mercurynews--2020-06-13--The Latest: Floyd cousin speaks at Lee monument in Virginia

By The Associated Press — Authorities investigating death of black man found hanging from tree in California .
— French court says protests can ’ t be banned over virus concerns .
— Police in Paris use tear gas to disperse crowds ; thousands rally against excessive force .
RICHMOND , Va. — Thousands of people gathered in Virginia ’ s capital on Saturday for a demonstration against racism known as the “ 5,000 Man March.
” The protest in Richmond included a speech by a cousin of George Floyd , the black man whose death at the hands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
The demonstrators gathered at the city ’ s famed monument of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee before making a loop around the downtown .
They returned to the monument about two hours later to hear speakers , including a relative of Floyd , the man who died last month after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes as he pleaded for air .
Tavares Floyd , George Floyd ’ s cousin , stepped onto the Lee monument and was welcomed by applause from the surrounding crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Confederacy .
WRIC-TV reports that Floyd spoke about many different racial inequalities that the black community faces in Virginia and throughout the nation .
The Lee statue , erected in 1890 , has become a focal point of protests in Richmond since Floyd ’ s death .
After years of calls by activists to remove Confederate statues in Virginia , Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam has pledged to take down the Lee statue , while Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney , also a Democrat , has vowed to remove other Confederate statues on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Authorities in the Southern California city of Palmdale are investigating the death of a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree near City Hall , which they originally described as an apparent suicide , prompting outrage in the community .
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the high desert city of 150,000 on Saturday , marching from the park where Robert Fuller ’ s body was found to the Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s station demanding a full investigation into his death .
Community members confronted city officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking why they were quick to label his death a suicide and demanding an independent autopsy .
Sheriff ’ s Capt .
Ron Shaffer said homicide detectives were investigating the circumstances leading to Fuller ’ s death to determine if foul play was involved .
Investigators have been in contact with Fuller ’ s family , Palmdale officials said .
In a country that sees thousands of protests annually , the decision by the Council of State allows for the resumption of demonstrations and marches as long as health protections are respected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local authorities and not deemed a risk to public order .
The Council ruled that “ the ban on protesting is not justified by the current health situation.
” It said the right to protest is a “ fundamental freedom.
” The ruling came just as an unauthorized protest against police violence and racial injustice wound down in Paris .
Police had stopped the at least 15,000 protesters from a planned march through the city Saturday , citing the virus-related restrictions on any gathering of more than 10 people .
France has seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd ’ s death in the U.S. PARIS — Police fired tear gas and blocked demonstrators from marching through Paris to protest police brutality and racial injustice .
The tear gas began just as a group of extreme-right counter demonstrators were dislodged from the roof of a building overlooking the protest .
Protesters set off firecrackers and shouted at police but were otherwise peaceful .
Families and others trying to leave the protest struggled to get out because police had blocked off most exit routes .
The remaining crowd took a knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from marching from the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris toward the city ’ s main opera house .
A police official told The Associated Press the decision was made because of a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than 10 people to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The counter demonstrators had earlier unfurled a banner about “ anti-white racism ” and lit flares in the blue-white-red colors of the French flag .
Residents reached out their windows to tear down the banner .
Activists later confronted the far-right activists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ropes to the pavement below .
PRAGUE — Hundreds rallied in Prague for the second straight Saturday in support of the protests in the United States against police violence and racism .
In a noisy but peaceful rally amid occasional showers , the protesters were marching through the Little Quarter district of the Czech capital , chanting “ Black Lives Matter , ” “ No Justice No Peace ” and “ No Trump , No KKK , No fascist U.S.A. ” Many protesters condemned all forms of racism in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ displayed banners that read “ Together Against Racism , ” “ Stop Police Violence ” and “ All Lives Don ’ t Matter Until Black Lives Matter.
” The rally was organized by an informal group of Americans living in Prague , along with several Czech groups .
At the end , they observed a minute of silence in front of the U.S. Embassy .
PARIS — Thousands gathered in Paris to denounce police brutality and discrimination .
Shouts rose from the largely black crowd as a group of white extreme-right activists climbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denouncing “ anti-white racism.
” Others tried to tear it down .
Police surrounded the area , bracing for potential violence .
There ’ s been scattered clashes at largely peaceful demonstrations around France , inspired by Black Lives Matter and global protests in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death .
The march in Paris was led by supporters of Adama Traore , a 24-year-old French black man who died in 2016 .
Traore didn ’ t have his identity card on him and reportedly ran as the police approached .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ half Traore , half Floyd .
Traore ’ s sister Assa told the crowd , “ We are all demanding the same thing — fair justice for everyone.
” She says her brother was also handcuffed and held down by police before he died .
A final report released last month cleared three officers of wrongdoing , triggering renewed protests .
This week , the government banned chokeholds in France .
PARIS — Police have ordered the closure of newly reopened restaurants and shops along the route of a march in Paris against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
The march between the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris and the city ’ s main opera house is expected to be the biggest of several demonstrations Saturday inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S .
The Paris police chief ordered merchants and city officials to clear sidewalks along the route of anything that could be set on fire or used by troublemakers against police .
Any gatherings of more than 10 people remain banned in France because of virus containment measures .
The Paris march was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a French black man who died in police custody in 2016 in circumstances that remain unclear despite four years of back-and-forth autopsies .
They ’ re demanding “ justice for Adama and all victims of police.
” France has seen several similar demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death in the U.S.
They ’ ve been overwhelmingly peaceful , though some have seen scattered clashes between police and protesters .
Protests are also expected Saturday in Marseille , Lyon and other French cities .
LONDON — British police have imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in London Saturday in a bid to avoid violent clashes .
Protesters from the Black Lives Matter movement , as well as far-right groups , have said they plan to gather for demonstrations in central London .
Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that statues in the capital — in particular a statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square — could become flash points for violence .
He said officials have intelligence that extreme far-right activists want to gather in London “ ostensibly , they say , to protect the statues.
” Commander Bas Javid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups at all because of the coronavirus .
But if they must , he said activists have to stick to the planned route and be off the streets by 5 p.m .
He said that while protesters last weekend were largely peaceful , a minority was “ intent on disorder ” that resulted in assaults on police and violent behavior .
Dozens were arrested last weekend and a police horse was pictured bolting past the crowds amid the chaos .
HALLANDALE BEACH , Fla. — Ten members of a South Florida police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team , citing safety concerns and local officials ’ “ disdain ” for the unit .
The eight officers and two sergeants resigned from the team , but did not resign from the Hallandale Beach Police Department .
Police Chief Sonia Quinones received a memo from the SWAT team Friday morning , City Manager Greg Chavarria said in a statement , according to news outlets .
The officers said they were “ minimally equipped ” and had been “ disrespected ” by city officials who refused to address equipment and training concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our duties in this capacity is no longer acceptable to us and our families , ” the officers wrote in the memo , dated June 9 .
“ The anguish and stress of knowing that what we may be lawfully called upon to do in today ’ s political climate combined with the team ’ s current situation and several recent local events , leave us in a position that is untenable.
” The officers also said they were outraged that command staff had recently joined protesters and other officials in taking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Howard Bowe to be reopened .
“ This lack of support by members of the Command Staff is crippling to the agency and its rank and file , ” the memo said .
Bowe , a 34-year-old black man , was killed in 2014 by Hallandale Beach ’ s SWAT team as it carried out a search warrant and raided his home .
The officers wrote that investigators never found that any misconduct had been committed by the officers involved in Bowe ’ s death .
The case later resulted in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and the city .
DALLAS — Dallas officials have agreed to a 90-day ban on the use of tear gas and other less-lethal police crowd-control weapons against demonstrators .
U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay approved late Thursday a consent decree in which Dallas police agree not to use against peaceful demonstrators smoke bombs , flashbangs , pepperballs , Mace or other chemical agents .
They also agree to not fire such impact projectiles as rubber bullets , bean bags or sponges .
The preliminary injunction will remain in effect until Sept. 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the judge .
Tasia Williams and Vincent Doyle sued the city and police after rubber bullets injured them during two separate Black Lives Matter marches in Dallas .
The demonstrations are a reaction to the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer .
SEATTLE — A federal judge has ordered Seattle to temporarily stop using tear gas , pepper spray and flash bang devices to break up peaceful protests .
The 14-day edict is a victory for groups who say authorities overreacted to demonstrations in the city after the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group sued the Seattle Police Department this week to halt the violent tactics police have used to break up largely peaceful protests in recent days .
Officers used tear gas , pepper spray and other less-lethal weapons against crowds that have demonstrated against racism and police brutality following the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis .
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best apologized to peaceful protesters who were subjected to chemical weapons .
However , Best has said some demonstrators had violently targeted police , throwing projectiles and ignoring orders to @ @

