vox--2020-06-02--Live results for the June 2 primaries

Live results for the June 2 primaries

Amid a week of nationwide protests , several states and the District of Columbia are holding primaries Tuesday featuring several competitive races for governor , US Senate , and congressional seats .
There are four competitive House races in Pennsylvania , a state that ’ s inextricably linked to Democrats ’ chances of retaking the White House in 2020 .
In Iowa , there ’ s a Democratic Senate primary to decide who will challenge Republican Sen. Joni Ernst .
That race will be closely watched race this fall , as Democrats see it as one that could help them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana , there are primaries for governor , US Senate , and the state ’ s lone congressional seat .
Two longtime US representatives ( one Democrat and one Republican ) are retiring in Indiana , with each party eyeing a new chance to flip the seats .
New Mexico has an open Senate seat with longtime Sen. Tom Udall set to retire ; although that state is seen as fairly blue , Republicans are eyeing what could be a long-shot pickup opportunity .
There ’ s also an open House seat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luján is running for US Senate .
And although Maryland is a heavily blue state , there are a couple interesting Democratic primaries , including a crowded race to choose the replacement for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings — and a progressive challenge to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer .
Although some states are still holding in-person voting , others have switched to mostly mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic .
This means results will likely be delayed in some states .
Several Pennsylvania counties won ’ t announce their vote-by-mail tallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in how Maryland reports votes could cause some delays in reporting for local elections , including the Baltimore mayor ’ s race .
Vox is covering the results live , with our partners at Decision Desk .
Indiana ’ s First and Fifth District primaries In two congressional districts , both Democrats and Republicans hope to capitalize on the retirements of long-serving members of the House of Representatives to flip seats held for decades by the opposite party .
In the largely Democratic First Congressional District , which contains much of the Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , 14 Democrats and six Republicans are running to replace retiring incumbent Peter Visclosky ( D-IN ) , who has been in office since 1984 .
The state ’ s Fifth Congressional District features 15 Republicans and five Democrats competing for the seat left open by incumbent Republican Rep. Susan Brooks who decided not to run for a fifth term .
For more on Indiana ’ s primary contests , read Vox ’ s roundup here .
Statewide , the main race to watch is the Democratic Senate primary , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up against Republican Sen. Joni Ernst , one of Democrats ’ top targets this fall .
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , the upper chamber ’ s campaign arm , has already backed Theresa Greenfield , a Des Moines real estate executive , who ’ s also picked up support from Emily ’ s List .
Her competitors include Navy veteran Mike Franken , attorney Kimberly Graham , and insurance broker Eddie Mauro .
The state ’ s four House seats are also slated to be competitive in November : Three are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held by embattled Republican Steve King , who has been censured by his colleagues for making a series of racist comments and is now facing a serious Republican primary challenge from Iowa state Sen. Randy Feenstra .
In two House districts Democrats flipped in 2018 , Republicans are duking it out to see who will go up against the Democratic incumbent Reps. Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer in competitive fall races .
Rep. Dave Loebsack ( D ) from Iowa ’ s Second Congressional District is retiring , leaving an open race in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s primary contests , read Vox ’ s roundup here .
Maryland is a staunchly Democratic state as far as congressional races go ( the state is run by moderate Republican Gov .
Larry Hogan ) .
The June 2 primaries there don ’ t include a lot of Republican action , but there are two interesting Democratic primaries in particular .
First up is the election in Maryland ’ s Seventh Congressional District , open after the death of House Oversight Committee Chair and political giant Rep. Elijah Cummings .
The winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace Cummings was former Baltimore City Councilman Kweisi Mfume , who was sworn in as a US House member in May .
For the regular primary , Mfume is back on the ballot , along with 18 other Democrats — including Cummings ’ wife Maya Rockeymoore Cummings .
Second , and less highly contested , is a progressive primary challenge in Maryland ’ s Fifth Congressional District , represented by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer .
Hoyer ’ s main primary challenger is Mckayla Wilkes , who has been endorsed by progressive organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America .
Other Democratic candidates running include Briana Urbina , William Devine III , and Vanessa Marie Hoffman .
Montana has three major , surprisingly competitive primaries on June 2 .
They come as the Republican Party works to take control of the governor ’ s mansion for the first time in 16 years and in a highly competitive Senate race that could increase Democrats ’ likelihood of retaking the US Senate majority .
At first glance , Montana might not seem competitive .
After all , Donald Trump won the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it ’ s actually a fiercely independent state .
Montana ’ s current , well-liked Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock is now running for US Senate .
And Bullock ’ s entry into that race has turned what was previously an easy reelection for Republican Sen. Steve Daines into a competitive election .
Montana ’ s at-large Rep. Greg Gianforte is running for governor , competing with the state ’ s Republican Attorney General Tim Fox in the Republican primary .
Two Democrats well-known in the state , Lt. Gov .
Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a prominent Montana political family ) are vying in the Democratic primary for governor .
The race to fill Gianforte ’ s House seat is also competitive , featuring a crowded field of six Republicans in the GOP primary and a Democratic field that includes Gianforte ’ s Democratic rival in 2018 , Kathleen Williams .
For more on Montana ’ s primary contests , read Vox ’ s roundup here .
Although New Mexico has shifted blue in recent years , there are still competitive races that will be worth watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an open Senate seat given Sen. Tom Udall ’ s retirement .
Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Luján , who serves in House leadership as the assistant House Democratic leader , is running unopposed on the Democratic side .
Three Republicans , Elisa Martinez , Mark Ronchetti , and Gavin Clarkson , are vying to face off against Luján in a Senate race Cook Political Report rates Likely Democrat .
The state ’ s First and Second congressional districts each have Republican primaries to determine who will face off against Democratic incumbent Reps. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torres Small ’ s race , in particular , could be competitive ; she flipped the seat blue in 2018 by narrowly defeating Republican Yvette Herrell , who is running again in 2020 .
And there are crowded Democratic and Republican primaries in the Third Congressional District , which is open with Luján ’ s departure .
Pennsylvania has a few congressional primary races to keep an eye on Tuesday .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named the state ’ s First Congressional District as a target the party wants to flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sabato ’ s Crystal ball rates the seat Likely Republican , and in 2018 , Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick ( R ) was reelected even as Democratic Gov .
Tom Wolf and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey carried the district by double digits .
“ That type of crossover vote is impressive , ” said Sabato ’ s J .
Miles Coleman .
Cook Political Report rates the district Leans Republican .
The Republican National Campaign Committee has targeted Pennsylvania ’ s Seventh Congressional District as an opportunity to flip in November .
Incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front-line ” member , and Cook Political Report rates the seat Leans Democratic .
Republicans are also targeting Pennsylvania ’ s Eight Congressional District , and incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike Cartwright , who has held onto the seat even though Trump won the district in 2016 .
This district is home to Scranton , where Joe Biden was born .
In the 10th Congressional District , Coleman said Democrats have found their “ best possible recruit ” to take on incumbent Rep. Scott Perry in Eugene DePasquale .
“ This is a Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is from York County , carried the district in 2016 — he was the only statewide Democratic candidate to do so , ” Coleman explained .
Gov .
Wolf has endorsed DePasquale , but Democrat Tom Brier is running as well .
For more on Pennsylvania ’ s primary contests , read Vox ’ s roundup here .
There are two Republican primaries in South Dakota ; one for the US Senate race and one for the state ’ s at-large congressional district .
Incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds is getting a Republican challenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Rep .
Dusty Johnson is being challenged by former South Dakota state Rep. Elizabeth May .
Both challengers are Republican women ; after the 2018 midterms showed Democratic women ran successful races , these primaries could serve as a test of the electability of their Republican counterparts .
South Dakota already has a woman helming the state — Republican Gov .
Kristi Noem .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox @ @

Amid a week of nationwide protests, several states and the District of Columbia are holding primaries Tuesday featuring several competitive races for governor, US Senate, and congressional seats.
There are four competitive House races in Pennsylvania, a state that’s inextricably linked to Democrats’ chances of retaking the White House in 2020. In Iowa, there’s a Democratic Senate primary to decide who will challenge Republican Sen. Joni Ernst. That race will be closely watched race this fall, as Democrats see it as one that could help them retake control of the Senate.
In Montana, there are primaries for governor, US Senate, and the state’s lone congressional seat. Two longtime US representatives (one Democrat and one Republican) are retiring in Indiana, with each party eyeing a new chance to flip the seats. New Mexico has an open Senate seat with longtime Sen. Tom Udall set to retire; although that state is seen as fairly blue, Republicans are eyeing what could be a long-shot pickup opportunity. There’s also an open House seat in New Mexico given that Rep. Ben Ray Luján is running for US Senate.
And although Maryland is a heavily blue state, there are a couple of interesting Democratic primaries, including a crowded race to choose the replacement for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings — and a progressive challenge to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
Although some states are still holding in-person voting, others have switched to mostly mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic. This means results will likely be delayed in some states. Several Pennsylvania counties won’t announce their vote-by-mail tallies until Wednesday, and a new change in how Maryland reports votes could cause some delays in reporting for local elections, including the Baltimore mayor’s race.
Vox is covering the results live, with our partners at Decision Desk.
Indiana’s First and Fifth District primaries
In two congressional districts, both Democrats and Republicans hope to capitalize on the retirements of long-serving members of the House of Representatives to flip seats held for decades by the opposite party.
In the largely Democratic First Congressional District, which contains much of the Chicago exurbs in the northwest area of the state, 14 Democrats and six Republicans are running to replace retiring incumbent Peter Visclosky (D-IN), who has been in office since 1984. The state’s Fifth Congressional District features 15 Republicans and five Democrats competing for the seat left open by incumbent Republican Rep. Susan Brooks, who decided not to run for a fifth term.
Indiana Democratic House primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Indiana’s First Congressional District Democratic primary for Frank Mrvan and the Fifth Congressional Democratic primary for Christina Hale.
Indiana Republican House primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Indiana’s First Congressional District Republican primary for Mark Leyva and the Fifth Congressional Republican primary for Victoria Spartz.
For more on Indiana’s primary contests, read Vox’s roundup here.
Iowa
Statewide, the main race to watch is the Democratic Senate primary, which will determine the candidate who’ll go up against Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, one of Democrats’ top targets this fall. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the upper chamber’s campaign arm, has already backed Theresa Greenfield, a Des Moines real estate executive, who’s also picked up support from Emily’s List. Her competitors include Navy veteran Mike Franken, attorney Kimberly Graham, and insurance broker Eddie Mauro.
The state’s four House seats are also slated to be competitive in November: Three are currently held by Democrats; the fourth is held by embattled Republican Steve King, who has been censured by his colleagues for making a series of racist comments and is now facing a serious Republican primary challenge from Iowa state Sen. Randy Feenstra.
In two House districts Democrats flipped in 2018, Republicans are duking it out to see who will go up against the Democratic incumbent Reps. Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer in competitive fall races. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D) from Iowa’s Second Congressional District is retiring, leaving an open race in November.
Iowa Democratic Senate primary
Decision Desk has called this race for Theresa Greenfield.
Iowa Republican House primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Iowa’s First Congressional District Republican primary for Ashley Hinson; the Second Congressional District Republican primary for Mariannette Miller-Meeks; and the Third Congressional District Republican primary for David Young.
Iowa Fourth District Republican primary
Decision Desk HQ called the race for Randy Feenstra.
For more on Iowa’s primary contests, read Vox’s roundup here.
Maryland
Maryland is a staunchly Democratic state as far as congressional races go (the state is run by moderate Republican Gov. Larry Hogan). The June 2 primaries there don’t include a lot of Republican action, but there are two interesting Democratic primaries in particular.
First up is the election in Maryland’s Seventh Congressional District, open after the death of House Oversight Committee chair and political giant Rep. Elijah Cummings. The winner of an April 28 special election to replace Cummings was former Baltimore City Council member Kweisi Mfume, who was sworn in as a US House member in May. For the regular primary, Mfume is back on the ballot, along with 18 other Democrats — including Cummings’s wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings.
Second, and less highly contested, is a progressive primary challenge in Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District, represented by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Hoyer’s main primary challenger is Mckayla Wilkes, who has been endorsed by progressive organizations including Democracy for America and Democratic Socialists of America. Other Democratic candidates running include Briana Urbina, William Devine III, and Vanessa Marie Hoffman.
Maryland Democratic House primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District Democratic primary for Steny Hoyer and the Seventh Congressional District for Kweisi Mfume.
Maryland Republican House primaries
Montana’s gubernatorial, Senate, and House primaries
Montana has three major, surprisingly competitive primaries on June 2. They come as the Republican Party works to take control of the governor’s mansion for the first time in 16 years and in a highly competitive Senate race that could increase Democrats’ likelihood of retaking the US Senate majority. At first glance, Montana might not seem competitive. After all, Donald Trump won the state by 20 percentage points in 2016. But it’s actually a fiercely independent state.
Montana’s current, well-liked Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock is now running for US Senate. And Bullock’s entry into that race has turned what was previously an easy reelection for Republican Sen. Steve Daines into a competitive election.
Montana’s at-large Rep. Greg Gianforte is running for governor, competing with the state’s Republican Attorney General Tim Fox in the Republican primary. Two Democrats well-known in the state, Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and businesswoman Whitney Williams (part of a prominent Montana political family) are vying in the Democratic primary for governor. The race to fill Gianforte’s House seat is also competitive, featuring a crowded field of six Republicans in the GOP primary and a Democratic field that includes Gianforte’s Democratic rival in 2018, Kathleen Williams.
Montana Democratic primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Montana’s US Senate Democratic primary for Steve Bullock; Montana’s gubernatorial Democratic primary for Mike Cooney; and at-large congressional district Democratic primary for Kathleen Williams.
Montana Republican primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Montana’s US Senate Republican primary for Steve Daines; Montana’s gubernatorial Republican primary for Greg Gianforte; and at-large congressional district Republican primary for Matt Rosendale.
For more on Montana’s primary contests, read Vox’s roundup here.
New Mexico’s open Senate and House primaries
Although New Mexico has shifted blue in recent years, there are still competitive races that will be worth watching. First and foremost, there’s an open Senate seat given Sen. Tom Udall’s retirement. Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Luján, who serves in House leadership as the assistant House Democratic leader, is running unopposed on the Democratic side. Three Republicans, Elisa Martinez, Mark Ronchetti, and Gavin Clarkson, are vying to face off against Luján in a Senate race Cook Political Report rates Likely Democrat.
The state’s First and Second congressional districts each have Republican primaries to determine who will face off against Democratic incumbent Reps. Deb Haaland and Xochitl Torres Small. Torres Small’s race, in particular, could be competitive; she flipped the seat blue in 2018 by narrowly defeating Republican Yvette Herrell, who is running again in 2020. And there are crowded Democratic and Republican primaries in the Third Congressional District, which is open with Luján’s departure.
New Mexico Republican primaries
Decision Desk HQ called New Mexico’s US Senate Republican primary for Mark Ronchetti; its First Congressional District Republican primary for Michelle Garcia Holmes; its Second Congressional District Republican primary for Yvette Herrell; and its Third Congressional District Republican primary for Alexis Johnson.
New Mexico’s Third Congressional District Democratic primary
Decision Desk HQ called New Mexico’s Third Congressional District Democratic primary for Teresa Leger Fernandez.
Pennsylvania’s First, Seventh, Eighth, and 10th District primaries
Pennsylvania has a few congressional primary races to keep an eye on Tuesday.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named the state’s First Congressional District as a target the party wants to flip. But that might not be easy. Sabato’s Crystal ball rates the seat Likely Republican, and in 2018, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R) was reelected even as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey carried the district by double digits. “That type of crossover vote is impressive,” said Sabato’s J. Miles Coleman. Cook Political Report rates the district Leans Republican.
The Republican National Campaign Committee has targeted Pennsylvania’s Seventh Congressional District as an opportunity to flip in November. Incumbent Rep. Susan Wild is a DCCC “front-line” member, and Cook Political Report rates the seat Leans Democratic. Republicans are also targeting Pennsylvania’s Eight Congressional District, and incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike Cartwright, who has held on to the seat even though Trump won the district in 2016. This district is home to Scranton, where Joe Biden was born.
In the 10th Congressional District, Coleman said Democrats have found their “best possible recruit” to take on incumbent Rep. Scott Perry in Eugene DePasquale. “This is a Trump +9 seat, but DePasquale, who is from York County, carried the district in 2016 — he was the only statewide Democratic candidate to do so,” Coleman explained. Gov. Wolf has endorsed DePasquale, but Democrat Tom Brier is running as well.
Pennsylvania Republican House primaries
Pennsylvania Democratic House primaries
Decision Desk HQ called Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District Democratic primary for Christina Finello and its 10th Congressional District Democratic primary for Eugene DePasquale.
For more on Pennsylvania’s primary contests, read Vox’s roundup here.
South Dakota
There are two Republican primaries in South Dakota: one for the US Senate race and one for the state’s at-large congressional district.
Incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds is getting a Republican challenger in South Dakota state Rep. Scyller Borglum, and Rep. Dusty Johnson is being challenged by former South Dakota state Rep. Elizabeth May.
Both challengers are Republican women; after the 2018 midterms showed Democratic women ran successful races, these primaries could serve as a test of the electability of their Republican counterparts. South Dakota already has a woman helming the state — Republican Gov. Kristi Noem.
South Dakota Republican primaries
Decision Desk HQ called South Dakota’s US Senate Republican primary for Mike Rounds and its at-large congressional district primary for Dusty Johnson.


vox--2020-06-02--Mark Zuckerberg on leaked audio: Trump’s looting and shooting reference “has no history of being rea

Mark Zuckerberg on leaked audio: Trump’s looting and shooting reference “has no history of being read as a dog whistle”

