washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Bozeman women advanced standing of Black people in Montana

BOZEMAN , Mont .
( AP ) - Bozeman was a scrappy upstart wild West town in the fall of 1864 when Richard and Mary McDonald , a Black couple , arrived and decided to set down roots here .
They had somehow left slavery in Missouri in 1863 , whether by being freed after the Emancipation Proclamation or simply escaping , no one knows .
Out West , Richard could make good money driving freight wagons all around Montana and up from Utah , and do odd jobs like digging graves .
The McDonalds built a home just south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , later expanded into a two-story house at 308 S. Tracy Ave.
It ’ s one of the oldest houses still standing in Bozeman .
They had four sons , who all died young .
Their three daughters - Mollie , Belle and Melissa - all born in the 1870s , survived and grew up in Bozeman .
One hundred years ago , the McDonald sisters would do their part to advance the standing of Black people in Montana .
Crystal Alegria , director and co-founder of the Extreme History Project , recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d discovered about the McDonald sisters in a talk entitled , “ Lives of Quiet Resilience.
” “ Black men and women couldn ’ t be vocal about civil rights , ” Alegria said .
Still , “ they were always moving themselves forward , educating themselves , pushing for civil rights and better lives for their children , doing it quietly , behind the scenes .
But doing it.
” In 1921 the sisters founded a local chapter of the Montana Federation of Colored Women ’ s Clubs , which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black women formed their own social clubs because they couldn ’ t join the white women ’ s clubs popular in that era , Alegria said .
The Montana Federation of Colored Women ’ s Clubs provided books important to the Black community to local libraries , supported families in time of need and raised scholarships to support the education of young Black women .
The Sweet Pea Study Group was small , with about nine members , but in 1924 it hosted the state convention of the Montana Federation of Colored Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butte , Helena , Great Falls and Billings .
Over three days they were welcomed by Bozeman ’ s mayor and a leader of the white women ’ s clubs , heard from a Black minister and discussed an important topic- “ How Negro women should use their vote.
” Digging into public records at the Gallatin History Museum , Alegria was surprised to discover that Belle and Melissa McDonald had registered to vote in the 1918-1920 period .
Montana women had won the vote in 1914 , even before the national women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1920 .
Mollie , the oldest sister , worked for 20 years as a cook at Montana State College ’ s Hamilton Hall , a women ’ s dormitory .
The only sister to marry , she had two children .
Her sister Belle worked as a domestic servant for the Fielding family , which had a large home on South Willson Avenue .
When Ettie Fielding died childless , she left one-third of her estate to Belle , which probably kept the McDonalds fed and clothed in their retirement , Alegria said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote , but they still faced racism , discrimination and being treated as second-class citizens .
In the 1940s and 1950s , the Montana Federation of Colored Women ’ s Clubs became active in supporting civil rights and fighting for an anti-discrimination law .
One member wrote to her legislator that when the clubs ’ state convention was held in Helena in 1949 , not one “ first-class hotel or restaurant would serve us , while our sons were fighting in Korea.
” Another member wrote that dress shops refused to let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchasing them .
In 1909 , Montana had passed a law forbidding marriage between whites and Chinese , Japanese or Black people .
It was still on the books until 1953 .
Club women fought for an anti-discrimination law , which finally passed in 1955 - but only after all the penalties had been deleted from the bill .
It guaranteed equal accommodations in public places for all people , regardless of race , creed or color .
“ It was still a victory , ” Alegria said , “ the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sisters and women of their generation had helped lay the groundwork in the 1920s for the club ’ s civil rights work in the 1950s , she said .
The sisters died in 1950 , 1958 and 1967 , just as the national civil rights movement was gaining strength and victories in courts and Congress .
Mary McDonald , born a slave , lived to be 100 and died in 1941 .
The McDonalds ’ house was passed down to the white best friend of Mollie ’ s daughter , and is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the few artifacts of the sisters to survive is a cookbook , with hand-scribbled recipes added , that can be seen digitally through Montana State University ’ s special collections .
“ With the Extreme History Project , we try to focus on histories that haven ’ t been told , ” Alegria told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle .
“ It ’ s such a rich story .
”

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - Bozeman was a scrappy upstart wild West town in the fall of 1864 when Richard and Mary McDonald, a Black couple, arrived and decided to set down roots here.
They had somehow left slavery in Missouri in 1863, whether by being freed after the Emancipation Proclamation or simply escaping, no one knows.
Out West, Richard could make good money driving freight wagons all around Montana and up from Utah, and do odd jobs like digging graves. The McDonalds built a home just south of Main Street - a log cabin, later expanded into a two-story house at 308 S. Tracy Ave. It’s one of the oldest houses still standing in Bozeman.
They had four sons, who all died young. Their three daughters - Mollie, Belle and Melissa - all born in the 1870s, survived and grew up in Bozeman.
One hundred years ago, the McDonald sisters would do their part to advance the standing of Black people in Montana.
Crystal Alegria, director and co-founder of the Extreme History Project, recently gave an online lecture on what she’d discovered about the McDonald sisters in a talk entitled, “Lives of Quiet Resilience.”
“Black men and women couldn’t be vocal about civil rights,” Alegria said. Still, “they were always moving themselves forward, educating themselves, pushing for civil rights and better lives for their children, doing it quietly, behind the scenes. But doing it.”
In 1921 the sisters founded a local chapter of the Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, which they called the Sweet Pea Study Group.
Black women formed their own social clubs because they couldn’t join the white women’s clubs popular in that era, Alegria said.
The Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs provided books important to the Black community to local libraries, supported families in time of need and raised scholarships to support the education of young Black women.
The Sweet Pea Study Group was small, with about nine members, but in 1924 it hosted the state convention of the Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Members came from Butte, Helena, Great Falls and Billings.
Over three days they were welcomed by Bozeman’s mayor and a leader of the white women’s clubs, heard from a Black minister and discussed an important topic- “How Negro women should use their vote.”
Digging into public records at the Gallatin History Museum, Alegria was surprised to discover that Belle and Melissa McDonald had registered to vote in the 1918-1920 period. Montana women had won the vote in 1914, even before the national women’s suffrage amendment won approval in 1920.
Mollie, the oldest sister, worked for 20 years as a cook at Montana State College’s Hamilton Hall, a women’s dormitory. The only sister to marry, she had two children.
Her sister Belle worked as a domestic servant for the Fielding family, which had a large home on South Willson Avenue. When Ettie Fielding died childless, she left one-third of her estate to Belle, which probably kept the McDonalds fed and clothed in their retirement, Alegria said.
The McDonald sisters may have enjoyed the vote, but they still faced racism, discrimination and being treated as second-class citizens.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs became active in supporting civil rights and fighting for an anti-discrimination law.
One member wrote to her legislator that when the clubs’ state convention was held in Helena in 1949, not one “first-class hotel or restaurant would serve us, while our sons were fighting in Korea.” Another member wrote that dress shops refused to let Black women try on any dresses before purchasing them.
In 1909, Montana had passed a law forbidding marriage between whites and Chinese, Japanese or Black people. It was still on the books until 1953.
Club women fought for an anti-discrimination law, which finally passed in 1955 - but only after all the penalties had been deleted from the bill. It guaranteed equal accommodations in public places for all people, regardless of race, creed or color.
“It was still a victory,” Alegria said, “the state’s first anti-discrimination law.”
The McDonald sisters and women of their generation had helped lay the groundwork in the 1920s for the club’s civil rights work in the 1950s, she said.
The sisters died in 1950, 1958 and 1967, just as the national civil rights movement was gaining strength and victories in courts and Congress.
Mary McDonald, born a slave, lived to be 100 and died in 1941.
The McDonalds’ house was passed down to the white best friend of Mollie’s daughter, and is still owned by the Nute family.
One of the few artifacts of the sisters to survive is a cookbook, with hand-scribbled recipes added, that can be seen digitally through Montana State University’s special collections.
“With the Extreme History Project, we try to focus on histories that haven’t been told,” Alegria told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. “It’s such a rich story.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Mormons cool to Trump are finding new influence in Arizona

