truthout--2020-06-02--Black Owner of Yaya’s BBQ Killed by Louisville Police Often Gave Them Free Meals

A 53-year-old Black business owner in Louisville , Kentucky , was killed by police gunfire early on Monday morning during protests in that city , as law enforcement attempted crowd control in the neighborhood near his barbecue business .
David McAtee , 53 , was considered a “ community pillar ” partially due to the popularity of his restaurant , Yaya ’ s BBQ , in western Louisville .
McAtee , who was in business for decades , would often serve free meals to police officers who frequented his establishment .
The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department ( LMPD ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gathering of people near McAtee ’ s place of business — part of the nationwide uprisings in response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis , Minnesota , police last week .
LMPD claimed a shot was fired toward them , resulting in their returning fire into the crowd .
One of their bullets ended up hitting McAtee , killing him early Monday morning , though no attempt was made to remove his body from the street where it lay until at least noon that day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different levels of government .
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer , commenting on the matter , announced that Chief of Police Steve Conrad was fired because of what happened , particularly because no member of law enforcement involved in the shooting had their body cameras turned on at the time .
“ This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated , ” Conrad said .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear similarly chastised the lack of body cams .
“ This is the entire reason that we have those cameras , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments may be genuine , many have noted in the past that body cameras don ’ t provide the fail-safe that political leaders say they do .
Evidence is gathered , sometimes , as a result of wearing them , but as past events have demonstrated , even in incidents where a camera clearly shows a civilian being killed by an officer ( such as the case of Eric Garner ) , it doesn ’ t necessarily result in justice for those who are harmed or for their families .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body cameras deter police violence , suggesting their effect on reducing such incidents is minimal , at best .
McAtee ’ s killing comes at a time when Louisville is still grieving over the death of another Black citizen earlier this year at the hands of police , 26-year-old Breonna Taylor .
Police burst into Taylor ’ s home in March with a warrant to search the premises , but didn ’ t announce who they were prior to their arrival .
Because of their sudden rush into the doorway , Taylor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm , believed that there were intruders breaking into their home , according to accounts from Taylor ’ s family , and fired his weapon .
Police fired back , shooting and killing Taylor in the process .

A 53-year-old Black business owner in Louisville, Kentucky, was killed by police gunfire early on Monday morning during protests in that city, as law enforcement attempted crowd control in the neighborhood near his barbecue business.
David McAtee, 53, was considered a “community pillar” partially due to the popularity of his restaurant, Yaya’s BBQ, in western Louisville. McAtee, who was in business for decades, would often serve free meals to police officers who frequented his establishment.
The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) and the National Guard were attempting to disperse a gathering of people near McAtee’s place of business — part of the nationwide uprisings in response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota, police last week.
LMPD claimed a shot was fired toward them, resulting in their returning fire into the crowd. One of their bullets ended up hitting McAtee, killing him early Monday morning, though no attempt was made to remove his body from the street where it lay until at least noon that day.
Unarmed black man #DavidMcAtee was murdered on Monday by @LMPD. His body was in the street for 12 hours.
McAtee was the owner of Yaya’s BBQ in Loiuisville, Kentucky, and gave free food to people in need including policeman. Our prayers go out to his family. #BlackLivesMatter 🖤 pic.twitter.com/WXWUC6KhzM — MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) June 2, 2020
The shooting is currently under investigation from several different levels of government.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, commenting on the matter, announced that Chief of Police Steve Conrad was fired because of what happened, particularly because no member of law enforcement involved in the shooting had their body cameras turned on at the time.
“This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated,” Conrad said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear similarly chastised the lack of body cams. “This is the entire reason that we have those cameras,” he said.
While Fischer’s and Beshear’s comments may be genuine, many have noted in the past that body cameras don’t provide the fail-safe that political leaders say they do. Evidence is gathered, sometimes, as a result of wearing them, but as past events have demonstrated, even in incidents where a camera clearly shows a civilian being killed by an officer (such as the case of Eric Garner), it doesn’t necessarily result in justice for those who are harmed or for their families. There is scant evidence, too, that body cameras deter police violence, suggesting their effect on reducing such incidents is minimal, at best.
McAtee’s killing comes at a time when Louisville is still grieving over the death of another Black citizen earlier this year at the hands of police, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor.
Police burst into Taylor’s home in March with a warrant to search the premises, but didn’t announce who they were prior to their arrival. Because of their sudden rush into the doorway, Taylor’s boyfriend, who legally owned a firearm, believed that there were intruders breaking into their home, according to accounts from Taylor’s family, and fired his weapon. Police fired back, shooting and killing Taylor in the process.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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truthout--2020-06-02--Anti-Fascist Activists Speak Out Against Trump’s “Terrorist” Label

The sight of burned police stations and looted corporate shopping centers sent right-wing media into a tailspin as protests escalated the weekend of May 29 .
Those media and right-wing politicians quickly concocted a narrative that deemed anti-fascists ( or “ antifa ” ) the enemy of choice .
The aggressive protest tactics were said to be the work of “ outside agitators , ” a common theme used to delegitimize protests .
