courthousenews--2020-06-10--3-in-4 Americans Believe Undocumented Workers Fill Unwanted Jobs

( CN ) – A new survey released Wednesday found that three-quarters of Americans believe that undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens don ’ t want .
The survey by the Pew Research Center polled nearly 11,000 adults in late April and early May , asking Americans whether they believed that legal and undocumented immigrants hold jobs that U.S. citizens would like to have .
Among those polled , 64 % said that legal immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens do not want , and 77 % said that undocumented immigrants work in jobs that citizens would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounted for nearly 5 % of the U.S. workforce in 2017 , the most recent year for which Pew had estimates on immigrant numbers available , while legal immigrants accounted for nearly 13 % of workers .
Immigrants accounted for more than a quarter of workers in the agriculture sector , the highest of any industry .
Compared with their share of the U.S. workforce , a relatively high share of unauthorized immigrants also worked in industries such as construction , leisure and hospitality , personal and other services and manufacturing .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that immigrants hold in the U.S. , there is a notable difference along political party lines .
The vast majority of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents ( 87 % ) say that undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs U.S. citizens do not want , compared with 66 % of Republicans and Republican-leaners .
Hispanics are most likely to say undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs U.S. citizens do not want , with 94 % of Hispanic immigrants and 82 % of U.S.-born Hispanics agreeing with the statement .
By comparison , 75 % of white and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same .
Many undocumented immigrants work in industries that are at risk for job loss during the current COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak because they are difficult to perform remotely .
In all , 83 % of undocumented immigrant workers held such jobs in 2017 , including those in the service sector and construction .
By comparison , 62 % of U.S. workers overall held these types of jobs .
Much of the difference between these groups is due to undocumented immigrants ’ jobs being more difficult to telework , even if the job is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health , where large shares can work remotely .
Further , many immigrants living legally in the U.S. hold jobs deemed essential by the federal government , including an estimated 2.7 million who worked in the health care sector , or nearly 15 % of all health care workers as of 2017 .
A Pew survey released in early May found that about two-thirds of U.S. adults believe that the federal government has a responsibility to provide medical care to undocumented immigrants who are ill with the coronavirus , even as only 37 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help to undocumented immigrants who have lost their job due to the outbreak .

A new survey released Wednesday found that three-quarters of Americans believe that undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens don't want.
(CN) — A new survey released Wednesday found that three-quarters of Americans believe that undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens don't want.
The survey by the Pew Research Center polled nearly 11,000 adults in late April and early May, asking Americans whether they believed that legal and undocumented immigrants hold jobs that U.S. citizens would like to have.
Among those polled, 64% said that legal immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens do not want, and 77% said that undocumented immigrants work in jobs that citizens would not want to have.
Unauthorized immigrants accounted for nearly 5% of the U.S. workforce in 2017, the most recent year for which Pew had estimates on immigrant numbers available, while legal immigrants accounted for nearly 13% of workers.
Immigrants accounted for more than a quarter of workers in the agriculture sector, the highest of any industry. Compared with their share of the U.S. workforce, a relatively high share of unauthorized immigrants also worked in industries such as construction, leisure and hospitality, personal and other services and manufacturing.
When it comes to views on the jobs that immigrants hold in the U.S., there is a notable difference along political party lines. The vast majority of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (87%) say that undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs U.S. citizens do not want, compared with 66% of Republicans and Republican-leaners.
Hispanics are most likely to say undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs U.S. citizens do not want, with 94% of Hispanic immigrants and 82% of U.S.-born Hispanics agreeing with the statement. By comparison, 75% of white and 71% of black adults say the same.
Many undocumented immigrants work in industries that are at risk for job loss during the current Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak because they are difficult to perform remotely. In all, 83% of undocumented immigrant workers held such jobs in 2017, including those in the service sector and construction.
By comparison, 62% of U.S. workers overall held these types of jobs. Much of the difference between these groups is due to undocumented immigrants’ jobs being more difficult to telework, even if the job is in an industry, like education and health, where large shares can work remotely.
Further, many immigrants living legally in the U.S. hold jobs deemed essential by the federal government, including an estimated 2.7 million who worked in the health care sector, or nearly 15% of all health care workers as of 2017.
A Pew survey released in early May found that about two-thirds of U.S. adults believe that the federal government has a responsibility to provide medical care to undocumented immigrants who are ill with the coronavirus, even as only 37% say the government should offer economic help to undocumented immigrants who have lost their job due to the outbreak.


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Minneapolis Police Chief Takes on Union, Promises Change

The Minneapolis mayor and the former police chief say that police union boss Bob Kroll is an obstacle to change .
MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) — The Minneapolis Police Department will withdraw from police union contract negotiations , Chief Medaria Arradondo said Wednesday , as he announced initial steps in what he said would be transformational reforms to the agency in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death .
Faced with calls from activists and a majority of City Council members to dismantle or change the funding priorities of the department , Arradondo also said he would use a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and intervene .
“ We will have a police department that our communities view as legitimate , trusting and working with their best interests at heart , ” he said at a news conference more than two weeks after Floyd died after a white officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed black man ’ s neck even after he stopped moving and pleading for air .
Activists have cited racial inequities and brutality and a system that rarely disciplines problem officers .
The officer who had his knee on Floyd ’ s neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against him and had been disciplined only once .
Arradondo said “ taking a deliberate pause ” to review the union contract is the first step toward change .
He said it ’ s debilitating for a chief when an officer does something that calls for termination , but the union works to keep that person on the job .
Advisers will look for ways to restructure the contract to provide more transparency and flexibility , he said .
The review will look at critical incident protocols , use of force , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among other things .
“ This work must be transformational , but I must do it right , ” Arradondo said .
The union ’ s contract expired on Dec. 31 but remains in effect until there is a new one .
Talks began in October and eventually included a state mediator ; the last discussion was in early March , when the coronavirus led to talks breaking off .
Union President Bob Kroll did not immediately return requests for comment .
Arradondo sidestepped a question about whether he thought Kroll , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , should step down .
Nor did he directly answer a question about whether residents should worry about a slowdown in police response time as a pushback against attempts to transform the department .
Some City Council members have said that their wards saw such slowdowns when they complained about police action .
In an interview later , Arradondo said it ’ s up to the union ’ s members to decide whether Kroll should resign .
But he said he hopes the union leadership takes to heart “ the fierce urgency of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe rank-and-file officers are an obstacle to change .
He also said citizens “ should not be concerned or worried ” about any slowdown in service .
“ Our men and women continue to show up , ” he said .
“ They ’ re showing up on their shifts .
They ’ re showing up out there in the community .
They ’ re answering the calls.
” Arradondo fired the four officers who were at the scene of the encounter with Floyd , the day after his death .
Chauvin is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and manslaughter , and the other three officers are charged with aiding and abetting .
One of those officers , Thomas Lane , posted bail of $ 750,000 and was released Wednesday with conditions .
Chauvin , J. Kueng and Tou Thao remained in custody .
Arradondo ’ s predecessor , Janee Harteau , and Mayor Jacob Frey are among those who have complained that the police union is a roadblock to change .
Frey , who praised Arradondo ’ s announcement , said this week that the city has difficulty terminating and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bob Bennett , an attorney who has sued the department many times over police misconduct allegations , has said that the union has more sway over police conduct than chiefs do .
While a majority of City Council members called for dismantling the department , they provided no clear plan on how that would happen .
Frey has said he would not support abolishing the department .
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison , who is prosecuting the four officers , told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that he ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that the people who are “ should be listened to rather than dismissed.
” He said it was fair to question whether community groups that fight against gun violence should get more money , for example , and whether schools with officers should also have more nurses and counselors .
“ Nobody ’ s saying defund safety , ” Ellison said .
“ What they ’ re doing is they ’ re challenging the 19th , 20th century model of how we deliver safety … how it ’ s not really working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Arradondo , the city ’ s first African American police chief , joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1989 as a patrol officer , working his way up to precinct inspector and head of the Internal Affairs Unit , which investigates officer misconduct allegations .
Along the way , he and four other black officers successfully sued the department for discrimination in promotions , pay and discipline .
He was promoted to assistant chief in early 2017 , then became chief later that year , after Harteau was fired for the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justine Ruszczyk Damond , an Australian native who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home .
Many hoped Arradondo could alter the culture of a department that critics said too frequently used excessive force and discriminated against people of color .
Arradondo made some quick changes , including toughening the department ’ s policy on use of body cameras , but critics have said more needs to be done .
“ Defunding ” of police departments is widely misunderstood .
It does not mean zeroing out funding ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms of community safety and development .

