truthout--2020-07-31--Bill Clinton Used John Lewis’s Funeral to Disparage the Black Freedom Struggle

Bill Clinton has a penchant for overstepping , for going too far and for being too cocky , especially when it comes to Black people .
He assumes a kind of insider posture that is , quite frankly , offensive .
This posture was on full display yesterday when , while eulogizing the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis , Clinton took the liberty to render his opinion about who was a good Black leader vs. who was a not-so-good Black leader .
In referring to the political differences between Lewis and Kwame Ture ( formerly Stokely Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee ( SNCC ) — Clinton backhandedly disparaged Ture .
“ There were two or three years there where the movement went a little bit too far towards Stokely , ” Clinton presumptuously opined , “ But in the end , John Lewis prevailed.
” Who is Bill Clinton to weigh in on whether or not Ture went “ too far ” when he was at the helm of SNCC ?
And how dare he poke jabs at a Black Freedom Movement leader who has been dead over 20 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Too far toward what , “ freedom ” ?
Clinton dismissively implied Ture was a hot-head extremist , the opposite of John Lewis , whom he portrayed as the more reasonable nonviolent , integrationist .
Both depictions miss the mark and diminish who each man was .
Perhaps these are the categories Clinton has for Black political figures — the good ones who don ’ t make him too uncomfortable , and those who “ go too far.
” We have heard a lot about John Lewis in the days since his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ve heard about his injuries on Bloody Sunday in Selma , his role in the Freedom Rides , his good-natured collegiality as an elected official and his persistent press for justice from inside the halls of Congress .
But we ’ ve heard very little about the brave young man who sought to give a more radical message at the 1963 March on Washington .
The speech Lewis had originally written for that occasion , along with his comrades in SNCC , called for “ revolution , ” and criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill as “ too little , too late.
” A particularly militant section of the original uncut speech read : Lewis ’ s uncompromising words offended some of the more moderate leaders on the platform that day , and he was asked by movement elders to soften the speech , which he did reluctantly .
But that was in 1963 , three years before Stokely Carmichael ( Ture ’ s name at the time ) and SNCC organizer , Willie Ricks , launched the slogan “ Black Power , ” during the Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ture had their differences , to be sure , but they were not each other ’ s antithesis , as Clinton ’ s remarks suggest .
Kwame Ture was a Trinidadian-born former Howard University student , powerful orator and brilliant intellectual .
He drew inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. , Malcolm X and Fannie Lou Hamer , and by the late 1960s , he an unapologetic revolutionary .
Ture made enormous personal sacrifices toward his vision of liberation .
He believed that the systems of capitalism , white supremacy , imperialism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order for true human freedom to flourish .
After he left SNCC , Ture worked briefly with the Black Panther Party , then moved to West Africa and founded the All-African People ’ s Revolutionary Party .
He wrote , traveled , agitated and organized , never garnering much fame and never earning much money .
He had been jailed , harassed and threatened during his work in the South .
He had become close to some of the fiercest freedom fighters in Mississippi and Alabama , and later to heroic anti-colonial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of those early years he fought alongside John Lewis , and then the two men took different paths .
I remember the last time I saw Kwame Ture .
It was not long before he died prematurely of prostate cancer .
He had been living in Guinea and he was back in the United States for meetings and medical treatment .
He was weak and thin .
I visited him in a modest Southside Chicago apartment where he was staying with friends .
I sat by his bedside interviewing him for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whom he admired greatly .
We had postponed the interview for several years and he insisted that we do it on this visit to Chicago , knowing perhaps that there might not be another .
I remember his thoughtful reflections about Baker , Dr. King and his former comrades in SNCC , including Lewis .
There was no animus , no grudges , no petty vitriol .
Ture was a serious and complicated man , imperfect like all of us , but deeply committed to justice and liberation for oppressed people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he saw as the key to all human liberation .
He believed in the global Black Freedom movement to his very core .
Despite substantive ideological differences , he and Lewis shared this fundamental passion — something Clinton might not fully understand .
Another section of Lewis ’ s 1963 D.C. speech came to mind as I listened to Clinton and other opportunistic politicians sing Lewis ’ s praises in recent days .
He warned : “ This nation is still a place of cheap political leaders who build their careers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms of political , economic and social exploitation.
” That statement was true in 1963 and it remains so in 2020 .
When Ture died in 1998 there were no former presidents at his memorial , no horse-drawn carriages to ceremoniously carry him to lie in state and no televised tributes .
His homecoming was modest , private and small , but among those who work toward and study Black liberation , Ture ’ s legacy still looms large .
Bill Clinton ’ s arrogant remarks can not diminish that .

Who is Bill Clinton to weigh in on whether or not civil rights organizer Kwame Ture went “too far”?
Bill Clinton has a penchant for overstepping, for going too far and for being too cocky, especially when it comes to Black people. He assumes a kind of insider posture that is, quite frankly, offensive.
This posture was on full display yesterday when, while eulogizing the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, Clinton took the liberty to render his opinion about who was a good Black leader vs. who was a not-so-good Black leader. In referring to the political differences between Lewis and Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) — both former leaders of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) — Clinton backhandedly disparaged Ture.
“There were two or three years there where the movement went a little bit too far towards Stokely,” Clinton presumptuously opined, “But in the end, John Lewis prevailed.”
Who is Bill Clinton to weigh in on whether or not Ture went “too far” when he was at the helm of SNCC? And how dare he poke jabs at a Black Freedom Movement leader who has been dead over 20 years, at a memorial service for another. Too far toward what, “freedom”?
Clinton dismissively implied Ture was a hot-head extremist, the opposite of John Lewis, whom he portrayed as the more reasonable nonviolent, integrationist. Both depictions miss the mark and diminish who each man was.
Perhaps these are the categories Clinton has for Black political figures — the good ones who don’t make him too uncomfortable, and those who “go too far.”
We have heard a lot about John Lewis in the days since his death at age 80 of pancreatic cancer. We’ve heard about his injuries on Bloody Sunday in Selma, his role in the Freedom Rides, his good-natured collegiality as an elected official and his persistent press for justice from inside the halls of Congress.
But we’ve heard very little about the brave young man who sought to give a more radical message at the 1963 March on Washington.
The speech Lewis had originally written for that occasion, along with his comrades in SNCC, called for “revolution,” and criticized President Kennedy’s pending civil rights bill as “too little, too late.”
A particularly militant section of the original uncut speech read:
We will march through the South, through the heart of Dixie, the way Sherman did. We shall pursue our own ‘scorched earth’ policy and burn Jim Crow to the ground — nonviolently. We shall fragment the South into a thousand pieces and put them back together in the image of democracy.
Lewis’s uncompromising words offended some of the more moderate leaders on the platform that day, and he was asked by movement elders to soften the speech, which he did reluctantly. But that was in 1963, three years before Stokely Carmichael (Ture’s name at the time) and SNCC organizer, Willie Ricks, launched the slogan “Black Power,” during the Mississippi “March Against Fear.” Lewis and Ture had their differences, to be sure, but they were not each other’s antithesis, as Clinton’s remarks suggest.
Kwame Ture was a Trinidadian-born former Howard University student, powerful orator and brilliant intellectual. He drew inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Fannie Lou Hamer, and by the late 1960s, he was an unapologetic revolutionary.
Ture made enormous personal sacrifices toward his vision of liberation. He believed that the systems of capitalism, white supremacy, imperialism and paternalistic white liberalism had to be undone in order for true human freedom to flourish.
After he left SNCC, Ture worked briefly with the Black Panther Party, then moved to West Africa and founded the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party. He wrote, traveled, agitated and organized, never garnering much fame and never earning much money. He had been jailed, harassed and threatened during his work in the South. He had become close to some of the fiercest freedom fighters in Mississippi and Alabama, and later to heroic anti-colonial leaders throughout the African continent.
For some of those early years he fought alongside John Lewis, and then the two men took different paths.
I remember the last time I saw Kwame Ture. It was not long before he died prematurely of prostate cancer. He had been living in Guinea and he was back in the United States for meetings and medical treatment. He was weak and thin. I visited him in a modest Southside Chicago apartment where he was staying with friends. I sat by his bedside interviewing him for what would become my book on Ella Baker, whom he admired greatly. We had postponed the interview for several years and he insisted that we do it on this visit to Chicago, knowing perhaps that there might not be another.
