mintpressnews--2020-06-03--Attorney Resigns From Use of Force Committee After Being Shot, Gassed by Denver Police

Elisabeth Epps , a Colorado-based attorney and bail activist , publicly resigned from the Denver Police Department ’ s Use of Force Committee last night after being shot and tear gassed by the same force she was trying to regulate .
“ Plenty of Black folks will shuck & jive for ya , it just can ’ t be me anymore , ” Epps said via Twitter , sharing pictures of the welts across her body and legs from police gunshots .
She had recently been on a conference call with the committee that included the local chief .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police violate their own policies .
“ I can ’ t even write the words to say how disheartening it was , ” she said .
Referring to the incident , she added , “ It doesn ’ t matter whether it ’ s a fascist , or antifa , or a kid that throws a water bottle or a rock , ” she said .
“ What in the world makes it proportional to gas an entire hillside of people ?
” “ I never felt like a token .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was naive and I was wrong ” Epps told the Denver Post ’ s Elise Schmelzer .
Schmelzer herself has been the target of violence , police firing pepper bullets at her while she was wearing a reflective vest that read “ press.
” While police nationwide have been escalating the violence , Denver law enforcement appear to have been some of the worst offenders .
Photographer Hyoung Chang , also of the Denver Post , was twice aimed and fired at by police , injuring his arm .
Chang is adamant that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was one shot , I can say it was an accident , ” he said .
“ I ’ m very sure it was the same guy twice .
I ’ m very sure he pointed at me.
” Denver police also threw a reporter into a burning fire while he was trying to take a picture of them .
The incident was caught on live television .
Local officer Thomas McClay was fired from his job yesterday after sharing a photo of himself and other officers in full riot gear with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a riot.
” Epps herself is a longtime prison abolition activist .
In 2018 she founded the Colorado Freedom Fund , a community bail fund that aims to help poor people who can not make bail and would otherwise be forced into the prison system .
Last year she was sentenced to 90 days in jail for obstructing the police arrest of a man going through a mental health crisis .
For much of her sentence , she was allowed out on day release , leading to the bizarre situation where she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jail , bailing others out in her role with the Freedom Fund , subsequently returning to her cell .
Thousands of Americans would appreciate the services of a bail fund right now .
According to an Associated Press tracker , over 9,300 people have been arrested during the George Floyd protests , which were sparked after a Minneapolis police officer was filmed killing an unarmed and handcuffed black man on May 25 .
Denver has seen the seventh most arrests of any U.S. city , with 284 as of June 3 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 locations and in every state across the country .
A Morning Consult poll published Monday found that 54 percent of Americans support the protests , with 22 percent opposed .
Even Republicans were evenly split on the question .
61 percent of the public agree that “ white people do not recognize the real advantages they have.
” Only four percent of black Americans oppose the protests .
However , public support for protest in general dips considerably depending on the race of those protesting .
54 percent of the public agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest injustice in the U.S. , it always makes the country better , ” but that number dropped to 46 percent when the qualifier “ black ” was added before “ Americans.
” President Trump has responded with considerable force , deploying the National Guard in 24 states and suggesting sending in the army , a possibly unconstitutional move .
He also suggested that “ looters ” and “ thugs ” should be shot on the spot .
Consequently , it is unlikely that Epps will be the last protestor attacked by security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire tear gas canisters during a protest outside the State Capitol over the death of George Floyd , May 30 , 2020 , in Denver .
David Zalubowski | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Elisabeth Epps, a Colorado-based attorney and bail activist, publicly resigned from the Denver Police Department’s Use of Force Committee last night after being shot and tear gassed by the same force she was trying to regulate. “Plenty of Black folks will shuck & jive for ya, it just can’t be me anymore,” Epps said via Twitter, sharing pictures of the welts across her body and legs from police gunshots.
Dear @DenverPolice, After 3 years working on your Use of Force committee, I hereby resign. We met last Thursday with Chief Pazen. Hours later, you gassed me. You shot my back and legs up—from behind. Plenty of Black folks will shuck & jive for ya, it just can’t be me anymore. pic.twitter.com/Ww2JfxMpSB — elisabeth epps is tired. (@elisabeth) June 2, 2020
She had recently been on a conference call with the committee that included the local chief. Just hours later she saw in the flesh the police violate their own policies. “I can’t even write the words to say how disheartening it was,” she said. Referring to the incident, she added, “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a fascist, or antifa, or a kid that throws a water bottle or a rock,” she said. “What in the world makes it proportional to gas an entire hillside of people?”
“I never felt like a token. I truly thought my input mattered. I was naive and I was wrong” Epps told the Denver Post’s Elise Schmelzer. Schmelzer herself has been the target of violence, police firing pepper bullets at her while she was wearing a reflective vest that read “press.” While police nationwide have been escalating the violence, Denver law enforcement appear to have been some of the worst offenders. Photographer Hyoung Chang, also of the Denver Post, was twice aimed and fired at by police, injuring his arm. Chang is adamant that the actions were deliberate: “If it was one shot, I can say it was an accident,” he said. “I’m very sure it was the same guy twice. I’m very sure he pointed at me.” Denver police also threw a reporter into a burning fire while he was trying to take a picture of them. The incident was caught on live television. Local officer Thomas McClay was fired from his job yesterday after sharing a photo of himself and other officers in full riot gear with the caption “Let’s start a riot.”
#denver police caught on camera throwing a reporter into a fire for trying to take a picture of the scene #DenverRiots #BlackLivesMatter #FTP pic.twitter.com/DRw5vKL0yI — Big T (@tessrmalle) May 31, 2020
Epps herself is a longtime prison abolition activist. In 2018 she founded the Colorado Freedom Fund, a community bail fund that aims to help poor people who cannot make bail and would otherwise be forced into the prison system. Last year she was sentenced to 90 days in jail for obstructing the police arrest of a man going through a mental health crisis. For much of her sentence, she was allowed out on day release, leading to the bizarre situation where she was released from her cell only to stay in jail, bailing others out in her role with the Freedom Fund, subsequently returning to her cell.
Imagine living in a country that it took months to respond to a pandemic and seconds to militarize the police against its citizens — Solomon Georgio (@solomongeorgio) June 3, 2020
Thousands of Americans would appreciate the services of a bail fund right now. According to an Associated Press tracker, over 9,300 people have been arrested during the George Floyd protests, which were sparked after a Minneapolis police officer was filmed killing an unarmed and handcuffed black man on May 25. Denver has seen the seventh most arrests of any U.S. city, with 284 as of June 3. Spontaneous demonstrations have broken out at over 100 locations and in every state across the country. A Morning Consult poll published Monday found that 54 percent of Americans support the protests, with 22 percent opposed. Even Republicans were evenly split on the question. 61 percent of the public agree that “white people do not recognize the real advantages they have.” Only four percent of black Americans oppose the protests. However, public support for protest in general dips considerably depending on the race of those protesting. 54 percent of the public agreed that “When Americans speak up and protest injustice in the U.S., it always makes the country better,” but that number dropped to 46 percent when the qualifier “black” was added before “Americans.”
President Trump has responded with considerable force, deploying the National Guard in 24 states and suggesting sending in the army, a possibly unconstitutional move. He also suggested that “looters” and “thugs” should be shot on the spot. Consequently, it is unlikely that Epps will be the last protestor attacked by security forces.
Feature photo | Denver Police fire tear gas canisters during a protest outside the State Capitol over the death of George Floyd, May 30, 2020, in Denver. David Zalubowski | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-06-03--Democrats Recently Voted to Give Trump Even MORE Police Power

Even as the president has overseen a nationwide wave of police brutality in response to the George Floyd protests , Democrats are voting to increase the executive branch and the national security state ’ s powers .
Last week , the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to reauthorize the questionably named USA FREEDOM Act , an updated and amended version of the 2001 PATRIOT Act .
Signed into law in the wake of the September 11 attacks , the PATRIOT Act authorized sweeping new governmental powers to infringe upon civil liberties , including the indefinite detention of immigrants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability for police to search homes and businesses without the occupant ’ s consent or knowledge , allow the authorities to go through telephone , email and other records without a court order , and gave police and government agencies greatly expanded powers to repress .
The act , sponsored by prominent New York Democrat Jerry Nadler , was passed 284 to 122 , despite the efforts of prominent progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) , Ilhan Omar ( D-NY ) , Ro Khanna ( D-CA ) , and Pramila Jayapal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) urged her fellow Democrats to vote the legislation through , claiming that “ If we don ’ t have a bill ” then “ our civil liberties are less protected.
” “ Central to that defense is how we do protect and defend .
It ’ s about our values , which are part of our strength .
It ’ s about the health , education and well-being of our people , our children , our future , which is part of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our strength .
And our intelligence is very much a part of our strength , in order to provide force protection for our men and women in uniform , when they go out there to protect and defend our country , force protection , ” she said .
