courthousenews--2020-06-19--A Strange Campaign Season Where Quiet Commands the Polls

( CN ) – When will Joe Biden emerge from his basement ?
This burning question animated much of the country ’ s punditry just a couple of weeks ago .
Now the question usually runs , should he ?
The question has morphed largely due to Biden ’ s recent success in the polls , where he has extended a sizable lead during a time when his opponent , President Donald Trump , has parlayed the bully pulpit of the White House into considerably more public appearance and press coverage .
A chorus of voices in Democratic circles is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his low-key approach to campaigning as evidenced by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe ’ s recent comments .
“ He ’ s fine in the basement , ” McAuliffe said .
“ Two people see him a day : his two body people .
That ’ s it .
Let Trump keep doing what Trump ’ s doing.
” Biden did wander out of his basement this past week , making an appearance in Darby , Pennsylvania where he talked to small business owners about their challenges amid the Covid-19 pandemic while detailing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But as is the case for most of the past few months , networks mostly declined to carry his speech and his appearance went generally unremarked upon in the broader political sphere .
“ It ’ s hard for the vice president to break through , ” McAuliffe said .
“ You ’ ve got the Covid crisis .
He ’ s not a governor , doesn ’ t have the National Guard .
He ’ s not the president , doesn ’ t have the briefing room.
” But it also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a traditional campaign , where he makes public appearances in various communities , at least attracting the attention of the local press or regional outlets with national followings .
“ No one should be campaigning traditionally right now , ” said Irwin Redlener , a public health expert with Columbia University .
“ This sets up a presidential election season unlike any other in history.
” However , Trump is poised to try a more traditional approach .
He is slated to host his first in-person rally since early March before the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Some pundits detect a whiff of desperation in Trump ’ s need to get back to his rallies , as his descent in the polls has accelerated during a time when he hasn ’ t been able to use his preferred method to communicate with his followers .
“ He tried to use his brash communication style in the daily coronavirus briefings , but that didn ’ t go well , ” said Mitchell McKinney , an expert on political communication with the University of Missouri .
“ Trump is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and he likes to be in control and so he is trying to get out to his rallies to set the agenda a little bit.
” Even Trump ’ s critics concede he has been exceedingly adroit at steering media coverage , but that magic touch has at least temporarily abandoned him with the dual crises of Covid-19 and the civil unrest surrounding racial equity in American in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer .
Trump ’ s campaign also tacitly acknowledged that Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be a good one for the time being , as they issued a statement calling for more press coverage of their opponent .
“ It is now established that Joe Biden prefers campaigning from the comfort of his basement in Wilmington , Delaware instead of traveling the country meeting voters and making the case for his candidacy , ” a Trump campaign spokesperson said .
“ This is obviously a tactic to help him avoid errors and embarrassing , lost trains of thought , while also conveniently preventing the press corps from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The campaign called for more media coverage of Biden so the American people can more fully vet a presidential candidate .
McKinney said the Trump campaign is right about the tactics of the Biden campaign at present .
“ Joe Biden ’ s in a situation right now where his opponent seems to be doing enough damage to himself that he doesn ’ t want to get in the way , ” McKinney said .
The professor acknowledges that Biden may just want to stay out of the way until November , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short shelf life .
“ There will be some kind of convention , ” McKinney said .
“ Biden will also roll out his VP pick.
” Both events will come with a lot of fanfare , although , both experts said Trump could recapture some momentum if he is more willing and able to have in-person campaign events that demonstrate enthusiasm behind his reelection campaign .
“ If Trump is out there exciting his base with rallies and with a convention and Biden doesn ’ t do that , it disadvantages Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying that a traditional convention bounce will still likely be an important factor as the race likely tightens down the final stretch .
“ It would be a stark juxtaposition , should the RNC host a convention with rowdy cheering enthusiasm and the Democrats have a subdued somber affair , ” McKinney said .
But Redlener said there is also a chance for the GOP ’ s insistence on in-person events to backfire .
“ If a lot of people get sick because of these rallies , it could make Trump look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This scenario is certainly possible come Saturday .
The Trump campaign is planning to pack 20,000 people inside an arena in Tulsa , Oklahoma despite objections from local officials that the rally could act as a “ superspreader event.
” Tulsa County , where the city of Tulsa is located , recorded its highest-ever single day tally for new coronavirus cases this past week and several states show accelerations of outbreaks .
Trump has argued that such criticism amounts to “ Covid shaming ” and conservatives , in general , have pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the media covers Trump rallies and protests over shelter-in-place orders versus coverage of recent protests over the killing of George Floyd , which featured thousands of people in close proximity .
Should the rally go off without causing a noticeable spike in cases in the area , Trump will likely ramp up his preferred communication style throughout the country , leaving Biden to counter .
“ The DNC is going to have to decide how they are going to counter that , ” McKinney said .
“ They are going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American public.
” But until then , Biden will likely play it safe from the friendly confines of his basement .

Joe Biden has increased his standing in state and national polling, all while letting President Trump parlay the bully pulpit of the White House into considerably more public appearance and press coverage.
(CN) — When will Joe Biden emerge from his basement?
This burning question animated much of the country’s punditry just a couple of weeks ago.
Now the question usually runs, should he?
The question has morphed largely due to Biden’s recent success in the polls, where he has extended a sizable lead during a time when his opponent, President Donald Trump, has parlayed the bully pulpit of the White House into considerably more public appearance and press coverage.
A chorus of voices in Democratic circles is beginning to advocate for Biden to continue his low-key approach to campaigning as evidenced by former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe's recent comments.
“He’s fine in the basement,” McAuliffe said. “Two people see him a day: his two body people. That’s it. Let Trump keep doing what Trump’s doing.”
Biden did wander out of his basement this past week, making an appearance in Darby, Pennsylvania where he talked to small business owners about their challenges amid the Covid-19 pandemic while detailing his vision for America’s economic recovery.
But as is the case for most of the past few months, networks mostly declined to carry his speech and his appearance went generally unremarked upon in the broader political sphere.
“It’s hard for the vice president to break through,” McAuliffe said. “You’ve got the Covid crisis. He’s not a governor, doesn’t have the National Guard. He’s not the president, doesn’t have the briefing room.”
But it also underscores how Biden is hampered from conducting a traditional campaign, where he makes public appearances in various communities, at least attracting the attention of the local press or regional outlets with national followings.
“No one should be campaigning traditionally right now,” said Irwin Redlener, a public health expert with Columbia University. “This sets up a presidential election season unlike any other in history.”
However, Trump is poised to try a more traditional approach.
He is slated to host his first in-person rally since early March before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down much of the United States. Some pundits detect a whiff of desperation in Trump’s need to get back to his rallies, as his descent in the polls has accelerated during a time when he hasn’t been able to use his preferred method to communicate with his followers.
“He tried to use his brash communication style in the daily coronavirus briefings, but that didn’t go well,” said Mitchell McKinney, an expert on political communication with the University of Missouri. “Trump is just not in control of the narrative right now and he likes to be in control and so he is trying to get out to his rallies to set the agenda a little bit.”
Even Trump’s critics concede he has been exceedingly adroit at steering media coverage, but that magic touch has at least temporarily abandoned him with the dual crises of Covid-19 and the civil unrest surrounding racial equity in American in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Trump’s campaign also tacitly acknowledged that Biden’s choice to keep a low profile might be a good one for the time being, as they issued a statement calling for more press coverage of their opponent.
“It is now established that Joe Biden prefers campaigning from the comfort of his basement in Wilmington, Delaware instead of traveling the country meeting voters and making the case for his candidacy,” a Trump campaign spokesperson said. “This is obviously a tactic to help him avoid errors and embarrassing, lost trains of thought, while also conveniently preventing the press corps from asking him any questions in person.”
The campaign called for more media coverage of Biden so the American people can more fully vet a presidential candidate.
McKinney said the Trump campaign is right about the tactics of the Biden campaign at present.
“Joe Biden’s in a situation right now where his opponent seems to be doing enough damage to himself that he doesn’t want to get in the way,” McKinney said.
The professor acknowledges that Biden may just want to stay out of the way until November, but further acknowledged such a strategy has a short shelf life.
“There will be some kind of convention,” McKinney said. “Biden will also roll out his VP pick.”
Both events will come with a lot of fanfare, although, both experts said Trump could recapture some momentum if he is more willing and able to have in-person campaign events that demonstrate enthusiasm behind his reelection campaign.
“If Trump is out there exciting his base with rallies and with a convention and Biden doesn’t do that, it disadvantages Biden,” Redlener said.
McKinney agrees, saying that a traditional convention bounce will still likely be an important factor as the race likely tightens down the final stretch.
“It would be a stark juxtaposition, should the RNC host a convention with rowdy cheering enthusiasm and the Democrats have a subdued somber affair,” McKinney said.
But Redlener said there is also a chance for the GOP’s insistence on in-person events to backfire.
“If a lot of people get sick because of these rallies, it could make Trump look stupid and anti-science,” Redlener said.
This scenario is certainly possible come Saturday.
The Trump campaign is planning to pack 20,000 people inside an arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma despite objections from local officials that the rally could act as a “superspreader event.”
Tulsa County, where the city of Tulsa is located, recorded its highest-ever single day tally for new coronavirus cases this past week and several states show accelerations of outbreaks.
Trump has argued that such criticism amounts to “Covid shaming” and conservatives, in general, have pointed to a double standard in the way that the media covers Trump rallies and protests over shelter-in-place orders versus coverage of recent protests over the killing of George Floyd, which featured thousands of people in close proximity.
Should the rally go off without causing a noticeable spike in cases in the area, Trump will likely ramp up his preferred communication style throughout the country, leaving Biden to counter.
“The DNC is going to have to decide how they are going to counter that,” McKinney said. “They are going to have to do something to command the attention of the American public.”
But until then, Biden will likely play it safe from the friendly confines of his basement.


