theblaze--2020-06-07--Dr. Fauci says the protests are the 'perfect set-up' for spreading COVID-19

Dr. Fauci says the protests are the 'perfect set-up ' for spreading COVID-19

There have been dozens of health officials downplaying the coronavirus health risks of people gathering in massive numbers for George Floyd protests across the country. Some have even said, "White supremacy is a lethal public health issue that predates and contributes to COVID-19."
Only a few weeks ago, nearly all health officials warned that the people protesting lockdown orders were putting everyone in grave danger. In April, there were even nurses staging protests against shutdown protesters.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is one health official who is continuing to warn the public that the nation is still in the middle of a pandemic. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that the George Floyd protests are the "perfect set-up" for spreading COVID-19.
"Every time I hear about or see the congregation of large crowds at a time and geographic area where there is active infection transmission, it is a perfect set-up for the spread of the virus in the sense of creating these blips that might turn into some surges," Fauci said during an interview with Washington D.C. radio station WTOP on Friday. "So I get very concerned as do my colleagues in public health, when they see these kinds of crowds."
"Obviously, not only are they congregating physically close to each other but often when they start screaming and demonstrating—which part of the process of demonstrating, I'm not criticizing that—but I'm saying what it's going to be leading to is the likelihood that you might have situations where you will foster the spread of the infection, and that's really of concern," Fauci said.
"There certainly is a risk, I would say that with confidence, when you see the congregation of crowds," he continued. "Particularly in a situation where you have a lot of confusion and a little bit of chaos, people running back and forth, taking their masks off, being close in proximity, that does pose a risk."
"It is a difficult situation," Fauci said. "We have the right to peaceably demonstrate, and the demonstrators are exercising that right...it's important to exercise your constitutional rights to be able to demonstrate."
"It's a delicate balance because the reasons for demonstrating are valid," Fauci added. "And yet, the demonstration itself puts one at an additional risk. If you are going to go out, please make sure you wear a mask and you keep the mask on at all times."
There were massive protest crowds in cities across the U.S., including Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. We'll have to wait two weeks to see in these cities suffer from massive COVID-19 outbreaks.
Also this week, Fauci said that it's time to start thinking about reopening schools, but it would mean modifications in some scenarios. "I think we need to discuss the pros and the cons of bringing kids back to school in September," Fauci said.
"You may need to do some modifications," Fauci told CNN. "You know, modifications could be breaking up the class, so you don't have a crowded classroom, maybe half in the morning, half in the afternoon, having children doing alternate schedules. There's a whole bunch of things that one can do."


theblaze--2020-06-06--Protest leader threatens to burn down NYC's Diamond District on live TV

Protest leader threatens to burn down NYC 's Diamond District on live TV If Mayor de Blasio does n't meet @ @ @ @ @ , he hints at fiery repercussions , 'Gasoline is awfully cheap '

A protest leader delivered an ominous threat to burn down New York City's Diamond District on Friday night if the mayor and governor refuse to meet him and his organization. The vague threat was all said during a live TV segment.
During a Fox News interview, a man who identified himself as "Ace Burns 2020," hinted that he would burn down the Diamond District. The man said he was organizing a march from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to City Hall on Saturday night. If Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to speak with protesters at City Hall, the man hinted there would be fiery repercussions.
"I'm a leader of this FTP movement. It means a lot of things," the protest leader said. "It could mean 'free the people,' it could mean 'for the people,' or it could also mean 'fire to property' and you know that's very possible."
"Today I'm leading a demonstration from Barclay Center at 6 p.m. to City Hall, and that's the first stop. We're hoping de Blasio and Cuomo come out and talk to us and give the youth some direction," the man stated. "But if they don't, the next stop is the Diamond District. And gasoline, thanks to Trump, is awfully cheap."
Ace Burns 2020 threatens firestorm of violence in New York www.youtube.com
The Diamond District is heavily populated with Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. Fox News anchor Eric Shawn immediately condemned the protester leader's veiled threats.
"That person was, basically suggesting that they plan to go to the Diamond District, which is run by Orthodox Jews here in New York City," Shawn said. "Certainly hope that is not the case and we do not endorse, or in fact we condemn that type of language her on the Fox News channel. Someone saying that certainly should be called out in terms of any type of potential threat of any sort that we just heard, live from someone who's interviewed here on this channel."
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, NYPD announced that they had taken the man into custody for questioning. "Earlier tonight, a man wearing this mask threatened, in a live @FoxNews interview, to burn Manhattan's diamond district down," the NYPD tweeted. "Within hours, we identified the man & took him in to be interviewed."
Burns said that he has camped out in front of the Barclays Center since June 3. He added that he is "camped out here indefinitely," as long as there are protests and "so long as there is black people dying in the streets."
In a Twitter video, the man told Cuomo that he needs to speak to him. "I'm not requesting anything. You're going to give us a seat at the table," the man said. "My ancestors earned this right. I didn't ask to come here."


theblaze--2020-06-06--Mark Levin has dramatic suggestion for 'systemic racism' — and politicians won't like it

Mark Levin has dramatic suggestion for 'systemic racism ' — and politicians wo n't like it 'Ca n't trust those @ @ @ @ @ , either ... '

Conservative commentator Mark Levin offered up a suggestion in response to claims that America experiences from "systematic racism in law enforcement."
"Due to systemic racism in law enforcement, and the disbanding of the police in our cities, I suggest we pull all security protection from Biden, Obama, Bush, Pelosi & Schumer. For their own sakes. I also suggest we pull the Capitol Police from Congress," Levin suggested late Friday.
"Can't trust those cops with our precious representatives, either. While we're at it, let's yank protection from the Supreme Court. And how about we pull security at sports stadiums, pro-athlete locker rooms, Beverley Hills and Brentwood," he added.
In the aftermath of George Floyd's tragic death, which sparked nationwide protests, there has been renewed discussion about the lasting impact of racism in America. Protesters believe that institutional systematic oppression exists in America.
Their claims have now resulted in calls for police departments to be disbanded.
In fact, Minneapolis leaders said this week that their police department would be disbanded in lieu of a "transformative new model of public safety."
Levin's suggestion mocks the radical calls to eradicate security and police departments since American leaders and celebrities often depend on their protection on a daily basis.


theblaze--2020-06-06--Minneapolis leaders allowed protesters to destroy city. Now they demand taxpayers pay for damage.

Minneapolis leaders allowed protesters to destroy city .
Now they demand taxpayers pay for damage .

The delayed action of Minnesota leaders to quell growing unrest in the shadow of George Floyd's tragic death resulted in mass rioting across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Now, the leaders want federal taxpayers to partially foot the bill for damage caused by violent protesters.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, more than 200 buildings across the Minneapolis-area have been destroyed or damaged in the riots, which will require at least $55 million in repairs. However, that number will likely be much higher — up into the "hundreds of millions," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, said this week.
"We will do everything we can as we shift to recovery mode," Frey said. "We're recovering from crises sandwiched on top of each other, from COVID-19 to the police killing and then the looting which took place afterward."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and city leaders will seek federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to "offset" the cost of damage repairs, the Star Tribune reported. Walz's administration is reportedly discussing the matter with Minnesota's congressional delegation, including with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D).
The request comes despite Frey openly admitting that city leaders allowed violent protesters to destroy the Minneapolis Police Department's third precinct building.
The delayed response of city and state leaders to the growing unrest also contributed to out-of-hand violence, destruction, and endless looting.
Despite the impending request, FEMA is not likely to help the area.
From the Star Tribune:
After the 2015 riots in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan repeatedly sought about $19 million in aid from FEMA for public agencies that responded to the unrest. At the time, Hogan pointed to federal assistance provided to Los Angeles following the 1992 unrest over the beating of Rodney King. FEMA denied Hogan's request.
[Rep. Betty] McCollum expressed doubt about Minneapolis and St. Paul's chances of getting federal disaster funding, a decision that is up to President Donald Trump. Alternatively, the state could seek funding through Congress' annual appropriations, but that would require the Democratic-led House, Republican-led Senate and Trump to sign on.
To help chances of obtaining taxpayer-funded FEMA aid, McCollum suggested obtained a disaster declaration.
"If it is demonstrated outside provocateurs committed acts of destruction then there is a clear rationale for an emergency declaration by President Trump," she told the Star Tribune.


theblaze--2020-06-06--Justin Trudeau kneeled at anti-racism protest, Canadian PM quickly reminded about his blackface scan

Justin Trudeau kneeled at anti-racism protest, Canadian PM quickly reminded about his blackface scandal

Justin Trudeau kneeled at anti-racism protest , Canadian PM quickly reminded about his blackface scandal

Following the death of George Floyd, there have been protests against police brutality in countries such as the U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Canada. Justin Trudeau showed up at a demonstration in Ottawa, where the Canadian prime minister kneeled to show his support in fighting against racial inequality. However, people were quick to point out Trudeau's problematic past of wearing blackface.
Trudeau, wearing a black face mask, made an appearance at a George Floyd protest where he held up a Black Lives Matter shirt. Outside the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau took a knee, a symbolic gesture that recently has been a rallying call to bring justice to Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
While some in the crowd cheered the prime minister, one man in the group screamed: "GO HOME BLACKFACE! GO HOME!"
Meanwhile online, dozens on commentators also pointed out the hypocrisy of Trudeau by reminiscing about his blackface scandal.
Trudeau was caught wearing blackface in a 2001 photo during an "Arabian Nights" party at the school where he was a teacher. Trudeau also admitted to having worn blackface two times in high school.
Trudeau apologized last September, and said, "I've always — and you'll know this — been more enthusiastic about costumes than is sometimes appropriate."
Apology or no apology, people online were quick to resurface Trudeau's old blackface photos.
On Wednesday, Trudeau said, "It is a time for us as Canadians to recognize that we, too, have our challenges. There is systemic racism in Canada."
On Tuesday, the Canadian prime minister was asked about President Donald Trump's call for military action to handle the riots in U.S. cities. Trudeau had a lengthy 20-second pause.
"We all watch in horror and consternation what's going on in the United States," he eventually responded. "It is a time to pull people together but it is a time to listen, to learn what injustices continue despite progress over years and decades."


