buzzfeed--2020-08-20--The Federal Officers Who Cleared Protesters From Lafayette Square Can Stay Anonymous For Now, A Judg

The Federal Officers Who Cleared Protesters From Lafayette Square Can Stay Anonymous For Now, A Judge Ruled

WASHINGTON — The identities of federal officers accused of using unconstitutional force to clear protesters in front of the White House in June before President Donald Trump walked through for a photo op can remain secret for now , a federal judge ruled Wednesday .
Black Lives Matter DC and other protesters who filed suit over the June 1 incident at Lafayette Square had asked the judge for permission to seek documents and other information from the government early in the case to identify officers who were on the scene , those who were equipped with weapons , and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are pressing claims in federal court in Washington against individual officers involved , as well as against Trump , Attorney General Bill Barr , and other senior administration officials .
This type of information exchange , known as discovery , usually happens later in a case , and US District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show they were entitled to do it now .
She noted that they weren ’ t asking for a preliminary injunction or other immediate action from the court , and the Justice Department hadn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the lawsuit or argue for early dismissal yet .
The Trump administration deployed federal officers in riot gear to respond to antiracism protests in Washington earlier this summer , and there were numerous reports that officers did not wear identifying information and refused to identify themselves and their agency when asked .
DC isn ’ t the only city where the use of unmarked federal officers came under scrutiny — officers deployed to Portland to respond to protests also lacked identifying information on their uniforms .
On June 1 , federal officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forcibly cleared out protesters who were gathered in Lafayette Square in front of the White House .
Protesters and journalists reported that officers fired rubber bullets and other projectiles , and used chemical agents ; the US Park Police objected to reports using the term “ tear gas ” even after acknowledging officers used tear-inducing chemicals .
Once the square was cleared , Trump , Barr , and other administration officials passed through the area on foot , and Trump posed for photographs in front of a nearby church that was burned during @ @ @

WASHINGTON — The identities of federal officers accused of using unconstitutional force to clear protesters in front of the White House in June before President Donald Trump walked through for a photo op can remain secret for now, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
Black Lives Matter DC and other protesters who filed suit over the June 1 incident at Lafayette Square had asked the judge for permission to seek documents and other information from the government early in the case to identify officers who were on the scene, those who were equipped with weapons, and those who used their weapons.
The plaintiffs are pressing claims in federal court in Washington against individual officers involved, as well as against Trump, Attorney General Bill Barr, and other senior administration officials.
This type of information exchange, known as discovery, usually happens later in a case, and US District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show they were entitled to do it now. She noted that they weren’t asking for a preliminary injunction or other immediate action from the court, and the Justice Department hadn’t had a chance to respond to the lawsuit or argue for early dismissal yet.
The Trump administration deployed federal officers in riot gear to respond to antiracism protests in Washington earlier this summer, and there were numerous reports that officers did not wear identifying information and refused to identify themselves and their agency when asked. DC isn’t the only city where the use of unmarked federal officers came under scrutiny — officers deployed to Portland to respond to protests also lacked identifying information on their uniforms.
On June 1, federal officers and local police from DC and Virginia forcibly cleared out protesters who were gathered in Lafayette Square in front of the White House. Protesters and journalists reported that officers fired rubber bullets and other projectiles, and used chemical agents; the US Park Police objected to reports using the term “tear gas” even after acknowledging officers used tear-inducing chemicals.
Once the square was cleared, Trump, Barr, and other administration officials passed through the area on foot, and Trump posed for photographs in front of a nearby church that was burned during earlier demonstrations.


buzzfeed--2020-08-19--A Trump Ethics Board Just Voted To Block Most Fetal Tissue Research

A Trump administration fetal tissue ethics panel voted to scrap 13 of 14 National Institutes of Health medical research proposals already approved for federal funding by scientists , according to a newly released report .
The NIH “ Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board ” was announced more than a year ago , part of a broad Trump administration move to curtail federal research involving fetal cells , which are widely used in medical research but have become a flashpoint for abortion opponents in the last decade .
The ethics board ’ s membership was not revealed until the morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when it became clear the Trump administration had stacked it with abortion opponents .
Headed by bioethicist Paige Comstock Cunningham , interim president of the evangelical Taylor University in Indiana , the panel overwhelmingly voted to nix the proposals for research involving fetal cells , the new report revealed .
Because of confidentiality rules , the substance of each proposal was not disclosed , only the nature of the discussions and votes .
The only proposal that received a majority of votes needed to be funded used cells already in a repository @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using fetal cells .
The votes now go directly to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar for final decisions on the funding of the proposals , sidelining NIH chief Francis Collins .
If Azar sits on the report and takes no action by November when federal funding cycles end , he would effectively deny the proposals funding , the Washington Post noted .
Human fetal tissue cultures , cells derived from abortions , have been widely used in medical research and in vaccines for decades , with rules codifying their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least half a dozen current coronavirus vaccine candidates use the cells , widely seen as a “ gold standard ” for tissue studies in many fields including AIDS research , according to a July 28 letter sent to the ethics panel by more than 90 scientific organizations .
Research advocates condemned the vote to nix the research grants , calling the ethics board ’ s decision an imposition of anti-abortion politics into medical research .
“ At a time when the US and the world should be employing every biomedical research avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial tool for investigating viral diseases has been blocked by special interests , ” International Society for Stem Cell Research president Christine Mummery said in a statement .
“ People may die unnecessarily because the administration has allowed an ideological special interest group to hijack biomedical research.
” Meanwhile , abortion opponents applauded the result .
Mallory Quigley of the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement that the panel “ was a serious review of the ethical considerations surrounding use of human fetal tissue in research.
” By charter , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of its members be scientists , with other slots set aside for lawyers , doctors , and theologians .
At least 10 of the board ’ s 15 members were opponents of abortion , fetal tissue science , or related research , according to Science Magazine , while only one member , neuroscientist Lawrence Goldstein of the University of California , San Diego , has spoken in favor of fetal tissue research .
Many of the objections to proposals described in the report revolved around the completeness of tissue donation consent forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evaluate the scientific merits of the proposals , many objections involved contentions that the amount of tissue required was excessive or that fetal tissues from spontaneous miscarriages could instead be substituted for ones from abortions .
“ Miscarriages are useless for this research , ” Stanford developmental biologist Irving Weissman told BuzzFeed News in response , noting the implausibility of asking a woman who just had a miscarriage to provide the cells under sterile conditions and the difficulty in retrieving living cells .
`` Its a non-starter . ''
`` This was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born humans in the USA and in the World , ” Weissman added by email .
“ It was about imposing religious beliefs strongly held by a distinct minority of people in the US on the rest of us , even though it will surely result in disease and deaths.
” Two board members wrote a dissenting opinion for the report , stating : “ This board was clearly constituted …so as to include a large majority of members who are on the public record as being opposed to human fetal tissue research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to block funding of as many contracts and grants as possible.
” The dissenters noted that panel members had even voted against proposals aimed at developing “ humanized ” mouse cell alternatives to human fetal tissue .
These votes “ will paradoxically fail to reduce the use of human fetal tissue in the development of humanized mice needed for therapy development including for COVID-19 , ” they wrote .
NIH did not provide a statement about the status of its research grants with the release of the July meeting report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call attention to all of this is puzzling but understandable , ” said Weissman .
In the past , NIH officials could take a strong principled stand , and be fired or resign knowing there were many experts to replace them and keep research and clinical trials going .
“ But virtually every person replaced by Trump and his administration has only one quality — complete loyalty to him — not domain expertise , ” Weissman said .
“ So I can understand the personal ethical dilemma of keeping silent on some issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A Trump administration fetal tissue ethics panel voted to scrap 13 of 14 National Institutes of Health medical research proposals already approved for federal funding by scientists, according to a newly released report.
The NIH “Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board” was announced more than a year ago, part of a broad Trump administration move to curtail federal research involving fetal cells, which are widely used in medical research but have become a flashpoint for abortion opponents in the last decade. The ethics board’s membership was not revealed until the morning of its first meeting on July 31, when it became clear the Trump administration had stacked it with abortion opponents.
Headed by bioethicist Paige Comstock Cunningham, interim president of the evangelical Taylor University in Indiana, the panel overwhelmingly voted to nix the proposals for research involving fetal cells, the new report revealed. Because of confidentiality rules, the substance of each proposal was not disclosed, only the nature of the discussions and votes. The only proposal that received a majority of votes needed to be funded used cells already in a repository and was aimed at developing alternatives to using fetal cells.
The votes now go directly to Department of Health and Human Services head Alex Azar for final decisions on the funding of the proposals, sidelining NIH chief Francis Collins. If Azar sits on the report and takes no action by November when federal funding cycles end, he would effectively deny the proposals funding, the Washington Post noted. By law, Azar can only overrule the panel's votes if he concludes from the report that they were made in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner.
Human fetal tissue cultures, cells derived from abortions, have been widely used in medical research and in vaccines for decades, with rules codifying their use erected in the early 1990s. At least half a dozen current coronavirus vaccine candidates use the cells, widely seen as a “gold standard” for tissue studies in many fields including AIDS research, according to a July 28 letter sent to the ethics panel by more than 90 scientific organizations.
Research advocates condemned the vote to nix the research grants, calling the ethics board’s decision an imposition of anti-abortion politics into medical research.
“At a time when the US and the world should be employing every biomedical research avenue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a crucial tool for investigating viral diseases has been blocked by special interests,” International Society for Stem Cell Research president Christine Mummery said in a statement. “People may die unnecessarily because the administration has allowed an ideological special interest group to hijack biomedical research.”
Meanwhile, abortion opponents applauded the result. Mallory Quigley of the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement that the panel “was a serious review of the ethical considerations surrounding use of human fetal tissue in research.”
By charter, the panel is required to have only a third of its members be scientists, with other slots set aside for lawyers, doctors, and theologians. At least 10 of the board’s 15 members were opponents of abortion, fetal tissue science, or related research, according to Science Magazine, while only one member, neuroscientist Lawrence Goldstein of the University of California, San Diego, has spoken in favor of fetal tissue research.
Many of the objections to proposals described in the report revolved around the completeness of tissue donation consent forms. Although the panel was not supposed to evaluate the scientific merits of the proposals, many objections involved contentions that the amount of tissue required was excessive or that fetal tissues from spontaneous miscarriages could instead be substituted for ones from abortions.
“Miscarriages are useless for this research,” Stanford developmental biologist Irving Weissman told BuzzFeed News in response, noting the implausibility of asking a woman who just had a miscarriage to provide the cells under sterile conditions and the difficulty in retrieving living cells. "Its a non-starter."
"This was not about science or the health of born humans in the USA and in the World,” Weissman added by email. “It was about imposing religious beliefs strongly held by a distinct minority of people in the US on the rest of us, even though it will surely result in disease and deaths.”
Two board members wrote a dissenting opinion for the report, stating: “This board was clearly constituted …so as to include a large majority of members who are on the public record as being opposed to human fetal tissue research of any type. This was clearly an attempt to block funding of as many contracts and grants as possible.” The dissenters noted that panel members had even voted against proposals aimed at developing “humanized” mouse cell alternatives to human fetal tissue. These votes “will paradoxically fail to reduce the use of human fetal tissue in the development of humanized mice needed for therapy development including for COVID-19,” they wrote.
NIH did not provide a statement about the status of its research grants with the release of the July meeting report.
“The lack of NIH leadership to call attention to all of this is puzzling but understandable,” said Weissman. In the past, NIH officials could take a strong principled stand, and be fired or resign knowing there were many experts to replace them and keep research and clinical trials going.
“But virtually every person replaced by Trump and his administration has only one quality — complete loyalty to him — not domain expertise,” Weissman said. “So I can understand the personal ethical dilemma of keeping silent on some issues to protect the larger goals.”
With the presidential election coming up on November 3, the panel's vote represents a promise made by the Trump administration to abortion opponents, who widely voted for him in 2016, Heather Pierce of the Association of American Medical Colleges, told BuzzFeed News. "This panel is certainly a political move."
As well as discouraging scientists from pursuing research that could help fight diseases right now, the administration's moves against human fetal tissue research raise concern about more such clashes in the future, said science policy expert Kevin Wilson of the American Society for Cell Biology.
"My concern would be that under a second Trump administration, the attacks on science will go beyond what we've seen already."


