesperson for watchdog group Accountable Pharma , warned Trump against meddling with the FDA ’ s vaccine guidelines , saying the stricter standards would be “ an important step in restoring the public trust that Trump has undermined.
” “ Trump and his political appointees have inappropriately pressured , intimidated , and overruled career public health officials too many times already , but the stakes are far too high for that to happen again with this upcoming FDA guidance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s White House must not block or water down this guidance and must allow scientists and public health officials , not Trump ’ s political interests , to guide this vaccine approval process .
”

With the Food and Drug Administration reportedly planning to propose stricter guidelines for emergency approval of a coronavirus vaccine, President Donald Trump late Wednesday threatened to block the agency’s push for tougher standards because he trusts for-profit pharmaceutical corporations to conduct adequate safety testing.
“I have tremendous trust in these massive companies that are so brilliantly organized in terms of what they’ve been doing with the tests. I don’t know that a government as big as we are could do tests like this,” Trump said during a press briefing, minimizing the central role the federal government has played in coordinating and providing much of the funding for vaccine trials.
Asked specifically about the FDA’s push for stricter vaccine guidelines, the president declared that any revisions to existing standards “have to be approved by the White House.” The FDA declined to comment when a CNN reporter asked about the president’s remarks.
“We may or may not approve it,” Trump said. “That sounds like a political move, because when you have Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, these great companies coming up with the vaccines and they’ve done testing and everything else, I’m saying why would they have to be, you know, adding great length to the process?”
Watch:
President Trump said today that the White House may not approve tougher FDA guidelines for authorizing the emergency use of any coronavirus vaccines. "That has to be approved by the White House," he said of the FDA guidance. "We may or may not approve it" https://t.co/aLppEdJXFx pic.twitter.com/UpDkEOOtWd — POLITICO (@politico) September 24, 2020
Trump’s decision to publicly undercut the FDA came amid growing concerns among experts and lawmakers that the president is putting public safety at risk by pushing for the speedy approval of a coronavirus vaccine in an effort to boost his reelection chances.
“Everybody wants a vaccine, but we want to make sure that that vaccine is safe,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said earlier this month. “We don’t want to see that vaccine put on the market for political reasons.”
The New York Times reported Tuesday that the new guidance the FDA is expected to propose as early as this week “would lay out more specific criteria for clinical trial data and recommend that the data be vetted by a committee of independent experts before the FDA authorizes any vaccine. The guidelines would be the most detailed description yet by the federal government about how the vaccine vetting process will proceed.”
UPDATE: Trump’s comments came hours after he was briefed on the guidance by HHS Secretary Alex Azar. The opposition within the White House also caught FDA by surprise – these stricter rules had been widely circulated and cleared through HHS yesterday https://t.co/8mwjK6g5j7 — Adam Cancryn (@adamcancryn) September 24, 2020
In a statement Wednesday, Eli Zupnick, spokesperson for watchdog group Accountable Pharma, warned Trump against meddling with the FDA’s vaccine guidelines, saying the stricter standards would be “an important step in restoring the public trust that Trump has undermined.”
“Trump and his political appointees have inappropriately pressured, intimidated, and overruled career public health officials too many times already, but the stakes are far too high for that to happen again with this upcoming FDA guidance,” said Zupnick. “Trump’s White House must not block or water down this guidance and must allow scientists and public health officials, not Trump’s political interests, to guide this vaccine approval process.”
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--2020-09-24--Trump Won’t Commit to Honor Election Results If He Loses

While speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday , President Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power , should he lose the presidential election in November .
Trump was asked if he would pledge to hand over executive power if his opponent proves victorious , which has been a hallmark of presidents since the early years of the republic .
“ Well , we ’ re going to have to see what happens , ” Trump said .
The president also implied that his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power was due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a practice that has been in use since the Civil War , but which Trump has frequently derided throughout the past several months .
“ You know that I ’ ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster , ” Trump said .
“ Get rid of the ballots , and you ’ ll have a very… there won ’ t be a transfer , frankly .
There ’ ll be a continuation.
” Many critics have alleged , even before his comments on Wednesday , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage for discrediting the outcome of the election if the results are not to his liking .