Instead of understanding that the vast majority of protesters were taking up aggressive protests in their own communities out of a legitimate anger over police killings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away the civil unrest was to blame it on anti-fascist activists .
This climate helped to put pressure on Donald Trump to act , which he did in the form of tweeting that antifa was to be designated a terrorist organization .
This is not a new threat ; Trump , Ted Cruz and others issued a similar one back in July 2019 , after right-wing provocateur and media performer Andy Ngo was assaulted at an anti-fascist demonstration .
Trump ’ s comments were followed up by a statement from Attorney General William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be used to single out anti-fascist organizations and those that officials feel are escalating the protests .
“ With the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country , the voices of peaceful and legitimate protests have been hijacked by violent radical elements .
Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate , violent , and extremist agenda , ” said Barr in a public statement .
The conspiracy theory that the protests are orchestrated by anti-fascists and outside agitators ignores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anti-fascists have started speaking out to set the record straight .
“ At this moment , the people are a real threat to [ official ] power and [ leaders are ] desperate to discredit the movement because it ’ s growing and spreading so rapidly they can ’ t contain it , ” said Effie Baum , an organizer with the Portland , Oregon-based anti-fascist group Pop Mob .
“ Given the public perception and stigma that already exists against anti-fascists , we are an easy scapegoat.
” “ Antifa , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply to anything vaguely left-wing , has become a boogeyman in recent years as large anti-fascist demonstrations have confronted white nationalists and Trump allies .
Because of the virulent anger “ antifa ” inspires on conservative social media , Trump is able to score points with his base by erroneously blaming anti-fascists and escalating the language he uses to describe them .
Yet “ ‘ antifa ’ isn ’ t an actual organization .
It ’ s a set of shared ethics and tactics used by activists to describe the work we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says an anti-fascist activist who goes by the moniker “ AntiFash Gordon , ” and is known for exposing neo-Nazis online .
“ Anti-fascists aren ’ t terrorists .
We ’ re the people protecting our communities from the far right because the cops are too busy enacting a systemic campaign of racialized violence.
” “ Antifa ” often refers to the militant variety of anti-fascism , but again , this is a general descriptor of a loose movement and not a formal organization .
This means that the terrorist label could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastors to street activists to professors to mutual aid organizers .
“ Trump is trying to distract the public from the deep crisis this country is facing , pandering to his base , by recycling meaningless accusations , ” says David Rose , an organizer with Rose City Antifa in Portland , Oregon .
“ Anyone who has been out in the streets or watched [ protests ] on television have seen that these protests are a spontaneous expression of anger , and demand for a change .
At this time , anti-fascists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While anti-fascist organizations have been present at many of these protests , they have largely been just one of the many groups that support the movement against police violence .
The subtext to these allegations is that the protests are illegitimate in nature and a part of a political ploy , or that anti-fascists are at the root of these situations .
“ We see this move by Trump as an attempt to discredit the mass George Floyd rebellion as the work of small numbers of ‘ antifa ’ conspirators and outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” an organizer with Atlanta Antifascists , an anti-fascist organization in Georgia .
“ Nothing could be further from the truth .
To the degree that there are organized anti-fascist groups , their members have no privileged role in the rebellion .
It ’ s a genuine uprising against white supremacy and policing .
No small group of organizers could control it , even if they wanted.
” The terrorist labeling has little legal mechanism , but can have a dramatic effect on how existing laws can be enforced .
This designation can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , increase surveillance , inspire increased sentences , and generally raise the stakes when it comes to legal consequences for protesters .
The function of this for Trump is likely to show conservatives that he is addressing their concerns before the election , but this is going to have real world consequences for activists .
“ Trump is labeling antifa ‘ terrorists ’ to provide his base a boogeyman to direct their hatred , ” said one organizer ( who wished to remain anonymous for safety ) with Corvallis Antifa , an anti-fascist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are not terrorists .
We are simply people who love our communities and want to protect them from racism and bigotry.
” Trump is raising the specter of military intervention in domestic uprisings , but protests are continuing to grow around the country .
While anti-fascists have been an easy scare target for conservatives to build credibility around , the demonstrations taking place against police violence are coming out of a sincere anger sparked by generations of anti-Black police violence and systemic racism .

The sight of burned police stations and looted corporate shopping centers sent right-wing media into a tailspin as protests escalated the weekend of May 29. Those media and right-wing politicians quickly concocted a narrative that deemed anti-fascists (or “antifa”) the enemy of choice. The aggressive protest tactics were said to be the work of “outside agitators,” a common theme used to delegitimize protests. Instead of understanding that the vast majority of protesters were taking up aggressive protests in their own communities out of a legitimate anger over police killings of Black people, the method for explaining away the civil unrest was to blame it on anti-fascist activists.
This climate helped to put pressure on Donald Trump to act, which he did in the form of tweeting that antifa was to be designated a terrorist organization. This is not a new threat; Trump, Ted Cruz and others issued a similar one back in July 2019, after right-wing provocateur and media performer Andy Ngo was assaulted at an anti-fascist demonstration. Trump’s comments were followed up by a statement from Attorney General William Barr suggesting that FBI resources were going to be used to single out anti-fascist organizations and those that officials feel are escalating the protests. “With the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country, the voices of peaceful and legitimate protests have been hijacked by violent radical elements. Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate, violent, and extremist agenda,” said Barr in a public statement.
