thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--Belly Mujinga: Colleagues Speak Out As CPS 'Reviews Evidence' Around Spit Attack

Belly Mujinga died of coronavirus after being spat at while on duty PA
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Two months ago today, rail worker Belly Mujinga died after she was reportedly spat at while on duty at Victoria Station by a man claiming to have coronavirus.
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The assault was not reported to the police for seven weeks – long after Mujinga had died, leaving behind 11-year-old daughter Ingrid and husband Lusamba Gode Katalay.
Last week British Transport Police (BTP) announced it was taking no further action in the matter, stating it had found insufficient proof of a crime to justify any prosecution.
The move comes as protests in the UK over the brutal police killing of George Floyd in the US have amplified anger over Mujinga’s death.
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And now one of Mujinga’s own colleagues has spoken to HuffPost UK to allege that their employer Govia Thameslink was negligent in its refusal to report the attack – as she had pleaded with them to – and that staff are still not being properly protected from the threat of coronavirus.
Protesters during the Black Lives Matter protest at Hyde Park SOPA Images via Getty Images
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said senior staff were aware of Mujinga’s underlying health conditions – including respiratory issues – which made her vulnerable, but forced her to work outside on the station concourses instead of inside the ticket office.
He said: “We were all aware that Belly had underlying conditions. Belly was not able to stand for long hours, she had a problem with her feet and she made the business aware that she couldn’t do it.
“But team leaders and managers had that persuasive and pushy way to get her outside. Other staff, we took turns going out, there are a few members whom we know have conditions, so what we do is if we know they are going out, we swap with them, just to allow them to be in the office.”
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As the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold, sickness meant fewer staff were in the office on March 22, the day Mujinga was attacked.
Our source said: “That’s why Belly ended up going out – otherwise she wouldn’t have been outside. Everyone knew her and people were willing to do that for her.
Protester holding a 'speaking out about the death of Belly Mujinga' placard during the Black Lives Matter protest at Hyde Park SIPA USA/PA Images
“There had been ongoing situations, grievances and talks between herself and a few of the team leaders and the managers for quite a long time. So from my perspective that was a way to get back at her, indirectly.
“From a common sense and human point of view, if you know that someone’s got issues, and if you know that what is circulating could affect them, you would try not to get them out there.
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“The company didn’t send for the police like she asked. I think it was full negligence of whoever was on shift, both the team leader and the manager.”
Mujinga died of Covid-19 on April 5, two weeks after she and a colleague were assaulted on the concourse of London’s Victoria station. Her colleague also contracted the virus and continues to recover.
According to Mujinga’s union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), after the attack, she asked instead to work from inside the ticket office, claiming she was scared for her life owing to her health problems which had forced her to take time off work in the past. As we now know, these pleas went unanswered.
In a statement released on Friday, Mujinga’s husband demanded: “We want to know why she was sent out to work unprotected on the station concourse that day. We want to know why she was working when she had a respiratory condition. We want justice for Belly’s colleagues who still don’t have full PPE.”
A protestor holds a sign for Belly Mujinga at a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest in Southampton EMPICS Entertainment
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Govia has long maintained that it has been following government advice on PPE and that at the time of Mujinga’s attack, frontline station staff were not being supplied with gloves or masks. But two months on after her death, PPE provision to its staff seems patchy at best.
When asked if he had been provided with gloves or a mask, HuffPost UK’s source replied: “No.”
He added: “The managers are not enforcing or encouraging staff to get face coverings while they’re on shift. Gloves have been been provided but they are in a small size which don’t actually fit most people’s hands – they tend to rip.” Govia told HuffPost UK it had “no supply issue with gloves” and that there were “a wide variety of sizes available”.
The source added: “I’ve seen managers getting themselves covered appropriately and doing what they need to do. But if you look at the staff, there’s no duty of care. There’s no one saying: ‘Look, I’ve seen you without gloves – why are you not wearing gloves?’ That kind of conversation has never happened and it’s still not happening.”
Another of Mujinga’s colleagues told HuffPost UK: “The treatment of some of my colleagues leaves me shaking with anger. I’ve got colleagues who are BAME and over 60 years of age, some with health issues, and they’ve been sent out to work on the concourse throughout the pandemic. It’s a complete lack of care towards staff, especially those in vulnerable groups. I’m so angry about it.
“I can’t imagine going to the funeral of another friend. I don’t want to do that.”
The TSSA has called on the rail industry to take action over evidence confirmed by the government this week showing BAME individuals are at greater risk of Covid-19 than other communities but says many of its members remain fearful for their safety.
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The study, from Public Health England (PHE), looked at the risk factors for coronavirus and found BAME individuals have a much higher risk of death than white people, as do those from poorer backgrounds, men and anyone who is obese or suffering from diabetes.
‘She’s Black – she doesn’t have a voice right now’
Mujinga’s name has been chanted by thousands of people protesting this week. On Wednesday activists, including members of Mujinga’s family, descended upon Victoria station holding signs demanding justice.
Naomi Smith, one of the event organisers, told the PA news agency: “We want people to understand that people are dying from coronavirus and people are dying from racism.”
Smith, 21, said Mujinga’s death was one of her reasons for protesting.
“I think that is my main reason for this. Because she’s Black – she doesn’t have a voice right now,” Smith said.
“This is our story, this is a UK story, this is what’s going on right now with us. George Floyd is in America, and we’re here for him as well.”
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On Friday, Mujinga’s husband echoed those calls. He said: “Black lives do matter. Belly’s life mattered. It mattered to me, to our daughter, our friends and family, to Belly’s colleagues, and now it matters to many thousands of you out there.
“We were there, united in our anger and our grief. United in our determination to be heard and in our determination to get change. We need change so badly. We want justice for Belly. Belly didn’t lie about being assaulted.
“Belly and her colleague were confronted and intimidated as frontline workers and their concerns and their concerns and their fears were ignored. We continue to have questions after the police investigation.”
Manuel Cortes, general secretary for Mujinga’s union the TSSA, said: “The protest showed just how much Belly’s story has touched the public. We salute the Black Lives Matter campaign for fighting racism and our union continues to be part of the struggle against racism in any form.
“We are also continuing to fight for justice for Belly. We reported the station incident to the Rail Inspectorate back in April and their investigation is ongoing. We also need protection for her colleagues, so many of whom are Black, Asian and minority ethnic people working on the front line. Right across our transport networks it’s vital that staff are protected from this virus.
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“It’s great to see the public and politicians rally behind Belly’s campaign and it’s important that this energy is directed towards securing positive change and protections for all workers.”
Health and safety investigation
Mujinga’s family have said the outcome of the BTP investigation was “disappointing” but that they await the findings of the CPS review and of a health and safety investigation into her work environment.
In a statement after the BTP announced the case would go no further Katalay said: “There are important things we need answers to. Her union, the TSSA, reported it to Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate [the health and safety body of the Office for Road and Rail], and that investigation into the safety of Belly’s workplace is still ongoing.
“Hopefully that will answer questions like why she was out working on the concourse at all given that she had a respiratory health issue.”
Katalay also said his wife’s death should come under the government compensation scheme, noting that while “money can’t bring her back or take away our pain” it would at least be a recognition of “the sacrifice that all key workers have made to help our country through this pandemic”.
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A fundraising page for Mujinga’s family has seen more than £175,000 pledged. Likewise, a petition demanding Justice for Belly has been signed by more than a million people.
BAME frontline deaths
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Helen Hayes said on Thursday there must be justice for Mujinga.
She said: “Thousands of BAME frontline workers recognise the risks that Belly faced as the same risks that they continue to be exposed to and her appalling death must lead to change. There must be justice for Belly Mujinga and her family by way of meaningful action to stop unnecessary BAME frontline deaths now.
“When will the government instruct employers to put in place the comprehensive protections which are needed for all BAME staff and other vulnerable workers who need protection to stop them dying now?”
Responding for the government, Kemi Badenoch, women and equalities minister, said: “I’ve been extremely saddened and shocked by what I’ve read about her death. I understand, though, contrary to what she [Hayes] says, that the reason British Transport Police are not taking action in Belly Mujinga’s case is because senior detectives are confident that the incident at Victoria station did not lead to her contracting Covid.
“Nevertheless, this was an appalling incident and frontline workers like Ms Mujinga deserve to be treated with respect at work, especially during this challenging time.”
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In the meantime, Mujinga’s colleagues are trying to maintain a sense of hope that something will be done about her death.
Our source said: “I want to be in a position where I can head back to work and know that justice came to the family, especially because it’s so heartbreaking for an 11-year-old who hasn’t got her mum anymore.
“Belly was someone who could change your day from down to up easily. She was that type of person who got everyone engaged, she kept everyone’s mood up. You could come in upset and speaking to her, you’d have a laugh.
“I’ve known her for five years and if there’s one thing I knew her for, it was her daughter. The love she had for Ingrid, it was something unbelievable. She would literally break her own legs, do anything [...] If she could jump up to the moon she would. And that is what hurts me the most. All the work she put in, all the effort, all the sweat, she’s not even in a position to enjoy her life with her daughter. And being taken away, just like that, through the negligence of someone else, that hurts me the most.”
HuffPost UK has put the specific allegations in this article to Mujinga’s employers. Angie Doll, managing director of Southern Railway and Gatwick Express, said: “Our hearts go out to Belly’s family who we continue to offer our deepest sympathies to.
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“While the conclusion of the British Transport Police investigation found no evidence of spitting, any loss of one of our dedicated colleagues from Coronavirus is one too many.
“Our absolute focus remains on keeping all of our colleagues safe, and we continue to follow all government health advice to protect them. We thank our key workers for their commitment at this incredibly challenging time for our country.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--Watch Live: Matt Hancock Hosts Daily Coronavirus Press Briefing

