dailykos--2020-07-16--How Protester Occupations Can Succeed

How Protester Occupations Can Succeed

Spontaneous urban uprisings have a soul of their own .
To guide one through a decision-making process is very difficult but not impossible .
Nation-wide demonstrations , mobilized around the Black Lives Matter movement ’ s response to the killing of George Floyd , were held in all fifty states and in 5,000 cities .
Rallies were held in public squares and larger cities saw their freeways and bridges blocked .
Only a few cities ( Richmond , Va. ; Philadelphia ; Oakland , CA , and New York City ) experienced occupations of a public space .
None of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle , which went on for a month .
When the police abandoned their undamaged East Precinct Police Station , because they did not want demonstrations on the streets bordering it , the demonstrators moved into those streets and declared it under the people ’ s control .
Initially the most vocal protest leaders declared it an “ autonomous ” zone .
That caught everyone ’ s attention .
Seattle ’ s occupied three block long street , located in a neighborhood business and residential area , received extensive national coverage .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC and FOX News repeatedly covered the occupation .
Leaders from the local BLM group proclaimed the occupation as CHOP ( Capitol Hill Organized Protest ) .
Often TV reporters just got the facts wrong .
One Fox news analyst described the demonstrators ’ autonomous zone as an immense six-block radius area and the CHOP occupiers were terrorists bent on destroying Seattle .
The other two stations saw them demonstrators accurately as a mixture of curious local residents , racial justice advocates , and peaceful libertarians .
The Seattle independent journalist Omari Salisbury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire occupation .
In an NPR interview he spoke of lost opportunities , “ …a lot of people who just really , just want to be heard in a peaceful way and in a peaceful capacity .
But there was nobody , with this national and international spotlight , who could just emerge here , and who could just speak with a little bit of humanity , to the people in the street and understand it , and also build a bridge down the City Hall , and everything else.
” Another independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his disappoint with the CHOP experience in his Tragedy Of Errors piece .
He faulted everyone involved .
Mayor , Jenny Durkan , stumbled through experimenting with new approaches without any clear path forward .
Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best , the city ’ s first female black to hold that position , she issued a ban on the use of tear gas by patrol officers , only to reauthorize it less than 48 hours after her ban .
Schofield was also criticized city government and the protestors .
He claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cranking out council bills supposedly responding to protesters ’ demands .
While the demonstrators who appeared to be leading the occupation failed to form an “ Occupy Seattle ” organization to demand that the city address structural racism and over-policing .
Instead he saw CHOP becoming an “ Occupy Woodstock ” experiment in participatory democracy .
Not having a clearly identified leadership allowed the police chief to honestly say she didn ’ t know who she could negotiate with from CHOP .
Both journalists said , in so many words , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebellion .
Although , CHOP provided open forums allowed for group discussions , no sustainable organized decision-making apparatus was created .
The major groups in the occupation , seemed to be primarily concerned with keeping the peace within their controlled area .
It is not surprising that a single guiding organization did not develop .
There were probably individuals in CHOP who tried their hardest to create one .
However , the social dynamics within urban populist rebellions and the political powers outside them make it difficult to create an organization that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space .
That hurdle was also present in the thirty cities in 2011 when the Occupy Wall Street movement occupied public plazas or parks for indefinite periods of time .
The most famous being the two-month long occupation of New York ’ s Zuccotti Park in the financial district in Lower Manhattan .
At that same time Seattle ’ s Occupy Wall Street moved around to three different occupation sites .
First starting at the Westlake Mall in the core of downtown , then moving to the City Hall Plaza , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being forcibly removed from the Westlake location .
Seattle ’ s OWS group finally decided to move to the Seattle Central Community College ( SCCC ) campus and stayed for a month , until they were forced to leave .
The OWS occupations did develop organized efforts through their “ general assemblies ” , which allowed for an orderly and democratic discussion of how their occupation should function .
However , different political philosophies competed for control , which hindered the development of an effective organization .
The same struggle became apparent at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group could claim to speak for it .
Three main philosophical tendencies appear to be jostling for control .
A Libertarian anarchist approach advocated direct action , direct democracy and a rejection of existing political institutions .
Another philosophy fit more into a socialist paradigm of focusing on the larger societal inequities and how the occupation should address them .
And then there was a pragmatic philosophy that advocated practical immediate political gains to allow for further organizing opportunities down the road .
Although each philosophy had a different priority , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and coordinated action , if there had been an identifiable objective , they could all agree to .
A bigger barrier to success than competing philosophies , is the ambiguity of defining an objective when an open public space is being occupied in possible perpetuity .
Who controls the space and who has access to it ?
If other citizens , who do not have political power inside the occupied area or outside of it , have had their usual access to this occupied land be compromised , then as a local community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives the authorities the justification for disbanding the occupants .
However , there are examples of where occupying a piece of land has resulted in success .
It involves taking control of real property and that property is not critical to the needs of another community .
It literally moves a protesting groups ’ objective from being against a number of social and political existing conditions to wanting a real physical object in order to better mobilize a community to change those conditions .
It moves from controlling an open public space , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to directly addressing their grievances , to controlling a particular building to help them pursue those grievances .
By making that change , leadership and an organization are required to focus on a finite , measurable and achievable goal .
Seattle ’ s history provides three specific examples : Daybreak Star Cultural Center , El Centro de la Raza and the Northwest African American Museum ( NAAM ) .
In each instance , a discriminated minority community , Native American , Latino/Chicano and African American , successfully occupied a public building that eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that community ’ s legal control , allowing them to serve their community ’ s needs .
All three occupied an unused building that no other community sought to use .
Their length of occupation varied .
Daybreak had multiple short-term occupations , El Centro was occupied for three months , and NAAM took eight years of occupation and negotiation .
All efforts were led by a single organization with recognized leadership and an overarching philosophy of focusing on a single objective - obtaining control of a building .
Each effort was initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some instances police force was used .
However , by having an organization with supporters largely in agreement on tactics , they were able to put constant political pressure on the authorities .
This involved organizing rallies , marches and sit-ins within government buildings .
All this activity was to gain positive media coverage on the reasonableness of their demands to provide for the practical needs of their community .
As a result , the authorities recognized that they could and had to negotiate a solution that would be acceptable to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupation focusing on a singular objective means having a clearly defined measurement for success such as acquiring a physical resource for helping meet the needs of a discriminated community .
Nevertheless , occupying open public spaces have successfully captured national attention on existing police brutality and systemic racism in the application of law enforcement .
That attention is now resulting in cities being pressured to move funds from militarized police forces , whose culture has been largely limited to “ catching criminals and putting them in jail , ” to a more wholistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust and respect of communities they patrol .
But for protestors to simply draw out an occupation with no clear end in sight , actually diffuses their message to address major issues .
This occurs because citizens who are occupying public spaces do not have the resources to create a sustainable safe environment .
Lacking one swings open a wide door for critics to get media coverage by highlighting any and all of the shortcomings that result from that situation .
Consequently , the groups ’ initial meaningful message can be diminished in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful occupation tactic , if it is not to obtain a building , is to pull out before things fall apart .
By leaving voluntarily rather than being pushed out , leaves the public remembering the protestor ’ s message and not on the problems created by trying to create an “ autonomous ” zone in an open public space .
An organization that has the respect and trust of the larger protestor community , is required to lead them down a path of planned actions with clear objectives .
Such an organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its members and supporters if a plan executes a withdrawal .
Looking back again on the CHOP experience reveals how difficult that task is when an open public space if being occupied by a diverse assortment of communities and philosophies .
There were probably only five existing organizations that might have been able to pull off that effort .
I do not mention their leaders by name , because I want to focus on the organizations not on personalities .
However , it is very likely that all of these organizations had members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive of CHOP .
The hyperlinks to each organization provides additional information .
The local King County Democratic Party was the largest and best organized group available to influence CHOP .
It has identifiable members in each neighborhood and an internet communication network for being in touch with them .
It also has a philosophy that is compatible with larger social justice objectives and more immediate pragmatic solutions .
