truthout--2020-09-18--A Trump Admin Rule Change Would Allow Shelters to Refuse Trans People

Few experiences are more commonly shared among transgender people than a lack of stable housing .
Nearly one in three transgender Americans have been homeless in their lifetime and one in eight have been homeless in just the last year , according to a 2015 survey .
And not having a place to live leaves individuals more vulnerable to the harassment , abuse and violence that characterizes so much of life as a transgender person in the U.S .
While trans people — and trans people of color in particular — needed no reminder of the link between stable housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus pandemic has made that link all the more obvious .
As a wave of evictions threatens renters and families nationwide , the Trump administration is working to deny trans people access to life-saving programs while increasing their chances for harassment , assault , and murder .
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is pushing to roll back legal protections barring shelter programs that accept HUD grants from discriminating on the basis of gender identity or expression .
First implemented in 2012 and improved in 2016 , the Equal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing advocates alike and continues to enjoy widespread support among domestic and sexual violence prevention programs .
Despite this consensus , HUD Secretary Ben Carson is proposing to roll back the EAR — a move advocates and service providers are already opposing through public comments .
The timing of this proposed rollback is especially egregious , as COVID-19 is continuing to wreak havoc on the nation ’ s health and economic systems .
If trans people can not access shelter and services , it will become much harder for them to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socially distance during this public health emergency .
Carson claims the move is designed to protect cisgender women from , as he put it last fall , “ big , hairy men ” trying to infiltrate women ’ s shelters and harm their occupants .
It is a retread of the long-debunked “ bathroom predator ” myths weaponized against the fight for gender justice for decades , from the Equal Rights Amendment to the Equality Act , while relying on retrograde gender standards .
HUD ’ s proposal even includes a guide for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her height or the presence of facial hair .
As every bit of research on the matter illustrates , there is zero evidence that policies inclusive of transgender people pose risks to anyone ’ s safety , and they benefit a population facing well-documented and , by some measures , increasing threats .
Even HUD itself is forced to admit it “ is not aware of data suggesting that transgender individuals pose an inherent risk to [ cisgender ] women.
” By chasing hypotheticals , HUD is prioritizing imagined threats to cisgender women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis poses for trans people .
The number of reported killings of transgender people in 2020 — at least 28 , as of this writing — has already surpassed the total for all of 2019 .
Many of the transgender women of color in that tally were experiencing homelessness at the time of their deaths .
This includes Neulisa Luciano Ruiz , murdered in Toa Baja , Puerto Rico in February after using a women ’ s restroom .
Her death , and the deaths of many others , exemplify the false trade-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all while ignoring the systemic causes of violence faced by all women .
As feminist writer Rebecca Solnit recently put it , “ When there is so much real violence against women , it ’ s a sad waste of time to focus on imaginary maybe presumably it-could-theoretically-happen violence.
” The role of inclusive shelters in preventing actual violence is abundantly clear .
Without proper access to shelter services , trans people are at a higher risk of remaining on the streets — facing higher risks for violence and poor health outcomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the National Alliance to End Homelessness reveals , unsheltered trans people are ten times more likely than their sheltered peers to be funneled into a prison system that is indifferent at best to the grotesque and frequent sexual trauma trans people face within its walls .
HUD should be directly engaged with the most vulnerable among us to ensure they have safe , equitable access to these and all programs our government provides .
Rolling back the Equal Access Rule is yet another one of the many attempts by this administration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights of the transgender community .
This proposed rule change would have been heartless at any time ; going forward with it now will increase violence against vulnerable people , which HUD claims to want to prevent .
The administration should be trying to protect the trans community , rather than inflict pain during a moment of vulnerability that it had a hand in creating , through its own mishandling of COVID-19 .

This story was produced by The Appeal, a nonprofit criminal justice news outlet.
Few experiences are more commonly shared among transgender people than a lack of stable housing. Nearly one in three transgender Americans have been homeless in their lifetime and one in eight have been homeless in just the last year, according to a 2015 survey. And not having a place to live leaves individuals more vulnerable to the harassment, abuse and violence that characterizes so much of life as a transgender person in the U.S.
While trans people — and trans people of color in particular — needed no reminder of the link between stable housing and one’s own physical safety, the coronavirus pandemic has made that link all the more obvious. As a wave of evictions threatens renters and families nationwide, the Trump administration is working to deny trans people access to life-saving programs while increasing their chances for harassment, assault, and murder.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is pushing to roll back legal protections barring shelter programs that accept HUD grants from discriminating on the basis of gender identity or expression. First implemented in 2012 and improved in 2016, the Equal Access Rule was welcomed by trans and housing advocates alike and continues to enjoy widespread support among domestic and sexual violence prevention programs.
Despite this consensus, HUD Secretary Ben Carson is proposing to roll back the EAR — a move advocates and service providers are already opposing through public comments. The timing of this proposed rollback is especially egregious, as COVID-19 is continuing to wreak havoc on the nation’s health and economic systems. If trans people cannot access shelter and services, it will become much harder for them to get the resources they need to stay safe and socially distance during this public health emergency.
Carson claims the move is designed to protect cisgender women from, as he put it last fall, “big, hairy men” trying to infiltrate women’s shelters and harm their occupants. It is a retread of the long-debunked “bathroom predator” myths weaponized against the fight for gender justice for decades, from the Equal Rights Amendment to the Equality Act, while relying on retrograde gender standards. HUD’s proposal even includes a guide for judging a woman to be trans by her height or the presence of facial hair.
As every bit of research on the matter illustrates, there is zero evidence that policies inclusive of transgender people pose risks to anyone’s safety, and they benefit a population facing well-documented and, by some measures, increasing threats. Even HUD itself is forced to admit it “is not aware of data suggesting that transgender individuals pose an inherent risk to [cisgender] women.”
By chasing hypotheticals, HUD is prioritizing imagined threats to cisgender women over the very real threats the housing crisis poses for trans people. The number of reported killings of transgender people in 2020 — at least 28, as of this writing — has already surpassed the total for all of 2019. Many of the transgender women of color in that tally were experiencing homelessness at the time of their deaths.
This includes Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, murdered in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico in February after using a women’s restroom. Her death, and the deaths of many others, exemplify the false trade-off Carson and the Trump administration are pursuing, all while ignoring the systemic causes of violence faced by all women. As feminist writer Rebecca Solnit recently put it, “When there is so much real violence against women, it’s a sad waste of time to focus on imaginary maybe presumably it-could-theoretically-happen violence.”
The role of inclusive shelters in preventing actual violence is abundantly clear. Without proper access to shelter services, trans people are at a higher risk of remaining on the streets — facing higher risks for violence and poor health outcomes such as HIV. As new data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness reveals, unsheltered trans people are ten times more likely than their sheltered peers to be funneled into a prison system that is indifferent at best to the grotesque and frequent sexual trauma trans people face within its walls.
HUD should be directly engaged with the most vulnerable among us to ensure they have safe, equitable access to these and all programs our government provides. Rolling back the Equal Access Rule is yet another one of the many attempts by this administration to threaten the health, wellbeing, and human rights of the transgender community. This proposed rule change would have been heartless at any time; going forward with it now will increase violence against vulnerable people, which HUD claims to want to prevent. The administration should be trying to protect the trans community, rather than inflict pain during a moment of vulnerability that it had a hand in creating, through its own mishandling of COVID-19.
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--2020-09-18--Mutual Aid Response During Fires Shows Black Lives Matter Is Building Community

One year after Occupy Wall Street spread to public squares across the nation , a spontaneous network formed to provide civilian disaster response during and after Hurricane Sandy .
They called themselves “ Occupy Sandy.
” Now , in response to a different climate catastrophe , Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) protesters in Portland , Oregon , are making a similar transition .
Shortly after rallies and direct action protests to celebrate 100 nights of Black Lives Matter protests in Portland , the region was hit with historic wildfires , sending thousands to seek shelter , and blanketing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the planet .
Almost immediately , networks of organizers who cut their teeth protesting the Portland Police Bureau quickly transformed to begin providing direct services for the houseless and fire refugees flocking to the city .
One group , called Portland Equitable Workers Offering Kommunity Support ( EWOKS ) , has spearheaded mutual aid efforts in a cinema parking lot , a few blocks from the Red Cross ’ s outpost at the Oregon Convention Center in northeast Portland .