The conspiracy theory that the protests are orchestrated by anti-fascists and outside agitators ignores the autonomous action of those communities. Anti-fascists have started speaking out to set the record straight.
“At this moment, the people are a real threat to [official] power and [leaders are] desperate to discredit the movement because it’s growing and spreading so rapidly they can’t contain it,” said Effie Baum, an organizer with the Portland, Oregon-based anti-fascist group Pop Mob. “Given the public perception and stigma that already exists against anti-fascists, we are an easy scapegoat.”
“Antifa,” a label which many right-wing commentators tend to apply to anything vaguely left-wing, has become a boogeyman in recent years as large anti-fascist demonstrations have confronted white nationalists and Trump allies. Because of the virulent anger “antifa” inspires on conservative social media, Trump is able to score points with his base by erroneously blaming anti-fascists and escalating the language he uses to describe them.
Yet “‘antifa’ isn’t an actual organization. It’s a set of shared ethics and tactics used by activists to describe the work we do to protect our communities,” says an anti-fascist activist who goes by the moniker “AntiFash Gordon,” and is known for exposing neo-Nazis online. “Anti-fascists aren’t terrorists. We’re the people protecting our communities from the far right because the cops are too busy enacting a systemic campaign of racialized violence.”
“Antifa” often refers to the militant variety of anti-fascism, but again, this is a general descriptor of a loose movement and not a formal organization. This means that the terrorist label could have broad implications, and indict everyone from pastors to street activists to professors to mutual aid organizers.
“Trump is trying to distract the public from the deep crisis this country is facing, pandering to his base, by recycling meaningless accusations,” says David Rose, an organizer with Rose City Antifa in Portland, Oregon. “Anyone who has been out in the streets or watched [protests] on television have seen that these protests are a spontaneous expression of anger, and demand for a change. At this time, anti-fascists should not be the center of attention.”
While anti-fascist organizations have been present at many of these protests, they have largely been just one of the many groups that support the movement against police violence. The subtext to these allegations is that the protests are illegitimate in nature and a part of a political ploy, or that anti-fascists are at the root of these situations.
“These protests are a spontaneous expression of anger, and demand for a change. At this time, anti-fascists should not be the center of attention.”
“We see this move by Trump as an attempt to discredit the mass George Floyd rebellion as the work of small numbers of ‘antifa’ conspirators and outside agitators,” says “Doug,” an organizer with Atlanta Antifascists, an anti-fascist organization in Georgia. “Nothing could be further from the truth. To the degree that there are organized anti-fascist groups, their members have no privileged role in the rebellion. It’s a genuine uprising against white supremacy and policing. No small group of organizers could control it, even if they wanted.”
The terrorist labeling has little legal mechanism, but can have a dramatic effect on how existing laws can be enforced. This designation can shift policing tactics to become more aggressive, increase surveillance, inspire increased sentences, and generally raise the stakes when it comes to legal consequences for protesters. The function of this for Trump is likely to show conservatives that he is addressing their concerns before the election, but this is going to have real world consequences for activists.
“Trump is labeling antifa ‘terrorists’ to provide his base a boogeyman to direct their hatred,” said one organizer (who wished to remain anonymous for safety) with Corvallis Antifa, an anti-fascist organization in Corvallis, Oregon. “We are not terrorists. We are simply people who love our communities and want to protect them from racism and bigotry.”
Trump is raising the specter of military intervention in domestic uprisings, but protests are continuing to grow around the country. While anti-fascists have been an easy scare target for conservatives to build credibility around, the demonstrations taking place against police violence are coming out of a sincere anger sparked by generations of anti-Black police violence and systemic racism.
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--2020-06-02--Black Workers Hit Harder and Earlier by COVID Unemployment, New Report Shows

A new report details how racial inequities in American society contributed to higher rates of unemployment within Black communities as compared to rates among whites during the economic downturn brought on by coronavirus .
While signs of economic duress were evident earlier this year , for the most part the unemployment situation for American workers didn ’ t appear to be too shaky in February and March , when the rates of unemployment among the general population were 3.5 percent and 4.4 percent , respectively .
Among Black workers , however , there was a more noticeable change , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6.7 percent unemployed in March ( compared to 3.1 percent and 4.0 percent in those respective months for white workers ) , according to findings from The Economic Policy Institute ( EPI ) .
April was a month that hit the nation hard economically , as social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders across the country resulted in mass layoffs , shuttered businesses and firings .
No demographic was safe from those layoffs , but Black and Latinx communities saw much bigger dips in their employment figures during that time .
While white workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers saw a rate of 16.7 percent — or one in every six workers — unemployed in that month .
Latinx workers were similarly laid off or fired at a higher rate than white workers , with an 18.9 percent unemployment rate .
Unemployment numbers do not take into account those who do not apply for or qualify for unemployment , however , which means the number of people not working is likely much higher — and in the case of Black workers , significantly so .
According to the report ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America who are Black were able to keep working by the end of April .