Earlier in May , the bill was passed 80-16 by the Senate , who rejected Senator Rand Paul ’ s amendment preventing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrants being used against Americans .
“ The Patriot Act , in the end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes an unholy and unconstitutional exchange of liberty for a false sense of security .
And I , for one , will oppose its reauthorization , ” Paul argued , to no avail .
Trump has responded to the protests flaring up in over 100 American cities with a heavy hand .
Police have been responsible for countless attacks against protesters and press alike , with the president deploying the National Guard in 24 states .
More alarmingly , he has encouraged them to shoot whomever they deem “ thugs ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the shooting starts , ” he tweeted .
He has also threatened to let the army loose across the country to ‘ defend ” residents .
Yet a Morning Consult poll found that 54 percent of Americans support the protestors , with only 22 percent ( and only 38 percent of Republicans ) opposed to them .
Democrats overwhelmingly support them , 69 percent to 13 percent against .
Despite this , prominent Democrats have condemned the events .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo denounced many New Yorkers ’ behavior , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protestors from the looting.
” “ They demean Mr. Floyd ’ s murder by using it as an excuse for criminal activity , ” he added , as he imposed a curfew .
And even as New York City cops were plowing their vehicles through crowds of protestors and brutalizing young women , Mayor de Blasio excoriated the protestors , saying he was going to “ beat ” them back .
“ We will not tolerate violence of any kind .
We will not tolerate attacks on police officers .
We will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers is an attack on all of us .
Pure and simple , ” he added , without specifying who “ us ” referred to .
Even in Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ’ s joint speech against Trump ’ s handling of the situation , much of the criticism leveled at the president was for his bad optics , rather than for the 9,000 arrests , 13 deaths , and countless hospitalizations .
“ At a time when our country cries out for unification , this President is ripping it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just so that the president could pose for photos outside a church dishonors every value that faith teaches us , ” they wrote .
Meanwhile , the extent of criticism presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had for the police was to advise them to shoot protesters in the leg , rather than in the torso .
The tactic of rhetorically opposing Trump ’ s actions while , in practice , bolstering them fits a years-long pattern of behavior for many top Democrats .
Despite labeling him a dangerous fascist who would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber-stamped his increases in the military budget and his judicial appointments , rather than oppose them .
And on Venezuela , they gave Trump ’ s handpicked Venezuela mouthpiece Juan Guaidó a standing ovation at the State of the Union Address in February .
David Sirota , speechwriter , and advisor to insurgent presidential challenger Bernie Sanders laid out a checklist of ten concrete actions Democrats could take now to actually limit Trump ’ s authoritarianism .
These included opposing his Pentagon spending bill , calling his bluff , and using his federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrict the National Guard , and cease taking contributions from police associations .
However , if history is any judge , the party establishment will side with their supposed adversaries in the Republican party over the American people .
Feature photo | President Donald Trump walks past police in Lafayette Park after he visited outside St. John ’ s Church across from the White House , June 1 , 2020 , in Washington .
Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night .
Patrick Semansky | AP Alan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

Even as the president has overseen a nationwide wave of police brutality in response to the George Floyd protests, Democrats are voting to increase the executive branch and the national security state’s powers. Last week, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to reauthorize the questionably named USA FREEDOM Act, an updated and amended version of the 2001 PATRIOT Act. Signed into law in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the PATRIOT Act authorized sweeping new governmental powers to infringe upon civil liberties, including the indefinite detention of immigrants and those designated as “terrorists,” the ability for police to search homes and businesses without the occupant’s consent or knowledge, allow the authorities to go through telephone, email and other records without a court order, and gave police and government agencies greatly expanded powers to repress.
The act, sponsored by prominent New York Democrat Jerry Nadler, was passed 284 to 122, despite the efforts of prominent progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez( D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who opposed it. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urged her fellow Democrats to vote the legislation through, claiming that “If we don’t have a bill” then “our civil liberties are less protected.”
“Central to that defense is how we do protect and defend. It’s about our values, which are part of our strength. It’s about the health, education and well-being of our people, our children, our future, which is part of our strength. Our military might is part of our strength. And our intelligence is very much a part of our strength, in order to provide force protection for our men and women in uniform, when they go out there to protect and defend our country, force protection,” she said.
Earlier in May, the bill was passed 80-16 by the Senate, who rejected Senator Rand Paul’s amendment preventing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants being used against Americans. “The Patriot Act, in the end, is not patriotic. The Patriot Act makes an unholy and unconstitutional exchange of liberty for a false sense of security. And I, for one, will oppose its reauthorization,” Paul argued, to no avail.
Trump has responded to the protests flaring up in over 100 American cities with a heavy hand. Police have been responsible for countless attacks against protesters and press alike, with the president deploying the National Guard in 24 states. More alarmingly, he has encouraged them to shoot whomever they deem “thugs” and “looters.” “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” he tweeted. He has also threatened to let the army loose across the country to ‘defend” residents. Yet a Morning Consult poll found that 54 percent of Americans support the protestors, with only 22 percent (and only 38 percent of Republicans) opposed to them. Democrats overwhelmingly support them, 69 percent to 13 percent against.
Despite this, prominent Democrats have condemned the events. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo denounced many New Yorkers’ behavior, saying that we have to “separate the protestors from the looting.” “They demean Mr. Floyd’s murder by using it as an excuse for criminal activity,” he added, as he imposed a curfew. And even as New York City cops were plowing their vehicles through crowds of protestors and brutalizing young women, Mayor de Blasio excoriated the protestors, saying he was going to “beat” them back. “We will not tolerate violence of any kind. We will not tolerate attacks on police officers. We will not tolerate hatred being created…an attack on police officers is an attack on all of us. Pure and simple,” he added, without specifying who “us” referred to.
Even in Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s joint speech against Trump’s handling of the situation, much of the criticism leveled at the president was for his bad optics, rather than for the 9,000 arrests, 13 deaths, and countless hospitalizations. “At a time when our country cries out for unification, this President is ripping it apart. Tear-gassing peaceful protestors without provocation just so that the president could pose for photos outside a church dishonors every value that faith teaches us,” they wrote. Meanwhile, the extent of criticism presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had for the police was to advise them to shoot protesters in the leg, rather than in the torso.
This the #McResistance in a nutshell. Performative symbolism while not using her power to do anything substantive to challenge Trump. https://t.co/6BwbBAOGpE — Katie Halper (@kthalps) June 2, 2020
The tactic of rhetorically opposing Trump’s actions while, in practice, bolstering them fits a years-long pattern of behavior for many top Democrats. Despite labeling him a dangerous fascist who would be an erratic and irresponsible commander-in-chief, Democrats rubber-stamped his increases in the military budget and his judicial appointments, rather than oppose them. And on Venezuela, they gave Trump’s handpicked Venezuela mouthpiece Juan Guaidó a standing ovation at the State of the Union Address in February.
David Sirota, speechwriter, and advisor to insurgent presidential challenger Bernie Sanders laid out a checklist of ten concrete actions Democrats could take now to actually limit Trump’s authoritarianism. These included opposing his Pentagon spending bill, calling his bluff, and using his federal budget bill to defund the police, restrict the National Guard, and cease taking contributions from police associations. However, if history is any judge, the party establishment will side with their supposed adversaries in the Republican party over the American people.
Feature photo | President Donald Trump walks past police in Lafayette Park after he visited outside St. John’s Church across from the White House, June 1, 2020, in Washington. Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night. Patrick Semansky | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-06-03--Margaret Kimberley: Black Misleaders Are Seeking an End to Grassroots Protest

New York City ( BAR ) — The aftermath of George Floyd ’ s murder at the hands of Minneapolis , Minnesota police has created a national political crisis .
The revulsion caused by this latest killing caught on camera spawned protests in Minneapolis and all over the country .
Black people are the angriest , knowing they are at risk of the same treatment and because most police killings rarely result in convictions .
But the mass actions present a problem for the rulers .
Anger boiled beneath the surface after years of the race to the bottom austerity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of the COVID-19 quarantine , and another Democratic presidential primary rigged by that party ’ s donor class to defeat the prospect of even minimalist reforms .
While black people led the way , they were joined by many white people too .
They are also angry about Floyd ’ s death and are primed to rise up against the injustices that are expanding and becoming more deeply entrenched against them as well .
While COVID-19 created a health crisis it also left millions unemployed with nothing but meager benefits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When these groups began a nascent campaign of solidarity , the system rose up against them in an effort to delegitimize them all .
The story of Floyd ’ s cruel death began to take a back seat in the corporate media .
Suddenly the propagandists who pose as journalists became concerned about the presence of white people in the protests .
Who were they ?
Where were they from ?
What did they want ?
Were they “ Antifa ” or anarchists or white supremacists ?
