hotair--2020-05-29--Will Trump's opposition to voting by mail end up costing him the election?

Varad Mehta floated the possibility this morning after reading this Philly Inquirer story annnnnd I can ’ t blame him .
Trump really might be talking himself into an epic backfire here .
It reminds me a bit of his position on masks .
He ’ ll wear the mask personally in limited circumstances , just as he ’ s also personally willing to vote by mail .
But he ’ s lukewarm about widespread mask-wearing , suggesting at times that it ’ s “ politically correct ” and retweeting an article a few days ago claiming that it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And he ’ s overbearingly hostile to widespread voting by mail , insisting without evidence that it ’ ll lead to rampant fraud at the polls .
There ’ s one big difference between his position on masks and his position on mail-in ballots , though .
When he discourages mask-wearing among his fans , he risks harming others .
When he discourages voting by mail among his fans , he risks harming himself .
And I ’ m not sure he realizes yet to what extent he ’ s doing so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of his stupor .
As of Thursday morning , about 1.3 million registered Democrats had requested and been approved for mail ballots for the June 2 primary election , compared with about 524,000 Republicans .
Republicans made just 29 % of the requests , even though they represent 38 % of registered voters in the state and 45 % of those registered with either major party .
“ I must tell you that locally , in my county , we ’ re not advocating and we ’ re not pushing the mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairwoman of the Northampton County GOP .
“ We ’ re concerned about fraud .
We ’ re not happy with the process .
Trump has sent the message out there that he ’ s concerned about it as well… “ Our county kind of is a Trump county .
We ’ re kind of listening to Trump on this , ” Snover said .
“ He ’ s spoken about it .
He ’ s tweeted about it .
He doesn ’ t want us to do it.
” Snover said “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her that “ Trump doesn ’ t want us mailing in , [ so ] I ’ m not mailing it in.
” In another county in northeastern Pennsylvania , Republicans represent 30 percent of the electorate but only 20 percent of the mail-in ballot applications so far .
Bear in mind , the state GOP has been encouraging Republicans in Pennsylvania to consider voting by mail , even setting up a webpage to walk them through the process .
Quite rationally , they don ’ t want to handicap themselves relative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drowned out by you-know-who .
What kind of numbers are we talking about potentially in November ?
According to the Inquirer , “ The number of registered voters in Philadelphia alone who have requested mail ballots exceeds the statewide total in the 2016 primary.
” Pennsylvanians , at least in the Democratic areas , seem to be getting comfortable with mail-in voting .
Other states are getting comfortable with it too .
Check the map at the top here and you ’ ll see that every major battleground state allows voters to request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any proof that they really will be absent from the state on Election Day .
That includes Trump ’ s new home state of Florida , where he voted “ absentee ” this year and Kayleigh McEnany has voted “ absentee ” 11 times in 10 years .
“ Absentee ” is a misnomer under those conditions ; if the state isn ’ t demanding evidence that you ’ ll actually be absent before it grants you a ballot , it ’ s just mail-in voting by another name .
Some states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it even easier to vote “ absentee ” this year amid the coronavirus pandemic by mailing the ballot application directly to voters instead of waiting for them to request one .
Trump can rant all he wants about fraud and do his best to try to somehow distinguish “ absentee ” ballots , which he views as legitimate , from mail-in ballots , which are supposedly filthy with fraud , but at the end of the day these votes will be counted .
If Republican voters are boycotting voting by mail , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party at a disadvantage .
Granted , it doesn ’ t mean they won ’ t vote at all .
Most will do it the old-fashioned way by lining up on Election Day .
But it ’ s folly to think that every last person who might have checked the box for Trump if a ballot were delivered to them at home will go to the trouble of visiting a polling place .
The weather on November 3 may be terrible .
A COVID-19 outbreak might be raging locally .
Some casual voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer the president .
They ’ re not going to take time out of their day to wait in line to express that preference , but hand them a ballot while they ’ re sitting on their couch and sure , they ’ ll drop it in the mail .
Almost by definition , a party that utilizes only one form of voting will struggle to keep pace with a party that utilizes two .
And any politician ( except one , I guess ) would welcome the idea of banking votes early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Election Day .
If Trump ’ s going to rave about the supposed fraud risk from mail-in voting , at the very least he should call on Republicans to take advantage of voting by mail too so that Democrats “ can ’ t get away with it ” or whatever .
He ’ s maneuvered himself for the moment into calling for unilateral disarmament by his own fans .
If anything , Republicans have special reason to encourage voting by mail .
Voters who take it upon themselves to request mail-in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Times noted a few weeks ago .
In the past those voters skewed Republican ; lately , in the age of Trump , they ’ ve skewed Democratic , helping the Dems to take back the House in 2018 .
If those voters want to vote “ absentee ” this fall , they ’ ll take the initiative and do it .
It ’ s the downscale voters who need help and persuasion to avail themselves of mail ballots .
And a lot of those downscale voters are white working-class Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Rust Belt and beyond to cut Biden ’ s margins .
Maybe they ’ ll show up for him on Election Day or maybe some of them will have trouble getting off work .
Maybe some have soured on him a little , enough that they won ’ t wait on a line to vote for him but not so much that they wouldn ’ t cast a ballot for him from the comfort of their sofa if they had one in hand .
He ’ s potentially leaving those votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in votes are tools of the devil .
One thing he has going for him , though , is that black voters are suspicious of voting by mail as well and of course black voters lean heavily Democratic .
Maybe there ’ s a wealth/class effect there too , but Reuters reasons that black Americans have special reason to distrust that the government will count their votes fairly .
“ I feel if I don ’ t put the ballot in the machine myself , who knows what happens to it ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago in Georgia , just 17 percent of black voters had requested absentee ballots versus 25 percent of whites , and in 2018 nationwide just 11 percent of black voters requested one .
*If* Trump ’ s ranting about mail-in ballots and fraud has any influence with African-Americans , it might end up helping him after all by discouraging some of them from voting .
But Democrats at least will be working on convincing the vote-by-mail skeptics in their base to reconsider .
With Republicans it ’ s the opposite : The most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them *not* to vote — at least not that way .
Republicans in Congress must be tearing their hair out .

Varad Mehta floated the possibility this morning after reading this Philly Inquirer story annnnnd I can’t blame him. Trump really might be talking himself into an epic backfire here.
It reminds me a bit of his position on masks. He’ll wear the mask personally in limited circumstances, just as he’s also personally willing to vote by mail. But he’s lukewarm about widespread mask-wearing, suggesting at times that it’s “politically correct” and retweeting an article a few days ago claiming that it’s a form of social control. And he’s overbearingly hostile to widespread voting by mail, insisting without evidence that it’ll lead to rampant fraud at the polls.
There’s one big difference between his position on masks and his position on mail-in ballots, though. When he discourages mask-wearing among his fans, he risks harming others. When he discourages voting by mail among his fans, he risks harming himself. And I’m not sure he realizes yet to what extent he’s doing so. Maybe the Inquirer story will shake him out of his stupor.
As of Thursday morning, about 1.3 million registered Democrats had requested and been approved for mail ballots for the June 2 primary election, compared with about 524,000 Republicans. Republicans made just 29% of the requests, even though they represent 38% of registered voters in the state and 45% of those registered with either major party. “I must tell you that locally, in my county, we’re not advocating and we’re not pushing the mail-in voting,” said Lee Snover, chairwoman of the Northampton County GOP. “We’re concerned about fraud. We’re not happy with the process. Trump has sent the message out there that he’s concerned about it as well… “Our county kind of is a Trump county. We’re kind of listening to Trump on this,” Snover said. “He’s spoken about it. He’s tweeted about it. He doesn’t want us to do it.” Snover said “more than one person” has told her that “Trump doesn’t want us mailing in, [so] I’m not mailing it in.”
In another county in northeastern Pennsylvania, Republicans represent 30 percent of the electorate but only 20 percent of the mail-in ballot applications so far. Bear in mind, the state GOP has been encouraging Republicans in Pennsylvania to consider voting by mail, even setting up a webpage to walk them through the process. Quite rationally, they don’t want to handicap themselves relative to Democrats. But they’re being drowned out by you-know-who.
What kind of numbers are we talking about potentially in November? According to the Inquirer, “The number of registered voters in Philadelphia alone who have requested mail ballots exceeds the statewide total in the 2016 primary.” Pennsylvanians, at least in the Democratic areas, seem to be getting comfortable with mail-in voting. Other states are getting comfortable with it too. Check the map at the top here and you’ll see that every major battleground state allows voters to request an “absentee” ballot without requiring any proof that they really will be absent from the state on Election Day. That includes Trump’s new home state of Florida, where he voted “absentee” this year and Kayleigh McEnany has voted “absentee” 11 times in 10 years. “Absentee” is a misnomer under those conditions; if the state isn’t demanding evidence that you’ll actually be absent before it grants you a ballot, it’s just mail-in voting by another name.
Some states, including several red ones, have made it even easier to vote “absentee” this year amid the coronavirus pandemic by mailing the ballot application directly to voters instead of waiting for them to request one. Trump can rant all he wants about fraud and do his best to try to somehow distinguish “absentee” ballots, which he views as legitimate, from mail-in ballots, which are supposedly filthy with fraud, but at the end of the day these votes will be counted. If Republican voters are boycotting voting by mail, they’re putting the president and the party at a disadvantage.
Granted, it doesn’t mean they won’t vote at all. Most will do it the old-fashioned way by lining up on Election Day. But it’s folly to think that every last person who might have checked the box for Trump if a ballot were delivered to them at home will go to the trouble of visiting a polling place. The weather on November 3 may be terrible. A COVID-19 outbreak might be raging locally. Some casual voters may dislike Trump and Biden but mildly prefer the president. They’re not going to take time out of their day to wait in line to express that preference, but hand them a ballot while they’re sitting on their couch and sure, they’ll drop it in the mail. Almost by definition, a party that utilizes only one form of voting will struggle to keep pace with a party that utilizes two. And any politician (except one, I guess) would welcome the idea of banking votes early rather than leaving turnout to the vagaries of Election Day.
If Trump’s going to rave about the supposed fraud risk from mail-in voting, at the very least he should call on Republicans to take advantage of voting by mail too so that Democrats “can’t get away with it” or whatever. He’s maneuvered himself for the moment into calling for unilateral disarmament by his own fans.
If anything, Republicans have special reason to encourage voting by mail. Voters who take it upon themselves to request mail-in ballots tend to be wealthier and better educated, the Times noted a few weeks ago. In the past those voters skewed Republican; lately, in the age of Trump, they’ve skewed Democratic, helping the Dems to take back the House in 2018. If those voters want to vote “absentee” this fall, they’ll take the initiative and do it. It’s the downscale voters who need help and persuasion to avail themselves of mail ballots. And a lot of those downscale voters are white working-class Trump fans, exactly the people he needs in the Rust Belt and beyond to cut Biden’s margins. Maybe they’ll show up for him on Election Day or maybe some of them will have trouble getting off work. Maybe some have soured on him a little, enough that they won’t wait on a line to vote for him but not so much that they wouldn’t cast a ballot for him from the comfort of their sofa if they had one in hand. He’s potentially leaving those votes on the table by warning Republicans that mail-in votes are tools of the devil.
One thing he has going for him, though, is that black voters are suspicious of voting by mail as well and of course black voters lean heavily Democratic. Maybe there’s a wealth/class effect there too, but Reuters reasons that black Americans have special reason to distrust that the government will count their votes fairly. “I feel if I don’t put the ballot in the machine myself, who knows what happens to it?” said one. As of 10 days ago in Georgia, just 17 percent of black voters had requested absentee ballots versus 25 percent of whites, and in 2018 nationwide just 11 percent of black voters requested one. *If* Trump’s ranting about mail-in ballots and fraud has any influence with African-Americans, it might end up helping him after all by discouraging some of them from voting. But Democrats at least will be working on convincing the vote-by-mail skeptics in their base to reconsider. With Republicans it’s the opposite: The most influential person in the party is encouraging them *not* to vote — at least not that way. Republicans in Congress must be tearing their hair out.