I remember his thoughtful reflections about Baker, Dr. King and his former comrades in SNCC, including Lewis. There was no animus, no grudges, no petty vitriol. Ture was a serious and complicated man, imperfect like all of us, but deeply committed to justice and liberation for oppressed people. He was devoted to Black liberation, which he saw as the key to all human liberation. He believed in the global Black Freedom movement to his very core. Despite substantive ideological differences, he and Lewis shared this fundamental passion — something Clinton might not fully understand.
Another section of Lewis’s 1963 D.C. speech came to mind as I listened to Clinton and other opportunistic politicians sing Lewis’s praises in recent days. He warned: “This nation is still a place of cheap political leaders who build their careers on immoral compromises and ally themselves with open forms of political, economic and social exploitation.”
That statement was true in 1963 and it remains so in 2020.
When Ture died in 1998 there were no former presidents at his memorial, no horse-drawn carriages to ceremoniously carry him to lie in state and no televised tributes. His homecoming was modest, private and small, but among those who work toward and study Black liberation, Ture’s legacy still looms large. Bill Clinton’s arrogant remarks cannot diminish that.
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truthout--2020-07-31--Barack Obama: End the Filibuster to Restore Voting Rights Act

AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, the Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
Family members and lawmakers and three former U.S. presidents—Bill Clinton , George W. Bush and Barack Obama—gathered in Atlanta , Georgia , Thursday at the Ebenezer Baptist Church , the spiritual home of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. to honor the life of civil rights legend , Congressmember John Lewis .
He was eulogized by former President Barack Obama who spoke hours after President Trump tweeting he ’ s floating the idea of delaying the election .
BARACK OBAMA : John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he never gave up , and never stopped speaking out because he saw the best in us .
He believed in us , even when we didn ’ t believe in ourselves .
And as a congressman he didn ’ t rest .
He kept getting himself arrested .
As an old man , he didn ’ t sit out any fight .
Sat in all night long on the floor of the United States Capitol .
I know his staff was stressed .
But the testing of his faith produced perseverance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not over , that the race is not yet won , that we have not yet reached that blessed destination where we are judged by the content of our character .
He knew from his own life that progress is fragile , that we have to be vigilant against the darker currents of this country ’ s history .
Of our own history , where there are whirlpools of violence and hatred and despair that can always rise again .
Bull Connor may be gone , but today we witness with our own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of black Americans .
George Wallace may be gone , but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators .
We may no longer have to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to cast a ballot , but even as we sit here , there are those in power who are doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the run-up to an election , that ’ s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don ’ t get sick !
Now , I know this is a celebration of John ’ s life .
There are some who might say we shouldn ’ t dwell on such things .
But that ’ s why I ’ m talking about them .
John Lewis devoted his time on this Earth fighting the very attacks on democracy , and what ’ s best in America , that we are seeing circulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single one of us has a God-given power and that the fate of this democracy depends on how we use it .
That democracy isn ’ t automatic .
It has to be nurtured ; it has to be tended to .
We have to work at it .
It ’ s hard .
And so he knew that it depends on whether we summon a measure , just a measure of John ’ s moral courage , to question what ’ s right and what ’ s wrong , and call things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as he had a breath in his body , he would do everything he could to preserve this democracy .
And as long as we have breath in our bodies , we have to continue his cause .
If we want our children to grow up in a democracy , not just with elections but a true democracy , a representative democracy , in a big-hearted , tolerant , vibrant , inclusive America of perpetual self-creation , then we ’ re going to have to be more like John .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things he had to do , because he did them for us .
But , we got ta do somethin ’ .
As the Lord instructed Paul , “ Do not be afraid .
Go on speakin ’ .
Do not be silent .
For I am with you , and no one will attack you to harm you , for I have many in this city who are my people.
” Just everybody ’ s got ta come out and vote !
We got all those people in the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
Like John , we ’ ve got ta keep gettin ’ into that good trouble .
He knew that nonviolent protests is patriotic , a way to raise public awareness and put a spotlight on injustice and make the powers that be uncomfortable .
Like John , we don ’ t have to choose between protest and politics .
It ’ s not an either/or situation .
It ’ s a both/and situation .
We have to engage in protest where that ’ s effective , but we also have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws , institutional practices .
That ’ s why John ran for Congress 34 years ago .
Like John , we ’ ve got to fight even harder for the most powerful tool that we have , which is the right to vote .
The Voting Rights Act is one of the crowning achievements of our democracy .
It ’ s why John crossed that bridge .
It ’ s why he spilled his blood .
And by the way , it was the result of Democratic and Republican efforts .
President Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father , signed its renewal when they were in office .
President Clinton didn ’ t have to , because it was the law when he arrived .
So instead he made a law to make it easier for people to register to vote .
But once the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act , some state legislators unleashed a flood of laws designed specifically to make voting harder , especially by the way , state legislators where there is a lot of minority turnout and population growth .
That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was an attack on what John fought for .
It was an attack on our democratic freedoms .
And we should treat it as such .
If politicians wants to honor John—and I am so grateful for the legacy and work of all the congressional leaders who are here—but there is a better way than a statement calling him a hero .
You want to honor John ?
Let ’ s honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for .
And , by the way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act , that is a fine tribute .
But , John wouldn ’ t want us to stop there , just trying to get back to where we already were .
Once we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act , we should keep marching to make it even better , by making sure every American is automatically registered to vote , including former inmates , who have earned their second chance .
By adding polling places , and expanding early voting , and making Election Day a national holiday so if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factory , or you are a single mom who has got to go to her job and doesn ’ t get time off , you can still cast your ballot .
By guaranteeing that every American citizen has equal representation in our government , including the American citizens who live in Washington , D.C. and in Puerto Rico .
They ’ re Americans .
By ending some of the partisan gerrymandering , so that all voters have the power to choose their politicians , not the other way around .
And , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , another Jim Crow relic , in order to secure the God-given rights of every American , then that ’ s what we should do .
Now , even if we do all this , even if every bogus voter suppression law is struck off the books today , we ’ ve got to be honest with ourselves that too many of us choose not to exercise the franchise .
Too many of our citizens believe their vote won ’ t make a difference , or they buy into the cynicism that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy of voter suppression , to make you discouraged , to stop believing in your own power .
So , we are also going to have to remember what John said .
If you don ’ t do everything you can do to change things , then they will remain the same .
You only pass this way once ; you have to give it all you have .
As long as young people are protesting in the streets , hoping real change takes hold , I am hopeful , but we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot box .
Not when few elections have been as urgent on so many levels as this one .
We can ’ t treat voting as an errand to run if we have some time .
We have to treat it as the most important action we can take , on behalf of democracy .
And like John , we have to give it all we have .
I was proud that John Lewis was a friend of mine .
I met him when I was in law school .
He came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ Mr .
Lewis , you are one of my heroes .
What inspired me more than anything as a young man was to see what you and Reverend Lawson , Bob Moses and Diane Nash and others did.
” And he got that kind of “ Aw shucks .
Thank you very much.
” The next time I saw him , I had been elected to the United States Senate .
And I told him , “ John , I am here because of you.
” And on Inauguration Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the first people I greeted and hugged on that stand .
And I told him , “ This is your day too.
” He was a good and kind and gentle man , and he believed in us , even when we don ’ t believe in ourselves .
And , it ’ s fitting that the last time John and I shared a public forum was on Zoom , and I am pretty sure neither he nor I set up the Zoom call , because we didn ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtual town hall with a gathering of young activists who had been helping to lead this summer ’ s demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death .
Afterwards , I spoke to John privately , and he could not have been prouder to see this new generation of activists standing up for freedom and equality .
A new generation that was intent on voting and protecting the right to vote , and in some cases , a new generation running for political office .
I told him , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of every race and every religion , from every background and gender and and sexual orientation , John , those are your children .
They learned from your example .
Even if they didn ’ t always know it.
” They had understood through him what American citizenship requires , even if they had only heard about his courage through the history books .
By the thousands , faceless , anonymous , relentless young people , black and white , have taken our whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence .
Dr. King said that in the 1960s and it came true again this summer .
And , we see it outside our windows in big cities , and rural towns , in men and women , young and old , straight Americans and LGBTQ Americans , blacks who long for equal treatment and whites who can no longer accept freedom for themselves while witnessing the subjugation of their fellow Americans .
We see it in everybody doing the hard work of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears and our own prejudices , our own hatreds .
You see it in people trying to be better , truer versions of ourselves .
And that ’ s what John Lewis teaches us .
That ’ s where real courage comes from , not from turning on each other , but from turning towards one another .
Not by sowing hatred and division , but by spreading love and truth .
Not by avoiding our responsibilities to create a better America and a better world , but by embracing those responsibilities with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our beloved community , we do not walk alone .
What a gift John Lewis was .
We are all so lucky to have had him walk with us for a while , and show us the way .
God bless you all .
God bless America .
God bless this gentle soul who pulled it closer to its promise .
Thank you very much .

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, the Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman. Family members and lawmakers and three former U.S. presidents—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama—gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. to honor the life of civil rights legend, Congressmember John Lewis. He was eulogized by former President Barack Obama who spoke hours after President Trump tweeting he’s floating the idea of delaying the election.
BARACK OBAMA: John always saw the best in us, and he never gave up, and never stopped speaking out because he saw the best in us. He believed in us, even when we didn’t believe in ourselves. And as a congressman he didn’t rest. He kept getting himself arrested. As an old man, he didn’t sit out any fight. Sat in all night long on the floor of the United States Capitol. I know his staff was stressed.
But the testing of his faith produced perseverance. He knew that the march is not over, that the race is not yet won, that we have not yet reached that blessed destination where we are judged by the content of our character. He knew from his own life that progress is fragile, that we have to be vigilant against the darker currents of this country’s history. Of our own history, where there are whirlpools of violence and hatred and despair that can always rise again.
Bull Connor may be gone, but today we witness with our own eyes police officers kneeling on the necks of black Americans. George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators. We may no longer have to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to cast a ballot, but even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision, even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election, that’s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick!
Now, I know this is a celebration of John’s life. There are some who might say we shouldn’t dwell on such things. But that’s why I’m talking about them. John Lewis devoted his time on this Earth fighting the very attacks on democracy, and what’s best in America, that we are seeing circulate right now. He knew that every single one of us has a God-given power and that the fate of this democracy depends on how we use it. That democracy isn’t automatic. It has to be nurtured; it has to be tended to. We have to work at it. It’s hard. And so he knew that it depends on whether we summon a measure, just a measure of John’s moral courage, to question what’s right and what’s wrong, and call things as they are.
He said that as long as he had a breath in his body, he would do everything he could to preserve this democracy. And as long as we have breath in our bodies, we have to continue his cause. If we want our children to grow up in a democracy, not just with elections but a true democracy, a representative democracy, in a big-hearted, tolerant, vibrant, inclusive America of perpetual self-creation, then we’re going to have to be more like John. We don’t have to do all the things he had to do, because he did them for us. But, we gotta do somethin’.
As the Lord instructed Paul, “Do not be afraid. Go on speakin’. Do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” Just everybody’s gotta come out and vote! We got all those people in the city, but they can’t do nothin’. Like John, we’ve gotta keep gettin’ into that good trouble. He knew that nonviolent protests is patriotic, a way to raise public awareness and put a spotlight on injustice and make the powers that be uncomfortable.
Like John, we don’t have to choose between protest and politics. It’s not an either/or situation. It’s a both/and situation. We have to engage in protest where that’s effective, but we also have to translate our passion and our causes into laws, institutional practices. That’s why John ran for Congress 34 years ago. Like John, we’ve got to fight even harder for the most powerful tool that we have, which is the right to vote.
The Voting Rights Act is one of the crowning achievements of our democracy. It’s why John crossed that bridge. It’s why he spilled his blood. And by the way, it was the result of Democratic and Republican efforts. President Bush, who spoke here earlier, and his father, signed its renewal when they were in office. President Clinton didn’t have to, because it was the law when he arrived. So instead he made a law to make it easier for people to register to vote.
But once the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, some state legislators unleashed a flood of laws designed specifically to make voting harder, especially by the way, state legislators where there is a lot of minority turnout and population growth. That is not necessarily a mystery or an accident. It was an attack on what John fought for. It was an attack on our democratic freedoms. And we should treat it as such. If politicians wants to honor John—and I am so grateful for the legacy and work of all the congressional leaders who are here—but there is a better way than a statement calling him a hero. You want to honor John? Let’s honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for.
And, by the way, naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, that is a fine tribute. But, John wouldn’t want us to stop there, just trying to get back to where we already were. Once we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, we should keep marching to make it even better, by making sure every American is automatically registered to vote, including former inmates, who have earned their second chance. By adding polling places, and expanding early voting, and making Election Day a national holiday so if you are somebody who is working in a factory, or you are a single mom who has got to go to her job and doesn’t get time off, you can still cast your ballot. By guaranteeing that every American citizen has equal representation in our government, including the American citizens who live in Washington, D.C. and in Puerto Rico. They’re Americans. By ending some of the partisan gerrymandering, so that all voters have the power to choose their politicians, not the other way around. And, if all of this takes eliminating the filibuster, another Jim Crow relic, in order to secure the God-given rights of every American, then that’s what we should do.
Now, even if we do all this, even if every bogus voter suppression law is struck off the books today, we’ve got to be honest with ourselves that too many of us choose not to exercise the franchise. Too many of our citizens believe their vote won’t make a difference, or they buy into the cynicism that, by the way, is the central strategy of voter suppression, to make you discouraged, to stop believing in your own power. So, we are also going to have to remember what John said. If you don’t do everything you can do to change things, then they will remain the same. You only pass this way once; you have to give it all you have.
As long as young people are protesting in the streets, hoping real change takes hold, I am hopeful, but we can’t casually abandon them at the ballot box. Not when few elections have been as urgent on so many levels as this one. We can’t treat voting as an errand to run if we have some time. We have to treat it as the most important action we can take, on behalf of democracy. And like John, we have to give it all we have.
I was proud that John Lewis was a friend of mine. I met him when I was in law school. He came to speak. I went up and I said, “Mr. Lewis, you are one of my heroes. What inspired me more than anything as a young man was to see what you and Reverend Lawson, Bob Moses and Diane Nash and others did.” And he got that kind of “Aw shucks. Thank you very much.” The next time I saw him, I had been elected to the United States Senate. And I told him, “John, I am here because of you.” And on Inauguration Day in 2008, 2009, he was one of the first people I greeted and hugged on that stand. And I told him, “This is your day too.”
He was a good and kind and gentle man, and he believed in us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves. And, it’s fitting that the last time John and I shared a public forum was on Zoom, and I am pretty sure neither he nor I set up the Zoom call, because we didn’t know how to work it. It was a virtual town hall with a gathering of young activists who had been helping to lead this summer’s demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Afterwards, I spoke to John privately, and he could not have been prouder to see this new generation of activists standing up for freedom and equality. A new generation that was intent on voting and protecting the right to vote, and in some cases, a new generation running for political office. I told him, “All those young people, John, of every race and every religion, from every background and gender and and sexual orientation, John, those are your children. They learned from your example. Even if they didn’t always know it.”
They had understood through him what American citizenship requires, even if they had only heard about his courage through the history books. By the thousands, faceless, anonymous, relentless young people, black and white, have taken our whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep of the founding fathers in the formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Dr. King said that in the 1960s and it came true again this summer.
And, we see it outside our windows in big cities, and rural towns, in men and women, young and old, straight Americans and LGBTQ Americans, blacks who long for equal treatment and whites who can no longer accept freedom for themselves while witnessing the subjugation of their fellow Americans. We see it in everybody doing the hard work of overcoming complacency, of overcoming our own fears and our own prejudices, our own hatreds. You see it in people trying to be better, truer versions of ourselves.
And that’s what John Lewis teaches us. That’s where real courage comes from, not from turning on each other, but from turning towards one another. Not by sowing hatred and division, but by spreading love and truth. Not by avoiding our responsibilities to create a better America and a better world, but by embracing those responsibilities with joy and perseverance, and discovering that in our beloved community, we do not walk alone.
