latimes--2020-06-06--ICE alleges coercion behind California hunger strike; detainee calls agency officials 'liars'

Over the years , hunger strikes have been a tool used to bring attention to what ’ s happening inside immigrant detention facilities .
Advocates say that hunger strikes are a form of free speech to make the public aware of detainee suffering .
U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement has said that “ it fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference.
” But on Friday , ICE alleged that a ongoing hunger strike inside Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility in Bakersfield was borne of “ potential internal and external coercion.
” The agency cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ that an attorney instructed a detainee to initiate a hunger strike , ” ICE spokesman Jonathan Moor said in a statement .
He declined to provide any details about the source .
“ We have to keep in mind people ’ s safety in these kinds of settings , ” said Moor , who did not provide any information about the attorney .
ICE also stated that a detainee was allegedly threatened with physical harm by other detainees if the he did not participate in the hunger strike .
Centro Legal de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday announcing the hunger strike , characterized ICE ’ s release as “ a false statement.
” “ This was something that was organized by immigrants at the detention center and was led in large part by black immigrants , ” said Lisa Knox , managing attorney at Centro Legal de la Raza .
“ I think the fact that ICE is framing them as people who are engaging in violence and invoking these ‘ outside agitators ’ tropes is frankly racist.
” Across the country , 781 immigrants and 44 ICE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus .
Mesa Verde had no reported cases of COVID-19 as of June 5 , either among detainees or staff , according to ICE .
In April , advocates said hundreds of immigrants detained in California facilities were on hunger strikes over conditions that left them vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 .
At the time , ICE officials said that two detainees were on hunger strikes at Adelanto , northeast of Los Angeles , and none at any other facility .
According to ICE policy , facility staff must record detainees not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunger strike .
The hunger strike at Mesa Verde began on Thursday , according to Centro Legal de la Raza .
“ We begin our protest in memory of our comrades George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Oscar Grant , and Tony McDade , ” participants said in a statement released by the advocacy group , naming some notable cases of black people killed by law enforcement officers .
“ Almost all of us have also suffered through our country ’ s corrupt and racist criminal justice system before being pushed into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 77 detainees at the facility did not eat dinner , according to Moor .
The next day , 78 did not attend breakfast and 83 did not attend lunch .
Of those , 21 detainees made hunger strike claims to staff ; the rest said they just didn ’ t want to eat their facility-provided meals , he said .
In its Friday statement , ICE cited “ recent correspondence where at least one detainee was threatened with physical harm by other detainees if the individual did not participate in a hunger strike.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that outside sources may be attempting to encourage detainees to participate in these hunger strikes by providing additional funds in the commissary accounts of select detainees in order to encourage the coercing of other detainees to participate in these hunger strikes , ” Moor said .
According to Moor , detainees reported that they were told the purpose of the hunger strikes was “ to protest the repetitive cycle of the meal menu.
” “ However , claims from external groups say their concerns are regarding ICE ’ s response to mitigate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Asif Qazi , a strike participant , called the ICE statement “ total bull—.
” He stated that during a previous hunger strike participants had attributed their action to the meal menu , “ because we were afraid ICE might retaliate.
” A class-action lawsuit filed against ICE by the American Civil Liberties Union in April alleged 1st Amendment retaliation and that an ICE policy of punishing participation in any kind of demonstration violates the 1st Amendment .
Qazi said detainees did not tell ICE that the meal menu was the purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that seven people in his dorm are not participating in the strike and that there have not been any threats .
“ They ’ re liars , ” said 31-year-old Qazi , who has been held at the facility for four months .
“ Nobody is coercing us to do this.
” Qazi , who arrived to the U.S. from Bangladesh when he was 6 years old , said he ’ s in ICE custody after being convicted of an ammunition charge.Detainees , he said , are participating in the strike “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a change.
” “ We decided to do this on our own because of the poor medical care we receive and the poor conditions in this facility that do not enable us to stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic , ” Qazi said .

Hunger strikers at Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield are photographed by drone during a sit-in protest on April 10.
Over the years, hunger strikes have been a tool used to bring attention to what’s happening inside immigrant detention facilities.
Advocates say that hunger strikes are a form of free speech to make the public aware of detainee suffering. U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement has said that “it fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference.”
But on Friday, ICE alleged that a ongoing hunger strike inside Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility in Bakersfield was borne of “potential internal and external coercion.”
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The agency cited an anonymous source who allegedly told staff “that an attorney instructed a detainee to initiate a hunger strike,” ICE spokesman Jonathan Moor said in a statement. He declined to provide any details about the source.
“We have to keep in mind people’s safety in these kinds of settings,” said Moor, who did not provide any information about the attorney.
ICE also stated that a detainee was allegedly threatened with physical harm by other detainees if the he did not participate in the hunger strike.
Centro Legal de la Raza, which released a statement on Thursday announcing the hunger strike, characterized ICE’s release as “a false statement.”
“This was something that was organized by immigrants at the detention center and was led in large part by black immigrants,” said Lisa Knox, managing attorney at Centro Legal de la Raza. “I think the fact that ICE is framing them as people who are engaging in violence and invoking these ‘outside agitators’ tropes is frankly racist.”
Across the country, 781 immigrants and 44 ICE employees at detention centers have tested positive for the coronavirus. Mesa Verde had no reported cases of COVID-19 as of June 5, either among detainees or staff, according to ICE.
In April, advocates said hundreds of immigrants detained in California facilities were on hunger strikes over conditions that left them vulnerable to contracting COVID-19.
At the time, ICE officials said that two detainees were on hunger strikes at Adelanto, northeast of Los Angeles, and none at any other facility. According to ICE policy, facility staff must record detainees not eating for 72 hours before designating a hunger strike.
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The hunger strike at Mesa Verde began on Thursday, according to Centro Legal de la Raza.
“We begin our protest in memory of our comrades George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Oscar Grant, and Tony McDade,” participants said in a statement released by the advocacy group, naming some notable cases of black people killed by law enforcement officers. “Almost all of us have also suffered through our country’s corrupt and racist criminal justice system before being pushed into the hands of ICE.”
On Thursday, 77 detainees at the facility did not eat dinner, according to Moor. The next day, 78 did not attend breakfast and 83 did not attend lunch. Of those, 21 detainees made hunger strike claims to staff; the rest said they just didn’t want to eat their facility-provided meals, he said.
In its Friday statement, ICE cited “recent correspondence where at least one detainee was threatened with physical harm by other detainees if the individual did not participate in a hunger strike.”
“Detainees also told ICE staff that outside sources may be attempting to encourage detainees to participate in these hunger strikes by providing additional funds in the commissary accounts of select detainees in order to encourage the coercing of other detainees to participate in these hunger strikes,” Moor said.
According to Moor, detainees reported that they were told the purpose of the hunger strikes was “to protest the repetitive cycle of the meal menu.”
“However, claims from external groups say their concerns are regarding ICE’s response to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
Asif Qazi, a strike participant, called the ICE statement “total bull—.” He stated that during a previous hunger strike participants had attributed their action to the meal menu, “because we were afraid ICE might retaliate.”
A class-action lawsuit filed against ICE by the American Civil Liberties Union in April alleged 1st Amendment retaliation and that an ICE policy of punishing participation in any kind of demonstration violates the 1st Amendment.
Qazi said detainees did not tell ICE that the meal menu was the purpose of the current hunger strike. He added that seven people in his dorm are not participating in the strike and that there have not been any threats.
“They’re liars,” said 31-year-old Qazi, who has been held at the facility for four months. “Nobody is coercing us to do this.”
Qazi, who arrived to the U.S. from Bangladesh when he was 6 years old, said he’s in ICE custody after being convicted of an ammunition charge.Detainees, he said, are participating in the strike “out of our own desire to make a change.”
“We decided to do this on our own because of the poor medical care we receive and the poor conditions in this facility that do not enable us to stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic,” Qazi said.