It was practically invisible at CHOP as an active organization .
There were most certainly individual members of it at CHOP , maybe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was not a force .
The Democratic Party generally can not respond quickly to events .
Its membership is not prone to direct actions , like occupations .
Additionally the DP is part of the political system with members in elected office .
Those public officials have to be accountable to their constituents , many of whom may oppose occupations .
As a result , the DP is rarely a major player in demonstrations that form from a populist uprising .
The second-best organized group was the local chapter of the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than a tenth of Seattle ’ s Democratic Party membership .
It is highly organized but with a much narrower philosophical bandwidth .
Their SA member on the Seattle city council was at the demonstrations and even managed to convince a large contingency of CHOP occupants to march down to city hall .
She let them inside , after that building had officially closed , and held an impromptu rally .
But SA had no direct role in how CHOP ’ s decision making was occurring .
And although it is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it may lack the bandwidth to engage in negotiations that diverge too far from their philosophy .
As their website says SA is in the “ revolutionary tradition of the leaders of the Russian Revolution , Lenin and Trotsky from which we draw inspiration.
” The next three organizations are truly grass root based , but also less organized with fewer resources than the first two mentioned .
The Seattle People ’ s Party , formed in 2016 , describes itself as a “ community-centered grassroots political party led by and accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity in the City of Seattle.
” They ran an SPP member for Seattle Mayor , narrowly missing the general election by 1,100 votes .
In that effort they mobilized over 1,000 volunteers and knocked on 22,000 doors .
They have the membership muscle to run political campaigns .
Their most visible board member , who ran for mayor , often was a media commentator on the significance of CHOP .
In an NPR interview she emphasized the importance of not criticizing other protestors , no matter what direct action strategies they employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media playing any role in shaping CHOP and their presence was not visibly prominent within the occupation zone .
While SPP would certainly have the respect of the CHOP occupants , it was not apparent that it tried to influence the occupants to leave at any time .
The Seattle Democratic Socialists of America describe themselves as anti-capitalists who believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically .
They state , “ We are a political and activist organization , not a party.
” They have a website , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local board members are identified .
DSA has posted Black Lives Matter issues but nothing about CHOP .
Like SPP , they do not appear as an organization having a role in guiding CHOP ’ s future nor do they proffer on what it should be .
However , they did devote space on their website to an event hosted by the Seattle Black Collective Voice , which has grown out of the local Black Lives Matter movement .
Which brings us to the last of the five groups , and probably the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County ( BLMSKC ) core activists and organizers consist of a “ group of Black and other people of color focused on dismantling anti-black systems and policies of oppression.
” The local group tweeted that “ CHOP started in response to the need for safety of Black bodies from police and racial violence , and the demand for authentic accountability and change.
” They also posted their response to being asked to help shut down CHOP : “ you can ’ t shut down human needs or the people who demand them – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A BLM spokesperson declared soon after the start of the occupation , that the Capitol Hill area was not an Autonomous Zone , but an Organizing Protest , hence it went from CHAZ to CHOP .
Later , a new group appeared , the Seattle Black Collective Voice , and their spokesperson said , “ It ’ s the will of the people , ” when asked how long CHOP residents plan to camp out .
The local BLM may have been the driving force behind CHOP and Seattle ’ s demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear that the those occupying CHOP were about to relinquish their freedom to protest as they best saw fit .
The libertarian philosophy was evident in not wanting to be subject to any organization ’ s authority .
This brief review of relevant organizations shows how none of them , however big or organized , sympathetic or active , could determine the fate of CHOP .
Spontaneous urban uprisings have a soul of their own .
To guide one through a decision-making process to reach a near consensus is practically impossible .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organized by a single group and does not have a measurable objective .
Despite CHOP zone no longer being an entity , the occupants most publicized objective to significantly defund Seattle ’ s police department appears to have been achieved .
While the mayor responded with a minimal 5 % cut in police budget , a majority of the Seattle City Council members agreed with advocates to defund the Police Department by 50 % and reallocate the dollars to other community needs .
Although the details and execution of that reduction must still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be permanent , it did put reforming the police department into over-drive .
However , for there to be a lasting success , those five organizations will need to work together to achieve that end goal .
Nick Licata is author of Becoming A Citizen Activist , and has served 5 terms on the Seattle City Council , named progressive municipal official of the year by The Nation , and is founding board chair of Local Progress , a national network of 1,000 progressive municipal officials .
Subscribe to Licata ’ s newsletter @ @

Spontaneous urban uprisings have a soul of their own. To guide one through
a decision-making process is very difficult but not impossible.
Nation-wide demonstrations, mobilized around the Black Lives Matter movement’s response to the killing of George Floyd, were held in all fifty states and in 5,000 cities. Rallies were held in public squares and larger cities saw their freeways and bridges blocked. Only a few cities ( Richmond, Va.; Philadelphia; Oakland, CA, and New York City ) experienced occupations of a public space. None of them were sustained for long, except Seattle, which went on for a month.
When the police abandoned their undamaged East Precinct Police Station, because they did not want demonstrations on the streets bordering it, the demonstrators moved into those streets and declared it under the people’s control. Initially the most vocal protest leaders declared it an “autonomous” zone. That caught everyone’s attention. Seattle’s occupied three block long street, located in a neighborhood business and residential area, received extensive national coverage.
The three largest news channels, CNN, MSNBC and FOX News repeatedly covered the occupation. Leaders from the local BLM group proclaimed the occupation as CHOP (Capitol Hill Organized Protest). Often TV reporters just got the facts wrong. One Fox news analyst described the demonstrators’ autonomous zone as an immense six-block radius area and the CHOP occupiers were terrorists bent on destroying Seattle. The other two stations saw them demonstrators accurately as a mixture of curious local residents, racial justice advocates, and peaceful libertarians.
The Seattle independent journalist Omari Salisbury live-streamed reported from the CHOP during the entire occupation. In an NPR interview he spoke of lost opportunities, “…a lot of people who just really, just want to be heard in a peaceful way and in a peaceful capacity. But there was nobody, with this national and international spotlight, who could just emerge here, and who could just speak with a little bit of humanity, to the people in the street and understand it, and also build a bridge down the City Hall, and everything else.”
Another independent Seattle journalist, Kevin Schofield, wrote of his disappoint with the CHOP experience in his Tragedy Of Errors piece. He faulted everyone involved. Mayor, Jenny Durkan, stumbled through experimenting with new approaches without any clear path forward. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, the city’s first female black to hold that position, she issued a ban on the use of tear gas by patrol officers, only to reauthorize it less than 48 hours after her ban.
Schofield was also criticized city government and the protestors. He claimed that politicians turned CHOP into political theater, cranking out council bills supposedly responding to protesters’ demands. While the demonstrators who appeared to be leading the occupation failed to form an “Occupy Seattle” organization to demand that the city address structural racism and over-policing. Instead he saw CHOP becoming an “Occupy Woodstock” experiment in participatory democracy. Not having a clearly identified leadership allowed the police chief to honestly say she didn’t know who she could negotiate with from CHOP.
Both journalists said, in so many words, there was no organization providing effective leadership to the rebellion. Although, CHOP provided open forums allowed for group discussions, no sustainable organized decision-making apparatus was created. The major groups in the occupation, seemed to be primarily concerned with keeping the peace within their controlled area.
It is not surprising that a single guiding organization did not develop. There were probably individuals in CHOP who tried their hardest to create one. However, the social dynamics within urban populist rebellions and the political powers outside them make it difficult to create an organization that can sustain the occupation of an open public space. That hurdle was also present in the thirty cities in 2011 when the Occupy Wall Street movement occupied public plazas or parks for indefinite periods of time.
The most famous being the two-month long occupation of New York’s Zuccotti Park in the financial district in Lower Manhattan. At that same time Seattle’s Occupy Wall Street moved around to three different occupation sites. First starting at the Westlake Mall in the core of downtown, then moving to the City Hall Plaza, at the invitation of the Mayor as they were being forcibly removed from the Westlake location. Seattle’s OWS group finally decided to move to the Seattle Central Community College (SCCC) campus and stayed for a month, until they were forced to leave.