By The Associated Press
TOP OF THE HOUR:
— Members of Clemson football team lead demonstration on campus.
— Bust of slave owner torn down, thrown in river in New Orleans.
— Protesters gather at Lee monument in Virginia’s capital.
— Authorities investigating death of black man found hanging from tree in California.
—
CLEMSON, S.C. — Members of the Clemson University football team led hundreds of demonstrators on the school’s campus Saturday as they marched for equality and against police brutality.
The demonstration included a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time prosecutors say George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was pinned to the ground with his neck under a white Minneapolis police officer’s knee before he died last month.
“This is a historic time, and a challenging time,” head football coach Dabo Swinney told the crowd. “But as I tell my team all the time, challenge is what creates change. … Black lives more than matter — black lives significantly matter and equally matter. For far too long that has not been the case for the black community.”
The protest was organized by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, linebacker Mike Jones Jr., wide receiver Cornell Powell and running back Darien Rencher, according to news outlets.
The march came a day after Clemson trustees voted to rename its honors college, stripping from the program the name of former vice president and slavery proponent John C. Calhoun.
Calhoun, who was born in South Carolina, declared slavery a “positive good” on the U.S. Senate floor in 1837.
Before the administrators’ vote, an online petition by students calling for the name to be changed drew more than 20,000 signatures. Clemson football alumni and one-time Houston Texans teammates DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson voiced support for the petition on social media.
—
NEW ORLEANS — Protesters tore down a bust of a slave owner who left part of his fortune to New Orleans’ schools, and then they took the remains to the Mississippi River and rolled it down the banks into the water.
The destruction Saturday is part of a nationwide effort to remove monuments to the Confederacy or with links to slavery as the country grapples with widespread protests against police brutality toward African Americans.
Police said in a statement Saturday that demonstrators at Duncan Plaza, which is directly across the street from City Hall, dragged the bust into the streets, loaded it onto trucks and took it to the Mississippi River where they threw it in. Two people who were driving the trucks transporting the bust were apprehended by police and taken to police headquarters, authorities said. Their names were not given in the statement.
The police did not identify the bust, but local media identified it as one depicting John McDonogh. When he died, McDonogh left a large portion of his money to New Orleans and Baltimore for schools, and many schools in New Orleans are named after him.
Video on social media showed dozens surrounding the bust, which sat on a pedestal while some people pulled on a rope tied to the bust and another hit it. As the bust tilts and then crashes to the ground the crowd cheers. Another video posted on social media shows a crowd watching as the bust is rolled down the rocky banks of the Mississippi River and into the water.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a tweet that the city “rejects vandalism and destruction of City property. It is unlawful.”
—
RICHMOND, Va. — Thousands gathered in Virginia’s capital on Saturday for a demonstration against racism known as the “5,000 Man March.”
The protest in Richmond included a speech by a cousin of George Floyd, the black man whose death at the hands of police has prompted weeks of protests around the world.
The demonstrators gathered at the city’s famed monument of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee before making a loop around the downtown. They returned to the monument about two hours later to hear speakers, including a relative of Floyd, the man who died last month after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes as he pleaded for air.
Tavares Floyd, George Floyd’s cousin, stepped onto the Lee monument and was welcomed by applause from the surrounding crowd of demonstrators in the former capital of the Confederacy.
WRIC-TV reports that Floyd spoke about many different racial inequalities that the black community faces in Virginia and throughout the nation.
The Lee statue, erected in 1890, has become a focal point of protests in Richmond since Floyd’s death. After years of calls by activists to remove Confederate statues in Virginia, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam has pledged to take down the Lee statue, while Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, also a Democrat, has vowed to remove other Confederate statues on the same street.
___
PALMDALE, Calif. — Authorities in the Southern California city of Palmdale are investigating the death of a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree, which they originally described as an apparent suicide, prompting outrage in the community.
More than 100,000 people signed an online petition demanding a full investigation and community members confronted city officials on Friday. Los Angeles County coroner’s officials said a decision on the cause of Robert Fuller’s death is deferred pending an investigation.
Fuller’s death has brought to light the death of another black man found hanging from a tree on May 31 in Victorville, a desert city 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Palmdale. A sheriff’s spokeswoman, Jodi Miller, told Victor Valley News foul play was not suspected in Malcolm Harsch’s death, but the man’s family said they were concerned it will be ruled a suicide to avoid further attention.
___
PARIS — France’s highest administrative court ruled Saturday night that virus concerns no longer justify banning public protests.
In a country that sees thousands of protests annually, the decision by the Council of State allows for the resumption of demonstrations and marches as long as health protections are respected, and events are declared in advance to local authorities and not deemed a risk to public order.
The Council ruled that “the ban on protesting is not justified by the current health situation.” It said the right to protest is a “fundamental freedom.”
The ruling came just as an unauthorized protest against police violence and racial injustice wound down in Paris. Police had stopped the at least 15,000 protesters from a planned march through the city Saturday, citing the virus-related restrictions on any gathering of more than 10 people. France has seen several unauthorized protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death in the U.S.
___
PARIS — Police fired tear gas and blocked demonstrators from marching through Paris to protest police brutality and racial injustice.
The tear gas began just as a group of extreme-right counter demonstrators were dislodged from the roof of a building overlooking the protest.
Protesters set off firecrackers and shouted at police but were otherwise peaceful. Families and others trying to leave the protest struggled to get out because police had blocked off most exit routes. The remaining crowd took a knee.
Police decided to bar the crowd from marching from the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris toward the city’s main opera house. A police official told The Associated Press the decision was made because of a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than 10 people to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The counter demonstrators had earlier unfurled a banner about “anti-white racism” and lit flares in the blue-white-red colors of the French flag.
Residents reached out their windows to tear down the banner. Activists later confronted the far-right activists on the roof, throwing their bags and ropes to the pavement below.
___
PRAGUE — Hundreds rallied in Prague for the second straight Saturday in support of the protests in the United States against police violence and racism.
In a noisy but peaceful rally amid occasional showers, the protesters were marching through the Little Quarter district of the Czech capital, chanting “Black Lives Matter,” “No Justice No Peace” and “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist U.S.A.”
Many protesters condemned all forms of racism in the U.S., the Czech Republic and elsewhere.
They displayed banners that read “Together Against Racism,” “Stop Police Violence” and “All Lives Don’t Matter Until Black Lives Matter.”
The rally was organized by an informal group of Americans living in Prague, along with several Czech groups. At the end, they observed a minute of silence in front of the U.S. Embassy.
___
PARIS — Thousands gathered in Paris to denounce police brutality and discrimination.
Shouts rose from the largely black crowd as a group of white extreme-right activists climbed a building and unfurled a huge banner denouncing “anti-white racism.” Others tried to tear it down.
Police surrounded the area, bracing for potential violence. There’s been scattered clashes at largely peaceful demonstrations around France, inspired by Black Lives Matter and global protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The march in Paris was led by supporters of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old French black man who died in 2016. Traore didn’t have his identity card on him and reportedly ran as the police approached.
A huge portrait showed a face of half Traore, half Floyd. Traore’s sister Assa told the crowd, “We are all demanding the same thing — fair justice for everyone.” She says her brother was also handcuffed and held down by police before he died.
A final report released last month cleared three officers of wrongdoing, triggering renewed protests. This week, the government banned chokeholds in France.
___
PARIS — Police have ordered the closure of newly reopened restaurants and shops along the route of a march in Paris against police brutality and racism, fearing possible violence.
The march between the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris and the city’s main opera house is expected to be the biggest of several demonstrations Saturday inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S.
The Paris police chief ordered merchants and city officials to clear sidewalks along the route of anything that could be set on fire or used by troublemakers against police. Any gatherings of more than 10 people remain banned in France because of virus containment measures.
The Paris march was organized by supporters of Adama Traore, a French black man who died in police custody in 2016 in circumstances that remain unclear despite four years of back-and-forth autopsies. They’re demanding “justice for Adama and all victims of police.”
France has seen several similar demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death in the U.S. They’ve been overwhelmingly peaceful, though some have seen scattered clashes between police and protesters.
Protests are also expected Saturday in Marseille, Lyon and other French cities.
___
LONDON — British police have imposed strict restrictions on groups planning to protest in London Saturday in a bid to avoid violent clashes.
Protesters from the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as far-right groups, have said they plan to gather for demonstrations in central London.
Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that statues in the capital — in particular a statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square — could become flash points for violence. He said officials have intelligence that extreme far-right activists want to gather in London “ostensibly, they say, to protect the statues.”
Commander Bas Javid urged people not to gather in large groups at all because of the coronavirus. But if they must, he said activists have to stick to the planned route and be off the streets by 5 p.m.
He said that while protesters last weekend were largely peaceful, a minority was “intent on disorder” that resulted in assaults on police and violent behavior.
Dozens were arrested last weekend and a police horse was pictured bolting past the crowds amid the chaos.


mercurynews--2020-06-13--Police to investigate hanging death of California black man