EPI tried to explain in its report , released on June 1 , why Black workers were more likely to be laid off than white workers were at that time .
The report recognized that , due to the spread of coronavirus and the closing of businesses across the country , workers overall were split into one of three different groups : those who had essential jobs and kept working ; those who lost their jobs ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) ; and those who were able to work from home .
That last category of workers , however , was less likely to include Black individuals , according to EPI .
Indeed , fewer than 1 in 5 Black workers were able to work out of their homes during the pandemic shutdown .
Among Black workers who were able to continue working because they were employed in essential services , the news is equally bleak , especially in regards to their chances of being infected with COVID-19 .
Black workers are “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convenience , and drug stores , public transit , trucking , warehouse , and postal service , health care , and child care and social services , ” the study said .
“ While , in the near-term , this protects them from job loss , it exposes them to greater likelihood of contracting COVID-19 while performing their jobs.
” The pandemic likely hit Black workers harder “ because a long history of racial exclusion , discrimination , and inequality have resulted in fewer earners in their families , lower incomes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the report added .

More Black workers lost their jobs in February and March than their white counterparts, the economic report found.
A new report details how racial inequities in American society contributed to higher rates of unemployment within Black communities as compared to rates among whites during the economic downturn brought on by coronavirus.
While signs of economic duress were evident earlier this year, for the most part the unemployment situation for American workers didn’t appear to be too shaky in February and March, when the rates of unemployment among the general population were 3.5 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively.
Among Black workers, however, there was a more noticeable change, with 5.8 percent being unemployed in February and 6.7 percent unemployed in March (compared to 3.1 percent and 4.0 percent in those respective months for white workers), according to findings from The Economic Policy Institute (EPI).
April was a month that hit the nation hard economically, as social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders across the country resulted in mass layoffs, shuttered businesses and firings. No demographic was safe from those layoffs, but Black and Latinx communities saw much bigger dips in their employment figures during that time.
While white workers overall saw 14.2 percent unemployment, Black workers saw a rate of 16.7 percent — or one in every six workers — unemployed in that month. Latinx workers were similarly laid off or fired at a higher rate than white workers, with an 18.9 percent unemployment rate.
Unemployment numbers do not take into account those who do not apply for or qualify for unemployment, however, which means the number of people not working is likely much higher — and in the case of Black workers, significantly so. According to the report’s findings, less than half of workers in America who are Black were able to keep working by the end of April.
EPI tried to explain in its report, released on June 1, why Black workers were more likely to be laid off than white workers were at that time. The report recognized that, due to the spread of coronavirus and the closing of businesses across the country, workers overall were split into one of three different groups: those who had essential jobs and kept working; those who lost their jobs (by either being fired or laid off); and those who were able to work from home.
That last category of workers, however, was less likely to include Black individuals, according to EPI. Indeed, fewer than 1 in 5 Black workers were able to work out of their homes during the pandemic shutdown.
Among Black workers who were able to continue working because they were employed in essential services, the news is equally bleak, especially in regards to their chances of being infected with COVID-19.
Black workers are “disproportionately represented in employment in grocery, convenience, and drug stores, public transit, trucking, warehouse, and postal service, health care, and child care and social services,” the study said. “While, in the near-term, this protects them from job loss, it exposes them to greater likelihood of contracting COVID-19 while performing their jobs.”
The pandemic likely hit Black workers harder “because a long history of racial exclusion, discrimination, and inequality have resulted in fewer earners in their families, lower incomes, and lower liquid wealth than white workers,” the report added.
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--2020-06-02--Protests Are the Result of Police Terror With No Accountability

As thousands in Los Angeles continue to protest against police brutality and face mass arrests , Mayor Eric Garcetti is facing criticism for increasing the budget for the Los Angeles Police Department .
Organizers have called on the City Council to enact a People ’ s Budget that slashes money for police and invests in services for the community instead .
“ We have created a system that overrelies on law enforcement and prioritizes their money , their budget , their needs over everything else , ” says Patrisse Cullors , co-founder of Black Lives Matter , and Reform L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we redirect resources back into our communities.
” This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González , as we go now to Los Angeles , where protesters took to the streets of downtown and Hollywood on Monday , another day of mass protests against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd .
Demonstrators briefly shut down the 405 Freeway in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looting broke out near a peaceful protest organized by students .
Monday marked the third night of a countywide curfew in Los Angeles , where protests have been widespread and resulted in thousands of arrests .
The wealthy enclaves of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica set 1 p.m. curfews after protests reached their neighborhoods .
On Sunday , hundreds were arrested in a mass protest in Santa Monica that left many storefronts destroyed .
Calls are growing for the firing of the LAPD chief , Michel Moore , who said Monday that looters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death as the police officers who killed him .
AMY GOODMAN : The Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore has since apologized for his statements .
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted , “ The responsibility for George Floyd ’ s death rests solely with the police officers involved .
Chief Moore regrets the words he chose this evening and has clarified them.
” This comes as Mayor Garcetti is facing criticism for increasing funding for the Los Angeles Police Department in a budget for the coming fiscal year .
Community members are demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People ’ s Budget that slashes money for police and invests in services for the community instead .
