courthousenews--2020-06-06--Racial Injustice a Top Priority at Texas Democratic Convention

SAN ANTONIO ( CN ) — Heavyweight Democrats took the stage on the fifth day of the Texas Democratic Party ’ s first-ever online convention , where leaders including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren put a spotlight on racial injustice .
“ We know that our country is still a work in progress , and we have got to fight , and Texas Democrats : Justice is on the ballot in 2020 , ” said Kamala Harris , California ’ s junior U.S. senator and former presidential candidate , during her brief pep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is Texas Democrats who are gon na help win this election .
You know how to do the work of turning red into blue.
” Racial injustice was front-and-center for Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts ’ senior senator who also sought the Democratic presidential ticket .
“ The pain , the frustration , the trauma that black people are experiencing and have experienced for generations is real .
As a nation , we have some serious soul-searching to do , ” Warren said .
“ Racial disparities persist in wealth , education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at a time when Covid-19 is disproportionately killing black Americans and black businesses are disproportionately going under , it can feel as if this is the way things have been and always will be .
But we are not without hope , ” she said .
“ I also want to be thoughtful about the responsibility that I and others have as white Americans in this moment .
The idea that communities of color alone are responsible for fighting against racism every single day is both misguided and can have dangerous consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time when racist injustice tears us apart and a global pandemic threatens our lives and our livelihoods , it is up to us to take action , to heal our nation and to save our democracy.
” Joaquin Castro — the U.S. congressman whose identical twin brother was another contender for the Democratic nomination before Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee — also remarked on police brutality in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police .
“ History will have the final say and verdict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few times in American history where the nation collectively takes a look at itself , its character and its conscience , ” Castro said .
“ Let ’ s be clear : the nation together , just about a week ago , witness a murder .
We witnessed a man be stomped for almost nine minutes despite the fact that a crowd of Americans were telling a police officer to take his foot off of George Floyd ’ s neck.
” Castro ’ s comment echoed the scroll of text that kicked off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must stop shielding law enforcement from accountability , put an end to over-policing in Black neighborhoods , and stop criminalizing poverty , ” read the Texas Democrats ’ Facebook Live stream .
“ I believe that what has changed is that we can no longer live in ignorance , ” Castro said .
“ All of us are essentially social documentarians .
But the question is , will we be in an age of action ?
… Can we do something to end qualified immunity , to demilitarize the police , to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system ?
” Floyd ’ s death featured heavily in Pelosi ’ s remarks at the end of the night , too .
“ We come together at a very difficult time for our country .
Across America , peaceful protesters are grieving for the murder of George Floyd and all the innocent Americans killed in a pattern of racial injustice and police brutality , ” Pelosi said .
“ As we pray for the family of George Floyd , we pray for healing in our nation and healing must begin with real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi also emphasized the strategic importance of the upcoming election for U.S. progressives .
“ This election cycle presents an opportunity for Texas Democrats .
To continue strengthening our majority , House Democrats are targeting six seats in Texas where Republicans are running for the exits , ” Pelosi said .
Hakeem Jeffries , chair of the U.S. House Democratic Caucus , was a rousing cheerleader for Democratic leadership Friday .
“ We want to move the country forward ; others are trying to turn back the clock , ” Jeffries said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we believe in a country that provides for the poor , provides for working families , makes sense for the middle class and stands up for senior citizens.
” During her remarks , Warren also shared four broad policies to enhance election safety and access to the ballot during the Covid-19 pandemic .
According to the senior senator , the federal government and states should stop purging voters and offer online voter registration ; allow mail-in ballots , extend polling hours and offer 30 days of early voting ; combat disinformation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election infrastructure to states and help maintain sanitary polls .
In addition to the high-profile speeches , representatives and experts hosted panels Friday discussing strategies for flipping the Texas House of Representatives and sessions interviewing congresswomen and the Democratic leaders of the state ’ s House and Senate .
The Texas Democrats ’ virtual convention kicked off Monday with a number of panels on healthcare policy .
The convention , which draws to a close Saturday evening , has also honed in on voting rights , liberals ’ strategies for activating minority voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarceration .
Biden is slotted to address the Texas Dems on Saturday , the last day of the convention .
“ Together we can deliver a better future with affordable healthcare for all Americans , with job security for every hardworking family and with a strong democracy that works for the people , ” Pelosi said .
“ Onward to victory .
”

Heavyweight Democrats took the stage on the fifth day of the Texas Democratic Party’s first-ever online convention, where leaders including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren put a spotlight on racial injustice.
SAN ANTONIO (CN) — Heavyweight Democrats took the stage on the fifth day of the Texas Democratic Party’s first-ever online convention, where leaders including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren put a spotlight on racial injustice.
“We know that our country is still a work in progress, and we have got to fight, and Texas Democrats: Justice is on the ballot in 2020,” said Kamala Harris, California’s junior U.S. senator and former presidential candidate, during her brief pep talk for Texas progressives. “And it is Texas Democrats who are gonna help win this election. You know how to do the work of turning red into blue.”
Racial injustice was front-and-center for Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts’ senior senator who also sought the Democratic presidential ticket.
“The pain, the frustration, the trauma that black people are experiencing and have experienced for generations is real. As a nation, we have some serious soul-searching to do,” Warren said.
“Racial disparities persist in wealth, education, employment, housing, healthcare — and, at a time when Covid-19 is disproportionately killing black Americans and black businesses are disproportionately going under, it can feel as if this is the way things have been and always will be. But we are not without hope,” she said.
Warren called upon fellow white Americans to “dismantle racism.”
“I also want to be thoughtful about the responsibility that I and others have as white Americans in this moment. The idea that communities of color alone are responsible for fighting against racism every single day is both misguided and can have dangerous consequences,” Warren said. “At a time when racist injustice tears us apart and a global pandemic threatens our lives and our livelihoods, it is up to us to take action, to heal our nation and to save our democracy.”
Joaquin Castro — the U.S. congressman whose identical twin brother was another contender for the Democratic nomination before Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee — also remarked on police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
“History will have the final say and verdict on this period, but there are few times in American history where the nation collectively takes a look at itself, its character and its conscience,” Castro said. “Let’s be clear: the nation together, just about a week ago, witness a murder. We witnessed a man be stomped for almost nine minutes despite the fact that a crowd of Americans were telling a police officer to take his foot off of George Floyd’s neck.”
Castro’s comment echoed the scroll of text that kicked off the convention Friday afternoon: “We must stop shielding law enforcement from accountability, put an end to over-policing in Black neighborhoods, and stop criminalizing poverty,” read the Texas Democrats’ Facebook Live stream.
Castro wondered aloud why Floyd’s death prompted widespread protest and congressional action.
“I believe that what has changed is that we can no longer live in ignorance,” Castro said. “All of us are essentially social documentarians. But the question is, will we be in an age of action? … Can we do something to end qualified immunity, to demilitarize the police, to bring true transparency and accountability to our policing system?”
Floyd’s death featured heavily in Pelosi’s remarks at the end of the night, too.
“We come together at a very difficult time for our country. Across America, peaceful protesters are grieving for the murder of George Floyd and all the innocent Americans killed in a pattern of racial injustice and police brutality,” Pelosi said. “As we pray for the family of George Floyd, we pray for healing in our nation and healing must begin with real leadership backed up by real action.”
Pelosi also emphasized the strategic importance of the upcoming election for U.S. progressives.
“This election cycle presents an opportunity for Texas Democrats. To continue strengthening our majority, House Democrats are targeting six seats in Texas where Republicans are running for the exits,” Pelosi said.
Hakeem Jeffries, chair of the U.S. House Democratic Caucus, was a rousing cheerleader for Democratic leadership Friday.
“We want to move the country forward; others are trying to turn back the clock,” Jeffries said. “Democrats will rise to the occasion because we believe in a country that provides for the poor, provides for working families, makes sense for the middle class and stands up for senior citizens.”
During her remarks, Warren also shared four broad policies to enhance election safety and access to the ballot during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the senior senator, the federal government and states should stop purging voters and offer online voter registration; allow mail-in ballots, extend polling hours and offer 30 days of early voting; combat disinformation and shore up election security; and provide election infrastructure to states and help maintain sanitary polls.
In addition to the high-profile speeches, representatives and experts hosted panels Friday discussing strategies for flipping the Texas House of Representatives and sessions interviewing congresswomen and the Democratic leaders of the state’s House and Senate.
The Texas Democrats’ virtual convention kicked off Monday with a number of panels on health care policy. The convention, which draws to a close Saturday evening, has also honed in on voting rights, liberals’ strategies for activating minority voting blocs and their plans for ending mass incarceration.
Biden is slotted to address the Texas Dems on Saturday, the last day of the convention.
“Together we can deliver a better future with affordable healthcare for all Americans, with job security for every hardworking family and with a strong democracy that works for the people,” Pelosi said. “Onward to victory.”


courthousenews--2020-06-07--Teenager Leads Protest March Across Golden Gate Bridge