According to EWOKS volunteer medic Davis Beeman , the group , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July , helped coordinate burn bandaging and gloves to frontline firefighters and are helping fill some of the gaps in the Red Cross ’ s services .
( The Red Cross shelter location in Portland is not accepting donations of goods ) .
“ It ’ s been awesome to see different affinity groups come together like this , ” Beeman told Truthout .
“ We have come together efficiently and quickly because we know each other.
” A variety of hygiene products , diapers , hot and cold food , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other materials are being distributed by EWOKS and its partners , which include houseless outreach groups Advocacy 5 and Boots on the Ground PDX .
One volunteer named Lisa Lake is the director of Advocacy 5 and works as a trained medic and crisis worker for EWOKS at the Black Lives Matter protests .
“ We ’ ve been doing this for the houseless for years , and at the protests for Black lives .
We are accustomed to working in emergency situations , ” Lake told Truthout .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be another way other than the police .
We are talking about defunding the police and we are building something to replace it with — to show people there are other models , where no one will fall through the cracks.
” The city has declared an emergency , opening up more shelter space at the Oregon Convention Center and Charles Jordan Community Center .
A September 15 press release from Portland ’ s Joint Office of Homeless Services ( JOHS ) says those seeking shelter can call 211 and do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to JOHS Communications Coordinator Denis Theriault , around 130 people have sought shelter in the new space .
And if they fill up , more space will be opened up at Mt .
Scott Community Center .
An earlier declaration of emergency from Portland merely directed houseless people to move to safer parts of the city , even though the entire city was blanketed with smoke .
Lake says she would like to see Portland do more outreach to people still living on the street .
Theriault says the JOHS pays a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houseless people .
In addition , the JOHS has been coordinating with volunteer groups since COVID-19 hit , providing supplies as they do their outreach across the city , and staffs a free supply hub available to volunteer groups .
Lake says EWOKS received lots of direct support , so they have not needed the city ’ s help with their current efforts .
Advocacy 5 and Boots on the Ground PDX have worked with the city in the past , she says .
The city is a “ great resource ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been braving these conditions , bringing KN95 masks to people , they have an educational role too , ” says Theriault .
“ Not everyone is taking them up on shelter right away.
” According to Theriault , last weekend , 27 different organizations and groups helped pick up and share 30,000 masks .
One recipient of food at the EWOKS mutual aid center is Richy ( who would rather not give his last name ) .
His house lost power due to the wildfire in Clackamas County , just outside Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a friend , ” he told Truthout .
“ My home hasn ’ t been destroyed or anything , but I had to evacuate.
” Richy says he ’ s met evacuees from California , Southern Oregon and Clackamas County .
He has stayed at friends ’ homes and in a shelter , and has used the mutual aid hub for food and toiletries , and appreciates it as a “ place of refuge , ” and meeting place for people to collect themselves and “ evaluate their situations.
” Richy has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests in Portland , where he says he ’ s been tear gassed , along with hundreds of others .
“ It ’ s been 400+ years of systemic and racial oppression — wherever there ’ s been oppression it ’ s been met with resistance .
At a certain point there ’ s a revolt .
George Floyd was just the tipping point.
” Mutual aid volunteer Melissa Lewis says EWOKS provided her medical assistance when she was shot in the head with a tear gas canister by law enforcement at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took care of me it was fair to take care of others , ” she told Truthout .
“ With these conditions we have taken a step back from protesting , ” says Gary Floyd , another protester now volunteering at the mutual aid hub .
“ Right now , it is all about fire victims and community .
BLM is not just about protesting , it ’ s also about building community.
” Don ’ t Shoot PDX , a prominent Black Lives Matter organization , has partnered with the group Fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs to help Indigenous communities in Oregon and Washington .
Another group , known as “ The Witches , ” describes itself as “ a collective and coven in PDX.
” They have been on scene at the Portland protests providing supplies for protesters , including jail support , and are now fundraising and distributing supplies , water and snacks in downtown Portland , as well as within evacuation zones .
The Witches say they “ lend aid where we are needed and help give a voice to those forgotten or exploited by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fact , these protesters are uniquely equipped to fill the void : They ’ ve been dealing with toxic fumes for months as the Portland Police Bureau and federal agents have unloaded massive amounts of tear gas on them as well as reporters .
Months ago , many protesters purchased or were gifted gas masks for the tear gas , which can now be used outside in the smoke .
For now , attention on the municipal contract with the Portland Police Bureau and the bureau ’ s current budget has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing .
Now , most everyone is looking to the sky , and praying for rain .

One year after Occupy Wall Street spread to public squares across the nation, a spontaneous network formed to provide civilian disaster response during and after Hurricane Sandy. They called themselves “Occupy Sandy.” Now, in response to a different climate catastrophe, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Portland, Oregon, are making a similar transition.
Shortly after rallies and direct action protests to celebrate 100 nights of Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, the region was hit with historic wildfires, sending thousands to seek shelter, and blanketing the metropolitan area with the worst air quality on the planet. Almost immediately, networks of organizers who cut their teeth protesting the Portland Police Bureau quickly transformed to begin providing direct services for the houseless and fire refugees flocking to the city.
One group, called Portland Equitable Workers Offering Kommunity Support (EWOKS), has spearheaded mutual aid efforts in a cinema parking lot, a few blocks from the Red Cross’s outpost at the Oregon Convention Center in northeast Portland. According to EWOKS volunteer medic Davis Beeman, the group, which was profiled by the Los Angeles Times in July, helped coordinate burn bandaging and gloves to frontline firefighters and are helping fill some of the gaps in the Red Cross’s services. (The Red Cross shelter location in Portland is not accepting donations of goods).
“It’s been awesome to see different affinity groups come together like this,” Beeman told Truthout. “We have come together efficiently and quickly because we know each other.”
Simon Davis-Cohen
A variety of hygiene products, diapers, hot and cold food, a porta potty, clothing, pet food, and other materials are being distributed by EWOKS and its partners, which include houseless outreach groups Advocacy 5 and Boots on the Ground PDX.
One volunteer named Lisa Lake is the director of Advocacy 5 and works as a trained medic and crisis worker for EWOKS at the Black Lives Matter protests. “We’ve been doing this for the houseless for years, and at the protests for Black lives. We are accustomed to working in emergency situations,” Lake told Truthout. “We want to make people see that there can be another way other than the police. We are talking about defunding the police and we are building something to replace it with — to show people there are other models, where no one will fall through the cracks.”
The city has declared an emergency, opening up more shelter space at the Oregon Convention Center and Charles Jordan Community Center. A September 15 press release from Portland’s Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) says those seeking shelter can call 211 and do not need an ID to be admitted. According to JOHS Communications Coordinator Denis Theriault, around 130 people have sought shelter in the new space. And if they fill up, more space will be opened up at Mt. Scott Community Center.
An earlier declaration of emergency from Portland merely directed houseless people to move to safer parts of the city, even though the entire city was blanketed with smoke. Lake says she would like to see Portland do more outreach to people still living on the street. Theriault says the JOHS pays a group of nonprofits to do outreach to houseless people. In addition, the JOHS has been coordinating with volunteer groups since COVID-19 hit, providing supplies as they do their outreach across the city, and staffs a free supply hub available to volunteer groups. Lake says EWOKS received lots of direct support, so they have not needed the city’s help with their current efforts. Advocacy 5 and Boots on the Ground PDX have worked with the city in the past, she says. The city is a “great resource” for volunteers, Lake says.
“Folks have been braving these conditions, bringing KN95 masks to people, they have an educational role too,” says Theriault. “Not everyone is taking them up on shelter right away.” According to Theriault, last weekend, 27 different organizations and groups helped pick up and share 30,000 masks.
One recipient of food at the EWOKS mutual aid center is Richy (who would rather not give his last name). His house lost power due to the wildfire in Clackamas County, just outside Portland. “I heard about this place through a friend,” he told Truthout. “My home hasn’t been destroyed or anything, but I had to evacuate.” Richy says he’s met evacuees from California, Southern Oregon and Clackamas County. He has stayed at friends’ homes and in a shelter, and has used the mutual aid hub for food and toiletries, and appreciates it as a “place of refuge,” and meeting place for people to collect themselves and “evaluate their situations.”