They were quickly joined by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bidding of their patrons by dismissing the acts of rebellion .
St. Paul , Minnesota mayor Melvin Carter fired the first shot when he declared that every arrested protester was not from his state .
But in fact , the opposite was true , and 85 % of arrestees were Minnesotans .
Carter sheepishly responded that he had received bad information .
The obvious and easily proven inaccuracy makes that assertion highly unlikely .
He and others began using very dangerous talking points .
They claimed to grieve for Mr. Floyd and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while also saying that white protesters were using the demonstrations for nefarious ends .
They even evoked the “ outside agitator ” trope from the bad old days of Jim Crow segregation .
They pleaded for peaceful protest or no protest at all and some of them told outright lies .
Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was among the worst .
She accused protesters of disgracing her city , George Floyd ’ s memory , and Martin Luther King ’ s legacy all in one fell swoop .
She told them , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every protester was snatching liquor , setting fires , and pulling knives on the police .
The rebellion was dismissed as criminality and despite any claims of concern for George Floyd , she proclaimed every participant a scoundrel .
For good measure , she added , “ If you want change in America , go and register to vote !
, ” as if that act has magical qualities to make bad things disappear .
Voting usually produces nothing more than mediocre sell outs like Keisha Lance Bottoms .
It certainly won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heights of the most shameful lies were reserved for Marc Morial , former New Orleans mayor and President of the National Urban League , and Susan Rice , former National Security Adviser .
In separate interviews , they both accused the Russian government of instigating discontent .
“ If it is white supremacists , if it is Russians , if it is other foreign actors who ’ ve tried to exploit the pain and exploit legitimate protests , then this is a new level in our country , and they should be arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overly dramatic Morial .
Rice said the protests were , “ Right out of the Russian playbook.
” It is hard to believe that either of them really believes anything they said .
They are opportunists and cynics and they are joined at the hip with the Democrats ’ donor class .
These black quislings obey everyone except their own people .
Their con game is to give a pretense of black empowerment while doing the bidding of others .
If that means repeating disproven propaganda , then so be it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They know that if young black and white people find common cause they may march for other reasons too .
They may lead to general strikes , demand an end to war or try to resurrect the Occupy movement .
It is better to cast aspersions now instead of risking needed change that would undermine their positions .
That is why they eagerly establish curfews and say nothing about the police violence against protesters .
There are no white supremacists in these actions , and they invoke the dreaded words to stoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are but a first step in establishing real grassroots organizing that must focus on police violence , political corruption and a system which puts black people most at risk of dying in a pandemic , being arrested for little or nothing , or earning a starvation wage if any wage at all .
The Black Alliance for Peace campaign , “ No Compromise , No Retreat ” shows the way .
The BAP candidate pledge will expose the likes of Keisha Lance Bottoms .
Demanding that they demilitarize the police and investigate all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
Their days of using their positions to undermine the popular will end only when a strong organizing apparatus forces them out .
All eyes must be focused on them , and less so on Donald Trump .
There is no Antifa organization , it is instead a political idea of how to fight fascism .
His mutterings about it being a terrorist group should be ignored .
His ravings about “ vicious dogs ” and “ ominous weapons ” at the White House trigger panic but black mayors and their friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own corruption pose far bigger problems .
The misleaders assisted in foisting Joe Biden upon Democratic Party voters .
While Trump did his usual routine of ginning up his followers with political red meat , Biden appeared in a black church and spoke of police stopping imaginary knife-wielding attackers by aiming to shoot for the legs .
This deranged and dangerous nonsense is the result of high-level treachery amongst the black political class and is as dangerous as any Trumpian nonsense .
The joint disparagement of grassroots protest by the misleaders and corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring real change .
That is why they become more shrill by the day and it is why the people must act in opposition to them all .
Feature photo | Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces a 9 p.m. curfew as protests continue over the death of George Floyd , May 30 , 2020 .
Ben Gray | Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP Margaret Kimberley writes the Freedom Rider column which appears weekly in BAR , and is widely reprinted elsewhere .
She maintains a frequently updated blog as well at patreon.com/margaretkimberley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedomrideblog .
Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley ( at ) BlackAgendaReport.com

New York City (BAR) — The aftermath of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota police has created a national political crisis. The revulsion caused by this latest killing caught on camera spawned protests in Minneapolis and all over the country. Black people are the angriest, knowing they are at risk of the same treatment and because most police killings rarely result in convictions.
But the mass actions present a problem for the rulers. Anger boiled beneath the surface after years of the race to the bottom austerity regime, the worsening economic collapse in the wake of the COVID-19 quarantine, and another Democratic presidential primary rigged by that party’s donor class to defeat the prospect of even minimalist reforms.
While black people led the way, they were joined by many white people too. They are also angry about Floyd’s death and are primed to rise up against the injustices that are expanding and becoming more deeply entrenched against them as well. While COVID-19 created a health crisis it also left millions unemployed with nothing but meager benefits and a one-time payment of $1,200.
When these groups began a nascent campaign of solidarity, the system rose up against them in an effort to delegitimize them all. The story of Floyd’s cruel death began to take a back seat in the corporate media. Suddenly the propagandists who pose as journalists became concerned about the presence of white people in the protests. Who were they? Where were they from? What did they want? Were they “Antifa” or anarchists or white supremacists?
They were quickly joined by the political class of black misleaders who did the bidding of their patrons by dismissing the acts of rebellion. St. Paul, Minnesota mayor Melvin Carter fired the first shot when he declared that every arrested protester was not from his state. But in fact, the opposite was true, and 85% of arrestees were Minnesotans. Carter sheepishly responded that he had received bad information. The obvious and easily proven inaccuracy makes that assertion highly unlikely.
He and others began using very dangerous talking points. They claimed to grieve for Mr. Floyd and expressed a desire to see justice done while also saying that white protesters were using the demonstrations for nefarious ends. They even evoked the “outside agitator” trope from the bad old days of Jim Crow segregation. They pleaded for peaceful protest or no protest at all and some of them told outright lies.
Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was among the worst. She accused protesters of disgracing her city, George Floyd’s memory, and Martin Luther King’s legacy all in one fell swoop. She told them, “Go home.” According to Madame Mayor, every protester was snatching liquor, setting fires, and pulling knives on the police. The rebellion was dismissed as criminality and despite any claims of concern for George Floyd, she proclaimed every participant a scoundrel.
For good measure, she added, “If you want change in America, go and register to vote!,” as if that act has magical qualities to make bad things disappear. Voting usually produces nothing more than mediocre sell outs like Keisha Lance Bottoms. It certainly won’t end police violence.
The heights of the most shameful lies were reserved for Marc Morial, former New Orleans mayor and President of the National Urban League, and Susan Rice, former National Security Adviser. In separate interviews, they both accused the Russian government of instigating discontent. “If it is white supremacists, if it is Russians, if it is other foreign actors who’ve tried to exploit the pain and exploit legitimate protests, then this is a new level in our country, and they should be arrested and prosecuted as well,” said the overly dramatic Morial. Rice said the protests were, “Right out of the Russian playbook.”
It is hard to believe that either of them really believes anything they said. They are opportunists and cynics and they are joined at the hip with the Democrats’ donor class. These black quislings obey everyone except their own people. Their con game is to give a pretense of black empowerment while doing the bidding of others. If that means repeating disproven propaganda, then so be it.
The underlings and their patrons are afraid. They know that if young black and white people find common cause they may march for other reasons too. They may lead to general strikes, demand an end to war or try to resurrect the Occupy movement. It is better to cast aspersions now instead of risking needed change that would undermine their positions.
That is why they eagerly establish curfews and say nothing about the police violence against protesters. There are no white supremacists in these actions, and they invoke the dreaded words to stoke fear and confusion. The spontaneous rebellions are but a first step in establishing real grassroots organizing that must focus on police violence, political corruption and a system which puts black people most at risk of dying in a pandemic, being arrested for little or nothing, or earning a starvation wage if any wage at all.
The Black Alliance for Peace campaign, “No Compromise, No Retreat” shows the way. The BAP candidate pledge will expose the likes of Keisha Lance Bottoms. Demanding that they demilitarize the police and investigate all police killings will bring about important organizational work. Their days of using their positions to undermine the popular will end only when a strong organizing apparatus forces them out.
All eyes must be focused on them, and less so on Donald Trump. There is no Antifa organization, it is instead a political idea of how to fight fascism. His mutterings about it being a terrorist group should be ignored. His ravings about “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons” at the White House trigger panic but black mayors and their friends who seek to divert attention from their own corruption pose far bigger problems.
The misleaders assisted in foisting Joe Biden upon Democratic Party voters. While Trump did his usual routine of ginning up his followers with political red meat, Biden appeared in a black church and spoke of police stopping imaginary knife-wielding attackers by aiming to shoot for the legs. This deranged and dangerous nonsense is the result of high-level treachery amongst the black political class and is as dangerous as any Trumpian nonsense.