Well , for more , we ’ re going to Los Angeles , where we ’ re joined by Patrisse Cullors , political strategist , co-founder of Black Lives Matter , founder of Reform L.A. Jails .
She ’ s the co-author of When They Call You a Terrorist : A Black Lives Matter Memoir .
Welcome back to Democracy Now !
, Patrisse .
It ’ s great to have you with us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd and then to the massive anti-police brutality protests and the police response ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Sure .
It ’ s really good to be here , Amy , and thank you so much for having me on .
I think , you know , I just start with my deep condolences to George Floyd ’ s family and the community of Minneapolis .
Once again , we see the devastation and the impact of the killing and torture of Black communities .
And so , I just want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are massive in a way that we haven ’ t seen them in years , for a number of reasons .
Number one , we ’ ve had to live under four years of a Trump regime that has completely devastated communities financially , spiritually , emotionally .
And number two , we have still dealt with years of police brutality , police violence and police terror , with no accountability whatsoever .
And this generation is tired .
Enough is enough .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Patrisse Cullors , you recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1992 Rodney King uprising .
What struck you the most about those events ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Well , I think it ’ s — you know , there ’ s two things happening in our city right now , in Los Angeles .
One is massive protest in solidarity with Minneapolis , but also talking about what ’ s happening in our own town .
There ’ s been 601 deaths since 2012 , involved specifically with police officers killing civilians .
And we have had a DA here , Jackie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single officer and has been largely unaccountable to the community .
And as Amy said earlier , 54 % of L.A. city ’ s budget is actually LAPD ’ s budget .
And the community is over false promises .
We ’ re over having to deal with elected officials who , instead of listening to Black pain and grief , send out the National Guard , you know , create more havoc in our communities .
AMY GOODMAN : Patrisse Cullors , can you talk about the budget that has just been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding , where you think money needs to be spent at this point , and also where you see these protests going ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Sure .
Our local chapter , Black Lives Matter Los Angeles , led by Melina Abdullah , really has been the group that has been focusing on the city budget specifically .
For years , we have seen the unveiling of a city budget , and it has always prioritized LAPD ’ s money first , and it ’ s deprioritized everything else , all the social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what we ’ re asking for is a slashing of LAPD ’ s budget .
We don ’ t believe that LAPD needs that much money .
Really , the national demand , as you ’ ll see , is a defunding of law enforcement .
Minneapolis is calling for it .
Los Angeles is calling for it .
Chicago is calling for it .
D.C. is calling for it .
We have created a system that overrelies on law enforcement and prioritizes their money , their budget , their needs over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we redirect resources back into our communities .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Patrisse Cullors , I ’ m wondering — the response of the police in many of these cities now , we ’ re seeing increasing aggressive moves by police , whether it ’ s in New York or in Louisville or in other cities , against peaceful demonstrators .
To what extent do you feel that the police across the country , many of them , have been emboldened by the language and the demeanor of President Trump over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel that they have basically the backing of the White House , if they have to — JUAN GONZÁLEZ : — exert much more authoritarian force in their local cities ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Absolutely .
I mean , we know Trump ’ s history .
We know how he has impacted just by way of how he communicates , just how he uses the media to stoke fear in mostly white , affluent communities .
He ’ s aligned himself historically with the police , being law and order .
He just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s going to send the military into cities .
This is a man who would encourage people being beat up , counterprotesters that would come into his rallies when he was running for president .
This is the man who told law enforcement at a huge law enforcement conference that they should be beating up people .
And we know that he is in complete agreement with law enforcement terrorizing and using aggressive tactics like rubber bullets , like tear gas .
On Saturday , at our protest that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with Build Power , for two hours , it was full of passion , full of love , and we marched together .
The minute that march got violent is when the police showed up .
They started shooting into the crowd rubber bullets .
They started batoning people .
It was disturbing , and it was scary .
And it was so obvious that they feel emboldened right now .
AMY GOODMAN : How do you respond , Patrisse , to police officers showing solidarity with the protesters ?
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City ’ s top officers , Terence Monahan , taking a knee , hugging a protester during a rally in Washington Square Park .
In Flint , Michigan , the Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson marched with protesters on Saturday .
In Green Bay , Wisconsin , Police Chief Andrew Smith condemned the killing of George Floyd and walked with protesters .
And we ’ re seeing this amidst the tear-gassing , amidst the shooting , amidst the pepper-spraying and the massive number of thousands of arrests .
Your comments ?
PATRISSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really frightening abusive relationship .
It ’ s when you ’ re in an abusive relationship , and the partner is gaslighting you and telling you that “ Everything that you ’ re feeling is not true , and look what I ’ m doing for you.
” It ’ s not acceptable behavior , honestly .
You ’ re either going to be in solidarity with the community and stop brutalizing us , or you ’ re going to continue to do what you ’ ve been doing and business as usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Taking a knee , marching with protesters , that doesn ’ t actually change the structure , doesn ’ t change our system that we live in , which is a system that continues to violate the rights of Black people , continues to kill Black people , hunt Black people and traumatize Black people .
That ’ s what law enforcement has done for years .