Top Eight

Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to stop President Donald Trump ’ s weekend campaign rally in Tulsa ; One of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor has been fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department ; A federal bankruptcy judge will confirm Pacific Gas and Electric ’ s $ 59 billion plan for exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
1 . )
The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined Friday to stop President Donald Trump ’ s campaign rally on Saturday in Tulsa , in spite of no social distancing measures being enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic .
2 . )
The Department of the Navy will not reinstate Captain Brett Crozier , who lost his command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after raising concerns about a coronavirus outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier .
3 . )
A federal judge was puzzled Friday by the Trump administration urging him to block former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manuscript from hitting the shelves when the explosive book is already in the hands of the public .
4 . )
One of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor after the execution of a no-knock warrant has been fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department .
5 . )
After 17 months of feuding and negotiating with creditors , a federal bankruptcy judge on Friday will confirm Pacific Gas and Electric ’ s $ 59 billion plan for exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy , setting the stage for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfire victims .
6 . )
Bragging that New York state now has the lowest rate of Covid-19 transmission in the U.S. , Governor Andrew Cuomo gave his last daily address on the pandemic Friday , marking a milestone in the state ’ s recovery .
7 . )
A group of Tennessee abortion providers sued the state in federal court Friday , asking a judge to immediately prevent it from enacting strict anti-abortion legislation passed hours before .
8 . )
With nearly half a million dead and untold economic damage worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondering whether China is to blame for the outbreak , including legal scholars .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to stop President Donald Trump’s weekend campaign rally in Tulsa; One of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor has been fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department; A federal bankruptcy judge will confirm Pacific Gas and Electric’s $59 billion plan for exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and more.
Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to stop President Donald Trump’s weekend campaign rally in Tulsa; One of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor has been fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department; A federal bankruptcy judge will confirm Pacific Gas and Electric’s $59 billion plan for exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined Friday to stop President Donald Trump’s campaign rally on Saturday in Tulsa, in spite of no social distancing measures being enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mike Pellerin joins other Trump supporters on 4th Street and Cheyenne Ave. in downtown Tulsa, Okla., ahead of President Donald Trump's Saturday's campaign rally Friday, June 19, 2020. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)
2.) The Department of the Navy will not reinstate Captain Brett Crozier, who lost his command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after raising concerns about a coronavirus outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier.
In this Nov. 15, 2029, photo U.S. Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), addresses the crew during an all-hands call on the ship's flight deck while conducting routine operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. defense leaders are backing the Navy's decision to fire the ship captain who sought help for his coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier, even as videos showed his sailors cheering him as he walked off the vessel. Videos went viral on social media Friday, April 3, 2020, showing hundreds of sailors gathered on the ship chanting and applauding Navy Capt. Brett Crozier as he walked down the ramp, turned, saluted, waved and got into a waiting car. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh via AP)
3.) A federal judge was puzzled Friday by the Trump administration urging him to block former national security adviser John Bolton’s manuscript from hitting the shelves when the explosive book is already in the hands of the public.
A copy of "The Room Where It Happened," by former national security adviser John Bolton, is photographed at the White House, Thursday, June 18, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Regional
4.) One of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor after the execution of a no-knock warrant has been fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department.
FILE - In this June 9, 2020, file photo, Kevin Peterson, center, founder and executive director of the New Democracy Coalition, displays a placard showing Breonna Taylor as he addresses a rally in Boston. Louisville's mayor says one of three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor will be fired, Friday, June 19, 2020. Taylor was gunned down by officers who burst into her Louisville home using a no-knock warrant. She was shot eight times by officers conducting a narcotics investigation. No drugs were found at her home. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
5.) After 17 months of feuding and negotiating with creditors, a federal bankruptcy judge on Friday will confirm Pacific Gas and Electric’s $59 billion plan for exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy, setting the stage for billions in compensation to start flowing to wildfire victims.
FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2019, file photo, Christina Taft, the daughter of Camp Fire victim Victoria Taft, displays a collage of photos of her mother, at the burned out ruins of the Paradise, Calif., home where she died in 2018. Pacific Gas & Electric officials are to be expected to appear in court Tuesday, June 16, 2020, to plead guilty for the deadly wildfire that nearly wiped out the Northern California town of Paradise in 2018. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
6.) Bragging that New York state now has the lowest rate of Covid-19 transmission in the U.S., Governor Andrew Cuomo gave his last daily address on the pandemic Friday, marking a milestone in the state’s recovery.
Screenshot of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at a Friday, June 19, press conference. A sign-language interpreter is pictured bottom-right.
7.) A group of Tennessee abortion providers sued the state in federal court Friday, asking a judge to immediately prevent it from enacting strict anti-abortion legislation passed hours before.
The Tennessee Capitol Building in Nashville. (Kaldari/Wikipedia via Courthouse News)
International
8.) With nearly half a million dead and untold economic damage worldwide, the novel coronavirus has left many wondering whether China is to blame for the outbreak, including legal scholars.


courthousenews--2020-06-19--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

June 12 , 2020 : Revocation of Judicial Council emergency rule regarding bail , in-custody arraignments to resume June 15 @ @ @ @ @ s office open to the public effective June 1 , hours are 9am-2pm effective June @ @ @ @ @ in lobby at same time , social distancing required , face masks encouraged June 12 @ @ @ @ @ emergency orders for expanded phase two and three

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


Immigration Bond Hearings

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal court in California amended a June 2018 order in a class action over immigrant detainee @ @ @ @ @ must give the plaintiffs an explanation any time a class member ’ s bond hearing @ @ @ @ @ days after their 180th day in detention .


courthousenews--2020-06-20--Poll: Voters Favor Face Masks Over Political Rallies

( CN ) — In the age of Covid-19 , cloth face masks are polling higher than political rallies for many Americans according to a new Fox News Poll .
As the November general election approaches , and President Donald Trump prepares to hold a campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma on Saturday , 59 % of people polled believe it is a bad idea for presidential candidates to hold large political events and rallies .
From the 1,300 registered voters polled between June 13 and 16 , a total of 80 % said they favor wearing masks to slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes the Covid-19 disease .
The Fox News poll asked respondents to answer whether they had a favorable opinion , or an unfavorable opinion , on an assortment of political figures , groups , and issues .
Seventy-four percent of those polled said they have a favorable opinion of local police , 67 % are in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement , and 56 % are in favor of Obamacare .
Among political figures referenced in the poll , President George W. Bush was the most favored at 58 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 53 % , Trump at 43 % , Senator Mitt Romney at 42 % and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 41 % .
Broken down by political party , 89 % of Democrats favor wearing masks and 68 % of Republicans do , according to the Fox News Poll conducted under the joint direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research .
Just 23 % of those polled said large rallies were a good idea , while 16 % said it depends if there is social distancing and masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked if they could send one message to the federal government , 47 % said they would ask to have the government “ protect my health ” while 27 % asked to “ protect my freedoms ” and 24 % said they wanted both or were mixed .
A total of 52 % said they were comfortable going back to stores and restaurants right now and 47 % said they still did not feel comfortable due to the virus .
Thirty-eight percent said the government did not go far enough with its lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 38 % said it the response was about right .
Most voters polled also believe the economy is in poor shape .
Seventy-one percent said it is only fair or poor , compared to just 44 % of voters back in January who felt the same way .
The results of Fox News Poll were announced the same day the highest court in Oklahoma declined to stop a Trump campaign rally in Tulsa despite concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The rally is the first for the president since early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus .
To slow the spread of the novel coronavirus , a patchwork of health orders now dot the American landscape .
Some local governments require residents to wear face masks while in public or in enclosed spaces , like in California .
This week Arizona retracted a statewide ban on local mask requirements amid a sharp spike in cases with some hospitals .
Tickets to Tulsa ’ s BOK Center , which has a capacity of 19,199 , included a disclaimer that said attendees voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign liable for any illness .
Meanwhile , Biden traded his “ No Malarkey ” tour bus for virtual press briefings from his home basement .