The joint disparagement of grassroots protest by the misleaders and corporate media prove that it has the potential to bring real change. That is why they become more shrill by the day and it is why the people must act in opposition to them all.
Feature photo | Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces a 9 p.m. curfew as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, May 30, 2020. Ben Gray | Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
Margaret Kimberley writes the Freedom Rider column which appears weekly in BAR, and is widely reprinted elsewhere. She maintains a frequently updated blog as well at patreon.com/margaretkimberley and she regularly posts on Twitter @freedomrideblog. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgendaReport.com


mintpressnews--2020-06-04--Wolf Warrior Diplomacy: Israeli Attempts to Play Both the US and China are Backfiring

Israel ’ s balancing act is floundering .
It is no longer able to reap America ’ s unconditional and , often , blind support , while simultaneously benefiting from China ’ s growing economic influence and political prestige .
Thanks to the heated cold war between the U.S. and Chinese economic superpowers , the Israeli strategy of playing both sides is unlikely to pay dividends in the long run .
Soon enough , Tel Aviv might find itself having to make a stark choice between Washington and Beijing .
When U.S. Secretary of State , Mike Pompeo visited Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his agenda : Israel ’ s imminent illegal annexation of Palestinian land and growing Israeli-Chinese economic ties .
Pompeo communicated his country ’ s stand on both issues , reflecting Washington ’ s long-standing policies regarding Palestine and China .
In the case of Palestine , as with the rest of the Middle East , Washington seems to adhere to Tel Aviv ’ s agenda , often to the letter .
China , however , is a different story .
Two significant historical examples come to mind : one is Israel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radar System , which relied heavily on American technology in the 1990s ; a similar event transpired in 2005 , this time concerning Israel ’ s Harpy anti-radar missile .
On both occasions , Israel succumbed to American pressure and canceled both deals .
For the Chinese , Israel matters for two different reasons .
One , Israel is a strategic stop in China ’ s Belt and Road initiative , China ’ s most significant economic project to date , ultimately aimed at turning Beijing into a center of global trade and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping to fight the U.S. on its own political turf , in the Middle East – partly in response to the American ‘ pivot to Asia ’ strategy initiated by the Barack Obama administration .
But the world – in terms of political and economic balances of power – after the coronavirus pandemic is likely to prove a different one when compared with previous years .
China ’ s rise has been in the making for many years and the U.S. political retreat and declining global outreach has been quite evident for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump Administration , coupled with Washington ’ s many China-related tantrums in recent years , are all indicators of the vastly changing political realities of a once-unipolar world .
A few years ago , Beijing had the time , patience , and resources to play a long-drawn geopolitical game in order for it to challenge the U.S. ’ s global influence , whether in South America , Africa , or Israel .
The visit by China ’ s Vice President , Wang Qishan , to Israel in 2018 , to “ boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Chinese strategy .
That visit followed the signing , one year earlier , of the China-Israel Innovative Comprehensive Partnership .
As of 2018 , China-Israel trade has jumped to $ 14 billion and has grown exponentially ever since .
China would have been happy to carry on with that strategy for many years to come .
Israel , too , would have played along , considering the lucrative financial returns from its China partnership .
Indeed , despite Washington ’ s warnings against and , at times , explicit demands that Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fifth-generation infrastructure ( 5G ) projects in the country , Israel labored to make China feel welcomed .
However , the global response to the coronavirus pandemic is likely to change this , as it has already accelerated the cold war between the U.S. and China , pushing the latter to adopt a more aggressive form of diplomacy and pour massive sums into other countries ’ economies to help them in their desperate fight against COVID-19 .
The Chinese strategy is predicated on two main pillars : fortifying existing ties and solidarity with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anywhere in the world , while pushing back against China ’ s foes , especially those who are participating in Washington ’ s anti-Beijing campaign .
The latter phenomenon is known as ‘ wolf warrior diplomacy ’ .
The ‘ wolf warriors ’ are Chinese diplomats who have , for months , pushed back with unprecedented ferocity against what they perceive to be U.S. and Western propaganda .
“ We never pick a fight or bully others , ” China ’ s Foreign Minister , Wang Yi , told reporters in Beijing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s novel approach to diplomacy .
“ We will push back against any deliberate insult , resolutely defend our national honor and dignity , and we will refute all groundless slander with facts , ” the top Chinese official said firmly .
China ’ s new aggressive diplomacy , especially if it continues to define the country ’ s approach to foreign policy in the coming years , is unlikely to permit Israel to maintain its balancing act for much longer .
China ’ s ambassador to Israel , Du Wei , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soft-diplomacy with Tel Aviv , died in his home only a few days following Pompeo ’ s visit to the country .
Although Wei ’ s death was not – at least publicly – perceived to be the result of foul play , his absence , especially in the age of coronavirus and ‘ wolf warriors ’ , might signal a shift in China ’ s approach to its economic and political interests in Israel .
On May 26 , under American pressure , the Israeli Finance Ministry denied China a massive $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to an Israeli company , instead .
This is the first time in many years that the U.S. has used its political and economic sway over Israel to curb Chinese influence in the country .
China must be anxiously watching events unfold , to see if U.S. pressure on Israel will continue to undermine Beijing ’ s long-term strategy .
The world ’ s quickly shifting balance of power and the U.S.-Chinese unmistakable fight for dominance is likely to , eventually , force countries like Israel to make a choice , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sphere of influence .
It is all reminiscent of the American-Soviet Cold War , where much of the globe was divided into zones of influence operated by proxy from Washington or Moscow .
Balancing acts in politics only work if all parties are willing to play or , at least , tolerate the game .
While this form of politics suited Israel ’ s interests in the past and was played , quite successfully for years by Israeli Prime Minister , Benjamin Netanyahu , the country ’ s balancing act is , possibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precise demands to Israel to keep Beijing at bay , and the latter ’ s aggressive ‘ wolf warrior ’ diplomacy , Israel is facing a stark choice : remaining loyal to a fading superpower or diving into the uncharted waters of an emerging one .
Feature photo | China ’ s Vice President Wang Qishan , right , laughs as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a face as they tour the Israeli Innovation Summit in Jerusalem , Oct. 24 , 2018 .
Ariel Schalit | AP Ramzy Baroud is a journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is the author of five books .
His latest is “ These Chains Will Be Broken : Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons ” ( Clarity Press , Atlanta ) .
Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs ( CIGA ) , Istanbul Zaim University ( IZU ) .
His website is www.ramzybaroud.net

Israel’s balancing act is floundering. It is no longer able to reap America’s unconditional and, often, blind support, while simultaneously benefiting from China’s growing economic influence and political prestige.
Thanks to the heated cold war between the U.S. and Chinese economic superpowers, the Israeli strategy of playing both sides is unlikely to pay dividends in the long run. Soon enough, Tel Aviv might find itself having to make a stark choice between Washington and Beijing.
When U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo visited Israel on May 13, two items topped his agenda: Israel’s imminent illegal annexation of Palestinian land and growing Israeli-Chinese economic ties.
Pompeo communicated his country’s stand on both issues, reflecting Washington’s long-standing policies regarding Palestine and China. In the case of Palestine, as with the rest of the Middle East, Washington seems to adhere to Tel Aviv’s agenda, often to the letter. China, however, is a different story.
Two significant historical examples come to mind: one is Israel’s attempt to sell China Israeli-made Phalcon Airborne Radar System, which relied heavily on American technology in the 1990s; a similar event transpired in 2005, this time concerning Israel’s Harpy anti-radar missile. On both occasions, Israel succumbed to American pressure and canceled both deals.
For the Chinese, Israel matters for two different reasons. One, Israel is a strategic stop in China’s Belt and Road initiative, China’s most significant economic project to date, ultimately aimed at turning Beijing into a center of global trade and financial activity. Two, China is hoping to fight the U.S. on its own political turf, in the Middle East – partly in response to the American ‘pivot to Asia’ strategy initiated by the Barack Obama administration.
But the world – in terms of political and economic balances of power – after the coronavirus pandemic is likely to prove a different one when compared with previous years. China’s rise has been in the making for many years and the U.S. political retreat and declining global outreach has been quite evident for some time. The isolationist policies of the Donald Trump Administration, coupled with Washington’s many China-related tantrums in recent years, are all indicators of the vastly changing political realities of a once-unipolar world.
A few years ago, Beijing had the time, patience, and resources to play a long-drawn geopolitical game in order for it to challenge the U.S.’s global influence, whether in South America, Africa, or Israel.
The visit by China’s Vice President, Wang Qishan, to Israel in 2018, to “boost business ties,” was part of this Chinese strategy. That visit followed the signing, one year earlier, of the China-Israel Innovative Comprehensive Partnership. As of 2018, China-Israel trade has jumped to $14 billion and has grown exponentially ever since.
