huffpost--2020-06-07--Justice Smith Comes Out As Queer, Urges Protests To Include Black Queer And Trans Lives

Actor Justice Smith has come out as queer in a post calling for protesters not to forget Black queer and trans individuals as anti-racist protests continue across the country .
The “ Pokemon : Detective Pikachu ” star shared his truth in an Instagram post on Friday night , announcing that he and “ Queen Sugar ” actor Nicholas Ashe are a couple .
In the post , Smith reflected on his experience at a recent Black Lives Matter protest in New Orleans , where he noticed people in the crowd did not join in when when he and Ashe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ Black Queer Lives Matter.
” “ As a black queer man myself , I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter , but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added , ” he wrote alongside a video from the protest .
“ I want to reiterate this sentiment : if your revolution does not include Black Queer voices , it is anti-black.
” Smith went onto mention the police killing of Tony McDade , a Black transgender man , who was fatally shot last month in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least the 12th American trans person to be killed in 2020 , according to the Human Rights Campaign .
“ If your revolution is okay with letting black trans people like # TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate black cishet men , it is anti-black .
You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you , and then shut the door behind you .
“ It is in our conditioning to get as close to whiteness , straightness , maleness as we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , ” he continued .
“ And if we appeal to it , maybe it ’ ll give us a slice .
But the revolution is not about appeal .
It is about demanding what should have been given to us from the beginning.
” Smith ’ s call for the rights of Black , queer and trans individuals to “ live and prosper in public without fear of persecution or threat of violence ” speaks to the origins of the Black Lives Matter movement , which was created by three Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queer .
The actor also chose to spread some “ black boy joy ” on his page , sharing some loving photos of himself and Nashe .
“ You ’ ve been my rock and guiding light through all of this and I love you so much .
I know that on the other side of this Is change , though the fight is far from over , ” he wrote .
Smith , who first rose to fame on Netflix ’ s “ The Get Down , ” will be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” franchise , which is expected to hit theaters in June 2021 , despite production being shut down earlier this year over coronavirus concerns .

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Actor Justice Smith has come out as queer in a post calling for protesters not to forget Black queer and trans individuals as anti-racist protests continue across the country.
The “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” star shared his truth in an Instagram post on Friday night, announcing that he and “Queen Sugar” actor Nicholas Ashe are a couple.
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In the post, Smith reflected on his experience at a recent Black Lives Matter protest in New Orleans, where he noticed people in the crowd did not join in when when he and Ashe chanted “Black Trans Lives Matter” and “Black Queer Lives Matter.”
“As a black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added,” he wrote alongside a video from the protest. “I want to reiterate this sentiment: if your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-black.”
Smith went onto mention the police killing of Tony McDade, a Black transgender man, who was fatally shot last month in Tallahasse, Florida, making him at least the 12th American trans person to be killed in 2020, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
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Protesters have also been demanding justice for Nina Pop, a 28-year-old Black trans woman, was also murdered in Missouri last month.
“If your revolution is okay with letting black trans people like #TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate black cishet men, it is anti-black. You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you, and then shut the door behind you.
“It is in our conditioning to get as close to whiteness, straightness, maleness as we can because that’s where the power is,” he continued. “And if we appeal to it, maybe it’ll give us a slice. But the revolution is not about appeal. It is about demanding what should have been given to us from the beginning.”
Justice Smith attends the premiere of "Detective Pikachu" in May 2019. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Smith’s call for the rights of Black, queer and trans individuals to “live and prosper in public without fear of persecution or threat of violence” speaks to the origins of the Black Lives Matter movement, which was created by three Black women, two of whom identify as queer.
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The actor also chose to spread some “black boy joy” on his page, sharing some loving photos of himself and Nashe.
“You’ve been my rock and guiding light through all of this and I love you so much. I know that on the other side of this Is change, though the fight is far from over,” he wrote.


huffpost--2020-04-12--Behind Trump's Botched And Delayed Coronavirus Response

The Pentagon first learned about the new coronavirus in December from open source reports emanating from China .
By early January , warnings about the virus had made their way into intelligence reports circulating around the government .
On Jan. 3 , the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Robert Redfield , received a call from his Chinese counterpart with an official warning .
Quickly , U.S. intelligence and public health officials began doubting China ’ s reported rates of infection and death toll .
They pressed China to allow in U.S. epidemiologists — both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread and to gain valuable insights that could help buy time for the U.S. response .
U.S. officials also pressed China to send samples of the virus to U.S. labs for study and for vaccine and test development .
Ultimately , the U.S. was able to get China ’ s consent to send two people on the WHO team that traveled to China later in the month .
But by then precious weeks had been lost and the virus had raced across Asia and had begun to escape the continent .
Trump spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about vaping ; he was considering a new policy restricting its use .
White House officials now believe Trump didn ’ t fully grasp the magnitude of the threat to the U.S. in part because Azar , who was feuding with several members of Trump ’ s inner circle , did a poor job communicating it .
Even as the two agencies fought , there was no influential voice in Trump ’ s orbit pushing him to act swiftly on the pandemic .
Trump had surrounded himself with loyalists and few in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Brien , were able to redirect the president ’ s attention .
In mid-January , meetings were being held at the White House , but the focus was on getting U.S. government employees back from China , which was still playing down how contagious the virus was .
A Jan. 29 memo from senior White House aide Peter Navarro accurately predicted some of the challenges faced by the U.S. from what would become a pandemic , though he was hardly the first to sound the alarm .
But he , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House as a “ China hawk ” and their concerns were rejected by others in the administration who did not bring them to the president .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time President Donald Trump first spoke publicly about the coronavirus, it may already have been too late.
Interviewed at Davos, a gathering of global elites in the Swiss Alps, the president on Jan. 22 played down the threat posed by the respiratory virus from China, which had just reached American shores in the form of a solitary patient in Washington state.
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“We have it totally under control,” Trump said on CNBC. “It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.”
In the 11 weeks since that interview, the coronavirus has reached every corner of the globe. It has infected more than 500,000 Americans and killed at least 20,000. It has rewritten the rules of society, isolated people in their homes, closed schools, devastated the economy and put millions out of work.
When Trump spoke in Switzerland, weeks’ worth of warning signs already had been raised. In the ensuing month, before the president first addressed the crisis from the White House, key steps to prepare the nation for the coming pandemic were not taken.
Life-saving medical equipment was not stockpiled. Travel largely continued unabated. Vital public health data from China was not provided or was deemed untrustworthy. A White House riven by rivalries and turnover was slow to act. Urgent warnings were ignored by a president consumed by his impeachment trial and intent on protecting a robust economy that he viewed as central to his reelection chances.
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Twenty current and former administration officials and Republicans close to the White House were interviewed for this account about the critical weeks lost before the president spoke to the nation on Feb. 26. Most spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions.
President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Friday, April 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘MYSTERIOUS PNEUMONIA’
On New Year’s Eve, China informed the World Health Organization of a “mysterious pneumonia outbreak” spreading through Wuhan, an industrial city of 11 million.
The government closed a seafood market at the center of the outbreak, moved all patients with the virus to a specially designated hospital and collected test samples to send to government laboratories. Doctors were told to stay quiet; one who issued a warning online was punished. He later died of the virus.
The Pentagon first learned about the new coronavirus in December from open source reports emanating from China. By early January, warnings about the virus had made their way into intelligence reports circulating around the government. On Jan. 3, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, received a call from his Chinese counterpart with an official warning.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, was alerted to the virus around the same time — and within two weeks was fearful it could bring global catastrophe.
Quickly, U.S. intelligence and public health officials began doubting China’s reported rates of infection and death toll. They pressed China to allow in U.S. epidemiologists — both to assist the country in confronting the spread and to gain valuable insights that could help buy time for the U.S. response. U.S. officials also pressed China to send samples of the virus to U.S. labs for study and for vaccine and test development.
On Jan. 11, China shared the virus’ genetic sequence. That same day, the National Institutes of Health started working on a vaccine.
Ultimately, the U.S. was able to get China’s consent to send two people on the WHO team that traveled to China later in the month. But by then precious weeks had been lost and the virus had raced across Asia and had begun to escape the continent.
BALANCING ACT
For much of January, administration officials were doing a delicate balancing act.
Internally, they were raising alarms about the need to get Americans on the ground in China. Publicly, they were sending words of encouragement and praise in hopes Beijing would grant the Americans access.
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Matthew Pottinger, Trump’s deputy national security adviser, persistently urged more aggressive action in calling out China and sending teams there.
But while word of the virus was included in several of the president’s intelligence briefings, Trump wasn’t fully briefed on the threat until Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called with an update on Jan. 18 while the president was at his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Trump spent much of the conversation wanting to talk about vaping; he was considering a new policy restricting its use. White House officials now believe Trump didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of the threat to the U.S. in part because Azar, who was feuding with several members of Trump’s inner circle, did a poor job communicating it.
Azar was trying to walk a fine line between Trump’s upbeat statements and preparing the government for what might lie ahead. “America’s risk is low at the moment,” he later told House lawmakers. “That could change quickly.”
Moreover, the president was in the middle of his Senate impeachment trial and focused on little else, punctuating nearly every White House meeting with complaints about the Democrats out to get him, grievances he would continue late into the night on the phone from his private quarters.
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Trump also had little desire to pressure Beijing or criticize its president, Xi Jinping, with whom he wanted to secure cooperation on ending a yearlong trade war before the reelection campaign kicked into high gear. When Trump fielded his first question about the virus in Davos, he enthusiastically praised Xi’s response, going well beyond the calibrated risk-reward messaging his aides were encouraging.
INFIGHTING
The West Wing was adrift.
By late January, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney held the post in name only as rumors swirled of his impending, post-impeachment departure. He was on the initial coronavirus task force, which was plagued with infighting. At the same time, the White House Office of Management and Budget was clashing with Azar’s HHS over money to combat the virus.
HHS wanted to send a special coronavirus funding request to Congress but the White House budget office resisted for weeks, insisting that HHS should instead repurpose $250 million of its existing budget to bolster the national stockpile by buying protective equipment. HHS, however, claimed that without congressional authorization it could not buy the needed quantities of masks, gowns and ventilators to rapidly bolster the national stockpile
Eventually, an initial request went to Congress for $2.5 billion in virus aid, an amount that lawmakers of both parties dismissed as too low. The bill that Congress quickly passed and Trump signed — the first of three so far — was for $8 billion.
Even as the two agencies fought, there was no influential voice in Trump’s orbit pushing him to act swiftly on the pandemic. Trump had surrounded himself with loyalists and few in the administration, including national security adviser Robert O’Brien, were able to redirect the president’s attention. In mid-January, meetings were being held at the White House, but the focus was on getting U.S. government employees back from China, which was still playing down how contagious the virus was.
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A Jan. 29 memo from senior White House aide Peter Navarro accurately predicted some of the challenges faced by the U.S. from what would become a pandemic, though he was hardly the first to sound the alarm. But he, like Pottinger, was viewed by others in the White House as a “China hawk” and their concerns were rejected by others in the administration who did not bring them to the president.
On Jan. 30, the WHO declared the virus a global health emergency while Trump held a packed campaign rally in Iowa. The next day, the Trump administration banned admittance to the United States by foreign nationals who had traveled to China in the past 14 days, excluding the immediate family members of American citizens or permanent residents.
Trump styled it as bold action, but continued to talk down the severity of the threat. Despite the ban, nearly 40,000 people have arrived in the United States on direct flights from China since that date, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
‘VERY, VERY READY’
On Feb. 10, Trump stood before thousands of supporters packed into a New Hampshire rally and declared: “By April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”
The crowd roared its approval at Trump’s unproven assertion. The Senate had acquitted Trump on the impeachment charges and the president shifted his focus toward reelection even as others in the administration keyed in on the virus.
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Federal officials put the CDC solely in charge of developing a test for the virus and left out private interests, a choice that cost precious time when the resulting CDC test proved faulty.
Trump spent many weeks shuffling responsibility for leading his administration’s response to the crisis. He put Azar in charge of the administration’s virus task force before replacing him with Vice President Mike Pence toward the end of February. Even as the virus spread across the globe, prevailing voices in the White House, including senior adviser Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, urged the president to avoid big steps that could roil financial markets.
The president had firmly linked his fate to Wall Street, and it took a tumble by the markets for Trump to ratchet up his response. In late February, while Trump was on a trip to India, the Dow Jones plummeted 1,000 points amid rising fears about the coronavirus.
Trump stewed about the collapse on his Feb. 26 flight back to Washington and lashed out at aides over comments made by a top CDC official, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, during a briefing the prior day, when she warned Americans that they would have to prepare for fairly severe social distancing.
“It’s not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen,” she said.
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The White House announced that Pence would brief the media about the response that night. But Trump took the podium instead and has not relinquished the stage much since, belatedly making himself the face of the battle against the virus.
When Trump first took the lectern in the White House briefing room to speak about the virus, the U.S. had 15 coronavirus patients.
“We’re at that very low level, and we want to keep it that way,” Trump said. “We’re very, very ready for this.”
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huffpost--2020-04-12--OPEC, Oil Nations Agree To Nearly 10 Million Barrel Cut Amid Coronavirus