Richy has also been participating in Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, where he says he’s been tear gassed, along with hundreds of others. “It’s been 400+ years of systemic and racial oppression — wherever there’s been oppression it’s been met with resistance. At a certain point there’s a revolt. George Floyd was just the tipping point.”
Simon Davis-Cohen
Mutual aid volunteer Melissa Lewis says EWOKS provided her medical assistance when she was shot in the head with a tear gas canister by law enforcement at a protest. “I thought because they took care of me it was fair to take care of others,” she told Truthout.
Simon Davis-Cohen
“With these conditions we have taken a step back from protesting,” says Gary Floyd, another protester now volunteering at the mutual aid hub. “Right now, it is all about fire victims and community. BLM is not just about protesting, it’s also about building community.”
Simon Davis-Cohen
Don’t Shoot PDX, a prominent Black Lives Matter organization, has partnered with the group Fires Igniting The Spirit to make emergency supply runs to help Indigenous communities in Oregon and Washington.
Another group, known as “The Witches,” describes itself as “a collective and coven in PDX.” They have been on scene at the Portland protests providing supplies for protesters, including jail support, and are now fundraising and distributing supplies, water and snacks in downtown Portland, as well as within evacuation zones.
The Witches say they “lend aid where we are needed and help give a voice to those forgotten or exploited by society.”
Other protesters have also mobilized. In fact, these protesters are uniquely equipped to fill the void: They’ve been dealing with toxic fumes for months as the Portland Police Bureau and federal agents have unloaded massive amounts of tear gas on them as well as reporters. Months ago, many protesters purchased or were gifted gas masks for the tear gas, which can now be used outside in the smoke.
For now, attention on the municipal contract with the Portland Police Bureau and the bureau’s current budget has temporarily subsided, though some protests are continuing. Now, most everyone is looking to the sky, and praying for more rain.
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--2020-09-18--Conspiracy Theories by Cops Fuel Far Right Attacks Against Antiracist Protesters

On August 22 , a far right confederation of Three Percenter militia , Proud Boys and Trump Republicans confronted Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) protesters in Portland , Oregon .
They came armed to the teeth : open-carried rifles and handguns , shields paired with pipes and batons , and body armor with heavy-duty bulletproof helmets .
They formed a shield line , many emblazoned with far right slogans like “ Save the Children , ” a reference to the conspiracy theory that Democrats are running child sex-slave rings .
After an hour of taunts , they charged into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beating people to the ground , breaking bones and leaving serious injuries .
Among the crowd was Tusitala “ Tiny ” Toese , a Proud Boy recently convicted of assault on anti-fascists , as well as Ethan “ Rufio ” Nordean , who became famous when InfoWars repeatedly replayed a video of him knocking out a protester two summers ago .
The far right crowd continually reformed to attack the anti-racist protesters , beating the “ snack van ” that has been used to deliver food to anti-brutality protests , and spraying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while firing paintballs indiscriminately .
Far right protester Alan Swinney pulled his sidearm and aimed it at the crowd , and one reporter had his hand broken by the swinging batons .
While the police had been heavy-handed with protesters the preceding 87 days , on that Saturday , they stayed several blocks away .
“ It is hard to see [ August 22 ] as anything other than business as usual for the [ Portland Police Bureau ( PPB ) ] , ” says Effie Baum of the organization Pop Mob , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPB [ has ] been violently attacking demonstrators at BLM protests on a nightly basis for three months , so it should come as no surprise that they would allow their buddies to join in.
” In their press release , the PPB says that its “ members have been the focus of over 80 days of violent actions directed at the police , which is a major consideration for determining if police resources are necessary to interject between two groups with individuals who seem to be willingly engaging in physical confrontations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” has been condemned recently in the press , this commentary has mistaken where the violence is coming from .
These demonstrations have indeed been incredibly violent , but it is clear the vast majority of the violence is coming from either the police or right-wing vigilantes , not the protesters themselves .
The anti-racist movement has exploded since the killing of George Floyd on May 25 , with millions pouring into the streets for perhaps the largest protest wave in U.S. history .
Portland has had one of the largest sustained protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Portland police have been notably aggressive with both protesters and press , leading to a series of lawsuits and injunctions on police use of force .
Trump then ordered in federal officers , who had no such restrictions .
Soon , violence against demonstrators was marked by the indiscriminate use of aggressive “ less-lethal ” weapons like tear gas and flash grenades .
Outrage over the federal intervention swept Oregon , and the protests , which had slowed , exploded with energy .
Eventually , the state ’ s leadership was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , offering them the local officers as the alternative .
Many people expected this to tamp down the aggressiveness of the demonstrations , but in the days that followed , the Portland and state police used aggressive dispersal tactics , beating protesters with batons , charging crowds and chasing demonstrators through the streets .
The police have been the loudest voice denouncing “ violent protesters.
” Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell penned an op-ed for The New York Times suggesting that protester violence escalated the situation , rather than the violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right commentators have blamed the violence on the protest crowd , presenting an alternative reality of the protests as orchestrated by a cadre of antifa determined to overthrow the government .
These allegations miss a fundamental dynamic of the protests : The anti-racist demonstrators , in their most extreme actions , are culpable for little more than vandalism .
The protests against police are not about the kind of violence that results in broken windows , but the kind where people end up dead .
Analysis from The Oregonian showed that of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2003 , a disproportionate number were Black .
Of the 65 police who had fired their guns in these incidents , none were grand juried or faced discipline .
The capacity for violence during police dispersals is vastly uneven .
The protesters are breaking the law when they vandalize buildings or light fires .
In one case , a group beat up a man who drove his truck into a pole nearby , but the attackers were immediately disavowed by protest organizers .
The police have used chemical weapons , tackling and beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with pepper spray , and causing mass trauma .
This police violence has been so profound the city ’ s Independent Police Review is now investigating more than 40 allegations of police abuse .
There are also allegations of sexual harassment coming from protesters .
A clear example of this disproportionate use of violence is the case of Donovan La Bella , who was standing across from the Multnomah County Justice Center before he was shot directly in the head with a police munition .
The young man ’ s skull was fractured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from such a disastrous injury .
There is no comparable case on the police side , because they overwhelmingly control the use of force .
The police focused their ire on homemade shields used by protesters , but when video captures the police raiding crowds with batons or shooting exploding weapons , it is clear why the protesters bring the shields .
The tear gas itself , which has apparently caused defoliation , has led to reports of menstrual irregularities .
The tear gas has been used so heavily in Portland that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water system , and though it was formally banned by the Mayor on September 10 , it is unclear how long the ban will last .
“ It has been getting more dangerous .
[ The PPB ] is just using physical force on anyone — nonviolent protesters , local residents just watching , press and legal observers , ” says Jovanni Lopez , who has been documenting protests and says he wears goggles , a helmet , a gas mask , and keeps “ chemical wipes ” handy .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pepper spray protesters for not moving fast enough.
” On August 15 , a “ patriotic ” rally was held in Portland , organized by far right activist Haley Adams , known for leading crowds of Proud Boys into fights with anti-racist counter-demonstrators in Portland the past few years .
As the right-wing demonstrators were leaving a public parking garage in downtown at 1:45 pm , far right activist Skylor Jernigan allegedly leaned out of a blue sedan and fired off several rounds .
“ Obviously , everyone was pretty rattled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more armed far right people were still in there , ” says Laura Jedeed , who was live-tweeting and taking video when the shots were fired .
“ This thing where they ’ ve now fired live rounds kind of breaks the seal , so to speak .
They ’ ve gotten over the taboo of not shooting at people .
I fully expect them to shoot more rounds.
” This was just minutes after BLM protesters allege that a pipe bomb was tossed at them , the second in just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right vigilante violence is rising , sparked by the paranoid conspiracies that right-wing media and police unions are pushing about protesters .
In Kenosha , Wisconsin , as protests erupted over the shooting of Jacob Blake , Kyle Rittenhouse joined white nationalists to take arms against the protesters .
Rittenhouse eventually shot three protesters , killing two of them , before walking away through the police line without intervention .
In counties far removed from protests — from Canadian County , Oklahoma , to Pinal County , Arizona — sheriffs have called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police posed for selfies and collaborated with vigilantes in cities like Salem , Oregon and Olympia , Washington .
In Albuquerque , New Mexico , the local GOP openly supported a militia facing a lawsuit from the state after a vigilante shot a protester during a counterprotest .