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) – Thousands of people from San Francisco , the greater Bay Area and beyond flocked to the city ’ s iconic Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday to march against police brutality , demanding that systemic racism be put to an end .
Like the massive demonstration in the city ’ s Mission District on Wednesday , it was a grassroots event organized by a 17 year-old girl .
With some help from her friends , Tiana Day planned the march in just a couple of days .
“ It ’ s really important that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are the generation that will bring change and we will be able to conquer racism , ” Day said .
She lives in the affluent East Bay suburb of San Ramon and just graduated from Dougherty Valley High School .
Her father grew up in Richmond , California , a markedly less affluent town 35 miles to the northwest .
“ He grew up in a completely different environment and being able to see how his struggles have led him to where I am , I just want to be able advocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be good leader and a good example , ” Day said .
Holding a march on the Golden Gate Bridge , she added , “ Is everything .
This is a huge landmark in California .
For a lot of the people in the community it ’ s a great place to meet and all march together for a great cause.
” What started as a few dozen people gathered at the Welcome Center quickly grew exponentially .
Standing atop the pedestal that supports a statue honoring chief bridge engineer Joseph Strauss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I have no choice but to use my voice and stand up for black kids in this country to get the same opportunities and chances at success as a white kid does , ” she said .
“ Young black kids lose parents , friends , and siblings to police brutality .
They are scared , they are hurting and they are scarred .
“ What is happening in society today is wrong .
We know the justice system is flawed .
We know racism still exists today after 400 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is the generation that will fix this together.
” Her father , Tiayadi Day , also spoke .
“ This is not an anti-police movement .
The police department has helped us and served us every single day they put their lives on the line for us .
We ’ re not against the police department .
We are against the two , three , maybe five percent that feel that they can victimize people and get away with it , ” he said .
“ If you kill someone , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And if you ’ re a police officer and you kill someone who is unarmed and not a danger to anyone else , there is no reason why you should not be held accountable for your actions .
That ’ s the reason we ’ re here .
We ’ re here to change the laws .
We ’ re here to change the status quo.
” Day , a graduate of San Jose State , wore a t-shirt honoring Tommie Smith , a black athlete from San Jose State who won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympics .
His black power salute with John Carlos , another black Olympian from San Jose State , was a symbolic and powerful moment in black history .
“ John Carlos and Tommy Smith brought a new culture and a new understanding of the Black Panther movement.The Black Panther movement is not an anti-white movement , it ’ s a power to the people movement .
You don ’ t have the strength that you have until you come together as one.
” Day said .
He raised his fist in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it also means power to the people .
We ’ re stronger together , ” he said .
Sunday ’ s protest was a proud moment for Day , who organized protests during the Rodney King era .
“ I ’ m blessed to have my daughter .
I didn ’ t teach her the struggle .
I guess we just lived it.
” In the 14 years he ’ s lived in San Ramon , a predominately white neighborhood , Day said he ’ s been continuously stopped by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had my license ran 2,000 times .
And any of my neighbors— there ’ s no way they ’ d be ran that much , ” he said .
He also works with incarcerated youth in San Francisco , where most of the kids are black and Latino .
“ In the three years that I ’ ve been there , there have been three white people .
In our area right here in San Francisco you ’ re going to tell me there ’ s no white kids committing crimes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they are .
But the punishment is different .
So we ’ re trying to bring awareness to that flight and that plight , ” he said .
People of all races took to the bridge , carrying signs and chanting the names of so many different black men and women who have been killed by the police in recent years , including George Floyd , a Minneapolis man whose killing by a cop who knelt on his neck for nine minutes was captured on camera and sparked a wave of massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tess Fadeck ’ s hometown .
Fadeck , who is white , said , “ The onus is on us to change , we ’ re the ones in positions of power.
” She carried a sign for Tony McDade , a black trans man killed by the police in Tallahassee , Florida just two days after George Floyd .
Trans people suffer disproportionately from police violence , Fadeck said .
There were many families among the marchers as well , including the Sweeneys of Vallejo— Rodderick and Rosaria , and their two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony , 21 .
“ What ’ s going on in the world has got to stop.
” Rodderick said .
Rosaria said , “ We ’ re out here for our kids .
We are here to be a part of making this change.
” Tonita Cervantes , a freelance photojournalist , said she was there for native people who are often overlooked .
“ Statistically , Native Americans have a higher rate of police violence against them , a higher rate of murder by law enforcement than any other ethnic group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have ten times the missing and murdered indigenous women .
We have ten times the suicide rate .
There ’ s a lot of social issues that aren ’ t being addressed , because we ’ re invisible.
” Shaheed Muhammad , 24 , drove up from Fresno with his mother , Felicia Porchia .
“ It could have been me , so many times .
I get harassed by the police for the smallest things .
And I ’ m tired of it .
I see all these organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got backing us and I appreciate every single person here , ” Muhammad said .
Porchia said Muhammad had been inspired by Tiana Day ’ s organizing the bridge march and wants to hold a rally in Fresno .
“ By her doing this , it ’ s motivating him to do even more , ” she said .
They had already attended a protest in Los Angeles and were planning on attending one in Oakland next .
“ This is wonderful .
Wherever , I ’ ve got ta go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ I have a history of union organizing .
It ’ s like working a political campaign , that ’ s what this is , so I ’ m just teaching him and he ’ s taken on that passion.
” The demonstrators ’ march started out heading north , pausing to kneel for nine minutes in Floyd ’ s memory .
They then took the pedestrian walkway under the bridge to the other side .
Traffic hummed along , as passing motorists honked their horns in solidarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrol officers pedaled alongside them on bikes .
Eventually the march spilled into the roadway , and the highway patrol had to close the southbound lane to traffic .
The lane reopened after reports that a woman in labor needed to get to the hospital .
“ Traffic is about to come through so please get out of the road , ” an officer with a megaphone said .
The marchers peacefully cleared to the side .
Muhammed was leading them .
“ This was a peaceful protest .
This is a peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going .
Let ’ s keep it going , but get off the street .
Because there ’ s an emergency , and we need to get off the street , ” he said into a megaphone , Porchia at his side .
He chanted , “ No justice , no peace , no racist ass police.
” Others joined him .
When asked if her son was ready to put on his own march in Fresno , after successfully clearing demonstrators off the freeway , Porchia said , “ Oh yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much , that woman was seriously having contractions , ” an officer told Muhammed , holding out his hand .
Muhammed asked if the officer would take a knee in support of the march , but he declined .
He said would take a bullet for Muhammed or anyone else , though , and that he condemns police brutality .
When Muhammed pointed out that he had put himself at risk to get others to comply with the highway patrols ’ request , the officer replied that he too had been at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split traffic and almost take off about 300 side view mirrors , ” he said .
“ I appreciate what you did , brother .
I just want to know if you ’ re really serious , will you take a kneel for us , for the people , ” Muhammed said .
“ I shake hands , that ’ s what I do , ” the officer said .
“ Stop , that ’ s enough , ” Porchia interjected , protective of her son , and perhaps knowing that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it had been a successful day .
The crowd dispersed peacefully , many heading to the beach or Chrissy Field to lie in the grass .
Not Porchia and Muhammed though .
Their next stop was Oakland .