PALMDALE ( AP ) — Authorities in the Southern California city of Palmdale are investigating the death of a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree near City Hall , which they originally described as an apparent suicide , prompting outrage in the community .
A passer-by reported seeing Robert Fuller ’ s body around 3 a.m. Wednesday .
Emergency personnel responded and found that he appeared to have died by suicide , Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s officials said .
Fuller ’ s death has generated intense scrutiny , especially after nationwide protests rebuking the police killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the high desert city of 150,000 , marching from the park where Fuller ’ s body was found to the sheriff ’ s station .
Many carried signs that said “ Justice for Robert Fuller.
” More than 100,000 people signed an online petition demanding a full investigation into Fuller ’ s death .
Community members confronted city officials at a contentious news briefing Friday , asking why they were quick to label his death a suicide and demanding an independent autopsy .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marisela Barajas , who went to the press conference and joined a crowd gathered at the tree where Fuller ’ s body was found , told the Los Angeles Times .
“ All alone , in front of the City Hall — it ’ s more like a statement , ” she said .
“ Even if it was a suicide , that in itself is kind of a statement.
” Lt. Kelly Yagerlener of the county medical examiner-coroner ’ s office said a decision on the cause of death is deferred pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned .
Residents demanded surveillance video around the time and place where Fuller ’ s body was found .
The city said there were no outdoor cameras , and video recorders on a nearby traffic signal could not have captured what happened .
Sheriff ’ s Capt .
Ron Shaffer said homicide detectives were investigating the circumstances leading to Fuller ’ s death to determine if foul play was involved .
He urged members of the public to contact detectives if they have relevant information , particularly about where Fuller had been and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
Palmdale officials wrote in a statement that investigators have been in contact with Fuller ’ s family .
KPCC-FM reports that at the march Saturday , Fuller ’ s sister Diamond Alexander insisted her brother was not suicidal .
“ Robert was a good little brother to us and it ’ s like everything they have been telling us has not been right … and we just want to know the truth , ” she said .
• Protesters call attention to deaths of two more black men Protesters held a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the sheriff ’ s station .

PALMDALE — Authorities in the Southern California city of Palmdale are investigating the death of a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree near City Hall, which they originally described as an apparent suicide, prompting outrage in the community.
A passer-by reported seeing Robert Fuller’s body around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Emergency personnel responded and found that he appeared to have died by suicide, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials said.
Fuller’s death has generated intense scrutiny, especially after nationwide protests rebuking the police killing of George Floyd.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the high desert city of 150,000, marching from the park where Fuller’s body was found to the sheriff’s station. Many carried signs that said “Justice for Robert Fuller.”
More than 100,000 people signed an online petition demanding a full investigation into Fuller’s death. Community members confronted city officials at a contentious news briefing Friday, asking why they were quick to label his death a suicide and demanding an independent autopsy.
“I have doubts about what happened,” Marisela Barajas, who went to the press conference and joined a crowd gathered at the tree where Fuller’s body was found, told the Los Angeles Times.
“All alone, in front of the City Hall — it’s more like a statement,” she said. “Even if it was a suicide, that in itself is kind of a statement.”
Lt. Kelly Yagerlener of the county medical examiner-coroner’s office said a decision on the cause of death is deferred pending an investigation. A full autopsy is planned.
Residents demanded surveillance video around the time and place where Fuller’s body was found. The city said there were no outdoor cameras, and video recorders on a nearby traffic signal could not have captured what happened.
Sheriff’s Capt. Ron Shaffer said homicide detectives were investigating the circumstances leading to Fuller’s death to determine if foul play was involved. He urged members of the public to contact detectives if they have relevant information, particularly about where Fuller had been and who he had been with in recent weeks.
Palmdale officials wrote in a statement that investigators have been in contact with Fuller’s family.
KPCC-FM reports that at the march Saturday, Fuller’s sister Diamond Alexander insisted her brother was not suicidal.
“Robert was a good little brother to us and it’s like everything they have been telling us has not been right … and we just want to know the truth,” she said.
Protesters held a moment of silence and took a knee outside the sheriff’s station.


mercurynews--2020-06-13--Protesters march in downtown San Jose, block street

SAN JOSE — Hundreds of protesters marched peacefully through downtown San Jose and blocked a street during a rally near City Hall Saturday , demanding sweeping changes to address systemic racism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in late May .
Andrea Kennedy , a San Jose resident , urged demonstrators to push municipal leaders to slash funding for the city ’ s Police Department and demanded that the city redeploy its resources amid claims of police brutality against African Americans and other minorities .
“ Defund the police , ” Kennedy said to the demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were sitting down and blocking the width of East Santa Clara Street at Fourth Street .
“ San Jose is spending 40 percent of its budget on a police department that is killing us.
” The demonstration in downtown San Jose was one of more than a dozen that were scheduled to occur on Saturday throughout the Bay Area .
After she spoke to the crowd , Kennedy said she believes the city of San Jose has misdirected its resources .
“ The police don ’ t need need to be responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview .
The protesters carried signs that said “ Black Lives Matter , ” “ End Police Brutality , ” “ Defund the Police , ” “ Don ’ t Shoot , ” “ No Justice No Peace , ” “ Justice for Floyd , ” and “ Asians 4 Black Lives.
” The downtown San Jose marchers were walking to the west away from City Hall during the midafternoon on Saturday , but later , the group returned to the municipality ’ s main complex .
During the afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least a section of Interstate 280 near South Fourth Street , according to protesters at City Hall .
“ The city needs to hear us , they need to listen to us , ” Kennedy said .
During the early stages of the rally , a police presence wasn ’ t visible .
Mayor Sam Liccardo on Thursday repeated that the San Jose Police Department won ’ t be defunded amid nationwide protests over police brutality and rising criticism about how law enforcement agencies conduct their tasks .
“ San Jose is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big city in the country , ” Liccardo said .
“ This is a department that is deeply committed to the accountability of its officers .
I don ’ t believe that defunding police departments is the appropriate response to this crisis .
”

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SAN JOSE — Hundreds of protesters marched peacefully through downtown San Jose and blocked a street during a rally near City Hall Saturday, demanding sweeping changes to address systemic racism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in late May.
Andrea Kennedy, a San Jose resident, urged demonstrators to push municipal leaders to slash funding for the city’s Police Department and demanded that the city redeploy its resources amid claims of police brutality against African Americans and other minorities.
“Defund the police,” Kennedy said to the demonstrators, speaking on a bullhorn to hundreds who were sitting down and blocking the width of East Santa Clara Street at Fourth Street. “San Jose is spending 40 percent of its budget on a police department that is killing us.”
The demonstration in downtown San Jose was one of more than a dozen that were scheduled to occur on Saturday throughout the Bay Area.
After she spoke to the crowd, Kennedy said she believes the city of San Jose has misdirected its resources.
“The police don’t need need to be responding to non-violent situations,” Kennedy said in an interview.
The protesters carried signs that said “Black Lives Matter,” “End Police Brutality,” “Defund the Police,” “Don’t Shoot,” “No Justice No Peace,” “Justice for Floyd,” and “Asians 4 Black Lives.”
The downtown San Jose marchers were walking to the west away from City Hall during the midafternoon on Saturday, but later, the group returned to the municipality’s main complex.
During the afternoon, one group of protestors briefly blocked at least a section of Interstate 280 near South Fourth Street, according to protesters at City Hall.
“The city needs to hear us, they need to listen to us,” Kennedy said.
Throughout the rally, which lasted about four hours, a police presence wasn’t visible.
“We need to change the system,” said Ariel Maestaz, a San Jose resident. “We need to demilitarize and defund the police.”
State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, whose district includes downtown San Jose, East San Jose, the city’s Evergreen district, and parts of South San Jose, spoke during the rally and exhorted those in attendance to become more politically involved.
“It’s important that the energy on the street be channeled into lobbying and political change,” Assemblymember Kalra said in an interview with this news organization. “I’m here to support the Black Lives Matter movement and the young people who are out here.”
The marchers left the City Hall area during the late afternoon and marched west on Santa Clara Street, blocking traffic for several blocks until they turned south on Market Street and made their way to Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
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Mayor Sam Liccardo on Thursday repeated that the San Jose Police Department won’t be defunded amid nationwide protests over police brutality and rising criticism about how law enforcement agencies conduct their tasks.
“San Jose is the most thinly staffed police department of any big city in the country,” Liccardo said. “This is a department that is deeply committed to the accountability of its officers. I don’t believe that defunding police departments is the appropriate response to this crisis.”


mercurynews--2020-06-13--Protests unfold across LA County, volunteers paint ‘All Black Lives Matter’ on Hollywood Boulevard

