huffpost--2020-04-17--What 'Staying At Home' Is Like Across The U.S.

Most people have been spending a lot of time at home lately .
At the start of April , 90 % of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible due to the coronavirus outbreak , according to a newly released HuffPost/YouGov survey .
To get a better sense of what that experience has been like , we also asked people a few questions about their living situations , their stress levels , and what they ’ d change if they could .
Here ’ s what we found out : How stressful is staying at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay home were split fairly evenly on whether or not they found it to be a stressful situation : Half said it was at least somewhat stressful , while a similar share expressed fewer concerns .
Just 14 % said they were finding it very stressful .
Self-professed introverts were about as likely to find staying home very stressful as self-professed extroverts ; self-professed “ outdoors ” people were only a smidge more likely than “ indoors ” people to say they were stressed .
Instead , perhaps unsurprisingly , people who generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be unsettled by their current situation : Two-thirds of people who considered themselves generally anxious found the situation at least somewhat stressful , compared to just 39 % of those who said they ’ re generally calm .
There are also some demographic differences .
A strong majority — 65 % — of Americans under age 30 said they were at least somewhat stressed , compared to just 43 % of those age 45 and older .
There were also signs of a modest partisan gap , with 56 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they found staying home stressful .
Who are people sharing their homes with ?
A 54 % majority of those people making an effort to stay at home said they were currently living with a spouse or significant other .
Thirty percent are living with children or step-children , 19 % with parents , 14 % with other relatives and 2 % with unrelated roommates .
Most feel OK about the company they ’ re keeping : A nearly-universal 94 % of those living with others said they were getting along at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were getting along very well .
Another 17 % of those staying home were living alone .
Among this group , 53 % said they were currently feeling at least a little lonely , but just 17 % called themselves very lonely .
Most — 89 % — said they had access to a private outdoor space like a yard , patio or balcony .
A similar 86 % said their home was large enough to be comfortable .
About 62 % had at least one pet with them .
What would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also asked people to tell us what one thing they ’ d improve about their living situation during the coronavirus outbreak .
Here were some of their responses :

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Most people have been spending a lot of time at home lately. At the start of April, 90% of Americans said they were trying to stay home as much as possible due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a newly released HuffPost/YouGov survey.
To get a better sense of what that experience has been like, we also asked people a few questions about their living situations, their stress levels, and what they’d change if they could. Here’s what we found out:
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How stressful is staying at home?
Americans who are trying to stay home were split fairly evenly on whether or not they found it to be a stressful situation: Half said it was at least somewhat stressful, while a similar share expressed fewer concerns. Just 14% said they were finding it very stressful.
Self-professed introverts were about as likely to find staying home very stressful as self-professed extroverts; self-professed “outdoors” people were only a smidge more likely than “indoors” people to say they were stressed. Instead, perhaps unsurprisingly, people who generally find themselves stressed out were the most likely to be unsettled by their current situation: Two-thirds of people who considered themselves generally anxious found the situation at least somewhat stressful, compared to just 39% of those who said they’re generally calm.
There are also some demographic differences. A strong majority — 65% — of Americans under age 30 said they were at least somewhat stressed, compared to just 43% of those age 45 and older. There were also signs of a modest partisan gap, with 56% of Democrats and 43% of Republicans saying they found staying home stressful.
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Who are people sharing their homes with?
A 54% majority of those people making an effort to stay at home said they were currently living with a spouse or significant other. Thirty percent are living with children or step-children, 19% with parents, 14% with other relatives and 2% with unrelated roommates. Most feel OK about the company they’re keeping: A nearly-universal 94% of those living with others said they were getting along at least somewhat well, with 65% saying they were getting along very well.
Another 17% of those staying home were living alone. Among this group, 53% said they were currently feeling at least a little lonely, but just 17% called themselves very lonely.
Most — 89% — said they had access to a private outdoor space like a yard, patio or balcony. A similar 86% said their home was large enough to be comfortable. About 62% had at least one pet with them.
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What would they change if they could?
We also asked people to tell us what one thing they’d improve about their living situation during the coronavirus outbreak. Here were some of their responses:
“A bigger freezer and larger pantry.”
“A bigger house with a study room off limits to family members.”
“A bigger space for my son to play.”
“A larger outside space to do things like yard work to pass the time.”
“A second bathroom.”
“A view of the ocean.”
“Access to a gym.”
“Access to child care.”
“A balcony, so I could have a cigarette without leaving.”
“Better WiFi.”
“Better food. I am a lousy cook.”
“Better supply of hot water.”
“Everyone could be quieter.”
“Get rid of junky furniture and clutter.”
“Get rid of noisy neighbors.”
“Get rid of the animals and one house guest.”
“Have a car.”
“Have a friend to be with.”
“Have enough food, Pepsi, and coffee creamer to do me till it’s over!”
“Have my husband take the threat more seriously and wash his hands.”
“Have more good books.”
“Have significant other move out.”
“Having my belongings that are stuck at my apartment at school. We were told to stay home after spring break, so I brought very few things home with me.”
“Having my own room instead of living in the living room.”
“Having my wife and my pups with me.”
“I can’t think of anything right now. Maybe liquor delivery.”
“I wish I had a car so I could go for a drive.”
“I wish I had my horses at home with me so that I could see them more regularly.”
“I wish I lived closer to a walking trail or green space so I didn’t have to drive there if I want exercise.”
“I wish I was completely alone.”
“I wish that I had a screen porch.”
“I would have us in a safe home that does not have a roof caving in.”
“I would like a garden.”
“More indoor space. I have LOTS of outdoor space.”
“More windows in my home.”
“More wine.”
“Move my grandchildren and friends out of my house.”
“My child’s attitude.”
“My father’s alcoholism.”
“My furniture.”
“Nothing, I’m blessed to have everything I need.”
The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted April 1-3 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.
HuffPost has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.
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huffpost--2020-04-17--The Border Crisis Doesn’t Pause For A Pandemic

We ’ re the only community in 35 miles or more in any direction .
As tiny as we are @ @ @ @ @ place to come if people need help and they do .
Leesa Jacobson , co-founder @ @ @ @ @ the Border Zone