China would have been happy to carry on with that strategy for many years to come. Israel, too, would have played along, considering the lucrative financial returns from its China partnership.
Indeed, despite Washington’s warnings against and, at times, explicit demands that Israel refrains from giving Chinese companies access to fifth-generation infrastructure (5G) projects in the country, Israel labored to make China feel welcomed.
However, the global response to the coronavirus pandemic is likely to change this, as it has already accelerated the cold war between the U.S. and China, pushing the latter to adopt a more aggressive form of diplomacy and pour massive sums into other countries’ economies to help them in their desperate fight against COVID-19.
The Chinese strategy is predicated on two main pillars: fortifying existing ties and solidarity with China’s allies or potential allies anywhere in the world, while pushing back against China’s foes, especially those who are participating in Washington’s anti-Beijing campaign.
The latter phenomenon is known as ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’. The ‘wolf warriors’ are Chinese diplomats who have, for months, pushed back with unprecedented ferocity against what they perceive to be U.S. and Western propaganda.
“We never pick a fight or bully others,” China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, told reporters in Beijing on May 24, while explaining China’s novel approach to diplomacy. “We will push back against any deliberate insult, resolutely defend our national honor and dignity, and we will refute all groundless slander with facts,” the top Chinese official said firmly.
China’s new aggressive diplomacy, especially if it continues to define the country’s approach to foreign policy in the coming years, is unlikely to permit Israel to maintain its balancing act for much longer.
China’s ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, who was entrusted with implementing Beijing’s soft-diplomacy with Tel Aviv, died in his home only a few days following Pompeo’s visit to the country. Although Wei’s death was not – at least publicly – perceived to be the result of foul play, his absence, especially in the age of coronavirus and ‘wolf warriors’, might signal a shift in China’s approach to its economic and political interests in Israel.
On May 26, under American pressure, the Israeli Finance Ministry denied China a massive $1.5 billion desalination plant contract, awarding it to an Israeli company, instead.
This is the first time in many years that the U.S. has used its political and economic sway over Israel to curb Chinese influence in the country. China must be anxiously watching events unfold, to see if U.S. pressure on Israel will continue to undermine Beijing’s long-term strategy.
The world’s quickly shifting balance of power and the U.S.-Chinese unmistakable fight for dominance is likely to, eventually, force countries like Israel to make a choice, of wholly joining the American or the Chinese sphere of influence. It is all reminiscent of the American-Soviet Cold War, where much of the globe was divided into zones of influence operated by proxy from Washington or Moscow.
Balancing acts in politics only work if all parties are willing to play or, at least, tolerate the game. While this form of politics suited Israel’s interests in the past and was played, quite successfully for years by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s balancing act is, possibly, over.
Between Washington’s precise demands to Israel to keep Beijing at bay, and the latter’s aggressive ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy, Israel is facing a stark choice: remaining loyal to a fading superpower or diving into the uncharted waters of an emerging one.
Feature photo | China’s Vice President Wang Qishan, right, laughs as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a face as they tour the Israeli Innovation Summit in Jerusalem, Oct. 24, 2018. Ariel Schalit | AP
Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is “These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons” (Clarity Press, Atlanta). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), Istanbul Zaim University (IZU). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net


mintpressnews--2020-06-05--Fake Taxis Among the Latest Tools in the NYPD’s Rights-Busting Crackdown on Protesters

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio have declared a curfew until Monday , June 8 in response to ongoing protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The latest method of trapping and arresting those breaking the curfew appears to be the use of fake yellow taxis that are actually police cars .
Video circulated last night of the NYPD apparently tricking protestors trying to go home by posing as taxis and then arresting them for breaking the curfew .
The images show a man being arrested and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , almost a perfect copy of the iconic New York taxi .
A 2016 Freedom of Information Request by journalist Matthew Guariglia found that the city ’ s police force has a fleet of at least five so-called “ cop cabs , ” and that the NYPD has been using them since at least 2015 .
New York-based magazine the Gothamist put together a checklist of how to spot fake police taxis .
Among the most glaring tells include a license plate number beginning with 2W or 6Y , missing plastic center dividers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or fake-looking meters .
The curfew is the latest strong-armed measure authorities have taken to try to combat the widespread protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police last week .
Essential workers are supposed to be exempt from the new law requiring New Yorkers to be behind closed doors before 8 p.m .
But , in practice , this has not been the case , with many food delivery workers , journalists and others detained .
Meanwhile , on Saturday , the NYPD brutalized 32-year-old African-American hospital worker Rayne Valentine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicking and beating his head in until he lay unmoving in the fetal position .
Valentine had to go back to the same hospital he just left for treatment , his co-workers putting seven staples in his head and attempting to stop the bleeding .
Valentine suggested that his attackers may have only stopped after they noticed his bloodied hospital identification .
On Thursday night , according to one protestor , police in the Bronx trapped , maced and beat up protestors before curfew had even been started , the panic and terror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor .
Last week , videos surfaced of multiple NYPD cruisers plowing into stationary protestors and driving away rather than helping the fallen .
Meanwhile , on Wednesday , the Federal Bureau of Prisons admitted that Jamel Floyd , an African-American , diabetic , asthmatic inmate of a Brooklyn jail had been killed by authorities after they pepper-sprayed him in his cell .
The extraordinary footage of NYPD brutality circulating on the Internet has led to calls for the police to be defunded .
New York State Governor Cuomo offered some mild rebuke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality , but for its failure to sufficiently protect private property .
“ The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night , ” he said on Tuesday .
This led to outrage from the police and from Mayor De Blasio , who insisted that he does not believe his police have beaten protestors , praising them for their “ restraint.
” Cuomo later apologized to the NYPD , something that suggests that it is far from clear who really controls whom .
Despite De Blasio ’ s unwavering support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low regard ; 88 percent of police officers have a “ very unfavorable ” opinion of him , according to a Patrolmen ’ s Benevolent Association survey .
With more than 50,000 uniformed officers , the NYPD dwarfs the police departments of other cities in its sheer size .
It also boasts double the police per capita than cities like Phoenix and Dallas .
The department ’ s massive $ 6 billion annual budget is larger than the total GDP of over 40 countries and eats into the far smaller budgets for underfunded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic , Cuomo greatly slashed the state ’ s health budget , but left policing largely untouched .
And under De Blasio , both the number of police and their budget has soared .
Around half of all NYPD officers do not even live in New York City .
Last week , the NYPD attempted to force the city ’ s bus drivers to transport arrested protestors from Brooklyn ’ s Barclay Center .
However , to the sound of cheering crowds , the unionized drivers refused to do so , walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in Minneapolis , the epicenter of the George Floyd protests , MintPress News cameras filmed police using six large articulated buses to silently move huge numbers of police in riot gear towards the city ’ s fifth precinct .
“ There ’ s like a million of them , ” said MintPress founder Mnar Muhawesh , “ they came in super quietly .
Their lights were all off , they are ready to march through.
” It is unlikely that many will know the area well , however ; only around eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s limits .
Perhaps St. Paul ’ s mayor was correct after all when he said that organized outside agitators were responsible for the violence .
Feature photo | A woman on a bicycle is violently arrested by NYPD officers for violating curfew beside the iconic Plaza Hotel on 59th Street , June 3 , 2020 , in the Manhattan borough of New York .
John Minchillo | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio have declared a curfew until Monday, June 8 in response to ongoing protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The latest method of trapping and arresting those breaking the curfew appears to be the use of fake yellow taxis that are actually police cars.
Video circulated last night of the NYPD apparently tricking protestors trying to go home by posing as taxis and then arresting them for breaking the curfew. The images show a man being arrested and put into the back of the vehicle, almost a perfect copy of the iconic New York taxi. A 2016 Freedom of Information Request by journalist Matthew Guariglia found that the city’s police force has a fleet of at least five so-called “cop cabs,” and that the NYPD has been using them since at least 2015.
New York-based magazine the Gothamist put together a checklist of how to spot fake police taxis. Among the most glaring tells include a license plate number beginning with 2W or 6Y, missing plastic center dividers between the driver and backseat and disconnected or fake-looking meters.
The curfew is the latest strong-armed measure authorities have taken to try to combat the widespread protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police last week. Essential workers are supposed to be exempt from the new law requiring New Yorkers to be behind closed doors before 8 p.m. But, in practice, this has not been the case, with many food delivery workers, journalists and others detained.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the NYPD brutalized 32-year-old African-American hospital worker Rayne Valentine as he was leaving his job, kicking and beating his head in until he lay unmoving in the fetal position. Valentine had to go back to the same hospital he just left for treatment, his co-workers putting seven staples in his head and attempting to stop the bleeding. Valentine suggested that his attackers may have only stopped after they noticed his bloodied hospital identification.