What a gift John Lewis was. We are all so lucky to have had him walk with us for a while, and show us the way. God bless you all. God bless America. God bless this gentle soul who pulled it closer to its promise. Thank you very much.


truthout--2020-07-31--Monumental Contraction of US Economy Wipes Out Five Years of Gains

The United States economy saw a monumental contraction in the second quarter of this year , dropping at a rate that is unprecedented since records of performance started being kept in the 1940s .
U.S. gross domestic product ( GDP ) shrunk by seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 32.9 percent .
If the rate of contraction for the second quarter of 2020 continued on for a full year , the economy would lose a third of its GDP .
According to reporting from Axios , the decline in GDP that the U.S. witnessed wiped out all economic gains made since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without the annualized calculation included , the nation ’ s economy lost 9.5 percent of its GDP .
Compared to the eurozone ( the countries in the European Union that use the euro as currency ) , the U.S. actually suffered fewer losses as a percent GDP over the quarter , as that group of nations saw a quarterly drop of 12.1 percent GDP .
However , with the annualized calculations thrown in , it appears that the U.S. is in worse shape : Compared to our 32.9 percent annualized rate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjusted drop of 15 percent annualized .
Many economists believe that European countries and many other nations around the world will have an easier time recovering than the U.S. , as they are seeing a slowdown in the number of COVID-19 cases , while the U.S. is identifying tens of thousands of new cases on a daily basis .
More than 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with coronavirus since the pandemic reached the U.S. , with 67,167 new cases being reported on July 30 alone .
Over the past week , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported daily , on average , according to The New York Times .
Some economists have blamed President Donald Trump ’ s lackluster response to the coronavirus for the dismal economic situation .
While recognizing a global pandemic would hurt any market , former Bloomberg editor-in-chief Matthew Winkler said the president could have lessened the damage by taking a more proactive approach .
“ It was Trump ’ s defiance of science , his muddled messaging and his incessant vitriol that has plunged the country into a swamp of joblessness , receding labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other developed nations , ” Winkler wrote earlier this month .
In mid-April , economist Jeffrey Sachs told The New Yorker that the “ only way to have a viable economy and society is to control this epidemic.
” Yet the president didn ’ t respond in a proper way , Sachs said .
“ Simply letting the virus run through the society would be unacceptably costly , and that ’ s why essentially no country in the world is doing that , ” the economist opined .
“ Here we are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in resources , in capacities , and yet we ’ re watching a complete failure of a political response — with a massive loss of life — in real time , ” Sachs said .
“ It ’ s quite shocking , because Trump not only does not know how to approach this issue but he blocks those who do .
”

Failure to address the pandemic head-on may have resulted in larger quarterly economic losses than were necessary.
The United States economy saw a monumental contraction in the second quarter of this year, dropping at a rate that is unprecedented since records of performance started being kept in the 1940s.
U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) shrunk by seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 32.9 percent. If the rate of contraction for the second quarter of 2020 continued on for a full year, the economy would lose a third of its GDP.
According to reporting from Axios, the decline in GDP that the U.S. witnessed wiped out all economic gains made since 2015.
On the quarterly basis alone, without the annualized calculation included, the nation’s economy lost 9.5 percent of its GDP. Compared to the eurozone (the countries in the European Union that use the euro as currency), the U.S. actually suffered fewer losses as a percent GDP over the quarter, as that group of nations saw a quarterly drop of 12.1 percent GDP. However, with the annualized calculations thrown in, it appears that the U.S. is in worse shape: Compared to our 32.9 percent annualized rate, the eurozone countries only saw a seasonally adjusted drop of 15 percent annualized.
Many economists believe that European countries and many other nations around the world will have an easier time recovering than the U.S., as they are seeing a slowdown in the number of COVID-19 cases, while the U.S. is identifying tens of thousands of new cases on a daily basis.
More than 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with coronavirus since the pandemic reached the U.S., with 67,167 new cases being reported on July 30 alone. Over the past week, there have been more than 64,000 new cases reported daily, on average, according to The New York Times.
Some economists have blamed President Donald Trump’s lackluster response to the coronavirus for the dismal economic situation. While recognizing a global pandemic would hurt any market, former Bloomberg editor-in-chief Matthew Winkler said the president could have lessened the damage by taking a more proactive approach.
“It was Trump’s defiance of science, his muddled messaging and his incessant vitriol that has plunged the country into a swamp of joblessness, receding labor participation and slumping business confidence unseen in other developed nations,” Winkler wrote earlier this month.
In mid-April, economist Jeffrey Sachs told The New Yorker that the “only way to have a viable economy and society is to control this epidemic.” Yet the president didn’t respond in a proper way, Sachs said.
“Simply letting the virus run through the society would be unacceptably costly, and that’s why essentially no country in the world is doing that,” the economist opined.
“Here we are, a country so rich in expertise, in resources, in capacities, and yet we’re watching a complete failure of a political response — with a massive loss of life — in real time,” Sachs said. “It’s quite shocking, because Trump not only does not know how to approach this issue but he blocks those who do.”
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--2020-07-31--With Trump Donor in Charge, USPS May Shut Locations, Cut Service Before Election

Cutting service and shuttering locations are both under consideration by the U.S .
Postal Service as the agency faces a cash crunch ahead of an expected surge in mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic , according to a sitting U.S. senator and numerous postal worker union officials .
Sen. Joe Manchin , D-W.Va. , sent a letter to recently-installed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy demanding an explanation about reports looming closures and service cuts from postal workers in his home state .
The concerns were raised after DeJoy , a major Trump donor , pushed for drastic cost-cutting measures when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press .
Manchin ’ s letter detailed reports that “ numerous post office locations in my state and across the nation … are scheduled for imminent closure or significant reduction in hours and service.
” Some post offices in West Virginia have hung signs announcing their proposed closure at the end of August , he wrote .
A West Virginia postal workers union official corroborated the reports received by Manchin , noting that 26 offices in just one region of the state are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four hours a day ( along with service cuts at 31 other locations ) .
“ A lot of this has been dropped on us with little or no communication , ” Elizabeth Coonan , a steward for the American Postal Workers Union Local 3264 in Clarksburg , told Vice News .
“ The times that they ’ re slating [ the offices ] to close is when they do a lot of business.
” A New Jersey union official told the outlet that 40 post offices in the state are also facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , Ohio and Tennessee have also announced plans to reduce hours , according to Vice .
“ This would likely be a violation of both federal law ” and USPS rules , Manchin said in his letter , demanding a detailed list of changes directed by DeJoy since he assumed office last month .
“ It ’ s just asinine to think that you can shut something down or throttle it back in terms of the pandemic when basically the lifeline for voting and democracy is going to be in the hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the AP on Wednesday .
Mark Dimondstein , who heads the American Postal Workers Union , which represents more than 200,000 workers and retirees , told the outlet that there was “ definitely buzz ” about looming closures but no details .
DeJoy said in a statement earlier this week that the USPS could not continue to operate under its existing model .
The USPS reported a $ 4.5 billion loss in the first quarter but saw its revenue slightly increase in the second quarter amid the coronavirus crisis .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position , stemming from substantial declines in mail volume and a broken business model , ” DeJoy said .
“ We are currently unable to balance our costs with available funding sources to fulfill both our universal service mission and other legal obligations .
Because of this , the Postal Service has experienced over a decade of financial losses , with no end in sight , and we face an impending liquidity crisis.
” DeJoy said in the statement that the situation made it “ critical that the Postal Service take a fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjustments.
” “ The logical conclusion is that he ’ s going to try to close some post offices , ” Dimondstein told the AP .
Manchin noted in his letter that Congress approved up to $ 10 billion to help bail out the USPS .
“ Unfortunately , not only has little to none of that funding been utilized , ” he wrote .
“ You are now proposing the very cuts that we sought to avoid with that emergency line of credit.
” The Treasury Department on Wednesday announced that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USPS on the terms of its loans , but the agency was able to continue to operate without additional debt .
“ While the USPS is able to fund its operating expenses without additional borrowing at this time , we are pleased to have reached an agreement on the material terms and conditions of a loan , should the need arise , ” Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
“ I look forward to continuing to work with Postmaster General DeJoy to fulfill the president ’ s goal of establishing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to provide necessary mail service for all Americans , without shifting costs to taxpayers.