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Protesters gather during a demonstration in Parliament Square in London ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Health secretary Matt Hancock has pleaded with the public to avoid anti-racism protests which break lockdown rules this weekend as “coronavirus remains a threat”.
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Speaking at the Downing Street briefing on Friday, as campaigns such as Black Lives Matter were planning weekend demonstrations across the UK, the minister urged people not to gather in large groups “for the safety of your loved ones”.
It comes after the brutal killing of Black man George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a US police officer last week sparked demonstrations worldwide.
The health secretary reminded people of the rules, which say people cannot gather in groups of more than six people – maintaining a two-metre distance – in order to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaks during a coronavirus media briefing in Downing Street, London ASSOCIATED PRESS
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He said: “Ahead of this weekend, when I know there are plans for further protests, I want to say something to you as health secretary,” he said. “Like so many I am appalled by the death of George Floyd and I understand why people are deeply upset but we are still facing a health criss and coronavirus remains a real threat.
“And the reason that it is vital that people stick to the rules this weekend is to protect themselves and their family from this horrific disease.
“So please for the safety of your loved ones, do not attend large gatherings, including demonstrations, of more than six people.
“We all need to stay alert, control the virus and save lives.”
Asked whether police would be asked to disperse crowds, Hancock said that was “an operational matter for the police”.
Donald Trump further angered anti-racism campaigners this week with a series of inflammatory comments, culminating in him threatening to call in the military to quell protests.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--How To Go To A Black Lives Matter Protest During The Coronavirus Lockdown

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Two major world events have collided on streets around the world as thousands upon thousands of people protest over the killing of George Floyd in cities that are in various stages of coronavirus lockdown.
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Balancing social distancing with the need to protest is throwing up difficult scenarios for some Brits.
Here’s HuffPost UK’s guide to protests this weekend...
Are protests going ahead?
This is an easy one – yes. Large protests are planned across the UK, including in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A march was planned in Leeds but has since been cancelled.
A more complete list of events plus times and congregation points can be found at the end of this article.
Are they legal?
Technically, meeting in a protest-sized group is not allowed under current coronavirus legislation across the UK.
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Speaking at the Downing Street briefing on Friday, health secretary Matt Hancock pleaded with the public to avoid anti-racism protests which break lockdown rules this weekend as “coronavirus remains a threat”.
But police force’s in England have suggested they will not disperse crowds so long as they remain peaceful and maintain social distancing.
Speaking on Radio 4′s Today programme on Friday, Laurence Taylor, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said it was “clear” that such protests are “unlawful”.
He added: “So we would strongly encourage people not to come out and gather in these large numbers because they are putting themselves and others at risk.”
But he then went on to say: “And if they do come out, then we would ask them to observe that social distancing, think about those around them.”
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Other forces around the country have taken a similar line. Greater Manchester Police told HuffPost UK in a statement they would “monitor the situation” and stressed the importance of social distancing.
Speaking of a protest in Birmingham earlier in the week, West Midlands Police said: “We appreciate that today’s gathering was much larger than is allowed by those regulations, but we have consistently said that our approach is to engage, explain and encourage people, and we will only enforce the regulations when absolutely necessary.”
Another protest in Belfast earlier this week was allowed to go ahead and finished with no incident.
But Police Scotland has taken a firmer line, urging people to look for alternatives, such as online protests.
In a statement, assistant chief constable Kenny MacDonald, said: “A number of events are planned in response to the death of George Floyd, but with current public health restrictions and guidance in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus, I would ask those wishing to protest not to gather in large groups but instead please find an alternative, such as digital protests.”
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South Wales Police told HuffPost UK they are “working to engage with protest organisers and attendees in order to remind them of their obligations under the current coronavirus legislation, including the prohibition on gatherings of more than two households”.
They added: “We are duty-bound to take into account all relevant legislation and South Wales Police has strived to maintain a consistent policing style of engaging, explaining and encouraging, and enforcing as last resort where necessary, throughout this public health emergency – an approach we intend to continue throughout the weekend.”
I’m going. Anything I should know?
If you attend a protest in England, the general police advice suggests it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get into trouble in a legal sense providing you maintain social distancing and remain peaceful.
This might not be true in Scotland and Wales and crowds may be told to disperse.
But regardless of where you are, there are a few very important things to consider regarding coronavirus.
Firstly, do not go if you have any symptoms of coronavirus.
Those attending protests earlier in the week were urged to isolate for two weeks after the event in order to stop the spread of the disease.
If you’re unable to do this because of work or other legitimate commitments then the advice is do not go.
Crucially, if you live with someone who is in the high risk category – older people, people with certain underlying health conditions and pregnant women for example – again, the advice says do not go.
PA
What should I take with me?
As well as the usual food, water and homemade signs, taking hand sanitiser, a few face coverings and some gloves would also help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Are there alternatives?
Yes, plenty, if you want to show your support but have health concerns.
One would-be Black Lives Matter protester from Prestwich, Greater Manchester told HuffPost UK: “As much as we need to show how much we would risk for BLM, it’s putting others at risk, not just myself.
“If I lived alone I’d be on the front line. But I can’t risk carrying the virus and passing it to my disabled father.”
Another, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, told HuffPost UK: “I’m going to make some donations tomorrow instead of going. If I’m not prepared to risk going to see my mum, or going to the office, I can’t risk being in a crowd where I can’t safely distance myself.
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“I know money isn’t the same as making your presence felt but I still can’t see my mum and I desperately need this pandemic to be over.”
The UK Black Lives Matter fund is currently taking donations and is currently only £55,000 short of the £500,000 target.
Another option is to write to your MP. Amnesty UK has a template you can use in order to “write to your MP calling on them to take racial justice seriously”.
There are also online protests planned. In Newcastle from 1pm on Saturday, an online event will “platform local and international BAME speakers and observe a minute’s silence for George Floyd and Belly Mujinga”.
Some of the protests planned this weekend:
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Newcastle
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Leicester
Manchester
Peterborough
Swansea
Cambridge
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Swindon: Regent’s Circus, 1pm.
Ipswich: Town Hall and Corn Exchange, 2pm.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Doncaster
On Sunday 7th June we invite you all to stand with us as we peacefully protest the violence and racism directed towards black lives. We have the opportunity to unite as a community and express our hurt & disgust at… https://t.co/8pcYr7pfoL — Doncaster Static (@blmdoncaster) June 3, 2020
Bristol
Edinburgh
Nottingham
Plymouth


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--Sadiq Khan Defends Met Police's 'Massive Progress' On Racism, But Admits There's More To Do