For some residents of Arivaca, a dusty Arizona town just 11 miles north of the Mexican border, an unexpected knock on the door in the dead of night is as familiar as a coyote’s howl.
Thousands of migrants have crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in the last decade, following trails that zigzag through the rocky desert nearby. Most pass through without encountering an Arivaca resident. But if the journey proves too difficult, migrants may take a risk and ask for help.
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The border crisis hasn’t paused for the coronavirus pandemic. Border agents apprehended nearly 30,000 migrants at the southwest border in March. And though some of the town’s roughly 700 residents may be unsympathetic toward undocumented immigrants, many Arivacans have dedicated their time and resources to help keep them as safe as possible.
Humanitarian aid volunteers in Arivaca are adjusting their operations accordingly ― doing their best to keep migrants and themselves safe during both a public health crisis and a refugee crisis.
“COVID is a complicating factor,” said Porter Witsell, a volunteer with People Helping People in the Border Zone, an Arivaca-based organization that provides humanitarian aid to migrants. “But it doesn’t mean that people aren’t still making this journey, that people aren’t still suffering and dying on this journey.”
People Helping People works closely with No More Deaths, a migrant advocacy group headquartered in Tucson, to coordinate food, water, legal and medical support for dessert crossers in need.
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The People Helping People humanitarian aid office is empty in Arivaca at sunset on April 15. Eli Imadali for HuffPost
Volunteers operate PHP’s humanitarian aid office on Arivaca’s modest central road, steps away from the artists’ co-op and across from La Gitana, the town’s only bar.
Because of coronavirus concerns, volunteers have adopted a stringent set of protocols that includes wearing surgical masks, washing their hands every 30 minutes and constantly cleaning and re-cleaning surfaces.
“The work hasn’t changed,” said Leesa Jacobson, who co-founded PHP in 2012. “But the complication of doing the work has increased. ... [The virus] just puts another load on people who are sometimes already hard-pressed to do what they do.”
Arivaca is an aging community, and that’s reflected in PHP’s volunteer corps, said Jacobson, who is 68. About half of the volunteers are 60 and older, one of the populations most vulnerable to COVID-19. While those older volunteers take special care to protect themselves during the pandemic, their younger counterparts have stepped up to help keep the office open every day.
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Witsell, a 30-year-old East Coast native, is one of them. She also works as an EMT at Arivaca’s fire department and volunteers her medical expertise to help treat injured migrants who show up to the aid office.
Part of her volunteer work typically includes traveling to the northern Mexican town of Sasabe, about 25 miles southwest of Arivaca, to give out harm reduction supplies to migrants preparing to cross the border.
A sign for the only medical clinic in Arivaca marks a junction at the end of town. Eli Imadali for HuffPost
Witsell and a fellow aid worker hand out water purification tablets and socks ― it’s extremely important to keep your feet healthy during this journey, they explained ― and provide guidance on how to keep cell phones charged and which numbers to call in case of an emergency.
Since the U.S. and Mexico agreed last month to temporarily close the border to nonessential travel in an effort to curb contagion, Witsell hasn’t been able to make those trips.
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“I’m super concerned that people don’t have access to life-saving resources and information about what the journey could be like,” she said.
And it can be incredibly dangerous: Migrants may go days without food or clean water in the desert. Over the last two decades, the remains of thousands of migrants have been recovered in southern Arizona, according to data compiled by the Pima County Forensic Science Center.
“We’re the only community in 35 miles or more in any direction. As tiny as we are, we’re the place to come if people need help and they do.” - Leesa Jacobson, co-founder of People Helping People in the Border Zone
In order to prevent such deaths, humanitarian aid volunteers place supplies along the trails. Sometimes, they’re thwarted. According to a 2018 report from No More Deaths, U.S. Border Patrol agents vandalized water left for migrants 415 times over a 46-month period.
Now, the pandemic has become yet another obstacle for volunteers making the supply drops, said Paige Corich-Kleim, a spokesperson for No More Deaths.
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“We’re trying to do everything with less people and trying to maintain as much social distancing as we can but also recognizing that there are parts of our work that require interaction,” she said.
Amassing supplies has also been a challenge, she said. Vendors have been unable to fulfill some of the group’s bulk orders for gallons of water and canned beans in recent weeks. They need things like hand soap and bleach, but are struggling to get enough.
“The things we’re looking for are the things that everyone is looking for right now,” Corich-Kleim said.
‘It’s Like A Built-In Death Penalty’
While President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies have resulted in fewer border apprehensions in recent months, they haven’t deterred all migrants and asylum-seekers. Instead, the increased militarization of the border has caused them to cross through even more dangerous areas, Witsell said.
“Prevention through deterrence is designed to push people to the most remote parts of the desert,” Witsell said. “It’s like a built-in death penalty: If you can escape it then maybe you have a shot.”
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U.S. Border Patrol trucks sit parked on the main road in Arivaca on April 15. Eli Imadali for HuffPost
The Trump administration has ramped up its border wall construction in Arizona during the pandemic, to the ire of many border town residents. The administration argues that a border wall will prevent further spread of the virus. Epidemiologists note that the barrier won’t help mitigate the outbreaks already popping up in every state.
The administration has also cracked down on humanitarian aid workers in recent years. Border Patrol agents arrested a No More Deaths volunteer in 2018 and charged him with harboring undocumented immigrants. Before a federal jury acquitted him last year, he faced up to 20 years in prison for providing food, water and shelter to two men from Central America.
Still, even beyond Arivaca’s coalition of volunteers, many residents provide humanitarian aid to migrants who show up on their doorsteps in distress. PHP offers supplies to those residents to relieve some of the financial burden.
“We’re the only community in 35 miles or more in any direction,” Jacobson said. “As tiny as we are, we’re the place to come if people need help and they do.”
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“We see the people who are incredibly lost or in really bad physical condition to the point where they’re willing to risk everything they’ve been through to come to somebody’s house and knock on their door for help,” Jacobson said.
What happens next is based on luck. While more Arivacans than not are happy to lend a hand, Jacobson said, others may tell the weary travelers to get off their property. Some call Border Patrol.
Residents reported seeing an increased Border Patrol presence in the area in recent weeks. Though U.S. Customs and Border Protection said last month that its agents “always” wear personal protective equipment when interacting with migrants, some Arivacans said they’ve witnessed agents apprehending migrants without wearing masks or gloves.
What’s more, Jacobson worries residents will be more reluctant to interact with migrants during the pandemic for fear of contracting the virus — even though, compared to Mexico, the U.S. has more than 100 times the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Hunkering Down In A ‘Hippie Retirement Community’
As of Thursday, there were no known cases of COVID-19 in Arivaca. Surrounding Pima County, however, has reported more than 760 cases and at least 52 deaths. Many Arivacans fear it’s only a matter of time before the coronavirus hits their community.
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Because Arivaca is an unincorporated community and has no official town council or police force, residents have taken it upon themselves to support and provide care for one another amid the pandemic.
Dan Kelly, a 74-year-old retiree with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stands at his Arivaca home on April 15. Kelly has made close to 150 masks for fellow Arivaca residents since the novel coronavirus pandemic. Eli Imadali for HuffPost
Dan Kelly, a 74-year-old Vietnam War veteran, is part of a local task force spearheading the town’s coronavirus response. As part of its effort, members have distributed handouts with information about the virus, made hundreds of hand-sewn masks and organized shopping trips to pick up medication and provisions for older residents.
“One of the remarkable things about this community is that, regardless of ideology, we can and do look for ways that we can proactively support the needs of the community,” Kelly said. “The heart of Arivaca is in our capacity to come together.”
Like in so many towns across the country, the virus has turned daily life upside down for many Arivacans. Children are not in school, though school buses drop off free lunch for many of them during the week. La Gatina, the town’s lone cantina, is open only for takeout.
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“People are very anxious not just about contracting the disease but a lot of worry and apprehension about jobs and finances,” Jacobson said.
If an outbreak did occur in Arivaca, it could have disastrous consequences. Many residents don’t have health insurance. There’s one health clinic in town with one doctor who sees patients three days a week. The closest hospital is about 45 minutes away.
“If something is seriously wrong with people they’re either ambulanced or airlifted,” Jacobson said. “Our medical care is adequate for most people but it does have limitations.”
Jamie Bauer, a 69-year-old retiree, at the People Helping People humanitarian aid office, where she volunteers helping migrants in Arivaca, on April 15. Eli Imadali for HuffPost
Jamie Bauer, a 69-year-old who splits her time between Arivaca and Taos, New Mexico, said the lack of nearby medical care has made her question whether she could live in Arivaca year-round in the future.
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“I’ve experienced how it is when you’re old and living here, it’s not always easy,” Bauer said. “I don’t know where I’ll live when I get old but the community is so close here. I think it could be better than a lot of places because we all look out for each other here. We are a tight group. It’s a hippie retirement community.”
Bauer, like so many of her neighbors, has hunkered down in her home with a stockpile of food. She still hangs out with friends ― at a distance ― from time to time and volunteers at the aid office.
For some residents, having to self-isolate isn’t a major change. Jacobson lives about 2.5 miles away from the town center on 10 sprawling acres of a desert that is at once beautiful and deadly.
“I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” she said. “I am here for the duration ― hopefully, it’s a longer duration. I’m trying not to get COVID-19 because I want to stay living here.”
She has her two dogs and a tortoise named June to keep her company. Plus, there’s always the chance an unfamiliar person will come knocking on her door.


huffpost--2020-04-16--Mom Finds Bogus Facebook Ad That Falsely Claimed Her Family Died Of Coronavirus

Sara Ancich of Orange County says a professional photo that her family took eight years ago for a Christmas card was featured in a Facebook ad for FilterMax face masks without her knowledge or consent , CBS Los Angeles reports .
The ad falsely claimed that she and her entire family — except for her youngest son — had died after contracting COVID-19 at a church service during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Who would have the audacity to clearly not know a family and type that they had died ?
” Ancich told the CBS affiliate .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mind in the news and everything and how quickly it is taking lives .
It could so , so clearly be true to people.
” The family photo — which CBS Los Angeles discovered was featured on many Pinterest boards as an example of a Christmas card picture — was taken by photographer Rich Lander and was posted on his website .
It has since been taken down as well , CNN reports .
The ad claimed that the family ignored warnings of attending large public gatherings during the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Humorously , the ad explains this while using footage of the British royal family inside Westminster Abbey .
In the ad , you can clearly see Prince Charles and his wife , Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall .
The ad also features footage of a teenage boy who claims to be the sole survivor of the family , who lived because he was the only family member to wear one of the company ’ s face masks .
In the ad , the teen ’ s name is “ Justin.
” Ancich told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the video and that her youngest son is named Ryan .
“ I am curious about the boy in the video , too , ” she told CBS Los Angeles .
“ Where ’ s he in this ?
Does he know that he ’ s out there ?
” Ancich told CNN that she found out about the fake ad on April 10 after her brother-in-law texted her about it .
She told CBS Los Angeles that she was flooded with messages from worried friends and family for the next several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information in the ad wasn ’ t true .
CNN notes that there were several versions of the ad featuring different families .
All of them used the same “ sole survivor ” narrative and have since been pulled from Facebook .
The social media platform also told both outlets that it ’ s combating the exploitation of the virus for financial gain by banning ads about hand sanitizer , wipes , face masks and COVID-19 tests .
Ancich told the CBS Los Angeles that she tried reporting the video to Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t seem like the ad was pulled until it began getting media attention .

