latimes--2020-06-18--Anti-vaccine activists, mask opponents target public health officials — at their homes

People protesting mask orders aimed at stemming the COVID-19 pandemic recently arrived outside the home of Contra Costa County ’ s public health officer .
On the sidewalk , they drew an arrow pointed at his residence .
“ Your neighbor thinks he has the power , ” a protester wrote in chalk , referring to health officer Chris Farnitano .
“ Tyranny is not the answer , ” wrote another .
“ My body , my choice , ” was scribbled in yellow chalk — a battle cry of the abortion rights movement that more recently was adopted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a law strengthening school vaccination requirements .
For months , anti-vaccine activists have joined protests against coronavirus restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of infection .
Now this unusual alliance is taking direct aim at the county officials issuing these orders .
On Sunday and then Tuesday , they livestreamed protests against Farnitano , which came days after Orange County ’ s chief health officer resigned amid intense pushback against her countywide mask order and threats against her that prompted a security detail .
Online , mask protesters say their calls for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officers are gaining traction .
For many , it ’ s raising alarms .
Calling the protests an act of intimidation , Kat DeBurgh of the Health Officers Assn .
of California said she ’ s worried .
Seven local health officials have announced they are leaving their posts , some of which were previously planned retirements , DeBurgh said .
“ I would not be surprised if there were more , ” she said .
“ They are working 80 hours a week during the pandemic and then you have threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the long-term health consequences in California by losing our most experienced public health professionals.
” On Wednesday , Santa Clara County revealed that Public Health Officer Sara Cody had been threatened , although it provided few details .
“ We are aware of the threats made , and it is currently under investigation , ” Santa Clara County Sheriff ’ s Sgt .
Michael Low said in an email .
Each of California ’ s counties is required to have an appointed public health officer who is a physician .
The county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officer , a 75-year-old structure that is intended to insulate the position from political pressure while providing public accountability , DeBurgh said .
“ This isn ’ t a position that typically gets much attention , ” DeBurgh said .
“ They can issue orders to prevent the spread of a communicable disease , but they usually do this in the background , such as with tuberculosis.
” However , with the worldwide spread of COVID-19 , local health officers were thrust into the spotlight as they released measures they said would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal attacks against health officers include disclosing personal details — whom they date , where they live — along with doctored photos depicting them with Hitler-esque mustaches .
For proponents of last year ’ s law to increase state oversight of vaccine medical exemptions , it all feels too familiar .
“ These are the same tactics that were used against vaccines , ” said state Sen. Richard Pan ( D-Sacramento ) , a doctor who authored the vaccine law .
“ It ’ s absolutely meant as intimidation.
” It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent measles and other diseases and were instrumental in eliminating plagues such as smallpox .
They could be the only way to end the current pandemic , once a vaccine is successfully developed , tested and distributed .
But vaccine opponents reject vaccine science , sometimes pointing to discredited studies and conspiracy theories .
Pan has been a regular target of anti-vaccine protesters ’ anger , with opponents likening him to Hitler and calling him a tyrant .
The escalating rhetoric and tactics against public health officers has him concerned , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cursed at and received death threats .
Then , a vocal opponent was arrested after pushing Pan from behind .
Weeks later , another protester was charged with two felonies after she allegedly threw a menstrual cup filled with blood onto California state senators .
Pan said it ’ s hard to watch the ire of those who targeted him shift to public health officials .
“ These are public servants who are working hard to keep us safe , ” Pan said .
“ It ’ s important that we keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be subjected to threats and intimidation .
We need to ensure their judgement is free of fear.
” Efforts to reach Farnitano and half a dozen other public health officers on Tuesday were unsuccessful , with some declining to comment and others not responding .
Pan said it ’ s likely that the health officers are concerned they could face additional threats by talking about the effect of personal attacks on them or their families .
“ This is becoming more and more of an issue , ” said Dr. William Tseng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past president of the San Diego County Medical Society .
“ I know this is a difficult time for everyone , but we should separate the science from the panic and the fear , and trust in science.
” Asked about their tactics , some activists disputed Tuesday that they are intimidating public health officials .
“ Mommies with children and sidewalk chalk are intimidating ?
” said Heidi Muñoz Gleisner and other protesters in an email .
In a video on Facebook , Gleisner added they have been forced to protest outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been turned away from public meetings due to coronavirus precautions and that their calls and emails are not being returned .
Protests over mask orders and reopening strategies have popped up across the country , including on Tuesday in Orange County , where county health officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned last week .
At the protest Tuesday , people opposed to wearing masks screamed at those who wanted the county to reinstate its face-covering order .
The anti-mask protesters pushed pro-mask people and mocked them for sanitizing their hands , said Luis Aleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which organized the pro-mask rally .
Orange County has become a hot spot for the pushback against mask orders .
Quick issued an order last month requiring everyone in the county to wear masks in public and at work when they are unable to stay six feet apart .
Elected officials on the Board of Supervisors criticized the order , while some activists erroneously claimed that wearing masks is more dangerous than not wearing them .
During public meetings , opponents of the order targeted their anger at Quick .
Leigh Dundas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vaccine bill , rattled off personal information about Quick , including the name of her boyfriend and urged people to go to her home to protest .
Speakers at one meeting showed off posters of Quick with a Hitler mustache and swastikas .
After Quick resigned , the county ’ s new health officer relaxed the mask order amid pressure from the Board of Supervisors .
The Orange County Medical Assn .
said Quick ’ s departure “ creates a dangerous precedent.
” In addition to Quick , health officers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yolo counties have resigned or retired , while county health directors in Orange and San Bernardino have also retired , according to the California Medical Assn .
The state medical association , which lobbies on behalf of doctors , called the trend concerning .
A spokesman for the group said health officials in Alameda , San Diego , Santa Clara and others have also been targeted by protesters aligned with anti-vaccine groups .
“ CMA is deeply disturbed by the news that some local health officers , many of whom have been working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unfair and uninformed attacks and have become political targets , ” the group said in a statement .
Times staff writers Hannah Fry and Susanne Rust contributed to this report .

