#NYS police reform mandate

[firstumcschenectady]

“Protest Parade and State Sponsored Violence” based on  Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 and Mark 11:1-11 for Palm Sunday

Because of the work of Marcus Borg and John Dominic Cross in “The Last Week” I have been convinced that the first “Palm Sunday” parade was an intentional protest in response to increased military presence in Jerusalem of the Roman Empire for Passover.  

Those who have been listening to me preach for years are familiar with this concept, and this year I'll be taking it in a new direction, but first I want to bring everyone else on board with this idea, as it can sound quite different from what I learned in Sunday School as a kid.

I think the key to understanding the protest is to think about Passover, and what it is.  Passover is a Jewish holiday celebrating God's work to free God's people from oppression from a foreign government when they felt powerless to help themselves.  

So it might not be surprising that the Roman Empire, which had power and control over the Ancient Jewish lands, got a little bit uncomfortable when the city was overrun with devout Jews celebrating Passover.  Nor would it be particularly surprising that Passover was a time when people tried to reclaim autonomy, the faith of their ancestors, the sanctity of their Temple, and the right to the fruits of their labor. After all, the Hebrew Bible itself sets a rich vision for a just society, and the ways that wealth flowed from the poor to the rich in the Roman Empire (and every empire before, during, and since) was the OPPOSITE of that vision.

It might even be good to remember that in 66 CE the was a revolt by the Jewish population that lasted for 4 years.  The final result was the destruction of Jerusalem along with the Second Temple, and hundreds of thousands of deaths.  So the Roman Empire's perception of threat wasn't actually wrong.  The city and its many many Passover pilgrims were primed for revolt.

And that's why the Roman governor came to Jerusalem from his normal digs on the Mediterranean along with horses, flags, music, and a significant number of soldiers prepared to take down riots. It was an intentional show of force, meant to tamp down revolutionary enthusiasm as well as efficiently deal with anyone who dared to start anything.  All of this is not unlike crucifixion itself which was a particularly horrid form of capital punishment done in public to those who lead VIOLENT REVOLTS against the Roman Empire to attempt to discourage others from doing so.

The Governor's procession came in the West gate, as the Governor's home was to the west of the city.  The big shiny military parade was an annual event, something easy to anticipate.  So, Jesus and his followers staged a counter-parade coming in from the East gate. Instead of flags with the golden eagle of Rome, the people waved Palm branches – the symbol of ancient Judea.  Instead of “Hail Caesar, prince of peace” the people shouted “Hosanna” which means “God save us!”  And let's be clear, “God save us from our oppressors.” (The name Jesus and the word “Hosanna” come from the same Hebrew root.  Jesus literally means “God saves.”)  They went on to say, according to Mark, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!   Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"   Instead of being passively awed by the display of violent capacity as in the western parade, the people put their lives on the line by laying their outer garments (often the only protection they had from the elements) on the road for Jesus's colt to walk on.  

So, to cut to the chase, Jesus appears to be staking a claim to the rightful kingship of Israel, which suggests that then the Roman Empire is not the rightful king.  Jesus is having a protest against the Empire.  BUT, it was a NONVIOLENT one, just so we're clear.

According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus also engaged in a protest at the Temple complex.  Both protests appear to have been wildly popular, and the people were following Jesus and claiming him as God's deliverer (read: save-r).  Thus, the authorities got scared.  Thus, they started to work to take him down, disperse his movement, and threaten any who would try to follow in his footsteps as leader. Thus the death on the cross even though the protests were NONVIOLENT.

Not to give the ending away, but the presence of Jesus followers remembering and embodying this story 2000 years later is a good indication that the Roman Empire may have had the power to kill Jesus, but it didn't have the power to stop the Body of Christ.  But, alas, I get a week ahead of myself.

Most years I like to contrast the ways of God from the ways of Rome, and to clarify that there was nothing particularly wrong with the Roman Empire – it is the way that pre-industrial agricultural domination systems work – and at the core it is the way ALL domination systems work, and for reasons I don't entirely understand, humanity was WAY into domination systems.

But this year, the story of Jesus engaging in acts of public protest, and as a result having the authorities of the day send a violent guard to grab him in the middle of the night, convict him based on false testimony, and kill him in a way the State itself said was unjust (PEACEFUL revolt) is all just hitting too close to home.

Last summer the Governor put in place an executive order, in response to Black Lives Matter protests,  requiring each local government in N.Y. State to adopt a policing reform plan that will maintain public safety while building mutual trust and respect between police and the communities they serve. I have been paying attention to what has happened in Schenectady and it is NOT GOOD.

Here in Schenectady, well after activists had release 13 demands1 that included an end to knee holds on people's heads or necks, a video was released of a police officer using a knee hold during an arrest.2 In response to outcry, the police banned knee holds.  

What followed was a fraught process that added up to the police pushing through the police department's OWN ideas of what police reform should look like.  Which a problem.  No one can claim things are OK here.  We are not, after all, a city without a record of our own – Andrew Kearse was a man of color who died in police custody in 2017. We know we have parts of our city that are profoundly over-policed. We know that the police end up being called into situations with mental health crises, and are not trained or capable of responding, and things go very badly. That is why there is a desire to move some of the police funding to social workers who can respond with training!

This past week, our city council passed the police reform report put forward by the police department.  Upon careful inspection the ban on knee holds on people's heads and necks …. as been revoked.  Knee holds are, apparently, back in.  Similarly, there is something called “pain control” that I didn't even want to google, but refers to controlling people by hurting them.  I'm quite confident that this isn't the way humans treat people that they see as fellow humans, much less God's beloveds.

It all feels to me to be far too familiar to the Jesus story.  Jesus was inconvenient to people in authority.  He empowered “nobodies.” He helped the community work together.  He questioned authority, including questioning economic practice.  He stood up for God's visions, God's people, God's dreams of justice.  And it was so threatening that they killed him to silence him.

Friends, I have on some of my worse days, had to hold down a person who was in the midst of a crisis to prevent the person from harming self or others.  I hate it.  It turns my stomach, even years later, to think about it.  But we were able to stop him without harming him, or putting pressure on his head or neck.  

And many, many, MANY times in my life I have responded to people in the midst of crises, people hijacked by their amygdalas, people out of their own control.  And 99.something% of the time, people can regain control with just TALKING.  There is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED to dehumanize anyone, accused of any crime, by seeking to control their actions with pain or with a knee on their head or neck.  EVER.  We need to keep talking about this – to each other, to the police chief, to the mayor, to city council, AND to the governor's office.  The plan submitted by our city is NOT sufficient police reform for our community.

Next week we will be celebrating Easter, God's incredible powers of life that overcome even death.  But this week we need to be unsettled by the world's powers of death, and violence, and who they're used against.  

Jesus was the victim of state sponsored violence.  Who else is like him, today?  Amen

1http://www.allofusuntitledandfree.com/

2https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/09/us/schenectady-police-officer-knee-on-man-video/index.html

Rev. Sara E. Baron First United Methodist Church of Schenectady 603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305 Pronouns: she/her/hers http://fumcschenectady.org/ https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

[donnerpartyofone]

NY FOLKS here is a quick and easy way to promote police reform! Links at the bottom to show your support for the relevant bills:

In addition to urging to defund the police, urge your reps to support Senate Bill S3695 and Assembly Bill A2513 to repeal Section 50-A.

If passed, these bills would repeal provisions relating to personnel records of police officers, firefighters, and correction officers, essentially making them available to the public. Governor Cuomo has expressed his support to sign these bills if they pass and reach his desk.

What is Section 50-A? Why Repeal?

50-A is routinely used to shield police misconduct and failed police disciplinary processes from public view. A repeal of 50-A would provide much needed transparency on police misconduct and discipline in New York State, and help address the systemic lack of accountability for police who engage in misconduct.

— changethenypd.org/safer-ny

§ 50-A.

“All personnel records used to evaluate performance towards continued employment or promotion…of individuals defined as police officers…shall be considered confidential and not subject to inspection or review without…written consent of such police officer…except as may be mandated by lawful court order”

“Prior to issuing such court order the judge must …give interested parties the opportunity to be heard [and a judge cannot request to see these records] without a clear showing of facts sufficient to warrant the…request.”

“If, after such hearing, the judge concludes there is a sufficient basis [the records shall be] sealed and sent directly to him.”

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVR/50-A

Visit these links and tell Senator Bailey and Assemblyman O’Donnell you support these bills. Click “aye” to support, input your info, and submit:

http//:nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/s3695

http://nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/a2513

Extra steps here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSk0aMluU8XNMuiZQ7TyWy9UoGYLE2s1xMF8EZ2_HAlnSgXPFHEvjIs8rftlCA2PYO8roMo9lp2D8Xj/pub

[antoine-roquentin]

The permanent background music to those larger events are several corruption investigations and scandals involving figures close to the president. The investigations involving bank transfers by employees of Flavio Bolsonaro, a son of the president, to a middleman who was Flavio’s chauffeur, are lingering on. The former president of Bolsonaro’s Social Liberal Party (PSL) Gustavo Bebianno, an important figure, had to step down due to the high amount of public election monies that went to an unimportant candidate two days before the election. Similar investigations against the Minister of Tourism continue, and the education minister Damares faced accusations due to her adoption of a girl from an indigenous community years ago that was never officialized, and that was called kidnapping by relatives of the girl. For a supposed anti-corruption government this track record in just three months is remarkable.

What was more damaging was the scandal around the corruption investigation itself. State oil company Petrobras which is at the center of the Lava Jato scandal has also faced investigations in the USA. The indemnization that Petrobras had to pay to U.S. authorities was lowered to $853-million (all sums in U.S. dollars) in September 2018. At the time, it was reported that 20 per cent of the sum remained with U.S. authorities, and that 80 per cent, some $682-million would go to the Ministerio Público in Brazil (that led the investigations) for unspecified social and educational programs. In addition, in order to settle a class-action lawsuit it was agreed that Petrobras pay $3-billion to shareholders who bought company stocks on the NY stock exchange between 2010 and 2014. Hence, Petrobras paid almost $4-billion while, in the end a higher amount of between $5 and $10-billion had been expected by market observers.

Only in March 2019 was it revealed that the basis of this reduction was a deal between Petrobras and the U.S. authorities, signed on 26 September 2018 by representatives of Petrobras, the U.S. Department of Justice and the respective U.S. state attorneys. The deal states the sum of $682-million will go to a private NGO run by the prosecutors in the Ministerio Público of Brazil, and that Petrobras keep the U.S. Department of Justice informed about its investments and business plans.

The agreement has caused a huge uproar and led to the cancelation of plans for the NGO in question. Raquel Dodge, the supreme state attorney blocked the deal after determining it violates the Brazilian constitution, so the sum of $682-million will remain with Petrobras. Most importantly, the deal discredited the image of the investigations among the public since the suspicion was confirmed that the investigations have as one of its goals the control of Petrobras by U.S. interests, and include the direct intervention of U.S. authorities in the political life of Brazil.

The arrest of former president Michel Temer, a week after the scandal, was interpreted as a move to regain legitimacy for the corruption investigations, even if Temer had to be released after seven days. But the arrest of Temer, and other politicians, was also seen as a sign of indirect blackmail of established politicians in Congress that were about to discuss the first draft of the law for pension reform. The signal was interpreted as: ‘if you don’t organize agreement on the reform, we will also arrest you for corruption.’

While Temer was not able to pass the reform, Bolsonaro has radicalized it. Poor pensioners who today have the right to receive a pension in the value of the minimum wage from the age of 60 onward (1000 Reals, about 250 Euros), shall now receive only 400 Reals from the age of 70 onward. At the same time, the generous pensions for military personnel – who receive full salaries as pensioners and which represent the larger part of the overall budget deficit – will be largely spared.

Pension Reforms

The conflict that unfolded in the second half of March over pension reform was over Bolsonaro’s refusal to rally the deputies of Congress to support the reform draft. This is usually a game of exchanging favours, deputies negotiating in favour of their clientele, and then being rewarded with posts, money or other political favours. Bolsonaro announced that he will not distribute any favours, the practice of which he designated as the “old politics.”

Nonetheless some engagement with deputies is necessary to get the pension reform approved, and this will require several changes to the constitution if Bolsonaro sticks to the plans. It was then that the president of Congress, Rodrigo Maia from the Democratic Party, a right-wing outlet with roots in the dictatorship, began to provoke Bolsonaro in a series of tweets demanding that he “start governing” and get off of Twitter. Bolsonaro responded angrily on Twitter. Maia’s aim was to exhibit the incompetency of Bolsonaro and to bring himself into play as an important negotiator.

It was a little after this exchange of insults between Maia and Bolsonaro – Maia wrote Bolsonaro should stop “kidding around” and start working, Bolsonaro said “Maia is stressed about family issues,” alluding to the arrest of Maia’s father-in-law together with Temer – that Bolsonaro came up with his dictatorship commemoration plans, only to be topped by his Minister of Exterior, Araujo, who declared that German Nazism was a left-wing project. Bolsonaro repeated this phrase on his visit to Israel a week later, maybe the worst choice of location for it.

This incredible mess and ideological madness led to a considerable drop in the popularity of the government and Bolsonaro himself, registering the lowest poll-ratings after the first three months for any first mandate since the first elected official, Fernando Collor de Melo – even Collor who was impeached quickly, had higher approval rates. Only Cardoso and Rousseff scored worse than Bolsonaro after three months, but this was in their second mandates respectively.

The Brazilian business elite which effectively decides who stays in power once elected is getting nervous. The amateurism of Bolsonaro and his government (it would be wrong to call it a team) is seen as a danger for the pension reform and bets are now that it will be considerably watered down. Pressure groups in Congress are already calling for exceptions for firefighters, teachers and the military police. While a cut in pensions for the poor will be most disastrous, it is the middle class and reasonably paid workers in the public sector that have the most to lose with the pension cuts.