Tiayadi Day addresses demonstrators before the march on the Golden Gate Bridge (Courthouse News Service photo/Maria Dinzeo)
"This means black power, but it also means power to the people. We’re stronger together,” he said.
Sunday’s protest was a proud moment for Day, who organized protests during the Rodney King era.
"I’m blessed to have my daughter. I didn’t teach her the struggle. I guess we just lived it.”
In the 14 years he’s lived in San Ramon, a predominately white neighborhood, Day said he’s been continuously stopped by the police.
“I’ve probably had my license ran 2,000 times. And any of my neighbors — there’s no way they’d be ran that much,” he said.
He also works with incarcerated youth in San Francisco, where most of the kids are black and Latino.
“In the three years that I’ve been there, there have been three white people,” he said. "In our area right here in San Francisco you’re going to tell me there’s no white kids committing crimes in the city? It’s not true, they are. But the punishment is different. So we’re trying to bring awareness to that flight and that plight."
People of all races took to the bridge, carrying signs and chanting the names of so many different black men and women who have been killed by the police in recent years, including George Floyd, a Minneapolis man whose killing by a cop who knelt on his neck for nine minutes was captured on camera and sparked a wave of massive demonstrations throughout the country.
Minneapolis is Tess Fadeck’s hometown. Fadeck, who is white, said, “The onus is on us to change, we’re the ones in positions of power."
She carried a sign for Tony McDade, a black trans man killed by the police in Tallahassee, Florida, just two days after George Floyd. Trans people suffer disproportionately from police violence, Fadeck said.
There were many families among the marchers as well, including the Sweeneys of Vallejo — Rodderick and Rosaria, and their two children, Giovanna, 16, and Anthony, 21.
"What’s going on in the world has got to stop.” Rodderick said.
Rosaria said: “We’re out here for our kids. We are here to be a part of making this change.”
Tonita Cervantes, a freelance photojournalist, said she was there for native people who are often overlooked.
“Statistically, Native Americans have a higher rate of police violence against them, a higher rate of murder by law enforcement than any other ethnic group in the country," she said. "We have 10 times the missing and murdered indigenous women. We have 10 times the suicide rate. There’s a lot of social issues that aren’t being addressed, because we're invisible.”
Shaheed Muhammad, 24, drove up from Fresno with his mother, Felicia Porchia.
“It could have been me, so many times. I get harassed by the police for the smallest things. And I’m tired of it. I see all these organizations, all these different races that we’ve got backing us and I appreciate every single person here,” Muhammad said.
Porchia said Muhammad had been inspired by Tiana Day’s organizing the bridge march and wants to hold a rally in Fresno.
“By her doing this, it’s motivating him to do even more,” she said.
Tiayadi Day, of San Ramon, marches on the Golden Gate Bridge (Courthouse News Service photo/Maria Dinzeo)
They had already attended a protest in Los Angeles and were planning on attending one in Oakland next.
“This is wonderful. Wherever, I’ve gotta go, I’m going to go,” she said. "I have a history of union organizing. It’s like working a political campaign, that’s what this is, so I’m just teaching him and he’s taken on that passion.”
The demonstrators' march started out heading north, pausing to kneel for nine minutes in Floyd’s memory.
They then took the pedestrian walkway under the bridge to the other side. Traffic hummed along, as passing motorists honked their horns in solidarity with the marchers. Golden Gate Bridge Patrol officers pedaled alongside them on bikes.
Eventually the march spilled into the roadway, and the highway patrol had to close the southbound lane to traffic. The lane reopened after reports that a woman in labor needed to get to the hospital. “Traffic is about to come through so please get out of the road,” an officer with a megaphone said.
The marchers peacefully cleared to the side.
Muhammed was leading them. "This was a peaceful protest. This is a peaceful protest. Let’s keep this going. Let’s keep it going, but get off the street. Because there’s an emergency, and we need to get off the street,” he said into a megaphone, Porchia at his side. He chanted" “No justice, no peace, no racist-ass police.” Others joined him.
When asked if her son was ready to put on his own march in Fresno, after successfully clearing demonstrators off the freeway, Porchia said, “Oh, yes, we got this.”
“Thank you so much, that woman was seriously having contractions,” an officer told Muhammed, holding out his hand.
Muhammed asked if the officer would take a knee in support of the march, but he declined. He said would take a bullet for Muhammed or anyone else, though, and that he condemns police brutality.
When Muhammed pointed out that he had put himself at risk to get others to comply with the highway patrols’ request, the officer replied that he too had been at risk.
“I just had to split traffic and almost take off about 300 side view mirrors,” he said.
“I appreciate what you did, brother. I just want to know if you’re really serious, will you take a kneel for us, for the people,” Muhammed said.
“I shake hands, that’s what I do,” the officer said.
“Stop, that’s enough,” Porchia interjected, protective of her son, and perhaps knowing that it was futile. She guided Muhammed away.
But it had been a successful day. The crowd dispersed peacefully, many heading to the beach or Chrissy Field to lie in the grass.
Not Porchia and Muhammed though. Their next stop was Oakland.


courthousenews--2020-06-08--St. Louis Protest Organizers Call for Reparations, Defunding of Police

ST. LOUIS ( CN ) — Joining millions of others across the country , thousands of protesters took to the streets of downtown St. Louis on Sunday afternoon to protest institutional racism and police brutality in honor of George Floyd .
A diverse group of at least 4,000 braved temperatures that were flirting with triple-digits and humidity to match in a march from city hall to the city ’ s police department .
Caleb Camp carried a sign that read , “ I ’ m a college graduate , not a thug !
” a reference to President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have swept through the country since video of Floyd ’ s killing on May 25 went viral .
Floyd , a black man , died in Minneapolis after since-fired police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes .
Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder .
“ It just makes me feel like I ’ m not wanted here in this nation , ” Camp said of Trump ’ s reaction to the protests .
“ I ’ m doing right , getting my education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the color of my skin , I ’ m a thug , that makes me feel bad because I ’ ve done a lot of good and I have a lot going on for myself .
“ So , when the President the United States would say that , that ’ s definitely something that somebody of his stature , or his level of power shouldn ’ t be saying , because all that does is down people of color , ” Camp added .
Camp said the video of Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and brought back memories of Michael Brown , who was killed by a white police officer in nearby Ferguson , Missouri , in August 2014 .
Camp hopes the protests lead to an end of the systemic racism that African-Americans have endured for hundreds of years .
“ Being out here with all these people , being united , it ’ s really refreshing , ” Camp said .
“ It ’ s a breath of fresh air just to see how many people can come together for a cause like this.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests carry into November at the ballot box .
“ I just want to see , you know , more representation or voices in different places of power , ” Swift said .
“ As much as we are against the system , it ’ s not going to change if we ’ re not in it .
So , I feel like the best thing is for us to be able to infiltrate these systems and influence them just as much they influence us.
” For many protesters , the video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Being a black person , you realize that could be my dad , my uncle , my brother , ” Maria Vaughn said .
“ So , you just have to come out here and do what ’ s right , regardless.
” The demonstration began at 2 p.m. on the steps of city hall .
The four organizers , who declined to be specifically named by media , addressed the crowd and listed their demands against police violence .
The group seeks reparations for the black community , the defunding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a redirection of those funds to bolster black communities , and wants black people to be tried in court by juries consisting of members from their respective black communities .
The group also seeks an end to the privatization of education and the abolishment and reconstruction of the entire police system .
Several speakers addressed the crowd , including an area pastor and his 14-year-old daughter who read an emotional poem that she wrote about police brutality against black people .
Other speakers included a community organizer and activist , an LGBTQ activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the speeches , the organizers preached peace and told demonstrators that water and snack stations were located along the march route .
They also made medics available to those overcome by the unseasonably warm temperatures .
The demonstration then marched to the St. Louis Police Department .
Marchers held signs and chanted familiar phrases including , “ George Floyd !
Brionna Taylor !
” “ What do we want ?
Justice !
When do we want it ?
Now !
” and “ Hands Up !
Don ’ t Shoot !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up after protests turned violent on June 1 when 55 structures were burned or damaged , four police officers were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries and a former police officer who was working security at a pawn shop was killed .
The violent night prompted protest leaders to momentarily halt the demonstrations and for Mayor Lyda Krewson to issue a curfew .
Kristina and Ashley joined the crowd demanding justice .
They said they are held to a code of ethics as social workers and that police should be held to the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about St. Louis ’ long history of racial injustice , including the Dred Scott trial , which occurred in the city ’ s now historic courthouse building and eventually was settled in the U.S. Supreme Court .
In a 7-2 decision in that case , the nation ’ s high court ruled in 1853 that black people “ are not included , and were not intended to be included , under the word ‘ citizens ’ in the Constitution , and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States.
” “ Police accountability , police education , defunding the police in St. Louis , making reparations for communities that have been heard for hundreds of years , ” Kristina said .
“ Like 163 years ago , Dred Scott walked these streets fighting the same fight , and it ’ s absurd that we ’ re here today still doing this .
”

Joining millions of others across the country, thousands of protesters took to the streets of downtown St. Louis on Sunday afternoon to protest institutional racism and police brutality in honor of George Floyd.
ST. LOUIS (CN) — Joining millions of others across the country, thousands of protesters took to the streets of downtown St. Louis on Sunday afternoon to protest institutional racism and police brutality in honor of George Floyd.
A diverse group of at least 4,000 braved temperatures that were flirting with triple-digits and humidity to match in a march from city hall to the city’s police department.
Caleb Camp carried a sign that read, “I’m a college graduate, not a thug!” a reference to President Donald Trump’s controversial tweets regarding the protests that have swept through the country since video of Floyd’s killing on May 25 went viral.
Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis after since-fired police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder.
“It just makes me feel like I’m not wanted here in this nation,” Camp said of Trump’s reaction to the protests. “I'm doing right, getting my education, and for somebody to say that just because of the color of my skin, I’m a thug, that makes me feel bad because I've done a lot of good and I have a lot going on for myself.
“So, when the President the United States would say that, that's definitely something that somebody of his stature, or his level of power shouldn’t be saying, because all that does is down people of color,” Camp added.
Camp said the video of Floyd’s death “is heartbreaking” and brought back memories of Michael Brown, who was killed by a white police officer in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014.
Camp hopes the protests lead to an end of the systemic racism that African-Americans have endured for hundreds of years.
“Being out here with all these people, being united, it's really refreshing,” Camp said. “It's a breath of fresh air just to see how many people can come together for a cause like this.”
Malcolm Swift hopes the momentum of the protests carry into November at the ballot box.
“I just want to see, you know, more representation or voices in different places of power,” Swift said. “As much as we are against the system, it's not going to change if we're not in it. So, I feel like the best thing is for us to be able to infiltrate these systems and influence them just as much they influence us.”
For many protesters, the video of Floyd’s death stoked powerful emotions.
“Being a black person, you realize that could be my dad, my uncle, my brother,” Maria Vaughn said. “So, you just have to come out here and do what's right, regardless.”
The demonstration began at 2 p.m. on the steps of city hall. The four organizers, who declined to be specifically named by media, addressed the crowd and listed their demands against police violence.
The group seeks reparations for the black community, the defunding of the militarization of the police and a redirection of those funds to bolster black communities, and wants black people to be tried in court by juries consisting of members from their respective black communities. The group also seeks an end to the privatization of education and the abolishment and reconstruction of the entire police system.
Several speakers addressed the crowd, including an area pastor and his 14-year-old daughter who read an emotional poem that she wrote about police brutality against black people. Other speakers included a community organizer and activist, an LGBTQ activist, a teacher and a congressional candidate.
After the speeches, the organizers preached peace and told demonstrators that water and snack stations were located along the march route. They also made medics available to those overcome by the unseasonably warm temperatures.
The demonstration then marched to the St. Louis Police Department. Marchers held signs and chanted familiar phrases including, “George Floyd! Brionna Taylor!” “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” and “Hands Up! Don’t Shoot!”
The march passed by buildings boarded up after protests turned violent on June 1 when 55 structures were burned or damaged, four police officers were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries and a former police officer who was working security at a pawn shop was killed. The violent night prompted protest leaders to momentarily halt the demonstrations and for Mayor Lyda Krewson to issue a curfew.
Kristina and Ashley joined the crowd demanding justice. They said they are held to a code of ethics as social workers and that police should be held to the same.
They couldn’t help but think about St. Louis’ long history of racial injustice, including the Dred Scott trial, which occurred in the city’s now historic courthouse building and eventually was settled in the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 7-2 decision in that case, the nation’s high court ruled in 1853 that black people "are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word 'citizens' in the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States."
“Police accountability, police education, defunding the police in St. Louis, making reparations for communities that have been heard for hundreds of years,” Kristina said. “Like 163 years ago, Dred Scott walked these streets fighting the same fight, and it's absurd that we're here today still doing this.”