MESA , Ariz. ( AP ) - Yasser Sanchez has twice worked to defeat Joe Biden ’ s bids for the vice presidency by building support for Republican candidates among his fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
It wasn ’ t hard .
Now the lifelong Republican finds himself in the surprising position of supporting Biden - and repelled from his party , he says , by President Donald Trump .
“ We ’ re taught to be steady , to be basically the opposite of the way he ’ s lived his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s view isn ’ t as unusual as the Trump campaign would like .
While many conservative-leaning religious voters warmed to him long ago , Trump has struggled to win over Latter-day Saints .
His penchant for foul language clashes with the church ’ s culture teaching modesty and self-restraint , and his isolationist foreign policy is anathema to a faith spreading rapidly around the world .
It hasn ’ t helped that Trump has made a show of feuding with Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , among the best known members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the White House , Trump ’ s relative weakness with Latter-day Saints is now a growing political liability .
His standing has slumped in several pivotal states , including Arizona , where members of the faith make up 6 % of the population .
Many are clustered around Phoenix , areas where Republicans have struggled to hold their ground in the Trump era .
This past week the Trump campaign launched its Latter-day Saints for Trump Coalition , sending Vice President Mike Pence to Mesa , a suburb of Phoenix , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serves as Trump ’ s emissary to religious conservatives , appealed to church members ’ opposition to abortion rights and longstanding concerns over religious liberty .
Trump “ has stood for the religious freedom of every American of every faith every day of this administration , ” Pence told the group of about 200 people .
Last month , the president ’ s son , Donald Trump Jr. , hosted a conference call with reporters to commemorate Pioneer Day , a church holiday celebrating the arrival of the first church settlers in Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump Jr. , said he was in Utah at the time for a fishing trip .
Still , signs of discontent were clear .
More than 200 people identifying themselves as Republicans who belong to the church published an open letter Wednesday declaring their opposition to Trump and calling him “ the antithesis of so much the Latter-day Saints community believes.
” To be sure , Latter-day Saints have traditionally voted Republican and are likely to remain part of the GOP coalition .
Clustered in solidly Republican states , they have long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local politics across the West , but they have not held much sway in national elections .
Trump won Arizona in 2016 by 91,000 votes .
There are about 436,000 Latter-day Saints in Arizona , according to church statistics .
Many live in Phoenix ’ s East Valley suburbs popular with young families , including Gilbert , Chandler and Mesa , which traces its modern history to a settlement founded by pioneers from the faith in the 1800s .
In recent elections , political consultants have considered these areas a barometer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white voters who have recently shifted Democratic .
In 2018 , several neighborhoods east of Phoenix popular with church members voted both for Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema .
“ From the time we ’ re young we ’ re taught - as are all Christians - that we ’ re supposed to love God and love our neighbor , ” said Kathy Varga , a 39-year-old speech therapist from Mesa .
“ I don ’ t see that happening right now .
I just see the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump in 2016 because she was worried about Democrat Hillary Clinton putting liberal justices on the Supreme Court .
Now Varga says he believes Trump is threatening government institutions and the Constitution .
She plans to vote for Biden , even though she disagrees with many of his policies , because “ the most important thing right now is to unify the country.
” It ’ s unclear precisely how common Varga ’ s view is among her faith .
In the 2018 midterm elections , about two-thirds of voters who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Latter-day Saints were less likely than other traditionally Republican religious groups to approve of the way Trump was doing his job .
Among members of the faith , 67 % voted for Republicans , and 56 % said they approved of Trump ’ s job performance .
By comparison , 80 % of white evangelical Christians nationwide voted for Republican candidates , and nearly as many said they approve of Trump , according to an analysis of 1,528 midterm voters who are members of the faith , based on data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago .
Even Latter-day Saints who turned out to hear Pence this past week acknowledged they were disappointed in Trump ’ s infidelity or uncouth language .
But they also viewed it as a tolerable consequence of electing a straight-talking man unafraid to ruffle feathers .
Although Trump rarely speaks about his faith or attends church services , these supporters said they believed he was a defender of religious freedoms , which is of paramount importance to members of a faith that settled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persecution .
“ We ’ re able to continue practicing our religion .
That ’ s how our country was founded , ” said Norma Hastings , a 71-year-old church member from Gilbert .
She said she thinks Pence “ keeps Trump on the right road.
” Jenn Crandall , a 48-year-old pianist from Mesa , said she looks to other figures in the administration and the campaign for connection .
“ I like how hard working his kids are , his wife , ” Crandall said .
“ He ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also targeting Latter-day Saints in Arizona and elsewhere .
A Latter-day Saints for Joe group was formed more than a year ago .
In a virtual town hall for church members on Saturday , campaign surrogates tied Biden ’ s economic , health care and immigration agendas to church teachings on self reliance , family values and refuge .
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “ prioritizes caring for the poor .
It prioritizes strong families , a strong moral code , sacrifice , ” said Eric Biggart , co-chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake City .
“ To me , it ’ s hard to be a Republican and a member of the church at the same time.
” The church does not back candidates or political parties .

MESA, Ariz. (AP) - Yasser Sanchez has twice worked to defeat Joe Biden’s bids for the vice presidency by building support for Republican candidates among his fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It wasn’t hard.
Now the lifelong Republican finds himself in the surprising position of supporting Biden - and repelled from his party, he says, by President Donald Trump.
“We’re taught to be steady, to be basically the opposite of the way he’s lived his life,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez’s view isn’t as unusual as the Trump campaign would like.
While many conservative-leaning religious voters warmed to him long ago, Trump has struggled to win over Latter-day Saints. His penchant for foul language clashes with the church’s culture teaching modesty and self-restraint, and his isolationist foreign policy is anathema to a faith spreading rapidly around the world.
It hasn’t helped that Trump has made a show of feuding with Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, among the best known members of the church.
Once just a headache for the White House, Trump’s relative weakness with Latter-day Saints is now a growing political liability. His standing has slumped in several pivotal states, including Arizona, where members of the faith make up 6% of the population. Many are clustered around Phoenix, areas where Republicans have struggled to hold their ground in the Trump era.
This past week the Trump campaign launched its Latter-day Saints for Trump Coalition, sending Vice President Mike Pence to Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix, for the kickoff. Pence, who often serves as Trump’s emissary to religious conservatives, appealed to church members’ opposition to abortion rights and longstanding concerns over religious liberty.
Trump “has stood for the religious freedom of every American of every faith every day of this administration,” Pence told the group of about 200 people.
Last month, the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., hosted a conference call with reporters to commemorate Pioneer Day, a church holiday celebrating the arrival of the first church settlers in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Trump Jr., said he was in Utah at the time for a fishing trip.
Still, signs of discontent were clear. More than 200 people identifying themselves as Republicans who belong to the church published an open letter Wednesday declaring their opposition to Trump and calling him “the antithesis of so much the Latter-day Saints community believes.”
To be sure, Latter-day Saints have traditionally voted Republican and are likely to remain part of the GOP coalition. Clustered in solidly Republican states, they have long been a major force in GOP primaries and local politics across the West, but they have not held much sway in national elections.
Trump won Arizona in 2016 by 91,000 votes. There are about 436,000 Latter-day Saints in Arizona, according to church statistics. Many live in Phoenix’s East Valley suburbs popular with young families, including Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa, which traces its modern history to a settlement founded by pioneers from the faith in the 1800s.
In recent elections, political consultants have considered these areas a barometer of swing voters, including women and college-educated white voters who have recently shifted Democratic. In 2018, several neighborhoods east of Phoenix popular with church members voted both for Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
“From the time we’re young we’re taught - as are all Christians - that we’re supposed to love God and love our neighbor,” said Kathy Varga, a 39-year-old speech therapist from Mesa. “I don’t see that happening right now. I just see the country becoming more divided.”
Varga reluctantly voted for Trump in 2016 because she was worried about Democrat Hillary Clinton putting liberal justices on the Supreme Court. Now Varga says he believes Trump is threatening government institutions and the Constitution. She plans to vote for Biden, even though she disagrees with many of his policies, because “the most important thing right now is to unify the country.”
It’s unclear precisely how common Varga’s view is among her faith. In the 2018 midterm elections, about two-thirds of voters who are members of the church nationwide favored Republicans. But Latter-day Saints were less likely than other traditionally Republican religious groups to approve of the way Trump was doing his job.
Among members of the faith, 67% voted for Republicans, and 56% said they approved of Trump’s job performance. By comparison, 80% of white evangelical Christians nationwide voted for Republican candidates, and nearly as many said they approve of Trump, according to an analysis of 1,528 midterm voters who are members of the faith, based on data from VoteCast, a broad national survey conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago.
Even Latter-day Saints who turned out to hear Pence this past week acknowledged they were disappointed in Trump’s infidelity or uncouth language. But they also viewed it as a tolerable consequence of electing a straight-talking man unafraid to ruffle feathers.
Although Trump rarely speaks about his faith or attends church services, these supporters said they believed he was a defender of religious freedoms, which is of paramount importance to members of a faith that settled in what is now Utah to escape persecution.
“We’re able to continue practicing our religion. That’s how our country was founded,” said Norma Hastings, a 71-year-old church member from Gilbert. She said she thinks Pence “keeps Trump on the right road.”
Jenn Crandall, a 48-year-old pianist from Mesa, said she looks to other figures in the administration and the campaign for connection.
“I like how hard working his kids are, his wife,” Crandall said. “He’s a family guy.”
Biden’s campaign is also targeting Latter-day Saints in Arizona and elsewhere. A Latter-day Saints for Joe group was formed more than a year ago. In a virtual town hall for church members on Saturday, campaign surrogates tied Biden’s economic, health care and immigration agendas to church teachings on self reliance, family values and refuge.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “prioritizes caring for the poor. It prioritizes strong families, a strong moral code, sacrifice,” said Eric Biggart, co-chair of LDS Democrats who lives in Salt Lake City. “To me, it’s hard to be a Republican and a member of the church at the same time.”
The church does not back candidates or political parties.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Belarus president's supporters rally in protest-hit capital