theblaze--2020-06-06--Video shows protesters single out, surround black state trooper — then they hurl racist slurs

Video shows protesters single out , surround black state trooper — then they hurl racist slurs

There were tense confrontations in Austin, Texas, on Thursday during George Floyd protests. Austin police and Texas state troopers clashed with protesters outside the Texas Capitol and Austin Police Department headquarters. At one point, the protests escalated, and video appears to show white protesters mobbing and tormenting a black Texas state trooper.
At one point, some protesters circled around a black Texas state trooper in front of the Texas Capitol, as seen in the unverified viral video. A few people attempted to steal a backpack the officer was holding. The protesters, most of which were white, berated and tormented the cop. Racist slurs were hurled at the African American police officer during the protest where many protesters chanted: "Black lives matter!" One person called the cop an "Uncle Tom" as they hounded the state trooper.
Also this week in Austin, a young man wore a Trump shirt and was quickly attacked by protesters, who pelted him with water bottles and one woman spit in his face.
This week there was a video that went viral of a man who used a chainsaw to threaten Black Lives Matter protesters in McAllen, Texas.
This comes at the same time that the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is offering $46,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer of retired St. Louis police captain David Dorn. Police released a surveillance video of seven "persons of interest" possibly connected to the shooting death of Dorn in hopes of having the public help bring his murderer to justice.


theblaze--2020-06-06--Buffalo officers who shoved elderly man criminally charged — but city's Dem mayor blames the victim

Buffalo officers who shoved elderly man criminally charged — but city 's Dem mayor blames the victim

The two Buffalo police officers seen in a viral video shoving an elderly man to the ground on Thursday have been criminally charged.
Officers Robert McCabe, 32, and Aaron Torgalski, 39, have been charged with second-degree assault, a class D felony, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn announced on Saturday. Both officers, who were suspended without pay on Friday, pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.
The officers will return to court on July 20.
Aaron Torgalski (left) and Robert McCabe (right) Image source: Erie County District Attorney
Flynn said the officers "clearly crossed the line" and that he "can't turn a blind eye to that," NBC News reported.
"If he was violating a curfew, if he was being disorderly, you turn him around, handcuff him, and take him away arrested. It's as simple as that," Flynn explained. "You don't take a baton and shove it; along with the officer next to him using his right hand to shove him and knock him down, and crack his head, his skull on the concrete."
A viral video showed the officers shove 75-year-old Martin Gugino to the ground during protests in Buffalo. As a result of the push, Gugino's head violently hit the sidewalk, and seconds later, a pool of blood appeared underneath Gugino's head. The incident occurred just after the city's 8 p.m. curfew.
City officials originally said Gugino "tripped and fell," but the video directly disputed those claims.
Still, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, a Democrat, seemingly excused the actions of the officers during an interview on Friday, WBEN-AM reported.
Brown described Gugino as "a key and major instigator" of the violence occurring in the city, though he did not provide evidence to back that claim.
"He was in the area after the curfew," Brown said. "He was trying to spark up the crowd of people."


theblaze--2020-06-06--Shaun King makes stunning observation about Democratic Party, 'worst police brutality'

Democratic activist Shaun King made a shockingly honest observation about the Democratic Party on Friday .
King , who is known for his activism around racism and police brutality , denounced `` generic '' imperatives from leaders that voting is the process by which the black community can receive criminal justice reform .
That is because , as King observed , Democrats control the cities that are guilty of the `` worst police brutality . ''
`` Democrats , from top to bottom , are running the cities with the worst police brutality in America right now , '' King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Minneapolis , for example , the city where nationwide protests started in the wake of George Floyd 's tragic death , is run by Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey , and the city council has zero sitting Republicans ; it is comprised of 12 Democrats and one member of the Green Party .
In that city , police have rendered 44 people unconscious over the past five years with neck restraints similar to the one that killed Floyd .
Meanwhile , another instance of excessive police force that went viral this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buffalo police officers have been criminally charged after they were caught on video shoving an elderly man , causing the man to hit his head on the sidewalk , resulting in his hospitalization .
Buffalo 's mayor is a Democrat and the city council is comprised of Democrats only .

Democratic activist Shaun King made a shockingly honest observation about the Democratic Party on Friday.
King, who is known for his activism around racism and police brutality, denounced "generic" imperatives from leaders that voting is the process by which the black community can receive criminal justice reform.
That is because, as King observed, Democrats control the cities that are guilty of the "worst police brutality."
"Democrats, from top to bottom, are running the cities with the worst police brutality in America right now," King said. "We voted for them."
Minneapolis, for example, the city where nationwide protests started in the wake of George Floyd's tragic death, is run by Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey, and the city council has zero sitting Republicans; it is comprised of 12 Democrats and one member of the Green Party.
In that city, police have rendered 44 people unconscious over the past five years with neck restraints similar to the one that killed Floyd.
Meanwhile, another instance of excessive police force that went viral this week happened in a Democratic-controlled city.
Two Buffalo police officers have been criminally charged after they were caught on video shoving an elderly man, causing the man to hit his head on the sidewalk, resulting in his hospitalization. Buffalo's mayor is a Democrat and the city council is comprised of Democrats only.


theblaze--2020-06-06--Hunt for David Dorn's killer: St. Louis police release surveillance video of 'persons of interest' i

Hunt for David Dorn's killer: St. Louis police release surveillance video of 'persons of interest' in deadly shooting

Hunt for David Dorn 's killer : St. Louis police release surveillance video of 'persons of interest ' in deadly @ @ @ @ @ $ 46,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer of 77-year-old retired @ @ @

The police are asking the public for help in identifying seven "persons of interest" possibly connected to the shooting death of retired St. Louis police captain David Dorn. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released a video of potential suspects in the fatal shooting of Dorn.
Dorn responded to a burglar alarm in the early morning hours of June 2, at Lee's Pawn and Jewelry, where he was a security guard. Around 2:30 a.m., the 77-year-old Dorn was found lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene by police. The pawn shop was one of many St. Louis businesses looted this week during riots.
On Friday, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released security video from inside the pawn shop of seven men who looted the business. Footage shows that two of the men are armed with guns, and another man cuts his hand on glass while breaking into the pawn shop.
"RECOGNIZE THESE SUBJECTS? They're persons of interest in the murder of Ret. Capt. David Dorn," the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department tweeted. "Anyone with info should call our Homicide Div directly @ 314-444-5371, or if you want to remain anonymous & are interested in a reward (up to 45k) contact @STLRCS @ 866-371-TIPS(8477)."
CrimeStoppers is now offering $46,000 for information leading to the arrest of the subject(s) responsible for the homicide of Captain David Dorn.
Before working as a security guard at the pawn shop, Dorn served as a police captain with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and a police chief in Moline Acres. After more than 40 years in law enforcement, he retired in 2014.
On Thursday, Dorn's family led a march down Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, the same street where the pawn shop is located.
"They called him 'Cap.' That was the Cap. That was the Cap, everybody knows that was him," Dorn's son, Brian Powell, told Fox2Now. Of his father, Powell said that "police work ran through his veins."
An online fundraiser started by OANN host Jack Posobiec for the family of retired Captain David Dorn has raised over $336,000.
President Donald Trump praised Dorn as "a Great Police Captain from St. Louis, who was viciously shot and killed by despicable looters."


theblaze--2020-06-06--LA Galaxy releases soccer player after wife’s ‘racist and violent’ social media posts

Should anyone lose their job for things said by their spouse or relatives ?