Sadiq Khan claims the Met Police has made “massive progress” since the Macpherson Report labelled it institutionally racist 20 years ago – but refused to say whether he would use the same label today.
Speaking to HuffPost UK, he also pointed to “unanswered questions” over the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga, whose name was chanted by thousands of Londoners marching peacefully through the streets this week to protest police brutality and racism across society.
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And he defended the force, saying it was not perfect but that society itself was structurally unequal and it was unfair to pin all responsibility on those enforcing the law.
Recent data show BAME people have been fined under coronavirus laws at twice the rate, proportionally, of their white counterparts, while the deaths in recent years of Black men in police custody hang over the Met’s reputation in the minds of many.
In 1999, the landmark Macpherson report found that it was racial prejudice in the force itself that helped allow the murderers of teenage Black boy Stephen Lawrence to evade justice.
We asked the mayor of London if the Met is still institutionally racist.
“The Met has made massive progress since the death of Stephen Lawrence public enquiry,” Khan said.
“When I speak to the commissioner on a daily basis, and her team, they are light years away from where the police were in the ’90s and before then.
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“But I don’t accept we’re perfect; I think the Met Police Service still has got a huge scope for improvement. But the good news is they’re determined to improve and make sure they address the concerns that Londoners have.”
Kate Green via Getty Images
In an interview with ITV on Thursday, Met commissioner Cressida Dick dismissed suggestions officers unfairly target Black people.
The Guardian reported that, between March 27 and May 14, white people, who make up 59% of London’s population, received 444 fines, or 46% of the total; Black people, who make up 12% of London’s population, received 253 fines, or 26%. Asian people, who make up 18% of London’s population, received 23% of the fines.
Acknowledging disproportionality in policing, the mayor said racism was a structural problem in various corners of society – not just the Met.
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Nodding to the 2017 Lammy Review, which highlighted disparity in the criminal justice system and the education system – which sees Black children more likely to be excluded – he also acknowledged journalism is 94% white.
“These are systemic structural inequalities that the police by themselves can’t address. It means that we’ve got to recognise this isn’t unique to the police – it’s also seen in the education system, probation service, journalism, politics, in Covid-19,” he said.
“We’ve seen the huge disproportionality in relation to deaths of BAME communities from Covid-19. So I get a bit defensive when all things point to just the police; I think they’re part and parcel of institutions that need to rapidly improve in order to better reflect our society.”
Thousands of people gathered in Hyde Park on June 3 to protest against the abuse of the rights of Black people across the world and to call for an end to systemic racism and police brutality NurPhoto via Getty Images
Following the murder of George Floyd – a Black man – by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, a wave of Black Lives Matter protests ensued across both the US and UK.
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In the UK, protesters took to the streets out of solidarity with the US but also out of frustration at being “over-policed and under-protected”. From police brutality to healthcare disparities during a global pandemic, Black people are discriminated against.
Data published last month revealed that Black people are being disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, facing a heightened risk of developing complications from the virus and an increased likelihood of death.
Public outcry prompted the government to commission a Public Health England review into the matter. However the review – published on Tuesday – only confirmed the disproportionate impact and did not carry any life-saving solutions for BAME people.
In the meantime, at-risk Black people are being encouraged to return to frontline work without proper measures being implemented to guarantee safety.
Khan told HuffPost UK: “I unequivocally endorse the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Lives Matter. You just look at any criteria of measuring success and [you’ll see] Black communities are being held back from their full potential and actually it starts from the antenatal stage and goes all the way, in relation to mortality rates.
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Star Wars actor John Boyega takes part in an anti-racism demonstration in London, on June 3 DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
“The reasons why Black Lives Matter is so important is because of the systemic racism, discrimination and inequality that’s still taking place in 2020 – and I say this as the mayor of the most progressive city in the world. If you’re born a Black Londoner your life chances and life expectancy are less than if you’re born a white Londoner – that can’t be right.”
Recalling his own memories of being a young person and feeling incensed over Rodney King’s brutal beating by Los Angeles police officers, which sparked riots in 1992, Khan said of the UK protests: “The younger generation – my daughter’s generation – are fed up and sick and tired of this happening.
“How many more cases like Rodney King, George Floyd or Stephen Lawrence do there need to be before we reach equality?
“We need to understand that the experience of a Black person, not just in Minnesota, Minneapolis or America but around the world, is very different to the experience of people who aren’t Black. And one of the reasons why George Floyd’s brutal death struck a chord with Black people is the feeling that: ‘But for the grace of God, that could be me, my son, my dad, my brother, my cousin.’
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“We’ve got to make people understand why it is that the fury, anguish, frustration, pain, sadness is being felt by Black people – and we should all feel that.”
“Black Lives Matter is so important because of the systemic racism, discrimination and inequality that’s still taking place in 2020 – and I say this as the mayor of the most progressive city in the world” - Sadiq Khan
So what is City Hall doing to help remedy the discrimination Black Londoners experience?
Khan said the Met is recruiting more Black police officers with a view to retain and promote them to senior roles within the force. It is addressing concerns around use of data such as the controversial gangs matrix – which identified young people seen as being at risk of falling into gangs, stigmatising many for things as innocent as the music they listened to or their social media use. And there is regular training for officers throughout their careers.
The mayor also raised concerns around the impact of an expected recession on Black communities – and chaired a meeting with educational institutions, council leaders and business about this topic on Thursday.
Far from being the great equaliser it was initially touted as, Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the deeply entrenched inequalities in Britain.
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“Covid-19 is fascinating,” the mayor said. “Put aside the misery, trauma, deaths – actually it illustrates the inequalities in our society. Who is doing the frontline jobs, who haven’t got the luxury of working from home like I’ve got? Black Londoners who are security guards, cleaners, work in shops, drive buses, work in the NHS, and they’re often on zero-hour contracts, low-paid and they can’t work from home.”
One frontline worker at the forefront of many Black Lives Matter protesters’ minds is Belly Mujinga: many took to the to streets with signs bearing her name on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old died in April after it was reported the railway worker had been spat at on the concourse of London’s Victoria station by a man who said he was infected with Covid-19.
An investigation was opened by the British Transport Police – a full seven weeks after the incident – but officers went on to say they had not found evidence of anyone spitting during the incident and that a 57-year-old man officers interviewed had tested negative for Covid-19.
Protesters hold a banner reading 'Justice for Belly Mujinga' during a Black Lives Matter protest at Hyde Park on Wednesday SOPA Images via Getty Images
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A tentative step forward came on Friday when it emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had been asked to review evidence in “recognition of wider public interest”.
There are calls for accountability to be taken by the British Transport Police (BTP) and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) for the assault she endured, and alleged negligence by her employer.
Khan confirmed he wrote to chief council of BTP earlier this week “to get a better understanding of the details of the case” and the decision not to pursue action.
“People are understandably angry about the handling of her case but also there are many questions which haven’t been answered,” said the mayor.
Describing the PHE review as a “waste of time”, Khan said cases like Mujinga’s who are forced to risk their lives at work show the need for greater accountability from the government and enhanced safeguarding of BAME frontline staff.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--Fresh Calls For Free School Meals In Summer As 23% Of Pupils 'Miss Out' In Covid-19 Crisis

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. PA
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Ministers are facing fresh pressure to extend school meal vouchers to the summer holidays after new figures suggested nearly a quarter of the poorest pupils have missed out on help during the Covid-19 crisis.
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Boris Johnson and education secretary Gavin Williamson have been urged by charities and teaching unions to reverse a decision to end the £15-a-week food subsidy for 1.3 million pupils when English schools officially break up in July.
No.10 sparked a backlash on Thursday when it confirmed that the current voucher system, which allows disadvantaged parents to spend money in supermarkets, would not continue over the summer holidays despite many families being more cash-strapped than ever.
In contrast, the Welsh government has pledged to provide its £19.50 per child per week funding for free school meals throughout the summer.
Rob Halfon, the Tory chairman of the Commons education select committee, urged ministers to rethink their plans as campaigners threatened a crowdfunded legal action against the Department for Education.
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His remarks came as the Food Foundation food campaign released a new survey* showing that 23% of children who normally receive free school meals had not been offered any substitute such as a voucher or food parcel since schools were closed by the lockdown in March.
The 23% figure suggesting as many as 370,00 children may have missed out on state aid to which they are entitled, the campaign said.
Some 58% have been offered a free school meal substitute at home, and 16% were reported to be attending school and receiving free school meals there, according to the survey conducted late last month of more than 4,000 parents.
The campaign also estimates that parents of two million children have experienced “food insecurity”, with more than 200,000 children having had to skip meals because their family couldn’t access help during lockdown.
The Food Foundation says that food banks have been inundated with requests for help from parents currently unable to get free school meal support.
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The school voucher scheme was introduced soon after schools closed in March and was aimed at providing nutrition for those eligible for free meals. After pressure from MPs and others, it was extended to cover the Easter holiday and the late May break.
Some economists estimate that the cost of extending the system over the six-week summer holiday would come to roughly £100m, a fraction of the total help the government is giving to workers and companies to get them through the coronavirus crisis.
Halfon tweeted that ministers should now reconsider their decision because “1. Free school meals needed over Summer especially if there are catch-up summer schools 2. Families struggling as furlough lessens, jobs/ redundancy 3. All stats show well fed children mean better learning’.
Important that @educationgovuk @hmtreasury @vickyford reconsider this. 1. Free school meals needed over Summer especially if there are catch-up summer schools 2. Families struggling as furlough lessens, jobs/ redundancy 3. All stats show well fed children mean better learning https://t.co/IAKXZkh5Vh — Robert Halfon MP -Working Hard for Harlow- (@halfon4harlowMP) June 5, 2020
Around 3 million children are at risk of 'holiday hunger'.
To boost the life chances of these children, we must do all we can to ensure they are properly fed and supported during holidays.
Today I’ve urged the Govt to extend the free school meals scheme over the summer holidays pic.twitter.com/qg4dgY6j7n — Robert Halfon MP -Working Hard for Harlow- (@halfon4harlowMP) June 5, 2020
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No.10 has pointed instead to its £9m plan to provide a programme of holiday activities and food for 50,000 children from low-income families, but critics point out that would be equivalent to just 4% of the number of children eligible for free school meals in England.
Eligibility for free school meals includes those on Income Support and Universal Credit, claims for which are expected to soar as more people are left unemployed by the coronavirus impact on the economy.
Kath Dalmeny, chief executive of the food charity Sustain said: “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we have heard more and more stories of families with children struggling to put food on the table due to having too little money.
“The situation has got worse as parents lose jobs and income. Hundreds of thousands of children have gone without food and many food banks and local authorities have told us they cannot keep up with the avalanche of demand for emergency food aid.”
“Hunger has no respect for term-time dates. Taking legal action is a last resort, but the time has come. Hungry children in lockdown cannot march to Parliament to demand their rights, so this is why we’re speaking up with and for them.”
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A petition to extend the vouchers, started by 16-year-old free school meals pupil Christina from London, has gathered more than 180,000 signatures.
She said: “Imagine how those of us who rely on free school meal support felt when we heard they will be taken away from us during the summer holidays. It’s time to bite back.”
Jolyon Maugham, director of The Good Law Project, said: “The government still has not come up with a decent plan to ensure kids don’t go hungry. If they don’t, we will take formal legal action.”
Tim Morfin, chief executive of children’s charity Transforming Lives for Good, told HuffPost UK: “This is an issue that is not just specific to Covid-19, but we urgently need a permanent policy response that provides for children on free school meals over every school holiday.”
The Department for Education failed to comment on the figures suggesting pupils were already missing out on the current voucher scheme.
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A spokesperson said: “As schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for free school meals who are not yet able to return to school.
“Where this is not possible, schools can continue to offer vouchers to eligible pupils. The national voucher scheme will not run during the summer holidays.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--Cate Blanchett Reveals Head Injury After Having 'A Bit Of A Chainsaw Accident', But Don't Worry, She