The OWS occupations did develop organized efforts through their “general assemblies”, which allowed for an orderly and democratic discussion of how their occupation should function. However, different political philosophies competed for control, which hindered the development of an effective organization. The same struggle became apparent at Seattle’s CHOP when no single group could claim to speak for it.
Three main philosophical tendencies appear to be jostling for control. A Libertarian anarchist approach advocated direct action, direct democracy and a rejection of existing political institutions. Another philosophy fit more into a socialist paradigm of focusing on the larger societal inequities and how the occupation should address them. And then there was a pragmatic philosophy that advocated practical immediate political gains to allow for further organizing opportunities down the road. Although each philosophy had a different priority, there was enough overlap to allow for some coherent and coordinated action, if there had been an identifiable objective, they could all agree to.
A bigger barrier to success than competing philosophies, is the ambiguity of defining an objective when an open public space is being occupied in possible perpetuity. Who controls the space and who has access to it? If other citizens, who do not have political power inside the occupied area or outside of it, have had their usual access to this occupied land be compromised, then as a local community they will likely oppose it. That gives the authorities the justification for disbanding the occupants.
However, there are examples of where occupying a piece of land has resulted in success. It involves taking control of real property and that property is not critical to the needs of another community. It literally moves a protesting groups’ objective from being against a number of social and political existing conditions to wanting a real physical object in order to better mobilize a community to change those conditions. It moves from controlling an open public space, which may have little or no connection to directly addressing their grievances, to controlling a particular building to help them pursue those grievances. By making that change, leadership and an organization are required to focus on a finite, measurable and achievable goal.
Seattle’s history provides three specific examples: Daybreak Star Cultural Center, El Centro de la Raza and the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM). In each instance, a discriminated minority community, Native American, Latino/Chicano and African American, successfully occupied a public building that eventually resulted in it being turned over to that community’s legal control, allowing them to serve their community’s needs. All three occupied an unused building that no other community sought to use. Their length of occupation varied. Daybreak had multiple short-term occupations, El Centro was occupied for three months, and NAAM took eight years of occupation and negotiation. All efforts were led by a single organization with recognized leadership and an overarching philosophy of focusing on a single objective - obtaining control of a building.
Each effort was initially met by local government resistance, and in some instances police force was used. However, by having an organization with supporters largely in agreement on tactics, they were able to put constant political pressure on the authorities. This involved organizing rallies, marches and sit-ins within government buildings. All this activity was to gain positive media coverage on the reasonableness of their demands to provide for the practical needs of their community. As a result, the authorities recognized that they could and had to negotiate a solution that would be acceptable to the occupiers.
These examples show how an occupation focusing on a singular objective means having a clearly defined measurement for success such as acquiring a physical resource for helping meet the needs of a discriminated community. Nevertheless, occupying open public spaces have successfully captured national attention on existing police brutality and systemic racism in the application of law enforcement. That attention is now resulting in cities being pressured to move funds from militarized police forces, whose culture has been largely limited to “catching criminals and putting them in jail,” to a more wholistic, humanistic approach that can earn the trust and respect of communities they patrol.
But for protestors to simply draw out an occupation with no clear end in sight, actually diffuses their message to address major issues. This occurs because citizens who are occupying public spaces do not have the resources to create a sustainable safe environment. Lacking one swings open a wide door for critics to get media coverage by highlighting any and all of the shortcomings that result from that situation. Consequently, the groups’ initial meaningful message can be diminished in the media.
The path toward a successful occupation tactic, if it is not to obtain a building, is to pull out before things fall apart. By leaving voluntarily rather than being pushed out, leaves the public remembering the protestor’s message and not on the problems created by trying to create an “autonomous” zone in an open public space.
An organization that has the respect and trust of the larger protestor community, is required to lead them down a path of planned actions with clear objectives. Such an organization also needs resources and internal discipline from its members and supporters if a plan executes a withdrawal.
Looking back again on the CHOP experience reveals how difficult that task is when an open public space if being occupied by a diverse assortment of communities and philosophies. There were probably only five existing organizations that might have been able to pull off that effort. I do not mention their leaders by name, because I want to focus on the organizations not on personalities. However, it is very likely that all of these organizations had members who were involved in or at least supportive of CHOP. The hyperlinks to each organization provides additional information.
The local King County Democratic Party was the largest and best organized group available to influence CHOP. It has identifiable members in each neighborhood and an internet communication network for being in touch with them. It also has a philosophy that is compatible with larger social justice objectives and more immediate pragmatic solutions. It was practically invisible at CHOP as an active organization. There were most certainly individual members of it at CHOP, maybe in leadership roles, but as an organization it was not a force. The Democratic Party generally cannot respond quickly to events. Its membership is not prone to direct actions, like occupations. Additionally the DP is part of the political system with members in elected office. Those public officials have to be accountable to their constituents, many of whom may oppose occupations. As a result, the DP is rarely a major player in demonstrations that form from a populist uprising.
The second-best organized group was the local chapter of the national Socialist Alternative Party, which has far less than a tenth of Seattle’s Democratic Party membership. It is highly organized but with a much narrower philosophical bandwidth. Their SA member on the Seattle city council was at the demonstrations and even managed to convince a large contingency of CHOP occupants to march down to city hall. She let them inside, after that building had officially closed, and held an impromptu rally. But SA had no direct role in how CHOP’s decision making was occurring. And although it is more nimble than the DP in making decisions, it may lack the bandwidth to engage in negotiations that diverge too far from their philosophy. As their website says SA is in the “revolutionary tradition of the leaders of the Russian Revolution, Lenin and Trotsky from which we draw inspiration.”
The next three organizations are truly grass root based, but also less organized with fewer resources than the first two mentioned.
The Seattle People’s Party, formed in 2016, describes itself as a “community-centered grassroots political party led by and accountable to the people most requiring access and equity in the City of Seattle.” They ran an SPP member for Seattle Mayor, narrowly missing the general election by 1,100 votes. In that effort they mobilized over 1,000 volunteers and knocked on 22,000 doors. They have the membership muscle to run political campaigns. Their most visible board member, who ran for mayor, often was a media commentator on the significance of CHOP. In an NPR interview she emphasized the importance of not criticizing other protestors, no matter what direct action strategies they employed. SPP was not mentioned in the media playing any role in shaping CHOP and their presence was not visibly prominent within the occupation zone. While SPP would certainly have the respect of the CHOP occupants, it was not apparent that it tried to influence the occupants to leave at any time.
The Seattle Democratic Socialists of America describe themselves as anti-capitalists who
believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically. They state, “We are a political and activist organization, not a party.” They have a website, but like SA’s website, no local board members are identified. DSA has posted Black Lives Matter issues but nothing about CHOP. Like SPP, they do not appear as an organization having a role in guiding CHOP’s future nor do they proffer on what it should be. However, they did devote space on their website to an event hosted by the Seattle Black Collective Voice, which has grown out of the local Black Lives Matter movement. Which brings us to the last of the five groups, and probably the most important.
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County (BLMSKC ) core activists and organizers consist of a “group of Black and other people of color focused on dismantling anti-black systems and policies of oppression.” The local group tweeted that “CHOP started in response to the need for safety of Black bodies from police and racial violence, and the demand for authentic accountability and change.” They also posted their response to being asked to help shut down CHOP: “you can’t shut down human needs or the people who demand them – you can only meet or exceed them.” A BLM spokesperson declared soon after the start of the occupation, that the Capitol Hill area was not an Autonomous Zone, but an Organizing Protest, hence it went from CHAZ to CHOP. Later, a new group appeared, the Seattle Black Collective Voice, and their spokesperson said, “It’s the will of the people,” when asked how long CHOP residents plan to camp out. The local BLM may have been the driving force behind CHOP and Seattle’s demonstrations in general, but it did not appear that the those occupying CHOP were about to relinquish their freedom to protest as they best saw fit. The libertarian philosophy was evident in not wanting to be subject to any organization’s authority.