The Los Angeles Galaxy released Aleksandar Katai on Friday following public backlash over social media posts made by the soccer player's wife.
The Major League Soccer team announced the news on social media with a post that read, "The LA Galaxy have mutually agreed to part ways with midfielder Aleksandar Katai."
The 29-year-old Serbian soccer player's wife, Tea Katai, shared posts on her personal Instagram account that many deemed to be insensitive. Some fans declared the posts to be "racist and violent."
On Tuesday, she posted photos from George Floyd protests and the subsequent riots. One Instagram post had an NYPD SUV facing off against protesters, the vehicle would later attempt to drive through the crowd, knocking people to the ground. Tea Katai, who is also from Serbia, captioned the photo: "Ma pobij govna bre!," which translated from Serbian to English means, "Kill the s***s!" Another since-deleted post had a photo of a sneaker store being looted, and she wrote, "Black Nikes Matter." Tea Katai has made her Instagram account private.
One Galaxy fan showed up at Dignity Health Sports Park with a sign that read, "No Racists in Our Club." The sign had Katai's jersey number circled with a red slash through it.
The soccer player issued a statement on his Instagram:
The posts made by my wife, Tea Katai, on her social media platforms were unacceptable. These views are not the ones that I share and are not tolerated in my family.
Racism, particularly toward the Black community, is not only prevalent in the United States and Europe, but across the globe. I strongly condemn white supremacy, racism and violence towards people of color. Black lives matter.
This is a mistake by my family and I take full responsibility. I will ensure that my family and I take the necessary actions to learn, understand, listen, and support the black community. I understand that it will take time to earn back the support of the people of Los Angeles. I am committed to putting in the necessary work to learn from these mistakes and be a better ally and advocate for equality going forward.
I am sorry for the pain these posts have caused the LA Galaxy family and all allies in the fight against racism.
The Galaxy reached a financial agreement to buy out Katai's contract, and the team does not have any further financial obligations to the player.
"We believe strongly that we're a club that represents our staff, represents our players, represents our fans and our community," Galaxy president Chris Klein said. "The decision, in that respect, was not a difficult one. We have to hold to those values. This is not a soccer decision."
"It was very professional. I would not characterize it as tense at all," Klein said. "He had a lot of hurt and remorse and was very understanding through this process."


theblaze--2020-06-06--Top Republican senator takes aim at President Trump — then seemingly compares him to Hillary Clinton

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the elder statesmen of the Senate, took aim at President Donald Trump in a tweet on Friday — and seemingly compared the president to Hillary Clinton.
"A little history/irony @realdonaldtrump Did u know Hillary Clinton didn't want an inspector general so she didn't have 1? Did u know it was a top priority for Kerry to get 1? That was Linick I found him 2b helpful when trying to get to bottom of email scandal Now he's gone!" Grassley said.
Indeed, as Grassley pointed out, the State Department was without an inspector general from Jan. 15, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2013 — which encompassed Clinton's complete tenure as secretary of state.
Grassley has ardently voiced his displeasure with Trump's decision to fire multiple inspectors general.
When Trump fired Steve Linick from his post as State Department inspector general last month, Democrats accused Trump of acting out of political retaliation. Grassley, however, voiced concern that Trump did not provide Congress with written justification for ousting Linick, which the president is required to do.
In fact, Trump has fired three inspectors general since April. In addition to Linick, Trump also fired Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson and Defense Department Inspector General Glenn Fine.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Grassley's frustrations boiled over this week, resulting in an announcement on Thursday that he would block Trump's nominations until the president explains why he fired the government watchdogs.
"All I want is a reason 4 firing these ppl," Grassley said. "CHECKS&BALANCES."
Grassley is not the only Republican senator who has openly criticized Trump for his swift dismissals of inspectors general.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called Trump's actions a "threat to accountable democracy and a fissure in the constitutional balance of power."


theblaze--2020-06-08--Facebook deletes ad of gun-toting congressional candidate who warns Antifa to stay out of Georgia

Facebook deletes ad of gun-toting congressional candidate who warns Antifa to stay out of Georgia 'You wo n't burn our @ @ @ @ @ or destroy our homes '

Facebook deleted a campaign ad from a GOP candidate in Georgia because she was brandishing a gun in the political commercial.
Marjorie Greene is running in Georgia's 14th District, and she already grabbed attention with a campaign ad where she warns Antifa to stay out of Georgia. In the ad, Greene is standing on the porch of a local business, and she is armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
"I have a message for Antifa terrorists," Greene says. "Stay the hell out of Northwest Georgia."
"You won't burn our churches, loot our businesses or destroy our homes," Greene tells Antifa.
Greene posted the campaign ad on Tuesday, but it was deleted by Facebook on Thursday. Facebook told Greene's campaign that the ad was pulled because it violated the company's policies against promoting the use of firearms.
Facebook sent an email to Greene's campaign that said ads "must not promote the sale or use of weapons, ammunition, or explosives." Ads are also prohibited from "promoting the brandishing of firearms."
"Facebook lets Antifa organize terrorist attacks on America and allows videos of innocent Americans being brutally attacked, but pulls my post down," she told Fox News. "America is a country of law and order -- not anarchy. Telling Antifa thugs to stay out of northwest Georgia is not a violation of Facebook."
"Big Tech censorship of conservatives must end," Greene said.
"We removed this ad, which advocates the use of deadly weapons against a clearly defined group of people, for violating our policies against inciting violence," Facebook said in a statement to Fox News.
Greene's Facebook ad reportedly reached more than 2 million people before being yanked from the social media platform. The video is still up on Twitter, where it has over 1 million views.
In another explosive campaign ad, Greene blows up a sign with "socialism" written on it. That ad was not pulled by Facebook.
Greene has purchased air time to run the ad on broadcast and cable TV in advance of Tuesday's primary.


theblaze--2020-06-07--San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he's 'embarrassed as a white person' over George Floyd's

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he's 'embarrassed as a white person' over George Floyd's death

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he 's 'embarrassed as a white person ' over George Floyd 's death @ @ @ @ @ `` country is in trouble and the basic reason is race . ''

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave his thoughts on the death of George Floyd, who died in custody while being arrested by four Minneapolis police officers. Popovich said the "country is in trouble," and he's "embarrassed as a white person" for the death of Floyd.
The Spurs have been releasing video segments called #SpursVoices, where members of the San Antonio franchise give their personal commentary.
"I don't know. ... I think I'm just embarrassed as a white person to know that that can happen," Popovich said. "To actually watch a lynching. We've all seen books, and you look in the books and you see black people hanging off of trees. And you ... are amazed. But we just saw it again. I never thought I'd see that, with my own eyes, in real time."
"In a strange, counter-intuitive sort of way, the best teaching moment of this recent tragedy, I think, was the look on the officer's face," Popovich added. "For white people to see how nonchalant, how casual, just how everyday-going-about-his job, so much so that he could just put his left hand in his pocket, wriggle his knee around a little bit to teach this person some sort of a lesson – and that it was his right and his duty to do it, in his mind."
"It's like the neighborhood where you know there's a dangerous corner, and you know that something's going to happen someday, and nobody does anything," Popovich continued. "And then a young kid gets killed and a stop sign goes up. Well, without getting too political, we've got a lot of stop signs that need to go up -- quickly -- because our country is in trouble. And the basic reason is race."
Popovich said it is the responsibility of white people to fix racism.
"We have to do it. Black people have been shouldering this burden for 400 years," Popovich said. "The only reason this nation has made the progress it has is because of the persistence, patience and effort of black people. The history of our nation from the very beginning in many ways was a lie, and we continue to this day, mostly black and brown people, to try to make that lie a truth so that it is no longer a lie."
"And those rights and privileges are enjoyed by people of color, just like we enjoy them," he said. "So it's got to be us, in my opinion, that speak truth to power, and call it out, no matter what the consequences. We have to speak. We have to not let anything go."
Popovich compared the issue of police brutality against black people to illegal gun violence.
"It's just a situation that is very similar to me, it's like the gun arguments. What's it going to take? Two few more black people with knees in their necks? I don't think so," the Spurs coach said. "I don't think that's going to happen. How many more Sandy Hooks do we have to have? It's easy for people to let things go, because it doesn't involve them."
During his diatribe, Popovich did not comment on the three other Minneapolis police officers involved in the Floyd arrest: Thomas Lane, J. Kueng, and Tou Thao.


theblaze--2020-06-07--Social justice warriors cancel 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling because she affirmed biological ge

Social justice warriors cancel 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling because she affirmed biological gender

British author J.K. Rowling , known for writing the world famous `` Harry Potter '' books , triggered an avalanche of controversy over the weekend for affirming scientific views of gender and sex .
Although Rowling supports LGBT people , she said that maintaining the biological structure of gender and sex is vitally important — especially for LGBT people .
`` If sex is n't real , there 's no same-sex attraction .
If sex is n't real , the lived reality of women globally is erased .
I know and love trans people , but erasing the concept of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningfully discuss their lives .
It is n't hate to speak the truth , '' Rowling wrote .
`` The idea that women like me , who 've been empathetic to trans people for decades , feeling kinship because they 're vulnerable in the same way as women — ie , to male violence — 'hate ' trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences — is a nonsense , '' she continued .
`` I respect every trans person 's right to live any way that feels authentic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans .
At the same time , my life has been shaped by being female .
I do not believe it 's hateful to say so , '' the author added .
What was the response ?
Rowling 's comments went viral and generated more than 50,000 replies .
One thing is clear : people are angry with Rowling 's affirmation of science .
• Literally NO ONE said the concept of sex or womxn is erased .
The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimacy of trans folks .
Please reconsider where you stand here , for trans folks and for so many who used to idolize you , '' one person responded .
• `` As a physician , I want people to know that sex exists on a bimodal biological spectrum just like gender exists on a bimodal sociological spectrum .
While most identify as either female or male , there are intersex and trans individuals whose identities are just as valid and real , '' another person responded .
• `` The vast consensus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans people and urge affirmation of us .
Your own country 's medical organizations have said as much .
You do n't love trans people , and certainly do n't care about us , '' another person said .
• `` Truly pathetic that in the midst of huge outcry against police brutality and the unjust killings of black people by authorities , you choose to use your gargantuan platform and influence to attack a vulnerable minority ? ''
another person told Rowling .
• `` I feel heartbroken for every trans kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only to find out the author of their beloved childhood books is such a transphobic bigot , '' another person said .
• `` Just want to add my valuable 2 cents here : F**k JK Rowling .
Thanks for listening .
# JKRowlingIsOverParty , '' another person said .
But not everyone was angry with Rowling — ironically transgender people .
`` Trans people appreciate @ jk_rowling 's courage in speaking out against an authoritarian ideology that oppresses women , gay people and trans people .
We need to return to reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immutable , '' another transgender person said .

