truthout--2020-06-02--Trump Begins His New Civil War With Flash-Bangs and a Photo Op

Late yesterday afternoon , a president who couldn ’ t spell “ Constitution ” if you spotted him the “ onsti ” and the “ ution ” appears to have gestured toward inciting a second civil war .
I believe it is safe to say that Donald Trump has grown into his office at long last , much the way a tumor will grow in the lung after years of breathing factory smoke .
The authoritarian is fully revealed , although he continued to dance along the line rather than cross it entirely .
And , of course , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. , who were there to demonstrate against the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week were doused with tear gas , deafened with flash-bang grenades , peppered with rubber bullets and run off by horse-mounted police and U.S. soldiers so Trump could stand before the cameras in front of St. John ’ s Episcopal Church with a borrowed bible in hand and send a Bat-Signal to his evangelical base .
“ I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearing [ the area ] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop , ” the Right Rev .
Mariann Budde told The Washington Post after that farce unfolded .
“ Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence .
We need moral leadership , and he ’ s done everything to divide us.
” There was plenty of inflaming , as the police and soldier violence unfolded on live television .
Before his biblical passage to the church , Trump spoke from the Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the park serving as his dramatic soundtrack .
Because he is Trump , his proclamation was delivered with equal parts farce and menace .
The farce , as usual , came first .
“ I am immobilizing all federal resources , civilian and military to stop the rioting and looting , to end the destruction and arson , and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans , ” he intoned .
Immobilizing all resources ?
What ?
However , the menace came tacked on at the end of that sentence : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens , including your Second Amendment rights.
” First of all , the protesters assembled in Lafayette Square were all law-abiding citizens , as the First Amendment clearly delineates “ the right of the people peaceably to assemble , and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
” They were peaceably assembled until they started getting shot at and stomped , and then they were peaceably running for their lives .
More troubling , however , was Trump ’ s seeming non sequitur about protecting “ your Second Amendment rights.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police violence have to do with gun ownership ?
Short answer : Nothing .
That wasn ’ t a non sequitur .
It was a dog whistle to a subset of the population particularly attuned to hear it .
The president of the United States appeared to be asking for armed volunteers last night to augment the forces already arrayed against the protests .
He didn ’ t come right out and say it , of course , but the “ Second Amendment people ” he was speaking to heard him full well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show of force in Washington D.C. last night was a menacing bit of sleight-of-hand on Trump ’ s part .
He threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 , which allows a president to bypass the Posse Comitatus Act , the law that forbids the use of federal troops against the citizenry .
Invoking the Insurrection Act would allow Trump to send troops to the various states , but only if the governors of those states give him permission to do so .
Immediately after the scene at Lafayette Park , Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no uncertain terms to get stuffed , and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo joined his colleague with a polite , “ No thank you ” on CNN .
The District of Columbia is not a state , however , and Lafayette Park is federal land .
Had Trump decided to treat the park as if it were Omaha Beach on D-Day , he would still have been acting within the confines of the law , but he can not recreate that vicious scene outside of the District without the permission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he declares martial law .
“ If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are 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 proclaimed from the Rose Garden .
“ I am your president of law and order.
” This was a threat to those governors : Give me that permission if I ask for it , or else .
Despite the terrifying nature of this dangerous presidential power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it all that seemed farcical — perhaps making his power grab all the more dangerous , since some won ’ t take it seriously .
Earlier that same day , Trump had berated the governors for being “ weak ” on a frantic conference call .
This , from the man who on Friday night became the first U.S. president to hide from his own citizens in the White House bunker .
I was convinced as it all unfolded that the whole show on Monday evening happened because the story of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the humiliation of it could not be endured .
My suspicion was confirmed by CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper , who reported , “ Sources are telling my colleague Kevin Liptak that , in part , the reason the president made this trip outside the gates of the White House — a really rare trip , where you do not often see the president walk out of the front door of the White House , walk across Lafayette Square , to St. John ’ s — was driven , in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fact that he had been rushed to the underground bunker on Friday night during the protests that you saw breaking out here , in front of the White House.
” Due in no small part to Trump ’ s bombastic response to the ongoing protests , the night was another harsh one for many across a wide swath of the nation , as the anti-Black violence of the police persisted unabated .
Vast numbers of protesters were attacked by law enforcement and arrested once again .
It is 1918 and 1929 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , to the shock and awe of none , remained largely silent in the face of Monday night ’ s escapade , with just a few exceptions .
“ We long ago lost sight of normal , but this was a singularly immoral act , ” Brendan Buck , once the top aide to former Speaker Paul Ryan , told Politico .
“ The president used force against American citizens , not to protect property , but to soothe his own insecurities.
” “ I ’ ve never been more ashamed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Axios after witnessing lawful protesters get gassed for a photo-op .
“ I ’ m really honestly disgusted .
I ’ m sick to my stomach .
And they ’ re all celebrating it .
They ’ re very , very proud of themselves.
” “ This is a fulcrum moment for the nation , ” I wrote only yesterday morning , “ one that could tilt either way .
Either we secure a measure of justice through sustained effort , or the authoritarian pushback that has already begun will hurl us down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we weaken or stagger.
” The authoritarian pushback is now on full display , and emanating from the pinnacle of federal government power .
Trump has declared himself the very embodiment of the law , criminalized lawful dissent , and has in so many words called in armed reinforcements from within the fetid ranks of his devoted base .
The nation stands upon the brink of a final calamity too dreadful to contemplate .
The only remedy in the face of such terrifying power abuse is to confront it with a greater power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those who are bravely protesting , taking on the forces of racism and fascism , are that greater power .