Unemployment is up to around 12 per cent, the same level as a year ago, and there is no visible economic agenda of the government. The head of the mighty agrobusiness caucus recently had cause to vent his anger against Bolsonaro. Backing away from moving the Brazilian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the president instead announced the opening of a commercial office in the city, while one of Bolsonaro’s sons – who regularly intervenes on political issues without coordinating with anyone – tweeted “Hamas should detonate itself” after Hamas had criticized the opening of the office in Jerusalem. A considerable amount of meat exported by Brazilian agrobusiness goes to Arab countries and is specifically produced as Halal meat in the presence of Muslim religious representatives. Other producers from India and Turkey are waiting to take over this chunk of business. Despite all the ideological regression that emanates from the Brazilian business elite, it becomes very pragmatic when its commercial interests are at stake.

It is hard to say what can be expected from the next 100 days. It is obvious that the conflict between the military faction in the government and the ideological hardliners has hardened. Moro and Guedes as the neoliberal third-pole have not shown much political leadership and independent initiative in this scenario. The hard-core making the crucial decisions are until now Augusto Heleno in the important post of national internal security leader and vice-president Mourão who demonstratively met with the Palestinian ambassador to Brazil in January – business is treating Mourão already as a president in waiting for a lack of alternatives. But the lack of coordination on the economic front is set to worsen the economic situation of the country, and it will probably be a joint protest by workers and business, albeit for different reasons, that can cause serious trouble for Bolsonaro’s motley crew. •

things have actually gotten worse since this was published. bolsonaro’s main advisor, astrologist olavo de carvalho who’s sort of a brazilian cleon skousen or francis parker yockey (check out some of his hilarious theories), gave a speech in which he trashed the military as not doing enough to protect brazil from communism. bolsonaro’s son posted it on his father’s twitter, in what was seen as an attack on his vice president, but his father ended up deleting it and changed his password so his son carlos couldn’t get on. so the son went to sulk at a firing range while complaining on his own social media about how the brazilian military are cowards

[thepeoplesbasics]

THE BASIC BRIEF – FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021

Check out these curated links to stories worth noticing!

This week's brief:

THE HILL WE CLIMB AVAILABLE SOON TWITTER

The stirring inaugural poem by Amanda Gormon is to be available soon. Amanda posted a picture with her advanced copy special edition on Twitter.

“Happy World Book Day! And wow today I held my first advanced copy of the special edition of my inaugural poem. Pre-order yours below & let me know if it makes you smile this big too!”

AT LAST, DEMOCRATS GET CHANCE TO ENGINEER OBAMACARE 2.0 NY TIMES

A look at long overdue follow-ups to bolster the Affordable Care Act starting with an immediate jolt as part of the Covid Stimulus Bill.  Basically a matter of funding to subsidize the plans provided to bring them down to more affordable levels.

SYRIA STRIKE AP NEWS

Biden: Strikes in Syria sent a warning to Iran to ‘be careful’

TEXAS REOPENS FULLY TEXAS.GOV

Governor Abbott declares an end to the mask mandate and reopens Texas 100%

NEERA TANDEN NYTIMES

After a contentious hearing highlighting concerns on how someone with such an antagonistic past could fulfill the role of OMB, her nomination fails & Biden withdraws support

HR 1 GETS THROUGH THE HOUSE CONGRESS.GOV

Bill passed to take measures against voter suppression but also will make the challenge of starting a 3rd party much more challenging.

HR7120 – GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020 116TH CONGRESS.GOV

This bill takes steps to reform policing to address accountability.  It looks to enhance data collection on Police Abuse incidents and looks to eliminate discriminatory policing practices

DR. SEUSS GETS ‘CANCELLED’ WALLSTREET JOURNAL

6 Books of the Dr. Suess collection containing racist imagery will no longer be in circulation.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE / PFIZER FIRST SHOT NEWS FDA

Johnson & Johnson has had their vaccine approved which should help with the supply of vaccines.  In Pennsylvania for example it has been designated to be the supply for teachers and first liners.

Pfizer has been pushing for acknowledgment that the 1st shot efficacy may be enough to warrant adjusting how to prioritize initial shots versus the follow-ups.

UNDERPLAYED CLIMATE COVERAGE  NBC NEWS VIDEO

In the Never Ending Story, there is a phenomenon called the ‘Nothing’ which ate away parts of the kingdom.  All the sentient creatures gather to discuss this alarming problem and to figure out a plan, any plan to do something about it.

We’ve buried the news and hoped it would go away.  It hasn’t.

CUOMO SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACCUSATIONS USA TODAY

Cuomo, of Nursing Home Liability Shields and Covid Deaths Scandal fame, also has been accused of sexual harassment

BIDEN AND SENATE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO WHITTLE AWAY AT THE $2,000 CHECKS CNBC NEWS

It is down to $1400 and now will apply to fewer and fewer people.  Currently, the cut-off will be $80K for single filers and $160,000 for joint filers.

FROM THE PEOPLE’S BASICS:POLITICS IS EXHAUSTING.

Have you ever felt politically homeless or wondered who, if anyone, will come along to represent you?

BUT HOW WILL WE PAY FOR IT?

As a human who has his health to worry about, as well as that of his family, I am biased towards wanting universal healthcare.

The People's Basics is on Linktree

[dispatchesfrom2020]

2020

Week 28: July 6-12

6: You know who I forgot about in May? Amy fucking Cooper, that’s who. But as 2020 luck has it - all news cycles come back around at some point. Lets catch up: white Canadian woman (Amy Cooper) in New York Dog parks becomes incised when a black birder (Christian Cooper) who asks her to put her dog on a leash in the nature preserve part of the park. She threatens to call the police and he reflexively starts filming as she shouts into her mobile that she’s being threatened by a large African-American man. The video was posted on twitter by the birder’s sister and Amy becomes persona non-grata almost immediately. The incident coincided neatly with the murder of George Floyd, another unarmed black man falsely accused of a crime. She is fired from her job - and even has her dog taken away briefly, as the rescue shelter she adopted the pup from revoked his ownership. In July, following seemingly months of public discussions of her abuse of the police system, she is actually charged with false reporting.

Christian Cooper was threatened by a white park-goer while birding in Central Park over the Memorial Day Weekend - Brittainy Newman/The New York Times

7: In the United States, COVID is now so ubiquitous in the southern states that contract tracing is no longer worthwhile - or even possible. Community spread is rampant. The country also announces that it will be withdrawing from the World Health Organization in 2021 - Trump blames the organization for not taking a harsher stance on China in response to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the United Nations expert on extrajudicial executions presents a report to the Human Rights Council, calling the United States’ January assassination of Qasem Soleimani unlawful and arbitrary, determining that it violated the United Nations charter.

8: After a spate of reasonable decisions, the Supreme court delivers a real bummer: in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v Pennsylvania, the court decides 7-2 that employers can decline to cover their staff’s contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act if they have religious or moral objections to its use. Allowing employers to dictate what medicines and procedures people have access to is fundamentally morally bankrupt. In Burkina Faso, mass graves containing the remains of 180 people are uncovered - the fraught northern regions of the country have been home to incredible violence between government forces and jihadist groups with ties to Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Human Rights Watch believe that the government was responsible for committing mass extrajudicial executions of suspected jihadists.

9: The Bolivian President tests positive for the coronavirus. Rodrigo Duerte, president of the Philippines, televises a cabinet meeting. He strongly resists suggestions the country should re-open, citing the examples of Brazil and the United States as evidence of the “deep shit” they would face if they chose to ignore the rising numbers and loosened COVID restrictions.

Still 9: SCOTUS has another busy day. In a blow to Trump, the justices decide that New York state prosecutors can seek the president’s financial records, further defining the limits of presidential power. More importantly, however, they rule on two cases, finally settling the issue of whether or not nearly half of Oklahoma is tribal land. It is a crucially important ruling that re-asserts Indigenous land rights in the United States. Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee fairly-well respected in Indian Country for his rulings on Indigenous rights issues, joins the four liberal justices. He pens the majority decision: “On the far end of the Trail of Tears was a promise.  Forced to leave their ancestral lands in Georgia and Alabama, the Creek Nation received assurances that their new lands in the West would be secure forever... Today  we  are  asked  whether  the  land  these  treaties promised remains an Indian reservation for purposes of federal  criminal  law.  Because  Congress  has  not  said  otherwise, we hold the government to its word.”

Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times

10: Turkey’s President Erdogan decrees that the Hagia Sophia will be converted back into a mosque. The site - with histories both as a church and a mosque - has been a museum since 1934. The decree was incredibly controversial - and earned the disapproval of UNESCO. Donald Trump, meanwhile, commutes the sentence of friend and political advisor Roger Stone. Stone faced up to 40 months in jail on felony charges of witness tampering, obstructing official proceedings, and making false statements during the Mueller Investigation into Trump’s corrupt dealings in the Ukraine. Stone is a huge Nixon-head and has a tattoo of tricky Dick on his back, which is truly regrettable. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) and Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) state "No other president has exercised the clemency power for such a patently personal and self-serving purpose", suggesting that Stone was rewarded for protecting the president with these judicial favours.

11: Donald Trump, who has long resisted mandates despite public health official warnings, is photographed wearing a black fabric face mask for the first time. He has long vocally opposed wearing masks - or making masks mandatory, galvanizing his loyal base of followers against local mandates and encouraging them to eschew these precautions as well.

Alex Edelman/AFP

12: Sudan enacts a series of liberal reforms. They ban female genital mutilation, end public floggings, and lift a long-running ban on non-muslims drinking alcohol. Mexico’s COVID death continue to rise, surging them past Italy to assume the unwanted title of fourth-highest-death-toll.

[ravnlghtft]

SENATOR BALDWIN JOINS SENATORS BOOKER AND HARRIS, CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS IN INTRODUCING THE JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), as well as Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), in introducing the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement and build trust between law enforcement and our communities.

“The pain people are expressing through peaceful protests is real. I see it, I hear the calls for change and I know we have to work to heal the wounds of racism in our country. We can say liberty and justice for all, but we need to make sure everyone can live this value,” said Senator Baldwin. “We need federal reforms to improve police training and practices, and to ensure transparency and accountability. That’s why I’m joining Senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and the Congressional Black Caucus to introduce this comprehensive reform to change the culture of policing in our communities. This is long overdue and we must meet this critical moment now to address systemic racism and fix policing policies in our country.”

“America has a serious and deadly problem when it comes to the discriminatory and excessive policing of communities of color - and that policing exists within a system that time and again refuses to hold police accountable for their brutality. For too long, this has been accepted as a cruel reality of being black in this country. We are forced to figure out how to keep ourselves safe from law enforcement and we are viewed as a threat to be protected against instead of people worth protecting. And for too long, Congress has failed to act. That ends today with the landmark Justice in Policing Act which, for the first time in history, will take a comprehensive approach to ending police brutality. On the back-end, the bill fixes our federal laws so law enforcement officers are held accountable for egregious misconduct and police abuses are better tracked and reported. And on the front-end, the bill improves police practices and training to prevent these injustices from happening in the first place,” said Senator Booker.

“America’s sidewalks are stained with Black blood. In the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s murders, we must ask ourselves: how many more times must our families and our communities be put through the trauma of an unarmed Black man or woman’s killing at the hands of the very police who are sworn to protect and serve them? As a career prosecutor and former Attorney General of California, I know that real public safety requires community trust and police accountability. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this historic legislation that will get our country on a path forward,” said Senator Harris.

“What we are witnessing is the birth of a new movement in our country with thousands coming together in every state marching to demand a change that ends police brutality, holds police officers accountable, and calls for transparency. For over 100 years, Black communities in America have sadly been marching against police abuse and calling for the police to protect and serve them as they do others. Today we unveil the Justice in Policing Act, which will establish a bold transformative vision of policing in America. Never again should the world be subjected to witnessing what we saw on the streets in Minnesota with George Floyd,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chair Bass.

“We have heard the terrifying words ‘I can’t breathe’ from George Floyd, Eric Garner, and the millions of Americans in the streets calling out for change. For every incident of excessive force that makes headlines, the ugly truth is that there are countless others that we never hear about. This is a systemic problem that requires a comprehensive solution. I am proud to work in lockstep with the Congressional Black Caucus to craft the Justice in Policing Act. This bold, transformative legislation will finally ban chokeholds at the federal level and incentivize states to do the same, it will help end racial profiling, get weapons of war off our streets, hold police accountable, increase transparency and require and encourage greater use of body cameras. It does all of this while ensuring that our law enforcement agencies adhere to the very highest standards in training, hiring and de-escalation strategies to address systemic racism and bias to change the culture of law enforcement in America and ultimately save lives. I hope to take up this legislation in the House Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks,” said House Judiciary Committee Chair Nadler.

The Justice in Policing Act of 2020:

Prohibits federal, state, and local law enforcement from racial, religious and discriminatory profiling, and mandates training on racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling for all law enforcement.

Bans chokeholds, carotid holds and no-knock warrants at the federal level and limits the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement.

Mandates the use of dashboard cameras and body cameras for federal offices and requires state and local law enforcement to use existing federal funds to ensure the use of police body cameras.

Establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry to prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave on agency from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability.

Amends federal criminal statute from “willfulness” to a “recklessness” standard to successfully identify and prosecute police misconduct.

Reforms qualified immunity so that individuals are not barred from recovering damages when police violate their constitutional rights.

Establishes public safety innovation grants for community-based organizations to create local commissions and task forces to help communities to re-imagine and develop concrete, just and equitable public safety approaches.

Creates law enforcement development and training programs to develop best practices and requires the creation of law enforcement accreditation standard recommendations based on President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

Requires state and local law enforcement agencies to report use of force data, disaggregated by race, sex, disability, religion, and age.

Improves the use of pattern and practice investigations at the federal level by granting the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division subpoena power and creates a grant program for state attorneys general to develop authority to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments.

Establishes a Department of Justice task force to coordinate the investigation, prosecution and enforcement efforts of federal, state and local governments in cases related to law enforcement misconduct.

In addition to Baldwin, Booker and Harris, co-sponsors of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 in the Senate are Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The bill is supported by 166 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 has the support of a broad coalition of civil rights organizations including: Demand Progress, Lawyers' Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Action Network, National African American Clergy Network, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), Black Millennial Convention, and the National Urban League.