In the age of Covid-19, cloth face masks are polling higher than political rallies for many Americans according to a new Fox News Poll.
(CN) — In the age of Covid-19, cloth face masks are polling higher than political rallies for many Americans according to a new Fox News Poll.
As the November general election approaches, and President Donald Trump prepares to hold a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, 59% of people polled believe it is a bad idea for presidential candidates to hold large political events and rallies.
From the 1,300 registered voters polled between June 13 and 16, a total of 80% said they favor wearing masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 disease.
The Fox News poll asked respondents to answer whether they had a favorable opinion, or an unfavorable opinion, on an assortment of political figures, groups, and issues.
Seventy-four percent of those polled said they have a favorable opinion of local police, 67% are in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement, and 56% are in favor of Obamacare. Among political figures referenced in the poll, President George W. Bush was the most favored at 58%, followed by former Vice President Joe Biden at 53%, Trump at 43%, Senator Mitt Romney at 42% and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 41%.
Broken down by political party, 89% of Democrats favor wearing masks and 68% of Republicans do, according to the Fox News Poll conducted under the joint direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research.
Just 23% of those polled said large rallies were a good idea, while 16% said it depends if there is social distancing and masks are enforced at the event.
When asked if they could send one message to the federal government, 47% said they would ask to have the government “protect my health” while 27% asked to “protect my freedoms” and 24% said they wanted both or were mixed.
A total of 52% said they were comfortable going back to stores and restaurants right now and 47% said they still did not feel comfortable due to the virus. Thirty-eight percent said the government did not go far enough with its lockdown in response to the virus, and 38% said it the response was about right.
Most voters polled also believe the economy is in poor shape. Seventy-one percent said it is only fair or poor, compared to just 44% of voters back in January who felt the same way.
The results of Fox News Poll were announced the same day the highest court in Oklahoma declined to stop a Trump campaign rally in Tulsa despite concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus. The rally is the first for the president since early March, before the spread of the novel coronavirus.
To slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, a patchwork of health orders now dot the American landscape. Some local governments require residents to wear face masks while in public or in enclosed spaces, like in California. This week Arizona retracted a statewide ban on local mask requirements amid a sharp spike in cases with some hospitals.
Tickets to Tulsa’s BOK Center, which has a capacity of 19,199, included a disclaimer that said attendees voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19 and agree not to hold the campaign liable for any illness. Meanwhile, Biden traded his “No Malarkey” tour bus for virtual press briefings from his home basement.


courthousenews--2020-06-20--Queer Activists Demand Inclusivity at Oakland Juneteenth Rally

OAKLAND , Calif. ( CN ) — A Juneteenth rally against police brutality and racism organized by a dockworkers union in Oakland , California , Friday morphed into a contentious debate about inclusivity after queer and transgender protesters accused organizers of excluding marginalized voices .
Thousands of people joined members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 , in a march from the Port of Oakland to City Hall Friday .
The dockworkers walked off the job and shut down the second largest port on the West Coast to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Hall and introducing a series of mostly black male speakers , a small but boisterous group began interrupting the event , inquiring with a megaphone “ where are the black women ” and “ where are the black trans people.
” Organizers including Trent Willis , president of ILWU Local 10 , politely asked the interjectors to stop interrupting speakers , a response some interpreted as trying to silence marginalized voices .
Willis and organizers said it was about showing respect for people who had signed up to speak and were waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd began to support escalating calls to let queer and transgender people speak up , event organizers passed the microphone to Christian Washington , a black person who identifies as gender nonbinary .
“ We got on the megaphone and said , ‘ Where are the black trans people and black queer people , ’ and you told us to be quiet , ” Washington said .
Willis responded that the event was meant to be inclusive .
He said members of the queer and transgender community should have reached out to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Washington strongly objected to that premise .
“ For you to say queer and transgender people should have reached out to you when you were organizing , you should have reached out to us , ” Washington said .
Léoh Hailu-Ghermay , a black person who identifies as gender nonbinary , said members of the queer and trans community have been showing up to call for justice for black people who have been shot and killed by police .
Hailu-Ghermay said the black queer community needs black men to start showing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patriarchy go hand in hand , ” Hailu-Ghermay said .
Human Rights Campaign , an LGBTQ rights group , reports at least 15 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been shot dead or killed in acts of violence so far this year .
The group notes the number is likely higher because killings of transgender and nonbinary people often go unreported or misreported .
Two days after George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25 , Tony McDade , a 38-year-old black transgender man , was shot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida .
Before the shooting , Dade allegedly stabbed a person he had accused of attacking him one day earlier .
Police in Liberty Township , Ohio , found the dead body of Rhia Milton , a 25-year-old transgender woman , on June 9 .
Police say she was shot and killed during a robbery .
Philadelphia Police also found the dismembered body of Dominique “ Rem ’ mie ” Fells , a 27-year-old transgender woman , floating in the Schuylkill River on Monday .
“ Black trans people are dying at disproportionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland protest Friday .
Sibel Guner , a 30-year-old woman from South Berkeley who attended the Juneteenth rally , said she thinks queer and transgender black people should have been included as speakers , but she also understands it was a grassroots-organized event that put out an open call for anyone to participate .
“ It ’ s worth acknowledging that the biggest disruption was when a man was speaking about the death of a family member , ” Guner said .
“ That they talked over a person telling a story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person was Keith Shanklin , a dockworker and ILWU member , who was sharing the story of his nephew , Gary King Jr. , who died in an encounter with an Oakland police officer in 2008 .
Oakland Police Sgt .
Patrick Gonzalez reportedly stopped King outside a market in North Oakland because he matched the description of a suspect .
The officer grabbed King , who pulled away , then tackled him to the ground , fired a Taser at him as he ran away and shot him in the back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrick Gonzalez , was cleared of misconduct by the Alameda County District Attorney ’ s Office and faced no disciplinary action .
“ It drives me nuts how they continue to make black life disposable , ” Shanklin said in an interview after the rally .
Shanklin said he found it very disrespectful that people were shouting , arguing and interrupting him as he shared the story of his nephew ’ s death .
He said organizers put a lot of work into setting up the event , renting sound equipment and working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstration .
He said the union never intended to exclude members of the queer and transgender community .
“ When you organize , you reach out to everyone , not just one piece of the puzzle , ” Shanklin said .
“ If they got lost in our outreach , it ’ s not because we tried to exclude them.
” Shanklin said his group plans to hold discussion with members of the queer and transgender community next week to discuss how members of the coalition against racism and police violence can unify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other .

A Juneteenth rally against police brutality and racism organized by a dockworkers union in Oakland, California, Friday morphed into a contentious debate about inclusivity after queer and transgender protesters accused organizers of excluding marginalized voices.
OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — A Juneteenth rally against police brutality and racism organized by a dockworkers union in Oakland, California, Friday morphed into a contentious debate about inclusivity after queer and transgender protesters accused organizers of excluding marginalized voices.
Thousands of people joined members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10, in a march from the Port of Oakland to City Hall Friday. The dockworkers walked off the job and shut down the second largest port on the West Coast to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
After marching to the plaza outside Oakland City Hall and introducing a series of mostly black male speakers, a small but boisterous group began interrupting the event, inquiring with a megaphone “where are the black women” and “where are the black trans people.”
Organizers including Trent Willis, president of ILWU Local 10, politely asked the interjectors to stop interrupting speakers, a response some interpreted as trying to silence marginalized voices. Willis and organizers said it was about showing respect for people who had signed up to speak and were waiting their turn.
As people in the crowd began to support escalating calls to let queer and transgender people speak up, event organizers passed the microphone to Christian Washington, a black person who identifies as gender nonbinary.
“We got on the megaphone and said, ‘Where are the black trans people and black queer people,’ and you told us to be quiet,” Washington said.
Willis responded that the event was meant to be inclusive. He said members of the queer and transgender community should have reached out to the union when it was organizing the event. Washington strongly objected to that premise.
“For you to say queer and transgender people should have reached out to you when you were organizing, you should have reached out to us,” Washington said.
Christian Washington (left), a gender nonbinary person, debates with ILWU President Trent Willis (right in orange) about including queer and transgender speakers during a Juneteenth rally in Oakland. (Courthouse News photo / Nicholas Iovino)
Léoh Hailu-Ghermay, a black person who identifies as gender nonbinary, said members of the queer and trans community have been showing up to call for justice for black people who have been shot and killed by police. Hailu-Ghermay said the black queer community needs black men to start showing up for them.
“White supremacy and patriarchy go hand in hand,” Hailu-Ghermay said.
Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ rights group, reports at least 15 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been shot dead or killed in acts of violence so far this year. The group notes the number is likely higher because killings of transgender and nonbinary people often go unreported or misreported.
Two days after George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25, Tony McDade, a 38-year-old black transgender man, was shot and killed by a Tallahassee police officer in Florida. Before the shooting, Dade allegedly stabbed a person he had accused of attacking him one day earlier.
Police in Liberty Township, Ohio, found the dead body of Rhia Milton, a 25-year-old transgender woman, on June 9. Police say she was shot and killed during a robbery. Philadelphia Police also found the dismembered body of Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells, a 27-year-old transgender woman, floating in the Schuylkill River on Monday.
“Black trans people are dying at disproportionate rates,” Hailu-Ghermay said at the Oakland protest Friday.
Sibel Guner, a 30-year-old woman from South Berkeley who attended the Juneteenth rally, said she thinks queer and transgender black people should have been included as speakers, but she also understands it was a grassroots-organized event that put out an open call for anyone to participate.
“It’s worth acknowledging that the biggest disruption was when a man was speaking about the death of a family member,” Guner said. “That they talked over a person telling a story of violence was sad for me.”
That person was Keith Shanklin, a dockworker and ILWU member, who was sharing the story of his nephew, Gary King Jr., who died in an encounter with an Oakland police officer in 2008.
Oakland Police Sgt. Patrick Gonzalez reportedly stopped King outside a market in North Oakland because he matched the description of a suspect. The officer grabbed King, who pulled away, then tackled him to the ground, fired a Taser at him as he ran away and shot him in the back, killing him. The officer, Sergeant Patrick Gonzalez, was cleared of misconduct by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and faced no disciplinary action.
“It drives me nuts how they continue to make black life disposable,” Shanklin said in an interview after the rally.
Shanklin said he found it very disrespectful that people were shouting, arguing and interrupting him as he shared the story of his nephew’s death. He said organizers put a lot of work into setting up the event, renting sound equipment and working out logistics for the massive march and demonstration.
He said the union never intended to exclude members of the queer and transgender community.
“When you organize, you reach out to everyone, not just one piece of the puzzle,” Shanklin said. “If they got lost in our outreach, it’s not because we tried to exclude them.”
Shanklin said his group plans to hold discussion with members of the queer and transgender community next week to discuss how members of the coalition against racism and police violence can unify, work together and better understand each other.
In nearby San Francisco Friday night, activists toppled statues of Ulysses S. Grant, Francis Scott Key and Spanish missionary Junipero Serra after the city removed a statue of Christopher Columbus that had become a target for anti-racism protestors. Critics say those figures either owned slaves or played roles in supporting slavery and the oppression of indigenous people.