Late yesterday afternoon, a president who couldn’t spell “Constitution” if you spotted him the “onsti” and the “ution” appears to have gestured toward inciting a second civil war. I believe it is safe to say that Donald Trump has grown into his office at long last, much the way a tumor will grow in the lung after years of breathing factory smoke. The authoritarian is fully revealed, although he continued to dance along the line rather than cross it entirely.
And, of course, it was all for television. Protesters in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C., who were there to demonstrate against the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week were doused with tear gas, deafened with flash-bang grenades, peppered with rubber bullets and run off by horse-mounted police and U.S. soldiers so Trump could stand before the cameras in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church with a borrowed bible in hand and send a Bat-Signal to his evangelical base.
“I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even a courtesy call that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop,” the Right Rev. Mariann Budde told The Washington Post after that farce unfolded. “Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence. We need moral leadership, and he’s done everything to divide us.”
There was plenty of inflaming, as the police and soldier violence unfolded on live television. Before his biblical passage to the church, Trump spoke from the Rose Garden with the screams and flash-bang booms from the park serving as his dramatic soundtrack. Because he is Trump, his proclamation was delivered with equal parts farce and menace.
The farce, as usual, came first. “I am immobilizing all federal resources, civilian and military to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans,” he intoned. Immobilizing all resources? What?
However, the menace came tacked on at the end of that sentence: “… to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens, including your Second Amendment rights.” First of all, the protesters assembled in Lafayette Square were all law-abiding citizens, as the First Amendment clearly delineates “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” They were peaceably assembled until they started getting shot at and stomped, and then they were peaceably running for their lives.
More troubling, however, was Trump’s seeming non sequitur about protecting “your Second Amendment rights.” What on Earth do protests against rampant police violence have to do with gun ownership?
The president of the United States was asking for armed volunteers last night to augment the forces already arrayed against the protests.
Short answer: Nothing. That wasn’t a non sequitur. It was a dog whistle to a subset of the population particularly attuned to hear it. The president of the United States appeared to be asking for armed volunteers last night to augment the forces already arrayed against the protests. He didn’t come right out and say it, of course, but the “Second Amendment people” he was speaking to heard him full well.
As much as anything else the show of force in Washington D.C. last night was a menacing bit of sleight-of-hand on Trump’s part. He threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, which allows a president to bypass the Posse Comitatus Act, the law that forbids the use of federal troops against the citizenry.
Invoking the Insurrection Act would allow Trump to send troops to the various states, but only if the governors of those states give him permission to do so. Immediately after the scene at Lafayette Park, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Trump in no uncertain terms to get stuffed, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined his colleague with a polite, “No thank you” on CNN.
The District of Columbia is not a state, however, and Lafayette Park is federal land. Had Trump decided to treat the park as if it were Omaha Beach on D-Day, he would still have been acting within the confines of the law, but he cannot recreate that vicious scene outside of the District without the permission of the governors.
Unless, of course, he declares martial law.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are 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 proclaimed from the Rose Garden. “I am your president of law and order.” This was a threat to those governors: Give me that permission if I ask for it, or else.
Despite the terrifying nature of this dangerous presidential power grab, there was an element to it all that seemed farcical — perhaps making his power grab all the more dangerous, since some won’t take it seriously.
Earlier that same day, Trump had berated the governors for being “weak” on a frantic conference call. This, from the man who on Friday night became the first U.S. president to hide from his own citizens in the White House bunker.
I was convinced as it all unfolded that the whole show on Monday evening happened because the story of Trump’s bunker trip broke in the press, and the humiliation of it could not be endured.
My suspicion was confirmed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who reported, “Sources are telling my colleague Kevin Liptak that, in part, the reason the president made this trip outside the gates of the White House — a really rare trip, where you do not often see the president walk out of the front door of the White House, walk across Lafayette Square, to St. John’s — was driven, in part, that he was upset by coverage of the fact that he had been rushed to the underground bunker on Friday night during the protests that you saw breaking out here, in front of the White House.”
Due in no small part to Trump’s bombastic response to the ongoing protests, the night was another harsh one for many across a wide swath of the nation, as the anti-Black violence of the police persisted unabated. Vast numbers of protesters were attacked by law enforcement and arrested once again.
Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows the president to bypass the law that forbids the use of federal troops against the citizenry.
It is 1918 and 1929 simultaneously here in the U.S. as Congressional Republicans, to the shock and awe of none, remained largely silent in the face of Monday night’s escapade, with just a few exceptions. “We long ago lost sight of normal, but this was a singularly immoral act,”Brendan Buck, once the top aide to former Speaker Paul Ryan, told Politico. “The president used force against American citizens, not to protect property, but to soothe his own insecurities.”
“I’ve never been more ashamed,” a senior White House aide told Axios after witnessing lawful protesters get gassed for a photo-op. “I’m really honestly disgusted. I’m sick to my stomach. And they’re all celebrating it. They’re very, very proud of themselves.”
“This is a fulcrum moment for the nation,” I wrote only yesterday morning, “one that could tilt either way. Either we secure a measure of justice through sustained effort, or the authoritarian pushback that has already begun will hurl us down into a darkness as yet uncomprehended should we weaken or stagger.”
The authoritarian pushback is now on full display, and emanating from the pinnacle of federal government power. Trump has declared himself the very embodiment of the law, criminalized lawful dissent, and has in so many words called in armed reinforcements from within the fetid ranks of his devoted base. The nation stands upon the brink of a final calamity too dreadful to contemplate.
The only remedy in the face of such terrifying power abuse is to confront it with a greater power, the power of the people. Those who are bravely protesting, taking on the forces of racism and fascism, are that greater power.
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--2020-06-03--Minneapolis School Board Votes to Terminate $1.1 Million Contract With Police

In response to the killing last week of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers , Minneapolis Public Schools voted on Tuesday to end its $ 1.1 million contract with the city ’ s police department .
The unanimous vote was made after the board agreed that the actions of police against Floyd — in which he was handcuffed and held to the ground , with an officer ’ s knee pushed down onto his neck for nearly nine minutes , resulting in his death — “ run directly counter to the values ” of the school district .
Students and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school district for years to remove police — often referred to as school resource officers — from schools .
Other incidents have occurred in the past that warranted a change in policy , they argued , and now Floyd ’ s death seems to have been the tipping point for the policy change this week .
“ We could have had the debate all day : Do you put your money into police or social services and counselor support ?
That ’ s a back-and-forth that was going on for a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told BuzzFeed News .
But the events of the last week — Floyd ’ s killing and the subsequent uprisings across the nation — appear to have changed the minds of those on the board who might have been hesitant to end the agreement with police before .
Floyd ’ s killing “ just ended that conversation , ” Genene added .
“ It was : ‘ Do we align with the Minneapolis police , do they align with our values ?
Can you continue to align yourselves with a group of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think it was the same conversation anymore , morally.
” Members of the school board were direct in explaining their rationale over why they were ending the partnership with the police department .
School board director Siad Ali said that Minneapolis police “ do not meet our values , and therefore , we will have no business with this organization.
” Beyond the school district , a large number of organizations within the city are also asking for drastic changes to how the police department interacts with the community in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization Black Visions , in an interview with Democracy Now !
’ s Amy Goodman , said that her group and others are “ calling on our City Council and mayor to divest from the police and invest in community-led safety solutions.
” “ We want justice for George Floyd , and we know that justice isn ’ t enough , ” she added .
“ And now is the time to defund the police and invest in community .
”

Students and the community had urged the school district for years to divest from police and invest in social services.
In response to the killing last week of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, Minneapolis Public Schools voted on Tuesday to end its $1.1 million contract with the city’s police department.
The unanimous vote was made after the board agreed that the actions of police against Floyd — in which he was handcuffed and held to the ground, with an officer’s knee pushed down onto his neck for nearly nine minutes, resulting in his death — “run directly counter to the values” of the school district.
Students and community groups in Minneapolis had been urging the school district for years to remove police — often referred to as school resource officers — from schools. Other incidents have occurred in the past that warranted a change in policy, they argued, and now Floyd’s death seems to have been the tipping point for the policy change this week.
“We could have had the debate all day: Do you put your money into police or social services and counselor support? That’s a back-and-forth that was going on for a long time,” student activist Nathaniel Genene told BuzzFeed News.
But the events of the last week — Floyd’s killing and the subsequent uprisings across the nation — appear to have changed the minds of those on the board who might have been hesitant to end the agreement with police before.
Floyd’s killing “just ended that conversation,” Genene added. “It was: ‘Do we align with the Minneapolis police, do they align with our values? Can you continue to align yourselves with a group of people that disenfranchise your students?’ I don’t think it was the same conversation anymore, morally.”
Members of the school board were direct in explaining their rationale over why they were ending the partnership with the police department. School board director Siad Ali said that Minneapolis police “do not meet our values, and therefore, we will have no business with this organization.”
Beyond the school district, a large number of organizations within the city are also asking for drastic changes to how the police department interacts with the community in general. Kandace Montgomery with the Minneapolis organization Black Visions, in an interview with Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman, said that her group and others are “calling on our City Council and mayor to divest from the police and invest in community-led safety solutions.”
“We want justice for George Floyd, and we know that justice isn’t enough,” she added. “And now is the time to defund the police and invest in community.”
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--2020-06-03--Racist War Criminal Bush’s Thoughts on George Floyd Are More Salt in the Wound