“The National African American Clergy Network supports the Justice in Policing Bill. It affirms sacred scripture that everyone is created in the image of God and deserves to be protected by police sworn to value and safeguard all lives. Failure by police to uphold this sacred trust with Black Americans lives, requires systemic changes in policing nationwide,” said Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., and Dr. T. DeWitt Smith, Jr., Co-Conveners of the National African American Clergy Network (NAACN).

“It's time to close the chapter on a dark era of unchecked police violence in our country that has wreaked havoc on African American families across the country. The Justice in Policing Act is historic and long overdue legislation that will put our country on a path to reform. This Act is responsive to many of the urgent demands being pressed for by our communities and by the people protesting for racial justice and equity across our nation. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law commends the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership on policing reform and this critical legislation, including Chair Karen Bass, Senator Cory Booker and Senator Kamala Harris,” said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

“Sometimes difficult circumstances present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring about historic change,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “The brutal actions of police in George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, along with botched execution of a no-knock warrant that killed Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and the brazen vigilante execution of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, Georgia, have pushed the nation to the tipping point.”

“For the past four-plus centuries, Black people have continuously been made to endure unfair, unjust, and inhumane treatment in this country. We have been made to believe in that if we worked hard, never complained, and accepted what the world offered that would be enough. What the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others have taught us is that obedience will never be enough; liberty and justice for all applies to everyone but us; and by us, we mean Black Americans, African Americans, Afro-Americans, or plainly put, Black people,” said Waikinya J.S. Clanton, MBA, Black Millennial Convention.

Full text of the legislation is available here:

https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/justice_in_policing_act_of_2020_section_by_section.pdf

[jobsearchtips02]

Coronavirus live updates: European nations sign deal with AstraZeneca for 400 million vaccine doses

As many U.S. states continue to lift coronavirus lockdown restrictions, some are pausing their reopenings in the face of worrisome data around new cases and hospitalizations. States like Texas, Arizona and Arkansas have seen a surge in infections, calling into question aggressive reopening strategies. 

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday additional lockdowns may be needed if rising infection data doesn’t improve, and some researchers are warning the resurgences in some states isn’t even the “second wave” that many feared — it’s still just the first. 

This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks. 

Global cases: More than 7.7 million

Global deaths: At least 427,400

U.S. cases: More than 2.05 million

U.S. deaths: At least 114,875

The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Trump addresses West Point grads at socially distanced ceremony

Cadets march into their commencement ceremony on June 13, 2020 in West Point, New York.

David Dee Delgado

2: 50 p.m. ET — Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the United States Military Academy at West Point graduated more than 1,000 cadets in an in-person ceremony, adapted with social distancing measures aimed at preventing transmission of the disease.

Cadets left the academy on March 6 when the pandemic hit and only the graduating seniors were allowed to return for Saturday’s event. The cadets, informally referred to as members of “The Long Gray Line,” took their oath at the Plain at West Point instead of Michie Stadium, the usual venue.

Their families and other guests were not allowed to attend. Trump’s speech to the Army’s new second lieutenants comes at a particularly tumultuous time, which the president appeared to acknowledge in his address.

“When times are turbulent, when the road is rough, what matters most is that which is permanent, timeless, enduring and eternal,” Trump said. —Amanda Macias

AstraZeneca CEO says in talks with Japan, Russia, Brazil and China on vaccine supplies

12: 41 p.m. ET — AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot told reporters the drugmaker is in talks with Japan, Russia, Brazil and China on eventual supplies of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine, Reuters reported. 

Earlier in the day, Italy’s health minister announced a deal between AstraZeneca and that country as well as Germany, France and the Netherlands. The company’s vaccine candidate will soon move into phase 3 trials having already met benchmarks for efficacy and safety, according to the Reuters report. 

Brazil and Russia are among the hardest hit nations amid the coronavirus pandemic, trailing on the U.S. in total infections, based on data from Johns Hopkins University. —Sara Salinas

NY Gov. Cuomo: ‘The signs across the country are frightening’

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks inside of the New York Stock Exchange after earlier ringing the opening bell as the building opens for the first time since March while the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in New York, May 26, 2020.

Lucas Jackson | Reuters

12: 03 p.m. ET — New York has reached the lowest number of coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths since the start of the outbreak in March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Cuomo warned that New York is an anomaly in the country because the state’s numbers continue to drop during a gradual reopening, which is not the case in other states that lifted restrictions and saw a spike in virus cases. Fourteen states have seen a surge in cases of more than 25% in the past week.

“Look around the nation and look what’s going on,” Cuomo said at a press conference. “The signs across the country are frightening … The beast is rearing its ugly head. Be careful.”

New York currently has the lowest rate of transmission in the country. Thirty-two people died on Friday from the virus, the governor said. —Emma Newburger

Expiring $600 unemployment benefits are essential for some workers

We don’t know how protests are being surveilled. Here’s why that’s a problem 

10: 15 a.m. ET — As activists bring their phones to the streets to document widespread protests for racial justice, some are beginning to fear how they, too, are being documented.

Dozens of lawmakers have called on government agency heads to reveal how they are using technology to track and surveil the protests that have followed the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. And a sweeping police reform proposal places restrictions on body camera usage and data retention.

Privacy researchers say a lack of regulation requiring transparency around law enforcement’s use surveillance and facial recognition technology makes it difficult for citizens to know what they’re up against. Combined with the digital contact tracing efforts being pushed by public health officials to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, privacy advocates fear a slippery slope into further surveillance that could stifle speech.

In the interim, tech companies that supply location data and facial recognition have taken it upon themselves to stop supplying their technology to law enforcement officials. IBM, Amazon and Microsoft all have taken steps to cut off law enforcement use of their facial recognition tools, citing a lack of robust ground rules. And Foursquare has decided not to make analytics on protest data available to its clients. —Lauren Feiner

Italy, Germany, France and Netherlands sign contract with AstraZeneca for Covid-19 vaccine

The molecular biology laboratory of Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania during the analysis of biological samples to detect the presence of Covid-19 on May 22, 2020 in Catania, Italy.

Fabrizio Villa

9: 21 a.m. ET — Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands have signed a contract with AstraZeneca to provide European citizens with a coronavirus vaccine, Italy’s health minister Roberto Speranza said, according to a Reuters report. The contract will supply 400 million doses of the vaccine.

AstraZeneca’s vaccine is currently in development with the University of Oxford and its experimentation phase is expected to be completed in the fall. Speranza said the first batch of doses would be available at the end of the year, Reuters reported.

EU governments issued a mandate on Friday instructing the European Commission to negotiate advance purchases of promising Covid-19 vaccines. However, it’s unclear if there would be enough money available for these purchases. —Sarah Whitten

San Francisco doctors, back from volunteering in NY, issue a warning

9: 15 a.m. ET — San Francisco doctors who risked their lives and volunteered to help coronavirus patients in New York have now returned home – and they are urging people to follow public safety guidelines, CNBC’s Christina Farr reports.

“A lot of people are feeling done with this pandemic,” said Dr. Ethan Weiss, a cardiologist based in San Francisco. “They don’t understand this is how it is going to be for a while.”

As states begin to re-open, people are itching to resume life after months of lockdowns. However, the virus is still spreading across the country and public health experts are concerned about the reported increase in diagnosed cases and hospitalizations in some states. —Emma Newburger

Your guide to coronavirus testing

Shalonda Williams-Hampton, 32, has her blood taken by Northwell Health medical workers for the antibody tests that detect whether a person has developed immunity to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury in Westbury, New York, May 13, 2020.

Shannon Stapleton | Reuters

How one New Jersey Main St. is preparing to reopen

Village Brewing in Somerville, New Jersey, closed on March 16. Since then it’s been surviving on takeout and delivery orders, which are about 10% of usual business.

Will Feuer

9: 04 a.m. ET — With New Jersey set to shift into its next phase of reopening on Monday, business owners in Somerville are getting ready to salvage what remains of the usually bustling summer season.

Businesses on Somerville’s popular Main St. like Village Brewing and Verve Restaurant have endured more than 12 weeks of closure already, but on Monday, they’ll be able to partially open for outdoor service. Town officials and business owners are petitioning the state to close Main St., a state highway, to traffic so that retailers and restaurants can bring their business entirely outdoors, where the virus appears to spread less easily.

For Somerville, the pandemic hit right in the middle of something of an upswing for the town, which was attracting new businesses and younger residents in recent years. Depending on the severity of the pandemic’s economic impact and the speed of the rebound, the threat could be existential for many on Main St.

“We would be naive to think that any of us, or any district, no matter where you are in the country, is going to come out of this situation completely unscathed,” Natalie Pinero, executive director of the Downtown Somerville Alliance, said. “I think that there is a genuine concern for our businesses.” —Will Feuer

Small town businesses face uncertain restarts

8: 31 a.m. ET — As local economies reopen and lockdown restrictions lift, small town businesses face uncertainty around a restart to operations. 

The pandemic issued a swift, clean halt to business for many. But returning isn’t as cleanly laid out for business owners like Russ Loub, who runs a steakhouse in the college town of Manhattan, Kansas. Loub estimates coronavirus shutdowns resulted in 4,000 canceled reservations almost instantaneously, and he now wonders what the fall football season will look like with a modified college semester. 

“There’s so much unknown. That’s really the most difficult part of it,” Loub told CNBC’s Jesse Pound. “I’m sure if you talk to anyone else, they’ll tell you the same thing. It’s the unknown things that are the scariest.” —Sara Salinas

India reports record daily new cases

A medical worker in PPE coveralls seen outside the emergency ward at AIIMS, on June 11, 2020 in New Delhi, India.

Sanjeev Verma | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

8: 07 a.m. ET — India reported 11,458 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, the highest single-day increase for the country to date, the Associated Press reports. The jump pushes the nation’s total infections past 300,000 to 308,993. 

The Health Ministry recorded 386 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total to 8,884, according to the AP. 

The nation of 1.3 billion people instituted a strict lockdown in late March, but last week began reopening shopping malls, houses of worship and restaurants, the AP reports. Since reopening, the country has recorded close to 100,000 new cases of Covid-19.

India now holds the fourth highest infection total in the world, behind the U.S., Brazil and Russia, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. —Sara Salinas

Read CNBC’s previous coronavirus live coverage here: Food market shut in Beijing after 45 cases; hospitalizations rise in some U.S. states

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from Job Search Tips https://jobsearchtips.net/coronavirus-live-updates-european-nations-sign-deal-with-astrazeneca-for-400-million-vaccine-doses/

[rolandfontana]

A NYC Grassroots Movement Vows to Keep Watch on Prosecutors

If the New York borough of Queens were a city in its own right, it would be one of the most diverse in the nation. With a population of over 2.4 million, it is home to the largest naturalized immigrant community in the United States.

Its justice system, not surprisingly, faces a big-city crisis.

In 2018, the New York Division of Criminal Justice recorded 2,331,358 crimes in the borough, which works out to almost one crime per resident. The same year, nearly half of the 40,893 Queens residents arrested on misdemeanor charges were convicted and sentenced.

For some Queens residents, the stark statistics have raised a pressing question: Who’s holding the prosecutors accountable for such an excessively high level of arrests?

Queens, NY is home to the nation’s largest naturalized immigrant communities. Photo by @lozanopuche via Flickr

“Queens has been impacted disproportionately and has been the most marginalized by the system,” says Jon McFarlane, a lifelong Queens resident. “The Queens County criminal court prosecutes more individuals for misdemeanors than any other borough. We have to change that.”

Which is what McFarlane and other concerned Queens residents plan to do.

McFarlane is one of the leaders of a group planning an ambitious effort to engage citizen volunteers to monitor the Queens District Attorney’s office. The effort builds on existing efforts in New York City to keep track of courts through observing and taking notes on arraignments, led by Court Watch NYC.

“We’re trying to address the crisis of using policing, criminalization, and incarceration to address what are fundamentally issues of public health and economic justice,” Nina Luo, Court Watch Coordinator, told The Crime Report.

“We want to run a DA accountability campaign as we would run an accountability campaign targeting any elected official.”

Organizers say that while they are focusing on the actions of individual prosecutors, their ultimate aim is to put pressure on the system in its entirety.

“This is an institutional battle, which is why accountability is so important. It is in their [DA’s] mandate to prosecute. That’s literally their job. We have to be prepared to be disappointed by whoever is elected because that’s the nature of the structure,” Luo said.

A DA Election Heats Up New York’s Summer

The “disappointment” index ratcheted up this summer in the wake of the tightly fought battle to fill the seat left vacant by the death of the sitting Queens DA Richard Brown, a veteran Democrat who had held the seat since 1991.

The race, which attracted national headlines, pitted “progressive” candidate Tiffany Cabán, a 32-year-old public defender and self-described “democratic socialist” who ran on a platform to end mass incarceration, against Melinda Katz, the Queens Borough president with close ties to the borough’s Democratic Party organization.

CourtWatch organizer Jon McFarlane poses with defeated Queens DA candidate Tiffany Caban. Photo courtesy Jon McFarlane.

Although initial returns declared Cabán the winner, a subsequent recount determined that she lost to Katz by only 55 votes.

But even a victory by Cabán, who received support from national figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as another symbol of the surging reform movement among Democrats across the country, would not have impeded the momentum for greater justice accountability by the Queens DA.

“The big issue is that the DA’s offices are notoriously non-transparent; people don’t really know what happens in them,” Rory Fleming, a Minnesota attorney who is the founder of Foglight Strategies, a campaign research services firm for prosecutors, told The Crime Report

“They’ve been called ‘black boxes,’ in the sense that how prosecutors make decisions on how to handle cases is a total mystery to the public,” added Fleming, who has worked on over ten DA campaigns around the country.

“I think Katz will be surprised by how much people want to—and will—hold her accountable.”

In a prepared statement provided to The Crime Report, Melinda Katz said she welcomed the group.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Katz, who is expected to win handily over her Republican opponent Daniel Kogan in the general elections this fall. “The more people are engaged and participating, the better.”