In an internal video call with Facebook employees on Tuesday viewed by Recode , CEO Mark Zuckerberg doubled down on his controversial decision to take no action on a post last week from President Donald Trump .
In the post , Trump referred to the ongoing protests in the US against racism and police brutality and said , “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Facebook ’ s handling of Trump ’ s post — which included language similar to what segregationists used when referring to black protesters in the civil rights era — has divided employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticize Zuckerberg in a way they never have before .
Around 400 employees staged a virtual walkout of work on Monday , at least two employees have resigned in protest , others have threatened to resign , and several senior-level managers have publicly disagreed with Zuckerberg ’ s stance — calling for him to take down or otherwise moderate Trump ’ s post , as Facebook ’ s competitor Twitter already has .
This tension spilled over into the Tuesday Q & A meeting that around 25,000 employees tuned into — with several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of the company ’ s actions and policies , and scrutinized whether the company is listening to racially diverse voices in its upper ranks .
“ I knew that the stakes were very high on this , and knew a lot of people would be upset if we made the decision to leave it up , ” Zuckerberg said on the call .
He went on to say that after reviewing the implications of Trump ’ s statement , he decided that “ the right action for where we are right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that he did a thorough analysis of the history around the apparent reference in Trump ’ s post , which he called “ troubling , ” but ultimately did not find it to be an incitement of violence under Facebook ’ s policies .
“ We basically concluded after the research and after everything I ’ ve read and all the different folks that I ’ ve talked to that the reference is clearly to aggressive policing — maybe excessive policing — but it has no history of being read as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice into their own hands , ” Zuckerberg said on the call .
He also said that , overall , Facebook still reserves the right to moderate Trump .
“ This isn ’ t a case where [ Trump ] is allowed to say anything he wants , or that we let government officials or policy makers say anything they want.
” Facebook has largely avoided moderating Trump ’ s posts on its platform .
In March , however , after Recode and other outlets reported on deceptive advertisements that made a Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 census , Facebook removed these ads from its platform .
After opening the call , Zuckerberg went on to take questions from a preselected list , with employees asking questions via videoconference .
In one of several tense exchanges , an employee asked Zuckerberg to confirm how many black people were involved in Zuckerberg ’ s final decision not to take down Trump ’ s post .
Zuckerberg ’ s answer : just one person ( Facebook ’ s global diversity officer , Maxine Williams ) .
Zuckerberg said only about six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and policy VP Joel Kaplan , who has come under scrutiny for reportedly stymieing efforts to reduce polarization on the platform and openly supporting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his controversial Senate hearings .
The employee pressed why Facebook ’ s head of integrity , Guy Rosen , who is tasked with overseeing efforts around general user safety on the platform , wasn ’ t in the final group of decision-makers .
In response , Zuckerberg appeared to stumble with his reasoning , first saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a part of the final decision .
He then saying that he wasn ’ t , but that ultimately Rosen is responsible for building and enforcing policies overall and not this particular decision .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s great that we ’ re not super clear on whether the VP of integrity was included on a matter of voter suppression and societal violence , ” the employee said on the videoconference .
“ How can we trust Facebook leadership if you show us a lack of transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked about the criticism Facebook faced in the meeting , a spokesperson for the company sent Recode the following statement : “ Open and honest discussion has always been a part of Facebook ’ s culture .
Mark had an open discussion with employees today , as he has regularly over the years .
He ’ s grateful for their feedback.
” In an acknowledgement of employees ’ anger over the situation , Zuckerberg outlined several areas of self-designated improvement for Facebook on the call , including being more transparent around the decision-making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notably , Zuckerberg said the company is considering adding labels to posts by world leaders that incite violence , instead of simply leaving them up or taking them down .
He also said that since the US may be entering a “ prolonged period of civil unrest , ” they may change their policy on what kind of announcements government leaders can make about state violence , such as excessive use of police force .
While Zuckerberg was at times conciliatory , his tone was defensive of Facebook ’ s stance not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against content that people could find personally offensive .
He said even if they do change their policies around moderating potentially violent political speech like Trump ’ s post , it would not happen overnight .
“ These policies have to be developed , ” Zuckerberg said .
There ’ s “ no way we can do something like that on the fly.
” That brings up the question of why Facebook isn ’ t more prepared to moderate political speech that pushes the boundaries of its platform ’ s rules on inciting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US presidential election , how Facebook moderates content has come under fire , and the company has promised to do better .
Its long-awaited independent oversight board meant to review controversial cases like Trump ’ s post still hasn ’ t officially launched ; meanwhile , the next US presidential election is less than six months away .
On the call , Zuckerberg acknowledged that this is only the beginning of employee discussion on the company ’ s handling of the very real controversies coming its way around race , politics , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to keep talking about this , some of the issues , they ’ re deep and they ’ re not going to go away any time soon , ” Zuckerberg said .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

In an internal video call with Facebook employees on Tuesday obtained by Recode, CEO Mark Zuckerberg doubled down on his controversial decision to take no action on a post last week from President Donald Trump. In the post, Trump referred to the ongoing protests in the US against racism and police brutality and said, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Facebook’s handling of Trump’s post — which included language similar to what segregationists used when referring to black protesters in the civil rights era — has divided employees at Facebook and prompted them to openly criticize Zuckerberg in a way they never have before. Around 400 employees staged a virtual walkout of work on Monday, at least two employees have resigned in protest, others have threatened to resign, and several senior-level managers have publicly disagreed with Zuckerberg’s stance — calling for him to take down or otherwise moderate Trump’s post, as Facebook’s competitor Twitter already has.
This tension spilled over into the Tuesday Q&A meeting that around 25,000 employees tuned into — with several employees’ posing questions that were highly critical of the company’s actions and policies, and scrutinized whether the company is listening to racially diverse voices in its upper ranks. (Read the transcript of Zuckerberg’s meeting with Facebook employees here.)
“I knew that the stakes were very high on this, and knew a lot of people would be upset if we made the decision to leave it up,” Zuckerberg said on the call. He went on to say that after reviewing the implications of Trump’s statement, he decided that “the right action for where we are right now is to leave this up.”
Zuckerberg said that he did a thorough analysis of the history around the apparent reference in Trump’s post, which he called “troubling,” but ultimately did not find it to be an incitement of violence under Facebook’s policies.
“We basically concluded after the research and after everything I’ve read and all the different folks that I’ve talked to that the reference is clearly to aggressive policing — maybe excessive policing — but it has no history of being read as a dog whistle for vigilante supporters to take justice into their own hands,” Zuckerberg said on the call. He also said that, overall, Facebook still reserves the right to moderate Trump.
“This isn’t a case where [Trump] is allowed to say anything he wants, or that we let government officials or policy makers say anything they want.”
Do you work at Amazon and have thoughts on what’s going on? Please email Shirin Ghaffary at shirin.ghaffary@protonmail.com or Jason Del Rey at jasondelrey@protonmail.com to reach them confidentially. Signal numbers available upon request by email.
Facebook has largely avoided moderating Trump’s posts on its platform. In March, however, after Recode and other outlets reported on deceptive advertisements that made a Trump campaign questionnaire appear to be the official 2020 census, Facebook removed these ads from its platform.
After opening the call, Zuckerberg went on to take questions from a preselected list, with employees asking questions via videoconference. In one of several tense exchanges, an employee asked Zuckerberg to confirm how many black people were involved in Zuckerberg’s final decision not to take down Trump’s post. Zuckerberg’s answer: just one person (Facebook’s global diversity officer, Maxine Williams). Zuckerberg said only a small group of people were involved in the decision-making process, including Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and policy VP Joel Kaplan, who has come under scrutiny for reportedly stymieing efforts to reduce polarization on the platform and openly supporting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his controversial Senate hearings.
The employee pressed why Facebook’s head of integrity, Guy Rosen, who is tasked with overseeing efforts around general user safety on the platform, wasn’t in the final group of decision-makers.
In response, Zuckerberg appeared to stumble with his reasoning, first saying that Rosen was present — but then saying he actually wasn’t sure if Rosen was a part of the final decision. Ultimately, Zuckerberg said Rosen is responsible for building and enforcing policies overall, but not this particular decision.
“I don’t think it’s great that we’re not super clear on whether the VP of integrity was included on a matter of voter suppression and societal violence,” the employee said on the videoconference.
“How can we trust Facebook leadership if you show us a lack of transparency?” asked another employee.
When asked about the criticism Facebook faced in the meeting, a spokesperson for the company sent Recode the following statement: “Open and honest discussion has always been a part of Facebook’s culture. Mark had an open discussion with employees today, as he has regularly over the years. He’s grateful for their feedback.”
In an acknowledgement of employees’ anger over the situation, Zuckerberg outlined several areas of self-designated improvement for Facebook on the call, including being more transparent around the decision-making process for moderating contentious posts.
Most notably, Zuckerberg said the company is considering adding labels to posts by world leaders that incite violence, instead of simply leaving them up or taking them down. He also said that since the US may be entering a “prolonged period of civil unrest,” they may change their policy on what kind of announcements government leaders can make about state violence, such as excessive use of police force.
While Zuckerberg was at times conciliatory, he was defensive of Facebook’s stance not to make what he views as knee-jerk decisions against content that people could find personally offensive. He said even if they do change their policies around moderating potentially violent political speech like Trump’s post, it would not happen overnight.
“These policies have to be developed,” Zuckerberg said. There’s “no way we can do something like that on the fly.”
That brings up the question of why Facebook isn’t more prepared to moderate political speech that pushes the boundaries of its platform’s rules on inciting and glorifying violence. Since the 2016 US presidential election, how Facebook moderates content has come under fire, and the company has promised to do better. Its long-awaited independent oversight board meant to review controversial cases like Trump’s post still hasn’t officially launched; meanwhile, the next US presidential election is less than six months away.
On the call, Zuckerberg acknowledged that this is only the beginning of employee discussion on the company’s handling of the very real controversies coming its way around race, politics, and police violence.
“I know we’re going to keep talking about this, some of the issues, they’re deep and they’re not going to go away any time soon,” Zuckerberg said.