” The Democratic-led House of Representatives approved another $ 25 billion to help the USPS as part of its $ 3 trillion HEROES Act package in May after the agency warned that its losses could increase by $ 22 billion over the next 18 months .
But the Republican-controlled Senate ’ s counter-proposal unveiled by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , this week includes no funding to help the USPS .
Trump , who has frequently criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recently has sought to raise doubts over its ability to handle mail-in voting , which he opposes based on debunked conspiracy theories alleging possible fraud .
Mail ballots have a fraud rate of about 0.00006 % .
The president on Thursday suggested delaying the election over his unfounded fears about fraud .
However , he has no authority to move the date , and there appears to be no appetite in Congress to do so .
Advocates of voting by mail have raised concerns that DeJoy ’ s plans for an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down mail delivery ahead of an election where record numbers are expected to vote by mail because of the pandemic .
“ While these changes in a normal year would be drastic , in a presidential election year when many states are relying heavily on absentee mail-in ballots , increases in mail delivery timing would impair the ability of ballots to be received and counted in a timely manner — an unacceptable outcome for a free and fair election , ” Rep. Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , the chairwoman of the House Oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to DeJoy .
Watchdog groups warned earlier this month that DeJoy ’ s appointment could “ corrupt a key institution ahead of Election Day.
” “ Throughout his presidency , Donald Trump has attacked democratic institutions and undermined independent agencies .
Now , as millions of voters are relying on the Postal Service to support our elections during the coronavirus pandemic , Trump is politicizing another once-nonpartisan government agency .
Having a political ally with ethical and competence questions like DeJoy lead the agency potentially puts November ’ s election at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy director of for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , and Sylvia Albert , the director of voting and elections at Common Cause , wrote in a joint NBC News op-ed .
“ Installing a loyalist like DeJoy is another way Trump could undermine the agency and suppress voting in 2020 , ” they added .
“ These actions are yet another desperate and potentially dangerous attempt to undermine the general election as his approval numbers continue to slip .
”

Little to none of the $10 billion already apportioned to help bail out the USPS has been utilized.
Cutting service and shuttering locations are both under consideration by the U.S. Postal Service as the agency faces a cash crunch ahead of an expected surge in mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a sitting U.S. senator and numerous postal worker union officials.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., sent a letter to recently-installed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy demanding an explanation about reports looming closures and service cuts from postal workers in his home state. The concerns were raised after DeJoy, a major Trump donor, pushed for drastic cost-cutting measures when he took over the agency last month, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.
Manchin’s letter detailed reports that “numerous post office locations in my state and across the nation … are scheduled for imminent closure or significant reduction in hours and service.”
Some post offices in West Virginia have hung signs announcing their proposed closure at the end of August, he wrote.
A West Virginia postal workers union official corroborated the reports received by Manchin, noting that 26 offices in just one region of the state are being forced to reduce service to less than four hours a day (along with service cuts at 31 other locations).
“A lot of this has been dropped on us with little or no communication,” Elizabeth Coonan, a steward for the American Postal Workers Union Local 3264 in Clarksburg, told Vice News. “The times that they’re slating [the offices] to close is when they do a lot of business.”
A New Jersey union official told the outlet that 40 post offices in the state are also facing reductions. Posts offices in Alaska, California, Ohio and Tennessee have also announced plans to reduce hours, according to Vice.
“This would likely be a violation of both federal law” and USPS rules, Manchin said in his letter, demanding a detailed list of changes directed by DeJoy since he assumed office last month.
“It’s just asinine to think that you can shut something down or throttle it back in terms of the pandemic when basically the lifeline for voting and democracy is going to be in the hands of the Postal Service,” Manchin told the AP on Wednesday.
Mark Dimondstein, who heads the American Postal Workers Union, which represents more than 200,000 workers and retirees, told the outlet that there was “definitely buzz” about looming closures but no details.
DeJoy said in a statement earlier this week that the USPS could not continue to operate under its existing model. The USPS reported a $4.5 billion loss in the first quarter but saw its revenue slightly increase in the second quarter amid the coronavirus crisis.
“The Postal Service is in a financially unsustainable position, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume and a broken business model,” DeJoy said. “We are currently unable to balance our costs with available funding sources to fulfill both our universal service mission and other legal obligations. Because of this, the Postal Service has experienced over a decade of financial losses, with no end in sight, and we face an impending liquidity crisis.”
DeJoy said in the statement that the situation made it “critical that the Postal Service take a fresh look at our operations and make necessary adjustments.”
“The logical conclusion is that he’s going to try to close some post offices,” Dimondstein told the AP.
Manchin noted in his letter that Congress approved up to $10 billion to help bail out the USPS .
“Unfortunately, not only has little to none of that funding been utilized,” he wrote. “You are now proposing the very cuts that we sought to avoid with that emergency line of credit.”
The Treasury Department on Wednesday announced that it had settled on an agreement with the USPS on the terms of its loans, but the agency was able to continue to operate without additional debt.
“While the USPS is able to fund its operating expenses without additional borrowing at this time, we are pleased to have reached an agreement on the material terms and conditions of a loan, should the need arise,” Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work with Postmaster General DeJoy to fulfill the president’s goal of establishing a sustainable business model under which USPS can continue to provide necessary mail service for all Americans, without shifting costs to taxpayers.”
The Democratic-led House of Representatives approved another $25 billion to help the USPS as part of its $3 trillion HEROES Act package in May after the agency warned that its losses could increase by $22 billion over the next 18 months. But the Republican-controlled Senate’s counter-proposal unveiled by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., this week includes no funding to help the USPS.
Trump, who has frequently criticized the USPS over its budget crunch, more recently has sought to raise doubts over its ability to handle mail-in voting, which he opposes based on debunked conspiracy theories alleging possible fraud. Mail ballots have a fraud rate of about 0.00006%.
The president on Thursday suggested delaying the election over his unfounded fears about fraud. However, he has no authority to move the date, and there appears to be no appetite in Congress to do so.
Advocates of voting by mail have raised concerns that DeJoy’s plans for an “operational pivot” could result in slowing down mail delivery ahead of an election where record numbers are expected to vote by mail because of the pandemic.
“While these changes in a normal year would be drastic, in a presidential election year when many states are relying heavily on absentee mail-in ballots, increases in mail delivery timing would impair the ability of ballots to be received and counted in a timely manner — an unacceptable outcome for a free and fair election,” Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said in a letter to DeJoy.
Watchdog groups warned earlier this month that DeJoy’s appointment could “corrupt a key institution ahead of Election Day.”
“Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has attacked democratic institutions and undermined independent agencies. Now, as millions of voters are relying on the Postal Service to support our elections during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump is politicizing another once-nonpartisan government agency. Having a political ally with ethical and competence questions like DeJoy lead the agency potentially puts November’s election at risk,” Donald K. Sherman, the deputy director of for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and Sylvia Albert, the director of voting and elections at Common Cause, wrote in a joint NBC News op-ed.
“Installing a loyalist like DeJoy is another way Trump could undermine the agency and suppress voting in 2020,” they added. “These actions are yet another desperate and potentially dangerous attempt to undermine the general election as his approval numbers continue to slip.”
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--2020-07-31--Senate Departs for 3-Day Weekend as Unemployment Benefits Expire for 30 Million

The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has adjourned for a three-day weekend as enhanced unemployment payments are officially set to lapse on Friday , guaranteeing that tens of millions of Americans will see their incomes drop by 50-75 % with another rent payment due in 24 hours .
The Senate ’ s departure followed a long day of jockeying and blame-hurling on the floor Thursday that ultimately failed to produce a solution for the nearly 30 million Americans who for months have relied on the $ 600-per-week unemployment insurance ( UI ) boost to meet basic needs as the economy remains in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to reconvene until 3 pm Monday .
“ Just so we ’ re all clear , ” tweeted economist Robert Reich , “ more than 25,000,000 unemployed Americans are about to lose their extra unemployment benefits , and the Senate just left for a three-day weekend .
Republicans have lost the right to govern.