MINSK , Belarus ( AP ) - Thousands of people have gathered in a square near Belarus ‘ main government building for a rally to support President Alexander Lukashenko , while opposition supporters whose protests have convulsed the country for a week aim to hold a major march in the capital .
Protests began late on Aug. 9 at the closing of presidential elections .
Official results say the authoritarian Lukashenko , in office since 1994 , won a sixth term in a landslide with about 80 % of the vote .
Protesters claim the election was a sham and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were arrested over several days of protests , which police harshly tried to put down with clubs , rubber bullets and flash grenades .
Many detainees were later released , complaining of brutality from police while in custody and showing extensive bruises .
As Lukashenko ’ s supporters waited for his expected appearance at the Sunday rally , many chanted Lukashenko ’ s nickname of “ Batka , ” or father , and “ Maidan won ’ t take place , ” referring to the months of protest in Ukraine in 2013-14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
“ Now everybody is against Lukashenko and the president needs our support .
Everybody suddenly has forgotten the good things he has done - there ’ s order in the country , we don ’ t have war of hunger , ” said supporter Tamara Yurshevich , a 35-year-old lawyer .
Belarus ‘ declining economy and Lukashenko ’ s dismissal of the coronavirus pandemic as “ psychosis ” are among the factors that galvanized the largest and most sustained protests the country has seen .

MINSK, Belarus (AP) - The embattled president of Belarus tried to put on a show of strength Sunday, holding a rally with tens of thousands of supporters and rejecting any possibility of repeating the vote that gave him a sixth term. But opponents countered with a far larger demonstration that attracted as many as 200,000 people.
Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic of 9.5 million since 1994, lashed out at the West and declared to his crowd that the country would “perish as a state” if the election were rerun.
About 50,000 people listened to Lukashenko in a square near the main government building in the capital of Minsk. But as he spoke, throngs of supporters streamed to their own rally about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) away. It was the eighth straight day of anti-government demonstrations.
During 26 years in office, Lukashenko has repressed opposition figures and independent news media. But this year, protesters fed up with the country’s declining living standards and Lukashenko’s dismissal of the coronavirus pandemic have posed the biggest challenge to his rule.
The 65-year-old president claimed Sunday that Western powers were gathering military units in countries along Belarus’ western borders and denounced suggestions by some Western nations that Belarus should repeat the Aug. 9 presidential vote, which opposition supporters say gave Lukashenko a victory only through massive fraud. Official results say he received 80% of the vote.
“If we follow their lead (and rerun the election), we will perish as a state,” Lukashenko declared, a day after saying he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed that Russia would send unspecified security assistance to the former Soviet republic if Lukashenko asked for it.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu dismissed the president’s claim about troops gathering, tweeting that there is no NATO buildup in the region.
“NATO’s multinational presence in the eastern part of the Alliance is not a threat to any country,” Lungescu said. “It’s strictly defensive, proportionate & designed to prevent conflict & preserve peace.”
The Collective Treaty Security Organization, a military alliance of six former Soviet states including Belarus, said Sunday it would make a decision about providing assistance if Belarus requested it.
Thousands have been arrested at the post-election protests, which police tried to put down with clubs, rubber bullets and flash grenades. When many detainees were later released, they showed extensive bruises they said were due to police beatings. Some protesters carried pictures of loved ones they said had been beaten so badly that they could not attend.
As Lukashenko’s supporters waited for his appearance Sunday, many chanted his nickname of “Batka,” or “father.”
They also chanted “Maidan won’t take place,” referring to the months of protests in Ukraine in 2013 and 2014 that drove then-President Viktor Yanukovych to flee the country. Shortly after Yanukovych’s departure, Putin then moved to annex the entire Crimea Peninsula from Ukraine, claiming a huge swath of its Black Sea coast for Russia.
“Now everybody is against Lukashenko, and the president needs our support. Everybody suddenly has forgotten the good things he has done - there’s order in the country, we don’t have war or hunger,” said supporter Tamara Yurshevich, a 35-year-old lawyer.
As Lukashenko spoke, throngs of opponents converged on a park about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles away). In the late afternoon, they streamed into the square vacated by Lukashenko supporters.
In contrast to the first days of protest when large contingents of police and special forces were deployed against protesters, police appeared to be all but absent when the opposition supporters entered the square. The gathering ended peacefully about three hours later. There were no official figures on crowd size, but some reports estimated it at about 200,000.
Protesters were thrilled by the turnout Sunday, and many felt they had momentum.
“The result of the election is on the streets and squares of Belarus today - it’s a sea of people who will never agree to live as before with Lukashenko,” said Feliks Zharikov, an engineer who came with his wife and son.
“Suddenly, the mood in society changed and everyone suddenly understood that Lukashenko lost,” said Anna Trushevich, a university biology instructor.
European Union foreign ministers have rejected the election results and on Friday began drawing up a list of officials in Belarus who could face sanctions. If Lukashenko were to resume a harsh crackdown, the response from the West could be even stronger.
But calling on Russia for military help is also perilous. Although Russia and Belarus agreed in 1997 to a close union, Lukashenko frequently claims that his giant neighbor aims to absorb Belarus entirely. In the run-up to the election, Belarus arrested 33 Russian private military contractors whom it claimed had been sent int to destabilize the country.
On Sunday, a video circulated on YouTube that purported to show Belarus’ ambassador to Slovakia, Igor Leshchenya, expressing “solidarity with those who came out on the streets of Belarusian cities with peaceful marches so that their voice could be heard.”
The embassy could not be reached for comment, but Slovakia Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok indicated the video was legitimate. It would be the first indication of dissent at a high level of government.
“We have noted the strong statement of the #Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia. It confirms our assessment of current situation in #Belarus. This is a clear signal from a senior Belarusian diplomat who courageously supports his fellow citizens,” he said on Twitter.
___
Associated Press Writer Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this story.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Lebanese president calls probe into Beirut blast 'complex'

BEIRUT ( AP ) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the probe into this month ’ s devastating blast in Beirut is “ very complex ” and would not be finished quickly .
Responding to calls that he step down , Aoun told French TV station BFMTV that it would be “ impossible ” because it would create a power vacuum .
The interview , his first with foreign media since the Aug. 4 blast , aired late Saturday .
The cause of the fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut ’ s port remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s top leadership , including Aoun , and security officials were aware of the chemicals that had been stored there for years .
The blast killed 180 people and wounded more than 6,000 .
At least 30 people are still missing .
Aoun said the probe is divided into three parts .
The first aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the cargo , the second where it came from and who shipped it and the third to find who was responsible for handling and securing it .
“ We had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we found out that the issues are very complex and require time , ” said Aoun .
When asked about what measures he took when he learned of the explosives in July , Aoun said the information came to him “ very late , ” but his military adviser was reassured that those with direct responsibility were handling the matter .
“ They all were informed , ” Aoun said , adding that he made sure those who could take measures to secure the area were in the loop .
Aoun said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because “ they , more than us , have the capability and ability to find out the details of what got the ship here , what is the source and who owns it.
” Aoun , who is backed by the powerful Hezbollah militia , said he asked for satellite images to determine if there was an air raid , saying he hasn ’ t ruled out the possibility of a foreign missile attack .
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has denied his group has any role in the explosion and said any international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of responsibility in the port explosion , if it had a hand .
Israel has denied involvement and so far no evidence has emerged to suggest otherwise .
Many Lebanese want the probe taken out of the hands of their government , fearing that bickering among the long-entrenched political factions , notorious for corruption , won ’ t allow any results to come to light that are damaging to their leadership .
Popular anger has swelled over the ruling elite ’ s corruption , mismanagement and political uncertainty .
Under pressure , Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hezbollah and allies , resigned Aug. 10 .
For now , there are no formal consultations underway on who will replace Hassan Diab as prime minister and no likely candidate has emerged .
Asked about the public anger , Aoun said he shares the rage .
“ They call me the father of the people , ” he said .
“ I am one of them.
” But Aoun said “ it is impossible ” for him to step down because it would create a power vacuum .
He also said the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The political and popular atmosphere can ’ t take new elections before restoring calm , ” he said .
“ They would be emotional , and not a true representation of the people.
” Aoun was elected in 2016 , breaking more than two years of deadlock in Lebanon , which remained without a president .
In light of last week ’ s deal establishing full diplomatic relations between the Israel and United Arab Emirates , Aoun didn ’ t rule out that Lebanon may one day make peace with Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were solved .
Asked if Lebanon too would reach a peace deal , he replied : “ It depends.
” “ We have problems with Israel that we need to solve first , ” Aoun said .
Lebanon and Israel are technically still at war , and Hezbollah has engaged in occasional clashes along the border .
Hezbollah and Israel last engaged in a full-fledged conflict in a 50-day war in the summer of 2006 .
The UAE and Israel opened diplomatic ties as part of a deal brokered by the U.S. that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to annex West Bank land sought by the Palestinians for a future state .