Cate Blanchett Reveals Head Injury After Having 'A Bit Of A Chainsaw Accident', But Don't Worry, She's OK

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Cate Blanchett has revealed she gave herself a head injury after an accident involving a chainsaw at her home this week, but insisted it was all a lot less dramatic than you might think.
The two-time Oscar-winning star was being interviewed by former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, when she let slip that she’d given herself a DIY-related injury.
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“I’m fine,” Cate insisted. “I had a bit of a chainsaw accident yesterday, which sounds very, very exciting, but it wasn’t. Apart from the little nick to the head, I’m fine.”
Cate Blanchett Andreas Rentz via Getty Images
Goddard responded: “Be very careful with that chainsaw. You’ve got a very famous head, I don’t think people would like to see any nicks taken out of it.”
Unfortunately, the politician didn’t ask any further questions about why Cate was brandishing a chainsaw in the first place, or how she came to slice her own head with one, but at the very least, we’re relieved to hear she’s doing alright.
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Cate was born and raised in Australia, but now lives in East Sussex with her husband, Andrew Upton, and their four children.
During the interview, Cate also spoke about how she’s been homeschooling her daughter during the UK lockdown, claiming: “I have a huge respect for the teaching profession. I always have.”
Julia Gillard has hosted A Podcast Of One’s Own since last summer, and features interviews with high-profile female guests including Sandi Toksvig, author Caroline Criado-Perez and Labour MP Stella Creasy.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--The UK’s Road To 40,000 Coronavirus Deaths

The UK’s Road To 40,000 Coronavirus Deaths
The UK has hit the grim milestone of 40,000 deaths from coronavirus, one of the highest in the world. Despite warnings and being behind the likes of Italy and Spain when the virus struck, the UK’s authorities have overseen a catastrophic response to the coronavirus pandemic. Although 40,000 people have died and are confirmed with having had the virus, many more are thought to be attributable in the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--Brexit Talks End With No Progress As EU Insists: 'We Can't Go On Like This'

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Brexit negotiations have again broken up without significant progress and with a frustrated EU accusing the UK of “backtracking” on previous commitments.
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Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier claimed British negotiators “continue to backtrack” on the political declaration Boris Johnson agreed alongside the withdrawal agreement which set out the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU.
But a senior UK negotiating source said the declaration only set the “parameters” of the negotiations on a long-term trade deal and “doesn’t require everything in it to be agreed”.
There are growing fears that the UK could leave the Brexit transition period on December 31 without a trade deal, which would mean significant barriers and costs imposed on businesses already struggling to deal with coronavirus.
Both sides want progress urgently, with Barnier declaring: “There has been no significant progress on these points, not since the start of the negotiations.
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“And I don’t think we can go on like this forever.”
The UK meanwhile has recognised that the pandemic has slowed the pace of talks, having previously called for an outline deal by June. British negotiators want to see meaningful progress by July.
“We can’t have a situation where this drags into the autumn and all our businesses and all our individuals don’t know the basis on which they will be trading and don’t prepare,” the source said.
“We can’t have that.”
The talks remain stuck on the key areas of fishing rights and the so-called “level playing field”, with the EU wanting the UK to agree minimum standards in areas like workers’ rights, the environment and state aid.
The UK is unwilling to either offer a long-term agreement on fishing, preferring annual negotiations over British waters, or accept a level playing field which ties Westminster into accepting EU laws.
EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier holds up the political declaration which he claims the UK is "backtracking" on ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The UK has abandoned its commitment to a deal without tariffs or quotas in a bid to get the talks unblocked, an approach that could impose massive costs on some British businesses.
But the source said this “fell on slightly stony ground” in the discussions, despite being an “obvious way forward” to unblock talks on the level playing field.
The UK feels it is being offered only a “binary choice” between the EU-proposed agreement and no deal at all, and wants the talks streamlined and sped up to find common ground.
But Barnier insisted the UK must stick to its commitments in the declaration “if we want to move forward”.
He told a Brussels press conference: “My responsibility is to speak the truth and to tell the truth this week there have been no significant areas of progress.”
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On the key area of fisheries, he said the UK has “not shown any true will” to explore compromises.
And he said both sides were still “very far” from reaching agreement on the level playing field, nuclear safety, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding, and a “overarching institutional framework” for the future relationship.
“In all areas, the UK continues to backtrack under commitments undertaken in the political declaration, including on fisheries,” Barnier said.
“We cannot and will not accept this backtracking on the political declaration.”
UK chief negotiator David Frost said in a statement: “Progress remains limited but our talks have been positive in tone. Negotiations will continue and we remain committed to a successful outcome.
“We are now at an important moment for these talks. We are close to reaching the limits of what we can achieve through the format of remote formal rounds.
“If we are to make progress, it is clear that we must intensify and accelerate our work. We are discussing with the commission how this can best be done.
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“For our part we are willing to work hard to see whether at least the outline of a balanced agreement, covering all issues, can be reached soon.”
Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the CBI business lobby, said a failure to reach a deal would be “deeply damaging”.
“An ambitious deal with the EU will be a cornerstone of the UK’s recovery from the pandemic.
“Progress is worryingly slow, causing deep concern to firms when resilience has rarely been more fragile.
“The stark reality is that most businesses are understandably unprepared for a dramatic change in trading relations with our biggest partner in just six months’ time.
“With jobs in every region of the U.K. and EU under pressure, the stakes are higher than ever.
“A deal that works for both sides economies is the only way forward. Political leaders should step in urgently, change the dynamic and find solutions that protect people’s livelihoods.”
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Best for Britain CEO Naomi Smith said: “The lack of progress in these negotiations is deeply concerning when you consider the looming deadline for an extension to the transition period on 30 June.
“It is incredibly important that the UK makes good on its commitments under the Northern Ireland protocol and elsewhere in the political declaration if we wish to maintain our global influence and make a success of Brexit going forward.
“Without doing so, we face the possibility of ending the transition period at the end of the year without a deal, in the middle of the worst recession for a century.
“And if we cannot support these commitments at this time due to the scale of the public health crisis at hand, then we must give ourselves more time by extending the Brexit transition period.”
Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen are expected to meet this month for high level talks which both sides will hope can unblock negotiations.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--UK Coronavirus Deaths Top 40,000 As 357 More Fatalities Confirmed

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The number of people who have died across the UK after contracting coronavirus has risen by 357 in 24 hours – taking the official tally over 40,000 for the first time.
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The official death toll from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) now stands at 40,261.
Since the end of April, the government’s daily announcement has included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Thursday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals across the UK, as well as care homes in Wales, after contracting the virus rose by 142 in 24 hours.
That increase consisted of 123 in England, 14 in Scotland, four in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
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NHS England said patients who died were aged between 38 and 105 years old. One of the 123 patients, aged 86, had no known underlying health conditions.
Meanwhile, as of 9am on Friday, 5,214,277 tests carried out have been tested for coronavirus, with 283,311 coming back positive.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-05--This Is How To Support Black British People Right Now – And How Not To