Trump is “ preparing the ground for post–Election Night plans to contest the results , ” The Atlantic columnist Barton Gellman wrote prior to Trump ’ s comments to reporters .
“ It is the strategy of a man who expects to be outvoted and means to hobble the count.
” There ’ s a strong possibility , too , that results from election night will not be the accurate count of voters , as absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher rate this year due to coronavirus .
The results on November 3 may significantly change days later , when ballots arriving through the mail are counted .
“ When every legitimate vote is tallied and we get to that final day , which will be some day after Election Day , it will in fact show that what happened on election night was exactly that , a mirage , ” predicted Josh Mendelsohn , CEO of Hawkfish , a Democratic-leaning data firm owned by billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s possible that Trump could dispute the outcome by attempting to discredit mail-in voting , which he has tried to do for months by lying about its potential for fraud .
Trump ’ s main rival in the presidential race , Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden , appeared to be flabbergasted when asked to respond to the president ’ s remarks .
“ What country are we in ?
” Biden said .
“ I ’ m being facetious .
I said , what country are we in ?
Look , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know what to say.
” As of this moment , the chances of Trump to win reelection are appearing to be slim , though not impossible .
A number of prognosticators , such as The Cook Political Report , are saying Biden has a much stronger shot at winning the Electoral College .
FiveThirtyEight is also suggesting the chances are higher for a Biden win , although they are also saying that , with 40 days to go until Election Day , Trump still has a 22 percent chance at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had in 2016 .
In 2016 , many polling organizations wrongly predicted Trump would decisively lose to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton .
Trump wound up winning due to thin margins in three key states — Wisconsin , Michigan , and Pennsylvania — which helped him to secure an Electoral College victory in spite of losing the popular vote .

The peaceful transition of power between presidents has been respected since the early years of the country’s founding.
While speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, President Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power, should he lose the presidential election in November.
Trump was asked if he would pledge to hand over executive power if his opponent proves victorious, which has been a hallmark of presidents since the early years of the republic.
“Well, we’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump said.
The president also implied that his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power was due to his opposition to mail-in voting — a practice that has been in use since the Civil War, but which Trump has frequently derided throughout the past several months.
“You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster,” Trump said. “Get rid of the ballots, and you’ll have a very… there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There’ll be a continuation.”
Many critics have alleged, even before his comments on Wednesday, that Trump has been trying to set the stage for discrediting the outcome of the election if the results are not to his liking.
Trump is “preparing the ground for post–Election Night plans to contest the results,” The Atlantic columnist Barton Gellman wrote prior to Trump’s comments to reporters. “It is the strategy of a man who expects to be outvoted and means to hobble the count.”
There’s a strong possibility, too, that results from election night will not be the accurate count of voters, as absentee voting is expected to happen at a much higher rate this year due to coronavirus. The results on November 3 may significantly change days later, when ballots arriving through the mail are counted.
“When every legitimate vote is tallied and we get to that final day, which will be some day after Election Day, it will in fact show that what happened on election night was exactly that, a mirage,” predicted Josh Mendelsohn, CEO of Hawkfish, a Democratic-leaning data firm owned by billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
If that happens, it’s possible that Trump could dispute the outcome by attempting to discredit mail-in voting, which he has tried to do for months by lying about its potential for fraud.
Trump’s main rival in the presidential race, Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden, appeared to be flabbergasted when asked to respond to the president’s remarks.
“What country are we in?” Biden said. “I’m being facetious. I said, what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don’t know what to say.”
As of this moment, the chances of Trump to win reelection are appearing to be slim, though not impossible. A number of prognosticators, such as The Cook Political Report, are saying Biden has a much stronger shot at winning the Electoral College. FiveThirtyEight is also suggesting the chances are higher for a Biden win, although they are also saying that, with 40 days to go until Election Day, Trump still has a 22 percent chance at repeating the same kind of upset victory he had in 2016.
In 2016, many polling organizations wrongly predicted Trump would decisively lose to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Trump wound up winning due to thin margins in three key states — Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — which helped him to secure an Electoral College victory in spite of losing the popular vote.