I ’ ve been dutifully checking my Book of Revelation apocalypse boxes as this year has unfolded .
A pestilence upon the land ?
First horseman , check .
A spreading hunger as food banks run dry and federal aid is denied ?
Second horseman , check .
War in the streets as police and soldiers brutalize peaceful protesters under the bloodshot gaze of a failed pretender-king ?
Third horseman , check .
And when he had opened the fourth seal , I heard the voice of the fourth beast say , Come and see .
And I looked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his name that sat on him was Death , and Hell followed with him .
( Revelation 6:7-8 ) George W. Bush offering his advice on how to heal the wounds of this deeply damaged nation ?
Fourth horseman , check .
I really don ’ t need this shit right now .
Neither do you , neither does anyone , but here we go again .
The Dubya Rehabilitation Tour continues unabated , aided by the anthropomorphic calamity factory squatting in Bush ’ s former chair .
George W. Bush is like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in space made bright only by the borrowed orange light of the Trumpian sun .
Yet here he is , taking a break from painting portraits of the soldiers he fed into the meat grinder of Iraq and Afghanistan to share some thoughts on the state of the union .
“ Former President George W. Bush is calling for a national examination of ‘ tragic failures ’ in the realm of racial injustice following a week of protests over the police killing of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis , ” Politico reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” you say ?
Like the one you managed to entirely avoid after using rank racism after September 11 ( which happened on your watch ) to deliberately terrorize the nation while looting the Treasury by way of a pair of wars that you lied us into and that killed and displaced millions of innocent people ?
“ America ’ s greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity , ” Bush wrote in his 500-word June 2 statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which once nearly split our country , still threaten our Union .
The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals — to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights.
” Little of this sentiment was present during the long , bleak years of Bush ’ s presidency .
There was no unity under the auspices of justice , racial superiority was the watchword of the party he led , and the rights he would champion were gossamer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon the rule of law .
Any honest reckoning of the presidential administration of George W. Bush must acknowledge the deep racism that was the seed corn of his power and influence .
Indeed , it can be argued that Bush may never have become president at all if his 2000 campaign did not smear rival John McCain with whispers that the Arizona senator had fathered a Black child out of wedlock .
Pro tip : It wasn ’ t the wedlock bit that drove those conservative South Carolina voters into Bush ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full well .
Racist fear-mongering after 9/11 was the backbone of the policies enacted under Bush ’ s regime .
That inflicted fear greased the skids into an Iraq War that many knew was founded upon lies and deception .
That inflicted fear made the torture of fellow human beings , many of whom committed no crime or violent act , just another story in the wartime news cycle .
Smugly secure in the knowledge that he would suffer no consequences for flagrantly harming people of color far away , Bush smirked his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law , because that is what the racist white power structure does for its favorite sons .
This callous , profit-driven absence of regard for Bush ’ s Muslim victims bled bright red into the floodwaters that subsumed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina .
In a way , there exists a parallel between the presidential response to Black residents in New Orleans after Katrina and the current presidential response to the death of George Floyd : In both cases , the suffering was made unavoidably real when it was captured on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he gave a single damn .
The entire world bore witness to each horrific event , even as one president played country music and failed to act for days while the other used tear gas and flash-bang grenades against protesters to set up a self-aggrandizing photo op .
Nothing changed after Katrina .
It is to be hoped that history will not be repeated in the aftermath of the police murder of Floyd , stacked as it is upon the police murders of so many other people of color .
One thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George W. Bush is nothing more or less than salt poured into a gaping wound .
Indeed , the idea that any card-carrying Republican can lay claim to the mantle of racial healer is preposterous on its face .
Nixon ’ s “ Southern Strategy ” exploited the nation ’ s latent racism to great effect , and Ronald Reagan doubled down on that tactic when his time came around .
George H.W .
Bush made profitable use of racism with the infamous Willie Horton ad during his 1988 campaign , and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” illegitimately incarcerated a generation of Black men .
For the elder Bush , the use of racism as a route to power was a tidy gift from father to son .
From racist gerrymandering to the demonization of immigrants to the manufactured fiction of the Black “ welfare queen , ” it is all of a piece .
The Republican use of racism as a purposefully divisive political weapon was explained in explicit detail by Lee Atwater , mentor to George W. Bush ’ s favorite attack dog , Karl Rove .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was working in the Reagan White House , and his words leave little room for interpretation or spin .
He explicitly stated that once Republicans realized that saying the N-word would backfire on them , they strategically opted instead to “ say stuff like , uh , forced busing , states ’ rights , and all that stuff… .
Now , you ’ re talking about cutting taxes , and all these things you ’ re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is , blacks get hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no President Donald J. Trump without President George W. Bush , and there would be neither without the institutionalized racism that elevates and coddles them right along with the party they represent .
For Bush to speak now about “ the way of empathy , and shared commitment , and bold action , and a peace rooted in justice ” while the nation burns upon the racist pyre he labored to construct verges on performative obscenity .
George W. Bush popping up to lament the state of the nation in this moment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy who burned your house down 12 years ago stop by to ask if the batteries in your fire alarms are fresh .
Bush is a war criminal , a torturer , a smash-and-grab thief , a documented liar , and a pinnacle avatar of the racist white power state .
People like him are responsible for entrenching all that is wrong with this country , and I want no part of his ideas on “ healing.
” There are some stains that can never , ever be removed .
Tell your story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re offering is already soaked in blood .

I’ve been dutifully checking my Book of Revelation apocalypse boxes as this year has unfolded. A pestilence upon the land? First horseman, check. A spreading hunger as food banks run dry and federal aid is denied? Second horseman, check. War in the streets as police and soldiers brutalize peaceful protesters under the bloodshot gaze of a failed pretender-king? Third horseman, check.
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. (Revelation 6:7-8)
George W. Bush offering his advice on how to heal the wounds of this deeply damaged nation? Fourth horseman, check.
I really don’t need this shit right now. Neither do you, neither does anyone, but here we go again. The Dubya Rehabilitation Tour continues unabated, aided by the anthropomorphic calamity factory squatting in Bush’s former chair. George W. Bush is like the moon now, a dead rock in space made bright only by the borrowed orange light of the Trumpian sun.
Yet here he is, taking a break from painting portraits of the soldiers he fed into the meat grinder of Iraq and Afghanistan to share some thoughts on the state of the union.
“Former President George W. Bush is calling for a national examination of ‘tragic failures’ in the realm of racial injustice following a week of protests over the police killing of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis,” Politico reported yesterday.
A “national examination,” you say? Like the one you managed to entirely avoid after using rank racism after September 11 (which happened on your watch) to deliberately terrorize the nation while looting the Treasury by way of a pair of wars that you lied us into and that killed and displaced millions of innocent people?
“America’s greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity,” Bush wrote in his 500-word June 2 statement. “The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals — to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights.”
Little of this sentiment was present during the long, bleak years of Bush’s presidency. There was no unity under the auspices of justice, racial superiority was the watchword of the party he led, and the rights he would champion were gossamer as spider silk under his relentless assault upon the rule of law.
Any honest reckoning of the presidential administration of George W. Bush must acknowledge the deep racism that was the seed corn of his power and influence. Indeed, it can be argued that Bush may never have become president at all if his 2000 campaign did not smear rival John McCain with whispers that the Arizona senator had fathered a Black child out of wedlock. Pro tip: It wasn’t the wedlock bit that drove those conservative South Carolina voters into Bush’s camp, and he knew that full well.
Racist fear-mongering after 9/11 was the backbone of the policies enacted under Bush’s regime. That inflicted fear greased the skids into an Iraq War that many knew was founded upon lies and deception. That inflicted fear made the torture of fellow human beings, many of whom committed no crime or violent act, just another story in the wartime news cycle.
Smugly secure in the knowledge that he would suffer no consequences for flagrantly harming people of color far away, Bush smirked his way into retirement virtually untouched by the rule of law, because that is what the racist white power structure does for its favorite sons.
This callous, profit-driven absence of regard for Bush’s Muslim victims bled bright red into the floodwaters that subsumed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In a way, there exists a parallel between the presidential response to Black residents in New Orleans after Katrina and the current presidential response to the death of George Floyd: In both cases, the suffering was made unavoidably real when it was captured on television, yet neither president acted as if he gave a single damn.
The entire world bore witness to each horrific event, even as one president played country music and failed to act for days while the other used tear gas and flash-bang grenades against protesters to set up a self-aggrandizing photo op.
Nothing changed after Katrina. It is to be hoped that history will not be repeated in the aftermath of the police murder of Floyd, stacked as it is upon the police murders of so many other people of color. One thing is certain: The ersatz sentimentality of George W. Bush is nothing more or less than salt poured into a gaping wound.
Indeed, the idea that any card-carrying Republican can lay claim to the mantle of racial healer is preposterous on its face. Nixon’s “Southern Strategy” exploited the nation’s latent racism to great effect, and Ronald Reagan doubled down on that tactic when his time came around. George H.W. Bush made profitable use of racism with the infamous Willie Horton ad during his 1988 campaign, and his version of the “War on Drugs” illegitimately incarcerated a generation of Black men. For the elder Bush, the use of racism as a route to power was a tidy gift from father to son.
From racist gerrymandering to the demonization of immigrants to the manufactured fiction of the Black “welfare queen,” it is all of a piece. The Republican use of racism as a purposefully divisive political weapon was explained in explicit detail by Lee Atwater, mentor to George W. Bush’s favorite attack dog, Karl Rove. Atwater gave an interview in 1981 while he was working in the Reagan White House, and his words leave little room for interpretation or spin. He explicitly stated that once Republicans realized that saying the N-word would backfire on them, they strategically opted instead to “say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff…. Now, you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites.”
There would be no President Donald J. Trump without President George W. Bush, and there would be neither without the institutionalized racism that elevates and coddles them right along with the party they represent. For Bush to speak now about “the way of empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace rooted in justice” while the nation burns upon the racist pyre he labored to construct verges on performative obscenity.
George W. Bush popping up to lament the state of the nation in this moment is more or less equivalent to having the guy who burned your house down 12 years ago stop by to ask if the batteries in your fire alarms are fresh.
Bush is a war criminal, a torturer, a smash-and-grab thief, a documented liar, and a pinnacle avatar of the racist white power state. People like him are responsible for entrenching all that is wrong with this country, and I want no part of his ideas on “healing.” There are some stains that can never, ever be removed.
Tell your story walking, George. The bandage you’re offering is already soaked in blood.
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--2020-06-03--Raleigh Cops Fire Flash-Bangs at Gay Bar Offering First Aid, Water to Protesters