buzzfeed--2020-08-19--I Spent Two Terrifying Days Imprisoned In Belarus

A week of protests has followed a rigged election in Belarus , where President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s security state deployed violence and fear to cling to power .
With those words , the hulking , masked officer slammed the door shut .
Around 20 of us knelt in agony on the steel floor of the troop transport vehicle , our faces pressed against the seats , following his orders , as we began trundling to an unknown destination .
The hot August air was thick with sweat and fear .
I wondered if I ’ d see my parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Minsk and other cities around the country , the sound of Alexander Lukashenko ’ s Belarus has now become the roar of crowds demanding his ouster , fair elections , and a freer country .
But for me , and the thousands of others detained last week , it ’ s a combat boot striking the side of a human torso .
Or the cries of a person buckled in pain .
Judging by the horrendous accounts of police abuse trickling out of Belarus , my experience was far from the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to understand what kept Belarusians cowed and submissive for years — and why that ’ s now changing .
As anger bubbled across this post-Soviet nation of 9.5 million following last Sunday ’ s clumsily rigged election , which handed the former collective farm boss a sixth term , I was sucked into the dark heart of the brutal security apparatus that ’ s helped keep him in power since 1994 .
Random detentions .
Vicious beatings .
Psychological abuse .
Deployed freely in the days following Lukashenko ’ s deeply flawed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autocratic security state may actually mark its undoing .
Eager to watch the election unfold , I ’ d hoped to secure accreditation before arriving in Minsk last Saturday .
Like the vast majority of my fellow foreign correspondents , my request was ignored .
But with tickets already in hand , I traveled to Belarus anyway , intent on observing — at a reasonably safe distance , I figured — how events would play out .
I conducted no interviews , published nothing , and stayed mostly off social media .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I walked its regal boulevards and spotless sidewalks , watching and waiting for signs of unrest .
It finally came Sunday evening .
After preliminary results handed Lukashenko an utterly unbelievable 80 % of the vote , Belarusians flooded the streets of central Minsk , leading to clashes in several places between police and protesters , including outside my building .
After briefly stepping out to watch the feared riot cops tighten their grip on the central boulevard , I quietly retreated back to my apartment .
The following evening was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an eerie calm had gripped the city , as both residents and authorities anxiously anticipated more turmoil .
Strolling toward a park near the previous night ’ s clashes — with no signs of building protests — I was approached by a group of black-clad riot police , known by their acronym “ OMON.
” With balaclavas pulled over their faces , and their bodies covered by layers of fatigues and armor , their steely , violent eyes were the only sign a human resided underneath .
“ Where are you going ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your hands in your pockets ?
” barked another .
Several more questions were hurled my way .
They weren ’ t interested in answers ; they were fishing for excuses to detain me .
Mere seconds after it emerged that I was an American who ’ d arrived from recently revolutionary Ukraine — a potential propaganda gift for an autocrat obsessed with alleged foreign meddling — I was manhandled into the windowless prisoner transport vehicle parked nearby .
Within half an hour , six or seven of us filled a space the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies awkwardly contorted around one another .
Driven to the Pervomaisk district police station , we were pulled into the courtyard and lined up facing the wall with our heads down , legs spread , and hands behind our backs , asked for our names and dates of birth .
Some of those not standing rigidly enough received a fist to the side , or a kick in the knee .
When my turn came , I calmly stated I was an American citizen .
“ Who fucking cares , ” the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were stripped of our belongings and cataloged again .
Fate failed the young man who had a can of pepper spray : Riot officers beat him to the ground and continued pummeling him as he groaned in agony , shouting , “ Why the fuck would you need this ?
” His body absorbed the blows like a sandbag bursting at the seams .
Over the next few hours , the crowd inside the gym swelled to several dozen .
As riot police returned to the streets , we were ordered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though mostly disinterested in our comfort — to sit on a narrow wooden ledge along the wall , heads down and hands on our knees .
I eventually convinced them to let me lie on the floor , since an old back injury left me grimacing in pain .
Later , I was allowed to stay on a wrestling mat on the other side of the gym .
That helped police keep track of me as the lone American , perhaps sparing me from the beatings that befell others .
Occasionally , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of water among the detainees .
Some requests to visit the bathroom were granted , others ignored .
Throughout the night , we were called one-by-one — many bloodied or limping in pain — to complete our arrest sheets .
All were charged with the administrative offense of participating in an unsanctioned rally , which carries a maximum sentence of 15 days .
Sometime in the middle of the night , OMON burst into the gymnasium , visibly heated and full of hate from what must have been a night of street fights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , they are the tip of the spear — violence-craving , brainwashed goons who equate even the slightest dissent with treason .
Their sole purpose is to strike fear into citizens ’ hearts .
That night , they called the shots .
They forced us up , then down on our knees , hands behind our backs and heads pressed to the floor .
We lay in fear as the officers paced around the room , amid a tirade of expletives and threats , like predators sniffing out their prey .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardwood court and echoed throughout the frigid gym , its windows agape as the cool air wafted in .
Again , those deemed not submissive enough were beaten or their heads were kicked into the “ proper ” position .
After several more random assaults , they left , and over the next several hours the tension slightly dispersed as we gradually eased into various forms of semi-fetal positions .
Clutching my knees to my chest as tightly I as could , I shivered into a faint slumber .
Around noon the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we were split into two groups .
“ American , go with them , ” the chief officer shouted , pointing to the group assembling by the door and corralled by newly arrived riot police .
With my heart in my stomach , I simply stared at him in denial , pretending not to have understood .
During my booking , I was able to sneak in two calls — to my parents in the US and to a journalist in Kyiv — but if I left that gym , my passport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never be found .
Dragged outside and into an idling troop carrier , we were again forced onto our knees along the aisle , hands behind our backs and heads against the seats .
Amid endless streams of profanity , including the dire warning to keep our heads down , another beating or two was meted out to a deeply unlucky detainee .
We pulled away , clueless as to where we were going .
The OMON officers taunted us : “ Is this the change you wanted ?
” referring to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Changes , ” that ’ s become the anthem of the opposition movement .
As we drove , the young man pressed up against my right side — a bespectacled , seemingly harmless nerd — began gasping for air , then quietly crying in pain .
“ Hold on , ” I whispered repeatedly through the side of my mouth .
I told him to focus on breathing deeply , hoping he ’ d follow my lead .
Sitting on my heels , praying the guards wouldn ’ t notice , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bent so far back , my feet felt as if they ’ d snap off .
Between thinking of my parents and trying to picture my friends ’ smiling faces , I mused over how a recent heartbreak seemed absurdly trivial .
So did COVID-19 , which I assumed I ’ d already contracted .
I just wanted to live , and for someone to find me .
An hour and a half later , we arrived at a detention facility in Zhodino , about 40 miles outside Minsk .
As we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began : “ Welcome to the worst place on Earth , ” one officer said , demonstratively chuckling .