And these new acts of solidarity are — they don ’ t sit well with many of us .
AMY GOODMAN : Let me ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the film Bedlam , which very much focused on you , Patrisse , and your brother Monte .
So , all of these mass protests are taking place amidst the pandemic .
They could be super-spreading events , the horror of what could happen , and particularly impacting Black and Latino and Native American communities .
And I ’ m wondering , actually , what has happened with your brother Monte , who lives with schizoaffective disorder since he was a teenager , in the midst of all this — the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Well , we were lucky enough to get Monte off the streets last fall .
And he was hospitalized for quite a bit of time , as I received conservatorship of him .
And he ended up going to a mental health facility , so that ’ s where he ’ s at now .
The facility has not experienced a COVID-19 outbreak , although there has been some COVID-19 patients .
He is doing well right now , and he is safe .
And that feels really important to me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Patrisse , I wanted to ask you — I don ’ t know if you can answer this from your perspective , but I ’ ve been noticing in the reports that have been coming out about the protests and also about some of the looting and the vandalism that ’ s broken out , that it ’ s not just occurring in the major cities , but , for instance , in the Chicago suburbs .
Faraway suburbs from the major city , like Aurora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen strange incidents of looting that have gone on .
Do you have some concern that there may be some attempts to actually — deliberate attempts to provoke violence , to stir up greater animosity among some sectors of the American community ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Absolutely .
We know that there are three sets of folks who are out in the streets .
There are protesters , those of us who are fighting against police brutality and police terror .
There are white supremacists , those who are exploiting Black pain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our protests .
And then there ’ s police , who sometimes act as protesters , so undercovers , and also uniformed officers , who have created significant amount of distress and havoc and confusion in protests .
We have to be careful when we ’ re protesting , both with COVID-19 but also because there are times where there ’ s agent provocateurs and there ’ s different people who have a different agenda than what our movement actually has .
AMY GOODMAN : We want to thank you , Patrisse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political strategist , co-founder of Black Lives Matter , founder of Reform L.A. Jails .
She is the author of When They Call You a Terrorist : A Black Lives Matter Memoir .
When we come back , two autopsies agree George Floyd ’ s death was a homicide .
We ’ ll go to Minneapolis for response .
Stay with us .

As thousands in Los Angeles continue to protest against police brutality and face mass arrests, Mayor Eric Garcetti is facing criticism for increasing the budget for the Los Angeles Police Department. Organizers have called on the City Council to enact a People’s Budget that slashes money for police and invests in services for the community instead. “We have created a system that overrelies on law enforcement and prioritizes their money, their budget, their needs over everything else,” says Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, and Reform L.A. Jails. “Now is the time that we redirect resources back into our communities.”
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González, as we go now to Los Angeles, where protesters took to the streets of downtown and Hollywood on Monday, another day of mass protests against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd. Demonstrators briefly shut down the 405 Freeway in West L.A. In Van Nuys, looting broke out near a peaceful protest organized by students.
Monday marked the third night of a countywide curfew in Los Angeles, where protests have been widespread and resulted in thousands of arrests. The wealthy enclaves of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica set 1 p.m. curfews after protests reached their neighborhoods. On Sunday, hundreds were arrested in a mass protest in Santa Monica that left many storefronts destroyed.
Calls are growing for the firing of the LAPD chief, Michel Moore, who said Monday that looters were as responsible for George Floyd’s death as the police officers who killed him.
POLICE CHIEF MICHEL MOORE: We didn’t have protests last night; we had criminal acts. We didn’t have people mourning the death of this man, George Floyd; we had people capitalizing. His death is on their hands as much as it is those officers.
AMY GOODMAN: The Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore has since apologized for his statements. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted, “The responsibility for George Floyd’s death rests solely with the police officers involved. Chief Moore regrets the words he chose this evening and has clarified them.”
This comes as Mayor Garcetti is facing criticism for increasing funding for the Los Angeles Police Department in a budget for the coming fiscal year. Community members are demanding the City Council act to enact a People’s Budget that slashes money for police and invests in services for the community instead.
Well, for more, we’re going to Los Angeles, where we’re joined by Patrisse Cullors, political strategist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, founder of Reform L.A. Jails. She’s the co-author of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir.
Welcome back to Democracy Now!, Patrisse. It’s great to have you with us. Can you respond first to the death of George Floyd and then to the massive anti-police brutality protests and the police response?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Sure. It’s really good to be here, Amy, and thank you so much for having me on.
I think, you know, I just start with my deep condolences to George Floyd’s family and the community of Minneapolis. Once again, we see the devastation and the impact of the killing and torture of Black communities. And so, I just want to start there.