The Minneapolis Police Department will withdraw from police union contract negotiations, Chief Medaria Arradondo said Wednesday, as he announced initial steps in what he said would be transformational reforms to the agency in the wake of George Floyd's death.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis Police Department will withdraw from police union contract negotiations, Chief Medaria Arradondo said Wednesday, as he announced initial steps in what he said would be transformational reforms to the agency in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Faced with calls from activists and a majority of City Council members to dismantle or change the funding priorities of the department, Arradondo also said he would use a new system to identify problem officers early and intervene.
"We will have a police department that our communities view as legitimate, trusting and working with their best interests at heart," he said at a news conference more than two weeks after Floyd died after a white officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed black man's neck even after he stopped moving and pleading for air.
Activists have cited racial inequities and brutality and a system that rarely disciplines problem officers. The officer who had his knee on Floyd's neck, Derek Chauvin, had 17 complaints against him and had been disciplined only once.
Arradondo said "taking a deliberate pause" to review the union contract is the first step toward change. He said it's debilitating for a chief when an officer does something that calls for termination, but the union works to keep that person on the job.
Advisers will look for ways to restructure the contract to provide more transparency and flexibility, he said. The review will look at critical incident protocols, use of force, and disciplinary protocols, including grievances and arbitration, among other things.
"This work must be transformational, but I must do it right," Arradondo said.
The union's contract expired on Dec. 31 but remains in effect until there is a new one. Talks began in October and eventually included a state mediator; the last discussion was in early March, when the coronavirus led to talks breaking off.
Union President Bob Kroll did not immediately return requests for comment.
Arradondo sidestepped a question about whether he thought Kroll, often seen as an obstacle to change, should step down. Nor did he directly answer a question about whether residents should worry about a slowdown in police response time as a pushback against attempts to transform the department. Some City Council members have said that their wards saw such slowdowns when they complained about police action.
In an interview later, Arradondo said it's up to the union's members to decide whether Kroll should resign. But he said he hopes the union leadership takes to heart "the fierce urgency of now." He said he does not believe rank-and-file officers are an obstacle to change. He also said citizens "should not be concerned or worried" about any slowdown in service.
"Our men and women continue to show up," he said. "They're showing up on their shifts. They're showing up out there in the community. They're answering the calls."
Arradondo fired the four officers who were at the scene of the encounter with Floyd, the day after his death. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter, and the other three officers are charged with aiding and abetting.
One of those officers, Thomas Lane, posted bail of $750,000 and was released Wednesday with conditions. Chauvin, J. Kueng and Tou Thao remained in custody.
Arradondo's predecessor, Janee Harteau, and Mayor Jacob Frey are among those who have complained that the police union is a roadblock to change. Frey, who praised Arradondo's announcement, said this week that the city has difficulty terminating and disciplining officers because of the union. Bob Bennett, an attorney who has sued the department many times over police misconduct allegations, has said that the union has more sway over police conduct than chiefs do.
While a majority of City Council members called for dismantling the department, they provided no clear plan on how that would happen. Frey has said he would not support abolishing the department.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is prosecuting the four officers, told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that he's not calling for dismantling or defunding the department but that the people who are "should be listened to rather than dismissed."
He said it was fair to question whether community groups that fight against gun violence should get more money, for example, and whether schools with officers should also have more nurses and counselors.
"Nobody's saying defund safety," Ellison said. "What they're doing is they're challenging the 19th, 20th century model of how we deliver safety ... how it's not really working very well and coming up with alternatives."
Arradondo, the city's first African American police chief, joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1989 as a patrol officer, working his way up to precinct inspector and head of the Internal Affairs Unit, which investigates officer misconduct allegations. Along the way, he and four other black officers successfully sued the department for discrimination in promotions, pay and discipline.
He was promoted to assistant chief in early 2017, then became chief later that year, after Harteau was fired for the way she handled the fatal police shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, an Australian native who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home.
Many hoped Arradondo could alter the culture of a department that critics said too frequently used excessive force and discriminated against people of color. Arradondo made some quick changes, including toughening the department's policy on use of body cameras, but critics have said more needs to be done.
“Defunding” of police departments is widely misunderstood. It does not mean zeroing out funding; it means redirecting some money toward other forms of community safety and development.
By STEVE KARNOWSKI and AMY FORLITI
Courthouse News contributed to this report.


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Trump Clings to Military Bases Named for Rebel Officers

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Trump on Wednesday said his administration will “ not even consider ” changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases named for Confederate Army officers .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday that he was open to discussion of such changes .
“ These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage , a history of Winning , Victory , and Freedom , ” Trump wrote .
“ The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds , and won two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.
” Name changes have not been proposed by the Army or the Pentagon , but on Monday , Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy indicated in response to questions from reporters that they were “ open to a bipartisan discussion ” of renaming bases such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia .
Supporters of disassociating military bases from Confederate Army officers say they represent the racism and divisiveness of the Civil War era and glorify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To amplify Trump ’ s view , his press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany , read his tweets to reporters in the White House briefing room .
She said he is “ fervently ” opposed to changing the base names and believes that doing so would amount to “ complete disrespect ” for soldiers who trained there over the years .
The possibility of renaming the bases , McEnany said , is “ an absolute non-starter ” for Trump .
If Congress were to pass legislation requiring name changes , he would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. military recently began rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols , including the Army base names , mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd at police hands .
The Navy and the Marine Corps are banning public displays of the Confederate Army battle flag on their installations , calling the decision necessary to preserve cohesion in the ranks .
Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers , mostly senior generals , including Robert E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benning , the namesake of Confederate Army Gen. Henry L. Benning , who was a leader of Georgia ’ s secessionist movement and an advocate of preserving slavery .
Others are in Virginia , North Carolina , Alabama , Texas and Louisiana .
The naming was done mostly after World War I and in the 1940s , in some cases as gestures of conciliation to the South .
Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols , but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are legendary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , is home to some of the Army ’ s most elite forces .
Any decision to change the name at Bragg or other bases likely would involve consulting with officials from the affected states and localities .
Paul Eaton , a retired two-star Army general and a former commanding general of Fort Benning , said Trump ’ s statements violate the ideals the Army stands for .
“ Today , Donald Trump made it official .
Rather than move this nation further away from institutionalized racism , he believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heritage , by keeping the names of racist traitors on the gates of our military bases , ” Eaton said .
Peter Mansoor , a retired Army colonel and veteran of the Iraq war , said in an email exchange that renaming these bases is long overdue .
“ Most serving soldiers know little about the history behind the Confederate leaders for whom these bases are named , or the political deals that caused them to be honored in this fashion , ” he said .
“ There might be some pushback from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South , but this is what we like to call a ‘ teachable moment.
’ Now is the time to finally bring about a change that will speak volumes as to what the U.S. Army stands for.
” David Petraeus , a retired four-star Army general , said the renaming move , which he supports , amounts to a “ war of memory , ” and that before deciding to rename bases like Fort Bragg , where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division , the Army must be ready to follow its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The irony of training at bases named for those who took up arms against the United States , and for the right to enslave others , is inescapable to anyone paying attention , ” Petraeus wrote in an essay published Tuesday by The Atlantic .
“ Now , belatedly , is the moment for us to pay such attention.
” Fort Bragg was named for Braxton Bragg , a native North Carolinian and Confederate general with a reputation for bravery and mediocre leadership .
His forces were defeated at the Battle of Chattanooga @ @ @ @