hotair--2020-05-29--Van Jones: It's not the KKK we have to worry about, it's 'the white, liberal Hillary Clinton support

Van Jones: It's not the KKK we have to worry about, it's 'the white, liberal Hillary Clinton supporter'

Van Jones appeared on CNN this morning to offer his thoughts on the event in Minneapolis last night .
He was pretty direct about his feelings and tried to direct some of his comments toward his “ white friends ” and white people in general .
“ We ’ re seeing a curtain pulled back , ” Jones said .
He continued , “ I think that ’ s the hardest thing for my white friends to understand , well intentioned , well intentioned , is that this is every day .
Black people being choked off from dignity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding from empathy.
” He described the death of George Floyd as a “ lynching.
” “ That ’ s what a lynching is .
We saw a white man deprive a black man of his life in public with the entire community staring horror-struck , ” he said .
“ There ’ s another reality here that you ’ re starting to see .
You thought maybe the world worked one way because police are nice to you , because these things don ’ t happen to people that you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole other America.
” Jones offered an excuse for the arson we ’ ve seen in Minneapolis saying , “ Now we have no idea who set those fires .
It could have been provocateurs .
It could be anybody.
” Sure , I guess so , but in some cases we can see it was the rioters throwing wood on the fires .
Why balk at just admitting what ’ s clearly true ?
I think it ’ s because even now Jones can ’ t quite defend the burning down of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set that aside .
From there he goes on to say people are just fed up with waiting for justice .
“ It ’ s not the racist white person whose in the Ku Klux Klan that we have to worry about , it ’ s the white , liberal , Hillary Clinton supporter walking her dog in Central Park who would tell you right now—people like that , ‘ oh I don ’ t see race , race is no big deal to me , I see us all as the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the minute she sees a black man who she does not respect or who she has a slight thought against , she weaponized race like she had been trained by the Aryan nation .
A Klans member could not have been better trained to pick up her phone and tell the police it ’ s a black man , African American man .
Come get him .
So even the most liberal , well-intentioned white person has a virus in his or her brain that can be activated at an instant.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this video involving Amy Cooper .
Let ’ s assume for the sake of argument that Van Jones is 100 % correct about what motivated her reaction ( and really he might be ) .
What he fails to mention is that Amy Cooper ’ s gambit didn ’ t work .
In fact , it backfired spectacularly .
After she calmed down she offered a public apology but it was too late .
She lost her dog .
She was fired .
She received death threats .
She ’ ll probably have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a small point in the context of what Van Jones is saying because it really undercuts his point about who we need to worry about .
Amy Cooper acted liked she ’ d been trained by the Aryan nation and that moment was enough to destroy her life , to the point that the guy who posted the video ( Christian Cooper ) felt sorry for her .
Obviously things don ’ t always work out that way and the death of George Floyd is a good example .
But it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no power and are always victims , not even when some creepy white woman tries to make them victims .
Society was not on Amy Cooper ’ s side and it ’ s not on the side of the cop who kneeled on George Floyd ’ s neck either .
That ’ s not to say that all is well and we should just move on .
But some recognition of the fact that this is not being shrugged off by most white people seems appropriate if we ’ re going to @ @ @ @

Van Jones appeared on CNN this morning to offer his thoughts on the event in Minneapolis last night. He was pretty direct about his feelings and tried to direct some of his comments toward his “white friends” and white people in general.
“We’re seeing a curtain pulled back,” Jones said. He continued, “I think that’s the hardest thing for my white friends to understand, well intentioned, well intentioned, is that this is every day. Black people being choked off from dignity, from opportunity, from humanity, from understanding from empathy.”
He described the death of George Floyd as a “lynching.” “That’s what a lynching is. We saw a white man deprive a black man of his life in public with the entire community staring horror-struck,” he said.
“There’s another reality here that you’re starting to see. You thought maybe the world worked one way because police are nice to you, because these things don’t happen to people that you know, but the whole time there was a whole other America.”
Jones offered an excuse for the arson we’ve seen in Minneapolis saying, “Now we have no idea who set those fires. It could have been provocateurs. It could be anybody.” Sure, I guess so, but in some cases we can see it was the rioters throwing wood on the fires. Why balk at just admitting what’s clearly true? I think it’s because even now Jones can’t quite defend the burning down of the city so he wants to just set that aside.
From there he goes on to say people are just fed up with waiting for justice. “It’s not the racist white person whose in the Ku Klux Klan that we have to worry about, it’s the white, liberal, Hillary Clinton supporter walking her dog in Central Park who would tell you right now—people like that, ‘oh I don’t see race, race is no big deal to me, I see us all as the same, I give to charities.’
“But the minute she sees a black man who she does not respect or who she has a slight thought against, she weaponized race like she had been trained by the Aryan nation. A Klans member could not have been better trained to pick up her phone and tell the police it’s a black man, African American man. Come get him. So even the most liberal, well-intentioned white person has a virus in his or her brain that can be activated at an instant.”
He’s talking of course about this video involving Amy Cooper. Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Van Jones is 100% correct about what motivated her reaction (and really he might be). What he fails to mention is that Amy Cooper’s gambit didn’t work. In fact, it backfired spectacularly. After she calmed down she offered a public apology but it was too late. She lost her dog. She was fired. She received death threats. She’ll probably have trouble finding another job.
This is not a small point in the context of what Van Jones is saying because it really undercuts his point about who we need to worry about. Amy Cooper acted liked she’d been trained by the Aryan nation and that moment was enough to destroy her life, to the point that the guy who posted the video (Christian Cooper) felt sorry for her.
Obviously things don’t always work out that way and the death of George Floyd is a good example. But it’s simply not true that black men have no power and are always victims, not even when some creepy white woman tries to make them victims. Society was not on Amy Cooper’s side and it’s not on the side of the cop who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck either. That’s not to say that all is well and we should just move on. But some recognition of the fact that this is not being shrugged off by most white people seems appropriate if we’re going to have this conversation.


hotair--2020-05-29--"Inexcusable": Minnesota governor apologizes profusely to CNN for reporter being arrested

This is one thorough apology .
I mean , even for an average joe this would be something .
Coming from a politician , it ’ s practically historic .
It ’ s “ John Cleese hanging upside down outside the window ” caliber .
Trump as governor would have said something about how we wishes the reporter were Jim Acosta and suggested that the cops use their nightsticks next time .
Walz makes a smart point in the clip about why the arrest was such a bad look .
It ’ s not just another community relations fiasco due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed from an incident in which embarrassingly bad policing killed a man .
It ’ s that people watching the arrest play out on TV might come away from it believing that the cops are planning to get aggressive with protesters and rioters and want to make sure there are no cameras around when they do .
That could further inflame a situation that needs cooling off .
I watched the clip of the arrest this morning , read Ed ’ s post , and still have no idea what the CNN crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were accomplishing by hauling them in .
The reporter , Omar Jimenez , offered to move out of the cops ’ way if they needed him to .
He offered them his press badge to prove that he really is a reporter and not some looter under deep , deep , deep cover with a camera crew .
He even let them know they were on the air in case the prospect of having this arrest carried live to the world might dissuade them from following through .
They arrested him anyway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he was released , as you ’ ll see below , and … he doesn ’ t seem to know why he was arrested either .
When he asked the arresting officer where the crew should set up in the future , he allegedly replied , “ I don ’ t know , man .
I ’ m just following orders.
” Just to make this a little bit worse , a different CNN reporter who was nearby but not with Jimenez ’ s crew was asked by cops what he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campbell , is white and was allowed to stay .
Only Jimenez and his crew got pinched .