This brief review of relevant organizations shows how none of them, however big or organized, sympathetic or active, could determine the fate of CHOP. Spontaneous urban uprisings have a soul of their own. To guide one through a decision-making process to reach a near consensus is practically impossible. That is particularly true if it was not organized by a single group and does not have a measurable objective.
Despite CHOP zone no longer being an entity, the occupants most publicized objective to significantly defund Seattle’s police department appears to have been achieved. While the mayor responded with a minimal 5% cut in police budget, a majority of the Seattle City Council members agreed with advocates to defund the Police Department by 50% and reallocate the dollars to other community needs. Although the details and execution of that reduction must still be defined. While CHOP failed to be permanent, it did put reforming the police department into over-drive. However, for there to be a lasting success, those five organizations will need to work together to achieve that end goal.
Nick Licata is author of Becoming A Citizen Activist, and has served 5 terms on the Seattle City Council, named progressive municipal official of the year by The Nation, and is founding board chair of Local Progress, a national network of 1,000 progressive municipal officials.
Subscribe to Licata’s newsletter Urban Politics


dailykos--2020-07-16--Inaccuracy in Genesis: why I mean never to visit the Creation Museum

Ever since I can remember , my fascination has been with the study of the social foundations of human intellectual life : namely , in antiquity , mythology , and the classical legends .
Having completed my Master ’ s in Critical Comparative Scriptures at the School of Arts and Humanities at Claremont Graduate University , and as particularly an American student of myth , I might be expected to visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky ; and yet , I never have , and have no plans to do so .
The reasons for this , are simple .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I live in California ; and it seems to me rather spendthrift , to travel cross-country to see an exhibit , and immediately come back .
I have neither friends nor relations in Kentucky , and therefore nowhere to stay or anyone to meet .
Secondly , the Creation Museum is expensive ; even members must pay over $ 50 apiece to enter .
Thirdly , and perhaps most importantly , the Creation Museum is by no reasonable measure an instructive or accurate rendition of the mythology it purports to display .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Museum , is the legend of the Garden of Eden : a Judeo-Christian origin-fable of human suffering , loosely based on Greek and Zoroastrian antecedents .
In this legend , the first human beings live undisturbed in a peaceful garden in present-day Mesopotamia , until persuaded by a ‘ Serpent ’ ( Prometheus ) to ingest the fruit of the ‘ Tree of Knowledge ’ , which induces a conscience , and a heightened sense of mortality .
Fearful that they might then obtain the fruit of the ‘ Tree of Life ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them from the garden into the wider world , and condemns them to every manner of hardship .
The representation of this myth in the Creation Museum , is far from faithful , even to the syncretic and fragmentary present form , insofar as it tries to incorporate dinosaur paleontology , hominin evolution , and geological data into the myth , which originally acknowledged none of these .
On principle , there is nothing wrong with this .
Numerous Early Modern scientists , including Ibn Sina ( Avicenna ) , Al-Haytham ( Alhazen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar Khayyám , and their successors Copernicus , Kepler , Galileo , Newton , Leibniz , Hubble , Herschel , Bohr , Einstein , Polodsky , Rosen , etc.
, saw no contradiction between an honest study of the cosmos , and reverence for its Creator .
There is equally nothing wrong with alleging , as the Creation Museum does , that the discovery of marine fossils at high altitudes , inspired the legend of the global Deluge .
This legend is re-created at the Creation Museum , under the name of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the human protagonists of the story survived the disaster .
Archaeologically speaking , the legendary Deluge may be identified as any of several inundations in and around the ancient city of Uruk , in the Tigris-Euphrates river basin ( present-day Iraq ) : the site , supposedly , of the Eden myth , and of most associated legendry .
Nonetheless , it was far from ‘ global ’ or ‘ universal ’ , except from the view of the protagonists in the story itself .
As well : the attempt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dinosaurs into either Deluge or Garden , is incorrect both mythologically and scientifically , insofar as both legends are set firmly in the anthropocene epoch , long after the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs .
In that respect , the Creation Museum has committed at least one serious error , and ignored its own source-material .
As a representation of Judeo-Christian creation mythology , the Creation Museum has failed spectacularly .
Paleontological imagery is basically irrelevant to a myth based loosely on Syro-Palestinian , and Mesopotamian sources , and set mostly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arisen , because the principal text , known as the Book of Genesis , relates a legend of the beginning of the cosmos ; but the same book , having done so , leaps immediately to the creation-myth of the human race , without reference to the intervening geological ages .
The Creation Museum does attempt to correct this omission , by displays of the Big Bang and cosmological development ; but these displays do not quite compensate for the mistake of incorporating prehistoric organisms into a display of historical fiction , supra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffice to dissuade any serious scholar , and most lay visitors , from the Creation Museum .
If that museum were ever rebuilt , into some form more faithful to its true subject of mythology , and its cost of entrance significantly lowered , perhaps more intellectuals would be inclined to join its audience ; and possibly , myself among them .

Ever since I can remember, my fascination has been with the study of the social foundations of human intellectual life: namely, in antiquity, mythology, and the classical legends.
Having completed my Master’s in Critical Comparative Scriptures at the School of Arts and Humanities at Claremont Graduate University, and as particularly an American student of myth, I might be expected to visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky; and yet, I never have, and have no plans to do so.
The reasons for this, are simple. At the time of this writing, I live in California; and it seems to me rather spendthrift, to travel cross-country to see an exhibit, and immediately come back. I have neither friends nor relations in Kentucky, and therefore nowhere to stay or anyone to meet. Secondly, the Creation Museum is expensive; even members must pay over $50 apiece to enter. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the Creation Museum is by no reasonable measure an instructive or accurate rendition of the mythology it purports to display.
The subject purportedly on display in the Creation Museum, is the legend of the Garden of Eden: a Judeo-Christian origin-fable of human suffering, loosely based on Greek and Zoroastrian antecedents. In this legend, the first human beings live undisturbed in a peaceful garden in present-day Mesopotamia, until persuaded by a ‘Serpent’ (Prometheus) to ingest the fruit of the ‘Tree of Knowledge’, which induces a conscience, and a heightened sense of mortality. Fearful that they might then obtain the fruit of the ‘Tree of Life’ and become immortal, their Creator expels them from the garden into the wider world, and condemns them to every manner of hardship.
The representation of this myth in the Creation Museum, is far from faithful, even to the syncretic and fragmentary present form, insofar as it tries to incorporate dinosaur paleontology, hominin evolution, and geological data into the myth, which originally acknowledged none of these. On principle, there is nothing wrong with this. Numerous Early Modern scientists, including Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Al-Haytham (Alhazen), Al-Petraj (Alpetragius), Omar Khayyám, and their successors Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Leibniz, Hubble, Herschel, Bohr, Einstein, Polodsky, Rosen, etc., saw no contradiction between an honest study of the cosmos, and reverence for its Creator. There is equally nothing wrong with alleging, as the Creation Museum does, that the discovery of marine fossils at high altitudes, inspired the legend of the global Deluge. This legend is re-created at the Creation Museum, under the name of the Ark Encounter, after the mythical vessel in which the human protagonists of the story survived the disaster.
Archaeologically speaking, the legendary Deluge may be identified as any of several inundations in and around the ancient city of Uruk, in the Tigris-Euphrates river basin (present-day Iraq): the site, supposedly, of the Eden myth, and of most associated legendry. Nonetheless, it was far from ‘global’ or ‘universal’, except from the view of the protagonists in the story itself. As well: the attempt, at the Creation Museum, to incorporate dinosaurs into either Deluge or Garden, is incorrect both mythologically and scientifically, insofar as both legends are set firmly in the anthropocene epoch, long after the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs. In that respect, the Creation Museum has committed at least one serious error, and ignored its own source-material.