President Trump on Wednesday said his administration will "not even consider" changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases named for Confederate Army officers. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday that he was open to discussion of such changes.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Trump on Wednesday said his administration will "not even consider" changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases named for Confederate Army officers. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday that he was open to discussion of such changes.
"These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom," Trump wrote. "The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations."
On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 at Fort Bragg, N.C., troops from the 82nd Airborne deployed to the Middle East as reinforcements in the volatile aftermath of the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Name changes have not been proposed by the Army or the Pentagon, but on Monday, Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy indicated in response to questions from reporters that they were "open to a bipartisan discussion" of renaming bases such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia.
Supporters of disassociating military bases from Confederate Army officers say they represent the racism and divisiveness of the Civil War era and glorify men who fought against the United States.
To amplify Trump's view, his press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, read his tweets to reporters in the White House briefing room. She said he is "fervently" opposed to changing the base names and believes that doing so would amount to "complete disrespect" for soldiers who trained there over the years.
The possibility of renaming the bases, McEnany said, is "an absolute non-starter" for Trump.
If Congress were to pass legislation requiring name changes, he would not sign it, she said.
The U.S. military recently began rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, including the Army base names, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd at police hands. The Navy and the Marine Corps are banning public displays of the Confederate Army battle flag on their installations, calling the decision necessary to preserve cohesion in the ranks.
Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers, mostly senior generals, including Robert E. Lee. Among the 10 is Fort Benning, the namesake of Confederate Army Gen. Henry L. Benning, who was a leader of Georgia's secessionist movement and an advocate of preserving slavery. Others are in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana. The naming was done mostly after World War I and in the 1940s, in some cases as gestures of conciliation to the South.
Few voices in the military are openly defending the link to Confederate symbols, but some of the bases named for Confederate officers are legendary in their own right. Fort Bragg, for example, is home to some of the Army's most elite forces. Any decision to change the name at Bragg or other bases likely would involve consulting with officials from the affected states and localities.
Paul Eaton, a retired two-star Army general and a former commanding general of Fort Benning, said Trump's statements violate the ideals the Army stands for.
"Today, Donald Trump made it official. Rather than move this nation further away from institutionalized racism, he believes we should cling to it and its heritage, by keeping the names of racist traitors on the gates of our military bases," Eaton said.
Peter Mansoor, a retired Army colonel and veteran of the Iraq war, said in an email exchange that renaming these bases is long overdue.
"Most serving soldiers know little about the history behind the Confederate leaders for whom these bases are named, or the political deals that caused them to be honored in this fashion," he said. "There might be some pushback from a small segment of soldiers from the South, but this is what we like to call a 'teachable moment.' Now is the time to finally bring about a change that will speak volumes as to what the U.S. Army stands for."
David Petraeus, a retired four-star Army general, said the renaming move, which he supports, amounts to a "war of memory," and that before deciding to rename bases like Fort Bragg, where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division, the Army must be ready to follow its own procedures for such change.
"The irony of training at bases named for those who took up arms against the United States, and for the right to enslave others, is inescapable to anyone paying attention," Petraeus wrote in an essay published Tuesday by The Atlantic. "Now, belatedly, is the moment for us to pay such attention."
Fort Bragg was named for Braxton Bragg, a native North Carolinian and Confederate general with a reputation for bravery and mediocre leadership. His forces were defeated at the Battle of Chattanooga in November 1863.
By ROBERT BURNS


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Amazon Suspends Police Use of its Facial Recognition

Studies have show that facial recognition systems are more inaccurate in attempting to identify people with dark skins .
NEW YORK ( AP ) — Amazon banned police use of its facial-recognition technology for a year , making it the latest tech giant to step back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin .
The Seattle-based company did not say why it took action now , but protests of the police killing of George Floyd have focused attention on racial injustice and how police use technology to track people .
Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed black man ’ s neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air .
Law enforcement agencies use facial recognition to identify suspects , but critics say it can be misused .
A number of U.S. cities have banned its use by police and other government agencies , led by San Francisco last year .
On Tuesday , IBM said it would get out of the facial recognition business , citing concerns about how the technology can be used for mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not clear if the ban on police use includes federal law enforcement agencies .
Amazon did not respond to questions about it .
Civil rights groups and Amazon ’ s own employees have pushed the company to stop selling its technology , called Rekognition , to government agencies , saying it could be used to invade privacy and target people of color .
In a blog post Wednesday , Amazon said it hoped Congress would put in place stronger regulations for facial recognition .
“ Amazon ’ s decision is an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t really change the face recognition landscape in the United States since it ’ s not a major player , ” said Clare Garvie , at Georgetown University ’ s Center on Privacy and Technology .
Her public records research found only two U.S. agencies using or testing Rekognition .
The Orlando police department tested it , but chose not to implement it , she said .
The Washington County Sheriff ’ s Office in Oregon has been the most public about using Rekognition , but said after Amazon ’ s announcement Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facial recognition indefinitely .
Studies led by MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini found racial and gender disparities in facial recognition software .
Those findings spurred Microsoft and IBM to improve their systems , but irked Amazon , which last year publicly attacked her research methods .
A group of artificial intelligence scholars , including a winner of computer science ’ s top prize , last year launched a spirited defense of her work and called on Amazon to stop selling its facial recognition software to police .
A study last year by a U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s flaws .
The National Institute of Standards and Technology tested leading facial recognition systems — though not from Amazon , which did not submit its algorithms — and found that they often performed unevenly based on a person ’ s race , gender or age .
“ Microsoft also needs to take a stand , ” she wrote in an email .
“ More importantly our lawmakers need to step up ” to rein in harmful deployments of the technologies .
Microsoft has been vocal about the need to regulate facial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not said it would not sell it to law enforcement .
The company did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday .
Amazon began attracting attention from the American Civil Liberties Union and privacy advocates after it introduced Rekognition in 2016 and began pitching it to law enforcement .
But experts like Garvie say many U.S. agencies rely on facial recognition technology built by companies that are not as well known , such as Tokyo-based NEC , Chicago-based Motorola Solutions or the European companies Idemia , Gemalto and Cognitec .
Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company said organizations , such as those that use Rekognition to help find children who are missing or sexually exploited , will still have access to the technology .
This week ’ s announcements by Amazon and IBM follow a push by Democratic lawmakers to pass a sweeping police reform package in Congress that could include restrictions on the use of facial recognition , especially in police body cameras .
Though not commonly used in the United States , the possibility of cameras that could monitor crowds and identify people in real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry has fought against outright bans of facial recognition , but some companies have called for federal laws that could set guidelines for responsible use of the technology .
“ It is becoming clear that the absence of consistent national rules will delay getting this valuable technology into the hands of law enforcement , slowing down investigations and making communities less safe , ” said Daniel Castro , vice president of the industry-backed Information Technology and Innovation Foundation , which has advocated for facial recognition providers .
Ángel Díaz , an attorney at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Justice , said he welcomed Amazon ’ s moratorium but said it “ should have come sooner , given numerous studies showing that the technology is racially biased.
” “ We agree that Congress needs to act , but local communities should also be empowered to voice their concerns and decide if and how they want this technology deployed at all , ” he said .

Amazon banned police use of its facial-recognition technology for a year, making it the latest tech giant to step back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon banned police use of its facial-recognition technology for a year, making it the latest tech giant to step back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin.
The Seattle-based company did not say why it took action now, but protests of the police killing of George Floyd have focused attention on racial injustice and how police use technology to track people. Floyd died May 25 as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed black man's neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air.
Law enforcement agencies use facial recognition to identify suspects, but critics say it can be misused. A number of U.S. cities have banned its use by police and other government agencies, led by San Francisco last year. On Tuesday, IBM said it would get out of the facial recognition business, citing concerns about how the technology can be used for mass surveillance and racial profiling.
FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2019, file photo, Washington County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jeff Talbot demonstrates how his agency used facial recognition software to help solve a crime, at their headquarters in Hillsboro, Ore. The image on the left shows a man whose face was captured on a surveillance camera and investigators used the software to scan their database of past mug shots to match that facial image with an identity. Amazon said Wednesday, June 10, 2020, it will ban police use of its facial recognition technology for a year in order to give Congress time to come up with ways to regulate the technology. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, File)
It's not clear if the ban on police use includes federal law enforcement agencies. Amazon did not respond to questions about it.
Civil rights groups and Amazon's own employees have pushed the company to stop selling its technology, called Rekognition, to government agencies, saying it could be used to invade privacy and target people of color.
In a blog post Wednesday, Amazon said it hoped Congress would put in place stronger regulations for facial recognition.
"Amazon's decision is an important symbolic step, but this doesn't really change the face recognition landscape in the United States since it's not a major player," said Clare Garvie, at Georgetown University's Center on Privacy and Technology. Her public records research found only two U.S. agencies using or testing Rekognition.
The Orlando police department tested it, but chose not to implement it, she said. The Washington County Sheriff's Office in Oregon has been the most public about using Rekognition, but said after Amazon's announcement Wednesday that it was suspending its use of facial recognition indefinitely.
Studies led by MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini found racial and gender disparities in facial recognition software. Those findings spurred Microsoft and IBM to improve their systems, but irked Amazon, which last year publicly attacked her research methods. A group of artificial intelligence scholars, including a winner of computer science's top prize, last year launched a spirited defense of her work and called on Amazon to stop selling its facial recognition software to police.
A study last year by a U.S. agency affirmed the concerns about the technology's flaws. The National Institute of Standards and Technology tested leading facial recognition systems — though not from Amazon, which did not submit its algorithms — and found that they often performed unevenly based on a person's race, gender or age.
Buolamwini on Wednesday called Amazon's announcement a "welcomed though unexpected announcement."
"Microsoft also needs to take a stand," she wrote in an email. "More importantly our lawmakers need to step up" to rein in harmful deployments of the technologies.
Microsoft has been vocal about the need to regulate facial recognition to prevent human rights abuses but has not said it would not sell it to law enforcement. The company did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Amazon began attracting attention from the American Civil Liberties Union and privacy advocates after it introduced Rekognition in 2016 and began pitching it to law enforcement. But experts like Garvie say many U.S. agencies rely on facial recognition technology built by companies that are not as well known, such as Tokyo-based NEC, Chicago-based Motorola Solutions or the European companies Idemia, Gemalto and Cognitec.
Amazon is not abandoning facial recognition altogether. The company said organizations, such as those that use Rekognition to help find children who are missing or sexually exploited, will still have access to the technology.
This week’s announcements by Amazon and IBM follow a push by Democratic lawmakers to pass a sweeping police reform package in Congress that could include restrictions on the use of facial recognition, especially in police body cameras. Though not commonly used in the United States, the possibility of cameras that could monitor crowds and identify people in real time have attracted concern.
The tech industry has fought against outright bans of facial recognition, but some companies have called for federal laws that could set guidelines for responsible use of the technology.
"It is becoming clear that the absence of consistent national rules will delay getting this valuable technology into the hands of law enforcement, slowing down investigations and making communities less safe," said Daniel Castro, vice president of the industry-backed Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, which has advocated for facial recognition providers.
Ángel Díaz, an attorney at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, said he welcomed Amazon's moratorium but said it "should have come sooner, given numerous studies showing that the technology is racially biased."
"We agree that Congress needs to act, but local communities should also be empowered to voice their concerns and decide if and how they want this technology deployed at all," he said.
By JOSEPH PISANI and MATT O'BRIEN


