theblaze--2020-07-17--Powerful CEO group calls for all companies to have mandatory mask policies

Powerful CEO group calls for all companies to have mandatory mask policies Association of CEOs from major U.S. corporations , @ @ @ @ @ and Marriott , are calling for mandatory masks .

Walmart announced Wednesday that it will require customers to wear face masks in all of its stores nationwide. Other retailers have adopted a mandatory mask policy this week, and a powerful association of CEOs from major U.S. corporations are calling for all companies to require face coverings.
The Business Roundtable is an "association of chief executive officers of America's leading companies working to promote a thriving U.S. economy and expanded opportunity for all Americans through sound public policy."
Walmart president and CEO Doug McMillon serves as BRT chairman. Other members of BRT include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, and CVS Health CEO Larry J. Merlo.
On Friday, the influential business association, based in Washington, D.C., called for every company to require face masks.
"Rising infection rates around the country are putting public health and our economy at grave risk," the statement read. "Failure to bring the pandemic under control will have devastating, long-term consequences for millions of Americans."
"One of the most effective things we can all do to protect public health and the economy is to wear face coverings in public settings, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain," BRT said.
"Business Roundtable applauds the many companies that are protecting their employees and customers by mandating the use of face coverings indoors consistent with CDC guidelines," BRT said. "We encourage every company to adopt this practice and hope that all Americans will adopt the use of face coverings to protect their families, friends, neighbors, and our economy."
Earlier this month, BRT co-signed a letter along with the National Retail Federation addressed to President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The letter requested national guidelines for "imposing location-based mandatory mask requirements in all public spaces."
The National Retail Federation is also "encouraging all retailers to adopt a nationwide policy that requires customers to wear face coverings or masks to protect the health and well-being of customers, associates and partners during the coronavirus pandemic."
The NRF has members from Walmart, Google, Facebook, Macy's, BJ's, American Express, IBM, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc., and the Ralph Lauren Corporation.
"The health and safety of associates and customers is retailers' number one priority and wearing a face covering or mask is scientifically proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19," the statement from the NRF read. "Workers serving customers should not have to make a critical decision as to whether they should risk exposure to infection or lose their jobs because a minority of people refuse to wear masks in order to help stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus."
Many nationwide companies have already instituted policies of requiring patrons to wear face masks in stores.
Which stores do you have to wear a face mask in?
All of these companies currently have a mandatory mask policy or will require face coverings by Aug. 1.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Christian children's book author announces he's gay, is leaving his wife

Time to live out his truth , his estranged wife says

Matthew Paul Turner, a Christian children's book author, has come out as gay and is in the process of divorcing his wife.
Turner is the author of at least 16 Christian books, including children's books, "When I Pray for You" and "When God Made You."
What are the details?
Turner, who is also the former editor of CCM, made the abrupt announcements on social media.
In a Friday Instagram post, Turner said he aims to "embrace freedom, hope, and God as a gay man."
“Dear friends, I have difficult news to share," he wrote. "After much thought, prayer, and counseling, Jessica and I have made the decision to end our marriage. While we're best friends and thoroughly love doing life, parenting, and pursuing our dreams together, ending our marriage is necessary because I am gay.
"[A]s someone who spent 30+ years in fundamentalist/evangelical churches, exploring God through conservative theologies, I've lived many days overwhelmed by fear, shame, and self-hatred," Turner continued. "But for the first time in my life, despite the sadness and grief I'm feeling right now, I can say with confidence that I'm ready to embrace freedom, hope, and God as a gay man."
Turner said that he still "deeply" loves his estranged wife, Jessica, despite the announcement.
"I fell in love with her 17 years ago and still love her deeply," he wrote. "Despite her own grief and pain, she has loved and encouraged me to be fully me."
Turner's wife, Jessica, shared a Facebook post about the former couple's future as well as the future of their three children.
"We are moving forward with ending our marriage, while remaining deeply committed to our family and each other. We are all adjusting to a new normal, with our home now extended under two rooftops," she wrote.
"We have worked for more than a year on trying to make our marriage work, even in light of Matthew's truth, but it wasn't healthy or fair to us or our children," she continued. "We feel confident that this is the next right step for each of us and our family."
Turner added that he and his estranged wife plan to keep the children first.
"Our utmost desire is to move forward in love and compassion for each other and put the well-being of our kids first," he insisted. "Coming out to my kids was one of the hardest, most beautiful things I've ever done. Loving and protecting their stories will always be our first priority."
Turner said he still plans to continue his career as a Christian children's book author.
"Writing books about wholeness, hope, and God's love for children is an honor and privilege I do not take for granted," he said.
(H/T: The Christian Post)


theblaze--2020-07-17--He offers homeless man $6 to do backflip, streams it on Facebook, then laughs when homeless man — wh

He offers homeless man $6 to do backflip, streams it on Facebook, then laughs when homeless man — who dies of spinal injury — lands on his neck

He offers homeless man $ 6 to do backflip , streams it on Facebook , then laughs when homeless man @ @ @ @ @ injury — lands on his neck

Las Vegas police said Larry Coner — a 55-year-old homeless man — approached 28-year-old Keonte Jones for money last month, KTNV-TV reported.
Coner was known by his family to be mentally ill and to panhandle, KSNV-TV said.
Cops said Jones told Coner he was willing to give him $6 — if Coner performed a backflip, KTNV said.
Image source: KTNV-TV video screenshot
So Jones set up a Facebook livestream of Coner attempting the stunt, KTNV reported.
Then as video was broadcast, Coner landed on his neck, the station said.
What happened next?
Police said a group of bystanders looked on and laughed while Coner remained on the ground, KTNV reported.
Image source: KTNV-TV video screenshot
And Jones can be heard laughing while filming Coner for almost 10 minutes and telling others not to call medical personnel, police added to the station.
Image source: KTNV-TV video screenshot
Medical teams eventually arrived and took Coner to a hospital with a severe spinal injury, KNLV said, adding that he died June 30 as a result of the injury.
Police told the station that the incident was brought to their attention by a family member of Coner after which detectives immediately initiated an investigation.
The victim's sister told KSNV that Coner was a father, and his family loved him.
"How can you not have human compassion and compassion for another human being?" she asked the station.
Coner's family set up a GoFundMe page for those who would like to help with his funeral expenses, KSNV said.
What happened to the laughing videographer?
Jones was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center July 14 for felony willful disregard of a person's safety, KTNV reported.
Keonte Jones Image source: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Police also shared a link to the video of the incident (viewer discretion advised) that was posted to social media, the station said.
What did a psychotherapist have to say?
"I'm hopeful that the severity of what this is will hit people when it comes to these types of posts on social media," psychotherapist Merin Baron told KTNV. "Think twice about what your clicking, liking, sharing, and representing when it comes to this type of behavior."


theblaze--2020-07-17--McDonald's workers report verbal and physical assaults for asking people to wear masks

McDonald 's workers report verbal and physical assaults for asking people to wear masks 'That 's not in our job @ @ @ @ @ not paid to do '

A survey found that nearly half of McDonald's workers reported being verbally or physically assaulted for asking customers to wear masks, illustrating how contentious the debate over mask mandates has become in the U.S., Business Insider reported.
The Service Employees International Union surveyed more than 4,000 McDonald's workers, and 44% of those workers reported some form of assault by customers they approached about wearing masks as a COVID-19 precaution.
Some of those assaults have even sent workers to the hospital, leaving workers feeling like the company has put them in a bad position:
One McDonald's worker who was assaulted at work is Maria Resendiz, who visited the hospital in late June after being grabbed and hit by an anti-mask customer through a drive-thru window in Oakland, California, she told Business Insider. In Illinois, María Villaseñor recently filed a complaint with the Chicago Department of Public Health after seeing a McDonald's coworker attacked by a customer she asked to wear a mask.
"Throughout the pandemic, McDonald's has failed to protect us from COVID-19," Villaseñor told Business Insider. "Now it's asking us to police a culture war that's not in our job description and that we're not paid to do."
McDonald's did not feel the survey was an accurate representation of working conditions its employees face, and issued a statement dismissing the findings.
"[It is] disappointing to see the SEIU stirring up media attention yet again with these inaccurate characterizations, which do not represent what is happening in our 14,000 restaurants across the country," the company told Business Insider. "This survey represents just 0.5% of the more than 800,000 crew and managers within our McDonald's family working across our U.S. restaurants. While the SEIU is spending time sharing misinformation, McDonald's and our 2,000 franchisees are focused keeping crew and managers employed in safe environments to serve healthcare workers, first responders, and communities during this pandemic."
Many businesses, states, and localities are requiring people to wear masks in public, often putting lower-level employees in the unenviable position of having to approach customers without masks to tell them they must either put on a mask or leave.
At times, these workers have run into customers whose resistance to masks is so steadfast that they will defend it with violence. In a Louisiana Walmart, a man hit a police officer with his car and resisted arrest when the officer attempted to confront him over not having a mask on.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announces she has cancer again, but doesn't plan to quit the high court

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announces she has cancer again , but does n't plan to quit the high court