courthousenews--2020-06-20--US Attorney Says He Has No Plans to Resign After DOJ Announces He’s ‘Stepping Down’

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — President Donald Trump late Friday night nominated a new U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York , but the powerful prosecutor who currently holds the job and has been investigating people close to Trump said he does not plan to leave the post .
In a late-night statement , Attorney General William Barr said Geoffrey Berman , who has served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York since 2018 , was “ stepping down.
” At the same time , Trump announced he was nominating Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Berman said in a statement of his own that he only learned of his purportedly impending departure from Barr ’ s press release .
“ I have not resigned , and have no intention of resigning , my position , to which I was appointed by the judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York , ” Berman said in a statement .
“ I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate .
Until then , our investigations will move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 2018 , Berman was chosen to lead the office for an interim period of 120 days .
Under federal law , the judges on the federal court in a district may appoint a U.S. attorney after that interim period ends and until the Senate confirms a replacement , and the judges on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York did just that for Berman in April 2018 .
With Berman at the helm , the office launched an investigation into Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Giuliani ’ s who helped on the investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden that was at the heart of Trump ’ s impeachment .
The office also investigated and prosecuted Trump ’ s longtime fixer Michael Cohen , but Berman was recused from the case .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , a New York Democrat , raised concerns Friday night that Berman ’ s dismissal was not for legitimate reasons .
“ This late Friday night dismissal reeks of potential corruption of the legal process , ” Schumer said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump ?
A previous action by this U.S. attorney or one that is ongoing ?
” Clayton , who would take Berman ’ s job , has been chair of the SEC since 2017 and previously worked as a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell .
Craig Carpenito , who works as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey , will take over for Berman in an acting capacity starting July 3 , Barr said .

President Donald Trump late Friday night nominated a new U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, but the powerful prosecutor who currently holds the job and has been investigating people close to Trump said he does not plan to leave the post.
WASHINGTON (CN) — President Donald Trump late Friday night nominated a new U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, but the powerful prosecutor who currently holds the job and has been investigating people close to Trump said he does not plan to leave the post.
In a late-night statement, Attorney General William Barr said Geoffrey Berman, who has served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York since 2018, was “stepping down.” At the same time, Trump announced he was nominating Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton to take over the position.
Berman said in a statement of his own that he only learned of his purportedly impending departure from Barr’s press release.
“I have not resigned, and have no intention of resigning, my position, to which I was appointed by the judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York,” Berman said in a statement. “I will step down when a presidentially appointed nominee is confirmed by the Senate. Until then, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption.”
In early 2018, Berman was chosen to lead the office for an interim period of 120 days. Under federal law, the judges on the federal court in a district may appoint a U.S. attorney after that interim period ends and until the Senate confirms a replacement, and the judges on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York did just that for Berman in April 2018.
With Berman at the helm, the office launched an investigation into Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, as well as Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, associates of Giuliani’s who helped on the investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden that was at the heart of Trump’s impeachment.
The office also investigated and prosecuted Trump’s longtime fixer Michael Cohen, but Berman was recused from the case.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, raised concerns Friday night that Berman’s dismissal was not for legitimate reasons.
“This late Friday night dismissal reeks of potential corruption of the legal process,” Schumer said in a statement. “What is angering President Trump? A previous action by this U.S. attorney or one that is ongoing?”
Clayton, who would take Berman’s job, has been chair of the SEC since 2017 and previously worked as a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell. Craig Carpenito, who works as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, will take over for Berman in an acting capacity starting July 3, Barr said.


courthousenews--2020-06-20--Revelers and Protesters Gather in DC to Celebrate the Day the Last Slaves Were Freed

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — George Floyd — killed by a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day — attended Jack Yates High School in Houston , a school named after a former enslaved man who would later purchase a public park where Juneteenth is still celebrated today .
Enslaved men , Jack Yates , Richard Allen , Richard Brock and Elias Dibble purchased Emancipation Park in Houston for $ 800 in 1872 .
The transaction came eight years after Union soldiers , led by Gordon Ranger , armed to the teeth , marched through nearby Galveston , Texas , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called home .
Union soldiers would finally enforce the Emancipation Proclamation for all remaining slaves in the state .
Known as “ General Order No .
3 , ” beyond emancipation , the edict enforced “ absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property , between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them , becomes that between employer and hired labor.
” Friday marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth , and the reverberating effects of slavery , struggles of the 20th century Jim Crow Era and the systemically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swath of American institutions has propelled protesters and lawmakers to broach conversations about transformative change .
“ I was not taught about Juneteenth until I arrived in Texas and actually experienced Juneteenth , ” Representative Al Green , D-Texas , told Courthouse News Friday .
Born in Louisiana — and a self-proclaimed son of the segregated south — Green ’ s education on Juneteenth came by way of his longtime friend , the 13-term Texas State Representative Al Edwards .
Edwards , a Democrat , made Juneteenth a paid holiday for state employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Friday , in Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington , D.C. , just a few hundred yards from the White House — itself built by enslaved men and women — demonstrators and revelers alike gathered by the hundreds .
A large group of cyclists rolled into Lafayette Square Friday afternoon protesting the death of Floyd and those before him , promising their rides would continue through the summer , their goal to occupy the district ’ s streets until demands are heard .
Others like Ox Oz , an attorney who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebration of Juneteenth , leading dances and songs with young and old and calling those gathered to “ pull together ” in pursuit of a more just and equal society .
“ It ’ s important to be out here and to feel that energy and be reenergized for this marathon that we ’ re about to get on .
This is not going to be over tomorrow , ” Oz said .
“ We have to make sure we ’ re all free and that ’ s what Juneteenth was about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was free .
Police brutality , the injustices , it ’ s not over until everyone has that freedom and respect , God given.
” The determination of demonstrators is not lost on federal lawmakers .
“ I do believe that what started as a moment of action … the Black Live Matter actions that took place , has become a movement , ” Green said , noting that it has reached into “ corporate personalities ” and resulted in an about face from the NFL .
“ It is so pervasive now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life of its own .
It ’ s growing exponentially , ” he said .
For the lawmaker , the next step is to execute some of the demands laid out by Black Lives Matter and “ augment ” it with a federal watchdog .
“ The movement can go on and we can ’ t say how long but if we can get a Department of Reconciliation , it will promote the continuation of the movement , ” Green said .
The proposed cabinet level-department would be staffed with a secretary just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department or Education or the Department of Defense .
Under the proposed legislation , which has 22 cosponsors , the Reconciliation Department would be funded through 10 % of the Defense Department ’ s overall budget .
In that office , Green noted , a strategy could be developed to “ eliminate racism and invidious discrimination ” and by funding it this way , it ’ s less likely to be “ starved to death.
” Oz , the Washington attorney at Black Lives Matter Plaza who provided rhythmic background on a drum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would bestow equity upon more black Americans .
Literacy in America is essential , he added and normalizing a culture that elevates education , academia and having intelligent dialogue is “ non-negotiable ” in a first world country like America .
“ Ella Baker , she said it best , she said ‘ Give people light and they ’ ll find a way , ’ because she believed that strong people don ’ t need strong leaders , ” Oz said .
“ The information is out there , let ’ s have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constructive .
We need to study our history and we need to study what ’ s happening now , as well.
” The House-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is expected to hit a wall in the Republican-controlled Senate next week .
An amalgam of police-reform legislation , featuring a federal ban on the use of chokeholds , a modification of qualified immunity and litany of other targeted meliorations , was debated at length during a Judiciary hearing ahead of Juneteenth .
Without a single Republican vote , it advanced and headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming days .
The Senate equivalent known as the JUSTICE Act , attempts to incentivize the ban of chokeholds for local police departments .
However , the bill only stipulates that departments are ineligible for federal grant funding if their locality doesn ’ t enact a policy against carotid holds .
The House bill bans their use outright .
For Green , incentivizing the police to “ do the right thing , ” isn ’ t as beneficial as mandating it into law .
“ I dread to think what would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Where would you be , if you tried to incentivize the South to abandon slavery ?
” Green reflected .
“ We did not incentivize the South to let people go and free slaves .
It took a war to free people from bondage .
We come from slavery but it was from freeing them , women being raped and killed , from parents having their children ripped away from them and sold on the auction block .
”