Melinda Katz won the DA Democratic primary race by 55 votes.

She added that Court Watch’s agenda fits her own objectives of reforming the Queens justice system, and building “momentum for initiatives to eliminate cash bail, expand alternatives to incarceration and end marijuana prosecutions.”

The Queens DA monitoring effort, a project of VOCAL-NY, the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund and 5 Boro Defenders, is an outgrowth of a 19-member coalition, Queens for DA Accountability, initially formed in 2018.

“This movement has been in the works for a long time,” said Rachel Foran, of Court Watch NYC and the Community Justice Exchange. “We need to shift narratives and language and build the power to make demands before we actually make them.”

Building a Base

The plan is to develop a campaign that will begin with building out a base that will educate and engage both the public and legislators, followed by identifying goals and demands that will be implemented through a series of tactics ranging from demonstrations to court support and pamphleting.

Ultimately, the tactics employed will be informed by Katz’s decisions and those of the Queens community.

These actions will not be limited to Queens, either. Although New York’s justice system has produced some of the country’s most noteworthy reforms, observers say it could do a lot better.

When Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez was elected in 2017 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Ken Thompson, he vowed to expand the reforms begun by his predecessor.

“We’re going to make sure we lead the most progressive D.A.’s office in the country,” he said.

But Gonzalez has not stood by all of his promises. For example, Court Watch and investigative journalists report that prosecutors in Brooklyn continue to prosecute misdemeanors and request money bail for non-felony crimes, even though his campaign platform promised to end both of those practices.

The DA-Watch group plans to expand to Manhattan and Brooklyn later this fall, but for now, Queens is their focus.

The previous Queens DA, Richard Brown, was criticized for his tough-on-crime approach. Fare evasion, loitering and shoplifting continue to be charged in Queens Criminal Court at high rates.

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez

“(The system) currently coerces individuals to plead guilty prior to arraignment in most cases,” said McFarlane. “Instead of throwing many unlawful stop and frisk cases out, Queens Assistant District Attorneys will overcharge in an attempt to lure defendants into plea deals they otherwise would reject.”

The Queens effort is not the first of its kind. Similar models have been used in Chicago and Boston. But, Court Watch volunteers said, although these types of campaigns have worked elsewhere, there is no formulaic way to run one; it all depends on the needs of the community.

“Public transparency is a critical part of modern prosecutors’ offices,” observed Lucy Lang, Director of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “At the same time, personal attacks or shaming of line-level prosecutors can prove destructive to the long-term goals of criminal legal reform.

“The best policy outcomes result from collaboration between advocates and system actors in furtherance of their shared goals, and transparency and communication are amongst the most powerful tools in furtherance of reform.”

Even members of the system agree.

One participant of the group who works at the Rikers Island detention facility, commuting there from her home in Queens, says her first-hand experience has made her “see how people’s lives are damaged by decisions made in court.”

“I have to remain neutral in my job,” said the woman, who requested anonymity because of her city job..

“So I am excited to be part of a group that holds DAs accountable for the immense power they have.”

Olivia Heffernan is a freelance journalist covering labor organizing, immigration reform, and prison abolition. Visit her website: http://www.oliviaheffernan.com

A NYC Grassroots Movement Vows to Keep Watch on Prosecutors syndicated from https://immigrationattorneyto.wordpress.com/

[nancydhooper]

Equity Must Be at the Heart of Marijuana Legalization

With an equity-centered bill, Illinois is just became the 11th state to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older.

Illinois just passed what may be the most progressive marijuana legalization bill in America. Gov. Pritzker’s didn’t surprise anyone by signing the bill yesterday (he campaigned on the issue), and with the work of the state legislature Illinois is the 11th state to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. This is a deceptively momentous criminal justice reform whose nuances show just why there cannot be justice in drug laws without equity. While a single bill cannot undo the damage rained by the war on drugs, and it cannot halt mass incarceration in a given state, in these 439 pages Illinois legislators not only called out the havoc of counter-productive drug enforcement but promised that the benefits of this important reform will be felt by the individuals and communities most harmed by the war on drugs, namely people of color and people with low incomes.  Marijuana legalization will touch thousands upon thousands of people. In Illinois alone, almost half of all drug arrests were for cannabis-related offenses. In 2010, two years before Chicago City Council decriminalized pot, over 33,000 arrests were made for marijuana possession. That’s 91 arrests for pot per day – the highest in the country, and most of these were for 10 grams or less. And while arrests rates for folks smoking weed has plummeted in Chicago (Illinois’ largest city) during the last few years, the rates of the disproportionate application of enforcement has remained atrocious. In fact, despite constituting 36 percent of the population of Chicago, in 2016 78 percent of all marijuana arrests were of Black people and less than 5 percent were of white people.

Unfortunately, this is par for the course in America; according to the ACLU’s analysis of marijuana possession arrests in the United States between 2001 and 2010, on average Black people are almost 4 times more likely to be arrested for pot than white people. In Iowa, D.C., Minnesota, and indeed Illinois, these disparities ran as high as 7.5 to 8.5 times. Even with these numbers in mind, before we lift up an aspirational bill such as this one we must answer some critical questions: Does this law address the disparate impact the war on drugs has had on communities of color? What will happen to the criminal records of those who used during the decades of pot prohibition? And will the expansion of the new economic opportunities of the legal market benefit those who have suffered from racist police policies like stop-and-frisk and selective enforcement?

In short, will marijuana legalization be defined by racial and economic justice or not?  

After 2014, when Illinois opened the state’s economy to the medical cannabis industry it became obvious that those individuals who face the harm of selective drug enforcement also “face greater difficulties accessing traditional banking systems and capital” needed to enjoy the boon of the market. These economic barriers were and are largely structural, and have their genesis in generations of economic disinvestment, segregation and discrimination that have long plagued communities of color.

Recognizing these harms, Illinois legislators have sought to develop robust programs and requirements that will “reduce barriers to entry for individuals and communities most adversely impacted by the enforcement of cannabis-related laws.”

Relatedly and importantly, “equitable and accessible” is the centerpiece of this legislation. The Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act is filled with plans like funding programs in vocational colleges for those who want to learn the technical skills needed to start a cannabis business, agricultural training and skill building in low-income schools, grants to entrepreneurs impacted by cannabis enforcement, required hiring or training of formerly incarcerated people and/or their family members, as well as a guarantee of low-interest loans and many waivers for application fees needed for obtaining a license. For example, one section guarantees that 50 percent of the nonrefundable fee for a cannabis business license application will be waived for all qualifying applicants.

To guarantee that these equity mechanisms actually benefit those who have been disproportionately targeted in the drug war, the bill created a “social equity program” and the “business development fund” exclusively tailored to address barriers of access. This endeavor is reminiscent of the program implemented by the city of Los Angeles in 2017, but goes well beyond its precursors.

One of the funding mechanisms for these programs will be a 3 percent or $100,000 contribution from all medical dispensaries hoping to get early approval for recreational marijuana permits. This requirement is vital because it will ensure that instead of the rich and unaffected medical industry getting a head start on the market and, as a result, being unfairly positioned to acquire significant portions of the potential profits, the medical industry’s historic success in Illinois will be used to contribute to the development of new entrepreneurs and to empower those who have been left out of the medical weed industry due to structural racism and overcriminalization.

The business development fund is designed to give businesses whose employees and owners reflect the populations that have been most targeted by the war on drugs a chance to succeed under the new regulations. The fund will facilitate their receiving low-interest loans. In Illinois’ program these will be referred to as “social equity applicants.” The term and the benefits that come with the program will apply exclusively to those whose ownership or control is constituted by at least 51 percent of residents from a “disproportionately impacted area,” or “individuals who have been arrested for, convicted of…” a cannabis-related offense, or a family member of a person arrested for such a crime. This definition for social equity applicants adds to the innovations implemented by the city of Oakland in reaction to the deficits in California’s regulatory framework for marijuana.

To make sure those who need to learn about these changes get the word, the bill also mandated funds for outreach to disproportionately impacted communities. The outreach will also include predominantly bilingual and immigrant communities in Illinois, ensuring a level of diversity in the market that reflects the state’s demographics and empowers immigrant populations.  And just when you think Illinois’ bill did it all, there’s more.

The bill will also create oversight of the programs that will be at least partially composed of individuals disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, as well as doctors, members of the criminal defense bar, law enforcement officials, state representatives and community leaders. One such body, the office of the Cannabis Regulation Officer, has been charged with the duty of surveying and auditing any discrimination in the industry that may prevent women, the formerly incarcerated, minorities or folks with disabilities from entering the market.

This is what smart drug law reform looks like, and it is how we begin to repair the damage caused during the days of prohibition. Similar to initiatives launched in Massachusetts and California, by using the revenue generated by taxation of the new recreational cannabis market, Illinois will begin reinvesting in the communities most hampered by the war on drugs. 20 percent of the money will be allocated to mental health and substance abuse programs and 25 percent will be allocated to the pioneering R3 program (Recover, Reinvest and Renew).

Using 1 in every 4 new dollars raised by the marijuana tax, the R3 program was designed to allow leaders who know their communities to retain local control on the development of community-based responses to the damage wreaked by bad law enforcement and generations of municipal disinvestment. The money will be allocated to organizations and innovators seeking to mend their streets through re-entry programs, substance abuse programs, job training programs, violence reduction projects and trauma-treatment centers.

Finally, in terms of expungement, the bill will employ the governor’s clemency process to automatically clear the records of anyone sentenced for a marijuana crime of 30 grams or less, and individuals who were convicted of crimes that involved higher amounts of marijuana (30-500 grams) will be empowered to petition the judiciary to vacate their conviction or seek the assistance of the state’s attorney in doing so. The State’s Policy Advisory Council estimated that more than 700,000 cases will be eligible for expungement as the bill goes into effect in January 1, 2020. This bill will change people’s lives.

Illinois has sought to take the lead in the legalization movement, and though as delineated here the bill has many positive aspects, it is not perfect. Because people won’t be able to smoke weed in public, individuals who are also prohibited from smoking in their homes, like those who live in federally-subsidized housing, or anyone with an intolerant landlord, remain at risk of fines or arrest, though the bill has done away with the threat of jail or criminal records for marijuana related offenses. 

As we watch the 2020 Presidential elections begin to unfold, marijuana legalization will surely remain a key issue for those concerned with our criminal legal system, drug policy, and racial justice. More states need to learn from and mirror the efforts made by Illinois this year. Efforts to legalize marijuana for recreational use in New Jersey and New York have recently failed to gain sufficient support, but voters won’t stay patient for much longer. New Yorkers got very close last week, and the pressure is still mounting, as Attorney General Tish James reminded leaders of the NY Senate: “Over the past 20 years, New York has become the marijuana arrest capital of the world. With nearly 800,000 arrests for possession of small amounts…we have burdened several generations of young men and women with a criminal record for activity that is currently legal in 11 states…In 2016, more than four out of every five marijuana arrests involved either an African American or a Latino.” States nationwide should be taking their cues from Illinois. Legalization reforms are as monumental as they are necessary, and they should be enacted everywhere.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8247012 https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/drug-law-reform/equity-must-be-heart-marijuana-legalization via http://www.rssmix.com/

[duaneodavila]

Sexism Infects NY Discovery Reform

The status quo is horrible, even if exaggerated to make the point.

New York laws on pretrial process are among the most retrograde in the nation. Prosecutors can withhold evidence until the morning of trial. To keep it that way, the district attorneys’ association has made the fear-mongering claim that early disclosure of evidence would enable defendants to intimidate witnesses and victims.

This isn’t quite false, but wildly imprecise. Prosecutors in New York are required to make disclosures under CPL § 240.20, so to say “withhold evidence” is inaccurate. But it is true that anything outside the statutorily-mandated discovery can be withheld until the eve of trial, including witness statements, which we refer to as Rosario material, and Brady material.

What this means is threefold: we can’t investigate to determine the efficacy of the evidence against the defendant, and we can’t search for contrary evidence to refute the prosecution’s claims and we can’t properly prepare a defense since we don’t know what evidence we will face at trial. So while it’s hyperbolic to claim we’re blind, it’s fair to say we can’t see what we need to see if we’re to mount an adequate defense.

There hasn’t been any serious doubt this needed to change, but the prosecution lobby has thwarted revision for decades, picking apart reform proposals with the usual fearmongering. Legislators have little stomach for getting their faces on the front page of the New York Post after some horrible thing happens and gets blamed on a reform they proposed or voted for. And the horrible thing will happen.

But now that the New York Senate is in the hands of Democrats, there is hope that changes can finally make it through. Conservative upstates Republican senators have been replaced by slightly-less-conservative upstate Democratic senators, creating enough of a gap to move reform through the Senate.

That doesn’t mean they’re ready to take the big leap, and the District Attorney Association of the State of New York isn’t there to remind senators that they will be blamed when the horrible thing that’s sure to happen happens. And the DAASNY has a powerful ally.

The prosecutors have enlisted the National Organization for Women, which has warned that sexual assault victims could be discouraged from going to the police. But groups that include crime victims say they helped write the bill and point out that it allows prosecutors to ask a judge for a protective order to withhold information identifying victims and witnesses, among other safeguards.

What do the reform groups “that include crime victims” have to say?

While they are concerned about any risks to victims and witnesses, advocates say the bill language provides ample time for prosecutors to secure a protective order when necessary. Sharing evidence with the defense early can only expedite the legal process, they say.

Bailey, the bill’s sponsor, said that discussions about the bill by Senate Democrats is ongoing.

“I don’t want to downplay the need for witness safety, but there is an ability to apply for a protective order and I cannot foresee a judge not granting a protective order when the situation was severe,” Bailey said.

The objection by DAASNY and NOW is that women will be reluctant to go to police if there is discovery, and will be put at risk. The solution is that there will be discovery in all cases, except cases involving women, whether as complainants or witnesses. To be blunt, discovery is great and necessary for defendants except when women are on the other side, in which case discovery should, and will, be denied defendants.