The owner of an LGBTQ bar in downtown Raleigh , North Carolina , and his employees were yelled at , followed by , and targeted with what appeared to be flash-bang shots earlier this week , after law enforcement demanded they remove themselves from the premises of their own establishment .
Tim Lemuel , owner of the Ruby Deluxe bar , said that his business was vandalized on Saturday evening with white supremacist symbols on the outside of the building .
The windows and glass doors to the bar were also broken .
Lemuel decided to be present at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part to deter more vandalism but also to do something proactive at the same time — provide a first aid station in the parking lot of the bar , and to pass out water bottles and granola bars to those participating in the demonstrations .
Lemuel and his employees did so for several hours without incident , but around midnight members of the Wake County Sheriff ’ s Office arrived and forcefully demanded they leave .
One of Lemuel ’ s employees documented the exchange between themselves and the deputies .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this space , ” Lemuel is heard telling the officers in the now-viral video .
He started walking back to go inside as deputies continued to berate him .
“ You ’ ve been told !
” an officer shouted back to him .
What appears to be a shotgun flash-bang was then discharged toward Lemuel and his workers .
“ The game is over !
” the officer added .
Lemuel noted that police had passed by their establishment throughout the evening without incident .
The demands for them to leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could have been made in a calmer fashion , he added .
“ During the seven hours , they had , you know , every opportunity to come down and check on us , see what was going on or tell us their concerns .
They just chose not to .
And at some point they just went straight for guns blazing , ” Lemuel said .
One of the bar ’ s employees , Jen Varani , noted they weren ’ t acting as if they were part of the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t chanting .
We weren ’ t yelling .
We weren ’ t gesturing to them .
There was nothing that we were doing to instigate a response like that , ” Varani said .
A spokesperson later tried to defend the deputies ’ use of force on Sunday night , although they wouldn ’ t detail what weapons were used in the incident .
“ We will say only that the strategy to use ‘ less-lethal force ’ was appropriate , for the safety of subjects , ” the spokesperson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disperse several times and there is non-compliance , the next step is to disperse the crowd.
” But the use-of-force policy for the Wake County Sheriff ’ s Office states that neither lethal nor “ less-than-lethal ” force can be used if individuals are putting up only passive or verbal resistance to deputies ’ demands .
Such use of weaponry requires “ an immediate risk of death or serious physical injury to themselves or others , ” that policy reads .
According to the video that was shared on social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the altercation was posing such a risk .
Lemuel added that the situation was incredibly frightening for his workers .
“ I was in the army for eight years , so the bangs didn ’ t bother me , but my staff were scared out of their minds , ” he said .
“ If you ’ ve never been in that situation it appears like you ’ re going to be killed .
”

Video taken by an employee shows that the action was entirely unprovoked and came without warning.
The owner of an LGBTQ bar in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, and his employees were yelled at, followed by, and targeted with what appeared to be flash-bang shots earlier this week, after law enforcement demanded they remove themselves from the premises of their own establishment.
Tim Lemuel, owner of the Ruby Deluxe bar, said that his business was vandalized on Saturday evening with white supremacist symbols on the outside of the building. The windows and glass doors to the bar were also broken.
Lemuel decided to be present at his place of business on Sunday evening, in part to deter more vandalism but also to do something proactive at the same time — provide a first aid station in the parking lot of the bar, and to pass out water bottles and granola bars to those participating in the demonstrations.
Lemuel and his employees did so for several hours without incident, but around midnight members of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office arrived and forcefully demanded they leave. One of Lemuel’s employees documented the exchange between themselves and the deputies.
“This is my business. I rent this space,” Lemuel is heard telling the officers in the now-viral video. He started walking back to go inside as deputies continued to berate him.
RALEIGH POLICE JUST FIRED FLASH BANGS AND LESS LETHAL ROUNDS AT MEDICS, INCLUDING THE OWNER OF RUBY’S DELUXE, A QUEER BAR WHERE THE MEDICS WERE STATIONED. pic.twitter.com/sGckVjRC1e — film pigs not ppl ☭ (@bennykoval) June 1, 2020
“You’ve been told!” an officer shouted back to him. What appears to be a shotgun flash-bang was then discharged toward Lemuel and his workers. “The game is over!” the officer added.
Lemuel noted that police had passed by their establishment throughout the evening without incident. The demands for them to leave the premises were not preceded by any requests that could have been made in a calmer fashion, he added.
“During the seven hours, they had, you know, every opportunity to come down and check on us, see what was going on or tell us their concerns. They just chose not to. And at some point they just went straight for guns blazing,” Lemuel said.
One of the bar’s employees, Jen Varani, noted they weren’t acting as if they were part of the protests, either.
“But we weren’t chanting. We weren’t yelling. We weren’t gesturing to them. There was nothing that we were doing to instigate a response like that,” Varani said.
A spokesperson later tried to defend the deputies’ use of force on Sunday night, although they wouldn’t detail what weapons were used in the incident.
“We will say only that the strategy to use ‘less-lethal force’ was appropriate, for the safety of subjects,” the spokesperson said. “Once deputies urge the crowd to disperse several times and there is non-compliance, the next step is to disperse the crowd.”
But the use-of-force policy for the Wake County Sheriff’s Office states that neither lethal nor “less-than-lethal” force can be used if individuals are putting up only passive or verbal resistance to deputies’ demands. Such use of weaponry requires “an immediate risk of death or serious physical injury to themselves or others,” that policy reads.
According to the video that was shared on social media, it didn’t appear that anyone involved in the altercation was posing such a risk.
Lemuel added that the situation was incredibly frightening for his workers.
“I was in the army for eight years, so the bangs didn’t bother me, but my staff were scared out of their minds,” he said. “If you’ve never been in that situation it appears like you’re going to be killed.”
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--2020-06-03--Legal Battle Reopened Over 2011 Police Shooting of Elderly Black Ex-Marine in NY