latimes--2020-06-06--After George Floyd's death, a time to listen and learn

So many people are talking now .
I have resolved to listen .
It ’ s the respect that is being requested of those of us who are not black by the leaders of the protests filling our streets in the wake of the killing of George Floyd .
They have been fighting for justice for years without the enormous support they ’ re now getting .
It doesn ’ t seem to me too big an ask in the moment .
And so I have started to collect voices that say things I think need to be heard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When news broke of George Floyd ’ s death , I was making my way for the second time through “ The Warmth of Other Suns , ” Isabel Wilkerson ’ s Pulitzer-Prize-winning account of the Great Migration , in which nearly 6 million black Americans left the South for the North over more than half a century in hopes of better futures , free of the kind of injustice that often got a black person lynched or burned alive , on the flimsiest of accusations , without the slightest attempt to ascertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was thinking about when I first saw Floyd die on video , before I even knew that his own family members had been part of that migration .
All of us have seen again and again how Derek Chauvin used his knee to squeeze the life out of Floyd .
Many of us have knelt and stood in silence for the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that Chauvin kept that knee pressing down .
But a whole race has been pressed down in so many ways for four centuries , the Rev .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know will long echo .
“ The reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being is you kept your knee on our neck .
We were smarter than the underfunded schools you put us in , but you had your knee on our neck .
We could run corporations and not hustle in the street , but you had your knee on our neck , ” Sharpton said in his Minneapolis eulogy for Floyd .
“ We had creative skills , we could do whatever anybody else could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get your knee off our neck .
What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country , in education , in health services and in every area of American life .
It ’ s time for us to stand up in George ’ s name and say , get your knee off our necks.
” I ’ ve been thinking about why this moment feels different from countless others in recent years when we ’ ve learned of the wrongful killing of a black person by police .
Listening to Trevor Noah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a series of dominoes falling in short order was helpful .
In a recent monologue , Noah , the host of “ The Daily Show ” who grew up under apartheid in South Africa , put perfectly into words exactly what it was that made a Memorial Day encounter in New York ’ s Central Park between Amy Cooper , a white woman walking her dog , and Christian Cooper , a black man who was bird-watching , such a catalyst in the growing outrage that , followed by Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Christian Cooper was trying to get Amy Cooper to put her dog on a leash .
She threatened to call the police and say an African American man was attacking her and then did just that .
The video Christian Cooper took of the exchange went viral at a time , Noah argued , that already was particularly raw .
“ Think about how many black Americans just had read and seen the news of how black people are disproportionately affected by coronavirus and not because of something inherently inside black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have lived in America for so long , ” Noah said .
“ You know coronavirus exposed all of it , and now here you have this woman who ... blatantly knew how to use the power of her whiteness to threaten the life of another man and his blackness .
“ It was like a curtain had been pulled back ” on structural racism , he said .
“ She was like , ‘ Oh I know .
I know that you ’ re afraid of interacting with the police because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of your blackness .
I know that as a white woman I can weaponize this tool against you .
And I know that by the time we ’ ve sifted through who was right or wrong , there ’ s a good chance that you will have lost in some way shape or form.
’ ” The devastating video of Floyd ’ s killing , Noah pointed out , was similarly revealing : how calm Chauvin was as he killed him , how Floyd clearly posed no danger to his safety .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground in handcuffs and you could take his life so you did , almost knowing that there would be no ramifications , ” Noah said .
I listen for a living .
Over the years , I ’ ve collected a multitude of views about the world in which we live .
As a columnist , I now regularly share my own views .
Not doing so , even in the moment , doesn ’ t come naturally .
Thinking about that , I reached out to Anna Deavere Smith , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examine our attitudes toward race by interviewing a diversity of people about such moments as the 1992 L.A. riots and the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody in her hometown of Baltimore and then portraying them , speaking only their own words , in multi-character one-woman shows .
In my mind , she is one of the all-time-great listeners .
Her work offers us a rare opportunity to see how differently people of different backgrounds can process and interpret the same set of events .
Smith told me that she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the killing of Floyd to be able to say with confidence that the current protests are a turning point .
“ The window is so small and the curtain opens just a little bit when these things happen and then we have a very short memory and it closes again.
” But she said she was heartened by the great mix of people in the protest crowds , which she believes has something to do with the more truthful versions of our nation ’ s experience that many young people are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who fought to include stories far beyond those of white men .
“ I think what that has done to some extent is caused people who are not black to have more questions about what ’ s right , what ’ s wrong , what ’ s fair , what ’ s not fair , ” she said .
She also spoke to me about how her own work and life have been so enriched by allowing in many different voices , by listening to many points of view , by creating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other ’ s shoes.
” It helped her , she said , to “ recover from what de facto segregation did to me.
” “ I really believe that there ’ s a benefit to chasing that which is not you , ” she told me .
So do I. I think that it is work that is necessary to understand and feel other people ’ s struggles deeply enough to fight for their lives as hard as you ’ d fight for your own .

So many people are talking now. I have resolved to listen.
It’s the respect that is being requested of those of us who are not black by the leaders of the protests filling our streets in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
They have been fighting for justice for years without the enormous support they’re now getting. It doesn’t seem to me too big an ask in the moment.
And so I have started to collect voices that say things I think need to be heard in this time of extraordinary truth telling.
Advertisement
When news broke of George Floyd’s death, I was making my way for the second time through “The Warmth of Other Suns,” Isabel Wilkerson’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning account of the Great Migration, in which nearly 6 million black Americans left the South for the North over more than half a century in hopes of better futures, free of the kind of injustice that often got a black person lynched or burned alive, on the flimsiest of accusations, without the slightest attempt to ascertain truth.
That’s what I was thinking about when I first saw Floyd die on video, before I even knew that his own family members had been part of that migration.
All of us have seen again and again how Derek Chauvin used his knee to squeeze the life out of Floyd. Many of us have knelt and stood in silence for the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that Chauvin kept that knee pressing down.
But a whole race has been pressed down in so many ways for four centuries, the Rev. Al Sharpton said Thursday in words that I know will long echo.
“The reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being is you kept your knee on our neck. We were smarter than the underfunded schools you put us in, but you had your knee on our neck. We could run corporations and not hustle in the street, but you had your knee on our neck,” Sharpton said in his Minneapolis eulogy for Floyd.
“We had creative skills, we could do whatever anybody else could do, but we couldn’t get your knee off our neck. What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country, in education, in health services and in every area of American life. It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, get your knee off our necks.”
Advertisement
World & Nation Full coverage: The nation reacts to George Floyd’s death The death of George Floyd sparked protests in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and New York. The officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday.
I’ve been thinking about why this moment feels different from countless others in recent years when we’ve learned of the wrongful killing of a black person by police. Listening to Trevor Noah’s take on the wave created by a series of dominoes falling in short order was helpful.
In a recent monologue, Noah, the host of “The Daily Show” who grew up under apartheid in South Africa, put perfectly into words exactly what it was that made a Memorial Day encounter in New York’s Central Park between Amy Cooper, a white woman walking her dog, and Christian Cooper, a black man who was bird-watching, such a catalyst in the growing outrage that, followed by Floyd’s death, led thousands to our streets.
Christian Cooper was trying to get Amy Cooper to put her dog on a leash. She threatened to call the police and say an African American man was attacking her and then did just that.
The video Christian Cooper took of the exchange went viral at a time, Noah argued, that already was particularly raw.
“Think about how many black Americans just had read and seen the news of how black people are disproportionately affected by coronavirus and not because of something inherently inside black people but rather because of the lives black people have lived in America for so long,” Noah said. “You know coronavirus exposed all of it, and now here you have this woman who ... blatantly knew how to use the power of her whiteness to threaten the life of another man and his blackness.
“It was like a curtain had been pulled back” on structural racism, he said.
“She was like, ‘Oh I know. I know that you’re afraid of interacting with the police because there is a presumption of your guilt because of your blackness. I know that as a white woman I can weaponize this tool against you. And I know that by the time we’ve sifted through who was right or wrong, there’s a good chance that you will have lost in some way shape or form.’ ”
The devastating video of Floyd’s killing, Noah pointed out, was similarly revealing: how calm Chauvin was as he killed him, how Floyd clearly posed no danger to his safety.
“There was a black man on the ground in handcuffs and you could take his life so you did, almost knowing that there would be no ramifications,” Noah said.
I listen for a living. Over the years, I’ve collected a multitude of views about the world in which we live. As a columnist, I now regularly share my own views. Not doing so, even in the moment, doesn’t come naturally.
Thinking about that, I reached out to Anna Deavere Smith, who has spent many years helping us collectively examine our attitudes toward race by interviewing a diversity of people about such moments as the 1992 L.A. riots and the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody in her hometown of Baltimore and then portraying them, speaking only their own words, in multi-character one-woman shows.
In my mind, she is one of the all-time-great listeners. Her work offers us a rare opportunity to see how differently people of different backgrounds can process and interpret the same set of events.
Smith told me that she’s seen too many tragic events such as the killing of Floyd to be able to say with confidence that the current protests are a turning point. “The window is so small and the curtain opens just a little bit when these things happen and then we have a very short memory and it closes again.”
But she said she was heartened by the great mix of people in the protest crowds, which she believes has something to do with the more truthful versions of our nation’s experience that many young people are now learning in school, thanks to those who fought to include stories far beyond those of white men.
“I think what that has done to some extent is caused people who are not black to have more questions about what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s fair, what’s not fair,” she said.
She also spoke to me about how her own work and life have been so enriched by allowing in many different voices, by listening to many points of view, by creating a way “for people to step into each other’s shoes.” It helped her, she said, to “recover from what de facto segregation did to me.”
“I really believe that there’s a benefit to chasing that which is not you,” she told me.
So do I. I think that it is work that is necessary to understand and feel other people’s struggles deeply enough to fight for their lives as hard as you’d fight for your own.