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) — OPEC , Russia and other oil-producing nations on Sunday finalized an unprecedented production cut of nearly 10 million barrels , or a tenth of global supply , in hopes of boosting crashing prices amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war , officials said .
The cartel and other nations agreed to allow Mexico to cut only 100,000 barrels a month , a sticking point for an accord initially reached Friday after a marathon video conference between 23 nations .
They reached the deal just hours before Asian markets reopen Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just over $ 31 a barrel and American shale producers struggle .
But it had not been smiles and laughs for weeks after OPEC+ failed in March to reach an agreement on production cuts , sending prices tumbling .
Saudi Arabia sharply criticized Russia days earlier over what it described as comments critical of the kingdom , which finds itself trying to appease U.S. President Donald Trump , a longtime OPEC critic .
Even U.S. senators had warned Saudi Arabia to find a way to boost prices as American shale firms face far-higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed to the kingdom for the first time since the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks over concerns of Iranian retaliation amid regional tensions .
“ They ’ ve spent over the last month waging war on American oil producers while we are defending theirs .
This is not how friends treat friends , ” said Sen. Kevin Cramer , a Republican from North Dakota , before the OPEC+ deal .
“ Frankly , I think their actions have been inexcusable and they are not going to be easily or quickly forgotten .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership will depend largely on their next steps.
” Iran ’ s Oil Ministry confirmed the 9.7 million cut for May and June .
It said the so-called OPEC+ countries agree to have Mexico reduce its output by 100,000 barrels only for those two months .
That had been a sticking point for the accord meant to boost global energy prices .
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh also told state television that Kuwait , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would cut another 2 million barrels of oil a day between them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the markets .
The three countries did not immediately acknowledge the cut themselves , though Zanganeh attended the video conference .
“ The minister of Saudi Arabia said that the Saudi Arabia , Kuwait and the UAE agreed to reduce more two million barrels than the agreement voluntarily , ” Zanganeh said .
“ We hope that the market returns to a balanced way.
” Nigeria ’ s Petroleum Resources Ministry said in a statement that the other cuts would stand in the deal , meaning an 8 million barrel per day cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and a 6 million barrel cut for 16 months beginning in 2021 .
“ This will enable the rebalancing of the oil markets and the expected rebound of prices by $ 15 per barrel in the short term , ” the ministry said in a statement .
Mexico had initially blocked the deal but its president , Andrés Manuel López Obrador , had said Friday that he had agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. will compensate what Mexico can not add to the proposed cuts .
“ The big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States , ” Trump said in a tweet .
“ I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia.
” The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin held a joint call with Trump and Saudi King Salman to express support of the deal .
It also said he spoke separately with Trump in which they continued to discuss the oil market situation , as well as other issues .
“ The pure size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then again , so is the impact the coronavirus is having on demand , ” said Mohammed Ghulam , an energy analyst at Raymond James .
“ This is at least a temporary relief for the energy industry and for the global economy .
This industry is too big to be let to fail and the alliance showed responsibility with this agreement , ” said Per Magnus Nysveen , the head of analysis at Rystad Energy .
“ Even though the production cuts are smaller than what the market needed and only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst is for now avoided .
”