vox--2020-06-02--6 Atlanta officers have been charged in violent tasing incident

Arrest warrants have been issued for six Atlanta police officers who were caught on video tasing two college students Saturday .
The students were stopped for violating curfew , Georgia ’ s Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. said Tuesday .
The officers stand accused of aggravated assault , illegally pointing a taser , and criminal damage to property , said prosecutors .
Video of the brutal arrest went viral over the weekend , leading to the firing of two officers involved ; three others were placed on desk duty .
“ The conduct involved in this incident is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat people in the city of Atlanta , ” Howard said in a news conference on Tuesday .
As seen in police body camera footage , a group of officers surrounded a car that 22-year-old Messiah Young was driving .
They opened the passenger ’ s side door , and demanded 20-year-old Taniyah Pilgrim , who was sitting the passenger ’ s seat , get out .
Although Pilgrim asked repeatedly what was going on , she did not receive an answer .
As officers attempted to pull her from the still-moving car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle .
That ’ s when police , without giving her time to get out , hit her with a taser .
Separate body camera footage shows another officer used his baton to smash out the driver ’ s side window before tasering Young .
The two were subsequently dragged out of the car and placed under arrest .
All of this occurred as other officers on the scene slashed the tires on the car — which can be seen in the video that went viral .
According to his attorney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 stitches as a result of the incident .
“ We felt like we were going to die in that car , ” Pilgrim said Monday .
The incident has brought widespread condemnation from city leaders .
“ I know that we caused further fear to you in a space that ’ s already so fearful for so many African Americans , and I am genuinely sorry , ” Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said in a news conference Sunday .
“ This is not who we are .
This is not what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keisha Bottoms said Sunday that charges against both students were dropped and that Young was released from police custody .
The arrest warrants come amid outcry over how police have responded to protests around the nation — and as videos of violent police interactions with protesters go viral .
In New York City , video of two police SUVs plowing into protesters went viral , prompting an excuse from Mayor Bill de Blasio that he later tempered .
Dozens of journalists have been assaulted and arrested by police while covering the protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , DC , were criticized for using military tactics on protesters and for clearing a peaceful protest in front of the White House with tear gas in order to facilitate photographs of the president .
Several officers have faced disciplinary action over their behavior patrolling protests While few law enforcement officers have faced formal charges over excessive force while patrolling the anti-police brutality protests , several have faced less serious consequences .
The most high-profile case is perhaps that of Steve Conrad , who was fired from his post as Louisville , Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that two officers involved in the fatal shooting of area businessman David McAtee failed to turn on their body cameras .
Protests in Louisville have been prompted in part by the death of Breonna Taylor , who was killed after police executed a no-knock warrant on her home in the middle of the night .
“ This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated , ” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said on Monday .
Also in Louisville , an officer who was caught on camera firing pepper balls at a local TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending an investigation .
“ Officers do have orders not to fire pepper balls at media , ” said Assistant Police Chief Lavita Chavous Monday , as she asked the public for understanding over the media being hit , saying when “ protesters are doing something unlawful or something they are not supposed to do it ’ s sometimes an unintended consequence when we fire the pepper balls into the crowd.
” In Denver , Colorado , Officer Thomas McClay was been reassigned to desk duty after posting a picture of himself and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caption “ let ’ s start a riot.
” An internal affairs investigation of the incident has been ordered .
And an investigation into San Jose police officer Jared Yuen has begun after video emerged of the officer swearing at protesters .
He was later identified as the officer who shot a rubber bullet at a peaceful protester .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Arrest warrants have been issued for six Atlanta police officers who were caught on video tasing two college students Saturday. The students were stopped for violating curfew, Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. said Tuesday.
The officers stand accused of aggravated assault, illegally pointing a taser, and criminal damage to property, said prosecutors. Video of the brutal arrest went viral over the weekend, leading to the firing of two officers involved; three others were placed on desk duty.
“The conduct involved in this incident is not indicative of the way that we treat people in the city of Atlanta,” Howard said in a news conference on Tuesday.
Police exercise increased force as tasers are used to pull two people from a vehicle in downtown Atlanta.https://t.co/dSjEgItPcy — CBS46 (@cbs46) May 31, 2020
As seen in police body camera footage, a group of officers surrounded a car that 22-year-old Messiah Young was driving. They opened the passenger’s side door, and demanded 20-year-old Taniyah Pilgrim, who was sitting the passenger’s seat, get out.
Although Pilgrim asked repeatedly what was going on, she did not receive an answer. As officers attempted to pull her from the still-moving car, she screamed for Young to stop the vehicle.
That’s when police, without giving her time to get out, hit her with a taser. Separate body camera footage shows another officer used his baton to smash out the driver’s side window before tasering Young. The two were subsequently dragged out of the car and placed under arrest. All of this occurred as other officers on the scene slashed the tires on the car — which can be seen in the video that went viral.
According to his attorney, Young suffered a fractured arm and needed 20 stitches as a result of the incident.
“We felt like we were going to die in that car,” Pilgrim said Monday.
The incident has brought widespread condemnation from city leaders. “I know that we caused further fear to you in a space that’s already so fearful for so many African Americans, and I am genuinely sorry,” Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said in a news conference Sunday. “This is not who we are. This is not what we’re about.”
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said Sunday that charges against both students were dropped and that Young was released from police custody.
The arrest warrants come amid outcry over how police have responded to protests around the nation — and as videos of violent police interactions with protesters go viral. In New York City, video of two police SUVs plowing into protesters went viral, prompting an excuse from Mayor Bill de Blasio that he later tempered. Dozens of journalists have been assaulted and arrested by police while covering the protests. Monday, law enforcement officials in Washington, DC, were criticized for using military tactics on protesters and for clearing a peaceful protest in front of the White House with tear gas in order to facilitate photographs of the president.
Several officers have faced disciplinary action over their behavior patrolling protests
While few law enforcement officers have faced formal charges over excessive force while patrolling the anti-police brutality protests, several have faced less serious consequences.
The most high-profile case is perhaps that of Steve Conrad, who was fired from his post as Louisville, Kentucky, police chief after it was discovered that two officers involved in the fatal shooting of area businessman David McAtee failed to turn on their body cameras. Protests in Louisville have been prompted in part by the death of Breonna Taylor, who was killed after police executed a no-knock warrant on her home in the middle of the night.
“This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said on Monday.
Also in Louisville, an officer who was caught on camera firing pepper balls at a local TV news crew on Saturday has been reassigned pending an investigation.
“Officers do have orders not to fire pepper balls at media,” said Assistant Police Chief Lavita Chavous Monday, as she asked the public for understanding over the media being hit, saying when “protesters are doing something unlawful or something they are not supposed to do it’s sometimes an unintended consequence when we fire the pepper balls into the crowd.”
In Denver, Colorado, Officer Thomas McClay was been reassigned to desk duty after posting a picture of himself and two colleagues in riot gear with the caption “let’s start a riot.” An internal affairs investigation of the incident has been ordered.
And an investigation into San Jose police officer Jared Yuen has begun after video emerged of the officer swearing at protesters. He was later identified as the officer who shot a rubber bullet at a peaceful protester.


vox--2020-06-02--These videos show the police aren’t neutral. They’re counterprotesters.