British author J.K. Rowling, known for writing the world famous "Harry Potter" books, triggered an avalanche of controversy over the weekend for affirming scientific views of gender and sex.
Although Rowling supports LGBT people, she said that maintaining the biological structure of gender and sex is vitally important — especially for LGBT people.
"If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn't hate to speak the truth," Rowling wrote.
"The idea that women like me, who've been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they're vulnerable in the same way as women — ie, to male violence — 'hate' trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences — is a nonsense," she continued.
"I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I'd march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it's hateful to say so," the author added.
What was the response?
Rowling's comments went viral and generated more than 50,000 replies. One thing is clear: people are angry with Rowling's affirmation of science.
Literally NO ONE said the concept of sex or womxn is erased. The only thing erased here is YOU erasing the legitimacy of trans folks. Please reconsider where you stand here, for trans folks and for so many who used to idolize you," one person responded.
"As a physician, I want people to know that sex exists on a bimodal biological spectrum just like gender exists on a bimodal sociological spectrum. While most identify as either female or male, there are intersex and trans individuals whose identities are just as valid and real," another person responded.
"The vast consensus of medical and other scientific experts validate trans people and urge affirmation of us. Your own country's medical organizations have said as much. You don't love trans people, and certainly don't care about us," another person said.
"Truly pathetic that in the midst of huge outcry against police brutality and the unjust killings of black people by authorities, you choose to use your gargantuan platform and influence to attack a vulnerable minority?" another person told Rowling.
"I feel heartbroken for every trans kid who grew up on Harry Potter, only to find out the author of their beloved childhood books is such a transphobic bigot," another person said.
"Just want to add my valuable 2 cents here: F**k JK Rowling. Thanks for listening. #JKRowlingIsOverParty," another person said.
But not everyone was angry with Rowling — ironically transgender people.
Blare White, a transgender person, replied, "Facts. I only see facts."
"Trans people appreciate @jk_rowling's courage in speaking out against an authoritarian ideology that oppresses women, gay people and trans people. We need to return to reality. Sex is real and it is immutable," another transgender person said.


theblaze--2020-06-07--VIDEO: Police chief participates in die-in, lays face down on pavement for eight minutes

VIDEO : Police chief participates in die-in , lays face down on pavement for eight minutes Is the police chief @ @ @ @ @ ground a powerful or disgraceful moment ?

Hundreds of demonstrators staged a die-in on Saturday in Webster, Massachusetts, to call for justice for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality. During the theatrical protest, the police chief of Webster participated, and laid face down on the pavement for over eight minutes.
Webster Police Chief Michael Shaw joined several hundred protesters during an anti-police brutality demonstration. During the protest ignited by the death of George Floyd, Shaw joined Black Lives Matter protesters in a die-in, according to Telegram. Shaw took part in a dramatic reenactment of George Floyd's death.
With his hands behind his back, Shaw laid face down on the ground for the exact amount of time Floyd was held down by Minneapolis police officers. The die-in is supposed to be a recreation of the scene where Floyd died when ex-cop Derek Chauvin put his knee on Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
During the eight-minute reenactment, protesters screamed the last words of Floyd, such as "mama" and "I can't breathe."
As Shaw laid on the ground, the protesters chanted, "Thank you chief!" At the end, one demonstrator shouted, "It's not enough, but it's a start!"
Many police officers across the country have kneeled in solidarity with protesters against police brutality and the death of George Floyd. Police officers in Fayetteville, Lexington, Miami, and Portland have kneeled with demonstrators.
However, some police officers have refused to take a knee, despite intense pressure from protesters.


theblaze--2020-06-07--'Looney Tunes' reboot will have an ultra-liberal change, key characters will be forever different

'Looney Tunes ' reboot will have an ultra-liberal change , key characters will be forever different The cartoon that you @ @ @ @ @ be different

"Looney Tunes," the classic children's cartoon featuring famous characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, is receiving a reboot — but with a liberal alteration that will forever change two of the show's most infamous characters.
The show was relaunched on HBO Max last week under the title "Looney Tunes Cartoons." The show will feature the renowned "Looney Tunes" characters, and it will include many of the antics for which the "Looney Tunes" are known, such as "the sticks of dynamite, the intricate booby traps, the anvils and bank safes dropped on unsuspecting heads," the New York Times reported.
However, Elmer Fudd, the character known for hunting Bugs Bunny, will be without his hunting rifle in an apparent nod to gun control.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Instead, Elmer Fudd will carry a scythe.
"We're not doing guns," executive producer Peter Browngardt told the Times.
"But we can do cartoony violence — TNT, the Acme stuff," he explained. "All that was kind of grandfathered in."
The change presumably also applies to Yosemite Sam, another antagonist character who carries a western-style revolver. Browngardt did not, however, state what new weapon Yosemite Sam will carry.
"Looney Tunes" is not the only classic to receive a progressive makeover this year.
In an upcoming production of "Cinderella," the character known as "Fairy Godmother" will be played by a man — a suggestion that the godmother is genderless. That remake will be released next year.


theblaze--2020-06-07--Drew Brees' wife apologizes for husband's kneeling comments: 'We are the problem'

Drew Brees ' wife apologizes for husband 's kneeling comments : 'We are the problem' ' I write this with @ @ @ @ @ I hope you all hear our hearts '

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has made several apologies following statements he made about kneeling during the national anthem. Now, his wife is apologizing for the QB's comments about kneeling following the backlash.
Brittany Brees, the quarterback's wife, issued a lengthy apology on the Instagram page of the Brees Dream Foundation, an organization "serving terminally-ill adults and their families by providing end-of-life dreams that offer inspiration, comfort and closure." The post starts out by saying, "WE ARE THE PROBLEM."
"I write this with tears in my eyes and I hope you all hear our hearts," Brittany wrote. "I have read these quotes and scripture 1000 times and every time I read it and the words sink into my heart. I think yes this is what it's all about."
"How could anyone who knows us or has had interactions with us think that Drew or I have a racist bone in our body? But that's the whole point," she said. "Somehow we as white America, we can feel good about not being racist, feel good about loving one an another as God loves us. We can feel good about educating our children about the horrors of slavery and history. We can read books to our children about Martin Luther King, Malcolm X., Hank Aaron, Barack Obama, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman...and feel like we are doing our part to raise our children to love, be unbiased and with no prejudice. To teach them about all of the African Americans that have fought for and risked their lives against racial injustice."
"Somehow as white Americans we feel like that checks the box of doing the right thing," she continued. "Not until this week did Drew and I realize THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM."
"To say 'I don't agree with disrespecting the flag'... I now understand was also saying I don't understand what the problem really is, I don't understand what you're fighting for, and I'm not willing to hear you because of our preconceived notion's of what that flag means to us," she stated.
"That's the problem we are not listening, white America is not hearing," the caption read. "We're not actively LOOKING for racial prejudice. We have heard stories from men and women we have known and loved for years about the racism that occurred in their lives...stories that were never shared or talked about because somehow they were considered normal."
"To all of our friends and anyone we hurt...we will do better...We want to do better, we want to HEAR you, and we will fight for you because thinking we are not part of the problem...is checking the box it means we are are not doing enough," she concluded. "It's our job to educate ourselves. We are sorry."
Brittany Brees' verbose apology was in response to the criticism that her quarterback husband received after his interview with Yahoo Finance, where he said that he will "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America."
In the interview, Brees was asked about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback turned-activist Colin Kaepernick.
"I love and respect my teammates, and I stand right there with them in regard to fighting for racial equality and justice," Brees said. "I also stand with my grandfathers, who risked their lives for this country, and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis."
Brees was lambasted by fellow NFL players as well as LeBron James. Some people defended Brees, including former NFL coach Tony Dungy and former running back Herschel Walker. President Donald Trump supported Brees' stance on kneeling during the national anthem.
"Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag," Brees said in response to Trump. "It has never been. We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities."
The 41-year-old quarterback has issued several apologies for his comments in the week since the interview was published, which coincided with nationwide George Floyd protests and discussions about police brutality.


theblaze--2020-06-07--WATCH: A montage of Trump derangement syndrome on full display

This week 's installment of Steve Deace Show 's , Democrats Say , featured CNN 's riot news coverage is @ @ @ @ @ Democrats hold Bibles on camera and somehow avoid bursting into flames , the racist left @ @ @ @ @ and so much more .
Want more from Steve Deace ?
To enjoy more of @ @ @ @ @ politics , Christian worldview and principled conservatism with a snarky twist , subscribe to BlazeTV @ @ @ @ @ of voices who love America , defend the Constitution and live the American dream .