This is one thorough apology. I mean, even for an average joe this would be something. Coming from a politician, it’s practically historic.
It’s “John Cleese hanging upside down outside the window” caliber.
Trump as governor would have said something about how we wishes the reporter were Jim Acosta and suggested that the cops use their nightsticks next time.
Walz makes a smart point in the clip about why the arrest was such a bad look. It’s not just another community relations fiasco due to embarrassingly bad policing a few days removed from an incident in which embarrassingly bad policing killed a man. It’s that people watching the arrest play out on TV might come away from it believing that the cops are planning to get aggressive with protesters and rioters and want to make sure there are no cameras around when they do. That could further inflame a situation that needs cooling off.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on arrest of CNN crew: "There is absolutely no reason something like this should happen. Calls were made immediately. This is a very public apology to that team….I failed you last night." pic.twitter.com/6ZnZiVTlax — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 29, 2020
I watched the clip of the arrest this morning, read Ed’s post, and still have no idea what the CNN crew did wrong or what state PD thought they were accomplishing by hauling them in. The reporter, Omar Jimenez, offered to move out of the cops’ way if they needed him to. He offered them his press badge to prove that he really is a reporter and not some looter under deep, deep, deep cover with a camera crew. He even let them know they were on the air in case the prospect of having this arrest carried live to the world might dissuade them from following through. They arrested him anyway. Jimenez came back on the air after he was released, as you’ll see below, and … he doesn’t seem to know why he was arrested either. When he asked the arresting officer where the crew should set up in the future, he allegedly replied, “I don’t know, man. I’m just following orders.”
Just to make this a little bit worse, a different CNN reporter who was nearby but not with Jimenez’s crew was asked by cops what he was doing there. That reporter, Josh Campbell, is white and was allowed to stay. Only Jimenez and his crew got pinched.


hotair--2020-05-29--<span class=red>Breaking: Officer in Floyd death arrested; Update: Third-degree murder -- or manslau

Breaking: Officer in Floyd death arrested; Update: Third-degree murder -- or manslaughter

Was Derrick Chauvin arrested because the investigation into the death of George Floyd has reached a conclusion ?
Or did Minnesota state police arrest him under the seldom-used “ please stop rioting ” clause ?
At the end of today ’ s press conference , public safety commissioner John Harrington — who had earlier called Floyd ’ s death a “ murder ” — announced the arrest of the officer whose knee appeared to choke Floyd to death : It ’ s entirely possible that the investigation has been completed .
The videos of Floyd ’ s last minutes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
However , that ’ s not what officials were saying even just a few minutes before this announcement .
Earlier , Attorney General Keith Ellison had spent the morning promising “ swift ” justice in the case — wisely or not .
In that , Ellison had plenty of company , but Ellison kicked it off this morning on CNN .
Just have patience , Ellison pleaded , to make sure they have an “ air tight ” case first : Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Friday that he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges against the Minneapolis police officers involved in the death this week of George Floyd .
In a live interview on CNN , Ellison attributed the lack of charges several days since Floyd died to prosecutors with the Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office “ trying to be careful ” to make sure they have a case that is “ air tight ” and won ’ t fall apart because of pressure to file more quickly than the evidence allows .
“ I have every expectation that they will be [ filed ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing out that his office is not the one to make charges happen .
At the same time , he said , patience among the public is needed because , “ If it ’ s not a solid case , we will be sorry later.
” A bit later , Ellison tried to add a bit more nuance , noting the legal issues of an appearance of a directed result in such an investigation .
“ For me to make a legal comment on what the evidence will show , ” Ellison said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ would not be in the best interest of the prosecution.
” Still , Ellison argued that a death in custody from “ reckless disregard ” has “ legal ramifications ” : Well , yes , but usually that argument gets made in an indictment .
Does Ellison have one in hand ?
Actually , Ellison conceded in the press conference this morning , his office won ’ t necessarily produce one at all .
Minnesota law puts Hennepin County as the primary prosecutorial entity , not the state .
Despite that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to proceed “ swiftly ” : All of this sounds like official expressions of a directed outcome , or at least very broad hints to Hennepin County ’ s district attorney ’ s office .
The videos certainly support those arguments , but this creates a problem if the wheels of justice are to roll to a conclusion that Ellison and others will like .
We ’ ll get to that in a moment , but let ’ s not leave all of this entirely on Ellison .
At the same press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Floyd ’ s death a “ murder , ” repeating it and declaring that the video was enough for him to reach that conclusion .
And Minnesota ’ s top executive , governor Tim Walz , also declared in the same presser that he expected action to be “ swift ” : Gov .
Tim Walz said he has an expectation that “ swift ” justice will be carried against the police officers involved in the death of George Floyd .
“ It is my expectation that justice for the officers involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will come in a timely manner , that it will be fair .
That is what we ’ ve asked for .
I have been in contact with Hennepin County attorney , and I am confident that those very things I just said will happen , ” Walz said .
This public pressure to charge the four officers — including Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey ’ s demand to arrest them even before the investigation concluded — creates a number of problems in securing a conviction .
For one thing , it makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated pretty easy for the defense , once charges do get filed .
They will have plenty of video evidence to use in arguing that the city made the officers into scapegoats in an attempt to pander to public outrage .
That ’ s not entirely untrue either , even if the evidence at hand also makes probable cause for arrest and indictment clear too .
In fact , it ’ s fairly obvious that these politicians are talking this way for political purposes .
The next problem will be venue and voir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusions all over local and national media even before charges get filed , the defense will also argue that they can not get a fair trial in the Twin Cities .
That might be a winning argument anyway , under the circumstances , but all of this doesn ’ t help .
A judge might well decide that the venue and jury pool has been tainted and decide to send the trial to another county with some distance from the violence — say , Dakota County , whose seat of Hastings is 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practically another world .
Any defense attorney worth his/her salt would fight tooth and nail for that change of venue .
Once the venue ’ s settled , attorneys can then pick off anyone who heard Harrington , Ellison , and Walz make these promises to prosecute .
Or , failing that , use that knowledge to underscore the argument that the only motive for charging the officers was to save the bacon of elected officials under fire in a days-long riot .
Would that work ?
With the videos in hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it only takes one person to hang a jury .
That ’ s why it ’ s best to keep one ’ s mouth shut about ongoing investigations in the first place — and the more high profile the case , the tighter the mouth should get .
Update : It took a while , but the charge has finally been released : The former police officer who was seen on video using his knee to pin down George Floyd , a black man who later died , has been taken into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after days of protests escalated overnight with the burning of a Minneapolis police station .
The officer , Derek Chauvin , who is white , was arrested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Friday , John Harrington , the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety , said at a brief news conference .
Mike Freeman , the Hennepin County attorney , said that Mr. Chauvin had been arrested on charges of murder and manslaughter .
He said the investigation was ongoing regarding the other three officers who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lesser charge in the indictment hints that prosecutors might not be fully comfortable with establishing either intent or reckless disregard .
That ’ s an interesting development .
That might complicate a federal case for civil-rights violations , as intent would have to be part of that crime .