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing nations on Sunday finalized an unprecedented production cut of nearly 10 million barrels, or a tenth of global supply, in hopes of boosting crashing prices amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war, officials said.
The cartel and other nations agreed to allow Mexico to cut only 100,000 barrels a month, a sticking point for an accord initially reached Friday after a marathon video conference between 23 nations. They reached the deal just hours before Asian markets reopen Monday as international benchmark Brent crude traded at just over $31 a barrel and American shale producers struggle.
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Mexico’s energy minister said on Twitter that the group of nations agreed to cut 9.7 million barrels a day to begin May 1. Energy officials from other countries shared similar information.
México agradece todo el apoyo de los países de la @OPECSecretariat en la reunión extraordinaria realizada el día hoy. El acuerdo unánime de los 23 países participantes dará de inicio una reducción en la plataforma petrolera de 9.7 millones de barriles a partir de Mayo. pic.twitter.com/izkMLoYpni — Rocío Nahle (@rocionahle) April 12, 2020
Video aired by the Saudi-owned satellite channel Al-Arabiya showed the moment that Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, a son of King Salman, assented to the deal.
“I go with the consent, so I agree,” the prince said, chuckling, drawing a round of applause from those on the video conference call.
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But it had not been smiles and laughs for weeks after OPEC+ failed in March to reach an agreement on production cuts, sending prices tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply criticized Russia days earlier over what it described as comments critical of the kingdom, which finds itself trying to appease U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime OPEC critic.
Even U.S. senators had warned Saudi Arabia to find a way to boost prices as American shale firms face far-higher production costs. American troops had been deployed to the kingdom for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks over concerns of Iranian retaliation amid regional tensions.
“They’ve spent over the last month waging war on American oil producers while we are defending theirs. This is not how friends treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, before the OPEC+ deal. “Frankly, I think their actions have been inexcusable and they are not going to be easily or quickly forgotten. Whether we can even have a strategic partnership will depend largely on their next steps.”
Iran’s Oil Ministry confirmed the 9.7 million cut for May and June. It said the so-called OPEC+ countries agree to have Mexico reduce its output by 100,000 barrels only for those two months. That had been a sticking point for the accord meant to boost global energy prices.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh also told state television that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would cut another 2 million barrels of oil a day between them atop the OPEC+ deal to help re-balance the markets. The three countries did not immediately acknowledge the cut themselves, though Zanganeh attended the video conference.
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“The minister of Saudi Arabia said that the Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE agreed to reduce more two million barrels than the agreement voluntarily,” Zanganeh said. “We hope that the market returns to a balanced way.”
Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources Ministry said in a statement that the other cuts would stand in the deal, meaning an 8 million barrel per day cut from July through the end of the year and a 6 million barrel cut for 16 months beginning in 2021.
“This will enable the rebalancing of the oil markets and the expected rebound of prices by $15 per barrel in the short term,” the ministry said in a statement.
Mexico had initially blocked the deal but its president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had said Friday that he had agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. will compensate what Mexico cannot add to the proposed cuts.
“The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States,” Trump said in a tweet. “I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia.”
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The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin held a joint call with Trump and Saudi King Salman to express support of the deal. It also said he spoke separately with Trump in which they continued to discuss the oil market situation, as well as other issues.
Analysts offered cautious praise for the deal.
“The pure size of the cut is unprecedented, but, then again, so is the impact the coronavirus is having on demand,” said Mohammed Ghulam, an energy analyst at Raymond James.
Others worried it may not be enough.
“This is at least a temporary relief for the energy industry and for the global economy. This industry is too big to be let to fail and the alliance showed responsibility with this agreement,” said Per Magnus Nysveen, the head of analysis at Rystad Energy. “Even though the production cuts are smaller than what the market needed and only postpone the stock building constraints problem, the worst is for now avoided.”
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huffpost--2020-04-02--How Swizz Beatz And Timbaland Are Helping Black Music Fans Feel Less Alone

I got wine drunk by myself on Wednesday night listening to Scott Storch and Mannie Fresh go head to head on Instagram Live .
I was dancing in the kitchen of my Brooklyn apartment , but you couldn ’ t tell me I wasn ’ t 9 years old nodding and singing along while riding shotgun , as the bass in my older brother ’ s Chevy Cavalier shook the streets of Dayton , Ohio , when Mannie played “ Project Bitch.
” For 20 rounds , the two music producers went back and forth playing the hits from my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now as we are social distancing during a global pandemic .
Each round felt like a sonic salve for my anxiety .
With more than 200,000 people watching along , including some of the most influential artists in hip-hop and R & B , I didn ’ t feel so alone .
Through a series of IG Live faceoffs , producers and songwriters have been giving us premium content for free .
They ’ re offering the perfect shit-talking , reminiscing , feel-good time ― an urgent and necessary trip down memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live battles have been a celebration of hip-hop culture and the people who breathe life into it .
They take us back to that time we imitated a beat on the lunch table while singing our favorite hits with our friends or that time we threw it back a little too hard at the college house party where the walls were sweating as hard as we were .
These sessions have been a celebration of the fans who keep the culture fueled , the multi-generations of artists we know and love , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often goes unsung .
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland kicked off my new favorite quarantine activity on March 24 when the two super producers took their long-standing friendly feud to Instagram .
That first night on IG Live , viewers got an exclusive look at two masterminds leaning into the competitive roots of hip-hop and playing their best records .
Meanwhile , the audience got to watch and comment alongside folks like Diddy , Jermaine Dupri , FunkMaster Flex , Jay Electronica , Common and more .
After that first successful night , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for other producers and songwriters .
Since then , we ’ ve seen Boi-1da go toe to toe with Hit-Boy and each drop new music , an inebriated Sean Garrett battle The-Dream on a chaotic Saturday night , a grown and sexy Sunday night with the sounds of Ne-Yo and Johntá Austin , and a duel of north vs. south with Scott Storch and Mannie Fresh .
Swizz shared a post on Instagram letting the world know that this series is for us , by us .
He said that he and Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a half years ago but the idea is just now coming to fruition .
“ We came up with this concept for the people behind the scenes to get their notoriety and to get their flowers while they ’ re living , ” he said in a video , noting that the producers who ’ ve battled are finally getting credit from those who may not have known about them or their work .
“ This is not a play-around thing , ” he continued .
“ The culture vultures , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not like a TikTok where you can just do a quick thing .
This is formal .
We put curation into this .
We had three Madison Square Gardens filled up tonight.
” These moments have been one of the few silver linings for a lot of us in the midst of social distancing .
Whether this necessary sweet slice of escapism has transported you to the first time you heard your favorite club bop or you ’ re just enjoying watching hip-hop and R & B heavyweights make history and help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genres , revisiting some of the best in Black music has brought hundreds of thousands joy over the past couple of weeks .
Debating who ’ s won each battle has been fun .
But I ’ m not gon na lie .
As corny as it sounds , I feel like all of us witnessing the best producers and songwriters duke it out live are the biggest winners of all .

I got wine drunk by myself on Wednesday night listening to Scott Storch and Mannie Fresh go head to head on Instagram Live. I was dancing in the kitchen of my Brooklyn apartment, but you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t 9 years old nodding and singing along while riding shotgun, as the bass in my older brother’s Chevy Cavalier shook the streets of Dayton, Ohio, when Mannie played “Project Bitch.”
For 20 rounds, the two music producers went back and forth playing the hits from my childhood. The songs felt especially timeless right now as we are social distancing during a global pandemic. Each round felt like a sonic salve for my anxiety. With more than 200,000 people watching along, including some of the most influential artists in hip-hop and R&B, I didn’t feel so alone.
Advertisement
Through a series of IG Live faceoffs, producers and songwriters have been giving us premium content for free. They’re offering the perfect shit-talking, reminiscing, feel-good time ― an urgent and necessary trip down memory lane during very uncertain times. These live battles have been a celebration of hip-hop culture and the people who breathe life into it. They take us back to that time we imitated a beat on the lunch table while singing our favorite hits with our friends or that time we threw it back a little too hard at the college house party where the walls were sweating as hard as we were. These sessions have been a celebration of the fans who keep the culture fueled, the multi-generations of artists we know and love, and all those behind the scenes whose genius often goes unsung.
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland kicked off my new favorite quarantine activity on March 24 when the two super producers took their long-standing friendly feud to Instagram. That first night on IG Live, viewers got an exclusive look at two masterminds leaning into the competitive roots of hip-hop and playing their best records. Meanwhile, the audience got to watch and comment alongside folks like Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, FunkMaster Flex, Jay Electronica, Common and more.
After that first successful night, the duo decided to curate a battle series for other producers and songwriters. Since then, we’ve seen Boi-1da go toe to toe with Hit-Boy and each drop new music, an inebriated Sean Garrett battle The-Dream on a chaotic Saturday night, a grown and sexy Sunday night with the sounds of Ne-Yo and Johntá Austin, and a duel of north vs. south with Scott Storch and Mannie Fresh.
Folks on Twitter have been calling for Pharrell, Missy Elliott, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Dr. Dre, Kandi Burress and Jermaine Dupri to take the stage for upcoming battles. On Saturday, Lil Jon and T-Pain will face off.
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Swizz shared a post on Instagram letting the world know that this series is for us, by us. He said that he and Tim came up with the concept about three and a half years ago but the idea is just now coming to fruition.
“We came up with this concept for the people behind the scenes to get their notoriety and to get their flowers while they’re living,” he said in a video, noting that the producers who’ve battled are finally getting credit from those who may not have known about them or their work.
“This is not a play-around thing,” he continued. “The culture vultures, I see y’all lurking. This is not like a TikTok where you can just do a quick thing. This is formal. We put curation into this. We had three Madison Square Gardens filled up tonight.”
These moments have been one of the few silver linings for a lot of us in the midst of social distancing. Whether this necessary sweet slice of escapism has transported you to the first time you heard your favorite club bop or you’re just enjoying watching hip-hop and R&B heavyweights make history and help evolve how we appreciate and preserve these genres, revisiting some of the best in Black music has brought hundreds of thousands joy over the past couple of weeks.
Platforms like Tidal and The Aux DJ have even started sharing playlists so folks can relive the curated battles between sets.
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huffpost--2020-04-12--Nursing Homes Deaths Linked To Coronavirus Soar Past 3,600 In Alarming Surge