” On Thursday afternoon , Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) attempted to pass by unanimous consent legislation that would give states an option to either pay out a federally funded $ 200-per-week UI boost or implement a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid-off worker ’ s previous wages .
Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) called Johnson ’ s proposal “ so heartless even Cruella de Vil wouldn ’ t endorse it.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) blocked passage of Johnson ’ s legislation — which would have amounted to a $ 1,600-per-month drop in benefits for millions of Americans — and subsequently attempted to pass the HEROES Act , a sprawling legislative package approved by the Democrat-controlled House in May that would extend the weekly $ 600 UI boost through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill .
Later , Sen. Martha McSally ( R-Ariz. ) tried to pass a one-week extension of the $ 600 boost but Schumer objected , dismissing the effort as “ clearly a stunt.
” The Washington Post ’ s Jeff Stein noted on Twitter that it likely would have taken around two weeks for the one-week extension payment to actually reach people .
As Politico reported Thursday , “ tens of millions of laid-off American workers will go weeks without federal jobless aid — because Congress hasn ’ t renewed the benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adjust their computers.
” “ State offices will need weeks to reprogram their systems to account for an extension of the $ 600 weekly federal payments that expire on Saturday — or any changes that Congress makes to the benefit amount or eligibility rules , ” Politico reported .
“ That comes on top of hardships faced by workers in states like Washington and Nevada , who are already waiting months to get their first payments in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic because their unemployment offices can ’ t handle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beyer ( D-Va. ) tweeted late Thursday that Democratic lawmakers have been warning for weeks about the coming lapse in benefits — but Senate Republicans , led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , refused to budge .
“ Mitch McConnell ’ s failure to act already sealed this lapse , ” said Beyer , and half-measures and gimmicks from the White House can not undo it.
” Ryan Thomas , national press secretary for advocacy group Stand Up America , tweeted that “ Mitch McConnell is holding our economy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without passage of Covid-19 relief .
“ He ’ s threatening our lives and livelihoods , ” Thomas wrote .
“ Indefensible and disgusting.
” Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) met once more Thursday night with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , but the two sides emerged apparently without making any progress toward a deal .
“ We had a long discussion and we just don ’ t think they understand the gravity of the problem , ” Schumer said at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bottom line is this is the most serious health problem and economic problem we ’ ve had in a very — in a century and in 75 years .
And it takes really good , strong , bold action .
And they don ’ t quite get that.
” The Senate ’ s failure to secure an extension of the UI boost came on the same day the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted at a record-shattering 32.9 % rate last quarter .
The Labor Department also reported Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Heidi Shierholz , senior economist and director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute , noted in a blog post that “ last week was the 19th week in a row that unemployment claims have been more than twice the worst week of the Great Recession.
” “ Republicans in the Senate just allowed the across-the-board $ 600 increase in weekly UI benefits to expire , ” Shierholz wrote .
“ They are proposing to ( essentially ) replace it with a $ 200 weekly payment .
That $ 400 cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s terrible economics .
These benefits are supporting a huge amount of spending by people who would otherwise have to cut back dramatically .
The spending made possible by the $ 400 that the Senate wants to cut is supporting 3.4 million jobs .
”

More than 25,000,000 unemployed Americans are about to lose their extra unemployment benefits.
The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has adjourned for a three-day weekend as enhanced unemployment payments are officially set to lapse on Friday, guaranteeing that tens of millions of Americans will see their incomes drop by 50-75% with another rent payment due in 24 hours.
The Senate’s departure followed a long day of jockeying and blame-hurling on the floor Thursday that ultimately failed to produce a solution for the nearly 30 million Americans who for months have relied on the $600-per-week unemployment insurance (UI) boost to meet basic needs as the economy remains in deep recession.
The chamber is not set to reconvene until 3 pm Monday.
“Just so we’re all clear,” tweeted economist Robert Reich, “more than 25,000,000 unemployed Americans are about to lose their extra unemployment benefits, and the Senate just left for a three-day weekend. Republicans have lost the right to govern.”
On Thursday afternoon, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) attempted to pass by unanimous consent legislation that would give states an option to either pay out a federally funded $200-per-week UI boost or implement a formula that would replace two-thirds of a laid-off worker’s previous wages. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called Johnson’s proposal “so heartless even Cruella de Vil wouldn’t endorse it.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blocked passage of Johnson’s legislation — which would have amounted to a $1,600-per-month drop in benefits for millions of Americans — and subsequently attempted to pass the HEROES Act, a sprawling legislative package approved by the Democrat-controlled House in May that would extend the weekly $600 UI boost through January of next year. Johnson blocked the bill.
Later, Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) tried to pass a one-week extension of the $600 boost but Schumer objected, dismissing the effort as “clearly a stunt.” The Washington Post’s Jeff Stein noted on Twitter that it likely would have taken around two weeks for the one-week extension payment to actually reach people.
As Politico reported Thursday, “tens of millions of laid-off American workers will go weeks without federal jobless aid — because Congress hasn’t renewed the benefits in time for overwhelmed state unemployment systems to adjust their computers.”
“State offices will need weeks to reprogram their systems to account for an extension of the $600 weekly federal payments that expire on Saturday — or any changes that Congress makes to the benefit amount or eligibility rules,” Politico reported. “That comes on top of hardships faced by workers in states like Washington and Nevada, who are already waiting months to get their first payments in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic because their unemployment offices can’t handle the historic flood of claims.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) tweeted late Thursday that Democratic lawmakers have been warning for weeks about the coming lapse in benefits — but Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), refused to budge.
“Mitch McConnell’s failure to act already sealed this lapse,” said Beyer, and half-measures and gimmicks from the White House cannot undo it.”
As we have warned for weeks, the Senate needed to pass an extension a week ago to avoid a lapse in the expanded $600-per-week unemployment benefits. Mitch McConnell’s failure to act already sealed this lapse, and half measures and gimmicks from the White House cannot undo it. https://t.co/sGfBY4XoGV — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) July 30, 2020
Ryan Thomas, national press secretary for advocacy group Stand Up America, tweeted that “Mitch McConnell is holding our economy and our democracy hostage” by skipping town without passage of Covid-19 relief.
“He’s threatening our lives and livelihoods,” Thomas wrote. “Indefensible and disgusting.”
Tens of millions of Americans on the brink of eviction and food insecurity and the Senate just left for yet another 3-day weekend. Call your Senators’ offices. Let them know inaction is unacceptable. (202) 224-3121 https://t.co/FXFm6u1PkL — Town Hall Project (@townhallproject) July 30, 2020
Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) met once more Thursday night with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, but the two sides emerged apparently without making any progress toward a deal.
“We had a long discussion and we just don’t think they understand the gravity of the problem,” Schumer said at a press briefing following the meeting. “The bottom line is this is the most serious health problem and economic problem we’ve had in a very — in a century and in 75 years. And it takes really good, strong, bold action. And they don’t quite get that.”
The Senate’s failure to secure an extension of the UI boost came on the same day the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted at a record-shattering 32.9% rate last quarter. The Labor Department also reported Thursday that 1.43 million people filed jobless claims last week.
Heidi Shierholz, senior economist and director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute, noted in a blog post that “last week was the 19th week in a row that unemployment claims have been more than twice the worst week of the Great Recession.”
“Republicans in the Senate just allowed the across-the-board $600 increase in weekly UI benefits to expire,” Shierholz wrote. “They are proposing to (essentially) replace it with a $200 weekly payment. That $400 cut in benefits is not just cruel, it’s terrible economics. These benefits are supporting a huge amount of spending by people who would otherwise have to cut back dramatically. The spending made possible by the $400 that the Senate wants to cut is supporting 3.4 million jobs.”
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--2020-07-31--To Reopen Schools Safely, We Need to Fund Teachers — Not Cops

Ask Randi Weingarten , president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers ( AFT ) , what public schools need in order to safely reopen this fall and her answer is immediate : more money for the daily deep-cleaning of schools ; personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for teachers , staff and students ; the hiring of thousands of additional school nurses and counselors to help students navigate social and emotional roadblocks ; reliable computers and internet access for every kid ; and a 10 percent increase in the number of instructors so that class size can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AFT : $ 116.5 billion , or $ 2,300 in additional funding for each and every one of the 51 million kids who currently attend U.S. public schools .