Protests against police brutality and racial injustice continued to proliferate throughout Los Angeles County on Saturday , June 13 , kicking off with a 9 a.m. gathering of “ social workers in solidarity with black lives ” at the University of Southern California and a 9:30 a.m. march at the Cochran Ave Baptist Church in Mid-Wilshire .
On Hollywood Boulevard , some folks got creative with their statements , painting “ All Black Lives Matter ” in yellow block letters across the thoroughfare .
The effort was organized with the help of Trailer Park , a marketing agency in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the company , said she was happy to help when she heard about the project .
“ It ’ s the least I can do , ” she said .
“ It ’ s so upsetting to see how much black people have had to endure ” in this country .
“ I hope something happens this time , ” Lee added , “ to change people.
” Meanwhile , in Downtown Los Angeles , about 100 skateboarders participated in a “ More Skating Less Hating ” demonstration .
And about 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathered at Carlton Peterson Park in Diamond Bar for their own rally .
The protest began with eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence to commemorate the length of time that a white police officer in Minnesota kneeled on the neck of George Floyd , a black man , before Floyd died on Memorial Day .
After each minute , the crowd chanted , “ I can ’ t breathe , ” the words Floyd repeatedly told the officer before he died .
“ That ’ s not going to be my child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s why we ’ re here today , ” organizer Lauren James said .
“ Because enough is enough.
” Alejandra Tolley , 22 , attended the Diamond Bar rally .
She said the demonstration , with speeches from organizers and local leaders , was more structures than others she ’ s attended .
“ We shouldn ’ t be arguing with black and brown folks about why they ’ re mad , ” Tolley said .
“ We should just listen.
” Rep. Gil Cisneros , D-Fullerton , whose district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendance .
He urged those gathered to use their anger at the polls in November .
“ We mourn the death of Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery , George Floyd , ” he said .
“ But this isn ’ t about the death of one individual .
It ’ s about centuries of racism and inequality.
” Diamond Bar City Councilmember Andrew Chou , meanwhile , told the crowd he would push for two resolutions at the next council meeting : support for Assembly Bill 1196 , which would ban carotid artery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ 8 Can ’ t Wait ‘ platform , which aims to reform police departments by : • Requiring officers to exhaust all alternatives before shooting ; • Emphasizing the duty to intervene if officers see their colleagues using excessive force ; • Establishing a use-of-force continuum that restricts the most severe force to be used only in the most extreme situations ; and • Requiring comprehensive reporting of use of force or threats to use force .
City News Service and James Carbone contributed to this report .
This story is developing @ @ @ @ @

Protests against police brutality and racial injustice continued to proliferate throughout Los Angeles County on Saturday, June 13, kicking off with a 9 a.m. gathering of “social workers in solidarity with black lives” at the University of Southern California and a 9:30 a.m. march at the Cochran Ave Baptist Church in Mid-Wilshire.
On Hollywood Boulevard, some folks got creative with their statements, painting “All Black Lives Matter” in yellow block letters across the thoroughfare. The effort was organized with the help of Trailer Park, a marketing agency in the city.
Nancy Lee, a proofreader for the company, said she was happy to help when she heard about the project.
“It’s the least I can do,” she said. “It’s so upsetting to see how much black people have had to endure” in this country.
“I hope something happens this time,” Lee added, “to change people.”
Meanwhile, in Downtown Los Angeles, about 100 skateboarders participated in a “More Skating Less Hating” demonstration.
And about 30 miles east, more than 60 demonstrators gathered at Carlton Peterson Park in Diamond Bar for their own rally. The protest began with eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence to commemorate the length of time that a white police officer in Minnesota kneeled on the neck of George Floyd, a black man, before Floyd died on Memorial Day. After each minute, the crowd chanted, “I can’t breathe,” the words Floyd repeatedly told the officer before he died.
“That’s not going to be my child or husband on that pavement, and that’s why we’re here today,” organizer Lauren James said. “Because enough is enough.”
Alejandra Tolley, 22, attended the Diamond Bar rally. She said the demonstration, with speeches from organizers and local leaders, was more structures than others she’s attended.
“We shouldn’t be arguing with black and brown folks about why they’re mad,” Tolley said. “We should just listen.”
Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Fullerton, whose district includes Diamond Bar, was also in attendance. He urged those gathered to use their anger at the polls in November.
“We mourn the death of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd,” he said. “But this isn’t about the death of one individual. It’s about centuries of racism and inequality.”
Diamond Bar City Councilmember Andrew Chou, meanwhile, told the crowd he would push for two resolutions at the next council meeting: support for Assembly Bill 1196, which would ban carotid artery restraints and chokeholds statewide, and the ‘8 Can’t Wait‘ platform, which aims to reform police departments by:
Banning chokeholds and strangleholds;
Requiring de-escalation;
Requiring warning before shooting;
Requiring officers to exhaust all alternatives before shooting;
Emphasizing the duty to intervene if officers see their colleagues using excessive force;
Banning shooting at moving vehicles;
Establishing a use-of-force continuum that restricts the most severe force to be used only in the most extreme situations; and
Requiring comprehensive reporting of use of force or threats to use force.
“This,” Chou said, “is our civil rights movement.”
City News Service and James Carbone contributed to this report. This story is developing and will be updated.


mercurynews--2020-06-13--Atlanta officer kills black man; police chief resigns

By Russ Bynum and Brynn Anderson | Associated Press ATLANTA ( AP ) — Atlanta ’ s police chief resigned Saturday , less than 24 hours after a black man was killed by an Atlanta officer in a struggle following a field sobriety test .
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced during a news conference that she had accepted the resignation of Police Chief Erika Shields .
Police were called to the restaurant on a complaint that a man was sleeping in a car blocking the drive-thru lane as customers waited in line , the GBI said .
The agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks .
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE .
AP ’ s earlier story follows below .
ATLANTA ( AP ) — A black man killed by Atlanta police in a struggle following a field sobriety test was shot after he snatched an officer ’ s Taser and pointed it back at the officer while fleeing , the head of the Georgia agency investigating the case said Saturday .
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds said the Friday night shooting outside a Wendy ’ s restaurant was captured by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses ’ cellphones .
Reynolds said the GBI would share the security camera footage with the public later Saturday .
“ In a circumstance like this where an officer is involved in the use of deadly force , the public has a right to know what happened , ” Reynolds told a news conference on a day when protesters gathered at the scene of the shooting and in other areas of Atlanta .
Atlanta police were called to the restaurant on a complaint that a man was sleeping in a car blocking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the GBI said .
The agency identified the man who was fatally shot as 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks .
The shooting came at a time of heightened tension over police brutality and calls for reforms across the U.S. following the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Atlanta was among U.S. cities where large crowds of protesters took to the streets .
A crowd of demonstrators gathered Saturday outside the Atlanta restaurant where Brooks was shot .
Gerald Griggs , an attorney and a vice president of Atlanta ’ s NAACP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting at the scene as he walked with them Saturday afternoon .
“ The people are upset , ” Griggs said .
“ They want to know why their dear brother Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed when he was merely asleep on the passenger side and not doing anything.
” Even though Brooks struggled with officers , Griggs said , “ they could have used nonlethal force to take him down.
” Reynolds said his agents worked through the night interviewing witnesses and reviewing video .
He said their findings show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they tried to arrest him and at one point managed to take a Taser away from one of them .
A security camera recorded Brooks “ running or fleeing from Atlanta police officers , ” Reynolds said .
“ It appears that he has in his hand a Taser.
” During a short foot chase Brooks “ turns around and it appears at that time he points a Taser at an Atlanta officer , ” Reynolds said .
That ’ s when the officer drew his gun and shot Brooks , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times .
Atlanta Deputy Police Chief Timothy Peek told reporters late Friday that both officers deployed their Tasers in an attempt to subdue the suspect but were unable to “ stop the aggression of the fight.
” Reynolds said his agents will turn over results of their investigation to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard , whose office will decide whether criminal charges are warranted against either of the officers .
Howard said Saturday his office had already gotten involved .
“ My office has already launched an intense , independent investigation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement , saying members of his staff “ were on scene shortly after the shooting , and we have been in investigative sessions ever since to identify all of the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident.
” Stacey Abrams , the Georgia Democrat who gained national prominence running for governor in 2018 , tweeted Saturday of the shooting that “ sleeping in a drive-thru must not end in death.
” “ The killing of # RayshardBrooks in Atlanta last night demands we severely restrict the use of deadly force , ” Abrams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations must be called for — but so too should accountability.
” The officers involved in the shooting were not identified .
• Police ID woman fatally injured in Vallejo , setting off chaotic day that ended with police killing suspect • Redwood City : Council votes to increase top officials ’ pay , will consider increase in police spending Brooks died after being taken to an Atlanta hospital .
One of the officers was treated and released for unspecified injuries .