Was Derrick Chauvin arrested because the investigation into the death of George Floyd has reached a conclusion? Or did Minnesota state police arrest him under the seldom-used “please stop rioting” clause? At the end of today’s press conference, public safety commissioner John Harrington — who had earlier called Floyd’s death a “murder” — announced the arrest of the officer whose knee appeared to choke Floyd to death:
NEW: Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said he just received information that the officer identified as Derrick Chauvin in the death of George Floyd has been taken into custody by the BCA — Briana Bierschbach (@bbierschbach) May 29, 2020
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said he just received information that the officer identified as Derrick Chauvin in the death of George Floyd has been taken into custody by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
It’s entirely possible that the investigation has been completed. The videos of Floyd’s last minutes of life are fairly powerful evidence, after all. However, that’s not what officials were saying even just a few minutes before this announcement. Earlier, Attorney General Keith Ellison had spent the morning promising “swift” justice in the case — wisely or not. In that, Ellison had plenty of company, but Ellison kicked it off this morning on CNN. Just have patience, Ellison pleaded, to make sure they have an “air tight” case first:
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Friday that he has “every expectation” authorities will press charges against the Minneapolis police officers involved in the death this week of George Floyd. In a live interview on CNN, Ellison attributed the lack of charges several days since Floyd died to prosecutors with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office “trying to be careful” to make sure they have a case that is “air tight” and won’t fall apart because of pressure to file more quickly than the evidence allows. “I have every expectation that they will be [filed]” soon, said Ellison, while pointing out that his office is not the one to make charges happen. At the same time, he said, patience among the public is needed because, “If it’s not a solid case, we will be sorry later.”
A bit later, Ellison tried to add a bit more nuance, noting the legal issues of an appearance of a directed result in such an investigation. “For me to make a legal comment on what the evidence will show,” Ellison said in a video clip from The Hill, “would not be in the best interest of the prosecution.” Still, Ellison argued that a death in custody from “reckless disregard” has “legal ramifications”:
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison: "We are investigating this case expeditiously. We will charge it appropriately and we will seek the proper consequences." #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/f5DQ6wabhz — The Hill (@thehill) May 29, 2020
Well, yes, but usually that argument gets made in an indictment. Does Ellison have one in hand? Actually, Ellison conceded in the press conference this morning, his office won’t necessarily produce one at all. Minnesota law puts Hennepin County as the primary prosecutorial entity, not the state. Despite that, Ellison declared that the case had to proceed “swiftly”:
“The wheels of justice must turn swiftly," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says about George Floyd's case https://t.co/BXX2uPXfEj pic.twitter.com/QNLYPUUHzD — CBS News (@CBSNews) May 29, 2020
All of this sounds like official expressions of a directed outcome, or at least very broad hints to Hennepin County’s district attorney’s office. The videos certainly support those arguments, but this creates a problem if the wheels of justice are to roll to a conclusion that Ellison and others will like.
We’ll get to that in a moment, but let’s not leave all of this entirely on Ellison. At the same press conference, commissioner of public safety John Harrington called Floyd’s death a “murder,” repeating it and declaring that the video was enough for him to reach that conclusion. And Minnesota’s top executive, governor Tim Walz, also declared in the same presser that he expected action to be “swift”:
Gov. Tim Walz said he has an expectation that “swift” justice will be carried against the police officers involved in the death of George Floyd. “It is my expectation that justice for the officers involved in this will be swift, that it will come in a timely manner, that it will be fair. That is what we’ve asked for. I have been in contact with Hennepin County attorney, and I am confident that those very things I just said will happen,” Walz said.
This public pressure to charge the four officers — including Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey’s demand to arrest them even before the investigation concluded — creates a number of problems in securing a conviction. For one thing, it makes an argument that the charges were politically motivated pretty easy for the defense, once charges do get filed. They will have plenty of video evidence to use in arguing that the city made the officers into scapegoats in an attempt to pander to public outrage. That’s not entirely untrue either, even if the evidence at hand also makes probable cause for arrest and indictment clear too. In fact, it’s fairly obvious that these politicians are talking this way for political purposes.
The next problem will be venue and voir dire. With elected officials airing their conclusions all over local and national media even before charges get filed, the defense will also argue that they cannot get a fair trial in the Twin Cities. That might be a winning argument anyway, under the circumstances, but all of this doesn’t help. A judge might well decide that the venue and jury pool has been tainted and decide to send the trial to another county with some distance from the violence — say, Dakota County, whose seat of Hastings is 30 miles from downtown Minneapolis, and culturally practically another world. Any defense attorney worth his/her salt would fight tooth and nail for that change of venue.
Once the venue’s settled, attorneys can then pick off anyone who heard Harrington, Ellison, and Walz make these promises to prosecute. Or, failing that, use that knowledge to underscore the argument that the only motive for charging the officers was to save the bacon of elected officials under fire in a days-long riot.
Would that work? With the videos in hand, it might not get an acquittal, but it only takes one person to hang a jury. That’s why it’s best to keep one’s mouth shut about ongoing investigations in the first place — and the more high profile the case, the tighter the mouth should get.
Update: It took a while, but the charge has finally been released:
The former police officer who was seen on video using his knee to pin down George Floyd, a black man who later died, has been taken into custody, the authorities announced on Friday, after days of protests escalated overnight with the burning of a Minneapolis police station. The officer, Derek Chauvin, who is white, was arrested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Friday, John Harrington, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said at a brief news conference. Mike Freeman, the Hennepin County attorney, said that Mr. Chauvin had been arrested on charges of murder and manslaughter. He said the investigation was ongoing regarding the other three officers who were present at the scene.
The inclusion of the lesser charge in the indictment hints that prosecutors might not be fully comfortable with establishing either intent or reckless disregard. That’s an interesting development. That might complicate a federal case for civil-rights violations, as intent would have to be part of that crime.


hotair--2020-05-29--Nikole Hannah Jones on violence and the 'uprising' in Minneapolis

If you want the woke perspective on the riots in Minneapolis there are lots of online voice you can consult , but since Pulitzer-prize winning author Nikole Hannah-Jones is offering her take let ’ s start there .
She says that but actually that is what was successful as she admits eventually .
But first we ’ re going to play a rhetorical game where the movement wasn ’ t non-violent because the reaction to it wasn ’ t non-violent .
I thought our country was born in 1619 not 1773 ?
That ’ s an interesting slip .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the violent reaction that brought change , that still only works because it presents a clear contrast .
It ’ s not just two sides battling , it ’ s one side being unfairly brutalized by violent goons and monsters .
People have sympathy for victims of violence not perpetrators .
In Minneapolis and around the country , people think what happened to George Floyd was wrong .
Police chiefs who are generally hesitant to condemn police officers have come out and said it was wrong .
The officers involved have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to be filed .
But the riots don ’ t fit any strategy of baiting bad people into violence .
The riots are violence and mayhem .
They are the opposite of the “ strategy ” Hannah-Jones is describing .
Again , there ’ s a big difference between “ *violently* repressed ” and just plain violent .
The riots we ’ re seeing in Minneapolis haven ’ t been violently repressed .
On the contrary , everyone is wondering why it seems very little has been done so far to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police aren ’ t repressing the protesters they are abandoning precincts to avoid a confrontation .
These are violent , anti-police riots .
Some have argued this is understandable because of the outrage over Floyd ’ s death : I would never throw a rock at the police .
I would never throw a brick through the window of a big-box store .
I would never set fire to an office building .
But I want to .
I understand why some people do .
I know I am supposed to counsel “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old man with a wife , two kids , and a mortgage ; I ’ ve got a college degree and a law degree and a blue checkmark on Twitter ; I know I am supposed to shun “ rioters ” and “ looters ” who allegedly cede the moral high ground of protests when they respond to tear gas and rubber bullets with stone and flame .
But every person has a limit to the injustice they can bear before lashing out .
You can argue the lashing out is understandable but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully argue that it ’ s somehow in keeping with the “ strategy ” of the Civil Rights movement .
By definition , lashing out is not strategic .
It ’ s what you do when you ’ re just angry beyond the ability to plan or think ahead .
I think that ’ s what we ’ re actually seeing in Minneapolis right now .
At some point very soon , wiser heads need to prevail .

If you want the woke perspective on the riots in Minneapolis there are lots of online voice you can consult, but since Pulitzer-prize winning author Nikole Hannah-Jones is offering her take let’s start there.
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1266360550306525192
She says that but actually that is what was successful as she admits eventually. But first we’re going to play a rhetorical game where the movement wasn’t non-violent because the reaction to it wasn’t non-violent.
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1266361411711766528
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1266362360102555649
I thought our country was born in 1619 not 1773? That’s an interesting slip.
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1266363465012297728
Even if you accept her premise that it was the violent reaction that brought change, that still only works because it presents a clear contrast. It’s not just two sides battling, it’s one side being unfairly brutalized by violent goons and monsters. People have sympathy for victims of violence not perpetrators.
In Minneapolis and around the country, people think what happened to George Floyd was wrong. Police chiefs who are generally hesitant to condemn police officers have come out and said it was wrong. The officers involved have already been fired and charges against them are expected to be filed.
But the riots don’t fit any strategy of baiting bad people into violence. The riots are violence and mayhem. They are the opposite of the “strategy” Hannah-Jones is describing.
The 3rd precinct building is now on fire. Rioters are celebrating and posing for pictures in front of the flames. pic.twitter.com/j5IrK8ARUd — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1266364918644834305
Again, there’s a big difference between “*violently* repressed” and just plain violent. The riots we’re seeing in Minneapolis haven’t been violently repressed. On the contrary, everyone is wondering why it seems very little has been done so far to stop the city from being burned down. Police aren’t repressing the protesters they are abandoning precincts to avoid a confrontation.
This is the moment when Minneapolis police officers abandoned the 3rd precinct building. Rioters chased them as they left and continued to throw objects at the police vehicles. pic.twitter.com/KoxAAYiUIN — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 29, 2020
These are violent, anti-police riots. Some have argued this is understandable because of the outrage over Floyd’s death:
I would never throw a rock at the police. I would never throw a brick through the window of a big-box store. I would never set fire to an office building. But I want to. I understand why some people do. I know I am supposed to counsel “nonviolence.” I’m a 42-year old man with a wife, two kids, and a mortgage; I’ve got a college degree and a law degree and a blue checkmark on Twitter; I know I am supposed to shun “rioters” and “looters” who allegedly cede the moral high ground of protests when they respond to tear gas and rubber bullets with stone and flame. But every person has a limit to the injustice they can bear before lashing out.
You can argue the lashing out is understandable but I don’t think you can successfully argue that it’s somehow in keeping with the “strategy” of the Civil Rights movement. By definition, lashing out is not strategic. It’s what you do when you’re just angry beyond the ability to plan or think ahead. I think that’s what we’re actually seeing in Minneapolis right now. At some point very soon, wiser heads need to prevail.