By now , millions of Americans have seen the videos .
Police officers surrounding protesters , beating them with batons .
An officer apparently spraying mace at a little girl .
Police cars plowing into a crowd of people , knocking them to the ground .
To many watching , the lesson of such images was clear .
As New York Times Magazine writer Carvell Wallace put it , at the protests around the country after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers , police aren ’ t a neutral party .
They ’ re counterprotesters .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police have flocked to affected neighborhoods , often wearing riot gear and sometimes arriving hours before protesters .
Their stated goal is to keep the peace .
But it ’ s become abundantly clear that many are far from neutral — instead , they are treating protesters like the enemy , lashing out violently , using disproportionate force , and attacking people who pose no threat to them .
“ The tone that we felt from the police is : This is their rally , ” Dae Shik Kim Jr. told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video of his friend in Seattle who was repeatedly punched while being detained .
“ They are going to control it from the beginning .
They are going to dictate what happens .
It ’ s a very offensive type of approach.
” The thousands of protesters around the country are rising up against police violence as a whole — not just the death of an individual .
In response , police appear to be taking the protests personally , and it could lead to a disproportionate amount of violence from officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Around the country , police officers have repeatedly attacked protesters Since the protests began in response to Floyd ’ s killing last week , police officers have again and again been captured on video attacking protesters .
These videos — many of them graphic and disturbing — often show police seeming to treat protesters like an opposing army , rather than like citizens they ’ re sworn to protect .
It starts even before the protests do , many say , and continues after they ’ ve broken up .
Police at Barclays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters to surround the facility and create an adversarial image from the very beginning .
The officers lined up like soldiers , an intimidating scene that , for many , connoted anything but safety .
In Columbus , Ohio , WOSU reporter Paige Southwick Pfleger spotted armed officers on the roof of a courthouse and blocking a street , even though protesters had already dispersed .
“ It seems like they are waiting for curfew to take effect , ” Pfleger wrote .
And once protests began , police again and again used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brooklyn , groups of officers teamed up against individuals and chased them down .
Even when it became obvious that a protester was cornered and helpless , officers continued to attack the individual with their batons , making them look “ like a literal mob , ” wrote journalist Zeeshan Aleem .
Just blocks away , the night before , a police SUV rammed into a crowd of protesters : Excessive force was also on display in Seattle , where a police officer pinned a protester down with his knee , much the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bystanders yelled , “ Get your knee off his neck , ” and his partner ultimately had to push the knee off .
Officials are investigating another incident in Seattle , in which an officer appears to mace a 9-year-old girl — who is clearly not a threat .
In a video posted on Twitter , the girl is in distress as other protesters splash her face with milk and water to ease the pain .
Then there are instances of police aggravating the crowd by disrupting peaceful protests , as seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence of police officers at protests reveals their true role The job of law enforcement officers , according to the authorities who have called on them in recent days , is to keep the public safe .
South Carolina Gov .
Henry McMaster , for example , said in a press conference on Sunday that officers are “ here to protect people and property.
” But the police , in many situations , have appeared to actively work against public safety .
It ’ s hard to imagine how macing a child , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people , could possibly be intended to keep anyone safe .
Instead , the police seem clearly to be treating protesters — members of the public — as adversaries .
As Mara Gay writes at the New York Times , “ an army of public servants entrusted to protect Americans treated them as an enemy instead.
” This seems to be happening not despite the fact that the protests are about police brutality , but because of it .
Previous research shows that police are more likely to use force against protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police violence , Shaila Dewan and Mike Baker report at the Times .
Police are also more likely to use violence against protesters of color than against white demonstrators .
Now “ there ’ s deep resentment on the part of the police that so many people are angry at them , and they ’ re lashing out , ” Alex Vitale , a sociologist at Brooklyn College , told the Times .
“ Look at what we saw — people sitting on their own stoops getting hit with pepper balls .
Anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re attacking them.
” That ’ s why Wallace , the Times Magazine writer , and others have argued that in protests against police brutality , the police should be seen as counterprotesters .
Their interests are fundamentally at odds with those of the protesters , who want to see them stripped of their power to harass , assault , and even kill people with impunity .
And it ’ s clear from the events of recent days that police are willing to use more violence to defend that power .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current protests with police behavior during anti-lockdown protests by conservative groups this spring .
At those protests , officers were largely peaceful and respectful toward the ( mostly white ) crowds .
One image from Lansing , Michigan , in particular , went viral : officers stoically standing by as an unmasked white man screamed inches from their faces .
Contrast that with the images we ’ ve seen from recent days , of police swarming and beating protesters or running them down from the safety of their vehicles .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Price , a political science professor at Prairie View A & M University , told Vox that the police response would be very different if the stay-at-home protesters were black .
“ Imagine 10 black men and rifles walking up to any state capitol in the United States , ” Price said .
“ They would be shot before they ever made it up the steps.
” The protesters attacked on camera by police in recent days have been unarmed .
They certainly haven ’ t been carrying rifles up the capitol steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just like a threat but like an opponent .
It ’ s clear that for many officers around the country , what ’ s happening in the streets right now isn ’ t an effort to protect public safety .
It ’ s war .
Correction , June 2 : An earlier version of this story misstated the context for a photo of law enforcement officers in Columbus , Ohio .
The officers were standing in a street after a crowd of protesters had dispersed , and before curfew began .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

By now, millions of Americans have seen the videos.
Police officers surrounding protesters, beating them with batons. An officer apparently spraying mace at a little girl. Police cars plowing into a crowd of people, knocking them to the ground.
To many watching, the lesson of such images was clear. As New York Times Magazine writer Carvell Wallace put it, at the protests around the country after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, police aren’t a neutral party. They’re counterprotesters.
just want to point out that in a demonstration against police brutality, police are not law enforcement, they’re counter protesters.
maybe that perspective will help someone you love make sense of what we’re seeing — (@carvellwallace) May 30, 2020
As protests spread in the past few days, police have flocked to affected neighborhoods, often wearing riot gear and sometimes arriving hours before protesters. Their stated goal is to keep the peace. But it’s become abundantly clear that many are far from neutral — instead, they are treating protesters like the enemy, lashing out violently, using disproportionate force, and attacking people who pose no threat to them.
“The tone that we felt from the police is: This is their rally,” Dae Shik Kim Jr. told the New York Times. Kim had shared a video of his friend in Seattle who was repeatedly punched while being detained. “They are going to control it from the beginning. They are going to dictate what happens. It’s a very offensive type of approach.”
The thousands of protesters around the country are rising up against police violence as a whole — not just the death of an individual. In response, police appear to be taking the protests personally, and it could lead to a disproportionate amount of violence from officers determined to maintain the status quo.
Around the country, police officers have repeatedly attacked protesters
Since the protests began in response to Floyd’s killing last week, police officers have again and again been captured on video attacking protesters. These videos — many of them graphic and disturbing — often show police seeming to treat protesters like an opposing army, rather than like citizens they’re sworn to protect.
It starts even before the protests do, many say, and continues after they’ve broken up. Police at Barclays Center in Brooklyn showed up well before protesters to surround the facility and create an adversarial image from the very beginning. The officers lined up like soldiers, an intimidating scene that, for many, connoted anything but safety.
Police are blocking high street. There are armed officers on the roof of the courthouse as well. It seems like they are waiting for curfew to take effect. People have largely cleared the streets. pic.twitter.com/vRFD25gDyW — Paige Southwick Pfleger (@PaigePfleger) June 1, 2020
The Barclays Center currently pic.twitter.com/3HWWgVuGw0 — Chris Milholen (@CMilholenSB) June 1, 2020
In Columbus, Ohio, WOSU reporter Paige Southwick Pfleger spotted armed officers on the roof of a courthouse and blocking a street, even though protesters had already dispersed. “It seems like they are waiting for curfew to take effect,” Pfleger wrote.
Police are blocking high street. There are armed officers on the roof of the courthouse as well. It seems like they are waiting for curfew to take effect. People have largely cleared the streets. pic.twitter.com/vRFD25gDyW — Paige Southwick Pfleger (@PaigePfleger) June 1, 2020
And once protests began, police again and again used excessive force against the protesters. In Brooklyn, groups of officers teamed up against individuals and chased them down. Even when it became obvious that a protester was cornered and helpless, officers continued to attack the individual with their batons, making them look “like a literal mob,” wrote journalist Zeeshan Aleem.
Wow, Brooklyn tonight.
It’s crazy that cops circling around individuals and beating them with batons appears to be within the rules of engagement. Looks like a literal mob. pic.twitter.com/AUiXWfzBOJ — Zeeshan Aleem (@ZeeshanAleem) June 1, 2020
Just blocks away, the night before, a police SUV rammed into a crowd of protesters:
Here is the overhead... pic.twitter.com/US6Qqhkz3O — Rob Bennett (@rob_bennett) May 31, 2020
Excessive force was also on display in Seattle, where a police officer pinned a protester down with his knee, much the same way an officer killed George Floyd. Bystanders yelled, “Get your knee off his neck,” and his partner ultimately had to push the knee off.
As protesters yell "get your knee off his neck," the officer's partner reaches over with visible force and moves the knee from the man's neck to his back. https://t.co/en3abRk3bS — Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) May 31, 2020
Officials are investigating another incident in Seattle, in which an officer appears to mace a 9-year-old girl — who is clearly not a threat. In a video posted on Twitter, the girl is in distress as other protesters splash her face with milk and water to ease the pain.
This is the video that was taken down! A 9 year old in Seattle was MACED by pig JARED CAMPBELL from the Seattle Police, it was PEACEFUL PROTEST. His badge number is 8470. Little girl's face is covered in the video PLEASE SHARE #seattleprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/JXrJ1eZ8Qd — Julián✨ (@julesstorres) May 31, 2020
Then there are instances of police aggravating the crowd by disrupting peaceful protests, as seen in this video from Dallas:
Dallas police just fired tear gas at a peaceful protest at the J. Erik Johnsson Central Library. pic.twitter.com/gpAPud4clD — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) May 30, 2020
The violence of police officers at protests reveals their true role
The job of law enforcement officers, according to the authorities who have called on them in recent days, is to keep the public safe. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, for example, said in a press conference on Sunday that officers are “here to protect people and property.”
But the police, in many situations, have appeared to actively work against public safety. It’s hard to imagine how macing a child, or driving a car into a crowd of people, could possibly be intended to keep anyone safe.
Instead, the police seem clearly to be treating protesters — members of the public — as adversaries. As Mara Gay writes at the New York Times, “an army of public servants entrusted to protect Americans treated them as an enemy instead.”
This seems to be happening not despite the fact that the protests are about police brutality, but because of it. Previous research shows that police are more likely to use force against protesters when the subject of the protest is police violence, Shaila Dewan and Mike Baker report at the Times. Police are also more likely to use violence against protesters of color than against white demonstrators.
Now “there’s deep resentment on the part of the police that so many people are angry at them, and they’re lashing out,” Alex Vitale, a sociologist at Brooklyn College, told the Times. “Look at what we saw — people sitting on their own stoops getting hit with pepper balls. Anyone who looks at them funny, they’re attacking them.”
That’s why Wallace, the Times Magazine writer, and others have argued that in protests against police brutality, the police should be seen as counterprotesters. Their interests are fundamentally at odds with those of the protesters, who want to see them stripped of their power to harass, assault, and even kill people with impunity. And it’s clear from the events of recent days that police are willing to use more violence to defend that power.
Many have also compared the violent response to the current protests with police behavior during anti-lockdown protests by conservative groups this spring. At those protests, officers were largely peaceful and respectful toward the (mostly white) crowds. One image from Lansing, Michigan, in particular, went viral: officers stoically standing by as an unmasked white man screamed inches from their faces. Contrast that with the images we’ve seen from recent days, of police swarming and beating protesters or running them down from the safety of their vehicles.
At the time of the Michigan protests, Melanye Price, a political science professor at Prairie View A&M University, told Vox that the police response would be very different if the stay-at-home protesters were black. “Imagine 10 black men and rifles walking up to any state capitol in the United States,” Price said. “They would be shot before they ever made it up the steps.”
The protesters attacked on camera by police in recent days have been unarmed. They certainly haven’t been carrying rifles up the capitol steps. Yet the police have treated them not just like a threat but like an opponent.
It’s clear that for many officers around the country, what’s happening in the streets right now isn’t an effort to protect public safety. It’s war.
Correction, June 2: An earlier version of this story misstated the context for a photo of law enforcement officers in Columbus, Ohio. The officers were standing in a street after a crowd of protesters had dispersed, and before curfew began.