NEW YORK ( AP ) — More than 3,600 deaths nationwide have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities , an alarming rise in just the past two weeks , according to the latest count by The Associated Press .
Because the federal government has not been releasing a count of its own , the AP has kept its own running tally based on media reports and state health departments .
The latest count of at least 3,621 deaths is up from about 450 deaths just 10 days ago .
But the true toll among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who live in such facilities is likely much higher , experts say , because most state counts don ’ t include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19 .
Outbreaks in just the past few weeks have included one at a nursing home in suburban Richmond , Virginia , that has killed 42 and infected more than 100 , another at nursing home in central Indiana that has killed 24 and infected 16 , and one at a veteran ’ s home in Holyoke , Mass.
, that has killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal investigation .
This comes weeks after an outbreak at a nursing home in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland that has so far claimed 43 lives .
And those are just the outbreaks we know about .
Most states provide only total numbers of nursing home deaths and don ’ t give details of specific outbreaks .
Notable among them is the nation ’ s leader , New York , which accounts for 1,880 nursing home deaths out of about 96,000 total residents but has so far declined to detail specific outbreaks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home deaths may keep climbing because of chronic staffing shortages that have been made worse by the coronavirus crisis , a shortage of protective supplies and a continued lack of available testing .
And the deaths have skyrocketed despite steps taken by the federal government in mid-March to bar visitors , cease all group activities , and require that every worker be screened for fever or respiratory symptoms at every shift .
But an AP report earlier this month found that infections were continuing to find their way into nursing homes because such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were infected but asymptomatic .
Several large outbreaks were blamed on such spreaders , including infected health workers who worked at several different nursing home facilities .
This past week , the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that regulates nursing homes issued recommendations urging nursing homes to use separate staffing teams for residents , and to designate separate facilities within nursing homes to keep COVID-19 positive residents away from those who have tested negative .
Dr. Deborah Birx , who leads the White House coronavirus response , suggested this past week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nursing homes should be a top priority .
“ We need to really ensure that nursing homes have sentinel surveillance .
And what do I mean by that ?
That we ’ re actively testing in nursing homes , both the residents and the workers , at all times , ” Birx said .

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NEW YORK (AP) — More than 3,600 deaths nationwide have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, an alarming rise in just the past two weeks, according to the latest count by The Associated Press.
Because the federal government has not been releasing a count of its own, the AP has kept its own running tally based on media reports and state health departments. The latest count of at least 3,621 deaths is up from about 450 deaths just 10 days ago.
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But the true toll among the 1 million mostly frail and elderly people who live in such facilities is likely much higher, experts say, because most state counts don’t include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19.
Outbreaks in just the past few weeks have included one at a nursing home in suburban Richmond, Virginia, that has killed 42 and infected more than 100, another at nursing home in central Indiana that has killed 24 and infected 16, and one at a veteran’s home in Holyoke, Mass., that has killed 38, infected 88 and prompted a federal investigation. This comes weeks after an outbreak at a nursing home in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland that has so far claimed 43 lives.
And those are just the outbreaks we know about. Most states provide only total numbers of nursing home deaths and don’t give details of specific outbreaks. Notable among them is the nation’s leader, New York, which accounts for 1,880 nursing home deaths out of about 96,000 total residents but has so far declined to detail specific outbreaks, citing privacy concerns.
Experts say nursing home deaths may keep climbing because of chronic staffing shortages that have been made worse by the coronavirus crisis, a shortage of protective supplies and a continued lack of available testing.
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And the deaths have skyrocketed despite steps taken by the federal government in mid-March to bar visitors, cease all group activities, and require that every worker be screened for fever or respiratory symptoms at every shift.
But an AP report earlier this month found that infections were continuing to find their way into nursing homes because such screenings didn’t catch people who were infected but asymptomatic. Several large outbreaks were blamed on such spreaders, including infected health workers who worked at several different nursing home facilities.
This past week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that regulates nursing homes issued recommendations urging nursing homes to use separate staffing teams for residents, and to designate separate facilities within nursing homes to keep COVID-19 positive residents away from those who have tested negative.
Dr. Deborah Birx, who leads the White House coronavirus response, suggested this past week that as more COVID-19 tests become available, nursing homes should be a top priority.
“We need to really ensure that nursing homes have sentinel surveillance. And what do I mean by that? That we’re actively testing in nursing homes, both the residents and the workers, at all times,” Birx said.


huffpost--2020-04-09--Spending More Time Outside During The Pandemic? Scientists Say Beware Of Ticks.

Nearly 50 % of ticks are infected with Lyme disease or other pathogens that can severely disrupt people ’ s immune systems , potentially making them even more vulnerable to COVID-19 , said Goudarz Molaei , director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station ’ s passive tick surveillance and testing program .
There ’ s no evidence ticks can carry or transmit the virus that causes COVID-19 , Molaei said , but a person who contracts a tick-borne illness and is then exposed to the coronavirus could have an especially difficult time recovering .
“ Some of the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to get sick or die if they have certain other health issues , ” said Richard Ostfeld , a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook , New York .
“ We don ’ t know if an infection with a tick-borne pathogen is one of those issues , but it could be , ” Ostfeld continued .
“ We should be concerned about the possibility that people will have increased severity of illness if they are also suffering from a tick-borne disease.
” People can encounter ticks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though they are typically most active between April and September .
Most Lyme disease cases are reported in June and July , and over 90 % of them occur in 15 states : Connecticut , Delaware , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont , Virginia , West Virginia and Wisconsin .
Molaei said his lab in Connecticut has received 750 ticks for testing from Dec. 1 to Tuesday ― nearly four times as many as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His lab received 540 ticks during the same time period ahead of 2017′s record season for tick-borne diseases .
The increased number of ticks sent to his lab this year is likely caused by a few factors , Molaei said .
For one , warmer winters and earlier springs fueled by climate change draw ticks out earlier .
Plus , he suspects more people are hiking during the pandemic , therefore increasing their chances of encountering the bloodsuckers .
“ People used to go out for outdoor activities on Saturdays and Sundays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Molaei said .
“ But now they are out and doing outdoor activities almost every day.
” “ Even though we are all concerned about coronavirus , we have to be mindful that tick-borne diseases are not going away , ” he added .
“ We have to be careful , particularly at this time when hospitals and even clinics are overworked.
” Lyme disease , the most common tick-borne illness , can cause unpleasant symptoms like a rash , facial paralysis and swollen knees .
But it isn ’ t always easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can progress to complications like memory problems , heart irregularities and chronic arthritis .
More than 35,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to state health departments nationwide every year , though studies suggest the actual number of people diagnosed and treated for the disease annually is closer to 300,000 , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The early appearance of ticks this year doesn ’ t mean there will be more of them overall , Ostfeld said .
He predicts an average tick population this season based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white-footed mice , a highly popular host of the eight-legged parasites .
These mice are also primary carriers of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses .
An average tick season is still a risky year , Ostfeld warned .
He shares Molaei ’ s concern that Americans are spending more time outdoors this year ― either while the stay-at-home orders are in place or immediately after social distancing measures are lifted ― and consequently encountering more ticks .
The CDC ’ s website offers several recommendations for preventing tick bites , including using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and showering soon after being outdoors , and placing clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any stowaways .
Hikers should be sure to walk in the center of a trail and away from long grass and brush , Molaei said .
He recommends dog owners do not bring their canine friends for hikes in wooded areas to avoid an additional risk of tick encounters .
If a hiker does bring a dog , they should not let the animal off-leash .

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Millions of Americans are under stay-at-home orders as the coronavirus spreads across the country, prompting some to spend more time than usual outdoors during the extended social isolation.
While hiking in the woods can provide a much-needed change of scenery, scientists are urging nature-seekers to take precautions against tick encounters.
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Nearly 50% of ticks are infected with Lyme disease or other pathogens that can severely disrupt people’s immune systems, potentially making them even more vulnerable to COVID-19, said Goudarz Molaei, director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station’s passive tick surveillance and testing program.
There’s no evidence ticks can carry or transmit the virus that causes COVID-19, Molaei said, but a person who contracts a tick-borne illness and is then exposed to the coronavirus could have an especially difficult time recovering.
“Some of the people who are exposed to the coronavirus are more likely to get sick or die if they have certain other health issues,” said Richard Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York.
“We don’t know if an infection with a tick-borne pathogen is one of those issues, but it could be,” Ostfeld continued. “We should be concerned about the possibility that people will have increased severity of illness if they are also suffering from a tick-borne disease.”
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Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images Blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) on a leaf, carrier of the Lyme disease, 2005.
People can encounter ticks year-round in many parts of the U.S., though they are typically most active between April and September. Most Lyme disease cases are reported in June and July, and over 90% of them occur in 15 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Molaei said his lab in Connecticut has received 750 ticks for testing from Dec. 1 to Tuesday ― nearly four times as many as the same time period the previous year. His lab received 540 ticks during the same time period ahead of 2017′s record season for tick-borne diseases.
The increased number of ticks sent to his lab this year is likely caused by a few factors, Molaei said. For one, warmer winters and earlier springs fueled by climate change draw ticks out earlier. Plus, he suspects more people are hiking during the pandemic, therefore increasing their chances of encountering the bloodsuckers.
“People used to go out for outdoor activities on Saturdays and Sundays, sometimes in the afternoon,” Molaei said. “But now they are out and doing outdoor activities almost every day.”
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“Even though we are all concerned about coronavirus, we have to be mindful that tick-borne diseases are not going away,” he added. “We have to be careful, particularly at this time when hospitals and even clinics are overworked.”
Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness, can cause unpleasant symptoms like a rash, facial paralysis and swollen knees. But it isn’t always easy to detect, and if left untreated can progress to complications like memory problems, heart irregularities and chronic arthritis.
More than 35,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to state health departments nationwide every year, though studies suggest the actual number of people diagnosed and treated for the disease annually is closer to 300,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other tick-borne illnesses include babesioisis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, as well as the potentially fatal Powassan disease, which led to former North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan’s death in October.
“Even though we are all concerned about coronavirus, we have to be mindful that tick-borne diseases are not going away.” - Goudarz Molaei, tick expert
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Unlike Lyme disease, which can take ticks at least a day to transmit to hosts, Powassan pathogens are passed on in just 15 minutes ― making immediate removal of the tick and treatment essential.
The early appearance of ticks this year doesn’t mean there will be more of them overall, Ostfeld said. He predicts an average tick population this season based on last summer’s numbers of white-footed mice, a highly popular host of the eight-legged parasites. These mice are also primary carriers of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
An average tick season is still a risky year, Ostfeld warned. He shares Molaei’s concern that Americans are spending more time outdoors this year ― either while the stay-at-home orders are in place or immediately after social distancing measures are lifted ― and consequently encountering more ticks.
“I hope that people are able to enjoy the outdoors ― I think it’s incredibly important for our mental health and our physical health,” Ostfeld said. “But we certainly need to protect ourselves.”
The CDC’s website offers several recommendations for preventing tick bites, including using certain insect repellents, checking your body and showering soon after being outdoors, and placing clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any stowaways.
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Hikers should be sure to walk in the center of a trail and away from long grass and brush, Molaei said. He recommends dog owners do not bring their canine friends for hikes in wooded areas to avoid an additional risk of tick encounters. If a hiker does bring a dog, they should not let the animal off-leash.
Wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes, and tucking your pants into your socks, can also prevent tick bites when hiking.