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--2020-09-24--These Races Will Shape What the US Elections Mean for Climate Progress

What follows are not candidate endorsements .
Rather , this nonpartisan guide aims to inform voters ’ choices , help journalists decide what races to follow , and explore what the 2020 elections could portend for climate action in the United States in 2021 and beyond .
Whether the White House changes hands is the most important climate question of the 2020 elections .
President Donald Trump rejects climate science , is withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement , and has accelerated fossil fuel development .
His climate policy seems to be , as he tweeted in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Engineers proposal to protect New York City from storm surges , “ Get your mops and buckets ready.
” Joe Biden , who started the 2020 campaign with a climate position so weak that activists gave it an “ F , ” called Trump a “ climate arsonist ” during California ’ s recent wildfires .
Biden backs a $ 2 trillion plan to create millions of jobs while slashing emissions — a Green New Deal in all but name .
Equally striking , his running mate , California Senator Kamala Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a politically explosive scientific imperative .
The race will be decided in a handful of battleground states , five of which already face grave climate dangers : Florida ( hurricanes and sea-level rise ) , North Carolina ( ditto ) , Texas ( storms and drought ) , Michigan ( floods ) , and Arizona ( heat waves and drought ) .
Public concern is rising in these states , but will that concern translate into votes ?
Will Democrats Flip the Senate , and by Enough to Pass a Green New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to maintain their majority in the US House of Representatives , the Senate will determine whether a potential Biden administration can actually deliver climate progress .
Democrats need to pick up three seats to flip the Senate if Biden wins , four if he doesn ’ t .
But since aggressive climate policy is shunned by some Democrats , notably Joe Manchin of coal-dependent West Virginia , Democrats probably need to gain five or six Senate seats to pass a Green New Deal .
Environmentalists , including the League of Conservation Voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are vulnerable .
Republican Senators are even at risk in conservative Kansas and Alaska .
In both states , the Democratic candidates are physicians — not a bad credential amid a pandemic — who support climate action .
In Kansas , Barbara Bollier faces an incumbent funded by Charles Koch .
In Alaska , Al Gross urges a transition away from oil , though his openness to limited drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve dims his appeal to green groups .
He faces incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan , who receives an 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Conservation Voters .
In the House , environmentalists are working to elect these candidates , in one case over an establishment Democrat : We rightfully focus on federal climate policy , but climate action must also be made at the state and local level — and there are plenty of races and initiatives to pay attention to .
Under Democratic and Republican leadership alike , Washington has long been a graveyard for strong climate action .
But governors can boost or block renewable energy ; the Vermont and New Hampshire races are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel companies for lying about climate change ; climate hawks are running for the top law enforcement seats in Montana and North Carolina .
State legislatures can accelerate or delay climate progress , as the new Democratic majorities in Virginia have shown .
Here , races to watch include Pennsylvania , North Carolina , and Colorado .
Perhaps the most powerful , and most overlooked , climate policy makers are public utility commissions .
They control whether pipelines and other energy infrastructure gets built ; they regulate whether electric utilities expand solar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon-heavy status quo .
Regulatory capture and outright corruption are not uncommon .
A prime example is Arizona , where a former two-term commissioner known as the godfather of solar in the state is seeking a comeback .
Bill Mundell argues that since Arizona law permits utilities to contribute to commissioners ’ electoral campaigns , the companies can buy their own regulators .
Which may explain why super-sunny Arizona has so little installed solar capacity .
In South Dakota , Remi Bald Eagle , a Native American US Army veteran , seeks a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission , which rules on the Standing Rock oil pipeline .
And in what HuffPost called “ the most important environmental race in the country , ” Democrat Kelly Stone , who favors phasing out oil production , is running for the Texas Railroad Commission , which despite its name decides what oil , gas , and electric companies in America ’ s leading petro-state can build .
Will the Influencers Usher in a Green New Era ?
The story that goes largely under-reported in every US election is how few Americans vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , roughly four out of every 10 eligible voters , did not cast a ballot .