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A woman in California was left reeling after she discovered a disturbing commercial — that featured her family.
Sara Ancich of Orange County says a professional photo that her family took eight years ago for a Christmas card was featured in a Facebook ad for FilterMax face masks without her knowledge or consent, CBS Los Angeles reports.
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The Ancich’s family photo that was used in the Facebook ad. Rich Lander/Chard Photo
The ad falsely claimed that she and her entire family — except for her youngest son — had died after contracting COVID-19 at a church service during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Who would have the audacity to clearly not know a family and type that they had died?” Ancich told the CBS affiliate. “It’s on the forefront of everybody’s mind in the news and everything and how quickly it is taking lives. It could so, so clearly be true to people.”
The ad — which was taken down Monday, a Facebook representative told CNN — opens with sad music, and shows the Ancich family photo alongside text.
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“Youngest son from a family of 5 is the sole survivor from the deadly pandemic after wearing a CDC approved respirator,” the text in the video reads.
The family photo — which CBS Los Angeles discovered was featured on many Pinterest boards as an example of a Christmas card picture — was taken by photographer Rich Lander and was posted on his website. It has since been taken down as well, CNN reports.
The ad claimed that the family ignored warnings of attending large public gatherings during the pandemic, and went to a 176-person service. Humorously, the ad explains this while using footage of the British royal family inside Westminster Abbey. In the ad, you can clearly see Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Footage of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla was featured in the ad. CBS Los Angeles
The ad also features footage of a teenage boy who claims to be the sole survivor of the family, who lived because he was the only family member to wear one of the company’s face masks. In the ad, the teen’s name is “Justin.” Ancich told CNN she has never seen the teen in the video and that her youngest son is named Ryan.
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“I am curious about the boy in the video, too,” she told CBS Los Angeles. “Where’s he in this? Does he know that he’s out there?”
"Justin" in the ad. CBS Los Angeles
Ancich told CNN that she found out about the fake ad on April 10 after her brother-in-law texted her about it. She told CBS Los Angeles that she was flooded with messages from worried friends and family for the next several days who reached out to make sure the information in the ad wasn’t true.
CNN notes that there were several versions of the ad featuring different families. All of them used the same “sole survivor” narrative and have since been pulled from Facebook.
The social media platform also told both outlets that it’s combating the exploitation of the virus for financial gain by banning ads about hand sanitizer, wipes, face masks and COVID-19 tests.
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Ancich told the CBS Los Angeles that she tried reporting the video to Facebook numerous times, but it didn’t seem like the ad was pulled until it began getting media attention.
She added that she hasn’t posted that particular family photo on social media in years.


huffpost--2020-04-17--Ex-Trump Attorney Will Reportedly Be Released Early From Prison

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s former lawyer and longtime fixer Michael Cohen will be released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement amid the coronavirus pandemic , a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press .
Cohen is currently locked up at FCI Otisville in New York after pleading guilty to numerous charges , including campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress .
He will remain under quarantine for 14 days before he is released .
Federal statistics show 14 inmates and seven staff members at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After he is released , Cohen will serve the remainder of his sentence at home , according to the person , who could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity .
Cohen ’ s release comes as prison advocates and congressional leaders have been pressing the Justice Department for weeks to release at-risk inmates ahead of a potential outbreak , arguing that the public health guidance to stay 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) away from other people is nearly impossible behind bars .
Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this month to increase the use of home confinement and expedite the release of eligible high-risk inmates , beginning at three prisons identified as coronavirus hot spots .
Otisville is not one of those facilities .
As of Thursday , 473 federal inmates and 279 Bureau of Prisons staff members had tested positive for coronavirus at facilities across the U.S. Eighteen inmates have died since late March .
Many federal inmates have been seeking home confinement as the number of coronavirus cases grows in the federal prison system , but advocates have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too slowly to release inmates .
The Bureau of Prisons said it had moved more than 1,000 inmates to home confinement since March 26 , when Barr first issued a directive to increase its use in late March .
The agency said it is a “ tremendous logistical lift that was accomplished through the marshaling of all of BOP ’ s resources.
” A federal judge had denied Cohen ’ s attempt for an early release to home confinement after serving 10 months in prison and said in a ruling earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another effort to inject himself into the news cycle.
” But the Bureau of Prisons can take action to move him to home confinement without a judicial order .
Other high-profile inmates have also been released as the number of coronavirus cases soars .
Last week , a judge ordered Michael Avenatti — the attorney who rose to fame representing porn star Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against Trump — to be temporarily freed from a federal jail in New York City and stay at a friend ’ s house in Los Angeles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of getting the coronavirus because he had a recent bout with pneumonia and his cellmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan was removed due to flu-like symptoms .
Former New York state Senate leader Dean Skelos , 72 , who was also serving a sentence at Otisville , is also expected to be released soon from prison to home confinement after testing positive for the coronavirus , prosecutors told a judge Wednesday .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s former lawyer and longtime fixer Michael Cohen will be released from federal prison to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement amid the coronavirus pandemic, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Cohen is currently locked up at FCI Otisville in New York after pleading guilty to numerous charges, including campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress. He will remain under quarantine for 14 days before he is released. Federal statistics show 14 inmates and seven staff members at the prison have tested positive for coronavirus.
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After he is released, Cohen will serve the remainder of his sentence at home, according to the person, who could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Michael Cohen will remain under quarantine for 14 days before he is released. Shannon Stapleton / Reuters
Cohen’s release comes as prison advocates and congressional leaders have been pressing the Justice Department for weeks to release at-risk inmates ahead of a potential outbreak, arguing that the public health guidance to stay 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from other people is nearly impossible behind bars.
Attorney General William Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons earlier this month to increase the use of home confinement and expedite the release of eligible high-risk inmates, beginning at three prisons identified as coronavirus hot spots. Otisville is not one of those facilities.
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As of Thursday, 473 federal inmates and 279 Bureau of Prisons staff members had tested positive for coronavirus at facilities across the U.S. Eighteen inmates have died since late March.
Many federal inmates have been seeking home confinement as the number of coronavirus cases grows in the federal prison system, but advocates have accused the Bureau of Prisons of moving too slowly to release inmates. The Bureau of Prisons said it had moved more than 1,000 inmates to home confinement since March 26, when Barr first issued a directive to increase its use in late March. The agency said it is a “tremendous logistical lift that was accomplished through the marshaling of all of BOP’s resources.”
A federal judge had denied Cohen’s attempt for an early release to home confinement after serving 10 months in prison and said in a ruling earlier this month that it “appears to be just another effort to inject himself into the news cycle.” But the Bureau of Prisons can take action to move him to home confinement without a judicial order.
Cohen began serving his sentence last May and was scheduled to be released from prison in November 2021.
Other high-profile inmates have also been released as the number of coronavirus cases soars. Last week, a judge ordered Michael Avenatti — the attorney who rose to fame representing porn star Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against Trump — to be temporarily freed from a federal jail in New York City and stay at a friend’s house in Los Angeles. Avenatti had said he was at high risk of getting the coronavirus because he had a recent bout with pneumonia and his cellmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan was removed due to flu-like symptoms.
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Former New York state Senate leader Dean Skelos, 72, who was also serving a sentence at Otisville, is also expected to be released soon from prison to home confinement after testing positive for the coronavirus, prosecutors told a judge Wednesday.
CNN first reported Cohen was being released to home confinement.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.
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huffpost--2020-04-17--Coronavirus Live Updates: Read The Latest About The COVID-19 Outbreak