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announced Friday that she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat a recurrence of cancer, this time in the liver, but that she doesn't plan to step down from her post on the nation's high court.
In a statement distributed by the court, Ginsburg said that she began cancer treatment on May 19, but opted not to announce the news until her "treatment course" was "clear."
She also indicated that her recent hospital visit on Tuesday to treat a possible infection was unrelated to the cancer.
The 87-year-old justice added that following an initial unsuccessful attempt at immunotherapy, the chemotherapy has yielded positive results.
"My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease. I am tolerating chemotherapy well and am encouraged by the success of my current treatment," she said. "I will continue bi-weekly chemotherapy to keep my cancer at bay, and am able to maintain an active daily routine. Throughout, I have kept up with opinion writing and all other Court work.
"I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam," she concluded. "I remain fully able to do that."
Ginsburg's health is of particular importance given the fact that this is a presidential election year. Should the justice need to step down, it would open up the possibility for President Trump to appoint a third Supreme Court justice in his first term.
Trump has already appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired in 2018, respectively.
Even with Ginsburg remaining on the court, the news of her health issues raise the specter that she could be on her way off the court sooner rather than later, making a SCOTUS appointment a definitive hot-button 2020 campaign issue. Ginsburg, , the oldest sitting member of the Supreme Court, is considered to be a liberal justice.
Ginsburg has had several recent health complications, including battles with cancer. A few months ago she was taken to Johns Hopkins for non-surgical treatment of a gallbladder condition, and twice last year she was hospitalized to have cancerous tumors removed.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Viral video captures vicious mob brutally beating couple at airport while security stands by filming

A disturbing video is making the rounds on social media featuring a mob of black women pummeling a white couple in an unidentified airport.
What are the details?
Shocking video shows a young white couple in an altercation with several black women at an airport.
It is not clear at the time of this writing what initially started the argument, but the white woman can be seen backhanding a black woman after the black woman rushes her to shout at her and her boyfriend.
At that point, all hell breaks loose and a horde of black women end up piling on top of the white woman and her boyfriend, relentlessly throwing fists, elbows, and feet.
Later on, two people who appear to be airport security guards can be seen watching the incident with mild interest. One of them has their phone out and appears to be recording the melee.
The video also shows the white woman lying on the floor with her boyfriend on top of her, shielding her head from the blows raining down on the two of them.
One user who shared the footage — British political activist and author Mark Collett — wrote, "A white couple are brutally set upon in an airport & the white man desperately tries to protect his girlfriend as what appear to be airport security simply stand & watch. I doubt this will be covered by the media, but you can bet that it would have if the races were reversed!"


theblaze--2020-07-17--White House press sec. Kayleigh McEnany shreds Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: 'Dereliction of duty'

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany went on the offensive against Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday .
On Thursday , Lightfoot took to Twitter in an effort to shame and mock McEnany over remarks she made at a press briefing about the increasing gun violence and murders in Chicago .
A reporter asked McEnany about a comment President Donald Trump made regarding the disparity between black and white Americans killed by police .
McEnany responded , `` The president has routinely acknowledged and expressed the absolute atrocity of the case of George Floyd , and his heart goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She pointed out that numbers — both black and white fatalities — have significantly dropped since the Obama administration .
McEnany added , `` [ O ] ne point [ Trump ] wants to strongly make is this : that black men and women who die of homicide , they are likely to die of homicide at eight times greater than that of white individuals and Hispanics combined .
That 's the rate combined .
So that 's an extraordinary thing that we want to look at .
...
It is unacceptable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take action and the derelict mayor of Chicago should step up and ask for federal help , because she 's doing a very poor job at securing her streets . ''
What are the details ?
In a now viral tweet , the White House press secretary wrote , `` While you 're focused on words , America is outraged by the violence perpetuated in your city .
One person is taking action to stop violence in our streets : President @ realDonaldTrump . ''
`` He 's offered your city help , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dereliction of duty not to take it . ''
She also added a link to a letter from the Trump administration to the governor of Illinois and Chicago leaders .
On Thursday , Trump 's digital director for his 2020 campaign , Gary Coby , took Lightfoot to task over her snipe at McEnany .
On Twitter , he wrote , `` Black people are being murdered at a record rate in Chicago .
The violence and death is out of control ... 64 shot & 11 killed just last weekend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 35 % increase . ''
`` Here is the Mayor , who is a total failure at stopping this violence , '' Coby added .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany went on the offensive against Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday.
What's a history here?
On Thursday, Lightfoot took to Twitter in an effort to shame and mock McEnany over remarks she made at a press briefing about the increasing gun violence and murders in Chicago.
A reporter asked McEnany about a comment President Donald Trump made regarding the disparity between black and white Americans killed by police.
McEnany responded, "The president has routinely acknowledged and expressed the absolute atrocity of the case of George Floyd, and his heart goes out to that family still."
She pointed out that numbers — both black and white fatalities — have significantly dropped since the Obama administration.
McEnany added, "[O]ne point [Trump] wants to strongly make is this: that black men and women who die of homicide, they are likely to die of homicide at eight times greater than that of white individuals and Hispanics combined. That's the rate combined. So that's an extraordinary thing that we want to look at. ... It is unacceptable, and under this president, he'll take action and the derelict mayor of Chicago should step up and ask for federal help, because she's doing a very poor job at securing her streets."
McEnany's pointed remarks immediately prompted Lightfoot to fire back, "Hey Karen. Watch your mouth."
What are the details?
On Friday, McEnany shot back with a poised response.
In a now viral tweet, the White House press secretary wrote, "While you're focused on words, America is outraged by the violence perpetuated in your city. One person is taking action to stop violence in our streets: President @realDonaldTrump."
"He's offered your city help," she added. "It's a dereliction of duty not to take it."
She also added a link to a letter from the Trump administration to the governor of Illinois and Chicago leaders.
On Thursday, Trump's digital director for his 2020 campaign, Gary Coby, took Lightfoot to task over her snipe at McEnany.
On Twitter, he wrote, "Black people are being murdered at a record rate in Chicago. The violence and death is out of control... 64 shot & 11 killed just last weekend. 373 have been killed just this year, a 35% increase."
"Here is the Mayor, who is a total failure at stopping this violence," Coby added.


theblaze--2020-07-17--NBA star James Harden gets torched by woke leftists online after wearing a 'Thin Blue Line' mask

NBA star James Harden gets torched by woke leftists online after wearing a 'Thin Blue Line ' mask

Houston Rockets superstar James Harden is taking heat from woke leftists online after a photo showed him wearing a face mask with the "Thin Blue Line" symbol on it.
The symbol represents pro-police sentiments and is often associated with the nonprofit organization, Blue Lives Matter.
What are the details?
Harden was reportedly joining his teammates in the NBA "bubble" at Walt Disney World this week when the photo was taken and subsequently posted to social media accounts run by the league and his team.
In response to the post, rapper Trey Songz tweeted, "this certified clown s**t. I'll say it for everybody who scared to. [F**k off haters]"
Another Twitter user said, "for the love of GOD tell me James Harden isn't wearing a mask called 'the blue patriot.'" That mask displays the comic book hero "The Punisher," which is an image allegedly used by Blue Lives Matter protesters.
"His own teammates are gonna foul him now," said another user on Twitter, while others posted images of Harden getting struck in the head by former Los Angeles Laker Metta World Peace, as if to say he deserved it.
It wasn't a political statement
ESPN reported Friday afternoon that Harden did not intend to make a political statement with the mask and was unaware of the message it displayed.
"Honestly, I wasn't trying to make a political statement," Harden said before practice. "I honestly wore it just because it covered my whole face and my beard. It's pretty simple."
In regard to his thoughts on police, Harden added: "There's people who do their job at a high level and there's BS people in every profession."
Anything else?
The two-time NBA scoring champion had also expressed support for the George Floyd protests recently. Floyd was killed while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, and his funeral was held in Houston.
"The way the city rallied, it was amazing," Harden said to reporters on Thursday. "I think the world saw it. How so many people could come together ... obviously it was for a tragic reason. The marching and everything we're standing for is very powerful."
Rapper Young Thug had come to Harden's defense originally, rightly suggesting that he didn't know what he was wearing.
"Just so u know James harden is my brada... btw he don't have internet so he obviously don't know what's right or wrong if he posted something that's against US," the rapper tweeted.
The NBA has been very supportive of players expressing support for Black Lives Matter causes, approving a list of customized messages players will be allowed to wear on jerseys as the league returns to action July 30 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The Rockets' first exhibition game is on July 24.


theblaze--2020-07-17--California man arrested for allegedly stealing $9 million in COVID-19 relief funds, spent money on V

California man arrested for allegedly stealing $9 million in COVID-19 relief funds, spent money on Vegas gambling sprees

California man arrested for allegedly stealing $ 9 million in COVID-19 relief funds , spent money on Vegas gambling sprees @ @ @ @ @ to 30 years in prison for spending PPP loans on risky stock bets and gambling @