On Friday, in Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., just a few hundred yards from the White House — itself built by enslaved men and women — demonstrators and revelers alike gathered by the hundreds.
WASHINGTON (CN) — George Floyd — killed by a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day — attended Jack Yates High School in Houston, a school named after a former enslaved man who would later purchase a public park where Juneteenth is still celebrated today.
Enslaved men, Jack Yates, Richard Allen, Richard Brock and Elias Dibble purchased Emancipation Park in Houston for $800 in 1872.
The transaction came eight years after Union soldiers, led by Gordon Ranger, armed to the teeth, marched through nearby Galveston, Texas, some 50 miles from where George Floyd once called home.
Union soldiers would finally enforce the Emancipation Proclamation for all remaining slaves in the state.
Known as “General Order No. 3,” beyond emancipation, the edict enforced “absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
Friday marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, and the reverberating effects of slavery, struggles of the 20th century Jim Crow Era and the systemically racist residue left clinging to a broad swath of American institutions has propelled protesters and lawmakers to broach conversations about transformative change.
“I was not taught about Juneteenth until I arrived in Texas and actually experienced Juneteenth,” Representative Al Green, D-Texas, told Courthouse News Friday.
Born in Louisiana — and a self-proclaimed son of the segregated south — Green’s education on Juneteenth came by way of his longtime friend, the 13-term Texas State Representative Al Edwards.
Edwards, a Democrat, made Juneteenth a paid holiday for state employees in 1979. He died in April.
On Friday, in Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., just a few hundred yards from the White House — itself built by enslaved men and women — demonstrators and revelers alike gathered by the hundreds.
During a Juneteenth celebration in Washington, D.C., young children perform a “call and response” as they spell out the words “power” and share what their strengths are with a diverse crowd of revelers and protesters. (Courthouse News Photo / Brandi Buchman and Jack Rodgers)
A large group of cyclists rolled into Lafayette Square Friday afternoon protesting the death of Floyd and those before him, promising their rides would continue through the summer, their goal to occupy the district’s streets until demands are heard.
Others like Ox Oz, an attorney who came downtown to uplift and empower in celebration of Juneteenth, leading dances and songs with young and old and calling those gathered to “pull together” in pursuit of a more just and equal society.
“It’s important to be out here and to feel that energy and be reenergized for this marathon that we’re about to get on. This is not going to be over tomorrow,” Oz said. “We have to make sure we’re all free and that’s what Juneteenth was about. It wasn’t over until everyone was free. Police brutality, the injustices, it’s not over until everyone has that freedom and respect, God given.”
The determination of demonstrators is not lost on federal lawmakers.
“I do believe that what started as a moment of action ... the Black Live Matter actions that took place, has become a movement,” Green said, noting that it has reached into “corporate personalities” and resulted in an about face from the NFL.
“It is so pervasive now that it has taken on the proverbial life of its own. It’s growing exponentially,” he said.
For the lawmaker, the next step is to execute some of the demands laid out by Black Lives Matter and “augment” it with a federal watchdog.
“The movement can go on and we can’t say how long but if we can get a Department of Reconciliation, it will promote the continuation of the movement,” Green said.
The proposed cabinet level-department would be staffed with a secretary just like other federal agencies such as the Department or Education or the Department of Defense. Under the proposed legislation, which has 22 cosponsors, the Reconciliation Department would be funded through 10% of the Defense Department’s overall budget.
In that office, Green noted, a strategy could be developed to “eliminate racism and invidious discrimination” and by funding it this way, it’s less likely to be “starved to death.”
Oz, the Washington attorney at Black Lives Matter Plaza who provided rhythmic background on a drum for revelers, envisions a future that would bestow equity upon more black Americans.
Ox Oz, an attorney, came to celebrate Juneteenth in Washington, Friday often leading a call for young children gathered to empower themselves through education. (Courthouse News Photo / Brandi Buchman and Jack Rodgers)
Literacy in America is essential, he added and normalizing a culture that elevates education, academia and having intelligent dialogue is “non-negotiable” in a first world country like America.
“Ella Baker, she said it best, she said ‘Give people light and they’ll find a way,’ because she believed that strong people don’t need strong leaders,” Oz said. “The information is out there, let’s have a dialogue and let's be constructive. We need to study our history and we need to study what’s happening now, as well.”
The House-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is expected to hit a wall in the Republican-controlled Senate next week.
An amalgam of police-reform legislation, featuring a federal ban on the use of chokeholds, a modification of qualified immunity and litany of other targeted meliorations, was debated at length during a Judiciary hearing ahead of Juneteenth.
Without a single Republican vote, it advanced and headed to the House for a full vote in the coming days.
The Senate equivalent known as the JUSTICE Act, attempts to incentivize the ban of chokeholds for local police departments. However, the bill only stipulates that departments are ineligible for federal grant funding if their locality doesn’t enact a policy against carotid holds. The House bill bans their use outright.
For Green, incentivizing the police to “do the right thing,” isn’t as beneficial as mandating it into law.
“I dread to think what would have happened. Where would I be? Where would you be, if you tried to incentivize the South to abandon slavery?” Green reflected. “We did not incentivize the South to let people go and free slaves. It took a war to free people from bondage. We come from slavery but it was from freeing them, women being raped and killed, from parents having their children ripped away from them and sold on the auction block.”


courthousenews--2020-06-20--NYC Celebrates Juneteenth Amid Weeks of Racial Justice Protests

BROOKLYN ( CN ) — While daily demonstrations and protests continue across New York City into the fourth week after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , thousands of Brooklynites supporting the Black Lives Matter movement peacefully took to the streets on Friday to celebrate the Juneteenth .
Also known as Freedom Day , Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of more than 250,000 slaves at the close of the Civil War .
A century and a half later , a crowd of thousands — activists , allies and a handful of local politicians — gathered on Friday afternoon on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intersection of Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue , near Prospect Park .
Speaking on a megaphone on the sidewalk in front of the museum , Josué “ Josh ” Pierre , a Haitian-born Democratic District Leader , called to cut $ 1 billion from the NYPD and reallocate those funds to the city ’ s public school system .
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams , the highest-ranking black elected official in New York , said the civil rights protests and demonstrations occurring across the country since George Floyd ’ s death are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address the historical context of slavery to this day .
“ When we talk about Juneteenth , we are talking about American history , ” said Williams , who as New York City Public Advocate , is first in line to succeed a mayor who is removed before the end of their term .
“ Frankly speaking , if we had full understanding in this country of what Juneteenth has meant for this country , we wouldn ’ t be having this conversation in the first place , ” Williams added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has refused to reckon with and atone for the original sin and refused to talk about how to fix the fact that we had an entire race enslaved in this country that was there simply to undergird the system of privilege that we have here in 2020 , ” he said .
“ It should not have taken three weeks of unrest and how many people killed in all to celebrate Juneteenth .
Equity and justice should not be revolutionary words .
They are only revolutionary words in the system that is built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is about privilege , ” Williams said on Friday afternoon .
Jabari Brisport , a black public school teacher and a Democratic Socialist candidate for state Senate , blamed capitalism for the nation ’ s original sin of slavery and the systematic racism that supplanted it .
“ I stand before you today on Juneteenth as a proud black socialist , ” Brisport said triumphantly from the steps of the Brooklyn Museum .
“ Because I know , and we know , it was capitalism that brought black people to this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was capitalism that fueled redlining in education and housing and health care.
” Phara Souffrant Forrest , another Democratic Socialist candidate on the June 23 ticket for the 57th Assembly District , followed Brisport on the steps of the museum .
Forrest , a union nurse , said Friday that she ’ s tired of “ being a sacrificial lamb ” along with other essential workers during the coronavirus crisis .
“ I ’ m tired of the bullshit .
I don ’ t want to hear about the half-assed excuses from our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t want to hear about ‘ We can , but.
’ Who ’ s tired of these ‘ buts ?
’ ” “ No more cuts to things that we actually need .
Defund the fucking killer cops called NYPD , ” she exclaimed to cheers from the multiracial crowd .
Last weekend , 15,000 people , predominantly dressed all in white , packed into the same location to rally in support of the Black Trans Lives Matter .
Spray paint stencils of the movement ’ s name were speckled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top of the steps on Friday , Brooklyn poet and organizer Jive Poetic recited “ Go Home , ” a meditation on the lessons and survival instincts that black parents pass on to their children to navigate a turbulent and often violent environment .
“ Do not run , do not cry , ” he said through a black and green bandana that covered most of his face .
“ Thin skin will only get you eaten alive in these streets.
” “ We still do not know what happened to little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who killed Rasta Mike , still do not need to not know what happened to you , too , ” he continued .
“ Have instincts for a reason , use them , use them like childhood streetlights , they will always tell when it is time to go home , ” concluded the poem .
As thousands of pedestrians marched downtown from the museum toward Brooklyn Borough Hall , several hundred cyclists remained gathered by the museum for a 17-mile Freedom Ride honoring Juneteenth organized by the Good Company Brooklyn Bike Club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ride began at the steps of the Brooklyn Museum , traveled south to Coney Island and ended in the historic district of Fort Greene Park .
The route included refreshment stops at Black-owned restaurants along the way .
“ Juneteenth is the emancipation of Black Americans .
It is a day of freedom and independence , ” said Andrew Bennett , the club ’ s founder .
“ The feeling we have when riding down a street on our bikes provides a sense of freedom , so we wanted to pay homage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Juneteenth celebration commemorates the day Union troops , led by Major General Gordon Granger , arrived in Galveston , Texas on June 19 , 1865 , to announce to slaves there that they were free .
The announcement came more than two months after Confederate general Robert E. Lee ’ s surrender in Appomattox , Virginia , and two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — which changed the legal status of millions of people to free but effectively freed very few , if any slaves .
Over 90 marches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year ’ s Juneteenth , according to Justice For George Floyd NYC , a comprehensive guide to the dozens of daily protests and marches occurring every day in New York City over the past four weeks .
Thousands of celebrants congregated in the historic Fort Greene Park in Central Brooklyn in the golden hour just before sunset on Friday .
The Juneteenth celebration there was reminiscent of the Fourth of July with outdoor grilling , picnicking , and revelry filling the center of the park .
Hundreds of dancers throbbed on park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staples of the black funk and soul canon like Ann Peebles and Cameo , along with selections of the contemporary Brooklyn Drill-style rap of Pop Smoke — a 20-year-old Brooklyn rapper who was killed during a robbery earlier this year .
Once an enclave to black bohemians and artists , the brownstone-lined namesake neighborhood is still home to the headquarters of filmmaker Spike Lee ’ s movie company , 40 Acres and a Mule .
The name of Lee ’ s production company is a direct reference to a Reconstruction-era promise to freed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property that was confiscated from Confederate landowners after the Civil War was supposed to be redistributed to black families in 40-acre plots .
Earlier on Friday , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new city commission commemorating Juneteenth to understand the effects of structural and institutional racism in New York City .
The mayor said the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission will create a historical record of racial discrimination , with an emphasis on housing , criminal justice , environmental racism and public health .
“ New York City is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime at all-time lows , yet communities of color bear the brunt of crime and incarceration , ” he said .
“ Racism has been a pervasive and consequential force throughout the city ’ s history and we can not go back to the status quo .
We must use the past to inform and inspire the present , to promote the dignity and well-being of all New Yorkers , and their full inclusion in the life of our city.
” Two days earlier , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state employees .
He also pledged to advance legislation to make Juneteenth an official state holiday next year .
“ Although slavery ended over 150 years ago , there has still been rampant , systemic discrimination and injustice in this state and this nation , and we have been working to enact real reforms to address these inequalities , ” the governor said .