hotair--2020-05-29--Graduation party sparks cluster of new coronavirus cases

One graduation party in Atlanta caused a spike in coronavirus cases , resulting in a 20 % increase in less than a week .
It ’ s a reminder that even if a state is re-opening , precautions against the spread of the virus still need to be taken .
Georgia is one of the first states to reopen after a general lockdown of all businesses and activities deemed non-essential to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic .
By most accounts , the state has been successful in its efforts .
COVID-19 cases have largely flattened .
Public health officials report that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduction in transmission , there hasn ’ t been a spike in the transmission of cases since reopening began a month ago .
The good news is that mitigation is working and reopening in a disciplined , targeted way has produced success so far .
Schools across the country are finding innovative ways to honor the graduating class of 2020 though the traditional parties and gatherings have been put on hold until safer times .
One group of high school students in Atlanta is in the news for violating social distancing recommendations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus of The Lovett School , a private school in north Atlanta , on May 17 .
( The school , which goes from kindergarten through 12th grade , has been closed since March 15 . )
Practicing social distancing guidelines , all of the students and their families were confined to their cars .
The school ’ s 75 staff members attending were socially distanced along the street leading through the campus .
That ’ s all well and good but what happened afterward caused problems for an upscale Atlanta neighborhood that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood in Atlanta has seen an increase of 100 new cases in just five days , an increase of 20 % in three of the five zip codes associated with the area .
The cluster of new cases is being traced back to one student ’ s graduation party , allegedly the son of a doctor .
Head of School Meredyth Cole and Head Nurse Shana Horan sent out an email to let parents know that 30 students have tested positive , though it is unclear how many attended the party .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any symptoms surface and where to get a free test .
“ Because we are committed to helping the Lovett community stay healthy , we want to let you know that the school has been notified by several class of 2020 families that their students have tested positive for COVID-19 , ” they said .
“ Unfortunately the infectious nature of the COVID-19 virus means that most communities will be touched at some point , and we recognize how hard separation and missed milestones have been on the emotional lives of our students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 are working with the appropriate healthcare professionals and Departments of Health.
” The school isn ’ t naming names or disclosing the number of seniors who are now infected .
It doesn ’ t take much imagination to understand how many people can be affected by one person ’ s exposure .
That is one of the most troubling aspects of the coronavirus – how rapidly it spreads .
Each high school graduate who attended the party went home and exposed his or her family to the virus , along with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with before being tested .
Remember the funeral of a Georgia man at the end of February that is now labeled as a “ super spreading event ” due to the impact it had on the community from the virus ?
A school spokesperson says that though the school did everything right as far as social distancing goes with the car parade for seniors , they have since been notified that there were off-campus celebrations that likely spread the virus .
Parents are alarmed , to state the obvious , and there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as their graduating students starting college in the fall .
‘ They clearly disregarded social distancing .
Not only did they get it , they gave it to their parents and their neighborhoods , ’ he said .
‘ It ’ s not going to be isolated .
The kids were together for 48 hours .
Kids cross populate .
It ’ s a very interconnected neighborhood.
’ The parent , who didn ’ t want to be named , isn ’ t blaming the school for the outbreak but , instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
‘ The school technically did everything right , ’ the parent said .
‘ As you can see in this case , children believe they ’ re not going to get and their parents aren ’ t holding them accountable .
‘ These are healthy children .
If they can get it , anyone can get .
‘ As these kids get it they will take it to college campuses .
There ’ s no way the math won ’ t perpetuate this worse .
I think we ’ ve set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parent went on to point a finger of blame at the state for reopening , claiming Georgia began reopening too early .
Malarkey .
That ’ s not been proven the case at all .
That is a parent wanting to protect his child , which is understandable but blaming the wrong people .
The school followed the guidelines , it was the parent ( s ) who helped put on a party for the graduates that are at fault , it seems – in this case , a doctor ’ s son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents footed the bill for whatever was going on with that party .

One graduation party in Atlanta caused a spike in coronavirus cases, resulting in a 20% increase in less than a week. It’s a reminder that even if a state is re-opening, precautions against the spread of the virus still need to be taken.
Georgia is one of the first states to reopen after a general lockdown of all businesses and activities deemed non-essential to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. By most accounts, the state has been successful in its efforts. COVID-19 cases have largely flattened. Public health officials report that while there hasn’t been a reduction in transmission, there hasn’t been a spike in the transmission of cases since reopening began a month ago. The good news is that mitigation is working and reopening in a disciplined, targeted way has produced success so far.
Georgia has had over 43,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, or just over 400 per 100,000 residents, and over 1,800 coronavirus deaths, or 17 per 100,000 residents, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The per-capita numbers are in the upper-middle of the pack among US states, on par with Mississippi and Virginia but slightly higher than nearby Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina.
Schools across the country are finding innovative ways to honor the graduating class of 2020 though the traditional parties and gatherings have been put on hold until safer times. One group of high school students in Atlanta is in the news for violating social distancing recommendations. A senior parade was hosted on the campus of The Lovett School, a private school in north Atlanta, on May 17. (The school, which goes from kindergarten through 12th grade, has been closed since March 15.) Practicing social distancing guidelines, all of the students and their families were confined to their cars. The school’s 75 staff members attending were socially distanced along the street leading through the campus. That’s all well and good but what happened afterward caused problems for an upscale Atlanta neighborhood that spans five zip codes.
The Buckhead neighborhood in Atlanta has seen an increase of 100 new cases in just five days, an increase of 20% in three of the five zip codes associated with the area. The cluster of new cases is being traced back to one student’s graduation party, allegedly the son of a doctor. Head of School Meredyth Cole and Head Nurse Shana Horan sent out an email to let parents know that 30 students have tested positive, though it is unclear how many attended the party. The school officials advised students get tested if any symptoms surface and where to get a free test.
“Because we are committed to helping the Lovett community stay healthy, we want to let you know that the school has been notified by several class of 2020 families that their students have tested positive for COVID-19,” they said. “Unfortunately the infectious nature of the COVID-19 virus means that most communities will be touched at some point, and we recognize how hard separation and missed milestones have been on the emotional lives of our students. Families of the students diagnosed with COVID-19 are working with the appropriate healthcare professionals and Departments of Health.”
The school isn’t naming names or disclosing the number of seniors who are now infected. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how many people can be affected by one person’s exposure. That is one of the most troubling aspects of the coronavirus – how rapidly it spreads. Each high school graduate who attended the party went home and exposed his or her family to the virus, along with any other friends he or she hung out with before being tested. Remember the funeral of a Georgia man at the end of February that is now labeled as a “super spreading event” due to the impact it had on the community from the virus?
A school spokesperson says that though the school did everything right as far as social distancing goes with the car parade for seniors, they have since been notified that there were off-campus celebrations that likely spread the virus.
“The notifications were made several days after a socially distanced drive-by senior parade occurred; an in-person graduation has been postponed to late July,” Fowler said. “The school has been made aware of several off-campus social gatherings but has no information on any private events. Families of the graduates diagnosed with COVID-19 are working with the appropriate healthcare professionals and Departments of Health.
Parents are alarmed, to state the obvious, and there are concerns about schools reopening, as well as their graduating students starting college in the fall.
‘They clearly disregarded social distancing. Not only did they get it, they gave it to their parents and their neighborhoods,’ he said. ‘It’s not going to be isolated. The kids were together for 48 hours. Kids cross populate. It’s a very interconnected neighborhood.’ The parent, who didn’t want to be named, isn’t blaming the school for the outbreak but, instead, says other parents are acting ‘irresponsibly’. ‘The school technically did everything right,’ the parent said. ‘As you can see in this case, children believe they’re not going to get and their parents aren’t holding them accountable. ‘These are healthy children. If they can get it, anyone can get. ‘As these kids get it they will take it to college campuses. There’s no way the math won’t perpetuate this worse. I think we’ve set ourselves up for real failure.’
The parent went on to point a finger of blame at the state for reopening, claiming Georgia began reopening too early. Malarkey. That’s not been proven the case at all. That is a parent wanting to protect his child, which is understandable but blaming the wrong people. The school followed the guidelines, it was the parent (s) who helped put on a party for the graduates that are at fault, it seems – in this case, a doctor’s son, no less. You know his parents footed the bill for whatever was going on with that party.


hotair--2020-05-29--Howard Dean, Strib echo Trump: "No one seems in charge" in Minnesota; <span class='red'>Walz: Okay,

Howard Dean, Strib echo Trump: "No one seems in charge" in Minnesota; Walz: Okay, now we're taking charge