Demonstrators protest the lockdown in March. These days some protesters are targeting public health officials outside their homes.
People protesting mask orders aimed at stemming the COVID-19 pandemic recently arrived outside the home of Contra Costa County’s public health officer. On the sidewalk, they drew an arrow pointed at his residence.
“Your neighbor thinks he has the power,” a protester wrote in chalk, referring to health officer Chris Farnitano.
“Tyranny is not the answer,” wrote another.
“My body, my choice,” was scribbled in yellow chalk — a battle cry of the abortion rights movement that more recently was adopted by those against another California public health measure — a law strengthening school vaccination requirements.
For months, anti-vaccine activists have joined protests against coronavirus restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of infection. Now this unusual alliance is taking direct aim at the county officials issuing these orders.
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On Sunday and then Tuesday, they livestreamed protests against Farnitano, which came days after Orange County’s chief health officer resigned amid intense pushback against her countywide mask order and threats against her that prompted a security detail.
Online, mask protesters say their calls for similar rallies outside the homes of public health officers are gaining traction. For many, it’s raising alarms. Calling the protests an act of intimidation, Kat DeBurgh of the Health Officers Assn. of California said she’s worried. Seven local health officials have announced they are leaving their posts, some of which were previously planned retirements, DeBurgh said.
“I would not be surprised if there were more,” she said. “They are working 80 hours a week during the pandemic and then you have threatening public comments. I’m worried about the long-term health consequences in California by losing our most experienced public health professionals.”
Santa Clara County Public Health Director Dr. Sara Cody speaks during a news conference in San Jose on Feb. 28. On Wednesday it was revealed she has faced threats. (Anda Chu / Associated Press)
On Wednesday, Santa Clara County revealed that Public Health Officer Sara Cody had been threatened, although it provided few details.
“We are aware of the threats made, and it is currently under investigation,” Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Low said in an email.
Each of California’s counties is required to have an appointed public health officer who is a physician. The county’s elected governing board appoints the health officer, a 75-year-old structure that is intended to insulate the position from political pressure while providing public accountability, DeBurgh said.
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“This isn’t a position that typically gets much attention,” DeBurgh said. “They can issue orders to prevent the spread of a communicable disease, but they usually do this in the background, such as with tuberculosis.”
However, with the worldwide spread of COVID-19, local health officers were thrust into the spotlight as they released measures they said would best keep their counties safe.
Recent personal attacks against health officers include disclosing personal details — whom they date, where they live — along with doctored photos depicting them with Hitler-esque mustaches. For proponents of last year’s law to increase state oversight of vaccine medical exemptions, it all feels too familiar.
“These are the same tactics that were used against vaccines,” said state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a doctor who authored the vaccine law. “It’s absolutely meant as intimidation.”
It’s long been established science that vaccines help prevent measles and other diseases and were instrumental in eliminating plagues such as smallpox. They could be the only way to end the current pandemic, once a vaccine is successfully developed, tested and distributed. But vaccine opponents reject vaccine science, sometimes pointing to discredited studies and conspiracy theories.
Pan has been a regular target of anti-vaccine protesters’ anger, with opponents likening him to Hitler and calling him a tyrant. The escalating rhetoric and tactics against public health officers has him concerned, he said.
Last year, Pan was heckled, cursed at and received death threats. Then, a vocal opponent was arrested after pushing Pan from behind. Weeks later, another protester was charged with two felonies after she allegedly threw a menstrual cup filled with blood onto California state senators.
Pan said it’s hard to watch the ire of those who targeted him shift to public health officials.
“These are public servants who are working hard to keep us safe,” Pan said. “It’s important that we keep them safe as well. They should not be subjected to threats and intimidation. We need to ensure their judgement is free of fear.”
Efforts to reach Farnitano and half a dozen other public health officers on Tuesday were unsuccessful, with some declining to comment and others not responding. Pan said it’s likely that the health officers are concerned they could face additional threats by talking about the effect of personal attacks on them or their families.
“This is becoming more and more of an issue,” said Dr. William Tseng, a physician in San Diego and past president of the San Diego County Medical Society. “I know this is a difficult time for everyone, but we should separate the science from the panic and the fear, and trust in science.”
Asked about their tactics, some activists disputed Tuesday that they are intimidating public health officials.
“Mommies with children and sidewalk chalk are intimidating?” said Heidi Muñoz Gleisner and other protesters in an email. In a video on Facebook, Gleisner added they have been forced to protest outside officials’ homes because they’ve been turned away from public meetings due to coronavirus precautions and that their calls and emails are not being returned.
Heidi Munoz Gleisner, left, and Tara Thornton, right, are detained by CHP officers during a rally against stay-at-orders at the state Capitol on May 1. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)
Protests over mask orders and reopening strategies have popped up across the country, including on Tuesday in Orange County, where county health officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned last week. At the protest Tuesday, people opposed to wearing masks screamed at those who wanted the county to reinstate its face-covering order. The anti-mask protesters pushed pro-mask people and mocked them for sanitizing their hands, said Luis Aleman of the Orange County Labor Federation, which organized the pro-mask rally.
Orange County has become a hot spot for the pushback against mask orders. Quick issued an order last month requiring everyone in the county to wear masks in public and at work when they are unable to stay six feet apart. Elected officials on the Board of Supervisors criticized the order, while some activists erroneously claimed that wearing masks is more dangerous than not wearing them. During public meetings, opponents of the order targeted their anger at Quick.
Leigh Dundas, a lawyer who fought against last year’s vaccine bill, rattled off personal information about Quick, including the name of her boyfriend and urged people to go to her home to protest. Speakers at one meeting showed off posters of Quick with a Hitler mustache and swastikas.
After Quick resigned, the county’s new health officer relaxed the mask order amid pressure from the Board of Supervisors.
The Orange County Medical Assn. said Quick’s departure “creates a dangerous precedent.” In addition to Quick, health officers in Butte, Nevada, San Benito and Yolo counties have resigned or retired, while county health directors in Orange and San Bernardino have also retired, according to the California Medical Assn.
The state medical association, which lobbies on behalf of doctors, called the trend concerning. A spokesman for the group said health officials in Alameda, San Diego, Santa Clara and others have also been targeted by protesters aligned with anti-vaccine groups.
“CMA is deeply disturbed by the news that some local health officers, many of whom have been working tirelessly for months, have been subject to unfair and uninformed attacks and have become political targets,” the group said in a statement.
Times staff writers Hannah Fry and Susanne Rust contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-19--Family says Malcolm Harsch, Black man found hanging from tree, died by apparent suicide

Malcolm Harsch , the Black man found hanging from a tree near a library in Victorville , died from an apparent suicide , according to family .
In a statement released Friday , the family said that Harsch took his own life .
Najee Ali , a community activist and spokesman for Harsch ’ s family , said in the statement that police showed the family “ video evidence.
” As the investigation into the May 31 death of Harsch continued , detectives obtained surveillance video from a vacant building near where his body was discovered .
The video confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Detectives also met with Harsch ’ s family members .
The evidence from the case , including the surveillance video , was shown to the relatives per their request .
Although there remains no sign of foul play , the forensic pathologist is waiting for toxicology results before assigning the cause and manner of death .
“ The family wants to sincerely thank everyone for their support and prayers , ” Ali wrote .
Malcolm Harsch ’ s sister , Harmonie , said on her Facebook account that her brother was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caring .
Respectable .
Talented .
Loved his music .
He was a son , a brother , a dad , a grandfather , a friend and he love every single person like his family , ” she said .
Harsch , who was homeless , was found hanging from a tree on the morning of May 31 near the city ’ s library .
The Victorville Fire Department responded around 7 a.m. , officials said .
On Monday , the San Bernardino County Sheriff ’ s Department more details , saying deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harsch .
“ The caller said she and [ her ] boyfriend , later identified as Malcolm Harsch , had been together during the morning , but she had since returned to her tent for a short period of time .
She was alerted by others in the encampment that Mr. Harsch was found hanging from a tree and cut down .
People in the encampment were performing CPR , attempting to revive Mr. Harsch , ” the statement said .
“ Upon arrival , deputies immediately took over and continued CPR .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ short time later , and despite additional lifesaving efforts , pronounced Mr. Harsch deceased , ” officials added .
An autopsy was conducted , and officials said they saw no signs of foul play .
But Harsch ’ s family and others were skeptical and demanded an independent investigation .
In a statement sent to the Victor Valley News , Harsch ’ s family members in Ohio said they found it hard to accept that his death was a suicide .
They said Harsch had recent conversations with his children about seeing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , he didn ’ t seem depressed .
“ The explanation of suicide does not seem plausible , ” the family wrote .
“ There are many ways to die , but considering the current racial tension , a Black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesn ’ t sit well with us right now .
“ We want justice , not comfortable excuses , ” they wrote .
After continued questions and protests over the recent death of Robert Fuller , a 24-year-old Black man found hanging from a tree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it would examine both cases .
The Harsch family said they plan to fly his body back home to Ohio .