While daily demonstrations and protests continue across New York City into the fourth week after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, thousands of Brooklynites supporting the Black Lives Matter movement peacefully took to the streets on Friday to celebrate the Juneteenth.
BROOKLYN (CN) — While daily demonstrations and protests continue across New York City into the fourth week after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, thousands of Brooklynites supporting the Black Lives Matter movement peacefully took to the streets on Friday to celebrate the Juneteenth.
Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of more than 250,000 slaves at the close of the Civil War.
A century and a half later, a crowd of thousands — activists, allies and a handful of local politicians — gathered on Friday afternoon on the steps of Brooklyn Museum at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue, near Prospect Park.
Speaking on a megaphone on the sidewalk in front of the museum, Josué “Josh” Pierre, a Haitian-born Democratic District Leader, called to cut $1 billion from the NYPD and reallocate those funds to the city’s public school system.
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the highest-ranking black elected official in New York, said the civil rights protests and demonstrations occurring across the country since George Floyd’s death are the result of a nation that has failed to address the historical context of slavery to this day.
“When we talk about Juneteenth, we are talking about American history,” said Williams, who as New York City Public Advocate, is first in line to succeed a mayor who is removed before the end of their term.
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the highest-ranking black elected official in New York, said the civil rights protests and demonstrations occurring across the country since George Floyd’s death are the result of a nation that has failed to address the historical context of slavery to this day. (Courthouse News photo / Josh Russell)
“Frankly speaking, if we had full understanding in this country of what Juneteenth has meant for this country, we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place,” Williams added.
“We are here because a country has refused to reckon with and atone for the original sin and refused to talk about how to fix the fact that we had an entire race enslaved in this country that was there simply to undergird the system of privilege that we have here in 2020,” he said.
“It should not have taken three weeks of unrest and how many people killed in all to celebrate Juneteenth. Equity and justice should not be revolutionary words. They are only revolutionary words in the system that is built on enslaved people, in a system that is about privilege,” Williams said on Friday afternoon.
Jabari Brisport, a black public school teacher and a Democratic Socialist candidate for state Senate, blamed capitalism for the nation's original sin of slavery and the systematic racism that supplanted it.
"I stand before you today on Juneteenth as a proud black socialist," Brisport said triumphantly from the steps of the Brooklyn Museum.
"Because I know, and we know, it was capitalism that brought black people to this country," he said. "It was capitalism that fueled redlining in education and housing and health care."
Phara Souffrant Forrest, another Democratic Socialist candidate on the June 23 ticket for the 57th Assembly District, followed Brisport on the steps of the museum.
Forrest, a union nurse, said Friday that she’s tired of “being a sacrificial lamb” along with other essential workers during the coronavirus crisis.
“I’m tired of the bullshit. I don’t want to hear about the half-assed excuses from our politicians,” she said. “I don’t want to hear about ‘We can, but.’ Who’s tired of these ‘buts?’”
“No more cuts to things that we actually need. Defund the fucking killer cops called NYPD,” she exclaimed to cheers from the multiracial crowd.
Last weekend, 15,000 people, predominantly dressed all in white, packed into the same location to rally in support of the Black Trans Lives Matter. Spray paint stencils of the movement’s name were speckled on sidewalks around the museum.
At the top of the steps on Friday, Brooklyn poet and organizer Jive Poetic recited “Go Home,” a meditation on the lessons and survival instincts that black parents pass on to their children to navigate a turbulent and often violent environment.


courthousenews--2020-06-20--Judge Rules Bolton Can Publish Book Despite Efforts to Block It

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A federal judge ruled Saturday that former national security adviser John Bolton can move forward in publishing his tell-all book despite efforts by the Trump administration to block the release because of concerns that classified information could be exposed .
The decision from U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth is a victory for Bolton in a court case that involved core First Amendment and national security concerns .
But the judge also made clear his concerns that Bolton had “ gambled with the national security of the United States ” by taking it upon himself to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a White House that says it was still reviewing it for classified information .
“ Defendant Bolton has gambled with the national security of the United States .
He has exposed his country to harm and himself to civil ( and potentially criminal ) liability , ” Lamberth wrote .
“ But these facts do not control the motion before the Court .
The government has failed to establish that an injunction will prevent irreparable harm.
” From a practical perspective , the ruling clears the path for a broader election-year readership and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , that paints an unflattering portrait of President Donald Trump ’ s foreign policy decision-making during the turbulent year-and-a-half that Bolton spent in the White House .
Soon after the ruling was released , Trump tweeted that Bolton “ broke the law by releasing Classified Information ( in massive amounts ) .
He must pay a very big price for this , as others have before him .
This should never to happen again !
!
!
” Bolton ’ s lawyer , Chuck Cooper , applauded Lamberth for denying the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolton ’ s book .
Publisher Simon & Schuster said the decision “ vindicated the strong First Amendment protections against censorship and prior restraint of publication.
” While declining to halt the release of the book , Lamberth did suggest that Bolton may have left himself open to potential criminal prosecution by publishing classified information and that the government may be successful in trying to prevent Bolton from keeping proceeds from the book .
Bolton ’ s team insisted that Bolton had spent months addressing White House concerns about classified information and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the official he was working with that the manuscript no longer contained any such material .
Bolton ’ s lawyers said the Trump administration ’ s efforts to block the book were a pretext to censor him for an account that the White House found unfavorable .
The Justice Department sued this past week to block the book ’ s release and to demand that copies be retrieved .
Officials said the book contained classified information and that Bolton had failed to complete a prepublication review process meant to ensure former government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secrets in books they write .
The administration submitted written statements from multiple officials attesting to the national security concerns of releasing the book .
The judge did not take issue with those concerns in his 10-page order .
But with 200,000 copies of the book already distributed to booksellers across the country , attempting to block its release would be futile , the Lamberth wrote .
Major media organizations also obtained the book and published comprehensive accounts about it .
“ In taking it upon himself to publish his book without securing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolton may indeed have caused the country irreparable harm .
But in the Internet age , even a handful of copies in circulation could irrevocably destroy confidentiality , ” Lamberth wrote .
Just one individual with a book in hand could publish its contents from a local coffee shop , he said .
“ With hundreds of thousands of copies around the globe — many in newsrooms — the damage is done .
There is no restoring the status quo , ” the judge wrote .
Lamberth appeared divided during arguments on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waited for official assurance from the White House that the book was free of classified information .
But Lamberth also suggested that he was powerless to halt the book ’ s release given that hundreds of thousands of copies had already been shipped .
“ The Room Where it Happened : A White House Memoir ” depicts a president whose foreign policy objectives were inexorably linked to his own political gain .
Bolton says Trump “ pleaded ” with China ’ s Xi Jinping during a 2019 summit to help Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked the supply of military assistance to Ukraine to that country ’ s willingness to conduct politically charged investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter — allegations that were at the heart of an impeachment trial that ended with Trump ’ s acquittal by the Senate in February .
Bolton ’ s lawyers argued that he had labored painstakingly for months with the White House to address concerns over classified information .
In late April , the career official he worked most closely with and who had done a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed her revisions and that the revised manuscript did not contain classified information .
But another White House official soon after embarked on an additional review and identified material that he said was classified .
Bolton ’ s lawyers say the White House assertions of classified material were an attempt to censor him over a book the administration simply finds unflattering .
“ If the First Amendment stands for anything , it is that the Government does not have the power to clasp its hand over the mouth of a citizen attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ import , ” Bolton ’ s attorneys wrote in a court filing .
Trump on Thursday called the book a “ compilation of lies and made up stories ” intended to make him look bad .
He tweeted that Bolton was just trying to get even for being fired “ like the sick puppy he is !
” Other administration officials who figure prominently in the book , including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , denied comments or actions that were attributed to them and joined the president in condemning the book .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolton ’ s anecdotes to condemn the president nonetheless expressed frustration that he had saved them for his book instead of participating in the impeachment case .
Bolton refused to voluntarily testify in the impeachment inquiry , and the House ultimately moved forward with its case without subpoenaing him .