On August 24 , a nonviolent marcher was shot in Bedford County , Virginia .
This makes sense given the historic crossover between police departments and far right groups such as the Ku Klux Klan , and , according to recent studies , members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into positions in law enforcement .
An investigation of the spatial distribution of incidents tracked on social media and data available in the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project database reveals discernible hotspots .
The highest concentration of vigilante intimidation and violence occurs in the Southwest and Northwest U.S. Population density does not determine where the violence happens , so it can occur in rural areas or in cities , and while Portland leads the pack in vigilante incidents , cities with higher populations have far fewer incidents .
The list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-level cities like Denver , Salt Lake City , as well as Salem and Eugene , Oregon In Portland , violence has been ascendant .
Before the drive-by pipe bomb attack on August 15 , there was an earlier protest on August 8 during which multiple explosions were observed .
Police are now investigating Louis Garrick Fernbaugh , a former CIA contractor and Navy SEAL , for the attack .
On August 4 , a truck plowed through a protest crowd , narrowly missing people as sparks flew from a motorcycle caught under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a man wielding a bat went through Portland , attacking businesses that had Black Lives Matter signs up .
Proud Boys have attacked protesters in Michigan , and in Philadelphia , there were vigilante squads armed with baseball bats patrolling the streets looking for protesters .
This pattern has been repeated across the country .
In Austin , Texas , a far right soldier who had tweeted about his hatred of protesters drove into a protest , shooting and killing a protester .
Police arrested him , released him within 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to harass and terrorize a vigil for his victim .
Between May 25 and July 7 , there were up to 66 attacks on protesters by people wielding cars as weapons .
Most recently this occurred in Times Square on September 3 .
The University of Chicago ’ s Chicago Project on Security and Threats has been tracking these attacks , tracing the violent tactic back to “ Run Them Over ” memes popular in right-wing circles .
What the Danger Looks Like On August 29 , a caravan of Trump supporters careened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of those people was shot and killed by what many allege was an anti-racist protester , and now the far right group the Proud Boys will return for a rally on September 26 .
As the police ramp up violence against protesters , with increased support from Oregon ’ s governor , there does not seem to be an end to this violence in sight .
On Monday , August 7 , participants at a Trump rally in Salem , Oregon , which included Proud Boys , attacked Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back of the head with a baseball bat , ripping off his protective gear , and spraying him with pepper spray while he was on the ground in the fetal position .
“ Thirty-seconds after turning my back all I know is I was on the ground and I couldn ’ t move and once they tore off [ my protective equipment ] she walked up and all I could feel was the mace on me , ” said Joe Smothers , the journalist who was at the demonstration to livestream .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his journalism work , and the assault resulted in a second concussion in a couple of weeks , the first being from the August 22 rally when he was struck in the head by a rock .
The violence is only on a path to escalation , and even as the forest fires make outdoor demonstrations hazardous , there is no reason to believe that they are taking a day off .
“ When we come , we don ’ t really come armed .
We barely come with shields … but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I feel like once the police start holding their own side accountable , and themselves accountable , then it will end , ” says Smothers .
While it is the anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters who have faced the brunt of criticism , the math simply does not add up .
While the protest movements are demonized with hyperbolic allegations of malfeasance ( such as their supposed responsibility for the forest fires ) , Department of Homeland Security officials now report that they were instructed to downplay the frightening threat of white nationalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers and seriousness of the attacks , the far right and the police are responsible for the lion ’ s share .
If we want to bring the protests to a close and end the violence , then this means a commitment to de-escalation and nonviolence from both the police and right-wing agitators .

Antiracist and antifa protesters have been blamed for much of the violence perpetrated by the far right and the police.
On August 22, a far right confederation of Three Percenter militia, Proud Boys and Trump Republicans confronted Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Portland, Oregon. They came armed to the teeth: open-carried rifles and handguns, shields paired with pipes and batons, and body armor with heavy-duty bulletproof helmets. They formed a shield line, many emblazoned with far right slogans like “Save the Children,” a reference to the conspiracy theory that Democrats are running child sex-slave rings. After an hour of taunts, they charged into the crowd. They swung metal pipes, beating people to the ground, breaking bones and leaving serious injuries.
Among the crowd was Tusitala “Tiny” Toese, a Proud Boy recently convicted of assault on anti-fascists, as well as Ethan “Rufio” Nordean, who became famous when InfoWars repeatedly replayed a video of him knocking out a protester two summers ago. The far right crowd continually reformed to attack the anti-racist protesters, beating the “snack van” that has been used to deliver food to anti-brutality protests, and spraying an almost constant stream of pepper spray while firing paintballs indiscriminately. Far right protester Alan Swinney pulled his sidearm and aimed it at the crowd, and one reporter had his hand broken by the swinging batons.
While the police had been heavy-handed with protesters the preceding 87 days, on that Saturday, they stayed several blocks away.
“It is hard to see [August 22] as anything other than business as usual for the [Portland Police Bureau (PPB)],” says Effie Baum of the organization Pop Mob, which co-organized the counterdemonstration. “The PPB [has] been violently attacking demonstrators at BLM protests on a nightly basis for three months, so it should come as no surprise that they would allow their buddies to join in.”
In their press release, the PPB says that its “members have been the focus of over 80 days of violent actions directed at the police, which is a major consideration for determining if police resources are necessary to interject between two groups with individuals who seem to be willingly engaging in physical confrontations for short durations.”
While “protester violence” has been condemned recently in the press, this commentary has mistaken where the violence is coming from. These demonstrations have indeed been incredibly violent, but it is clear the vast majority of the violence is coming from either the police or right-wing vigilantes, not the protesters themselves.
This Is Portland
The anti-racist movement has exploded since the killing of George Floyd on May 25, with millions pouring into the streets for perhaps the largest protest wave in U.S. history. Portland has had one of the largest sustained protests, with no sign of slowing. The Portland police have been notably aggressive with both protesters and press, leading to a series of lawsuits and injunctions on police use of force. Trump then ordered in federal officers, who had no such restrictions. Soon, violence against demonstrators was marked by the indiscriminate use of aggressive “less-lethal” weapons like tear gas and flash grenades.
These demonstrations have indeed been incredibly violent, but it is clear the vast majority of the violence is coming from either the police or right-wing vigilantes, not the protesters themselves.
Outrage over the federal intervention swept Oregon, and the protests, which had slowed, exploded with energy. Eventually, the state’s leadership was able to negotiate a federal withdrawal with the White House, offering them the local officers as the alternative. Many people expected this to tamp down the aggressiveness of the demonstrations, but in the days that followed, the Portland and state police used aggressive dispersal tactics, beating protesters with batons, charging crowds and chasing demonstrators through the streets.
The police have been the loudest voice denouncing “violent protesters.” Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell penned an op-ed for The New York Times suggesting that protester violence escalated the situation, rather than the violence clearly visible from his department. Far right commentators have blamed the violence on the protest crowd, presenting an alternative reality of the protests as orchestrated by a cadre of antifa determined to overthrow the government.
These allegations miss a fundamental dynamic of the protests: The anti-racist demonstrators, in their most extreme actions, are culpable for little more than vandalism. The protests against police are not about the kind of violence that results in broken windows, but the kind where people end up dead.
Analysis from The Oregonian showed that of the 40 people killed by Portland police since 2003, a disproportionate number were Black. Of the 65 police who had fired their guns in these incidents, none were grand juried or faced discipline.
The capacity for violence during police dispersals is vastly uneven. The protesters are breaking the law when they vandalize buildings or light fires. In one case, a group beat up a man who drove his truck into a pole nearby, but the attackers were immediately disavowed by protest organizers. The police have used chemical weapons, tackling and beating people with retractable batons, spraying people with pepper spray, and causing mass trauma. This police violence has been so profound the city’s Independent Police Review is now investigating more than 40 allegations of police abuse. There are also allegations of sexual harassment coming from protesters.
The protests against police are not about the kind of violence that results in broken windows, but the kind where people end up dead.
A clear example of this disproportionate use of violence is the case of Donovan La Bella, who was standing across from the Multnomah County Justice Center before he was shot directly in the head with a police munition. The young man’s skull was fractured and he has a long recovery ahead from such a disastrous injury. There is no comparable case on the police side, because they overwhelmingly control the use of force. The police focused their ire on homemade shields used by protesters, but when video captures the police raiding crowds with batons or shooting exploding weapons, it is clear why the protesters bring the shields. The tear gas itself, which has apparently caused defoliation, has led to reports of menstrual irregularities. The tear gas has been used so heavily in Portland that there are fears that it could contaminate the water system, and though it was formally banned by the Mayor on September 10, it is unclear how long the ban will last.