vox--2020-06-02--4 primary races to watch in Pennsylvania

Weeks after they were originally set to take place in late April , the Pennsylvania primaries are finally happening on Tuesday , June 2 .
In March , amid the onset of the coronavirus crisis , Gov .
Tom Wolf signed legislation postponing voting in the state .
“ Delaying this year ’ s primary election as several other states have done is in the best interests of voters , poll workers and county election officials , ” he said at the time .
This election also marks new territory for the state in vote-by-mail , which it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why people can ’ t vote in person .
( The deadline to apply to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot was May 26 . )
In-person voting is still happening — poll workers will get protection kits — but given the status of the pandemic , people are being encouraged to avoid in-person voting if possible .
Leading up to voting , many officials , activists , and political groups have raised concerns about how this new system will work , especially given the high volume of ballots expected to be returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state to extend the deadline for returning ballots ( county election offices are supposed to have received ballots on Tuesday by 8 pm ) , and on Monday , Gov .
Wolf signed an executive order extending the mail-in ballot deadline in six Pennsylvania counties to June 9 , which means primary races in Pennsylvania ’ s first , fifth , 10th , and 18th districts won ’ t be called on Tuesday .
But the races in the state ’ s seventh , eighth , ninth , and 11th districts may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary , I ’ ve never seen one quite like this , ” said G. Terry Madonna , director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College .
Much of the campaigning has been virtual , as typical in-person rallies and meetings are off the table .
There are no US Senate or governor ’ s races on the ballot , and many members of Congress and local officials are running unopposed in the primary , making the primaries something of a preview of November ’ s elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 17th District , represented by moderate Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb , is one Republicans have set their sights on flipping .
In the fall , he ’ ll face the only person on the Republican primary ballot : Sean Parnell .
In 2020 , all of Pennsylvania ’ s US House of Representatives seats will be on the ballot , and both Republicans and Democrats hope to flip some seats in the state .
There will also be elections for state auditor general , attorney general , and treasurer , for 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for all 203 of its state House seats .
Pennsylvania will be a big deal come November in the race for the White House and for Congress .
In 2016 , it was a key state in swinging the election for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton , and Democrats are hoping this time around to swing it back .
And in 2018 , Democrats picked up three House seats there .
This time around , Joe Biden has consistently led Trump in the Pennsylvania polls — according to a RealClearPolitics average , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six percentage points .
That doesn ’ t mean the state will surely go to Biden , but Trump has some obstacles there which could affect candidates underneath him on the ticket .
“ The more you think about it , the more you realize that for Trump to win , he has some challenges — he has to pretty much repeat what he did in 2016 , but then he can ’ t get swamped like the Republicans did in the midterms , where they got decisively defeated in the Philly suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November still months away , here are some of the congressional primary races to keep an eye on Tuesday : Who are the Republicans ?
Currently , Pennsylvania ’ s First Congressional District , which includes all of Bucks County and some of Montgomery County in the southeastern part of the state , is represented by Republican Brian Fitzpatrick , a moderate first elected in 2016 .
He is being primaried by Andy Meehan , a businessman , who is running to his right .
Who are the Democrats ?
Vying to ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Christina Finello , a member of the Ivyland Borough Council , and Skylar Hurwitz , a technology consultant .
Another candidate , Debra Wachspress , dropped out in February after making offensive remarks .
What ’ s the background on the race ?
Fitzpatrick , a former FBI agent and a moderate , is likely to come out ahead in his primary , and he ’ ll be interesting to watch moving toward the general election .
In 2016 , Fitzpatrick said he wrote in Mike Pence ’ s name on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t always aligned with Trump ’ s — he often breaks with the president when voting on legislation .
But he ’ s done some shifting in recent weeks to align more with Trump , and it ’ s worth noting he survived the 2018 blue wave .
Finello , a more moderate Democrat , is favored by the party and has landed important local endorsements .
Hurwitz , on the other hand , is running in a more progressive lane and has been backed by the Pennsylvania branch of Our Revolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) has named the district as a target the party wants to pick off .
But in an email to Vox , John Miles Coleman , associate editor of Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia , warned that flipping the seat might not be easy .
His organization rates the seat Likely Republican , and he noted that in 2018 , Fitzpatrick was reelected even as Democratic Gov .
Tom Wolf and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey carried the district by double digits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressive , ” Coleman said .
Cook Political Report rates the district Leans Republican .
Who is the Democrat ?
Rep. Susan Wild currently represents Pennsylvania ’ s Seventh Congressional District in eastern Pennsylvania that encompasses parts of Lehigh , Monroe , and Northampton counties .
The area was previously the state ’ s 15th District , which was represented by Republican Charlie Dent for more than a decade .
Who are the Republicans ?
On the Republican side , Dean Browning and Lisa Scheller , both former Lehigh County commissioners , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates have kicked their own money into their campaigns .
What ’ s the background on the race ?
Scheller has earned the backing of some high-profile Republicans , including President Trump , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) , and multiple Pennsylvania Republicans in Congress .
Brown has tried to paint her as too liberal , but it ’ s unclear if that message has broken through .
The Republican National Campaign Committee ( RNCC ) has targeted Pennsylvania ’ s Seventh District as an opportunity for flipping to red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wild as one of its “ front-line ” members — that is , a vulnerable incumbent whom national party resources will be used to defend .
The Cook Political Report and Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball rate the seat Leans Democratic .
Who is the Democrat ?
Rep. Matt Cartwright is the Democratic incumbent representing Pennsylvania ’ s Eighth District in northeastern Pennsylvania that includes all or parts of Lackawanna , Luzerne , Monroe , Pike , and Wayne counties .
Who are the Republicans ?
Half a dozen candidates are competing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election : Jim Bognet , Mikel Cammisa , Teddy Daniels , Earl Granville , Harry Haas , and Mike Marsicano .
What ’ s the background on the race ?
Trump hasn ’ t weighed in on this race , even though Bognet is a former appointee to his administration .
Rep. McCarthy has backed Granville , a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard .
Four of the six candidates in the race — Bognet , Granville , Marsicano , and Daniels — have raised more than $ 100,000 .
One particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district is how it breaks down by county .
Five of the candidates are from Luzerne County , and one , Granville , is from Lackawanna County .
Pennsylvania voters tend to prefer candidates from the counties they ’ re from in the primary , one state political operative told me , and that gives Granville an advantage .
The other candidates “ are all kind of in a small wading pool competing for voters , ” the operative said .
As Roll Call ’ s Bridget Bowman notes , Republicans think Cartwright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 9 points in 2016 ( though Cartwright won in 2018 by 9 points ) , and they think having Trump at the top of the ticket will make a difference .
But it ’ s also worth noting that this is Biden ’ s home district , given that it ’ s home to Scranton .
Madonna says he understands why Cartwright , like Lamb , is on the GOP ’ s radar .
“ I ’ m not disagreeing with it , but I ’ ll put it this way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult challenge to defeat them in the fall , ” he said .
Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball lists the race as Leans Democratic , and Cook Political Report has it as a Democratic toss-up .
The DCCC has the district as a front-line one , and the RNCC as a target .
Who is the Republican ?
Republican Rep. Scott Perry currently represents Pennsylvania ’ s 10th District in southern Pennsylvania that includes parts of Cumberland , Dauphin , and York counties .
Roll Call lists him as one of the 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Who are the Democrats ?
Eugene DePasquale and Tom Brier are facing off on Tuesday in the Democratic primary .
DePasquale , the state ’ s auditor general , is the favorite , while Brier , an attorney and first-time candidate , is running to his left .
What ’ s the background on the race ?
Coleman said that Democrats have found their “ best possible recruit ” to take on Perry in DePasquale .
“ This is a Trump +9 seat , but DePasquale , who is from York County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was the only statewide Democratic candidate to do so , ” he explained .
Gov .
Wolf has endorsed DePasquale as well .
That ’ s not to say Brier should be completely discounted .
He ’ s proven to be a stronger candidate than expected , and he ’ s run a spirited campaign .
If he wins , it would be an upset , but a scenario that ’ s not entirely out of the question .
Further complicating predictions is the fact that having competitive Democratic primaries in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the district .
Perry has the most conservative voting record of Pennsylvania ’ s congressional delegation .