huffpost--2020-04-12--Queen Elizabeth Says Coronavirus Will 'Not Overcome Us' In First-Ever Easter Message

LONDON ( Reuters ) ― Britain ’ s Queen Elizabeth said on Saturday that coronavirus “ would not overcome us ” as she delivered her second rallying message to the nation in a week .
The 93-year-old monarch , who is the symbolic head of the Church of England , also stated that “ Easter isn ’ t canceled ” in her first ever address to mark the Christian holy day .
“ This year , Easter will be different for many of us , but by keeping apart we keep others safe .
But Easter isn ’ t canceled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as ever , ” she said .
`` We know that coronavirus will not overcome us . ''
The Queen has recorded her first ever Easter message , drawing on her own personal faith to reassure the nation .
Full message here : https : //t.co/087wrtPDr5 pic.twitter.com/ctMIXnB1RN — SkyNews ( @ SkyNews ) April 11 , 2020 Last Sunday , Elizabeth gave only the fifth televised address of her 68-year reign to say that if Britons stayed resolute in the face of a lockdown and self-isolation , they would beat the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made reference to her experience of World War Two , but this time the monarch , who takes her religious faith seriously , used the Easter message to reinforce that message .
“ The discovery of the risen Christ on the first Easter Day gave his followers new hope and fresh purpose , and we can all take heart from this , ” she said in the audio recording on Twitter .
“ We know that coronavirus will not overcome us .
As dark as death can be - particularly for those suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater .
May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.
” Her message comes as Britain ’ s death toll nears 10,000 , with 917 more deaths reported by health officials on Saturday .
The queen is usually joined by other senior members of the royal family at a traditional Easter service at Windsor Castle , where she is staying with her husband Prince Philip , 98 .
However , the service will not take place this year because of restrictions on social gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I wish everyone of all faiths and denominations a blessed Easter , ” the queen said .

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LONDON (Reuters) ― Britain’s Queen Elizabeth said on Saturday that coronavirus “would not overcome us” as she delivered her second rallying message to the nation in a week.
The 93-year-old monarch, who is the symbolic head of the Church of England, also stated that “Easter isn’t canceled” in her first ever address to mark the Christian holy day.
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“This year, Easter will be different for many of us, but by keeping apart we keep others safe. But Easter isn’t canceled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever,” she said.
"We know that coronavirus will not overcome us."
The Queen has recorded her first ever Easter message, drawing on her own personal faith to reassure the nation.
Full message here: https://t.co/087wrtPDr5 pic.twitter.com/ctMIXnB1RN — SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 11, 2020
Last Sunday, Elizabeth gave only the fifth televised address of her 68-year reign to say that if Britons stayed resolute in the face of a lockdown and self-isolation, they would beat the COVID-19 pandemic.
On that occasion, she made reference to her experience of World War Two, but this time the monarch, who takes her religious faith seriously, used the Easter message to reinforce that message.
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“The discovery of the risen Christ on the first Easter Day gave his followers new hope and fresh purpose, and we can all take heart from this,” she said in the audio recording on Twitter.
“We know that coronavirus will not overcome us. As dark as death can be - particularly for those suffering with grief - light and life are greater. May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.”
Her message comes as Britain’s death toll nears 10,000, with 917 more deaths reported by health officials on Saturday.
The queen is usually joined by other senior members of the royal family at a traditional Easter service at Windsor Castle, where she is staying with her husband Prince Philip, 98.
However, the service will not take place this year because of restrictions on social gatherings including a ban on church services.
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huffpost--2020-04-12--We're Medical Students Ready To Fight The Coronavirus. Here Is What's Holding Us Back.

It seems wrong for hundreds of new doctors to sit idly by due to inconsistent hospital policies while the crisis surges in New York City , especially as these same hospitals call back retired nurses and physicians in their 60s and 70s to battle COVID-19 .
The peak of the virus is predicted within the next two weeks .
New York City needs manpower in the same time frame in which we will be graduating .
We learned medicine here , we know our health systems ’ layouts , workflows , and electronic medical record programs .
And while we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better suited due to our age to have favorable outcomes if we do contract the virus .
There needs to be coordination or at least agreement among national accreditation committees , medical schools and health systems across the country so that we and our fourth-year medical student peers elsewhere have the ability to join forces to battle this pandemic .
Included in this discussion should be ways that new doctors are covered as they enter into their first jobs , such as employee benefits , health insurance and appropriate access to PPE .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy administrative task , but the absence of a transparent national policy compels hospitals to currently reject critical help from qualified new physicians in a time of dire need .
Four weeks ago , we were celebrating birthdays , running in Central Park and planning vacations .
Now , in a turn of events , next week we will be M.D.s , a new militia that stands ready to help combat this disease .
What can we do with these two letters added to our names if no clear , systematic plan is @ @ @

It seems wrong for hundreds of new doctors to sit idly by due to inconsistent hospital policies while the crisis surges in New York City, especially as these same hospitals call back retired nurses and physicians in their 60s and 70s to battle COVID-19. The peak of the virus is predicted within the next two weeks. New York City needs manpower in the same time frame in which we will be graduating. We learned medicine here, we know our health systems’ layouts, workflows, and electronic medical record programs. And while we are certainly not invincible, we are better suited due to our age to have favorable outcomes if we do contract the virus.
There needs to be coordination or at least agreement among national accreditation committees, medical schools and health systems across the country so that we and our fourth-year medical student peers elsewhere have the ability to join forces to battle this pandemic. Included in this discussion should be ways that new doctors are covered as they enter into their first jobs, such as employee benefits, health insurance and appropriate access to PPE. We acknowledge that this is not an easy administrative task, but the absence of a transparent national policy compels hospitals to currently reject critical help from qualified new physicians in a time of dire need.
Four weeks ago, we were celebrating birthdays, running in Central Park and planning vacations. Now, in a turn of events, next week we will be M.D.s, a new militia that stands ready to help combat this disease. What can we do with these two letters added to our names if no clear, systematic plan is in place?


huffpost--2020-04-12--Tom Hanks Hosts First-Ever Stay-At-Home 'Saturday Night Live'

“ Hey , it ’ s good to be here , though it is also very weird to be here hosting ‘ Saturday Night Live ’ from home , ” Tom Hanks announced during a surprise appearance as host of the historic stay-at-home edition of “ SNL.
” The actor , who recently recovered from COVID-19 , captured the bizarre feeling that came with the “ SNL ” cast putting on a show while sheltering in their homes .
“ It is a strange time to try and be funny .
But trying to be funny is ‘ SNL ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought , what the heck , let ’ s give it a shot , ” said Hanks , dressed in a suit in the middle of his kitchen .
He referred to himself at the “ celebrity canary in the coal mine for the coronavirus.
” He and his wife , Rita Wilson , tested positive for COVID-19 last month in Australia , were hospitalized , then stayed in quarantine until returning to Los Angeles two weeks ago .
Hanks joked that he ’ s now “ more like America ’ s dad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to be around me very long , and I make people uncomfortable.
” He and Wilson are “ doing great , ” he said , and “ hunkered down — like all of us should be.
” Hanks warned viewers that the show wouldn ’ t look the same as it always does ― but that it ’ s still “ SNL.
” “ There ’ ll be some good stuff , maybe one or two stinkers , ” he said .
“ You know the drill.
” Hanks concluded : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the duration , and we will get through this together.
” And here ’ s a glimpse of the cast at home from the opening credits :