“It has been getting more dangerous. [The PPB] is just using physical force on anyone — nonviolent protesters, local residents just watching, press and legal observers,” says Jovanni Lopez, who has been documenting protests and says he wears goggles, a helmet, a gas mask, and keeps “chemical wipes” handy. “I have seen officers kick, punch, throw and pepper spray protesters for not moving fast enough.”
The Vigilantes
On August 15, a “patriotic” rally was held in Portland, organized by far right activist Haley Adams, known for leading crowds of Proud Boys into fights with anti-racist counter-demonstrators in Portland the past few years.
As the right-wing demonstrators were leaving a public parking garage in downtown at 1:45 pm, far right activist Skylor Jernigan allegedly leaned out of a blue sedan and fired off several rounds.
“Obviously, everyone was pretty rattled by this…. There was a worry that more armed far right people were still in there,” says Laura Jedeed, who was live-tweeting and taking video when the shots were fired. “This thing where they’ve now fired live rounds kind of breaks the seal, so to speak. They’ve gotten over the taboo of not shooting at people. I fully expect them to shoot more rounds.”
This was just minutes after BLM protesters allege that a pipe bomb was tossed at them, the second in just a few days.
A new wave of far right vigilante violence is rising, sparked by the paranoid conspiracies that right-wing media and police unions are pushing about protesters.
A new wave of far right vigilante violence is rising, sparked by the paranoid conspiracies that right-wing media and police unions are pushing about protesters.
In Kenosha, Wisconsin, as protests erupted over the shooting of Jacob Blake, Kyle Rittenhouse joined white nationalists to take arms against the protesters. Rittenhouse eventually shot three protesters, killing two of them, before walking away through the police line without intervention.
In counties far removed from protests — from Canadian County, Oklahoma, to Pinal County, Arizona — sheriffs have called on citizens’ posses to end civil unrest. Police posed for selfies and collaborated with vigilantes in cities like Salem, Oregon and Olympia, Washington. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the local GOP openly supported a militia facing a lawsuit from the state after a vigilante shot a protester during a counterprotest. On August 24, a nonviolent marcher was shot in Bedford County, Virginia. This makes sense given the historic crossover between police departments and far right groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, and, according to recent studies, members of far right groups have intentionally moved into positions in law enforcement.
An investigation of the spatial distribution of incidents tracked on social media and data available in the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project database reveals discernible hotspots. The highest concentration of vigilante intimidation and violence occurs in the Southwest and Northwest U.S.
Population density does not determine where the violence happens, so it can occur in rural areas or in cities, and while Portland leads the pack in vigilante incidents, cities with higher populations have far fewer incidents. The list of 15 counties with the most incidents include mid-level cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, as well as Salem and Eugene, Oregon
Alexander Reid Ross
In Portland, violence has been ascendant. Before the drive-by pipe bomb attack on August 15, there was an earlier protest on August 8 during which multiple explosions were observed. Police are now investigating Louis Garrick Fernbaugh, a former CIA contractor and Navy SEAL, for the attack. On August 4, a truck plowed through a protest crowd, narrowly missing people as sparks flew from a motorcycle caught under its front bumper. On August 17, a man wielding a bat went through Portland, attacking businesses that had Black Lives Matter signs up. Proud Boys have attacked protesters in Michigan, and in Philadelphia, there were vigilante squads armed with baseball bats patrolling the streets looking for protesters.
This pattern has been repeated across the country. In Austin, Texas, a far right soldier who had tweeted about his hatred of protesters drove into a protest, shooting and killing a protester. Police arrested him, released him within 24 hours, and he emerged the next day to harass and terrorize a vigil for his victim.
Between May 25 and July 7, there were up to 66 attacks on protesters by people wielding cars as weapons. Most recently this occurred in Times Square on September 3. The University of Chicago’s Chicago Project on Security and Threats has been tracking these attacks, tracing the violent tactic back to “Run Them Over” memes popular in right-wing circles.
What the Danger Looks Like
On August 29, a caravan of Trump supporters careened through Portland, spraying anti-racists with mace. One of those people was shot and killed by what many allege was an anti-racist protester, and now the far right group the Proud Boys will return for a rally on September 26. As the police ramp up violence against protesters, with increased support from Oregon’s governor, there does not seem to be an end to this violence in sight.
As the police ramp up violence against protesters, with increased support from Oregon’s governor, there does not seem to be an end to this violence in sight.
On Monday, August 7, participants at a Trump rally in Salem, Oregon, which included Proud Boys, attacked Black Lives Matter counterdemonstrators, hitting an independent journalist in the back of the head with a baseball bat, ripping off his protective gear, and spraying him with pepper spray while he was on the ground in the fetal position.
“Thirty-seconds after turning my back all I know is I was on the ground and I couldn’t move and once they tore off [my protective equipment] she walked up and all I could feel was the mace on me,” said Joe Smothers, the journalist who was at the demonstration to livestream. Smothers alleges that he was singled out for his journalism work, and the assault resulted in a second concussion in a couple of weeks, the first being from the August 22 rally when he was struck in the head by a rock.
The violence is only on a path to escalation, and even as the forest fires make outdoor demonstrations hazardous, there is no reason to believe that they are taking a day off. “When we come, we don’t really come armed. We barely come with shields … but they bring like bear mace, batons. I feel like once the police start holding their own side accountable, and themselves accountable, then it will end,” says Smothers.
While it is the anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters who have faced the brunt of criticism, the math simply does not add up. While the protest movements are demonized with hyperbolic allegations of malfeasance (such as their supposed responsibility for the forest fires), Department of Homeland Security officials now report that they were instructed to downplay the frightening threat of white nationalist violence. If we are looking at the numbers and seriousness of the attacks, the far right and the police are responsible for the lion’s share. If we want to bring the protests to a close and end the violence, then this means a commitment to de-escalation and nonviolence from both the police and right-wing agitators.
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--2020-09-18--Millions of Children Go Hungry as Mitch McConnell Blocks Stimulus Bill

Millions of children across the United States are already going hungry amid the economic recession spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic , and emergency food assistance is set to expire on September 30 as Congress remains at an impasse over stimulus legislation .
The House has already passed legislation that would renew the emergency food assistance , but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to take it up in the Senate .
During the last week of August , up to 14 percent of parents reported that they could not consistently afford to feed their children as millions of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain the coronavirus , according to federal data crunched by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ( CBPP ) .
About 1 in 10 adults reported that their households did not have enough to eat at some point in the last seven days , including 19 percent of Black adults and 17 percent of Latinx adults .
These figures add to reams of data showing that the pandemic and recession have disproportionally harmed people of color , who are more likely to work in low-paying industries that have suffered job losses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when only 3.7 percent of adults reported that their households had “ not enough to eat ” during the course of the year and about 1 percent of parents reported their children going hungry , according to CBPP ’ s analysis .
Hunger persists across the country despite pandemic relief packages passed by Congress earlier this year , and millions of people are still struggling to pay rent , bills , mortgages , and for other basic needs .
Despite federal aid packages passed earlier this year , in July one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not afford enough food or could not afford to pay their rent or mortgage , or both .
Advocates on the front lines say they are seeing an alarming increase in the number of families going hungry in communities across the country .
Megan Sandel , a physician at the Grow Clinic for Children at Boston Medical Center and investigator for Children ’ s HealthWatch , said the number of families showing up at the medical center has increased by 40 percent during the pandemic , and two-thirds report food insecurity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ food at the end of the month before the pandemic are now running out of money much earlier .
A food pantry at the clinic is now open around the clock .
Some parents have told Sandel that they sometimes only have enough food for their children , but not themselves , so they leave the room during mealtime so their kids don ’ t see that they are not eating .
“ Parents will not actually eat in order to feed their children , ” Sandel told reporters on Thursday , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ability to learn in school .
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed in March by bolstering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , or SNAP , which is commonly called food stamps .
States were temporarily allowed to provide families emergency allotments to buy food up to the maximum allowed under SNAP .