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Even in the midst of a global pandemic, racism doesn’t take a day off. Another wave of Black Lives Matter protests have reignited around the world.
Justice is being fought for Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, and other Black victims of police brutality, with attention being drawn to how anti-Blackness permeates throughout every level of society.
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What makes this wave different, however, is that it has gained traction outside the Black community, with many keen to express their solidarity. I’ve spoken to some Black British people about this sudden outpouring we’ve recently witnessed – and what meaningful and lasting support looks like to us.
Britain is not ‘less’ racist than the US
As well as this, the right-wing British press brutalises outspoken Black individuals, Black people make up a high proportion of the UK prison population, and Black people are 40 times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police.
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NurPhoto via Getty Images Thousands gather in Hyde Park and across the UK for Black Lives Matter protests.
In spite of all this, racism is not seen as a UK problem. Tara Olajidé, a 23-year-old contractor from London tells me that people “feign ignorance but perpetuate the very same oppression and endorse the same exclusionary frameworks”. Claims that the UK racism is ‘less severe’ or ‘more covert’ than in the US only serves to gaslight those who call attention to it.
Communications intern Tiwa Adebayo, 21, also from London, says: “I’ve reflected a lot on what it means to be racist. I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no small racism.” Racism is racism, there are no levels to it.
Non-Black Brits instinctively separate themselves from the US, expressing shock or denial when confronted with stories of racism in the UK. This active ignorance is the highest marker of privilege. As Essex student Amaka Okafor, 21, puts it, “If you didn’t know, it’s because you didn’t want to know. You have the privilege of being blind to injustice.”
Why are you rushing to label yourself an ally?
It is now clear that there is no neutrality when it comes to racism: silence is complicity. Non-Black people need to use their voice to denounce anti-Blackness. “Just because you’re not Black, it does not mean the situation doesn’t affect you,” says credit analyst Lois Akinola, 21, also from Essex.
Yet, this new wave of Black Lives Matter had led to a series of ‘Allyship 101’ resources, answering the question many non-Black people are asking: how can I show that I’m an ally?
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“By praising people when they do the bare minimum, we normalise bigotry.”
As well-meaning as this question is, it centres non-Black people, focusing on making them feel like they’ve done something, rather than actually doing what’s necessary. Even the act of naming those who engage in anti-racist work as ‘allies’ presents anti-racism as something that deserves a reward. By praising people when they do the bare minimum, we normalise bigotry.
Articles titled ‘Show allyship in these five steps!’ list actions that avoid confronting one’s own privilege, while allowing non-Black people to absolve themselves from their guilt.
But being a decent person isn’t an achievement, it’s something you work on every day; it requires discipline and dedication to unlearning. “Allyship is becoming a buzzword now,” says student Rachel David, 22, from London, but are you actually going to be practising it in your everyday life?” If some people were honest with themselves, the answer to this would be “no”.
Publicist Jay Colley, 26, from Bristol expresses her frustration at individuals and organisations showing fake solidarity “for their own gain”. “They look like they’re doing it for the greater good but it’s more about protecting their own image”.
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The Black community is not interested in empty statements made by those that are feeling the pressure. Tinashe Wadi, 21, a student in London tells me that “because of them, this has quickly become a trend, an aesthetic”.
Within a few days, the risk is that a wider public believes supporting Black lives starts and ends with a post on social media. Little thought is given to the effect that has on Black people. Student Jamie Macdonald, 22, also from London, talks about the people he knows who were silent in his struggle, but are now actively denouncing racism on social media.
“It seems like they’re only happy to act in an anti-racist manner when it is aesthetically appealing and doesn’t cause any sort of conflict,” he says. “They’re more interested in what people think of them than actually combatting white supremacy”.
What does real support look like?
When it comes to helping the Black community, short-term support and long-term support are just as important as each other. They also look very different. In the long term, overcoming white supremacy requires a collective unlearning and re-education. But right now, Black people are dying, so in the meantime, focus on what can be done now. London-based singer Kai Exos tells me: “engage with the movement. You have a voice, and you can use it, believe me.”
Essex-based student Tiana Francis-Irwin, 22, tells me we need real, concrete action in moments of crisis. “People retreat into this place where all they do is acknowledge. They say ‘yes, I have privilege!’ And that’s it, they’re done. Ok, you have privilege, what are you going to do about it? How are you going to stop that? How are you going to change that?”
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There is a worry in the Black community that soon this passion will die out, and Black people will be left to fight for themselves. How can we prevent this from happening? Technology apprentice Paul Frimpong, 21, from London says: “If you have the money to support Black movements, DO IT! Because ultimately, money is what drives change in this world.” Sign petitions, write to your MPs, protest if you can, we need all hands-on deck.
Amaka Okafor, 21, another Essex-based student, sums it up perfectly: “Don’t sit on the fence – we cannot allow ourselves to become apathetic, because with apathy comes acceptance.”
Things you should be doing, not just now, but in general
Show your solidarity in the short-term by:
Checking out this resource (credit to @_nmtr) on practical ways to show support in the UK. It includes emails to write, petitions to sign, and funds to donate to.
If you don’t have the money to donate, read this Twitter thread on alternative methods of donating to Black Lives Matter.
Here is an excellent article from Gal Dem on what to do if you can’t protest on the streets for Black Lives Matter.
Uplift Black voices already discussing these issues on social media: @ukblackpride, @jasebyjason, @ChantayyJayy, @divanificent are just a few accounts to follow on Twitter.
Don’t DM your Black friends telling them all the ways you’re showing support. We aren’t going to validate you!
Don’t share violent videos. This Gal Dem article explains why.
Don’t use this as a time to promote your work. Parris Walters, 21, from Essex tells me “support is certainly not turning our pain into art projects”
Show your support in the long-term by:
Boycotting racist brands and celebrities. Don’t engage with organisations that show anti-Black practices, or that profit off Black culture while failing to protect Black people.
Supporting UK Black business – here is a Twitter thread of Black businesses you can support.
Speak out in the face of injustice. Speak out even when it makes you feel uncomfortable.
Don’t centre non-Black voices. This isn’t about you! As Parris says: “Take accountability. Understand that whether you like it or not, you have been complicit in racism and benefitted from privilege”
Ultimately, when the dust settles, we all still need to be active in our support. Do your research and educate yourself, so that Black people don’t have to do the work for you. This Google Doc (credit to @HettieHMcIntyre) is full of resources to get you started.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Village People Singer Asks Trump To No Longer Play Their Music At Rallies

“If Trump orders the U.S. military to fire on his own citizens (on U.S. soil), Americans will rise up in such numbers outside of the White House that he might be forced out of office prior to the election.
“Don’t do it Mr. President! And I ask that you no longer use any of my music at your rallies especially Y.M.C.A. and Macho Man.
“Sorry, but I can’t support what you’re proposing.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Little Mix Star Leigh-Anne Pinnock Shares Emotional Video About Racism

Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock broke down in tears as she admitted she feared being “the least favoured” member of the group due to her race.
The singer, 28, shared an emotional video to Instagram, saying the events following the death of Black man George Floyd had left her “feeling really heavy”.
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Pinnock formed chart-topping girl group Little Mix in 2011 alongside bandmates Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson and Perrie Edwards.
In the video, the pop star, who is Black, revealed she first realised her race would affect her career when revered choreographer Frank Gatson Jr – who is also Black – said “you have to work 10 times harder” because of the colour of her skin.
She said: “I learned that the dream of being in the biggest girl band in the world came with its flaws and consequences.”
Pinnock, recently engaged to footballer partner Andre Gray, said the reality of being in Little Mix was “feeling lonely while touring to predominantly white countries”.
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She said: “I sing to fans who don’t see me or hear me or cheer me on. My reality is feeling anxious before fan events and signings because I always feel like I’m the least favoured.
“My reality is constantly feeling like I have to work 10 times harder and longer to mark my place in the group because my talent alone isn’t enough.
“My reality is wanting to see other artists who I know are so talented but will never get opportunities I have had because to the industry, they are not marketable, but they will get behind someone else with the aspects of Black culture the world wants to see, but will leave behind the aspects they feel make them unmarketable.
“My reality is all the times I’ve felt invisible within my group, part of me is fully aware that my experience would’ve been even harder to cope with had I been dark-skinned.”
Leigh-Anne Pinnock Mike Marsland via Getty Images
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In the caption for the video, Pinnock said she did not share the post for sympathy, rather she hopes it will help fans understand the racism that takes place.
She added: “In doing this we are able to approach the bigger issue and break down systemic racism. All we want is equality and justice for our Black community.”
Pinnock’s bandmates shared their support in the comments. Nelson posted three love hearts while Thirlwall said “my sister, proud of you”.
Mr Floyd died while being detained by police in Minneapolis on May 25. An officer filmed with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck has been charged with second-degree murder, while three others at the scene have also been charged in connection to the death.
The incident sparked mass protests across the US, that have since spread to countries around the world.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Why I've Never Spoken Out About Racism