The argument in favor of discovery is a matter of due process, that the defense needs full and timely discovery if defendants are to have a fair opportunity to defend. The gender of the complainant and witnesses doesn’t change this systemic need, and yet nobody seems to recognize, or at least is willing to admit, there is no rational way to reconcile why discovery is critical except when the complainant or witness is female, in which case their feelings of fear take precedence over the requirements of due process.

Emily Bazelon tries to blithely bury it beneath empiricism.

In a study detailed in a 2016 law review article, 91 percent of prosecutors and 70 percent of defense lawyers in North Carolina reported that the disclosure law worked well. “You don’t want to create an unsafe situation for witnesses coming forward, especially in the neighborhoods that are most affected by crime, where you worry about people being afraid to report,” Benjamin David, the district attorney in Wilmington, N.C., told me. “There are still some things we want to keep from defendants, and we apply to the courts for protective orders in those cases. The system isn’t perfect, but it’s better. And I’m glad we got pushed to this point.”

Except the study had nothing to do with the efficacy of concealing discovery when it involved women while providing it when it involved men. But what are the chances anyone will read it and recognize they just got bamboozled by this appeal to authority? Indeed, the study takes for granted that protective orders for witness safety are an obvious necessity, and the real problem is that they won’t be used enough.

But overworked and harried prosecutors may not have the time or energy to review the evidence carefully before disclosing it and may miss signs of potential threats to witnesses.

The fear is that they won’t conceal enough discovery from the defense rather than completely undermine the entire point of discovery, but primarily on behalf of women.

The conflict is obvious, but swept under the rug by rhetoric and illogic. If there is a need, a constitutional mandate, for discovery, then it applies to all cases, not merely for those where the sad tears for victims trumps sad tears for defendants in the hierarchy of victims.

Should defendants charged with murder get a fighting chance, but a defendant charged with rape denied discovery and the ability to prepare a defense? This is exactly what progressive voices propose, because their concerns for female victims exceeds their concerns for innocent defendants, and they lack the intellectual honesty to face up to their sexist reform.

Sexism Infects NY Discovery Reform republished via Simple Justice

[oldguardaudio]

Alan Keyes – Renew America -> Build the Wall Protect us all

Todays illegals are Tomorrows Democrat Voters at HoaxAndChange.com

illegals flipping USA burn flag @ Hoax and Change

Mexican Gangsters MS-13 we love America! at HoaxAndChange.com

January 15, 2019

Build the wall – protect us all

Alan Keyes calls Trump TV speech ‘an act of impeccable statesmanship’

ALAN KEYES — President Trump’s televised address to the nation last week was an act of impeccable statesmanship. He said what was needed, in the way it needed to be said. He addressed the cost –– in human lives, seething disorder, and money –– of the dereliction of duty characteristic of his immediate predecessors (Democrats Obama and Clinton, and Republicans George H.W. and George W. Bush). They neglected or refused to carry out the Constitution’s mandate to see that our nation’s immigration laws are faithfully executed…. (more)

January 15, 2019

The Washington Post, Bezosgate, and the National Security State

CLIFF KINCAID — The slogan of The Washington Post is “Democracy dies in darkness.” So I did a search of recent articles on its website about its billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos, who does business with the CIA and NSA and finds himself in the middle of a sex scandal that makes even liberals cringe. I found a story about his announced “split” with his wife in which a lawyer is quoted as saying “the couple’s amicable joint statement indicates that the split probably won’t be messy or protracted.” The lawyer added, “Sounds like they are making an effort to do this the right way and not make it into a public spectacle.”… (more)

January 15, 2019

Pentagon extends border deployment for active duty troops through September

MARINE CORPS TIMES — The Pentagon announced late Monday that it is extending the mission of active duty troops to the Mexico border through September, marking almost a year-long domestic deployment of forces there. The approximately 4,500 active duty and National Guard forces now on the border were first sent there in late October 2018 to meet a request from President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to secure border entry points from thousands of immigrants traveling north through Mexico to seek asylum in the U.S. Several units have rotated in and out during that time, and have been tasked to lay concertina wire, barriers and help assist border patrol agents at points in Texas, Arizona and California…. (more)

January 15, 2019

Former Trump lawyer says president facing DOJ ‘coup’

NEWSMAX — President Donald Trump is facing an organized “coup” at the Department of Justice, his former attorney John Dowd said Monday. During an appearance on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” on Fox News Radio, Dowd said current and former officials at the DOJ and FBI were out to get Trump from the beginning…. (more)

 Huckabee: Hold FBI behind Trump probe accountable (Newsmax)

 Trump denies ever working for Russia, blasts investigators (Newsmax)

 Rep. Pete King: ‘Absolutely disgraceful’ for FBI to investigate Trump (Newsmax)

January 14, 2019

Fox News’ Gregg Jarrett: FBI’s ‘dishonesty and corruption are endemic’

On Trump probe, he says bureau ‘defied the law, ignored or perverted facts’

GREGG JARRETT — Pointing to a New York Times story revealing the FBI investigated in 2017 whether President Trump was a covert Russian agent, Fox News analyst Greg Jarrett concludes “dishonesty and corruption are endemic” at the bureau. Jarrett, in an opinion piece for FoxNews.com, said the “accusation itself was ludicrous on its face.”… (more)

January 14, 2019

Trump tweets withdrawal from Syria has begun

NEWSMAX — President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that the United States has begun withdrawing from Syria. “Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions,” Trump wrote. “Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone.”… (more)

 Let’s leave Syria (National Review)

January 14, 2019

Pompeo: NY Times report on FBI probe of Trump ‘ludicrous’

NEWSMAX — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed as “ludicrous�� a New York Times report that the FBI began to investigate whether President Donald Trump was a national security threat after he axed former bureau director James Comey…. (more)

 Trump calls report on FBI probe of him ‘most insulting’ (Newsmax)

 Jonathan Karl flips script on ‘The View,’ says it’s right to be ‘skeptical’ of NYT report (Daily Caller)

 ABC’s Karl: ‘Zero evidence’ that Trump or campaign colluded with Russians (Breitbart)

 ‘It’s a coup’: Former Trump lawyer responds to NY Times report of FBI probe of president (Newsmax)

January 14, 2019

Jonathan Karl: Mueller report ‘almost certain to be anti-climactic’

NEWSMAX — ABC Chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl on Sunday said Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report is “almost certain to be anti-climactic.” Karl, who was on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” discussing the bombshell report in The New York Times and Washington Post that said the FBI opened up a counterintelligence investigation into President Donald Trump in the days after he fired James Comey because they were suspicious of his behavior, also said there has been no proof of collusion between Trump’s campaign team and the Russians during the 2016 presidential election…. (more)

January 14, 2019

‘Russian agent’? Trump tougher on Russia in 18 months than Obama in eight years

JEN KERNS — Even though the left-wing media will never give him credit, President Trump has been far tougher on Russia than his predecessor, Barack Obama. For starters, it was President Obama who, according to Reuters, was “caught on camera” saying to a Russian leader that he’ll have more flexibility after the election –– not President Trump…. (more)

 Jen Kerns appears on ‘Fox and Friends First’ to discuss govt. shutdown and control of the House (YouTube)

 Alan Keyes rightly calls Obama a radical communist [VIDEO] (YouTube)

 Putin says he’d reverse collapse of communist Soviet Union if he could (RadioFreeEurope)

 Obama admits communist Frank Marshall Davis ‘schooled’ him on white racism (Cliff Kincaid)

 ‘From the Vault,’ Barack Obama, Sept. 1995 [VIDEO—start at 4:33 and view through 24:30] (YouTube)

January 14, 2019

$20M donated for border wall via disabled vet’s GoFundMe page may be refunded: report

FOX NEWS — GoFundMe could be returning more than $20 million in donations to help fund a U.S.-Mexico border wall if donors don’t redirect their funds to a newly created nonprofit, reports said Friday. Triple-amputee U.S. Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage, 37, created the campaign, dubbed “We The People Will Fund The Wall,” last month. It quickly went viral and has amassed more than 338,000 donors. But the campaign failed to reach its $1 billion goal…. (more)

 GoFundMe will return $20 million to 330,000 border wall donors, but the creator has a different idea (Washington Examiner)

January 14, 2019

Federal workers offered free food to help them through shutdown

NEWSMAX — The Capital Area Food Bank has organized five free pop-up markets in the Washington D.C. area to provide fresh produce and canned goods to help government employees during the partial federal shutdown, WUSA9 reported. All furloughed government employees and federal contractor are eligible to receive the items…. (more)

January 14, 2019

‘Muslim-free’ gun range fights to exclude members of terror-linked group

‘A dangerous business. This isn’t a lunch counter’

WORLDNETDAILY — Does an American gun range have the right to exclude Muslims who are members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations because of the group’s ties to terrorism? That question could soon have a legal answer as a Muslim has filed a discrimination suit against the owners of a gun range in Oklahoma…. (more)

January 12, 2019

Legal analysts: Trump has the right to declare an emergency and build the wall

WASHINGTON EXAMINER — President Trump has the constitutional and legal right to invoke his emergency powers to divert funds to build a wall along the southern border without running afoul of the Constitution or the law, according to top legal analysts…. (more)

 Trump plan would improve current border situation (Byron York)

 A shutdown stalemate as Trump goes factual, Democrats illogical (Michael Barone)

January 12, 2019

Sarah Sanders responds to NY Times report that Trump a ‘Russian agent’

DAILY CALLER — White House press secretary Sarah Sanders responded quickly to a Friday New York Times report claiming that President Donald Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey led officials to begin investigating “whether he had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests.”… (more)

 FBI reportedly investigated whether Trump was working for Russia (Daily Caller)

 Flashback: Peter Strzok expressed concern that ‘there’s no big there there’ in collusion probe (Daily Caller)

January 12, 2019

Governor removes Parkland sheriff over failure to save children

Criticized for not having department ready to respond to killer of 17

WORLDNETDAILY — The sheriff whose deputies failed to confront the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, one year ago has been removed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Sun-Sentinel reported former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel was replaced by former Coral Springs Police Sgt. Gregory Tony, 40…. (more)

January 12, 2019

Blackburn bill would eliminate all federal funding of abortion providers

DAILY SIGNAL — Newly elected Sen. Marsha Blackburn announced Thursday that she has introduced her first bill in the Senate, one that would end federal funding to all abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood…. (more)

 Marsha Blackburn introduces bill to strip funding from abortion providers (National Review)

January 12, 2019

Pat Boone’s wife of 65 years, Shirley, dies: ‘I’ve parted with my better half for a little while’

PEOPLE — Shirley Boone, the wife of legendary 1950’s singer Pat Boone, has died. She was 84. Shirley passed away peacefully on Friday morning at the pair’s home in Beverly Hills after suffering complications from vasculitis, which she had contracted less than a year ago…. (more)

 Shirley Boone, Pat’s love for life, dies at 84 (WorldNetDaIly)

January 11, 2019

Locked out of Twitter for telling the truth about Islam

BRYAN FISCHER — Here is the message that greeted me on Monday morning as I opened my computer and began researching yesterday’s program: We’ve temporarily limited some of your account features… (more)

January 11, 2019

Lindsey Graham: Trump should use emergency powers to fund wall

NEWSMAX — Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Thursday that President Donald Trump should declare a national emergency and bypass Congress to fund a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “refusal to negotiate on funding for a border wall/barrier – even if the government were to be reopened – virtually ends the congressional path to funding for a border wall/barrier,” Graham said in a statement…. (more)

 Trump edges closer to declaring national emergency to build border wall without Democrats’ OK (Washington Times)

 Trump: ‘We’re not changing our mind’ on border wall (Newsmax)

 CNN’s Acosta mocked for border wall video (Newsmax)

 Nail in the coffin: Trump finishes off Acosta after brutal day (Daily Wire)

January 10, 2019

Study: Border wall would pay for itself

Even if it stops only 3% to 4% of expected illegal crossers

WORLDNETDAILY — A study shows that President Trump’s southern border security wall would save American taxpayers far more than it would cost. The analysis comes from Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies, who pointed out that the key issues are the cost of each illegal immigrant compared to the cost of a wall…. (more)

January 10, 2019

Senate passes bill to pay federal employees – after shutdown ends

WASHINGTON TIMES — Senators passed a bill Thursday to ensure all federal employees, whether they are still working or were furloughed, will be paid in full when the partial government shutdown ends. The shutdown will cross the three-week mark on Friday, which is also the same day that they will miss their first paychecks…. (more)

January 10, 2019

Trump tells feds not to fret: Furloughed employees will get back pay

WASHINGTON TIMES — President Trump Wednesday assured federal workers sidelined by the partial government shutdown that they’ll get paid retroactively. “They’re all going to get the money and I think they’re going to be happy,” he told reporters at the White House on the 19th day of the shutdown…. (more)

January 10, 2019

Democrats embrace ports of entry crackdown amid Trump border standoff 

WASHINGTON TIMES — Congressional Democratic leaders have embraced the goal of increased border security in their fight with President Trump, proposing measures to harden the U.S. ports of entry –– but omitting the barrier they supported five years ago. Those designated border crossings account for roughly 2.5 percent of the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border…. (more)

 Trump rebuffs Dems’ border security plan: ‘They don’t come in through checkpoints’ (Washington Times)

January 10, 2019

Democrats used Facebook to suppress GOP vote

Ex-Obama official bought ads on fake pages during midterms

WORLDNETDAILY — Led by a former Obama official, Democratic operatives bought ads on misleading Facebook pages to suppress Republican voter turnout in the recent midterm elections, reported the Daily Caller News Foundation…. (more)

January 9, 2019

Dem strategist: Pelosi, Schumer ‘struggle’ to ‘relate’ to Americans

Disappointingly ‘somber and stern’ in televised response to Trump

NEWSMAX — Democratic leadership appears to “struggle…to relate to Americans,” strategist Andrew Feldman said Wednesday. In a panel discussion Wednesday on The Hill.TV’s “Rising” program, a day after President Donald Trump’s Oval Office speech on border security, Feldman said he was disappointed in the somber and stern televised response from Senate Minority leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif…. (more)

 Rush Limbaugh: Schumer, Pelosi like robotic ‘undertakers’ in response to Trump’s border address (Washington times)

 Trump speech: Twitter pokes fun at Schumer, Pelosi ‘hostage tape,’ ‘American Gothic’ vibe (USA Today)

 Jerry Falwell Jr. to Newsmax TV: Trump ‘at his best’ in speech (Newsmax)

 Trump walks out of shutdown meeting with Democrats (Washington Times)

Previous news

Alan Keyes – Renew America -> Build the Wall Protect us all Alan Keyes - Renew America -> Build the Wall Protect us all January 15, 2019 Build the wall – protect us all…

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"how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

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if so, how much is it per month? How old are you? What kind of deductable do you have? Feel free to answer also if you do not have insurance and also do you support Obamacare?""