Cook Political Report rates the district as a Republican toss-up , and Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball as leans Republican .
The DCCC has Perry ’ s seat as a target .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
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Weeks after they were originally set to take place in late April, the Pennsylvania primaries are finally happening on Tuesday, June 2.
In March, amid the onset of the coronavirus crisis, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation postponing voting in the state. “Delaying this year’s primary election as several other states have done is in the best interests of voters, poll workers and county election officials,” he said at the time.
This election also marks new territory for the state in vote-by-mail, which it’s now allowing without an excuse as to why people can’t vote in person. (The deadline to apply to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot was May 26.) In-person voting is still happening — poll workers will get protection kits — but given the status of the pandemic, people are being encouraged to avoid in-person voting if possible.
Leading up to voting, many officials, activists, and political groups have raised concerns about how this new system will work, especially given the high volume of ballots expected to be returned by mail.
Some nonprofits asked the state to extend the deadline for returning ballots (county election offices are supposed to have received ballots on Tuesday by 8 pm), and on Monday, Gov. Wolf signed an executive order extending the mail-in ballot deadline in six Pennsylvania counties to June 9, which means primary races in Pennsylvania’s first, fifth, 10th, and 18th districts won’t be called on Tuesday. But the races in the state’s seventh, eighth, ninth, and 11th districts may be.
“This is a very strange primary, I’ve never seen one quite like this,” said G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College.
Much of the campaigning has been virtual, as typical in-person rallies and meetings are off the table. There are no US Senate or governor’s races on the ballot, and many members of Congress and local officials are running unopposed in the primary, making the primaries something of a preview of November’s elections. For example, the state’s 17th District, represented by moderate Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb, is one Republicans have set their sights on flipping. In the fall, he’ll face the only person on the Republican primary ballot: Sean Parnell.
In 2020, all of Pennsylvania’s US House of Representatives seats will be on the ballot, and both Republicans and Democrats hope to flip some seats in the state. There will also be elections for state auditor general, attorney general, and treasurer, for 25 of its 50 state Senate seats, and for all 203 of its state House seats.
Pennsylvania will be a big deal come November in the race for the White House and for Congress. In 2016, it was a key state in swinging the election for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, and Democrats are hoping this time around to swing it back. And in 2018, Democrats picked up three House seats there.
This time around, Joe Biden has consistently led Trump in the Pennsylvania polls — according to a RealClearPolitics average, he’s up by more than six percentage points. That doesn’t mean the state will surely go to Biden, but Trump has some obstacles there which could affect candidates underneath him on the ticket.
“The more you think about it, the more you realize that for Trump to win, he has some challenges — he has to pretty much repeat what he did in 2016, but then he can’t get swamped like the Republicans did in the midterms, where they got decisively defeated in the Philly suburbs,” Madonna said.
But with November still months away, here are some of the congressional primary races to keep an eye on Tuesday:
Pennsylvania District 1
Who are the Republicans? Currently, Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, which includes all of Bucks County and some of Montgomery County in the southeastern part of the state, is represented by Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate first elected in 2016. He is being primaried by Andy Meehan, a businessman, who is running to his right.
Who are the Democrats? Vying to (likely) take on Fitzpatrick in November are Christina Finello, a member of the Ivyland Borough Council, and Skylar Hurwitz, a technology consultant. Another candidate, Debra Wachspress, dropped out in February after making offensive remarks.
What’s the background on the race? Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent and a moderate, is likely to come out ahead in his primary, and he’ll be interesting to watch moving toward the general election. In 2016, Fitzpatrick said he wrote in Mike Pence’s name on his presidential ballot, and his views haven’t always aligned with Trump’s — he often breaks with the president when voting on legislation. But he’s done some shifting in recent weeks to align more with Trump, and it’s worth noting he survived the 2018 blue wave.
Finello, a more moderate Democrat, is favored by the party and has landed important local endorsements. Hurwitz, on the other hand, is running in a more progressive lane and has been backed by the Pennsylvania branch of Our Revolution and the local Sunrise Movement.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has named the district as a target the party wants to pick off. But in an email to Vox, John Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia, warned that flipping the seat might not be easy. His organization rates the seat Likely Republican, and he noted that in 2018, Fitzpatrick was reelected even as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey carried the district by double digits. “That type of crossover vote is impressive,” Coleman said. Cook Political Report rates the district Leans Republican.
Pennsylvania’s Seventh District
Who is the Democrat? Rep. Susan Wild currently represents Pennsylvania’s Seventh Congressional District in eastern Pennsylvania that encompasses parts of Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties. The area was previously the state’s 15th District, which was represented by Republican Charlie Dent for more than a decade.
Who are the Republicans? On the Republican side, Dean Browning and Lisa Scheller, both former Lehigh County commissioners, are vying to take on Wild. Both candidates have kicked their own money into their campaigns.
What’s the background on the race? Scheller has earned the backing of some high-profile Republicans, including President Trump, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and multiple Pennsylvania Republicans in Congress. Brown has tried to paint her as too liberal, but it’s unclear if that message has broken through.
The Republican National Campaign Committee (RNCC) has targeted Pennsylvania’s Seventh District as an opportunity for flipping to red come November, and the DCCC lists Wild as one of its “front-line” members — that is, a vulnerable incumbent whom national party resources will be used to defend. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the seat Leans Democratic.
Pennsylvania’s Eighth District
Who is the Democrat? Rep. Matt Cartwright is the Democratic incumbent representing Pennsylvania’s Eighth District in northeastern Pennsylvania that includes all or parts of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties.
Who are the Republicans? Half a dozen candidates are competing to go up against Cartwright in the general election: Jim Bognet, Mikel Cammisa, Teddy Daniels, Earl Granville, Harry Haas, and Mike Marsicano.
What’s the background on the race? Trump hasn’t weighed in on this race, even though Bognet is a former appointee to his administration. Rep. McCarthy has backed Granville, a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Four of the six candidates in the race — Bognet, Granville, Marsicano, and Daniels — have raised more than $100,000.
One particular wrinkle about the Republican primary in this district is how it breaks down by county. Five of the candidates are from Luzerne County, and one, Granville, is from Lackawanna County. Pennsylvania voters tend to prefer candidates from the counties they’re from in the primary, one state political operative told me, and that gives Granville an advantage. The other candidates “are all kind of in a small wading pool competing for voters,” the operative said.
As Roll Call’s Bridget Bowman notes, Republicans think Cartwright is vulnerable because Trump won the district by 9 points in 2016 (though Cartwright won in 2018 by 9 points), and they think having Trump at the top of the ticket will make a difference. But it’s also worth noting that this is Biden’s home district, given that it’s home to Scranton.
Madonna says he understands why Cartwright, like Lamb, is on the GOP’s radar. “I’m not disagreeing with it, but I’ll put it this way, it’s going to be a difficult challenge to defeat them in the fall,” he said.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball lists the race as Leans Democratic, and Cook Political Report has it as a Democratic toss-up. The DCCC has the district as a front-line one, and the RNCC as a target.
Pennsylvania’s 10th District
Who is the Republican? Republican Rep. Scott Perry currently represents Pennsylvania’s 10th District in southern Pennsylvania that includes parts of Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties. Roll Call lists him as one of the 10 most vulnerable members of Congress come November.
Who are the Democrats? Eugene DePasquale and Tom Brier are facing off on Tuesday in the Democratic primary. DePasquale, the state’s auditor general, is the favorite, while Brier, an attorney and first-time candidate, is running to his left.
What’s the background on the race? Coleman said that Democrats have found their “best possible recruit” to take on Perry in DePasquale. “This is a Trump +9 seat, but DePasquale, who is from York County, carried the district in 2016 — he was the only statewide Democratic candidate to do so,” he explained. Gov. Wolf has endorsed DePasquale as well.
That’s not to say Brier should be completely discounted. He’s proven to be a stronger candidate than expected, and he’s run a spirited campaign. If he wins, it would be an upset, but a scenario that’s not entirely out of the question. Further complicating predictions is the fact that having competitive Democratic primaries in the first place is a relatively new development for the district.
Perry has the most conservative voting record of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation. Cook Political Report rates the district as a Republican toss-up, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball as leans Republican. The DCCC has Perry’s seat as a target.