courthousenews--2020-06-08--Omaha Protesters March for Justice

Omaha Protesters March for Justice

OMAHA , Neb .
( CN ) — A loud but peaceful crowd of over 1000 people Sunday marched from Crossroads Mall in Omaha , Nebraska , where the city ’ s most intense protests originated a week ago , to a nearby park to protest police violence and mourn the death of James Scurlock , a 22-year-old black man who was shot and killed by a white business owner during unrest last weekend .
“ There are times when it seems there ’ s nothing we can do , ” said Jilaya Dailey , an Omaha native who participated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Today we will show the city , state and nation that it ’ s time for a change to come as far as injustices done to black men and women .
I have a black husband , son , grandson .
I don ’ t want them to be the next hashtag.
” As the march was led up the city ’ s busiest street by Leo Louis , board president of the Malcolm X Foundation , the group chanted “ the people united will never be defeated ” and “ justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocks to address the crowd over a bullhorn .
“ We are tired , ” Louis said .
“ Physically , spiritually , literally .
We are tired of having these over and over again .
We are tired of having this conversation over and over again .
Who ’ s ready for change ?
” Despite a heat index that approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit and continuing threats from the spread of Covid-19 , a group of more than 1000 people made the 1.5-mile march uphill and rallied in Memorial Park .
Almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free masks were available for those who lacked their own .
Bottles of water were also made available along the route .
“ We want to show unity in the community and show we can unite , no matter who we are , ” organizer Precious McKesson said .
She added that safety and maintaining the peace were a big part of the organizers ’ goals .
The demonstration was coordinated with local police and the city parks department to ensure the route was blocked to traffic and the gathering was legal at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being granted due to concerns with the pandemic .
Organizers , the Scurlock family , police and city officials saw this particular gathering as necessary .
“ This event closes out another weekend of protests to show that we are all ready to move in the right direction to create systemic and systematic change in the greater Omaha area , ” Jasmine Harris , a community advocate and one of the organizers said .
At the rally , the speakers included James Scurlock II , the father of the slain young man ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scurlock family ; and Lt. Sherie Thomas of the Omaha Police Department .
Thomas , a black woman , choked up when she told the crowd that her heart grieves because of everything that has happened .
“ We see you .
We hear you .
We know that people are hurting , ” she said .
When Scurlock took the mic , everyone in the crowd took a knee to honor his son .
“ I want you to continue this , continue it like we started it , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand jury .
The wheels of justice just started.
” Wayne mentioned in his remarks that a petition to compel the creation of a grand jury to investigate the killing of James Scurlock gathered 50,000 signatures in two days .
Donald Kleine , the county attorney who initially declined to press charges against Scurlock ’ s killer , ceded to public outrage later in the week and said he would request a special prosecutor be appointed to present the case to a grand jury .
“ True justice for James means we don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation 30 years from now , ” Wayne said .
“ Omaha and the rest of the world is coming together with one simple message : ‘ No more.
’ We can talk about Eric Garner , but we don ’ t have to look any farther than Omaha to say , ‘ no more.
’ ” This is the ninth day of protests in Omaha .
The protests began , as they did across the country and world , to object to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city have also focused on the 2017 killing of a mentally ill Native American man , Zachary Bearheels , who died after being repeatedly shocked and punched while in police custody .
Demonstrations intensified and refocused over the week after the death of the younger Scurlock and the announcement that no charges would be levied against his killer .
Early in the week , on the same day the decision was announced , passions were stoked further as reports emerged that Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts , a Republican , heatedly used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressing community leaders from north Omaha ’ s traditionally black neighborhoods .
Ricketts apologized for the remark .
The most intense demonstrations in Omaha occurred last weekend .
On May 29 , peaceful demonstrations near Crossroads Mall turned violent when police officers in riot gear attempted to remove protesters with a combination of tear gas , pepper spray and rubber bullets .
Protesters who returned the next night were met with swifter police action , then turned their focus downtown to police headquarters , two courthouse buildings and the city ’ s Old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters and belligerents sparred with police into the morning hours that Saturday , as many watched the events unfold via livestream feeds on social media platforms .
The windows of numerous buildings were shattered and tagged with anti-police graffiti .
It was also on Saturday , just before midnight , when James Scurlock was shot and died in the Old Market .
Scurlock and several others came into conflict with Jake Gardner , a nightclub owner , and Gardner ’ s father .
According to surveillance video and various recordings posted to Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensued after Gardner and his father attempted to remove a group of young men from the sidewalk .
Gardner fell onto the street and fired what the county attorney termed as “ warning shots ” before he was tackled by Scurlock .
After shouting to be let free , Gardner shot over his shoulder and fatally wounded Scurlock .
On Monday , Kleine called the killing “ senseless but justified ” when he declined to press charges against Gardner .
Although Nebraska does not have a Stand Your Ground law , Kleine determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend himself , as he believed his life was in danger .
Scurlock was unarmed .
On Sunday , Vickie Young , president of Omaha NAACP , called for the demands for justice to grow .
“ African-Americans are battling two pandemics at once , the outbreak of the coronavirus , and the infiltration of racism in our communities , ” Young said .
“ In order to advance as a society , we must unite around the outrage we feel and fight for the justice we demand .
Now is the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we guide our city and our nation to the right side of justice.
” Others at the demonstration expressed optimism that the Black Lives Matter movement will succeed .
“ I ’ ve seen so much turning out , ” said Shawntelle Smith , a native Omahan who has participated in protests all week .
“ It ’ s ridiculous that we ’ re here again .
But I ’ m optimistic after seeing the turnout at peaceful protests.
” Meanwhile , a young man named Marcus said he is looking for real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m hopeful things will change , but still skeptical , ” he said .
“ Time will tell .
”