latimes--2020-06-06--Grab an extra harness and leash. Know how to keep dogs safe during the pandemic

It was past lunchtime and Nikki and Gomez , ebullient and eager , bounded out , more than ready for their daily treat .
Lindsay Rojas , their Clorox-equipped dog walker , awaited , greeting them like old friends .
Rojas knows that routines are important in a pandemic , especially for observant animals “ who sense that there ’ s something going on ” but , akin to the golden retriever siblings , can ’ t quite put their paws on it .
“ When I started wearing face masks , some of them were a little unsure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your face , human ?
’ ” Rojas said .
“ A lot of dogs are acting differently right now because owners are home frequently.
” So the Culver City pet lover sticks to a schedule with her furry crew , tweaking here and there to raise the bar on safety .
For her business , Lindsay ’ s Dog Walks , launched in 2018 , Rojas categorizes activity as “ before and after ” COVID-19 .
Before the global pandemic , clients never bought a separate set of harness and leash for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their dogs , and they never asked vets making house calls or walkers to fetch dogs from the backyard or to wait in the driveway for owners to bring their critters out .
Now , moreover , pet parents feverishly mop floors , sanitize door knobs and leave out extra paper towels so visitors won ’ t reach for cloth towels .
“ That extra protection is subtle but it counts , ” Rojas said , adding that she wipes down harnesses and leashes with Clorox wipes following each walk .
Her clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pediatric disease specialist , remind her of how vital it is “ to avoid going inside houses.
” When Rojas is on the streets with her charges , she tries to take advantage of programmed crosswalks where pedestrians don ’ t need to touch buttons .
“ Germs pop up everywhere , ” she said , “ we carry more than we imagine.
” Other aficionados are finding ways that people can better protect their dogs in the age of the coronavirus .
Julie Castle , chief executive of Utah-based Best Friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest animal sanctuary , said that a golden rule is to steer clear of other people ’ s pets .
“ When you ’ re walking , keep your distance as you would with humans and refrain from petting other dogs.
” She suggests that owners review the basics of pet care during a pandemic , listed on the American Veterinary Medical Assn .
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites .
“ To be totally safe , if you come down with the virus , avoid any direct contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castle said .
And unlike in social media feeds where COVID-19 victims are photographed embracing their pets , “ no snuggling or kissing , ” she added .
The first known U.S. case of a dog afflicted with the coronavirus unfolded in late April in North Carolina when Winston , a pug , tested positive in a Duke University School of Medicine study .
CDC guidelines state that “ there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
” Castle continues to worry about people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advising them to make a pet preparedness plan , similar to an earthquake preparedness plan .
In situations where owners can ’ t drive their pets to urgent care facilities , Castle recommends using Vet Access 24/7 , an app developed during Hurricane Harvey that connects patients to quick tele-consultations .
“ The silver lining that comes out of tragedy is that things inevitably speed up , ” she said .
“ You ’ re forced to picture scenarios and keep planning ahead.
” Writer Elizabeth Marshall Thomas , born into a family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nanny to us , ” said that “ when patterns change in a dog ’ s life , what keeps them feeling safe is not being separated from their owners.
” The author of the landmark “ The Hidden Lives of Dogs ” and the new “ Growing Old : Notes on Aging with Something Like Grace ” said she ’ s especially concerned about the elderly .
“ Work out who will take care of your pet if you pre-decease it .
Sit down with your family and choose people you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long term .
You may need them to make promises to you now.
” Because of the intimacy between humans and animals , Thomas said that when “ they ’ re at your side , on your bed , next to you in the car , they ’ re so close , we may not always be careful to take sanitary precautions .
But we must.
” Bryson Berryman and his sister , Brittany , spent long weeks of quarantine designing and remodeling the entrance to Bark City , a dog boarding and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach .
As a result , drop-offs and pickups are now contactless , rather than have people line up in a crowded lobby .
Bark City staff has been trained to socially distance during their shifts , which start with members having their temperatures taken .
Most dogs spend daycare hours outdoors and one tip that Berryman would offer pet parents is to keep up with their mental health .
“ Your dog has not been socializing with people , other dogs , nor has it had a ‘ regular ’ day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those voids with treat puzzles , hide and seek games and walks with trick challenges , ” he said .
“ Most people think they ’ ve got to run their dog for miles to ‘ tire them out , ’ when realistically , a half-hour spent working your pup ’ s mind is all you need to have a rested , right-minded dog at the end of the day.
” Dr. Danielle Bernal , a global veterinarian for Wellness Natural Pet Food , urges building your dog ’ s immunity with healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like us eating more fruits and more vegetables — you can choose something that has high protein without high fat , boosted with antioxidants and probiotics.
” Continue giving canines treats such as apples , broccoli and carrots , she said .
And pay attention to indoor life .
As a mother of three boys , Bernal said play time and down time with their border collie Megs is allowing her kids “ that essential friend that they can show empathy with , helping them through this crisis when we really don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world .
While they miss hanging out with school friends , this really helps their moods.
” She advises against putting masks on dogs , impeding their sense of smell , noting that the World Health Organization has stated that there ’ s no sign of transmission of the virus from a pet to a human .
Michael Morrison , an attorney from Westchester , said he limits grocery store runs to reduce the exposure of Monty and Margo , siblings who are part Pekingnese , part toy poodle .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more I might bring back , ” he said , noting that “ the supermarket is an aerosol environment.
” For owners of multiple pets , he suggests not forgetting to spray Lysol on individual leashes — and not taking one dog outside more than the others .
“ Keep the balance , ” he said .
“ Surviving this new life is as much about changing your behavior as controlling what you can control of the environment we all move in .
”