Malcolm Harsch, the Black man found hanging from a tree near a library in Victorville, died from an apparent suicide, according to family.
In a statement released Friday, the family said Harsch took his own life.
Najee Ali, a community activist and spokesman for Harsch’s family, said in the statement that police showed the family “video evidence.”
As the investigation into the May 31 death of Harsch continued, detectives obtained surveillance video from a vacant building near where his body was discovered. The video confirmed the absence of foul play, authorities said.
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Detectives also met with Harsch’s family members. The evidence from the case, including the surveillance video, was shown to the relatives per their request. Although there remains no sign of foul play, the forensic pathologist is waiting for toxicology results before assigning the cause and manner of death.
“The family wants to sincerely thank everyone for their support and prayers,” Ali wrote.
Malcolm Harsch’s sister, Harmonie, said on her Facebook account that her brother was a loving person.
“He was caring. Respectable. Talented. Loved his music. He was a son, a brother, a dad, a grandfather, a friend and he love every single person like his family,” she said.
Harsch, who was homeless, was found hanging from a tree on the morning of May 31 near the city’s library.
The Victorville Fire Department responded around 7 a.m., officials said.
On Monday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department offered more details, saying deputies were called to a homeless encampment regarding Harsch.
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“The caller said she and [her] boyfriend, later identified as Malcolm Harsch, had been together during the morning, but she had since returned to her tent for a short period of time. She was alerted by others in the encampment that Mr. Harsch was found hanging from a tree and cut down. People in the encampment were performing CPR, attempting to revive Mr. Harsch,” the statement said.
“Upon arrival, deputies immediately took over and continued CPR. Emergency medical personnel arrived on scene a short time later, and despite additional lifesaving efforts, pronounced Mr. Harsch deceased,” officials added.
An autopsy was conducted, and officials said they saw no signs of foul play. But Harsch’s family and others were skeptical and demanded an independent investigation.
In a statement sent to the Victor Valley News, Harsch’s family members in Ohio said they found it hard to accept that his death was a suicide. They said Harsch had recent conversations with his children about seeing them soon and that to those who knew him, he didn’t seem depressed.
“The explanation of suicide does not seem plausible,” the family wrote. “There are many ways to die, but considering the current racial tension, a Black man hanging himself from a tree definitely doesn’t sit well with us right now.
“We want justice, not comfortable excuses,” they wrote.
After continued questions and protests over the recent death of Robert Fuller, a 24-year-old Black man found hanging from a tree near Palmdale City Hall, the FBI said it would examine both cases.
The Harsch family said they plan to fly his body back home to Ohio.


latimes--2020-06-19--Thirteen test positive for COVID-19 at L.A. County juvenile camp

Thirteen people have tested positive for the coronavirus at an L.A. County juvenile camp this week , marking the first time youths already in custody have contracted the illness , officials said .
Seven juveniles and six Probation Department employees assigned to the Dorothy Kirby Center in Commerce have tested positive since June 15 , officials announced in a weekly report on the virus ’ spread in juvenile facilities .
Six of the youths were asymptomatic , and one became mildly ill , officials said .
The status of the employees who tested positive was not immediately clear , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Probation Department .
The employee who first tested positive has not been at work since June 11 , Wolfson said .
Until this week , all of the juveniles who had tested positive for COVID-19 found out they were sick during the Probation Department ’ s intake process , meaning they contracted the disease before they were in custody .
The Dorothy Kirby Center houses youths struggling with mental illness or addiction whose cases have already been adjudicated .
There are roughly 55 youths at the facility , living in “ cottage '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juveniles were living in the cottage where the sickened staffer was assigned , said Wolfson , who added that officials are testing the rest of the facility ’ s population .
Since the pandemic began , 23 juvenile detainees and 39 probation employees have tested positive for the coronavirus , records show .
None have died or been hospitalized , and 15 of the probation employees have since returned to work .
Some advocates and attorneys have expressed frustration that at-risk youths were not being released from custody early at a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended .
Overall , records show the Probation Department has lowered the population of its juvenile halls and camps from 840 in early March to 520 as of June 12 .

Thirteen people have tested positive for the coronavirus at an L.A. County juvenile camp this week, marking the first time youths already in custody have contracted the illness, officials said.
Seven juveniles and six Probation Department employees assigned to the Dorothy Kirby Center in Commerce have tested positive since June 15, officials announced in a weekly report on the virus’ spread in juvenile facilities.
Six of the youths were asymptomatic, and one became mildly ill, officials said. The status of the employees who tested positive was not immediately clear, said Adam Wolfson, a spokesman for the Probation Department. The employee who first tested positive has not been at work since June 11, Wolfson said.
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Until this week, all of the juveniles who had tested positive for COVID-19 found out they were sick during the Probation Department’s intake process, meaning they contracted the disease before they were in custody.
The Dorothy Kirby Center houses youths struggling with mental illness or addiction whose cases have already been adjudicated. There are roughly 55 youths at the facility, living in “cottage”-style housing, Wolfson said.
Eight juveniles were living in the cottage where the sickened staffer was assigned, said Wolfson, who added that officials are testing the rest of the facility’s population.
Since the pandemic began, 23 juvenile detainees and 39 probation employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, records show. None have died or been hospitalized, and 15 of the probation employees have since returned to work.
Some advocates and attorneys have expressed frustration that at-risk youths were not being released from custody early at a time when most rehabilitative and education services have been suspended. Overall, records show the Probation Department has lowered the population of its juvenile halls and camps from 840 in early March to 520 as of June 12.


latimes--2020-06-19--Newsom hopes a 'bit of persuasion' will convince Californians to follow mask order

Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Friday urged Californians to heed his new order requiring most residents to wear face coverings in public to help stem the spread of the coronavirus and said violators could face enforcement action .
The Democratic governor said both state and local regulatory agencies could be called upon to “ exercise a little bit of persuasion.
” On the state level , that could include the Division of Occupational Safety and Health , which enforces workplace safety requirements , and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control , which regulates the sale of alcohol in bars and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to fine people .
We ’ re looking to educate people , encourage people , ” Newsom said .
“ And to the extent that people flaunt and abuse , which may be the exception , then we have many tools in the tool kit.
” Newsom ’ s comments came a day after he issued the mask order , which has a few exemptions , including children up to age 2 and people with a medical , mental health or developmental disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid having to shut down the state again with a broad stay-at-home order .
Just two days ago , California saw a single-day high in COVID-19 cases .
“ Based upon the number of people that were not practicing physical distancing , social distancing , the number of crowds we started to see form over the last few weeks , this mandate was in order , ” Newsom said .
“ I hope that people take it very seriously , because we ’ re still in the first wave.
” Under state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be charged with a misdemeanor and potentially face a fine , according to the Newsom administration .
The likelihood of that happening , however , appears remote .
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said Thursday he believed it ’ s not the responsibility of law enforcement to ensure compliance with the state ’ s mask order .
Instead , he said , “ it is each person ’ s responsibility to wear a face covering and follow other recommended safeguards in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.
” Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after weeks of verbal attacks , including a death threat , over her mandatory mask rules .
Her replacement rescinded the rules amid intense pressure from the Board of Supervisors .
Under Newsom ’ s order , residents in that county must once again wear face coverings .
Newsom discussed the new mandate Friday after he toured Queen Sheba Ethiopian Cuisine in Sacramento .
The restaurant is participating in the Great Plates Delivered program , which provides meals for seniors who can not shop and cook for themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1.5 million meals in 36 jurisdictions .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency renewed the program this week for another month , Newsom said .

Gov. Gavin Newsom carries meals made at Queen Sheba Ethiopian Cuisine to a delivery vehicle Friday in Sacramento. The restaurant is participating in the Great Plates Delivered program, which provides meals to seniors at risk for COVID-19.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday urged Californians to heed his new order requiring most residents to wear face coverings in public to help stem the spread of the coronavirus and said violators could face enforcement action.
The Democratic governor said both state and local regulatory agencies could be called upon to “exercise a little bit of persuasion.” On the state level, that could include the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which enforces workplace safety requirements, and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which regulates the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants.
“We’re not looking to fine people. We’re looking to educate people, encourage people,” Newsom said. “And to the extent that people flaunt and abuse, which may be the exception, then we have many tools in the tool kit.”
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Coronavirus: What you need to know Do I have to wear a mask? Yes.
All Californians must wear face coverings in public or high-risk settings. What is open in California right now? The state is moving into Stage 3 of reopening, with counties allowed to reopen higher-risk businesses and venues such as bars, gyms and movie theaters. Here is the latest information. Is it safe to shop, eat out or see my friends and family? Some experts say it is safer to venture out into the world today than it was when most stay-at-home orders first went into effect, but you should know the risks. Why is California reopening? Two key indicators — the positivity rate and average number of daily hospitalizations — have continued to remain relatively steady, while average daily deaths have declined, officials said.
Newsom’s comments came a day after he issued the mask order, which has a few exemptions, including children up to age 2 and people with a medical, mental health or developmental disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering.
The governor said he took the action to avoid having to shut down the state again with a broad stay-at-home order. Just two days ago, California saw a single-day high in COVID-19 cases.
“Based upon the number of people that were not practicing physical distancing, social distancing, the number of crowds we started to see form over the last few weeks, this mandate was in order,” Newsom said. “I hope that people take it very seriously, because we’re still in the first wave.”
Under state law, residents who violate the order could be charged with a misdemeanor and potentially face a fine, according to the Newsom administration.
The likelihood of that happening, however, appears remote.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said Thursday he believed it’s not the responsibility of law enforcement to ensure compliance with the state’s mask order. Instead, he said, “it is each person’s responsibility to wear a face covering and follow other recommended safeguards in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Last week, the Orange County public health officer resigned after weeks of verbal attacks, including a death threat, over her mandatory mask rules. Her replacement rescinded the rules amid intense pressure from the Board of Supervisors. Under Newsom’s order, residents in that county must once again wear face coverings.
Newsom discussed the new mandate Friday after he toured Queen Sheba Ethiopian Cuisine in Sacramento. The restaurant is participating in the Great Plates Delivered program, which provides meals for seniors who cannot shop and cook for themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor said the program has provided more than 1.5 million meals in 36 jurisdictions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency renewed the program this week for another month, Newsom said.