We look at a major development in the case of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. , a Black man killed in his own apartment in White Plains , New York , during a police confrontation in 2011 , after he accidentally triggered his medical alert pendant .
On Monday , the 2nd Circuit of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force .
“ My family and I are extremely overjoyed that the original ruling was vacated , ” says Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. “ I think that people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re saying that extrajudicial killings and summary executions of unarmed Black men , women and children is no longer going to be tolerated.
” We also speak with the family ’ s attorney .
“ Most people would be able to agree that when you ’ re at home sleeping and you haven ’ t committed any crime , that you wouldn ’ t expect that the police are going to break your door down and kill you — in particular if they ’ re responding for a medical call where you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , ” says Mayo Bartlett .
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 turn now to a major development in a case of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. , who was an African American man killed in his own apartment in White Plains , New York , during a police confrontation in 2011 when he accidentally triggered his medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at 5:00 in the morning .
He rolled over on it , and it called the LifeAid company .
Well , on Monday , the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force .
The tragic case occurred early on the morning of November 19 , 2011 , when Kenneth Chamberlain , a 68-year-old former marine with a heart condition , accidentally pressed the button on his medical alert system while sleeping .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alert , from the company calling police , the White Plains police officers arrived at Chamberlain ’ s apartment in a public housing complex .
It was shortly after 5 a.m. By the time the police left the apartment , just after 7 a.m. , Kenneth Chamberlain was dead , shot twice in the chest by a police officer inside his own home .
Police gained entry to Chamberlain ’ s apartment only after they took his front door off its hinges .
Officers first shot him with a Taser , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ammunition .
In a moment , we ’ ll be joined by Kenneth Chamberlain ’ s son and by the attorney for the Chamberlain family .
But first we want to turn to the remarkable series of audio and video recordings from the morning of Mr. Chamberlain ’ s death .
Before we play these excerpts , we want to warn you they contain disturbing footage .
Much of the audio was recorded by Chamberlain ’ s LifeAid medical alert device .
The video was recorded from the police Taser gun used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the White Plains police arrived at Kenneth Chamberlain ’ s apartment , Chamberlain told an operator from LifeAid that he was not sick , that he didn ’ t need assistance .
AMY GOODMAN : After Kenneth Chamberlain told LifeAid he was OK but afraid of the police at the door , the LifeAid operator attempted to cancel the call for police assistance .
Chamberlain went on to tell the LifeAid operator that the police had drawn their guns and were attempting to break down his door .
Again , listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is LifeAid .
Are you inside Mr. Chamberlain ’ s home ?
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR. : They ’ re breaking in my door !
They ’ re breaking in my door !
LIFEAID OPERATOR : Mr. Chamberlain , I heard you say they ’ re breaking in your door .
Are you OK ?
LIFEAID OPERATOR : Mr. Chamberlain , are you OK ?
LIFEAID OPERATOR : OK. You pressed your medical button .
That ’ s why the officers are there .
Can you go to the door and speak to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not opening up the door .
They ’ ve got their guns out !
They have their guns out !
LIFEAID OPERATOR : OK. Do you have weapon , Mr. Chamberlain ?
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR. : I [ inaudible ] weapons .
I am just protecting myself .
LIFEAID OPERATOR : OK.
They ’ re not there to hurt you .
I ’ m here on the line .
POLICE OFFICER : Mr. Chamberlain , we ’ re not here to help — hurt you .
We ’ re here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR. : I ’ m OK !
I told you I was OK !
[ inaudible ] I ’ m OK !
I ’ m fine !
Leave me alone !
I ’ m fine !
AMY GOODMAN : “ Leave me alone , ” says Kenneth Chamberlain .
One of the officers , Stephen Hart , was accused of hurling a racial slur , the N-word , at Chamberlain during the incident .
Listen carefully to this audio , released by the White Plains Police Department .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chamberlain ’ s window .
Chamberlain repeatedly says , “ Don ’ t do that .
I ’ m OK. ” The officer responds , yes , by using the N-word .
Listen closely .
AMY GOODMAN : A video camera on the police Taser gun recorded the next sequence .
You can hear Kenneth Chamberlain say the police have stun guns and shotguns .
He then predicts the police will kill him .
Again , a warning : This contains disturbing footage .
AMY GOODMAN : Mr. Chamberlain says , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police were threatening to break down his door , Chamberlain ’ s sister called the police — she was contacted by LifeAid — in an attempt to defuse the situation .
Soon after , she was assured the police would not shoot her brother .
But that is just what happened .
Police video shows the moment police broke down his door and shot him with a Taser .
TV viewers will see a few quick glimpses of Kenneth Chamberlain , the 68-year-old man , who was wearing boxer shorts and no shirt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This video was recorded by a camera on the police Taser .
Listen closely .
You can hear the sound of the Taser .
AMY GOODMAN : You can actually see the electricity shooting Kenneth Chamberlain .
The video cuts out at this point .
Within minutes , Kenneth Chamberlain was shot dead by the police who entered his home .
This horrific story is told in the recent feature film The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain .
Well , for more , we ’ re joined by Ken Chamberlain ’ s son , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been fighting for justice in his father ’ s death since 2011 .
And we ’ re joined by the family ’ s attorney , Mayo Bartlett .
We welcome you both back to Democracy Now !
This killing that we have covered for years , Kenneth Chamberlain , the significance of what has just taken place ?
I mean , I share our condolences once again , after all of these years , and I ’ m sure you are reliving this this week as we deal with the George Floyd case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this , a judge has overturned a recent — the decision that threw out the lawsuit you had filed .
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN JR. : Well , thank you , Amy , first , for having us on the show .
And just listening to that audio , I ’ ve kind of had to kind of regain my composure .
It ’ s been a while since I ’ ve heard all of the audio like that .
But we ’ ve maintained all along , as the Constitution said , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be secure in their persons , houses , papers and effects from unreasonable search and seizure , and that no warrant shall issue without probable cause .
And this is what this fight has been about , you know , what these officers did on November 19 , 2011 , when my father inadvertently triggered his LifeAid pendant , and , in doing so , the police responded and ended up killing him .
Now , with this coming out around the killing of George Floyd and the rallying , the protesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t really speak to .
But what I can say is that what you ’ re seeing happening around the world right now is not just about the killing of George Floyd .
It ’ s about the killing of Tamir Rice .
It ’ s about the killing of Ramarley Graham .
It ’ s about the killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. and the countless other names that I can ’ t even begin to mention .
So , we ’ re pleased that these appellate judges vacated the original ruling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court .
And hopefully , this time around , we will get a fair trial .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Mayo Bartlett , I wanted to ask you the significance of the 2nd Circuit Court decision .
This has been now a case , nine years now , that has been , in one way or another , in the courts .
And the fact that they claim that the lower court did not — erred in not saying that the police were unlawful in their entry into Mr. Chamberlain ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marine , sleeping peacefully in his own home , ends up dead .
MAYO BARTLETT : Yes .
Well , thank you very much .
You know , it was always our position that there was never a reason for Mr. Chamberlain to have had his home invaded in the first place .
And it wasn ’ t necessarily the role of the court to make that determination , but it certainly was the role of the court to allow us to at least argue that to a jury so that a jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the other .
We were prevented from doing that .
So , as a consequence , it ’ s been our position all along that there was no full and fair trial on the merits of this case .
And we ’ re thankful now .
And it happens to even be something that unites people on the left and the right , because when you look at people who are on the right that you might consider to be extremists , one of the primary things that they talk about is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
And you ’ re right , whether it ’ s the right to bear arms , but certainly the right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure .
So this is something where I would believe that most people would be able to agree , that when you ’ re at home sleeping and you haven ’ t committed any crime , that you wouldn ’ t expect that the police are going to break your door down and kill you , in particular if they ’ re responding for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that they ’ re there to help you .
AMY GOODMAN : We ’ re going to go to break , then come back to this discussion .
We ’ re talking to attorney Mayo Bartlett and Kenneth Chamberlain Jr .
He is the son of Ken Chamberlain , a former marine , who was at home sleeping , turned over on his life alert necklace .
He had a heart condition .
The LifeAid people couldn ’ t reach him and called the police .
They came in for a wellness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ll be back with them in a minute .
AMY GOODMAN : “ The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed ” by composer Joel Thompson , performed by the Sphinx , led by conductor Eugene Rogers .
This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González , as we turn to a film .
We ’ re speaking with Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. , his father shot dead by White Plains police in 2011 , and Mayo Bartlett , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force .
A new feature film , The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain , tells the story of what happened the night White Plains police came to Chamberlain ’ s apartment .
This is the trailer .
AMY GOODMAN : Kenneth Chamberlain was played by Frankie Faison in a remarkable film that just recently came out .
Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. , your thoughts , as this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only the country , but the world , this decision coming down in the midst of this ?
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN JR. : Again , first , let me just say that , of course , my family and I are extremely overjoyed that the original ruling was vacated .
I think that — and as far as what ’ s going on in the country , I think that people are now coming together , and they ’ re saying that extrajudicial killings and summary executions of unarmed Black men , women and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerated .
I mean , what we have been witnessing for decades are crimes against humanity .
So , to see such a diverse group of people coming together , saying that they ’ re no longer going to tolerate this , this is beautiful .
And the fact that they made this ruling , if I can use my platform to help effect positive change , then that ’ s what I ’ m going to do .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Mayo Bartlett , I wanted to ask you — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very soon whether it will take up cases that deal with qualified immunity .
Could you talk — what is qualified immunity , and how does it affect this particular case ?
MAYO BARTLETT : Qualified immunity is a doctrine which the Supreme Court actually created , which gives police an extraordinary shield for their conduct .
And it ’ s a shielding that no other person in the country has , says that unless we can find , basically , that no other reasonable officer anywhere could have done what this officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be found to be exonerated .
You ’ re going to say that their conduct is absolved .
And it requires a tremendous burden on the part of people trying to bring these cases .
The other thing that it does is it deters lots of lawyers from taking these cases , because you dedicate a lot of time and a lot of money into these cases , and it may be four or five years — or , in our case , we ’ re here nine years , almost 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And sometimes these qualified immunity decisions don ’ t come until fairly late in the game , after you ’ ve already invested a lot of time and money .
So it ’ s a deterrent for people .
AMY GOODMAN : And again , no officer was charged in this case ?
I mean , there were many officers , including Officer Hart , who shot Kenneth Chamberlain dead , undisputed ?
MAYO BARTLETT : Absolutely .
And one of the things we ’ ve asked for from the beginning is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at these cases , there should also , in my estimation , be a change in the grand jury system .
The grand jury should not be an arm of the prosecutor .
It should be independent , equally accessible from the defense as well as civil sides and also for the prosecutor , should not be on the third or fourth floor of a DA ’ s office .
And you should be able to see what happened in a grand jury .
It shouldn ’ t be secret .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be secret .
If there is a need , then you can make an application to a court for a protective order .
But we believe that needs to change , as well as the disciplinary procedures against police .
Where there ’ s been a finding of misconduct , that also should be public and readily available .
You should not have to go to the police department to find out what misconduct your officers may have engaged in .
AMY GOODMAN : There ’ s no time limit on murder .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged now ?
MAYO BARTLETT : Well , you know , it ’ s interesting .
There ’ s been no jeopardy that ’ s attached .
The officer certainly could be charged now .
And you also have to — AMY GOODMAN : We ’ re going to have to leave it there .
I want to thank you , though , Mayo Bartlett , attorney for the family of Kenneth Chamberlain , and especially Ken Chamberlain Jr. himself .
That does it for our show .
I ’ m Amy Goodman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