Lindsay Rojas, 28, owner of Lindsay’s Dog Walks, strolls with Nikki and Gomez, golden retriever siblings, along Keystone Avenue in Culver City. During the COVID-19 pandemic, experts warn that canines should not interact with dogs outside their immediate family.
It was past lunchtime and Nikki and Gomez, ebullient and eager, bounded out, more than ready for their daily treat. Lindsay Rojas, their Clorox-equipped dog walker, awaited, greeting them like old friends.
Rojas knows that routines are important in a pandemic, especially for observant animals “who sense that there’s something going on” but, akin to the golden retriever siblings, can’t quite put their paws on it.
“When I started wearing face masks, some of them were a little unsure, like ‘What’s this on your face, human?’” Rojas said. “A lot of dogs are acting differently right now because owners are home frequently.”
Advertisement
So the Culver City pet lover sticks to a schedule with her furry crew, tweaking here and there to raise the bar on safety.
For her business, Lindsay’s Dog Walks, launched in 2018 , Rojas categorizes activity as “before and after” COVID-19.
Before the global pandemic, clients never bought a separate set of harness and leash for those outside the family to use with their dogs, and they never asked vets making house calls or walkers to fetch dogs from the backyard or to wait in the driveway for owners to bring their critters out. Now, moreover, pet parents feverishly mop floors, sanitize door knobs and leave out extra paper towels so visitors won’t reach for cloth towels.
Lindsay Rojas walks golden retriever siblings Gomez, top, and Nikki, in Culver City. The dog walker says, when she is out with her charges, she tries to take advantage of programmed crosswalks where pedestrians don’t need to touch buttons. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
“That extra protection is subtle but it counts,” Rojas said, adding that she wipes down harnesses and leashes with Clorox wipes following each walk.
Her clients, among them frontline workers such as a pediatric disease specialist, remind her of how vital it is “to avoid going inside houses.” When Rojas is on the streets with her charges, she tries to take advantage of programmed crosswalks where pedestrians don’t need to touch buttons. “Germs pop up everywhere,” she said, “we carry more than we imagine.”
Other aficionados are finding ways that people can better protect their dogs in the age of the coronavirus.
Julie Castle, chief executive of Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, the nation’s largest animal sanctuary, said that a golden rule is to steer clear of other people’s pets. “When you’re walking, keep your distance as you would with humans and refrain from petting other dogs.”
Advertisement
She suggests that owners review the basics of pet care during a pandemic, listed on the American Veterinary Medical Assn. and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites. “To be totally safe, if you come down with the virus, avoid any direct contact with any pet in your household,” Castle said. And unlike in social media feeds where COVID-19 victims are photographed embracing their pets, “no snuggling or kissing,” she added.
The first known U.S. case of a dog afflicted with the coronavirus unfolded in late April in North Carolina when Winston, a pug, tested positive in a Duke University School of Medicine study. CDC guidelines state that “there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.”
Castle continues to worry about people who live alone with their creatures, advising them to make a pet preparedness plan, similar to an earthquake preparedness plan.
In situations where owners can’t drive their pets to urgent care facilities, Castle recommends using Vet Access 24/7, an app developed during Hurricane Harvey that connects patients to quick tele-consultations. “The silver lining that comes out of tragedy is that things inevitably speed up,” she said. “You’re forced to picture scenarios and keep planning ahead.”
Writer Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, born into a family with a Newfoundland “who was like a nanny to us,” said that “when patterns change in a dog’s life, what keeps them feeling safe is not being separated from their owners.”
The author of the landmark “The Hidden Lives of Dogs” and the new “Growing Old: Notes on Aging with Something Like Grace” said she’s especially concerned about the elderly. “Work out who will take care of your pet if you pre-decease it. Sit down with your family and choose people you can trust in the short term and long term. You may need them to make promises to you now.”
Because of the intimacy between humans and animals, Thomas said that when “they’re at your side, on your bed, next to you in the car, they’re so close, we may not always be careful to take sanitary precautions. But we must.”
Bryson Berryman and his sister, Brittany, spent long weeks of quarantine designing and remodeling the entrance to Bark City, a dog boarding and daycare center near the sands of Huntington Beach. As a result, drop-offs and pickups are now contactless, rather than have people line up in a crowded lobby.
Bark City staff has been trained to socially distance during their shifts, which start with members having their temperatures taken. Most dogs spend daycare hours outdoors and one tip that Berryman would offer pet parents is to keep up with their mental health.
“Your dog has not been socializing with people, other dogs, nor has it had a ‘regular’ day in a while. Make sure you fill those voids with treat puzzles, hide and seek games and walks with trick challenges,” he said. “Most people think they’ve got to run their dog for miles to ‘tire them out,’ when realistically, a half-hour spent working your pup’s mind is all you need to have a rested, right-minded dog at the end of the day.”
Dr. Danielle Bernal, a global veterinarian for Wellness Natural Pet Food, urges building your dog’s immunity with healthy foods. “It’s just like us eating more fruits and more vegetables — you can choose something that has high protein without high fat, boosted with antioxidants and probiotics.”
Continue giving canines treats such as apples, broccoli and carrots, she said. And pay attention to indoor life. As a mother of three boys, Bernal said play time and down time with their border collie Megs is allowing her kids “that essential friend that they can show empathy with, helping them through this crisis when we really don’t know what’s going on in the world. While they miss hanging out with school friends, this really helps their moods.”
She advises against putting masks on dogs, impeding their sense of smell, noting that the World Health Organization has stated that there’s no sign of transmission of the virus from a pet to a human.
Michael Morrison, an attorney from Westchester, said he limits grocery store runs to reduce the exposure of Monty and Margo, siblings who are part Pekingnese, part toy poodle. “The more I go out, the more I might bring back,” he said, noting that “the supermarket is an aerosol environment.”
For owners of multiple pets, he suggests not forgetting to spray Lysol on individual leashes — and not taking one dog outside more than the others.
“Keep the balance,” he said. “Surviving this new life is as much about changing your behavior as controlling what you can control of the environment we all move in.”


latimes--2020-06-06--L.A. is less cautious than Bay Area in coronavirus reopening. Here's why the two regions diverged

During the 1918 flu pandemic , Los Angeles was much more aggressive than San Francisco in combating the virus , and much slower to restart its economy .
During the current viral catastrophe , the roles are reversed .
Last week , Los Angeles announced it had received state permission to reopen hair salons , barber shops and inside dining at restaurants , even though its per capita infection rate and daily deaths were much higher than the Bay Area ’ s .
At least one infectious-disease expert was perplexed .
“ The last thing you want to do when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Dr. John Swartzberg of UC Berkeley .
“ That is the bottom line .
We know that sheltering in place works.
” In the current pandemic , the Bay Area shut down three days before Los Angeles , helping to quickly stem the coronavirus there , even though Silicon Valley was an early hot spot statewide .
Its slower reopening has come under fire from some Bay Area businesses and residents , but its caution reveals much about the political differences between California ’ s two largest metropolitan stories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers have long worked closely and enjoy the support of elected leaders , making it easier to decide health strategy as a region .
The Bay Area is made of multiple counties , each with its own health officer , giving them a collective strength .
Los Angeles faces different pressures .
Its neighbors have fewer coronavirus cases and moved to reopen more quickly .
L.A. County has a single health officer , who must alone shoulder the desires and lobbying of 88 different cities , each with different agendas .
When one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring counties are under pressure to follow .
“ How do you tell somebody in Long Beach , who is suffering , that everybody living on this block can go across the street in Orange County and get their hair cut , but you as a barber can ’ t go back to work , when there are safe ways to do that ?
” asked L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti .
San Francisco Mayor London Breed alluded to that pressure at a recent news conference , suggesting that Napa County ’ s reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco was moving more slowly .
Every county is in a different situation , she said .
San Francisco is the densest city in California , and the virus thrives in dense places .
Some have suggested that the Bay Area can more easily shelter in place because of its large tech industry , which involves tens of thousands of employees who can more easily work at home , as opposed to manufacturing and service workers .
But that theory isn ’ t necessarily borne out , according to Chris Thornberg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a research and consulting firm .
He said he did not believe the regions ’ different economies affected varied shelter-in-place orders .
Furthermore , he said that because early estimates of as many as 1 million deaths nationwide proved too high , the lockdown orders in retrospect were probably unnecessary .
“ The data shows it were an overreaction , ” he said .
“ We didn ’ t know this two months ago and acted with an abundance of caution , and I give them credit for that .
But to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Older people , who are most likely to die from COVID-19 , might want to stay home , but younger people should return to work with masks and social distancing , he said .
Many health experts say that the Bay Area ’ s more aggressive action and a stronger and earlier stay-at-home order have played a role in limiting the spread of the highly contagious disease .
Early and effective use of a shelter-in-place order is going to seem like an overreaction if it ’ s implemented successfully , leaving hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick .
San Francisco County Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón said the Bay Area was able to shut down early and sustain closures because health authorities enjoyed the backing of elected officials and the public .
“ We really felt we had the support of the elected officials and also the population , ” Aragón said during an online forum with Breed , who confessed she was frustrated with the city ’ s slow pace of reopening .
In Santa Clara County , health officer Dr. Sara Cody recently criticized the state for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , she has come under fire from some business and tech leaders for being overly cautious .
“ Your public health department is operating as though nothing has been learned and nothing has changed , ” said a recent full-page ad in the Mercury , signed by former tech executive Paulette Altmaier .
“ Meanwhile , the economic damage from [ sheltering in place ] is fearsome and mounting.
” When Contra Costa County failed to reopen as quickly as some of it neighbors , residents took to the online forum Nextdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Farnitano .
“ I know there ’ s a lot of frustration out there , ” Farnitano said in a news release Wednesday , “ but it ’ s important to keep in mind that interventions like social distancing have saved lives.
” In Los Angeles , the drive to reopen the city and county largely came from the Board of Supervisors , but Supervisor Kathryn Barger said it was not influenced by political pressure .
She noted that all of L.A. County ’ s neighboring counties moved ahead with an accelerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County went forward .
“ Everything we ’ ve done has been based on the data brought forward by public health .
And that ’ s been brought forward based on the criteria set by the state .
And this board has been very careful to make sure that we do it in a deliberate and careful fashion based on public health , ” Barger said in an interview .
Barger said the fact that the county met the state ’ s reopening threshold and acted a week after surrounding counties reopened shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health , not on anything else.
” But the state permits counties to have stricter rules for reopening .
The most significant measure of how quickly to reopen is the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people , Swartzberg said .
Los Angeles County has the second highest rate in the state , following Imperial County .
Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County director of public health , said at recent Board of Supervisors meeting that it was “ time for people to be able to get back to work.
” Still , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry about a possible spike in cases .
“ We ’ ve always known that as more and more people are going to be out and about , we run this risk of there being a surge , ” Ferrer said .
“ It ’ d be one thing to see a slight increase , which we would anticipate from having more people out and about .
What we have to avoid is that huge increase that causes a threat to our healthcare system.
” L.A. County received state approval in part by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalization rates of COVID-19 patients and a rate of no more than 8 % of residents testing positive for the virus .
From May 18 to 24 , L.A. County reported that of people who underwent tests , 6.7 % tested positive .
During that same time period , the number of patients in hospitals with confirmed diagnosis of the coronavirus declined by 1 % .
In defending San Francisco ’ s go-slow approach , Aragón noted that Lassen and Sonoma Counties saw a spike of cases after taking steps to reopen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
During the 1918 flu pandemic , Aragón said , the places that reopened slowly did better economically because they did not have large , second waves of infection .
Bay Area health officers believe the reopening must be done in phases , starting with resuming the lowest risk activities .
It takes two to four weeks to observe the impact of each reopening on new infections and hospitalizations , Aragón said .
Both Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties have recently announced looser restrictions , including permitting indoor retail shopping , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over looting and violent protests triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
“ These are not easy decisions to make , ” said Garcetti in Los Angeles .
“ And I ’ ve always said : We would not do things one day earlier than we needed to , or one day later than we needed to .
But it is very clear .
We have larger-than-Great-Depression unemployment in Los Angeles .
”

