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| THE BIG STORY
Why are police so violent?
The endless videos of inexplicably violent police responses to protesters are sometimes hard to comprehend. How is this tolerated? One major reason why, reports Melissa Segura, are the unions that represent them – they're well funded, politically powerful, and devote extensive resources to preventing police from ever being held accountable for wrongdoing.
"Police unions across the country have bucked reforms meant to promote transparency and racial equity in law enforcement. Many of these unions have pushed collective bargaining agreements that make it all but impossible for departments to punish, much less fire, officers. These agreements defang civilian review boards and police internal affairs departments, and they even prevent police chiefs from providing meaningful oversight, according to community activists and civil rights lawyers," Segura reports. "Meanwhile, the unions have set up legal slush funds to defend officers sued for misconduct."
The consequences were on display across the country yesterday. A peaceful protest in front of the White House was violently broken up in an attack that was broadcast live by news crews from across the world. And rolling protests against police brutality continued in dozens of cities. A journalist covering protests in Minneapolis was wounded after police attacked the gathering with teargas and rubber bullets. (Chandan Khanna / Getty Images)
STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
What happened at the FDA
“At least we have some hints now of what they were depending on" to authorize use of the drugs, said Peter Lurie, a former FDA executive who now leads the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest. "It still seems to me to be a thin read and one is left with the question of whether the approval had something to do with pressure from the White House." George Frey / Getty Images HELP US KEEP QUALITY NEWS FREE FOR ALL
SNAPSHOTS
A white bar owner who killed a black man on Saturday night will not be prosecuted, police said. The owner, Jake Gardner, shot 22-year old James Scurlock in self defense, police ruled.
Actor Cole Sprouse was arrested at a protest in Santa Monica on Sunday. "As a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement," he said.
Facebook staffers put on a rare show of organized opposition to the company's leadership yesterday. There are bitter divides in the company over its approach to inflammatory posts by President Trump and his allies.
Brands are issuing statements announcing they oppose racism. They all read identically, and someone made a generic brand statement in response. Bold words from [brand] (via Chris Franklin / @Campster) IT'S NEWS O'CLOCK
LEADING THE WORLD
A growing American export
The US has struggled to produce its own supplies of masks, protective gear, and medicines, but it has become one of the world’s leading exporters of coronavirus conspiracy theories. The “Plandemic” video that blew up on US social media in May has since been banned by a number of video hosting services here, but it’s taking off around the world, Jane Lytvynenko reports. It’s now being shared worldwide in at least a dozen languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Polish, Armenian, and Tagalog. A MESSAGE FOR OUR WHITE READERS
Think about this before texting your black friends
"I am calling for a national moratorium on texts from guilty white liberals," New York Times reporter Astead Herndon tweeted yesterday. It's a thing right now, writes Tomi Obaro – often well meaning people, texting messages of sympathy and support to their black friends.
If you're thinking of doing the same, she has some advice for you.
"This is a delicate balance. A lot of these people sending texts and messages and DMs mean well and are genuinely trying to be helpful and thoughtful. And there are some black people who welcome and ask for these check-ins from their white friends," Obaro writes. "But for me personally, while they’re meant to offer comfort, in the midst of all the unceasing awfulness of these past few days, these texts have only made me feel worse. I’m unsure of how to respond, and then I feel bad about not responding, about not thanking these white people for thinking of me."
There's never been a better time to listen, Tom P.S. If you like this newsletter, help keep our reporting free for all. Support BuzzFeed News by becoming a member here. (monthly memberships are available worldwide) 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Tom Gara and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.
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