A California man was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing about $9 million in coronavirus relief funds. He reportedly spent some portion of the proceeds on extravagant gambling sprees and risky stock market investments.
Andrew Marnell, a resident of the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, is accused of submitting several fraudulent loan applications to the federal government. Marnell, 40, was granted at least $9 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans, a number that could rise as the investigation progresses.
The PPP loans are part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that provided up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses in April. The PPP loans were meant to provide financial relief to small businesses so they can survive the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Court documents state that Marnell, while often using aliases, submitted fraudulent loan applications. He reportedly used fake and altered documents, including "bogus federal tax filings and employee payroll records," according to the affidavit.
Marnell reportedly transferred millions of dollars from the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds to his brokerage accounts to make "risky stock market bets."
"Marnell spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino and other gambling establishments as recently as last weekend," according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Marnell has been charged with one count of bank fraud, and faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison if convicted. He is due back in court Tuesday. The case against Marnell is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kerry Quinn of the Major Frauds Section and DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Armstrong of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section.
In late May, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Security and Exchange Committee, and the U.S Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced fraud charges against former Hollywood executive producer William Sadleir. He was accused of stealing $1.7 million in COVID-19 relief loans and allegedly embezzling $25 million from investors.
Sadleir, 66, applied for PPP loans by submitting fraudulent applications in the name of the Los Angeles-based film production company Aviron Pictures. He used the PPP loans to pay off his personal credit cards, $40,000 in car payments, other personal expenses, and to help purchase a $14 million mansion in Beverly Hills.
Sadleir was charged with criminal wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements to a financial institution, making false statements to the SBA, and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors say that all of the charges carry a possible penalty of up to 82 years in federal prison.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Former Miss Kentucky sentenced to 2 years in prison for sending sexual photos to a middle school stu

Former Miss Kentucky sentenced to 2 years in prison for sending sexual photos to a middle school student

A former Miss Kentucky was sentenced to jail for two years after it was discovered she was sending sexual photos to a teenager.
Ramsey BethAnn Bearse, 29, was crowned Miss Kentucky during the 2014 Miss America pageant.
What are the details?
Bearse admitted to exchanging sexual photos with a middle school student when she was working as a West Virginia school teacher.
Bearse initially told authorities that she meant to send an explicit photo to her husband, but inadvertently sent it to the teen's phone. She insisted that the student pressed her for more photos, and she complied because she was "afraid to not appease him."
She reportedly exchanged photos with the teen for a period of three months in 2018. Authorities arrested the former beauty queen after the unnamed teen's parent discovered the images on the child's phone.
"The young man's name was listed next to my husband's on my phone," Bearse explained. "From there, he asked me for more and I panicked. I was afraid to not appease him. When he asked for more, I sent him more photos of me which led to him sending a photo of his privates."
A judge at Kanawha County Circuit Court sentenced Bearse to two years in prison on Tuesday, as well as 10 years of supervised release. Bearse must also register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.
According to WOWK-TV, Bearse pleaded guilty to one count of possessing material depicting minors in a sexually explicit conduct in December 2019. She was initially charged with four counts of sending obscene material to a minor.
What did she say?
At the time, Bearse said, "I messed up big-time."
"I didn't keep any of the photos of him or forward them to anyone else," Bearse insisted. "But, I did receive them and I did compliment him in a way which made it look like I did want them, because again I was afraid to not appease him. Since I am the adult and he is just a teenager, it was definitely my fault and I accept the blame for the situation."
Bearse is set to report to Lakin Correctional Center and Jail on Monday.
A spokesperson for the Kanawha County school district said that Bearse is no longer employed there.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Georgia Gov. Kemp sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms over her mask mandate

She 's not complying with his EO

Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is suing Keisha Bottoms, the Democratic mayor of Atlanta, over the city's continued enforcement of a mask mandate that was banned Wednesday by Kemp's executive order, NBC News reported.
Kemp's executive order nullified mask requirements in Atlanta and 14 other localities. Kemp encourages people to wear masks in public, but opposes any measure by local authorities that is more restrictive than what the state has imposed.
"This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times," Kemp wrote on Twitter on Thursday. "These men and women are doing their very best to put food on the table for their families while local elected officials shutter businesses and undermine economic growth.
"Just like sending in the [Georgia National Guard] to protect those living in our capital city from crime and violence, I refuse to sit back and watch as disastrous policies threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens," Kemp continued. "We will fight to stop these reckless actions and put people over pandemic politics."
After Kemp issued the order, Bottoms made it clear that she did not intend for the city of Atlanta to comply. Even after the lawsuit, Bottoms remained steadfast on the issue. From NBC News:
Kemp issued his executive order, which banned more than a dozen local governments from mandating that masks be worn in public, on Wednesday. A spokesman for Atlanta's mayor had said that the mayor's order remained in effect, that the city would be guided by data and science, and that "masks save lives."
Bottoms was defiant after Kemp's lawsuit Thursday, noting that 3,014 Georgians have died and that she and her family are among those who have tested positive.
"A better use of taxpayer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing," she said. "If being sued by the State is what it takes to save lives in Atlanta, then we will see them in court."
Georgia, like a number of other states, has recorded record numbers of new COVID-19 cases in recent days, although none of these places has seen sort of fatality rate that was seen in New York City during the peak of the epidemic in the United States.
In response, an increasing number of state and local leaders, Republican and Democrat, are mandating masks in public in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Florida man in his 20s listed among COVID-19 fatalities — but health officer says he died in motorcy

Florida man in his 20s listed among COVID-19 fatalities — but health officer says he died in motorcycle crash 'But @ @ @ @ @ it could have been the COVID-19 that caused him to crash '

While Florida listed a man in his 20s as among the state's COVID-19 fatalities, a county health officer told WOFL-TV that the man died in a motorcycle crash.
What are the details?
The station was looking into records that showed two individuals in their 20s as coronavirus fatalities and asked Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino if either person had any underlying conditions.
Pino's on-camera reply to WOFL?
"The first one didn't have any. He died in a motorcycle accident," he said.
The station then asked Pino if the man's data was removed.
"I don't think so. I have to double-check," Pino replied to WOFL. "We were arguing, we were discussing, and trying to argue with the state. Not because of the numbers — I mean, it's a hundred; it [doesn't] make any difference if it's 99. But ... the fact that the individual ... didn't die from COVID-19, died in [the] crash. But you can actually argue that it could have been the COVID-19 that caused him to crash. So I don't know the conclusion of that one."
Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino Image source: WOFL-TV video screenshot
The station said in its report that there were still two people in their 20s on Orange County's list of coronavirus deaths.
Image source: WOFL-TV video screenshot
Is there a contradiction afoot?
WOFL said the Florida Department of Health sent it a statement to clarify that a "COVID death" is determined if "COVID-19 is listed as the immediate or underlying cause of death, or listed as one of the significant conditions contributing to death. Or, if there is a confirmed COVID-19 infection from a lab test — and the cause of death doesn't meet exclusion criteria — like trauma, suicide, homicide, overdose, motor-vehicle accident, etc."
Pino added to the station that "the only thing that I could say to people is the data I provide you with is the data we consume from the state, and we offer you ... the best data that we have."
In addition, Pino told WOFL that the medical examiner has to certify all COVID-19 deaths. The station said it reached out to that office and had not heard back.
Anything else?
WOFL in a separate report earlier this week noted that while the Florida Department of Health has said "countless" coronavirus testing sites across the state have reported a near 100% positivity rate for COVID-19, the reality was far different in some cases.
For example, state data showed that Orlando Health, a local hospital, had a 98% COVID-19 positivity rate — but when the station reached out to the hospital, officials said their positivity rate was only 9.4%.
State reports also claimed Orlando VA Medical Center had a positivity rate of 76% — but the hospital told WOFL its positivity rate was only 6%.


theblaze--2020-07-17--WATCH: Captain America star Chris Evans surprises 6-year-old hero on Instagram

On Friday 's episode of `` Pat Gray Unleashed , '' Pat discussed the message of encouragement Captain America star Chris Evans gave Bridger Walker — the 6-year-old boy from Wyoming who saved his sister from being attacked by the neighbor 's dog .
Read the full story In this clip , Pat , Jeffy , and Keith viewed the heartwarming video of Bridger and his little sister reacting to what Evans had to say on Instagram .
Evans commended the boy for his selfless act of bravery and promised to track down his address so he could send him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show took a hilarious turn when Pat and Jeffy started going back-and-forth to say that Evans ' gesture was nice , but it could have been better .
Jeffy agreed and joked that what Evans did was nice , but it could have been better if the shield was there when Bridger watched the video .
Trying to keep a straight face , Pat decided that because Evans did not present Bridger with the shield when he watched the video , that perhaps Evans should have just done nothing .
Watch the clip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAT to save $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Pat Gray ?
To enjoy more of Pat 's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world , subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America , defend the Constitution and live the American dream .