“Hey, it’s good to be here, though it is also very weird to be here hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ from home,” Tom Hanks announced during a surprise appearance as host of the historic stay-at-home edition of “SNL.”
The actor, who recently recovered from COVID-19, captured the bizarre feeling that came with the “SNL” cast putting on a show while sheltering in their homes.
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“It is a strange time to try and be funny. But trying to be funny is ‘SNL’s’ whole thing, so we thought, what the heck, let’s give it a shot,” said Hanks, dressed in a suit in the middle of his kitchen.
He referred to himself at the “celebrity canary in the coal mine for the coronavirus.” He and his wife, Rita Wilson, tested positive for COVID-19 last month in Australia, were hospitalized, then stayed in quarantine until returning to Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Hanks joked that he’s now “more like America’s dad than ever before, since no one wants to be around me very long, and I make people uncomfortable.”
He and Wilson are “doing great,” he said, and “hunkered down — like all of us should be.”
Hanks warned viewers that the show wouldn’t look the same as it always does ― but that it’s still “SNL.”
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“There’ll be some good stuff, maybe one or two stinkers,” he said. “You know the drill.”
Hanks concluded: “Stay safe. We are in this for the duration, and we will get through this together.”
Check out the video up top.
And here’s a glimpse of the cast at home from the opening credits:
We caught up with the cast at home for the #SNLAtHome opening ‼ pic.twitter.com/iloDjVTDZy — Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 12, 2020


huffpost--2020-06-17--How To Cope If Father’s Day Is Tough For You

“ Our bodies and minds might be in panic mode as we try to cope with all of the uncertainty and changes to our daily lives , which leaves less emotional resources to cope , ” added Nicole Bentley , a licensed therapist and intake coordinator at Cityscape Counseling in Chicago .
“ If Father ’ s Day is typically a hard day for someone , then this year that same person might have less ability to cope with it because of the emotional toll the pandemic has taken on their mental health .
This could mean that emotions feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Know That You Are Not Alone “ On days like Father ’ s Day , emotional scar tissue is reopened , as people feel the pain of what they never had or may have once had , but now it ’ s gone , ” said licensed psychologist Tracy Thomas .
“ This is even harder when others are getting to have a more fulfilling celebration around you .
The grief that people feel in this area may be more subtle the rest of the year , but when people see other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grief for those that already feel pain in this area.
” Take Stock Of Your Feelings “ Grief is hard .
It is just never easy , quick or exactly the same for all of us , ” Reidenberg said .
“ When you lose someone that you care about , it takes time to go through the grieving process .
Everyone does it differently , and it is different for each person and relationship that you have lost.
” “ Be aware that you might have a range of feelings , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reidenberg said .
“ Some people grieving the loss of a father are sad , while others are angry that they didn ’ t get more time with their dad .
They might be upset over the circumstances around their death .
Some might be envious that others still have their dad around to celebrate with .
Still others will feel sad that their dad didn ’ t get to see the successes of their children on Father ’ s Day and know it brought a sense of pride to their dad.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you find yourself struggling this Father ’ s Day , it might be helpful to reach out for social support , ” Bentley said .
“ A loved one can provide emotional support , validation , perspective or problem-solving options , depending on what you are in need of .
In times of distress , we are often less able to give ourself what we need , so seeking support from others can be very helpful.
” “ Make sure to talk about your dad , ” Reidenberg said .
“ Often people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear about someone who has passed because it is too hard on the survivors , but it is really important to keep talking about them in the present time on days like Father ’ s Day .
Find the right people in your life that you can talk to about him , and share stories , good memories , things that you learned , and know that it is also OK to share your sadness and things that you will miss because he is not here.
” “ For years , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write down all of the things he has done for me in my life and all of the ways I see how much he has tried while struggling with his own emotional issues , ” she said .
” People can lessen the grief they feel ( especially this year ) by making a list like this in order to bring about the clarity that allows you to acknowledge something to celebrate , because celebrating what is versus grieving over what isn ’ t is an important emotions technique for building epic emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Traditions Or Create New Ones “ If grief feels particularly strong this Father ’ s Day , consider what would be meaningful for you , ” Bentley said .
“ Perhaps that means not celebrating with your spouse ’ s father this year or spending time with another loved one who you feel close with .
Maybe it means having a self-care day to yourself or being around other people who feel safe to surround yourself with during such a vulnerable time .
There is no right or wrong here .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the right fit for you .
”

Westend61 via Getty Images Many people deal with painful emotions on Father's Day.
Father’s Day is not a joy-filled occasion for everyone. The holiday can bring up painful emotions for anyone who has lost a dad, has a turbulent relationship with him or struggles with other forms of trauma related to fatherhood.
“Grief around Father’s Day, a day when we normally come together to celebrate our dads and the role they had in our life, can be hard when they are gone and even harder this year, given the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dan Reidenberg, a mental health expert and executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.
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“Our bodies and minds might be in panic mode as we try to cope with all of the uncertainty and changes to our daily lives, which leaves less emotional resources to cope,” added Nicole Bentley, a licensed therapist and intake coordinator at Cityscape Counseling in Chicago. “If Father’s Day is typically a hard day for someone, then this year that same person might have less ability to cope with it because of the emotional toll the pandemic has taken on their mental health. This could mean that emotions feel stronger or like they last longer.”
But there are ways to ease the effects of Father’s Day triggers. HuffPost spoke to experts to learn how to deal with the grief surrounding the holiday. While the focus is on people who’ve lost their fathers, much of their advice can apply to those who’ve lost a child or experienced other kinds of dad-related trauma.
Know That You Are Not Alone
“On days like Father’s Day, emotional scar tissue is reopened, as people feel the pain of what they never had or may have once had, but now it’s gone,” said licensed psychologist Tracy Thomas. “This is even harder when others are getting to have a more fulfilling celebration around you. The grief that people feel in this area may be more subtle the rest of the year, but when people see other people celebrating their dads, it generates more grief for those that already feel pain in this area.”
Scrolling through an Instagram feed full of dad tributes or even seeing families gathered together at a park may make you feel like you’re the only one not in a celebratory mood on Father’s Day. But this is not true.
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“Knowing that you are not alone in this can help,” Reidenberg said. “There are many others who feel sadness, loss and grief, too.”
If you’re feeling grief around Father’s Day, you may find comfort in reading essays, books, blogs or even social media posts from others who have had similar experiences and who struggle around this holiday as well.
Take Stock Of Your Feelings
“Grief is hard. It is just never easy, quick or exactly the same for all of us,” Reidenberg said. “When you lose someone that you care about, it takes time to go through the grieving process. Everyone does it differently, and it is different for each person and relationship that you have lost.”
The process of coping is about going through the different emotions that arise, acknowledging them and responding in the way that’s best for you. Even if your emotional experience diverges from your expectations, it’s still natural and real.
“Be aware that you might have a range of feelings, even some that might surprise you,” Reidenberg said. “Some people grieving the loss of a father are sad, while others are angry that they didn’t get more time with their dad. They might be upset over the circumstances around their death. Some might be envious that others still have their dad around to celebrate with. Still others will feel sad that their dad didn’t get to see the successes of their children on Father’s Day and know it brought a sense of pride to their dad.”
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Reach Out To Loved Ones
“If you find yourself struggling this Father’s Day, it might be helpful to reach out for social support,” Bentley said. “A loved one can provide emotional support, validation, perspective or problem-solving options, depending on what you are in need of. In times of distress, we are often less able to give ourself what we need, so seeking support from others can be very helpful.”
Connecting with others provides the opportunity to express your feelings rather than bottling them up.
“Talking about our hurt allows us to release the pain through our words, giving the loss less power,” said Saniyyah Mayo, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles. She also suggested gathering with loved ones (in small, socially distanced or virtual get-togethers) to celebrate your father’s life.
“This also cultivates a positive mood and allows individuals to focus on the good times versus the loss that they are experiencing,” she said.
Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images It can be helpful to reach out to others, even digitally.
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“Make sure to talk about your dad,” Reidenberg said. “Often people think that others won’t want to hear about someone who has passed because it is too hard on the survivors, but it is really important to keep talking about them in the present time on days like Father’s Day. Find the right people in your life that you can talk to about him, and share stories, good memories, things that you learned, and know that it is also OK to share your sadness and things that you will miss because he is not here.”
Sharing positive memories ― funny stories or good times ― can help cultivate a sense of joy during an otherwise painful time. You can share these memories in conversations with others, emails to loved ones, social media posts or journal entries with just yourself.
Thomas told HuffPost she faced some big challenges in her relationship with her father, who died last year.
“For years, I have made an extra effort to continuously write down all of the things he has done for me in my life and all of the ways I see how much he has tried while struggling with his own emotional issues,” she said. ”People can lessen the grief they feel (especially this year) by making a list like this in order to bring about the clarity that allows you to acknowledge something to celebrate, because celebrating what is versus grieving over what isn’t is an important emotions technique for building epic emotional strength to enjoy life.”
Carry On Traditions Or Create New Ones
“Find a way to carry on something important to your dad. Whether it was something you did together with him or something you did that made him proud of you, do it and do it in his honor,” Reidenberg said.
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“Consider starting a new tradition in memory and honor of your dad,” he added. “It can be anything big or small, simple or complicated, alone or with others. The idea is just to find something meaningful to you and to your dad and do it each year in his honor.”
A new annual tradition could be marking the day by eating a particular food that he loved, walking a certain path he used to enjoy or collecting something he liked (stamps or rocks, for instance). You could explore a new place to get a change of scenery. The options are endless.
“If grief feels particularly strong this Father’s Day, consider what would be meaningful for you,” Bentley said. “Perhaps that means not celebrating with your spouse’s father this year or spending time with another loved one who you feel close with. Maybe it means having a self-care day to yourself or being around other people who feel safe to surround yourself with during such a vulnerable time. There is no right or wrong here. It’s all about leaning into what feels like the right fit for you.”
Talk To A Therapist
Bentley added: “Talking to a therapist about grief is always a great option. They can provide a nonbiased perspective centered entirely on your experience and your needs.”
Virtual group therapy and online support groups can also be helpful, as fellow mourners may offer another form of comfort and consolation.
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“If your experience with grief seems to be intensifying despite your attempts at effective coping, that is a good sign that seeking therapeutic support could be useful,” Bentley said.