BEIRUT (AP) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the probe into this month’s devastating blast in Beirut is “very complex” and would not be finished quickly.
Responding to calls that he step down, Aoun told French TV station BFMTV that it would be “impossible” because it would create a power vacuum. The interview, his first with foreign media since the Aug. 4 blast, aired late Saturday.
The cause of the fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut’s port remains unclear. Documents have emerged showing that the country’s top leadership, including Aoun, and security officials were aware of the chemicals that had been stored there for years.
The blast killed 180 people and wounded more than 6,000. At least 30 people are still missing.
Aoun said the probe is divided into three parts. The first aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the cargo, the second where it came from and who shipped it and the third to find who was responsible for handling and securing it.
“We had the determination to reach conclusions quickly, but we found out that the issues are very complex and require time,” said Aoun.
When asked about what measures he took when he learned of the explosives in July, Aoun said the information came to him “very late,” but his military adviser was reassured that those with direct responsibility were handling the matter.
“They all were informed,” Aoun said, adding that he made sure those who could take measures to secure the area were in the loop.
Aoun said the FBI and French investigators were helping because “they, more than us, have the capability and ability to find out the details of what got the ship here, what is the source and who owns it.”
A nine-member team of FBI investigators landed in Beirut on Sunday, according to a Lebanese aviation official.
Aoun, who is backed by the powerful Hezbollah militia, said he asked for satellite images to determine if there was an air raid, saying he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a foreign missile attack.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has denied his group has any role in the explosion and said any international probe would likely seek to clear Israel of responsibility in the port explosion, if it had a hand.
Israel has denied involvement and so far no evidence has emerged to suggest otherwise.
Many Lebanese want the probe taken out of the hands of their government, fearing that bickering among the long-entrenched political factions, notorious for corruption, won’t allow any results to come to light that are damaging to their leadership.
Popular anger has swelled over the ruling elite’s corruption, mismanagement and political uncertainty. Under pressure, Lebanon’s government, also backed by Hezbollah and allies, resigned Aug. 10. For now, there are no formal consultations underway on who will replace Hassan Diab as prime minister and no likely candidate has emerged.
Asked about the public anger, Aoun said he shares the rage.
“They call me the father of the people,” he said. “I am one of them.”
But Aoun said “it is impossible” for him to step down because it would create a power vacuum. He also said the moment is not right to hold presidential elections.
“The political and popular atmosphere can’t take new elections before restoring calm,” he said. “They would be emotional, and not a true representation of the people.”
Aoun was elected in 2016, breaking more than two years of deadlock in Lebanon, which remained without a president.
In light of last week’s deal establishing full diplomatic relations between the Israel and United Arab Emirates, Aoun didn’t rule out that Lebanon may one day make peace with Israel as well, once its unresolved issues were solved.
Asked if Lebanon too would reach a peace deal, he replied: “It depends.”
“We have problems with Israel that we need to solve first,” Aoun said.
Lebanon and Israel are technically still at war, and Hezbollah has engaged in occasional clashes along the border. Hezbollah and Israel last engaged in a full-fledged conflict in a 50-day war in the summer of 2006.
The UAE and Israel opened diplomatic ties as part of a deal brokered by the U.S. that required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex West Bank land sought by the Palestinians for a future state.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Andre Narbonne arrested in 9/11 memorial vandalism

WASHINGTONVILLE , N.Y. — Police charged a 40-year-old man with cutting down a flagpole at a Sept. 11 memorial in upstate New York , an act of vandalism that prompted local and national outrage .
Andre Narbonne was arraigned Friday on charges related to a vandalized church sign and three severed flagpoles 50 miles ( 80 kilometers ) north of New York City , including one at a memorial honoring five New York City firefighters from Washingtonville who died in the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center , according to the Times Herald-Record .
The memorial desecration on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with some conservatives implying it was the work of radicals .
Donald Trump Jr. , the president ’ s son , warned on Twitter that it showed what will “ come to your home town ” if Democrats win in November .
But police on Friday did not offer a motive .
A photo attached to a press release showed a message scrawled on the base of the severed pole in Washingtonville reading : “ God does not want the U.S. bent on a virus !
Don ’ t be idolatrous.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message .
“ It is sickening to me that someone could do something like this while not caring about the sacrifices that have been suffered by those who have defended our freedom , ” New Windsor Police Chief Robert Doss said .
Narbonne also was was charged with cutting down flagpoles at a strip mall and a cemetery in early July in nearby New Windsor .
He was arraigned on felony and misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and released .
A phone number could not be found for the New Windsor resident and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawyer .
Police said Narbonne traveled to Washington state after cutting the poles .

WASHINGTONVILLE, N.Y. — Police charged a 40-year-old man with cutting down a flagpole at a Sept. 11 memorial in upstate New York, an act of vandalism that prompted local and national outrage.
Andre Narbonne was arraigned Friday on charges related to a vandalized church sign and three severed flagpoles 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of New York City, including one at a memorial honoring five New York City firefighters from Washingtonville who died in the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, according to the Times Herald-Record.
The memorial desecration on July 8 spurred a spate of media coverage, with some conservatives implying it was the work of radicals. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, warned on Twitter that it showed what will “come to your home town” if Democrats win in November.
But police on Friday did not offer a motive. A photo attached to a press release showed a message scrawled on the base of the severed pole in Washingtonville reading: “God does not want the U.S. bent on a virus! Don’t be idolatrous.” Officials did not indicate who wrote the message.
“It is sickening to me that someone could do something like this while not caring about the sacrifices that have been suffered by those who have defended our freedom,” New Windsor Police Chief Robert Doss said.
Narbonne also was was charged with cutting down flagpoles at a strip mall and a cemetery in early July in nearby New Windsor. He was arraigned on felony and misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and released.
A phone number could not be found for the New Windsor resident and it was not clear if he had a lawyer.
Police said Narbonne traveled to Washington state after cutting the poles.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Ari Maybe, Tabin Ibershoff end Breonna Taylor hunger strike after 25 days

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — Two Kentucky hunger strikers seeking the firing of officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor ended their protest on Friday after going nearly a month without food .
Ari Maybe and Tabin Ibershoff were two of four protesters who started a hunger strike on July 20 , demanding the officers be fired and stripped of their pensions , The Courier-Journal reported .
The other two hunger strikers ended their protests earlier , one after 15 days and one after 20 .
The officers have not been fired , and Maybe said the strikers were never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lost 19 pounds as she went 25 days without food , said the Louisville Metro Police Department ’ s Sunday announcement that protests would no longer be allowed in streets the motivated her and Ibershoff to help the movement in a new way .
“ The decision to end this strike has not been an easy one , ” Maybe said .
“ … We realize this movement needs us .
LMPD recently attempting to rob the people of the right to protest motivated us to sacrifice this action and strengthen ourselves @ @ @ @ @

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two Kentucky hunger strikers seeking the firing of officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor ended their protest on Friday after going nearly a month without food.
Ari Maybe and Tabin Ibershoff were two of four protesters who started a hunger strike on July 20, demanding the officers be fired and stripped of their pensions, The Courier-Journal reported. The other two hunger strikers ended their protests earlier, one after 15 days and one after 20. The officers have not been fired, and Maybe said the strikers were never contacted by city officials.
Maybe, who lost 19 pounds as she went 25 days without food, said the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Sunday announcement that protests would no longer be allowed in streets the motivated her and Ibershoff to help the movement in a new way.
“The decision to end this strike has not been an easy one,” Maybe said. “… We realize this movement needs us. LMPD recently attempting to rob the people of the right to protest motivated us to sacrifice this action and strengthen ourselves for the fight.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Student mask mandate challenged in Connecticut lawsuit

NEW BRITAIN , Conn. — Two Connecticut parents filed an appeal in state court challenging a Department of Education requirement that students returning to classrooms this fall wear face masks .
The appeal filed Friday in Superior Court in New Britain seeks to have the department rescind the requirement to wear face coverings and to issue an order stating that neither the department nor local school districts can impose such a requirement , according to the Hartford Courant .
“ The Defendants ’ requirements regarding the use of face coverings , masks , and face shields in schools … place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plaintiffs ’ fundamental right to an education , and is a denial of their right to equal protection of the law , ” according to the filing .
An emailed response Saturday from the Department of Education and the Office of the Attorney General said : “ We are reviewing the complaint and will respond in court .
Masks keep people safe .
Please wear your mask.
” The parents named in the filing are Jenna Matos , whose children aged 5 and 7 attend a parochial school in Manchester , and Raena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child attends the local high school .
The parents were joined in the appeal by the Connecticut Freedom Alliance .
The mask requirement was included in a plan the education department released this summer stipulating certain rules schools must follow if they open for in-person learning this fall .
Department of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said earlier this month that more than 55 % of the state ’ s school districts are planning to offer full , in-person learning in the fall semester , while 44 % are planning some form of hybrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering full , in-person learning for younger students .
Officials have said any parent who wants their child to take classes entirely online this year will have that option .