We look at a major development in the case of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., a Black man killed in his own apartment in White Plains, New York, during a police confrontation in 2011, after he accidentally triggered his medical alert pendant. On Monday, the 2nd Circuit of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force. “My family and I are extremely overjoyed that the original ruling was vacated,” says Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. “I think that people are now coming together, and they’re saying that extrajudicial killings and summary executions of unarmed Black men, women and children is no longer going to be tolerated.” We also speak with the family’s attorney. “Most people would be able to agree that when you’re at home sleeping and you haven’t committed any crime, that you wouldn’t expect that the police are going to break your door down and kill you — in particular if they’re responding for a medical call where you think that they’re there to help you,” says Mayo Bartlett.
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 turn now to a major development in a case of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., who was an African American man killed in his own apartment in White Plains, New York, during a police confrontation in 2011 when he accidentally triggered his medical alert pendant. It was, oh, at 5:00 in the morning. He rolled over on it, and it called the LifeAid company. Well, on Monday, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force.
The tragic case occurred early on the morning of November 19, 2011, when Kenneth Chamberlain, a 68-year-old former marine with a heart condition, accidentally pressed the button on his medical alert system while sleeping. It was 5:22 in the morning. Responding to the alert, from the company calling police, the White Plains police officers arrived at Chamberlain’s apartment in a public housing complex. It was shortly after 5 a.m. By the time the police left the apartment, just after 7 a.m., Kenneth Chamberlain was dead, shot twice in the chest by a police officer inside his own home. Police gained entry to Chamberlain’s apartment only after they took his front door off its hinges. Officers first shot him with a Taser, then a beanbag shotgun, then with live ammunition.
In a moment, we’ll be joined by Kenneth Chamberlain’s son and by the attorney for the Chamberlain family. But first we want to turn to the remarkable series of audio and video recordings from the morning of Mr. Chamberlain’s death. Before we play these excerpts, we want to warn you they contain disturbing footage. Much of the audio was recorded by Chamberlain’s LifeAid medical alert device. The video was recorded from the police Taser gun used to shoot him before he was shot dead. After the White Plains police arrived at Kenneth Chamberlain’s apartment, Chamberlain told an operator from LifeAid that he was not sick, that he didn’t need assistance.
LIFEAID OPERATOR: This is your help center for LifeAid, Mr. Chamberlain. Do you need help? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: Yes, this is an emergency! I have the White Plains Police Department banging on my door, and I did not call them, and I am not sick! LIFEAID OPERATOR: Everything’s all right, sir? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: No, it’s not all right! I need help! The White Plains Police Department are banging on my door!
AMY GOODMAN: After Kenneth Chamberlain told LifeAid he was OK but afraid of the police at the door, the LifeAid operator attempted to cancel the call for police assistance. Chamberlain went on to tell the LifeAid operator that the police had drawn their guns and were attempting to break down his door. Again, listen closely.
LIFEAID OPERATOR: Officers, this is LifeAid. Are you inside Mr. Chamberlain’s home? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: They’re breaking in my door! They’re breaking in my door! LIFEAID OPERATOR: Mr. Chamberlain, I heard you say they’re breaking in your door. Are you OK? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: My door. LIFEAID OPERATOR: Mr. Chamberlain, are you OK? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: I’m fine! LIFEAID OPERATOR: OK. You pressed your medical button. That’s why the officers are there. Can you go to the door and speak to them? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: I’m not opening up the door. They’ve got their guns out! They have their guns out! LIFEAID OPERATOR: OK. Do you have weapon, Mr. Chamberlain? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: I [inaudible] weapons. I am just protecting myself. LIFEAID OPERATOR: OK. They’re not there to hurt you. I’m here on the line. POLICE OFFICER: Mr. Chamberlain, we’re not here to help — hurt you. We’re here to give you a hand, help you out. KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: I’m OK! I told you I was OK! [inaudible] I’m OK! I’m fine! Leave me alone! I’m fine!
AMY GOODMAN: “Leave me alone,” says Kenneth Chamberlain. One of the officers, Stephen Hart, was accused of hurling a racial slur, the N-word, at Chamberlain during the incident. Listen carefully to this audio, released by the White Plains Police Department. You can hear the Officer Hart banging on Chamberlain’s window. Chamberlain repeatedly says, “Don’t do that. I’m OK.” The officer responds, yes, by using the N-word. Listen closely.
OFFICER STEPHEN HART: Mr. Chamberlain! KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: Don’t do that, sir. Don’t do that. Don’t do that, officer. Don’t do that. Don’t do that. Don’t do that. Do not do that! I’m telling you I’m OK! OFFICER STEPHEN HART: I don’t give a [bleep], nigger! KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: I’m telling you I’m OK! OFFICER STEPHEN HART: [inaudible] KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: I’m telling you I’m OK.
AMY GOODMAN: A video camera on the police Taser gun recorded the next sequence. You can hear Kenneth Chamberlain say the police have stun guns and shotguns. He then predicts the police will kill him. Again, a warning: This contains disturbing footage.
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: They have stun guns and shotguns! [inaudible] POLICE OFFICER: Mr. Chamberlain! Mr. Chamberlain! KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: They’ve come to kill me with that, because I have a bad heart.
AMY GOODMAN: Mr. Chamberlain says, “I have a bad heart.” While the police were threatening to break down his door, Chamberlain’s sister called the police — she was contacted by LifeAid — in an attempt to defuse the situation. Soon after, she was assured the police would not shoot her brother. But that is just what happened. Police video shows the moment police broke down his door and shot him with a Taser. TV viewers will see a few quick glimpses of Kenneth Chamberlain, the 68-year-old man, who was wearing boxer shorts and no shirt. He had been woken up. This video was recorded by a camera on the police Taser. Listen closely. You can hear the sound of the Taser.
POLICE OFFICER: You got it? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: Shoot! Shoot me! No! Shoot me! Shoot me! POLICE OFFICER: Need another cartridge? KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: Shoot me!
AMY GOODMAN: You can actually see the electricity shooting Kenneth Chamberlain. The video cuts out at this point. Within minutes, Kenneth Chamberlain was shot dead by the police who entered his home. This horrific story is told in the recent feature film The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain.
Well, for more, we’re joined by Ken Chamberlain’s son, Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., who’s been fighting for justice in his father’s death since 2011. And we’re joined by the family’s attorney, Mayo Bartlett.
We welcome you both back to Democracy Now! This killing that we have covered for years, Kenneth Chamberlain, the significance of what has just taken place? I mean, I share our condolences once again, after all of these years, and I’m sure you are reliving this this week as we deal with the George Floyd case. But in the midst of all of this, a judge has overturned a recent — the decision that threw out the lawsuit you had filed.
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN JR.: Well, thank you, Amy, first, for having us on the show. And just listening to that audio, I’ve kind of had to kind of regain my composure. It’s been a while since I’ve heard all of the audio like that.
But we’ve maintained all along, as the Constitution said, that it is the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects from unreasonable search and seizure, and that no warrant shall issue without probable cause. And this is what this fight has been about, you know, what these officers did on November 19, 2011, when my father inadvertently triggered his LifeAid pendant, and, in doing so, the police responded and ended up killing him.
Now, with this coming out around the killing of George Floyd and the rallying, the protesting, its significance, I can’t really speak to. But what I can say is that what you’re seeing happening around the world right now is not just about the killing of George Floyd. It’s about the killing of Tamir Rice. It’s about the killing of Ramarley Graham. It’s about the killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. and the countless other names that I can’t even begin to mention.
So, we’re pleased that these appellate judges vacated the original ruling, and we look forward to our day in court. And hopefully, this time around, we will get a fair trial.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Mayo Bartlett, I wanted to ask you the significance of the 2nd Circuit Court decision. This has been now a case, nine years now, that has been, in one way or another, in the courts. And the fact that they claim that the lower court did not — erred in not saying that the police were unlawful in their entry into Mr. Chamberlain’s home. Here, a former marine, sleeping peacefully in his own home, ends up dead.
MAYO BARTLETT: Yes. Well, thank you very much.
You know, it was always our position that there was never a reason for Mr. Chamberlain to have had his home invaded in the first place. And it wasn’t necessarily the role of the court to make that determination, but it certainly was the role of the court to allow us to at least argue that to a jury so that a jury could make a reasonable determination one way or the other. We were prevented from doing that. So, as a consequence, it’s been our position all along that there was no full and fair trial on the merits of this case. And we’re thankful now.
And it happens to even be something that unites people on the left and the right, because when you look at people who are on the right that you might consider to be extremists, one of the primary things that they talk about is the sanctity of a person’s home. And you’re right, whether it’s the right to bear arms, but certainly the right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure. So this is something where I would believe that most people would be able to agree, that when you’re at home sleeping and you haven’t committed any crime, that you wouldn’t expect that the police are going to break your door down and kill you, in particular if they’re responding for a medical call where you’d think that they’re there to help you.
AMY GOODMAN: We’re going to go to break, then come back to this discussion. We’re talking to attorney Mayo Bartlett and Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. He is the son of Ken Chamberlain, a former marine, who was at home sleeping, turned over on his life alert necklace. He had a heart condition. The LifeAid people couldn’t reach him and called the police. They came in for a wellness check and ended up shooting him dead. We’ll be back with them in a minute.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” by composer Joel Thompson, performed by the Sphinx, led by conductor Eugene Rogers. This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González, as we turn to a film. We’re speaking with Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., his father shot dead by White Plains police in 2011, and Mayo Bartlett, the attorney for the family. On Monday, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force. A new feature film, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, tells the story of what happened the night White Plains police came to Chamberlain’s apartment. This is the trailer.
CANDACE WADE: [played by Anika Noni Rose] Mr. Chamberlain, this is Candace Wade with Life Guard Medical Alerts. This line is being recorded. We just received an activation from your pendant. Do you have an emergency? I’m not getting a response from you. I’m going to dispatch emergency services now. OFFICER ROSSI: [played by Enrico Natale] White Plains police. We’re here for a welfare check. OFFICER JACKSON: [played by Ben Marten] Open this door! KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN SR.: [played by Frankie Faison] You’re not coming into my home! Help me! Help me! I need help!
AMY GOODMAN: Kenneth Chamberlain was played by Frankie Faison in a remarkable film that just recently came out. Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., your thoughts, as this country surges with uprisings all over, not only the country, but the world, this decision coming down in the midst of this?
KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN JR.: Again, first, let me just say that, of course, my family and I are extremely overjoyed that the original ruling was vacated.
I think that — and as far as what’s going on in the country, I think that people are now coming together, and they’re saying that extrajudicial killings and summary executions of unarmed Black men, women and children is no longer going to be tolerated. I mean, what we have been witnessing for decades are crimes against humanity. So, to see such a diverse group of people coming together, saying that they’re no longer going to tolerate this, this is beautiful. And the fact that they made this ruling, if I can use my platform to help effect positive change, then that’s what I’m going to do.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Mayo Bartlett, I wanted to ask you — the Supreme Court is slated to decide very soon whether it will take up cases that deal with qualified immunity. Could you talk — what is qualified immunity, and how does it affect this particular case?
MAYO BARTLETT: Qualified immunity is a doctrine which the Supreme Court actually created, which gives police an extraordinary shield for their conduct. And it’s a shielding that no other person in the country has, says that unless we can find, basically, that no other reasonable officer anywhere could have done what this officer did, that person is going to be found to be exonerated. You’re going to say that their conduct is absolved. And it requires a tremendous burden on the part of people trying to bring these cases.
The other thing that it does is it deters lots of lawyers from taking these cases, because you dedicate a lot of time and a lot of money into these cases, and it may be four or five years — or, in our case, we’re here nine years, almost 10 years later, without having a resolution. And sometimes these qualified immunity decisions don’t come until fairly late in the game, after you’ve already invested a lot of time and money. So it’s a deterrent for people.
AMY GOODMAN: And again, no officer was charged in this case? I mean, there were many officers, including Officer Hart, who shot Kenneth Chamberlain dead, undisputed?
MAYO BARTLETT: Absolutely. And one of the things we’ve asked for from the beginning is for an independent investigator. And when you look at these cases, there should also, in my estimation, be a change in the grand jury system. The grand jury should not be an arm of the prosecutor. It should be independent, equally accessible from the defense as well as civil sides and also for the prosecutor, should not be on the third or fourth floor of a DA’s office. And you should be able to see what happened in a grand jury. It shouldn’t be secret. There’s no need for it to be secret. If there is a need, then you can make an application to a court for a protective order. But we believe that needs to change, as well as the disciplinary procedures against police. Where there’s been a finding of misconduct, that also should be public and readily available. You should not have to go to the police department to find out what misconduct your officers may have engaged in.
AMY GOODMAN: There’s no time limit on murder. Why can’t the officer be charged now?
MAYO BARTLETT: Well, you know, it’s interesting. There’s been no jeopardy that’s attached. The officer certainly could be charged now. And you also have to —
AMY GOODMAN: We’re going to have to leave it there. I want to thank you, though, Mayo Bartlett, attorney for the family of Kenneth Chamberlain, and especially Ken Chamberlain Jr. himself.
That does it for our show. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González. Stay safe.