latimes--2020-06-19--Family demands answers after sheriff's deputy kills armed security guard in Gardena

Questions mounted Friday about the fatal shooting by a Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputy of an armed security guard near the auto body shop where he worked in Gardena .
The deputy fired on Andres Guardado about 6 p.m. Thursday in the 400 block of West Redondo Beach Boulevard after Guardado produced a gun and ran , Lt. Charles Calderaro said .
At some point , two pursuing deputies confronted Guardado and one opened fire , he said .
But family members and some community activists said Friday that the shooting was unjustified and are demanding answers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a licensed security guard , nor was he wearing a uniform or any marked clothing .
He said the handgun found at the scene was not registered .
Investigators identified some surrounding buildings with cameras and are trying to determine whether the incident was captured on video , Calderaro said .
They are writing search warrants to get footage from the scene .
Two deputies were involved in the incident , one of whom opened fire , Calderaro said .
He didn ’ t know how many times Guardado was shot or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what prompted the confrontation .
Georgena Laird , 37 , said she was across the street outside her motor home when the shooting occurred .
She heard the deputies ’ car pull up across the street when she turned and saw two sheriff ’ s deputies “ come running up into the driveway — at that point I didn ’ t see [ Guardado ] anymore at the gate.
” “ I turned around and came rushing over ” and saw two deputies in the driveway “ pointing their weapons like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laird said , making a V shape with her hands .
She didn ’ t see the deputy fire his gun but heard a rapid succession of shots .
“ When I heard the shots and I came over to see who got hit , he was already down on the ground , ” she said .
“ This kid was such a sweetheart.
” She said that her husband had recently been hospitalized for cellulitis and that Guardado would “ come over to my RV to check in on me and see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , ‘ It ’ s not much but here ’ s my last dollar.
’ ” Laird said he would sometimes drop off juice or soda and would ask if there was anything else he could do for her .
“ He would just come over and talk to me and tell me that things were going to be all right , ” she said .
“ This was senseless and not right .
I ’ m tired of seeing this go on.
” On Friday , Jennifer Guardado fought back tears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auto shop near where her brother was shot to death .
In one hand , Guardado , 22 , held a white rose and a black baseball cap .
In the other was a sign with an image of her brother .
“ Even if this is the last day I breathe , I ’ m not holding this back , because I feel it in my soul that my brother was murdered , ” she said .
“ This is not right .
I need justice .
He was a good man… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and become a good professional man in life , but they took that away from my family .
My parents are completely destroyed… .
I didn ’ t even get to say goodbye to him .
He was my joy.
” Najee Ali , activist and director of Project Islamic Hope , addressed the crowd to say , “ Latino lives matter also , ” and called the shooting “ an execution.
” Cliff Smith , of the Coalition for Community Control Over the Police , told reporters “ there ’ s an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country of racist police attacks on primarily brown and Black and working-class people.
” He demanded the “ immediate arrest ” of the deputy who shot Andres Guardado and that the video surveillance be released .
Earlier Friday , a makeshift memorial was set up near the spot where Guardado was killed .
Guardado ’ s uncle Noe Abarca , 47 , knelt on the sidewalk to light Virgen de Guadalupe candles lined up in front of bouquets of flowers and a plush SpongeBob still in its plastic bag .
Above were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 18 yr old , murdered by police , ” “ Justice for Andres , ” and “ RIP Andres .
My back was turned when they shot me.
” “ We want justice .
It ’ s the first thing we want , ” Abarca said in Spanish .
“ We want to know why they killed him… .
We need the community ’ s support.
” Abarca , who works nearby , said that when he arrived at the scene Friday morning , sheriff ’ s deputies had already taken security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor the shop owner had seen any of the footage .
He said Guardado was a good and friendly young man who was working two jobs as a security guard and attending Los Angeles Trade-Technical College to become a mechanic or electrician .
He was also considering joining the Army and had only recently started working at Street Dynamic Autobody .
“ He had no history of trouble , ” Abarca said .
“ He ’ s never been in detention ” and had recently bought a brand-new car .
“ We were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that Guardado enjoyed working out in his free time and “ liked to show off his muscles.
” He lived in Koreatown with his two siblings and parents .
“ His father and mom are destroyed , ” Abarca said .
“ There are no words to tell them right now.
” The owner of Street Dynamic Autobody said he was shocked by the killing , calling Guardado a good employee with a clean record .
“ We had security out front because we had certain issues with people tagging and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police come up and they pull their guns on him , and he ran because he was scared and they shot and killed him , ” Andrew Heney told KCAL-TV Channel 9 .
When Stanley Leiva , 18 , heard on social media that his friend had been shot to death , he made sure to pay his respects at the memorial outside the Gardena body shop .
He said he first met Guardado in middle school and remembers skating with him .
“ He was an ambitious , humble kid who looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who last spoke to Guardado more than a year ago .
But he followed Guardado on social media , where his friend would post about his family , his car and girls .
“ Typical teenage things.
” “ Growing up with people , you expect for them to live forever , ” Leiva said .
“ It ’ s something you don ’ t want to process , but it happened.
” He hopes people take an important lesson from this tragedy : “ Just look out for your family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the last time you ’ re going to see them .
”