A section of 6th Street in San Pedro was closed for seated dining on May 29.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, Los Angeles was much more aggressive than San Francisco in combating the virus, and much slower to restart its economy.
During the current viral catastrophe, the roles are reversed.
Last week, Los Angeles announced it had received state permission to reopen hair salons, barbershops and inside dining at restaurants, even though its per capita infection rate and daily deaths were much higher than the Bay Area’s. At least one infectious-disease expert was perplexed.
“The last thing you want to do when numbers are increasing is loosen up shelter-in-place,” said Dr. John Swartzberg of UC Berkeley. “That is the bottom line. We know that sheltering in place works.”
In the current pandemic, the Bay Area shut down three days before Los Angeles, helping to quickly stem the coronavirus’ spread there, even though Silicon Valley was an early hot spot statewide. Its slower reopening has come under fire from some Bay Area businesses and residents, but its caution reveals much about the political differences between California’s two largest metropolitan areas.
In the Bay Area, public health officers have long worked closely and enjoy the support of elected leaders, making it easier to decide health strategy as a region. The Bay Area comprises multiple counties, each with its own health officer, giving them a collective strength.
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Los Angeles faces different pressures. Its neighbors have fewer coronavirus cases and moved to reopen more quickly. For all but two cities, L.A. County has a single health officer, who must alone shoulder the desires and lobbying of more than 80 different cities, each with a different agenda.
When one county moves more quickly to reopen, neighboring counties are under pressure to follow.
“How do you tell somebody in Long Beach, who is suffering, that everybody living on this block can go across the street in Orange County and get their hair cut, but you as a barber can’t go back to work, when there are safe ways to do that?” L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti asked.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed alluded to that pressure at a recent news conference, suggesting that Napa County’s reopening of restaurants had sparked questions about why San Francisco was moving more slowly. Every county is in a different situation, she said. San Francisco is the densest city in California, and the virus thrives in densely populated places.
Some have suggested that the Bay Area can more easily shelter in place because of its large tech industry, which involves tens of thousands of employees who can more easily work at home, as opposed to manufacturing and service workers.
But that theory isn’t necessarily borne out, said Chris Thornberg, an economist who heads Beacon Economics, a research and consulting firm. He said he did not believe the regions’ different economies affected varied stay-at-home orders.
Furthermore, he said, because early estimates of as many as 1 million deaths nationwide proved too high, the lockdown orders in retrospect were probably unnecessary.
“The data shows it were an overreaction,” he said. “We didn’t know this two months ago and acted with an abundance of caution, and I give them credit for that. But to me, the data screams this is unnecessary.”
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Older people, who are most likely to die of COVID-19, might want to stay home, but younger people should return to work with masks and social distancing, he said.
Many health experts say that the Bay Area’s more aggressive action and a stronger and earlier stay-at-home order have played a role in limiting the spread of the highly contagious disease. Early and effective use of a shelter-in-place order is going to seem like an overreaction if it’s implemented successfully, leaving hospitals with ample capacity to care for the sick.
Dr. Tomás Aragón, health officer of the city and county of San Francisco, said the Bay Area was able to shut down early and sustain closures because health authorities enjoyed the backing of elected officials and the public.
“We really felt we had the support of the elected officials and also the population,” Aragón said during an online forum with Breed, who confessed she was frustrated with the city’s slow pace of reopening.
In Santa Clara County, health officer Dr. Sara Cody recently criticized the state for reopening too quickly. At the same time, she has come under fire from some business and tech leaders for being overly cautious.
“Your public health department is operating as though nothing has been learned and nothing has changed,” said a recent full-page ad in the Mercury News, signed by former tech executive Paulette Altmaier. “Meanwhile, the economic damage from [sheltering in place] is fearsome and mounting.”
When Contra Costa County failed to reopen as quickly as some of it neighbors, residents took to the online forum Nextdoor to criticize its health officer, Dr. Chris Farnitano.
“I know there’s a lot of frustration out there,” Farnitano said in a news release Wednesday, “but it’s important to keep in mind that interventions like social distancing have saved lives.”
In Los Angeles, the drive to reopen the city and county largely came from the Board of Supervisors, but Supervisor Kathryn Barger said it was not influenced by political pressure. She noted that all of L.A. County’s neighboring counties moved ahead with an accelerated reopening schedule in the week before L.A. County went forward.
“Everything we’ve done has been based on the data brought forward by public health. And that’s been brought forward based on the criteria set by the state. And this board has been very careful to make sure that we do it in a deliberate and careful fashion based on public health,” Barger said in an interview.
Barger said the fact that the county met the state’s reopening threshold and acted a week after surrounding counties reopened shows the decision “was based on public health, not on anything else.” But the state permits counties to have stricter rules for reopening.
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
The most significant measure of how quickly to reopen is the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, UC Berkeley’s Swartzberg said. Los Angeles County has the second-highest rate in the state, following Imperial County.
Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County director of public health, said at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting that it was “time for people to be able to get back to work.”
Still, she said, it was her job to worry about a possible surge in cases.
“We’ve always known that as more and more people are going to be out and about, we run this risk of there being a surge,” Ferrer said. “It’d be one thing to see a slight increase, which we would anticipate from having more people out and about. What we have to avoid is that huge increase that causes a threat to our healthcare system.”
L.A. County received state approval in part by meeting two benchmarks: stable or decreasing hospitalization rates of COVID-19 patients and a rate of no more than 8% of residents testing positive for the virus. From May 18 to May 24, L.A. County reported that of people who underwent tests, 6.7% tested positive. During that same time period, the number of patients in hospitals with confirmed diagnosis of the coronavirus declined by 1%.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
In defending San Francisco’s go-slow approach, Aragón noted that Lassen and Sonoma counties saw a surge of cases after taking steps to reopen. Lassen had to pull back, he said.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, Aragón said, the places that reopened slowly did better economically because they did not have large second waves of infection.
Bay Area health officers believe the reopening must be done in phases, starting with resuming the lowest-risk activities. It takes two to four weeks to observe the effect of each reopening on new infections and hospitalizations, Aragón said.
Both Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties have recently announced looser restrictions, including permitting indoor retail shopping, although much remains closed because of concerns over protests and sporadic theft and property damage triggered by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“These are not easy decisions to make,” said Garcetti in Los Angeles. “And I’ve always said: We would not do things one day earlier than we needed to, or one day later than we needed to. But it is very clear. We have larger-than-Great-Depression unemployment in Los Angeles.”
Times staff writers Joseph Serna and Colleen Shalby contributed this report.


latimes--2020-06-06--LAPD Chief Moore under fire over looting remarks, police treatment of protesters