A federal judge ruled Saturday that former national security adviser John Bolton can move forward in publishing his tell-all book despite efforts by the Trump administration to block the release because of concerns that classified information could be exposed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled Saturday that former national security adviser John Bolton can move forward in publishing his tell-all book despite efforts by the Trump administration to block the release because of concerns that classified information could be exposed.
The decision from U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth is a victory for Bolton in a court case that involved core First Amendment and national security concerns. But the judge also made clear his concerns that Bolton had “gambled with the national security of the United States” by taking it upon himself to publish his memoir without formal clearance from a White House that says it was still reviewing it for classified information.
“Defendant Bolton has gambled with the national security of the United States. He has exposed his country to harm and himself to civil (and potentially criminal) liability," Lamberth wrote. “But these facts do not control the motion before the Court. The government has failed to establish that an injunction will prevent irreparable harm.”
From a practical perspective, the ruling clears the path for a broader election-year readership and distribution of a memoir, due out Tuesday, that paints an unflattering portrait of President Donald Trump's foreign policy decision-making during the turbulent year-and-a-half that Bolton spent in the White House.
Soon after the ruling was released, Trump tweeted that Bolton “broke the law by releasing Classified Information (in massive amounts). He must pay a very big price for this, as others have before him. This should never to happen again!!!”
Bolton’s lawyer, Chuck Cooper, applauded Lamberth for denying the government's attempt to “suppress” Bolton's book. Publisher Simon & Schuster said the decision "vindicated the strong First Amendment protections against censorship and prior restraint of publication.''
While declining to halt the release of the book, Lamberth did suggest that Bolton may have left himself open to potential criminal prosecution by publishing classified information and that the government may be successful in trying to prevent Bolton from keeping proceeds from the book.
Bolton's team insisted that Bolton had spent months addressing White House concerns about classified information and that Bolton had been assured in late April by the official he was working with that the manuscript no longer contained any such material. Bolton's lawyers said the Trump administration's efforts to block the book were a pretext to censor him for an account that the White House found unfavorable.
The Justice Department sued this past week to block the book’s release and to demand that copies be retrieved. Officials said the book contained classified information and that Bolton had failed to complete a prepublication review process meant to ensure former government officials do not improperly disclose national security secrets in books they write. The administration submitted written statements from multiple officials attesting to the national security concerns of releasing the book.
The judge did not take issue with those concerns in his 10-page order. But with 200,000 copies of the book already distributed to booksellers across the country, attempting to block its release would be futile, the Lamberth wrote. Major media organizations also obtained the book and published comprehensive accounts about it.
“In taking it upon himself to publish his book without securing final approval from national intelligence authorities, Bolton may indeed have caused the country irreparable harm. But in the Internet age, even a handful of copies in circulation could irrevocably destroy confidentiality,” Lamberth wrote.
Just one individual with a book in hand could publish its contents from a local coffee shop, he said.
“With hundreds of thousands of copies around the globe — many in newsrooms — the damage is done. There is no restoring the status quo," the judge wrote.
Lamberth appeared divided during arguments on Friday. He observed that Bolton had not waited for official assurance from the White House that the book was free of classified information. But Lamberth also suggested that he was powerless to halt the book’s release given that hundreds of thousands of copies had already been shipped.
“The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir” depicts a president whose foreign policy objectives were inexorably linked to his own political gain.
Bolton says Trump “pleaded” with China’s Xi Jinping during a 2019 summit to help Trump's reelection prospects. Bolton writes that Trump linked the supply of military assistance to Ukraine to that country’s willingness to conduct politically charged investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter — allegations that were at the heart of an impeachment trial that ended with Trump's acquittal by the Senate in February.
Bolton’s lawyers argued that he had labored painstakingly for months with the White House to address concerns over classified information. In late April, the career official he worked most closely with and who had done a line-by-line edit notified him that she had completed her revisions and that the revised manuscript did not contain classified information. But another White House official soon after embarked on an additional review and identified material that he said was classified.
Bolton’s lawyers say the White House assertions of classified material were an attempt to censor him over a book the administration simply finds unflattering.
“If the First Amendment stands for anything, it is that the Government does not have the power to clasp its hand over the mouth of a citizen attempting to speak on a matter of great public import,” Bolton’s attorneys wrote in a court filing.
Trump on Thursday called the book a “compilation of lies and made up stories” intended to make him look bad. He tweeted that Bolton was just trying to get even for being fired “like the sick puppy he is!” Other administration officials who figure prominently in the book, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, denied comments or actions that were attributed to them and joined the president in condemning the book.
Even Democrats who pounced on some of Bolton’s anecdotes to condemn the president nonetheless expressed frustration that he had saved them for his book instead of participating in the impeachment case. Bolton refused to voluntarily testify in the impeachment inquiry, and the House ultimately moved forward with its case without subpoenaing him.
By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-06-21--Trump’s Campaign Comeback Rally Fails to Fill Arena