vox--2020-06-02--Why people are posting black squares on Instagram

An effort to raise awareness about police brutality and systemic racism , which started in the music industry before being co-opted by countless Instagram users , appears to be backfiring somewhat .
The “ Blackout Tuesday ” campaign began as a push for a day of reflection from music artists and labels in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd , an unarmed black man , in Minneapolis last Monday .
But almost immediately after the campaign started , countless Instagram users uploaded solid black squares in solidarity and added a # BlackLivesMatter hashtag .
That meant the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rows and rows of black squares on the Instagram page for # BlackLivesMatter .
Many offered little to no context or information about the movement or demonstrations .
Activists are now criticizing Blackout Tuesday posts that use the # BlackLivesMatter hashtag for being not just unhelpful but also counterproductive for those looking for critical information and resources related to anti-police brutality demonstrations .
This was certainly not the purpose of Blackout Tuesday .
The phenomenon of people posting black squares follows an effort called # TheShowMustBePaused , launched last week by two black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brianna Agyemang .
Thomas , a senior marketing director at Atlantic Records , and Agyemang , a senior artist campaign manager at the Apple-owned music platform Platoon , launched # TheShowMustBePaused as several labels committed to participating in Blackout Tuesday on Instagram .
It ’ s not clear if the # TheShowMustBePaused hashtag or the Blackout Tuesday pledge started first , but the sentiment shared by those in the music industry was similar .
Still , the effort altogether seemed to have a significant impact , especially in the music industry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ TikTok announced they would suspend much of their regular work Tuesday amid the demonstrations .
“ Tuesday , June 2 is meant to intentionally disrupt the work week , ” explains the website for # TheShowMustBePaused .
“ It is a day to take a beat for an honest , reflective , and productive conversation about what actions we need to collectively take to support the Black community.
” In addition to including a statement , the website clearly explains what companies and members of the music industry could do during their downtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donate to various bail funds , to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund , and to the family of Ahmaud Arbery , who was killed by two white men while jogging .
There ’ s also a link to a petition in support of justice for Breonna Taylor , a first responder who was shot and killed by police while sleeping in her own bed , as well as to the Movement for Black Lives website .
While the music industry ’ s response was not completely uniform , the industry ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the mainstream .
As of early Tuesday afternoon , # TheShowMustBePaused had appeared on more than half a million posts on Instagram .
However , while record labels issued image-based statements — often just white text on a black background — lots of Instagram and Twitter users simply uploaded plain black images and added the campaign ’ s hashtag .
Some also added or used the # BlackLivesMatter hashtag , which led to objections from organizers that Black Lives Matter content was being pushed aside by the plain black squares .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included # BlackLivesMatter hashtags that when users searched # BlackLivesMatter on Instagram , some could only see row after row of black squares .
That meant that other posts , including information about protests or fundraising efforts , were getting drowned out by the trend .
Complaints about the issue started early Tuesday morning .
Here ’ s Black Lives Matter activist Kenidra Woods : By midday Tuesday , the organizers behind # TheShowMustBePaused posted an update on Twitter urging people to not use the # BlackLivesMatter hashtag unless it was to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to “ type out Black Lives Matter with no hashtag , so we do not inadvertently mute vital dialogue in a sea of black boxes.
” Some social media users are encouraging people who posted the black squares to delete or edit their posts to remove the hashtag .
“ If you edit your post to remove a hashtag , your post will no longer be shown on that hashtag page , ” Seine Kim , a spokesperson for Facebook , Instagram ’ s parent company , told Recode .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 10 minutes for the post to be removed once you edit the post.
” But again , the criticism over those participating in Blackout Tuesday extends beyond the problem of people posting black squares on Instagram and obscuring Black Lives Matter content .
Other social media users argue that , regardless of the hashtag , just posting a black square and then logging off gives both brands and nonblack people a way of signaling support on social media without providing any real help .
Others have pointed out that Tuesday is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since that ’ s when primary elections are happening in nine states and Washington , DC .
Instead of posting a black square and the hashtag , activists have urged people to consider donating to bail funds and other nonprofit efforts focused on fighting police brutality and helping protesters .
If you ’ re going to a demonstration , Vox has written a guide for how to do so more safely in the pandemic .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Vox today .

An effort to raise awareness about police brutality and systemic racism, which started in the music industry before being co-opted by countless Instagram users, appears to be backfiring somewhat.
The “Blackout Tuesday” campaign began as a push for a day of reflection from music artists and labels in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis last Monday. But almost immediately after the campaign started, countless Instagram users uploaded solid black squares in solidarity and added a #BlackLivesMatter hashtag. That meant the new Blackout Tuesday posts showed up as rows and rows of black squares on the Instagram page for #BlackLivesMatter. Many offered little to no context or information about the movement or demonstrations.
Activists are now criticizing Blackout Tuesday posts that use the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag for being not just unhelpful but also counterproductive for those looking for critical information and resources related to anti-police brutality demonstrations.
This was certainly not the purpose of Blackout Tuesday. The phenomenon of people posting black squares follows an effort called #TheShowMustBePaused, launched last week by two black women music industry executives, Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang. Thomas, a senior marketing director at Atlantic Records, and Agyemang, a senior artist campaign manager at the Apple-owned music platform Platoon, launched #TheShowMustBePaused as several labels committed to participating in Blackout Tuesday on Instagram. It’s not clear if the #TheShowMustBePaused hashtag or the Blackout Tuesday pledge started first, but the sentiment shared by those in the music industry was similar.
Still, the effort altogether seemed to have a significant impact, especially in the music industry. Companies including Spotify, Apple, and TikTok announced they would suspend much of their regular work Tuesday amid the demonstrations.
“Tuesday, June 2 is meant to intentionally disrupt the work week,” explains the website for #TheShowMustBePaused. “It is a day to take a beat for an honest, reflective, and productive conversation about what actions we need to collectively take to support the Black community.”
In addition to including a statement, the website clearly explains what companies and members of the music industry could do during their downtime on Tuesday. There are links to donate to various bail funds, to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund, and to the family of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed by two white men while jogging. There’s also a link to a petition in support of justice for Breonna Taylor, a first responder who was shot and killed by police while sleeping in her own bed, as well as to the Movement for Black Lives website.
While the music industry’s response was not completely uniform, the industry’s initial support for the effort quickly spread to the mainstream. As of early Tuesday afternoon, #TheShowMustBePaused had appeared on more than half a million posts on Instagram. However, while record labels issued image-based statements — often just white text on a black background — lots of Instagram and Twitter users simply uploaded plain black images and added the campaign’s hashtag. Some also added or used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, which led to objections from organizers that Black Lives Matter content was being pushed aside by the plain black squares.
So many of these plain black square posts included #BlackLivesMatter hashtags that when users searched #BlackLivesMatter on Instagram, some could only see row after row of black squares. That meant that other posts, including information about protests or fundraising efforts, were getting drowned out by the trend. Complaints about the issue started early Tuesday morning. Here’s Black Lives Matter activist Kenidra Woods:
It has come to my attention that many allies are using #BlackLivesMatter hashtag w black image on insta. We know that’s it no intent to harm but to be frank, this essentially does harm the message. We use hashtag to keep ppl updated. PLS stop using the hashtag for black images!! pic.twitter.com/eG2fPaybNW — Kenidra4Humanity ~ BLACK LIVES MATTER ~ (@KenidraRWoods_) June 2, 2020
By midday Tuesday, the organizers behind #TheShowMustBePaused posted an update on Twitter urging people to not use the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag unless it was to share important information or resources. They asked people to “type out Black Lives Matter with no hashtag, so we do not inadvertently mute vital dialogue in a sea of black boxes.”
Some social media users are encouraging people who posted the black squares to delete or edit their posts to remove the hashtag. “If you edit your post to remove a hashtag, your post will no longer be shown on that hashtag page,” Seine Kim, a spokesperson for Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, told Recode. “In some cases, it may take up to 10 minutes for the post to be removed once you edit the post.”
But again, the criticism over those participating in Blackout Tuesday extends beyond the problem of people posting black squares on Instagram and obscuring Black Lives Matter content. Other social media users argue that, regardless of the hashtag, just posting a black square and then logging off gives both brands and nonblack people a way of signaling support on social media without providing any real help.
Others have pointed out that Tuesday is not a great day to go offline, since that’s when primary elections are happening in nine states and Washington, DC. Instead of posting a black square and the hashtag, activists have urged people to consider donating to bail funds and other nonprofit efforts focused on fighting police brutality and helping protesters. If you’re going to a demonstration, Vox has written a guide for how to do so more safely in the pandemic.