Another said ominously , “ This is where you ’ ll learn.
” Led through dark basement corridors reminiscent of a Cold War spy film , the barking of massive dogs and the crackling chatter of walkie-talkies pierced the dank air .
“ This can ’ t be real , ” I repeated to myself .
After being strip-searched and processed , we were split up further and led toward a cell .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stunned : The 10-bed , 150-square-foot cell was already over capacity — and now there were 27 of us in total .
Still , the men inside erupted into applause and offered their hands .
“ Hey , fellow political prisoners !
” The mood lightened , and for the first time , I understood that something had changed .
I scanned my fellow cellmates .
Beaten faces and shirts stained orange from day-old blood .
Knees split open , oozing from infection .
Baton-shaped bruises across backs .
Yet except for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 and 20 years old , few were visibly afraid .
Over the next day-and-a-half in that musty , oxygen-deprived cell — packed with students , techies , small business owners , and blue-collar workers — inmates traded stories about how their arrest sheets had been fabricated to claim they ’ d been shouting slogans or inciting protests .
Most had been picked off the street like me ; some right front of their homes .
Angry but not radical , they referred to cops in street slang meaning “ trash.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with economic stagnation and being treated like cattle .
Vasya , a middle-aged man who owns an auto parts store , complained of the inordinate level of taxes he pays , which finances the security apparatus that snatched him from a bus stop .
For Artyom , a wispy-haired programmer resembling Rasputin , and who was serving a 10-day sentence for participating in an earlier protest , the experience was a turning point : “ I ’ m no longer afraid , ” he said .
“ After this , what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short , not a single man believed the Lukashenko regime had any legitimacy left .
We cracked jokes , sang songs , celebrated the rare and sacred deliveries of bread and prison gruel .
When things got too quiet , the more jovial among us would yell , “ Long live Belarus !
” — a long-favored chant of the opposition — which would solicit the bellowing response , “ Live on !
” Human decency ruled : Whenever one man realized he ’ d spent a couple hours in bed , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sprawled across the cold floor or hunched over the crooked communal table .
If someone hadn ’ t eaten , he ’ d be implored to do so .
Today , these men are my heroes ; facing the unknown , their priority was to maintain our collective spirit .
But mostly , we waited .
Legally , a judge in Belarus has 72 hours to try a case before the suspect is released from detention .
Those of us who hadn ’ t been sentenced gamed out various scenarios : What if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freed ?
With a broken pen and tiny scraps of paper snuck in , they traded relatives ’ contact information .
At one point , a guard summoned three of our youngest cellmates and told them they were headed home .
Shortly after , one of them returned saying he was told he ’ d receive a 15-day sentence in the morning .
That sparked jeers .
“ So that ’ s how you sent him home , you fucker ?
” yelled one of my cellmates .
Through a crack in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the constant stream of new prisoners overwhelming a system not designed for such mass detentions .
The unnerving clank of prison doors never seemed to cease .
Communicating with our neighbors by banging on the wall and yelling through the window , we tried to feel out the situation by finding out how many had been sentenced .
Around midnight on the third day of my detention , a guard barged in .
“ Peleschuk !
” he shouted .
“ Where is he ?
” I slid off my cot and sauntered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cellmates — who had begged me to “ tell the world ” about everything I ’ d seen — as they wished me luck .
I had no idea where I was going .
Led through several corridors crammed with prisoners ’ belongings , I was shocked at the disarray : Hundreds of individual black plastic bags strewn across the floor , many torn open .
Belts , phones , wallets , shoelaces scattered everywhere .
Guards , meanwhile , darted back and forth , barely managing the influx of prisoners .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fearsome police state is simply another part of the country ’ s bloated bureaucracy : mired in paperwork and run by hacks loyal only to a state paycheck .
Except , of course , for OMON : As long as these brutal punishers are patrolling the streets with state support , Belarusians will never truly be safe .
Eventually , I was led to a portly administrator who claimed I was being released with a warning , and that representative from the US Embassy had arrived to pick me up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my greatest fears throughout my detention was becoming a political pawn , my face splashed across state media as an “ agent provocateur ” sent to stir unrest .
It wasn ’ t until I was led through the prison courtyard and into the administrative wing near the entrance that I exhaled .
When I saw the consular officer sitting inside a small office , I knew I was free .
The next day , I picked up my passport from the police precinct ( which required more wheel-greasing by the embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my base in Kyiv .
During my drive to the airport , I watched thousands of cheerful protesters line the city ’ s main boulevard , led by women in white clothing and accessories , such as flowers and flags .
A direct contrast to the evils that mark Lukashenko ’ s police state , those are the faces now filling streets across the country in what amounts to the single biggest challenge to Belarusian authorities since the collapse of the Soviet Union .
Now safe in Kyiv , I have not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smell of prison to linger , to help me remember the much better men left behind , with no embassy to rescue them .
As I was writing this account , a friend from Minsk wrote me a birthday greeting .
“ Just like in a game of survival , ” she said , “ you ’ ve been born again.
” Judging the momentum building by the day against Lukashenko , the same just might be true for the Belarusian people .

Funneled into the gym, we were stripped of our belongings and cataloged again. Fate failed the young man who had a can of pepper spray: Riot officers beat him to the ground and continued pummeling him as he groaned in agony, shouting, “Why the fuck would you need this?”
His body absorbed the blows like a sandbag bursting at the seams.
Over the next few hours, the crowd inside the gym swelled to several dozen. As riot police returned to the streets, we were ordered by local guards — much less severe, though mostly disinterested in our comfort — to sit on a narrow wooden ledge along the wall, heads down and hands on our knees. I eventually convinced them to let me lie on the floor, since an old back injury left me grimacing in pain.
Later, I was allowed to stay on a wrestling mat on the other side of the gym. That helped police keep track of me as the lone American, perhaps sparing me from the beatings that befell others.
Occasionally, the guards would pass around two liter-sized bottles of water among the detainees. Some requests to visit the bathroom were granted, others ignored. Throughout the night, we were called one-by-one — many bloodied or limping in pain — to complete our arrest sheets. All were charged with the administrative offense of participating in an unsanctioned rally, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 days.
Sometime in the middle of the night, OMON burst into the gymnasium, visibly heated and full of hate from what must have been a night of street fights downtown. In Lukashenko’s police state, they are the tip of the spear — violence-craving, brainwashed goons who equate even the slightest dissent with treason. Their sole purpose is to strike fear into citizens’ hearts.
That night, they called the shots.
They forced us up, then down on our knees, hands behind our backs and heads pressed to the floor. We lay in fear as the officers paced around the room, amid a tirade of expletives and threats, like predators sniffing out their prey. The stomping of their boots reverberated across the hardwood court and echoed throughout the frigid gym, its windows agape as the cool air wafted in.
Again, those deemed not submissive enough were beaten or their heads were kicked into the “proper” position. After several more random assaults, they left, and over the next several hours the tension slightly dispersed as we gradually eased into various forms of semi-fetal positions.
Clutching my knees to my chest as tightly I as could, I shivered into a faint slumber.