Attorney Nathaniel Stinnett claims that 10 million of these nonvoters nevertheless identify as environmentalists : They support green policies , even donate to activist groups ; they just don ’ t vote .
Stinnett ’ s Environmental Voter Project works to awaken this sleeping giant .
Meanwhile , the young climate activists of the Sunrise Movement are already winning elections with an unabashedly Green New Deal message .
More than any other group , Sunrise pushed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation , helping Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey draft the eponymous congressional resolution .
In 2020 , Sunrise has helped Green New Deal champions defeat centrists in Democratic primaries , with Markey dealing Representative Joe Kennedy Jr. the first defeat a Kennedy has ever suffered in a Massachusetts election .
But can Sunrise also be successful against Republicans in the general elections this fall ?
And an intriguing wild card : celebrity firepower , grassroots activism , and big-bucks marketing have converged behind a campaign to get Latina mothers to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the US demographic most concerned about climate change .
Now , Vote Like A Madre aims to get 5 million Latina mothers in Florida , Texas , and Arizona to the polls .
Jennifer Lopez , Salma Hayak , and Lin-Manuel Miranda are urging mothers to make a “ pinky promise ” to vote for their kids ’ climate future in November .
Turning out even a quarter of those 5 million voters , though no easy task , could swing the results in three states Trump must win to remain president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first category , “ Will the White House Turn Green ?
”

Part of the Series Covering Climate Now
This story originally appeared in The Nation and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.
What follows are not candidate endorsements. Rather, this nonpartisan guide aims to inform voters’ choices, help journalists decide what races to follow, and explore what the 2020 elections could portend for climate action in the United States in 2021 and beyond.
Will the White House Turn Green?
Whether the White House changes hands is the most important climate question of the 2020 elections. President Donald Trump rejects climate science, is withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, and has accelerated fossil fuel development. His climate policy seems to be, as he tweeted in January when rejecting a US Army Corps of Engineers proposal to protect New York City from storm surges, “Get your mops and buckets ready.”
Joe Biden, who started the 2020 campaign with a climate position so weak that activists gave it an “F,” called Trump a “climate arsonist” during California’s recent wildfires. Biden backs a $2 trillion plan to create millions of jobs while slashing emissions — a Green New Deal in all but name. Equally striking, his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris, has endorsed phasing out fossil fuel production — a politically explosive scientific imperative.
The race will be decided in a handful of battleground states, five of which already face grave climate dangers: Florida (hurricanes and sea-level rise), North Carolina (ditto), Texas (storms and drought), Michigan (floods), and Arizona (heat waves and drought). Public concern is rising in these states, but will that concern translate into votes?
Will Democrats Flip the Senate, and by Enough to Pass a Green New Deal?
With Democrats all but certain to maintain their majority in the US House of Representatives, the Senate will determine whether a potential Biden administration can actually deliver climate progress. Democrats need to pick up three seats to flip the Senate if Biden wins, four if he doesn’t. But since aggressive climate policy is shunned by some Democrats, notably Joe Manchin of coal-dependent West Virginia, Democrats probably need to gain five or six Senate seats to pass a Green New Deal.
Environmentalists, including the League of Conservation Voters, are targeting six Republicans who polls suggest are vulnerable.
Steve Daines of Montana, who denies climate science
Martha McSally of Arizona
Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Susan Collins of Maine
Joni Ernst of Iowa (bankrolled by Charles Koch)
John James of Michigan (also a Koch beneficiary)
Republican Senators are even at risk in conservative Kansas and Alaska. In both states, the Democratic candidates are physicians — not a bad credential amid a pandemic — who support climate action. In Kansas, Barbara Bollier faces an incumbent funded by Charles Koch. In Alaska, Al Gross urges a transition away from oil, though his openness to limited drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve dims his appeal to green groups. He faces incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan, who receives an 8 percent lifetime voting record from the League of Conservation Voters.
In the House, environmentalists are working to elect these candidates, in one case over an establishment Democrat:
Beth Doglio of Washington state
Georgette Gómez of California
Marie Newman of Illinois
Cameron Webb of Virginia
Mike Siegel and Wendy Davis of Texas
We rightfully focus on federal climate policy, but climate action must also be made at the state and local level — and there are plenty of races and initiatives to pay attention to.