By Russ Bynum and Brynn Anderson | Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — An Atlanta police officer was fired following the fatal shooting of a black man and another officer was placed on administrative duty, the police department announced early Sunday.
The moves follows the Saturday resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields, who stepped down as the Friday night killing of Rayshard Brooks, 27, sparked a new wave of protests in Atlanta after turbulent demonstrations that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis had simmered down.
The terminated officer was identified as Garrett Rolfe, who was hired in October 2013, and the officer placed on administrative duty is Devin Bronsan, who was hired in September 2018, according to a release from police spokesperson Sgt. John Chafee.
The police department also released body camera and dash camera footage from both officers.
Protesters on Saturday night set fire to the Wendy’s restaurant where Brooks was fatally shot the night before and blocked traffic on a nearby highway, although the fire was out by 11:30 p.m.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the police chief’s resignation at a Saturday afternoon news conference, and called for the immediate firing of the officer who opened fire at Brooks.
“I do not believe that this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of the officer,” Bottoms said.
She said it was Shields’ own decision to step aside as police chief and that she would remain with the city in an undetermined role. Interim Corrections Chief Rodney Bryant would serve as interim police chief until a permanent replacement is found.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating the shooting, said the deadly confrontation started with officers responding to a complaint that a man was sleeping in a car blocking the restaurant’s drive-thru lane. The GBI said Brooks failed a field sobriety test and then resisted officers’ attempts to arrest him.
The GBI released security camera video of the shooting Saturday. The footage shows a man running from two white police officers as he raises a hand, which is holding some type of object, toward an officer a few steps behind him. The officer draws his gun and fires as the man keeps running, then falls to the ground in the parking lot.
GBI Director Vic Reynolds said Brooks had grabbed a Taser from one of the officers and appeared to point it at the officer as he fled, prompting the officer to reach for his gun and fire an estimated three shots.
The security camera video recorded Brooks “running or fleeing from Atlanta police officers,” Reynolds said. “It appears that he has in his hand a Taser.”
The footage does not show Brooks’ initial struggle with police.
L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Brooks’ family, said the officer who shot him should be charged for “an unjustified use of deadly force, which equals murder.”
“You can’t have it both ways in law enforcement,” Stewart said. “You can’t say a Taser is a nonlethal weapon … but when an African American grabs it and runs with it, now it’s some kind of deadly, lethal weapon that calls for you to unload on somebody.”
He said Brooks was a father of four and had celebrated a daughter’s eighth birthday Friday before he was killed.
The shooting came at a time of heightened tension over police brutality and calls for reforms across the U.S. following the May 25 death of Floyd in Minneapolis. Atlanta was among U.S. cities where large crowds of protesters took to the streets.
Demonstrators, including members of Brooks’ family, gathered Saturday outside the restaurant where he was shot.
Among those protesting was Crystal Brooks, who said she is Rayshard Brooks’ sister-in-law.
“He wasn’t causing anyone any harm,” she said. “The police went up to the car and even though the car was parked they pulled him out of the car and started tussling with him.”
She added: “He did grab the Taser, but he just grabbed the Taser and ran.”
Shields, Atlanta’s police chief for less than four years, was initially praised in the days following Floyd’s death last month. She said the Minnesota officers involved should go to prison and walked into crowds of protesters in downtown Atlanta, telling demonstrators she understood their frustrations and fears. She appeared at Bottoms’ side as the mayor made an impassioned plea for protesters to go home when things turned violent with smashed storefronts and police cruisers set ablaze.
Days later, Shields fired two officers and benched three others caught on video May 30 in a hostile confrontation with two college students whose car was stuck in traffic caused by the protests. The officers fired Tasers at the pair and dragged them from the vehicle. When prosecutors later charged six of the officers involved, however, Shields openly questioned the charges.
The shooting of Brooks two weeks later raised further questions about the Atlanta department. In a statement, Shields said she chose to resign “out of a deep and abiding love for this city and this department.”
“It is time for the city to move forward and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Shields said.
Reynolds said his agents will turn over results of their investigation to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, whose office will decide whether criminal charges are warranted against either officer.
Howard said Saturday his office “has already launched an intense, independent investigation of the incident” without waiting for the GBI’s results.
Brooks died after being taken to an Atlanta hospital. One of the officers was treated and released for unspecified injuries.
AP journalist Russ Bynum reported from Savannah, Ga.


mercurynews--2020-06-13--The Latest: Egypt’s 1-day coronavirus infections at new high