As a representation of Judeo-Christian creation mythology, the Creation Museum has failed spectacularly. Paleontological imagery is basically irrelevant to a myth based loosely on Syro-Palestinian, and Mesopotamian sources, and set mostly in the Iron Age. Admittedly, confusion has arisen, because the principal text, known as the Book of Genesis, relates a legend of the beginning of the cosmos; but the same book, having done so, leaps immediately to the creation-myth of the human race, without reference to the intervening geological ages. The Creation Museum does attempt to correct this omission, by displays of the Big Bang and cosmological development; but these displays do not quite compensate for the mistake of incorporating prehistoric organisms into a display of historical fiction, supra.
All these data, combined, suffice to dissuade any serious scholar, and most lay visitors, from the Creation Museum. If that museum were ever rebuilt, into some form more faithful to its true subject of mythology, and its cost of entrance significantly lowered, perhaps more intellectuals would be inclined to join its audience; and possibly, myself among them.


dailykos--2020-07-17--On the Trumptanic, Pubs in a Panic! - July 17 Good News Roundup

Lots happened this week , and although there was the usual roller coaster through a trumpian hellscape , there was plenty of good news he and his minions tried to distract us from with their shenanigans .
Every sensible human being knows that an indoor , in-person convention is a stupid idea right now .
Indeed , several Republican congresspeople are skipping the RNC because they know it is insane to go !
The UNF faculty are attempting to have any RNC convention-related activities banned from their campus , too .
So , realizing that even if they can force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as originally planned hardly anyone is going to come , the RNC is now announcing that they intend to “ limit attendance ” ( as if attendance was not already drastically self-limiting ) — hahaha .
Sure Ronna .
Three more signs Republicans are in trouble , Jennifer Rubin , Washington Post , July 16 , 2020 .
We knew it !
Exclusive : Poll shows gun safety messages swing voters to Democrats as worries rise amid pandemic , Igor Derysh , Salon , July 16 , 2020 .
Meanwhile , Democrats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left in other ways no one expected , though for reasons ( trump crises ) most of us never wanted to see : How Joe Biden is moving left while still being seen as a moderate , Paul Waldman , Washington Post , July 16 , 2020 .
A few of our regular commenters have consistently said DO NOT COUNT DOUG JONES OUT , and you know something ?
I think they may be right !
So-called “ red-state ” Democrats are bringing their A-game to this election and none so well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dems Show Rest Of Us How To THROW THE F*CK DOWN , Evan Hurst , Wonkette , July 16 , 2020 .
Just a reminder that there really is no such thing as “ red ” states and “ blue ” states .
Remember this more representative map of the voting patterns from the last presidential election , and try to keep it in mind when considering what could be possible with fair elections ( and hopefully some day no more electoral college giving outsized influence to a few people on a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good News From States 🇺🇸 It ’ s probably too little , too late for these R governors , if they hope to untether themselves from the trumpsized millstone around their necks , but this is good news for the people in these states : Hogan Condemns Attacks On Fauci As Trump Admin ’ s ‘ Biggest Mistake ’ In COVID Response , Zoe Richards , TPM , July 16 , 2020 .
( Insert your regularly scheduled reminder that ELECTIONS MATTER here ) : In yesterday ’ s GNR , oldhippiedude brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — it is thrilling to think that Texas really is in play !
The best news of all was the huge increase in Democratic voter turnout for the primary this week .
Texans have joined other “ red ” state Democrats turning out in droves all over the country to vote for change and a better America .
Spurred by Gov .
Greg Abbott 's coronavirus handling , Democratic strategists launch PAC to defeat him in 2022 , Patrick Svitek , Texas Tribune , July 16 , 2020 .
Trump can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New York prosecutor warns , Jonathan Strempel and Karen Freifeld , Reuters , July 16 , 2020 .
'Tax us more ' : Millionaires urge governments to raise taxes to fund coronavirus aid , Eventually , we will know what happened here and elsewhere .
Although this report will probably be fairly opaque , the pressure to get to the truth is growing .
This week in Russia…a popular ( if problematic ) governor ’ s arrest has set off big protests .
🎶 People are Rising Up for Justice 🎶 🔥 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This Assh*le… 🔥 I haven ’ t posted schadenfreude for awhile , mostly because in these awful times I find it really hard to laugh at anyone ’ s misfortune , even those who so richly deserve it !
However , today I am bringing back the Schadenfreude File because these assh*les were so deserving of comeuppance… It ’ s so rare for an assh*le to get the justice they deserve , and even rarer for there to be both instantaneous consequences AND measured , appropriate legal consequences in due course .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on grocery store worker who asked him to wear a mask — and immediately gets hit in the face : police , Brad Reed , Raw Story via Univision , July 16 , 2020 .
Chloris Creator has a section honoring a truth-teller in her regular Friday GNRs and since I am subbing for her today , I would like to carry on that excellent tradition .
Let ’ s honor Mary Trump , who has bravely spoken out about her uncle , *president trump .
Here is an excerpt from her interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man broke a record for publisher Simon & Schuster selling more than 950,000 copies on its first day of release .
I think our own NNNE may have helped with that , thanks to his book reports !
⚡ Yer Wonkette ( go read it right now for the Bible quotes ! )
: Everybody Hurts Sometimes .
Even Brad Parscale 's Neckbeard : ( , Evan Hurst , Wonkette , July 16 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recruiting poll workers is key to thwarting Trump ’ s attacks on our voting systems , Steven Rosenfeld , Alternet ?
Independent Media Institute , July 11 , 2020 .
⚡ What a pathetic loser : Team Trump Frantically Plots New Ways to Make Him Feel Good About Himself , Asawin Suebsaeng , Daily Beast , July 16 , 2020 .
⚡ Here ’ s what works ( attention meat plants ) : This City 's Coronavirus Safety Measures Could Become Best Practices , Nadine Sebai , NPR News , July 16 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his match in Anthony Fauci : ANALYSIS , Jordyn Phelps and Ben Gittleson , ABC News , July 16 , 2020 .
⚡ FBI eyes are on it : FBI says it is investigating hack of high-profile Twitter accounts , Sarah N Lynch , Reuters , July 16 , 2020 .
⚡ Ghislaine Maxwell could `` squeal '' on `` very well-known names , '' Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre says , CBS News , July 16 , 2020 .
⚡ Longer very interesting read : Boycotts show us what matters to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 , 2020 .
Good News : You can still help save the world in self-isolation !
Here ’ s a bunch of links to help you stay involved at home : Check out this amazing spreadsheet : Flip Everything !
by Mattrek Act Blue — fundraising for Democratic candidates in one easy site .
Vote Forward — whether organizing an effort to encourage voter registration , including providing addressees with voter registration forms — or working toward the BIG SEND ( millions of letters to voters arriving in mailboxes in late October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ do it at home ” projects through which many of us can really make a difference .
Voter to voter initiatives have a track record of increasing voter turnout .
The Vote Forward letter system is ideal for those who want to contribute but can ’ t write too much .
The letter templates are provided and all you do is put in a line or two of your own and make sure the letters get to the voters on your list !
Postcards to Voters — Our own gnusie , Progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PtV and updates on current campaigns and progress .
This is the ideal “ do it at home ” contribution especially suited to those who enjoy getting a little creative and connecting with fellow voters around the country .
Fair Fight — Stacey Abrams ’ initiative which has already made a difference in several elections !
Find out how you can help out at this link .
Spread the Vote — wonderful organization which works hard to help eligible voters obtain valid ID so they can register and vote .
And finally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your registration ! )
: Everything you need to know to vote — This site covers everything any eligible voter needs to know , from how to register , how to check that you are still registered , how to obtain an absentee ballot and what to do if your right to vote is challenged or you are stopped from voting .
That ’ s it for this Friday , Newsies .
There ’ s much more good news to be found and I recommend the comments section for plenty of it !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest polls and WIneRev will bring us a history lesson and maybe Mrmuni12 will also provide a GNR Annex !
Wolverine will raise our flag and Slideman will post another great comment .
Maybe silverfoxcruiser will share a quote and pr0gressivist will bring some classical music .
tljdk will raise a glass from the Siam desk and RunawayRose can always be relied upon to bring us good local news !