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Two Connecticut parents filed an appeal in state court challenging a Department of Education requirement that students returning to classrooms this fall wear face masks.
The appeal filed Friday in Superior Court in New Britain seeks to have the department rescind the requirement to wear face coverings and to issue an order stating that neither the department nor local school districts can impose such a requirement, according to the Hartford Courant.
“The Defendants’ requirements regarding the use of face coverings, masks, and face shields in schools … place an unconstitutional burden and restriction on the Plaintiffs’ fundamental right to an education, and is a denial of their right to equal protection of the law,” according to the filing.
An emailed response Saturday from the Department of Education and the Office of the Attorney General said: “We are reviewing the complaint and will respond in court. Masks keep people safe. Please wear your mask.”
The parents named in the filing are Jenna Matos, whose children aged 5 and 7 attend a parochial school in Manchester, and Raena Ferguson of East Lyme, whose 14-year-old child attends the local high school. The parents were joined in the appeal by the Connecticut Freedom Alliance.
The mask requirement was included in a plan the education department released this summer stipulating certain rules schools must follow if they open for in-person learning this fall.
Department of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said earlier this month that more than 55% of the state’s school districts are planning to offer full, in-person learning in the fall semester, while 44% are planning some form of hybrid learning, which could include some buildings offering full, in-person learning for younger students.
Officials have said any parent who wants their child to take classes entirely online this year will have that option.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--9/11 'Tribute in Light' back on after coronavirus cancellation

NEW YORK — The annual light display honoring victims of 9/11 is back on , officials announced Saturday , saying New York health officials will supervise this year ’ s tribute to ensure workers ’ safety amid concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ This year it is especially important that we all appreciate and commemorate 9/11 , the lives lost and the heroism displayed as New Yorkers are once again called upon to face a common enemy , ” Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said in a statement .
The announcement came days after the National September 11 Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over concerns the coronavirus might spread among crews creating twin columns of light to represent the World Trade Center in the Manhattan sky .
Alice Greenwald , president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum , thanked former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg , Cuomo and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation “ for their assistance in offsetting the increased costs associated with the health and safety considerations around the tribute this year.
” “ This year , its message of hope , endurance and resilience are more important than ever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Tunnel to Towers Foundation recently decided to hold an alternative 9/11 Never Forget ceremony after the National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced family members won ’ t read the names of the nearly 3,000 victims this year because of the pandemic .
The foundation ’ s tribute will be held just south of the memorial plaza and relatives will read the victims ’ names , with mask-wearing enforced and podiums being sanitized after each speaker .

NEW YORK — The annual light display honoring victims of 9/11 is back on, officials announced Saturday, saying New York health officials will supervise this year’s tribute to ensure workers’ safety amid concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
“This year it is especially important that we all appreciate and commemorate 9/11, the lives lost and the heroism displayed as New Yorkers are once again called upon to face a common enemy,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.
The announcement came days after the National September 11 Memorial & Museum canceled the Tribute in Light over concerns the coronavirus might spread among crews creating twin columns of light to represent the World Trade Center in the Manhattan sky.
Alice Greenwald, president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, thanked former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Cuomo and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation “for their assistance in offsetting the increased costs associated with the health and safety considerations around the tribute this year.”
“This year, its message of hope, endurance and resilience are more important than ever,” Greenwald said in a statement.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation recently decided to hold an alternative 9/11 Never Forget ceremony after the National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced family members won’t read the names of the nearly 3,000 victims this year because of the pandemic.
The foundation’s tribute will be held just south of the memorial plaza and relatives will read the victims’ names, with mask-wearing enforced and podiums being sanitized after each speaker.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--'Ballot harvesting' battle rages amid new voting laws

LAS VEGAS — As President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign challenged Nevada ’ s new voting law in court , the president and Republicans argued the rules would facilitate fraud and illegal voting .
Chief among their criticisms was a provision allowing “ ballot harvesting.
” The Nevada lawsuit highlighted a practice that has long fueled Republicans ’ suspicions about mail-in voting .
Although widely practiced and rarely found to be abused , the rule permitting a third party to collect and return multiple ballots remains a source of partisan dispute .
Those fights are likely to continue up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws for the pandemic .
One of the few recent instances of fraud related to ballot collection happened in North Carolina in 2018 , resulting in a congressional election being overturned .
More than half of states allow a third party to collect ballots .
And political groups and campaigns from both parties have run ballot-collection programs aimed at boosting turnout and ensuring voters who are older , homebound , disabled , or live far from U.S. postal services can get their ballot returned .
“ This is not new ground , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frierson said in a statement .
“ Allowing someone to assist a voter in turning in their ballot helps protect vulnerable populations , including our tribal and rural communities.
” Trump and the GOP contend “ ballot harvesting ” opens the door for fraud and have fought to restrict it .
This has escalated as states prepare for greater reliance on absentee voting or vote-by-mail amid COVID-19 .
“ The issue has taken on heightened importance because there are so many people that are either confined to their homes or fearful of going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , ” said Wendy Weiser , director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice .
This year , Republicans and Democrats have squared off in lawsuits over the third-party collection of ballots in Pennsylvania , Florida and Minnesota .
In Wisconsin , a conservative law firm known as the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty requested that election officials outlaw the process .
Though that state ’ s laws don ’ t specifically address “ ballot harvesting , ” officials said they weren ’ t aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state and did not impose a rule prohibiting it .
The 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year struck down a 2016 law passed by Republicans in Arizona that made it a felony for someone besides a voter ’ s family member or caregiver to return an absentee ballot .
While the appeals court sided with Democrats who had sued to challenge the law , the ruling is on hold while the state ’ s Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains in force for the 2020 election .
In Nevada , an easing of ballot collection rules was included in a new law that calls for automatically sending ballots to all active voters this November .
Trump ’ s reelection campaign , the Republican National Committee and Nevada GOP filed a lawsuit last week asking a judge to strike down the law .
The complaint makes a brief mention of “ ballot harvesting , ” alleging without supporting evidence that it is among changes that “ facilitate fraud and other illegitimate voting practices.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked a judge this past week to dismiss the lawsuit .
A hearing has not yet been held .
Election security experts say voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting , including by mail .
They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina as one of the few instances where there were reports of fraud related to ballot collection .
A state probe there found that a Republican political operative illegally gathered ballots and workers testified that they were directed to collect blank or incomplete ballots , forge signatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election .
North Carolina is among 10 states that generally only allow a family member or caregiver to drop off someone ’ s ballot , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures .
Nevada is among 26 other states allowing voters to more broadly designate someone to drop off their ballot .
About a dozen of those states have imposed limits on how many ballots a person can submit .
Minnesota limits a person to collecting and returning three ballots , for example .
California since 2016 has allowed for someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from voters , though it does bar someone from being paid based on how many ballots they return .
California ’ s law became the source of controversy and GOP criticism after Democrats used the practice to their advantage in 2018 , flipping Republican-held congressional seats after a flood absentee ballots came in before the deadline and were counted after Election Day .
Richard L. Hasen , a law professor and elections expert at the University of California , Irvine , School of Law , said that despite then-U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no evidence in those contests that any ballots were tampered with .
“ On the one hand , there ’ s going to be much more need for the use of absentee ballots because of the potential safety concerns of voting in person , ” Hasen said of the 2020 election .
“ On the other hand , there are going to be more people who are going to be receiving absentee ballots and more potential for interfering with them.
” Hasen said that ’ s particularly true for states like Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the mail regardless of whether they requested one .
Nevada ’ s law does not include limits on how many ballots can be collected or restrictions on payment .
It does allow someone to be charged with a felony for blocking the ballot from being submitted or failing to return it after being entrusted to do so .
In addition to expanding ballot collection , Nevada ’ s law also allows voters who are over 65 , have a disability or are unable to read or write to have someone assist them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions have also drawn criticism from Trump .
Nevada requires anyone assisting a voter in physically marking a ballot to include a written statement with the name , address and signature of the person who assisted the voter .
Associated Press writers Sam Metz in Carson City , Nevada , and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report .