A loud but peaceful crowd of over 1000 people Sunday marched from Crossroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, where the city’s most intense protests originated a week ago, to a nearby park to protest police violence and mourn the death of James Scurlock, a 22-year-old black man who was shot and killed by a white business owner during unrest last weekend.
OMAHA, Neb. (CN) — A loud but peaceful crowd of over 1000 people Sunday marched from Crossroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, where the city’s most intense protests originated a week ago, to a nearby park to protest police violence and mourn the death of James Scurlock, a 22-year-old black man who was shot and killed by a white business owner during unrest last weekend.
“There are times when it seems there’s nothing we can do,” said Jilaya Dailey, an Omaha native who participated in the march to show solidarity. “Today we will show the city, state and nation that it’s time for a change to come as far as injustices done to black men and women. I have a black husband, son, grandson. I don’t want them to be the next hashtag.”
As the march was led up the city’s busiest street by Leo Louis, board president of the Malcolm X Foundation, the group chanted “the people united will never be defeated” and “justice for James.”
Louis stopped every couple blocks to address the crowd over a bullhorn. “We are tired,” Louis said. “Physically, spiritually, literally. We are tired of having these over and over again. We are tired of having this conversation over and over again. Who’s ready for change?”
Despite a heat index that approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit and continuing threats from the spread of Covid-19, a group of more than 1000 people made the 1.5-mile march uphill and rallied in Memorial Park. Almost every marcher wore a mask, as free masks were available for those who lacked their own. Bottles of water were also made available along the route.
“We want to show unity in the community and show we can unite, no matter who we are,” organizer Precious McKesson said. She added that safety and maintaining the peace were a big part of the organizers’ goals.
The demonstration was coordinated with local police and the city parks department to ensure the route was blocked to traffic and the gathering was legal at a time when no park rentals are being granted due to concerns with the pandemic.
Organizers, the Scurlock family, police and city officials saw this particular gathering as necessary.
“This event closes out another weekend of protests to show that we are all ready to move in the right direction to create systemic and systematic change in the greater Omaha area,” Jasmine Harris, a community advocate and one of the organizers said.
At the rally, the speakers included James Scurlock II, the father of the slain young man; Justin Wayne, an attorney representing the Scurlock family; and Lt. Sherie Thomas of the Omaha Police Department.
Thomas, a black woman, choked up when she told the crowd that her heart grieves because of everything that has happened. “We see you. We hear you. We know that people are hurting,” she said.
When Scurlock took the mic, everyone in the crowd took a knee to honor his son.
“I want you to continue this, continue it like we started it,” he said. “You all got us the grand jury. The wheels of justice just started.”
Wayne mentioned in his remarks that a petition to compel the creation of a grand jury to investigate the killing of James Scurlock gathered 50,000 signatures in two days. Donald Kleine, the county attorney who initially declined to press charges against Scurlock’s killer, ceded to public outrage later in the week and said he would request a special prosecutor be appointed to present the case to a grand jury.
A memorial for James Scurlock in Obama, Nebraska.(Courthouse News photo/Ted Wheeler)
“True justice for James means we don’t have to have the same conversation 30 years from now,” Wayne said. “Omaha and the rest of the world is coming together with one simple message: ‘No more.’ We can talk about Eric Garner, but we don’t have to look any farther than Omaha to say, ‘no more.’”


courthousenews--2020-06-07--Minneapolis City Council Members Want to Dismantle Police Department

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( CN ) — Amid a weekend of protests against racism and police brutality in the Twin Cities and around the world , several members of the Minneapolis City Council announced their intent to dismantle the city ’ s police department .
Nine of the council ’ s 12 members — a veto-proof majority — appeared at a rally Sunday to discuss their plans .
“ Our commitment is to do what ’ s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth — that the Minneapolis police are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Bender said .
“ Our commitment is to end our city ’ s toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department , to end policing as we know it , and to re-create systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.
” Discussions of dismantling or disbanding Minneapolis Police Department have circulated widely around the Twin Cities throughout the week .
Bender and councilmembers Jeremiah Ellison , Phillippe Cunningham and Steve Fletcher were early advocates for the end of the department , citing its long history of racism and excessive force complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey , who campaigned on and enacted a platform of increasing police funding despite council resistance .
On Saturday , Frey was shamed into leaving a protest after he refused to commit to disbanding the police .
At the thousands-strong protest led by the Black Visions Collective in the city ’ s north side Saturday afternoon , the group ’ s founder Kandace Montgomery asked Frey : “ Yes or no : will you commit to defunding the Minneapolis Police Department.
” “ We don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” she said .
“ We don ’ t want people with guns , toting them around in our community , shooting us down .
Do you have an answer ?
It is a yes or a no.
” After Frey replied that he does not support the “ full abolition of the police department , ” he was shouted away from the scene .
“ Go home , Jacob , go home , ” the crowd chanted , followed by “ Shame .
Shame .
Shame.
” Frey is up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutting the city ’ s police department budget — or disbanding the department entirely — argue that money saved on police department hardware , training and manpower , along with the city ’ s long parade of settlements to injured citizens or their families , could be put toward improving social programs while police duties are reallocated to other departments or organizations .
Opponents are skeptical that the police could sufficiently be replaced by community investment alone .
Frey was not the only public official targeted at protests over the weekend .
Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democratic Society and the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar at the downtown St. Paul office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison late Friday afternoon to demand widespread police reform and the reopening of investigations into all police-involved killings .
Ellison took over the murder case against Derek Chauvin , who knelt on George Floyd ’ s neck May 25 for almost nine minutes , May 30 .
Since then , Ellison has announced aiding-and-abetting charges against three other officers and upgraded the murder charge against Chauvin from third to second-degree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one organizer said , to let Ellison know that while he was doing well so far , they were watching him .
Ellison and his successors may soon have a still larger role in prosecuting police killings : the Minnesota County Attorneys Association voted Thursday to recommend giving the Attorney General ’ s office authority to take on all cases of police-involved killings .
That move is one of many big changes being discussed in Minnesota ’ s justice and policing systems .
In the last two weeks several institutions have cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department , including Minneapolis Public Schools , the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board , the University of Minnesota and local arts institutions like the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and First Avenue — the state ’ s most famous music club .
Dorsey and Whitney , one of the city ’ s largest law firms , also announced an end to a program in which its associates gained experience by working pro bono to prosecute misdemeanors for the Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office .
The Minneapolis City Council voted Friday to ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the one Chauvin used on Floyd .
The council also discussed a variety of other measures meant to increase transparency in conjunction with a state investigation into the police department .
“ We have tasted victory , ” Sarah Martin of Women Against Military Madness said at a protest Friday evening in St. Paul after the city council ’ s vote .
“ But this is only the beginning.
” “ Don ’ t let them give us a few minnows when we ’ re out here marlin hunting , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his , Travis Jordan , was killed by Minneapolis police in January of 2019 when they responded to a call from Jordan ’ s girlfriend in which she reported that Jordan was suicidal .
Demonstrators at the Friday protest , which covered the better part of three city blocks , had widely varying views on what they wanted from the powers that be .
Some students advocated to disarm the University of Minnesota Police Department , arguing that a gun-free campus should not have armed police .
Many demonstrators called for total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There has to be systematic change .
Something top-down , bottom-up on how we train officers , how we equip our communities to handle situations where there ’ s racial disparity , ” said Andrew Harrison , a teacher at St. Paul Public Schools .
“ There ’ s never going to be a silver bullet to this .
And it ’ s going to take generations to really fix everything .
If this is going to be the catalyst , let it be the catalyst.
” All broadly agreed on one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fight .
“ We played by their rules , and we waited , ” Jason Heisler told the crowd , recounting the story of his black , autistic son ’ s 2019 killing at the hands of police in the suburb of Brooklyn Center .
Police shot Kobe Heisler while responding to a domestic call his grandfather had made , despite the fact that the grandfather asked dispatchers to cancel the call .
Even as a white man himself , Heisler said , he struggled to get a straight story out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by cops taking a knee , ” Heisler said .
“ We don ’ t need cops taking a knee .
We need change.
” After several speeches , the group marched to the Capitol , watched closely by the St. Paul Police Department and National Guard .
Downtown St. Paul is built on hills and bluffs , and protest leaders struggled to keep up their chants as they climbed toward the empty building that seats Minnesota ’ s government .
St. Paul police kept relatively cool as leaders led the marchers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a long-winded variation on a shorthand for “ fuck the police ” that has peppered walls and dominated protests since Floyd ’ s death on May 25 .
“ Fuck 12 , that ’ s right , and fuck the legislature , too , ” one woman shouted into a microphone .
“ It took us practically burning the fucking city down to show them that we need change .
”