On Friday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat discussed the message of encouragement Captain America star Chris Evans gave Bridger Walker — the 6-year-old boy from Wyoming who saved his sister from being attacked by the neighbor's dog. Read the full story here.
In this clip, Pat, Jeffy, and Keith viewed the heartwarming video of Bridger and his little sister reacting to what Evans had to say on Instagram. Evans commended the boy for his selfless act of bravery and promised to track down his address so he could send him an authentic Captain America shield.
The show took a hilarious turn when Pat and Jeffy started going back-and-forth to say that Evans' gesture was nice, but it could have been better.
"He couldn't overnight it," Pat joked.
Jeffy agreed and joked that what Evans did was nice, but it could have been better if the shield was there when Bridger watched the video. Trying to keep a straight face, Pat decided that because Evans did not present Bridger with the shield when he watched the video, that perhaps Evans should have just done nothing.
Watch the clip for more details.
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theblaze--2020-07-17--Horowitz: Data shows low death rate despite widespread infection among meatpackers

An indoor meatpacking facility with poor ventilation , freezing temperatures , loud industrial machinery , many workers in close quarters for extended periods of time , and terrible sanitation .
It 's like the Garden of Eden for a virus like SARS-CoV-2 .
These locations have some of the highest infection rates in the country .
Yet despite the panic over the number of cases , there are relatively few deaths .
This actually bodes well for the general population that will have to achieve herd immunity at a slower , more controlled pace – no matter what the politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers have reportedly died of COVID-19 .
That sounds like a high number , and there certainly have been scary headlines and lawsuits over the pandemic crisis in slaughterhouses , but it actually demonstrates the relatively low death rate of this virus .
According to the Food and Environment Reporting Network , as of July 16 , 35,387 meatpacking workers have tested positive for the virus .
So what is the infection fatality rate ( IFR ) ?
We do n't know for sure , but here are some important data observations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ CFR ) – that is the rate of death as a share of the known positive cases .
Simple arithmetic shows it 's 0.42 % .
Those are the known cases .
How many more have had the virus but have not been detected through mass testing ?
According to CDC Director Robert Redfield , on average , across the nation , the number of people who had the virus , particularly asymptomatically , is 10 times higher than the number of confirmed cases .
The results of some state antibody tests have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously , we can not suggest that in the case of meatpackers , there are ten times more infections than confirmed cases , which would yield an implied IFR of just 0.042 % , because there are only 140,000 meatpacking workers in the industry .
They have already tested the facilities much more than the general population and have confirmed positive cases in 24 % of the workforce .
However , given that almost all of the positive cases were asymptomatic and they did n't begin mass testing until well into the peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely that many of the people who had it early on but never presented with symptoms recovered and were no longer detectable by the time they conducted mass PCR testing of entire facilities .
For example on May 5 , the Des Moines Register reported that in Iowa , four meatpacking plants tested every worker and the infection rate was 58 % , 39 % , 26 % , and 17 % respectively .
That means that even a snapshot of testing ( which , absent an antibody test , does n't confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered ) often netted really high infection rates – higher than the 24 % known average positivity rate .
Remember , while many believe that only a small percentage need to get infected in order to achieve herd immunity , this does n't necessarily apply in a confined space like a meat-packing plant , especially where the inherent partial immunity might not block the virus completely but will ward of the symptoms .
Thus , given the rate of identified asymptomatic positives , it 's inconceivable that there is not an unknown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections among these workers that has not been documented .
Accordingly , it 's very likely that the number of workers infected could be as much as two times the known amount , if not more .
That would place the IFR more in line with 0.2 % .
This is a microcosm of what the world would look like if we immediately exposed an entire state or country to the virus .
The overwhelming majority are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic , very few hospitalized , and possibly 0.2 % or so died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in the media are of people with underlying conditions like heart conditions and diabetes .
In June , for example , when Tyson Foods tested its facilities in Arkansas , 95 % of all those who turned up a positive test presented no symptoms .
That demonstrates that the population of those who had the virus since perhaps before March is really much larger .
There are two other factors that likely skew the meatpacking numbers more negatively than the generation population .
Some scientists have theorized that there might be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorly ventilated areas because there is less air to diffuse the infected aerosols .
Also , because meatpacking plants are very loud , workers often have to shout to be heard , thereby using the deeper recesses of the longs to spread aerosols .
If you are going to see a higher percentage of serious cases , it would be in this sort of the environment , and yet the death rate is still low , which , again , bodes well for the general population .
Moreover , 87 % of meatpacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Hispanic or of African descent , often refugees from Somalia , Sudan , and Congo .
According to the CDC , Hispanics are four times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than white people , and black people are more than five times more likely .
So the fact that hospitalizations and deaths appear to be relatively low as a percentage of cases , even among these workers in these conditions , clearly shows that not nearly as many people will die before the virus burns out as the doomsayers predicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the population , just 0.001 % of workers have died .

An indoor meatpacking facility with poor ventilation, freezing temperatures, loud industrial machinery, many workers in close quarters for extended periods of time, and terrible sanitation. It's like the Garden of Eden for a virus like SARS-CoV-2. These locations have some of the highest infection rates in the country. Yet despite the panic over the number of cases, there are relatively few deaths. This actually bodes well for the general population that will have to achieve herd immunity at a slower, more controlled pace – no matter what the politicians do.
Since March, 148 meatpacking workers have reportedly died of COVID-19. That sounds like a high number, and there certainly have been scary headlines and lawsuits over the pandemic crisis in slaughterhouses, but it actually demonstrates the relatively low death rate of this virus.
According to the Food and Environment Reporting Network, as of July 16, 35,387 meatpacking workers have tested positive for the virus. So what is the infection fatality rate (IFR)? We don't know for sure, but here are some important data observations.
We know the case fatality rate (CFR) – that is the rate of death as a share of the known positive cases. Simple arithmetic shows it's 0.42%. Those are the known cases. How many more have had the virus but have not been detected through mass testing? According to CDC Director Robert Redfield, on average, across the nation, the number of people who had the virus, particularly asymptomatically, is 10 times higher than the number of confirmed cases. The results of some state antibody tests have implied even higher numbers.
Now, obviously, we cannot suggest that in the case of meatpackers, there are ten times more infections than confirmed cases, which would yield an implied IFR of just 0.042%, because there are only 140,000 meatpacking workers in the industry. They have already tested the facilities much more than the general population and have confirmed positive cases in 24% of the workforce. However, given that almost all of the positive cases were asymptomatic and they didn't begin mass testing until well into the peak of the virus, it's very likely that many of the people who had it early on but never presented with symptoms recovered and were no longer detectable by the time they conducted mass PCR testing of entire facilities.
For example, on May 5, the Des Moines Register reported that in Iowa, four meatpacking plants tested every worker and the infection rate was 58%, 39%, 26%, and 17% respectively. That means that even a snapshot of testing (which, absent an antibody test, doesn't confirm who already had it but has since recovered) often netted really high infection rates – higher than the 24% known average positivity rate.
Remember, while many believe that only a small percentage need to get infected in order to achieve herd immunity, this doesn't necessarily apply in a confined space like a meat-packing plant, especially where the inherent partial immunity might not block the virus completely but will ward of the symptoms. Thus, given the rate of identified asymptomatic positives, it's inconceivable that there is not an unknown, but not insignificant number of other asymptomatic infections among these workers that has not been documented.
Accordingly, it's very likely that the number of workers infected could be as much as two times the known amount, if not more. That would place the IFR more in line with 0.2%.
This is a microcosm of what the world would look like if we immediately exposed an entire state or country to the virus. The overwhelming majority are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, very few hospitalized, and possibly 0.2% or so died. Anecdotally, most of the cases reported in the media are of people with underlying conditions like heart conditions and diabetes.
In June, for example, when Tyson Foods tested its facilities in Arkansas, 95% of all those who turned up a positive test presented no symptoms. That demonstrates that the population of those who had the virus since perhaps before March is really much larger.
There are two other factors that likely skew the meatpacking numbers more negatively than the generation population. Some scientists have theorized that there might be a higher viral load transfer in confined and poorly ventilated areas because there is less air to diffuse the infected aerosols. Also, because meatpacking plants are very loud, workers often have to shout to be heard, thereby using the deeper recesses of the longs to spread aerosols. If you are going to see a higher percentage of serious cases, it would be in this sort of the environment, and yet the death rate is still low, which, again, bodes well for the general population.
Moreover, 87% of meatpacking workers are non-white. Most of them are Hispanic or of African descent, often refugees from Somalia, Sudan, and Congo. According to the CDC, Hispanics are four times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than white people, and black people are more than five times more likely. So the fact that hospitalizations and deaths appear to be relatively low as a percentage of cases, even among these workers in these conditions, clearly shows that not nearly as many people will die before the virus burns out as the doomsayers predicted. Even in this hard-hit subset of the population, just 0.001% of workers have died.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Sleep is for privileged white people, popular magazine says — so now activists call for 'rest repara

Sleep is for privileged white people, popular magazine says — so now activists call for 'rest reparations'

Sleep is for privileged white people , popular magazine says — so now activists call for 'rest reparations' What is @ @ @ @ @