That “ Donald Trump doesn ’ t know the strength of Minneapolis ” riposte from Mayor Jacob Frey isn ’ t aging well , even with Frey ’ s nominal allies .
The staggering abandonment of a police station even after the National Guard has been called up has many wondering where city and state leadership has gone .
Former DNC chair and governor Howard Dean called Frey out for his lack of action and warned Governor Tim Walz to step up now and take charge — before someone else does ( via Twitchy ) : The Star Tribune also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did some state-legislature Republicans : Minnesota state and local officials faced mounting criticisms Friday morning , after a third night of protests and violence in response to George Floyd ’ s death in police custody led to the breach and destruction of a Minneapolis police precinct and dozens of other buildings across the city .
Gov .
Tim Walz , who activated the National Guard on Wednesday to respond to the unrest , has a 10:30 a.m. news conference scheduled Friday , but hadn ’ t spoken publicly since making the announcement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , leading to widespread criticism that they weren ’ t doing enough to respond to the fires and destruction happening across the city .
… Minnesota House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt , R-Crown , raised concerns about the coming weekend .
“ There has been a disturbing lack of leadership and clear plan on how we ’ re going to prevent further chaos with the weekend approaching , ” he said in a statement .
“ City and state leaders knew that there would be more looting and riots last night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the destruction.
” Is this crisis still manageable under current leadership ?
Perhaps if National Guard troops rolled out onto the streets and imposed security , but it seems pretty doubtful at the moment .
What little has been seen of National Guard troops makes them appear more like bodyguards .
Frey assigned them to protect firefighters , the Star Tribune reported , but apparently did little to clear the area to allow firefighters to salvage the 3rd Precinct building .
Instead , protesters chased police as they retreated and then celebrated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : No matter how Frey tries to spin it , the images of police fleeing from rioters does not project strength .
Practically everyone except Frey seems to understand that .
It ’ s not just Frey and Minneapolis now , though .
The riots spread across the river again into Saint Paul , with more than 170 businesses hit by looters and vandals : What appeared to start as impromptu demonstrations for George Floyd , the man who died in Minneapolis police custody , turned into a day of scattered arson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St. Paul ’ s Midway and elsewhere in the capital city on Thursday .
The unrest continued into the evening — more than 170 businesses were damaged or looted , and dozens of fires were set , according to police .
There were no reports of serious injuries in St. Paul .
Just after 1 a.m. Friday , a fire broke out at Lloyd ’ s Pharmacy , which dates back to 1918 , at Snelling and Minnehaha avenues .
A large crowd gathered , many visibly upset the neighborhood business was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-story building was fully engulfed , with several fire crews fighting to contain the flames .
All this took place after the call-up of 500 National Guard troops .
Where were they , and why weren ’ t more troops activated ?
Why didn ’ t those already activated take more assertive action in protecting the 3rd Precinct ?
The answer appears to be that leadership in both cities and at the state capitol called up the National Guard but didn ’ t want to risk political backlash to use them properly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up taking the same passive response that local and state police have taken over the previous two nights , with the same results .
These riots now require an overwhelming and firm response to put them to an end .
The riots aren ’ t about George Floyd any more , whose death in police custody demands justice and for which peaceful protests are more than warranted .
As James Lileks writes this morning at The Bleat , the riots have an entirely different agenda : “ When our turn comes we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karl Marx .
There ’ s more than a few of his fans about , I think .
It would not be ridiculous to assume that people previously given to direct action for ther sake of destroying the existing order wouldn ’ t show up at these events and lend a helping hand , would it ?
People on reddit and twitter think there are neo-Nazis in the riots , trying to start something , but you know , I ’ m looking at the guys who have a lot of practice with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re all fascists ” pasttimes .
A housing development under construction was burned .
It was supposed to supply below-market-rate housing : ah well .
No matter .
It is better that people suffer today if it brings about the necessary future .
Every one and every physical thing is expendable .
… But the bread runs out .
What then ?
After burning out stores and having retailers pull out of the Twin Cities , the rest of the Minnesotans they served will be asking that question sooner rather than later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — or Trump really does federalize the Guard and send in a lot more troops — there won ’ t be much left to salvage after a few more days of this .
Update : A few minutes ago , Walz spoke at a press conference and pleaded with the Twin Cities to cooperate with new efforts to impose order .
Curiously , however , Walz said that he put the National Guard into play at 3:45 am this morning after developing a plan just after midnight .
Walz had called up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t they have a plan to prevent what happened last night at that time ?
Walz also went on at length about how the violence of the last few nights are just the venting of generations of anger .
The protests could be described that way , but why legitimize the violence in that matter ?
Keith Ellison followed up by quoting Martin Luther King by saying that riots are the way that the unheard get heard .
Maybe that ’ s something to say once order gets restored , but that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop rioting .
Ellison then talked about the Guard as though it will be “ another military occupation.
” It ’ s as if they want to incentivize more rioting — it ’ s insane .
Thus far , leadership still seems vacant in Minnesota .

That “Donald Trump doesn’t know the strength of Minneapolis” riposte from Mayor Jacob Frey isn’t aging well, even with Frey’s nominal allies. The staggering abandonment of a police station even after the National Guard has been called up has many wondering where city and state leadership has gone. Former DNC chair and governor Howard Dean called Frey out for his lack of action and warned Governor Tim Walz to step up now and take charge — before someone else does (via Twitchy):
To give clear directives to the police about what they can and can’t do, and to start bringing folks together. Despite the underlying pain and anger, this is still manageable in Minneapolis — Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) May 29, 2020
The Star Tribune also noticed a leadership vacuum overnight, as did some state-legislature Republicans:
Minnesota state and local officials faced mounting criticisms Friday morning, after a third night of protests and violence in response to George Floyd’s death in police custody led to the breach and destruction of a Minneapolis police precinct and dozens of other buildings across the city. Gov. Tim Walz, who activated the National Guard on Wednesday to respond to the unrest, has a 10:30 a.m. news conference scheduled Friday, but hadn’t spoken publicly since making the announcement. Leaders were silent for much of the evening, leading to widespread criticism that they weren’t doing enough to respond to the fires and destruction happening across the city. … Minnesota House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, raised concerns about the coming weekend. “There has been a disturbing lack of leadership and clear plan on how we’re going to prevent further chaos with the weekend approaching,” he said in a statement. “City and state leaders knew that there would be more looting and riots last night, but took no visible steps to prevent the destruction.”
Is this crisis still manageable under current leadership? Perhaps if National Guard troops rolled out onto the streets and imposed security, but it seems pretty doubtful at the moment. What little has been seen of National Guard troops makes them appear more like bodyguards. Frey assigned them to protect firefighters, the Star Tribune reported, but apparently did little to clear the area to allow firefighters to salvage the 3rd Precinct building. Instead, protesters chased police as they retreated and then celebrated the destruction. They even set off fireworks:
No matter how Frey tries to spin it, the images of police fleeing from rioters does not project strength. Practically everyone except Frey seems to understand that.
It’s not just Frey and Minneapolis now, though. The riots spread across the river again into Saint Paul, with more than 170 businesses hit by looters and vandals:
What appeared to start as impromptu demonstrations for George Floyd, the man who died in Minneapolis police custody, turned into a day of scattered arson, looting and significant destruction of retail shops in St. Paul’s Midway and elsewhere in the capital city on Thursday. The unrest continued into the evening — more than 170 businesses were damaged or looted, and dozens of fires were set, according to police. There were no reports of serious injuries in St. Paul. Just after 1 a.m. Friday, a fire broke out at Lloyd’s Pharmacy, which dates back to 1918, at Snelling and Minnehaha avenues. A large crowd gathered, many visibly upset the neighborhood business was targeted. By 1:30 a.m., the two-story building was fully engulfed, with several fire crews fighting to contain the flames.
All this took place after the call-up of 500 National Guard troops. Where were they, and why weren’t more troops activated? Why didn’t those already activated take more assertive action in protecting the 3rd Precinct? The answer appears to be that leadership in both cities and at the state capitol called up the National Guard but didn’t want to risk political backlash to use them properly in restoring order. Instead, they ended up taking the same passive response that local and state police have taken over the previous two nights, with the same results.
These riots now require an overwhelming and firm response to put them to an end. The riots aren’t about George Floyd any more, whose death in police custody demands justice and for which peaceful protests are more than warranted. As James Lileks writes this morning at The Bleat, the riots have an entirely different agenda:
“When our turn comes we will make no excuses for the terror.” Karl Marx. There’s more than a few of his fans about, I think. It would not be ridiculous to assume that people previously given to direct action for ther sake of destroying the existing order wouldn’t show up at these events and lend a helping hand, would it? People on reddit and twitter think there are neo-Nazis in the riots, trying to start something, but you know, I’m looking at the guys who have a lot of practice with the whole “break things because you’re all fascists” pasttimes. A housing development under construction was burned. It was supposed to supply below-market-rate housing: ah well. No matter. It is better that people suffer today if it brings about the necessary future. Every one and every physical thing is expendable. … But the bread runs out. What then?
After burning out stores and having retailers pull out of the Twin Cities, the rest of the Minnesotans they served will be asking that question sooner rather than later. Unless Walz gets his act together — or Trump really does federalize the Guard and send in a lot more troops — there won’t be much left to salvage after a few more days of this.
Update: A few minutes ago, Walz spoke at a press conference and pleaded with the Twin Cities to cooperate with new efforts to impose order. Curiously, however, Walz said that he put the National Guard into play at 3:45 am this morning after developing a plan just after midnight. Walz had called up the Guard yesterday afternoon; why didn’t they have a plan to prevent what happened last night at that time?
Walz also went on at length about how the violence of the last few nights are just the venting of generations of anger. The protests could be described that way, but why legitimize the violence in that matter? Keith Ellison followed up by quoting Martin Luther King by saying that riots are the way that the unheard get heard. Maybe that’s something to say once order gets restored, but that’s hardly a way to get people to stop rioting. Ellison then talked about the Guard as though it will be “another military occupation.” It’s as if they want to incentivize more rioting — it’s insane. Thus far, leadership still seems vacant in Minnesota.