This week's installment of Steve Deace Show's, Democrats Say, featured CNN's riot news coverage is as dishonest as ever, Democrats hold Bibles on camera and somehow avoid bursting into flames, the racist left turns on Drew Brees, and so much more.
Use code DEACE to save $10
Want more from Steve Deace?
To enjoy more of Steve's take on national politics, Christian worldview and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-06-07--NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says he's 'shifting funds' away from police, announces reforms

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says he 's 'shifting funds ' away from police , announces reforms The reforms were @ @ @ @ @ task force on racial inclusion , which is co-chaired by Bill de Blasio 's wife

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that he would be shifting funds away from the police. The announcement comes after the "defund the police" movement gained some traction last week following the nationwide George Floyd protests.
Mayor de Blasio said New Yorkers "need to be reached, not policed."
"We committed to move resources from the NYPD to youth and social services as part of our City's budget," de Blasio wrote on Twitter. De Blasio added that the city can cut funds to the NYPD while still keeping the city safe.
"We will be moving funding from the NYPD to youth initiatives and social services," the mayor said at a press conference on Sunday. "This is a transformative moment, so the actions today are a beginning."
"The details will be worked out in the budget process in the weeks ahead. But I want people to understand that we are committed to shifting resources to ensure that the focus is on our young people," de Blasio said. "I also will affirm we will only do it in a way that is certain to continue the city will be safe."
The Democratic mayor introduced reforms including repealing state privacy laws that shield disciplinary records of police officers, creating a civilian-controlled agency that handles vendor enforcement, and hiring "community ambassadors" who will act as liaisons between the police force and civilians.
The reforms were suggested by the mayor's task force on racial inclusion, which is co-chaired by de Blasio's wife, first lady Chirlane McCray.
"I am also launching the City Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity, focusing on confronting health disparities, specific needs in communities of color and breaking down structural racism," de Blasio said in April.
The mayor did not reveal how much money would be redistributed. The NYPD's budget was $5.9 billion in 2019.
Last week, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer called for $1.1 billion to be cut from the NYPD budget over four years, $265 million annually. To cut the budget, Stringer advised suspending hiring new police officers, cut overtime by 5%, and trim Other than Personnel Services by 4%.
"Breaking down structural racism in New York City will require long-term, lasting change — and that must include reducing the NYPD's budget. If our budget is a reflection of our values, it is unconscionable that services for Black and Brown New Yorkers are on the chopping block while the NYPD's budget remains almost entirely untouched," Stringer wrote in a letter to de Blasio.


theblaze--2020-06-07--Minneapolis mayor speaks with protesters — but it takes unexpected turn when they confront him with

Minneapolis mayor speaks with protesters — but it takes unexpected turn when they confront him with question

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, received a rude awakening from protesters on Saturday after he refused to support defunding the Minneapolis Police Department.
Protesters reportedly marched to Frey's residence and demanded he speak with them. When he emerged, Frey affirmed much of what the protesters believe, including telling them, "the systemic racist system needs to be revamped."
But the impromptu meeting took an unexpected turn when the protesters confronted Frey with a "yes or no" question.
"Yes or no: Will you commit to defunding the Minneapolis Police Department," the lead demonstrator asked Frey. "We don't want to more police. ... It is a yes or a no. Will you defund the Minneapolis Police Department?"
The woman noted that it was important to hear Frey's answer, and reminded the crowd that he is up for re-election next year.
Finally, after many tense moments, Frey said, "I do not support the full abolition of the police department."
The raucous crowd immediately responded with loud boos. "Get the f**k out of here," the lead demonstrator, the same one who confronted Frey, yelled.
"Go home, Jacob, go home!" the crowd chanted.
After being shamed by the crowd, Frey stopped to talk with local news media. He declared his support for police reforms, but reaffirmed that he does not support abolishing the Minneapolis Police Department.
Frey said, according to WCCO-TV:
If you're asking whether I'm for massive structural reform to revise a structurally racist system the answer is "yes." If you're asking whether I will do everything possible to push back on the inherent inequities that are literally built into the architecture the answer is "yes."
If you're asking whether I'm willing to do everything I possibly can throughout the rest of my term to make sure that the police union, the police contract, the arbitration system, and some of these policies that have resulted in problems for specifically Black and Brown people and murder over series of generations, I'm all for that. I'm not for abolishing the entire police department, I will be honest about that.
However, Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender confirmed plans last week to "dismantle" the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a "transformative new model of public safety."


theblaze--2020-06-07--UCLA professor on leave after refusing to cancel final exam following George Floyd's death

UCLA professor on leave after refusing to cancel final exam following George Floyd 's death UCLA students launched a campaign @ @ @ @ @ after they were upset with his email saying final exams would not be canceled

A professor at the University of California Los Angeles is on leave after UCLA students launched a campaign to have him fired because he refused to cancel a final exam following George Floyd's death. Thousands signed a petition to have the UCLA professor fired because students didn't like the tone of his email announcing that the final exam would be administered in light of the nationwide protests.
Gordon Klein, a professor of accounting at the Anderson School of Management, was asked by a student if black students would be given special accommodations because of George Floyd's death and the subsequent protests. The student requested a "no-harm and shortened final exam, and extended deadlines for final assignments and projects in consideration of black students' well-being in light of nationwide protests against police brutality," according to the Daily Bruin.
Professor Klein allegedly responded with an email that did not sit well with the students.
"Thanks for your suggestion in your email below that I give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota," Klein reportedly said in an email. "Do you know the names of the classmates that are black? How can I identify them since we've been having online classes only? Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half?"
Klein asked the student if "a white student" from Minneapolis "might be possibly even more devastated" by the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Klein then quoted Martin Luther King Jr., and asked, "Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the 'color of their skin.' Do you think that your request would run afoul of MLK's admonition?"
A student took a screenshot of the email conversation and it circulated online.
Preet Bains, a UCLA senior, started a Change.org petition demanding the university fire Klein for his email.
"We ask for your support in having Professor Klein's professorship terminated for his extremely insensitive, dismissive, and woefully racist response to his students' request for empathy and compassion during a time of civil unrest," the email reads. "His response to students was inappropriate, tone-deaf, and highly insensitive."
"The killing of George Floyd displayed a brutality that was so casual and so cruel, it reflected an utter dehumanization of Black life," the petition stated. "It is understandable, then, that students nationwide — especially Black students — are struggling to focus on their educations when there is massive sociopolitical unrest that concerns both them and the future of their plight in this country."
"He mocks the student for asking that he 'give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota,'" the petition reads.
"We, the students, refuse to support Gordon Klein any further and demand to see his employment terminated as soon as possible," the petition concludes.
As of Sunday afternoon, the petition has nearly 20,000 signatures.
According to an alleged letter from Antonio Bernardo, the dean of the Anderson School of Management, Klein is now on leave for the remainder of the quarter. The email states that associate professor Judson Caskey and professor Brett Trueman will take over Klein's courses.


theblaze--2020-06-07--Manhattan DA says he won't prosecute some NYC protesters who are arrested

Manhattan DA says he wo n't prosecute some NYC protesters who are arrested 'The Office will also continue to evaluate @ @ @ @ @ protest-related charges where appropriate '

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said his office would not prosecute certain offenders who were arrested during George Floyd protests.
The Manhattan DA announced a new policy on Friday that his office would not prosecute George Floyd protesters who were arrested on charges of Unlawful Assembly and Disorderly Conduct.
"Previously, the DA's Office's policy was to offer individuals charged with these low-level offenses an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal, meaning their cases would be dismissed within six months," the statement from the Manhattan District Attorney read.
"The prosecution of protestors charged with these low-level offenses undermines critical bonds between law enforcement and the communities we serve," the DA's office said.
The Manhattan DA also proclaimed, "The Office will also continue to evaluate and decline to prosecute other protest-related charges where appropriate."
"The DA's Office's policy is designed to minimize unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice system, reduce racial disparities and collateral consequences in low-level offense prosecutions, and enable the Office and court system to preserve resources for the prosecution of serious crimes," the press release read.
The Manhattan DA added that individuals who commit "violence against police officers, destruction, or looting" will be "charged with appropriate crimes."
Cyrus Vance Jr. tweeted, "We have a moral imperative to enact public policies which assure all New Yorkers that in our justice system and our society, black lives matter and police violence is a crime."
New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), who chairs the state Senate Judiciary Committee, called for DAs to not prosecute protesters for unlawful assembly or disorderly conduct.
"Systemic reform has to include our treatment of protesters," Hoylman said last week. "There's nothing unlawful about a New Yorker exercising their First Amendment rights. I'm calling on all five District Attorneys in New York City to drop charges against protesters for the class B misdemeanor of Unlawful Assembly (Penal Law Sec. 240.10) and the violation of Disorderly Conduct (Penal Law Sec. 240.20)."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "It is our understanding that each arrest will continue to be looked at on a case-by-case basis."
New York police have arrested over 2,000 individuals during the protests.


theblaze--2020-06-07--Colin Powell endorses Joe Biden, blasts President Trump as liar who has 'drifted away' from Constitu

Colin Powell endorses Joe Biden, blasts President Trump as liar who has 'drifted away' from Constitution

Colin Powell endorses Joe Biden , blasts President Trump as liar who has 'drifted away ' from Constitution ' I @ @ @ @ @ any way , support President Trump this year '

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has been a Republican since the mid-1990s, blasted President Donald Trump on Sunday and revealed that he would vote for Joe Biden.
"I certainly cannot, in any way, support President Trump this year," Colin said on CNN's "State of the Union."
"I'm very close to Joe Biden in a social matter and in a political matter," Powell added. "I've worked with him for 35, 40 years. And he is now the candidate and I will be voting for him."
Powell, who was the first black secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that he will be speaking for Biden, although he said he does not plan on campaigning for the former vice president.
Powell spent much of the interview bashing Trump, calling the president a liar who "has drifted away" from the Constitution.
"[Trump's behavior] is dangerous for our democracy, it is dangerous for our country, and I think what we're seeing now, those massive protest movements," Powell explained. "I think this suggests the country is getting wise to this and we're not going to put up with it anymore."
The former secretary of state also did not support Trump in 2016. Instead, he endorsed Hillary Clinton.
In response, Trump blasted Powell, a retired four-star general, as "a real stiff who was very responsible for getting us into the disastrous Middle East Wars."