.
These are only a few of the wonderful regular contributers who make the GNR comments section the best on the internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Won ’ t you join us and share your good news today ?
Take good care of yourselves and those you love .
If we stay strong and keep working , we will build a better tomorrow .
I am proud to be a part of this community !

Good Day, Newsies! I’m sitting in for chloris creator today.
Lots happened this week, and although there was the usual roller coaster through a trumpian hellscape, there was plenty of good news he and his minions tried to distract us from with their shenanigans.
Let’s take a look!
Election News
Every sensible human being knows that an indoor, in-person convention is a stupid idea right now. Indeed, several Republican congresspeople are skipping the RNC because they know it is insane to go! The UNF faculty are attempting to have any RNC convention-related activities banned from their campus, too. So, realizing that even if they can force Jacksonville to let them hold the coronafest convention as originally planned hardly anyone is going to come, the RNC is now announcing that they intend to “limit attendance” (as if attendance was not already drastically self-limiting) — hahaha. Sure Ronna.
Trump’s grand GOP convention plans shrink as virus surges, Zeke Miller, AP News, July 16, 2020.
LOL, suppose you threw a rally and nobody came?
Oops! Already did that! President Donald Trump’s plans for a grand convention keep shrinking. The Republican National Committee announced Thursday that it is sharply restricting attendance on three of the four nights of its convention in Jacksonville, Florida, next month. As the GOP looks for ways to move forward while coronavirus cases are spiking in the state, party leader Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to RNC members that only the roughly 2,500 regular delegates to the convention would be permitted to attend the first three nights. Delegates, their guests and alternate delegates would be allowed for the final night, Aug. 27, when Trump is set to deliver his acceptance speech.
Pubs in a Panic
Three more signs Republicans are in trouble, Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, July 16, 2020.
First, for all of Trump’s support among Republicans (not 94 percent as he claims, but generally in the high 80s), there is stunning evidence of what we suspected was underway in 2018. It is not so much that Republicans are abandoning Trump but that voters are abandoning the Republican Party, and now adding to the anti-Trump vote. (Gallup reports:) ✄ Second, without directly challenging Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is abandoning Trump’s stances emphatically and quickly. Over the past few weeks, he has become a poster-boy for mask-wearing, bemoaning those who have politicized the issue. He is also caving on the next stimulus bill. As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) gleefully put it at her weekly news conference on Thursday, “First it was going to be no bill. Then it was going to be some little bill. Then it was going to be $1.3 [trillion]. That’s not enough." She radiated confidence: She will get the Senate’s agreement on state and local funding, Pelosi said. She also noted that McConnell knows how to read the polls and that he listens to his members. The momentum is with Democrats, and he better hop on board — quickly. Third, Republicans are panicking over money, as well they should. The Wall Street Journal reports : “Democratic candidates in the 11 most competitive Senate races collectively raised $67.3 million in the second quarter of the year, $20.5 million more than their Republican counterparts, according to fundraising reports filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission. The total includes two Republicans who gave almost $6.5 million to their own campaigns.” At least one Republican operative is living in the real world, telling the Journal, “We’re scared to death by what we see.”
People Want Democratic Policies
We knew it! Exclusive: Poll shows gun safety messages swing voters to Democrats as worries rise amid pandemic, Igor Derysh, Salon, July 16, 2020.
A massive survey of 13 battleground states found that gun safety-themed messages were among the most impactful in swinging voters to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden amid the coronavirus pandemic. People have had enough. Gun safety resonates. Campaign messaging on the impact of the coronavirus on the country's gun violence crisis was the second most effective in shifting support to Biden, closely behind Democratic messaging on taxes, according to a poll of 16,500 voters in battleground states such as Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. The poll, which was conducted by Civis Analytics on behalf of the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, was exclusively shared with Salon. The poll showed that linking gun safety to the pandemic was nearly as effective in moving voters to Biden as Democrats' "gold standards" messages on core issues like health care and Medicare, Social Security and taxes. The findings show that voters are highly focused on gun safety in the context of the health crisis, which could serve as a road map for other Democrats in state and local races.
Meanwhile, Democrats have succeeded in yanking the overton window to the left in other ways no one expected, though for reasons (trump crises) most of us never wanted to see:
How Joe Biden is moving left while still being seen as a moderate, Paul Waldman, Washington Post, July 16, 2020.
Joe’s policy platform is the most progressive since FDR and yet he is still seen as “moderate”. That’s an overton window shift! When Sen. Bernie Sanders said recently that if Joe Biden implements his policy agenda, the presumptive Democratic nominee could be "the most progressive president since FDR,” he was probably right. In fact, something extraordinary is happening: Biden is getting more progressive in substance, yet it has done nothing to change his image as a moderate. The Trump campaign is utterly flummoxed by this state of affairs; in reality, they long ago gave up trying to claim that Biden is some kind of extremist, and now can only shout that he’ll be a "puppet of the radical left.” But that doesn’t seem to be convincing anyone either. ✄ There’s a kind of shift we expect from presidential candidates: In the primaries they appeal to their party with pledges of ideological fealty, then when the nomination is secured, during the general election, they head back to the center. Biden, however, is doing the opposite, in substance if not in rhetoric. That’s not to say that people on the left shouldn’t be wary; they should. And I should stress that, in nearly every case, Biden is simply becoming more ambitious in pursuing goals he already held. He wanted to expand health coverage, attack inequality and address climate change; now, he’s saying he’ll be more aggressive in doing so.
And L👀k at Alabama
A few of our regular commenters have consistently said DO NOT COUNT DOUG JONES OUT, and you know something? I think they may be right! So-called “red-state” Democrats are bringing their A-game to this election and none so well as Alabama Democrats this week!
Alabama Dems Show Rest Of Us How To THROW THE F*CK DOWN, Evan Hurst, Wonkette, July 16, 2020.
This year as we've watched Senate races, we've kept in mind that Alabama Democratic Senator Doug Jones is probably going to lose, and we are probably going to have to accept that. After all, while Alabama did elect a Democratic senator, which shows it can be done, his opponent was credibly accused of preying on kids as young as 14. So ... SHRUGGIE. But former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville beat Jeff Sessions for the GOP nomination, and if the Alabama Democrats have anything to say about it, that's as close to the endzone as he's getting. Y'all, they were ready for this. And from what we're hearing, Tuberville is exactly who they wanted to run against. (Here’s just one sample of the “LOL-itude” Alabama Dems are bringing to this fight) x You, scared of your own shadow: Ã¢ÂÂCan an incumbent Democratic Senator win a red state?Ã¢ÂÂ
Us, ready to storm hell with a super-soaker: Ã¢ÂÂTuberville couldnÃ¢ÂÂt score a TD for 2 weeks with 4 first rounders on his offense. He also lost to Vanderbilt.Ã¢ÂÂ #OneAlabama https://t.co/JsPkNu4uAe Ã¢ÂÂ Alabama Democrats (@aldemocrats) July 15, 2020
Just a reminder that there really is no such thing as “red” states and “blue” states. Remember this more representative map of the voting patterns from the last presidential election, and try to keep it in mind when considering what could be possible with fair elections (and hopefully some day no more electoral college giving outsized influence to a few people on a lot of empty land:
🎶 “Red” States to RNC with 💜 🎶
x YouTube Video
🇺🇸 And More Good News From States 🇺🇸
It’s probably too little, too late for these R governors, if they hope to untether themselves from the trumpsized millstone around their necks, but this is good news for the people in these states:
Republican governors break from Trump amid growing calls for mask mandates, Libby Cathey, ABC News, July 16, 2020.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday became the latest Republican governor to issue an executive order mandating residents wear face coverings in public, following the lead of GOP governors in Alabama and West Virginia, desperate to contain a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. ✄ Hutchinson gave in after long resisting a statewide stay-at-home order, as Arkansas sees record-breaking number of new infections. "The number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are numbers that speak for themselves and indicate that we need to do more," Hutchinson said in a press conference in Little Rock. "I want everybody to understand that this is a mandate. It does carry consequences," he said about violating the order, punishable by a fine of up to $500. ✄ In Texas, where cases are surging, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in April similarly blocked municipalities from imposing fines for breaking masks mandates. In a reversal, he's urging more Texans to wear masks but has also stopped short of imposing a statewide mandate. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of the hard-hit state of Florida -- where Gov. Ron DeSantis has come under fire for recent comments downplaying the virus -- has also weighed in on Twitter, where he dons a mask in his profile picture, saying, "why not do it?"