On Thursday night, according to one protestor, police in the Bronx trapped, maced and beat up protestors before curfew had even been started, the panic and terror causing one woman to go into premature labor. Last week, videos surfaced of multiple NYPD cruisers plowing into stationary protestors and driving away rather than helping the fallen. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons admitted that Jamel Floyd, an African-American, diabetic, asthmatic inmate of a Brooklyn jail had been killed by authorities after they pepper-sprayed him in his cell.
Since alot of folks were asking me about NYPD and LAPD, heres an updated list. pic.twitter.com/es8rMhVjHj — 🌹Julio ''This Is How We Protest' Salinas🌹 (@thedoctorjulio) June 5, 2020
A bloated police force
The extraordinary footage of NYPD brutality circulating on the Internet has led to calls for the police to be defunded. New York State Governor Cuomo offered some mild rebuke of the force, not for its brutality, but for its failure to sufficiently protect private property. “The NYPD and the mayor did not do their job last night,” he said on Tuesday. This led to outrage from the police and from Mayor De Blasio, who insisted that he does not believe his police have beaten protestors, praising them for their “restraint.” Cuomo later apologized to the NYPD, something that suggests that it is far from clear who really controls whom. Despite De Blasio’s unwavering support, NYPD officers hold him in extremely low regard; 88 percent of police officers have a “very unfavorable” opinion of him, according to a Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association survey.
With more than 50,000 uniformed officers, the NYPD dwarfs the police departments of other cities in its sheer size. It also boasts double the police per capita than cities like Phoenix and Dallas. The department’s massive $6 billion annual budget is larger than the total GDP of over 40 countries and eats into the far smaller budgets for underfunded essential services. During the middle of a pandemic, Cuomo greatly slashed the state’s health budget, but left policing largely untouched. And under De Blasio, both the number of police and their budget has soared. Around half of all NYPD officers do not even live in New York City.
Last week, the NYPD attempted to force the city’s bus drivers to transport arrested protestors from Brooklyn’s Barclay Center. However, to the sound of cheering crowds, the unionized drivers refused to do so, walking out of their vehicles. In contrast, in Minneapolis, the epicenter of the George Floyd protests, MintPress News cameras filmed police using six large articulated buses to silently move huge numbers of police in riot gear towards the city’s fifth precinct. “There’s like a million of them,” said MintPress founder Mnar Muhawesh, “they came in super quietly. Their lights were all off, they are ready to march through.” It is unlikely that many will know the area well, however; only around eight percent of Minneapolis cops live within the city’s limits. Perhaps St. Paul’s mayor was correct after all when he said that organized outside agitators were responsible for the violence.
Feature photo | A woman on a bicycle is violently arrested by NYPD officers for violating curfew beside the iconic Plaza Hotel on 59th Street, June 3, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. John Minchillo | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-06-05--George Floyd Protests: US Arrests Now Higher Than Hong Kong Protest Total Figures

After just over a week of demonstrations , the number of Americans arrested in the George Floyd protests far exceeds that of over a year ’ s worth of protests in Hong Kong .
A survey of just 30 police departments conducted on Tuesday found that they had collectively detained over 11,000 individuals , meaning the actual number detained across the entire country is certain to be higher .
That compares to around 9,000 for Hong Kong .
Chinese authorities have been roundly condemned by Western governments and by human rights organizations for their excessive use of force , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmed protestors .
However , in more than a year of near-constant conflict , authorities have not killed anyone .
In contrast , at least 17 people have been killed protesting in the U.S .
The National Guard was almost immediately activated and deployed to 24 states , with the president encouraging authorities to shoot anyone deemed to be “ thugs ” or “ looters.
” “ When the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” Trump tweeted .
Police seem to have taken that message to heart , shooting and killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vallejo , California , while he was kneeling and had his hands up .
Meanwhile , on Wednesday LAPD shot a homeless , wheelchair bound man in the face .
In both the United States and Hong Kong , authorities have pointed to outside agitators to explain the violence .
St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter claimed last week that every protester arrested was from out of state , implying there was a grand conspiracy to commit violence .
He later retracted his statement after it was proven that the vast majority were , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , former American Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor to President Obama , believed she saw a Russian hand in the chaos .
“ I would bet , based on my experience… this is right out of the Russian playbook , ” she told CNN ’ s Wolf Blitzer , adding , “ I would not be surprised to learn that they have fomented some of these extremists on both sides using social media , I would not be surprised to learn that they have been funding it in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s National Security Advisor blamed China and Iran .
Meanwhile , Florida Senator Rick Scott claimed that the protests were being organized by Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela .
None of them could point to anything more substantive than a few tweets .
On the other hand , some of the Hong Kong protesters are being openly trained , funded , and supported by Washington .
Since 2014 – the year of the Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong – the White House ’ s regime change organization the NED has ( officially ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hong Kong to “ identify new avenues for democracy and political reform.
” But before the Hong Kong protests erupted , NED President Gershman called China a “ resurgent despotic regime tightening repression internally and expanding its power globally , ” claiming that “ democracy is under threat ” and we must “ come to its defense , ” thereby confirming that anything “ pro-democracy ” in China is , by definition , anti-government .
Since the protests began , Washington has led the world in trying to pressurize and isolate China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Joshua Wong travel back and forth to the U.S. to meet top American officials .
Meanwhile , American diplomat Julie Eadeh was photographed in a meeting with other protest leaders .
The U.S. conflict erupted after videos surfaced of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin choking unarmed , handcuffed black man George Floyd to death .
In Hong Kong , anger arose in response to a proposed extradition treaty with China that many islanders felt would greatly undermine the special civil liberties they hold .
Both protests enjoy a good amount of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 60 percent of Hong Kong natives generally support the protests , while 54 percent of the U.S. back the George Floyd demonstrations .
But despite similar levels of approval , their bases of support contrast greatly .
While the George Floyd protests have seen the burning of the American flag and are categorically opposed to Donald Trump ’ s racist intervention , Hong Kongers fly the U.S. flag high and appeal to him directly to intervene : “ President Trump : Please liberate Hong Kong ” is one particularly prevalent slogan seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sang “ God Save the Queen ” and hung the flag of the United Kingdom in the city ’ s legislative building .
The British ruled the territory as a colony until 1997 , and the gesture was interpreted by Western media as a “ plea ” for the U.K. to intervene .
While the world condemned China for its response to the protests , the numbers and the images make clear that the U.S. has responded to its popular uprising with more force and less tolerance than Beijing .
If China is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean the U.S. also qualifies for the same title ?
Feature photo | Masked National Guard soldiers move through clouds of tear gas to detain an alleged protester as demonstrators march against police brutality , May 31 , 2020 , in Atlanta .
Brynn Anderson | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

After just over a week of demonstrations, the number of Americans arrested in the George Floyd protests far exceeds that of over a year’s worth of protests in Hong Kong. A survey of just 30 police departments conducted on Tuesday found that they had collectively detained over 11,000 individuals, meaning the actual number detained across the entire country is certain to be higher. That compares to around 9,000 for Hong Kong.
Chinese authorities have been roundly condemned by Western governments and by human rights organizations for their excessive use of force, using tear gas and rubber bullets that have harmed protestors. However, in more than a year of near-constant conflict, authorities have not killed anyone. In contrast, at least 17 people have been killed protesting in the U.S. The National Guard was almost immediately activated and deployed to 24 states, with the president encouraging authorities to shoot anyone deemed to be “thugs” or “looters.” “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Trump tweeted. Police seem to have taken that message to heart, shooting and killing Sean Monterrosa, an unarmed 22-year-old in Vallejo, California, while he was kneeling and had his hands up. Meanwhile, on Wednesday LAPD shot a homeless, wheelchair bound man in the face.
In both the United States and Hong Kong, authorities have pointed to outside agitators to explain the violence. St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter claimed last week that every protester arrested was from out of state, implying there was a grand conspiracy to commit violence. He later retracted his statement after it was proven that the vast majority were, in fact, locals. Susan Rice, former American Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor to President Obama, believed she saw a Russian hand in the chaos. “I would bet, based on my experience… this is right out of the Russian playbook,” she told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, adding, “I would not be surprised to learn that they have fomented some of these extremists on both sides using social media, I would not be surprised to learn that they have been funding it in some way, shape or form.” Trump’s National Security Advisor blamed China and Iran. Meanwhile, Florida Senator Rick Scott claimed that the protests were being organized by Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. None of them could point to anything more substantive than a few tweets.