“ We need 20 percent more money to reopen schools , not 20 percent less as has been proposed , ” Weingarten told Truthout .
“ This is a national emergency .
State governments have had the bottom fall out in terms of revenue so the federal government has to provide support to the states .
If they don ’ t , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” What ’ s more , Weingarten argues that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been a particularly ineffective leader when it comes to supporting public education .
In contrast , when the Supreme Court issued its decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue in June , allowing families to use tax-credit money to enroll their children in private religious schools , the Department of Education ( DOE ) acted quickly .
“ Within 48 hours of the Espinoza decision , the department opened the door to taxpayer funds going to private Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move at lighting speed when they want to , ” Weingarten says .
“ But when it comes to the digital divide , child hunger or problems with remote learning , DOE has been stone-cold silent , showing their blatant antipathy for public education.
” Not surprisingly , this antipathy has hurt students and frustrated educators .
Rather than offering the kind of massive cash infusion that Weingarten says is needed to buttress public education , the feds have thrown up their hands , leaving the country ’ s 13,000 school systems on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaps due to reduced sales , property and income tax payments .
And while teachers ’ unions and education activists are pushing back against austerity and are suggesting ways to save money — including the removal of police in schools — many students are poised to return to class , whether in-person , online , or in a hybrid form that blends remote and in-person learning , without the tools they need to succeed .
In Utah , for example , the public education budget will likely be slashed by $ 385 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget shortfall will reduce instruction from 5.5 to four hours per day .
In Massachusetts , more than 2,000 public school teachers were sent termination notices in June .
New Jersey , meanwhile , is gearing up for $ 7.3 billion in overall budget cuts due to lost revenue .
Similarly , Georgia is cutting education funding by 14 percent , prompting schools in Catoosa County in the state ’ s northwest to shorten the school year from 175 to 170 days .
Public higher education is also feeling the pinch , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in state contributions to both two- and four-year colleges .
“ We need billions earmarked for public education , ” Lily Eskelsen Garcia , president of the National Education Association , told Truthout .
One way to get that money , she says , is through congressional passage of the HEROES Act , a $ 3-trillion general relief bill that allocates monies to floundering schools .
The Act , passed by the House in May , is now stalled in the Senate .
“ The HEROES Act is not perfect , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need , ” Eskelsen Garcia says .
“ Schools that have the least — high-poverty schools — would get the most .
It would also keep massive layoffs from happening.
” Additional federal funding , she concludes , is also the only way to ensure that public schools are able to provide the academic and social supports that students need in order to learn .
This is especially true for students who are homeless .
An estimated 1.5 million public school students experienced homelessness during the 2017-18 school year , and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. , with that number likely to rise as eviction moratoriums expire .
“ The funding that Congress has provided so far has not specifically targeted students without homes , ” says Barbara Duffield , executive director of the Washington , D.C.-based group , SchoolHouse Connection , which advocates homelessness prevention through education .
“ Unlike relief provided after disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy , which mandated that relief dollars go to homeless students , coronavirus relief can be used for homeless children , but it doesn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , is a “ lack of continuity in communities with homeless kids , ” many of whom are unaccounted for .
“ Because of the pandemic , shelters started to limit who could come in and out , and people became fearful about going into a shelter because of the virus , ” Duffield tells Truthout .
“ Nonetheless , the most stable place to stay if you ’ re homeless is often a shelter , but this has become less of an option due to the pandemic.
” In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living doubled up with relatives or friends may be experiencing increased tensions due to quarantine , and may now be facing additional housing or personal insecurities — something Duffield says needs to be addressed by advocates in and outside of the educational system .
There are , of course , no magic bullets , but Duffield and SchoolHouse Connection are supporting the Emergency Family Stabilization Act — introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski ( R-Alaska ) , Joe Manchin ( D-West Virginia ) and Kyrsten Sinema ( D-Arizona ) in June — as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written , the Act will provide $ 800 million to community-based organizations to meet the needs of homeless children , families and unaccompanied minors for the duration of the pandemic .
Although the bill has not yet been introduced in the House , passage will provide funding for hygiene supplies , PPE , and mental and physical health care ; financial assistance for eviction prevention , utility payments , and motel and other short-term housing placements ; as well as education and job-readiness training .
Duffield is particularly supportive of the bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to funding for people who currently fall outside of the official definition of homelessness used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development — including toddlers and infants , folks holed up with friends or family , or those staying in hotels .
But while upping federal spending for schools is essential , many activists are also organizing to remove police — typically called school resource officers , or SROs — from schools throughout the country .
This , they argue , will not only save school systems approximately $ 960 million annually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school students , the majority of whom are Black and Brown .
What ’ s more , they note that study after study has shown that students of color are disproportionately subjected to harsh discipline for small infractions , resulting in arrest and prosecution in criminal court , often a first step toward prison .
Jonathan Stith , national coordinator of the Alliance for Educational Justice , a national network of youth-led organizations working to end the school-to-prison pipeline , says that the campaign for police-free schools began in 2015 after high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Fields body-slamming a 16-year-old student , identified only as Shakara , at Spring Valley High School in Columbia , South Carolina .
Although Fields was ultimately fired , Stith told Truthout that students and allies came together because they were “ tired of states and localities telling them that they were too broke to fund transformative justice programs or hire additional school counselors , but always had money for more police .
After the Parkland shooting in February 2018 , overnight , municipalities found millions for policing the schools.
” This laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current movement to end in-school policing , a movement that has had limited success in Oakland , San Francisco and San Jose in California ; Portland , Oregon ; Denver , Colorado ; St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota ; and Seattle , Washington .
According to The Center for Popular Democracy , activists in numerous additional locations — including Milwaukee , Wisconsin ; Orange County , Florida ; Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania ; Rochester , New York ; and Salem , Oregon — are continuing to agitate and organize for police-free schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will , ” Stith says .
“ As Martin Luther King [ Jr. ] said , budgets are moral documents , and no one wants to send their kids to an over-policed and under-resourced public school.
” But we still have a long way to go to make police-less schools the norm .
According to NPR , almost 90 percent of U.S. schools have full- or part-time police officers on campus , something that became commonplace after the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton , Colorado .
Initial funding for SROs — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Justice .
Contracts are huge : Chicago Public Schools , for instance , spend $ 33 million a year on 144 SROs , 48 mobile officers and 22 staff sergeants .
In Vermont , districts report spending between $ 50,000 and $ 80,000 per officer , a total of more than $ 2 million a year .
The result ?
In the city of Burlington , Black students comprise 16 percent of the student body but account for 61 percent of arrests .
Statewide , just 2.4 percent of Vermont ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 23.3 percent of those arrested in school are Black .
Despite these disparities , Burlington voted to keep SROs in place for another year pending a task force investigation to evaluate their efficacy .
Police officers will also remain in New York City and Chicago schools through 2021 .
Meanwhile , schools continue to scramble for resources , a situation that has been exacerbated — but was not caused — by COVID-19 .
For their part , students , teachers and staff continue to wonder what education will look like come fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salaun is heading to Hunter College-City University of New York in late August , but says that she is concerned about her course of study as a fine art major .
“ Setting up an appointment with the financial aid department , or with a counselor to fix my schedule , has been nearly impossible , ” she told Truthout .
“ I ’ m worried that I won ’ t get the most out of my classes .
I ’ m taking a theater course .
How will I perform scenes if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is instilling the most fear in Salaun is the unanswered questions about how her education will proceed as the pandemic drags on .
Salaun is not alone .
Students , teachers and school support staff are concerned about the many unknowns facing them .
At the same time , something else is also lurking : Thanks to the upheaval caused by COVID-19 , they ’ re also seeing fall 2020 as an opportunity to create public schools that nurture , inspire and truly educate .

Part of the Series The Road to Abolition
Ask Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), what public schools need in order to safely reopen this fall and her answer is immediate: more money for the daily deep-cleaning of schools; personal protective equipment (PPE) for teachers, staff and students; the hiring of thousands of additional school nurses and counselors to help students navigate social and emotional roadblocks; reliable computers and internet access for every kid; and a 10 percent increase in the number of instructors so that class size can be reduced.