Teen Vogue published an article last week alleging sleep is indicative of systemic racism.
Now some activists are calling for "rest reparations" in the form of sabbaticals and time off from work and other strenuous activities.
What are the details?
The article, titled, "Black Power Naps is Addressing Systemic Racism in Sleep," reveals the Black Power Naps initiative, which alleges that African Americans typically have shorter life spans when compared to their white peers.
Black Power Naps — created by writers Navild Acosta and Fannie Sosa — insists that black lives are shorter than white lives because blacks experience "generational fatigue" simply on the grounds that they are African American.
The magazine describes Black Power Naps as an "artistic initiative with components including physical installations, zines, an opera, and more."
Writers Acosta and Sosa revealed that they experienced an epiphany: They were always tired, and realized that it was because they were impacted by "hundreds of years of sleep deprivation" that was due to systemic racism.
"[They] were tired, but it wasn't just any old fatigue," the article read. "Yes, they experienced a lack of sleep, but they were specifically experiencing a generational fatigue familiar to black people and people of color."
The realization prompted them to demand reparations through breaks and time off from work through the initiative.
"[Black Power Naps] is also a recognition of the hundreds of years of sleep deprivation that black people and people of color have experienced as a result of systemic racism, a way to push back against the false stereotype that black people are lazy, and an investigation of the inequitable distribution of rest," the article added.
So what do Acosta and Sosa have to say about this?
Acosta told the magazine that black people and people of color inherited sleep deprivation through years of slavery and control.
"We're dealing with an inheritance of sleep deprivation," she complained. "Sleep deprivation was a ... deliberate tactic of slave owners to basically make the mind feeble. That same tactic has only evolved."
She also insisted that it is imperative that black people and people of color be allowed to dream properly.
"The dream space is a crucial space to make sense of your reality and properly process the violence that may be happening," he said. "When we're not getting the sleep we need, it is another front line — the place where we sleep."
Sosa insisted that generations of slavery have made it imperative for black people and people of color to rest as much as they can in the following generations.
"Slavery is a regime of stealing and extraction: stolen wages, stolen life, stolen land, but stolen time was one of the main things. We need time. We need time off; we need time out," she said. "Our ancestors never got to take a month off for holidays; they never got to take a sabbatical; they never got to take a nap. When you piled all of those together, you see the reparations that need to happen are monetary, but they're also time and space."
Sosa pointed out that it's also unfair that black people and people of color have to go out amid a global pandemic to demand such rest reparations, which makes them suffer from exhaustion even further.
"We are having to go out in the streets during a pandemic, expending our energy in really huge amounts in order to ask for reparations and rest and energy," Sosa reasoned. "It is a .... double-edged sword to navigate as an activist or organizer. You are putting your body on the line to reclaim it. That creates a lot of burnout. We have people who are 20, 21, they are burnt out. They need time off. They need to not only sleep, but to know their people are going to be OK, to know they're going to be OK, to know they can take a break."
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-07-17--Oklahoma family says the government is lying about their grandpa's death: He 'didn't die from COVID'

Oklahoma family says the government is lying about their grandpa 's death : He 'did n't die from COVID' Could @ @ @ @ @ ?

A family in Oklahoma says the government is lying about COVID-19 being the cause of their grandpa's death and warning that similar lies may be spreading about others, too.
What are the details?
Jack Dake Sr., a loving father, husband, and military veteran, passed away in early May after battling Alzheimer's disease for 13 years, his family says. But when his death certificate came in a week later, the coronavirus was listed as his cause of death. His family was shocked.
"Alzheimer's was the cause of death, and COVID-19 was not even a contributing condition," Dake's son, Jack Dake Jr., told the Oklahoman. "Yet it's recorded as the only cause of death."
Dake Jr. told the outlet that by the time his dad had been diagnosed with COVID-19, he had already entered one of the last stages of Alzheimer's and would soon enter hospice care.
He had been tested for the coronavirus after being taken to the hospital when nursing home staff said he had a "decreased appetite" and "generalized weakness." At the time of the test, he presented with a fever and cough but no shortness of breath, and he didn't require supplemental oxygen.
Hospital records from a second visit days later — due to a fall that cut his hand — noted that Dake Sr.'s possible COVID-19 symptoms had reduced even more. He presented no fever, no cough, no shortness of breath, and "no other complaints or modifying factors."
Yet when hospice care workers prepared a list of emergency contacts for the family, they listed COVID-19 as the terminal diagnosis. From that point forward, that was the official determination.
"On the day he died, one of the people at the care facility said that his was a COVID-19 death, to which we immediately objected," Dake Jr. recalled. "COVID-19 had nothing whatsoever to do with his death, nor was it an underlying cause. In fact, since he had already been through the symptoms, he was probably negative for the coronavirus and now had antibodies."
Could there be others?
Now, the family is warning that the government's reporting could be wrong about others, too.
"On June 22, the state Department of Health record[ed] 369 COVID-19 deaths," Dake Jr. said. "We know that number is false, misleading and not true. It's less than that, maybe significantly less than that. Yet government officials at all levels, including at the Legislature, are making very poor decisions based on this information."
In an op-ed on Townhall.com on Thursday, Larry O'Connor wrote: "The government is lying about my wife's grandfather's death, and I bet they're lying about many more."
"The State of Oklahoma insists that Jack Dake Sr. died of the coronavirus, when he simply did not," O'Connor added.
The family says a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline is the cause of the problem in their case and potentially in the cases of others.
In April, the CDC issued a report to medical providers on certifying COVID-19 deaths, saying: "In cases where a definite diagnosis of COVID–19 cannot be made, but it is suspected or likely ... it is acceptable to report COVID–19 on a death certificate as 'probable' or 'presumed.'"
Elsewhere in the document, CDC officials added that "if COVID–19 played a role in the death, this condition should be specified on the death certificate."
It could also be that hospitals are incentivized to list COVID-19 diagnoses, the family said.
It is true, after all, that under the CARES Act, hospitals receive a 20% reimbursement from the federal government for treating patients diagnosed with the coronavirus, according to a USA Today fact-check.


theblaze--2020-07-17--'We cannot do layoffs based on race': Black Seattle police chief rejects white city council member's

'We cannot do layoffs based on race': Black Seattle police chief rejects white city council member's suggestion for saving minority jobs

'We can not do layoffs based on race ' : Black Seattle police chief rejects white city council member 's @ @ @ @ @ Chief Carmen Best : ' I would love for Councilmember [ Lisa ] Herbold to @ @ @ @ @ against us . '

The Seattle City Council — like numerous decision-making bodies across the country in the wake of recent anti-police rioting — wants to defund the police in order to pay community-led organizations to take over some policing duties, KIRO-TV reported.
For Seattle, that means cutting the department's budget in half.
"Now is the time to divest from the police department," Council President Lorena Gonzalez said of the effort last week, the station noted. "Now is the time to zero out these budgets and to reimagine, rebuild, build something from a community-led and community-driven perspective that will actually build community safety for the people who have been harmed the most by over-policing and criminalization."
Of course, a bunch of cops will be let go with such cuts.
Seattle police on Wednesday released a diversity breakdown of officers and recruits to detail the impact of that proposed cut, KIRO said — with a last hired, first fired caveat in mind.
What are the numbers?
Seattle police said the cuts would mean laying off 46 Asian officers, 47 black officers, 56 Hispanic officers, 59 biracial or multiracial officers, and 526 white officers, the station reported.
But Democratic Councilmember Lisa Herbold on Twitter noted such a cut is a "threat" to minority officers.
Herbold wrote that the Chief Carmen Best "can request the Public Safety Civil Service Commission [executive director] ... lay off 'out of order' when doing so is in 'the interest of efficient operations of his or her department.'"
"This means Chief doesn't have to fire the newest hired first," Herbold went on to say. "Chief says firing [minority] members of the SPD would be harmful, and I agree. I know she can argue just as convincingly that maintaining the employment of [minority] officers is in the interest of efficient operations of the SPD."
The chief doesn't see it that way
But Best shot down Herbold's idea for preserving jobs on the force held by people of color.
"We cannot do layoffs based on race," Best told KIRO. "I would love for Councilmember Herbold to work with us and not against us, making sure we have a viable number of officers."
Image source: KIRO-TV video screenshot
The chief added to the station that "it is illegal to make layoffs based on race. I'm not sure where [Herbold is] getting her legal advice from, but the persons who are advising us are making sure we understand it's illegal to do that."
Anything else?
Seattle police patrol Officer Sergio Garcia — who's been with the department for three years — told KIRO his job is on the line with the proposed cuts.
"I don't have the privilege — as many people have had here, the privileges we speak of — of having a college education," he told the station. "I don't have that type of privilege, right. So I do depend on this job, and I take a lot of pride in doing a really good job and building a better community."
Image source: KIRO-TV video screenshot
Garcia told KIRO he became a police officer in Florida after being pulled over multiple times by a white officer in a span of days — and his goal has been to "set a better example."
"At the end of the day, I take this uniform off, and I'm still a brown person," he added to the station. "So when I go to the same stores, when I go on vacation, I still deal with things that we are concerned about."
VIDEO: SPD chief responds as councilmember appears to suggest layoffs based on race youtu.be
(H/T: Hot Air)


theblaze--2020-07-17--Suspect accused of attack on NYPD chief released from jail without bail

Suspect accused of attack on NYPD chief released from jail without bail Three of the suspects who attacked cops in @ @ @ @ @ have been arrested .