theblaze--2020-06-07--Protest leader who threatened to burn NYC's Diamond District taken into custody for questioning by N

Protest leader who threatened to burn NYC's Diamond District taken into custody for questioning by NYPD

Protest leader who threatened to burn NYC 's Diamond District taken into custody for questioning by NYPD Friendly piece of @ @ @ @ @ to burn down New York City in a TV interview

A protest leader who threatened to burn down New York City's Diamond District if the governor and mayor didn't meet with him has been taken into custody by NYPD for questioning.
On Saturday afternoon, a man who identified himself as "Ace Burns" gave an interview on Fox News. During the live TV interview, the man said he was organizing a march from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to City Hall on Saturday night.
The man, who said he was a leader of the "FTP movement," warned that there would be violent repercussions if Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to speak with him and fellow George Floyd protesters at City Hall.
"I'm a leader of this FTP movement. It means a lot of things," the man said. "It could mean 'free the people,' it could mean 'for the people,' or it could also mean 'fire to property' and you know that's very possible."
"Today I'm leading a demonstration from Barclay Center at 6 p.m. to City Hall, and that's the first stop. We're hoping de Blasio and Cuomo come out and talk to us and give the youth some direction," the protest leader said. "But if they don't, the next stop is the Diamond District. And gasoline, thanks to Trump, is awfully cheap."
Ace Burns 2020 threatens firestorm of violence in New York www.youtube.com
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, NYPD announced that they had taken the man into custody for questioning.
"Earlier tonight, a man wearing this mask threatened, in a live @FoxNews interview, to burn Manhattan's diamond district down," the NYPD tweeted. "Within hours, we identified the man & took him in to be interviewed."
The man's social media has been silent since announcing his intentions to lead a George Floyd protest march to City Hall and since the Fox News interview aired.


theblaze--2020-06-07--George W. Bush, other top Republicans will not support President Trump's re-election: report

George W. Bush , other top Republicans will not support President Trump 's re-election : report Joe Biden 's campaign @ @ @ @ @ Republicans

Former President George W. Bush will not support President Donald Trump's re-election, the New York Times reported Saturday.
People familiar with the 43rd president's thinking told the Times that Bush will not support Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
However, Freddy Ford, a spokesman for Bush, refuted the Times' reporting. He said that Bush plans to speak publicly only on matters of policy — and that he has yet to decide which 2020 presidential candidate he will support.
"This is completely made up," Ford told the Texas Tribune. "[Bush] is retired from presidential politics and has not indicated how he will vote."
As TheBlaze reported, neither Bush nor his wife, Laura, voted for Trump in 2016. They did not vote for Hillary Clinton either, although they did vote.
According to the Times, other top Republicans will also not support Trump's re-election. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) won't support Trump, Jeb Bush is unsure of how he will vote, while Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain, is reportedly considering casting her ballot for Biden.
Former top military officials and government officials who are Republicans or served Republican administrations also expressed dismay at the options in 2020, according to the Times. Even one sitting Republican congressman, Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), told the Times he has considered voting for Biden because Trump is "driving us all crazy."
"A lot of people that voted for President Trump did so because they did not like Hillary Clinton. I don't see that happening with Joe Biden — how can you not like Joe Biden?" Rooney said.
In response to uncertainty in moderate Republican ranks, Biden's campaign will begin reaching out to Republican voters uneasy about supporting Trump. From the Times:
Mr. Biden himself, while eager to win support across party lines, intends to roll out his "Republicans for Biden" coalition later in the campaign, after fully consolidating his own party, according to Democrats familiar with the campaign's planning.
The public expressions of opposition to Mr. Trump from parts of the Republican and military establishment have accelerated in recent days over his repeated calls for protesters to be physically constrained, "dominated," as he put it, and his administration's order to forcefully clear the streets outside the White House so he could walk out for a photo opportunity. His conduct has convinced some leaders that they can no longer remain silent.
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said that numerous Republican senators have told him they will not vote for Trump in the privacy of the voting booth.
"I've had five conversations with senators who tell me they are really struggling with supporting Trump," Coons told the Times.


theblaze--2020-06-09--New CNN poll shows Biden opening up a huge lead over Trump — and he just responded

A new poll from CNN shows presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden opening up an enormous lead over President Donald Trump, but the president responded with a scathing accusation.
The poll, which was released Monday, said that Biden had the support of 55% of registered voters polled, while Trump had only 41% support, a staggering difference of 14% in favor of the Democrat.
That is a massive change from the last results in May where Trump had 46% support to Biden's 51%, a difference of only 5%.
The poll also says that only 38% of Americans polled approve of how the president is handling the duties of the office, while 57% disapprove.
President Trump responded in a tweet blasting CNN and accusing the network of conjuring up a "suppression poll" intended to dissuade Trump voters from showing up on Election Day.
"I have retained highly respected pollster, McLaughlin & Associates, to analyze todays CNN Poll (and others), which I felt were FAKE based on the incredible enthusiasm we are receiving," the president tweeted.
"This is the same thing they and others did when we defeated Crooked Hillary Clinton in 2016. They are called SUPPRESSION POLLS, and are put out to dampen enthusiasm," he continued in a second tweet.
"Despite 3 ½ years of phony Witch Hunts," he concluded, "we are winning, and will close it out on November 3rd!"
The report from McLaughlin & Associates said that the poll was under-sampling Republicans in order to strengthen the appearance of the support for the Democrats.
"The latest skewed media polls must be intentional. It's clear that NBC, ABC and CNN who have Democrat operatives like Chuck Todd, George Stephanopoulos and other Democrats in their news operations are consistently under-polling Republicans and therefore, reporting biased polls," read the report posted by the president.
Here's the latest in the presidential election:


theblaze--2020-06-09--Candace Owens targeted by liberal mob after Trump retweets her comments to Glenn Beck — here's what

Candace Owens targeted by liberal mob after Trump retweets her comments to Glenn Beck — here's what she said

Candace Owens targeted by liberal mob after Trump retweets her comments to Glenn Beck — here 's what she said @ @ @ @ @ commentator for disagreeing with the liberal narrative

Candace Owens, Blexit founder and "Blackout" author, came under fire after President Donald Trump retweeted a video clip from "Glenn TV," in which she and Glenn Beck dared to discuss the full character of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked violent protests against police across the country.
On Sunday, GoFundMe even went so far as to suspend Candace from its platform, where she had raised at least $200,000 for a conservative business owner in Alabama, because she told Glenn she disagrees with the left's narrative that Floyd should be held up as a hero for black Americans.
Watch the video below to hear Candace explain in her own words:
Watch the full interview with Candace Owens here.
Use code GLENN to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multiplatform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-06-08--Mitch McConnell decries 'outlandish' push to defund police departments as 'nonsense'

'Call me old-fashioned , but I think you may actually want a police officer to stop a criminal '

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday sharply condemned growing calls from the left to defund police departments, decrying the "outlandish" proposals as "nonsense."
What are the details?
A movement to "defund the police" has gained momentum in recent days after nearly two weeks of nationwide protests over police brutality against black Americans in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Speaking from the Senate floor, McConnell said, "We're already seeing outlandish calls, 'defund the police,' 'abolish the police,' take root within the left-wing leadership class," Fox News reported.
Over the weekend, the city council in Minneapolis — where Floyd was killed while in police custody — vowed to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. Council President Lisa Bender told CNN she has already looked at ways to "shift the response away from armed police officers into a more appropriate response for mental health calls, for some domestic violence calls," and other emergency situations.
In his reaction to that, McConnell said, "The president of the city council in Minneapolis proclaimed she can imagine a future without police."
"I'm all for social work and mental health," McConnell conceded, before saying, "Call me old-fashioned, but I think you may actually want a police officer to stop a criminal and arrest him before we try to work through his feelings.
"Even if some left-wing leaders fall for this nonsense, I have a feeling the American people are too smart for that," McConnell added. "They know what happened to George Floyd is totally abhorrent. They also know that riots and looting are unacceptable. And they know that well-trained law enforcement officers are an important part of creating safe communities, not something to defund or abolish."


theblaze--2020-06-08--Jemele Hill leads chorus of liberal black voices mocking Democrats over their kneeling political stu

Jemele Hill leads chorus of liberal black voices mocking Democrats over their kneeling political stunt

Former ESPN host Jemele Hill mocked Democrats for donning a traditional African kente scarf and kneeling to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement during the outrage over the death of George Floyd.
Jemele Hill implied that Democrats were ignoring the demands of the black community in favor of a performative political photo op.
The Black Congressional Caucus passed out African kente cloths to Democrats for a demonstration at the Capitol Visitor Center where they kneeled for photographs. The lawmakers introduced a bill with measures reforming police policies in a media briefing after the demonstration.
The response
Other liberal voices joined Hill in mocking the demonstration as not doing enough for the cause.
"As Congress members ice their knees and put away their kente cloth graduation stolls, I hope they consider supporting a monthly stimulus check," snarked Briahna Joy Gray, the former press secretary for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.
"It's disrespectful that they think we can be appeased by Kente cloth and the usual pandering," responded Erica LaShai, a musician in Los Angeles, in a now deleted tweet.
"Racial injustice doesn't need an empty symbolic response. It needs a change in policy for all institutions. Instead you're wearing Kente and kneeling. Stand up and go write a law," replied entrepreneur Courtney Daniella.
"[L]ooking at those politicians in the kente cloth again & now I think I can finally relate to that look all my black teachers in elementary school had on their faces while watching all the other teachers decorate their rooms for black history month," responded politics editor Hanif Abdurraqib.
Other voices on the right criticized Democrats for what they saw as pandering to the BLM movement.
Here's more about the Kente protest by Democrats:


theblaze--2020-06-08--Protest hypocrisy and COVID  insanity on full display

Look , the riots we see in the wake of George Floyd 's murder are out of control , and the left-wing condemnation of law enforcement renders police officers ineffective .
Progressives forced President Trump 's hand to deploy the National Guard and restore order .
On the one hand , the left demands that lawmakers defund and abolish the police and seem fine with calling in the military as long as local police stay away .
But , not even a month ago , the left wanted law enforcement to arrest COVID-19 lockdown protesters for `` violating social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up their minds .
The situation reminds me of 2018 , when a migrant caravan marched toward the U.S.-Mexico border , intent to enter America .
At the time , since the Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused to act on the matter , Trump merely suggested sending in the National Guard to intercept the caravan , sending Democrats into a frenzy over who could call Trump a racist the quickest .
Now , the left prefers the National Guard to the police ?
Whatever .
Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's actually funny , join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand .

Look, the riots we see in the wake of George Floyd's murder are out of control, and the left-wing condemnation of law enforcement renders police officers ineffective. Progressives forced President Trump's hand to deploy the National Guard and restore order.
On the one hand, the left demands that lawmakers defund and abolish the police and seem fine with calling in the military as long as local police stay away. But, not even a month ago, the left wanted law enforcement to arrest COVID-19 lockdown protesters for "violating social distancing guidelines." Democrats can't make up their minds.
The situation reminds me of 2018, when a migrant caravan marched toward the U.S.-Mexico border, intent to enter America. At the time, since the Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused to act on the matter, Trump merely suggested sending in the National Guard to intercept the caravan, sending Democrats into a frenzy over who could call Trump a racist the quickest. Now, the left prefers the National Guard to the police? Whatever.
Watch Crowder make sense of the senseless.
Steven and the crew talk about the glaring hypocrisy of protesting (like it needs explaining) and updates everyone on Lady Crowder's hospital situation.
Use code LWC to save $10.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-06-08--AOC accuses Kayleigh McEnany of racism over a brief quote — then gets a swift dose of the truth

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) accused White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany of intentionally not recognizing her as a congresswoman on Monday after seeing a brief quote on Twitter pointing to the Democratic socialist's role as an adviser to the Joe Biden campaign.
Ocasio-Cortez even suggested McEnany was racist over the alleged omission, but the press secretary was able to promptly set the record straight.
What are the details?
A Politico reporter covering McEnany's news conference quoted the press secretary as referring to Ocasio-Cortez as "Biden adviser Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez" from the lectern, and flagged the congresswoman on Twitter.
Ocasio-Cortez replied, "@PressSec wouldn't be the first person to mistake a women of color for having a lower position or title than she does, but Kayleigh - in case you haven't picked up a newspaper in two years, I'm a Congresswoman."
The representative from New York went on to lecture, "The @PressSec comment is steeped in a long, hurtful, & horrendous history of stripping women of color of titles and diminishing them to 'the help.' Perhaps she isn't aware that what she did is mired in racist history. If that is the case, I look forward to her apology tomorrow."
McEnany replied, "Read the transcript, Congresswoman @AOC," and attached the transcript of her full statement, which clearly shows the White House press secretary referred to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez as a sitting congresswoman before adding that the democratic socialist from New York is also an adviser to the Biden campaign.
Here is McEnany's full press briefing. She begins speaking at the 17:45 mark:


theblaze--2020-06-08--MSM lies EXPOSED: 'There is a massive cover-up going on right now in this country'

MSM lies EXPOSED : 'There is a massive cover-up going on right now in this country' Watch the video montage @ @ @ @

This week on "Slightly Offens*ve," host Elijah Schaffer exposed the mainstream media's "massive" disinformation campaign to cover-up the true destruction and intentions of so-called "peaceful" protests.
"There is a massive cover-up going on right now in this country, disinformation warfare just like we saw with COVID, but this is version 2.0," Elijah said.
Elijah compared media coverage of anti-lockdown protests amid the COVID-19 pandemic to that of protests following the death of George Floyd in an eye-opening video montage, and revealed some of the statistics the liberal media are going out of their way to bury.
Watch the video below for more details:
Want more from Elijah Schaffer?
Subscribe to Elijah's "Slightly Offens*ve" channel on YouTube for FREE access to his man-on-the-street interviews, protest coverage and more craziness that happens every day in the USA.


theblaze--2020-06-08--George W. Bush spokesman calls NYT article claiming he won't vote for Trump 'completely made up'

A spokesman for former President George W. Bush is forcefully denying a recent New York Times article that alleges that the former commander-in-chief will not vote for President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2020 election .
`` Former President George W. Bush wo n't support the re-election of Mr. Trump , and Jeb Bush is n't sure how he 'll vote , say people familiar with their thinking , '' the Times reported on Saturday in a rundown of high-profile Republicans who had allegedly indicated their opposition for the sitting president .
But in an email to the Texas Tribune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a spokesman for Bush , suggested that the assertion is totally false .
`` This is completely made up , '' Ford wrote .
`` He is retired from presidential politics and has not indicated how he will vote . ''
The Times has not yet updated its article to include the statement from Ford .
Instead , the paper buries this statement at the bottom of the post : `` Freddy Ford , a spokesman for Mr. Bush , said the former president would stay out of the election and speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did this week in stating that the country must 'examine our tragic failures ' on race . ''
Neither Bush or former first lady Laura Bush voted for either Trump or Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Ford reported to Politico at the time that both Bushes voted for `` None Of The Above for President . ''

A spokesman for former President George W. Bush is forcefully denying a recent New York Times article that alleges that the former commander-in-chief will not vote for President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2020 election.
"Former President George W. Bush won't support the re-election of Mr. Trump, and Jeb Bush isn't sure how he'll vote, say people familiar with their thinking," the Times reported on Saturday in a rundown of high-profile Republicans who had allegedly indicated their opposition for the sitting president.
But in an email to the Texas Tribune after the news broke, Freddy Ford, a spokesman for Bush, suggested that the assertion is totally false.
"This is completely made up," Ford wrote. "He is retired from presidential politics and has not indicated how he will vote."
The Times has not yet updated its article to include the statement from Ford. Instead, the paper buries this statement at the bottom of the post: "Freddy Ford, a spokesman for Mr. Bush, said the former president would stay out of the election and speak only on policy issues, as he did this week in stating that the country must 'examine our tragic failures' on race."
Neither Bush or former first lady Laura Bush voted for either Trump or Hillary Clinton in 2016. Ford reported to Politico at the time that both Bushes voted for "None Of The Above for President."


theblaze--2020-06-08--Another Philly Inquirer editor makes headlines — this one for son's 2017 racist, homophobic posts. P

Another Philly Inquirer editor makes headlines — this one for son's 2017 racist, homophobic posts. Paper calls it a 'private family matter.'

Another Philly Inquirer editor makes headlines — this one for son 's 2017 racist , homophobic posts .
Paper calls @ @ @ @ @ . '
Over the weekend a different Inquirer editor was forced to resign due to @ @ @ @ @ Matter , Too '

It's been a rough few days for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Over the weekend top editor Stan Wischnowski was forced to resign due to a column titled, "Buildings Matter, Too" — a play on the term Black Lives Matter that infuriated staff members of color.
Now it's come to light that the son of another top editor at the paper used racist and homophobic slurs in two social media posts three years ago, the Inquirer reported.
What are the details?
Gabe Escobar — an 18-year-old incoming Temple University student and son of Inquirer editor and vice president Gabriel Escobar — used the N-word in one post and homophobic slurs in two others on Snapchat in 2017, the paper said.
A Twitter user highlighted those posts last week, identified Escobar, and listed the phone number and email address for Temple's admissions office, the Inquirer said.
"We're aware of this content and the student associated," Temple tweeted on Thursday, according to the paper. "We have sent this information to our dean of students for further review and investigation."
More from the Inquirer:
The issue surfaced as The Inquirer was facing public criticism and internal turmoil over its treatment of journalists of color and an insensitive headline the paper ran last week. Escobar's father was one of three editors who issued an apology for that headline, which had been written by another staffer and was seen as suggesting an equivalence between the loss of buildings and the lives of black Americans. Three days after that apology, Inquirer Executive Editor Stan Wischnowski announced his resignation.
'I am so sorry'
The younger Escobar posted a 13-minute apology on Instagram regarding his past posts, the paper said.
"I am so sorry to anyone I've hurt or disappointed by seeing these screenshots with hate speech and for the poor judgment I've had," Gabe Escobar wrote, the Inquirer noted. "I can't take back these screenshots or anything I did in high school, I know that, so all I can do is apologize and try to educate people so they don't make the same mistakes I did."
Escobar has nearly two million followers on Tik Tok and asked others to judge him for who he is today, the paper said.
What did his father say?
"My son knows that what he sent on Snapchat, when he was 14, is hateful and hurtful," the elder Escobar said in a statement, according to the Inquirer. "He has publicly apologized, beginning last fall when the screenshots surfaced. He has also committed himself to spreading a positive message to his followers on social media. His mother and I admire how he has expressed remorse and taken responsibility. We love and support him."
What did the paper have to say?
Elizabeth H. Hughes, publisher of the Inquirer, said in a statement to the paper that "the social media posts in question are offensive and are contrary to our core values and beliefs. We believe this is a private family matter, and we respect their right to work through what is clearly a painful and difficult situation in private."
Anything else?
Temple officials are grappling with condemning hate speech while honoring First Amendment free speech rights, the Inquirer noted, adding that a petition calling on Temple to require the "condemnation and immediate expulsion" of students for racist or hateful speech has gained over 3,700 signatures.
In related news, the editor of the New York Times' editorial page — James Bennet — resigned Sunday amid outrage from employees and readers over an op-ed by Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom Cotton saying President Donald Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act and use military force to stop nationwide George Floyd riots.