Why I've Never Spoken Out About Racism

Protestors gather at a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest organised by BLM Southampton outside Southampton Guildhall in Southampton, England EMPICS Entertainment
It is a deep source of shame to me, as a mixed-race man, that I speak out so little on the issue of race. However, now isn’t the time to be silent.
Sometimes it feels as though sitting on the fence is a far safer, easier option. When we speak up, we’re bound to face a backlash. Ultimately though, making our voices heard will eventually lead to a safer, kinder society. We all have a duty to speak up.
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The cruel and needless death of an innocent Black man named George Floyd has sparked a huge surge in support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
It is also a response to the systemic oppression and discrimination that people of colour face around the world.
Speaking out as a mixed-race man has been a complex issue for me in the past, but I’ve come to realise that I must do more.
Every Black person will know the experience of talking with their white friends – white people that they know and love, that they know to be decent people – and feeling the air leave the room at the mere mention of race.
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I remember being on stage and having to say the line “I am Black” to an entirely white auditorium – I could hear the sphincters of 300 audience members tighten simultaneously.
What’s even more daunting is having to deal with people who oppose my views. I dread posting a “Black Lives Matter” picture to my timeline, only to have someone that I consider a friend respond with “Don’t All Lives Matter???”. It’s a level of missing-the-point that is just exhausting to deal with.
Here’s the thing: Black people are still being killed unnecessarily. Black people are being beaten, abused and mistreated.
My wanting to avoid a bit of awkwardness isn’t really a good enough excuse. When thousands of people like me refuse to speak out because it feels awkward; the consequence is Derek Chauvin with his knee on George Floyd’s neck, thinking he get can get away with ignoring Floyd as he begs for his life.
If any of my white friends or family can’t handle a frank conversation about racism, it’s not my job to avoid those conversations, it’s their job to get better at them.
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As for not wanting to get involved in arguments; well, you can’t be honest and get on with everybody. You can’t have integrity and bravery and also avoid disagreeing with people.
You don’t have to engage with the ignorant, but you have a duty to try and change those minds that are open to being changed.
Another barrier to speaking out that I’ve grappled with is feeling scared that I’ll get into debates and won’t be smart or informed enough to argue properly.
Pretty much everyone feels this way. Especially smart people. If you were completely convinced that you could not lose a debate, you’d be destined to lose it.
It’s healthy not to feel absolutely certain that you’re right. But it’s okay to fight for those things that you think you’re right about. I should try to become as informed as possible, of course. But I can never have all of the information.
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At some point you just need to dive in and argue for what you think is right. If you lose a debate to someone smarter and more informed than you, that’s okay.
In fact, it’s good! It’s an opportunity for you to sharpen and improve your own perspective.
British people are especially prudish when talking about racism, and part of this might be rooted in a feeling that I have wrestled with of being unqualified because I don’t live in America.
Everybody, everywhere is qualified and duty-bound to support this movement. But as a citizen of the UK, should I be campaigning for change in America or for change in the UK? Does the UK not have systemic racism to the same extent as America?
Of course, I should be campaigning for change in both countries, as well as in all those other countries where Black people are still being oppressed.
However, there seems to be a notion that we’re piggybacking off of America’s race relation issues in order to exaggerate our own.
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True, we don’t have anywhere near as many guns in the UK. We don’t have families living on estates, which only 150 years ago were working slave plantations.
We do have systemic racism and a legacy of slavery and colonisation that affect the daily lives of every person of colour who lives here.
“I occasionally meet people, white and Black, who tell me that I am not Black. Racial identity is a huge cause of angst amongst us mixed-race folk.”
To try and measure and compare the amount of racism between our two countries is, firstly, impossible, and secondly, missing the point.
We want to stand beside our American friends, we want justice for George Floyd, his family and the countless other Black Americans who have been mistreated by law enforcement. We also want to draw attention to the fact that Black people are being mistreated and abused by law enforcement here in the UK.
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“Which country has it worse?” isn’t an important question at the moment. ”Why is this still happening?” and “How can we stop it?” are much more important.
But too often, I feel unqualified because I’m mixed-race.
Firstly, everyone, regardless of their colour or their background, has a duty to speak out for what is right. Everybody should feel empowered to defend people who are being oppressed.
No one should feel unqualified to join the Black Lives Matter movement. The tricky part is knowing which role you play. And for mixed race people like myself, this is a very difficult problem...
I have a Jamaican father and a white British mother. I am considered Black by the vast majority of people that I meet. I have been attacked physically and verbally many times throughout my life for being Black.
However, I occasionally meet people, white and Black, who tell me that I am not Black. Racial identity is a huge cause of angst amongst us mixed-race folk.
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My unwillingness to throw my hat in with my brothers and sisters who have two Black parents comes down to nothing more than fear. I’m afraid of being called out as impure or as a fake.
So, no more beating around the bush: I am mixed-race and I call myself Black. Deal with it. Barack Obama is Black. Lewis Hamilton is Black. Dwayne Johnson is Black. I am Black.
Lastly, I don’t want people to think I’m only speaking out because it’s fashionable and “woke”.
Presumably, there are people out there who scour their timeline looking for the trendiest opinion to adopt. People who wake up thinking “Which cause can I support today that will gain me the most followers on Twitter?”
Most of us aren’t this way. Most of us are people who want to help make things better, but who don’t always have the guts to do it properly and whose attempts to help are sometimes misjudged.
I honestly think that if your heart is in the right place, you shouldn’t feel bad about jumping on the bandwagon. What else are we gonna do? Purposefully avoid protests that become popular?
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No, we want them to become more popular. We want to increase the momentum, push the snowball and turn it into an avalanche.
Yes, we should all be learning about and campaigning for issues that don’t have a platform. But, like it or not, most people are just going about their daily lives and only begin to care about an issue when it’s thrust under their nose.
Politicians only change laws to improve our civil liberties when public opinion forces them to. We need to be encouraging people to support the movement as much as possible. Perhaps agonising over whether or not someone is virtue signalling isn’t the best use of our energies at the moment.
So, by all means, hop on the Black Lives Matter bandwagon, but do it for the right reasons. Oh, and if you are white, don’t push a black person out of the way and grab their megaphone.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--NFL Admits They 'Were Wrong' To Ban Players From Protesting

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In a major reversal, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted on Friday that the organisation was wrong for not allowing NFL players to peacefully protest police brutality against Black people during the national anthem.
“We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black people,” Goodell said in a filmed statement posted to Twitter.
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“We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” he added. “We, the NFL, believe Black lives matter.”
Goodell’s statement comes after a week of protests swept the country in response to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed and pleading for air as a white officer knelt on his neck.
Goodell made no mention of Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who started the movement to peacefully protest police brutality against Black people by taking a knee during the national anthem before NFL games.
Prior to the announcement, NFL star players from several teams came together and urged the football league to take a serious stance against racism and systematic injustice in the wake of Floyd’s death.
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Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Tyrann Mathieu, Ezekiel Elliott and other NFL players pleaded with the league in a video posted to social media.
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv — NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
The NFL has resisted players’ efforts to peacefully protest racism and police brutality ever since Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem in 2016.
More players joined the protest, but the league attempted to put an end to them by banning any form of kneeling during the national anthem in 2018.
Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 but has not been signed onto a new team, despite continuing his training. In 2019, the NFL and Kaepernick settled a legal dispute in which the athlete accused the league of colluding to keep him from joining any teams.
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Even after recruiters from seven teams came to watch Kaepernick practice last year, he reportedly still has not received any offers.
All week, protesters have marched in nearly every major city to demand systematic change in light of Floyd’s death, as well as the many other deaths of Black people in the US at the hands of police or white vigilantes.
In March, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician (EMT), was shot to death after Louisville, Kentucky, police broke into her home with a drug warrant while looking for someone else.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Eamonn Holmes Blasts Celebrity Gogglebox Bosses For 'Idiotic And Cruel' Edit