truthout--2020-06-03--McConnell Blocks Resolution Condemning Assault on Nonviolent Protesters

As many Senate Republicans either refused to answer questions about the police assault on peaceful protesters in the nation ’ s capital Monday or openly praised President Donald Trump for the brutal crackdown , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked the passage of a Democratic resolution condemning Trump for violating the constitutional rights of demonstrators by “ ordering federal officers to use gas and rubber bullets ” against them .
Senate Democrats attempted to pass the non-binding resolution by unanimous consent , but the Kentucky Republican objected and put forth his own measure that stripped out any mention of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very simple why the Republican leader objected to our resolution and offered this one instead , ” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) said in a floor speech , referring to McConnell ’ s alternative resolution .
“ It ’ s because they do not want to condemn what the president did , though every fair-minded American of any political party would.
” In an appearance on MSNBC Tuesday evening as mass protests over the police killing of George Floyd continued in the nation ’ s capital and across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s enabling of Trump “ appalling ” and slammed the president ’ s deployment of military vehicles and personnel to the streets of Washington , D.C. as “ just like a dictatorship.
” The Daily Beast reported that Trump personally instructed military helicopters to fly low over demonstrators in D.C. and “ has pressed aides and Pentagon officials for graphic details on the kind of armored vehicles , military units , aircraft , and even ‘ tanks ’ that they could potentially send ” to U.S. cities .
“ They ’ re afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , ” Schumer said of Senate Republicans .
“ And that leads to Donald Trump getting worse and worse and worse .
It ’ s appalling.
” Schumer introduced the Democratic resolution hours before the Washington Post , citing anonymous federal officials , reported Tuesday that Attorney General William Barr personally ordered law enforcement officials to beat back the peaceful demonstrators gathered near the White House in order to clear the path for Trump ’ s walk to St. John ’ s Episcopal Church .
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful protesters , beating them with batons and firing tear gas into crowds , as Trump delivered an incendiary and militaristic speech in the Rose Garden of the White House — remarks that Democratic lawmakers condemned as a fascistic “ declaration of war ” against the public .
The U.S. Park Police subsequently claimed that despite numerous witness accounts , tear gas was not used against the demonstrators — a denial that has been touted by the Trump ’ s 2020 reelection campaign .
But as Vox ’ s Alex Ward reported Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scrutiny .
“ Nathan Baca , a reporter for WUSA9 in Washington , D.C. , picked up a canister used during the Monday assault .
It ’ s not a smoke canister , but it does launch ‘ OC ’ gas which ‘ Causes same tears , tight breath and comes out green , ' ” Ward wrote .
“ Other journalists who covered the protests in person that evening say without a doubt that law enforcement used tear gas , a chemical irritant that can cause those exposed to it to @ @ @ @ @