huffpost--2020-06-17--White House Steps Up Effort To Downplay Coronavirus Concerns

NEW YORK ( AP ) — President Donald Trump has long been fond of crafting his own version of the facts .
But when he said “ if we stop testing right now we ’ d have very few cases ” of coronavirus , he may have written a new line of attack for critics who question his commitment to following the science .
Trump ’ s comment Monday was part of a broader administration effort to play down the pandemic , a push that public health experts and Democratic officials worry is sending a dangerous message to the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen a surge in cases in recent weeks .
Last week , the University of Washington ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published new projections that show COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. could surpass 200,000 by Oct. 1 .
The institute said rising rates of infections , hospitalizations and death “ are now occurring in the wake of eased or ended distancing policies.
” Trump offered more rosy talk Tuesday , predicting that a vaccine would be available by year ’ s end and adding that “ even without it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that optimistic outlook just one day after he attributed surging positive cases to testing in the United States that is “ so much bigger and more advanced than any other country.
” But public health experts say Trump and Pence ’ s ebullience papers over concerning data that suggests that the virus remains a serious threat to Americans ’ health and the economy and that the slowing of social distancing and mitigation efforts risks a second wave of the coronavirus in the fall .
The Trump administration ’ s push to diminish concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks to resume his reelection campaign in earnest .
Trump has seen his support erode over his handling of the pandemic and nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd , the African American Minneapolis man who died after a white policeman pressed his knee onto Floyd ’ s neck .
In recent weeks , leading public health experts on the White House coronavirus task force have made less frequent public appearances as the White House has sought to focus on the economic recovery from the pandemic .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview on NPR ’ s “ 1A ” that he last spoke to Trump about two weeks ago .
The coronavirus task force coordinator , Deborah Birx , hasn ’ t given a major media interview since late May .
Trump is set to hold his first campaign rally since early March on Saturday in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Ticketholders were required to acknowledge the risk of exposure to coronavirus and absolve the campaign of liability if they fall ill. Trump also has moved his August nomination acceptance speech at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after North Carolina ’ s Democratic governor said he couldn ’ t assure that the convention could go on as planned in Charlotte without some social distancing measures .
Pence pointed to data showing more than half of states are actually seeing cases decline or remain stable .
In the six states that have been recording 1,000 new cases a day , increased testing has allowed public health officials to determine that most of the outbreaks are occurring in particular settings — prisons , nursing homes and meatpacking facilities .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreased in the Northeast and much of the Midwest , while increasing in several states in the South and West .
But in Arizona and some other states , the increases are more widespread and suggest community spread that seems to have erupted after the states lifted stay-at-home orders , school and business closures , and other restrictions that were put in place during the spring to stop outbreaks from ever taking off .

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NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump has long been fond of crafting his own version of the facts. But when he said “if we stop testing right now we’d have very few cases” of coronavirus, he may have written a new line of attack for critics who question his commitment to following the science.
His statement overlooks other important measures of the ongoing coronavirus threat, including hospitalizations and deaths.
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Trump’s comment Monday was part of a broader administration effort to play down the pandemic, a push that public health experts and Democratic officials worry is sending a dangerous message to the American public as some parts of the country have seen a surge in cases in recent weeks.
“An ostrich puts his head in the sand because he doesn’t want to see what’s around him,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University. “It’s the same thing with Trump.”
Last week, the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published new projections that show COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. could surpass 200,000 by Oct. 1. The institute said rising rates of infections, hospitalizations and death “are now occurring in the wake of eased or ended distancing policies.”
Trump offered more rosy talk Tuesday, predicting that a vaccine would be available by year’s end and adding that “even without it, it goes away.” He offered that optimistic outlook just one day after he attributed surging positive cases to testing in the United States that is “so much bigger and more advanced than any other country.”
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Vice President Mike Pence, for his part, pushed back in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the potential for a second wave of the virus was “overblown.’
“Less than 2 percent of the counties in the entire country are seeing any significant increase in cases,” Pence said in a separate Fox News interview. “That’s a tribute to the American people.”
But public health experts say Trump and Pence’s ebullience papers over concerning data that suggests that the virus remains a serious threat to Americans’ health and the economy and that the slowing of social distancing and mitigation efforts risks a second wave of the coronavirus in the fall.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic minority leader, criticized the vice president for ridiculing concerns about a second wave.
“Dr. Pence would not be someone I’d go to for a medical checkup, or for medical advice,” he said.
The Trump administration’s push to diminish concerns about the virus comes as the president looks to resume his reelection campaign in earnest. Trump has seen his support erode over his handling of the pandemic and nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd, the African American Minneapolis man who died after a white policeman pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck.
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In recent weeks, leading public health experts on the White House coronavirus task force have made less frequent public appearances as the White House has sought to focus on the economic recovery from the pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top epidemiologist, said in an interview on NPR’s “1A” that he last spoke to Trump about two weeks ago. The coronavirus task force coordinator, Deborah Birx, hasn’t given a major media interview since late May.
Trump is set to hold his first campaign rally since early March on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ticketholders were required to acknowledge the risk of exposure to coronavirus and absolve the campaign of liability if they fall ill. Trump also has moved his August nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention to Jacksonville, Florida, after North Carolina’s Democratic governor said he couldn’t assure that the convention could go on as planned in Charlotte without some social distancing measures.
“He continues to put politics over public health,” Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said of Trump.
Pence pointed to data showing more than half of states are actually seeing cases decline or remain stable. In the six states that have been recording 1,000 new cases a day, increased testing has allowed public health officials to determine that most of the outbreaks are occurring in particular settings — prisons, nursing homes and meatpacking facilities.
But experts say testing is identifying just a small fraction of the actual number of infections in this country.
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In the last several weeks, new cases have decreased in the Northeast and much of the Midwest, while increasing in several states in the South and West.
In the past week, hospitalization rates have increased in 11 states in the South and West, according to The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer organization that collects coronavirus data in the United States. The states are Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.
Several of those states have also seen recent increases in the seven-day rolling average on the percent of tests coming back positive, another worrying sign.
The reason for the increases can vary. In Arkansas, health officials say it’s specific to a few counties and seems to be largely driven by localized outbreaks related to poultry processing plants.
But in Arizona and some other states, the increases are more widespread and suggest community spread that seems to have erupted after the states lifted stay-at-home orders, school and business closures, and other restrictions that were put in place during the spring to stop outbreaks from ever taking off.
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Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said Arizona residents are hearing “mixed messages” from Trump and Pence as well as Arizona’s Republican governor, Doug Ducey, about how careful they need to be.
Arizona was among the first to lift its stay-at-home order last month, quickly allowing restaurants, barbershops and even nightclubs to reopen. Ducey has declined to require residents wear masks in public spaces where social distancing is difficult. The state reported 2,392 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, a new daily high, and 25 additional deaths.
“We are still very much climbing towards our peak,” Gallego said. “The problem is getting worse in Arizona.”
___


huffpost--2020-06-17--28 Protest Images From Small Cities And Towns Across The U.S.