In more than a week of civil unrest since the killing of George Floyd , Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore has been at the helm of a massive police response , which has included the controversial firing of foam bullets and arresting of peaceful protesters .
Some of those tactics and a remark he made in an empty room at City Hall on Monday , with reporters watching remotely because of COVID-19 , have left him scrambling to preserve all he has worked for as a chief staking his legacy on repairing frayed relationships with black and Latino residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as responsible for Floyd ’ s death as were the Minneapolis police officers who held down his neck with a knee or watched it happen , Moore walked back the words .
But no matter how much he repeated and rephrased the apology , the damage was done .
The following day , he sat silently at a Police Commission meeting for nine hours as citizen after citizen — several hundred in all — demanded his resignation .
While Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials have expressed support for Moore , a petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the remark has more than 42,000 signatures .
The comment and the uneven response to the unfolding unrest have put Moore on the defensive .
The department will be preparing an “ extensive after-action report ” to assess its performance during the protests and is investigating disturbing images of aggressive police tactics caught on video , he said .
As the situation spiraled out of control in the Fairfax District last weekend , Moore ordered officers to stop striking protesters with batons .
On Tuesday , Garcetti said he has instructed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullets and batons , and “ if we can , to not use them at all.
” Moore has tried to show another side of the LAPD , sympathizing with the public outcry over Floyd ’ s killing , acknowledging the racial inequities in American society and sometimes kneeling in front of protesters to show his willingness to listen .
“ We see the hurt .
We know and recognize the pain , the anguish , ” Moore said in an interview with The Times .
“ We ’ re disgusted , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotions with regard to this latest episode that George Floyd represents and with regard to issues of black people and all communities of color and their standing in America and the inequities that exist today and the history that has made that existence seem forever.
” But his Monday comments , while focused on looters , were perceived by many as at odds with that ethos .
“ We didn ’ t have protests last night .
We had criminal acts , ” Moore said .
“ We didn ’ t have people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd .
We had people capitalizing .
His death is on their hands as much as it is those officers.
” Moore said he spoke off the cuff , on little sleep after a long day , and “ entirely made the wrong connection ” in searching for an analogy .
He meant to say that the looters were distracting from the focus on racism in policing sparked by Floyd ’ s death and the nationwide protests that followed , he said .
“ I regret that that misstatement and that mistake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focusing on the true issues and true concerns of police reform , of societal reform , of how we make our society fair to all , and particularly addressing the injustices involving our black communities , ” he said .
Moore is not known for being a stylish orator .
His statements often devolve into bureaucratese .
But he chooses his words carefully and is not prone to gaffes .
That made the remark all the more striking .
Some community leaders say it reminded them of something an LAPD leader would say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time of widespread police abuse targeting minorities .
Moore was a young officer back then and rose through the ranks of a department that spent two decades enacting wrenching reforms , trying to repair relationships with communities of color and working to build a more diverse police force .
“ Was he in a candid moment actually telling the truth ?
If so , that candid moment told me one thing , ” said longtime civil rights leader Earl Ofari Hutchinson .
“ Has this department , with its promises of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing the old face of the LAPD ?
Is there a danger of slipping back into that ?
” Hutchinson said he is not calling for the chief to step down , despite his grave concern over the remark .
But he said Moore has work to do to build back his credibility .
“ What the chief doesn ’ t want is to be the second coming of Daryl Gates , ” Hutchinson added , referring to the former police chief known for his hard-charging crime-fighting tactics , including Operation Hammer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rams and rounding up thousands of people in South L.A. in 1988 .
Many protesters and Black Lives Matter leaders say it ’ s time for him to go .
Paula Minor , an organizer for Black Lives Matter , said Moore ’ s remark shows that his mindset is closer to Gates ’ than to a reformer who will work with activists to change policing in the city .
“ He may sound better , look better and use better words , ” Minor said .
“ But the mentality , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a ‘ them , ’ it ’ s a ‘ those people ’ philosophy .
That ’ s why our policing system truly has bias against black people.
” Moore appears to have survived the crisis , for now .
Garcetti has rallied behind him , as have City Council members .
Garcetti said he has known Moore for decades , and the chief could not possibly have meant that looters are “ the equivalent of murderers.
” “ If I believed for a moment that the chief believed that in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chief , ” Garcetti said .
But Moore ’ s misstep highlights the fragility of the progress the LAPD has made since the 1992 riots , which still haunt him and other veteran officers , and the enormity of the task ahead , once the protesters go home and the shattered windows of looted businesses are replaced .
He must build trust in the Police Department in a city where thousands of protesters experienced firsthand officers making arrests for curfew violations and firing foam bullets into crowds .
The Times reported Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disturbing behavior by officers against protesters .
While he contended that violent individuals have “ intermixed ” with peaceful protesters at some scenes , Moore conceded that footage of officers swinging at people with batons and firing foam bullets has given him pause and will be investigated .
On Friday , U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu ( D-Torrance ) wrote a letter to the civilian Police Commission demanding an investigation into how the department responded to peaceful demonstrations in the Fairfax District last Saturday .
“ Folks who loot or commit arson or assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can not be condoned or tolerated .
At the same time , you can ’ t attribute what some folks did on one day and then deal with peaceful protesters on a different day and hit them with batons , ” Lieu said Friday .
In addition to the investigations , Moore must remake the department following the outline described by Garcetti and the civilian Police Commission on Wednesday , including increased training , more emphasis on community policing , greater scrutiny of officers ’ use of force and $ 100 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an overall $ 1.86-billion budget .
Informing his actions will be the demands , grievances and raw emotions of the protesters he spoke with on the streets , as well as the needs of his 10,000 police officers , some of whom were upset by the vitriol directed at them during the unrest and some of whom were injured in the chaos .
Since becoming chief in June 2018 after more than three decades with the LAPD , Moore has attended countless community events — violence prevention groups , life skills meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , black university alumni gatherings .
But those efforts at relationship-building and mutual understanding can be undone by police brutality caught on a video from halfway across the country — or by a leader ’ s jarring remark that he quickly retracted .
The LAPD ’ s reputation as an agency reformed by a federal consent decree has suffered during Moore ’ s tenure after Times reporting revealed that officers disproportionately stopped and searched black drivers and that some members of the elite Metropolitan Division falsely portrayed people as gang members or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drastically reduced the department ’ s reliance on vehicle stops and is investigating the Metro officers who allegedly falsified records .
Among the reforms announced by Garcetti earlier this week is a moratorium on entries into the CalGang database .
“ We work hard for trust , ” Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff said .
“ Look at it as a bank account , where deposits can be only made a dollar at a time , by doing the right things , but withdrawals are made from all over the country at a million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore in the context of his long career and his value to law enforcement .
Contrary to his one unfortunate statement , Moore is a firm believer in community policing and deescalation techniques that reduce the use of force , Soboroff said .
Moore ’ s predecessor , Charlie Beck , was met at every weekly Police Commission meeting by Black Lives Matter activists calling for his firing .
Moore had escaped that treatment — until his remark about the looters .
Now , he has become the focus of ire .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests will change the political dynamics at City Hall .
Garcetti has proposed cuts at the department , though only a fraction of what Black Lives Matter wanted .
Still , the protests are likely to significantly expand the clout of Black Lives Matter and other police reform groups .
Moore continues to have support from some black community leaders the department has cultivated in recent years .
As unrest unfolded around the city last weekend , Perry Crouch heard that young people were planning to loot a Smart & Final store near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Crouch , a longtime Watts resident and member of the Watts Gang Task Force , was determined to keep looting out of his neighborhood .
He worked with the captain of Southeast station to coordinate the response and stood with police officers to protect the store .
It was a far cry from the days when some LAPD leaders were openly racist , Crouch said .
Things started to change when Bill Bratton became chief in 2002 and assigned a new generation of police captains to work with community leaders on common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the progress , the LAPD has much more work to do with young black residents who feel stereotyped and undervalued , Crouch said .
“ Young people just want them to listen , to stop judging me as a gang member because I wear baggy pants , to stop judging me as a criminal , as a person not worthy of respect , ” he said .
“ Talk to me .
See what ’ s on my mind.
” Times staff writers Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser contributed to this report @