As many Senate Republicans either refused to answer questions about the police assault on peaceful protesters in the nation’s capital Monday or openly praised President Donald Trump for the brutal crackdown, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked the passage of a Democratic resolution condemning Trump for violating the constitutional rights of demonstrators by “ordering federal officers to use gas and rubber bullets” against them.
Senate Democrats attempted to pass the non-binding resolution by unanimous consent, but the Kentucky Republican objected and put forth his own measure that stripped out any mention of the president.
“It’s very simple why the Republican leader objected to our resolution and offered this one instead,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a floor speech, referring to McConnell’s alternative resolution. “It’s because they do not want to condemn what the president did, though every fair-minded American of any political party would.”
In an appearance on MSNBC Tuesday evening as mass protests over the police killing of George Floyd continued in the nation’s capital and across the country, Schumer called the Senate GOP’s enabling of Trump “appalling” and slammed the president’s deployment of military vehicles and personnel to the streets of Washington, D.C. as “just like a dictatorship.”
The Daily Beast reported that Trump personally instructed military helicopters to fly low over demonstrators in D.C. and “has pressed aides and Pentagon officials for graphic details on the kind of armored vehicles, military units, aircraft, and even ‘tanks’ that they could potentially send” to U.S. cities.
“They’re afraid. They’re afraid of Donald Trump,” Schumer said of Senate Republicans. “And that leads to Donald Trump getting worse and worse and worse. It’s appalling.”
Schumer introduced the Democratic resolution hours before the Washington Post, citing anonymous federal officials, reported Tuesday that Attorney General William Barr personally ordered law enforcement officials to beat back the peaceful demonstrators gathered near the White House in order to clear the path for Trump’s walk to St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard and the U.S. Park Police moved on the peaceful protesters, beating them with batons and firing tear gas into crowds, as Trump delivered an incendiary and militaristic speech in the Rose Garden of the White House — remarks that Democratic lawmakers condemned as a fascistic “declaration of war” against the public.
The U.S. Park Police subsequently claimed that despite numerous witness accounts, tear gas was not used against the demonstrators — a denial that has been touted by the Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign. But as Vox’s Alex Ward reported Tuesday, the narrative does not stand up to scrutiny.
“Nathan Baca, a reporter for WUSA9 in Washington, D.C., picked up a canister used during the Monday assault. It’s not a smoke canister, but it does launch ‘OC’ gas which ‘Causes same tears, tight breath and comes out green,'” Ward wrote. “Other journalists who covered the protests in person that evening say without a doubt that law enforcement used tear gas, a chemical irritant that can cause those exposed to it to want to vomit.”
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--2020-06-03--Iowa Republicans Vote Out Rep. Steve King Amid Protests for Racial Justice

Rep. Steve King , widely known as the most overtly racist member of Congress , was defeated Tuesday in the Republican primary battle for Iowa ’ s 4th district .
Challenger Randy Feenstra , a state senator , officially beat King by a margin of 36,797 to 28,977 votes , with 100 % of precincts reporting , according to The New York Times .
Feenstra , who won by a margin of just under 10 points , will go on to face Democrat J.D .
Scholten in November .
King , who was stripped of his committee assignments after expressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , later denounced the ideologies .
But King already had a long and established history of racist comments under his belt .
The congressman ’ s loss comes amid historic protests for racial justice from coast to coast for following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police .
The timing did not go unnoticed by political commentators .
“ For Rep Steve King , master of racism in Congress , to lose his GOP primary tonight , seems somehow fitting ?
” MSNBC host Andrea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
King ’ s loss was cheered by both sides of the political aisle , including freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y .
Known by her initials , AOC was voted into the most diverse Congress ever in the 2018 midterm elections .
“ Goodbye , Rep. Steve King .
You are certainly not the only white supremacist in federal government , but you were among the most prominent , ” she tweeted .
“ It ’ s a shame Republicans held you up as long as they did.
” Meghan McCain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John McCain who sits in the conservative seat on “ The View , ” also did not mince words .
“ Don ’ t let the door hit your ass on the way out , ” she wrote on Twitter .
King ’ s fate was sealed as President Donald Trump faced mounting criticism after police backed by the National Guard unleashed tear gas , rubber bullets and flash-bang shells against peaceful protesters to clear a path for the president ’ s photo-op taken holding a Bible in front of historic St. John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been almost universally denounced after he questioned criticisms of terms used to identify white racists .
“ White nationalist , white supremacist , Western civilization — how did that language become offensive ?
Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization ?
” King asked during a controversial interview with the Times in January 2019 .
But King was only stripped of his committee assignments last year after questioning whether there would “ be any population of the world left ” without rape or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had called for his resignation and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested he “ find another line of work.
” As King ’ s influence deteriorated , his campaign chest dried up amid struggles to attract donors .
King has also been criticized for bragging that water from a sink attached to a toilet at a migrant detention facility tasted “ pretty good ” amid a national outcry over squalid conditions at the centers .
He once joked about imprisoned Muslims who were forced to eat pork in China .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King had previously said that “ our civilization ” can ’ t be restored with “ somebody else ’ s babies.
” He also predicted that “ Hispanics and the blacks will be fighting each other ” before non-whites outnumber whites , and had speculated that black people could more easily afford abortions if they stopped buying iPhones .

Widely known as the most overtly racist member of Congress, King was defeated in the Republican primary on Tuesday.
Rep. Steve King, widely known as the most overtly racist member of Congress, was defeated Tuesday in the Republican primary battle for Iowa’s 4th district.
Challenger Randy Feenstra, a state senator, officially beat King by a margin of 36,797 to 28,977 votes, with 100% of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times. Feenstra, who won by a margin of just under 10 points, will go on to face Democrat J.D. Scholten in November.
King, who was stripped of his committee assignments after expressing sympathy for white nationalists and white supremacists, later denounced the ideologies. But King already had a long and established history of racist comments under his belt.
The congressman’s loss comes amid historic protests for racial justice from coast to coast for following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police. The timing did not go unnoticed by political commentators.
“For Rep Steve King, master of racism in Congress, to lose his GOP primary tonight, seems somehow fitting?” MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell tweeted after the race was called.
For Rep Steve King, master of racism in Congress, to lose his GOP primary tonight, seems somehow fitting? — Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) June 3, 2020
King’s loss was cheered by both sides of the political aisle, including freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Known by her initials, AOC was voted into the most diverse Congress ever in the 2018 midterm elections.
“Goodbye, Rep. Steve King. You are certainly not the only white supremacist in federal government, but you were among the most prominent,” she tweeted. “It’s a shame Republicans held you up as long as they did.”
Goodbye, Rep. Steve King. You are certainly not the only white supremacist in federal government, but you were among the most prominent. It’s a shame Republicans held you up as long as they did. SEE YA 👋🏽 https://t.co/tymvh0hwLR — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 3, 2020
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain who sits in the conservative seat on “The View,” also did not mince words.
“Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out,” she wrote on Twitter.
Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. https://t.co/hol8LC5srg — Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 3, 2020
King’s fate was sealed as President Donald Trump faced mounting criticism after police backed by the National Guard unleashed tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang shells against peaceful protesters to clear a path for the president’s photo-op taken holding a Bible in front of historic St. John’s Episcopal Church.
King had been almost universally denounced after he questioned criticisms of terms used to identify white racists.
“White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive? Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?” King asked during a controversial interview with the Times in January 2019.
But King was only stripped of his committee assignments last year after questioning whether there would “be any population of the world left” without rape or incest. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., had called for his resignation and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested he “find another line of work.” As King’s influence deteriorated, his campaign chest dried up amid struggles to attract donors.
King has also been criticized for bragging that water from a sink attached to a toilet at a migrant detention facility tasted “pretty good” amid a national outcry over squalid conditions at the centers. He once joked about imprisoned Muslims who were forced to eat pork in China.
In addition to his comments about white supremacy, King had previously said that “our civilization” can’t be restored with “somebody else’s babies.” He also predicted that “Hispanics and the blacks will be fighting each other” before non-whites outnumber whites, and had speculated that black people could more easily afford abortions if they stopped buying iPhones.
Salon’s Matthew Rozsa contributed to this report.
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.