After a weekend of protests against racism and police brutality in the Twin Cities and around the world, several members of the Minneapolis City Council announced their intent to dismantle the city’s police department.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (CN) — Amid a weekend of protests against racism and police brutality in the Twin Cities and around the world, several members of the Minneapolis City Council announced their intent to dismantle the city’s police department.
Nine of the council’s 12 members — a veto-proof majority — appeared at a rally Sunday to discuss their plans.
“Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth — that the Minneapolis police are not doing that, Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said. "Our commitment is to end our city’s toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department, to end policing as we know it, and to re-create systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.”
Discussions of dismantling or disbanding Minneapolis Police Department have circulated widely around the Twin Cities throughout the week. Bender and councilmembers Jeremiah Ellison, Phillippe Cunningham and Steve Fletcher were early advocates for the end of the department, citing its long history of racism and excessive force complaints.
The discussion has put them in conflict with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who campaigned on and enacted a platform of increasing police funding despite council resistance.
On Saturday, Frey was shamed into leaving a protest after he refused to commit to disbanding the police.
At the thousands-strong protest led by the Black Visions Collective in the city’s north side Saturday afternoon, the group’s founder Kandace Montgomery asked Frey: “Yes or no: will you commit to defunding the Minneapolis Police Department.”
“We don’t want no more police. Is that clear?” she said. “We don’t want people with guns, toting them around in our community, shooting us down. Do you have an answer? It is a yes or a no.”
After Frey replied that he does not support the “full abolition of the police department,” he was shouted away from the scene.
“Go home, Jacob, go home,” the crowd chanted, followed by “Shame. Shame. Shame.”
Frey is up for reelection in 2021.
Those who support cutting the city’s police department budget — or disbanding the department entirely — argue that money saved on police department hardware, training and manpower, along with the city’s long parade of settlements to injured citizens or their families, could be put toward improving social programs while police duties are reallocated to other departments or organizations. Opponents are skeptical that the police could sufficiently be replaced by community investment alone.
Frey was not the only public official targeted at protests over the weekend. Black Lives Matter organizers joined the Students for a Democratic Society and the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar at the downtown St. Paul office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison late Friday afternoon to demand widespread police reform and the reopening of investigations into all police-involved killings.
Ellison took over the murder case against Derek Chauvin, who knelt on George Floyd’s neck May 25 for almost nine minutes, May 30. Since then, Ellison has announced aiding-and-abetting charges against three other officers and upgraded the murder charge against Chauvin from third to second-degree. The group gathered outside his office, one organizer said, to let Ellison know that while he was doing well so far, they were watching him.
Ellison and his successors may soon have a still larger role in prosecuting police killings: the Minnesota County Attorneys Association voted Thursday to recommend giving the Attorney General’s office authority to take on all cases of police-involved killings.
That move is one of many big changes being discussed in Minnesota’s justice and policing systems. In the last two weeks several institutions have cut or reevaluated their ties to the Minneapolis Police Department, including Minneapolis Public Schools, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, the University of Minnesota and local arts institutions like the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and First Avenue — the state’s most famous music club.
Dorsey and Whitney, one of the city’s largest law firms, also announced an end to a program in which its associates gained experience by working pro bono to prosecute misdemeanors for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The Minneapolis City Council voted Friday to ban police from using chokeholds and neck restraints, including the one Chauvin used on Floyd. The council also discussed a variety of other measures meant to increase transparency in conjunction with a state investigation into the police department.
“We have tasted victory,” Sarah Martin of Women Against Military Madness said at a protest Friday evening in St. Paul after the city council’s vote. “But this is only the beginning.”
“Don’t let them give us a few minnows when we’re out here marlin hunting,” demonstrator Paul Johnson said. A friend of his, Travis Jordan, was killed by Minneapolis police in January of 2019 when they responded to a call from Jordan’s girlfriend in which she reported that Jordan was suicidal.
Demonstrators at the Friday protest, which covered the better part of three city blocks, had widely varying views on what they wanted from the powers that be.
Some students advocated to disarm the University of Minnesota Police Department, arguing that a gun-free campus should not have armed police. Many demonstrators called for total police abolition. Others were reform-minded.
“There has to be systematic change. Something top-down, bottom-up on how we train officers, how we equip our communities to handle situations where there’s racial disparity,” said Andrew Harrison, a teacher at St. Paul Public Schools. “There’s never going to be a silver bullet to this. And it’s going to take generations to really fix everything. If this is going to be the catalyst, let it be the catalyst.”
All broadly agreed on one thing: they would get nothing without a fight.
“We played by their rules, and we waited,” Jason Heisler told the crowd, recounting the story of his black, autistic son’s 2019 killing at the hands of police in the suburb of Brooklyn Center. Police shot Kobe Heisler while responding to a domestic call his grandfather had made, despite the fact that the grandfather asked dispatchers to cancel the call. Even as a white man himself, Heisler said, he struggled to get a straight story out of police.
“George Floyd was murdered by cops taking a knee,” Heisler said. “We don’t need cops taking a knee. We need change.”
After several speeches, the group marched to the Capitol, watched closely by the St. Paul Police Department and National Guard. Downtown St. Paul is built on hills and bluffs, and protest leaders struggled to keep up their chants as they climbed toward the empty building that seats Minnesota’s government.
St. Paul police kept relatively cool as leaders led the marchers in a chant of “1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-FUCK 12,” a long-winded variation on a shorthand for “fuck the police” that has peppered walls and dominated protests since Floyd’s death on May 25.
“Fuck 12, that’s right, and fuck the legislature, too,” one woman shouted into a microphone. “It took us practically burning the fucking city down to show them that we need change.”


courthousenews--2020-06-08--NY Times Editorial Page Editor Resigns Amid Fury

NEW YORK ( AP ) — The New York Times ’ editorial page editor resigned Sunday after the newspaper disowned an opinion piece by Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton that advocated using federal troops to quell unrest , and it was later revealed he hadn ’ t read the piece before publication .
James Bennet resigned and his deputy , James Dao , is being reassigned at the newspaper , the Times said Sunday .
The fallout was swift after the Cotton ’ s piece was posted online late Wednesday .
It caused a revolt among Times journalists , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many calling in sick on Thursday in protest .
After a review , the newspaper said Cotton ’ s piece should not have been published , at least not without substantial revisions .
Katie Kingsbury , a Pulitzer Prize-winner for editorial writing who joined the Times from the Boston Globe in 2017 , will oversee the opinion pages through the November elections , the Times said .
Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger said in a statement that he was grateful for changes Bennet had made to the paper ’ s opinion pages , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was editor of The Atlantic before taking over the Times ’ opinion pages in 2016 , had received some heat for adding new voices , including conservative columnist Bret Stephens .
The publisher told a Times reporter that he and Bennet both “ concluded that James would not be able to lead the team through the next leg of change required.
” It was the second high-level journalism job lost because of mistakes made in coverage of the nationwide protests about the treatment of blacks by law enforcement .
The top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wischnowski , resigned Saturday after uproar over a headline that said , “ Buildings Matter , Too.
” Even before Bennet ’ s resignation and the paper rescinding its support for Cotton ’ s piece , Sulzberger had called for beefing up the opinion section ’ s fact-checking and suggesting that it was publishing too many opinion pieces by outsiders .
The Times reported that Cotton ’ s piece was edited by Adam Rubenstein .
But Dao , in a tweet on Saturday , revealed that he supervised the acceptance and review of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be placed on the department ’ s leadership , not Rubenstein .
Cotton on Sunday tweeted an initial copy of a Times article about Bennet ’ s resignation , saying it was “ false and offensive.
” He said he advocated using military force as a backup only if police are overwhelmed , to stop riots — not against protesters .
Cotton retweeted President Trump , who said that “ the State of Arkansas is very proud of Tom .
The New York Times is Fake News !
” He had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bennet , who revealed in a meeting in a meeting on Friday that he had not read Cotton ’ s piece before it was posted online , had defended it after the initial protests , saying it was important to hear from all points of view .
But the Times review criticized several aspects of Cotton ’ s piece , starting with the headline , “ Send in the Troops , ” which the newspaper said in an editor ’ s note Saturday was “ incendiary and should not have been used.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-wing radicals like antifa infiltrating protest marches to exploit ” Floyd ’ s death , when in fact , there has been little evidence of antifa ’ s involvement in the demonstrations .
Cotton ’ s statement that police had borne the brunt of violence stemming from the demonstrations should have been challenged , the newspaper said .
The newspaper said that “ given the life-and-death importance of the topic , the senator ’ s influential position and the gravity of the steps he advocates , the essay should have undergone the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother of Senator Michael Bennet , a Colorado Democrat , was declining requests for interviews , a Times spokeswoman said .
Sulzberger was unavailable , she said .
Sulzberger also told the Times the Cotton incident was “ a significant breakdown in our editing processes , not the first we ’ ve experienced in recent years.
” The opinion section received criticism in 2019 for publishing an unsubstantiated allegation against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh .

The New York Times' editorial page editor resigned Sunday after the newspaper disowned an opinion piece by Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton that advocated using federal troops to quell unrest, and it was later revealed he hadn't read the piece before publication.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times' editorial page editor resigned Sunday after the newspaper disowned an opinion piece by Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton that advocated using federal troops to quell unrest, and it was later revealed he hadn't read the piece before publication.
James Bennet resigned and his deputy, James Dao, is being reassigned at the newspaper, the Times said Sunday.
The fallout was swift after the Cotton’s piece was posted online late Wednesday. It caused a revolt among Times journalists, with some saying it endangered black employees and many calling in sick on Thursday in protest.
After a review, the newspaper said Cotton's piece should not have been published, at least not without substantial revisions.
Katie Kingsbury, a Pulitzer Prize-winner for editorial writing who joined the Times from the Boston Globe in 2017, will oversee the opinion pages through the November elections, the Times said.
Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger said in a statement that he was grateful for changes Bennet had made to the paper’s opinion pages, including broadening the range of voices. Bennet, who was editor of The Atlantic before taking over the Times’ opinion pages in 2016, had received some heat for adding new voices, including conservative columnist Bret Stephens.
The publisher told a Times reporter that he and Bennet both "concluded that James would not be able to lead the team through the next leg of change required."
It was the second high-level journalism job lost because of mistakes made in coverage of the nationwide protests about the treatment of blacks by law enforcement. The top editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Stan Wischnowski, resigned Saturday after uproar over a headline that said, "Buildings Matter, Too."
James Bennet in New York on Aug. 16, 2017, when he was the editorial page editor of The New York Times. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister, File)
Even before Bennet's resignation and the paper rescinding its support for Cotton's piece, Sulzberger had called for beefing up the opinion section's fact-checking and suggesting that it was publishing too many opinion pieces by outsiders.
The Times reported that Cotton's piece was edited by Adam Rubenstein. But Dao, in a tweet on Saturday, revealed that he supervised the acceptance and review of Cotton's piece and that blame should be placed on the department's leadership, not Rubenstein.
Cotton on Sunday tweeted an initial copy of a Times article about Bennet's resignation, saying it was "false and offensive." He said he advocated using military force as a backup only if police are overwhelmed, to stop riots — not against protesters.
Cotton retweeted President Trump, who said that "the State of Arkansas is very proud of Tom. The New York Times is Fake News!"
He had no other comment, a spokeswoman said.
Bennet, who revealed in a meeting in a meeting on Friday that he had not read Cotton's piece before it was posted online, had defended it after the initial protests, saying it was important to hear from all points of view.
But the Times review criticized several aspects of Cotton's piece, starting with the headline, "Send in the Troops," which the newspaper said in an editor's note Saturday was "incendiary and should not have been used."
Cotton's essay referred to "left-wing radicals like antifa infiltrating protest marches to exploit" Floyd's death, when in fact, there has been little evidence of antifa's involvement in the demonstrations. Cotton's statement that police had borne the brunt of violence stemming from the demonstrations should have been challenged, the newspaper said.
The newspaper said that "given the life-and-death importance of the topic, the senator's influential position and the gravity of the steps he advocates, the essay should have undergone the highest level of scrutiny."
Bennet, the brother of Senator Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, was declining requests for interviews, a Times spokeswoman said. Sulzberger was unavailable, she said.
Sulzberger also told the Times the Cotton incident was "a significant breakdown in our editing processes, not the first we've experienced in recent years." The opinion section received criticism in 2019 for publishing an unsubstantiated allegation against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
By DAVID BAUDER