Georgia
Defiance grows as Georgia governor blocks local mask rules, Jeff Amy and Ben Nadler, AP News, July 16, 2020.
Mayors in Atlanta and other Georgia cities deepened their defiance of Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday, saying they want their requirements for people to wear masks in public to remain in place, even after the Republican governor explicitly forbade cities and counties from mandating face coverings. Officials in at least 15 Georgia cities and counties, including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, had ordered masks during the coronavirus pandemic, and many are venting outrage at Kemp swatting down their efforts. “The mayor’s order remains in effect, as science and data will continue to drive the city’s decisions,” Bottoms spokesperson Michael Smith wrote in a text. “Masks save lives.” ✄ “I have been in regular communication with mayors in several other Georgia cities with mask requirements, and we wish for our local requirements to remain in place,” Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz wrote in an email to The Associated Press. “We strongly believe this is within our authority.”
x MORE BREAKING NEWS: We just won our case challenging Georgia's 6 week abortion ban!
The ban was in clear violation of #RoevWade and nearly a half century of Supreme Court precedent. Today, the rule of law prevailed once again, and abortion remains legal in all 50 states. Ã¢ÂÂ Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) July 13, 2020
Maryland
Hogan Condemns Attacks On Fauci As Trump Admin’s ‘Biggest Mistake’ In COVID Response, Zoe Richards, TPM, July 16, 2020.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Thursday that the White House’s efforts to discredit Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has emerged as a critical scientific voice on the Coronavirus Task Force, was probably “one of the biggest mistakes they’ve made.” In an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Hogan condemned what he called an “attack” and a “campaign” waged against the top infectious diseases expert by the White House as one of the biggest blunders that the Trump administration has made in its ongoing mishandling of the pandemic. Hogan defended Fauci, who he said “has been the most respected most trusted voice and the guy we’re getting the most honest information from throughout this entire crisis.”
Virginia
(Insert your regularly scheduled reminder that ELECTIONS MATTER here):
Virginia Enacts First-Of-Its-Kind Regulation To Protect Workers From Coronavirus, Dave Jamieson, Huff Post, July 16, 2020.
Gov. Ralph Northam (D-VA) also happens to be a medical doctor. Lucky for Virginians, they get a double win! Virginia leaders approved a new set of rules Wednesday that employers throughout the state must follow to protect workers during the pandemic ― a step Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam said he was taking because the federal government has done so little to keep workplaces safe from the coronavirus. The Virginia regulation requires that employers follow social-distancing guidelines and provide masks to workers who deal with customers. In workplaces where it isn’t possible to spread out, employers will have to provide hand sanitizer or access to sinks, and regularly clean work surfaces. Employers must notify workers within 24 hours when a coworker has tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone believed to have the virus must stay off the job for at least 10 days, or until they’ve tested negative two times. And workplaces in higher-risk fields must develop infectious-disease response plans if they haven’t already.
New York
NYC plans child care for 100,000 kids when schools partially reopen, Erin Durkin, Politico, July 16, 2020.
New York’s public schools plan to offer a mix of in-person classes and remote learning when a new school year starts — with students going to school one to three days a week, in order to cut the number of people in buildings and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. That’s expected to create a major crunch for working parents with no one to watch their kids on the days they’re not in school. The mayor rolled out plans to expand city-sponsored child care programs so 100,000 children from preschool through eighth grade will have a place to go on their off days. There are 1.1 million students in the city’s public school system, the largest in the nation. ✄ City officials are currently scouring for space that will include community centers and libraries converted into child care centers. Private landlords are also encouraged to pitch their space to the city for either school or child care. “We’ve got a little under two months until school begins. We’ve got a lot to do, and nothing like this has ever been attempted on this timeframe,” de Blasio said. “But we’re going to find a way to do this, and hopefully much more.”
Texas
In yesterday’s GNR, oldhippiedude brought us so much good news from Texas — it is thrilling to think that Texas really is in play! The best news of all was the huge increase in Democratic voter turnout for the primary this week. Texans have joined other “red” state Democrats turning out in droves all over the country to vote for change and a better America.
Spurred by Gov. Greg Abbott's coronavirus handling, Democratic strategists launch PAC to defeat him in 2022, Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune, July 16, 2020.
Hoping to harness the opposition to Gov. Greg Abbott's handling of the coronavirus, several Texas Democratic strategists are launching a new political group to defeat him in 2022. Their group, the Beat Abbott PAC, will raise money that will ultimately go to the Democratic nominee against Abbott in 2022, when he is up for a third term. Along the way, the political action committee aims to build a small-dollar donor list that can help Democrats in the next election cycle and "hold Abbott accountable for his failure on COVID," according to an announcement first shared with The Texas Tribune. ✄ “We’re done listening to a Governor willing to let people die in order to maintain his good graces with the likes of Donald Trump and the right-wing of the Republican party,” Malitz, the PAC's treasurer, said in a statement. “People in this state deserve better than a corrupt talking head who looks out only for himself and the one-percent. It’s time to beat him.”
🎶 “Red” States To RNC With 💙 🎶
⚖ Justice ⚖
Trump cannot be allowed to kill criminal probe with delays, New York prosecutor warns, Jonathan Strempel and Karen Freifeld, Reuters, July 16, 2020.
A New York prosecutor on Thursday warned against allowing U.S. President Donald Trump to run out the clock on the Manhattan district attorney’s criminal probe into Trump. ✄ The case concerns an August 2019 subpoena to Trump’s accounting firm Mazars USA for eight years of personal and corporate tax returns, related to Vance’s criminal probe into Trump and his Trump Organization. Dunne told U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero there are looming deadlines to prosecute cases because of statutes of limitations, and more delays could give Trump the “absolute temporary immunity” the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected. ✄ Marrero approved a jointly negotiated schedule giving Trump until July 27 to file papers formally opposing the subpoena and its scope. Vance won’t enforce the subpoena through then. The hearing was held via teleconference.
Economic Justice
'Tax us more': Millionaires urge governments to raise taxes to fund coronavirus aid,
Abigail DIsney and a bunch of her wealthy friends are trying to do their part for economic justice. A group of 83 millionaires from seven different countries called for higher taxes on the rich to help fund the world's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. In an open letter shared Monday, the signatories wrote that problems caused and revealed by COVID-19 "can't be solved with charity, no matter how generous." ✄ The means to rebuild the world's health systems, schools, and security can only be obtained through "a permanent tax increase on the wealthiest people on the planet, people like us," the letter said. "Millions of people will lose their jobs as businesses close, some permanently," the millionaires warned. "Government leaders must take the responsibility for raising the funds we need and spending them fairly."
Lenders Oppose Federal Effort to Weaken Housing-Discrimination Rule, Andrew Ackerman, Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2020.
Banks and mortgage lenders are urging the Trump administration to scrap a plan to water down an Obama-era regulation aimed at combating discrimination in housing, saying it is inappropriate amid the national reckoning on race. Bank of America Corp. and Quicken Loans Inc. in recent days came out against the initiative, which would make it harder to pursue housing-discrimination cases by raising the burden of proof needed to bring a claim. Lenders were generally supportive of the changes when they were floated last year.
🌎 International News 🌍
UK
Eventually, we will know what happened here and elsewhere. Although this report will probably be fairly opaque, the pressure to get to the truth is growing.
Russia
This week in Russia…a popular (if problematic) governor’s arrest has set off big protests.
In Russia's far east, rare anti-Putin protests gain momentum, Matthew Bodner, NBC News, July 16, 2020.