Blood tests for coronavirus antibodies are seen as key for reopening parts of the country , but some experts have warned that some of the tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration could be faulty , The New York Times reported on Sunday .
A contamination of the first round of COVID-19 testing kits made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slowed the U.S. government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , The Washington Post and CNN confirmed Saturday .
The Food and Drug Administration told CNN that the CDC did not manufacture its tests under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ CDC made its test in one of its laboratories , rather than in its manufacturing facilities , ” an FDA spokesperson said .
“ CDC did not manufacture its test consistent with its own protocol.
” The Atlanta lab that the CDC manufactured the kits in was also handling synthetic coronavirus material , which likely led to the contamination , the Post reported , citing federal regulators and scientists who knew of the situation .
The Post was the first to report on the contamination of the test kits .
Testing Troubles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — 4/18/20 , 6:50 p.m .
ET Although President Donald Trump is pushing to reopen parts of the country by May 1 , health care officials are warning that they are still having problems ramping up testing capabilities .
Experts agree that the key to lifting distancing restrictions is testing , given that some patients do not show symptoms but can nonetheless pass the virus on to others .
Those who test negative could start returning to their jobs and offices .
Around 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment since Trump declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
“ There are places that have enough test swabs , but not enough workers to administer them .
There are places that are limiting tests because of the [ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] criteria on who should get tested , ” Dr. Megan Ranney an emergency doctor and associate professor at Brown University , told The Associated Press .
“ There ’ s just so many inefficiencies and problems with the way that testing currently happens across this country.
” The president has shoved all responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors and local public health authorities say they will require federal help to secure enough swabs , protective gear and specialized lab chemicals , in part so that states are not competing among themselves .
Trump on Saturday continued to deny any issue with testing , claiming once again that his administration has done a “ wonderful ” job managing the crisis .
U.S.-Canada Border Closed To Nonessential Travel For Another 30 Days — 4/18/20 , 6:20 p.m .
ET The U.S. and Canada have agreed to keep their shared border closed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services have been allowed to pass through since March 21 .
In a press conference , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said to expect the restrictions to continue for “ many , many ” weeks .
Canada has around 32,000 cases of COVID-19 with 1,340 deaths , while the U.S. has more than 725,000 cases with nearly 160,000 deaths .
New York Death Toll Lowest Since April 1 — 4/18/20 , 4:18 p.m .
ET New York state ’ s daily coronavirus death toll dipped below 550 for the first time in more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) said .
But the governor stressed on Saturday that the crisis is far from over , saying of the tally , “ that doesn ’ t mean happy days are here again.
” New York City remains the nation ’ s COVID-19 epicenter , which Cuomo has attributed in part to the city ’ s density .
Hospitals in the state are taking in around 2,000 patients per day .
“ We are not at a point when we are going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state extended its lockdown order this week to May 15 .
Hawaii Shuts Down All Beaches , Surfing Still OK — 4/17/20 , 8:45 p.m .
ET Gov .
David Ige ( D ) ordered all of the beaches in Hawaii to shut down in an attempt to get residents to follow social distancing guidelines .
The new rule bans people from lying down , lounging , sunbathing , sitting or standing on all beaches and sandbars across the entire state .
While people are barred from staying on the beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sand to enter the ocean for recreational activities including surfing , stand-up paddleboarding and swimming — as long as social distance is maintained between people .
People are also allowed to access the ocean via boat , but every boat can only contain two people , a family unit or groups of people who live within the same household .
Boats have to remain at least 20 feet away from each other .
Fishing and food-gathering at beaches is also allowed , though groups of three or more ( who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not within the same family ) are not allowed to engage in these activities together .
The state also reminded residents that they are not allowed to hike in groups .
Department of Land and National Resources Chair Suzanne Case said that the agency urged the state to enact “ more severe restrictions ” after law enforcement officers observed large groups of people on the beach in close proximity .
Case also said that the rules do not bar people from going outside to “ enjoy nature.
” Violations are considered a petty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of up to $ 5,000 and up to one year in jail .
Officials in Florida went with a different tactic and opened Jacksonville Beach to the public on Friday .
Photos of the beach show a long stretch of the shoreline littered with people .
Protesters In Southern California Demand State Reopen Businesses Despite Coronavirus ’ Spread — 4/17/2020 , 8:15 p.m .
ET Dozens of largely right-wing protesters took to the streets in Huntington Beach , California , Friday , flouting the state ’ s stay-home order and public health guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen businesses despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
The protesters , most of whom were not wearing face masks , waved American flags , some Trump 2020 banners , and held signs reading “ Open Cali Now ” and “ COVID-19 is a lie.
” They echoed similar demonstrations earlier this week in Michigan , Ohio and other states .
In a Twitter rant on Friday morning , Trump called for several states that have seen recent protests to “ LIBERATE , ” apparently urging governors to reopen businesses .
Health experts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to a spike in coronavirus cases .
With the U.S. still leading the world in coronavirus cases and deaths , California had over 27,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,000 deaths as of Friday .
70,000 Animals At Risk As Vancouver Aquarium Faces Closure — 4/17/20 , 1:10 p.m .
ET Canada ’ s largest aquarium is struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic , and could face a permanent closure in the coming months .
The Vancouver Aquarium , which houses over 70,000 animals from spiders to sea lions , warns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless it secures new funding in the next two months .
It has lost $ 3 million in monthly revenue from admissions , cafe sales and event revenues .
Meanwhile , maintaining the animal facilities even with a skeleton staff still requires roughly $ 1 million a month .
A new task force to accelerate the development and manufacture of a coronavirus vaccine has been announced by the U.K. government , following a warning that Britain could end up with the highest death rate in Europe from the disease .
The Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 14,576 patients have now died in hospitals after testing positive for the illness in the U.K. Business Secretary Alok Sharma said on Friday the new body would aim to “ rapidly accelerate ” the creation of a vaccine to make sure it was “ widely available to patients as soon as possible.
” The task force , which ministers said will bring together government and private business , will be led by Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam .
New York City Opens Economic Relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11:21 a.m .
ET New York City will provide temporary economic assistance to undocumented immigrants , who do not receive the federal government ’ s stimulus checks that were sent out this week , Mayor Bill de Blasio ( D ) announced .
The $ 20 million New York City COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief fund is supported with a donation from the Open Society Foundations .
Under the program , individuals will receive a $ 400 payment , couples or single parents with children will receive $ 800 , and families with multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with more depending on need and availability .
The city estimates that as many as 20,000 undocumented workers and their families will benefit from the fund .
Earlier this week , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) established a similar fund for undocumented immigrants in the state .
When New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) was asked Thursday whether he would do something similar statewide , he said it was under consideration but not certain , citing the state ’ s budget deficit .
In addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 because they work in services considered essential and can not stay home .
In New York City and across the country , data has shown that Black and Latinx people are disproportionately dying from the coronavirus .
Pandemic Turning Into ‘ Child-Rights Crisis , ’ United Nations Warns — 4/17/20 , 8:58 a.m .
ET The global ripple effects of the COVID-19 crisis will be “ potentially catastrophic for millions of children ” and could “ effectively reverse the last two to three years of progress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” turning into a “ child-rights crisis , ” a new report from the United Nations warns .
The effects will be particularly dire for children living in slums , detention centers , refugee and displacement camps and conflict zones , and for children with disabilities , the report said , as many social services are being curtailed or redirected because of the pandemic .
In a video message Thursday , U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to “ protect our children .
”