Will Local and State Races Advance Climate Progress?
The Climate Hawks
Under Democratic and Republican leadership alike, Washington has long been a graveyard for strong climate action. But governors can boost or block renewable energy; the Vermont and New Hampshire races are worth watching. Attorneys general can sue fossil fuel companies for lying about climate change; climate hawks are running for the top law enforcement seats in Montana and North Carolina. State legislatures can accelerate or delay climate progress, as the new Democratic majorities in Virginia have shown. Here, races to watch include Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Colorado.
The Climate Policy Makers
Perhaps the most powerful, and most overlooked, climate policy makers are public utility commissions. They control whether pipelines and other energy infrastructure gets built; they regulate whether electric utilities expand solar and energy efficiency or stick with the carbon-heavy status quo. Regulatory capture and outright corruption are not uncommon.
A prime example is Arizona, where a former two-term commissioner known as the godfather of solar in the state is seeking a comeback. Bill Mundell argues that since Arizona law permits utilities to contribute to commissioners’ electoral campaigns, the companies can buy their own regulators. Which may explain why super-sunny Arizona has so little installed solar capacity.
In South Dakota, Remi Bald Eagle, a Native American US Army veteran, seeks a seat on the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, which rules on the Standing Rock oil pipeline. And in what HuffPost called “the most important environmental race in the country,” Democrat Kelly Stone, who favors phasing out oil production, is running for the Texas Railroad Commission, which despite its name decides what oil, gas, and electric companies in America’s leading petro-state can build.
Will the Influencers Usher in a Green New Era?
The Uncounted
The story that goes largely under-reported in every US election is how few Americans vote. In 2016, some 90 million, roughly four out of every 10 eligible voters, did not cast a ballot. Attorney Nathaniel Stinnett claims that 10 million of these nonvoters nevertheless identify as environmentalists: They support green policies, even donate to activist groups; they just don’t vote. Stinnett’s Environmental Voter Project works to awaken this sleeping giant.
The Sunrise Movement
Meanwhile, the young climate activists of the Sunrise Movement are already winning elections with an unabashedly Green New Deal message. More than any other group, Sunrise pushed the Green New Deal into the national political conversation, helping Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey draft the eponymous congressional resolution. In 2020, Sunrise has helped Green New Deal champions defeat centrists in Democratic primaries, with Markey dealing Representative Joe Kennedy Jr. the first defeat a Kennedy has ever suffered in a Massachusetts election. But can Sunrise also be successful against Republicans in the general elections this fall?
The Starpower
And an intriguing wild card: celebrity firepower, grassroots activism, and big-bucks marketing have converged behind a campaign to get Latina mothers to vote climate in 2020. Latinos have long been the US demographic most concerned about climate change. Now, Vote Like A Madre aims to get 5 million Latina mothers in Florida, Texas, and Arizona to the polls. Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayak, and Lin-Manuel Miranda are urging mothers to make a “pinky promise” to vote for their kids’ climate future in November. Turning out even a quarter of those 5 million voters, though no easy task, could swing the results in three states Trump must win to remain president, which brings us back to the first category, “Will the White House Turn Green?”
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--2020-09-24--West Coast Wildfires Underscore Ominous Global Trend: Forests Are Dying

Behind the apocalyptic wildfires in California and Oregon , another ominous trend is creeping across the globe : Everywhere in the world , trees are dying with the biggest trees going first .
Entire forests are threatened worldwide .
The 83 large wildfires burning in mid-September in Arizona , California , Colorado , Oregon , Montana , Nevada , South Dakota and Wyoming are only one symptom of what ’ s happening to forests everywhere .
Forests are dying .
Forests can adapt to change , but recent atmospheric warming is driving changes faster than many trees can adapt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico , led by Nate McDowell , studied southwestern forests and developed a “ forest drought-stress index ” based on more than a thousand years of tree ring data , which reveal past drought conditions .
They concluded that by the 2050s , average annual drought conditions in the southwestern U.S. will be worse than any drought in the past 1,000 years .