The law also established the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program , or pandemic EBT , which provides money for food meant to replace free meals that lower-income children received in schools before they shut down or went virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both of these temporary SNAP provisions will expire at the end of the month , leaving millions of unemployed workers , people with disabilities , elderly people and low-income parents with less money to buy food .
The Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to slash funding for SNAP and push people out of the program with new rules for eligibility .
“ The pandemic EBT is the most efficient way to get food into people ’ s hands , ” Sandel said .
Sandel said Congress should renew the temporary SNAP provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make some tweaks .
Currently , the poorest households — which include about 5 million children – that already receive the maximum SNAP benefit did not receive additional nutrition assistance under the original stimulus legislation .
Some schools are reopening with a mix of in-person and virtual instruction , and advocates say policymakers must ensure that pandemic EBT covers children who miss school meals because they are attending class virtually from home for a portion of the school week .
“ Food hardship remained high after pandemic EBT benefits were issued … and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Stacy Dean , CBPP ’ s vice president for food assistance policy .
The Democratic majority in the House passed a stimulus package in May that would increase the maximum SNAP benefit by 15 percent until September 2021 .
That legislation would also block the Trump administration from implementing eligibility rules aimed at pushing people out of SNAP .
CPBB estimates that the 15 percent increase would help 16 million people , including about 7 million children , who already receive the maximum SNAP benefit and have not received additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House package was dead on arrival in the Senate , where McConnell and the Republicans balked at the price tag and then attempted to blame Democrats for holding up a stimulus bill as partisan negotiations on compromise legislation broke down in recent weeks .
McConnell introduced a “ skinny ” stimulus package last week that contained no SNAP provisions and far less federal aid for individuals as well as local and state governments than the House proposed , but Democratic lawmakers blocked the bill .
President Trump urged Republicans this week to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” signaling a call to increase federal assistance as he eyes the November election .
On Tuesday the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus introduced a compromise package that includes the 15 percent SNAP increase as well as another round of direct stimulus checks , but Democratic leaders in the House say that package does not provide enough relief in other areas , including public health spending for combating the spread of COVID-19 .
In a joint statement , the Democratic chairs of eight House committees said the Problem Solvers ’ proposal falls short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost the economy .
“ Unfortunately , today ’ s proposal retreats from these critical policies and fails to respond to additional issues that have emerged since May , ” the chairs said .
“ When it comes to bolstering the public health system , supporting state and local governments , and assisting struggling families , the Problem Solvers ’ proposal leaves too many needs unmet .
”

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
Millions of children across the United States are already going hungry amid the economic recession spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, and emergency food assistance is set to expire on September 30 as Congress remains at an impasse over stimulus legislation. The House has already passed legislation that would renew the emergency food assistance, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to take it up in the Senate.
During the last week of August, up to 14 percent of parents reported that they could not consistently afford to feed their children as millions of people remain without work due to efforts to contain the coronavirus, according to federal data crunched by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). About 1 in 10 adults reported that their households did not have enough to eat at some point in the last seven days, including 19 percent of Black adults and 17 percent of Latinx adults. These figures add to reams of data showing that the pandemic and recession have disproportionally harmed people of color, who are more likely to work in low-paying industries that have suffered job losses.
Compare these numbers to figures from 2019, when only 3.7 percent of adults reported that their households had “not enough to eat” during the course of the year and about 1 percent of parents reported their children going hungry, according to CBPP’s analysis. Hunger persists across the country despite pandemic relief packages passed by Congress earlier this year, and millions of people are still struggling to pay rent, bills, mortgages, and for other basic needs. Despite federal aid packages passed earlier this year, in July one in four children lived in households that either could not afford enough food or could not afford to pay their rent or mortgage, or both.
Advocates on the front lines say they are seeing an alarming increase in the number of families going hungry in communities across the country. Megan Sandel, a physician at the Grow Clinic for Children at Boston Medical Center and investigator for Children’s HealthWatch, said the number of families showing up at the medical center has increased by 40 percent during the pandemic, and two-thirds report food insecurity. Parents who typically stretched their budget for food at the end of the month before the pandemic are now running out of money much earlier. A food pantry at the clinic is now open around the clock. Some parents have told Sandel that they sometimes only have enough food for their children, but not themselves, so they leave the room during mealtime so their kids don’t see that they are not eating.
“Parents will not actually eat in order to feed their children,” Sandel told reporters on Thursday, adding that food insecurity can harm a child’s ability to learn in school.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed in March by bolstering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is commonly called food stamps. States were temporarily allowed to provide families emergency allotments to buy food up to the maximum allowed under SNAP. The law also established the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program, or pandemic EBT, which provides money for food meant to replace free meals that lower-income children received in schools before they shut down or went virtual due to COVID-19.
Up to 14 percent of parents reported that they could not consistently afford to feed their children.
Unless Congress acts, both of these temporary SNAP provisions will expire at the end of the month, leaving millions of unemployed workers, people with disabilities, elderly people and low-income parents with less money to buy food. The Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to slash funding for SNAP and push people out of the program with new rules for eligibility.
“The pandemic EBT is the most efficient way to get food into people’s hands,” Sandel said.
Sandel said Congress should renew the temporary SNAP provisions for the remainder of the pandemic and make some tweaks. Currently, the poorest households — which include about 5 million children – that already receive the maximum SNAP benefit did not receive additional nutrition assistance under the original stimulus legislation. Some schools are reopening with a mix of in-person and virtual instruction, and advocates say policymakers must ensure that pandemic EBT covers children who miss school meals because they are attending class virtually from home for a portion of the school week.
“Food hardship remained high after pandemic EBT benefits were issued … and Congress is poised to let this expire,” said Stacy Dean, CBPP’s vice president for food assistance policy.
The Democratic majority in the House passed a stimulus package in May that would increase the maximum SNAP benefit by 15 percent until September 2021. That legislation would also block the Trump administration from implementing eligibility rules aimed at pushing people out of SNAP. CPBB estimates that the 15 percent increase would help 16 million people, including about 7 million children, who already receive the maximum SNAP benefit and have not received additional assistance during the pandemic.
However, the House package was dead on arrival in the Senate, where McConnell and the Republicans balked at the price tag and then attempted to blame Democrats for holding up a stimulus bill as partisan negotiations on compromise legislation broke down in recent weeks. McConnell introduced a “skinny” stimulus package last week that contained no SNAP provisions and far less federal aid for individuals as well as local and state governments than the House proposed, but Democratic lawmakers blocked the bill. President Trump urged Republicans this week to “go for much higher numbers,” signaling a call to increase federal assistance as he eyes the November election.
On Tuesday the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus introduced a compromise package that includes the 15 percent SNAP increase as well as another round of direct stimulus checks, but Democratic leaders in the House say that package does not provide enough relief in other areas, including public health spending for combating the spread of COVID-19. In a joint statement, the Democratic chairs of eight House committees said the Problem Solvers’ proposal falls short of what is needed to save lives and boost the economy.
“Unfortunately, today’s proposal retreats from these critical policies and fails to respond to additional issues that have emerged since May,” the chairs said. “When it comes to bolstering the public health system, supporting state and local governments, and assisting struggling families, the Problem Solvers’ proposal leaves too many needs unmet.”
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--2020-09-19--Ginsburg’s Death Sparks Renewed Calls for Reforms to the Supreme Court

As mourners left flowers and signs outside the U.S. Supreme Court building overnight following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death Friday evening , President Donald Trump and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed to force through her replacement with just weeks until the November election while progressive lawmakers and organizers promised to fight the GOP ’ s hypocritical effort to shift the court right .
Acknowledging Ginsburg ’ s dying wish that she “ will not be replaced until a new president is installed , ” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) declared that “ we can , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight to “ preserve our democracy and move forward , ” the congresswoman said , “ will require each and every one of us , from the streets to the Senate , to grow in courage , strength , and strategy.
” McConnell — who in 2016 led Republicans ’ months-long blockade of Merrick Garland , President Barack Obama ’ s nominee to the high court , citing the upcoming presidential election — said Friday , with less than two months until the next election , that the Senate will vote on Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Twitter Saturday to urge the GOP-controlled upper chamber to approve his unannounced pick “ without delay.
” The majority leader and president ’ s position — though widely expected , particularly given their ongoing joint effort to remake the federal judiciary by ramming through right-wing lifelong appointees — provoked pushback from top Democrats , including the party ’ s presidential nominee , Joe Biden .