A rough montly price for insurance on used car?

ok i tryed all these sites lol to get quotes but they all want my name and address which im not looking for insurance right now coz i still need my licence first. anyways i saw car i used car i like its a blue ford tarus 1998. and im 20 so im obv gonna be new driver later this year. how much do you think insurance cost me for that monthly? i just want rough guess so please dont comment this if ur gonna direct me to website coz ive already tryed serveal times to do that.

Question about my insurance?

I had an accident two weeks ago I wonder if my insurance pay for my medical costs. (suppose I am at fault) and I have full coverage insurance which includes: Bodily injury 25/50 (is it for the other person involved who is not at fault or can it be used for me too?) uninsured motorist 25/50 comprehensive collision

Is there cheap health insurance for students?

If so does anyone know? or have it? best insurance?

Cheapest car insurance?

infinity is cheaper than esurance.

Who will be responsible for my dad's car wreck/Will my insurance premium go up?

I let my mom borrow my car to get to work for about 6 months. I knew she had it, I never insured it and neither did she. My dad is abusive and tries to contol everyone and their possessions (my car, my apartment, my bf's car). He hit a local business and caused 15k of damage. He has never worked and my mom just recently started a job-I have had to work for everything in my life and I'm frustrated with always being taken advantage of. My dad was taken away from the scene in an ambulance, the owner's of the property he hit never received his name or contact info. Since the car is registered to me, am I liable? Although it was his accident, will my future car insurance premium go up because of this?""

How much can i expect to get from my insurance company if they write off my car?

I crashed my 2003 seat ibiza on the motorway on sat. the damage dosnt look too bad ( front bumper & rear bumper off but as i was traveling at speed there prob is more damage underneath). Im still waiting on the insurance company to tell me how much my car is now worth.. people have told me that they wil only offer me the bottom book price that the car was worth on the day of the smash can anyone tell me what the bottom book price might likely be?? i paid 3750 for the car in sept 2007 and the car was in near perfect condition with a minor stain on the front seat

How much does it usually costs for liability insurance on a car?

Buying a 1997 Ford F-150 2 door soon and wanting to know how much liability insurance is going to cost? just a Estimate is all Im looking for. :)

how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

Car insurance policy?

From out of experience or knowledge, what is the best type of car insurance for a 19 yr old college student? If the 19 yr old will b the policy holder & not under any parents. & what type of coverage is recommended? Any other advice as far insurance goes? Thanks in advance.""

""Anyone know of an affordable individual health/dental insurance plan for Brooklyn, NY?""

I no longer have school insurance and my work does not offer insurance. I am looking for an affordable health/dental insurance plan in Brooklyn, New York. Is dental included in medical insurance or is that separate? I don't want to spend $600-$1000 on a premium for an HMO, but would rather spend a few hundred a month while getting a decent amount of benefits. Also, does anyone know of a comparison chart online regarding details of insurance providers including premiums and benefits. All I can find are complaint comparison charts for insurance providers. Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!""

Anthem Blue Cross Insurance?

Does anyone here has any problem with Anthem, Blue Cross Insurance on making phone call or trying to contact them any way? Every time I tried to call them, I have to be on hold for at least 30 minutes, sometime 1 hour but still couldn't get any help from them. I feel they are helpless, careless...bad service Insurance as I ever know.""

What is the Fannie Mae hazard insurance coverage minimum?

What is the Fannie Mae hazard insurance coverage minimum?

2008 Nissan GTR Insurance/Maintenance?

I'v been saving up some money now and want to get a used car when i turn 21. had my license since 16 I'm debating heavily whether to get 2008 bmw 335i coupe or 2008 nissan gtr. i'm sure nissan gtr insurance and maintenance would cost a lot but about how much should I be expecting? iv been searching around and this is the number i got to guess but iono 4000 a year for insurance and 2000 a year for maintence...is that a good estimate? if it's more than that, i don't think i should really get one. should i just keep saving and buy a 335i and treat myself with a nicer one after college? or should i just go all out right now?""

I need info about maternity Insurance?

I currently have insurance through assurant health and I am looking to add maternity insurance. I was contacted by an agent asking me what deductable I wanted a 10 thousand or 5 thousand deductable. The thing is I heard that I may be eligible for medicaide. My husband only makes about 30,000 a year and I am a full time sudent. I am unsure what to do as I am completley in the dark about the situation. Please someone give me some insight thank you""

Cheap insurance?

ok my partner has hes test next week and we are looking for a car costing about 1000 thats cheap on insurance / cheap to run also a 5 door, the best we found so far is a deawoo matiz witch isnt even a 1.0 but the insurance is 1400 for a year! witch is the cheapist we have found as its a 2002 model. any other cars thats we can get thats cheap and around the same year? thanx ~x~""

What do you see as the purpose of health insurance?

Should there be limits on the amount of health care provided? If yes, what criteria should we use to ration health care? If no, how should health care be financed so that everyone has access?""

Can car insurance sue you if you are 18 and just have a permit and if its under my cousin insurance?

I was driving in a parking lot with my cousin and my cousin has her driver license and she over 21 and i was driving. Im 18 and i only have my permit. Well accidentally i was driving and i was trying to park and i hit the car next to me. Well they put it under my cousin car insurance and they didn't call the police on us. Well my mom saying the insurance can go after me to what ever how much it cost. What should i expect if i don't have a job and what is the percent that they will sue me if i have my permit and what should i expect if they do.....

""How much would you expect a family of three making 40,000 a year to pay for health insurance?

This should be interesting. How much?

How much should I ask for the compensation from insurance?

I had a car accident and the fault side's insurance compay paid for body repair ( abuot $960 in their recommanded bodyshop ) and also the rental (my car is still in bodyshop). I am not sure if I need to ask some compensations for diminished value of my car and also missed work hour on dealing with the accident. I never done this before. My car is 1997 Toyata Collora and the private value from KBB is $3185 (for good condition), some people said the compensation for diminished value could be 40% of the KBB private value, which to me is 3185 x 0.4 = $1274. They are going to replace the right fender, repair and repaint the passenger side door. So I want to know if I ask for $1274 from insurance is fair. I hope anyone can give me some advises on how to deal with this. Thank you!""

How can I get health insurance?

I live in Chicago, IL. I don't have health health insurance because my mom can't afford it. Im 19 years old and I need health insurance.What does everyone else do who's under 21? Do any of you under 21 have any health insurance? If so, what company? I don't have a job, (been trying to find a job for three years). I need to see a dermatologist really bad, and I have no idea what to do.""

California New Driver Law penalty?

My son just got his drivers license in California. I'm trying to get him to understand the penalty of driving with other kids in the car, when he's not allowed to. Does anyone know the penalty for doing so? How much is the ticket, what it could do to his insurance, etc.? Thanks everyone""

Inexpensive insurance for 25 y.o. with no prior driving history ?

She just bought a 1993 Subaru Justy. We live in Oregon. Do you know how to get quotes on the internet ? Who generally has inexpensive insurance and is not a SCAM ????????

Can someone give me advice on whether to get a 50 or 125cc scooter and how much insurance will cost for both?

I am a 15 year old boy who lives in Italy. Here at the age of 14 you can get a 50cc and at the age of 16 you can get a 125cc. My birthday is in 6 months ( January ), should I wait till then and get 125cc or should I just get a 50cc now ? Taking in to consideration that snow comes to Italy at about at January and that 50 cc is cheaper and safer than a 125cc. And how much would the insurance cost for the 50cc or the 125cc ? And I have a budget of around 1000 euro.""

Auto insurance question?

I'm going to be working for a delivering company and I need proof of insurance. I have it, but the car I'm driving is my mom's so the name on the card obviously isn't mine. The company I'm going to be working for needs proof that I have insurance and I don't know what kind of paperwork would work. Any ideas?""

""I am looking for affordable auto insurance, quote that i get online with AA is confusing, any suggestions?""

I am looking for affordable auto insurance, quote that i get online with AA is confusing, any suggestions?""

Drink driving & car insurance?

Does anyone know of any car insurance dealers that are kind(er) to drink drivers? All my qoutes are high and I just don't have the money to be forking out on car insurance. I have just bought my first flat and have a baby on the way...I wish they could see that circumstances have changed!!!

How much is a no insurance ticket in illinois?

I've been trying to look this up, can't find jack **** on it.. How much is it?""

What is the cost of baby health insurance?

I am doing a project for health class, called baby's first year. I have every thing that i would cost to have a baby except Doctor, Hospital cost and health Insurance. If you know how ...show more""

Health Insurance Company in Ohio?

Affordable Health Insurance Company in Ohio

""Got into car accident, my fault not my insurance?""

the car and insurance was in my moms name, i was not listed as a driver, ran red light, car smashed me in side, his car somehow flipped over, will insurance pay for both cars,it was on full coverage""

How much would I pay for car insurance?

I am a male, 24 years old (turn 25 in july), student.... what is the cheapest car insurance you think I can get?""

What are good things to have in health insurance for families.?

I'm looking to buy health insurance for my self and my kids,but I don't under stand what things mean like they talk about coinsurance, deductibles how do I know what's the best one? I'm looking for affordable n with good coverage can you help me? I need low monthly payments and low copayments""

Car insurance under mums/dads name.?

I've just passed my driving test and am really confused about how to go about getting insurance under my mums / dads names. The car would be under their name but i just want to be the main driver of it. My mum rang up tesco for a quote on how much it would be, but she said under my name and on my own insurance. So now she doesn't want to ring up coz it's on computer and the guy on the phone who she was talking to said it would be classed as fraud if she insured me under her name and she didn't drive it. :S This can't be right right? also my dad has 6 points on his license will this effect me if the car goes under his name then i get insured on his insurance? since his insurance went up when he told them he had points. i got a quote for 1934 for my own insurance as the car under my name. I just need the best way to get under my mums insurance. cheers :)""

how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

What cheapest car insurance with no down payment?

Only company I know of that doesn't charge down-payment or upfront fee is geico. Anyone know of any other ones?

How much should I expect my car insurance to cost?

I am 20, female, in college, decent grades, this will be my first car, i will be driving a relatively cheap car. 199? Honda civic/accord...something along those lines. I live in a very small town. I will only be driving about 10 minutes a day commuting to work and school. i wont be added to my parents policy, i will have my own. I tried doing a free quote thing, but i guess my town is too small, it didn't recognize my address! but from people who actually pay car insurance and know a think or two about it, i am curious as to how much i should expect it to be!""

Isn't a lack of affordable health insurance merely a very late term abortion for Blue collar workers?

Alright, I'm being overly dramatic but what if, as head of household such an individual, without insurance, is treated to a very costly procedure and dies anyway? Why does it become necessary to bankrupt the remaining family as it often is? Why then, if Welfare is so frowned upon by the same opposition group to affordable health care (often referred as Universal health care by way of diversion)why is the mother, if she is unable to provide for her children often left homeless and left to wander the streets while they are given up for adoption? Why is this oft repeated scenario accepted by Christian voter or even wealthy atheists (ordinary ones, even) for whom there never may be enough money? This is a worst case scenario and actually happens in some cases. How does one address this issue? I've heard all of standard insults but I'd really appreciate an honest answer and I'm not at all in favor of universal health care for the indolent or the F--k 'em and forget 'em fathers everywhere or, for that matter, the largest group of Welfare recipients, save their unfortunate offspring.""

How much will my car insurance go up if I make a claim?

I crashed into someone and my bonnet is crumpled up, it will only cost 100 to repair, so is it worth getting insurance involved? How much will my insurance go up if I do make a claim? (The other person involved is my neighbour and their car wasn't damaged so they are not bothered either way.) My car insurance is currently 1000 per year""

What is the best cheap car insurance qoutes in the uk!!?

pleas help!!

Average car insurance rate in Massachusetts?

I am a 18 year old female and I just recieved my license. I went to driving school (this included sit down classes and road lessons). I have good academic standing( my gpa would equate to an A+). Also I have never been in an accident during the time I have had my permit. I would like to know a decent average throughout Massachusetts without having to go on several online sites and fill out extensive questionaires just to get a quote (the questionaires are also asking me for the type of car the I drive and I don't own one yet. Although I will probably stick to American cars such as Ford). Can anyone help me? Please and thanks!

Who has the Cheapest NJ Car Insurance? Home owners insurance? Life Etc?

Who has the Cheapest NJ Car Insurance? Home owners insurance? Life Etc?

How much auto coverage should I have in Wisconsin?

I own a 2008 Scion tc, and a 1990 Honda Accord LX. The Scion still has a lien against the title, and I have full coverage for this reason. I use my Honda as a primary car to drive to and from work with liability coverage only. What I have for coverage now is: Bodily Injury: 500,000/person 1,000,000/accident Property damage: 500,000/accident Underinsured and uninsured: 500,000/person 1,000,000/accident Medical Payments: 10,000 Comprehensive & Collision: 500 deductible Is this too much? My agent said something about a new law in Wisconsin making it stack for each car, so technically, I have double that coverage, and my premiums just went up. I'm looking for a way to get some cheaper premiums without exposing myself to too much risk. How much insurance do I really need?""