A Bronx man who allegedly punched NYPD Chief Terence Monahan and two other police officers during a protest that turned violent has been released from jail without bail. A senior New York City police official reportedly called the release "stunning."
A bloody brawl broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge between violent protesters and New York City Police Department officers on Wednesday.
During the melee, eight officers were injured, including a sergeant, lieutenant, and Chief of Department Terence Monahan, who is the NYPD's highest-ranking uniformed officer. One police officer lost consciousness during the incident.
Lieutenant Richard Mack, of the department's Strategic Response Group, was struck several times in the face during the fracas. The suspects reportedly broke both of Mack's orbital bones, and he was taken to the hospital, where he required 12 stitches on his face.
Quran Campbell, 25, and Banks Shaborn, 25, are accused of physically assaulting Mack, Monahan, and another officer. On Thursday night, Campbell was arraigned on assault charges in Manhattan criminal court and was released without bail.
"Quran Campbell is captured on video for the nation to witness him viciously assault 3 cops in uniform - 1 who lost consciousness. Judge Robert Rosenthal's reckless decision to release Mr. Campbell WITHOUT BAIL endangers every NYer and the officers who risk it all to protect them," Monahan tweeted on Friday morning. "My thanks to the @ManhattanDA's Office for recognizing the seriousness and strength of this case by requesting $75,000 bail."
Police said they found a Taser in Shaborn's pocket and a folding knife in his shoe. Shaborn, who faces assault and criminal possession charges, was being held on $10,000 bail.
Chanice Reyes, 24, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Thursday after cops investigated a strong smell of marijuana coming from a car parked near City Hall, where activists have been gathering in recent weeks. Reyes, who is from New Jersey, is a suspect in the Brooklyn Bridge attack. Authorities believe Reyes is the woman dressed in red who smashes an officer in the head with a cane.
She reportedly attempted to bite one of the officers on the head while being taken into custody. Reyes was taken to Bellevue Hospital for a psychological evaluation after saying that she wanted to kill herself. Reyes was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer.
There were 37 people arrested during Wednesday's Brooklyn Bridge demonstration.
"They are part of this anarchist group that has been infiltrating this Black Lives movement since the beginning," Monahan said of the violent members of the protests during an appearance on "Good Day New York." "This is what we dealt with since the first protest after George Floyd. It is a legitimate movement, but it is being hijacked by these anarchists, and they are the ones that have been attacking our police officers [and] are out hiding behind the many, many peaceful protesters that are out there."
Monahan said the morale among NYPD officers is "as low as it's been in a long time."
"On the street corners, there is a feeling that they don't have to listen to the police and that they're willing to fight the police officers," he said on Fox News.
"It is important that we as an agency tell them how much we appreciate them, how much we know they're out there, the trouble that they're dealing with on the street," Monahan said. "But more importantly, the silent majority that's out there, the community that is out there that supports our police officers, that know the job they do. They know the times they ran into a burning building to save a life. They know the times that they saved the life of a choking baby, of a cardiac victim, how often they've run into gunfire to save people. These are the men and women that you're hearing others put down on a regular basis."
On June 1, Monahan was at a George Floyd protest and joined protesters in taking a knee against police brutality.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Michigan teenager with learning disability jailed for violating probation by falling behind on remot

Michigan teenager with learning disability jailed for violating probation by falling behind on remote school work

A Michigan teenager with attention deficit disorder was sent to juvenile detention in May for violating her probation by falling behind on her online school work, Reuters reported.
The teenager, referred to as Grace in media reports, is a 15-year-old student of Groves High School in Beverley Hills, Michigan.
Grace had been on probation since April, Newsweek reported, due to a fight with her mother in November and a larceny charge for stealing a student's cellphone at school. From Newsweek:
Judge Mary Ellen Brennan, the presiding judge of the Oakland County Family Court Division, set the conditions of probation, which required Grace to wear a GPS tether, check in regularly with her court caseworker and undergo counseling, ProPublica said. She wasn't allowed to have a cellphone, but she was allowed to use a school-issued laptop for her coursework, which she was required to complete.
In late April, Grace reportedly told her caseworker that she was feeling overwhelmed with the online learning situation she and her classmates had been thrust into due to COVID-19. The caseworker reported Grace for a probation violation when Grace fell asleep after speaking with her rather than completing school work.
Judge Brennan sent Grace to a juvenile detention center in Oakland County for the violation. The ruling sparked local protests, as other students said it's wrong to punish Grace so harshly given the unique circumstances.
Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) issued a statement criticizing the decision to incarcerate Grace for struggling with her school responsibilities.
"From publicly available information, the case to detain this student has serious deficiencies," Levin's statement said. "The prosecution's only witness was unaware of the student's learning disabilities. Witnesses who could have provided a better understanding of the situation, like the student's teachers, were unable to testify. Moreover, the infraction that sent this student to juvenile detention was trivial. I am saddened to have to state the obvious: We should not be locking up children for not doing their homework."
Levin also suggested that there was a racial aspect to the situation. Grace is black.
"Unfortunately, this case is reflective of the harsh penalties children of color face throughout Michigan and the United States when dealing with the criminal justice system," Levin wrote.
Oakland County Executive David Coulter called for the case to be reviewed and possibly appealed.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Smithsonian yanks controversial teaching graphic insisting rational thinking, hard work are linked t

Smithsonian yanks controversial teaching graphic insisting rational thinking, hard work are linked to 'whiteness'

The Smithsonian 's National Museum for African American History & Culture removed a controversial graphic on `` whiteness '' from its website .
The museum took heavy fire over the last several days for the teaching graphic , which insisted that whiteness encompassed traits like placing priority on the nuclear family , hard work , and Christianity .
What are the details ?
The museum , in a late Thursday statement , announced that it removed the graphic from its website following the outcry .
The statement began , `` At the National Museum of African American History and Culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on race must start with honesty , respect for others , and an openness to ideas and information that provide new perspectives . ''
`` In that context , we recently unveiled 'Talking About Race , ' an online portal providing research , studies , and other academic materials from the fields of history , education , psychology , and human development , '' the statement explained .
`` Our goal in doing so was to contribute to a discussion on this vitally important subject that millions of Americans are grappling with .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ graphic clearly caused a fair amount of controversy on the internet , and in response , the organization decided to remove the graphic from its portal .
`` Since yesterday , certain content in the 'Talking About Race ' portal has been the subject of questions that we have taken seriously .
We have listened to public sentiment and have removed a chart that does not contribute to the productive discussion we had intended , '' the museum admitted .
In closing , the museum pointed out that the site remains to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and constructive '' to race relations in the U.S. and beyond .
`` The site 's intent and purpose are to foster and cultivate conversations that are respectful and constructive and provide increased understanding , '' the statement concluded .
`` As an educational institution , we value meaningful dialogue and believe that we are stronger when we can pause , listen , and reflect—even when it challenges us to reconsider our approach .
We hope that this portal will be an ever-evolving place that will continue to grow , develop , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a spirit of civility and common cause . ''
What else was on the offending graphic ?
The museum 's `` Talking About Race '' page defines `` whiteness '' and `` white radicalized identity '' as `` the way that white people , their customs , cultures , and beliefs operate as the standard by which all other groups are compared . ''
Important topics on the page include `` white fragility , '' `` white nationalism , '' and `` white supremacy . ''
`` Whiteness is also at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' a portion of the site reads .
`` Whiteness and the normalization of white racial identity throughout America 's history have created a culture where non-white persons are seen as inferior or abnormal . ''
The graphic , which was titled , `` Aspects & Assumptions of Whiteness & White Culture in the United States , '' insisted that many white people believe singular , core ideas about what it means to be a white person in America , and what defines them .
Some of the items included priority on family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear family as the acceptable baseline for a social unit — well-established work ethic , the Christian religion , European beauty ideals , a respect for authority , an aspiration to self-reliance and independence , and valuing property and ownership .

The Smithsonian's National Museum for African American History & Culture removed a controversial graphic on "whiteness" from its website.
The museum took heavy fire over the last several days for the teaching graphic, which insisted that whiteness encompassed traits like placing priority on the nuclear family, hard work, and Christianity.
What are the details?
The museum, in a late Thursday statement, announced that it removed the graphic from its website following the outcry.
The statement began, "At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, we believe that any productive conversation on race must start with honesty, respect for others, and an openness to ideas and information that provide new perspectives."
"In that context, we recently unveiled 'Talking About Race,' an online portal providing research, studies, and other academic materials from the fields of history, education, psychology, and human development," the statement explained. "Our goal in doing so was to contribute to a discussion on this vitally important subject that millions of Americans are grappling with."
The statement pointed out that the graphic clearly caused a fair amount of controversy on the internet, and in response, the organization decided to remove the graphic from its portal.
"Since yesterday, certain content in the 'Talking About Race' portal has been the subject of questions that we have taken seriously. We have listened to public sentiment and have removed a chart that does not contribute to the productive discussion we had intended," the museum admitted.
In closing, the museum pointed out that the site remains to "foster and cultivate conversations that are respectful and constructive" to race relations in the U.S. and beyond.
"The site's intent and purpose are to foster and cultivate conversations that are respectful and constructive and provide increased understanding," the statement concluded. "As an educational institution, we value meaningful dialogue and believe that we are stronger when we can pause, listen, and reflect—even when it challenges us to reconsider our approach. We hope that this portal will be an ever-evolving place that will continue to grow, develop, and ensure that we listen to one another in a spirit of civility and common cause."
What else was on the offending graphic?
The museum's "Talking About Race" page defines "whiteness" and "white radicalized identity" as "the way that white people, their customs, cultures, and beliefs operate as the standard by which all other groups are compared."
Important topics on the page include "white fragility," "white nationalism," and "white supremacy."
"Whiteness is also at the core of understanding race in America," a portion of the site reads. "Whiteness and the normalization of white racial identity throughout America's history have created a culture where non-white persons are seen as inferior or abnormal."
The graphic, which was titled, "Aspects & Assumptions of Whiteness & White Culture in the United States," insisted that many white people believe singular, core ideas about what it means to be a white person in America, and what defines them.
Some of the items included priority on family structure — in this case, a nuclear family as the acceptable baseline for a social unit — well-established work ethic, the Christian religion, European beauty ideals, a respect for authority, an aspiration to self-reliance and independence, and valuing property and ownership.


theblaze--2020-07-17--POLL: Which state is the worst place to be in during COVID?