By The Associated Press CAIRO — Egypt ’ s Health Ministry has announced 1,677 new confirmed cases of coronavirus — the highest 24-hour infection total since the virus was first detected in the country in mid-February .
The ministry also reported 62 deaths from COVID-19 , the disease that can be caused by the virus .
The figures announced Saturdays raise Egypt ’ s coronavirus totals to 1,484 deaths and 42,980 confirmed cases .
The ministry says 11,529 patients have been discharged from quarantine after their recovery .
Egypt is the Arab world ’ s most populous country and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among Arab nations .
It ranks third in the Middle East after Iran and Turkey .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — France has millions of unsold face masks after virus crisis — In the sprawling refugee camps of Sudan ’ s Darfur , officials say people are falling sick and dying at astonishing rates .
Humanitarian workers and medical personnel believe the coronavirus is spreading unchecked and untracked through Sudan ’ s most marginalized territory .
Medical facilities are few and far between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most Americans say they are wearing masks .
They are still by and large avoiding restaurants .
And the vast majority are still staying at least six feet from others .
A new poll finds most Americans aren ’ t ready to abandon precautionary measures in response to the coronavirus , even as states and metropolitan areas relax restrictions .
— In the battle against COVID-19 , public health workers spread across states , cities and small towns make up an invisible army on the front lines .
But that army is under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Elected officials and members of the public frustrated with lockdowns and safety restrictions have turned public health workers into politicized punching bags , battering them with angry calls and physical threats .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY : In a country that sees thousands of protests annually , the Council of State ’ s ruling Saturday night allows demonstrations to resume as long as health protections are respected and the events are declared in advance to authorities and not deemed a risk to public order .
The council says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not justified by the current health situation ” and the right to protest is a “ fundamental freedom.
” The ruling came as an unauthorized protest against police violence and racial injustice wound down in Paris .
Police stopped at least 15,000 protesters from marching through the city Saturday , citing virus restrictions on any gathering of more than 10 people .
ROME — Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte says that securing large-scale investments from the European Union for Italy ’ s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic will be ‘ ’ a victory ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conte spoke to reporters in Rome after the first day of consultations aimed at devising a detailed program to help Italy emerge from the health and economic crisis resulting from the spread of the virus and the long lockdown that halted non-essential economic production .
The head of the EU ’ s executive arm , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the meeting in Rome via video .
She said that Europe ’ s recovery plan could provide Italy with the opportunity to ‘ ’ address long-standing challenges affecting the Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high public debt .
The premier invited all Italian political parties , trade unions , industry organizations , business groups and international agencies to participate in what is expected to be more than a week of discussions .
The government ’ s political opposition has refused to participate .
Conte appealed in particular to League leader Matteo Salvini to work with the government to help ensure the strongest possible package of investments from the EU .
Conte noted the reluctance of EU members in central Europe like Hungary to endorse an aid program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest hit by the coronavirus , such as Italy and Spain .
Right-wing leader Salvini has maintained ties with euroskeptic leaders outside of Italy .
PHOENIX — Coronavirus infections are surging in Arizona , hospitalizations for COVID-19 are increasing and more people are dying since the state relaxed stay-at-home orders last month .
But Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey is not requiring residents of the Grand Canyon state to wear masks in public .
The decision seems to be following U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s lead : Get the state reopened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Public health and medical officials outside state government have started pleading with Arizonans to wear masks after a recent surge in cases that is threatening to set off a cascade of new hospitalizations .
An Associated Press analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day when the state ’ s shutdown was lifted on May 15 .
It shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week .
ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. — Cases of the coronavirus continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gradually reopens , with more than 2,500 new confirmed cases reported by state health officials .
The numbers reported by the state Department of Health on Saturday mark the 10th out of 11 straight days in which new cases have topped 1,000 .
The Department of Health said Saturday that Florida had 2,581 new coronavirus cases , the third consecutive daily record .
Coronavirus deaths in the state now stand at over 3,000 out of 73,552 confirmed cases since Florida ’ s outbreak started .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis and local officials began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theme parks and gatherings in May .
MILAN — Italy has added 78 more deaths to its toll from the coronavirus pandemic , bringing the national total to 34,301 .
The new total given Saturday includes 23 people who died in Lazio in recent months but were not previously counted in Italy ’ s virus mortality numbers .
New confirmed cases nationally rose by 346 since a day earlier , 60 % of them in the Italian outbreak epicenter in the Lombardy region , for an epidemic total of 236,651 .
Lombardy ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed an ordinance extending the requirement to wear masks in public through the end of the month .
Fontana said the ‘ ’ difficult ’ decision was made in light of a recent University of California study that concluded that the use of masks has prevented the spread of the virus to 78,000 people .
ATHENS , Greece — Greece ’ s National Public Health Organization reported just four new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and no virus-related deaths .
The total number of confirmed cases in Greece is now 3,112 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 patients on ventilators , while 116 have exited intensive care .
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce later Saturday the opening of the country ’ s tourist season .
Speaking from the island of Santorini , Mitsotakis is expected to say that Greece is a safe travel destination and that authorities will protect both residents and visitors .
LONDON — Pharma giant AstraZeneca has struck a deal with Europe ’ s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance to supply up to 400 million doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine .
The alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Netherlands to speed up production of a coronavirus vaccine is set to take delivery by the end of 2020 of a vaccine being tested by the University of Oxford .
The agreement struck Saturday aims to make the vaccine available to other European countries that wish to take part .
The cost is expected to be offset by funding from the governments .
AstraZeneca , an Anglo-Swedish company , recently completed similar agreements with Britain , the United States the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations , and Gavi , the Vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ license also has been agreed with the Serum Institute of India for another 1 billion doses .
Other companies , including Moderna and Sanofi , are racing to develop and produce a vaccine against the new coronavirus , a step experts say will be crucial to easing restrictions on public life and preventing additional waves of infections .
SKOPJE North Macedonia — Authorities in North Macedonia have reported the small European nation ’ s highest single-day numbers for new coronavirus cases and deaths due to COVID-19 .
They said Saturday that there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths over 24 hours .
That brought the totals since an outbreak started in late February in the country of roughly 2 million people , to 3,902 confirmed cases and 179 deaths .
Health officials have attributed North Macedonia ’ s rise in new cases and deaths in the past 10 days to people ignoring government recommendations to protect themselves and to avoid family gatherings .
Authorities are urging newly infected people to abide by mandatory two-week quarantines and be honest when providing personal data and information about those with whom they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t be prevented from infecting more people if individuals who already have it give false phone numbers and addresses .
Despite the spike , North Macedonia ’ s president , Stevo Pendarovski , announced Friday that won ’ t extend a state of emergency that ends at midnight Saturday .
JOHANNESBURG — African leaders say China will ensure the supply of 30 million testing kits and 10,000 ventilators each month for the African continent as the coronavirus pandemic accelerates there .
A statement by the South African president ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase via a new continental platform that African nations set up to negotiate cheaper prices for urgently needed medical equipment amid intense global competition .
The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said each African nation will be given a quota based on its population and number of virus cases .
The South African statement says Canada , the Netherlands , South Korea and France also have been partners in the effort .
African nations have been outspoken about the need for equitable distribution of supplies , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the pandemic won ’ t be over until the entire world is protected .
Africa has conducted 3 million tests for the virus , far short of its goal of about 13 million .
MOSCOW — Ukraine has recorded its highest daily count of new coronavirus infections for the third day in a row , more than double the count earlier in the month .
The health ministry on Saturday reported 753 new cases , compared with 683 the previous day .
In early June , Ukraine was recording fewer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ukraine counts 30,506 confirmed infection cases and 880 deaths .
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa says the average delay in obtaining coronavirus test results from public labs has risen to 12 days amid backlogs and shortages of testing materials .
South Africa represents well over a quarter of Africa ’ s virus cases , with more than 61,000 .
The country has conducted about a third of the virus tests in Africa , and countries with fewer resources could face similar delays or worse .
The longer it takes to confirm a positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an infected person is unknowingly spreading the virus .
South Africa ’ s latest weekly report by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases , issued late Friday and ending June 6 , says the average time to process tests at public labs has grown from a little over two days a month ago .
Public labs earlier were handling three-fourths of coronavirus testing but that dropped to just over one-fourth as of June 6 .
Turnaround time in testing by private labs is less than two days .
South Africa ’ s overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-May , also likely reflecting shortages .
The African continent overall has more than 225,000 cases .
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities have identified and sealed off nearly 1,300 hot spots to contain the rising trajectory of new coronavirus infections .
The sealing of high-risk area comes as Pakistan reported 6,472 news cases on Saturday , the country ’ s highest single-day total .
Pakistan has confirmed a total of 132,405 cases , including 2,551 deaths .
Pakistan put its entire population of 220 million under lockdown in March .
The government has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save the country ’ s economy , but it has caused a surge in infections .
Prime minister Imran Khan has resisted demands from experts to reinforce the lockdown .
Authorities , however , are now using the term “ smart lockdown ” to close shops and markets and force people to stay home in areas where confirmed cases have increased in recent weeks .
Some residential areas were also sealed in the capital , Islamabad , to contain the spread of the virus .
BEIJING — The Chinese capital has locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food market to try to stem a new outbreak of COVID-19 .
Beijing officials said Saturday that 45 workers at the Xinfadi market tested positive for the coronavirus , though they showed no symptoms .
That was in addition to an earlier announcement of seven people with symptoms , including six who had visited or worked at the market .
Forty environmental samples taken at the market also tested positive , city officials said .
The Beijing News newspaper said in a social media post that Communist Party members and volunteers were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily necessities for the affected residents .
The city , which had not had a locally transmitted infection in more 50 days , reversed some recent moves to relax coronavirus restrictions .
Authorities delayed the planned reopening of schools on Monday for first to third graders and suspended athletics events .
One immediate casualty was an orienteering race slated for Saturday , the official Xinhua News Agency said .
The National Center for the Performing Arts , which had just reopened on June 2 , reclosed , according to a media report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ six of the seven people with symptoms had visited or worked at the market , not all seven .
NEW DELHI — India reported another record daily spike in coronavirus infections as the country passed the grim milestone of 300,000 cases .
The Health Ministry reported 11,458 new cases on Saturday and 386 deaths , driving the toll of fatalities up to 8,884 .
India ’ s total caseload reached 308,993 , the four-highest in the world , including more than 150,000 recoveries .
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s caseload jumped by about 100,000 cases in a week , which coincided with the reopening of shopping malls , houses of worship and restaurants .
In the capital of New Delhi , most public hospitals are full , and crematoriums and graveyards are struggling to manage a rash of bodies .
Delhi ’ s government has projected that cases in the capital area alone could expand to more than half a million by late July , and is considering taking over luxury hotels and stadiums to convert into field hospitals .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populated Seoul metropolitan area , where health authorities have been struggling to slow transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities , church gatherings and low-income workers who can ’ t afford to stay home .
The figures released Saturday brought national totals to 12,051 cases and 277 deaths .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 44 of the new cases are in greater capital area , which is home to half the country ’ s 51 million people .
Agency director Jung Eun-kyeong is urging residents in the capital area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying there is “ high concern ” that increased public activity will lead to widespread circulation of the virus .