Wondering how much is car insurance?

i am wondering how much is car insurance a month for a small car if you know an estimate please write it down

Best insurance companies for 17 year old passed my test!!?

ok ive pased my test a month on friday and i gettin a car this week and i need some insurance on the car obviiously lol, well basically whats the cheapest car insurance all you 17 year old have and who is it with, please :)""

Car insurance??????? UK?

where can i get a rough idea of what i might pay for insurance, if i pass next week?!!!!!!! Everywhere i try wants a reg. no. But all i want for now is a rough idea so i can see what insurance groups i can choose a car in. Fanx :0)""

Will the premium for my car insurance go up ? =(?

Hi, I live in Connecticut and I just began having insurance under my name about 4 months ago. Recently a guy hit me and damaged my car but when I tried to get his insurance to pay for it he lied about the whole thing and the police report stated both our stories so I was denied liability. Now my insurance company has to pay for the damages which come out to around 2400 dollars. I was wondering if my premium will go up next time I renew... I already pay $2700 a year and am worried =(""

What is insurance?

What is insurance?

Do you have health insurance?

if so, how much does it cost per month, How old are you? what kind of deductable do you have?? Feel free to answer also if you don't have insurance.""

How much could my car insurance increase if I pay a 90.00 fine that included 1 point on my record?

I have a clean driving record so would it be worth paying the ticket and watching my insurance go up a few bucks? I can't imagine my insurance going up too much for a single point, but maybe I am totally wrong. Any advice on this matter would be much appreciated.""

How much will car insurance be for me?

Well I'm 17, I have a 2008, mitsubishi eclipse se, and I've been driving since age 16, no violations or accidents. It will be added onto my parent's account.""

Can An unlicensed person buy auto insurance for their car and have other drivers?

My husband owns a car but has no drivers license at this time. He wants to insure his car and have friends drive. Is this possible?

Why cant i get cheaper insurance?

i have a fiat 500 1.2 with a tracker in my car which is there to stop me driving between 11pm and 5am and im still being charged 2000 a year for my insurance, last year i was paying 2008 a year i have 1 years no claims and no convictions WHY AM I BEING PUNISHED????""

Where can I find salvage motorcycles directly from the insurance company?

I'm interested in purchasing cheap parts bikes directly from the insurance companies after a wreck. I am mostly interested in Harleys and I don't have any interest in these gimmicky websites where you pay a fee and there are not a lot of bikes. I've looked at ebay but these are usually bikes being sold from the person who bought it from the insurance company (ie premium). There are some public auto auctions, but these are usually only limited to dealers. But maybe that is my only choice?""

Anybody self employed got medical insurance successfully in usa?

Hi I am self employed. Have anybody got single employee insurance successfully? if yes I will like to know who is your insurance carrier. I have precondition so I am declined individual coverage or premium is $1000/month. Thank you

What is the best health insurance for the self employed? (and cheapest)?

What is the best health insurance for the self employed? (and cheapest)?

Which company offer you the cheapest car insurance?

I'm a girl, over 25, no conviction, it's for a mini""

Can I write off the montly payment for health insurance I pay for my family?

Going to opt out of my employer paid insurance program, and buy private insurance for my family, can I write the entire payment off on my personal taxes?""

Best Health insurance for a young mom and college student?

I'm looking to find a health insurance suitable for me, a young mother (20) and college student. I did have Medicaid but they're saying I make too much and I'm only allowed to make 188 a month.. O_0 So I decided to just stop wasting my time and invest into my own insurance. My fiance said maybe I can get on his after we get married but Idk about that. What are some good affordable Health insurance for someone like me?""

Would I still have insurance?

Hey. I'm 19 now and I started college. However, I quit going in September. Would I technically still have insurance until the end of the school year? I had surgery over the summer when I was 18 and they had me show them my application papers for college. I would like to get braces before I get too old and I was wondering if I would still be able to get them until the end of the school year.""

how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

how can i get affordable dental insurance in florida

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-all-states-now-allow-auto-insurance-companies-check-jose-white/"

[endenogatai]

Europe takes another step towards copyright pre-filters for user generated content

In a key vote this morning the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee has backed the two most controversial elements of a digital copyright reform package — which critics warn could have a chilling effect on Internet norms like memes and also damage freedom of expression online.

In the draft copyright directive, Article 11; “Protection of press publications concerning online uses” — which targets news aggregator business models by setting out a neighboring right for snippets of journalistic content that requires a license from the publisher to use this type of content (aka ‘the link tax’, as critics dub it) — was adopted by a 13:12 majority of the legal committee.

While, Article 13; “Use of protected content by online content sharing service providers”, which makes platforms directly liable for copyright infringements by their users — thereby pushing them towards creating filters that monitor all content uploads with all the associated potential chilling effects (aka ‘censorship machines’) — was adopted by a 15:10 majority.

MEPs critical of the proposals have vowed to continue to oppose the measures, and the EU parliament will eventually need to vote as a whole.

#Article13, the #CensorshipMachines, has been adopted by @EP_Legal with a 15:10 majority. Again: We will take this fight to plenary and still hope to #SaveYourInternet pic.twitter.com/BLguxmHCWs

— Julia Reda (@Senficon) June 20, 2018

EU Member State representatives in the EU Council will also need to vote on the reforms before the directive can become law. Though, as it stands, a majority of European governments appear to back the proposals.

European digital rights group EDRi, a long-standing critic of Article 13, has a breakdown of the next steps for the copyright directive here. It’s possible there could be another key vote in the parliament next month — ahead of negotiations with the European Council, which could be finished by fall. A final vote on a legally checked text will take place in the parliament — perhaps before the end of the year.

Derailing the proposals now essentially rests on whether enough MEPs can be convinced it’s politically expedient to do so — factoring in a timeline that includes the next EU parliament elections, in May 2019.

We can still turn this around! The #linktax and #uploadfilters passed a critical hurdle today. But in just 2 weeks, all 751 MEPs will be asked to take a stand either for or against a free & open internet. The people of Europe managed to stop ACTA, we can #SaveYourInternet again! pic.twitter.com/883ID7CKDE

— Julia Reda (@Senficon) June 20, 2018

Last week, a coalition of original Internet architects, computer scientists, academics and supporters — including Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Vint Cerf, Bruce Schneier, Jimmy Wales and Mitch Kapor — penned an open letter to the European Parliament’s president to oppose Article 13, warning that while “well-intended” the requirement that Internet platforms perform automatic filtering of all content uploaded by users “takes an unprecedented step towards the transformation of the Internet from an open platform for sharing and innovation, into a tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users”.

“As creators ourselves, we share the concern that there should be a fair distribution of revenues from the online use of copyright works, that benefits creators, publishers, and platforms alike. But Article 13 is not the right way to achieve this,” they write in the letter.

“By inverting this liability model and essentially making platforms directly responsible for ensuring the legality of content in the first instance, the business models and investments of platforms large and small will be impacted. The damage that this may do to the free and open Internet as we know it is hard to predict, but in our opinions could be substantial.”

The Wikimedia Foundational also blogged separately, setting out some specific concerns about the impact that mandatory upload filters could have on Wikipedia.

“[A]ny sort of law which mandates the deployment of automatic filters to screen all uploaded content using AI or related technologies does not leave room for the types of community processes which have been so effective on the Wikimedia projects,” it warned last week. “As previously mentioned, upload filters as they exist today view content through a broad lens, that can miss a lot of the nuances which are crucial for the review of content and assessments of legality or veracity.”

More generally critics warn that expressive and creative remix formats like memes and GIFs — which have come to form an integral part of the rich communication currency of the Internet — will be at risk if the proposals become law…

This may be illegal under #Article13. If just one of the four images is copyrighted, Twitter would be compelled to take this picture off. #Article13 #forDummies https://t.co/aSbYoiPDm0

— Ziga Turk (@ZigaTurkEU) June 12, 2018

Regarding Article 11, Europe already has experience experimenting with a neighboring right for news, after an ancillary copyright law was enacted in Germany in 2013. But local publishers ended up offering Google free consent to display their snippets after they saw traffic fall substantially when Google stopped showing their content rather than pay for using them.

Spain also enacted a similar law for publishers in 2014, but its implementation required publishers to charge for using their snippets — leading Google to permanently close its news aggregation service in the country.

Critics of this component of the digital copyright reform package also warn it’s unclear what kinds of news content will constitute a snippet, and thus fall under the proposal — even suggesting a URL including the headline of an article could fall foul of the copyright extension; ergo that the hyperlink itself could be in danger.

They also argue that an amendment giving Member States the flexibility to decide whether or not a snippet should be considered “insubstantial” (and thus freely shared) or not, does not clear up problems — saying it just risks causing fresh fragmentation across the bloc, at a time when the Commission is keenly pushing a so-called ‘Digital Single Market’ strategy.

“Instead of one Europe-wide law, we’d have 28,” warns Reda on that. “With the most extreme becoming the de-facto standard: To avoid being sued, international internet platforms would be motivated to comply with the strictest version implemented by any member state.”

However several European news and magazine publisher groups have welcomed the committee’s backing for Article 11. In a joint statement on behalf of publishing groups EMMA, ENPA, EPC and NME a spokesperson said: “The Internet is only as useful as the content that populates it. This Publisher’s neighbouring Right will be key to encouraging further investment in professional, diverse, fact-checked content for the enrichment and enjoyment of everyone, everywhere.”

Returning to Article 13, the EU’s executive, the Commission — the body responsible for drafting the copyright reforms — has also been pushing online platforms towards pre-filtering content as a mechanism for combating terrorist content, setting out a “one hour rule” for takedowns of this type of content earlier this year, for example.

But again critics of the copyright reforms argue it’s outrageously disproportionate to seek to apply the same measures that are being applied to try to clamp down on terrorist propaganda and serious criminal offenses like child exploitation to police copyright.

“For copyrighted content these automated tools simply undermine copyright exceptions. And they are not proportionate,” Reda told us last year. “We are not talking about violent crimes here in the way that terrorism or child abuse are. We’re talking about something that is a really widespread phenomenon and that’s dealt with by providing attractive legal offers to people. And not by treating them as criminals.”

Responding to today’s committee vote, Jim Killock, executive director of digital rights group, the Open Rights Group, attacked what he dubbed a “dreadful law”, warning it would have a chilling effect on freedom of expression online.

“Article 13 must go,” he said in a statement. “The EU Parliament’s duty is to defend citizens from unfair and unjust laws. MEPs must reject this law, which would create a Robo-copyright regime intended to zap any image, text, meme or video that appears to include copyright material, even when it is entirely legal material.”

Also reacting to the vote today, Monique Goyens, director general of European consumer rights group BEUC, said: “The internet as we know it will change when platforms will need to systematically filter content that users want to upload. The internet will change from a place where consumers can enjoy sharing creations and ideas to an environment that is restricted and controlled. Fair remuneration for creators is important, but consumers should not be at the losing end.”

Goyens blamed the “pressure of the copyright industry” for scuppering “even modest attempts to modernise copyright law”.

“Today’s rules are outdated and patchy. It is high time that copyright laws take into account that consumers share and create videos, music and photos on a daily basis. The majority of MEPs failed to find a solution that would have benefitted consumers and creators,” she added in a statement.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8204425 https://ift.tt/2M7OSxw via IFTTT

[newstfionline]

Russian Meddling Was a Drop in an Ocean of American-Made Discord

By Amanda Taub and Max Fisher, NY Times, Feb. 18, 2018

As international conspiracies to undermine the world’s last remaining superpower go, the Russian-led plot revealed by a Justice Department indictment on Friday can seem, in its particulars if not its intent, audacious but, as revealed so far, somewhat narrow.

The conspirators stand accused of spreading falsehoods online, hiring Hillary Clinton impersonators at rallies and starting Facebook groups that tried to convince minority voters to stay home or cast their ballots for Jill Stein.

That these efforts might have actually made a difference, or at least were intended to, highlights a force that was already destabilizing American democracy far more than any Russian-made fake news post: partisan polarization.

“Partisanship can even alter memory, implicit evaluation, and even perceptual judgment,” the political scientists Jay J. Van Bavel and Andrea Pereira wrote in a recent paper. “The human attraction to fake and untrustworthy news”--a danger cited by political scientists far more frequently than orchestrated meddling--“poses a serious problem for healthy democratic functioning.”

It has infected the American political system, weakening the body politic and leaving it vulnerable to manipulation. Russian misinformation seems to have exacerbated the symptoms, but laced throughout the indictment are reminders that the underlying disease, arguably far more damaging, is all American-made.

The false information and political advertisements that the Russians are accused of spreading could ring true only to those already predisposed to suspect the worst.

One Instagram account targeting voters on the right, for instance, implied that Black Lives Matter activists were assassinating police officers. Another targeting black voters implied that the government had implicitly supported the Ku Klux Klan by dismantling the Black Panthers.

If this had any effect, research suggests it did so by tapping into existing polarization, rather than creating new divisions.

A recent study found that the people most likely to consume fake news were already hyperpartisan and close followers of politics, and that false stories were only a small fraction of their media consumption.

Americans, it said, sought out stories that reflected their already-formed partisan view of reality. This suggests that these Russians efforts are indicators--not drivers--of how widely Americans had polarized.

That distinction matters for how the indictment is read: Though Americans have seen it as highlighting a foreign threat, it also illustrates the perhaps graver threats from within.

Russian interference tended to focus on telling the targeted group to fear and distrust the other side. Posts that targeted Republicans, for instance, portrayed Mrs. Clinton as a threat to the Constitution and public safety, and in one memorable example said that her election would be a victory for Satan himself.

In taking this approach, the Russians were merely riding a trend that has been building for decades. Since the 1980s, surveys have found that Republicans and Democrats’ feelings toward the opposing party have been growing more and more negative. Voters are animated more by distrust of the other side than support for their own.

This highlights a problem that Lilliana Mason, a University of Maryland political scientist, said had left American democracy dangerously vulnerable. But it’s a problem driven primarily by American politicians and media outlets, which have far louder megaphones than any Russian-made Facebook posts.

“Compromise is the core of democracy,” she said. “It’s the only way we can govern.” But, she said, “when you make people feel threatened, nobody compromises with evil.”

The claim that, for example, Mrs. Clinton’s victory might aid Satan is in many ways just a faint echo of the partisan anger and fear already dominating American politics.