POLL : Which state is the worst place to be in during COVID ?
Cast your vote and do n't @ @ @ @

POLL: Which state is the worst place to be in during COVID?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!


theblaze--2020-07-17--Joe Biden vows to completely outlaw new production of gas-powered cars if elected

As part of a massive new $2 trillion climate plan unveiled Tuesday, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden promised to shift America away from gas-powered vehicles through executive action on the first day of his presidency.
What are the details?
In the first key element of his campaign's plan for a "clean energy revolution," the former vice president vowed to "take executive action on Day 1 to not just reverse all of the damage Trump has done, but go further and faster."
Here's what the plan states with the main point in bold:
Day 1 of the Biden Administration is going to be very busy! To immediately make progress on his climate agenda, Biden will take actions including requiring aggressive methane pollution limits for new and existing oil and gas operations; developing rigorous new fuel economy standards aimed at ensuring 100% of new sales for light- and medium-duty vehicles will be zero emissions and annual improvements for heavy duty vehicles; protecting America's natural treasures by permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas impacted by President Trump's attack on federal lands and waters; and banning new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. (emphasis mine)
Should it be carried out, the move to develop fuel economy standards equivalent to electric vehicles would effectively outlaw the sale and production of gas-powered vehicles in the United States.
While the campaign's proposal does not say exactly when Biden's 100% electric vehicle mandate would be implemented, it suggests that developing the new standards will be a major priority of his energy policy early on in his presidency.
The editorial board at Issues & Insights notes that House Democrats have already established a timetable in their new climate change plan, which calls for mandating 100% "clean" vehicles by 2035.
Anything else?
Eliminating the internal combustible engine has long been a wish list item for progressive politicians, but regular Americans have been far less keen on jumping on the electric car bandwagon.
According to the I&I editorial board, "plug-in electrics account for 0.5% of cars on the road, and made up less than 2% of new vehicles sold in 2019."
Besides, critics argue, the technology behind electric cars in terms of its effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions has not been perfected.
According to a 2018 study conducted by Politico — not exactly a right-wing news source — having more electric cars on the road could actually increase pollution, due to the emissions that come from producing electricity.
Another study by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute found that when electricity production was factored in, the average plug-in produces as much CO2 over its lifetime as a gas-powered car that gets 55 miles per gallon. In other words, the impact is somewhat negligible.


theblaze--2020-07-17--Church refuses to shut down amid COVID-19 spike, insists churches won't be 'marginalized' anymore :

Church refuses to shut down amid COVID-19 spike, insists churches won't be 'marginalized' anymore : 'The church is here to help our society heal'

Church refuses to shut down amid COVID-19 spike , insists churches wo n't be 'marginalized ' anymore : 'The church @ @ @ @ @ society heal '

Pastor Arthur Hodges of South Bay Pentecostal Church in San Diego, California, says that state mandates will not force him to close his doors.
What are the details?
In an interview with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade on Thursday, Hodges said that he refuses to comply with the California Department of Health, which indefinitely suspended indoor church gatherings to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They're not shutting us down," Hodges said. "We are continuing. The church is alive and well. ... You know, the church has never shut down."
He added that church leaders are "looking at all of our options right now" with regard to remaining open during the latest spike in COVID-19 cases, despite state mandates.
At the time of this writing, researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimate that there have been at least 364,835 confirmed coronavirus cases in California, with at least 7,490 deaths attributed to the deadly virus.
"There are over 10,000 churches in California, and basically, we have gotten to the point where we're saying 'enough is enough,'" he insisted. "We have complied, we have accomplished the goal. We were told in the middle of March the goal was to flatten the curve and to not overwhelm hospitals."
"Well, guess what," he continued. "In San Diego County, we flattened the curve in three weeks, and after four weeks, the curve is headed downward and hospitals are underwhelmed. We've done our part."
Hodges explained that churches have an integral part of helping society to "heal" amid the pandemic.
"They are part of the solution, and while hospitals are treating people with this medical condition — which is needful — the other parts of people's well-being are completely left out," he insisted. "Their spiritual well-being, mental well-being, emotional well-being. The church will not be marginalized any longer. The church is here to help our society heal."
(H/T: The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-07-17--15 female ex-employees of Redskins allege sexual harassment; NFL: The accusations are 'serious, dist

15 female ex-employees of Redskins allege sexual harassment; NFL: The accusations are 'serious, disturbing and contrary' to league's values

15 female ex-employees of Redskins allege sexual harassment ; NFL : The accusations are 'serious , disturbing and contrary ' @ @ @ @ @ independent investigation into the allegations has been launched and the NFL issued a statement .

The Washington Redskins have been embroiled in controversy over the name of their NFL franchise. Now, the team is entangled in another predicament as 15 women who worked for the Redskins claim they were sexually harassed by team employees.
Former female employees of the Redskins allege they were sexually harassed by coworkers while working for the NFL team, according to a report from The Washington Post. The allegations spanned from 2006 to 2019 and included inappropriate comments about the clothing or bodies of female employees, unwelcome sexual advances. The women were also allegedly encouraged to wear revealing clothing and flirt with clients to close sales deals.
For the exposé published on Thursday, the newspaper conducted more than 40 interviews, reviewed internal documents, and obtained potentially damning text messages.
Of the women who came forward with accusations, only one former employee, Emily Applegate, spoke on the record. The other accusers remained anonymous because they signed nondisclosure agreements with the franchise.
"It was the most miserable experience of my life," said Applegate, who worked as a marketing coordinator before leaving in 2015. "And we all tolerated it, because we knew if we complained — and they reminded us of this — there were 1,000 people out there who would take our job in a heartbeat."
Daniel Snyder, who has owned the Redskins since 1999, is not accused of sexual harassment. Former team president Bruce Allen is also not accused of inappropriate behavior, but Applegate believes he may have known about issues.
"I would assume Bruce [Allen] knew, because he sat 30 feet away from me... and saw me sobbing at my desk several times every week," Applegate told The Washington Post.
Allegations were made against Washington's longtime radio voice, Larry Michael, who abruptly retired on Wednesday after being the team's lead play-by-play announcer on radio broadcasts for the last 16 seasons. In 2018, Michael was caught on a hot mic talking about the attractiveness of a college-aged intern while filming a video for the team.
"It was disgusting," said a former female employee who heard the audio. "This is a grown man who could be my grandfather, and he's talking about someone younger than me."
Complaints were also made against the director of pro personnel, Alex Santos, who was fired last week. He allegedly made inappropriate comments to six former employees and two reporters who cover the team, and asked the women if they were romantically interested in him.
Richard Mann II, assistant director of pro personnel, was also fired last week. The Washington Post claims they acquired a text message where Mann and other employees debated if a female coworker had undergone a breast enhancement surgery.
Former COO Mitch Gershman, who left the team in 2015, was also named in the report. So was the former president of business operations, Dennis Greene, who left in 2018.
"The Washington Redskins football team takes issues of employee conduct seriously," the team said in a statement. "While we do not speak to specific employee situations publicly, when new allegations of conduct are brought forward that are contrary to these policies, we address them promptly."
Ron Rivera, Washington's head coach who was hired in January, reacted to the allegations.
"Biggest thing is that we have to move forward from this and make sure everybody understands we have policies that we will follow and that we have an open door policy with no retribution," Rivera said. "Plus my daughter works for the team and I sure as hell am not going to allow any of this!"
Attorney Beth Wilkinson of the D.C.-based law firm of Wilkinson and Walsh has been hired by the team to conduct an independent investigation, as well as review the organization's protocols, culture, and policies. Wilkinson was asked by the team "to conduct a thorough independent review of this entire manner and help the team set new employee standards for the future."
The National Football League issued a statement and said they would wait until the end of the independent investigation before handing out any punishments.
These matters as reported are serious, disturbing and contrary to the NFL's values. Everyone in the NFL has the right to work in an environment free from any and all forms of harassment. Washington has engaged outside counsel to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations. The club has pledged that it will give its full cooperation to the investigator and we expect the club and all employees to do so. We will meet with the attorneys upon the conclusion of their investigation and take any action based on the findings."