courthousenews--2020-06-11--California Deputy Shot at Paso Robles Police Station

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) — A California sheriff ’ s deputy was shot in the head but survived an “ ambush ” by a gunman and authorities said Wednesday they were investigating whether there was a connection to two recent deadly attacks on officers .
Authorities are looking for Mason James Lira , 26 , a transient from the Monterey area of the Central Coast , who is considered armed and dangerous , the San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’ s Office said late Wednesday night .
After wounding the San Luis Obispo County deputy in the small city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed a transient and then eluded an intense manhunt .
Police sought the public ’ s help and released photos from surveillance video showing the suspect — a young dark-haired , bearded man .
The shooter opened fire around 3:45 a.m. on the back side of the police station in Paso Robles , San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said .
Officers were inside at the time and windows and a door were shot out but no one else was injured .
A dispatcher monitoring security cameras saw the attack unfold and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck while responding and his partner dragged him to safety and returned fire , Parkinson said .
The wounded deputy was in serious but stable condition with a bullet in his head , he said .
“ We feel that this was an ambush , that he planned it , that he intended for officers to come out of the police department and to assault them , ” Parkinson said .
While searching for the suspect investigators found the body of a man near railroad tracks several blocks away .
The 58-year-old , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range in the back of the head , police said .
Paso Robles is an unlikely spot for such violence .
The bustling community 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles is a tourist destination and a centerpiece of the wine industry on California ’ s Central Coast .
The violence came just five days after another unlikely location , the community of Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County farther north on the California coast , was the scene of an ambush on police .
Santa Cruz sheriff ’ s Sgt .
Damon Gutzwiller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy injured Saturday in an attack allegedly carried out by an Air Force sergeant armed with homemade bombs , an AR-15 rifle and other weapons .
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said the suspect , Steven Carrillo , was intent on killing officers .
The FBI is investigating whether Carrillo , 32 , has links to the killing of a federal security officer who was shot outside the U.S. courthouse in Oakland during a protest against police brutality on May 29 .
The FBI is assisting the San Luis Obispo and Paso @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting that left the two-year deputy in serious condition .
“ He ’ s not out of the woods , as the doctors have explained to me , ” Parkinson said .
He said there ’ s no clear link between the latest shooting and the other two but that the investigation could lead there .
The deputy , who was not identified , and his partner heard gunfire as they approached the station and got out of the car to search but didn ’ t see the suspect “ until they started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The deputy ’ s partner managed to get him to safety behind a patrol car .
The wounded deputy was conscious and managed to radio that he ’ d been shot .
Parkinson said there was no local event or imminent arrest that might have prompted the violence .
He also said investigators didn ’ t know if the attack was connected to anger swelling nationwide at police for the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis officers .
He called Floyd ’ s death unjust and horrific .
“ You see what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ riots , you see the looting , you see the acts of violence occurring … there ’ s naturally fear as a result of that , ” he said .
“ So trying to calm the community has been our goal .
”

A California sheriff's deputy was shot in the head but survived an "ambush" by a gunman and authorities said Wednesday they were investigating whether there was a connection to two recent deadly attacks on officers.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California sheriff's deputy was shot in the head but survived an "ambush" by a gunman and authorities said Wednesday they were investigating whether there was a connection to two recent deadly attacks on officers.
Authorities are looking for Mason James Lira, 26, a transient from the Monterey area of the Central Coast, who is considered armed and dangerous, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office said late Wednesday night.
This still image taken from a surveillance camera and provided by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office seeking the public's assistance in finding a suspect believed to be responsible for a shooting that took place in Paso Robles in the morning on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Authorities say a California sheriffs deputy was shot in the head in an "ambush" attack by a gunman intent on harming or killing police, The shooter opened fire on a police station. (San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office via AP)
After wounding the San Luis Obispo County deputy in the small city of Paso Robles, police believe the shooter killed a transient and then eluded an intense manhunt. Police sought the public's help and released photos from surveillance video showing the suspect — a young dark-haired, bearded man.
The shooter opened fire around 3:45 a.m. on the back side of the police station in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said. Officers were inside at the time and windows and a door were shot out but no one else was injured.
A dispatcher monitoring security cameras saw the attack unfold and called for help.
The deputy was struck while responding and his partner dragged him to safety and returned fire, Parkinson said. The wounded deputy was in serious but stable condition with a bullet in his head, he said.
"We feel that this was an ambush, that he planned it, that he intended for officers to come out of the police department and to assault them," Parkinson said.
While searching for the suspect investigators found the body of a man near railroad tracks several blocks away. The 58-year-old, unidentified transient was shot once at close range in the back of the head, police said.
Paso Robles is an unlikely spot for such violence. The bustling community 175 miles northwest of Los Angeles is a tourist destination and a centerpiece of the wine industry on California's Central Coast.
The violence came just five days after another unlikely location, the community of Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County farther north on the California coast, was the scene of an ambush on police.
Santa Cruz sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was killed and another deputy injured Saturday in an attack allegedly carried out by an Air Force sergeant armed with homemade bombs, an AR-15 rifle and other weapons. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said the suspect, Steven Carrillo, was intent on killing officers.
The FBI is investigating whether Carrillo, 32, has links to the killing of a federal security officer who was shot outside the U.S. courthouse in Oakland during a protest against police brutality on May 29.
The FBI is assisting the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles departments with their investigation of the shooting that left the two-year deputy in serious condition.
"He's not out of the woods, as the doctors have explained to me," Parkinson said.
He said there's no clear link between the latest shooting and the other two but that the investigation could lead there.
The deputy, who was not identified, and his partner heard gunfire as they approached the station and got out of the car to search but didn't see the suspect "until they started taking fire," Parkinson said.
The deputy's partner managed to get him to safety behind a patrol car. The wounded deputy was conscious and managed to radio that he'd been shot.
Parkinson said there was no local event or imminent arrest that might have prompted the violence. He also said investigators didn't know if the attack was connected to anger swelling nationwide at police for the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis officers. He called Floyd's death unjust and horrific.
"You see what's happening nationally, you see the riots, you see the looting, you see the acts of violence occurring ... there's naturally fear as a result of that," he said. "So trying to calm the community has been our goal."
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Jefferson Davis Statue Torn Down in Richmond