Those emotions undermine a key norm that all sides are served by honoring democratic processes; instead, they justify, or even seem to mandate, extreme steps against the other side.

American democracy can function only when its citizens accept the right of all others to participate regardless of their background.

That applies to party divisions. But, increasingly, partisan identity is aligning with racial and religious identity, according to research by Dr. Mason. This, along with deepening partisan distrust, is creating one of the worst possible conditions in a multiethnic democracy: a growing belief that elections are a zero-sum contest for control among racial and religious groups.

Russian misinformation hit repeatedly on this fear, spreading fake news and even rally posters that declared the allegiance of Muslim Americans to Mrs. Clinton.

Polarization by race, building since the 1990s, poses “the greatest challenge to established forms of mutual toleration and forbearance since Reconstruction,” the political scientists Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky write in their book, “How Democracies Die.”

The idea that all demographic groups must cooperate rather than compete is one of the most important norms for a multiethnic democracy like that of the United States. The claims pushed in Russian posts demonstrate, precisely because they are so implausible, how rapidly that norm is weakening.

“The defining characteristic of our moment is that parties are weak while partisanship is strong,” Julia Azari, a Marquette University political scientist, wrote the day after the vote.

If Americans were susceptible to messages seeking to discredit democratic institutions, it was because many already believed them.

The Tea Party movement, for instance, rose on a fear that Barack Obama was more dictator than president, and that his health care reforms would send elderly Americans to “death panels.” Mr. Trump rose on the lie that Mr. Obama is secretly foreign-born. Some supporters of Bernie Sanders, a Democratic senator, suspected that Mrs. Clinton had engineered the primary vote against him, a notion later hit upon by Russian misinformation.

And if institutions behave in ways that partisans dislike, for example by issuing a court ruling or releasing a vote tally that hurt their side, those partisans can come to see the institutions as threats to democracy rather than its bedrock foundation.

Mr. Trump, for instance, has attacked the F.B.I. as part of a “deep state” seeking to unseat him from office. In several states, lawmakers unhappy with unfavorable court rulings are increasingly responding with calls for limiting the powers of the judiciary.

This can lead partisans to believe that by attacking those institutions, they are saving democracy from its enemies within. To the other side, this only affirms suspicion that their opponents are innately anti-democratic and must be excluded. It is a self-perpetuating cycle, one that Russian meddling may have only sped up a bit but that remains almost entirely American-driven.

[rolandfontana]

Teen Arrests Fall Sharply in New York: Is ‘Raise the Age’ Responsible?

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Raise the Age reform law, passed in 2017, was intended to overhaul the justice system for 16- and 17-year-olds charged with crimes — mandating a new, rehabilitation-focused network of detention facilities, courtrooms and punishments for teens who are arrested.

Almost a year into the law’s implementation, however, far fewer teens appear to be entering the system at all. The number arrested for felonies dropped significantly statewide in the first six months of this year, according to previously unpublished state data shared with The Chronicle of Social Change.

Between January and June of this year, 1,030 16-year-olds were arrested for a nonviolent or violent felony. That’s a nearly 25 percent decline from the same six months in 2018, when there were 1,369 arrests.

Arrests of youth younger than 21 have been falling steadily since 2010, coinciding with arrests overall declining across the state. Through the first half of 2019, though, the decline accelerated for 16-year-olds who had to be segregated from adults throughout the justice system as of last October 1.

From 2017 to 2018, by comparison, those arrests only fell by 7 percent.

The data reviewed by The Chronicle was collected from local police departments by the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which assists counties with Raise the Age implementation.

The agency declined to comment, but a DCJS source said they see the declining arrests as “extremely positive,” and likely a result of a “combination of changes in police response, changes in youth behavior and shifts in population.”

New York City saw a 24 percent drop in arrests of 16-year-olds for all felonies between last year and this year (from 867 to 658), while 17-year-old arrests actually increased from 953 to 1,008.

In Queens, nonviolent felony arrests alone were down 60 percent for 16-year-olds; in the Bronx, 43 percent.

Table courtesy Chronicle of Social Change

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Law enforcement officials and advocates who spoke to The Chronicle were not sure whether the decline in arrests is directly correlated to New York’s new rules for teens.

Alex Wilson, associate counsel of the New York State Sheriff’s Association, previously told The Chronicle that Raise the Age’s requirements for 16-year-olds to be held in tailored youth facilities instead of adult jails seemed unlikely to change the number of arrests.

“The procedures are no different now than they were before Raise the Age” for youth 15-years-old and younger, he said. “I would expect there would just be [more frequent] use of those procedures.”

But other law enforcement officials say that the overhaul created time-consuming hurdles, which could be discouraging police from arresting some 16-year-olds.

Lieutenant Mark Goodspeed of the Buffalo Police Department told The Chronicle that Buffalo’s juvenile detention facility often tells police officers they can’t take newly arrested 16-year-olds after hours, because they are full with younger teens.

“We’ve fought with them many times,” he said of the Erie County Youth Bureau, which manages the only detention space nearby certified by the state’s Office of Children and Family Services.

“There’s nowhere else to take [teens] unless we want to drive to some place outside Syracuse.”

In the morning, if a judge orders a teen to be placed in the facility in Northeast Buffalo, then the Youth Bureau must take them immediately. At night, however, judges often do not respond to phone calls from law enforcement, leaving cops to babysit until morning, says the lieutenant.

“We’re talking six, seven hours of your night for a bullshit misdemeanor, what’s the point of making an arrest? It’s a kinder, gentler world we live in I guess. It’s mindboggling,” said Goodspeed, who is also a police union vice president.

“Raise the Age was a great idea but they didn’t have a plan.”

In some cases six-year-olds sleep in the police department’s new youth interrogation rooms.

“We’ll give them some food,” added Goodspeed.

In Erie County — including Buffalo — felony arrests of 16-year-olds fell 17 percent. The Erie County Youth Bureau did not respond to requests for comment. The Chronicle reached out to the state’s Office of Court Administration, which oversees the courts, for comment on the availability of judges after hours.

“We don’t speculate about the decline in arrests which is driven by law enforcement actions. Early in RTA implementation, however, we heard complaints about lack of accessible magistrates for off hours in one jurisdiction outside New York City and it was addressed by court leaders,” wrote spokesperson Lucian Chalfen in an e-mail.

“We haven’t heard recent complaints about that. Also it’s a local law enforcement and executive branch obligation to maintain suitable post-arrest spaces pursuant to Raise the Age. That’s not for the courts to address.”

‘Positive Consequence’ of Reform

Advocates supportive of Raise the Age say declining arrests are to be expected — a positive consequence of the reform.

“We have seen this phenomenon in a number of states and it contributes to a smooth implementation of Raise the Age here and in other states,” said Vincent Schiraldi, former probation commissioner of New York City, who now co-leads the Columbia University Justice Lab.

“I suspect, but can’t prove, that this is more about adults redefining these young people as youth who deserve a second chance, rather than irredeemable. That contributes to them not getting arrested for less serious offenses. It should force us to examine arrest patterns for adults, particularly young adults.”

Raise the Age passed as part of a bipartisan budget deal in 2017, after a federal investigation into New York State’s youth justice facilities, and intense debate in a divided legislature. Since 2006, 13 other states have passed laws raising the age above which youth can be prosecuted as adults.

Whatever the reason for the declining arrests, it is happening statewide.

Across New York for all offenses except misdemeanors — including felonies, and traffic law violations — arrests dropped 31 percent, from 7,791 arrests January to June of 2017, to 5,315 during the same time frame in 2019. (Under Raise the Age, police are no longer allowed to fingerprint and report 16-year-olds for misdemeanor offenses alone.)

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signs Raise the Age in 2017 alongside the brother of former Riker’s inmate Kalief Browder, whose 2015 suicide created momentum for reform. Credit: NY Governor’s Office.

The statewide drop is not being driven by New York City, either — felony arrests for 16-year-olds were down 26 percent for the rest of the state, excluding New York City. The trend shows up even more dramatically one large county outside New York City. In Monroe County, which includes Rochester, felony arrests of 16-year-olds fell nearly 53 percent.

Onondaga County, which includes Syracuse, bucked the trend. There were 71 felony arrests for 16-year-olds in the first half of 2019, significantly more than in 2018 (31) or 2017 (41). At the same time, arrests of 17-year-olds in the county fell.

The Chronicle requested comment from the Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff and the District Attorney’s office, and law enforcement officials in Monroe County, and none of them had responded by press time.

Michael Fitzgerald is New York editor of The Chronicle of Social Change. Abe Kenmore is a political reporter with the Watertown Daily Times in Jefferson County, N.Y. This story was produced as part of the 2018-2019 John Jay/Tow Juvenile Justice Reporting Fellowship. The original version is available here.

Teen Arrests Fall Sharply in New York: Is ‘Raise the Age’ Responsible? syndicated from https://immigrationattorneyto.wordpress.com/

[duaneodavila]

Does Gideon Harm Poor Defendants?

Having just passed the 55th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, holding that an indigent defendant is denied his fundamental right to a fair trial without assistance of counsel, Georgetown lawprof Paul Butler has revisited his 2013 Yale Law Review article on Gideon.

Have we failed indigent defendants by our societal refusal to adequately fund indigent defense? Nah, that’s not his problem at all.

A low income person is more likely to be prosecuted and imprisoned post-Gideon than pre-Gideon. Poor people lose in American criminal justice not because they have ineffective lawyers but because they are selectively targeted by police, prosecutors, and law makers. The critique of rights suggests that rights are indeterminate and regressive. Gideon demonstrates this critique: it has not improved the situation of most poor people, and in some ways has worsened their plight. Gideon provides a degree of legitimacy for the status quo. Even full enforcement of Gideon would not significantly improve the loser status of low-income people in American criminal justice.

It’s one thing to argue that over the past 55 years, a great many things have happened in criminal law that have exacerbated the circumstances of the poor. But how is it that providing defense lawyers for the poor is “regressive”?

The “critique of rights,” as articulated by critical legal theorists, posits that “nothing whatever follows from a court’s adoption of some legal rule” and that “winning a legal victory can actually impede further progressive change.” My thesis is that Gideon demonstrates the critique of rights. Arguably, Gideon has not improved the situation of accused persons, and may even have worsened their plight.

The notion that a legal victory can impede more effective change* may be counter-intuitive, but one that can wreak havoc in the trenches. What appears to be a big win on paper doesn’t necessarily translate to a real win in practice. More importantly, a palliative win, the sort that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy but fails to produce the putative change intended, can be very damaging.

In the context of Gideon, the Supreme Court held that counsel is a fundamental right, but failed to establish how that mandate would be fulfilled. And if Gideon doesn’t float your boat, consider the massive joke of Brady v. Maryland, which failed to provide the mechanism by which it’s wondrous gift would be delivered. But how does the right to counsel “worsen” the plight of the indigent?

The reason that prisons are filled with poor people, and that rich people rarely go to prison, is not because the rich have better lawyers than the poor. It is because prison is for the poor, and not the rich. In criminal cases poor people lose most of the time, not because indigent defense is inadequately funded, although it is, and not because defense attorneys for poor people are ineffective, although some are. Poor people lose, most of the time, because in American criminal justice, poor people are losers. Prison is designed for them. This is the real crisis of indigent defense. Gideon obscures this reality, and in this sense stands in the way of the political mobilization that will be required to transform criminal justice.

There are two distinct assertions being made. That there are vastly more poor in prison than rich is indisputable, but whether that’s because “prison is designed” for poor losers is a matter of ideology. While this may be a controversial assertion, it’s also somewhat gratuitous, and thus not material to the second, and more significant assertion: that Gideon provides cover for over incarceration rather than safeguards the rights of the indigent.

I know that, for some readers, these claims are counterintuitive, and I ask  these readers’ indulgence for the time it takes to read this Essay, in which I will attempt to prove my claims. It is also important to emphasize that I am not making a “but-for” claim of causation. Gideon is not responsible for the exponential increase in incarceration or the vast rise in racial disparities in criminal justice. As I explain later, however, Gideon bears some responsibility for legitimating these developments and diffusing political resistance to them.

It invests the criminal justice system with a veneer of impartiality and respectability that it does not deserve. Gideon created the false consciousness that criminal justice would get better. It actually got worse. Even full enforcement of Gideon would not significantly improve the wretchedness of American criminal justice.

The knee-jerk reaction to this argument is that it’s crazy. How could it possibly be a bad thing to provide lawyers for the poor? Is he suggesting that it would be better to have the poor prosecuted without lawyers? What’s crazy, right?

Not so fast. As Butler explains, his point is counterintuitive, but it focuses on a deeper problem, one that most crim law reformers lack either the experience or depth to grasp. Butler isn’t suggesting that thrusting the indigent into the trenches without lawyers is a good thing, but that it’s an inadequate remedy for a larger, more systemic problem, that defendants lose, whether with or without counsel. Not because they’re necessarily guilty. Not because their guilt, assuming they are guilty, is so awful as to rationally justify the obstacles to their having a level playing field.

What this second assertion seeks to establish is that we’ve created a minefield of crimes around the poor, sent in an army of cops to their neighborhood to catch them (or just make it up if need be) violating the law, and then give them a lawyer as they face a system that produces guilt in 97% of its cases, with or without counsel. But we can all feel good about it because of Gideon. After all, we give the poor free lawyers, right? What more can we do?

Of course, it’s not that Gideon is, in itself, the cause of the problem, or anything other than a great right in theory. But many ideas that seem, at first blush, to be huge wins, highly favorable to the defendant, but inadequate to change the outcome, serve only to perpetuate the problem while making us feel better about it.

This is why it’s so critical to shed the lies we tell ourselves about what the real problems are, and what solutions will seriously address them. We have Gideon. We have massive over-incarceration. The former removes some of the stain from the latter, even though there is a very serious question whether it provides anything more than a veneer of respectability on a system where the poor can’t win no matter what.

*Butler characterizes it as “progressive change,” but since this was published five years ago, it’s unclear whether “progressive” was used then in the sense it’s commonly understood today.

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