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Eamonn Holmes has blasted Celebrity Gogglebox producers for an “idiotic and cruel” edit.
The TV presenter appeared on the new series of the Channel 4 show alongside his wife and This Morning co-presenter Ruth Langsford on Friday night, with the couple watching scenes from the BBC’s Ambulance.
Eamonn attracted some criticism online when – after watching a boy save his father’s life by calling 999 and resuscitating him following a suspected heart attack – he was seen telling a light-hearted story about getting Ruth to hospital when she went into labour.
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Eamonnn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on Celebrity Gogglebox Channel 4
However, Eamonn has since voiced his disappointment that bosses had actually replaced him talking about his father dying from a heart attack in similar circumstances with the anecdote.
He tweeted that he’d received “a number of complaints”, before going on to say: “I am hurt beyond belief that @C4Gogglebox chose not to use me talking about my Father dying from a Heart Attack at the side of a road and replace it with a funny story following a young lad giving his Father CPR. Idiotic and cruel edit.
“So following a tragedy that has forever haunted my family, I am in no mood for criticising holier than thou mouthpieces on here who haven’t gone through what we did.
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“I had nothing but praise and emotion for the Ambulance control room TV programme. An atrocious edit @StudioLambert.”
He continued: “How my Father died was a particularly horrible experience for my Mother, my younger brother and his friend who were all in the car. The resuscitation in the BBC Ambulance programme was as close as could be to my Dad’s passing. Yet I am the one edited to make it look like a laugh.”
In reply to a number of complaints ....
I am hurt beyond belief that @C4Gogglebox chose not to use me talking about my Father dying from a Heart Attack at the side of a road and replace it with a funny story following a young lad giving his Father CPR . Idiotic and cruel edit. — Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) June 5, 2020
So following a tragedy that has forever haunted my family, I am in no mood for criticising holier than thou mouthpieces on here who haven't gone through what we did. I had nothing but praise and emotion for the Ambulance control room TV programme. An atrocious edit @StudioLambert — Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) June 5, 2020
How my Father died was a particularly horrible experience for my Mother , my younger brother and his friend who were all in the car .
The resuscitation in The BBC Ambulance programme was as close as could be to my Dad's passing.Yet I am the one edited to make it look like a laugh — Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) June 5, 2020
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After receiving an outpouring of support on Twitter, Eamonn later added: “Thank you everyone for seeing what happened tonight. Just awful that it did and that I have had to explain. Anyone who works in The Ambulance Service or who has experienced the impact of Sudden Death will understand.
“I now need to put my phone down. Goodnight.”
Thank you everyone for seeing what happened tonight. Just awful that it did and that I have had to explain.
Anyone who works in The Ambulance Service or who has experienced the impact of Sudden Death will understand. I now need to put my phone down. Goodnight
🙏🙏🙏😔 — Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) June 5, 2020
A Gogglebox spokesperson later told HuffPost UK: “We have apologised to Eamonn over what happened in this week’s episode.
“We understand and respect Eamonn’s feelings on such a deeply personal story. We have taken the decision to edit the episode for future repeats and All 4.
“We look forward to working with Eamonn and Ruth for the rest of the series.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Public Toilets Are An Equalities Issue. Why Don't We Care?

People enjoy the hot weather on the banks of the River Wharfe in Burnsall, Yorkshire, as people flock to parks and beaches with lockdown measures eased. PA
If parks and open spaces are beacons of nature’s abundant beauty, their toilets are always an unworldly hideous mess. Blue-lit, mud-strewn and barely plumbed, they’re a means to a very necessary ending. Most people prefer to use the loos at pubs or nearby cafes, with all their fancy mod-cons, like toilet paper, doors that lock and dry toilet seats. Indeed, some councils, such as my own, have long relied on private toilets to fill the u-bends in their own provision.
During lockdown, though, cafes are closed, pubs are shuttered and public facilities have been entirely bolted shut, boarded up and clo….no. No, they haven’t. From May 13, English councils have been allowed by the government to open their public toilets.
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The caveat was that the councils provided stricter cleaning regimens and enforced two-metre queues. That isn’t happening, though, because too many local authorities can’t see sense. The Local Government Association (LGA), which acts on behalf of all councils, makes no promises either. “People should not assume toilets will be open and plan their outdoor activities accordingly,” a spokesperson told The Times.
And I wonder if the LGA has equalities impact-assessed this indecision? Or weighed up the public health issue a lack of toilets presents? Or even taken into account the needs of councils’ lowest-paid workers?
Toilet provision is a feminist issue. Due to menstruation, bladder issues brought on by pregnancy and childbirth and, really simply, the way we wee, women require more toilet access than men. Lack of adequate toilet provision in the past meant women couldn’t leave their homes for long, something which campaigners in the Victorian era called the “urinary leash”. Its effects live on, thanks to architects and town planners forgetting women’s needs.
This is also an issue for disabled people, 250,000 of whom cannot use standard accessible toilets. Disabled women have undergone medically unnecessary surgery simply to be able to leave their homes. And as Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, a wheelchair user who is incontinent, put it in a Lords debate in February: “I am in a vulnerable position when I catheterise myself. I need to wash my hands before and straight afterwards; it is even more difficult when I have my period.” Flaws in the accessible toilet scheme mean that anyone with a disabled-access-only key can enter, regardless of whether the toilet is vacant or engaged.
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“Unlimited time outdoors is one of the few pleasures we have right now and the public – all of the public – deserves this time.”
And this was before lockdown. Women are now facing the brunt of the lockdown’s economic impacts. Disabled people have now been treated to the insensitivity of a suggestion that their disability could de-prioritise them for potential Covid-19 treatment. And now both groups share the indignity of being cut off from the outside world.
As ever, though, women’s and minorities’ concerns are the majority’s issue. Any implication that most people aren’t bothered by the lack of toilets is a load of crap. Everyone wees and poos, and if they can’t find a urinal or toilet to do it in, they’ll either have to head home or make do with what’s there.
Some are more up for heading home. Anecdotally, I’ve not seen one woman go public in her ablutions this lockdown. From personal experience, when I’ve been caught short on country walks and festival sites, stage fright ensues; the bleak embarrassment of showing your entire bum to a tree’s judgmental bark is enough to put anyone off. It’s also worth remembering that when catcalling is on the rise, what risk might onlookers present to half-nude women? Sexual predators get off on this stuff.
As for all the men emptying their bladders and shaking off the hose in full sight of any and all passersby, I don’t want to think, for one second, that the majority actually enjoy debasing themselves and breaking indecent exposure laws in the process. I’d also prefer to live in a world where using the nooks and crannies of our parks as number-2 drop-off points is beyond any human desire. Yet, that’s our world now. In the new normal, residents next to areas of otherwise natural beauty shouldn’t have to put up with an influx of daytrippers’ waste. But what else was going to happen when the public was given the paradoxical command? Go outdoors as much as you like, we’re told, but don’t count on the toilets being open.
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One almost-impressive workaround, fly-weeing, is where a bottle is used to decant a man’s urine. These were once the preserve of low-paid Uber drivers on non-stop shifts around unfamiliar cities, or festival revellers too drunk to negotiate staticky portaloos in the dead of night. Now these last-ditch, chucked-in-a-ditch options punctuate the streets closest to our parks, to be cleaned up by low-paid council workers. I’d wager that, between these hot bottles of yellow waste and the mounds of faeces in the parks, these workers would rather be spraying down toilet locks and enforcing queues.
Councils refusing to re-open public toilets – and acquisitioning the private ones they’ve outsourced their responsibilities to – is an equalities issue. It’s also becoming a public health issue. Unlimited time outdoors is one of the few pleasures we have right now and the public – all of the public – deserves this time. Our green parks and open spaces deserve to grow unpestered by booze-soaked manure and, most importantly, those who have the unenviable task of cleaning up all the muck and dross deserve better.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--This Is What Travel Could Look Like Post Lockdown

This Is What Travel Could Look Like Post Lockdown
With restrictions over travel looking onerous during the coronavirus pandemic, this year the staycation may be the best chance to getaway. Here’s how you can do it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Hollyoaks Star Rachel Adedeji Calls Out Behind-The-Scenes Racism Following Soap's 'Disappointing' Bl

Hollyoaks Star Rachel Adedeji Calls Out Behind-The-Scenes Racism Following Soap's 'Disappointing' Black Lives Matter Response

Hollyoaks star Rachel Adedeji has detailed her own personal experiences of racism behind the scenes of the soap, in light of the show’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
After Hollyoaks announced a podcast about racism and shared a video from co-star Kéllé Bryan on their social accounts, Rachel, who plays Lisa Loveday, called for the show to go further and put “systemic changes” into practice.
Rachel has played Lisa Loveday on Hollyoaks since 2016 Channel 4
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“I am disappointed with Hollyoaks’ approach to showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement [on Thursday],” Rachel said in a statement she posted on Twitter.
“Did Black Lives Matter when I was told ‘You’re all the same’ by a make-up artist you employed, and remains in employment till this day?
“Did Black Lives Matter when a number of female Black actors were forced to drastically change their hair, because if not, the viewers ‘would not be able to tell them apart’?
“Do Black Lives Matter when my fellow Black cast mates are deemed angry, aggressive and too vocal?
“Did Black Lives Matter when we were referred to as ‘b******s’ by a senior member of the production team? Do Black Lives really Matter to you if over the last four years at Hollyoaks, I have only worked with ONE Black director?
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“Honestly, the list goes on.”
My thoughts on the Hollyoaks response to Black Lives Matter pic.twitter.com/jvOxzCQkl0 — Rachel Adedeji (@RachelASongs) June 5, 2020
Rachel added that having a Black cast member “speak on behalf of Hollyoaks to show that the work is being done is not as progressive as they think”.
“As a matter of fact, very little is being done behind the scenes,” she said. “Unfortunately Hollyoaks’ response seems to me performative and disingenuous.
“It starts within the work place. Systemic changes must be put into practice.”
Rachel, who joined Hollyoaks in 2016, added that working on the show was “mostly positive”, but said the experiences she has encountered are “a constant reminder of how difficult it is being a Black woman in the industry”.
She concluded: “Putting out a podcast on racism and asking your Black cast members to teach you how to tackle these issues is the bare minimum.
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“THINK. DO BETTER.
“I hope Hollyoaks delivers the same energy when #BlackLivesMatter is no longer trending.”
In response to Rachel’s statement, a spokesperson for Hollyoaks told HuffPost UK: “We are really concerned to read Rachel’s comments on social media about Hollyoaks this evening. We will be in touch with Rachel directly.”
In a post on their official Twitter page, the soap later said they were taking Rachel’s comments “extremely seriously and are investigating”.
Rachel was applauded for speaking out by her former co-stars Jacqueline Boatswain and Karl Collins, who played her on-screen parents Simone and Louis Loveday.
The truth will set you free!!! Speak on it.✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 https://t.co/0AKjhMncYJ — Jacqueline Boatswain (@JacquiBoats) June 5, 2020
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Well..... it will come as no surprise that I love this woman who I affectionately call ‘darta!’ I am so proud of her bravery! #speakyourtruth @RachelASongs #noliestold #BlackLivesMatterUK #BlackLivesMatter — Karl Collins (@MrKarlCollins) June 5, 2020
“The truth will set you free!!! Speak on it,” Jacqueline wrote.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--The Police Officers Who Killed Breonna Taylor Are Still Free