On the other hand, some of the Hong Kong protesters are being openly trained, funded, and supported by Washington. Since 2014 – the year of the Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong – the White House’s regime change organization the NED has (officially) poured over $29 million into China and Hong Kong to “identify new avenues for democracy and political reform.” But before the Hong Kong protests erupted, NED President Gershman called China a “resurgent despotic regime tightening repression internally and expanding its power globally,” claiming that “democracy is under threat” and we must “come to its defense,” thereby confirming that anything “pro-democracy” in China is, by definition, anti-government. Since the protests began, Washington has led the world in trying to pressurize and isolate China over the issue, and protest leaders like Joshua Wong travel back and forth to the U.S. to meet top American officials. Meanwhile, American diplomat Julie Eadeh was photographed in a meeting with other protest leaders.
The U.S. conflict erupted after videos surfaced of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin choking unarmed, handcuffed black man George Floyd to death. In Hong Kong, anger arose in response to a proposed extradition treaty with China that many islanders felt would greatly undermine the special civil liberties they hold. Both protests enjoy a good amount of public support; polls show that between 50 and 60 percent of Hong Kong natives generally support the protests, while 54 percent of the U.S. back the George Floyd demonstrations. But despite similar levels of approval, their bases of support contrast greatly. While the George Floyd protests have seen the burning of the American flag and are categorically opposed to Donald Trump’s racist intervention, Hong Kongers fly the U.S. flag high and appeal to him directly to intervene: “President Trump: Please liberate Hong Kong” is one particularly prevalent slogan seen on banners. Elsewhere, Hong Kongers sang “God Save the Queen” and hung the flag of the United Kingdom in the city’s legislative building. The British ruled the territory as a colony until 1997, and the gesture was interpreted by Western media as a “plea” for the U.K. to intervene.
Don't let anyone tell you BLM and Hong Kong stand for the same thing. pic.twitter.com/MdcQ0vOPPH — Ian Goodrum (@isgoodrum) May 31, 2020
While the world condemned China for its response to the protests, the numbers and the images make clear that the U.S. has responded to its popular uprising with more force and less tolerance than Beijing. If China is an authoritarian police state, does that mean the U.S. also qualifies for the same title?
Feature photo | Masked National Guard soldiers move through clouds of tear gas to detain an alleged protester as demonstrators march against police brutality, May 31, 2020, in Atlanta. Brynn Anderson | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-06-05--The Six-Day War: The Myth of an Israeli David Versus an Arab Goliath

June 2 , 1967 , was a tense day at the Israeli army headquarters in Tel Aviv .
For weeks , IDF generals had been pushing the government to initiate a war and the atmosphere was tense .
Israel ’ s Prime Minister Levi Eshkol , who also acted as minister of defense , came to see the generals at the IDF command center .
All the generals who made up the IDF high command were present .
This meeting became known as the showdown .
Years later , some would even accuse the army of an attempted coup d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frauds perpetrated by the Israeli military is the claim that the Six-Day War was initiated by Israel due to an existential threat .
The reality though is that in 1967 , the Israeli army faced an elected civilian government that was less excited about the prospects of war than the generals were .
So , as is clearly seen in the minutes of meetings between IDF generals from those days , minutes that are available in the IDF archives , seeing that the government was hesitant , the military decided to sow fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , claiming that the Jewish state faced an existential threat and that the army must act decisively .
The deception worked and over the following three days , Eshkol was forced to yield .
He resigned his post as minister of defense and gave it to retired army Chief of Staff , General Moshe Dayan .
The IDF generals got the war they so badly wanted .
They initiated a massive assault against Egypt , reducing the Egyptian military to ashes and taking over the entire Sinai Peninsula .
As a result , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest stockpile of Russian made military hardware outside of the Soviet Union .
Israel would make good use of the knowledge that came with this loot .
It also captured thousands of Egyptian soldiers who were stationed in the Sinai Desert and caught unprepared .
According to the testimonies of Israeli officers , at least two thousand Egyptian prisoners of war were executed right there and buried in the dunes .
But the generals were not satisfied .
They seized the opportunity that they were given and decided to make the most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less approval from the elected civilian government , the army proceeded to take the Gaza Strip , the West Bank and something the generals had been chomping at the bit to take for many years , the fertile water-rich Syrian Golan Heights , tripling the size of the state of Israel .
They had finally completed the conquest of Palestine and pushed the eastern border of Israel all the way to the Jordan River .
The military moved like a bulldozer , destroying cities and towns both in the Golan Heights and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , countless Syrians who lived in the Golan Heights , and hundreds of thousands of Palestinian residents of the West Bank and East Jerusalem became refugees .
The myth of the threat As the generals themselves stated during their meetings prior to the war , the entire affair was about seizing an opportunity to start a war they knew they would win , and not about averting some existential threat .
In fact , the word “ opportunity ” is mentioned several times in their discussions and the word “ threat ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was present in the June 2 meeting was my father , General Matti Peled .
According to accounts by some of his comrades who were there , accounts that I later verified by reading the minutes of the meetings , he stood up and told Prime Minister Eshkol that the Egyptian army was an ill-prepared army and therefore Israel must seize the opportunity to destroy it .
He stated that the Egyptian army , which at the time was recovering from a war in Yemen , would need at least a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was prepared for war .
The other generals concurred .
My father then went further and said that the IDF command “ demands to know why this army that has never lost a battle ” is being held back .
He didn ’ t say one word about a threat .
More of the minutes of the general ’ s meeting are included in my book , “ The General ’ s Son , ” but it is clear that Israel initiated the war , not out of concern for the safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to demonstrate its power and use it to achieve territorial gains .
For anyone paying attention the result of the war proved that there could not possibly have been a military threat to Israel .
However , people were so moved by the story of little David defending himself from the onslaught of the evil Goliath that they let themselves be taken by the fraud .
There is a story that I heard from Rabbi Moishe Beck , a revered Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi who used to live in Jerusalem and moved to New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to leave after the Six-Day War .
He told me that he was sitting in a bomb shelter in Jerusalem ’ s Me ’ a Sha ’ arim neighborhood and there was the sound of shelling not far from there .
At one point , people could hear Israeli Air Force planes flying overhead and began referring to the IDF successes as a sign of divine intervention .
He found it abhorrent that people would see the Zionist state military force , which he viewed as criminal , as divine intervention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he took his family and with very little means , left Jerusalem .
He did not want his children to grow up in an atmosphere that idolized the Israeli military , or any military for that matter .
Many years later , while sitting with Ultra-Orthodox friends in New York , I was asked if it was true that the 1967 victory was so unpredictable that even people who were secular saw it as divine intervention .
There was nothing divine about the Israeli assault and the theft of Arab lands .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
The Israeli army was well prepared , well-armed , and well trained and the generals knew victory was inevitable .
The writing on the wall Israel had , in fact , intended to occupy the West Bank and the Golan Heights many years prior to 1967 and the war presented the perfect opportunity .
In the memoirs of Israel ’ s second Prime Minister , Moshe Sharet , he describes a meeting that took place in Jerusalem in 1953 where dignitaries from around the world were present .
Israel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also present .
One of the presentations given to this gathering was by my father , then a young and promising IDF officer .
He gave the talk in English which he spoke well , and among other things , he stated in no uncertain terms that the IDF was prepared for the moment that the order would be given to “ push Israel ’ s eastern border to its natural place , the Jordan River.
” In other words , take the West Bank and complete the conquest of historic Palestine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans in place to occupy and impose its own military rule in the West Bank as early 1964 .
It is also well known that Israel initiated skirmishes with the Syrian army throughout the early 1960s in the hopes that Syria would initiate a war .
On the morning of June 8 , 1967 , in the midst of the war , the USS Liberty was about 17 miles off the Gaza coast , in international waters .
Being an intelligence-gathering ship , it had no battle capabilities and was armed only with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off unwanted boarders .
For several hours throughout that day , Israeli Air Force reconnaissance planes had been flying over the Liberty in what seemed like attempts to identify it .
The crew felt no threat – quite the opposite , Israel was a U.S. ally .
Then , at 14:00 hours , ( 2:00 PM local time ) and without any warning , Israeli fighter jets launched an attack on USS Liberty .
The attack included rockets , cannon fire , and even napalm , a toxic , flammable combination of gel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and causes severe burns .
The attack ended with 34 U.S. sailors dead and 174 injured , many seriously .
As the wounded were being evacuated , an officer with the Office of Naval Intelligence instructed the men not to talk to the press about their ordeal .
Within three weeks of the attack , the Navy put out a 700-page report exonerating the Israelis , claiming the attack had been accidental and that the Israelis had pulled back as soon as they realized their mistake .
Defense Secretary Robert McNamara suggested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These errors do occur , ” McNamara concluded .
The U.S. desire to see the Soviet arms that Israel had in its possession had something to do with the ease with which the Pentagon swept this affair under the rug .
In 2003 , almost forty years after the fact , the “ Moorer Commission , ” an independent commission chaired by retired Admiral Thomas H. Moorer , United States Navy , was established in order to investigate the attack .
The commission included a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marine Corps , retired admirals , and a former ambassador .
Among its findings are the following : In five days it was over .