LAS VEGAS — As President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign challenged Nevada’s new voting law in court, the president and Republicans argued the rules would facilitate fraud and illegal voting. Chief among their criticisms was a provision allowing “ballot harvesting.”
The Nevada lawsuit highlighted a practice that has long fueled Republicans’ suspicions about mail-in voting.
Although widely practiced and rarely found to be abused, the rule permitting a third party to collect and return multiple ballots remains a source of partisan dispute. Those fights are likely to continue up to Election Day as states adjust their laws for the pandemic. One of the few recent instances of fraud related to ballot collection happened in North Carolina in 2018, resulting in a congressional election being overturned.
More than half of states allow a third party to collect ballots. And political groups and campaigns from both parties have run ballot-collection programs aimed at boosting turnout and ensuring voters who are older, homebound, disabled, or live far from U.S. postal services can get their ballot returned.
“This is not new ground,” Nevada’s Democratic Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson said in a statement. “Allowing someone to assist a voter in turning in their ballot helps protect vulnerable populations, including our tribal and rural communities.”
Trump and the GOP contend “ballot harvesting” opens the door for fraud and have fought to restrict it. This has escalated as states prepare for greater reliance on absentee voting or vote-by-mail amid COVID-19.
“The issue has taken on heightened importance because there are so many people that are either confined to their homes or fearful of going to out to the post office because of the coronavirus,” said Wendy Weiser, director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
This year, Republicans and Democrats have squared off in lawsuits over the third-party collection of ballots in Pennsylvania, Florida and Minnesota. In Wisconsin, a conservative law firm known as the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty requested that election officials outlaw the process. Though that state’s laws don’t specifically address “ballot harvesting,” officials said they weren’t aware of any efforts to systematically collect absentee ballots in the state and did not impose a rule prohibiting it.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year struck down a 2016 law passed by Republicans in Arizona that made it a felony for someone besides a voter’s family member or caregiver to return an absentee ballot. While the appeals court sided with Democrats who had sued to challenge the law, the ruling is on hold while the state’s Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, the ballot collection restriction remains in force for the 2020 election.
In Nevada, an easing of ballot collection rules was included in a new law that calls for automatically sending ballots to all active voters this November.
Trump’s reelection campaign, the Republican National Committee and Nevada GOP filed a lawsuit last week asking a judge to strike down the law. The complaint makes a brief mention of “ballot harvesting,” alleging without supporting evidence that it is among changes that “facilitate fraud and other illegitimate voting practices.”
Nevada’s Democratic attorney general asked a judge this past week to dismiss the lawsuit. A hearing has not yet been held.
Election security experts say voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail. They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina as one of the few instances where there were reports of fraud related to ballot collection. A state probe there found that a Republican political operative illegally gathered ballots and workers testified that they were directed to collect blank or incomplete ballots, forge signatures and fill in votes. Officials overturned the election.
North Carolina is among 10 states that generally only allow a family member or caregiver to drop off someone’s ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Nevada is among 26 other states allowing voters to more broadly designate someone to drop off their ballot. About a dozen of those states have imposed limits on how many ballots a person can submit. Minnesota limits a person to collecting and returning three ballots, for example.
California since 2016 has allowed for someone to collect an unlimited number of ballots from voters, though it does bar someone from being paid based on how many ballots they return.
California’s law became the source of controversy and GOP criticism after Democrats used the practice to their advantage in 2018, flipping Republican-held congressional seats after a flood absentee ballots came in before the deadline and were counted after Election Day.
Richard L. Hasen, a law professor and elections expert at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, said that despite then-U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan declaring it “bizarre,” there was no evidence in those contests that any ballots were tampered with.
“On the one hand, there’s going to be much more need for the use of absentee ballots because of the potential safety concerns of voting in person,” Hasen said of the 2020 election. “On the other hand, there are going to be more people who are going to be receiving absentee ballots and more potential for interfering with them.”
Hasen said that’s particularly true for states like Nevada that plan to send ballots to voters in the mail regardless of whether they requested one.
Nevada’s law does not include limits on how many ballots can be collected or restrictions on payment. It does allow someone to be charged with a felony for blocking the ballot from being submitted or failing to return it after being entrusted to do so.
In addition to expanding ballot collection, Nevada’s law also allows voters who are over 65, have a disability or are unable to read or write to have someone assist them in physically marking their ballot. Those provisions have also drawn criticism from Trump.
Nevada requires anyone assisting a voter in physically marking a ballot to include a written statement with the name, address and signature of the person who assisted the voter.
___
Associated Press writers Sam Metz in Carson City, Nevada, and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--'Get a grip': UK government urged to fix England exam chaos

LONDON ( AP ) - The British government was urged Sunday to “ get a grip ” over how grades are being awarded to school students in England , who were unable to take exams earlier this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The latest confusion emerged late Saturday when English exam regulator Ofqual launched a review on its own just-published guidance on how students can appeal grades awarded under a complicated system .
In a brief statement hours after issuing the guidance , Ofqual said the policy setting out the criteria for students to make appeals was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that further information would be released “ in due course.
” No reason was provided for the sudden change , a development that is likely to cause further upset and anxiety among teenagers , primarily those who are 18 , who received results for their final-year A-level exams last week .
The change has piled more pressure on Education Secretary Gavin Williamson , who has also faced acute criticism for failing to get all schools back in June as originally planned .
One leading lawmaker from the governing Conservative Party said the confusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of students had their exams , including GCSEs traditionally taken two years before A-levels , canceled earlier this year because of the pandemic .
The grades are vital for many college and job applications .
GCSE results are due on Thursday .
Because students couldn ’ t take exams , the regulator is issuing grades based on a complicated “ moderation ” algorithm that saw almost 40 % of A-level students receive lower grades than those predicted by their teachers .
The government has said the process was necessary to prevent “ grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worthless .
Critics have said there are flaws in the method , not least because a link with a school ’ s past performance has meant thousands of bright students were effectively discriminated against because they were at a historically underperforming school .
Last week , Williamson said students could take whatever grade was higher between the teacher ’ s predicted grade or any trial exam they took before the pandemic .
He also said students could take an exam in the autumn instead .
However , in its document Saturday , Ofqual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than the teacher ’ s prediction , then the latter would take precedence .
Robert Halfon , chairman of the education committee of lawmakers , said the situation is a “ huge mess ” and “ unacceptable.
” “ Students and teachers are incredibly anxious - particularly the students who are worried about their future , ” he told the BBC .
“ This has got to be sorted out.
” And Kate Green , the education spokeswoman for the main opposition Labour Party , said Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarity to students .
“ A credible appeals system should have been the government ’ s first priority , but three days later there is absolutely no clarity on how young people can challenge their unfair grades , ” she said .
Some students are looking to take legal action against the regulator to get the downgrades overturned by the courts .

LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced mounting calls Sunday to sort out a crisis over how crucial final grades are being awarded to high school students in England during the pandemic. Hundreds of students took to the streets of London to protest what they consider a grave injustice.
Gathering outside the Department for Education, the students vented frustration at a system that has already seen 40% of final-year A-level students receive lower grades than those predicted by their teachers. Since the grades are key markers to get into college, many students are clearly fearful the lower grades will jeopardize or limit their educational and vocational options.
Because English students couldn’t take their exams this summer as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of thousands of them have been assessed via a complicated “moderation” algorithm. Many students, parents and even some teachers say the algorithm is flawed.
A-level results, the exams for 18-year-olds on a handful of subjects taken just before getting into universities, were awarded Thursday. The more general GCSE results for 16-year-old students are due next Thursday.
Olivia Styles, 18, who ended up receiving lower grades than those projected by her teachers, burnt her results before the cheering crowd in central London even though her university plans had not been affected.
“By burning them, it’s sort of saying I don’t accept these results. These are not what I wanted, these are not what I deserved,” she said. “I want the results I’ve worked hard for over the past two years. I don’t want this piece of paper to define me as a person.”
The government has said the process was necessary to prevent “grade inflation” that it thinks would render the results worthless.
Critics say there are flaws in the methodology used, including a link with a school’s past performance, which has meant thousands of bright students were effectively penalized for being at a historically underperforming school.
In an attempt to douse concerns, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson indicated that students could use the highest result out of their teacher’s predicted grade, any trial exam they took before the pandemic, or sitting an actual exam in coming months. Williamson, who has also faced acute criticism for failing to get all schools back in June as originally planned, termed this a “triple lock process” that should give students “added security.”
However, on Saturday, England’s exam regulator Ofqual issued guidance that appeared to contradict Williamson, favoring teacher evaluations over trial exams, conflicts that would complicate any student’s appeal.
Hours later though, it announced a review on its own just-published appeals guidance. In a brief statement, it said the policy setting out the criteria for students to appeal their results was “being reviewed” by its board and that further information would be released “in due course.” No reason was provided for the sudden change.
Robert Halfon, a member of Johnson’s Conservative Party and chairman of parliament’s education committee, called the situation a “huge mess” that is “unacceptable.”
“Students and teachers are incredibly anxious - particularly the students who are worried about their future,” he told the BBC. “This has got to be sorted out.”
Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, bemoaned weeks of “chaos, confusion and incompetence” from the Conservative government and Johnson, who is thought to be on holiday.
Starmer urged a return to teacher assessments for A-level results - as has occurred in Scotland - and demanded “urgent action to avoid the same injustice” in the coming week’s GCSE results.
“Boris Johnson has been invisible during this crisis,” Starmer said in a tweet. “He needs to take personal responsibility, and fix it.”
Britain has Europe’s highest confirmed death toll in the pandemic, at nearly 46,800 deaths. Since students in England normally leave for their summer vacations in late July, they have missed weeks more of scheduled school than American students during the pandemic.
The government has vowed that all schools in England will reopen in September.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--William Perry Pendley Bureau of Land Management nomination to be withdrawn by Trump