TULSA , Okla. ( CN ) — A substantially smaller than expected crowd showed up to President Donald Trump ’ s rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , Saturday night , disappointing a trailing reelection campaign seeking to reset during the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout .
The BOK Center in downtown Tulsa appeared to be less than half full , with the upper bowl and standing room on the floor largely empty .
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale had tweeted on June 15 that more than one million ticket requests had been made for the rally .
The basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the campaign was expecting as many as 200,000 people to be downtown and had erected a large stage and rallying areas outside in anticipation of the crowd .
Those areas were later closed and taken down when it became apparent the crowd would not materialize .
Parscale blamed the low turnout on “ radical protesters ” who were “ fueled by a week of apocalyptic media coverage ” to allegedly stop Trump supporters from entering the arena .
“ They even blocked access to the metal detectors , preventing people from entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking .
Inside the arena , there appeared to be no social distancing or mask wearing .
The campaign had made assurances that it would provide attendees with masks , temperature checks and hand sanitizer .
Several hundred Trump supporters were seen on the streets outside the arena during the speech , suggesting they refused to go inside even with the abundance of empty seats .
In his two hour-long speech , Trump alternated between bragging about his handling of the pandemic and airing grievances against his enemies .
He referred to Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump bragged about reviving Oklahoma ’ s ailing energy industry , stating “ we have turned us into the most dominant energy superpower ” in the world .
“ Because of the Chinese virus , it looked like we ’ re in big trouble , ” Trump said , alluding to West Texas Intermediate oil prices cratering below zero as stay-at-home orders went into place .
“ But we got it back together .
I called Russia , I called Saudi Arabia and believe it or not I called Mexico .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OPEC-plus-plus .
We got oil back up to $ 40 a barrel , you have an oil business again.
” Trump complained that he does not get enough credit for halting flights to the U.S. from China and later Europe to mitigate the spread of the virus .
“ I saved hundreds of thousands of lives , ” he yelled .
“ We don ’ t even get a mention !
” Trump bizarrely admitted that he told his staff to slow down the rate of testing for Covid-19 to reduce the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has tested 25 million people .
“ When you do testing of that extent , you are going to get more people testing positive , ” he said .
“ I told my people to slow the testing down .
We have got a 10-year-old with the sniffles — we ’ ve got a case !
” Trump alluded to mass protests across the U.S. the past three weeks over the killing of George Floyd , an unarmed black man , at the hands of Minneapolis police .
The protesters have demanded measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have torn down monuments to Confederate figures in several cities .
Many are demanding changes to police department funding and want to channel the money to community and social services to better serve the public .
Trump dismissed those calls , telling the crowd “ you are so lucky I am president ” right now .
“ They want to destroy our heritage , they want to defund our police … Minneapolis , they are not kidding , ” Trump said .
“ It ’ s one o ’ clock , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window of a young woman whose husband is away as a traveling salesman .
And you call 911 and they say ‘ I ’ m sorry this number is no longer working.
’ You have many cases like this , an old woman , a young woman , a young man … these people are stone cold crazy.
” Trump claimed the protesters outside of the arena were engaging in “ extremist violence by the extremist left.
” “ There are very bad people outside , ” he said .
“ Very bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were several tense yet peaceful confrontations between protesters and Trump supporters during the day .
At the corner of South Boulder Avenue and West 4th Street , protesters shouting “ Black Lives Matter ” marched towards the arena .
A white male Trump supporter in a “ Make America Great Again ” hat told the protesters through a megaphone that the Democratic Party is “ the most racist party in the history of America , ” and that it was Republicans from the north who freed the slaves .
Steps away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Royals hat held a sign stating “ Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.
” “ I am just as American as you are , ” the protester shouted back .
“ What you think as disrespectful is what I think is the last form of patriotism , thank you very much.
” The number of protesters increased substantially after the rally ended and night fell , outnumbering the number of Trump supporters leaving downtown .
Trump criticized the National Football League and Commissioner Roger Goddell for apologizing for the league ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national anthem in protest against racism and police brutality .
“ Nobody asked you to say anything about it , ” Trump said to cheers .
“ We talk about freedom of speech but that is desecration .
We used to have things , we should have legislation that if someone wants to burn [ the American flag ] and stomp on it , they should go to jail for one year.
” The rally occurred one day after Trump was heavily criticized for threatening protesters , implying they would face physical violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anarchists , agitators , looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma please understand , you will not be treated like you have been in New York , Seattle , or Minneapolis , ” Trump tweeted , “ It will be a much different scene !
” The rally took place in spite of confirmed cases of Covid-19 spiking in Oklahoma since it began reopening on June 1 .
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Saturday night 10,037 total cases in the state — a 3.4 percent increase since Friday .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent increase since Friday .
Trump ’ s campaign confirmed Saturday afternoon that six staffers on the ground preparing for the rally had tested positive for Covid-19 and were placed under quarantine .
This came over one week after the campaign asked rally attendees to agree to a liability waiver where they assume “ all risks related to exposure ” to the coronavirus and promise to not sue the campaign or arena management .
The rally took place one day after the Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to halt it .
In a 9-0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing was not required because Republican Governor Kevin Stitt left it up to business owners or local officials as part of the state ’ s Phase 3 reopening plans .
The ruling came three days after a Tulsa County trial judge also refused to intervene .
Tulsa Mayor G.T .
Bynum — a fellow Republican — has endured criticism for refusing to stop the rally in spite of admitting his own reservations against holding it .
He cited an expected crowd of over 100,000 people and imposed a curfew downtown starting Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spite of several dozen Trump supporters camping outside the arena in anticipation of the rally .
The curfew was lifted one day later at Trump ’ s urging .
Unhappy with the mayor ’ s handling of the matter , mayoral aide Jack Graham announced his resignation Saturday night as Air Force One was landing in Tulsa .
“ I appreciate the opportunities you have given me over the years , but my heart is telling me that I can no longer effectively support you and the decisions you make for Tulsa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump defended himself for brazenly scheduling the rally originally on Juneteenth , the June 19 holiday celebrated as the day slavery ended in America when Union soldiers informed slaves in Galveston , Texas , they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the end of the Civil War .
Trump ’ s campaign finally delayed the rally one day after initially pressing on with the original date .
“ I have done more for the black community in four years than Joe Biden has in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd .
The Tulsa World newspaper bluntly told Trump his rally was not welcome in a June 15 editorial , acknowledging the symbolism of the rally taking place in a city 99 years after mobs of white people indiscriminately attacked and murdered black residents in the city ’ s Greenwood district .
Trump had originally planned to tour Greenwood by foot Saturday afternoon , but Vice President Mike Pence took his place after locals complained of Trump ’ s divisiveness on the issue of race .
Trump warned his supporters that Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of his party if he wins the election and that “ extremist , far left ” Democrats will hijack his agenda .
“ Does anyone know what he says to his wife when he doesn ’ t confuse her with his sister ?
” Trump riffed .
“ He says ‘ get me the hell out of here , these people are crazy.
’ ” A damning Reuters/Ipsos poll from June 17 showed Trump trailing Biden 35 % to 48 % among registered voters .

A substantially smaller than expected crowd showed up to President Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Saturday night, disappointing a trailing reelection campaign seeking to reset during the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.
TULSA, Okla. (CN) — A substantially smaller than expected crowd showed up to President Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Saturday night, disappointing a trailing reelection campaign seeking to reset during the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.
The BOK Center in downtown Tulsa appeared to be less than half full, with the upper bowl and standing room on the floor largely empty.
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale had tweeted on June 15 that more than one million ticket requests had been made for the rally. The basketball arena has a capacity of approximately 19,000 — the campaign was expecting as many as 200,000 people to be downtown and had erected a large stage and rallying areas outside in anticipation of the crowd. Those areas were later closed and taken down when it became apparent the crowd would not materialize.
Parscale blamed the low turnout on “radical protesters” who were “fueled by a week of apocalyptic media coverage” to allegedly stop Trump supporters from entering the arena.
“They even blocked access to the metal detectors, preventing people from entering,” he tweeted as Trump began speaking.
Inside the arena, there appeared to be no social distancing or mask wearing. The campaign had made assurances that it would provide attendees with masks, temperature checks and hand sanitizer.
Several hundred Trump supporters were seen on the streets outside the arena during the speech, suggesting they refused to go inside even with the abundance of empty seats.
In his two hour-long speech, Trump alternated between bragging about his handling of the pandemic and airing grievances against his enemies. He referred to Covid-19 with the term “kung flu.”
Trump bragged about reviving Oklahoma’s ailing energy industry, stating “we have turned us into the most dominant energy superpower” in the world.
“Because of the Chinese virus, it looked like we’re in big trouble,” Trump said, alluding to West Texas Intermediate oil prices cratering below zero as stay-at-home orders went into place. “But we got it back together. I called Russia, I called Saudi Arabia and believe it or not I called Mexico. It’s called OPEC+. It’s OPEC-plus-plus. We got oil back up to $40 a barrel, you have an oil business again.”
Trump complained that he does not get enough credit for halting flights to the U.S. from China and later Europe to mitigate the spread of the virus.
“I saved hundreds of thousands of lives,” he yelled. “We don’t even get a mention!”
Trump bizarrely admitted that he told his staff to slow down the rate of testing for Covid-19 to reduce the number of positive cases after bragging the country has tested 25 million people.
“When you do testing of that extent, you are going to get more people testing positive,” he said. “I told my people to slow the testing down. We have got a 10-year-old with the sniffles — we’ve got a case!”
Trump alluded to mass protests across the U.S. the past three weeks over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. The protesters have demanded measures to end systemic racism and police brutality and have torn down monuments to Confederate figures in several cities. Many are demanding changes to police department funding and want to channel the money to community and social services to better serve the public. Trump dismissed those calls, telling the crowd “you are so lucky I am president” right now.
“They want to destroy our heritage, they want to defund our police … Minneapolis, they are not kidding,” Trump said. “It’s one o’clock, a very tough hombre is breaking into the window of a young woman whose husband is away as a traveling salesman. And you call 911 and they say ‘I’m sorry this number is no longer working.’ You have many cases like this, an old woman, a young woman, a young man ... these people are stone cold crazy.”


courthousenews--2020-06-22--Nine Shot at Charlotte, NC Party

Nine Shot at Charlotte, NC Party

CHARLOTTE , N.C. ( AP ) — Two people were killed and seven wounded in a shooting in Charlotte , @ @ @ @ @ city , police said , and five others were hit by vehicles afterward .
The @ @ @ @ @ an “ impromptu block party ” that was a continuation of Juneteenth celebrations , Charlotte-Mecklenburg @ @ @ @ @ said early Monday .
Police responding to a call about a pedestrian hit found hundreds @ @ @ @ @ , Jennings said .
As emergency services arrived , several shots were fired , scattering @ @ @ @ @ there was evidence of multiple shooters , but no one was in custody as of @ @ @ @ @ people were hit by vehicles while running away , Jennings said .
The conditions of @ @ @ @ @ injuries were not immediately clear .
The shooting took place on Beatties Ford Road in @ @ @ @ @ .
Further details were not immediately available .
Calls , a direct message and an @ @ @ @ @ not immediately returned .

Two people were killed and seven wounded in a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, police said, and five others were hit by vehicles afterward.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two people were killed and seven wounded in a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, police said, and five others were hit by vehicles afterward.
The shooting happened around midnight at an "impromptu block party" that was a continuation of Juneteenth celebrations, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings said early Monday.
Police responding to a call about a pedestrian hit found hundreds of people in the streets, Jennings said. As emergency services arrived, several shots were fired, scattering the crowd. Jennings said there was evidence of multiple shooters, but no one was in custody as of Monday morning.
The five people were hit by vehicles while running away, Jennings said.
The conditions of the 12 people hospitalized with injuries were not immediately clear.
The shooting took place on Beatties Ford Road in northern Charlotte, police said.
Further details were not immediately available. Calls, a direct message and an email to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were not immediately returned.