From this , they concluded that sometime after 2050 , conifer forests in the southwestern U.S. will disappear .
Since then , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remainder of this century , half ( or more ) of all conifer forests in the northern hemisphere will disappear , and , furthermore , that forests worldwide are endangered by what they call “ hotter drought.
” Forests are hanging by a thread .
The causes of expanding tree death are complicated , but they all start with warmer air .
According to NASA , since about 1890 , the average temperature across the entire planet has risen 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit ( 0.9°Celsius . )
This may not seem like much , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 percent greater than the global average rise , so temperature over land has risen an average of 2.4°F ( 1.3°C ) .
This means less snow , more rain , earlier springtime , and most importantly , warmer air .
Warmer air can hold more moisture , so , as the air warms , it draws moisture out of soils and plants , including trees .
This is called “ atmospheric moisture demand ” or “ vapor pressure deficit.
” This important principle explains why a wet towel dries faster in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steam room .
“ The air literally sucks the moisture out of the soil and plants , ” explains forest researcher A .
Park Williams , author of a major study of the effects of drought on forests .
As air temperature rises , atmospheric moisture demand rises even faster .
For trees , this creates a double-whammy .
In different ways , trees are harmed by both the rising atmospheric moisture demand and the rising heat .
As air temperature rises , a cascade of effects kicks in .
Atmospheric moisture demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water available to the roots of trees and other plants .
Simultaneously , the rising moisture demand draws water from a tree ’ s leaves ( or needles , in the case of conifers ) .
As the moisture demand pulls water out of tree leaves , water inside the plant decreases and air bubbles can form in the channels that carry water inside the plant .
The air bubbles interrupt water flow .
This is called cavitation , and in some trees , cavitation alone can cause tree death .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need to survive , some trees close down the little valves ( called stomata ) in the surface of their leaves .
The valves serve two purposes — they let out water vapor and they let in carbon dioxide .
Carbon dioxide is trees ’ basic food .
Therefore , when a tree closes its leaf valves to preserve water , it cuts off its own food supply .
If this goes on too long , the tree starves to death .
But that is not all .
As the planet grows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so the fire season is now longer than it used to be — 18 percent longer , worldwide .
Furthermore , as the atmosphere grows warmer , moisture that used to fall as snow is now more likely to fall as rain .
When snow melts , it slowly yields water that sinks into the soil ; rain , on the other hand , tends to run off the soil rapidly , leaving the soil drier than it used to be when fed by snow-melt .
The change from snow to rain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more water out of soil , creates more drought conditions .
Drought conditions in turn propel the sequence of events inside trees that can result in death by cavitation or carbon starvation .
Moreover , because of climate change , bigger wind storms are knocking over more trees , killing them and creating more fuel for fires .
More fuel and warmer weather bring larger fires .
And then there are insect infestations , which are steadily increasing .
Healthy trees can usually fend off attacks by tree-killing beetles ( generally called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are 600 varieties ) and the microbes that sometimes travel with them .
Yet warmer weather allows bark beetles to reproduce faster , thus creating more of them .
Warmer weather also allows beetles to extend their geographic range , making more trees susceptible to insect death .
As trees respond to “ warmer drought , ” they become weaker and more vulnerable to fatal attack by beetles , providing still more fuel for fires .
Aided by bark beetles , the recent decade of drought in California has killed an estimated 163 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large fires .
Why does this matter ?
Why are forests valuable to humans ?
Forests produce oxygen , and they shelter 80 percent of the world ’ s biodiversity .
Three hundred million people live in forests , and 1.6 billion people make a living there .
Trees keep us cool and they absorb tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide , the main gas responsible for the global warming emergency .
As forests die , they release stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere , warming the planet further , killing more trees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be replenished , and they hold soil in place , preventing water and wind from moving it into streams and lakes .
Trees serve as windbreaks , helping farmers maintain their soil .
Urban trees reduce fine-particle pollution , improve air quality , and damp down noise .
And of course , forests provide timber .
When we think of commercial forestry , we may think of clear-cuts , endless acres of tree stumps and eroding soil .
But it does not have to be done that way .