hotair--2020-05-29--New video shows other cops kneeling on George Floyd as he gasped that he couldn't breathe

It was a group effort , after all .
NBC went through the clip and matched some of the signs and objects nearby to those seen in the original Floyd video , just to make sure that this footage really is of him in his final minutes and not of some other arrest .
You ’ d like to think there can ’ t be too many incidents happening in the U.S. every day where groups of cops press the air out of a guy while he screams that he ’ s dying , but who knows .
CNN notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from putting their knee on a suspect ’ s neck but the Minneapolis PD allows neck restraints in certain circumstances , using either light pressure without cutting off the airway or in rarer cases enough pressure to render the subject unconscious .
But there are a few problems with that in Floyd ’ s case .
Both [ techniques ] can only be conducted when a subject is resisting arrest , per the policy , and unconscious neck restraint is allowed only when subjects are aggressively resisting and can ’ t be subdued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restrain Floyd doesn ’ t fit neatly into either of those categories , [ professor Seth ] Stoughton said .
“ This is not a neck restraint , ” he said of the position Floyd was held in during his arrest .
“ It ’ s not just putting pressure on someone ’ s neck .
It ’ s really dangerous.
” … “ You use the force necessary to have someone comply and take them into custody , ” [ Sonia ] Pruitt , who is chairwoman of the National Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man was already in handcuffs and already on the ground .
( Restraining him ) was total excessive force.
” Stoughton went on to say that leaving a suspect who ’ s handcuffed flat on his chest is dangerous in itself since it limits his ability to breathe , risking “ positional asphyxia.
” The Minneapolis cops choked out Floyd in three separate ways , in other words — they left him prone on the ground for minutes on end , they had multiple men kneel on him , and then Derek Chauvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throat as bystanders begged him to lay off .
Maybe the real surprise in the video is that Floyd survived as long as he did .
I mentioned in this post last night that Chauvin has had 18 complaints filed against him since he joined the force , two of which earned him letters of reprimand .
The details of the complaints haven ’ t been released yet but the Daily Beast interviewed one man in Minneapolis who says he had a run-in with a cop whom he thinks was Chauvin years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the groin .
The man ’ s sister insists that the officer in question *was* Chauvin and contemporaneous reporting seems to confirm it .
Cops were called to the man ’ s home in 2008 by his girlfriend at the time , who claimed that he was hitting her .
The man says the cops showed up and rushed in without announcing themselves : “ When I saw that he breached the front door , I ran in the bathroom , ” Toles told The Daily Beast .
“ Then [ Chauvin ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in the bathroom with a cigarette and no lighter.
” The 33-year-old said that Chauvin broke into the bathroom and started to hit him without warning .
Toles said he returned blows to the officer because “ my natural reaction to someone hitting me is to stop them from hitting me.
” “ All I could do is assume it was the police because they didn ’ t announce themselves or ever give me a command , ” he said .
“ I didn ’ t know what to think when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hitting me with the gun.
” According to local news reports , Chauvin shot and wounded Toles after he allegedly reached for an officer ’ s gun .
Toles said he doesn ’ t remember being shot—just “ being walked through the apartment until I collapsed in the main entrance where I was left to bleed until the paramedics came.
” Toles ended up pleading to a misdemeanor .
Did he really reach for Chauvin ’ s gun that night , even with “ several officers ” in his apartment , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting seem justified ?
Here ’ s a bizarre coincidence in lieu of an exit question : Chauvin and George Floyd apparently worked security at the same Minneapolis club .
That fact is being played up today as suspicious , raising the question of whether Chauvin recognized Floyd when he had his knee on his neck , but the club owner can ’ t say for certain that they knew each other .
Floyd apparently worked inside the club whereas Chauvin worked outside .

It was a group effort, after all.
NBC went through the clip and matched some of the signs and objects nearby to those seen in the original Floyd video, just to make sure that this footage really is of him in his final minutes and not of some other arrest. You’d like to think there can’t be too many incidents happening in the U.S. every day where groups of cops press the air out of a guy while he screams that he’s dying, but who knows.
CNN notes today that some police departments prohibit officers from putting their knee on a suspect’s neck but the Minneapolis PD allows neck restraints in certain circumstances, using either light pressure without cutting off the airway or in rarer cases enough pressure to render the subject unconscious. But there are a few problems with that in Floyd’s case.
Both [techniques] can only be conducted when a subject is resisting arrest, per the policy, and unconscious neck restraint is allowed only when subjects are aggressively resisting and can’t be subdued in another manner. The method used to restrain Floyd doesn’t fit neatly into either of those categories, [professor Seth] Stoughton said. “This is not a neck restraint,” he said of the position Floyd was held in during his arrest. “It’s not just putting pressure on someone’s neck. It’s really dangerous.”… “You use the force necessary to have someone comply and take them into custody,” [Sonia] Pruitt, who is chairwoman of the National Black Police Association, said. “This man was already in handcuffs and already on the ground. (Restraining him) was total excessive force.”
Stoughton went on to say that leaving a suspect who’s handcuffed flat on his chest is dangerous in itself since it limits his ability to breathe, risking “positional asphyxia.” The Minneapolis cops choked out Floyd in three separate ways, in other words — they left him prone on the ground for minutes on end, they had multiple men kneel on him, and then Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s throat as bystanders begged him to lay off. Maybe the real surprise in the video is that Floyd survived as long as he did.
I mentioned in this post last night that Chauvin has had 18 complaints filed against him since he joined the force, two of which earned him letters of reprimand. The details of the complaints haven’t been released yet but the Daily Beast interviewed one man in Minneapolis who says he had a run-in with a cop whom he thinks was Chauvin years ago that ended with him being shot in the groin. The man’s sister insists that the officer in question *was* Chauvin and contemporaneous reporting seems to confirm it. Cops were called to the man’s home in 2008 by his girlfriend at the time, who claimed that he was hitting her. The man says the cops showed up and rushed in without announcing themselves:
“When I saw that he breached the front door, I ran in the bathroom,” Toles told The Daily Beast. “Then [Chauvin] starts kicking in that door. I was in the bathroom with a cigarette and no lighter.” The 33-year-old said that Chauvin broke into the bathroom and started to hit him without warning. Toles said he returned blows to the officer because “my natural reaction to someone hitting me is to stop them from hitting me.” “All I could do is assume it was the police because they didn’t announce themselves or ever give me a command,” he said. “I didn’t know what to think when he started hitting me. I swear he was hitting me with the gun.” According to local news reports, Chauvin shot and wounded Toles after he allegedly reached for an officer’s gun. Toles said he doesn’t remember being shot—just “being walked through the apartment until I collapsed in the main entrance where I was left to bleed until the paramedics came.”
Toles ended up pleading to a misdemeanor. Did he really reach for Chauvin’s gun that night, even with “several officers” in his apartment, or was that the story submitted to make the shooting seem justified?
Here’s a bizarre coincidence in lieu of an exit question: Chauvin and George Floyd apparently worked security at the same Minneapolis club. That fact is being played up today as suspicious, raising the question of whether Chauvin recognized Floyd when he had his knee on his neck, but the club owner can’t say for certain that they knew each other. Floyd apparently worked inside the club whereas Chauvin worked outside.


hotair--2020-05-29--MSNBC reporter in front of burning liquor store: Protest "not generally speaking unruly"

Dude .
Look behind you .
For those who might have been disappointed in a lack of dunking on CNN for the ridiculous arrest of its crew this morning , here ’ s my version of atonement .
MSNBC ’ s Ali Velshi tried his best Chip Diller impersonation while covering the riots in the Twin Cities last night .
As a liquor store burned behind him , with the 3rd Precinct overrun and torched nearby , Velshi insisted that the “ protest ” was “ not generally speaking unruly.
” All is well !
All is well !
Note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , which notes that the police station was burning while he “ reported ” from the scene .
It ’ s not as if Velshi didn ’ t see that fire … or three more nearby , either : “ For most of the day , today , it looked a lot calmer than yesterday looked , ” Velshi began after showing his colleague Brian Williams some of the destruction that took place .
“ And that ’ s what happened yesterday .
It picked up later in the evening .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police looked very different last night.
” Velshi then acknowledged that he could see “ four fires ” within his vicinity , including a liquor store that was burning behind him as well as the 3rd Precinct police department , which was earlier evacuated before the crowd set it on fire .
“ I want to be clear on how I characterize this .
This is mostly a protest .
It is not , generally speaking , unruly but fires have been started and this crowd is relishing that , ” Velshi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep sense of grievance and complaint here , and that is the thing .
That when you discount people who are doing things to public property that they shouldn ’ t be doing , it does have to be understood that this city has got , for the last several years , an issue with police , and it ’ s got a real sense of the deep sense of grievance of inequality.
” So , let ’ s say one arson in a protest is not a sign of “ unruly.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — sounds a bit unruly , no ?
By the time we get to four fires in the visible vicinity , we ’ re no longer talking about a peaceful protest , but a riot .
That , however , is the problem .
Velshi has limits on what he can report , and according to NBC Today anchor Craig Melvin , no one ’ s allowed to use the R word — even when its application is painfully obvious : Thus we have Velshi standing in the middle of a city on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not “ generally unruly.
” It ’ s utter nonsense , especially when the police are abandoning their own barracks to the mob and watching it go up in flames .
MSNBC and NBC didn ’ t start off the day with much credibility , and whatever was left just went up in flames behind Velshi last night .