The war ended as expected , with a massive Israeli victory .
The IDF destroyed the armies of the Arab countries around it .
The death toll was 18,000 Arab soldiers and 700 Israeli soldiers .
In retrospect , one would do well to stop calling what took place in June of 1967 a war , but rather an Israeli assault on its neighboring countries .
The name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took the name from the Jewish scriptures , more specifically from the prayer book , where one sees reference after reference to the divine creation or The Six Days of creation .
Feature Photo | 1967 generals victory photo with the President of Israel Zalman Shazar .
Photo | Courtesy | Miko Peled Miko Peled is an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem .
He is the author of “ The General ’ s Son .
Journey of an Israeli in Palestine , ” and “ Injustice , the Story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

June 2, 1967, was a tense day at the Israeli army headquarters in Tel Aviv. For weeks, IDF generals had been pushing the government to initiate a war and the atmosphere was tense. Israel’s Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, who also acted as minister of defense, came to see the generals at the IDF command center. All the generals who made up the IDF high command were present. This meeting became known as the showdown. Years later, some would even accuse the army of an attempted coup d’etat.
A fraud
One of the biggest frauds perpetrated by the Israeli military is the claim that the Six-Day War was initiated by Israel due to an existential threat. The reality though is that in 1967, the Israeli army faced an elected civilian government that was less excited about the prospects of war than the generals were. So, as is clearly seen in the minutes of meetings between IDF generals from those days, minutes that are available in the IDF archives, seeing that the government was hesitant, the military decided to sow fear, and they did it very effectively, claiming that the Jewish state faced an existential threat and that the army must act decisively.
The deception worked and over the following three days, Eshkol was forced to yield. He resigned his post as minister of defense and gave it to retired army Chief of Staff, General Moshe Dayan. The IDF generals got the war they so badly wanted. They initiated a massive assault against Egypt, reducing the Egyptian military to ashes and taking over the entire Sinai Peninsula. As a result, the IDF was able to capture the largest stockpile of Russian made military hardware outside of the Soviet Union.
Israel would make good use of the knowledge that came with this loot.
It also captured thousands of Egyptian soldiers who were stationed in the Sinai Desert and caught unprepared. According to the testimonies of Israeli officers, at least two thousand Egyptian prisoners of war were executed right there and buried in the dunes.
But the generals were not satisfied. They seized the opportunity that they were given and decided to make the most of it. Without any discussion, much less approval from the elected civilian government, the army proceeded to take the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and something the generals had been chomping at the bit to take for many years, the fertile water-rich Syrian Golan Heights, tripling the size of the state of Israel. They had finally completed the conquest of Palestine and pushed the eastern border of Israel all the way to the Jordan River.
The military moved like a bulldozer, destroying cities and towns both in the Golan Heights and in the West Bank. As a result, countless Syrians who lived in the Golan Heights, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinian residents of the West Bank and East Jerusalem became refugees.
The myth of the threat
As the generals themselves stated during their meetings prior to the war, the entire affair was about seizing an opportunity to start a war they knew they would win, and not about averting some existential threat. In fact, the word “opportunity” is mentioned several times in their discussions and the word “threat” is not mentioned at all.
One general who was present in the June 2 meeting was my father, General Matti Peled. According to accounts by some of his comrades who were there, accounts that I later verified by reading the minutes of the meetings, he stood up and told Prime Minister Eshkol that the Egyptian army was an ill-prepared army and therefore Israel must seize the opportunity to destroy it. He stated that the Egyptian army, which at the time was recovering from a war in Yemen, would need at least a year and a half to two years before it was prepared for war. The other generals concurred. My father then went further and said that the IDF command “demands to know why this army that has never lost a battle” is being held back. He didn’t say one word about a threat.
More of the minutes of the general’s meeting are included in my book, “The General’s Son,” but it is clear that Israel initiated the war, not out of concern for the safety of Israel, but out of a desire to demonstrate its power and use it to achieve territorial gains. For anyone paying attention the result of the war proved that there could not possibly have been a military threat to Israel. However, people were so moved by the story of little David defending himself from the onslaught of the evil Goliath that they let themselves be taken by the fraud.
Divine intervention
There is a story that I heard from Rabbi Moishe Beck, a revered Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi who used to live in Jerusalem and moved to New York. I asked him why he decided to leave after the Six-Day War. He told me that he was sitting in a bomb shelter in Jerusalem’s Me’a Sha’arim neighborhood and there was the sound of shelling not far from there. At one point, people could hear Israeli Air Force planes flying overhead and began referring to the IDF successes as a sign of divine intervention. He found it abhorrent that people would see the Zionist state military force, which he viewed as criminal, as divine intervention. As soon as he was able, he took his family and with very little means, left Jerusalem. He did not want his children to grow up in an atmosphere that idolized the Israeli military, or any military for that matter.
Many years later, while sitting with Ultra-Orthodox friends in New York, I was asked if it was true that the 1967 victory was so unpredictable that even people who were secular saw it as divine intervention. There was nothing divine about the Israeli assault and the theft of Arab lands. Not in 1967 and not at any other time. The Israeli army was well prepared, well-armed, and well trained and the generals knew victory was inevitable.
The writing on the wall
Israel had, in fact, intended to occupy the West Bank and the Golan Heights many years prior to 1967 and the war presented the perfect opportunity. In the memoirs of Israel’s second Prime Minister, Moshe Sharet, he describes a meeting that took place in Jerusalem in 1953 where dignitaries from around the world were present. Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, was also present.
One of the presentations given to this gathering was by my father, then a young and promising IDF officer. He gave the talk in English which he spoke well, and among other things, he stated in no uncertain terms that the IDF was prepared for the moment that the order would be given to “push Israel’s eastern border to its natural place, the Jordan River.” In other words, take the West Bank and complete the conquest of historic Palestine.
Today we know that Israel had plans in place to occupy and impose its own military rule in the West Bank as early 1964. It is also well known that Israel initiated skirmishes with the Syrian army throughout the early 1960s in the hopes that Syria would initiate a war.
The USS Liberty
On the morning of June 8, 1967, in the midst of the war, the USS Liberty was about 17 miles off the Gaza coast, in international waters. Being an intelligence-gathering ship, it had no battle capabilities and was armed only with four fifty caliber machine guns to ward off unwanted boarders. For several hours throughout that day, Israeli Air Force reconnaissance planes had been flying over the Liberty in what seemed like attempts to identify it. The crew felt no threat – quite the opposite, Israel was a U.S. ally.
Then, at 14:00 hours, (2:00 PM local time) and without any warning, Israeli fighter jets launched an attack on USS Liberty. The attack included rockets, cannon fire, and even napalm, a toxic, flammable combination of gel and petroleum that sticks to the skin and causes severe burns.
The attack ended with 34 U.S. sailors dead and 174 injured, many seriously. As the wounded were being evacuated, an officer with the Office of Naval Intelligence instructed the men not to talk to the press about their ordeal.
Within three weeks of the attack, the Navy put out a 700-page report exonerating the Israelis, claiming the attack had been accidental and that the Israelis had pulled back as soon as they realized their mistake. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara suggested the whole affair should be forgotten. “These errors do occur,” McNamara concluded. The U.S. desire to see the Soviet arms that Israel had in its possession had something to do with the ease with which the Pentagon swept this affair under the rug.
In 2003, almost forty years after the fact, the “Moorer Commission,” an independent commission chaired by retired Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, United States Navy, was established in order to investigate the attack. The commission included a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, retired admirals, and a former ambassador. Among its findings are the following:
That Israeli torpedo boats machine-gunned the Liberty’s firefighters, stretcher-bearers and the life rafts that had been lowered into the water to rescue the most seriously wounded.” That fearing conflict with Israel, the White House deliberately prevented the U.S. Navy from coming to the defense of USS Liberty by recalling Sixth Fleet military rescue support while the ship was under attack […] never before in American naval history has a rescue mission been cancelled when an American ship was under attack.” That surviving crew members were threatened with “court-martial, imprisonment or worse” if they exposed the truth.” That due to continuing pressure by the pro-Israel lobby in the United States, this attack remains the only serious naval incident that has never been thoroughly investigated by Congress.”
In five days it was over. The war ended as expected, with a massive Israeli victory. The IDF destroyed the armies of the Arab countries around it. The death toll was 18,000 Arab soldiers and 700 Israeli soldiers.
In retrospect, one would do well to stop calling what took place in June of 1967 a war, but rather an Israeli assault on its neighboring countries. The name Six-Day War was no coincidence. Israel took the name from the Jewish scriptures, more specifically from the prayer book, where one sees reference after reference to the divine creation or The Six Days of creation.
Feature Photo | 1967 generals victory photo with the President of Israel Zalman Shazar. Photo | Courtesy | Miko Peled
Miko Peled is an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem. He is the author of “The General’s Son. Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” and “Injustice, the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five.”