In more than a week of civil unrest since the killing of George Floyd, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore has been at the helm of a massive police response, which has included the controversial firing of foam bullets and arresting of peaceful protesters.
Some of those tactics and a remark he made in an empty room at City Hall on Monday, with reporters watching remotely because of COVID-19, have left him scrambling to preserve all he has worked for as a chief staking his legacy on repairing frayed relationships with black and Latino residents.
Minutes after saying that looters were as responsible for Floyd’s death as were the Minneapolis police officers who held down his neck with a knee or watched it happen, Moore walked back the words.
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But no matter how much he repeated and rephrased the apology, the damage was done.
The following day, he sat silently at a Police Commission meeting for nine hours as citizen after citizen — several hundred in all — demanded his resignation. While Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials have expressed support for Moore, a petition calling for him to be fired because of the remark has more than 42,000 signatures.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore addresses protesters demonstrating against the killing of George Floyd in front of the Farmers Market, at 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue, on May 30. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
The comment and the uneven response to the unfolding unrest have put Moore on the defensive.
The department will be preparing an “extensive after-action report” to assess its performance during the protests and is investigating disturbing images of aggressive police tactics caught on video, he said.
As the situation spiraled out of control in the Fairfax District last weekend, Moore ordered officers to stop striking protesters with batons. On Tuesday, Garcetti said he has instructed the LAPD to minimize the use of foam bullets and batons, and “if we can, to not use them at all.”
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Moore has tried to show another side of the LAPD, sympathizing with the public outcry over Floyd’s killing, acknowledging the racial inequities in American society and sometimes kneeling in front of protesters to show his willingness to listen.
“We see the hurt. We know and recognize the pain, the anguish,” Moore said in an interview with The Times. “We’re disgusted, and we share so many of the same emotions with regard to this latest episode that George Floyd represents and with regard to issues of black people and all communities of color and their standing in America and the inequities that exist today and the history that has made that existence seem forever.”
But his Monday comments, while focused on looters, were perceived by many as at odds with that ethos.
“We didn’t have protests last night. We had criminal acts,” Moore said. “We didn’t have people mourning the death of this man, George Floyd. We had people capitalizing. His death is on their hands as much as it is those officers.”
Moore said he spoke off the cuff, on little sleep after a long day, and “entirely made the wrong connection” in searching for an analogy.
He meant to say that the looters were distracting from the focus on racism in policing sparked by Floyd’s death and the nationwide protests that followed, he said.
“I regret that that misstatement and that mistake has taken as much time away from focusing on the true issues and true concerns of police reform, of societal reform, of how we make our society fair to all, and particularly addressing the injustices involving our black communities,” he said.
Moore is not known for being a stylish orator. His statements often devolve into bureaucratese. But he chooses his words carefully and is not prone to gaffes. That made the remark all the more striking.
Some community leaders say it reminded them of something an LAPD leader would say in the 1980s and early 1990s, at a time of widespread police abuse targeting minorities. Moore was a young officer back then and rose through the ranks of a department that spent two decades enacting wrenching reforms, trying to repair relationships with communities of color and working to build a more diverse police force.
“Was he in a candid moment actually telling the truth? If so, that candid moment told me one thing,” said longtime civil rights leader Earl Ofari Hutchinson. “Has this department, with its promises of reform, is there a danger of showing the old face of the LAPD? Is there a danger of slipping back into that?”
Hutchinson said he is not calling for the chief to step down, despite his grave concern over the remark. But he said Moore has work to do to build back his credibility.
“What the chief doesn’t want is to be the second coming of Daryl Gates,” Hutchinson added, referring to the former police chief known for his hard-charging crime-fighting tactics, including Operation Hammer, with officers attacking apartment buildings with battering rams and rounding up thousands of people in South L.A. in 1988.
Protesters hold a “Defund LAPD” sign, among others, as 1,000 people gather to speak out against the death of George Floyd in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Many protesters and Black Lives Matter leaders say it’s time for him to go.
Paula Minor, an organizer for Black Lives Matter, said Moore’s remark shows that his mindset is closer to Gates’ than to a reformer who will work with activists to change policing in the city.
“He may sound better, look better and use better words,” Minor said. “But the mentality, the attitude is the same. It’s a ‘them,’ it’s a ‘those people’ philosophy. That’s why our policing system truly has bias against black people.”
Moore appears to have survived the crisis, for now. Garcetti has rallied behind him, as have City Council members.
Garcetti said he has known Moore for decades, and the chief could not possibly have meant that looters are “the equivalent of murderers.”
“If I believed for a moment that the chief believed that in his heart, he would no longer be the chief,” Garcetti said.
But Moore’s misstep highlights the fragility of the progress the LAPD has made since the 1992 riots, which still haunt him and other veteran officers, and the enormity of the task ahead, once the protesters go home and the shattered windows of looted businesses are replaced.
He must build trust in the Police Department in a city where thousands of protesters experienced firsthand officers making arrests for curfew violations and firing foam bullets into crowds.
The Times reported Thursday on a growing number of videos showing disturbing behavior by officers against protesters. While he contended that violent individuals have “intermixed” with peaceful protesters at some scenes, Moore conceded that footage of officers swinging at people with batons and firing foam bullets has given him pause and will be investigated.
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) wrote a letter to the civilian Police Commission demanding an investigation into how the department responded to peaceful demonstrations in the Fairfax District last Saturday.
“Folks who loot or commit arson or assault police officers are committing crimes, and that cannot be condoned or tolerated. At the same time, you can’t attribute what some folks did on one day and then deal with peaceful protesters on a different day and hit them with batons,” Lieu said Friday.
In addition to the investigations, Moore must remake the department following the outline described by Garcetti and the civilian Police Commission on Wednesday, including increased training, more emphasis on community policing, greater scrutiny of officers’ use of force and $100 million to $150 million in cuts out of an overall $1.86-billion budget.
Informing his actions will be the demands, grievances and raw emotions of the protesters he spoke with on the streets, as well as the needs of his 10,000 police officers, some of whom were upset by the vitriol directed at them during the unrest and some of whom were injured in the chaos.
Since becoming chief in June 2018 after more than three decades with the LAPD, Moore has attended countless community events — violence prevention groups, life skills meetings for formerly incarcerated people, Sunday church services, black university alumni gatherings.
But those efforts at relationship-building and mutual understanding can be undone by police brutality caught on a video from halfway across the country — or by a leader’s jarring remark that he quickly retracted.
The LAPD’s reputation as an agency reformed by a federal consent decree has suffered during Moore’s tenure after Times reporting revealed that officers disproportionately stopped and searched black drivers and that
some members of the elite Metropolitan Division falsely portrayed people as gang members or associates.
In response, Moore has drastically reduced the department’s reliance on vehicle stops and is investigating the Metro officers who allegedly falsified records. Among the reforms announced by Garcetti earlier this week is a moratorium on entries into the CalGang database.
“We work hard for trust,” Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff said. “Look at it as a bank account, where deposits can be only made a dollar at a time, by doing the right things, but withdrawals are made from all over the country at a million dollars each.”
Soboroff said he views Moore in the context of his long career and his value to law enforcement. Contrary to his one unfortunate statement, Moore is a firm believer in community policing and deescalation techniques that reduce the use of force, Soboroff said.
Moore’s predecessor, Charlie Beck, was met at every weekly Police Commission meeting by Black Lives Matter activists calling for his firing.
Moore had escaped that treatment — until his remark about the looters.
Now, he has become the focus of ire. And it remains unclear how much the historic protests will change the political dynamics at City Hall. Garcetti has proposed cuts at the department, though only a fraction of what Black Lives Matter wanted.
Still, the protests are likely to significantly expand the clout of Black Lives Matter and other police reform groups.
Moore continues to have support from some black community leaders the department has cultivated in recent years.
As unrest unfolded around the city last weekend, Perry Crouch heard that young people were planning to loot a Smart & Final store near the Jordan Downs housing development in Watts.
Crouch, a longtime Watts resident and member of the Watts Gang Task Force, was determined to keep looting out of his neighborhood. He worked with the captain of Southeast station to coordinate the response and stood with police officers to protect the store.
It was a far cry from the days when some LAPD leaders were openly racist, Crouch said. Things started to change when Bill Bratton became chief in 2002 and assigned a new generation of police captains to work with community leaders on common goals, he said.
But despite the progress, the LAPD has much more work to do with young black residents who feel stereotyped and undervalued, Crouch said.
“Young people just want them to listen, to stop judging me as a gang member because I wear baggy pants, to stop judging me as a criminal, as a person not worthy of respect,” he said. “Talk to me. See what’s on my mind.”
Times staff writers Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-06--Students posted racist remarks online. These Granada Hills high schoolers are taking action