Dude. Look behind you. For those who might have been disappointed in a lack of dunking on CNN for the ridiculous arrest of its crew this morning, here’s my version of atonement. MSNBC’s Ali Velshi tried his best Chip Diller impersonation while covering the riots in the Twin Cities last night. As a liquor store burned behind him, with the 3rd Precinct overrun and torched nearby, Velshi insisted that the “protest” was “not generally speaking unruly.”
All is well! All is well!
MSNBC reporter just now: "I want to be clear on how I characterize this. This is mostly a protest. It is not generally speaking unruly." The guy is literally standing in front of a burning building in the middle of a riot. pic.twitter.com/IzCV6On4sF — Caleb Hull (I'm With the CCP Don't Ban Me) (@CalebJHull) May 29, 2020
Note the chryon underneath Velshi’s reporting too, which notes that the police station was burning while he “reported” from the scene. It’s not as if Velshi didn’t see that fire … or three more nearby, either:
“For most of the day, today, it looked a lot calmer than yesterday looked,” Velshi began after showing his colleague Brian Williams some of the destruction that took place. “And that’s what happened yesterday. It picked up later in the evening. The crowds gathered here and the standoff with the police looked very different last night.” Velshi then acknowledged that he could see “four fires” within his vicinity, including a liquor store that was burning behind him as well as the 3rd Precinct police department, which was earlier evacuated before the crowd set it on fire. “I want to be clear on how I characterize this. This is mostly a protest. It is not, generally speaking, unruly but fires have been started and this crowd is relishing that,” Velshi told Williams. “There is a deep sense of grievance and complaint here, and that is the thing. That when you discount people who are doing things to public property that they shouldn’t be doing, it does have to be understood that this city has got, for the last several years, an issue with police, and it’s got a real sense of the deep sense of grievance of inequality.”
So, let’s say one arson in a protest is not a sign of “unruly.” Debatable, but YMMV. Two fires — sounds a bit unruly, no? By the time we get to four fires in the visible vicinity, we’re no longer talking about a peaceful protest, but a riot.
That, however, is the problem. Velshi has limits on what he can report, and according to NBC Today anchor Craig Melvin, no one’s allowed to use the R word — even when its application is painfully obvious:
This will guide our reporting in MN. “While the situation on the ground in Minneapolis is fluid, and there has been violence, it is most accurate at this time to describe what is happening there as "protests"–not riots.” — Craig Melvin (@craigmelvin) May 28, 2020
Thus we have Velshi standing in the middle of a city on fire and “reporting” that it’s not “generally unruly.” It’s utter nonsense, especially when the police are abandoning their own barracks to the mob and watching it go up in flames. MSNBC and NBC didn’t start off the day with much credibility, and whatever was left just went up in flames behind Velshi last night.


hotair--2020-05-29--Priorities: While Twin Cities burn, state police arrest ... a CNN crew? <span class='red'>Update: St

Priorities: While Twin Cities burn, state police arrest ... a CNN crew? Update: State police claims not to know they were media

Minnesota law enforcement might have abandoned their own barracks to the mob last night and the National Guard might be nowhere to be seen .
Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul are on fire .
At least , though , law enforcement has focused on the real threat .
Which was , this morning , a … CNN reporter and camera crew , while reporting live from a burnt-out block .
Omar Jimenez can be seen and heard asking the officers where to go to get out of their way , but to no avail .
Several state police officers with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-profile risks to public safety anyway : A cameraperson who was arrested alongside Jimenez and his producer told CNN that police said they were being arrested for not moving to a new location after being directed to do so .
However , footage shows that Jimenez and the crew informed the officers that they were reporters , and attempting to get out of the way .
“ We can move back to where you ’ d like here .
We are live on the air at the moment , ” Jimenez is heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ riot gear .
“ Wherever you ’ d want us , we will go .
We were just getting out of your way when you were advancing through the intersection.
” Two police officers are shown grabbing Jimenez ’ s arms and informing him that he is under arrest .
“ Okay .
Do you mind telling me why I am under arrest , sir ?
” Jimenez asks as the officers pull his arms behind his back to handcuff him .
Another member of the CNN crew is heard informing the officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , there ’ s a certain amount of schadenfreude that CNN ’ s critics will get from this scene , but this arrest is absolutely farking ridiculous .
Did the crew go somewhere they shouldn ’ t ?
Maybe , but they sounded willing to cooperate with the police who confronted them .
In the wide pans we see in this clip , there appears to be no present threat , which means that this crew didn ’ t appear to be interfering with any operations .
Scores of police are standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of journalists wouldn ’ t be able to start much trouble even if they were inclined to do so .
Besides , the residents of the Twin Cities and its environs might wonder why the state patrol is standing around in such numbers when their presence could stop crime elsewhere .
People lost businesses and merchandise last night , and some people got beaten and shot , and the police are rounding up the usual media subjects ?
It didn ’ t take long for this to reach the top on both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor Tim Walz and demanded the release of his crew .
Walz offered an apology and took full responsibility , said John Berman , and the crew was released from custody shortly thereafter : The state police are Walz ’ responsibility , so that ’ s not exactly a concession .
Someone ’ s going to find himself on mosquito patrol in August over this , but it ’ s yet another example of failed leadership and perverse priorities in Minnesota over the past three days .
Retreats and pandering are fanning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them down , and trying to act tough on camera is about the dumbest choice Minnesota could possibly make .
Update : As if this couldn ’ t get worse … Gee , what might have been the first clue , Sherlock ?
The CNN camera on the man ’ s shoulder ?
The microphone in Jimenez ’ hand ?
The fact that they told you there were live on the air ?
Either someone ’ s lying or the state police are far worse off than we ever imagined .
At least @ @ @ @ @ @

Minnesota law enforcement might have abandoned their own barracks to the mob last night and the National Guard might be nowhere to be seen. Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul are on fire. At least, though, law enforcement has focused on the real threat. Which was, this morning, a … CNN reporter and camera crew, while reporting live from a burnt-out block.
Omar Jimenez can be seen and heard asking the officers where to go to get out of their way, but to no avail. Several state police officers with apparently nothing better to do arrest these high-profile risks to public safety anyway:
Minnesota police arrest CNN reporter and camera crew as they report from protests in Minneapolis https://t.co/IY0H1Lc77E pic.twitter.com/s9XmwVfabP — New Day (@NewDay) May 29, 2020
A cameraperson who was arrested alongside Jimenez and his producer told CNN that police said they were being arrested for not moving to a new location after being directed to do so. However, footage shows that Jimenez and the crew informed the officers that they were reporters, and attempting to get out of the way. “We can move back to where you’d like here. We are live on the air at the moment,” Jimenez is heard saying to police officers approaching him in riot gear. “Wherever you’d want us, we will go. We were just getting out of your way when you were advancing through the intersection.” Two police officers are shown grabbing Jimenez’s arms and informing him that he is under arrest. “Okay. Do you mind telling me why I am under arrest, sir?” Jimenez asks as the officers pull his arms behind his back to handcuff him. Another member of the CNN crew is heard informing the officers that they are live on television.
Yes, there’s a certain amount of schadenfreude that CNN’s critics will get from this scene, but this arrest is absolutely farking ridiculous. Did the crew go somewhere they shouldn’t? Maybe, but they sounded willing to cooperate with the police who confronted them. In the wide pans we see in this clip, there appears to be no present threat, which means that this crew didn’t appear to be interfering with any operations. Scores of police are standing in place observing anyway, so this handful of journalists wouldn’t be able to start much trouble even if they were inclined to do so.
Besides, the residents of the Twin Cities and its environs might wonder why the state patrol is standing around in such numbers when their presence could stop crime elsewhere. People lost businesses and merchandise last night, and some people got beaten and shot, and the police are rounding up the usual media subjects?
It didn’t take long for this to reach the top on both sides. CNN president Jeff Zucker called Governor Tim Walz and demanded the release of his crew. Walz offered an apology and took full responsibility, said John Berman, and the crew was released from custody shortly thereafter:
Minnesota governor Tim Walz has apologized to CNN for this morning's arrests, per @JohnBerman pic.twitter.com/mYLE9kZbgV — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 29, 2020
The state police are Walz’ responsibility, so that’s not exactly a concession. Someone’s going to find himself on mosquito patrol in August over this, but it’s yet another example of failed leadership and perverse priorities in Minnesota over the past three days. Retreats and pandering are fanning the flames of these riots rather than calming them down, and trying to act tough on camera is about the dumbest choice Minnesota could possibly make.
Update: As if this couldn’t get worse …
In the course of clearing the streets and restoring order at Lake Street and Snelling Avenue, four people were arrested by State Patrol troopers, including three members of a CNN crew. The three were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media. — MN State Patrol (@MnDPS_MSP) May 29, 2020
Gee, what might have been the first clue, Sherlock? The CNN camera on the man’s shoulder? The microphone in Jimenez’ hand? The fact that they told you there were live on the air? Either someone’s lying or the state police are far worse off than we ever imagined.
At least this time no one died.