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Is In Serious Condition After Apparently Being Poisoned

“ We suspect that Alexei was poisoned by something mixed into his tea .
It was the only thing he drank since morning , ” Navalny press secretary Kira Yarmysh tweeted .
KYIV — Russian opposition leader and perennial Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny is in serious condition after being poisoned Thursday morning , his press secretary Kira Yarmysh tweeted .
The 44-year-old Navalny , a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin , fell ill on a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow , Yarmysh said .
`` The plane made an urgent landing in Omsk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are going to the hospital , ” Yarmysh tweeted .
Russia ’ s TASS news agency reported that the Omsk Emergency Hospital had confirmed Navalny ’ s admission and that his condition was serious .
“ We suspect that Alexei was poisoned by something mixed into his tea .
It was the only thing he drank since morning , ” Yarmysh wrote in another tweet .
“ Doctors are saying that the toxic agent absorbed faster through the hot liquid .
Right now Alexei is unconscious.
” Yarmysh said Navalny was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an intensive care unit .
Anatoliy Kalinichenko , the Omsk doctor treating Navalny , told reporters that he is in stable but serious condition , according to a video tweeted by Yarmysh .
Kalinichenko declined to confirm whether Navalny was in a coma or give details about his diagnosis .
Photos and video published online captured the sequence of events .
On Instagram , a man named Pavel Lebedev , who was on the same flight as Navalny , published a picture of the opposition leader sipping tea at the Tomsk airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed aboard the flight that was also published on the Mash Telegram channel , a man said to be Navalny can be heard screaming .
Lebedev wrote on Instagram that Navalny went to the plane ’ s bathroom after takeoff and never came out .
A second video published by Mash appears to shows an immobile Navalny being loaded onto a gurney after the plane made touched down in Omsk .
A local news outlet published a video of him being put into an ambulance on the tarmac of the Omsk airport .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigner , has been a thorn in the side of Putin and the face of the Russian opposition for a decade .
In that time he has been attacked , beaten , and jailed for various infractions , including calling for unauthorized protests and embezzlement .
He has denounced all charges against him as political .
In July 2019 , while serving a 30-day jail term for organizing unauthorized protests , he fell ill and was diagnosed with “ contact dermatitis.
” But he said he thought he had been poisoned .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been exposed to an unknown “ toxic agent.
” In June this year , Navalny described a controversial vote on changes to Russia ’ s constitution that was pushed by Putin as a “ coup ” and a “ violation of the constitution.
” The changes , which were approved in a national referendum , allow Putin to serve another two terms in office and lead the country until 2036 .

Photos and video published online captured the sequence of events.
On Instagram, a man named Pavel Lebedev, who was on the same flight as Navalny, published a picture of the opposition leader sipping tea at the Tomsk airport before takeoff.
In a video Lebedev filmed aboard the flight that was also published on the Mash Telegram channel, a man said to be Navalny can be heard screaming. Lebedev wrote on Instagram that Navalny went to the plane’s bathroom after takeoff and never came out.
A second video published by Mash appears to shows an immobile Navalny being loaded onto a gurney after the plane made touched down in Omsk.
A local news outlet published a video of him being put into an ambulance on the tarmac of the Omsk airport.
Navalny, a lawyer and prominent anti-corruption campaigner, has been a thorn in the side of Putin and the face of the Russian opposition for a decade. In that time, he has been attacked, beaten, and jailed for various infractions, including calling for unauthorized protests and embezzlement. He has denounced all charges against him as political.


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Kamala Harris’s Acceptance Speech Made Clear How Important Her Identity Will Be For The Rest Of The

Kamala Harris’s Acceptance Speech Made Clear How Important Her Identity Will Be For The Rest Of The Campaign

Kamala Harris speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention , at the Chase Center in Wilmington , Delaware on August 19 .
When Kamala Harris was introduced for the first time to millions of Americans who knew little of her identity , or her personal history , it was with a simple phrase : “ The daughter of immigrants .
The daughter of Shyamala.
” Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night in a speech that wove a vision of an American ideal with the evocative specifics of Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , idealistic immigrant mother , Shyamala ; her historically black sorority ; her `` chitthis '' ; her sprawling blended family .
In her political career so far , those pieces of Harris — who is the first Black and South Asian woman to appear on a major party ’ s presidential ticket — have sometimes been lost .
Just as often , they have been overlooked .
But her speech Wednesday left little doubt about the importance that her identity will hold this election for a party whose base is made up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a country mired in a reckoning over racial justice , and a pandemic that has disproportionately inflicted suffering on Black and brown Americans .
“ This virus has no eyes , and yet it knows exactly how we see each other — and how we treat each other , ” Harris said from a largely empty convention center in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ And let ’ s be clear : there is no vaccine for racism .
We ’ ve got ta do the work .
For George Floyd , for Breonna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many others to name .
For our children .
For all of us.
” Threads from Harris ’ s presidential campaign , which she ended in December , were woven throughout the speech Wednesday night : a promise to “ speak truths , ” a description of the country as standing at an “ inflection point , ” her career as a prosecutor and how it has shaped her understanding of Donald Trump .
But the Harris who stood onstage to accept the party ’ s nomination was , by many measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shifting seamlessly between the powerful , prosecutorial sharpness that has so far defined much of her image and tones of hope , joy , and intimacy .
Harris ’ s introduction at the convention was one that carried weight beyond the vice presidency .
Joe Biden has spoken of himself as a “ bridge ” to a new generation of Democrats .
It was , at first , an abstract idea .
But Biden ’ s choice of Harris , 55 , as vice president has made clear what — and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After Democrats chose Biden , a 77-year-old white man , ahead of a historically diverse slate of candidates in the 2020 primary , Harris ’ s selection has energized swaths of the Democratic Party , spurring an outpouring of donations .
On Wednesday night , the party ’ s introduction of Harris opened with the celebrations of young girls as they heard the news that she had been chosen : joyful leaps , and even tears .
While other speakers , including former president Barack Obama , traded in dire condemnations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s speech was rooted in idealism with grounding in the civil rights movement : Harris and Biden ’ s vision , she said , for a “ beloved community , one that is strong , and decent , and kind.
” “ That ’ s the vision that our parents and grandparents fought for , ” she said .
“ The vision that made my own life possible .
The vision that makes the American promise — for all its complexities and imperfections — a promise worth fighting for .
”

When Kamala Harris was introduced for the first time to millions of Americans who knew little of her identity, or her personal history, it was with a simple phrase: “The daughter of immigrants. The daughter of Shyamala.”
Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night in a speech that wove a vision of an American ideal with the evocative specifics of Harris’s own life: her young, idealistic immigrant mother, Shyamala; her historically Black sorority; her "chitthis"; her sprawling blended family.
In her political career so far, those pieces of Harris — who is the first Black and South Asian woman to appear on a major party’s presidential ticket — have sometimes been lost. Just as often, they have been overlooked.
But her speech Wednesday left little doubt about the importance that her identity will hold this election for a party whose base is made up of people of color — and for a country mired in a reckoning over racial justice, and a pandemic that has disproportionately inflicted suffering on Black and brown Americans.
“This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other — and how we treat each other,” Harris said from a largely empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware.
“And let’s be clear: There is no vaccine for racism. We’ve gotta do the work. For George Floyd, for Breonna Taylor, for the lives of too many others to name. For our children. For all of us.”
Threads from Harris’s presidential campaign, which she ended in December, were woven throughout the speech Wednesday night: a promise to “speak truths,” a description of the country as standing at an “inflection point,” her career as a prosecutor and how it has shaped her understanding of Donald Trump.
But the Harris who stood onstage to accept the party’s nomination was, by many measures, a different candidate than a year earlier, shifting seamlessly between the powerful, prosecutorial sharpness that has so far defined much of her image and tones of hope, joy, and intimacy.
Harris’s introduction at the convention was one that carried weight beyond the vice presidency.
Joe Biden has spoken of himself as a “bridge” to a new generation of Democrats. It was, at first, an abstract idea. But Biden’s choice of Harris, 55, as vice president has made clear what — and who — he envisions on the other side.
After Democrats chose Biden, a 77-year-old white man, ahead of a historically diverse slate of candidates in the 2020 primary, Harris’s selection has energized swaths of the Democratic Party, spurring an outpouring of donations.
On Wednesday night, the party’s introduction of Harris opened with the celebrations of young girls as they heard the news that she had been chosen: joyful leaps, and even tears.
While other speakers, including former president Barack Obama, traded in dire condemnations of the Trump administration, much of Harris’s speech was rooted in idealism with grounding in the civil rights movement: Harris and Biden’s vision, she said, for a “beloved community, one that is strong, and decent, and kind.”
“That’s the vision that our parents and grandparents fought for,” she said. “The vision that made my own life possible. The vision that makes the American promise — for all its complexities and imperfections — a promise worth fighting for.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Barack Obama's Convention Speech Was More An Attack On Donald Trump Than A Case For Joe Biden