According to The New York Times , protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month have spread to more than 2,000 cities and towns in all 50 states , as well as in over 60 countries .
The protests are largely peaceful , with demonstrators echoing the chants and messages you hear in bigger cities .
( “ Hands up .
Don ’ t shoot.
” “ Black lives , they matter here !
” “ I can ’ t breathe.
” ) Earlier this month , Hope and Dwaylon Davis organized a Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a town of about 4,500 that is 97 % white .
They got the word out over social media and with a little help from a local newspaper that wrote about the protest plans .
In spite of some pushback from people in the community , about 300 came out .
“ We received as much opposition as we did support , ” Hope told HuffPost .
“ Prior to our peaceful protest , I was told there had never been a civil rights protest or march here .
We learned you just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to stay positive.
” “ We did not obtain a permit , although we did block the flow of traffic at some points , ” Hope said .
“ We contacted the mayor , city police chief , as well as the sheriff .
They were all willing to work with us and met any request we had.
” One of the organizers , Assata , who asked that we use her first name only for her privacy , said connecting with Instagram accounts with larger followings has been essential to getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chino Hills protests have been promoted on @ justiceforgeorgela , an Instagram group with 4,207 followers that aggregates protest plans across the Los Angeles region . )
“ Building with other protests and asking people to tag us in pictures has been important , ” she said .
“ A lot of people still don ’ t know that there are protests safe enough to bring your children to in the Inland Empire , so the pictures go a long way.
” People from several area churches gather June 9 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evangel Church in Hanover Park , Illinois , in what was planned as a nonpolitical spiritual event , rather than a protest , in memory of George Floyd .
Lee Cottrill and Cheryl Cockrell hold up signs during the `` Breathe Through Me Peace Rally '' in Meridian , Mississippi , on June 6 .
The event aimed to address racial injustice following the May 25 death George Floyd when he was restrained in police custody in Minneapolis .

Protests over police brutality and systemic racism aren’t just happening in big cities; they’re happening everywhere in America ― including in places where voters turned out in large numbers for President Donald Trump in 2016, in predominantly white, rural small towns.
According to The New York Times, protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month have spread to more than 2,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, as well as in over 60 countries. The protests are largely peaceful, with demonstrators echoing the chants and messages you hear in bigger cities. (“Hands up. Don’t shoot.” “Black lives, they matter here!” “I can’t breathe.”)
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Earlier this month, Hope and Dwaylon Davis organized a Black Lives Matter protest in Benton, Kentucky, a town of about 4,500 that is 97% white. They got the word out over social media and with a little help from a local newspaper that wrote about the protest plans. In spite of some pushback from people in the community, about 300 came out.
“We received as much opposition as we did support,” Hope told HuffPost. “Prior to our peaceful protest, I was told there had never been a civil rights protest or march here. We learned you just have to keep your head up and try to stay positive.”
Protesters, especially those in small towns, tend to hold their events in “traditional public forums” (sidewalks, parks, plazas in front of government buildings) where the right to protest is the most obvious, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
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Many small-town protests are organized with the knowledge and support of city councils and law enforcement authorities. Davis said her group didn’t seek permission from the local government, but it did inform officials of their plans.
“We did not obtain a permit, although we did block the flow of traffic at some points,” Hope said. “We contacted the mayor, city police chief, as well as the sheriff. They were all willing to work with us and met any request we had.”
The dialogue paid off.
“Good communication with these departments as well as fire, [emergency medical services] and state police proved to be instrumental in keeping everyone safe while we protested,” Hope said.
With many counties still reporting new cases of COVID-19 every day, social distancing is another thing organizers often stress when getting the word out.
In South Pasadena, California, a town to the northeast of Los Angeles with a population of 25,000, organizers from South Pasadena Youth for Police Reform have hosted multiple protests during the week and on the weekends. Early on, the group set ground rules on Instagram that emphasized social distancing.
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“If you want to plan a protest yourself, I’d say to figure out a way to social distance,” said London Lang, a co-organizer of the ongoing protests. “People love that you’re thinking about them as well.”
Lang said his group did call the police department beforehand to see if it was OK if they laid out duct tape on spots on the pavement to encourage social distancing.
The group continues to hold protests. “It’s grown from three people to 50 approximately,” he said. “It’s always growing by the day.”
In Chino Hills, a slightly larger suburb of Los Angeles located in San Bernardino County, organizers didn’t want to have to travel all the way to L.A. to show their support for racial justice.
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One of the organizers, Assata, who asked that we use her first name only for her privacy, said connecting with Instagram accounts with larger followings has been essential to getting the word out. (For instance, the Chino Hills protests have been promoted on @justiceforgeorgela, an Instagram group with 4,207 followers that aggregates protest plans across the Los Angeles region.)
“Building with other protests and asking people to tag us in pictures has been important,” she said. “A lot of people still don’t know that there are protests safe enough to bring your children to in the Inland Empire, so the pictures go a long way.”
Outside of social media, just having a presence on the corner draws out people who also want to participate.
“We chant and ask drivers to honk for support,” she said. “One event the sheriffs passed out candy, and they no longer prepare down the street in riot gear, so I think the city is starting to understand.”
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Scroll down to see photos from more protests held in small towns across the U.S.
Makyla Bard, right, is comforted by other protesters in Decatur, Alabama, as she chants, "Say his name," during a peaceful protest May 31 over the police killing of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. Dan Busey/The Decatur Daily via Associated Press
Protesters raise their fists as Bishop Freddie Marshall of Christ Cathedral of the Triad speaks using a bullhorn in Greensboro, North Carolina, on May 30. Woody Marshall/News & Record via Associated Press
People gather to protest in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, on June 1 following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
Protesters rally outside the Mesa Police Department on June 9 in Mesa, Arizona, to demand police reform. Matt York/Associated Press
Patrolwoman Brittany Mang in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, gets a hug from a protester outside Carbondale City Hall during a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest on June 6. Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune/AP
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Jemel Black and his 11-year-old daughter, Tyarah, kneel June 6 with other protesters in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time that George Floyd was pinned to the ground with a white police officer's knee on his neck. Stephanie Zollshan/The Berkshire Eagle via Associated Press
Protesters gather on the steps of the City-County Building in Helena, Montana, on May 29 in solidarity with nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd. Thom Bridge/Independent Record via Associated Press
A protester uses a megaphone June 10 while blocking a street outside the police station in Florissant, Missouri. Several hundred protesters were calling attention to a video that appears to show a Florissant police detective, who has since been fired, striking a man with his police car during a recent pursuit. Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
Frances Smith of Spirit Lake, Idaho, shouts during a June 2 protest in Coeur d'Alene over the killing of George Floyd. Kathy Plonka/The Spokesman-Review via Associated Press
Shawn Jackson, 33, of Murray, Kentucky, takes part in a June 5 protest in Benton. At one point during the protest, demonstrators laid down in the road around the Marshall County Courthouse, invoking the memory of George Floyd's death in police custody in Minneapolis. Dave Thompson/The Paducah Sun via Associated Press
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Several hundred demonstrators observe a moment of silence for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality as they gather to peacefully protest in Addison, Texas, a Dallas suburb, on June 4. Tony Gutierrez/Associted Press
A peaceful protest is held June 3 on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena, California, near Los Angeles. Myung J. Chun via Getty Images
Protesters hold signs at a rally at a park in Lawrence, Kansas, on May 31 over the death of George Floyd and other Black victims of police violence. Orlin Wagner/Associated Press
A candlelight vigil begins at the Bee Branch Creek area in Dubuque, Iowa, on June 5. A silent march and the candlelight vigil were held in response to the May 25 death of George Floyd and in remembrance of others who have suffered from police brutality. Nicki Kohl/Telegraph Herald via Associated Press
Lt. Alex Reno, of the Hampton, New Hampshire, police department, right, and Deputy Chief Kevin Gelineau, of the Seabrook, New Hampshire, police department, center, take a knee as they join with protesters during a June 1 rally on Hampton Beach. Charles Krupa/Associated Press
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Protesters take part in a socially distanced breathing exercise at Miller Park Chattanooga, Tennessee, on June 1. C.B. Schmelter/Chattanooga Times Free Press via Associated Press
In Fredericksburg, Virginia, police officers, including Uyurre Brown-Kaleopaa, center, join protesters in a June 2 march. Black officers find themselves torn between two worlds when it comes to the protests against police brutality happening around the U.S. Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star via Associated Press
Demonstrators in support of Black Lives Matter leave Riverfront Park on their way to march across the Monroe Street Bridge on June 7 in downtown Spokane, Washington. Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review via Associated Press
Protesters march during a June 3 rally at Cesar Chavez Park in Laveen, Arizona. Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press
Black Lives Matter protesters gather June 1 outside the Glenwood Springs City Hall and Garfield County Sheriff's Office in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Chelsea Self/Glenwood Springs Post Independent/AP
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Demonstrators participate in a "paddle out" in the memory of George Floyd at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz, California, on June 7. Chris Tuite/ImageSPACE/MediaPunch /IPX via Associated Press
Protesters attend a Black Lives Matter demonstration June 2 at the city hall and police department in Clifton, New Jersey. Jean May/Associated Press
Emily Croft, 17, a student at Stillwater High School, greets a participant June 3 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at a rally to protest the death of George Floyd. Croft organized the peaceful rally. Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Protesters march June 8 in Boca Raton, Florida. mpi04/MediaPunch /IPX via Associated Press
Chelsea Shag holds up a sign as demonstrators protest June 5 across the street from a Confederate memorabilia store in Kennesaw, Georgia. John Amis/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via Associated Press
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People from several area churches gather June 9 to pray together in the parking lot of Evangel Church in Hanover Park, Illinois, in what was planned as a nonpolitical spiritual event, rather than a protest, in memory of George Floyd. Brian Hill/Daily Herald via Associated Press
Demonstrators march June 6 in Bend, Oregon, to protest racism and police brutality. Andrew Selsky/Associated Press