Protesters in Portsmouth , Va. , 80 miles from Richmond , tore down four other statues glorifying the Confederacy .
RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) — Protesters tore down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on Richmond , Virginia ’ s Monument Avenue on Wednesday night .
The statue in the former capital of the Confederacy was toppled shortly before 11 p.m. Richmond police were on the scene and videos on social media showed the monument being towed away as a crowd cheered .
About 80 miles away , protesters in Portsmouth beheaded and then pulled down four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monument on Wednesday .
Efforts to tear one of the statues down began around 8:20 p.m. , but the rope they were using snapped , The Virginian-Pilot reported .
The crowd was frustrated by the Portsmouth City Council ’ s decision to put off moving the monument .
They switched to throwing bricks from the post that held the plaque they had pulled down as they initially worked to bring down the statue .
The Pilot reports that they dismantled the monument one piece at a time as a marching band played in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A protester in his 30s was hit in the head as the monument fell , causing him to lose consciousness , Portsmouth NAACP Vice President Louie Gibbs told the newspaper .
The crowd quieted as the man was taken to a hospital .
His condition was not immediately clear .
A flag tied to the monument was lit on fire , and the flames burned briefly at the base of one of the statues .
The actions come amid national protests over the death of George Floyd who died after a police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes .
A statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters , set on fire and then submerged into a lake on Tuesday .
News outlets reported the Columbus statue was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city ’ s Byrd Park chanting for the statue to be taken down .
The death of Floyd , who was black , has prompted similar Confederate monument removals around the nation .
Some people say the tributes inappropriately glorify people who led a rebellion that sought to uphold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to erasing history .
Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam last week ordered the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee , which is four blocks away from where the Davis statue stood .
A judge on Monday issued an injunction preventing officials from removing the monuments for the next 10 days .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Protesters tore down a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on Richmond, Virginia's Monument Avenue on Wednesday night.
The statue in the former capital of the Confederacy was toppled shortly before 11 p.m.
Richmond police were on the scene and videos on social media showed the monument being towed away as a crowd cheered.
About 80 miles away, protesters in Portsmouth beheaded and then pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument on Wednesday.
Efforts to tear one of the statues down began around 8:20 p.m., but the rope they were using snapped, The Virginian-Pilot reported.
The crowd was frustrated by the Portsmouth City Council's decision to put off moving the monument. They switched to throwing bricks from the post that held the plaque they had pulled down as they initially worked to bring down the statue.
The Pilot reports that they dismantled the monument one piece at a time as a marching band played in the street and other protesters danced.
A protester in his 30s was hit in the head as the monument fell, causing him to lose consciousness, Portsmouth NAACP Vice President Louie Gibbs told the newspaper. The crowd quieted as the man was taken to a hospital. His condition was not immediately clear.
A flag tied to the monument was lit on fire, and the flames burned briefly at the base of one of the statues.
The actions come amid national protests over the death of George Floyd who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.
A statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters, set on fire and then submerged into a lake on Tuesday. News outlets reported the Columbus statue was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city's Byrd Park chanting for the statue to be taken down.
The death of Floyd, who was black, has prompted similar Confederate monument removals around the nation. Some people say the tributes inappropriately glorify people who led a rebellion that sought to uphold slavery. Others say their removal amounts to erasing history.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam last week ordered the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, which is four blocks away from where the Davis statue stood. A judge on Monday issued an injunction preventing officials from removing the monuments for the next 10 days.


courthousenews--2020-06-11--As Protests Grow, Belgium Faces Its Racist Colonial Past

Worldwide protests after the killing of George Floyd have refocused Belgium ’ s attention on the genocide perpetrated by King Leopold II in the Congo .
TERVUREN , Belgium ( AP ) — When it comes to ruthless colonialism and racism , few historical figures are more notorious than Leopold II , the king of the Belgians who held Congo as his personal property and was responsible for the deaths of millions of Congolese more than a century ago .
Yet across Belgium , the monarch ’ s name is still found on streets and tunnels .
Cities are dotted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as evidence of his misdeeds has piled up over the decades .
Now a reckoning seems to be at hand .
The protests sweeping the world after George Floyd ’ s death in the United States have added fuel to a movement to confront Europe ’ s role in the slave trade and its colonial past .
Leopold is increasingly seen as a stain on the nation where he reigned from 1865 to 1909 .
Demonstrators want him removed from public view .
In just the past week , a long-running trickle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasional vandalism has turned into a torrent , with statues of Leopold defaced in a half-dozen cities .
In the port town of Antwerp , where much of the Congolese rubber , minerals and other natural riches entered the nation , one statue was burned and had to be removed for repairs .
It is unclear whether it will ever come back .
“ When you erect a statue , it lauds the actions of who is represented .
The Germans would not get it into their head to erect statues of Hitler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert , president of the Congolese action group Bamko-Cran , which wants all Leopold statues removed from Belgian cities .
“ For us , Leopold has committed a genocide.
” On Wednesday , an internet petition to rid the capital , Brussels , of any Leopold statue swept past 70,000 signatures .
Also this week , regional education authorities promised history course reforms to better explain the true character of colonialism .
And at the University of Mons in southern Belgium , academic authorities removed a bust of the king , saying they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be offended by its presence.
” Similar efforts are unfolding in Britain , where at least two statues of prominent figures connected to the slave trade have been taken down by protesters or city officials .
London ’ s mayor has promised a review of all monuments .
Leopold ruled Congo as a fiefdom , forcing many of its people into slavery to extract resources for his personal profit .
His early rule , starting in 1885 , was famous for its brutality , which some experts say left as many as 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congo ended in 1908 , he handed the central African country over to the Belgian state , which continued to hold sway over an area 75 times its size until the nation became independent in 1960 .
Leopold has come to symbolize the racism and inequality citizens of Congolese descent have had to endure .
Next to the royal palace stands an equestrian statue with Leopold gazing solemnly toward the horizon .
On Wednesday , his hands and eyes were covered with red paint , and expletives were spray-painted on the side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ architect with a Congolese mother and Belgian father , who came to see the statue after the defacing , realizes the issue is part of his identity .
Since Congo achieved independence , Belgium ’ s Congolese population has swelled to about 230,000 in a nation of 11 million .
“ You know , we feel at home here , but seeing symbols like this in the city and all over the country gives us the opposite signal , ” Christiaens said .
He would like to see them torn down .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majestic woods east of Brussels in Tervuren , where the palatial Royal Museum for Central Africa stands .
It was built over a century ago to glorify Leopold ’ s colonial exploits and to persuade Belgium citizens that their country was delivering civilization to the heart of wild Africa .
Museum Director Guido Gryseels understands the challenges and the sensitivities , especially after a Leopold statue was defaced in the gardens outside the museum last week .
He has sought to shift the museum ’ s views on colonialism into a contemporary reassessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Black Lives Matter logo was displayed on digital screens at the museum entrance .
As part of a major renovation he oversaw , Gryseels consigned the racist statues of Congolese and the glorifying busts of the Belgian military to the “ depot ” of outdated sculptures in the museum ’ s cellars .
“ We wanted to keep them somewhere so that the visitors could still see , so that we could explain : ‘ This is how we looked at Africa before , ' ” Gryseels said .
Upstairs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bust of Leopold on display is made of ivory and aims to explain how the plunder of the country extended to the wholesale slaughter of elephants .
As a listed architectural treasure , Leopold ’ s royal double L monogram is still plastered all over the building .
But Congolese artists have been asked to make a counterpoint , and in the main hall now stands a sculpture of a skull of a Congolese chief who was beheaded by a Belgian .
In front of statues that could not be moved because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drapes with images criticizing Belgian actions in Congo .
“ It would have been impossible 30 years ago , but there is a step forward , ” Robert said .
Still , she said the changes do not go far enough and the museum needs to better embrace Congolese in its management structure .
Just about everybody acknowledges that Belgian society needs to take a hard look at its past .
The Catholic Church , the dominant force in education during much of Belgium ’ s existence , was at worst an active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passive bystander .
And since many Belgians had family members who went to Congo to seek their fortunes , there is a sense of unease in confronting the history of racism and exploitation .
“ The amnesia is linked to the money the Belgians made in Congo , ” Robert said .
For many years , Belgian colonial authorities peddled the idea that the king went to Congo to stop the slave trade , Gryseels said , when it was really “ a pretext to make big economic gains.
” One early and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who devoted several bitter and acerbic articles to him , with none of the humor for which he became world-famous .