I think these protests are massive in a way that we haven’t seen them in years, for a number of reasons. Number one, we’ve had to live under four years of a Trump regime that has completely devastated communities financially, spiritually, emotionally. And number two, we have still dealt with years of police brutality, police violence and police terror, with no accountability whatsoever. And this generation is tired. Enough is enough.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Patrisse Cullors, you recently went back and watched some footage of the 1992 Rodney King uprising. What struck you the most about those events?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Well, I think it’s — you know, there’s two things happening in our city right now, in Los Angeles. One is massive protest in solidarity with Minneapolis, but also talking about what’s happening in our own town. There’s been 601 deaths since 2012, involved specifically with police officers killing civilians. And we have had a DA here, Jackie Lacey, who has not prosecuted a single officer and has been largely unaccountable to the community. And as Amy said earlier, 54% of L.A. city’s budget is actually LAPD’s budget. And the community is over false promises. We’re over having to deal with elected officials who, instead of listening to Black pain and grief, send out the National Guard, you know, create more havoc in our communities.
AMY GOODMAN: Patrisse Cullors, can you talk about the budget that has just been unveiled, and what you’re demanding, where you think money needs to be spent at this point, and also where you see these protests going?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Sure. Our local chapter, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, led by Melina Abdullah, really has been the group that has been focusing on the city budget specifically. For years, we have seen the unveiling of a city budget, and it has always prioritized LAPD’s money first, and it’s deprioritized everything else, all the social services that our communities need.
So, what we’re asking for is a slashing of LAPD’s budget. We don’t believe that LAPD needs that much money. Really, the national demand, as you’ll see, is a defunding of law enforcement. Minneapolis is calling for it. Los Angeles is calling for it. Chicago is calling for it. D.C. is calling for it. We have created a system that overrelies on law enforcement and prioritizes their money, their budget, their needs over everything else. Now is the time that we redirect resources back into our communities.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Patrisse Cullors, I’m wondering — the response of the police in many of these cities now, we’re seeing increasing aggressive moves by police, whether it’s in New York or in Louisville or in other cities, against peaceful demonstrators. To what extent do you feel that the police across the country, many of them, have been emboldened by the language and the demeanor of President Trump over these last four years, that they feel that they have basically the backing of the White House, if they have to —
PATRISSE CULLORS: Absolutely.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: — exert much more authoritarian force in their local cities?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Absolutely. I mean, we know Trump’s history. We know how he has impacted just by way of how he communicates, just how he uses the media to stoke fear in mostly white, affluent communities. He’s aligned himself historically with the police, being law and order. He just went on the news yesterday telling people that he’s going to send the military into cities. This is a man who would encourage people being beat up, counterprotesters that would come into his rallies when he was running for president. This is the man who told law enforcement at a huge law enforcement conference that they should be beating up people. And we know that he is in complete agreement with law enforcement terrorizing and using aggressive tactics like rubber bullets, like tear gas.
On Saturday, at our protest that we launched, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, along with Build Power, for two hours, it was full of passion, full of love, and we marched together. The minute that march got violent is when the police showed up. They started shooting into the crowd rubber bullets. They started batoning people. It was disturbing, and it was scary. And it was so obvious that they feel emboldened right now.
AMY GOODMAN: How do you respond, Patrisse, to police officers showing solidarity with the protesters? On Monday, you have one of New York City’s top officers, Terence Monahan, taking a knee, hugging a protester during a rally in Washington Square Park. In Flint, Michigan, the Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson marched with protesters on Saturday. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Police Chief Andrew Smith condemned the killing of George Floyd and walked with protesters. And we’re seeing this amidst the tear-gassing, amidst the shooting, amidst the pepper-spraying and the massive number of thousands of arrests. Your comments?
PATRISSE CULLORS: It’s like a really frightening abusive relationship. It’s when you’re in an abusive relationship, and the partner is gaslighting you and telling you that “Everything that you’re feeling is not true, and look what I’m doing for you.” It’s not acceptable behavior, honestly. You’re either going to be in solidarity with the community and stop brutalizing us, or you’re going to continue to do what you’ve been doing and business as usual. But there’s no half-stepping.
Taking a knee, marching with protesters, that doesn’t actually change the structure, doesn’t change our system that we live in, which is a system that continues to violate the rights of Black people, continues to kill Black people, hunt Black people and traumatize Black people. That’s what law enforcement has done for years. And these new acts of solidarity are — they don’t sit well with many of us.
AMY GOODMAN: Let me ask you — we talked to you about the film Bedlam, which very much focused on you, Patrisse, and your brother Monte. So, all of these mass protests are taking place amidst the pandemic. They could be super-spreading events, the horror of what could happen, and particularly impacting Black and Latino and Native American communities. And I’m wondering, actually, what has happened with your brother Monte, who lives with schizoaffective disorder since he was a teenager, in the midst of all this — the pandemic, the police brutality protests.
PATRISSE CULLORS: Well, we were lucky enough to get Monte off the streets last fall. And he was hospitalized for quite a bit of time, as I received conservatorship of him. And he ended up going to a mental health facility, so that’s where he’s at now. The facility has not experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, although there has been some COVID-19 patients. He is doing well right now, and he is safe. And that feels really important to me, especially given what’s happening right now.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Patrisse, I wanted to ask you — I don’t know if you can answer this from your perspective, but I’ve been noticing in the reports that have been coming out about the protests and also about some of the looting and the vandalism that’s broken out, that it’s not just occurring in the major cities, but, for instance, in the Chicago suburbs. Faraway suburbs from the major city, like Aurora, Cicero and others, have also seen strange incidents of looting that have gone on. Do you have some concern that there may be some attempts to actually — deliberate attempts to provoke violence, to stir up greater animosity among some sectors of the American community?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Absolutely. We know that there are three sets of folks who are out in the streets. There are protesters, those of us who are fighting against police brutality and police terror. There are white supremacists, those who are exploiting Black pain in this moment and really trying to undermine our protests. And then there’s police, who sometimes act as protesters, so undercovers, and also uniformed officers, who have created significant amount of distress and havoc and confusion in protests. We have to be careful when we’re protesting, both with COVID-19 but also because there are times where there’s agent provocateurs and there’s different people who have a different agenda than what our movement actually has.