Former president Barack Obama continued an argument advanced by his wife at this week ’ s Democratic National Convention : that Donald Trump lacks the empathy , morality , and competency to lead during a pandemic and a reckoning over systemic racism .
Speaking Wednesday night from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia , Obama talked of the country ’ s past struggles with a “ democracy that did not work.
” He sought to reassure voters that this does not have to be an irrevocable moment in time but also warn that “ what we do echoes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech former first lady Michelle Obama delivered Monday , his remarks held contempt for the man he transferred power to in 2017 .
“ I did hope , ” said Obama , who built his political brand around hope , “ for the sake of our country , that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously ; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care .
But he never did.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job because he can ’ t , ” Obama added .
“ And the consequences of that failure are severe : 170,000 Americans dead , millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever , our worst impulses unleashed , our proud reputation around the world badly diminished , and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.
” Those two mentions of Trump by name came before Obama ’ s first mention of Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee who served two terms as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Obama gradually worked his way to a case for Biden , which amounted to an obvious contrast — that Joe Biden is not Donald Trump .
Obama relied on an introductory video , from the 2017 White House ceremony where he surprised Biden by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom , to deliver his most moving praise .
“ Joe is a man who learned — early on — to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity , living by the words his parents taught him : ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joe , but you ’ re better than nobody , ’ ” Obama said in his Wednesday night remarks .
“ That empathy , that decency , the belief that everybody counts — that 's who Joe is.
” But after a few minutes on Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris of California , Obama returned to his case against Trump , broadening it out in spots to cover the Republican Party at large .
“ None of this should be controversial , ” he said after criticizing Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of force to remove peaceful anti-racism protesters so he could stage a photo op at a church near the White House .
“ These shouldn ’ t be Republican principles or Democratic principles .
They are American principles .
But at this moment , this president and those who enable him , have shown they don ’ t believe in these things.
” Like many of the principal speakers at the convention — including Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton — Obama also framed this year ’ s election in existential terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a specific plan to vote , in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic when vote-by-mail options might be safest and when Trump is attempting to undermine the United States Postal Service .
“ This president and those in power — those who benefit from keeping things the way they are — they are counting on your cynicism , ” Obama said .
“ They know they can ’ t win you over with their policies .
So they ’ re hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t matter .
That ’ s how they win .
That ’ s how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life , and the lives of the people you love .
That ’ s how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected , how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks .
That ’ s how a democracy withers , until it ’ s no democracy at all.
” “ We can not let that happen , ” Obama added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away your power .
Do not let them take away your democracy .
Make a plan right now for how you are going to get involved and vote .
Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too .
”

Former president Barack Obama continued an argument advanced by his wife at this week’s Democratic National Convention: that Donald Trump lacks the empathy, morality, and competency to lead during a pandemic and a reckoning over systemic racism.
Speaking Wednesday night from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Obama talked of the country’s past struggles with a “democracy that did not work.” He sought to reassure voters that this does not have to be an irrevocable moment in time but also warn that “what we do echoes for generations.” And, like the speech former first lady Michelle Obama delivered Monday, his remarks held contempt for the man he transferred power to in 2017.
“I did hope,” said Obama, who built his political brand around hope, “for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did.”
“Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t,” Obama added. “And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead, millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever, our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.”
Those two mentions of Trump by name came before Obama’s first mention of Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee who served two terms as his vice president. As his wife did Monday, Obama gradually worked his way to a case for Biden, which amounted to an obvious contrast — that Joe Biden is not Donald Trump. Obama relied on an introductory video, from the 2017 White House ceremony where he surprised Biden by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to deliver his most moving praise.
“Joe is a man who learned — early on — to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: ‘No one’s better than you, Joe, but you’re better than nobody,’” Obama said in his Wednesday night remarks. “That empathy, that decency, the belief that everybody counts — that's who Joe is.”
But after a few minutes on Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Obama returned to his case against Trump, broadening it out in spots to cover the Republican Party at large.
“None of this should be controversial,” he said after criticizing Trump for, among other things, blessing the use of force to remove peaceful anti-racism protesters so he could stage a photo op at a church near the White House. “These shouldn’t be Republican principles or Democratic principles. They are American principles. But at this moment, this president and those who enable him, have shown they don’t believe in these things.”
Like many of the principal speakers at the convention — including Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton — Obama also framed this year’s election in existential terms. He emphasized voting, and making a specific plan to vote, in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic when vote-by-mail options might be safest and when Trump is attempting to undermine the United States Postal Service.
“This president and those in power — those who benefit from keeping things the way they are — they are counting on your cynicism,” Obama said. “They know they can’t win you over with their policies. So they’re hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesn’t matter. That’s how they win. That’s how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life, and the lives of the people you love. That’s how the economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and well-connected, how our health systems will let more people fall through the cracks. That’s how a democracy withers, until it’s no democracy at all.”
“We cannot let that happen,” Obama added. “Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy. Make a plan right now for how you are going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can and tell your family and friends how they can vote too.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--In Her Convention Speech, Hillary Clinton Asked Voters Not To "Give Up On America"

WILMINGTON , Del .
— Some Democrats might ’ ve recognized the quote immediately : a gut-punch of a line from her concession speech , delivered four years ago , Nov. 8 , 2016 , on a rainy morning at the New Yorker Hotel .
“ After the last election , I said , ‘ We owe Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to lead.
’ I really meant it.
” But when Hillary Clinton opened her live address to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night , the first she ’ s given to a national audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bid to be the first woman president , she failed to mention the line ’ s exact origin .
Clinton ’ s short speech , delivered from her living room in Chappaqua , New York , bore few markings of a woman whose loss still occupies a painful place in the shared memory of the Democratic Party .
It was not a particularly ideological speech .
It did not lay out a policy agenda , though she did ask voters to vote for Democratic priorities , like paid family leave and “ health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 72 years old — as a woman who served as first lady , then US senator , then secretary of state , who ran for president twice and lost , who chafed under the glare of public life , who saw her chances at the White House diminished by a breakdown of the political system she strove to lead — Clinton made the case for an old-fashioned kind of patriotism , a tradition of public service , and a political system that can still inspire .
“ To all the young people : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Clinton said .
`` Despite our flaws and problems , we have come so far .
And we can still be a more just and equal country , full of opportunities previous generations could never have imagined.
” As she set out to draft Wednesday ’ s remarks at her home in Westchester County , where she lives next door to her daughter and grandchildren , Clinton had a particular vision in mind — something personal , forward-looking , with as little political language as possible , stripped of the stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides familiar with the planning process .
That plainly spoken appeal — “ don ’ t give up on America ” — sounded again and again in Clinton ’ s remarks .
The former Democratic nominee asked voters to remember , or perhaps reimagine , a grander and lengthy tradition of elected leadership : The line she quoted from her 2016 concession speech , suggesting Democrats give Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to serve that all presidents deserve , was itself inspired by the letter George H.W .
Bush left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection , a gracious and humble welcome to the man who defeated him , Clinton ’ s husband .
“ Your success now is our country ’ s success , ” Bush wrote in 1993 .
“ I am rooting hard for you.
” “ I wish Donald Trump had been a better president .
Because America needs a better president than this , ” Clinton said Wednesday .
“ We need Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
” Clinton recast the Democratic ticket , where Harris is the first Black or Asian American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vice presidential nominee , as a testament to American politics as a powerful tool of representation .
“ Tonight I am thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in America ’ s future because of Kamala Harris , ” said Clinton , whose allies have sought to define her legacy in politics as a “ trail blazer ” who created space , directly and indirectly , for generations of women in politics .
“ I know a thing or two about the slings and arrows coming her way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala can handle them all.
” Clinton and Harris , the 55-year-old US senator from California , do not have a particularly close relationship , and some Democrats might bristle at the suggestion that a woman of color ’ s success came as a product of a white woman ’ s rise in politics .
The two do share one intimate connection : the loss of a mutual former staffer , Tyrone Gayle , who died of cancer in 2018 , and who Clinton praised in her speech .
Clinton ’ s case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Obama administration for eight years , was equally personal , recalling conversations the two shared about loss and family .
“ As the saying goes , the world breaks everyone at one point or another , and afterward , many are stronger in the broken places , ” Clinton said .
“ Joe Biden knows how to heal , because he ’ s done it himself.
” Her final request to voters on Wednesday was simple and direct .
Citing her narrow loss in 2016 , she asked Americans to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another ‘ woulda coulda shoulda ’ election .
If you ’ re voting by mail , request your ballot now , and send it back as soon as you can .
If you vote in person , do it early .
Bring a friend and wear a mask .
Become a poll worker , ” she said .
“ Most of all , no matter what , vote .
”