Jennifer Guardado touches a picture of her brother, Andres Guardado, as she grieves Friday afternoon at a makeshift memorial near the spot where he was fatally shot by an L.A. County sheriff’s deputy.
Questions mounted Friday about the fatal shooting by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy of an armed security guard near the auto body shop where he worked in Gardena.
The deputy fired on Andres Guardado about 6 p.m. Thursday in the 400 block of West Redondo Beach Boulevard after Guardado produced a gun and ran, Lt. Charles Calderaro said. At some point, two pursuing deputies confronted Guardado and one opened fire, he said.
But family members and some community activists said Friday that the shooting was unjustified and are demanding answers.
Calderaro said Guardado, 18, was not a licensed security guard, nor was he wearing a uniform or any marked clothing. He said the handgun found at the scene was not registered.
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Investigators identified some surrounding buildings with cameras and are trying to determine whether the incident was captured on video, Calderaro said. They are writing search warrants to get footage from the scene.
Two deputies were involved in the incident, one of whom opened fire, Calderaro said. He didn’t know how many times Guardado was shot or where. No other details were available about what prompted the confrontation.
Andres Guardado, 18, was killed when an L.A. County sheriff’s deputy opened fire after a chase near the Gardena auto body shop where he worked. (Guardado family)
Georgena Laird, 37, said she was across the street outside her motor home when the shooting occurred. She heard the deputies’ car pull up across the street when she turned and saw two sheriff’s deputies “come running up into the driveway — at that point I didn’t see [Guardado] anymore at the gate.”
“I turned around and came rushing over” and saw two deputies in the driveway “pointing their weapons like this in an angle” at Guardado, Laird said, making a V shape with her hands.
She didn’t see the deputy fire his gun but heard a rapid succession of shots.
“When I heard the shots and I came over to see who got hit, he was already down on the ground,” she said. “This kid was such a sweetheart.”
She said that her husband had recently been hospitalized for cellulitis and that Guardado would “come over to my RV to check in on me and see if I was OK. He’d say, ‘It’s not much but here’s my last dollar.’”
Laird said he would sometimes drop off juice or soda and would ask if there was anything else he could do for her.
“He would just come over and talk to me and tell me that things were going to be all right,” she said. “This was senseless and not right. I’m tired of seeing this go on.”
On Friday, Jennifer Guardado fought back tears during an afternoon news conference outside the auto shop near where her brother was shot to death. In one hand, Guardado, 22, held a white rose and a black baseball cap. In the other was a sign with an image of her brother.
“Even if this is the last day I breathe, I’m not holding this back, because I feel it in my soul that my brother was murdered,” she said. “This is not right. I need justice. He was a good man…. He was going to make it and become a good professional man in life, but they took that away from my family. My parents are completely destroyed…. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him. He was my joy.”
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Najee Ali, activist and director of Project Islamic Hope, addressed the crowd to say, “Latino lives matter also,” and called the shooting “an execution.”
Cliff Smith of the Coalition for Community Control Over the Police told reporters that “there’s an epidemic in Los Angeles County and across this country of racist police attacks on primarily brown and Black and working-class people.”
He demanded the “immediate arrest” of the deputy who shot Andres Guardado and that the video surveillance be released.
Earlier Friday, a makeshift memorial was set up near the spot where Guardado was killed.
Guardado’s uncle Noe Abarca, 47, knelt on the sidewalk to light Virgen de Guadalupe candles lined up in front of bouquets of flowers and a plush SpongeBob still in its plastic bag. Above were signs that said: “Andres Guardado, 18 yr old, murdered by police,” “Justice for Andres,” and “RIP Andres. My back was turned when they shot me.”
“We want justice. It’s the first thing we want,” Abarca said in Spanish. “We want to know why they killed him…. We need the community’s support.”
Abarca, who works nearby, said that when he arrived at the scene Friday morning, sheriff’s deputies had already taken security cameras from the area. Neither he nor the shop owner had seen any of the footage.
He said Guardado was a good and friendly young man who was working two jobs as a security guard and attending Los Angeles Trade-Technical College to become a mechanic or electrician. He was also considering joining the Army and had only recently started working at Street Dynamic Autobody.
Family and friends leave candles and flowers outside the auto body shop in Gardena near where 18-year-old Andres Guardado was shot and killed by an L.A. County sheriff’s deputies. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
“He had no history of trouble,” Abarca said. “He’s never been in detention” and had recently bought a brand-new car.
“We were proud of him,” Abarca said, adding that Guardado enjoyed working out in his free time and “liked to show off his muscles.”
He lived in Koreatown with his two siblings and parents. “His father and mom are destroyed,” Abarca said. “There are no words to tell them right now.”
The owner of a neighboring auto body shop said he was shocked by the killing. He said Guardado worked as security guard for his shop and was a good employee with a clean record.
“We had security out front because we had certain issues with people tagging and stuff like that, and then the police come up and they pull their guns on him, and he ran because he was scared and they shot and killed him,” Andrew Heney told KCAL-TV Channel 9.
When Stanley Leiva, 18, heard on social media that his friend had been shot to death, he made sure to pay his respects at the memorial outside the Gardena body shop.
He said he first met Guardado in middle school and remembers skating with him.
“He was an ambitious, humble kid who looked out for everybody,” said Leiva, who last spoke to Guardado more than a year ago. But he followed Guardado on social media, where his friend would post about his family, his car and girls. “Typical teenage things.”
“Growing up with people, you expect for them to live forever,” Leiva said. “It’s something you don’t want to process, but it happened.”
He hopes people take an important lesson from this tragedy: “Just look out for your family, man, because you never know when is the last time you’re going to see them.”
City News Service contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-19--Thousands mark Juneteenth with call for equality during rally at Port of Oakland

Thousands of people rallied at the Port of Oakland before marching into the city Friday to commemorate Juneteenth and call for racial justice .
The sizable crowd included numerous dockworkers from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union , which organized a work stoppage in Oakland and 28 other West Coast ports to observe the day .
Juneteenth — which marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas found out about their freedom 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued — “ has long been recognized by the African American community , ” ILWU International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But , for many others , it was unknown until now — as our nation , in the wake of George Floyd ’ s murder , refocuses on ways to address ongoing , systemic racial injustice , ” Adams said .
“ Thousands of dockworkers will stop work for the first shift on June 19 , 2020 , to show their commitment to the cause of racial equality and social justice.
” Floyd , a 46-year-old Black man , died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes .
His death has sparked protests against police brutality and systemic racism nationwide and around the world .
“ There ’ s no question that we stand behind the Black Lives Matter movement , ” Port of Oakland Board President Ces Butner said in a statement .
“ We want this country to live up to what it ’ s supposed to be.
” After rallying at the port Friday , demonstrators marched into downtown Oakland .
Similar events are scheduled throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to mark Juneteenth .

Thousands of people rallied at the Port of Oakland before marching into the city Friday to commemorate Juneteenth and call for racial justice.
The sizable crowd included numerous dockworkers from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which organized a work stoppage in Oakland and 28 other West Coast ports to observe the day.
Juneteenth — which marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas found out about their freedom 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued — “has long been recognized by the African American community,” ILWU International President Willie Adams said in a statement.
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“But, for many others, it was unknown until now — as our nation, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, refocuses on ways to address ongoing, systemic racial injustice,” Adams said. “Thousands of dockworkers will stop work for the first shift on June 19, 2020, to show their commitment to the cause of racial equality and social justice.”
Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck down with his knee for nearly eight minutes. His death has sparked protests against police brutality and systemic racism nationwide and around the world.
“There’s no question that we stand behind the Black Lives Matter movement,” Port of Oakland Board President Ces Butner said in a statement. “We want this country to live up to what it’s supposed to be.”
After rallying at the port Friday, demonstrators marched into downtown Oakland.
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Similar events are scheduled throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to mark Juneteenth.


latimes--2020-06-19--Law barring disclosure of actors' ages violates 1st Amendment, appeals court rules

A federal appeals court on Friday struck down a California law that barred internet sites from disclosing the ages of screen actors .
The 2017 law , which the Screen Actors Guild had sought as a means to reduce age discrimination , violates the 1st Amendment , a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided unanimously .
The law was challenged by the Internet Movie Database — IMDb.com — a free website that provides information about movies , television shows and video games and offers encyclopedic profiles of actors .
In addition to its publicly available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the entertainment industry , known as IMDbPro , which the court described as “ Hollywood ’ s version of LinkedIn.
” Actors , writers , set designers , makeup artists and others create resumes by uploading head shots , prior jobs and biographical information to the site .
Casting directors , agents and producers peruse the site for hiring .
The California law said that if a subscriber requested to have his or her age removed , the database must also remove the information from its free , publicly available site .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling by a district judge , who blocked the law on free speech grounds .
“ We agree with the district court that reducing incidents of age discrimination is a compelling government interest , ” Judge Bridget S. Bade , a Trump appointee , wrote for the panel .
But she said the law was neither the least restrictive means to reach that goal nor was it narrowly written .
“ An unconstitutional statute that could achieve positive societal results is nonetheless unconstitutional , ” she said .
The Legislature , in passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2015 , article from the Guardian in which an Academy Award-nominated actress said she had been rejected for a role because of her age .
The article was based on an interview Maggie Gyllenhaal gave to the Wrap .
She said a Hollywood producer had told her she was too old to play the love interest of a 55-year-old man .
She was 37 at the time .
“ There are things that are really disappointing about being an actress in Hollywood that surprise me all the time , ” she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m 37 , and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55 .
It was astonishing to me .
It made me feel bad , and then it made feel angry , and then it made me laugh.
” John C. Hueston , who represented IMDb in the case , praised the decision .
“ The 9th Circuit ’ s opinion in this important 1st Amendment case establishes that the state can not censor speech , despite how the state labels that speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open marketplace of ideas , ” Hueston said .
Even though the intent of the law may be good , he added , “ the ends do not justify any means whatsoever.
” The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists , which represents about 160,000 actors , announcers , broadcast journalists and others , expressed dismay over the ruling .
“ We ’ re very disappointed by the decision , but it changes nothing about SAG-AFTRA ’ s commitment to change IMDb ’ s wrongful and abusive conduct , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neither I nor our members will stop speaking out until this outrageous violation of privacy used to facilitate discriminatory hiring ends.
” SAG-AFTRA Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said the court ’ s conclusion that the law would not have a major impact on age discrimination was “ simply ill-informed.
” The union has not yet decided whether to appeal , he said .