Blood tests for coronavirus antibodies are seen as key for reopening parts of the country, but some experts have warned that some of the tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration could be faulty, The New York Times reported on Sunday.
― Hayley Miller
Contamination Caused Critical Delay Of CDC Coronavirus Testing: Report — 4/18/20, 8:17 p.m. ET
A contamination of the first round of COVID-19 testing kits made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slowed the U.S. government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Washington Post and CNN confirmed Saturday.
The Food and Drug Administration told CNN that the CDC did not manufacture its tests under the agency’s standard protocol.
“CDC made its test in one of its laboratories, rather than in its manufacturing facilities,” an FDA spokesperson said. “CDC did not manufacture its test consistent with its own protocol.”
The Atlanta lab that the CDC manufactured the kits in was also handling synthetic coronavirus material, which likely led to the contamination, the Post reported, citing federal regulators and scientists who knew of the situation.
The Post was the first to report on the contamination of the test kits.
— Carla H. Russo
Testing Troubles Continue To Hobble U.S. Virus Response — 4/18/20, 6:50 p.m. ET
Although President Donald Trump is pushing to reopen parts of the country by May 1, health care officials are warning that they are still having problems ramping up testing capabilities.
Experts agree that the key to lifting distancing restrictions is testing, given that some patients do not show symptoms but can nonetheless pass the virus on to others. Those who test negative could start returning to their jobs and offices. Around 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment since Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus crisis last month.
“There are places that have enough test swabs, but not enough workers to administer them. There are places that are limiting tests because of the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] criteria on who should get tested,” Dr. Megan Ranney an emergency doctor and associate professor at Brown University, told The Associated Press. “There’s just so many inefficiencies and problems with the way that testing currently happens across this country.”
The president has shoved all responsibility for testing onto the individual states. But governors and local public health authorities say they will require federal help to secure enough swabs, protective gear and specialized lab chemicals, in part so that states are not competing among themselves.
Trump on Saturday continued to deny any issue with testing, claiming once again that his administration has done a “wonderful” job managing the crisis.
— Sara Boboltz
U.S.-Canada Border Closed To Nonessential Travel For Another 30 Days — 4/18/20, 6:20 p.m. ET
The U.S. and Canada have agreed to keep their shared border closed for another month. Only essential goods and services have been allowed to pass through since March 21.
In a press conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said to expect the restrictions to continue for “many, many” weeks. Canada has around 32,000 cases of COVID-19 with 1,340 deaths, while the U.S. has more than 725,000 cases with nearly 160,000 deaths.
Read more here.
— Sara Boboltz
New York Death Toll Lowest Since April 1 — 4/18/20, 4:18 p.m. ET
New York state’s daily coronavirus death toll dipped below 550 for the first time in more than two weeks, with 540 reported deaths on Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said.
But the governor stressed on Saturday that the crisis is far from over, saying of the tally, “that doesn’t mean happy days are here again.” New York City remains the nation’s COVID-19 epicenter, which Cuomo has attributed in part to the city’s density. Hospitals in the state are taking in around 2,000 patients per day.
“We are not at a point when we are going to be reopening anything immediately,” Cuomo said. The state extended its lockdown order this week to May 15.
— Sara Boboltz
Hawaii Shuts Down All Beaches, Surfing Still OK — 4/17/20, 8:45 p.m. ET
Gov. David Ige (D) ordered all of the beaches in Hawaii to shut down in an attempt to get residents to follow social distancing guidelines. The new rule bans people from lying down, lounging, sunbathing, sitting or standing on all beaches and sandbars across the entire state. While people are barred from staying on the beach, residents are allowed to walk across the sand to enter the ocean for recreational activities including surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and swimming — as long as social distance is maintained between people.
People are also allowed to access the ocean via boat, but every boat can only contain two people, a family unit or groups of people who live within the same household. Boats have to remain at least 20 feet away from each other. Fishing and food-gathering at beaches is also allowed, though groups of three or more (who do not live within the same household or are not within the same family) are not allowed to engage in these activities together.
The state also reminded residents that they are not allowed to hike in groups. Department of Land and National Resources Chair Suzanne Case said that the agency urged the state to enact “more severe restrictions” after law enforcement officers observed large groups of people on the beach in close proximity. Case also said that the rules do not bar people from going outside to “enjoy nature.” Violations are considered a petty misdemeanor and could result in a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail.
Officials in Florida went with a different tactic and opened Jacksonville Beach to the public on Friday. Photos of the beach show a long stretch of the shoreline littered with people.
— Carla H. Russo
Protesters In Southern California Demand State Reopen Businesses Despite Coronavirus’ Spread — 4/17/2020, 8:15 p.m. ET
Dozens of largely right-wing protesters took to the streets in Huntington Beach, California, Friday, flouting the state’s stay-home order and public health guidelines on social distancing to demand the state reopen businesses despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The protesters, most of whom were not wearing face masks, waved American flags, some Trump 2020 banners, and held signs reading “Open Cali Now” and “COVID-19 is a lie.” They echoed similar demonstrations earlier this week in Michigan, Ohio and other states.
In a Twitter rant on Friday morning, Trump called for several states that have seen recent protests to “LIBERATE,” apparently urging governors to reopen businesses. Health experts have warned that loosening restrictions too early could lead to a spike in coronavirus cases. With the U.S. still leading the world in coronavirus cases and deaths, California had over 27,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,000 deaths as of Friday.
— Sarah Ruiz-Grossman
70,000 Animals At Risk As Vancouver Aquarium Faces Closure — 4/17/20, 1:10 p.m. ET
Canada’s largest aquarium is struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, and could face a permanent closure in the coming months. The Vancouver Aquarium, which houses over 70,000 animals from spiders to sea lions, warns it will be forced to close permanently unless it secures new funding in the next two months.
It has lost $3 million in monthly revenue from admissions, cafe sales and event revenues. Meanwhile, maintaining the animal facilities even with a skeleton staff still requires roughly $1 million a month.
Read more on HuffPost Canada.
— Melanie Woods
U.K. Launches Coronavirus Vaccine Task Force To ‘Accelerate’ Research — 4/17/20, 12.20 p.m. ET
A new task force to accelerate the development and manufacture of a coronavirus vaccine has been announced by the U.K. government, following a warning that Britain could end up with the highest death rate in Europe from the disease.
The Department of Health and Social Care said a total of 14,576 patients have now died in hospitals after testing positive for the illness in the U.K.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said on Friday the new body would aim to “rapidly accelerate” the creation of a vaccine to make sure it was “widely available to patients as soon as possible.”
The task force, which ministers said will bring together government and private business, will be led by Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam.
Read more on HuffPost U.K.
— Ned Simons
New York City Opens Economic Relief Fund For Undocumented Immigrants — 4/17/20, 11:21 a.m. ET
New York City will provide temporary economic assistance to undocumented immigrants, who do not receive the federal government’s stimulus checks that were sent out this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced.
The $20 million New York City COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief fund is supported with a donation from the Open Society Foundations.
Under the program, individuals will receive a $400 payment, couples or single parents with children will receive $800, and families with multiple adults and children will receive $1,000, with more depending on need and availability. The city estimates that as many as 20,000 undocumented workers and their families will benefit from the fund.
Earlier this week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) established a similar fund for undocumented immigrants in the state. When New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was asked Thursday whether he would do something similar statewide, he said it was under consideration but not certain, citing the state’s budget deficit.
In addition to being economically vulnerable, many immigrants are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 because they work in services considered essential and cannot stay home. In New York City and across the country, data has shown that Black and Latinx people are disproportionately dying from the coronavirus.
— Marina Fang
Pandemic Turning Into ‘Child-Rights Crisis,’ United Nations Warns — 4/17/20, 8:58 a.m. ET
The global ripple effects of the COVID-19 crisis will be “potentially catastrophic for millions of children” and could “effectively reverse the last two to three years of progress in reducing infant mortality within a single year,” turning into a “child-rights crisis,” a new report from the United Nations warns.
The effects will be particularly dire for children living in slums, detention centers, refugee and displacement camps and conflict zones, and for children with disabilities, the report said, as many social services are being curtailed or redirected because of the pandemic.
In a video message Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to “protect our children.”


huffpost--2020-04-17--Detained Migrant Too Weak To Talk Forced To Call In To Court Hearing

HOUSTON ( AP ) — A detained immigrant who said he tested positive for COVID-19 was required to call in for a court hearing even after a guard said he was too weak to talk , his attorney said .
When the judge asked Salomon Diego Alonzo to say his name Thursday , the guard responded that Alonzo “ does not have the lung capacity , ” according to his lawyer , Veronica Semino , who was listening by phone .
The call lasted about two hours , though Judge Mary Baumgarten eventually agreed to delay Alonzo ’ s final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday , the 26-year-old from Guatemala responded to most questions with one- or two-sentence answers , often interrupted by coughing .
Alonzo says he has headaches , diarrhea and severe exhaustion that made it difficult for him to get out of bed .
He ’ s confined with one other person in a dorm at an immigration detention center in rural Louisiana , where medical staff check his vital signs twice a day .
His case provides new insight into how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases among its roughly 32,000 detainees .
ICE said Thursday that 100 detainees are confirmed to have COVID-19 .
Public health experts have warned that the virus could do particular harm in U.S. jails and prisons because there ’ s little space for social distancing .
Immigration detainees in several states have pleaded for masks and expressed fear of getting the virus , which causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but can cause more severe illness for others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 700 detainees so far , primarily people with known medical conditions .
But it has resisted large-scale releases of detainees .
Alonzo ’ s requests to be freed have been denied , said Semino , his attorney .
Alonzo said officials at Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe , Louisiana , where he ’ s held , have told him that he tested positive for COVID-19 .
ICE would not confirm that to Semino , and spokesman Bryan Cox declined to comment .
Semino says Alonzo was one of nearly 700 people arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants in Mississippi , the largest immigration worksite enforcement operation in at least a decade .
He has been in the U.S. since 2012 , living in an apartment in a small Mississippi town with his wife , teenage brother and daughter , now 8 .
Alonzo doesn ’ t remember being around anyone who looked ill before he started to feel sick himself .
He thinks he could have been exposed to the coronavirus in the jail yard , cafeteria or dormitory where he and dozens of others sleep .
Alonzo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 8 , describing it as a pain in his bones .
The next morning , he went to the nurse .
He was found to have a fever , taken to a solitary confinement cell and given medicine to reduce his temperature .
After a few days , someone came to administer a test , he said .
Jail officials told him this week that he had the virus and took him to a dormitory with one other person , a man from South Asia who Alonzo believes is also sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other because they don ’ t speak English , he said .
The jail started to detain immigrants last year as part of a broader trend among rural Louisiana prisons .
A Cuban man killed himself last year in a Richwood solitary confinement cell , and an Associated Press investigation found jail guards had not checked on him as federal standards require and disregarded warning signs before his death .
On Thursday , Alonzo was scheduled for what ’ s known as a “ merits ” hearing , typically an hourslong presentation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Semino , his attorney , said she requested Tuesday that the hearing be delayed and followed up with the court the next day .
Only at the end of the hearing did the judge postpone until April 26 .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
HOUSTON (AP) — A detained immigrant who said he tested positive for COVID-19 was required to call in for a court hearing even after a guard said he was too weak to talk, his attorney said.
When the judge asked Salomon Diego Alonzo to say his name Thursday, the guard responded that Alonzo “does not have the lung capacity,” according to his lawyer, Veronica Semino, who was listening by phone. The call lasted about two hours, though Judge Mary Baumgarten eventually agreed to delay Alonzo’s final asylum hearing, the attorney said.
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Alonzo was hospitalized later that day, Semino said, and by Friday, she had not received an update on his condition.
Speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday, the 26-year-old from Guatemala responded to most questions with one- or two-sentence answers, often interrupted by coughing. Alonzo says he has headaches, diarrhea and severe exhaustion that made it difficult for him to get out of bed. He’s confined with one other person in a dorm at an immigration detention center in rural Louisiana, where medical staff check his vital signs twice a day.
“I can barely walk,” Alonzo said. “I’m not safe here.”
His case provides new insight into how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is dealing with a steadily rising number of coronavirus cases among its roughly 32,000 detainees. ICE said Thursday that 100 detainees are confirmed to have COVID-19.
Public health experts have warned that the virus could do particular harm in U.S. jails and prisons because there’s little space for social distancing. Immigration detainees in several states have pleaded for masks and expressed fear of getting the virus, which causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people but can cause more severe illness for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.
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To combat the pandemic, ICE has released about 700 detainees so far, primarily people with known medical conditions. But it has resisted large-scale releases of detainees. Alonzo’s requests to be freed have been denied, said Semino, his attorney.
Alonzo said officials at Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, where he’s held, have told him that he tested positive for COVID-19. ICE would not confirm that to Semino, and spokesman Bryan Cox declined to comment.
Semino says Alonzo was one of nearly 700 people arrested in ICE raids last year on chicken plants in Mississippi, the largest immigration worksite enforcement operation in at least a decade. He has been in the U.S. since 2012, living in an apartment in a small Mississippi town with his wife, teenage brother and daughter, now 8.
Alonzo doesn’t remember being around anyone who looked ill before he started to feel sick himself. He thinks he could have been exposed to the coronavirus in the jail yard, cafeteria or dormitory where he and dozens of others sleep.
Alonzo said he started feeling “very tired” on April 8, describing it as a pain in his bones. The next morning, he went to the nurse. He was found to have a fever, taken to a solitary confinement cell and given medicine to reduce his temperature.
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After a few days, someone came to administer a test, he said. Jail officials told him this week that he had the virus and took him to a dormitory with one other person, a man from South Asia who Alonzo believes is also sick. They don’t talk to each other because they don’t speak English, he said.
ICE’s website says Richwood Correctional Center has three confirmed coronavirus cases.
The jail started to detain immigrants last year as part of a broader trend among rural Louisiana prisons. A Cuban man killed himself last year in a Richwood solitary confinement cell, and an Associated Press investigation found jail guards had not checked on him as federal standards require and disregarded warning signs before his death.
On Thursday, Alonzo was scheduled for what’s known as a “merits” hearing, typically an hourslong presentation to explain why he should get asylum. Semino, his attorney, said she requested Tuesday that the hearing be delayed and followed up with the court the next day. Only at the end of the hearing did the judge postpone until April 26.
“For somebody who is potentially dying to have to sit there for two hours, it’s really cruel and inhumane,” Semino said.
A staff member for the judge referred questions to the media relations office for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees U.S. immigration courts. A spokeswoman said she could not comment on Alonzo’s medical status.
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huffpost--2020-04-17--13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