SEATTLE — President Donald Trump intends to withdraw the nomination of William Perry Pendley to head the Bureau of Land Management , a senior administration official said Saturday - much to the relief of environmentalists who insisted the longtime advocate of selling federal lands should not be overseeing them .
Pendley , a former oil industry and property rights attorney from Wyoming , has been leading the agency for more than a year under a series of temporary orders from Interior Secretary David Bernhardt .
Democrats alleged the temporary orders were an attempt to skirt the nomination process , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have filed lawsuits to have Pendley removed from office .
Trump announced Pendley ’ s nomination to become the bureau ’ s director in June .
A senior administration official , speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter , confirmed Saturday that the president intended to withdraw that nomination .
“ Good !
” Bullock , a Democrat , tweeted Saturday .
“ William Perry Pendley wants to sell off our public lands – and has no business being in charge of them.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres in the U.S. West and much of the nation ’ s onshore oil and gas development .
The White House did not offer an explanation for the decision , which is not expected to become official until the Senate returns to session .
The Interior Department said in a statement that the president makes staffing decisions and that Pendley continues leading the agency as deputy director for programs and policy .
Pendley , who in a 2017 essay argued that the “ Founding Fathers intended all lands owned by the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades as president of the nonprofit Mountain States Legal Foundation , which has worked on behalf of ranchers , oil and gas drillers , miners and others seeking to use public lands for commercial gain .
Among the cases Pendley worked on was one challenging grizzly bear protections on national forest land .
In another , he sought to validate an energy developer ’ s claim to drill for oil on land considered sacred by the Blackfeet Indian Tribe near Glacier National Park in Montana .
A federal appeals court rejected the effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books that include “ War on the West : Government Tyranny on America ’ s Great Frontier , ” he has criticized environmentalists as extremists and expressed support for Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy , whose family has engaged in armed standoffs with federal agents .
In his announcement of the nomination , Trump said Pendley had “ worked to increase recreational opportunities on and access to our Nation ’ s public lands , heighten concern for the impact of wild horses and burros on public lands , and increase awareness of the Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department has disputed the notion that Pendley wants to sell off federal lands , saying the Bureau of Land Management has acquired 25,000 acres under his leadership .
In his position at the agency , Pendley has overseen the relocation of most of the bureau ’ s jobs from Washington to various locations in the West , including its new headquarters in Grand Junction , Colorado - a move conservationists consider an effort to weaken the agency .
The agency has also sought to ease rules for oil and gas drilling that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent proposal , which would streamline requirements for measuring and reporting oil and gas produced from federal land , is projected to save energy companies more than $ 130 million over the next decade .
“ William Perry Pendley has been unfit to lead the Bureau of Land Management every day since he was appointed acting director in 2019 , ” Collin O ’ Mara , president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation , said in an emailed statement .
“ The fact that he was nominated this June and not withdrawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke out illustrates the wrongheaded priorities of this administration.
” Jennifer Rokala , executive director of the Center for Western Priorities , called for the Trump administration to remove Pendley from his position .
“ Withdrawing William Perry Pendley ’ s nomination confirms he couldn ’ t even survive a confirmation process run by the president ’ s allies in the Senate .
Keeping him on the job anyway shows the depth of disdain Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump have for the Constitution , ” Rakola said .
“ The Bureau of Land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reason .
Whoever is in charge of one-tenth of all lands in America must be approved by the Senate , and these bald-faced attempts to evade the Senate ’ s advice-and-consent duties can not stand .
”

SEATTLE — President Donald Trump intends to withdraw the nomination of William Perry Pendley to head the Bureau of Land Management, a senior administration official said Saturday - much to the relief of environmentalists who insisted the longtime advocate of selling federal lands should not be overseeing them.
Pendley, a former oil industry and property rights attorney from Wyoming, has been leading the agency for more than a year under a series of temporary orders from Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. Democrats alleged the temporary orders were an attempt to skirt the nomination process, and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and conservation groups have filed lawsuits to have Pendley removed from office.
Trump announced Pendley’s nomination to become the bureau’s director in June. A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, confirmed Saturday that the president intended to withdraw that nomination.
“Good!” Bullock, a Democrat, tweeted Saturday. “William Perry Pendley wants to sell off our public lands – and has no business being in charge of them.”
The bureau oversees nearly a quarter-billion public acres in the U.S. West and much of the nation’s onshore oil and gas development.
The White House did not offer an explanation for the decision, which is not expected to become official until the Senate returns to session. The Interior Department said in a statement that the president makes staffing decisions and that Pendley continues leading the agency as deputy director for programs and policy.
Pendley, who in a 2017 essay argued that the “Founding Fathers intended all lands owned by the federal government to be sold,” spent three decades as president of the nonprofit Mountain States Legal Foundation, which has worked on behalf of ranchers, oil and gas drillers, miners and others seeking to use public lands for commercial gain.
Among the cases Pendley worked on was one challenging grizzly bear protections on national forest land. In another, he sought to validate an energy developer’s claim to drill for oil on land considered sacred by the Blackfeet Indian Tribe near Glacier National Park in Montana. A federal appeals court rejected the effort two months ago.
The author of books that include “War on the West: Government Tyranny on America’s Great Frontier,” he has criticized environmentalists as extremists and expressed support for Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, whose family has engaged in armed standoffs with federal agents.
In his announcement of the nomination, Trump said Pendley had “worked to increase recreational opportunities on and access to our Nation’s public lands, heighten concern for the impact of wild horses and burros on public lands, and increase awareness of the Bureau’s multiple-use mission.”
The Interior Department has disputed the notion that Pendley wants to sell off federal lands, saying the Bureau of Land Management has acquired 25,000 acres under his leadership.
In his position at the agency, Pendley has overseen the relocation of most of the bureau’s jobs from Washington to various locations in the West, including its new headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado - a move conservationists consider an effort to weaken the agency.
The agency has also sought to ease rules for oil and gas drilling that were adopted under the Obama administration. One recent proposal, which would streamline requirements for measuring and reporting oil and gas produced from federal land, is projected to save energy companies more than $130 million over the next decade.
“William Perry Pendley has been unfit to lead the Bureau of Land Management every day since he was appointed acting director in 2019,” Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said in an emailed statement. “The fact that he was nominated this June and not withdrawn until millions of Americans and elected officials spoke out illustrates the wrongheaded priorities of this administration.”
Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities, called for the Trump administration to remove Pendley from his position.
“Withdrawing William Perry Pendley’s nomination confirms he couldn’t even survive a confirmation process run by the president’s allies in the Senate. Keeping him on the job anyway shows the depth of disdain Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump have for the Constitution,” Rakola said. “The Bureau of Land Management director is a Senate-confirmed position for a reason. Whoever is in charge of one-tenth of all lands in America must be approved by the Senate, and these bald-faced attempts to evade the Senate’s advice-and-consent duties cannot stand.”
___
AP writer Aamer Madhani contributed from Bedminster, New Jersey.


washingtontimes--2020-08-16--Justin Malone, filmmaker, documentary showcases stories of Black conservative thinkers