A federal appeals court on Friday struck down a California law that barred IMDb and other internet sites from disclosing the ages of screen actors.
A federal appeals court on Friday struck down a California law that barred internet sites from disclosing the ages of screen actors.
The 2017 law, which the Screen Actors Guild had sought as a means to reduce age discrimination, violates the 1st Amendment, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided unanimously.
The law was challenged by the Internet Movie Database — IMDb.com — a free website that provides information about movies, television shows and video games and offers encyclopedic profiles of actors.
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In addition to its publicly available site, IMDb has a subscription-based service for the entertainment industry, known as IMDbPro, which the court described as “Hollywood’s version of LinkedIn.” Actors, writers, set designers, makeup artists and others create resumes by uploading head shots, prior jobs and biographical information to the site. Casting directors, agents and producers peruse the site for hiring.
The California law said that if a subscriber requested to have his or her age removed, the database must also remove the information from its free, publicly available site.
Friday’s decision upheld a 2018 ruling by a district judge, who blocked the law on free speech grounds.
“We agree with the district court that reducing incidents of age discrimination is a compelling government interest,” Judge Bridget S. Bade, a Trump appointee, wrote for the panel. But she said the law was neither the least restrictive means to reach that goal nor was it narrowly written.
“An unconstitutional statute that could achieve positive societal results is nonetheless unconstitutional,” she said.
The Legislature, in passing the law, cited a May 21, 2015, article from the Guardian in which an Academy Award-nominated actress said she had been rejected for a role because of her age.
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The article was based on an interview Maggie Gyllenhaal gave to the Wrap. She said a Hollywood producer had told her she was too old to play the love interest of a 55-year-old man. She was 37 at the time.
“There are things that are really disappointing about being an actress in Hollywood that surprise me all the time,” she was quoted as saying. “I’m 37, and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55. It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh.”
John C. Hueston, who represented IMDb in the case, praised the decision.
“The 9th Circuit’s opinion in this important 1st Amendment case establishes that the state cannot censor speech, despite how the state labels that speech, and reinforces the centrality of an open marketplace of ideas,” Hueston said.
Even though the intent of the law may be good, he added, “the ends do not justify any means whatsoever.”
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which represents about 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists and others, expressed dismay over the ruling.
“We’re very disappointed by the decision, but it changes nothing about SAG-AFTRA’s commitment to change IMDb’s wrongful and abusive conduct,” SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said. “Neither I nor our members will stop speaking out until this outrageous violation of privacy used to facilitate discriminatory hiring ends.”
SAG-AFTRA Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said the court’s conclusion that the law would not have a major impact on age discrimination was “simply ill-informed.” The union has not yet decided whether to appeal, he said.


latimes--2020-06-19--Inland Empire counties report highest ever one-day jump in coronavirus cases

Riverside County and San Bernardino County this week reported their highest ever one-day increase in coronavirus cases .
On Thursday , Riverside added 516 cases to their total count , and the San Bernardino count jumped by 440 cases .
Both Inland Empire counties beat out records set earlier in the week .
Riverside County ’ s previous one-day record was set on Tuesday with 409 cases , while San Bernardino ’ s previous heigh was 281 , reported on the same day .
“ Mother ’ s Day , Memorial Day , protests — there ’ s no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can point to ” for the uptick in cases , said Felisa Cardona , a spokesperson from San Bernardino .
Riverside County has now recorded a total of 12,467 coronavirus cases and 408 related deaths , the county reported .
The hardest-hit areas include the city of Riverside , with a total of 1,854 cases , followed by Moreno Valley with 1,060 , Indio with 894 and Coachella with 791 .
The highest per-resident concentration of cases lies near La Quinta , where 3.6 % of Thermal residents have tested positive for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that area continue to increase faster than in any other Riverside County region .
Riverside County has administered over 170,000 total tests , of which about 7.9 % have yielded positive results for the coronavirus , officials said .
As of Thursday , 285 people remained hospitalized with the coronavirus in the county , a 10.9 % increase from the previous day , officials said .
There were 75 COVID-confirmed patients being treated in intensive care units .
Though the number of patients treated in the hospital has grown , fewer patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials .
About 80 patients were treated in intensive care during late April and early May .
In San Bernardino County , there were a total of 8,454 coronavirus cases and 230 related deaths , officials said .
The city of San Bernardino reported the largest number of cases , with 1,348 .
Other hard-hit regions include Chino with 1,139 cases , Fontana with 901 and Ontario with 797 .
Death counts are highest in Redlands , 37 , and Ontario , 30 .
Of the almost 100,000 coronavirus tests administered , 8.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
More tests were given Thursday than ever before , which Cardona says could be a reason for the increased case count .
In San Bernardino County , there were 229 confirmed coronavirus patients and 64 suspected coronavirus patients who were hospitalized , officials said .
This is the highest-ever number of confirmed patients in San Bernardino County hospitals .
About 90 coronavirus patients are being treated in ICU beds .

Riverside County residents watch video monitors of an emergency Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting last month.
Riverside County and San Bernardino County this week reported their highest ever one-day increase in coronavirus cases. On Thursday, Riverside added 516 cases to their total count, and the San Bernardino count jumped by 440 cases.
Both Inland Empire counties beat out records set earlier in the week. Riverside County’s previous one-day record was set on Tuesday with 409 cases, while San Bernardino’s previous heigh was 281, reported on the same day.
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“Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, protests — there’s no one event or no one occasion that we can point to” for the uptick in cases, said Felisa Cardona, a spokesperson from San Bernardino.
Riverside County has now recorded a total of 12,467 coronavirus cases and 408 related deaths, the county reported. The hardest-hit areas include the city of Riverside, with a total of 1,854 cases, followed by Moreno Valley with 1,060, Indio with 894 and Coachella with 791.
The highest per-resident concentration of cases lies near La Quinta, where 3.6% of Thermal residents have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. Cases and deaths in that area continue to increase faster than in any other Riverside County region.
Riverside County has administered over 170,000 total tests, of which about 7.9% have yielded positive results for the coronavirus, officials said.
As of Thursday, 285 people remained hospitalized with the coronavirus in the county, a 10.9% increase from the previous day, officials said. There were 75 COVID-confirmed patients being treated in intensive care units.
Though the number of patients treated in the hospital has grown, fewer patients are being treated in the ICU, officials. About 80 patients were treated in intensive care during late April and early May.
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In San Bernardino County, there were a total of 8,454 coronavirus cases and 230 related deaths, officials said. The city of San Bernardino reported the largest number of cases, with 1,348. Other hard-hit regions include Chino with 1,139 cases, Fontana with 901 and Ontario with 797. Death counts are highest in Redlands, 37, and Ontario, 30.
Of the almost 100,000 coronavirus tests administered, 8.5% have turned out positive, officials said. More tests were given Thursday than ever before, which Cardona says could be a reason for the increased case count.
In San Bernardino County, there were 229 confirmed coronavirus patients and 64 suspected coronavirus patients who were hospitalized, officials said. This is the highest-ever number of confirmed patients in San Bernardino County hospitals. About 90 coronavirus patients are being treated in ICU beds.