13 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

We ’ re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of April 11 to April 17 .
@ @ @ @ @ Above : A child on a scooter rides past street art painted by artist Kai @ @ @ @ @ a nurse as Superwoman on April 14 , 2020 , in Hamm , Germany .

We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of April 11 to April 17. Check them out below.
Above: A child on a scooter rides past street art painted by artist Kai “Uzey” Wohlgemuth featuring a nurse as Superwoman on April 14, 2020, in Hamm, Germany.


huffpost--2020-03-19--Trump Boasts Of Unproven Coronavirus Treatments Amid Dire Testing And Supply Crisis

President Donald Trump on Thursday ignored urgent concerns about the federal government ’ s ramshackle handling of the coronavirus outbreak , instead using a press conference to make vague or misleading claims about potential treatments while touting his administration ’ s supposed accomplishments in handling the crisis .
Testing for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , is still lagging far behind demand ; testing sites are overwhelmed and chaotic ; hospitals are facing shortages of ventilators ; and reserves of basic supplies like swabs are running out .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or scarves if there were no more masks , and Trump on Monday told governors seeking medical equipment such as respirators to “ try getting it yourselves.
” Trump ’ s presser did little to address these pressing issues .
He started the press conference by referring to the coronavirus as the “ Chinese virus ” and shoehorned in his frequent claim that he defeated the self-described Islamic State .
Much of Trump ’ s presser then focused on potential vaccines and treatment drugs in the works , continually claiming that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red tape ― suggesting these medical solutions were highly promising and coming soon .
But prospective treatments for any disease can fail in studies , which has already happened with potential coronavirus drugs .
Although doctors and researchers around the world are rapidly attempting to find ways to mitigate COVID-19 , so far there is no proven treatment .
The estimated production time for an effective vaccine is around 12 to 18 months , according to medical experts , and a Department of Health and Human Services report last week warned lawmakers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months or longer.
” Trump repeatedly singled out one potential treatment drug during the press conference , the anti-malarial Chloroquine , which he falsely suggested had been approved for use against COVID-19 .
“ It ’ s been approved , they took it down from many , many months to immediate , ” Trump said .
“ We ’ re gon na make that drug available.
” But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Chloroquine for treating the coronavirus , an FDA spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg News .
Instead , Chloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its primary intended use .
Shortly after Trump claimed that the drug had shown “ very , very encouraging results , ” FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn took a much more restrained approach at the press conference , emphasizing that the drug needed to be tested to see if it could work in treating coronavirus .
“ That ’ s a drug that the president has directed us to take a closer look at as to whether an expanded use approach ... benefits patients , ” Hahn said .
“ We want to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial , a large pragmatic clinical trial.
” Hahn said that the drug was also approved for treating an arthritis condition , and added that therapies take months to develop .
But Trump pressed on , minutes later claiming that “ if chloroquine or hydroxy chloroquine works , or any of the other things they ’ re looking at that are not quite as far out , if they work , the numbers are going to come down very rapidly.
” Gilead issued a statement to an MSNBC reporter hours later stating “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data at this time ― it is not approved anywhere globally and has not been demonstrated to be effective or safe for any use .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump on Thursday ignored urgent concerns about the federal government’s ramshackle handling of the coronavirus outbreak, instead using a press conference to make vague or misleading claims about potential treatments while touting his administration’s supposed accomplishments in handling the crisis.
It was another data point showing that the president’s focus is on public relations, not management of a worsening catastrophe.
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Testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is still lagging far behind demand; testing sites are overwhelmed and chaotic; hospitals are facing shortages of ventilators; and reserves of basic supplies like swabs are running out. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised health care workers this week to use bandanas or scarves if there were no more masks, and Trump on Monday told governors seeking medical equipment such as respirators to “try getting it yourselves.”
Trump’s presser did little to address these pressing issues. He started the press conference by referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” and shoehorned in his frequent claim that he defeated the self-described Islamic State. Much of Trump’s presser then focused on potential vaccines and treatment drugs in the works, continually claiming that he was making “exciting progress” and cutting red tape ― suggesting these medical solutions were highly promising and coming soon.
But prospective treatments for any disease can fail in studies, which has already happened with potential coronavirus drugs. Although doctors and researchers around the world are rapidly attempting to find ways to mitigate COVID-19, so far there is no proven treatment. The estimated production time for an effective vaccine is around 12 to 18 months, according to medical experts, and a Department of Health and Human Services report last week warned lawmakers to plan for the pandemic lasting “18 months or longer.”
Trump repeatedly singled out one potential treatment drug during the press conference, the anti-malarial Chloroquine, which he falsely suggested had been approved for use against COVID-19.
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“It’s been approved, they took it down from many, many months to immediate,” Trump said. “We’re gonna make that drug available.”
But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Chloroquine for treating the coronavirus, an FDA spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg News. Instead, Chloroquine is approved for treatment of malaria ― its primary intended use.
Shortly after Trump claimed that the drug had shown “very, very encouraging results,” FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn took a much more restrained approach at the press conference, emphasizing that the drug needed to be tested to see if it could work in treating coronavirus.
“That’s a drug that the president has directed us to take a closer look at as to whether an expanded use approach ... benefits patients,” Hahn said. “We want to do that in the setting of a clinical trial, a large pragmatic clinical trial.”
Hahn said that the drug was also approved for treating an arthritis condition, and added that therapies take months to develop. But Trump pressed on, minutes later claiming that “if chloroquine or hydroxy chloroquine works, or any of the other things they’re looking at that are not quite as far out, if they work, the numbers are going to come down very rapidly.”
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A day earlier, Trump favorite Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host, aired a questionable segment in which his guest praised chloroquine.
Trump also told reporters during the conference on Thursday that a drug from the pharmaceutical company Gilead, called Remdesivir, is “essentially approved.”