An occasional interview series with everyday Americans who are challenging the status quo .
Jolted by an MSNBC host ’ s hostile treatment of the late Herman Cain in a 2011 interview , filmmaker Justin Malone set out on a path bucking the media establishment that has led him to directing this year ’ s surprise hit documentary “ Uncle Tom.
” He was just coming out of film school , uncertain of his politics and his future , when he saw MSNBC host Lawrence O ’ Donnell accuse then-Republican presidential candidate Cain , who died this month , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t believe what I was seeing , ” Mr. Malone told The Washington Times .
“ I was sort of undergoing my own political transformation at the time and the seed was planted right there.
” He remains astonished that an accomplished Black professional could be treated with such boldfaced contempt on a television news program .
The notion that conservative thinking could be perceived as hostile or alien to the Black experience captivated him .
“ It just seemed silly , to think Black people couldn ’ t be conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Mr. Malone , who is White .
The outlook permeates his film “ Uncle Tom , ” a black-and-white documentary that showcases several Black conservatives .
The movie proved a smash hit , raking in $ 400,000 its opening weekend to top the documentary charts .
What ’ s more , the viewers love it .
The people who have paid to download “ Uncle Tom ” have given it 98 % positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes while , over on IMDb , more than 2,500 people have scored it 9.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attracted scant attention from film critics .
“ It ’ s been ignored more than bashed , ” Mr. Malone said of the film , for which he shares writing and producing credits with conservative media personality Larry Elder .
“ I knew we were doing something good , but it ’ s all been a lot of fun , I got ta admit.
” The success of “ Uncle Tom ” has surprised Mr. Malone , 37 , a divorced father of two daughters .
Although “ Uncle Tom ” was released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Mr. Trump is a theme , Mr. Malone insisted he had no partisan goal .
He wound up deleting a scene in which presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden talks about his deep friendship and admiration for former Sen. Strom Thurmond , the only Democrat who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and who later switched to the Republican Party .
“ I didn ’ t want it to be a hit piece on Biden , ” Mr. Malone said .
While Mr. Malone said he did not vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his presidency .
“ This cult-like worship of Obama kind of scares me , ” he said .
“ But I kept my mouth shut .
I rooted for him .
I wanted him to succeed.
” “ Uncle Tom ” doesn ’ t feature stars , or at least not of the celluloid variety .
The centerpiece is Chad Jackson , a 30-year-old contractor from Texas and former Democrat , who describes his astonishment at discovering that the Republican Party platform aligned with his thinking much more than what was then his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Candace Owens , Allen West , Jesse Lee Peterson and others join Mr. Elder in telling their stories in the film .
But it is Mr. Jackson who provides “ Uncle Tom ” with its eloquent authenticity and illustrates how Black conservative thinking in America runs from the lumber yard to the Ivory Tower .
“ You can ’ t just start with Thomas Sowell , ” Mr. Malone said of the noted Black economist at Stanford University ’ s Hoover Foundation whose brainpower Mr. Malone confessed intimidated him .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Sowell.
” The high-voltage intellectual firepower of conservative Black thinkers such as Mr. Sowell isn ’ t absent from “ Uncle Tom.
” He appears in it , as does Dr. Ben Carson , a noted brain surgeon from Johns Hopkins Hospital turned politician who currently serves in President Trump ’ s Cabinet as secretary of Housing and Urban Development .
The documentary rests partly on the framework provided by famous Black thinkers , with Mr. Malone citing Booker T. Washington and Clarence Thomas , the second Black justice of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a profound influence on his outlook .
Mr. Thomas declined an interview in the film , and Mr. Malone said he was too young to follow the contentious confirmation hearings Mr. Thomas denounced as “ a high-tech lynching ” when it unfolded .
While the movie takes its title from Harriet Beecher Stowe ’ s famous novel , it wasn ’ t that book that sparked his interest in the subject of Black conservative thought , but rather the contempt Mr. Malone sees much of the White and Black community holding for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is kind of the Cliff notes of conservative Black thinking , which really could be a 20-part Ken Burns kind of thing , ” he said .
Cain , whose career and aplomb when dealing with hostile media Mr. Malone admires , became something of a mentor to Mr. Malone , and Cain ’ s recent funeral , limited by the coronavirus pandemic , “ was really hard for me.
” “ He was funny , smart ; just every time I talked with him I found myself thinking , ‘ this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of their frequent encounters while making “ Uncle Tom.
” “ I knew I was going to like him when , the first time we met , he said right away , ‘ let ’ s hurry up with this because I want to take you to lunch.
’ ” Mr. Elder and his syndicated show also proved invaluable , Mr. Malone said .
Since the movie ’ s premiere , Mr. Elder has been the documentary ’ s most high-profile booster .
Whether liberal Hollywood is ready to support Mr. Malone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom ” has made more than $ 2.5 million and is still going strong has attracted some interest , he said , though he declined to discuss potential deals .
“ I thought , ‘ Oh , God , they ’ re going to kill you for this , ’ ” he said of the anticipated Hollywood reaction .
“ But actually a lot of Hollywood people have reached out and said thank you .
I honestly didn ’ t think we would make $ 40,000 a month , but if ‘ Uncle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it shows people are hungry for good movies .
”

An occasional interview series with everyday Americans who are challenging the status quo.
Jolted by an MSNBC host’s hostile treatment of the late Herman Cain in a 2011 interview, filmmaker Justin Malone set out on a path bucking the media establishment that has led him to directing this year’s surprise hit documentary “Uncle Tom.”
He was just coming out of film school, uncertain of his politics and his future, when he saw MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell accuse then-Republican presidential candidate Cain, who died this month, of civil rights cowardice.
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Mr. Malone told The Washington Times. “I was sort of undergoing my own political transformation at the time and the seed was planted right there.”
He remains astonished that an accomplished Black professional could be treated with such boldfaced contempt on a television news program. The notion that conservative thinking could be perceived as hostile or alien to the Black experience captivated him.
“It just seemed silly, to think Black people couldn’t be conservative or couldn’t be Republican,” said Mr. Malone, who is White.
The outlook permeates his film “Uncle Tom,” a black-and-white documentary that showcases several Black conservatives.
The movie proved a smash hit, raking in $400,000 its opening weekend to top the documentary charts. What’s more, the viewers love it. The people who have paid to download “Uncle Tom” have given it 98% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes while, over on IMDb, more than 2,500 people have scored it 9.4 out of 10.
The film has attracted scant attention from film critics.
“It’s been ignored more than bashed,” Mr. Malone said of the film, for which he shares writing and producing credits with conservative media personality Larry Elder. “I knew we were doing something good, but it’s all been a lot of fun, I gotta admit.”
The success of “Uncle Tom” has surprised Mr. Malone, 37, a divorced father of two daughters.
Although “Uncle Tom” was released in an election year, and Black support for Mr. Trump is a theme, Mr. Malone insisted he had no partisan goal. He wound up deleting a scene in which presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden talks about his deep friendship and admiration for former Sen. Strom Thurmond, the only Democrat who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and who later switched to the Republican Party.
“I didn’t want it to be a hit piece on Biden,” Mr. Malone said.
While Mr. Malone said he did not vote for then-Sen. Barack Obama, he supported his presidency.
“This cult-like worship of Obama kind of scares me,” he said. “But I kept my mouth shut. I rooted for him. I wanted him to succeed.”
“Uncle Tom” doesn’t feature stars, or at least not of the celluloid variety. The centerpiece is Chad Jackson, a 30-year-old contractor from Texas and former Democrat, who describes his astonishment at discovering that the Republican Party platform aligned with his thinking much more than what was then his Democratic Party.
Familiar conservative figures such as Candace Owens, Allen West, Jesse Lee Peterson and others join Mr. Elder in telling their stories in the film.
But it is Mr. Jackson who provides “Uncle Tom” with its eloquent authenticity and illustrates how Black conservative thinking in America runs from the lumber yard to the Ivory Tower.
“You can’t just start with Thomas Sowell,” Mr. Malone said of the noted Black economist at Stanford University’s Hoover Foundation whose brainpower Mr. Malone confessed intimidated him. “You could make a 100-minute film just on Thomas Sowell.”
The high-voltage intellectual firepower of conservative Black thinkers such as Mr. Sowell isn’t absent from “Uncle Tom.” He appears in it, as does Dr. Ben Carson, a noted brain surgeon from Johns Hopkins Hospital turned politician who currently serves in President Trump’s Cabinet as secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
The documentary rests partly on the framework provided by famous Black thinkers, with Mr. Malone citing Booker T. Washington and Clarence Thomas, the second Black justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, as two who have had a profound influence on his outlook.
Mr. Thomas declined an interview in the film, and Mr. Malone said he was too young to follow the contentious confirmation hearings Mr. Thomas denounced as “a high-tech lynching” when it unfolded.
While the movie takes its title from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous novel, it wasn’t that book that sparked his interest in the subject of Black conservative thought, but rather the contempt Mr. Malone sees much of the White and Black community holding for it.
“‘Uncle Tom’ is kind of the Cliff notes of conservative Black thinking, which really could be a 20-part Ken Burns kind of thing,” he said.
Cain, whose career and aplomb when dealing with hostile media Mr. Malone admires, became something of a mentor to Mr. Malone, and Cain’s recent funeral, limited by the coronavirus pandemic, “was really hard for me.”
“He was funny, smart; just every time I talked with him I found myself thinking, ‘this is so cool,’” Mr. Malone said of their frequent encounters while making “Uncle Tom.” “I knew I was going to like him when, the first time we met, he said right away, ‘let’s hurry up with this because I want to take you to lunch.’”
Mr. Elder and his syndicated show also proved invaluable, Mr. Malone said. Since the movie’s premiere, Mr. Elder has been the documentary’s most high-profile booster.
Whether liberal Hollywood is ready to support Mr. Malone is not clear. That “Uncle Tom” has made more than $2.5 million and is still going strong has attracted some interest, he said, though he declined to discuss potential deals.
“I thought, ‘Oh, God, they’re going to kill you for this,’” he said of the anticipated Hollywood reaction. “But actually a lot of Hollywood people have reached out and said thank you. I honestly didn’t think we would make $40,000 a month, but if ‘Uncle Tom’ is this successful, I think it shows people are hungry for good movies.”
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.