As their virtual graduation approached and as their city erupted in widespread protests over the death of George Floyd , students at Granada Hills Charter High School took a stand in their own campus community against online , anti-black comments .
After reading racist online remarks that were written by fellow students in a private group chat , they called it out .
They refused to stay silent .
The profane comments , repeated use of the n-word and racial slurs were captured on screen grabs by an offended member of the private chat group and reposted by others on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate speech .
In the postings from the private chat , a student mocked Floyd , compared black people to monkeys , called them a stupid race and joked about starting a club in college to kill them .
“ People were like : ‘ Wow , it was disgusting .
I can ’ t believe I go to a school with people like this , ’ ” said Brookelynn Fenderson , 17 , a graduating senior who is president of the school ’ s Black Student Union and temporarily reposted the messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very diverse school .
You see different races and ethnicities and you feel very accepted .
To see this really threw me off.
” She said it felt impossible to remain silent at a time when the nation is responding to the death of Floyd , an unarmed black man who died in police custody after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes .
“ It ’ s really important for people to see these things people are saying , ” Fenderson said .
“ Like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are the comments he ’ s making.
” Daron Vinson , who also is black , was among the first students to repost the hate speech — he said he was given the thread of posts by a student who was in the private chat group .
“ When I read what they were saying , I felt I had the responsibility to shed some light on that , ” said Vinson , another graduating senior .
“ Because nobody should be talking like that so close to George Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were making fun of it.
” “ It hurts , ” Vinson said.
” I would expect more from these students.
” The semester has been emotionally challenging at the west San Fernando Valley school , as students and staff — like those throughout the state and nation — have tried to continue academic instruction online with their campus shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Senior activities were canceled ; Wednesday ’ s graduation ceremony unfolded online with students separated from friends .
And then during the week of graduation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the private chat .
The threads with the offensive language include a few nervous responses that don ’ t directly challenge the hate speech .
There ’ s also a thread with some pushback and the suggestion that the thread had been or would be shared with a black friend .
The original poster of the hate speech responded with another racial slur .
Brian Bauer , the executive director of Granada Hills Charter , said the school was notified of the online statements Monday and took immediate action .
“ We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the students who used racist language experienced heavy consequences , ” Bauer said in a statement , adding that he could not comment on the specifics or identify the students involved because of privacy issues .
“ The national events this week have reinforced the importance of being anti-racist and we are proud of the students who took that lesson to heart and called out their peers for inappropriate language , ” Bauer said of the students who stood up to the hate language .
“ We have a responsibility to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the anti-racist students who are unwilling to be silent or complicit.
” Isabella Gonzalez , a senior , said despite “ an unfortunate growing culture of hatred within my generation ... the overwhelming majority of my peers agreed that the messages we read were vile and repulsive , and we knew something had to be done.
” She described “ a moment of true camaraderie to watch my classmates band together and take action , ” including notifying school administrators .
Such hateful online expressions “ should always be called out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Southern Poverty Law Center , a nonprofit legal advocacy organization , based in Montgomery , Ala. , that specializes in civil rights and the monitoring of hate groups .
“ Racism gets picked up and amplified by young people , ” Brooks said .
“ Any kind of racist language — whether it be anti-Semitism , homophobia , Islamophobia , xenophobia — should always be challenged.
” The Times reviewed a screenshot of an apology from one of the chat-group students .
This , too , was circulating among students even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or is not publicly accessible .
That apology , read in part : “ I ’ m very sorry for what I said .
I said those things because I was frustrated with Coronavirus and the George Floyd protest but I completely understand that does not excuse my actions ...
I have learned from my mistakes and I accept any consequences that come my way.
” The Times was unable to reach the students who allegedly made the racial slurs .
Word about the posts has spread — and has been condemned — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hate speech used by the students from Granada was absolutely disgusting , ” said Sara Iches , a graduating senior at Learning Post High School in Valencia , who learned of the episode from friends at Granada Hills .
“ It ’ s really disappointing that they felt comfortable using such words so casually , ” said Darielle Martin , a student who graduated from Granada Hills last year and now attends UC Riverside .
“ It ’ s apparent that this was not their first time using hate speech.
” Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more with racial literacy and diversity training .
A 16-year-old junior said she has noticed racial insensitivity among some students at the school .
“ I have seen swastikas carved on my desks , ” said the student , whose parents requested that her name not be used .
“ I have seen many non-black students using the n-word casually , and I have heard quite a few people make racist remarks , especially about African Americans , at our school .
It ’ s very infuriating to see this sort of behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abilities to feel comfortable at school.
” Vinson , who plans to attend the Otis College of Art and Design , said he found the racially charged statements to be at odds with the values taught by teachers and embraced by many students .
About 4 % of students are black at Granada Hills , which is managed under its own board of directors independent of the Los Angeles Unified School District .
The school is 40 % Latino , 26 % white and 18 % Asian .
The school also is distinctive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and its domination of the national Academic Decathlon competition .
Students said the postings appeared on Discord , a social media platform that appeals especially to gamers but is available for general use .
Although originally in a private chat , “ in the world of social media , there is no such thing as private , ” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper , director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center , an international Jewish human rights organization that was founded in Los Angeles .
” Inevitably , it will reach the public .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost any word , words have consequence.
” Tyrone Howard , professor of education at UCLA ’ s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies , wrote in Education Week Wednesday that educators should take several steps to combat anti-black racism : Name it as what it is ; believe black students when they speak about racism , discrimination , exclusion or prejudice ; and don ’ t challenge , minimize or dilute “ Black Lives Matter.
” Fourthly , he said , celebrate black excellence .

Black Lives Matter rallies, such as this one on Wednesday in Newport Beach, have inspired students at Granada Hills Charter High School to denounce racist remarks by classmates.
As their virtual graduation approached and as their city erupted in widespread protests over the death of George Floyd, students at Granada Hills Charter High School took a stand in their own campus community against online, anti-black comments.
After reading racist online remarks that were written by fellow students in a private group chat, they called it out. They refused to stay silent. The profane comments, repeated use of the n-word and racial slurs were captured on screen grabs by an offended member of the private chat group and reposted by others on social media as an example of intolerable hate speech.
In the postings from the private chat, a student mocked Floyd, compared black people to monkeys, called them a stupid race and joked about starting a club in college to kill them.
“People were like: ‘Wow, it was disgusting. I can’t believe I go to a school with people like this,’” said Brookelynn Fenderson, 17, a graduating senior who is president of the school’s Black Student Union and temporarily reposted the messages, expressing outrage. “Granada is a very diverse school. You see different races and ethnicities and you feel very accepted. To see this really threw me off.”
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She said it felt impossible to remain silent at a time when the nation is responding to the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes.
“It’s really important for people to see these things people are saying,” Fenderson said. “Like this guy is in my senior class and these are the comments he’s making.”
Daron Vinson, who also is black, was among the first students to repost the hate speech — he said he was given the thread of posts by a student who was in the private chat group.
“When I read what they were saying, I felt I had the responsibility to shed some light on that,” said Vinson, another graduating senior. “Because nobody should be talking like that so close to George Floyd’s death — and the fact that they were making fun of it.”
“It hurts,” Vinson said.” I would expect more from these students.”
The semester has been emotionally challenging at the west San Fernando Valley school, as students and staff — like those throughout the state and nation — have tried to continue academic instruction online with their campus shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak. Senior activities were canceled; Wednesday’s graduation ceremony unfolded online with students separated from friends.
And then during the week of graduation, word began spreading about the posts from the private chat.
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The threads with the offensive language include a few nervous responses that don’t directly challenge the hate speech. There’s also a thread with some pushback and the suggestion that the thread had been or would be shared with a black friend.
The original poster of the hate speech responded with another racial slur.
Brian Bauer, the executive director of Granada Hills Charter, said the school was notified of the online statements Monday and took immediate action.
“We cannot allow racist language to be ignored and the students who used racist language experienced heavy consequences,” Bauer said in a statement, adding that he could not comment on the specifics or identify the students involved because of privacy issues.
“The national events this week have reinforced the importance of being anti-racist and we are proud of the students who took that lesson to heart and called out their peers for inappropriate language,” Bauer said of the students who stood up to the hate language. “We have a responsibility to all of our students and staff to stand with the anti-racist students who are unwilling to be silent or complicit.”
Isabella Gonzalez, a senior, said despite “an unfortunate growing culture of hatred within my generation ... the overwhelming majority of my peers agreed that the messages we read were vile and repulsive, and we knew something had to be done.”
She described “a moment of true camaraderie to watch my classmates band together and take action,” including notifying school administrators.
Such hateful online expressions “should always be called out,” said Lecia Brooks, outreach director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization, based in Montgomery, Ala., that specializes in civil rights and the monitoring of hate groups.
“Racism gets picked up and amplified by young people,” Brooks said. “Any kind of racist language — whether it be anti-Semitism, homophobia, Islamophobia, xenophobia — should always be challenged.”
The Times reviewed a screenshot of an apology from one of the chat-group students. This, too, was circulating among students even though the post has either been deleted or is not publicly accessible.
That apology, read in part: “I’m very sorry for what I said. I said those things because I was frustrated with Coronavirus and the George Floyd protest but I completely understand that does not excuse my actions... I have learned from my mistakes and I accept any consequences that come my way.”
The Times was unable to reach the students who allegedly made the racial slurs.
Word about the posts has spread — and has been condemned — beyond students at Granada Hills.
“The hate speech used by the students from Granada was absolutely disgusting,” said Sara Iches, a graduating senior at Learning Post High School in Valencia, who learned of the episode from friends at Granada Hills.
“It’s really disappointing that they felt comfortable using such words so casually,” said Darielle Martin, a student who graduated from Granada Hills last year and now attends UC Riverside. “It’s apparent that this was not their first time using hate speech.”
Martin also said the school needs to do more with racial literacy and diversity training.
A 16-year-old junior said she has noticed racial insensitivity among some students at the school.
“I have seen swastikas carved on my desks,” said the student, whose parents requested that her name not be used. “I have seen many non-black students using the n-word casually, and I have heard quite a few people make racist remarks, especially about African Americans, at our school. It’s very infuriating to see this sort of behavior because it really interferes with students’ abilities to feel comfortable at school.”
Vinson, who plans to attend the Otis College of Art and Design, said he found the racially charged statements to be at odds with the values taught by teachers and embraced by many students.
About 4% of students are black at Granada Hills, which is managed under its own board of directors independent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school is 40% Latino, 26% white and 18% Asian. The school also is distinctive for its size — about 4,700 students — and its domination of the national Academic Decathlon competition.
Students said the postings appeared on Discord, a social media platform that appeals especially to gamers but is available for general use.
Although originally in a private chat, “in the world of social media, there is no such thing as private,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization that was founded in Los Angeles. ”Inevitably, it will reach the public. While we have the right to utter almost any word, words have consequence.”
Tyrone Howard, professor of education at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, wrote in Education Week Wednesday that educators should take several steps to combat anti-black racism: Name it as what it is; believe black students when they speak about racism, discrimination, exclusion or prejudice; and don’t challenge, minimize or dilute “Black Lives Matter.” Fourthly, he said, celebrate black excellence.