WILMINGTON, Delaware — Some Democrats might’ve recognized the quote immediately: a gut-punch of a line from her concession speech, delivered four years ago, Nov. 8, 2016, on a rainy morning at the New Yorker Hotel.
“After the last election, I said, ‘We owe Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to lead.’ I really meant it.”
But when Hillary Clinton opened her live address to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, the first she’s given to a national audience since she led the party in her bid to be the first woman president, she failed to mention the line’s exact origin.
The omission seemed deliberate.
Clinton’s short speech, delivered from her living room in Chappaqua, New York, bore few markings of a woman whose loss still occupies a painful place in the shared memory of the Democratic Party.
It was not a particularly ideological speech. It did not lay out a policy agenda, though she did ask voters to vote for Democratic priorities, like paid family leave and “healthcare for everyone.”
Instead, at 72 years old — as a woman who served as first lady, then US senator, then secretary of state, who ran for president twice and lost, chafed under the glare of public life, and saw her chances at the White House diminished by a breakdown of the political system she strove to lead — Clinton made the case for an old-fashioned kind of patriotism, a tradition of public service, and a political system that can still inspire.
“To all the young people: Don’t give up on America,” Clinton said. "Despite our flaws and problems, we have come so far. And we can still be a more just and equal country, full of opportunities previous generations could never have imagined.”
As she set out to draft Wednesday’s remarks at her home in Westchester County, where she lives next door to her daughter and grandchildren, Clinton had a particular vision in mind — something personal, forward-looking, with as little political language as possible, stripped of stock phrases and rallying cries, according to aides familiar with the planning process.
That plainly spoken appeal — “don’t give up on America” — sounded again and again in Clinton’s remarks. The former Democratic nominee asked voters to remember, or perhaps reimagine, a grander and lengthy tradition of elected leadership: The line she quoted from her 2016 concession speech, suggesting Democrats give Donald Trump an open mind and the chance to serve that all presidents deserve, was itself inspired by the letter George H.W. Bush left in the Oval Office after losing his reelection, a gracious and humble welcome to the man who defeated him, Clinton’s husband.
“Your success now is our country’s success,” Bush wrote in 1993. “I am rooting hard for you.”
“I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. Because America needs a better president than this,” Clinton said Wednesday. “We need Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”
Clinton recast the Democratic ticket, where Harris is the first Black or Asian American woman to serve as a major party’s vice presidential nominee, as a testament to American politics as a powerful tool of representation.
“Tonight I am thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in America’s future because of Kamala Harris,” said Clinton, whose allies have sought to define her legacy in politics as a “trailblazer” who created space, directly and indirectly, for generations of women in politics.
“I know a thing or two about the slings and arrows coming her way,” Clinton said of Harris. “Kamala can handle them all.”
Clinton and Harris, the 55-year-old US senator from California, do not have a particularly close relationship, and some Democrats might bristle at the suggestion that a woman of color’s success came as a product of a white woman’s rise in politics.
The two do share one intimate connection: the loss of a mutual former staffer, Tyrone Gayle, who died of cancer in 2018 and who Clinton praised in her speech.
Clinton’s case for Biden, her colleague in Barack Obama's administration for eight years, was equally personal, recalling conversations the two shared about loss and family. “As the saying goes, the world breaks everyone at one point or another, and afterward, many are stronger in the broken places,” Clinton said. “Joe Biden knows how to heal because he’s done it himself.”
Her final request to voters on Wednesday was simple and direct.
Citing her narrow loss in 2016, she asked Americans to vote.
“This can’t be another ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’ election. If you’re voting by mail, request your ballot now, and send it back as soon as you can. If you vote in person, do it early. Bring a friend and wear a mask. Become a poll worker,” she said.
“Most of all, no matter what, vote.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--A Mom Whose Son Was Shot In The Head Spoke At The Democratic Convention Against Gun Violence

On the third night of the DNC , speakers in the beginning of the convention spoke out against gun violence , including former Rep. Gabby Giffords and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor Emma González .
`` In every town across America , there are families who know what a bullet can do , '' she said .
`` That 's why I 'm a mom who volunteers to stop this . ''
Her son , DeAndre Knox , was 13 when he was shot in Indianapolis , leaving him quadriplegic and unable to talk .
Since then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a voice for him .
DeAndra Dycus , a mom who turned her life toward activism after her son was shot in the back of the head during a party , shared her emotional story while calling for gun control at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday .
Dycus spoke about caring for her son , and the everyday difficulties she battles .
`` Today , DeAndre does not talk , he does not walk , '' she said .
`` I know he knows me by the smile he shows me when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm unsure if he knows a gunshot has changed his life . ''
The pandemic has made things even more difficult , she said , and since March , she 's been able to see him only three times , though she 's not allowed to touch or hug him because of COVID-19 .
`` The child I birthed is not able to live his dreams and that hurts , '' she said .
`` Everyday we 're reminded that he may never be the same . ''
Dycus criticized President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of blasting the president 's opposition to gun control in the face of a number of mass shootings during his first term in office , Dycus called out his response during the tragic shootings .
`` President Trump , he does n't care , '' she said .
`` He did n't care about the victims after Parkland , Las Vegas , or El Paso .
I want a president who cares about our pain and grief , a president who will take on the gun lobby to ban assault weapons and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of criminals . ''

Dycus spoke about caring for her son, and the everyday difficulties she battles.
"Today, DeAndre does not talk. He does not walk," she said. "I know he knows me by the smile he shows me when I walk in his room, but I'm unsure if he knows a gunshot has changed his life."
The pandemic has made things even more difficult, she said, and since March, she's been able to see him only three times, though she's not allowed to touch or hug him because of COVID-19.
"The child I birthed is not able to live his dreams and that hurts," she said. "Every day we're reminded that he may never be the same."
Dycus criticized President Donald Trump's response to gun violence, but instead of blasting the president's opposition to gun control in the face of a number of mass shootings during his first term in office, Dycus called out his response during the tragic shootings.
"President Trump, he doesn't care," she said. "He didn't care about the victims after Parkland, Las Vegas, or El Paso. I want a president who cares about our pain and grief, a president who will take on the gun lobby to ban assault weapons and close the loopholes to guns out of the hands of criminals."


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--Gabby Giffords Gave A Powerful Speech About Resilience In Her Convention Pitch For Joe Biden

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords , who was shot and almost killed during a mass shooting in 2011 , made a powerful video for the Democratic National Convention about her long road to recovery , likening her challenge to what ’ s ahead for the country while plugging Joe Biden as the person for the job .
“ He was there for me .
He ’ ll be there for you too , ” Giffords says twice in the video — which is split between a longer stand-alone speech and footage of her preparing with her speech therapist in Tucson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing recovery , Giffords ’ s suffers from aphasia , a speech disorder directly related to the head injury caused by the shooting .
During a meet and greet with constituents , the then-member of Congress was shot along with 18 other people in a supermarket parking lot in Arizona , the state she represented at the time .
Six people died in the attack .
“ I ’ ve known the darkest of days , ” Giffords says , standing at a lectern in front of the American flag .
“ Days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confronted by despair , I ’ ve summoned hope .
Confronted by paralysis and aphasia , I responded with grit and determination .
I put one foot in front of the other .
I found one word and then another.
” It ’ s part of a push from Democrats who , on day three of the convention , are zeroing in on a theme of resiliency , an embattled nation hoping to overcome a global health pandemic , economic downturn , and racial injustice .
Former second lady Jill Biden set the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech , offering her husband — who has also overcome personal tragedy — up as the candidate to lead the country in such grim times .
Gifford plays “ America ( My Country , ‘ Tis of Thee ) ” on a French horn in the first 40 seconds of the video , an instrument she mastered as a child but had to relearn after the shooting .
Actress Regina King narrated a portion of the two-and-a-half-minute video , which also incorporated Giffords ’ s activism around gun violence .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” King says , although she ’ s not seen in the video .
A safer America is possible , but from this point forward , we must choose courage.
” The two connected through a mutual friend after when Giffords ’ s team was looking for “ a voice as powerful as Gabby ” to co-narrate the video .
“ It was an honor to help share Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords ' story of perseverance and courage as part of the Democratic National Convention , ” King said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , against all odds , should be inspiration to us all.
” Giffords , whose husband Mark Kelly is running for Senate in Arizona this year , has crisscrossed the country supporting Democratic candidates in their fight against gun violence .
In 2018 , Giffords endorsed 75 Democrats running as challengers or in open seats of which 43 went onto victory , helping secure the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives .
“ Words once came easily but today , I struggle to speak , ” she says in the video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice .
”

Former representative Gabby Giffords, who was shot and almost killed during a mass shooting in 2011, made a powerful video for the Democratic National Convention about her long road to recovery, likening her challenge to what’s ahead for the country while plugging Joe Biden as the person for the job.
“He was there for me. He’ll be there for you too,” Giffords says twice in the video — which is split between a longer stand-alone speech and footage of her preparing with her speech therapist in Tucson, Arizona.
After nearly a decade of ongoing recovery, Giffords has aphasia, a speech disorder directly related to the head injury caused by the shooting. During a meet and greet with constituents, the then member of Congress was shot along with 18 other people in a supermarket parking lot in Arizona, the state she represented at the time. Six people died in the attack.
“I’ve known the darkest of days,” Giffords says, standing at a lectern in front of the American flag. “Days of pain and uncertain recovery. But confronted by despair, I’ve summoned hope. Confronted by paralysis and aphasia, I responded with grit and determination. I put one foot in front of the other. I found one word and then another.”
It’s part of a push from Democrats who, on day three of the convention, are zeroing in on a theme of resiliency, an embattled nation hoping to overcome a global health pandemic, economic downturn, and racial injustice. Former second lady Jill Biden set the scene the night before during her closing speech, offering her husband — who has also overcome personal tragedy — up as the candidate to lead the country in such grim times.
Giffords plays “America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)” on a French horn in the first 40 seconds of the video, an instrument she mastered as a child but had to relearn after the shooting.
Actor Regina King narrated a portion of the two-and-a-half-minute video, which also incorporated Giffords’ activism around gun violence. “We are a nation ready to end gun violence,” King says, although she’s not seen in the video. "A safer America is possible, but from this point forward, we must choose courage.”
The two connected through a mutual friend after when Giffords’ team was looking for “a voice as powerful as Gabby” to help narrate the video.
“It was an honor to help share Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' story of perseverance and courage as part of the Democratic National Convention,” King said in a statement. “Her determination to never stay silent, against all odds, should be inspiration to us all.”
Giffords, whose husband Mark Kelly is running for Senate in Arizona this year, has crisscrossed the country supporting Democratic candidates in their fight against gun violence. In 2018, Giffords endorsed 75 Democrats running as challengers or in open seats of which 43 went onto victory, helping secure the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
“Words once came easily, but today I struggle to speak,” she says in the video. “But I have not lost my voice.”