The former vice president said that “ voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider.
” While noting Ginsburg ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and justice , Biden and congressional Democrats called on elected Republicans to follow their own made-up rules .
Referencing the majority leader ’ s 2016 remarks about Garland and giving “ the people a voice , ” Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) said in a statement Saturday that now , “ McConnell is cementing a shameful legacy of brazen hypocrisy.
” Sanders added that “ thankfully not all Senate Republicans agree ” with plowing ahead to confirm a Trump appointee , noting that Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-Alaska ) reportedly said Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is against an appointment this close to an election and “ would not vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee.
” Four Senate Republicans would have to join with all Democrats to block Trump from appointing a third justice to the court — following Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 .
Although Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) didn ’ t share his position on a vote in his statement about Ginsburg ’ s death , former Utah politician Jim Dabakis tweeted Friday : “ A high-level Romney insider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not confirming a Supreme Court nominee until after Inauguration Day 2021.
” As Sanders pointed out , other GOP lawmakers have previously said they are opposed to a confirmation vote this close to an election — specifically , Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) , and Lindsay Graham ( R-S.C. ) .
According to Sanders , “ The right thing to do here is clear .
The Republicans in the Senate know it , and many of them have stated it clearer than I could .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like Romney , Collins didn ’ t address the new battle over the empty court seat in her Friday comments about RBG , but she has been pilloried for the pivotal role she played in Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation and faces a tight reelection race , making her a key target for those who support honoring the justice ’ s dying wish or working to elect Biden .
Although Graham had said in October 2018 that “ if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump ’ s term , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll wait to the next election , ” the Senate Judiciary Committee chair seemed to shift his position Saturday : David Sirota , senior adviser and speechwriter Sanders ’ 2020 presidential campaign , suggested a strategy in his newsletter Saturday : immediately announcing a progressive primary challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , who will be up for reelection in 2022 .
Although Schumer on Friday stated his opposition to confirming a new justice by quoting McConnell ’ s comments from 2016 , Sirota noted the minority leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That means Schumer needs to face maximum pressure every single day to use all possible power that his caucus has — and it has power — to stop a Trump appointment , ” Sirota argued .
He explained that “ the Senate runs on the unanimous consent system — which basically means that to do its most basic business , all senators must consent .
In this situation , Senate Democrats have the power to use that system to grind everything to a halt.
” Progressive organizers and political commentators also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of potential nominees — warning that , as Bill Blum wrote for The Progressive , “ if Donald Trump gets to appoint a single additional justice to the court , our children and our grandchildren will be paying an epic price for decades to come.
” Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement that “ the fate of our rights , our freedoms , our healthcare , our bodies , our lives , and our country depend on what happens over the coming months.
” With a nod to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as Republican efforts to appoint justices who support overturning Roe v. Wade and cutting off access to abortion , she added that “ it would be an absolute slap in the face to the millions of Americans who honor and cherish Justice Ginsburg ’ s legacy if President Trump and Mitch McConnell were to replace her with someone who would undo her life ’ s work and take away the rights and freedoms for which she fought so hard.
” Biden ’ s running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death by underscoring the importance of voting in the general election .
In a Saturday email to supporters , the senator wrote that she and Biden “ know , like you do , that the most important thing we can do to protect that legacy is not just winning the White House , but electing a Senate majority that will confirm fair-minded Supreme Court appointees who believe in equal justice under the law.
” As Common Dreams reported Friday , given concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and GOP efforts to limit election participation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America are encouraging Americans to “ vote as early as possible , whether they do that by mail or in person.
” Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights , voiced her opposition to the Senate confirming a Trump appointee in a statement Friday night and suggested on MSNBC that the justice ’ s death could energize voters : Ginsburg ’ s death and the political battle it sparked also renewed calls for reforming the Supreme Court .
Elie Mystal , The Nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ should Democrats ever hold that power again , they must act .
The addition of two justices is simply a proportional response necessary to right the wrongs committed by McConnell .
The addition of 10 justices , as I have advocated , puts the Supreme Court on a path toward long-term reform.
” “ This must be our fight now .
We must do everything we can to stop McConnell from filling Ginsburg ’ s seat and , however that turns out , we must retake political power and reform a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by McConnell ’ s ongoing hypocrisy , ” Mystal continued .
“ That fight seems daunting , but it is no more difficult than the battles Ginsburg herself fought and won over the course of her storied career.
” University of Michigan professor Juan Cole , concurred , writing that “ if the Democrats win both the presidency and the Senate , they must do something about the dictatorship of the minority on the court , and they ought to come in prepared to introduce serious reform so that our laws reflect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than that of a few corrupt billionaires allied with hypocritical religious fundamentalists.
” At least one progressive in Congress issued a similar call in the wake of Ginsburg ’ s death .
Sen. Ed Markey ( D-Mass . )
— who just pulled off a major primary win — tweeted Friday night that “ Mitch McConnell set the precedent .
No Supreme Court vacancies filled in an election year .
If he violates it , when Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress , we must abolish the filibuster and expand the @ @ @ @

As the GOP moves to seat a new nominee, some lawmakers call for ending the filibuster and expanding the court.
As mourners left flowers and signs outside the U.S. Supreme Court building overnight following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death Friday evening, President Donald Trump and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed to force through her replacement with just weeks until the November election while progressive lawmakers and organizers promised to fight the GOP’s hypocritical effort to shift the court right.
Acknowledging Ginsburg’s dying wish that she “will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) declared that “we can, and must, fight.” And that fight to “preserve our democracy and move forward,” the congresswoman said, “will require each and every one of us, from the streets to the Senate, to grow in courage, strength, and strategy.”
McConnell — who in 2016 led Republicans’ months-long blockade of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee to the high court, citing the upcoming presidential election — said Friday, with less than two months until the next election, that the Senate will vote on Trump’s nominee. The president took to Twitter Saturday to urge the GOP-controlled upper chamber to approve his unannounced pick “without delay.”
The majority leader and president’s position — though widely expected, particularly given their ongoing joint effort to remake the federal judiciary by ramming through right-wing lifelong appointees — provoked pushback from top Democrats, including the party’s presidential nominee, Joe Biden. The former vice president said that “voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider.”
With voting already underway for the 2020 elections, Ruthie’s “most fervent wish” was for her replacement not to be named “until a new president is installed.” We must honor her wish. — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 19, 2020
While noting Ginsburg’s legacy as a trailblazing advocate for equality and justice, Biden and congressional Democrats called on elected Republicans to follow their own made-up rules. Referencing the majority leader’s 2016 remarks about Garland and giving “the people a voice,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement Saturday that now, “McConnell is cementing a shameful legacy of brazen hypocrisy.”
Sanders added that “thankfully not all Senate Republicans agree” with plowing ahead to confirm a Trump appointee, noting that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reportedly said Friday shortly before Ginsburg’s death that she is against an appointment this close to an election and “would not vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee.”
For those unaware: Schumer below is quoting what McConnell said in 2016. https://t.co/5zX1OUF8Lz — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) September 19, 2020
Four Senate Republicans would have to join with all Democrats to block Trump from appointing a third justice to the court — following Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. Although Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) didn’t share his position on a vote in his statement about Ginsburg’s death, former Utah politician Jim Dabakis tweeted Friday: “A high-level Romney insider tells me Mitt Romney has committed to not confirming a Supreme Court nominee until after Inauguration Day 2021.”
As Sanders pointed out, other GOP lawmakers have previously said they are opposed to a confirmation vote this close to an election — specifically, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.). According to Sanders, “The right thing to do here is clear. The Republicans in the Senate know it, and many of them have stated it clearer than I could. We should let voters decide. Period.”
Like Romney, Collins didn’t address the new battle over the empty court seat in her Friday comments about RBG, but she has been pilloried for the pivotal role she played in Kavanaugh’s confirmation and faces a tight reelection race, making her a key target for those who support honoring the justice’s dying wish or working to elect Biden.