theblaze--2020-07-17--Utah parents protest state mask mandate for students by not wearing masks to crowded meeting

Utah parents protest state mask mandate for students by not wearing masks to crowded meeting That 's one way to @ @ @

Utah parents disregarded all social distancing protocol during a Utah County meeting that was called to discuss a state mandate that K-12 students wear masks when they return to school, ABC News reported.
The parents did not wear masks and did not abide by a seating arrangement that was meant to maintain distance between attendees. The result was dozens of people sitting close together in an indoor space with no masks — the exact opposite of what even the more conservative medical experts would recommend.
One attendee told KTVX-TV that she thought the mask mandate was a "political hoax" and that she was against their use. Another attendee held a sign that read "no masks." The Salt Lake Tribune reported that there were many passionate expressions of opposition to masks:
As she walked up to the podium to speak, one of the moms grabbed a face mask and spit her gum out into it. "It's garbage," she shrugged, wadding it up. "It doesn't work anyway. Not for me and not for my kids."
A dad who spoke after her said he, too, doesn't think the masks are effective, and said he's pulling his kids out of school this fall if the state doesn't lift its mandate requiring all K-12 students to wear a face covering. Another mother carried her 4-year-old son in her arms, noting there's no way he would keep one on in his kindergarten class — but she thinks they're stupid anyway, regardless of age.
Utah County Commissioner Tanner Ainge was booed when he criticized the crowd for their maskless protest, saying, "This is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing."
The commissioners voted to postpone the meeting, leading to more boos.
"We are supposed to be physical distancing, wearing masks," Ainge said.
Watch: Parents Pack Into Utah County Meeting To Protest Student Mask Mandate | NBC News NOW youtu.be
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) wants schools to reopen in the fall, but he issued an order that students and teachers be required to wear masks when they return.
Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee sent a letter to Herbert asking him to waive that requirement. Ainge supports the mask mandate.
"I'm not saying no masks, and I'm not saying fully mask," Lee said, according to KTVX. "I'm saying let's find some commonality in this that makes sense. That's what I'm asking. There's not enough that we understand. They're sitting there going wait a second, wait a second, we should have more discussion — and I'd like to see it brought down to a more local level."


theblaze--2020-07-17--Jesus statue found beheaded at Catholic church; archdiocese wants incident investigated as hate crim

Jesus statue found beheaded at Catholic church; archdiocese wants incident investigated as hate crime

Jesus statue found beheaded at Catholic church ; archdiocese wants incident investigated as hate crime 'This is another attack on @ @ @ @ @ happening across the country '

A statue of Jesus was found decapitated Wednesday at a Catholic Church in south Florida, WPLG-TV reported.
Deacon Edivaldo da Saliva of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in West Kendall told the station he found the statue toppled off its pedestal.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"This morning I found it on the ground, and we presume that it is vandalism," da Saliva noted to WPLG.
What are the details?
The station's reporter noted numerous bolts and rods needed to keep the statue upright on its pedestal, which he could mean a great deal of force was needed to topple it and that more than one person was behind the vandalism.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Da Silva pointed out a number of surveillance cameras at the church, but none of them are directed toward the area where the statue once stood, WPLG said. But he told the station he hopes the cameras can offer clues about what took place.
Detective Argemis Colome of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch Thursday that investigators will be reviewing video from the security cameras.
"Our general investigations unit as well as our Homeland Security Bureau are both looking into it," Colome told the outlet, adding that the incident occurred either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
What did the archdiocese have to say?
The Archdiocese of Miami told WPLG it expects police to "investigate this desecration as a hate crime. This is another attack on the Catholic Church which is happening across the country."
A diocesan spokesperson added to Patch that an overnight security guard has been hired.
Da Saliva also noted to WPLG that the Jesus statue vandalism isn't an isolated incident, as related acts have been spiking at places of worship across the U.S.
Indeed, over the weekend a Florida man allegedly crashed his van into the Queen of Peace Catholic Sanctuary in Ocala and then set it on fire with parishioners inside the building, and a statue of the Virgin Mary was burned outside a Boston church.
In May, the pastor of First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs in Mississippi said his church was burned to the ground because its congregants wanted to worship in person — rather than remotely — during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Detective Colome told Patch that "it's a place of worship. During difficult times people need guidance and seek guidance."
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"God bless you all, and let us all pray for peace in our country and peace in Miami," Deacon da Saliva told WPLG.


theblaze--2020-07-18--Mass. General Hospital experts make the case for students returning to in-person learning

Mass .
General Hospital experts make the case for students returning to in-person learning Will we let science guide public @ @

Two health experts in Massachusetts penned an op-ed making the argument that it should be safe for students to return to their classrooms and resume in-person learning.
The editorial by Dr. Lloyd Fisher, president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Dr. Sandra Nelson, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, was published on Thursday.
The doctors acknowledged that social distancing and lockdowns have been beneficial in stopping the spread of the coronavirus, but explained the danger of a continued lockdown to the development of children.
For most children COVID-19 has not had the devastating and life-threatening physical health effects seen in adults. But the negative impact on their education, mental health, and social development has been substantial.
Children with emotional, psychological, or developmental disabilities often receive necessary services through schools. Because some of these services were put on hold, continued school closures have been especially detrimental to this group of vulnerable children.
They pointed to the evidence that the coronavirus is less of a threat to children than it is to older groups.
"Children are less susceptible to infection and less likely to become severely ill when infected with COVID-19," they wrote. "Thus far children have not been major drivers of transmission; and evidence from the pre-lockdown era points to lower rates of transmission in schools than in other community settings."
This, combined with the fact that health officials know better how social distancing can thwart the spread of the coronavirus, lead the doctors to conclude that the benefits of in-person classroom instruction outweigh the risks.
We have done a great job in Massachusetts, heeding the call for distancing to get our transmission rates down. We believe a return to school in this setting and with mitigation strategies is safe, and that Massachusetts can and should continue to be a model for safe reopening.
Massachusetts is six weeks away from the beginning of the regular school year.
A national debate
The national debate over whether children can safely return to classroom instruction under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic has developed into a partisan struggle.
President Donald Trump and many of his allies have argued that it is essential for students to return to classrooms in order to mitigate the negative effects on children and their parents.
Many of the Democratic governors and politicians of the left have argued that it is far too dangerous at a time when coronavirus cases are increasing in the United States.
Here's more about the classroom coronavirus debate:


theblaze--2020-07-19--'Afro-indigenous non-binary local organizer' calls for the 'abolition of the United States as we kno

'Afro-indigenous non-binary local organizer' calls for the 'abolition of the United States as we know it'

'Afro-indigenous non-binary local organizer ' calls for the 'abolition of the United States as we know it' The Portland crowd @ @ @ @ @ down the United States

There was a rally outside the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse on Friday, which marked the 50th day of protests in Portland. One of the speakers at the event was Lilith Sinclair, a self-described "afro-indigenous non-binary local organizer." During her speech, she called for the abolition of the United States as we know it."
Sinclair, who is a Black Lives Matter supporter, told the crowd that she is not just "organizing for the abolition of the militarized police state," but also for the "abolition of the United States as we know it." The crowd cheered and applauded for Sinclair's proposal to tear down the United States.
Sinclair also said that Portland was "stolen land," and instructed the crowd to carry out a "land acknowledgment."
Sinclair labels herself as a "Black and Indigenous queer, non-binary femme sex worker." She also identifies as "AFAB," which stands for "assigned female at birth."
In an interview published last month, Sinclair talked about a "global uprising."
"I think it's apt that we are looking at a global uprising against oppressive structures during the month where we celebrate the anniversary of another uprising—another movement to not just ask for but to demand our rights," Sinclair said.
Following the rally, the tensions flared. People were walking the streets with katanas. Rioters launched fireworks and set off smoke bombs near the Portland Police Bureau.
Vandals attempted to use fencing to barricade the Justice Center and the Internal Revenue Service building. Rioters threw projectiles, such as glass bottles, rocks, and broken pieces of metal from fencing, at Portland police officers.
The street preacher who was assaulted at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle was also in Portland on Friday. The street preacher was allegedly punched in the face and carried away.
Portland has been in headlines this weekend, following videos of law enforcement officers taking away protesters during demonstrations. The mysterious officers are reportedly U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group and Customs and Border Protection's BORTAC. They were deployed to Portland since at least July 14 in an effort to protect federal property.
During clashes with rioters, federal law enforcement officers deployed tear gas on Friday night.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) said, "Having federal troops here is like pouring gasoline on a fire," Portland-based KOIN-TV reported.
"This is appalling," Brown said. "When we need help from the federal government, testing supplies, personal protective equipment, they are missing in action."
On Monday, President Donald Trump commended the federal officers for their work in Portland.
"Portland was totally out of control, and they went in, and I guess we have many people right now in jail and we very much quelled it, and if it starts again, we'll quell it again very easily," Trump said. "It's not hard to do, if you know what you're doing."