theblaze--2020-06-08--Democrats wear African kente cloths, take a knee for George Floyd before introducing police reform l

Democrats wear African kente cloths, take a knee for George Floyd before introducing police reform legislation

Democrats from the House and Senate honor George Floyd with 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence on Monday in @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , D.C. ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images )

Congressional Democrats engaged in some performative demonstration Monday morning before introducing a police reform legislative package while wearing traditional west African accessories.
Democrats from the House and Senate knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in the Capitol Visitor Center while wearing kente cloths, with the time being a reference to how long George Floyd was pinned to the ground by the former Minneapolis police officer who killed him.
Once they got up, they held a joint news conference during which they unveiled a police reform legislative package that included a ban on chokeholds and some increased accountability measures for police departments. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the details of the reforms are not the main story, however.
"The story that leaves here, as Mr. [James] Clyburn said, is liberty and justice for all," Pelosi said.
Pelosi also dismissed safety concerns some have expressed amid all the talk of pulling funding from police departments.
"The martyrdom of George Floyd — and by Tuesday, by tomorrow, may he rest in peace — has made a change in the world," Pelosi said. "So let's not get into these questions that may be from the small minds of some, as far as safety is concerned, but look at it writ large."
Safety is a concern as some pivot from calls for police reform to calls to defund the police, or in the case of Minneapolis, disbanding the police department altogether. These movements lead to obvious questions about public safety, and what potential replacements for police departments look like. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden does not support defunding police.
Some on the right are open to a decrease in the power of government law enforcement, believing in the value of exercising the right to bear arms for personal protection of property. However, in Democratic areas where gun rights are consistently under attack, it's unclear what an alternative to police departments would look like for public safety.
Minnesota City Council President Lisa Bender said on CNN that questions about who one might call in the event of a home invasion if not the police come from a place of privilege.


theblaze--2020-06-08--Ohio school district plans to surveil students with bluetooth tracking devices to prevent the spread

Ohio school district plans to surveil students with bluetooth tracking devices to prevent the spread of COVID-19

A school district in New Albany, Ohio, is planning to combat the spread of COVID-19 when school returns in August by surveilling its students, according to a report by Wired.
According to the tech magazine, students will be required to wear bluetooth tracking devices developed by Volan that will monitor them wherever they go throughout the school day and send alerts in emergency situations.
Here's more from the report:
The school district, with five schools and 4,800 students, plans to test a system that would require each student to wear an electronic beacon to track their location to within a few feet throughout the day. It will record where students sit in each classroom, show who they meet and talk to, and reveal how they gather in groups. The hope is such technology could prevent or minimize an outbreak of Covid-19, the deadly respiratory disease at the center of a global pandemic.
"We are very much interested in the automated tracking of students," Michael Sawyers, the district superintendent for New Albany-Plain Schools, told Wired. Sawyers reportedly believes that the technology will enable school officials to determine if social distancing practices are being followed and pinpoint at-risk individuals should someone in the district test positive for the virus.
In addition to the tracking technology, the school district will reportedly employ traditional safety measures such as regular temperature checks, face masks, and strategic social distancing.
Though the report did not include comments from other school officials or parents within the district, it would not be surprising if many expressed concern over the notion that students would be under surveillance.
TheBlaze reached out to the school district to see if it has received any such pushback from students, parents, or members of the community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released guidelines for reopening schools that recommend staggering schedules, reducing classroom sizes, eating lunch in classrooms, opening windows, and continuing distance learning where possible as measures to maintain health and safety for students and education workers.
Speaking to Wired, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said she isn't aware of any other public K-12 schools considering student surveillance. But interestingly, in its own set of guidelines for reopening schools, the union warned about the potential that the crisis could be used to expand data-mining practices.
Outside of New Albany-Plain Schools, Wired reported that a private boarding school in Pennsylvania, the University of Arizona, and some colleges in Massachusetts are exploring the use of tracking technology to combat COVID-19. "Several other colleges" also reported being in the very early stages of their exploration.


theblaze--2020-06-08--Cop who knelt on George Floyd's neck has first court hearing. Bail increased to $1.25 million.

Cop who knelt on George Floyd 's neck has first court hearing .
Bail increased to $ 1.25 million .

Prosecutors formally charged the officer accused of killing George Floyd during a brief court hearing Monday, during which the judge set his bail at $1.25 million.
Fired Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin — who knelt on George Floyd's neck for over eight minutes during an arrest on May 25 — appeared in court for the first time via videoconference. Floyd died following the arrest by Chauvin and three other officers. All four officers involved were fired shortly after video of Floyd's arrest went viral.
During the hearing, which lasted less than 15 minutes, prosecutors formally charged the 44-year-old cop with second-degree murder without intent, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, the Washington Post reported. The accused said almost nothing, according to multiple reports, and waived his right to appear in person at his proceedings.
Judge Jeannice Reding set Chauvin's bail at $1.25 million, or $1 million if he met certain conditions, NBC News said. Those conditions include: having no contact with the Floyd family, surrendering his guns and his gun permits, and not working in security or law enforcement.
Chauvin's attorney reportedly did not contest the bail, which had initially been set at $500,000, and did not indicate whether his client would pay it.
The onetime law enforcement officer's next court appearance is set for June 29, during which he is expected to make a plea.
Three other officers have been charged in connection to Floyd's death. They are each facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and are each being held on $1 million bail or $750,000 with conditions.


theblaze--2020-06-08--Oops! Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers rarely spread it, WHO now says

Oops !
Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers rarely spread it , WHO now says What will health experts discover next ?

UPDATE: The WHO clarified Tuesday, June 9, that asymptomatic spread may account for up to 40% of COVID-19 transmission.
The original report follows.
---------
After nearly three months of coronavirus-related shutdowns that put tens of millions of Americans out of work, destroyed untold numbers of businesses, and shuttered schools across the land, the World Health Organization now says asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 — cited as one of the reasons for social distancing policies — rarely spread the virus, CNBC reported.
What are the details?
The WHO's revelation Monday followed preliminary findings from earliest COVID-19 outbreaks that those without symptoms could spread the virus to others, the network said.
"From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual," said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, according to CNBC. "It's very rare."
Some people, particularly young and otherwise healthy individuals, can be infected by the coronavirus but never develop symptoms — or develop only mild symptoms, the network said.
"We have a number of reports from countries who are doing very detailed contact tracing," Van Kerkhove added, according to CNBC. "They're following asymptomatic cases. They're following contacts. And they're not finding secondary transmission onward. It's very rare."
Asymptomatic transmission was one reason for social distancing
A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report published April 1 cited the "potential for presymptomatic transmission" as a reason for the importance of social distancing, the network said.
The CDC study added that "these findings also suggest that to control the pandemic, it might not be enough for only persons with symptoms to limit their contact with others because persons without symptoms might transmit infection," CNBC added.
Now what?
Van Kerkhove said, "What we really want to be focused on is following the symptomatic cases. If we actually followed all of the symptomatic cases, isolated those cases, followed the contacts and quarantined those contacts, we would drastically reduce" the spread, the network reported.
A little breakdown of health experts' impact so far
Elected officials have endlessly insisted their decisions to ruin economies and lives through business shutdowns and social distancing were guided by health experts and "science."
So here's a look at how some of that's been working out:


theblaze--2020-06-08--US prosecutors want to interview Prince Andrew in Jeffrey Epstein probe

US prosecutors want to interview Prince Andrew in Jeffrey Epstein probe They say the prince is not cooperating

Federal prosecutors in the United States have requested to interview Britain's Prince Andrew as a part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, NBC News reported.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York made the request for Prince Andrew's testimony of the British government under a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which is similar to a subpoena.
Although Prince Andrew has previously stated publicly that he would assist with the investigation, prosecutors now say he is unwilling to cooperate.
"Contrary to Prince Andrew's very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein's co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation," said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman.
Prince Andrew's lawyers say he has offered his testimony at least three times, and that the U.S. prosecutors are giving an "entirely misleading account" in claiming he hasn't offered cooperation.
"In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered," Prince Andrew's lawyers said in a statement.
"Far from our client acting above the law, as has been implied by press briefings in the U.S., he is being treated by a lower standard than might be reasonably expected for any other citizen," the statement also said.
Andrew stepped down from public royal duties late last year after an interview about his association with Epstein with the BBC went poorly.
Andrew has been accused of having sex with a then-17-year-old Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager and allegedly directed to have sex with Prince Andrew. Andrew said he didn't even remember meeting her, even though they have been photographed together at his home.
Prosecutors continue to investigate people potentially associated with Epstein, who died by way of alleged suicide in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.