Although Graham had said in October 2018 that “if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump’s term, and the primary process has started, we’ll wait to the next election,” the Senate Judiciary Committee chair seemed to shift his position Saturday:
I fully understand where President @realDonaldTrump is coming from. https://t.co/qlhtEwTCdX — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2020
David Sirota, senior adviser and speechwriter Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, suggested a strategy in his newsletter Saturday: immediately announcing a progressive primary challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who will be up for reelection in 2022. Although Schumer on Friday stated his opposition to confirming a new justice by quoting McConnell’s comments from 2016, Sirota noted the minority leader’s record on fast-tracking Trump judges.
“That means Schumer needs to face maximum pressure every single day to use all possible power that his caucus has — and it has power — to stop a Trump appointment,” Sirota argued. He explained that “the Senate runs on the unanimous consent system — which basically means that to do its most basic business, all senators must consent. In this situation, Senate Democrats have the power to use that system to grind everything to a halt.”
Schumer has moved aggressively to protect his left flank recently — making climate a priority, joining forces with Warren on debt forgiveness, and Bernie on an amendment to cut Pentagon funding. This SCOTUS fight will only increase pressure on him. — Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) September 19, 2020
Progressive organizers and political commentators also raised alarm about Trump’s latest list of potential nominees — warning that, as Bill Blum wrote for The Progressive, “if Donald Trump gets to appoint a single additional justice to the court, our children and our grandchildren will be paying an epic price for decades to come.”
Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement that “the fate of our rights, our freedoms, our healthcare, our bodies, our lives, and our country depend on what happens over the coming months.”
With a nod to RBG’s record on reproductive rights as well as Republican efforts to appoint justices who support overturning Roe v. Wade and cutting off access to abortion, she added that “it would be an absolute slap in the face to the millions of Americans who honor and cherish Justice Ginsburg’s legacy if President Trump and Mitch McConnell were to replace her with someone who would undo her life’s work and take away the rights and freedoms for which she fought so hard.”
Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), responded to RBG’s death by underscoring the importance of voting in the general election. In a Saturday email to supporters, the senator wrote that she and Biden “know, like you do, that the most important thing we can do to protect that legacy is not just winning the White House, but electing a Senate majority that will confirm fair-minded Supreme Court appointees who believe in equal justice under the law.”
As Common Dreams reported Friday, given concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and GOP efforts to limit election participation, progressive advocacy groups including Stand Up America are encouraging Americans to “vote as early as possible, whether they do that by mail or in person.”
Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, voiced her opposition to the Senate confirming a Trump appointee in a statement Friday night and suggested on MSNBC that the justice’s death could energize voters:
As I just told @chrislhayes: We understand what Justice Ginsburg's legacy means. We know what's at stake. And we will fight. pic.twitter.com/XYjwJXQqrH — Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) September 19, 2020
Ginsburg’s death and the political battle it sparked also renewed calls for reforming the Supreme Court. Elie Mystal, The Nation’s justice correspondent, wrote just after midnight that “should Democrats ever hold that power again, they must act. The addition of two justices is simply a proportional response necessary to right the wrongs committed by McConnell. The addition of 10 justices, as I have advocated, puts the Supreme Court on a path toward long-term reform.”
“This must be our fight now. We must do everything we can to stop McConnell from filling Ginsburg’s seat and, however that turns out, we must retake political power and reform a Supreme Court that has been irrevocably broken by McConnell’s ongoing hypocrisy,” Mystal continued. “That fight seems daunting, but it is no more difficult than the battles Ginsburg herself fought and won over the course of her storied career.”
Thank you @MondaireJones. As @brianefallon said last night, THERE IS ONE PLAY, and this is that play. https://t.co/l2fLbKLwyN — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 19, 2020
University of Michigan professor Juan Cole, concurred, writing that “if the Democrats win both the presidency and the Senate, they must do something about the dictatorship of the minority on the court, and they ought to come in prepared to introduce serious reform so that our laws reflect the will of our 330 million people rather than that of a few corrupt billionaires allied with hypocritical religious fundamentalists.”
At least one progressive in Congress issued a similar call in the wake of Ginsburg’s death. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) — who just pulled off a major primary win — tweeted Friday night that “Mitch McConnell set the precedent. No Supreme Court vacancies filled in an election year. If he violates it, when Democrats control the Senate in the next Congress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.”
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truthout--2020-09-19--With the Passing of Justice Ginsburg, Democracy Just Got Harder, Again

Right .
Ol ’ Lindsey nearly broke both legs walking that one back upon the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
If Senate Republicans can seat a new Justice before the election , they will do it .
If they can seat a new Justice before the end of January ( in the event of a Trump loss ) , they will do it .
Of course they will do it .
Three right-wing Justices in one single presidential term ?
Plenty of presidents have gotten two or three over two terms .
FDR got eight in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ya think it had an effect on history ?
Three in one term is ridiculous , and a full-scream nightmare turn during this gruesome administration .
Of course McConnell and the GOP will leap on this preposterously historic opportunity — combined with the 200-plus new federal judges they have stuffed into the lower courts — to lock in wealth protection and the white supremacist voting structure for at least another generation .
“ Control the coinage and the courts , ” counseled old Jacob Broom .
“ Let the rabble have the rest.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins — four GOP senators who have piped up about the upcoming nomination brawl in the last 24 hours — will not be able to stand in the way of this tornado .
One of them will buckle , and that will be that .
Just this morning , Romney ’ s office already walked back his earlier commitment not to vote for a nominee until after inauguration .
I strongly suspect the placement of a new Justice won ’ t happen before the election — too tight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold — but I am grimly certain we will be swearing in a new Justice by bleak February .
I say this with love : If you doubt it , if you have hope for a different outcome , you have not been paying sufficient attention , or you ’ re letting your heart do the talking in your head .
This is about power : Raw , unmistakable power .
This is the Republican Party grasping with both hands the last bulwark it has to defend its eroding standing against the rushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell fulfilling his destiny ; though he may be despised by tens and tens of millions , all the Right People in all the Right Rooms will sing his name to sainthood , and that is all he cares about .
They will do this , because they can , full stop .
Parting thought : Anyone who needs a refresher course on the profound fragility of our democracy need only look at how very much depended on the health of one extraordinary individual from the Bronx .
Democracy just got harder , @ @ @ @ @

The seating of another right-wing justice would be a full-scream nightmare turn during this gruesome administration.
“If an opening comes in the last year of President Trump’s term, and the primary process is started, we’ll wait to the next election.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), on filling a Supreme Court vacancy right before an election, October 2018
Right. Ol’ Lindsey nearly broke both legs walking that one back upon the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If Senate Republicans can seat a new Justice before the election, they will do it. If they can seat a new Justice before the end of January (in the event of a Trump loss), they will do it.
Of course they will do it. Three right-wing Justices in one single presidential term? Plenty of presidents have gotten two or three over two terms. FDR got eight in six years… and gosh, d’ya think it had an effect on history?
Three in one term is ridiculous, and a full-scream nightmare turn during this gruesome administration.
Of course McConnell and the GOP will leap on this preposterously historic opportunity — combined with the 200-plus new federal judges they have stuffed into the lower courts — to lock in wealth protection and the white supremacist voting structure for at least another generation.
“Control the coinage and the courts,” counseled old Jacob Broom. “Let the rabble have the rest.”
Mitt Romney, Chuck Grassley, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins — four GOP senators who have piped up about the upcoming nomination brawl in the last 24 hours — will not be able to stand in the way of this tornado. One of them will buckle, and that will be that. Just this morning, Romney’s office already walked back his earlier commitment not to vote for a nominee until after inauguration.
I strongly suspect the placement of a new Justice won’t happen before the election — too tight, too fraught, and that four might hold — but I am grimly certain we will be swearing in a new Justice by bleak February.
Anyone who needs a refresher course on the profound fragility of our democracy need only look at how very much depended on the health of one extraordinary individual from Brooklyn.
I say this with love: If you doubt it, if you have hope for a different outcome, you have not been paying sufficient attention, or you’re letting your heart do the talking in your head.
This is about power: Raw, unmistakable power. This is the Republican Party grasping with both hands the last bulwark it has to defend its eroding standing against the rushing tide of history. This is Mitch McConnell fulfilling his destiny; though he may be despised by tens and tens of millions, all the Right People in all the Right Rooms will sing his name to sainthood, and that is all he cares about.
They will do this, because they can, full stop.
Parting thought: Anyone who needs a refresher course on the profound fragility of our democracy need only look at how very much depended on the health of one extraordinary individual from Brooklyn.
Democracy just got harder, again. Stout hearts.
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.
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