latimes--2020-06-19--Across the U.S., families are having tough talks about racism

One night in late May , Wendy Bohon and her mom were piecing a puzzle together at the dining room table when they heard from the living room a news anchor ’ s somber voice , prepping his audience for what they were about to see .
Bohon knew the general details of George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis , the way his neck was pinned to the concrete by a white police officer for nearly nine minutes .
But she hadn ’ t yet watched the video that would soon ignite a national uprising .
And she didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fifth-generation Virginian , might say about it .
The mother and daughter got up from the table , stood behind Bohon ’ s dad in his rocking chair , and watched .
Her mom ’ s reaction was immediate and visceral .
`` They murdered that man , ” she said , tears filling her eyes .
“ For me , that was like , OK , ” said Bohon , a 44-year-old geologist who lives in Washington .
“ I see that we ’ re on the same page .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing.
” That moment led to weeks of conversation between Bohon and her conservative-leaning family members about how racism still plagues innumerable institutions in the United States , 400 years after Africans were first brought to its shores .
As thousands have taken to the streets to demand accountability for police violence and rampant racial injustice , many non-Black Americans such as Bohon are for the first time investigating the ways in which they directly contribute to racism and how they might actively fight against it .
They are realizing that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So now , they are breaking it .
And they ’ re starting with family .
“ Absent these kinds of conversations , the status quo wins , ” said Patricia Devine , psychology professor and director of the Prejudice Lab at University of Wisconsin-Madison .
“ And the status quo is being revealed to us to be unacceptable in terms of costing people their lives only because of the color of their skin .
That can ’ t stand.
” Frannie Kelley , a freelance radio journalist in New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her white Instagram followers who are initiating such conversations in their own circles .
“ Most of what I ’ m hearing about is people making sudden progress after years of incremental change , ” she wrote in an email .
“ A friend of mine told me this weekend that her parents are finally hearing her , after a decade at least of saying the same things.
” It ’ s been reminiscent of the start of the # MeToo movement , she said , “ where we were simply believed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one hand the number of times she ’ d spoken with her parents about race .
To keep the peace , they avoided topics that touched on an assumed chasm in perspectives ( she and her sister , Angie , had fostered progressive ideals since they were teenagers ) .
And Southern propriety meant you didn ’ t talk about money and politics .
“ They saw those issues as politics , ” Bohon said .
“ So I never really knew where they stood.
” There was a “ real element of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Bohon , whose ancestors were slaveholders .
Her grandfather wouldn ’ t let her watch the “ Cosby Show ” in his home because he believed that a well-educated , upwardly mobile Black family wasn ’ t realistic .
Her parents were more tolerant , but they still had their prejudices , Bohon said .
Bohon , her husband and three kids were quarantining at her parents ’ farm in southern Virginia when George Floyd was killed .
Her aunts and uncles live nearby , too , and were often around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Bohon , who had spoken freely with friends and colleagues about racial justice , for the first time let her family know how she felt about police brutality .
To her surprise , she said , they were open to hearing her out .
They talked about the skewed rhetoric around property damage during protests , and the vital role that Black Lives Matter has played in shaping the discourse around race since 2013 .
She sent her parents articles and social media posts about racism and what to do about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those resources on to their siblings .
As Bohon sat in the backyard with her mom and two aunts one afternoon , the conversation flowed from George Floyd to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick .
“ Now maybe you see why him taking a knee wasn ’ t a problem , ” Bohon said of Kaepernick ’ s choice to kneel during the national anthem in protest of how Black people are treated in the U.S. “ I thought it was disrespectful , actually , ” her aunt replied , reminding Bohon that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bohon took a deep breath .
To her , it was obvious what Kaepernick was doing — it was peaceful resistance , the highest form of patriotism .
She acknowledged that there are differences in the way older generations tend to interpret the meaning of the flag .
“ He was making the point that what the flag stands for isn ’ t actually being delivered upon to millions of Americans , ” she told the women .
“ And he did it at great risk.
” “ I never thought about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s aunt said .
White America , which in many ways benefits from systemic racism , has by-and-large chosen to look away from it .
But the series of brutal killings of Black Americans in relatively quick succession — Ahmaud Arbery , Breonna Taylor and George Floyd — has made it “ undeniable that there ’ s a problem white people have to solve , ” said Devine , the University of Wisconsin-Madison psychologist .
A Civiqs showed a 15-point gain in support for Black Lives Matter among white people in just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the three-year survey that a majority of white respondents supported the movement .
Jason Hanasik , a 38-year-old documentary filmmaker in San Francisco , said his mom in Virginia can now be counted among the vocal supporters of the movement after he engaged her in many difficult conversations about race .
In a recent Facebook post imploring his friends to talk to their families about racial justice , Hanasik pointed out that many people in his family are racist , xenophobic and homophobic .
“ Family gatherings during childhood could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queer sister and then exhausting when we were old enough ... and started fighting back , ” wrote Hanasik , who is gay .
So Hanasik saw an opportunity when he noticed that his mom was upset by Floyd ’ s death .
“ I let her really get into her anger and sadness of what she saw and I said , ‘ If you ’ re upset , here ’ s a way to direct the anger , ’ ” Hanasik recalled .
He pointed her to a phone tree where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis to demand justice for Floyd .
She called the numbers that night .
“ I ’ ve noticed you haven ’ t posted anything online , ” Hanasik told her later that week .
“ You know mom , you live in Virginia , if you posted something it could change some hearts .
... Also , frankly , your silence is deafening right now.
” She was initially resistant , and the conversation got tense .
Hanasik felt defeated .
Two days later , Hanasik ’ s mom sent him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she planned to declare that Black Lives Matter .
“ If you have a problem with that truth , delete me as a friend , ” she wrote .
“ This truth is non-negotiable.
” Aliza Luft , a sociology professor at UCLA who studies social movements and state violence , has been talking to her family about racism for many years , often bringing it up following her participation in Black Lives Matter protests , which she started attending after Trayvon Martin was killed in 2012 .
Recently , however , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to initiate the conversations and ask questions .
“ I find that there ’ s a genuine curiosity and interest and care to remedy structural inequality that didn ’ t feel as urgent in the past , ” she said .
Bohon is on that journey herself .
She ’ s reading “ How to Be an Antiracist ” by historian Ibram X. Kendi , which has become a best-selling book on Amazon since Floyd ’ s death .
In the text , Kendi explains that anti-racists express “ the idea that racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and they support policy that reduces racial inequality .
The principles of anti-racism call for action beyond posting a black square on Instagram .
And talking to family and friends about their own racism is one of the most effective ways to shift public opinion , according to scholars .
Luft pointed to the gay rights movement as an example of how change can be created within families .
Queer people have always been part of family systems and communities made up of mostly heterosexual people .
Attitudes toward the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people cared about someone who had come out .
Racial discrimination works differently because Black and white people usually don ’ t have deep overlapping networks .
So white people may be less likely to confront their biases except through conversations with their loved ones .
Such was the case for Patricia Hamilton , Bohon ’ s 68-year-old aunt .
Until recently , she perceived more equity among the races than inequity , and she thought the rallying cry “ Black Lives Matter ” was divisive .
Her daughter called her out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Now I understand that it ’ s not something you should say because it ’ s racist , it ’ s ignoring the issues at hand , ” she said in an interview .
After many long talks with Bohon and her daughter , Hamilton now believes that reforming police departments and taking away some of their responsibilities — such as mental health checks — is necessary , including in her hometown .
She emailed Chesapeake , Va. , Mayor Rick West to ask what ’ s been done to improve relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he gives me a canned letter , ” she said , “ he ’ s going to get another one.
” Hamilton still has a lot to learn , she said , and she ’ s willing and excited to do so .
She wanted to attend a local Black Lives Matter protest in early June , but her family , worried about her vulnerability to COVID-19 , stopped her .
But Hamilton said she ’ ll be marching in the streets when it ’ s once again safe to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States depends on people like her showing up .