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“I don’t know what is happening. Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend.”
That’s part of the audio from a frantic 911 call Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, made the night three Louisville Metro cops executed a “no-knock” warrant in relation to a narcotics investigation and entered the couple’s apartment using a battering ram. Walker, having no idea it was police coming into the home, fired his gun in self-defence.
The cops fired back, shooting Taylor at least eight times. Walker can be heard on the 911 call crying out Taylor’s name as he attempts to explain to the dispatcher what just happened.
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Nearly three months later, none of the Louisville cops have been arrested or charged for gunning down the 26-year-old Black woman in her own home.
As thousands of people around the world take to the streets and attend Black Lives Matter protests, it does feel like some small semblance of justice is being served: Four former Minnesota police officers have been charged in the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died after a cop kneeled on his neck during an arrest; two white men who chased down Ahmaud Arbery in a pickup truck and fatally shot the 25-year-old Black man while he was out for a jog have been arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault.
The death of Taylor, an EMT who had dreams of being a nurse, has also sparked national outcry. The police officers were apparently trying to carry out a narcotics investigation, but the house where the main suspects allegedly sold drugs was more than 10 miles away from Taylor’s apartment.
The Louisville Police Department executed a search warrant at her home, looking for a man who did not live there, according to a lawsuit filed by Taylor’s family.
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After the “no-knock” warrant was completed and Taylor was dead, police acknowledged that the man officers had been searching for was already in custody. The lawsuit, which accuses the Louisville police of wrongful death, excessive force and gross negligence, alleges that the cops fired more than 20 rounds of ammunition at Taylor and Walker.
Breonna Taylor at a graduation ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky. Family Handout/AFP/Getty Images
The FBI’s Louisville office has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Taylor’s death in mid-March, and the city’s mayor has temporarily suspended all “no-knock” warrants.
And yet, the cops who killed her ― Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly, plus officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove — have been placed on administrative leave but are still employed by the force. Some organisers are calling for an overhaul of the entire system, arguing that we’re past the point of simply arresting individual cops for bad behaviour. But serious consequences for police violence would be a first step.
“I’m getting scared that we’re forgetting Breonna Taylor ― those cops haven’t even been arrested,” author Ayana Mathis tweeted. “Please remember Black women. Please let’s keep fighting for her.”
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Others have echoed Mathis’ concern. Recognising Black women and queer people of colour as targets of police violence is imperative when discussing police brutality, said Andrea Ritchie, a police misconduct attorney and expert in police violence against women of colour and LGBTQ people.
“Everything that happens to Black men happens to Black women happens to Black queer and trans people,” Ritchie told HuffPost. “If we’re concerned about police violence against Black people then certainly we need to include police violence against all Black people.”
Women and LGBTQ people of colour face police violence at alarmingly high rates. Tony McDade’s death ― a 38-year-old Black transgender man who was shot and killed by Tallahassee police last week ― has also been highlighted in the protests around the country.
“Everything that happens to Black men happens to Black women happens to Black queer and trans people.” - Andrea Ritchie, police violence expert
And while women and LGBTQ people of colour do experience police brutality in the same way their Black male counterparts do (for example, violent physical attacks), there are other ways in which they uniquely experience police violence — specifically, sexual harassment, assault and policing of one’s gender identity.
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Police sometimes assume Black transgender women are sex workers because they’re trans, and cops have used stop-and-frisks to fondle private areas in order to confirm their own ideas about gender identity, Ritchie said. In widely reported cases, women of colour have been stopped and illegally strip-searched in public. In 2016, San Antonio police pulled out a woman’s tampon during an unconstitutional cavity search in public while allegedly looking for weapons or drugs. In 2016, former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw was convicted on 18 counts of rape, sexual battery and other charges for using his authority as a cop to sexually abuse at least 13 women, the majority of whom were Black.
Cate Young, a Los Angeles-based film critic, organised a day of remembrance and action for Taylor on Friday ― what would’ve been Taylor’s 27th birthday. Young told HuffPost’s Taryn Finley that she’s tired of not seeing Black women’s stories prioritised in the conversations about police violence.
“It’s important we say her name because she’s Black, too,” Young said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--Entire Buffalo Police Riot Squad Resigns In Solidarity With Suspended Officers

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The entirety of the Buffalo Police Department’s Emergency Response Team has quit in solidarity with two officers who were suspended after shoving an elderly protestor to the ground.
The mass resignation of all 57 members of the squad came a day after video footage emerged online of two officers pushing 75-year-old Martin Gugino, who was rushed to hospital after the incident.
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“Fifty-seven resigned in disgust because of the treatment of two of their members, who were simply executing orders,” John Evans, president of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, told WGRZ.
A copy of an email that Evans sent members on Friday morning suggests that the resignations may also have been driven by concerns over the officers’ legal defence fund. Evans warned that due to financial considerations, the union may not cover legal costs for Emergency Response Team members that arise because of the ongoing protests.
He also strongly affirmed his belief that the officers’ suspension was “BULLSHIT.”
“These officers did nothing wrong but execute an order from the [deputy police commissioner] to clear the Square,” the email reads. “They do not deserve to be vilified and treated like criminals for simply following orders.”
WOW. email sent from PBA President John Evans to members.
“I can tell you they (@BPDAlerts) tried to f*%k over these guys like I have never seen in my 54 years.”@WKBW pic.twitter.com/1P7OEvFomu — Madison Carter (@madisonlcarter) June 5, 2020
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Buffalo created the Emergency Response Team in 2016 for the express purpose of having a group of officers trained to keep the peace amid civil disorder.
Footage captured by local media on Thursday shows Gugino, a white man, walking up to officers in Buffalo’s Niagara Square as they begin to enforce the city’s 8 pm curfew.
Two cops aggressively push Gugino, causing him to fall backward onto the pavement where his head hits with an audible thud. The officers stop to look while Gugino lies motionless and bleeding until a third officer steps in and directs them to keep walking.
The encounter hospitalised Gugino, who was in serious but stable condition on Friday morning.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-06--NHS 'Given Absolutely No Notice' Before Government Mask Announcement, Healthcare Chief Claims

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
NHS leaders were not consulted or given any notice ahead of an announcement that all hospital staff must wear surgical face masks and visitors and outpatients to wear face coverings from June 15, a healthcare chief has claimed.
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Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, criticised the government for appearing to make decisions “on the hoof” that seem “overly influenced by politics”.
Health secretary Matt Hancock announced the new policy on face coverings in hospitals at Friday evening’s Downing Street coronavirus press conference.
He said the government wanted to ensure that “even as the virus comes under control”, hospitals are a place of “care and of safety”.
Hopson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday morning: “Two major changes on the use of personal protection equipment and on visiting policy were announced late yesterday afternoon at the end of what, to be frank, was a very busy, difficult and hard week for our trust leaders, with absolutely no notice or consultation.
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“I think it’s the latest in a long line of announcements that have had a major impact on the way the NHS operates in which those frontline organisations feel they have been left completely in the dark and they are then expected to make significant and complex operational changes either immediately or with very little notice.”
He said political leaders “need to understand that running these organisations is a complex and difficult task and what you can’t do is turn on a sixpence” with major policy announcements.
Hopson’s criticism was echoed by the British Medical Association, which warned there was “little detail” on how the policy would be implemented, where the masks would come from or how outpatients and visitors would be given them.
Consultants committee chair Dr Rob Harwood said: “Given the lack of PPE supplies throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, it is absolutely crucial that the government ensures there are enough supplies of face masks for staff, and adequate provision of face coverings for outpatients and the public by the 15th June.”
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Hancock’s announcement came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) updated its advice and said governments should encourage the public to wear face coverings where social distancing is difficult, such as on public transport and shops.
The WHO previously stressed there was no evidence that wearing a mask – whether medical or other types – by healthy people in the wider community could prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including Covid-19.
Speaking during a virtual press briefing, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “In areas with widespread transmission, the WHO advises medical masks for all people working in clinical areas of a health facility, not only workers dealing with patients with Covid-19.