When it comes to ruthless colonialism and racism, few historical figures are more notorious than Leopold II, the king of the Belgians who held Congo as his personal property and was responsible for the deaths of millions of Congolese more than a century ago.
TERVUREN, Belgium (AP) — When it comes to ruthless colonialism and racism, few historical figures are more notorious than Leopold II, the king of the Belgians who held Congo as his personal property and was responsible for the deaths of millions of Congolese more than a century ago.
Yet across Belgium, the monarch's name is still found on streets and tunnels. Cities are dotted with his statues and busts, even as evidence of his misdeeds has piled up over the decades.
Now a reckoning seems to be at hand.
The protests sweeping the world after George Floyd's death in the United States have added fuel to a movement to confront Europe's role in the slave trade and its colonial past. Leopold is increasingly seen as a stain on the nation where he reigned from 1865 to 1909. Demonstrators want him removed from public view.
In just the past week, a long-running trickle of dissent that resulted in little more than occasional vandalism has turned into a torrent, with statues of Leopold defaced in a half-dozen cities. In the port town of Antwerp, where much of the Congolese rubber, minerals and other natural riches entered the nation, one statue was burned and had to be removed for repairs. It is unclear whether it will ever come back.
"When you erect a statue, it lauds the actions of who is represented. The Germans would not get it into their head to erect statues of Hitler and cheer them," said Mireille-Tsheusi Robert, president of the Congolese action group Bamko-Cran, which wants all Leopold statues removed from Belgian cities. "For us, Leopold has committed a genocide."
On Wednesday, an internet petition to rid the capital, Brussels, of any Leopold statue swept past 70,000 signatures. Also this week, regional education authorities promised history course reforms to better explain the true character of colonialism. And at the University of Mons in southern Belgium, academic authorities removed a bust of the king, saying they wanted to make sure "nobody could be offended by its presence."
Similar efforts are unfolding in Britain, where at least two statues of prominent figures connected to the slave trade have been taken down by protesters or city officials. London's mayor has promised a review of all monuments.
Leopold ruled Congo as a fiefdom, forcing many of its people into slavery to extract resources for his personal profit. His early rule, starting in 1885, was famous for its brutality, which some experts say left as many as 10 million dead.
After his ownership of Congo ended in 1908, he handed the central African country over to the Belgian state, which continued to hold sway over an area 75 times its size until the nation became independent in 1960.
Leopold has come to symbolize the racism and inequality citizens of Congolese descent have had to endure. Next to the royal palace stands an equestrian statue with Leopold gazing solemnly toward the horizon. On Wednesday, his hands and eyes were covered with red paint, and expletives were spray-painted on the side of the monument.
Maximilian Christiaens, an architect with a Congolese mother and Belgian father, who came to see the statue after the defacing, realizes the issue is part of his identity. Since Congo achieved independence, Belgium's Congolese population has swelled to about 230,000 in a nation of 11 million.
"You know, we feel at home here, but seeing symbols like this in the city and all over the country gives us the opposite signal," Christiaens said. He would like to see them torn down.
A similar struggle is playing out in the majestic woods east of Brussels in Tervuren, where the palatial Royal Museum for Central Africa stands. It was built over a century ago to glorify Leopold's colonial exploits and to persuade Belgium citizens that their country was delivering civilization to the heart of wild Africa.
Museum Director Guido Gryseels understands the challenges and the sensitivities, especially after a Leopold statue was defaced in the gardens outside the museum last week. He has sought to shift the museum's views on colonialism into a contemporary reassessment of a flawed past. This week, the Black Lives Matter logo was displayed on digital screens at the museum entrance.
As part of a major renovation he oversaw, Gryseels consigned the racist statues of Congolese and the glorifying busts of the Belgian military to the "depot" of outdated sculptures in the museum's cellars.
"We wanted to keep them somewhere so that the visitors could still see, so that we could explain: 'This is how we looked at Africa before,'" Gryseels said.
Upstairs, in the grand rooms, the only bust of Leopold on display is made of ivory and aims to explain how the plunder of the country extended to the wholesale slaughter of elephants.
As a listed architectural treasure, Leopold's royal double L monogram is still plastered all over the building. But Congolese artists have been asked to make a counterpoint, and in the main hall now stands a sculpture of a skull of a Congolese chief who was beheaded by a Belgian. In front of statues that could not be moved because they were protected, there are now transparent drapes with images criticizing Belgian actions in Congo.
"It would have been impossible 30 years ago, but there is a step forward," Robert said. Still, she said the changes do not go far enough and the museum needs to better embrace Congolese in its management structure.
Just about everybody acknowledges that Belgian society needs to take a hard look at its past. The Catholic Church, the dominant force in education during much of Belgium's existence, was at worst an active participant in colonialism, at best a passive bystander. And since many Belgians had family members who went to Congo to seek their fortunes, there is a sense of unease in confronting the history of racism and exploitation.
"The amnesia is linked to the money the Belgians made in Congo," Robert said.
For many years, Belgian colonial authorities peddled the idea that the king went to Congo to stop the slave trade, Gryseels said, when it was really "a pretext to make big economic gains."
One early and prominent critic of Leopold was Mark Twain, who devoted several bitter and acerbic articles to him, with none of the humor for which he became world-famous.
By RAF CASERT
Courthouse News contributed to this report.


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Norwegian Man Gets 21 Years for Murder, Mosque Attack

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) — A white nationalist Norwegian man who killed his stepsister and then stormed an Oslo mosque and opened fire , hitting no one , was found guilty Thursday and sentenced to 21 years in prison , the longest jail term under Norwegian law .
Philip Manshaus , who had said in court that he regretted not having caused more damage , “ has proven to be an extremely dangerous person , ” prosecutor Johan Oeverberg said as he demanded the maximum penalty .
Last year , Manshaus , 22 , killed his 17-year-old stepsister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four times with a hunting rifle at their home in the Oslo suburb of Baerum .
Ihle-Hansen was adopted from China as a 2-year-old .
Then he drove to a nearby mosque where three men were preparing for Eid al-Adha celebrations .
Manshaus fired four shots from a rifle at the mosque ’ s glass door before he was overpowered by one of the men in the mosque , Muhammad Rafiq .
Manshaus , who wore a bulletproof vest and a helmet with a video camera in the attack , was armed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Annika Lindstroem of the Oslo District Court said Manshaus had plans to kill as many people as possible and set the mosque on fire .
Manshaus believed that “ Europe is under attack from people of ethnic origin other than his own ” and that “ the white race is on the brink of extinction , ” Lindstroem said .
In court , Manshaus confessed to the acts and called them “ emergency justice.
” Investigators found a photo of Adolf Hitler on his cell phone .
Lindstroem said Manshaus claims he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy.
” The presiding judge said Manshaus was inspired by shootings in March 2019 in New Zealand , where a gunman targeted two mosques , killing 51 people , and in August 2019 in El Paso , Texas , where an assailant targeted Latinos and killed at least 22 .
His plans and his reference to national socialism also recall the views of Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik , who in 2011 killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway .
Breivik , who gave a Nazi salute in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison sentence for carrying out a terror attack .

A white nationalist Norwegian man who killed his stepsister and then stormed an Oslo mosque and opened fire, hitting no one, was found guilty Thursday and sentenced to 21 years in prison, the longest jail term under Norwegian law.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A white nationalist Norwegian man who killed his stepsister and then stormed an Oslo mosque and opened fire, hitting no one, was found guilty Thursday and sentenced to 21 years in prison, the longest jail term under Norwegian law.
Philip Manshaus, who had said in court that he regretted not having caused more damage, "has proven to be an extremely dangerous person," prosecutor Johan Oeverberg said as he demanded the maximum penalty.
Defendant Philip Manshaus sits in a court room in Asker and Baerum district court in Sandvika, Norway, as he waits for the verdict on the last day of his trial, Thursday, Jun 11, 2020. The Norwegian man is charged with murder and terrorism in the killing of his stepsister and the storming of an Oslo mosque, and, according to a Norwegian prosecutor, should get the maximum 21 years in prison. (Håkon Mosvold Larsen/NTB Scanpix via AP, POOL)
Last year, Manshaus, 22, killed his 17-year-old stepsister, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen, shooting her four times with a hunting rifle at their home in the Oslo suburb of Baerum. Ihle-Hansen was adopted from China as a 2-year-old.
Then he drove to a nearby mosque where three men were preparing for Eid al-Adha celebrations. Manshaus fired four shots from a rifle at the mosque’s glass door before he was overpowered by one of the men in the mosque, Muhammad Rafiq.
Manshaus, who wore a bulletproof vest and a helmet with a video camera in the attack, was armed with a hunting rifle and a shotgun. Judge Annika Lindstroem of the Oslo District Court said Manshaus had plans to kill as many people as possible and set the mosque on fire.
Manshaus believed that "Europe is under attack from people of ethnic origin other than his own" and that "the white race is on the brink of extinction," Lindstroem said.
In court, Manshaus confessed to the acts and called them "emergency justice." Investigators found a photo of Adolf Hitler on his cell phone.
Lindstroem said Manshaus claims he was acting "in self-defense against the enemy."
The presiding judge said Manshaus was inspired by shootings in March 2019 in New Zealand, where a gunman targeted two mosques, killing 51 people, and in August 2019 in El Paso, Texas, where an assailant targeted Latinos and killed at least 22.
His plans and his reference to national socialism also recall the views of Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who in 2011 killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway. Breivik, who gave a Nazi salute in the courtroom, is serving a 21-year prison sentence for carrying out a terror attack.
By JAN M. OLSEN


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Judge Restrains Portland, Oregon, Police From Using Tear Gas