An unlikely protest movement has become the first major challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin after he secured his political future in a contentious vote this month — and it may spell more trouble in the days ahead. Residents of Khabarovsk, a large city near Russia's border with China, have been up in arms for days protesting the arrest of their governor on 15-year-old murder charges. ✄ "This was a governor that was honestly elected by the people, which is unusual in Russia," she said. "He was in power for just two years, but he did a lot for the people: He fixed the region's budget, repaired the roads, gave schoolchildren free breakfast. And he was removed on unfair charges. There are so many injustices in the far east, and this was the last straw." And so, on Saturday, 30,000 people took to the streets of Khabarovsk to demand his release. Protests have continued every day since. Demonstrators have held banners saying "Free Sergei Furgal," while others have called on Putin to resign.
🎶 People are Rising Up for Justice 🎶
x YouTube Video
🔥 Meanwhile, From the Schadenfreude File, This Assh*le… 🔥
I haven’t posted schadenfreude for awhile, mostly because in these awful times I find it really hard to laugh at anyone’s misfortune, even those who so richly deserve it! However, today I am bringing back the Schadenfreude File because these assh*les were so deserving of comeuppance…
Parscale Demoted As Trump’s Dismal Poll Numbers Continue To Sink, Cristina Cabrera, TPM, July 16, 2020.
Here’s our honorary assh*le flashing the white power hand signal at a rally in support of Matt Bevin in KY last November. Keepin’ it blatant, eh Brad? Looks like that WP appeal didn’t fly with KY voters! President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that his campaign manager, Brad Parscale, would be replaced by deputy campaign manager Bill Stepien. “I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager,” Trump tweeted. “Brad Parscale, who has been with me for a very long time and has led our tremendous digital and data strategies, will remain in that role, while being a Senior Advisor to the campaign.” Trump claimed a second win “should be a lot easier” because “our poll numbers are rising fast.” In fact, the campaign shake-up comes as Trump’s anemic approval ratings sink ever lower as a result of his feeble response to COVID-19 and his bombastic response to the recent anti-police brutality protests. Consequently, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been crushing Trump in the polls ahead of the November elections.
And this assh*le…
It’s so rare for an assh*le to get the justice they deserve, and even rarer for there to be both instantaneous consequences AND measured, appropriate legal consequences in due course. This story has it all:
Man spits on grocery store worker who asked him to wear a mask — and immediately gets hit in the face: police, Brad Reed, Raw Story via Univision, July 16, 2020.
Or spit... When an employee asked the man to put (the mask around his neck) on, police say the man became aggressive and spat on him — after which he got hit in the face by a security guard. In a phone camera video recorded by Drew in the aftermath of the incident, the American tourist shows that he has a mouthful of blood after getting hit, and he warns employees that police would be coming to arrest the man who hit him. “The cops are coming right now to get this piece of sh*t arrested!” he said while pointing at the employee...However, according to Univision, Drew was arrested and is due to report to the Aguadilla Court at “a later date.”
💐 Let’s Honor Truth 💐
Chloris Creator has a section honoring a truth-teller in her regular Friday GNRs and since I am subbing for her today, I would like to carry on that excellent tradition.
Let’s honor Mary Trump, who has bravely spoken out about her uncle, *president trump. Here is an excerpt from her interview with Rachel Maddow last night:
Mary L. Trump "I can't say that there was a last straw because there had been so many straws," the president's niece said. "But certainly the horrors at the border — you know, the separating of children from their parents; the torture, the kidnapping, and the incarceration of them in cages, was unthinkable, unbearable, and when an opportunity presented itself to me to do something, I needed to take a leap." ✄ Mary Trump said she's prepared to deal with the fallout of revealing her family's dirty business. "I'm not scared," she said. I'm taking appropriate precautions, certainly, because I'm not deluded about potential scenarios. He is in a position of great power. I know my family to be quite vindictive, and Donald has a rather passionate following." "Whatever the consequences are, I'm prepared to deal with them the best I can," she added.
Her book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man broke a record for publisher Simon & Schuster selling more than 950,000 copies on its first day of release. I think our own NNNE may have helped with that, thanks to his book reports!
⚡ Lightning RoundUp ⚡
⚡ Yer Wonkette (go read it right now for the Bible quotes!): Everybody Hurts Sometimes. Even Brad Parscale's Neckbeard :(, Evan Hurst, Wonkette, July 16, 2020.
⚡ Some great ideas here: Recruiting poll workers is key to thwarting Trump’s attacks on our voting systems, Steven Rosenfeld, Alternet?Independent Media Institute, July 11, 2020.
⚡ What a pathetic loser: Team Trump Frantically Plots New Ways to Make Him Feel Good About Himself, Asawin Suebsaeng, Daily Beast, July 16, 2020.
⚡ 14 Coronavirus myths busted by science, Rachael Rettner, LiveScience, July 14, 2020.
⚡ Here’s what works (attention meat plants): This City's Coronavirus Safety Measures Could Become Best Practices, Nadine Sebai, NPR News, July 16, 2020.
⚡ President Donald Trump meets his match in Anthony Fauci: ANALYSIS, Jordyn Phelps and Ben Gittleson, ABC News, July 16, 2020.
⚡ Senate Republican asks Twitter for urgent briefing on hacking incident, David Shepardson, Reuters, July 16, 2020.
⚡ FBI eyes are on it: FBI says it is investigating hack of high-profile Twitter accounts, Sarah N Lynch, Reuters, July 16, 2020.
⚡ Ghislaine Maxwell could "squeal" on "very well-known names," Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre says, CBS News, July 16, 2020.
⚡ Longer very interesting read: Boycotts show us what matters to Americans, Terry Nguyen, Vox, July 16, 2020.
🔗 Helpful Links 🔗
Good News: You can still help save the world in self-isolation!
Here’s a bunch of links to help you stay involved at home:
Check out this amazing spreadsheet: Flip Everything! by Mattrek
Joe Biden’s Action Website
Act Blue — fundraising for Democratic candidates in one easy site.
Mama says play nicely and I do, but this ball is mine.
I know what belongs to me and I intend to keep it!
Later, boys!
Vote Forward — whether organizing an effort to encourage voter registration, including providing addressees with voter registration forms — or working toward the BIG SEND (millions of letters to voters arriving in mailboxes in late October),this is one of several “do it at home” projects through which many of us can really make a difference. Voter to voter initiatives have a track record of increasing voter turnout. The Vote Forward letter system is ideal for those who want to contribute but can’t write too much. The letter templates are provided and all you do is put in a line or two of your own and make sure the letters get to the voters on your list!
Postcards to Voters — Our own gnusie, Progressive Muse posts most days with information about PtV and updates on current campaigns and progress. This is the ideal “do it at home” contribution especially suited to those who enjoy getting a little creative and connecting with fellow voters around the country.
Fair Fight — Stacey Abrams’ initiative which has already made a difference in several elections! Find out how you can help out at this link.
Spread the Vote — wonderful organization which works hard to help eligible voters obtain valid ID so they can register and vote.
And finally, for one-stop all-purpose voter information (check your registration!):
Everything you need to know to vote — This site covers everything any eligible voter needs to know, from how to register, how to check that you are still registered, how to obtain an absentee ballot and what to do if your right to vote is challenged or you are stopped from voting.
💙 RoundUp WindDown 💙
That’s it for this Friday, Newsies. There’s much more good news to be found and I recommend the comments section for plenty of it! No doubt hpg will be by with the latest polls and WIneRev will bring us a history lesson and maybe Mrmuni12 will also provide a GNR Annex! Wolverine will raise our flag and Slideman will post another great comment. Maybe silverfoxcruiser will share a quote and pr0gressivist will bring some classical music. tljdk will raise a glass from the Siam desk and RunawayRose can always be relied upon to bring us good local news!. These are only a few of the wonderful regular contributers who make the GNR comments section the best on the internet (hat tip to arhpdx). Won’t you join us and share your good news today?
Take good care of yourselves and those you love. If we stay strong and keep working, we will build a better tomorrow. I am proud to be a part of this community!