By The Associated Press
BEIJING — China is reporting its highest daily total of coronavirus cases in two months after the capital’s biggest wholesale food market was shut down following a resurgence in local infections.
Officials say there were 57 confirmed cases in the 24 hours through midnight Saturday. That was the highest daily total since mid-April and included 36 new cases in Beijing.
The Xinfadi market on Beijing’s southeast side was closed Saturday and 11 neighboring residential compounds locked down after more then 50 people in the capital tested positive for the virus. They were the first confirmed cases in 50 days in the city of 20 million people.
China had relaxed most of its anti-virus controls after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the disease in March
___
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Lives Lost: Weatherman built career on skills learned in war
— France has millions of unsold face masks after virus crisis
— Treasury chief refusing to disclose recipients of virus aid
— In the sprawling refugee camps of Sudan’s Darfur, officials say people are falling sick and dying at astonishing rates. Humanitarian workers and medical personnel believe the coronavirus is spreading unchecked and untracked through Sudan’s most marginalized territory. Medical facilities are few and far between in the large western territory.
— Most Americans say they are wearing masks. They are still by and large avoiding restaurants. And the vast majority are still staying at least six feet from others. A new poll finds most Americans aren’t ready to abandon precautionary measures in response to the coronavirus, even as states and metropolitan areas relax restrictions.
— In the battle against COVID-19, public health workers spread across states, cities and small towns make up an invisible army on the front lines. But that army is under assault when it’s needed most. Elected officials and members of the public frustrated with lockdowns and safety restrictions have turned public health workers into politicized punching bags, battering them with angry calls and physical threats.
___
Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY:
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has confirmed 34 more coronavirus cases in a continuation of an upward trend in new infections, mostly in the densely populated Seoul region.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that 30 of the 34 new cases are in the grater Seoul area, where half of the country’s 51 million people live.
The agency says South Korea has now recorded 12,085 virus cases. It says 10,718 have recovered, 1,090 remain in treatment and the other 277 died.
New cases have been linked to nightlife establishments, church services, a large-scale e-commerce warehouse and door-to-door sellers.
In late February and early March, South Korea reported hundreds of new cases daily, then a significant easing prompted authorities to ease social distancing rules.
___
CAIRO — Egypt’s Health Ministry has announced 1,677 new confirmed cases of coronavirus — the highest 24-hour infection total since the virus was first detected in the country in mid-February.
The ministry also reported 62 deaths from COVID-19, the disease that can be caused by the virus.
The figures announced Saturdays raise Egypt’s coronavirus totals to 1,484 deaths and 42,980 confirmed cases. The ministry says 11,529 patients have been discharged from quarantine after their recovery.
Egypt is the Arab world’s most populous country and it has the highest death rate from COVID-19 among Arab nations. It ranks third in the Middle East after Iran and Turkey.
___
PARIS — France’s highest administrative court says coronavirus concerns no longer justify banning public protests.
In a country that sees thousands of protests annually, the Council of State’s ruling Saturday night allows demonstrations to resume as long as health protections are respected and the events are declared in advance to authorities and not deemed a risk to public order.
The council says that “the ban on protesting is not justified by the current health situation” and the right to protest is a “fundamental freedom.”
The ruling came as an unauthorized protest against police violence and racial injustice wound down in Paris. Police stopped at least 15,000 protesters from marching through the city Saturday, citing virus restrictions on any gathering of more than 10 people.
___
ROME — Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte says that securing large-scale investments from the European Union for Italy’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic will be ‘’a victory’ for all supporters of European institutions.
Conte spoke to reporters in Rome after the first day of consultations aimed at devising a detailed program to help Italy emerge from the health and economic crisis resulting from the spread of the virus and the long lockdown that halted non-essential economic production.
The head of the EU’s executive arm, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the meeting in Rome via video.
She said that Europe’s recovery plan could provide Italy with the opportunity to ‘’address long-standing challenges affecting the Italian economy,’ including slow growth and high public debt.
The premier invited all Italian political parties, trade unions, industry organizations, business groups and international agencies to participate in what is expected to be more than a week of discussions. The government’s political opposition has refused to participate.
Conte appealed in particular to League leader Matteo Salvini to work with the government to help ensure the strongest possible package of investments from the EU.
Conte noted the reluctance of EU members in central Europe like Hungary to endorse an aid program that gives the most money to countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, such as Italy and Spain.
Right-wing leader Salvini has maintained ties with euroskeptic leaders outside of Italy.
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PHOENIX — Coronavirus infections are surging in Arizona, hospitalizations for COVID-19 are increasing and more people are dying since the state relaxed stay-at-home orders last month.
But Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is not requiring residents of the Grand Canyon state to wear masks in public.
The decision seems to be following U.S. President Donald Trump’s lead: Get the state reopened and keep the face masks in your pocket.
Public health and medical officials outside state government have started pleading with Arizonans to wear masks after a recent surge in cases that is threatening to set off a cascade of new hospitalizations.
An Associated Press analysis found Arizona had a rolling average of fewer than 400 new cases a day when the state’s shutdown was lifted on May 15. It shot up two weeks later and surpassed 1,000 new cases a day by early this week.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cases of the coronavirus continue to rise in Florida as the state gradually reopens, with more than 2,500 new confirmed cases reported by state health officials.
The numbers reported by the state Department of Health on Saturday mark the 10th out of 11 straight days in which new cases have topped 1,000.
The Department of Health said Saturday that Florida had 2,581 new coronavirus cases, the third consecutive daily record. Coronavirus deaths in the state now stand at over 3,000 out of 73,552 confirmed cases since Florida’s outbreak started.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and local officials began relaxing rules for businesses, beaches, theme parks and gatherings in May.
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MILAN — Italy has added 78 more deaths to its toll from the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the national total to 34,301.
The new total given Saturday includes 23 people who died in Lazio in recent months but were not previously counted in Italy’s virus mortality numbers.
New confirmed cases nationally rose by 346 since a day earlier, 60% of them in the Italian outbreak epicenter in the Lombardy region, for an epidemic total of 236,651.
Lombardy’s governor, Attilio Fontana, has signed an ordinance extending the requirement to wear masks in public through the end of the month.
Fontana said the ‘’difficult’ decision was made in light of a recent University of California study that concluded that the use of masks has prevented the spread of the virus to 78,000 people.
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ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s National Public Health Organization reported just four new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and no virus-related deaths.
The total number of confirmed cases in Greece is now 3,112, including 183 deaths. There were 13 patients on ventilators, while 116 have exited intensive care.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce later Saturday the opening of the country’s tourist season. Speaking from the island of Santorini, Mitsotakis is expected to say that Greece is a safe travel destination and that authorities will protect both residents and visitors.
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LONDON — Pharma giant AstraZeneca has struck a deal with Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance to supply up to 400 million doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
The alliance forged by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands to speed up production of a coronavirus vaccine is set to take delivery by the end of 2020 of a vaccine being tested by the University of Oxford. The agreement struck Saturday aims to make the vaccine available to other European countries that wish to take part.
The cost is expected to be offset by funding from the governments.
AstraZeneca, an Anglo-Swedish company, recently completed similar agreements with Britain, the United States the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for 700 million doses. A license also has been agreed with the Serum Institute of India for another 1 billion doses.
Other companies, including Moderna and Sanofi, are racing to develop and produce a vaccine against the new coronavirus, a step experts say will be crucial to easing restrictions on public life and preventing additional waves of infections.
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SKOPJE North Macedonia — Authorities in North Macedonia have reported the small European nation’s highest single-day numbers for new coronavirus cases and deaths due to COVID-19.
They said Saturday that there were 196 new confirmed cases and eight virus-related deaths over 24 hours. That brought the totals since an outbreak started in late February in the country of roughly 2 million people , to 3,902 confirmed cases and 179 deaths.
Health officials have attributed North Macedonia’s rise in new cases and deaths in the past 10 days to people ignoring government recommendations to protect themselves and to avoid family gatherings.
Authorities are urging newly infected people to abide by mandatory two-week quarantines and be honest when providing personal data and information about those with whom they had contact.
They warned that the virus can’t be prevented from infecting more people if individuals who already have it give false phone numbers and addresses.
Despite the spike, North Macedonia’s president, Stevo Pendarovski, announced Friday that won’t extend a state of emergency that ends at midnight Saturday.
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JOHANNESBURG — African leaders say China will ensure the supply of 30 million testing kits and 10,000 ventilators each month for the African continent as the coronavirus pandemic accelerates there.
A statement by the South African president’s office says the supplies will be available for purchase via a new continental platform that African nations set up to negotiate cheaper prices for urgently needed medical equipment amid intense global competition.
The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said each African nation will be given a quota based on its population and number of virus cases. The South African statement says Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea and France also have been partners in the effort.
African nations have been outspoken about the need for equitable distribution of supplies, including eventual treatments and vaccines for the virus, saying the pandemic won’t be over until the entire world is protected.
Africa has conducted 3 million tests for the virus, far short of its goal of about 13 million.
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MOSCOW — Ukraine has recorded its highest daily count of new coronavirus infections for the third day in a row, more than double the count earlier in the month.
The health ministry on Saturday reported 753 new cases, compared with 683 the previous day.
In early June, Ukraine was recording fewer than 350 new cases a day. Overall, Ukraine counts 30,506 confirmed infection cases and 880 deaths.
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JOHANNESBURG — South Africa says the average delay in obtaining coronavirus test results from public labs has risen to 12 days amid backlogs and shortages of testing materials.
South Africa represents well over a quarter of Africa’s virus cases, with more than 61,000. The country has conducted about a third of the virus tests in Africa, and countries with fewer resources could face similar delays or worse.
The longer it takes to confirm a positive case, the greater the risk that an infected person is unknowingly spreading the virus.
South Africa’s latest weekly report by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, issued late Friday and ending June 6, says the average time to process tests at public labs has grown from a little over two days a month ago.
Public labs earlier were handling three-fourths of coronavirus testing but that dropped to just over one-fourth as of June 6. Turnaround time in testing by private labs is less than two days.
South Africa’s overall number of tests conducted has dropped since mid-May, also likely reflecting shortages. The African continent overall has more than 225,000 cases.
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ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities have identified and sealed off nearly 1,300 hot spots to contain the rising trajectory of new coronavirus infections.
The sealing of high-risk area comes as Pakistan reported 6,472 news cases on Saturday, the country’s highest single-day total. Pakistan has confirmed a total of 132,405 cases, including 2,551 deaths.
Pakistan put its entire population of 220 million under lockdown in March. The government has since eased restrictions, saying it was necessary to save the country’s economy, but it has caused a surge in infections.
Prime minister Imran Khan has resisted demands from experts to reinforce the lockdown.
Authorities, however, are now using the term “smart lockdown” to close shops and markets and force people to stay home in areas where confirmed cases have increased in recent weeks. Some residential areas were also sealed in the capital, Islamabad, to contain the spread of the virus.
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BEIJING — The Chinese capital has locked down 11 residential communities near a wholesale food market to try to stem a new outbreak of COVID-19.
Beijing officials said Saturday that 45 workers at the Xinfadi market tested positive for the coronavirus, though they showed no symptoms. That was in addition to an earlier announcement of seven people with symptoms, including six who had visited or worked at the market.
Forty environmental samples taken at the market also tested positive, city officials said.
The Beijing News newspaper said in a social media post that Communist Party members and volunteers were being organized to shop for food and other daily necessities for the affected residents.
The city, which had not had a locally transmitted infection in more 50 days, reversed some recent moves to relax coronavirus restrictions.
Authorities delayed the planned reopening of schools on Monday for first to third graders and suspended athletics events. One immediate casualty was an orienteering race slated for Saturday, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
The National Center for the Performing Arts, which had just reopened on June 2, reclosed, according to a media report.
—This item has corrected to say that six of the seven people with symptoms had visited or worked at the market, not all seven.
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NEW DELHI — India reported another record daily spike in coronavirus infections as the country passed the grim milestone of 300,000 cases.
The Health Ministry reported 11,458 new cases on Saturday and 386 deaths, driving the toll of fatalities up to 8,884.
India’s total caseload reached 308,993, the four-highest in the world, including more than 150,000 recoveries.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide in late March. India’s caseload jumped by about 100,000 cases in a week, which coincided with the reopening of shopping malls, houses of worship and restaurants.
In the capital of New Delhi, most public hospitals are full, and crematoriums and graveyards are struggling to manage a rash of bodies. Delhi’s government has projected that cases in the capital area alone could expand to more than half a million by late July, and is considering taking over luxury hotels and stadiums to convert into field hospitals.
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SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 49 new coronavirus cases.
Most most of them are in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health authorities have been struggling to slow transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings and low-income workers who can’t afford to stay home.
The figures released Saturday brought national totals to 12,051 cases and 277 deaths.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 44 of the new cases are in greater capital area, which is home to half the country’s 51 million people.
Agency director Jung Eun-kyeong is urging residents in the capital area to stay home over the weekend, saying there is “high concern” that increased public activity will lead to widespread circulation of the virus.