courthousenews--2020-06-08--Worldwide Virus Deaths Surpass 400,000

Worldwide Virus Deaths Surpass 400,000

BARCELONA , Spain ( AP ) — The confirmed global death toll from the Covid-19 virus reached at least 400,000 fatalities on Sunday , a day after the government of Brazil broke with standard public health protocols by ceasing to publish updates of the number of deaths and infections in the South American epicenter of the disease .
Worldwide , at least 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus , according to Johns Hopkins University , whose aggregated tally has become the main worldwide reference for monitoring the disease .
It says United States leads the world with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe recorded more than 175,000 since the virus emerged in China late last year .
Health experts , however , believe that the John Hopkins tally falls short of showing the true tragedy of the pandemic .
Many governments have struggled to produce statistics that can reasonably be considered as true indicators of the pandemic given the scarcity of diagnostic tests , especially in the first phase of the crisis .
Authorities in Italy and Spain , with more than 60,000 combined deaths , have acknowledged that their true death count is larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil ’ s government has stopped publishing a running total of coronavirus deaths and infections ; critics say it ’ s an attempt to hide the toll of the disease .
President Jair Bolsonaro went as far as to tweet on Saturday that his country ’ s disease totals are “ not representative ” of Brazil ’ s situation , insinuating that the numbers were overestimating the spread of the virus — a view the opposite of experts around the world .
Critics of Bolsonaro , who has repeatedly clashed with health experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has threatened to take Brazil out of the World Health Organization , said the decision was a maneuver by the right-wing leader to hide the depths of crisis .
Brazil ’ s last official numbers recorded more than 34,000 virus-related deaths , the third-highest toll in the world behind the United States and Britain .
It reported nearly 615,000 infections , putting it second behind the United States .
After Bolsonaro stoked his clash with health experts , Pope Francis cautioned people in countries emerging from lockdown to keep following authorities ’ rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on movement .
“ Be careful .
Don ’ t cry victory , don ’ t cry victory too soon , ” Francis said .
“ Follow the rules .
They are rules that help us to avoid the virus getting ahead ” again .
The Argentine-born pontiff has expressed dismay that the virus is still claiming many lives , especially in Latin America .
Francis was clearly delighted to see several hundred people gather below his window in St. Peter ’ s Square on Sundays for the pope ’ s noon blessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings .
Many counties , including the United States and Britain , claims they can ease restrictions before having stalled their outbreaks .
In the United States , the virus churns on underneath the unrest provoked by the death of George Floyd and increasingly directed at President Trump ’ s handling of the protests .
On Sunday , the U.K. revealed that places of worship can reopen on June 15 — but only for private prayer .
Worries have surfaced over the past weeks that Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections still running at 8,000 a day .
As things stands , nonessential shops , including department stores , are due to reopen on June 15 .
Professor John Edmunds , who attends meetings of the British government ’ s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies , said the epidemic “ is definitely not all over ” and that there is an “ awful long way to go.
” On Sunday , the U.K. government reported that another 77 people died of the virus , the lowest daily increase since the lockdown began on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being treated with caution , as throughout the pandemic the increases reported on Sunday have been artificially depressed as a result of weekend reporting lag effects .
In France , the government announced that on Tuesday it will ease restrictions limiting travel from the French mainland to overseas territories in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean .
Spain is preparing to take scale back its containment with Madrid and Barcelona opening the interiors of restaurants with reduced seating on Monday .
In Turkey , Istanbul residents flocked to the city ’ s shores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no lockdown , prompting a reprimand from the health minister .
Russia remained troubling , with nearly 9,000 new cases in the past 24 hours , roughly in line with numbers reported over the past week .
Pakistan is approaching 100,000 confirmed infections as medical professionals plead for more controls and greater enforcement of social distancing .
But Prime Minister Imran Khan said a full shutdown would devastate a failing economy .
India confirmed 9,971 new coronavirus cases in another biggest single-day spike , a day before it prepares to reopen shopping malls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-week lockdown .
China has reported its first nonimported case in two weeks , an infected person on the island of Hainan off the southern coast .

The confirmed global death toll from the Covid-19 virus reached at least 400,000 fatalities on Sunday, a day after the government of Brazil broke with standard public health protocols by ceasing to publish updates of the number of deaths and infections in the South American epicenter of the disease.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The confirmed global death toll from the Covid-19 virus reached at least 400,000 fatalities on Sunday, a day after the government of Brazil broke with standard public health protocols by ceasing to publish updates of the number of deaths and infections in the South American epicenter of the disease.
Worldwide, at least 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University, whose aggregated tally has become the main worldwide reference for monitoring the disease. It says United States leads the world with more than 112,000 confirmed virus-related deaths. Europe recorded more than 175,000 since the virus emerged in China late last year.
Health experts, however, believe that the John Hopkins tally falls short of showing the true tragedy of the pandemic.
Many governments have struggled to produce statistics that can reasonably be considered as true indicators of the pandemic given the scarcity of diagnostic tests, especially in the first phase of the crisis. Authorities in Italy and Spain, with more than 60,000 combined deaths, have acknowledged that their true death count is larger than the story the numbers tell.
Brazil's government has stopped publishing a running total of coronavirus deaths and infections; critics say it's an attempt to hide the toll of the disease.
President Jair Bolsonaro went as far as to tweet on Saturday that his country's disease totals are "not representative" of Brazil's situation, insinuating that the numbers were overestimating the spread of the virus — a view the opposite of experts around the world.
Critics of Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly clashed with health experts over the seriousness of the disease and has threatened to take Brazil out of the World Health Organization, said the decision was a maneuver by the right-wing leader to hide the depths of crisis.
Brazil's last official numbers recorded more than 34,000 virus-related deaths, the third-highest toll in the world behind the United States and Britain. It reported nearly 615,000 infections, putting it second behind the United States.
After Bolsonaro stoked his clash with health experts, Pope Francis cautioned people in countries emerging from lockdown to keep following authorities’ rules on social distancing, hygiene and limits on movement.
"Be careful. Don't cry victory, don't cry victory too soon," Francis said. "Follow the rules. They are rules that help us to avoid the virus getting ahead" again.
The Argentine-born pontiff has expressed dismay that the virus is still claiming many lives, especially in Latin America.
Francis was clearly delighted to see several hundred people gather below his window in St. Peter's Square on Sundays for the pope's noon blessing after Italy eased its restrictions on public gatherings.
Many counties, including the United States and Britain, claims they can ease restrictions before having stalled their outbreaks.
In the United States, the virus churns on underneath the unrest provoked by the death of George Floyd and increasingly directed at President Trump's handling of the protests.
On Sunday, the U.K. revealed that places of worship can reopen on June 15 — but only for private prayer.
Worries have surfaced over the past weeks that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is easing restrictions too soon, with new infections still running at 8,000 a day. As things stands, nonessential shops, including department stores, are due to reopen on June 15.
Professor John Edmunds, who attends meetings of the British government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said the epidemic "is definitely not all over" and that there is an "awful long way to go."
On Sunday, the U.K. government reported that another 77 people died of the virus, the lowest daily increase since the lockdown began on March 23. However, the increase is being treated with caution, as throughout the pandemic the increases reported on Sunday have been artificially depressed as a result of weekend reporting lag effects.
In France, the government announced that on Tuesday it will ease restrictions limiting travel from the French mainland to overseas territories in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.
Spain is preparing to take scale back its containment with Madrid and Barcelona opening the interiors of restaurants with reduced seating on Monday.
In Turkey, Istanbul residents flocked to the city's shores and parks on the first weekend with no lockdown, prompting a reprimand from the health minister.
Russia remained troubling, with nearly 9,000 new cases in the past 24 hours, roughly in line with numbers reported over the past week.
Pakistan is approaching 100,000 confirmed infections as medical professionals plead for more controls and greater enforcement of social distancing. But Prime Minister Imran Khan said a full shutdown would devastate a failing economy.
India confirmed 9,971 new coronavirus cases in another biggest single-day spike, a day before it prepares to reopen shopping malls, hotels and religious places after a 10-week lockdown.
China has reported its first nonimported case in two weeks, an infected person on the island of Hainan off the southern coast.
By JOSEPH WILSON


courthousenews--2020-06-08--What Does ‘Defund the Police’ Actually Mean?