huffpost--2020-03-20--New York City Needs Help

New York City Needs Help

We all saw the projections from Italy and elsewhere and I think we intellectually knew what was coming , but there was a point maybe about 10 days ago where we could start to see the number of cases doubling every three to four days .
And it immediately became clear that this crisis was upon us and that New York was about to experience something that none of us had ever seen in my lifetime .
Supplies and equipment .
Staffing .
Space to some extent .
They are busy now .
They all have [ COVID-19 ] patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point , not in large numbers yet .
But their emergency rooms are also crowded by people who really shouldn ’ t be there .
People who have mild symptoms , who should be healing at home , people who have fever and cough , which can be scary , but the truth is , doesn ’ t require medical attention .
Supplies .
Hospitals , I think are running on a one- to two-week supply .
People underestimate just how much they burn through in a single large hospital system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a million masks a week throughout its system .
That ’ s not even the whole city .
So we just need an enormous amount of supplies .
We need 50 million surgical masks to manage this .
That ’ s the number that we ’ re pushing .
And we don ’ t have the ability to manufacture that so we ’ re relying on the federal government .
So there ’ s enormous concern about that .
Staffing is ultimately going to be one of the biggest problems because even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running one requires an around-the-clock team of three , and that ’ s a specialized job .
So they ’ re already asking doctors from outside of acute care to go back to the medical school books and read up on how to run a ventilator .
And so staffing is going to be a challenge .
Look , we ’ re facing a total overrunning of our hospital system and that means we all have to entirely rethink how we interact with health care .
And it means that we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are in grave danger .
When I say every resource , I mean every hospital bed , every doctor ’ s visit , every chair in a waiting room , every phone line , every five minutes of a receptionist ’ s time , all of it needs to be cleared for people who are facing severe , potentially life-threatening circumstances .
The rest of us who have mild symptoms like high fever and cough , or are really worried , have to stay out of the way .
We got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is what the federal government exists for , to mobilize resources in a national crisis .
And a city like New York can not manufacture ventilators .
We rely on the nation as the industrial base of this nation and we need him to do what FDR did in World War II and ramp up production , force factories to retool , and use every resource at this country ’ s disposal to blunt the impact on what is going to be a crisis unprecedented in American history .
Is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have one to two weeks of personal protective equipment stockpiled .
I don ’ t know how long it takes to purchase that equipment .
But I ’ m extremely worried that even if the order goes forth today that it can ’ t be turned around that quickly .
I don ’ t know .
It ’ s not my job to know .
It ’ s the federal government ’ s job to know and to do this .
I am enormously relieved that he took this step .
We desperately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heights , where I am , there are far too many people out .
There are far too many people going to work because they have to .
And there are far too many people doing nonessential errands and socializing .
We had to take this to the next level .
We had to mandate it .
The recommendations weren ’ t working .
And it ’ s been done now in cities and states around the country .
California did it last night .
It was time for New York to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we did .
The worst case doesn ’ t have to happen .
And there ’ s a lot we can do to prevent that .
If we can avoid the crush happening at once on our medical system , and slow this down , even if ultimately , most of us do get the virus , the medical system will be able to care for most of us .
And that ’ s why social distancing is critical .
And why staying out of the health care system , if you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all have .
Look , we have so many assets here .
We have among the most advanced medical institutions in the world .
We have the largest and best public hospital system in the world .
We have the best , in my opinion , big city public health system , best health department in the world .
We have a government that has the resources and the will to help the most vulnerable .
And you know , we ’ ve been through a lot in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ survived the 1979 blackout , we survived 9/11 , and we survived the 2008 financial meltdown .
We will get through this , we will bounce back .
I really believe that .

Medical staff stand outside a coronavirus screening tent at the Brooklyn Hospital Center on Friday in Brooklyn, New York. ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
NEW YORK — The five boroughs of New York have emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in America. There are more confirmed cases in the city — about 4,500 as of Friday — than in all of the United Kingdom. The 13-mile long island of Manhattan alone has more confirmed cases than Brazil, Canada, Portugal, or Australia.
And it’s only going to get worse here. Millions could get infected and thousands could die. On Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), in a bid to stop the spread of the virus, took the extraordinary step of ordering all nonessential workers to stay home. Schools, restaurants and bars in the city are already closed. Many churches, mosques and synagogues have shut their doors. Largely empty subway cars roll beneath the streets.
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But what’s most concerning officials here is the city’s hospitals, which are set to be overrun.
Within just two weeks, hospitals will be out of crucial medical supplies. The city has placed a mammoth order with the federal government for 15,000 ventilators (needed to save the lives of most severely ill patients), 50 million surgical masks, and about 25 million each of gloves, face masks, coveralls and surgical gowns.
New York City Council Member Mark Levine, the chair of the health committee, has had an intimate look at the burgeoning crisis facing the city’s hospitals, and has been trying to raise alarm over the destruction the virus will reap here if even more drastic measures aren’t taken soon.
City Hall itself is closed, so Levine spoke to HuffPost over the phone Friday from his new office: his Washington Heights apartment.
When did you have your first “oh shit” moment about the coronavirus? When did you realize this was gonna be a historic event in New York?
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We all saw the projections from Italy and elsewhere and I think we intellectually knew what was coming, but there was a point maybe about 10 days ago where we could start to see the number of cases doubling every three to four days. And it immediately became clear that this crisis was upon us and that New York was about to experience something that none of us had ever seen in my lifetime.
New York City Council Member Mark Levine at a City Hall hearing about the coronavirus on March 6. William Alatriste
I understand you’re in touch with a lot of hospitals all over the city. What are you hearing? What are doctors and nurses and hospital administrators most worried about right now?
Supplies and equipment. Staffing. Space to some extent. They are busy now. They all have [COVID-19] patients. They all have some on ventilators at this point, not in large numbers yet. But their emergency rooms are also crowded by people who really shouldn’t be there. People who have mild symptoms, who should be healing at home, people who have fever and cough, which can be scary, but the truth is, doesn’t require medical attention.
Supplies. Hospitals, I think are running on a one- to two-week supply. People underestimate just how much they burn through in a single large hospital system — like New York Presbyterian can go through a million masks a week throughout its system. That’s not even the whole city. So we just need an enormous amount of supplies. We need 50 million surgical masks to manage this. That’s the number that we’re pushing. And we don’t have the ability to manufacture that so we’re relying on the federal government. So there’s enormous concern about that.
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Staffing is ultimately going to be one of the biggest problems because even if you can produce additional ventilators, running one requires an around-the-clock team of three, and that’s a specialized job. So they’re already asking doctors from outside of acute care to go back to the medical school books and read up on how to run a ventilator. And so staffing is going to be a challenge.
Look, we’re facing a total overrunning of our hospital system and that means we all have to entirely rethink how we interact with health care. And it means that we have to preserve every resource in the system for those who are in grave danger. When I say every resource, I mean every hospital bed, every doctor’s visit, every chair in a waiting room, every phone line, every five minutes of a receptionist’s time, all of it needs to be cleared for people who are facing severe, potentially life-threatening circumstances. The rest of us who have mild symptoms like high fever and cough, or are really worried, have to stay out of the way. We gotta get out of all those channels.
You mentioned that, at this point, New York is kind of largely dependent on the federal government for equipment. If you had a minute to talk to President Donald Trump, what is one thing you would tell him?
This is what the federal government exists for, to mobilize resources in a national crisis. And a city like New York cannot manufacture ventilators. We rely on the nation as the industrial base of this nation and we need him to do what FDR did in World War II and ramp up production, force factories to retool, and use every resource at this country’s disposal to blunt the impact on what is going to be a crisis unprecedented in American history.
Is it too late in a way for that kind of mobilization?
Well, I think that the failure to test early is actually going to go down in history as the second biggest failure in this crisis. The failure to begin mobilizing mass production of medical equipment and supplies is going to be the most epic failure in this crisis.
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Is it too late? I told you we have one to two weeks of personal protective equipment stockpiled. I don’t know how long it takes to purchase that equipment. But I’m extremely worried that even if the order goes forth today that it can’t be turned around that quickly. I don’t know. It’s not my job to know. It’s the federal government’s job to know and to do this.
What did you think of Governor Cuomo’s kind-of lockdown order today? Did it come soon enough?
I am enormously relieved that he took this step. We desperately need it ... I mean certainly Washington Heights, where I am, there are far too many people out. There are far too many people going to work because they have to. And there are far too many people doing nonessential errands and socializing. We had to take this to the next level. We had to mandate it. The recommendations weren’t working. And it’s been done now in cities and states around the country. California did it last night. It was time for New York to do it and I’m very relieved we did.
How long can New Yorkers expect to be working from their homes, to be taking all these types of precautions? Do we know yet?
We don’t know. I would caution New Yorkers to prepare for a very long haul. I would tell them to prepare for eight weeks. But that is really just a guess. And it depends on a lot of factors we don’t yet understand about how fast the virus will spread.
As far as all the projections and estimates that you’ve seen … for a worst case scenario for New York, as far as the number of people infected, the number of people that will die, do you have a number you’re comfortable talking about?
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Worst case? Oh, my god. Worst case is that millions of people in New York City are infected and that a 100,000 or more could die.
The worst case doesn’t have to happen. And there’s a lot we can do to prevent that. If we can avoid the crush happening at once on our medical system, and slow this down, even if ultimately, most of us do get the virus, the medical system will be able to care for most of us. And that’s why social distancing is critical. And why staying out of the health care system, if you can avoid it, is also an obligation we all have.
OK. Are you sleeping at the moment?
[Laughs] Not enough. It’s very hard, very, very hard. You might hear it in my voice.
If you had words of encouragement for New Yorkers right now, what would it be?
Look, we have so many assets here. We have among the most advanced medical institutions in the world. We have the largest and best public hospital system in the world. We have the best, in my opinion, big city public health system, best health department in the world. We have a government that has the resources and the will to help the most vulnerable. And you know, we’ve been through a lot in New York City. We survived the Great Depression. We survived the 1979 blackout, we survived 9/11, and we survived the 2008 financial meltdown. We will get through this, we will bounce back. I really believe that.
Last question. If you had to imagine the day this is all over, everybody gets to go to bars and restaurants again, what is the first thing as a New Yorker that you will do to enjoy that moment?
I’ll be heading to Coogans in Washington Heights. Favorite neighborhood spot.