mercurynews--2020-06-13--More than 200 gather in Anaheim park to rally against police brutality

More than 200 people gathered Saturday at La Palma Park in Anaheim seeking an end to what is seen as systemic racism in policing .
It was one of several demonstrations in Orange and Los Angeles counties in the third weekend since nationwide protests began over the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis .
The park has served as a gathering spot for the recent protests in Anaheim .
On June 1 , a week after Floyd ’ s death , several hundred came to the park — many listened to speakers describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , protesters from the park joined with others around the city and walked Anaheim ’ s downtown .
Police declared an unlawful assembly as night fell , shooting rubber bullets to disperse the crowd .
Kason Clark , of Fullerton , said he was tired of watching the protests from home and felt he needed to join in and help keep the momentum going .
Clark said he was encouraged by some developments as a result of the protests — that the officers involved in Floyd ’ s death were arrested and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do in the fight against systemic racism .
“ There has been some reform and some change , but the important thing is not to let up … To keep telling people in charge that we want change , ” he said City officials expected two protests in Anaheim on Saturday , with another planned near City Hall at 4 p.m. Officials tweeted , “ We expect both to be peaceful and welcome peaceful expression .
If you don ’ t plan to join , you might avoid the areas for your own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Please check back for updates .

More than 200 people gathered Saturday at La Palma Park in Anaheim seeking an end to what is seen as systemic racism in policing.
It was one of several demonstrations in Orange and Los Angeles counties in the third weekend since nationwide protests began over the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis.
The park has served as a gathering spot for the recent protests in Anaheim.
More than 100 people have gathered at La Palma Park in Anaheim. A pro-black life, anti-police brutality/systemic racism demonstration is about to start. pic.twitter.com/cs6UVwf2wv — Ian Wheeler (@iwhlr) June 13, 2020
On June 1, a week after Floyd’s death, several hundred came to the park — many listened to speakers describe experiences of police brutality. Later that day, protesters from the park joined with others around the city and walked Anaheim’s downtown. Police declared an unlawful assembly as night fell, shooting rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Kason Clark, of Fullerton, said he was tired of watching the protests from home and felt he needed to join in and help keep the momentum going.
Clark said he was encouraged by some developments as a result of the protests — that the officers involved in Floyd’s death were arrested and charged, but there is more to do in the fight against systemic racism.
“There has been some reform and some change, but the important thing is not to let up … To keep telling people in charge that we want change,” he said
City officials expected two protests in Anaheim on Saturday, with another planned near City Hall at 4 p.m. Officials tweeted, “We expect both to be peaceful and welcome peaceful expression. If you don’t plan to join, you might avoid the areas for your own convenience.”
We are preparing for two demonstrations today: 2 p.m., La Palma Park; 4 p.m., Harbor and Broadway. We expect both to be peaceful and welcome peaceful expression. If you don't plan to join, you might avoid the areas for your own convenience. #protest2020 pic.twitter.com/1QugCsBVXD — City of Anaheim (@City_of_Anaheim) June 13, 2020
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.


mercurynews--2020-06-13--Coronavirus economy: San Jose aims to bring back some furloughed city workers

SAN JOSE — Several hundred San Jose municipal workers have been furloughed due to a tight city budget , but at least some are slated to gradually return to work amid coronavirus-linked restrictions , one of the few bright spots in a somber city budget picture sketched out recently by the city ’ s mayor .
Proposed city worker staffing levels for the 2020-2021 fiscal year are 6,544 positions , down 1.5 percent from the 6,646 budgeted positions for the fiscal year 2019-2020 , the mayor ’ s office reported .
“ There are no layoffs of full-time employees in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sam Liccardo said in a recent interview with this news organization .
The proposed San Jose city budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021 is $ 4.13 billion , down 11.4 percent from the 2019-2020 city budget .
“ Approximately 1,000 part-time unbenefited employees who were previously on administrative leave were furloughed at the end of April , for a savings of about $ 2.5 million , ” said Jim Shannon , San Jose city budget director .
Not all of those workers will lose their posts permanently , but it ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ongoing city , county , and state restrictions linked to efforts to curb the spread of the deadly bug will play a crucial factor in the pace of employment restorations .
“ Some of these employees will be gradually brought back over the coming weeks and months as shelter-in-place restrictions lift , ” Shannon said .
City revenues have been squeezed drastically because of coronavirus-triggered business shutdowns ordered by state and local government agencies .
Despite the belt-tightening in San Jose , the mayor ’ s budget message also proposed several new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a new endeavor — the Office of Racial Equity — would be established in San Jose , the mayor said .
The new office would have a $ 250,000 budget and operate within the City Manager ’ s Office if approved by the City Council .
The mayor also hopes to boost the economic recovery in San Jose by funding a San Jose Viva Al Fresco program to help small businesses and activate public spaces .
The mayor also proposed one-time funding to support the work of the Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to revive the San Jose economy .
Liccardo repeated his insistence that the San Jose Police Department won ’ t be defunded amid nationwide protests over police violence and rising criticism about how law enforcement agencies conduct their tasks .
Nevertheless , the city will spend $ 150,000 to review use-of-force policies for the San Jose Police Department and to explore alternatives to batons , projectiles , or firearms , the mayor proposed .
The primary event driving the budget constraints is a coronavirus-spawned economic slump not seen since the Great Depression of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst recession in nearly a century , ” Liccardo said .

SAN JOSE — Several hundred San Jose municipal workers have been furloughed due to a tight city budget, but at least some are slated to gradually return to work amid coronavirus-linked restrictions, one of the few bright spots in a somber city budget picture sketched out recently by the city’s mayor.
Proposed city worker staffing levels for the 2020-2021 fiscal year are 6,544 positions, down 1.5 percent from the 6,646 budgeted positions for the fiscal year 2019-2020, the mayor’s office reported.
“There are no layoffs of full-time employees in this budget,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a recent interview with this news organization.
The proposed San Jose city budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021 is $4.13 billion, down 11.4 percent from the 2019-2020 city budget.
“Approximately 1,000 part-time unbenefited employees who were previously on administrative leave were furloughed at the end of April, for a savings of about $2.5 million,” said Jim Shannon, San Jose city budget director.
Not all of those workers will lose their posts permanently, but it’s also unclear when they might resume their jobs.
Ongoing city, county, and state restrictions linked to efforts to curb the spread of the deadly bug will play a crucial factor in the pace of employment restorations.
“Some of these employees will be gradually brought back over the coming weeks and months as shelter-in-place restrictions lift,” Shannon said.
City revenues have been squeezed drastically because of coronavirus-triggered business shutdowns ordered by state and local government agencies.
Despite the belt-tightening in San Jose, the mayor’s budget message also proposed several new initiatives.
Under the latest budget proposal, a new endeavor — the Office of Racial Equity — would be established in San Jose, the mayor said. The new office would have a $250,000 budget and operate within the City Manager’s Office if approved by the City Council.
The mayor also hopes to boost the economic recovery in San Jose by funding a San Jose Viva Al Fresco program to help small businesses and activate public spaces. The mayor also proposed one-time funding to support the work of the Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable to bolster the city’s plan to revive the San Jose economy.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Economy | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Liccardo repeated his insistence that the San Jose Police Department won’t be defunded amid nationwide protests over police violence and rising criticism about how law enforcement agencies conduct their tasks.
Nevertheless, the city will spend $150,000 to review use-of-force policies for the San Jose Police Department and to explore alternatives to batons, projectiles, or firearms, the mayor proposed.
The primary event driving the budget constraints is a coronavirus-spawned economic slump not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
“This is the worst recession in nearly a century,” Liccardo said.