Thirteen consecutive days of protests have led to the resignation of the police chief on Monday and a restraining injunction on Wednesday .
PORTLAND , Ore. ( CN ) — Mass protests continued Wednesday in Portland , Oregon , in the movement against police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd , and a federal judge issued an injunction restraining Portland police from using tear gas against protesters for two weeks , unless necessary to save lives .
As has happened every day for the past two weeks , thousands marched through the streets , chanting “ Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Name !
George Floyd !
” The largest group marched several miles from the concert venue Revolution Hall to rally at Unthank Park in northeast Portland .
Another group rallied outside City Hall during budget hearings that will determine near-term policing in the city .
And a group of skateboarders met at the Moda Center before rolling around the city en masse .
On Tuesday , Mayor Ted Wheeler said the city would move enact a set of reforms long called for by civil rights activists and Portland ’ s lone black city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the city planned to do away with the Gun Violence Reduction Team , formerly known as the Gang Enforcement Team , and said the city will not renew a contract with transit authority Trimet that puts police on city buses and trains .
Portland will also ban police use of chokeholds , but Police Chief Chuck Lovell said at a news conference Tuesday that such restraints are already banned , except in a potentially life-saving situation .
The police union , which has contract negotiations under way , immediately objected .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daryl Turner , president of the Portland police union told the Oregonian of axing the Gun Violence Reduction Team .
“ This is jeopardizing the safety of Portlanders .
What I ’ d like to know is , have the mayor and the commissioners taken into account the victims of gun violence in this city ?
” Crews erected a plywood wall around City Hall on Tuesday afternoon .
The Multnomah County Justice Center , one block away , has emerged as a locus of confrontation between protesters and police , but City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vandalism as the justice center , where protesters broke in and started a fire that was quickly extinguished on the first night of mass protests , or the federal courthouse next door , where stone walls and marble steps are completely covered in graffiti .
The plywood wall outside City Hall had vanished by Wednesday , when the activist group Don ’ t Shoot Portland held a rally attended by several hundred outside .
The focus was a public hearing over the city budget .
Two city commissioners have said they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing , but they will need a third vote .
Seven hundred and forty-two Portlanders signed up to testify .
Wheeler and superintendents for the three metro-area school districts have already pledged to end a program that put police in schools .
On Monday , former Police Chief Jami Resch , a white woman , resigned amid widespread criticism for the bureau ’ s near nightly use of tear gas and other chemical weapons against crowds of largely peaceful protesters .
Lovell was sworn in that afternoon , becoming the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the subject of a court ruling late Tuesday , when a federal judge in Portland issued a two-week restraining order , partly granting Don ’ t Shoot Portland ’ s request to ban police use of tear gas .
U.S. District Judge March Hernandez said police may use the chemical weapon against protesters only as a life-saving measure .
Hernandez found credible Don ’ t Shoot ’ s claim that police used tear gas indiscriminately against peaceful protesters .
“ In some of these instances , there is no evidence of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In others , individuals appear to have shaken fences and thrown water bottles and fireworks at the police .
Either way , there is no dispute that plaintiffsengaged only in peaceful and non-destructive protest .
There is no record of criminal activity on the part of plaintiffs .
To the contrary , there is even evidence that some protesters were confronted with tear gas while trying to follow police orders and leave the demonstrations.
” The ruling follows on Mayor Wheeler ’ s recent directive limiting the use of tear gas to situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate threat to life safety , and there is no other viable alternative for dispersal.
” Portland ’ s African American Leadership Forum and Unite Oregon have called for a total ban on tear gas , among other major police reforms .
Hardesty said in a series of Tweets that the city ’ s immediate goal was to end programs that have “ the most racist outcomes.
” A city audit found in 2018 that traffic stops by the Gun Violence Reduction team skewed racist , with 59 % of stops against black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 % black .
Hardesty said that more reforms should follow , such as reinvesting money the city saves on policing in black and brown communities .
During Wednesday ’ s budget hearings , Hardesty said she plans to introduce a new amendment : a $ 1 million fund for the development of black leadership , to be led by young black Portlanders .
“ What I want to say is that tensions are high , ” Hardesty said at the public hearing .
“ We are immersed in a pandemic and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutionalized racism is .
And that system includes our police system , but in no way does it limit the inequality to policing in our community .
”

Mass protests continued Wednesday in Portland, Oregon in the movement against police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd, and a federal judge issued an injunction restraining Portland police from using tear gas against protesters for two weeks, unless necessary to save lives.
PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) — Mass protests continued Wednesday in Portland, Oregon, in the movement against police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd, and a federal judge issued an injunction restraining Portland police from using tear gas against protesters for two weeks, unless necessary to save lives.
As has happened every day for the past two weeks, thousands marched through the streets, chanting “Black Lives Matter!” and “Say His Name! George Floyd!” The largest group marched several miles from the concert venue Revolution Hall to rally at Unthank Park in northeast Portland. Another group rallied outside City Hall during budget hearings that will determine near-term policing in the city. And a group of skateboarders met at the Moda Center before rolling around the city en masse.
On Tuesday, Mayor Ted Wheeler said the city would move enact a set of reforms long called for by civil rights activists and Portland’s lone black city councilor, Jo Anne Hardesty.
Wheeler said the city planned to do away with the Gun Violence Reduction Team, formerly known as the Gang Enforcement Team, and said the city will not renew a contract with transit authority Trimet that puts police on city buses and trains. Portland will also ban police use of chokeholds, but Police Chief Chuck Lovell said at a news conference Tuesday that such restraints are already banned, except in a potentially life-saving situation.
The police union, which has contract negotiations under way, immediately objected.
“This is a big mistake,” Daryl Turner, president of the Portland police union told the Oregonian of axing the Gun Violence Reduction Team. “This is jeopardizing the safety of Portlanders. What I'd like to know is, have the mayor and the commissioners taken into account the victims of gun violence in this city?"
Crews erected a plywood wall around City Hall on Tuesday afternoon. The Multnomah County Justice Center, one block away, has emerged as a locus of confrontation between protesters and police, but City Hall has not seen the same levels of vandalism as the justice center, where protesters broke in and started a fire that was quickly extinguished on the first night of mass protests, or the federal courthouse next door, where stone walls and marble steps are completely covered in graffiti.
The plywood wall outside City Hall had vanished by Wednesday, when the activist group Don’t Shoot Portland held a rally attended by several hundred outside. The focus was a public hearing over the city budget. Two city commissioners have said they will introduce budget amendments intended to curb racist policing, but they will need a third vote.
Seven hundred and forty-two Portlanders signed up to testify.
Protesters march down North Williams Avenue in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday in the 13th consecutive day of civil rights demonstrations against police brutality. (Courthouse News photo/Karina Brown)
Wheeler and superintendents for the three metro-area school districts have already pledged to end a program that put police in schools. On Monday, former Police Chief Jami Resch, a white woman, resigned amid widespread criticism for the bureau’s near nightly use of tear gas and other chemical weapons against crowds of largely peaceful protesters. Lovell was sworn in that afternoon, becoming the city’s fourth black police chief.
Tear gas was the subject of a court ruling late Tuesday, when a federal judge in Portland issued a two-week restraining order, partly granting Don’t Shoot Portland’s request to ban police use of tear gas. U.S. District Judge March Hernandez said police may use the chemical weapon against protesters only as a life-saving measure.
Hernandez found credible Don’t Shoot’s claim that police used tear gas indiscriminately against peaceful protesters.
“In some of these instances, there is no evidence of any provocation,” Hernandez wrote. “In others, individuals appear to have shaken fences and thrown water bottles and fireworks at the police. Either way, there is no dispute that plaintiffs engaged only in peaceful and non-destructive protest. There is no record of criminal activity on the part of plaintiffs. To the contrary, there is even evidence that some protesters were confronted with tear gas while trying to follow police orders and leave the demonstrations.”
The ruling follows on Mayor Wheeler’s recent directive limiting the use of tear gas to situations where “there is a serious and immediate threat to life safety, and there is no other viable alternative for dispersal.”
Portland’s African American Leadership Forum and Unite Oregon have called for a total ban on tear gas, among other major police reforms.
Hardesty said in a series of Tweets that the city’s immediate goal was to end programs that have “the most racist outcomes.” A city audit found in 2018 that traffic stops by the Gun Violence Reduction team skewed racist, with 59% of stops against black drivers, though the city is only 6% black.
Hardesty said that more reforms should follow, such as reinvesting money the city saves on policing in black and brown communities. During Wednesday’s budget hearings, Hardesty said she plans to introduce a new amendment: a $1 million fund for the development of black leadership, to be led by young black Portlanders.
“What I want to say is that tensions are high,” Hardesty said at the public hearing. “We are immersed in a pandemic and we have all become aware of just how institutionalized racism is. And that system includes our police system, but in no way does it limit the inequality to policing in our community.”


Chalking Tires

BAY CITY , Mich. — A federal court in Michigan dismissed a citizen ’ s challenge to the city of @ @ @ @ @ placing a chalk mark on tires of cars to monitor parking times , finding that @ @ @ @ @ on a tire does not substantially interfere with a party ’ s individual liberty .
@

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.