‘ Defund the Police ’ does not mean zeroing out the police budget ; it means moving police money into community development and safety programs .
WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Protesters are pushing to “ defund the police ” after the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement .
Their chant has become rallying cry — and a stick for President Trump to use on Democrats as he portrays them as soft on crime .
But what does “ defund the police ” mean ?
It ’ s not necessarily about gutting police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t about eliminating police departments or stripping agencies of all of their money .
They say it is time for the country to address systemic problems in policing and spend more on what communities across the country need , such as housing and education .
State and local governments spent $ 115 billion on policing in 2017 , according to data compiled by the Urban Institute .
“ Why can ’ t we look at how it is that we reorganize our priorities , so people don ’ t have to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza asked during an interview on NBC ’ s Meet the Press .
The group MPD150 , which says it is “ working toward a police-free Minneapolis , ” says that such action would be more about “ strategically reallocating resources , funding , and responsibility away from police and toward community-based models of safety , support , and prevention.
” “ The people who respond to crises in our community should be the people who are best-equipped to deal with those crises , ” the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Booker said he understands the sentiment behind the slogan , but it ’ s not a slogan he will use .
The New Jersey Democrat told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” that he shares a feeling with many protesters that Americans are “ over-policed ” and that “ we are investing in police , which is not solving problems , but making them worse when we should be , in a more compassionate country , in a more loving country.
” Congresswoman Karen Bass , D-Calif. , chairwoman of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movement is about how money is spent .
“ Now , I don ’ t believe that you should disband police departments , ” she said in an interview with CNN .
“ But I do think that in cities , in states , we need to look at how we are spending the resources and invest more in our communities .
“ Maybe this is an opportunity to re-envision public safety , ” she said .
President Trump and his campaign see the emergence of the “ Defund the Police ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trying political moment .
Trump ’ s response to the protests has sparked widespread condemnation .
But his supporters say the new mantra may make voters , who may be otherwise sympathetic to the protesters , recoil from a “ radical ” idea .
Trump seized on the slogan last week as he spoke in Maine .
“ They ’ re saying defund the police , ” he said .
“ Defund .
Think of it .
When I saw it , I said , ‘ What are you talking about ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have any police , ’ they say .
You don ’ t want police ?
” Trump ’ s 2016 campaign was built on a promise of ensuring law and order — often in contrast to protests against his rhetoric that followed him across the country .
As he seeks reelection , Trump is preparing to deploy the same argument again — and seems to believe the “ defund the police ” call has made the campaign applause line all the more real for his supporters .
Is there any effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least to reduce their budgets in some major cities .
In New York City , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday that the city would move funding from the NYPD to youth initiatives and social services , but he did not give details .
In Los Angeles , Mayor Eric Garcetti vowed to cut as much as $ 150 million that was part of a planned increase in the police department ’ s budget .
A Minneapolis city councilman said in a tweet on Thursday that the city would “ dramatically rethink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response.
” “ We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department , ” Jeremiah Ellison wrote .
“ And when we ’ re done , we ’ re not simply gon na glue it back together.
” He did not explain what would replace the police department .
A majority of the members of the Minneapolis City Council said Sunday they support disbanding the city police department .
Nine of the council ’ s 12 members appeared with activists at a rally in a city park Sunday afternoon and vowed to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe , ” Council President Lisa Bender said .
“ Our efforts at incremental reform have failed , period.
” Disbanding an entire department has happened before .
In 2012 , with crime rampant in Camden , New Jersey , the city disbanded its police department and replaced it with a new force that covered Camden County .
Compton , California , took the same step in 2000 , shifting its policing to Los Angeles County .
But police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts to police budgets , saying it would make cities less safe .
The Los Angeles Police Protective League , the union for the city ’ s rank-and-file officers , said budget cuts would be the “ quickest way to make our neighborhoods more dangerous.
” “ Cutting the LAPD budget means longer responses to 911 emergency calls , officers calling for backup won ’ t get it , and rape , murder and assault investigations won ’ t occur or will take forever to initiate , let alone complete , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement last week .
“ At this time , with violent crime increasing , a global pandemic and nearly a week ’ s worth of violence , arson , and looting , ‘ defunding ’ the LAPD is the most irresponsible thing anyone can propose .
”

Protesters are pushing to "defund the police" after the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement. Their chant has become rallying cry — and a stick for President Trump to use on Democrats as he portrays them as soft on crime.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Protesters are pushing to "defund the police" after the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement. Their chant has become rallying cry — and a stick for President Trump to use on Democrats as he portrays them as soft on crime.
But what does "defund the police" mean? It's not necessarily about gutting police department budgets.
Supporters say it isn't about eliminating police departments or stripping agencies of all of their money. They say it is time for the country to address systemic problems in policing and spend more on what communities across the country need, such as housing and education.
State and local governments spent $115 billion on policing in 2017, according to data compiled by the Urban Institute.
"Why can't we look at how it is that we reorganize our priorities, so people don't have to be in the streets during a national pandemic?" Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza asked during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press.
Activists acknowledge this is a gradual process.
The group MPD150, which says it is "working toward a police-free Minneapolis," says that such action would be more about "strategically reallocating resources, funding, and responsibility away from police and toward community-based models of safety, support, and prevention."
"The people who respond to crises in our community should be the people who are best-equipped to deal with those crises," the group wrote on its website.
Senator Cory Booker said he understands the sentiment behind the slogan, but it's not a slogan he will use.
The New Jersey Democrat told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he shares a feeling with many protesters that Americans are "over-policed" and that "we are investing in police, which is not solving problems, but making them worse when we should be, in a more compassionate country, in a more loving country."
Congresswoman Karen Bass, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said part of the movement is about how money is spent.
"Now, I don't believe that you should disband police departments," she said in an interview with CNN. "But I do think that in cities, in states, we need to look at how we are spending the resources and invest more in our communities.
"Maybe this is an opportunity to re-envision public safety," she said.
President Trump and his campaign see the emergence of the "Defund the Police" slogan as a spark of opportunity during a trying political moment. Trump's response to the protests has sparked widespread condemnation. But his supporters say the new mantra may make voters, who may be otherwise sympathetic to the protesters, recoil from a "radical" idea.
Trump seized on the slogan last week as he spoke in Maine.
"They're saying defund the police," he said. "Defund. Think of it. When I saw it, I said, 'What are you talking about?' 'We don't want to have any police,' they say. You don't want police?"
Trump's 2016 campaign was built on a promise of ensuring law and order — often in contrast to protests against his rhetoric that followed him across the country. As he seeks reelection, Trump is preparing to deploy the same argument again — and seems to believe the "defund the police" call has made the campaign applause line all the more real for his supporters.
Is there any effort to defund police departments?
Yes, or at least to reduce their budgets in some major cities.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday that the city would move funding from the NYPD to youth initiatives and social services, but he did not give details.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti vowed to cut as much as $150 million that was part of a planned increase in the police department's budget.
A Minneapolis city councilman said in a tweet on Thursday that the city would "dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response."
"We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department," Jeremiah Ellison wrote. "And when we're done, we're not simply gonna glue it back together." He did not explain what would replace the police department.
A majority of the members of the Minneapolis City Council said Sunday they support disbanding the city police department. Nine of the council's 12 members appeared with activists at a rally in a city park Sunday afternoon and vowed to end policing as the city knows it.
"It is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe," Council President Lisa Bender said. "Our efforts at incremental reform have failed, period."
Disbanding an entire department has happened before. In 2012, with crime rampant in Camden, New Jersey, the city disbanded its police department and replaced it with a new force that covered Camden County. Compton, California, took the same step in 2000, shifting its policing to Los Angeles County.
But police and police union officials have long resisted cuts to police budgets, saying it would make cities less safe.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union for the city's rank-and-file officers, said budget cuts would be the "quickest way to make our neighborhoods more dangerous."
"Cutting the LAPD budget means longer responses to 911 emergency calls, officers calling for backup won't get it, and rape, murder and assault investigations won't occur or will take forever to initiate, let alone complete," the union's board said in a statement last week.
"At this time, with violent crime increasing, a global pandemic and nearly a week's worth of violence, arson, and looting, 'defunding' the LAPD is the most irresponsible thing anyone can propose."
By MICHAEL BALSAMO