AMY GOODMAN: We want to thank you, Patrisse, for joining us, Patrisse Cullors, political strategist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, founder of Reform L.A. Jails. She is the author of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir.
When we come back, two autopsies agree George Floyd’s death was a homicide. We’ll go to Minneapolis for response. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “$20 Bill (for George Floyd)” by Tom Prasada-Rao.


truthout--2020-06-02--Majority of Americans Support Uprisings, Disagree With Trump, Poll Finds

As President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to use aspects of the U.S. military against Americans involved in the demonstrations in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week , polling so far shows that most people are not happy with how he has handled the situation .
Indeed , the data demonstrates that a majority of Americans appear to be in support of the protests in general .
A Morning Consult poll conducted on May 31 and June 1 — several days after demonstrations began in protest over Floyd ’ s killing at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who held a knee to Floyd ’ s neck for nearly 9 minutes — finds that 54 percent of Americans either strongly support or somewhat support the protests that are going on .
Conversely , just 22 percent say they somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the demonstrations .
These protests have much more support , according to the poll , than the recent calls for “ reopening America ” that took place weeks ago ( and which had the strong backing of the president ) .
The poll suggests that just 28 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while 46 percent say they opposed them in a general sense .
As for the clashes taking place between protesters and the police presence at events across the country , more Americans than not still side with the views of those who are demonstrating , with 55 percent in the Morning Consult poll saying police violence is a bigger problem than violence against the police .
Just 30 percent hold the opposite opinion .
Most Americans do not view Trump ’ s management of his administration ’ s response to the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just 30 percent of Americans think he ’ s addressing the situation in an “ Excellent , ” “ Very Good , ” or “ Good ” way .
Another 11 percent give him a grade of “ Fair , ” while a plurality of respondents ( 43 percent ) say he ’ s doing a “ Poor ” job so far .
On Monday , Trump announced he may invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to utilize the U.S. military to respond to protesters across the country .
The act was last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that took place against a ruling in Los Angeles , California , acquitting four police officers who were charged with beating Rodney King .
Trump explained in a statement at the White House that his decision to use the military forces against Americans could come about regardless of whether local or state leaders requested their presence or not .
“ If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to himself as the “ president of law and order.
” Trump also said that he is an “ ally of all peaceful protesters ” currently taking part in uprisings across the country .
But many have questioned the legitimacy of that claim , pointing out past statements where he expressed a desire to punch protesters in the face , as well as his vociferous opposition to Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in protest during the playing of the national anthem prior to NFL games .

As President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to use aspects of the U.S. military against Americans involved in the demonstrations in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week, polling so far shows that most people are not happy with how he has handled the situation.
Indeed, the data demonstrates that a majority of Americans appear to be in support of the protests in general.
A Morning Consult poll conducted on May 31 and June 1 — several days after demonstrations began in protest over Floyd’s killing at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer who held a knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes — finds that 54 percent of Americans either strongly support or somewhat support the protests that are going on. Conversely, just 22 percent say they somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the demonstrations.
These protests have much more support, according to the poll, than the recent calls for “reopening America” that took place weeks ago (and which had the strong backing of the president). The poll suggests that just 28 percent of respondents think those protests were worthwhile, while 46 percent say they opposed them in a general sense.
As for the clashes taking place between protesters and the police presence at events across the country, more Americans than not still side with the views of those who are demonstrating, with 55 percent in the Morning Consult poll saying police violence is a bigger problem than violence against the police. Just 30 percent hold the opposite opinion.
Most Americans do not view Trump’s management of his administration’s response to the protests in a positive light, either. Just 30 percent of Americans think he’s addressing the situation in an “Excellent,” “Very Good,” or “Good” way. Another 11 percent give him a grade of “Fair,” while a plurality of respondents (43 percent) say he’s doing a “Poor” job so far.
On Monday, Trump announced he may invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to utilize the U.S. military to respond to protesters across the country. The act was last used in 1992 in response to demonstrations that took place against a ruling in Los Angeles, California, acquitting four police officers who were charged with beating Rodney King.
Trump explained in a statement at the White House that his decision to use the military forces against Americans could come about regardless of whether local or state leaders requested their presence or not.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” Trump said, referring to himself as the “president of law and order.”
Trump also said that he is an “ally of all peaceful protesters” currently taking part in uprisings across the country. But many have questioned the legitimacy of that claim, pointing out past statements where he expressed a desire to punch protesters in the face, as well as his vociferous opposition to Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in protest during the playing of the national anthem prior to NFL games.
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