Carcinogenic Chemicals

SACRAMENTO , Calif. — An appeals court in California affirmed the denial of a petition seeking to remove diisononyl phthalate @ @ @ @ @ list of carcinogenic chemicals .
The chemical is used to “ soften vinyl for use @ @ @ @ @ , gloves , garden hoses , artificial leather , and roofing material .
”


Corruption

SAN DIEGO — Two former city officials in Calexico City , California , pleaded guilty in a federal court to @ @ @ @ @ city councilman and former commissioner on the state ’ s Economic Development and Financial Advisory @ @ @ @ @ bribes in exchange for “ promises of official action by the city .
”


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Wolf of Wall Street

Wolf of Wall Street

NEW YORK — The Second Circuit upheld the dismissal of a libel claim against the producers of the film “ @ @ @ @ @ ” brought by a man who claims he was portrayed in the film and the @ @ @ @ @ professional reputations .
The character in question is a compilation of several people .


courthousenews--2020-06-11--Man Accused of Sharing US Medical Research Secrets With Chinese Military

( CN ) – A Chinese medical researcher accused of sharing secrets with the Chinese military on a U.S. government-funded laboratory project in San Francisco was arrested in Los Angeles this week and charged with lying on his visa application .
According to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday , Xin Wang was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday as he attempted to board a flight to Tianjin , China .
He told Customs and Border Patrol agents in an interview that he currently works as a “ Level 9 technician ” for the Chinese military , an admission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 2018 visa application .
Wang stated in that application that he previously worked as an associate professor of medicine for China ’ s People ’ s Liberation Army from September 2002 to September 2016 .
After obtaining a J1 visa for visiting scholars , Wang started working on a U.S. government-funded medical research project at the University of California , San Francisco .
“ Wang stated that he intentionally made false statements about his military service in his visa application in order to increase the likelihood that he would receive his J1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fogerty wrote in a 5-page criminal complaint .
Wang told CBP agents that his boss , the director of a military university lab in China , told him to observe the layout of a UCSF laboratory and bring back information on how to replicate it in China .
Wang was carrying studies from UCSF with him as he attempted to fly to China on Sunday , and he had previously emailed research to a Chinese military lab , according to the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office .
Wang also told his supervising UCSF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that professor ’ s work at a laboratory in China , according to federal prosecutors .
Some of the research Wang was working on at the UCSF lab was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and National Institutes of Health .
Neither the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office nor UCSF could confirm if that research pertained to the Covid-19 virus .
Prosecutors say Wang wiped the history from his WeChat messaging app the morning he arrived at LAX , presumably erasing evidence of his communications with Chinese military officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the China Scholarship Council and a stipend from the Chinese military while he was studying in the United States , according to the criminal complaint .
The Chinese researcher faces up to 10 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine for visa fraud .
Wang made his first appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Choolijan .
He is scheduled to be back in Choolijan ’ s court for a detention hearing Friday morning .
Though he was arrested and detained in Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern District of California federal court , which is based in San Francisco .
Wang has no attorney listed as representing him in public court filings , and he could not be reached for comment .
The University of California San Francisco did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday afternoon .

A Chinese medical researcher accused of sharing secrets with the Chinese military on a U.S. government-funded laboratory project in San Francisco was arrested in Los Angeles this week and charged with lying on his visa application.
(CN) — A Chinese medical researcher accused of sharing secrets with the Chinese military on a U.S. government-funded laboratory project in San Francisco was arrested in Los Angeles this week and charged with lying on his visa application.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday, Xin Wang was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday as he attempted to board a flight to Tianjin, China.
He told Customs and Border Patrol agents in an interview that he currently works as a “Level 9 technician” for the Chinese military, an admission that contradicts information he provided on his December 2018 visa application.
Wang stated in that application that he previously worked as an associate professor of medicine for China’s People’s Liberation Army from September 2002 to September 2016. After obtaining a J1 visa for visiting scholars, Wang started working on a U.S. government-funded medical research project at the University of California, San Francisco.
“Wang stated that he intentionally made false statements about his military service in his visa application in order to increase the likelihood that he would receive his J1 visa,” FBI special agent Patrick Fogerty wrote in a 5-page criminal complaint.
Wang told CBP agents that his boss, the director of a military university lab in China, told him to observe the layout of a UCSF laboratory and bring back information on how to replicate it in China. Wang was carrying studies from UCSF with him as he attempted to fly to China on Sunday, and he had previously emailed research to a Chinese military lab, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Wang also told his supervising UCSF professor that he had replicated some of that professor’s work at a laboratory in China, according to federal prosecutors.
Some of the research Wang was working on at the UCSF lab was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and National Institutes of Health. Neither the U.S. Attorney’s Office nor UCSF could confirm if that research pertained to the Covid-19 virus.
Prosecutors say Wang wiped the history from his WeChat messaging app the morning he arrived at LAX, presumably erasing evidence of his communications with Chinese military officials.
Wang had received a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council and a stipend from the Chinese military while he was studying in the United States, according to the criminal complaint.
The Chinese researcher faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for visa fraud.
Wang made his first appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Choolijan. He is scheduled to be back in Choolijan’s court for a detention hearing Friday morning.
Though he was arrested and detained in Los Angeles, the criminal complaint was filed in the Northern District of California federal court, which is based in San Francisco.
Wang has no attorney listed as representing him in public court filings, and he could not be reached for comment. The University of California San Francisco did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday afternoon.


Top Eight

Your Thursday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said he should not have joined President Donald Trump in walking to St. John ’ s Church for a Bible photo op ; Wall Street posted its worst day since state lockdowns began ; Joe Biden proposed a massive expansion of federal government programs to safely restart the economy , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said Thursday he should not have joined President Donald Trump in walking to St. John ’ s Church for a Bible photo op , for which authorities forcefully cleared peaceful protesters to make way for administration officials .
2 . )
Wall Street posted its worst day since state lockdowns began , with markets plummeting on news that new cases of Covid-19 are spiking .
3 . )
Over objections from Democrats who called the probe a political stunt , Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a broad inquiry into the origins of the FBI ’ s Russia investigation .
4 . )
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday proposed a massive expansion of federal government programs to safely restart the economy .
5 . )
Amid nationwide protests against police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , San Francisco on Thursday unveiled a roadmap for police reforms that local officials say could become a model for law enforcement agencies across the nation .
6 . )
Election officials in Tennessee caused delay and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not comply with a judge ’ s order opening up access to absentee voting during the Covid-19 outbreak , the judge said in a hearing Thursday .
7 . )
Escalating his feud with the International Criminal Court , President Donald Trump levied economic sanctions and travel restrictions Thursday against ICC workers investigating American war crimes in Afghanistan .
8 . )
In a blow to 300,000 women with faulty French breast implants , the EU ’ s highest court ruled Thursday that patients who underwent surgery outside of France can not seek @ @

Top eight CNS stories for today including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said he should not have joined President Donald Trump in walking to St. John’s Church for a Bible photo op; Wall Street posted its worst day since state lockdowns began; Joe Biden proposed a massive expansion of federal government programs to safely restart the economy, and more.
Your Thursday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said he should not have joined President Donald Trump in walking to St. John’s Church for a Bible photo op; Wall Street posted its worst day since state lockdowns began; Joe Biden proposed a massive expansion of federal government programs to safely restart the economy, 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.) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said Thursday he should not have joined President Donald Trump in walking to St. John’s Church for a Bible photo op, for which authorities forcefully cleared peaceful protesters to make way for administration officials.
FILE - In this June 1, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit outside St. John's Church, in Washington. Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night. Walking behind Trump from left are, Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley says his presence “created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.” He called it “a mistake” that he has learned from. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
2.) Wall Street posted its worst day since state lockdowns began, with markets plummeting on news that new cases of Covid-19 are spiking.
MTA employee Shawn Turner, left, gives away masks and hand sanitizer at the entrance to a subway station in New York, Monday, June 8, 2020. After three months of a coronavirus crisis followed by protests and unrest, New York City is trying to turn a page when a limited range of industries reopen Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
3.) Over objections from Democrats who called the probe a political stunt, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans voted Thursday to approve subpoenas as part of a broad inquiry into the origins of the FBI’s Russia investigation.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
4.) Former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday proposed a massive expansion of federal government programs to safely restart the economy.
Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during an event in Dover, Del., Friday, June 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Regional
5.) Amid nationwide protests against police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, San Francisco on Thursday unveiled a roadmap for police reforms that local officials say could become a model for law enforcement agencies across the nation.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed talks to reporters inside the community room of the city's newest Navigation Center, built to house homeless people near the Embarcadero. (Maria Dinzeo/Courthouse News)
6.) Election officials in Tennessee caused delay and sowed confusion among voters when they did not comply with a judge’s order opening up access to absentee voting during the Covid-19 outbreak, the judge said in a hearing Thursday.
Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle in Nashville holds a virtual hearing Thursday, June 11, 2020, over absentee voting in Tennessee during the coronavirus pandemic.
International
7.) Escalating his feud with the International Criminal Court, President Donald Trump levied economic sanctions and travel restrictions Thursday against ICC workers investigating American war crimes in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable discussion with African-American supporters in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Washington. Seated alongside Trump are Pastor Darrell Scott and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
8.) In a blow to 300,000 women with faulty French breast implants, the EU’s highest court ruled Thursday that patients who underwent surgery outside of France cannot seek compensation.