The Menominee people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which in turn has sustained them , providing income from a small lumber mill for 150 years .
It ’ s clearly possible for humans to live within the boundaries of natural systems ; Indigenous communities are leading the way on this front , and should be supported in doing so .
To preserve the world ’ s forests , we would have to overcome the power of the fossil fuel corporations , which have kept us locked onto a path of destruction .
( In recent years , governments have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 10 million per minute , every minute of every day of the year . )
An emergency requires leadership .
We don ’ t have that in the U.S. President Trump is out of touch with reality .
To discount the role of climate change in California ’ s fires , he recently said , “ You have forests all over the world .
You don ’ t have fires like you do in California.
” As he spoke , the Arctic , Argentina , Australia , Brazil , Indonesia and Siberia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , if not all of recorded history , ” The New York Times reported .
Trump also said recently “ I don ’ t think science knows ” what ’ s causing record-setting wildfires in the western states .
That ’ s his way of saying , “ There ’ s nothing to be done.
” But the Trump administration has done plenty : in the past three years , it has taken more than 160 actions to make the climate emergency worse .
It seems apparent that a Republican-dominated federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate emergency .
( Democrats in the Senate have published their own detailed plan ; however , so long as they remain a minority , their plan molders . )
The federal government currently spends roughly $ 700 billion a year on the military .
It spends about $ 15 billion a year trying to understand and stop climate change .
To bring the wildfire problem under control , we need to treat the climate emergency like the emergency it is .

Trees are resilient, but the current rate of atmospheric warming is driving changes faster than forests can adapt to.
Part of the Series Covering Climate Now
This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.
Behind the apocalyptic wildfires in California and Oregon, another ominous trend is creeping across the globe: Everywhere in the world, trees are dying , with the biggest trees going first. Entire forests are threatened worldwide.
The 83 large wildfires burning in mid-September in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota and Wyoming are only one symptom of what’s happening to forests everywhere. Forests are dying.
Forests can adapt to change, but recent atmospheric warming is driving changes faster than many trees can adapt to.
Between 2010-2016, a research group at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, led by Nate McDowell, studied southwestern forests and developed a “forest drought-stress index” based on more than a thousand years of tree ring data, which reveal past drought conditions. They concluded that by the 2050s, average annual drought conditions in the southwestern U.S. will be worse than any drought in the past 1,000 years. From this, they concluded that sometime after 2050, conifer forests in the southwestern U.S. will disappear. Since then, the McDowell team has concluded that during the remainder of this century, half (or more) of all conifer forests in the northern hemisphere will disappear, and, furthermore, that forests worldwide are endangered by what they call “hotter drought.” Forests are hanging by a thread.
The causes of expanding tree death are complicated, but they all start with warmer air. According to NASA, since about 1890, the average temperature across the entire planet has risen 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9°Celsius.) This may not seem like much, but the temperature rise over land is 50 percent greater than the global average rise, so temperature over land has risen an average of 2.4°F (1.3°C). This means less snow, more rain, earlier springtime, and most importantly, warmer air.
Warmer air can hold more moisture, so, as the air warms, it draws moisture out of soils and plants, including trees. This is called “atmospheric moisture demand” or “vapor pressure deficit.” This important principle explains why a wet towel dries faster in a dry-heat sauna than it does in a steam room. “The air literally sucks the moisture out of the soil and plants,” explains forest researcher A. Park Williams, author of a major study of the effects of drought on forests.
As air temperature rises, atmospheric moisture demand rises even faster. For trees, this creates a double-whammy. In different ways, trees are harmed by both the rising atmospheric moisture demand and the rising heat.
In different ways, trees are harmed by both the rising atmospheric moisture demand and the rising heat.
As air temperature rises, a cascade of effects kicks in. Atmospheric moisture demand extracts water from the soil, reducing the water available to the roots of trees and other plants. Simultaneously, the rising moisture demand draws water from a tree’s leaves (or needles, in the case of conifers). As the moisture demand pulls water out of tree leaves, water inside the plant decreases and air bubbles can form in the channels that carry water inside the plant. The air bubbles interrupt water flow. This is called cavitation, and in some trees, cavitation alone can cause tree death.