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--These Photos Show The Massive Fanfare of Political Conventions

These Photos Show The Massive Fanfare of Political Conventions In the Before times , when conventions used to be in @ @ @ @ @ go all out on hats and balloons ... .

23 Photos That Show How People Supported Their Party At Political Conventions
In the Before times, when conventions used to be in person, people used to go all out on hats and balloons....


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--The Latest TikTok Trend Is Venting About Your MAGA Parents

Children of conservatives are drifting far from their parents , and they ’ re doing so in front of the entire world .
WASHINGTON — TikTok is where Bridgette Olek told the world she had to leave her father ’ s Minnesota lake house after he discovered she ’ d protested at a Black Lives Matter rally in Fargo , North Dakota .
Tensions between the two had been brewing for a while .
He ’ s Republican and a Trump supporter .
She ’ s “ the polar opposite.
” Olek said the final break came when she went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who were visiting for the weekend .
Her father asked her to leave , so she packed up her van and headed to other parts of Minnesota , then North Dakota , then Arizona , and finally North Carolina — for now .
“ You know those feisty white girls y'all be talking about , ” she said while driving in the TikTok video , over audio of Kash Doll ’ s “ Ice Me Out.
” “ The ones with racist parents that are supporting Black Lives Matter ?
Yeah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her house for supporting Black Lives Matter .
I mean , it ’ s time.
” And then an appeal to what seemed like no one at the time : “ But I ’ mma be homeless for a while so if anyone wants to let me couch surf… ” It ’ s the kind of support teens and young adults like Olek have come to expect in an era of crowdsourcing and mutual aid groups .
It was a big ask to Olek ’ s 500 followers at the time .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewed by more than 700,000 times , and more than 5,000 people commented on the viral video .
Most responses were encouraging .
Some people offered her a place to stay , others asked for her Cash App and Venmo credentials so they could donate .
In the coming weeks , she ’ d report back to her followers that she ’ d raised $ 503 of what she called “ pity money ” and in turn donated $ 600 to blacklivesmatter.com , evidenced by the receipt she used as a green screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That TikTok , I did not expect to blow up the way it did , ” Olek , who goes by the name of @ pinkyringsaregay on TikTok , told BuzzFeed News .
“ I was basically just shouting into my phone saying , ‘ Whelp , I got kicked out.
’ I was truly taken aback by the response and then comments of everyone saying I could stay with them.
” Most of the content on TikTok is centered around entertainment .
Content creators flood the For You page with dance videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildly popular app , which boasts an estimated 800 million monthly users .
TikTok is loudly in the news right now for its Chinese ownership , a potential sale , and now the looming Sept. 15 deadline for purchase by any American company .
Like much of social media , however , on TikTok , like-minded users rally together for a single cause .
Social justice TikTok ramped up when Black content creators claimed they were being shadow-banned .
Before the nationwide protests , TikTokers showed solidarity for Black content makers through posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture of a black fist .
George Floyd ’ s death expanded the movement and motivated many white teens and twentysomethings to reckon with their parents ’ views on race and politics .
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the already simmering tensions between Gen Z and their parents ; lockdowns have forced many together for months , working or studying from home .
Even recent college graduates , like Olek , struggle with where they ’ ll live and work in the coming months amid a pandemic .
She called it a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist parents ” or “ conservative parents ” on TikTok and peer into the lives of Gen Z ’ ers and millennials sounding off about their parents — some of them to the tune of thousands of red hearts that signal “ yeah , we hear you !
” Publicizing the differences between the generations has become so popular that content makers are now acting out hypothetical confrontations with parents .
These point-of-view posts are more anecdotal and rooted in someone ’ s truth , but not necessarily that of the person posting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ POV hashtag , a teenager cries about leaving home because , based on the caption , her parents disapprove of interracial relationships .
A lot of teens pair the content with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ’ s “ Ca n't Hold Us ” and shoot in dimly lit rooms with similar neutral-colored backdrops .
Most teens who posted POVs weren ’ t accessible , but BuzzFeed News talked to one 16-year-old TikTok user who said the app is like a haven for “ venting ” and trying to “ talk through ” things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet is a safe place for many ; separate from what your family thinks , ” said Ava Santiago .
But the stakes are higher for the young adults , some of whom disconnect from family members altogether because of opposing views .
One content creator wrote a song about it .
In the song “ I ’ m Right You ’ re Wrong , ” Daren Girdner — @ darendarendaren on TikTok — describes the disappointment he feels in his father who he says “ doesn ’ t understand white privilege.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-hour conversation he had with his father , prompted by an exchange the two had on Facebook about racial inequality .
At the time , Girdner , 27 , was at a Black Lives Matter rally and his father had written “ blm is a joke ” in response to his son ’ s post .
“ We talked for nearly three hours , ” Girdner told BuzzFeed News .
“ We talked in circles .
He didn ’ t listen to a word I said .
It was an unfortunate conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his ignorance.
” Within an hour of the conversation , Girdner wrote and recorded the song .
A week and a half later his girlfriend , Ava Gordy , encouraged him to post it on TikTok .
“ I went to sleep and woke up and the rest is kind of history , ” Girdner , who at the time had been on TikTok for a month , told BuzzFeed News .
“ It had a bunch of views and it resonated with a lot of people I guess .
This song @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing I ’ m not alone.
” More than 200 content creators have used the sound to tell their own experiences , including one who posted a screenshot of a text conversation between him and his father .
“ I will never forgive you fully for putting this tyrant in office , ” said Alex , a 21-year-old trans man on TikTok who told BuzzFeed News he stopped speaking to his father soon after the June 13 post .
“ You , personally , with your voting have directly limited my rights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a familiar story : In the 1960s , it was the counterculture movement versus their Depression-era parents .
The themes are similar .
But for Gen Z — the group who hijacked President Donald Trump ’ s big return to the campaign trail in Tulsa by skewing attendance numbers — the digital community wields as much power as in-person protests for large takedowns and smaller ones , even those directed at family members .
They dominate TikTok .
They ’ re protective of the space , laughing off older millennials and Gen X'ers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to have changed a bit as one TikToker , Madison Scott , told BuzzFeed News , “ their content can be quite entertaining , ” but “ younger people don ’ t want their voices drowned out.
” Mislabeling Gen X'ers as boomers — a term to describe the generation born between 1946 and 1964 — is , however , still a thing .
When BuzzFeed News reached one teen content maker about TikToks they ’ d posted , they said they weren ’ t sure their parents “ would be OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was a common response , if any response at all , from most teens on the app who seem to think they ’ re talking into a vacuum with a million of their peers .
Deborah Hanover , 22 , relates to younger millennials who feel strongly about their stories being told .
And while she considers herself to hold “ old-fashioned views ” about private family life , speaking publicly about her and her father ’ s spats is one way to acknowledge the “ beauty in cultural evolution ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her generation .
For her , the discourse between the two is just an example of two generations that are “ stuck trying to figure each other out.
” “ I have a front-row seat to the mindset and behavior of the classic Trump supporter , and I am alarmed by what I see , ” Hanover wrote of her father in a viral Medium post .
“ It is a steady stream of misinformation that twists and bends to justify the unjustifiable , to deny the undeniable , built on an unmovable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a child , Hanover understood bedtime to be an hour after her family gathered for The O'Reilly Factor in their Staten Island home .
In some ways , the former Fox News conservative talk show was her “ pre-bedtime story.
” She remembers Bill O ’ Reilly calling people “ pinheads ” ( a term the former Fox News host used to describe people he disagreed with , especially Democrats ) .
In hindsight , the talk show host set in motion her disdain for John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ For a very long time , I actually echoed that mentality , ” Hanover told BuzzFeed News .
“ I echoed the rhetoric that I would see on Fox News because it was all I knew at the time.
” Hanover is no longer a member of the Republican Party .
Her college experience and living in Europe , she said , have broadened her outlook on politics , and in 2017 she registered to vote with no party affiliation .
She won ’ t be voting for Donald Trump this November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the extra time spent together because of COVID-19 amplified the tension between the two of them .
“ We were all way more underfoot than we ’ d been in a long time and it opened a lot more windows to confrontation , ” Hanover said .
The conflict has caused a rift in their family — one that led her to write the viral Medium post “ Confessions of a Trump Supporter ’ s Daughter.
” It ’ s a shift that ’ s happening to families across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their parents , and they ’ re doing so in front of the entire world .
There ’ s a bevy of social media posts from teens and young adults who have denounced their parents ’ conservatism months before the presidential election .
The most popular example of this is , of course , Claudia Conway , the daughter of White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and attorney George Conway , a staunch critic of the president .
The teenager is vocal about her opposition to Trump .
The 15-year-old has railed against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement .
And while many posts have been deleted — at the request of her parents , she says — this post , which starts as beauty advice and then turns into Claudia calling for the arrests of the police involved in Breonna Taylor ’ s shooting , remains .
It ’ s a strategy some teens use to avoid getting shadow-banned for posting too many political TikToks or attract a larger audience by posting something less controversial , at first , to lure their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve been getting a lot of questions about my skincare routine , so here it is , ” Conway starts .
“ So basically , I start my routine by pushing for the arrests of Breonna Taylor ’ s murderers : Myles Cosgrove , Brett Hankison , and Jonathan Mattingly , because they ’ ve been walking the earth free for 119 days , so , that ’ s basically my routine .
It ’ s not clear if Conway ’ s rallying her younger audience or garnering a new one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , whom she had been following , returned the follow .
But Madison Scott argued that Twitter is less appealing to a lot of Gen Z ’ ers — largely , she said , because of the president ’ s large platform on the app .
“ Trump having a Twitter [ account ] has made many more alt-right Gen X and millennials join the app , ” Scott , 22 , told BuzzFeed News .
“ It ’ s kind of turned into a political war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comedy.
” Scott ’ s been at odds with her parents over political views and other family issues .
She ’ s been out of the house for a while , but the lead-up to an inevitable early departure started when her views on politics began to change in the eighth grade .
In the most recent public criticism of Republican parents , Rep. Louie Gohmert , a staunch Trump ally who tested positive for COVID-19 recently , was the subject of a tweet by one of his daughters , who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She also warned against blindly following Trump .
“ Please please listen to medical experts , ” she tweeted from an account bearing her stage name , BELLSAINT .
“ It ’ s not worth following a president who has no remorse for leading his followers to an early grave.
” Separately , a second daughter , Kathryn Gohmert , took a shot at the president back in March .
“ I wish so deeply Hillary was my president now , ” she tweeted .
●