The total cost estimated by the AFT: $116.5 billion, or $2,300 in additional funding for each and every one of the 51 million kids who currently attend U.S. public schools.
“We need 20 percent more money to reopen schools, not 20 percent less as has been proposed,” Weingarten told Truthout. “This is a national emergency. State governments have had the bottom fall out in terms of revenue so the federal government has to provide support to the states. If they don’t, it will be a moral dereliction of duty.”
What’s more, Weingarten argues that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been a particularly ineffective leader when it comes to supporting public education. In contrast, when the Supreme Court issued its decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue in June, allowing families to use tax-credit money to enroll their children in private religious schools, the Department of Education (DOE) acted quickly. “Within 48 hours of the Espinoza decision, the department opened the door to taxpayer funds going to private Christian academies. This proves that they can move at lighting speed when they want to,” Weingarten says. “But when it comes to the digital divide, child hunger or problems with remote learning, DOE has been stone-cold silent, showing their blatant antipathy for public education.”
Drastic Cuts Proposed
Not surprisingly, this antipathy has hurt students and frustrated educators. Rather than offering the kind of massive cash infusion that Weingarten says is needed to buttress public education, the feds have thrown up their hands, leaving the country’s 13,000 school systems on their own to deal with humongous budget gaps due to reduced sales, property and income tax payments. And while teachers’ unions and education activists are pushing back against austerity and are suggesting ways to save money — including the removal of police in schools — many students are poised to return to class, whether in-person, online, or in a hybrid form that blends remote and in-person learning, without the tools they need to succeed.
In Utah, for example, the public education budget will likely be slashed by $385 million, while in Mississippi, a projected budget shortfall will reduce instruction from 5.5 to four hours per day.
In Massachusetts, more than 2,000 public school teachers were sent termination notices in June.
New Jersey, meanwhile, is gearing up for $7.3 billion in overall budget cuts due to lost revenue.
“We need 20 percent more money to reopen schools, not 20 percent less as has been proposed.”
Similarly, Georgia is cutting education funding by 14 percent, prompting schools in Catoosa County in the state’s northwest to shorten the school year from 175 to 170 days.
Public higher education is also feeling the pinch, the result of a $76.3 million reduction in state contributions to both two- and four-year colleges.
“We need billions earmarked for public education,” Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association, told Truthout. One way to get that money, she says, is through congressional passage of the HEROES Act, a $3-trillion general relief bill that allocates monies to floundering schools. The Act, passed by the House in May, is now stalled in the Senate. “The HEROES Act is not perfect, but it is a good down payment on what we need,” Eskelsen Garcia says. “Schools that have the least — high-poverty schools — would get the most. It would also keep massive layoffs from happening.”
Additional federal funding, she concludes, is also the only way to ensure that public schools are able to provide the academic and social supports that students need in order to learn.
This is especially true for students who are homeless. An estimated 1.5 million public school students experienced homelessness during the 2017-18 school year, and an additional 550,000 unaccompanied minors are currently homeless in the U.S., with that number likely to rise as eviction moratoriums expire.
“The funding that Congress has provided so far has not specifically targeted students without homes,” says Barbara Duffield, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based group, SchoolHouse Connection, which advocates homelessness prevention through education. “Unlike relief provided after disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, which mandated that relief dollars go to homeless students, coronavirus relief can be used for homeless children, but it doesn’t have to.” The end result, she says, is a “lack of continuity in communities with homeless kids,” many of whom are unaccounted for.
“Because of the pandemic, shelters started to limit who could come in and out, and people became fearful about going into a shelter because of the virus,” Duffield tells Truthout. “Nonetheless, the most stable place to stay if you’re homeless is often a shelter, but this has become less of an option due to the pandemic.” In addition, she notes that people who have been living doubled up with relatives or friends may be experiencing increased tensions due to quarantine, and may now be facing additional housing or personal insecurities — something Duffield says needs to be addressed by advocates in and outside of the educational system.
Legislative Relief Sought
There are, of course, no magic bullets, but Duffield and SchoolHouse Connection are supporting the Emergency Family Stabilization Act — introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) in June — as a step in the right direction. As written, the Act will provide $800 million to community-based organizations to meet the needs of homeless children, families and unaccompanied minors for the duration of the pandemic. Although the bill has not yet been introduced in the House, passage will provide funding for hygiene supplies, PPE, and mental and physical health care; financial assistance for eviction prevention, utility payments, and motel and other short-term housing placements; as well as education and job-readiness training.
Almost 90 percent of U.S. schools have full- or part-time police officers on campus.
Duffield is particularly supportive of the bill, she says, because it provides access to funding for people who currently fall outside of the official definition of homelessness used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development — including toddlers and infants, folks holed up with friends or family, or those staying in hotels.
But while upping federal spending for schools is essential, many activists are also organizing to remove police — typically called school resource officers, or SROs — from schools throughout the country. This, they argue, will not only save school systems approximately $960 million annually, but will enhance learning for public school students, the majority of whom are Black and Brown. What’s more, they note that study after study has shown that students of color are disproportionately subjected to harsh discipline for small infractions, resulting in arrest and prosecution in criminal court, often a first step toward prison.
Jonathan Stith, national coordinator of the Alliance for Educational Justice, a national network of youth-led organizations working to end the school-to-prison pipeline, says that the campaign for police-free schools began in 2015 after high school student Niya Kenny filmed School Resource Officer Ben Fields body-slamming a 16-year-old student, identified only as Shakara, at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina. Although Fields was ultimately fired, Stith told Truthout that students and allies came together because they were “tired of states and localities telling them that they were too broke to fund transformative justice programs or hire additional school counselors, but always had money for more police. After the Parkland shooting in February 2018, overnight, municipalities found millions for policing the schools.”
This laid the groundwork, Stith says, for the current movement to end in-school policing, a movement that has had limited success in Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose in California; Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota; and Seattle, Washington.
According to The Center for Popular Democracy, activists in numerous additional locations — including Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Orange County, Florida; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Rochester, New York; and Salem, Oregon — are continuing to agitate and organize for police-free schools.
“It comes down to political will,” Stith says. “As Martin Luther King [Jr.] said, budgets are moral documents, and no one wants to send their kids to an over-policed and under-resourced public school.”
Making Police-Free Schools the Norm
But we still have a long way to go to make police-less schools the norm. According to NPR, almost 90 percent of U.S. schools have full- or part-time police officers on campus, something that became commonplace after the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado.
Students, teachers and school support staff are concerned about the many unknowns facing them. They’re also seeing fall 2020 as an opportunity to create public schools that nurture, inspire and truly educate.
Initial funding for SROs — in the millions — came from the Department of Justice.
Contracts are huge: Chicago Public Schools, for instance, spend $33 million a year on 144 SROs, 48 mobile officers and 22 staff sergeants.
In Vermont, districts report spending between $50,000 and $80,000 per officer, a total of more than $2 million a year. The result? In the city of Burlington, Black students comprise 16 percent of the student body but account for 61 percent of arrests. Statewide, just 2.4 percent of Vermont’s students are African American; nonetheless, 23.3 percent of those arrested in school are Black.
Despite these disparities, Burlington voted to keep SROs in place for another year pending a task force investigation to evaluate their efficacy. Police officers will also remain in New York City and Chicago schools through 2021.
Meanwhile, schools continue to scramble for resources, a situation that has been exacerbated — but was not caused — by COVID-19. For their part, students, teachers and staff continue to wonder what education will look like come fall.
June 2020 high school graduate Noelle Salaun is heading to Hunter College-City University of New York in late August, but says that she is concerned about her course of study as a fine art major. “Setting up an appointment with the financial aid department, or with a counselor to fix my schedule, has been nearly impossible,” she told Truthout. “I’m worried that I won’t get the most out of my classes. I’m taking a theater course. How will I perform scenes if classes are online?”
But what is instilling the most fear in Salaun is the unanswered questions about how her education will proceed as the pandemic drags on.
Salaun is not alone. Students, teachers and school support staff are concerned about the many unknowns facing them. At the same time, something else is also lurking: Thanks to the upheaval caused by COVID-19, they’re also seeing fall 2020 as an opportunity to create public schools that nurture, inspire and truly educate.
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