To preserve their internal water supply, which they need to survive, some trees close down the little valves (called stomata) in the surface of their leaves. The valves serve two purposes — they let out water vapor and they let in carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is trees’ basic food. Therefore, when a tree closes its leaf valves to preserve water, it cuts off its own food supply. If this goes on too long, the tree starves to death.
But that is not all. As the planet grows warmer, spring is arriving earlier, so the fire season is now longer than it used to be — 18 percent longer, worldwide. Furthermore, as the atmosphere grows warmer, moisture that used to fall as snow is now more likely to fall as rain. When snow melts, it slowly yields water that sinks into the soil; rain, on the other hand, tends to run off the soil rapidly, leaving the soil drier than it used to be when fed by snow-melt. The change from snow to rain, combined with increased atmospheric moisture demand sucking more water out of soil, creates more drought conditions. Drought conditions in turn propel the sequence of events inside trees that can result in death by cavitation or carbon starvation.
To preserve the world’s forests, we would have to overcome the power of the fossil fuel corporations, which have kept us locked onto a path of destruction.
Moreover, because of climate change, bigger wind storms are knocking over more trees, killing them and creating more fuel for fires. More fuel and warmer weather bring larger fires. And then there are insect infestations, which are steadily increasing. Healthy trees can usually fend off attacks by tree-killing beetles (generally called “bark beetles,” of which there are 600 varieties) and the microbes that sometimes travel with them. Yet warmer weather allows bark beetles to reproduce faster, thus creating more of them. Warmer weather also allows beetles to extend their geographic range, making more trees susceptible to insect death. As trees respond to “warmer drought,” they become weaker and more vulnerable to fatal attack by beetles, providing still more fuel for fires.
Aided by bark beetles, the recent decade of drought in California has killed an estimated 163 million trees, priming the forests for large fires.
Why does this matter? Why are forests valuable to humans?
Forests produce oxygen, and they shelter 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Three hundred million people live in forests, and 1.6 billion people make a living there. Trees keep us cool and they absorb tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide, the main gas responsible for the global warming emergency. As forests die, they release stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, warming the planet further, killing more trees.
Forests slow water runoff, allowing groundwater to be replenished, and they hold soil in place, preventing water and wind from moving it into streams and lakes.
Trees serve as windbreaks, helping farmers maintain their soil. Urban trees reduce fine-particle pollution, improve air quality, and damp down noise.
To bring the wildfire problem under control, we need to treat the climate emergency like the emergency it is.
And of course, forests provide timber. When we think of commercial forestry, we may think of clear-cuts, endless acres of tree stumps and eroding soil. But it does not have to be done that way. The Menominee people of northwestern Wisconsin have sustained their forest, which in turn has sustained them, providing income from a small lumber mill for 150 years. It’s clearly possible for humans to live within the boundaries of natural systems; Indigenous communities are leading the way on this front, and should be supported in doing so.
To preserve the world’s forests, we would have to overcome the power of the fossil fuel corporations, which have kept us locked onto a path of destruction. (In recent years, governments have been subsidizing fossil fuels to the tune of $10 million per minute, every minute of every day of the year.)
An emergency requires leadership. We don’t have that in the U.S. President Trump is out of touch with reality. To discount the role of climate change in California’s fires, he recently said, “You have forests all over the world. You don’t have fires like you do in California.” As he spoke, the Arctic, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Siberia were experiencing “their worst wildfires in decades, if not all of recorded history,” The New York Times reported. Trump also said recently , “I don’t think science knows” what’s causing record-setting wildfires in the western states. That’s his way of saying, “There’s nothing to be done.” But the Trump administration has done plenty: in the past three years, it has taken more than 160 actions to make the climate emergency worse.
It seems apparent that a Republican-dominated federal government is not going to respond to the climate emergency. (Democrats in the Senate have published their own detailed plan; however, so long as they remain a minority, their plan molders.)
The federal government currently spends roughly $700 billion a year on the military. It spends about $15 billion a year trying to understand and stop climate change. To bring the wildfire problem under control, we need to treat the climate emergency like the emergency it is.
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.