huffpost--2020-05-29--U.S. Asians Pushing Back Against Harassment After Surge Of Attacks

NEW YORK , May 29 ( Reuters ) - A spike in harassment of Asian-Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began has led community activists in the United States to fight back - forming street patrols , rallying on social media , and supporting each other online .
Asians of varying national backgrounds have suffered a surge of attacks this year , which activists linked to the pandemic ’ s emergence in China .
Some said they feared harassment could worsen in a U.S. election year , with U.S.-China tensions ratcheting up over trade , Hong Kong and the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people who look like Chinese are the enemy .
The economy is tanking , people are dying .
They ’ re angry and fearful and want to take it out on Asian Americans even more , ” said Russell Jeung , professor of Asian-American studies at San Francisco State University .
Nine out of 10 victims were targeted because of their race , with 37 % of incidents taking place in public areas , the organization said .
Verbal harassment and shunning occurred in over 90 % of the cases .
Victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spat on , in some 15 % of cases .
Some of the harassment has taken place inside of stores , Jeung said , adding that Stop AAPI Hate is working with retailers to figure out how to ensure safe access for customers .
The New York City Commission on Human Rights this week launched a multilingual campaign to combat COVID-19-related discrimination after it received over 350 such complaints from Feb. 1 to May 15 .
Of these , 133 , or 37 % , targeted Asians .
That compared with just 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same period in 2019 .
In some Chinatowns , volunteer patrols are forming to protect residents and confront harassers .
The Guardian Angels , with patrols in over 130 cities worldwide , are recruiting in U.S. Asian communities for the first time in 41 years .
Members include seniors and women , who are often targets of abuse .
“ Our mission is to observe , record and report , ” said LeannaLouie , a San Francisco businesswoman who started patrol group United Peace Corp .
In eight weeks , it has filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , auto burglaries , theft and shoplifting , leading to three arrests , she noted .
“ We can break the old habits , old patterns and outdated stereotypes , ” Louie said .
“ We have assisted in aiding the community to step out of the shadows and feel more empowered.
” The San Francisco Police Department has expanded its presence on foot and in cars around the city to act as a deterrent against such crimes , it said in a statement .
In New York , flyers and posters emblazoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be cruel ” were created by Shirley Ng and her friends for display on Chinatown storefronts , with pointers on how to report a crime .
The campaigns recall the Pan-Asian U.S. civil rights movement in 1982 , when Japan was blamed for the Detroit auto industry ’ s downturn , said Helen Zia , a journalist-activist at the forefront of that wave .
Vincent Chin , a 27-year-old draftsman celebrating his upcoming wedding , was brutally beaten that year by two disgruntled autoworkers and died .
The court sentence of a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no jail time , sparked outrage in the community and beyond .
“ When he was attacked and killed it was very clear it was because of what he looked like .
Japan was labeled as the enemy.We ’ re so starkly similar today , ” Zia said .
Hashtags like # RacismIsAVirus and # UnapologeticallyAsian are being shared and printed on T-shirts .
# HATEISAVIRUS , created in late March by three millennials who connected via Instagram , is now a non-profit organization .
It raised $ 16,000 in a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic , said co-founder Tammy Cho , 25 .

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NEW YORK, May 29 (Reuters) - A spike in harassment of Asian-Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began has led community activists in the United States to fight back - forming street patrols, rallying on social media, and supporting each other online.
Asians of varying national backgrounds have suffered a surge of attacks this year, which activists linked to the pandemic’s emergence in China. Some said they feared harassment could worsen in a U.S. election year, with U.S.-China tensions ratcheting up over trade, Hong Kong and the coronavirus.
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“When China is made the enemy, people who look like Chinese are the enemy. The economy is tanking, people are dying. They’re angry and fearful and want to take it out on Asian Americans even more,” said Russell Jeung, professor of Asian-American studies at San Francisco State University.
Since March 19, over 1,800 cases of harassment related to the coronavirus pandemic have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a website Jeung created with two advocacy groups.
Nine out of 10 victims were targeted because of their race, with 37% of incidents taking place in public areas, the organization said. Verbal harassment and shunning occurred in over 90% of the cases. Victims were physically assaulted, or coughed or spat on, in some 15% of cases.
Some of the harassment has taken place inside of stores, Jeung said, adding that Stop AAPI Hate is working with retailers to figure out how to ensure safe access for customers.
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The New York City Commission on Human Rights this week launched a multilingual campaign to combat COVID-19-related discrimination after it received over 350 such complaints from Feb. 1 to May 15. Of these, 133, or 37%, targeted Asians. That compared with just 11 complaints of discrimination targeted atAsians during the same period in 2019.
The FBI has warned of a rise in hate crimes againstAsian-Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to media reports citing internal documents.
SOLIDARITY ON STREETS
In some Chinatowns, volunteer patrols are forming to protect residents and confront harassers. The Guardian Angels, with patrols in over 130 cities worldwide, are recruiting in U.S. Asian communities for the first time in 41 years. Members include seniors and women, who are often targets of abuse.
“It’s boring at home. I might as well do something,” said laid-off dental assistant Sara Chin. The 46-year-old also patrols with New York’s Chinatown Block Watch.
“Our mission is to observe, record and report,” said LeannaLouie, a San Francisco businesswoman who started patrol group United Peace Corp. In eight weeks, it has filed 24 reports, including medical response incidents, auto burglaries, theft and shoplifting, leading to three arrests, she noted.
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“We can break the old habits, old patterns and outdated stereotypes,” Louie said. “We have assisted in aiding the community to step out of the shadows and feel more empowered.”
The San Francisco Police Department has expanded its presence on foot and in cars around the city to act as a deterrent against such crimes, it said in a statement.
In New York, flyers and posters emblazoned with the words “Don’t be cruel” were created by Shirley Ng and her friends for display on Chinatown storefronts, with pointers on how to report a crime.
“I don’t have to wait for support. It’s my community,” said Ng, an events assistant at the Asian American Legal Defense andEducation Fund.
‘STARKLY SIMILAR’
The campaigns recall the Pan-Asian U.S. civil rights movement in 1982, when Japan was blamed for the Detroit auto industry’s downturn, said Helen Zia, a journalist-activist at the forefront of that wave.
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Vincent Chin, a 27-year-old draftsman celebrating his upcoming wedding, was brutally beaten that year by two disgruntled autoworkers and died. The court sentence of a $3,000fine and three years’ probation, with no jail time, sparked outrage in the community and beyond.
“When he was attacked and killed it was very clear it was because of what he looked like. Japan was labeled as the enemy.We’re so starkly similar today,” Zia said.
Tech-savvy millennials are leading today’s social media response.
“My generation has no problem being loud,” digital entrepreneur Bing Chen, 32, said at a virtual rally by non-profit Act To Change on May 18, Vincent Chin’s birthday.
Hashtags like #RacismIsAVirus and #UnapologeticallyAsian are being shared and printed on T-shirts. #HATEISAVIRUS, created in late March by three millennials who connected via Instagram, is now a non-profit organization. It raised $16,000 in a virtual rally last week for small businesses hurt by the pandemic, said co-founder Tammy Cho, 25.
The hashtags “try to capture the rising Asian-American pride that has bubbled to the surface during COVID-19,” said Filipino-American Jeremiah Abraham, who heads Tremendous Communications, a marketing company focused on Asian-American entertainment.
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Broadway actor Diane Phelan cited the #MeToo worldwide campaign against sexual harassment as an inspiration.
“We want to harness the power of social media as the #MeToomovement has, especially when we can’t march and rally,” shesaid.