Within an hour of the conversation, Girdner wrote and recorded the song. A week and a half later his girlfriend, Ava Gordy, encouraged him to post it on TikTok.
“I went to sleep and woke up and the rest is kind of history,” Girdner, who at the time had been on TikTok for a month, told BuzzFeed News. “It had a bunch of views and it resonated with a lot of people I guess. This song brought me a lot of peace in knowing I’m not alone.”
More than 200 content creators have used the sound to tell their own experiences, including one who posted a screenshot of a text conversation between him and his father. “I will never forgive you fully for putting this tyrant in office,” said Alex, a 21-year-old trans man on TikTok who told BuzzFeed News he stopped speaking to his father soon after the June 13 post. “You, personally, with your voting have directly limited my rights and safety.”
Generational conflict over politics is a familiar story: In the 1960s, it was the counterculture movement versus their Depression-era parents. The themes are similar. But for Gen Z — the group who hijacked President Donald Trump’s big return to the campaign trail in Tulsa by skewing attendance numbers — the digital community wields as much power as in-person protests for large takedowns and smaller ones, even those directed at family members.
They dominate TikTok. They’re protective of the space, laughing off older millennials and Gen X'ers who post dance videos. Although that seems to have changed a bit as one TikToker, Madison Scott, told BuzzFeed News, “their content can be quite entertaining,” but “younger people don’t want their voices drowned out.” Mislabeling Gen X'ers as boomers — a term to describe the generation born between 1946 and 1964 — is, however, still a thing.
When BuzzFeed News reached one teen content maker about TikToks they’d posted, they said they weren’t sure their parents “would be OK” with them speaking about the videos. It was a common response, if any response at all, from most teens on the app who seem to think they’re talking into a vacuum with a million of their peers.
Deborah Hanover, 22, relates to younger millennials who feel strongly about their stories being told. And while she considers herself to hold “old-fashioned views” about private family life, speaking publicly about her and her father’s spats is one way to acknowledge the “beauty in cultural evolution” and the “independent thinking” of her generation. For her, the discourse between the two is just an example of two generations that are “stuck trying to figure each other out.”
“I have a front-row seat to the mindset and behavior of the classic Trump supporter, and I am alarmed by what I see,” Hanover wrote of her father in a viral Medium post. “It is a steady stream of misinformation that twists and bends to justify the unjustifiable, to deny the undeniable, built on an unmovable foundation of bitterness and distrust.”
As a child, Hanover understood bedtime to be an hour after her family gathered for The O'Reilly Factor in their Staten Island home. In some ways, the former Fox News conservative talk show was her “pre-bedtime story.”
She remembers Bill O’Reilly calling people “pinheads” (a term the former Fox News host used to describe people he disagreed with, especially Democrats). In hindsight, the talk show host set in motion her disdain for John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election. And her parents nurtured it.
“For a very long time, I actually echoed that mentality,” Hanover told BuzzFeed News. “I echoed the rhetoric that I would see on Fox News because it was all I knew at the time.”
Hanover is no longer a member of the Republican Party. Her college experience and living in Europe, she said, have broadened her outlook on politics, and in 2017 she registered to vote with no party affiliation. She won’t be voting for Donald Trump this November. But her father remains a diehard supporter, and the extra time spent together because of COVID-19 amplified the tension between the two of them.
“We were all way more underfoot than we’d been in a long time and it opened a lot more windows to confrontation,” Hanover said.
The conflict has caused a rift in their family — one that led her to write the viral Medium post “Confessions of a Trump Supporter’s Daughter.” It’s a shift that’s happening to families across the country. Children of conservatives are drifting away from their parents, and they’re doing so in front of the entire world. There’s a bevy of social media posts from teens and young adults who have denounced their parents’ conservatism months before the presidential election.
The most popular example of this is, of course, Claudia Conway, the daughter of White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and attorney George Conway, a staunch critic of the president. The teenager is vocal about her opposition to Trump.
The 15-year-old has railed against a “pussy-grabbing president” and has expressed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement. And while many posts have been deleted — at the request of her parents, she says — this post, which starts as beauty advice and then turns into Claudia calling for the arrests of the police involved in Breonna Taylor’s shooting, remains. It’s a strategy some teens use to avoid getting shadow-banned for posting too many political TikToks or attract a larger audience by posting something less controversial, at first, to lure their viewer in.
“Hey guys, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my skincare routine, so here it is,” Conway starts. “So basically, I start my routine by pushing for the arrests of Breonna Taylor’s murderers: Myles Cosgrove, Brett Hankison, and Jonathan Mattingly, because they’ve been walking the earth free for 119 days, so, that’s basically my routine.
“Yeah, thanks for watching.”
It’s not clear if Conway’s rallying her younger audience or garnering a new one with her Twitter announcements; recently, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, whom she had been following, returned the follow. But Madison Scott argued that Twitter is less appealing to a lot of Gen Z’ers — largely, she said, because of the president’s large platform on the app.
“Trump having a Twitter [account] has made many more alt-right Gen X and millennials join the app,” Scott, 22, told BuzzFeed News. “It’s kind of turned into a political war zone like Facebook instead of a place for comedy.”
Scott’s been at odds with her parents over political views and other family issues. She’s been out of the house for a while, but the lead-up to an inevitable early departure started when her views on politics began to change in the eighth grade.
In the most recent public criticism of Republican parents, Rep. Louie Gohmert, a staunch Trump ally who tested positive for COVID-19 recently, was the subject of a tweet by one of his daughters, who said her father “ignored medical expertise.” She also warned against blindly following Trump.
“Please please listen to medical experts,” she tweeted from an account bearing her stage name, BELLSAINT. “It’s not worth following a president who has no remorse for leading his followers to an early grave.”
Separately, a second daughter, Kathryn Gohmert, took a shot at the president back in March.
“I wish so deeply Hillary was my president now,” she tweeted. ●


buzzfeed--2020-08-20--This Red-Food Visual Test Is Harder Than You Probably Think

The food in the box is an apple !

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