One night in late May, Wendy Bohon and her mom were piecing a puzzle together at the dining room table when they heard from the living room a news anchor’s somber voice, prepping his audience for what they were about to see.
Bohon knew the general details of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, the way his neck was pinned to the concrete by a white police officer for nearly nine minutes. But she hadn’t yet watched the video that would soon ignite a national uprising. And she didn’t know what her mom, a fifth-generation Virginian, might say about it.
The mother and daughter got up from the table, stood behind Bohon’s dad in his rocking chair, and watched.
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Her mom’s reaction was immediate and visceral.”They murdered that man,” she said, tears filling her eyes.
“For me, that was like, OK,” said Bohon, a 44-year-old geologist who lives in Washington. “I see that we’re on the same page. You’re seeing what I’m seeing.”
That moment led to weeks of conversation between Bohon and her conservative-leaning family members about how racism still plagues innumerable institutions in the United States, 400 years after Africans were first brought to its shores.
As thousands have taken to the streets to demand accountability for police violence and rampant racial injustice, many non-Black Americans such as Bohon are for the first time investigating the ways in which they directly contribute to racism and how they might actively fight against it.
They are realizing that there is complicity in their silence around race issues. So now, they are breaking it. And they’re starting with family.
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“Absent these kinds of conversations, the status quo wins,” said Patricia Devine, psychology professor and director of the Prejudice Lab at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “And the status quo is being revealed to us to be unacceptable in terms of costing people their lives only because of the color of their skin. That can’t stand.”
Frannie Kelley, a freelance radio journalist in New York, has been offering support and information to her white Instagram followers who are initiating such conversations in their own circles.
“Most of what I’m hearing about is people making sudden progress after years of incremental change,” she wrote in an email. “A friend of mine told me this weekend that her parents are finally hearing her, after a decade at least of saying the same things.”
It’s been reminiscent of the start of the #MeToo movement, she said, “where we were simply believed for a moment.”
Bohon could count on one hand the number of times she’d spoken with her parents about race. To keep the peace, they avoided topics that touched on an assumed chasm in perspectives (she and her sister, Angie, had fostered progressive ideals since they were teenagers).
And Southern propriety meant you didn’t talk about money and politics. “They saw those issues as politics,” Bohon said. “So I never really knew where they stood.”
There was a “real element of racism in my life growing up,” said Bohon, whose ancestors were slaveholders. Her grandfather wouldn’t let her watch the “Cosby Show” in his home because he believed that a well-educated, upwardly mobile Black family wasn’t realistic. Her parents were more tolerant, but they still had their prejudices, Bohon said.
Bohon, her husband and three kids were quarantining at her parents’ farm in southern Virginia when George Floyd was killed. Her aunts and uncles live nearby, too, and were often around. The adults watched the news together, and Bohon, who had spoken freely with friends and colleagues about racial justice, for the first time let her family know how she felt about police brutality.
To her surprise, she said, they were open to hearing her out. They talked about the skewed rhetoric around property damage during protests, and the vital role that Black Lives Matter has played in shaping the discourse around race since 2013. She sent her parents articles and social media posts about racism and what to do about it; in turn, they passed those resources on to their siblings.
As Bohon sat in the backyard with her mom and two aunts one afternoon, the conversation flowed from George Floyd to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“Now maybe you see why him taking a knee wasn’t a problem,” Bohon said of Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during the national anthem in protest of how Black people are treated in the U.S.
“I thought it was disrespectful, actually,” her aunt replied, reminding Bohon that her own father and grandfather were veterans.
Bohon took a deep breath. To her, it was obvious what Kaepernick was doing — it was peaceful resistance, the highest form of patriotism. She acknowledged that there are differences in the way older generations tend to interpret the meaning of the flag.
“He was making the point that what the flag stands for isn’t actually being delivered upon to millions of Americans,” she told the women. “And he did it at great risk.”
“I never thought about it that way,” Bohon’s aunt said.
White America, which in many ways benefits from systemic racism, has by-and-large chosen to look away from it. But the series of brutal killings of Black Americans in relatively quick succession — Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd — has made it “undeniable that there’s a problem white people have to solve,” said Devine, the University of Wisconsin-Madison psychologist.
A Civiqs survey showed a 15-point gain in support for Black Lives Matter among white people in just the last few weeks, reflecting the first time in the three-year survey that a majority of white respondents supported the movement.
Jason Hanasik, a 38-year-old documentary filmmaker in San Francisco, said his mom in Virginia can now be counted among the vocal supporters of the movement after he engaged her in many difficult conversations about race.
In a recent Facebook post imploring his friends to talk to their families about racial justice, Hanasik pointed out that many people in his family are racist, xenophobic and homophobic.
“Family gatherings during childhood could be straight up hellholes for me and my queer sister and then exhausting when we were old enough ... and started fighting back,” wrote Hanasik, who is gay.
So Hanasik saw an opportunity when he noticed that his mom was upset by Floyd’s death.
“I let her really get into her anger and sadness of what she saw and I said, ‘If you’re upset, here’s a way to direct the anger,’” Hanasik recalled. He pointed her to a phone tree where she could leave messages for elected officials in Minneapolis to demand justice for Floyd. She called the numbers that night.
“I’ve noticed you haven’t posted anything online,” Hanasik told her later that week. “You know mom, you live in Virginia, if you posted something it could change some hearts. ... Also, frankly, your silence is deafening right now.”
She was initially resistant, and the conversation got tense. Hanasik felt defeated.
Two days later, Hanasik’s mom sent him a draft of a Facebook post in which she planned to declare that Black Lives Matter. “If you have a problem with that truth, delete me as a friend,” she wrote. “This truth is non-negotiable.”
Aliza Luft, a sociology professor at UCLA who studies social movements and state violence, has been talking to her family about racism for many years, often bringing it up following her participation in Black Lives Matter protests, which she started attending after Trayvon Martin was killed in 2012. Recently, however, her family members have made a concerted effort to initiate the conversations and ask questions.
“I find that there’s a genuine curiosity and interest and care to remedy structural inequality that didn’t feel as urgent in the past,” she said.
Bohon is on that journey herself. She’s reading “How to Be an Antiracist” by historian Ibram X. Kendi, which has become a best-selling book on Amazon since Floyd’s death. In the text, Kendi explains that anti-racists express “the idea that racial groups are equals and none needs developing,” and they support policy that reduces racial inequality.
The principles of anti-racism call for action beyond posting a black square on Instagram. And talking to family and friends about their own racism is one of the most effective ways to shift public opinion, according to scholars.
Luft pointed to the gay rights movement as an example of how change can be created within families. Queer people have always been part of family systems and communities made up of mostly heterosexual people. Attitudes toward the group evolved, in part, because so many people cared about someone who had come out.
Racial discrimination works differently because Black and white people usually don’t have deep overlapping networks. So white people may be less likely to confront their biases except through conversations with their loved ones.
Such was the case for Patricia Hamilton, Bohon’s 68-year-old aunt. Until recently, she perceived more equity among the races than inequity, and she thought the rallying cry “Black Lives Matter” was divisive. Her daughter called her out for preferring “All Lives Matter.”
“Now I understand that it’s not something you should say because it’s racist, it’s ignoring the issues at hand,” she said in an interview.
After many long talks with Bohon and her daughter, Hamilton now believes that reforming police departments and taking away some of their responsibilities — such as mental health checks — is necessary, including in her hometown. She emailed Chesapeake, Va., Mayor Rick West to ask what’s been done to improve relations between the police and community.
“If he gives me a canned letter,” she said, “he’s going to get another one.”
Hamilton still has a lot to learn, she said, and she’s willing and excited to do so. She wanted to attend a local Black Lives Matter protest in early June, but her family, worried about her vulnerability to COVID-19, stopped her.
But Hamilton said she’ll be marching in the streets when it’s once again safe to do so. She knows that the future of the United States depends on people like her showing up.